Chapter 9: Outside!
The older Raphael couldn't wait to go to the surface. Since he and his brothers had landed in the past, they had been grounded in the lair by their father. Now he was finally allowed to leave it. Even if it was for a quick spying mission, it still felt good. He felt sorry for Leonardo and Michelangelo, who would stay behind. Master Splinter still doesn't trust us, Raphael thought bitterly. I wonder what it will take for him to acknowledge our ability to take care of ourselves.
The older Donatello was ready to go. He and Leonardo had agreed on a simple plan. They would cover as much ground in the sewers as possible. They would exit them a few blocks from the TCRI building and use the rooftops to approach their target. Donatello's spying program would take a few minutes to break through the Kraang network. They would use stealth only and avoid engaging in a fight.
Master Splinter had stated that he would merely accompany Raphael and Donatello. The rat master didn't want to know about the details of the mission. He merely wanted to watch them and ensure they stayed safe. Technically, it should be part of Leo's job, Donatello mused. He knew that it would be hard for the blue-clad turtle to stay behind. He would probably be worrying the entire time. Luckily the T-phones are fully functional. I promised Leo we would call if we needed help. But the mission is simple, and Master Splinter will be with us. We will hardly be in any danger. Speaking of it, I wonder if sensei will really let us act without interfering.
The three participants to the mission were finally ready to go. The six turtles who would stay in the lair gathered to see them leave, wishing they could have come too.
The older Leonardo approached stealthily the shelves where Master Splinter kept his scrolls. He had pretended to go meditating in the dojo. Young Donatello was in his lab, Young Leonardo and both Michelangelo were competing in a video game and Young Raphael was feeding Spike in his room. He began searching the scrolls, looking for a particular one. He had just found it when his T-phone buzzed. It was a text from Raphael.
- Master Splinter is driving me crazy.
Leonardo chuckled before answering.
- More than me?
- Ahah, very funny. Actually, yes. At least YOU don't feel the need to hold my hand while crossing the street.
Leonardo stifled a laugh.
- It could be worse. He could be carrying you.
- Don't laugh. He is carrying Donnie across the rooftops right now, supposedly to allow him to focus on the map.
- …You're kidding, right?
- I wish I was.
- Take a few pictures. Please.
Leonardo shook his head, a wide smile on his lips. Maybe it wasn't such a bad thing that he wasn't participating to this trip. He took the scroll he had picked up and began to read it carefully. He suddenly felt a presence behind him and turned around.
"So it's your new way to meditate?"
His Michelangelo was watching him with a I-know-you-re-up-to-something-and-I-want-to-know-what smile. Leonardo sighed inwardly.
"I thought you were in a video game competition," he answered matter-of-factly.
"It's not my turn, and I was wondering what you were doing. Is this one of Master Splinter's forbidden scrolls?"
"Technically, our Master Splinter allowed me to read some of them."
Leonardo felt sheepish. It was the truth, but his father had insisted that he would always do it under his guidance. The mantras written on the scrolls could be dangerous. Michelangelo didn't seem to be fooled.
"Sure, Leo. This must be why you waited until everyone was busy elsewhere and Master Splinter was out of the lair. Because you're totally allowed to read them," the orange-clad turtle answered wryly.
Leonardo sighed. Michelangelo wouldn't be deterred so easily. He knew that trying to lie to his orange-clad brother would only get him in trouble. He didn't want to be at the receiving end of one of Michelangelo's famous revenge pranks.
"This one has a mantra about memory. I am not exactly sure what it does and I am trying to determine if it could be useful."
"Why?" Michelangelo sounded confused. "Do you have memory problems?"
"No, I seek a way to erase our younger selves memories of what happened here before we come back to our time."
"Uh. A mantra could do that?"
"Yes. I just don't know if this mantra could."
"Can't you ask for Master Splinter's help?"
Leonardo sighed. He didn't want to involve his sensei just yet.
"Maybe later. Can I trust you to hold your tongue?"
Michelangelo smiled happily.
"Of course, no problem! You know me, I can totally keep secrets!"
Leonardo ground his teeth. Sure you do, Mikey. Until you spill them out at the worst possible time. However, he had no other choice than to trust his brother. He put the scroll away and took a closer look at Michelangelo. His brother seemed less happy than usual. He was probably still annoyed with having to stay in the lair while Donatello and Raphael were on the surface with Master Splinter.
