The next day at the Plaza, Carmen was explaining to her friends and Shadowsan what went on last night.
“Let me get this straight, you fought along side turtles?” Ivy asked in disbelief.
“Not just turtles, Ivy. Man-sized turtles trained in ninjitsu.” Carmen explained.
“Still think my mutant worry is nothing to be concerned about?” Zack nudged his sister who rolled her eyes.
“The way you described their fighting style sounds exactly like the style of the Hamato Clan.” Shadowsan suspected.
“Hamato Clan?” Carmen asked.
Shadowsan nodded, “An old ninja clan from Japan that existed for many centuries, until it was rumored to have gone extinct. And the way you described the style of the girl capable of transforming into a serpent, my assumption is she was trained in the art of the Foot Clan.”
“Foot Clan?” Zack asked with a laugh.
“Sounds like a funky club for podiatrists.” Ivy chuckled, only for Shadowsan to shoot the siblings a stern glare shutting them up.
“Do not be fooled by the name. The Foot Clan was also one of the most notorious clans to ever exist, both they and the Hamato Clan have had a bitter feud for centuries, until the Foot Clan fell from power. But decades later it was rebuilt by a survivor named Oroku Saki who took control of the clan under the identity of The Shredder.”
“That name definitely screams super villain.” Carmen noted.
Shadowsan continued, “From what I gathered from several contacts in the criminal underworld, the Shredder had started operating here in New York for some time with several mobs and criminal gangs under his control. But many months ago it was reported he was killed.”
“Whoa.” Zack gasped.
“Yikes.” Ivy gasped equally shocked.
“And then there were those girls fighting along side the turtle men. I know this sounds cliché, but they had superpowers.” Carmen explained.
“Superpowers?” Ivy asked.
“Like strength, speed, flight?” Zack guessed.
“More or less, but the one had more telekinesis than flight.” Carmen replied.
“That does not make sense.” Ivy said feeling confused.
“I know, but it's what I saw. Plus they were also trained in ninjitsu as well. And to top it off, they were accompanied by a robot.”
“Mutants, superheroes, robots. This city has everything.” Zack said in amazement.
“So what was VILE after again?” Ivy asked the thief.
“Shipments of this stuff.” Carmen showed them the canister of mutagen she stole from them.
“What is that stuff?” Zack gasped.
“Whatever it is, it don't look safe.” Ivy suspected.
“And it's not,” Player answered from Carmen's laptop, “According to Carmen's Intel this stuff is identified as mutagen. And after running a scan of this stuff it's highly unstable.”
“As in radioactive?” Zack feared.
“Precisely.” Player answered, as Zack scooted away.
“VILE was getting this stuff from someone named Baxter Stockman.” Carmen explained.
“I did a background check on Stockman, and discovered he was a promising scientist who used to work at the company TCRI, but was fired.”
“If that guy can make stuff like this he's gotta be dangerous.” Ivy said, while looking at the canister of mutagen.
“That's just it, I don't think he was able to make it,” Player injected, “I did several more background checks, and discovered he got his whole supply of mutagen from TCRI itself.”
“What kind of company makes a chemical this dangerous?” Zack asked in confusion.
“I don't know, but one thing's for sure if VILE wants this stuff then there's trouble ahead.” the hacker explained, as the group was deeply concerned.
Meanwhile in the Turtles lair, the gang was in the lab, as Donnie was at his computer checking stuff out, “Well, I managed to get some Intel on this Carmen Sandiego.” the genius turtle began.
“So don't leave us hanging, D.” Casey said, as he looked over Donnie's shoulder.
“Whatcha got?” Rainbow asked, as she slid in.
“Well, from what I gathered Carmen Sandiego is an international super thief wanted by all forms of the law. Police, FBI, Interpol, you name it.”
Sunset nodded, “Yes, but does it say more about her?”
“Well, only that in strange events a lot of stolen rare and valuable artifacts end up being returned to their rightful places like people and museums.” Donnie explained in confusion.
“That's because she's not the stereotypical thief.” Sunset explained.
“What does that mean?” Applejack asked in confusion.
“Sunset, you looked into her memories. What do you know?” Leo asked.
“She was trained by this super top secret global criminal syndicate known as VILE.”
“Name probably speaks for itself.” Shini said.
Sunset continued, “But when she discovered exactly what VILE was she couldn't tolerate what they were doing and managed to break away from their island. Since then she's been using her thieving skills to steal from VILE and return whatever they stole to their rightful owners.”
“A thief stealing from other thieves?” Twilight asked in surprise.
“How's that for a twist?” Pinkie asked while sitting on a work table.
“So if she's some Robin Hood vigilante, why did she steal mutagen?” Raph demanded.
“She said she needed it as evidence,” Fugotid answered, “She probably is wondering what VILE is planning to use the stuff for.”
“Well, we still gotta find that mutagen and get it back.” Karai said.
“Fortunately it can be easily tracked.” Donnie said, as he pulled out his mutagen tracker.
“Dudes, I just got a super beyond awesome idea.” Mikey gasped.
“Do we even wanna know?” Raph asked dryly.
“Why don't we team up with Carmen Sandiego and stop this VILE?”
“What?!” his brothers gasped.
“Mikey, that is...” Donnie began.
“Don't say it!” Mikey stopped him, “Just don't even say it's a horrible idea!”
“Actually, I was gonna say it's not a bad idea.” Donnie admitted.
Mikey's eyes lit up, “Really?”
“We're both after the same enemy now. And working together is our best option.” Leo added.
Mikey turned to Raph, “What about you, Raph?”
“What?”
“Are you gonna voice some disapproval?”
Raph sighed, “Under past circumstances I would, but given all our past team ups and how bad judging others gets me into trouble I'm willing to cooperate.”
“As are we.” Applejack said on behalf of herself and the Rainbooms.
“Good plan, but do you think Carmen will want to work with us?” April asked them.
“I'd like to give her a chance.” Sunset replied.
“So how do we find her?” Fluttershy asked.
“Well, to catch a thief you need a thief's expertise,” Sunset answered, as she pulled out her cellphone and made a call, “Hey, Bebop. You available by any chance?”