Another lame title.

Cartoon Continuation

Ricky Monroe looked up at the four wax Ninja Turtles. "Boy, is this museum awesome or what?" he thought. It had only been open since yesterday, and since then, the crowds had been pouring in. But two days ago, the real turtles had disapeared. Dozens of robberies were taking place all over town, and no one was there to stop them. Ace crime reporter April O'Neil had also turned up missing.Through all this, Ricky silently wished he could meet the real Turtles.

You already have, kid. Came a voice inside his head.

Huh? Who are you? wondered Ricky.

Raphael, Whoever it was answered.

Where are you? thought Ricky, looking around.

Right in front of you! Came the voice. Ricky turned back to the wax figures.

Then you're one of them?

Yup. Answered the voice.

But that's impossible! They're only wax!

Feel the sai. Ricky touched the sai on the wax figure of Raphael.

It's real!

Of course it's real, you dolt! And so am I!

Then how'd you get stuck in there?

It's a long story.

So what do you need me for?

We've been stuck in here for two days, and we want out! Plus, we've got to stop the guy that owns this museum. He's the one who stuck us in here. And, hearing that, you don't need a second guess on who's pulling these robberies!

How can I help?

There's a thermostat on every floor. You have to crank them all. That way the wax will melt.

I'll do my best. Ricky ran towards the stairs and then down them. He found the first floor thermostat and, using a paperweight from a nearby desk, broke the glass. Immediately an alarm went off. Ricky cranked the lever to 120 degrees farenheight. Running from the room, he repeated the process on every floor.Then he returned to the 2nd floor to meet the turtles.On the way, he met a very puzzled April O'Neil. Ricky stopped. "You must be Miss O'Neil."

"Yes," she answered.

"Come on! I know where the turtles are!" He started running again, and April followed. Soon they spotted a small crowd of people watching as four wax figures seemingly came to life.

"Oh, man!" cried Michaelangelo.

"I thought we would never get out of there!" exclaimed Donatello, finishing the thought.

Ricky ran over to Raph. "I did it," he said proudly.

Raphael shook hands with him. "Thanks a lot, Ricky," he said.

Now the crowd looked curious. "Hey, how'd you know my-?" he wondered. "Never mind," he said quickly. I must be dreaming, thought Ricky.

Snap out of it, kid. This is as real as it gets, answered a voice. Raphael looked at Ricky and they both turned pale. I'm doing it again, thought Raph. I thought it would be gone after I got out!

Mike interupted their conversation. "I can't wait to bash this guy's head in."

"I can't wait to shut down this stupid museum," said Don.

"And I can't wait until you guys shut up so we can get busy," advised Raph.

"We should take him by surprise," said Leo.

"Uh-oh, too late," said Mike, pointing.

The scientist was pushing his way towards them. And he was carrying a tank of gas. "You turtles may have escaped but you'll never take me in!" he cried. And aiming the nozzle of the tank at them, he pressed a button and they were sprayed with a cloud of gas. Each of the turtles, plus April and Ricky, clamped a hand over their nose and mouth. Ricky almost immediately fell to one knee. Then April began to give. The turtles could go a little longer holding their breath, but not much.

Raphael finally threw his entire weight against the scientist. He let go of the button and the tank skittered across the floor. The man jumped up and ran. They all gasped for breath.

"C'mon, let's follow him!" coughed Leo.

The turtles and Ricky gave chase, but April stayed. They chased him to a door and stopped outside of it.

"Okay, any brilliant ideas?" asked Leo.

"All I know is that this is the only door," said Mike.

"Well I've got an idea," Raph said casually.

"What?" they chorused.

Raph whispered his plan into Ricky's ear and Ricky snickered.

"Got it?" asked Raph.

"Got it," he replied.

"Hey, no fair," complained Don. "How are we supposed to carry out this idea of yours if we don't know what it is?"

"Just hide at different points around the room. The guy will come out and surrender, so be ready to grab him. I'll do the hard part," Raph commanded.

"I don't know. It doesn't seem like it would work," said Leo doubtfully.

Raph sighed. '"Just trust me, okay? If this doesn't work I'll buy dinner for a week."

"I could live with that," agreed Mike.

Leo sighed. "Let's go."

They slipped in and hid in different places around the room. Raph and Ricky hid behind a pile of boxes. Ricky stood ready to signal the others.

Raphael began to concentrate. Dum de dum dum. Dum de dum dum dummmmm.... he thought.

"Who was that?" yelled the scientist.

Me.

"Who are you?"

I am your worst nightmare.

"Oh, knock it off."

Forget it.

"Just go away."

Listen pal, I've got a gun, and it's pointed right at your head. If you don't shut up, my finger might slip.

