Within the second TCRI building the Kraang seemed somewhat pensive. Droids were patrolling the corridors in groups of 8-10, all armed with pulse rifle like weapons. One silver droid separated itself from the rest of the group as it entered a side room, whilst the rest of the droids stood outside guarding the entrance. Inside there was a spherical control panel being operated by a blue Kraang, the silver droid's leader, who then demanded a report.

"Report Kraang, where is that which is known as species 579?"

"Kraang has been unable to locate and recapture that which is known as species 579."

"Kraang must keep looking. The scientist known as Baxter Stockman requires his alpha specimen so that he may proceed in building a mutant army. Species 579 was to be terminated, deemed too dangerous for Kraang to control, but managed to escape. Kraang is incompetent. We must find and destroy this creature. We have the samples that we require."

The lead Kraang droid noticed the other had gone quiet.

"Kraang, confirm we have the samples that we require for Baxter Stockman."

"The samples Kraang extracted from Species 579 were due to be administered in to April O'Neil's paternal subject. These were regrettably fired at the turtles during our last encounter. In self-defence." If Kraang could look sheepish it would certainly show at this point. The lead Kraang droid flipped.

"This is an incalculable error. We must locate and retrieve specimen 579, and the one known as Mr O'Neil, and the turtles."

"We have received intel that the turtles have placed beacons around the city. If Kraang can tap in to the unique frequency of these beacons, we can track Mr O'Neil, who will then lead us to the turtles. More specimens for Baxter Stockman."

The lead Kraang pondered this for a moment.

"Proceed in hacking the beacons, and track Mr O'Neil. Continue your search for species 579. He must be found and terminated, along with any other specimens along the way."

...

At first, Raphael refused to release Donatello, but then curiosity got the better of him - knowing Mikey he was probably up to mischief. Raphael never broke eye contact with Donatello as he slowly rose from the floor. His rather shocked younger brother quickly scrambled to his feet and retreated towards the door, never turning his back to his hothead of a brother.

"Guys, come here!" Mikey sounded very excited.

Donatello hoped by some miracle that Leonardo had woken up and Michelangelo was excited to see him conscious, however he knew this was improbable. He cautiously turned towards his leader who was still lying lifelessly on the cot, completely unaware of the current conflict between his two immediate younger brothers. He needed Leo right now to take control. Raphael was the strongest of them all, but at least Leo could possibly talk some sense in to him.

"What am I thinking, there is no way of talking Raph in to any sense. Maybe I could try injecting him with the melatonin," thought Donatello.

"That way at least he won't try to leave."

Raphael mirrored Donatello's movements as he also cautiously moved across the laboratory towards the door. Luckily he had now placed his sais back in his belt, although for Donatello he felt like had already been stabbed - by the look of fury in those fiery green eyes. Both brothers peered round the doorframe in angst. There was no sign of their cheeky younger brother in the living room which fortunately seemed intact. Donatello noticed the walls had a particular shine to them in places but then blamed his dodgy vision on lack of sleep. They wondered if their youngest had shouted from his room.

"Guys, up here!" The two brothers responded and looked up at the ceiling - where Michelangelo was on all fours, upside-down!

"Mikey! How the hell did you get up there?" Shouted Raph.

"Get down from there before you hurt yourself!"

"Guys, this is so cool. I'm like Spiderman dudes. I can climb walls, walk on ceilings. This is awesome!"

"Mikey, I understand your excitement but how the hell has this happened? A few days ago you couldn't stop scratching and you were locked up in your room. Now you're climbing walls. What do you think will happen in a few more days? Maybe you'll grow a brain, who knows!" Donatello was quickly becoming vexed.

"You know, Mikey would be awesome at sneaking in to the Kraang base. They wouldn't think to look up. No one does."

"Raph, not this again. We are not going back there, not until we have control of this situation and that Leo is awake to agree with me."

"Wait, why are going back to the Kraang base?" Michelangelo queried.

"We are NOT going back to the Kraang lab." Donatello sighed. He wasn't sure why he was going to proceed in explaining.

"I need samples to examine in order to find an antidote for your skin condition, Mikey, and to find out some answers regarding Leo's condition, and possibly Raph's."

"Whoa, whoa whoa, Dee. What do you mean, find an antidote? This is something I can contribute to the team, dude. Don't take this away from me!"

