Chapter 03: A Better Mousetrap
A few days after the turtles and Master Splinter moved they all began to settle into their new home.
Mikey was setting up a bunch of TV sets and Master Splinter was sitting on the couch making a practice dummy and Donnie was welding a pipe above the ground.
"What's the matter Mikey?" Asked Donnie as Mikey finishes setting up the TVs.
"Can't decide what to watch?" Asked Donnie with sarcasm.
Just then he finished welding the pipe and lowered himself onto the ground.
"I need more power, captain." Said Mikey.
"The Turtle Cave must be set for maximum entertainment potential." Said Mikey as he plugs in the cord to the connected TV sets.
But it required so much power and the power right above them went out.
Mikey turns on the TVs only to get a bright blast which was causing him to turn it off and let out a groan.
"Turtle Cave?" Asked Donnie.
"That is so lame." Said Donnie as he shook his head at a lame name.
"What would you call our new digs?" Asked Mikey.
"The Shell-ter?" Asked Mikey with a mocking tone.
Donnie thinks about it for awhile.
"How about the Sewer of Solitude?" Asked Donnie.
"Terrapin Station?" Asked Mikey.
"The School for Gifted Reptiles?" Asked Donnie again.
Splinter was sewing a practice dummy when he was overhearing their conversation.
"The Hall of Ninjustice." Said Mikey.
Splinter clears his throat to get their attention.
"We will call this place Home." Said Splinter.
Donnie and Mikey think about it before deciding they liked it.
"Catchy." Said Mikey as Splinter nods.
"Now, what is keeping Leonardo and Raphael?" Asked Splinter as he noticed they were not back yet.
Donnie was working on the robot that attacked the original lair.
"They just went to get the last of the stuff from the old lair." Replied Mikey.
"And the way the new Sewer Slider is performing, they should be back any minute now." Said Donnie as the robotic foot he was working on malfunctioned.
Leo carries the old cracked canister to the Sewer Slider.
"Our home, for fifteen years." Said Leo with a sigh.
"And this is all that's left." Said Leo as he placed the canister with the other stuff.
Raph had just finished hooking up the belongings so they wouldn't fall off and walks to a pillar and growls.
"When I find out who built those home wreckin' robo-roaches." Said Raph as he punches the pillar and making the area of the sewers shake.
"Raph, come on, let's not trash this place anymore than it already is." Said Leo as he did not want a cave in with them in it.
Raph calms down and heads to the Sewer Slider.
Leo climbs onto the belongings, landing on a surfboard as April sits next to Raph.
Raph starts up the Sewer Slider.
The headlights came to life and the tires begin to turn.
The Sewer Slider starts to hover and the tires slid underneath it and making it glide.
"Now remember, Don said the accelerator hasn't been calibrated yet, so take it nice and—" Said Leo but Raph turns the engine on max and causing the Sewer Slider to rocket through the sewer tunnels.
"SLOW!" Yelled Leo.
"Yaaaay-Hooooo!" Yelled Raph.
"I'd call this a successful field test, wouldn't you Leo?" Asked Raph.
"Yeeeeey-Haaaaa!" Yelled both brothers.
Donnie worked to fix the robot.
While he was working, Master Splinter walks up to him.
"Even though it is inactive, that thing still makes me uneasy, Donatello." Said Splinter.
"This is state of the art robotics, Sensei brilliant work, I've just gotta know what makes it tick." Said Donnie.
Just then the Sewer Slider slowly lands inside the Lair.
Leo was looking for something in the Sewer Slider.
He finds it and jumps off.
"Hey, good news Mikey, your DVD collection survived." Said Leo as he kicks over the box to Mikey.
Mikey was able to catch the box.
"Awesome, let's throw in something light on story and heavy on gory, cuz the video model is ready to rock n' roll." Said Mikey as he presses on the on button on the remote control.
The TV sets light up to show the news.
