The Chosen
part 2 final

"I've got this," Mikey said, sitting down next to Shane. "I watch all the detective shows. The first thing they always ask is if anything unusual has happened to you recently."

"Ya' mean besides someone following them?" Raph asked sarcastically.

Mikey shot him a withering look. "There's always something that happens before the stalking."

"I can't think of anything," Shane said. "Our lives have been routine. We like it that way."

"So no visitors, or repairmen, or weird smells, or odd letters, or phone calls, or . . . ." Mikey began.

Shane sat up straight and snapped his fingers. "Wait. Letters and phone calls. Both Sydney and I did get a couple of letters from some medical research firm. They looked like junk mail so we tossed them. After that we each got calls from the same firm asking if we'd participate in a drug research program. They said they were looking for people our age and that we'd receive free medical services for a year if we agreed to participate. Of course we both said no."

"Do you think the others received similar letters and calls?" Leo asked.

"I can find that out easily enough," Shane said, pulling his cell phone from his pocket.

The turtles waited as the man placed three calls. Each time after he received answers to his question, he admonished the person on the other end of the line to be careful. When Shane was finished calling, he frowned.

"What did they say?" Mikey asked.

"They all got the same exact letters and calls," Shane said. "Greg said that David did too. What does that mean?"

"Sounds like someone went from trying to get you all to come in voluntarily straight to plan B," Don said.

"Yeah, taking ya' by force," Raph said.

"Since we haven't much time, let's make some assumptions," Leo said. "First, that the company who sent the letters is bogus. Two, that whoever is orchestrating this knows what the seven of you have in common."

"That leaves the Shredder," Raph said, his upper lip twitching with anger.

"But that makes no sense," Don said. "He didn't ask for volunteers the first time, he just had them kidnapped. Shredder isn't capable of this type of subtlety."

"Donny's right," Mikey said. "Shredder thinks everything is owed to him. He'd never ask, he'd just do whatever he wanted."

"This approach is systematic and well-thought out," Don said. "Who do we know with access to Shredder's data base and who has no problem doing things behind his back?"

"Stockman!" the four turtles said in unison.

"Who is Stockman?" Shane asked, looking at the turtles in confusion. "What does he want with us?"

"Who cares," Raph said. "We can ask him after we get your pals back."

"The problem will be getting to him," Leo said. "He'll be inside Shredder's compound. We all know how hard it is to gain access to that building."

"Not necessarily," Don said. "Not the getting inside Shredder's compound part, that's beyond difficult. I've sort of been keeping tabs on Stockman's whereabouts, since he tends to pop up at inopportune times. His Stocktronics Corporation owned a warehouse near the docks. The energy usage there has spiked in the last couple of months."

"That's exactly the sort of thing he'd do if he were trying to keep secrets from his boss," Leo said. "Let's go shut him down boys."

"I'm coming with you," Shane said, standing up.

"You've had no training," Leo said. "You could get hurt."

"Sydney's his girlfriend dude," Mikey said, rising also and setting a hand on Shane's shoulder. "He's already deep in it, he deserves to see this through."

"All right," Leo said, giving Shane a stern look. "Keep your head down and do what I say no matter what we encounter."

"I will," Shane promised.

Mikey blindfolded him and the group rode up to the garage. Don got behind the wheel of the Battle Shell and after they pulled out onto the city streets, Mikey removed Shane's blindfold.

"So~o, how soon after you guys returned above ground did you and Sydney get together?" Mikey asked.

"Almost immediately," Shane said. "We got in touch with our families, but being apart from each other didn't feel natural. We'd developed a connection when we were monsters and it stayed with us. It's the only good thing to come from our ordeal."

"How'd Sydney know to send ya' to the junkyard to look for us?" Raph asked.

"I told her," Don said. "It was when they were returning topside. I told Sydney that if she ever needed us, to go to that junkyard and leave a message with the Professor."

"She left that part out," Shane said. "I'm just glad one of you was there tonight."

They soon reached the docks and Don did a slow drive-by of the building owned by Stockman. There were no vehicles parked nearby and no lights shining through the high windows.

"Looks deserted," Raph said.

"I'd make certain it looked that way if I were double crossing the Shredder," Leo said. "Park out of sight and let's find a way inside."

Leaving the Battle Shell on a secluded side street, the group crept towards the warehouse, keeping to the shadows. Shane was a natural at remaining invisible, either because he was emulating the turtles, or because of the residual scorpion genetics, possibly both.

