CHAPTER 18 To Prevail in Determination
I do hope some of you enjoy some of the new little characters I have sprinkled through the story. Although only one of them is a key player so far, there will be a few more we shall meet!
This is from Donatello's perspective.
For being a man of science and fact, it was an unbecoming trait that Donatello was not a patient person. It was something that the intelligent ninja did not enjoy about himself per say but it was something he was expected to learn to overcome from the guidance of his sensei. Still, no matter what level of zen or meditation he attempted to reach, when it involved April, it was null and void. Today of all days seemed to creep by, his eyes darting to a clock no matter what room he was in, just trying to make it till nightfall to figure out where his precious April had gone.
Introducing Master Splinter to the situation was not something Donatello was keen on going, but at least he understood that it was definitely time to give their Sensei the details of what transpired. As to be expected, Donatello received a lecture for putting April in this situation, but it was hardly a long one, his father quickly changing tunes in trying to keep everyone calm in the situation. Sure this wasn't the first time April had been taken, hell this wasn't even the worst time she had been taken to his knowledge. Nonetheless, the entire Hamato family was in go-mode once everyone had been queued in.
Another strange occurrence for the four teenage boys was bringing their father to meet their informant on the situation. Watching Master Splinter bow to a bird was certainly a funny sight without any contextual clues, but there was something quite welcoming seeing their father speak with someone closer to him in age for the first time well..ever for them. Cynthia was most certainly a well-spoken individual, speaking highly of where she had originally come from. Although Donatello quickly found he could go without her incessant side remarks on how he chose to live, work and carry himself. He often found throughout that day he was mentally back-sassing her similarly to how he had seen mother and teenage children do on television.
So this is what it's like to have a mother? I can't say I love it but I also find it somewhat…nice.
Donatello smiled to himself softly, working on a portion of coding for an update to the lair's perimeter security, something he had just taken up in hopes of passing the time faster. Peeking over to see Mikey still sitting and chatting idly to Cynthia about the things she had seen while flying around the North Eastern part of America. It was true that she was a well ventured woman, having flown all the way to the south for many winters. Seeing as how none of the turtles knew anything outside of New York City besides the few customs and habits their Sensei had instilled into them from Japan, hearing about things from beyond their world was almost as good as a fantasy novel.
Mikey: Woah, so the farthest you've gone was 'Ver-gin-eeyah'? That's crazy!
Cynthia: Oh ho ho you do not even know how far that is, do you young man?
Mikey: Sure I do…it's like…down!
Cynthia: OH HO HO! You are too silly young man, too much!
It was odd to say the least for Donatello to have so much conversation and laughter in the lab without April there, it made him feel even more guilty than before. Looking to the clock again and letting out a sigh of relief as it was finally an acceptable time to start prepping for the mission before them. Getting up with a much needed stretch, Mikey seemed to understand what was about to come, an all too familiar pout appearing on the youngest Hamato's face.
Donnie: Mikey, I don't want to hear it.
Mikey: But you totally don't even know what I am gonna say!
Donnie: You were going to say something stupid and I am not in the mood for it.
Mikey: Damn…you did know what I was gonna say. Wild…
Cynthia hopped up Mikey's arm, preparing herself on his shoulder for the mission at hand. Donatello started to load up the ShellRazer full of possible equipment and medical supplies they may need for the evening. Not knowing entirely what they were going to come across that evening, the anticipation and anxiety rising within him. Of course he wanted everything to go smoothly, at this point even accepting just finding April trapped at the bottom of a hole or something being the best case scenario. However he knew, Donatello had that inkling that the universe would not be that kind to him and his family.
Pulling up to the warehouse for the third time in the last two weeks was definitely not a wonderful feeling, although now there was some sense of direction for Donatello to follow. Not being one to shy away from a problem or mystery, but this particular instance was one he was very distraught and distracted by. Clearly, he was going to need to adjust himself in order to be more functional not only for his family, but for his precious April.
Being the first one out of the vehicle, the edge was apparent on both Donatello and Michelangelo with the older two brothers being far more graceful about handling their nerves. The newest member of their party nestled up comfortably on the nook of Mikey's neck, attempting to remain out of the way while upkeep their part of the agreement. With agility and speed, the group stood on the rooftop of the warehouse and watched the empty street below them yet again, the sense of deja vu very real.
