The ninja reconvene at the monastery for dinner. It is a glum affair, Misako ladles out hearty portions of soup, which is unenthusiastically picked at. The table is more crowded than normal with Skylor, Wu, Garmadon, Pixal, Misako and 5 ninja gathered around.
"I never realised Ninjago city had so many white vans…" ponders Cole.
"Well if Garmadon took notice of the number plate…" grumbles Jay.
Garmadon huffs. "My powers have found Lloyd once, which is more than can be said of the rest of you!"
"ENOUGH!" Says Wu sternly, while slamming a fist on the table.
"We will find them, but only by working together. If we want to learn from our mistakes today, in order to do better tomorrow, by all means continue this discussion. However," he pauses, looking between Jay and Garmadon, "now is not the time to lay blame and fight amongst ourselves."
Garmadon huffs again, but stays silent. Jay picks at his food, staring intently into the bowl.
Wu takes a deep breath and relaxes slightly. "Skylor, what options remain?"
"I have a list of Normatech facilities, but we are not allowed to step foot in them." She hands a list around the table.
"We have broken the law before, when we needed to." Says Kai, while looking at Nya.
Wu nods. "We'll keep that in reserve. We won't be able to help Lloyd and Ella from a prison cell."
"This list is long." Says Zane.
"That is just buildings where they are on the deed. There could be more with subleases." Says Skylor.
"It's a start." Says Wu. "My brother and I will do a drive by, see if we can narrow it down."
Garmadon groans. "I'm starting to like the sound of going back to prison." He grumbles, but does take the list.
"And the rest of us?" Asks Kai.
"One of you should go and water my plants." Says Garmadon as he places a key on the table. The ninja stare at him with disbelief. "What? I haven't been home in over 2 days. Phileafa is a delicate soul."
"Fine, whatever." Says Nya before turning to Skylor, "We talked to Skales, Venemari have been arrested, their friends and family are convinced the charges are false."
Skylor frowns. "That can't be… I won't be able to look into it until tomorrow. The staff with access to those records would have gone home already."
"So we're back to doing nothing!" grumbles Jay.
"Not nothing." Says Wu. "You rest. Prepare your mind and body for the day to come. Tomorrow we rise and we bring them home." With that he slurps the rest of his soup. "Come brother." He says before leaving the room with a swish of his tattered cape. Garmadon follows with a stretch and a yawn.
There is a moment of silence before Garmadon sticks his head back in the doorway, "Seriously, someone needs to water my plants."
"Yeah yeah, we heard you the first time." Says Kai, then as soon as Garmadon is gone, "Not it!"
"Kai, really?" Says Nya.
"Also not it." Says Jay, getting a disapproving glare from Nya.
Zane reaches for the key. "I will handle it." He says calmly. I am one of the more well rested ones, so I am the logical choice."
Jay storms out of the dining room shortly after Zane claims responsibility over the keys. He is tired, and grumpy, but after being up all night and sleeping all morning, he knows attempting to sleep now would be a pointless endeavour, so instead of heading to his room, he goes out to the courtyard to try and clear his head. There was a calm cool evening breeze gently rustling the nearby trees. A crescent moon shines brightly with only a couple small wispy clouds to keep it company. Everything felt so normal, yet their world was falling apart.
"I knew we should have never let that Oni girl come here…" he mutters. How did things manage to get so bad so quickly?
"It's not her fault." Says Cole.
Jay jumps slightly as he turns to see his friend a few steps behind him.
"Don't sneak up on me like that!" he bemoans, before going back to leaning on one of the support poles.
Cole comes closer and sits on the adjacent railing. "Sorry." He says earnestly, then adds, "I am a ninja you know." There is a pause before they both let out a hearty chuckle.
It fades, and they sit in companionable silence.
"I know/about…" they both start talking at the same time, then stop. "You go." Says Jay.
"No, it's fine, you go." Says Cole.
