Chapter 3: Knowing The Truth

Annoyance and anger bubbled inside him as he watched his cousin train on the Bounty's deck, remembering the events from last night. Being shot at was one thing, but hearing Cole say that they weren't going to help the police with the bank heists? Last night and today were not going well, and it wasn't helping him as he trained his youngest cousin.

The boy clad in green sparred against his cousin, blocking his strikes and throwing his own attacks. Along with the training, he had to use his elemental powers to help him focus and train his hand-eye coordination, but, much to the grey ninja's annoyance, Lloyd's speed was reducing and he kept failing to use his powers properly. Not to mention that he'd also fallen on the training mat several times, unaware of how fatigued he was becoming.

The Ninja of Water blocked his cousin's attack and flipped him over his back, pinning him down to the mat. When Lloyd didn't fight to break free from his grip, Lucas grumbled in annoyance. "Come on, Lloyd," he barked, releasing his hold on the boy. "How can you be tired at a time like this? A ninja has to keep moving in order to protect himself. By now you wouldn't been captured by the enemy or killed in the fight. One more time, now. Don't hold back. I know you can do better than this."

Lloyd sighed as he struggled to stand, his limbs sore and jelly-like.

Cole paused his spar against Jay after hearing Lucas's ruckus. He could see the exhaustion in Lloyd's emerald eyes and the way he had trouble staying up on his feet. Lucas was working the boy ragged. "Lloyd, stop," he ordered. "You need a break, I can tell. Take a half hour, you've earned it." A tired smile grew on the boy's face as he walked away from his cousin and leaned against the railing of the deck. Cole was happy to see Lloyd relaxing, but then he turned to Lucas and gave him a hard stare. "You need to lay off him."

"What did I do?" he asked. "All we were doing was sparring."

"You were pushing him too hard," Cole said. "We've each trained Lloyd very hard, but don't forget that he's just a kid. You shouldn't be so rough on him. Look at him." He gestured to the boy whose eyes were shut tight, sleeping. "He could barely hold his own against you." Cole watched as Lucas stormed off and started taking his frustration out on a punching bag. He shook his head at Lucas's poor attitude and gathered the rest of the team together as they watched.

The light, hollow taps of a staff alerted the ninja as they watched Sensei Wu enter the deck from below the bow, respectively. The elderly man smiled at his students as he noticed his nephew asleep on the edge of the deck, but then his grey eyes traveled to his son who was fighting against the punching bag. "Hmm. . . Has something pestered my son to make him so aggressive?" he wondered. "I sense tension in him."

"You could say something like that, Sensei," Kai murmured.

The elder turned to the red ninja and raised a brow. Zane nudged the spiky brunet on the back for stating it so bluntly. "What he meant is yes, Lucas is tense. After last night he has been quiet and distant from us."

The ninja watched as Lucas drew out his sais and slashed at the bag, sand pouring out of it. Sensei Wu nodded and stroked his snow white beard. "I see," he agreed. "Tell me then, what else happened during the mission? I think there's more than what you have given me."

"Well. . ." Jay said, remembering the events. "We split up into teams after Rock, Paper, Clamp. Lucas found Lloyd and then brought him with us. We found robbers attempting to steal something. I was going to stop them myself, but Lucas saved my butt after they pulled guns on me and fired." He stopped and noticed his mentor's widened eyes. "I think you know something we don't."

A solemn look crossed his face as he turned away from his students and watched his son. The more he watched Lucas, the more he could see the pain in his eyes as he tore the bag apart. Sensei Wu understood now. "Sensei, are you alright?" Zane asked. "Is there something you know about our brother that we do not?" A quiet sigh came from the elderly man as he moved part of his kimono and undershirt and showed his students a mark. It was a discolored, circular blemish that bore into his skin on the right side of his chest.

The ninja studied the odd mark until they realized what it was. A quiet gasp escaped the Ninja of Wind. "You were shot, Uncle?" she pried, worried.

"Yes, my niece," he replied, shifting his garments back into place, "but that was a long time ago. I suppose you five should know what is troubling my son." He took a deep breath as the pain of the past burned his mind. "Nine years ago, my beloved wife and I took Lucas out of the Monastery Dojo for a day in Ninjago City. He was a happy boy, taking in everything with excitement, never asking for too much. He was always held behind the dojo wall unless he went to Jamanakai Village with his mother. He was the happiest when he was outside."

Sensei Wu studied his son and smiled, remembering when he was just nine years old, training to be a ninja. "Sadly though," he continued, "that was the night that the happiest boy became sad." His students glanced at him with curiosity. "That night we went to an opera, Lucas had always wanted to see one, but something scared him and we stepped out for some air. That was a grave mistake. We were held at gunpoint. I was shot at and then my wife. . ." He turned towards his students and saw the looks of sorrow and pity on their faces. "So now you five understand what is happening with Lucas. He's not angry or annoyed with you about last night, but the anniversary of his mother's death is drawing near. He's full of pain and grief. He wants to ensure that her fate never happens to any of us."

Ice blue eyes moved towards the brunet, watched him stare down at the punching bag that was not torn to shreds on the floor. Laurie looked away. Her cousin was in pain. She understood the feeling of hurt and loss. So did Lloyd. She had grown up without a father after he was banished to the Underworld. And Lloyd had grown up without either parent, spending his life in boarding school. They all shared this sense of loss, but not at quite the extent that Lucas did. And hearing about her poor aunt, the aunt she had never met. . . she was worried about Lucas.

The silence of the deck was broken as the ship's alarm blared to life. The ninja became tense because they knew it was a call for help. Lloyd jumped up from his nap, yawned and stretched. They all watched Nya calmly walk down the stairs from the bridge as the alarm died. "It's nothing too major," she addressed her friends. "Another bank was robbed and the police are requesting your presence. They think you guys can help them."

Cole looked at his teammates and shrugged his shoulders. "We can try," he said, doubtful. "I don't know how big of help we can be though."

"Sweet, another mission!" Lloyd yawned, still exhausted.

"Ah, ah, young man," Sensei Wu chastised, placing his staff across Lloyd's chest. "You're not going anywhere. After all, you're grounded for leaving my sight last night." All he heard was a whine of protest from his nephew, but that was his final answer.

Lucas watched as his brothers prepped themselves to leave and he turned back to look at what was once a punching bag. He shook his head as he realized he'd gotten carried away and sheathed his blades. As he followed after his team he wondered how much help they could be to the police after the heist. Maybe they could help capture the people behind. Either way, hopefully they could do something despite what Cole had said the night before.