Chapter Eleven- Hands of Time
Jay's eyes shut.
Somewhere outside the glass cell, Krux was talking. Somewhere outside the little bubble Cole had formed around Jay's body, things were unfolding. But Cole could have cared less.
How many times had he lived this moment? Jay slipping away. Cole's heart breaking even further, as a new weight of guilt was added. It all always managed to feel jarringly sudden. Cole shut his eyes. He waited for the world to rush back. He wondered where he'd end up this time around.
And . . . nothing.
Cole's eyes snapped open. Everything was still the same. Nothing had changed.
Except for the time machine.
It was on. It was back.
In a rush of sounds, Cole's senses snapped back to the present. For a brief moment, everything was too much. Too loud. Too bright.
Cole clutched Jay tighter, watching the green-ish light swirl within the machine. He felt a chill travel through him. Had fixing the machine somehow closed his time loop? Had he been forced back to normalcy, where mistakes were real, where he couldn't go back, ever, where Jay really was-
Under his grip, Jay shifted. Cole blinked away tears he had not known he'd been about to shed. Jay's eyes were still shut. His expression was still stoic. But he was breathing! Had probably been breathing all along, but the movment was so subtle, so weak, it was almost impossible to tell.
"You'd better hold on, Jay." Cole whispered the words with fierceness. The idea that the time machine being fixed could snap his connection with Jay . . . it burned at his every thought. He couldn't lose him. Not forever. Not without losing himself, too.
"Is it working!? Why isn't he back?" Cole looked up, watching as Krux shook Clancee's arm.
"I-It's working." Clancee said, his stutter worsening as he stood against Krux's glare. "I d-d-d-don't don't kn-know wh-why-"
"Wait." Krux straightened, letting the snake's arm drop. He took a step closer to the machine. Cole followed his gaze.
There was a shape within the light now. It was small, but steadily growing nearer.
The person who stepped out of the machine was familiar. Yet . . . not. Something about the features tugged at Cole, but he couldn't place them. Not until Krux moved closer. And Cole realized that Krux and the stranger . . . looked the same.
With the exception that the stranger was much, much younger.
"Krux?" The stranger asked, with a swift laugh. "Well. You're looking different."
"It's been a long time, Acronix. You're welcome, by the way. If it weren't for me, you'd still be trapped in time." The two shook hands. When they did so, the movement was rough, almost seeming to be a competition.
"Is that where I was? Funny. I can't remember much." Acronix side stepped his brother, eyes running through the office in slow movements. Eventually, the found Cole's own. Cole stared right back.
The final member of the group, Cole thought to himself. No wonder we couldn't find him. I guess, for a moment, he technically didn't exist.
Acronix didn't stare for long. He turned away, his interest pulled to the glowing screens. "Wow. Are these . . . security cameras?"
The missing twin tapped against one of the screens, chuckling with delight. "They look so good. They might as well be windows!"
"That's what you choose to focus on? Never mind the time machine. The working time machine I've spent a lifetime rebuilding. You go for cameras." Krux massaged his temples. "You're more infuriating than I remember."
"The time machine is great, sure. But how do we know it won't malfunction again?"
"Because. Gordon finished her research."
"Right. And she just handed it to you? Because we ended in such good terms?"
"In a way." Krux shrugged. "You've been gone for a long time, Acronix. We've got a lot of catching up to do. But not here."
With these words, Krux gave Cole an untrusting glance. Cole scoffed.
"I'll go wherever, as long as there's food. I'm starving."
"Yes, yes." Krux rolled his eyes, then pulled his brother out of the room. The door shut behind them, taking away the sounds of their bickering.
Cole had to think. He had to find a way to wake Jay up. Had to figure out what Krux was planning. Had to get out.
But how?
A soft shuffling sound made Cole's head snap back to the opposite end of the room. Near the time machine. Clancee. He stood before it, shaking hands fidgeting with something Cole couldn't see. The vermillion warriors, a weapon of Krux's Cole was all too familiar with, were there too. At least they didn't seem to be aggressive without orders to follow.
Work with what you have. And work quickly.
"Why are you helping Krux?"
At the sound of Cole's voice, Clancee jumped. Really jumped. The nervous energy making the serpentine's hand shake reminded Cole of Jay. Which in turn made him warm up to the snake almost instantly.
"He, K-krux, He keeps me safe, he does." Clancee said, but didn't seem too sure. "He, he's not so bad. A b-bit lonely and a-angry but not so bad."
"I find that a little hard to believe." Cole said. "Since he's keeping me locked up in here and all."
"Aye . . . w-well, you was causing trouble, you k-know." Clancee looked just about ready to bolt. But he didn't. Cole set Jay down gently, moving closer to the glass walls.
"You don't seem like a bad guy, you know." Cole tried to sound as kind as possible.
Clancee's eyes widened. He then shrugged. " I really sh-should not be talking with you."
"I know." Cole said. "But you're doing it anyway. Maybe you're not as into following orders as you think, hm?"
Clancee was quiet.
"Look. I really- . . . I really don't want anything to happen to Jay. He hasn't done anything wrong. He doesn't deserve any of this. I think I – I think I might have an idea of someone who can help. But I can't reach them from here. Please. Please help me out."
