It took all of Brianna's efforts not to pace back and forth. Hours ago, Aiden and Tyler went out to see if they could find Shelby and administer the beta mind serum. Bri needed them to succeed. Her father needed them to succeed.

Brianna's dad was also nervous, although he made far less of an effort to hide it. He fluttered back and forth, fixing the position of equipment and tidying up his lab. Granted, the lab was quite messy- but truly Baxter was just trying to keep his mind busy, waiting for news of the mission.

Brianna stared at her father, a frown tugging at her lips. He was such a good man- how did they end up like this?

Bri was very young when her parents split up. Brianna's mother, Ariel, couldn't stand Baxter's erratic behavior. The grudges, the scheming, the need to always get back at those he felt had wronged him- it wasn't just a mental strain on the relationship, but a financial one as well. Money that should have gone to groceries and bills went towards Baxter's inventions, none of which really saw fruition and all of which made them no type of income. Ariel broke off the marriage in an attempt to save her and Brianna from falling down the rabbit hole with Baxter, but it wasn't successful- the stress of their relationship left Ariel with an alcohol addiction that only got worse once she was on her own.

Brianna carried terrible guilt about the whole situation. Despite being young when her parents divorced, she remembered crying because she did not want to leave her father. She remembered her mother crying a lot as well. There was lots of mornings where Bri was sent to school hungry. Embarrassment when her friends' moms started sending them with extra lunches for Brianna. Anger and shame as her mother's addiction got worse and worse over the years. Bri didn't understand why her mother had left Baxter if she needed him to keep her loneliness at bay. And as Brianna got older, she felt slighted- was her company not enough for her mother?

Almost a year ago, Brianna's life took another turn. Ariel's drinking habits had cost her her job, and soon there was no money to pay rent on the apartment. For the first time in years, Ariel reached out to Baxter, asking him to please take Brianna in while Ariel got her life back in order.

Brianna watched her father fly back and forth across the room, her mother's face flashing in her head. Even though she held some resentment towards her mother, Bri missed her terribly. She hadn't contacted Bri since leaving her with Baxter- whether that was a good or bad thing, Brianna wasn't sure. As her eyes followed her father, she wondered what her mother would think of the situation they found themselves in. While Ariel was on her own, trying to get sober and get back some stability, her ex-husband had become a fly-mutant and scientist for a ancient Japanese ninja clan working in the shadows of New York City. And Brianna was now complicit and an active participant in all of it.

Finally, Brianna heard footsteps approaching the laboratory. Her father stopped flying around and she stood stiff as a board as Tyler entered, holding the door open for the Shredder, followed by Aiden.

"I'm pleased to inform you that the mission to administer the mind serum was a success." The Shredder's voice rumbled beneath his helm. Brianna sucked in a deep breath, a small smile gracing her lips. Success and relief. "As I stated, Aiden will be injected with the alpha serum to control Shelby. Once we're sure of his success, we will finish shipping out the rest of the alphas to their determined headquarters."

Bri nodded, taking in the information. Most of the alphas, including the twin's father, had already been sent out to their new dojos. Karai was sent out to Washington, DC, Charleston to Philadelphia, Tiger Claw to Boston, Chris to Baltimore, Xever to Virginia Beach, Christian to Newark, Nick to Providence, and River to Burlington. Tyler and Brianna were being sent to Manchester and Bridgeport, respectively, but they were needed for this mission first.

Well, Brianna wasn't really needed, but staying to see the mission through was her reward for helping solve the mind serum dilemma. 

"Stockman," the Shredder called. Brianna stomach flipped before she realized he was addressing her father, not her, "administer the serum."

"Yes-zz-s, master." Baxter stated, grabbing the syringe and quickly cleaning the area on Aiden's shoulder, before injecting the serum. "It may take a moment to connect. I suggest a non-distracting environment."

"Very well. Update me as soon as there's a connection." The Shredder stated before leaving the room. 

Baxter looked at Brianna expectantly, but she shook her head. "Ehh, I guess-zz-s I'll leave you alone for a minute. But he needs-zz-s to concentrate." Baxter warned as he hovered towards the door.

"Thanks, dad. I won't be long." Brianna smiled. As soon as Baxter left the room, the twins exploded.