"In a press conference today at Stock-Tronics Inc, New York's leading technology firm." Said the news Lady.
"Boring." Said Mikey as he was about to switch the channel.
"Wait, I wanna see this." Said Donnie.
The TV screens display three people: Baxter Stockman, April O'Neil, Chris Davidson and Kyle Obake holding a small box and stood inside a shiny laboratory with a small maze and a sheet covering something.
"Founder and C.E.O. Dr. Baxter Stockman was on hand to unveil his latest innovation." Said the news lady.
April looked at the TV.
"This must have been recorded the other day." Said April.
"You worked there?" Asked Virgil in surprise.
"As a part time job." Replied April.
"Shh, let's hear this." Said Donnie.
"A wise man once said, 'Build a better mousetrap and the world will lead a path to your door.' I say, let the path seeking begin, for I, Doctor Baxter Stockman, have designed the solution to the city's ever-growing rat problem, ladies and gentleman, I give you the ultimate expression of rodent extermination technology, the Stock-Tronic Mouser." Said Baxter Stockman.
Stockman pulls away the sheet to reveal the same robot that destroyed their home.
Everyone gasps as soon as the Mouser comes onto the screens.
"I can't believe that the famous Baxter Stockman would try to pass off these killer robots as a good thing." Said Donnie looking at the M.O.U.S.E.R. head in his hand.
"But the real question is why did he send the Mousers to our old home?" Asked Miwa in confusion.
Mikey grabs the head and putting it in his hand.
"And what's up with those glasses?" Asked Mikey.
"Dork city." Said Mikey as he was mimicking Baxter Stockman.
Raph however wasn't so calm about the matter.
He pulls out his sai and slams one of the TV screens which was causing it to make a small explosion.
"I say we head ova' ta Stock-Tronics and kick some serious shell." Said Raph as he was running over to the exit.
Splinter blocks his son's path.
"Absolutely not!" Yelled Splinter as he was hitting Raph on the head with his cane.
"Your last venture to the surface was a disaster, you cannot ill-afford to be seen by more humans!" Yelled Splinter.
"My lab assistant Miss April O'Neil, will release several rats into the simulation chamber, April, proceed my dear." Said Stockman.
April dumps out the consistent of the box.
Probably a dozen black rats fall out and land inside the miniature maze and scurrying all over the area.
Stockman places the M.O.U.S.E.R. at the entrance.
"Now observe the sheer genius of my Mouser in action." Said Stockman.
The Mouser took off.
Soon enough the Mouser devours every single rat.
"Oh man, I'd sure hate to be a rat in this town." Said Mikey.
He turns as he noticed Splinter.
"Oh, sorry, Sensei." Said Mikey.
And the Mouser's search and receivable functions are ingeniously controlled by a remote mother computer." Said Stockman.
Meanwhile at Stock-Tronics, Stockman, April and their newest recruit Adam were watching the news cast from inside their laboratory.
April sighed.
"I just can't believe it, my friends and family will finally see that i actually work with the Baxter Stockman." Said April.
"You flatter me April." Said Stockman.
Both Kyle and Chris rolled their eyes and looked at his computer monitering.
"Huh, that's weird." Said Chris which Stockman and April heard and went over.
"What's wrong?" Asked April.
"I was running a routine diagnostic check, half the Mousers prototypes aren't even transmitting." Said Chris as he showed the image.
"It's like they just vanished." Said Chris as he held his chin.
"Mm, I'm sure it's nothing, Chris, probably just a computer glitch, i'll have a systems tech over in the morning." Said Stockman as he cleared his throat.
"But, what if the Mousers have been tampered with?" Asked April in concern.
"We should go over all the transmission back-ups." Said April.
Dr. Stockman places a hand on April's shoulder to stop.
"That won't be necessary, April!" Yelled Stockman.
Then he begins to leave the room.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm expecting an important call from a very significant financial backer." Said Stockman as he went into his office.
Once Stockman left to his office through a sliding door, April's mind wandered to her boss.
