Per Shredder's summons, Gargan entered a large, dark room with an aquarium underneath the floor. He nervously walked along the path in the room that wasn't made of glass and stopped at a small flight of stairs which lead to a throne that his master sat in. He immediately bent a knee for Shredder, who looked at him with no expectations.
"Uh… You summoned me, Master Shredder?" Gargan asked.
"Yes." Shredder stated simply.
Gargan looked around uneasily and noticed he was the only one there. "Ah take it Bradford an' Xever won't be joinin' us?"
"Not today. They are still licking their wounds after receiving their punishments for their failure. A failure YOU also played a part in." Gargan winced and bowed his head more as Shredder stood and walked to a window to peer out at the city. "It has been days since then and I still cannot believe it. Not only is Hamato Yoshi training the vigilante Spider-Man, but he is also training… giant mutant turtles. If I did not see the looks in your eyes and saw you spoke the truth, you would all be dead right now for trying to lie to me to save yourselves." He shook his head and sighed. "How far has my old foe fallen to throw his lot in with such freaks of nature?"
Gargan gulped. "Then… there a reason Ah'm not doin' the same as Chris and Xever?" Shredder turned and glared at him harshly. "N-not that Ah ain't grateful, Master. It's just—"
"Silence!" Shredder snapped as he turned to face his disciple. Gargan did so as Shredder walked down the stairs to him. "The ONLY reason you're not with them is because I require someone to lead a search party, and you are my best tracker."
"A… search party?" Gargan asked.
"Yes. I feel perhaps having all of you go at once after Splinter was not wise. A singular warrior may prove better and more advantageous. You will lead a team of ninja to find and eliminate Hamato Yoshi. If need be, destroy his freak students one by one if you must. Do NOT make me regret showing you mercy."
Gargan smiled nervously. "Ah promise ya, Master Shredder, Ah wont't! The spider an' his varmint friends will be as good as dead 'fore daybreak! I actually got quite a couple good licks in with the Wall-Crawler. He just beat me with a lucky—" He was stopped when Shredder unsheathed blades from his gauntlet and pointed them at Gargan's face. The Texan gulped again in terror.
"Do NOT underestimate your enemy, Gargan. That is what got you in my employ in the first place if you recall?" Shredder asked. Gargan nodded meekly before Shredder pulled the blades back. "Now go. Find Hamato Yoshi and eliminate who stand with him."
Spider-Man and Donnie faced each other in the dojo ready to begin their sparring session. Donnie began with a kick which Spider-Man dodged and countered with an elbow strike. Donnie blocked it and grabbed Spider-Man's arm to twist it. He then attempted to throw Spider-Man over his shoulder, but the web-slinger thrusted himself to stick onto the ceiling to avoid hitting the ground.
"Dude, what are you doing?" Donnie asked. "You don't defend against seoi nage by sticking to the ceiling."
"Well, I didn't think it mattered how I defended against it as long as I didn't hit the ground." Spider-Man said before dropping back down onto the ground.
"The best defense is to roll along my back, then take me to the ground and put me in an armlock." Donnie said. "Unless, of course, I counter with a…"
"Dude, all that planning is nice and all," Spider-Man said, "But you know me. I'm a man of instinct. The only step-by-step instructions I follow are the ones that help me set up my laptop."
Donnie sighed before noticing Splinter walk out of his room. He then walked over to speak to him.
"Master Splinter, what would you do if someone tried to throw you with seoi nage?"
"I don't know."
"Come on, you must have planned a response for every attack."
"If you think too much about what is coming, you lose sight of what is." Splinter advised. "You must be fully in the moment so you can fight without thinking."
"Why would I want to fight without thinking?" Donnie asked.
"Allow me to demonstrate. Prepare to defend against seoi nage!"
In an instant, Splinter caught Donnie by surprise and had him pinned on the ground while wretching his arm into the air.
"Ooo!" Spider-Man winced. "And the turtle is down for the count, folks!"
"Ow!" Donnie exclaimed. "That wasn't seoi nage!"
Splinter laughed letting Donnie go. "No, but you thought it would be."
"Don't beat yourself up over it, D." Spider-Man said. "If it makes you feel any better, I don't really understand what seoi nage means exactly."
"It's a judo throw." Splinter answered.
"Well, that answers my question."
Splinter chuckled again before turning back to Donnie. "Now, would you like to prepare to defend against a spinning back-kick?"
"No, I'm good." Donnie said weakly.
"GUYS! GUYS!" April's voice was heard outside the dojo.
"Sound like April's got something urgent to tell us." Spider-Man said before running out to the living room with Donnie. Leo, Raph, and Mikey grouped up with them as they surrounded April, who opened up her laptop.
"What's up, April?" Donnie asked.
"You guys gotta check this out." April said. As she typed on her laptop, a news report began playing. Spider-Man groaned as he saw that J. Jonah Jameson took up half of the report.
"Renowned neurochemist, Dr. Tyler Rockwell, has been reported missing! And do you know who I suspect is responsible? I'll give you a hint: it rhymes with hider-can!"
"Why am I not surprised?" Spider-Man groaned.
"Geez, this guy's SUCH a major buzzkill." Mikey groaned, poking a finger in his ear. "And loud too."
Raph scoffed. "Honestly, if I could, I'd go right up topside and shave his flat head AND that idiotic mustache while he's sleeping. Maybe then he at least wouldn't be able to show his face for a while since he'd be too embarrassed."
"He'd still have his uncannily and gratingly loud vocals, so he could still do radio and podcasts." Donnie reminded.
"Guys, shhh." Leo said.
"The Bugle doesn't have many facts to the case other than this reporter's flawless instinct, but I did manage to speak with Dr. Rockwell's colleague, Dr. Victor Falco!"
The video then changed to a recording of Jameson speaking with a middle-aged man in a white lab coat. "I haven't heard from him in days, so I stopped by his lab. The place was a mess and he was gone. I… fear the worst."
"How worst?" Jameson asked. "Like Spider-Man worse?! Do you suspect he's responsible for your friend's disappearance?!"
