For those who opted not to read the last chapter: Shredder tries to get Mei to give up Splinter's location, promising that he won't hurt her if she cooperates. She refuses and tells Shredder that she isn't afraid of him anymore. He basically beats her up, and the scene ends with the implication that he is doing all sorts of unmentionable things to her. Meanwhile, Mei's phone was rigged to send out a distress signal if it ever gets hacked. Splinter and the turtles rush off to save Mei, leaving April, Kirby, and Donnie alone in the lair.
Once again, April was left behind while the guys were out on yet another crucial mission. She shuddered at the thought of what Mei might be going through. It made her want to cast aside all of her own fears and charge headlong into the danger, regardless of what might await.
"I can't just stay here, Dad," April moaned. "Do you have any idea what Shredder is probably doing to Mei right now?"
April's dad closed the leaflet he was reading and tucked his new pistol back inside his jacket. "Well, based on the psych profile that I drew up, yes." He sighed. "But I also know that he won't kill her. And he's no match for your friends and Master Splinter. Don't worry; they'll get her out of there."
"I want to help them," April cried.
Her father frowned. "Honey, you can hardly move your arms without hurting yourself. How would you be able to help them? You'd only put yourself in danger if you were there."
April was so tired of feeling helpless. She'd been a helpless mess since Shredder had captured her in the first place. What had happened to the person that she used to be?
"You're right," she muttered. "I'm useless. And it's my own stupid fault."
"Honey, you know better than to say things like that. Remember what I told you about distorted thinking?"
April rolled her eyes. "I know. I used labeling and blame-slash-personalization."
"And polarized thinking. What's a rational response to those automatic thoughts?"
"Shut up, Dad! I don't want to be your psych subject right now, okay?"
"I'm trying to help you. April, you used to be a strong, brave girl. And you still are. Once we've gotten you through some physical therapy, you'll be able to go back to your ninja training."
"It's 'kunoichi' if you're a girl," April snapped. "But that doesn't do anything to help Mei right now."
"No, but Mei is going to need your help when she gets back. You will be able to help her the way she helped you. Why don't we make sure that everything in Donatello's lab is set up so that we can take care of any medical problems?"
He was right. April latched onto the idea. "What are we waiting for?" She scooped Donnie off the ground and started heading for the lab. She and her dad worked quickly to get things set up.
She actually felt useful for a change; it was a breath of fresh air.
Suddenly, an alarm started to go off.
"What is that?" April said.
"Oh, no," her dad replied, running over to the computer. "It's a proximity alarm. Mei told me that Donatello had set it up several months ago. I guess Leonardo must have armed it before they all left."
"What does it mean?" April said.
"I don't know for certain," he said. He pulled out his pistol and slapped a magazine into the grip. "But my guess is that it's nothing good."
April eyed the gun nervously. "Do you know how to use that thing?"
"Well, sure. I mean, I read the instruction manual."
"Your black market gun came with an instruction manual?"
"I refused to buy one that didn't. Besides, it's basically point and click, anyway. See these raised things? They're called sights, and you line them up to take aim. Then you squeeze the trigger. You know, it should be easy." He chuckled nervously.
April wasn't convinced. The proximity alarm continued wailing. "I want my tessen," April said.
"Where is it? In the dojo?" He walked over to the door of the lab and peered out. "Oops. I forgot to, uh, 'rack' the slide on this thing." He pulled back on the top of the pistol and released it.
"I'll get it myself, Dad," April snapped. She ran across the lair and into the dojo. She grabbed a few shuriken, too, even though she still wasn't the best at throwing them.
"It's all in the wrist, April," Donnie had told her once. "Just pretend you're throwing a really sharp Frisbee."
That particular throwing endeavor had not ended well.
As she was tucking the tessen into her belt, she was suddenly assaulted by a powerful sensation that someone had just entered the lair.
Someone who wasn't supposed to be there.
Mei danced along the border of unconsciousness. Every inch of her body ached. She could hardly open one of her eyes, her face was so battered and puffy. Her physical state kept trying to lure her into deep sleep, but she knew she had to stay alert.
At some point—it was all a blur—someone had come to inform Shredder that they had cracked her phone and found the location of the turtles' hiding place. She didn't remember the chronology of it. In fact, her head was throbbing so hard that she suspected she had a concussion.
It wouldn't be long before the turtles would come to find her. Doubtless, Shredder was on his way to the lair, but Splinter would be able to keep Donnie, April, and Kirby safe.
She knew that no matter what, she had to stay awake. She had to be ready to go. Splinter would need the turtles' aid as soon as possible once Shredder had infiltrated the lair.
Her ears were still filled with ringing, and every time she moved, it was almost as if she could hear the pain buzzing in her mind. But somewhere, amidst the tinnitus, she thought that she heard a noise.
There it was again. Was it the sound of fighting, or was it just wishful thinking?
Faintly, she heard a voice. "Check the end of the hall! I'll hold them off!"
Leonardo.
Mei tried to call for help, but her voice was only a rasp.
Suddenly, the door to the cell burst open as somebody kicked it down. "Mei! Oh, Mei. What has he done to you?"
Through her blurry field of vision, she saw that someone was leaning over her and cutting through her bonds.
Splinter.
"What are you doing here?" Mei whispered. "Where are the boys?"
"They are here, holding defensive positions. Can you walk?"
Mei's relief at being found was replaced by horror. "Wait—you're here—who's at the lair with April and Kirby? Shredder is on his way there right now!"
"What?" A note of panic filled Splinter's voice.
"They hacked my phone to find you."
Splinter cut the last rope and wrapped a blanket around her. "There is no time to lose."
Mei winced when Splinter picked her up and began running back down the hall. Even when holding her, he was startling agile and quick. She thought she saw a blur of green on her right.
"Obasan!" cried Leonardo. "Oh, no..."
"Leonardo! Shredder is on his way to the lair. The three of you, go! I will follow as fast as I can."
"Raph! Mikey! Let's move out!"
Mei's world grew darker as unconsciousness crept in all around her. If the concussion succeeded in drawing her into sleep, she might not wake up again. Splinter would be stuck carrying limp weight; he would never make it in time to help the turtles stop Shredder. "Yoshi," she whispered. "I don't know if I'll make it. You'll have to go without me. Stop Oroku Saki. It's too late for me."
"I will not leave you."
"You have to. You're the only one who can stop this once and for all."
"Mei..."
Unable to resist any more, Mei slipped into the darkness. Splinter's voice followed after her in a fading whisper:
"I love you."