Brain Box
This takes place in the 2003 series in season 4 during the Outbreak. In this story Mikey has powers from BrightLotusMoon's storyline (which she has given me permission to use and she's also given me her brilliant insight to this story too)
'''''
"Ah-choo! Ah-choo!"
"Gesundheit." Mikey said handing the sickly turtle some tissues from his vest.
"Thanks Mikey." Donnie sniffed, then blew his nose with the tissues he was given. "Ugh, stupid cold. Every time I blow my nose it feels like it's gonna fall off. And the sneezing isn't helping either."
"Well don't blow too hard or else it might." Mikey teased but the little joke didn't help lift Donnie's mood which made the young turtle frown, "Sorry I can't help you feel better Donnie."
"Mikey we've been over this. (sniff) It's fine."
"It's not fine to me. You've been fighting this cold for weeks now and nothing we've tried in getting rid of it has worked. Not even my homemade hot and sour soup and that's never failed."
It was true, for as long as any of them could remember anytime any of them got sick they were always fed chicken soup to fight off whatever ailment they had, but the homeopathic soup didn't work. Then one day Mikey made a pot of Hot and Sour soup from a washed out cookbook that Splinter had found in a dumpster. He made it for Leo and Donnie when they both got colds from swimming in the freezing water tanks, shortly after they felt better the next day. Since then that became their new homeopathic soup.
Strangely though the soup didn't seem to work this time.
"Mikey I was feeling better after eating your soup, but (sniff) I think Raph's driving is what's making me sick."
"Hey!" Raph voice called back.
"I know Donnie, it's just...I hate seeing you like this." Mikey pouted.
Donnie gave his little brother a smile before giving him a small head nudge which Mikey returned. Within 10 minute they arrived at April's place.
They were on their way to the electrical plant where Donnie picked up another monster sighting, while on the way Donnie started feeling sick again. He started feeling dizzy then nauseous, Raph had barely managed to pull the BattleShell over before Donnie threw up in the bucket that Mikey had given him. Leo decided that it was best to take Donnie to April's to rest while they took care of the monsters.
They entered stealthily through the back of April's shop and up the stairs to her apartment.
When the door opened they found both April and Casey in her apartment, April was dressed like she was ready to go to a biker rally whereas Casey was clean shaven while dressed in a navy blue suit with his hair tied back.
"Guy's, this is unexpected."
"Sorry April." Leo apologized, "We're on our way to a possible mutant sighting and well..." He and Raph stepped to one side revealing a very sick looking Donatello leaning against Mikey for stability.
"Ah-choo!"
"Wow Donnie you look... greener than usual. A lot greener than usual."
"I know... Ah-choo! I picked up this little bug that I haven't been able to shake." He blew his nose, "I was feeling a little better but I just can't handle mutants right now."
"Did you figure that out before or after you almost threw up on me in the Battle Shell?" Mikey teased with a smile.
Donnie gave him a sheepish smile, "Sorry." The smile quickly turned into a frown when Raph smacked the sea green turtle on the back of the head.
"Oww!
"Mikey!" Raph scolded, "Adults are talking."
"Don't hit Mikey Raph."
Raph blinked at the sickly olive turtle before grinning, "Boy you must be really be sick Donnie if you're letting Mikey..."
"No I mean it! Mikey didn't do anything to deserve being smacked like that! So quit hitting him!" Donnie repeated firmly before submitting to a new coughing fit.
"April we're really sorry to do this but can you and Casey keep an eye on Donnie for us?" Leo asked.
"Of course Donnie can stay here." April said gently, "We weren't going anywhere anyway." She led the purple banded turtle over to her couch.
"Dude, you are seriously crampin' my style here." Casey complained.
"Sorry." Donnie sniffed.
While April was talking to Leo, Mikey pulled out a small thermos of tea from a small bag that he was carrying. He poured some of the tea into the thermos lid before giving it to Donnie.
"Here Donnie drink this."
Donnie took the cup, "Thanks Mikey." He took little sips of the amber liquid in the cup, it was warm but not too warm and it helped soothe his aching throat.
He soon felt something cool and wet against his face. He looked up to see that Mikey was holding a cool rag to his cheek. The cool damp rag felt so good against his hot skin.
"How's that feel bro?"
"Mmm that feels so good."
"Well go get 'em guys." Said April.
"Donnie you take care of yourself. C'mon Mikey." Leo said as he and Raph left April's apartment.
