002 ~ Video

[i_speak_softly]

[Don sits at his console, opens a Video channel, and prepares to speak. Before he can get a single word out, Mike leans in front of him.]

We interrupt this program to bring you the following special announcement.

[Don sighs and pushes Mike out of the frame to say his piece.]

Caretakers of hatchlings, please listen!

This mean you, chuckles. Pipe down.

[Yes, Mike, thank you. Continuing now.]

It's awfully hot out there, and while you may have heard that reptiles love heat, too much of it is dangerous for them.

Please don't cook your turtle.

The hatchlings, like all reptiles, are ectotherms. This means that they regulate their body temperatures by exchanging heat with the environment around them. In other words, they take on the external temperature.

They're cold-blooded.

Yes, Mike, that's what I said. Could you please stop interrupting me? Ahem...

While reptiles are adapted to tolerate a wider range of internal temperatures than mammals, they can still suffer from both heat stroke and hypothermia when conditions are too extreme.

We repeat: please do not cook your turtle.

[Fine. From here on out, Don is just ignoring the interjections.]

Like now. Please don't let your hatchlings stay outside too long in this weather, no matter what they say to you. They will overheat and get sick. But, bring them inside carefully.

And not just because they're likely several times your size, though there's that too.

Remind them that safe equalization is very important. Going directly from an extreme temperature to a comfortable one may sound like a good idea, but it causes another condition called thermic shock. That can lead to unconsciousness or even death.

We know about this because we're turtles, and we've been turtles longer than they've been turtles, and so clearly we know better than they do. That's just Science.

[A pause, what else does he need to say.]

Oh, and remember that turtles drink a lot, even when it isn't this warm. Be sure to provide plenty of clean water!

Because good hydration is key.

Never put your hatchling in an ice bath. Ever.

That's just cold, man.

I don't really trust these "coldstones" either.

...

I'm done, Mike. You can talk now.

[The screen is again filled by Mike's gleeful face.]

We now return you to your program, already in progress.

[End transmission.]

Comments

[i_speak_softly]

[Don exchanges a look with Mike.]

I can't say I've had much experience with magically-mediated equalization. It might work, but be careful.

[michaeljangelo]

Yeah, if Rio'era's anything like Raphael, they might not say when when it's actual time for when. Just, out of sheer stubborn.

[raavashing]

It's not magic.

[Wan corrected just because it was kind of annoying for it to be referred to as that when it was all very natural.]

But Rio'era isn't really stubborn. Usually. The heat's been getting to her a lot.

[And speaking of the heat getting to turtles.]

...are you guys okay? You and your brothers, Leo and that Raph guy, you're all keeping cool, right?

[i_speak_softly]

[It is not natural at all.]

We're fine. Like Mike said, we've had a lot of practice.

[raavashing]

[It's completely natural.]

Would you be willing to be there when I try it?

[i_speak_softly]

... It's probably a good idea.

[michaeljangelo]

And not just because it's really cool to just watch this sort of stuff.

[What?! It totally is!]

[raavashing]

Do you have time now? I'd like to try getting her cool as soon as possible.

[i_speak_softly]

[Time is not really the limiting factor.]

Remind me where you are?

[raavashing]

Wood sector. But Rio'era's in the water sector, trying to find a way to fit in the fountains there. I haven't been able to convince her to come to me instead of doing that.

[i_speak_softly]

[Don quickly calculates some distances and temperatures.]

We'll go to Rio'era. Hector and Little Raph will help us find her. We can take care of her here.

[raavashing]

I'll meet you there. Thank you.

[michaeljangelo]

No problemo!

[i_speak_softly]

[At the fountain, Wan will find no fewer than five giant turtles: Mike, Don, Rio'era, Hector, and Little Raph. All of them look a little worse for the heat, but the hatchlings are complaining far more loudly. Don tiredly raises a hand in greeting as Wan approaches.]

[raavashing]

[Wan returns the wave as he makes his way through the small crowd. He'd thought about riding in on a cloud, but judged it to be too difficult to find a decent landing spot close enough. He could have just dropped in, of course, but that would have caused a bit of scene. And there was already too much of one.

Wan glanced between the three turtles he did know and the two he didn't while Rio'era splashed heavily in the fountain, ducking her head under the water and generally being a cranky butt in the back of his mind.]

Hey. I can probably cool everyone here down, if you want. Assuming this works and is safe.

[michaeljangelo]

[Mike raises his hand like a kid in a classroom asking a question, but unlike that kid he doesn't wait to be called on.]

Just out of curiosity, what happens if it doesn't work and is unsafe?

[i_speak_softly]

We could pass out and potentially die.

[It's a pretty important point, but Don is too overheated to muster anything more than a deadpan tone.]

[raavashing]

I'm going to be careful so that doesn't happen.

[Wan replied as he hopped over the edge of the fountain so he was standing in the water. It didn't make a big difference if he was in the water or not as far as bending it went, but it sure did feel nice to stand in it.]

I can start whenever you're ready.

[michaeljangelo]

"Oh is that all?" he asks flippantly in Donnie's direction. Mike is apparently never too warm to be a smartass.

"Let's do this thing."
The false bravado is clearly evident in the way Mike's face scrunches up in preparation for the...the uh...what ever it was Wan was offering to do.

[i_speak_softly]

[Don is almost too warm to be smart, so he just leans against the edge of the fountain and hopes this won't end terribly.]

[raavashing]

[Wan circled his arms slowly and the water of the fountain rose up around him. He took his time expanding the area the water covered so that it hovered over all five of the turtles before coming down to settle on them. He did not yet change the temperature.]

Okay. When you're ready I can start making the water colder.

[michaeljangelo]

[Mike swallows hard, and he reaches out to put a hand on baby Raph.]

Punch it, Chewie.

[raavashing]

[Wan didn't do anything but stare at Mikey, confused.]

Who's Chewie and why do you want them to punch anything?

[Yes, it might be 100 degress out, but Wan is not going to do anything more with the water until this tangent train he's just hopped on pulls into another station.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Mike.]

Just go ahead, Wan.

[raavashing]

[Donnie, you are a lifesaver.

Wan was still very confused, but if it got explained later, he'd be satisfied.

He took a deep breath and then let it out slowly. The air that escaped him came out in a cold fog and as it spread forward, the water covering all the turtles began to slowly, but noticeably cool. It ever got to frozen. I just got close enough to feel really good in the hot weather.

Even if no one else appreciated it, Rio'era let out a loud, happy sigh and finally settled a little at the fountain's edge. Her irritation tapering off for the moment.]