"I agree with Mikey."

Michelangelo was taken aback that his hotheaded brother agreed with him for once.

"You know what, fine! Go ahead. No one listens to me anyway, then everyone always expects me to fix everything when it all goes wrong."

"You know what Donnie, if you hadn't followed your girlfriend's orders in rescuing her dad, then we wouldn't be in this position. You wouldn't have to, as you say, fix everything. But shell fer brains we need to take action now. We can kick some serious Kraang butt with Mikey's new stealth mode in action. We would make a great team."

Donatello had nothing to say as he was busy pondering what could have happened had he said no to the mission in the first place. Although Michelangelo wouldn't have his new "power" as he calls it, Leonardo wouldn't have suffered a practically life changing mutation. Raphael would probably still be an angry hothead with no respect for authority or for the wishes of his brothers so no change there. He resolved his inner turmoil for the time being by returning to his safe haven – his laboratory. Raphael huffed.

"I guess we have the go ahead, Let's go, Mikey."

"Awww yeah, the new A-TEAM is a go! Booyakasha!" Michelangelo threw his fist up (or down) in the air and leapt on to the floor. Unfortunately as he started to make his way out he kept sticking to the floor so his speed was slow at first as he adapted. He eagerly followed Raphael who reviewed the lair once they reached the exit. He then noticed shiny webbing type substance in different places around the living room where Mikey had been messing around with his new found power. He eagerly hoped that Leonardo and Donatello would magically appear and join them on their quest, but that was not to be.

...

Donatello closed the laboratory door and drew up a chair by Leonardo's cot. He tried to monitor the blue banded brother's breathing but proceeded in glazing over, dwelling over the day's events. He felt exhausted. He leaned on the side of the cot and held his brother's closest hand.

"Leo, if you can hear me, please wake up. Shell, you are missing out on all the fun." Donatello smiled weakly.

"Raph and I had a fight, no surprise there; Mikey has turned in to Spiderturtle, that's a new one. I bet he'll come up with a cringe worthy name for himself; you have a tail which I don't think you even realise; April hasn't come back, and neither has Splinter." Donatello looked at his shell cell – no missed messages or calls. He wasn't sure if he even wanted anyone to contact him, fearing it would be more bad news. Whether it would be Raph/Mikey calling for backup or even April finally confessing that she did not have feelings for Donatello. It was a demeaning thought that came across Donatello's mind often, sometimes in the form of a nightmare, one that he never shared with anyone.

"Should I have said no? Should we not have gone ahead with the rescue mission? I followed my gut instinct, Leo. How can I or anyone ignore that feeling? I knew it was risky. You knew it was risky. Everything is just a mess, and I don't know how to fix this." He stared sadly down at Leo's tail.

"You never know, maybe you'll enjoy your new limb and appearance. We are ninjas after all, we can adapt. Mikey certainly seems to have accepted his change. Please wake up. Tell me what to do. I promise I will do everything in my power to fix this, but I need you to wake up." Leonardo didn't stir despite Donatello's plea.

"That's okay. I understand. You need to rest." Donatello took a deep breath, finally giving in to the darkness and drifted off.

...

Leonardo's POV

Leonardo had no intention of opening his heavy eyelids, however he felt a presence that disturbed his sleep. Begrudgingly, his eyes slowly opened.

Urgh, why do I feel woozy? Why is it so bright in here? I don't feel right. Shell, it feels like my insides have ripped out and put back in again. Why is my arm numb? Oh, hi Donnie. I see you fell asleep in your lab again. Nice to see you're keeping me company while I sleep in your lab. Wait, why am I here? So many questions, I wonder where Mikey and Raph are. I can't hear anything, hope they're ok. I should find them.

Ow! Why does it hurt when I try to move? Wait, what the SHELL is that? I look like Leatherhead! What's up with my arms, and what's up with this tube in my arm? Get it out!

Donnie, get this thing out of me! Donnie, can you hear me? Donnie, wake up! WAKE UP!

...

*Author's note* – by the way, in an earlier chapter I wrote catheter when I meant cannula – two COMPLETELY different things, haha! Leo does not have anything up his woohoo! I already have the next chapter up and running but want to finalise things. Unfortunately for Donnie, Leo wakes up...