His team was good, that much he knew. His confidence in them couldn't be denied. Despite this, something inside him knew at least one of them would join him in the noodle factory. After all, if Chen continued to pit Cole's family against each other, he would be seeing some of them real soon.
He just hadn't thought it would be like this.
A commotion wasn't uncommon in the factory. In fact, Cole was usually the one causing it, so when the first tell-tale sign of chaos reached his ears from across the room, the Master of Earth felt inclined to ignore it. After all, he had work to do, noodles to chop, and escape plans to get underway. He didn't have time for whatever drama the guards were trying to hatch.
Besides, it would all die down soon enough. It was probably just another prisoner, and since the ones who were shouting didn't sound like any of his friends, Cole didn't consider it to be his problem.
I'll fill whoever it is in on the escape plan later. With a decisive nod, Cole glanced at Zane, who continued to work diligently beside him. Yeah. When they get their act together.
Sometimes, he still couldn't believe they had found each other again. All those lonely and confusing months, not knowing what to do or who to be. Thinking Zane was gone for good.
Cole shut his eyes. Knock it off, will you? Zane's here now. There's no use in dwelling on the past.
He's here…
Yes, sometimes, Cole still couldn't believe it. The team was together again.
They were complete.
"Stop!"
Okay, so the shouts coming from the other side of the room were starting to get a little concerning, but hey, it wasn't Cole's problem.
You sound like Kai.
And you say that like it's a bad thing.
"I said stop! Leave him alone!"
Cole pulled the lever again, trying in vain to concentrate. They were building a roto jet underground, for crying out loud! Sure, he wasn't the one doing the actual construction, but as the team leader, it fell to him to figure out how they were going to get their jet out of the factory.
So far, every idea he'd come up with was nothing but trash. And seriously, it was hard enough to think in a dreary factory setting, but what with all the commotion on top of that—
"I said, leave him alone! He's not dead, I tell you!"
That's it! Cole ripped his hand off the lever and glanced back. To his surprise, Zane was already on his way toward the entrance.
"Wait!" Cole hissed, grabbing his brother's arm. "You can't go over there!"
Zane simply cocked his head to the side. "Someone needs our help."
"I know, but they'll see you! Wait here till things die down. It's just some new prisoners. Here,"—Giving Zane a light shove back to the conveyor belt, Cole flashed his best reassuring smile—"I'll go check it out, okay? If you get caught, the whole operation's off."
And I can't lose you again.
Zane seemed only mildly satisfied with this option, but he stayed put nonetheless.
Good. Great. Yes, stay there.
The sooner he figured out what was going on here, the better.
As he drew closer to the scene unfolding near the entrance, Cole forced himself to remain calm.
Something was off. He could feel it.
His heart quickened as he picked up the pace.
Though he couldn't see much through the circle of guards surrounding the prisoners, he'd seen enough to set his skin on edge.
And turn his entire world upside down.
No…
"What do we do with him?" One of the dimmer guards was saying as Cole skidded to a stop and began shoving his way into the ring. "He's not dead, but he can't work."
"Just leave him," someone said, but Cole couldn't tell who. He could barely hear anything over the dull buzz clogging his ears.
No!
Pain exploded in his knees when he fell to the ground, but Cole couldn't bring himself to care.
Jay.
He was… He was here. And he was…
Gosh, he's…
He's—
"He's not dead, don't worry."
With a start, Cole glanced up at Neuro, who also knelt beside Jay's limp form.
Don't worry? Yeah, a little late for that, pal.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, Cole vaguely registered that the guards were disbursing. Even without their suffocating presence, he still couldn't breathe.
Jay…
Sucking in a breath, Cole surveyed his brother. "What happened…?"
"He was caught in an explosion during the last round," Neuro explained. "When Chen took away our powers, the pain made bad injuries worse."
"All right, so why isn't he waking up?" With gentle, trembling fingers, Cole tilted Jay's head and felt for a pulse. Come on…
Neuro shook his head. "I don't know. I—"
But Cole wasn't listening anymore. "Jay? Come on, Jay, I know you can hear me."
