Brother of Wind {Book 7: Hands of Time}

chapter 5

Jay put on the helmet he took from earlier.
"Sorry, guys, nothing." Jay said.
"Darn, I was sure trying on the helmet was gonna help us figure out who those samurai snake guys were." Cole sighed.
"Me too. Jay, are you positive the helmet doesn't do anything?" Nya asked.
"Ha! Besides make me look cool?" Jay exclaimed. The Ninja were not too amused.
"What? I know how to accessorize." Jay said.

Morro took the helmet off of Jay's head to examine it.
"Hm. Something about this is familiar, though. I just can't place it." Kai said, leaning in closer.
"Yeah." Morro traced his hand along yhe edge of the metal.
"Perhaps Master Wu knows." Kai suggested.

The Ninja entered another room to see Wu resting on a bed.
"Master Wu, this helmet. I feel like we've seen it before. Can you tell us anything?" Kai asked. Wu cautiously opened his eyes.
"Curious. Time..." He started.

"Time?" Kai asked.

"Time waits..."

"Time waits..." Nya went on.
"Time waits for no..." Wu fell asleep.
"Uh, Master?" Kai asked.
"Did someone mention lunch?" Wu woke up again.
"No, Master, no one mentioned lunch." Lloyd said.
"Then why did you wake me?" Wu fell to sleep again.
"He isn't himself." Lloyd sighed.
"No kidding." Morro added.

"Lunch isn't for three more hours. Ahh, this is just perfect. Mysterious snake samurai, uh, things attacked Ninjago, Cyrus Borg is missing, and our team is down one master and one ninja."
"We've got to get Zane back online. He was the last one to see Cyrus Borg." Lloyd said, looking to the shut down Nindroid resting in a chair.
"Yeah, except Cyrus Borg is the only one who has the equipment to get him back online." Cole said.

"I might be able to reboot Zane with the computer in the Samurai X Cave. Although I could use some help." Nya suggested.
"Well, I'm in." Cole raised his hand.
"You know I am." Jay agreed.
"I'll stay. One of us should keep an eye on Master Wu." Lloyd said.
"Then I'll be with you. He's my father." Morro decided.

"I'll go to the museum and talk to Dr. Saunders. He's an expert on all things Ninjago. Maybe he knows what Master Wu is too weak to tell us." Kai raised up the helmet.
"Good thinking. Go and see what you can see." Lloyd said.
"See what you can see?" Morro repeated Lloyd.
"I don't have a person planning out every sentence I say." Lloyd retorted. Morro shrugged.

. . .

Cyrus Borg was tied up and placed in the golden sarcophagus in the museum by the snake samurai thingy.
"The Vermillion warriors have done well, brother. Borg is captured and the first step of our plan is complete. It's time to begin phase two." Krux said, entering the secret room.
"How? Phase two requires many more Vermillion than we have." Acronix asked.
"We'll have them shortly. With even more growing in the swamp. Soon, there will be a force of thousands." Krux placed his hand in the table.
"Okay, but how do the two of us control a force of thousands?" Acronix inquired.

"I've had years to develop this plan, brother. Do you not think I took that into account?" Krux asked.
"May I introduce... Commander Raggmunk, Commander Blunck, and Commander Machia. Hand selected from the most genetically superior Serpentine. Their superior intellect allows them to communicate telepathically with the Vermillion warriors and control them to the hive mind." Krux said. Three figures stepped out of the shadows. Two orange and one red.

"You've thought of everything." Acronix said, amazed.
"Indeed. I bred them to be strategic thinkers. In fact, they've been working out the details for phase two." Krux said.
"With your permission, sir, I've outlined an attack so we can--" Blunck started.
"We've outlined." Raggmunk intercepted. The two started to hiss at each other.

"Hand selected?" Acronix crossed his arms.
"They're fighters. One must expect a certain amount of...aggression." Krux sighed.
"The plan!" Acronix slammed his hand on the table.
"Of course. I will explain." Blunck said.
"We will." Raggmunk said. They got at it again.