133
"So, how much longer before we can take him home?" Zane asked. The doctor sighed.
"I vould like to keep him a few more days to be safe. I still recommend implementing a pace-maker. He has had a lot of strain on his heart lately, based on vat ve have heard."
"Indeed," Zane agreed softly, his expression flickering. "He is adamant that he will not undergo any further surgery, so I am not sure if he will agree to having a pace maker put in."
"Better to be safe zan sorry," the doctor mused. "He is not from our country, and ve cannot force him to do anyzing he refuses to do, as he is an adult. However, I vould recommend you try to talk him into it. Irregular heartbeats may not sound dangerous, but zey can be. Even zo ve have gotten it back to a stable pattern now does not mean it vill stay zat vay."
"I understand," Zane said. "If he does not go through with the procedure, how soon could he go home?"
"Like I said, ve vould like to keep him a few more days to be safe. Now, if you vill excuse me, I have ozer patients I need to check up on."
"Of course," Zane said, moving out of the way. He had caught the doctor in the hallway, and he watched the man walk away with a heavy heart. Zane was capable of scanning heartrates himself...but was Julien going to want his parents constantly scanning him any more than he would want a pacemaker surgically put in?
I will talk to P.I.X.A.L and see what she thinks, he determined at last, moving down the hallway. Julien had been at an emotional low point ever since he had come to the hospital, and Zane wished he knew how to best help his son. He had nearly made it to the end of the hallway when he heard someone call out to him.
"Hey...hey, Robot man!"
Zane paused. Surely, that moniker would apply to him before anyone else here at the hospital. He turned to see a heavyset Metallonian heading down the hallway, and the man flushed sheepishly.
"I am sorry," he managed as he caught up. "I am afraid I do not remember your name."
"My name is Zane," the Nindroid offered as he scanned the man. He held out one hand, and the man studied it for a moment before accepting it.
"Odin," he replied. "Odin Axel. I am Agatha's fazer."
Understanding dawned. "Ah. How is Agatha doing?"
"Ze doctors are optimistic about her recovery," Odin offered. "Zank you for asking." He paused for a moment before he wiped at her face. "I am sorry...I did not mean to accost you. I saw you on ze news, viz ze ozers who destroyed Estyeer...and Aristo Zerek."
"I see," Zane said, tilting his head. "Did you know Zerek?"
The man's expression crumpled then, and he broke eye contact. "I did." He didn't say anything else, and it was hard for Zane to interpret what kind of conversation this was supposed to be.
"Are you upset that he was...defeated?" the nindroid guessed. Odin tugged at his beard, his expression hard to interpret.
"I am upset by everyzing zat happened," he said at last. He glanced back up at the nindroid. "Do you have a moment to talk?"
"Yes," Zane agreed. "Here?"
"Zere are seats downstairs. I just...I am trying to figure out how much of zis is my fault."
Here, the nindroid was surprised. "Your fault?"
Odin gestured for Zane to follow, and the nindroid obliged. Within a few minutes, they had reached the waiting area at the bottom of the hospital and both men chose a chair. Odin sighed heavily, dry-washing his face as he sank into the chair.
"Why would you think any of this was your fault?" Zane asked. Odin hesitated and then glanced up.
"On ze news, it talked about how Zerek vas...like you."
"He was an android, yes," Zane agreed. "That must have been a shock to you—it seems no one at the MIRI knew that about him. Not even those who had worked for him for many years."
Odin shifted in his seat, breaking eye contact again. "I...knew."
Zane blinks. "You—"
"I knew zat Zerek vas an android." The man took a deep breath. "Many years ago, ven I vas a young man, I worked for a fledgling Metallonian Robotics Company. One of ze zings I helped vork on vas called "Project A-Z." It vas supposed to be a breakzrough in A.I, but after many months of experimentation, it didn't seem to be going anyvere. Zen, a terrible fire destroyed half of ze laboratory, including ze A-Z project. At least, so ve all zot."
"In ze aftermath of ze fire, some of ze staff vas let go, and I vas among zem. I managed to get a job at another company, and I didn't zink much about ze accident until I had somevon extraordinary show up on my doorstep." Odin smiled a moment. "It vas A-Z...in ze flesh. He had alvays been so lifelike, but in zat moment ven he started talking to me, I realized zat he vas different. He didn't just look lifelike anymore...he vas alive. As much as an android could be. He told me zat of everyvon at ze company, he believed I vould be ze von who vould be able to help him. I vas honored." Odin's eyes were shining as he stared down at his hands. "A real artificial intelligence and it trusted me enough to seek me out. I asked vat he needed help viz, and he explained zat he vanted to become a scientist—a robotics engineer. However, he didn't vant anyvon to know ze truz—he asked me to help keep his secret. He vas sure zat if anyvon knew about his origins, he vould once again become a project to gawk at or take apart razer zan a scientist who could be making a difference. He vas very keen on zat—saving ze vorld."
Odin sighed again as he continued his story. "I agreed to help him, and to keep his secret. He came up viz ze name Aristo Zerek on his own, and I introduced him to my company as an old friend. Zey vere impressed by his unmatched abilities—as zey should have been. It vas amazing, vat he could calculate. Many people even joked he vas a robot, zough zey never actually suspected he truly vas. He surpassed me quickly in zat company, and soon vas able to vork for even more impressive laboratories. Before I knew it, he had started his own. It vas amazing to me, and I vas happy for him. I...I honestly zot ve vere friends."
Odin looked up to meet Zane's eye at last, and the nindroid realized that the man's eyes were full of tears.
"But now, everyzing on ze news...is it true? Vat zey are saying? Zat he hurt people...zat he hurt my daughter?" his voice broke, and Zane wasn't sure what to do as the burly-looking Metallonian broke down.
"I am sorry," Zane said at last. "I have not been watching the news myself, but there were many awful things that I know Zerek did do. He...is directly responsible for what happened to your daughter."
Odin covered his face for a moment before finally taking a deep breath and lowering his hands. "I just...I do not know how to feel...vat to believe. He vas always emotionally distant, but I never held it against him, given zat he vas an artificial intelligence. But...I just can't reconcile ze zings I am hearing viz vat I knew about him. Hurting Agatha? He has known her since she vas born! Vatched her grow up...offered her a place in his own company ven she came of age. And zen, after all zat...he hurts her? Brings her to ze brink of death?" He cradled his head. "Is zis all my fault? I am ze von who helped him become who he is...I am ze von who kept his secret all zese years. I zot he deserved ze chance to experience life vithout fear of being targeted or taken apart...but zen he did zat very zing to ozers, and I...I cannot help but feel responsible. Should I turn myself over to ze police?"
Zane leaned forward, processing what the man had told him. "Why is it you sought me out to tell me all of this?" he asked at last. "Not that I mind, but—"
"You are an android as vell— a revered A.I who is known for helping people, not hurting zem. I suppose I vanted to know...are zere androids who are bad and zose who are good? Should zere have been warnings I picked up on to know zat Zerek vas apparently von of ze bad vons? Is all of zis my fault, for enabling an emotionless A.I to have a place in ze vorld?"
"I guess it is true, that just like people, there are androids who choose to hurt others. And even if you knew of Zerek's origins, it seems like you were unaware of what he was capable of. Just like all those at the MIRI, who are baffled to learn that he had kidnapped people and was holding them hostage at his private laboratory."
Odin shuddered. "I vould have never imagined zat he vould do somezing like zat," he said softly. "Did he change over ze years...or vas my perception of him always wrong?"
Zane studied the man for a little longer before finally reaching out to put a hand on his shoulder. The man looked up, and Zane offered a little smile. "There have been times in my life where I have misjudged people. Sometimes, I did not realize what kind of people they were until it was too late. You cannot make yourself feel responsible for the decisions made by someone else. Zerek didn't have the capacity to emotionally connect with others, and he made decisions to hurt others. You did not cause him to do that—he made that decision all his own. I, as an android, find it admirable that you have protected his secret all these years. If you had not, there probably would have been people who targeted him and treated him more like a project worth tampering with than a person."