"What?" Dr. Falco asked. "Well, there aren't any signs found that the wall-crawler's involved…"
"That wasn't a no!" Jameson interrupted. "Clearly, this is the end times when…"
"Okay, can we please end this?!" Spider-Man asked, roughly closing the laptop before huffing and crossing his arms. "Come on, April. You know that loudmouth's one of my top pet peeves."
"Sorry, but I think this is important." April said. "The Kraang have been kidnapping scientists from all over the city, including my dad. Maybe that's what happened to this Rockwell guy."
"Or they may not be connected at all." Leo said.
"I don't think we should take any chances." Spider-Man said.
"Spider-Man's right," Donnie agreed. "It's worth taking a look at Rockwell's lab. The problem though is it's at a secure facility since the police have no doubt been investigating there. So all of us are at worse risk of getting caught if we're all together."
"So we just take a small group." April said. "You, me, and Spider-Man."
"I got no complaints." Spider-Man said.
"Works for me. We ARE the most intellectual of this bunch," Donnie said, missing his brother's annoyed glares at the unintentional slight. "We'll be back later, guys." He, April and Spider-Man then left the Lair.
"'We ARE the most intellectual.'" Raph said in a mocking tone before blowing a raspberry. "Who does he think he is?"
"Well, he has a SMALL point." Leo admitted. "They probably would be able to notice things in a science lab WE wouldn't."
"Hey, I could notice stuff." Mikey protested. "Like beakers and test tubes and glowing bubbly stuff. Ooh! That reminds me! I could use a soda!" He then ran out to the kitchen, leaving his brothers shaking their heads.
"Hey. If those three wanna strain their brains in a nerd house, they can be my guests." Raph stated. "My bet is they'll just find a bunch of sciencey mumbo-jumbo that's essentially a note saying the guy went to Einstein's birthplace or something and didn't tell anyone. Nothing major."
Spider-Man, Donnie, and April managed to sneak into the building where the lab was reported and stopped in front of a door with Rockwell's name on it.
"Looks like some kind of electronic lock." Donnie said as he pulled out a device. "Thank goodness I brought along my digital lock pick."
"I don't think that'll be necessary." Spider-Man whispered as he pressed his fingers on the door. He gently pushed and it creaked open. "It was already open."
"Huh. That's weird." Donnie said putting his gadget away.
"And a little unnerving." April said with a frown.
The three of them proceeded to walk into the lab (April in the lead with a flashlight) and they stopped as they saw the mess it was in. Glass was shattered, papers were scattered, furniture was knocked over, and a large cage had its door busted open.
"Wow. This place is a wreck." Donnie whispered.
"Must have been experimenting on animals." April said.
Spider-Man stopped and noticed a heavy-looking, metal chair with clamps attached to it. "Either someone was up to some secret research, or they were renting space to one freaky dentist."
Just then, the sound of a slight clatter spooked them. They also heard a girl's quiet gasp coming from the other side of a counter. The three of them nodded at each other before walking over to the desk slowly. Once they reached it, they immediately jumped over and cornered who was there.
The blonde, teenage girl in glasses screamed and hid herself behind her arms shivering in fear. "DON'T HURT ME!"
April gasped as she saw who it was. "Debra? Debra Whitman?" Spider-Man also shared April's surprise.
Debra stopped shaking and looked up at her red-headed friend. "A-April? W-what are you doing here?" She then turned to the two boys behind her. "And with Spider-Man and…" Her eyes gaped wide behind her glasses at the sight of Donnie. "Please tell me I'm not seeing what I think I'm seeing."
"Um, if you mean the giant walking talking gangly turtle with the charming gap-toothed smile, then you would be correct." Spider-Man said.
"Hey!" Donnie said in offense.
"Oh, thanks." Donnie said happily before realizing all of what he had just said. "Hey! Who are you calling 'gangly'?"
"It's okay! They're my friends!" April said quickly, helping Debra back up. She then turned to the boys. "Spider-Man, Donnie, this is my friend and classmate, Debra Whitman. Debra, you already know Spider-Man. This is Donatello." She gestured to the turtle who meekly waved.
"Uh, hi." Spider-Man greeted, pretending not to already know his classmate.
Debra's eyes kept getting fixed on Donnie. "I'm sorry, but… what exactly IS he? I know he's a turtle, but I have NEVER seen a turtle like him before. And his name is 'Donatello'? Like the Renaissance painter?"
"Wow. Impressive. Most only know his ones like Leonardo and Michelangelo." Spider-Man said with a chuckle. Donnie rolled his eyes at that.
"And how do you know SPIDER-MAN?! I mean, J. Jonah Jameson says he's a menace to the city!"
Spider-Man pouted at that. "Oh man. Just once I would like to meet SOMEONE who HASN'T listened to that bullhorn on legs!"
"It's a long story." April answered. "To make it short, though, they're helping me find my dad. But what are you doing here, Debbie? I thought you were interning for someone else."
"Yeah. Dr. Curt Connors." Debra replied adjusting her glasses. "I've been working with him for three weeks now. Then, just earlier today, I came by the lab, and he just disappeared. I didn't know where he went. But I did see that he was exchanging notes via email to Dr. Rockwell, so I came by to ask him if he knew where Dr. Connors was. But when I got here, the place was a wreck. And that's when I heard wild, animalistic screeching like a crazed monkey. And then, I saw it."
"Saw what?" Donnie asked.
"I… I don't know." Debra said with a shiver in her voice. "All I knew is that it was bigger than any man, it had a long, green tail, and it glanced at me with huge, red eyes before crawling out of the window. I was afraid it might still be out there, so I huddled myself here until you all found me."
"Well, that's not a nightmare waiting to go off." Donnie said sarcastically. He then noticed a blue glow peeking out of one of the drawers. He opened it up and noticed a false bottom. When he removed it, he pulled out a cannister of mutagen for everyone to see. "Well, lookie what we found here."
"Mutagen." Spider-Man said. "Hey, Debra, did Dr. Connors ever have anything like this?"
"Well, I've never seen that weird substance inside," Debra said, "But Dr. Connors did have a cannister just like that in his lab, but when I found it, it was already empty."
"A mutagen cannister that's already emptied out?" Donnie asked worriedly. "That can't be good."
