Chapter 36: Having a Scow

The Turtles faced Slash before the turtle from Dimension X hoisted the Freedom Bell. After making contact with Hackenbrush, Slash was sent to destroy the Freedom Bell. After destroying the platform with Shredder's Shaolin Swords, he hoisted the Freedom Bell. He hurled the bell through the air. "Catch it!" shouted Leonardo. The Turtles braced and caught the bell, but the weight was too much for them as the bell trapped them inside. Slash seemed satisfied with his work while someone else lurked in the shadow.

"That takes care of that," he smiled while dusting his hands off. "Now to find that man and get my binky." He left the scene as Mona Lisa soon came around.

"At least we're letting freedom ring more," Raphael joked.

"But our backs are ringing for help," Michelangelo winced. Mona Lisa knocked on the bell.

"Are you guys okay!?" she called. The Turtles realized who it was.

"Mona Lisa!?" gasped Donatello.

"Hey, woman's intuition told me you'd be in trouble," Mona Lisa pointed out. "Let me help you get out." With Mona Lisa helping on one side and the Turtles from inside. After a minute, the bell was tossed to the side.

"Thanks for your help, dudette!" praised Michelangelo. "Now, let's get that gonzo turtle!"

"You can return to the Lair and watch for any business against it," Raphael suggested.

"Alright," Mona Lisa agreed. "You be careful…" She kissed Raphael's cheek, making him blush. As they left after Slash, Slash reached a new office building where he smashed the front door down. He reached the desk where a white-haired old woman in a blue suit seemed startled.

"Mr. Hackenbrush isn't in his office!" she trembled in fear. "He's with others at the Space Scow launch site on the other side of town." Slash seemed to have an idea about where to go.

"The Space Scow?" he repeated. "That's what I want to know. If you can get in contact, tell him Slash is coming for his reward." He started to walk out of the building. In the Technodrome, a small jet wheeled into the transport room. Bebop and Rocksteady were at the controls.

"This Technowing will get you to New York in a hurry," Shredder instructed. "Now, go and find that turtle… and don't come back without it!" Jessie ran to and jumped onto the Technowing. "What are you doing!?"

"It's called 'Supervision'!" snapped Jessie. "Something your dull head can't provide!"

"You're only doing this to get that rodent!" argued Krang as James and Meowth joined in boarding the Technowing.

"If we find that turtle, we may find Pikachu!" plotted Jessie. She jumped into the cockpit and shoved Bebop to the side. James held on with Meowth under him.

"Krang, the portal!" ordered Shredder. Krang activated the portal before the Technowing flew threw it. It now flew above Manhattan. At the launch site, Hackenbrush was being interviewed by April with Pete behind the camera and Brock, Ash and Pikachu behind him.

"I'm telling you; those Turtles must be stopped!" argued Hackenbrush. "They've been on a rampage all night long! Why, I heard they even attacked the Freedom Bell!" None of the others believed him.

"And just how would you know that, Mr. Hackenbrush?" questioned April. Hackenbrush balked to what April asked.

"Well…" he gulped. "I have… very good sources!" Now, Ash had his own question.

"And just who are these sources exactly?" he voiced. "The police?" Hackenbrush growled tp Ash's questioning.

"Pipe down, you little brat!" he snapped. "Only the reporter can ask the questions!"

"We're her assistants," Brock replied. "Remember? Our questions are just as valuable as hers." Ash nodded to Brock's point.

"Let me ask again," he voiced. "Who are your sources?" Concerned, Hackenbrush stuttered.

"W-Well… that is to say…" he hesitated.

"And isn't it true about a fifth turtle who's been causing all of the destruction?" added April. "And that he's your employee?" Hackenbrush growled again to the claim.

"Preposterous!" he yelled. "What would I be doing with a bunch of smelly turtles? Why, I've never seen a turtle in my life!" Brock sensed Hackenbrush lying.

"Now wait just a sec!" he yelled. "You want the Turtles to be stopped, but you've never seen a turtle? How does that even make sense?"

