So I had some spare time so I decided to write this chapter. I might rush this story because I may have to go on a vacation in less than 3 weeks, and I'm assuming this story will be around 20 chapters (maybe even more). If I update every day then...well, you can probably do the math. I'll still post (what I'm hoping to be) quality chapters.
Chapter 10: Secrets Unraveled
Skylor went to Chen's counsel room and knocked on it. The door soon opened and she recognized the opener as Eyezor, the head of Chen's guards.
"Welcome, Skylor my dear," Chen said happily when he saw Skylor was at the door. "What news do you bring here?"
"Well, father, Nya and Misako asked me to join their small group of spies. They told me they will dress up as kabuki servants to find out what your plans are. I already know what your plans are." She laughed.
"Interesting…" her father replied. "I will advise you to pretend you know nothing about my plans, and play along with their little scheme. Don't rat them out either…at least not too soon." He laughed and so did the others.
"Do you have any news on the elemental alliance?" Clouse asked her.
Skylor nodded. "The ninja have been able to gain the trust of the other elemental masters again. It seems Vergo was in this room when you and Clouse were talking last night about lying to them that you are stealing people's powers for evil purposes."
"That lowlife fool that calls himself a hero…" Chen growled, talking about Vergo. "How dare he eavesdrop on my plans?"
"Certainly he doesn't know about your full plan, right Master Chen?" Eyezor asked his Master.
"No, I doubt he does, but who does he think he is, eavesdropping on the great Master Chen like that?" He waved his hand, asking for Skylor to continue.
"That's all I have for right now…except you may want to know the other elemental masters plan on defeating you and getting off this island soon."
Chen and Clouse looked at each other and smiled. "Well, I have a way to take care of that. The next round in this tournament will make sure everyone loses!" Chen and Clouse laughed.
"And what may that be?" Skylor asked curiously.
"Oh, don't worry about it, my sweet daughter. You'll find out when it's time. Now, run along, and get some rest. The tournament continues tomorrow."
She nodded and decided to take her father's advice, which is to sleep. Just as she was about to fall asleep, a knock came at her door. Skylor groaned, wondering who would wake her up at nearly 11 at night. She opened the door and saw two kabuki servants, and Skylor nearly screamed when one of the put their hand over her mouth.
"Shhhh, if you don't stay quiet, we'll get caught!" It was Nya and Misako.
"Ugh, do we have to do this right now? I mean, I would love to help, but I think I need some sleep first."
"Sorry, Skylor, but I think right now is the best time for us to search the palace." Misako told her gently and patiently.
"Fine. But where will I get such a costume?"
"Don't worry, we came prepared." Misako held up some kabuki clothes, so Skylor changed into them and went with the other two. Skylor told them that while she was exploring this place a few days ago, she found a way to get underground, although that was a lie. The truth was she lived here for nearly all her life, so she knew this place inside out. Skylor lead them to the secret door, and they opened it and began searching underground. They looked for a couple of hours until it was just past 1 o'clock, but they didn't find anything noteworthy in that time. They yawned and quietly went back to their rooms, hoping nobody had seen them scouring the palace. Then Skylor was able to sleep.
It was morning, and Cole was working in the factory again. What a surprise. He was making some fortune cookies when he suddenly got the urge to eat one of them. He realized he was hungry, as he had not eaten breakfast yet. He was about to take one when a hand slapped his away. It was a guard. "No eating factory food here!" the guard shouted at Cole.
Cole mumbled something to himself that the guard luckily did not hear. Cole went over to Karlof. "You know what?" he asked not caring about a response. "I think it's about time we think of a plan to escape this dump. I have a fellow brother to find, and that was the main reason I ever came to this stupid island."
"You cannot escape from here." Karlof told him plain and simple in his deep voice.
"Well, that's why we gotta think of a plan. I'm a natural leader. I think I can handle this. The first step is getting rid of the guards from here, so we have time to talk…" The Cole got an idea. "I think I found a way how," he grinned.
Karlof looked at him curiously. "How?"
"Maybe I can cause some trouble to lure the guards to me, then convince the others to help out by typing them up and putting them inside that storage room. And the best part is, we can lock them up in there!"
Karlof shook his head like it wouldn't work. "How will you tell the others about this plan?"
"You're right, but maybe I can quickly tell them all." So Cole went over to every elemental master and they all immediately agreed. None of them wanted to stay here.
