One year, and four months. They'd had to transfer her to a hospital, before going on their trip to the dark island. Now they were back and Lloyd had defeated the Overlord..and purified his father..but there was a lingering emptiness in the ship, now that Deity was carefully being transported back into the medical bay. Cole had gone on a few trips since they got back-never telling where he'd gone, but he seemed a little less tense. Depressed still, because his love was still in a coma..but he seemed to have his corruption a little more tamed, Zane thought as he pushed Deity on the bed past Lloyd's father, who was visiting. Despite a few mishaps, however. Garmadon watched Zane transferring the girl and turned to Lloyd. "Is that my doing?" The golden clad ninja shook his head, watching his father. "Not..directly, no. But what you've done to Cole while you were evil kinda..caused waves in the ocean, so to speak." The blonde rubbed the back of his neck. "She's been hurt, a lot. But so has Zane.. and Cole is still corrupted." Garmadon looks visibly confused. "But the Mega Weapon..-" Lloyd places a hand on his father's shoulder. "The pirates stayed too, Dad. Some things just don't go away. I think we've all accepted it at this point. Just..know we don't hate you." Garmadon nods, but he seems sorry for what he's done. After the two leave, Zane is alone with Deity..who is now reconnected to her machines.
"Quite a lot has happened since we left you in the care of the doctors..I hope they knew not to be too loud around you.." The droid rubs his face, sitting down in the chair again. He knows she can hear..even if it's subconscious. "We missed you, Deity. Cole didn't sleep much..I had to make sure we always had something of yours for him to hold onto. It made it much, much easier for him to fall asleep." He lets out a sigh, carefully looking over his comatose sister. "The ship is far too quiet with you gone, Deity. I believe I am beginning to miss our late night talks and examinations of past events through my memory banks." He admits, running a hand through his blonde hair. "I even miss waking up with those tiny braids you manage to sneak into my hair." Unknown to Zane, Jay is watching through the crack in the door. Jay has definitely noticed Zane's behavioral changes since they all met Deity almost four years ago. Since Wu had vanished, it seemed like the poor droid had a gaping hole in his chest. Wu had been a father figure to Zane and the other boys..but most of all to Zane and Cole. Deity has filled the hole Wu left behind..and Jay knows that. After all, Zane insisted on getting detailed reports of Deity's condition while they were gone..despite the doctor telling him the wireless range wouldn't reach that far. Zane loved his little sister..and she'd made him more human as a result.
Jay kept watching for a little while, seeing the droid silently start to cry again. Zane was terrified. They all were..a year and four months, and she still wasn't awake. Was she venturing closer to the edge? Was this it? Jay's thoughts were overwhelming..but he held strong. His sister was as tough as a grundle. No, no she wouldn't leave them yet. "We need you to come home, Deity..Please..-" The droid wiped his eyes. "You are a part of the team..our family. I do not think I can take losing someone else." Wu had vanished, and now this. His little sister still had not woken up..and he couldn't even begin to think of Cole's heart being smashed if she passed away. Sure, they had the backup droid body..but it would be another year before it was fully operational. Lou visited her in the hospital while they'd been away, and told her stories about Cole's mother. Zane had no quarrel with Lou visiting her..but now that they were back, he didn't want to leave her side. They made a promise to each other late one night..he remembered that. Zane had been..awake for more than a day, thinking about his technical immortality. About how he would be left alone when his brothers succumbed to their human curse of being mortal. Deity had reassured Zane that even if Cole passed before her, and her physical body had been buried below the earth beside Cole and her brothers, she would transfer to her droid body and stay by his side as long as he liked. "But it cannot happen this soon! You are only twenty.." Zane seemed to be pleading with her silently. He couldn't help it. He felt the gaping hole in his chest returning because of her absence.
Zane went silent when he heard Jay slowly open the door. The ginger sighed, crossing his arms. "Zane, maybe you should take a break..I mean we just got back from fighting..you should sl-" Zane bristled in slight anger, slowly lifting his head. "I will take better care of myself, but I have not seen her in three months. If you try and pry me from the room, I'll make you sure you cannot talk for four hours. How? I am not sure. But I can assure you, it will not be pleasant." Surely, Zane was only saying such a thing to get Jay to leave him be..but Jay silently left the room, shivering. Zane sighed and laid his head on Deity's bed. "You know I would never harm our brothers, right Deity?" He knew she wouldn't respond..but he felt a little more stable knowing she could likely hear him. "I just.. wanted some peace and quiet. To see my sister.." Zane shakes his head, slowly closing his eyes as he keeps his head on the soft mattress. "I wonder where your mind is..the others have forbid me from connecting myself to you, after Cole caught me hallucinating. I.." Zane lifts his head to watch her, his face is..eerily neutral. He's trying to keep himself calm, trying not to think of her dying. If she passes, another hole will be in his chest. In his family. He takes a shaky breath and adjusts her pillow, getting up to leave the room..so he can get a mug of tea to ease his nerves.
That's when he hears it..a lull in her heart rhythm. It slowed..and it made Zane whip his head around, running back to her bed. Her rhythm and pulse are weak. Dangerously weak. Her vitals are fine other than this, what's going on? The droid's voice glitches from the stress, enough to alert Jay..who was out in the hall and walking past after a brief invention brainstorm session. "Deity, don't y-you dare..don't! You pr-promised!" He twitches, feeling the ginger gently restrain him. "Zane.. its weak, but she's alive. All we can do is wait. You know that." Zane is shaking, gripping the side of the bed while Jay holds him steady. "But she was fine!" Jay sighs, gently rubbing Zane's back. "All we can do is wait and see."
