Machine Man 79: The Gathering

As the Predator Scout ship soared through the air in stealth mode, its sleek exterior completely invisible in the night sky, a sense of anticipation filled the cabin within. Specter stood at the helm, his expression unreadable beneath his helmet, while April, the four turtles, and their fully recovered master, Splinter, gathered around him.

Minutes passed in silence before April broke the quietude with a question that hung heavy in the air. "Where are you taking us?" she inquired, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Specter turned to face her, his gaze piercing despite the mask that obscured his features. "I am taking you to one of my hidden bases," he replied, his tone cryptic yet resolute. "The turtles' previous base has already been attacked, and now other organizations will most likely take advantage of that and try to capture them. Besides, it's unsanitary to live in the sewers." Unbeknownst to the turtles, Specter also called in a few friends to meet up on the new base.

The turtles exchanged wary glances, their concern evident in their eyes. "But our computers and gadgets are there!" Donatello protested, his voice laced with apprehension.

Mikey chimed in, his tone tinged with uncertainty. "Yeah, and all our stuff!"

Specter remained unmoved by their protests, his stance unwavering. "It's most likely been taken in by a secret organization from the government or worse, a paramilitary terrorist organization, aiming to capture you for experiments" he warned them, his voice steady and calm.

Splinter interjected, "Calm down my son's… he has a point, it's better to forgo material things for your safety," his voice soft yet filled with gratitude. "I must thank you for all your assistance and for healing me," he said, his eyes meeting Specter's with genuine appreciation.

Specter waved off the thanks with a dismissive gesture, his demeanor nonchalant. "It's nothing," he replied casually, though a flicker of thought crept to his mind. Hoping that once Arcadia is fully built, he can invite the four turtles and their master to live there. Hoping that their city can get their own heroes with plot armor.

"You are as kind and unselfish as a Buddhist monk," Splinter continued, his voice reverent. "But... I do trust that this place is kept secret?" His concern was palpable, a reminder of the dangers they faced in their previous base.

Specter's response was assured, his tone tinged with a hint of amusement. "Of course," he reassured them. "And I hope you keep it a secret, unlike your last base." His words held a subtle warning, a reminder of the consequences of their past indiscretions.

April, sensing the tension in the air, stepped forward, her curiosity burning bright despite the somber atmosphere. With a steady gaze fixed on Specter's enigmatic figure, she cut in, her voice soft yet laden with questions.

"Why do you do all this?" she asked, her words breaking through the silence like a beacon of inquiry. "Putting yourself in danger in place of others, you could just leave this to the authorities or other heroes like Spider-Man and Nightbird."

Specter replied, his response cryptic yet laden with purpose. "Sometimes the world doesn't always need a white knight," he replied, his voice carrying the weight of untold stories. "Sometimes, it needs something darker."

April absorbed his words, her mind racing with thoughts and theories about the enigmatic vigilante before her. Rumors being said that he came from outer space as a baby and was raised by a kind human couple; others said he was a culmination of vengeance and remorse for people who have died, while another theory was that he is an orphan billionaire out for vengeance. Sensing an opportunity to uncover the truth behind the mask, she shifted her approach, her gentle smile betraying her relentless curiosity.

"May I then know who's behind the mask?" she inquired, her voice soft yet filled with curiosity. With a gentle smile, stretching out her hands reaching out to touch the smooth surface of Specter's blue cobalt-colored helmet, her touch seeking answers hidden within the shadows.

Specter, taken aback by her boldness, held her hands gently, his grip firm yet gentle as he slowly lowered them. "I am the mask," he replied cryptically, his voice tinged with a sense of mystery. "This is who I am—the protector of those who can't protect themselves."

April's gaze met his, a spark of curiosity dancing in her eyes. There was something about the enigmatic figure before her, something that stirred a longing deep within her heart. As they stood in silence, a warm feeling hung in between them, the air thick with unspoken words and unspoken desires.

She was about to press further, to delve deeper into the mystery behind the mask, but Mikey's exuberance interrupted her thoughts. "Sooo cool… Hey, we should also have cool catchphrases like him," Mikey exclaimed, his excitement palpable.

Leo, ever the cordial leader, intervened with a firm hand, gently bonking Mikey's head. "Don't just cut in on someone's conversation," he chided, his tone a mixture of amusement and reproach.