Mikey hands Donnie the cool rag before turning to April, "April I know you already have your own cold medicines but here's some stuff that you'll need for Donnie." He hands her the bag and the thermos, "Oh and don't forget to give him this too."
"What's this Mikey? Some ancient Japanese medicine or something?"
"No, it's just herbal tea, camomile with ginger and honey. It's supposed to help with sore throats and the ginger helps with nausea."
"Ohhh."
"Since when did you become the family doctor Mikey?" Casey asked.
"We all have some medical knowledge Casey, but Donnie's been teaching me more about medicines to help me with my healing abilities. Since he's been under the weather I've been stepping in for him. And before you ask, for some reason I haven't been able to heal Donnie from this flu bug. I don't know why."
"Mikey... we've been over this... Ah-choo! You can't... heal ailments that happen naturally. Ah-choo!" Donnie groaned as he blew his beak.
Before Mikey could say anything, Raph's loud bellowing called from the stairs.
"Yo Mikey! Hurry up and get your ass down here before I drag ya down the stairs!"
"Alright alright, keep your shell on!" He called back, "Muscle bound hothead." He muttered quietly.
"I heard that ya Knucklehead!"
"You better go before Raph decides to make good on his promise." Donnie advised before blowing his beak again.
Mikey nodded, "Okay, try to take it easy okay Donnie."
"I'll try. Good luck." Don said giving his little brother a small smile, which Mikey returned.
"Later April, later Casey. And thanks."
Mikey left to join his older brothers outside, leaving April and Casey to care for Donatello.
'''''
The others arrived at the electrical power plant where it was being attacked by giant mutant crustacean monsters. Two of them resembled crabs while the other one looked like a crawfish of some kind.
"Geez, these mutant monsters keep gett'n uglier and uglier every time!"
One of the giant crabs lifted its head and growled.
"I think that one heard you Raph."
"Hey Mike, you think you can calm them down with your powers or somethin'?"
"For the last time Raph, it doesn't work like that! I have to be able to sense something in the... thing that I'm reaching out to to make a connection. And besides I'm already doing everything I can to block out the random thoughts that I'm picking up here and there."
"Alright guys, cool it." Leo ordered, "Mikey you take the left. Don you cover me on..."
"Uh Don's home sick from school today Leo remember?"
"Right." Leo said in realization, "Raph you cover me on the right. Remember guys we need to..."
"Contain them but don't splatter them." Raph interjected, "We know the drill Leo."
Leo grimaced at his younger brother but the team of three turtles set out to do their assigned tasks.
They did their best to subdue the giant crab creatures but these gigantic arthropods were tough and resilient. Nothing the guys did was enough to make these things stay down, they were also very quick despite their massive size.
Raph threw a pair of metal restraint clamps at one of the crab monster and it went down hard, but then it used it own claw to cut its own leg off right above the clamps. Then it grabbed Raph in its claws and was prepared to eat him.
Raph struggled with all his might to get free, when someone landed on the crabs claw behind him.
"Chew on this!"
Mikey threw one of their homemade smoke bombs into the creatures open mouth, a cloud of purple smoke exploded from it's open mouth. The crab creature screeched before it was kicked to the side by Leo, releasing its grip on the emerald turtle. Mikey grabbed Raph and leapt back just as the mutant crab crashed to the ground whereas the two said turtles landed safely on their feet.
"You okay bro?"
"Yeah I'm fine. Thanks."
"You guys okay?" Leo called.
Mikey raised his hand to signal to Leo that they were okay but then stopped, "Leo behind you!"
Leo barely had time to look behind him before jumping out of the way as another mutant crab brought its massive claw down to crush him.
"I got it!"
Raph charged at the giant crab, ignoring Leo's yell to wait before jumping and kicking the mutant crustacean back into one of the high voltage transformer cylinders, causing a mini explosion, knocking the guys off their feet.
Leo looked up to see the the power plant and the city was shutting down, "The whole city's losing power!"
In less than 15 seconds all of New York City was completely blacked out.
The emerald turtle could only grin sheepishly when he realized his mistake, "Heh... whoops."
A loud screech reminded the guys that they still had mutant crabs to deal with.
"Blackout or no blackout we still have a job to do guys."
"Right!"
The guys each took a mutant crab to battle. Even with the added darkness they were still able to keep the giant crustaceans at bay. They quickly discovered that the tranquilizers couldn't penetrate the thick armor of the crabs exoskeleton.