All of a sudden, Spider-Man's Spider Sense began to tingle, and he backflipped out of the way just as a man attempted to hit him with a golf club. The attacker was then about to hit Debra, who screamed and raised her arms in panic, but Donnie blocked it with his staff. He then retaliated by pushing the man down and pinning him onto the floor. April proceeded to turn the light switch on, revealing the man who tried to attack them.
"Dr. Falco!"
Falco screamed as soon as he got a good look at Donnie. "What are you?"
"Relax." Donnie said. "I'm not gonna hurt you."
"You already hurt me."
"I mean… any more."
"Smooth." Debra commented dryly.
"We're here to help." Spider-Man said.
"You? Help?" Dr. Falco asked. "The Bugle calls you a criminal."
"And you trust everything that blowhard says?" Spider-Man asked.
"Well, no, but…"
"Trust us. We just want to help." April said.
After helping Falco up and bring him to his chair, they went on to tell their story to him. All the while, Debra was getting a better understanding of April's new friends. When they were done, Dr. Falco was ready to answer their questions.
"I'm sorry. I wish I knew something about your father, but I don't."
"So what can you tell us about this?" Donnie asked holding up the mutagen cannister.
"Some shady corporate goon paid Rockwell a lot of money to experiment with it." Falco answered.
"This the guy?" April asked pulling her phone and showing a picture of a Kraangdroid with a human costume.
"That's him."
"The Kraang." Donnie realized.
"Who's that?" Debra asked.
"Again, long story." Spider-Man answered before turning back to Falco. "So the Kraang paid Rockwell to experiment with the mutagen?"
"Yes, but I wanted no part of that stuff." Falco said. "Who knows what kind of monstrosities could result?" He turned his attention to Donnie. "No offense."
"Some taken."
"What about Dr. Connors?" Debra asked. "I know he's been exchanging emails with Dr. Rockwell lately before they both disappeared?"
"As it turned out, Connors was given a similar deal by the same people, and like Rockwell, he accepted. Heaven knows why though." Falco said. "Though I haven't seen Connors since he transferred over to ESU ten months ago."
"What was his field of study?" Spider-Man asked.
"Genetics. Reptilian genetics. Mostly worked with lizards."
"Yeah, that tracks," Debra said. "Lizards have the ability to regrow lost limbs. Dr. Connors lost his arm in an accident, so he was trying to see if there was a way to apply a lizard's ability onto humans."
"That would be a miracle of medical science." Dr. Falco said.
"What about that cage over there?" Spider-Man asked pointing at the destroyed cage.
"That's where he kept the monkey he was experimenting on." Falco explained.
"Whoa. It sure didn't like being locked up in there." Donnie said.
"Rockwell didn't treat very well." Falco said.
"Maybe the Kraang didn't take Rockwell." April said. "Maybe the monkey went berserk, busted out of its cage, and dragged him off… or worse."
"That still doesn't explain what happened to Dr. Connors." Debra said. "I saw all the lizards he was experimenting on, and they were all accounted for the day he disappeared. Clearly, it wasn't a mutant who took him."
"Maybe the two disappearances aren't related." Donatello said. "The fact that they happened on the same day could have been just a coincidence."
"Either way, I don't have any more to tell you." Dr. Falco said. "If you find Dr. Rockwell, please bring him back safely."
"We will." Spider-Man promised.
After leaving the lab, the four teens hid themselves in an alleyway before they began talking.
"So what now?" Debra asked.
"Well, Donnie, Spidey, and I are going to go and continue to find out what happened to the scientists." April said. "You need to go back home, and I'll tell you everything that happened at school on Monday."
"What about you?" Debra asked.
"Don't worry. I've been through worse." April said.
"Oh…" Debra said in realization. "So that's why you haven't come to much of my after-school hangouts lately."
"Yeah, sorry about that." April apologized.
"It's okay. If it's to help save your dad, then I understand." Debra said. "And I promise to keep your new friends a secret."
"Well, that's good to know." Donnie said. "It wouldn't do the citizens of New York any good if they knew that there were turtles who knew ninjutsu living in their sewers." He smirked. "They've already got rumors of alligators to worry about."
Debra chuckled at that before stopping. "... That's not true, right?"
"Well, my brothers and I have lived down there for 15 years. Safe to say, we haven't seen anything yet."
Debra chuckled again before giving a small smile. "So… Donnie, was it?" Donnie nodded. "I just wanted to… You know… Thank you. For saving me from that golf club. That was… pretty cool."
Donnie stared at her for a second, his cheeks flushed before he cleared his throat, trying to act and sound cool. "W-well, you know, Debra. It's all in a good night's work. Nothing to it really."
"Well, still, thanks again." Debra said before walking away, giving one last smile at the group over her shoulder.
Spider-Man noticed Donnie smiling like a dope at Debra before smiling himself under the mask. "Well, look at that. So a green face DOES turn red when it blushes."
Donnie stammered blushing harder. "I, uh… What do you mean?"
April chuckled. "It's okay, Donnie. Really, it's cute to see that even mutant turtles can get crushes." She smirked. "And just so you know, Debbie is into smart guys."
"She is?" Donnie asked excitedly before shaking his head. "Whoa. What am I saying? Look, even if I did like her like that—and I'm not saying I do—it wouldn't work out. She's human and I'm a turtle…"
"Love is blind, Don." Spider-Man said.
"L-look, can we forget about my non-love life and focus on getting back to finding Rockwell and Connors?" Donnie asked. "After all, we may be able to know more once we look at Rockwell's flash drive."
"What flash drive?" April asked.
"The one I swiped off his desk," Donnie said smugly, pulling out a small USB drive from his belt.
"Nice catch." Spider-Man said right before his Spider Sense tingled again. "Guys, we're not alone."
All of a sudden, the three of them were startled by a large figure dropping in front of them and screeching. It was a very big monkey with metal bands around its wrists, ankles, neck, and waistline. It roared at them holding its hands up high. Donnie stepped up and prepared to fight it with his staff.
"Careful, Donnie!" April warned. "That's a dangerous mutant!"
"That makes two of us!" Donnie said before going for the first strike. However, before it could connect, the monkey kicked him hard launching him back.
