CHAPTER 10

Food for thought

Stockman pushed open the doorway, allowing The Shredder to see into the room beyond. It had taken several attempts to get this far, but the mutant turtle clones were finally fully grown. Each type was sat in different areas of the room, fixated on monitors positioned before them.

It was a relief to see them all there, exactly where he'd left them. The tendency for the molecular structure to break down had proven exceptionally difficult to overcome, but had finally been brought under control as long as the clones regularly received a carefully manufactured protein that kept their cells tightly bonded.

It wasn't an ideal solution and when put under pressure the cloned creatures still had an unfortunate tendency to explode. Yet it made for an unexpected back up plan, as even if their stability failed they could potentially still succeed in their ultimate goal by becoming an unwitting mutagenic bomb. At least now they were stable enough to stand a good chance of reaching their targets first.

On the monitors was all the footage that had been gathered of the original mutant turtles, particularly when involved in battle. Each type of clone was focused on learning the traits of their DNA donor, in order to replicate their movements. They had even been kitted and clothed appropriately, to appear almost undistinguishable.

"Excellent, Stockman. You have done well." The Shredder said, giving rare praise. "How long until they will be ready for battle?"

Stockman shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot, his bulbous head bobbing as he moved. "It will take time, Mazzzter. They are modified to learn, but itzzz a zzzlow procezzzzz."

"There izzz another way…" he then hesitantly suggested.

As The Shredder nodded for him to continue, Stockman started to detail the work he'd been doing on the additional Kraang technology that had been salvaged and was under investigation at the other site. He concluded with how it could potentially be used to accelerate the training cycle of the clones.

The Shredder contemplated for several moments, enough to frazzle a few more of Stockman's remaining nerves as he waited for some form of indication of the ferocious man's mood.

"You may proceed." The Shredder eventually stated, much to the mutant fly's relief. "Capture one of the turtles. Use them."

Michelangelo carefully added the forty-seventh balloon to the impressively sized pile that he was steadily amassing on the makeshift kitchen table. Just a few more, then he'd finally have enough to carry out his master plan.

Reaching for another balloon, a jaunty orange one this time, he filled it from the tap before fumbling to get it knotted and ready to go. The next balloon was appropriately green, with an iridescent sheen.

As he worked Mikey hummed a happy tune to himself, while in the open freezer Ice-cream Kitty danced appreciatively. However, at the sound of someone entering the lair, the turtle paused from his preparations in order to glance curiously over and see who it was.

"Yo, April!"

"Hey." April greeted as she approached, returning the turtle's infectious smile. "Are the others not around?"

His happy demeanour drooped a little at the question. "No… They're all still mad at each other."

"Still? It's been a week!"

When Michelangelo's only response was to look despondent, April reached over to comfortingly pat his arm. "Don't worry. I'm sure they'll calm down soon."

"So…" she then continued, "Er, what's with all the water balloons?"

Mikey brightened again. "They're part of my cunning plan! See, I'm going to put them all in this net. Then, I'll yell to my bros that there's pizza for them in the fridge."

"They'll come running, open the fridge door, the net will fall and- BAM! It'll be brilliant, they're gonna be furious!"

Ice-cream Kitty meowed approvingly, earning a grin from Mikey.

April meanwhile offered a more quizzical smile. "Er… Great! How will that help?"

"Becaaauuuse, then they'll stop being mad at one another and be mad at me instead!" Mikey elaborated proudly, as he started moving the balloons into his rigged net.

"Aww." April's expression softened. "That's sweet, Mikey. Misguided, but sweet."

"I've tried pretty much everything else." Michelangelo explained, dejectedly. "I've spoken to each of them individually and they were ok, but the moment they see each other the sparks fly and they end up madder than before."

"It sounds pretty bad." April conceded. "But I'm not sure that dropping a ton of water balloons on their heads is going to work…"

"Of course it is!" he declared, confidently. "They get mad at me for one balloon, so just imagine how mad they'll be when they get hit with fifty at once!"

As he finished up loading the last few balloons into the net, Mikey paused and glanced over at April.

"So how come you're here? I thought you were babysitting with Casey this evening."

"Oh, well… He can handle looking after his sister by himself." April explained, tucking a stray strand of hair back behind her ear. "I figured there was someone else who could use my company."

"Who?" Mikey asked curiously. When he got a raised eyebrow and a stare in response, it clicked. "Oh!"

