Peter groaned as he walked through the sewers with the turtles. It was smelly, but a shortcut without web fluid was a shortcut that was cheap. "I can't believe Harry's taking steroids."
April told him after the whole phone incident, where she got mildly miffed before accepting the new device. Apparently Gwen found out during the dance and wanted to keep it quiet so her dad didn't get involved. "Hey, you've been busy being a hero. You're not going to see everything coming." Mikey said from the back.
"But I should. Harry's my best friend." Peter sighed. "It feels like the more I try at being Spider-man, the more Peter Parker's life falls apart."
"I'd suggest making a schedule if rampaging maniacs didn't decide to come out whenever they want." Donnie said.
"Evil never rests, and thus, neither do we." Leo said his fifth corny line of the day.
"Given the fact I never see you sleep, I'm not sure how to take that line." Peter deadpanned. There was that one time when he saw them all freaking out in paranoid delusion but that was after Splinter beat up everyone shitless.
"If the itsy bitsy spider is so worried about his social life, you can always take the night off." Raph stated. "Pretty sure we can handle crime one night without the tacky and tight spandex fairy watching over us."
"And miss out on your wonderful personality, perish the thought." Peter joked back. In truth, taking a night off was nonnegotiable. Spider-man was a full time job, more so than the actual paying job he needed to live. "So, what are we betting on tonight? Foot, Kraang, Mutate villain? New confused mutant."
"What's the difference between mutant and mutate?" Mikey asked. "I feel like that line's a bit blurry."
"Mutates like me generally keep their baseline human DNA while mutants like you guys have your entire structure morphed completely." Spidey gave the complicated version.
"Basically if they're mutagen based or if there's some other factor in their powers." Donnie added in. "Hmm … speaking of, if the mutagen doesn't work as intended … what are they trying to do with it?" He asked. "A specific ability to give themselves?"
"Maybe they're tired of looking like walking brain tumors and are looking for a makeover." Leo guessed. "Even aliens must feel subconscious about how they look."
"If that was the case, they wouldn't all be going for the tacky business man suit." Spider-man brought up. "Like seriously. For a supposed hyper intelligent species, their english is crap and the creativity is down the toilet."
"People haven't noticed them for over fourteen years, that's probably intelligent enough." Raph shrugged. "So how much longer are we walking? I'm in the mood to run the rooftops and crack some skulls."
"Just a little bit longer." Leo nodded. "With so many villains and mutants popping up, we can't take the chance that we're the only ones taking refuge in the sewers. Last thing we need is more enemies discovering the location of the lair."
Very valid point. "So … anything else happen to anyone?" Peter asked, trying to find new conversation.
"I started texting April to help her get a hang of her new phone." Donnie said with hope in his voice. "I loaded it with all the best apps and music options."
"This isn't going to be another T-pod situation, is it?" Leo glared. "Because you're already at two strikes creating metal monsters that inevitably try to kill us."
"Don't be ridiculous…I added a self destruct sequence to prevent a situation like that from ever occurring again."
"So it could blow up and take April's head off when she's calling someone!?" Mikey asked.
"Guys, give me more credit than that, I'm not a psychopath." Sure…when he wasn't stabbing him with needles to get blood samples. Where was the spider sense on THAT!? "By self destruct, I mean short circuit, and that will only happen whenever someone says the phrase 'T-phones self destruct.'
And on cue, all the turtle's phones sparked and smoked. "… More credit than that?" Raph asked while cracking his knuckles.
Donnie was saved from the embarrassing reply when the sounds of lasers entered their ears. "Oh listen to that, Kraang fighting. Let's focus on that and nothing else."
"Saved by the alien laser pews." Spidey cracked his neck. "Alright; been a while since I've cracked a Kraang skull. Let's hope I'm not too rusty."
"Oh please, it's the Kraang." Raph rolled his eyes. "Those guys are so predictable we'll have their heads rolling." As if on cue (which a lot of stuff in his life seemed to revolve around honestly), a Kraang head bounced off the wall, rolling over to them. "…Or they could do it for us. Didn't predict that."
"Someone else fighting the Kraang?" Leo asked. "You think it's the Foot?"
"Or maybe a new best friend." Mikey hoped excitedly.
"Or more likely a dangerous mutant that'll turn on us." Donnie pointed out.
"Or a new best friend!" Mikey repeated. "If they hate the Kraang, then that makes them a good guy."
"Mikey, Spider-Bytes hates the Kraang." Spidey pointed out.
"I thought he hated us?"
"The guy hates everyone, even before he became a low rent, less ugly version of Spidey." Raph counted.
"Like you said the night we met, not everyone gets lucky on the draw." Peter quipped before another Kraang part came flying by, this time an arm. "Looks like that goes the same for these guys."
They all looked around the corner, seeing the Kraang firing at … a giant, mutant crocodile … alligator… yep, alligator. It roared, grabbing a Kraang and … eating it. "First time i'm gonna feel sorry for the Kraang." Leo winced.
"I don't." Raph said cold as they dodged under incoming debri from the carnage. "But I'd also hate to be them right now."
"So cool." Mikey grinned with glee at the scene before them.
"Sewer gators. Who knew the conspiracy theorists would be right?" Spidey nodded at the violence.
"... Should we help?" Leo asked.
"Who? The behemoth of muscle barely getting phased by lasers, or the Kraang getting eaten?" Raph questioned.
"I think the scaly guy that's looking a bit lightheaded might be more needing." Spidey pointed as the muscular beast roared as he was being forced into a corner, a barrage of lasers striking a particularly large and nasty scar on the fella's chest.
"Alright, we still have the element of surprise." Leo said. "We move in slowly, work our way from the back to the front and-"
"Booyakasha!" Mikey instantly rushed in, knocking some Kraang together without a second thought.