"Oh, you crossed the line with that kick, Curious George!" Spider-Man yelled out firing web pellets. The monkey effortlessly dodged the attacks and rushed at him with both its fists, but Donnie tackled Spider-Man to get him out of the way.
"Spider-Man, just keep April safe! I'll handle the monkey!" Donnie instructed.
"Are you sure, Donnie?" Spider-Man asked. "That thing's pretty tough!"
"Please, I'm a genius ninja, remember? This thing's just a mindless beast. I can beat it easily. Just watch."
Donnie ran toward the monkey to punch it, but the monkey jumped out of the way and climbed to the fire escape. It then dropped down back to the ground and dodged all of Donnie's attacked like they were easy to dodge. As the fight went on, it was very easy to tell that the monkey was winning the fight brutally beating monkey to the ground. He then dropped down on him and fired several punches at him before throwing him back down the alleyway. Donnie groaned as he was defeated while the monkey closed in.
"Okay. Back off, Kong." Spider-Man said holding his fists up. "Come any closer, and I'll knock you all the way to Madagascar."
The monkey roared and seemed prepared to fight again.
"Spidey, wait." April said stepping forward. As she did, the monkey's angry screeches began to die down. It then looked at April curiously no longer looking hostile anymore. She placed her hands on its own gently. "It's okay. Everything's going to be all right."
The monkey finally calmed down before looking afraid. It then turned and quickly climbed up the buildings to disappear.
Spider-Man stared at April in disbelief. "Uh… How did you do that?"
"I… I don't know." April answered before turning back to Donnie. "But that doesn't matter right now. Donnie, are you hurt?"
"Just my pride." Donnie groaned in pain. "And my internal organs."
Spider-Man and April worked together to carry Donnie down the sewers. They soon brought him back to the Lair where the other turtles noticed their brother's condition and walked up to him.
"Whoa, what happened?" Raph asked.
"Donnie got beat up by a lab monkey." April said.
The three other turtles looked at each other before helping Donnie onto the couch. April went to get an ice pack while Donnie groaned in pain.
"Donnie, you gonna be okay?" Leo asked.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'll be fine." Donnie grunted.
"In that case…"
Leo, Raph, and Mikey broke out into uncontrollable laughter. They laughed right at his face that blushed with embarrassment.
"You got beaten up by a monkey?!" Raph asked.
"Guys, lighten up, will you?" Spider-Man asked. "That wasn't an ordinary monkey. It was a mutant, and it was vicious."
"But it was a monkey!" Leo laughed. "I'm sure he went BANANAS!" The laughter continued. "No, no, no, no, no! He went APE!" The laughter got even louder.
"Guys, stop! Donnie's pride is hurt enough already!" Spider-Man said. "You weren't there. That monkey was untouchable. It dodged every one of Donnie's blows."
"Spider-Man's right." April said coming back with the ice and putting it on Donnie's face. "I bet none of YOU could have beaten it if you were in Donnie's place."
"Thanks, guys." Donnie groaned, now feeling even more miserable from his friend's unintentionally insulting attempts at defending him.
A short while later, Spider-Man returned to the living room and found Donnie drooping over the filtrated water staring at his own reflection. Feeling sorry for him, he knelt down next to him.
"Is everything okay?" he asked.
"Of course not." Donnie answered. "You saw how I did out there. I didn't even hit that thing. And yet, it clobbered me."
"It was a savage mutant, Donnie." Spider-Man assured. "It would have happened to any one of us."
"But I'm supposed to be the smart turtle." Donnie said. "Not only that, but I'm a highly trained martial artist. How could I lose to something so mindless?" He slapped the water in frustration.
As if to answer his question, Splinter appeared on the other side of Donnie. "You are very intelligent. But in a fight, you cannot be up here." He pointed at his head.
"But I just don't understand how you can fight without thinking." Donnie said.
Splinter turned his head over to Mikey, who was walking along while listening to hip-hop music from his headphones, off in his own little world. "Observe." he instructed before throwing a few soft strikes which Mikey effortlessly blocked, shocking Donnie and impressing Spider-Mana a bit. "You see? Mikey does not think."
"Thank you." Mikey said.
"You're welcome." Splinter replied before using his tail to trip him. "You must find the space between your thoughts and learn to live there. That's what Michelangelo does."
"That's a good lesson, Master Splinter," Spider-Man said, "But with all due respect, Mikey doesn't think as much as Donnie does. The space between his thoughts might as well be the entire inside of his head."
"Hey! Pepperoni!" Mikey said happily as he pulled a moldy slice of pizza from under the beanbag and ate it, grossing Spider-Man and Donnie out.
"…Yes. Well… Michelangelo has his challenges too."
Later on, over on the couch, April found something on her laptop which piqued her interest.
"Guys! I think I found something. These notes are hard to follow, but it looks like Rockwell was able to modify the mutagen."
"Why would he do that?" Leo asked.
"He thought he could use it to create a neurochemical that would temporarily give someone psychic abilities." April explained.
"You mean that monkey was psychic?" Raph asked.
"It's more like he was reading our emotions. After all, he was only hostile when Donnie and Spider-Man were hostile."
Donnie grimaced. "Yeah, well, next time, I'll be sure to think friendly thoughts while I'm beating a little sunshine into him."
"What about Dr. Connors?" Spider-Man asked. "Anything new that could connect them?"
"Well, this flash drive has a couple copies of both Connors and Rockwell's emails to each other." April answered. "Apparently, they've been comparing notes and trying to fill in each other's blanks to modify their mutagen for their own experiments."
"Mutant psychics and mutant limb-growers." Spider-Man said. "Yeesh. Sounds like the beginnings of a low-budget horror movie. Okay, if what April says is true, then a creature like that running loose in a city crawling with bad vibes is a disaster waiting to happen."
"Okay, we need to track down that monkey before he attacks someone else." Leo said. "Let's go up to the surface, spread out, and search."
"How are we gonna stay in contact?" Raph asked.
"I have a little something that might help." Donnie said as he stood back up. "Gentlemen and lady, I give you… THE T-PHONE!" He whipped out a cell phone that was shaped like a turtle shell.
