" ZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANE! I NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!"

The silence that followed Kai's shout felt deafening. Even the rhythmic crash of the waves ( far away. They weren't on the beach anymore) seemed to hold its breath. His outburst hung heavy in the air, a stark reminder of their predicament. No Wu. No immediate way to contact Zane.

Cole, ever the pragmatist, sighed. "Kai, yelling won't bring Zane here any faster. We need to improvise."

Nya knelt next to Skylar, checking her pulse. "She's still breathing, but weak. We need to get her out of the sun."

Kai's frustration simmered, but Cole's words sunk in. Yelling wouldn't solve anything. He glanced around, desperation sparking an idea.

"Jay," he said, his voice rough but controlled. "Remember that abandoned lighthouse we trained at last week?"

Jay, ever the quick thinker, caught on immediately. "Yeah, the creepy one with the broken elevator?"

"Perfect," Kai said, a flicker of his usual fire returning to his eyes. "It's out of the way, has shade, and maybe, just maybe, there's something there we can use to contact Zane."

Hope, fragile but persistent, bloomed in their chests. It wasn't ideal, but it was a chance.

"Alright," Nya said, determination hardening her features. "Let's move. Cole, help me carry Skylar. Jay, you and Kai head to the lighthouse. We'll meet you there."

Without further debate, they sprang into action. Cole and Nya carefully lifted Skylar, her limp form a stark contrast to the determined set of their jaws. Kai and Jay shot each other a quick glance, a silent agreement passing between them. They had a job to do.

With renewed purpose, Kai and Jay sprinted off towards the abandoned lighthouse, the sand churning beneath their feet. The once-familiar path now felt like a race against time, a race to find answers and a race to save their friend. The setting sun cast long shadows, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within Kai's heart.

"We'll find something, Kai," Jay said, his voice surprisingly steady despite the urgency. "We always do."

Kai didn't reply, but a small nod betrayed a flicker of hope within him. In the face of uncertainty, they had each other, their brotherhood forged in fire and friendship. And in a world filled with impossible odds, that might just be enough.

_________________________

" Zane, it's Kai. Do you copy?" Kai said into the receiver. He turned to Nya, who was tending Skylar. She nodded gently.

" Zane. Mayday, Mayday. Do you copy? Zaaaaaaaaaaane." Then he grumbled, " Where's that tin can when you need him?"

As if the world heard him, the other end of the walkie-talkie cackled to life.

" Good afternoon. How may I help you?"

Kai sighed in relief.

" Zane, can you hear me?"

" Loud and clear, Kai."

" Okay, listen. Skylar's back, and she's unconscious. We need you hear, now."

" Affirmative. Initiating GPS now."

Kai was confused.

" But.... you don't even know where we are. I never told you."

" Did I forget to tell you, I installed a GPS in your comms. It is sending me your location now."

Cole, who was leaning on a chair nearby, looked up and asked, " The same one which helped me escape the NGTV station during the Oni invasion?"

" The very same."

A wave of relief washed over Kai, warm and welcome like a tidal wave after a long drought. Zane had their backs, literally. He glanced at Nya, a relieved smile playing on her lips. Even Cole, ever the stoic, cracked a small grin.

"That's brilliant, Zane!" Nya exclaimed. "We were just figuring out a way to contact you."

"Excellent," Zane's voice crackled through the walkie-talkie. "Stay put. I will be there momentarily. In the meantime, is Skylar responsive? Does she have any visible injuries?"

Kai shook his head, his smile fading slightly. "No, she's unconscious. Her breathing is shallow, but she's alive. We don't know what's wrong with her."

"Understood," Zane replied, his voice serious. "Upon arrival, I will perform a preliminary scan to assess her condition. Perhaps Pixal can assist remotely as well."

As they spoke, a low hum filled the air, a sound so subtle it was almost undetectable. Then, a holographic image flickered to life above Zane's nindroid hand, projecting a real-time map of Ninjago. A small blue dot pulsed near the coastline, pinpointing their exact location.

"We're at the abandoned lighthouse southwest of the Monastery," Kai said, his voice tight with worry. "What do we do now?"

Zane's digital face on the holographic image remained impassive, but his voice held a note of urgency. "Remain calm. Based on your descriptions, Skylar may be experiencing a form of elemental exhaustion. However, a more thorough examination is necessary. I will be there as soon as possible. In the meantime, keep her cool and comfortable."

Relief and a flicker of awe settled over Kai. Zane, even in his absence, was already strategizing, his mind a whirlwind of calculations and solutions.

"We're on it, Zane," Nya said, her voice firm. "We'll hold down the fort until you get here."

"Affirmative," Zane replied. "Stay safe, team. Zane out." The holographic image flickered and died, leaving them in a comfortable silence.

Kai took a deep breath, the tension slowly draining from his shoulders. They had a plan, and with Zane on the way, a sliver of hope flickered within him. He turned back to Skylar, his gaze gentle as he brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead.

"Hold on, Skylar," he murmured. "Help is on the way."

