When the gong began ringing, Danny Pennington put down his pool cue. He hadn't been in the warehouse gang long, but he knew when to stop playing. He followed his newfound friends into the assembly area.

It was Danny's first look at the entire clan. He was proud to be part of it, and when he saw the advanced students, he became excited. They looked so cool in their black dogis. Being cool and being tough was a sure way to avoid any stupid lectures from his father. He'd be that cool. He'd be that tough!

When all the members of The Foot were assembled, Shredder and Rose arrived. Danny couldn't believe it. Shredder was something else. He was the baddest, meanest man Danny had ever seen. He marched on to centre stage, wearing a flowing black and silver cloak and a metal ninja helmet with a metal mask that covered the lower half of his face.

Rose was the most beautiful woman Danny had ever seen. She had long, wavy golden hair, bright blue eyes, and she wore a long, white, off-the-shoulder dress. She also had an impressive pair of wings. Her right wing was white, and her left wing - which hurt when she used it - was black. She belonged to Shredder, and everyone knew it.

The couple paused, and Shredder gently caressed Rose's cheek and gazed lovingly into her eyes, before moving on, leaving her behind.

He made his way toward the platform looking neither left nor right, but completely focused on his destination. Tatsu followed off to the side, a step behind.

The teenagers parted, clearing him a path to the platform. He headed straight to the centre of the barren stage and sat, his movements ceasing completely. He stared straight ahead.

Tatsu then moved in and carefully moved the cloak off Shredder's shoulders, the reason for his care evident when he exposed what lay beneath: A severe red dogi, spiked with razor-sharp ninja armour at the shoulders, forearms, and shins.

Tatsu then looked off the platform and nodded, and four very nervous-looking teenage thugs - the same ones who were Turtle-tied in the Channel Three car park - stepped up onto the platform, forming a square around Shredder. He still didn't move.

Tatsu then received a box from off the platform and removed an ornate red headband, which he slowly draped over one of Shredder's shoulders.

He then said quietly, and respectfully, "Master Shredder..."

The four thugs had eyes only for the red headband, as they were handed various ninja weapons from off the platform. Shredder had none, and still he didn't move. His eyes continued forward as the thugs stared at the red headband, pursing their lips and wiping away nervous perspiration - and Danny began to get the idea that the one who got the headband wouldn't receive a reward, but, rather, avoid a punishment.

Tatsu stood at the back rim of the platform and held up a hand, palm outward. It was very quiet, with no movement from the audience, as they and the four thugs concentrated on Tatsu's hand.

It closed into a fist.

And with it, the four thugs attacked, producing loud screams with each thrust they made, attempting to reach the red headband.

But they didn't have a chance. The Shredder, remaining seated, seemed to know where they would strike before they did. And with simple, fluid movements - never making a sound, never wasting a motion - he not only repelled their attacks, but exacted a payment for them.

For with calculated precision, he used his armour to slash each thug in turn, scratching one's shoulder, ripping through a pant leg to another's thigh. The movements were so precise, in fact, that it was apparent he wasn't trying to seriously hurt them, only leave a mark.

It was over very quickly, with each thug back in his corner, nursing a new wound. They were helped off the platform while Tatsu received the red headband in the exact position he'd left it in.

And after Tatsu stepped down, leaving his master alone on the platform, the Shredder finally spoke, his voice as precise as his movements, as razor-sharp as his armour, "Money, paid as bail for your freedom, is money lost to us. These four have paid their debt. They will wear their scars proudly as reminders of their quest to become full members of The Foot." He allowed a moment for his words to sink in as they reverberated about the huge enclosure.

Then, a teenager in a black dogi came and knelt in front of Shredder. Shredder put a ninja hood on his head. Danny knew that that boy was now a full member of The Foot. He also knew that that was what he wanted to be more than anything. He'd work, he'd study, he'd learn. For once in his life, he'd do something right.

"Our family grows," Shredder continued. "And soon the city itself will be our playground, to use as we please - rewarding ourselves and our friends, punishing our enemies." He paused and then looked up at the teenagers. "There is a new enemy," he said. "Freaks of nature who interfere with our business. You are my eyes and ears. Find them. Together we will punish these creatures - these turtles!"

Turtles? Danny thought. Why did that ring a bell? Then he remembered the turtle lamp and table in April's apartment - ugly stuff. So why hadn't those ugly things been there the first time he was at April's? Suddenly he had the feeling that there could be a shortcut to his own dogi and ninja hood. Suddenly he had more courage than he ever would have thought possible.

Danny Pennington raised his hand.