Authors Notes: I have a tumblr account if you want to talk to be directly its the same user name there as it is here. 1. Who protected Ninjago from Garmadon before the ninja? Now thats a loaded question. I guess I'll have to answer that when the lab gets messed up :D

Twisted Cogs

Chapter 3

Water

Dr. Christopher stood in the center of a room. The walls were made of tin siding, and the walls were concert. Everything he noted would be easily cleaned with a pressure washer and a bottle of bleach. He honestly believed it probably had multiple times. Samukai wasn't a man you messed with. When he wanted something, his men tended to get it for him at all costs...as of right now he himself was what he wanted. An item had been promised to him, and he had yet to obtain it.

"I was unable to procure you the robot Dr. Samukai." He actually wasn't a doctor at all. A degree gotten from his knife knowledge rather then his schooling. Apparently he was really good with knives.

"Yes...I see that." His voice was low and controlled. But his eyes showed Dr. Christopher that he wasn't to pleased with this.

"But I have gotten something just as good. I got the robots blueprints." He held up his phone.

"Thats a phone…" Samukai said pointing to the large red device.

"Yes it is...but theirs a camera on it." Dr. Christopher started to wonder how technology inclined he was.

"Those aren't blueprints, or a robot I asked for."

"If you'll allow for me to print the blueprints then I can create a robot for you? Me personally."

"You have three days Dr. Christopher. If I do not have what I want...I'll have your head." Christopher felt like his heart was in his throat.

"I um...thank you." He said and turned to walk back out. He realized he had came to this spot via kidnap and forgot that he had no car. He'd have to find his own way home. He sighed and started to walk. Their was a low rumble off in the distance and grey clouds with the promise of hard rain.

"Perfect." He grumbled.

(0)

The sky flashed, and a loud crack woke Zane from his sleep. He looked around worried.

"Father?" He whispered looking into the shadows of his room. He quietly and slowly pulled his blanket up to his chin. He felt a stone in his stomach, and the fear kept clawing at his insides. Another flash and a rumble and he was out of bed and into the closet.

It was only a few moments later when the door opened to his bedroom.

"Zane?" Juliens voice called and he looked around the room. The light flipped on and he could see that Zanes bed was empty. "Oh no…" He looked around the room and under the bed. Nothing their. Another crack of lightning and a loud long rumble, a small squeaky scream came from the closet. Julien walked over and opened the door a little. Zane was on his knees his forehead against the floor. His hands over his audios. Julien looked thoughtful at him. Yet another emotion he shouldn't even know about. No ones been afraid around him. Thats when he noticed, the room was incredibly cold. He could see the fog coming from his mouth. He turned the closet light on and he gasped seeing the floor and walls covered in permafrost.

"Zane?" He reached down touching the robot. "Are you hurt?" He asked. Zane jumped when he was touched, He slowly turned his eyes to him. They were no longer the brown he had designed him with, they were an icey blue.

"N...No sir." He gasped turning around hugging Julien around his middle as another crack could be heard.

"Then why are you afraid?" He asked. Zane shook his head.

"Its the noise...that huge noise. It shakes my room."

"Its just thunder and lightning Zane. Its a natural occura…" He jumped hearing the sirens going off. He picked up Zane and walked down a set of stairs he never knew was there. Julien closed the door right behind him.

"Father whats that?" He asked. Julien shook his head.

"Garmadons attacking the city. He doesn't generally attack this side of town...but I have someone I want to protect now, so we came down here."

"Oh...who?" Zane asked looking out over the city. The ground shook, but their wasn't any flash.

"Hush…" Julien pulled Zane over to a corner and pulled a table over to shield them from anything falling. "Hopefully it won't last long." He whispered.

Julien opened his eyes a few hours later. He felt someone moving in his arms and realized that he had fallen asleep holding his son tightly to him. He looked down seeing Zane had his eyes open, but he was still very tired. His sleep had been interrupted, but he was supposed to wake up at 6am. It was programmed into him. Zane flinched at the sudden pressure on his forehead. It was Juliens lips. Zane closed his eyes and leaned into the kiss. He was beginning to enjoy life with Dr. Julien. How could anything mess this up?"

