Author's Note: Hey, all! Hopefully, I make up for the extra-long wait with this extra-long chapter!

Unexpected

By: Mad Betrayal

"Friendship marks a life even more deeply than love. Love risks degenerating into obsession, friendship is never anything but sharing…"—Elie Wiesel

Chapter 44 ~ Escape

"Wait, was that your dad that just left?" Jay clawed his way through the lingering dregs of sleep and the latest shitstorm that came with being a Marked One, but he thought he saw a cane. Breastmilk…? Are you shitting me?! I'm a man dammit! Do you hear me, Isis!?

"Oh—um, yeah. He does an annual Christmas tour with the other Royal Blacksmiths and by sheer happenstance, he was in the city when the meteor shower hit."

Ignoring the childlike voice ringing in his head and asking him what he thought his own breastmilk would taste like, Jay regarded Cole's somewhat strained smile. "Oh wow, that's lucky!" Once more his mind drifted to the safety of his own parents. As it stood, he feared for his father most of all. While his mother was, no doubt, safe within the vast bowels of the Walker bunker stationed under their home (trust him, that thing could withstand a nuclear fallout), his father was lost to the ether. No! Positive thinking! Positive thinking! The last thing you need on top of everything else is ulcers, Jay…

He found his voice. "I'm glad he's okay."

Although his best friend's smile turned a little truer, the underlying melancholy was still present. A crease of worry touched the blue ninja's brow. "What's wrong?"

"Are you okay?"

Having spoken simultaneously, the two masters blinked gormlessly at each other before chuckling at the realization of déjà vu. "I'm not the one who passed out, man," Cole gently chided. Jay groaned and flopped down onto his back, throwing his arm over his eyes. "Aaron said you started—uh…lactating…?"

Jay peeked over at his cousin who was quietly standing by his bedside. "Is that not the dumbest shit you ever heard in your life?"

Aaron chortled. "As long as you're healthy, Jay, I don't care if you start squirting lemonade. But honestly, though, I find all this more fascinating than repulsive." He rubbed the thick material below his visor, the gesture a facsimile of pondering. "My team and I have been ruminating about this for a while now. And the implications of this phenomenon are truly remarkable—not just for homosexual men but for heterosexuals too. Just think about it: if a man and woman were having trouble conceiving, maybe the man could give it a try. Or maybe if the woman was having reservations about putting her body through a pregnancy, then maybe the man could take on the burden. Ultimately, equality among the sexes would become much more realized. At least in this regard. And I think men could learn to empathize more with women if we experienced the hardships of carrying a child."

Jay and Cole could only stare at the Danish doctor. Aaron smiled, all teeth and sparkling eyes. "Heh, I don't think I would mind being a Marked One!"

When Aaron turned around and left the room, Jay realized with shame that his cousin was much braver than he was. For once, he stopped his lamenting and…really thought about it. It wasn't like he didn't want kids. On the contrary, sometime in the distant future, he dreamed of having a family to love and protect. But more than that, he wanted to be successful. He didn't want his children to want for anything. He would focus more on his inventions, with more concentration on computer AI.

Living with Zane over the past years had truly inspired him. No way in hell he wanted to replicate/clone his brother of ice like that damned P.I.X.A.L did. He wanted to create an AI that could travel from any electronic device or be installed directly into a person's home and aid with everyday life more efficiently or—and here was the real kicker—help with the creation of more sustainable energy, perhaps in correlation with his own Element. He was the Master of Lightning for crying out loud! There had to be something he could do!

But much, much more than that…he wanted a romantic partner that would love and accept him unconditionally. He wasn't perfect. He knew that. He had a lot of hang-ups, a lot of insecurities, and a lot of flaws. That's why…regardless of Cole supposedly having feelings for him and wanting to be with him, who's to say he wouldn't follow in Nya's footsteps later down the line? What if his best friend got tired of him too and wanted someone better? That horrible possibility hung over Jay's head like a noose, waiting for him to either tighten the knot himself or fall through the trap door.

That's why being forcibly ejected from one relationship and drawn into another—no matter how warm their arms were—didn't sound like a good idea to him. He needed time to himself. To work on himself. To get himself into a better headspace. He just hoped Cole would understand…

"Jay…?" The blue ninja turned his head and regarded the grim expression on his best friend's face. "Are you…okay to talk? I really need to discuss something with you. I need to discuss us…"

Jay's heart rate slowed and the two heart monitors hooked up to the two ninjas fell out of synch with each other. "Sure. Go ahead."

