He had to be wrong.
Donatello had kept it in his heart.
He has to be wrong.
Donnie had kept quiet as his father had handled his eldest with just a look, and soothe the youngest with his words. He had been quick to agree, because, he knew he couldn't stand against their father. He couldn't risk it.
His resolve would not be tested.
His resolve would not be shaken.
He had been heading towards the lab when he was stopped, and when he was dismissed, he had simply continued on the course. No one stops him, no one question him, for his father set him on a task that required the lab. A task that crosses his own, so perfectly that he wonder for just a fraction of a second if his father had known his true heart. Yet, that was impossible, for he would have stopped him.
Nothing should tarnish their brother's sacrifice.
He was sure this was his father's thoughts.
But, he needed the truth.
The genius turtle would go to his lab and head to the security system control just as his father had asked. He would look to see how they had managed to go through their defence, but he would also search for something else. The monitor would split into various screens, each one showing something different. The outside of the lair, the enemy would arrive to the first camera point without a hitch. There was no searching, no wondering, no point where they got lost as they went straight to the entrance. They even found the hidden keypad for the security system and put in the code to the lair.
Now he knew why there was no warning.
But, how have they known that?
He would have to check on Casey and April next, because, other than themselves, they were the only ones who knew the location and the code. His hands would go to the T-phone as he sent a message. Fear creeps in, but he throttles it down as he thought about their human friends. He wanted to talk to them, but he couldn't trust his own emotions right now. So, he opts for messaging. Nothing alarming, he knew they would have much to answer for when their friends found out what had happened, so, if nothing had happened to them …he didn't want to raise suspicion.
They both message him back.
They were fine.
Mystery not solved, but, he could move onwards with that knowledge.
His eyes would go to another screen.
The same time that the first camera picked up the enemies, it showed their family. The sadness, the grief, and Donnie saw how the entire events were affecting everyone. IF they hadn't been wound so tight, if they hadn't been drowning in their own sorrow, alarms or no alarms they would have heard them. Yet, that wasn't the case …as he looks away from that camera to the third.
Same time, but different scene.
He knew this was planted in the room where they had placed ….Raphael.
This was their storage room, their makeshift prison cell if needed, and many other things. So of course, there was a camera set up there. Though today, it serves as Raphael's coma ward. It was easy for them to set up everything there because it was so barren. The fact that it was out of the way, was a relief, so no one had to constantly look at their mistake.
Donnie shut the camera off quickly.
He didn't want to see what had happened in that room with their father, instead, he went to the next three cameras. Nothing ….at least, not on 4 or 5, but 6 showed that after the enemy was done wiping the floor with them …the one that stole Raph's body had gone a different direction. This puzzle him a bit, but for the moment, Donnie decided that this wasn't something he could solve. It was best to simply move onwards, and thus he went back to the one that showed him the inside of the lair. Camera number 2, and he steel himself for what he would be seeing.
The battle that took place was pretty gruesome, and it was over quickly.
Donatello had to admit it was kind of humbling to see yourself get taken out in just a matter of seconds and embarrassing as well. Though knowing some parts of it was due to stress and being taken by surprise help keep part of his pride in tact. He would have to make sure that this sort of thing never happen again …no matter what.
He would fast forward through the worst of the beat down, though he did slow it down at the part where they torture his little brother.
The mouse cracked underneath his fingers.
He didn't have Raphael's temper, but, anyone would get mad at what he saw. He would pay them back for everything they did to Mikey as he would unplug the ruin mouse, push it to the side, and simply install another one. This was a common accident. Afterall, he could restrict his lab, but not the computer. His brothers were clumsy with his things, so sometimes, it was simply better to have a back up.
He continued to watch, and he felt his eyes widen.
The enemy was dealt with by an invisible force. Their wounds tended, and the camera capture nothing of who did it, but the act themselves weren't missed. If he had hair it would have been standing up as he watch it all, until it got to the part where the invisible force was dealing with their father. Splinter's eyes would open as his wounds were dealt with, and the look.
IF there had been any doubt, there was none now.
Master Splinter knew.
And still ….still.
He gritted his teeth.
There was no sense in getting angry, but they would be talking. He will make sure, that his brothers all saw this ….that they knew what had happen. Then all of them would have a nice chat with Master Splinter. Donnie with that silent pledge left the screens and the security system behind, and went to find his youngest brother. No more secrets, no more being left in the dark. If they were to honor their brother's memory, they had to know everything. Everything that has happened to their sibling and why?
Then …then they would make the decision …whether to get their brother back or not.
(Chapter 3…finished)