Chapter 11: A Vision of Hope.
Donatello sat quietly in his new cell. There were many differences between his new prison and his old one. Instead of soundproof glass, iron bars were used as the perimeter walls, making the cell more like a cage. A simple padlock was used to fasten the door shut. Another major difference was the presence of a computer system in his barred prison, which he used everyday for entertainment even though it didn't offer him Internet connection; only intelligence tests. Yet the toilet and food tray was still somewhat the same as his old cell in New York.
The room the cage was in was filled with all kinds of computers and high-tech gadgets. Though Donatello still didn't have total freedom, he managed to enjoy the energy and excitement of watching the most qualified mathematicians in the country.
It was currently early morning, and no one had arrived to work yet, making the place seem barren and quiet. All of a sudden, the door opened as Joseph Fiffer, his new caretaker, stepped inside. The human looked upwards to acknowledge Don, but quickly returned to reading the daily newspaper which he held in his hand. He continued to stare at the object for another minute before speaking to the turtle.
"Sorry Don. But it looks like you won't be able to have a family visit, like I promised," Joseph said. The mathematicians treated him considerably different compared to how the scientists did. It was obvious to Donatello that they wanted him to figure out and solve high level proofs and equations, so therefore they needed to be kind to him. The mathematicians wanted to interact with the overgrown turtle, unlike Dr Yesmal and Aquel. Although Donatello was still locked up for safety and insurance measurements, Joseph gave him whatever he wanted within reason in an attempt to make him agreeable. At one stage Donatello refused to work or talk with the mathematician, but he managed to encourage the reptile to be cooperative by promising a day with his family once a month. Joseph and Donatello had only known each other for over a week, but they managed to build a light friendship.
The mathematician threw the newspaper into Donatello's cage. The turtle picked it up and gasped in surprise at the front page. The words 'Turtles Escape' were written in bold black letters, making it hard to ignore. Intrigued, Donatello began to read the article.
After a protest went out of control yesterday at New York's zoo, the three mutant turtles were freed from their enclosure. At approximately midday, the group consisting of at least fifty people, stormed into the zoo. The turtles managed to make it to a manhole, before escaping through the sewer tunnels. Police and zoo keepers pursued them for a few miles by following their tracking devices. Oddly enough, the electronic gadgets were found lying in a sewer tunnel, removed from the turtle's shoulders.
Simon Bonesteel, the man who originally captured the turtles, has been called upon to help in the hunt for the wild animals. 'I know a lot about them', he said in a recent interview. 'I'm sure I can catch them again. They are animals after all'. The police and animal welfare teams are currently making an extensive search through the sewers. The turtles' natural habitat is being watched closely, yet the reptiles as of yet haven't been seen. Animal psychologists are stumped at where they could be. 'They have probably left the state,' Simon Bonesteel said. 'Though we must be sure that they aren't still in the Big Apple first.'
The protest that resulted in freeing the rare animals was a message of sympathy, saying that the mutant turtles were too intelligent and too similar to a human to be locked up. The spokesperson, Sarah Watson, a local college student, was the one who thought up and premeditated the plan for freeing the reptiles. She was arrested yesterday along with another thirty people. Her trial will be held later on in the week.
In the meantime, the city has been put on alert. Anyone that has any information about the turtles' whereabouts has been told to contact the proper authorities immediately.
Donatello smiled to himself after reading the newspaper article. He knew his family was well and truly out of the country by now. Don sighed and watched as Joseph left the room, obviously to get his morning coffee from the machine outside.
Donatello didn't know how to feel. He was extremely happy that his family had escaped, yet he was worried and frustrated at the same time, as he wasn't. Don was excited nonetheless. He began to think about his family and the new future that they had. He almost laughed at the thought of Mike delivering Venus' child, and sniggered when he pictured Leonardo freaking out over the birth. Yes, the next couple of months for them would be exciting and scary at the same time.
A feeling of sadness entered Donatello's mind. He would miss a lot of things; the birth, the child's first steps, the baby's first syllable, and he wouldn't be there for his family in their time of need. Don couldn't help but feel left out. Yet, it did give him something to look forward to.
He knew his family would never forget him. Knowing Leo, Donatello knew that they'd come back to rescue him… someday. He would wait for them; in the meantime finding contentment in his new lifestyle and dream of mathematics.
Donatello glossed over the newspaper and smiled to himself once again. "Have fun guys," he whispered to himself. "I'll be waiting."