Cole took a noticeable deep breath through his nose and opened his mouth. "I can't be with Nya…when I'm in love with you. It's too painful. I tried to make it work, but I couldn't. I think what I really liked about Nya was the idea of her, not necessarily her as a person. I wanted someone to have feelings for me, so when she showed interest, I just clung to the idea. But when I finally, finally woke up and realized I was on the verge of losing you." He shook his head. "She wasn't worth it. I want to be with you, Jay. No one else. So please… Can we try…?"

It was so strange. Jay felt like he was going to cry, and yet he couldn't feel the burn of tears stinging his eyes. In fact, it felt like his entire being was warring with either feeling a myriad of emotions all at once or feeling nothing at all. His chest and head were hurting, but he couldn't tell if it was physical pain or not. He felt discombobulated. Claustrophobic. Asphyxiated. He stumbled onto the path clouded with murky miasma, but he would gladly feel himself through it with his head held high.

There was no turning back. It seemed he wouldn't be able to keep his promise to Nya after all.

And yet, Jay could only stare at Cole for what felt like an eternity. He looked so hopeful, so nervous, and so breathtaking. He had borne his heart and soul to Jay, so was he really going to…

Yes.

"If you feel you need to break up with Nya. Do it. I won't stop you. But know that just because you do doesn't mean I'll just fall into your arms. I refuse to do that to her, Cole. Nya's a good person. Maybe not perfect—no one is, but…I don't want to hurt her."

"But Jay, she—"

"Let me finish." Jay licked his lips and swallowed. "This isn't just about her. I don't think I could give you what you want, Cole. I don't feel…sufficient. I don't feel like I'm good enough for you—"

"No, that's not—"

"Please, Cole." Jay tried to smile but it felt too vapid and fake. He let it fall listlessly from his lips. "I wanna be a better person. So, I need time to become one. Maybe in the future…if you're still interested…we can try then? I won't ask you to wait, though. I don't wanna be that person that keeps another from finding happiness. But I also don't wanna be that person expected to give happiness to another, when I'm not happy myself. More than a lover, what I need most of all right now…is a friend—a best friend. Is that okay…? Can I ask you to keep standing by my side…in that way?"

To watch the powerful earth ninja crumble: to see his gorgeous emerald-green eyes dim in sadness, his handsome face suffused with pain… It all agonized Jay and gripped him with remorse. "I'm really sorry, Cole. You've done so much for me and this is how I repay you."

"Gods, Jay, I didn't do those things just because I wanted something back from you," He ran a hand through his hair, a despairing breath escaping his lips. "I did them because you're my best friend and I love you. So, of course, I'll continue to stand by you. You don't even have to ask."

Jay wanted the insurmountable relief to encompass every nook and cranny of his soul, but the way Cole was smiling at him just looked so…broken. It rubbed him raw and made him want to gobble the words back up. His morals be damned. That unhinged cornerstone of himself wanted to throw caution to the wind and let himself become a hapless stone tumbling to the whims of a random current, even if they led him off a cliff down into a bottomless pit, alone and afraid and forever falling. Was he being selfish or responsible? Even with his head held high, he couldn't glean anything beyond the darkness. No, he had to be brave and see his chosen path through."I… Y-Yeah! I'll stand by you too, Cole. Best friends 'til the end, right?"

Jay reached for him and Cole—with the utmost care—cradled his braced hand in his. He looked down at it, his expression deadening to something strange. Thinking he was just concerned, Jay grinned. "I'm fine, man. Ambidextrous, remember?"

"Do you still have it?"

Jay's brain stuttered at the non-sequitur. "Huh?"

"The ring you were going to give Nya. Do you still have it?"

Although a little off-putted by the deadpanned inflection in Cole's voice, as well as the question itself, Jay answered. "Eh? Uh… Y-Yeah. I mean, I haven't…" He huffed and pursed his lips into a thin frown. "Look, I thought I told you I didn't want to talk about it."

"You should give it to her."

Jay could only gape at him for a short while before closing his mouth and scowling. "I don't want her back, Cole. She made her decision."

"No, not like that. Just give it to her as a sort of birthday/Christmas gift."

