YOU'RE NOT ON   NICKTOONS   ANYMORE!

Some TMNT stuff really isn't for little kids.

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CHAK! ∞

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AAAAAAHH! NYU Gosei Hattori "Ooohhhh..." Hattori "That same dream again... That symbol...!" Hattori "...What could it mean...?"

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Chet's RANDOLPH'S EASTMAN and LAIRD'S DEPT OF SEWERS PRE-TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES KRAK! Raphael "Yai!" Donatello "Kiai!" THE PASSING STORY BY EASTMAN and LAIRD - PENCILS BY MICHAEL DOONEY INKS'n'TONES BY EASTMAN, LAIRD, DOONEY, RYAN BROWN and JIM LAWSON - LETTERS by LAVIGNE

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Hamato Splinter "Good aggressive technique, Raphael... Donatello, you need to get more extension in your blocking thrusts..." Splinter "...Like this! See?" Don "Yes, Master Splinter..." KRAK! BAP! Michelangelo "Ow!" Splinter "Michaelangelo! Stop fooling around! The manriki-gusari is not a weapon to be trifled with!" WHSSSH! Mike "But I hate this stupid thing! Can't I practice with the 'chucks?" Splinter "Leonardo, your form, as always, is impeccable. But practicing watas is no substitute for combat. Tomorrow, I want you to spar with Raphael." Leonardo "Yes, Master Splinter..." BAK! Splinter "Enough lessons for today, my sons. I am going to meditate..." Splinter "...But tomorrow we start again at the same time!"

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Splinter (What...?!) Splinter (What... Was that? A presence... On the astral plane. A brief touch... Searching...) Splinter (...Then it was gone!) Splinter "Hmmm..." [The next day...] Splinter "Bow... Ready positions... Begin!"

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Splinter (Hmm... Can't get that near contact out of my mind... Who could it be...?) Splinter (Another mind... Powerful... Disciplined... And somehow desperate! I must try to reach it...) Splinter "Enough! Lessons are over for today." Splinter "...And you have the rest of the day to do with what you will... Just try to be quiet." Mike "Yahoo! A day off!" Leo or Raph "Real quiet, Mike!" Don "Great... I can catch up on my reading!" [Later...] Splinter (...Nothing yet... Must keep trying...)

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Splinter "...Must keep pushing... Send my thoughts... Keep my mind receptive..." Splinter "...Still nothing... Was it all just a hallucination? ...Just a..." Splinter "...A...Aah...!" Splinter "At last..!" Splinter "Incredible! I--I can even see you... Sort of... And... Now... I know your name... Gosei Hatsumi!" Gosei Hatsumi "...And you, Splinter... I am very glad to... Have found you..." Hatsumi "...From my death bed... Here in our homeland, Japan... I have sent my mind searching... Searching... For the one who could help me..." Hatsumi "...Help my family... To survive... To continue the Gosei line... In honor and in strength..." Splinter "What... Can I do?" Hatsumi "Help me... To pass on the spirit-force of the Gosei Samurai Clan... Through the ages, passed on from father to son... Now it is my turn... But my son is lost to me..." Splinter "Is he... Dead?" Hatsumi "He lives, in your city of New York... But his spirt is dead... My only chance... To pass on the force... Is to his son... My only grandchild... And he stand on the knife's edge..."

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∞ Hatsumi "He is at the critical point... Of decision... To follow his father's path of evil... Or to take up the Gosei Samurai way of honor... And continue the Gosei tradition... If he does not... Our family line may not die out... But the Gosei bushido spirit will be dust..." Splinter "How can I help you...?" Hatsumi "For a short time... I must be you! ...The ritual of passage... Requires physical contact... And I am too old and frail..." Hatsumi "...To leave this bed... We must exchange bodies... It is dangerous... This old body has no more than ten hours left... If it expires while you reside in it... You will die, too... It is a thing beyond measuring... That I ask you to do..." Splinter "We have little time to waste..." Splinter "So... Let it--" Hatsumi "--Be done!" Hatsumi (Splinter) "Hmm... How strange this feels... This body is like... A dry leaf... About to be lifted on... A divine wind..." Splinter (Hatsumi) "And yours... So different from being human! I feel your strength... I sense your memories, as you must sense mine... And I know your students..." Splinter (H) "Leonardo! Raphael! Donatello! Michaelangelo!" Splinter (H) "Gather your weapons--we have a mission!"

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[Later...] Read GIZMO Leo "Master Splinter, we've been crossing roof tops for nearly half an hour... And you still haven't said where we're going!" Mike or Raph "Yeah... What's this "mission"?!" Splinter (H) "We are trying to save a life... And salvage a heritage!" Splinter (H) "Ask me no more... Now I must search... For our destination..." Splinter (H) "Stand back--! And be quite!" Splinter (H) "I must concentrate..." Splinter (H) "Aah... Yes... I have it." Splinter (H) "Let's go!" [Shortly...] Splinter (H) "There!" Splinter (H) "We must reach the garden... On the top floor."

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[The building looms before them like a high-tech parody of traditional Japanese architecture... A daunting obstacle...] [...But not to the students of Splinter!]

