The TV flickered in the dim light of the lair, casting neon colors across the turtles sprawled on the couch. An over-the-top sci-fi show blared from the screen, complete with robotic voices and dramatic explosions.

"Oh, no! Super bad times for all!" cried a blue-skinned alien on the screen.

"Does great danger arrive? Where?" a second character asked.

"Kill-beast-bots from planet seven," the third character declared, his mechanical voice stiff. "They are here with steely resolve! Captain Coolstar, what are we going to do?"

The turtle siblings watched in varying degrees of amusement and horror as the animated space warriors struck exaggerated poses.

Raph scowled, arms crossed. "What the heck is this nonsense? It's terrible!"

Mikey, on the other hand, grinned like he'd uncovered a hidden treasure. "Terribly awesome! I found these old tapes in a dumpster."

Leo raised a brow. "Tapes?"

Mikey nodded eagerly, waving the plastic cassette in his hand. "Check it out."

Leo sighed as he watched the clunky animation. "Dude, this is awful. And you guys complained about Space Heroes."

"Their lips don't even match what they're saying!" Raph shook his head. "I could never watch a show this bad."

Mari, who had been sitting on the floor with her arms crossed, scoffed. "You guys are actually watching this?"

"You're watching it too!" Cat pointed out, curled up in her blanket on the couch. Unlike Mari, she was completely hooked, eyes wide as she shoved popcorn into her mouth. "And it's good!"

Mari rolled her eyes. "That is debatable."

But later, when the episode continued, Raph sat right in front of the screen, his arms resting on his knees.

"There are too many of them, Captain!" the princess cried.

Raph smirked. "So she's the princess of an entire planet? Cool."

Mikey leaned in, his excitement undeterred. "Yep! And she also pilots the robot's left leg. She rules! But that scientist dude made the robot."

Donnie, previously uninterested, now looked slightly intrigued. "The story has such an intricate, layered plot. Four stars!"

The scientist character on the screen, Blip, stammered nervously. "P-p-princess, I'd like to invite you for space dinner if you please, yes?"

The princess scoffed. "What? Date a weakling like you? Not for 10,000 zarkon crystals!"

The characters on-screen burst into laughter.

Mikey cackled. "Donnie, that is so you and April, dude!"

Donnie's entire face twitched. "It is not!" He huffed and stood up. "Meh, this show is lame anyway. The plot makes zero sense!"

"You just don't like it because it's too real," Cat teased, nudging him with her foot.

"I'm leaving," Donnie announced dramatically, storming off toward the lab.

Mari smirked. "Aw, is the nerd mad?"

"You guys are insufferable," Donnie called back, disappearing into the hallway.

"More for us!" Mikey cheered, shoving a handful of popcorn into his mouth.

Cat giggled, hugging her blanket tighter as the next scene played. "Best show ever."

The city skyline stretched above as Mikey skated along the rooftops, the cool night air rushing past him. His wheels scraped against the concrete, his momentum sending him soaring over a small gap between buildings.

"Bo-bo-bo-booyakasha!" He cheered, reveling in the freedom of the moment.

Behind him, Cat followed on foot, hopping effortlessly across the rooftops. "Booyakasha!" she echoed with a grin, mimicking his energy.

A pizza box sat unattended near the edge of the rooftop.

His stomach growled.

He skidded to a stop, stepping off his board. "Hello? This slice belong to anyone, huh?" He waited for an answer. Nothing. His grin widened. "Ha. Then it's all mine!"

Cat tilted her head. "Mikey, maybe don't eat random—"

WHAM!

Something slammed into Mikey out of nowhere, sending him sprawling onto his shell.

"Ow!" Mikey groaned, shaking his head. "What the heck was that?!"

A shadow loomed over him.

Leo.

"That," Leo said, arms crossed, "was a stealth attack. And that's what we're practicing in today's training session."

Cat snorted. "Nice."

Mikey sat up, pouting. "No fair! I couldn't even see you coming!"

"That's why they call it 'stealth,' genius," Raph said, rolling his eyes.

Donnie sighed, adjusting his goggles. "Also, why would you eat random pizza you found on a roof?"

"Roof pizza is, like, one of my ten favorite kinds of pizza!" Mikey declared, as if that somehow justified it.

"Ew," Mari muttered. "You eat worse things, but still. Ew."

Leo ignored them, stepping forward. "Alright, listen up. The two keys to stealth: misdirection and camouflage. Got it?" His eyes flicked between them. "Raph and Mikey, you guys are up."

Mikey frowned. "Ehh, I don't wanna do this anymore. Do you, Raph?"

Silence.

