CHAPTER THIRTEEN- Here For You, Here For Me

NOW

Jay woke with a jolt, his forehead slamming against a heavy surface.

Dazed, Jay leaned back again with a soft groan. When the world came into proper focus, he realized he was sitting beneath an odd metal helmet. He pushed up against it.

It slid up without a fight. Beside him, Jay saw Cole doing the same. "Welcome back, Jay."

"Thanks." Jay said, standing. His eyes took in the room. They were inside a lab, that much was obvious. But there was something . . . off about it. He couldn't put his finger on it at first. Then, his eyes settled on a computer. It was small, but thickly built. Jay had seen models like it before. He knew it should have looked old. But it did not.

Similar oddities began to pop in Jay's vision. Jay spun in a small circle, his mouth wide open. "Are we- did we time travel?"

Cole ran his fingers over his hair, readjusting the heavy swoop. "Um. Yes. I . . . might've panicked. I couldn't think of what to do. I couldn't think of anything to run to. Other than . . . your mom."

"My mom?" Edna Walker flashed in Jay's mind. He didn't think that was who Cole meant, though. "Like, the mom I don't know mom?"

"Birth mom, yes."

"Where . . . is she?" Jay glanced around the room again, half expecting Dr. Gordon to pop out behind one of the shelves. "Is she here?"

"She was."

"Huh. Maybe she went to the bathroom?"

Cole shook his head. "Let's just get back to the time machine. Krux and Acronix were planning something before I left. Not just that, but the others will be worried. I'm assuming you didn't tell them you were going to go ahead and trade yourself in for me?"

"How dare you assume anything," Jay pretened to be offended with a loud gasp of disbelief. " We totally shook on it. They sent me on my way because they have faith in my abilities. Unlike some people."

Cole said nothing. He didn't need to. He simply raised an eyebrow in questioning disbelief.

"Okay, I might have hopped out of the window! But is now really the time to judge?" Jay gave a dismissive shrug. "Besides. I just went through a very traumatic experience. So, you need to love and pamper me."

Cole gave a soft laugh. "Sure thing, freckles."

At the sound of the old nickname, Jay's heart gave a little hop. "I'll never get tired of hearing that."

"I'll never get tired of saying it." Cole replied. He then reached out to take Jay's hand. His grip was shaky. " I need to tell you something. The . . . The real reason I pretended to be dead. It was stupid but- but it was the only thing I could do."

"Oh?"

Cole sighed. Then, he opened his mouth again. The explanation that fell from his lips made Jay feel sick. He had the strongest urge to wrap Cole up into a hug, and never let him go.

The weird, powerful connection between them. The reason he was stuck between being dead and alive. The twisted time loop that forced Cole to witness more than one of Jay's untimely endings.

"I know it's a lot," Cole said quickly, as soon as he had finished explaining. "But it's alright. You've got a good handle on your abilities now. You've been through a lot, and you're still kicking. So it's fine, you know? I just . . . had to say it."

"Yeah," Jay said. "I'm sorry. It sounds . . . not nice."

"No worries," Cole smiled. "Let's get back home, yeah?"

"Yeah."

Together, they stepped out of the lab. Jay let Cole lead, wishing he could come up with something good to say. Problem was, his own mind was still reeling with the new information. He couldn't even begin to imagine what Cole had been through. Jay held his hand a little tighter.

One elevator trip later, they reached a floor that Jay felt to be faintly familiar. He had met Cole here, hadn't he? The first time? The rush of memory forced a shaky sigh out of Jay's body. If he explored the halls, would he end up encountering his younger self?

"Neither of you are going anywhere."

A deep voice boomed down the hall as they walked forward. Jay and Cole exchanged wide eyed glances.

"Yeah! What he said!" This voice was just as loud, although considerably higher pitched. A different sound echoed then. It sounded like something tipping over, contents clattering against the floor.

"Well. Guess we know where your mom went." Cole said, as they both started running down the hall. "Was it just me though, or was that other voice Garmadon?"

"Did sound familiar." Jay agreed, although he had not heard enough of Garmadon's voice to be able to pinpoint it.

They came to a stop in fron of the lab. Jay clung onto Cole's arm to prevent himself from toppling forward.

