It had taken Cole longer than he would have liked, but eventually, he finally located his friends on top of an apartment building.

Reaching the roof, Cole joined them and crouched down, eyeing the weird bird-wing like contraptions. "Hey, guys. What's the plan?"

They all jumped.

"Cole! Don't sneak up on people like that!" Jay gasped, clutching his chest.

Cole shrugged unapologetically. "Sorry."

Since Jay was recovering from his near heart attack, Nya told Cole the plan.

Cole wasn't sure if he liked this plan, mostly because he hated heights. He loved mountain climbing, that was fine. He had a nice, solid surface to hang on to. Flying, well… there was nothing but air.

"Uh, are we sure that these things work?" Cole asked, gesturing to the wings.

Jay nodded, a grin appearing on his face. "Yup! I tested them!"

Cole looked skeptical, and he noticed that Kai was, too. Cole was glad that he wasn't the only one apprehensive.

"Well, we better get moving. We don't have all day," Nya declared, taking one of the contraptions. "There's five of these, right?"

"Well, technically there's six, but, uh…" Jay trailed off, glancing away.

Everyone frowned, knowing who the sixth one was supposed to be for—Zane. Everyone was painfully reminded of the gaping hole he had left.

After a few awkward seconds, Cole grabbed one of the pairs of wings. "How do these things work?"

"I'll show you!" Jay chirped, knocked out of his trance, along with everyone else. Jay then instructed all of them on the workings of the invention, delighted that someone was actually listening to his ramblings this time about one of his contraptions.

"So, to turn, all you have to do is lean?" Lloyd asked.

Jay nodded. "Yup! Simple, right?"
Lloyd nodded. "Okay. Let's do this."

They all put on Jay's invention, some excited and some uneasy.

Jay poked his head above the silver square thing. "We need a higher take-off point."

Looking around, Lloyd noticed a tall building near to them. He pointed to it. "We can use that."

Looking where he was pointing, they all agreed. They silently climbed off of the building they were on, and used the fire escape to ascend the other. Once on top, they crouched on the edge facing the city wall.

"Everyone ready for this?" Cole asked.

Kai shook his head. "Nope."

"Heh… me neither," Cole agreed.

"Hey, it'll be fine!" Jay tried to reassure them. "I tested them!"

"And besides, we don't really have a choice. We need to get Lloyd out, and make a plan to rescue Zane," Nya told them.

They all exchanged glances, and then Kai and Cole reluctantly nodded.

"Are we ready, then?" Lloyd asked.

Everyone nodded.

"Then on the count of three…" Lloyd instructed. "One… two…" He tensed. "Three!"

In unison, they all leapt off. Lloyd felt his breath catch in his throat, and he was pretty sure he heard a yelp from Kai. Just when he thought the wings wouldn't work, he was suddenly jerked upwards, feeling a sense of weightlessness. He looked down, seeing the ground flying past beneath him. He was flying! He looked around, seeing the others with mixed expressions of awe and fear.

Smiling, Lloyd looked towards the wall. He tilted his wings a tad upwards, feeling the wind catch it, and taking him higher. The higher they got, the better. He didn't want the guards to spot him or his friends, and he especially didn't want the guards to recognize his friends. If they were recognized, then his friends would be made outcasts, too, just like him… He wouldn't wish that on anybody.

His friends followed his lead, tilting their own wings upwards.

Looking down, Lloyd watched as they sailed right over the guards' heads. They were high enough now that the guards were only specks.

One of the guards must have spotted them, because one of them pointed upwards. Lloyd's breath caught, afraid they would start firing, but another guard waved the other off, and they both went back to looking at the horizon. Lloyd sighed in relief.

They continued to sail through the sky until they flew over the first mountain peak. Lloyd tilted his wings downwards, flying in slow, large circles. Eventually, he neared the ground. He put out his feet, running on the ground for a few yards, before he was able to slow down and stop. He'd successfully landed. Looking back, he saw that some of his friends weren't so lucky; Cole and Kai had just crashed, one in a bush and one in a nearby tree. Jay landed pretty well, tripping a little, and Nya landed flawlessly, like Lloyd had.

