Chapter Text
Lloyd watched numbly as the small boat drifted down the narrow canal. He wanted to cry as he leaned into his mother's comforting embrace, but no tears would come. So much had happened in such little time. He could barely process the thoughts that swam through his mind.
Eventually, Nya anchored the boat next to a rundown shack that had obviously been abandoned. Everyone got off the boat and shuffled into the neglected building in total silence.
Misako found a small lantern and lit it. The glow of the fire seemed make the room gloomier instead of brighter as they sat down on the dusty floorboards and looked at Lloyd, waiting for him to speak.
Were the others aware of the tragedy that had taken place? No, thought Lloyd dejectedly. He saw the confident gleam in Nya's eyes as she looked at him expectantly. How could he tell her that her brother, boyfriend, and the rest of the team were dead?
Pixal had taken off her helmet and just sat there, awaiting for Lloyd to let them know what they should do next. She had a hopeful look in her eyes as well. Lloyd couldn't bear to tell her that the love of her life had died for a second time.
Misako, Lloyd's mother, seemed to have a small idea that something was amiss, but she stayed silent.
Nya shattered the uneasy silence that hung over them. "What now?"
With those two words, Lloyd lost it. The tears that had not seemed to want come earlier now streamed down his face.
"Lloyd, what's wrong?" pressed Nya. She felt a sense of anxiety wash over her. What happened? What did Harumi do?
Lloyd just cried harder. He put his hands over his face in an attempt to suppress his sobs.
Nya went over to give Lloyd a comforting hug when he forcibly shoved her away. She backed slowly away from Lloyd, stunned that he would just roughly push her away from him.
"They... She... No—," stuttered Lloyd. He was trying to let them know what happened, but no coherent words would come out.
Gradually, Lloyd began to calm down. The tears did not stop flowing, but he was able to choke out in a voice barely above a whisper, "They... Are... Gone."
Both Nya and Misako broke down at the news. Even though Misako was not close to most of the ninja, she was still saddened by their deaths. Lloyd explained through his tears how he threw Wu onto the Bounty in hopes of saving him, but then the Colossi grabbed the Bounty and crushed it with everyone still aboard.
Nya was sobbing uncontrollably. Outside, the storm that had stopped now started again. Lightning crackled in the sky and the rain fell in sheets. She couldn't believe that they were really gone. At first, she felt her heart rip open and a feeling of great despair and sorrow came over her. Then she felt pure rage. Harumi and Garmadon were going to pay for this!
Lloyd was a bit disturbed by Pixal's reaction. She just froze. The look of hope in her eyes was nowhere to be found. It was replaced with a look of... nothing. She seemed to be devoid of any life.
They sat there and mourned for a few minutes, but their grieving was interrupted by the wild cry of Ultra Violet from somewhere close by. The Sons of Garmadon were coming for them.
"We have to leave. Now!" said Lloyd urgently.
"Where can we go?" asked Misako. "The Sons of Garmadon are everywhere."
"I bet Skylor would will help us out," murmured Nya.
"That's a good idea," agreed Lloyd. "Let's go!"
He flung the door wide open. A blast of cold rain and wind slapped them all in the face.
"C'mon," urged Lloyd. He sprinted out the door and the others scrambled to their feet and ran after him.
The journey to Chen's restaurant was not pleasant at all. They had to keep out of sight and not get caught by the Sons of Garmadon. Also, the wind and rain made it difficult to do anything. By the time they got to Chen's, they were all soaked and chilled to the bone.
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Skylor heard people knocking loudly on the door. Geez! Didn't people know how to read? The sign said the restaurant was closed. She went to the front door, expecting to find some Sons of Garmadon members trying to bully their way into getting a free meal. Instead, Skylor found Lloyd frantically knocking on the front door. She let him in of course.
"What are you doing here?!" exclaimed Skylor.
Her eyes widened as she examined all of them. They were all soaking wet and Misako, Nya, and Lloyd looked like they had been crying. She was also startled by the appearance of Samurai X.
"We need a place to stay," answered Lloyd.
"If you can't make accommodations for us, we understand. After all, we don't want to get you in trouble with 'Emperor Garmadon'," added Nya.
"Of course I'll help you," assured Skylor. "I have a bunker for times like this."
As Skylor showed them the way to the bunker, she asked, "When will the Kai and the others get here?"
"They won't. They're dead," mumbled Nya sadly and bitterly.
Skylor stopped in her tracks. She was speechless. She turned and looked at Nya and Lloyd who were on the verge of tears. Her voice cracked as she spoke, "Is there proof? Did you see their bodies?"
Nya and Lloyd were too choked up to answer.
Misako answered for them, "No, it's too dangerous to look."
Skylor started crying. Nya came up and embraced her. Both of them were crying now. In spite of her tears, Skylor led them to the bunker. It was a bit cramped but not too bad. At least there were enough cots for all of them.
"Sorry I can't do more," apologized Skylor as she sat down on a cot. She felt her head spin as Kai's death started to sink in.
"This is more than enough," promised Misako.
A loud rumbling noise was heard and Nya wondered aloud, "What is that?"
Lloyd gave a sheepish smile and admitted, "That was me." The rumble was heard again and everyone realized that it was Lloyd's stomach.
"I know what that sound means," laughed Skylor. "Any requests?"
"Whatever you can make the fastest," said Lloyd. Misako and Nya agreed with him.
Skylor addressed Samurai X, "Do you want anything?"
The others were confused when Pixal politely told Skylor that she didn't want anything in her disguised voice.
