NINJAGO: Corrupted

8 - Exciting Interview (again!)

"How did you find out the News agency handed over the interview to a magazine agency?" Jupiter filled the silence of the airship. 

"After you guys left the studio, they were discussing whether or not to postpone the interview. I was there as a late guest and I suggested they hand it over to a more fan-friendly platform. So they did." He clarified. 

"And let me guess - you're getting paid?" 

"Yep." He nodded. Jupiter shrugged and just went with it. Besides, if anything goes wrong, she has her supposedly lucky bat, along with her reliable elemental power.

Eventually, Ronin landed R.E.X on a small area of grass close to the Tea Shop. 

"Better fix yourself up; this is a magazine agency we're talking about - ain't no place to look scruffy." 

Jupiter quickly glanced at her reflection on the airship's window. Her hair was a bit untidy from all the tidying she did earlier but it was nothing she couldn't fix. With a quick untie-and-retie of her ponytail, she followed Ronin into the relatively empty Tea Shop. She had only ever visited it once before, when Lloyd introduced her to some of the ninjas' significant spots in the city. 

Near the corner, was a lean looking man reading a magazine. He was dressed in an oddly fashionable yet professional attire, the sort of style that Jupiter only ever saw in Ari's design books. 

"Want tea?" Ronin asked. 

"No thanks." Jupiter responded. 

"Suit yourself." He went behind the counter to prepare a tea for the interviewer. 

Jupiter ambled over to the table at which the well-dressed man was sat. She cleared her throat. 

"Uh, Hi! I'm here for that interview" She found herself fiddling with her lilac belt. 

"I'm sorry, who are you exactly?" The man said, still immersed in his magazine. 

"I'm Jupiter," she chuckled nervously. "The Lilac Ninja? Master of stardust?" 

There was an awkward pause before the man promptly put down his newspaper on the table. 

"Ahh, that's right! Jupiter! The..stardust one! So nice to meet you in person!" The man stood to shake her hand firmly. 

"The name's Axel. It really is a huge honour to be in the same room as you!" Axel had a grin on his face - he sure was enthusiastic to meet Jupiter. Spread out across the table in front of him was a small journal and a voice recorder.

"Please-uh-take a seat!" He gestured to the chair opposite him. At that moment, Ronin had returned with one cup of green tea on a rustic tray. The steam hovered out of the dainty cup as he placed it in front of Axel. Ronin took a few steps back, still clutching the tray. 

Axel cleared his throat. "Thank you, good sir." Jupiter could sense something between them, as if there were some sort of tension. She ignored the odd feeling and settled in her seat. 

"So...which online magazine is this actually for? I don't exactly read magazines.." She started. But Axel's attention was somewhere else. His eyes were icy as he gave a small and slow nod to Ronin. 

There was a sharp bang : Jupiter felt an instant prick on the back of her neck, and immediately, her vision became grey, blurry and drowsy. She tried to speak, but words came out in a quiet slur; the faint figure of Axel and Ronin standing side by side was the last thing she saw. In just a few seconds, her unconscious body collapsed to the floor with a thump. 

Then there was silence. 

"You don't know how much I didn't want to do that." Ronin told the man. "It's messed up. You'll be exposed, sooner or later. So will I." 

"She'll wake up soon, no harm done. Tranquilliser darts are very underappreciated weapons, considering that stupid gun ban." Axel spoke into the silence of the tea shop. Ronin was still looking at the scene. He's spent years living the life of a thief and back-stabber, but working with the ninja helped him change his ways; what Axel made him do made him feel slightly guilty. 

Axel could read Ronin's expression. He walked over to him, stepping over the lilac ninja's unconscious body, and whispered in a low tone in Ronin's ear: 

"I paid you a lot of money for you to bring her here. Now I'm paying you more to keep your mouth shut. You know what's good for you. Now get out. You were never here." 

Ronin slowly backed away, still glaring at the scene with guilt. He then walked out of the tea shop into the cold dark night.