Mikey rubbed his head sheepishly, his enthusiasm momentarily dampened by Leo's reprimand. "Oops, my bad," he muttered, realizing his mistake. April couldn't help but smile at Mikey's infectious enthusiasm, though her curiosity about Specter remained unabated.

As the Predator Scout ship soared through the air, the atmosphere inside was charged with a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty. April's question hung in the air, her concern evident as they approached Hell's Kitchen dock.

"Hell's Kitchen? You sure it's safe?" she asked, her voice laced with apprehension.

Specter, ever the enigmatic figure, wasted no time in responding, his tone tinged with a hint of amusement. "Says the girl who was roaming around in a factory being attacked by gangsters and ninjas," he retorted, his words a playful jab at April's recent escapades.

Mikey, unable to resist the opportunity to lighten the mood, chimed in with a chuckle. "Hehe, got you there," he teased, a mischievous glint in his eye.

"We're approaching the base," Specter announced, his voice calm he continued, "Prepare yourselves."

As they neared the Hell's Kitchen docks, Specter initiated a daring maneuver, guiding the Predator ship into a rapid descent towards the water below. The ship dove beneath the surface, disappearing into the depths with a graceful swiftness that belied its massive size.

"Whoa, did you guys see that? did you guys see that!" Mikey exclaimed, his eyes wide with amazement. "We just went from an airship to a submarine in, like, seconds!"

Donnie nodded in agreement, his mind already racing to analyze the mechanics of their sudden underwater descent. "It's remarkable," he remarked, his voice tinged with excitement. "The technology that allows this ship to transition seamlessly between air and water is incredible."

Splinter observed the scene with a sage-like demeanor, his whiskers twitching with interest. "This ship has an otherworldly aura, it feels Alien Like," he mused, as he touch the walls of the ship, his voice steady and contemplative.

As they navigated the murky waters, Specter's keen eyes caught sight of a cluster of rocks on the seabed. He steered the ship towards the hidden entrance, Skynet guiding him towards the concealed doorway.

Suddenly, the rocks began to tremble and groan, revealing themselves to be more than mere obstacles. With a deafening roar, the stone caved in, unveiling a hidden passageway leading deeper into the abyss. "No way, no way! Those rocks are actually doors?!" Mikey exclaimed, his disbelief evident in his voice. "Holy underwater cave of Batman!" Ralph, ever the stoic one, couldn't help but comment as well. "How much would all this cost, an underwater base in New York?" Leo, always trying to analyze things, couldn't help but ask, "More so, how was this even built without the public knowing?" But Specter remained quiet, leaving them to their own musings and hypotheses.

Without hesitation, Specter guided the Predator ship through the opening, the sleek vessel slipping effortlessly into the darkness of the underwater tunnel. As they enter the docking bay, the water receded with a rush, leaving the chamber dry and empty.

The four turtles entered Specter's hidden base, their eyes wide with wonder as they took in the futuristic surroundings. April and Splinter followed closely behind, equally awestruck by the high-tech marvels that surrounded them.

"Whoa, dudes, check this out!" Mikey exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement as he surveyed the impressive facility. "This is what a super hero base should look like! It's totally radical!"

Donnie nodded in agreement, his analytical mind already racing with possibilities. "The level of technology here is astounding," he remarked, his voice tinged with awe. "We're gonna be super Heroes!"

Raph, ever the pragmatist, couldn't help but be impressed by the sheer scale of the operation. "This is some serious stuff, a gym, a huge kitchen! It even has its own Cinema!" he muttered, his eyes scanning the multiple rooms and chambers that stretched out before them. "I can't believe Specter has been hiding all this right under everyone's noses."

Specter then turned to them and said, "Welcome to your new home." Mikey, hearing this, couldn't help but say, "Can we really stay here?" Specter replied, "Yes. For now, this is our temporary base. I plan to build something better in the future."

Leo, the leader of the group, approached Specter with a sense of respect and admiration. "Thank you for allowing us access to your base," he said, his tone earnest. "We'll make good use of it, to help those in need and in our fight against evil."

Specter nodded in approval, his expression unreadable behind his blue cobalt colored helmet. "You're welcome to use the facilities as you see fit," he replied, his voice calm yet firm. "And if you ever need anything, you can ask my AI for help."

