AN: Thank you everyone who left reviews and also to the ones who fav/followed. I'm glad that people are enjoying this story! Hope you like this chapter as much as the prolouge!
Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own em'!
As their baby brother and his captor faded into the distance the remaining turtles were consumed by guilt, knowing they had let their youngest member be taken by their mortal enemy. They had tried to pursue Shredder across the roofs of New York, but were exhausted by the previous battle and had little energy left. Panting, the three older turtles collapsed to their knees, as tears formed in each turtles eyes. Even Raph, tough guy that he is, couldn't keep the tears from escaping.
"What do we do now fearless leader?" Raph ground out as he swiped his arm angrily at his eyes.
"We look for Mikey!" Leo said, determination lacing his every word.
"If we use the tracking unit I installed in the shell cells we can find him, but we need the battle shells tracking system to do that," Don informed the others.
"Right then!" Leo exclaimed. "Lets head home so we can grab what we need. The faster we get ready the better Mikes chances are".
Leo and Don took off at a sprint, heading for the nearest sewer entrance. Raph hung back for a couple seconds longer, staring into the distance where they had last seen Mike.
"Don't worry Mikey we'll find ya, just hang in there." Raph promised quietly before yelling into the night, "Shredder, if you hurt my little bro in any way, you will wish you'd never been born"!
With that he ran to catch up with the others as they steadily made their way back to the lair, knowing full well it would never be home without their baby brother.
-XXX-XXX-XXX-
Mikey was in the painful process of waking up. His eyes felt so heavy that he was having difficulty opening them, and his whole body hurt like shell. He kept hearing voices from somewhere to his left, they didn't sound familiar to him at all. Finally he managed to crack open his eyes a fraction, immediately closing them due to the blinding light.
"Either it must be morning already... Or there's a really big light bulb hanging in the sky." Mikey thought before once again opening his eyes.
This time he had more success as they quickly adjusted to the light in the room. Looking around he noticed he was in some sort of warehouse. It was practically empty but for a few odd crates stacked to the side, and a table about six feet away with his nunchucks and what looked like a really big needle on it.
"I hate needles!" Mike thought, "The sooner I get outta here and away from that the better"!
Trying to move proved nearly futile as he discovered he was chained by his arms and legs to the wall behind him. Another thing he noticed were the wires attached to his plastron and running to the table, but he didn't give it much thought since he had no idea what they were for. Suddenly the voices got louder as a door opened up on the left, and in stepped the Shredder. He sauntered up holding something Mikey couldn't make out.
"Well, I see your finally awake," Shredder smirked. "Not so brave without your brothers around, hmm"?
"At least I'm not so ugly that I need hide my face in a tin can!" Mikey smiled as he watched the smirk fade from his enemies face. "You even have the matching suit to go..."
Mike was cut off as Shredder pressed a button on what looked like some kind of remote control device in his hand. It felt as if he were being continuously struck by mini bolts of lightning. It hurt like shell but he knew it wasn't enough to kill him.
"Argh!" Mikey gasped in pain, "Shred heads trying to make me into a turtle lightning rod"!
Well, at least now he knew what those wires were for. As the electric current passed through his body, Mike clenched his teeth to keep from crying out. He could hear Shredder laughing manically as he was watching Mikey writhe in pain. Soon he switched it off and the young turtle slumped forward in his bindings.
"As you have just experienced I do not have the best sense of humor," Shredder growled lowly. "But feel free to joke around as much as you want, if you feel like getting electrocuted of course".
"You better be careful with that shred head!" Mikey panted. "It's common knowledge that metal conducts electricity".
"Shut your trap turtle." Shredder snapped as he once again pressed the button.
As the sharp jolt of electricity coursed through his body once more, Mikey noticed that Shredder stepped closer. He was now standing no more than a couple inches away from the youngest turtle, enjoying the sight before him. Mike tried to move, it was difficult but not impossible, and he managed to move one chained foot just enough to come in contact with his enemies metal armor. The electrical current transferred to the Shredder, ran through his body, making him drop the remote which shattered upon hitting the floor. The electricity died away when the remote broke, and both adversaries fell forward. Mikey was held up by his chains, while Shredder landed in a heap on the floor.
A huge grin erupted on Mikes face as he gazed down at his foe. "I really did it, I showed him!" he boasted to himself as he was trying to catch his breath.
As he watched, Shredder slowly made it back to his feet. "You will pay for making a mockery of me!" He screamed before storming out of the room.
Mikey let himself relax a bit. All he had to do now was find a way to free himself. He started thinking of possible ways to get out of his situation. "If only I could reach my weapons, I'd be outta here in no time. There has to be another way! Come on Mikey think, what would the others do?
Leo, most likely, wouldn't have got caught in the first place. If he did he would just use some kind of new technique he learned to quietly escape. I should have been paying more attention to Master Splinters lessons instead of fooling around so much!
Raph is easy to predict. He would be thrashing around so much that he'd just break the chains, then when some foot goons came running they'd get their butts kicked. There is no way that I'm strong enough to break through these things using just my strength though!
