Second chapter!

{Two Years ago}

Arcturus, this by far had to be Lloyd's least favorite base. Their benefactor Cyrus Borg had crafted this place out of an old ice cream factory on the edge of town.Despite Wu's objections, just about everyone was signing the 'turn up the heat' petition. Maybe it was because Pythor was promising a ration cut to everyone who didn't sign it; but whatever the reason, people did it.Cyrus ran his own resistance, but there were a few of his agents running back and forth between the two resistance corps.As Lloyd stood in the command room watching Wu and Borg talk, a light tap brushed his shoulder, commanding his attention.

"Huh?" Lloyd glanced over his shoulder, noticing a very attractive young woman. He realized that she must have been with Borg, as evidenced by her metal composition.

"Hello. Where should Iput this box?"Lloyd also realized that her load was threatening to throw her weight off.

"Ah, here let me get that."Lloyd quickly stole the package away from the very surprised robot.

"I am fully capable of carrying that myself. You do not need to-"

"It's polite to carry things for ladies... at least so says my master Wu."

But I am not a lady. I am a nindroid, P.I.X.A.L."

Look. I don't care what you're made of." Lloyd interjected.

"And I'm Lloyd by the way."

"It's nice to meet you, Lloyd. I have been told that I was built to be roughly your age... but we are not compatible."

"Compatible? Wait..." Lloyd flushed bright red.

"Yeesh, Pixal, you always embarrass people like that?"

A new voice cut in. Pixal and Lloyd turned to face man clad in techno armor, clearly another of Borg's soldiers."I am sorry, Yang and Lloyd. It was not my intention to embarrass you. I merely thought that your politeness was-"

"Oh nononono." Lloyd waved his hands. "I wasn't flirting.""

"I see." Pixal nodded. "Very well. This is Yang. He is transferring to your unit permanently, as am I."

Yang wore a full suit of decked armor, not an ounce of skin showing beneath all the layers of armor and tech.

"Wait, permanently?" Lloyd wasn't aware of any permanent arrangements.

"Yes." Pixal nodded. "The Empress has worn both of our resistances out, cut our numbers down to nearly non existent digits. Wu and my creator believe that by merging our units, we have a better chance of survival."

"I see... and Borg's okay just handing control over to Master Wu?"

"Yeah." Yang replied, his heavily synthesized voice grating harshly on Lloyd's ears. "He was never the type that enjoyed leading. From the sounds of it, he would much rather be the supplier of our little escapades."

"Yang, would you please help me?" Borg asked, waving the tech clad man over to a pile of boxes.

"Sure. See ya kid." As Yang walked off, Pixal stared after him.

"It is highly unlikely."

What?' Lloyd asked."It is highly unlikely that you will see him again. Yang lives a life outside of the resistance, and he always works alone. I barely see him as it is."

And who knew that Pixal would be right?

{Present\Time 11:48 AM}

"Lloyd, maybe you should eat something-" Kai shoved his plastic bowl of mush across the squeaky glass table top.

Lloyd stopped it, shaking his head. "Thanks, Kai... But I'm not hungry."

"You eat like a spoon and you're done! What's wrong with you?" Cole demanded, pointing his spoon at Lloyd.

The green ninja picked at the hem of his jump suit, an irrational sense of irritation bubbling up from the dark depths of his heart. He worked hard to conceal the frustration and the anger, the solitary loneliness, the depression that threatened to consume him. No one needed to see that side of him; and no one cared either...

But occasionally it bubbled out to make a dramatic entrance... Especially when he was running on virtually no sleep.

"I think I told you why-" The hostility in his tone made Jay freeze... Because Lloyd's intense eyes were locked with his. "But you don't really believe me or care."

"Lloyd-"

"Don't! Just..." Lloyd let out a breath, waving Jay off "Don't..."

Cole stood silently at the doorway to the pit's private gym. Lloyd was decimating the lone punching bag in the room. The master of earth had quickly come to the conclusion that Lloyd trained when he was stressed out... though Cole also suspected that was the only thing Lloyd could do.

What would he have done in the world beyond the cold walls of their forced isolation? He didn't know, and that bothered him a lot.

"Care for a challenge?"

Lloyd stopped, fist slamming into the bag hard enough to force a ripple through the taut fabric.

"No offense, Cole... but that's not real wise right now." Lloyd went back to slamming his fists into the canvas bag.

"What? Are you afraid of a real opponent, greenie?" Cole cracked his knuckles, then moved to stretch his arms.

"Cole." Lloyd growled. "I don't want to spar right now... I will hurt you."

"I know." Cols replied with a shrug. "And I want you to try."

Lloyd had seen Cole fight, and quite frankly the green ninja knew it wouldn't be a fair fight. He didn't want to hurt Cole, and right now he was too angry to show any form of restraint.

"No."

Lloyd's punches got faster and faster until an iron forearm locked around his neck and dragged him back.

"Cole what're you?"

"Get out of it, greenie!" Cole ordered, but Lloyd shook his head.

"No! And stop calling me greenie."

"Tell you what- You defeat me, and I'll drop the nickname."

"Cole!"

When it became clear that Lloyd had no intention of fighting back, Cole moved to phase two. Suddenly his grip around Lloyd's neck became painfully tight, and the green ninja quickly realized that Cole had every intention of choking him out.

With a startled gasp, instinct kicked in, and Lloyd grabbed Cole's wrist with one hand and bicep with the other. Dropping his weight, Lloyd tugged Cole's elbow away from his neck, tucked his chin in, grabbed Cole's sleeve, stuck one leg out and flipped the master of earth.

Cole grunted, but landed and rolled to the side, hopping to his feet.

"Stop!" Lloyd snapped, turning to walk away. "I told you I'm not doing this!"

"Too bad!" Cole spun him around and delivered a well aimed roundhouse punch to the jaw. Lloyd snapped his arm up to block and furiously launched a front kick at Cole's solar plexus.

Jumping back, Cole waited for him to set his foot down before attacking that leg. He kicked Lloyd halfway between the thigh and the knee, watching the green ninja's eyes widen in shock as Cole expertly whacked the nerve cluster.

Lloyd staggered, growling as he shook it off. He launched a flurry of punches at the dark haired boy, but every last one was blocked until Cole sidestepped and clocked him in the jaw.

Dropping to his knees, Lloyd massaged his jaw. A hand wrapped around his wrist and rolled him to his back... before Cole sat on him.

Lloyd barely had time to register the incoming punch, going into autopilot as he shoved Cole's fist aside and shifted his weight.

He sat up quickly, shoving his right arm over Cole's shoulder and tossing his weight. Cole landed on the ground and Lloyd drove a fist into his jaw.

His eyes widened in horror as he saw Cole wince. "I'm sorr-"

Cole tipped him off and rolled to his feet again. "Now it's on, greenie!" The master of earth smirked, cracking his neck and slipping into a well practiced fighting stance.

"How did you learn to fight?" Lloyd demanded, picking himself up to begin pacing circles on the mat. Cole bounced, ready to pounce at any moment, but this time Lloyd was ready for it.

"A little white bearded old man taught me." Lloyd's eyes widened. "Yang's the name and fighting's my game."

Cole was one of Wu's agents?

Well here's that chapter. I hope ya'll enjoyed! :)

Bookkeeper2004: Yup. Lloyd definitely can teach them a thing or two.

MyHeadIsSpinning: Aww thanks! I personally think that experience is the best way to write if at all possible. Garmadon and Skylor certainly seem to bounce back and forth a bit.