Ninja Apocalypse

28: The Plan (edited)

Zane's powers could not hold the Great Devourer, its form was too unstable to contain in ice. He had tried to encase it in so many different ways but it slipped through or dispersed with the pressure and stopped trying. He turned his efforts to shielding the Serpentine warriors instead.

The entity was becoming increasingly frustrated trying to snare a host. Its snaking tendrils shot out sporadically, trying to grasp a body, but Zane would not allow it. From out of nowhere, thin ice sheets cut the air in front of its prey and the swirling ball of energy dispersed off the ice as it slammed against it.

They kept the Devourer distracted and hoped it would not be long before a solid plan was formed, one that would contain the creature because how long the could keep this up was anyone's guess. The Great Devourer didn't tire like a human or serpent, but then Zane was neither and he liked his chances because the likelihood this creature could actually devour him was questionable...

In that moment, if Zane had been holding a light bulb, it would have lit up... 'eureka' he whispered. He had formed a plan.

Zane indicated to the Warriors to move out and distracted the devourer. Once they were safe Zane backed away from the entity and dodged behind the ice sheets that created a strangely hall of mirrors that confused and frustrated the Devourer further. As Zane got to the door the Great Devourer rose up from behind the layers of shards and realised all his prey was gone. It charged at Zane who fell backwards through the door throwing all he had at the entrance to trap the Devourer inside. He leapt back up and waited, the ice was good, it would hold but he sealed the edges just incase. A Warrior approached him.

'Thank you my friend. We owe you a life'

'It is nothing. The Great Devourer is a shared foe, we battle together for all'

The Warrior looked at the door. The two fighters considering its contents 'It is a shame we cannot just keep it in there...'

'Indeed' Zane agreed a smile forming on his face.

'Zane, the Golden Armour!' Nya gasped

'We left it inside, but do not worry, I have a plan'

'Hit us with it' Nya said.

'I will trap the Devourer'

'How?'

'I will let it possess me'

'No!' Lloyd jumped in 'we can't let you do that'

Zane smiled 'He cannot truly posses me, but he can certainly try, I have entry points just like any other being'

'But you're not human, so you can't be possessed! That's Brilliant!' Nya exclaimed.

'I don't think the Devourer is entirely intelligent!' Zane muttered back 'When he enters me, I will encase us both'

'But you'll be trapped!'

'For a while maybe, but not for long. As long as it takes for the ice to melt'

'Details Zane. Details. What the hell is going on in that titanium cranium of yours?' Nya replied frustrated 'so far it's brilliant but, slightly flawed'

'Just listen' Zane placated Nya 'The Great Devourer does not yet know it will be impossible to possess me. It has been trying all this while and next time it will be successful. I will encase myself in ice and it will be trapped'

The team all tried to speak at once.

'Nope, uh-uh'

'Self-scarifice?'

'There's no way...'

'No, no, no...'

'...never let you do this'

'Let me finish' Zane raised his hands, the multiple voices too much 'when I am encased in ice, Cole will create a direct route to the basement. With the Snake army on their way up, you will need protection, as will I. The team must cover you but also transport me. And when I say team, I mean all of us, Ninja and Warriors together. Nya you may be best placed to control my descent. Then you will access the Simulation Room'

'Yes' Nya realised 'its impenetrable, indestructible. If we can get The Great Devourer in there we could trap it indefinitely...But, what about you?'

'Don't worry about me' he touched his face and looked down at his leg 'I need a new body I think and I will be in my element in more ways than one'

'The interface?' Nya asked.

'Yes. I do not need to physically leave the Simulation Room' the team quietly contemplated Zane's idea.

Ronin clapped his hands and broke the silence 'Now that's a plan'

'I love it, but I hate it!' Nya said 'It's too perfect... Are you certain it will work? Are you sure you can access the mainframe from the Simulation Room and upload your system? What are the un-forseen's?'

'I won't lie because I can't lie' Zane replied 'There are a million and one things that could cause the plan to fail. But, they would be caused by external influences. Perhaps the skeleton army will over-run you, taking me and freeing the Devourer. Perhaps I will fall the 145 floors to the ground, the ice smashing, releasing the Great Devourer. Perhaps...'

'Ok, ok. We get it. External influences. Avoid them at all costs!' Jay and Lloyd said to Zane.

"The actual plan is perfect" Wu said thoughtfully.

Zane looked at his friend's worried but hopeful faces 'It won't fail, because I know you won't fail' and willed them to believe they could achieve the descent.

'But if it does?'

'Well, we'll just have to start again!'

Misako stepped forward 'Zane, if the Devourer is released we will have to perform the transmutation as soon as possible'

'And we need the whole team to do it' Zane thought 'Particularly Kai. KAI! How is he?' Zane whipped around and saw his friend. Kai was leaning on Cole's legs, naked, slightly singed and looking very tired. Cole still held his hand and smoke billowed from the honed edge of the blade. They were still linked and Kai was still healing, but his recovery was amazing.

Zane looked back to Misako 'I don't think Kai is any state to carry out what is necessary to perform the transmutation'

Kai rolled his head, and looked at the team 'Just... gimme a sec' his voice a tired drawl. Cole didn't even notice, as he seemed to be in a healing trance.

'Woah bro' Nya averted her eyes 'not something we want to see!' and so did everyone else.

Kai looked down and saw that his clothes had been burnt from his body 'Phht. Sorry... anyone got a spare suit?'