A/N: One more shout out to the amazing WinterHeath - she did a fantastic picture of Donnie about to be captured by the Kraang in the last chapter. Go check it out on DeviantArt!
And now, prepare for some angst!
Chapter 11:
"He's not answering!" Raph growled in frustration as he forcefully punched the red button to hang up the phone and shoved it into his pocket.
The three boys were nearly at their destination now. Twilight was falling, and they had once again hidden themselves in an alley, trying to give their wayward brother a chance to catch up. Still he didn't show.
"Why wouldn't he answer?" asked Leo, sounding rather put out. "That's not like Donnie."
"I'm tellin' ya, the punk has totally ditched us!" Raph's voice was sharp with bitterness. "April probably agreed to a date, and he completely forgot about us. He's probably at a restaurant right now, refusing to answer his phone because he doesn't want his romantic moment interrupted."
"No way!" said Mikey punctuating his words with emphatic gestures. "Donnie would never totally bail on us like that! If he's not answering his phone, I'm sure he has a good reason."
"You think something may have happened to him?" asked Leo, picking up on Mikey's unspoken hint.
"I don't know, dude," answered Mikey, glancing back with a worried expression in the direction they expected their brother to appear.
"Well, we'll give him a few more minutes," said Leo, "but if he doesn't contact us soon, we'll have to do this mission without him."
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The first sensations Donatello became aware of were a pounding headache and a painful throbbing in his left ankle. He groaned, keeping his eyes closed as his mind fought to regain consciousness. He was aware of a cold, smooth metal surface at his back, but his equilibrium was off and he could not tell if he was lying on it or standing against it. He tried to move and found that something was restraining him. This trapped feeling caused him to open his eyes in a panic.
The first thing he saw was a group of Kraang droids, many devoid of their human disguises, standing nearby, but none of them were currently looking in his direction, so he had a brief moment in which to take in his surroundings.
He saw that he was strapped to a shiny metal table, of sorts, that was poised at a forty-five degree angle, so that he was halfway between standing and lying down. Several smooth metal bands, made of the same unidentifiable metal alloy as the table, pinned him in place; one around each ankle and wrist, one around his waist, and one around his shoulders. These seamless bands bore no clasp nor hinge of any kind and appeared to be made of one piece with the table. Donnie wondered curiously how they had managed to get him inside them, and more importantly, how he was going to get out. Any attempt to wiggle free demonstrated the absolute immovability of his restraints.
Glancing away from himself, the imprisoned ninja began to inspect the location he was in. Because he could not turn around, he could only see that part of the room that was in front of him, but it was enough to reveal the enormity of the place.
The ceiling was scores of feet above him, and all along the wall within his vision were staircases leading to catwalks on upper levels, all constructed from the same shiny metal alloy, which reflected the light. And there was much light to reflect, for everywhere Donnie could see pink, blue, and purple lights blinking from computer consoles, control panels, and other alien equipment, the use of which he would be delighted to get a chance to study.
The whole place was swarming with Kraang. Many were housed in robot bodies and moved about on the stairways and pressed colorful screens on the control panels. Some were simply the little alien brain blobs whose appearance Donnie had come to loathe, zooming around on their little hovercraft.
He had clearly been brought to the Kraang facility they had been searching for, and by the size of it, Donnie was fairly certain he knew which location it was; the one he had marked Number Four on his map.
One thing in particular drew his attention. Not far away, hooked atop a complex piece of alien machinery, was a vast glass canister, filled with a glowing blue fluid: the synthetic mutagen they had been trying to discover.
Donnie growled. It was maddening to be here at last, in the center of the Kraang's plot, and be completely unable to do anything about it!
The noise he made attracted the attention of the nearby Kraang, who turned to find their prisoner awake. One of the robots turned its glowing pink eyes on Donatello and spoke to him.
"You are one of the ones who were known as the turtles. You have been captured by Kraang and will now be used by Kraang for the testing of Mutagen Five in this place."
Donnie struggled pointlessly against his bonds. Though his overactive brain was working furiously, he could see no way to escape or stop the Kraang from conducting their experiments, but perhaps he could stall them and get them to tell him some of their plans. Trying to keep his voice steady and demanding, he asked, "What was the purpose in creating a synthesized mutagen capable of completing mutations? What are you aliens planning to do with it?"
He wasn't really expecting the Kraang to answer his questions. These aliens were not known for divulging their secret plans.
As expected, the Kraang ignored him. Turning to one of its companions, the robot said, "Kraang is in need of a sample of DNA from the one who has been exposed to Mutagen Five to test if Mutagen Five has been successful in creating a stable mutation."