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Leo "How far do we have to crawl through these air ducts, Master Splinter?" Splinter (H) "Not much further, Leonardo..." Splinter (H) "Yes! There... Slide past me, Leonardo, and open that grate up ahead!" Not Leo "Looks like we've found that garden, Master Splinter...!" Leo "Quiet now, you guys!" Leo "Who are those guys?" Splinter (H) "Our mission...!" Splinter (H) "Listen..." Gosei Kenji "...Makes me a proud man to have a son like you--strong and able--ready to take charge of my business when I retire!" Hattori "Father...I--I've been thinking...about after I graduate this year... Going for my master's degree..." Kenji "You won't have time for that, Hattori--you'll be too busy with important things..." Hattori (He's doing it again... Not listening to me! Why can't I just tell him that I want to live my own life--that I want nothing to do with his damn crime empire...! But I can't dishonor him... He is my father...) Kenji "...Running Goseico, Inc. is very much a full-time job--but I have faith that I've raised a son who can handle it!"

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Splinter (H) "I need to find a way to talk with the young one... Alone!" Splinter (H) "Raphael, Donatello--scout around... See if there are any guards... And check for other exits!" [Minutes later...] Don "Nobody's around... No guards! Strange, though..." Raph "Yeah--you'd think rich guys would have all kinds of--" Don "Shh! Hold it! Voices... Up ahead..." Takahashi "It's all set, then...?" Iwata "Yes... Our men are in place..." Iwata "...The quintet of assassins will solve our little "problem"..." Takahashi "Heh... This will be Keni and Hattori's last lunch together..." Takahashi "When the cook serves the food and leaves... That will be the signal for the attack..." Iwata "...With both Gosei's dead. Control of the syndicate--and all those millions in dope and gambling profits, among other thing--will be in our hands! Heh, heh..." Don "C'mon, Raph--we've got to tell Splinter, quick!" Takahashi "You know, in a way I almost feel sorry for Kenji and Hattori..." Takahashi "...Almost, but not quite! Ha ha ha!" Iwata "Heh, heh, heh...!"

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Don "Master Splinter!" Don "Raphael and I overheard some guys--they're plotting to kill the two guys you were looking for!" Splinter (H) "What is their plan?!" Don "I think they have four assassins moving in to strike when dinner starts..." Splinter (H) "You "think"...?!" Don "They were talking in very low voices, Master--it sounded like "quartet"..." Splinter (H) "Donatello, Raphael, Michaelangelo--find these four assassins and stop them!" Raph "All right--some action!" Splinter (H) "Leonardo will stay with me as a reserve..." Splinter (H) "Be quick, my ninja--for time is short... And..." Cook "...Dinner is served, sir." Splinter (H) "Uhhh... Feeling weaker... Don't have much energy left..." Splinter (H) "I fear... That I will fail..." Hatsumi (S) "No...! You...can succeed, Hatsumi... But..." Hatsumi (S) "...You must... Act soon!"

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CHA CHAK! SPLOOSH!

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Raph "Psssst!!!" THUK!

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Mike "Two down..." Raph "...And mine makes three!" Raph "So that leaves one of these goons on the loose..." Raph "Let's boogie back to the garden--Leo and Splinter might need us if the fourth creep is there!" Splinter (H) "...Won't be easy to explain the situation to my grandson... Impossible while his father is in the room!" Splinter (H) "How can I get Hattori alone...?" Kenji "What's wrong, Hattori? You're not eatting... Are you ill?" Hattori "No... But I feel... Father, I don't want to dishonor you or the trust you place in me... But I'm not sure I can live as you do... I--I have some plans of my own..." Kenji "To do what?--live the bushido ethic? Be a samurai like my father thought he was? Ive seen you practicing that martial arts crap... Give it up! That's old stuff... Your grandfather never could see reality..." Kenji "...Always living in the past, while I--" Kenji "--Eh?"

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BDDDBBRRAADPP! Kenji "Get down, Hattori!" Kenji "Get d--gah!!!" Hattori "Father--!!!" Splinter (H) "Hattori!!! Noooooo!!!" Leo "I'll get him Master--!"

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Raph "Master Splinter--Leo! We heard gunfire--!" Don "Are you okay--?!" Mike "They're all right, Don--" Mike "--But this poor guy's had it!" Don "Oh, no..." Hattori "Father... Father!!! Speak to me... You can't be dead...!" Hattori "I--I hated what you did... B--But I loved you Father..." Hattori "And... And..." Hattori "M--My God..." Hattori "W--What are you?!!"

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Splinter (H) "Be calm, Hattori! Open your mind... Reject panic..." Hattori "A--A g-giant talking rat... Turtle monsters... Y-You can't be real--!" Hattori "I-I must be in shock! I--It's all p--part of some m--mad dream--!" Splinter (H) "Be silent! You do your father no honor with your whimpering!" Hattori "I--I'm losing my mind..." Splinter (H) "No, you are not! I will attempt to explain... But first let my ninja move your father's body... It is proper to show respect for the dead..." Raph "Master Splinter--what should we do now?" Splinter (H) "Bar every door you can find--block all entrances to this garden level! I need time... And no interruptions!"

