War of Absorption 13
Chapter 6: Pythor"Pythor's the rat," Jay blurted out. "That low-down, double-crossing snake!"
"Who said that," the transmission crackled. "Didn't you assure me we were alone?"
"We were," the snake grumbled, "but alas, I have unwanted guests."
"Drop the act, Pythor," Jay shouted, bursting into the room.
Nya followed behind him, her spear in her hand. Together, they confronted Pythor, whose entire figure was shrouded in a thick cloak. Only the tip of his purple tail stuck out, slithering slowly from side to side. Pythor turned to face them, his purple eyes gleaming out from under the hood.
"We know you're up to no good," Nya added, pointing the spear at Pythor. "Give up and we'll spare you."
"Spare me what," Pythor chuckled. "You have spared nothing. You took everything away from me, my home, my tribe, my dignity, my power. I once led the Serpentine; you destroyed my power. I once worked with the Golden Master; you ruined my dreams. And you left me defenseless at the hands of Chen and his imposters! Why should I trust you now?"
"Yeah, why should you," Jay repeated. "Come on, Nya. He isn't going to budge."
"What a delightful family reunion," the transmission crackled. "Unfortunately, I will have to pass. More important matters call my attention. Deal with them."
The transmission switched off. Pythor reached for the commlink, but Nya knocked it off the desk onto the floor.
"You really don't play nice," Pythor sighed. "Can you afford a little sympathy for good old Pythor?"
"Good isn't your style," Jay grumbled. "You're as devious and evil as you were when you released the Great Devourer. There's not an ounce of good in you."
"The Great Devourer," Pythor questioned.
"Hah. Nice try," Jay laughed. "You won't deceive us that easily."
Pythor removed the hood, revealing his striking white head and neck to the ninja. As he lowered the hood, a large purple gem appeared on the top of his head, while his eyes changed to a striking green glow. No elaborate pattern appeared, except for a tiny bone necklace with a snake tooth dangling from his neck. Nya glanced at Jay, then lowered her spear.
"You…you aren't Pythor," she questioned.
"Hang on a second," Jay blurted out. "You mean to tell us you're not Pythor? What are you, a want-to-be?"
"For venom's sake no," the snake laughed. "You really think I'd admire an Anacondrai as foolish or dishonorable as Pythor?"
"Then who are you," Nya questioned.
"I am Pythar," the snake bowed, "a mere Anacondrai seeking his path in the cruel world. And I would appreciate if you refer to me as such."
"Pythar," Jay snorted.
"What is the matter with you," Pythar asked. "Is it not a perfectly fine name?"
"It is," Jay laughed, "if you pronounce it as 'Pie Fart'."
"How hilarious," Pythar sighed.
"Knock it off Jay," Nya scolded.
"Yes, please listen to her," Pythar added. "My pride is hurt by your stupid remarks, let alone by being held at bay by a girl."
"I am no girl," Nya grumbled. "I am a ninja."
"I see," Pythar glanced. "If I were you, I would leave and consider this first meeting a mere accident."
"Oh no, you're coming with us," Nya asserted. "Pythor or not, you're a snake, and since you're a snake, we can't trust you."
"You'll pay for that remark, little girl," Pythar hissed.
"Don't you dare touch her, you slithery serpent," Jay growled.
Pythar started slithering his tail slowly, hissing lowly as he rattled its end. His eyes narrowed and his tongue zipped in and out. Every inch of his white body fumed with rage.
"Snakes are snakes," Pythar growled, "and I aspire to be the worst of them all!"
Pythar whipped his tail around in a circle, striking Jay in the side with a loud smack. Jay tripped, thumping to the floor on his face. Pythar's tail continued traveling, curling back around as he backed away. Nya then launched her spear, throwing it with full force toward Pythar. He ducked, letting the spear shoot over his head into the wall behind him.
"You'll have to do better," he chuckled.
Nya kicked his chest, knocking Pythar into the bedstead. She then surged forward, only to be whacked aside by Pythar's long tail. She too crashed into the wall, then watched as Jay charged forward against. Pythar grabbed the left fist, then the right, and then smacked Jay across the head with his head.