Jay sighs, "I know it's not her fault." he says solemnly. "It's just, well, we're working with Garmadon! My usual scapegoat is immune." He kicks a small pebble across the yard. "And she's Lloyd's sister? Another long lost relative just showing up out of the blue!" He gestures wildly, "Kai's parents came back, Zane found his father, what about me? Where is my family Cole?!" tears start to leak out of Jay's face.
"Your family is safe in the junkyard." Says Cole.
"That's not what I meant…" says Jay. Cole knows he was adopted, and both of his birth parents are now deceased. "And what if he stops needing us? Once his real family is put back together, what if he doesn't want us around anymore?" Jay slides his back down the pole he had been leaning on until he is sitting on the ground. He continues to sniffle.
Cole drops from the railing and sits next to Jay on the ground. He places a reassuring arm around his shoulders and pulls him close. "Lloyd really needs us now." He says. "And I'll always want to have you around." He feels Jay relax just slightly.
"I know, I'm being ridiculous." Says Jay.
"Just a little." Admits Cole, "Families normally don't cut people out when they get bigger. But things will be different." Jay's sniffles start to slow. "I know what it's like, having a mum who's not coming back." Jay grabs Cole's hand and gives it a reassuring squeeze. "Your birth dad left you at a junkyard. You don't need him."
"But what if he had more kids?" Asks Jay. "What if I also have secret half-siblings out there somewhere?"
"Doubtful," says Cole, "But if it's important to you, I'll help you look."
Jay leans in closer, "thanks Cole. You always know what to say."
They sit together for a while longer, watching the moon, feeling the breeze.
"You were going to say something?" Asks Jay, remembering before.
"Yeah…" says Cole, unsure of where to start. "Um, thanks for looking after me earlier. And sorry about, um, all of it." He could feel his cheeks starting to burn up.
Jay glances up at Cole's face, then turns back towards the sky, leaning further into his embrace. "You would have done the same for me. I'll always be there when you need me. No apology required."
He feels Cole relax.
They sit together for a while longer, Jay is feeling a lot more settled than when he first stormed out. He lets out a deep breath while listening to the slow rhythmic beating of his friend's heart. As long as they still drew breath, they would keep searching. For Lloyd and his bratty sister. He would learn to like her, if he must… "I just can't believe she broke the TV…" blurts out Jay before realising he wasn't meant to say that bit out loud.
Cole fails to suppress a snort which turns into full on laughter. "Sorry!" He stammers between chuckles. "I think we have bigger problems than the TV!"
"Ok fine! Moment's ruined!" Says Jay while getting up from the ground and his friend's embrace, "guess it is time to try and get some sleep."
Garmadon finished his half of the list some time ago. He was doubling back and revisiting a couple of sites, but still couldn't sense any Oni, that is except for his brother's presence beaming down on him from above. What was he up to?
Garmadon decides to go and find out. He easily traces his brother, and scales the Ninjago TV tower to find Wu sitting on top, legs crossed, hands out in a meditation pose.
Not wanting to interrupt, Garmadon sits on the side of the building for like 3 seconds before deciding to get up and take a look at the various TV equipment.
Wu sighs, opening his eyes and looking at Garmadon. "You remind me of your son." He states.
"Hmm." Says Garmadon as he gives one of the larger dishes a strong flick, listening to how it resonates. "Is Lloyd also interested in telecommunications infrastructure?"
Wu sighs with frustration, "No, but he also has a habit of interrupting my meditations."
"Hmm." Says Garmadon again while moving over to look at some mechanical plant.
Wu watches Garmadon for a moment before snapping "What do you want?"
"Now who's the impatient one?" Sneers Garmadon before turning to face Wu. "I want to find my children." He crosses his arms, suddenly serious. "I take it you also had no luck with your list?"
"No." Says Wu. "It is like they just vanished."
"Or they're asleep." Says Garmadon. Wu looks at him blankly. "You've been around Lloyd when he's asleep, probably more than me." Garmadon starts pacing, "He is unnervingly good at masking… are all Oni like that when they sleep? Maybe I should take a nap so you can find out."
Wu watches him, "You're worried about them." he states with mild surprise.
