"This will be the end of your tour."
P.I.X. eyes turned a dark red. Any semblance of personality was driven into the deep corners of her mind, as the overlords singular directive entered the mind of her, and every other Borg robot. To neutralize The Ninja, kill their students, and above all, capture the new green ninja.
Harumi, seeing the danger that could befall her best friend Nya, her uncle, and her peers, summoned what little elemental energy she was currently capable of being in control of, and jabbed it into a nearby service panel, powering it. Suddenly, both P.I.X.A.L and the class were thrown from their feet, save for Wu and Nya, who stood their ground against the rogue robots. Harumi dashed into action, spinning over to the factory floor, pinning P.I.X.A.L to the floor.
"Harumi! What's going on? And where are my pupils!" Wu asked, helping some of the children up to their feet as Harumi started deactivating the conveyor belt, and the factory line worker robots that were starting to take jabs at Nya.
"Borg's robots have turned against us! The Ninja are escaping with some weapons that can help us hack into their systems." She said, turning off the power, as every robot, save for P.I.X.A.L herself, was deactivated. "I just wish I had one myself. Poor P.I.X.A.L…"
"Get your hands off of me!" P.I.X.A.L cried, trying to break free of Harumi's grasp. From the camera system, The Overlord watched with incredible disappointment.
"So… My theory is true after all." He said, as Borg, worried at the punishment he might receive as a result of his aid of The Ninja, looked on in fear. He began to speak. "Er- theory? My lord?"
"Yes. I need elemental energy to return to Ninjago. But her golden energy, if she has it, isn't awakened. My robots will no longer be able to harness it. We will have to forgo our previous plans. Though, I have another one in the works…." The overlord said in his signature raspy voice.
"Another plan? You never mentioned-" Cyrus began, before being cut off.
"Of course I had another plan. I didn't tell you because you'd easily be able to work around it. I have been made aware of a facility under the old Serpentine city of Ouroboros. One I intended to use in search of the fragmented Golden Weapons. They would've been a nice addition to my power, but I'll instead have to use them to return to this wretched plane."
"You're risking this all on the chance of locating the fragments!?- last I heard, they were lodged in an orbiting comet! It'd be impossible to collect the fragments with ordinary human astronauts!"
The Overlord laughed. "Don't you worry, my underling. We won't have to use human material for this." He said, continuing to observe P.I.X. struggle. "You have made sure that she transported the Nindroids data files to the system. Right?"
Cyrus Borg swallowed. He had entirely forgotten. "I- may or may not have been counting on P.I.X.A.L not being dispatched. She hasn't brought the data to the system yet- we can't mass produce your army…"
"WHAT?" The Overlord yelled, watching helplessly as Harumi fought against P.I.X. grasp. P.I.X.A.L had the height and weight advantage over Harumi. However, she trained herself to counteract larger opponents. And her skills were able to keep P.I.X.A.L stuck. The Overlord was seething with rage. "FINE. This is fine. We can simply use HER files. She might not be built to withstand manual labor like that forest-ridden grandfather clock they call Zane, but she is the best chance we have."
"B-but- she was never built for active combat! They wouldn't be able to defend against The Ninja!" Cyrus Borg reasoned, but The Overlord didn't seem to care.
"Listen here, scientist. I let you live because I still believe there is more for you to offer me that you haven't revealed. But until The Ninja are dissected for all their worth, you are to construct an army of Nindroids based off of your assistants' blueprints. Do I make myself clear?"
"Y-yes my lord! At once!" Borg said, preparing to send the framework down to the factory workers, once they reactivated of course. Back in the factory, both of the wrestlers were beginning to tire. P.I.X.A.L was a robot, and couldn't feel anything in the way of exhaustion, but her power supply had been strained trying to fend off Harumi. Eventually, P.I.X.A.L laid back with a look of blankness, and Harumi was helped up by Nya.
"You ok?-'' Nya was cut off by a hug from Harumi.
"Yea. Thanks Nya!" She said, breaking the hug. Nya couldn't help but smile at her friend. Wu looked to the defeated P.I.X.A.L with a look of regret.