"Ouch," Jay yelped. "Your skull is hard as iron."
Pythar released Jay, who reeled back while Nya charged again. Several times they alternated, landing blows on Pythar and then being knocked back by his tail or his hard head. By then the room had been partially wrecked, the walls starting to weaken from constant impact. Seeing a chance to change the tempo, Pythar grabbed Jay by the foot, swung him around, and threw him through the wall, sending him into the next room. Two people, lying together in their bed, gasped in fright, then immediately frowned at Jay. Jay jumped up, then brushed the dust off his shoulders.
"Sorry," Jay blushed. "Won't happen again. Now stay here and don't move."
Jay rushed back into the room, where he spotted Pythar pinning Nya against the bedpost. With a hard swing, he punched Pythar into the bed, causing the upper bunk to crumble and collapse on top of Pythar. A thousand pieces of wood flew every which way, and several splinters hit Jay's left leg. He winced but made no sound. Nya brushed off some dust from her shoulders, then grabbed her spear from the floor.
"That's got to hurt," she told Jay.
"Yeah, and he deserves it," Jay replied. "I'll be glad when this snake's behind bars again."
"Should we tell Lloyd about this," Nya asked. "After all, he'd like to know what going's on."
"You don't need to tell him anything," Pythar gasped.
Pythar slowly crawled out from under the rubble, extending himself back to his full height. He wobbled somewhat as he regained his footing but soon regained his balance and planted his tail on the floorboards. Only two small cuts appeared, both oozing on the left shoulder.
"You are stronger than the Serpentine wise men let on," Pythar remarked.
"Well, duh," Jay boasted. "I mean, learning Airjitzu and fighting a score of villains teaches you a thing or two."
"Well, I owe you another lesson," Pythar remarked.
"Not on my watch," Nya retorted.
Nya summoned a ball of water, which floated in her hands as she entered her fighting stance, ready to disperse at a moment's notice. Jay's hands flashed with sparks of lightning, prepared if needed to shock Pythar. Pythar made no motion, instead plopping down on the rubble.
"Well, well, ninja, I underestimate you," he chuckled. "Never did I expect to lose to lightning and water. Quite a painful combination too, as I suspect the Vermillion will tell you."
"The Vermillion are destroyed," Jay asserted. "They were lost in time with those whacko time brothers."
"Appearances deceive," Pythar smiled. "For instance, look at that window."
Jay and Nya glanced behind their shoulders. All they could see was a circle glass window, the vast ocean in full view.
"There's nothing," Jay laughed. "Are you bluffing us, because you are a terrible bluffer."
"Look again," Pythar gestured.
They glanced again. This time, a small deepstone shuriken, one with three light-blue and dark-blue prongs, composed itself, appearing out of thin air as if it had been in the window the entire time. Jay gasped and his eyes widened. He could clearly see the tiny sparks leaping from the shuriken.
"You tapped into my powers," Jay exclaimed.
"Don't fuss," Pythar chuckled as he slithered toward the door. "I tapped into both your powers. That shuriken, you see, absorbs elemental energy, and can sense its presence with a single spark. Do you think I'd let you swing me into that bed without any reason why? No, I am much smarter than you ninja ever will be. Oh, by the way, say hello to Lloyd for me. It's been so long since I've seen my rescuer."
With that, Pythar slithered out of the room, shutting the door behind him. The ninja then heard the lock snap, followed by a loud gulp. Immediately, Jay and Nya raced to the doorway, grabbing the knob to escape. After several attempts, they stopped. The door had been locked from the outside.
"That's just great," Jay mumbled. "Here we are trapped inside a little cabin out at sea without any to get out!"
"Don't panic," Nya shushed. "Panicking only makes things worse."
"We're fine, I guess," Jay breathed. "After all, we just let Pythar walk out with us trapped inside with a lightning and water shuriken that can harm us at any moment!"
"Jay, we'll be fine," Nya soothed. "Don't lose hope so easily. I didn't marry you for your hyperventilation. What do you think he meant by 'rescuer'?"
