during the fight Tigerclaw had successfully captured the orange turtle, Now the next phase of shredders plan can begin.
TW: Blood, gore, graphic descriptions or gore, Maggots (not truly but if you don't like maggots you wont like this)
Tigerclaw roughly straps Mikey to the table, making sure he is in an upright position.
The turtle's head lolls to the side, his eyes fluttering open and shut as he tries to regain consciousness.
The room around him is dimly lit and filled with all sorts of strange equipment.
A tank of mutagen hangs overhead, casting eerie green shadows across the walls.
The laboratory reeks of disinfectant and other chemicals
Mikey mustered up a brave smile, looking at Tigerclaw.
"Hey, bro... I'm sure we can work something out," he says,trying to stall.
His brothers will get here soon.
"I mean, you don't really want to do this, do you? The Shredder's gonna be pissed when he finds out you've killed one of his favorite turtles."
Tigerclaw lets out a chuckle. "Oh, don't worry, little one. I'm not going to kill you..."
He paces back and forth in front of Mikey.
"No, the Shredder has something much more interesting planned for you." He leans in close, his breath hot on Mikey's face. "And who knows? Maybe after a little... reconditioning, you'll be just as loyal to the Shredder as I am."
Suddenly, there's a commotion outside the laboratory.
A buzzing sound echoed through the hallway.
The door swings open and Baxter Stockman flies in, his bug eyes darting about nervously.
He's carrying a small vial filled with multiple squirming brainworms. "Ah, Tigerclaw! Shredder was beginning to wonder where you'd gotten off to,"he says. "We had a small setback, the red turtle and the other mutants were able to break out of the mind worm's control."
Tigerclaw rolls his eyes.
"Well, that was unfortunate. Still, Shredder insists that we continue with the original plan." He nods towards Mikey.
Mikey smiles happily, knowing Raph was able to snap out of it.
"Looks like my brother was no match for your stupid brain worms," he says, sticking out his tongue.
"But don't worry, dude," he continues, "I'm sure you can find some other mutant to experiment on."
He glances over at Baxter, noticing the vial of brain worms in the scientist's hands.
"Or maybe not," he adds with a shy grin.
Baxter nods and approaches the lab table. "Ah yes, the orange one. Quite the feisty one, isn't he? Well, I've made some adjustments to the formula. This should do the trick."He removes the cap from the vial, revealing about ten thick brainworms wriggling about.
He reaches into the jar with some metal tongs and carefully extracts one of the worms, holding it over Mikey's head.
"Just a little pinch, shouldn't take but a moment."
Tigerclaw eyed Mikey as the turtle thrashed in the restraints, crying out.
He takes a step forward, watching the brainworm dangle above Mikey's head.
"Well, it seems like our little friend isn't going to cooperate easily. But I'm sure this will make him see reason." He looks back at Baxter, nodding in agreement. "Stockman. Let's get this over with."
Baxter carefully sets the brainworm on Mikey's head. The worm begins to burrow into his flesh. Mikey thrashes violently in the restraints, screaming in agony as the worm pierces through his skin.
Blood trickles down his face, staining his mask.
"Ah, there we go," Baxter says, his voice almost cheerful. "Just a few more momentsss."
As the brain worm burrows deeper, Mikey feels a cold chill run down his spine.
As the brain worm's control takes hold images and memories flash through his mind, memories of his friends April and Casey, and of his father Splinter.
Images of his brother Donnie flash through Mikey's mind. They were tots, sharing a bag of popcorn. Donnie fixing his toys whenever they broke. Don taking care of him when he was sick. Then, slowly, they begin to slip away, replaced by an empty void.
The next brother to fade was Leo, his fearless leader. Playing Space Heroes together. Leo saving him from the Footbots. Carving a pumpkin on Halloween. Sparring in the lair. Then, with a jolt of tearing pain, those memories were gone as well.
With a final burst of pain, his memories of Raph fade away. Playing tag together. Raph saving him from that monstrous squirrelanoid. Playing video games. The time Raphael had given him a hug. Raph didn't hug often, when he did it was the best hug ever.
Tears stream down Mikey's face as all of the memories fade away, leaving him cold and empty.
Tigerclaw watched with triumphant as the brainworm did its work, the light from Mikey's eyes flickered out like a dying flame.
"There, there, little orange one," he coos. "It's all going to be okay now. You're going to be part of something special. Something...greater than you could ever imagine." Tigerclaw says
Baxter begins to remove the restraints from Mikey's body.
The turtle wobbles on his feet.
As if summoned by the pain and anguish that had been wrought upon Mikey,
the Shredder himself appears in the doorway.