"Now l-listen…" stuttered Hackenbrush. "I-I said only the re-reporter is supposed to ask the questions!"

"But my associates are correct," April reminded. Before they could get any information from Hackenbrush, Pikachu sensed someone coming. He turned to find Slash finding Hackenbrush.

("Trouble!") he squeaked. All turned to see Slash as he approached Hackenbrush. Slash lifted Hackenbrush by the back collar.

"The bell's broken!" he reported to a struggling Hackenbrush. "Now… where's my reward!?" The trainers prepared to defend April and Pete.

"That's the turtle causing the mayhem?" guessed Pete. Ash nodded.

"I'm sorry," Hackenbrush nervously realized. "Have we met before?" Meanwhile, the Turtles continued down the streets.

"We need to find that other turtle!" urged Leonardo.

"Okay, and then what?" wondered Raphael. They stood by a TV store where they saw the Space Scow and Hackenbrush appearing.

"Check it out, dudes!" alerted Michelangelo. The Turtles came over to see the action from the Space Scow.

"P-Please, I don't know what it's all about!" he tried to plea to Slash who just appeared. "Heck, I don't know who you are!"

"You lying creep!" growled Slash. "Maybe I should steal your rocket and trash the city!" Ash stood forward to side with Slash.

"Apparently, there was something you promised to give this turtle if he knows you," he scolded. "So, out with it!" Brock also joined.

"What did you promise him after destroying the Freedom Bell!?" he demanded.

"Where's my palm tree!?" ordered Slash. Hackenbrush made a throat slash, trying to quiet down Slash. "You give me my palm tree or I'm stealing the rocket and dumping the garbage!" Hackenbrush chose to run to the rocket. The Turtles realized where Slash was.

"If he uses the rocket and dump the garbage on the city, it'll be a catastrophe!" warned Donatello.

"Not to mention a huge mess," Michelangelo added.

"But we're on the other side of the city!" pointed out Leonardo as the Technowing came down onto the streets. As it landed, Team Rocket, Bebop and Rocksteady bailed out.

"Did Shredder send a party to come after that new turtle?" wondered Raphael. Rocksteady turned to see the Turtles, though not happy to see them.

"It's dem regular Toitles," he mulled. Jessie also spotted the Turtles and realized the partnership of them and the Trainers.

"Good, at least they can tell us about where the twerp and his Pikachu are," she issued as she approached Raphael.

"Sorry, but I'm already taken," he denied.

"I'd rather take Pikachu than some skinny Blastoise knock-off!" she mocked. Bebop shook his head to the sight.

"Don't botha!" he refused. "We's lookin' fer Slash. We sent him here." The Turtles realized the identity of the other turtle.

"You're after that maniac!?" gasped Donatello. "And his name is Slash?"

"Yeah, afta dem two used braniac's supa-mutagen on a baby toitle Bebop owns," Meowth admitted. Raphael's reaction was a shaking head.

"This gives a whole new definition of 'Letting the cat out of the bag'," he joked. Michelangelo had an idea. He undid his disguise and used the grappling hook to lasso all of them at once. Team Rocket, Bebop and Rocksteady gasped at what happened as they're all tied up.

"Thanks for the ride, guys!" praised Leonardo. The other Turtles undid their disguises and Raphael tied up Meowth with his trench coat. They left Shredder's goons and Team Rocket in a bind, literally.

"Sorry, guys!" apologized Raphael. "We want that turtle worse than you do!" After boarding the Technowing, Leonardo took control and flew off. Back at the launch site, Slash climbed the tower adjacent to the Space Scow with the Trainers and Pikachu in pursuit.

"Ash, our weapons and Pokémon might not be enough on that turtle!" warned Brock. From a limousine, Lofty emerged and found Hackenbrush as he noticed problems with the Space Scow.

"What's going on here, Hackenbrush!?" he sounded. Hackenbrush gawked at seeing Lofty.

"N-Nothing, Mr. Lofty!" he tried to deny. Suddenly, the Space Scow's engines revved up, igniting flames from below.