"Who knows," Jay sighed, plopping onto an intact bunkbed. "All I want to know is how to get out of here before…"
Just then, they heard a loud zap from the shuriken. Small bolts started shooting out of the shuriken, striking randomly all over the room in quick zaps. One struck Nya in the leg, creating a large bruise on her leg. Another whacked Jay in the arm, generating a small welt on his elbow.
"Ouch," Jay yelled, waving his arm. "That hurt. Are you okay, Nya?"
"I'm fine," Nya smiled. "It'll take more than that to knock me down."
"Just how much can we take," Jay questioned. "We can't stay here and wait for someone to let us out. That shuriken will zap us to pieces any minute."
"I have a plan," Nya blurted out. "What if we grabbed the shuriken?"
"Grab the shuriken," Jay questioned. "That thing will zap us the second we touched it…oh, I see now. If we both grab it, then the effect should be strong enough to break open the window, thereby neutralizing the effect…"
"And sending us and the weapon into the sea," Nya finished. "Worth a try, right?"
"Alright, I guess," Jay shrugged.
He and Nya walked over to the shuriken, dodging the lightning strikes that zapped out of the weapon. They waited for a second, then as the shuriken charged again, Nya signaled to move. They both snatched the shuriken and yanked it out of the window. Immediately, the window shattered into a thousand pieces, but nothing burst out of the shuriken. They set it down on the table.
"That wasn't supposed to happen," Jay stated. "It was supposed to zap us. Why didn't it zap us?!"
"Because it wasn't an element to begin with," Nya remarked.
She removed from the shuriken a bolt generator, which was powered by a self-charging baby electric eel. Then she tossed the generator into the sea, short-circuiting the battery and causing it to burst into a million pieces. The baby eel swam away unharmed, soon rejoining his family a few yards away.
"Well, that Pythar is officially not on my likes list," Jay grumbled. "He didn't even tell us the truth about his shuriken. This thing's fake to begin with. Now where did that rat go?"
"Who cares," Nya sighed. "Right now, we need to contact Lloyd and tell the whole team about this."
Midnight descends upon the village of Jamanakai; all inhabitants sleep soundly, blissfully following the road to an escape from the day's worries into the realm of dreams. All except one, whose cloaked figure slinks through the desolate streets. He ducks from building to building, crawls and rolls behind barrels and stands, finally reaching the abandoned square with its iconic fountain. There, the figure stops, as if paying reverence to the fountain and its rich history, as famed as its healing waters that continually bring refreshment to the region.
"So, we meet again, old fountain," the figure mutters. "Never did I intend to cross paths with you again, not when I have so much yet to accomplish. Much you have witnessed already, yet nothing prepares you for that which will come soon. Prepare yourself, o fountain, and prepare yourself, Lloyd. For I return to Ninjago thirsty for vengeance, and when I pour my bowls of wrath, no golden power will be there to rescue you. Will you resist? Yes. Will you triumph? Never. For I possess that which can never be destroyed: the power of amber."
Chapter 7: The ConferenceBorg Tower. Three days after Pythar's escape. Lloyd reclines in the living suite, impatiently awaiting the arrival of his comrades. Master Wu rests, listening as Misako reads to him headlines from Ninjago's daily newspaper. Mostly garbage in those papers, Lloyd mutters to himself. Nothing valuable ever appears, not when the news channel covers headline stories faster than the press can print them. Then he notices the large, bold letters on the front page: MASKED ROBBER CAPTURED.
"What's that about," Lloyd interrupted, questioning his mother.
Misako stopped reading, lowering the paper to turn back to the first page.
"Someone was caught yesterday in a bank robbery attempt," Misako answered. "They say he wore a white ninja suit, and he could lift five bags of gold with one hand."
"Sounds like a strong man," Kai remarked as he entered. "I bet Cole could take him."
"Yeah, um, yeah, I could," Cole gulped, swallowing a bite of cake he was eating.
Cole and Kai entered the room with Zane, then took a seat on one of the couches. Jay and Nya followed, walking hand in hand over to a nearby sofa. Finally, Skylor and Pixel arrived with Ronin, who locked the door shut behind them.
