The wind was strong and I could hear the cries of a thousand lost souls roaring up to the top of the building I stood on. Down below, cars drove by in a cacophony of noise that seemed to outcry the wind when you heard it.
It was dusk. I had just dropped off Splinter and Leonardo at their friends', the building that stood across from me. I had left the two to the woman they knew to watch for any Foot.
That one guy was getting to close for my comfort. From what I've seen of him, he's pretty dangerous. No doubt he's not motivated by some sort of vengeance obviously has something to do with the kappa.
I began to relax, losing my touch with reality to let myself be swept away by the wind... to travel the path of time.
Thump!
I returned to modern world with a jarring shock. A strong hand was clasped on my shoulder. I turned quickly to see a boy with long, red hair. "James!" I said, barely recognizing my bass player. "What are you doing here? How did you find me?" I asked, blurting out questions. Man, I must have been careless.
James shook his head and smiled. "Tracking you is easy... for a telepath!" I looked away, mentally kicking myself. Another thing I should mention, everyone in Rising Phoenix is either alien or they have supernatural powers. James is a Shaman, and can read people's minds. I won't even mention what Danny, Rydya, or Nora can do.
"What's up?" I said, awaiting the answers to the questions I had asked him. He held up his hand. "One: I just told you how I found you. Two: I came to help you." He smiled.
"Huh?" I asked, wondering what he meant.
"They want you dead, Challice. They're coming for you as we speak."
I looked around frowning. "The Foot?"
He shook his head. "Not the American branch not yet, at least. But a group of assassins from Japan have left there to come here. They will arrive in America in a few days."
"Days?"
"They travel by boat."
"Oh."
James smiled sadly. "I don't enjoy knowing the truth of the future, Challi." I looked at him curiously. He knew I wondered what he meant. "Someone's going to die."
"Who?"
He looked sad. "I don't want you to know. Not yet."
I grew angry with his talk of the future. "Dammit Jameson!" Tell me so I can stop their death!"
"There's no way possible! They have to die... to save us all."
I turned from him, shaking my head. "I am already on a quest. Already the American branch of the Foot have sighted me as an enemy, the Japanese league is going to come here, and now someone's going to die. Great. That's just great!" I sighed and looked at the apartment of Splinter's friend. Everything seemed serene there.
I heard what seemed to be a small group of men come up behind us. I turned to see five Foot. "You did not sneak up on me this time, Ancient Enemy! This time I awaited you!"
The leader of the Foot backed away from the other four and leaned against the wall. "You've come too close to our operations, Challice Black and Jameson Hulgh!" He pointed directly at me and sneered. "I have seen you before, Challice. Now I know who you are!"
I smiled modestly, searching my jacket for a dagger. "Oh yeah. Rising Phoenix's latest album has done well. Triple platinum," I spit, laughing. I recognized his voice as the same Foot that had attacked Splinter and Leonardo earlier tonight.
"Rising Phoenix has nothing to do with this, Ronin! You know I speak of your father Hummatsu! You know I recognize you as the one who now possesses the sacred Relics of the Foot! My, won't you be a grand prize for Master Tatsu!"
I slid the dagger out of my pocket, eyeing the lead Foot the whole time. "I am not a prize to be won. I suppose Tatty's around here somewhere, isn't he?"
"That is my business," the Foot said, standing up straight.
Before he could continue his long and boring speech, I threw the dagger into the nearest Foot. He made a queer gurgling sound, then lay still.
"Bullochs to your business, man!" I said, flying into a second Foot. James was on the other two in an instant, tearing them apart. James grabbed one guy and tossed him over the roof. (ow.) He quickly turned and touched the forehead of the second. A small blue spark erupted from his fingertips, entering the Foot. He shook, as if electrocuted, falling over the first guy I had killed.
"Way to go, James!" I said, chuckling to myself. I ducked to avoid a stroke of the sai the Foot I was fighting possessed, then grabbed his arm. With my inner powers, I began to bend his arm back. As I heard tendons snap and bones break, the Foot screamed in pain and terror.
"You're only getting what you deserve, you know. For all the countless innocents you've murdered so coldly, I do this. Maybe it's time you prayed to your god, cause you're about to die!"
I grabbed the sai he had dropped, slicing it through his stomach. Intestines and blood spilled out onto the concrete, staining it.
James and I stood triumphantly, eyeing the lead Foot. "You're next friend," I said, pointing at him with the sai. "You better think twice before you ever disturb the holy kappa!"
