NINJAGO: Corrupted

3 - A Strange Encounter

"Cut the cameras! We'll- uh - be right back!" Clyde said into the camera with a very panicked tone.

The maniac directed his life-threatening weapon to the ninja who were seated across the room. He said nothing, but the screams from the audience and surrounding people were deafening. Security guards came rushing from every corner, attempting to intercept the man but in just a split second, he fired the gun straight at the set.

"Get down!!" Zane shouted, as he exerted a cold blast of pure ice formed a thick shield, protecting the ninja and Clyde Wolf. Instantly, the bullet aimed at them stopped in the ice, just a few inches from Jay's face.

"Holy--" Jay exhaled, dropping down onto the floor. "Thanks Zane!"

"Come on!" Lloyd ordered; the ninja followed him around the ice shield towards the detained terrorist on the floor. He was dressed in a black overall with a cloak and mask, held down by three security guards.

Immediately, the Commissioner and his police crew stormed in through the doors, prepared to arrest the man.

"Are you kids alright?" He asked the ninja.

"We're okay," Kai said. "Glad those security guards got everything under control already - who is that?"

"Uh, we'll check him out at the police station. Strange he had a gun though - those are banned all throughout Ninjago City. I wonder how he got it."

"And why he tried to ASSASSINATE me!?" Jay shrieked.

"I'm pretty sure he wasn't trying to kill you specifically, Jay." said Cole. "We'll stop by the police station once you've done your bit, Commissioner."

The cops left the scene with the mysterious man in the mask in handcuffs.

"Well, I suppose we know what the top news story is going to be today, - Ninja almost assassinated by a madman in a studio" Nya said.

The group walked out of the studio and back to the Destiny's Bounty. They gathered on the deck and began discussing the bizarre incident. Who was the guy with a gun? Where did he get it? And why did he wait until today to attack?

Whilst the team continued speculating, Jupiter's phone was being flooded with texts and alerts on her socials. She left the deck and headed to the cabin to check her phone.

33 mentions: Chirp

2 missed calls: Mom

8 messages: Group chat

"Wow, all this in half an hour?" Jupiter murmured to herself. She skipped the Chirp alerts and attempted to call back her mother.

Aurora, Jupiter's mother, lived quite close to the very centre of Ninjago. Jupiter had lived in the apartment for years with her mother and father. Both her parents were hard-workers; Aurora worked at Borg Industries' advertisement and marketing team, while her dad Lee was a lecturer at universities. Since she started living at the Monastery with her ninja friends, it's been a while since she last seen or talked to either or them.

She sat on a seat in the middle of the room and waited for her mother to pick up.

Nothing.

Her group chat was still exploding with messages so she opened that instead. Before Jupiter was a ninja, she was a simple high school student (If simple means hiding your elemental powers every single day). Ninjago City Academy was her school, in one of the busiest districts of Ninjago City. The group chat was small, consisting of Jupiter and her two school friends, Ari and Eleanor. Ari was a loyal and fashionable person, who knew Jupiter a bit longer than Eleanor did, while Eleanor was the bubbly tech-savvy friend. The lilac ninja vowed to keep contact with her high-school buddies, promising that she won't forget them 'when she becomes famous', as quoted by Ari.

Jupiter went onto the group chat and read the messages left by her friends.