Outbreak: Ninjago's Dark Dawn

Chapter 10 - Elemental Shadows

Chapter 11 – Elemental Shadows

The dim light of the morning sun filtered through the cracks in the decrepit warehouse windows, casting long shadows across the room. Zane sat in a corner, his silver hands working tirelessly on the remains of an infected corpse, his expression void of emotion but his mind whirring with possibilities. The more they fought the undead, the more he realized they were missing something—something critical.

As he studied the parasitic infection under a makeshift microscope, a troubling pattern began to emerge. The parasite, which had originated from the meteorite, seemed to be evolving faster than he had anticipated. But it was the strange, flickering energy around the infected that caught his attention. It was faint but undeniable—a resonance that felt eerily familiar.

"Elemental energy," Zane muttered to himself, the revelation hitting him like a punch to the gut.

Across the room, Lloyd, Kai, and Garmadon were huddled over a map, marking locations of recent attacks. They had faced horde after horde, each time narrowly escaping with their lives. Supplies were running low—food, water, weapons—and it was starting to take a toll on the team. The pressure weighed heavily on Lloyd's shoulders as he tried to balance his father's aggressive tactics with the safety of his friends.

Kai, as usual, was by his side, his fiery presence a constant source of both comfort and frustration. Ever the protective older brother, Kai hovered close, his eyes flicking between Lloyd and Garmadon with suspicion. It was no secret that Kai didn't trust Garmadon's methods, especially when it came to Lloyd's well-being.

"We need to start rationing what we have left," Lloyd said, his voice strained. "At this rate, we won't survive another week."

"Then we need to act," Garmadon growled, slamming his fist on the table. "Sitting here and hiding isn't going to save Ninjago. We should take the fight to them, wipe them out before the infection spreads any further."

Kai shot him a glare, his temper flaring. "And what? Sacrifice more people just because you're too impatient to come up with a real plan?"

Garmadon's eyes narrowed, the tension between him and Kai thickening the air. "I'm not sacrificing anyone. I'm trying to save this world before it's too late. You can't win a war by waiting for the enemy to come to you."

Lloyd raised a hand to calm them both, his voice firm but tired. "We're not fighting each other. We're running out of time, yes, but we can't afford to fall apart now."

Before Kai could respond, Zane's voice interrupted, cold and analytical as always. "I've made a discovery."

The group turned toward him, drawn by the gravity of his words. Zane rose from his seat, his face expressionless as he relayed his findings. "The parasite controlling the infected—it's not just an alien organism. It's somehow feeding off of elemental energy."

Lloyd frowned, stepping closer to Zane. "What do you mean? Elemental energy... like ours?"

Zane nodded, his gaze serious. "Exactly. There's a faint trace of elemental power in the infected, as though the parasite is siphoning it from them. I've analyzed multiple samples, and each time, I've detected a residue that matches the signatures of our own powers."

The revelation hit the group hard, each of them processing the implications. Kai crossed his arms, his brow furrowing in thought. "So you're saying this thing is connected to us?"

"Not directly," Zane clarified. "But the parasite seems to react to elemental energy. It's possible that our powers are influencing it, or that it's using some form of elemental resonance to strengthen its hold over the infected."

Kai's hands clenched into fists, his mind racing. If their elemental powers were somehow tied to this nightmare, it meant that they might be making things worse without even realizing it.

"So, what?" Kai said, his voice laced with frustration. "Are you saying our powers are part of the problem? That by fighting, we're feeding this thing?"

Zane shook his head, though uncertainty flickered in his eyes. "I'm not certain yet. But it's a possibility we have to consider."

Garmadon's patience was wearing thin. "This doesn't change anything. We fight, we win, or we die. Whether this parasite feeds off your powers or not, it won't stop until it consumes everything."

Kai turned sharply toward Garmadon, his temper flaring again. "Maybe if you stopped trying to throw us into every battle, we'd have time to figure this out. But no, you just want to charge in, like always, consequences be damned."

Garmadon's eyes darkened, his voice dropping to a dangerous tone. "Don't presume to tell me how to win a war, boy. I've fought more battles than you can imagine. You think protecting your brother makes you a leader? Leadership is about sacrifice."

The word hung in the air, and Lloyd felt the sting of it deep in his chest. He had sacrificed more than most, and yet it never felt like enough. The constant weight of the world on his shoulders, the endless struggle to keep his friends and family alive—it was suffocating. And now, with the knowledge that their very powers could be fueling the enemy, the pressure felt even heavier.

Kai, though seething with anger, bit back his response, his protective nature warring with his respect for Lloyd. He didn't trust Garmadon, but he wouldn't tear the team apart—especially not now, when they were so close to losing everything.

"Enough," Lloyd said, his voice steady but firm. "We don't have time for this. Zane, keep working on your research. See if you can figure out how to disrupt the parasite's connection to elemental energy."

Zane nodded. "I'll need more samples to be sure, but I believe there's a way to sever the connection. If we can isolate the specific energy signature the parasite is using, we might be able to reverse its effects."

Lloyd turned to the rest of the group, his eyes determined. "In the meantime, we need to gather more supplies. We're running low, and we can't afford to be caught off guard again."

Kai, though still simmering with anger, forced himself to nod in agreement. They couldn't survive on empty stomachs, and their weapons were starting to wear down. The battles had taken their toll, and the group was starting to fray at the edges.

- - - - - - - - - - -

The tension remained palpable as the group divided up tasks. Lloyd and Garmadon planned the next supply run, while Jay and Nya worked on fine-tuning their weapon prototype. Kai, restless and agitated, paced the room, his mind torn between worry for his brother and the rising threat of the infection. He glanced over at Cole, who sat in silence, his eyes half-closed as he fought the sickness that was creeping through his body.

Kai's chest tightened with fear, but he refused to let it show. They had to stay strong. They couldn't afford to lose anyone else—not now.

Zane, meanwhile, continued his research, his mind racing with the possibilities. If their elemental powers were connected to the parasite, it meant that their very existence was tied to the fate of Ninjago. The thought sent a shiver through his circuits. His own vulnerability, once a distant concern, now felt closer than ever.

As the hours passed, the weight of their situation pressed down on them all. They were running out of time, and the forces at play were far greater than any of them had anticipated. But even in the face of this growing darkness, one thing remained clear: they would fight. They would fight until there was nothing left to give.

And in the silence of the room, as night began to fall, the ninjas knew that their greatest battle was yet to come.