Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

[New York City]

[An outside shot of a supermarket, which then cuts to the interior. In the self-checkout area, several shoppers are scanning and buying their groceries. We see the back of one, who is obviously Darius Dunn. He pays for his shopping then walks off, his head out of shot. When he reaches the shop exit, a robot standing by the door starts beeping cheerfully.]

Robot: Thank you for shopping here today. Please come again soon.

[Dunn spins around, slightly panicked. He carries a paper bag of groceries. After a few seconds, he relaxes slightly and stomps out of the shop. He enters the street. While everyone around him talks and walks happily, he moodily turns into a side alley. After he goes in, shadowy figures are seen lurking by the alley’s entrance... Street Phantoms!]

Dunn: Imbecilic android greeters. How I miss being able to order groceries straight to my mansion. Now I must purchase them in person like a commoner... Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

[Street Phantoms follow him, more phasing in through the walls. Dunn does not notice.]

Dunn: It’s all thanks to my wretched nephew and those blasted reptilians that I’ve been forced to relocate to a squalid dump. Forced to buy [He shudders.] store brand goods until my nephew realises I still have access to a few of his accounts, then who knows what I’ll have to resort to... stealing... dumpster diving... getting a real job...

[The Street Phantoms close in.]

Dunn: [He slows, clenching his fist.] My day will come. They will rue the day that they crossed Darius Dunn...

[The Street Phantoms reveal themselves and surround him. Dunn freezes, looking around.]

Dunn: W-What is this?

[Jammerhead walks out of the shadows, all grins.]

Jammerhead: Yo, Dunny Boy. No hard feelings about the bodyjacking incident, right?

Dunn: You! [He hugs his groceries to his chest.] If you intend to rob me, unless you want frozen yoghurt or a carton of milk, you’re wasting your time.

Jammerhead: [He stops in front of him and laughs.] Relax, big guy! We’re not here to mug ya. We’re here to do the opposite.

[Jammerhead reaches under his cloak and pulls out a plastic case. Inside is what appears to be a computer chip, with a purple aura radiating from it.]

Jammerhead: I want to sell you something.

Dunn: Not interested.

[Dunn turns around and starts walking away.]

Jammerhead: What if I told you that this baby is the key to enacting your revenge on the turtles?

Dunn: [He stops walking.] The turtles?

Jammerhead: We found this while rummaging through one of Sh'Okanabo’s hideouts. I think you’d be very interested in owning this.

Dun: [He slowly turns back around.] I’m listening.

[Jammerhead’s grin widens.]

[The Dark Turtles Lair]

[In a somewhat rundown building, enclosed by razor wiring, is the Dark Turtles’ lair. Inside, Dark Donatello is fiddling with a computer monitor, his tail gripping a high-tech screwdriver. Dark Michelangelo is dodging out of the way of Dark Raphael’s punches. Dark Leonardo sits alone with his back to the others.]

Dark Raphael: Stay still!

Dark Michelangelo: Who’s the slow one now? Catch me if you can!

[Dark Raphael makes a dive at him but Dark Michelangelo dodges out of the way, laughing.]

Dark Donatello: Can you tiny-brained morons shut up for five minutes?

Dark Michelangelo: You’re the moron! You’ve been working on that all day with nothing to show for it.

[Dark Raphael manages to tackle him. Dark Michelangelo screams, and the two start tussling on the floor. Dark Donatello groans loudly and drags a hand down his face.]

Dark Donatello: Oi, Fearless Leader. Can you do your one job and shut them up?

[Dark Leonardo ignores him. He is sitting cross-legged. In front of him is a wall, where a panel has been pulled out, revealing a small storage space. Inside are a lot of lamps. In his hand, he holds the bonsai tree that Leonardo gave him in ‘DNA is Thicker Than Water’.]

Dark Donatello: I’m talking to you, you big blue muscle maniac!

Dark Leonardo: [He growls and stands up, whipping around to face them. He holds the bonsai tree in one hand.] Why do you have to argue about stupid stuff all the time?

[Dark Raphael presses down on Dark Michelangelo’s head.]

Dark Raphael: [leering] I’d rather be stupid than weak. Ever since you came back from your vacation at the turtles’ place, you’ve been gettin’ soft. Look at you, holdin’ that dumb ugly tree. It’s probably dead anyway. It ain’t even got any apples growin’ on it.

Dark Donatello: That’s because it’s a bonsai tree, you ignoramus.

Dark Raphael: [He turns to him and raises a fist.] Who are you callin’ a dinosaur?

Dark Leonardo: It wasn’t a vacation. It was a mission.

Dark Michelangelo: Which you majorly failed! I’d have let him call it a vacation. Way less embarrassing.

[Dark Leonardo gets into an offensive stance.]

Dunn: Silence!

[Dunn walks in with a bag of groceries, his battle suit next to him and copying his movements. While he heads toward the centre of the room, Dark Leonardo hurriedly tucks the bonsai tree into the wall and stands in front of the opening. Dunn tosses four raw steaks onto the ground, which the Dark Turtles look at with interest.]

Dark Michelangelo: [He is drooling.] Is it our birthday?

[The Dark Turtles gather around and each pick up a steak. They start eating.]

Dunn: Today is a cause for celebration. For you see, in my possession is the answer to all our problems.

[Dunn delves a hand into his coat and whips out a transparent case, in which a computer chip is inside. It is giving off a menacing purple glow. The Dark Turtles frown.]

Dark Michelangelo: No offence, but that’s a lame birthday present. We don’t have any gaming consoles to play it on.

Dark Raphael: And it’s not even our birthday... is it?

Dunn: It’s not a video game. This is a chip that Sh'Okanabo and Viral were working on before their demises. When implanted into an individual, it transforms them into a Kanabo who won’t revert to normal in sunlight. And thanks to my ingenuity, I have made other altercations. Whoever it is inside will be stronger than any drone that Sh'Okanabo could have created, and they will obey my every command.

[Dark Donatello cups his chin as he studies the chip closely.]

Dark Donatello: Fascinating. Who did you procure this from?

Dunn: The leader of the Street Phantoms, Jammerhead. He’s lucky he caught me in a good mood... but perhaps I am the lucky one. This meld of human and alien technology is one of a kind.

Dark Donatello: [He reaches for it.] And it works?

[Dunn pulls it away.]

Dunn: It will, yes. After some collaboration between Jammerhead and I, it is now ready to be used. We’ve run simulations and all the tests have flown over our expectations. This is our ticket to defeating those blasted turtles and getting revenge on my nephew, once and for all.

Dark Leonardo: So what? You and Jammerhead are a team now?

Dark Michelangelo: [He scratches his head.] Do we have to start calling him Uncle and mail him Christmas cards every year?

Dunn: Not at all. I offered him additional money for sole ownership, and he was more than happy to take it and go, the greedy idiot. I suspect the unusual energy radiating from it put him off too. [He holds it up high.] Now, it’s mine to use as I wish. By the time my nephew notices his accounts have had massive withdrawals, it will be too late.

[Dark Leonardo folds his arms over his chest.]

Dark Leonardo: Let me guess. You’re going to implant the turtles with the chips and make them your new slaves?

Dunn: Not exactly. This chip is impossible to replicate, so I only have one.

[There is silence. Dark Donatello backs up, raising his hands.]

Dark Donatello: It’s elementary, is it not? Donatello would be the easiest to implant that chip into. He’s the weakest fighter, and he always has his head in the clouds.

Dark Raphael: Naw, it’s gotta be Raphael. He may be the toughest, but throwin’ punches is the only thing he has on the brain. It’ll be a piece of cake gettin’ it in him.

Dark Michelangelo: Michelangelo has no brain at all, so if it’s going to be anyone, it has to be...

Dunn: Silence, you grotesque freaks! It is not your decision to make. I have already decided which turtle we will implant, and it’s...

Dark Leonardo: Leonardo.

[While Dark Leonardo keeps his arms folded over his chest, the others stiffen and look at each other warily.]

Dunn: [He is slightly surprised but does his best to hide this.] Yes. That is correct.

Dark Michelangelo: But that’s, like, gonna be impossible. Leonardo must have a [He counts along his fingers until he runs out.] sixth sense at least.

Dark Donatello: My idiotic clone comrade puts forth a good point.

[Dark Michelangelo smiles stupidly.]

Dark Donatello: Leonardo is the most disciplined of the group, and he’s a formidable fighter. You must be aware of the bounty he has accumulated over his lifetime, and for good reason. [He pauses.] Well, the bounty he will accumulate in his future. We beat his family once when we first met, but we disarmed them and took them by surprise. If we were to try now...

Dark Raphael: It’s never gonna happen.

Dunn: You fools have just listed reasons why it must be him! His clone has brought me nothing but failure and disappointment. [Dark Leonardo glowers but says nothing.] With their leader at our disposal, they will fall apart. I will win. New York... no, the entire world will be in the palm of my hand with him as my slave.

Dark Leonardo: If he’s being turned into a mindless drone, won’t he lose his many strengths? He is not physically stronger or faster than the others. With their forces combined, they will easily overpower an empty shell of himself.

Dark Michelangelo: We might as well nab one of the others and be back in time for dinner.

[Dunn and his battle suit throw out their arms angrily.]

Dunn: IDIOTS! [The clones tense violently.] How dare you assume to know more than me! He will be no ordinary drone. The chip allows me to remotely accelerate the Kanabo transformation process and reverse it at will... though the, ah, more changed he is, the longer it will take for him to return to normal. Depending on the setting, he will have some level of control over himself. He will not be completely mind controlled unless I decide to turn up the setting to maximum. We will still benefit from his skills.

Dark Raphael: [He puts a hand to his head and winces.] Too much words.

Dark Michelangelo: You want to give him a mind control chip to not mind control him? This plan makes no sense.

Dunn: I know what I’m doing. You just need to implant the chip.

Dark Michelangelo: But how?

Dark Leonardo: I have a plan.

[Behind him, Dark Michelangelo’s brow furrows.]

Dark Michelangelo: Wait a minute... [He turns to Dark Donatello.] Did you call me idiotic?

[Dark Donatello facepalms.]

[In Cody’s Penthouse]

[It’s early morning, and the living room is a mess. Serling is tidying up various food containers. Cody, Michelangelo, Raphael and Donatello are sleeping on couches, surrounded by snacks. On the television is a Silver Sentry cartoon.]

Villain: You will never be like your father, the real Silver Sentry. [He throws Silver Sentry’s successor against a wall.] You’re always going to be a cheap knock off. A failure. A nobody.

[Leonardo enters, stretching his arms.]

Serling: At least one of you is conscious. Would you care to assist me in deep cleaning the penthouse?

Leonardo: Actually, I was thinking about taking my brothers and Cody on a morning run. Then, afterwards, finishing up with some katas. [He punches the air a few times.] Guys?

Donatello: [half-asleep] No, thank you.

Michelangelo: [half-asleep] We graduated. Remember? We’re Chūnin now. And I’m the...

Raphael: [half-asleep] Don’t say it.

Michelangelo: Battle Nexus champion...

[Raphael makes to smack Michelangelo across the head, only he is too far away so just flops his hand in his direction.]

Leonardo: [He stands over Michelangelo and puts his hands onto his hips.] Mikey, you were Battle Nexus Champion more than one-hundred years ago. Becoming chūnin isn’t an excuse to start slacking. In fact, it should be giving you the kick you need to work even harder. As chūnin, we have great responsibility to the jōnin, Master Splinter.

Donatello: [He shifts slightly.] You’re not wrong, Leo, but we just had an all-night marathon watching some new Silver Sentry episodes.

Cody: [half asleep] New? They came out almost eighty years ago.

[Leonardo looks at the television, frowns harder, then picks up the remote and turns it off.]

Leonardo: What about one lap around the block?

Raphael: Where’s the snooze button on you?

Cody: [He rubs his eyes.] Sorry, Leo. We’re just too tired. We’ll train with you later.

Michelangelo: Hey, don’t make promises on my behalf.

Leonardo: Fine, sleep in for half the day. [He throws up his hands and leaves.]

Raphael: What crawled up his shell this morning?

[Michelangelo snores.]

[The Penthouse Roof]

[Leonardo is limbering his muscles. Master Splinter approaches him.]

Splinter: Morning training, my son?

[Leonardo straightens and bows to him.]

Leonardo: Yes, Sensei. Morning training... alone. Again.

[Splinter cocks his head slightly to one side and quirks his brow.]

Splinter: Your intentions are good, Leonardo, but I am satisfied with the amount of training that your brothers are putting in. You are ninjas, but you are also young. Allow them respite now and again... and yourself. [He hesitates.] You have been training a lot recently, even by your standards. Does something trouble you?

Leonardo: [He hesitates.] I feel... like I don’t know where I fit in anymore.

Splinter: Oh? Please explain.

Leonardo: I mean... we all fit in here in the future. We can go about our days freely, without fear of rejection from the citizens of this city. [He paces.] There are still wrongdoers afoot, and there always will be, but... [He shakes his head.] Do my brothers really need me to be their leader? Have they outgrown me? Who am I without my role as leader?

Splinter: These are heavy thoughts, Leonardo, but I appreciate that you have shared them with me. For as long as I can remember, you have always chosen the most difficult path in life to walk. It is your determination and hope that keeps you on it where many others would have strayed long ago. As for your questions, I cannot answer them for you. Instead, I wish for you to rid your thoughts of training and leadership for the rest of the day.

Leonardo: You... want me to take the day off?

Splinter: That is a possibility.

Leonardo: [He rubs his chin.] Donnie probably has some tech that I could lend a hand on, or I could take Raph to see a wrestling match, or Mikey might even need a player two for a video game... 

[Splinter hits Leonardo on the head with his walking stick.]

Leonardo: Ow!

Splinter: If you truly seek answers to your questions, you must find them on your own. You must think about what Leonardo would like to do, not what he could do with his brothers.

Leonardo: [quieter] Leonardo would like to train.

[Splinter raises his stick again. Leonardo flinches away and holds up his hands.]

Leonardo: I mean you’re right, Sensei. I’ll see you later, thank you!

[Leonardo leaves. Splinter sighs and goes back inside. As Leonardo makes his way across rooftops, leaping from one to the next, there is a computer interface overlaying him with a crosshair in the centre. Dark Leonardo is watching him through high tech binoculars.]

Dark Leonardo: Finally. Time to rock and roll, boys.

[New York Street level]

[It’s still early morning, but the city is wide awake. Civilians are streaming in all directions and hover cars are whizzing along. No one pays attention to Leonardo standing on the pavement. He looks around.]

Leonardo: All right, New York. [He laces his fingers in front of him as he stretches his arms out forward.] Let’s see what you’ve got in store for me today.

[ Montage: Leonardo goes to a library , only there are no books inside. He grabs a tablet off the wall and opens up a virtual catalogue of digital books. Struggling to find something, he ends up reading ‘The House on Mango Street’ by Sandra Cisneros. For lunch , he has a hotdog and a drink at a stall. He looks around thoughtfully. He does some parkour up an alleyway and eats on a roof, enjoying the view. He stops by the cinema , eating popcorn as he watches a futuristic cowboy shootout while wearing futuristic goggles. The back wall has no projection on it. Partway through, he starts tossing up the popcorn and catching it in his hand before eating it. Next he visits a skateboard park , where the boards have little rockets on them and there are lots of ramps and obstacles (some floating). At first, he’s unsteady, but soon he’s skating, then leaping around, doing tricks that look a lot like katas. After a cool trick where he rockets and twirls around floating meteors, people applaud him. He looks embarrassed and bows. Soon he has kids riding on his back, cheering his name as he flies around.]

Children: Leo! Leo! Leo!

[Cody’s Penthouse]

[Michelangelo is sitting on a kitchen counter. Donatello and Cody are at the dining table, looking at a hologram screen together while Raphael sits opposite them.]

Michelangelo: [He is pouting as he whines into his gauntlet.] Leo, Leo, Leo...

Raphael: Saying his name ain’t gonna make him answer him any sooner.

[Leonardo answers. He is sitting on grass in a park, sketching a pigeon.]

Leonardo: Hey, Mikey! Is everything okay?

[The screen splits, one half showing Leonardo and the other showing Michelangelo.]

Michelangelo: Do you remember the name of that taco place we went to last week?

Leonardo: La Guarida del Dragon?

Michelangelo: [He snaps his fingers.] I knew it had something to do with a dragon. Thanks, bro.

Leonardo: No problem. Do you need my help with anything else?

Michelangelo: Hm... nope! Oh, can you bring me back a taco? Thanks, love ya, bye! 

[Michelangelo hangs up. The others look at him, frowning.]

Cody: You could have just looked that up.

Donatello: Or asked any of us. We went as well, remember?

Michelangelo: I know. But if I did that, he wouldn’t be coming back with tacos. [He lies down and splays out his arms and legs, smiling blissfully.]

[Cody shakes his head.]

Michelangelo: What? Maybe I wanted to check on him too, like a good brother.

Raphael: [unconvinced] Really.

Michelangelo: Really really. He had his joint pads all in a twist this morning. I can’t remember the last time he stomped off like that.

Cody: [He scratches his cheek.] He did seem a bit surly.

Michelangelo: At least he sounded like his usual self when he answered my call.

Cody: [nodding] That’s good! 

Donatello: [He grimaces.] Yeah. Trust me, Cody, you don’t want to be around Leo when he’s in a real bad mood.

[The Park]

[Leonardo is sketching the bird still. The screen zooms out, revealing the drawn bird is perched on the end of his picture-self’s katana. Leonardo puts down his pencil and sighs. He looks upward. Surrounding the park are high-rise buildings.]

[New York Street]

[Leonardo emerges out of a taco shop with a paper bag.]

Leonardo: [He reads through the receipt.] Let’s see. Spicy beef taco for Mikey... Dry-rubbed salmon for Donnie... Pulled pork for Raph... Breakfast taco for -

[Someone in a trenchcoat barges into him. Leonardo stumbles. The person clutches Leonardo’s arm, as if steadying themselves, as their other hand snatches the paper bag from him. They run off.]

Leonardo: Hey! Those are my tacos!

[Leonardo chases after the robber. Civilians watch, none of them trying to intervene. Leonardo follows the robber into an alley. The robber easily climbs up to the roofs. Leonardo looks up, puzzled, and continues to pursue them. The pair leap across roofs before the robber jumps down onto the top of a lorry. Leonardo drops down onto the one behind it. He manages to get to the same lorry as the robber, but then the robber leaps off, and Leonardo does the same. After some more alleyway chases, they end up in an industrial area. Leonardo spots the robber going into a warehouse . He follows. The building appears abandoned. There are conveyor belts, debris, trash, and a broken metal ladder leading to a partial upper floor that overlooks the lower floor. He sees the robber across the way. They have their back to him.]

Leonardo: You’re quite the acrobat.

[The robber doesn’t respond. Leonardo’s eyes narrow and he takes a few steps forward.]

Leonardo: [keeping his tone casual] I’ve seen a lot of fighters in my life, but few are as agile as you. In fact, if I was to compare you to anyone, I would say you remind me of my brother, Michelangelo.

[The robber turns around, revealing he is Dark Michelangelo, grinning widely.]

Leonardo: It’s not the tacos you really wanted, was it?

[Dark Michelangelo takes out a taco and shovels it into his mouth.]

Dark Michelangelo: [His mouth is full of food, muffling his voice.] Dunno about my brothers, but I’m starving.

[Dark Raphael appears out of the shadows and shoves Dark Michelangelo.]

Dark Raphael: Save some for me!

[While they wrestle over the tacos, Dark Donatello and Dark Leonardo appear up on a higher floor of the warehouse, overlooking the rest of the group. Leonardo looks at Dark Leonardo, whose face tightens as he glances away.]

Dark Donatello: Let’s give a round of applause for Leonardo! [He mockingly and daintily claps a few times before turning to Dark Leonardo.] I have to hand it to you, even though we had to wait a week for him to go out alone, your plan actually worked. I honestly didn’t think your original would be stupid enough to chase us here, but I have been proven wrong.

[Dark Donatello’s tail holds a computer tablet. He presses on the device. The door behind Leonardo slams shut. Leonardo’s mask tails flutter, but he doesn’t look back. He pulls out his katana.]

Dark Leonardo: It’s just as he said. This isn’t about the tacos.

Leonardo: What’s the real reason you led me here?

Dark Donatello: [He wags his finger.] That would be spoiling. Let’s wait for your family to arrive before divulging all the exciting info, hm?

Leonardo: No need. I’m happy to pass on any messages.

Dark Leonardo: This is the sort of message that needs to be done in person. Not to worry. Your family will come looking for you soon enough.

Leonardo: [He widens his stance.] I’ll be home before they even begin wondering where I am.

Dark Donatello: I don’t think so. This is more not about the tacos than you realise. [He cups a hand to his mouth.] Oh, grotesque brother of mine!

[Dark Michelangelo stops grappling with Dark Raphael and reaches into his trenchcoat. He pulls out the communicator part of Leonardo’s gauntlet. Leonardo widens his eyes and looks at his arm while Dark Michelangelo climbs up and gives it to Dark Donatello before dropping back down.]

Leonardo: My communicator!

[Dark Michelangelo grins goofily and shows his palms, wiggling his fingers. A flashback shows Dark Michelangelo bumping into Leonardo outside the taco place. As they make contact, Dark Michelangelo tears off Leonardo’s communicator from his gauntlet and takes the taco bag with his other hand. The scene returns to the present.]

Dark Michelangelo: Ain’t I a stinker?

Dark Donatello: [He begins tapping on Leonardo’s communicator.] Give me a few minutes and I’ll have this hooked up and ready to make calls.

[Dark Leonardo drops down to the ground floor and draws his weapons.]

Dark Leonardo: Don’t rough him up too badly. We need him in good shape for the plan.

Dark Raphael: Aw, that’s no fun. I’m gonna beat up his family lots more later to make up for it.

Dark Michelangelo: [to Leonardo] Thanks for the tacos, now let’s dance.

[The clones charge Leonardo at the same time.]

[Cody’s Penthouse]

[Michelangelo is wearing a harness and headset. He is all wired up with cables, playing a video game that looks like a reskinned Turtles in Time. Nearby, Donatello is surrounded by parts of a taken-apart robot as he tinkers with a circuit board, and Raphael is sitting on the couch, watching Michelangelo.]

Headset: GAME OVER!

Michelangelo: [He throws his head back.] Argh! This level is impossible with just one person. I’ve had like a gazillion attempts and I keep losing.

Donatello: [He doesn’t look up.] It’s probably intentional. Whoever made the game wants you to buy an extra controller in order to beat it. 

Michelangelo: That’s not fair!

Donatello: That’s capitalism for you.

Raphael: [smirking] Mikey’s issue is that he ain’t got no one who wants to play with him.

Michelangelo: Hey! [He turns around, getting slightly twisted up in the cables.] Nothing is stopping you guys from pitching in.

Donatello: [He holds up his circuit board.] Busy, bro. I’m fixing the chef-bot you tried to cook popcorn inside.

Raphael: And I’m havin’ fun watching you fail. Besides, I’d rather use my energy in the holo dojo. You can join me if ya want.

Michelangelo: [He pulls a face.] No way. [He looks over at Serling, who is passing through with a laundry basket.] Serling?

Serling: [He doesn’t break his stride.] No. [He leaves the room.]

Michelangelo: [He sighs.] Fine. I’ll wait for Leo to come back. He’ll play with me.

Donatello: [He looks up.] I was actually planning on recruiting Leo to help me with some maintenance. There’s some delicate work involved and he has the steadiest hands out of all of us.

Raphael: [He prods himself in the chest.] Leo’s gonna spar with me. We missed his morning trainin’, so I’m gonna make it up to him.

[Master Splinter and Cody enter the room.]

Donatello: How long is Leo going to be out for, Sensei?

Splinter: I requested that Leonardo take time for himself for the rest of the day, but I cannot imagine he will be gone for too much longer.

Michelangelo: He better be back soon. [His stomach rumbles.] I’m starving! I want my tacos!

[Raphael taps on his gauntlet.]

Raphael: I’m callin’ him.

Cody: I’m sure he’s on his way back right now.

Raphael: [He grimaces.] I’d rather know for sure.

[His gauntlet starts beeping. In the warehouse , Dark Donatello is fiddling with Leonardo’s damaged communicator, which is connected by cables to another gauntlet. On the ground, Leonardo fights the Dark Turtles sans Dark Donatello, seeming to hold his own. The gauntlet beeps.]

Dark Donatello: Oh, Leader! You’ve got an incoming call!

Dark Leonardo: Tag in for me.

[Dark Donatello leaves the communicator and jumps down, while Dark Leonardo climbs up. Leonardo tries to chase after him, but Dark Michelangelo and Dark Raphael block his path. Dark Donatello sweeps his tail underneath Leonardo, who jumps out of the way. Leonardo then tries to jump over them, only to have his ankle grabbed by Dark Michelangelo and be thrown back. Leonardo lands and dodges back again as Dark Michelangelo swings his clubs at him. Dark Raphael punches him, making Leonardo tumble. On the top level, Dark Leonardo presses the communicator.]

