Two More Turtles (TMNT Book 1)

Baxter Stockman

The next night, the turtles did some training with Splinter and Mii-wa watching them. Naomi was nowhere to be seen. Everyone was tired from the previous night and Splinter noticed it, making them stop. Splinter did the same Rundoli thing with the turtles as Mii-wa did with Naomi. All groaned and was in separate area, holding their heads in pain. I ran up to Mikey to help him up.

Then later, Naomi came back. She was looking at the video games with a curious look. Raph was reading a magazine when she came in then got up, asking if she’d like to play one.

“Sure.” Naomi said, going to the hockey one.

Leo and I were watching Space Heroes again. The show was fun. It was easily addicting. Then I heard Raph start bragging.

“Ha! I finally beat you at something!” he said.

I look over and Naomi had a strange look before tackling Raph down. He cried out before they started tumbling away from view. Naomi really needs to keep her evil side away…

Then Leo started quoting Captain Ryan again. I look at him, “Seen this enough?”

“Would you shh!” he said quickly. “This is the best part.” Right as he started getting excited, the TV changed to Breaking News. “Aw…”

The news went to a break-in at the TCRI office complex. It was a guy in a big vast set of armor.

“Guys!” I called out, staring at the TV. “Come quick!”

Donnie and Mikey were the first to come behind Leo and I. We stood up so they can all see it. Raph and Naomi came in after still sort of pushing and bugging each other. I don’t think either of them won that round.

Some guy on the TV looked at the guy in armor, who I recognized as the guy the guys beat up the previous night, and guessed his name, “Baxter? Baxter Stockman? Hey everyone, it’s Baxter Stockman!”

Raph crossed his arms and said, “I think his name is Baxter Stockman.”

“You don’t say?” Naomi asked.

Leo looked thoughtful, “How did he upgrade his armor so fast?”

“He’s a nerd who lives by a bunch of metal?” I guessed.

Mikey looked at me and nodded. “Yeah.”

We watched the TV for a second before the screen froze on an image.

Donnie looked at Mikey, “He has the T-Pod?”

“Oh, uh, I might’ve dropped that during the fight.” Mikey said.

“You dropped it during the fight?” Donnie came closer to his face, making Mikey flinch back. “Nice going, Mikey!”

“It’s your fault!” Mikey countered.

“How is it my fault?”

“You know I can’t be trusted with nice things!”

Donnie got so mad that even I, who was standing behind the two, shrunk back in fear.

“So the A.I. chip is upgrading his armor the same way it upgraded the T-Pod?” Leo asked, walking away from Mikey and Donnie.

“And if it keeps going, there’s no telling how powerful he’ll get.” Donnie explained.

“This has gone way to far. We have to tell Splinter about this.”

“What? That we turned some nut job into a super-villain?” Raph asked. “Do you know what he’ll do to us for that? I mean, he pounded us into the ground just for being sleepy.”

“Look.” Donnie said. “We beat Stockman once, we can beat him again. We track him down, grab the T-Pod, and get back here before Splinter knows anything.”

“If my opinion accounts for anything, Donnie’s right.” Mikey said from reading a magazine.

“Aw, thanks, Mikey!” Donnie said happily, then changing his tone, “But it doesn’t.”

“Didn’t think so…”

Naomi and I looked at each other. She nodded and we all snuck out once more.