Nothing.
Right. Maybe a different tactic…
"Jay!"
Yeah, Cole, yelling's not gonna work either.
"All right, uh…" Think! "We need to get him somewhere safer, not so open." And vulnerable.
Neuro nodded and reached forward, but Cole was already slipping his arms under Jay's knees and shoulders.
I've got you. Cole forced himself to breathe—and to ignore the gash that could very well turn into a scar lining Jay's forehead. Don't worry, Jay. He tightened his grip as a couple of guards brushed past, no doubt rushing to do Chen's bidding. Don't worry…
Zane was all business and scanners when Cole set their friend down in the little hidden alcove by the roto jet. The nindroid had always been skilled at hiding his worry, though Cole didn't miss the way his brows furrowed a little deeper than usual.
Before Zane could ask what happened, Cole and Neuro haltingly explained the best they could. The information didn't seem to satisfy him, but Zane pressed on with his work anyway.
"It would appear he has a concussion," Zane concluded, sitting back on his heels.
"I knew it!" Neuro shook his head. "I tried to warn him. Your friend is very stubborn."
At this, Cole felt the first tug of a smile on his lips. "Oh, you have no idea."
"We are all pretty stubborn," Zane informed the Mind Master, "which can be very irritating when something like this happens."
"You can say that again," Cole said, trying in vain to lower his heart rate.
Jay's fine. He's going to be fine.
It was almost as if Jay somehow knew they were talking about him because his eyes slowly blinked open. Cole found himself holding his breath.
Come on, Jay…
Squinting, Jay stared up at Cole with dazed eyes—and pupils that were way too large to be even remotely safe.
"… Cole…?"
"Hey there, bluebell," Cole replied, offering a soft smile. "What'd you do to yourself while I was gone?"
At this, Jay's expression contorted into one of extreme concentration. "I don't… I don't know."
All right. Cole bit down on his lip. It's fine. Don't panic, Cole. Don't—
"You were in an explosion," Zane filled in their confused brother gently. "Do you remember?
"Uh, I think so…? Wait." Jay did a double take, reaching a hand out. "Zane? Is that really you? You're…"
"Titanium?" Zane supplied in his usual helpful manner.
"Amazing," Jay corrected. "You look so cool! Wait, how did you get here? How did we get here?"
"You have a concussion," Zane continued. "That would explain the confusion."
Revelation dawned in Jay's eyes as he exclaimed, "I knew it!"
Beside him, Neuro swallowed a sigh and facepalmed. "That's what I've been trying to tell you."
Instead of making a signature Jay snappy comeback, he began muttering to himself. "Positive thinking. The power of positive thinking…" Then, his half-lidded gaze took a glance about the room. "Wait… Where are we? What happened?"
"Neuro said you—"
Cole put a silencing hand on Zane's shoulder. "Hold on a second. Jay, how much do you remember? Think hard."
Either it was taking an unusual amount of time for Jay's brain to kick into gear, or he'd spaced out. Stuffing down his worry, Cole snapped his fingers in front of Jay's face.
"What?" Startled, Jay struggled to sit up. "What happened? Oh, wait… Uh…"
Cole eased him back down. "Oh, no you don't. Just take it easy for a minute."
"I think…" Jay furrowed his brows. "Didn't my mech explode…?"
Neuro nodded. "That's right. What else?"
They were rewarded for their waiting when Jay's eyes widened and he gasped. "Kai! Kai, he—Where is he? Where did they take him?"
Kai.
Cole whipped his head around, scanning the factory. Because supremely Kai was supposed to be here.
So, what happened?
Why am I always left out of the loop?
"Skylor requested that Kai stay behind," Neuro explained.
Cole scrunched his nose. "Ugh. Are they still pining after each other?"
With another gasp, Jay grabbed Cole's arm and swung himself into a sitting position. Even the wince and hiss couldn't stop the lightning ninja's motormouth when he decided he had something to say.
"Cole! I forgot to tell you! You'll never guess!"