The Foot moved over towards the edge of the roof, to the side of Splinter's friend's apartment. "It's not my duty to slay you. But be patient. Your time is coming very soon!"
"Grow up!" I sneered, mocking him. "You're just afraid."
"The eagle fears nothing but the wind currents."
"Aye, true. The wind is an eagle's friend, but if the wind grows stronger than the eagle, he can't fly straight. Your point is?"
"Watch the wind, young eagle!" he said, jumping over to the apartment.
"You know," I said to James, "That guy pisses me off. He's cool."
James shook his head. "Get real Challi."
We turned back to face the apartment where Splinter and Leonardo were, to see a group of Foot on the roof.
"Shit. Come on James. We gotta stop those guys!" I knew it was going to be a long night.
"Oh, I've got to wake up! How long was I out anyway? And what's that rumbling in my ears? Hey! That tickles! Oh it's you! Come out of there Raph Jr.! Stop chewing on my hair and ears! After all, we don't know each other that well."
I carefully untangled the kitten and put him back into my lap. "How about some milk little fellow?" I offered him the bottle again, but he didn't seem interested. His little tummy was already bulging, and as I looked more closely at the bottle I could see that it was empty.
"I must have been out longer than I thought. No wonder my head feels like it's stuffed with cotton. And my body feels so heavy, like like stone... No! I can't go back to sleep again! I can't! I've got things to do. I can't remember what they are just yet, but I know I've got things to do. Important things to do.
"I wish that ringing in my ears would stop. It's giving me a oh Damn! That's not me! It's the phone! How long has it been ringing?! Gotta answer it!"
My arm and hand were feeling heavier by the second. And it seemed like an eternity. An agonizingly slow eternity, before I was able to grasp the receiver. Then, there was the problem of picking it up. "Okay, who went and turned up the gravity while I was sleeping?"
With Herculean effort on my part, I finally managed to get the thing against my ear. I nearly dropped it, and as it turned out, I'd wasted my energy. All I heard on the other end was a dull dial tone.
"So who was trying to call me? I'll bet it was Casey. Damn! I wish I'd picked it up in time to make him squirm and grovel. For running off to God only knows where, and without leaving me so much as a note!"
Oh well. The small tragedies of life one must bear.
It was not your friend Casey, April....
My head jerked upright, and I think I heard, and felt, something snap. That voice again! I heard that voice in my sleep. In my— dream! But what was the dream about? And who belongs to that voice? But I'm not asleep now, so how can I be hearing that voice? Unless... unless it wasn't a dream?
Think O'Neil! What was she? Yes! That voice was definitely a she! What was she trying to say to me? Something about about being....
UH! I sighed with frustration.
Strangely though, the more I concentrated on the mysterious dream lady, the lighter my body began to feel. "Hey! Who turned on my computer?!"
I stood up, more easily this time, and went towards the machine, pausing for a moment to lay Raph Jr. back into his bed. I noticed the Arena disk wasn't next to the basket where I had left it. Did I load the thing in my sleep? I've heard of sleep walking, but sleep video gaming?! Hey! I've discovered a brand new sleep disorder! I wonder if they'll name it after me?
I had almost reached the computer when I felt the stone creeping back into my muscles and joints again. My vision blurred, my knees buckled, and I collapsed on the floor.
"OW! Damn! I have got to get plush carpeting for this place! It would make these gravity checks a little less painful.
I tried to sit up, and that was a big mistake. The heaviness hit me like a ton of bricks, and I hit the floor. Again!
All right. I'm stuck here for a while. I can't move, my vision is all blurs and sparkles. So just what else could possibly happen to me?
I managed to lift my head, which weighed at least one hundred pounds, and after a bit was able to focus my eyes enough to see my computer screen. I guess my sight wasn't as focused as I thought, because the monitor seemed to be pulsating with a weird light..... Is that a face in the middle of that strobe light? Who is he? Why is he glowing? And why does it seem as if he is looking right at me...? And laughing—
April!
Great! Now she's back again! "Lady, I don't know who you are! But stay outta my "
Terminate the box April!
She was almost shouting at me now. Are your hallucinations supposed to shout at you like that? I think that's against the rules.
Terminate the box April! It gives him a --
Before she could finish her sentance, a hand appeared on the screen. It began reaching, reaching down. It's reaching for me!
AAAAH!
It's pulling me in! I have to fight it! Must fight—
"April? April! Child, why do you fight me? April!"
That wasn't the lady's voice. That voice was ancient and male, and belonged to something... furry?!