"Dude, I'm in charge of naming stuff." Mikey said. "I would've called it… the T-Phone."
"I DID call it the T-Phone."
"Yeah, but I would've called it the T-Phone."
"Looks like I finally got a way to contact you guys even when I'm at home now." Spider-Man said as he and the others accepted their T-Phones. "All right, troops. We got a nutty primate to find. Let's head out on safari!"
"Guys, someone just spotted the monkey on Bleecker!"
"I think I'm on his trail!"
"Mikey, the monkey is headed your way!"
"I got eyes on him! He's headed south on Delancey!"
"I'm on Houston! I'll cut him off!"
"I'll be joining you, Donnie!" Spider-Man responded into his own T-Phone. He was about to swing across, but his Spider Sense made him freeze. "On second thought, I might be a little delayed." He tucked away his T-Phone and turned around. "You can come out now! I know you're there!"
A Southern twinged laughter made Spider-Man's hairs stand on end. Gargan walked out from behind a chimney and applauded the web-slinger sarcastically.
"Ah must admit, Ah done thought ya'll were dense. But nnnope. Looks like ya got eyes on the back o' yer head."
"Well, if it isn't Shredder's rodeo clown." Spider-Man said. "Where's Bradford and the other guy? Did they get Knicks tickets?"
"You should be more worried 'bout mahself and my friends." Gargan said before snapping his fingers. Just then, a whole team of at least a dozen Foot Ninjas jumped to the roof from the sides of the building surrounding the web-slinger. "Got ya now, freak."
"Oh, no." Spider-Man said with a dull reaction faking surprise. "Please, don't throw me in the briar patch."
Gargan growled before snapping his fingers again. That's when the Foot charged right at Spider-Man with their weapons ready. Spider-Man jumped over the ones with the katanas and shot his web at the very front. Once he landed on the ground, he pulled him back knocking over all the other ninjas behind him. A few of them then threw their shurikens at him, but he dodged out of the way while his T-Phone rang. He went on to answer it while fighting the remaining Foot soldiers.
"Spider-Man, what's going on?" Leo asked. "We're chasing the monkey, but where are you?!"
"I'm a little sidetracked." Spider-Man answered. "It's that scorpion-pendant jerk who works for Shredder! He set up an ambush for me!"
"HE WHAT?!"
"Don't worry! I'll wrap up here and slip out before—OOF!" Spider-Man was suddenly kicked backwards by Gargan. "Call you back." Spider-Man said before pocketing the T-Phone and facing Gargan. "Okay, buster, prepare to defend against seoi nage!"
Spider-Man rushed over to Gargan as the Foot ninja prepared only to be surprised as Spider-Man dropped and swept his legs before holding him down in an armlock.
"HEY! That ain't seoi nage!"
"No, but you thought it was gonna be." Spider-Man chuckled.
Gargan groaned angrily before twisting himself out of the armlock and shooting a kick at Spider-Man knocking him away. Spider-Man tried to get back up, but he soon found himself surrounded by even more Foot.
"End o' the line, bug." Gargan said as he pulled out a dagger from behind with a wicked smirk. "But don't worry. Ah'll give ya a swift end if ya tell me where ta find Hamato Yoshi."
"I would," Spider-Man said glancing to his right, "But it looks like you got some monkey business to attend to."
Gargan stared in confusion. "Say wut? That don't make any…"
The mutant monkey's loud screeching interrupted as the primate itself caught Gargan by surprise with a very hard punch sending him across the roof. It then went on to wildly attack all the Foot soldiers that tried to face it. While it continued to beat down on them, Spider-Man recovered just as his friends came by.
"Glad we found you." Raph said.
"How did you find me?" Spider-Man asked.
"I used my T-Phone to track down yours." Donnie said.
The group then watched as another ninja was flung by the monkey.
"Ha! I am SO glad this thing has a camera!" Raph laughed as he recorded the cathartic scene. "Now I know why that goon from before loved his phone so much."
"Well, it makes sense." Donnie said. "Since the monkey could beat me in a fight, then surely, it can do the same to a bunch of expert Foot grunts."
"Shhh! Recording funny stuff!" Mikey laughed.
Gargan recovered and saw the monkey fighting back against the Foot ninjas he was with. Though he was confused, he gave a whistle so everyone would turn their attention to him.
"This is gettin' too weird. Regroup!" Gargan ordered. He backflipped off the rooftop and the rest of his ninja followed his lead.
"Yeah, you better run, fool!" Mikey called out.
Spider-Man then turned to the monkey, who was apparently exhausted from its fight against the Foot. Seeing his chance, Spider-Man shot two lines of web and wrapped them around it like a rope tangling around it. The monkey screeched and tried to break free, but was unable too.
"No more surprises, please." Spider-Man said.
"Great, we got the monkey and defeated some Foot losers while we were at it," Raph said, "But we're not any closer to finding Dr. Rockwell or Dr. Connors."
April slowly approached the struggling monkey and looked into its eyes. That's when somehow, April knew exactly who it was that was bound in front of her.
"Actually, we're a lot closer than you think." April said.
"What? How?" Donnie asked.
"I think this IS Dr. Rockwell." April said.
Spider-Man stayed silent for a moment before yelling out, "What did I JUST say?!"
Rockwell's growling and screeching grew ever angrier and louder once he was brought back to his lab and bound to the metal chair by Falco, who then injected him with a serum that quickly knocked him out.
"Is he okay?" Spider-Man asked.
"He'll be fine." Falco said. "It's just something to calm him down a little. Poor Rockwell."
"Is there any way to get him back to normal?" April asked.
"I wouldn't even know where to begin." Falco said. "But I'll see if there's a way to give him some semblance of a normal life."
Unbeknownst to them, a large figure was perched up from the rooftop beside them staring down on them with his red, monstrous eyes. He looked back at the lab and let out an angry hissing growl.
A few minutes later, Spider-Man brought a box full of pizza to the Lair's kitchen where the others were hanging out. Leo was slouching, April was sitting quietly, Raph was brooding, Mikey was playing a video game on his new T-Phone, and Donnie was looking over his laptop.
"Pizza time!" he called out. This got Raph and Leo's attention and they took slices.