Raphael’s voice: Yo, Leo. Where are ya?

Dark Leonardo: [imitating Leonardo’s voice] Goldfine Industrial Park.

[Back in Cody’s penthouse.]

Cody: [confused] That area has been practically defunct since a massive electrical fire. It’s mostly used for storage these days... and illicit trades.

Raphael: What are you doin’ there?

Dark Leonardo’s voice: When I was buying you all tacos, I bumped into our clones. They want our help to take down Dunn and I went to hear them out.

[The group tense, all looking horrified except Raphael who quickly becomes very angry.]

Raphael: [He brings his gauntlet close to his mouth.] ARE YOU CRAZY? Didn’t it sink through your head last time? When your clone pretended to be good but was really tryin’ to pull the wool over our eyes? Remember that? They are EVIL, Leo!

[In the warehouse.]

[Dark Leonardo’s smirk disappears.]

Dark Leonardo: I know they are. But if it means we can defeat Dunn, it’s worth it, is it not?

[Back in Cody’s penthouse.]

[Raphael’s face is twitching. Splinter gently lowers Raphael’s arm so he can speak into the gauntlet.]

Splinter: Leonardo, this is incredibly reckless. Return home right now. You should not have gone alone.

Dark Leonardo: I’ll be waiting for you. [He hangs up.]

[In the warehouse.]

[Dark Leonardo jumps down to join the fray. Leonardo breathes heavily. Dark Leonardo runs forward and punches Leonardo, who stumbles. Dark Leonardo draws his weapon and slashes. Leonardo manages to block the attack and rolls back. The Dark Turtles close in on him.]

[At the penthouse, everyone is stunned.]

Michelangelo: Anyone else smell a trap?

Raphael: Yeah, and it’s worse than your B.O.

Splinter: [He strokes his chin.] There was something very strange about Leonardo’s manner just now.

Donatello: This whole thing is strange.

Cody: [He raises a finger.] Maybe the clones really do want our help?

[The others stare at him blankly. Cody winces.]

Cody: Or not.

Donatello: Either way, we can’t leave Leo alone with them. We can track his gauntlet to find his precise location. [He starts running and beckons with his arm.] Come on!

[Everyone hurries out. Soon they are in the Hovershell .]

Raphael: The guy’s a strategic genius, but that bonehead will trust anyone. His clone, the Shredder... Don’t get me started on how many chances he gave Karai. [He puts on a bad impression of Leo’s voice.] We can trust her, you guys. She has honour. She’s not like the Shredder. She’s different. I can feel it deep in my chi. She’s so cool. [He fake swoons.] Look at me, I’m Leonardo.

[The others don’t look impressed. Cody scratches his head.]

Michelangelo: I always thought Leo had a... um... [He waggles his brow.] you know... on -

Donatello: [He elbows him.] Don’t let Leo ever hear you say that.

[Splinter clears his throat.]

Splinter: It is in Leonardo’s nature to try to see the good in others, even where everyone else sees only darkness. However, I fear this time, he may have followed his hope into a darkness he may not be able to leave so easily.

[In the warehouse]

[Leonardo is fighting all four clones, parrying their blows and dodging. He’s panting but managing to keep up with them, though he’s on the defensive rather than the offensive.]

Dark Donatello: There’s one of you, and four of us. How are you holding your own?

Leonardo: [He blocks Dark Michelangelo’s club.] I defeated Ch’rell, the Utrom Shredder, and trained under the Ancient One and the Ninja Tribunal. [He ducks out of the way of Dark Donatello’s tail, then sweep kicks him.] I bested the Daimyo’s son in combat and fought assassins from other universes. [He flips away from Dark Raphael, lands on Dark Michelangelo, and leaps off as Dark Raphael swings his weapon. He misses Leonardo and hits Dark Michelangelo. They collapse.] I looked a necro monster in the eye and declined its offer of wealth and immortality. [He blocks Dark Leonardo’s blades.] And my family destroyed your creator, Sh'Okanabo. I’m not so easy to defeat.

[They continue fighting. Leonardo exchanges blows with Dark Leonardo, fast and furious, but then Dark Raphael rams into the side of him. Leonardo tumbles. He just manages to intercept Dark Raphael’s knuckler, but his arms begin to buckle as Dark Raphael pushes downward. Leonardo rolls out of the way, and Dark Raphael’s weapon strikes the ground where Leonardo had been moments before.]

[While Leonardo gets distracted by Dark Michelangelo swinging a club at him, Dark Donatello scoops Leonardo up with his tail, constricting him around the middle and pinning his arms to his sides. Leonardo gasps.]

Dark Donatello: You don’t know how much I want to crack you open. [He looks at Dark Leonardo.] You were right, my big blue behemoth. He’s skilled but doesn’t possess any super strength. Though, after we implant the chip, I’m sure that will be amended.

[Leonardo thrashes but can’t break loose. Dark Leonardo goes in front of him and leers.]

Leonardo: It’s not too late. Release me, and we can pretend this whole incident never happened.

Dark Raphael: Yeah right. We ain’t that dumb.

Leonardo: I mean it. I’ll smooth things over with my family. You can walk away unharmed if you let me go right now.

Dark Raphael: [He pokes Leonardo’s forehead.] You talk big for such a small fry.

Dark Michelangelo: [He scratches his head.] Hey, Boss. I don’t get it. Why do we have to go through all the bother of getting his family to come here? We’ve got him, haven’t we?

Dark Leonardo: The chip requires a strong host. That means we need to bring him back in as good of shape as possible. We need to -

[An alarm goes off. The Dark Turtles look around.]

Dark Donatello: It must be them. They’ve tripped the perimeter alarm. Shall we go greet our honoured guests?

Dark Leonardo: [He narrows his eyes.] They’ll come to us. Activate forcefield one.

[Dark Donatello presses on his tablet with his hands. A red-laser grid patterned forcefield appears around them. For a short time, there’s silence. The clones look around. Then the warehouse’s doors explode open. Turtle-X, Michelangelo and Raphael burst in.]

Raphael: Leo!

Leonardo: [He starts struggling again.] It’s a trap! Get out of -

[Dark Donatello squeezes harder and curls the end of his tail around Leonardo’s mouth, cutting him off.]

Michelangelo: Get your slimy tail off our bro!

[The group charges forward. Raphael throws a sai, which bounces uselessly off the forcefield. Undeterred, Raphael keeps running, as do the others.]

Dark Donatello: There’s two more on the roof. It’s probably Donatello and their rat master.

[Dark Leonardo presses his blade against Leonardo’s throat. He points his other sword at the new arrivals, who stop running.]

Dark Leonardo: [snarling] All of you are to stand by the doorway. Now. That goes for the other two prowling around. And drop your weapons, or else I’ll drop your leader’s head on the ground. [The new arrivals widen their eyes.] You have until five. One... two...

[Dark Donatello tightens his grip. The others retreat to the doorway. Splinter and Donatello drop down from above, joining them.]

Dark Leonardo: Three, four...

[Everyone drops their weapons.]

Dark Leonardo: [He smirks.] Good. Ah, Donatello, could you scoot over to the left a little please? [He motions with his hand.]

[Donatello does so, making him stand closer to the others.]

Dark Leonardo: Perfect. Okay, Brainiac, activate the other forcefield.

[Dark Donatello presses on the tablet. A second red-laser grid patterned forcefield surrounds the new arrivals.]

Raphael: What the-? [He punches the forcefield. It shimmers slightly but remains intact. He continues punching.]

[Donatello and Michelangelo try striking the forcefield with their weapons, but to no effect. Splinter strokes it with his hand, frowning.]

Michelangelo: These guys levelled up since we last battled them.

Raphael: No duh.

[Cody punches the forcefield. Again, nothing happens.]

Splinter: We have obliged with your demand. Now let my son go.

Dark Michelangelo: Nuh uh uh. We only agreed not to chop his head off.

[The other group glowers.]

Dark Leonardo: Release him.

Dark Michelangelo: Huh?

[The other dark turtles look equally surprised. Dark Leonardo continues staring at their enemies.]

Dark Leonardo: Do as I say. Lower forcefield one and release Leonardo.

[Dark Donatello hesitates but taps on the tablet. The forcefield around them disappears. Dark Donatello then tosses away Leonardo, who rolls before taking an offensive stance.]

Leonardo: Let my family go!

[Leonardo lunges for Dark Donatello, but Dark Michelangelo and Dark Raphael intercept him. Dark Donatello presses his tablet. The red-laser forcefield starts to shrink around the turtles, Splinter and Cody. Turtle-X starts to bend as the forcefield touches it. Cody cries out in horror, drawing Leonardo’s attention and making him freeze.]

Leonardo: No!

[Dark Leonardo raises a hand. Dark Donatello presses the tablet again, and the forcefield stops shrinking. Leonardo looks at his family fearfully.]

Dark Raphael: Seems like fighting for your family ain’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Dark Leonardo: Now that you’ve all calmed down, shall we talk?

[Leonardo tears his gaze away from his family and glares at his clone.]

Leonardo: I’m listening. But if you lay another finger on my family...

Dark Leonardo: We won’t. You have my word.

Raphael: Like that means anything from you creeps.

[The clones and Leonardo turn and look at him.]

Raphael: Did you think we’d forget that time you staged an attack so we would take you in? You nearly had everyone fooled, but you showed your true colours in the end. You’re a monster and can’t be trusted. None of you.

[Dark Leonardo growls.]

Dark Raphael: Yap, yap, yap. C’mon, let’s get this show on the road.

Raphael: [He brandishes his sai.] Let me out and say that to my face. I dare you.

Dark Leonardo: Everyone, shut up! [He looks at Leonardo.] Here’s the deal. Our master got his hands on a technological device, and he has chosen you specifically to be the one we implant it into.

Michelangelo: Ruh roh. I don’t like the sound of that.

Leonardo: [wary] What sort of technological device are we talking about here?

Dark Donatello: [He wags a finger, smirking.] Ah, ah. We don’t want to ruin the surprise. Let’s just say it can remotely receive signals to activate electronic pulses which are able to manipulate an individual’s thoughts and behaviour.

[Raphael, Splinter and Michelangelo look at Donatello. Donatello cups his chin.]

Donatello: It sounds like a mind control chip.

Michelangelo: [He yelps and recoils.] Not cool!

Dark Michelangelo: [He dances around Leonardo. His tongue waggles around.] Once it’s inside of you, we’ll be your new brothers.

Raphael: Like shell we’re going to let you get that thing anywhere near our bro. Come on, guys!

[The turtles and Splinter try attacking the forcefield again, but their weapons still have no effect.]

Michelangelo: Cody, try blasting it with your lasers.

Donatello: It’s too dangerous. We’d probably blow ourselves up

Michelangelo: But... [He looks at Leonardo.] We have to do something.

Dark Leonardo: [to Leonardo] You must choose. Yourself, or your family. The city, or your family.

Leonardo: [immediately] My family.

Raphael: Leo!

[Leonardo grimaces, keeping his back to them.]

Dark Leonardo: Veil the forcefield.

[Dark Donatello presses his remote, and the forcefield becomes entirely red, hiding those inside from view. Leonardo turns and stares, horrified.]

Leonardo: What the...?

Dark Leonardo: They’re safe. They just can’t hear or see us anymore. This way, we can iron out the final details of our deal in privacy. Now, are you sure you want to do this? Your answer was immediate.

Leonardo: [He turns back to the clones.] A long time ago, I almost sacrificed myself and my family to destroy an enemy. It was due to good fortune that we were saved from death by the utroms. I... [He puts a hand on his shell, where his battle scar used to be.] ... cannot put those I care deeply about through that again.

[Leonardo gets down on one knee.]

Leonardo: You are free to do with me as you wish.

Dark Leonardo: Hmph. Let’s see if you’re so comfortable when you find out the catch. I suppose we can tell him the special part now. It’s not just a mind control chip.

Dark Donatello: It has a certain someone’s genes embedded in it.

Dark Michelangelo: And that certain someone is our creator!

Leonardo: [He widens his eyes.] Sh'Okanabo?

Dark Raphael: Bingo! You’ll become a Kanabo super soldier. 

Dark Michelangelo: [He clasps his hands together.] Our kanabo super soldier.

[Inside the forcefield, Donatello and Cody are tapping frantically on Turtle-X’s arm. Donatello regularly glances over at his gauntlet.]

Michelangelo: [Hopping between feet] Come on, guys. We’ve gotta get out of here.

Raphael: Yeah, before Leo does something stupid.

Cody: We’re trying our best. Our electronics still work, but I can’t establish a connection beyond the forcefield.

Donatello: And as my clone has the device that controls the forcefield surrounding us, that means we can’t disable it.

Splinter: So we are stuck here?

Donatello: Not necessarily. [He turns his attention to his gauntlet and swipes at the screen.] If we can find the right frequency, we should be able to bypass the barrier and get the shell out of here.

[Outside the forcefield, Leonardo looks conflicted.]

Dark Leonardo: Not so cocky now, are you? Have you changed your mind?

[Leonardo hardens his features.]

Leonardo: No, I haven’t.

[The clones exchange confused looks. Dark Leonardo remains stoic.]

Dark Raphael: You’re really gonna let us?

Dark Michelangelo: Once you have that chip in, you’re living with us. You ain’t going back to  your old family.

Dark Donatello: Not that you would want to, even if you had a choice. The chip is incredibly hard to remove, and prolonged exposure to your presence will make it likely that you either infect or destroy them. They aren’t immune, like us.

Dark Raphael: [grinning] And we can always turn your chip up to the max settin’ if we have to.

Leonardo: Max setting?

Dark Donatello: Total compliance.

Dark Raphael: You’ll want to devour everything, and everyone, in your path.

Dark Michelangelo: But not us! We’re immune! [He throws out his arms and starts doing a little dance on the spot.] Man, I love being a dark turtle.

[Leonardo looks hesitant for a moment, but then smirks.]

Leonardo: I understand. I accept. 

Dark Raphael: You do? You ain’t scared?

Leonardo: Whatever you have planned will fail. My family and friends will overcome whatever you throw their way, even if it is me. You underestimate my brothers. 

Dark Leonardo: [His face contorts with rage.] No. You underestimate us. [He prods Leonardo’s chest.] We’re leaving now, and you’re coming with us. And when we arrive back to our lair, you’re going to let us implant that chip.

Leonardo: [He stands his ground, not flinching away.] [sharply] First, you will release my family. Do that, and I will go along with your demand.

[Leonardo’s stare is unrelenting. Dark Leonardo grits his teeth and turns his head away.]

Dark Leonardo: We leave in the Terrorpin, and just before we make our exit, we will remove the forcefield.

Leonardo: How can I be certain that you will do that?

Dark Leonardo: What else can you do?

[Leonardo hesitates but when the dark turtles walk away, he follows them into another part of the warehouse. Inside is the Terrorpin. Dark Donatello uses his gauntlet to open it, and they troop up the ramp and go inside. With Dark Donatello piloting the helm, the Terrorpin takes off, blasting a hole in the roof. As they pass through the newly made exit, Dark Leonardo takes Dark Donatello’s tablet and presses it. Below, the forcefield around the turtles, Splinter and Cody lowers.]

Raphael: Leo!

[The Terrorpin escapes. The others run into the room where the Terrorpin had been. Raphael throws his sai upward but the vehicle is way too high. He falls to his knees as his weapon clatters to the ground. The others are equally saddened. Raphael punches the ground.]

Raphael: Idiot!

[Splinter puts a hand onto his shoulder.]

Cody: We’ll get him back.

Michelangelo: [trying to stay strong] Y-Yeah. Leo’s gotten out of way worse situations than this.

[Dark Turtles’ lair]

[The Terrorpin opens, and Leonardo walks out, without his weapons and with his hands cuffed behind his back. When he’s off the ramp, Dark Leonardo kicks him, sending Leonardo to the ground and onto his face.]

Leonardo: [He lifts his head and looks around.] So this is your lair?

Dark Donatello: It’s yours as well now.

Dark Michelangelo: [He points at a pile of broken wood and rags.] But that’s my bed, so don’t even think about going near it.

[Leonardo tries to get up, but Dark Raphael picks him up before he can and holds him up.]

Dark Leonardo: Let’s get straight to business. We’re gonna have to knock you out before we can put the chip in, so any last words?

[Leonardo does not answer.]

Dark Michelangelo: Nothing?

[Leonardo still does not answer. He continues frowning, which infuriates Dark Leonardo.]

Dark Leonardo: Very well.

[Dark Leonardo strikes Leonardo, and the screen goes white as Leonardo lets out a pained gasp.]

[Still in the Dark Turtles’ lair, but later]

[Leonardo’s vision is blurry as he awakes.]

Dark Donatello's voice: I can’t believe you hit him like that when you were the one harping on about making sure we didn’t injure him too much. I was going to use general anaesthetic anyway.

Dark Leonardo's voice: Shut up. I didn’t hit him that hard.

Dark Michelangelo's voice: Hey, I think he’s waking up!

Dark Raphael's voice: Rise and shine!

[Leonardo is on a dirty mattress. Dark Raphael and Dark Michelangelo are seated near him. Leonardo groans and touches a hand to his head. There is a bandage there.]

Dark Michelangelo: Did you have a nice sleep?

[Across the room, Dark Donatello looks up from his computer. Dark Leonardo looks over his shoulder, sitting by where he hides his bonsai tree. Dark Leonardo shuts the hiding spot before standing up and coming over. Leonardo looks at his hand. He clenches and unclenches it a few times, confused.]

Dark Raphael: Hey, Brainbox, did you cut out his brain’s talking part? Why’s he not talking?

[Leonardo blinks.]

Leonardo: I’m... still me? But... [He touches his hand to his head again.]

Dark Donatello: Don’t get your hopes up. The chip’s definitely in there. It’s just inactive. Only Darius can control it.

Leonardo: [His expression darkens.] Darius... Dunn?

Dark Michelangelo: I feel ya there. The dude is a total -

Dunn’s voice: Is he awake?

[A shadow falls onto them. Dark Michelangelo cowers and yelps.]

Dark Donatello: Speak of the devil...

[Dunn strides over, wearing his battle suit. Leonardo jolts upright into a sitting position, glaring.]

Leonardo: You!

Dunn: [smirking] Is that any way to greet your new master?

Leonardo: [He gets to his feet, swaying slightly.] You will never be my master. My master is Hamato Splinter.

Dunn: We’ll see about that.

[Dunn raises his arm and presses a button on it. A hologram control panel projects out. He slowly drags on a dial icon on the screen. As he does, Leo doubles over and grunts, wrapping his arms around himself. A red glow consumes his eyes.]

Dunn: Who is your master?

Leonardo: [pained] Master... Splinter...

[Dunn turns the dial more. Leonardo cries out, his legs buckling. He spews out purple goop and drops to his knees. The clones look on, disturbed, as his body shakes.]

Dark Michelangelo: Eep! [He springs back onto one foot.]

[Dunn is indifferent to Leonardo’s suffering.]

Dunn: I ask again. Who is your master?

[Leonardo growls. He lurches toward Dunn. There is the sound of metal being slashed. The clones look on in fear. The screen cuts back to Dunn. The front of his suit has deep slash marks on it. The screen pans to Leonardo, who does not have his swords drawn but his hand extended in front of him. It is claw-shaped but still green.]

Dark Donatello: [nervously] Did he do that just with his hand?

[Leonardo growls again and swings his arm around for another swipe. This time, Dunn grabs his body and lifts him up high. Leonardo thrashes and snarls, trying to bite Dunn. He chucks up purple goop that lands on the window part of Dunn’s battle suit.]

Dunn: I ask again. Who is your master?

[Leonardo bares his teeth, which have become sharp and pointy. He continues snapping at Dunn, who throws him to the ground with enough force to stun him.]

Dunn: Kneel.

[Leonardo doesn’t move at first, but then he slowly rises and gets into a kneeling position. Dunn smirks.]

Dark Michelangelo: Ooh! Now make him cluck like a chicken! [He mimes a chicken flapping its wings.]

Dunn: [He ignores him.] There, that’s a good turtle freak. Let’s try one more time. Who is your master?

[Leonardo remains silent, staring up at him. Dunn grimaces.]

Dark Leonardo: Still happy with your new protege?

Dunn: I just need to break him in. Purple freak, set up a forcefield around him. We’ll resume his induction tomorrow.

[Dunn turns the dial back on his hologram panel. The red in Leonardo’s eyes vanishes and he pants, hands on the ground in front of himself. Dunn leaves the room. Dark Donatello presses his gauntlet, and a blue forcefield appears around Leonardo. The clones gather around.]

Dark Donatello: Make yourself comfortable, Leonardo. This is your new home.

Dark Michelangelo: And we’re your new brothers.

[Dark Michelangelo bursts into hysterical laughter while Leonardo looks down, horrified.]

Chapter Text

[‘Past’ New York City]

[The Lair]

[A shot of a typical NYC street that shifts toward the road. Then a focus on a manhole cover, which a van drives over. Next, a shot of a sewer tunnel, followed by a shot of the turtles’ first lair. The turtles are preteens. Michelangelo stands on the living room’s couch, Donatello sits next to him, Raphael is pacing and Leonardo stands nearby with his arms folded over his chest.]

Michelangelo: [bouncing slightly] Sensei’s been in his room for ages now.

[A quick pan to Splinter’s shut door, which the turtles glance at.]

Raphael: [He stops pacing.] He should have decided which of us is gonna be the leader already.

Donatello: [He strokes his chin.] Well, he’s got to mark that written test he had us do, right?

Raphael: It can’t take that long to tick some answers.

Michelangelo: Or draw red crosses next to them all in your case.

[Raphael turns to him and growls, looking ready to pounce. Michelangelo laughs mischievously.]

Leonardo: [He holds up his hand, all three fingers out.] It’s not just about who got the most answers right in that one test. Sensei set us three challenges, remember?

Raphael: Yeah. [He looks pleased.] Me and Mikey aced the obstacle course. We even beat you, Leo.

[Leonardo frowns.]

Donatello: [He gives a little huff and puts his hands onto his hips.] Hey, I wasn’t that far behind you guys. I trained really hard.

Raphael: [He points a finger toward his own temple.] Well, I studied so much that it’s a wonder I don’t need glasses.

Michelangelo: [He drops into a sitting position next to Donatello and slouches.] And I practised my katas so many times I can do them in my sleep. Probably.

Leonardo: Come on, guys. We all did our best and prepared really well. That’s probably why Sensei’s taking so long to decide.

[The other turtles smile a bit and nod as Leonardo looks at them in turn. Splinter’s door opens. The turtles whip around and stare at him. He ambles over to the kitchen, carrying an empty cup.]

Michelangelo: [trembling with excitement, holding his fists under his chin] Well?

Donatello: [equally in suspense] Who’s the leader?

[Splinter rinses his cup before returning. He stands in front of the turtles, who crowd together and peer up at him. A grin pulls at his mouth.]

Splinter: My sons, I am incredibly proud of you. I can tell that you all tried your hardest. Donatello, you got every answer correct on your written test and correctly performed every kata I requested. [Donatello smiles.] But I am most pleased with your performance on the obstacle course.

Donatello: [He blinks, confused.] But I finished last, Sensei.

Splinter: [He nods.] I could see great improvement in your agility and your ability to think on your feet. It was clear you had been practising. [He turns to Michelangelo.] Michelangelo, your athleticness is outstanding, and some of your answers in the written test, though unorthodox, offered a perspective I had not considered before. Most importantly, you were able to focus and carry out your katas to a standard I’ve yet to see in class. [He quirks his brow a bit.]

[Michelangelo rubs the back of his neck.]

Michelangelo: I know I got some wrong, but once I started thinking of them as trying to beat a boss battle, it became so much easier to remember them.

[Leonardo smiles at him. The others are focused on Splinter.]

Splinter: Raphael. You blitzed through the obstacle course and watching you in combat, I have no doubt you will be a great fighter. As for your written exam...

[A close up of Raphael’s face sees him put a hand to his mouth, almost painfully in suspense of Splinter’s next words.]

Splinter: [He is smiling.] ... It is clear to me that you considered each question thoroughly and took great care with your answers. Well done.

[Raphael pumps his fists victoriously. Michelangelo pouts and sticks out his tongue, but he is being playful, not hateful. Donatello and Leonardo smile.]

Splinter: [He turns to his last son.] And you, Leonardo...

[Leonardo looks away from Raphael. His eyes are wide as he awaits Splinter’s feedback. The screen slowly zooms in on Splinter’s warm expression, the image holding before abruptly turning into a furious, spit-spraying Darius Dunn.]

