Back in the lair, Pigeon Pete plays Space Heroes pinball while Leatherhead watches. The pigeon giggles every now and then, the only consistent noise in the otherwise silent lair. Master Splinter brings Rockwell and Slash soup, placing the steaming bowls before them while the turtles, Destiny, and Diaval watch from nearby.

"Your escape was very fortuitous," Splinter comments. "Shredder is not one easily eluded."

"Ah, we're just glad you two are okay," Raphael says.

"Are you sure? 'Cause something seems off about you two," Michelangelo comments as he hangs upside down from their tire swing.

Destiny scrutinizes the two mutants, ears twitching, and Diaval can't take his eyes off them either. Slash and Rockwell keep wincing and holding their heads, the occasional groan passing their lips. Destiny's claws unsheathe and her stomach twists into a tight knot as she takes a careful step closer to Diaval.

"Shredder didn't do anything?" she asks slowly, raising her voice enough to bring attention to herself.

"They...did do something to us," Rockwell says, his tone the same as hers. His bloodshot eyes widen. "Yes, it's all coming back now. We were being experimented upon by Shredder."

Destiny tenses even further and a shudder rolls through Diaval's body. Leonardo glances at the two of them, forehead wrinkled, but he doesn't say a word.

"Experimented on?" Donatello asks.

"He had these...strange little worm creatures, and then...and then..." Slash claps his hands over his head and shuts his eyes as a low moan cuts off his words.

"Dude, don't leave us hanging!" Michelangelo exclaims.

"Mind control," Destiny whispers, her voice quiet and fearful. "Shredder is changing his tactics."

Diaval's eyebrows knit together. "Took him a while to get it working before. Could...could be a test run."

"Did he do test runs with you?"

"Mhm..." He nods. His gaze narrows and his fingertips tingle as he focuses in on them. "'M gonna keep an eye on 'em."

Slash grunts. He blinks hard, taking a deep breath as he places his soup down. Splinter frowns and places his hands behind his back.

"Let me get you some water," he offers.

He turns away. Diaval stiffens and a low squeak leaves him just before Slash's eyes open, showing them to be pure white. Destiny's eyes widen and she lets out a bark of warning. Splinter turns around in response to Destiny's noise of alarm, but Slash roars and attacks first. His mace slams into Splinter and sends him flying with a cry of pain.

"Splinter!" Raphael shouts.

Destiny cusses under her breath and stomps her foot. "I knew it! Always trust the wolf instincts! Always!"

Slash turns and roars, his eyes still blank and white. Master Splinter groans weakly as he tries to get up. The spiked turtle moves forwards, readying his mace yet again, but Leonardo and Raphael act first.

"This can't be happening!" Leatherhead rumbles.

"How could you, Slash?" Raphael demands, straining as he pushes his sais against his friend's weapon.

"Splinter...must be...destroyed!" Slash shouts, his tone robotic.

"You'll never hurt Sensei again!" Leonardo hisses.

The two brothers lunge, acting together to push the turtle back. Destiny and Diaval race to Splinter's side while Slash is distracted. Destiny touches Splinter's shoulder lightly as she kneels next to him.

"Sensei? Sensei, how many fingers am I holding up?" she asks, holding up four fingers.

The rat lets out a soft groan again, not yet opening his eyes. Diaval glances over his shoulder to see that Michelangelo and Raphael are just managing to keep Slash at bay. Leonardo and Donatello hurry towards their fallen father but, out of nowhere, Rockwell's eyes go white and he lifts the turtles away from him, making them shout and struggle.

"Rockwell's gone crazy too!" Donatello exclaims.

The chimp throws them into Leatherhead and Pigeon Pete and Diaval yanks Destiny away from Splinter as Rockwell telepathically throws various items at them.

"Des, gotta go," he utters.

"You look out for Sensei. I need to find an opening," she retorts. She gets up and hurries away, leaving Diaval to crawl back to Splinter.

Slash pins Michelangelo beneath his foot and reaches down to grip the turtle's head. "AH! A little help, Raph!" Michelangelo screams.

Raphael heeds the call only to be knocked back when Slash throws Michelangelo into him. Leatherhead intervenes, tackling Slash out of the way. The two reptiles roar and turn on one another, Slash's mace swinging and hitting the gator over and over. Leatherhead punches Slash in the jaw and sends him flying back, then roars as he leaps forwards and pins him down.