"How long did you actually expect that plan to work?" Donnie looked to their leader.
"One of these days …" The turtle sighed.
"It is the ones called the turtles being that which is known as a pest." One of the Kraang stated in their redundant way. "Kraang shall destroy the one's being the one's known as the pest and continue to search for what is known as rightfully ours."
"Pest? Aww are you thinking about me already?" He asked, swinging forward and knocking off some Kraang heads.
"The one known as the man of spiders attempts to fight with the lowly form of humor known as quips." A Kraang droid responded as he knocked one into a wall. "Kraang is far above the worldly play that the one known as the man of spider's claims to be funny."
"Wow, giving up beating me in a fight of wordplay, smart." He said as he dodged a laser. "It would be smarter to just give up now, you know, cause you'll lose." Spidey snatched a blaster away and used it as a melee weapon.
"Eh, you can't exactly say there's intelligent life in space when these guys don't understand that we're going to trash them and their plans every single time." Leo sliced two boys in half. "I mean, aside from making mutants that you can't even control, what have you even done lately?"
"The one the ones known as the turtles known as the one called Leonardo will not know of the plans that involve thy of Krang, only that they will involve you complete annihilation."
"I think I understand the root of your language problem." Spidey said dramatically. "It's about trust. If you can't trust the guys beating you up on the daily, who can you-" {Impact} Wait, all of the Kraang were visibly in front of him, barring the one near the exit, and they'd only reach him with a blaster. What was-
SMACK
Spidey was hit with a tail strike from the giant reptile. "KRRAAAANG!" The alligator screamed, rushing in and fighting Kraang and turtle alike.
"Still think it's friendly Mikey!?" Raph yelled as he avoided a claw trying to slice his head in half.
"We haven't introduced ourselves yet, so maybe it's just a communication issue!"
"He's flailing around like a madman!" Leo shouted as it went crazy.
"Actually he's fighting just like a natural alligator." Donnie observed. "Shaking his prey to break them apart, tail strikes, and the infamous death roll."
"Infamous what now?" Raph asked.
"When they drag their prey into the water and suffocate them to weaken-" Donnie couldn't finish on the account of the big guy grabbing his entire head in one hand. "Bsbdkfhskdbdhw!"
"Hey buddy, sorry to say you won't find a tasty treat inside!" Spidey shouted as he kicked the beast away. "What's with you and getting rampaging reptiles angry at you?" He asked the turtle. First the lizard, now this.
"Gag id off ged id off ged id offffffff!" Donnie shouted in response, trying to pry himself free.
"I'm trying!" He shouted back. "Be lucky it was the hand and not the jaw! How are we doing on the Kraang guys!?"
"They're taking the chance to retreat!" Leo shouted. "Guess the big guy scares them more then they hate us."
"Aww, I've gotta start sending my valentine bombs. Get the feelings mutual you know?" Spidey quipped as he finally got the hands free. {Pierce} And was rewarded with gator claws to the chest. "Gaaah! A bit too close for comfort!" He said, noting the tiny drops of blood. "You guys pin him down, me and Mikey will wrap him up!"
"Right, hold down a guy that makes the Kraang panic, that'll hold over well." Raph grumbled, but complied as he rushed at the alligator mutant.
"I seriously missed when we were the only mutated reptiles in New York!" Donnie yelped as he was doing his best to fight from a distance, whacking the walking leather bag on the head repeatedly. "Spidey, now might be a good time to test the new taser webs!"
"You figured out how to channel the current right!? Cause I'd rather not get fried alongside gator boy green with a side of fried green tomatoes!"
"Just do it!" Leo demanded as a claw nearly swiped down across his torso, snapping his belt in half.
"Taser web on demand!" Spidey flicked the shooter into the new position, aiming as he fired off a line at the mutant. "Stand back folks, we do not need an electro two boogaloo."
Zap
"GAAAAHHHH!" The alligator screamed, glaring at them with … hate and suffering … before falling to the ground.
"Finally…." Raph huffed in exhaustion. "Let's get out of here before snappy decides he needs a late night snake."
"And leave the violent lizard that could hurt civilians unattended?" Peter asked.
"Oh yeah, because we clearly didn't almost get our shells shredded off of us by the walking leather jacket." Raph countered.
"No, Spidey has a point." Leo interrupted. "The Kraang are after him, and knowing their mo, they'll probably come back again to nab him for … whatever reasons they have." He explained. "We can't just leave him out in the open."
"Yeah, let's bring him back to the lair!" Mikey exclaimed.
Everyone took a minute to pause at that insane bout of nonsense. "... Mikey… I know a few weeks ago Master Splinter praised you for your emotional intelligence, and we get that's a big deal for you." Leo patted the boy on the shoulders. "...But there is no way in SHELL we are going to bring that beast to our home!"
"We tried to help Connors, right?" The turtle asked.
"Connors was a desperate man who turned himself into a mutate. We were lucky to cure him as is." Donnie explained further.
"And who knows what this guy was like." The guy leaned down. "His eyes speak of a sad soul."
"..A sad soul that DEVOURED Kraang in one bite." Spidey pointed out.
"They're Kraang, we all know they were asking for it."
"...I don't know whether to be scared or impressed by that level of ruthlessness." Raph pondered.
"We can worry about it later." Spidey said, looking over his webshooter. "Still in one piece … all right, taser webs are now part of the Spider-Man webtacular arsenal!"
"Less boasting, more dragging." Leo said. "Your the one with spider strength."
"Riiiight." The great responsibility of being the team pack mule.