Mikey turned—only to realize everyone was gone.

"What the—?"

Before he could process what happened, a pair of strong hands yanked his belt from behind.

"Shell wedgie!"

Mikey screamed as Raph hoisted him off the ground, dangling him mid-air.

"Ow! Ugh! No fair!" Mikey squirmed, kicking his legs. "Stealth attacks are lame!"

Raph just smirked, holding him higher. "Not when you're the one doing 'em."

The lab was a disaster.

Donnie stood in the middle of the wreckage, staring at the gaping hole in the wall. Metalhead beeped beside him, scanning the damage.

"Yep," Donnie muttered, arms crossed. "It's a mess, Metalhead."

Footsteps echoed from the entrance as Leo, Raph, Mikey, Mari, and Cat rushed in, eyes widening at the destruction.

"What happened?" Leo demanded. "Are you guys okay?"

Mari whistled lowly, arms crossed. "Damn. You really let the place go, huh?"

"This is bad..." Cat whispered, looking around with wide eyes.

Donnie exhaled sharply, turning to them. "Timothy somehow escaped, and I think he went after April."

That was all Leo needed to hear. "Come on, you can fill us in on the way."

They moved fast, heading straight for the surface.

As they ran, Donnie spoke quickly, guilt laced in every word. "I didn't realize it at the time, but I think all of my—uh—April talk made Timothy go after her!"

Raph shot him a look. "You told your thoughts and feelings to a pile of guts in a jar?"

Mari wrinkled her nose. "Okay, even for you, that's kinda pathetic."

Donnie scowled. "He's a good listener!"

"Clearly not," Mari quipped.

"This is so bad!" Cat fretted. "What if he actually hurts her?"

Leo cut in, keeping them on track. "How dangerous is he?"

Donnie hesitated before answering. "Well... he obviously doesn't know his own strength! He could end up hurting her."

Leo's jaw tightened. "Her T-Phone's still off. We don't have a way to trace her."

"Actually," Donnie said, adjusting his goggles, "she might be at the park."

The group stopped in their tracks.

Mari narrowed her eyes. "Might be?"

Raph folded his arms. "And you know this how?"

Donnie shifted awkwardly. "She, uh... might be on a date."

Silence.

"A DATE?!" Cat shrieked, scandalized.

Mari frowned. "And you know this... how?"

Donnie avoided eye contact. "Um... maybe I was... following her."

More silence.

Mikey tilted his head. "Well, that's not creeptastic at all."

Mari let out a low chuckle. "Wow. That is so sad, Don. I almost feel bad for you. Almost."

Cat, still processing, gasped. "Wait, with who?!"

"Not the time, Cat," Leo muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. He exhaled sharply before dividing the team. "Alright. They're either at the park, or April's headed home. We don't have time to waste. Donnie, Mari, and I will take the park. Raph, Mikey, Cat—you three head to April's."

"On it!" Raph and Mikey responded in unison, already sprinting in the opposite direction.

Cat hesitated for a split second before chasing after them. "Wait, we're not gonna talk about this?!"

The roar of a motorcycle engine cut through the chaos.

Casey pedaled with everything he had, gripping the handlebars as April clung to his back.

"How fast can you pedal?" April asked, voice tight with urgency.

Behind them, the grotesque, oozing mass of Mutagen Man thundered after them, his mechanical limbs slamming against the pavement.

"No! Stop! April will come back!"

April's grip tightened on Casey's shoulders. "For a big guy—thing—he's fast!"

Casey smirked, yanking the bike handles. "Let's see him outrun this!"

With a grunt, he grabbed the remains of a fallen metal bar and hurled it behind them. The bar clattered against Mutagen Man's tank, sending him stumbling backward—just in time for an oncoming truck to smash into him.

The creature went flying.

Casey skidded to a stop, pumping a fist. "Yes! We did it!"

But April didn't look convinced. "Casey—"

A gurgling roar sounded behind them.

"April, wait! Be good, friend!"

A blur of orange shot past.

"Not so fast, barrel full of ug-lay!" Mikey quipped, nunchucks spinning as he and Raph landed in front of the creature.

Raph narrowed his eyes. "Donnie was right. Pulverizer's been drinking mutagen. You're not going anywhere, pal."

Cat landed beside them, gripping her tessen tightly. "Ohhh, this is so bad—"

Mutagen Man twitched. "No! Must find April."

Mikey hesitated, taking in the twisted form. "Dude... What happened to you? You turned into some kinda—Mutagen Man!"

A furious roar shook the alley as Mutagen Man slammed his arms onto the pavement, sending a tremor through the street.

