97
Matilda waited for Zerek to answer his phone as the news ran on the television. At last, the scientist answered.
"Hallo, Ms O'Keefe. I'm afraid I do not have much time to chat—new guests vill be arriving here at Estyeer shortly."
"What guests?" Matilda demanded. She had been feeling pretty good, considering that her meeting with the Walker twins had gone so well in her favor. However, all that confidence had vanished when she turned on the news and found out what the top story was. "Zerek, you're getting out of control. All these risks you're taking..."
"Ze guests are not human, Matilda," he pointed out, sounding amused. "Zey are android, which vill make it easy to access zeir memory core and alter ze experience zey vill assume they had here in Estyeer."
"That's supposed to make me feel better? The more people you take to your science fortress, the more likely we're all going to get caught. Do you realize the hoops I've had to jump through just for Mr. Walker's disappearance alone?" Matilda's eyes scanned the t.v. screen. "Zerek...tell me. How exactly did they manage to find two of your 'guests' already?"
"I released Agatha and Mr. Valker's girlfriend earlier today," Zerek affirmed. "I have no further need for zem."
"But they're alive, Zerek!"
"You are ze von who insisted I not kill anyvon."
"They'll be able to tell authorities everything!" Matilda snapped. "I really don't understand what goes on in that supposedly genius mind of yours."
"Do not fret. I have everyzing under control. Ze memories of Estyeer have been erased from zeir minds."
Matilda blinked. "What?"
"Zey vill not remember anyzing from zeir time in our custody. But in finding zese two survivors, ze authorities are more convinced zan ever zat ze disappearances vere not foul play."
"How exactly did you manage that?" Matilda demanded, feeling strange. Since when had her mysterious business partner been able to erase things from people's very minds? Has he ever done it to me? Are there things I do not remember?
"It is somezing I have been able to access now zat I have oni power at my disposal. Do not vorry, Matilda. I have everyzing under control."
Matilda leaned back in her chair, watching news reporters discuss the fate of the two young women who had been found. "If you could release them...then why didn't you release my son?"
Zerek chuckled, which did little to calm her nerves. "Patience. If all goes as planned, he vill be released in time."
"According to which plans?" Matilda demanded. "He should have been the first one released, if you had a way to—"
"I must go; my guests are arriving. Stay calm, Matilda...everyzing is going as it should. Overreacting vill be ze only zing to get us off track."
The phone beeped, letting her know that Zerek had ended the call.
"That was the third checkpoint," P.I.X.A.L pointed out as the car drove on.
Zane nodded as he also scanned their surroundings. "This private laboratory seems very remote. It seems Aristo Zerek takes security very seriously."
"It seems like a lot of protection," his wife pointed out. Zane could tell that this situation wasn't sitting well with her, and he reached out to take her hand.
"There are multiple checkpoints like that for most robotics institutions. People do not want to be infiltrated by rival companies."
"Yet, he invites us—scientists from another country—to his operation center, with the intention of showing us his current projects," P.I.X.A.L replied. "Someone who takes this much effort to hide their secrets should not be willing to collaborate so easily."
Zane was quiet, and P.I.X.A.L finally sighed.
"I am sorry," she offered. "I suppose I have been on edge all day."
"You are worried about Julien," Zane pointed out. "It makes sense that you would be on edge."
"On the one hand, I do not feel like we can trust anyone," P.I.X.A.L admitted. "On the other, I fear that our time spent at the MIRI and now Estyeer will be a waste of time if Aristo Zerek cannot tell us anything about Julien. We will have lost an entire day that we could have used to search for our son in other places."
"We will do all we can at this laboratory with Dr. Zerek, and then we can go back to searching. We are not like the others—we can search throughout the night, as we do not need sleep. But if Dr. Zerek really is working on upgrading surveillance drones, they could prove indispensable in rescuing those still missing...including Julien."
P.I.X.A.L didn't answer, but she leaned into Zane, resting her head on his shoulder. He smiled before turning his attention back to the scenery. The landscape was beautiful, made more so by the fiery red light of sunset. A river winked from between pine trees, and there were patches of snow from some past snowfall that had not yet melted. However, as Zane calculated the rate of the setting sun, his smile faded. How cold did it get in the wilderness at night?
"Ve are approaching Estyeer," a droning voice called from the front of the car. Zane nodded his thanks, his attention going back to the driver. He had been surprised that the person Dr. Zerek had sent to pick them up was an android, and it became clear that the android was only coded with enough intellect to take orders. Zane had grown used to seeing unintelligent androids fill subservient positions, especially in robotics institutions. It no longer surprised him, but it still made him feel strange at times. P.I.X.A.L had once served such a position, having been created to fulfill the role of digital assistant for Cyrus Borg. However, as her conscience grew, her creator had been more overjoyed than anything, insisting she should choose her own path if she had the ability to do so.
Zane's thoughts trailed off as they turned a corner and a giant laboratory came into view. He blinked in surprise, and he felt P.I.X.A.L shift as she scanned it as well. "It looks like a fortress," Zane pointed out at last. "I have never seen a science institution that looked like this."
P.I.X.A.L didn't answer, and he knew that she was probably scanning the building, just as he was. However, he found his scanning could not penetrate the thick stone walls. Zerek must have lined the building with something that protects from digital scrutiny. Zane realized. He frowned as the car moved around the large building before pulling into a garage with similar company cars.
There was another man waiting for them in the garage, and as they drew close, it was clear that the man in sunglasses and a lab coat was merely another android. As the car came to a stop, the newcomer opened the door to allow Zane and P.I.X.A.L to exit. "Dr. Zerek is glad you have arrived safely," the android offered in the same droning voice as the driver. Zane smiled sadly as he studied the android.
"Thank you," he offered. "I am Zane, and this is my wife, P.I.X.A.L. What is your name?"
"I am seventeen," the android offered, though there was no emotion tied to the answer.
Zane sighed, but he took the answer in stride. He turned to the driver, who had introduced himself earlier. "Thank you, Twenty-Five."
"Zerek is eager to meet you," the android answered.
"If you vill follow me," Seventeen offered before turning to leave. Zane and P.I.X.A.L both followed along behind him, exiting the garage into a long hallway. Zane tried to scan the rooms that they passed, confused at what they could be. However, it seemed the walls inside the fortress were just as impossible to scan as the outer ones.