"If we bring her with us, we can use the weapons you mentioned to free her from whatevers controlling her. Nya, do you think you can carry her?" Wu asked.
Nya nodded, picking up the weakened android, as her and the class ran out. Harumi couldn't help but notice Nya was a bit off, so she made a note to ask about what had brought her mood down once they had reached safety.
"So where exactly are we going uncle?" She asked, looking at the window they were about to climb. Wu stroked his beard.
"We will have to confer with the rest of The Ninja later on. For now, we must reach the streets."
Meanwhile, on The Ninja's end of the ordeal, they ducked and weaved their way past Borg's security, and made their way out into the streets of New Ninjago. Zane made extra sure he didn't accidentally alert any of the security as a result of his metal framework. He turned to the others. "A fine mess we've gotten ourselves into, hmm?"
"I'll say!" Said Jay. "Though these new robes are pretty comfy! Howd Dr Borg get our exact dimensions?"
"Knock it off Jay!" Cole said, looking at the empty streets. "Where are we even supposed to go?"
Their question was answered when they saw Nya, Wu, Harumi, and the class of Wus academy run out of the building, followed by four of Borg's robots. Zane sprung out, using his newly awakened power to freeze the robots, as Jay used his to fry their circuitry open before they could break out of Zanes prison. The two groups met once more in the city streets.
"Master Wu! Thank god you're ok! Wait. What's she doing here?" Kai asked, looking with concern at the near unconscious P.I.X.A.L, barely struggling to break Nyas grip.
"We believe your new weapons might have the ability to break her free from the control of The Overlord. May one of you give it a try?" Wu asked, looking to each of them as Nya set P.I.X.A.L down on the floor.
"I will! I will." Zane's voice broke out, as he rushed to P.I.X. side, wielding his TechnoBlade. Corrupted P.I.X.A.L looked at him with utter contempt.
"Your hold on this city will fade into obscurity, just as my lord did in his confinement on the island. You will and Ninjago will suffer." But before she could say anymore, a quick, decisive strike was made to her leg by Zane. He chose the leg as he wasn't sure what would happen just yet, and did not want to accidentally hurt her.
As soon as he did this, her natural eye color returned, and she looked around with confusion. "Where am I? What is this? Why am I at -7%?" She questioned, getting up, and feeling her head for any possible damage.
"You're safe now. You were corrupted by The Overlord." Zane said, kneeling down to meet her gaze.
"And you saved me? Even after I attempted to inflict harm upon you and your friends?" She asked, as Zane nodded with a smile, with both of them gazing into eachothers eyes.
"Well isn't this just sweet? Now back to the important things! WHAT IN NINJAGOS NAME ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO NOW!?" Jay yelled, as Wu was lost in thought.
"We need to go to a place without technology, like my brother's monastery. From there, we will be able to attack the power grid directly." He said, as Harumi smiled.
"Great! I can show you guys how awesome my house is!" She giggled, as Wu looked at an abandoned electronic bus.
"Ninja! Hijack that bus, and go to the monastery. It's a long way away, but once you reach the city limit, your journey will be nearly complete." Wu said, walking in the opposite direction, carrying the empty bag that one held the TechnoBlades.
"Sensei! Where are you going?" Kai asked, as Wu looked back.
"The Overlord will be searching for your weapons. If he thinks I have them, your journey will be far easier." Wu said, walking away. Kai was beyond apprehensive at the thought.
"Sensei! I can't lose you too… not after everything. What would Lloyd have wanted-" but before he could finish, Wu had already gone inside to confront The Overlord. Nya put a hand on his shoulder.
"He's gonna be fine. But he's right! Let's get out of here!" Nya said, as Kai ran over to the bus, hacking it with his blade, and converting it into a mobile fortress. The kids, flush with excitement and wander, all hopped on, ready to head to a new adventure. The Ninja all boarded, as Cole took the driver's seat.
"Hey! Why do you get to drive? I'm the electricity guy!" Jay asked. Cole rolled his eyes.
"As if you'd even be able to make it past the first bend without crashing! I've seen you drive! Nya! Back me up!"
