The Call to Rise

Breaking the Ice Part 5: Rescue Phase 1

Posting this a day early since I'll be super busy tomorrow. But hey, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to torture--I mean entertain you.  Hehehehehe....

Also, I'm in my fangirl-proof hideout again. Why? Well, I'll just let you read....

(Psssst, just warning you: this chapter is definitely rated T.)

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Kai paced back-and-forth on the deck of the Bounty, occasionally peering over the edge before shaking his head and going back to pacing.

"Where is he?" the fiery teen muttered quietly.

Jay, who was leaning over the railing of the deck, suddenly gasped and pointed. "He's coming!" he announced.

Perking up, Kai raced over to where Jay was and looked to where he was pointing at. He smirked as he saw a familiar black figure approach the ship. "OI! BROOKSTONE!"

Cole looked up as he heard Kai shout. Kai's smirk faded as he saw the discouraged look on his leader's face. "You didn't find anything, did you?" he asked as Cole slowly climbed onto the deck.

The dancer shook his head. "I tried but...I couldn't find anything."

Kai growled and punched the nearest thing--which just so happened to be Jay's arm. "Damnit!" the fiery teen cried.

After making sure that Jay was alright, Cole glared at Kai and said, "Language."

"Screw you!" Kai retorted, angrily pacing.

"Bro, calm down," Jay tried to soothe the red ninja. "It's gonna take time..."

"We don't have time!" Kai interrupted. "Hell, Zane doesn't have time! Who knows what he's been through by this point!"

Jay and Cole flinched at the reminder. It had been three days since Zane had been captured, and so far, they had zero leads as to where he might be.

And nobody was really happy about that. Least of all Kai.

"We know, Kai," Cole said solemnly. "But, we can't rescue Zane if we can't even find him."

"You don't think I know that?!" Kai replied angrily, amber eyes flashing crimson for a second. "But he's been gone for three days now! I..." the red ninja paused, uncertainty in his expression. "...I don't know how much longer he can hold on."

"We'll find him, Kai," Jay reassured softly, sapphire-blue eyes filled with determination. "We'll find him."

"But how?" Cole grunted, staring off into the distance. "Those stupid snake gangs have gone quiet and we can't just wait for one of them to show up."

"What else can we do?" Jay wondered. "I mean, it's not like one of us knows where they're keeping Zane!"

"Hmmmm," Cole hummed as he thought deeply. Suddenly, a thought came to him. "Kai," he called whirling around to face the red ninja. "You believe that the person who has Zane is the same one who captured you when you were a kid, right?"

Kai's face darkened. "What about it?" he snapped.

"Do you remember where it was you were kept?" Cole asked.

Kai's brow furrowed as he thought. "I was moved around a lot, but I do remember the place that I escaped from. But that's not gonna help, the place is long gone by now."

"How do you know?" Jay asked.

"Because I burned it down."

Jay blinked. "...okay then."