Kai watched as Lloyd finally gave in to his exhaustion. He'd been going in and out since they'd found him, and now Kai was pretty sure he was finally out for real this time.

Kai wasn't sure how he felt about him anymore… At first he'd been angry, but then… He wasn't sure. Maybe he'd started to warm up to him a bit. Or maybe he was just denying the fact that he'd started to actually care about him. Lloyd did seem different…

Kai rejoined the fight, and after a few more minutes, they'd—somehow—managed to beat the guards. Kai had no idea how they'd done it, but they had.

"Come on, let's go!" Nya urged, already sprinting for the wall.

Kai quickly scooped up Lloyd in his arms, feeling a flash of surprise at how light he was, and then quickly followed his sister.

At the wall, Nya hesitated. "We don't have a rope. How are we going to get over?"

They all looked at each other, clueless.

Nya, seeing their expressions, shook her head in despair. She turned, following the wall.

The rest of them were right behind her.

She suddenly stopped after about five minutes. "Guys, look!"
Ahead of them was the end of the wall, and to the left was a gate. Guards were everywhere, yelling out orders.

"How are we going to sneak past them?" Kai asked.

"I don't know…" Nya murmured.

"We're going to be trapped here!" Jay wailed. "And then they'll find us, and torture us, and then kill us! We're doomed!"
Cole patted him on the shoulder. "No, we won't. We'll figure this out."

Jay whimpered miserably.

"What about disguises? I know we've discussed this before, but…" Kai suggested awkwardly. He shifted his grip on Lloyd. He may not have seemed heavy before, but he was definitely getting heavy now…

Nya shook her head. "That'll never work…"

They watched as the gate was opened briefly to let a jeep through. It disappeared outside.

Kai sighed, setting Lloyd on the ground. He rubbed his arms. "Well, we've gotta do something. Lloyd's getting heavy."

Nya gave him an annoyed look. "Then give him to Cole, dummy."

"Hey, guys?" Jay said.

Cole gave her a look that clearly said he didn't want to carry him.

Kai glanced at Cole. "You sure you don't wanna help out? Besides, you'd be helping my poor arms, not just Lloyd."

Cole glared at him.

Kai held his arms up in surrender. "Okay, okay, fine…"

"Guys?" Jay repeated. "Idea?"
They all looked at him.

"What is it, Jay?" Nya asked.

Jay turned, pointing to the gate. "A jeep just went through, remember? What if we hid in one?"

They blinked.

Nya slapped a hand to her forehead. "Oh! Duh!" She smiled at Jay. "Nice thinking!"
Jay grinned shyly. "Thanks."

She turned to look at the gate again. "The only question now, is how do we sneak in one?"

"Simple," Kai said. "We sneak over there, find a jeep that's about to leave, and get in."

Cole shook his head. "It's not that simple, Kai."

Nya rolled her eyes. "That's my brother for you. Not an ounce of logic."

Kai huffed, crossing his arms indignantly. "Rude."

"Okay, guys," Nya said, turning around. "Follow me."

"You have a plan?" Cole asked.

"The beginning's of one," she replied, walking back the way they'd come.

After they'd followed the wall around to the back of the palace, Nya followed the palace wall to the other side, where there was a jeep getting ready to leave.

She pointed at it. "There. That one will work."

"But how are we going to get on it?" Kai asked. "There's people everywhere!"

Nya hummed in thought. She turned to Cole. "You can act, right? 'Cause you've been in plays?"

"Musicals," Cole grumbled. "Why?"
"I'm going to knock someone out and disguise you, and then you can send the other people away."

Cole looked at her like she was crazy. "What?! Are you nuts?! What am I supposed to even say to get them to leave?!"

Nya shrugged. "I dunno. Make something up." She hurried off suddenly, disappearing.

Cole stared after her in disbelief. "Did she not hear the fact that I've been in musicals, not plays?"
Kai laughed. "Ha! Those are always entertaining to watch!"

Cole gave him a death glare.

Kai held up his hands. "What? Not my fault you insisted we came for moral support!"

"I said Nya and Jay could come!" Cole growled.

"Whaaaat?" Kai fake gasped, putting a hand to his heart. "You wouldn't!"

Cole rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes I would. And this is why!"
"Awe, come on, buddy! You weren't that bad!" But even as he said this, he burst out laughing.

"Kai!" Cole snapped.

Kai tried to stop laughing, wiping tears from his eyes. "Okay, okay, but you gotta admit, you looked so awkward!"

Cole lunged for him, Kai trying to jump out of the way, still laughing.

"Chill, dude!" Kai gasped in between laughter.