Why was he so worried about this?
Why didn't he let her check the back-ups?
Was there something he didn't want her to see?
If so, what?
The turtles stood in a circle around Master Splinter,.
Donnie swings his Bo staff, which Splinter blocks.
He whacks Donnie across his shell and making him stumble away.
"Do not lean with your shoulders, Donatello." Said Splinter.
Leo jumps behind Splinter for a counter attack.
But unfortunately Splinter whacks Leo across the room.
"Faster on your counter attack, Leonardo." Said Splinter.
Mikey goes next swinging his nunchucks.
Splinter easily trips him.
"Mind your footwork, Michelangelo." Said Splinter.
Lastly, Raph went.
He charges forward with his sai but only to have them knocked out of his hand and pinned against the wall.
"You are distracted, Raphael, you must learn to focus your attacks." Said Splinter as he releases Raph.
"I'd like ta focus my attacks on that Stockman guy." Said Raph as he was dusting himself off.
Miwa sighs as Raph never seems to think.
Raph notices Master Splinter walking away and ran up to him.
"Why can't we just go topside and show 'em a little mean and green?" Asked Raph.
"Because I forbid it!" Yelled/Replied Splinter.
Raph groans in response.
Splinter enters his room through the Japanese sliding doors.
"We will resume your training in the morning." Said Splinter as he closed his doors.
"Hmph, we will resume your training in the morning." Said Mikey as he was imitating Master Splinter.
"I heard that." Said Splinter through the doors.
"Busted!" Yelled Donnie as he laughs and making everyone else laugh.
"I'd like ta bust a few heads." Said Raph as he was punching his fist into his hand.
"Chill bro." Said Mikey as he was walking towards the living room area.
"We don't need no stinking surface world, we've got late movies, top ten video countdowns and BMX burn highlights." Said Mikey as he turned on the TVS.
"Or you could give me a hand with these Mouser parts." Said Donnie as he began working on the Mouser.
"If I can get one working, we can track it to its source to find out what Stockman's really using them for." Said Donnie.
Raph stretches and yawns.
"Nah, I'm beat, i'm gonna rack." Said Raph as walks away.
"Since when does Raph turn in so early?" Asked Leo to himself.
Back at Stock-Tronics, a certain someone was having a conference in his office.
"The Mousers will be ready when I decide they're ready." Said Stockman to a shadow image on his computer screen.
"Our first field test was-" Said Stockman before he was cut off.
"Was a complete failure, I do not tolerate failure Stockman." Said the man.
"Which is why you'd make a lousy scientist, the test was supposed to expose any possible design flaws." Snapped Stockman.
"As a result, I've already upgraded the Mousers for greater durability and I assure you, they will perform flawlessly for the next phase of the plan." Said Stockman in confidence.
"They'd better, for your sake." Said the man as he logs off.
Unknown to them April and the two boys heard everything.
Sometime later, Mikey had fallen asleep in the living room on the couch.
With him and Donnie out, that gave a certain someone the opportunity he needed.
He makes his way out the door but only to see someone he wasn't expecting.
"Midnight stroll?" Asked Leo.
"Outta my way, Leo." Replied Raph.
"Master Splinter said we stay put." Said Leo as he did not budge.
Raph gets into a fighting position.
"Look, I'll go through you if I have to." Said Raph with anger (surprisingly).
Leo does the same as his brother.
"I'd like to see you try, Hot-head." Said Leo.
"Careful what ya wish for, Splinter Jr." Said Raph.
Raph makes the first move and tackling Leo.
The two turtle brothers wrestle each other, until they saw a M.O.U.S.E.R. run past them.
"Hey, guys!" Yelled Donnie as he was running after the robot with Mikey at his side.
"I got one working!" Yelled Donnie.
"Come on, he's faster than he looks." Said Mikey.
The trio disappear down the tunnel along with the M.O.U.S.E.R.
Raph looks up at Leo.