"About time," Lloyd remarked. "Where have you guys been? You're an hour late."
"Traffic was awful," Kai complained. "Jay's new ride barely survived the trip."
"Hey," Jay complained. "My ride isn't half as bad as yours. At least mine actually works without glitching and setting your pants on fire."
"Quit it guys," Cole hushed. "Lloyd called us to talk, not to argue."
"What did you summon us for," Skylor asked. "You usually don't get the whole team together like this, let alone invite us."
"Yeah," Ronin added. "What's up your sleeve, kid? And make it quick. I promised my pal I'd be back at the kitchen by nightfall."
Lloyd sighed, then glanced around the room at everyone.
"Guys, something's stirring in Ninjago," Lloyd sighed, "and I don't like it one bit."
"Well, duh," Jay interrupted. "I mean, between the three attacks that happened recently, someone's certainly itching to cause trouble around here."
"Let me finish," Lloyd sighed. "Guys, it's one thing for someone to attack one of us and disappear, but it's a whole another battle when the same thing keeps happening. Everywhere we turn, they attack and they inflict damage. And the shurikens…they frighten me more than anything else, even if they are fake to begin with."
"Those shurikens," Cole stated. "Something isn't right about those. I mean, Zane's used shurikens since the beginning and he hasn't once found complaint in them."
"Yeah," Kai added. "But these shurikens channel elemental powers, almost like the Shurikens of Ice now in Samurai X Cave."
"What's in those shurikens anyway," Nya asked.
"I had Pixel run some schematics based on Skylor's report," Zane proffered.
Pixel nodded. She dropped a microchip on the floor, letting it pop open as a projection. The shuriken schematic filled the middle of the room, positioned to show the various details listed and accounted for.
"Using what Skylor reported," Pixel explained, "I ran a cross-analysis of the blade's description through my databases, but found nothing in our knowledge that matches this particular weapon. The closet clue we have is that it bears some similarities to an aeroblade, one you used when fighting the ghost armies."
"Aeroblades," Cole questioned. "I thought those were rare."
"They are," Ronin defended himself. "I wasn't lying when I sold them to you guys. Aeroblades don't just come out of nowhere; someone had to make this one."
"But aren't they made out of deepstone," Kai questioned. "That stuff's like impossible to find."
"That's what they say," Ronin admitted. "But rumors don't buy customers; facts do. The question is not what, but who. Who can make aeroblades that absorb powers?"
"Only someone with knowledge of the darkness," Master Wu replied. "Such beings I have heard of, terrible stories I have listened to, of how they could craft the deepstone weapons. My father destroyed them all; none remained…till now."
"But ones that take away powers," Lloyd questioned. "Aren't our powers permanent?"
"For some, but not for others," Wu winked. "Each must become one with his element to preserve his element, potential rarely reached by any master, not even I or Garmadon. Only one has achieved, the First Spinjitzu Master."
"Nevertheless, whoever this mysterious leader, what does he want," Jay questioned.
"Jay is correct," Zane stated. "I perceive that whoever this mysterious warrior is, that he is after something of value, perhaps an ancient scroll or hidden weapon long lost to the world."
"This warrior was seeking something in the Temple of Resurrection," Skylor spoke. "Perhaps if we look about the place, we may find something of worth."
"I don't like the idea," Cole shivered. "That place still gives me the shivers."
"I agree," Lloyd nodded. "It's not worth snooping about, in case we accidentally cause another side effect. There's no telling what Oni power remains lurking in that haunted place."
"Then what do you propose," Kai asked. "We can't sit around and talk while the enemy lurks unhindered."
"Precisely why I called you here," Lloyd answered. "While we've encountered the enemy three times now, we still don't know who they there or where they came from. We need more answers, so I recommend we split into teams and investigate the most recent attackers. Jay, Nya, you guys and Skylor follow Pythar's trail and find out what he's up to."
"Will do," Jay sighed. "I still don't think hunting him down's a great idea. I mean, we can't be sure where he is by now."
"He did mention Chen's Island," Nya replied. "I suggest we scope out that place first."
