Chapter 36: Search
"The Kraang? They're back?"
Everyone stands in the living room of the lair, a varying range of emotions being shown throughout; shock, terror, disbelief, misery.
Dakota and Asher sit on either side of Donatello, gently rubbing his shell and trying to calm him down. The purple-masked turtle remains hunched over, head in his hands.
"Well, we don't know about that," Dakota says in response to Leonardo's question. "But, we do know that a Kraang ship just beamed mom up into who knows where and we have to help her!"
Raphael crosses his arms, his glare vengeful. "I've had enough of those robot happy meals..." he mutters.
Michelangelo giggles. "Happy meals.."
Annalise elbows her husband sharply. "Not the time."
"So, what's the plan?" Destiny asks, her eyes flitting to each of her family members. "You were right underneath TCRI when it happened, right? They probably took her there!"
Leo doesn't respond, his steely gaze focused on some point in the distance as he thinks it over.
"Why do the Kraang want Sarina anyways? Why now?" Taylor points out. "I'm sure they could've found someone else to perform experiments on if they need."
Donnie lets out a pained wail at the thought, making both his children shoot their aunt glares. She smiles apologetically.
"Either way, she's gone and we need a plan," Dean cuts in, crossing his arms over his chest. "I say we split up into teams, find traces, and then get Auntie Sarina back."
Leo nods once, looking to his son. "That's a good plan, especially since we've got more people who can cover more ground." He purses his lips a little as he sighs. "We'll have to hurry. The longer we wait, the longer Sarina is subject to the Kraang's plans."
Copeland bounces a little in place, unleashing her chigiriki as she grins deviously.
"I haven't used this on a Kraang yet, but I so want to," she says almost too happily.
"What are the teams?" Venus asks softly, her eyes big and curious.
Leo looks to Dean, his face dead serious. "You take your team and split the patrols. That's Copeland, Asher and Dakota, Mitch, and Venus, two teams. You decide."
Dean salutes. "Yes sir, Captain."
Leo looks to Destiny. "Des, you take Taylor and Annalise. I'll take Raph, Donnie, and Mikey."
"Aw yeah! The team's back together bros!" Mikey whoops. "This is gonna be suh-weet!"
"Ninjas, move out."
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"Copeland, you lead team two. Take Venus and Asher," Dean orders as the gang of teens makes it to the surface.
Copeland grins and nods. "Gladly."
"I'll take Dakota and Mitch. If anything happens, phone. We'll come."
Venus readies her hamadashi blade, looking slightly nervous through her excitement. The young turtle isn't nearly as skilled as her siblings, but she's still willing to try. Still, a sense of unease settles over Dean as he looks to his younger sister.
"Ve, maybe you should go back and wait with grandpa," he offers.
Her excitement falls into confusion instantly. "What? Why?"
The other four teens glance at each other fleetingly before looking back at the siblings. Dean crosses his arms and tries to look stern.
"We already had a Kraang attack tonight. I don't want you getting hurt, especially since you're not as skilled as the rest of us," he says, his voice even.
Venus' three-fingered hand tightens around her weapon. "I won't get hurt! I'm strong and fast, and I can keep up! I know I can!"
"Dad didn't even go up to the surface until he was fifteen. If Sensei was raising us, he'd be keeping you at home too."
Her stare narrows even further. "I've got Co and Ash with me. If you're really worried, just know that they can protect me." She crosses her arms. "Even though I won't need it."
"I don't-"
"Dean," Asher cuts in, stepping forwards. "It'll be fine. She's gone up before."
"When there weren't Kraang afoot," the wolf-raven points out, flapping his wings in annoyance.
"Point taken, but I still think you're overreacting," the violet-masked turtle says. "It's fine, okay? I promise nothing will happen to her."
"Lighten up, dude," Mitch agrees.
"Can we go? My mom is missing!" Dakota says, her voice raised.
"Right! C-team, go!" Copeland calls. She looks to Dean with a smirk. "Oh, you're the D-team."
"What?"
She dashes away with Asher and Venus behind her. Dean flicks his tail, wondering what she meant by her naming thing.
"I think she was going by the letters of your first names," Dakota offers, as if reading his mind. "Now come on! Mom to find!"
Dean nods, returning to his leadership mode.
"Let's head up to the rooftops," he decides. "Scope out some vantage points, hopefully track down the Kraang."
"Good plan, Captain Dean Ryan sir," Mitch says happily, readying his grappling hook. "Mitch, away!"
