Chapter 2

Square One

"I can't make contact with the falcon," Zane announceed to everyone.

They looked at him for a moment and Kai broke the silence, "Well, we better dispose of the body in the building."

"What body?" Misako asked.

"The assassin committed suicide when we went in. We should burn the corpse to prevent disease, but she doesn't deserve to be buried."

"What about my father?" Zane questioned them as he resumed holding Dr. Julien's limp body, "Rigamortis will set in inevitably."

"Zane, I am so sorry. Did your father say anything about what you would want to do with his body?" Kai spoke solemnly to his precarious brother.

Zane wiped a tear from his eye, though more kept flowing, "No, he did not."

No one spoke. What could they say? They weren't going to tell their beloved brother that they believed cremation was best to get rid of germs. "It's up to you, Zane," Garmadon said.

"No. I know what's best. Cremation will get rid of diseases, right?" Zane looked up at everyone, hoping he was wrong.

"Zane, we can bury him if you want to," Nya spoke hesitantly.

The Nindriod knew the answer immediately. "I will," he bit his trembling lip, "do what's best."

Seeing him that way broke his family's heart and Jay pulled away from Lloyd, putting his uninjured hand on Zane. "Don't do this to yourself, please."

"No, I'm fine," Zane spoke softly, "He would understand. After all, he told me it's the soul that is important, not the body that remains." Everyone agreed and they cremated both bodies the following day with an enormous fire.

Back to the Present

"Push everyone! Push!" Wu encourages his family as they shoved three fairly large, wood rafts, lashed together vertically by ropes they had found, into the ocean. "There! It's in!"

"Finally!" Lloyd exclaims, panting heavily. The ninja had been constructing the rafts, gathering supplies, and preparing to depart. They were fortunate Zane had stumbled upon a cluster of coconut trees on the farther side of the beach at the edge of the land, so as to supply both needs for drinking and eating. The group gets on the rafts. The first raft in the rear holds Jay, Nya, Misako, and Cole; the second holds Wu, Garmdon, and Kai; the last holds Zane and Lloyd, as well as all of the supplies. Each raft has a makeshift mast on it, and two poles for oars. They are partially spared from the blistering heat by a strong wind, pushing them along at a fair pace.

Eventually Jay breaks the silence to keep from concentrating on the pain in his arm, "What time is it?"

"9:45, I think," Lloyd responds as he strains to tell the time on his wristwatch.

Kai attempts to sit up, because lying on the boards does not ease his pain either. Wu and Garmadon help him lean upright against the mast and Kai exclaims, "Only 9:45! It feels like we've been here for hours!"

"Nope, just twenty minutes," Lloyd notifies the fire ninja.

"Thanks a lot, Golden Ninja," Kai mumbles, rolling his eyes and groans.

"Are you okay?" Zane turns from his sitting position and gazes at his pale brother with growing concern. Kai is sweating profusely, though he supposes that is normal in the heat, however, the fire ninja seems worse than he lets on. His hand is against his side, his eyes shut tightly, as he leans his head against the mast.

Kai sucks in his breath before responding, "I'm fine."

"You don't look too good. Are you certain you are alright?" Zane presses.

"I said I'm fine!" Kai shouts, and doubles over, rolling onto his side.

"Kai!" they shout in unison as Sensei and Garmadon roll the red ninja onto his back.

"Hold him down!" Zane instructs them as he and Lloyd cross onto the second raft.

Kai screams as Sensei and Garmadon pin him down. "Cole, help up us!" Lloyd calls as he grabs the fire ninja's leg. Cole crosses onto the middle raft as well and grasps Kai's other leg.

"Ah!" Nya screams as the raft she is on is bumped by something heavy, nearly tossing the little craft over. The others glance over to discover another major issue surrounding them.