Chapter Text
The rooftop shuddered beneath them, tremors pulsing, the unstable device laid within the middle of the rooftop. It crackled and spurred, violet beams coming from its core. The Kraang tech hummed softly, the violet gleam shining over their sea-green skin.
Leo studied the mech with a hint of worry in his eyes, he danced between Kraang-bots, but his gaze immediately darted back to the circuitry with stress. Quickly, his eyes widened, he looked to Donnie and immediately jabbed a fleeing Kraang unit with his katana. “Donnie! The Portal!” He huffed, gasping for air, as beads of sweat dripped down his forehead, clinging to his mask.
Leo’s eyes darted to another unit, one who was desperately clutching the gateways core component.
The blue banded turtle cowered from an incoming strike. He gripped his blades and flashed upwards, then landed a devastating blow to the chest of another bot. Its chestplate caved in from the force of impact. The edges of Leo’s mask were damp with sweat, his breaths ragged.
Donnie ducked and swept beneath the support of the Kraang-bots, immediately sweeping them off their feet with a thud. He looked towards Leo as he spun his staff dangerously fast, “I’m busy!” He groaned, stepping to the side as he dodged yet another blow. He pivoted and parried another attack, thrusting his staff into the bots core. Sparks bursted, the bot convulsed, before the violet light died.
Mikey watched all three of his brothers struggle with waves of bots, before he locked eyes on the refugee. “I.. I got it Lee!” He called out breathlessly. Mikey gripped his nunchucks tightly, determined to retrieve the key, he moved quickly and recklessly.
Weaving between the debris, he quickly gained on the bot, which was dangerously close to the crackling gateway. He took his hand to the bot's leg and yanked, causing the both of them to crash. The bot lay motionless on the ground, the soft whirring of its circuitry system the only thing making sound.
The key made a soft purple glow as Mikey picked it up. The light reflected in his glossy eyes as he blinked with confusion.
Behind him, the machine screamed with unstable energy. Its whirring echoed amongst the bot debris and Kraang tech. He turned slowly and hesitantly towards the portal, which shook violently. The portal flickered a rapid bright purple, and Mikey slowly looked down at the portal component, which flickered at the same speed.
Slowly, the orange banded turtle took a step back and desperately looked at his brothers, all four of them shared confused and distressed glances, darting gazes between each other, the portal, and the key component. Leo, Raph, and Donnie took a hesitant step forward as they finished with their last waves, trying to find the words to encourage Mikey to drop the key and run.
The portal flickered twice the rate than before, whirring loudly from behind.
Donnie stopped in his steps, whispering loud enough for everyone to hear,
“Oh fuck.”
Leo and Raph quickly turned to Donnie, raising a brow as they frowned in confusion,
Mikey yelped as he dropped the component, taking a step backwards. It grew scalding hot within those moments, and as it hit the ground with a clang, the portal split wide open.
A surge of wind roared outward like a vacuum, which sucked all air from the current space.
Mikey had little to no time to react as the vortex spiraled into a storm, his body being sucked into the vacuum. He collapsed from his feet, being dragged into the portal just a couple of feet behind him, and desperately looked for anything to hang onto.
“O-oh my–DONNIE” He screamed, his voice raw but high pitched. His brother's hearts ached at the sound, but they gripped onto the nearest wall, preventing themselves from being pulled in. “NO! No–DEE!” He gasped one more time, before his voice was swallowed by the portal.
Donnie opened his eyes with hesitance, then he was watching his baby brother being violently pulled backwards into the abyss of violet swirls. His eyes pleaded for help, panic carved into his face, as his arm stretched out for his older brothers.
And.. He was gone.
The entrance of the portal collapsed with a small hum, leaving only the remains of scorched concrete, Kraang junk, and mech debris.
The older three froze, hands still tightly gripping what they used to hold onto, shaking with such force that you could hear their bones rattling. Their hearts dropped to their stomachs, and slowly, Raph took the first step forward.
He held out a limp hand, dropping his sai’s with a clink. His breathing came out ragged and rough, his eyes dried from how little he blinked. Slowly, he approached the spot Mikey.. was. The last spot he was left before the portal had pulled him in.
He buckled his knees and collapsed, He tightened his knuckles to the point where they were white, a tingling sensation in his fists. He opened his mouth, letting out a strangled sob—and softly whispered “Mikey…?” He stared blankly at the portal. His voice came out small, something that was unfamiliar to Donnie and Leo.
