Donatello woke up fully energized and ready to get to work, he had drawn up the exterior schematics for the Mouser last night and was going to start taking it apart today. Plus, since April was going to be over later, he wanted to get it done sooner rather than later. After grabbing a quick cup of coffee, and headed back into his lab. He sat facing the Mouser and pulled out some tools he could use to take it apart.
After an hour or so, Donnie had the Mousers' outer layer removed. The skin had proven troublesome to get off, it was layered like scales so finding a weak spot had been difficult, but perseverance had paid off and now all the panels were laid out on the table. The guts of the Mouser were all neat and tidy, the wires were all tucked neatly into specific groves and were covered for protection. Donnie took a small screwdriver and started moving some of the wires around. Something mechanical clicked deep in the tangles of wires.
"What the..?" Donnie said to himself. He poked the Mousers' wires around some more trying to figure out what had just happened. He leaned in closer, brows knitted together in confusion. The Mouser unit launched itself at Donnie's face, he squealed and toppled backwards off his chair. The Mouser turned to look at the stunned turtle now lying on his back and screeched at him, it then turned back to the door that lead out to the living room and bolted.
Donnie didn't move for a moment, his brain was having trouble processing what had just happened. The Mouser shouldn't be doing what it was doing. He flipped himself over and ran out after the little robot. He burst into the living room scanning the room frantically for the Mouser.
"Did you see it?" Donnie yelled at his brothers.
"See what?" Leo asked from the couch.
"The Mouser." Donnie replied as if they should know.
"Why would we? It's been in your room all night." Raph said from the far side of the room.
"Well, it kind of activated itself and ran off." Donnie ended lamely. He was going to get so much grief for this.
"It what?" Leo yelled.
"Dude, you said it wouldn't work." Mikey jumped up on the couch.
"It wasn't supposed to be able to, I checked." Donnie scratched his head. This was the second time he had underestimated Baxter Stockman, there wasn't going to be a third.
"Well, clearly you didn't check hard enough." Raph said, he dropped his comic and launched himself over the living area to a shadowy corner of the lair. The Mouser darted from between his legs and headed for the entrance. But Leo was there to cut it off.
"What's it doing?" Leo asked. The Mouser ran and hid under behind their TV stand, Mikey peeked at it, and when he went to grab it, it snapped at his fingers.
"It's trying to get back to Stockman, it must have some basic programming that kicks in if someone tries to tamper with the unit." Donnie scratched his chin. The Mouser scurried around the room, ducking under chairs and tables, evading the boys' attempts at catching it.
"Would you just catch it already?" Raph yelled at his brother in purple. "You just had to keep it, didn't you?"
"The information we could gain could be priceless." Donnie snapped back.
"Stop squabbling and catch it." Leo yelled at his brothers.
Mikey had the Mouser trapped behind the television set, it was backed up against the wall and snapped at any fingers that got too close. He sucked on his finger that had received a nip, "It's tasted blood!" He yelled through his fist.
"Quit fooling around and grab it." Leo was getting annoyed.
"Grab what?" April asked as she and Holly walked through the entryway.
"April!" Donnie shouted happily, all thoughts of the Mouser disappearing for a moment.
"That stupid robot, it's running around the lair." Raph didn't even turn around, there was work to do.
"How?" Asked Holly.
"It turned on as I was pulling it apart, It's trying to go back to Stockman." Donnie explained.
"Then it's probably recording what it's seeing," There was a pause as everyone looked at Holly. "If I were a crazy mad man I would want to know who stole my stuff." She shrugged at the group.
"We can't risk that information getting back to Stockman, especially now we know he's working with the Purple Dragons and Dogpound." Leo shook his head. "Raph, have at it."
"It's about damn time." Raph drew his Sais and motioned that Mikey should move away from the television, allowing the Mouser to come out. It launched itself out of its hiding spot, Mikey squealed and ducked as the little robot used his shell as a spring board, flying over the sofa and soaring for the exit. Raph threw one of his Sais, it span end over end until it connected with the bot, the force of his throw buried the Sai into the concrete wall where the Mouser was pinned. It struggled and squealed trying to get free but it was useless. Raph smiled smugly.
"You missed." Leo said.
"Donnie wanted it in one price right?" Raph asked.
"But I don't." Leo replied shortly.
"Not a problem." Holly had pulled out her compound bow from its carrying case and had loaded an arrow. She pulled back, took aim, and fired. The arrow whistled slightly as it sailed through the air, and it sank deep into the Mousers head. The robot sparked, whirred, and died pinned against the wall. "I figured I would bring you guys this. It's not like I can use it in the city, and it works much better than the one you have here."
