Good evening, everyone! I am back a bit sooner than anticipated, but I've made some good progress! There's going to be some interesting developments i this chapter, so get comfy and please enjoy!
The following day, after work shifts were done, April and Casey returned to the lair. Donnie sat them both down, attaching small nodes to different points on their head. The wires were attached to a device which reported readings that would appear on the screens.
"Okay. The screen displays are simple. These are images of each of your brains. Based on your brain activity, the presence of strong electro-chemical signals will be indicated by a colored hue." Donnie said.
"Well, THAT explains everything!" Mikey suddenly exclaimed.
"Wait, wait. Did he just have an epiphany or something?" Raph asked. "Oh boy... yeah, we're all going to die."
"Raph." Leo shot him a look. "What is it, Mikey?"
"Well, our brains are supposed to be grey, right? Like 'grey matter' or whatever?" He asked.
"Yes, Mikey... and?" Donnie shook his head with bewilderment.
"Well, that's why April and Casey have super mind control! Look at their brains! They're rainbow colored! That has to be why they're super duper awesome!" Mikey beamed. "I'm a genius!"
Donnie groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Mikey, that's not-"
"Thank you for contributing that, Mikey." Leo said, eying Donnie and motioning for him to just move on.
"Anyway." Donnie spoke. "There is also a digital bar measurement of the potency of the electro-chemical signal on the screen, at several points of distance away. This will determine the circumference of its influence."
"Great. Can we get this started already?" Casey asked.
Just then, the telephone rang. Mikey went over, picking it up. "This is the Mikester, how can I help you?" He asked before Leo snatched the phone out of his hand, Raph snickering lightly as he shook his head.
"Hello, doctor. Yes, they're all set up. Okay, hang on." Leo said before putting him on speaker.
"Okay. I want you both to concentrate. Let your mind be open. Try to let it wander toward another presence. If it becomes uncomfortable or threatening, close your eyes and open them again. Start fresh."
The turtles watched intently as the pair followed the doctor's instructions, Donnie occasionally glancing at his screens. He began to see an increase in color hue, making sure his computer was taking reading measurements. As the seconds passed, Casey's mind was drawn to something, glancing over.
He was met with the sight of a cut up, bleeding Purple Dragon gang member.
He hissed, shutting his eyes tightly. "Shit."
"Very good, Casey. This is the most important part of developing your shine. There are forces that seek to dim it. You have to resist their influence. Take what message they may bear, but nothing more. Do not let fear cripple you." The doctor said from the phone.
"I didn't see anything." Mikey whispered to Donnie.
"We can't, Mikey. Our minds can't do what theirs can." He replied.
April was staring straight ahead, tilting her head slowly. As Casey continued to focus on catching another glimpse of something, April saw someone silently make their way into the lab. She walked as if she were upon air, her toes not making a sound on the floor. "... Mom?"
The woman approached slowly, her long, flowing red hair falling to her mid-back. She held a single, red rose, extending her hand. April reached out, the group seeing her take something that they could not see. Donnie looked at his screen, noticing the color hue from April reaching far past Casey's.
"Alright, April. You're doing great, just dial it back a bit, okay?"
April looked back up to see that the woman was gone. Trying to look for her, she suddenly found her again, her back turned. Now, she was wearing a black hat, matching her dress. She slowly turned, glancing over her shoulder to reveal crimson red eyes. At this, April looked down, seeing that she was no longer holding a rose, but a red balloon. "M- Mom...?"
"April. Listen to me. You need to bring your shine back. The creature is beginning to sense you."
Casey furrowed his brows, able to see Pennywise in place of the woman it was using as a mask for April. He quickly shut his eyes, keeping them shut for several moments before opening them, no longer seeing it there. "April, close your eyes."
Donnie went over to his computers, typing a few things in. "Donnie, what's happening?" Leo asked.
"Her electro-chemical emissions are off the charts, look at this." He said, Leo walking over to look before glancing back at April.
