A/N: Sorry it's so late guys! I was sorta stuck, but Gummy came to my rescue! XD She wrote this chapter, so all thanks goes to her! If you have time, please check out my new story! Animalia! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Dunno if I did one for this story yet, so here it is! We don't own them.

Chapter 4: Hope Lost?

From within the confines of his mind, Michelangelo watched as he watched his brothers entered the tunnel. Hope began to swell inside him. His brothers had found him and they were coming to save him! But his bubble burst when he heard the Garbage Man laugh with amusement. As the Garbage Man turned towards him, Mikey saw the wicked grin spread across his face,

"This venture is turning out better than I had hoped for." Garbageman snickered.

Inwardly, Mikey cringed, but it didn't show on the outside. He was a prisoner in his own body. He was always aware of what was going on, but he wasn't in control. IT had taken complete control of him now. Mikey still fought IT, but he was starting to realize that he couldn't defeat IT on his own. He needed help. He needed his brothers. But the Garbage Mans' statement left Mikey with a feeling of dread. He wanted to know what the Garbage Man had planned. So he gathered all his strength….

"W-what...?" was all he managed to get out. But his warden clearly understood his question. Mikey didn't think it was possible, but the Garbage Mans smile got larger,

"Those brothers of yours are about to find out exactly what you've been up to the past weeks." Then he gave an evil cackle as he rolled away. (Is it rolled or walked?)

NO!' Mikey screamed, but he didn't utter a sound. He could'nt. He stood there, like the obedient slave that he has become.

With the others…..

Raph, Don and Leo were positive that they would find Mikey somewhere beyond this tunnel. They believed that he was still with them, still alive. They could feel it. Don was sitting at the controls of the sub, making sure that they stayed on coarse as they made their way across the bed of the Hudson River. Leo was in the seat next to him with a serious look on his face, thinking. This left Raph standing between them and slightly behind with his arms folded across his chest staring out into the waters of the river.

"Let's try down there." Leo directed to where the river bed made a steep decent.

Don nodded as he pushed the yoke forward, making the sub dive deeper. The sub followed the base of the underwater cliff. The floor was littered with trash from the world above. They even came across a 

whaling ship from the turn of the century.

Beep beep beep

"Uh…Donnie? What's that?" Leo asked pointing a small screen that was blinking a light in sync with the beeping.

That small screen was a radar screen, so knowing that something was coming towards them. Donnie looked out the window,

"It's a car." He replied, sounding as if he himself couldn't believe his eyes.

"Um…what's that car doing at the bottom of the river?" Raph asked, also not believing what he's seeing.

"About 20 miles per hour." Don stated.

They continued to watch the car as it pried pieces off a nearby sunken ship.

"Actually, it looks like its salvaging parts." Donnie amended.

"Well, let's follow it. It might lead us to Mikey." Leo said and the others agreed.

They followed the underwater car until it met up with others in a long line.

"It figures that New York has a traffic problem even at the bottom of the river." Raph mumbled.

"But where are they all….whoa." Donnie stated before staring out the window with awe. They emerged from behind a huge mound of garbage and saw a giant, dome shaped building made up of garbage and salvaged pieces.

"Whoa is right" Raph quietly exclaimed. "How the shell are we supposed ta find Mikey in that?"

"By searching room by room if we have to." Leo answered.

Donnie and Raph nodded their acknowledgement. They would find Mikey no matter what. Leo was just about to suggest a plan of attack when, from out of nowhere, a giant metal whale swam out in front of them.

"What the shell is that thing?" Raph asked, half yelling. Long cables with claws on the ends sprouted from the things back and one grabbed the Shell Sub.

"I don't know, but it's got us." Donnie answered.


The sub was released once it was placed inside the metal creature. The sub surfaced at a junction and a door opened. Three men carrying what looked like cattle prods stepped out. They were covered from head to toe in black wetsuits with specialized goggles and breathing masks covering their faces. Yellow gloves covered their hands and metal pieces on their chests and shoulders completed their uniforms.

"What now?" Don asked Leo.

"Come on let's go." Leo replied.

He knew these guys would lead them to Mikey. The others followed him out of the sub. More weirdly dressed men stepped to the edge of the platform and all activated their weapons so an electrical charge could be seen between the two prongs on the end. Raph went for his sais, but Leo stopped him,

"They could take us to Mikey." Leo whispered.

Reluctantly, Raph abided by Leo's decision and all three were taken into custody. Raph didn't even lift a finger when their weapons were taken from them. Soon, their captors were leading them from the belly of the whale and into the main compound. They walked past others how wore yellow jumpsuits and matching masks. These were workers and they were sorting through the trash, putting aside what would be useful for whatever they were doing.

"This is amazing!" Donnie mumbled.

"Yeah Don, buildin' from trash is freakin' amazin'." Raph sarcastically retorted.

The bridge they were currently walking on led up to a giant mound with what
looked like a command center located at the top. The three turtles realized that this is where they were being taken, all the while keeping a close look out for Mikey. Raph was busy looking around and didn't notice the guard in front of him stop. He bumped right into him and the impact caused him to fall back into the guard behind him too. After this occurred, he happened to sniff the air and his nose crinkled at the fowl order,

"Which one of you is wearing the 'Ode da Fish?" He asked. "It's kinda nasty."

But Don had just noticed something, "Raph, Leo, look" He said as he pointed up to the command center.

From out of the shadows, the Garbage Man revealed himself, "You" he sneered.

"The Garbage Man?!" Don exclaimed.

"But he went into the river," Raph said but then he remembered where he actually was, "in this river."


"Yes, this river, my river"

Leo has had enough, he stepped forward, "What is all this and where is Mikey?"

"Silence!" Roared the Garbage Man as three guards used their weapons and electrocuted him and Raph and Don.

After the shock was over, all three were lying on the ground trying to shake off the effects of the shock.

"First rule my friends. I talk you listen." The Garbage Man threatened. Raph growled in response, but one quick look from Leo quieted him down.

"You know I should really thank you for setting me on this path. Dumping me in the river opened my eyes to a world of hidden treasure, just waiting to be salvaged. So thank you."

"You can thank us by giving us our brother back!" Don said, though he was still weak from the shock therapy he and the others had gotten earlier. The Garbage Man ignored the turtle's outburst.

"I am actually pleased that you are here."

"And why is that?" Leo asked.

"Because, my old servant isn't working out and I think that new ones are in order." The Garbage Man stepped aside to reveal a cage with metal bars and there was Mikey. He was sitting down with his back to them.

"Mikey!" All three cried out, but Mikey didn't move. They couldn't even tell if he was still alive or not.

Raph was really mad now, "What did you do to 'im?" He growled.

The Garbage Man came up to Raph and with one of his chubby fingers, he lifted up Raph's chin and looked him in the eyes,

"Don't worry, my pet. You'll find out soon enough." The Garbage Man chuckled as he stepped away from Raph. "Take these three to the bridge and hold them there." The guards complied and forced Donnie, Leo and Raph onto their feet. They were reluctant to leave Mikey, but they knew they had to choose the right moment and now wasn't it.

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