PROLOGUE
Turbulence shook the plane, and the pilot, called Jay, grit his teeth. He couldn't fail this. He had to land his vehicle, if only to prove to his parents that he could fly a plane if he wanted to, and he could make something of his life. There was more to it than just playing video games and fawning over random girls in magazines, he knew it! So he had decided to become a junior pilot – Jay had always loved being in the sky – just to see how he liked it. Yeah, he could totally make his life work out!
But now it really didn't seem so likely.
A strong gust of wind tipped one of the wings, causing it to tilt dangerously. Rain pounded the top of the airplane, along with the occasional thump of hail. Shrieks were heard from the back, and Jay winced. Brushing a strand of brown hair out of his eyes, he leaned forward as if that would allow him to make the storm go away.
Thunder rumbled; Jay was unnerved by how close it sounded and seemed. He grit his teeth and continued to fly, ignoring the murmurs of his passengers in the back. Just make a game out of it, Jay. It's okay…see, we're playing! Like a video game! I'm going to get the high score and beat this stupid sto—
Another gust of wind rocketed past the plane; warning symbols began to flash across Jay's vision, blocking out the screen. Tilting, tilting. Spinning out of control. Recommended action: remove self and all passengers from plane. Warning. Warning. WARNING!
This isn't good! Jay's eyes widened and he reached for the microphone next to him, about to announce that they needed to go into emergency exit mode, but the airplane hit another gust of wind and the plane tilted in the wrong direction, spinning the microphone off of the hook.
Jay cursed silently and leaned towards the microphone, feeling the plane rapidly gaining speed. A shriek, high-pitched and horrified, arose from the back seat, and he hoped that his passengers were alright.
He was so close to the microphone…just inches away…
Come on, Jay! You can do it! Just get…the…high…score…
There was a bone-sickening crash and the whole world went black.
xxx
"It's just some rain, Kai. I'm sure it'll be fine."
"Rain and hail, Nya."
"Hah! When has that ever stopped us from delivering our weapons? It's time to get serious. Nothing bad is going to happen. You're just overreacting…again."
The black-haired girl in a long red tunic snickered as her brother glared at her, eyes angry (like normal, but she wasn't about to say that). Kai turned to look out the window again and shuddered. "But seriously…is that hai—?"
He was interrupted by a blast of wind slamming into the side of the plane and causing it to tilt backwards; Kai cursed and clutched onto his seat, while Nya let out a screech and grabbed her brother's arm.
"What the hell is going on? Why can't this stupid pilot drive right?" he snapped, rubbing his head and glaring around.
Nya took in a deep, shuddering breath. "I'm sure he's just a little panicked, is all. You have to stop laying the blame on everyone, Kaaaaaaaaaaiii!"
The last word came out as a scream as they felt the plane rapidly falling towards the ground. Nya shrieked and clutched onto Kai, and he her. She closed her eyes, wondered if Kai was right for once, and felt the world disintegrate into darkness.
xxx
Zane took in a deep breath. He let it out. He took one in. He let it out. Just as he had been programmed to do, every second of every day, every day of every month, every month of every year. It was just the way he was supposed to be. After all, he was a work of genius, a wonder. That's what all the scientists had told him.
Now he was just going to see another scientist. The rocky wind and the pounding rain didn't bother him, even as the other passengers screamed. Zane supposed that was because he had his "frightened" switch turned off, and he had no intention of turning it back on. He simply watched, eyes calm, taking it all in.
The girl in front of him screamed and snatched up her brother's arm as the plane rocked back and forth, and Zane faintly heard the teenager behind him wince, while the other passengers cried out in panic.
Zane sat and looked out the window, noticing the ground was rapidly approaching. He blinked, and wondered if perhaps he should have kept his switch on.
Leaves brushed past the window, and the droid blinked as he watched the patterns zoom by at an impossible speed, processing each and every one and saving them into his database. It was just too beautiful to pass up.
While the others screamed and clutched each other for safety, Zane let his world fade into darkness without a sound.
xxx
Cole watched the rain slam into the window and tried not to get sick. That wasn't in his job application. They had told him he needed to fight the baddies and try not to get hurt. Easy enough – he was much stronger than his dancing father – but it didn't mean he always enjoyed the work. And now that he was being tossed around a plane like a stuffed animal, he was starting to reconsider his work.
No, Cole. You've gotta be strong. Especially since everyone else around you are such wimps.
Indeed, the others around him were either screaming or hugging each other in silent attempts to block out the vision of the plane tilting in the wind. A fresh wave of panic bubbled up in Cole's stomach; he pushed a strand of black hair out of his eyes and grimaced. Maybe he would be sick.
A tilt straight downward caused everyone to fall forward in their seats; even Cole let out a panicked yelp and tried to straighten himself. Why isn't the pilot doing anything?
Another thunk from a ball of hail; this time Cole actually let out a frightened yell as he felt the plane going faster and faster, rapidly spinning out of control towards the ground. Not good, not good, not good!
The blackness had reached him before he even had time to think any last words.
xxx
"Mom, you can let go of me! I'm not a little kid anymore, and I'm not scared of the thunderstorm! *gulp* Not at all!"
"I know, I know…but, oh, little Lloyd! I just can't help feeling protective of you!"
"Mrmph…"
The blonde teenager grumbled in irritation as his mother, a grey-haired woman with large glasses, hugged him tightly to her chest. He could smell the scent of rocks and dirt coming off of her clothing, most likely from her full-time job as an archeologist. That was why they were on this crazy plane in the first place: Misako's job.
Lloyd pushed off of his mother's chest and sighed, looking out the window. "Shouldn't the pilot be fixing things by now?" he asked cautiously.
"I'm sure he's trying," grumbled another voice; from the seat behind them, Lloyd's father, Lord Garmadon, sat, occasionally looking up and muttering things under his breath that no one but he could hear. Misako narrowed her eyes, but nodded.
"I'm sure that's all that's going on," she agreed dutifully.
Lloyd wasn't convinced. It had been an awful long time since his parents had agreed on something fully, and he wasn't even sure that they could.
A sudden blast of wind tipped the airplane sideways; Misako shrieked and grabbed on to Lloyd while Garmadon simply rolled his eyes. Lloyd felt chills run throughout his body. Just a tremor, he told himself inwardly. It's just a tremor…
Another tilt. Another scream.
And the world went black.
xxx
The old man sat alone in the back of the plane, watching. Waiting. Knowing. Seeing.
He noted the man with three small children in front of him, but paid them no attention. Next to them sat a clearly overworked woman and her frazzled husband. The man's eyes skipped over them as well. But one young man caught his eye; a scruffily, black-haired teenager looking like he was trying very hard not to throw up. He looked strong, the old man noticed, but he looked loyal. He would not let a team down.
The man smiled and nodded as he looked at his brother, a few lanes up. Lord Garmadon was resting, for now. He would awake later. This the man was sure of. Garmadon's wife and son were up ahead; the man had already tested them. They were ready.
The pilot – Jay, was that the name? – Wu also had tested. He too showed great potential. And the boy and his sister, along with the droid that sat stiffly behind them…yes. They were all ready.
Wu bowed his head as he felt the plane moving faster and faster downwards. He knew what was about to happen. He understood quite well.
After all, it was his own doing.
The world shattered around him, disintegrating into darkness.