"What is in all of these rooms?" P.I.X.A.L asked, no doubt reaching the same conclusion as her husband.
"Zis is vere Zerek houses guests."
"There are a lot of rooms," Zane realized. "He must have many guests."
Seventeen didn't reply as he led them to the end of the hallway of rooms and then granted them access to a perpendicular hallway full of bright light. This is more what Zane had expected to find in a private laboratory. The lab rooms they passed now had big windows, and in each, he could see further sunglass-wearing androids working on various projects.
Ahead of them, a figure stood resolutely in the hallway, no doubt waiting for them to draw closer. As they did, Zane realized this man was different than the others. His hair was grey, rather than blonde, and his eyes were uncovered. However, as they grew close, Zane scanners alerted him of one important fact—like all the others, the man waiting for them was an android.
"Velcome to Estyeer," the man offered with a slight smile. "I vas glad to hear zat you accepted my invitation."
Zane blinked in surprise as he realized what that meant. "Dr. Zerek?" he realized. The man nodded once.
"Indeed."
"You are android," P.I.X.A.L pointed out. "Like us." It was hard to interpret how P.I.X.A.L felt about the revelation, but Dr. Zerek did not seem worried.
"It is true," he offered. "Zo, I suppose I cannot consider myself on ze same level as ze two of you—heroes of Ninjago, possessors of zings zat no android has ever possessed."
Zane frowned, but Zerek did not explain more as he turned to wave them forward.
"Come. My assistant has been vorking hard in anticipation of your arrival. I have never seen him commit so fully to ze project at hand." There was a glimmer of amusement in his voice, but Zane did not understand the joke. He was used to being a step behind in situations of humor, but it was generally human humor he didn't understand.
"While we walk, could we ask you questions about Julien?" Zane asked.
"Vat vould you like to know?"
"When did you see him last?" P.I.X.A.L demanded.
"He left ze MIRI on Friday night and joined up vith some of his friends."
"Do you know where they went?" Zane asked.
"Do you not believe zey vent to ze vilderness? Zat is vere zey found two of ze survivors—including my own employee, Agatha."
"We just find it strange that our son would have gone out exploring in the outdoors," P.I.X.A.L pointed out. "He is not a great fan of outdoor activity."
Zerek paused, and he turned to face them with a curious expression. "Do you truly consider him your son?"
The question took the nindroids by surprise, and they glanced at each other before Zane answered. "I know it seems strange, a human child being raised by androids, but—"
"I do not doubt ze ability of machines to provide all necessary care for a human child," Zerek cut in. "I merely am curious if you truly have adopted ze labels of humanity. Fazer, mozer, and son."
"Julien Cyrus is our son," P.I.X.A.L said firmly, and Zerek's smile grew.
"You care about him."
"Very much," Zane agreed. "That is why we asked to meet with you—it is imperative we find him, as well as the others, as soon as possible."
"Do not vorry, Zane. It is my intention to reunite you vith Julien Cyrus as soon as possible."
Something in his tone was off, but Zane found himself wondering if he should read too much into tone. He knew from personal experience that it was more difficult for him as an android to get his feelings across than it would be for a human, so he let Zerek's strange comment slide as he and P.I.X.A.L followed the android through the hallway. At last, they came to a door, but this one didn't have a window on the outer wall like the others had.
"Zank you vonce again for making the trip," Zerek offered as he turned the knob of the room. "I know zat your presence vill help us make progress on our current project. Ve had hit a vall, but I have little doubt ve vill be able to vork zrough it now zat you are here."
"Um...you are welcome," Zane offered. "We are happy to help."
"Yes...you've alvays been ze most helpful kind of androids." Zerek pushed the door open, and Zane and P.I.X.A.L followed behind him.
The lab was sparse, and Zane scanned it quickly. It seemed to be fully equipped, and he frowned as he made out a small living space on one side of the room with a bed and small bathroom. He turned to Zerek in surprise.
"Do you live in this room, as well as work?"
Dr. Zerek smiled. "I am an android, Zane, same as you. I have no need of such accommodations. That is where my assistant has been living for the past little while."
"But...your assistants are android as well," Zane pointed out, still feeling lost.
Zerek gestured to a table with a machine and several tools. "If you vould be so kind, zere is ze machine zat ve have been having difficulty vith." Rather than head over to the table, the scientist stayed by the entrance, but Zane and P.I.X.A.L made their way over. Zane frowned as he did a preliminary scan, and he finally shook his head.
"This is a surveillance device? There is not much here to warrant that description."
"The use of chronosteel is especially strange," P.I.X.A.L pointed out as she reached out to open the device. "If anything, this seems like it would function more as a battery or generator than anything remotely related to surveillance."
"Does your true device require too much power, leading you to create this battery?" Zane mused as he picked up a few of the circuits on the table to study them.
"My assistant built ze machine. Perhaps it vould be best for him to explain vat he is still struggling vith." Zerek offered from the doorway. Zane turned to answer, but he froze when he caught sight of the new people now standing on the other side of the room.
"Julien?" It was P.I.X.A.L who spoke, her tone just as surprised as Zane felt. He would have thought it was some kind of processing mistake, had he not been an android who, through scanning, could ascertain that the young man being held back by Zerek's staff was indeed his son.
Dr. Zerek merely smiled, and Julien seemed to be trying to say something through the hand covering his mouth. He was being restrained by multiple androids, and even from here, Zane could see the fear in his eyes.
"Release him." P.I.X.A.L's voice had gone cold, and Zane heard her pull out her weapons that she always kept at the ready. In moments, her retractable bow sprung to the ready, with an arrow cocked.
Zane summoned his powers, the ice dancing around his hands as his mental processors worked to figure out what was happening. "You are the reason they were missing," the Nindroid realized. "You have Julien...do you have the others as well?"
"Yes, zey are here," Dr. Zerek offered. P.I.X.A.L released her arrow, and Zerek moved just enough for it to miss hitting him. The weapon struck the wall behind him before clattering uselessly to the ground. "I do not recommend attacking. I have brought you here to help vith groundbreaking scientific discovery, not to fight."
"You have our son," P.I.X.A.L pointed out as she pulled out another arrow. "I think fighting is the only option you have left us with."