Splinter watched the local news. Any information about his enemies that was shown to the public could be vital. Between the Kraang, Tombstone's army, the Foot Clan, and whatever was with the Green Goblin, too many enemies roamed the streets unopposed. Information was vital to the ninja way, and they were severely lacking in that department.
Other than one fact … even if they all trained for months, they would still not be a match for the Shredder. He did not know of any solution that didn't involve himself walking to the man and finishing him off personally … a method that would deprive Splinter of the last threads of his humanity. If it secured his family's safety, then he would take it without hesitation.
"Onto our NASA team, it seems that both of our current space expeditions, one by John Jameson, the other by Reed Richards, are progressing well." The reporter spoke. "Every day our little planet gets closer and closer to understanding the nature of the universe. Fascinating."
Frightening would be a more apt description. In his youth, he was reluctant to believe in the spiritual nature of the world, but time has only proven that was only scratching the surface of what threats lurked around every corner. There were some things mankind was not meant to interfere with. For every hero that rose from mutagen and lab accidents, the forces of evil were always there to escalate.
"Gagg, this guy's half the weight of the Rhino and all the sliminess of the Lizard." The voice of Peter echoed through the lair. Peculiar, this was around the time he and his son's went off on their patrol. "Any of you guys feel like helping carrying a leg or two, now would be a good time."
"I'm not going anywhere near that thing. The moment it wakes up we'll all be toast." The voice of Donatello came next, fear within his voice. Strange, he was usually the most curious about whatever things they brought … wait, wake up?
"Aw, don't be so negative bros. Once he wakes up, I'll soften him up with my latest food creation, the P-shake!" Michelangelo naively chanted.
"The what now!?" Peter asked
"I read online that if you add milk and ice to fruit and put it in a blender, it becomes a milkshake! So I took it up a notch and put in Pizza!" … Well, creativity was an admirable trait … no matter what it was used for.
"Trust us, it tastes worse than it sounds." Raphael gagged. "Like liquid sweat socks mixed with barf."
His sons finally came from around the corner, meeting his gaze. "Master Splinter." Leo greeted him with a hint of nervousness. "Sorry we didn't call beforehand but … we have a guest."
"Gaaahh!" And after that came Peter … carrying a giant, mutant croco-... no, alligator, by the arm. "Finally … made it."
Splinter stared at the unconscious massive monster, before turning to Peter. "I thought you of all people would teach my sons the value of secrecy."
"Trust me, that's been the top of my agenda since the phone incident." The boy grumbled. "Can you point me to the bandages?" He asked, pointing to bloody scratch marks along his chest. "I need a patch job."
"Second drawer on the left in the kitchen." Splinter clarified, still looking at the new mutant and his son's skeptically. "And I believe you all have a GOOD exploration on why you've brought in a clearly dangerous mutant to the lair when I've spent the last fourteen years specifying the need for anonymity?"
"It's was all Mikey's idea." Raphael immediately shoved his youngest brother to the forefront.
"Well we couldn't just leave him behind." Michelangelo responded. "He was getting ambushed by the Kraang, and he was all 'RARRGH' and 'GRR' all over the place, biting and chewing them all up into itty bitty Kraang bits. We had to help him."
"There's helping him, and there's bringing him to the lair." Splinter narrowed his eyes.
"Come on Splinter, he's all banged up and tired, and he's got a really nasty scar on his chest." Michelangelo pointed out. "We can't just leave someone like that alone and banged up. If he's fighting the Kraang, then that means he can be a friend."
The beast jumped with a start. "RAAAGG!" They screamed, rushing forward and grabbing Donatello by the skull, shaking him around.
"NOG AGAVE!" Dontello screamed.
"Care to repeat that Mikey!?" Raphael shouted as the creature began breaking everything in it's path. "'Oh, look, a giant killer gator monster, let's bring it back home and frolic in the flower patch, everything will be fine!"
Peter rushed back into the room, half scrambling with the bandages. "Okay, taser web round two here we-"
"NO MORE!" The creature screamed, throwing Donatello at the hero, before tossing the couch as well.
"Mikey, you have to admit he has terrible bedside manners!" Peter shouted as he avoided the thrown objects.
Splinter rushed forward, kicking the beast in the elbow. "KRAANG!" The beast raised a claw, which Splinter avoided as he struck a blow to their chin, combined with a kick to the rib. Turning around the alligator attempted to swipe at them with a tail, which Splinter lept over, as they now struck at multiple nerves along the body, using a bit more force to get beyond the scales. "Krraa-" In the middle of the creature's roar, it fainted, falling to the ground.
"... Never doubting your ninja skills again." Peter said faintly.
"I'm an old man, not an incapable one." With age came wisdom, and greater skill at deception.
"Alright, we're taking him to a nearby warehouse and chaining him up." Leonardo affirmed. "Spidey, web up his jaws while we get chains for his limbs-"
"Come on, don't give up on him that easily, sure he had a little freak out…"
Michelangelo tried to argue.
"A LITTLE!?" Donatello shouted from the wall. "HE GRABBED ME! BY THE FACE! TWICE!"
"But we can't just treat him like a monster."
"HE! GRABBED! ME! BY! THE! FACE!"
"You guys are just judging him like everybody judges us." Michelangelo argued.
"They judge us because of our looks." Raphael countered. "We judge him because he tried to MURDER US!"
"Because he's scared and probably still in pain from fighting the Kraang!" Michelangelo continued his stance. "Sensei, come on, we need to help him. If not us … who else?"
He stared deeply into his son's eyes … before sighing. "Michelangelo is right."
"...Huh?"
"...If I had a nickel for everytime Master Splinter said Mikey was right about something… I'd have two nickels, which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice." Leonardo scratched his head.
