Zack landed near the edge of Stixs, allowing Kai to slip off him before transforming back into his human form. Kai pulled a black hood and sweat pants from his backpack, seeing Zack looking around. He pulled the sweater and pants on over his gi.

"Isn't it a bit warm for that?" Zack asked.

"It's not to keep me warm," Kai replied, adjusting the sweater to hide his gi. "I can't run around wearing the golden gi without getting hundreds of nindroids on our tail instantly."

"Point taken," Zack said.

Kai started down a trail into the city on the water. Zack followed close behind, looking around. They had flown from Hiroshi's Labyrinth and Kai explained the plan to him before they landed. Now Zack knew what their goal was here, and what his plan was. Mostly.

"Zack, into the shadows," Kai whispered.

Zack followed Kai, running into a shadowed alleyway. Zack huddled against Kai as a group of droids ran past.

"We're close," Kai whispered.

"But Zane has an army of droids with him," Zack pointed out. "How do you expect us to get close to him?"

"I was counting on the droids to help with that, actually," Kai told Zack. "But I need to know you trust me."

"Of course I do," Zack replied.

"Alright, then follow my lead," Kai nodded. They stayed out of sight in the alleyway. Kai listened to the people whispering as they walked past him and Zack. He watched as they went silent, and the sounds of droids could be heard around them.

"Follow me," Kai told Zack. "Stay close."

Zack nodded. A second later, Kai dashed from the alleyway, Zack trailing closely behind him as they ran in front of the now startled droids.

"Ninja!" one of the droids finally shouted.

Kai and Zack could hear the metal footsteps pounding behind them as they ran. Kai took Zack by the hand and pulled him around the corner. They pushed through a crowd of frightened people, deeper into the city. People ran out of the way as the droids pushed the slower ones to the ground. Kai glanced over his shoulder, before tripping and falling to the ground. Zack yelped, looking around as an army of droids surrounded them.

"Look who came straight to me."

Kai pushed himself up onto his knees, looking up. A glare was on his face as Zane smirked at him.

"Where are your other little friends?" Zane taunted.

"Nowhere near you," Kai snapped.

Kai climbed to his feet, only for Zane to push him down. Kai laid on his stomach, feeling Zane place a foot on his back. There was no pressure against him, and he could easily get up and fight. He just wanted to go along with the plan. Kai watched Zane grab Zack by the collar, pulling him close to him. Zane winked at Zack, reassuring him. Zack still looked terrified.

"The others must not be far," Zane called out. "Search for them and find them."
The droids separated, running off in different directions. Once the last one was out of their sight, Zane released Zack and helped Kai to his feet.

"I didn't hurt you, did I?" Zane asked.

"I'm perfectly fine," Kai smiled.

The two pulled each other close, hugging and patting each other on the back.

"Good to have you back," Kai smiled.

"Good to be back," Zane smiled.

"That was all an act?" Zack cried out.

"Not all of it, child," Zane smiled. "I'll explain once we're a safe distance from here."

Zack nodded. Zane stood up, looking around.

"This way," he said.

Zane motioned for Kai and Zack to follow him. They turned and ran through the city, making turns and somehow avoiding any and all the droids in the area. Once they reached the end of the city, Zack sat against a rock sticking out of the ground.

"Can someone explain what just happened now?" Zack asked.

"I'll do the honors, Kai," Zane nodded.

"Be my guest," Kai replied, sitting on the ground across from Zack.

"Now, this might be a lot to take in all of a sudden, so I can repeat myself," Zane told him.

"How did you break free?" Zack blurted out.

"The Overlord simply downloaded a virus into my system," Zane explained. "It allowed him to take control over me, and use me. He shut down most of my anti-virus scanners, but I had a backup hidden with a decoy. It just works a little slower."

"So you cleared to virus from you system?" Zack asked.

"And now I'm normal Zane again," Zane smiled.

"All except for the powers," Kai cut in. "Which I kind of have."

"It's alright, brother," Zane turned to Kai. "You couldn't stop it from happening. You had no choice."

Zane looked around, slightly confused.

"If my memory serves me correct, you had said it would be you, Zack and Cole coming to meet me here," Zane said. "Where is Cole?"

Kai choked back a sob, blinking away his tears at the mention of the name.

"Oh no," Zane muttered

He turned, seeing Zack was on the verge of crying too. Zane instantly realized something was really wrong.

"He's gone, Zane," Kai muttered.

"What happened to him?" Zane asked.

Kai bit his lip, wiping away the few tears that had managed to escape his eyes. He could see the worry in Zane's eyes, and the curiosity for how their brother was hurt.

"The Overlord poisoned him, or something," Kai explained. "I don't know. All I know is that it stopped his heart, and killed him."

Zane sighed, slowly standing up. Kai looked up, seeing the guilt on Zane's metal face. His eyes jumped around, and then he looked out at the horizon. Kai frowned, looking up at Zane. Kai slowly pushed himself to his feet, watching Zane look down.

"What are you not saying?" Kai asked.

"It's nothing," Zane replied.

"Don't lie to me, Zane," Kai said. "Whatever it is, you need to tell me."

Zane stayed silent.

"If it was you, I'm not ma-" Kai started.
"That's not it," Zane spun to face Kai. "It's not me, I didn't do it!"

"Why are you being so defensive?" Kai asked.
"Because I don't know how we'll tell the person who did do it," Zane answered.

Zane stepped away from Kai, turning his back on his brother. Zack stood up, watching the scene unfolding before him. Kai blinked, momentarily confused.

"What are you talking about?" Kai asked.

"I'll tell you this," Zane said, looking over his shoulder. "I didn't give anyone anything, and Nya gave it to you."

Kai went through a process of elimination. If Zane didn't give anyone the serum, and his sister gave him his. It left one option.

"No, you can't be serious," Kai gasped.

"Now you see my reason for my actions," Zane sighed.

"What do we do?" Kai asked.

"I don't know," Zane sighed.

He turned, facing Kai again.

"If we tell him, he'll be heartbroken," Zane added.

"Anyone would be heartbroken if they were told they killed their best friend," Kai added.

"We don't tell him," Zack said.

Kai and Zane turned to the little boy, looking at them.

"We won't tell him, at least, not until this is all blown over," Zack added. "That way, he'll have his strength, his motivation, and his courage to fight against the Overlord."

"I think the kids right," Kai sighed. "It's our only option."

"Alright," Zane sighed. "We won't tell him."

Jay will never know the truth.