Chapter 10

How long has he been down here in the planet's core working on the same bomb? Two days, or has it been weeks? Donatello wasn't sure. The days felt so long down here. Perhaps it was because he was dreading every moment spent being forced to construct such a weapon, or maybe it was because he and the other prisoners were watched day in and day out by the Triceratons? There was some stress relief with Algae around, but the Turtle still longed to run away from this place. He still couldn't understand how the Triceratons were able to keep everyone alive down here. He had asked Algae about it, but even the chameleon alien didn't understand how it was possible.

Commander Jeck wasn't a big help to Don's anxiety and stress either. Even if he welded the weapon's parts the way it was instructed in the blueprint, the Triceraton was never satisfied with Don's work. It was frustrating and annoying! Don was almost certain the Triceraton was constantly breathing down his neck as a test to see how much the Turtle could handle being bossed around. Don had just about enough of it, too!

Don and Algae were again working in their bosun chairs. Algae was pretty patient with most of the yelling and abuse from the Triceratons, but Donnie was only getting more angry by each hour. Algae had been down here much longer than Donatello, so he had either developed a way to cope with the abuse or maybe he decided that it was best to keep his mouth shut? Don couldn't understand how the creature could be so patient.

He pulled at the harness around his chest, it was strapped on tighter than usual. It was little uncomfortable and Don felt he could hardly breathe.

"Are you alright, chap?" the chameleon as asked him, noticing how uncomfortable the Turtle looked. Don inhaled and exhaled as deeply as he could before answering.

"It's a little hard to breathe. How can they expect us to work when they strapped these harnesses so tight?"

Algae watched as the Turtle rubbed his compressed chest and frowned.

"They didn't strap me in that tightly. I'll see if I can loosen yours a bit." He glanced around to make sure no one was watching them before lifting his hand. A moment later, Don could feel the straps loosen enough for him to breathe easier.

"Thanks," he said with relief.

"They shouldn't strap prisoners in their harnesses that tightly," Algae said. "They must have a grudge against you."

"Either that, or it's Jeck's idea about keeping me under control."

They continued their work. The Triceratons continued to bark orders at the prisoners and Don felt a headache coming on. He tried to ignore the yelling.

He lost his footing on the side of the weapon's structure and feel out of the bosun chair! He tried reaching out to grab for anything that could prevent him from falling, but it had happened so fast that Don couldn't react in time to prevent himself from getting hurt. The harness around his body jerked so roughly against his body that the air was knocked out of his lungs and he dangled from the rope connected to the harness.

"Don!" Algae called. He quickly pulled the Turtle back up into the chair and noticed he wasn't breathing!

"What's going on up there?!" Jeck called up. He had seen Don fall and knew Algae must be tending to him. When he didn't receive a response, he ordered a Triceraton to bring the chairs down.

"Hang I there, chap!" Algae tried to tell the unconscious Turtle as the Triceratons began to bring them down. He removed the harness from the Turtle and tried to revive him.

"Come on! Breathe!" Algae begged the unconscious Turtle. He felt for Don's pulse before slapping the Turtle's face in an attempt to wake him up.

At last Don took a breath! It was weak and abnormal, but at least it was a breath.

Once on the ground Alage explained to the Triceratons about the accident.

"He's not breathing properly! He needs a doctor or he'll die!" he begged them.

A Triceraton examined Don himself to see if what Algae said was true and turned to Jeck.

"It's true, sir. His breathing is abnormal and he can barely breathe."

Jeck was displeased by this situation and growled. "Find, bring him to a doctor."

A few Triceratons from the prison's medical department arrived shortly after and they carried Don out the core on a stretcher.

"I'm sure he'll heal up in time, sir," the Triceraton who called for the medical department explained. "If the doctor is able to get the Turtle stabilized, then his breathing should return to normal."

"I can't afford to wait that long for one prisoner. Every second counts against the war with the Federation!" Jeck snorted. "That Turtle has caused me enough trouble. It'll be easier if I sold him."

"Commander Jeck," Algae pleaded. "Please, you can't toss him away like he's nothing! I've grown quiet attached to the fellow. Allow me to visit him from time to time, and I'm sure he'll be able to return to work once he recovers."

"Algatron," Jeck frowned. "If I were you I would accept this piece of advise; It is useless to cling to anyone who is likely to die. There are no friends in prison, only partners. You're better off without him."

Algae watched in sorrow as his Turtle friend was taken away. He really hoped the Earthling will be okay. But he had a feeling he may never see Don again.

Don was scared! He couldn't breathe and it felt as if his lungs were on fire! He thought he heard someone trying to speak to him, but he couldn't understand the words being spoken. Mostly the words came in jumbles to him. He wanted to call out for help.

He tried opening his eyes. All he could see was a bright light. He thought he had seen an outline of the Triceraton speaking to him, but he couldn't be sure.

The Triceraton doctor ordered for Don to be taken into a room so he could be examined further. The nurses brought an oxygen mask for the Turtle to help him breathe since Don's atmospheric converter was not enough to keep his breathing stable.

"Calm down! You're going to be okay! Focus!" Donnie tried to tell himself. But he wasn't so sure if it was his own thoughts telling him this, or if someone was again trying to speak to him.

The Triceraton doctor shook his head as he tried to revive Donatello.

"He's not responding to any of the treatment," he told the nurses helping him. "All we can do is keep him on the oxygen converter and hope he'll pull through. Who knows how long it will be before he regains consciousness."

He left the room, followed by a male nurse who was taking notes.

"Commander Jeck was in charge of him," the nurse reported. "But he does not want him to return to his supervision due to this accident. He's ordering for the Turtle to be sold."

The doctor shook his head with a sigh, "That's not a surprise. Jeck doesn't like anyone or anything that causes a setback. Does the Turtle have any family or friends?"

"He does have three brothers that we are aware of," the male nurse nodded. "But they are prisoners as well and their supervisors will need to be contacted."

"Make sure it is done, then," the doctor told him. "I'd rather he has a chance to see his family one last time before passing, if he doesn't survive."