Chapter 9: Metalhead
Hey everyone sorry about the wait. It would have been out sooner but I lost my original source for this series and had to look for a new one. And after seeing the latest season of Young Justice finish up I am very motivated to keep this story going. I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
It was late at night in New York City as we find ourselves in the middle of a battle.
Inside a warehouse, the Kraang were firing wildly as Carapace, the Ninja Turtles and Aqualad were running around dodging fire.
"Keep moving! Don't let them surround you!" Aqualad said.
"Failure is not an option!" Leo yells.
"Technically failure is always an option." Donnie points out.
"You know what else is an option? Slapping you!" Raph snaps.
Drawing his shield, Carapace deflects a blast.
"Mikey on your right!" Carapace calls out.
"Your right or my right?" Mikey calls out.
"They're the same right!" Carapace snaps yanking him out of the way before the Kraang shot him.
Swinging his staff, Donnie whacks a Kraang in the head but it seemed unfazed. "Are you kidding me?! I hate this thing!"
Throwing his sai, Raph impales the droid through the head destroying it.
"Nice work. When we're done here, there's a marching band that needs a majorette." Raph mocks.
Creating his swords, Aqualad slashes two droids in half.
Throwing his shield, Carapace is able to race across the room at his fast speed and knock a Kraang's head off while Leo slashes another one.
"Kraang, the present is being a positive time to be the testing of the energy cannon." A Kraang said as they opened a large door revealing a huge cannon.
"Everyone stand your ground." Leo said as they all took fighting stances.
But when the cannon started to charge up, Aqualad turned to them.
"Change of plans, evade fire at all cost!" He calls out as the giant cannon fired powerful energy beams.
Scrambling they jumped and weaved trying to avoid the attack however Donnie's staff wasn't so lucky.
"Oh come on!" Donnie whines.
"Dude your weapon just exploded." Mikey points.
"Get down!" Aqualad said pulling him out of the way of fire.
Running for cover, Donnie jumped behind some boxes.
"How am I supposed to fight advanced alien technology with a stupid stick?" Donnie asks.
Unfortunately, for Donnie everyone else was able to fight off the Kraang just fine.
Moving in the Kraang pushed the 6 of them back to the wall.
"Kraang, destroy those who call themselves the turtles and the allies of said turtles when that which is the signal is the signal that is given by me!" Kraang said.
"Any ideas?" Carapace whispers when Leo spots a forklift.
"Gio I need a shuriken!" Leo said quickly.
Reaching into his vest, Carapace pulls out a shuriken and throws it to Leo who throws it at the forklift making it start up and ram into the cannon and explode.
"Dumb luck." Raph mocks as they climbed out of the building.
"Luck had nothing to do with it." Leo said.
"And neither did dumb." Gio smirks as they high fived.
"Thankfully these attacks are able to keep the Kraang at bay, but this new technology troubles me. What else could they have up their sleeve?" Aqualad asks.
"Hey can someone give me a hand with this?" Donnie calls out trying to pull something out.
"Hand with what?" Raph asks curious.
Soon they were carrying a broke Kraang droid back with them.
"We're carrying this thing because why?" Raph asks.
"Don't you want to understand how these things work?" Donnie asks.
"I know how they work. You hit 'em till the brainy toy surprise pops out." Raph said.
"That's your problem, Raph. You never think things through." Donnie said as they opened the manhole, but when Donnie tried to drop it through the droid got stuck.
"Was that supposed to fit?" Gio asks.
Feeling stupid, Donnie kicks the droid multiple times until it fell through.
Back at the Turtle Base, while Donnie was examining the weapon April was on her computer typing while the other turtles hung out.
"Forgive me my friends but I must take my leave." Aqualad said.
"See you later Aqualad. Thanks for the help today." Gio said taking his mask off.
"Hopefully next time the Kraang attack the others will be ready." Aqualad said before leaving.
"This technology is light-years ahead of anything I've ever seen! Do you know what this is?" Donnie asks holding a piece out to April.
"No." April said not even looking at it.
"Neither do I but I can't wait to find out." Donnie said excitedly.
Entering the room, Splinter approaches Donnie with a new staff.
"Look, Spike. Donnie got another stick to break." Raph said as Donnie looks up.
