4. Dark Sides: Rise of the Anacondrai

Chapter 19 - Family Stuff

The group that had been sent out to retrieve the Anacondrai returned to the warehouse in defeat. From the sound of it, they had put up quite a fight, but even with their elemental powers starting to return, they still couldn't match Clouse's magic.

Even though the Alliance finally knew where Chen's base was, Garmadon had decided that they couldn't stage an attack yet. Cole wasn't very pleased with the thought of taking orders from him and had half a mind to make his own strike. Still, Garmadon was right that they weren't ready for it. Even if and when their elemental powers returned in full, they would need a pretty solid plan to hold their own against Chen's army.

Not to mention that little problem of Master Wu's new mission to kidnap the kid. Cole hadn't even begun to figure out how they were going to pull that off.

Cole was lost in thought when Zane approached him, not long after the failed 'rescue party' had returned. Cole had been was standing over the map that had been laid out, but he couldn't able to focus on strategy, there was too much else on his mind. 

"Cole, I need to speak with you."

Cole saw that Kai and Jay were standing just behind Zane.

"I have something to tell you all," he said grimly. "But we'll have to find somewhere else to talk."

Cole sighed to himself. He thought he might lose track of all these secrets if he had to keep just one more. But he nodded. Zane led them out a side door and into the open. He continued away from the warehouse, leading them down the length of a pier extending over the sea.

"Do you want us to swim back to Chen's island?" Kai asked, coming to stop.

"I'm sorry, but it's very important that no one hears."

Kai eyed the water below, but said nothing more.

Cole crossed his arms and leaned against one of the wooden poles. "So what's this about, Zane?"

Zane was holding his injured arm again and didn't seem to want to look Cole in the eye, preferring to gaze at the surrounding sea. "I know I haven't been myself lately. I want to apologize for treating you all so coldly.

Jay shrugged. "Well you're the Master of Ice. A little coldness now and then is a given, right?"

"Jay," Cole hissed. "Not now."

"I discovered something about myself recently. Something I didn't want to believe at first. I've been taking it out on you all, and I'm sorry. But I think It's time I explained myself. You're my friends, and you deserve to know the truth."

Kai stepped forward. "Whatever it is, Zane, you know we're here for you. We want to help you."

Zane shook his head sadly. "You can't help, not with this. At least, you won't be able to change it. I thought at first that I could ignore it, and my life could go back to normal. But seeing Skylor embrace what's happened to her, and seeing the way her friends have accepted her, it's made me think that perhaps I don't have to be afraid either." 

Zane took a moment to look each of them in the eye. "I may be alone in the world, but I hope that, as my friends, you will at least be able to accept me as I am."

Cole couldn't even begin to imagine what Zane might be referring to, but he watched with fascination as Zane began to undo the bandage around his arm. As he unwound the cloth, the first thing that Cole noted was how the gash still appeared to be split open. It looked worse than Cole had expected.

Zane held his arm out for them to see. "It's not as bad as it looks," he said a little sheepishly. "Take a look."

Cole moved closer. Despite Zane's reassurance, he expected that an open wound like that would be bleeding profusely. What he didn't expect to see was . . . metal? And . . . wires?'