His presence fills the air with an aura of menace and power.
"Ah, Master Shredder," Baxter says, bowing deeply. "Our experiment was a success. The brainworm has successfully taken control of the orange turtle's mind."
The shredder Walked over to the silent turtle, studying him with cold, calculating eyes. "Excellent, Stockman," he says in a low, menacing voice.
"You have done well." He steps forward, "Very well."
Placing a clawed hand on Mikey's shoulder as he spoke. "You shall help me in my plan to bring Hamato Yoshi to his knees."
There was a pause before Mikey's head came up
His dead eyes locked with the Shredder's.
"Yes, Master Shredder."
It had been three months since Raph had seen Mikey,
for three months he and his remaining brothers had been planning this, and now?
To see Mikey's big baby blue eyes void of emotion while wearing a black hood with the foot logo on it and using swords instead of his signature nunchucks?
It was a somber sight to see.
As the battle rages on, Raph manages to land a particularly nasty blow on a nearby Footbot, sending it careening into a nearby wall with a satisfying crash.
The only things Mikey still had were his freckles and his battered orange bandana around his neck. It stained with blood.
"Mikey, you don't know what you're doing!" he shouts, trying to break through to him.
"This isn't who you are! You can fight it, Mikey! You can fight the brain worm!"
Mikey's eyes flicker briefly before he snarls, his new swords at the ready.
"Mikey, stop this!" Raph cries out, his sais stabbing into footbots left and right.
He ducks beneath a swing from one of the Footbots and then leaps high into the air, landing on the robot's back and driving his sais deep into its metal shell.
The robot collapses with a loud clang.
With the remaining Footbots are swiftly defeated, leaving Mikey standing alone in the middle of the abandoned warehouse.
Donnie had killed the phone lines.
There would be no call for backup.
Leo steps forward, his katana at the ready, his voice steady and strong. "Mikey, we know you're still in there. You can fight this."
Mikey's eyes flicker again, before he speaks in a low, gruff voice.
"There's no point. I'm one of them now." He looks down at the swords, then back up at his brothers.
"You're going to die. All of you."
Mikey then lunges at Leo, their swords making an eerie echo as they clash together.
Raph and Donnie exchange worried glances.
They know that if they don't do something soon, Mikey might hurt one of them or himself.
"You're weak, Leo." Mikey growls, his eyes burning with an unnatural fury.
He circles around Leo, trying to find an opening, his swords flashing through the air.
"You're all just thorns in master Shredder's side" He spins and lunges again, this time aiming for Raph.
Raph barely has time to react before Mikey's sword comes hurtling toward him.
Donnie side steps out of the way keeping a protective hand over his satchel.
Raph manages to dodge the blow, but feels the wind of the attack on his cheek. "Mikey, you don't want this!" he shouts, his voice cracking with desperation. "We're your family! We love you!"
"Donnie, you ready with that antidote?!" Leo shouts over the din of battle,glancing quickly at his purple brother, hoping to see the syringe in his hands.
As Mikey continues his assault, Raph and Donnie make eye contact.
Donnie nods, revealing the syringe from his satchel.
The blue liquid he had spent the last 91 days working to perfection.
It was now or never.
"NOW!"
Donnie tosses the syringe to Leo, who catches it swiftly.
Leo then charges at Mikey, swinging his katana wildly.
Mikey turns, getting ready to charge at Leo.
At the last moment, Leo throws the syringe at Raph as Mikey collides into him.
It connects, and Raph quickly yanks Mikey back by his shell and injects the antidote into Mikey's neck.
Mikey stifles, his eyes widening in surprise.
Mikey stiffens and shivers, his body convulsing as the brain worm is expelled from his system.
He drops his swords, gasping for breath as he doubles over vomiting up the brain worm.
Raph and Donnie rush to their brother's side, supporting him as he retches and coughs.
"Are you okay, Mikey?" Raph asks, his voice shaking with fear and relief, tears already starting.
"You're back with us now." Donnie said, his voice wavering.
"Raph..." Mikey rasps, his eyes unfocused and distant.
"Donnie... Leo..." He tries to focus, to remember who they are and what just happened. "I remember... I remember you guys..." He takes a shaky breath, his voice growing stronger.
"It's us, Mikey. It's us. We're your brothers. We love you." Leo says tears in his eyes as he places a reassuring hand on Mikey's shoulder. "And we're all glad to have you back." He glances over at a crying Donnie, who nods in agreement.
Mikey collapses to his knees in exhaustion, his body wracked with sobs as he clings to his brothers.
The light was back in his eyes.