Mike soon forgot his worries as he became engrossed in the sheer coolness of the new gadgets Don had made. Among the goodies were a small backpack that sprouted a pair of large wings for gliding, a new electric grappling hook with a smart aiming feature that never missed its target, a small hologram projector, and a pair of anti-gravity boots that actually allowed their wearer to fly. Mike had fun with that last item shooting across the skies with whoops of joy, while Don watched from below a half smile on his face. After an hour or so Mike finally returned to the rooftop, landing clumsily but managing not to fall on his face. Don bent and lifted up his brother's left foot critically examining the sole of the anti-grav boot for a second before taking a tiny screwdriver from his belt, which now had at least three different pouches attached to it. He opened a panel on the underside of the boot, adjusted something with the screwdriver and then closed it nodding to himself.
"Man Donnie these boot thingies are awesome, why didn't you make anything like this before?"
Don motioned for his brother to sit and took the boots off of Mike's feet. "Let's say my vision was rather narrow before, now it has..extended to include other possiblities."he said adjusting something on the other boot before tucking them into his bag.
"Other possibilities?" Mike asked and then realized he was heading into a conversation guaranteed to confuse instead of clarify.
Thankfully Don didn't answer, instead he began tucking everything back into his bag, standing and handing the glider backpack over to his brother. " You can have this Mike, and the holo-projector, and the grappling hook, I'm going to have to tweak the boots a bit before I use them."
"Use them for what?" Mike asked curiously. He was overjoyed to have so many new gadgets, but still puzzled by his brother's new personality.
Don grinned. "For my suit, I've almost completed it. Just a little more time and I'll be ready to begin."
Mike felt himself slowly loosing his grasp on what his brother was talking about.
"To begin..what?" He asked raising an eye ridge.
Don went to the edge of the building and stared across the city. "To begin my plan to stop that metal Foot Soldier."
Mike brightened. "So you do have a plan! I told Leo you'd come up with one. When are you going to tell him?"
Don snorted. " I'm not."
That brought Mike up short, he blinked. "Why not?"
Don turned to regard his brother. "Because you three aren't going to get involved. I'm going to do this alone."
Mike's eye ridges furroughed and he crossed his arms across his plastron. "Oh we're not? Do think we're going to sit at home on our tails and let you fight that guy alone?"
"Exactly, you'll be staying at home out of harm's way and out of my way." Don told his brother with a shrug. He turned back to stare across the city and stepped closer to the side of the building. "It's out there Mike, it's out there with that foot Soldier and it's destroying my city. I'm going to stop it, by any means necessary."
"One of us has just stepped into the twilight zone and I know it isn't me bro, you're not making any sense."Mike put a hand on his brother's shoulder, and Don slowly turned his head without turning his body, turning his head just a little bit farther than Mike was sure a normal head was supposed to go. The effect was rather creepy, though not half as creepy as the look that was in Don's eyes. Mike took a step backwards out of sheer reflex. Woah, he thought, Exorcist time.
Don saw his brother's uneasiness and the creepy look vanished, replaced by an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry Mike." He said turning to face his brother, though whether he was sorry for talking in riddles or for freaking his brother out he didn't clarify.
"Uh, yeah, look Don you aren't facing that Foot guy alone we're your brothers, we're a team..we need you and you need us." Mike said gathering his courage.
"No Mike." Don said shaking his head calmly. "I do not need you three, nor do you need me. You three need him, the other Donatello, and were he in control here he would most certainly need you. I don't need or want your help, this is my battle..this is for me and me alone. Besides you three have already fought him and were beaten, he let you live once, don't think he'll do it again. "
Mike was not going to accept this and bravely struggled on. "Donnie.."he started.
But Don's attention was drawn elsewhere, gradually the sound of gunfire and screeching tires could be heard. Mike went to stand beside his brother at the side of the building and both turtles craned their necks to see what was coming down the road below them.
Don took a pair of binoculars out of his bag. "Armored car, from the blast marks on the sides it appears that the back doors have been blown open. There are two cars escorting it, they are matching velocity with the car not chasing it so they have probably already taken the vehicle." He stopped and Mike looked up to see his brother's jaw clench.