"That turtle's engaging the manual controls!" gasped Lofty. Slash took control and seemed bent on causing the destruction as the Trainers and Pikachu entered.

"And there goes my assistants!" gasped April. The Technowing emerged and saw the Space Scow lift off and followed.

"Someone's gonna have to corral that Space Scow!" pointed Leonardo.

"And I thought Raphael's the one with the jokes!" laughed Michelangelo as the hatch opened. He flung the grappling hook, latching onto Ash's arm as he anchored himself with Brock. "COWABUNGA!" He and Donatello flung down to the Space Scow. April knew help arrived.

"It's the Turtles!" she cheered. Lofty, hearing Hackenbrush's claims before, became skeptical.

"Didn't you say those Turtles were outlaws?" he questioned. April had to clear the confusion.

"His turtle's an outlaw!" she clarified. "My Turtles are heroes!" Hackenbrush trembled. In the Space Scow, Ash, Brock, Michelangelo, Donatello and Pikachu faced down Slash.

"You humans have done all you can to help me," Slash pointed out. "But you jerks made a bad move!"

"Now, let's not make a bigger mess than we're all in, Slash!" urged Donatello. The Trainers blinked to Slash's name.

"His name is Slash?" repeated Brock.

"And his time with Hackenbrush would-" started Ash before he repeated the names. "Slash and…" Finally, he slapped his head. "How did I not get the reference!?" Slash charged, but Ash leaped and dodged the charge. Michelangelo wasn't so lucky while Brock helped Donatello to the control. Suddenly, Ash spotted something from above on a large pile of trash. "Pikachu, use Iron Tail on that pile!" Pikachu had his tail glowing as Ash picked up something before the Iron Tail attack struck. An empty pizza box fell into Ash's hands. "Let's see if he'll fall for it." Michelangelo kicked Slash off with both feet. Slash staggered before he saw Ash with the pizza box. "I bet you want this!" Slash became enraged.

"Pizza!" he growled. "I want that pizza!" Ash backed up when all of a sudden, the Space Scow tilted where it threw everyone around. Luckily, Ash caught the pizza box.

"Sorry about that!" apologized Brock. "Skyscraper in the path!" Seeing a way to trap Slash, Ash threw the pizza box close to a pile like a frisbee.

"Go and get it!" he urged. Slash followed, buying enough time for Donatello to set the controls.

"Alright, let's boogie!" urged Michelangelo. They opened the hatch as Pikachu used Thunderbolt and allowed the trash to trap Slash as he found the box.

"I don't know if I can trust anyone with how everybody tricks me," he mulled before opening the pizza box. What he saw made him happy. "Binky! It wasn't a pizza, but that human gave me back my binky!" He pulled out a small palm tree and smiled. Michelangelo used the hook to latch onto the Technowing. Those on the Space Scow swung down to the Technowing as it flew away from the Space Scow and a portal opening up. In the Technodrome, Shredder eyed the Space Scow after watching the events.

"Lock it in, Krang!" he ordered. The Space Scow entered the portal. Team Rocket came to see what the ordeal was about. The Space Scow was now in the Technodrome. "We have him!" Slash emerged at the controls.

"That's what you think!" he scowled. "Take care of your garbage!" He opened a hatch where trash was dumped. Everyone covered as mountains of garbage buried them. They screamed in fear, but there was no use. Jessie emerged, angrythat she got dirtied by Slash. As a cherry on top, a dirty diaper splatted on her head. She let out a powerful scream as Slash and the Space Scow escaped the Technodrome and left through Dimension X. All that was left was Slash laughing to the triumph. The Turtles landed the Technowing back at the launch site. They headed to and reached Lofty who seemed mad at Hackenbrush.

"Alright, Hackenbrush," he started. "You've got some explaining to do!" Hackenbrush seemed shocked at what was coming.

"Did you know Hackenbrush was gonna wipe out the whole sewer system so he could build condos?" asked Leonardo. Lofty did not like the idea Hackenbrush wanted.

