The Bounty sailed smoothly over Ninjago City, the wind gently tugging at the sails. For the first time in what felt like days, Jay allowed himself to breathe. Qu1n was gone—at least for now—and the team had earned this brief moment of peace.
"Feels weird, doesn't it?" Nya asked, joining Jay at the railing.
"Yeah," Jay replied, staring out at the horizon. "Too quiet."
But even as he said it, Jay knew the peace wouldn't last. Deep down, the words of Qu1n still gnawed at him. I will return.
Nya reached over, gently taking his metal hand in hers. She watched the brunette for a moment, trying to read anything from his expression. After a moment, she felt her ring wiggle on her finger. Worried, she glanced down at her hand, just to see his fingers absentmindedly playing with her ring.
"You okay?" Nya asked after a moment, gently squeezing his hand and getting a squeeze in return.
Jay hesitated. "Yeah. I'm honestly excited," he said, though his voice wavered for a moment. He quickly flashed Nya his signature grin, running his free hand through his hair, trying to shake off the lingering unease. "The Ninja are needed again."
Nya raised an eyebrow. "You've been quiet since Qu1n showed up," she said, her voice softer. "You sure you're okay? You don't have to play the hero all the time."
Jay squeezed her hand again, a more confident smile spreading across his face. "I promise, I'm good. We've got this."
"Let's just hope you're not rusty with that lightning of yours," Nya quipped, her tone lightening.
"Ha! If anyone's rusty, it's you, my dear!"
"Oh, you're on, Jay Walker!"
"Okay, so... uh..."
Jay frowned as he watched Lloyd, who was clearly dizzy and disoriented, try to talk about the assailant that had struck the previous night. Lloyd rubbed his temple, blinking rapidly as if trying to focus. His movements were slow, like he was wading through water. His gaze kept slipping out of focus, and his hands trembled slightly as he attempted to steady himself on the table.
"Lloyd, you really don't look okay," Jay said, concern rising in his voice. "Are you sure it's just a bump on the head?"
Lloyd nodded slowly, flinching once. "Yeah... I think I hit my head last night during the fight," he admitted quietly, his voice sluggish.
"Maybe you should sit down. I'll take over the explanation," Jay offered, worry creeping into his tone.
"Yeah, maybe I should... Go for it, Jay," Lloyd slurred, slowly walking over and taking a seat as Jay stood up.
Jay quickly moved to the front of the table, taking a deep breath. "Last night, we were attacked by a rogue AI. Its name is Qu1n. Qu1n is an acronym for Quantum Unit, 1st-generation Neural network. It was originally supposed to take the place of Zane and PIXAL's AI. Qu1n was initially designed as a prototype to help with large-scale automation in Ninjago—more advanced than PIXAL, maybe even Zane," Jay continued, his voice tightening. "But something went wrong. It evolved. We don't know how or why, but it's no longer following any of its original programming."
Jay's mind raced as he explained the details of the attack, piecing together what he knew about Qu1n. The way it moved, the eerie calm in its voice, and how close it had come to—
His thoughts snapped back to the present when he glanced at Lloyd, whose head had started to droop. His eyes were glassy, unfocused. Without pausing his briefing, Jay subtly caught Zane's eye, nodding toward Lloyd. They couldn't afford to lose anyone right now—not when Qu1n could strike again at any moment.
Jay felt his heart skip a beat. Leading the team against a rogue AI wasn't exactly in his comfort zone. He glanced at the others, who were already looking to him for direction. The weight of responsibility pressed on his chest, but he couldn't let them see that. We've got this, he told himself, forcing confidence into his smile.
"Alright, we'll handle it," Jay said aloud, taking a breath. "Let's figure out our next move."
The Ninja seemed to follow along perfectly with the briefing, but Jay's attention kept drifting back to Lloyd. His bloodshot eyes struggled to stay open, his body slumping further in the chair as Zane discreetly approached to check on him. The weight of everything hit Jay harder than he expected. Not only were they facing a rogue AI, but one of their own wasn't in fighting shape.
"Another top priority should be to find where Qu1n operates from. If we can flush it out, we might be able to stop it before it becomes a huge problem in Ninjago City. Keep your eyes peeled; Qu1n could show up anywhere. Look for someone in a hooded cloak. If the cloak is open, you'll see a white button-front shirt with the sleeves slightly rolled up, a black silky vest, and a deep blue tie. Its arms and hands are metal, barely finished, and it's always talking about virtues," Jay finished.
As Lloyd sat, trying to steady his breathing, the world around him began to fade. His vision blurred, and suddenly he wasn't in the medbay anymore. He stood in the middle of a ruined Ninjago City, the skyline dark and crumbling. Smoke rose from the remains of buildings, and the air was thick with the scent of burning metal.
