Beep. Beep. Beep.
Garmadon shifted, eye squeezing shut tighter for a moment. Wait… Everything…there was the smell of…chemicals.
What…?
He blinked, opening his eye, and stared blearily above him. Everything was blurry for a moment, until he blinked again, and it cleared a little.
Then he winced. His head was pounding madly…
Wait, where am I…?
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The sound of repetitive "beeping" rang in his ear, and he winced again.
The white ceiling shown down almost brightly.
Wait, white?
His eye widened. He stiffened, glancing around in alarm. Where…?
The room was small, everything painted white. A wooden door was on his right, and a large window was on his left. It…overlooked the city…?
Garmadon abruptly sat up, heart starting to pound.
Ichor—
No, no, this couldn't be Ichor's…but…
Where am I…?
He took a trembling gasp, gaze snapping around. He glanced down at his arm—
Garmadon started, jerking back. What—?
He ripped the transparent, thin tube thing out of his arm. His arm now throbbed a little, but he surprisingly didn't feel much pain right now…
Wait, what?
He blinked. He…he didn't hurt very much anymore…
Then he shook his head, stumbling off the bed. He almost collapsed to the floor when his right leg gave way, but he managed to stumble over to the window and hold himself up. He squinted out at the city. Borg Tower sat a ways away, the tall, monumental structure overlooking the city. Looking down, he saw a parking lot, and a busy street ahead. People were walking on the sidewalks.
He stumbled back from the window. Where am I…?!
His breath came in sharp gasps.
Ichor isn't here—!
This was not Ichor's. It…it didn't look right…
But where else could he be?
The door suddenly opened.
Garmadon gasped in fear, stumbling back into the window.
The person paused. They wore a blue outfit, a mask hanging from their neck. They held a clipboard in one hand.
"You're awake. Um…that's good." The person walked in, a man.
Garmadon tried to back away, eye wide, but he was already pressed against the window.
The man paused again. "Er…are you alright…?"
He just stared at him silently, breath coming in sharp gasps now.
He couldn't breathe again—
The man glanced at his arm, where he'd pulled out the tube thing. "Um…what happened to your IV?"
A surge of power threatened to escape Garmadon's hands. He shook his head, vision blurring. "No, where am I what's going on who are you—?!"
The man took a step back, hands raised, one still holding the clipboard. "It's alright, I won't hurt you. You're at the Ninjago City Hospital."
Garmadon blinked uncomprehendingly. He abruptly shook his head, looking around again. There was a beeping machine by the bed, blinking lights on it. And on the other side of the bed was a…pole, thing. With a transparent bag…?
Ichor—
Only Ichor's would have something like this, he had to be back there, there was no other explanation—
He took in a shuddering breath. "No, no no no you're with them—"
Ichor must have finally taken me back—
The man blinked. "Excuse me?"
"You're one of them—"
The man looked confused.
Another person peeked their head in, dressed similarly to the first. It was a women. "Joe, what's going on?"
"Um…he's awake, but he's…"
The women looked at Garmadon. She frowned. "I see…um…have you tried giving him a sedative to help him calm down?"
The man—Joe, apparently—shook his head. "No, I just walked in." He walked slowly over to Garmadon, hands raised once more.
Garmadon backed away in alarm, crashing into the pole and the other…machine thing…he hadn't notice before.
"It's alright, we're here to help. We're doctors."
The women came slowly over as well. "Yes, we're going to give you a sedative, alright? It will help you relax."
Sedative?! That's the last thing he wanted! Garmadon shook his head, breathing hard. His power appeared in his hands.
Both doctors froze, fearful looks coming onto their faces.
I'm sorry—
He hated using his power but he didn't know what was going on and it was just happening—
Garmadon tried to back further away, but the machine was behind him. He was cornered.
The women took a step back. "Joe…I think we should get someone from his family to help…"
Joe nodded nervously. "I think you're right…"
They both slowly backed away, then bolted out the door, closing it. Garmadon didn't miss the lock click into place.
I'm trapped.
"He's an elemental…"
The voices of the two floated through the door.
"I know…I heard Margaret say he's Garmadon."
"Garmadon? He doesn't look like Garmadon…"
"But his power! It's the same as on the Colossus!"
There was silence for a moment.
