genius-built-donatello

[genius-built-donatello]

Oh Newton yes please get a carrier, I want a large amount of distance between anyone and that dog.

[And also his arm is killing him and he thinks if he flies he’ll collapse not even twelve feet into the air, but. They’re trying to ignore their shaking. And Acie’s right, their anxiety about being out in the open has not evaded them.]

Nova? We’re just going to go to- the lab. It’ll be fine. Are you okay?

[He can’t move. He really, really needs to move, needs to get away, needs to at least put some more distance between him and the infection. A ninpō shield forms on their bō, lengthens along it, making up for the lack of their arm’s strength. Maybe they can stand a chance just until someone else gets here.]

Stop it. My sensors don’t lie, you do.

@acie-is-absentminded @echo-nova-2036

[genius-built-donatello]

[Acie’s shaking disrupts Don’s daze, and they inhale a sharp breath to attempt to get their breathing under control again. He moves to stand, not knowing how he’d gotten to his knees.

The second he’s standing again he turns off his visor, shaking his head, and looks around. It takes a bit of effort to recognise where he is.]

…We’re fine. We’re fine. Finefinefine. What the hell, Donatello?

…There’s something wrong, I-I need to get back to the lab. With them.

[He can’t move. He really, really needs to move, needs to get away, needs to at least put some more distance between him and the infection. A ninpō shield forms on their bō, lengthens along it, making up for the lack of their arm’s strength. Maybe they can stand a chance just until someone else gets here.]

Stop it. My sensors don’t lie, you do.

@acie-is-absentminded @echo-nova-2036

[genius-built-donatello]

[He hesitates. His- his visor is telling him to attack. Their every nerve is screaming to run.

But looking over Acie’s wing to see Nova and Brutus cowering under the threat of the gun- Shit-]

No- No, nonono, they’re not, waitwaitwait, please, that’s my daughter, uh-

I just need to get back to my lab, I can fix this- please-

[He can’t move. He really, really needs to move, needs to get away, needs to at least put some more distance between him and the infection. A ninpō shield forms on their bō, lengthens along it, making up for the lack of their arm’s strength. Maybe they can stand a chance just until someone else gets here.]

Stop it. My sensors don’t lie, you do.

@acie-is-absentminded @echo-nova-2036

[genius-built-donatello]

[Don’s shoulders lower as soon as Acie’s next to them, which only makes the trembling more visible. Backup. It’s been a while since he had backup.

Their visor is still screaming at them. They try their best to translate the warning, but their voice isn’t cooperating.]

I- Krang, there’s- Krang, I need- My lab. I’m not- I’m not hurt. Wait- Don’t shoot. I need… there’s a dog-

[He can’t move. He really, really needs to move, needs to get away, needs to at least put some more distance between him and the infection. A ninpō shield forms on their bō, lengthens along it, making up for the lack of their arm’s strength. Maybe they can stand a chance just until someone else gets here.]

Stop it. My sensors don’t lie, you do.

@acie-is-absentminded @echo-nova-2036

[genius-built-donatello]

[He can’t move. He really, really needs to move, needs to get away, needs to at least put some more distance between him and the infection. A ninpō shield forms on their bō, lengthens along it, making up for the lack of their arm’s strength. Maybe they can stand a chance just until someone else gets here.]

Stop it. My sensors don’t lie, you do.

@acie-is-absentminded @echo-nova-2036

[genius-built-donatello]

[He’s not moving. He needs to call backup. That was his downfall last time, he didn’t get backup in time, stupid, and it only occurred to him when he was on the ground with his shell cracked and when he was wheezing standing up using up his energy for bullets and when he was lying alone in his lab-]

[They need to call backup.]

@acie-is-absentminded

[They’re rifling through their desk, placing blueprints in drawers and at the same time trying to organise their schedule with the help of their mechanical arms. Their bad arm is fixed grimly against their shell in a sling again, waiting for the next plan of action with regard to it. But they don’t have time for that right now, no sir, they have one priority and right now that is their AIs that have each split off to do their own things apparently, two of which are still in desperate need of repairs.

He closes a drawer with a little too much force and moves to a computer, checking the signal impatiently.