"Maybe that vould have been better," Odin murmured, his expression twisting. "I suppose if somevon had taken him apart, it vould have made it so none of zis vould have ever happened."
"Perhaps," Zane agreed. "Or perhaps he would have escaped after being attacked and grown to view humanity as an enemy. If he did all of this with an apathetic view toward mankind, I shudder to think what he would have done if his goal was to actively cause harm."
"Was that not his goal?"
"He claimed he wanted to fix the world. It seemed he just did not care if there were people who had to be sacrificed on the way."
"Like Aggie." Odin squeezed his eyes closed. For a few minutes, the two men sat in silence, and then the Metallonian finally opened his eyes with a shuddery exhale. "Zank you for taking ze time to talk viz me. I have been trapped in my own head ever since I discovered all zat Zerek had done. At first, I vanted to believe it all wrong, but zen I talked to Agatha, and she told me about how she vas helping all of you..." He frowned as he studied Zane closer. "You are ze...fazer of ze young man Aggie vas dating, right? She called me after coming home from her trip to Ninjago to tell me zat ze parents of her boyfriend vere androids. I vas surprised, of course...but I also knew A.I. vas not impossible."
"Yes, I am Julien's father." After a moment, Zane added. "We adopted him when he was very young."
Odin smiled. "Agatha told me. I should have put two and two together—ze heroic A.I. from Ninjago City did not just come to take down a villain...zey came to find zeir son." Odin's smile faded as he studied Zane closely. "How is Julien?" he asked at last. "Agatha has been vanting to check in on him, but she is still recovering herself and does not vant to overvelm him."
"I will ask him if he would feel up to it," Zane offered, the gears in his mind shifting. "In fact, a visit from her may be just the thing he needs right now."
Theo had insisted that he get checked out from his hospital bed. It had been a few days since everything had gone down at Estyeer, and he was sick of lying around when he didn't even have any severe wounds. The bruising around his collarbone and ribcage were painful, and there was a burn on his arm that he was sure was going to scar—the one he had gotten when Zerek had electrocuted him his bare hand. But he didn't need to be sitting here in bed all day.
Amber had come that morning and let him know that Rook had finished all her surgeries but that the doctors hadn't told her much more than that. Theo had been grateful for the update, but his sister hadn't stayed at the hospital long, claiming that she and their grandfather were going to drive to Metallonia to get some things worked out with the Metallonian government. Theo had tried to talk her out of it, but Amber claimed that it was her job as ambassador, and what was more, she wanted to. Theo had a sneaking suspicion it was also so she could pay a visit to a certain blonde dancer who was still checked into the Metallonian hospital in Bembay, but he didn't push the issue. After Amber had left, he had made it his goal to get the hospital to release him. After causing enough of a fuss, one of the doctors had finally signed off on it. But after getting officially checked out, Theo turned around and immediately requested the room number for the Oni woman who had been brought in with a bullet wound.
Usually, he knew that hospitals only let family visit people after surgery, but the staff didn't question him. Whether they thought he was actually related to her or not, or just didn't really care about protocol as much where Oni were involved, they had given him the information and pointed him in the right direction, though they warned him that she was recovering and probably would be unresponsive.
Now, as Theo pushed his way into the room, his first thought was how strange Rook looked in the hospital bed. Her hair was down and her expression was lax as the monitors kept a steady beat.
Theo took a deep breath before moving to sit in a chair. There was one that was nearer the bed, but he opted for the one sitting in the corner. He wasn't really sure why he had come—she was clearly still out cold, and he wasn't sure if the doctors were keeping her under or if she just hadn't woken up from the surgery. Which was worse? Her heart rate sounded slower than the one he had listened to for himself the last few days. What if she didn't pull through?
He closed his eyes, trying to get the thoughts running around in his head to stop. He must have dozed off, because he woke at the sound of the door opening. He turned, thinking it was going to be a nurse kicking him out, but he was shocked to see that it was actually his mother.
"They said you checked yourself out of your room," Keyda pointed out softly as she studied him. Theo shrugged.
"I don't need to be in a hospital bed," he said softly before turning to look back at Rook. The young woman didn't seem to have changed at all during his accidental nap.
"Can I join you?" his mother asked.
"If you want."
Keyda came over, but there was no extra chair. Theo stood and gestured to his, leaning back on the wall instead. She shook her head. "You take the seat, Theo."
He was going to argue, but he didn't have much fight left in him. He plopped back into the chair, and his mother half-sat on a small table near the chair. She had looked over at Rook, and for a few minutes, they both listened to the beeping of the heart monitor.
"You're worried about her," she finally said. "I mean...obviously you're worried about her, since you went in after her at Estyeer. I just..." Keyda scowled at herself. "I don't know what I'm trying to say, I'm sorry."
Theo didn't answer right away, still staring at Rook from across the room. She was paler than normal, and he wasn't sure if it was just because the lighting in the room was still set to dim because she was asleep.
"It's my fault she's in this bad of shape." The words slipped out before Theo could stop them, and he saw his mother turn to look at him.
"Oh, Theo...you did everything you could," she tried. "Your father was talking to me about the talk you had, and you can't blame yourself just because you had to have help getting out of Estyeer. That's what we're here for, to help—"
"I'm not talking about that." Theo's face burned as he refused to look at his mother. "I could have had the energy to transport us out...if I had focused on that, instead of Zerek."
He could picture his mother's puzzled look. "What do you mean?"
"Rook got herself shot, trying to wrestle the gun from him. If I had gone straight to her, I could have transported us both out and gotten her to a hospital faster. Instead, it was like I couldn't even think anymore. All I felt was anger. The aura winds were so strong, and the earthquake started...and all I could think about was making Zerek pay. I wasted so much time attacking him..." Theo's voice broke and he rubbed his face tiredly. "The whole time, he kept pointing out how stupid I was being—how I was being blinded by my emotions. At the time it just made me angrier, but the worst part is that he was right. I didn't accomplish anything by attacking him, or collapsing Estyeer. All I did was waste precious time that I could have used getting Rook to safety faster."
Keyda didn't answer, and Theo stared at his hands. "I lost control," he admitted miserably. "I've never had it happen like that, Mom. It's like I didn't even know myself."
He waited for his mother to ask worry-filled questions...to ask what he meant by losing control, or to demand specifics. To his surprise, Keyda's voice was full of understanding. "Oh, Theo," she murmured.
"My whole mind was consumed with making him pay...I threw him around the room like a rag doll, yelling and threatening while the whole place came down on top of us. I became someone that I don't want to be." Tears slipped out of his eyes, shame filling him as he admitted as much to his mother. "It scared me that I would be more worried about hurting someone then helping someone who needed it."
"It's easy to think about things in hindsight," Keyda agreed. "But in the moment...when you see everything slip through your fingers, and all you can feel is rage and grief...it's hard to keep control." Theo looked up at her at last, and he realized her eyes were shining with her own tears. "It reminds me of when I lost your father."
"Which time?" Theo muttered. Keyda scoffed without humor.
"Every time. I felt so lost—falling to pieces in one way or another. One time, I started an overdrive that nearly destroyed a few city blocks. Another time I locked myself away, wanting to forget everything and everyone. I blamed myself, I blamed others...and it felt like I couldn't contain the hurt."
"But you didn't bring down a building on top of people, trying to kill someone!"
Keyda blinked, but then she sighed. "Maybe not, but there were times that I did attack those who I felt were behind my problems. Like the Baron, or Jarule...even your father, at some points. Anger is a hard emotion to control...as is Hatred."
"Is that what I was feeling? Hatred?" Theo hugged himself. "I didn't even seem like myself. I never want to be like that again...but now that it's happened once...what if I can't escape it? What if that is who I am, deep down, and I'll have more freakouts like this one and hurt people..."
"You won't. It's going to be all right."
"How do you know?"
