Hey there! For anyone who was confused (my betareader was, a little) - the ninja are all separated from each other by piles of rubble, so that each ninja is on their own, and it would be too risky to try to dig themselves out (as Cole said in the last chapter). If anything else is confusing, just ask in the reviews. I know my writing tends to be a little cryptic.

So yeah, this chapter does focus primarily on Zane, but it will focus relatively evenly on all four elemental ninja. I just chose to narrate this from his point of view because I thought it would give an interesting angle to the conversation, because it's slightly awkward to always have to wait for Jay to translate Zane's words, because I like the narration style I get to use for Zane's thoughts, and because I think he adds a particular insight to this chapter that you don't exactly get the same feel for with the other characters. Yeah, also because he's my favorite, but I promise the next chapter will be narrated from all four ninja's points of view.

Also - this is not ZanexJay, though some people might get that impression from the first section of this chapter. The only ship in this is JayxNya.

(Zane's POV)

"But what if the Serpentine already did something horrible to her and it's too late to help and what if they know we're here and they're coming after us next?!"

I sigh silently. Jay could not have chosen a worse time for an anxiety attack, and as my internal clock mechanism tells me it has been almost eight hours since Kai and Cole exchanged goodnight wishes, I fear neither Jay nor I will be getting any sleep tonight. "We cannot know anything for certain at the moment, brother. For now, just try to get some sleep while you can. Please." Jay had given up tapping his messages the moment he was sure the others were asleep, but it's not as though I had any choice. I sigh again. If only my vision circuits were functional, then I may have a chance of repairing my vocal systems, but I don't dare try anything in my current state. I would risk shutting off my main power, or worse - erasing my memory again.

"Sleep? How do you expect me to sleep? We're stuck inside this tiny cave, and we're all cut off from the entrance, and each other, and any minute the whole thing could come crashing down on us and it's getting smaller by the minute and I can't breathe and -"

Oh no. Jay, it isn't getting smaller. Your mind is playing tricks on you. Just calm down and breathe deeply, everything will be alright, I promise." I have to tap it out seven times before he stops talking long enough to listen, and by then Cole and Kai have already begun to wake up and begin to talk to Jay, trying to curb his anxiety. They chatter for a while, but I make few contributions to the conversation, not wanting to be an annoyance (seeing as Ja has to translate my every word). I must have drifted off at some point, because the next thing I know I hear Jay yelling at me through the stone wall.

"Zane! Are you still there? You better not have wandered off somewhere! Oh crap guys I don't think he's there what if something happened . . ."

"I'm here, Jay." I hear three sighs of relief. Kai and Cole do not understand what I am saying, but I'm sure they knew it was me. "I am sorry, I must have dozed off while you were talking."

"He says he was asleep."

"Seriously, Zane?! We're sitting here discussing a life-or-death situation, and you just fall asleep? You had hours to sleep minutes ago!"

Jay speaks up abashedly. "Actually, he kinda didn't . . . sorry Zane"

"No need to apologize."

Jay laughs. "Thanks." The four of us continue talking - well, talking and tapping - as we try to plan a safe way to escape the cave and rescue Nya.

". . . Are you sure?" I agree with Kai, this plan does seem quite dangerous.

Cole's voice responds uncertainly, "Listen, I don't like it any more than you do. But it's the only way we're gonna get out of this mess."

Jay cuts in. "Man, I just don't know . . . when has this ever worked before?"

"Well do you have any better ideas?" Cole asks sardonically.

Jay is silent.

As much as I hate it, Cole is right. This is the only plan which gives us any significant statistical chance of survival - I even bothered to run any other scenario through my data simulator. This is the only case in which all four of us stand a chance of leaving the cave alive.

"My systems indicate that there is only a 23.4% combined probability that any other plan will work. This plan gives us a 56.7% chance. At least the odds are slightly in our favor. I wish that I was wrong . . . but this is the only way out." I wait while Jay translates m response to the others, and while the others sit silently considering our options, or lack thereof.

Kai and Jay both hesitantly give their consent.

"I guess we have no choice then."

"If that's really the only way . . ."

Cole takes on the role of leader once more, for what is to be the last time for quite a while. "It's settled, then." Cole pauses. "We'll split up."

I'm sorry about the short chapter, this chapter was really supposed to be just the first part of next chapter, but I just wanted to get something up for all of you I've kept waiting. Also, this way I get to leave you with a cliffie (as if most of you didn't guess the plan at the beginning).

Thanks so much for all the review so far. I love getting emails telling me about the people who've read my stories. Please, review, flame if you want to, any critique or constructive criticism is welcome. THank you for reading and stay tuned, new chapter should come quicker than this one did! (not that that's fast or anything :P )

Until next time!

- ugh I can't think of a username