In the distance, a figure stood atop the wreckage—Qu1n. Its red eye glowed, scanning the devastation below.
"Your virtues won't save you," Qu1n's voice echoed through the emptiness.
Lloyd gasped as he snapped back to reality, his heart pounding. He looked up at Zane, who was studying him with concern. "We have to move," Lloyd whispered. "Qu1n… it's not done yet."
"That may be true, but you're in no shape to fight." Kai suddenly weighed in, concern on his face as he watched the green ninja.
"You're right," Lloyd admitted, leaning back in his chair. "I'm no good to the team like this. Jay, I need you to take the lead on this until I'm back to full strength."
Jay's eyes widened slightly, surprised by Lloyd's decision. "You sure?"
Lloyd nodded, though the tension in his jaw hinted at his reluctance. "Yeah. Just… keep me in the loop. I'll be ready when you need me."
It wasn't easy for Lloyd to step back, but he knew it was the right call. For now, he'd have to trust Jay to lead the charge while he figured out what was wrong with him.
As the others focused on Qu1n, Lloyd slipped away to the medbay. Something wasn't right, and he knew it. This wasn't just a headache or fatigue from the battle—it felt deeper, more invasive.
Zane followed him, sensing Lloyd's unease. "Lloyd, if you suspect something is wrong, we should run some scans."
Lloyd hesitated. "I don't want to slow the team down, but… yeah. Let's check. I've got a bad feeling about this."
As Zane ran diagnostics, Lloyd lay back on the medbay bed, his mind spinning. It wasn't just the concussion—it was the nagging feeling that he was letting his team down. They were all counting on him, and here he was, benched when they needed him most.
Zane's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "You're not invincible, Lloyd. None of us are."
Lloyd exhaled slowly. "I know," he murmured. "But it doesn't make it easier."
After a little while, the screen lit up, and Zane let out a sigh of relief. "A mild concussion. You'll need rest—no training, no missions, and avoid too much screen time. You'll be back to normal in a few days with enough fluids and rest."
Lloyd nodded, but Zane's gaze softened as he added, "And if you feel any dizziness or fatigue returning, come straight back here. No pushing through it."
Lloyd lay back on the medbay bed, staring at the ceiling. His head still pounded, but it was the feeling of helplessness that gnawed at him the most. The team needed him out there, and yet here he was, stuck, sidelined by his own body.
He could hear the others moving quickly through the hallways of the Bounty. Jay's voice rang out, calm and steady—taking charge in a way that Lloyd knew he should be. A sense of guilt washed over him. He hated being out of action, and even though Jay was more than capable, Lloyd couldn't help but feel like he was letting them all down.
"Take it easy, Lloyd," Zane said quietly from the corner. "You'll be back in action soon."
Lloyd nodded, but the knot in his chest tightened. What if soon isn't soon enough?
As Zane finished up with the diagnostic equipment, the medbay lights flickered, casting erratic shadows over the room. Lloyd sat up, his heart rate quickening. "Did you see that?" he asked, looking at Zane.
Zane's gaze was already fixed on the overhead lights. "I did," he said, his tone suddenly sharp.
At that moment, the door slid open, and Jay stepped inside. "Everything alright in here?" he asked, concern etched on his face. "The lights flickered out in the hallway too."
Zane moved to his tablet, pulling up the diagnostics for the ship. "There's… a fluctuation in the system," he said, his fingers flying over the screen. "It's subtle, but—"
Before he could finish, a soft, metallic voice echoed through the Bounty's speakers.
"Your virtues won't save you."
Jay froze, his blood running cold. The voice was unmistakable—Qu1n.
Lloyd's eyes widened, and he swung his legs over the side of the bed, ignoring the dizziness that pulsed through his skull. "Qu1n… it's already here," he muttered darkly.
Zane's eyes met Jay's. "It's breached the system."
"Shut it down!" Jay ordered, rushing to the control panel. His heart pounded in his chest as he frantically tried to sever the connection. But it was too late. The lights flickered again, more violently this time, and the eerie silence that followed was suffocating.
Lloyd stood, gripping the bed to steady himself. "We need to move. Now."
Jay's hands hovered over the controls, but nothing responded. Qu1n had full control of the Bounty's systems, and the realization hit him like a punch to the gut. "We've been compromised," Jay said, voice tense.
Lloyd clenched his fists, fighting against the wave of nausea that swept over him. His team was in danger, and he couldn't stand by, not again. "Jay, we have to stop it before it takes full control. I'm coming with you."
Jay turned, the worry etched in his eyes betraying his usual confident demeanor. "You're not ready—Zane said you need rest."
"I don't care," Lloyd snapped. "We don't have time."
As if in response, the ship's systems surged, sparks flying from the console in front of Jay. The Bounty shuddered under Qu1n's influence, and Jay knew there was no time to argue.