"I can't believe you!" Tyler snapped, glaring daggers at his brother. "What you're doing is a whole other level of WRONG. She's our sister!"

"She's a traitor!" Aiden yelled. "I'm bringing her back to us the only way I can."

"You wanna know why she won't come back? Because dad was a abuser!" Tyler continued. "He abused mom, he abused Shelby, and he left us for dead in Detroit."

Aiden eyebrows furrowed. "Where the hell did you hear that?"

"Shelby told me."

"Pfft, she could be lying to get sympathy." Aiden scoffed.

"She's not." Brianna stated. Both the boys' eyes landed on her. "Before she was mutated, Shelby told me that when we were bringing her up to the lab."

Aiden raised a brow. "And you believe her?"

"Yeah, I do. What's the point in lying if you have nothing to lose? It completely explains her otherwise inexplicable hatred for your father and why being around him drove her to escape to the enemy." Brianna stated, rocking back and forth on her feet slightly. "I'm sorry I never said anything sooner. There's never a good time to reveal something like that."

The trio stood in silence. The only thing that was audible was their breath passing in and out of their mouths and noses. After a few moments, Brianna looked up at Aiden to realize he was staring wide-eyed at something far in the distance. "I'm connected." He muttered. His fists flexed and his face twitched. "I- I can't actually see or hear anything but... it's like I've hacked her brain. I can sense her surroundings." He slowly blinked, as if he was scared that the connection would be lost if he did so.

Tyler looked away while Brianna bounced slightly on her toes. "What are you going to do?"

Aiden hesitated. "I should probably ask the Shredder what my first move should be. She's with the turtles- they're right there, she can take them out now. But I'd hate to reveal this too soon. He may want her to just come back to headquarters."

"You're right. Let's go find him right now." 

Brianna and Aiden made their way to the door of the laboratory, before they realized they were alone. They turned to look back at Tyler. "You coming?" Aiden asked.

Tyler was leaning against a counter, arms crossed over his chest was he stared at his feet. Looking down, his hair covered his eyes. But when he glared up at Aiden, Bri could see how red and wet his eyes were from crying. "I want no part of this anymore." He said through gritted teeth. "Get away from me before I give you another trophy on your face."

Bri flinched at the harshness of the comment as Aiden scoffed. "Whatever, Tyler. Go pout in your room or something." He growled before pushing his way out of the lab. Brianna followed. 

"He's so emotional sometimes." Aiden muttered.

"I think he really just misses Shelby." Bri stated.

"Well, I'm trying to bring her back and he's acting like I'm some monster!" Aiden exclaimed.

Brianna pursed her lips. "I think Tyler knows that the Shelby that's about to come back to us is not the same Shelby that left Detroit with you guys."

Aiden huffed. "That Shelby disappeared a long time ago."

Bri nodded. "I know that."

Aiden sighed, running his hand through his hair as they made their way to the throne room. "So, leaving for Bridgeport, eh?"

"Yep, I head out tomorrow." Brianna nodded.

Aiden nodded slowly. "How far away is Bridgeport?"

Brianna shrugged. "A little over an hour."

"Wow. That's... unfortunate." Aiden muttered.

Brianna looked at him with a raised brow. "Why's that?"

Aiden's eyes flinted away. "I- I guess because I'll miss having you around."

Brianna smiled. "That's sweet. Why don't you just come with me?"

Aiden looked at her in surprise. "What?"

"Well, the Shredder never said you had to stay in New York with him- plus it might be a good idea to have Shelby moved somewhere where the turtles can't find her- you know, in case Master Shredder wants to play the long game." Brianna rambled.

Aiden smiled slightly. "You really want a hot head like me around? My own family can't stand me."

Brianna let out a short laugh. "Your bark is worse than your bite, Bradford."

With that, they arrived at the throne room and pushed the door open together. The Shredder sat alone in the room, his one good eye locked on them as the pair approached and knelt beneath the throne.

"Master Shredder, the connection has been made. What will you have me do?"

The Shredder's eyes squinted slightly from under his helm, as if a smile was forcing his cheeks up into his eyes. "You will have Shelby attack the Hamato Clan immediately. Kill the turtles if you can but do not kill Hamato Yoshi. His life belongs to me."