001 ● VIDEO

[sureisaguy]

[ The video feed loads and Mikey comes into view, frowning in concentration with his tongue sticking out. Computers are not his best subject. After about ten seconds he seems to realize that he's broadcasting and leans in, grabbing the console screen as if he can see everyone if he just gets close enough. ]

Uhhh... hello? This thing on?

[ He waves a two-fingered hand in front of the camera and sits back slightly. ]

So um, anyone know if this turtle gets DSL? 'Cause I gotta send a word back to my bros and I can't find the internet thingy on this computer.

[ Squinting at the console, a look of understanding dawns on his face. ]

Ohhhh what if I press--

Comments

video;

[sureisaguy]

[ what

no

no say it isn't true ]

You... you don't have internet?

[Audio | Basic encrypt to Mikey]

[anything_it_takes]

MIKEY.

Turn. Off. The video.

[Audio | Basic Encryption to Known Turtles]

[sureisaguy]

I thought you told me never to mess with computer stuff 'cause I'd just break it!

Re: [Audio | Basic Encryption to Known Turtles]

[anything_it_takes]

[AUGH]

Mikey, everyone can see you.

Just - [DIRECTIONS it's probably as easy as a radio button idk]

[Audio | Basic Encryption to Known Turtles]

[sureisaguy]

Yeah but no one's freaking out! Isn't it cool?!

Re: [Audio | Basic Encryption to Known Turtles]

[anything_it_takes]

That doesn't mean it's safe!!

[Audio | Basic Encryption to Known Turtles]

[sureisaguy]

Dude whatever, we're ninjas. We kick Shredder's behind all the time, how bad can this place be?

Re: [Audio | Basic Encryption to Known Turtles]

[anything_it_takes]

[Mikey. Stop being stupid-smart and pointing out that Leo really has no good reason to keep up the stealth mode.]

We're supposed to be ninjas!!

[BREATHE, Leo. Breathe.]

Look, Splinter said that "Being brought out into the light is a dangerous thing." He might not be here, and things might be different, but that doesn't mean we forget what he taught us!

[Soooo that's why he does it.]

[Audio | Basic Encryption to Known Turtles]

[sureisaguy]

[ Wow Leo, is that vein supposed to be pulsing that hard? ]

Okay, okay!

[ If Leo's this worked up about it, then Mikey'll shut up and listen to him. ]

Re: [Audio | Basic Encryption to Known Turtles]

[anything_it_takes]

[Noooooooooo it's really not. Comforting dream aside, Leo's still Very Stressed Out about missing family members. This stuff gets him right where it hurts.

Now Mikey is here and Leo's thrilled to see his brother, but that just makes it all the more crucial to keep him safe. Even if no enemies ever arrive to stalk his family through the Network before taking them out, Mikey could get caught up in some of that kedan-foreigner mob violence...

Better to yell at Michelangelo than have him wind up battered or worse because he got careless and cornered by overwhelming numbers. Secrecy is still safety, so Leo has to make sure his team follows The Rules. With brothers possibly disappearing straight from their quarters, Leo feels driven to enact any control he can.

His tone is still curt, but worn and stressed around the edges.]

Good.

... Do you remember when and where we're meeting?

[Audio | Basic Encryption to Known Turtles]

[sureisaguy]

I'm not stupid, Leo.

Re: [Audio | Basic Encryption to Known Turtles]

[anything_it_takes]

[Uh huh.]

Fine. Where are we meeting?

[Prove it.]

[Audio | Basic Encryption to Known Turtles]

[sureisaguy]

In the place.

That you said.

Before.

video;

[notdreaming]

I can't tell you if I have it if I don't know what it is.

video;

[sureisaguy]

Okay well I guess that makes sense.

[ How to describe the internet? ]

So it's like this box. And you type on it. And like, there are words that happen? And then they go to another person and they can send stuff back!

Oh and there's like, movies and cartoons and stuff too.

[ You're welcome. ]

video;

[notdreaming]

[ She nods her understanding, and then finally it hits her. ]

You mean a network? Well this is a network, and we had one just like it on Krypton. Less typing, but the same idea.

video;

[sureisaguy]

Yes.

[ Maybe. Mikey usually leaves the computer stuff to Donnie, though only because Donnie keeps threatening to shove his bo where the sun don't shine. Mikey's helpful comments that the sun doesn't shine down in the sewers anyway didn't go down nearly as well as he'd thought. ]

Wait, where's Krypton?

video;

[notdreaming]

[ Well there they go! That was easy. ]

It was a planet, about 27 lightyears from Earth.

video;

[sureisaguy]

How far's a lightyear?

video;

[notdreaming]

It's the distance light can travel in a year.

video;

[sureisaguy]

Oh.

[ Mikey squints. ]

How far is that?

video;

[notdreaming]

[ She sighs. Such primitive worlds you people come from. ]

A very, very, very long way.

video;

[sureisaguy]

[ Hey it's not Mikey's fault he only underwent basic schooling while squatting in a sewer with a giant rat.

It is however his fault that he didn't pay very much attention. ]

Coooool!

[ Mikey tilts his head. ]

You don't look like an alien though. Aren't you supposed to have like, tentacles and stuff?

video;

[notdreaming]

[ She raises an eyebrow and gives him such a look. ]

Not to my knowledge. Do most aliens you know have tentacles?

video;

[sureisaguy]

[ A look that goes sailing straight over his head. ]

Uh, yeah, like all of them? They've got creepy little eyes and sharp teeth too, and they drive robots!