"Thanks. You're awesome, April." he beamed.

"So, uh… Rather than making your brothers even madder than they already are… Why don't we go out someplace?" April suggested. "How about Murakami-san's? I'll buy."

"Yeah!" Michelangelo cheered, abruptly abandoning his oversized prank. "Let me just get my coat…"

"You don't have a coat." April pointed out.

Mikey shrugged, before enthusiastically stating, "I should totally get a coat. It'd look awesome on me! A big trench coat… With a hat."

April laughed at the idea. "You're fine dressed as you are." she teased. "Come on, let's go."

Above ground, it was a dry and pleasant evening. Darkness was growing, certainly enough to give shadows for the ninja to hide in. Yet the city still basked in the fading light of sunset and would for a short while yet.

The streets were relatively quiet, as was usual now. However there were enough people meandering along as they went about their business to mean that Mikey had to stealthily trail April as she headed for the noodle bar, rather than being able to walk openly alongside her.

Eventually they rounded the final corner, spotting the familiar red and white 247 sign hung above the shop. From the silhouette view through the windows, there didn't seem to be any patrons there at present. But, erring on the side of caution, April motioned for Michelangelo to wait while she checked.

For a fanciful moment he examined the menu on the token machine outside. Briefly, he wondered what some of the items he'd never tried might taste like. But, ultimately, he knew exactly what he was going to order. As April returned, she glanced at him.

"So, what'll be?" she asked, pulling out her purse.

"As if you need to ask." Mikey grinned.

Amused, April inserted the correct coinage and pressed the button for two portions of pizza gyoza. She turned to head back into the restaurant, but hesitated when realising that Mikey was lingering.

"What's up?"

Michelangelo tapped his fingers together uncertainly. "Hey, April… You think maybe if we took some pizza gyoza back for the others that they might… You know…"

April smiled gently and headed back over. "It's worth a try."

Inserting the rest of her allowance into the machine, she withdrew three more tokens. They both headed into the shop and passed them all over to Mr Murakami.

"Konbanwa, April-chan, Turtle-san." he greeted pleasantly, before turning to begin prepare the food.

As they waited and then while they ate, April and Mikey chatted happily. They relived past adventures and laughed together about funny events that had transpired. For Mikey, who had missed the social interaction with his feuding brothers for the past week, it was a welcome relief to be able to just relax into an animated discussion with a friendly face.

The evening was growing late by the time that they thanked Mr Murakami for the food and wrapped up the additional pizza gyoza to take them back for the other turtles. Outside, sunset had concluded so the only light remaining came from the glow of the moon and the street-lamps.

"I'll walk you home." Michelangelo offered, chivalrously.

April smiled, but shook her head. "Thanks, but I'm a kunoichi, remember? I think I can manage to walk a few blocks by myself without getting into trouble."

Mikey looked doubtful. "Trouble seems to find you an awful lot…"

"Like you can talk." April countered, hands on her hips.

"Yeah, but I love trouble!" the turtle grinned.

"Then you will love thizzz." came an unwelcome buzz from above them.

April and Mikey both abruptly looked upwards, to where Baxter Stockman was flying unsteadily above them. His lopsided appendages made hovering in one spot difficult and he drifted to one side before jerkily righting himself.

"Buzzkill!" called Mikey, quickly drawing his kusarigama and entering a ready stance. "Can't you just take the night off?"

It was evidently difficult work in his claw-like hands, but Stockman fumbled with what looked to be a remote control device and eventually succeeded in activating it. From the back of a van parked nearby there was an ominous series of electronic beeps and whirrs before four freshly repaired Turtle-bots burst out of the vehicle and into the square outside Mr Murakami's shop.

"Oh, not these guys again." Michelangelo lamented, spinning his nunchucks in anticipation of battle. "I already ripped them apart once!"

"It won't be so eazzzy this time!" Stockman threatened. "Turtle-botzzz, get him!"

It was either a freak co-incidence or there had been some careful programming going on, Mikey noted, as the first Turtle-bot to enthusiastically leap into the fight was the Raph-bot.

The robot was strong, but Michelangelo was quicker. He back-flipped out of immediate range and onto the top of the token machine. From there, he could use the chain to extend the range so his weapon could strike from a distance, where the robot's sais were unable to reach.

