And that had been how it started.
Donatello was going to use all his gadgetry know-how to design a tracker that would enable him to locate this half breed.. or whatever it might be. Thoughts of it not being in New York didn't even enter his head. He felt sure it would still be around because where better place to fit right in when you may be feeling a little different. Manhattan was the king of all which was 'different'. Looking down at the picture - the only picture - the child looked plain and non-descript, so much so that Donatello still couldn't tell the basics. The photograph itself was a little worn but he could make out a series of anomalies on the right hand side. The entire part of the body including the upper limb, seemed larger, longer from the shoulder down to the hand but there were no obvious fingers. He wondered whether that was the end result or just the beginning? There had been no baby pictures, just notes on the mother and lines of genetic code. A lot of genetic code.
"What did they do to you?" whispered the leanest brother to himself. Leaning in he touched the sensor on his glasses to enhance the picture - were those scales? "Probably just storage damage. Photographs crack Donatello, especially when kept in unfit environments" he mumbled.
Even though the diaries weren't kept in the best conditions Donatello felt sure they had been kept there deliberately. At the other lab they would have been found immediately, had they survived the fire of course. April had been given a box of her father's things all those years ago and still had every single item safely stored away. She had taken great joy in sharing the video recording of them all when they were tiny turtles and Raphael had taken great joy sharing that he was even a badass back then because he - as only he could put it - beat the hell out of the tank.
Casey Jones fulfilled his part of the deal and managed to sneak into the evidence room to remove what was left of the purple ooze then, just as he had with Bebop and Rocksteady, Donatello would track down the hybrid using the very material it was made of. By making a series of alterations to one of his existing tracker devices, he would be able to set up a signal from the lair that would reach across the City via the ones he fixed in place not long after Shredder had disappeared. They had been his "monitor the City in case Shredder comes back" cameras. Luckily for them Shredder had not showed himself for a long time and the New Yorkers had almost all but forgotten he and the Foot Clan ever existed.
April eventually agreed - at Donatello's suggestion - that it would be better not to tell Leo. As the eldest, Leonardo was the most unhappy with risk taking and anything which was remotely a little different from the normal play out of everyday life. He planned, prepped and took control so as to make any patrol, any mission, completely regimented. This took all the fun out of every single one and Mikey hated it. Leonardo's need for control had increased ten-fold since the death of their father, so much so that Mikey had given the brother a new nickname which of course he did not know about.
In order to keep Leonardo in the dark so that Donatello could keep a steer on the whole thing - all of them had to be kept in the dark. Michelangelo had whined and moaned but then soon got over it. Luckily he didn't bear grudges and he also had the memory of a goldfish. Raphael on the other hand was a little more tricky but understood it was April's decision and seemed to accept the fact that he would know everything in due time. Leonardo absolutely hated it. He couldn't stand the fact that Donatello was working away in his lab on something he didn't know about. Whenever they were in training as a group, Leo was particularly hard on Donatello, pushing him a lot more than his brothers. Rather than complain, Donnie became resigned to the fact that this would be his life now so just got on with it. This treatment lasted a little over a week and it was during these training sessions that a plan formed in the genius turtle's mind. If they were going to hook themselves a hybrid who looked human they may find it easier to look human too.
After he showered he got straight on the phone to April: "The first few readings show that there is a distinct possibility our target is over on East. If we go in all mutant they may turn and disappear".
"So you're suggesting you become human?" her voice suggested she had reservations "That's a big risk Donnie, what if you get hurt or worse?"
"By worse she actually means die" Casey's voice on the line was unexpected. Wasn't he usually on shift by now?
"Thanks Officer Jones, but I won't die" answered Donatello "Look, it's perfectly safe and by my calculations the whole change would only last a couple of hours"
"Detective Jones to you turtle. You are so going to be fresh out of insults once I complete and then April and myself will leave NYC and move to Washington" Donatello hoped he was just kidding.
"Go, get gone.." April's voice sounded muffled like she was away from the handset, he heard her giggling then "Sorry. I'm back. Just ignore him"
"Always do" replied Donatello, smiling to himself.
"I really think now it's the time to tell Leo" she sounded serious "You can't do this alone"
"I agree. And I have a part B to my plan"
Turns out the agreement was to the fact that he couldn't do it alone and not to the part where he told Leonardo.
"Mikey?" Both Casey and April were staring at him with mouths slightly open. It was early evening and at Donatello's invitation they had bobbed over to talk it through "No way" added Casey "He has the biggest mouth on the planet. You involve him say goodbye to keeping Leo in the dark" April gave him a look "Which of course is a really bad idea and as Leo is the leader he should know everything"
"Okay enough now" said April as she shook her head.