Leo leapt back to avoid the mutant crabs attempt to grab him, he lifted one of his katanas, ready for the mutant crab to attack when he heard a painful yell.
"Aaahhh!"
The blue masked turtle turned to find his orange branded brother on the ground, curled up in the fetal position. One of the giant mutant crabs spotted the fallen turtle on the ground before making its way over to him.
"Mikey!" Both he and Raph shouted.
Mikey opened his eyes, seeing the mutant crab approaching. The pain in his body was excruciating he couldn't move, it felt like his insides were on fire.
He spotted a large spool of electrical wire behind the large crustacean, he focused his powers on the spool and soon the wire unraveled itself before wrapping around the mutant crab like a boa constrictor.
Leo leapt back to avoid a claw swipe from the mutant crab before pushing it back with a powerful round kick and another under its chin. Raph swung at one crabs head with his metal grabbers that sent the mutant crustacean to the ground. Once both were down both turtles rushed towards their baby brother. Mikey was breathing heavily, his face glistening with sweat, looking drained.
"Mikey what happened? Are you hurt?" Leo asked while checking his youngest brother for any visible injuries but he couldn't find any.
"I... I don't know... I... just felt a burning pain in my right leg. Then my whole body started hurt... AAHHH!" He yelled clutching his head in pain. It felt as though the Shredder was crushing his skull.
Leo and Raph were stunned, they didn't know what was happening to their baby brother or how to help ease his pain. To make matters worse the mutant crabs were getting up again. Even the mutant crustacean that Mikey had tied up had managed to free itself before joining the others.
"The ol'e turtle luck's springing up again." Raph griped, "What's the plan now Fearless leader?"
Before Leo could answer or even come up with a plan, one of the mutant crustaceans growled then pounced towards him. Leo had just enough time to bring up his tranquilizer blaster and katana up to block the mutant crawfish's claws from reaching him, but nothing happened. He opened his eyes, though he didn't remember closing them, and found the mutant crawfish hovering in the air, its claws just inches from reaching him.
The crawfish could only screech in confusing while trying to free itself from whatever force was holding it.
Leo and Raph looked at each other before looking down at Mikey, his body was glowing with a bright blue aura.
"Donnie..."
Mikey opened his eyes which were glowing blue then a shockwave of energy pushed the giant crustaceans back towards the other end of the plant. A few tranquilizers that Mikey had dropped whilst reloading his gun before the pain struck him had struck one of the crab mutants, knocking the mutant out before it hit the ground.
Mikey then collapsed in exhaustion. His breathing was hard as the pain finally subsided. He was both mentally and physically exhausted, like he'd gone up against the Foot Clan, Purple Dragons, Shredder and Bishop all at once.
"Damn."
"Mikey!" Leo exclaimed crouching down carefully gathering his youngest brother in his arms, "Mikey? Mikey can you hear me?" Mikey didn't so much as twitch.
Raph gently patted Mikey's cheeks, "C'mon Mikey don't quit on us now."
Mikey groaned before slowly opening his eyes, "Ohhhh... my head..."
"Are you okay Mikey?"
"No... I ache all over... my brain feels... like it's in a vise... and I can't move..." Mikey groaned, his body trembling slightly.
"Well yeah ya just blasted those ugly monsters back. Nicely done by the way." Raph grinned.
"Thanks... but I only stunned them. They won't... stay down for long." Mikey tried to sit up but just didn't have the strength.
"Whoa easy there Mikey. Don't strain yourself."
The two elder turtles looked and saw that the crab monsters were starting to move again.
"Damn! These things just don't quit!" Raph cursed.
Leo shared his younger brother's feelings though he noticed that only two of the crustacean mutants were getting up and heading towards them. Where was the the third one? Then he spotted one of the crab mutants lying on its back, three tranquilizer darts in its abdomen.
"That's it. Raph their undersides are weaker. Hit them there." Raph nodded grabbing a handful of tranquilizers from his belt. Leo carefully laid Mikey back down, "You wait right here little brother."
(Like I have a choice.)
Leo smiled a little before he and Raph set off to deal with the remaining mutants. They made quick work of knocking them out now that they knew where the weak spots are. Leo ducked and slid under and behind the crawfish mutant, when the mutant crustacean turned he fired three tranqs into its abdomen. The crawfish screeched before toppling over. Raph used his metallic claw to push the remaining crab back and onto its back before leaping into its belly and plunging a handful of darts into its torso. It screeched before going limp.
"Well that wasn't such a chore now was it?" Raph grinned.