"If you're done fooling around…"

They turned, seeing Nya.

"You're back already?" Kai asked, surprised.

"Yeah, what do you think I am, slow?"

Kai just stared at her.

She shook her head. "Ugh." She tossed Cole some clothes. "Just slip these over your gi, okay?"
Cole nodded reluctantly, grumbling. "Fine… But I'm only doing this once. In a lifetime. Which means never again. Got it?"

Nya grinned. "Sure! Just this once!" The look on her face clearly said otherwise.

Cole sent her an irritated glare, then quickly slipped on the clothing. "Eh, a little small," he grumbled, testing the sleeve.

"Now hurry up!" Nya urged him.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm going," Cole muttered, walking away. He made sure to pull the cap low over his face, hoping the guards wouldn't recognize him—not that they would, since as a ninja, he always wore his hood, but he didn't know what Eadgar had told them, so he chose to be cautious.

He neared the first guard nervously, trying not to fidget too much. He hurriedly tried to come up with something to say. "Hey, uh…"

The guard turned to look at him. "What?" he asked gruffly. "I'm busy. Spit it out!"
"Uh," Cole stuttered, "the, uh, leader wants to see you."

"Leader?" The guy rose an eyebrow. "Which one? The Captain?"

"Uh… Yeah! Him!"

They guy grumbled something incomprehensible. "Ugh. Again?" He turned to leave.

Cole realized he still needed the others out of here. In a panic, he said, "And, uh, he wants to see everyone else, too!"

The guy turned to look at him, fear in eyes. "Everyone?"

Cole nodded, shifting awkwardly. "Yup."
The guy hesitated a moment, then turned. "Hey, listen up! The Captain wants to see us. All of us!"

Uncertain, fearful murmurs were heard. After a hesitant second, they all followed the one guy away.

Cole sighed in relief.

They disappeared in a few moments, heading into the palace.

Nya came and gave him a congratulatory slap on the back. "Nice! I knew you could do it!"

"I think these guys were just really dumb…" Cole grumbled, but he smiled a little.

Kai set Lloyd in the back. "Okay, guys, let's hide under these tarps and blankets, okay?"

They all nodded.

Kai put some blankets over Lloyd, making sure he was fully hidden, and then climbed in next to him. Nya went in after him, then Jay, then Cole. They made sure the tarps and blankets were fully covering them.

"Now we wait?" Kai whispered.

"Yup," Nya replied. "Now we wait… And no talking, remember!"
Kai grumbled. "Fine, fine…"

They waited for what seemed like hours in apprehension. It was probably only a few minutes.

They heard lots of footsteps walking towards them, all grumbling and muttering to each other.

"Nice job, Joe," one said.

"Sorry," "Joe" grumbled. "He sounded so convincing!"
"Ugh. Idiot. Where is that guy you saw?"

"I don't know, he was just here!"

There were a few more grumbles and exclamations of anger and annoyance.

"Well, he's gone now," someone else said. "Might as well get back to work, before the boss gets mad."

"Or The Captain…" another gulped.

There was silence for a few seconds, before there were harried footsteps. It seemed as if they had all gotten back to work, doing whatever they had been doing before.

They waited a few more minutes before the jeep suddenly started up. It started moving, bouncing along as it went since the ground was only dirt, not concrete.

They heard the gate opening, and Kai sighed quietly in relief. They passed through it—or at least, Kai assumed they had…

The jeep continued on, slowing down briefly for the other gate, and then kept going.

"Guys, how long are we going to stay on this thing?" Kai asked.

"Quiet, Kai!" Nya hissed.

"Can we sneak off now?"

"What?! Why?! This jeep might make our trip out of the Outcast quicker!"

"'Cause when they captured us, I dropped something. I really need it."

"Oh, yeah? What was it?"

Kai was silent for a moment. "Uh… something important. Just… please?"

Nya didn't answer for a second. She finally growled. "Ugh, fine! Everyone, we're getting off!"

"Wait, what?" Cole asked. "Just because Kai 'lost' something?"
Nya sighed. "Yup…"

There were groans from both Cole and Jay.

"Come on, guys!" Nya urged.

Jay shifted, moving towards the back of the jeep. So did Cole.

Kai turned, grabbing Lloyd, and dragged him to the back of the jeep. He peeked over the edge, seeing the ground blur as it whirled past beneath them.

"Uh, how are we jumping, exactly?" he asked.

Nya shrugged. "I dunno, just go for it."

"Helpful…" Kai muttered.

"Guys, I don't think this is a good idea!" Jay whimpered, shrinking back.