"With all due respect, sensei, I can't keep fighting alien technology with a 6-foot staff. I was hoping to upgrade my weapon." Donnie said.
"Hmm a 7-foot staff. Interesting." Splinter ponders.
"No, I meant using modern technology." Donnie corrects.
"Aah. A solar powered staff." Splinter assumes.
"I'm serious sensei." Donnie said.
"I know. And yes, you may upgrade your weapon." Splinter said.
"That's totally unfair! You can't just—" Donnie pauses realizing what he just said. "Did you say yes?"
"Ninjas have improved their arsenal for centuries. We are masters of adaptation." Splinter explains.
"That is great! Because with this technology, I will be invincible! What should I make? Electric sais? Multi-shot shuriken? Plasma swords!" Donnie giggles. "I just gave myself goosebumps. Wanna feel?" Donnie asks holding his arm out to April.
"Pass." April said eyes still on her computer.
"But remember, technology is a means, not an end. It is you who must prevail in battle, not your weapon. Combat is not a video game." Splinter warns.
"That's it! I'll turn combat into a video game! Thanks, sensei." Donnie said dragging the Kraang droid away doing the exact opposite.
Hours later, Mikey was resting on the tire swing, Raph and Leo were playing a video game and Gio was reading a book while April was still on the computer.
"Thanks for lending me some of your books April. I never knew how exciting some were." Gio said.
"Your welcome." April said still looking at the screen.
"You know it's rude to not look at people when they're talking to you." Gio deadpans.
"Huh? Oh sorry but look at this! I just got this awesome post." April calls out.
"Hang on, April, I just have to destroy Lame-onardo." Raph said making the winning point. "Ha!" Doing a little victory dance Raph shoves Leo out of the way as he walks over. "So what's up?"
As Leo joins them he gives Raph a returning shove.
"I set up a message board to collect unusual sightings around New York. People send in pics, videos I also get some stuff that may help us track the Kraang and find my Dad. Like this video of a gas explosion." April said showing them a video of a kraang droid exiting a cloud of smoke.
"Kraangdroids." Gio said.
"Where?!" Mikey gasps falling out of his tire swing.
"We'll go tonight." Leo said.
"Why not now?" April asks.
"Because it's daytime. And Gio is the only one who can go out at this time." Leo explains.
"We can't let anyone see them." Gio points out.
"Well I'm not waiting." April said getting up.
"April, think about this. It could be dangerous." Gio said stopping her.
"You know what else could be dangerous? Standing between me and my father." April glares.
"You're not going April…not without backup." Gio said surprising her.
"Wait seriously?" April said not expecting that.
"Hey I'm not gonna let you go into a Kraang base all alone." Gio said grabbing his shield and tonfas.
"Gio if anything happens don't hesitate to come back." Leo calls out.
"Got it." Gio nods grabbing his mask and following April.
Later that day, Leo was watching TV when they heard a loud stomping noise approaching them.
Turning around they saw a small robot in the shape of a turtle.
"Take me to your leader!" The robot calls out.
"Leo it's for you." Mikey calls out.
"What is this thing?" Leo asks as he and Raph looked over.
"Gentlemen and Raphael, this is the future of ninjutsu." Donnie declares.
"I always thought the future of ninjitsu would be taller." Raph said.
"Hey where's Gio?" Donnie asks looking around.
"He went out with April." Leo said.
"Like a date?" Donnie asks not expecting that.
"Aw he's so cute." Mikey said walking up to the robot. "Cootchie-cootchie goo."
Unfortunately when he tickled it the robot aimed tons of at him scaring the daylights out of him.
"Yeah he doesn't like to be tickled." Donnie chuckles. "Wait until the team gets a load of this."
In the warehouse across town, Gio and April were slowly sneaking through.
Turning to April, Gio puts a finger to his lips signaling her to be quiet.
Nodding her head, April watched as Gio rolled down the hall before landing behind some boxes for cover.
As April tries to imitate him she ends up slipping up mid-roll and quickly crawls behind another box.
Slowly peeking their heads out they saw two Kraang droids talking.
"Is that which is the unstable mutagen ready for using in the experiment that Kraang is being ready to begin?" One Kraang asks.
"The unstable mutagen will be tomorrow unleashing in the water supply." The second Kraang said surprising them both.
"The Water supply?" April whispers.