"I'm worried that they haven't escaped yet. Two Oni, my children, should have been able to bust out by now!"
"Your children…" mutters Wu bitterly.
"Yes my children!" Says Garmadon. There is an uncomfortable pause as they glare at each other. "Why does that make you angry?" Asks Garmadon.
"I am not angry with you." says Wu.
"You're a terrible liar." Says Garmadon, who sits down, next to Wu, but with a decent distance between them. "Your Oni aura flares when you are angry."
Wu takes a deep breath, and lets out a sigh. "I always wanted a family." He says softly. "Children, of my own. To pass down our father's teachings. How is it someone like you gets two children, while I am left with none."
Garmadon scoffs, "someone like me… you mean someone who is a terrible father?"
"That's not what I meant." Says Wu.
"Yes it is." Says Garmadon calmly. "And you're right. I've been a downright shitty father to Lloyd. I've abandoned him, fought him, tried to kill him. And now? Well, any time we spend together is always so… awkward. I don't understand what he wants from me. And this Oni girl, I killed her mother, so she rightfully hates me, and that may never be repaired."
There is a pause before Wu speaks, "When Lloyd was in trouble with the serpentine, you put your evil plans on hold so you could come and help him. When the ninja went to Chen's island, you went with them to try and keep them safe. When the Oni came to this realm, you helped us to defend it. You have had quite the journey, Lloyd understands that."
"Still," says Garmadon, "You have been more of a father to him than I ever was. You took him in when I wasn't around. Read him bedtime stories, taught him right from wrong, taught him how to fight. You have imparted our father's wisdom to the next generation. He would be proud of you."
"He would be proud of us." Amends Wu. "You have managed to change, so can she. Very few things can't be repaired. I am hopeful that this family isn't one of them."
"We just need to find them first." Says Garmadon as he looks out over the glowing lights of the dark city.
"We will." Says Wu with confidence.
Not too long after the lights are dimmed and Pythor makes an over dramatic yawning sound. Lloyd sits on the floor with his back up against Ella's cell thinking over their options. He tries to summon some green power, but the vengestone cuff around his ankle prevents even the smallest spark. He might be able to use Oni form, but he was still not able to summon it at will. Ella could, was there a way to use that? If they just tried to bust out, there would be a large number of guards gathered beyond the door by the time they made it that far, with gas canisters or darts. If they could get escorted to somewhere else they might have more of a chance. Even one person could return with help, or cause enough of a distraction. Bill might talk to him, but he was the one who was powerless…
"How's that plan coming?" Asks Ella.
Lloyd sighs. "It might be going better if I could talk to someone about it." He glances up at the cameras in the hallway, undoubtedly recording sound as well.
There is a light scurrying sound as a rat crawls into his cell, and then transforms back into Ella.
The lights come back on and a siren blares while 4 guards rush into the room. Two point dart guns at their cell, the others carry clubs and stun sticks. "Halt!" Yells the leader.
Lloyd and Ella raise their hands. "She wasn't trying to escape." Says Lloyd calmly, "see, she is right here, inside a cell."
"I was scared." Sniffles Ella. "I was lonely… it was dark."
"The prisoners are to be kept in separate cells!" Says the lead guard.
"Bill wants me to tame her, build trust, I can't do that if we are kept apart." Says Lloyd, "She is just a child, she wasn't trying to escape." He reiterates.
The guards look unsure, "You were just speaking of escape!"
"Of how we don't have a plan, you have us well contained, we know we can't get out, she just wanted to be with me." Says Lloyd. "Please, she is just a child."
Ella shape shifts into her human form, a little smaller than normal, continuing to whimper, trying to garner more sympathy.
Some guards start lowering their weapons. The lead guard holds a hand up to his ear, listening to someone speaking through the helmet. "Fine, but so much as one foot outside this cell, and there will be trouble." The guards leave.
"That was risky." Says Lloyd.
Ella shrugs. "Even if they put me back, we would have had a better idea of what we are up against." She transforms back into her Oni form, "and now we can whisper about plans." she adds softly.