"Affirmative, Kraang," replied a second bot, producing a small blade and approaching Donnie.
The boy's eyes went wide as he saw the sharp tool in the robot's hand.
"Wait! Hold on, I already conducted experiments with my DNA!" cried Donnie, desperately hoping the Kraang would listen to him. "I can just tell you, the mutation's not stable! I've even calculated the approximate amount of time before – "
But the Kraang paid him no heed. Methodically it approached the table where Donnie was helplessly strapped down. Ripping back his sleeve and placing the blade on his exposed bicep, the droid made a swift movement, slicing across his flesh. Donnie winced in pain and gritted his teeth, but he refused to give the Kraang the pleasure of hearing him cry out. The wound was not deep enough to be dangerous, but the blood began flowing freely down his arm. This was apparently what the Kraang was after, for it began collecting the blood in a curiously shaped glass phial.
Glaring at the robot, Donnie said, "You know, if you need DNA, my spit works just as well."
"Affirmative," replied the robot, finishing its task and moving away from Donnie. "But this is more amusing for Kraang."
Donnie frowned, despising the humiliating thought that he had now become the plaything of the Kraang. While the aliens took his blood and began running tests on it over at one of their complicated machines, the boy was left alone for a few minutes. Despite the aching in his head, the stinging wound on his arm, and the jolts of pain that shot up his injured leg whenever he tried to move, the thing that actually bothered him most at that moment was the trickle of blood running down his arm. It tickled awfully and he was unable to wipe it away.
Thoughts of his brothers filled his mind, and Donnie wondered where they were at that moment. He knew they had been heading toward one of the possible Kraang locations on his map, but what had they done when he hadn't followed them? When he hadn't answered their phone call? He hoped they had figured out something was wrong, but even if they did, how would they possibly know where to look for him?
Donnie shook his head. These thoughts would only lead him to despair. He must focus his attention on the Kraang and try to figure out what they were up to. Perhaps he could discover a way to thwart their plans, even from his helpless position.
As he listened, he heard the Kraang bots discussing the results of his DNA test and stating, in their long winded speech, that the mutation was not stable and that there were mere hours left before his body reverted back to its original form.
Donnie rolled his eyes. 'I tried to tell you that myself!' he thought. He couldn't help feeling a hint of pride at having discovered it on his own.
"Kraang now possesses the knowledge of that which is incomplete in the formula for Mutagen Five. That mistake will now be remedied by Kraang."
As Donnie watched, several of the robots moved toward the console which was topped with the massive container of Blue Goo and began making adjustments. They were too far away for Donnie to see clearly what they were doing, but he assumed they were changing the formula to create synthesized mutagen potent enough to maintain a stable mutation on first contact.
The imprisoned boy seemed to have been momentarily forgotten. There were no Kraang currently near him. Most were occupied with the mutagen, and several were busy dragging a large object into the building, which Donnie couldn't see well. He was feeling cramped in his current position, and his left ankle was aching worse than ever. He strained pointlessly against his bonds, longing to be free.
With great effort he wrenched his mind once more from the despair of his dire situation, and focused it on the activities the Kraang were involved in. The large object they were dragging was at last brought within his view and he saw that it was a cage, inside which crouched an animal. A dog to be exact, though the mangy mutt was hardly recognizable as such. The Kraang had obviously picked up the half-starved creature from the squalor of the streets. Donnie watched the proceedings with curiosity.
"Bring out the mutagen which has been combined with the DNA of Kraang."
A second canister, equally as large as the one containing the Blue Goo, was rolled into the area. This one was glowing green, obviously filled with regular mutagen. Donnie watched as a small amount of the ooze was loaded into one of the sleek black guns the turtles had been shot with two nights before. The weapon was aimed at the hapless animal, and the next instant it began transforming before Donnie's eyes.
The matted fur disappeared, the skin turned pink and wrinkly, and the dog's front legs began to resemble tentacles. Its eyes grew larger, becoming green and yellow orbs and a second later it was wagging its tentacle-like tail and barking. Donnie stared in horror at the deformed creature. It was a Kraang-dog.
"Now prepare the completed Mutagen Five."
As one Kraang bot began to pour some of the Blue Goo into one of the guns, Donnie noticed another not far away that seemed to be having trouble with its laser gun. It was shaking it around in a strange manner, and suddenly the gun went off, accidentally shooting a laser directly into the weapon loaded with blue mutagen. The Blue Goo instantly exploded, reducing the droid holding it to a lump of twisted metal. Donnie's eyes grew wide. The Blue Goo was combustible? That information could be useful.
