Chapter 41: 10% Risk
"For the last time I am not using my brother as a guinea pig!" Donetello screamed, his face turning the shade of his mask.
"I was not implying that we use Pet..ur Leo as a guinea pig. For heaven's sake he's my brother too!"
"I'm not going to grace that imposterous statement with a response, you thief!" Donnie cut out his voice ice.
Silence stretched over the lab.
Taking a few deep breaths like Leo had taught him Baxter counted backwards from ten before continuing. "Look, we've gone as far as we can with our research, Donatello, we are at the point of application now."
"But we are not 100% sure of the side effects yet! What if it doesn't return his memories huh? What if there are unknown side effects?"
"You think I'm not aware of that possibility" The human scientist rubbed his forehead with his fingers attempting to ward off a stress headache. "Look, like it or not there will always be an inherent factor of risk in this endeavor. We could wait a bit longer to try out more tests and make a few more tweaks, but you and I both know that this machine, our calculations, are about as precise as they are going to get."
Donetello let out a long sigh of resignation sinking into his office chair "You're right" Taking a deep breath the purple masked genius swiveled to face the once mad scientist. "But just because I acknowledge that does not make me comfortable with the idea of using a potentially dangerous operation on my older brother." With a look of malice toward the other scientist Donnie added. "Not that you would understand."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Stockman glared.
"Just what it sounds like. Don't think I've forgotten why my brother is in this position in the first place!" Donnie's mahogany eyes shot daggers as he turned to face Stockman.
Moving into a defensive stance Stockman fought to keep his tone even. "Look, I already said I was sorry. I realize now that what I did was wrong. And for the record, I never meant for Leo to get mutated, that was an accident!"
"Well all I'm saying is that none of this would have happened if you hadn't created this in the first place!"
Two sets of brown eyes glared at each other. Exhausted, stressed and emotionally on edge neither scientist was prepared to back down.
"What is going on here?!" Leo stood in the lab doorway, arms crossed. As neither bickering scientist moved to answer, Leo walked into the lab standing between the two scientists.
"Look I know tensions have been high the last few days, having all the pieces to the puzzle has really gotten this ball moving and I know that has added on an extra layer of stress and concern but" Leo met both of his brother's gazes one at a time. "That is no excuse to go at each other's throats. Both of you are above this. Yes, there is a lot of hard history surrounding this, and you're right it's not always easy. But you two agreed to work together. Now if this arrangement is no longer working.."
"No." Stockman interrupted, taking a breath he continued. "you're right," Looking up to meet Donnie's eyes. "I shouldn't have made the reverse-retromutagen. You're 100% right about that, but you're wrong about one thing. I do understand"
Not understanding the silent conversation passing between the two geniuses, Leo took a step back.
Donetello closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and then nodded.
Looking back and forth between his older and younger brothers Leo wasn't exactly sure what to do. He felt like he might still be needed to monitor the situation but he also sensed that some sort of balance was being worked out here and he didn't want to harm that by prying. Although his intentions would be good, this was one fight he couldn't really mediate. The subject was touchy enough already. He hadn't heard much before breaking up the fight, but heard enough to know that the fight had something to do about his mutation.
"I think both of you need to take a break, you've been at this for hours already." Sapphire eyes darting back and forth between Donnie and Stockman, Leo continued. "Now, I'm going to go talk to Mikey about lunch, while I'm gone act like civilized individuals. I can tell this isn't something you want to talk to me about, so I won't push. This time." The message that he'd pry if he found need to went unspoken and with reluctance Leo turned and left the lab.
Watching Leo leave Donnie let out a sigh.
"I still don't like the idea of using the serum before it's been tested."
"Look Donetello" Stockman let out a sigh. "Neither of us like that idea. But there is no way to test it."
Donnie let out a sigh.
"We should let Leo know about the risk, it's his decision."
Baxter nodded.
"When should we talk to him?"
"Tonight"
As soon as Donnie announced the news I found myself in a three way hug. Mikey practically glued himself to my side as soon as Donnie and Baxter announced that they needed to talk to us. Technically, they said they needed to talk to me, buut with three overprotective younger brothers that really wasn't going to happen. Thus I found myself in a Mikey, Raph protective sandwich; with Mikey attached like velcro to one side and Raph on the other, albeit giving me more space but still hovering close by.
My youngest brother's impossibly tight octopus hold grew even tighter when we got the good news. I could get my memories back! Donnie and Baxter had figured out how to reverse the effects of the reverse-retromutagen. Somehow they were able to use the plasma converter to manipulate the flow of energy and were able to tweek Baxter's old mutagen gun to create the device they have now.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I couldn't contain the grin that stretched across my face.
"You mean Leo's gonna have his memories back?!" Mikey beamed.
"This is great news!" Raph added tightening his grip around my shoulders.
I couldn't help but agree. "I knew you could do it!" I beamed at Donnie and Baxter. "I knew if you put those genius heads of yours together you could figure this out."
When Donnie's smile didn't reflect in his eyes I knew something was wrong.
"Donnie?" I felt apprehension pool in my stomach.
The two geniuses shared a glance
"Look, technically we do have the capabilities to theoretically undue the reverse-retromutagen, but due to the intricacies of the process and the nature of the mutagen itself…the odds of full memory recovery are only roughly 90% and…Leo..Leo will be re-mutated." Baxter's voice stuttered as he reached the end of the spewel..
Not fully comprehending, I blinked a few times.
"90% chance?" Raph questioned his voice holding an apprehensive tint.
"More than likely all of his memories will return..but there is a 10% chance that this..amnesia is permanent. There is a 10% chance he will forget this last year as well."
I had never expected any theoretical option to be 100% guaranteed but still the idea that there was a 10% chance it wouldn't work, a 10% chance of still having amnesia after all this, it was daunting to say the least.
"What do you mean Leo will be 're-mutated'?" Mikey questioned.
"Well" Donnie scratched the back of his head. "You see the reverse-retromutagen is still a form of mutagen, there is no way to reverse its effects without reversing ALL of its effects." Donnie took a breath, his deep mahogany eyes meeting mine. "To regain his memories Leo has to become a mutant turtle again."
Mawhaa!
Sorry I know this was a very short chapter :) but I wanted to leave you on a cliffhanger.
What will Leo choose?!
Please comment. I'd love to hear what you think :)
Don't worry I plan to post soon. I've finally had some time to write!
