A/N: So these chapters seemed a lot longer handwritten in my notebook...

To anyone who was wondering, the Star Wars reference was "Don't get cocky"

Zane heard static rustling in his ear, then a whispered cry for help. "Lloyd?" he asked, recognizing the voice. But before he could get the word out, the green ninja's comm went offline. After several attempts to contact Lloyd, Zane took off on his elemental dragon for the monastery, calling the other ninja on his way.

When he arrived, Nya was already there, frantic with worry. After all, Kai had been with Lloyd when the green ninja called for help, or so everyone thought. Cole and Jay showed up soon after.

Taking the lead since Lloyd wasn't there, Cole asked for all the facts. Zane spoke first, laying out what he knew. Which wasn't much. Lloyd and Kai had been on a mission, no one knew where, and suddenly over their shared comm link Lloyd called for help, but no one could reach him. Kai's location was unknown, and they couldn't get to him either.

Then a voice spoke quietly from the doorway. "I know where they are." The four remaining ninja spun around, only to see...PIXAL?

"PIXAL, you know where they are? What happened? Are they okay?" Nya couldn't control the questions flowing from her mouth. An apt description, she thought wryly, as she absentmindedly formed a small ball of water between her hands. "Where are they?" she couldn't help adding.

PIXAL held up her hand. "One at a time," she said. For Jay, Zane, and Cole were asking several different questions too. She took a deep breath and began.

"Eighteen hours ago, a gang broke into Borg Industries and stole the Realm Crystal. I tried to stop them, but was only able to stick a tracker on one of them. I sent Lloyd the location because I knew he'd be able to retrieve it better than I could. Nya, you said he called Kai? Presumably, they were both going to where I tracked the gang: this abandoned junkyard." PIXAL pulled up a map and pointed to a spot near the outskirts of Ninjago City. Jay's face darkened.

"I know that junkyard. It's always been shady, and Ma told me to steer clear of it. If Lloyd and Kai were following a gang, they'd definitely end up there."

Nya jumped up from her seat. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" She started to run for the Bounty, but Zane stopped her. She tried to resist while the master of ice tried to reason with her.

"Nya, if they were ambushed or captured, the presence of the Bounty would only tip them off that we're there. We travel by shadow."

"It's the only way I know how," a deep voice said. Everyone, especially Nya, shot dirty looks at the master of lightning. Jay threw up his hands. "Hey, hey, hey, I thought the situation could use a little lightning." The others groaned.

Shaking his head, Zane turned to PIXAL. "You should stay here as back-up. Like you said earlier, stealth is better than force right now." She nodded as the original nindroid continued, "Does anyone know where Misako and Wu are?"

Cole frowned. "Last I heard, they went to some historical convention. Someone unearthed another old scroll and blah blah blah. I don't know when they were planning on coming back."

Zane furrowed his brow, forming a plan. Looking at PIXAL again, he asked her to call Wu and Misako back to the monastery. Then, turning back to the other ninja, he said, "Let's head out. And remember, we don't know what happened. Stay alert and on guard at all times. Stick together and don't get distracted. We're looking for Kai and Lloyd, keep your eyes, and more importantly, your ears, open."

The others nodded and got up to leave the monastery. But as Zane walked out the door, PIXAL grabbed his arm. "Stay safe," she whispered. Zane patter her shoulder. "We'll be fine," he said, though the hollowed tones in his voice belied his claim.

A/N: Please tell me someone thinks Jay's joke was funny - I'm very proud of that and none of my siblings/parents, etc. thought it was funny

I am almost finished with ch. 3, but I'm not sure when ch. 4 will be out. I am pretty sure what I'm doing in it, but don't expect it in the next couple of days/weeks. Sorry.

Aaaah we're all gonna DIEEEE from the Coronavirus!