Strange how Jay had never thought of giving Nya the ring that way. But wasn't it too extravagant, though? The last thing he wanted to do was send mixed signals and appear pathetic and desperate to her. However, he did have it customized specifically for her, so why shouldn't she just have it? Sure, that was half his savings down the drain, but he'd be okay. He could take a few freelance coding jobs while he recuperated.

He eyed his best friend, but Cole was still giving all his attention to his injured left hand. "What're you gonna get her?"

The black ninja shrugged. "Don't know. I'll probably just double-up with Kai like I did last year."

Oh. That didn't sound romantic at all. In other words, he was just going to combine some money with Kai and let him pick out the gift. Last year, their joined gift for Nya consisted of a pair of magenta, billowy pants with waffle print all over them and a bottle of perfume—something he knew she was allergic to. Jay knew Kai liked to tease his sister, but goddamn. Talk about bad taste! And Cole had forgotten about her allergy.

He was serious then. He really was going to break up with her. Jay just hoped he would use some tact and not be callous about it. But regardless, he knew she was going to get hurt. Cole was who she had chosen over him, after all. "I'll…think about it," he let out finally, and Cole gently let go of his hand.

Jay bit his lip. Something about the loss of warmth from Cole's protective hold had a semblance of finality to it and subsequently sent his anxiety spiking. Plus, the heavy and uncomfortable silence that settled over them afterward didn't help either. Scared and desperate, Jay fell back on what he knew best to combat such a situation…

"Say—um, have you heard of Murphy's Law?"

Cole lifted an eyebrow at him. "Yeah."

"Okay, what is it then?"

"If something can go wrong, it will go wrong, basically."

Jay grinned. "Right-o! Have you heard of Cole's Law?"

This earned him a right baffled expression. "No? What is it?"

"Thinly sliced cabbage."

Silence. Cole blinked owlishly at him before letting a smile slowly curved his lips. "You proud of yourself for that one?"

The blue ninja's grin turned cheeky. "Yup!"

Cole laughed outright at that, the cadence happy and light. Dammit, Jay's body chemistry was still off. Conflicting emotions fought for dominion over his psyche, He was appeased, but also not? And his head and chest were still hurting. Jay internally sighed and chalked it up to his injuries and the Marked One bullshit messing with him.

Just then, the sound of the sliding door alerted the two masters of Aaron and his team's return. Jay struggled to sit up a bit straighter, taking notice of their brisk pace and consternated expressions. But also, they were carrying their ninja suits.

"We need to get you two dressed. Now," Aaron stressed, motioning for Ian and Omar to assist Cole.

Cole threw off his covers. "What's going on?"

Aaron carefully removed Jay's I.V. "Something terrible happened during the expedition yesterday. The Mana Cetra that they had detained was killed."

Pure, unadulterated shock undulated throughout Jay's entire body. And underneath it all, he heard Isis scream. "What…?"

Aaron met his gaze, serious and anxious. Like any good doctor, he didn't mince words and got straight to the point. "Worse still, Brad retaliated by attacking the man that did it and severely injured him." Jay's heart jumped into his throat as all the blood drained from his face. "That's why your friends are on their way now. You all need to escape before the regime enacts retribution and possibly calls for Brad's arrest."

Jay's thoughts spiraled. He didn't even feel his gown being removed and leaving him exposed. Brad…did what…? But how…? And what the hell happened for a Mana Cetra to be killed…? …Isis…? Jay could feel his little guardian somewhat but didn't know how to establish adequate communication with them. But he tried anyway. I'm so sorry, Isis… I… I'm here if you need to talk or anything, okay…? It sounded lame, but he didn't know how else to express his condolences.

It took Jay a moment to realize Aaron was still talking. In fact, there was chatter all around him. "Should we reduce the wrapping, doctor?"

"Yeah, let's do that. Hold on, Jay."

The sound of scissors snipping filled his ears, and the tight, constrictive weight around his head and neck lessened. Aaron's fingers softly prodded around his skull. "Okay, still looks good. Get ready to renew the dressing, Fayth. Now, listen, cousin, I don't want you doing anything strenuous or ninja-y for at least a month, alright? The stitches will take some time to fully dissolve—around six weeks or so. In the meantime, take only baths. No showers at all. To wash your hair, have someone do it for you in a sink. Head tilted back and neck supported. Be gentle with the area. Here, give me your hand…"

Jay complied and Aaron guided his uninjured hand to a particular spot above his right temple. He could feel the shaved area, which was at least an eight-inch stretch towards the back of his skull. And paved through the center, Jay mapped multiple little ridges within a span of six inches. "Damn. Yikes," he mumbled, and Aaron nodded.