[Dark Turtles’ Lair]

Dunn: [wearing his battle suit] You’re a worthless, grotesque stain on existence! What cats regurgitate is more valuable than you.

[A zoom out reveals the lair surrounding Dunn. In front of him is Dark Leonardo, whose expression is blank, resigned.]

Dunn: The next time you see those turtles and my nephew, if you have the opportunity to annihilate them, you will do so. [He prods Dark Leonardo’s chest.] Regardless of whatever [his tone turns mocking] promises you feel you’re qualified to make without my approval.

[The screen pans to Leonardo, who is sitting within his forcefield. His face is serious. In another part of the lair, the other dark turtles listen with equally grim expressions.]

Dunn: You’re nothing but muscle. [He steps back.] A while ago, I had been toying with the idea of building robotic versions of the turtles to use against them. Perhaps I should return to my blueprints. [His sneering intensifies.] Then I can dispose of you like the trash you are.

[The Dark Turtles stir, taking offence. Dark Raphael starts toward him.]

Dark Raphael: Well, we don’t like you either, ya snotty, pig-faced fart!

[Dark Raphael takes a few more paces, fist raised, before freezing due to the hypnotically induced precautions embedded in them.]

Dunn: [He sighs again, shaking his head.] Pathetic. All of you. Do not underestimate how low my expectations are when I assign you with your first mission under new leadership. [He looks around at them all.] I want you to steal as much food as you can.

[Dark Raphael retreats back a few steps and lowers his fist. Him and the other Dark Turtles exchange surprised and confused looks. Leonardo is neutral.]

Dark Donatello: [He scratches his head.] You don’t want us to get you money, jewellery, weapons...?

Dunn: [scoffing] Who doesn’t want more money? But that’s not my priority right now. I require a lot of long shelf life goods... [He waves a hand.] They can be mostly store-brand. They’re not for me to eat, so I don’t care. However, do also acquire brand-name goods for my consumption. Coffee beans from Saint Helena are at the top of my list, though I doubt that means anything to you dolts.

[The Dark Turtles sans Dark Leonardo excitedly look at each other.]

Dark Michelangelo: [He hops between feet in a happy dance.] We’re gonna feast like kings! Let’s get more tacos. [He throws out his arms.] Ooh, and hotdogs!

[Dark Michelangelo drools. Dunn starts laughing, which wipes the grins off the others’ faces.]

Dunn: You are definitely Michelangelo’s clone. You will continue eating whatever I give you, whenever I choose. The majority of the food you will be purloining will be for Leonardo. Kanabo have an increased appetite and require a large amount of calories to maintain their strength.

Dark Leonardo: [He grimaces.] I figured as much.

[Dark Michelangelo wilts. Dunn approaches Leonardo’s forcefield. He smirks as he leers down at the turtle, who coldly meets his gaze. After a few seconds, Dunn’s grin disappears.]

Dunn: I have eyes everywhere, so don’t get any funny ideas.

[A close up of Leonardo’s unmoving face. Dunn turns away sharply and starts walking away.]

Dunn: [He waves a hand, not looking back.] Lower the forcefield and get out of my sight, all of you. I want enough subsistence to feed an army and a banquet fit for a king.

[The Dark Turtles stare after him as he leaves.]

[Cody’s Penthouse]

[It is night-time. The main living area of the penthouse is dark and devoid of life both humanoid and robotic. Elsewhere, however, is Cody’s lab, fully lit up. Donatello and Cody are seated at a workstation, which has Leonardo’s broken gauntlet on it. In front of Donatello and Cody are holograms and computer screens displaying various formulas, maps and graphs. The pair both have headphones on.]

Cody: [He pulls down his headphones and rubs his eyes.] Still nothing on the Peacekeeper radios. It seems like your clones aren’t up to anything yet.

Donatello: [He’s staring at the screens. His elbows rest on his thighs. His fingers are entwined and his chin rests on top of them.] Or they just haven’t been caught.

[Cody looks sidelong at the screens before yawning into his hand.]

Cody: There’s nothing we can do for now except wait. We should try to get some sleep in the meantime. We can set my computer to notify us if it picks up any key words like ‘turtle’ or ‘monsters’, so we won’t miss any-

Donatello: [He stands up.] [sharply] We’re not monsters!

[Cody stiffens. He raises his hands.]

Cody: I meant the clones, not you guys... [He cups the back of his neck.] Even then, they’re not monsters. Not really. But it’s what the Peacekeepers would call them...

Donatello: [bitter] It’s what we used to be called back in our time. [He sighs.] Sorry, Cody. I didn’t mean to snap at you. I’m just frustrated. [He rests a hand on the workstation.] I’m supposed to be the genius brother. The polymath. The resident techno wizard. Yet I’ve made no progress tracking down Leo or their base. [His hand balls into a fist.] If only we could have disabled that forcefield back in the warehouse. Then maybe Leo...

Splinter’s voice: If one looks only at the past, they become blind to the future.

[Splinter walks into the room. Donatello and Cody straighten. The former takes off his headphones.]

Donatello: Master Splinter, I didn’t realise you were still awake.

Splinter: You are not the only one whose sleep evades them.

Donatello: [He rubs his head.] I know Leo’s only been gone a few days, and that’s nothing compared to when he was away training under the Ancient One, but this time he hasn’t gone to find himself. He’s been taken away to become someone, or something, he’s not.

[Donatello looks down. Cody looks at a screen that has a blueprint on it, showing what resembles a long-barreled firearm.]

Cody: We’ve been trying to work on a device to deactivate the mind control chip, but there’s only so much we can do without knowing anything about what they’ve put in him. And there’s a good chance safeguards are in place that could seriously harm Leo if we try removing it the wrong way.

Splinter: [He nods and turns to Donatello.] Leonardo’s well-being is not the only worry keeping me up. Cody is correct. Try to get some rest. You have barely slept the past few days.

Donatello: [He tips his head back and sighs.] Easier said than done. Everyone’s depending on me, Sensei. I’m meant to be leading this operation. This should be my forte. But I’ve barely made any progress. [He shudders.] I don’t know how Leo deals with this sort of pressure as often as he does. It’s so nauseating.

[Splinter places his hands onto Donatello’s shoulders. He gently guides Donatello back into his seat.]

Splinter: My son, please calm down.

Cody: [He smiles and wags a finger.] And you’re not alone, Don. We all have your back and don’t forget you’re not the only prodigy around here. You’ve got me and Starlee. She’s been all over the city searching for clues... [He lowers his hand meekly.] ... though that might partly be because she has recently gotten into a new mobile game that tracks your location via GPS and gives you rewards depending on how far you’ve travelled.

[Donatello groans, frustrated.]

Donatello: It’s hard to step away even for a few hours. Leo wouldn’t give up on me for even a second. Like that time I underwent a secondary mutation thanks to our dear now-president’s creations. [He tilts his head to one side with a thoughtful expression and looks at Splinter.] Or that time when you told us you were going to choose one of us to be our team’s leader.

[‘Past’ New York City]

[The Lair]

[Preteen Donatello sits at the dining table, which is covered in large pieces of paper with sketches of obstacle courses on them. They are thoroughly annotated. He draws on one, his tongue poking out of his mouth in concentration.]

Donatello’s voice: In a month’s time, we would participate in three trials. An obstacle course, a training session and a written test. We all wanted to be chosen to lead the others so started preparing right away. It was every turtle for himself.

[Preteen Leonardo is walking past, but notices Donatello and stops. He approaches.]

Leonardo: [holding his hands behind his back] What’dya drawing?

Donatello: [He jumps, nearly knocking his coffee cup over with his elbow. He uses an arm to shield the sheet he’s drawing on.] Oh, you know. Boring stuff.

[Leonardo’s eyes stray to the other sheets. He looks surprised and points.]

Leonardo: Are those blueprints for obstacle courses?

Donatello: [He tries to use his body now to shield them.] No. They’re... um...

[Leonardo folds his arms over his chest, unconvinced. Donatello sighs and sits up.]

Donatello: I’m not worried about the leadership written test or doing all the katas right, but the obstacle course is a whole different ballpark. I’m not as fast as Mikey or as strong as Raphie, so I’m planning for every possibility. If I can memorise every possible course that Sensei could make us do, I’ll know what to do right away and be able to keep up with you guys.

Leonardo: [He scratches his head.] That’s a lot to remember.

Donatello: Yeah, but if I spend all day and all night rereading my notes, I should be okay. I’m even going to pull an all-nighter the night before to make sure it’s all in my brain. [He taps his head.]

Leonardo: [His eyes widen.] If you do all that, you’ll be too tired and your reflexes will be shot. The best way to get good at obstacle courses is to actually do them. Not only will you get stronger and faster, your coordination, balance and brain-body connection will improve.

Donatello: [He looks despondent as he fiddles with his pencil.] I don’t know...

Leonardo: [He looks over at the blueprints spread across the table.] How about we use your blueprints to make some obstacle courses and do them together? If we practise for an hour a day, in a month’s time, you’ll be ready.

[Donatello still looks unsure. Leonardo puts a hand on his shoulder.]

Leonardo: Sooner or later, you’re gonna come across something that you don’t have a plan for. But if your mind is focused and your body is in the best shape possible, you’ll be able to adapt. Come on. [He twitches his head to one side.] We can go scavenging for any parts we don’t have yet.

Donatello: [He smiles.] All right.

[Donatello stands up and starts following Leonardo out of the room. Cut to the dojo, where a small obstacle course has been set up. There is a beam for walking on, followed by wooden stands with tin cans hanging down from rope that you can either push through or dodge under. Further along are tires to step in, then a rope hanging from the ceiling with a bell at the top to ring. Donatello starts going through the course.]

Teenage Donatello’s voice: He pushed me to practise everyday. There were so many times when I wanted to skip a session, or give up part way through, but he encouraged me to keep at it. After a while, it actually became kind of fun. We would take turns making obstacle courses for each other, and we’d have to use our problem-solving skills to get reach the end.

[Preteen Donatello climbs a rope and rings the bell at the top. Preteen Leonardo cheers, while Donatello smiles bashfully.]

[Cody’s Penthouse]

[Cody’s lab]

[Fade in. Donatello is fondly smiling toward Cody’s workstation.]

Splinter: [He nods.] I particularly like the part where he told you not to stay awake working all night. You are not giving up on him by sleeping. You are making sure you are functioning at your best level for him.

Donatello: [He musters a tired grin.] Okay, I give. I’ll go to bed. Then as soon as I wake up, I’ll throw myself back into my work.

[Splinter steps back. Donatello stands up and stretches, yawning. Splinter puts a hand on his back as they start leaving the room.]

Cody: [He rubs his eyes.] Yeah, we don’t want to fall asleep at the workstation again. My face still stings from when we had to scrub off those permanent marker doodles Mikey scribbled on us.

[New York Street level]

[It’s night-time. Though activity still thrums through the city, it’s not as busy as it is during the day. The scene takes place in the same location that Leonardo bought his lunch in the previous chapter. The vendor - a clone of Jay - yawns at a hot food stall, looking around. Pan to a nearby alley, which Leonardo and the Dark Turtles peer out from. Leonardo retreats further into the alley.]

Dark Leonardo: So what’s the plan? We dumpster dive and miraculously find an untouched three course meal?

[Leonardo doesn’t answer, holding his chin in thought.]

Dark Raphael: [He growls.] What are we standing around for when there is food right out in the open for us to take?

Leonardo: [He looks at him.] Exactly. The street vendors are right out in the open, so we would draw too much attention if we went up to them.

[Dark Raphael only listens to the first half of what he says. As soon as Leonardo pauses momentarily after saying ‘open’, Dark Raphael swaggers out of the alleyway.]

Leonardo: Hey, wait! [He reaches toward him.] Where are you...?

[Dark Raphael arrives at Jay’s stall. Jay looks up with an irritable look on his face.]

Jay: What would you like?

Dark Raphael: All your food, puny human!

[Dark Raphael proceeds to pick up the stall and hold it over his head. Nearby civilians stop what they’re doing to spectate, while Jay twitches and stares in part-horror, part-anger.]

Jay: What are you doing, you ugly freak? I’m calling the Peacekeepers.

Dark Raphael: What did you call me, little man?

[Leonardo rushes over.]

Leonardo: [He claps Dark Raphael’s arm and forces out a hearty laugh.] My apologies, good sir! My... um, cousin here is new to this... planet. He doesn’t understand Earth etiquette.

[Dark Raphael looks confused.]

Dark Raphael: What are you...?

Leonardo: [louder] Come along, cousin. [He pulls on Dark Raphael’s arm. Dark Raphael lowers the stall, more confused than anything.] Here, I’ll show you how it’s done and buy you a hotdog. My treat.

[Leonardo pats himself down. His laughter is short-lived as he realises he doesn’t have any money on him. Fortunately for Leonardo, Dark Michelangelo and Dark Donatello sidle up.]

Dark Donatello: [He holds out a credit card.] Here is your credit card, Cousin Leo. Please accept our apologies and a fifty percent tip.

[Leonardo frowns but takes the card. Jay eyes it, then looks at the others who smile awkwardly.]

Jay: Would you like any condiments?

[Dark Raphael looks bewildered.]

Leonardo: Some of everything, please.

[Jay gives him a judgemental look but begins topping up the hotdog. The three present Dark Turtles ogle Jay. Jay looks uncomfortable, but though he’s slightly distracted by their proximity, he acts professionally. He passes Dark Raphael a paper bag with the hotdog in it, takes the credit card from Leonardo, taps it against his card reader machine, then returns the card. Leonardo backs away, waving with one hand while his other is behind his back.] 

Leonardo: Thank you! I’ll be sure to recommend you to all my other cousins.

[The Dark Turtles follow him back into the alley, where Dark Leonardo broods.]

Leonardo: That was a close one. [Leonardo turns to Dark Donatello.] By the way, where did you get that credit card from?

Dark Michelangelo: [pleased] I found it in some guy’s pocket on the way over.

Leonardo: [He tenses.] You stole it? That’s... not good.

Dark Donatello: [He rests a hand against his forehead, pretending to swoon.] Shock and horror. The evil turtle clones committed an act of theft.

[He and Dark Michelangelo laugh, while Leonardo frowns and hunches his shoulders, still with his one hand behind his back. Dark Raphael opens the bag and takes out the hotdog, which he nibbles the end of. His eyes widen.]

Dark Raphael: This is... amazing! [He becomes starry-eyed and shoves more into his mouth.]

Dark Leonardo: [He hits him on the shoulder.] Oi! What have I said about sharing, numbskull?

Leonardo: Actually, about that...

[Leonardo finally reveals the hand behind his back. It’s another paper bag, but it doesn’t have a logo on it like Dark Raphael’s. He takes out a bare hotdog, then a roll and adds them together. He puts on some jalapeños, cheese and onions before handing it to Dark Leonardo.]

Dark Michelangelo: Whoa... [He stares, transfixed as Leonardo prepares another hotdog, with ketchup, mustard and pickled relish.]

Leonardo: It’s not from Jay’s stall, but I bet it’ll taste almost as good. [He gives it to Dark Michelangelo.]

Dark Donatello: [His eyes narrow.] How’d you get these? Aren’t you broke?

[Leonardo looks away.]

Dark Leonardo: You stole them.

[The other Dark Turtles look shocked.]

Dark Leonardo: While our meat-headed brother was making a scene, Leonardo slipped over to another stall and helped himself to some hotdogs before catching up to him.

Leonardo: [Defensive] No. I mean... How could I not? You need to eat, and it looks like Darius doesn’t feed you that well. Besides, I... I’ll pay for them later.

[The Dark Turtles stuff their faces. Even Dark Leonardo begrudgingly chomps down his hotdog and licks his fingers afterwards.]

Dark Michelangelo: This is delicious! Stealin’ food for us... You ain’t so good after all!

Leonardo: [He twitches.] That’s not how it is. [He swiftly changes the subject.] Darius treats you like garbage. It’s not right. And I noticed how Raphael’s clone froze when he started toward him. Dunn has something in place so you can’t fight back against him, doesn’t he? Some sort of safety precaution.

Dark Donatello: [He lifts a finger.] Hypnotically induced to be precise.

[Dark Raphael hits him on the head.]

Dark Raphael: Tell him everything, why don’t you!

Leonardo: [He holds up his hands, almost excited.] No, this is good! I understand now. You’re not evil, you’re just under his control.

Dark Michelangelo: I’m pretty sure we’re evil too.

Leonardo: [firmly] You’re not. There’s good in you. All of you. [to Dark Leonardo] I knew it. I knew I glimpsed it in you back when you stayed with us.

Dark Leonardo: [He flinches but quickly composes himself.] That was all an act.

Leonardo: [He shakes his head.] I don’t think so. I think you all have the potential to be heroes. [He looks at them all.] We’re not enemies. We’re on the same side. We need to work together, rise against Darius and break free from his power.

[Leonardo raises a fist, then pauses.]

Leonardo: But first... um, what do you call yourselves? Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever heard your names.

[The Dark Turtles look at each other, then at him.]

Dark Raphael: [He tilts his head to one side.] We don’t got no names.

Dark Michelangelo: We usually call each other tiny-brained morons...

Dark Donatello: Or creepy lizard freaks...

Dark Raphael: Or dumb monsters with a face like the inside of a toilet...

Leonardo: I can’t call you any of those.

Dark Michelangelo: [He shrugs.] Why not? We get called that stuff all the time.

Leonardo: [sternly] Well, not by me. [His tone turns less aggressive.] My father named me and my brothers after Renaissance artists. Perhaps we could do something similar? Let’s see... [He looks up, thinking.] There’s Titian, Botticelli, Giorgione and Albrecht.

[The Dark Turtles frown.]

Dark Raphael: You made some of those up, didn’t you?

Dark Michelangelo: I don’t even think Raphael was ever a real artist guy. How come only his name ends in ‘l’ but the others end in ‘o’?

Dark Leonardo: Why do you want to give us names, anyway? We’re clones. Monsters. Monsters don’t need names.

Leonardo: You’re not monsters. You may be our clones, but you are still your own person. [His tone lightens a touch.] Come on, who wants which name? It’s first come, first served.

[A shot of Dark Leonardo that zooms in on his robotic eyepatch. Then the screen changes to his vision from his eye’s perspective. There is a faint red overlay on top of Leonardo, who is talking to the Dark Turtles. We cannot hear what he is saying. The screen zooms out to reveal a dimly lit control room.]

[The Dark Turtles Lair]

[Dunn is sitting at a computer in his lab. On his main monitor is Dark Leonardo’s field of vision.]

Dunn: Hm... 

[He picks up his phone, dials and waits.]

Woman’s voice: 911, what’s your emergency?

Dunn: I would, ah, like to report a robbery in progress.

[Cody’s Penthouse]

[It’s still night-time. A shot of the living room. Then the kitchen. Then the holo dojo. There is no activity. Then Cody’s lab. The computers are unmanned, but they are still turned on. All of a sudden, a notification pops up on all of the screens, a red, flashing exclamation mark in a yellow box. Cody staggers in, dressed in pyjamas. He presses on a computer mouse. A new computer window opens up, showing an audio wavelength.]

Male officer’s voice: ... reports of five terrapin aliens downtown, armed and dangerous. There was a minor incident with a street vendor but they were long gone by the time we got there. The caller claims to have overheard them afterwards discussing plans to rob nearby convenience stores.

Constable Biggles’s voice: Terrapins, hm? Why, I have a strong suspicion who they might be... Though I only remember there being four of them. [He sounds confused.] Did one of them perchance lay an egg?

[Cody’s eyes widen. He runs out of the room.]

Cody: Guys!

[Cut to Cody, the turtles and Splinter in Cody’s lab, gathered near the workstation.]

Raphael: [His hands are on his hips.] [unamused] An egg? Really?

Donatello: For one of them to hatch, then catch up to us in terms of development within weeks? [His brow quirks.]

Cody: I think you guys are focusing on the wrong thing. [He points at the screen.] It’s clearly referring to Leo and your clones.

Raphael: [He folds his arms over his chest.] What I don’t get is why they’re robbin’ convenience stores instead of a jewellers. Does Dunn need extra toilet paper or something?

Cody: [He strokes his chin.] There hasn’t been a shortage in toilet paper since the 2068 lockdown, and I don’t think my uncle has any... um... bowel issues.

Donatello: That would be one shell of a watercooler conversation.

Michelangelo: If it was me, I’d be in there taking all the snacks. [He rubs his plastron.] Yum... Potato chip heaven.

Splinter: Time is of the essence, my sons. We must reach your brother before the Peacekeepers do.

Donatello: Or before Leo and our genetic counterparts flee the area.

[New York Street level]

[Still night-time. Splinter, Cody and the turtles are cautiously making their way down a quiet street, different to that which Leonardo and the Dark Turtles were in before. Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo are disguised in purple hooded cloaks.]

Raphael: [He raises an arm, glowering at the sleeve.] Do we have to wear this?

Michelangelo: And why does it have to be purple?

Donatello: [He leans his head toward Michelangelo, frowning.] What’s wrong with purple?

[Michelangelo yelps and holds up his hands.]

Michelangelo: Nothing! Very stylish, bro.

Cody: The Peacekeepers are going to be on the lookout for bipedal turtles, so you guys need to keep a low profile.

Raphael: Mikey.

Michelangelo: [frowning] Hey, I can totally keep a low profile.

Raphael: The only thing you can keep low is the average IQ in a room.

Michelangelo: [He scowls.] You should be more worried about your fat head drawing attention.

[Raphael rounds on him, growling. Michelangelo faces him and they take on mirroring stances, heads leaning close, teeth gritted. Ready to throw fists.]

Splinter: [He taps his walking stick against the ground.] Enough!

[Raphael marginally relaxes. Donatello rests a hand onto Michelangelo’s shoulder.]

Donatello: Easy, bro.

Cody: I think we’re all getting a little stressed.

Michelangelo: A little? Try majorly. [He straightens up, agitated.] You don’t know how close I am to freaking out. When we next see Leo, he’s not gonna be him anymore. He’ll be some kind of zombie.

Splinter: [concerned] Michelangelo...

Michelangelo: [His gaze is averted.] Remember that time we stumbled upon that monster in the Volpehart building? And it trapped us in a nightmare with our worst fear? Well, in mine, Leo accepted the monster’s deal and became evil.

[Donatello gives Michelangelo a one-armed hug. Raphael joins in from Michelangelo’s other side, while Splinter positions himself in front of Michelangelo. Cody watches.]

Michelangelo: I’ve always been able to count on Leo. After Karai invaded our lair, he came and found us all. Even when his PTSD was suffocating him, he helped train me for my rematch against Kluh. And then there was the time when we were getting ready for the leadership tests...

[‘Past’ New York City]

[The Lair]

[On the television, a red-headed boy in a yellow Chinese martial-artist uniform is facing off against a bigger, more muscular martial artist.]

The Redhead: Prepare to meet your match, you big bully!

His Opponent: You? Itsuki-kun, you are deluded. You are tiny and weak. I will defeat you!

[The two warriors jump into the air and unleash a barrage of punches and kicks against each other. Preteen Leonardo steps into frame, his hands on his hips.]

Leonardo: Mikey, are you still watching TV?

[Preteen Michelangelo is lounging on the couch, surrounded by snacks. He sits up a little and tries to peer around Leonardo.]

Michelangelo: I’m trying, but your big butt is in the way.

Leonardo: [He doesn’t budge. He folds his arms over his chest.] Have you done any preparation for the leadership tests?

Michelangelo: [He slumps back into the couch and flaps a hand.] What’s the point? Donnie’s the smartest, Raphie’s the strongest and you’re a teacher’s pet. I have no shot.

Leonardo: If you don’t even try, then yeah, you don’t have a shot. But you’re just as capable as the rest of us. [He counts off each point against his fingers when he next speaks.] You’re a quick thinker, you often notice details the rest of us don’t, you’re pretty good at obstacle courses... 

Michelangelo: But I suck at remembering katas. I’d rather go with the flow in combat than learn every single position and movement and order.

[Michelangelo leans to his other side, continuing to try to watch television. Leonardo’s frown hardens.]

Leonardo: Master Splinter says of all of us, you have the most potential. And if he says it, it must be true. If you just tried...

Michelangelo: Sorry, bro, but it’s not that easy for me. Whenever I try to study, my eyes glaze over and my hands itch. [He points to his head.] And my brain can only hold so much information. It prioritises stuff that’s cool and fun, and everything else usually just goes in one ear and out the other.

Leonardo: Then we just have to make learning them cool and fun.

[He keeps thinking, then opens his mouth slightly, eyes widening a fraction. He steps aside and looks at the television. Itsuki’s opponent punches out fire balls, which Itsuki dodges. Leonardo smiles and turns back to Michelangelo.]

Leonardo: [He punches his palm.] I’ve got it. Don’t think of katas as individual training exercises, but as special combo moves you have to do to defeat the bad guy and save the day.

[Michelangelo looks away from the television. His brow scrunches.]