Once Skylor had gone to prepare the food, Nya asked Pixal, "What was that about?"
"What do you mean?" This time, Pixal took off her helmet and spoke with her regular voice.
"What Nya means is, why did you use your fake voice for Skylor?" clarified Lloyd.
"I was not certain I could trust her," answered Pixal in a monotone voice. She still had that look of nothingness. They were all pretty sure that she was grieving, but they didn't know why she seemed indifferent toward Skylor.
"Skylor is completely trustworthy. You don't have to hide from her," declared Nya.
"Perhaps not b—" started Pixal. She heard footsteps and quickly put on her helmet.
Skylor walked in, carrying a tray full of puffy potstickers. She saw everyone slightly frowning at Samurai X. "Did I miss something?"
"Uh, no," hesitated Nya. "Everything's fine."
Skylor didn't believe her, but she didn't press them about it.
"So, what are you going to do now?" questioned Skylor.
Lloyd shrugged as he took a bite out of his puffy potsticker. "I don't know. With most of the team dead there's not much we can do."
"What?!" hissed Nya. She was enraged by the prospect of just sitting around and letting Harumi and Garmadon rule Ninjago. "We can't just do nothing!"
"I agree with Nya. We should at least fight back," said Skylor.
Lloyd raised an eyebrow. "We?"
"Of course. I'm going to avenge Kai or die trying," declared Skylor with fierce conviction.
"Me too," agreed Nya.
"What good is fighting back if you know you are going to die?" questioned Pixal in her fake voice. "It would be better to gather reinforcements before launching an attack."
"That would be a wiser course of action," concurred Misako.
Everyone looked at Lloyd. He was the leader and the tiebreaker.
"I think we should wait and build up our strength. Tomorrow we'll start gathering people to build up an army," explained Lloyd. "Tonight, let's get some sleep."
Nya and Skylor didn't look very happy about his decision, but they couldn't disagree with the logic behind it.
"I'll go lock up and make sure everything's secure," proclaimed Skylor. "I hope you all sleep well."
As she left the bunker, there were "good nights" exchanged between everyone. Once Skylor had finished checking everything, she went to her own bed, which was upstairs. She, as well as, Lloyd, Nya, and Misako fell into a restless sleep.
Pixal didn't need sleep so she just processed all her thoughts and emotions she had bottled up. She felt something wet slip down her cheek and found that she was crying. She longed for Zane to be there, but he was gone. Once again, the one she loved was taken from her.
First, she was shut down and separated from him when the ninja destroyed the power source. Then, Zane sacrificed himself and destroyed the Overlord. Right after Zane rebuilt himself, both of them were kidnapped and taken to Chen's Island. There, she was dismantled as if she were a piece of scrap. Now, she finally had a body. Now, Zane was dead. Was life this cruel? Did it enjoy torturing her by giving her the one she loved then stealing him back?
Pixal quietly cried throughout most of the night. Around 5:33 A.M., Pixal heard Skylor walking around. Lloyd, Nya, and Misako appeared to still be asleep. She got up, careful not to awake her friends, and decided to confront Skylor about something that had been bothering her.
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Skylor knew she should get more sleep, but her body was trained to get up at exactly 5:30. She was startled to see that Samurai X was also awake.
"I take it you are an early riser like me," commented Skylor.
Samurai X merely answered, "No. I do not need sleep." Pixal had used her real voice on purpose to see Skylor's reaction.
Skylor didn't know what to think of Samurai X. No food? No sleep? This person was inhuman. Apparently Samurai X could change their voice as well. There was something about that female voice that made Skylor feel as though she knew this person.
"If you don't mind me asking, do I know you?" inquired Skylor.
Instead of answering, Samurai X took off their helmet. Skylor's hand flew to her mouth. It wasn't possible!
"You're—You're the android who was brought in with Zane!" gasped Skylor.
"Affirmative," said Pixal. She answered Skylor in an annoyed, almost bitter, voice.
Skylor was taken aback by the android's annoyance. "Is something wrong?"
Pixal frowned. "I wish to inform you that I do have a name. It is Pixal."
Skylor was confused. Why did Pixal seem mad at her? Suddenly, Skylor remembered that her father had commanded that Pixal be dismantled.
"Oh my first Spinjitzu Master! I am so, so sorry." She reached out to touch Pixal, but Pixal stepped back as if she was scared of her.
Pixal's eyes started to fill with tears. "I also want to let you know that I have feelings and emotions. I am not a mindless machine."
Skylor now understood why Pixal was scared of her. The memories came flooding back. She had been Clouse's assistant when he had dismantled Pixal. When Skylor had flinched at Pixal's cries of pain, Clouse had told her to ignore them. "It's not as if the thing is alive," he said.
"I—I—I don't know what to say except, I'm so sorry," apologized Skylor.
Pixal shook her head as if to get a hold of herself. She was still crying. "I accept your apology. I just wanted to confront you since it appears we will be fighting alongside one another."
Skylor gave Pixal a small smile. "Thank for accepting my apology." It felt good to know that Pixal wasn't scolding her or holding a grudge against her.
Pixal and Skylor kept talking to each other for about an hour and became good friends. When the others got up, they were a bit surprised to see Skylor and Pixal talking to each other.
"Wow, it's great to see that you two are becoming good friends," commented Nya.
Pixal and Skylor just smiled and nodded at Nya.
"What is our current course of action?" questioned Pixal.
"I think we should go and let everyone know that we are still alive and ready to fight," answered Lloyd. "After all, we are survivors."