"So, ya just gonna let that M.O.U.S.E.R. roam free?" Asked Raph sarcastically.
"Master Splinter is so gonna kill us." Said Leo as he getting up from the ground and running after his brothers and sister.
He stops momentarily.
"Well, you coming or what?" Asked Leo as went back after them.
"If you insist." Replied Raph as he jumps to his feet and chases after his brothers, friend and the M.O.U.S.E.R. robot.
"Good night, April dear." Said Stockman to April as he leaves.
"Try not to work too late, you know I don't like to pay overtime." Said Stockman.
"Good night, Dr. Stockman." Said April simply.
He nodded to duo and they did the same.
Once he was gone both Kyle, Chris and April gets up from her desk and goes into Stockman's office.
She gets into his computer and says to herself as she types.
"Now, let's find out what kind of plan you've been up to with those Mousers, Dr. Stockman." Said April as she began looking through his laptop.
While searching, a red dragon foot shaped icon pops up.
"Never seen that icon before." Said April.
In curiosity April clicks it.
"What is—" Said April as she was cut off when suddenly the bookcases slide away and revealing a hidden elevator.
The turtles followed the Mousers through the sewers and ultimately running after it across a pipe bridge.
Mikey was in front, followed by Donnie, Leo, Miwa, and Raph.
"Watch your step here, guys, don't wanna end up as turtle or human soup." Said Leo.
Unfortunately the pipe leads to a dead end.
The M.O.U.S.E.R. was using its clawed feet to climb up the wall.
When they see this they had no choice but stop.
"Resourceful little critter." Said Donnie.
"So what do we do now?" Asked Raph.
"Like Master Splinter says." Said Leo as he was putting on some shuko spikes.
"A Ninja is always prepared." Said Leo.
"I thought that was the Boy Scouts." Said Mikey as he was doing the same as his brother.
The curiosity got the better of April.
She walks into the elevator with Adam right behind her and presses one of the buttons and the door immediately shuts on her.
Suddenly the elevator speeds all the way down and taking April and Adam along with it.
As the turtles climb up the wall.
"Next time, let's leave the wall-crawling to the dude in blue and red tights." Said Mikey.
"You read way too many comic books." Said Leo.
The M.O.U.S.E.R. makes it to an open pipe and it was big enough for all of them to walk through.
Once they were back on their feet and continue onward.
"Just curious, Don, what's to stop ol' turbo jaws from munchin' up another two point five on the Richter scale?" Asked Mikey in fear.
"I shut down its jaw servers, it couldn't even chew through a stick of gum." Said Donnie as he smirks.
Just then the M.O.U.S.E.R. comes to a stop near some pipes.
Then it proceeds to eat away through them.
"You were sayin'?" Asked Raph sarcastically.
Donnie was shocked at this.
"But I-I was sure I shut it down." Said Donnie.
Mikey sighs.
"Don's lost his techno mojo, sad really." Said Mikey.
"It must have some kind of security override routine." Said Donnie as he held his hand over his chin.
"Come on." Said Leo.
They make it a little further when Donnie stops them.
"Oh no." Said Donnie.
"What is it, Don?" Asked Leo.
"If I'm not mistaken, that's a serious water main hanging right over our heads." Said Donnie as he points to the leaking pipe above them.
"So?" Asked Raph.
"So, our little M.O.U.S.E.R. friend just ate through the pipe's support!" Yelled Donnie as the pipe becomes worse.
It groans and cracks appear and orange-coloured water comes out.
"Incoming!" Yelled Leo.
The pipe finally bursts and washing the turtles down the tunnel.
They are swept right out and causing them to fall.
Before any of them could fall to their doom the turtles held on to a pipe.
One by one they hang by each other's ankles.
First Donnie, then Leo, Raph, and lastly Mikey.
"Ow!" Yelled Raph suddenly.
"Watch where ya point those shuko spikes, Mike." Said Raph.