A moment of silence followed, broken only by the rhythmic crash of the waves against the shore. Then, a faint whirring sound filled the air, growing louder as it approached.

Kai looked up, squinting against the setting sun. A sleek, silver car streaked across the sky, leaving a trail of condensation in its wake. As it descended, the familiar silver glow of Zane's nindroid form became visible in the driver's seat.

"Looks like Zane's here," Jay announced, a grin spreading across his face.

A collective sigh of relief escaped the group as the car landed gracefully on a nearby stretch of sand. ( Long story short, Zane has rocket boosters in his car). He emerged quickly, his metallic limbs glinting in the fading light.

"Skylar," he said, his voice betraying a hint of concern as he rushed towards the unconscious girl. "We need to get her inside and assess her condition immediately."

" We did that." Jay called from inside. " She is comfortable." Then he paused. " At least, I think so. She's not responding, so-"

" Jay, quit blabbering! What would you do if Nya was Skylar?" Kai snapped.

Jay became silent, and the air crackled with tension. Kai's outburst hung heavy, a stark reminder of the stress they were all under. Nya, ever the mediator, stepped forward, placing a hand on Kai's arm.

"Kai," she said gently, "we all care about Skylar. But snapping at Jay won't help. Let's let Zane do his job."

Taking a deep breath, Kai tried to calm the storm of emotions churning within him. "You're right, Nya," he mumbled, his voice thick with apology.

Zane, ever the stoic one, knelt beside Skylar, his blue eyes scanning her face with concern. With practiced ease, he pulled out a small medical scanner from his suit.

"Please, give me some space," he requested, his voice calm but firm.

Cole, Nya, and Kai stepped back, their eyes glued to Zane as he ran the scanner over Skylar's body. The silence stretched, broken only by the soft whirring of the machine. Each tick seemed like an eternity, the weight of the unknown pressing down on them.

Finally, Zane deactivated the scanner and looked up at them, his expression unreadable.

"Well?" Kai blurted out, unable to hold back his impatience any longer.

Zane pursed his lips for a moment, then spoke. "Her vitals are stable, but she is indeed experiencing a form of elemental exhaustion. However, there's something else..." His voice trailed off, a flicker of worry crossing his metallic features.

"What is it?" Nya asked, her voice laced with apprehension.

Zane glanced down at the scanner in his hand, then back at Skylar. "There seems to be an unusual energy signature within her. It's faint, but unlike anything I've encountered before."

This unexpected revelation sent a wave of unease washing over the group. Elemental exhaustion was one thing, but an unknown energy signature? That opened up a whole new can of worms.

"Could it be connected to her elemental powers?" Cole pondered, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

Zane shook his head. "It's possible, but without further analysis, it's difficult to say for sure. However, one thing is certain - Skylar needs rest and a thorough examination. We can't risk moving her to the monastery right now. This lighthouse, with its seclusion, might be the best place for her to recover."

Nya nodded in agreement. "Alright, Zane. You're the expert. What do we need to do to make her comfortable here?"

Just before Zane was going to reply, Skylar stirred.

A gasp escaped Skylar's lips, her eyelids fluttering open. Disorientation clouded her eyes for a moment, the harsh sunlight filtering through the dusty windows momentarily blinding. Then, recognition flickered across her features.

"Kai?" she croaked, her voice raspy. The sound sent a jolt through Kai, his worry momentarily forgotten as a surge of relief washed over him.

"Skylar!" he exclaimed, rushing to her side. "You're awake! How are you feeling?"

She tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over her, forcing her back down. "Weak," she mumbled, blinking away the spots dancing in her vision. "Where... where am I?"

Zane, who had been about to speak, paused, his blue eyes flickering between Skylar and the medical scanner in his hand. "You're at an abandoned lighthouse on the outskirts of Ninjago City," he explained, his voice calm and reassuring. "You were found unconscious on the beach."

Skylar frowned, trying to piece together the fragmented memories swirling in her head. "The beach... I remember... the voice... the storm..." Her voice trailed off, a flicker of fear crossing her face.

"Easy there, Skylar," Nya said gently, placing a cool hand on her forehead. "Don't try to force it. We'll help you remember everything later."

Skylar's gaze darted around the room, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings - the weathered walls, the cobweb-draped corners, the faint scent of salt air mingling with dust. "Why am I here? What happened?"

Kai opened his mouth to speak, but Zane cut him off. "You experienced a form of elemental exhaustion, Skylar," he explained. "It seems your powers have taken a toll on your body."

Skylar's brow furrowed. "Elemental exhaustion? But... I never had any problems."

" We know." Kai said softly.

Skylar, with a mischievous smile, said, " Let's see if it still works, hotshot." She winked and put a hand on Kia's shoulder, and he smiled dreamily. Red flowed through Skylar's arm, and she put her hand up. A flame erupted from her hand.

" Yes! Still works!" Skylar cheered.

" You're telling me. Elemental master of Amber is back in business"! Kai cheered, and the others joined.