Hamato Samurai

Episode 18: Cockroach Terminator

*This means a line is dramatic, emphasized, or in the background*

In the lair, Leo, Raph, Mikey, and Sam were in the kitchen making dinner. It was Leo's turn, so they had ramen—the only thing he knew how to make. Jason was over for one of his visits, which have been rather frequent in recent days.

Ever since Leatherhead disappeared into the Kraang portal at TCRI, they had moved Jason's subway car next to the lair so he could come over whenever he wanted and helped him redecorate. They promised they would look after him, and Splinter even started training him alongside April. He felt like part of the family now, especially since Sam was so good to him. Hint hint.

"Let's go, Leo. I'm starving." Mikey said as Leo spooned ramen into some bowls. "Yeah, boi. Ramen."

As they ate their ramen, they were interrupted by something skittering across the table. One by one, everybody blinks in confusion until it comes to Raph. He was about to take a bite when he noticed a cockroach on his chopsticks and screamed! Broth went everywhere as he stood from his chair in terror. "Roach! ROACH!" He shouted. Totally freaked out, he pulled out his sai and started jabbing at the cockroach as it moved across the table, chasing it all over the kitchen until Donnie ran in.

"Stop! Stop, you'll smash him!" He yells.

"That's the idea!"

Donnie grabbed the cockroach to keep it away from Raph. "You can't smash this roach. Okay? He's special." He looked at the others expectantly, but they just blinked. What was so important about some bug? "Really special."

"Okay, I'm gonna regret this, but... why is he special, Donnie?" Leo sighed as Raph shuttered.

"Because I outfitted him with a remote-controlled camera helmet." Donnie answered gleefully. Sometimes he got excited over the strangest things.

"Well, that explains why you're special."

"We can send him into TCRI and spy on the Kraang. The camera allows us to see whatever the cockroach sees." Donnie replayed the recording of Raph screaming on his laptop, making a scared, surprised face. Sam and Mikey laughed as they saw it again.

"That is hilarious!" Sam chuckled. "Big, tough Raph is scared of cockroaches."

"I am not!" He denied angrily.

"Oh, really?" Mikey continued. "Let's go to the video. This is my favourite part right here!" He paused the recording on Raph's surprised face as they chuckled again. "Donnie, can I get a copy of this?"

"You wanna see my favourite part?" Raph grabbed Mikey and tossed him across the table, and he landed upside down.

"Uh, maybe don't tease people about what they're afraid of?" Jason scolded, standing over Mikey.

"Thanks, Jason." Raph said. "Not that I am scared." Everyone rolled their eyes.

"We're gonna spy on the Kraang... with a cockroach!" Donnie grinned widely. Is it possible to be too excited about something?

XXXXXXXX

Sometime later, they were in the Shellraiser, parked near TCRI. Jason decided to stay home, not feeling ready to be near that place again after what happened to Leatherhead. The turtles were huddled around Donnie's station, watching their purple-clad brother work the spy roach.

"Come on, Roach #1, make Papa proud." He muttered to himself as he watched the screen. The roach slipped into the building and went unnoticed by the Kraang droids inside as they worked.

"Kraang has been on the diet known as gluten-free. Kraang has already lost thirteen Kraang units of weight."

As the roach skittered around, the turtles caught sight of two Kraang droids in the back, seemingly having a discussion. "Wait, what are those guys talking about?" Leo asked. "Can you get closer?"