Keyda smiled. "Because I've been there. When I first unlocked my powers, I couldn't control them—and it felt like I would never be able to control them. I had horrible nightmares, and I hurt your father when he tried to help me because my aura was so out of control. I wanted him to leave because I didn't trust myself not to hurt him again. It wasn't until I finally met and worked with Phos that I started being able to control the aura." Keyda looked pensive as she studied her son. "I think rage has always been a part of you...it's a part of everyone. But because you use it so rarely, you haven't had the time to train yourself on how to handle it." Theo didn't answer, and his mother slipped her arms around his shoulders. "Besides—whatever happened with Zerek...that isn't who you are, deep down."
"But what if it is?"
"Then we would have seen that side a lot more often," Keyda pointed out. "There have been so many times over the years where people have hurt you, intentionally or not, directly or indirectly. I mean...if that Theo was the real you—one who flies into a revenge-bent rampage—then the young lady in that bed over there would have never made it out of the ravine alive the day you took down the trade."
Theo glanced up at Rook, processing his mother's words. "To be fair, I was still kind of a jerk that day."
"To be fair, she betrayed you," Keyda responded. Something in her tone made Theo realize that there was a lot about Rook that his mother probably wanted to discuss, but she didn't press any further about the young woman as she continued. "I'm just saying, what you're describing seems less like the actions of the 'true' Theodynn and more like the actions of someone who was pushed to the brink. Which you were, Theo—I saw it, when I went in after you." Keyda's voice broke then. "After everything that's happened, I don't blame you at all for hitting a breaking point. Anyone would have."
"But what if the time comes that I hit a breaking point again?"
"If it happens again, we will help you through it...but your father and I want to do more to support you before you hit that point again. Before you've had to go for so long on your own, because you don't feel like you can trust anyone to help you." She hesitated before adding. "We want to be people that you can feel like you trust, Theo. We want to support you in the ways you actually need, instead of in the ways we convinced ourselves that you need."
Theo exhaled shakily. "But...doesn't all this just prove that I wouldn't be a good Ruler? I went off on my own again, and not only did I get someone hurt, I lost control on top of it. Then I put you in danger because you had to come for me."
"Theo, everything we've seen these last few days proves that you would make a great Ruler," Keyda argued. "Even the fact that you're thinking about what you could have done better...that's the key to being good at anything. Your father and I certainly didn't know the first thing about running the realm...and we made so many mistakes. The only reason we made any kind of difference is because we managed to learn from them. You've shown us already that you've grown more than we realized...and probably more in spite of us than because of us." Keyda glanced away. "It wasn't that we didn't think you could become Ruler...but I guess we kept telling ourselves that it was still something that was going to happen far in the future. At one point it felt like we had all the time in the world, and all at once you were grown up and ready to make all these changes and take on all these challenges..." She hesitated, pushing some hair behind one ear. "Like I said, your father and I have made our own share of mistakes, and one of those is not trusting you with more."
"Maybe it's good you didn't."
"The fact that we've made you think you can't do it proves that we were wrong." She gave him a sad smile. "Your father told me he already talked to you about all of this title stuff. I didn't mean to come have the same conversation. I honestly just wanted to check in on you, after hearing that you had been released from your bed." She paused before asking cautiously, "How are you feeling?"
"I'm..." Theo trailed off. He was used to saying he was fine—he had been saying it for months now. But the word died in his throat as he looked back over at his mother. "I'm scared."
His mother's expression crinkled. "Of what?"
"Of myself...of all the choices I made. I'm scared that I've ruined everything. That I'll keep on ruining everything."
His mother was quiet for a moment, and then she shook her head as she cupped his face in her hands. "Theodynn...you haven't ruined anything. From the moment you were born...you've only made things better." She smiled, studying his face with that look she got sometimes—the look that always made him feel better when he was young. "You made things better for your family...and for the realm...and for everyone you meet. Now it's time for us to help you make things better for yourself."
Theo stared, his feelings inside still feeling stormy and conflicted. But as he saw the genuine light in his mother's eye, he reached up to give her hand a squeeze.
"Thanks, Mom. I'll...I'll try to let you guys help more."
She sagged a little, and he could tell that it relieved her to hear it. "We're proud of you, Theo," she offered as she finally released his face. She glanced over at where Rook was in bed. "I know you're worried about what kind of person you are...but when I saw you in that room, with the ceiling collapsing, I saw someone who managed to defeat a horrible villain while also striving to protect someone that others might not have tried to protect."
"Rook made a lot of mistakes in our realm, but she did deserve to be saved, Mom." He turned back to where the sleeping woman was still taking shallow breaths. "Without her, Amber said she wouldn't have had the courage to escape. Without her, we may not have ever found Estyeer, or Zerek. She didn't deserve to be left in his clutches...used as leverage and discarded if she didn't manage to play her part."
"I suppose you're right." Keyda's tone was light, and Theo had a feeling Keyda was agreeing for the sake of agreeing. For a moment, he thought about pleading Rook's case further but then decided against it. He knew his mother would have a hard time seeing Rook as anyone except for the woman who was willing to put her son in danger. Maybe someday, they would be able to change Keyda's opinion...but today was probably not that day.
"Are you and Dad still going to council meetings? Do you need me to make a statement or anything?"
Keyda smiled tightly. "I won't say that you can't, but honestly, these meetings have been pointless so far. Lots of slap-on-the wrist type of language. I don't think they're actually going to press charges or anything, just lots of hemming and hawing. It's irritating...but we've had worse meetings in our realm, I suppose."
"Like what?"
"Like that year Ottan was convinced that Tala was stealing all his best metal workers by bribing them to move to the East."
"He wasn't wrong," Theo remembered, smiling a little.
"But it still didn't warrant a two-hour meeting where they both just yelled at each other. Speaking of, we're still going to have to figure out what to do about them both when we get back. After all, they both seem to have connections to the slave trade."
Theo leaned forward. He hadn't really thought about the leaders, but his mother was right. "I'm guessing we have more slap-on-the-wrist meetings coming up then, huh?" Keyda looked over at him, and he shrugged. "Unless you guys are planning on taking away their titles...but you're the one who said that we shouldn't jump to the extreme option. The realm does have kind of a delicate balance, and all that."
Keyda's expression became hard to read. "Yes...but you were right—they were directly involved. I think that warrants more than a slap on the wrist."
"You guys will figure it out. You always do."
Keyda looked at him for a little longer, but then she changed the subject. "You look tired, Theo. I can't imagine you slept well here—I remember how uncomfortable hospital beds are."
"I'm not too tired," he tried, trying not to think about the fact that he had accidentally fallen asleep once today already. His mother didn't seem like she believed him, but she glanced over at Rook and didn't press him.
"Your grandfather said he left the door unlocked—you could go to his house and get some rest. I guess he and Amber are headed to Metallonia, of all places...they didn't really tell us the details. I'm not sure I feel all right with them headed out on their own, but they were already on their way by the time they called us to let us know."
"Mmm." Theo didn't mention the fact that Amber had told him about their impromptu trip in person. Keyda smiled as she reached out to lightly ruffle his hair.
"Promise me you won't stay here too long, all right? Your father and I will be picking something up to eat after the latest meeting, and if you're at Lou's house by then we can all eat together."
"When will that be?"
"A few hours. Probably six o'clock or so."
Theo glanced at the clock. "All right," he promised.
Keyda nodded, and he wondered if she believed him. If I want her to believe me, then I better get there on time, he reasoned. This whole trust thing was going to take some work, he was realizing...but hopefully, they all had it in them. As hurt as Theo had been in the past, he was exhausted, and if the last few days had taught him anything it was that he really couldn't do it all on his own anymore.
"I love you, Theo," his mother offered at last, and he met her eye.
"I love you too, Mom."
134
It had been a strange experience, coming to such an unfamiliar and strange place. Hershel sat on the bed in the small room that Cole and Keyda had arranged for them to stay in. He understood that in the aftermath of everything that happened that there was a lot to clean up and figure out, but he wished that his family could at least get back to their own home realm. There was enough to process without having to be perpetually stuck in this place that barely made sense to him.
