Sooo, you know how I said "this fic will be 10 chapters"? . . . Yeeeeeah. About that.

This is probably going to be longer than that. With the way this story is flowing, ending it in two chapters would NOT be acceptable (for me). Who knows how long this is going to be. I'm aiming for 12, but I may get a random inspiration. So it could be more. And so, you get more story. *sarcasm* I bet you're all realllly upset. XD

You guys, your guesses for the masked man made me laugh. "He's Sensei Wu because he offers them tea". He's not the only one who drinks tea XD But hey, there was one of you who got it right. You'll see ;)

Anyways, sorry for taking so long to update. Life has gotten into the way. Life and writer's block . . . Grrrrrr . . .

Chapter 8: Electric

(Kai's POV)

I open my eyes to a grey-black wall. I blink heavily. My head is throbbing from pain; someone must've knocked me out.

A sliver of light appears on the side of the wall. There's a door opening. Instantly I lunge forward at the shadowy figure. I find myself pulled back, and my back slams against the floor. I'm chained against the wall by both my ankles and wrists.

"What a fool," sighs the Nindroid. "You're a hopeless case."

"Cryptor," I sneer, raising to my feet. "It was YOU that hurt Zane!"

"I didn't hurt him, I improved him," smirks Cryptor. "And I would do the same to you, but unfortunately you're made of flesh and bone."

"Then what do you want from me?" I snap, a million terrible ideas running through my head. Cryptor walks up to me, an evil smile on his face.

"I want to know everything you know about where the Golden Ninja is." I struggle against my bonds.

"I have no idea!" I cry. Cryptor shrugs.

"Huh, well, maybe you'll be more willing to talk after this." He clicks a red button the remote he's holding.

I scream out in pain as the chains send electricity into my body. It pulses throughout my entire body, causing me to lurch forward. They stop just as suddenly as they began, and I fall to the ground, panting.

"You know there's no use in hiding anything from me," Cryptor says offhandedly. "I posses all of the techno blades. Unless your pathetic band of fugitives can piece together some sort of rescue mission, you've already lost." I spit up a tiny bit of blood.

"I know we've lost, but that doesn't mean that you should hurt me or my friends!" I shout. Cryptor presses the button again. I scream, feeling as if my whole body's on fire. I've never felt that feeling before.

"I need to know where the Golden Ninja is," Cryptor says, turning it off. I'm sobbing, unable to help myself.

"I don't know!" The energy hits me again. "STOP!" I scream, tears streaming from my eyes. "S-STOP!" He finally listens to my pleas and shuts off the device. Panting, I look straight into his eyes. "Torturing someone doesn't magically make them know something. That's bullshit." Again the lightning surges through me, and I scream louder than ever before. Everything's spinning . . . and it's black.

(Lloyd's POV)

I watch in anticipation as the Masked Man curls his fingers around the strange mask. My heart pounds quicker and quicker. Who is it? . . . Who is this man from my past? Suddenly, in one swift motion, his mask has been ripped from his face and thrown to the floor. Father and I gasp.

"N-No way!" I stammer. "You're supposed to be DEAD!"

"Oh no, dear boy," Dr. Julien smiles. "You know I've outsmarted death more than once."

"Then why bother faking your death?" Father frowns. Julien sighs.

"It was a heart-breaking choice, and in the end, I realize I made both the right and the wrong choice."

"That doesn't answer my question." Father folds his arms across his chest.

"Well," Julien begins. "Cyrus wanted me to help work on this new machine. I'd helped him before, but there was something fishy about this new design. This design wasn't something for the city like the projects I normally worked on. The machine was like a giant war mech. It had four arms, guns all over, and a rectangular screen in the center. He told me that it was for the 'protecting the city'. However, one evening, I walked on him talking to a strange, purple pair of eyes on one of the computer screens. The eyes told him that once the machine was finished, he could come back and take revenge on the Golden Ninja.

"That, of course, caused me to back out. However, I knew that I couldn't refuse. And so, after many sleepless nights, I finally decided to fake my death."

"But Zane-" Julien cuts me off.

"I know. I feel so bad for leaving him behind again. He didn't take it well, I assume?" I shake my head. Julien's face falls. "And now . . . they have him. The Nindroids have my son. They have him, and they will not let him go!"

"We've gotta save him!" I shout. My father grabs my shoulder.

"No, son. It's too dangerous for you to go into enemy territory."

"No!" I lash out at the man known as my father. "I don't care about all this bullcrap! This is the way it's always been. Lloyd, you're too little, you've gotta stay behind. Lloyd, you're too important, you've got to stay behind. Lloyd, you can't start the final battle prematurely. AND I'M SICK OF IT!" I rush towards the door, my anger still flooding over me like a tsunami. The adults' voices chase after me.

"SON!"

"Lloyd! Lloyd, listen! I have a way we can save Zane! If you just listen-"

But I'm already gone.

Wow. Lloyd was not going to run away originally . . . SO MANY RANDOM INSPIRATIONS! I LOVE THAT KIND OF STUFF! YAYAYAY!

Also, fans of SSS, or anyone really, I need your help! I need a movie about a high school girl who's blond and looks kind of like Christy! The perfect actress would be Meaghan Martin, but i can't find any movies where it really fits. All the movies I'm finding are clips of the main character being all happy. I need emotional clips that could be used in a Secret Samurai Series trailer. PM me with suggestions.

Anyways, please review. :P