Donnie would think up a really awesome, but complicated plan. It would involve a new invention no doubt, and he'd fool the enemy into releasing him. I'm not smart like he is so there's just no way I would be able to do something like that!
Guess I'm on my own for this one. Lets see... I know if I just pretend to be sick they'll have to let me down to see what's the matter. Then maybe I can get outta..."
At that moment the Shredder returned to the room carrying something that filled Mike with dread. The enemy stopped in front of the turtle and glared at him as he held it in front of the youngest turtles face.
"That's not what I think it is," Mikey shuddered. "Is it"?
"Oh, it is exactly what you think it is Michelangelo!" Shredder gloated. "I made a spare just in case something happened. Considering the previous event, that was pretty clever of me, wasn't it"?
"Major bummer dude," was all Mikey had time to think before an electric current was once again coursing throughout his body. Mike couldn't stand the pain any longer and let loose a scream of agony, as Shredder stood by laughing.
As Mikey felt himself slip into the blissful, pain free, state of unconsciousness, one final thought made its way into his head, "Guys I need your help. Please save me"!
-XXX-XXX-XXX-
"Are we ready?" Leo asked his second youngest brother as they finished gathering the supplies they would need to go after their youngest.
"Just let me grab my first aid kit." Don said rushing off to his lab.
"Hurry it up you two!" Raph shouted from the garage door. "Mikey don't got all day. We gotta go now"!
"Raph," Leo said with authority "be patient. It will do him no good to rush in unprepared. We need to be ready so that we can do our best".
"I know," Raph sighed. "I'm just worried about him Leo. Who knows what's happening to him while we're here, getting things ready!" He brought his fist back ready to punch the wall but was interrupted as his genius brother reentered the room.
"If I need to care for injuries you inflict on yourself, just because you were stupid enough to haul off and punch a wall," Donnie rebuked, "it would only take away more of the precious time we could be using searching for Mikey".
"You're right," Raph grudgingly admitted as he lowered his fist. "Sorry Don".
"Good, then lets go find Mike." Don said as the brothers got in the battle shell. "Okay, according to the tracker, Mikey is in an old warehouse about half an hour from here".
"Then what are ya waiting for?" Raph declared. "Let's get a move on"!
"Yes," Leo agreed, "It's time to go bring our baby bro home where he belongs"!
The brothers took off in the battle shell, as fast as they could without breaking the speed limit. They weren't willing to risk being pulled over and wasting more time. Thirty minutes later they parked their van across from the building where Mikey was supposedly being held. They got out and immediately started scouting the area. There were no guards on the outside of the building so they decided to peek in through a window to check the inside. The window was above their heads so Don jumped up and stood on Raph and Leos shoulders. Once situated he peered in the window. At first glance the warehouse appeared completely empty, but upon further inspection his eyes landed on a lone figure chained to the far wall.
"Mikey!" Donnie exclaimed loudly.
Startled by the sudden disturbance Leo and Raph jerked, making Donnie lose his balance. They all fell to the ground in a heap of green.
"Jeez Don," Raph groaned pulling himself up. "Could ya have been any louder"?
"Be careful", Leo warned "the enemy most likely knows we're here now".
"There was no one in sight in the warehouse but Mikey." Donnie explained. "If they're here then they must be hiding somewhere inside to ambush us".
"Then lets crash this party!" Raph growled heading for the front door and whipping it open. "Hey, Foot goons, come out and fight me"!
Nothing moved in the warehouse and all was silent following Raphs outburst. After a few minutes they finally decided the coast was clear and stealthily made their way across the room to their youngest member. When they reached him the brothers immediately noticed he was unconscious. Leo released Mike from the restraints with his katanas. As he slumped forward Raph caught him and lowered him to the ground, laying him softly on his back. Don was busy looking over the wires attached to his brothers chest. When he realized what there were he gave an angry hiss and yanked them off the prone form of the younger turtle. His brothers looked at him with worry marring their faces.
"What is it Don?" Leo asked, concern prominent in his voice. "What's wrong"?
"Yea, what are those things ya ripped off of him?" Raph questioned.
"Those were wires used to send an electric current from this table straight into Mikey." Donnie exclaimed furiously, voice spiking in ire. "They were electrocuting him guys"!
The two oldest turtles' wide eyed gaze shifted from their purple loving brother and came to rest on the unconscious form of Mikey.
"If I ever get my hands on them they'll beg for their lives before I'm done with 'em!" snarled Raph, a murderous glint in his eyes.
"For once Raph, I agree wholeheartedly!" Leo concurred as Don nodded his head in agreement, anger blazing in both brothers eyes.
Their attention was diverted from their dark thoughts as a low moan was heard escaping the lips of their baby brother. (Mike had been out cold ever since Shredder had come back with the second remote). As he opened his eyes the first thing he noticed was that his brothers were there surrounding him. They looked at him with relieved smiles on their faces.
"Hey Dudes, took you long enough," he said weakly, yet still managed to sound sarcastic.
"We're here now Mike," Leo reassured gently, "let's get you home".
