Chapter 15: The Void and Titanium Ninja
Cinder watched as Nya, P.I.X.A.L., and Wu set up the computers in Borg Tower. It was a few hours after watching Arcturus leave the ground and towards outer space. The Nindroids within it with ninja in tow. Cinder worried for his brother and the others, hoping for their safety and return back in one piece.
"Hello? Kai? Anyone? Can you read me?" Nya said in worry
"We read you loud and clear." The red ninja said and everyone cheered
"They're alive! They're alive." Garmadon shouted with relief
"Whoa! Yes!" Nya air-fisted with happiness
"Good to hear you boys. We're going to get you home safe. P.I.X.A.L. was able to find the blueprints for the rocket. You need to escape the cargo hold before it's too late. Near the front of the ship is an A2 storage compartment. Inside are emergency spacesuits." Wu explained
"That will be a doozy. We can't get the spacesuits unless we go outside. Problem is, we can't go outside without spacesuits. Any other suggestions?" Cole said
"are completely out of their element. Even if they get through this, what chance do we have of getting them home?" Garmadon whispers and covers his microphone.
"Uh, we can still hear you." Kai said
"Yeah, we could really use some encouraging words right about now." Lloyd said
"If you cannot change your circumstances, change yourself." Wu said
"Hm, can anyone else figure that one out?" Kai questioned
"His wisdom usually takes a while to set in. But we don't have a while!" Jay said confused and Cinder sighed and face-pawed.
"It's so easy guys. Are you that clueless to see what the solution is."
"Zane, you're the only one who can survive outside the ship." P.I.X.A.L. said
"She's right. I'm the only one who doesn't need oxygen. I must go alone." Zane said
—-
"We made it!" Lloyd shouted in relief. Garmadon, Nya, P.I.X.A.L., Cinder, and Wu cheer.
"Yeah! All right! Yay!" Nya cheered
"We have our spacesuits and found one way to change ourselves. At least now we can stay on this ride a bit longer." Lloyd said
"All right, to commandeer the ship, you have to get to the cockpit. You'll find an access hatch just ahead of you." Nya explains
"You know what's also ahead? A desolate void of nothingness. If any one of us falls off..." Cole said trailing off
"We'll take it slow. Together." Kai said but they all scream as the ship briefly accelerates. Cinder watched as they slowly trekked their way to the hatch. Listening to their conversation as they transverse.
"I can't wait to see the expressions on the faces of those metal chrome domes when they find out we stowed away onboard." Jay said
"They're Nindroids, nimrod, they don't have expressions." Cole scoffs
"Oh, yeah. Well, Zane has expressions." Jay protested
"Zane's not like them. Do we really have to go over this right now?" Kai groaned
"It's just so quiet, I'm only trying to fill the space. Get it?" Jay laughs "Space."
Cinder just rolls his eyes at Jay's lack of funny puns and jokes. But then noticed the hatch opening and Nindroids coming out.
"Uh oh. You guys see that?"
"Huh? Oh no! How did they know they're on the ship?" Nya questioned
"I believe their communicators were still connected to the ship's communication system. So they must have heard them from their conversation." P.I.X.A.L. said and Cinder continued to watch the ninja.
"So much for our surprise attack. Look out!" Cole shouts and the Nindroids laugh as they fire at them. But Jay was able to steal one of their weapons, making the team cheer for him.
"Wow! Cool!" Lloyd said
"All right!" Cole said
"Not Jay. Fritz Donnegan! Fear isn't a word where I come from." Jay said dramatically
"Oh, man. I'm sorry for introducing him to that." Lloyd groaned
"Don't be. If we can't change our circumstances, that's one way to change yourself. Fire!" Kai said and shoots fire at a Nindroid
Cinder laughs at Lloyd's dismay at Jay trying to be like Fritz Donnegan. But Jay was having fun.
