Connection Lost - Chapter 26

That Sinking Feeling

AN: I'd like to taketake a moment to thank the reviewers. After that moment, I'll take another to mock the readers who don't review. Finally, I'll quite stalling and get to the story. :)

Also, don't expect the title to make sense.

"Zane? Julien? Where have you been?", Jay called out as his friends rounded the corner. The guards in front of the doors wouldn't let anyone go through until they were all here. And now they just needed Kai...

Jay found himself wondering what the punishment for attacking a soldier here was... And decided to verbalize it. "Hey... Julien?", this netted a glance toward the amateur inventor. "What's a guy to expect if they attack a Namtarian soldier?", which netted a small cough from Garmadon, and a stare from the Doctor.

"Ehh... Last I remember, the penalty was death. Why?" Julien answered lightly.

This time, Jay stared. "N... No reason. Just... Curious...", Jay stammered. He didn't really know whether to trust Julien anymore. A past was a bug thing to hide from you friends, after all...

"Jay, how are we to maintain a healthy level of trust in the group if mutually honesty is not assured?" Zane questioned. "Please, friend, tell us what ails you."

Jay looked at Zane this time. He wanted to tell them... But also to tell them off. How easy it would be! 'How can any of us trust you Zane?' He was on the verge of spilling it, when Cole piped up. "Zane, it's Kai. We're worried about him. He attacked one of them, and we just wanted to know what to expect." Zane was about to thank Cole when he held up his hand. "...but we're worried about you too. Both of you. I mean, seriously. We don't know where you've been! We don't know how to trust you right now!"

"Cole...", Zane tried to begin. He stopped though. There was nothing Zane or Julien could do to convince them... Not yet.

"Save it, Zane. We'll fix this later.", Cole commanded. While it was subtle, Jay did notice something off about his friend. That couldn't be a tear in his eye... Could it?

"Get your hands off of me! I can walk my oof!" Was heard from down the long hall, and it was evident Kai would be joining them shortly. Best to make themselves presentable again. "Why don't we try this again? You put me down, and I'll try not to attack you guys again. 'kay?" A thump was just barely audible, followed by a distinct set of footsteps... Almost stomps, but that wasn't much of a surprise. Kai had had a rougher day than usual.

A few minutes later, Kai became visible, and seconds after that were four guards, all grumpy looking, and all at least a head taller than Kai. Now that they were all here, their second guide of the day gave a single, resounding knock on the door; a lone clop. A scuffling came next, and then a long, chilling creak as the door opened. The company of Ninja strode confidently through the majestic door, into an opulent throne room, and face to face with the Pontifex of Namtar himself; Amon.

Or... That was how Jay thought it should go. In reality, they slowly trickled... No, shuffled in, and a silence hung over them even after they arranged themselves around the throne. Jay decided it fell to him to break it, as usual. "Hey, your... Pontifex-ness!", he started cheerfully, "It is such an honor to meet you."

Amon bore down on Jay with all his might, and Jay felt a steadily growing uneasiness; a sort of malaise that grew the longer he was near Amon. And when he was being stared down, it was about as bad as being on the receiving end of one of Sensei's "corrective" lessons. After what must have been forever, Amon suddenly did something far, far worse He let loose a deep, bellowing laugh.

"So you must be the soldiers I've heard about! Standing ground against my entire army!" Amon orated crisply, "I think I could use more examples like you. Consider it an invitation.", he happily announced, to the evident discomfort of the guards. Amon wasn't done though, "I do apologize for your care at the hands of my military; comfort is, regrettably, not a priority for them."

Kai mumbled something, before Amon could continue his speech. Nobody heard though, and not even a glance was paid. "Now, then... You must be Jay, the intelligent one. I have a surprise later for you and your... friend." He gestured to Nya, and then moved on.

"You must be Cole. You've already built yourself a reputation among the troops, you know! Perhaps you could show them a thing or two about real fighting?" He glanced at his guards, who again frowned slightly. "And Kai... You have also built yourself a reputation. A... Loose Cannon, shall we say? Try to keep that under control in my home, please." Kai grunted neutrally.

Sensei Wu looked up first at Kai, then Amon. What was he thinking? "You must be their Sensei... I don't believe I know your name? Certainly I would do well to respect your skill, though!"

"My name is Wu, son of the First Spinjitzu Master, and you are correct, I am their Sensei.", Wu asserted. He wasn't entirely focused on the proceedings, though. Something else had attracted his attention. He couldn't say what just yet though.

While pursuing the anomaly mentally, Wu noticed two things: the first was that it was suddenly *hard* to think, almost like trying to move through syrup, or explain complex theories to Kai. The second was that when Amon turned his attention to Garmadon, it became simple to think again. And that someone was pushing against him. "Wu! Sensei!", Lloyd was whispering, "What are we doing?"

"What we need to be, using this time wisely, earning his trust.", Wu whispered back. Amon glanced over subtly, before turning to Nya. "I hear you too are an inventor. How great it is that I have so many fresh minds... I'm sure you will find our laboratories quite charming.", then, slowly, he turned to Julien, and the room went silent.

A minute later, it was yet unbroken; nobody would break it before Amon or Julien, and neither seemed inclined to do so. As the seconds stretched out, Julien started looking nervous, before a sheen of sweat appeared on his brow. Finally, Amon addressed him with a simple, "And you are?".

Kai had, once again, had enough. "What do you mean, who is he?", he thundered, "That's Julien, the whole!", he raged, "Reason!", still fuming, he aimed an accusatory gesture toward the Doctor, "We're even in this mess!", red-faced and wide-eyed, he finished, "And you're telling us you don't know who he is?!"

Amon, through the whole tirade, remained completely neutral. At the mention of Julien, though, Amon stirred. When Kai finished, he stared again... Before erupting again into skeptical laughter. "You mean to tell me that *this* is the great Julien? The most brilliant man in Namtar? Him?"

Kai was undeterred, "Yes.", he insisted.

"Young man, just how easy do you think it is to trick me?", Amon questioned, "I'll tell you this, I'm alive today, so it isn't easy."

"Well... You... Grr!", Kai stuttered, trembling with frustration. Then he looked up at Amon, and proclaimed, "Then why are you tricking yourself, huh?"

The Pontifex stared again at the Ninja, almost sizing him up. The room was silent as it waited for a response. It was clear that Amon was *never* questioned like this. Finally, he looked back at the Inventor, and again to the Ninja of Fire. Then, he blankly said, "You make a compelling argument, Kai. Perhaps I misjudged you."

Turning once again to Julien, he addressed all his guests, "You have all been granted quarters here, and you will be escorted there shortly. We will reconvene in the dining hall, after you have had time to settle in. Dismissed."

Upon uttering that final word, several of the servants filed in, and began leading the company away. In truth, Wu didn't expect much resistance; they were all exhausted, and in no apparent danger. It would have been unwise to refuse the hospitality. This didn't mean Wu was entirely on board, though... something felt wrong...

They took a surprisingly direct path from the throne room, and several weary minutes later arrived at the "guest wing", which seemed every bit as comfortable as Amon had promised. The servants left after reminding the Ninja that dinner was two hours away, and that "proper dining attire" would be provided before that time.

Wu felt he was no closer to finding what it was making him uneasy, although he knew it was urgent... Perhaps their lives themselves depended on it...

AN: This chapter actually turned out to be a long one. Who'd have thought?

Amon sure is lenient on Kai right now, eh?

...you wouldn't believe th trouble it was to process this. There was some sort of formatting issue. Dumped it in as one big paragraph. It still haunts me. :)