"Oh cool" Mikey sprang up and rushed over to Holly, she gave him her bow and watched him draw it back, getting a feel for the tension. "Can I try shooting it?"
"Sure, it's yours now." She couldn't help but smile at the look on the youngest turtles face. Mikey rushed off to the training room. "Just be careful with it." Holly yelled after him. She and Raph walked over to the Mouser to retrieve their belongings. There was one light left blinking inside the head of the mechanical creature, but it faded slowly until it too winked out. After handing the dead robot to Donnie, they followed the rest of the group into the other room to watch Mikey.
"Wow, that's awesome!" He yelled. He took another shot, and another, celebrating happily after each one.
"Here, let me have a go." Leo stood and Mikey gave him the bow. Leo took aim and pulled the string back, and again, the arrow flew straight and true and smacked into the target with a satisfying thunk. "That's incredible."
"It should be, it was top of the line when I got it." Holly said. "And I take very good care of my possessions."
April and Holly watched as the turtles each took a turn shooting at the targets, April even tried.
"OK, draw back the bow, take a deep breath and release on the exhale." Holly tried to explain to the redhead.
April did as she was told, but when she let go of the arrow, it sailed past the target and into the back wall. April frowned, and tried again. She drew back the bow, took a breath, exhaled, and released, but once again the arrow missed the target and hit the wall.
Donatello stood up and moved over to the frustrated girl. He walked around her scratching his chin. "Do it again." April frowned at him.
"What is he...?" Raph started, but Holly clamped her hand over his mouth and pressed a finger to her lip. This could get close and personal.
April gave him a look but did as he asked. She loaded and arrow and drew back the bow.
"Don't lock out your elbow, use your muscle to hold it steady." Donnie said. April adjusted her grip. Donnie walked behind her, examining her posture. He gently took hold of her shoulders and pulled back, making her stand up straighter. "Also, hold your shoulders back, it'll open up your chest. And hold your other elbow up, but not too high." Donnie put one hand under her right elbow and his other hand held her wrist straight.
April noticed that Donnie was standing very close behind her, if she were to lean back she would bump into him. Her heart rate climbed as he wrapped his fingers around her wrist, his hands were so much bigger than hers. She felt his other hand steadying the arm that held back the arrow. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.
"Now, take your time, breath." He practically whispered to her, it sent goosebumps all the way down her spine and on into her toes. After one more deep, cleansing breath, she let go of the string.
April didn't even look at the target, she was too busy noticing that her favorite turtle still had a hold of her wrist. His other hand had moved up her arm and was resting on her shoulder.
"Nice shooting Tex." Holly said with a very smug tone in her voice.
April jumped slightly, she had forgotten the others were there. She looked at the target, she had actually done quite well. Her arrow was in the target, just outside of the red center circle.
"Hey, I hit it!" She jumped up happily and beamed up at Donnie, who smiled back at her with his trademark gap-toothed grin.
"Nice work." He said softly to her. She blushed slightly and tuned away from the group so they wouldn't see her big dopey grin.
Mikey, Holly and Raph all started to walk towards the door that lead back to the living room, they were arguing about who could get the new high score on the pinball machine and had even started making bets as to who could get the most points with a single ball. But just as they reached the door, Master Splinter slid it open from the other side.
"I have been looking for you, my sons. I see the young ladies are here also." He glanced briefly at each of the six teens in the room. They all had smiles on their faces.
"They were all trying out the bow I brought over." Holly said cheerily.
"Well, since you all seem to be keen on practicing, why don't we have a real training session?" Splinter chuckled to himself.
Mikey and Raph groaned, which earned them each a painful pinch from their sense i. Splinter hooked the two turtles under the jaw and dragged them into the room. The other teens chuckled.
"I guess we'll see you guys later then." April said as she started walking over to Holly when Master Splinter spoke up again.
"Actually, I was thinking it might be time for you to join the others for training."
"Um..." Said Holly.
"Well..." Mimicked April
"Yeah!" Yelled Mikey. Everyone looked at him with one eyebrow raised. "What? I'm the only one who's excited?" He shrugged.
"I don't know, I'm not that great, and I already feel self-conscious when it's just us." Holly twisted the end of her shirt around her fingers as she spoke to the floor.
"Awe come on, it'll be fun." Leo said.
"Yeah, for you." Holly bit back. But April grabbed her arm and dragged her off to change.
The girls returned to find the turtles already kneeling before Master Splinter. April bowed before entering and moved to sit next to Donnie, who gave her a quick smile out of the corner of his eye. Holly also bowed in respect, but she was much slower to take a seat at the other end of the row. Her face was stony as she looked up at the old rat who looked down at his pupils.