My struggling hands encountered fur. "What the?... Splinter!" I cried.
"Yes, child, it is I." He stroked my hair with a soothing hand.
"Oh Splinter," I almost moaned. My blurred vision made it appear as if his fur was standing on end. "Oh Splinter," I repeated carefully. "Really bad hair day, huh?"
He seemed slightly offended by that. "Hmf! Bad hair day indeed!" he said.
But his lips never moved as he said it.
"I never knew you were a ventriloquist, Splinter!" I commented. "Can you throw your voice too?"
"I... do not know," he answered slowly, looking a little baffled. He laid a hand on my forehead, and then he looked even more baffled.
"Hmm... a faint telepathic trace... But April is not telepathic....."
"Of course I'm not—"
I stopped. His lips hadn't moved that time either. "Oh my God! Splinter! I I actually... read your mind?! But that's not possible! I mean, I know that it's possible, but it's not possible for me! I mean, I've never done this sort of thing before.. so how could I....?"
"Please. Try to calm yourself April. Are you ill? When Leonardo and I entered, we saw you lying on the floor. You appeared to be in great distress."
"No. I don't think so. I mean, I've been a little disoriented for the last few days, or so, but I don't think it's an illness. I'm not sure what it is." I paused remembering the rest of what he'd said. "Leo?" I asked. "Leo's with you?"
The leaden feeling was gone from my body once again. And I turned to my head to find Leo lying on my couch. He didn't look at all well. "What's wrong with him, Splinter?" I asked, sitting up very slowly. I expected to hit the floor again, but it didn't happen.
Once I was sitting, I was able to see Leo more clearly. He was certainly not well. A piece of bloody cloth was binding his shoulder, and there was a kitten lying on his chest?! His eyes were open though, and he seemed alert.
"Hi April," he said. "Having a bad night too, huh?" He sat up and the kitten dropped into his lap. It must have been asleep, for when it hit his lap, it uttered a loud and plaintive MEOOW!
At that sound, another plaintive MEOW came from my kitchen table. I could tell Splinter was just slightly uncomfortable with the two kittens. Especially since Raph Jr. had been peering at him from his basket curiously.
"Hey April?" Leo asked. "Where'd you get the kitten?"
I tried to stand, and with much help from Splinter, managed to get to over the couch where Leo and his kitten were sitting.
I settled down on the couch where Splinter joined us. Leaning my head against the back. I began to explain about everything.
When I got to the part about the computer, I glanced at the screen. It was completely blank. It wasn't even turned on! And the Arena disk was laying next to Raph's basket!
Both the kittens continued to meow, and I reached over to pet Leo's kitten. "What are you going to name him?" I asked the turtle.
He shrugged, and instantly regretted the movement. After recovering from the brief moment of pain he said, "Dunno. Haven't really been able to think about it much."
"You're kitten doesn't look much better than you, Leo" I commented. Stroking the kitten's tiny head. "What happened to you guys anyway?"
So for the next few minutes, Leo and Splinter told me their story.
"TGRI?!" I asked. "Are you sure Leo?"
"Oh yeah, it's the only thing I'm completely sure about."
"Not that I really mind," I said, "But why didn't you guys just knock when you came here?"
"We did," Leo said. "For a long time."
"I began to sense that something was not right," Splinter continued.
Couldn't be more right about that, I thought.
Leo's eyes widened in surprise, and he and Splinter exchanged a mysterious look. "Have you been teaching April some mental disciplines?" Leo asked his Master.
Splinter shook his head.
"I take it you guys read that little thought, right?" I asked, already knowing what their answer would be.
They both nodded.
"Sorry," I said. "I'm new at this psychic stuff."
"No apologies are necessary, April," Splinter tried to reassure me.
I appreciated what he was trying to do. But neither of us had to be psychic to know it wasn't really helping much.
I heard a loud rumbling and it wasn't coming from either of the kittens. I glanced at Leo, "Hungry?" I asked him.
He grinned. "No! I'm not hungry! I'm starving! Do you have anything to eat April?" He gave me a pleading look.
I smiled, "I think I have some microwave pizza.... So why don't you go ahead and use the phone to call the Lair, Splinter? While I " I stopped and gazed at Splinter trying to keep myself from shivering.
He reached over and patted my hand comfortingly. "It will be fine child," he said in his gentle voice. "I thank you for the use of your phone however."
Giving Splinter's hand a soft squeeze, I stood up. Then I glanced at Leo. "Are you sure pizza is a good idea Leo?" I asked him.