Meanwhile the Kraang who had accidentally fired its weapon was receiving a long-winded reprimand, and after things calmed down, the synthesized mutagen was once more loaded into a gun and shot at the Kraang-dog. Within seconds, the bizarre creature was replaced by a Kraang brain, complete in all its squelchy pink alien glory. It immediately began speaking in the weird squealy Kraang language which Donnie suspected was mainly telepathic.
Scanning the new alien with several specialized devices, the droids surrounding it declared the experiment successful.
"The plan of Kraang, which is the plan to mutate the people of the city which is known as New York City, is ready to commence in the unit of time known as now."
Donnie couldn't believe what he was hearing. So that was the plan! They were going to use the two mutagens in conjunction to turn all the people and animals in New York into Kraang! These aliens must be stopped! Donnie strained again, desperately. He must get free! He must warn his brothers!
Suddenly he was aware of a couple of the droids approaching him. One was holding the crackling pink baton and the boy's heart beat faster at the sight of it.
One of the robots addressed him. "Kraang has succeeded in capturing one of the ones who were known as the turtles, but Kraang wishes to obtain all of the ones who were known as the turtles. You know the location of the other ones who were known as the turtles, and you will tell Kraang about that location. If resistance is offered by you, then punishment will be given to you by Kraang." The second droid held up the glowing rod in demonstration of this threat.
Donnie stared at it, wide-eyed. He feared that stick, but he knew he would never tell the Kraang where his brothers were. Why did the aliens want them, anyway? They had successfully created a working mutagen, so they no longer needed the turtles for their experiments. The genius boy puzzled about this, but the Kraang were in no mood to be patient.
"You will tell Kraang the location of the other ones who were known as the turtles," the robot stated again.
Donnie did not respond. In actuality, he did not know precisely where his brothers were at the moment, unless they had gone back to the lair in search of him, and he certainly wasn't going to tell the Kraang that location. Part of him was sure it wouldn't matter anyway. If the Kraang wished to use their new weapon on him, he was powerless to stop them, whether he told them what they wanted to hear or not. Lifting his chin haughtily, he set his jaw and pressed his lips together, indicating his defiance against cooperation.
Donnie wished the robots could display emotion. It would give him satisfaction to know his resistance caused them anger or annoyance, but their faces remained passive as the one with the glowing baton came to stand near Donnie's head.
"Your decision is that which is known as unwise."
The purple-banded ninja squirmed, almost involuntarily, as the robot raised the rod and pressed the end of it into his neck.
Instantly a shock of brutal pain burned through his body. The wand targeted his nervous system directly, so that every single nerve, from the back of his neck to the tips of his fingers and toes felt like it was on fire. So intense was the pain that it threw his body into uncontrollable convulsions, straining at the unrelenting bonds which kept him imprisoned in this place of torment. This time Donnie was unable to pull away and the Kraang was free to hold the rod against his neck as long it chose, sending the shocks of pain radiating through his body in pulsating surges, wave after wave of white hot agony that ripped from his raw throat ear-splitting screams he could barely hear over the throbbing in his head. As the pain penetrated like knives into every aspect of his waking mind, blocking out thoughts of all else, Donnie felt he could not possibly endure it any longer.
At long last the baton was removed from his neck and a wave of relief washed over Donnie. The pain ceased, but his frayed nerves continued to send occasional tremors through his body, causing his arms and legs to twitch. As he opened his eyes and tried to clear his blurred vision, the boy noticed his face was wet from tears he didn't remember shedding. The ordeal had lasted less than thirty seconds, but it had felt an eternity, and had left Donnie feeling weakened and exhausted. With grim despair, he realized that a few more shots of that would render him incapable of escaping, even should the opportunity arise.
The two robots still stood emotionless over their victim, who was panting heavily, trying to regain his breath.
Then the first droid spoke again. "You will tell Kraang the location of the ones who were known as the turtles." It did not elaborate further. Donnie knew what to expect. He took a few panicked breaths in anticipation of the repetition of his torment.
The exchange was interrupted, however, as a familiar ditty began to ring out from the direction of a group of Kraang, not far away. The two standing by Donnie's table turned to look for the source of the sound and saw another Kraang, dressed still in its human suit, withdraw Donnie's T-phone from its pocket. It was ringing gaily, and from his position Donnie could catch a glimpse of Leo's face on the display. A lump caught in his throat. Leo was calling him. He wanted nothing more than to answer that phone call!
