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Joey's P.O.V.

I was in panic mode. Who the heck is this stranger who just called me son?! Escaping his hug, I grabbed Steph (who was paralyzed in confusion) and ran down to the basement. That guy isn't my father... right? I have a ninja for a father: Kai, the ninja of fire. That's where my elemental power comes from... right?

"Dad!" I called into the basement, where he was talking to Lloyd.

"SON! COME BACK! I KNOW IT'S BEEN A WHILE, BUT LET ME LOVE YOU!" the lab coat guy called, following us downstairs. The entire basement full of people stared at him as if he had and extra ear. I clung to Dad, while Steph did the same, still extremely confused. The guy came over to us, composed himself, and held out his hand. "I believe you are Zane Julien?"

"Uh, no," Dad replied. "Zane's over there, I'm Kai. These are my children, Joey, and Stephanie."

"Kai?" The guy cocked his head to the side. "Julia's husband?"

Dad tensed up, as did Steph and I. "What do you know about my wife?"

"Ah! So I AM in the right house!"

"Alright, who are you and how the hell did you get in my house?" Lloyd demanded.

"You must be the all-powerful green ninja, Lloyd, Julia's cousin." Dad's muscles tensed even more at the mention of Mom's name. "You know, you shouldn't leave your front door unlocked with the Serpentine on the loose, although they're avoiding you at the moment, knowing you'd band together to bring back the elemental ninja... Oh! And my name! I am Dr. Jerry Steinsberry, and YOU, my friend," he pointed at Zane, "have adopted my SON. Where is he? I would like to see him." I looked around the room, and Steph was the only child NOT confused by this information. Tyler was adopted?! Well, that would explain why his parents were so clam compared to him.

"I thought you gave him up at birth? Why would you want to see him now, after all this time?" Zane asked.

"That was an error of my wife, Delilah. One night while I was at work, she disappeared, taking young Tyler with her. She must have put him up for adoption without my permission... But I have found his new home, and I would like to see him!"

Lloyd looked at him with scrutinizing eyes, and moved closer, now armed with a sword. "How'd you find this house?"

"Wow! No need to get violent!" Dr. Steinsberry exclaimed. "I had been working as a doctor for the Serpentine, and I had a chance to talk with Julia after I aborted her baby - "

"YOU WHAT?!" Dad exploded, throwing Steph and me off away so he could go grab Steinberry's throat and hold him in the air. Steph had tears in he eyes, so I went to comfort her while Dad confronted this guy.

"Now, now! It wasn't my fault! The Serpentine and their leader attacked her house, yes? As they did so, one of them accidentally stabbed her stomach as fought with them, killing the baby. She's very lucky to be surviving after the surgeries! I had arrived just in time to see this, and immediately went to work. I knew the Serpentine wanted to kidnap, but I wasn't letting them kill a pregnant woman. Luckily they did not attack me for doing so."

Dad started to relax, and let go of Steinberry's neck. "Jules is... alive?"

"That she is! But once the Serpentine come after you, they will kill her. They just wanted her for the information. They have her locked up in a room that reduces her powers, so she couldn't even send out a telepathic message for help. The Serpentine plan on attack in exactly one week, so that's how long you have to save her."

"Why are you telling us this?" Cole asked. "If you work for the Serpentine, how do we know we can trust you? Or that this information is correct?" I looked around the room, and noticed that Toby and Brian stood ready with their weapons, and the twins were holding hands (because their abilities are split, it's easier for them to fight this way). Zane had Tyler's shurikens in his hands, while Jess and all the other adults (except Dad) wielded a sword. Brian had nonchalantly kicked the case with my fire sword in it over to where I was standing. Although he brought good news, no one trusted Dr. Steinsberry.

"As I said previously, I spent much time talking with Julia, and one day I decided to open up to her about my lost son, which she thought to be Zane and Amanda's adopted child. As of that moment, I switch sides, vowing to protect my son from those evil snakes. I now bring you information about the Serpentine to aid you in defeating them."