"Ninja—Uh, oh! Aah!" Cole shouts in alarm as he tried to use Spinjitzu, but floats away instead. Cinder squeaks in terror at seeing that.
"Cole!" Kai shouts
"Guys! A little help, please?" Cole said scared
"We can't use our Spinjitzu in zero gravity. There's too little resistance." Zane said
"Too little? I'd say the resistance is a bit more than we can handle at the moment." Lloyd exclaims frustration as he shields himself with energy.
"Haven't you heard, scourge? No free rides!" Jay said as he kicked a Nindroid off.
"HEEEEEELLLLLLLP!" Cole screams in fear
"Jay! Don't let Cole get away! Ugh. Fritz! Save him!" Kai said
"I'm on it, Commander Kiflin. I just blew you away. Haha." Jay said
"Help!" Cole shouts as then the boosters activated, leaving him.
"Fritz Donnegan to the rescue!" Jay said, grabbing a rope and going after Cole.
"HEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLP!" Cole yells as he floats away.
"Gotcha!" Jay said as he grabbed Cole. "Next time, don't get carried away."
"Ah, thanks. I owe you one." Cole said relieved
"Okay. Stay away from Nya." Jay said
"Maybe a different one." Cole relied
"You are almost to the cockpit. Just make sure to continue your course. And focus on the task ahead." Wu said
"Sensei? I'm getting interference. I can't hear you." Kai said as the communication was buzzing off
"Asteroids." Zane shouted
"Cryptor's steering us into the tail of the comet. Find cover!" Kai shouted but an asteroid broke off their cover.
"Cover? What cover?" Cole shouts in terror. Some Nindroids go inside the rocket as the rest huddle in fear.
"Hey! Haha! They do have expressions. Ha." Jay said smugly but then an asteroid hits more Nindroids. "Never mind."
Nya tried to communicate with them but seeing that they didn't respond to her. She and the others in the tower realized the ninja can't hear them.
"They can't hear us because of the asteroid shower." Wu said
"They must be preparing to land." P.I.X.A.L. said
"But we have to warn them about what else is on that comet." Garmadon stated
"Uh, yeah, we're not alone either." Nya said and Cinder looked out the window. At the bottom of the tower was an army of Nindroids, a white spec (Pythor) and a strange box.
"We must go." Wu said
"But we have to warn them. We can't just leave them without telling them what else is out there." Garmadon argued but conceded
"Grab everything you can." Wu said as everyone grabs computer components.
"This way." Nya said and nodded toward a hole in the window.
"Good idea." Cinder said and came out and saw a window cleaning platform and got on, the others doing the same. Seeing no way to get down without a vehicle. Cinder thought of Ultra and wondered if he could call him. Ultra did say that if he needs help or wants to talk then just roar out his name.
"ULTRA!" Cinder roared out and everyone looked at him in confusion.
"I'm calling Ultra. Just in case of backup if we can't get off of here safely." He explained
"Good idea. Now let's try to get down safety." Garmadon said and they did so. But a few feet down they heard Pythor coming in.
"Huh. The cowards have fled."
"But Arcturus has landed. Prepare the factory. The Golden Master will rise on their return!" Overlord said
"He's vulnerable. We must fight him now." Garmadon said as they dangled on the platform.
"No. Not until we get the ninja home safe. We must get back in contact. We need to find somewhere we can't be found." Wu stated
"I know just the place." Garmadon said but then they see Overborg starting to cut the platform's rope.
"They found us. Don't lose those computer components. We need them all." Nya said frantically
"Hurry. Use our momentum. Together." Wu saids and everyone moved the platform back and forward. "Now!" He jumps and almost falls, but Garmadon catches him.
"I've got you, brother." Garmadon said and brought him up to safety.
"Great. Now we'll never get out of here." Nya huffed
"Leave that to me." P.I.X.A.L. said as she tries to do what she's doing but has a grim look on her face.
"What?" Nya asked
"Seems like Pythor has turned off the defense systems, leaving me unable to summon a Hover-Copter."