Zerek chuckled, as if they amused him. "As an android, I vill be difficult to defeat by brute strength. You both know from personal experience how resilient an automated mind can be...especially given ze ability ve have to back up our mental processors." The scientist moved at last, his hand coming up out of his labcoat pocket. P.I.X.A.L drew back her bow again, but she and Zane both froze as the scientist pressed the barrel of a pistol against Julien's head. The young man closed his eyes in fear, but Dr. Zerek's expression remained as collected as ever as he continued. "But I'm sure you vould agree zat a human mind vould be far more difficult to piece back togezer."
The threat hit home. Almost as one, Zane and P.I.X.A.L stood down. "What is it you want?" Zane asked, his voice soft as he maintained eye contact with Zerek. "Why did you take Julien, and why have you lured us here?"
"Julien has a great mind," Zerek offered, though he did not remove the pistol from the young man's temple. "He has been a strong asset in helping me toward my goals."
"Which goals?" P.I.X.A.L asked darkly. Zane knew that his wife hated nothing more than feeling helpless. No doubt her inability to help Julien was frustrating her immensely.
"I am striving to make ze power of ze realm accessible by all," the android scientist continued. "Ze machine on ze table behind you vas created to vithdraw power, and ve have already had success in using it to hoard Oni Aura. Vat I vant now is to grant it ze ability to remove elemental power from flawed vessels into perfect ones."
Understanding filled Zane's circuits. "You are after the elemental powers. That is why you brought me here...and it must be why Colby is missing."
"Ze element of Vater vas ze original target," Zerek admitted. "However, despite Julien's greatest efforts, ve have been unable to vithdraw it from ze human it resides in." Julien flinched slightly, and Zane glanced back at his son to see tears leaking down Julien's face from his closed eyes. Zane furrowed his brow, feeling an ache inside.
"Let Julien go," he requested softly. "And then we can discuss this."
Zerek raised an eyebrow, but Zane felt relieved as the scientist withdrew the pistol at last. The androids restraining Julien released him, and the young man fell to his knees with a gasp. Zane and P.I.X.A.L moved toward their son, and Zerek made no move to stop them. The Nindroids lowered themselves to the ground as they reached the trembling young man, and P.I.X.A.L put a hand on his shoulder.
"Julien..." she started, but rather than reply, the young man began to sob. The ache inside Zane grew stronger as he and his wife made concerned eye contact, but then Julien fell into them. Zane sagged as his son's arms wrapped around him and P.I.X.A.L.
"It will be okay," the Nindroid offered as they embraced Julien back. The young man didn't answer as he clung to them. Zane couldn't remember the last time he had seen Julien this upset. He had always been a quiet child, and was much more likely to brood or shut down emotionally than break down like he was doing now.
The nindroid's processers whirred with many concerns about the situation, not the least of which was wondering how badly his son had been abused in the time he had been missing. He felt a surge of anger, but as he looked up to glower at Dr. Zerek, he realized that the scientist was holding something above P.I.X.A.L. Before the Nindroid could even call a warning, the long Taser connected with P.I.X.A.L's back. She gasped in pain, and Zane and Julien both lurched as the electricity darted into them as well, and then everything went black as the surplus of energy triggered Zane's mind to shut down.
98
Theo kept his eyes forward as they traveled. It had taken more effort than he thought it would to convince Jaqah to let them leave with Rook, but in the end, the woman had finally allowed them to go, as long as they took a few more guards with them. She hadn't been pleased that they had wanted to head to the hidden village in the dead of night, but Theo couldn't wait for the next morning. Now that he had decided to get involved again, there was an urgency that burned in him. It didn't help that there had still been no word from the other realm, so he had no way to know if his parents were making more progress on their own.
The moon was bright as they crossed over into dragon territory, and he heard someone curse softly behind him. "Where exactly are we going?" Rook demanded. Theo had refused to ride with her, but given that she couldn't ride her own hoofer with her hands bound and he didn't trust her to have her hands free, they had finally seated her on Tolan's hoofer, tightly secured in front of the guard.
"You'll see," Theo offered aloofly.
"What are you going to do? Dangle me over a dragon nest? I already told you the truth...I don't see how dragging me into dragon territory is going to prove it!" Rook snapped. Theodynn didn't reply, and he could see her squirming in her peripherals.
"Stop wiggling around," he offered at last. "Remember what Tolan's been instructed to do, if you try to escape." He finally turned to face her, lifting an eyebrow. "You're not the only one who can stab someone in the back."
Rook narrowed her eyes, but she stopped fidgeting. The trip continued in silence, and Theo took a deep breath as he finally caught sight of the pillars marking the entrance to the Hidden Village. He wasn't surprised that Rook didn't know the exact location of the Hidden Village—it wasn't really something that many people knew, even without the barrier that used to keep them hidden from the outside world. He wondered once again if he was risking anything by divulging its location to the assassin, but he finally shook his head. Iona had refused to come to the Central Fortress, which had left this as the only option for getting the answers he needed out of Rook's head.
"Halt!" a voice called, and Theo groaned internally. However, he pulled his hoofer to a stop, and held his hand up to tell the guards behind him to do the same.
"It's just me, Blist," he said flatly. A figure melted from the shadows, her crossbow pointed right at him.
"What the heck are you doing here, in the middle of the night?" she demanded.
"I have an appointment with Iona," he said.
"Lower the crossbow," Tolan ordered from his own hoofer. "You know better than to point that right at the Heir."
Blist flushed, and Theo sighed. "I'm not the Heir anymore," he reminded for the dozenth time. At that, the head of the dragon guard lowered her weapon all the way.
"What?"
"Theo!" another voice called from the shadows, and the rest of the dragon guard patrol came forward into the moonlight. Jasper looked shocked by the guard force Theo was leading. "Why did you bring all these people?"
"It wasn't my choice," he pointed out as he kicked the sides of his hoofer.
"Wait!" Blist said. "You can't just come into the village with an army in the middle of the night!"
"It's three guards, Blist," Tolan pointed out dryly as he kicked his own hoofer. "It's not an invasion."
"Go ask Iona, if you're so worried," Theo said. "We're here on important business, and we can't afford to wait around for you to decide whether or not we deserve to be here."
He knew he was only poking an irritable sniffer by skipping over Blist's usual security protocols, but he didn't have time for her to make them wait outside the village for her to determine whether or not they really were who they said they were. She was the kind of person who treated everyone with mistrust, no matter how long she had known them.
Unlike me...who apparently can't help but trust everyone, he thought bitterly. However, as he passed the glowering woman clutching the crossbow, he found himself wondering which thought process was more destructive at the end of the day.
