Chapter 23

Show Ninjago

When the Ultra Dragon failed to reappear after an hour of waiting, the Ninja realized they must be resting in the Other Ninjago.

Knowing they couldn't just sit back and let Pythor's new army run amok until the dragon returned, the team decided to take action without their smallest member.

And so, with Sensei Garmadon and Misako remaining behind at Steep Wisdom for the return of the dragon, the Ninja, their sensei, and Pixal all boarded the Bounty and flew in the direction of Ed and Edna's Scrap n' Junk.

"Tell me, why are we going to a junkyard when we should be returning to Ninjago City as soon as possible?" asked Pixal as they flew.

"Even if these Nindroids are not as strong as Pythor thinks they are, they will still outnumber us by a good bit, will they not?" said Sensei Wu.

Pixal's face fell. "By my calculations of the amount of parts and materials within Borg Industries at the time of their manufacturing and the amount of time that has passed for them to be built by this point… " she said, her eyes gleaming with calculations. Reaching the conclusion, she nodded and said, "Yes, they will outnumber you by a lot."

"Then without Lloyd around to shut them down, we'll need an edge to fight them off until he gets here," explained Cole.

"And at the junkyard we have some mechs and vehicles prepared so we can fight those odds," added Nya. "Plus I left my Samurai X mech there for a tune-up."

Jay let out a nervous chuckle. "Still, uh, when you say they outnumber us by a lot, how much is a lot?"

"I sent my falcon ahead to patrol around the city," said Zane, moving to plug himself into the monitor. "We can observe the situation and see exactly how much is 'a lot'."

They looked at the screen and were dismayed to see the city was now crawling with robotic ninjas. The civilians were holed up in their homes in fear, rarely daring to come out. Thankfully, the Nindroids seemed mostly uninterested in them unless they got in their way. There were also multiple small mechs, flying cars, and jets patrolling the streets and skies.

"The Nindroids must have been able to access Borg's systems!" Pixal said when she saw them. "They took control of his experimental vehicles to increase their ranks." Her face then fell even further. "It was my blueprints," she said in realization. "As Cyrus Borg's assistant, I have access to all the company's systems. The Nindroids must have gained that access when they were built!"

"Great, so now the bad guys have mechs too," Jay groused.

"All the more reason to get ourselves some firepower so we can strike back," said Kai, looking perfectly ready to take out his dislike of technology on technology while using technology. The irony of it all was completely lost on him.

"Borg Industries' machines are top of the line with the latest technology," said Pixal, more than a little worried. It was her father's life on the line after all. "Do you believe the mechs you have in your possession will suffice?"

Jay let out another laugh, though his one was more assured. "Trust me, they're like nothing you've ever seen. And if I know Luh-Loyd, they're also stuffed to the brim with missiles."

Pixal stared at him in bewilderment. "Luh-Loyd?" she asked.


When they finally reached the junkyard (and were greeted by Mr. and Mrs. Walker, who were both very friendly), Pixal didn't know whether she should be dismissive or amazed at the machines they had scattered about. They were far from top-of-the-line machinery and instead looked like cobbled together pieces of half the junkyard into vaguely dragon-shaped vehicles. All logic within her told her there was no way they would work.

And yet… they did! Each slapdash machine performed just as well as any of her father's inventions. Some even worked better than the mechs he had created. "How are these amalgamations of mechanics even functional?" she asked.

"Through the power of Master Building," called Jay as he climbed into the closest mech with a blue color-scheme that he claimed to have built himself.

Pixal blinked her optics at him in confusion. "That explanation does not compute," she told him.

"It's a special skill a friend of ours has," explained Zane as he climbed into a draconic helicopter. "He built us all of this and taught Jay, Nya, and myself how to make them as well." The White Ninja then called to the others he was doing a test run, before taking to the air and doing laps around the junkyard.

Pixal frowned at his progress, before turning to the other remaining Ninja. "You do not have sufficient training to use these vehicles?" she asked.

"Hey, we've practiced with them a bit," said Kai somewhat defensively as he climbed into a red dragon-shaped jet to prepare for his own test ride. "We just haven't had an excuse to really use them until now. Fighting in them is a first for us."

"Not for me!" Nya called cheerfully as she waited near her Samurai X mech, already proficient in using it.

In his mech, Jay was flexing its arms and weapons controls. "I had a reason to use them," he grumbled bitterly.

From where he was about to get into a vehicle that seemed to be a combination of a combat jeep and a tank (and like most other vehicles, was dragon-shaped), Cole let out a tired sigh, and said, "No, Jay, you can not use mechs to track down who Nya's perfect match is."

"But I gotta know who it is!" Jay protested loudly.

While unsure why Jay believed the mech would help him locate Nya's perfect match (especially considering the object of his search was right there), Pixal opened her mouth to give him the information he was seeking.

