Unable to find Splinter on their own, the Turtles decide to investigate the mysterious Guardians.

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!!This episode provides examples of:

* AirVentPassageway: Subverted when the Turtles try to enter the T.C.R.I. building this way, only to discover the ventilation shaft is a fake
* CrazyPrepared: Lampshaded by Mikey when Don's method of fooling the security cameras is revealed:
-->'''Mikey''': I don't know what bothers me more, that this thing actually works, or that Don carries around a pigeon puppet...
* DidntSeeThatComing: After seeing the sign in the building's lobby.
-->'''Don''': Uh, guys, here's a new wrinkle.
* ExplainExplainOhCrap:
-->'''Don''': Say the first letter in each word.\\
'''Mikey''': What? T.C.R.I.? Sorry, it's not ringing any ''[realizing]'' bells.
* FunWithAcronyms: Now here's an odd wrinkle: TCRI. Techno Cosmic Research Institute. The same initials as on the ooze that created the Turtles, cluing them in that whatever else is going on TCRI are responsible for their mutation.
* LuredIntoATrap: The Turtles lure one of the Guardians to the Shredder's old base by reactivating the Foot signal and planting a decoy Shredder doll.
* ShoutOut: During Casey's distraction, he gets up on the security console and starts chanting "[[Film/DogDayAfternoon Attica! Attica!]]"
* TheSmartGuy: Donatello is the only one of the Turtles to grasp the importance of the name "Techno Cosmic Research Institute."
* TrackingDevice: The Turtles use one to follow the Guardian and find the T.C.R.I building
* WeNeedADistraction: How the team gets April into the T.C.R.I. building.
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