Nearby on the bed, Raiyn was snoozing peacefully, balled up in blankets like a sniffer in a den. Hershel watched him closely as he slept, trying to pick apart everything that had happened the last few days. Waking up to find that he, Myrah, and their son had managed to escape the crazy fortress and filled him with relief, but he also felt guilty that he hadn't been more help. He was the one who was always assuring Myrah that she didn't have to worry about him, and then he had gone down so quickly without much of a fight. He tried to ignore his embarrassment—he knew his wife didn't hold it against him. Though, she had been rather quiet these last few days. He knew that like him, she was eager to return home, but he couldn't help but feel like there was something else eating at her.
Myrah came back into the room from the strange Ninjagoan washroom to sit on the bed next to him. Perhaps Hershel should follow her lead and get ready for the day, even though he had no idea what the day would actually hold. Perhaps it would merely be more sitting around this room going stir-crazy while Raiyn slept and people brought strange food to the door.
"Are we sure we aren't in prison?" he asked at last, glancing over at Myrah. She smiled.
"I think the door would be locked if we were."
"There are men that wait outside...would they let us leave if we wanted to?"
Here, Myrah's smile faltered. "I don't know. I would be tempted to test it, but I have no desire to go back out into this realm." She shuddered. "Everything is so strange here—I prefer the way things are in our home realm, even if it is seen as more archaic to these people."
Hershel nodded slowly, his gaze falling on Raiyn once again. "He's been sleeping so much these last few days," he pointed out, reaching out to smooth his son's hair from his face. "Are we sure he's all right?"
"The Ninjagoan healers said that he was all right. I think he's just recovering from everything that happened," Myrah pointed out, slipping an arm around her husband's shoulders.
"I think Iona was right," he said at last. "I think he does have powers."
Myrah was quiet for a moment before she spoke. "If he can transport, why didn't he leave that awful cage?"
"It was made of the same material as that ring I used to wear," Hershel pointed out. "Maybe it made it so he couldn't. I couldn't use my powers if I was wearing the ring, remember?" He chewed his lip as he studied his son. "And it isn't just his habit of vanishing that makes me think he may have powers. I think...there may be a lot more to it."
"Like what?"
"He's been going on about tent-men for months, remember? He had nightmares, played games...spoke about them constantly, and how they hurt Teag. We thought it was all in his mind...but when that man attacked us while we were trying to free him, Raiyn called him Tent-man."
"What are you saying?"
Hershel's answer was barely audible. "What if he knew all of this was going to happen, Myrah?"
Her grip around his shoulders tightened. "Like...guessed the future?"
"Or saw it." Hershel's mouth was dry. "The island claimed to have that skill. I don't remember ever seeing the future myself...but there is a lot about that time that I don't remember. If Raiyn is powered, and that power is the same that the island had..."
"Whatever Raiyn has, powers or not, and whatever kind they are, it doesn't change anything," Myrah insisted. "He's our son, and we will get through all of this together."
Hershel didn't answer, staring at Raiyn's peaceful expression where the child was sucking his thumb and sleeping soundly. Even the chance that the island's power would have a lingering effect on Hershel's life made him feel cold, but even worse than that was imagining his son having to deal with the consequences. How could Raiyn's tiny frame possibly handle such an intense power? Could he really see the future? Would such an ability drive him mad? Would the power someday become too much and pull him apart, just as it almost did to Hershel himself?"
"Hershel."
"I'm sorry. I know we will get through it...but I'm afraid of what will happen while we're trying to."
"The important thing is that we are all safe, and we are not alone. Iona knows about his powers, and she would know more about all of this than anybody. She said that the powers were nothing to worry about."
"She said that she didn't think they would destroy him. That doesn't mean that they are nothing to worry about."
"You've trained so many others on how to use their powers, Hershel—Teag, and all those other kids. Not to mention Pippa and Tolan. You can teach Raiyn too...and once he learns to control it, he'll be just like all the others."
Hershel finally turned to face his wife, and he smiled a little. "I am lucky I have you as my constant voice of reason," he offered at last. She smiled in return, laying her head on his shoulder.
"We've made it through so much already," she pointed out. "I refuse to believe this would be something we couldn't make it through."
Hershel kissed the side of her head. "I know." They sat in quiet stillness, lost to their own thoughts. After a few minutes, he spoke again. "You have been quiet these last few days, though. Something is bothering you. Is it being stuck here?"
"Some of it," Myrah said vaguely.
Hershel turned to raise an eyebrow. "Is it Raiyn? Are you worried about him after all, and you don't want to worry me more by saying so?"
"Raiyn is safe, and that is enough for me," Myrah said, but she wasn't meeting his eye. Hershel pulled away so he could face her more fully.
"Myrah..."
"It got close, at the fortress," she admitted at last, staring down at her hands. "When I was trying to stop the metal warrior after he knocked you out."
Hershel sighed. "I know, and I'm sorry. I wish I hadn't been so useless."
"No, you don't understand. It isn't that I blame you, I just...I felt so helpless for a minute there, when it seemed like I wouldn't be able to save you and Raiyn. It took me back to another time that I felt so horribly helpless...and I just can't get that memory out of my head."
Hershel felt a twist of guilt as he reached out to take her hand. "Was it when I went to the Island, that last time? I'm so sorry that—"
"That memory is horrible," Myrah agreed. "But the one that won't leave me alone is one I never told you. It happened after you were gone...just after Raiyn was born." Tears had started to fill her eyes, and Hershel leaned forward.
"What do you mean? What haven't you told me?"
Myrah looked up to meet his eye at last. "I think I've told you that Bula is gone...right?"
"You mentioned that you heard about her demise," Hershel agreed carefully.
"I...wasn't exactly straightforward. The truth is that the reason Bula died is because she attacked Raiyn and I while we were alone at the beach, shortly after his naming ceremony."
Hershel stared. "What?"
"She wasn't in her right mind...so much had happened, and she insisted that Raiyn and I had to pay. I hadn't come prepared with enough protection—I didn't think I could protect my newborn and fight her off. There was a moment I thought she was going to kill us both, but in the end, Baffa came to our rescue and killed her first." Myrah wiped at her face. "I was so helpless in that moment...and that's what it felt like all over again in the fortress."
Hershel was quiet for a few minutes, but then he squeezed her hand. "Why wouldn't you have told me that?" he asked at last. "It horrifies me that your advisor would have stooped to that level—that you and Raiyn would have ever been targets—but if she was killed in the end, why keep it a secret?"
"Because I was afraid you would want to know why Bula hated us so much," Myrah cut in, her voice breaking. "Why I fired her from being my advisor in the first place."
Hershel frowned, studying his wife closely. It was rare he saw her like this—her expression was etched with guilt. "You can tell me anything, Myrah," he pointed out, and she glanced up at him again.
"Bula knew your father, Hershel," she said at last. He stared, not understanding, and Myrah continued. "Your birth father, Hugo. They had been in a relationship at some point—Bula was in love with him. But he left her for your mother and you."
Hershel opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. He couldn't even process what to say. Myrah's words tumbled out even faster, as if she was desperate to say it all before he could answer.
"When Bula discovered what he had done, she told the Baron where to find Hugo since she knew he was a healer and that the Baron was killing healers. That's what happened to your birth father, Hershel...Bula betrayed him. And that's why she hurt you—why she turned you over to Imgloss. It wasn't because she was scared you would ruin my reputation...it was because she knew you were Hugo's son. That's why she targeted Raiyn, because she was obsessed with destroying every last reminder of the man who betrayed her."
Myrah buried her face in her hands. "I know you've wanted to know what really happened to your birth father...but I just...I couldn't bring myself to admit what truly happened. At first I was afraid you would hold it against me since Bula and I were connected, but then time passed and I just didn't know how to bring up the fact that I had hidden this from you all these years. I kept trying to forget it but these memories keep haunting me, telling me that I've betrayed you by not telling you everything. I wouldn't blame you if you were furious with me..."
