Typically, he wasn't on time, when was he ever?
He had just rolled up casually, pulling into a backstreet then reversing the rest of the way in. Whistling to himself, ignorant to his surroundings and completely unrecognisable at first. The dishevelled looking skilled thief and bounty hunter had pulled up in a 'Master Chen's' noodle van. But he hadn't acquired the relevant attire of a delivery man. No, he'd chosen to retain his usual clothing choice. Complete with unshaven appearance, cybernetic digital eye-patch and his trademark green militaristic armour.
The rugged eye patch wearing scoundrel had been on hand to relieve them of their heavy duty firearms. This was upon meeting up at the pre-arranged check point after their rogue mission to find answers. The same mission they had no choice to go on because somehow Borg Industries had lost those all important fragments, the ones they'd painstakingly looked for initially when Jay had been wired up to a respirator.
They only recognised that it was him when he lifted his straw hat to observe them all.
No words, just an unhealthy amount of cash was exchanged. And the obligatory smug grin that Ronin was well known for was being revealed as he leaned backwards against the van, counting said cash.
Now back in the relative safety of the Destiny's Bounty, the ninja had all mostly relinquished their weaponry to the rogue otherwise known as Ronin. All except for Cole. The master of earth had kept his carbon kevlar vest, he wasn't so sure that Ronin would notice it missing considering he didn't count the items that were put back in the truck, and if anything they could use the extra protection knowing that one of the serpentine generals had their own illegally owned crude style gun.
"So-" Kai edged ever closer to Cole's side when they'd finally made it back to the Bounty's control room. Now $400 lighter as a team thanks to Ronin, "What did you find?"
The eagerness in Kai's body language was almost on par with Jay's and it made Cole's heart ache a little that his best friend wasn't here to join in with the potentially momentous find.
Regardless of Jay's absence, Cole's wicked grin had widened. He cast a sideways glance to his brother of fire and began to unfurl the laminated scrolls, "This, this is what I found." He unfurled the large rolled up sheets. He proceeded to hold down each relevant corner with a suitable paperweight. Cole didn't really know what it was either but the excitement was still apparent that he'd actually found something and Kai hadn't. It was always a game of one-upmanship between Kai, Cole and Jay.
Kai, still none the wiser, looked at them in confusion, "What is it, I mean other than just finely detailed drawings?" He asked, placing the other paperweights to secure the previously rolled up drawings. "Does it bare any relevance to to the broken device?"
Cole shrugged his shoulders. He knew he'd found something of huge importance. It was a massive clue as to what the serpentine were planning or were still in the processes of planning.
The master of earth was just about to answer, even though possibly incorrectly, until Zane's voice cut in. "Strangely enough Kai, it does not!" The nindroid concluded as he leaned in over the drawings, examining them closely. "Not directly anyway."
The metallic nindroid ran the blue prints through his CPU, to see if he could match it with any stored images of similar devices. Namely, the one that had been previously used on Jay. The one that was meant for him.
"These blueprints, " he said, with a grim expression, "These are new devices. Well, I mean that they would have been prototypes based of these drawings anyway." He paused and cocked his head again. "However, if they have built them then I am assuming that..."
"That what?" Kai cut in with the impertinence of youth.
Unperturbed by Kai's impatience, Zane continued to analyse. He could only assume that they hadn't tested the devices on any areas of humanoid population because there had been no news reports on disturbances since they'd travelled back to the city. In fact, the only reports they'd heard in relation to disturbances had turned out to be nothing but rumours. Rumours that would likely spread the same amount of panic that had been seen when Jay took one for the team. These newfound rumours were to get the local population into some sort of mild panic.
Zane feared that it was just what the serpentine wanted, to get the ninja out in the open again.
He kept that sombre thought inside and instead brought himself back to the present. Thinking back to what Kai had asked of him, "Kai, they have not tested them yet," Zane said monotonously without even lifting his head to stare into Kai's impatient glaring eyes, "They have not had an opportunity to test them, as yet."
"Wait did you say them? Exactly how many devices are we talking about here?" Cole asked nervously, scratching his head.
The remaining ninja looked on. Watching Zane as he worked effortlessly to skim through the two blueprints. "There are three devices, judging by these." He said, pointing to each detailed picture before him. "And, I have a reason to believe that these devices are similar to the one that was meant for me, yet used on our brother, Jay."
Cole tensed at the use of his brothers name.
He hadn't seen Jay for over a month now. It felt like he was on some extended vacation. Technically he was, and today was one of those days that Misako and Wu had gone to visit him. Cole had wanted to go to, but by the time that they all got back, Wu and Misako had been firm and had stated that only two of them could go.
"You think we could go and pay him a visit?" Lloyd piped up from the back, "I mean it's been what, 5 weeks now?"
Cole shook his head, "Sorry green machine, no can do! Sensei was adamant that we stay here, nearest to the city in the event that if something kicks off we'll be on hand to tackle it."
Secretly he was impressed that it wasn't just him thinking of Jay, it was evident that Lloyd was missing him too. "I sent him a letter a few weeks ago plus Sensei took the one I'd written yesterday. You're more than welcome to send one, ya know. I'm sure he'd love to hear from all of you."
" I am sorry to disturb your moment of tranquillity, but..." Zane stated, "These devices look like they may be related to earth, fire and ice."
All three elemental masters looked on in shock. And all three in unison hurried back to Zane's side.
"See here?" Zane asked as he pointed to one half of the blueprint, "This device here is capable of removing or at least altering the metabolic rate of someone who utilises extremes of heat or cold."
"This one," He said pointing to another, "This could potentially have some elements of refined vengestone within the powered core." He looked at Cole, "Vengestone is a natural mineral that is found in the earth's crust."
Cole had turned to face Zane, a deadly serious expression on his face, "I know about vengestone. So, what you're saying is that we're all being targeted now?"
Zane nodded, "I am, that is exactly what I mean to say. The evidence here proves itself of that fact."
"These are just drawings, you thing they've already made them?" Kai queried, narrowing his gaze on the blue laminated sheets before him.
Cole shook his head, standing forwards, "We need to do plan something, something big. Preferably, before they can attempt anything that involves loss of civilian life."