Disclaimer: The Green Machines are not mine, they keep running away to Vinnie's pizza defiantly, the rebels that they are ;).
There was much to be said about living a few thousand feet under the frigid Arctic Ocean, but at the moment, nothing on the topic came to Bebop's mind. There was also a lot to be said about cleaning the endless expanse of the Technodrome, and there were many choice words that came to the warthog mutant's mind on that subject; words what probably would have curdled milk and made his poor grandma (rest her soul) roll in her grave.
He was in the main control room of the Technodrome, half-heartedly batting around a duster at the copious layers of dust and grime caked into the corners. He would have given his left tusk for a sledgehammer to break through the years' worth of unidentifiable debris coating the edges of the room. The dust rose into the air in a frantic, uncoordinated flurry like an untamed blizzard in the height of a brutal winter. It invaded his sensitive snout, causing him to emit a rather undignified snort-sneeze, the force of which knocked him off his feet and tumbled him to the floor with a resounding thump. The amused hoot coming from next to him did nothing to improve his mood, so he glared at the offender from behind his purple shades.
"Somethin' funny, Rocksteady?" he grunted at his companion.
Rocksteady was pointing a massive grey finger at him, his shoulders heaving in his fit of laughter. He wiped away a tear of mirth and nodded. He attempted to speak, but his chortling had stolen all the air reserves in his lungs.
Bebop sprang rather awkwardly to his feet with all the lack of finesse he was renowned for and balled his hand into a fist. "I'll show you funny, bozo!"
He went to deck Rocksteady on the nose, but he was hastily distracted by the rising tones of an argument coming from behind him. Both mutants turned their attention to the front of the spacious room where the portal screen was located. Shredder and Krang were both engaged in a heated bickering match while regarding the Technodrome's energy gauge. The small television screen was playing on at a soft volume next to them, flashing scenes from the latest John and Marsha.
Shredder stamped his foot on the ground and crossed his arms. "That is the most idiotic plan I have ever heard you come up with, Krang!"
Krang waved a lumpy tentacle at the ninja master. "We need to power up the Technodrome very soon, Shredder. What's so 'idiotic' about siphoning energy from the power plant?"
"Because we've only tried that million times, Krang, and every time we get foiled by those accursed Turtles," Shredder snarled, the word "Turtles" dripping with malice. "Of course that's because they are your plans and not mine."
Krang's eyes narrowed into irritated slits. "Have you a better suggestion, Saki? I'm all ears if you do."
"Funny," the human said sarcastically, "you look like atrophied brain sludge to me."
Bebop and Rocksteady found their interest piqued. Cleaning duties forgotten, they made their way over to the evil villains. This was the most entertainment the two of them had had in a while as living in the Technodrome was dreadfully boring at times. Their days as of late had been spent cleaning the Technodrome (while wearing frilly pink aprons none-the-less) and personally running the turbines as make shift living power plants. Not what they had signed up for all those years ago…of course they hadn't originally known what they had signed up for, and both were pretty sure they wouldn't have been able to sign anything anyways, but that was beside the point.
The duo weren't exactly stealthy and Shredder heard their clomping toward him. He turned sharply, his cape whipping to the side at the swift motion.
"You blundering buffoons are supposed to be cleaning!" he berated the mutants. "No breaks! I told you that was the punishment for breaking my favorite vase with my prized katana! How many times have I told you two to stay out of my chambers!? "
"But, Boss…" Bebop began to object, but his words trailed off into a whiney oblivion when a commercial on the television caught his attention. His eyes grew wide in excitement as he pointed to the screen. "Look, Rocksteady! The comic convention is back in the city…I forgot about that. Remember we used to go every year?"
The mutant rhino nodded enthusiastically, his eyes glazed in wistful memory. "Sure do, Bebop, we had lotsa fun at those. Stealin' comics, checkin' out cosplayin' girls, gettin' arrested…good times, good times." Rocksteady turned to Shredder, his eyes turning hopeful. "Can we go, Boss, please, please, can we, can we?"
Shredder's eyes crinkled in disgust. "Absolutely not!"
The ninja master's lackeys dropped to their knees and brought their hands together in a pleading motion.
"Aww c'mon, Boss!" Bebop begged. "We'll serve you forever and ever…"
"I said –" Shredder began, but was cut off by Krang.
"Wait, Shredder," the ex-warlord interrupted, his eyes glued to the screen, "turn it up, I want to hear this…"
Shredder huffed in annoyance and raised the volume slightly, shaking his head at the pointlessness of this action and secretly wondering if Krang had lost whatever miniscule sense he had ever possessed.
"—this convention is sponsored by Rings of Nebulon, the most powerful energy drink this side of the Cortexicon Empire…for those moments when you need to keep your mind strong, or just need an extra slap in the face, grab a can of Rings of Nebulon…the official energy drink of Space Heroes!"
Krang shut off the television and was silent for several moments before speaking. "That is the plan, Shredder! I got it, and it's genius!"
Shredder raised a dubious eyebrow. "What Krang?"
"You will go to the surface and steal those energy drinks! And then, once Bebop and Rocksteady are fed a constant supply of them, they will have more stamina for the turbines to power the Technodrome!"
Shredder blinked slowly a few times trying to process what he just heard, at a complete loss for words. "Alright, Krang, I take it back…that is the most idiotic plan I've ever heard of! Has being stuck down here for so long given you an advanced case of dementia? Should have known with you being a giant brain and all…."
Krang sputtered in offence, but offered no rebuttal. "Just go, Shredder! The convention is in New York City, so the Turtles will come and try to stop you…then you can have your revenge and regain your honor and all that human ninja nonsense."
That was all the prodding Oroku Saki needed. "Of course! Bebop, Rocksteady, let's go!"
He motioned for his mutants to join him and headed for a module go to the city.
"Oh boy, oh boy! Comics and toitle trashin'? I think I just died and went to heaven," Rocksteady commented.
"You ain't makin' it to heaven, stupid!" Bebop retorted.
After they had entered the module and taken off, Krang grinned triumphantly. The alien chuckled softly to himself, "Heh heh heh…gullable fool…"
A/N: Hmmm…Shredder and his goons are headed to the convention too? This can't be good…and what is Krang up to? Stay tuned! I'd love to hear your opinions…good…bad…? Thanks for reading!