Baxtech Labs, New York City, fifteen years ago

Hamato Yoshi's broom actually managed not to get swiped to splinters by Shredder's blades. He jerked it free, making his move. He knew the broom couldn't pierce her armor, so he instead aimed for the more unprotected joints.

Shredder briefly fell to one knee, and Yoshi moved to make his getaway, before two figures in black armor blocked the doorway. "You brought backup," he observed simply.

"When I told the Foot Clan I was bringing back your head, they jumped at the chance to volunteer," sneered Shredder, standing back up. "Tear him apart."

The Foot soldiers charged him, one raising a bō staff and the other a set of kusarigama. Yoshi held up his broom defensively, swinging as soon as the duo were in range. The blades of the kusarigama dug into the handle, allowing him to wrench the chain from its wielder's hands. He then clashed with the bō, the chain somewhat protecting his broom as he slammed it into the staff wielder's ribs.

The staff wielder collapsed, but the second member charged Yoshi, wrenching the kusarigama free of the broom handle before swinging them around once more. One of the blades cut his left arm, making him drop his improvised weapon. But when the soldier approached, he grabbed the attacker's arm and threw him over his shoulder, kicking him in the head once he was down.

A set of blades in his back made him remember the Shredder's presence. "You will burn here," she seethed, holding an explosive in her left hand. "You will have nothing, and I will have justice."

She tossed the explosive at one of the tanks in the room. As it went off, several globs of purple liquid splashed across the room, and flaming chunks of debris landed in each corner of the room. With sufficient damage done, the Shredder left, content that the building's destruction would take out Yoshi as well.

Yoshi collapsed, his hand busting into the rat's cage. Some of the purple stuff hit him, seeping down his fingers until it came into contact with the rat. Suddenly, he felt something strange happen, as the rat seemed to move away. Gaining the strength to look into the cage, he was shocked to find the rat had somehow vanished.

That wasn't all-fur was growing along his arms, his fingers now ending in claws. Looking back, he howled in pain as a tail sprouted from his back, and nearly doubled over as the shape of his legs altered.

When the pain subsided, he forced his eyes open, staring at what had become of him. It seemed that, somehow, he and the rat had fused. Two splinters crammed into a single whole…

He had no time to dwell any further, as the continued spread of the fire reminded him that there were other animals in the lab. Pulling them out of their cages, he quickly shuffled away before the flames blocked the exit.

Once outside, he made for an alleyway out of sight, setting the animals down so he could catch his bearings. Looking down at what all he had rescued, he found a myriad of turtles crawling on the sidewalk-they looked like they were slowly growing more human. Before he could get his bearings and count just how many turtles there were, he saw an alleycat trying to drag one away.

"Get away from that!" he shouted, clawing at the cat. The cat screeched, its right eye scratched out, and dashed out of the alleyway.

Taking a minute to catch his breath, he looked back to the turtles, still sitting where they were. They had no idea what was going on, to which he envied them.

Wait.

There were four turtles sitting there.

Where was the one being attacked by the cat?

Before he could look closer, he heard the sound of fire trucks approaching. Knowing they wouldn't take so kindly to him, he scooped up the turtles and ran deeper into the alleyway. As he lifted up a manhole and descended into the sewer, he vowed to one day find the missing fifth turtle.


Turtle lair, present day

"So Splinter began training us," finished Leo. "He taught us ninjitsu so that we could go up to the surface and find the missing turtle. But the years passed, and we figured they were probably dead by now."

Something about the way he said it made April feel like it was a decision he himself disagreed with. "So… Splinter was a rat… and a human? Is that why-"

"That's why he called himself Splinter, yes." Leo then looked over at Jack. "So, what did you do at Baxtech?"

"I-I just work the front desk at the office," he answered, raising his hands defensively. "I didn't know you guys existed until today, I swear."

"Honestly, we're not threatened by you," said Raph bluntly. "You're both skinny as twigs. Not only could you not hurt a fly, the fly might actually have a chan-"

"We get it," interrupted April, crossing her arms with a furrowed brow. Raph just chuckled, smiling down at her.

"We aren't even mad about Baxtech making us, it's what they've done with others that makes us upset," said Donnie.

"Others, you mean like that Hob guy?"

"Yeah, he has quite the vendetta against Baxtech. And honestly, for good reason."


Mutanimal Hideout

A white rabbit was sat down, reading a book in an abandoned subway station when Hob, Cam, and Thrift entered, and he looked up as the trio walked over.

"The mission was a shambles," said Hob dourly, setting his weapons in a drawer. "Those humans were easy pickings, yet somehow we were discovered and defeated with ease."

"I'll tell ya why, it's those turtles," replied Cam, turning red with annoyance. "They're always gonna stop us, yet you keep letting 'em interfere in our business."

"I won't bring lasting harm to fellow mutants, however misguided they may be."

"Solidarity's nice, but shouldn't really count if they're actively protecting our enemies," said Thrift, hanging up her bat on a coathook.

