3rd Person POV

L O C A T I O N :  R E B E L   B A S E , E M E R G E N C Y   B U N K E R
2 : 3 0 A M

Everyone was fast asleep, except Lloyd. He tossed and turned restlessly. They had just been bombed. Chen clearly wanted them dead. He felt sick to his stomach. Slowly, he looked down, to see Nya starting aimlessly at the ceiling. Quietly, he sneaked down. "Room for one more?"

The raven quietly nodded and moved up, giving Lloyd some space. He wrapped himself up in his share of the blanket.

"You okay?" Nya whispered to him. He shrugged, "I don't actually know."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"That...would be nice. I just...what would have happened, if we never made that plan, if I never tried to shoot Clouse?"

"Well, we'd be living in the same boring cycle that was our life. Lloyd, we fought back. I don't know about you, but I don't regret it, not one bit. We're gonna get the rest of our squad back, and we're gonna win. It just takes time. We'll win, give Ninjago a fair ruler, and everyone will settle down in their lives. We'll all live happily ever after."

But the blonde didn't give off the reaction Nya was hoping for. Instead, a tear escaped his eye and he sniffled, "I just...I dragged everyone into this mess and I don't think I can find a way out this time."

"Don't say that. You'll find a way out. I know you'll find a way out."

"I can't. I started something I can't finish. I'm a horrible person. It's like my soul is some kind of mirror, I cracked it and now I have seven years of bad luck." His whispered voice broke even further.

"No, shh, no. You have us, Lloyd. We've always got your back, no matter what. We'll get through this together, all of us, just like old times. And even if we do have souls, I can promise you, yours isn't cracked. You're a good person, maybe the best I know."

Lloyd gave the girl a small teary smile, before holding his pinkie out. She caught it with hers, doing their special best-friend clasp.

A while later, Nya dozed off, and Lloyd did too, after a silent cry and several moments of doubt whilst overthinking several other scenarios that could've occurred.

L O C A T I O N : R E B E L   B A S E , E M E R G EN C Y   B U N K E R
4 : 0 1 A M

"Psst. Nya. Wake up."

Nya tiredly opened her eyes to see Dilara gently shaking her awake, "It's go time."

Nodding quietly, she slipped out of bed quietly, so she didn't wake Lloyd. Skylor was waiting with Griffin. Flintlocke later arrived with Ash.

"Let's get ready."

Minutes later, they were geared up in tactical, bulletproof armour, armed with weapons. The hovercraft was waiting for them. The Elite Defence Squad buckle up, and the hovercraft takes off. Through the small window, they could see the damage done to the exterior of the island.

L O C A T I O N : R E B E L   B A S E , E M E R G EN C Y   B U N K E R
6 : 0 5 A M

"Lloyd. Lloyd!" The blonde rolled over and sat up, knocking heads with Zane. Wincing, he clutched his head, "What's happening?"

"They need you up top."

The two leave for the control room, where the screens were brightly lit up. Neuro was typing furiously, "I'm connecting this to the other villages, so we can get more people on our side."

Lloyd looked up to see Kai standing in rubble, his hands neatly behind his back, Clancee and Doubloon setting up the helmet-cameras. Dareth was with them, directing them. Frowning, he ran up the stairs, and outside, to see the entire front bombed down and destroyed. Skulls of Anacondrai snakes were scattered all over the place.

"Lloyd?" He shakily looked up to see Kai frowning, "Are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah...go on. I'll be waiting inside."

L O C A T I O N : R E B E L   B A S E , C O N T R O L   R O O M
6 : 1 9 A M

Lloyd's POV

I watch on the screens as Kai waits to go live. Zane taps something on the keyboard, and another screen pops up. Not from outside, but in a hovercraft. I see Nya, Skylor, Nadakhan, Dilara, Flintlocke, Griffin and Ash, "What's going on? Where are they?"

"They're the Special Elite Defence team I set up to rescue the rest of your squad." Nadakhan explained. "We're using Kai's broadcast as a distraction, so they could sneak into the Capitol unnoticed so they can get the hostages. Your mother's with them, for medical support."