"Oh, keep your shell on, Raph." Said Mikey as he was swinging back and forth.
"I got an idea." Said Mikey.
"Mikey, wait!" Yelled Leo calls.
"What are you—" Said Leo but before he could finish Mikey lets go and falls through a waterfall.
This little action caused the others to lose their grips and fall with him.
Luckily, they caught themselves with their shuko spikes or gear and land on a wall.
"Guys, you okay?" Asked Donnie.
Raph spits out some water.
"Peachy." Replied Raph.
The elevator comes to a stop much to April's relief.
"Finally." Said April with a sigh of relief.
Once the door opens and April and Adam walks she gets one big surprise.
Below them are hundreds maybe thousands of M.O.U.S.E.R. robots were being built.
"I don't care how bad the city's rodent problem is, this is serious overkill." Said April to herself.
She decides to get to the bottom of this.
They goes off to find a control room or something.
What she didn't know is that she set off an alarm.
After the turtles manage to climb back and they finally make it back into the tunnel.
Due to the busted pipe more water flows through and the Mouser was nowhere in sight.
"When I get my hands on that metal menace, I'm gonna grind him inta little bot burgers." Said Raph as he was taking out his shuko spikes.
"Easy Raph." Said Donnie as he and his brothers remove their spikes.
"We still gotta keep him in one piece." Said Donnie.
"Which is easier said than done, apparently, what makes you think we'll even find the little blender butt?" Asked Mikey.
Leo points to a nearby hole that none of them noticed until now.
"I think he left us a few clues." Said Leo.
As April types away at the computer to see what she can find.
"Rat problem, my eye, what are you really up to, Dr. Stockman?" Asked April to herself.
"Now now, Miss O'Neil and Mr Obake and Davidson, that would be telling." Said a voice from behind her.
The duo turned around to see none other than her boss walking towards her.
"Suffice it to say, my army of Mousers will make me a very rich and powerful man." Said Stockman as he gestured towards the Mousers.
"But, aren't you already a rich and powerful man?" Asked April in confusion.
What she didn't know is that Stockman pressed a button on a remote he was holding behind his back which opened the window behind her.
"Ah Miss O'Neil, so brilliant, yet so naïve." Said Stockman as he shook his head.
"I will truly miss working with both of you." Said Stockman.
"What, you mean I'm fired?!" Yelled April in shock.
"In a matter of speaking." Said Stockman as he presses another button from a remote behind his back.
Suddenly a metal arm grabs April by her back and drops her into the inactive M.O.U.S.E.R.S. robots along with Adam.
"I'm afraid I can't let you live, Miss O'Neil." Said Stockman as he was typing away at the computer.
"You've seen far too much already and well, let's just say I have trust issues." Said Stockman with a smirk.
As if on cue every M.O.U.S.E.R.S. springs to life.
The M.O.U.S.E.R. had made a small tunnel but luckily it was big enough for the turtles and Virgil to walk through.
The tunnel led them to an empty subway station.
Donnie exited the tunnel first with his brothers and friend following close behind.
"There!" Yelled Donnie as he points across the station.
They saw that Mousers was in sight.
The turtles break into a run with Raph charging ahead in front of them.
Before he could even cross over to the other side Leo grabs him by the shoulder and pulls him back.
"Look out!" Yelled Leo as a train comes hurrying by.
When it leaves they saw that the M.O.U.S.E.R. is gone.
"Whoa Robo-Houndi!" Yelled Mikey in amusement.
"Wrong!" Yelled Leo as he was pointing towards the moving train.
"Robo-hitchhiker!" Yelled Leo and they saw the Mouser had somehow managed to jump on the train and holding on with its teeth.
"We'll never catch him now!" Yelled Mikey.
"Two can play that game." Said Raph.
Just then another train comes their way.
When it gets close enough Raph jumps abroad and stabbing the train roof with his Sai to hold on.
"Wow, what a maniac." Said Mikey.
