Title: Captivity
Day: Febuwhump 2023 Day 14
Fandom: TMNT 2003
Word Count: 3097
Author: aquietwritingcorner/realitybreakgirl
Rating: T
Characters: OC, Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, Michelangelo
Warning:
Summary: Dr. Tamara Alexander finds these turtle creatures they have very interesting to study. Hopefully her company can keep them in captivity for a while.
Notes: Why do I feel like this OC is going to end up being useful to me?

Captivity

Dr. Tamara Alexander tapped her pen against her lips as she observed the four creatures inside the enclosure. They really were a fascinating study. She hadn't been sure what to expect when she had been brought on to study these man-like turtles. It was a huge discovery, unprecedented, but her company was keeping it quiet for the time being, wanting to have more information and data before the released knowledge of these turtle creatures to the scientific community—and probably, not long after that, to the world.

From what she understood, they had been captured near a river in North Hampton. They had been quite resistant to capture too, although Dr. Alexander didn't have the details. To be honest, she didn't really care about the details. She was more fascinated with the creatures themselves and their dynamics.

She glanced back down her clipboard, looking at the charts on them. The first page was just a quick snapshot, but she could flip through to read the complete charts. They were designated by colors that seemed to come from the pieces of cloth that were tied around their heads, like masks—which was another fascinating thing about them. She wondered if it had anything to do with their social structure.

But that was a thought for later—something which she had lots of. She had enough questions that she had take to keeping looseleaf paper stuck back behind the charts so she could flip it up and scribble down any questions she had for later. Right now, she wanted to familiarize herself with the creatures again.

She searched for them in the enclosure. They had a way of disappearing into the foliage when they didn't want to be found, which was another fascinating thing about them. They had provided the creatures with a spacious area, nine-hundred square feet in total, with an aquatic area and plenty of foliage for them. They had even included a few toys for them to play with, curious as to what these creatures might do with them. But even with that, the creatures didn't seem to be content with what they had been given. She wondered if the fact that they were all male made a difference in that. Perhaps in their natural environment they all had their own territory and only came together for pack or group related activities.

Dr. Alexander spotted Blue first, sitting quietly in an open area. He was only the third largest of the turtle creatures, yet he seemed to be the one that they deferred to most often. Normally size would be a factor in determining who was the alpha of the pack, but that didn't seem to be the case here. Perhaps it had to do with the skill that Blue had shown. It was clear that Blue was very skilled. Reports showed that he had put up quite a fight during capture, and that he was quick and precise with his attacks. It made him one to watch out for when they came into take one of the creatures out for some data collection.

Orange was the next one she spotted, laying on his back, tossing a ball in the air. He was only a little smaller than Blue, and not as controlled, typically. He seemed to be easily distractable and had been the first to approach and play with the toys. Dr. Alexander wondered if he was younger than the others, as they seemed to allow him to be more playful and indulged him. He was quick, though, and unpredictable in his movements. He could come out of the most unexpected places. He wasn't as dangerous as Blue, but he was still dangerous.

Purple, she found sitting in a tree, staring exactly at the spot one of the hidden cameras was. He was the tallest of the creatures, if only by a small margin, but he was leaner. Purple unsettled the researchers the most. There was an intelligence behind his eyes that, when he looked right at people, made them shift uncomfortably and look away. He had a calming presence on the others, they often seeking him out for company. He also had tendency to look after the others. With no females that they could find, Dr. Alexander wondered if he took on a more female role within the group. Typically, in animals, caregiving was attributed towards the females. It might explain the slightly more protective nature of the others towards him as well. Purple was one to watch out for. He didn't always move directly, but when he did move, it was guaranteed to be something with a purpose behind it.

Red took her a moment to find, as he was at least partially in the water. Red was the second tallest, but definitely the biggest overall. He was also the most aggressive, the one that was mostly likely to be found stalking around the perimeter of the enclosure—even if it aggravated his injuries. He had, apparently, been the hardest to take down, and had fought hard every time he or one of his fellows was taken for data collection. It had led to an unfortunate accident where he had gotten burned. The water seemed to help him feel better, which was interesting to Dr. Alexander. Still, even with his injuries, he was one to have eyes on before doing anything.

Dr. Alexander watched as Orange, apparently in a playful mood, lobbed the ball at Red. It hit Red in the head, causing him to quickly turn. Orange waved his hands and said something, and Red's grip on the ball tightened, as he moved into position to throw it back. Blue opened his eyes and said something, but Red didn't react well to do it. Purple climbed down from his perch and approached Red, putting a hand on his shoulder and saying something. It seemed to mollify Red a little, although he still threw the ball back at Orange, although clearly not as hard as he had been intending to before. Orange seemed to whine, and Blue shook his head, also saying something.