Mikey yelped as the force sent him flying—right into an open dumpster. "Nooo, my greatest weakness—trash!"

"Move!" Cat yelped, leaping out of the way just as a trash can toppled over, pinning Raph.

"Mikey! Let me go!" Raph growled, struggling beneath the weight.

Mutagen Man loomed over him. "Good-bye, tur-tllle."

Cat's breath caught in her throat. "RAPH—!"

A flash of steel.

Leo's katana sliced through the air, severing one of Mutagen Man's mechanical limbs. The limb sizzled, dissolving into acid as it hit the pavement.

Leo landed between them, blades raised. "Let them go!"

Mari landed beside him, her tanto drawn. "Of course, you idiots found a way to get yourselves almost killed while we were gone."

Donnie was already at Mikey's side, yanking him out of the dumpster.

"Thanks, dude," Mikey groaned.

Mari turned her attention to Raph, rolling her eyes. "Really, Raph? A garbage can?"

Raph shoved the bin off of himself with a scowl. "Oh, shut up, Mari."

Before Leo could press the attack, Donnie jumped in front of him. "No! Don't hurt him!"

Raph gaped at him. "What?! That thing just tried to melt my face!"

Donnie didn't budge. "All he wants to do is make April our friend again!"

Mutagen Man twitched violently, his voice warping. "No! April not turtle friend. April only my friend!"

Donnie froze, blinking. "Wait, what? I thought you were trying to get April back for me!" He quickly corrected himself. "Uh—I mean, us."

Mutagen Man's tank sloshed, his voice turning guttural. "Turtles hurt April! Hurt me! Must—de-stroy—TURTLES!"

Leo's stance tensed.

Mari gripped her tanto tighter. "Okay, yeah, I'm gonna stab it now."

The turtles braced for another attack—

But then, Mutagen Man shuddered violently.

Cat barely had time to register what was happening before a sickly hiss escaped from his tank. The last remnants of glowing ooze drained from his system.

"Powering... down..."

With a mechanical wheeze, his body slumped to the ground.

The alley fell into silence.

Leo lowered his weapons. "What just happened?"

Donnie's eyes widened as he crouched beside the collapsed creature. "He ran out of mutagen! We need to move fast before he starts leaking again!"

Leo nodded sharply. "Quick—let's get him into the Shellraiser!"

Cat hesitated before moving to help, heart still racing. "Please tell me we're not bringing that thing back home..."

Mikey clapped a hand on her shoulder. "Oh, we totally are."

The Shellraiser rumbled through the underground tunnels, its usual smooth ride interrupted by the tension crackling in the air.

Raph sat with his arms crossed, scowling at the slumped form of Mutagen Man strapped down in the back. "Remind me why we're bringing Mr. Personality here back to the lair?"

Mari sat beside him, arms folded, her expression unreadable. "Yeah, I second that. What part of 'melting our faces off' screams 'let's take it home' to you?"

Donnie shot them both a glare from the front seat. "What he did isn't his fault, alright? It's mine."

Cat, sitting across from him, winced. "I mean... kinda seems like his fault a little."

Mikey tilted his head. "Uh, pretty sure he's the one who went on a rampage."

Donnie groaned. "He was lonely! All my April talk made him want a friend. But more importantly, Timothy's DNA could be the key to retro-mutagen."

Leo glanced at him through the rearview mirror. "You think you can cure April's dad?"

"And him," Donnie added, adjusting his scanner. "If I can analyze his mutation, I might be able to reverse it—"

A low gurgle cut him off.

Mutagen Man twitched.

Cat flinched. "Ohhh, I hate that noise."

Mari narrowed her eyes. "Why is it twitching? Make it stop."

His mouth flexed—then suddenly, a mechanical appendage snapped out, grabbing a small canister from his tank and sucking it in.

Donnie's stomach dropped. "Oh, no."

The Shellraiser lurched violently to one side.

"Hold on!" Leo yelled, struggling to keep the vehicle steady.

"What's happening?!" Mikey yelped, grabbing onto the seat for dear life.

Raph grabbed the railing, teeth gritted. "Oh, great! I knew this was a bad idea!"

Before anyone could react, Mutagen Man burst free from his restraints, launching himself toward the doors.

"APRIL!"

With a single powerful leap, he crashed through the side hatch, escaping into the tunnel.

The Shellraiser spun out, tires screeching. Leo slammed the brakes just in time to avoid flipping over.

Silence.

Then—

"I thought he was out cold!" Raph snapped, leaping out of the vehicle.

Mari groaned, rubbing her temples. "You had one job, Donnie."

Leo gritted his teeth. "We split up and find him."

