Then Danny heard the thunderous voice that he now feared and hated most.
"What are you doing in there, boy?" Shredder asked.
"Oh, nothing," Danny said. He tried to sound as innocent as possible. It didn't work. Shredder didn't believe him. Almost as if he knew where he'd find something, Shredder went into Danny's pocket. Rose and Tatsu watched while Shredder pulled a carefully folded piece of paper from it. He opened it slowly. It was April's drawing of the Turtles. Shredder paled.
He knew what it meant. "They're back," he said. Then his eyes seemed to light with the fire of hatred. "There will be no mistakes this time!" he told Rose and Tatsu. "I go myself." He started for the door and then spoke one more time. "Tatsu, the rat has served its purpose. We don't need it any more. Kill it."
Then Shredder and Rose were gone.
Danny needed help to save Splinter, but he didn't know where to get it. As fast as he could, he ran from the room, searching for a friend, an ally. Everywhere he looked, The Foot were running for the door, ready to follow Shredder into battle. Where could Danny get help?
"Oooooomph!" he said as he stumbled and fell down. He looked to see what had happened. He'd been tripped by someone in a dogi and ninja mask. "What are you doing?" Danny demanded.
The boy who had tripped him yanked off his mask. It was Casey! "You've got some serious explaining to do!" Casey said.
This was the help Danny needed. "You've got to come with me! They're going to kill Splinter!"
Danny didn't have to say it twice. Casey and Danny dashed back into the secluded section of the warehouse together.
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Across the river, the battle began. When the Turtles and April discovered that both Danny and Casey were gone, they smelled a rat and it wasn't Splinter. They knew, somehow, they were about to be attacked. They prepared for it.
The first wave of The Foot arrived at the den and found nothing. They stood in the living room, totally confused. When a full battalion had gathered, the Turtles attacked with a full head of steam - literally.
Donatello blasted the entire bunch with a load of steam from an overhead pipe. They were completely overcome and fell down.
"Gosh, I do hope there are more of them," Raphael said. Casually he took a bite out of an apple.
As if on cue, the second wave arrived. "Ah, good." Raphael welcomed them. It was time for Turtle Power!
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Back in the warehouse, Casey followed Danny to Splinter's prison area. Casey had never met Splinter. He was surprised to see such a big rat. He was also surprised to see such a weak rat. "Where do they...?" he began, but he didn't have to finish the sentence. Danny tossed him the set of keys that hung by the entrance.
"Who are you?" Splinter asked, surprising Casey once again.
"Name's Casey Jones," he said. "I'm-" Casey didn't know how to explain. "I'm a friend," he said. It was the first time in a long time he'd used that word. Casey had forgotten what friendship was until the Turtles had taught him. This was no time for philosophy, though. He finished freeing Splinter. "OK, let's get out of here!"
But suddenly Tatsu was between them and the exit.
Casey was tough, but Tatsu was tougher. His ninja skills far outmatched Casey's primitive punches and kicks. Casey tried to talk tough, but that didn't work any better than his fighting.
Tatsu punched. Casey staggered backwards into shelves filled with stolen clothes. Tatsu kicked. Casey flew against boxes of stolen electronics. Tatsu chopped. Casey stumbled on to a pile of stolen jewellery. Tatsu sliced. Casey slammed. This time, though, he hit something familiar. It was stolen sporting equipment. He had his back up against a golf bag! Casey had an idea. With his last ounce of strength, he pulled a driver out of the bag. In the nick of time, he made the tee-shot of his lifetime. He swung back and then through!
"Fore!" he yelled. He whacked Tatsu in the stomach. Tatsu crashed to the floor, out cold.
"I'll never call golf a dull game again!" Casey promised. He kissed the club head.
"We've got to go!" Danny said. But as he helped Splinter towards the door, the room began to fill up with his fellow recruits and first-level trainees.
Once again, things weren't looking too good, until Danny realized that, like him, these guys had seen what Tatsu had done to Shinsho. Maybe there's another way, he thought.