"Four hostages, two appear to be the drivers of the armored car, the third is a brown haired woman in a business suit and the fourth is a blonde woman in a sports suit. They must have taken the car while it was still at a bank and taken hostages there." Don handed Mike the binoculars so that he could get a look for himself, and the black masked turtle began digging in his bag again.
Mike saw the armored car speed down the street in front of them, one of its escort cars kept pace in front the other in back, both were expensive looking cars built for speed and style. As Mike watched four glimmering things sped through the air, just as the three cars passed below them. Mike quickly looked to the side to see Don stepping back from the side of the building, and Mike realized that Don had thrown the shiny objects, whatever they were. The loud sound of popping tires followed and the two cars escorting the armored car wheeled wildly out of control, the lead car skidding into a nearby building. The driver of the armored car was apparently too surprised to stop in time, because the big armored vehicle plowed into the smaller car with the force of a battering ram sending it rolling. It rolled three times before landing on its wheels, and by that time the driver of the armored car had managed to get the wheel turned to the side sending the car careening into a rather large side alley and into a sturdy brick wall.The last car had ended up on its side a half a mile back and the occupants were now running down the street towards the armored car. Mike grimaced and lowered the binoculars.
"Hope everyone was wearing their seatbelts."
Don snorted. "Come on, there are still four hostages." Without waiting for a reply he turned and dashed across the roof, leaping majestically across the space between the roof they were on to the next one and landing on his feet.
"Don..wait.." Mike said following quickly.
"I'm all for rescuing those hostages but those guys have automatic machine guns." He said catching up to Don and running beside him.
"So?" Don said shrugging and leapt another rooftop.
Sighing, Mike followed.
Both skidded to a stop at the edge of the last building, overlooking the alleyway where the armored car had crashed.
Don bent low watching intently as the hostages were dragged from the armored car and shoved roughly into a corner where four men stood guard over them with large automatic weapons. The rest of the robbers spread out across the alley towards the street, guns ready, apparently under the impression that the cops had done something to their cars. When it became obvious that no cops were in sight they stood around looking puzzled. A few went to help their friends in the first car, and bent to examine the pieces of metal stuck in the tires. Don watched their movements with a grim look on his face, his eyes taking in their features, their clothing, and their weapons.
Mike knew the way Don was watching the men, and he knew how fast his brother thought, he could almost see a plan forming up in Don's brain. "Don don't even think about us taking on those guys, they'd turn us into Swiss cheese before we even hit the ground."
Don bent and took a few things from his bag, stuffing them into the pockets of his jacket before handing the bag to Mike. "You save those hostages, and get them out of here."
"Why don't we both save them and get the heck out of here."Mike suggested.
Don looked at his brother sideways. "Because they'd turn us into Swiss cheese." He said and leapt off the side of the building.
Mike wanted to scream at his brother but restrained himself and did what Don had told him to do. As the sounds of automatic gunfire echoed across the alley, Mike forced himself not to look at what his brother was doing and focus on saving the hostages. A quick noiseless leap to a fire escape below him got him closer to the corner where the hostages were being held. The four guards had turned at the sound of gunfire and were now facing away from their hostages, giving Mike the perfect opportunity to drop right down into the middle of them. Before they could even comprehend that they were under attack Mike had already dropped one with an elbow to the face, taken his gun and knocked a second out with it. As the third and forth turned towards him Mike dropped to the ground in a split and spinning knocked their feet out from under them. One got back up almost immediately but Mike knocked him out with a round house kick, and flipped the last one across the alleyway into a nearby dumpster. With all four lying on the ground groaning Mike kicked the weapons away and turned to look at the four hostages who were backed up against the wall, their eyes wide and fearful eyes. " I'm not going to hurt you." He said holding up his hands to show he was harmless. They continued to look wide eyed but at a point over his shoulder instead of him, Mike turned following their gazes. In his concentration he had failed to notice that the gunfire behind him had turned into sounds of fighting and cries of pain, now he watched in amazement as Donatello leapt, kicked, and punched his way through at least five different robbers. Don's teeth were gritted, and his face was painted with hatred; he was fighting not to simply knock his opponents out as Mike had done, but to literally incapacitate them. Don not only broke teeth, noses, and jaws, but arms and legs too, aiming his blows to cause the maximum amount of pain. Two men ended up getting rammed head first against a brick wall, and another used as a battering ram to knock out more of his fellows. Now more men were rushing into the alley and Mike realized he had better quit gawking and get the hostages out of danger. Looking around he caught sight of an old boarded up door at the other side of the alley, and he ran towards it. A few good kicks got the boards loose and the door broken open, and Mike stuck his head into the building to check it out before allowing the hostages to go in. A quick search revealed that the building was recently abandoned, and there was another door on the other side of the building that led to another street, far enough away from the scene of the fight for the punks to get a hold of the hostages again. He returned to the alley in time to knock out another robber who had apparently snuck out of the back of the armored car. He had the hostage's full attention now and he pointed towards the now open door.