"No joke. After you wash your hair, make sure your head is completely dry before you redress it. Let the area breath every now and then too."

Jay swallowed. "Okay."

The wrapping didn't feel nearly as cumbersome as it did before when they were done, and his fishnet tank was slid tentatively over his head. Aaron took great care maneuvering his arms into the sleeves of his Gi. "Bones usually take longer to mend but give those fingers a month or so too. Flex them every now and then so they don't get too stiff."

Just when Jay was about to voice his affirmation again, the door slid open. "Kaasan!"

Jay had never been so happy to see the pair of bright, ruby-red eyes belonging to the Green Ninja of Creation. Lloyd and the rest of his friends poured into the room, each (sans Garmadon) exclaiming their joy at seeing him and Cole again and being reunited. Jay greeted everyone with reassuring smiles but had to let it fall and gasp upon noticing Brad's slumped form across Zane's back.

"Wha… What happened to him?" He reached up and smoothed away a few of the younger man's silky strands from his closed eyelids. "He's so pale."

"Mana exhaustion," answered Garmadon. "But we'll explain everything at length once we return home."

"Sure, but where's Sensei Wu?" Cole was standing fully attired and cowl in place, his narrowed green stare roaming over each member of their clan. In other words, 'Leader Mode' had been activated.

"Again, all will be explained once we are home," stated Garmadon. "Just know that he is well."

Jay lifted his hand and pointed over Lloyd's shoulder across the room, at the horrifically scarred stranger leaning casually against the doorframe, keeping it from closing. The man also appeared to be chatting quite amicably with Fayth, while the woman gesticulated at him with wide eyes. "And I suppose that guy is gonna be explained later too?"

Garmadon sighed without turning around. "Yes. That is Obadiah. …Much has happened these past few days." Well, Jay thought that was the understatement of the decade. "Is there anything else, Dr. Walker?"

"Just one…" Aaron finished scribbling something on a notepad and tore off the page to hand over to Garmadon. "Those are prescriptions for painkillers for Jay and Cole. Just in case they need them."

Garmadon dipped his head in understanding and folded the piece of paper into the pocket of his kimono. Kai came to stand in front of Jay. "Alright, lil' bro, grab on. I have the honor of carrying your marked ass outta here."

Jay grimaced, not really liking the idea of being packed around. Once was enough, thank you! Then again, he knew he would have to swallow his pride and accept the help. He could barely walk much less run. He regarded Aaron solemnly. "Will you be okay?"

The good doctor smiled. "Of course! Don't you worry, cousin, we'll see each other again. Now get going. All of you be safe!"

Kai turned around and Jay wrapped his arms around his neck. He felt the other man hoist him up onto his back and couldn't help but grin. "Wow, I feel so high up," he snarked. "This must be how a horse jockey feels!"

Kai growled underneath him. "I swear if you say 'giddy up'…"

"Awww, but you're such a big, strong, stallion!"

"Oh, so Cole ain't?" Somehow, even without seeing his face, Jay knew Kai was smirking. In lieu of a reply, the blue ninja flushed a deep red and sought vengeance by pulling a fistful of the brunet's hair. "Ah!"

A slew of soft chuckles sounded from all around and Garmadon smiled. "I am glad to see you in such good spirits, Jay. We all are, no doubt. Now, let us leave from here."

Aaron, Ian, and Omar said their goodbyes as the Nomad Clan filed toward the exit. Upon their approach, Fayth clasped Garmadon's acquaintance's—Obadiah's hand betwixt hers and graced him with one last awed expression before letting go. She pressed two fingers to her shielded lips and placed them on Jay's stitched wound. "See ya, sugah! And God bless!"

Although Cole acted tough, his limp was painfully obvious. Despite this, however, he made his way to the front. "I'll get us out of here. It shouldn't be too much of a problem if I use my True Potential."

"You will do no such thing," Garmadon countered, and Obadiah seconded with a scoff at Cole's reckless bravado.

"You may be a bear, but you're still a cub, I see. The injured shouldn't be leading the charge but bringing up the rear." He sauntered with a panther-like grace towards the front and flicked long tresses of that wild, salt and pepper mane of a ponytail of his over his shoulder with an exaggerated flourish. "Garmadon and I will play point. Kai and Zane are carrying precious cargo, so they'll be tucked safe in the middle. Which leaves you three to be the caboose. Savvy?"