"Yeah, wait for us!" Yelled Donnie as everyone else jumped on the train before it left.
The Mouser jumps off and continues walking and Raph was able spots it.
"There's our stop!" Yelled Raph.
He and the others jumped off the trained and persuaded the robot.
Once their feet hit the ground they continue on.
Thinking fast April grabs the first object she could use as a weapon which was a fire extinguisher.
"Keep back!" Yelled April as a M.O.U.S.E.R. was coming close to her.
"I know how to use this." Said April as the M.O.U.S.E.R. roars and opens it's jaws.
When it comes closer April sprays the content of the extinguisher at it but it does absolutely nothing.
Having another idea, April slams the fire extinguisher itself onto the robot's head and destroying it in the process.
"Ha!" Yelled April in victory.
The rest charge at her.
April tries to bash another but all it does is catch it in its teeth.
It bites down on the thing and causing it to explode.
The explosion causes a massive cloud of extinguisher foam.
This gives April a chance to run.
Even in the cloud April and Kyle and Chris was able to find a door.
"You can run, Miss O'Neil and you two brats, but you cannot hide from my M.O.U.S.E.R.S." Said Stockman through a microphone.
April finds a lever and pulls it down and revealing the sewers.
Having no other options April runs with the M.O.U.S.E.R.S. not far behind.
She finds herself stuck at three tunnels.
"Which way out, which way out?" Asked April as she couldn't remember.
They heard the Mousers behind her so she looks at the tunnel behind her and runs for it.
The turtles manage to catch up with their Mousers.
"Whoa, who invited him?" Asked Mikey as he saw other M.O.U.S.E.R.S. coming up a stairwell just as the other M.O.U.S.E.R.S. notices them.
"I got it!" Yelled Raph.
He pulls out a shuriken and hurls it at the Mousers.
It slices a gap in the M.O.U.S.E.R.'s head.
Mikey and Raph fist bump each other but it suddenly gets back up.
"This is not good, guys." Said Leo as he was noticing it getting up.
"And neither is that!" Yelled Mikey as he points to an army of M.O.U.S.E.R.S. heading towards them.
"These chrome domes are tougher than the last batch." Said Mikey.
"Yeah and there's a lot more of 'em too." Said Raph as he took out his Sais.
All five of them stand back to back with Mousers surrounding them, their weapons drawn.
Soon all five of them were destroying all the Mousers one by one.
"These M.O.U.S.E.R.S, are incredible, the servo mechanics, the circuitry, the articulation." Said Donnie.
"Geez Donnie, why don't ya just marry one already?" Asked Raph sarcastically.
Soon all of them were destroyed.
Except for one.
"Great job guys, just make sure we leave one—" Said Donnie but he was interrupted by Raph destroying the last one.
"Intact." Said Donnie with sorrow.
"So much for tracking them back to its source." Said Leo as he puts his swords away.
April, Chris and Kyle just continued to run and run until two M.O.U.S.E.R.S. block their path.
So, they turns around and heads the other way, only to have two more Mousers there.
Having no other choice, April turns to her right and runs down the tunnel.
Unfortunately, she trips and the passage is blocked.
Kyle and Chris tried to moved blocked passage but the four Mousers are close behind, ready to strike their target.
April screams and closes her eyes.
But, when she opens them, the M.O.U.S.E.R.S. are destroyed and four figures stand in front of her.
"Oh, thank you!" Yelled April in relief.
"Thank you so much, you saved my-my—" Said April but before she finishes, Mikey leans forward with a smile.
"Hey, how ya doin'?" Asked Mikey like it was a common thing.
Shocked beyond relief, April faints.
Both Kyle and Chris were looking at them in shock.
Are these really talking humanoid reptiles? Asked Chris in his head, you'd think after all those adventures with Omnitrix, nothing would surprise him.
Mikey picks her up and turns to his brothers.
"Hey, so, can I keep them?" Asked Mikey towards April and the duo