"There's the way out, get somewhere safe and call the police!" He told them urgently. They seemed shocked at first that he was letting them go, but they gradually got the idea he wasn't going to attack them too and all four made a mad dash for the door. Mike sighed. "You're welcome." He said shaking his head…then something large and heavy landed on top of him.
Michalangelo fell plastron first to the ground with a yelp and craned his head to see what had hit him. He saw a fat flabby leg, a bulbous stomach covered in black cloth, and a large flabby arm…. with a purple Dragon tattoo on it. As Mike struggled a large face with at least two double chins leaned down into his vision and grinned at him menacingly. "Hey I just had this shell waxed." Mike exclaimed writhing as hard as he could. Nothing he could do however could dislodge the man sitting on top of him. Two more men came into his range of vision, both smiling evilly. They held guns.
"Donnie, need some help over here!" Mike called looking up towards his brother only to see a goon Don had just taken out pull himself to his elbows, take a gun from one of his boots and take aim at the black masked turtle. Donatello was too busy fighting his attackers to notice. Mike struggled again but he couldn't get to his Nunchuku. "Donnie look out!" he yelled. Don kicked his last attacker in the neither regions, slammed his knee into the man's face as the man bent over in agony and then tossed the man to the ground; he whirled just as the punk with the gun pulled the trigger.
Fortunately for Donatello the man was shaking from pain and fear and the bullet went wide, merely grazing his arm and burying itself in a nearby wall. Donatello looked down at his arm and he blinked.
That was all.
He then looked back to the punk with the gun- and his eyes narrowed. He then stepped forward and kicked the gun from the man's hand before the punk could get off another shot. He then picked the man up held him in the air above him with one arm and proceeded to hit him with a right cross that was so hard it cracked the man's jaw. As the man howled in pain, Don turned and tossed him bodily into the side of the van.
Panting, Donatello made a show of dusting off his hands, and completely ignoring the blood running down the side of his arm turned to face the last remaining punks sitting on and standing around Michalangelo.
"Next." He said crossing his arms across his plastron.
The punks looked at one another and they all rushed Donatello. Rubbing his head Mike pulled himself to his feet and turned to watch as Don took on all three punks alone. The costumed turtle considered joining in then realized it would be no use, Don had everything under control. Watching his brother punch, kick and generally beat the three punks into mush, Mike began to feel something he had never before felt in his life in regards to his brainy brother..fear. He was becoming very afraid of Donatello, and it was a feeling he did not like.
Don finished off his last round of attackers and proceeded to kick the one who had shot him in the stomach repeatedly. It was all Mike could do to pull his brother off, Donatello seemed to be a lot stronger than he had been.
"That's enough Donnie, the guy's already out." Mike said angrily pointing down at the unconscious punk.
Don frowned at his costumed brother, then looked down at the punks and finally nodded. "You're right Mike." He sighed. "I lost my temper."
