CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
In Donatello's lab, Splinter had deposited the partially moving robotic creature on the workshop table. The Turtles, Splinter, April, Casey, and Irma were all gathered around it
"This is it. This is the robot I found. It's a match for the one the feds took from me" April said, recognizing it.
"The fish that still seeks a river will not drown on dry land" Splinter cryptically uttered.
"And that means…what?" Raphael asked.
"He means he didn't destroy it or render it powerless" Donatello replied, "Look, it's still functioning, and if these little blinks and this electronic map on its back are to be believed, It appears to be following some kind of homing signal and route"
"So by keeping it alive, you think you can work out where it actually came from?" Irma asked
"If I can bring it back to full 'health' so to speak, I won't have to work anything out, we'll just follow it to its destination." Donatello replied
He pointed to the small map, particularly at a red dot. Just a few meters above it was a field of yellow dots/
"See? The red dot is meant to be this unit, the remaining dots are the ones that have made it home. All we have to do is repair its motor functions and let it go on its merry way" Donatello suggested
"I don't know about this" Leonardo said with a touch of hesitation.
"C'mon Leo, it'll help April out with her story. She's been trailing the weirdoes behind these things for months now" Michelangelo added.
"And the sooner I get any kind of answer to what's been going on, I can set about taking parts of my life back, and nobody will have any leverage to keep me where they want to keep me. I can move out and about the world again" April said
"Really?" Michelangelo said, sounding a little disappointed. April clasped his hand in hers.
"Oh Mike. You guys have been so kind to me, but I have an obligation to the world, to tell it the truth so it can learn to function with a sense of honesty it really lacks. The story, no matter how dangerous the sources surrounding are, has to be told to it. It's the honorable thing to do. You guys are all about that aren't you?"
"Oh she's using your favorite word Leo" Raphael taunted.
Leonardo ignored him and turned to Splinter
"Master? What do we do?" Leonardo asked
"Our world, the shadows, have power, but many can play God with it besides us. Life depends on what we can and cannot risk in our pursuit of our safeguarding of heart and home…family, and friends" Splinter said
"He's right. Wherever these things come from, their creators may branch out and stumble on our dwelling, endangering us all, including those under our care. To protect our lair, we must know theirs" Leonardo said, and turned to Donatello
"Let it lead the way" he instructed
"I'm on top of things. While I'm at it, can I interest you in a few little gimmicks I came up with from working on the older models?" Donatello asked excitedly
"Stick to the task and not your hobbies" Raphael remarked.
Donatello became a little downhearted at the notion no one wanted to hear about his other projects, but he swallowed the bitter pill and did as instructed.
Everyone, with the exception of one, walked out of the lab to allow the Turtle peace to get on with his work. The one remaining, Irma, pulled up a chair and stared at him, and gave him a thumbs up. Donatello smiled and set about repairing the robot.