"It'll be fine, Jay!" Nya assured him. "Here, I'll go first!"
"Wait, what?!" Kai exclaimed. He tried to lunge for her as she jumped off, but missed. She disappeared into the foliage.

"Okay, guys, we gotta go now or we'll lose her," Cole told them.

Kai huffed. He dragged Lloyd closer to him, making sure he had a good grip on him, and then leaped.

"Come on, Jay!" Kai heard Cole yell behind him.

Cole grabbed Jay, much like how Kai had Lloyd, and then jumped, Jay screaming in terror.

Kai hit the ground hard, gasping as pain flared up in his arm, and he gripped Lloyd tighter until they stopped rolling. He lay there for a moment, stunned.

"Hey, brother!" Nya's face suddenly popped into his line of sight. "Told you it'd be fine!"

Kai grumbled in annoyance.

Jay gasped, gulping in mouthfuls of air. "We… are never… doing that again!"

Nya laughed.

Kai got up, slinging Lloyd over his shoulder.

"Let's get moving," Cole said.

"Wait! Not until we get my thing!" Kai turned, heading back towards Bane Bete Noire.

"Are you crazy?!" Jay shrieked. "We can't go back! We'll get caught!"
Kai rolled his eyes. "It'll be fine, Jay. Just in and out."

"That's what Lloyd said!" Jay whined.

Nya and Cole followed him. Jay sighed wearily, and not wanting to be left behind, quickly hurried after them.

After ten minutes of walking, they slowed down and turned, following the wall at a distance. Eventually, they reached where they'd originally been, the place where they'd got caught.

Kai set Lloyd on the ground, then started searching the area. He finally bent down, grabbing something. It was a helmet…from one of the Emperor's new nindroid soldiers.

"That's all you wanted to go back for?!" Jay exclaimed, baffled.

Kai nodded. "Yup! We can go now." He glanced at Lloyd. "But, uh, someone else is going to have to carry Lloyd."

They all simultaneously looked at Cole.

"No, nah uh!" Cole held up his hands, backing away. "I already told you, I am not carrying him!"

Kai frowned. "Oh, come on! It's not that bad!"
"Yeah, well, I don't like him!"

Kai shook his head. "Fine, then you can carry my helmet." He shoved the helmet in Cole's hands before he could respond. "And don't lose it!"

"Why do you want this, anyway?" Cole grumbled, looking it over. "It's just a helmet. And you don't even wear helmets!"

"I just do, okay?" Kai replied, scooping up Lloyd and slinging him over his shoulder.

"Hey, uh, make sure you're being gentle with him," Nya reminded. "Remember that he's injured."

Kai blinked. "Oh, yeah… right." He shifted his grip on Lloyd, holding him bridal-style instead. "Better?"

Nya nodded. "Thank you." She turned, heading back to their temporary cave home.

Monday

The sun had gone up and was now starting to set by the time they neared the cave. They'd run into a couple more of the Emperor's nindroid soldiers, but had defeated them. They'd also needed to take a couple of breaks, because Kai's arms had been getting really tired because he'd been carrying Lloyd. They'd tried to convince Cole to carry him, but he had still refused.

"Are we almost there…?" Jay gasped from where he was stumbling along behind Nya.

Nya looked up, feeling fatigued as well. They hadn't slept last night at all—except for a short nap—and so they were all feeling very tired. Lloyd hadn't woken up yet, either, and Nya was starting to get worried about him.

"I think so…" she replied after a moment.

"Oh, good! I'm soooo tired!" Jay moaned. "I just want a big meal, a nap, and some Starfarer comics!"
Kai snorted. "Like that's going to happen anytime soon!" He panted, shifting his grip on Lloyd.

After a few more minutes of walking, they finally reached the cave.

"Lloyd!" they heard Misako gasp, running towards her son. "What happened? Is he alright?"

Wu and Garmadon were not far behind.

"I think he was just exhausted," Nya told her. "He passed out after…" She trailed off awkwardly, glancing away.

After he'd gotten tortured.

Misako looked at her, then turned her attention back to Lloyd.

Garmadon hurried over to Kai, taking Lloyd from him.

"Ah, my arms!" Kai moaned dramatically, rubbing them.

Garmadon sent him an unamused look, carrying Lloyd inside. Misako followed closely behind, concerned.

"Here," Cole suddenly said, shoving Kai's helmet into his hands.

"Oh… uh, thanks," Kai replied.

Cole and the others walked inside, disappearing.

Kai watched them leave for a moment, then glanced down at the helmet, studying its front. Then he flipped it over, staring at the symbol. What did it mean? And why did he recognize it?