Lloyd, Nya, and Jay slipped off their wings. Cole managed to drag himself out of the bush, tripping and face-planting. Jay and Nya giggled, and Nya went to go help him. Lloyd would have, but Cole didn't really like him right now, and so he thought that it probably wasn't a very good idea.

Kai, who had landed in the tree, tried to get up but then slipped and fell onto the next branch down. He groaned, spitting out some leaves and twigs, struggled a bit, and then fell out of the tree with a thud.

Lloyd winced in sympathy.

Kai stood up, dusting himself off, and then pried the wings off. His hair was a mess, and scratch marks from the branches littered his face.

Cole, who was up now and had gotten his own wings off, walked over to Jay and Lloyd, glancing at Kai. Nya went to make sure her brother was okay. Kai insisted that he was fine.

"So, what now?" Jay asked, taking his wings off.

"We head for the monastery," Cole replied.

Jay nodded, and Lloyd took the lead, since he knew where the monastery was from here. Cole eyed him suspiciously, probably thinking that he might lead them into a trap. Lloyd frowned at that, guilt and sadness washing over him. He quickly shook it off.

Lloyd led them down the steep mountain slope, careful not to slip. The rocks here were very gravelly and loose. Ten minutes later, they reached a steep trail-like path. A cliff was on one side, and the mountain side lay on the other. Lloyd carefully began walking down it, holding on to anything he could so he wouldn't slip.

A few minutes later, Lloyd suddenly heard a yelp behind him. He looked back just in time to have Jay slam into him. Lloyd slipped, stopping his fall by catching on to a root sticking out from the cliff-side. With his other hand he grabbed Jay. They hung there for a few seconds in shock, Lloyd finally daring to breath again. Cole, Kai, and Nya still stood on the small trail, looking pale but relieved. Cole was the first to come out of his shock, lunging to grab Lloyd's arm and tugged. Lloyd blinked, surprised that Cole was helping him, but then he remembered that Jay was also at stake here.

Kai quickly helped Cole, and together they both pulled them up. Jay scrambled away from the cliff, pressing his back to the mountain and gasping for breath.

"Are you both okay?!" Nya asked frantically, hurrying to Jay's side and then glancing at Lloyd.

Lloyd nodded, feeling a little lightheaded.

"Jay?" Nya asked.

Jay nodded.

Nya looked at him doubtfully, then nodded in acknowledgment.

"We need to keep moving," Cole said, continuing down the mountain. He glanced back at Jay. "Make sure you test the rocks before you put your full weight on it."

Jay nodded again, swallowing and feeling guilt wash over him. Why was he so useless? He always messed up. Why couldn't he do anything right? Could he even be a ninja? Should he be a ninja? He'd probably just mess up, like every other time… He wasn't even sure why Wu had chosen him. Maybe it was because of his powers?

Sighing, Jay shakily stood up, Nya helping him. Jay knew she was only trying to help, but it just made him feel even more useless and guilty.

They all continued down the mountain, everyone being much more cautious than before.

An hour later, Lloyd looked up and saw the mountain that the monastery was situated on. He sighed in relief, glad that they were almost there. He wondered if his parents or Wu would be there. They were probably worried sick, wondering what had happened to him. He wasn't even sure if they knew what had happened.

At the top, when they had reached the monastery, they all paused.

Nya looked at Lloyd. "You're sure that Wu won't mind if you're a half breed?"

Lloyd hesitated, then nodded.

Nya gave him a doubtful look, then nodded back.

Cole opened the monastery doors, and they all walked in.

"Lloyd!"

That was the only warning Lloyd got before he was engulfed in a hug by his mother, almost knocking him off his feet. Lloyd felt a relieved smile creep onto his face, and he hugged her back. Looking up, he saw his father and uncle were also there, both looking extremely relieved.

Misako let go of him, looking him over for injuries. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?" She hadn't even noticed the other ninja standing there.

Lloyd quickly nodded, trying to ease her. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Misako didn't look convinced. "But you have blood on your clothes!"

Lloyd frowned. "Uh…"

Nya stepped forward. "We patched him up the best we could, but Zane said that he needs stitches."

Misako glanced at her, having just noticed that they were there, and gave them all a suspicious look. Then her focus was immediately back to Lloyd.