"Furious?" Hershel spoke at last, and Myrah winced at the word. However, then he reached out to gently pull her hands from her face, forcing her to meet his eye. "About something that you didn't even do?"
"I...I kept it all a secret from you," she pointed out miserably. "Even though we promised not to have secrets from each other."
Hershel's expression flickered. "I do wish you had told me earlier...mainly because I don't understand why you wouldn't have."
Myrah's eyes flicked across his face. "You aren't angry?"
"Not at you." Hershel glanced away. "I'm still trying to process all of this, because it's a lot to take in...and I'm not really sorry that Bula is dead, if what you say is true." His expression darkened for a moment, but then he turned back to his wife. "But I don't blame you for the things she did."
Myrah closed her eyes, and she seemed to sag in relief. Hershel reached out to touch her face.
"You've been keeping that a secret all these years because you've been afraid I'd be angry with you?"
"I just...I didn't know how to ever bring it up," she admitted.
"How long have you known? That Bula was connected to my birth father?"
"She told me the day after we got bound," Myrah admitted. "She tried to convince me you would abandon me, just like Hugo abandoned her. I was horrified and I fired her on the spot...but I just couldn't bring myself to tell you."
Hershel was quiet, and he suddenly felt a wave of sadness. "I did leave you," he realized. "Not because I wanted to, but I went to the island and left you behind—"
"I do not blame you for that," Myrah reminded. "Because you had no choice. I blame Bula for what she did...but I wonder if I should have done more than just banish her."
"You banished her?"
"Well...I fired her by exiling her from the West," Myrah admitted sheepishly. Hershel raised his eyebrows in surprise, and she glanced away. "I didn't want her anywhere near us, after finding out what she had done."
Hershel was quiet as he thought back to that time. He had known that Bula had left the West after they got bound, but he had always thought she had left of her own volition because she was mad at Myrah for getting bound to him.
"What are you thinking about?" Myrah asked. She still seemed a little unsure, and he shrugged.
"Just wondering what other secrets you've been hiding," he offered. "Do you have other men lined up that I don't know about? A secret life I haven't caught on to yet?"
Myrah's expression was horrified, but then Hershel smiled, and she seemed to realize he wasn't serious.
"Don't even joke," she chastised, squeezing his hand. "I swear, I don't have any other secrets. It was just this...and only because I wasn't sure how you would handle the news." She glanced away. "In some ways, I convinced myself it would be better if you didn't know exactly what happened."
"I am glad you told me," Hershel said at last. "I've always wondered what happened to my birth father."
"I'm sorry it took me so long to tell you,"she offered, lying back on his shoulder at last. They fell back into silence, and a little while later, Raiyn woke up. He blinked up at them, his expression pinched.
"Raiyn is hungry," he whimpered, and Myrah sat up so she could pull their son from his cocoon of blankets.
"The Asahkar sent us some breakfast," she told him. "Let's go get you some, Raiyn."
Raiyn snuggled into his mother as she lifted him, but then his multi-colored eyes locked onto Hershel's. "Daddy sad?"
Hershel froze as he stared at his son. Raiyn had often pointed out other's feelings—it was something he tended to do if he could tell they were feeling one way or another. But now, as Raiyn held his gaze knowingly, he realized that it was more than Raiyn just being aware of what was going on around him.
"I'm fine," Hershel countered, trying to summon a smile as he broke eye contact.
It had been the strangest few days of Dani's life. She had gone from lamenting the fact that her friends were missing in the middle of the Metallonian wilderness to being told that they had all actually been kidnapped by an insane robot. From the bits and pieces she had been able to piece together, there had never been a camping trip—it was all a lie for the kidnapper to hide behind. Of course, that left Dani struggling to understand where she fit into all of it. Had she been taken as well? Had she gone into the wilderness to find everyone else and gotten lost? Her family had tried to block her from the news and everything happening as much as possible in an effort to "not overwhelm her," but Dani had been desperate for the truth by the time Mia Walker had gotten in touch.
The truth she had been told sounded crazy—that she had in fact been held hostage with Amber, Colby, and the rest, but that her knowledge of it had been erased after the evil robot had removed her memories. Mia hadn't really been super clear on how he had done that, and it made Dani feel violated to no end. What didn't she remember? What horrible things had been done to her, or had she just been a prisoner who's whole purpose was to throw everyone else off track when she showed up in the wilderness? Mia couldn't offer her much explanation, but one thing was clear. Colby wasn't doing well, and his sisters thought that Dani was the only one who would be able to help.
Dani was still trying to process everything herself, but she was also not one to wait around. As horrifying as the truth really was, she had to admit she was relieved to find that the whole ordeal hadn't actually been her fault. After hearing about the state her boyfriend was in, Dani got online and bought a ticket for Metallonia. She ended up having to sneak out of her bedroom window in order to catch a cab to then catch the train, as she already knew her family would not be all right with her running full-force back into the country that she had left so tired and weak just a few days earlier. However, in her mind, if she was out of the hospital then she was well enough to travel. No need to ask for a second opinion.
The Walkers had met her at Bembay, and they tried to prepare her for the state that Colby was in. It made her heart ache to learn how closed off he was, and she took a deep breath outside of his hospital room. She had always managed to cheer him up before. Yes, this was a little more severe of a time than the others...but surely she could at least make things better.
Colby's back was to the door as she entered, and she chewed her lip as she tried to figure out if he was sleeping or not. As she hesitated, the bed-ridden young man spoke up.
"Go away."
His tone was soft and miserable, and Dani sighed as she crossed the room. "But I came all this way to see you, Walker."
Colby stiffened, and as Dani reached his bed, Colby turned over at last. Dani's heart nearly broke as she realized how unhealthy he looked, but considering the state she had shown up in the wilderness, she could only assume he had been put through similar treatment. Despite her shock at seeing him like this, she managed to smile.
"I'm so glad you're all right," she offered as she sank into the chair by his bed. She waited for him to say something. She wouldn't be surprised if he cried, or told her about how awful it had all been. She was prepared for that. What she wasn't prepared for was the way his expression hardened as he turned his back to her again.
"You should go."
Dani's smile faded quickly. "What?"
"You shouldn't be here."
She shook her head. She had received many angry phone calls and texts on her way to Metallonia once her family realized what she had done. Had they managed to contact Colby and his family? "Did June..."
"I'm glad you're okay," Colby cut in. "But you should leave now."
"I'm not going anywhere," Dani said with a flash of frustration. "At least turn around and talk to me, Colby."
"It's my fault you were at Estyeer," he said, keeping his back to her. "My fault that you got hurt. You wouldn't have ever been in danger, if it wasn't for me."
Dani's brow crinkled. "I don't remember what exactly happened, but I do know that it wasn't your fault. Some psycho kidnapped us and our friends, Walker. That wasn't—"
"If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have been involved!" Colby's voice was getting stronger. "They're right, Dani...they've all been right! I'm no good for you!"
"They who? My family? Your family? What are you talking about?"
"Everyone!" he turned around, facing her with a splotchy face full of anger. "You got targeted because of me, and I was so worthless the whole time. I couldn't protect you...I couldn't even protect myself! You're better off without me."
"You don't get to decide what I'm better off—"
"It's over, Dani!" he yelled over the top of her, his eyes swimming with tears. "We're done."
It was the last thing Dani had expected to happen, and her own face flushed with emotion. "What?"
"I'm breaking up with you," Colby said, his gaze harsh despite the tears.
Dani got to her feet. "Absolutely not!"
"I'll never been good enough for you. This is for your own good." He rolled back over, and Dani lashed out to grab his arm.
"I'm not buying it," she countered, the tears slipping down her own face. "You've just been through a living nightmare, Colby...I get that you're not in the right state of mind. I get that you've probably been hurt in ways I can't understand, but don't you dare push me away. Don't you dare say you're not good enough..."
