Duck and Cover
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Part Three
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The Turtles used garbage cans and dumpsters as cover against Bebop and Rocksteady's laser fire.
"So what do we do now, oh Fearless Leader?" Raphael asked as he ducked to avoid another laser beam.
"Well, as long as they're firing on us, they won't hurt any innocent people," Leo replied.
"Great," Don remarked. "Now we're using ourselves as living shields."
"It's all part of the hero thing," Mike grinned. "Besides, these Wild Safari rejects couldn't hit the broad side of a barn!" He shouted this last part loud enough for the two mutants to hear him. The laser fire increased.
"Come out an' fight, you stupid turtles!" Rocksteady yelled.
"You can't hide forever," Bebop added.
Leonardo sneered. They were right, they couldn't just sit here and wait for one side to falter or advance. Someone had to take action. "Michaelangelo, take that trashcan lid and when I say now-"
"Gotcha, leader-man." Mike grabbed the lid from the trashcan and ducked back down, reflecting a beam with the metal lid. He got into position and nodded to Leonardo. Leo nodded back, then took a few steps back from the dumpster he was behind. It meant that he would be totally visible for a few seconds, but he'd risk it.
He took a running start, then leapt up unto the dumpster, using it as a trampoline for more height. Bebop and Rocksteady immediately turned their attention to the airborne turtle, who reflected the beams that came too close with his katana. "Now, Michaelangelo!"
Mike jumped up from his hiding spot and flung the trashcan lid like a Frisbee. It hit Bebop and Rocksteady's blasters with such force that they exploded on contact. As they were nursing their poor hands Leonardo landed right in front of them. "Give it up."
Shredder grabbed his mutants from behind and pulled them back. "Never! Bebop, Rocksteady, follow me, it's time for plan B." To keep the turtles from following, Shredder threw a trashcan at them. Leo managed to dodge it easily, but it threw his balance off and by the time he was standing again, and his brothers had joined him at that end of the alley, Shredder was long gone.
"Neat trick," Raphael said to Michaelangelo. "I would have used the lid as a shield to rush them."
"Which is exactly why I asked Mike to help and not you." Leo dusted himself off and turned back the way they came before Raph could retaliate. "Come on, we have to warn the TV crew!"
***
When the Turtles got back to the TV set, everything was starting to get packed away. The four went over to April's news van, which was just about ready to leave.
"What's going on?" Leonardo asked. "Are they done shooting already?"
April stored away her mini cam. "Yeah, at least all they can do here. They're predicting snow in an hour or so, anyway. And I've got to get to City Hall to report on the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. They're supposed to be using a new type of crystal instead of lights this year."
"I think I heard something about that," Donatello said. "Tridonomyte, I think they called it. It's an artificially created, self powering, light generating crystal."
"Huh?" Mike asked.
"A new kind of blinky light," Raphael offered.
Donatello made a sour face. "That's one way to put it."
"Wait," Leonardo interrupted. "You said self powering. How, and can they be used to power other things?"
Donatello rubbed his chin in thought. "Well, it takes a small amount of power to get them going, but after that they pretty much go on their own, and are capable of putting out more power than you put into them, the snowball effect. I suppose if tapped into correctly they could be harnessed as a battery for clocks, flashlights-"
"The Technodrome," Leo interrupted.
Don shook his head. "No, those crystals are way too small to power anything that big."
"But what if they had hundreds, or were able to manufacture a gigantic crystal." Leo punched his fist into his palm. "That has to be what Shredder has planned. He's going to steal those crystals."
"Oh, you think Shredder just wants to steal everything," Raphael commented.
"Well, he kinda does," April reminded them. "Anyway, I'm heading over there, you're free to come along if you want."
"The more I think about it, the more I think Leo's right," Don said.
Raph crossed his arms. "What else is new?"
"With Krang's alien technology," Donatello continued, "He may just be able to tap into the Tridonomyte's power to power the Technodrome."
"Well then what are we waiting for?" Raphael called, already heading for the Turtlevan.
"Wait a sec, guys!" Michaelangelo turned and ran off towards a group of people.
Raphael cast a worried look towards the others. "He's not gonna do what I think he's gonna do, is he?"
Leonardo sighed. "I'm afraid so."
Michaelangelo came to an abrupt halt at the edge of a group of kids. "Ace. Ace!" He jumped up and down, waving his arms to get the attention of the mutant duck sitting in the middle of a group of kids.
Ace looked up, smiling. He patted the head of a little blonde girl and parted the sea of children to get to Michaelangelo. "Come back for an autograph?"
"Yeah!" Mike blurted out, then quickly corrected himself. "I mean, no. No, Shredder and his goons, the ones who were trying to ruin your show, they're going to steal the power light dohickies from the City's Christmas Tree! You gotta help us save Christmas!"