"Um…go get…I think the ninja are waiting down there. I'll stay here and make sure he doesn't hurt anyone…and that he doesn't hurt himself."
"Okay…be careful."
Footsteps hurried away.
Garmadon watched the door for a moment, then turned to the window, feeling the edges. There had to be way out…
He felt all around, looking the window over…but there was nothing.
No no no—
Garmadon pulled at the edges instead, tugging vainly. There had to be a way out!
There has to be…
He banged on the window once. The glass didn't budge. He could probably break it…couldn't he? Or would the door be easier? He looked down, at the sidewalk below. There was no way down even if he did break it…
He whipped around towards the door, breath coming faster now. He sucked in a strained gasp, vision blurring again. Everything grew hazy as panic started settling in.
I can't be back, I can't I can't I can't—
I said I would never go back!
A whimper escaped him. He didn't know where he was. What was going on.
How did I even get here?
Was this even Ichor's? The city…he was in the city…
Had Ichor moved his lab?
He rubbed his left arm, finally realizing it was in a sling. What…?
He took another shuddering breath, sinking to the floor in the corner, on the other side of the bed. Out of sight of the door.
I don't know what's happening—
Wu stood, still watching the doors. It had been about ten minutes since they'd gotten an update on Garmadon. Soon, supposedly, they'd be able to see him…
He sighed, gripping his staff tightly. He didn't know what to think…the fact that his brother had been tortured was…horrific. He couldn't get his mind off of it. All of his behavior for the last week and half was suddenly making more sense, now…if he really had been tortured.
Either way, though…whatever had happened must have been pretty horrific, then. They'd gotten interrogated before, during the war. They'd been tortured—pretty lightly, he would say—so Garmadon wasn't new to it.
So…what exactly had happened to leave him so…vulnerable? Lost?
And dare he say, broken?
Had…someone managed to actually break his brother? He…found he didn't know.
"Master Wu?"
Someone was suddenly walking towards him.
Wu turned.
Lloyd was immediately at his side, and Misako and the ninja soon gathered as well.
The women paused, expression nervous, and with a fearful look in her eyes.
"Yes?" Wu asked. "Is…this about Garmadon?" Something was wrong…he could see it.
She swallowed. "Um…yes."
"What is it?"
"He's…awake, now. He woke up a few minutes ago. But…he won't calm down."
Wu frowned worriedly—but was relieved his brother was awake.
"We…were hoping you could help?"
He immediately nodded. "Of course." He looked at the ninja and Misako. "Stay here, I'll be back."
Misako looked worried. Lloyd's jaw was clenched.
The doctor nodded, then walked back they way she'd come.
Wu followed her, taking a breath. He hoped his brother was okay…
Garmadon sat on the floor, trembling, with his knees to his chest. Sounds came from outside his room, confusing and muted.
Everything was confusing.
Where am I?
His shaking hadn't stopped, and neither had his shuddering gasps for air.
He still wasn't sure if he was at Ichor's or…somewhere else. But the people had masks and blue outfits, and that sent fear through him. This was a lab of some sort, at least.
And therefore, dangerous.
Ichor was probably close by, watching, waiting—
He shuddered again, sucking in a breath. He blinked back tears, trying in vain to stay calm.
What if he—
The click of the lock sounded.
Garmadon stiffened.
The door opened, then closed.
"Garmadon…?"
Wu…?
There was a brief silence—then footsteps came his way.
Wu walked around the bed…then paused, spotting him. There was a look of relief on his face—and then he looked concerned. "Brother…?"
Garmadon stared at him, trying to scoot back—but he couldn't anymore. His back was pressed against the machine.
"Are…you alright?"
He didn't reply.
"Garmadon? What's wrong, brother?" Wu took a step towards him.
He shrunk away, taking another shuddering gasp. "Where am I? What's going on?"
Wu paused again. "You're at the Ninjago City Hospital. You were injured, remember?"
Garmadon squinted. He shook his head, the panic still gripping him. He sucked in a breath, putting his head in his arms.
"Brother?" Wu came closer to him, slowly.
He tensed, head snapping up, and leaned away from him.
Wu stopped, then knelt a few feet from him. "Garmadon, it's going to be alright. You're in the Ninjago City Hospital—"
Hospital?
Wait, what…?
Wu moved closer again. "Remember?"
Garmadon watched him, then shook his head.
