"Donnie, let's go! Splinter is asleep."

"Mikey, I thought we were going to tell Splinter it was a routine check, not sneak out of the lair after midnight."

"I know, but this is more dangerous!" Michelangelo secured his orange mask over his eyes and then gave his brother an impatient look.

"Mikey, I'm not going with you without at least informing Splinter that we are leaving the lair."

"Fine, I'll go make all the scientific discoveries myself, later bro."

"Mikey you don't even know what science is!" Donatello yelled after his brother as Michelangelo ran out of the room. "Mikey, you can't go alone, don't be stupid."

"Where is Michelangelo going by himself Donatello?"

Donatello whipped around and hastily bowed, "Sensei, oh Mikey went to make sure the sewers are clear." Donatello racked his brain for more convincing information. "I told him I didn't feel like going this late." Master Splinter gave his son an unconvincing look that made Donatello believe he had not fooled Master Splinter in the slightest.

"Donatello, please go accompany Michelangelo, you know better than to let someone go wander off on their own."

"Yes Sensei," Donatello said grabbing his Bo and nimbly hopping over the couch.

"Do not wake me up again when you return Donatello."

Donatello sprinted down the gloomy tunnels trying to contain his rage. Michelangelo had crossed the line. Of all the stupid things he had done, going off alone would have to top everything else.

"I'm gonna kill him! I'm gonna kill him!" Soon, Donatello found himself at the furthest point any of the turtles had ever gone. His feet skidded to a stop and he looked down the next tunnel at the open manhole, a strange yellowish light filled its opening. "Oh no, Mikey you're so stupid sometimes." Donatello clenched his fists tight around his Bo as he cautiously made his way towards the opening. Keeping strictly to the shadows, the turtle craned his neck to see if he could see what was outside.

To his surprise, the street outside was void of life. From how Master Splinter had spoken of New York, Donatello expected to see the street thronged with humans. The outside had a very strange smell, foreign to the turtle's nose. It wasn't a murky sewer smell, or Master Splinter's musky smell. It smelled like food, but no food he had ever eaten. Donatello leaped out onto the street and jumped out of the light. Donatello forced a tighter grip on his Bo. His legs trembled slightly as he scanned his surroundings for a sign of Michelangelo. "Mikey, you've done it this time."

"Hey Donnie! You made it!" Michelangelo pounced on top of his brother from a nearby window ledge.

"Mikey! What do you think you're doing?" Donatello took a firm grasp of his brother's arm and yanked him around the corner. "Mikey we cannot be seen, the humans don't take kindly to mutants. Haven't you ever wondered why Splinter kept us down there all these years?"

"Relax Donnie, no one saw me, I'm a pro at blending in with my surroundings." Michelangelo covered his face with his hands and stepped into the shadows, "see you can't even see me." Donatello rolled his eyes and jabbed Michelangelo's foot with his Bo. "OW!"

"Let's go, this was a bad idea. Splinter is suspicious," Donatello said.

"Donnie, you made it here, you have to at least try these triangle gooey things I found in the trash." Michelangelo pushed a small container of crunchy triangles into Donatello's face.

"Eck! You pulled this out of the trash?"

"Dude? We eat worms and slime remember?"

Donatello hesitantly took a piece from the container and crunched it in half. "Not bad," he said. "I think I'll analyze these in my lab, try to figure out what they are."

"Donnie, its food, why do you have to scientifisize it."

"That's what I do Mikey, besides it could be dangerous. So don't eat anymore."

"You know Donnie, sometimes you're a real kill joy." Michelangelo tapped Donatello on the head and grinned at him before darting off down the dimly lit street.

"Mikey you can't go off alone, get back here!" Donatello was more than a little irritated at Michelangelo who didn't seem to understand what danger was, and of course Michelangelo paid no attention to Donatello when asked to come back. "Splinter is going to kill us," Donatello huffed as he ran after his brother.

When Donatello rounded the street corner, Michelangelo was not in sight. Donatello's anger spiked. He felt personally responsible for whatever happened to Michelangelo. He knew he wouldn't be able to face Master Splinter if he went home without him.

"Mikey?" Donatello said softly. No response. Headlight beams from a truck highlighted the shadows of the alley. Donatello pressed himself flat against a wall trying his best to stay hidden but knowing he was completely vulnerable. "Mikey, answer me please. If this is a joke it isn't funny." Donatello heard a small chuckle behind him, but the voice was unfamiliar. Donatello whirled around to fight, but whoever it was had their course of action figured out. Donatello was too slow.