added content to section 2, paragraph 6 of Ch. 7 to explain Lloyd's sudden disappearance.

Oh my goodness, I am so so sorry for not posting a new chapter, in what, a month? I had a ton of trouble trying to figure out how to write this, I had finals/testing, etc. But, here it is, chapter 12! Oh, and for those who are sensitive to anything extreme, there isn't much in this chapter, mostly just talking. Yes, it is sadly, a dialogue chapter. . .

P.S. I broke my one word chapter title streak.

Chapter 12: Human Nature

Cole P.O.V, 2 days, 16 hours, 26 minutes following "Aftermath": 11:10 A.M.

"Excuse me, what?"

"Look, I know the plan sounds horrible, but trust me, it work out fine… probably."

"No. I cannot allow this to happen. It is, simply put, far too dangerous," Zane deadpanned.

"C'mon Zane, please. I need to get Nya back. Who knows what they're doing to her?" Kai pleaded, staring at him with puppy eyes, which would've been funny if the situation wasn't so serious.

Zane just stared back at him, probably running through all the scenarios in his head.

"Very well." Zane finally relented, allowing Kai a sigh of relief. "However, you must stay on the Bounty."

His gaze dropped. "Fair enough."

Zane looked quite relieved. "Good, good. I suppose you need as many of us as possible for this?"

"Yeah, but what'll we do with Robo-Jay?"

"Uhh, what?" Kai asked, confused.

"Hmm? Oh, how do I put this? The Jay we brought home is not the Jay we know. He is an android duplicate, programmed to believe that he is the blue ninja."

"Okay. . . so are you guys gonna get rid of him?" Kai questioned.

"Yes, but we are just not sure how or when to. . . dispose of him." Zane replied.

"Okay, okay. So. . . when will you guys go save Nya?" Kai probed, suspicion creeping into his voice.

I looked at Zane, and he looked at me; we weren't sure yet.

"Tonight, I suppose," Zane said, all too suddenly. "I do not believe they would expect an attack so soon after our escape."

Kai's face lit up. "Alright, that sounds great!"

Zane nodded, and walked out without a word. I followed him out the infirmary.

What were you thinking?!" Zane asked, bewildered.

I shrugged. "I guess I was just trying to make Kai feel better, then he came up with the idea, and then I just went along with it to keep him distracted from what's been going on 'round him."

Zane sighed, running his hand through his hair. "We must act quickly, to save both Nya and Jay."

"Yeah, okay. We are going to get them back tonight, right?" I replied.

"Yes. We will move tonight. But for now, I must spend some time on my own."

"Okay. See ya." I left for the kitchen to find some cake, just to relieve my head of some worrying thoughts. Spend some time on his own? Something has to be wrong. I shook my head and just kept walking in search of the triple chocolate cake with vanilla frosting Zane had made right after we got back from the Overlord's compound.

"Hey, Cole! Whatcha doin'? Oh! Can you cut some cake for me too?" Ja–Robo-Jay, asked.

"Uh, yeah! Yeah, sure!" I responded in an overly cheery voice.

"Okay! See you later, Cole!" Robo-Jay walked away, leaving me with my thoughts once again.

Nya P.O.V., 2 days, 17 hours, 3 minutes following "Aftermath": 11:03 A.M.

"Move it. Now." A gruff voice snarled, shoving me forwards. Today was the day. Today, I would finally see Jay again for the first time in what felt like ages. I had overheard the guards talking about how everyone except me had fled, which was odd, because I knew, for a fact that Jay was still here, in the Overlord's secret hideaway camp.

The funny thing was, while I was here, I noticed that not only were there Nindroid soldiers, but there were also mercenaries with a patch on their vests that showed off a large A over the right breast pocket, so I had assumed that they were a part of Atlas Defense, the largest and most powerful mercenary company in all of Ninjago. I had remembered from a news report that the founder had went missing three years ago, and that his name was Justin, and his last name started with what I think was a C, but I couldn't place my finger on what his full last name was.