He still looked a little queasy. "Yeah, I'd hate to hurl all over your floor." He thought for a moment, then a grin spread across his face again. "Ah go for it!" he announced cheerfully.
I wasn't quite so sure. "Tell you what. I'll bring you a glass of ginger ale first. And we'll see how it goes from there."
I didn't know if he even liked ginger ale, but he nodded. "Why don't I put your kitten in with Raph Jr.?" I offered, holding out my hands for the furry bundle. Leo stood up, and I thought for one panicked moment, he was going to hit the floor. But he regained his balance, and glanced at my basket on the kitchen table.
"I'll do it," he said, walking towards the basket. "I'd like to meet Raph Jr."
"Be careful!" I warned him. "Where do you think he got his name from?"
Raph Jr., however, proved me to be a complete liar by sucking up to Leo. When he noticed his new roommate, he purred and the two began to inspect one another closely. They proceeded to start a game of tag, and everything was going fine until Raph Jr. snagged the other one's tail.
HRAARR!! He turned on Raph, and for a few seconds the fur was flying. Then, as if nothing had ever happened. They stopped and curled together in the middle of the basket, purring very loudly. I smiled at the kittens.
Splinter had also gotten up and was reaching for the phone. "Would you like some tea Splinter?" I asked him.
"That's very kind of you April, but I am not thirsty."
"Ok, but if you change your mind..." I went into the kitchen to get the pizza and Leo's ginger ale. Even if Leo couldn't handle the pizza I remembered that I hadn't had dinner yet.
I put the pizza in the microwave and got Leo's ginger ale out of the fridge. I also noticed some dishes that needed to be soaked. Just as I began running water into the sink, I head Splinter begin to speak. I couldn't hear much of what he was saying, but the telepathic message was much clearer.
Professor Perry? I must have heard read that wrong. What would Professor Perry be doing at the Lair? And where was Mikey? I had this strong feeling that something had, or was, happening to him. Something that had to do with that damn computer game. And if that was the case, would that mean I hadn't been hallucinating when the hand came at me? Or when I head this mysterious female voice? Broken snatches of Splinter's conversation drifted into the kitchen. "No we must... we'll arrive..."
"The FOOT!"
The telepathic shout was so strong, it startled me. My cup of hot chocolate, and Leo's ginger ale, went crashing to the floor, but I didn't bother to pick them up. Whirling around so fast that I nearly lost my balance, I rushed back into the living room.
Splinter was just stepping away from the phone, and Leo had just turned away from window. "The Foot!?" I cried. Nightmarish visions of my old home flashed before my eyes.
Splinter nodded gravely, "We must leave at once, April," he said sternly.
I wasn't about to argue with him, although I did wonder if I'd ever be seeing my apartment again. Leo had already snatched up his canvas bag of evidence, and was about to grab the basket of kittens. I shook my head at him and picked them up. I also took a moment to grab my video camera and I remembered that I hadn't even checked the tape yet. For some reason I deliberately left the Arena disk. I'm not sure why. But something was telling me to leave it where it was. Maybe I'd get lucky, and one of the Foot would load it, and That Hand would pull them into the screen. I didn't really think it would happen, but I could hope.
Go swiftly now April, and stay close to Splinter. You both will be needed.
That voice again! Well, I don't have time to worry about it.
Without a word the three of us went swiftly down the stairs and into the basement. Seconds later we were through the sewer entrance and heading for the Lair.
A few seconds after that, I sensed that someone had entered my apartment. I couldn't tell who it was, but they were obviously very unhappy to find the place empty.
"Someone's in the apartment," I said softly. Splinter nodded his agreement. The closer we got to the lair, the stranger I began to feel. I really don't know how to describe it, but it felt like the old confusion was trying to worm its way back into my head again. The kittens were feeling something as well. They were arching their backs, low growls escaping from their throats.
"Stop it guys," I hissed at them. "You're not helping my nerves."
I tightened my grip on their basket, and they reached up in unison to rub their heads against my hand. The contact with the kittens seemed to have cleared my head, for now, but I knew that it wasn't over, not yet.
Splinter had been helping Leo, and he gripped my hand with his free one. "Steady April," he soothed.
"Don't you feel it Splinter?!" I asked, almost pleading. Was I really losing my mind?
"No, you are not losing your mind," Splinter answered my thought. "I too felt something."
"It feels evil!" I said, hating the pleading note which crept into my voice.