"April, can you hear me? April, Pennywise sees you. You have to cut your shine off." The doctor said.
"Guys, does she have a brain freeze?" Mikey asked worriedly.
"I have no clue, but I'm taking those things off of her." Raph was about to head over, when Leo stopped him.
"We need to understand what's happening here before we do anything rash." Leo said.
"What's happening is that I'm going to snap April out of whatever magical trance she's under before her brain turns into a swamp." Raph said, shoving his brother out of the way.
"April, close your eyes, damn it!" Casey bit his lip. When April continued to stare ahead in a daze, he shook his head. "Fuck this." He said, taking off his nodes and hopping out of his chair. April's eyes began to roll up as the woman gravitated closer and closer, her body beginning to separate from the chair as she began to levitate. Casey pulled the nodes off, grabbing her shoulders to shake her. "April, look at me. April!" As he did this, she saw the woman lurch back, as if she were pushed. She then heard her fading scream as she seemed to fall into the Earth, gasping as her eyes returned. She took in deep breaths, her eyes darting as her brain readings decreased in colored hue. Her heart rate began to stabilize, Casey sighing with relief as Donnie rushed over to remove the rest of the nodes and wires. He held up a light, attempting to test her pupil reaction. "Jeez, can you give her a second to breathe?" Casey snapped.
"I'm trying to test her vitals, Casey." Donnie replied, shooting a look at him as he took out a cloth to dab her forehead with.
"April? April, can you hear me?" Doctor Sleep said from the phone.
"I- I... yeah..." She said, still in a bit of a daze. "What-... did I do something wrong?"
"No, you didn't. But unfortunately, you've been exposed. The creature now knows of your shine, April. It's going to determine its next course of action based on that-"
"Well, this was a stupid idea then, wasn't it? Why the hell did you put her up to this in the first place, huh doc?" Raph exclaimed. "Funny how you won't man up and do this yourself, but you expect April to put her life at risk for this voodoo shit!"
"Raphael. You must calm yourself." Splinter said, Raph hissing and quieting in response.
"I completely understand Raphael's frustration. There is a reason I am here, and not there. My shine is far more developed, but I went through a trying period in my life which caused it to waver. Attempting to challenge the creature, and failing, will only add a significant amount to its power. There is also another reason I must stay away, something that is my own personal responsibility and not yours. There is someone who needs me near, who needs protection. I know that several of you understand that better than anyone."
Leo glanced over when he said this, giving a nod. "Yeah... I do."
"So what are we supposed to do now?" Casey asked.
"You both must continue to try and develop your shine. As for the turtles, the need to protect them is greater now than ever. They are in more danger now that it knows that they stand a formidable chance against it. It will continue to use its power of manipulation to achieve its goal. It is essential that this does not happen."
"I understand." Leo replied. "We will protect them. We will protect this city."
"I will contact you tomorrow. I advise that you watch over April and maintain your security measures." The doctor said before a click was heard.
"Nothing will happen to her. I'm going to make sure of that." Donnie said a bit quieter. At this, Casey gave him a flat look.
"Oh, come on, inspector gadget. You've got no love for me in that big shell of yours?" Casey asked sarcastically.
Donnie shot him a look, helping April out of her chair before gently scooping her up. "She's going to stay here for the night."
Leo sighed. "Donnie, Casey and I can bring her back home-"
"She's staying here, Leo." Donnie snapped at him uncharacteristically before taking her to the couch to rest. In response, Leo sighed, turning to the others.
"Let's break for the night. Casey, are you feeling well enough to walk on your own?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." He said, getting to his feet. "Keep me posted on Red, will you?"
"Sure." Leo nodded.
Casey grabbed his back pack, and before he knew it, he was back in his apartment, staring at his ceiling fan. As he watched it spin aimlessly, fragments of memory flashed through his mind like a strobe light. He hissed out a breath, turning on his side. "The hell am I supposed to do, dad?" He said to the emptiness of the room, throwing the covers over his head.