The serpentine didn't respond. Cole stayed quiet, too. Either his words would work, or they wouldn't.
Clancee began muttering softly, scurrying across the room. For a second, Cole thought he'd simply leave. But then the serpentine stopped before one of the keyboards, typing out a quick sequence of commands while still messing with whatever was in his hand.
With a soft hiss, the door to the cell slid open. Cole moved back, quickly picking Jay up from the ground. He was limp ad he was heavy, but his chest still rose and fell. When Cole stepped out of the room, Clancee stepped forward. Cole was finally able to make out the thing in his hand. A Rubik's cube.
"Y-you'd better hurry." Clancee said, looking toward the door.
"And you?" Cole asked. "Krux won't be happy."
"Nothing I'm not used to." Clancee shrugged. "M-maybe I could help distract him, too. I'm not sure about his plans, but they c-can't be good for the ci-city."
"Yeah. I don't think he's planning to throw a parade." Cole's fingers flew over the machine's control panel. To a date he'd never forgotten.
The machine rumbled to life. The light spun, bright and hypnotic. With one last glance at the small serpentine, Cole delivered himself back into the hands of time.
To the only person who might know what to do.
Dr. Gordon.
BEFORE
Falling in love hadn't been part of the plan.
Then again, was it ever?
There was something just so . . . so genuine about Jay. He was loud. He was obnoxious. And yes, maybe he was a little selfish. But the thing about Jay was . . . he was always himself.
Cole had thrived on it.
In his own life, there had always been rules on how to act. With his father, there was etiquette. Keep quiet about this. Make up opinions about that. Mingle, mingle, mingle!
Then, once Cole started his job with Garmadon, secrecy was literally in the job description. It was as if the world had decided that Cole could not be allowed to be himself. Whoever that was.
When he was with Jay though, Cole could forget it all. Jay's feelings were so vast, that Cole could drown in them, could, for a moment, be nothing more than just a boy. A boy with a very, very big crush.
He clung to his drink now, as if it were the only thing keeping him grounded. Which, it probably was. His other hand, devoid of any objects, shook terribly. Jay sat before him, his own drink upon the cloth they'd spread out over the grass
It was an unusually nice day in Ninjago City. A perfect day for a picnic.
"You've been the best guide. I really owe you." Jay said, not realizing how painful the yearning in Cole's chest was, every time he smiled as he was doing now. "Thank you. You really are a knight in shining armor."
"Not sure about 'shining'." Cole joked, looking down at his outfit. Black on black. "A knight, though? Maybe. Depends on who you ask."
"Well, if you're asking me, then yes." Jay laid back, to look up at the passing clouds. Cole's heart lurched.
"I'm glad you're enjoying the city." Cole said. "Would have been a shame to lose a friend if you decided to move back with your parents."
"Oh, no way. I mean. The city is scary, don't get me wrong. But there's something intoxicatingly amazing about independence." Jay chuckled. "You know, the kind of independence where no one can stop me from making myself sick on gummy bears."
Well. There's something intoxicatingly amazing about you, Cole thought, but did not say. "I'm not sure that's a good use of independence. But I'm glad I get to keep you all the same."
Jay smiled again. "Keep me, huh?"
"You know. Like, here. In the- In the here. City. Here in the city." Cole tried to laugh. The sound was pitiful.
"I'm teasing!" Jay chuckled, propping himself up on his elbows. Cole refused to make eye contact. "For what it's worth . . . I wanted to keep you, too."
Cole's eyes widened as he gave into Jay's gaze. The smile was still there. And it was a bit . . . expectant?
"Really?"
"Really." Jay was sitting up now. They were close enough for Cole to count Jay's freckles. Like stars in the night sky.
"Jay."
"Yeah?"
"I think . . ." Cole's mind was spinning. His mouth worked on its own, impulsively rushing forward. "I think I really like you."
"I think I really like you too."
"How do you feel about-" Cole shrugged. "How do you feel about a date? A date date. With- With romance and such. There's a really great restaurant downtown I still haven't shown you."
"Hmm. Do I get to see you all dressed up?"
"Maybe."
"Very tempting. It's a deal." Jay leaned closer. At least, Cole thought he leaned closer. He really, really hoped he wasn't wrong.
"Good," Cole said, or maybe he only thought it, he couldn't keep up anymore. He'd leaned closer too. And then, in a shower of small sparks that might or might not have been real, his lips connected with Jay's own.
AFTER
Stepping into the machine brought back a lot of memories.
Just like before, Cole clung tighty onto Jay. Pressed this close, Cole could feel Jay's shallow, weak breaths growing even weaker. But he was still there. Still holding on.
Unlike the last time Cale had stepped (Fallen?) through time, the machine now had a purpose. The spiraling lights didn't toss him and Jay around like a tightly wound yo-yo, but instead guided them steadily to a specific point in time.
In the distance, a lab began to take shape at the other end of the machine. And- it wasn't empty. Cole tried to stop, but the pull of the machine was stronger than he was. For a moment, he was afraid he'd ruined everything. Who was on the other side? Their younger selves? Krux? Acronix?
