Lloyd awoke the next morning feeling sore but better. The searing pains had been replaced with dull aches, a result of his rapid healing.
This would be the only time he dared to thank the Oni.
Getting up, he saw his team mates lightly dozing around the roofless warehouse. Garmadon was perched next to a hole in the wall, sword propped on his knee as he ran a whetstone down the edge to sharpen it.
His narrow eyes periodically glanced out the hole, undoubtedly waiting for Skylor and Karlof's return.
"So." Garmadon realized he was awake. "I did warn you of the price of failure... no?"
"Sure." Lloyd limped over to where Garmadon stood, hands shoved in the pockets of his dusty jumpsuit. "But I also know that we weren't prepared or trained to handle a full resistance onslaught. Whoever set up your perimeter alarms did shoddy work, and while Cole and I know how to put up a fight, the others are just learning. Statistically, the odds are against us in every way."
He watched Garmadon frown.
"You knew that, and brought us anyways. All due respect, sir, the only failure here is on your part."
"You have your mother's intelligence and penchant for astute observation."
"Well when you're always on your toes, you learn how to know exactly who's doing what and why things happen the way they do."
"I know."
They lapsed into silence, listening as whetstone scraped on polished metal.
"I'm... I wish things had been different. I wish your mother would have joined me. We could have ruled together."
"Somehow I don't think Harumi would appreciate that too much."
"I don't much care what she thinks. Her thoughts are on power, more specifically the power she is disillusioned into believing she has."
It was Lloyd's turn to frown. He knew Garmadon played people well, one reason he kept an emotional barrier directly in place between the two of them.
He believed that Garmadon can change, but until that happened, he wasn't sure if he should get close or not.
He can't change. Remember that, and killing him'll be easier.Shut up, Morro. No one asked you.
Lloyd rubbed his eyes and blinked.
"There's no need for you to be standing around here."
"I'd rather two sets of eyes. You may have four arms, but your two eyes won't do squat for a rear attack."
Lloyd grabbed the rifle perched on top of his bag and slung it over his shoulder. Garmadon wondered just what his son was keeping an eye out for.
He wasn't sure what to think regarding the interaction his recruits had with the resistance. On the one side, he'd seen the damage this new resistance had done to his recruits... on the other, it wasn't the first time people had played possum around him before.
He had already requested data from the attack, but convenient jammers had kept any valuable data from being harvested.
he kept watch on his son out of the corner of his eye. The boy had perched himself on the opposite side of the threshold, leaning against the wall.
His friends were dead to the world, sleeping the hours away without so much as a second thought. He'd have to work on that in the future.
A pebble clattering outside drew both Garmadon and Lloyd from their thoughts. Rising to his feet, Garmadon clutched the smooth leather hilt of his sword.
"Who's there?" He hissed. "State your business."
"It's just us." Skylor's voice echoed through the darkness. Through the dim light pouring out the hole, illuminated Garmadon's two elites.
"Well don't dawdle! Where have you two been?"
Skylor and and Karlov shared a glance before shrugging simultaneously.
"We got busy scouting." Skylor whispered. "Found a new hideout near the subways. There's an old sewer maintenance plant that houses some homeless. With a little relocation, the base should provide all the comforts of home."
"You and I have very different definitions of comfort." Lloyd spoke up.
"Should you really be walking around on that?"
Skylar pointed to his leg. Lloyd in turn shrugged slightly. "Probably not. Don't much care though."
"Well you should."
"Yes, Karlof recommends rest. I take your shift!" The heavy handed man thumped Lloyd on the back, oblivious to the flinch this action earned.
Skylor did notice, the right corner of her lip twitching down for but a moment. Nuero had told her. Only because she worked so closely with the recruits though.
She hadn't had the resolve to discuss it with Karloff, but she did remember the date leading to that turn of events. His mother had been killed. He'd broken formation, found a bar, and gotten drunk out of his mind. That had led to the unfortunate beat down Lloyd received.
Lloyd took a step away, eyeing his bedroll. Sleep was not appealing in any way. Skylor however, grabbed his arm and pushed him towards it. As soon as they were a feet away, she leaned imperceptibly closer and whispered- "I helped."
Lloyd couldn't stop the slight smile on his lips.
He dreamed of a world where things turned out all right. His father was never bitten by the great devourer, his uncle was honest, his mother never left, and the others were the truest friends they could be.
Somehow morro worked his way into the dream, but remained an intolerable jerk. Lloyd would later guess that Morro wasn't part of the original dream.
Morro had a blast toying with Lloyd's dream. He was careful not to tread on the fine line between having fun and 'haunting'.
The choice should have been simple right? Not so much.
Garmadon wronged him, and while watching Lloyd destroy his father would be satisfying... Morro seriously doubted whether or not the kid it in him.
Lloyd had locked it in a box and almost thrown away the key, but somewhere in there was the thin strand of hope that maybe his father could be saved.
Morro didn't want him saved. No he wanted Garmadon gone, destroyed, banished from the face of the earth, and cursed to live his days in the realm of the dead. Perhaps even cursed to wander the earth as Morro now did.
After the wrongs he'd committed, it was only fair. Lloyd wouldn't see it that way. At least not without some convincing. How to convince the living standard of good that destroying his father was the best option? Now that was a problem Morro had no answer to.
Which is why he had yet to make up his mind.
I know this chapter didn't have any of my fancy plot twists, but I needed to get something out. I do have something in mind for the next chapter, so stay tuned!
CheezPretzel: I'm super glad you enjoyed that! I for one sure did.
Bookkeeper2004: I'm sure there will be an awesome family reunion at some point. No worries.
Northern Goshawk: Thanks! It makes me happy to know everyone is enjoying Skylor's redemption arc.Maya and Ray had to make a pretty tough decision. Perhaps we'll start to see the consequences of that in the upcoming future.
Nuppa Nuppa: Oh my gosh! Thank you so much. I appreciate the kind words!
LunaPikazard12: Thanks! And no worries! I'm glad my story's still living up to standards.Julian was right indeed, and I believe that might just be touched upon in upcoming chapters. They believe they're justified though.
Steampunk Wilson: Slowly but surely, they're changing indeed. And yes you may hope. And yes, I will try to deliver :)