Leo was the second to leave his place, making slow, hesitant steps towards Raph, like he would shatter if Leo moved wrong.
He made soft, slow steps towards Raph's right, then bent down to his level, taking a seat beside him as he rubbed soft, comforting circles into his shell. He tried to find the right words, opening his mouth before quickly shutting it, like he would say the wrong thing too soon.
Donnie left shortly after, but didn't approach the two. He stood in place besides the pole he clung onto for his dear life, studying his surroundings. His eyes wide, lips pressed into a thin line. He made mental notes of the area, the time stamp of the portal opening and then closing, what had happened, and the consequences.
No one said anything. Not that there was anything to say.
The breeze of the cold wind filled the desolate sound, blowing the tails of their masks in the wind.
For once, it was quiet.
And it wasn’t the kind of quiet they appreciated.
Chapter Text
Mikey slowly opened his eyes, his head pounded with excruciating pain. He looked around for a moment, being blinded by the violent lights above him. Hot pink atmosphere and familiar purple clouds filled the sky.
He felt his lungs tighten as if the air itself was denser, heavier. He took a hand to his throat, then looked around quickly, before shoving a hand into his belt. He let out a gaspy groan, “Please be here—where is it?” He desperately felt around his pockets, before his fingertips felt familiar material.
Bringing the unit to his lips with shaky hands, he jammed the mouthpiece in his mouth with every ounce of strength he had left. Quickly, he took in several deep breaths, allowing cool, filtered air into his lungs. He wheezed desperately as he huffed, his chest pumping up and down.
Slowly, he calmed, and the realization hit him pretty fast.
He rolled behind the closest surface he spotted, peaking from behind the rock he took cover from, he watched many scouts patrolling in a practiced formation.
Not any scouts—Kraang scouts.
He watched as their sickly magenta bodies twisted with every step, how their disgustingly mutilated limbs clutched their own advanced firearms.
Mikey took a handful of the surface beneath him, before raising it to his face, urgently rubbed it all over his skin. “Hopefully those freaks can't smell me..” he grumbled lightly, furrowing his brows.
Peering once more from behind his cover, he carefully studied each mangled and distorted figure ahead of him for miles.
He muttered something under his breath, letting out a disheartened sigh, before glaring at all the scouts before him. “Can’t believe they fixed their security since last time.. it was just a recommendation..” He let out in a gruff tone, before shaking his head.
He laid low for a while, carefully devising a plan that was flawless—and hopefully—would get him out of this mess. Swiftly and quietly, he brought a hand to his belt, snaking around to the back of his hip, and clutched his nunchucks.
He sighed softly, watching and observing his surroundings with familiarity. He brought his free hand to his chest, balling it into a fist, and slugging his shoulders. He glared at the uninviting mobs silently, then got to his knees.
He let out an unsure smile, plastering it on his face.
Memories hit him like a brick, his environment became familiar, less cold. Old muscle memory and instincts drove him throughout the barren, unfriendly land.
He was here before. He survived alone.
He crouched behind his coverage, watching each and every member's patterns. How they walked—their speed—he examines weaknesses.
Finally, he leapt between coverage, ducking and darting, staying as possibly low as his body could let him. His heart burned in his chest—if the karang had exquisite hearing, they’d hear how hard, loud, and fast his heart was hammering in his chest.
He tightened his grip on his nunchucks, his hands sweaty.
When the scout was at his weakest—when his back was turned towards mikey—when he was exposed, Mikey decided to strike. He moved hastily, soundlessly. He brought his arm, wrapping it around the scouts neck, headlocking it. He hurriedly snapped its neck after listening to it gurgle and grumble from lack of oxygen—if they even breathed. He wasn’t sure—their bodies were so mangled—so disfigured—that where their vital organs should’ve been, looked incredibly wrong.
He laid the scout down carefully, mumbling a genuine apology under his breath.
He slid behind a rock, breathing softly, hand gripping his nunchucks. He watched the area, then saw another malformed mutant approaching. He came to his knees, grounding himself, waiting for the time to strike. He calculated every motion—every step—not making time for mistakes.
He made a swift step forward towards the oblivious scout, whispering reassurance to himself, until his world quickly went dark.