Ace took on a slightly panicked look, which only intensified when he heard the excited whispering of his little fan club behind him. "See, I told you he was a real hero." "He's gonna help the Turtleman save Christmas." "You think Santa's been kidnapped?"
Ace immediately clasped Mike around the shoulders and led him away from the group. In a loud voice he replied, "Why, it just so happens that I'm going to be at City Hall for the Tree Lighting Ceremony."
The whispering faded away, and when it was finally gone Ace ducked around a corner just to make sure. He looked at Mike, frowning at the unhidden enthusiasm on his face. "Look - Michaelangelo, was it? - I appreciate your fan support, I really do, but I'm not really a hero. I'm an actor, I play a hero on TV. It's not real."
Mikey's lower lip started to tremble. Ace smiled and gently cuffed Mike on the chin. "You and your brothers are this city's real heroes. I'd only be in the way if I go. Go, save the city from the evils of - Shredder, did you say?"
"Yeah. The Shredder."
"Man, and I thought the names they came up with for the villains on my show were corny." He punched Mike in the shoulder. "Now go be a hero."
Mike stood up straight and saluted. "I won't let you down!"
***
Meanwhile, at City Hall, two Foot soldiers were holding the entire Tree Lighting Committee at gun point. A pile of valuables sat at their feet, plea bargains from the captives for freedom. But the android ninjas stood still, waiting for a change in orders, one way or another.
"Well, well, well." Shredder walked up behind the Foot soldiers, but gave them no orders to move or lower their weapons. "I want the Tridonomyte crystals and I want them now!"
"They're all up on the tree!" one of the men told him, pointing at the evergreen at the other end of the stage.
Shredder looked up at the tree. It towered several stories above them, separated from the street by an equally large curtain. "Well, this calls for a change in plans." Shredder pulled out his communicator and a second later the pink face of Krang filled the view screen.
"Just when I find something good on TV... What is it, Shredder?"
"I found something that may interest you, Krang." He turned the communicator towards the tree so Krang could see the crystals. They were each about the size of a lightbulb with three main crystal shards, each flashing a different color, red, green, and white, in a perfectly in sync pattern. "It's Tridonomyte. A small amount of energy and they power themselves forever."
"Ooh!" Krang let out a pleased sound. "Very good Shredder. Get it to the Technodrome as soon as possible."
Shredder looked back into the view screen. "That may be a problem. There's no way we can get all the Tridonomyte off the tree before someone tries to stop us. But I have a plan, and it will effectively ruin Christmas for the citizens of this city as well! Mwahahahahahahaha!"
"Stop laughing and get busy then, I want those crystals."
"Well, that's why I called you. I need you to send me some equipment."
***
The Turtlevan pulled up in front of City Hall at the same time as April's news van and the car carrying Ace Duck.
"Where are they?" Michaelangelo asked.
"Well, they're after the crystals, which are on the tree, so I 'd say they're back there." Don pointed to a curtained off stage. The turtles pushed through the small crowd that was already forming for the ceremony. April was right on their heels, press pass flashing.
Leonardo jumped onto stage. "We're onto you plan, Shredder, so just give it up. There's no way you can-"
"No way!" Mike gasped.
They all gasped when they saw what was happening. Shredder stood triumphantly in front of the tree. The tree itself looked fine, except for the giant rocket boosters being attached to bottom.
"You're too late, Turtles! In a few seconds, this tree, and the Tridonomyte, will be on their way to the Technodrome."
"A few seconds is all we need, Tin face!" Raphael snapped.
Just as the Turtles were about to charge, Rocksteady stepped onto stage holding prisoner none other than Ace Duck! "Hey, boss, look who I caught sneaking around back stage!"
"I demand you release me!" Ace shouted as he struggled. "I'm no threat to you!"
Shredder grinned behind his mask. "No, but you are an excellent insurance policy." He turned back to the Turtles. "Unless you want your feathered friend to become pillow stuffing, you'll stay where you are."
"Forget about me!" Ace cried. "Stop them!"
And for yet another twist, Bebop then walked onto the stage carrying two squirming children under his arms. "And what do you want me to do with these two, boss?"
Shredder laughed. "Even better!"
Mike gasped. He recognized the two kids from Ace's fan club, it was the little boy who Leo had saved and the blonde girl Ace had been talking to before. They must have followed Ace backstage. "Leo, we can't let him hurt those kids."
"I know," Leo replied, feeling frustrated. They couldn't let Shredder get away with those crystals, or the tree, but they couldn't risk him hurting Ace or the kids. The only thing they could do is hold their places and wait for an opportunity to present itself.
***