'This isn't good. I gotta tell the others.' Gio thought.
"Many infected humans will mutation. This is being a good way to perfect the mutagen to the point of perfection." Kraang said.
As April tried to listen in more, she moved a box causing fire extinguisher to fall off and hit the ground making a loud noise much to their horror.
Looking over Gio saw April hiding behind a box in fear as a Kraangdroid approached her.
'Oh no, if that thing sees April this whole mission is doomed.' Gio thought reaching to his vest. 'I gotta move fast. Like REALLY fast.'
Dropping his shield, Gio took a metal ball and threw it across the room hitting a rail getting the Kraang's attention for a second.
Turning to April, Gio didn't notice a green glow in his eyes for a seconds.
Before April could even realize what happened she was suddenly pulled away from her hiding spot and in Gio's arms bridal style.
"Phew that was close." Gio said.
"Whoa. I-I didn't even see you coming." April said.
"Yeah shield really weighs you down." Gio smiles.
Blushing April was just now beginning to realize the position they were in.
"Uh Gio, mind putting me down now?" She asks.
"Oh sorry." Gio said putting her down. "We need to warn the others." Strapping his shield back on he holds out a tonfa. "Know how to use one of these?"
"Not really." April cringed.
Looking around Gio noticed a window they could sneak out of but a Kraangdroid was approaching it.
Signaling to April he readied his other tonfa.
However, April misinterpreted that and swung the tonfa hitting the Kraang in the head.
Pausing the Kraangdroid turns to her only to be met by Gio swinging his tonfa knocking it out the window and breaking into pieces.
"Oh so that's how you use this thing." April said impressed.
"Come on." Grabbing her arm, Gio led April down and back to the base.
'How was Gio able to move like that? He'd have to be as fast as Kid Flash to do what he just did?' April thought confused.
Back at the Turtle's base, Kid Flash and Aqualad had arrived to see Donnie's new invention.
"Well it's uh…interesting." Kid Flash said.
"Isn't it cool? I reverse-engineered it from the Kraangdroid." Donnie explains.
"Okay but why?" Leo asks.
"So the drone can handle the dangerous stuff while we stay out of harm's way." Donnie said.
"Oh, I get it. This is for wimps too afraid to fight." Raph mocks.
"No, it's for wimps too smart to fight. I mean—" Donnie pauses realizing what he just said when he heard a metal thumping.
Looking over they saw Mikey messing with it.
"Ooh. Let's call him Metalhead. Why you ask? Because it's got a head and it's made of—" Mikey starts.
"We get it." Leo interrupts.
"Donatello I don't think you quite grasp what your new weapon is implying." Aqualad said.
"Yeah I mean we're heroes. The whole point of being one is that WE do the fighting despite the dangers." Kid Flash said.
"Yeah I don't need a toaster fighting my battles for me." Raph agrees.
"This is ridiculous Donnie. It takes away the whole point about being a ninja." Leo said.
"Or Hero." Mikey adds.
"It's exactly the point of being a ninja we adapt. Now watch this. Attack the drone. Give it all you've got." Donnie taunts.
"Donnie we really don't want to break your new toy." Leo said.
"I do." Raph said stepping forward.
"This is gonna be good." Kid Flash grins getting a front-row seat.
Charging in, Raph drew his sai and leaped at Metalhead but to his surprise, the little robot grabbed him with ease.
Using the remote control Donnie had Metalhead slam Raph to the ground multiple times before throwing him.
Drawing their weapons, Leo and Mikey went on the attack attacking the robot but Metalhead's armor absorbed all the blows.
"Well that thing can take a punch." Kid Flash whistles but Aqualad was less than impressed.
Reaching out Metalhead grabs their weapons and pulls Leo and Mikey in making them butt heads before throwing them into Raph.
"I kicked your shells! And I didn't even have to use the laser cannon! Face it, guys, with this thing I'm invincible!" Donnie declares.
Racing over, Kid Flash pulled the remote out of his hand.
"And now you're not." Kid Flash said kicking Metalhead down.
"You know what I mean." Donnie said taking it back.
"I do. And I can't say I approve of this." Aqualad said.
"Aqualad?" Donnie asks.
"We're heroes. We don't take the easy way out. Not like what you're doing." Aqualad said.