"You know, Mikey," Leonardo began slowly, "I was thinking about how unfair it was that we couldn't participate in this epic water balloon fight yesterday. Maybe we could fix that now, and show our younger selves a thing or too."
He was rewarded with Michelangelo's huge smile.
"Dude, what are we waiting for? Let's take those turtles down!"
On the surface, Master Splinter had finally come to his senses. He had almost panicked at the beginning. Seeing his precious sons so close to the humans who would hurt them if they knew of their existence had triggered his most protective instincts. He hadn't meant to hold Raphael's hand or to carry an embarrassed Donatello across the rooftops. It had just happened. He took a deep breath. He knew he couldn't continue hurting his sons' pride this way. He had to learn to let them go.
They had arrived at the right building. Donatello was focused on his T-phone. Raphael was surveying the area. Master Splinter was tense, but his sons seemed to have the situation well in hand.
Raphael was relieved that his father had finally decided they were able to move by themselves. He watched the city. He had missed the sight. He couldn't help missing Leonardo and Michelangelo's presence, too. He sent another text to Leonardo.
- We are at the TCRI building. Now Donnie is trying to explain to Master Splinter how his spying program works. It's boring. How is your night?
- Refreshing. Uh, can you give me a warning when you will be ready to go back to the lair?
Raphael wondered what his brothers could possibly be doing. He texted Michelangelo next.
- It's a pity you're missing all the fun. I hope Leo isn't too worried about us.
- Nope, I'm helping him chill out. And I'm helping you cool down, too. Look!
Raphael's suspicions were growing. He groaned when his brother sent him a picture of his younger self, his pet turtle Spike on his shoulder and a wilted leaf in the hand, trickling with water. You could almost see a cloud of hot vapor around him.
- You better run fast.
- I'm on it!
"Raphael?"
The red-clad turtle turned around to face his father.
"Sensei?"
"What are you doing?"
"Uh, I was checking on my other brothers. You know, so they don't feel too left out."
Raphael's tone was slightly accusatory. Master Splinter sighed. At this moment, two things happened simultaneously.
On one hand, Donatello exclaimed that he was done.
On the other hand, a Kraang surveillance droid appeared on their side of the building and biped.
"The system that is the security system of Kraang has been what is called hacked by beings that are not allowed beings that are allowed to do what is called hack the system that is the security system of Kraang. Kraang must now perform what is known as an investigation."
Master Splinter froze. He recognized the being. It looked like one of those who had hunted him and his baby sons down after their mutation all these years ago. He forced himself to remain calm. How are my sons involved in this business? These beings are even more dangerous than the humans! This is really irresponsible!
He heard a whistle and watched as one of Raphael's sai flew past him and hit the droid, sending him crashing in the street above them. Raphael had a wide grin.
"Finally, we got some action!"
Donatello jumped down the building and retrieved Raphael's sai, sending it back to its owner. He took something else within the droid.
"This should prove useful," the purple-clad turtle said. "Do you think there are more of them?"
Master Splinter looked at his son in disbelief. Donatello seemed so calm, as if this was an average evening trip.
"My sons, what have you done? Now they will chase us! We have to get out of here!"
The three of them used the nearest manhole to disappear in the sewers. Raphael texted Leonardo to let him know they were coming back. He left out the details. He was feeling unsure. Had he acted too rashly by hitting the droid instead of merely disappearing in the shadows? He looked at his sensei. Master Splinter seemed distressed.
As soon as they reached the lair, the six turtles who hadn't come out encircled them and questions burst out.
"No one is allowed to leave the lair until further notice. I need to meditate. Do not disturb me," Master Splinter stated calmly before heading for the dojo.
"What happened?" A worried older Leonardo asked, hiding a suspicious mop behind his back.
"Good news is, we got the data. Bad news is, I don't think sensei appreciated our encounter with a Kraang droid," Donatello said sadly.
"What is a Kraang droid?" Young Michelangelo asked.
"It's an evil robot belonging to a bad chest brain thingy," the older Michelangelo explained.
Young Michelangelo nodded as if this answer made perfect sense. On the contrary, Young Donatello, Leonardo and Raphael wore nonplussed expressions.
The older Leonardo sighed. It seemed that his brothers had managed to draw the unwanted attention of the Kraang. He had a feeling Master Splinter wasn't going to let any of them leave the sewers again any time soon.