Cole didn't offer a rebuttal. He was probably just as shocked as Jay was at the scarred man's slipshod ease at commandeering their clan. The only one who looked disgruntled by Obadiah's command was Lloyd, though he kept his mouth shut.

"A better alternative than plowing through walls, I must say." Though Obadiah gave the order, it was Garmadon's flick of the hand that cajoled the ninja and Nya to move as he said.

The brightly lit hallway suddenly went black and the packed warriors braced themselves. "The hell?" Kai hissed.

A droning whir sounded, and dull red light soon saturated the hall. "Uh-oh," whispered Zane. Expression darkened, Garmadon took off and everybody hastened to follow.

"Looks like a security measure," Jay said. "The military's probably looking for us now."

"Looking?" Obadiah crowed. "Give the dogs some credit, Sapphire. They know exactly where we are. In fact, it's only a matter of time before they—"

The clan rounded a corner and immediately slowed to a stop. For in front of them was a line of soldiers clad in black with their deadly firearms drawn and fixed on them. "Insurgents!" One of them bellowed. It was difficult to tell which one since the blockade of them was several meters away. "You have exactly ten seconds to turn over Brad Tudabone, Jay Walker, and Cole Belmonte! And get on your knees with your hands up over your head! 10!"

Obadiah scratched his scraggly beard. "On my knees? You could at least buy me dinner first, you troglodyte…"

"9!"

Garmardon calmly cracked his knuckles. "Obadiah, this goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway: Use only non-lethal force. These young men and women are just doing their jobs."

"Huh. You're no fun."

"4!"

Garmadon opened his palm, welcoming a mass of black energy to converge. "Get ready to advance."

Jay's grip on Kai tightened.

"2!"

Obadiah was already dashing forward when Garmadon released his power and swathed the entire corridor in pitch black. Kai ran and Jay extended his senses. Startled gasps and grunts of pain and bodies being slammed against the wall and ground reverberated all around him. Kai leaped over a fallen soldier and continued running. Fretful, Jay turned his head. "Nya!"

"I got her, Jay!" Came Cole's voice a little ways behind him and Jay breathed a sigh of relief. The darkness soon evaporated, and the muted red hallways returned. Obadiah cackled, not breaking stride. "What an exhilarating detour!"

"Damn, he's a master alright," growled Kai. "That was all him. He took down every last one of them by himself."

Jay gulped. Just who was this guy? During the scuffle, he could sense everyone but Obadiah. Why was that? And Garmadon hadn't delivered any blows. So then, was this new master really that fast and powerful? And what kind of master didn't have an element to sense? It was downright frightening and very, very suspicious.

But, of course, this wasn't the time to dwell on it. Jay had no idea where they were at, as each corridor they sprinted through looked the same as the last. But Zane apparently did as he called out which direction to go. Every other twist and turn, they ran into a group of soldiers, which Garmadon and Obadiah quickly incapacitated. Until at long last, they came across an elevator.

"Should we even risk this?" Lloyd asked.

Zane readjusted his grip on Brad. "We don't have a choice. The only flights of stairs located within the Honeycomb are near the residential area and CCC. There are individual chutes nearby for transport, but that would only waste time. Not to mention, we would run the risk of getting separated."

Garmadon pushed the "up" arrow button. "The bullet trains are located on the upper struts, and they're our only means of escape."

"And they know that…" Nya muttered. The Ninja shared nervous glances, letting the ominous words hang between them.

"We'll be okay." Jay's voice filtered through the silence. "We'll get out of here just fine."

This was nothing new for Jay. Positive thinking was a philosophy that he's been trying his damndest to instill within his being for months now. Why? Because it was better than the alternative. And because he was trying to overcome his flaws. He had to have more faith in the people around him. He had to have more faith in himself. It didn't always work regarding the latter. But given what transpired only a few, short days ago, in extreme situations, that is, he was able to deliver.

"Jay's right." Garmadon's voice cut through the haze swirling within the blue ninja's mind. "It's much too soon to despair."

A chime signaled the arrival of the elevator and Obadiah readily groaned. "I beg to differ. I hate these things." They all piled on, with Obadiah trudging on last, looking like he'd rather do anything else. He muttered a few colorful expletives when the elevator jerked to begin a smooth ascent. "Automatized coffin."