"Go away, Dani!"
"NO!"
"GET OUT!"
Dani froze, her heart pounding in her chest. He pulled away from her touch, shutting down more than ever. At his last scream, she wasn't even sure how to respond. She had seen Colby through a lot of ups and downs, but she had never seen him like this. She was about to scream back at him when the door flew open.
"Vat is going on?" a nurse asked in a clipped tone. Dani turned.
"Nothing—" she started, but Colby spoke up again.
"I want her to leave."
The nurse's gaze flicked to Dani. "Ze patient seems to be experiencing high levels of stress," the medical woman pointed out coldly. "Your visit is over."
"I'm not leaving," Dani tried, the tears streaming down her face.
"I'm afraid it's not a choice," the woman responded. "I vill have you escorted out if you insist on making a scene. Zis is a hospital, not a soap opera."
Dani stiffened in fury, and she looked back at where Colby was lying with his back still stubbornly turned.
"This conversation is not over, Walker," she finally said before turning and storming out of the room. In the hallway, she caught sight of Mia and May, both of which looked appalled.
"Dani—" May tried, but Dani held up a hand to cut her off as she angrily readjusted her glasses.
"Just leave me alone."
135
"I'm shocked he was willing to see me this fast," Amber pointed out as she tried not to fidget in the passenger seat of her grandfather's car.
"Well, with everything on the news, he is probably eager to figure out what is going on," Lou commented.
"It probably helps those friends of yours know him and we were able to contact him directly. Agatha said that getting ahold of Metallonian leadership can be a nightmare sometimes, depending on the district." Amber watched the various foliage pass by out the window of the car. "It isn't like Ninjago City, where you just have to get in touch with the council, though getting ahold of the council is often a nightmare and a half in itself."
"So they don't have a council here?"
"From what Agatha was explaining, the government in Metallonia is almost closer to the Oni realm than Ninjago City," Amber explained. "Except even then, it's not the same. In the first realm, my parents are technically in charge of the whole realm and then there are leaders over specific areas, but the leaders ultimately still answer to my parents. Metallonia is a big hodge-podge of districts, and each district does leadership in its own way. I guess it goes back to the different tribes that used to run Metallonia in the past, or something." Amber shrugged. "It still is pretty tribal in certain areas, but in the more modern districts, they have councils or leaders that are kind of like mayors. I guess there are some places where the police force of the area are more or less also considered the leadership. It's all very confusing." Amber pushed her hair behind one ear. "Agatha said each district sends a representative to a meeting every month or so to work out nation-wide things, but there's no one that's technically over the whole country of Metallonia, like there is in the Oni realm."
"Are you going to one of those meetings?"
"I think it would be very difficult to get invited, plus I have no idea when or where the next full Metallonian meeting would be. Pendorn Scillen—the man I'm meeting with—is the leader over the district that covers the MIRI and Estyeer. I felt like he would be the best person to start with. I'm glad that those metallonian diplomats you know were able to connect me with him."
"They weren't diplomats back when Bev and I traveled through here, but they've done well for themselves. I'm glad my old acquaintances could be of some help...and honestly, that an old man like me could be of some help."
"You've been plenty of help, Grandpa," Amber agreed, reaching out to squeeze his hand.
"Thank you, Amber. Now, if I'm reading your device correctly, we should be getting close. Though I've never been good with these technological navigators."
Amber checked her phone and discovered her grandfather was right. Amber's heart was pounding as they drove through the various fancy houses. The Metallonian leader had insisted that Amber and her grandfather both join him for an evening meal at his home, and she wasn't sure whether that was more intimidating than meeting him in some formal, professional setting or not.
"Ah, this looks like the place. There's even a man waiting for us," Lou pointed out, gesturing to the guard stationed at the gate of a large, lavish home. Lou stopped the car, and the security guard came over to the window.
"Amber Oni, and guest?" he asked as Lou rolled down his window.
"Indeed," Lou said with a smile. "That's Amber there, and I am Guest."
The man nodded once before talking into his headpiece. After a minute, the gates opened. "You may go in. A valet will meet you in front of ze manor and park your car for you."
"Very well," Lou agreed, driving up the fancy driveway. "It has been a while since I went somewhere fancy enough for a valet," he mused, and Amber chewed her lip. She had tried to dress professionally, but now she wondered if she was still underdressed. Should she have done her hair fancier? Put on makeup? She never felt underwhelming at council meetings, but given that this was the first time she was meeting some high-up person in Metallonia and really needed the meeting to go well, she was suddenly feeling incredibly anxious.
"What if I mess this all up?" she finally blurted. Lou chuckled.
"You won't, my dear. You've got a good head on your shoulders, and a good heart besides. If this man is worth his salt, he'll at least hear you out. He may or may not agree to your proposal...but trust me, you certainly won't make anything worse."
Amber turned and smiled at her grandfather, almost jealous of the way he always seemed so calm under pressure. "I'm glad you're coming with me," she said at last.
"Me too," Lou offered with a wink as he parked his car. "Mainly because I'm hoping he serves pickled herring pudding for dessert. It's a Metallonian delicacy."
Amber winced a little. "Sounds...interesting."
A man opened Amber's door for her and she and Lou got out of the car. She tried to smooth the blazer she had picked out, and her grandfather came over to join her. He offered her his arm as he gave her another smile.
"Let's go in there and charm some Metallonian upper-crust," he offered. Amber smiled and accepted his arm, and together, they headed for the manor.
It had been a while since M had the time to play on handheld video game devices. He yawned as he finished up another level of racing on a game with mediocre graphics before setting the device off to the side. His father had convinced him to spend a few more days in the hospital, but M was sure that he had gotten all the help he needed by now. He had more energy, and the fact that Amber and her family had made it safely through their fortress infiltration took a weight off of his mind. Of course, he couldn't help but wish that Amber was still in Metallonia so that she could spend more time with him and help get rid of the crippling boredom. He had played twelve rounds of checkers with his father at one point. It was that bad.
M moved to get out of bed, heading for the restroom. It was probably selfish of him to wish that Amber could spend more time with him, considering that last he heard, her brother was in the hospital. She had been worried the last she had seen M, only visiting briefly to let him know she was all right and that they had managed to get everyone out of Estyeer, but that she and her father were traveling back to Ninjago City to be with her brother. M hoped it wasn't too serious. His oni-girl had been through so much already—surely fate wouldn't make her deal with losing her brother...again.
A nurse entered the room as M returned from the restroom, and she smiled kindly. "A young lady was wondering if you were up for a visit," she said. M froze, torn between saying yes and going back to the bathroom to make sure he looked decent.
"Yeah, that's fine," he finally managed, running a hand through his hair in an effort to get it to behave. His heart pounding in excitement, but as the nurse left and the visitor came in, M froze in surprise.
"Dani?"
The girl sniffed, glancing up at him. It looked like she had been crying, and M felt frozen as he stared at her. He was definitely disappointed that the young woman wasn't Amber, but he was also intrigued.
"What are you doing here?"
"Um...I came to visit Colby."
"Oh yeah, I forgot there are other people at the hospital here," M remembered with a wince. "Colby...that's your boyfriend, right?"
At the question, the piano dissolved into tears, and M wasn't sure what to do. He moved over near her, not sure whether to try to comfort her or call for assistance from the hallway.
"Is he not okay?" he asked at last.
"I don't know!" Dani admitted, throwing her hands up in a gesture of defeat. "They said he was doing okay physically, but I just got done visiting him...and...and..."
"And what?"
"And he broke up with me!" Dani buried her face in her hands. "I want to believe he's just so overwhelmed right now, but what if he's serious? What if everything is over, and I can't even remember why..."
"Wow, he broke up with you?" M shook his head. "Then he's an idiot..."
"Don't you dare!" Dani's eyes blazed as she looked up to point an accusatory finger. "Don't you dare call him that!"
"But..."