"Get them, you imbeciles!" Pythor shouts
"Great, so now what are we going to do?" Nya questioned
"I don't know Nya." Cinder sighs
"Need help, little one?"
Cinder turned and grinned when hearing that voice. Coming in was Ultra, who looked a lot older than last seeing him. But still the same as he remembered when seeing him.
"Yes, we definitely need help getting away from this situation."
"Of course, hop on." Ultra said and Cinder did, allowing the others to do the same. Then Ultra turned and flew away, flying over the buildings of the city and towards the countryside.
"I hope the city can survive without us." Garmadon sighed
"So too the ninja, I pray." Wu said
—-
Telling Ultra where to go after asking Garmadon the place he was thinking of, they were at his monastery. Cinder sat outside with Ultra while the others were setting up the computers to get communication back up with the ninja.
"How have you been, little one? It's been awhile since we last chatted. How's things been?" Rocky said
"It was great, before the Overlord came back." Cinder said when all four heads growled angrily.
"That menace is alive?!" Flame roared
"How can he be alive? We all watched you and Lloyd destroy him." Shard questioned and Cinder shrugged
"We don't know. Right now the ninja are up in the skies, and I mean way up in the skies." Cinder said and Ultra nodded
"Alright, but for the time being, tell us how much happened before saving you?" Rocky questioned
"Of course." Cinder said and started his story of the events that occurred. He halted when getting to the battle in the junkyard, probing Ultra to question his nervousness, but assured that he had an incident. Saying he almost lost himself to the darkness within him Ultra coo'ed in pity and sympathy and rubbed the dragonet gently and saying soothingly that it wasn't his fault and that he'll be ok. Cinder rubbed back to them in thanks and continued the story. Telling them of the clue, then the Serpentine, and finally the battle with protecting the ninja from being trapped within the Digiverse. Ultra growled angrily again when Cinder told them of his injured body after it, but was healed thanks to Lloyd when at the Temple of Light.
"I haven't told the others, but I can sense the Golden Power flowing through me. I don't know how, but I have to guess it's from my heritage as a Purple Dragon. Like with Aether, it can be used to create. But is the same or slightly lower power wise with Aether. But, compared to Aether, I can't really do much more than probably use it for defense." Cinder said
"Agreed. With the Dark One back you shouldn't practice wielding it. Best wait till he's gone." Wisp said and Cinder agreed with their statement. Then he treads over to the Monastery and enters, seeing Sensei's Wu and Garmadon, Nya, and P.I.X.A.L. at the computer.
"Any good news?"
"Yes, we got connected with the ninja. But at the moment they are chasing the Nindroids. They have the Golden Weapons." Nya said and the dragonet nodded and waited with the others for any feedback. An hour and half later Kai came on and his voice sounded strained and sad.
"They got away. We failed. I repeat, they got the Golden Weapons."
"Are you on the rocket? Can you stop them?" Nya questioned worriedly and scared.
"No. The ship is destroyed. We're not coming home." Kai said grimly
—
Cinder walks around the garden of Garmadon's monastery. After hearing that his brother and the other ninja didn't succeed in their mission of stopping the Nindroids and now stuck in space. He walked out of the room and went outside, needing to be alone and get some fresh air. He was worried for his brother and how he'll get back. Those alien insects have destroyed the ship and seen them trying to not get eaten by them. Then there's that the Overlord is going to become unstoppable once he has the Golden Weapons on him. He soon heard Ultra puzzled growl as he walked by. The dragonet turned and walked over to the white dragon and sat down. Ultra looked at him concerned and nuzzled him.
"You ok little one?" Wisp asked
Cinder sighed
"No, I'm just worried."
"Is it because of your brother?" Shard questioned
"Yes. I'm just worried about my brother. I know the others are up there as well. But I'm worried about his safety, like he's up in outer space." Cinder said
"He he he he... don't worry little one. He'll be alright, don't you worry." Rocky said and nuzzled him.