"Broken Clocks are right twice a day." Raphael shrugged. "It just takes twice a month for Mikey apparently. But seriously….this isn't a joke?"
"There are many monsters that exist in this world, the biggest of which being one's without compassion." Splinter said.
"...Really?" Peter pointed to the monster.
"...A bit of a stretch in this case, but the point stands. You said he was fighting the Kraang?"
"Very violently, but yeah." Leonardo nodded. "He just kept shouting their names, growls, and fighting everything in sight, and they seemed more afraid of him than anything … but it also sounded like he had something that they wanted."
"I thought they just wanted him?" Peter spoke. "You know, escaped lab rat, DNA sample, stuff like that."
"It is out of character for the Kraang to go out of their way to destroy a mutant they've created. Usually they're okay with just letting them run rampant." Donnitello mused. "Maybe he snatched something while escaping."
"And what, it's on him?" At Raphael's question, they all turned to the unconscious mutant.
"... Mikey, it's your idea." Peter spoke. "Search him?"
"Wouldn't it be better for him to tell us himself when he wakes up? You know, so we can get to know each other and build trust like good friends do." Michelangelo said.
"You make a good point, my son." Splinter nodded.
"...Huh?" The other's stated again.
"The best way to end an enemy is to make them your friend. So when he awakes, that will be on you, Michelangelo." Splinter explained. "Earn his trust, and learn what he knows about the Kraang."
"Sweet, no prob, I got this in the bag." His youngest son smirked proudly… and slipped where he stood. "Ooops, forgot I wasn't leaning on a wall or else my pose would've been appropriately cool." A big heart… at least he had that going for him.
"... We are keeping him chained, right?" Leo asked.
"Of course, I'm compassionate, not insane." There was a fine line between empathy and sanity. "In the meantime, I suggest the rest of you go back to where you found him. Perhaps there's clues as to why the Kraag were pursuing him."
"I'll stay back to help Mikey. I gotta refill the web fluid and work out the kinks with the taser feature, up the voltage for threats with thicker hides." Peter stated."Also got to rest away the cuts and scratches." He said as he continued to bandage himself.
"For a guy who can tell whenever danger's near, you sure do get beat up alot." Raphael stated.
"Can't dodge them all if you want everyone else to get out unscathed." The boy shot back. "Sometimes to get a win, you have to take a dive. We all don't have the courtesy of shells on our backs." Sometimes he worried about how the boy worded his sentences.
Donnie looked at the open section of the sewer. "Hmm … not a lot of places to hide … look for something small, hard to see on the ground." He said, looking down and close to the ground. "How many places can a giant Alligator even hide down here? Even for the sewers, he'd stand out."
"I'm more concerned about letting that thing be in the lair to begin with." Raph stated. "Not to give the webhead any credit, but we shouldn't have so many people crashing through the lair so often. We've pushed out luck as is with Spidey and April."
"Plus side to this guy being a violent maniac?" Leo brought up. "He probably won't be shouting to the world where to find us and probably doesn't care either way. So we don't have to worry about it leaking to the Foot or Kraang."
"Unless they put a tracker in his skull." Donnie brought up. "..Crap, I hope the Kraang didn't. Their mutants have been random, I'd hate to imagine them creating something that intentional and elaborate."
"Mutants aren't even the end goal … I think." Raph said. "You know, we really need to narrow down whatever these Kraang guys want."
"We might be able to figure it out if we find whatever this thing is." Leo added. "I'm not seeing anything, you guys?"
"Nadda." Donnie shook his head.
"I've got a giant puddle of water." Raph said, putting his hand through. "..A pretty deep puddle."
"Deep huh…" Donnie said curiously. "In Spite of his size and stature, he still acts and fights like a normal alligator.." He observed, placing a pebble in the water and watching it sink. "So where would the best place to hide something be for a giant alligator?"
They paused for a moment. "Some place only an amphibian could reach." Raph responded.
"Well, amphibious, but the point stands." He nodded. "They probably stowed some sort of nest or lair of their own in the water."
"Then we better get swimming." Leo said, cracking his knuckles. The three of them jumped into the water, swimming down a dark tunnel for a couple of minutes, before they popped out into an opening, taking a couple of breaths. "Okay, glad Spidey didn't come along." Leo said. "Couldn't hold his breath like that."
"Sometimes it pays being a turtle." Raph grinned as he walked forward … before he hit a wire, causing a rusty stop sign to CUT HIS HEAD LIKE A BUZZSAW!
"AAAHHH!" They screamed … before Raph's head popped out of the shell.
"Sometimes it also pays to be a pretty short turtle!" Raph shrieked out. "...Although now I'm wondering why I've gone all this time without something like this for my room."
Shink
An old railroad sign passed by him next, past him as the ceiling began to stumble and rumble. "I'll think about installing it WHEN WE ESCAPE FOR OUR LIVES!" Donnie shouted.
They ran into the hall, which started shooting out multiple metal crowbars cut up into spikes. "Move!" Leo screamed as they leaped on the wall, which slowly began moving in order to crush them. "He's a giant rampaging behemoth! We're humanish sized ninjas. How are we the ones setting off the traps!?"
"Guess the walking skin bag is smarter than he looks!" Raphael jumped over spikes that were coming out of the ground. "How is it that this guy has so many booby traps when our lair doesn't even have one!?"
"Forgive me for not thinking about everything! I thought the lair being a secret was enough!" Donnie screamed as he avoided a spike to the chest. "For a mindless Kraang killing machine, he's surprisingly resourceful!" He commented as he ducked under a buzzsaw.
"I'll be sure to thank him by patting my dismembered arm on his back!" Leo shouted as a bunch of barrels started to come down on them like a rock in a temple movie. "This would've been a really good time to have a spider sense!"