The room was a mess. The time machine was up and running, swirls of light throwing shadows all around. Desks had been tossed to the side, along with the sets of chemicals, tools, and notes they had once held. Garmadon and Dr. Gordon stood side by side, blocking the machine from the two people in front of it.

"Krux," Jay hissed the name out, recognizing the man even as his younger self.

"Acronix." Cole said, half in disbelief, wondering if they were about to witness the moment that had started it all.

The twins turned back to glance at the newcomers. Jay noticed they each had one gauntlet strapped to their arm. Upon each were two dangerously sharpened blades.

With the twins momentarily distracted, Garmadon took his chance. He leapt forward, tackling Krux to the ground. With only Dr. Gordon to block the machine, Acronix rushed forward.

Dr. Gordon met him halfway, using momentum to make her smaller body just as powerful as her opponent's. She pushed back against Acronix. For a moment, she succeeded in keeping him in place. But soon, she began to skid back, as Acronix moved forward.

"You help her. I'll help Garmadon." Cole nodded for Jay to move forward.

Jay obeyed. He launched his body against Acronix, careful to avoid the sharp blade strapped to his arm. Acronix growled, tripping ack over the bits of paper on the floor.

"Who are you supposed to be?" The dark-haired twin said, eyeing Jay wearily. "Whoever you are, I can assure you that they don't pay you enough to keep me away from that machine."

Acronix leapt back to his feet, his gauntlet free hand half hidden behind him as he slashed with his other hand. Jay flinched back, forming a shield of electricity to keep his face from being cut. The wave of power clung to Acronix's blade, rushing back through the metal and into his body. The man fell back again. Despite the pain (and the fact that he was further from the machine than before) Acronix looked . . . in awe.

"You're . . ."

"He's my son, that's who he is. So you better high tail it out of the building, before we both kick your sorry butt." Dr. Gordon said, side stepping in front of Jay. With her in front, Jay risked a glance to the other side of the room. Garmadon had Krux's arms pulled back behind him, keeping him locked in place. Cole stood close by, clutching his arm. His shirt was sticky with blood.

"So, you're from the future." Acronix smiled, eyes shining with pure eagerness. "What's it like?"

"None of your business, that's what its like." Dr. Gordon replied. "Give it up, Acronix. You're not going anywhere. And neither is your feisty little twin."

Acronix was completely unfazed by Dr. Gordon's aggressive tone. He turned to look at her, his smile widening further. "Congratulations, partner. Looks like your DNA experiment paid off. Lucky thing you were so liberal with your research. A guy could learn a thing or two."

"We trusted you." Dr. Gordon said. She glared first at Acronix, then at Krux.

"That's your mistake." Acronix said. Then, he threw the hand that had been half hidden behind him forward. Jay saw the moment flash in slow motion.

Three colorful flasks left Acronix's outstretched fingers. Jay's own hand shot forward, to pull Dr. Gordon back. Liquid spilled from the flasks as they shattered, instantly turning into wisps of colorful smoke.

Dr. Gordon waved her arms and coughed violently, her eyes shutting themselves tight. Jay held his breath as he continued to pull her back. Garmadon shouted something Jay's mind couldn't quite make out. He felt Cole's hand on his arm.

"Are you okay?" Cole asked, as the puffs of smoke began to clear.

Jay nodded. "I'm-"

"Keep an eye out for the other side then, Krux." Acronix stood in front of the machine now, his back facing the swirling vortex. "Stay turned, hmm?"

Krux smirked. With a dramatic bow, Acronix stepped backward into the machine. Dr. Gordon leapt forward. "No!"

Eyes wild, she turned to face Jay. "Your powers! You need to destroy the machine. I don't- I don't know what they're planning to do, but if we get rid of it, if we get rid of it fast enough- . . . Maybe we can stop him."

Cole's grip on Jay's arm tightened enough to make Jay flinch. "No. He can't destroy it. How would we get home?"

"The remote." Garmadon spoke up, still clutching Krux in place. "Couldn't that take them back home?"

"Yes!" Dr. Gordon nodded. "It should be in Wu's office. See, when we built the machine, we figured there wouldn't always be another machine waiting on the other side. So the remote would let us come back home, no matter what. Even if you destroy this one, if the one in your time is still working . . . it should still work. Theoretically."