Donatello held up a hand "Look whilst I agree with you a little let me give you my reasons okay.." Casey sat himself down on one of Donatello's spinning chairs, it wasn't the most comfiest and was also far too big "Leo would put a stop to it, end of. If Mikey comes with me then I keep an eye on him, if he goes with Leo then he'll be broken down and spill everything. Leo is better with Raph who, by the way, will love this whole thing because he knows something that Leo does not"
"I don't know.." began April as she rubbed her neck, Casey grabbed her waist and pulled her down onto his knee.
"Donatello knows what he's doing babe, it will be okay. He's a genius. What could possibly go wrong?" He squeezed her tightly "It's what you wanted wasn't it? To find this...whatever it may be"
"Yes.." said April, but she still looked unconvinced.
"Angel cakes!" Michelangelo burst through the lab door at such a force a sheet of dust blew out from behind it. He jumped forward and snatched April from Casey's lap "Why didn't you tell me you were here?"
"Last minute thing Mikey" giggled April as he swung her around "You're making me nauseous"
"Hey turtle stop manhandling my girl" scolded Casey. Michelangelo put her down but held onto her arm until she was steady on her feet again.
"What you guys doin' in here anyways?" continued the youngest "I got Dorito's out there, none of your garden variety cheese flavour either"
"Just hanging out" answered April, she leaned up against Casey inhaling the scent of his rustic leather jacket.
Michelangelo looked at her and then at Donatello "What you up to?" his eyes narrowed "You look weird"
Donatello smiled and put a finger to his lips "All in good time brother, all in good time"
"Oooooo" squealed Michelangelo, sensing that something big was about to drop "Why not now?!"
"Why not now what?" the sound of Leonardo's cool voice made Donatello jump. He hadn't noticed him come in. Suddenly he felt all hot and awkward and he couldn't think of an answer. He began to panic.
"Oh nothing really... Mikey wants me to do that chip challenge, you know the one on social media?" began Casey calmly "I'm on shift in less than three hours so it isn't going to happen"
Michelangelo looked like he was going to say something but then the cogs appeared to kick into gear again and he went from frowning with his mouth slightly open to smiling: "He's a sissy" muttered the orange clad brother, figuring he may as well use this lying thing to his advantage and have a dig "It's only four bags. I did seven". Leonardo's mouth quirked up into a smile and he shook his head as he put a hand on Michelangelo's shell "Yes you did and you ended up in the bathroom for a long time remember" Donatello felt himself let go of a breath he hadn't even been aware he was holding "Casey is making a sensible choice" continued Leonardo "And don't think you can do it again just to get out of training".
"No..never" replied Mikey, April smiled and linked his arm "Never, ever ever ever"
Leonardo stood still and watched them walk out of the lab "Don't let him bully you"
"No sir" answered Casey, feeling relieved that he had come up that and it worked. Good job he knew about Mikey's little chip challenge. Donatello could thank him later.
The next night Donatello told Raphael and then he told Michelangelo. The orange clad brother was practically bursting with excitement. He had always wanted to become human just to see what it was like and had been so disappointed when he had lost the chance last time. Raphael was not happy to be missing out so Donatello promised him he could have a go too - just not at this particular time.
The three of them had managed to run through the plan after another brutal training session - they met in the lab whilst Leonardo was showering. They then had to run through it again with Mikey because he forgot. Eventually the youngest was tasked to remember only two things: 1. do not tell Leo and 2. do what Donatello tells you. On patrol Raphael would go with Leonardo "for a change" and Michelangelo would buddy up with Donatello. The latter two would become human, find the hybrid, return to the meeting point having changed back to turtles and Leonardo would be none the wiser.
"What you gonna do with it when you find it? If you find it" Raphael had his large arms crossed over his chest and was glaring.
"Yeah...What are we gonna do?" Michelangelo also folded his arms and looked at Donatello.
Donatello hadn't thought about that part. They couldn't bring it back because then Leonardo would know they'd been lying and would spend the next 6 months guilt tripping them all as well as making them train four times a day instead of two.
"We just want to talk that's all" answered Donatello "Nothing more"
"Hold on a sec.." announced the youngest "You said you wanted samples didn't you? You did say that yes.."
"Yes yes I said it but I'm not going to force the matter. If he, or she, wants to donate some cells I'd be happy"
Raphael leaned in closer "You're sick" he whispered shaking his head.
"No Raph, I'm a scientist"
"You're deluded" added Raphael "You may not even get a bite on that thing you call a...whatever you call it"
Michelangelo stepped forward and picked up the tracker in his hands "No Raph, that's where you're wrong. I think you'll find our Donnie has already got a nibble...right?"
Donatello simply dipped his head.
Raphael's eyes widened as he took hold of the device "No way!" he watched as it steadily flashed "I thought this light meant it was on"
"That means it's on and it's working brother. Not only that but we have a strong signal coming through from East side to my computer system here" He ran his fingers over the keys bringing up a grid map which flashed at the exact same time as the device "It's there alright and tonight is the night we go fishing"