With a gesture towards the central supercomputer, Specter added, "You can use that to access any information you may need. And here," he continued, handing them a sleek ATM card with the ghost-like specter logo, "use it for any expenses you may have. Just don't go overboard."

As Specter was handing out the ATM to Leonardo, Splinter reached out to take the card with his tail, a sense of pride filled his heart. "I will handle our expenses," he declared, his voice steady and resolute. "It is my duty as their sensei."

Mikey's eyes lit up at the sight of the sleek ATM card in Splinter's tail. "Can we order pizza?!" he exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement.

Leo shot Mikey a stern look, quickly understanding the implications. "Not a chance," he interjected, delivering a gentle smack to Mikey's arm. "We can't risk anyone finding out about this place."

April, always the voice of reason, stepped in to diffuse the tension. "Don't worry, Mikey," she said with a smile. "I'll take care of it later. We can have a housewarming party and order all the pizza you want."

The prospect of a party seemed to lift the spirits of the group, and the turtles erupted into cheers and high-fives. "Turtle power!" they exclaimed in unison, their voices echoing through the chamber.

With the promise of a celebration on the horizon, the group settled into their new surroundings with a sense of excitement and purpose. Each room of the base held endless possibilities for training, strategizing, and preparing for the battles ahead.

As they gathered around the central supercomputer, April took charge, inputting commands and accessing vital information with ease. With her help, they would be able to get all the basic things they need.

As April placed an order for pizza, Spider-Man, Nightbird and Sandman approached the central command room, each of them carrying an assortment of foods and grocery bags. Flint, harnessing the power of sand, effortlessly carry a stack load of pizza boxes with floating sands holding them.

Navigating through the labyrinthine tunnels, they marveled at the advanced technology that surrounded them. The walls were adorned with monitors and holographic displays, pulsing with vital information and real-time updates, casting an otherworldly glow in the dimly lit passageways.

Upon reaching the main chamber, Spider-Man opened his mouth to speak, but his words were cut off as he caught sight of the four turtles and April. Nightbird and Sandman shared his amazement, their eyes widening as they took in the incredulous sight before them.

Flint Marco, clad in his Unstable Molecular suit his face hidden by a full face masked, took a step forward, his curiosity piqued. "Boss, is this why you called us, are they aliens?" he asked, his voice tinged with wonder.

Specter hearing this said, "No I called you guys, to show you the new base and also to introduce our new team mates." He then presented the four ninja turtles.

The turtles exchanged glances, a hint of amusement flickering in their eyes. "No, we're not aliens, we we're ordinary turtles" Leo the leader of the group replied, Mikey chimed in, his voice excitedly explained. "We're the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and that is our teacher, Splinter."

As the conversation continued, Spider-Man's focus was abruptly shattered by a sudden outburst from himself. "Ahhh, a huge rat!" he exclaimed, his voice echoing off the walls of the chamber as he recoiled in alarm. It was this time that Splinter who had roam the place had come to the Central Command Room.

Specter, observing the scene with an amused glint in his eye, couldn't help but chuckle at Spider-Man's reaction. "It's alright, Spider-Man," he reassured him, his voice laced with amusement. "He's a friend and the teacher to the turtles, Splinter." he introduce.

Realizing his mistake, Spider-Man quickly composed himself and turned to face Splinter, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment although hidden by the masked, his awkwardness can't be hidden due to his action. "I-I'm sorry, Splinter," he stammered, his words tinged with regret. "I didn't mean to offend you."

Splinter regarded Spider-Man with a wise and understanding gaze, his expression filled with warmth and forgiveness. "No harm done, my young friend," he replied, his voice calm and reassuring. "We all have our fears and our moments of weakness. What matters is how we choose to overcome them."

As they gather in the center hall of the secret base, Spider-Man, Nightbird, Sandman, the Turtles, Splinter, April O'Neil, and Specter stood together, a united front against the forces of darkness. The air crackled with anticipation as they gazed at one another, each harboring their own hopes and fears for the future.

Outside, the world continued on, oblivious to the newly forge group of heroes within the hidden confines of their secret base. How their newly formed team would impact the Marvel Universe remained a mystery, shrouded in uncertainty.