The Kraang was staring at the display on the T-phone's screen and spoke to its companions. "One of the ones known as the turtles is attempting to make contact through this communications device."
The robot who had requested Donnie tell them the location of his brothers instantly snatched the phone from the hand of the other and held it, still ringing, in front of Donnie's face.
"You will speak to the ones who were known as the turtles," instructed the Kraang. "You will tell them to come to this place. You will not tell them that Kraang is in this place. You will tell them to come without weapons to this place. If you do not say this message, then punishment will be given to you by Kraang."
Comprehension dawned. So that's why the Kraang wanted his brothers. They were afraid! They knew they had succeeded in capturing Donatello only because they had cornered him all alone. When he and his brothers were fighting all together, they were a force to be reckoned with, and the Kraang knew it. The aliens wanted him to lead his brothers into a trap so they couldn't thwart the Kraang's plans. Donnie smiled to himself. He would tell them to come here, alright, but they would come ready for battle.
The robot pressed the answer key and held the phone to Donnie's ear.
"Leo?" asked Donnie, his voice quivering more than he intended it to.
"Donnie!" cried Leo's voice. It brought Donnie comfort to hear that voice, even though it was yelling at him. "Where the heck are you? We've been waiting for you for ages! Why didn't you answer Raph's call earlier?"
"Leo," Donnie began. He glanced at the pain producing weapon poised at the ready and then quickly looked away, taking a deep breath to give himself courage. "Leo, the Kraang have kidnapped me! They have – "
He was not allowed to go any further. At that second pain consumed him. Through the sound of his own screams he was vaguely aware of Leo's voice, sounding far away, calling his name in a panic. "Donnie! DONNIE!" But soon all his senses were lost. He could no longer hear nor see nor smell. All was agony. Nothing in the world existed but the brutal waves of pain attacking his body. Again. And again. And again. His brain screamed out for relief. Oh please! If it would stop! If it would only stop!
Then at last it did stop, and his trembling body was left to gasp for breath through a throat raw from screaming. Gradually the blackness receded from his eyes and the throbbing from his ears and the world came back to his senses. As he lay there, still twitching uncontrollably, tears streaming unbidden down his cheeks, he became aware that he could still hear Leo's voice calling to him. It was further away now, and glancing around, he saw that the droid that was holding his phone had taken a few steps away from him, but the connection was still open. Leo could still hear him if he shouted.
There was something he still needed Leo to know. He had to tell him where he was. His brothers must get here in time, not only to rescue him, but to stop the Kraang's plan. The robot beside him was still holding the merciless rod, crackling with evil energy, and at the sight of it Donnie's courage nearly failed. But he knew the lives of all the people of New York were at stake, so he shoved his fear aside and took a deep breath.
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Leo was standing on the rooftop, staring in horror at his phone. The agonized screams of his younger brother had stabbed directly into his heart. He had never, never heard Donnie in that much pain before. Now the screaming had stopped, but the connection was still open and he began desperately calling Donnie's name again, hoping he could hear him.
What had the Kraang done to him to make him cry out like that? And why had he stopped so abruptly? Leo desperately hoped it was because he had found relief, and not that he had been rendered incapable of screaming. He dared not pursue that thought further and continued to shout into the phone, "Donnie! Donnie!"
All at once, he heard from far away, as if from across a room, the sound of Donatello's voice calling to him. "Number Four, Leo! It's Number Fo-" Once again his brother's words were cut off by agonizing shrieks and Leo screamed into the phone in response.
"DONNIE!"
Then suddenly, the phone went dead. The Kraang had hung up on him, not allowing him to hear the outcome of his brother's misery. He glanced up at his other two brothers with angry tears in his eyes and saw the effect Donnie's screams had had on them.
Raphael's fury had clearly reached a boiling point and he looked like he was ready to murder someone, while Michelangelo looked like he was going to be sick.
"Come on," Leo said, stashing his phone. "We've got to rescue Donnie!"
"But we don't know where he is!" cried Mikey in despair.
"Number Four," said Leo, trying to control his angry breaths and pounding heart. "Donnie said it was Number Four. Raph, where's the map?"
Hastily Raph pulled the city map out of his back pocket and the three boys huddled around it, quickly locating the number four, circled in red. Leo's heart sank. It was on the other side of the city.
"Dude! It'll take us hours to get there!" wailed Mikey.
"Then we better get moving," stated Leo grimly. "Every minute counts."
He bolted toward the fire escape followed closely by his two brothers, who needed no second bidding. Together they began their race across the city, moving as if their brother's life depended on it, which it probably did.