But Donnie was already scanning the area, his voice grim. "There's no need to split up."

The screen on his gauntlet beeped.

He turned to the others, eyes dark with realization.

"We know where he's headed."

The dim glow of streetlights flickered above as April and Casey strolled down the sidewalk, their conversation light despite the eerie quiet of the city at night.

Casey glanced around, his grip tightening on his hockey stick. "Hmm. No sign of any hideous organ monsters. So, do all of your 'study sessions' go like this?"

April sighed. "You have no idea."

Casey smirked. "So when's our next date? You can tell me all about that crazy metal fan you're carrying."

April arched a brow. "'Date'? Don't get ahead of yourself there, Jones."

Unbeknownst to them, a shadow lurked at the corner of the alley.

A grotesque form peeked out, translucent organs shifting in a grotesque dance beneath its glass-like surface.

Mutagen Man gurgled, his distorted voice echoing lowly. "April... I'm coming for—"

Before he could finish, a blur of motion cut him off.

"Where do you think you're going, handsome?" Raph sneered, blocking his path with his sai twirling. "April's house?"

Cat landed beside him, gripping her tessen. "Yeah, big guy, you really don't wanna do that."

"Keep him in the alley!" Leo ordered. "We can't let April's boyfriend see us!"

At the word boyfriend, Donnie's frown deepened.

Mari rolled her eyes. "Oh great. This just got ten times worse."

Mutagen Man let out an enraged growl. "Leave Mutagen Man alone!"

He slammed his massive fists into the ground, sending tremors through the alley.

Mari tensed at the vibration under her feet. "Oh yeah. This is gonna be fun."

Meanwhile, April hesitated mid-step. "Wait! Hold on!"

Casey raised an eyebrow. "I knew it. Something you wanna say to me, Red?"

April forced a quick smile. "Yeah. Um... You don't wanna go down this way because, uh... toxic fumes! Super dangerous! You should take this side street instead. Gets you home faster!"

Casey eyed her suspiciously before shrugging. "Whatever you say, O'Neil. Later."

As soon as he turned the corner, April let out a quiet breath and looked toward the alley—just in time to see the turtles, Mari, and Cat locked in battle with the grotesque creature.

She stiffened. "I knew they had something to do with this."

She clenched her fists, taking a slow step back. "Just keep walking, April. It's not your problem."

Back in the alley, the fight raged on.

Mikey yelped, narrowly dodging a slimy, acidic hand reaching for him. "Ew, man-hands!"

Cat darted forward, tessen snapping open in a blur of silver. "Seriously, what is that?!"

Leo lunged in, but Mutagen Man swung wildly, knocking him back into a pile of crates.

"Try not to hurt him!" Donnie called out, blocking another strike with his bo staff. "Lead him away from the street!"

"A little tough when he's swinging acid hands at me!" Raph growled, dodging as Mutagen Man hurled a car at them.

Mari's eyes widened. "Oh hell no." She barely managed to shove Cat out of the way before the vehicle crashed down inches from them, sending debris flying.

Cat hit the ground hard and gasped. "That was—so much closer than I'd like."

"Booyakasha!" Mikey yelled—before getting snagged mid-air by one of Mutagen Man's tendrils.

"Mikey!" Leo tried to slice the tendrils, but another wrapped around his waist, yanking him off his feet.

Mari and Cat exchanged a glance.

"I hate this thing," Mari muttered.

"I really hate this thing," Cat echoed.

Without hesitation, they rushed forward.

Mari struck first, her tanto slashing at the tendrils trapping Leo. With a precise strike, she cut through one, freeing him.

Meanwhile, Cat twisted around Mutagen Man, flipping her tessen closed and jabbing the blunt edge against his glassy side. "Let. Them. Go."

Mutagen Man barely reacted—except to shift his grotesque form toward her.

"April... is mine!"

Cat's stomach twisted. "Oh, that is so messed up."

Donnie gritted his teeth. "Not if I can help it!"

With a powerful strike of his bo staff, he slammed Mutagen Man's tendril, forcing him to release Leo, Raph, and Mikey.

Mutagen Man roared in frustration. "Destroy you all!"

Leo picked himself up, blades at the ready. "Donnie, we have no choice. Whatever Pulverizer—whatever Timothy was... he's gone now."

Donnie clenched his jaw. "But if we destroy him, I might never find a retro-mutagen!" His voice wavered. "What about April's dad?"

Raph spat blood from his mouth, eyes narrowing. "What about April?"

Donnie faltered.

Leo's gaze softened slightly. "We need to distract him. Misdirection and camouflage."