Leo could only scoff lightly. Then he remembered his youngest brother, "Mikey!" He and Raph rushed back to their youngest brother's side, the orange clad turtle hadn't moved since they left him.
Raph carefully gathered their baby brother in his arms, "Mikey, ya still with us?" Mikey didn't even stir, "C'mon Mikey, wakey wakey." Raph gently patted on Mikey's face. Mikey slowly opened his eyes, "Hey little bro, you okay?"
(Define okay)
Leo had a thoughtful gaze before placing a hand on Mikey's forehead, (Mikey, I need you to relax for me. Can you do that?)
(I think so... ugh it hurts so much...)
(Try to focus on something other than the pain Mikey. Think about... think about Klunk, think about the farm house, think about something that makes you happy.) Leo smiled.
Mikey's lips curled up into a smile.
"Hold him still Raph." He told the red masked turtle, who nodded, then Leo held his hands in front of him in a prayer manner, closed his eyes and began to chant softly. It was a technique that he'd learned while training with the Ancient One in Japan. As he chanted Leo made different gestures with his hands.(1)
Raph could only watch as Leo continued chanting while making weird hand movements. He'd seen Leo do this once after he'd returned from his training journey, shortly after Karai destroyed their last home.
Leo then placed his hands on Mikey's body, one hand on his forehead and the other on his chest. A soft silver light emitted from the blue clad turtles hands which seemed to ease Mikey's pain because his face went from pained to relaxed in less then a few seconds until the glow faded.
Leo removed his hands from Mikey's body, then Mikey opened his eyes, "How do you feel Mikey?"
"Better, much better." He smiled as he sat up, with some help from Raph, "My head's a little foggy but other than that I feel a lot better." Then he turned to his eldest brother, "Leo we have to get back to April's. She, Casey and Don are in trouble."
"What? What do you mean?"
"I heard Donnie's voice calling for help, he sounded like he was in pain. Then I saw a big monster chasing April and Casey and then it attacked Casey." He said urgently, but before he could go on Leo's ShellCell rang.
"Hello?"
"Leo help! A monster! Don... Ahhhh!" April's voice cried frantically over the phone before the line disconnected.
"Hello April, are you there? April!" Leo pulled his ShellCell away to check the screen, "Damn, the line's gone dead. C'mon guys we gotta get to April's now."
Leo and Raph helped Mikey back to the Battle Shell. Raph took the driver seat whilst Leo and Mikey climbed into the back, once everyone was in Raph started up the vehicle then headed towards April's place.
In the back Leo pulled out a protein shake from the mini fridge, shook it a few times before opening it, "Here you go Mikey."
"Thanks Leo." Mikey took the bottle and took a few gulps of the thick beverage, "Mmm, chocolate fudge. My favorite." He took a few more gulps till the bottle was empty, "Thanks Leo." He smiled feeling a little better.
"No problem." Leo smiled before asking, "What happened back there Mikey?"
"I don't know. I was doing fine until I felt a burning pain in my thigh. I thought that it was a muscle cramp but then the pain spread throughout my whole leg, then my whole body was hurting. Then it felt like my skull was on fire while being crushed at the same time."
By Mikey's description Leo knew what that meant, Mikey's empath abilities were picking up on someone's pain, but who's pain? It couldn't possibly have come from one person, could it?
"I thought you said that you had better control over blocking out peoples thoughts and feelings Mikey." Raph called back.
"I do, it's just... this one came out of no where and it hit me like a ton of bricks."
"Mikey, you said that you heard Donnie calling for help and that April and Casey were being attacked by a monster. Did you see what it was?"
Mikey closed his eyes, trying to regain the vision of what he'd seen, "I didn't get a good look at it, all I could see was its shadowy shape and its glowing red eyes. I think it's another mutant created by the outbreak."
Leo muttered a curse under his breath. Something he only did when he was really frustrated.
"Sorry Leo."
"No no Mikey, I'm not angry at you. I'm angry at..."
"Bishop and that bastard Stockman for creating this mess, I know. I don't need to read your mind to know that bro."
"What about Donnie? Did ya see him?" Raph called back.
"No I didn't." Mikey said dejectedly.
Leo gently squeezed his shoulder, "It's okay Mikey, I'm sure he's okay. Just focus on regaining your strength." Mikey nodded at his eldest brother, "Step on it Raph!"
Without responding Raph pushed harder on the gas.