Cynthia: I am terribly sorry to say this but I am afraid I am unable to tell these buildings apart from this angle. I only saw the side of the building briefly when being transported inside. But I can say there was a noticeable mural on the side of the building.
Raph: Wait, so we gotta go through all these buildings? Ugh, that's going to take forever.
Leo: We'll split up, if it has any markings on the side then we'll revisit it. Let's go.
It was a time wasting task in Donatello's mind. Each time they passed a building that wasn't the one they needed, he could feel his annoyance at the whole situation rising. By the time they had checked the eighth building off as not the right one, the cracks in his decorum really started to show.
Cynthia: No no, I do not believe this is the right building either darling. The mural I saw was red, not black.
Donnie: Are you KIDDING ME? Are you sure you even saw anything? At this rate my poor April is probably wondering where we even are!
Mikey: Woah Donnie, deep breathing dude. You gotta think of your blood pressure or whatever.
Donatello flashed his brother a look, kicking a can on the ground and sending it flying into the opposite brick wall. He couldn't help himself but feel absolutely helpless as time kept ticking by. Continuing on and approaching where Leo stood, looking at a sloppy graffiti tag which looked rather old, gesturing to it with a look of displeasure.
Leo: You know, if you're going to vandalize something with your name, why not make it at least look tasteful.
Cynthia: Oh there we go! This is the one!
Flapping her wings excitedly, Donatello felt a resurgence in his urgency of the matter. Walking around to the front of the building, feeling a sense of familiarity, pointing to the shutter door.
Donnie: This is where I found April the other night! When she seemed disoriented and lost!
Leo: Alright, now how do we get in?
Raph: It's called 'smash and bash the door in' Leo, one of my favorite games.
Mikey: Dude, that's a pretty good game.
Donnie: Guys! Come on, we don't even know what is inside! We need to be more careful about this…
Donatello put his hand on his chin, starting to consider various methods of breaking inside the building. Cynthia flapped her wings and soared into the air with ease, easily capturing the orange clad ninja's attention at the sheer freedom from her movements. She flew and circled around to the roof, calling over the side for the others to follow. Gathering their attention to a small latch on the roof.
Cynthia: Typically this would be the exit and entrance of the suited gentleman who would enter and exit the building.
Donnie looked at the lock on the latch and gestured to Leo who was already prepping his katana's and made swift work of it. Throwing the latch open to reveal an overturned office below. Dropping down into the building, the first thing Donnie noticed was it was absolutely trashed. The office had papers everywhere, file cabinets turned over and what looked like could have been a desk at one point now in pieces around the room.
Raph: Yeesh what a dump.
Leo: Fan out. Look for anything that could be connected to April or the Kraang.
Donnie felt an odd sensation standing amongst the rubble of this office, a tension that felt out of place given the havoc before them. Bending down and inspecting some of the papers beneath them, it seemed to be a catalog of sorts. Various latin names of animals and some kind of categorizations, charts and other bits of information. Peering into the corner of the room by a busted looking door, he spied what looked like an old 2000's desktop PC sitting under some of the destroyed door. Walking over and inspecting it, seeing it had been beaten pretty badly, as if someone was attempting to destroy it and whatever information could be on it.
Scooping up the PC with ease, carrying it into the other room to see what his brothers were looking at. Cynthia sitting on Leo's shoulder seemed to shy away from the scene before them. Wire cages piled around the room in scraped masses, sitting around the room in mountains of a tangled mess. The mess of papers continued out of the office and into the main room. Raph looked to Donnie with the PC in his arms, a gruff nod to what appeared to be a camera in the corner of the room, now a mess of wires.
Raph: Looks like this place has some tapes somewhere. No April though…
Donnie: Bet we can get what we want off this. Piece of cake for me.
Leo: Then we should go. I don't like it here. If we have what we need then we're good.
Mikey: A-Are you guys sure? I feel like something is missing..
Raph: You wanna stay and pick through garbage, be my guest. But I ain't helping ya…
Raph turned, walking back out of the room to the roof hatch they broke in through, Leo giving Mikey a gentle pat on the back, encouraging him to follow. Donatello stood looking at the room, something was telling him to stay. Something within him was telling him to keep looking but three against one was enough for him to suppress it. Joining his brothers on the roof of the building, PC in hand, ready to say goodbye.
