Ninjago:Rising

CHAPTER EIGHT

The energy in the lab was still buzzing after Harumi's test, and everyone was talking excitedly about what they had discovered that day. The team was exhilarated, filled with a mixture of awe and determination. The atmosphere in Jay's lab was electric—pun intended, especially with Jay around. Each of them had tapped into something extraordinary, but the reality of what this all meant was just starting to sink in.

Jay's lab was more than just a basement workshop; it was practically a professional laboratory, outfitted with high-tech equipment and gadgets, thanks to Jay's wealthy parents and his own genius. Large monitors displayed various readings and graphs from their tests, showing the data Jay had been collecting all day. There were containment units, robotic arms, and more tools than anyone could name—all spread across the spacious room. One wall was covered in screens showing different news channels, which had been playing in the background during the testing, though no one had really been paying attention. They were too focused on what was happening right there.

As the excitement slowly settled, Lloyd caught sight of one of the screens showing a breaking news alert. The footage displayed a bank downtown, surrounded by police cars with flashing lights. The headline read: "BREAKING: Armed Robbery Turns Hostage Situation." His heart sank as he watched the scene unfold. A group of masked men was holding several people hostage inside the bank. The camera zoomed in on the frightened faces of the hostages, some of them pressed against the floor, others huddled together in fear. The image struck a chord deep within Lloyd, bringing back memories he had tried to bury.

He could feel his chest tighten, his breath catching as the memories flooded back. It was like he was right there again, in that bank with his family, with his dad. They were supposed to be making a simple deposit. Then, everything had gone wrong. He could still hear the shouting, the gunshots, the chaos. He could still see his father stepping forward, trying to protect them—him, Lyra, and his mom. His dad had been so brave, so determined to keep them safe. But the robbers didn't care about that. They didn't care about anything but themselves.

The bullet hit his dad before he even realized what was happening. His father crumpled to the floor, and everything went dark. Lloyd would never forget the way his father fell or the sound of his mother screaming. He'd never forget the feeling of helplessness, the horror of knowing that no matter what he did, he couldn't save him.

Lyra must have noticed the change in his expression because she stepped closer, her hand gently squeezing his arm. She didn't say anything—she didn't have to. She knew what he was thinking. She was thinking it, too. She had been there, just like him, watching as their world shattered in a matter of seconds.

Lloyd blinked, trying to push the memories back down. He wasn't that helpless kid anymore. He wasn't powerless. None of them were. He looked around at his friends, at this group of extraordinary people who had somehow become his second family. They all had these incredible abilities, these powers that could make a real difference. And suddenly, it all clicked.

"What if we used these powers for good?" he said, his voice breaking through the chatter around him. The room fell silent as everyone turned to look at him. "What if we used them to protect people? To help those who can't protect themselves?"

Jay looked up from his computer, his brow furrowed in thought. "You're not saying what I think you're saying, are you?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.

Lloyd nodded, feeling a surge of determination. "Yeah, Jay. I am. I'm saying exactly what you think I'm saying. Let's use these powers for good. Let's become literal superheroes."

The words hung in the air, and he could see the wheels turning in everyone's minds. He knew it sounded crazy—outrageous, even. But he also knew that it felt right. It felt like this was what they were meant to do.