{Present 7:36 AM}
"Recruits!" Garmadon snapped, smoothing a wrinkle in his heavy black coat. "You haven't been here very long! A mere two and a half weeks... But in my personal opinion, experience breeds superiority."
He paused, eyes narrowing as he studied the recruits. He had given them tactical gear that didn't scream 'I'm new! come kill me.' The outfits were black Gi's with silver and leather armor. On the chest plates, their ranks were stamped in red lettering. Lloyd had been immediately jumped to Captain, with Cole as secondary captain, the same three pointed star symbol but with a thick dash through it. The others had hollow circles, indicating their ranks as privates.
"A new resistance has sprung up in the shadows of the slums district, and while they're small... we will crush them."
Two holo monitors hanging on the wall blinked to life. "We don't know much about the six rebels forming this new resistance, but we do know that they've been whispering seeds of hope to the oppressed. We need to show them that we will not let their insubordination to me go unpunished!"
Lloyd figited slightly, as did Cole. Neither of them were any where near okay with this. Skylor and Karlof, the two commanders tagging along, stood at full attention.
"Master, do we know if they have any relation to the Borg resistance or the Sons of Garmadon?"
"We suspect the Borg resistance is supplying them; but otherwise, our observations lead us to believe they operate separately." Garmadon replied.
"As protocol mandates, all resistance members are to be captured for questioning. Any sympathizers are to be arrested for public flogging and interrogation." He stopped in front of Lloyd... and Cole.
"That won't be a problem for you two retirees... will it." Not a question.
Lloyd bit back a fiery retort and glared Garmadon down.
"You knew?" Cole squeaked.
"Of course we knew! Ultra Violet informed us of the identity of the intrepid agent Yang... but by the time we located you again, your retirement had made you useless... And I was unaware of your elemental capabilities."
"Agent Yang? Wasn't he on like... every wanted poster in the city?" Jay asked.
Cole's glare made Jay jump in surprise.
"Thanks for reminding him... Jay."
Garmadon huffed.
"Don't get sentimental, or a promise you'll pay dearly... Skylor, make sure they're equipped well. We won't be returning for a few days."
"Yes master."
{8:22 AM}
As soon as they were in the privacy of the canvas truck, rumbling down the road, Jay cleared his throat.
"Anyone else have big secrets they wanna... I don't know... Share!"
"Would you cool it moter mouth?" Cole snapped.
"You were agent Yang." Zane spoke up. "One of the most illusive agents of the SOGs."
"I don't affiliate with them... I never really did. No offense Lloyd."
"None taken."
"I was a part of the Borg resistance before he merged with the SOGs five years ago."
"So you and Lloyd knew each other?"
"Inadvertantly." Lloyd spoke up this time. "He knew who I was, but I can't think of once were I saw him without his mask. The only name we knew him by was agent Yang. He just told me who he was... yesterday."
"Oh... right."
"He retired a year ago." Lloyd tacked on with a shrug... as if it made things better.
"Look, I'm sorry!" Cole hissed, grunting as the truck lurched. "I didn't know Garmadon knew... and I... I had family to protect."
"If there's something I've learned-" Kai sagely spoke up. "It's that we're all entitled to our secrets."
"First Lloyd's uncle, then Zane, and now you." Jay counted off. "Anyone else have something to add?"
"It is an honor to meet you agent Yang." Jay's question went ignored.
"Thanks Zane... but I haven't been Yang in a very long time."
{9:00 AM}
"Welcome to the slums." Kai declared, hopping out of the truck nearly half an hour later. They had passed through the massive gates leading into the trash strewn roads with collapsing buildings and shady individuals.
"I've been here once or twice." Cole replied. "Saved two stupid kids from getting snagged by black market slave peddlers."
Kai froze. "The high tech jerk that saved us was you?"
"Wai-wait- hold it! That stupid kid was you?" Cole shot back.
"And me." Nya replied dryly. "We thought he was selling parts I needed for a bike."
"Well he was selling parts. Kidneys and livers and lungs." Cole shuddered. "Oh and I was not a jerk!"
"Yeah... you kinda were." Nya grinned.
"Hate to break up the reunion, but we need to set up camp." Skylor broke into the conversation, rounding the corner.
"Nya and I used to live here." Kai studied the ginger haired girl's reaction. She didn't have one, but curiosity glinted in Skylor's eyes. "We lived in an old workshop that would pretty easy to defend."
"Sounds good to Karlof!" The master of metal hollered, leaning out the truck window and giving a lazy thumbs up.
"As it does me. Lead the way Kai." Garmadon huffed, actually calling Kai by name.
As Kai, the recruits, and Skylor walked ahead, the truck plowed through the streets, sending terrified slum citizens running to the shadows.