Michelangelo: Like... a video game?

Leonardo: [nodding] Yes. If you want, I can play the role of the bad guy, and you can be the hero. [Michelangelo doesn’t reply. Leonardo sighs a bit.] [monotone] And if you're the leader, you get to boss Raphael around.

Michelangelo: [He springs to his feet and darts really close to Leonardo’s face. He grins widely.] Can you pretend to be Bowser?

Leonardo: [He shrinks back a bit.] Uh... sure?

[Cut to Leonardo and Michelangelo sparring. Leonardo has cardboard spikes stuck on his shell.]

Teenage Michelangelo’s voice: [speaking over the scene] Did I ace the test on katas with flying colours? Shell no. But when Master Splinter told me later that he was proud of how well I did, I was over the moon. Leo’s always had my back...

[Preteen Michelangelo jumps on top of preteen Leonardo. Both collapse to the floor. Leonardo frowns. Michelangelo, sitting on top of him, bursts out laughing, and Leonardo can’t help chuckling along.]

[‘Present’ New York City]

[Street level]

[Teenage Michelangelo looks seriously at his fist, held out in front of himself. He slowly clenches it.]

Michelangelo: ... and I will always have his.

[New York City]

[Another street]

[Still night-time. Peacekeepers are patrolling the area, including Constable Biggles. A computer overlay covers him as he pauses, looks around, and continues marching. Next is a shot of Dark Leonardo, who lowers his binoculars. He is on a rooftop. He jumps down to an alley, landing next to Leonardo and the other Dark Turtles.]

Dark Leonardo: Peacekeepers, two blocks away. Twelve of them, heading in our direction. More beyond. All armed.

[Leonardo grimaces.]

Leonardo: [flatly] Peacekeepers. Great.

Dark Donatello: [smirking] Now you’re with us, they aren’t your friends any more.

Leonardo: Real talk, I’ve never considered them my allies. They’re part of a corrupt institution that maintains the status quo for the privileged, with a history of bigotry and violence that diverts funding away from things that could actually help prevent crime such as education, healthcare and alternative rehabilitation programmes.

[The Dark Turtles exchange surprised looks. Leonardo looks out of the alley. The coast is clear for now.]

Dark Raphael: Should we find another joint to rob?

Leonardo: [He is still looking out of the alley. His eyes narrow.] No. There’s surveillance almost everywhere. We’re lucky that the sewers don’t seem to have any cameras down there, so we can navigate through them.

Dark Donatello: [He rubs his knuckles against his chest.] I assure you that we’ve either jammed, hacked or destroyed every camera down there by now. You’re welcome again, by the way.

Leonardo: Right... Anyway, we need to get what we need from the surrounding area then retreat. [He jabs a thumb to the side.] The building to the right of us is a store chain mini-mart. Donatello’s clone will jam the security system, then you go in, take some of the goods, and leave without drawing any attention to yourselves. We meet back in the sewers. Any questions?

Dark Donatello: I couldn’t help noticing your choice in pronouns. What will you be doing in the meantime?

Leonardo: Michelangelo’s clone and I will be keeping the Peacekeepers away from here.

[Dark Michelangelo points to himself.]

Dark Michelangelo: [confused] Me?

[Dark Raphael, Dark Donatello and Dark Leonardo point to Dark Michelangelo.]

Dark Raphael, Dark Donatello and Dark Leonardo: [equally confused] Him?

Leonardo: [He nods.] Yep. 

Dark Raphael: But he’s a moron.

Dark Michelangelo: Exactly!

[Leonardo raises his arm, showing off his gauntlet. It looks similar to the ones the Dark Turtles wear.] 

Leonardo: Don’t dawdle and keep in touch, okay?

Dark Donatello: [He bows with a flourish of his arm.] Of course, fearless leader.

[Dark Leonardo looks a bit taken aback but smooths over his features, though he can’t stop looking somewhat bitter that Dark Donatello used that nickname on Leonardo instead of on him.]

[The Dark Turtles Lair]

[Control Room]

[The main monitor shows Dark Leonardo’s field of vision, while the others show various computer windows with graphs and codes. Dunn leans back in his chair and steeples his fingers together. On the screen, Leonardo and Dark Michelangelo dart deeper into the alley, disappearing into the darkness.]

Dunn: [His face is out of shot.] [smug] I have eyes everywhere, foolish turtle.

[He clicks the computer mouse a few times.]

[New York City]

[A small robotic orb comes out of Dark Michelangelo’s gauntlet and follows him.]

[The Dark Turtles Lair]

[Control Room]

[The main monitor changes visuals. It starts mostly dark and blurry, but then the video clears up on a rooftop, Leonardo’s face in frame. The footage is from the orb’s perspective.]

[New York City]

[Street level]

[Three Peacekeepers are slowly making their way down the street, laser guns at the ready. They look around, cautious and alert. The sound of metal clanking grabs their attention. It seems to originate from an alleyway. The Peacekeepers aim their lasers and approach. The alley seems deserted, but their attention is swiftly drawn to a dumpster that can easily fit someone in it. One Peacekeeper creeps forward and flips it open, aiming their weapon immediately after. It’s just trash. Behind the Peacekeeper, a shadowy figure clubs the two other Peacekeepers. As they cry out in pain, the other Peacekeeper spins around. The two Peacekeepers are unconscious, the shadowy figure gone. A hand taps the lone Peacekeeper on the shoulder. He turns around. Leonardo is squatting on the now shut dumpster lid.]

Leonardo: I’ve bin expecting you.

[Leonardo kicks the Peacekeeper, who goes flying. The shadowy figure from before reveals themselves to be Dark Michelangelo, who swings his club at the Peacekeeper. The Peacekeeper’s body goes flying and smacks into the wall. Leonardo hops off the dumpster, opens it, and lets the Peacekeeper fall into it.]

Dark Michelangelo: [He hops between feet, pumping their air with his fists.] Wahoo!

Leonardo: [He brings a finger to his mouth, frowning.] Shush!

Dark Michelangelo: [He squeaks and covers his mouth.] Sorry!

[Leonardo relaxes slightly and takes his hand away. He lugs the other Peacekeepers into the dumpster, removing some trash to make room, then shuts the lid.]

Leonardo: [quieter] Good job, but we can’t get complacent. [He beckons.] Come on. Let’s get moving.

Dark Michelangelo: Wait.

[Leonardo pauses. Dark Michelangelo strikes the dumpster lid, hard enough that it mangles out of shape. Dark Michelangelo tries opening it, but cannot.]

Dark Michelangelo: There. [He dusts his hands off against the other.] They won’t be getting out for a while.

Leonardo: Nice one. Now follow me.

[Leonardo makes toward an open manhole. Dark Michelangelo grabs his wrist.]

Dark Michelangelo: Hold on. One thing.

[Leonardo pauses and looks at him. Dark Michelangelo looks away, suddenly bashful.]

Dark Michelangelo: I... um... Thanks for that compliment about the dumpster. And for the hotdogs earlier. That probably doesn’t mean much, what with me being the crazy one and all, but yeah.

[Leonardo blinks, then smiles a bit.]

Leonardo: You’re welcome. [He turns away.]

Dark Michelangelo: Wait! [He tugs on Leonardo’s arm.] I lied. One more thing. Um... [He rubs the back of his neck.] Thanks for looking after our leader that one time. I know it was all a trick by us, but he really did get hurt... You could have finished him off. Or turned him over to the Peacekeepers. Whatever you did to him, you changed him. Kinda. For the better, I think. He’s still cranky and shouty but he always makes sure we share food so everyone gets something, and whenever Darius punishes us, he makes sure we get patched up later.

[Leonardo just stares at him. Dark Michelangelo lets go and backs off, waving his hands.]

Dark Michelangelo: I’m the dumb one, I know. That’s why you brought me with you, to babysit me and so I wouldn’t mess up the burglary. Forget I said anything. Forget [He moves his arms into one position.] Forget [He moves them into another.] Forget [He makes a heart with his hands against his chest.] Beam! [He extends his arms forward, maintaining the heart.]

[Leonardo stares a bit more, then hardens his features.]

Leonardo: I don’t think you’re dumb.

[Dark Michelangelo freezes.]

Dark Michelangelo: Huh?

Leonardo: And I didn’t bring you here to babysit you. I told you before that you’re incredibly agile. You managed to snatch my communicator without me realising when you stole my tacos before. Those are some seriously valuable talents.

[Dark Michelangelo stares, then smiles.]

Dark Michelangelo: Hey. [He puts a hand onto Leonardo’s shoulder.] Mister Leonardo. I was thinkin’... Giorgione has a nice ring to it.

Leonardo: Call me ‘Leo’.

[New York City]

[Nearby]

[Another street with Peacekeepers, including Constable Biggles. There’s a beep noise, then he gets out his radio.]

Female voice: Constable, we’re not getting any response from Patrols Alpha, Charlie and Juliet.

Biggles: [He holds down a button.] Bravo, go to the last known location of Alpha. Delta and Echo report to Charlie, and Foxtrot and Golf head to Juliet. Proceed with caution. 

Female voice: Copied.

[Biggles tucks away his radio and looks around, baton swinging in circles from his hand. Zoom to a nearby alley, where Leonardo and Dark Michelangelo peer out from.]

Dark Michelangelo: Great, more of those guys.

Leonardo: [quietly] Let’s keep our distance. First, we’ll -

Dunn’s voice: Go out to them.

[Leonardo flinches. Dark Michelangelo looks at him, confused.]

Dark Michelangelo: What is it? You got food poisoning or something? You stopped talking partway through your sentence.

[Leonardo grits his teeth and puts a hand to his head.]

Leonardo: I thought I heard...

Dunn’s voice: You did.

[Leonardo’s eyes widen.]

[The Dark Turtles Lair]

[Control Room]

[Dunn is speaking into a microphone, a sadistic grin on his face. The top half of his face is out of shot.]

Dunn: I want you to fight them out in the open, Leonardo.

[He reaches a hand toward a hologram screen showing a dial and uses his finger to turn it.]

[New York City]

[Street level]

Dark Michelangelo: Leo? [He waves his hand in front of Leonardo’s face.] Hello? Dude, you’re freaking me out.

[Leo’s teeth are gritted, the top half of his face out of frame. He slowly walks out of the alley, toward Biggles. The Peacekeepers turn and stiffen. Biggles holds out his baton.]

Biggles: Don’t move!

[The camera angle is so that the viewer sees the back of Leonardo. He drags his katana against the ground as he walks. He stops. The other Peacekeepers aim laser guns while Biggles watches him closely.]

Leonardo: [The top half of his face is still out of frame.] [slightly strained] Please... get away from me.

Biggles: Hmph! We shall do no such thing. [He tucks away his baton and pulls out a stun gun.] Drop your weapons and get down on your -

[Leonardo drops to his knees and doubles over, letting go of his katana. His head is tilted forward.]

Biggles: ... Knees. [He looks at the other Peacekeepers, who seem surprised. He turns back to Leonardo]. Y-Yes. Jolly good. Stay as you are, ruffian.

[He approaches Leonardo. Dark Michelangelo looks on, a hand pressed against his mouth.]

Dark Michelangelo: Not good, not good... [He anxiously hops between feet, flapping his hands.] Darius is gonna kill us... No, worse... he’ll transform us into jelly-like, mouthless blobs that can’t scream! [He clutches his cheeks.]

[Biggles stops near Leonardo. He adjusts the rim of his hat.]

Biggles: You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to an -

[A soda can hits Biggles on the head.]

Biggles: My goodness!

[The other Peacekeepers focus on the alleyway. Dark Michelangelo holds a trash can in one arm. With his other hand, he throws trash at the Peacekeepers.]

Biggles: You stop that this instant!

[Dark Michelangelo throws the trash can at Biggles, who goes crashing to the ground. The Peacekeepers start shooting at Dark Michelangelo, who yelps and tries to run back into the alley.]

Dark Michelangelo: Eep!

[One laser hits Dark Michelangelo, who cries out and stumbles, clutching his arm. Two more lasers hit his legs, causing him to crumple to the ground. Biggles stands up and brushes at his suit. A banana peel clings to his hat.]

Biggles: You’re fortunate we’re carrying limited laser guns, or else you would be riddled with holes. Now, to subdue your companion...

[Biggles aims at Leonardo, as do the other Peacekeepers. Leonardo doesn’t stir. A sai then sails into Biggles’s hand, knocking the gun out from his grip. The other Peacekeepers turn. Splinter, Cody and the other turtles drop down, weapons drawn. The Peacekeepers alternate between aiming at the turtles and Leonardo.]

Raphael: There’s no mistakin’ that obnoxious hoity-toity voice. [He twirls his remaining sai in his hand before gripping it again.] Could hear it a mile away.

Michelangelo: Leo!

[Michelangelo starts toward Leonardo, but Donatello pulls him back. The Peacekeepers aim their weapons at Michelangelo.]

Donatello: Careful, Mikey. He’s under that chip’s influence, remember?

Michelangelo: He’s still our bro! We’ve gotta help him. He’s not talking or moving... He could be hurt! He needs us!

[One of the Peacekeepers turns to Biggles.]

Peacekeeper: Five turtles. That’s all of them, sir.

Biggles: [He lifts his chin.] Excellent. I hope you all enjoyed your jolly, because now you’re coming with me to the station. You’re under arrest for burglary, resisting arrest, assaulting an officer...

[Leonardo picks up his katana and slowly stands up. His family hesitate, watching. The other Peacekeepers aim at him. Biggles doesn’t seem to notice and gets out his radio.]

Biggles: All units, report to -

[Leonardo moves with great speed and slices off Biggles’s arm. It drops to the ground. Wires spark at Biggles’s shoulder.]

Biggles: Egad!

Cody: Whoa!

[Leonardo’s full face is finally in shot. His eyes glow red. He runs at another Peacekeeper, taking them down before they can react. The Peacekeepers start aiming at him, but the turtles, Cody and Splinter intervene. A fight ensues between the new arrivals and the Peacekeepers. Laser blasts light up the street.]

[Michelangelo whacks a Peacekeeper in the face with one nunchuck, then uses the other’s chain to grab and rip the firearm out of the Peacekeeper’s hand. Nearby, Donatello rolls out of the way of a Peacekeeper’s laser and sweeps his bo under their feet, knocking them over.]

Donatello: Sorry, officer! [He flips back. He twirls his staff and steps back into a deep squat. Then he comes forward, whacking his weapon against another officer’s head.] Sorry again!

[Raphael punches a Peacekeeper in the face.]

Raphael: I’m not.

Splinter: [He grabs a Peacekeeper’s wrist and pulls to the side, so their weapon is pointed away. He twists their arm then flips them. While they’re spinning in the air, he kicks them away. He takes their firearm from their loosened grip and throws it to the floor. He stomps his walking stick against it, breaking it, and looks at Leonardo who is clutching his head and shaking it.] Leonardo?

[Donatello and Michelangelo glance over at Leonardo worriedly. As Cody tosses a Peacekeeper into another one, Raphael runs over to Leonardo. Cody follows and stands guard, shooting lasers at various Peacekeepers. Raphael places his hands onto Leonardo’s shoulders.]

Raphael: Leo, bro, you’ve gotta snap out of it.

Leonardo: Raph, go... all of you... before...

Raphael: Shell no! We need you, Leo. You’ve been lookin’ out for us since forever. Since even before you were chosen to be our leader...

[‘Past’ New York City]

[The Lair]

[A preteen Raphael is walking through the lair.]

Raphael’s voiceover: The whole lair’s vibe changed when Master Splinter announced how he was gonna choose who would be leading us from then on. No one could think of anything else. We spent all day gettin’ ourselves ready in the hopes that Sensei would choose us over our brothers.

[Raphael passes Donatello, who is setting out tires for an obstacle course. Raphael then passes Michelangelo, who says, ‘Kamehameha!’ and does the corresponding hand movements. Raphael rolls his eyes before entering the dojo. Soon he is face-to-face with a punching bag.]

Raphael’s voiceover: All of us wanted to be the leader, and I thought I’d be the best. I was the toughest. The bravest. That’s all I thought a leader had to be.

[The punching bag trembles at his blows. He becomes dissatisfied at the lack of response from it and gives it an all-mighty punch that makes it veer away before swinging back at him. As it smacks against him, he stumbles back a bit and wipes the corner of his mouth with a grimace.]

Preteen Leonardo’s voice: I’d have thought you knew its every move by now.

[Leonardo approaches. Raphael faces him with an offensive stance, a tight smirk on his face.]

Raphael: Oh yeah? How’s about I fight a real opponent then? [He cracks his knuckles.]

Leonardo: Another time.

Raphael: [slightly incredulous, mostly annoyed] What, you came here just to sightsee?

Leonardo: I came to talk to you, Raph. Look, I know you’ve been training really hard, and that’s great and all...

[Raphael leans toward him, sneering.]

Raphael and Leonardo: But...

[Raphael straightens and folds his arms over his chest. Leonardo grimaces at how Raphael correctly guessed his next word, but he presses on.]

Leonardo: Don’t forget there’s a written test.

Raphael: [He groans dramatically and throws up his arms before turning on his heel so his back is toward Leonardo.] That’s why you’re here? To lecture me? Well, don’t bother. I don’t need to do well on that dumb test anyways. I just gotta ace the rest of them.

Leonardo: [He puts his hands onto his hips.] It’s just as important as the other tests. Why else would Master Splinter include it?

Raphael: I don’t know. A red bearing?

[Leonardo looks like he is about to correct Raphael, but shuts his mouth and lowers his finger instead. Raphael paces.]

Raphael: It don’t matter, bro. I’m not good at writing and thinking and problem-solving, so why waste my time preparin’ for that when I can focus on stuff I am good at?

Leonardo: It’s not wasting your time. And you are good at thinking.

Raphael: [He stops and gives a sarcastic bark of laughter.] Yeah, that’s why you and Splinter are always tellin’ me to stop and think. If I was good at thinkin’ and problem-solving, we’d agree more but we don’t. And we all know you’re always right about everything.

Leonardo: [annoyed] We tell you to stop and think because we know you can do it if you just slow down for a few seconds instead of rushing and hoping for the best. Or assuming that someone will think for you and clean up your messes and tantrums...

[Raphael gets into Leonardo’s face. Leonardo shifts back a bit but keeps his expression firm.]

Raphael: You sure you didn’t come here to fight? Because you’re really sounding like it.

Leonardo: [He holds out his hands in front of himself.] That came out wrong. What I mean is... if you want to be a leader, you’ve got to not only think for yourself, but for others. That includes your team and your opponents too. If you can’t do that, how can you be expected to lead? Tell you what, I’ll help you study so you’re ready for the test, okay?

Raphael: Why?

Leonardo: [frowning] I just told you...

Raphael: No, I mean why would you want to help me study? If I do better in that test, you’ll have less of a chance of bein’ chosen.

Leonardo: Well... I owe you after what I said. [He nudges him.] Come on. Let me do you this one favour. Then we’ll be even. 

[Raphael eyes him, then sighs.]

Raphael: All right, Splinter Junior.

[Leonardo pouts.]

[Scene change to the lair’s dining table. Raphael is writing on paper while Leonardo talks, finger raised, but what he’s saying is inaudible, with Teenage Raphael’s voice talking over him.]

Teenage Raphael’s voiceover: Let me tell you, Leo, there were so many times where I wanted to shove a book into your mouth over those next few weeks. [A chuckle.] Probably the same amount of times you wanted to hit me over the head with one. I felt real dumb at first, gettin’ so many answers wrong, but after a while...

Preteen Raphael: But if I just went in there and tried to help dat woman, she might scream and draw attention to me. Or the robber might freak out and start shooting or stabbing one of us all erratically and stuff.

Preteen Leonardo: [He blinks.] Those... are actually good points, Raphael. Well done.

[Raphael beams, which makes Leonardo smile slightly. The angle changes, looking in on them from over someone’s shoulder - unbeknownst to them, Splinter is watching them from a doorway.]

Splinter: [He fiddles with his beard.] Hm...

[‘Present’ New York City]

[Street level]

[Raphael stares at Leonardo with a pained expression, continuing to grip his shoulders. Leonardo trembles.]

Raphael: Talk to me, Leo.

[Leonardo is holding his head, staring down still.]

Dunn’s voice: Kill him. Kill him, Leonardo. Kill your brother.

Leonardo: [He steps away from Raphael and lifts his head up.] Shut up! Get out of my head!

Raphael: [bewildered] Leo?

[By now, most of the Peacekeepers are down and out. Biggles is the only one left standing. The rest of Leonardo’s family turn to Leonardo, looking confused.]

Donatello: Leo?

Splinter: Leonardo!

[Leonardo twitches and lets out a cry of pain before doubling over, clutching his head harder. Purple tentacles shoot out of his body and quickly envelop him in a cocoon.]

Mikey: No way!

Raphael: He’s transformin’ into one of those Kanawhatzit aliens!

Donatello: [He looks up.] But that doesn’t make sense...

[A shot of the morning sky. Inside Turtle-X, Cody raises a hand to his forehead and squints upward.]

Cody: ... There’s sunlight.

[The cocoon shreds apart as Leonardo breaks free, purple, spiky, his eyes scarlet red. He’s a Kanabo warrior now. Though steam rises from his skin, he does not change back to normal.]

Biggles: I demand someone explain what on this earth is happening right now!

Splinter: [He turns to Donatello.] How is this possible?

[Cody edges toward Leonardo, hands ready to grab.]

Cody: Easy now...

[Leonardo growls and slashes at Turtle-X. Cody yells out as he stumbles, his front window visibly scratched.]

Raphael: Okay, Leo. Let’s not do anything -

[Leonardo snarls and whips around, swinging a fist at Raphael. The punch makes Raphael fly through the air and hit a nearby building. He groans and falls to the ground, revealing broken bricks where he made contact with the wall.]

Donatello: Raph!

[Donatello, Michelangelo and Cody lunge toward Leonardo, who jumps up, out of their reach. As the three look up, Leonardo grins before spewing purple goop downward. Donatello and Michelangelo leap backward, out of the way. Cody does too, but some gunk lands on Turtle-X.]

Michelangelo: Cody!

Cody: I’m okay, none got through.

Michelangelo: Can someone please explain what’s happening... and how? Sunlight’s meant to stop those guys in their tracks!

Donatello: If I was to guess...

[Leonardo watches them.]

Donatello: ... This has something to do with the chip they put into him. When our clones mentioned mind control, they must have meant making him into a special kind of Kanabo warrior.

[Raphael sits up slowly, rubbing his head.]

Raphael: No duh he’s special. He ain’t reverted back to normal yet.

Donatello: I fear your adverb is rather too optimistic.

Splinter: My sons, we must subdue your brother...

Raphael: [He stands up, weapons at the ready.] Without hurting him, we know. We know.

[Leonardo slashes at Turtle-X again, causing more of the front window to crack. Another slash is aimed at one of the arm joints, buckling the arm and making sparks spit out. Leonardo punches Donatello, who tumbles to the ground, groaning.]

Splinter: [He clears his throat.] Actually, on this occasion, I will have to condone some hurting him.

[The turtles and Cody charge at Leonardo again, but he dodges them with ease. Raphael’s sai sweeps through thin air. Donatello’s bo whacks against the ground. Michelangelo’s nunchucks strike Turtle-X as Leonardo jumps on top of it. He flips away before running at them again. With a few slashes of his claws, his brothers are down and Turtle-X is worse for wear.]

Splinter: [with fatherly authority] Leonardo!

[Leonardo turns to Splinter, who approaches him. He keeps his eyes on Splinter, a wicked smile painted on his face.]

Donatello: [pained] No offence, Sensei, but last time you tried reaching to him while he was contaminated, you just made him bring up that slime.

Splinter: [He glances at Donatello before looking at Leonardo again.] Leonardo, focus on my voice.

[Biggles spots a laser gun on the ground. He edges toward it.]

Splinter: You are my son, Leonardo. You like to read and eat pizza with your brothers. Your favourite time of day is dinnertime, when we are all together. You treat ninjutsu with utmost seriousness and respect. You enjoy meditation and train diligently. You are a pillar of strength for our family.

[Leonardo stares, eyes widening. Mouth slightly open.]

Michelangelo: You’re our leader, bro.

[Leonardo’s face scrunches with a glower. He yells and raises his fist, claws gleaming. Splinter widens his eyes. Leonardo’s arm swings down as he slashes. A shot of Splinter’s face, frozen as the colours turn monochrome. The image splits down the middle at an angle, sliding.]

[The other turtles and Cody watch in horror, the image of them split at the same angle. Their gazes drop down as a head hits the ground.]

Chapter Text

[‘Past’ New York City]

[The Lair]

[A slow pan of the main lair area that changes to Splinter’s meditation room. The lighting is dim but there are candles placed around Splinter, providing a pocket of light. His eyes are shut as he meditates. It is silent. A zoom in on his ear as a paper door very quietly rustles. His ear quivers. A slight zoom out to reveal his face. His eyes are still shut.]