"Do you have any idea what he's been through?" she demanded, but then her expression crumpled as she sank to the floor. "I don't even know what he's been through..." she admitted, her voice breaking. "I wish I did, but the last thing I remember was being at some fancy party...and then I was waking up in the hospital. Now there's stuff all over the news that I apparently don't even remember. Nothing makes any sense."
M frowned, lowering himself to the ground. He put a tentative hand on her shoulder, not really sure what to do. He had never seen the piano break down, not in all his time knowing her. Dani was always the one who was there when other people's lives fell apart, and it was strange trying to play the reverse roll.
"Look...the stuff that Zerek did to us was messed up, so it's probably going to take time for all of us to recover. Physical stuff heals quick, but everything else..."
"Us?" Dani looked up at him, her expression pinched. "So, we were all in that horrible place together? Do you remember it?"
M rubbed his neck sheepishly. "Well, yeah. Amber didn't get the chance to erase my mind, so—"
"What?" Dani's eyes widened. "Amber? What do you mean?"
M stared at her. "You...didn't know she could do that?" he finally asked.
"Erase minds?!"
"It's a Xinta thing," he tried lamely. "Like she did to her brother, that one time that he died and came back to life..." As he caught sight of Dani's blank look, he frowned. "Or, maybe you don't know about any of that."
"Wait, so if I can't remember anything..." Dani's breathing was starting to become labored. "You're saying Amber did that to me?"
"She didn't have a choice!" M tried quickly. "Zerek made her. He told her that he would kill us unless she took away the memories of Estyeer so that we couldn't incriminate him. Her options were to follow through or let him kill us and plant our bodies as evidence instead."
Dani shrank back in horror. "How are you talking about this so calmly?" she demanded. "That sounds like a horror movie!"
M blinked. "I don't know," he answered honestly. "Like at the time, it was terrifying...but now it almost feels like one of the stories Amber would tell us. Like, I remember everything, and I still find myself wondering if it all really happened."
Dani wiped at the tears on her face, shaking her head. "I just can't wrap my mind around all of this. Some evil robot really did kidnap all of us? Why? What could he possibly gain from that?"
"He had a lot more than just us—he took a lot of Oni before he ever targeted us. He was trying to take oni power and the ninja powers—you know, earth, lightning, and all that? That's why he took your boyfriend—he wanted the powers he had."
Dani stared. "Did he get them?"
"I...am not the one to ask," M admitted. "Look, the ninja aren't exactly keeping me in the loop. Amber probably would, but she's in Ninjago City since her brother's in the hospital there."
"What? Her brother is involved in all of this? Why wouldn't they treat him here, with everyone else? Because he was Oni? That's—"
"No, I think he ended up transporting to that one, or something?" M scratched his head. "Like I said, I'm not really in the loop. But that's why Zerek took Amber and Colby—for their powers. You and I...we were just the leverage to keep them in line." It always made M feel like an idiot to admit it, and he tried to push away the feelings of helplessness that crept back into his memory.
Dani covered her mouth in horror as she processed his words. "So...that's why Walker said all of that. I really was there because of him...but only because some psychopath was trying to use me against him! How could Colby ever blame himself for the sick people who took us?"
"Yeah..." M scratched at the stubble on his chin he hadn't gotten around to shaving that day. "My mom is the literal worst."
"Your mom?!"
M blinked. "Well...because she's technically the one who took you and Colby to Zerek, with the whole art school thing?"
"The whole what?"
M put his hands up, feeling stupid. "I don't really know why you came to see me, but it's clear that I've only managed to make you more upset."
Dani glowered, but then she covered her face. "No...no, it's not you. I'm actually grateful that you're telling me things. No one else would, so...I guess I should be thanking you for being straight with me."
"Well...you've always been straight with me," M pointed out. "Guess I'm just returning the favor." He hesitated for a moment. "Speaking of...remember how you kept telling me to be honest with Amber because she couldn't read my mind? Turns out we were both wrong, because she totally can read minds, for one, and for another...I finally did manage to tell her how I feel. As stupid and cheesy as it was."
Dani looked up in surprise. "You did?"
"Life-and-death moments really do make it easier," M said with a shrug. "So, the movies got that part right, at least."
"How did she react?"
"In the moment? I don't really know—I got knocked unconscious. But later..." he flushed, unable to stop the little smirk from forming. "I mean, it was pretty good."
Dani studied him for a moment before snorting wetly. "Well, it's about time, Openheimer," she muttered as she wiped at her nose.
"I'm sorry," M winced. "You probably don't want to talk about all this, if you and your boyfriend are dealing with...stuff."
"No, it's actually a relief that even with everything going on, two of my best friends are finally communicating with each other," Dani said.
M blinked in surprise. "You...consider me a best friend?"
"Did you think I didn't? What am I to you, Openheimer...your life coach?"
"No, like I knew we were friends." M rubbed his neck sheepishly. "I just thought I drove you crazy."
"You do," Dani agreed, straightening her glasses. "But...I don't hold it against you. Most of the time."
"Gee, thanks," M said, but he was glad to see that the girl wasn't crying anymore. Dani took a deep breath and finally pushed herself to her feet.
"I'm sorry for falling apart. I'm just so confused right now, and I heard you were also at this hospital, and—"
"Hey, don't mention it," M said. "I'm just glad I'm not the only one in the friendship that falls apart."
She smiled a little, but then it faded. "I don't have any idea what to do about Colby," she said, her voice breaking. "I know he needs space, or maybe that's what he needs...but I can't let him break up with me, right?" She shook her head miserably. "I really, really like him," she admitted at last.
"Then don't give up on him," M offered. He had stood as well. "Maybe give it a few days...or a week. Once he's out of the hospital, back at home where things are normal, he'll be less...whatever he is right now."
"Maybe you're right," Dani agreed. She glanced up and smiled a little. "Thanks, Opeheimer."
He smiled back. "Anytime."
The Metallonian leader wasn't what Amber had expected. She went in expecting some larger-than life person with a deep voice and a powerful demeanor—someone like Ottan from her home realm. The man who she was introduced to was wiry, with thick glasses and a quirky smile.
"Your library is remarkable," Lou commented, and Amber had to agree with her grandfather. Books went from the floor to the ceiling, and the man smiled. They were all seated in comfortable chairs with a small table between them. Dinner had been delicious, and luckily for Amber, no fish pudding in sight. In Ninjago, now would have been a good time for a cup of tea, but instead of Tea, the table had a tray of spiced drinks that were served warm. Amber sipped at hers as she admired the numerous volumes, and the leader smiled in the quirky way he had.
"Oh, zank you," he offered. "I pride myself in housing the largest Metallonian collection of volumes...zo, I must admit zat I do not have much of a specialty. I have everyzing from cookbooks to nursery rhymes to ze great myths of Oni splendor." He glanced over at Amber. "Now, I am sorry if you caught me staring during supper, but I must admit I vas incredibly intrigued at ze zot of meeting somevon viz true Oni heritage. I have been fascinated by zeir lore from a young age."
Amber merely smiled, trying to think of what the best response to that would be. Pendron continued without giving her much chance to respond.
"Your horns are glorious," he mused. "It reminds me of Abja Potmer's Varrior at Sunset—a statue based around ze tales of a horned oni general. Though, Potmer's work vas meant to capture ze terrifying and imposing air of Oni of myth, while you personally give off more of a girl-scout vibe zan zat of a blood-thirsty varrior."
Amber glanced over at her grandfather, who raised an eyebrow before looking back at Pendron. "Don't underestimate her," Lou finally said good-naturedly before sipping his spiced drink again.
"Oh yes, I am sure zat Amber Oni can hold her own well enough," Pendron offered. "But here I've talked your ear off about literature and art...it is time we get to vat you vere hoping to discuss, hmm?"
"Right." Amber took a deep breath, her smile still plastered to her face. "Um...well, we've come to address what happened at Estyeer. Not even just these last few days, but for years before then."