Dr. Alexander's lips curled in a smile as she tapped her pen against her lips. Oh, what a fascinating study this was going to be. Perhaps it was time to suggest a few more trials. After all, they had done about all the data collection they could, apart from surgery or dissection. Some behavioral trails would be interesting.

Although the idea of exploratory surgery wasn't bad, and she scribbled that down on the papers at the back of the clipboard.

Dr. Alexander looked at the recently collected video footage. They had put all of the creatures, individually, through the same tests and trials, examining their physical abilities and problem-solving capabilities. Each one had approached it differently, and it had been fascinating data. But what she found even more fascinating was how they had all reacted when they were back together.

Orange had been sustained a minor injury. It was nothing that wouldn't heal within a week or so, simply a large cut, but the other creatures had immediately gathered around him, Purple looking it over in an almost practiced manner, just as he had with Red. Orange seemed more willing to let the others fuss over him than Red had, and Dr. Alexander found that fascinating. She wondered how they would react to their fellows being put into other situations and returned to them. Perhaps it was time to put them through some more individually suited trails.

When Blue was returned to them after a long, grueling trial that had been designed to exhaust him, Dr. Alexander had watched as they had gathered around him, clearly worried. Red had immediately moved to support him, and Orange had rushed on ahead to the sleeping areas they had created for them. Purple moved to help support, although he was clearly assessing Blue as they moved. It had been fascinating to watch how Purple had taken over, telling the other creatures to do various tasks and them obeying without hesitation or question. It made Dr. Alexander question if Red really was the second leader for them or if Purple was. Could it be situational? That was a fascinating question.

The next trial had seen Red, Orange and Purple put into a high intensity situation while Blue was left in the enclosure. Red had seemed to take the lead, as Dr. Alexander had predicted, Purple and Orange following his lead almost without question. Just as fascinating had been Blue, who had become far more aggressive and agitated without the others there, starting to behave more like Red. Perhaps Blue and Red were more alike than any of them had realized.

Red had been taken for individual trials after that, although his trails had been designed to test just how far he could be pushed before he lashed out. It had been fascinatingly clear to see that he was fighting against his very nature in most of the trails, keeping himself from lashing out too much, even if he slipped here and there. When he was returned to the enclosure, he had looked beyond relieved to see the others, and Blue had immediately gone to his side. Purple had, again, gone to check on him, while Orange, after hearing a something Red said, scurried ahead to prepare a place for Red to rest. Blue sat near Red for the rest of the night, Red seemingly weary.

Orange had been the next taken. Dr. Alexander had opted to put him in what amounted to sensory deprivation to see what the effects would be. The creature had not reacted well to the lack of stimulation, doing everything he could to make noise or create sensation. He had practically clung to the others when he had gotten back, and they had let him. Blue and Red were the most protective over him, and Purple seemed to know how to provide other stimulation for him. None of them had ever gone far, and they had all slept near each other that night, Orange in the middle.

Purple was the next one sent to trials. His were designed to test his intelligence. He was gone for hours, solving problems and working his way out of situations. Dr. Alexander admittedly found his trials the most unsettling, though. Even though they were running him through trials, it was almost as if he were seeing through them, putting together another puzzle—the one of what they were doing and why. She didn't like it. When he was returned to the enclosure, his fellows jumped up, surrounding him. He tried to wave off any concern, but it obviously didn't work, as Orange once again made sure he had a place to rest, Red forced him to lay down, and Blue kept an watchful eye over him the rest of the night.

Curious, Dr. Alexander set up a trial that all four of the creatures would face together. It was a fascinating experience, watching how they all worked together, easily playing into each other's strengths and compensating for each other's weaknesses. These were clearly creatures who were used to working together to accomplish what was needed.

Which made her wonder what would happen if one of them was taken out of the equation.

She got her opportunity to test out that possibility during the next trail. It was one set up for Purple and Orange, and during it an accident occurred. Purple, seeing the danger coming, made sure that Orange was safe before taking the brunt of the danger himself. It had injured him greatly, and Orange had been in near hysterics. They had needed to tranquilize him before they could carry Purple to the veterinary part of the center.

The whole thing, though an accident, had been fortuitus for Dr. Alexander. Repairing the damage done to Purple required surgery, which they took advantage of, using the opportunity to not only repair what needed to be repaired, but to take a good look at what the insides of one of these creatures was like. Dr. Alexander was told that the anatomy and physiology was, quite frankly, amazing. While that wasn't her particular area of expertise, it did make Dr. Alexander want to take a look at it later.