"Easy? This took me forever to figure out." Donnie said when Splinter walks in. "Sensei, I was wondering if I could take Metalhead for a spin tonight."
"You may." Splinter nods.
"That's totally unfair! You can't just—wait what?" Donnie said surprised.
"You have created this new weapon. We must see how well it works." Splinter said patting Metalhead on the head.
"Well, that's great. Thank you, sensei." Donnie smiles.
"But it is a test only. Do not take it into combat." Splinter orders.
"No problem sensei." Donnie nods.
However, once Splinter left everyone looked at Donnie knowing what he was going to do.
"You're taking it into combat aren't you?" Raph asks.
"Totally." Donnie grins.
That night, as the heroes were on patrol, they came to a stop only to hear Metalhead's loud banging as he tried to follow them.
"Should we double back? I think there's a car alarm he didn't set off." Leo mocks.
"Yeah I'd hardly call this thing a stealth robot." Kid Flash said.
"I kinda like it. It goes nicely with all the sirens and cries for help." Raph mocks.
At the base, Donnie was watching all this from the tv set as he controlled Metalhead.
"Oh, come on. You guys are just jealous 'cause you're out there in the cold and I'm here eating Mikey's last slice of pizza." Donnie mocks.
"Hey!" Mikey snaps punching Metalhead hurting himself.
"Guys is that you?" Gio calls out from down below.
"Gio." Raph smiles as they looked down to see him and April walking down an alley.
Leaping down the 5 of them join them.
"Oh man am I glad to see you guys." April said.
"You would not believe what we found out. Wait where's Donnie?" Gio asks looking around when Metalhead leaps down into the dumpster nearby startling them.
As it climbs out Gio and April look at it weirdly.
"Still, it's stealthier than the real Donatello."
"Uh please tell me I'm not only seeing a robot turtle." Gio said.
"Unfortunately no." Aqualad said.
"What the heck is that?" April asks.
"It's Donnie's latest "brilliant" creation Metalhead." Leo declares.
"Metalhead?" Gio said unsure about this.
"Catchy name, huh? My idea." Donnie said leaning against it.
Opening its mouth, a speaker appeared making loud radio feedback making them all cringe. "Oh sorry Gio, April I'm still getting used to the controls. Whoops. The megaphone button got stuck." Donnie apologized.
"Look we don't have time for this. Gio and I found out something big something bad." April said.
"The Kraang are planning to pour mutagen into the city's water supply." Gio said horrifying them.
"If they do that they'll mutate the entire city." Aqualad gasps.
"There'll be mutants everywhere." Kid Flash gasps.
"Wow. Think of all the friends we can make." Mikey smiles.
Turning to him, everyone even Metalhead glared at him.
"Excuse me for being a "glass-half-full" kinda guy." Mikey said.
"We don't have time for this." Taking out his mask, Gio puts it over his eyes and pulls his hood up becoming Carapace.
"Let's move!" Aqualad said as they raced to stop them.
"Yeah the Kraang don't stand a chance." Donnie said but they stopped Metalhead. "What?"
"Donnie, I need you to hang back. Metalhead is just too clumsy. It'll get in our way." Leo said.
"Clumsy?" Swinging its arms out Metalhead knocks a garbage can. "I did that on purpose to emphasize my point."
"You're not coming Donnie." Leo said.
"Yeah I'm with Leo." Carapace said.
"I third that agreement." Aqualad said.
At the water supply, the 4 turtles and 2 heroes looked down at all the Kraang droids inside.
"Your intel was correct Carapace." Aqualad said.
"It's a Kraang picnic down there." Leo said.
"You guys ready to bash some bots?" Raph asks.
"Destroy some droids?" Leo adds.
"Total some toasters?" Kid Flash adds.
"Clean some closets?" Mikey adds and everyone looks at him. "I meant to say crush some Kraang."
Making the first move, Kid Flash super speeds in and knocks a Kraang to the ground.
Diving down Aqualad stabs his sword through the droid.
Leaping down, Leo, Raph and Gio demolish 2 droids when Mikey dives in.
"Booyakasha!" Swinging his nunchaku Mikey knocks one to the ground.
Looking around Aqualad signals to some droids carrying the mutagen.
Slowly they tried to sneak up on them and get the jump when one Kraang droid they beat up weakly called out getting their attention before collapsing.