"O-Okay..."

"Both are on audio, so we can hear them."

(Italics - Elite Defence Squad, Underlined Italics - Kai)

"Okay. We're live. Kai, off you go." Ronin spoke into the intercom. Kai nodded and cleared his throat. 

"Hello. This is Kaiden Smith, member of Wu's Resistance Squad. And'm coming to you from the Rebel Island that we're alive and well. We survived an assault from the Capitol, ordered by Chen. But I'm not here to give you recent news."

"Neuro's commandeered the system." Yang explained, as Kai kept talking.

"Now that they're down to generator power, there's a more limited range of frequencies available to them. And I'm filling them all up with Kai."

"Not many will see it, but whoever does will think it's another propo." Ronin mumbled

"What they don't know is this broadcast is jamming their entire system with noise. Early defence warning, internal communications, everything. As long as the broadcast goes through, our team should be able to get in and out undetected," Neuro continued. It made sense.

"...The truth. Not the myths about a life of luxury. Not the lie about peace, and fair rights for everyone. The moment you get a job in the Capitol, you're a slave to them"

On the other screen, I could see the Elite Defence Squad all in armour, brandishing guns and weapons.

"Dragon 1, Dragon 1, you are one minute out from perimeter defence." Zane spoke through the intercom.

"Going dark." The lights went low.

"Stay low in case they're online."

"President Chen used to sell me. Or my body at least. I wasn't the only one. He used his daughter too. It caused her to break all ties with him. The prettier, or the more handsome you were, Chen gives them off as a reward, or allows people to buy them. If you refused, he kills someone you love."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I'd always managed to escape this kinda stuff since my father worked at the same level, alongside Chen.

Ronin took the small mic. "Dragon 1, you are twenty seconds from perimeter defence...ten seconds...nine...eight...seven...six...five...four...three...two...one."

"No response from perimeter defence. We're inside Capitol airspace." Dilara informed. Looks like we dodged a bullet there.

"To make themselves feel better,  my patrons would make presents of money and jewellery. But I found a much more valuable form of payment: secrets."

"Gear up!"

My heart raced as I saw the squad in the hovercraft gear up. I saw Flintlocke give the signal that they'd arrived.

"Switching to night view."

"There. In that building."

"Command, we have visuals on Borg's Tower."

"Initiate final approach." Nadakhan ordered.

"Masks on!"

I stare at the team, as they pull masks to cover their faces, "What are they gonna do?"

"Teargas, and chloroform. To take the guards out."

"See, I know all the depravity, the deceit and the cruelty of the Capitol's pampered elite. But the biggest secrets are about our good president, Amoren Chen."

"Open the doors." The hovercraft was now above the roof of the tower.

"Command, this is the team leader. Prepare to deploy the gas. We will confirm once inside."

Biting my lip nervously, my eyes run from screen to screen. I watch as they shoot the cans of gas into the glass roofs of the building.

"Such a young man when he rose to power, such a clever one to keep it. 'How?' you may ask, did he do it? One word: poison."

"Get ready to drop!"

With the Elite Squad, I watched as they jumped off the hovercrafts, secured by harnesses, and into the building. They managed to get in undetected.

"He stopped every mutiny before it had even started."

Their feet touched the ground, and they were looking around. To us, it was pitch black, with hints of light, but they had night vision.

"Clear." I heard Skylor call out, before turning to check the other corners.

"Clear. Command, we're inside. Heading toward Target 1. Cell P45, lower level 2C. Gas."

The teargas hit the ground, and the gas spilled out, clouding up the place. They kicked open the door.

"There were so many mysterious deaths to adversaries. Even to allies who were threats."

The squad ran through the door, weapons loaded.

"Chen had ate the same noodles to deflect suspicion. But antidotes don't always work, which is why he wears snakeskin which reeks of leather. Helps cover the scent of blood from sores in his mouth that'll never heal."