"I'll do whatever you want! Just don't shoot!"

Come out of there slowly, with your hands over your head. The turtles will take you to the police. You will let them.

The man did as he was told, moving to the center of the room with his hands over his head. Ricky flashed the turtles a thumbs-up and nodded. They sprang out and bound the man. Ricky nudged Raph, and they both stepped out.

"Hey!" cried Raph. "It worked!"

Jesus Christ, how'd you do that? wondered Ricky.

If you think that was amazing, get this! thought Raph. I'm sorry, pal, but you know too much. It's time to say goodbye.

"No!" screamed the man, falling to the floor. "Hold on! Don't shoot! We can negotiate!"

Raph and Ricky began to laugh uproariously. The others stared at them until they finally got themselves under control.

The man finally realized he wasn't dead. "What's so goddamn funny?" he demanded.

"You," said Ricky.

"Somehow you tricked me. But how?" he wondered.

"I am your worst nightmare," Raph said in the same eerie voice he used in the guy's head. "Sound familiar?" he asked as the guy gaped at him.

"You did it!" he exclaimed.

"Duh," said Raph.

"But how?" wondered the man.

"I was hoping you could tell me that part," answered Raph.

"Well I can't," snapped the man. Raph and Ricky exchanged glances.

Uh-oh, thought Ricky.

"Damn right, uh-oh," Raph agreed out loud. He turned back to the man. 'So you're tellin' me you don't know how this happened, or how to fix it?"

"Yes," he snapped.

Raphael put his hand to his forehead. "This is not happening," he muttered.

"Raph, what is going on? I don't care what anyone else thinks, I don't believe this telepathy bit," burst out Leo.

Mike and Don murmured in agreement. Raphael looked at Ricky.

I'm going to have to show them, he thought.

Ricky nodded. Later though. I hear sirens, thought Ricky.

"Let's split," said Leo. They ran out of the room, leaving the man tied to a chair. They met with April.

"Let's get out of here," she said.

"We have to find the turtle van first," said Mike.

"I know where it is," Raph said confidently. He led them through a few hallways to a back garage, where they found the turtle van.

"How'd you do that?" wondered Mike.

"Let's go!" Leo said impatiently.

"We still need the keys," reminded Don.

"I can do that too," said Raph. He took a key off a hook by the door, ran to a desk in the corner, and unlocked the top drawer. He rummaged around for a while a turned around, triumphantly holding up the key. "Looking for this?" he asked.

They stared at him. Raph tossed the key to Leo. He caught it and jumped into the van. The others got in, and they pulled out. Raphael began to think into Don's head.

Don?

Raph?

Well who do you think it is?

Then you are telepathic?

No duh.

I guess I kind of believed you, but it just happened so fast...

Let's get the others.

The two concentrated and brought in Leo.

Hey, Leo, thought Don.

Don? wondered Leo.

Now do you believe me? asked Raph.

Yes.

Let's get Mike, thought Don. They quickly brought him in and convinced him. Then Raph cut contact. Mike shook his head.

"Whoa."

"I can't believe that just happened," said Leo.

Don frowned. "This is serious. There might be something else wrong. There might be bigger problems. Maybe in all of us."

Mike shuddered. "I don't even want to think about it."

They drove the rest of the way in silence. Once at home, Don ran countless tests. Once he looked over his computer at Raph and said: "I hope you don't feel like a lab rat or anything."

"Nah," answered Raph. "I want to find out what's wrong more than you do. I'm just nervous."

Don nodded and continued studying the computer screen. Finally he spun his chair to face Raph. "Well, I've got some good news and some bad news. The good news is, the telepathy is the only problem." He looked down.

"The bad news?" asked Raph.

"The, um, mental telepathy is slowly self-destructing your mind," said Don.

"Which means?" questioned Raph.

Don pressed a few buttons and looked at the screen. "Which means you have 48 hours to live," he said grimly. Raph leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. A few minutes later he opened them.

"Is there any way to fix it?" asked Raph.

"I don't know. I'd need a sample of that formula to check," he answered.

"Well I know where it is if the police didn't take it," offered Raph.

"How would you know that?" asked Don.

"Simple. I can look into peoples' minds. I just concentrated on the scientist and sped-read his mind like a book."

Well, the plot is a little shaky, to say the least. I really have no idea how this one would've ended, though. Hm.

The TMNT (Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Donatello, Raphael), April O'Neil, and associated characters are copyright 1998 Mirage Publishing. However, Cartoon Continuation and Ricky Monroe are copyright 1998 Luna Azul. Any attempt to steal, plagarize, edit, or in any way use this material will result in me doing something that you will regret sincerely.