Leo helped the youngest get to his feet and they all headed toward the door. Half way across the warehouse Mikey realized he had forgotten his nunchucks on the table and stumbled back to get them, his brothers waiting for his return. As he reached the table a dark shape dropped from the ceiling, landing directly ahead of him. Before the young turtle had time to react he had metal claws pressed against his neck, stopping any movement he would have made. Seeing their brother once again threatened by their worst enemy, the others rushed forward, only to stop as the claws pressed harder.
"Guys," Mikey tried to say but it came out more of a squeak.
"Shredder!" Leo yelled "What are you planning to do to Mikey"?
"Oh, you will find out soon enough Leonardo," the enemy stated mockingly. "I'm sure you'll appreciate my plan".
"And what plan would that be?" Donnie added both curious and apprehensive.
"Donatello, don't you know curiosity killed the cat, or should I say turtle?" Shredder laughed as he picked up a syringe laying on the table before him.
"What is that?" Don questioned, his voice shaking in fear at the hidden meaning of the previous statement.
"And what are you going to do with it?" Leo demanded lowly.
As Leo and Don were keeping Shredders attention fixed on them, Raph had moved around to the side and was slowly creeping toward his little brother in the hopes of freeing him while the enemy was distracted. He was about ten feet away when the Shredder suddenly turned to face him, Mike still in the same position as before.
"Back up Raphael!" he snarled as he pressed his claws even further into Mikeys neck, this time exposing crimson trails where they pierced through skin. "Unless you want to watch him die right here and now you will do as I say. Maybe then he will live awhile longer".
Raph quickly retreated back to where his bros were standing and took his place beside them. They all stood there glaring at their hated enemy, waiting for any opportunity that would arise.
"Now to answer your previous question," Shredder grinned wickedly, jabbing the needle into Mikey, and releasing its contents into his arm.
Mikey screamed in agony as whatever was in the syringe entered his bloodstream, burning its way through his body. As his knees gave out he was pushed roughly forward. Seeing his baby bro falling Raph hurried and caught him just before he hit the ground. He sat there holding Mikey in his embrace as the younger turtle trembled. Soon the pain dissipated and Mike felt mostly normal except for being slightly confused.
"What did ya do to him shred head?" Raph growled through clenched teeth.
"I just administered a new poison I invented recently." He smirked at the dismayed faces of the older turtles. "It has very special properties that are unique to it alone".
"What are these properties Shredder?" Donnie asked, mind racing, trying to formulate a plan to save his brothers life.
"I suppose I can tell you. After all, there is no way you will be able to stop it!" Their enemy looked down at the youngest turtle still being held in Raphs arms.
Shredder then explained triumphantly about the toxic substance. "This poison lasts a total of seven days. Each of the seven days a new symptom will appear. They varied greatly amidst the test subjects so there is no telling what tribulations he will undergo. Some symptoms faded after the day they appeared where others lingered for several. One thing remained unchanged though throughout the trials." He gloated with glee as he finished. "On the seventh day each one of them died a very painful death"!
The brothers turned their gazes on their fallen member, looks of horror plastered on their faces. The same thing was going through each of their heads "If we don't find a cure within seven days, we're going to lose our baby bro forever! When they turned their eyes back to where their enemy had been standing he had disappeared, leaving them to care for their poisoned member.
"Mikey, how are you feeling?" Donnie asked concernedly as he knelt down besides him.
"I'm okay I think, but, where are we again?" Mikey expressed in a confused tone.
The older turtles looked at each other then back at Mike.
"Confusion," Donnie informed the others, "it must be the first symptom of the poison".
"Lets get him home." Leo and Raph helped their youngest brother to his feet. "Then we can decide what to do from there".
"Come on Mikey," Raph led him to the battle shell. "We'll get ya the antidote, don't ya worry"!
-XXX-XXX-XXX-
On the way home Donnie tended to Mikes cuts and bruises he had received in the previous nights fight. Once there, they got busy discussing what they would do about the poison while keeping an eye on Mikey. He was having a hard time understanding things and kept forgetting who they were and where he was. Donnie finally convinced them that analyzing Mikes blood was the most reasonable thing to do at the moment, so he drew some blood from his struggling little brother and left for his lab. The others sat in silence contemplating the recent turn of events.
Suddenly Mikey broke the quiet atmosphere, "Guys, where's Master Splinter"?
"He went to visit the Daimyo. He won't be back for a month." Leo explained.
"Ya don't remember?" Raph inquired. "He just left yesterday".
"Sorry," apologized Mikey. "I guess I forgot".
"Mikey you have nothing to apologize for," Leo told him firmly, "none of this is your fault"!
"Thanks Leo." He responded stifling a yawn.
"Lets get ya to bed," Raph stood up, "ya need to rest".
The two oldest turtles led Mike to his room, where they tucked his blanket softly around him. Soon he was fast asleep, worn out from all the previous commotion. Leo and Raph stood in the doorway, watching for a little while longer before turning away. They joined Don in his lab to give moral support, which the genius gladly accepted.
That night as they were working, a silent promise was made between the three older turtles "We will save our baby brother! No matter what happens, we will protect him from now on"!
AN: Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it! Please review!