"I don't recall you having a problem last time," Garmadon said.

Obadiah grunted, earning a quick "my bad" from Cole. "Yes, well, it wasn't nearly as crowded as last time. And definitely not nearly as…portentous."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh no," Zane suddenly whispered, eyes wide. "Corruption."

Kai turned his attention to the white ninja. "Huh? What's up, babe?"

At that moment the elevator lurched, and all the buttons began flickering in sporadic tandem. Then, the elevator reversed directions. "What's happening?!" Nya yelled.

"Corruption," Obadiah sneered. "Mechanical cores can easily be tampered with and therefore corrupted. We're trapped."

Lloyd tried to press the upper-level buttons multiple times to no avail. "Dammit! I knew we should've taken the stairs!"

Jay bit his lip, trying to think. Of course, the regime could control any of the electronical equipment in the Honeycomb. It was foolish to think otherwise. Now, they were going to be delivered right into their hands if they didn't do something quick! Wait. Could it be possible for him to hack into the elevator's control unit? No, what was he thinking! He needed a computer to do that.

But maybe… Jay placed his hand flat against a nearby wall. He could tell that his elemental powers had been amplified since the meteor storm hit. Granted, he wasn't 100% at the moment, but what other choice did they have? Once again, this was something only he could do. All I need to do is concentrate… I just need to reverse the polarity…

"Jay…?" Jay could hear the concerned inflection in Cole's voice and grinned.

"Just…trying something…" Cerulean lightning sparked his fingertips before they veined and coiled around the entirety of his hand. The overhead lights flickered. Jay closed his eyes and gritted his teeth against the strain of control. His temples throbbed. The cables mechanizing the elevator screeched until the elevator came to an abrupt stop.

Jay exhaled tiredly and trembled. He just wasn't up to something like this right now and his body knew it. No, I can…do this…!

Lloyd could see him struggling. They all could. "Ka-Kaasan, wait—stop! Just tell me what to do! I can do it!"

"Yeah, lil' bro, I think you've done enough."

"Brother, please do not overexert yourself."

"Jay…"

"Jay!"

"Oh, will you all just shut up!" Obadiah snapped. "Can't you see he's trying to concentrate? And all of you telling him he shouldn't or can't do it isn't helping."

"You shut up!" Lloyd barked back. "You don't know anything about Jay!"

Obadiah pinned the green ninja down with a glare hot enough to melt sedimentary rock. "Boy, I don't need to know shit about him in order to encourage him to do his best." Lloyd faltered, as did the rest of the 'youngsters' in the face of the elder. Cole looked downright upbraided. Garmadon was the silent observer. "He is a master, is he not? And as a master, his powers should be respected." He regarded Jay then, his countenance irrefutably neutral. "You can do this, Sapphire. Get us out of here."

Jay inwardly shuddered at the stare given by the dual irises of milky white and vermillion. Yep, the guy was definitely weird, frightening, and very suspicious, but he appreciated his words all the same. Although it took a few minutes, Jay managed to push enough of his element through and let it travel to the pulley mechanism. From there, the manipulative shock of his power on the device reactivated the elevator and they were traveling upward once more. A little sluggishly, but, at least, they were moving in the right direction now.

A collective sigh of relief culminated the small space. "Thanks, Jay," said Cole. "And…sorry. That was hypocritical of me…"

Jay didn't want to break his concentration and send them all careening down to hell, so he just smiled at his best friend. At all of them. The only problem was…he could feel himself weakening. He wasn't going to last for much longer.

"Kaasan, I—"

"If you really want to help, boy, actions will always speak louder than words," Obadiah interjected. "Come over here and place your hand on him." Crimson pools glinted in aggravation, but, nonetheless, Lloyd complied and did as he was told. "Your precious kaasan needs a helping hand and you're going to give it to him. His energy is waning."

Lloyd's eyes bulged. "What?! But I can't heal anybody!"

"You're not going to heal him. You're going to rejuvenate him. And I'm going to help you do it." Obadiah placed his hand on top of Lloyd's. "Okay, Master of Energy. You're going to feed him your element directly. Let it trickle not flow. I'll handle the rest."

Lloyd fidgeted, uncertain. "And, h-how much is a trickle compared to a flow?"