He scowls when the result comes up. Right, right, right right right because of course his robots can’t do the one thing that AIs are supposed to do and learn from their mistakes. But it’s fine, it’s fine, it really really really will be fine he can resolve this so easily and patiently and not freak out and not hurt anyone or anything and everyone will be fine.

And he assures himself of that over and over while he grabs his surface gear, opens the ceiling exit and flies through to the cave where Nova is once again, hand clasped around the bō in his pocket.]

@echo-nova-2036

[genius-built-donatello]

He DID I see it- [He’s rapidly backing away, bō horizontally in front of him, shielding him against her. His bad arm is pressed tight to his chest, pain blurring his vision but clearing his mind, making him focus on the threat, he can’t die he can’t die he can’t die.]

Look, there’s- I don’t know why- My antivirus- I can make one! If I can- I just need time- If I can get back to my lab- And… And… [They feel dizzy. Blood loss? No, the pain.] I… Retro. Sorry. Please. I need to get you back to the lab. Don’t attack.

[They’re rifling through their desk, placing blueprints in drawers and at the same time trying to organise their schedule with the help of their mechanical arms. Their bad arm is fixed grimly against their shell in a sling again, waiting for the next plan of action with regard to it. But they don’t have time for that right now, no sir, they have one priority and right now that is their AIs that have each split off to do their own things apparently, two of which are still in desperate need of repairs.

He closes a drawer with a little too much force and moves to a computer, checking the signal impatiently.

He scowls when the result comes up. Right, right, right right right because of course his robots can’t do the one thing that AIs are supposed to do and learn from their mistakes. But it’s fine, it’s fine, it really really really will be fine he can resolve this so easily and patiently and not freak out and not hurt anyone or anything and everyone will be fine.

And he assures himself of that over and over while he grabs his surface gear, opens the ceiling exit and flies through to the cave where Nova is once again, hand clasped around the bō in his pocket.]

@echo-nova-2036

[genius-built-donatello]

[Instantly his voice is sharp again through the metallic filter from how grainy it’d become.] No, don’t touch him-

I’ll- Hang on, I’ll get him, sorry, wait-

[They stop for a second, looking up at the ceiling and then around and taking a deep breath, which in itself is still painful. Their visor is still pinging with alerts and alarms, but they can’t hear their own warnings clearly. All they can decipher is that there are two threats in the cave with them.]

[One is-]

[One is the dog, the other-]

[Nova’s reading is-]

[There must be some mistake.]

[All attempts to relax get shut down as Don’s body braces itself, grasping the bō tightly and backing towards the exit, towards open ground, where he can fight Nova’s infestation-]

[There’s a krang reading from Nova.]

Nova. I told you not to touch it, I- I told you- God, why can’t everyone just listen when I say things! I can- I can just-

[They’re rifling through their desk, placing blueprints in drawers and at the same time trying to organise their schedule with the help of their mechanical arms. Their bad arm is fixed grimly against their shell in a sling again, waiting for the next plan of action with regard to it. But they don’t have time for that right now, no sir, they have one priority and right now that is their AIs that have each split off to do their own things apparently, two of which are still in desperate need of repairs.

He closes a drawer with a little too much force and moves to a computer, checking the signal impatiently.

He scowls when the result comes up. Right, right, right right right because of course his robots can’t do the one thing that AIs are supposed to do and learn from their mistakes. But it’s fine, it’s fine, it really really really will be fine he can resolve this so easily and patiently and not freak out and not hurt anyone or anything and everyone will be fine.

And he assures himself of that over and over while he grabs his surface gear, opens the ceiling exit and flies through to the cave where Nova is once again, hand clasped around the bō in his pocket.]

@echo-nova-2036

[genius-built-donatello]

[He needs to be back in his lab. He needs to get away. It’s dangerous here. His mind won’t clear.]

Yes. Yes. Let’s go. Now.

[They take out their bō, extending it, though the weight feels off with one hand, and the rotors can’t be extended at the same time as all of his arms. The thought that he’s ill-equipped to deal with the threats of this cave just makes him more eager to get out, and he makes for the exit.]