"So, I'm assuming you two are Lloyd's parents?" Kai asked, narrowing his eyes and gesturing towards Garmadon and Misako.

Garmadon nodded, staring at him just as suspiciously.

"So you're both half breeds, too?" Cole asked, a bit menacingly, and glared at them.

"I am. Misako's not," Garmadon replied, a faint, threatening growl in his voice. "Wu is —"

Lloyd pulled away from Misako hastily, interrupting Garmadon. "My dad is the half breed that Wu is friends with," he told the ninja.

Garmadon, Wu, and Misako all gave him confused, surprised looks. Lloyd gave them a look before turning back to Kai, Jay, Cole, and Nya. Thankfully, his parents and Wu dropped it.

He had interrupted his father because he knew that he was about to tell them that Wu was also a half breed, but if he did that, than the ninja might not listen to Wu, and then how were they going to rescue Zane? And protect the city from the oni. They needed to be able to listen to his uncle, and trust him.

"Well, anyway," Kai said, "we have important things to do and discuss."

"Yes, where is Zane?" Wu asked, a worried frown on his face.

Kai's gaze darkened. "He was taken by the Emperor. He found out he was a nindroid."

Wu's face morphed into shock. "What? How?"

"The Emperor installed new devices that scan for half breeds and nindroids," Nya explained. "We're assuming that's how Lloyd was found out about. He must've triggered one."

Garmadon and Misako traded a look, and Wu looked away briefly.

Lloyd wasn't sure what that was about, but he'd ask them later.

"We need to rescue Zane," Kai told Wu.

Wu frowned, shaking his head. "I'm afraid that's not possible. There's no way to sneak into the palace and out, not with all of that security, and especially when taking something or someone out."

"But we can't just leave him there!" Kai growled, enraged, hands curling into fists.

Wu shook his head, staring at the ground. "I'm afraid there's nothing we can do for him…" Wu felt guilt clench him, feeling as if, somehow, this was his fault. He knew that it couldn't possibly be, but…

"We have to rescue Zane! We can come up with a plan!" Cole insisted.

"Yeah!" Lloyd agreed. "There's got to be a way!"

Wu sadly shook his head again. "There isn't." He turned, heading inside, head down.

Misako walked over to Lloyd, urging him inside.

"But I'm fine!" Lloyd tried to argue, but Misako shot him look and he shut his mouth. He allowed himself to be lead inside reluctantly.

Garmadon followed them.

Kai, Nya, Cole, and Jay stood outside, exchanging looks.

After a few more hours, the Emperor and Crypto had gone through all of his memories—for the most part. They had skipped quite a lot, including the part where Zane had been secretly visiting P.I.X.A.L and when Zane had helped Lloyd with his friends. He was glad of that—that meant that the Emperor didn't know that Kai, Cole, Nya, and Jay were helping Lloyd, and that P.I.X.A.L had been disobeying him.

The Emperor put a hand to his chin, studying Zane's schematics and his blueprints. "Interesting… very interesting."

"Indeed! I'm going to have so much fun with this!" Crypto exclaimed, excitedly scrolling through something.

"No, you're not," the Emperor bluntly stated.

Crypto gave him an incredulous stare. "What? Why?"

"I have an idea… Crypto, go grab that female droid."

Zane felt a chill go through him—P.I.X.A.L.

Crypto grumbled something incomprehensible, but stood up and left anyway. A few minutes later he returned, P.I.X.A.L following obediently behind him.

P.I.X.A.L let out an audible gasp when she saw Zane. Zane gave her look—don't let them know we know each other. He hoped P.I.X.A.L had understood. She still looked shocked, but was obviously trying to hide it.

The Emperor walked over to Zane, staring down at him. "P.I.X.A.L, I want you to make copies of him—more nindroids. And give them an upgrade. I also want you to install the CryptoChip in him." He looked at her. "Understood?"

P.I.X.A.L nodded, mouth pressed into a thin line.

"Good. I'll leave you two to that, then." The Emperor left, shutting the big metal door behind him.

Crypto grumbled something else under his breath, then said, "Let's get to work." He sat down, typing away at his computer again.