Splinter: It is past your bedtime, my son.

Preteen Leonardo’s voice: [quiet] I know.

[Leonardo stands in the doorway with a troubled expression on his face. He looks down.]

Leonardo: I’m sorry.

Splinter: [still with his eyes closed] Something troubles you.

Leonardo: Y-Yeah.

Splinter: You cannot be expected to sleep if your mind does not allow it. Join me.

[Leonardo hesitantly comes over, looking around along the way, and kneels opposite Splinter. He squeezes his knees, his gaze downward.]

Splinter: Tell me: what is bothering you, my son?

Leonardo: [uncomfortable] You know how I’m supposed to be the leader now?

Splinter: [calm] Yes, I know this very well. I designated you as leader earlier this very day.

[Leonardo cringes.]

Splinter: What of it?

Leonardo: I... don’t get it.

Splinter: What don’t you understand?

Leonardo: Why you chose me. Raph’s the strongest. Mikey’s the fastest. Donnie’s the smartest. [He looks at Splinter, who has opened his eyes and calmly maintains Leonardo’s stare.] You could have chosen any of them, but you didn’t. You chose me. And I’m... [His voice cracks slightly.] ... I’m not the best at anything. What one of my brothers can do with ease, I have to work ten times harder to even try to catch up.

Splinter: [His brow furrows.] Leonardo...

Leonardo: [more emotional] No wonder Raph doesn’t want to talk to me anymore. And Mikey was saying you chose me because I’m... I’m a teacher’s pet. Even Donnie said it must be due to those extra lessons I do with you. Now they’re going to hate me forever. Sensei...

[Splinter looks like he wants to speak, but Leonardo hits himself on the chest and blurts out - ]

Leonardo: I don’t want to be the leader!

[Splinter looks stunned. The scene transforms into another...]

[‘Present’ New York City]

[Street level]

[Back in the future, Splinter has a similar expression of shock. Leonardo, in his Kanabo form, is in front of Splinter. He snarls and slashes with his katana. The other turtles and Cody gasp, horrified. Donatello’s hands go to his neck. The picture returns to Leonardo. In the foreground, a headless silhouette falls to its knees, then falls sideways.]

[Linger on Splinter’s body, his head out of frame. Then pan up to reveal he still has his head intact. He opens his eyes. A zoom out showing his whole body. He looks over at something on the ground - the beheaded body of Biggles. His head lies nearby, sparking at the neck.]

Biggles’s head: I say! What the devil is-?

[He is violently shut up by a twin-bladed short katana striking down on him, shattering the head into tiny pieces. A pan up reveals the wielder to be Dark Leonardo, who straightens, spins his weapon and rests it against his shoulder at an angle. Dark Donatello and Dark Raphael flank him. In the background, Dark Michelangelo limps over to join them.]

Cody: [His eyes drift up from Biggles’s body to focus on the Dark Turtles.] [incredulous] You...?!

Dark Raphael: [sneering] Ah, don’t pretend you ever liked ‘im.

Donatello: Regardless, we didn’t want his head to get demolished!

Dark Donatello: Look on the bright side, the money pouring into his upkeep can go into something actually beneficial now.

Dark Michelangelo: Yeah, like... uh... [He thinks, then clicks his fingers.] I remember! Education, healthcare and alternative rehabilitation programmes.

[The turtles, Cody and Splinter exchange confused looks. Leonardo eyes them in a battle-ready offensive stance. He growls and slashes at Splinter, who dodges, his features hardening. The clones charge at the others, and a brawl breaks out. Michelangelo smacks Dark Raphael with his nunchucks, who blocks as he reverses away; Donatello spins his bo staff at Dark Michelangelo, who tries to weave out of the way but gets hit and stumbles, his reflexes worse due to his injuries; Dark Donatello hooks his tail around Cody's mecha suit arm, who tries to pull him off; Raphael and Dark Leonardo circle each other, and Splinter faces Leonardo. 

Splinter dodges out of the way of Leonardo’s katana, and uses his walking stick to disarm him. Leonardo looks at his hand, then fights with one katana and his claws. Nearby, Raphael throws punches, clenching both sai in his fists. Dark Leonardo dodges Raphael’s attacks.]

Raphael: I’m [punch] gonna [another punch] end you!

[Raphael lands an uppercut. Dark Leonardo stumbles back and feels the underside of his chin, where Raphael struck him with his fisted sai. His hand comes away with blood. Raphael breathes loudly, eyes bright with hatred.]

Raphael: Once I’m through with you, your daddy Dunn will have to grow another you in a test tube or toilet or wherever it was dat Sh'okanabo made you. [He kicks; Dark Leonardo blocks with his arms.] Not that Darius even wants a you around anyways. Not when he has the original, who is better than you in every way. You’re worthless!

[Dark Leonardo’s eye widens. There is a brief flashback to Part 2, when Dunn says ‘You’re a worthless, grotesque stain on existence!’ Dark Leonardo glowers, but before he can retaliate, Dark Michelangelo comes barrelling out of nowhere, slamming into Raphael. Raphael tumbles to the ground.]

Dark Michelangelo: [angry] We’re not worthless!

[Donatello slices his bo staff through the air, creating a slash of purple light that makes Dark Michelangelo hiss on contact and stagger back. Donatello and Raphael fight Dark Michelangelo together.]

Raphael: [He scoffs.] Your masters didn't even give you names!

Dark Michelangelo: They don't need to! I chose my own name, and it's Giorgione!

[Everyone else is surprised, but when Dark Michelangelo - Giorgione - swats at Raphael, the fighting resumes. Dark Leonardo looks around. Michelangelo is jumping around Dark Raphael, who tries to punch him but can't keep up; Dark Donatello’s wristguard projects a shield that he blocks Cody’s laser attacks with, his arm moving rapidly. Leonardo takes one of Splinter’s kicks, then grabs his leg and throws Splinter. Splinter lands on his feet, but before he can rise out of his crouch, he has Leonardo’s claw at his neck. Leonardo grins. Licks around his mouth.]

[Dark Leonardo’s earpiece crackles. Dunn’s on the line.]

Dunn’s voice: If you have everything you need, get out of there now.

[Leonardo tenses, hearing the voice in his head. Splinter takes advantage of his hesitation and sweeps a leg under Leonardo, who flips back, still distracted.]

Dark Leonardo: [confused] I thought you wanted Leonardo to destroy his family. You screamed at me when I had us spare them last time. 

Dunn: You seem to be under the impression that you’re the mastermind of this operation all of a sudden. Do as I say! 

[Dark Leonardo glowers but turns to Dark Donatello.]

Dark Leonardo: Retreat, brothers!

[Dark Donatello reaches into his wrist guard. Dark Raphael and Giorgione reach into their gauntlets. All three have a small compartment with smoke bombs. They throw them down. The turtles and Splinter splutter as the air fills with purple smoke. Cody lifts a robotic arm. The hand spins like a fan, dispelling the smoke. At the same time, Splinter runs forward... but the Dark Turtles and Leonardo are already gone. They look around.]

Raphael: They can’t [He coughs.] have gone far. Come on!

[He takes a few steps before Cody calls out to him.]

Cody: Hold it, Raph. We need to get out of here and lay low. 

Raphael: But Leo...

[One of the downed Peacekeepers groan.]

Cody: We can't help Leo if we’re in jail, and even if we do catch up with them, we'd be helping no one by attracting more Peacekeepers to us while we're fighting them.

Michelangelo: [sadly] The li'l dude's right. And Leo was kickin’ our butts even more than usual... There's no way we'd beat them before Biggles's pals showed up.

Donatello: [He places a hand onto Raphael’s shoulder and quirks a bleak smile.] We lost the battle, not the war.

Raphael: So what? We go back to Cody's? [sarcastic] Yeah, that'll be the last place they’ll look.

Cody: Raph’s got a point. [He squints, thinking, then widens his eyes.] Follow me. I know where we can go.

[Cody leads the way. Everyone starts to leave except Raphael, who looks up at the sky.]

Raphael: We’re comin’ for ya, bro.

Splinter: Raphael!

[Raphael grits his teeth and turns, following the others out of frame.]

[A News Studio]

[The lighting is blue-tinted. At a desk sits a news anchor, a black woman in a yellow jumpsuit. Her mascara is running, like she has just been crying. Her desk is littered with scrunched up tissues. In the top right corner of the screen is a face shot of Constable Biggles.]

News anchor: [trying to stay strong] New New York has lost a hero. In the early hours of this morning, Chief Constable Aloysius Biggles gave his life while protecting our city from a gang of middle-aged thug alien tortoises and their killer robot. In this line of profession, there’s always a risk that you won't come home, but [She wipes her eyes with a tissue.] it's still a shock when it happens. Especially when it's someone as iconic as our constable. We'll be paying homage to our favourite crimefighter throughout the day, and I hope you join us in celebrating his life. Usual programming will resume tomorrow. Now, let's refresh ourselves on a few of Constable Biggles’s many accomplishments. Roll the montage.

[She starts openly weeping. The scene changes to play a series of images while melancholy music warbles: Constable Biggles standing over Triple Threat in ‘Headlock Prime’; Constable Biggles putting Jammerhead into the back of a police car in ‘Invasion of the Body Jackers’; Constable Biggles confronted by a dinosaur in ‘Timing is Everything’. Finally, an image of a super muscular Biggles giving Sh'okanabo an uppercut while Agent Bishop swoons in the background (in the corner it says ‘artist's recreation'). The television then switches off.]

[Pan to Raphael in a cramped room - Starlee’s living room, to be precise. He is sitting on the couch with the remote, scowling. Michelangelo and Cody sit with him. Splinter and Donatello stand nearby.]

Donatello: Really? ‘Middle-aged thug alien tortoises’?

Raphael: If I have to hear another second of that tripe, I’m gonna hurl.

[Starlee skates in with a tray of snacks. There’s a bowl of lentil chips, wrapped grain bars and fruit.]

Starlee: [not too seriously] Hey, I’d rather not have the smell of barf stinking up the place. I'm renting, you know.

Splinter: [He bows his head slightly.] Miss Hambrath, I cannot thank you enough for allowing us to sojourn in your home.

Michelangelo: Yeah, it’ll be just like when we stayed at April’s! Without the Shredder burning everything down. Hopefully.

[Raphael gives Michelangelo a bop on the head.]

Michelangelo: Ow!

Raphael: Don’t jinx it.

Starlee: [She quirks a smile.] My home might be on the small side, but I’ve set it up with all sorts of security systems and hiding places. You’re completely safe here.

Donatello: [He rubs his hands together.] Ooh, I’ll have to have a look at these security systems, if you don’t mind.

Raphael: Why all the security? You worried about a home invasion?

Starlee: [She winces.] Kind of. It’s in case my parents ever try to make a surprise visit. [Her smile returns.] After snacks, I’ll give you a tour of all the nooks and crannies.

[She sets down the snacks. Everyone except Michelangelo digs in. He pouts a bit.]

Starlee: Pizza will be ready in five. [She holds up five fingers.]

Michelangelo: [perking up] You’re the best, Starlee! [He leans toward Cody and hushes his voice a bit.] Dude, she's the perfect gal! You've gotta ask her out. 

[Starlee blushes. Cody blushes, makes an inhuman squawk and covers Michelangelo’s mouth.]

Cody: [loudly] Why don’t we see what else is on TV? There must be at least one channel that hasn’t dropped its schedule to showcase Constable Biggles’s life.

Raphael: [He stands up.] TV? TV?? We should be out there lookin’ for Leo, not watching TV.

Splinter: [frowning] As long as we are suspected of Constable Biggles’s demise, it is not wise for us to venture out of Miss Hambrath’s apartment. The Peacekeepers witnessed us at the scene - they were unconscious when your clones arrived and took him out.

Cody: We’ll be able to prove it wasn’t us, but it could take a while.

Raphael: So we’re stuck here watchin’ people on TV cry about that uppity tin can? [He growls and slumps back into the sofa.] Our doubles were right. Way too much money and time are being spent on bozos like them.

[Donatello folds his arms over his chest, frowning.]

Donatello: You know... what our clones said has been bothering me.

Michelangelo: Don’t tell me you’re secretly a crazed super fan of Biggles too. If I find you with a body pillow of him, I'm disowning you.

Donatello: No, of course not. But don’t you think what they said about the Peacekeepers was odd? It’s not the sort of nuanced take that you’d expect them to have, and they certainly won’t have learned it from Dunn. Education, healthcare and alternative rehabilitation programmes?

[No one says anything for a moment.]

Cody: [He holds his chin.] Yeah, you’re right. But are you saying that...?

Donatello: [He nods.] I think Leo must have said that to them. It’s definitely something he would say. But why?

[Another beat of silence. Raphael shrugs.]

Raphael: Maybe he wasn't fully mind controlled then. So what?

Donatello: It's not just that. Mikey's clone called himself Giorgione. Leo must have...

Raphaell: [His tone drips with acid.] Donnie, it doesn't matter - he's their pet now, and we’re trapped here. Dat’s dat.

[Tension barbs the air.]

Starlee: [pouting] It’s not that bad here.

[The others remain downcast. She looks around at them and puffs out her chest.]

Starlee: What’s with the defeatist attitude? [She puts her hands onto her hips.] If Leo was here, he’d be whipping your butts back into gear. Sure, you have to be under the radar for a bit, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use that time to be productive.

[The others stir a little. Starlee raises a hand and snaps her fingers together.]

Starlee: Let’s talk game plan. First off, you guys are focusing on the wrong person. It’s not Leo you should be looking for. [The turtles look confused.] It’s whoever’s controlling his mind that you need to track down.

Donatello: That person would be Cody’s dear Uncle Darius. Back in the warehouse, my clone mentioned that it was his chip. He’s got to be the one giving Leo his orders.

Raphael: That’s who Leo was talkin’ to when we saw him! He was telling Dunn to shut up and get out of his head.

Starlee: [She points at Raphael, smirking.] If you find Dunn, you can stop him from controlling your brother and giving him commands. Then it should be relatively simple to get Leo to come back with you.

Cody: That’s... a really decent point, Starlee. If we can take Darius by surprise, he won't have the chance to activate any self-destruct mechanisms or anything else that could harm Leo.

[The others perk up. Michelangelo wavers.]

Michelangelo: But how are we gonna find Dunn? He’s gone Where's Waldo since we last saw him.

[Cody looks confused at the reference.]

Donatello: I doubt their base is still at the Y’Lyntian outpost, and while we could search every warehouse and sewer tunnel... our best bet is having our clones lead us to him. It’s only a matter of time before they reveal themselves. When that happens, we head out, find them, then tail them without them noticing.

Raphael: Sneaking around? Being seen as monsters? [He leans back and cups his hands around the back of his head. He musters a dry smile.] It's like we're back in the past.

Splinter: You mustn't get nostalgic. We must focus on what is happening now.

Michelangelo: [frowning] I wonder what Leo's up to right now...

[Fade to darkness. The world starts to blurs in, and Leonardo groans. Darkness again, then the world blurs in properly. The view is ground level, from a dirty floor of a dirty warehouse.]

[AKA The Dark Turtles Lair]

[Still in Leonardo's POV, he sits up. He looks at his hands. Green, with claws. He makes a noise of confusion. Change to an outside POV as he touches his face... he has small horns, but is otherwise his usual self.]

Leonardo: [confused] I’m me again?

[He puts a hand on the ground, as if about to push himself up, but stiffens. His hand is against the remains of his cocoon.]

Dark Donatello: You must be wondering what happened when you changed.

[The four Dark Turtles stand over him, gazing down. Only Giorgione smiles.]

Leonardo: No. I remember.

Dark Leonardo: You do?

Leonardo: When I was contaminated with Sh'Okanabo’s Kanabo ooze before, I couldn’t recall anything that happened while I was transformed. This was different. [His fists clench as his voice strains.] I remember everything. Biggles... fighting my family... I remember seeing... hearing... feeling... but I couldn't control my body. It was like someone else was.

Giorgione: Phew! [He wipes his forehead with his tongue rather than with his hand.] That saves me catching you up on all the deets.

Dark Donatello: [grinning] But I’ll give them to you anyways. If our brother didn't order us to retreat, you’d have torn them to shreds. What a shame... Maybe next time.

Giorgione: I wonder why Darius had us retreat. We were whooping butt!

Dunn's voice: Darius doesn't have to explain anything to you maggots.

[Dunn walks in, wearing his robot suit and with a large cloth bag hooked on one elbow. The clones tense, watching him. Leonardo grits his teeth, resentment hot in his gaze.]

Dark Leonardo: You don't have to, but you still can. Or have you already hit your gloating holier-than-thou quota today?

Dunn: Ah, I will never be able to express just how much more superior I am to all of you... not even if I were to spend 24 hours a day for the rest of my life. But I suppose if you are so moronic, I can try explaining my decisions. I told Leonardo to kill his brothers and master, but he resisted. I cannot have him out like that. I will have to break him in slowly.

[He saunters over to Leonardo, who stands up. Steps forward. The forcefield stops him going any further. A grin full of teeth creeps onto Dunn's face. He stoops his head to be level with Leonardo’s.]

Dunn: You really care about your family, don't you?

[Leonardo keeps a poker face.]

Dunn: You would do anything to protect them, won't you?

[Leonardo still doesn't reply.]

Dunn: I've heard what they call you. Fearless leader. But I know your secret. What scares you. You're terrified of losing your family. Of letting them down. [He shows his palms to Leonardo.] Now, now. We can't all be perfect. On the bright side, it'll make it easier to tame you.

[Leonardo’s eyes narrow. Dunn straightens and presses on his robotic arm, lowering the forcefield.]

Dunn: Who is your master?

Leonardo: Master Splinter.

[Dunn summons the holographic dial and turns it. Leonardo grunts and trembles, holding a hand to his head.]

Dunn: When you were transformed, you attacked your family with such a smile. Did you enjoy it?

[Dunn turns the dial a bit more. Leonardo groans. His claws lengthen.]

Dunn: You may as well have fun with it. It's either that or be miserable, and I know which one I would prefer. Why, if I had my family here right now, I would happily crush them in my hand, slowly, to relish it.

[He demonstrates with his robotic hand.]

Dunn: Kneel.

[Leonardo drops to one knee.]

Dunn: Good monster.

Leonardo: I'm not a monster.

Dunn: [He snorts.] Have you seen a mirror?

Leonardo: Have you? [Pause] Though [He groans, in pain.] I would avoid them too if I was you.

[The clones stare in disbelief. Giorgione laughs, and his brothers look at him now, stunned. Dunn is not amused. He turns the dial. Leonardo cries out, shaking.]

Leonardo: [strained] I'm not the monster here, nor are my family's clones. The only monster here is you, Darius.

[Darius looks furious. Leonardo throws a punch that doesn't reach Dunn. A cocoon swallows his body. Within moments, the shell shatters, and he emerges in Kanabo form.]

Dunn: Disobedient worm. I will break you, then put you back together in a more acceptable, pliable form. Let's start by getting you more comfortable with fighting against your brothers... by having you brawl their clones.

[Leonardo looks around. Dunn sweeps his arms around.]

Dunn: Enjoy your chew toys, Leonardo.

[Leonardo's red eyes lock onto Dark Leonardo. He snarls and darts straight for Dark Leonardo, who pulls out his blade. Leonardo slashes his shoulder with his claws, making Dark Leonardo stagger slightly. The other Dark Turtles look at each other. Dark Leonardo growls and tries hitting him with his weapon, but Leonardo swerves out of the way, low stanced.]

Dunn: [He pulls some steak from his cloth bag and waves it around.] For every unit of blood you draw from these miserable creations, you will receive one raw steak.

[Leonardo is spurred on. With an unLeonardoable growl, he lunges at Dark Donatello, scratching his cheek and drawing blood. Dark Donatello hisses and staggers. The other clones reluctantly fight him, but cannot keep up with his heightened speed as he punches and kicks and scratches. As the sound of fighting continues, of blades and pained grunts, a shot of Dunn’s face. He grins widely.]

[Still the Dark Turtles’ Lair]

[The fight is long over, and the room is dark. A shot of an injured Giorgione sleeping on a broken couch. A shot of a bruised Dark Donatello curled up like a cat, sleeping. A shot of scratched up Dark Leonardo with his back to the viewer, lying on his side facing a wall. Then a shot of Leonardo with his eyes closed, sleeping on a dirty mattress within the forcefield. He's no longer transformed, with only short claws and horns. The darkness tints his skin purple.]

[Scenes flash, each interspersed with Leonardo tossing and turning. First scene: Leonardo attacking Turtle-X in the alley from earlier. Second scene: Leonardo swipes at Dark Donatello’s cheek in the Dark Turtles’ lair. Third scene: Donatello stumbles back after being punched in the alley. Fourth scene: Leonardo slashes at Giorgione in the alley. Fifth scene: Michelangelo holds his bleeding arm in the Dark Turtles’ Lair. Sixth scene: Leonardo holds his blade to Splinter’s neck, but as he lowers his blade, Splinter’s face transforms into Dunn’s.]

[Leonardo is restless, panting.]

Raphael’s voice: Leonardo?

[Leonardo awakes. Raphael peers into the forcefield.]

Leonardo: [He sits up sharply.] Raph?

[Leonardo rubs his eyes. The next shot replaces Raphael with Dark Raphael.]

Dark Raphael: Uh, actually, it’s me.

Leonardo: Oh. [He rubs his head.]

Dark Raphael: You were squirmin’ and mumblin’ a lot in your sleep.

Leonardo: Sorry. Bad dream. I’ll be quieter.

[Leonardo lies on his side, his shell toward Dark Raphael.]

Dark Raphael: Did you mean it when you said we weren't monsters earlier?

Leonardo: [not moving] Of course.

Dark Raphael: How'd you know that though? Why’s you right and Darius wrong?

Leonardo: Darius bases his definition of monsters on appearances, which is nonsense. Some of the kindest people I've known don't look human, and some of the worst have been human... or looked human anyway. Trust me, I know what it's like to be treated like a monster because of how I look. It doesn’t matter if you’re ugly or pretty or whatever, what matters is what you’re like on the inside.

Dark Raphael: Huh?

[Leonardo narrows his eyes.]

Dark Raphael: Sorry. I don’t think good. But I think I understand you... And I do know for such a small fry, you sure acted real big talking to Darius.

[Leonardo doesn't react.]

Dark Raphael: Even when he hurts you, you don't back down. [He hesitates.] You're a small fry on the outside, but bigger than me on the inside. All without laying a finger on him.

[Leonardo finally looks over at him. Dark Raphael looks serious.]

Dark Raphael: Can you train me to be dat tough? For when Dunn runs his mouth hole?

Leonardo: It's not something I can train you for. Sorry.

Dark Raphael: You mean I'll always have small insides?

Leonardo: No. I think you're already capable. You've just got to believe in yourself.

Dark Raphael: Nobody's ever believed in me before.

Leonardo: Doesn't matter. What's important is that you do, even if everyone else is against you.

[A pause.]

Dark Raphael: You called me ‘Raph’ earlier.

[Leonardo cringes.]

Leonardo: Sorry, I was half-asleep. I know you're not him. Let’s... Let’s get some shut eye, okay?

Dark Raphael: Okay.

[Dark Raphael pads away. Leonardo tries to get comfortable. Pan to Dark Leonardo, who opens his eye slightly with a bitter expression.]

[Again, still in the Dark Turtles’ Lair]

[It’s morning. Dark Raphael and Giorgione are asleep. Dark Leonardo broods in a corner. Leonardo meditates in his forcefield. His skin is definitely green, but the spikes and horns remain still.]

Dark Donatello: What's your angle?

[Leonardo opens his eyes and looks up. Dark Donatello gazes down at him with a hostile expression.]

Leonardo: Excuse me?

Dark Donatello: Don't play dumb. That will work on the others, but not me. Why are you doing all this?

Leonardo: To protect my family.

Dark Donatello: [He jerks his head.] That’s why you're working for Darius. What I'm asking is what does getting us hotdogs and giving us pep talks have to do with that? You're up to something.

Leonardo: It’s called being kind.

Dark Donatello: Don't give me that nonsense! [He scoffs.] Kindness?! We’re your enemies. What are you really after? Are you trying to trick us into helping you, is that it?

[Leonardo just stares at him.]

Dark Donatello: Yes, I understand your game now. Turn us against Dunn, break free and return to your family while we're left to fend for ourselves.

Leonardo: Is that worse than being under Dunn's thumb?

Dark Donatello: [sneering] None of us like it here. But do you want to know what the reality is? People won't be calling my brother Giorgione, or telling us to believe in ourselves, or saying we're not monsters... They will want us dead.

[Giorgione and Dark Raphael are awake. Both look down, pained. Dark Leonardo frowns.]

