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

[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.]

[michaeljangelo]

[Mike's sheepish grin melts the moment the water around him begins to cool.]

oh...oh wow....

[i_speak_softly]

[The effect is a little disorienting in its unnaturalness, but it feels good enough that Don quickly stops caring.]

[The fact that Hector isn't whining so loudly in his head is nice too.]

[raavashing]

[Wan waited a few moments as every turtle nearby started settling down and enjoying the new chill before he moved to sit on the edge of the fountain and kick his feet in the water a little.]

So you're all okay, right? Do you think I could do this for a few hours every day and it would be safe for Rio'era?

[michaeljangelo]

[Both Baby Raph and Mike are quiet in the post-chill, the latter leaning on the former for added stability.]

Wow.

That was a hell of a thing.

[i_speak_softly]

Um. [Don probably should not be making important decisions right now, but nobody else is exactly qualified to answer this.] I think so. Just remember, gradual temperature changes.

[raavashing]

[Wan grinned brightly.]

I will. I'll go slower next time just to be sure. I can keep it where it is for a while, so feel free to just lay here and enjoy. I don't mind.

[michaeljangelo]

Really?

[Mike perks up a bit at that.]

Okay. That...that'd be swell. Thanks.

[i_speak_softly]

[Don does another cycle of checking on every other turtle in the vicinity, then gives in to the relief from the heat. He settles on the edge of the fountain, arms curled under his head and one leg dangling into the water.]