"O-ok." Cinder said with a soft smile. A few minutes later Nya came out of the monastery and walked over to the two dragons.
"Hey Cin!"
"Yes Nya?"
"We're getting ready to go to New Ninjago City."
"Huh? Why? I thought the ninja were stranded in space?"
"They were, but they have lifted off from the asteroid."
"What!? How?"
"No time explaining, we need to go now." Nya says and runs back inside to get into her Samurai suit. Cinder looked at Ultra and the white dragon chuckled.
"Well, you don't have to worry anymore little one. He's coming home." Flame
"Yeah." Cinder chuckled as he walked back to the monastery, Ultra following him.
"Would you need us to help against the menace?" Rocky asked and Cinder smiled.
"Yes, that would be great."
—
"I hate to bring this up now, but parachutes would've come in handy." Cole shouts
Cinder watched as five mini comets, each a color symbolizing a ninja, came down from space. He was on Ultra, who was holding his brother's vehicle in his claws. He could see that the city looked different now. It looked heavily fortified and all roads entering were closed off.
"Friends and family make a good substitute." Kai said
"Coordinating catch. Be on the lookout. Kai, go 56 degrees north, 12 east." P.I.X.A.L. said as Kai lands in his Fighter Jet. "Zane, you're next."
"Don't worry, I've got you." Zane said and lands in his NinjaCopter.
"Ninja, go!" Cole and Jay shouts as they land in their Earth Mech and Lightning off-roader, respectively. Lloyd uses his Green Ninja cycle. Cole sees Cinder with Ultra and smiles.
"Hey, the big guy came back to help bro?"
"He he... well I asked him after saving us. But yes he's joining the battle." Cinder said chuckling
"Welcome home, ninja." Wu said
"Brother, I can't remember the last time we fought together on the same team." Garmadon said
"I have the city in my sights." Zane said
"City? That's not a city, that's an impenetrable fortress!" Jay exclaims
"Behind that wall, the Golden Master has the power of the First Spinjitzu Master." Garmadon said
"Ninja, if you get this message, I've managed to escape and have found refuge within the Temple of Fortitude here in the city." Cyrus said
"Temple of Fortitude? That was left over from the Stone Wars. The Overlord used it as a stronghold against the power of the First Spinjitzu Master." Wu said with surprise in his voice.
"It has a sacred seal of protection that can resist the Golden Power. Very clever." Garmadon said impressed
"If you can make it here alive, I think I have a device that could defeat him." Cyrus said
"Then we have to get to that Temple. Everyone, stay together. Kai. You, Nya, Zane, and Cinder take the high road. We'll make our own road." Lloyd said
"I don't have time for finesse." Cole said and everyone took off. Cinder held onto Ultra as he flew towards the city, then going up once reaching the wall.
"Is that wall getting higher?" Nya asked
"It's just like the Digiverse. His turf, his rules." Zane said but they were able to get over the wall. Cinder looks at the damage the Overlord has caused.
"Jeez... the Overlord really did a total here. Going to take a while to fix all of this."
"The Temple's up ahead." Wu said, breaking Cinder off of the thought.
"Two down and moving onwards to the—AHH!" Nya says but gets hit by a flying car.
"Nya's down! I repeat, Nya's down!" Kai said
"I'm going back for her." Cole said
"No, I'll go back." Jay said
"Go back, and our probability to make it to the Temple exponentially diminishes." Zane stated
"This isn't about numbers, Zane. It's about family." Kai said
"Everyone else heads to the Temple, we'll go pick up Nya." Lloyd said
"We should help get her as well." Flame said and Cinder agreed and turned around. Cinder told them to go a different way because he could tell the Overlord was nearby, because of the power radiating off of him.
"I've got her. She's on the corner of Bradley Boulevard and—" Kai said as Cinder watched the five get hit, knocking them off their vehicles.