They stopped moving when Don lifted a hand. Once they were huddled around him, Don said, "There are cameras and motion detectors near the roof line. I looked up the building design and there's a way in through the roof, but I'll have to deactivate the motion detectors and shift the camera angles first. There's a safe approach that'll get me close enough to do both, but you guys need to hang back until I signal an all clear."

"Be careful, Donny. Stockman is both smart and paranoid," Leo said.

Even before Leo finished his warning, Don was already creeping towards the building, one hand digging around in his duffel bag. In seconds he was out of sight.

"You guys are really good at this," Shane whispered.

"We're ninjas," Mikey replied with a touch of boastfulness. "This is how we roll."

Raph crossed his arms and made a face at his brother, but didn't bother saying anything. After a few minutes Leo's shell cell beeped once as a signal that he should use the attached headpiece.

"News?" Leo asked, speaking into the microphone.

"All clear," Don said. "Follow the route I took until you see me. I'll lead the way up to the top of the building."

The group set off single file, keeping Shane between them. Donatello stood near a thick drain pipe that was attached to the side of the building.

"We can shimmy up on the pipe," Don said in a low voice. "It's strong enough as long as we go one at a time. I've made minor adjustments to the cameras, so keep your bodies close to the wall."

Leo nodded and took the lead. As soon as he was on the roof, Mikey went up, followed by Shane, then Raph. Don climbed up last.

There was a maintenance access point near the center of the roof with one of Don's screwdrivers holding the door open.

"Security?" Leo asked, glancing at Don.

"There's a pressure sensitive mat under the ladder," Don said. "Step on it and alarms go off. As long as we jump from the ladder to avoid the mat, we'll be okay. I've already shifted the only camera in the hallway."

This time Don went first. After everyone was inside, Don dug a hand-held device from his duffel bag. Watching the meter on its display, he turned in a full circle and then pointed out the direction they should take.

As they sprinted down the hallway, Leo asked, "What are we following?"

"Electricity," Don said. "The area with the highest usage is probably where we'll find our friends."

Raph dealt quickly with a locked door at the end of the hallway. On the other side of the door was a large room filled with computers, lab equipment, and a number of familiar looking machines.

"Aren't these like those machines in the underground lab?" Leo asked.

Don grimaced. "I'm seeing devices related to biology, physiology, and genome analysis. It's a genetics lab."

"This is exactly like the place we were taken when we were first mutated," Shane said.

"What the shell's going on around here?" Raph asked.

"Hey guys, I found our friends!" Mikey called out from one side of the room.

Rushing over to him, they found Mikey standing in front of three large glass chambers, each filled with a greenish liquid. Inside were Rachel, David, and Sydney.

"They're suspended in a stasis liquid," Don said.

"Are they all right?" Mikey asked, leaning in close to Sydney's chamber.

"They should be," Don answered, "we just have to get them out."

"I'll get them out," Raph said, drawing his sai.

Don squatted down in front of the control panel on Sydney's chamber. "Actually, no blunt force required."

After turning a knob, Don pushed a couple of buttons and the liquid began to drain from the chamber. After a moment the door popped open and Don caught Sydney as she fell forward.

Gasping and coughing, Sydney blinked her eyes several times and then looked at her rescuer. "Donatello! How . . . ?"

"Shane found us, just like you asked him to," Don said, stepping back as the man came forward to hold his girlfriend.

As Don released the other two prisoners, Mikey found blankets to wrap around the wet and shivering people. Their clothes and shoes were soaked, but they'd have to wait to change them until after they completed their escape.

Turning to Raph, Leo said, "Now we can break things."

Raph grinned as Leo pulled his swords.

"Stop!"

Everyone turned to the large robotic figure who'd just entered the room.

"Stockman! We knew ya' were behind this," Raph said.

"Why is the Shredder interested in these people again?" Leo demanded.

Snorting his derision, Stockman said, "The Shredder? That ignoramus has no clue what advantages these genetic manipulations could bring about. Even you lowly creatures have defeated him time and again."

"These are innocent people," Leo said.

"Oh please," Stockman said, walking forward. "They are science experiments. When I discovered the reports on the successful mutations, I knew I'd located a veritable goldmine. Unfortunately, the scientist's actual lab notes were nowhere to be found, so I couldn't get my hands on the raw technical data."