"And he's chatting it up with a chained animal!" Raph shouted "Spidey, you better be suffering just as badly as we are!"
The beast slowly regained consciousness, the last memories fading back in, before the beast panicked. "RAAA!" He screamed, trying to flee … but found himself chained. "AAAHHH!" Imprisoned, once more, just as the Kraang did before. The Beast had to break free, run back to the nest, fend off invaders! "KRAANG!" Stop the Kraang, destroy them, devour them. He had no purpose, no reason for being, just an endless pool of hate and suffering that he would inflict on his tormentors. End them all end them all end them all…
"Mikey, I think your guest of honor is ready to talk!" A creature, something that smelled of insects and radiation, shouted from the ceiling.
"Hey buddy, it's all right." The beast looked down at the reptile in a shell. "Nobody here wants to hurt you." They spoke softly, passively.
"Grrrr." The beast gowled, leaning as close as they could with the chains stuck to their body.
"It's all right, your safe." The shelled one repeated. "There's no Kraang in sight-"
"KRAAANG!" They screamed, once more trying to break free. Trying to destroy the vile scum. Vile, vile scum, devour, devour, devour ALL THAT WAS NEAR-
"Whoa, dude, chill, chill." Something wet and sticking hit him in the arms, making them stick to the ground. "Mikey, I think the K-word's a trigger for him, might want to ease up on it."
"Right." The shelled one turned back. "It's all right … there's no robots or brains here at all … just me, my friend … and food." They slid over a pot, moving back.
The beast stared at them, a light growl as they sniffed over the pot. It could be food … it could also be poison … or a trick … "Grrr…"
"Right." They moved back, taking a small scoop of the substance in the pot, tasting it. "Forgot to taste test. The pizza-noodle soup is good to go."
Not poisoned … they devoured, letting the rage subside as the delicious substance filled their throats. "... I think you have a fan." The insect one said. "...But WHY pizza and noodles?"
"Why not? The P-shake was a success."
"Yeah, I smelt it in the kitchen, it was not."
"Everything's good with pizza. Chicken, pineapple, jellybeans, it's all made better with Pizza."
He placed the pot down, taking a breath as the food rested warmly in their stomach. "Thank … you …"
"No prob dude, Chef Michelangelo at your service." The shelled reptile continued to feed him. "I'm sorry about the chains. You went a little crazy on my brother's earlier and they think if I'm alone with you, I'd be in danger."
"… They are right." He nodded. "When I feel anger … all that is left is an animal … who fights all." No friends, but no one else was in danger.
"Look on the bright side." The insect one said. "Unlike Raph, you're self aware of your anger problem. I'm Spider-Man. You?"
Him … the boy called him something once, before the flush … too long … "I have … no name …"
"Well, then, today is your lucky day! Aside from cooking, coming up with names happens to be my speciality." That was an odd preoccupation, but not an unwelcome one. "Now lets see.." The shelled reptile inspected his spines. "Something spine related… Spinel… nah, that's no good." He looked through his teeth. "Strong jaw… Ripjaw… naw, too fish related…" He touched the front of his head. "Leathery head… head leather… Heather… nope, girl's name… I got it!" The reptile smacked his hands together. "Your name shall be… Leatherhead!"
"… Not on the nose at all." Spider-Man said with a low voice.
Leatherhead … Leatherhead … "I like it." The beast-Leatherhead smiled. "Thank you, Chef." It was rare to meet people with such kind hearts in a world like this.
"Like I said, no problem." His fellow reptilian friend continued to feed him. "Can't imagine what it's been like for you. Wandering the sewers without friends or even a name."
"It's… It's what I must do." The Beast… Leatherhead sighed. "My rage can't be contained… it's safer for everyone to stay isolated."
"What made you so mad anyway?" Spider-Man asked. "You know, besides the New York driving, and the sewers, and the people, and the litter…and about everything else once"
He looked at the two for a moment before sighing. "I was once a young one, found by a boy. He was nice, and fun …I had truly known peace."
"Yikes… now I feel guilty about all the pet fish I'd lost down the drain." Spider-man commenced.
"Dude, no jokes." Chef shook his head.
"… But his parents refused to keep me around. I was flushed into the sewers … and found by them." He growled.
"The Kraan-" Spider-man covered Chef's mouth.
Leatherhead growled … but reined it in. They had no connection to the Kraang. "They took me … mutated me … tortured me endlessly… to what end I don't know.." The needles, the gas, the electric prods. "I escaped … stole a crystal."
"A crystal?" Chef asked.
"It held power … it made a hole appear in the air. To a new world… a world upside down… and wrong."
"A hole… like a portal?" Spider-man inquired. "You took the Kr-" The red one paused for a second, shaking his head. "The brain guy's… key to their own world?"
"They hunted me ever since … failing to replicate …" Leatherhead grinned. "Suffering for it like they made me suffer …" Like they deserved with their filth and lack of remorse for anything but themselves.
"Ssssh, there there, it's okay… they're not here anymore." Chef patted his hand.
Leatherhead took a few calming breaths. "Managed to hide it … they'll never find the crystal … but all the same … must guard." It was saving people, others like himself and the boy that showed him kindness.
"Well, now you don't have to do it alone." Spider-man told him, jumping off from the ceiling. "We don't want them to have that crystal either. We can help each other now, watch each other's backs."
"I would appreciate … help." He smiled.
"You ever think that this is what a lot of the people we fight need?" Chef asked the masked man. "Just an ear willing to listen to other people when they're feeling down?"
"I know Electro could've used one…" The masked man looked to the ground. "I'm sorry … it was wrong to try and think you were a rampaging animal …"
"You are right to assume … what they did … left a beast." Leatherhead said, feeling the anger spike just a tad, as he did his best to soothe it.