Rook had been silent throughout the entire encounter, but she finally spoke as they reached the area they would leave their hoofers and dismount. "What is this place?" she muttered, scanning the moonlit area with confusion. "I thought we were in Dragon Territory."
"We are," Theo offered, though he didn't give more of an explanation. He set off across the village toward Iona's home on the far side, and he could hear his guards and Rook following him. Just as they had nearly reached it, a blast of aura exploded down toward Theo, and he just barely managed to dodge it. He heard the guards behind him draw their swords and Rook curse, but Theo held up a hand to stop the fortress guards from attacking. He glowered into the darkness. "Summer, get out here," he snapped.
A giggle erupted from the shadows, and a small girl came into the moonlight. "I almost got you that time," she pointed out.
Theo was less than amused. "What are you doing out here in the middle of the night?" he demanded. She shrugged sweetly, though her expression was still twisted in its usual mischievous expression.
"Couldn't sleep."
"So you thought you would try and blast me?" he asked dryly. He didn't wait for a reply as he turned to head on. "Go home, Summer."
"You used to think it was funny," she pointed out, her smile fading. She didn't disappear as she hurried to catch up. "What are you doing here?"
"We're here to see Iona," he said. "It has nothing to do with you."
"You never come to visit us anymore," Summer pouted. "Even yesterday, you came and then left before we could even play anything."
"I have more important things to do than play, Summer. Go back home with Inna and Luz. If they wake up and you're missing, they're going to worry."
"No they won't. I'm never there when they wake up." She turned to look at the others following Theodynn, and her brow crinkled. "Who's that girl?"
"No one."
"Does she have powers?" Summer asked. "That's why you're bringing her here? Iona's gonna be mad. She was when Hershel brought me. She said the village isn't big enough for all of the rest of the realm's problems."
"She doesn't have powers."
"Then why did you bring her here?"
"It's none of your business, Summer. Now go home, before I have one of my guards escort you."
Summer stuck out her tongue, but her gaze kept going between him and Rook before she darted off. Theo rolled his eyes as they continued on, but then Rook was speaking behind him.
"This is why we could never find powered kids, isn't it? You brought them all here, in the middle of nowhere." She looked around, her eyes wide as she whistled low. "What Quazier wouldn't have given to find this place..."
"I bet he already knew about it," Theo pointed out dryly. "It's not necessarily a great secret that we brought powered kids here—Ottan knew, and the other leaders. I just doubt your wise and powerful leader wanted to mess with the likes of Iona."
Rook frowned, but by now, they had finally reached the Ancient Xinta's home. The light was on inside, and Jaiym exited as they approached. The boy must have run and told Iona about their arrival the second the dragon guard had stopped them outside the village limits.
"Iona said that she's not going to house a whole brigade," he offered. "She said that you, the girl, and Tolan can come in, but the others have to wait outside."
"Fair enough," Theo offered, motioning to the other guards to stay put. They didn't seem surprised, and they each took a defensive stance on either side of the doorway. Jaiym nodded his thanks at their compliance and pulled the cloth doorway to one side so they could enter. Taking a deep breath, Theo did so.
Julien stared at the machine on the table, bile burning in his throat. He had woken a few minutes ago in a chair at the worktable, facing the project he wished he had never created. In the chair next to him, his father was still rebooting, and his mother was nowhere to be seen.
"Bring her back," Julien demanded again, feeling empty.
"Ven I have ze element of ice, she vill be returned. Until zen, she vill remain safely in anozer room," Zerek replied coolly.
Julien looked up to meet the man's eye. "I told you...it is impossible, Zerek," he pleaded, his voice breaking. "There is no way to use the machine to remove elemental power."
Zerek merely smiled. "To a true scientist, nozing is impossible. You have your fazer to help you, Julien. I know zat togezer, you vill be able to figure zis out. After all, he is living proof zat elemental power can be manipulated by machinery."
Julien's fists clenched, but the lead scientist left the room. The lock in the door clicked, and Julien fought down the desire to fall apart all over again. He came close, but then he shook his head. He had already gotten himself and his parents knocked unconscious by falling to pieces—now was the time to dig deep and keep his cool. However, even then, he couldn't bring himself to start working on the machine again. He sat in paralyzing indecision until a chime from his right alerted him that his father's self-rebooting had been completed at last.
Zane inhaled sharply, and Julien glanced over. It always interested him that his father had such human-like responses, even though his robotic body didn't require the same things a human one would need—such as oxygen. Zane's eyes opened, glowing blue as he tried to process the situation he was in. The young man nearly started crying once again as his father turned to face him, and Zane's expression crumpled.
"Julien? What happened?"
"Zerek overrode your system with an invasive surge of electricity," Julien offered numbly. "He's left us here with the machine...and he has mother locked up somewhere else. He will not bring her back until he has the element of ice in his possession."
Zane's expression remained full of concern, but he began to look around, no doubt scanning their surroundings. After a moment, the Nindroid shook his head. "P.I.X.A.L and I are equipped with communicators that allow us to interact, whether or not we are in the same room. However, the communicators are not responding."
Julien cradled his head. "It is possible she is being kept in a state of shut down, and that Zerek is overriding her system reboot. Or he vandalized your communicators while we were all unconscious...or he has built Estyeer in a way so that communication from digital devices is impossible." He pounded one fist on the table as tears filled his eyes. "He is always two steps ahead...everything happens just as he expects, as if he were handling pieces on a chessboard. I have tried all week to think of a way to outsmart him...but I cannot." He took a shuddery breath. "The only way I have been able to protect those I care about is to play into his hands...but now I have doomed you."
The confession made him close his eyes as shame washed over him. His intellect had failed him, and now others would pay the consequences. He felt his father's hand on his shoulder, and Julien finally looked over miserably.
"This is not your fault, Julien," Zane pointed out. "His planning has been meticulous. Even now, everyone else assumes that you and the others are out in the wilderness, lost...and that P.I.X.A.L and I are investigating at the MIRI." His expression clouded for a moment, and he finally sighed. "I tried to send out a distress signal when Zerek first revealed his true colors, but it did not go through. I still cannot get enough of a connection to any network to send one now. It seems that you were right—Estyeer is remote enough to make it impossible to send digital messages."