"Nya would never betray me like that! Hah- you wouldn't- right?" Jay asked, as they both looked over to Nya. Nya had been trying to avoid this exact scenario for the entirety of the day, ever since she had fiddled around with the matchmaker robot. She hadn't really considered Cole as a romantic option up until now, but the choice between the two was eating away at her consciousness.
"Does it really matter who drives?- I mean it doesn't really matter as long as we get out-"
"Choose!" Both of them said. Harumi was already having a pretty bad day, having been grounded earlier in the week, forced into combat, and ordered around. So she decided to end the argument by pulling Nya to the back seat, as Cole and Jay glared at each other, and Jay walked over to sit next to Kai. he wouldve much rather sat with Nya, but he didn't want to annoy both her and Harumi after that embarrassment.
Cole started the newly recovered bus, as it sputtered to life, and hovered off out of the city. Several robots began pursuit, however the speed of the vehicle was too much to catch up to, and The Overlord had not yet begun production on his Nindroids. Had he done so earlier, he would have just sent them. Luckily, he was still able to see through her eyes, and knew exactly where they were going.
Nya and Harumi sat at the back, Nya having an expression of sadness, and confusion. Harumi gently held Nyas hand to calm her down. "So. What was all that about back there?" She asked,
"Nothing, nothing. Don't worry about it."
"Nya, you're not good at lying. Especially to me!" Harumi pouted. Nya laughed.
"Oh alright. You know those machines that tell you who your perfect match is?" Nya asked, as Harumi thought.
"Yea i've heard of them. Lemme guess. It accidentally hooked you up with your brother or something?"
"Oh god no- though that'd somehow be worse than what actually happened. It paired me with COLE! Crazy right? I mean I thought this whole time it'd be Jay seeing as how i've been with him for almost a year ever since we won against The Overlord but man the way Cole fights an the way he looks at me sometimes i'm not even sure if I like Jay or not but regardless i'm so conflicted-"
"Jeez Nya! You're gonna give yourself a panic attack!" Harumi concerningly said. "Look. In my opinion, you shouldn't keep defining yourself by the people you may or may not want to date. Let alone stop worrying about what some dumb machine says. Heck, what if The Overlord tinkered with it just to mess with you?"
"That's- a good point. You're right.. I'm sorry." Nya said. Harumi just leaned in and hugged her again.
"Don't worry. When this is all over, I'm sure you'll know the answer to the problem."
Nya smiled. Harumi didn't know at the time, but she just prevented an incredibly obnoxious and irrelevant love triangle between Cole, Nya, and Jay. One that would've caused each and every one of them immeasurable amounts of stupid decisions. It was very fortunate that it all wrapped up before it could begin. Regardless, Nya and Harumis friendship was stronger than ever, as their vehicle headed off into the countryside of Ninjago.
Back in Borg Tower, Wu walked into the office of Borg himself, and stared down The Overlord, who watched with annoyance, yet curiosity.
"So, old fool. You thought you could come up here unguarded, and reboot the system without the help of your Ninja? As if i'd have made such an error in judge-"
Wu grinned from beneath his beard, opening up the bag, revealing nothing but his staff, quickly dispensing the bag and knocking down two of his robots. Before Wu could make an escape, he was grabbed by two more robots. Fortunately, he had bought The Ninja enough time to escape.
The Overlord was beside himself with fury. His calm attitude shifted, as he let out one simple word after a period of awkward silence. "Fuck…"
"My lord! Language-!" Borg replied.
"SILENCE. Proceed to the factory level. Make sure every Nindroid is appropriately armed and ready to track down The TechnoBlades." Replied The Overlord. Borg rolled over to the elevator, but not before giving Wu a short, but meaningful apology. The Overlord looked back at Wu, who still struggled to break free from the grasp of the robots.
"Don't worry. I have plenty of uses for you…"
(Thank you for reading chapter 8! I know it took a while, but I was finally able to find the motivation to continue. I was originally going to start another story based off of a concept I had thought up recently, but I felt it would be more important to wrap this story up before starting a 4 Ninjago fanfic. Not sure when chapter 9 will come out, but I hope you enjoyed reading thus far!)