Once the smell of hot pizza reached Mikey's nose, he was distracted from the game for a moment and acted like a kid struggling to choose between two things at once.
"Must eat pizza! But can't stop playing! But must eat pizza! But can't stop playing! But must eat pizza! AAAAAAHHHH!"
Mikey's scream ended when he grabbed a slice with his teeth and held it in his mouth while he continued to play his game.
"Ooookay." Spider-Man said awkwardly.
"Sorry we didn't get any closer to finding your dad, April." Leo said.
"It's okay. Everything we learn about the Kraang is another piece of the puzzle."
"Yeah, but psychic research?" Leo asked. "This is one weird puzzle."
Overhearing the conversation, Splinter walked into the kitchen to join in. "I am curious, April. How did you know the monkey was really a human?"
"I don't know." April answered. "Sometimes, I get a feeling about things."
"Like my spider sense?" Spider-Man asked.
"I… I don't think so." April said. "It's… Well, it's hard to explain."
"A feeling?" Splinter asked with interest growing.
Spider-Man looked over at Donnie and noticed he had his eyes glued to the laptop. "Uh, Donnie, you do know the pizza's right here, right?"
"What? I'm not hungry." Donnie said. "Something's been bothering me. Falco said that Rockwell was experimenting on a monkey."
"And?" Leo asked.
"Well, according to these notes, he never had a monkey in his lab. He was just using samples of monkey DNA."
"We're still not following you." Leo said.
"If he never had a monkey, what broke out of that cage?" Donnie asked. "And then, there's Debra's story."
"What about it?" Spider-Man asked.
"She said that when she got to Rockwell's lab, she saw a monster with a long, green tail and frightening red eyes."
"That was probably Dr. Rockwell she saw." April said.
"But you saw Rockwell." Donnie said. "He didn't have a tail, and his eyes weren't red at all."
"Wait. What are you trying to say?" Raph asked.
"I think…" Donnie started to say, "I think there's another mutant afoot. And I think I know who it is."
Just then, everyone froze when they heard the sound of distant footsteps coming from the Lair entrance. They readied their weapons and left the kitchen to confront their intruder.
When they peeked out of the opening, they saw another mutant standing by the turnstiles. It was a large lizard creature with green scales, red eyes, and a tail almost as long as its own body. It also wore a white lab coat and purple pants, both of which looked tattered and torn. Seeing the beast, the turtles and Spider-Man jumped out of hiding and surrounded it.
"Be warned! We know how to use these!" Leo shouted.
"Not me, but could I interest you with a funny quip?" Spider-Man asked.
The Lizard raised his claws and spoke in a normal tone. "Wait! Please, I come in peace."
The heroes all looked at each other before lowering their weapons.
"Dr. Connors, I presume." Donnie said.
"In the scales." The Lizard replied.
"Whoa! YOU'RE Dr. Connors?!" Raph asked.
"I guess it makes sense." Spider-Man said. "If Dr. Rockwell's experiments mutated him into a monkey, then of course, Dr. Connors' would mutate him into a lizard."
"That monkey experiment was NOT Dr. Rockwell's." Lizard shouted. "I just didn't realize the truth until it was too late."
"Dr. Connors?" April asked approaching him. "You don't know me, but you know my friend, Debra Whitman. She said she saw you at Dr. Rockwell's lab."
The Lizard nodded. "Yes. I went in there to free Tyler from Falco's cage, but he went too wild thanks to all the experiments and shoved me aside to escape. Debra then unexpectedly showed up and was no doubt frightened. So I left as well."
"Wait." Leo said. "Did you just say he escaped from Falco's cage? So Falco put him in there?"
The Lizard nodded before telling his story. "It all started when these mysterious men in suits came to me. They spoke strangely, but I could tell what they wanted. They had some kind of chemical they wanted me to study. A mutagen. After looking over it, I believed that it was the key to my cellular regeneration research, but there were still some gaps I couldn't fill myself. I decided to compare notes with my old college friend, Tyler Rockwell, who, as it turned out, was also given a cannister of mutagen for his psychic research. I helped him with his research and he helped me with mine.
"Soon, I believed I had my serum ready. I was so confident, I decided to try it out on myself. My arm grew back and I was happy, but only for a short while. Almost instantly, my body began to transform. I was no longer a human being after that. I had transformed into a massive lizard mutant. The animal instincts that came with it tried to override my mind, but I fought against it.
"Once I came to grips with my situation, I realized that Dr. Rockwell was in danger himself. I rushed over to his lab to warn him, but that's when I saw what was really going on. As it turned out, it was Dr. Falco who I was connecting with, not Dr. Rockwell. Poor Tyler was already mutated and locked up, and Falco was using my notes for his own twisted ends."
"So Falco's been lying to us this whole time." Donnie realized it.
"What did he want with Rockwell?" Spider-Man asked.
"He wanted what Rockwell got." The Lizard answered. "Without knowing, I gave Falco the finishing touches to a way he can extract the properties which gave Rockwell his psychic powers and apply them to himself. Thankfully, I managed to free Rockwell before he could be robbed."
"Until we brought him back." Leo realized.
"Well, why are you here?" Raph asked. "You freed Rockwell once! Surely, you can go save him again instead of just wasting our time with your story!"
The Lizard growled softly at that. "I tried, but Falco was ready for me. He upgraded his security and electrified everything preventing me from reaching him and Dr. Rockwell. You broke into his lab once. I thought you might help again."
"Then let's not waste any more time!" Spider-Man said sternly. "Time to show Falco what happens when you try to deceive masters of deception!"
The thunderstorm outside roared out its rumbling noises as heavy rain fell onto the lab building. Inside, Falco woke Rockwell up by injecting a needle into him and pulling something out of his body that looked like mutagen. Rockwell screeched out in pain as his enemy pulled it back out.
"Oh, stop struggling, Tyler. You were always so dramatic." Falco said. He then smiled maliciously at his serum before injecting himself with it. And like that, he could feel his brain tingling and his senses heighten to a level that made him ecstatic.
"Paging Dr. Crazy!"
Falco recognized Spider-Man's voice and turned to the door where he stood along with the turtles and the Lizard.