I looked over at Yang, and even he too, looked surprised by this knowledge. Using red lights, the Elite Defence Team searched the areas, before coming to another set of double doors. Flintlocke slowly opened the door, and Dilara threw a gas can in there, before the door shut.

"Nya."

I watch as she gives a small nod, and they burst through the doors.

"But he can't hide the scent of who he really is. He kills without mercy. He rules with deception and fear."

The squad flooded the area, searching for the hostages.

"His weapon of choice is the only thing suited to such a man. Poison. The perfect weapon for a snake."

"What is this place?" Griffin asked. Suddenly, everyone in the control room jumped, as the lights flashed on, blinding their view. Sirens from that room went off. I felt my heart beat faster. "Zane?"

"I'm losing them..." he murmured, furiously typing.

"Powering back up." Yang said.

"Sir, the Capitol Air Defence system is rebooting. It's coming back online."

"Must be diverting power from another source." Neuro muttered, "And filtering transmissions. Another sixty seconds and we'll be cut off."

"Sir, should we call back the hovercraft?" Ronin asked Yang, who's eyes were fixed onto the screen.

"Broadcast me." I suddenly blurted out. Yang turns to face me. "If Chen's watching this, maybe he'll let the signal in, if he sees me. Put me in the air so he can see me."

Zane nodded, "Yes. Yes."

"Put him on." Yang ordered.

Ronin set the mic up "Can we do this? Can we still get in?"

"Yes, for the moment. The line's open. He'll only see you."

"Okay, Lloyd. Go." I see the mic pointed at me.

"Chen? Chen, it's Lloyd."

"There's no guarantee he's even watching." Yang murmured.

"I know, but he might be." Nadakhan responded.

"President Chen? I need to speak with you. Are you there? President Chen, it's Lloyd. Can you hear me? I need to speak with you. President Chen, it's Lloyd. President Chen. Are you there? Can you hear me?"

I give a desperate look at Ronin, and he shakes his head in defeat.

One more try...

"President Chen-"

(Italics - Chen, Normal - Lloyd/Zane, Underlined Italics - Elite Defence Squad)

"Mister Garmadon. What an honour." The screen focuses, revealing Chen, "I don't imagine you're calling to thank me for the skulls."

"I never asked for this. I never asked to be born into wealth."

From my side, I hear Zane trying to make contact with the team. "Flintlocke. Come in. Flintlocke?"

"I never asked to be the Dragon. I just wanted to protect the ones I love, and keep them alive."

"Come in...Dilara? Come in..."

"Please, just let them go. And I will stop being the Dragon. I will disappear. You will never have to see me again." I was slowly losing hope, but I had to try.

"Oh, little Luh-Lloyd."

"Someone, come in."

"You couldn't run from this anymore than you could've run from the Capitol."

"Copy. Command, I need a situation report."

"Guys, we're running out of time. Hurry." Zane ordered.

"Let's move. Split up. Djinn 2, Smokes, Turner, go together. Chen, Smith 2, you're with me."

"Copy that."

"Please. You've won." I am practically begging at this point, "You've already beaten me. Release my squad, and take me instead."

Chen simply shook his head tauntingly, "We're long past the opportunity for noble sacrifice."

"Then tell me what to do. I've always kept my promises, haven't I?"

"You said you didn't want a war. And that's just what happened. I told you what a fragile thing peace was. And still, like a child, you took pleasure in breaking it. I know what you are. I know you can't see past your narrowest concerns. But please, Mister Garmadon, I doubt you know what honesty is anymore."

"Command we're at the first target. Prepare to extract the twins. Will confirm when they're in hand." Dilara confirmed.

"Dragon 1, prepare hovercraft for evacuation." Zane quietly mumbled.

"You asked me to convince you that we were a happy family. Haven't I at least done that?"

"Mister Garmadon...it's the things we love most that destroy us. I want you to remember that I said that." A smirk grew on his face, "Don't you think I know your friends are in Borg's Tower?"

My blood runs cold.

"Cut them off."