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𝐕𝐈𝐀 𝐆𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐄
Finally back aboard the Bounty, I was desperately searching over the side of the railing. At our return, Cole and I had been filled in on what Zane's infiltration accomplished. Apparently, it had led to a brutal battle between him and Mr. E. A battle that caused Zane to be left incapacitated. Now, as we scanned for our fellow teammate and brother amongst the rubble and rocks of the canyon, we weren't sure we were going to find him.
Although, Oneria told me she was sure we would. So, I wasn't entirely panicked. Sadly, my companions didn't have the advantage of a future-seeing spirit living inside their mind.
"Wait, there he is!" I called out, pointing over the edge as the spotlight glinted on something mechanical. Dropping to the ground on ropes, Lloyd and Nya ran to him. Lloyd called out his name several times, but here was no answer. Jay and Cole dropped down after them, leaving Kai and I on the deck. I frowned at my (practically) older brother. Lloyd ordered Pixal to lower the gurney, and I knew that Zane was in bad shape.
With Zane now aboard, we stood around the gurney he was laying on. A heart monitor displayed on a screen showed that he at least still had a heartbeat. He was in bad shape. Scratches and scuff marks were shown all across his mechanical skin. Half of his face had been scraped clean of metal, showing off the mass of wires and gears inside of him. I frowned, feeling a gap in my heart for my dear friend as he lay unconscious.
I wanted to use my power and dive into his mind, to try and communicate with his consciousness, but I couldn't. He wasn't a biological creature-- his mind wasn't connected to the Dream Realm. Even Oneria couldn't connect with him. His mind was a total mystery, and I didn't like it.
"How bad is it?" Lloyd asked the ceiling.
Pixal's voice was sad. "He has extensive damage to all systems. His neural net and cognitive cores suffered severe failures."
"Can you save him?" Nya wondered aloud.
"I've diverted power to critical life functions," came Pixal's response, "but Zane will have to do most of the work. He must reconfigure his system and reboot himself."
Harumi pushed past Kai. "Isn't there anything we can do?"
"We have to keep moving," Lloyd decided, frowning at his unconscious friend. "Or the Sons of Garmadon will find us." I frowned at the gang's name. I was beginning to hate that name. What was it with all the gangs we had to fight recently? "They'll do anything to get their hands on the child."
"I just don't get how a baby can be a key!" Kai admitted.
"I don't either," Cole agreed, "But that's what they said."
I nodded in agreement, feeling a piece of skin on my thumb rip away and ooze out a tiny stream of blood. I hid my hand behind my back so no one would see it (no one being: Cole). "They called him the key to the third mask."
