Chapter Text
Jay woke up with a start, heart pounding from a nightmare about that cursed ship—visions of being touched all over his body without consent, of relentless torture that never seemed to stop. His heart thudded unevenly in his chest, each beat a bitter reminder of the terror he had endured.
Nya had told him the nightmares wouldn’t vanish overnight, but they’d become more bearable over time.
Hopefully.
Glancing at the clock, he saw it was 8:00 and sighed. Master Wu would scold him for being late again, but Jay couldn’t help the nights when he’d wake up in the dead of night and just sit there, doing anything not to sleep again. For a moment, he lay still, eyes fixed on the ceiling, willing himself to believe it was just a nightmare. That he was safe now.
But the heaviness in his chest didn’t care.
He glanced at the clock again—8:20.
Had he really zoned out for twenty whole minutes?
Training started at 9:15. He still had time, but the minutes felt slippery, fragile, and far too few. Jay swung his legs over the side of the bed. The cool floor grounded him, though a tremor ran through his limbs.
He padded quietly toward the kitchen, where the warm scent of pancakes wrapped around him like a delicate thread of comfort. Zane was at the stove. Probably Cole had asked him to make breakfast. Jay glanced to the left and saw Cole, Kai, and Lloyd already awake, chatting softly around the table.
Zane handed him a plate of pancakes with a warm smile that said ‘good morning’ without needing any words. Jay accepted it with weary eyes and gave a faint smile that didn’t quite reach his cheeks. He sat down at the table.
The moment he did, Kai grinned at him smugly.
“Morning, sleepyhead.”
Jay rolled his eyes, the corners of his mouth tugging into a tired but knowing smile “Morning, flamethrower,” he replied dryly.
It was the nickname Kai had proudly coined for himself years ago—according to him, it made him sound dangerous, explosive, undeniably cool. To everyone else, it sounded like something a five-year-old would name their pet lizard. Kai, of course, just grinned even wider.
Jay’s gaze flicked to Cole, who was absolutely demolishing his pancakes—knife in one hand, fork in the other, attacking each bite with unsettling precision. When it came to food, Cole was surprisingly ruthless.
Jay didn’t have much of an appetite himself, but he took a bite anyway—more out of appreciation for Zane’s effort than hunger.
Then—
As Cole lifted his knife to slice another piece, his hand slipped slightly, and a sharp sting broke the morning calm.
He hissed under his breath, glancing down to see a thin line of blood seeping from a small cut on his finger.
Well—Jay would’ve been screaming and panicking to help if he hadn’t already survived what Nya refers to as Skybound. Cuts like that barely registered then.
“Ah, damn it,” Cole muttered, bringing his finger to his mouth to stop the bleeding.
Kai shot him an exasperated look, like this had happened before, and smirked. “What’d you expect? You eat like a wild animal. Accidents like this are part of the experience.”
The table broke into quiet laughter.
“I’ll get a bandage,” Lloyd said, already up and heading to the cupboard.
Cole gave him a thankful glance, then looked back at his bleeding finger with a sheepish grin. “Guess I got a little too hungry.”
Jay rolled his eyes, grabbing a napkin.
“Here—let me help before you start a war with the kitchen.”
As Cole pressed the napkin to the cut, Zane walked over and offered a bandage decorated with tiny cartoon animals.
“Lloyd said this might come in handy,” he said with a faint smile.
Kai immediately burst into laughter while Cole let out a half-laugh, glaring at Lloyd—who was already stifling a giggle in the corner.
Suddenly, Master Wu’s voice echoed across the training grounds, sharp and commanding:
“Ninja!”
Lloyd perked up, flashing a grin. “Training time, everyone!”
The team stood and began heading outside. Nya joined them shortly after, freshly woken, rubbing the sleep from her eyes but alert nonetheless. She probably hadn’t slept well either.
Wu stood before them, expression solemn.
“Today’s mission will be unlike any other,” he said. “We have little intel. No solid leads. We must work as one, move as one. Failure is not an option. It will be difficult—more than anything you’ve faced before.”
Believe me, I’ve faced worse.
Jay shook his head subtly, trying to clear away the thoughts clawing at the edges of his focus.
Wu continued, “The only thing we know is that the mission will take place at a newly established Vengestone Stronghold. It will be heavily guarded, and the path to their leaders is patrolled by Samurai.”
The words hung heavy in the air—thick with tension, but energizing.
With a nod, training commenced.
Lloyd turned toward his team, eyes sharp.
“Kai, you’re paired with Jay. Cole’s with Nya. I’ll spar with Zane. And remember—no elemental powers.”
Jay could practically feel Lloyd’s eyes pause on him during that last sentence.
Sure, Jay might’ve… accidentally blown up some equipment recently, but come on—Zane said it wasn’t a big deal. Mostly.
Kai and Jay squared off in the courtyard. The sun warmed the stone under their feet, but Jay’s mind was still clouded by the nightmare.
Jay lunged forward first, fist crackling faintly with electricity. A surge slipped out before he could stop it. Thinking of it doesn’t help, Jay. He reminded himself and he clenched his teeth, forcing the energy back down like a caged storm.
