***Okay, all! First off, this chapter kind of has a weird time gap. I typically write everything as it's happening, and if I need to pass time, I wait for a POV change. That's not the case with this one, but I tried to write it well. There's just so much information I have to pack into a ten-chapter book!

Some of this stuff may seem vague to those of you who haven't read "I Never Knew". If you want more info on what happens to Zane before PIXAL's POV, you can read Chapter 18 of that story.

Also, I get tonight and tomorrow off work! If I don't have this book finished by tomorrow evening, I should be posting the last chapter/epilogue on Saturday (no idea what time zones y'all are in, but it should be before 4 o'clock central time ;) ).***

***(Zane's POV)***

***Music Cue***

The past two days have been long and horrible. I've kept face for my friends, but I'm dying inside. I don't usually shy away from spending time with them, but I can hardly bear being in their presence right now.

What if it is really true that I'm an android? That...bothers me.

And I miss PIXAL. I avoided her all day yesterday at school, and I'm going to try avoiding her this morning. It's only made worse by seeing Jay and Nya suddenly happy together – at first, they seemed like a very unnatural pairing, but now...she really likes him, I believe. Whatever romantic notions she held toward Lloyd are dissolved.

If only my feelings could change so quickly. I can't forget about my theoretical robotic nature.

And I cannot forget about PIXAL.

I've come to terms with it: I believe I like her as more than just a friend. That is a first for me.

And with how much I like her, I'm sure it will also be the last time I have feelings like this. I connect with PIXAL on a special level. I don't think anyone else in the world understands me as she does.

Once again, I feel my mind wander to her. I should really be focusing on what's happened the past two days – Wu left, just like he said, and I'm supposed to lie to my friends about it. I can barely get a lie to leave my lips, but they seem to be buying it.

And last night, we had a close encounter with the Sons of Garmadon. Nya and Lloyd, while on a mission together, were tracked down by the gang. Thankfully, Cole, Jay, and Kai were able to back them up. I was supposed to be watching Chamille to ensure she didn't steal the master of mind's power.

I did not succeed. It seems Neuro has vanished.

I turn off my bike, readjusting my backpack over my shoulder. It's time for another horrible morning of –

"Zane!" yells a familiar voice.

I swallow hard, but stop in my tracks.

"Zane," PIXAL says again, catching up with me. "I tried to speak with you all day yesterday, but you never stayed in one place." Her concerned eyes study mine.

"I..." I have no respectable answer for that.

"It doesn't matter now," she frowns. "Zane, I'm so sorry for what happened with Mr. Borg the day before yesterday. You...were not supposed to read that book."

I shake my head, staring at the ground. "What did it mean?"

"Are you referring to...er...the design plan you found?"

"Yes." I begin walking toward the school.

"It meant...well, Zane...I think you know." She falls into step with me, chewing her bottom lip. "You and I...are not so very different."

"You think I'm a robot." All my suspicions are confirmed, and I sigh miserably.

"Yes, Zane," she whispers. "I do think that. I know that – I've known since the moment we met. But that doesn't change that we're friends, right?"

"I...I do not want it to," I confess. "I'm just not sure what to do with that knowledge – not sure what evidence I can find to back it up."

"You could come home with me today," she suggests. "I'm sure Mr. Borg could run some sort of test to prove your identity to you."

I debate on how much of the truth I should tell her. "I...that's another thing, PIXAL. I have not been entirely honest with you, either."

"I know," she nods. "I'm not sure what your dishonesty was about, but I could tell you were lying about your project to Mr. Borg the day before last."

"Yes. I...PIXAL..." In spite of myself – in spite of what Wu taught me about the secrecy of the ninja team – I want to trust her.

"What is it, Zane?" she asks, slowing to a stop beside me.

I turn to her. "I...my friends and I are...do you know of the six ninja?"

She nods slowly. "I believe footage was shown on the news after they defeated Lord Garmadon."

"You are correct. Well...my friends and I are those ninja."

She looks over my face. "You're telling the truth." Her eyes suddenly gleam with excitement. "That is incredible!"

I smile at her excitement. "Yes. The issue is...I cannot go home with you today. My teammates and I are facing a dangerous threat to our team – a gang called the Sons of Garmadon. Do not worry, they're only targeting elemental masters. However, that puts my friends and I in danger. None of us should be alone."

"But you are not alone," she reassures me. "You have me. Even though I am not programmed as a fighter, I know several fighting styles just by observation. They're recorded in my memory banks."

"You...do?" I ask, surprised.

She nods. "Mr. Borg likes Kung Fu movies."

"Oh. Well...I shall see about visiting with you after school, then." The truth is, I miss her, and I really can't bear to spend much more time around Jay and Nya. It hurts my heart.

"I will have to see if my team needs my aid," I continue. "The threat of the Sons of Garmadon seems to have escalated the past few days. If you have my back, be on guard around Harumi Jade and her friend Chamille. We are convinced they're involved with the Sons of Garmadon."

"You are referring to the bullies here?" she confirms.

"Yes. It appears they might actually be evil."

"Then I swear to protect you," she says resolutely.

"Thank you, PIXAL." I shake my head, unable to stop the feeling of dread that courses through me. "PIXAL...what if I am actually a robot?"

She traces my cheek with a finger, and I blink in shock.

"You thought no differently of me when you find out I was an android, correct?" she says.

I nod. "It scared me at first, but...I realized you are still a person."

"And so are you." She wraps me in a hug.

Something that was broken just minutes ago heals as she does.

First period is fairly uneventful. Right as I leave, however, I hear a chilling scream from down the hall.

I race toward the source.