He hooks a building ledge and pulls himself up easily. Dakota laughs, following him. Dean smiles lightly and takes to the air, his powerful black wings sending him soaring into the night sky.
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"Donnie, keep it together," Raph says, patting his brother's shell.
Donnie gulps, trying to stop his hands from shaking as the four brothers move along the rooftop at their top speed.
"I'm trying...I'm trying..." he mumbles. "It was so sudden...one second she was there, the next..."
His memories flash momentarily. Sarina standing there with her hand outstretched, her eyes wide and her mouth frozen in fear, his name the last thing on her lips. He shudders, hoping that she's alright.
"It'll be okay," Mikey comforts. "We'll find her. It's going to be fine."
Donnie's shoulders slump as he keeps following after his brothers. "Just...you know what happened the last time the Kraang got her? They experimented on her, hurt her..." He shakes his head, as if trying to rid himself of the memories. "My poor, sweet princess..."
"Any news from the kids?" Leo calls, skidding to a stop and turning to face his siblings.
Raph shakes his head in response as he checks his t-phone. "Nothing."
The blue-masked sighs heavily, determination still evident in his expression.
"We'll keep looking. I think we should regroup after a thorough scope of the city and storm TCRI," he says.
"We don't even know if that's where she is," Mikey points out. "Can we risk it?"
"We might have to. The longer it takes for us to find her, the more..." Leo stops, not wanting to think about what may be happening to his sister. "We'll have to take a chance if no leads come up soon."
Donnie sighs. "Right...if nothing comes up."
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In a dark room, a soft groan sounds as Sarina opens her eyes, the bright blue casting shadows around the space. She tries to move her arms and legs, but finds them strapped down. In fact, her entire body feels weak. Her heart rate picks up, but she manages to keep her breathing steady as she listens to the sounds around her.
Still put off by the darkness, she forces her eyes to shine like flashlights, her head pounding from the effort. She grits her teeth, the light allowing her to make out a few shapes in the cobwebbed room. Her breath almost stops.
A giant, empty glass orb hangs in the centre of the room, a metallic grate beneath it. Levels upon levels of glass cages can be seen throughout, empty and covered in dust. One, however, is covered with a thick black curtain. She recognizes the room.
She shuts her eyes off, squeezing them shut as she waits for her headache to subside. Then, a familiar buzzing drone fills her ears.
"Exzzzellent," a terrifyingly familiar voice says. "Zzzarina, the one with the incredible powerzzz."
Sarina shrinks back as much she can manage, the cold of a metal table under her back becoming even more evident as she realizes where she is. Confusion flashes in her mind as she loses her fear for a moment.
But...it was a Kraang ship that took me, she remembers. Why am I here? This isn't the Kraang base.
"Da, we steals ship and scoop up Kraang girl. We did goods, yes?" a Russian accent cuts in from the same space as the previous.
"Yezzz. We can uzzze thizzz."
"Good job, my man. We got this in the bag!" a hyperactive squeal sounds.
Sarina tenses as Baxter Stockman appears before her, buzzing as he flits nearer. She pulls against her bindings, trying to start up her powers, but only a dull blue glow starts from her palms.
"Don't ever bother, zzz," Stockman taunts. "I already numbed your body. Ezzzcape is futile!"
"How are you...you losers fled after your master was destroyed," Sarina snaps, her terror being hidden by her confident outer shell. "Whatever this is, you're going to regret it. You and those two imbeciles are nothing."
"Don't sound so sure, cyborg," a feminine voice purrs. The lithe feline form of Emery takes shape from the shadows, golden eyes glinting with amusement. "This is just a test, a warning you should say. Your family has grown forgetful of their enemies."
"Emery? But..." Sarina swallows, trying to keep her voice from shaking. "But...you and Tiger Claw went away..."
"Forgetful, like I said." The leopard switches her gaze to Stockman. "Start the procedure."
"Yezzz, mistrezzz," he buzzes as he bows once.
He flits over to Sarina, a strange contraption in his hand. She shies away, her face losing colour in fear and making her already pale face even whiter.
"You won't get away with this," she threatens, although the words feel empty even to her.
Stockman chuckles. "Don't worry, you won't remember thizzz when I'm done with you." His pixelated eyes seem to glint maliciously as he lets out another evil laugh. "In fact, you won't remember anything. Zzzzzzzzz!"
She tries to scream, but there's a blinding pain in her skull and everything blacks out instantly.
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