He had to push it down. He had to keep it in.
Kai countered with a sweep. Jay stumbled, barely blocking it—his balance tipping, but he caught himself. His shoes scraped against the stone of the training yard, and he breathed in sharply, grounding himself. He needed to try harder .
Jay narrowed his eyes, ducked under Kai’s next strike, and slipped behind him. One swift motion—and he swept Kai’s leg out from under him.
Kai hit the ground with a grunt.
Jay immediately reached out a hand, panting to catch his breath. “You good?”
Kai looked at the offered hand, then at Jay’s small, smug grin. But Kai’s ego was far too big to accept help.
“I don’t need help getting up,” he muttered, pushing himself upright and brushing off his pants.
Jay just smirked and shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
A single clap snapped their attention toward Master Wu, who was now approaching.
“That’s enough. Take a break, both of you,” he said as Kai and Jay shared glances.
They retreated to the edge of the training yard. Jay grabbed two water bottles, tossing one to Kai.
“Nice dodge,” Kai admitted after a moment.
“Even if you almost faceplanted first.”
Jay snorted mid-sip. “Balance is overrated.”
They drank quietly, the breeze brushing against their sweat-damp skin. Jay’s head spun slightly. His vision blurred, just for a second. He blinked it away.
Jay stepped out of his room, freshly dressed, towel slung around his neck. The soft chatter of the others echoed through the hall. As he passed the main room, he spotted Cole sprawled across the couch, a controller in hand.
“Hey,” Cole called. “You in?”
Jay paused.
“Alright, but I’m warning you—I’m going to destroy you.”
A real smile tugged at his lips for the first time that day.
Cole scooted over with a smug grin as Jay dropped down beside him. The game started—bright colors, fast moves, familiar buttons—and for a while, games were the only thing to keep Jay distracted from his thoughts.
Then a hand tapped Jay’s shoulder. Zane stood behind him, voice calm and even as always.
“Jay,” Zane said. “Apologies for the interruption, but I require your assistance.”
Jay turned halfway. “With what?”
“I have reviewed the weapon systems you were constructing yesterday,” Zane continued, tone precise. “Given the parameters of today’s mission and the potential threat level, I came to the conclusion that the weapons would help increase team efficiency if those modifications are completed and deployed.”
Jay blinked. “Oh. Right, the prototype grapplers.”
“Affirmative,” Zane replied with a small nod. “Would you be willing to resume your work?”
Jay glanced over at Cole, who was already mid-game, frowning like a disappointed puppy.
“But- you just got here,” Cole muttered.
Jay shrugged, rising to his feet and handing over the controller to Cole, who snatched it with a frown. “Sorry Cole, duty calls. Though I will get you next time.” Jay said as he made gun hands aiming at Cole with a broad smile.
In defense, Cole laughed. “In your dreams.” as he continued his game.
He turned down the hall, footsteps slow, hands shoved deep into his pockets. For a moment, he just stared at the floor as he walked, trying to steady his breathing. The hallway light flickered above him—once, twice. He looked up at it absently, then blinked and looked away, jaw tightening.
He felt weird today.
Jay entered his workshop and quickly began sorting through the scattered tools and half-finished gadgets littering the workbench. The air smelled faintly of metal and ozone, a familiar comfort that eased some of the weight pressing down on his chest .
Time slipped away quickly. The sun dipped lower on the horizon, casting the sky in fading shades of orange and indigo. The team had changed into their gear, suited up and armed.
There were no jokes this time, no casual chatter—only the hum of tension between them and the sound of blades being checked, masks being pulled up.
Jay tightened the last strap on his gauntlet, hands trembling faintly.
This was it.
Master Wu stood at the front gates, nodding once. “Be careful. We don’t know what awaits you. Stick together.”
They nodded back. No one said a word.
The mission took them to the outskirts of Ninjago—deep into industrial zones long abandoned, where the buildings leaned like rotted teeth and the wind whistled too quiet. The base was tucked into a complex of old factories and towers, a fortress of steel and stone.
They approached on silent feet, grappling up the rooftops under cover of darkness. Jay went last, like always. He preferred it that way because easier to watch everyone’s backs. Easier to keep track of what’s happening.
Once they reached the top, they crouched near the edge, peering down into the courtyard below. Guards patrolled the grounds—armored figures with glowing visors and sharpened weapons. Too many of them. Even for six ninja.
Cole murmured under his breath, “We’re gonna have to go loud, aren’t we?”
“No choice,” Lloyd whispered. “We take out the outer guard first, then breach from the roof on my mark.”
Jay's heart beat louder than the guards' footsteps below. He flexed his fingers, sparks twitching beneath the surface.
Ninja didn’t care about stealth, dropping in the moment Lloyd signaled. The fight began in a blink— Everyone picking their own group of thugs as they swayed their weapons.
The team fought in sync, changing their opponents, dodging and helping each other. Jay tried to release the energy inside him but it couldn’t flow, only letting small amounts of electricity to pass through.
There were crates full of Vengestone here, the other Ninja probably has a hard time using their powers too.
They cleared the first wave, panting, bruised, but standing.
Then they climbed.