Leonardo: You don't know that will happen. Is that what scares you, that you don't actually know for certain? My brother Donatello hates not knowing things as well...

Dark Donatello: Shut up!

[He swipes his tail at Leonardo, but his attack bounces off the forcefield. The other clones stir, but before they can react, Dunn struts in wearing his mech suit.]

Dunn: Ah, fraught bonds... That's what I like to see.

[He presses on his robot arm - the forcefield around Leonardo lowers. Then he reaches into his bag, pulling out food. He tosses a bloody raw steak at Leonardo’s feet, as well as some tin cans.]

Dunn: Eat. I have a big mission for you this afternoon.

[Leonardo does not eat. The clones gather around him, peering at Dunn.]

Dunn: As you will know, my brilliant nephew has constructed a time machine. [Leonardo tenses, on-guard.] I want you to break into his penthouse and steal the latest blueprints for it. I fear the plans I stole before are rather out-dated.

Leonardo: [recomposing himself] Cody still hasn’t been able to get his time window to replicate what it did to my family. And meddling with time is dangerous. You could end up destroying the universe like Sh'Okanabo and Viral almost did.

Dunn: [He chuckles.] Oh, I have no interest in playing around with the fabric of time. I am in too comfortable a position to want to risk changing anything. [He shakes his head.] No, I have other plans for it. When I've acquired the blueprints, I intend to make some adjustments to it. To repurpose it. No travelling forward or back in time involved.

[Leonardo eyes him. Dunn smiles innocently... or it would seem innocent on almost anyone else.]

Dunn: Thanks to Leonardo's ingenuity, his old family has had to go into hiding as you all framed them as that Robotic British stereotype's murderer. Not just that... you’ve all been underground since then, so you won’t know this, but tensions between law enforcement and the community are at an all time high. [He raises his arms, delighted.] While there are people mourning Biggles’s demise, others are celebrating. It’s in early stages, but the city is starting to eat itself.

[Giorgione starts clapping. When no one else joins in, just looking at him, he stops and looks embarrassed.]

Dunn: [slightly flustered] Thank you. Anyway... with the turtles out of the way and the city’s Peacekeepers preoccupied, you will break into my nephew's penthouse before it gets dark, acquire the blueprints and bring them here.

[He bends down, looking smugly at a cold Leonardo.]

Dunn: Don't get any funny ideas. I don't want to have to turn up your chip's setting to maximum, because you have been such a valuable asset. I would hate to irreversibly change you. And I could do with your family being alive for a little longer. They're such a good incentive for you to behave.

[He cups Leonardo’s chin. His smile widens. Leonardo is visibly very uncomfortable.]

Dunn: Remember when I saved you from being electrocuted by the Inuwashi Gunjin? I asked my nephew if I had rescued the right one at the time... Oh, how correct I was to intervene.

[Leonardo tries to move his head away, but this just prompts Dunn to hold on tighter.]

Dunn: I am your master, Leonardo. Don’t you forget that.

[Dunn releases Leonardo’s chin and leaves the room. Leonardo grimaces and rubs his face where Dunn had been touching it. Giorgione picks up the steak and a can of beans.]

Giorgione: I’ll start a fire and cook breakfast for everyone, OK? 

[Giorgione doesn’t wait for an answer and leaves. Leonardo continues to massage his face.]

[New York City]

[An outside shot of the skyscraper containing Cody’s penthouse. It’s early evening. Cut to the rooftop, where the Terrorpin materialises out of thin air, already landed. The clones and Leonardo emerge. Leonardo casts a wistful look at the garden.]

Dark Leonardo: No dawdling. The Terrorpin’s invisibility cloaking will have only given us a little extra time. We go in there, get what Dunn wants, then get out. [He turns to Leonardo.] You sure you know where the blueprints are?

Leonardo: Yes.

[Leonardo leads them to the door leading to inside. As he steps up, a red horizontal line of light scans him, travelling up and down.]

Robotic voice: Welcome home, Leonardo.

[The door opens. Leonardo gives a sigh of relief. Dark Leonardo barges past him, weapons drawn.]

Dark Leonardo: In, out.

[The others follow him in. Cut to them entering Cody’s lab. Dark Donatello makes a beeline for Cody’s computer.]

Dark Donatello: Passwords?

[Leonardo sidles up to him and types on the keyboard. Another red line scans his serious face, then multiple hologram screens appear. Dark Donatello hooks up his tablet to the computer system and taps and swipes rapidly on his screen.]

Giorgione: [He taps a finger against a corner of his mouth and squints.] I wonder why Darius wants the plans for a time machine if he doesn’t want to use it for time travel. That’s like buying a lawn mower to not mow grass.

Dark Donatello: We’ll find out soon enough. In fact, as the resident genius, he’ll entrust me to work on his new project so I’ll be the first to learn of his intentions.

[Dark Donatello types on his tablet. Dark Raphael fidgets.]

Dark Raphael: Hey... Maybe this ain’t such a good idea?

[The clones stare at him, while Leonardo continues looking toward the computer system. Dark Donatello’s face contorts in a sneer.]

Dark Donatello: You’re just saying that because you’re jealous that I’m still useful to Dunn. He could get rid of any of you now he has Leonardo, but he still needs me.

Dark Raphael: I’m sayin’ it ‘cause it’s true. I got a bad feeling about all this. Dunn’s up to something bad. So bad dat he don’t wanna tell us what, and he’s got us stealin’ plans for a time machine.

Leonardo: [to Dark Raphael] We don’t have a choice right now. We need to get these plans to Darius.

[Dark Raphael turns to him.]

Dark Raphael: What if we all told him we weren’t gonna do it? Then maybe...

Leonardo: [raising his voice] We’re not doing that, okay?

[The others look stunned.]

Dark Raphael: [frowning] Last night, you said I needed to believe in myself even if everyone’s against me. Dat’s what I’m doing now. Were you lying? [aggressively] Are you a liar?

[A look of anguish passes over Leonardo’s face. He glances away.]

Leonardo: This is different. I’m not going to pretend I like being Dunn’s pet, or that I think he’s up to any good, but I’m also not going to put my family in more danger. [He smiles slightly. It doesn’t reach his eyes.] Besides, it’s like I said before. Whatever Dunn has planned, my family will be able to stop him.

[Dark Donatello unlinks his tablet from the computer.]

Dark Donatello: I’ve got it. Let’s get out of -

[Dark Leonardo darts next to him and raises his blade. A tranquiliser dart bounces off it, originally aimed at Dark Donatello’s arm. The others turn. In the doorway is Starlee, grasping a tranquiliser gun.]

Giorgione: Who’s the girl?

Leonardo: [His eyes narrow.] Starlee, I don’t want to fight you. Let us leave, and no one needs to get hurt.

Starlee: Who’s saying that, Leo or Dunn?

[Leonardo’s face twitches a bit. Starlee adjusts her grip on her gun, not taking her eyes off them.]

Dark Raphael: She’s a pipsqueak. We can take her on easily. [He cracks his knuckles.]

[But when Dark Raphael starts toward her, Dark Leonardo blocks his path with his blade.]

Dark Leonardo: It’s as my counterpart says. No one has to get hurt. She’s a dumb kid, she’s not worth our time.

Starlee: Dumb? [She gives a sarcastic laugh.] Well, this dumb kid isn’t letting you guys leave this place with that data.

[Giorgione turns to Leonardo.]

Giorgione: What are we gonna do, Leo?

[Before Leonardo can answer, Starlee skates toward them, shooting the darts. One hits Giorgione, who seems fine for a few moments before going cross-eyed and falling over. Leonardo runs over to Starlee and evades the darts, closing the gap between them and using his blade to disarm her. She starts punching his shell. Dark Raphael roughly picks her up by her arm and dangles her.]

Leonardo: [sharply] Put her down.

[Dark Raphael drops her. She falls to her knees, but soon stands up shakily. Leonardo gives her a sad look.]

Leonardo: Sorry, Starlee.

[Leonardo puts his katana away and then strikes his fingers against her pressure points. When he’s done, she collapses to the ground, groaning. He picks up the tranquiliser gun and tucks it into his belt.]

Leonardo: Let’s get out of here.

[Leonardo and the clones start to leave, Dark Raphael and Dark Donatello carrying Dark Michelangelo between them. A zoom in on Starlee that then zooms in further, onto her lower head. For a few seconds, her mouth is twisted in pain, but then she smiles.]

Starlee: [weakly] Just... as calculated...

[A glimpse of the others leaving the room that zooms in on Leonardo’s shell... Starlee has placed a small tracker there.]

[New York City]

[A street. It’s evening, starting to get dark. The usually busy city is almost empty, with mostly police officers patrolling. In an alleyway, a purple cloaked individual peers out before retreating back in. When they speak, their voice reveals itself to belong to Raphael.]

Raphael: How far are they, Donnie?

Donatello: [He looks at the hologram projecting from his wrist guard. It depicts a map of New York, with a flashing light on it to indicate Leonardo’s position. It doesn’t seem to be moving.] Couple of miles, but they’re travelling really slowly. And it doesn’t seem to be going in a straight line.

Michelangelo: No duh it’s slow. Their ugly vehicle’s gonna stick out even more than usual with everyone on high alert. [He strokes his chin and looks up.] Like gee, wonder if the criminal turtles we’re after are in the giant ominous terrapin flying machine?

Donatello: [frowning] It probably has some sort of cloaking device built into it. I was worried that it might block Starlee’s tracker, but thankfully that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Michelangelo: Do you think Starlee’s okay? She didn’t sound great when she called us.

Donatello: She’ll be fine. She had Serling nearby, and Sensei and Cody must have joined her by now.

Raphael: She’s a lot tougher than she looks. Facin’ off against those five...

Donatello: Though from Serling’s account, they didn’t get into a proper brawl. Leo temporarily impaired her movements by striking some of her pressure points, then they ran off. She got off pretty easily, all things considered.

Raphael: Yeah, but now they have blueprints for Cody’s time window. I dunno what Dunn’s got in mind, but if it involves that, it’s gotta be somethin’ real bad.

Donatello: [He jumps a little.] Guys, the tracker’s picking up pace! Let’s go!

[They jump up the alley to a rooftop, then start leaping from roof to roof. Donatello keeps his hologram map up.]

Donatello: Remember, guys, this is just reconnaissance. When we find their base and see how they enter it, then we go home and plan our next actions from there. We want to enter it only when we know it's just Dunn in there alone. Raph.

Raphael: Yeah, yeah.

Michelangelo: That means no fighting them, Raphie.

Raphael: I know! But next time, I’m kicking their butts twice as hard.

[Donatello leads them to a rooftop. They slow.]

Donatello: [He tenses.] It’s moving back this way... Wait... According to this, we’re standing right on it now.

[Michelangelo checks the bottom of his feet. Raphael looks up. Donatello taps his wrist guard.]

Donatello: I think... yes! [ He slaps his forehead.] Duh! Going by its route, it’s traversing through the sewer system. That’s why it’s not moving in a linear direction. It has to follow the tunnels. Come on!

[The turtles jump down from the roof into an alley. Raphael moves aside a manhole cover, lets the other two drop down first, then follows, shutting the cover after himself. They land in The Sewer and look about. It’s poorly lit. Donatello checks his map, then motions for the others to follow. They creep along, parallel to the water. On Donatello’s map, the dot of light moves slowly, then stops. Donatello pauses. The light dot then heads back the other way. He tenses.]

Michelangelo: [hushed] Guys...

[Donatello looks up and freezes. Ahead of them stands a shadowy figure.]

Michelangelo: Leo?

[The shadowy figure steps forward so the others can see them better - it is indeed Leonardo, holding one katana.]

Raphael: He’s not purple no more.

Michelangelo: He still has those spikes though.

[Raphael starts slowly toward Leonardo.]

Raphael: [With surprising softness] Leo, it’s us. Your bros. Try to remember us.

Leonardo: [He doesn’t look happy to see them.] I know who you are.

[Leonardo holds up a hand, revealing the tracker.]

Donatello: You - ? [He looks around.] Where are our clones?

Leonardo: On the way back to their hideout with the blueprints. I had a suspicion that Starlee had planted something on me, so the others went to deliver the plans to Dunn while we led you here instead.

Michelangelo: Wait... ‘we’?

[Dark Raphael comes forward now.]

Dark Raphael: I didn’t get to fight da girl, but this more than makes up for it.

[Dark Raphael cracks his knuckles. Leonardo gives his brothers an icy stare, warningly. Donatello turns off his hologram, takes off cloak and readies his bo staff. Michelangelo and Raphael remove their cloaks and draw their weapons.]

Leonardo: You need to go, all of you. I don’t want to fight you guys.

Michelangelo: So don’t then?

Leonardo: Believe me, if I had the choice, I wouldn’t be here.

[Leonardo reaches into his belt and pulls out the tranquiliser gun that Starlee had. He aims it at Donatello, but Raphael throws his sai, making Leonardo drop it. He grimaces and reluctantly unsheathes a second katana.]

Leonardo: [He sighs.] I'll try to go easy on you.

Raphael: Nice to see you’ve still got your over inflated ego.

[Leonardo runs at his brothers, swinging a katana at Donatello. Michelangelo looks reluctant to join the fray. Dark Raphael punches him, making him fly backward with a yelp.]

Raphael: Mikey!

Michelangelo: [landing] [He gets to his feet and spins his nunchucks.] I’m fine. Help Donnie. I can handle your clone.

[Raphael nods and joins Donatello. Leonardo slashes with his katana blades, forcing his brothers to focus on weaving out of the way of his attacks. A close view on Leonardo’s face as he fights.]

Dunn’s voice: Wasn’t it nice of me to allow you to see your former family again? I know you’ve been missing them. We don’t have to be at loggerheads all the time, Leonardo. If you obey me, I will reward you.

[Leonardo ignores him. Donatello swings his bo staff at Leonardo, who dodges - but Raphael manages to use his sai to twist Leonardo’s katana out of his grasp. Leonardo grunts and backs up, holding a single katana now.]

Dunn’s voice: I hope you’re not going easy on them, Leonardo. Otherwise I will have to adjust the setting on this chip.

[Leonardo’s eyes twitch. Donatello slings his bo again, but this time Leonardo ducks down and sweeps his leg under Donatello, knocking him off balance. Raphael charges forward with his sai, but Leonardo dodges behind him and kicks Raphael’s shell. Raphael tumbles toward Michelangelo and Dark Raphael. Michelangelo’s nunchucks whack against Dark Raphael’s arm.]

Michelangelo: Man, I have not missed seeing your butt ugly face.

Dark Raphael: I ain’t ugly!

Michelangelo: Dude! I’ve lived in a sewer all my life, and I’ve never seen anything as gross as you down there.

[Dark Raphael growls, then pauses. Thinks.]

Dark Raphael: Just ‘cause you think I’m ugly, that don’t make me dat. Even if da whole world thought I was, what matters is I believe in myself. And... I don’t think I’m an ugly monster!

[He swings a punch at Michelangelo, and Michelangelo stumbles back, overbalances, and falls over. Leonardo kicks Donatello over and stares over at Dark Raphael, surprised.]

Michelangelo: I think my smack talk was too smack this time...

[Dark Raphael roars, then gets punched in the face by Raphael. Dark Raphael staggers a bit, but when Raphael throws his whole body into him, it’s enough to knock Dark Raphael onto the ground. Raphael picks up Leonardo’s katana and puts a foot onto Dark Raphael’s chest. He raises the katana for a killing blow. His blade goes down... and is blocked by Leonardo’s blade. Leonardo disarms Raphael, then kicks him off Dark Raphael. He reunites with his second katana, fully armed once more.]

Leonardo: You guys need to go, now.

Raphael: You need to snap out of it. Don’t let Dunn control you, you’re stronger than this. 

Donatello: [grimacing] I’m not so sure all this is the chip's doing. Dunn would have had no qualms hurting Starlee. In fact, he probably would have beaten her up quite badly to get to Cody, yet Leo took her down as painlessly as possible. [His eyes narrow.] I think you have some control over yourself right now. Right? So if you thought we were tracking you, why didn’t you let us follow you to your base? Dunn wouldn’t have known.

Leonardo: [in a low voice] I’m doing what’s best for everyone.

Michelangelo: For Dunn, maybe!

[Leonardo tenses.]

Dunn’s voice: Tell them that I am your new master, Leonardo.

Leonardo: No.

[The other turtles look confused.]

Dunn’s voice: It wasn’t a request.

[Leonardo cringes and drops his katanas, holding his head. His horns get a bit longer. His claws lengthen.]

Dunn’s voice: Can you feel the chip’s influence growing? The hunger cravings... The thirst for blood... The desire to tear apart your brothers with your bare hands? The lust for violence is building in you right now, isn’t it? Soon it will consume you. Tell me, is your pride more valuable to you than those you consider family?

[Leonardo shakes.]

Leonardo: I... obey Dunn now. He... is my master now.

Dunn’s voice: Excellent. Unfortunately, you took too long to answer, so I will have to do this. What a shame...

Leonardo: [He twitches, jerking up his head. His eyes are wide and red.] No! I said what you asked. Don’t...!

[Tentacles shoot out from his shell, enveloping him in a cocoon. It starts shaking. Leonardo's brothers get into fight stances.]

Michelangelo: This is one piñata I don't want to break open.

Donatello: Careful, guys. Once he's transformed, he'll be able to spew his goo... and because we're underground at night, I don't know how long we'll be down here for.

Michelangelo: If we can even change back.

Donatello: On that front, we should be okay, otherwise Dunn would have had him infect people by now. 

Raphael: Well, ain't that a speck of gold in a giant stinkin’ turd.

[The cocoon hatches, revealing a transformed Leonardo. He grins, looking around. The shot changes to a POV from his eyes. It's not completely clear, as if being viewed through frosted glass. The three brothers are visible, as well as Dark Raphael off to the side, lying down. Back to a 3rd person POV, and Leonardo viciously swings his katana at his brothers. Dunn’s voice laughs. Shift to a shot of Dark Raphael, who has a little camera flying over him.]

[Dark Turtles’ Lair]

[On Dunn's main computer screen is a view of the fight. A pan out reveals Dunn sitting on his chair.]

Dunn: This is divine! [He holds up a wine glass containing ‘juice’.] For every unit of blood you draw, I will give you two steaks!

[Leonardo snarls happily and slashes at his brothers. They try to counterattack, but his attacks are fast and vicious. Soon they are near unconsciousness on the ground, bloody and beaten. Leonardo stands over them. The POV changes to Leonardo’s again.]

Dunn’s voice: I think we can afford to dispose of one of them... Who’s your least favourite?

[Third person POV again, in the Sewer Tunnel. Leonardo pauses, frowning. Nearby, Dark Raphael stirs. He sees the tranquiliser gun and drags himself over to it. Meanwhile, Leonardo looks conflicted.]

Dunn's voice: Don't give me this ‘I love them all equally’ nonsense. There must be one that doesn't pull his weight. Who is less useful than the others. Who is disposable.

[Dark Raphael fumbles with the tranquiliser gun, which is too small for his bulky hands. He growls in annoyance.]

Dunn's voice: What about the most annoying one? Who doesn't focus? Who doesn't listen to your commands?

[Leonardo's brow scrunches.]

Dunn's voice: [He sighs.] Well, you can't say I didn't give you a choice. Let's go for the smart one, Donatello. End his life.

[Leonardo readies his katana. Dark Raphael widens his eyes and smashes the tranquiliser gun against the ground. He grabs some darts... Leonardo thrusts his katana down, but before he can stab Donatello, Dark Raphael wraps an arm around his body. He jams some darts into Leonardo’s arm.]

Dunn’s voice: [furious] What are you doing?

[Dark Raphael runs away, carrying Leonardo.]

[Still the Sewer Tunnel]

[Cody flies through in Turtle-X and spots the turtles.]

Cody: Guys!

[He arrives by them. The turtles start to rouse, groaning in pain.]

Cody: You guys are a mess! Let me and Serling patch you up before we do anything else.

[He gets out of Turtle-X, which transforms into Serling.]

Serling: This isn't the most sterile of places, Master Cody.

Cody: [He gets out a first aid kit from his satchel.] We just need to get them in good enough shape to move safely. [to the turtles] Your clones did a number on you.

Michelangelo: More like Leo did... This must be what it feels like to get hit by a train. This is the worst pain I've ever been in... [Cody presses a disinfectant wipe against a gash on his cheek.] Youch! Second worst!

[Cody smiles and tries to not roll his eyes. His expression is soon serious again.]

Cody: When the tracker stopped moving for some time and you guys weren't answering our messages, we got worried.

Donatello: Yeah, we had a run in with our dear old brother and Raph's clone... [He frowns.] Where are they?

Cody: I didn't see them at all on my way here.

Michelangelo: Think they remembered they left the oven on back home?

[Raphael punches the ground.]

Raphael: We lost ‘em! Again!

Donatello: We survived though, and that means we can try again.

Serling: Quite right. Though it pains me to commend you lot, you are as persistent as mould.

Raphael: [dryly] Thanks, Serling. I feel so much better now.

Donatello: [He rests his fist under his chin, brow furrowed.] Really though, I wonder why they left us like that. They could have taken us to their lair... or ended our lives... instead of abandoning us here with the tracker so you guys would find us...

[No one says anything.]

Michelangelo: [sarcastic] Great discussion, everyone.

[Dark Turtles’ Lair]

[Dunn’s mecha smacks Dark Raphael across the face.]

Dunn: Imbecile!

[Dark Raphael grits his teeth and is struck again. He falls over.]

Dunn: How dare you intervene like that!

[Dunn kicks him. Dark Raphael tumbles. The other clones watch nearby quietly, grave-faced. Leonardo is sitting in his forcefield, horned, clawed and slightly purple.]

Dunn: You snivelling toerag.

Dark Raphael: Don't talk to me like that!

[Dark Raphael gets up and goes toward him, getting up close to his face. Dark Raphael raises a fist and tenses as the hypnotic safeguard kicks in. Dunn smirks. Dark Raphael scrunches his face and forces himself to punch Dunn, who staggers back. Dark Raphael looks at his hand, surprised.]

Dunn: [aghast] How dare you!

[Dunn gives him an almighty punch that sends Dark Raphael into a wall. When Dark Raphael slumps down, head first, a crater-like impact mark on the wall is revealed.]

Dunn: I ought to chop you up and feed the pieces to Leonardo for your insolence, but I still have some use for you, meat shield... for now.

[Dunn leaves the room in a huff.]

Giorgione: [looking at Dark Raphael] Whoa...

Dark Leonardo: [to Dark Donatello] Fetch the medical kit.

[Dark Donatello dashes to his lab. Giorgione scampers away in another direction.]

Dark Raphael: [dazed] Who put all da furniture on the ceiling?

[Dark Leonardo helps him upright. Giorgione brings over a dirty, damp towel and rests it on Dark Raphael's head.]

Giorgione: I can't believe you bopped Dunn like that.

Dark Raphael: [crestfallen] He still hurt me more den I hurt him.

Leonardo: [staring at him] You saved my family back there.

[The clones tense, with Dark Donatello freezing halfway over with a bucket - a crudely put together first aid kit. There's a red cross wonkily painted on it.]

Dark Raphael: I thought you were gonna kill ‘em.

Leonardo: I... I was going to if you hadn’t stopped me... [He clenches his fists. He shakes his head.] Dunn was in my head, trying to get me to kill my least favourite brother...

Dark Donatello: Who is...?

Leonardo: [He glares.] I don’t have a favourite or least favourite brother. But... [His gaze softens.] while I was transformed, I wasn’t just aware of my surroundings. Not only did it feel like someone else was controlling my body, it was almost like... I was feeling someone else’s emotions too. [He opens his fists and stares at his palms.] I felt anger... hatred... toward my brothers...

Giorgione: Well, Dunn really hates you guys, so that checks out.

Leonardo: [He shudders then looks at Dark Raphael.] Thank you. I mean it. And you standing up for yourself to Dunn was impressive.

Dark Raphael: [He smiles slightly.] Ah, I was just followin’ your lead. You went against your family and saved me. I did da same even if it made Dunn kick my butt.

[Leonardo smiles slightly. Dark Donatello starts tending to Dark Raphael’s injuries, wiping at his cuts with sterilised rags.]

Dark Raphael: [to Leonardo] So... uh... Other than Giorgione, what names are there?

Chapter Text

[A News Studio]

[This is the same news studio that featured in the previous chapter. The lighting is blue-tinted, as before. Off to the side, a camera person stands at his station - he is a gangly fly humanoid alien wearing a black toupee. He somewhat resembles Vernon Fenwick. Across the floor is a presenter desk, where the news anchor from the last chapter sits. A human makeup artist in a blue sweater powders the anchor’s face while robot drones fly about and otherwise touch up her makeup. The makeup artist looks a lot like Irma from the 1987 series.]

