Chapter 16: Patience

Finding a Triceraton base wasn't as easy as Donatello thought it would be. He knew there were probably a few bases spread throughout the city, but the search was taking longer than expected. Especially since all the bases' documents held no information about a Turtle creature being held captive or that commander Zuko was in charge there. Of course, information like that many not be easy to find, either. One thing was for certain; they couldn't rescue their brother if they didn't know where he was being held captive.

Don was so focused on finding the right Triceraton base that he almost didn't notice a particular tracking signal appear on the virtual map. It was very similar to Michelangelo's, but that couldn't be right. Not unless his brother had somehow reappeared in the real world.

"It could be a glitch...," Don mumbled to himself. Yet, somehow, seeing the beacon gave him hope. "Looks like it's coming from an area close to a space port."

Before he could zoom in on the location, an audio message alert appeared on the corner of the screen.

"Guys!" Don called to the others.

Raph, Leo, and Master Splinter snapped out of their mediating sitting positions and joined the tech Turtle by the computer.

"What's going on, Donnie?" Leo asked.

"I think someone is trying to contact us," Don said as he pointed to beeping message. "Maybe it's Mikey."

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Raph growled impatiently. "Let's hear it!"

He reached over and pushed the button that would open the virtual message before anyone could stop him.

Zuko appeared on the screen with a smirk.

"Greetings, you meddlesome Turtles."

"Zuko! 'bout time you showed yourself! Where are ya? I want to tear out your eyes myself!"

"Raph, calm down!" Leo held him back. He frowned as he turned back to face the screen. "Why have you contacted us, Zuko?"

The four fell silent as Zuko began waving a very familiar pair of nunchucks in his hands.

"I believe you all know who these belong to?"

"We do," Leo managed to answer with a nod. "How did you get your hands on them?"

"Good," Zuko chuckled, ignoring Leo's question. "Then you'll comply to my demands."

"What have you done to Mikey, Zuko?" Donatello glared.

"Nothing yet, but that depends on how well you'll cooperate. You'll see your brother again, if you do."

The four looked to one another. They were all angry, but doing their best not to let their anger take over. Even as ticked off as they were, they were desperate to do anything as long as it kept their little brother alive.

"What are your demands?" Splinter asked since his sons appeared to be too upset to speak. A new, smaller window appeared on the computer displaying a map similar to the same one on Donatello's.

"This is where I am keeping your brother. If you want him alive, then you'll come here unarmed. Surrender yourselves to me and I'll let you all live together as prisoners and slaves to the Triceratons."

"Yeah? And why should we?!" Raphael questioned and pointed a sai at the screen as if he could reach through the computer and rip out the commander's throat.

Zuko grabbed a blasting ray gun and the sound of it powering up convinced Raphel to keep his mouth shut.

"Let's just say they'll be one less Turtle that causes me grief."

"Alright," Leo nodded. "We'll be there, just don't hurt Mikey."

Zuko's image disappeared before they could receive an answer. The location image on the map remained on the computer screen. Donatello shook his head.

"No...we can't go without our weapons. It's a trap."

"But if we don't, Zuko's gonna kill Mikey," Raph mumbled with a clinched fist.

"We don't know if that's true," Leo tried to calm them, but he was afraid as well. "Just because he has proof of holding Mikey captive does not mean that he plans on killing him. Zuko clearly wants us alive."

"That may be true, we know little about Michelangelo's current condition," Splinter acknowledged. He placed a hand to his chin as he thought about the situation. "Clearly a plan must be formed before we act rashly."

"He didn't give us certain amount of time to rescue Mikey," Don pointed out. "And he never said we couldn't contact the police."

"We can't assume there aren't other demands," Leo frowned. "We have to think this through."

"How much time do you think we can waste here while we think of a plan, Leo?" Raph challenged. "Mikey's in trouble."

"I know..."

"He could be hurt!" Don insisted. "If we want to rescue Mikey we have to bring our weapons!"

"I KNOW!" Leo screamed, scaring the two.

Leo sighed and turned from them. "I just...need a minute." Then he left the room.

"Master Splinter!" Raph began to panic. "What do we do?!"

"My sons," Splinter frowned. "Zuko wants you to feel frustrated and worried about your brother. He's convinced it will allow him to win over you into submission." He placed a hand on each of their shoulders. "I am more worried about Michelangelo than you can possibly imagine. But we must have patience if we are to succeed in getting him back."

"Patience?" Donnie questioned, anger in his voice. "How can we possibly be patient at a time like this?!"