Cole put his plan to action. He jumped on one of the conveyor belts and started dancing, and he grabbed the attention of Zugu, the head guard in the factory. "Get him!" Zugu commanded some guards. The guards began running to him with their swords, but Cole jumped off and dodged them. He began throwing fortune cookies at them which made them even angrier, and more guards came at him. Then Karlof helped in on the fight, knocking half a dozen guards away. The other masters began joining in as well. Bolobo smacked two guards a way with one punch. Tox jumped down from above and landed square in the backs of two guards, and punched another that was coming at her. Ash and Chamille were working as a team, each having each other's backs and fighting off guards. Chris and Gravis rounded it off by grabbing rope from off the wall and tying all the guards together. Zugu got angry and came for Cole. The earth ninja wasn't looking so he was caught off guard and Zugu tackled the black ninja that was wearing the orange uniform to the ground. Zugu punched Cole a few times before being yanked off by Chris and Gravis, who tied him up separately where he could not interact with other guards. They even found some tape and taped all their mouths.
When the fight was over, the factory workers cheered. The only thing to fear now was Clouse's daily visits to the factory, but they hoped Cole had a plan to counter that.
"So, what do we do now?" Chris asked Cole.
"Well, how can we escape?" Cole answered. "Anyone got ideas?"
They all thought for a while. After around 10 minutes of thinking, Karlof spoke up. "Oh! I know! In my village, I used to make Roto Jets! We could make one and get out of here!"
Everyone nodded although nobody knew what a Roto Jet was. "What's a Roto Jet?" Gravis asked.
"It is an attack plane. It can shoot and fire things so we can break through the wall if we have to. I think that's what we should do: find parts and build one!" Karlof was practically gleaming.
Everyone cheered. "Let's do this!" Tox exclaimed.
"Uh...guys?" Cole interrupted their celebrations. "That's cool and all but does anyone notice that WE'RE UNDERGROUND?!"
Nobody paid attention to him and nobody seemed to care if they were underground. They found a way to bust out: now that's all they cared about. Karlof began ordering everyone to find the parts he needed. Everyone began searching for them.
Zane was beginning to feel uncomfortable by the chains on his hands. He tried breaking out, but he couldn't.
"Zane, try to remember who you are." It was that girl whose voice had talked to him before.
"W-who are you? And where are you? Why can't I see you?"
"Zane, I am P.I.X.A.L., remember me?"
"P.I.X.A.L.? I do not recall such a name. Who are you?"
"So you do not remember me? Don't worry, I know you will get your memory back."
A few seconds went by. "Now I remember who you are, P.I.X.A.L. You are my friend. But why can I not see you?"
"I…am in another cell." She changed the subject. "There is a drill near you. Try picking it up and drilling your way out."
Zane looked and found it. He tried reaching for it with his foot, but it was just out of reach. "Come on Zane, you can do it!" P.I.X.A.L. encouraged him. He tried some more and finally got it. Then he managed to toss up it into one of his hands and twist his hands around enough to drill the chain and break out. After 5 minutes, he was free.
"Now, P.I.X.A.L., where are you?"
"I am in the cell next to yours."
Zane saw a small window and heard that P.I.X.A.L.'s voice was coming from there. He used the drill to drill open the bars there and when he crawled through, he found P.I.X.A.L.'s body all dismantled. "What…happened to you?"
"I have been scrapped. But...I could not tell you that, else you never would have gotten out. Your friends need you, Zane. They are here, on this island, looking for you. You need to go find them without me."
Zane saw that the female android was talking through a computer. Then he saw P.I.X.A.L.'s neural drive and got an idea. "Don't worry. I have an idea so that we will always be together." He took her neural drive out of the computer and put it in his own processor.
"Zane…you just put my neural drive into your processor! That's amazing!"
"We are compatible. Remember? Now, we have to get out. Together."
Skylor is Chen's daughter, but I'm pretty sure most of you were expecting that if you watched the show. She is also Chen's spy and nobody knows that.
Cole and the others wreaked some havoc in the factory and tied all the guards. Now they plan to build a Roto Jet to break out. The only problem is, Cole does not see how flying underground in a jet makes any sense.
Zane broke free from his chains and found P.I.X.A.L. He took her neural drive and put it in his processor so now she will always be with him and can talk to him. Now he plans to find the ninja and stop Chen.
I know I said this chapter will probably be the one to continue the tournament, but that will happen next chapter. I promise. I already have the rest of the story planned out.
Hope you liked it!