What she found more fascinating was how the others reacted. Orange had been returned to the other two unconscious. They had fretted over him, Blue making sure Orange had a good sleeping area and Red taking him there. Both creatures were tense while they waited on Orange to wake up, clearly worried about Purple as well. When Orange woke up and found that Purple was there, he immediately fell into near-hysterics. He must have communicated what happened to Red and Blue, because they also grew upset.

Dr. Alexander tapped her pen on her lips as she rewatched the videos and glanced at the live feed. She wondered how they'd fair if she kept Purple separate for a while longer, and told them nothing.

That, it turned out, had been a mistake.

She had been just about to head out to watch the creature run the next trial when alarms started blaring. It had been about a week since Purple had been taken to the clinic, and the others, although highly agitated at first, had seemed to settle down a little, after Blue had spent several hours in one position, seemingly lost to the world. He had been doing that a lot for a few days, and the clinic had reported Purple behaving similarly. It had been unexpected and curious, and Dr. Alexander had been planning further study into that.

She hadn't been expecting the alarms.

Quickly, she brought up the cameras on the enclosure and stared in shock when she discovered it empty. No angle revealed the turtle creatures. She didn't have the authority to look at the security cameras, nor did she have the authority to look at the cameras in the clinic. Biting her lip, she made a decision and exited her office.

Most of the people around her looked just as confused and uncertain as she felt. "What's going on?" she demanded.

A woman was putting down a phone. "The creatures have escaped!" she said. "Security says to get in secure locations and hide!"

Dr. Alexander scowled at that. "Can anyone here see the security cameras? I want to know what's going on!"

"I can," a man said.

Dr. Alexander nodded. "Alright, lets go to his office then."

About fifteen people crammed into the small office, practically having to stand on top of each other to get the door closed. Dr. Alexander pushed her way to the computer screen, not going to be denied seeing what was happening. The man pulled up the security cameras and started flipping through them, trying to see if he could locate the turtle creatures. It wasn't as easy as it might have seemed. They were, Dr. Alexander knew, experts and hiding themselves.

"Go to the clinic," she said. "One is there. They'll try to find him."

"How would they even know where that is?" the man asked, although he did as she said.

"Doesn't matter," she said. "They'll figure it out."

It didn't take the creatures long to arrive at the clinic and burst in. In a matter of moments every doctor there was unconscious, possibly dead. Dr. Alexander could tell from the video if the creatures had killed or not. The creatures rushed to the side of Purple, who was still on one of the beds. Blue made sure work of the restraints keeping him in place, and Red helped him slowly sit up. Given his injuries and the exploratory surgeries, Purple was far from healed. He was still requiring help, and Dr. Alexander wondered if that could be used to their advantage.

They had a moment of communication, and then Red and Blue helped Purple over to a computer. He started to do something on it, Orange standing near him, while Red and Blue started to tear the clinic apart, as if looking for something.

Dr. Alexander squinted. "What's he doing?" she asked, wondering if Purple was trying to emulate behavior he had seen.

Another man, who was leaning over to watch spoke up. "Zoom in on his screen," he said, and the first man did so. The man let out an exclamation of surprise. "What the—he's—he's in the system!" he said. "He's… He's deleting data!"

"What?" Dr. Alexander's head whipped to the man. "No, these creatures aren't that intelligent."

"That's what he's doing!" the man insisted.

"He's right," said a woman, sounding as if she were in shock. She had a laptop and someone else was holding it. "The data… it's all being transferred somewhere and then being erased."

Dr. Alexander craned her neck to see, and she could see file after file disappearing.

"No!" she said. "That's impossible!"

"Apparently not," the first main breathed.

Red and Blue arrived back at the side of Purple and Orange, holding more than a few things. Orange took some of them from his fellows, but Purple didn't stop working on the computer, thick fingers flying over the keys faster than Dr. Alexander would have thought possible. Then, he looked up and into the camera, almost as if he were looking straight at Dr. Alexander herself and pressed a button.

Everything plunged into darkness.

The creatures escaped. Dr. Alexander would later learn that, with Purple on Red's back, the four had fought their way through security, using supplies from the clinic as weapons, and picking up actual weapons along the way. All of the data on the turtle creatures was destroyed, lost beyond repair thanks to a virus that targeted the information. It wasn't long after that, that the company became part of a scandal, being tagged for unethical experiments. It hit the mainstream news, was front and center of every social media that she saw, and it was utterly devastating.

The company went under, lawsuits were brought, and the doctors and researchers there were investigated. Dr. Alexander was accused of unethical experimentation, and her ability to get a job just about anywhere was sullied. The company was ruined, her research was ruined, and she was ruined.

And yet, Dr. Alexander couldn't help but tap her pen on her lips and smile when she thought about those creatures. She was sure she could find someone else to help her study them. After all, with an eidetic memory, she was sure she'd be of use to someone, somewhere.