"Brother?-"
Zane was flush with a confusing feeling, as the shock of seeing this clone of him began to set in. While Mimi-E sort of resembled him, this strange copper robot was the spitting image of him. His joints and torso were all rusted and green, While the rest of him was a reflective brown. He resembled a grand-father clock in a way, only given personified human features. Zane walked up to him, touching his shoulder.
"Your… Real? But- who are you?" Zane questioned.
"I am Echo Zane! I am built to.. Oh forget it." Echo Zanes' head dropped, as he slumped down on the bed. Mimi-E came over to comfort him, wrapping a blanket around his shiny exterior metal.
"Echo Zane?"
"Yes. I am like you, but.. I guess I never was at the same time."
Zane was still trying to wrap his head around this stranger, Jay was mesmerized at the idea of two Zanes, while Nya and Tonya were a bit too tired for the realization to sink in, as it had for the former two. Zane prepared to ask the question that would confirm his suspicious.
"Were you created by Dr Julien? Is that why you call me 'brother?'"
Echo Zane nodded. "Father.. Our Father. He was always so happy when he spoke to me about you. The way you gave his life meaning was something I could never give him!"
"Please! Tell us everything!"
"Us?! It's 1 in the morning! Can't we all just go back here to settle things in the morning-" Jay was about to finish his sentence before Zane shot him a dirty look. Jay shut up after that. Echo settled into his bed.
"Well, I remember everything as if it had happened days ago. Being built by Father, watching him wither away in sorrow at his failure to save you, his excitement when you found him, all of it."
Zane sat beside him. "What was he like?.. Back then I mean."
"He was protective of me. But aside from that, and building and designing schematics for strange vehicles, he was unmotivated to even consider the idea of escaping. I guess he didn't want to let you down. He loved you so much."
"What happened then?
"Well, one day, when you and your friends showed up, I was told to hide within the secret compartment he had in the lighthouse. Since he assumed it was Samukai, finally coming to collect. It wasn't.. And so, I guess the excitement of being free got to his head, and he forgot to get me before leaving. Maybe he did it on purpose."
Zane was shocked. He had no reason to believe any of what Echo was saying, but it all felt true. And he couldn't believe how careless and cruel his father had been. "What happened next, brother?"
"I stayed there for a long time. But after a while, I realized he wasn't coming back. So I went to the nearest island, looking for him. I didn't find him.. But I found you."
"Why didn't you reach out to me earlier?"
"I was afraid you wouldn't believe me.. Or wouldn't take me seriously.. Or something like that. That maybe father wanted me to be forgotten by you and everyone else. Like I didn't deserve to be remembered."
Zane looked down. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Though he looked to Mimi-E, trying to figure out where he came into all this. "Who is your child? Rather- when did you build or receive them?"
Echo smiled, patting Mimi-E's head. "I built him using parts I was given by the fish catchers whenever I did good. But eventually they had no more to give, so.. I had to steal them. I'm sorry.. I know it's wrong, but I needed a son."
"Why?"
"I needed someone who I could watch grow up, in the same way father described watching you grow up. I wanted to give that experience to someone else. I don't regret creating him for a second."
Mimi-E jumped on the bed, hugging Echo Zane. "I love you!" Echo hugged Mimi back, cherishing the moment.
"I understand it now.. That's why I thought it was father. He was never here, it was always you. Your.. The Tinkerer?"
"I am. And I am sorry about all of the parts I stole. Half were to build and maintain Mimi, the other half was to make sure I didn't fall apart by the second."
"We needed those parts to help rebuild a friend of ours."
Echo Zanes' head perked up. "THAT'S what you were using those for, brother? I'm so sorry! I had no idea! Please- take all I haven't used. There isn't much left, but I feel awful. We need to fix your friend immediately!"
Zane smiled. "Thank you, brother." Echo Zane smiled back, before it faltered into an uncertain expression.
"Now that you know I exist, can we.. be a family? Like Dr Julien was for us? I promise never to steal again."
"Of course! I am not exactly the best at emoting, but I'd be happy to share my days with you and your son."
"Heh.." Nya laughed. "Guess he did have a secret uncle, huh Jay?"
Jay rolled his eyes. "Very funny Nya. Now are we all gonna go back and get some sleep?"
Nya nodded, and they started heading out, after saying goodbye to Echo and Mimi-E. Nya knew it was now or never to break up with Jay, so she decided to go for it. "Hey Jay.. Can I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure Nya! What's up?"
Nya fiddled with her hands, trying to find the words. While she liked Jay as a friend, she didn't want to break the news to him in a way that'll make him feel betrayed. While she knew their friendship might be a bit shaken for a bit, she wanted it to remain as intact as possible."there's not really an easy way to say this but.. Well, i've been thinking and- I don't think we're really working-"
"What!? Whatd I do wrong!"
"Nothing! Nothing. I just feel like I'm not really feeling fulfilled in the relationship anymore.."
"Hmph. It's Cole isn't it? I bet you fell for him the moment he became a ghost." Jay grumbled. While Cole had turned into a ghost in Sensei Yang's Temple Of Airjitzu, he wasn't able to return to a mortal form during the events of The Departed Eclipse. Without a puppet he could use to steal the YinBlade, he was unable to resurrect the spirits of enemies past. Not like there were many people he could revive. Morro was working for the forces of justice, while Chen and Clouse had vanished following The Preeminent's rise to power.