"I tried to hack into Zerek's system, but it was impossible. When I discovered he was an android, I realized that he has no doubt automated this entire facility to work directly through him...but that means it is completely removed from any kind of outside network. There was no way for me to send an S.O.S, either."
Julien and his father both fell silent. After a few minutes, Zane reached out to pick up a screwdriver, studying it for a moment before replacing it on the table. "Why does Zerek want the elemental powers?"
"He believes that they would be better used in the hands of machines, rather than being kept in people," Julien explained.
"Well...I am already a machine with elemental power."
"Yes, but you are flawed," Julien pointed out. Zane turned in surprise and Julien winced. "In Zerek's mind, I mean. He believes that you and mother are imperfect machines, because of your ability to feel things like a human would. He believes your empathy holds you back."
"I see," Zane said, frowning in thought. "But what is he planning on doing with the elements once he has them in machines? Take over Ninjago?"
"I do not believe he is after that kind of power," Julien admitted as he leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "He claims that his goal is to create renewable energy from completely sustainable sources." Julien's expression darkened. "But to him, elemental powers and Oni lives are those sources."
"Oni?"
"He has a few right now with unlocked powers, including Amber. It sounds like his goal is to get more." Julien reached out to turn the machine, staring at the bars of glowing energy as guilt ate him from inside. "All of this power was from someone he drained. I do not know what happened to the Oni, but considering that the energy is extremely compressed within this battery..."
"That is a lot of power," Zane agreed softly. Julien glanced back over at his father, and his voice broke as he spoke again.
"What are we going to do?"
"I do not know," Zane admitted, and Julien's heart dropped. However, then his father was smiling sadly as he reached out to grab Julien's hand. "But I know we can figure something out between the two of us, Julien."
He tried to return the smile, but further shame kept him from even maintaining eye contact. "I am sorry I did not keep in better contact," he offered softly. "After going to the MIRI, I did not keep you and mother updated on my life. If I had, perhaps you would have discovered that Zerek was not who he was pretending to be. Or better yet, if I had never left to go to a company all the way in Metallonia, then none of this would have even happened."
"P.I.X.A.L. and I know that you were trying to find your own path," Zane offered. "We did not take it as a personal attack that you did not keep in closer contact." His expression flickered. "I know it must be...difficult at times, coming from so different a background as the others around you." The Nindroid glanced away, though he kept a hold of Julien's hand. "Having android parents has led you to live an unprecedented life."
"I would not have wanted it any other way," Julien promised. As his father turned to look at him again, the young scientist was able to offer a wavery smile at last. Zane's concerned expression softened, and he gave Julien's hand a squeeze.
"Let us see what we can do about this machine."
Rook wasn't really sure what she had been expecting, but getting dragged to some secretive base in the middle of dragon territory to meet the elderly, horned woman in front of her was certainly not it. She couldn't help but stare, her mind pulling up everything she knew about Xinta. Which, unfortunately, wasn't much.
"I did not think you'd be coming tonight," the elderly oni said, eyeing Theodynn angrily. He seemed unapologetic.
"I told you that it needed to happen sooner rather than later. If you had been willing to transport to the Central Fortress..."
"Ancient or not, transporting is not as easy as it used to be," the woman said as she lowered herself to the ground with a sigh. "I'm not sure I would have the energy for an endured empathetic connection after transporting across half the realm."
Rook frowned as she tried to keep up with the conversation, but really only one thing stuck out. Ancient? This woman is an Ancient AND a Xinta? Suddenly, she felt fear wash over her like a wave of cold water. What exactly were they planning on having this person do to her?
"So...this is the traitor, I take it," the Ancient said as she shifted her gaze to Rook. The young woman stood as still as stone, not finding it comforting that 'traitor' was the only label the Xinta knew her by.
"This is Rook," Theo agreed. "If she's telling the truth, we may be able to find Raiyn. Not to mention, her memory of the Buyer is hazy—you may uncover more clues if you revisit it."
Rook glanced over at Tolan, hoping the guard would maybe give her some clue about what they were talking about. He was standing near the doorway, studying Iona with a serious expression. He didn't look like he really wanted to be here, but he wasn't doing anything to actually stop the situation from happening.
"Well, come on over, girl," the woman snapped as she adjusted herself on the floor cushion. "Let's see what we can do."
"I already told you the truth!" Rook snapped, finally speaking as she glowered at Theo. "What are you going to have this person do to me?"
"Iona won't hurt you, Rook," Theo said, meeting her eye. "Xinta have a unique ability to look into people's pasts."
"What?"
"I can read your mind," the Xinta offered dryly. She shot Theodynn a look. "I don't generally do it on request...but the information we need is crucial, and the Prince here made it seem like it would be worth our time to find out whether or not he can trust you."
"Where the Buyer is involved at least," Theo corrected. "And I already told you, Iona...I'm not the Oni Heir anymore."
The Xinta scoffed and finally turned her attention back to Rook to gesture again. "Come on, then. I'd like to sleep at some point tonight."
Rook made no move to go closer, trying to hide her trembling through a fierce expression. "I'm not going to let you into my head." She glowered at Theo. "Either trust me or don't. Why take all these drastic measures?"
He glanced away, and she saw a glimmer of something cross his expression. Was he uncomfortable? Or was this something else? At last, he sighed heavily. "I don't trust you, Rook," he said at last. "And I won't, unless Iona gives me the all clear that you haven't been lying."
It hurt, even though Rook already technically knew the prince didn't trust her word. She knew she hadn't really given him any reason to, but the fact that she had finally opened up completely and he totally disregarded it felt frustrating to say the least. She weighed her options as the others in the room eyed her. She wasn't sure if they were going to force her to comply or not, so she might not even have a choice whether or not she participated in this concerning ritual.
"How exactly would it work?" she heard herself ask.
"You'll come sit across from me, and I'll revisit your memories. I'll be able to see what you experienced for yourself. Nothing more than that," the Xinta offered.
Rook shuddered. "Which experiences?" she muttered.
"She's not going to go snooping through everything," Theo said, and she realized that his demeanor had softened. No doubt he had picked up on her fear, and she wasn't sure if that made her feel better or not. "Iona just needs to revisit the memory you claim to have of the Buyer. She'll be able to tell us whether or not you did meet him, and if your description was correct."
"Why does it matter so much?" Rook demanded.