"So Julia told you where we live?" Kru asked.

"Well, if she trusts him, then he's obviously not a bad guy," Toby said.

A discussion broke out, and it was finally decided that we would cautiously trust him.


Tyler's P.O.V.

I made it to the hot twins' house, but I noticed their boyfriends' cars in the driveway, and walked right past the house. The twins - Alex and Stacy - had cheated on their boyfriends to be with me more than once, so if I showed up and gave that fact away, I would no longer have two friends with benefits. And I'd have to fight two extremely pissed off football players.

The walk had calmed me down more than enough, although I would've liked to "play" a little with the twins... Oh well. Instead I started walking back to Lloyd's house.

Halfway down the basement steps, I heard a conversation going on in the basement. "Oh! And my name!" said an unfamiliar voice. "I am Dr. Jerry Steinsberry, and YOU, my friend, have adopted my SON." I froze, realizing that guy was referring to me. All these thoughts raced through my mind as I continued to eavesdrop, learning why I was abandoned as a baby, and all this other crap...

I had to sit on the steps, pulling my thoughts together. Well, trying to pull my thoughts together... I could never do that very well.

But one thought stood out in my mind: My dad - the REAL one - abandoned his work to find me. Does he... after all these years... love me?

Ha! BULL FUCKIN SHIT! You know nobody loves you! all you have is us! I rubbed my temples.

Aw, leave the poor kid alone. His daddy finally wants him. How cute! I could just die. The word "die" made my entire face twitch.

Can you guys just shut the hell up and leave me alone for once?

Hey, you were blocking us out earlier, why not do it again?

When did I do that?

When you were with that hot brunette ;)

Yea, the one who cared about your feelings. How lame. She's probably using you, like everyone is.

Wait, being with Steph helped me block out the voices?

If she doesn't hurt you, you know her brother will try to hurt you. You saw how he was acting when he caught you two together.

I hope you rip out her heart with your bare hands and feed it to her.

If you don't, she'll do it to you... metaphorically speaking.

No, LITERALLY feed her her own heart! It'll be great!

Yea, do it with your father as well... the more blood...

...the more fun.

"NO!" I didn't realize I had said that out loud until a few heads peeked around the side of the staircase to see me sitting there, hands squeezing my head.

Of course, Zane had to speak up. "How long have you been sitting there?"

I gave him a cold, hard look. "Long enough," I said sharply.

"Then what's wrong with your biological father staying with us for a while?"

"You say that like you treat me like a son." I stood up to leave. Maybe I should just stay outside forever. I always walk out anyway.

"Tyler - "

"SON?!" Jerry - I think that's his name - exclaimed, and without looking, I could tell his eyes were glowing in excitement.

"He better start running now..." I heard Joey say.

"WHAT THE HELL'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN SPARK PLUG?!" I shouted back at him.

Suddenly I was wrapped in the most awkward and enthusiastic hug of my life. I didn't even have time to respond, never mind room to breathe. Over the shoulder of Jerry's shoulder, I saw Joey standing there with an apologetic look.

"That's what it's supposed to mean," he replied simply. Steph stood beside him, shooting me a warm smile, and it felt like my heart flipped upside down. But for once, I didn't feel like everyone in the room hated me. My... real dad obviously loved me -

Not when he gets to know you he won't

Shut up you piece of shit and let me finish my damn thought.

- Steph wanted to be my friend -

WITH BENEFITS! MAKE IT WITH BENEFITS!

SHUT UP, DAMMIT!

Wow, rude much?

- and Joey didn't look like he hated me as much as he used to.

Yea, just for the moment.

He'll hate you again soon enough.

The voices rambled on some more, then I passed out from lack of oxygen because my father wouldn't let go.


That was a fun chapter to write, especially because I finally decided that Jules is gonna live! Also Tyler's voices are fun characters, don't y'all agree?

Alright, I plan on two more chapters before Thursday, so just keep an eye out for them!

Have a super sparkly day, and please review because ily :3