"The Cronosporter had a maximum range of about eighteen years," Leatherhead explained while Donnie dismantled the lamp to get at the device hidden inside. Parts and wires lay strewn about the cross-legged turtle, abandoned where they'd fallen. "It would send its users to a predesignated destination in time, then retrieve them when reset. However, it was intended to be carried by its users. For safety's sake, it could only be reset after they had arrived at their destination, to prevent their being lost somewhere between dimensions."
"And that is why it was necessary to wait for us to reappear," Donatello concluded. He finished unscrewing the base and carefully pulled it apart, revealing the clock-shaped device. Organic curves, strange markings, alien colors.
"Correct." Leatherhead pointed as Donnie removed the Cronosporter, uncovering a disk hidden beneath it. "April deducted from Stockman's data that the Cronosporter had been set for fifteen years... now, all this time later, I know she was right."
"So," Mikey asked, "all we need to do now is reset it, and we'll go home?"
"Yes." Leatherhead nodded. "The Cronosporter will send you back to the exact time/space coordinates you were originally transporter from. Once there, I would strongly advise you to destroy the Cronosporter. Then Stockman will not be able to cause any further harm with it. This horrible future will cease to exist."
"But -- what about Yoshi?" Leonardo looked from her to Leatherhead. "What about you?"
"That doesn't matter," Yoshi asserted. "Don't you see? You can go back to the real April now!"
"You're the real you, Yoshi," Donatello objected, looking up from his fragmented lamp. "That's enough."
"Yeah," Raphael said indignantly. "Just because you look like someone else doesn't mean you're not important."
Yoshi flapped her hands impatiently. "No, that's not what I meant. If you guys don't go back, April O'Neil will die." She faltered briefly, then kept on. "Not to mention Master Splinter and... and a lot of other people."
She had them there. There was an uncomfortable silence, giving Don plenty of time to wonder what she'd been through. Who she'd lost. What her life had been like, all the years of it they'd missed.
"Why can't we take you guys with us?" Mikey asked plaintively. "I mean, what's gonna happen to you two if we just pull the plug on this time zone?"
"Friends." Leatherhead took the Cronosporter from Don, cradling it while he looked at them all seriously. "The Utroms believed that when someone came into being, it was because they were meant to come into being. I believe that Yoshi will soon exist in your timeline, though her existence may come about in a different way." He nodded to her ragged clothes, her damaged eye. "And there, in that better place, she will have a real future -- something beyond dodging Dragon gangs and hiding in junk heaps."
The turtles looked at each other, turning this new information over collectively.
"Besides," Leatherhead added matter-of-factly, "the Cronosporter will only re-transport those objects or people who were transported in the first place. You can choose not to go, but we certainly cannot come with you."
"Major bummer." Mikey sighed. "I'll have to wait who knows how long for a rematch."
"Big L is right, guys." Yoshi rose and searched their faces earnestly, impressing each one on her memory. There was no fear in her voice. "Listen to him. There's nothing to be afraid of. You'll see me again, I'm sure of it. And you've got to save April. "
We're all family now.
Slowly, reluctantly, each turtle nodded his consent.
"Then we're agreed." Leo spoke for all of them. He came to his feet, the decision made, his face resolute as a sword. "Let's go help April, guys."
Leatherhead waited while they slipped into their street outfits, then held up the Cronosporter. "Godspeed, my friends," he said softly.
A little while later, the world blew away.
X X X
"Too easy, man," the man complained. "Come on, Baxter. I thought you promised me a challenge."
"Don't," came the icy reply, "call me Baxter."
"Whatever, 'man. Still a letdown. Where's my dough?"
"Awaiting your arrival. And make it quick; I have important things to do."
"Nya, nya, whatever," he muttered, but not before flicking the walkie-talkie off. Some fun with the redhead wouldn't take long. Then he'd pop by to pick up the moola, and --
"Excuse me."
"Huh?" The man turned around in surprise and found himself face-to-face with four very angry turtles. He could not have been more shocked had the streetlamps abandoned their moorings to dance in the park. "Hey, I thought I zapped you guys off to neverland!"
"Zap this." A grim-looking Donatello tapped his bo staff in one palm, then cracked the man soundly across the face, sending the Cronosporter flying. The goon crumpled without so much as a whimper. "Leo!"
Swifter than thought, Leo drew his katana and quartered the device in midair. The pieces fell to the pavement and sparked briefly before Raph crushed them underfoot.
"It's over, guys." Leo sheathed his swords and exhaled roughly, feeling suddenly drained. Summer sun burned against his face, and he welcomed the sensation. The cold was gone... the danger was past. For now, at least. "We did it."
"Guys? Guys!" April ran out of the shop, green eyes large with worry, banging the door behind her. "Are you all right? What happened?"
"April!" Leo gave her a huge grin of relief.
"You're alive!" Donatello grabbed her elbow while Raph and Leo clapped a hand on each shoulder, reassuring themselves that she was really there.
"Well -- of course I am," April replied in bafflement. "I've been inside the whole time. Why on earth wouldn't I be?"
Mikey opened his mouth, choked up, and simply hugged her instead, sniffing unashamedly into her shoulder. April patted him comfortingly, a little surprised but not in the least displeased.
"Hey, Mikey, ease up. I'm okay, guys." She looked around at all of them, sensing an unspoken gladness that went beyond what she had witnessed today. Later, maybe, she would ask them about it. Right now, it was enough that they were unharmed. "I'm okay, Mikey. We're together. It's all right... everything is all right."