All-Out Scheming


Donatello stood strong and proud and more than a little apprehensive in front of Kraang Prime. One of the most delicate parts of his plan had gone pretty well - that was, getting access to the brainy head of the Kraang without becoming toast.

Of course, Kraang Prime had shouted "Intruders" and half the cannons in the room were pointed at Casey and him, but they had his attention.

"Like I said," he repeated. "You've been betrayed."

Kraang Prime was looking at him with great suspicion. Donatello hoped that like all megalomaniacs, he was paranoid. He also hoped that this paranoia wouldn't turn against them too soon.

"Why would I believe you, turtle?"

"How else could we manage to get there?"

Donatello was betting that Kraang Prime didn't know exactly what Kraang Subprime had been up to. After all, nobody in the Kraang seemed to worry about where their second-in-command was.

At least it was the most probable theory.

"Tell me again who's supposed to have betrayed me," Kraang Prime demanded.

"It's Kraang Subprime." Donatello bowed his head, the perfect image of sadness. "Like I told you, he was using me to test a poison he had created. For you." Donatello glanced at Kraang Prime. "He wanted to take your place. To become Kraang Prime instead of Kraang Prime."

Kraang Prime blinked at him. "No Kraang would dare to betray Kraang Prime! Kraang are loyal to Kraang!"

"But Kraang Subprime is different, isn't he?" Donatello whispered. "You're not controlling him like you're controlling the others."

"Subprime proved his loyalty. He deserted the wretched Utroms for me!"

Donatello hid his excitation. So there were another faction of aliens in Dimension X. He wondered if they were the 'traitors to their race' that Kraang Subprime had mentioned.

In any case, Kraang Prime had just given him precious information and he intended to use it.

Donatello leaned forwards, very slowly - he didn't want the Kraang around them to interpret his gesture as threatening - and whispered in what he thought was Kraang Prime's ear. "Yes, he deserted the Utroms, his family. He betrayed them. How can you be sure that he won't do the same with you?"

For the briefest of seconds, Kraang Prime trembled. "He wouldn't…"

"Are you sure? From what he told us, he was jealous of you. Because you're so much clever than he is."

Donatello was of the opinion that he deserved an Oscar for his performance, no less.

"Maybe…" Kraang Prime gazed into the distance. "You said he was trying to create a poison? He's no scientist. Unlike me, of course."

"Exactly." Donatello nodded. "And from scientist to scientist, I must say this secret laboratory of him was rather lame."

"Where is he?" Kraang Prime fidgeted. "Where is Subprime?"

"In this laboratory. I believe that some of your Kraang know where it is, even if I'm sure they had no idea they were betraying you." Donatello nodded. "Oh, and I'm afraid we had to froze him."

As Kraang Prime yelled to the Kraang to go get Subprime, Donatello exchanged a glance with Casey. Was his plan going to work?

Luckily for them, the Kraang scientists that had been working for Subprime were blabbering that yes, Subprime was testing a poison, and no, they weren't sure he had told them the truth about his plans, now that they were thinking about it Subprime had always looked a little weird, he wasn't like the other Kraang, and please Kraang Prime be merciful.

"Let's settle this now," Kraang Prime whispered to himself. "I don't need traitors behind my back in this decisive battle, I don't."

"Do you think he's talking about these Utroms?" Casey whispered to Donatello.

Apparently, Kraang Prime had a keen earing, because his little eyes narrowed. "Who are you calling him, boy? I'm a girl! Can't you see it?"

Casey gaped.

"Of course, Madam, my friend apologizes," Donatello hurried to say, nudging Casey. Now wasn't the time to tell a gigantic brain with tentacles that he could never have guessed it either.

"Yes, sorry," Casey managed to say. "I should have known, only a lady could have…uh… be such a big brain like you. Bigger than my friend's Donnie, and his is very big. Very, very big."

"Shut up, Casey," Donatello gritted out.

But Kraang Prime seemed rather amused by this. "Indeed, human."

The Kraang droids were already coming back with the chamber and its content.

