I Need to Know


Mikey kept looking for his brothers on the following night. And the night after that. And too many nights after that.

Time seemed too long for his taste. It hadn't felt that way when he had been trapped in Dimension X. Maybe it was because there were so many shiny things to discover in the home world of the Kraang, or maybe it was because he had never doubted that his brothers would find him, even if it had taken them a month.

Now it was Mikey's turn to find them, and he wasn't doing a very good job.

He started keeping track of time by checking boxes on a calendar he had saved from the sewers. It wasn't the right year, but the pictures were nice. He especially liked the pumpkin collection they had chosen for October.

One week after his brothers' disappearance, Mikey decided that he needed to rework his strategy. The current one–combing through the city–wasn't working.

He had established his headquarters in Donnie's lab. The place was helping him focus. It felt like Donnie was just above his shoulders, telling him to pay attention to the delicate equipment and could he stop play with this Kraang orb pretty please, or else.

Mikey paced across the lab, dragging Leo's katana behind him. Their tips were squeaking against the floor, hitting an empty pizza box here and there. No matter what Leo said, Mikey was convinced that some leader power was stuck inside them.

He reviewed his ideas so far. Apart from looking everywhere in the city, he had suggested putting a classified ad on his favorite social media–something that Splinter had sadly vetoed.

His next plan had consisted in doing things that would have irritated his brothers. He had taken Leo's most precious comic book, and left it in the bathroom next to the toilet paper. He had raced across the lab perched atop Donnie's chair, almost breaking some of Donnie's stuff–okay, he might have broken a test tube or two. He had entered Raph's room and played his drum set, and mixed up Raph's magazines.

He had hoped that his brothers would feel so spiritually annoyed that they would pop out of nowhere, but it hadn't happened.

Then he had tried meditating with Splinter–he was that desperate. But the thoughts that had crossed his mind had been too scary for him to carry on.

"There has to be something I haven't tried!" he exclaimed to the empty tank that had once been Timothy's.

"Michelangelo?"

Mikey started. He hadn't heard his father enter the lab–but then, Splinter was a master at stealth. "Master Splinter. I was looking for a new plan."

Splinter leaned on his cane. "And did you find one?"

Mikey shook his head, his shoulders sagging. "Not yet."

Splinter came closer and put a hand on Mikey's shoulder. "We must keep hoping, my son. If we can't see a path through the night, then we must wait for the sun to rise. An opportunity will present itself."

"Wouldn't it be more efficient to switch on a flashlight?" Mikey asked.

Splinter raised an eyebrow.

Mikey cleared his throat. "I mean, yes, of course, Master Splinter. Let's try that. Waiting. I love waiting!"

Splinter smoothed his beard. "You don't have to wait here with me, my son. You can visit your friends."

Mikey bit his lip. He didn't want to leave his father on his own, not when Splinter had nothing to do all day but worry about his sons. Not when Mikey was already absent all night long. But maybe, just maybe, if Splinter was okay with it, he could visit the Mighty Mutanimals. Leatherhead's company in particular always did him good. Their lair was accessible through the sewers, so it didn't matter that it was broad daylight.

He rushed to Splinter and gave him a tight hug.

"I'll be home soon," he promised.

Splinter returned the hug. "Do not worry about me, my son. Enjoy the time you spend with your friends."

Mikey could both worry about his father and enjoy his time with the Mutanimals, but he didn't tell Splinter that. He also didn't mention that he didn't intend to have fun, per se. It had occurred to him that brainstorming with others might help him in his quest for a new plan.

"See you," he said, and vanished in the sewers.


The Mutanimals' lair was equipped with more screens than Mikey's home, and usually he loved watching TV on all of them at once. But today, the TV didn't show Mikey's favorite cartoons. The screens displayed different views of New York City instead. Rockwell was almost as gifted as Donnie in the genius department, and he had hacked the city's cameras.

"We've checked the docks, the parks, the sewers, the streets, the Purple Dragons' lair, the Foot lair," Slash, the leader of the Mighty Mutanimals and Raph's former pet, said. "Nobody saw them. It means that they at least remember how to hide, or that they've left the city."

Mikey dreaded the second possibility, but at the same time, he had a feeling his brothers were still in New York. He couldn't explain how or why. The belief was just here, rooted deep inside his heart.

He would have preferred that his brothers didn't hide from him, but if they had forgotten who they were, they had probably forgotten where the lair was, too.

Mikey merely hoped that they had found some pizza to eat. Or at least algae and worms.

"I'm monitoring social media around the world, just in case," Rockwell added. "If someone mentions them, I'll know about it."

"Thank you." Mikey appreciated all the effort the Mighty Mutanimals had put into the search. They were not only his friends, they were also talented allies in protecting New York City, even though Leo had taken his sweet time to realize this.

It was mostly due to the fact that Slash had tried to kill Mikey, Donnie and Leo, something that was a big no-no in Leo's book. Mutating could be a very confusing experience–not that Mikey remembered his own. He had grown up thinking that being a mutant turtle and having a rat father was normal, and it had been a shock to realize that it wasn't.

He still wouldn't exchange his family for the world.

Leatherhead's deep voice resounded in his ears. "We will keep looking."

"You're the best." Mikey patted the alligator's head, something that was made easier by the fact he was lying on said head. Leatherhead's scales were so comfortable.

"Yeah, dude. You're our friend, and friends don't let friends alone." Mondo Gecko smiled.

"I know, right?" Mikey grinned at the gecko. "But I think that maybe we need a new plan."

Slash frowned. "You want us to stop looking for your brothers?"

"No!" Mikey shook his head. "No no no. I'm just saying, we could try something else."

Rockwell levitated up to Mikey's level. "I have done my own thinking. If we can't find Donatello, Leonardo and Raphael, maybe we should look for the source of this whole situation."

Mikey straightened up. "The pink genie?"

"Yes. I found some documentation."

Dozens of books flew towards Mikey, who watched them with awe. Rockwell's telekinesis powers were always impressive to witness.

"These books mention many genies and spirits. I haven't found anything that could match your description so far, but I'm only halfway through them."

The books looked ancient, and Mikey wondered how Rockwell had acquired them. It must have required a lot of effort, and maybe a few dangerous intrusions on someone else's property.

"Thank you, Rockwell." Mikey felt tears prickle the corners of his eyes. He had been so right to come here and trust his friends.

"Do you wish to stay with us?" Slash asked, smiling.

Mikey appreciated the gesture, but he had to come back to Splinter. "Thanks, Slash. Another time for sure."


Mikey had barely left the Mutanimals' lair when his T-Phone rang. He immediately took it and watched the caller ID.

It was April.

Mikey frowned. April had school today, so he hadn't been expecting a call from her.

He picked up.

"Mikey!" April's whispered tone could barely contain her excitation. "You have to see this!"

Adrenaline coursed through Mikey's body. "See what?"

"I can't tell you. You have to see for yourself! Can you pinpoint my location?"

Mikey activated the tracker that Donnie had so cleverly embedded in all their T-Phones. He started rushing towards his home. As tempted as he was to just go topside and follow that lead, it was broad daylight. He was going to take the Shellraiser.

"Yes," he answered. "April, I need to know. Did you find my brothers?"

April hesitated. "I found… something. I'm not sure what it is. I'm hoping that you'll be able to say."

Mikey heard unknown voices behind April. She wasn't alone.

"Call me back when you're about to arrive," she whispered urgently. "I have to go."

She hung up, and Mikey accelerated.

It looked like the opportunity Splinter had talked about was finally presenting itself.