"Do you really think that, or do you think it because it's what people told you?" The turtle asked.
Leatherhead pondered that for a moment. "You are wise beyond your years, Chef."
"Yeah, I get that a lot." The young one laughed. "And since we're on the topic of helping each other, why don't we ditch the chains now?"
"You…you sure?" Leatherhead asked. "I can't guarantee I won't go out of control."
"It's alright, I trust you." Such an innocent soul, so very rare for this world.
"The webs won't dissolve easy though." Spider-Man said.
Leatherhead simply pulled, snapping it. "You grow weak webs from your arms."
"...And I'm going to pretend like you didn't just make me question a month's worth of research and effort."
"Research?" He asked. "Not natural?"
"Ew, no. Why is that everyone's first assumption?"
"You're name's Spider-Man. People expect you to live up to the name." Chef said. "Body webs, hair face, eight arms, that just screams a spider MAN more than red spandex."
"It's all about the motif, not the species." They seemed .. fun … it's been a while since he had fun.
Mikey grinned. "This is when the hero guy Leo likes punches the cruel circus guy in the face and frees the mutants." He didn't understand why the guys were freaking out so much earlier, Leatherhead was great when he was given a chance to talk and be heard.
"Take this, Captivitor." The dude said, hitting the bad guy over and over.
"My nose! My beautiful nose that captures audiences around the globe is horribly broken!"
"That's what you get for being a prudish presser of preposterous prejudice!"
"I can't tell if the alliteration makes it more or less corny." Spidey said as he munched on popcorn. "I know I'm probably not one to talk, but I try not to sound like I'm from a sixties comic book."
"The look is more fifties, maybe forties." Mikey nodded. "You know, like those old Captain America comics."
"Comics?" Leatherhead asked.
"There's books full of pictures, usually depicting superheroes fighting crime and saving the day in a fantastical manner." Spidey explained. "It's basically what we do, but in print form and with less stakes."
"Except we're ninjas, so we can't be in public and stuff." Mikey nodded. "Hey, you think if I put on a mask and cape people will accept me like they do you?"
Spidey raised one of his masked eyes. "Do you read the daily bugle?"
"I only look at your photos and the comics section." The only interesting and important parts.
"Yeah, well, I'm not exactly 'accepted' as much as tolerated, and even then that's pushing it a little." Peter sighed. "The closest you'll get to people not being scared of you up there is people laughing at your misfortune … well there is the occasional thankful child."
"Children are always kind unless told otherwise." Leatherhead nodded. "They're unburdened by thoughts of hate and fear. The world is fresh and new to their eyes that only know curiosity and wonder."
"Poetry." Mikey patted his new friend's back. "You have a way with words."
"Maybe he could be an anonymous writer in his non violent downtime." Spidey joked. "Make stories for kids."
"Dude, that's a great idea." Mikey smiled. "You should totally let your words flow. People would love to listen."
"Thank you for the compliment, Chef."
"By the way, I should mention my name is Michelangelo." He said. "I'm a chef, hence the title."
Leatherhead tilted his head in adorable confusion. "I thought you were a name maker?"
"People can be many things." Spidey said. "I'm a hero, student, chemist, and photographer all in one little package."
"Yeah, and I'm a totally awesome teenage mutant ninja turtle, and that's only scratching the surface of who I am." Mikey smiled. "You can be many things too, something beyond fighting and running."
"I would … like that." Leatherhead smiled. It felt nice, helping someone instead of just beating up a bad guy … was this what it was like for Spidey all the time he swung people out of the way?
"We're back." Leo said. "How's .." He trailed off, looking at them all. "… What are you doing!?"
"Watching Space Heroes." Peter explained. "It's corny, but it's all that you guys have."
"You let that maniac off his chain!?" Raph exclaimed.
"Yeah, but it's cool. He's off the chain." Mikey waved off.
"…THATS WHY WERE FREAKING OUT!"
"No, by off the chain I mean he's Chill. Totally mellow." Mikey explained further. "And you guys should be a lot nicer. He has a name you know. It's Leatherhead."
"… A little on the nose, don't you think?" Donnie asked, hiding behind Raph. Rude, it was a very thought out name.
"It's cool, trust me." Spidey shook his head. "We've talked him down, helped him adjust. As long as no one says the K-word involving … brain people."
Leatherhead growled, as Mikey gently patted his head. "There there, Leatherhead, it's alright, nobody wants to hurt you." The alligator took a few breaths. "This is a safe space, surrounded by friends who want nothing but the best for you."
"…Alright, Michelangelo, I trust you." Leatherhead bowed his head. "Hello. Thank you for the hospitality."
"…This is the most surreal thing that's happened all week." Raph muttered.
"Has it broken through the top ten?" Spidey asked.
"Not by much, but it beats you having a human face under that mask." Raph shot back.
"Oh, so more than you being just as ugly without yours."
"So just to clarify." Donnie poked his head back out. "He's not gonna go wild and grab my face?"
"Nope." Mikey shook his head.
"You sure?"
"Positive my bro." Mikey nodded again.
"… Alright." Donnie came out, holding a cool looking crystal. "I'm gonna go to my lab and study this thing. It's giving off a lot of power and-"
"Theeeeif!" Leatherhead's eyes went white with rage, running towards Donnie and grabbing his entire head again.
"MM FCCC!" Donnie cried out in horror under the hand. "WYYY!?"
"Leatherhead, calm down!" Spidey shouted, moving over to the reptile. "We're here to keep it safe, remember? We don't want those brain guys to have it just like you."
