In Shredder's lair, Tigerclaw and Rahzar are down below in Stockman's lab where Casey is being strapped to the wall by his wrists and ankles. His head is down as if he is unconscious. No part of him is moving, and he's only mildly breathing. He is behind glass. The serum in Casey's system is strong and is left him helpless. Tiger Claw is curious as to why Casey was captured. Rahzar is skeptical.
"I still don't get it!" Rahzar says. "Why keep the kid? How do we even know if this serum Stockman's got will work? One kid is gonna make us any stronger" He complains growling.
"Master Shredder says to keep him alive, so we must." Tiger Claw answered. "But I too wonder. What I can say about the boy is that he has a strong will."
"Exactly" said a third voice coming from behind the two mutants. They both gasp when they recognize who it is. They turn around and see Shredder.
"The boy's strength is average, and his mind is even less so. But he has the potential to be a great apprentice. His spirit is strong, and he has the thirst for danger and battle like a true warrior. What he lacks in strength, we can solve. Thanks to Stockman's new formula, we can increase his strength and make him unstoppable. He'll crush those turtles under my control and then Hamato Yoshi is mine." Shredder explains.
"Aw, I see. And he is still a close ally with the turtles, they may hesitate to fight in order to not harm their friend." Tigerclaw agrees. Rahzar is not convinced.
"So this serum Stockman's got, it gonna make him into a mutant too?" Rahzar asks.
"No. I have more than enough mutants in my army. I had hoped that Purple Dragons leader Hun would be my connection to society and my eyes and ears, but he failed miserably. This boy will do perfectly." Shredder answered.
In the turtles' lair, Donnie is working on his computer trying to find Casey. Raph is fighting the fifteenth punching bag he's hung up. Mikey is watchin tv while Leo is meditating with Splinter.
"Sensei, what do you think they want Casey for? What if they killed him, or they kept him locked in a dungeon, or forced him to become their slave or something?!" Leo panics in his meditating pose. Splinter sits still and ponders the situation.
"Rest assured my son, I don't feel Shredder would kill Casey. Unfortunately I fear that he would use him as a shield. With Casey under his control, Shredder wouldn't waste an opportunity to use him to his full worth." Splinter says.
"To keep us in line no doubt. We were able to get Raph back, but what if we can't get Casey?"
In school, April walks down the hallways all alone. She's so used to having Casey near, it feels odd to walk down the hallway and know that no one was waiting for her. She subconsciously walks to his locker and for a second spots him. He's posing trying to look cool with his back against his locker with his arms crossed and hockey stick in hand. He has his signature smirk on and April can't help but smile back.
"What's up Red" he says. April slightly giggles until another voice speaks.
"What's up man? I said…..WHAT'S UP MAN? YOU FEELING OKAY?" The voice said louder. April snaps herself out of her daydream and sees that Casey's locker is empty with no one in sight.
"Hello?" Said the voice again. A hand is in her face. April looks to her left and sees a guy staring at her like she's crazy.
"Uh, sorry, just spaced out for a second." April replies grinning sheepishly.
The guy looks at her unconvinced and walks off. Once he is out of sight, April drops the fake smile and sighs. She walks down the hall and picks up her phone and looks at Casey's caller ID picture.
"Casey, please be okay" April quietly pleads. She feels helpless and distressed. Casey was never meant to be in this mess. He was just a normal guy who needed a tutor. Now because of her, Casey's gotten involved in this and could be dead for all she knows. He just wanted some adventure. April felt drawn to him despite how obnoxious he is. She wanted to see him and hang out and because she didn't want to leave him alone, he's in danger. The longer Shredder keeps him, the longer April's guilt eats her alive.