"Yes," Splinter agreed slowly. "But I also believe there is another... force, that is working with us. For us."
"May the Force be with you," Leo commented, and then laughed. "Uh sorry, must be the drugs...."
I smiled at him. "This is drugs," I said and motioned to the canvas bag he carried. "This is Leo on drugs." I motioned to Leo. "Any questions?"
Splinter gave us both a withering look and groaned softly to himself. I looked at Splinter, and all at once I knew. "You've heard it too!" I gasped. "You've heard her!"
"I have... sensed something." But I knew that he'd heard the voice too. A wave of relief flooded through me. "I'm not going crazy after all!"
Both Leo and Splinter smiled at my exuberance. And so, now I was sure that I wasn't crazy. Well, mostly sure. We quickened our steps. The night had just begun and so it would seem had our adventure.
We approached the Lair....
"There are more things under Heaven and on Earth then are dreamt of in your philosophy, Horatio." The immortal Bard's prophetic phrase echoed in my auditory canals. Sorry, I mean "rings in my ears." The ethical and moral dilemmas imposed by the perplexing events of recent months has awakened, in the unplummelled depths of my psyche, a previously unknown and unimagined consciousness of the morality inherent in any form of scientific research. As a result, I found myself contemplating the role and importance of ethicology in scientific research and the vastly disturbing potential for abuse inherent in any method of chemical, physical, or biological research.
A case in point is the mutagenic properties of the green colloidal gel with the common nomenclature of "ooze". All test subjects exposed to the mutagenic agent displayed enormous systemic mutations resulting from the bizarre combination of human and lower order, (animal) DNA. After regaining the cylinder of "ooze" from the demented individual known as "Shredder", I retained a small sample for further study and properly disposed of the remainder. I concealed the sample using the highest possible level of secrecy before rejoining TGRI at their new location in Chicago. Due to the nefarious schemes of "Shredder", I thought it highly inadvisable to allow my superiors at TGRI to gain access to a substance with such a high potential for abuse. Unfortunately, there exists in this benighted and besieged world, individuals who insist on portraying themselves as possessing the omnipotency and supernatural powers of a deity.
I mean they have to play with people's lives.
After the recent events involving the green colloi uhn "ooze", I became determined to increase the safeguards against abuse on all future projects. I started encoding essential elements within the written documents, and limited access to my research to specific individuals only under my direct supervision. My attempts to impress the importance of my altered opinions on my colleagues at the former TGRI company met with complete and absolute failure. My colleagues viewed my actions as an example of extreme paranoia, and speculated on the degree of impairment of my mental faculties. My interest in the moral and ethical applications of the scientific data we accumulated met with a variety of reactions ranging from general apathy to out right ridicule and rejection.
Faced with ignorance and a decidedly narrow minded point of view, I decided to terminate my connection to TGRI by tendering my resignation and obtaining a position at a more ethical company. At first TGRI appeared resigned to the termination of my services. Over the past month, my initial observation in this regard has changed drastically. Every attempt I made at securing a new position, even those I am highly over qualified for, have met with dismal failure. It was easily extrapolated from this situation that TGRI had black listed my services, rendering it impossible to obtain another locally.
Three weeks ago, I began noticing the reoccurrence of certain individuals within my vicinity, regardless of the location or time of day. On examination of the entire situation, I quickly deduced that certain individuals at a specific company tend to reject negative comments that contradict their own opinions. I mean that the administrators at TGRI refuse to take "no" as answer.
This continual and objectionable surveillance severely limited the number of options available to me at this specific juncture of time. It has become imperative to recover the pilfered sample of "ooze" from its place of concealment in New York City. I decided that my return to New York could not be delayed any longer. I left a convoluted paper trail that would eventually lead to Los Angeles, and made my way cautiously to New York via numerous modes of transport and a plethora of contradictory destinations. I lost my "shadows" about 7 p.m. yesterday in Cincinnati, Ohio. If my calculations are correct, I should have a three to five day hiatus before the lesser intelligence of the surveillance team assigned to observe my person finally deduces my ultimate destination. I am certain that all of my known haunts in both Chicago and New York will have been placed under surveillance as soon as the spies report they lost track of my whereabouts. Therefore, there is no feasible method for my personal recovery of the "ooze" sample. A second party will be required to implement the extraction of the sample for me. But who would posses the necessary skills required for an operation of this type and... why would an individual undertake an operation containing such high risk?
Hmmm....