Mike raised an eye ridge and regarded his brother skeptically. Donatello didn't look like he'd lost his temper, in fact he looked like the picture of calm and tranquility. Mike felt a shudder go down his spine and he turned away before his fear showed on his face.
"Come on, lets just get back to the lair. Sensei's going to kill me I know it."
"No he won't I'll tell him I made you come. You're not responsible for me, I can make my own decisions." Don said shaking his head.
"Good then Sensei can ground you for the rest of your life and not me." Mike replied angrily. Don didn't notice, he went to the corner where he had dropped his bag, picked it up and calmly slung it around his shoulder.
"Well I'd say that was a successful test run, don't you?" he said walking towards the nearest manhole. That was when they heard the engine of the armored car turn on, both turned in unison to see a robber sitting behind the wheel. The man was bleeding from a wound across his forehead but his face was full of hatred, he turned his sights on the two turtles and the armored car shot forward with a loud squealing of tires.
Michalangelo jumped instinctively out of the path of the van but Don stood his ground,he turned to face the armored car as it barreled towards him and his eyes narrowed. Seconds before the vehicle hit him he leapt into the air to land on top of it. From an inside pocket of his jacket he took a small device that looked like a turtle shell with a big red button in the middle of its back, laying flat on the armored car as the driver careened in circles trying to knock him off Don reached down and placed the device on the windshield. The driver saw this and turned the wheel sharply causing Don to loose his balance, he fell sideways grasping for a hold on the metal of the car but failing because it was too smooth. He fell off the car, just managing to save himself from splattering on the pavement by catching the large double mirrors on the side. The man careened off the street, aiming for a building hoping to smash the turtle between the car and hard brick. Don pulled a device with several buttons on it from another pocket, grinning up at the driver he pressed one...and let go of the mirror. The driver opened the door and dove out just as the front of the armored car exploded sending the car careening out of control to crash head first into a building. A few seconds later the car exploded as well. Both Don and the driver hit the ground while they were still moving rather fast, and ended up flipping head over heels several times before ending up in two motionless piles on the ground. In the distance the sounds of fire crackled and police sirens wailed. A figure snuck out of a nearby alley, grabbed the dazed Donatello by his arms and dragged him into the darkness between the buildings…just as the police screeched onto the scene.
Splinter dragged his son behind the bulk of a dumpster, and let him rest gently against the wall. Don's eyes were half closed, his head lolled against the wall. Splinter checked his son for injuries, but found that he had escaped from the fall with little more than bruises.
"Donatello." Splinter said with worry putting a hand to his son's forehead.
" Sensei?" Don gradually began to shake off the shock he had received from the fall, and was extremely puzzled to see his father standing in front of him. "W..where's Mike." He asked looking around.
"Here Don." Mike's voice came from above them, he leapt down from a fire escape Don's bag in hand. "I got your bag. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, what about the hostages."Don said sitting up, he was shaking though and Splinter could see that he wasn't as fine as he said he was.
"They're safe, I found a way out of the alley through a door in the back. Told them to call the police. You're going to have one heck of a road rash you know Don, not to mention your arm." Mike looked concerned kneeling beside his brother.
"Pain isn't important, I'll get over it. I'm fine." Don said gritting his teeth and trying to get to his feet.
"Donatello be silent and sit still! You have done some foolish things in your life but this was perhaps the most foolish one of all. Do you realize how close you came to being killed?" Splinter said angrily.
"I had it all planned out Sensei..besides we had to save those people." Don started with a grimace.
"Indeed and you took a very large chance in doing it..was this part of your plan as well?" Splinter said pointing to Don's arm.
When Don didn't answer he sighed. "Not even you can plan for every possibility my son, you were too overconfident and ignored the danger that was right in front of your eyes."
Don closed his eyes and lay his head back not saying anything.
It was probably the smartest answer he could have given.
"Michelangelo, carry your brother to the manhole we will return him to the lair where I can properly treat his injuries." Splinter said.
Mike nodded, and pulling Don's arm around his neck helped him to a manhole in very back of the alley. There they slipped down into the sewers and quickly made their way home.