It took only a few minutes to get back to the garage where Kai and Nya had resided for nearly a decade. The old building sent a jab of homesickness through Kai's gut. His safeplace, now being defiled by Garmadon and his cronie... one cronie, since Skylor didn't count.
"Okay, Skylor, get the door up! I want this van inside. Karlof, set up the turrets. I want every exit and hole in the wall covered." Garmadon paused, soulless eyes boring into his son's. "Captain, get your troops prepared for patrol."
Maya sat behind the command console of her computer station. It may not have been as high tech as the SOG; but thanks to a bit of help from Borg, they were set up technologically enough to get a foot hold.
Borg had been reluctant, especially after Maya and her husband defected from the SOGs. What Wu had done to their children... unforgivable.
And apparently the others thought so too.
She had put together a small resistance of six. They didn't have a name yet, but they had purpose.
The gizmos of a high tech stealth suit creaked and whirred, prompting Maya to turn her heavy leather chair.
"What did you and the squad find?"
The other four members of the resistance, all clad in the same type of suits walked in behind the first.
"Garmadon and eight elites. I'm not sure which ones they are yet..."
"Could it be-"
"No." Agent Gizmo cut in from behind Yang. "Them whippersnappers wouldn't be released from the pit that soon."
"Gizmo's right." The first replied grimly. "It couldn't be. I hope to god it's not. We managed to get their defenses mapped. Breaking in tonight shouldn't be too tough."
"Good work." Maya grinned. "Let's mobilize."
Kai tossed and turned in his sleeping bag. Garmadon had taken Skylor and Karlof out to talk to a few contacts.
Any hopes of escaping had been squashed by the perimeter orbs. If they so much as stepped foot beyond the field, their bracelet's electric emitters would paralyze them until Garmadon's return... after which they'd be punished even worse.
The others weren't sleeping very much either. It was Zane who suggested a game to pass the time.
"Do you have a washer?"
"All we have are washers, Jay." Kai growled.
"Fine fine... Do you have a-"
Shuffle, thud, clang.
"Listen." Zane whispered.
"No! I'm on a streak here!" Jay protested, clutching his fist and letting the washers bite into his palm.
"Shh!" Zane lifted a finger to his lips, casting a stern glare at the loud mouthed teen.
Lloyd heard a scrape on the rooftop, the nearly inaudible click of shoes. With one deft lunge, he rolled over to his pack and pulled his gun out.
He waved at Nya, directing her to hide behind an overturned desk. Cole took position by one of the doors, kneeling down and aiming his pistol at the ceiling.
Kai was crouched behind the last vehicle Nya had been working on... what hadn't been scrapped by scavengers that is.
For all their planning, no one expected the rough to explode. Lloyd dropped down, covering his face as debris rained into the room.
The car suspended from the ceiling crashed down and shook the ground. Reverberations through the floor knocked Lloyd off his feet again.
Whoever had dropped the roof was totally prepared for it. They didn't hop in until the dust had somewhat settled.
As Lloyd coughed and hacked, shoving a beam off his leg, he felt hands grab the front of his Gi, yanking him to his feet.
For a brief moment, he was face to face with six people clad in Borg's suits... including a suit he now knew to be retired.
Whoever that particular individual was happened to be the one with a fist curled in his Gi.
"Agh!" Lloyd howled as the guy in Cole's old suit rammed a fist into his nose, temporarily blinding him. Lloyd was stunned enough to give Cole's imposter long enough to spin him around.
His back was pressed to the guy's chest, and the razor sharp edge of a dagger bit into the soft flesh of Lloyd's neck.
"Surrender!" The electronic pitch was off, but true to Yang form, it still grate on the green ninja's ears.
Lloyd's allies picked themselves up and studied the situation, but Cole was the first to drop his gun.
"You... you're the new resistance." Zane surmised, casting his own weapon aside.
"Yes." The one holding Lloyd declared. "I am agent Yang-" The face plate retracted to show a grizzled old face with agonized eyes. "But my friends call me Lou... Now You have someone that belongs to me."
Boom! The new Yang folks! I hope ya'll enjoyed the chapter! I got this burst of inspiration and threw another wrench in the works of our dear recruits. Stay tuned for more upcoming!
Northern Goshawk: No problem! I'm glad you enjoyed the flash back. It was kinda over due. Thanks for the review! They really make my days.
Nuppa Nuppa: I think I will add more flashbacks in. They give me the opportunity to add unique twists! I appreciate the review!
Steampunk Wilson: Thanks for the kind words and the review! I'm really happy that the flash back lived up to expectations. As I mentioned to Goshawk, Cole's flash back\Semi-back story was kind of over due. And his reason for leaving did need to be expanded on. :)