"Don't make me hurt you, Slash," Leatherhead growls.

"Don't make me laugh, monster," Slash mocks. He writhes and bites down on the alligator's arm.

Leatherhead roars and Slash knocks him back. Destiny morphs into her wolf form and launches herself at him, a snarl ripping from her throat, and just as she's about to knock Slash down, he turns and smashes his mace right into her furry face. She lets out a pained whimper as she collapses to the ground, her head spinning. She tries to get back up, but Slash hits her again, making her crumple back to the floor.

"Des!" Leonardo shouts.

He tries to get to her, but Rockwell's psychic abilities reappear and pull him back. Leatherhead attacks Slash again, pulling the giant turtle back from Destiny. Destiny returns to her human form, her face and arms scratched and bleeding from the hits. Diaval abandons Splinter and retreats to her side, searching for any sign that she's still awake, but she's unresponsive. 

"I don't know what's come over you, Doc, but snap out of it!" Pigeon Pete cries, flapping wildly at the chimp's face.

Rockwell flings the pigeon into the pinball machine and the psychic hold on Leonardo weakens just enough for him to break away and join Diaval at Destiny's side. 

"Des! Destiny!" he shouts, gripping her bruised face in his hands and shaking lightly. "Des, come on!"

"She's out. Just gotta keep her safe now," Diaval mutters. "Could...hide her?"

Leonardo nods and reaches down to pick her up, but the psychic hold grasps both him and Diaval and yanks them away. They're flung all the way across the room.

"Rockwell, why are you doing this?" Leonardo demands as he gets back up. "Stop!"

"It is the will of the master," Rockwell responds mechanically, levitating numerous objects at once.

"He's mind-controlled!" Donatello shouts. "Isn't that obvious already?!"

Rockwell sends the items flying into each of the teens, Leatherhead, and Pigeon Pete. As soon as they're down, Rockwell lowers himself to the ground and Slash joins him. Diaval stumbles to his feet and flings his hands out at them, mustering every bit of magic he can.

Slash falters slightly and Rockwell stiffens, but Diaval can feel that the connection is far too weak. Their desires are far too similar, far too obtainable, and completely warped. The threads snap and Diaval crumples to his knees, hunched over, his back shuddering with weak breaths.

Undeterred, the controlled mutants scan their supposed foes.

"Shredder desires test subjects" Slash says, looking to Destiny. "The wolf is of particular interest."

He moves towards her, picking her up and throwing her limp body over his shoulder. Raphael emerges from his pile of discarded items, teeth gritted and bright green eyes blazing with fury.

"I volunteer to go kick his butt right after I kick yours," he growls. "Stay away from her."

He shouts and races towards them, but Slash throws a knockout bomb. The white smoke explodes across Raphael's face, making the turtle cough and slow down before collapsing into a heap. Rockwell levitates him as Slash adjusts his grip on Destiny.

"Rockwell, fall back!" he orders.

The mutants disappear into Donatello's lab, bolting the door as the turtles and their remaining allies get to their feet. Leonardo is the first to reach the lab, tugging at the locked door.

"Raph! Destiny!" he shouts desperately, tugging at the handles with all his might.

Leatherhead roars and rams against it, managing to make it budge only a little. The others arrive to help while Michelangelo kneels next to Master Splinter as the rat starts to get up.

"Sensei, me and Donnie will stay with you," he offers.

"I will survive," Splinter says weakly. "You must save your brother and sister. Go!"

"We need this door open now!" Leonardo shouts from behind them.

Michelangelo looks to his remaining family, then at Splinter. He nods once and gets up, dashing over to the lab doors. Leatherhead lets out one more roar and smashes the door in, allowing them entrance just in time to see Slash and Rockwell pull away in the Party Wagon. The mutants dash out into the abandoned subway tunnels, horrified.

"They stole the Party Wagon!" Michelangelo exclaims.

"The ShellRaiser's fully operational. Let's go!" Donatello says.

They head for the ShellRaiser as Diaval stumbles to the lab doors. He has his bow in his hand and quiver slung over his shoulder, despite how he still looks like he's about to pass out.

"'m coming too," he breathes.

Donatello stops at the ShellRaiser doors, arching an eye-ridge. "Diaval, you need rest. You nearly passed out just now."

Diaval gets to the door and looks down at the turtle. "Done resting," he says before squeezing by and disappearing inside.