Theo glanced over at the Xinta before looking back. "If you really have met the Buyer, then you could be the only person that could connect us to him. It's really crucial we find him and those he's enslaved sooner rather than later."
Rook processed that. "Quazier's met him too, you know. I don't see you breaking into his mind."
Theo's expression darkened. "I would rather not have to work with the man behind the prolonged enslavement of Oni in any capacity...nor do I think he'll live long in a collaborative role, given how he affected Tolan's family."
Rook glanced at the guard, who didn't deny the fact. Well...hopefully this means they at least trust me more than Quazie. Or at very least, hate me less. She turned back to the Xinta and weighed the options. She could refuse, if they would even let her, and go back to the dungeons where she could end up spending the rest of her life. Or she could let that gnarled woman into her mind. The cons of the latter choice seemed high, given that Rook wasn't really sure what the Xinta would be able to do in her mind. However, if it worked how they said...then maybe, just maybe, she could actually win back some of the trust she had thought she had lost forever.
Is it really worth the risk, Rook?
"You're just trying to get a look at the Buyer?" Rook repeated at last. The Xinta rolled her eyes but finally nodded, and the younger woman finally sighed. "Fine. Let's get this over with."
99
Haiven woke up to someone poking her in the side. She blinked blearily, trying to figure out what time it was. Her home was dark, but given her bedroom had no windows, that didn't necessarily mean that it was still nighttime.
"Haiven...wake up." A purple light appeared around the hand of a small child, and Haiven flinched back as she realized Summer was right next to her face. As the initial shock wore off, she glowered and signed angrily at the girl. Summer ignored the signs, as she usually did. Haiven wasn't sure if the rebellious child didn't understand them or just pretended not to. After all, she tended to practice selective hearing whether or not someone could speak to her directly.
"Guess who's here? In the village? Right now?" Summer pestered. Haiven scowled, but she couldn't help but sit up. Summer grinned mischievously as she continued. "It's Prince Theo! He showed up out of nowhere in the middle of the night with a bunch of guards and some girl. Something crazy is going on—he's never done that before."
Haiven froze at the mention of Theo. She had heard that he had been in the village earlier that day, but he had left by the time she had gotten enough courage to seek him out. Her face burned at the thought of facing him. The last time they had seen each other, she had chucked a rock at him, after all. By the time she had gotten back to the village, she had regretted it, but couldn't bring herself to go find him and apologize. After all, he had already made it clear that he didn't care what she thought about him.
"So, are you?" Summer demanded. Haiven blinked, realizing that she had tuned out whatever the child had been saying. Summer seemed to realize because she huffed irritably, the aura around her hand getting stronger. "I said, are you going to go tell him how stupid he is and make him get back together with you?"
Haiven hesitated, and Summer grabbed her hand. "Come on!" she urged. "Everyone knows you're made for each other! Me and Inna and Luz were just talking about it and now he's here! Go talk to him, and if he doesn't listen to you, I'll blast him!"
Haiven sighed, but then she heard someone come into the front room. She looked up, her heart starting to pound. Summer was still talking—it seemed the child hadn't heard the footsteps. Then again, Haiven knew her hearing tended to be a little better than most. Was that him? Had he come here to visit? But why did he think he had the right to walk into her home in the dead of night?
Haiven got to her feet at last, and Summer finally went quiet as she watched the young woman cross the bedroom and push her way through the curtain. However, Haiven's anxiety vanished as she recognized the figure in the living room.
Blist looked over and sighed. "Did I wake you?" she asked. "I was trying to be quiet."
Haiven frowned, but she signed to her sister in the light of the candle Blist had lit. Blist watched for a moment and then huffed as she answered Haiven's question.
"I was on patrol duty...but there was a complication."
"You mean when Prince Theo came in with his army?" Summer demanded, bursting into the room behind Haiven. Blist whipped out her sword, obviously suspicious of the sudden newcomer, but she lowered her weapon as she realized it was just Summer.
"It wasn't an army," Blist muttered. "Now get out of here. I told Iona that I wouldn't put up with you kids running in and out of our home at all hours—"
"Haiven's got to go talk to him!" Summer insisted. "She has to tell him that they have to get back together!"
Blist froze, and her gaze flicked back to Haiven. "What?" Haiven didn't offer any explanation, as she hadn't really come to a decision about what to do about the fact that Theo apparently really was here. Blist took a step closer, her expression clouding with concern. "You don't really want to get back with him, do you? Not after what he did all those months ago. I thought you'd finally gotten over that stupid boy."
Haiven glanced away. The truth was...she had thought so as well. She had started going to the East again without him, hadn't she? Surely getting to the point where she didn't need him anymore was proof that she had moved on...and yet, seeing him with some other girl, especially since only a few months ago he had sworn she was the greatest thing in his life...
"I still don't know why Iona puts up with him," Blist was saying, though it was hard to know if she was talking to the others in the room or just muttering to herself. "Acting like he can do whatever he wants whenever he wants, with no sense of protocol. Pretending to be a good guy, when really he's just another conceded, high-and-mighty..."
"He is the Heir, you know," Summer pointed out with an eye roll.
"Well, according to him, he's not even that anymore," Blist snapped. Haiven looked up in shock, and her sister continued bitterly. "He came barging in, claimed he's no longer the Heir, and then immediately insists on doing whatever he wants regardless. I'm telling you—"
Whatever she was going to say was lost to Haiven as she pushed past her sister. She heard Blist call her name as she slipped out of their home and into the dark night, but she didn't stop.
Theo tried to hang onto his anger, because if he was angry enough, then he wouldn't feel guilty. At least, that was what he kept telling himself as he watched Iona put her hands on either side of Rook's head. The gnarled hands lit up as Iona began, and Theo had to look away as he heard Rook gasp.
"Just relax," Iona offered dryly, and Theo took a shuddery breath. Why is it they always say that before invading someone's mind? He thought, before reminding himself that the only reason Rook was here was because he had brought her. He could feel someone looking at him, and he glanced up to see Tolan studying him closely. Theo looked back at the floor, wishing that the whole situation was over already. How long did it actually take for Iona to look into people's minds? He had never been a witness of the process, having only ever been the person between a Xinta's glowing hands...
"Stop!" Rook's choked gasp caused Theo to look at her again, but then he wished he wouldn't have. Her expression was tormented, and she was hunched forward as if to protect herself. Bile rose in Theo's throat.
"You're fine," Iona insisted, her own expression tight. "Just relax."