A few hours later and a long walk to the lab since the transit authority was out of commision thanks to Garmadon. The looks Zane got as he walked by the many people was rather scary. But some people were actually pretty kind to Julien and one even gave him a bag full of apples. Apparently his store couldn't be opened thanks to Garmadons attack. Zane looked around the buildings even heard some shouting down an alleyway. He skirted away from the alleyway as his father did.

Once again back at the lab, Zane noticed as soon as they walked into the lab that the electricity wasn't all working, just the absolute necessary.

"Glad we brought out lunches today. I'm sure the stoves aren't on again."

Julien said smiling down at the robot boy. Judy smiled down at them. Her usual tablet being hugged to her chest.

"Oh great you're okay. I heard you might be a little late since the wreckage took out the transit authority. Garmadon destroyed a lot of the buildings close to the college." She said and waved at Zane. Zane blinked and looked at his own hand and then smiled up at Judy and waved his hand at her the same only his hand went faster and he let out a giggle. Julien chuckled at him.

"How did he take the attack?" Judy asked.

"We both went into the basement. He was more afraid of the storm." Julien chuckled walking into his office. "Has everything been completed?" He asked.

"Yes per your instructions. Project Z-02 can progress as planned. Dr. Christopher was...not pleased with this. He wanted to know what your means were. As a project or as a family."

"Well their are two different power sources that needs to be tested. This one was a success as far as we can tell, although he has yet to be tested in submerged conditions. This one is a bit more of a cheaper model." He said holding up what looked like a clock. "A friend of mine helped with its design. Yet he knew not why he helped." Julien said. Zane looked at the blueprints.

"What is this?" Zane asked looking at the blueprints.

"This is the schematic blueprints for your brother."

"Brother?" Zane asked looking through his internal dictionary. "A sibling? A younger brother...a playmate?" His face broke into a giant smile and he hopped on both feet. "Great...when?" He asked.

"Soon enough. Just be patient." Judy said holding out a few papers. "But this takes time. Could be a few days, could be a week depending on how the power source works out. In the meantime...just keep being the kind young robot boy that you always have been." Judy said. Zane ran his fingers over his face wondering why his cheeks felt hot.

"Oh hes blushing Dr. Julien. I think I embarrassed him." She giggled.

"Alright...lets get these tests started." Julien said. Zane took Juliens hand and walked with him into one of the labs with a giant pool. Their was a scaffolding overhanging the water.

"Alright Zane stand over there and jump into the water when I give you the mark." Julien said touching something on the side of Zanes head. "I've turned your inner communicator on. I'll be able to hear you in your head as you think."

"Yes father, but what for?"

"We'll be testing your limitations, and how you might hold at different depths. A lot of the customers will want to know how far down you can go...for future applications. For instance. If you got a job at the college for marine work. You could go pretty far down to help find creatures we have yet to discover, or shipwrecks...or even rescue!" He said and smiled. "I did create you to protect those who can't protect themselves after all." Julien said. Zane smiled and nodded.

"Yes sir." Zane said watching his father walk onto the scaffolding. Judy had her hand on Zanes shoulder as support just in case he needed a bit of a confidence boost.

Julien moved the platform over the water so he could clearly see Zane as he moved through the water. Zane walked into the two feet of water and waited a moment. He looked up at his father and waved.

"I do not feel any different." He told his father.

"Alright go to the three feet." He told Zane. Zane turned to see Judy just behind him. Her tablet in a chair by the door away from the water.

"Its okay I'm right here." Judy said with a smile. She was always so kind. Zane liked her. He walked forward and stood at the three foot marker. It was just up to his chin now. He swallowed hard and looked back at Judy again. Judy was up to her hips now.

"Your suits going to get wet." Zane said "Please stay there." He told her. Judy smiled warmly at the robot boy.

"Its okay Zane. I want to protect you. Just in case something bad happ…" she gasped when the scaffolding wire snapped. Juliens yelp was heard throughout the room.

"Father!" Zane yelled after him. Julien held onto the machinery. It hung over the deep part of the pool.

"Jump Dr. Julien!" Judy said. "Swim away from the scaffolding!" Judy yelled. Zane watched in horror as his father slipped and crashed into the water. The scaffolding snapped and fell in after.