"Ooh that's not good." Kid Flash cringed.
Turning to them the Kraang open fired on them forcing the heroes to go on the defense.
Outside on the roof, April was waiting with Metalhead.
"Hey Donnie can I ask you something?" April asks.
"What's up?" Donnie asks.
"So uh Gio…he's uh fast." April said trying to figure out how to say it.
"Oh yeah, when he drops that shield it's like a switch. He's not Super Speed but fast." Donnie confirms.
"Well yeah but today he was fast. Like really fast. Like I couldn't even see him fast." April said.
"Mmm guess he's been training. So, how do you think the fight's going?" Donnie asks when a beam shot out narrowly missing them.
"Aah! They're everywhere! Run!" Mikey screams.
"Not great." April assumes.
Inside, Kid Flash was using his speed to run around them avoiding fire while the others were forced to use their weapons to dodge and deflect fire.
"Leo we're running out of room!" Raph said as he, Leo, Mikey, Carapace and Aqualad ran behind some boxes.
"We're trapped." Aqualad said.
"Or maybe, they're the ones who are trapped!" Mikey said as Carapace bonked him on the head.
"No Mikey we are definitely the ones trapped." Carapace said.
On the opposite side of the room, Kid Flash saw that they needed help.
He was about to go in when suddenly Metalhead leaped in through the roof window and crashed down on the Kraang in a weird pose.
"What's with your hands?" Carapace calls out.
"They're not on my hips?" Donnie asks.
"No." Leo said.
"Sorry. Forgot to press B." Donnie said as Metalhead struck a pose. "Now it's my turn! Eat hot laser!" As Metalhead's weapons went off he was blasting away the Kraang left and right as Donnie laughed doing it all. "You want some of this? Whoo! Yeah, baby!"
"As annoying as that thing is it's pretty powerful." Carapace said.
"Hey Raph, how does it feel to be shown up by a toaster?" Donnie mocks turning to him.
Hearing that the other three brothers looked at him with smirks.
"Burn." Mikey said.
"I thought so too." Donnie said as two droids came up behind him.
"No burn!" Mikey points.
"Behind you!" Kid Flash yells.
Turning around Metalhead fires taking out the droids but also narrowly missing Kid Flash.
"Hey Donnie watch your fire!" Kid Flash yells.
"That thing which does violence at Kraang used to do violence for Kraang." A Kraang noticed.
"Here's some for you! And some for you! And, oh, yeah, I saved a little for you too! How'd that taste?" Donnie laughs firing all around.
"Donatello show some restraint!" Aqualad said when Metalhead fired at some gas canisters making them explode and knocked Metalhead against the wall hitting the antenna.
"No! I lost the control signal!" Donnie gasps when he sees a Kraang crawling towards Metalhead. "Wait what's that Kraang doing?"
Climbing atop his head, the Kraang took control of Metalhead.
"Uh oh. Guys if you can hear me you might want to run!" Donnie calls out.
"Don't need to tell me twice." Kid Flash gulps not liking this.
"The ones that which are called turtles will now be called turtles that are destroyed!" Kraang said as Metalhead turns to them.
"Whew! I was really afraid at the beginning of the sentence, but then I sort of just lost interest." Mikey admits.
"Mikey he's going to kill us using Donnie's machine!" Carapace said as Metalhead aimed his laser at them.
"Okay now I'm afraid again!" Mikey said.
Seeing the trouble they were in Kid Flash did the only thing he could think of and super speeded out of the center.
Back at the turtle's base, Donnie was working on the controls when he raced in.
"Donnie we need your help! Your robot is working for the Kraang now!" Kid Flash said.
"I know maybe if I can override the system we can—" Before Donnie could finish Kid Flash grabbed him.
"Dude! Stop playing your video game and get out there!" Kid Flash snaps.
"Kid Flash is right Donatello." Splinter said walking in. "No more games. Now it is time for action."
Seeing the two of them look at him Donnie realized they were right.
"You're right my friends and brothers need me." Donnie said standing up.
"That's more like it." Kid Flash grins.
"Wait. You'll need this." Splinter said throwing Donnie a new staff.
Back at the water center, Carapace drew his shield to deflect Metalhead's fire.
"If we live to see Donnie again I am gonna kill him for making such an indestructible robot!" Carapace snaps.