"We're all friends!" Mikey jumped up and rubbed the mutant's head, scratching him. "You don't need to hurt anyone. None of us are in danger."
"Yes we are, and it's due to these FOOLS!" Leatherhead shouted. "That crystal was safely contained within a lead safe to prevent the Kraang from tracking it!"
There was a moment of awkward silence. "So the Kraang can find the lair?" Spidey asked.
"Yes, the energy it creates is too powerful to contain with anything other than that metal, they're on their way now as we speak!"
"... MOVE IT!" Leo shouted as they began running out of the lair and down the tunnel. "Donnie, Spidey, we need a new container, stat!"
"If we're looking for lead, then the only place we could find any is in one of the old abandoned train carts in the subways!" Donnie stated as they began dashing through the streets.
"We can't have them connect the lair to the sewers, so first we go topside!" Spidey snatched the crystal with a web, jumping up to a grate. "I'll chase them around a bit with some skyscraper swinging. Too public for them to fly through without notice. Meet me back on baker street!"
"I shall assist." Leatherhead nodded.
"Whoa dude, you sure?" Mikey asked. "You spent a long time trying to get away from the Kraang, you sure you want to dive head first into them again.
"The Kraang will hurt many people like me …" The alligator growled as his eyes whitened over. "I will not let that happen!"
With a roar, he lept past Spidey, into the streets. "GIANT SEWER GATORS! THAT HOMELESS MAN ON THE STREET WAS RIGHT!" A voice shouted.
"... Grab a ride while I go topside." Peter added on. "I feel we'll need a really fast getaway."
"High speed chase!" Mikey shouted. "Let's do this!"
Raph drove the Patrol Buggy up to the meeting spot. They really needed to invest in some more armored, and dignified, wheels when this whole thing was over. Sure the streets were weirdly empty around this time of day, but he was still far above driving around a go kart. "See; I told you guys Leatherhead was on the level!" And now he had to deal with something else equally as annoying…Mikey being right.
"Yes Mikey, you were right … for the fifth time." Leo groaned. "Can you save milking it until after everything is said and done?"
"Fine, but I'm going to be lording this over you guys for a long time!"' Their little brother shouted back. "Aw man, this is going to be so sweet! Now we can build up a super team like Captain America did with the all-winners squad!"
"Yeah, I'm sure New York would love to see four ninja turtles, a giant alligator, and whatever the heck else doesn't try to kill us save them." Raph sarcastically replied.
"That depends whether or not survive being drowned in an army of Kraang." Donnie winced as he kept driving forward. "And I just realized something… this entire time, we've been fighting a Kraang army with limited resources. All the bots and mutegen… that was them without using a portal to their home."
"And if they get the portal, they can …?" Leo asked.
"Best case scenario? An army the size of earth right on our doorstep." That made them all freeze for a second. "Although given their technology and desire for conquest, this likely isn't their first target, and the army in question is more likely the size of multiple planets with war machines the size of cities."
"So not only are we possibly dealing with an army bigger than this planet could count, it's probably an experienced army that's done this a hundred times before." Raph summed up the terrifying situation.
"To put it lightly, yes." Donnie winced. Got it, do not let these guys get the crystal, no matter what.
They heard the sound of lasers, as Spidey swung around the corner with that power crystal … followed by Leatherhead, five black vans, and three helicopters. "THE KRAANG STOPPED CARING ABOUT SUBTLY!"
"The man of spiders shall return the property of Kraang to Kraang, or face that which is known as the dire consequences shall occur to the man of spider's already miniscule lifespan!" A Kraang bot shouted with a megaphone.
"I mean if it's already miniscule, why not risk it and have some fun!?" The web head quipped back as he came swinging right at them. "Start driving guys!"
Raph hit the pedal as hard as he could, as the buggy began racing down the street. "I hate being on the running end of chases! I feel so helpless." He grumbled.
"Don't worry bro, Leatherhead's making up for most of it." Mikey turned as they saw the rampaging gators devour several of the brain aliens in massive gulps.
"We're lucky these guys still care somewhat about going incognito." Leo said. "They're using human rides, we can out run them as long as we keep pace."
Zoom
They all looked up … at the Kraang bots in the air … "Are those jet packs!?" Mikey shouted. "Cool, and also Aaaaaaaaagh!"
"Nifty tech!" Spidey shouted as he jumped on one's back, causing the lasers to miss. "Very advanced stuff. You ever think about patenting it to pay for your villainous schemes?"
"The technology of Kraang shall remain in the hands of Kraang, where the technology of Kraang belongs." Another spoke, trying to shoot Spidey off, missing as the guy jumped away and tricked the Kraang into shooting their own airborne buddy.
"Oof, friendly fire, that's going to be a reduced pay deduction on your next paycheck. E.T. R is going to eat you alive for that." Peter joked as he threw one into Leatherhead's mouth. "Then again, my scaley buddy here can do that pretty well already."
"KRRRAAAANNG!" The reptile shouted from the top of the black van he was hitching a ride on.
"Oooh, sounds like he wants a word with your manager. That never ends well in the or department." The guy quipped as he sent out a few more webs to the helicopter, one of his hands stopping its firing. "Running low on web fluid!" Spidey shouted while dodging some lasers.
"You could always use the skates." Raph smirked.
"And you could wear a tutu to battle and make all our enemies die from laughter, but I guess we got to make due with what we got." Spidey shot back as he jumped on one of them hoods.
"I get that I was half sleep deprived, but it can't be that bad." Donnie complained. "I even designed an instant break system that holds its integrity together using the tiny hair clusters on your feet when you stick to walls."
"Yeah; I don't think the spectacular spider skater is going to strike dignity." Peter rolled his eyes. "That's like saying my life would make a good broadway musical."