"What?! Of course not! I don't even like guys anymore!"
"Then it's the doctor! Isn't it!"
"No!... Well, ok yea- but still. I mean this in the nicest of ways. I just don't feel challenged in our relationship anymore. I want someone who I can be myself around."
"She's your doctor! That's her JOB!"
"Jay.. Please. I'm sorry.." Nya was nearing tears. Jay noticed this, and stopped yelling. While he was heartbroken himself, he realized this was probably hard for Nya to do.
"If you want to break up, that's fine.. Sorry for yelling." He said. Walking ahead of the group. Tonya had hung back with Zane, so Nya could have some time alone with Jay, leaving Nya alone. As Nya looked down at the ground, a feeling of immense guilt washed over her. While she knew none of it was her fault, she wished she had the words to convey what staying with him would have done to her. But she realized that it was likely for the best.
(In Djinjago . . . )
"Khanjikhan?"
"H-hmph-?" Khanjikhan grumbled awake. He had been taking naps more frequently as a result of the stress put upon him, and his aging being excelled. While he knew his time in Djinjago would soon come to an end, he only hoped his friends would be able to take over for him after his departure. "I'm awake, I'm awake.. What's happening?"
"I called a meeting an hour ago! You slept through most of it.. Should I let you sleep?" Lloyd asked, looking down with a sympathetic expression on his face. He didn't much like the idea of Khanjikhan losing sleep because of a conflict he was essentially forced into.
"No. If you have something to say, you may say it. Where are Machia and Morro?"
"Already here." Lloyd said, as Machia, the former Vermillion general, and Morro, the reformed student of Sensei Wu, sat across from them.
Machia was feeling especially adrift in the past weeks. Ever since Khanjikhan has used his strength and energy to wish her to their side, in order to avoid killing her, her disconnect from the hive mind the rest of The Vermillion shared left her feeling emptier then she had ever felt. She had no special love for the rest of The Vermillion, nor any unconditional love towards Krux, or his brother Acronix, whom she had never met. But the idea of being a simple collection of snakes scared her. And she wondered what would happen when her usefulness to The Resistance expired.
Morro on the other hand was another kind of paranoid. He still hadnt revealed the truth about Misako, and was worried that harsh punishment would be levied against him for his crimes. While he was willing to give back to Ninjago for what he did to Stix and the city, he was afraid of the idea that he would no longer be able to give people hope, and would only be remembered for the atrocity he helped unleash. For if it hadn't been for him screwing things up with The Preeminent, Ninjago city would be standing in a semi functional state.
However, both of their guilt was washed away by the overwhelming desire to help Lloyd with the resistance. Lloyd was the example everyone in The Resistance strived to be like. He was committed to the cause the whole way through, and cared about everyone in the organization on an individual level. It was a testament to his compassion that he was able to speak with such confidence with people like Khanjikhan, or former criminals like Machia and Morro. And while he still had some issues with Morro, he was glad he chose the good of Ninjago over whatever fate The Preeminent had planned for him. Lloyd walked in the middle of their little meeting hall, and began to speak.
"Alright guys. I think we've gotten everything we'll need to stage a rescue of my parents, and to defeat The Preeminent once and for all!"
"Great, kid. And what are these amazing things you'll use in your plan?" Machia asked sarcastically.
"Well, we have to discuss everything we know about The Preeminent. We know it's the living embodiment of The Cursed Realm, and got here due to The Realm Crystal. We also have weapons such as The Sword Of Sanctuary, and The Djinn Blade."
"Get to the point. What are we gonna use them for?"
"The Preeminent is one entity. Meaning, if we can get close enough to its heart and strike it with The Djinn Blade, we can trap the entire realm in the sword."
Khanjikhan shot up. "The sword has never captured someone that large and that powerful before! The sword could be destroyed in the process!"
"That's where The Sword Of Sanctuary comes in. We can use the reflections to predict what will happen when the heart is struck. If the reflection shows us failure, we can use The Realm Crystal to escape with my mother and father. If it shows a success, we strike the heart, capture The Preeminent, escape, and wipe out the remaining ghosts!"
"Not bad Lloyd. But what about The Beckoners Of The Oni? Or those Acronix and Krux dudes Machia told us about?"
Machia was slightly annoyed. While they were enemies, she held some level of reverence for Acronix and Krux, seeing as how they were the ones who fostered The Devourers eggs to create her and her kin. So to hear them being disregarded was annoying. "They aren't to be messed with Morro! I can't even clearly remember where their hideout is in the sewers.. Chances are, they'll find a way to destroy us, AND The Beckoners!"
Lloyd nodded his head. "Ok! Ok! We'll deal with it when the time comes. Sensei Wu taught me never to falter when you have an advantage. Any amount of fighting, arrogance, or false hope could lose us the day."
Everyone else agreed with Lloyd, and quieted down.
"We'll enact the plan soon. Soon, I hope we'll be able to see Ninjago in its prime again!"
A triumphant and resounding cheer came from Lloyds allies as he smiled. They were gonna take back Ninjago, and save everyone from the encroaching threat of The Preeminent.
(Going on vacation for a night and won't be able to make the next part tomorrow, and possibly not Friday either. I might also postpone the story for a bit after part 10 to work on a Fallout story I've been thinking up. Either way, thank you for reading!)