"It has to have a weakness somewhere. We just need to find it." Aqualad said making maces and going on the attack.
Smashing it against Metalhead, the robot takes the attack and swats him away.
"This always works! Hiyah!" Leaping in Mikey kicks Metalhead in the crotch area but only hurt himself. "Well usually works."
"It's a robot Mikey. Not a human." Carapace calls out.
As Metalhead and the Kraang forced them against a wall, they all readied their blasters.
"Now Kraang will destroy you. Which one wants to be first to be destroyed by Kraang?" Metalhead asks.
"Me!" Leaping in through the roof, Donnie lands in front of them.
"Donnie! Banging entrance dude." Mikey smiles when Kid Flash appeared behind the Kraang droids.
"Surprise." Kid Flash grins before nailing one with a super-speed punch.
"You guys deal with the droids. I'll handle Metalhead." Donnie said readying his staff.
"Good to see you're finally joining us." Aqualad smiles.
"You were right Aqualad, Metalhead was not the way to go." Donnie nods in acknowledgment.
Nodding back Aqualad joined the other and attacked the droids.
"It is the maker of the tech which was the tech that was of the Kraang." Metalhead said.
"Come on. Give me your best shot." Donnie taunts as Metalhead fires a fist at him.
Yelping Donnie whacks it with his staff sending it back and hitting Metalhead in the head.
Swinging his staff, Donnie whacks Metalhead multiple times but didn't seem to do much.
Firing a laser Metalhead breaks Donnie's staff.
"Not again." Donnie groans.
Firing another laser, Donnie narrowly dodges as the laser hits a beam making a large dent.
Grinning Donnie got an idea.
"Hey, Kraang! The one who is called your mother wears the boots that are made for combat!" Donnie mocks.
"The comment that is made by you shows ignorance of Kraang! The ones known by you as mothers—" Metalhead corrects.
"Just come get me!" Donnie interrupts.
Firing at him again, Donnie leaps over it just as lasers hit the beam.
Turning around Donnie aims his staff out just as the beam comes down hitting Metalhead and impaling it on the staff.
As the last of the droids were destroy the others looked at the battle impressed.
"Booyakasha!" Donnie grins.
"Sounds weird when he says it." Mikey said.
"Sounds weird when you say it." Raph said.
"That which is the revenge will be had on those who are calling themselves the turtles." Metalhead said before the Kraang leaped off and crawled away.
"Nice job Donnie." Kid Flash smiles.
"Way to go Bro." Leo smiles.
"Yeah, not bad. Except for that part where you built the thing in the first place. And the part where it broke. And the part where it tried to kill us." Raph said. "And the part where—"
"He gets it Raph." Carapace interrupts.
"At least we stopped them before they could pollute the water. The Kraang are getting bolder." Aqualad said.
"Yeah but we'll be ready for them." Kid Flash assures.
Back at the base, Splinter was talking with April and Aqualad about what happened with her and Gio.
"Interesting. It is very different from what Aqualad told me." Splinter said.
"Wait this has happened before?" April asks.
"It appears our assumption was correct. Giovanni seems to have potential that not even he knows about." Aqualad said.
"But how do we help him learn about them?" April asks.
"Hmm I will need to consult Martian Manhunter this is more his area." Aqualad said.
"See that you do." Walking out Splinter notices Donnie sitting by himself while the others played video games. "What troubles you, Donatello?"
"This was all my fault, sensei." Donnie sighs.
"You are responsible, yes." Splinter nods.
"Yeah." Donnie sighs feeling like the worst.
"Responsible for destroying the mutagen. Responsible for saving the people of this city. Responsible for defeating advanced technology using only ingenuity, bravery, and a stick." Splinter points out.
"Thanks Sensei, maybe you're right." Donnie said standing up.
"I am." Splinter nods.
"I guess with proper training, there's nothing better than a wooden stick. Except a laser-guided, missile-launching wooden stick." Donnie said revealing he tied a missile to his staff but when he puts it down it began beeping.
"Uh Donnie what's that?" Gio asks not liking this.
"It's not supposed to do that! Run!" Donnie screams when Aqualad slices the missile in half and threw it down the hall so it could explode.
"Just stick with the bo staff." Aqualad orders.
"Got it." Donnie nods in understanding.