Ah, I have the solution. Perhaps the mutated post adolescents named after Renaissance artists and their sensei can be enticed to aid my endeavors to regain the sample of "ooze". Hmm... now all that remains is the trivial problem of remembering the location of their lair.
Will these blasted tunnels ever end? How long have I been wandering this labyrinth, lightly disguised a sewer tunnel system? What time is it anyway? Blast! It's already past one o'clock, A.M. I sincerely hope I will not awaken anyone when I finally reach the lair. I cannot believe over four hours have passed since I entered these bloody tunnels. I do believe that I have been in this same corridor at least five times now. No, wait a minute! Maybe I should have taken the left branch. Yes, this is the appropriate path to reach the lair at last. It should only consist of two more right turns and one more left turn to reach the lair.
Finally, the lair lies before me. Hmm....
What's this? The very appearance of the apparently deserted domicile implies the occurrence of unusual and perhaps incomprehensible events. I mean, that there is definitely something strange going on. A multitude of lights remain in operation and the open door suggests that one or more unknown individuals hurriedly vacated the premises.
"Hello! I say, is there anyone in the domicile available for consultation?"
Filled with a foreboding sense of trepidation, I enter the deserted lair. The appearance of the lair suggests that the abandonment of the lair was intended to be of limited duration. The interior doors were left open. The lights were left turned on, as was a computer I assume belongs to Donatello.
Suddenly, the brazen tone of a ringing telephone pierces the silence of the lair. Should I answer it? The shrill tone sounds again. Answering a telephone belonging to another individual goes against the behavior of proper etiquette.
The tone sounds again. However, my urgent need for assistance in regaining the sample of "ooze" surmounts the importance of proper etiquette. The shrill tone sounds again. I must establish communications with the mutated turtles. I have to answer the telephone. I pick it up on the fourth ring.
"Hello?" I wait a few seconds, but there is no answer. I try again. "Hello? I say, is there anyone on the opposite end of the line?"
Finally, a calm voice with a broken accent that inspires a sense of wisdom replies, "Hello. Who are you? Where are my sons?"
His voice sounds somehow familiar, but I just can not quite remember why. I say cautiously, "Uh... pardon me, your sons?" Wait a minute. Did not the turtles' mentor refer to them as 'his sons'? "Oh yes! Is this perhaps, Splinter?"
The voice replied, "Yes, I am called Splinter. Who are you?"
"I do not know if you remember me, but we met a few months ago. My name is Jordan Perry."
"Oh yes, Professor Perry. I would like to talk to one of my sons."
"I am sorry. I do not know where the mutated turtles are. I arrived at the lair only a few minutes ago and have not encountered any inhabitants as yet. However, the lair appears to have been hurriedly vacated. Other than relating this fact, I can supply no further information."
"Why are you at the lair?"
"I wanted to request the assistance of the turtles in an endeavor that would benefit both them, you, and I."
"You are scientist. I wonder if you would provide assistance in an immediate matter?"
"If I can be of any assistance to you in any way, please just inform me."
"Perhaps, it would be better to talk in person. Leonardo and April have been injected with an unknown substance. Leonardo escaped with samples and written notes. Perhaps you could analyze the samples and discover an antidote."
"Hmm... I should be able to utilize Donatello's equipment to analyze the substances. I will familiarize myself with the equipment and prepare as much as I can prior to your arrival."
"Okay. Good bye. We will get there soon."
After hanging up the phone, I start trying to put Donatello's equipment into some kind of order. I do wish that Donatello would verify that pizza sauce and electrical equipment do not combine meritoriously, and that his success ratio would probably increase exponentially if he kept the two separate.
Almost half an hour later, I have everything except the computer in as good an order as can be expected. I turn to the computer. Hmm... a computer game appears to be running. I wonder which one it is?
Just as I reach toward the keyboard, I hear the muffled approach of some individuals outside.
Upon seeing the condition of April and Leonardo, I rush to help them into the lair. I help April settle on the couch to sleep while Splinter helps Leonardo into his bed. After the completion of these two tasks, Splinter brings me up to date on the extraordinary events of the previous evening. I assert that I will render any aid I can in helping April and Leonardo. My own concerns are not as urgent as theirs' are.
Splinter retreats to his room to meditate. It is very apparent that he is extremely worried about the rest of his sons. I turn off the computer game and start to work analyzing the substances.
There are several strains in the vials. One problem will be determining which substance was April, Leonardo, and the two kittens they brought with them exposed to.
Several hours later I fall asleep at the computer. After all, it had been a very long day.
Go ye back to Part Two, Chapter Three