From his vantage point he had a quick glance over to where April was presently holding her own against the Donnie-bot, though mostly through defensive moves rather than making any attacks of her own. From the other side, he saw the Leo-bot racing towards him with blades drawn.

That just left one more Turtle-bot. For a split second he had no idea where his robotic equivalent was, until he felt the chain wrap around his ankle.

"Oh no…" he managed to murmur, before he was suddenly yanked down from his pedestal.

Sprawled unceremoniously on his shell, Mikey barely rolled out of the way in time to avoid the Leo-bot's swinging attack. As he jumped back to his feet, the turtle managed a good blow that sent the orange striped enemy to the ground and disentangled the chain from his ankle.

Unfortunately, it also left Mikey in a vulnerable position that the Raph-bot didn't hesitate to exploit. Michelangelo yelped in pain as the kick sent him flying across the area and slamming into the nearby wall.

"Mikey!" April yelled, but was powerless to help as she quickly dodged another attack from her own assailant.

Scrambling back to standing, Mikey managed to make a deep scratch across the chest plate of the Raph-bot with a wild attack from his kusarigama blade and force the robot back a couple of paces. But, from behind, the Leo-bot took the opportunity to flank and struck Mikey a glancing blow across the shell.

"Hey, no fair!" Mikey protested. "One at a time, Bro-bots!"

From above, Stockman laughed horribly. "You'll find my new improved Turtle-botzzz are unstoppable!" he mocked.

Michelangelo wanted to make a witty retort and put the fly mutant scientist in his place, but he only got as far as opening his mouth before the Raph-bot barrelled into him and sent him slamming back into the concrete with a crunch.

Across the other side of the square, April was beginning to struggle. She knew that the real Donatello could do a lot of damage with his wooden staff, and this robotic version was brandishing a metallic pole with the naginata blade extending from one end. Worse still, despite her dodging efforts it was showing no signs of tiring, or whatever the robotic equivalent was of running out of juice.

The Turtle-bot swung again and the blade whipped in front of her, nicking her clothes and barely missing her skin. Frantically, she rolled to one side and flung her tessen fan straight at the robot's face. By some miracle the haphazard attack worked, as the sharp edge cut straight across the optical sensors.

Recoiling, the Donnie-bot hesitated as the optical feed was cut off and it was left blind in the battlefield. That was all the opportunity April needed to snatch the metallic naginata from the robot's hands and stab it straight through the middle of the machine.

Fizzling, her attacker dropped like a stone.

"Yes!" cheered April. Though her celebrations proved premature, as the chains of the Mikey-bot's kusarigama suddenly wrapped tightly around her, pinning her arms to her sides. She stumbled to the floor, captured inescapably.

Nearby, the real Michelangelo wasn't faring well. He'd manage to deal a significant amount of damage, disarming the red striped enemy and sending the robots weapons skittering out of immediate reach. But even without sais the Raph-bot still hit hard without hesitation or respite, while the Leo-bot continued to launch an assault with paired ninjaken slicing menacingly.

Growing steadily more exhausted, as well as being battered and bruised, Mikey was starting to see spots dancing before his eyes with each blow that connected. He tried to endure, dodging and weaving as he avoided attacks and made some of his own, but it was getting increasingly difficult as his strength waned.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw April go down as his own robotic equivalent captured her in chains. Calling her name, he tried frantically to make a path in order to head over to release her. But although he got a lucky blow on the Raph-bot that severed one arm of the robot, the unavoidable attacks just kept coming and he couldn't break out of his own combat.

It was a heavy blow from the Leo-bot that eventually felled the ninja turtle. His vision swimming and barely holding onto consciousness, Michelangelo stumbled and dropped to the ground. Try as he might, he just couldn't make his battered body move. Each time he attempted to stand, his head span and he could feel the threat of his vision darkening.

In front of him, he could dimly make out Stockman's feet as the mutant fly landed.

"Take them to the hozzzbital." the scientist ordered.

A hospital. That would help, Mikey thought in dizzy relief. He could really use a hospital right now. He just hoped they treated mutant turtles, and that someone would cover his bill.

"Whats thizzz?" Stockman then buzzed curiously, reaching down to retrieve the doggy bag of pizza gyoza that had been dropped during the fight.

As he finally lost his battle to remain conscious, the last thing Michelangelo saw was Stockman vomiting disgustingly over the food that had been meant to be a peace offering for his brothers.