Seeing her do so, Kai and Nya shared a panicked look, before Kai jumped back out of his jet in an attempt to run and stop her without alerting Jay, while Nya hid behind her mech for fearing the worst.

"-So I can smash him to bits for stealing my girlfriend!" Jay continued before Pixal could even get a word out, stomping his mech's massive foot to emphasize his point.

Pixal froze, her mouth still open but no sound coming out. Seeing this, Kai slowed his pace and approached more subtly, and Nya peeked back out of her hiding place.

Cole shook his head at Jay's antics. "Look, Jay," he said. "I'm all for helping you find this guy. And when we do, you're free to go nuts. But using a mech on him is overkill."

Jay pouted in his mech's cockpit. "I can still zap him, right?" he asked while holding up a hand full of electricity.

"Sure thing, buddy," said Cole rolling his eyes fondly. "I'll even trap him in rocks if you want. Give you an easy shot."

Jay's expression turned to a satisfied grin. "And that is why you're my best friend," he said. "You're willing to help no matter what, unlike SOME people!" he added pointedly, shooting a glare at Kai.

Hearing that, Pixal shut her mouth with an audible 'click!'

"Leave me out of this!" Kai called back as he came to stand beside Pixal. "I'm so not getting between you and my sister."

Jay let out a loud, "Hrmph!" and stomped away in his mech to do some quick target practice before they left, and Cole drove after him in his jeep-tank.

Once they were out of earshot, Kai leaned over to Pixal and whispered, "Do us a favor and don't tell Jay Nya's perfect match results told her Cole. He would not take it well."

"I… can see that," said Pixal. "Still, would it not be better for Nya to be with her perfect match?"

"Uh, I can make my own decisions, thanks," said Nya, coming over to them. "And for now I'm not dating anyone. I'm not convinced Cole's my perfect match anyway."

"But your results say-" Pixal started to say.

"That thing uses internet activity to make its matches, right?" said Nya.

"Yes," said Pixal in confusion.

"Kai and I lived without internet in the boonies until we moved in with Sensei Wu, Jay lived out here his entire life, and Cole lied and did something he hated for years to please his father," listed Nya.

Pixal was silent for a long moment. "Those are large gaps of information to take into consideration," she finally said. "Perhaps there may indeed have been an error in the Perfect Match's calculations."

Hearing that, Nya let out a sigh of relief she hadn't even realized she'd been holding, and Kai nodded like he was unsurprised. "Like I said, can't count on technology for that," he said. "Some things you just gotta do the old fashioned way."

Pixal opened her mouth to reply, but a loud cry cut her off.

They all wheeled around to see the trailer Jay called home was being lifted into the air by a large electromagnetic attached to a crane. Through the still-open door of the trailer, the three could see Edna's frightened face as she tried to keep her footing as her home was swinging around, and from the sound of shouting within, Ed and Wu were there too.

Looking at the piloting station of the crane, they caught sight of a short figure in black and purple glaring at them from beneath a ninja hood with glowing red eyes.

"The Nindroids!" shouted Pixal in alarm.

Just as she shouted that another one appeared on top of a pile of scrap, and began shooting laser eyes at the trailer, burning a hole in the side.

"Looks like we'll have to learn on the job!" shouted Kai, already racing to his jet. "We've gotta save them!"

Unaware of how many other Nindroids were around, and knowing she couldn't leave defenseless Pixal to fend for herself, Nya grabbed the android girl's wrist and pulled her over to her Samurai X mech. Hopping into the pilot seat, she pressed the button to make Wu's seat on her mech pop out at the shoulder. "Hop on," she called to Pixal.

Pixal didn't hesitate to climb into the seat, and Nya was quick to pilot her mech in the direction of the Nindroid shooting at the trailer.

"TIMBER!" Nya shouted, using her mech's sword to cut through the pile of scrap, causing it to topple over and bury the Nindroid beneath it. Kai used his jet's missiles to set the pile on fire for good measure.

The Nindroid driving the crane let out a loud angry warbling sound at the sight of it, and made the crane spin faster, inciting another yell from the occupants within.

"LEAVE MY PARENTS ALONE!" came a loud shout, and Jay's mech came racing in before clothesline tackling the crane, rattling the entire thing and causing the Nindroid within to go tumbling out.

The trailer immediately stopped spinning but it was still hanging in the air by the magnet. Thankfully, Ed and Edna came flying out of it a moment later wearing jetpacks and carrying Sensei Wu out between them.

They landed on the ground, and Jay had his mech stomp over to them, his face concerned. "Are you guys alright?" he asked.

"Aw, we're fine, son," said Ed brightly.