Splinter did not respond and sat back down on the floor. He instructed Raphael and Donatello to do the same. The three sat cross-legged.

"You must have faith in both your brothers. Faith that Leonardo will come up with a plan of action that will keep everyone safe. Faith that Michelangelo will not be harmed by the Triceratons. To have faith is to have patience. For patience is one of the key traits of the ninja," he told them.

Raph and Don reluctantly joined their master in meditation. Patience was always one of the Turtles' hardest traits to learn, but it was one they had all learned to develop well since childhood. Each had had his own struggle dealing with frustration, anger, and impatience.

His brothers were not the only ones struggling with patience. Michelangelo struggled with the strange rope holding him and it seemed as if the bounds were getting tighter by the minute. He bit at the rope, but could not get his hands lose.

"Why can't I get free?!" he thought to himself in anger. He's been at this for nearly an hour.

"Hey, I thought I told you to stay still!" the Triceraton threatened as he pointed the stun gun at the Turtle. Mikey glared at the creature, but said nothing. The Triceraton began circling the prisoners, making sure no one else was trying to escape.

Mikey had noticed a while ago when he had regained consciousness that his weapons have been taken from him. Not that it wasn't a surprise, though. What Zuko wanted with them, he didn't know, however.

"What can I do in this situation? I can't escape, no matter how hard I try. I'm useless..."

"Patience..," a voice echoed in his head. He wasn't sure if it was his own or if it was Master Splinter's. Why he thought of the word, he didn't know.

"How is patience going to help me now?"

He remembered as a small Turtle how Splinter had persisted so much in teaching him how to be patient, whether it be for training purposes or with his brothers. Patience was one of the key traits of a ninja.

"Maybe the reason why I have not broken free yet is because I have been so desperate in escaping and I haven't spent a lot of time focusing?" he thought to himself. Could it really be that simple? He might as well give it a shot.

There were other words of wisdom going through his head as he thought of Splinter's lessons. 'Do as I say', 'Keep to the shadows', and most of all 'listen to your brothers'.

There were times Mikey hated following his older brothers' rules and often times he had asked his master and father why he had to do what they say. Splinter's answer was always the same; 'Because you must all work together if you want to become successful ninja. I may not always be there to protect you. Your brothers are wiser than you are, Michelangelo. They have more responsibility than you may ever have, and it is them you must turn to for guidance'".

Mikey had never fully understood what Splinter had meant before, but now he felt as if he might know the reason. He wasn't trying to tell Michelangelo that he shouldn't stand up for himself and rely on his brothers for help all the time. He had been trying to tell Michelangelo that his older brothers cared about him and that no matter what came their way to trust them.

"One day, you may have to protect this city from danger, my son." Splinter had once told him. "One day, one of your brothers will lead you. That is why it is important to listen to the wisdom of others. It requires patience."

Mikey felt the strange rope come lose. Seems his patience as a captive were paying off. He glanced over at the Triceraton and pulled the lose rope with his teeth while the dinosaur creature was not looking. Now to find a way to slip away into the shadows without being spotted.

"Yohoo," he called to the guard. He did not remove the rope from him so the Triceraton wouldn't get suspicious of the rope being lose. The angry guard stormed up and pointed his gun at the Turtle. Mikey frowned. "Hold up there, dude. Are you sure you really want to point that thing at me?"

The Triceraton didn't answer and cocked the gun. Mikey swallowed nervously, but continued with his gamble.

"Didn't you hear what they guy just said about you?" he gestured with his head over at another Triceraton who was keeping track of the cargo being shipped out.

"What are you talking about?" the guard asked.

"You're sure you didn't hear what he said?" Mikey continued to play dumb. "It sounded pretty insulting. I'm a little embarrassed to repeat it..."

"What did he say?!" the guard insisted, already sounding offended.

"He said that you're a sorry excuse for a Triceraton. That you would do anything to get a promotion...even...No, I can't say it. It's so...dirty."

"What?!"

"Well...he said that you'd even kiss Zuko's butt."

"Oh, he did, did he?" the guard growled, glancing over at the cargo Triceraton who clearly had no idea what was being said behind his back. "I'll show him!"

He left the Turtle and began arguing with the confused Triceraton.

"'A sorry excuse for a Triceraton', you say?! I'd do anything for a promotion, eh?!"

"What in the name of the Republic are you talking about?" the cargo Triceraton asked with a raised eyebrow. The guard grabbed him by the shirt collar and stuck his nose in his face.

"Don't play dumb! I know what you've been saying behind my back!"

Mikey felt a little guilty for starting a Triceraton fight, but at least this will provide some distraction for him to escape.