"So, you were going to deceive all of Manhattan, were you!?" he snapped. He turned to the Turtles. "This isn't the first-time you boys have helped me. I promise that as long as I'm around." To Ash, Lofty's advanced age made him rather concerned.

"No offense, Mr. Lofty," he stuttered. "But…" Lofty chuckled to what Ash wanted to bring up.

"You're worried that I might not have that much time left on this world?" he giggled as he placed a hand on Ash's free shoulder. "Don't worry, my boy. I can still keep going for a good decade or so… and it just so happens that a grandson of mine will be graduating from New York University in a year and will take over my company as my heir." Ash nodded as Lofty turned to the Turtles. "And you Turtles will be pleased to know that he is a true supporter of you four as I am. Once I retire and he takes over the company, my grandson will see to it that nothing will happen to the sewers or your Lair." That's when he turned to Hackenbrush. "And you… are FIRED!" Hackenbrush gawked to the outcome.

"Fired!?" he repeated. "B-B-B-But sir! I was only doing what's best for the city! We don't need a sewer!" That made Ash reach Hackenbrush.

"Oh yeah?" he started. "Then answer this: Let's say you did get rid of the sewers and build those condos you wanted. Where do you think all the waste we flush away is gonna go if there's no sewer!?" Hackenbrush didn't want a child questioning him.

"Quiet, you insufferable brat!" he scowled. "You, your friend and those accursed Turtles have ruined every-" Ash stopped Hackenbrush's words as he grabed his suit and hend him up by the collar.

"Answer my question… NOW!" he demanded.

"We have the tapes of you about these plans of yours!" added Brock. "And how you're framing the Turtles about it!" Realizing the evidence was recorded, Hackenbrush cried.

"That tells me he has no response," Leonardo shrugged. Police arrived and after getting the information from April and Pete, separated Ash from Hackenbrush as he reached for handcuffs.

"Fenton Hackenbrush, you're under arrest for aggrivated destruction of private property!" one officer informed. As two more officers helped Hackenbrush to his feet, his upset behavior became anger. He broke free from the officers and pulled out a pocketknife.

"UNFORGIVABLE!" he shouted. Ash and Brock saw Hackenbrush charging in. Ash flashed his tonfas. Like lightning, Ash disarmed Hackenbrush by breaking the blade with a swing. Then, he and Brock punched Hackenbrush's face at the same time. Hackenbrush's eyes quickly rolled up as he flew back to the police, teeth falling out of his unconsciousness. The police gathered and hoisted Hackenbrush away. They threw him into a van before driving off. At Channel 6 the next day, Ash and Brock joined April and Pete in the Conference Room.

"After we handed your footage to NYPD," Pete started. "We were told that Fenton's facing a litany of charges all over the state: embezzlement, fraud… the guy just wanted to line every pocket with money. Prosecutors are looking at either 25 years in prison or repossession of every asset he owns."

"Thanks for the update, Pete," Brock praised. "It seems like Hackenbrush is getting his comeuppance after what he tried to do to the Turtles, even having Slash act as his Get-Out-of-Jail card."

"And the Turtles did confirm that Slash came from Dimension X," April concluded. Ash wasn't paying attention to the conversation. "I still find that bizarre that Bebop and Rocksteady would have a turtle to then use it on our Turtles."

"With Shredder and Krang, we can't be too careful," Brock warned. "Right, Ash?" Ash didn't respond.

"Ash?" voiced April.

'I wonder if Lofty's grandson could also take over the Shellhammer business for Buffy?' he thought. 'It would take a load of responsibility off of her and she can pursue freedom like she wanted.'

"Earth to Ash!" called out April. Ash jumped awake from calling.

"Sorry…" he apologized. "I was thinking to what Lofty told me last night."

"Don't be," Pete smiled. "Not after the work you and Brock put in." Ash smiled, thankful to have helped in the situation. It was never boring in Manhattan.

TO BE CONTINUED… IN 2024.

(With the end of the year, I will put this story on hold until January. Meanwhile, continue to cast your votes for AshMas All-Stars and prepare next week for the final poll.)