"I told you we'd destroyed all of it," Sydney said.

"I know you did, my dear. So did your two friends," Stockman said. "I'd already prepared for that contingency. Since the reports did contain all of the names of the people the Foot captured for Shredder's little tests, I decided to gather you all together again. A sort of homecoming. With your DNA, blood and tissue samples, I should be able to re-create the original experiments."

"You're sick," Rachel said.

"We won't let you do this," Leo said.

"As if you have a choice," Stockman responded, pressing a button on the control pad attached to his wrists.

Mechanical arms extended down from the ceiling. At the end of each was a laser pistol.

Raph laughed. "Ya' oughta know by now those ain't much good against us."

"I've greatly enhanced the tracking abilities of my lasers," Stockman bragged. "You won't outrun them this time."

"You really don't care about anyone but yourself, do you?" Leo asked.

Mikey appeared deep in thought. Raph was just about to leap for Stockman when Mikey suddenly snapped his fingers.

"Hey Stockman, does Shredder know you've got this secret lab?" Mikey asked.

All traces of audacity disappeared from Stockman's face and his expression appeared almost panicked.

"He doesn't, does he?" Raph asked, gloating. "Wonder how he'd react to that knowledge."

Don had caught on. "Since you built all of this with his money but without his knowledge, he wouldn't be happy."

"Especially once he figured out you meant to build yourself a mutant army specifically to go after him," Leo said.

Sydney and her three friends had moved back and were standing near a lab table covered in equipment.

"I don't think your lasers will hit us," Sydney said. "We're too valuable."

With that, she and David overturned the table, sending the expensive machines crashing to the floor.

"Stop that!" Stockman yelled.

"I think I have the Shredder on speed dial," Mikey said, holding up his phone.

"No!" Stockman shouted. "Don't call him!"

"He won't, as long as you help me destroy every last bit of information regarding the mutation experiments and anything referencing the innocent people who've been caught in the middle of this insanity," Don said.

For a moment Stockman looked as if he was going to explode. "Fine," he said through gritted teeth.

He moved towards a computer and Don joined him. Within seconds Stockman had accessed his data base and Don began to erase all of the information.

Meanwhile, the other turtles, along with the four humans, raced around the room destroying every bit of the machinery and any samples that Stockman had collected.

When all of the files had been purged, Stockman stepped back and said, "There, I hope you're happy."

"Not quite yet," Don said, reaching for the controls on Stockman's wrist band. "May I?"

Without waiting for a response, he activated the lasers. They began to blast the room, hitting the larger machines and the computer main frame. Smoke started to curl up from the overheated equipment and Don quickly ran over to where his brothers waited.

"Time to go," Leo said.

"Don't try that again Stockman," Raph warned as the group headed for the door. "We don't take kindly to anyone messing with our friends."

"You freaks have destroyed all of my brilliant work. Again. You insufferable nitwits have interfered with me for the last time. Do you hear me? The next time we meet, I'm going to erase your sorry shells," Stockman ranted.

"Why wait?" Raph asked, twirling his sais and turning to face Stockman.

"Not now," Leo said, setting a hand on Raph's arm.

"Things are going to start going boom any second now, Raphie boy," Mikey said as he exited the room.

"Enjoy the explosions," Raph said, grinning at Stockman before turning to follow his brothers.

The first explosion hit as they were ascending the ladder up to the roof. Moving fast, the group ran across the rooftop and slid down the drainage pipe.

They were only a few paces from the building when a series of explosions shook the ground. Fragments of burning material rained down on them as they raced for cover.

Under the relative safety of a nearby building's covered entryway, they watched as fire shot through the roof of Stockman's lab facility.

"I wonder if he made it out," Mikey mused.

"He made it," Raph said. "That nutcase is a survivor."

"Thank you guys," Sydney said, drawing the turtle's attention. "You saved us."

"Happy to," Mikey said. "We're always there for our friends."

"Come on, we'll give you a lift back to your homes," Don said.

"Do you think we'll have to keep watching over our shoulders for the rest of our lives?" Shane asked as they walked towards the Battle Shell.

"I hope not," Leo replied. "No guarantees of course, but I think we got rid of everything that made any reference to you when we blew up Stockman's lab."

"Someday we're gonna blow up the Shredder too, then ya' won't having anything to worry about ever again," Raph said. "That's a promise."

Fin