Theo wasn't really conscious of the fact that he was leaving the room until the cold night wind blasted him in the face. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. A hand grabbed his shoulder, and he flinched.
"Are you all right?" Tolan asked softly.
Theo clenched his fists, not sure how to respond. This whole plan had been his idea. What was he supposed to say? "I just...needed some fresh air," Theo mumbled, trying to shake the memory of cold hands pressed to either of his temples, and the ice that had invaded his mind on more than one occasion.
"She said she would do it," Tolan pointed out. "Rook chose to let Iona into her mind."
"Because we forced her to."
"Would you have forced her to comply if she had refused to?"
Theo frowned at his guard's question. "I don't know." He wiped at his face, hating the feeling of confliction inside. "I just know I can't take her at face value. Not again. Before, it was just me who got hurt from trusting her...but now, it could be all the missing Oni who take the brunt of her lies."
Tolan was quiet, and Theo waited to see what he would say. However, before the guard could offer his own two cents, they heard footsteps of another figure approaching Iona's home. They turned, and Theo felt rooted to the spot as he realized who was making their way across the village. He was torn between staying where he was and retreating back into the home he had just left, but both options seemed bad.
"Tol..." he murmured, turning to his guard for help. Tolan had been watching Haiven approach, but then he turned to meet Theo's eye.
"I can't help you with this one," he pointed out. "You've got to sort it out on your own."
Theo sagged, but he knew Tolan was right. Anxiety built at the thought of the upcoming conversation, but deep down, he realized that it had been a long time coming. "Could you go back in with Rook and Iona?" the younger Oni asked at last. "Just...just make sure that Iona doesn't hurt her." Tolan raised an eyebrow, and Theo rubbed his neck. "We need the information on the buyer, but if it gets too intense, have them stop."
By now, Haiven had nearly reached them. She had slowed when she had gotten close enough to see Tolan and the guards standing on either side of Iona's door, and now she seemed to be debating whether or not to come any closer. Tolan nodded his agreement to Theo's request and turned to go back inside. Theo took a deep breath and turned to face Haiven straight on. For a moment they just held each other's gaze from a few yards apart. At last, the young woman moved to talk with her hands.
Can we talk? Her gaze flicked to the guards before going back to Theo, and he slowly nodded.
"Yeah. Let's go for a walk," he agreed before walking over to her. Haiven sagged in relief, and he wondered if she had been as nervous about this as he was. They moved away from Iona's home, and Theo heard the guards moving to follow him. He turned and gestured for them to stay put. "You're here to make sure the prisoner doesn't escape, not protect me," he reminded. They seemed conflicted, but they finally nodded and resumed their post outside of Iona's door.
Theo and Haiven were quiet as they moved across the empty village. The light of the moon reflected off of the sleeping town, and Theo allowed his gaze to wander for a moment before turning to Haiven. It was hard for him to want to face her, but he was only going to understand what she wanted to say if he was watching her hands.
Haiven didn't say anything for a little while, and when her hands moved again, the motion seemed jerky. How's your head?
At first, Theo wasn't sure he was interpreting right, but then he realized what she meant. His hand went to the spot on his head where she had hit him. There was still slight bruising and a scab left from the attack, and he shrugged a single shoulder. "I'll live."
I'm sorry. I don't know why I did that.
"I know." Theo took a deep breath, wishing things didn't feel so awkward. "I was surprised to see you in the Eastern Markets that day. Were you just exploring?"
Haiven hesitated, pushing her hair behind her ear. She often did that when she was embarrassed, and she finally began signing again. Theo came to a stop so he could focus on her gestures completely, trying to piece together what she was trying to say.
"You're selling things at the Eastern Markets?" he asked, surprised. Haiven nodded, though she didn't meet his eye. A small smile broke across Theo's face. "I think that's great."
She looked up at last. Really?
"Sure—you loved going to the markets when we were together. I think it's great that you're still selling your embroidery." He ran a hand through his hair, suddenly feeling dumb. "I guess I was afraid you would stop once I wasn't there to go with you." Haiven didn't reply to that, and he grimaced. Had he offended her by assuming that she couldn't do things on her own? "Do you make a lot of money, doing that?"
Haiven hesitated before shrugging. She started to walk again, and Theo followed along. After a moment, the quiet oni began signing again. Who was that woman you were with?
Theo sighed. He had assumed she would want to know, and he tried to think of the best way to explain it. "Her name is Rook," he offered at last. Haiven's expression darkened slightly.
Is she...are you... her signs fell apart as she began gesturing vaguely.
"We aren't together."
Haiven looked up again. Was that relief in her expression? Then what were you doing at the market?
"Rook is...was...more of a business partner," Theo said. "She said she would help me take down the slave trade, and we were looking for clues at the Eastern Market that day."
Haiven's expression flickered. You're still looking into that? Theo, it's dangerous...
"It's gone," he cut in. "We took it down earlier this week."
The young woman's eyes widened, and her hands dropped down to her sides. It was clear she wasn't sure what to say about that.
"It was a little crazy," Theo admitted with a slight smile. However, it faded as he turned to look at the moonlit scenery again. "But in taking down the trade, I found out that Rook was one of them all along. She betrayed me."
A hand touched his arm, and he turned to see Haiven looking at him, concern reflected in her different-colored eyes. Did she hurt you? Theo opened his mouth to answer, but nothing came out. As the silence stretched longer, Haiven narrowed her eyes and continued. I hope she's rotting in prison.
"She's with Iona right now," Theo blurted in reply. Haiven's eyebrows launched up in surprise, and he continued softly. "We needed to find out more about the slave trade and its buyer, so Iona is checking her...um. Her memories."
Haiven nodded her understanding. Good.
Theo moved again, trying to pull away from her to continue on their walk. However, Haiven grabbed his arm again, and he turned to see her looking shy again. After a moment she released him, but only so she could use both hands to sign. Blist said that you said you aren't the Heir, anymore.
"I...I'm not," he agreed. "I gave up my title."
She studied him closely and finally shook her head in confusion. Why? I thought you said that being Heir was the most important thing to you. There was a glimmer of bitterness in her expression as she said it, and Theo had to look away.
"I just realized that I can't do it." He shrugged in defeat. "Rook's betrayal...all the times I've screwed up in the past...I would be a lousy Ruler. I was finally able to embrace that fact this week."