"As ya can see, we're prepared for any occasion," agreed Edna just as cheerfully as she gestured to her jetpack.

"We'll just get out of your way now so ya can deal with these hooligans," said Ed as the two hurried to their old jalopy. "Best of luck, son."

"WATCH OUT!" came another shout.

They all turned to see Cole's tank-jeep smash into a flying car that had been making a beeline to crash into Ed and Edna only a second ago, they both crashed into the jalopy, and while Cole's vehicle was none the worse for wear, the other two were totaled.

"They appear to be after the two of you," said Zane as his helicopter returned and began hovering protectively over them. "I would suggest you relocate to safer premises."

"Don't hafta tell us twice," said Ed, who was now looking shaken at his second brush with death of the day.

"Come with me," said Sensei Wu, waving them in the direction of the Bounty. "We will escape in the Bounty.

The Walkers hurried to follow him. As they went, Ed said, "Take a note, Edna. Remind me to fix all this once Jay's cleared up these whippersnappers."

"Will do, Ed," Edna replied as she raced up the gangplank and the ship took to the skies.

It was even more clear Ed and Edna were the targets, as more flying cars and Borg vehicles full of Nindroids appeared and attempted to give chase.

"Why the heck are these things after my parents?!" Jay asked as he worked to smash anything that even tried to get close to his family.

"If I were to guess, Pythor has put them up to this," said Zane as he and Kai were engaged in a dog fight against Borg company jets in the skies.

"But why?" asked Nya as she rocketed around with Pixal clinging to her seat. "Why would anyone want to attack sweet ol' Ed and Edna. They're some of the nicest people in Ninjago."

"Aw, thanks," said Jay, happy at the praise for his parents.

"I'd put money on bait," Kai called as his dragon-jet blasted another flying car out of the sky. "Pixal said Pythor has it in for us. What better way to lure us into a trap than to go after our families."

Within his vehicle, Cole paled. "Pythor knows about my dad!" he said worriedly. "From the talent show! He could have Nindroids going after him as we speak!"

"And if he has been stalking our visits to Borg Industries, then he will know of my father and brother as well!" said Zane, sounding just as concerned.

"Misako and Garmadon too, if he really wants revenge on Lloyd," added Kai.

"Worry not for my brother and Misako, they are more than capable of defending themselves, and will notify us if they need aid," said Wu over the Bounty's radio. "I will take the Bounty to Cole's father's residence with some of you accompanying us. The rest of you make your way to the Juliens to ensure their safety."

"What about the junkyard?" asked Jay, worried about his home as it was still being sieged by various machines.

Pixal spoke up, "If the Nindroids are truly here for your parents, which seems to be a likely scenario, then taking them away from this place will prompt the Nindroids to lea- AH!"

As she had been talking, a Nindroid had managed to climb up onto another scrap pile, and take a surprise shot at the Samurai X mech.

Being so high up, the mech was blown off course and sent spinning through the air. While Nya fought to regain control, Pixal felt herself be flung free of the seat and hurdle towards a particularly jagged pile of metal.

"PIXAL!" came a shout she vaguely recognized as Zane, but she barely heard it. She was too busy trying to see a place she could hook with her grapple to halt her descent, but everything was a blur as she tumbled.

Mere feet from the jagged metal, a white shape was suddenly between her and certain destruction, and a hatch slid open to catch her as she fell right in.

Pixal crashed into the white shape before it suddenly jerked and completely changed its center of gravity.

"Are you alright, Pixal?" asked Zane just ahead of her, and Pixal finally realized Zane had flown his helicopter on its side to catch her.

"You saved me again," she said, more than a little overwhelmed by her near brush with death. "Thank you."

"As I said before," said Zane, sparing a kind glance in her direction. "You are worth the risk."

Pixal wasn't sure what this warm feeling within her was, but she liked it.

Outside the helicopter, Nya managed to regain control over her mech, and called over the radio. "I'm okay! Is Pixal alright?"

"She's fine," Zane replied, turning his helicopter away from the junkyard. "I'm heading to see my father and brother."

"Great!" said Kai, bringing his jet up beside them. "I'll come with."

"I'm headed to my dad's," said Cole from below, revving his engine to drive away.

"Hang on, Cole, I'll go with you," said Jay attaching his mech to the back of Cole's tank before it sped off.

"Then Nya will go with Zane and Kai," said Sensei Wu as he drove the ship after Cole.

"So where are we going to put them? We can't exactly bring our folks along when we take back the city," said Jay as they went their separate ways.

"I'm sending you guys the coordinates of my secret Samurai X Cave," said Nya. "You can go there after you get Cole's dad. They should all be safe there."

"Secret cave?" asked Jay, sounding heartbroken. "I thought we knew everything about each other."

"Well, a girl's gotta have her secrets," said Nya.