"Good call on that little one." Shard said as they flew around the buildings. Cinder watches as a giant Spinjitzu tornado appears and sees the ninja running.
"Come on, let's grab Nya." Cinder said and Ultra nodded. They turned around and flew where she crashed.
—-
"This is a complete mess." Nya said as she got up
"Now let's see if the little girl can fight without her big suit." Cryptor said laughing maniacally as Nya starts attacking Cryptor.
"You kick like a little girl." Cryptor sneered as he blocked it
"Oh, yeah? How's this for little?" Nya said as she tried to drop kicked him but blocked it. Nya tries to defeat Cryptor, but only to get overwhelmed and throw Nya to a wall.
"What is that perfume I smell? Fear?" Cryptor taunted
"Actually, it's called Damsel in Distress. But I don't think it suits me." Nya mocked
"You think you can mock me?" Cryptor
"LEAVE HER ALONE!"
"Huh?" Cryptor said before being hit by a beam of golden energy and hit the wall next to Nya. She turned her head to see Cinder landing after shooting the beam. She also sees Ultra landing as well and runs over to the dragonet.
"Thanks Cin." She said hugging him
"You're welcome. Now let's get to the others." Cinder said and she nodded
"Of course."
Cinder and Nya got on Ultra and took off towards the temple. Once seeing it they could see the Overlord and his army at the front of the temple, but the Overlord was in a three legged mech thing and oh boy was he terrifying. Suddenly the temple doors opened and the ninja came out doing Spinjitzu, and knocking Nindroids away.
"Better late than never! Go get 'em, ninja!" Nya shouted
"Go Ninja Go!" Cinder shouted too as the ninja went towards the Overlord, who moved back as his power wasn't effective against the armor they're wearing. After they left Ultra landed and the dragonet and Samurai got off and saw Cyrus and P.I.X.A.L.
"Hey, what we missed." Cinder asked and Cyrus explained the plan. It was effective: shrinking the Overlord down to the size of a mouse with a diet pill? Very ingenious and would end the Overlords reign. Cinder looks over and to his amazement he sees the Serpentine helping the citizens to escape to safety underground. Cinder looked at Nya.
"Let's get closer and see what we can do."
"Yes, let's do that. P.I.X.A.L., Cyrus, let's get closer to see this." Nya said and the four got on Ultra and took off. Seeing a building close to the battle, the white four headed dragon landed on it. The quartet got off and stood at the edge of the roof. What they saw was unexpected but bad. The ninja and two Sensei's were all trapped within strands of Golden Energy, but one ninja didn't get trapped: Zane. Cinder could see that the Overlord wasn't tiny but he saw a familiar white snake, but small, being chased by Zane's Falcon.
"Shoot, Pythor took the pill. Now the others are stuck."
"Now what." Nya said worried but Cyrus noticed something.
"Not all of them. Zane cleared it." He said but what would happen next would shake the team.
"The armor, why isn't it working?" Cole grunted
"Because your time is over!" Overlord yells with excitement
"Support me, friends, for one last time." Zane said as he jump over his teammates and Sensei's. He then touches the Golden Master's armor. "Let... my...friends... go!"
"Go where, doomed ninja?" Overlord sneered as then half of Zane's face tears off while he's overloading himself with the power. "The Golden Weapons are too powerful for you to behold. Your survival chance is zero!"
"This isn't about numbers. It's about family." Zane exclaims. Cinder watched as the strands holding the team were weakening from Zane holding onto the Overlord. Cinder looked at Nya with sadness.
"There's no way he's surviving this, is he?"
"No"
While below the others were panicking once being released.
"He's not letting go!" Lloyd said with fear.
"His heart! It's reaching critical mass!" Jay exclaims
"If his heart overloads, he'll blow! He'll never survive!" Cole shouts in dismay
"Let go of him, Zane! What is he doing?" Kai said desperately
"He's protecting us." Wu said with a grim look
"I AM A NINDROID, AND NINJA NEVER QUIT. GO, NINJA, GO!" Zane yells as he uses his Ice on the Golden Master.