"But what if it doesn't?" Cole shook his head. "I'm not an expert in time travel, but I don't want to be stranded where I don't belong."

"And you'd rather allow someone with questionable intentions to have access to it?"

"Maybe."

Jay opened his mouth to agree with Dr. Gordon, but once again, one of the twins cut his words short.

Krux had been listening intently to the conversation At the mention of another way to hop through time, his eyes had flashed.

He swung his head back, snapping Garmadon's nose with a loud and uncomfortable crack! Instinctively, Garmadon's hands shot toward his nose, allowing Krux to slip free. The twin then rushed out of the room, his steps loudly echoing all throughout.

"I'm going to kill him." Garmadon growled, setting off after him.

Dr. Gordon rushed to the door too. She turned back at the last second, her bright blue eyes boring onto Jay's. "Destroy it. Before things get worse."

She then turned away, following behind Garmadon.

"You're not really going to do it, are you?" Cole let Jay go, reluctantly. "Jay, you can't."

"What else can we do? This is what's supposed to happen, isn't it? It's why Acronix wound up stuck in time. Why Krux spent half of his life hunting me down. How else would everything that's already happen be put into motion? If we change anything . . ." Jay allowed his right arm to fuel up with lightning. One shot. That was all it would take. "We change everything."

Cole grabbed his hand again, turning Jay away from the machine. The electricity around Jay's arm died out. "No, Jay. If you- If you destroy it, what about us? Our connection? I can't- I can't lose you. Not without getting another chance. What if something happens to you, and I can't take it back?"

"Cole . . ."

"We can fix it, together. Remember? If we just bring Acronix back, then . . ."

"Cole, I don't think-"

Cole wasn't listening. With a determined frown, He tugged Jay forward.

Together, the slipped through time.

So, how does it feel to single handedly ruin the fate of Ninjago?

An imaginary reporter held up his mic up to Dr. Gordon in her mind.

Whaterve word is worse than terrible. That's the one I pick. She replied, skidding out of the room in pursuit of Garmadon and Krux. My vocabulary isn't good enough to encompass how I feel.

A loud thud jolted her back into the present situation. Garmadon stood in front of the elevator, growling at the shut doors after having punched the metal. "Stairs it is, then."

"We should hurry." Dr. Gordon said, biting her lip. People were starting to arrive as the new day clicked to a start. She didn't think that more bystanders would stop Krux from doing anything crazy. "The less people around, the better."

Garmadon nodded, beckoning her to follow as he rushed toward the stairs.

"Jay, wait!"

The sound of her son's name stopped her dead in her tracks. She turned back, searching for the source of the voice. She saw Jay, small Jay, running with his stubby legs right into the lab she'd just left. Another kid ran in behind him, thick black hair bouncing as he moved.

She took a step back toward the lab.

"Gordon, now!"

Garmadon's voice forced her to turn away. Krux. She needed to focus on Krux.

Or . . . did she? She was no longer sure about her choices. Was this another mistake?

Her stomach twisted into tatters as she turned away to run up the stairs. Time travel had been a really bad decision. It had made her uncomfortably aware of every one of her actions. Would this trigger inevitable destruction? Would that unleash a famine?

Butterfly effect, Ha! Feels more like dung beetle effect. Dr. Gordon laughed without humor.

When she reached Wu's office, things were at a standstill. Krux already held the remote, and he was pointing his sharpened gauntlet in Garmadon's direction. Garmadon's hands twitched, unsure on whether he should risk tackling the twin to the ground.

Krux pressed the buttons of the remote with his free hand. His movements were frantic. "You said this was connected to the time machine! It isn't working."

"Yeah," Dr. Gordon agreed. "It's connected. To take you home. You're already home, Krux."

"Then please, tell me why I ran up two flights of stairs." Garmadon said with a groan.

"Because! He's still a threat. He-" Dr. Gordon began. But she didn't finish.

Behind Krux, a spinning portal opened. Without needing to hesitate, and still clutching the remote, Krux stepped backwards straight into its arms. It spun shut behind him.

"I thought you said the remote would only take him home!" Garmadon wheeled around to face Dr. Gordon. "Care to explain that?"

"That," Dr. Gordon blinked. "Was probably Acronix. Which means . . ."

"Those two kids didn't destroy the machine."