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Hattori "Maybe... The assassins put drugs in the food... Yes, that's it--I'm hallucinating--!" Splinter (H) "Hattori--listen to me! Listen to my words... Hear their truth... Do not let this body confuse you... It has been loaned to me, so that my mind... My words... Could reach you from my deathbed in Japan..." Splinter (H) "...You are Gosei Hattori, son of Gosei Kenji... And I am Gosei Hatsumi, his father... And your grandfather!" Hattori "No no no no no!!! This is crazy--! How can you expect me to believe--!?!!" Splinter (H) "I understand... It is difficult! To accept my words... You need a sign..." Splinter (H) "I had tried to reach you, in other ways... But I was too weak... And you were... Unreceptive..." SCRITCH! ∞ Splinter (H) "...So I tried... To leave with you... A token of our shared heritage..." Splinter (H) "...Search your memory... Do you recall it...?"

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Hattori "T--That symbol--!" Hattori "It-It's the same one--" Hattori "--The one in my dreams! But... What--?!" Splinter (H) "--What you see is the ancient symbol of the Gosei Samurai Clan... A signet of power... A symbol of a greater life..." Splinter (H) "...A life which could--should!--be yours... But only if you truly want it...!" Hattori "I--I know you are telling the truth... As crazy as it sounds, you are who you say you are! I--I can't explain it... But you are my grandfather! And... And I know... That this symbol means..." Splinter (H) "It means power!" Splinter (H) "It is the choice you must make--to up hold and carry on the Gosei tradition--or follow your father's path into oblivion!"

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Turtle A "This lamp should do just fine...!" Turtle A "There! That's the last of 'em--all the doors on this floor are blocked off!" Turtle B "Yes--but how long do you think that lamp will last if they really try to bust the doors down? What do we do then?" Turtle A "We'll just have to deal with it when it happens--but we have to give Master Splinter the time he needs!" Splinter (H) "Time is growing short, Hattori--my strength is failing... You must help me...!" Hattori "Aahhhnngg--!!! It--It hurts--! I-I don't want it! I'm--I'm not ready--!!!" Splinter (H) "There is no one else who can carry on our family line--you must accept the transfer... Of my life force--!!!" Splinter (H) "...Accept it... With all your heart... Or it will mean nothing... And the Gosei heritage will pass from this world forever!" Hattori "I--I'm trying, Grandfather... So sudden... But... I feel... Something expanding... In my mind... Unn!!! Yes... A door is... Opening... Now... I do... Want... It...!!!"

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Splinter (H) "You are worthy... Of the Gosei name... My grandchild..." Splinter (H) "...Accept my spirit... And through me... The love of your ancestors..." Hatsumi "Take... Our lives...!!!" Hattori "Ahhrrgahhh!!!"

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AAAAAAAHHRRRRRRGGHAH!!! Hatsumi "It is over... And I go to my rest... Thank you, friend Splinter..." Splinter "You honor me with your gratitude, Hatsumi..." Splinter "...Perhaps, in another life, we will meet again...! Farewell...!" Hattori "Uhhhhh... Feel so strange... Tingly..." Splinter "I'm...back--in my own body! Amazing..." KRASSSHH! Hattori "Wha--?!" Splinter "Oh, no...! Donatello was wrong..."

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Splinter "...There was a fifth assassin!" Splinter "...And I am too weak... From the strain of psychic transferral... To fight him...!" Hattori "...And your students are guarding the doors--we're defenseless--!!!" Splinter "No! You can fight him, Hattori! Let yourself be guided... Let the spirits of the Gosei Clan lead you... Now!!!" Splinter "--Now!!!" CHANK! Hattori "Huh?! H-How did I dodge like that--?!" Hattori "It--It's like--I've done this a thousand times before..." Hattori "And--even before I throw this--" Hattori "--I know my aim will be true--!"

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CRAK!

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Hattori "I can't believe it... I just killed a highly trained assassin... With my bare hands! And it's like... I didn't even do it... Myself..." Splinter "The spirits of your ancestors came to your aid... They now live within you... The warriors, the samurai-- They helped you to fight that killer. But... You will find... You have other ancestors... Poets... Artists... Lovers..." Hattori "...And I will come to know them all... Listen, I... Whatever--whoever you are... Thank you... For my grandfather... For everything!" Splinter "I was happy to aid you... And your grandfather..." Splinter "...Remember always what he has given you... And that what you do with it... Is your choice..." "...May you choose well!"

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[Later...] Leo "...And all that time we just thought you were being kind of... Well... Obsessive!" Don "...And secretive! But we never would have guessed..." Splinter "...That I had exchanged bodies with another? Ha, ha! No, you couldn't have known. But you aquitted yourselves well--Hattori owes his life in no small part to your actions! I am proud of you, my sons...!" Turtle "Thank you, Master Splinter! I don't envy him, though..." Same Turtle "...He's got some heavy decision-making ahead of him!" Splinter "Yes... And we have sleep ahead of us..." Splinter "...Let's go home..." Splinter "...And you, Michaelangelo--stop goofing around!" Mike "Ow!" THE END