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 Leonardo’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.]