"What are you doing?! Let me go, you fool!" Overlord yells in anger.
"No, Zane! Nooo!" Jay yells
"We have to get out of here now!" Wu exclaims and they go into a manhole.
"No!" Kai and Jay both shout as the manhole shuts
"No." P.I.X.A.L. said softly as the Golden Master explodes, millions of tiny ice shards going all over. Once the dust and shards cleared, Cinder looked at the scene in front of him. The area surrounding the battle was covered in ice, and smoke was emitting from a few buildings, but overall the battle was over and they won. But for the cost of losing a loved one sacrificing their life. The dragonet, Samurai, Android, and Inventor came down to the ground and saw Cole holding Zane's face plate that fell off. Nya have tears in her eyes seeing that and hugged him. Cinder sees Jay there but the blue ninja stop and let it be. He, on the other paw, was also sad with grief seeing that. He was only a dragonet, but he was 13 and just saw someone as a friend and teammate died in front of him.
—-
"I used to think technology would be the answer to all of our problems..." Cyrus said as the ninja, Nya, Cinder, Ultra, two Sensei's, and the citizens attended Zane's memorial. "...but then I saw technology invent new problems. Devastating problems. And then a Nindroid named Zane saved us all. He was the perfect balance between us and technology. He taught us that life should be a balance. Technology can improve our lives, but so can people. And if we focus on one at the expense of the other, that's when the balance is off. Our city will find its way again, but this time with Zane as our compass. With that, I give to you the Titanium Ninja." He concludes and uncloaks a statue of Zane. Everyone mourn quietly as the wind blow through the trees in the park.
"So, what happens after this?" Nya said quietly
"I don't know." Cole said
"And I don't care. Today's about Zane." Jay stated
"And now Kai would like to speak for those who knew him best." Cyrus says and moves back as the red ninja step up.
"Everyone wondered what powered Zane. I don't know if we'll ever know, but I'd like to think it was brotherhood. Because he powered me. And he'll still power me as his memory lives on. Ninja never quit, and ninja will never be forgotten. Wherever you are, Zane, you'll always be one of us." Kai saids as it started to snow.
Soon after the funeral, the team grouped up as everyone left. Cinder could see Kai had something to say.
"Guys... I think we should disband the team."
"What!? But Kai, why should we disband?" Lloyd asked
"Because to me, without Zane, I don't feel like staying in the team with him gone. I'm going off on my own." Kai states
"Me too." Jay agreed
"Me as well." Cole agreed
"Bro?" Cinder questions but was cut off
"Cin, please don't start as well. We all need time to heal and just get away from this." Jay said and walked away.
"Yeah, see you later too." Kai said and he left.
Cinder looked at his brother.
"Cole?"
"Sorry brother, I-I need to be alone and need time to think. I l-love you bro." Cole said quietly and he left too.
Cinder looked as his brother, Jay, and Kai left. Ultra coo'ed and nuzzled him to comfort him as tears fell from his eyes.
"Don't be upset little one. He'll come back, don't you worry." Rocky said
"Yeah... I hope so." Cinder said dejectedly as Nya walked over. She sat down next to the dragonet and hugged him.
"Well, at least we're still a team. It won't be easy, but we can still protect Ninjago. Just take it step by step." Nya said and Cinder nodded and smiled weakly
"Yeah, you're right. Right now, with them not coming back I'll have Ignitus help me with teaching me the elements I need working on, and also explore new areas I never been too. Ultra can come with me, me and him have our own fun exploring and he can give me info of the land. If that's fine Lloyd?"
"Sure, that's fine. But we'll give you a communicator. If I or the others need help." Lloyd said and Cinder nodded
"And I'll be there."
"Good, now let's go home. I need a warm shower from this."
—
Chapter 15 edit and spell checked