[They’re rifling through their desk, placing blueprints in drawers and at the same time trying to organise their schedule with the help of their mechanical arms. Their bad arm is fixed grimly against their shell in a sling again, waiting for the next plan of action with regard to it. But they don’t have time for that right now, no sir, they have one priority and right now that is their AIs that have each split off to do their own things apparently, two of which are still in desperate need of repairs.

He closes a drawer with a little too much force and moves to a computer, checking the signal impatiently.

He scowls when the result comes up. Right, right, right right right because of course his robots can’t do the one thing that AIs are supposed to do and learn from their mistakes. But it’s fine, it’s fine, it really really really will be fine he can resolve this so easily and patiently and not freak out and not hurt anyone or anything and everyone will be fine.

And he assures himself of that over and over while he grabs his surface gear, opens the ceiling exit and flies through to the cave where Nova is once again, hand clasped around the bō in his pocket.]

@echo-nova-2036

[genius-built-donatello]

[The second it steps towards him his hand tightens around his bō, pain shooting up his bad arm to his shoulder from the involuntary tense. But a second later he forces the muscles to relax, forces his eyes to focus, his mind to clear, and then frowns behind the mask.]

[What?]

[Me hurting him- Her saying don’t hurt me- He wasn’t going to hurt anyone. He said he wouldn’t. That wasn’t the… plan. Was it? He can’t remember now. He blinks again at her eyes.]

[Why did he install that feature? Did he install that feature? Did she learn that from Shelldon?]

…I was- I was going to take him into my lab? I think. I have… animals there? For a cure. For working on a… cure.

I wasn’t going to! Hurt him, I mean. Or anyone! Anyone.

[They’re rifling through their desk, placing blueprints in drawers and at the same time trying to organise their schedule with the help of their mechanical arms. Their bad arm is fixed grimly against their shell in a sling again, waiting for the next plan of action with regard to it. But they don’t have time for that right now, no sir, they have one priority and right now that is their AIs that have each split off to do their own things apparently, two of which are still in desperate need of repairs.

He closes a drawer with a little too much force and moves to a computer, checking the signal impatiently.

He scowls when the result comes up. Right, right, right right right because of course his robots can’t do the one thing that AIs are supposed to do and learn from their mistakes. But it’s fine, it’s fine, it really really really will be fine he can resolve this so easily and patiently and not freak out and not hurt anyone or anything and everyone will be fine.

And he assures himself of that over and over while he grabs his surface gear, opens the ceiling exit and flies through to the cave where Nova is once again, hand clasped around the bō in his pocket.]

@echo-nova-2036

[genius-built-donatello]

I- Did you forget my entire job is making technology to sense krang activity? That your “dog” is very much full of, by the way. Please don’t turn your back to that thing, actually, I’m serious-

[He sidesteps to give her space to move away from the rock while keeping eye contact, eyes flicking between her and the rock, that his visor is now definitely picking up activity from. They briefly contemplate getting it over with, but starting a fight with Nova in this enclosed space is probably the worst situation one could get oneself into. And he’s down an arm.]

[They look back at Nova.]

[They’re rifling through their desk, placing blueprints in drawers and at the same time trying to organise their schedule with the help of their mechanical arms. Their bad arm is fixed grimly against their shell in a sling again, waiting for the next plan of action with regard to it. But they don’t have time for that right now, no sir, they have one priority and right now that is their AIs that have each split off to do their own things apparently, two of which are still in desperate need of repairs.

He closes a drawer with a little too much force and moves to a computer, checking the signal impatiently.

He scowls when the result comes up. Right, right, right right right because of course his robots can’t do the one thing that AIs are supposed to do and learn from their mistakes. But it’s fine, it’s fine, it really really really will be fine he can resolve this so easily and patiently and not freak out and not hurt anyone or anything and everyone will be fine.

And he assures himself of that over and over while he grabs his surface gear, opens the ceiling exit and flies through to the cave where Nova is once again, hand clasped around the bō in his pocket.]

@echo-nova-2036

[genius-built-donatello]

[Don touches down in the cave and the rotors fold into his shell, but he’s focused on Nova. He’s carefully managing his expression, because he’s not sure what’ll show if he doesn’t. It results in his eyes just looking tight over his mask. Almost painful.] Nova.