Obadiah's lips slowly curved into something purely patronizing and wicked. "Let's just say, you'll know when he drops dead because you gave him too much. Now, don't fuck up. We only have one chance at this." A flash of perfectly white teeth gleamed. "No pressure, of course."

Jay's heart pounded.

"Dude, c'mon, goddamn," Kai hissed.

"His methods are rather…unorthodox," commented Zane.

Nya shushed them. "Thank you, Cherry, my dear." Obadiah dipped his head at Lloyd. "Shall we, boy?"

"It's Lloyd," he growled but closed his eyes in concentration anyway.

At first, Jay didn't feel anything sans the weight of Lloyd's and Obadiah's hands on his shoulder. Then, it hit him. It was like being scolded by boiling hot water and he gasped with the unexpected pain. Lloyd was quick to apologize, while Obadiah just grunted. "Concentrate, boy."

Jay was about to yell for both of them to back the hell off when soothingly warm liquid heat began to spread throughout his body—like eating hot, delicious soup in the winter cold. He instantly sighed. His muscles unclenched and even the throbbing in his temples dissipated. And strangely, (not like Jay was complaining, though) the scent of lavender and chamomile flooded his senses.

Jay entered a semi-meditative state and channeling the correct amount of lightning to power the elevator became nearly effortless. Damn…if only I could stay like this forever… They reached the surface level where the bullet trains were stationed just a few moments later. Obadiah exited first.

"Praise the gods," he huffed and shook his head. "Modern technology…fucking ridiculous…"

Kai rolled his eyes, disembarking as well with everybody else. "Okay, boomer." Jay chuckled and rested his chin on the fire ninja's shoulder. "Jay, no more, got it? We take care of everything else from now on."

The azure ninja just smiled. "Sure, Kai."

Surface level. So close to freedom. The station appeared deserted and caked in dust and debris, most likely due to the aftershocks of the earthquake. The fluorescents overhead flickered and an apprehensive stillness settled in the wide-open space. The lack of further resistance was worrying. But then again, the regime was probably banking on their little elevator hacking scheme to apprehend them. The small band proceeded through the station with an air of caution, heading towards the platform.

A bullet train sat pristine and inviting, its doors wide open. Obadiah scoffed. "If you think for one second, I'm going to willingly board another automatized coffin, you have another thing coming."

Cole crossed his arms. "I know, but what're we supposed to do? Run the tracks?"

"And we can't summon our dragons," Lloyd put in. "They're way too big."

Garmadon stepped forward. "We shouldn't dawdle. No doubt they've dispatched more troops to pursue us. It's only a matter of time before they catch up." He approached Obadiah. "It would be like old times, wouldn't it?"

Obadiah scowled, his blind, milky iris giving Garmadon a narrowed side-glance. "Don't say such words, as if you remember."

"I won't claim to remember everything. Because I'm not sure. What I do remember, however, were the amazing feats you performed after gaining mastery of your element."

"Spare me the obsequious flattery, Garmadon. Let's just go."

Jay looked curiously between the two elders. Huh. Okay, so Obadiah wasn't just an acquaintance of Garmadon's. There was obviously history between them, and the lightning ninja was starting to really look forward to learning what it was. Jay could still feel the effects of Obadiah's and Lloyd's help and even wanted to have Kai put him down so that he could walk on his own. He was feeling that energized!

Just who in the world is Obadiah…?

The aforementioned master clasped his hands together and steepled his fingers, aligning his two indexes. At once, the ground shook with bellowing tremors. Light beams and paraphernalia hanging on the walls crashed to the floor. Everyone turned to Cole. "Hey, don't look at me!"

"Guys, check it out!" Jay hollered, pointing a finger at the teetering bullet train. The train tilted to the side and slammed against the wall at an angle. Before anyone could question anything, thick tree roots imbued in bronze and umber hues splintered from the abyss. They came from the ground, the walls, the ceiling, but stayed confined to the tunnel. One root twisted towards Obadiah and the scarred man gave it a generous pat.

"You continue to honor me, old friend." It was one of the few times the scarred man's smile was genuine. "Now then…" he gifted the others with a sardonic smirk, "…all aboard."

Garmadon didn't hesitate and a group of thinner roots stretched towards him. They gently curled around his wrists and guided him onto their sturdier brethren. They continued to move intriguingly about him, rolling over his body and touching his face. The Master of Darkness grinned at the obvious display of interest. "What is it? Do you remember me as well?"