"Cole, Zane," Lloyd continued. "Track down the nindroid. Find out what you can about him and report anything you find back to base."
"Won't be easy," Zane stated. "There are thousands of places to hide in the city, let alone outside the city."
"Don't worry," Cole assured Zane. "We can handle it. Ronin, you still have ties with some old gear, right?"
"I can get you anything," Ronin said. "Name it, I have it."
"Snake blades," Jay questioned.
"Yep," Ronin said.
"Dragon teeth," Jay asked.
"Yep those too," Ronin nodded.
"Deepstone toilet," Jay questioned.
"Deepstone what," Lloyd interrupted. "Jay, who on earth has that?"
"Um, I do," Ronin gulped.
"Ha," Jay laughed. "I knew it!"
"Where did you get that," Cole chuckled, trying hard not to laugh.
"Don't ask," Ronin blushed.
"Aren't we getting off topic," Nya asked.
"Oh, right," Ronin sighed. "What else do you want, Lloyd?"
"Lloyd must stay and train Yuuma and Kigaru," Master Wu answered.
"Master, they're not ready," Lloyd answered. "I mean, Faith's been teaching them all about dragons and they seem to love it."
"Faith won't be teaching any longer," Master Wu sighed.
"Why," Lloyd asked. "Is she sick or injured? I sure hope Yuuma didn't…"
"Yuuma didn't do anything," Misako laughed. "Don't just assume he's at the center of everything that goes wrong around here."
"Ouch," Kai blurted out.
Kai jumped off the couch suddenly, flailing to the ground with his arms extended. He danced around for a few seconds, then calmed down again. As he danced, a small taser, remote-activated, fell to the ground. Almost everyone in the room, even Wu, burst out laughing.
"Who did this," Kai questioned. "Yuuma, I swear that I'll get you for this!"
"Maybe I am mistaken," Misako chuckled to Lloyd. "But you gave your word to Wu to train these two children as ninja, a promise not to be taken lightly. And I will not have a son who does not keep his promises to those he loves."
"Yes, mother, I will train them," Lloyd sighed. "But what is Faith's ailment?"
"She is going home," Wu sighed. "She and Firstborn are returning to the First Realm."
"Alone," Lloyd asked.
"Not entirely," Wu winked. "I persuaded that much from her."
"Good thing," Kai sighed. "I mean, there could be deadly Oni left for all we know, especially in a harsh desert environment like that."
"That is why you are going with her," Wu said to Kai. "Protect her and ensure that the tribes are fully established again. Then you may return."
Kai started to protest, but seeing that Master Wu was not kidding, only nodded and exited to prepare his belongings. Then Wu turned to the group again.
"You all have your tasks," he said. "Let us not put off till tomorrow what can be done today. Lloyd has assigned you, and I agree but with two exceptions. One, we leave the Borg Tower and return to our true home. The enemy we know not, but strong he is, stronger than you may suppose. We cannot risk him discovering our base, nor him uncovering the secret of Kigaru and Yuuma's training. Two, I wish to speak with Nya and Skylor one-to-one. You all may depart otherwise."
"But Master, what purpose do we have," Skylor asked.
"That I will discuss with you alone," Wu nodded.
The other ninja, seeing that Wu meant what he said, walked out, muttering amongst themselves what their master meant. Jay gave Nya a soft kiss of assurance, then departed, promising to have his lightning jet warmed up by the time she got out.
"What do you think Sensei wants with Skylor and Nya," Jay asked. "It isn't like him to speak one-on-one anymore."
"I don't know," Kai admitted. "Whatever it is, it is none of our concern."
"Kai's right," Lloyd nodded. "Focus on the task at hand. At all costs, find out who this enemy is so we can stop them before it's too late."
And so, they departed, readying themselves for the tasks at hand. Cole prepared his Rumble machine to travel, Jay fueled his Lightning Jet for flight, Lloyd stretched his body for the lessons ahead, and Kai readied his sack of Ninjago favorites, stuffed full of puffy potstickers cooked by Skylor and Ronin. Yet two ninjas remained indoors, listening as Wu disclosed their most dangerous mission yet.