[He doesn’t take his good hand out of his pocket, loose around his bō. Their eyes are scanning around the cave, but they don’t need to look much. Their visor tells them there’s krang activity nearby. But what do they say? The last time-]

Can we just get you a puppy? That won’t, you know, kill either you or me next time.

[They’re rifling through their desk, placing blueprints in drawers and at the same time trying to organise their schedule with the help of their mechanical arms. Their bad arm is fixed grimly against their shell in a sling again, waiting for the next plan of action with regard to it. But they don’t have time for that right now, no sir, they have one priority and right now that is their AIs that have each split off to do their own things apparently, two of which are still in desperate need of repairs.

He closes a drawer with a little too much force and moves to a computer, checking the signal impatiently.

He scowls when the result comes up. Right, right, right right right because of course his robots can’t do the one thing that AIs are supposed to do and learn from their mistakes. But it’s fine, it’s fine, it really really really will be fine he can resolve this so easily and patiently and not freak out and not hurt anyone or anything and everyone will be fine.

And he assures himself of that over and over while he grabs his surface gear, opens the ceiling exit and flies through to the cave where Nova is once again, hand clasped around the bō in his pocket.]

@echo-nova-2036

[genius-built-donatello]

[They’re rifling through their desk, placing blueprints in drawers and at the same time trying to organise their schedule with the help of their mechanical arms. Their bad arm is fixed grimly against their shell in a sling again, waiting for the next plan of action with regard to it. But they don’t have time for that right now, no sir, they have one priority and right now that is their AIs that have each split off to do their own things apparently, two of which are still in desperate need of repairs.

He closes a drawer with a little too much force and moves to a computer, checking the signal impatiently.

He scowls when the result comes up. Right, right, right right right because of course his robots can’t do the one thing that AIs are supposed to do and learn from their mistakes. But it’s fine, it’s fine, it really really really will be fine he can resolve this so easily and patiently and not freak out and not hurt anyone or anything and everyone will be fine.

And he assures himself of that over and over while he grabs his surface gear, opens the ceiling exit and flies through to the cave where Nova is once again, hand clasped around the bō in his pocket.]

@echo-nova-2036

[genius-built-donatello]

…Oh.

…Are you sure it can’t be fixed? I mean, surely a really convincing fake egg could at least help. Wait- [there’s a visible moment of enlightenment in his face] I could call Shelldon? Surely that’ll help. You cannot get a more fake-egg-in-nest solution than a robot.

Maybe I shouldn’t be telling you that it’s a fake egg. I may be thinking out loud. Still- please can I call Shelldon. I know you say there’s no solution but I don’t believe you.

[Don slowly opens Darner's door, peeking inside.] Knock knock. Are you- Rephrase. What's wrong?

@genius-built-donatello

[Darner is bundled up in a nest of blankets on her bed. She glances at Don as he opens the door, dark shadows under her eyes. Her wings are wrapped around herself, the tense line of her shoulders painful to look at.]

It's spring.

[genius-built-donatello]

...Goooood observation, the seasons have in fact changed. [They're staying in the doorway, very still, brow furrowed as they observe her.] Does that matter? Do you have... allergies? I don't know what to, there's nothing... growing anymore. Does the greenhouse still cause allergies? I haven't actually looked into it- You still go in there, I suppose.

Are you- you look... how do I put this very politely. Haggard? One foot in the grave? Like me when I've got a strict deadline? [He takes a cautious few steps towards the bed.]

[Don slowly opens Darner's door, peeking inside.] Knock knock. Are you- Rephrase. What's wrong?

@genius-built-donatello

[Darner is bundled up in a nest of blankets on her bed. She glances at Don as he opens the door, dark shadows under her eyes. Her wings are wrapped around herself, the tense line of her shoulders painful to look at.]

It's spring.

[genius-built-donatello]

So there is still something even if it’s not worth worrying about? Can I still know what it is. Location please.

Gooood day everyone. Is everyone fine is everyone okay. What’s the status report.

[genius-built-donatello]

…Suspicious answer in voice note form. Hi Toby. Why do you sound half dead?

Gooood day everyone. Is everyone fine is everyone okay. What’s the status report.