Kraang Prime watched the frozen Kraang Subprime pensively. Donatello wondered whether the alien was going to be imprisoned with or without a judgement, or whether Kraang Prime would allow him to present a defense. He probably wouldn't have a lawyer.

Kraang Prime waved her tentacles, and before Donatello had the time to realize what was happening she jumped on the chamber.

It crashed, flattening the frozen Kraang Subprime and his uniquely vile spirit.

"Better safe than sorry, like you humans say," Kraang Prime muttered before turning her attention back to Donatello and Casey. "Thanks for bringing this to my attention. And now..." She smiled. "I wouldn't want you to interfere with my future plans. I hope you understand."

Donatello tensed. He really hoped that his other little scheme would work, or his life and Casey's were going to end very soon. He wondered what his family would say if they knew where he was. It was probably a good thing they didn't know; they would have freaked out for sure.

"Kill them!" Kraang Prime shouted to her minions.


Unbeknownst to Donatello, his family all together had a front-row seat to his performance, audio excluded.

"What is he saying? What is he saying?" Raphael asked, so close to the screen that it was a wonder he could see anything.

"We need to join them!" Leonardo begged the Utroms. "Can you open a portal to that place?"

Bishop shook his head. "No. We couldn't pinpoint the exact location of it."

"Which is too bad, because if we could spray all these Kraang we would stand a much better chance," Rook mused. "What?" she added when the others glared at her.

"How are you connecting to the video surveillance system?" Savage Mikey asked suddenly.

"Through this." Bishop indicated a control panel embedded in the circular table of the room. "Do you think you could help?"

"Leave it to a professional," Savage Mikey said grimly.


Donatello was only half-satisfied with the way his well-although-quickly thought-out plan was unfolding.

On their way to Kraang Subprime, they had let little antennae fall on the Kraang robotic bodies - antennae that Donatello had manufactured from Irma's spare parts during their journey in the ship, as a way to keep himself busy - and Donatello hoped that they would all interfere with each other and with the robotic bodies of the Kraang to create enough chaos to allow them to escape.

The weak point of that plan was that he had no idea how they had gotten there, and thus he didn't know where the exit was.

It was, all things considered, a problem.

Another problem becoming more and more pressing was the weariness spreading through Donatello's body. He was reaching the end of his physical strength way too quickly.

Casey was dragging him by the arm, using his improvised hockey stick to knock out the Kraang - Kraang busy firing at each other, so at least there was that. The teenage boy had chosen to head towards one of the screens displayed across the room so every Kraang could see Kraang Prime.

Suddenly, Donatello noticed something weird with that screen. The image of Kraang Prime was flickering on a familiar pattern.

Morse code.

Donatello narrowed his eyes. Who could be trying to communicate like this?

A moment later, he had his answer.

"Casey, I have good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?" he said to his partner, trying to sound relaxed.

Casey gritted his teeth. "I could do with some good news."

"Good news is, we're about to have backup after all."

Casey hit the closest Kraang. "And the bad news?"

Donatello cleared his throat. "I need to access that control panel over here." He indicated a location at the other side of the room.

It didn't escape Casey's notice. "Donnie, it's on the other side of the room!"

"Not my fault you chose the wrong path," Donatello said with a pinch of bad faith.

Casey huffed and turned back.


Leonardo waited in anticipation as Michelangelo worked his magic with the Utroms' monitor. He didn't know what exactly changed his brother so much in this dimension, but he wasn't going to complain. For now, it was exactly what they needed.

"It is done, my brothers," Savage Mikey said. "Now let's just hope that Donnie will pick the hint."

"Nice job, Mikey."

Leonardo glanced at April, who was watching the screen where Donatello and Casey were running through a flood of Kraang apparently gone mad. Her drawn features showed how tense she was.

He hesitated. There was something he had to ask. "April?"

"Yes, Leo?" April wasn't looking at him.

"What if…" Leonardo cleared his throat. "What if the Kraang have the same kind of defenses that Irma had? You know, when you… uh…"

"Fainted. You can say it, Leo," April answered. "Don't worry. I won't let it surprise me this time. In fact, I intend to surprise them."