The following morning, April blinked awake, groaning lightly as she returned to her senses. She slowly sat up, blowing at several messy locks of hair hanging on her face. She barely had a chance to allow awareness to settle in when Mikey's voice sounded.
"Guys, she's awake!" He exclaimed before crouching near her. "April, can you hear me? Are you still brain dead?"
"Uh... hey, Mikey. I don't... think so?" She mumbled.
"Whew! That's good. Donnie would be totally broken up if you weren't all smart and stuff anymore." He snickered.
"Mikey, please move over." Donnie's voice was heard then, crouching down. "Forgive me, April, just taking some basic vitals... okay, heart rate is good, pupils-... good dilation/shrinkage ratio..."
"Maybe you could just ask her how she feels instead of doing all that, Einstein." Raph approached then.
"I feel... tired... my head's a bit foggy. I remember seeing my mom. But then... I saw someone else. Someone else with red hair. I don't know who she is. And then I saw that thing." She spat the last word. As she did, the phone suddenly rang. Donnie was about to take it, wanting to give the doctor a piece of his mind, but Leo grabbed it before him as he approached.
"Hello?" Leo answered.
"Good morning, Leo. I wanted to know how April was doing."
"She just woke up. I can have her contact you later if-"
"Leo." April interrupted. "I have... questions."
"Okay." As Leo handed her the phone, he leaned closer to Donnie to speak to him. "Tap the call."
"You got it." Donnie said, going to his lab area to listen in.
"Doctor... I don't understand what happened. Why-"
"I'm sorry, April. I unintentionally allowed you to be exposed to things you should not have been exposed to. Though I learned something very important last night, it came at a great risk to you."
"What- What do you mean?" April sat up a bit more.
"The creature has gained more influence over the last near three decades than I thought. I dealt with a certain problem some years back, something that is unnecessary to discuss the details of right now. I should have made this connection earlier, I should have seen the signs. The woman you saw had abilities much like you and I. But she was not altruistic, April. Rather, the very opposite. She, along with others, attempted to gain immortal power by abducting shiners- particularly, those who were children, and tortured them until death in order to extract it from them. What does this sound very much like, April?"
"... Pennywise. It's exactly what he does." She breathed.
"You can look in your database I'm sure and see articles of children going missing in areas out west. To make my point plain, April... Pennywise does not always kill every individual in its path. Remember that it is a manipulative being. Therefore, some are better alive than dead. Those select few it allows to live have far too much darkness in their hearts to be redeemed. It gave them the means to destroy those who had the power to destroy him, and in exchange, they would reap their reward in the form of immortality. This is why I cannot face the creature myself, April. It knows me, it knows my niece." He paused, April hesitating as well. "I too... have those I must protect. I did from those who looked upon Pennywise as a deity. You see, after the second showdown in Derry, though it survived, it was very weak and required to travel to a place where it could feast, regain strength. There were those along the way who still posed a threat. If it could, it would have eliminated all shiners in their youth. This is why you are in grave danger now, April. It knows you have awakened this power. You must stay safe, and keep close to only those you trust most."
"I understand." She replied. "I feel like every time I think that this thing can't get any more dangerous..."
"Going forward, I will try to take more precaution with you. I suggest you keep Casey close as well. Nothing can happen to either of you."
"Yes, I will." April said. "Thank you for telling me what you know. I can see we both have a lot of work to do before we can take on Pennywise."
"That is correct. I will keep in touch, April." The doctor said before the call ended.
Donnie stared at his computer screen, his lips slightly parted as he sat in shock. He slowly glanced over at Leo, who tightened his lips for a moment. "Donnie, get the others. We're doing a huddle, now."
As Splinter brought April something to eat, the four brothers met in their dining area. Leo stared at the table's surface for a few moments in thought before lifting his head. "I'm going to make something very clear. I don't have all the answers this time. I don't have a solid plan. This is becoming bigger than any of us thought it would."