Makeup artist: Channel 500 must really be getting their money’s worth from you. I thought it'd be at least a decade until anything topped the Darius Dunn scandal, but now these tortoise aliens are trying to upheave society as we know it. What a scoop!

News anchor: Don't get me wrong. This is all great for my portfolio, but if the city is thrown into much more pandemonium, none of us will have jobs to go to. Everything will be in ruins.

Male voice: [offscreen] Places! We're live in 10... 9...

[The makeup artist takes hold of the news anchor's hands.]

Makeup artist: [softly] Focus on the now, not the what-ifs. Let the people know what they’ve got to know. That's all you need to do, okay? Don’t think about anything else.

[The news anchor nods, a little more assured. The makeup artist and drones hastily retreat while the male voice finishes counting down to zero. The screen changes to resemble a live news broadcast: a logo appears in the corner and a banner with various news bulletins rolls horizontally at the bottom.]

News anchor: [professional] Good morning. This is Veronica Jacobs from Channel 500 news, bringing you all the latest as it happens. Tensions continue to run high in New New York after Chief Constable Biggles was brutally dismantled by college-aged monster karate lizards. [She grimaces.] The city will never be the same again. We cross over live to Peace Keeper Headquarters where the new Chief Constablehad has just begun a press conference.

[Outside of Peace Keeper Headquarters]

[From the POV of the cameraperson. The screen adjusts, slightly blurred at first before focusing on a podium with the new Chief Constable behind it - he looks a lot like Biggles, but isn't as tall and slim. Only the shoulders up is visible. A few Peacekeepers flank either side of him, and ahead of him is an audience composed of journalists. The banner at the bottom of the screen states ‘Chief Constable Copper’.]

Copper: (same voice actor as Biggles, just with a Cockney accent) Our ci’y should be comin’ toge’her to mourn the death of our beloved Biggles, bit instead we're losin’ the plot. Lootin’. Riotin’. Fisticuffs. Proper mad as a cartoon clown stuff, innit. But don't drop a log, bruv. Wid me as Chief Constable, I pro’ise we'll crack down on...

[Static corrupts the screen.]

[The Dark Turtles’ Lair]

[The screen clears. Leonardo takes up the centre of the screen, horned and clawed and unsmiling. His eyes are red.]

Leonardo: [level voice] Citizens of New New York, do not let these so-called Peacekeepers beguile you. Whose peace are they really keeping? Certainly not ours. We are up in arms not because a Peacekeeper was slain. It is because we are discontent, and have been for a long time now. How can the resolution to our problems be more Peacekeeper presence, or relinquishing more control of our lives to them? 

[More static.]

Leonardo: [angrier] [closer up] How will employing more Peacekeepers help families struggling to put food on the table? How will paying them even more give our loved ones job opportunities once they leave prison for petty crimes that high society gets away with scot-free? Why aren't we funding schools, rehabilitation programs, hospitals, instead of these crooks?

[More static again.]

[News studio]

[Veronica looks a bit flustered.]

Veronica: Um, sorry about that. It seems we were, um, Max Headroomed there for a minute. Now back to the...

[The camera turns, showing the fly alien camera person's face.]

Camera person: Peaczzzekeepers need to buzz off!

[The screen shakes as the cameraperson is wrestled with. There's shouting, then the screen goes white with the news station's logo in the centre. Underneath it says ‘We apologise profusely for the interruption to this broadcast. We have a dedicated team working hard to restore the transmission.’]

[Dark Turtles’ Lair]

[An exterior shot of the warehouse that zooms in slightly, then changes to show inside. The Terrorpin opens its main door, and the Dark Turtles plus Leonardo descend its ramp. Leonardo’s eyes are no longer red, but his horns and claws remain. Giorgione stuffs a burger into his mouth.]

Giorgione: [He sprays burger bits as he speaks.] You're right, Leo, these do taste better without the mould!

Dark Raphael: [playing with a ball and cup, except the ball is a hologram] And they come with these cool toys too.

[Dark Raphael is enraptured by the toy.]

Dark Donatello: [He scoffs.] A pea brained toy for a pea brain. What are you, a baby?

Dark Raphael: [He emphasises the first syllable.] I am Botticelli.

Dark Donatello: You don't even know who that is.

Botticelli: I don’t need to. All that matters is that it’s my name.

Giorgione: [to Dark Donatello] That leaves you and Big Blue with Titian and Albrecht to fight over.

[Dark Donatello and Dark Leonardo stiffen. The former looks angry, while the latter seems more uncomfortable than anything.]

Dark Donatello: [He glowers.] I'd rather swap my tail for your tongue than call myself anything he [He points at Leonardo.] came up with.

Dark Leonardo: [His features harden.] Likewise.

Leonardo: You don't have to pick from what I suggested, but I think you should at least have some kind of name. It would help give you an identity of your own, rather than just being referred to as our clones.

Dark Donatello: [He flaps a hand.] Cease your preaching, Leonardo. All that matters to me is that I'm still of value to Dunn, even if my brethren aren't.

[The other Dark Turtles frown at Dark Donatello. Leonardo regards him coolly.]

Leonardo: You should be nicer to your brothers. Unlike Dunn, they won’t measure your worth by how useful you can be for them.

[Dark Leonardo gives a scornful bark of laughter. Soon, they are all distracted as Dunn struts in, clad in his battle armour.]

Dunn: The purple lusus naturae is correct. You things are whatever I decide to call you, no matter how much play pretend you’ve deluded yourself with. You are all nothing more than hideous freaks waiting for your use by date to arise.

[Dark Raphael stirs, outraged. Dark Leonardo grabs his shoulder, stopping him from moving toward Dunn. Dunn ignores them and walks over to stand in front of Leonardo, a smug smile on his face.]

Dunn: You delivered quite the riveting speech. I’m mostly referring to the parts you repeated verbatim from me, but your impassioned improv at the end roused more than a few people. You've gone viral on the internet.

[Leonardo folds his arms over his plastron, stony-faced.] 

Dunn: Perhaps we're not as dissimilar as I first thought.

[Leonardo grits his teeth.]

Leonardo: We're not alike, Dunn.

Dunn: [He lets out a laugh.] How modest you are! I know it's intimidating to be compared to a fantastical figure such as myself, but I’ll permit it. We are both ambitious, strong leaders willing to risk it all for our goals. 

Leonardo: Your goals are nothing like mine.

Dunn: [He smirks and wags a finger.] Ah, but right now, our goals are aligned. We are working together, and you are prepared to sacrifice the world for my goal. You’re not as morally good as you make yourself out to be.

Leonardo: I’m doing all this for my family. Who will stop you, by the way.

[Dunn clicks his tongue and waves a hand.]

Dunn: Details, details. The end result is the same. [He turns to the Dark Turtles, no longer smiling. Contempt oozes from his tone.] Well? What are you standing around for? If you’ve procured what I ordered, then bring it to my workshop.

[Dark Leonardo, Giorgione and Botticelli trudge back up into the Terrorpin to fetch the goods. Dark Donatello sidles up to Dunn, a grin painted onto his face.]

Dark Donatello: [He rubs his hands together.] So when do I start construction of this time window?

Dunn: As soon as. We're still missing some key parts, so you all have more errands to run first. 

[Dark Donatello's smile widens and he bows.]

Dark Donatello: Of course, Master. You can depend on me.

Dunn: [He sneers.] Other than your intelligence in certain fields, you have little else going for you. Do not disappoint me.

[Dunn starts walking away. Dark Donatello straightens.]

Dark Donatello: Of course.

[Dunn exits. Giorgione holds a big crate in one hand. He coughs into his fist.]

Giorgione: Suck up.

Dark Donatello: [too pleased with himself to be angry] I thought you were yellow, Giorgione. Turns out you're actually green.

[Giorgione looks at his arms, confused. Behind him, Dark Leonardo facepalms.]

[New York City]

[Exterior shot of Starlee’s apartment building, which then changes to show inside. Splinter and Cody sit opposite each other in the living room, playing chess.]

Cody: Bishop, E4.

[His bishop slides to the appropriate square. Splinter eyes it, frowning in concentration. ]

Splinter: Where - or should I say, when I'm from, we had to move the pieces manually with our hands.

Cody: [incredulous] Really?

Splinter: Yes. [He strokes his beard.] But this is not an unwelcome feature. Now the game has opened up to those with mobility problems.

Cody: And multitaskers.

[Cody gets out his phone and starts tapping away on it, distracted.]

Splinter: ... Yes.

[Splinter considers his moves. He reaches for a piece before stopping himself.]

Splinter: Rook... C9?

[The chess piece moves to the square, which has a pawn on it. It pushes the pawn off. Splinter doesn't look impressed.]

Splinter: Yet you must pick up the piece to remove it from the board. [He looks up.] Cody?

Cody: Huh? What? [He looks up from his phone.] Oh, right. [He removes the pawn.] Sorry. Um, yeah, I guess this chessboard isn't fully automated. [He reads a bit more on his phone, frowning.] You can't go a minute scrolling through social media without seeing a repost of Leo's video or people talking about it. King, G8.

Splinter: I do not have a ‘social media’, so I would not know. But I’m aware many news channels have been discussing it.

Cody: It’s hard to avoid, even when we’re cooped up in here. [He looks at Splinter and hesitates.] This is sort of similar to when my parents passed away. They died on live TV, so there's footage online of their spaceship exploding. I was a baby when it happened so I can’t remember the immediate aftermath, but people still bring it up to this day... and it’s in so many video compilations...

Splinter: [sadly but kindly] That is a heavy burden to carry, especially for one so young.

Cody: [He quirks a small smile.] The closest thing I have to parents is Serling... and you.

Splinter: And I am immensely proud of you, as your parents would be.

Cody: Thank you. [He wipes at one of his eyes.] All of you are family to me. You, the guys... You've done more than Darius ever did for me. [He frowns a bit.] I can't imagine what Leo's going through with my uncle. In that video, he didn't look... himself. Not just because of the whole Kanabo infection, but he looked... tired.

Splinter: I have fought many villains, but your uncle is like none I have faced. There is a viciousness and manipulation to him that is colder than any sword I've come to blows with. But I believe Leonardo to have the resolve needed to endure Darius's mind games.

[Splinter moves a chess piece.]

Splinter: Checkmate.

Cody: [He twitches and leans forward to look at the board.] H-Huh?

[Serling walks in with a tray of cups of tea and looks confused.]

[New York City]

[Street level]

[It's evening, and the streets are almost empty. A group of teenagers are spray painting a building's wall. The camera angle means that the teens’ bodies block from view the picture they're making. They sprint away when someone in a purple cloak runs over. Two more cloaked individuals arrive moments after. The first one lowers their hood, revealing themselves to be Raphael, who glowers at the art. The artwork is revealed to be a depiction of Leonardo as he appeared in the news hijack, except he's decapitating Biggles with his claws, sparks flying everywhere.]

Michelangelo: Eh, I give it a solid 7/10. Good perspective but Leo's not that muscular even with the Kanabo DNA boost. And the sparks could have been done better too. Their colours don’t pop nearly enough.

Raphael: [strained voice] Remember when Leo thought it was our fault that the Foot and the mobsters all went to war with each other after he defeated Shredder? Well... [He throws up his arms and spins.] look around! This time it is his fault. City curfews, more random pat downs than usual...

[Donatello tilts his head back, studying the artwork.]

Michelangelo: Raph, you know Leo’s not doing any of this willingly!

Raphael: Leo willingly got into this situation. He’s the one who thought he could strike some kind of deal with our clones, remember? The blockhead! [He paces.] Leo also willingly took our tracker off himself and fought us. He even gave our clones new names. And when he was transformed, he musta willingly stopped my clone from killing us... He knows what he’s doing and... and...

[Raphael punches the wall.]

Michelangelo: [softer] We miss him too, Raphie. But we’ll get him back. Come on. It’s nearly past curfew, and we’re gonna stick out like Triple Threat at a ballet recital on the street like this.

[Raphael clenches his fists. Michelangelo starts to move away, as does Raphael. Donatello lingers, which Michelangelo notices.]

Michelangelo: [He pauses.] Don?

Donatello: [He shakes his head.] Sorry, I was just thinking.

Raphael: About what?

Donatello: What Leo's thinking. [He cups his chin.] My memories from when I double-mutated are hazy... I wonder what he’s retaining.

Michelangelo: Well, you're not going to get any answers here, bro.

Donatello: [He gives a sad smile.] You’re right.

[They dash off.]

[Goldfine Industrial Park]

[An aerial shot of an industrial park full of warehouses, which then gets closer, focusing on one in particular. Five figures approach the doorway: the Dark Turtles, and Leonardo. All of them are wearing brown cloaks.]

Dark Donatello: It feels wrong bringing Leonardo here.

Giorgione: It’s fine! He's one of us now, remember?

[Nearby, Botticelli claps Leonardo on the shoulder, almost making Leonardo overbalance.]

Botticelli: Brainbox does the talkin’ and we do the persuadin’ to make dem lower their prices. It's like grocery shopping.

Leonardo: That's not how grocery shopping is supposed to work.

Dark Leonardo: No. [He smirks.] This is much more fun. 

[Botticelli shoves open the door. POV from Leonardo as he looks about. He has night vision. Inside is what one would expect from an abandoned warehouse. Filthy interior, laden with trash. Busted windows top the battered walls. The only source of light is whatever moonlight can trickle in through the gaps.]

Leonardo: Are you sure this is the right place? It’s derelict.

Dark Leonardo: You of all people should know not to judge on appearances. Stand close and observe.

[Dark Donatello raises his hand and presses a few times on his wrist guard. A purple bubble forms around them. The Dark Turtles follow - when Leonardo doesn't, Dark Leonardo grabs his arm and pulls him along. As they enter, their surroundings ripple and change into what appears to be a marketplace. Some of the stalls are manned by humans, but most are run by aliens. A range of items are offered for sale: gadgets, creatures, artwork, ores and scrap to name a few. The bubble disappears, but the marketplace remains. Leonardo looks bewildered.]

Leonardo: Where...?

[He looks behind themselves. The warehouse door has vanished.]

Dark Donatello: Pocket dimension. Only those with the correct authority such as Dunn can phase into it. [He flashes his wrist guard.] Or those he has entrusted with his pass, such as myself.

Leonardo: Dunn being a VIP of such a seedy place tells me everything I need to know.

Dunn's voice: Now, now, Leonardo. Be nice. Weren't you raised in a sewer? This is the pot calling the kettle black.

[Leonardo gives a small growl of annoyance. Giorgione drapes an arm over Leonardo’s shoulders.]

Giorgione: It's not all that bad. There's lots of shiny things to look at, and there's tasty food in the trash cans near the food court.

Leonardo: As tempting as that is, we should stick together. [He turns to Dark Donatello.] Lead the way.

Dark Donatello: [mocking] Aren't you the leader?

Leonardo: Being a leader doesn't make me a scientist. Back with my brothers, whenever we needed to do anything involving technology or science, I always deferred to Donatello.

Dark Donatello: I'm not Donatello. 

Leonardo: I know. [His eyes glow red. There's a dark inflection to his tone.] You have the potential to be something far greater.

[His eyes return to normal.]

Leonardo: [normal voice] What are we getting first?

[The Dark Turtles look a bit flustered. A short cut to Dunn in the Dark Turtles’ lair reveals him looking surprised at his workstation. It seems Leonardo’s remark hadn’t come from him. Cut back to the marketplace.]

Dark Donatello: [He recomposes himself.] Yes. Well... We need a super collider, an antimatter reactor, flux stabilisers...

[They walk, following Dark Donatello.]

[O'Neil Tech]

[An exterior shot, then an interior shot of one of the corridors. The lights are off except one at the end. Three shadowy figures head toward it. The light comes from one of the labs, where Starlee is soldering what looks like a radio. Various other work tools hover around her. The blurred shadows dart inside. The POV changes to one of the shadows as they sneak up to Starlee. They get right up behind her.]

Michelangelo’s voice: Hey, Starlee.

[Starlee shrieks and spins around, brandishing the soldering iron. The three shadows were Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael. She glares.]

Starlee: Give a girl a warning next time. Why are you creeping around like that?

Donatello: Sorry. It's a ninja thing.

Raphael: And a mutant thing.

Michelangelo: And a teenage thing!

[Starlee continues pouting.]

Raphael: You invited us here, remember? Who else could it be?

Starlee: [She cocks her head and taps her chin, pretending to think.] Gee, I don't know. Your brother?

[She immediately regrets saying this. The turtles look away, uncomfortable.]

Starlee: Sorry, that was insensitive.

Donatello: [He quirks a sad smile.] We should be apologising. After what happened last time you saw him... yeah. Sorry for scaring you, Starlee. It looks like we're all on edge these days.

Michelangelo: It's funny. When Leo was away in Japan for months trying to find himself, we didn't know if he got there safely, what he was doing... if he was still alive... we were worried sick. But now, even though we know where he is... it's somehow worse.

Raphael: Yeah, ‘cause he's wid that creep, Dunn. [He punches his palm.] He even called him his master last we saw him.

Donatello: And now we have even more reason to track down Darius... He's the last person I would trust with a time window.

[Starlee sets down her soldering iron.]

Starlee: Assuming he can get all the parts... and a stroke of once in a lifetime luck like Cody did. There’s a lot of materials required for the time window that you can't get easily... or cheaply. Legally, anyway. We have all the stuff here, but nothing's gone missing according to our daily stock checks.

Michelangelo: [exasperated] Still? Do you think they're getting their materials from a scrapyard?

Donatello: It'd have to be a scrapyard on the moon for them to get enough Donatellium. [He smirks and prods himself on the plastron.] Which is named after me, by the way.

Michelangelo: [deadpan] Really? I didn't realise.

[Raphael nudges Michelangelo.]

Raphael: [smirking] What was that, Mister Battle Nexus Champion Of Over a Century Ago?

Michelangelo: At least I actually won that title. This Don hasn't discovered Dontellium yet!

Starlee: [She huffs.] Come on, guys. Focus. If Darius wants to build a time window, he needs parts. If he's not coming here, he’s probably going to turn to one of his shady contacts, or the black market.

Donatello: [He rubs the back of his neck.] Sorry, Starlee. Usually we have Leo keeping us on track.

Raphael: [He cracks his knuckles.] We'll find some of Dunn's pals, beat the intel out of ‘em, then beat them up more...

Donatello: Even if we knew any of them, they won't know where he's hiding out. Dunn’s not going to have the parts delivered to his base... he’ll be having our clones collect what he needs. And who's to say Dunn hasn't already acquired what he needs?

Michelangelo: So what you’re saying is, we’ll have to luck out on catching Dunn's pals in the act of giving the goods over to our clones? Then follow our clones to their lair? That will be harder than finding a First Edition Foil Legends Series Green Mantle trading card. [He pauses, then sighs.] Leo would know what to do.

Starlee: A what now?

Raphael: [angry] Well, he ain't here! We have to do something that isn’t just wading through police comms.

Donatello: [to Starlee] Why did you invite us here?

Starlee: Follow me.

[Starlee leads them to the lab where the transcendental lathe is. Next to it is a large white box, wider than it is tall. She presses on her wrist guard, causing the white to become transparent. This reveals the box to actually be five glass cabinets, each containing different spacesuit-esque battle armour. One is dark grey, one is red, one is orange, one is purple... and one is blue.]

Starlee: Leo's Kanabo implant has given him a major boost, so it's only fair you and your sensei get enhancements of your own.

Donatello: They're amazing, Starlee!

Michelangelo: [He presses his face against the cabinet holding the orange suit.] I've always wanted to be a Kamen Rider. Can we try them on now?

Starlee: [She scratches the back of her head, embarrassed but smiling.] Well...

Raphael: Why’d you make Leo one?

[Silence. Starley lowers her hand and cups her elbow.]

Starlee: The set seemed incomplete otherwise, so I...

Raphael: Leo doesn't need a battlesuit, and neither do I. I'm gonna find Dunn and kick his butt.

[Raphael storms out. Michelangelo stirs.]

Michelangelo: Raph, wait!

Donatello: [He grabs Michelangelo’s shoulder.] Let him go, Mikey. He needs to blow off some steam.

Michelangelo: [He turns to him sharply.] Or more like you're scared of conflict.

[Donatello looks stunned. MIchelangelo cringes.]

Michelangelo: Sorry. Looks like I have steam I need to get out of me too.

Starlee: [guilty] I shouldn't have made that armour for Leo, huh...

Michelangelo: Don't sweat it, Star. When Leo's back, we’ll get him to wear it too and take a selfie with us. [wistful] All of us, back together...

Donatello: As it should be. [He sighs.] We all work best in a team. While we have our different strengths and weaknesses, we all cover for each other. Raph’s impulsiveness... My overthinking... Mikey's Mikeyness...

Michelangelo: Hey!

Starlee: What about Leo's weakness?

[A pause.]

Michelangelo: We remind him that there's more to him than being our leader.

[Marketplace]

[Dark Donatello leads the others along. Leonardo eyes up the various commodities for sale as they walk. One vendor sells floating orbs with coloured electricity inside. Leonardo meets the seller's eyes; the echidna alien glares. Leonardo stiffens and looks away. They arrive at a stall run by a gothic lizard alien, with navy skin and star constellation tattoos on her arms. She sells what look like flashlights. Some are donut-shaped. There are various sizes.]

Dark Donatello: I would like to peruse your super colliders.

Lizard Alien: Sure, what specs are you after?

Dark Donatello: What's the highest luminosity you have in stock? I'm looking for at least 264 collisions per second...

[The lizard alien gives a low whistle. While she and Dark Donatello browse through her wares, Giorgione picks up a super collider and peers into it like it's a kaleidoscope. Botticelli gets out his hologram cup and ball. Leonardo looks at them in turn then at Dark Leonardo, who stands there looking awkward.]

Dark Leonardo: [low voice] We're supposed to look intimidating, you numbskulls. [He notices Leonardo looking at him.] What are you looking at?

Leonardo: [He winces.] Nothing.

[Leonardo looks around some more and spots Triple Threat. He tenses up, but the screen zooms out to reveal Triple Threat holding a plant pot with a three-headed venus flytrap. He’s not posing any real danger at the moment. Leonardo exhales and looks away. Then an elderly human bumps into Leonardo, spilling his money. Leonardo quickly gathers them up and gives the money notes back to the man.]

Old man: Most people here would have taken it and ran. Please, let me buy you something to eat to thank you properly.

Leonardo: It's fine. Don’t worry.

Old man: [He touches Leonardo's arm.] Please, kind sir. A soul like yours in a place like this is a miracle. Who knew in this marketplace full of bad guys, that there could be a good guy like you?

[Leonardo looks at the Dark Turtles. Dark Donatello is bartering with the Lizard Alien while the other three stand behind him, towering over her. It has been a long while since anyone has told Leonardo that he is a good person.]

Leonardo: [He turns back to the old man.] Sure. Why not?

[Leonardo follows the old man. Dark Leonardo watches them go but doesn’t say anything or move.]

[Another section of the marketplace]

[The old man leads Leonardo to an alley.]

Old man: The food court is just through here.

[They go in. Leonardo looks around, on guard. They seem to be alone. When they’re halfway through, the old man speaks again.]

Old man: Just through here, Donatello.

[Leonardo stops.]

Leonardo: That's my brother's name. [He pauses.] How do you know his name?

[The old man turns to face him as Street Phantoms pour in through the walls. The old man presses a wristwatch under his sleeve. Pixels glitch over his body before revealing that the old man is actually Jammerhead.]

Jammerhead: Is that what gave me away? Using the wrong name? ‘Cause I totally nailed the old geezer impression, with a little thanks to the dialect modifier I downloaded.

Leonardo: [He draws his katana.] What do you want, Jammerhead?

Jammerhead: Payback! If I knew how much trouble you'd become when I sold that alien chip to my old pal, Darius, I wouldn't have done it!

[Leonardo hesitates.]

Leonardo: You gave it to him?

[A street phantom lunges at Leonardo with a laser knife. Leonardo parries with his katana, backs away, then slashes his weapon. Blue light carves through the air, soaring toward the Street Phantom and striking them, making their body slam into the ground.]

Jammerhead: [He makes a screwing motion with his finger by his ear.] Clean your ear holes, I said I sold it to him. For something I found at no cost, I made a juicy profit. But now I've spent all the money I made, and after your stunt with that garbage can Biggles, you've made the Peacekeepers even more of a pain in the butt to deal with. 

[Two Street Phantoms charge at Leonardo. He leaps toward them, foot-first. His body phases through their bodies. He lands neatly on the other side then swings his katana, unleashing another wave of blue light that smashes into them. They fall down, groaning in pain. More Street Phantoms close in. Leonardo grimaces.]

Leonardo: Beating me up won't solve anything.

Jammerhead: Maybe so, but ending your pathetic life will make me feel better!

[Leonardo dodges some of the Street Phantoms’ blows, but one knife catches his cheek, drawing blood. Leonardo bounces between walls and sends out another blue light wave that causes several Street Phantoms to crumple to the ground, defeated. Those still standing are hesitant to fight.]