Cole hoisted a rooftop hatch open, and one by one, they descended into the main hall.
Jay of course landed last.
His boots hit the cold steel, and for a moment, the clang echoed too loud in the dead space. The others were already fanning out into formation—Kai and Cole on the front, Zane and Lloyd on opposite flanks, Nya at the rear, scanning for anything out of place.
The room they entered was vast and dimly lit. Red lights blinked weakly along the high walls like failing veins. The air stank of rust, dust, and something older—like dried blood in metal halls. There’s way more Vengestone crates here, alright . His lightning itched beneath his skin—alive, angry, wanting to move. But the closer he got to the walls, the more it sank like dead weight in his chest.
He clenched his fists, but it only made his fingers tremble.
“Stick close,” Lloyd whispered. His voice bounced against the walls. Suddenly Lloyd stopped dead in his tracks.
“Cover!” he shouted.
Three silhouettes emerged from the far side of the chamber. One drew twin blades in a smooth, practiced arc. The second spun a long, spiked polearm with a deadly rhythm. The third stood unarmed but wide and tall, with fists like stone blocks and armor that creaked under its own weight.
But Jay’s gaze drifted past them.
At the very back of the room, shadowed against the wall—still, partially hidden in shadow. Unlike the others, he didn’t move. He just watched.
Jay’s breath caught for a moment. That one wasn’t here to fight. He was just... observing.
Jay could feel his eyes burning through his skull , making Jay look away as soon as their eyes met.
“Go!” Kai shouted, already charging in.
The battle ignited instantly. Cole was against the brute, both trying to punch each others faces.
Lloyd took on the spear-user. His green energy flickered once—then vanished completely in the presence of Vengestone. All he had now was agility and instinct.
Jay spun into the fight. His nunchucks whipped through the air—fast, clean. The weight of them felt heavier than usual, as if even his weapons were tired. He ducked under the swing of a sword, leapt off a crate, struck hard—and—
No lightning. Not even a whisper.
But the pressure inside him grew. Like his powers were pushing against something they couldn’t get past. It ached under his ribs.
Crawled up his spine. He wanted to release it—but the Vengestone suffocated the charge before it could escape.
Jay barely registered what was happening as he came face-to-face with the Samurai, whose throwing daggers sliced through the air and grazed his skin just as he tried to dodge.
He gasped once, mid-spin, and faltered. His foot caught the edge of a broken pipe. His vision flickered.
A bloody scream echoed through the air. Jay spun toward the sound.
Lloyd was down on one knee, gripping his arm. His face contorted in pain, eyes squeezed shut. His forearm bent wrong. The fighter with the twin blades stood above him, swinging his weapon down again.
“No!” Jay surged forward.
But Cole beat him to it—slamming his shoulder into the attacker, knocking them off balance. Lloyd fell backward, clutching his broken arm with a choked gasp. Nya rushing to Lloyd and examining his arm to help in any way.
“Lloyd’s down!” Cole shouted.
Jay nodded, throat tight. He moved to cover Lloyd as Kai clashed hard with the spear-user.
But—
He didn’t notice the sword-user had switched targets.
Jay saw the glint of metal. The upward swing.
And the sword drove straight into Cole’s gut.
Time slowed.
Cole’s eyes went wide. His breath hitched—like the wind had been ripped clean out of him.
Jay's scream caught in his throat as Cole stumbled back, clutching the blade that was still buried halfway in. Blood bloomed dark against his black suit.
He looked up at Jay, just once. His lips moved like he wanted to say something.
But nothing came.
In a flash, the blade pulled free as Cole collapsed, holding his Gi ever so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
“COLE!” Nya’s voice broke, raw with shock. But the fight didn’t stop. The Samurai didn’t give them time.
Zane ran towards Cole, kneeling beside him as he tried to apply pressure on the wound. Nya tried to drag Lloyd to cover. Kai roared, charging with reckless abandon. Jay could hear Kai cursing as he managed to keep up the fight with the only hope that Cole could be saved.
Jay sprinted to him, barely dodging a spear swipe. Jay dropped to his knees beside Cole, hands shaking.
“Cole—no, no—”
He barely got the name out.
Cole’s eyes were wide and unfocused. His breath hitched once—then stopped.
“Vital signs unresponsive. Immediate care required. I… cannot stabilize him.”
Jay stared at the blood pooling beneath his hands. His vision blurred. Jay pressed his hands over the wound, but it was useless. Cole wasn’t moving. He wasn’t there anymore. He looked up at Zane, who was staring at Cole with pure fear in his eyes.
Behind him, metal scraped. Another blade being drawn.
“Jay!” Nya shouted.
Jay didn’t flinch. His eyes locked on Cole’s pale face.
This isn’t real. This can’t be real.
But it was. And he was too late.
Then—
A high-pitched ding .
Jay froze. A clock?
Four chimes of the clock echoed through the walls. The room seemed to blur at the edges. The red lights flickered violently. A screeching sound filled the room—growing louder and louder until it drowned out the fight, the shouting, even his thoughts.
The figure in the shadows was still watching him with a smug grin on his face.
Jay felt like he couldn’t breathe as darkness was all left to be seen.