Wind whipped through the village, kicking up dust and whistling through the alleyways. Theo could feel Haiven watching him closely, and he forced himself to turn back to her to see what she would say next.
So you gave it up now...but not all those months ago, when I asked you to.
"Because back then, I still thought I could do it," he offered miserably. He had known that it was going to hurt Haiven to find out that he had gone and done exactly what he had refused to do back in the autumn.
But you CAN do it, Theo. Haiven bit her lip as she kept signing. You've always been able to. I only asked you not to because...because I wouldn't have been able to do it.
Theo scoffed sadly. "I guess it's good that we decided not to get bound then, if neither of us was fit for the role."
She stiffened, and Theo rubbed at his face. They had reached the village well, and he moved so he could go sit on the rim of it. Haiven didn't come over right away, and Theo looked up at the stars glinting in the sky. Eventually, the young woman came and sat down next to him, slipping her hand into his. It was familiar—something they had done a hundred times before. Yet, in this moment, it also felt alien for some reason. Haiven squeezed his hand three times, and Theo smiled a little as he finally turned to face her. She kept a hold of his hand, using her other one to sign on its own. It took a little longer to figure out what she was trying to say, but Theo knew her well enough to pick her signs apart.
If you aren't the Heir anymore...then you and I...we could... Haiven tilted her head. Maybe we could try again?
Theo didn't say anything as he stared at her. It was strange how disconnected he felt in this moment—the very moment he had longed for all those months ago. He had literally dreamed of Haiven coming to him and asking if they could start again, but now that it was actually happening, why did he feel so hollow?
"I don't think that it would be a good idea," he said at last. He felt bad as he watched Haiven's small smile fade. He steeled himself for her hurt expression, but if anything, she just looked resigned. Haiven pulled her hand out of his as she hugged herself for a moment, and Theo sighed as he tried to explain. "I'm not staying here, Ven. If I can't be Ruler...then I can't stay." He took a deep breath. "I'm going to move to Ninjago, which is even further from the Hidden Village than the Central Fortress would have been."
She looked back over, her expression conflicted. He knew she had no love for Ninjago. She had gone once for his birthday party when they had first started dating, but she had not been a fan of the loud machines, tall buildings, and strange people. Haiven stuck it out for the few hours they had been there by clinging to his arm the whole time, but whenever he had invited her to Ninjago in the future, she had always politely refused.
You don't have to leave, she finally pointed out. Just because you don't want to be the Heir...
"It's not that I didn't want my title..." he started, but then he trailed off. "I don't have what it takes to be what I always wanted to be. Staying here in this realm, even if I did leave the Central Fortress, would just remind me of that fact forever." He shrugged miserably. "In Ninjago, I'm not seen as the same person. My failure wouldn't be thrown into my face every few minutes. I could go and escape everything."
Haiven huffed, and he glanced over at her. She was studying him closely, and she finally began signing again. You're trying to get away from that girl, too. You really liked her, didn't you?
Theo blinked at the accusation. He went to deny it, but then paused. In seeing his hesitation, Haiven stood up, and he watched as she went to leave. Theo pushed himself to his feet. "I'm not in love with Rook," he said at last. Haiven stopped walking, and Theo shrugged miserably as she turned to look at him. "But...that doesn't mean I think we should get back together."
Haiven's expression crumpled, and he stepped closer as he realized there were tears in her eyes. His own throat felt tight, but he had to admit there was some relief in the decision he had just made. "I'll never not care about you, Ven," he offered at last. "But I don't think my title was the only problem we had."
Haiven wouldn't meet his eye, and it was hard to tell if she was angry at him or merely sad. He reached out to put a hand on her shoulder, and when she didn't pull away, he continued softly.
"I think we both thought our relationship was something different than what it actually was," he finally admitted. It was a thought he had struggled with in the past months. Haiven looked up to meet his eye, tears swimming in hers. Theo sighed. "We relied on each other to fill in the parts of ourselves we didn't want to have to face. I was your courage, and you were my validation...but then when it came right down to it..." he trailed off, not sure he really knew what he was trying to say. It was something he had been feeling ever since they had broken up, but now it felt impossible to put that feeling into words.
Haiven began signing again. Are you saying we were just pretending the whole time?
He winced. "Not pretending," he corrected. "Just not...not seeing it for what it was."
And what it wasn't.
Theo glanced away. "Exactly," he murmured.
A sob escaped from Haiven as she broke down, and Theo winced as he reached out to try to comfort her. However, then Haiven was wiping at her tears before signing back to him.
I guess...I just thought if something changed, that it would all work out. That we could be so happy, sharing a simple life here in the village...just you and me.
"And I still think you would have made a perfectly fine Ruler," Theo added with a sad smile. "But that wasn't what you wanted, whether or not you could have done it. It wasn't fair of me to ask you to become something that you had no desire to be."
Haiven let out a shuddery breath as she looked up at him again. So, now what? We just pretend that we were never together?
"I don't want to forget everything," Theo countered. "Because I don't think us being together was ever a bad thing. I just don't know if its..." He trailed off, and Haiven supplied the ending.
The right path in the long run?
"Yeah." He sighed as his eyes burned. "I guess that's what we do next, huh? Move on, and try to figure out what our paths forward will be."
Haiven moved forward suddenly, and Theo froze. For a moment, he was afraid she was going to try to kiss him, but instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck in an embrace. He relaxed slightly, hugging her back as they both allowed the tears to come a little longer. After a few minutes, Theo cleared his throat.
"I'll always care about you, Ven," he offered at last. "Whatever comes next...if you ever need me..."
Her embrace grew tighter, but then she pulled away so she could answer. She seemed to have stopped crying, and though her expression was still grieved, her gaze seemed clear. I care about you, too, she admitted. After a moment, she took a deep breath and continued. Theo...I don't think you should leave.
"I already told you..."
Don't give up your title, Haiven cut in, her gestures crisp and firm as she met his eye. He trailed off as the young woman continued, determination filling her gaze. You will be a great Ruler, Theo. You do have what it takes...I've seen it in you." Her hands wavered for a moment, and she broke eye contact before continuing. It wasn't fair of me to ask you to give up something that was so important to you. It isn't fair of you to ask it of yourself...no matter how low you're feeling.
Theo wasn't sure how to reply. Haiven glanced back at him before looking up at the moon.
We should get back. They'll wonder where you went.