Without another word, the group vanished into the shadows.

Mutagen Man snarled, his grotesque form shifting. "Tur-tles gone?"

He lurched forward, scanning the alley—only to be met with flashes of movement.

Raph struck first.

"Over here, Mutagen Man!"

Leo darted in from the opposite side. "No, over here!"

Mikey flipped from a ledge. "Nope! Right here, buddy!"

Mari added in a deadpan tone, "Or maybe over here."

Cat waved her hands. "You're gonna have to pick, dude."

As the monster swung wildly, Donnie made his move.

From the Shellraiser, he pulled a vial of experimental mutagen mixed with a stabilizing agent. He held it up. "Hey, Timothy! Mutagen!"

Mutagen Man froze. His body quivered. "M-ore muta-gen..."

Donnie took a slow step back, leading him away from the others. "That's right. Come closer."

Mutagen Man lunged—

And the moment he did, Donnie stumbled.

"Whoa!"

The canister slipped from his hands.

It hit the ground.

Cracked.

Spilled.

"No! Don't drink it, Timothy!"

But it was too late.

Mutagen Man absorbed the substance in an instant.

And then—

He froze.

His grotesque, shifting organs slowed. His body solidified, a thick layer of frost creeping over the glass of his containment.

His distorted voice crackled, slowing to a broken whisper.

"Don-nie...? Some-thing's wro-nggg..."

His form became still.

Frozen in place.

Silence.

The team stood there, catching their breath, watching as Mutagen Man remained trapped in his frozen state.

Mikey swallowed. "Oh, man... Not again."

Donnie stepped forward, placing a hand on the cold surface of Mutagen Man's containment.

"I'm sorry, Timothy." His voice was barely above a whisper.

Leo exhaled, trying to break the heavy silence. "That was an awesome move, Donnie. Real scientific."

Donnie didn't respond.

He kept his hand on the frozen glass.

"Yeah," he murmured. "Real scientific."

Raph placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Donnie. You did what you had to do. Let's just go home."

Mari sighed, running a hand through her hair. "That was so exhausting."

Cat was still hugging herself, staring at Mutagen Man warily. "I really don't like that thing."

Mikey draped an arm around her shoulders. "No one does, KitKat."

Donnie didn't move for a moment.

Then, slowly, he nodded.

"One day," he whispered. "I'll find a cure."

And with that, the team turned toward the Shellraiser.

The battle was over. But for Donnie, it didn't feel like a victory.

The lair buzzed with energy as the turtles celebrated their victory.

"Yeah! Right on! That was so rad!" Mikey cheered, pumping his fists in the air.

Cat, still shaken from the encounter but determined to move on, threw her arms up as well. "I mean, technically, that was rad."

Mari scoffed. "More like stressful."

Raph smirked, leaning back against the couch. "I'll admit, Donnie—freezing that guy solid? Pretty genius."

"You really think he'll stay that way?" Leo asked, arms crossed.

Donnie, who had been silent up until now, sighed. "I don't know." His voice lacked the usual confidence. "But at least for now, he's not a threat."

The others exchanged glances before nodding.

Splinter entered the room, his presence immediately commanding their attention. His wise gaze landed on Donnie, seeing the conflict still weighing on his shoulders. "How are you, my son?"

Donnie startled slightly. "Sensei—" He hesitated before exhaling. "I created a monster. Who could've... squashed the girl I'm totally into. How do you think I feel?" His shoulders slumped. "I'll probably never see her again."

Cat, still curled up in the corner of the couch, frowned. "She has to come back eventually, right?" Her voice was quiet. "She will, won't she?"

Mari, standing near the doorway with her arms crossed, didn't say anything. But even she looked a little unsure.

Splinter studied Donnie carefully before speaking, his voice calm but firm. "April's decision to stay away is her own choice. We must let her come back in her own time."

Donnie frowned. "Yeah, but what if she never does?"

Splinter placed a hand on Donnie's shoulder. "Never lose hope, Donatello."

The words lingered.

Donnie stared at the floor for a long moment. Then, absentmindedly, his eyes flickered to the old show playing on the television.

On the screen, Super Robo Mecha Force Five played out its dramatic conclusion.

Zee gasped dramatically. "Oh, Dr. Blip! You saved me with all of your might and brave intelligence! How I adore this!"

She threw herself at the awkward scientist character, kissing him in a flurry of over-the-top animation.

Cat immediately perked up. "Awww, that's so cute!"

Donnie blinked.

Then, despite himself—despite everything that had happened that night—he found himself smiling just a little.

"Yeah," he murmured, watching the screen. "There's always hope."