When they arrived at April's shop, they entered through the tunnel leading to the basement of her shop. They could hear the shouts of April and Casey and the roars of... something. Raph quickly pushed a large box out of the way from the entrance, spotting a large green mutant holding Casey by his jacket.
"Whoa more freaky monsters!?" Raph charged towards the monstrous mutant, "Hey didn't ya hear what the lady said?!" He yelled swinging his monster claw grabber at the mutants head, making it drop Casey as it roared in pain.
Leo and Mikey ran up to their human friends.
"You guys alright?"
April was trembling with fear whilst Casey was trying to regain his breath. At that moment the large mutant let out an angry roar, it's glowing red eyes locked onto the turtle that attacked it.
"What the hell is that?!"
The large mutant growled then tackled Raph, both mutants rolled on the ground until the massive mutant was on top of the emerald green turtle.
"Raph! Mikey stay with April and Casey!" Leo ordered before leaping to help Raph.
Mikey watched his eldest brother leap onto the creatures shell covered back to pull it away from Raph. Mikey turned back to his human friends, checking them for any injuries. April was shaken up, he didn't need his empathy to see the fear radiating off her but other than that physically she was okay. Casey had some bumps and bruises, but thankfully nothing life threatening.
He then spotted a piece of purple cloth on the ground. When he picked it up he was pulled into a vision.
(He saw April and Donnie in the living room, Donnie was holding his right leg, stating that it hurts like shell. April then leaves to help Casey, suddenly Donnie's grunting in pain as his right leg starts to swell, tearing the bandages off. Mikey watches in horror as Donnie's body began to change, his muscles grew larger tearing his pads and belt off, his skin color darkened and eyes start glowing red. April and Casey rush back onto the living room and are terrified when they see what's happened to Don. Donnie then pushes past them and runs down the stairs to April's shop then down to the basement.
Upon reaching the basement he clutches his head in pain, clutching his ninja mask so tight that he tears it off before hiding in the bedroom infront of the tunnel.
"Leo… Raph... Mikey…. help...me...")
Mikey gasped for a breath, clutching the torn remains of Donnie's ninja mask in his hand.
"No…."
"Leo the tranq!"
Mikey turned to see Raph holding the large mutant back with his monster claw while Leo lifted his tranquilizer gun at the thrashing mutant, not knowing that it's really Donnie.
"Leo wait!" Mikey shouted racing towards his brothers, "Don't shoot him, it's... Agh!" Mikey was suddenly side swiped into the wall by the giant mutant's lashing tail.
"Mikey!"
The large mutant used the distraction to free itself from Raph's metallic claws before swatting him into Leo with its powerful tail. Then the large mutant turned its attention to April, who was on her knees besides Mikey checking him over, before moving towards her and the fallen turtle.
"Mikey! C'mon Mikey wake up! Please you've gotta..."
"April behind you!" Casey yelled.
April turned to find the mutant looming over her, its massive hand reaching out for them, "AHHHH!"
"Get Away From Them!" Leo yelled as he leapt towards the monstrous mutant, delivering a powerful kick to its chest.
The creature staggered back before regaining its footing. It snarled at the blue masked turtle with a vicious growl, then it spotted the tunnel in April's wall. Instead of attacking it turned and ran towards the tunnel, disappearing into the sewers.
As soon as the mutant was gone Leo quickly hurried over to Mikey's side as he was slowly regaining consciousness.
"Mikey, are you okay?"
"Mmmm... I'll let you know when my head stops throbbing." Mikey groaned as he tried to sit up.
"Whoa whoa, easy there Mikey."
"Ugh, Leo... why am I always the one that gets thrown against the wall?"
Leo chuckled softly, "I couldn't tell you Mikey."
Raph cleared his throat, "Uh I hate to spoil the moment here, but someone wanna tell me what the hell that thing was?! And where's Donnie?"
The realization sunk into Leo, "Did that monster get Don?"
"Guys, that monster is Don?" April spoke.
"Say what!?" Raph exclaimed.
"That creature you just fought... is Don." April repeated sadly.
"No... it can't be..."
"Leo... it's true." Mikey said holding up Donnie's torn mask, "This is Donnie's mask. I saw him change into that... that creature."
The entire basement was silent. No one moved nor spoke another word.
'''''
(1) Just to clarify yes that was the Healing Hands Mantra from the 2012 series that Leo used to heal Mikey. Figured that while he was in Japan to heal, he'd want to learn something to help his brothers, mainly Mikey when he overdoes it with his powers.
Hope you guys like this story, and Happy New Year!