Requested by: Guest

Request: Cryptor/PIXAL

Warnings: Violence

Cryptor couldn't understand what it was that PIXAL saw in Zane. They agreed that the white ninja was nothing more than a naive, useless heap of spare parts who gave into his replications of emotions too easily. She told Cryptor that Zane was too outdated for her tastes, that she'd rather be with someone like himself.

And yet, she always insisted on being the one to spy on Zane and the other Ninja, even going so far as to lead an attack party on them when they were off their guard. Cryptor found her sense of authority to be rather appealing, but he didn't want her anywhere near the white ninja. He knew Zane had "feelings" for her, and he didn't want him to be the one who ended up with PIXAL, when Cryptor believed he was a much better match for her.

This complicated matters when PIXAL was captured by Zane as she made her attempt at stealing the Techno Blades. He used his own to release her from the Overlord's control, allowing her to side with the Ninja, as well with Zane. But as far as Cryptor could see, she still thought of him as being incompatible with her.

Though he was pleased with this fact, he still believed her feelings for Zane were stronger than her feelings for him. He decided he would have to interrogate her about it eventually, and knew the perfect place to do so.

The Overlord knew the Ninja would come to the Ninjago Power Substation eventually, in hopes of shutting the power down and therefore leaving him and the Nindroids vulnerable. He ordered for Cryptor to station the Nindroids around the substation and lie in wait for them. While Cryptor didn't exactly appreciate the whole idea of hiding, he still thought he could find PIXAL and talk with her.

He went about his business: ensuring everything was in order, keeping the other Nindroids in line, patrolling, and dubbing a smaller nindroid as Mindroid. Still, none of them found any sign of the Ninja, or PIXAL, for that matter.

Cryptor was beginning to grow tired of waiting, when he suddenly heard a robotic squeak come from Mindroid. He turned his head to see the smaller robot had drawn his sword, having heard the faint noise of bickering from inside the tower.

Cryptor's gleaming red eyes narrowed. "Ninja!" he hissed, loud enough for the others to hear. How they managed to sneak past him of all people he would never know, but he didn't care at that point; he just wanted to find out where PIXAL was.

His Nindroids gathered in an orderly fashion outside the door, each unsheathing a sword. Mindroid stood directly in front, clearly eager to get inside. Cryptor, fuelled by impatience, simply kicked him out of the way, sending him sprawling across the floor.

"Knock knock," he stated, smirking beneath his hood and charging the laser on his chest.

The sound of someone landing not far away distracted him, and he turned to see just who he was looking for in the first place: PIXAL. Her look of determination changed to that of shock as the attention of the other Nindroids was caught, and she leapt out of the way just as Cryptor fired at her.

He advanced ahead, leaving some Nindroids to stay by the door and some to follow close behind him. "Well, PIXAL, we meet again," he growled. "Care to explain why you betrayed us and the Overlord? What can you gain from joining with the ninja that the Overlord can't already give you?"

PIXAL's eyes narrowed in hostility, but she still appeared nervous. "Respect. Also, I did not join with the Overlord by my own free will. I had no other choice but to obey him. Now that I am with the ninja, I can fulfil my original purpose. I am to assist, and now I am assisting them."

He stalked closer, gripping her shoulder in his clawed hand. "And what about me? You said that white ninja was nothing more than an outdated scrap pile with legs. You told me I was a better match for you. Have you changed your mind?" His hand moved to grip the front of her robe, causing her to gasp in fright. "Am I no longer good enough for you? Do you now like him more than me?"

She moved one of her hands to grab Cryptor's while she used the other hand to attempt to push him away. "Zane is far more superior to you, but in a way you will never understand." He fumed at the sound of his name. "He understands what 'love' is more than you ever will. Unlike you, he is more in touch with the emotions of humans."

"He is just scrap metal!" Cryptor retorted, shoving the hand on his chest away and gripping her tighter. "And I will not have you stolen away from me by something that would be much better off rusting for eternity!"

PIXAL's eyes were now wide with fear, as it appeared as if Cryptor was about to punch her, but her gaze quickly averted to look past him. He followed her gaze, just in time to see Zane leap at him, Techno Blade in hand.

He raised the hand not holding PIXAL to grab his Techno Blade, pulling him down to the ground. "The original nindroid," he said, watching as Zane struggled to release his Techno Blade from Cryptor's grip. With a quick glance at PIXAL, who was now clawing at his hand to be released, he added with a sneer to Zane, "You're nothing more than a tin can with feelings."

He effortlessly flipped Zane over his shoulder, getting him to drop the Techno Blade so it clattered onto the next floor down. Shoving PIXAL away and against a wall, he drew both of his swords and lunged at Zane, who quickly retaliated with several strong punches to his face and chest. Cryptor had to admit, the white ninja was a formidable opponent, but his rage against him and PIXAL fuelled the strength in his next attack, and he punched Zane with a force strong enough to send him sliding across the floor. He began a threatening walk towards the ninja just as he activated his invisibility cloak.

"Zane, watch out!" PIXAL called, which only made Cryptor move faster.

While he was still invisible, he lifted Zane off the ground, throwing several punches at his chest and shoulders. He threw him up against the wall and punched the side of his head, while smashing it against the wall. As Zane crumpled to the ground, exhausted, Cryptor deactivated the invisibility cloak.

If Cryptor had veins, jealously would be pulsing through them. PIXAL said she cared more about him than Zane, but now he could see it was nothing more than a lie. He would defeat Zane here, then take PIXAL back where she belonged: by his side, allied with the Overlord.

"Welcome to the future," he taunted, before continuing the fight.

Sorry for not updating last week! Lots of stuff was going on :P

Let me tell you, it was not easy remembering what happened in the second episode of Rebooted for this oneshot. I had to keep going back and checking when certain things happened XD

Thank you to Guest for requesting this pairing! Stay tuned!