Leonardo: You should have spent some of that money you made training your minions.

[Jammerhead is seething.]

Jammerhead: You've ruined everything! [He stomps his foot.] I can't even blink without a Peacekeeper breathing down my neck, and I don't have the sway to bribe them to look the other way like the big guys do.

Leonardo: [grimacing] Figures the police would be corrupt in the future, too. Look, I don't know how much you know about that chip, but all this isn't my choice, and -

Leonardo's voice: [dark] Decapitating that heap of metal wasn't on Darius Dunn's order, was it?

[Leonardo tenses. He looks around, but can’t see who said that.]

Leonardo: Huh? Who...?

[It appears only he can hear the voice. The Street Phantoms look confused.]

Jammerhead: Get him!

[The Street Phantoms stir but freeze as Dark Leonardo leaps through them (literally - they aren't solid at the moment). He lands next to Leonardo, weapon drawn.]

Dark Leonardo: [to Leonardo] Don't think I didn't notice you slip away. What do you think you're playing at?

[Dark Leonardo doesn’t wait for an answer. He lugs his giant katana at a Street Phantom, only to phase through them. Another Street Phantom hits Dark Leonardo with a metal baseball bat. He staggers with a pained yelp. Zoom in on Leonardo's confused expression. Unease seeps into his features as he looks around.]

Leonardo's voice: [dark, slightly distorted] Dunn claimed we're similar to him because we would also sacrifice anything and everything for our goals. But that is like saying a dog is the same as a chair because they both have four legs.

[Leonardo's mind]

[Leonardo's surroundings are black, though he remains completely visible. He looks around, confused but on guard. Black goo with a slight purple glow rears up in front of him, shaped like a snake.]

Leonardo’s voice: Darius doesn’t understand family. Not like us.

[Leonardo reaches for his katana, only to realise he is unarmed. He takes a few steps back. As quick as a heartbeat, the black goo coils around Leonardo, who struggles but finds himself unable to break free. He gives a grunt and squints as the goo wraps around him, totally restraining his movements.]

Leonardo’s voice: We know how important family is. 

[The end of the snake-like goo dangles in front of Leonardo’s face. It morphs, changing into Leonardo's head as it looks when he’s in Kanabo form. The original Leonardo gives a small gasp before gritting his teeth, uncomfortable, fearful, though he tries to harden his features to hide this. He attempts again to break free but cannot. The grin on Goo Leonardo’s face widens.]

Goo Leonardo: We know what we would do to protect it.

[Marketplace]

[Dark Leonardo swings his sword, fruitlessly trying to land a blow on the Street Phantoms, who swoop around him and cut him with their laser knives. He spits out blood. Furrows his brow. He slashes at a Street Phantom, who dodges the attack - but this time, Dark Leonardo is ready. He swings his sword as the Street Phantom is about to attack. They make contact. The Street Phantom cries out in pain, collapsing to the ground.]

Dark Leonardo: [He gives half a smile.] Looks like I've found your rhythm.

[Another pounces at him, and he grabs their wrist. Before the Phantom can phase away, Dark Leonardo turns their dagger onto themselves, stabbing them. Jammerhead watches on in horror as Dark Leonardo beats up his gang, then notices Leonardo, who is morionless. Jammerhead runs at him, raising his dagger. Leonardo's eyes glow red and he spews out purple slime that goes all over Jammerhead and several nearby Street Phantoms.]

Jammerhead: [He stumbles to a stop.] What the french fries did you just gunk on me?

[Leonardo’s eyes return to normal. He looks confused as he raises a hand near his mouth.]

Leonardo: Did I just...?

[Dark Turtles’ Lair]

[Dunn's workstation]

[A toilet flushes. Dunn struts into frame and sits on his swivel chair.]

Dunn: Let's see what I missed.

[He puts on his headphones, adjusts his monocle, looks closely at his screen and then jolts.] 

Dunn: Street Phantoms!

[Dunn summons his hologram dial and turns it, his other hand yanking his microphone closer.]

Dunn: Jammerhead!

[Marketplace]

[Leonardo's eyes turn red. When Leonardo first speaks, his voice speaks in synchronisation with Dunn, though Dunn's voice fades the more Leonardo speaks.]

Leonardo: What the devil are you doing, you scrap-for-brains ruffian?

Jammerhead: Is that Dunn speaking now? [His tone turns more aggressive.] You said the city would be in your control. [He throws up his hands.] I should have known you were all talk, with that pea-sized head of yours.

Leonardo: Curb your insolent tongue. Can you not see the city is in the throes of change? Have patience... The city must be torn apart before it can be rebuilt.

Jammerhead: I don't have time for any of that. [He points at Leonardo.] Street Phantoms, att -

[The Street Phantoms who had been slimed walk away, as if in a trance.]

Jammerhead: [confused] ... tack?

[They leave the alley. Jammerhead chases after them, stopping at the entrance as the Street Phantoms fly away.]

[Food court]

[An outdoor plaza boasting multiple food vendors on its perimeter and tables in its centre. At one table are a rhino and a warthog alien, eating burgers with worm condiments. The rhino alien is about to take a bite when a Street Phantom swoops by and snatches it.]

Rhino: [He stands up.] Hey!

[The Street Phantom lands nearby and crams the burger into his mouth, his eyes glowing red. More Street Phantoms flock to the plaza, stealing food from patrons, landing on vendors’ stalls and stuffing their faces. Jammerhead stares, horrified.]

Jammerhead: What the heck are you doing?

[His stomach rumbles. He groans and doubles over, hugging himself. Seconds later,  when he raises his head, his eyes are red. With a growl, he flies onto the plaza, crashing into the rhino and warthog's table. He grabs the warthog’s burger and shovels it down.]

Warthog: Hey, that's my -

[Jammerhead spews purple goo all over him. The warthog jumps up.]

Warthog: I just got dis mohawk done, ya jerk!

[Jammerhead ignores him, making a beeline to a hotdog stand. He grabs a handful of whiners and gobbles them down. Pandemonium erupts through the food court as Street Phantoms cram their faces with food and regurgitate purple slime, infecting others with the Kanabo gene. In the alleyway, Dark Leonardo stands behind Leonardo.]

Dark Leonardo: [His eye is wide.] What...

[Leonardo stares, also wide-eyed. His eyes are red.]

Dunn's voice: The sight of so much vomit is bringing a tear to my eye, but it's not due to the stench. I never would have thought I would be excited to see such a thing. Such a wonderful thing! All of these minions for me to command!

[Dark purple slime comes out from behind Leonardo, coiling up around him until its head is level with his. It has the same transformed version of his face as in his imagination earlier.]

Imaginary(?) Leonardo: He is not their master. And even though Darius implanted us with the chip, he isn’t ours either. These are our creations to lead. Our family, Leonardo.

[Leonardo smiles]

[New York City]

[Street level]

[Peacekeeper patrol hover cars roam the night-time streets. One vehicle glides down an empty road - but when a tin can hits the windscreen, it stops. Two Peacekeepers get out, one robot, one human.]

Human Peacekeeper: Hello?

[Focus on an alleyway, which the Peacekeepers approach. The robot shines light from its eyes - a fist slams into it from its POV. The human reaches for his belt, but a shadowy figure punches under his chin then kicks his stomach. Then the shadowy figure stabs their sai into the robot, causing sparks to fly. The two Peacekeepers are downed,  and the victor - Raphael - stands over them.]

Raphael: [He twirls his sai before tucking them away.] Let's see where you keep your car keys.

[Raphael rummages through their pockets.]

Raphael: Aha! [He straightens, flourishing the key.]

[Cut to him dumping the Peacekeepers into a dumpster. He gets in the front of the hovercraft. The excitement drains from his face as he looks down at the controls. There's a steering wheel, two pedals and a large computer interface.]

Raphael: [He exhales.] Come on, Raph. It's just a big go-kart with a TV installed.

[He starts the ignition. The screen lights up, showing a convoluted display with maps, grids, circles, graphs and texts. He tries the pedals, which don't respond.]

Raphael: [He scratches his head.] Dumb high tech... What's wrong with just having a good ol’ clutch?

[He squints at the screen and presses on it a few times. The car comes to life. He lets out a laugh and tries the pedals again, this time zooming forward. The windows are one way, so while he can see out of them fine, no one can see in. There's a navigator on the screen that he ignores, driving down whichever roads he wants to.]

Computer: You are deviating from the set route. 

Raphael: How do you turn you off? 

[He prods at the screen, one hand on the steering wheel. The car’s sunroof opens, the interior lights change to a green hue, and a robot arm comes out and starts polishing his head with a cloth.]

Raphael: [He bats at the robot arm.] Get off!

[The car swerves. Raphael presses again, closing the sunroof, turning on the air con and making two more robot arms come out from behind his seat that massage his shoulders. He grumbles.]

[A small montage of Raphael cruising through New York streets. Though sufficiently lit, they are almost empty, with only patrol cars and Peacekeepers in sight. Raphael glowers at them. He turns into another street, and he tenses as a rotten egg smashes into the windscreen. A group of teenagers, armed with a carton, run into an alley. Raphael stops the car and growls, about to get out and go after them, before stopping himself.]

Raphael: Ah, I can't blame ‘em. I’m sick of Peacekeepers too. Now, where are the wipers...?

[Raphael presses on the screen. An alert pops up, a red exclamation mark in a yellow triangle.]

Female voice: All available armed units, please head to Goldfine Industrial Park immediately. We're receiving reports of an outbreak of Kanabo mutations originating from that area...

[Raphael’s wide eyes narrow. He pushes down on the pedal and flies down the road.]

Woman’s voice: We're aware from a prior incident that the inflicted will return to normal at sunrise, however in those hours -

[A kanabo slams down onto the car's bonnet. Originally a humanoid squid alien wearing a torn Peacekeeper’s uniform, it growls and slaps a tentacle arm against the windscreen. Then it spits out purple goo. Raphael swerves, crashing into a storefront. He opens the door and rolls out of the vehicle, weapons drawn.]

Raphael: Guess I'm makin’ the rest of the way on foot.

[The Kanabo rises up from the vehicle, dribbling purple. It lunges at Raphael, who dodges behind it and whacks the back of its head with his sai. It staggers, but soon rushes at him again. Raphael throws a sai at it, which strikes its face, and he follows up with a kick to the stomach. It soars back and flips before landing a short distance away, ready to fight. Raphael collects his sai.]

Raphael: Normally I'd love to kick your butt, but right now I don't have time for this.

[Raphael runs, with the Kanabo tailing him. He can tell he's going the right way because he sights more Kanabo roaming around. Peacekeepers are scattered about: some are shooting non-lethal laser guns, others are running and the rest have transformed into Kanabo. Raphael spots the lizard alien from the marketplace, cowering as a Kanabo Street Phantom approaches her. Raphael flings his sai, knocking the Street Phantom out of the air. He then runs over to her.]

Raphael: Yo, lady! Where did these Kanabo come from?

Lizard Alien: [rattled] [She hugs herself.] I demand a lawyer.

Raphael: What?

Lizard Alien: [not looking at him] I'm not talking to law enforcement without a lawyer present.

Raphael: Do you see a badge? [He waves at his plastron.] I ain't no Peacekeeper. [Impatient] I'm lookin’ for my brother. And you're out way past curfew, actin’ weird, so I think you might know more than you're letting on.

[The lizard alien shivers, still afraid. Still not cooperating. Raphael sighs.]

Raphael: [gentler] I'm not with the Peacekeepers, and I ain't gonna narc on you for being outside during curfew or whatever you’re thinking. I just want to find my bro. Wherever these monsters are comin’ from, he’s gonna be there.

Lizard Alien: ... Unit 16H Goldfine Industrial Park. They’re all coming from there.

Raphael: [He scratches his head.] Sorry, but that’s just a bunch of syllables to me. I don’t have a sat nav built into my brain so you're coming with me... okay? I’ll keep you safe.

Lizard Alien: [She looks at the Kanabo swarming the area, then back at Raphael.] Okay. Anywhere is better than here.

[Raphael positions her on his back and sprints. A zoom in on her arm, as a bit of purple slime sinks into her skin, disappearing from sight.]

[Goldfine Industrial Park]

[The industrial park is brimming with Kanabo. They carry various goods into one warehouse in particular. From rooftop to rooftop, Raphael flits between warehouses, the lizard alien clinging to his back.]

Raphael: [He lands on a roof.] Sorry if the ride was bumpy.

Lizard Alien: [dazed] It's fine.

Raphael: I don’t think I caught your name. I'm Raphael.

Lizard Alien: You swear you're not an undercover cop?

Raphael: [He puts her down.] I told you, I ain't no cop.

Lizard Alien: Double negative... So you are?

Raphael: [annoyed] No, I'm not a cop. What’s with the paranoia? Are you a criminal or something?

Lizard Alien: [She holds up her hands.] No! I'm just... a procurer of rare goods. I was in a... market, selling some old particle accelerators I had lying around, when some Street Phantoms began freaking out. They hucked up some weird purple slime, then transformed into monsters... I was running from them when you showed up.

[She shudders.]

Lizard Alien: It's a shame. I had a really good deal going on.

Raphael: More importantly, you’re safe now. Okay, so I'm gonna go investigate all this. You stay here and... um, keep being safe. Thanks, uh... [He points at her.] you.

[He makes to go.]

Lizard Alien: [She reaches a hand toward him.] You can't leave me here with all these monsters around! They'll eat me alive!

Raphael: They won't. They eat junk food, not lizard aliens.

Lizard Alien: Lizard alien? I’m a Salamandrian. And you can't leave me here anyway. To get into the market, you need a special pass, which I have and you don't.

Raphael: Okay, so give it over.

Salamandrian: No. I want to stay with you! I'm safest with you, right? Besides, I need to check that my stuff hasn't been stolen.

Raphael: [He puts a hand onto his head.] You're becoming a real handful... literally. I’m gonna have to carry you down in my hands...

Salamandrian: I'll make my own way down.

[She walks over to the edge of the roof and steps off the edge, dropping out of sight. Raphael yelps and runs after her. He lands before her and looks up, watching as she floats down safely.]

Raphael: Huh?

Salamandrian: Anti-grav boots. [She lifts a foot and taps her stylish footwear.]

[Raphael grits his teeth in annoyance but is soon distracted. Kanabo drones carry stolen goods into a nearby warehouse: televisions, bits of vehicles, and various other gadgets and tech. Some of the drones used to be Peacekeepers, going by the remains of their uniforms. One drone carries a lawnmower into the warehouse. A purple bubble envelopes her and she disappears as she walks in. Raphael jerks his head, confused, and runs over. When he tries to enter, he walks into an empty warehouse.]

Raphael: What the-? [He looks around.]

[The Kanabo ignore them, disappearing into thin air as they enter. The salamandrian stays outside. She folds her arms over her chest.]

Salamandrian: You need a pass to get into the market, remember?

Raphael: Right... You said you've got one. You do have one, right?

Salamandrian: Yeah. [Doubt flickers in her eyes.] But...

Raphael: But what? If you're scared, you don't have to come with. I can bring your stuff back to you while you wait here. You’ve just gotta tell me what it looks like.

Salamandrian: [blurting] Aren't you scared? What if you get taken over by that slime stuff?

[Raphael looks away. His brow furrows.]

Raphael: I need to find my brother. And nothing or nobody is gonna stop me. You can stay here or come with me. It’s your call, ma’am.

[She blinks. Her eyes narrow slightly as she smooths her features.]

Salamandrian: I guess if we’re going to be working as a team, I can tell you my name. And you did save me back there... You can call me Mona Lisa.

Raphael: Huh? Really? That's your name?

Mona Lisa: It's not my actual name, but most people call me that.

Raphael: Why?

Mona Lisa: Because it's easier to pronounce than my actual name. Also because I never smile. [She shrugs.] It's an ironic nickname.

Raphael: Well, what do you like to be called?

Mona Lisa: Promise me you’re not a cop?

Raphael: I’m not one, but you’re really not helping your ‘I’m not a criminal’ case by asking that so many times.

[Mona Lisa takes a shuddering breath and straightens.]

Mona Lisa: Okay. I’m called Y'Gythgba.

Raphael: Uh... Y’Gyth... Thigba... Wait. Y'Gyth...gba. Y'Gythgba?

Y'Gythgba: [She smiles slightly.] You got it.

Raphael: [pleased] Heh. Though maybe Mona Lisa is a good name for ya after all, ‘cause you’re smiling.

[She covers her mouth with one hand, embarrassed, then suddenly grimaces and holds her stomach with a groan.]

Raphael: Eh... Did I say somethin’ wrong?

[She shakes slightly. He hesitates, then draws his sai.]

Raphael: Uh... Y'Gythgba? You okay?

[Y'Gythgba lifts her head, eyes red. Raphael tenses, eyes flashing wide for a moment. He starts backing away.]

Raphael: Ah, shell. Easy now...

[Y'Gythgba pounces, snapping her jaw at his sai. Raphael grapples with her, but she overpowers him, pinning him to the ground by the wrists. She snarls, trying to bite his face off.]

Raphael: Whoa! At least ask me out on a date first!

[Raphael and Y'Gythgba tussle. Raphael manages to free his hand and grab her wrist, activating her wristband. A purple orb forms around them. They roll and tumble into the warehouse, this time entering the pocket dimension. It is swarming with Kanabo, who add stolen goods to the growing heaps spread throughout the marketplace. Y'Gythgba scampers off, while Raphael stands up slowly and looks around.]

Raphael: What in the shell?

Giorgione's voice: Can you ask one of them to fetch me a soda?

[Raphael weaves between junk piles until he peeks around one and stops. Across the way, on the biggest heap of junk, are Giorgione, Botticelli, Dark Leonardo and Leonardo. Only Dark Leonardo is standing; the others sit. Giorgione is emptying crumbs from a crisp packet into his mouth while Botticelli is entranced by his hologram ball and cup.]

Dark Leonardo: The food is meant for Leonardo and the drones. Not you.

Leonardo: It's fine. [He puts a hand onto his stomach.] All this food's making me feel queasy.

Giorgione: Duh, ain't that the point? Your barf is makin’ everyone into your henchmen.

Dark Leonardo: Until morning, when they'll all revert back to normal.

Leonardo: Not if they stay here during the day.

[The Dark Turtles look at him.]

Giorgione: Whoa... that's cruel.

Dark Leonardo: [smiling dryly at Leonardo] Maybe we really aren't all that different.

[Leonardo’s frown deepens. Dark Donatello approaches, pushing a shopping trolley full of tech.]

Dark Donatello: I reckon we have more than enough materials here to get started on Darius's time window.

[Giorgione jumps up.]

Giorgione: We can always come back if we don't have everything. [He throws himself onto his back and moves his arms and legs as if making a snow angel. He stares upward with a happy face.] This is like a vacation home!

[Raphael taps on his wrist guard but isn't able to find a signal. Therefore he is unable to contact his brothers.]

Raphael: [muttering] Come on...

Leonardo: [He stands up.] We should go. The longer we stay, the more likely we are to be found by my brothers.

[Raphael freezes. Leonardo doesn't look his way.]

Giorgione: So? We can beat them in a fight, easy.

Botticelli: Yeah, we have a whole army in here.

Leonardo: They won't come in here. None of them are stupid enough to. It'd be suicide.

[Raphael glares at the implication that he is stupid.]

Leonardo: [calmly] They can, however, bring reinforcements. They could also seal us in here. Therefore, we need to take out everything critical to the time window’s assembly and relocate. Donatello’s clone, are you able to change the entry permissions for this pocket dimension? Or even move it somewhere else?

Dark Donatello: Theoretically, either should be possible, though the former is certainly easier to do than the latter. If we were to leave here, I could seal this area so no one can get in or out, then hack in and take control of the perimeters once we’re back at base. It will be difficult even for a genius like me, but using our pass, I should be able to reverse engineer it and do it...

Leonardo: When do you think we’ll be ready to leave?

Dark Donatello: Give me twenty minutes or so to make doubly sure that we have what we need.

Leonardo: Twenty minutes. That’ll do. Then we just need to activate the pass on your wrist guard that every other visitor has as well to leave.

[Leonardo reaches down, picks up part of what looks like a computer, and without looking, throws it in Raphael’s direction. Raphael quickly ducks and watches it zoom past.]

Leonardo: When I was younger, my siblings and I would often compete to see who was the strongest. With my enhanced strength, I would win now, but growing up, my brother, Raphael, usually came first place. Arm wrestles... lifting weights... throwing stones... I’ve always admired how robust he is. But as we’ve grown older, I’ve learned he’s strong in other ways too. For example, he knows when to call it quits.

[Raphael’s brow furrows.]

Leonardo: Walking away can be an incredibly difficult thing to do. It can require even more willpower than staying, because often, you’re fighting against your heart. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still stubborn. I’ve had to talk him out of many a tense situation, but these days... it’s almost like our roles have reversed. He’s the one telling me to know my limits. That I don’t have to be perfect, or try to fix everything, or carry every burden on my shoulders. I know I can always depend on him to talk sense into me. To do the right thing, no matter how hard it is.

[Leonardo looks toward where Raphael was hiding, but Raphael is gone now. The imaginary slime Leonardo rears up behind Leonardo and hovers its head next to his.]

Imaginary(?) Leonardo: You let him go. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. This will be our little secret.

[The imaginary slime Leonardo wraps tentacles around him. Leonardo doesn’t react.]

[Dark Turtles’ Lair]

[It’s night-time, and the Dark Turtles plus Leonardo are asleep. Pan to Leonardo. The blue forcefield around Leonardo flickers, then disappears. Leonardo awakes, confused, and slowly rises to his feet. He looks around. Quiet. He creeps through the room until he reaches a door. When he tries to open it, it cracks ajar. The door is unlocked.]

Dark Leonardo’s voice: I’ve already turned off the security systems, so you don’t have to worry about disabling them before you go.

[Leonardo whips around, katana drawn. Dark Leonardo leans against a wall, arms folded.]

Leonardo: So this was all a setup to test my loyalty. [His katana lower slightly.] And it looks like I proved you right.

Dark Leonardo: Wrong.

[Leonardo looks confused. Dark Leonardo shakes his head.]

Dark Leonardo: We’re really not that alike after all. This is no test. I wanted to give you the opportunity to escape. Darius won’t realise ‘til morning. You can go.

[Leonardo looks back at the door again but doesn’t otherwise move.]

Dark Leonardo: [His head cocks to one side.] What’s the matter, Frog boy? Don’t you want to leave the scorpion nest, swim across the river and go back to your family?

Leonardo: I do...

Dark Leonardo: But?

Leonardo: I want to help you guys, and I need to stay here to do that.

Dark Leonardo: [He furrows his brow.] I don’t want your help.

Leonardo: [He smiles humorlessly.] That’s what my brothers always say to me, not that it ever stops me. [He puts on a bad Raphael impression.] Here comes Mama Turtle to micromanage everything, as usual. Which lecture are you gonna use this time? Have you considered recording them in advance? That way you can sit back, relax and enjoy the sound of your own voice. Why don’t you wipe our butts after we go to the toilet while you’re at it? Look at me, I’m Raphael.

[Dark Leonardo looks bewildered.]

Leonardo: [He coughs.] A-Anyway... what I’m trying to say is -

[Leonardo cuts off with a gasp and ducks his head, tensing. Dark Leonardo gets off the wall.]

Dark Leonardo: Leonardo...?

[Leonardo raises his head. His eyes are red. A wide smile pulls out his mouth.]

Leonardo: [His voice is slightly distorted.] The true Day of Awakening will be upon us in only a matter of time. I shall swallow this world in my darkness. I will...

[The red leaves Leonardo’s eyes. His body relaxes.]

Leonardo: [seemingly back to normal] Even if you don’t want my assistance, I’ll do whatever it takes to help you guys join the side of good. I’ll shoulder your anger, your frustrations, your...

[Dark Leonardo continues staring at him, confused and afraid. Leonardo gives an amused smile.]

Leonardo: What? Too sappy?

Dark Leonardo: What’s the Day of Awakening?

Leonardo: [He frowns.] Why are you bringing that up out of the blue?

Dark Leonardo: [disturbed but forces himself to stay calm] [He rubs the back of his head.] I don’t know. It just... popped into my head, I guess. I heard about it recently from... someone.

Leonardo: [He puts a hand onto Dark Leonardo’s shoulder.] I know I carry the Kanabo infection, but the rest of the gene seeds have been destroyed. My family destroyed Sh'Okanabo. This planet cannot sustain Kanabo life, so it’s impossible for the world to get to the stage where a Day of Awakening can happen. Now come on, turn the security back on and let’s go back to bed.

[Leonardo walks back to his spot where the forcefield usually is. As Dark Leonardo leaves the room, he looks over his shoulder at Leonardo, uneasy.]