"They have just lost that which is most precious to them because of human interference," continued Hob, undaunted. "Once they realize humanity is the root of their issues, they will join us of their own free will."

The rabbit looked ready to stand when Hob held his shoulders down, grooming the fur on his ears. Cam still looked like he had more to say, but Thrift placed a hand on his shoulder, shaking her head.


Mikey sifted through the box, eventually pulling out an envelope that had "To my sons." "I, uh, I think I found a will," he called out, opening the envelope and pulling out a sheet of paper.

The message written wasn't a long one, but it still evoked quite the reaction from the turtles:

"Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael:

I know I don't have much time left to write this, so I shall make my final wishes clear.

What was once mine is now yours. You can do what you wish with anything, even my chair, and I won't be around to be upset by it."

Nobody missed Raph's heavy sigh of relief at reading this.

"What's more, I know for a fact your missing sibling is still alive. It doesn't matter how long you take, but I want you to find them and bring them home."

Leo's smile was almost audible.

"But my biggest wish is this: your four have grown to be a most effective team, but I've noticed you no longer behave as brothers. I know how it feels to be estranged from my own family, and I don't wish that for any of you.

Please, don't become what I was. Be there for your brothers. Be a family. That is my last, most crucial command.

I love you, my sons.

Splinter."

Silence filled the room, with the humans keeping respectfully quiet. Mikey looked at his brothers; indeed, outside of training, this was probably the most time they'd spent together in a long time. Then, he felt himself smile for the first time in days.

"Alright, y'all, he wants us to act like a family again, and I got a few ideas," he announced.

"We lost someone recently ourselves," said Jack. "April and I should be getting home."

"Sorry for your loss," said April. "It was nice meeting you."

"Likewise," answered Leo, a ghost of a smile on his face as he bid the humans farewell.


Lotus Blossom Dojo

The sun was setting as Mayu found the dojo, watching as teens and young adults were taught self-defense. She smiled, she had been like that once, before she had been moved to the more "advanced" classes.

She approached the front desk, where a middle-aged Japanese man noticed her. "Oh, your hair's green this time," he sniffed. "You change colors like a chameleon."

"I change my hair more often than you change socks, Tomura-sensei," retorted Mayu. "But anyway, I need to borrow your shredder for a moment."

Tomura lifted an eyebrow, glancing around the dojo before turning back to Mayu. "I'll take you there, but she's in the middle of something already."

Standing up, he led her out of the main studio and up the stairs, where she could hear the sounds of fighting, much more extreme than anything going on downstairs. In the center of the room, she found Oroku Karai, leader of the Foot Clan, fighting against two burly men at the same time.

The shorter one managed to grab her from behind, lifting her off the ground. When the taller one made a move to begin pummeling her, Karai slammed her feet into his abdomen, making him collapse; this had the added effect of making the shorter one stagger back, as Karai slammed him back into a wall. His grip released, she swung a foot up and knocked it into his chin, sending him to the floor.

The taller one managed to get back to his feet, trying to make a swing at Karai while her back was turned, but she caught his fist with hers, squeezing until she heard his knuckles crack. He was brought to his knees, screaming in pain, before she headbutted him, knocking him unconscious.

It was then the Foot leader spotted the green-haired girl, who averted her eyes to look like she wasn't ogling her leader. "What do you want?" she asked bluntly.

"Lady Shredder, Mayu here discovered something in the field," answered Tomura, pushing the younger girl forward.

Mayu dropped to her knees, bowing respectfully. "Madam, I saw the turtles in the junkyard this morning," she said. "They were burning something. I think… I think, ma'am, it was the rat's body."

Karai narrowed her eyes, stepping closer to Mayu and staring down at her. "You're certain of this?"

"I didn't see it exactly, but there's nothing else it could have been."

The woman stared upward, crossing her arms thoughtfully. "I had hoped to slay the rat by my own hand," she mused. "Show the freaks how it felt to have that which was most precious to them ripped away… Stand up, Mayu."

Mayu did so, and Karai continued. "With their leader dead, the turtles will be without guidance. Their collective judgment will be clouded by emotion, their actions sloppy. You did very well to tell me this."

"Arigatō," said Mayu, bowing her head respectfully. "Does this mean we'll begin hunting them in earnest, Lady Shredder?"

"Correct," answered Karai. "Impress me again, and I'll make you my first lieutenant."

Mayu squealed into her hands, before maintaining her composure and bowing again. Tomura led her away, as Karai pressed a brick on the back wall. The facade opened up, showing the Shredder armor, not touched since she had seemingly dealt with Hamato Yoshi.

"Soon, father," she muttered to herself, brushing the mouthplate of the helmet. "Soon, your revenge will be realized."

For a moment, she thought she had heard something. Like a whisper that sounded both right next to her and worlds away. She dismissed it, instead checking out the armor for any signs of damage. When the Foot Clan took to the streets, the people of New York would realize the Shredder was a force to be reckoned with.