P.I.X.A.L walked stiffly over to Zane. She looked at him, guilt and fear in her eyes. She mouthed, "I'm sorry," and then turned to Crypto. They both started doing something that Zane couldn't see.

Zane felt a little better now that P.I.X.A.L was here, but he was still terrified.

A few minutes later, P.I.X.A.L walked over to him carrying what looked to be a computer chip. She turned Zane's head to the side, opening up a panel in the back of his head. Zane sensed her

hesitate—

"Hey, droid! Hurry up with that!" Crypto snapped impatiently. "We've got things to do!"

—a second too long, apparently.

P.I.X.A.L hesitated for another second longer, then inserted the chip. Zane felt his systems glitch, warning signs popping up like crazy, before they suddenly vanished. Then he felt all of his systems, all of his functions, connect to the chip. The chip now controlled everything. Zane felt a chill go through him.

"I'm sorry, Zane," P.I.X.A.L whispered.

Zane was about to respond, but P.I.X.A.L had already walked back over to Crypto.

"Now, let's start making these copies," Crypto said. "And since we're doing this, I want to make a special copy—my own droid."

Zane could almost see P.I.X.A.L rolling her eyes at that. Zane had to stop himself from doing the same. As this chip was called the "CryptoChip", he was pretty sure that this man was very full of himself.

"Get started on the copies. I have to go make blueprints for mine." Crypto grabbed a copy of Zane's blueprints and some schematics, then left.

P.I.X.A.L watched him go, then shook her head. She walked over to Zane, a guilty look on her face. "I'm so sorry, Zane! I had no idea that the scanning devices had been installed! If I'd known, then I never would have asked you to see my father!"

Zane smiled sadly. "It's alright, P.I.X.A.L. I know. You couldn't have known."

"But, maybe if I'd payed more attention, did some more looking around, then maybe…" She trailed off, looking away.

"P.I.X.A.L, it isn't your fault. Don't blame yourself. Deep down, we both knew that, eventually, this would happen. It was only a matter of time."

P.I.X.A.L didn't look convinced.

Zane wished there was something else he could say, but he was coming up empty.

P.I.X.A.L went back to work, typing something on a computer. Zane was left to lie there, thinking, and staring at the light in his eyes. He hoped that his friends were alright. He desperately hoped that they hadn't reported Lloyd. He knew that Lloyd wasn't evil, even though he was a half breed. He just hoped that the others, someday, could see that.

Kai, Cole, Nya, and Jay exchanged glances, trying to decide what to do. Nya finally broke her gaze, heading inside.

"Hey, sis, where are you going?" Kai called, running after her.

"I have to make sure of something," Nya replied.

Cole and Jay followed Kai and Nya into the monastery.

It didn't take long before Nya located Wu. He was in the kitchen, drinking tea.

"Master Wu?" she called.

He looked at her, guilt and sadness in his eyes. "Yes?"

She hesitated, but she needed to know. To be sure. "You're okay with the fact that Lloyd is a half breed, then?"

"Of course!" Wu replied, surprise flickering onto his face.

Nya nodded. "Okay. I just had to be sure."

Wu nodded in understanding.

"Wait a second, did you know that Lloyd was a half breed this whole time?!" Kai asked.

Wu frowned, then nodded.

"What?!" Cole exclaimed, anger on his face.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but… I wasn't sure what your reactions would be," Wu explained.

Nya felt guilt stab at her. She knew that just yesterday, she would've told on Lloyd without hesitation. If it hadn't been for Zane… Lloyd might be dead right now. Another stab of guilt struck her as she remembered all of the times Kai and her had gone to a half breed execution. Back then, she had thought that they were all evil… but that clearly was not the case. She wondered how many of the half breeds that had been murdered had actually been good.

Jay also wore a guilty expression, along with Kai. Cole's face was blank.

"Would any of you like some tea?" Wu asked.

Nya nodded, along with Jay.

Wu gave them a strained smile, then handed them each a cup, including Cole and Kai who obviously didn't want any. They both drank it anyway, though.

After they'd finished their tea, they went to the living room. They wanted to plan out a rescue mission, for Zane. No matter what Wu said, they were going to rescue their friend—no matter the cost.