"You? But how…"
"Nothing my digital lockpick couldn't crack." Donnie said holding up his device. "Glad I got to use it after all."
"It's over, Falco!" Leo declared. "We've had enough of your…"
"Do not say 'monkeying around'." Raph interrupted.
"I wasn't going to."
"Yes, you were." Falco interjected. "Curt, I must say, that new form suits you." The Lizard growled at that. "Almost as much as Tyler's does his."
"We know it was you who mutated Dr. Rockwell." Donnie said.
"I used him as a guinea pig." Rockwell admitted.
"Well, it didn't work. You turned him into a monkey." Mikey said earning looks from everyone.
"Is he always like this?" the Lizard asked.
"You just learn to live with it." Spider-man said.
"The psychic neurochemical I extracted from his mutant brain is changing me." Falco went on. "Your minds are opening up to me."
"So this was your plan all along." Donnie realized.
"Of course. Although, I couldn't do it myself, so again, thanks, Connors, for your contribution." Falco said.
"Get bent, Falco." the Lizard snarled.
"I won't. Not from anyone else anyway." Falco said. "No man can defeat you when you know his every thought."
"Oh, really?" Raph asked. "Then you must know I'm gonna smack—"
"Smack the white off my lab coat?" Falco interrupted with a chuckle. "How humorous."
"Lucky guess!" Raph yelled before rushing forward.
He attempted to throw a kick at him, but Falco heard his planned attack and managed to duck underneath his foot as it passed by. Raph continued to try and attack him, but his every move was seen by his enemy who dodged and taunted him until he took one of his sais and used the blunt end to knock him down. He then kicked Raph across the room where he bowled over Donnie and Mikey, though Spider-Man leapt to the ceiling to dodge.
Once Raph was done, Leo attempted to take Falco by surprise, but the psychic saw it coming and dodged every last one of his katana swings. The Lizard joined in and swiped his claws at Falco, but he dodged them too.
"Whoa! It's like he's psychic!" Mikey commented.
"Mikey, he IS psychic." Spider-Man said. "He said that less than thirty seconds ago."
"Oh, yeah. I kinda turned out when he did his whole 'I'm evil, blah, blah, blah' thing."
The Lizard attempted to swing his tail at Falco, but he ducked, letting him hit Leo instead, sending him flying. Falco then used Raph's sai to launch an uppercut and hit Lizard in his jaw. He then kicked Lizard in the stomach, sending him over a lab table and smashing test tubes everywhere.
"My turn, Lior Suchard!" Spider-Man said swinging across over to Falco, who sidestepped out of the way. "And I got something you won't see coming!"
Falco laughed. "You're planning to attack me from the left while thinking about attacking me from the right. Is that it?"
"…Okay, so you DID see it coming." Spider-Man said. "But what am I thinking now?"
Falco stared at Spider-Man before dropping his confident smile. "Wow. Those must be the rudest thoughts I've ever heard."
"And you know you deserve them." Spider-Man said before launching for a swift kick which Falco dodged and countered with a backfist. Spider-Man dodged, but was met with a knee strike to his face twice before Falco grabbed his arm and threw him across the room. "Ow."
"How are we gonna defeat him if he can read our minds?" Donnie asked.
"No prob. I'm good at this. I just have to fight without thinking." Mikey said before looking worried. "Wait a minute. How DO I fight without thinking? Oh, no! Now, I'm thinking about NOT thinking!"
All of a sudden, Falco took advantage of the distracted Mikey by knocking him out cold from behind. As Mikey dropped, it looked like Donnie was alone against the mind-reading mad scientist.
"A man who can read minds is unstoppable." Falco said. "Once I dispose of you, no one will be able to stand in my way."
"We'll see about that." Donnie said pulling out his staff which he swung at Falco.
Like before, Falco heard his thoughts and saw his plan ahead allowing him to dodge and throw Donnie aside with his own staff.
"I really must admire that complex brain of yours. You come up with so many ideas. Too bad I can see them all coming." Falco said. "By the way, do you really think you have a chance with that Whitman girl?" He laughed nastily, making Donnie glower. "Now Spider-Man, though. He has a uniquely complex mind. Something special about him prevents me from seeing much. All I can read are his immediate thoughts."
"Must be his Spider Sense blocking you automatically." Donnie grunted, standing back up. "A biological response to mind reading. Like a shield of sorts."
"Well, it doesn't matter. My OWN sense is undoubtedly superior. And dealing the final blow to Spider-Man will show everyone that Victor Falco is no one to mess with!" Falco declared. He then smirked. "After this, I'll go after Miss O'Neil next. She knows the truth too. Can't very well leave loose ends, after all. And perhaps I'll even go after little miss Debra. Wouldn't want her hearing from April or piecing things together herself."
Hearing Falco threaten his friends and the girl he had begun to have a crush on, Donnie took the moment to focus himself. "I can do this. Just have to fight without thinking. No thinking. No thinking. Don't think. Just do."
Donnie's thoughts of planned attacks raced out of Donnie's head for Falco to read. Just then, those thoughts disappeared, and Donnie went on to race after Falco without a single planned move.
Falco tried to read Donnie's mind but soon found it empty, allowing the turtle to knock him to the wall with a spinning back kick. Falco tried to attack him, but Donnie stopped him with all sorts of random attacks. This went on while the Lizard and the others stood back up, watching amazed. Donnie's last attack sent Falco flying right into the Lizard's open claw where he held him face to face with a hungry growl. Falco chuckled nervously as he realized he was powerless, his psychic abilities having timed out.
"Whoa, Donnie, nice work." Raph said.
"Glad you finally learned the value of thoughtless fighting." Spider-Man said.
"And look what I just confiscated." Mikey said holding up the cannister of mutagen from Falco's desk.
"So what do we do about Mr. Mental here." Spider-Man said. "Turn him over to the authorities?"
"What if he tells people about us?" Raph asked.
"I doubt they'll believe him when he tells them that he got his butt kicked by a giant ninja turtle." Leo laughed, making Falco growl furiously.
