Race. [TMNT 2012]

054. Ninjas; Raphael

Song: Rise Up - Disciple

The moment we get inside Shredder's lair, I realize how out of practice I am. Being stealthy has become ten times harder, because I keep accidentally dragging my feet across the ground. Either that, or my steps are too heavy and cause mini earthquakes. Every move I make is hazardous to the spy mission. I am really beginning to regret all the patrols I had skipped.

   On the other hand, I know I have to be there for my brothers. Charlotte flat out warned me that I need to watch over them. Even Master Splinter ordered me to let go of the past and help my family.

   I feel a pang of guilt as I remember how sharp I was with Master Splinter. Sure, it was just a vision. But the argument with him felt so real, almost as if it was in person. I have never been the most agreeable one of the family, but I also never yelled straight in his face like that. I feel awful about it.

   As I creep down a dark hallway with my team, I make sure to be extra careful. If something goes wrong on the mission, I refuse to be the cause of it. Michelangelo is going to have to make a dumb mistake before I screw up again. I am determined to get everything back to normal.

   We finally reach the lab doors and, checking to see if anyone is around, sneak inside.  We move as a unit, rolling across the floor until we reach  some kind of lab table.  There, we line up and barely peer our eyes over the edge to see what's going on.  What we see shocks all of us.

   Baxter Stockman buzzes around in his usual, annoying manner.  He combines chemical after chemical into the beaker he is holding, humming a tune all the while.  However, his concoction isn't what catches our attention.

   Just over Stockman's shoulder, dab smack in the middle of the laboratory, is a Kraang portal.  The swirly pink and purple center of the object flashes occasionally.  Even the edges shoot sparks into the air randomly, as if the portal is malfunctioning.

   Leonardo seems to sense the danger of being so close to a broken Kraang weapon.  He makes a signal with his hand and we file out of the lab, our footsteps as soundless as ever.  We seek the shelter of the shadows until we reach the window, which allows us to escape.

   As we all sneak back around the side of the building, I can't help feeling accomplished.  That was probably the first stealth mission we finished without getting caught in the process.  But besides the point, I am just glad my brothers are safe.

   The moment we're in the clear, Donatello turns his intense russet gaze on us.  "Does anyone else think that portal looks familiar?" he asks with a thoughtful look on his face.  His lips are curved into an intelligent frown to emphasize his words of concern.

   "Duh!" Michelangelo pipes up with a happy grin, despite what we had just seen.  "It spits out pink brain thingies called the Kraang.  Of course it looks familiar!"

   Donatello glares at the younger turtle.  "No, I mean that portal specifically.  It had a dagger keyhole, if that jogs your memory," he adds as he glances at the rest of the group.

   Leonardo's blue eyes sparkle with realization.  "It's the same portal we found in the TCRI branch rubble so long ago," he answers boldly.  "The one Lizzy's dad built that could only be activated with his dagger."

   Donatello nods approvingly, as if he is a teacher praising a student.

   "But that thing was cemented to the ground, remember?" April reminds us with a worried scowl.

   "They must have removed it somehow," Donatello replies promptly.  "That was the exact same portal, I am sure of it.  And it seems to be in pretty bad condition from being forced out of its place like that."