Wu paused, then finally went over to him.
Garmadon flinched back—
Panic—
Wu put a hand on his shoulder. "It's alright, just try to breathe. You're safe. Can you tell me what's wrong?"
He sucked in a breath.
"Garmadon?"
He shook his head, looking around. "Where am I…?"
"The…Ninjago City Hospital…I just told you that." Wu frowned worriedly.
Garmadon frowned in confusion. "The…what…?"
"Are you alright?"
He shook his head again, staring at Wu. "I…" He sucked in another breath.
Wu sighed, then sat next to him. "It'll be alright…just try to breathe."
Garmadon stared at him uncertainly.
"How are you feeling?"
Anxious. Confused. What is going on…?
Wu watched him. "You're safe, alright?"
He didn't reply.
"Why are you so nervous?"
"I…I don't know what's going on…"
Wu frowned. "Do…you remember what happened?"
Happened…?
There was the sudden screech of wheels—
Bam!
There was a crack—
Then his eye widened.
LLOYD—!
He shot to his feet so fast he almost fell onto Wu.
Wu quickly stumbled to his feet. "Garmadon, what—"
"Lloyd! Is he okay? Where is he? What happened? I pushed him is he okay please—"
Wu raised a hand, then set it on his shoulder. "Wait, slow down, brother. It's alright, Lloyd is fine." He smiled a little. "You saved him, alright? He's fine."
Garmadon stared at him. "I… He's okay?"
Wu nodded. "Yes, he's fine. He wasn't injured at all."
A wave of dizziness came over him, and he looked away, blinking. He's okay…he's okay… He sucked in a breath, relief flooding him.
He felt Wu's gaze on him.
Garmadon sucked in another breath. His gaze traveled over the room again. His chest tightened. Wait…where was he…?
"The…hospital…?"
Wu frowned. "Um…yes. You're at the hospital."
What? The…the… Another wave of relief seemed to come over him. Ichor isn't here…this isn't Ichor's…I'm fine…
Garmadon bit his lip, blinking rapidly. "Why…why am I here…?"
"Um…that car hit you. You were injured. Someone called an ambulance, and you were brought here."
Garmadon blinked. Car…? "Why was I brought here?"
"Um…because you were injured…?"
"Yes…but…why…?" Garmadon shook his head in confusion. "You…you said Lloyd was fine? He's okay?"
"Yes. He's fine…"
Garmadon bit his lip again. "I…can you get Ochre…?"
"Ochre?"
"Yes…"
"Um…I'm not sure if he's allowed in here…but I'll ask."
Garmadon nodded. "Thank you…"
Wu was silent for a moment. "I… Lloyd…isn't doing too well…"
Garmadon's head snapped towards him. "What? I thought you said he was fine?"
"I…know. Physically, he's fine. I mean…emotionally. Mentally."
He blinked. "What do you mean…?"
"He…feels guilty. About what happened."
"What? Why?"
"I don't know…he thinks it's his fault you got hurt. The ninja, Misako, and I tried to tell him it wasn't, but…he doesn't believe us."
Garmadon frowned. Of course he's blaming himself… He winced. That's probably my fault."I…can I see him?"
Wu smiled a little. "Yes. Of course."
He nodded, jaw clenching. He also wanted to…make sure he was really okay. To see with his own eyes. Because the last thing he remembered was his head hitting something, and then everything went black. Lloyd…he just knew he'd pushed him. He hadn't seen anything after that…
"I'll go talk to the doctors about Ochre, and I'll tell Lloyd you want to see him, alright?"
Garmadon nodded. "Thank you…"
Wu nodded back. "Will…you be alright, here?"
He bit his lip. I don't know. "I…yes."
His brother eyed him uncertainly. Then he finally nodded again, turning.
Garmadon watched him walk over to the door, open it, and disappear out. The door was shut behind him, but he didn't hear a lock click into place this time…
He sucked in a breath. It would be fine. He would be fine…
Lloyd.
He hoped his son was alright. Wu said he was. Except…for emotionally.
Why is he blaming himself…?
Garmadon shook his head. He didn't know. But…his son was prone to thinking like that.
Just like him…
But no. He had reason to blame himself. Most thing were his fault…
Oh, Lloyd…I am so sorry…
He bit his lip, blinking.
I am so sorry…