Chapter 10: Lines in the Sand
The tension in the lab hadn't faded even after Karai's departure. The air felt heavier, charged with the weight of what had just happened.
Leonardo sheathed his swords, fixing Stockman with a sharp look. "You don't understand what you've done."
Stockman chuckled, shaking glass shards from his coat. "Oh, I understand perfectly. I just told the Shredder that I'm not some pawn he can push around."
Raphael smirked. "Gotta say, I like this guy."
April, however, wasn't convinced. She stepped forward, lowering her voice. "Baxter, this isn't a game. You just put yourself directly in Shredder's crosshairs."
Stockman met her gaze, his confidence unwavering. "Good. That means he'll be focused on me instead of whatever he's scheming in the shadows."
Donatello frowned. "Unless he decides to just eliminate you first."
Stockman smirked. "Let him try."
---
The turtles exchanged uncertain glances. They weren't used to Stockman being this bold, this collected. The Baxter Stockman they knew had always been brilliant, but he had never challenged the Shredder like this.
Leonardo sighed. "What's your plan?"
Stockman turned to a console, fingers flying across the keys. "Simple. We dig deeper."
The screen lit up with schematics, surveillance images, and decrypted data—everything Stockman had managed to steal from TCRI before the security shutdown.
April leaned in, eyes widening. "You already cracked their encryption?"
Stockman smirked. "You underestimate me."
Michelangelo whistled. "Dude's like Evil Donnie but with a better wardrobe."
Donatello scoffed. "Hey."
Stockman zoomed in on a section of the blueprints. "TCRI has an underground facility beneath the city. I cross-referenced their energy output—it doesn't match anything on record."
Leonardo frowned. "Meaning?"
"Meaning whatever they're hiding down there, it's not just alien tech," Stockman said. "It's active."
The room went silent.
April bit her lip. "So, what do we do?"
Stockman leaned back, smirking. "We break in."
Leonardo narrowed his eyes. "That's insane."
Stockman tilted his head. "Is it?"
Raphael grinned. "I mean… it does sound like fun."
Donatello pinched the bridge of his nose. "We just fought off the Foot Clan. Now you want to invade a secret government facility?"
Stockman grinned. "Welcome to the deep end, gentlemen."
Leonardo sighed. "This is a terrible idea."
Stockman smirked.
"But you're in, aren't you?"
Leonardo closed his eyes for a moment before finally nodding. "We're in."
Stockman's smile widened.
"Then let's go make some noise."
Meanwhile…
Deep within TCRI's underground facility, a pair of glowing red eyes flickered to life.
The Kraang were watching.
And they were ready.
End of Chapter 10.