A voice snapped me back to reality. "Move. Unless you don't want to see your friend."

After what felt like a million miles, the merc stopped me, moving me to the side. He walked up to the door and swiped a keycard, granting us access to what I assumed was where they were holding Jay. "You have ten minutes, then we're pulling you back out. I suggest you use your time wisely."

I rushed in, to see Jay chained up to the back wall, but he was unconscious, or just sleeping.

Grabbing his shoulders, I started to try waking him up. "Jay. Jay. Jay!"

He slowly, ever so slowly, opened his eyes. "Huh? Zane? No. No. Stay away from me! I don't want to see her anymore! I know she's not here!" His eyes clouded over with fear, and he started shaking, struggling to escape my grasp.

What did they do to him? "Jay! Stop! It's me! I'm here!" I shook him a few times, maybe a little bit harder than I had meant to. His eyes finally cleared, and his face was one of pure disbelief.

"Nya? Is that. . . really you?" He asked quietly.

"Yes. Yes, Jay, it's really me! Oh god, what did they do to you?!" I was too busy trying to wake Jay up to notice that where Jay's hand was supposed to be, there was only a bandaged stump.

"Z-Zane. . . h-he just froze my hand, and then he just smashed it with that hammer." He nodded towards a tray full of hammers, saws, and other tortures devices. Wait, Zane? He would never– oh, right, he was hacked or something.

"Oh, Jay, what are we going to do? We're trapped here, the others broke out, and there're more than just the Nindroids here now!"

"Wait, the others broke out?" Jay looked at me, fear clouding over his eyes. "And there's more soldiers here?!"

"Yeah. And I'm pretty sure their from Atlas."

"Atlas?! Oh no, oh no, oh, this can't be happening. Please tell me this isn't happening!"

"Jay! You need to calm do–"

"Time's up! Get up and outta here!" The guard from earlier stormed in, a scowl on his face. He grabbed my arm, yanking me back towards the door.

Jay started to struggle against the chains again. "No! Nya! Let go of her!"

The guard chuckled. "Or what? You'll yell even louder? Ha! Nice try, shorty, but you're not getting out anytime soon. Any last words to your girlfriend?"

"I-I'll find a way to get us out, Nya. I promise."

"O-ok. Goodbye, Jay."

". . . Goodbye, Nya."

Zane P.O.V., 2 days, 17 hours, 13 minutes following "Aftermath": 11:13 A.M.

What have I done? The others surely must think I am a monster now. I must find out what I have done.

Before I could search my memory banks for what I had done, someone knocked at my door, most likely Cole. I strode across the room, unlocking and opening the door. I regarded him with a fake smile. "Hello, Cole. Is there something you need help with? Or do you simply wish to talk?"

He hesitated, and I knew immediately what he was thinking to do. "Yeah, about that. Look Z, I know you've been through a lot these few weeks, but you know that you can always talk to us, right?"

"Of course," I replied, "but I do not believe that I require any physical or emotional therapy for the time being."

Cole looked very skeptical. "No, Zane, you're not alright. You need help. And I know what you wanna say, 'you should perhaps ask Kai if he requires assistance', but he's not the one hurting from being hacked, and being forced to do things you don't want to do. It's alright to be selfish sometimes, it's human nature, and you are human, and even if everyone else in the world says differently, I would still believe that you are human, because you are my brother, and you're the best brother that anyone could ask for."

"I am afraid you are mistaken, Cole," I snapped. "I am not human, and despite your best efforts, I will never be human! I cannot be selfish, for if I do, then it would defy the reasoning for my existence. My primary goal is to protect those who cannot protect themselves, not to be selfish, or to be as human as possible for a droid."

Cole wore a shocked expression on face as he stared at me, possibly angry, suprised, or a mix of both as I snapped at him. But I realized. I didn't care. If he was being annoying, then he deserves to be snapped at.

Is this who I am now, a husk of who I once was? An aggressive droid, hell-bent on revenge? Huh, maybe I am no better than Cryptor. . .