Leonardo took her word for it. She seemed about to explode, literally. He wouldn't have wanted to be a Kraang right now.

He turned his attention back to the screen, watching his brother and Casey's progression. Come on, Donnie, he thought as strong as he could. You can do this.


Donatello breathed deeply. Going forwards was becoming more and more difficult, but now wasn't the time to give out.

He was going to fight to the very end. For his brothers, his father and his friends.

And for himself.

Be strong like the mountain.

Casey reached the control panel. In a last move, he pulled Donatello forwards and almost flattened him against it. Donatello didn't protest and immediately began to type.

A shiny pink portal opened.


Half a second later, Donatello and Casey were surrounded by three very determined turtles, a not amused-at-all rat and a grim-looking teenager.

"How did you manage to get here?" he asked, panting.

"How did we… you mean, how did you manage to get here," Raphael said with great indignation.

"Are you alright, my son?" Splinter asked with concern.

"Of course, Sensei."

"Very good. Still, will you please stop getting yourself in these situations?"

Donatello cleared his throat. "I shall do my best."


April made her way through the Kraang crowd, avoiding the panicking droids with ease.

The few Utroms along with the turtles were disseminating the substance designed to free the Kraang from Kraang Prime's dominion; and indeed, she could feel the connection of the hive minds to their queen weaken and break.

At some point, a portal opened behind Kraang Prime. She saw Michelangelo do something to it, and the portal closed, preventing the leader of the Kraang from escaping.

She wasn't concerned about herself. She was beyong that. From time to time, she felt attempts to influence her - to control her even - but the grief and the rage were like walls around her mind.

The feelings she had been bottling up since she had learned her mother's fate were threatening to explode. She pushed them down, a little more… Just a little more…

She was facing Kraang Prime. She heard people shouting warnings at her. Kraang Prime was gathering her tentacles, maybe getting ready to jump on her…

She released her emotions and her powers in one furious mix. She didn't know whether she was shouting or communicating telepathically - maybe both.

"This is for my friends! This is for my father! And this is for my mother!"

In a furious and desperate yell, Kraang Prime collapsed.


Donatello had a hard time believing what had just happened.

A few minutes ago, he was running away from a powerful alien species. Now Utroms were masters of the situation and Kraang Prime was knocked out.

He spotted April in the distance. She was on her knees in front of the gigantic brain; he had to go there and make sure that she was alright, but his brothers wouldn't let go of him - and Splinter was kneeling next to April, and he couldn't hear what he said but she buried her face in his chest - and Donatello exhaled a deep, deep sigh.

"What happened?" he asked his brothers.

Raphael snorted in his left ear. "You see, we have the craziest adventures when you're not here," he said with happy irony.

"Long story," Leonardo whispered in his right ear.

Donatello nodded. He would ask for details later. "Thanks, Mikey. That Morse code, very clever."

"You're welcome, Donnie," Michelangelo whispered from the top of his head.

Somehow, he managed to hold there without putting any pressure on Donatello's weary muscles.

"What a crazy adventure," Donatello whispered. "I would never have expected this ending."

"Well, I hope you're enjoying the journey, because Splinter will never let you out of the lair again," Raphael said.

"Yes, you were supposed to stay grounded, remember?" Leonardo added, teasing.

"What? I was kidnapped!" Donatello protested.

"I don't think it's going to make any difference." Raphael grinned.

Donatello grunted. "Oh come on."

"And what about me?" Casey protested. "No hugs? No you're-grounded-forever threats?"

Raphael grinned at his friend. "Nah. Nobody expects you to stop getting yourself in trouble. It would be too much to ask for."

"But you can have a hug," Michelangelo said, using his nunchucks to pull Casey to them. "Even if Raph won't say he was worried about you, he was."

"I was not," Raphael protested.

Donatello grinned at nobody in particular, then tensed when he saw April and Splinter come to them.

He didn't know what he was going to tell her.