Grabbing hold of Jay's shoulders was the only way to keep him still. "Jay, calm down! You need to take it easy—!"
"Skylor betrayed us! She's actually Chen's daughter!"
What the—?
"Who knows what Chen has planned for him," Neuro continued.
"Oh!" Jay's eyebrows shot up, aggravating the gash that wouldn't stop tricking blood down his temple. "Maybe he can be our spy on the inside!"
"There's no point now," came Neuro's dismal response. "We lost."
Cole exchanged a grin with Zane. "Maybe we did. For now. But we're building a way out of here." He gave a subtle nod toward the covered machinery behind them. "They think we're fixing the noodle machine, but we're really fixing a roto jet."
"A roto jet?" Jay glanced at the ceiling. "But, wait… aren't we underground?"
Cole hadn't realized how much he'd missed his other half until that moment. "That's what I've been saying!"
"Hey," Karloff said, coming up from behind, "whatever happened to positive thinking?"
"No talking!" A guard shouted from the risers above. "Hurry up with that noodle machine!"
Karloff quickly reassured the guard, spinning some doublespeak about how the noodles would be "flying" out of there when he was finished.
Except we're underground!If he didn't think up the last of their escape plan soon, they wouldn't be flying anywhere.
"And get that prisoner up!" Another guard commanded. "Those who refuse to work will be fed to the serpent!"
Of course.
Because why can't it just be easy for a change?
He glanced at Jay. "Can you stand?"
"Of course!" The amount of enthusiasm was almost sickening considering Jay looked like he'd barely survived a train wreck.
Standing was slow going. Cole knew he could easily pull Jay to his feet, but he didn't want to make any of his injuries worse.
There were almost too many cuts and bruises to count. Plus the ones I can't see…
Finally, Jay was standing, though from the way he kept swaying and scrunching his face in pain, it was anybody's guess how long he would stay upright.
"Thanks," Jay said with a crooked grin. Then, he took a few staggering steps over to Zane and embraced him.
It was so refreshing to see the team piecing itself back together. Soon, once they stopped Chen, they would all be together again.
After what seemed like an eternity, Jay pulled away, eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Not that Cole noticed, or anything.
When Karloff called Zane over to run a diagnostic on their jet—or something like that—and Neuro followed, Cole gave Jay a once over.
"You know," he began, crossing his arms. "When we get out of here, I'm taking you to a hospital."
Jay waved a hand. "Pass. I just need a few bandaids and ice, then I'll be good as new."
"Or worse."
"Pft, I'll be fine." Even as he said it, Jay rocked a little on his feet.
Instinct kicked in and Cole rushed forward, catching Jay before he collapsed.
"Heh…" Jay closed his eyes for a moment. "Thanks."
Keeping his grip firm on Jay's arms, Cole asked, "You good?"
Jay just nodded as he pursed his lips and opened his eyes.
"Good."
Cole flung his arms around his brother and held on tight. He couldn't remember the last time they'd hugged.
Before everything with Nya.
It was all so stupid. Every time he thought about it, it made him want to throw up.
But it's over now.
He was reminded of this by Jay's instant reaction. His brother melted into the embrace, holding onto Cole as if his life depended on it.
A strange tightness closed around his throat and Cole did his best to swallow the emotion. Now was not the time to lose it.
Now was the time to rise up, to be a leader.
Cole sucked in a breath and hugged Jay harder.
Sure. In a minute…
"I missed you," he whispered after a moment, feeling his own eyes dampen.
No! Bad tears. Stay back!
Jay's voice trembled a bit as he replied, "I missed you, too."
It was the breaking point. All those months, all that time alone after the team split.
All that time without his best friend.
His brother.
By the time Cole noticed his cheeks were wet, it was too late to stop the tears. The crazy part was he didn't care who saw it. Let it not be said Cole was too tough to be emotional.
No more words were said. They didn't need any.
They both understood.
A friendship like theirs was too precious to neglect.
And Cole vowed never to let their bond get that close to breaking ever again.