All of a sudden, the gang was surprised by the sound of glass shattering. They turned to the window and saw Gargan roll right in and throw a small ball right in between them. They didn't have time to react before the ball exploded and released a green mist around everyone, who then coughed and gagged as they fell to their knees.
Even the Lizard was affected by the mist dropping on all fours and releasing Dr. Falco in the process. The mad scientist was affected too slightly, but he mustered up enough strength to make his escape through the door. Gargan saw him leave, but didn't bother chasing after him as his prey was right at his feet.
"Thought you'd escaped me, eh?" Gargan asked as he put a gas mask over his face. "Well, think again, pardners." He then eyed Lizard. "Whoo-wee! Yer a biggun, ain't ya? Don't even grow 'em this big in Texas." He pulled out his dagger and began walking toward the still coughing Lizard. "This gas'll keep these varmints busy fer a bit, so I think I'll just help mahself. I c'n only imagine how many boots an' belts Ah c'n make from yew."
Spider-Man, seeing the Lizard in danger, struggled to breathe and see clearly, but he saw that Dr. Rockwell was watching from his seat, struggling to escape. He also saw a console with a noticeable red button on it. He weakly raised his hand and fired a web pellet, which brushed past Gargan just as he lifted the Lizard up by his lab coat and prepared his dagger. He turned to Spider-Man and smirked.
"Ya missed!"
"Missed… what?" Spider-Man coughed
Gargan knew what he meant and turned around seeing that the pellet hit the console behind him.
"Aw dangit! Ah fell fer the same trick!" Gargan screamed, dropping the Lizard and his dagger.
The clamps holding down Rockwell were removed and the monkey quickly jumped out of his chair with a screech, kicking Gargan clear across the room. He slammed into a button on the wall that activated air vents that sucked all the toxic mist out of the air, allowing the heroes to breathe again.
When Gargan turned back to the monkey, he growled in anger and leapt up to charge right at him. However, Rockwell was able to sense his movements and counter them, pushing him back over to the windows. He then delivered one strong punch to send Gargan back out of the window. When everyone looked outside, however, they couldn't find any trace of him.
"Where'd he go?" Mikey asked.
"Well, he's a ninja, so we wouldn't see him leave." Donnie said.
Leo turned over to Rockwell. "Thanks for the help."
Rockwell turned to his new friends and nodded in between his monkey grunts.
"This city is getting too dangerous for the likes of Rockwell and I." the Lizard said. "We're going to need to leave for a while. See what we can learn about our new bodies and powers." He tapped his scaly chin. "Perhaps Florida. A lot of crazy things are known to happen in Florida. A psychic monkey and a giant lizard might fit in fine."
"Will you come back?" Spider-Man asked.
"Yes. When we're needed, of course." the Lizard said before turning to Rockwell. "Come along, Tyler. Let's leave New York before it triggers you." He then turned to the heroes. "Thank you, by the way. And tell Debra it was wonderful to work with her."
Everyone else nodded before the Lizard and Rockwell exited through the windows out into the New York night.
"Aw man!" Mikey groaned. "In all the craziness, I forgot to name Doc Connors' new mutant form!"
"Why not just call him, 'the Lizard?'" Leo asked. "Short, simple, it's what he is."
"I will not do that! Not again! I already replaced Gibbon with Giboom. Now let's see… Dr. Scales? Reptilicus Maximus? Oh! What about Professor Coldblood?"
When Gargan returned to Shredder's hideout, battered and bruised, he was soon grabbed by his throat and held up by his master, who glared angrily at him through his helmet.
"You're telling me a MONKEY got the best of you?! AND the ninjas you led?!" Shredder asked venomously.
"It… It was no ordinary monkey, Master Shredder!" Gargan gagged. "That thing was clearly a beast! And I think I heard 'em say somein' about it bein' psychic or some…" He was shut up when Shredder threw him and sent him to the floor.
"I should have known better not to be lenient with those who don't learn from failures of the past!" Shredder yelled before turning to two of his guards. "Take him away! He will feel just what Bradford and Xever did in their punishments!"
Gargan looked at the two guards as they dragged him away. "No, please, Master! NOOOOOO!"
The next day, April spotted Debra by her locker and decided to talk to her. When she saw the redhead coming, she turned all her attention to her.
"Oh. April. How was the…" She looked around to make sure no one was watching. "...The monkey hunt?"
"It… was a little nuts, that's for sure." April said. "A semi-happy ending, but let's just say that you're likely not going to see Dr. Connors soon. So you might want to find another job, Debbie."
Debra sighed. "I figured. Still, thanks for the help."
"You should thank Donnie." April said. "He really came in clutch in solving this mystery."
"Did he? That's cool." Debra said with a small smile. April noticed her smile and gave a smile of her own noticing what her friend was thinking. "So… anything else?"
"Oh. Well, there's one thing." April said. "Donnie's father and ninja master, Splinter, offered to teach me to be a kunoichi."
"Really? That's cool!" Debra said excitedly. She then paused. "... What's a kunoichi?"
"A female ninja."
Debra's eyes widened before leaning in. "Hold on. You mean you're going to do cool ninja moves like Donnie and Spider-Man?" she whispered.
"Mmm-hmm." April said. "You know, it's glad to have a human friend to share this stuff with. Can you imagine if Harry or Peter knew about this stuff."
"I know." Debra said with a small laugh. "I bet this whole thing would break Peter's surprisingly fragile mind."
"ACHOO!" Peter sneezed loudly in his classroom.
"Dude, you okay?" Harry asked from an adjacent seat.
"Yeah. Though, I think somebody's been talking about me."
Author's Note: Before we end this chapter, I just want to clarify something with everyone. MajorBrony95 and I have been discussing ships, and yes, we have decided to have Donnie and Debra Whitman be together. It's certainly better than Donnie's unhealthy obsession with April in the canon show, and I promise we won't have him be as obsessive in this fanfic.
One more thing, we wanted to clarify that in this fanfic, we're having Debra be April's best friend instead of Irma. We also wanted to let you know that we are NOT going to have Debra be Kraang Sub-Prime. We've got other plans for him leading up to the season 2 finale events. So, again, Debra will NOT be Kraang Sub-Prime in disguise.
That's about it. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Any and all comments are welcome.