"Then we'll meet at the cave and then figure out what we'll do about Ninjago City," said Cole, assuming command. "Meet you guys there."

"Right!" everyone else agreed.

Despite having a plan in mind, Pixal didn't miss the way Zane's hands were gripping the steering wheel of the helicopter with more force than necessary. "You worry for them," she said she said as she shifted into a more comfortable position next to his pilot seat.

Zane gave a small jerk of surprise. "Yes," he replied. "For so long I thought my father was dead, and I did not even know of Echo's existence. It feels as though I have only just gotten them. I… do not want to lose them."

Pixal turned over his words in her head.

Want.

Before her talk with Cyrus Borg, she had not thought that was something she was allowed. She was just an assistant android. Her wants were not necessary, but now…

"I… do not want to lose my father as well," she said, allowing herself the desire. Turning to look at him, she said firmly, "We will save them."

Zane sent her a grateful look.

But minutes later, Zane's expression shifted to devastation at the sight of burning remains of a house. Pixal knew without him telling her, that it belonged to his father.

The Nindroids had reached there first.

Pulling his mask over his face, Zane wasted no time channeling his ice powers to put out the flames, and Samurai X did the same by connecting to a nearby fire hydrant.

The second the flames were out, Zane was out of the helicopter and running as quickly as he could to the ruins.

Pixal trailed behind him with Kai and Nya following soon after, searching the remains as best they could.

"Father!" called Zane as he searched. "Echo! Answer me!"

At first, there was no response, which only caused Zane to become more frantic.

Then, a small toy-like machine came wheeling out of hiding over to him.

"Gizmo!" said Zane, hurrying over to the robot. "Where are Father and Echo."

The machine did an automatic about-face and began rolling away, and Zane hurried to follow it, the rest not far behind

That's when they heard it.

"Big… Brother…?" a small echoing voice called.

Zane's head snapped around in the direction the voice had come from, and he ran there as fast as he could.

Lying behind a shed in what had been the house's backyard was Echo.

Pixal gasped at the sight of him and Nya let out a cry of dismay, causing her brother to wrap his arms around her to comfort her.

Zane just fell to his knees at his brother's side and began fumbling for his clock's wind-up key. While his torso and head seemed undamaged, the poor younger Nindroid had been ripped limb from limb, and the slow clicking of his gears indicated he would shut down if he was not wound soon. Something Zane hastened to do

Once Echo's clockwork parts were functioning again, Zane carefully reached down to cradle his brother in his arms.

"I couldn't stop them," said Echo, sounding like he would cry. "They took Father, and I- I couldn't stop them!"

"We will save him," Zane assured him gently, already reaching to reattach Echo's limbs. "We will fix you, my brother."

Echo's face turned bitter. "The leader, Cryptor, he said I was out of date. Flawed. Nothing but useless trash. That they were the newer models, and they were better than me."

Zane froze and seemed at a loss for words in outrage on his brother's behalf.

Despite wondering if this was not her place, Pixal slowly stepped forward and finished reattaching the limb Zane had been working on. "They were wrong. You are not flawed. They are," she said softly, making both Nindroids turn to look at her. "We will save them," she repeated.

Zane again sent her a grateful smile, and Echo gave her a searching look but seemed less distraught.

"You're darn right we will," agreed Nya as she came over to help reattach limbs as well.

"Count on it," Kai added, carrying over a leg that had been flung farther away than the rest.

With their combined help, Echo's limbs were once again attached, and they helped in into Zane's helicopter.

A moment later they were taking off and flying away as fast as they could.

As soon as Echo was safe, they would save them.


A/N Oof, things are not going well over in the show worlds, and it's going to get worse before it gets better. Poor Echo, I'm sorry for being so mean to him, but given what the Nindroids did to Zane in the show, the poor little guy didn't stand a chance. Now Dr. Julien is captured along with Cyrus Borg, and they're not much closer to rescuing them without Lloyd there. On a lighter note, the scene where Pixal is about to spill the beans to Jay about who Nya's real perfect match is, only to stop after hearing Jay's revenge plans and that Cole is his best friend was planned since the start of the fic. I thought it'd be funny, especially with the knowledge we all have of what would have happened if she didn't keep her mouth shut. Fortunately, Jay hasn't thought to ask Pixal for his name, and Pixal's definitely not telling him now. After that, the fight borrows somewhat from the junkyard fight in the show, only differently since they all have vehicles to fight back with this time.

Special thanks to Kay Hau for beta reading and helping plan this chapter. She was a really big help.

Next Time: Koko and the Lloyds make their return to Orouboros to speak to the Serpentine King. While there, Lil'Loyd has a play date with the prince but is he set to make a new friend... or enemy?

Don't forget to check your PM folder for Review Replies.