The reporter returned to Dr. Gordon's head. Ouch! Yet another mistake in this avalanche of bad decisions. Care to comment?

The machine pulled them forward at a steady pace.

Jay tightened his grip on Cole. His heart threatened to launch itself from his chest. What would they encounter on the other side?

The swirling lights began to clear up. Jay had expected to see OverCorp. Had expected to see the office that had become uncomfortably familiar. To see Clancee. Maybe even a snake filled warrior to add to the décor.

What he saw, was completely different.

Jay and Cole stepped out of the machine, their feet sinking into mounds of ash. All around them, the building was in ruins. Broken walls, scattered debris, everything was on its last legs. It all stood precariously above Ninjago City.

If you could even call it Ninjago City.

Jay stepped closer to the broken windows, his hand slipping from Cole's as he took everything in. The streets below him looked nothing like what he had grown used to. The large park that had taken up most of the city was gone, replaced instead with what looked to be a giant factory.

The streets were dirty, and all buildings were one breath away form falling apart. The few people that were visibly walking through the streets kept their heads low and shuffled forward quickly. As if they did not want to be seen outside.

In the distance, Jay was able to make out a large statue. Krux and Acronix. They were holding opposite arms up, showing off the sharpened gauntlets they had used before. Except something about these looked different. There was an extra component, but from this distance, Jay wasn't able to make it out.

"Totally looked like we can just pluc Acronix right out of here, huh?" Jay scowled, looking back at Cole. "You really are a genius. Well. I guess we just need to go back and- no, no, no!"

Cole turned away from the city, and toward Jay. "What?"

"The machine!" Jay rushed back to where they had come from. The machine was broken down, looking as if it had been abandoned for years. Parts were missing, cables sticking out of the control panel. Their ends were burned out, blackened.

Jay kneeled before it, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. From what he could make out, a lot of parts seemed to be missing. And without them, he couldn't imagine how things were supposed to go together.

"Great! We're in such a better place than before. What's better than being hunted down, you ask? Living in a dystopian world where the very person that ruined your life, rules everything! Not only that, but there's two of him now, and they're both insane."

When Cole didn't reply, Jay turned back to look at him. His expression was hard to read. It was more withdrawn than it had ever been. Cole had an awful habit about keeping negative emotions to himself.

"Cole?" Jay stood, dusting off the ash that clung to his pants. "We can still fix this, you know. I just needed to freak out a little. I want to go home. But . . . all we need to do is fix the machine. Or use whatever they have been using."

Cole nodded, then turned away, back in the direction of the half-ruined city. "Yeah. That's- that's a good plan."

"Wait, Cole, are you crying?"

"No."

"Cole, it's okay! Really, really. Worst case scenario we live out the rest of our lives here. But that could be cool right? We make a little rebellion and-. . . okay, no time for jokes." Jay wrapped his arms around Cole's body, careful not to push at his wound. He pressed his forehead against Cole's back. "At least we're together. Right?"

"Sure," Cole said. "But you don't understand, Jay. Everything . . . Everything I've done is to keep you safe. And all I can do is make things worse! I'm just so . . . so scared. And I shouldn't be scared, I'm supposed to be strong, I'm supposed to protect you, I'm supposed to make everything okay."

"Says who?"

"Says me."

"Well, you're stupid." Jay tightened his grip on Cole's body. "I can be strong, too. I can protect you. I can make everything okay."

"I don't- . . ." Cole shook his head. "You shouldn't have to. You didn't ask for this. So it's on me to-"

With an exasperated sigh, Jay let go of Cole, forcing him to turn and face him. "Okay, so I didn't choose this specifically, you're right. But I did choose you, Cole. Of course I don't have to do anything. But I want to! I want to make you feel better! I want to protect you! We'll figure this thing out."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure, boulder brain." Jay chuckled softly, pushing Cole's hair up away from his eyes. "I'll shout it out if I have to."

"Please don't." Cole smiled. "We should probably keep a low profile. And you're loud."

"The loudest!" Jay agreed, planting a kiss on Cole's lips. Cole kissed him back, then crumpled against the gesture as it turned into an embrace. The weight of him made Jay stumbled for a moment, but in the end, Jay regained his balance.

He held Cole tight. He held Cole up.