Ch.8: Dealing With Barney
" Hey, hello again. Now you know how I got into this sticky mess. Well, now that you're properly informed, how about a little…HELP!"
The ocean seemed to shine like rock as Raphael continued to plunge, promising a soft yet hard landing in its embrace.
"Where's that helicopter?!" Raph yelled.
A buzzing noise is heard as a helicopter whirls into the sky near the falling turtle, a long rope ladder hanging at its side.
Pulling out his grappling cable, Raph hooked himself to the ladder, and let out a slight breath of relief from plunging to his doom.
"Finally" breathed Raph " the audience pays attention,"
SNAP!
"Ah shell!"
With a snap, the cable holding Raph above the water broke, and sent him right into the sea. Luckily though, it wasn't that far of a drop.
"Pfft!" grunted Raph as he swam over towards the docks " this writer is so going to see my agent,"
Two minutes later, Raphael pulled himself on top of the docks, shaking off the bitter tears of the sea. His eyes scanned the skies, and worry gripped his heart.
Why had Shredder taken April? Where were his brothers? And was Master Splinter alright?
"Sensei!" Raph thought in alarm, and was about to run back to April's apartment when his turtlecom suddenly rang. Picking it up, Raph answered.
"Irma," said Raph.
"Raph do you have any idea where April is?" asked Irma's voice " We were supposed to spend the weekend together, but when I got to the apartment it was a wreck,"
"The apartment's trashed?!" asked Raph in worry " that means the bad guys must already have Splinter. No doubt my brothers too. You've seen anything weird Irma?"
"Other than finding Burne Thompson tied up in a broom closet no" said Irma " but I'll keep looking for clues,"
"You do that," said Raph, and hung the phone.
"So" thought Raph " that whole call from Burne was just a scheme to steal April, but it's strange that Shredder didn't take me captive as well. He had us both trapped on board that plane. Boy this whole situation gets stranger and stranger,"
Twilight shadows began to descend as Raph walked somberly around, thinking about what to do next. How can one, lone warrior face entire flock of enemy's and get everyone else out in one piece?
He didn't even know where Crimelord lived! He had no backup, no leader, no genius, or goofball, it was just him. Stuck and alone.
"Boy I sound dependent" thought Raphael with a sigh "some future knowledge would be nice,"
Then suddenly a spark lit up in Raph's brain.
"Wait a second!" said Raph with joy " I do have future knowledge! I know exactly what to do!"
And with that thought in mind, Raphael raced off the docks, heading straight towards the furniture warehouse. He had a scientist to meet.
When Raph finally made it over to the furniture warehouse and pushed the doors open, he wasn't impressed by what he saw.
Every piece of wood in the place was either webbed or covered with dust. The light from the shattered windows made the room look all more depressing.
"This is what Baxter's reduced to" thought Raph in disbelief " Well I guess there's not much call for a mad scientist these days,"
Sounds of tinkering could be heard from nearby, and as Raph poked his head out from behind a an old, oak desk he saw Baxter Stockman, in all his maniac glory, working on something mysterious.
With a sinister grin lighting up his face, Raphael stepped out from his hiding place and snuck up on the distracted doc.
"Hello Stockman," said Raph.
The scientist jumped and turned around.
"Ah, it's you!" said Stockman when he saw Raphael " wasn't throwing me in jail once enough?"
"What do you mean" said Raph, pointing at Stockman " we threw you jail hundreds of times Baxter,"
The scientist's face suddenly flushed with anger and he started jumping up and down in rage.
"How many times do I have to say it? I'm not Baxter! I'm Barney!"
"Right" said Raph sullenly, then though " I forgot Baxter had a brother. Oh well, better for me,"
"I thought I could get away from all you freaks when they let me out of jail" said Barney, returning to his work " but just a few short weeks after I was out a warthog and rhino busted into my apartment and destroyed my lab, forcing me to move into this dreadful place,"
"Bebop and Rocksteady," Raphael thought.
"They stole some of my technology" Barney continued " saying someone named Crimelord needed it for his plans,"
"Crimelord!" said Raphael out loud.
Barney, stunned by the turtle's outburst turned around.
"You know him?" he accused.
"We've met" said Raph " but not on friendly terms. He stole from me like he did to you. If only I can find his fortress, then we can both get back what we want,"
"You'd really be willing to work with me?" said Barney surprised.
"I don't have a choice" said Raph " now get that brain of yours working Doc we've got people to save,"
Cold couldn't even describe the glares that burned through the cage bars of those trapped within. The turtles and April were now tied and bound together, looking down upon Shredder and his gang from separate cages.
"Ooo" said Shredder, rubbing his hands in glee " I've waited so long for this,"
"Yes" said Krang, standing by Shredder " finally the destruction of the ninja turtles,"
"Can we pull the lever now Boss please?" asked Rocksteady, eagerly eyeing the controls.
"I wouldn't dare to make any move yet," creeped in the eerie voice of Crimelord, as he materialized into the room.
Whispers of "whoa" and "Raph was right" sounded from the cages above, making the villain glance up at his helpless pain.
"Enjoying the view?" Crimelord snarled.
"Why have you taken us?" snapped Leonardo.
"I believe Krang already answered that question" said Crimelord " why for Raphael of course,"
"Why Raph?" asked Mikey.
At that question Crimelord just laughed, and both villians and turtles looked confused as to why.
"Your brother is more important to the future than he realizes" said Crimelord " he must be properly molded for the destruction to come,"
"What do you mean by that?" asked Don, but Crimelord said no more.
Instead the villain walked away to get ready for the turtle's fabled arrival.
"Soon" mumbled Crimelord " this world shall be mine,"