If someone saw them exiting the machine, what would they do?
As the features of the person came into view, Cole relaxed. It was Dr. Gordon. She was bent over her work. Then, the machine on her end must have begun to whirr to life. She dropped her pen, watching things unfold with wide eyes. When Cole stepped into the lab, She stumbled back.
"Whoa?" She gaped, teetering on her feet. Unsure of whether to run toward Cole, or away. In the end, her curiosity triumphed. "Whoa. It- It works? I just- Where are you . . . Who are. . . Hi."
"Hi." Said Cole. "I'm-"
"Terrifying! Did my time machine mess up the future? Are you the time police?" She looked far too excited about either option. Then, her eyes moved to Jay's unconscious body. "Or . . . do you need help with him? And I'm the only person in time who could help? I can't believe you'd travel all this way to me, specifically."
"You're the only person I could think of, yes. He's-"
"Is his brain splitting through realities? Time? Can he see the future? Did he see something so terrible that-"
"He's your son." Cole cut in quickly. Very quickly. He knew exactly how to shut down aimless rambling.
Dr. Gordon's words came to a screeching halt. She stared at Jay with wide eyes. A bit of recognition sparked in her blue eyes. " . . . Jay."
"Yes. Jay. You hid some research inside his brain. And- and well, someone found it. And he passed out. And now he won't wake up. I don't know if he's dying. I don't want him to be dying."
"Hid . . . in his brain? That's- that's really interesting." Dr. Gordon pushed Jay's hair back, looking at her son in awe. Cole didn't know what had triggered the expression. Jay himself, or the idea of what she'd done to his brain?
"Not interesting. It's bad." Cole replied through gritted teeth. "Is there . . . anything you can do? I couldn't think of anyone else. And I don't want to lose him."
"Why'd you have to come back in time for me, though? Why not ask my future self? I'm sure she's way more capable than me. At least I hope she is. Actually, you know what, don't answer me. Whatever the reason, it's a bad reason, and it's all over your face."
Dr. Gordon began to pace. "I'm not too much of an expert on neurology. But . . . you did say I did this in the first place, so . . . oh! I know! Cyrus! Yes! He's been working on some weird, virtual reality thing. Hooks right into your brain. Could definitely be repurposed. Yes!
"Follow me! We'll fix this." Dr. Gordon hopped a little in place. Cole felt a rush of anger. This was her son. She could at least try to look a little worried.
They both rushed out of the lab. Cole saw the sun only just beginning to rise. He could almost see his younger self, waking up early as usual, working on brewing up his own breakfast for the day.
Dr. Gordon's heels clicked loudly against the floor. Even with them on, she was still really, really small. A trait she'd clearly passed onto Jay.
One elevator ride later, Dr. Gordon stopped before a different office. Cole had been in it, once. In his search for the elusive truth that had surrounded Jay's life. He hadn't found anything useful. Cyrus Borg did not have anything to do with Jay's misfortunes.
At the opposite end of the office, was another door. This one opened into a lab. It was packed with all sorts of gadgets. Some were half built; some were seemingly functional. Others were nothing more than parts and blueprints.
"He won't mind if I use his stuff. It's an emergency! Plus he uses my tools all the time. Annoying, really." Dr. Gordon bit her lip. For a second, her eyes flashed with actual worry. She pointed forward to a set of chairs. "You can just- . . . set him down there. I'll boot this thing up."
"What's it going to do?" Cole was hesitant. But did he have much of a choice? The machine looked ominous, but it couldn't be worse than having Jay slip away. At least he hoped.
"It's going to let me see inside his head. So I can find the problem . . ." Dr. Gordon began to click away at a small computer. Cole set Jay down, and an odd helmet automatically lowered itself around Jay's head. "So. How is Jay? You know, like as a person."
"He's . . . good. Way too talkative. But kind. And funny. Or at least he thinks he's funny." Cole's eyes softened. He tried to keep himself from spewing out too much. He knew that if he really got started on the things he loved about Jay, he'd never stop.
"Wish I'd get to meet him. But I'm guessing I probably don't. There is no future me, is there? Ugh. She would have been amazing, too. But I guess I do have a knack for angering all the wrong people."
"I'm sorry."
"Eh. Let's just focus on Jay."
Cole gave a small nod. That, he could definitely do.
Seconds ticked. Had they always been this slow? Cole didn't think so. Every so often, Dr. Gordon would start to talk, but every time he voice would turn into soft unintelligible grumbles until she was quiet all over again. Cole hated it. He hated feeling so helpless. If their roles had been reversed, Jay would have probably been far, far more useful.
"Hmm." Dr. Gordon growled under her breath. Cole leaned closer. But of course, the lines and the messages on her screen meant nothing. "There's . . . nothing wrong with him. Not technically. I don't get it. He's just . . . stuck."
"Stuck?"
"Stuck." More typing. More frowning. Less answers. "I can't do anything from here. Not without help."
"I can try to help."
Dr. Gordon looked up. "Yes. Maybe. Hmm. How do you feel about going inside Jay's mind?"