"Do you think you can hit a high note?" Mikey asked.
"Weird time to ask."
"Not when we're about to hit a dead end!" He pointed to the end of the street.
"The subway, dive into the subway!" Leo screamed.
"This is going to get bumpy!" Raph shouted as he pressed the gas harder.
Skeeee
Next thing they knew; the five of them stumbled down the stairs, crashing into the old railroad and tumbling all over the place. "Donnie …" Raph groaned. "Next invention … better be … a better ride."
"Yeah, like a jet pack." Mikey added on. "Flying ninja turtles. The bad guys will never see it coming!"
"Speaking of not seeing things coming, duck, lasers at five o'clock!" Spidey shouted.
They avoided the lasers, which instantly stopped, followed by broken Kraang droids falling down the tunnel as Leatherhead smacked them into the ground. "GRAAA!" And again, and again, and again.
"Leatherhead!" Mikey shouted. "You got them."
"Not for long, my friend." Leatherhead notified as helicopters could be heard up above. "As long as they can track the power cell, they'll never stop coming."
"Donnie, go ahead and get started on the lead case." Leo said as he pulled out his blades. "The rest of us will keep them here, bottle them up and make it hard for them to surround us."
Spidey instantly got to work, throwing out a couple of canisters that exploded into giant walls of web. "Looks like the web grenades from Metalhead work." He said with mirth … which vanished as lasers instantly began shooting through said webs.
"… Next invention for Spidey?" Raph asked. "Webs that don't break when hit really, really hard."
"I'm working with a part time job budget, sorry if I'm only able to work with what I have!" Peter shouted as he flipped over one droid and smacked them into the ground.
Raph began stabbing through droid after bot, over and over, constantly fighting … and fighting … he got shot in the shoulder, looking at the entrance to see even more Kraang on their way. "It's not stopping anytime soon!" If this was them without the main army …
"Guys l, I got the power cell locked in!" Donnie shouted from one of the old carts. "Only problem is getting it somewhere the Kraang don't know about."
"Can you use that thing to move that cart?!" Leo as he narrowly avoided another laser.
"Are you kidding!? You saw what happened when I tried to tap into that thing with a car battery!" The nerd shouted. "There's a seventy percent chance we'll all explode."
"If we don't try something soon, it's going to be a hundred percent chance that we'll get drowned in Kraang!" Spidey shouted.
"I don't like those odds!" Mikey shouted.
"All of you, to the cart, now!" Leatherhead shouted. "I can hold off these pests on my own!"
"What? We're not leaving you behind!" Mikey shouted.
"I have done enough running … enough hiding … now I rip Kraang asunder." He growled menacingly, throwing another Kraang into the wall. "Protect the crystal Michelangelo … keep it safe."
"Fifteen seconds guys!" Donnie shouted. "Now or never!"
Mikey looked conflicted, and Raph thought he might've had to slap some sense into his little brother. "He's a tough guy Mikey." Spidey said. "We'll see him again."
Mikey stilled, before turning to Leatherhead. "I'm keeping the crystal, so come back in one piece!" He shouted, running to the cart.
"Trust me Michelangelo … it is the Kraang that will know fear!" He shouted. "For I no longer need to worry about holding back my rage!" And that was a sign to book it.
"What a guy." Raph had to admit, Mikey for all his faults, had a good read on people. "Donnie, tell me your ready!" He shouted as everyone climbed on top."
"In three … two … one!" The turtle pulled a lever, getting some weak purple sparks, followed by nothing. "Oh come on!" He shouted, kicking the canister.
VROOOM
Then the four of them were pushed to the back, screaming at the top of their lungs as the world became pink, surrounded by eyeballs that gazed into their minds. "AAAAAHHHHH!"
"My…my…my …my brain is feeling purple!" Donnie shouted.
"My soooul is slooower than my boooody!" Leo shouted out, slurring his words.
"Roller … coasters …. Lied!" Mikey shouted out.
"Eye… reaching my… tongue!" Raph yelled out. "Someone stop…this crazy…thing!"
Peter pulled his arm forward with a groan. "Web … strike … true …" He hit the emergency break, giving it a yank.
Creeeeeek
Peter flew forward, flying through the window and into the nearest wall. "…now I know…how flies…on a windshield feel."
"Hah.." Raph laughed, only to fall on his face. "Ow. Hurts to laugh, hurts to laugh."
"That thing is gnarly." Mikey stated as his eyes were still spinning in spirals. "… Let's do it again!"
Leo whacked the turtle on the head in the absence of his own ability to. "Where did we end up?"
"Either the far side of Manhattan or Brooklyn." Donnie caught his own head. "Hard to calculate when I'm still seeing Axolotl's flying over my head."
"I saw my spider bite hallucinations." Peter groaned.
"You hallucinate?" Raph asked. "Like a crazy man?"
"No, when I got bit the entire day was off. Lots of crazy things … like a giant spider weaving me into an infinite web …" The dork shivered. "So, we got the only thing keeping the Kraang from fully invading our world locked in a train cart."
"Yep …" Mikey looked at the case. "… My responsibility, right?"
"Our responsibility." Leonardo stated. "Splinter was right. You made the right call with Leatherhead. Good job, little brother."
"Yeah!" Mikey shouted with joy. "Don't worry Leatherhead, we're going to make you proud, and we will see you again!"
"You know…if a blood thirsty sewer gator can learn to grow a heart, there's hope for you yet bud." The web head patted Raph on the shell.
"The only reason I don't clobber you is because I'm still seeing triple from super speed." Raph groaned. "I'm gonna go sleep."
"But first …" Mikey gave that look on his face. "I was right, I was right, I was right-" Great … he had to deal with this for the rest of the week.