Obadiah clicked his tongue, his steps light, and practiced as he mounted onto the thick and beautiful roots with a hand on his hip. "Yggdrasil is the world tree, Garmadon. It's been around since the beginning of time and subsequently has accumulated millennia worth of memories and forgets nothing. So don't go thinking you're special or anything." He shouted over his shoulder at the others. "Get a move on, you lot!"

Snapping out of their shock, the others quickly boarded the roots and let the immortal flora entwine them in security. The roots of Yggdrasil then slithered forth at an abnormally expedited pace, like a pit of snakes slithering anxiously over each other to reach a hard sought destination.

"This is so cool!" Jay crowed, ecstatic at the speed and feeling the wind whip past him.

"This is the way to travel, Sapphire!" Countered Obadiah from the front. "Though I will always adore a simple horse and carriage."

Lloyd ruefully looked at a still slumbering Brad atop Zane's back. "I wish he was awake. He would've loved this."

They reached the literal light at the end of the tunnel arguably faster than they would if traveling by bullet train. The bitter cold of the outside world seeping into their clothes and numbing their flesh on the rise. Garmadon lifted his hand. "Prepare to summon your dragons!"

"Hang on tight now, Jay!" Kai grunted and launched himself into the air. A flash of red light later and a ruby red dragon with golden horns, screaming like a banshee appeared under them. A moment later four other dragons joined them in the sky: Rocky carrying Cole and Nya, Shard carrying Zane and Brad, Sol carrying Lloyd, and Thanatos carrying Garmadon.

But where was Obadiah?

Jay searched the shattered earth below. He spotted Obadiah on the ground, the roots of Yggdrasil receding back into the bowels of the planet from whence they came. Only now, perched on his finger was a bright red cardinal, a spark of flamboyant color in the otherwise desolate landscape. Garmadon rounded back. "Figures you meant an actual 'little bird'… Come, Obadiah. Summon your dragon. Stay with me."

The scarred man meandered, pondered, his gaze never leaving the twittering, crimson bird on his finger. Until he lifted his hand, and the pretty avian took flight, becoming nothing more than a red speck in the grey sky. "No." He exhaled a plume of white and now twined betwixt his long, thin fingers was a kiseru. "I think I changed my mind. Goodbye, Garmadon. I'm sure you can figure out how to dispel the seal I placed on the little petunia."

Before Obadiah could even turn around, Garmadon swooped down and grabbed him by the waist. "I don't know what you're so apprehensive about, but I assure you. You have nothing to fear with me. I'll protect you if need be."

"Idiot," Obadiah snarled. "Do I look like I need protection? Over the decades, while you were sowing your oats in some woman and going on vacation in the Underworld, I've combated horrors that would blast your soul. There is nothing in this world that can compare."

Garmadon's brow crinkled and he squinted at the other elder. "You're awfully well-informed of my whereabouts while I was ignorant of yours," he said with a frown, in which Obadiah winced. "There's much you have yet to tell me. Now, hold still."

Obadiah sat in front of Garmadon in the saddle, wearing the darkest scowl Jay had ever seen on a person. He looked like he was trying to put as much space between them as possible regardless of the futility of it. That level of petulance could only be defined as juvenile, which really hadn't fit with the devil-may-care attitude Obadiah had displayed thus far. But then again, none of them knew Obadiah.

And that sentiment seemed to be shared with Garmadon too, at least to a certain extent.

"Hey, Jay?"

Jay blinked out his rumination and answered his saddle mate (he hoped Wisp was recovering well). "Yeah?"

"Now that the lingering dread of capture is behind us, you mind if I ask you somethin'?"

"O-kay…?"

"Why the hell do you smell like warm milk? Or is it eggnog? I don't know but you smell milky. And cinnamon-y…"

Jay flushed wildly. Goddamn Kai and his sensitive nose! Panicking, he could barely manage a coherent response. "S-Shut up! Shut up and get away from me!"

"What? I'm carrying you, moron! Just answer the question!"

"Shut up!"

Damn being a Marked One! It was undoubtedly nothing but trouble!

Author's Note: The Nomad Clan is reunited and returning back to the Destiny's Bounty. So many different and HUGE developments happened since they last left and the ramifications are just beginning to take effect. The only question is: will things get worse or better?

Please read and review! They are my milk and cookies!