Pendron's smile faded quickly, and he looked more stoic without it. For a moment, Amber was afraid he was angry at her for bringing it up, but he sounded more regretful as he spoke. "Yes, I am being filled in about all zat has been occurring at Estyeer." He sighed heavily. "I know I must seem like a veak leader, to have not realized zis vas happening in my district, but you must understand zat in some places—this district included—us leaders are sometimes considered more figureheads zan anyzing. Businesses generally take care of zeir own, and my role is more to keep our district up to date on ze decisions made by ze Metallonian National Coalition zan to pry into the vorks of the institutions vithin my district." He shifted uncomfortably. "Of course, now zat zis entire fiasco has been revealed, it is clear I vill need to rethink zat laize-faire approach, hmm?"
"How much power do you have?" Amber blurted. Pendron blinked, and Amber flushed bright red. "I mean...you called yourself a figurehead. Are you even in a position to make changes within this district?"
"Vell, yes. Technically. Ze district of Trolone, of vich ze mountain of Estyeer is a part, has a history of leadership zat has been razer...passive. Not completely removed, but ozer zan a few formal visits to ze leading businesses, I do not delve much personally in how zey are run. But I technically have ze power to get more involved." The Metallonian's expression darkened further. "I met Aristo Zerek on more zan von occasion, you know. I alvays zot him to be a brilliant mind, if a little stand-off-ish. To know vat he vas doing all zis time has been quite an avakening, I assure you." He leaned forward, looking up to meet Amber's eye at last. "I assumed zat zis is ze reason zat you asked to visit viz me, Amber. Vat is it you are vanting from me? A formal announcement? Apology? Funds to give to all ze victims involved?"
"Uh, kind of all of that, but maybe not exactly how you're thinking?" Amber tried. Why am I so awkward? I've been an ambassador for years now...surely I can pull off a more professional image than this. Pendron had raised an eyebrow in anticipation, and Amber straightened as she tried to make her tone surer. "There were many oni victims who were held hostage at Estyeer...some for years."
"Ah, yes. I heard somezing about ze oni who vere living zere."
"Zerek bought them from slave traders in our realm," Amber admitted. "We have been working to destroy the slave trade, and in taking it down, we discovered the connection to Zerek in Metallonia. He imprisoned the slaves in his laboratory and experimented on them, killing some."
Pendron's expression twisted with horror. "How ze tables have turned," he mused. "Vonce, Oni snuck into our realm to enslave our people...but now, it seems zat zhe opposite has happened."
Amber's heart pounded, suddenly unsure of where the conversation was going. Did Metallonians still hate oni for what the generals of the past had done? Was the leader saying the oni deserved to be treated like this?
"My fazer vas a historian," Pendron offered. "He alvays told me zat history repeated itself, but it never happened in exactly ze same vay." He pounded a fist on the polished wood of his armchair. "Ve Metallonians must draw on ze strength of ze past vizout repeating ze horrors zat occurred. I am truly sorry for ze loss your people have suffered vithin my district."
Amber swallowed, feeling a little better. "We managed to rescue them from Estyeer...but the problem we now face is that they do not want to return to the Oni realm."
Pendron's expression was surprised once again. "Vat do you mean?"
Amber glanced over at her grandfather before speaking. "It was the traders in our realm who first mistreated them and sold them to Zerek. We have tried explaining that the traders have been abolished, but they have no desire to return to the realm of dragon and Oni." She took a deep breath as she turned back to the leader. "They want to stay here."
Pendron stared. "Here...as in Metallonia? Or just ze realm of Ninjago in general?"
"I think they would agree to anywhere other than the first realm," Amber admitted. "The council in Ninjago City has made their stance clear that they are not ready for a community of Oni to move in...and I thought maybe I would appeal to you and other Metallonian government officials." Amber tried not to fidget. "If there is nowhere willing to accept them, then we will take them back to the first realm, but I thought I would at least try-"
"After everyzing zat has happened to zem here, zey vant to stay here in Metallonia?" Pendron asked, still seeming shocked. "Vere vould zey vant to live? Anyvere?"
"They are used to the climate at Estyeer," Amber admitted. "Personally, I wouldn't want to live somewhere that initially served as my prison...but some of the villagers have already asked to be returned to their homes there. I mean, I don't know if you have specific plans for the land there, but—"
"Ze land on vhich a fortress of science stood to torture people for ze last few years?" Pendron said. "Who vould ever buy it? Metallonian people have come far in ze realms of science, but zey are not vithout their superstitions. At ze moment, zere is massive cleanup to be done in zat area, but after zat is done..." he leaned back in his chair, seemingly talking to himself now instead of Amber. "An oni establishment—ze first in Metallonia. Ze varriors of ze past joining viz our people now in peace, razer zan var..."
"Would you be willing to consider it?" Amber asked at last.
"Consider it? I finished considering minutes ago," Pendron laughed. "Now I am merely zinking zrough ze legistics. Zere is a lot of private land up on zat mountain—ze oni could move in faster if zey vere villing to live in a different area zan ze fortress itself. I vould have to fill out some papervork to make it all official, but zat shouldn't pose too much of a problem."
Amber felt a wave of relief. "So the Oni can come and live here, in Metallonia?"
"I cannot promise how zey vill be perceived nation-wide," Pendron admitted, his smile fading a little. "But here in Trolone, zey vould be under my personal protection as Vatta." He smiled. "Zat is my official title."
"This...is honestly a relief to hear," Amber admitted. "My parents did not want to have to force them back to our realm when they've already suffered so much."
"I vill start construction on a village immediately."
"My parents would be willing to provide materials for authentic oni housing," Amber offered. "I mean...the oni may want more modern housing, but I really don't know."
"Vell, I vill get ze process started," the Vatta offered. "You do vat you can to fill in ze unknowns in ze situation, and ve vill keep in touch. Vill zat vork?"
"Yes," Amber agreed, feeling relieved.
"Good." Pendron smiled, but then he was moving to pull something out from under the tray on the table that had held their drinks. "Now zat business is concluded, I vonder if you vill oblige me in a more...frivolous query."
Amber frowned, but when she saw the magazine that Pendron held up, she flushed. She didn't recognize the title of the magazine, but her face was plastered across the front of it. The picture of her and Patrick was featured, as well as some of past performances she had done with M.
"I'll admit zat zere are many of us in Metallonia who have been interested in ze doings of ze realm's only oni. Or...ze girl who used to be ze realm's only oni." Pendron smiled sheepishly. "But I have to know...are you dating Patrick Tuberson, or Marty Openheimer V? It's been a nation-vide debate amongst us oni-followers."
Amber stared, her mind going completely blank. All at once, she was aware of her grandfather coughing, and she looked over and realized he seemed to have inhaled his cider. After another moment of silence, Amber couldn't help but break down into laughter. Her grandfather and Pendron both looked surprised, but Amber couldn't help herself. After everything that had happened, what other way was there to respond?
"Vas my question...insensitive?" Pendron finally asked, and Amber wiped a mirthful tear from her face.
"Um...I wouldn't trust anything the tabloids say," she answered. "But M and I...well, we recently decided..." she trailed off, flushing even deeper. Pendron scanned her face, and then he smirked as he glanced back down at his magazine.
"I knew it," he said, and then he tossed the magazine back on the table. "Now, I'm afraid I must be insensitive again. I know zat you are still no doubt consumed viz ze aftermath of ze horrors you have recently faced...but I must admit zat if zere vas ever a day you vould feel comfortable coming to Metallonia to perform, I believe zat you vould be vell received." He glanced over at Lou. "Some acquaintances of mine mentioned how talented your grandparents vere, back in zeir day. If zere is ever a time in ze future zat I could host a performance of yours, I vould be honored."
Amber was once again rendered speechless as she tried to think of how to respond. She glanced at her grandfather, and finally turned back to Pendron.
"Well, you're right...there is a lot to do still, and I can't promise that I can take you up on your offer immediately," she admitted, but then she smiled. "But my partner and I do have new tango costumes that he's been wanting to debut."