Here is where I reveal some things about Dana's past and also get a hint that Leo is trying to do more than teach the young mutants self-defense and how to control their mutant strength but really he's trying fulfill what he believes Splinter and Hamato Yoshi make them all into ninjas regardless if that's what they want or if they're really suited to be ninjas.
And with that Don gave a bow and then ran to catch up with his brothers, he knew there was a risk Leo would be very pissed about this insubordination, but more than just not standing in the way of true love, Don could see what Leo could not that this was potentially far more important for human/mutant relations than That humans and mutant animals could not only tolerate each other but live happily under the same roof in domestic bliss would be far more reassuring for Western humans than the knowledge that Leonardo was teaching the young mutants Bushido...In fact for some Western humans the thought of young mutants being taught the code of the Samurai would be the opposite of reassuring…
Upon reaching the docks, the Turtles looked around for a red van until they found one parked in front of a seemingly abandoned warehouse…
The door was unlocked…
Upon opening the door the turtles were hit with a woodsy herb-like scent like eucalyptus! It was like they were walking into a jungle!
Inside they found dangling from the ceiling were a bunch of giant vines! At the base as thick as an adult human and covered with a slimy looking brown sap!
"Ah!" Came a voice on the PA system that reminded the Turtles a lot of Baxter Stockman "The famous Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!"
The Turtles looked up and saw a control room, through the window they could see a man...By the looks he was very short, had a completely bald head and wore glasses, all and all not a very intimidating specimen and the Turtles had every reason to believe this man had no intention of fighting them himself.
"Do you like this little botanical garden?" The Little Man chuckled "We've done more than experiment with animals, we've also experimented with plants as well...Created plants that we can command via remote control…"
As Leo drew his swords, the Little Man was already pushing buttons on his control panel which seemed to control the vines!
The Turtles never stood a chance, the sap the vines were covered in was like super glue! Being entangled in the vines was not something they could fight their way out of with sheer strength because the sticky sap made their limbs practically immobile, stuck to whatever part of the vine they were in contact with!
"You'll never get away with this...Who...Whoever you are!" Leo barked but already even he knew they in a really bad situation unless they got some outside help soon.
"You don't think I would be so foolish as to give you my actual name do you?" The Little Man scoffed "No I'm nothing like those you fought before, like that arrogant blowhard Baxter Stockman! No I am merely a humble servant working at the behest of his masters to usher in the future! The future is coming weather anyone likes it or not and if you wish to survive you best get on the right side…"
The Little Man turned on some lights revealing Dana already tied up by some vines.
"We knew someone would come looking for the Mutant Mongrel so we decided to use her as bait before we grill her for information and then finally dispose of her...I knew that we should never have tested that experimental brain enhancing medicine on any of the experimental mutant companions, but that young intern was like 'She's a domestic dog, bred for centuries to be loyal to humans, it will be fine!' No it wasn't! The serum made her far too smart! Too resistant to the mental conditioning!"
The Little Man was so involved with his little rant he didn't notice the Boxers were just outside the door, having just arrived to hear this particular bit of exposition and for a moment they were a bit stood there a bit stunned to be learning about this.
Will save the Boxers bursting in to save the day for the next chapter