"Thanks, captain obvious. So what are we supposed to do then?" Raph asked.
"We don't have the means to kill this thing." Leo held up his swords. "This, or any of your weapons, or our fists, will not kill this thing. We can't use our skills and tools to kill this time."
"So what good are they, then? What can we use them for?" Raph asked.
"To protect. If April and Casey are the ones who can destroy this monster, then all we can do is protect them so they can save this city." He looked around at the others. "Look. We've had our glory moments. We've had our fun. We've had our triumphs not only as a team, but as brothers." He exhaled slowly. "A short while ago, sensei told us that we had to learn to take responsibility seriously, that we're not children anymore. Part of doing that is knowing when to step back. Knowing what we need to do at what time, not what we want to do. Because believe me... I want to tear this monster to pieces, I want to slice it to bits. But that's not going to help anyone. So the only plan that I have is setting up measures to keep April and Casey safe. What do you guys think?"
He was met with silence for a moment, before Mikey broke it. "Protecting people is the right thing to do, bro... and I don't want anything to happen to April or Casey either. But do you think their mind control power will really work?"
"I can't say for sure, Mikey." Leo replied.
"I think they should stay here." Donnie said. "Even with the security equipment I set up... it could still find some way to get her. On her way to work, going down the street... we saw that firsthand."
Meanwhile, April thanked Splinter for the meal, handing him her dishes. "I feel a little better. I just... need some time to process all of this."
"A great deal has been placed upon you in a short time, April. It seems you are the one in need of training now. You are doing well. I can see your effort. Though I may not fully understand your power, I understand the young woman who wields it." He said.
Just then, April's phone buzzed. "Probably Casey..." She said to herself as she grabbed it, but wore a surprised expression when she glanced at it. "Huh... it's Grayson."
"I do not particularly trust that fellow." Splinter said.
"Neither do I... but I'm hoping if we stay on his good side, it will solve one problem. The last thing you need is to be treated like a second class citizen while all of this is happening." April said.
"Don't fret over that right now, April. We must remember priority, what is most important. His small-mindedness is not our greatest concern at this time." Splinter advised.
"You're right... I can't just blow him off, though. I should really take some time to see him... at least tell him that we're working on something." She said.
Just then, Casey made his way into the lair, looking around until he spotted April. "Hey. Feeling better?"
"Yeah... what about you?"
"Head's still spinning, but... that's a given." He nodded at Splinter as he sat beside April. As he did, he gave her a flat look when he caught a glimpse of her phone, taking it out of her hand and holding it up. "Really? This asshole?"
"Casey!" She exclaimed, snatching her phone from him. "It's not like he's my boyfriend."
"The hell he isn't. What does he want?" He asked.
"He wants to know if we've made any progress with Pennywise." She replied. "He said I can stop by his office when-"
"You mean WE can stop by his office. April, I don't know about you, but I'm not going to take any chances." Casey said.
April couldn't help but smirk at this. "Since when are you not a gambler?"
"Since shit got real." He said, sighing a bit. "You going to work today?"
"I guess... I figure I'd do a light day today." She replied.
"I'll walk you there." He said as he rose to his feet. As April began to get her things together, the turtles entered, having finished their huddle.
"Uh... April? What're you doing?" Donnie asked.
"Getting ready for work." She chuckled.
"Are you sure that's a good idea after yesterday's incident?" He asked.
"She's fine." Casey interjected.
"Really? Can your new mind powers determine that or are you taking a wild guess?"
"Donnie." Leo shot him a look. "April, please let us know if you aren't feeling well at any point."
"I will. As annoying as you can all can be sometimes, it means a lot that you guys care so much." She smiled as she grabbed her purse, bidding the turtles and Splinter goodbye as she headed out with Casey.
Going to end this chapter here! So, do April and Casey have to watch their backs? Will the turtles be able to protect them from Pennywise? Will Grayson help, or harm them? Find out these answers and more in the next update! Thank you again for reading, and let me know what you think! See you next time!