Through a gathering crowd of students, Harumi Jade shoots me a panicked look. "She – what happened to her?"

"Whom are you referring to?" I frown.

She aims a shaky finger at the ground, and I look down.

Skylor is laying there, and she appears to be...having some sort of seizure?

I kneel down beside my injured friend. "Skylor? Are you...all right?"

I hear a familiar voice bite out a curse.

"Skylor!" Kai yells. He comes running and lands at her side.

I frown. "Kai? Why are you at school?" He takes online classes so he can run his blacksmith's shop and care for Nya.

He ignores me. "Skylor, are you okay, babe?" He runs his hands over her face, her neck, her arms.

"K-Kai," she manages, her body twitching.

"Call an ambulance," he orders me, his eyes full of wrath and worry. "Skylor, what's wrong?"

As I grab my phone and dial for emergency help, I can't help but notice that she doesn't respond.

This has to be the work of the Sons of Garmadon.

As I phone in for aid, Kai yells at every approaching student to get back and give Skylor some space. Her condition doesn't improve – she seems to be losing consciousness. Kai begs her to hold on.

I finish informing medical services of our predicament. By this time, the school nurse has come to see what the issue is. She can't do much good for Skylor, though.

"Please, Skye," Kai begs. He presses his forehead to hers. "Speak to me."

No answer.

I feel a hand on my shoulder and look up to see PIXAL.

"What happened to her?" she asks softly. "According to my scanners, she's falling into a coma."

I pale. "She...a coma? Her power – it must have been stolen. The power of mind, if stolen by the staff the Sons of Garmadon possess, can theoretically cause elemental withdrawals that attack the brain." I shake my head. "Do you know if she's all right?"

"It appears her mind is still intact, just...shut off."

I shake my head, then speak up to gain Kai's attention. "She's in a coma."

He releases a strangled noise, grasping her hand close to his chest. "Please, Skye, don't – don't leave me."

"Her mind is protecting itself from serious damage," PIXAL tries to explain. However, Kai is too distraught to hear her.

Sirens wail from outside, and several medical officials rush in with a stretcher.

"I'm going with her," Kai chokes out through tears in his eyes. "I – I have to go with her. I'm riding the ambulance. Don't be alone, Zane." He shudders. "You've seen w-what it did to her."

"Don't worry," PIXAL assures me, wrapping her arm around my shoulders. "I will be sure neither you nor your shoes shall come to any harm."

***(PIXAL's POV)***

By the time Zane leaves after lunch, his anxiety seems to have dissipated. In its place is...sorrow. I can tell he feels very deeply for all his friends.

As it turns out, he was the only one from his team left at school after the power-stealing incident. It was only he and Nya who attended classes today – and, of course, Skylor. And the dark-haired boy who chased down Nya and Lloyd a few days ago – Kai – came, but apparently, he does not belong to this school.

But Kai left with Skylor, and Nya apparently went home after all that happened. If it weren't for me, Zane would be alone.

Well, he isn't technically alone now. When school let out a few hours ago, he said his team was regrouping. Unfortunately, that means I'm not with him.

That leaves me at home, worrying about him. I saw what happened to Skylor. What if Zane's elemental power is stolen, and he has a similar reaction?

I hear a knock on my bedroom door. "PIXAL?" Mr. Borg asks.

I sigh. "You may come in."

He opens the door and wheels himself inside. "Are you...all right? Did I make a mistake in your programming upgrade a few days ago? You came straight to your room after school, and you haven't come out once."

"I'm fine, Mr. Borg," I reply. "Just worried."

"You're worried?" he asks. "How so?"

I explain to him all the danger Zane and his team are facing. I know Zane wanted me to keep it all secret, but I trust my creator with it. He won't divulge anything.

Come to think of it, he accidentally revealed Zane's identity as a robot so many times. I just hope this is different.

When I finish, my creator looks down at me with concern and...something else I can't decipher.

"PIXAL," he says softly, "I apologize for ever believing you weren't as real as me or any other human."

"It is true, though – I'm not real."

"Yes, you are. I just didn't realize it before." He shakes his head sadly. "I'm afraid I've failed in that regard. I apologize, PIXAL."

"You...apologize?"

"Yes. And...I wanted to let you know..." He pats my shoulder. "I wanted to let you know that I've come to see you as more than a robot – I see you as my daughter."

"Daughter." I try the word out on my lips. It's foreign, but...good.

"PIXAL, why don't you call Zane and put your worries to rest?" he smiles. "I'm sure that as long as he's with his team, he'll be just fine. And let me know if there's anything I can do to help them."

"Okay," I say, a slow grin lighting my features. "Thank you, Mr. Borg."

"You may call me 'dad'."

"D-dad." I shake my head. "No, that does not sound right. May I call you...'father' instead?"

"Yes, PIXAL," he beams. "I would love for you to call me that." He wheels himself out of my room.

I pick up my phone and tap on Zane's contact. I asked him to exchange phone numbers with me earlier, just in case we were separated at school. He seemed too upset to think logically. I took on that task for him.

"PIXAL?" he asks, his voice subdued.

"Yes, Zane, it's me. How are you? Is your team all right?"

"We're all physically fine," he sighs. "I was just about to call you, myself. I...I just completed a mission with Jay and Nya to get information on the Sons of Garmadon."

"Okay." Why does he sound so upset? "What happened?"

"We went to the village of Stiix to visit Ronin, a second-hand shop owner. He...had a copy of my father's journal." His voice becomes quiet. "I looked through it, PIXAL. It – I have a memory switch. I found it on myself. I...I remember everything." He chokes on the last word.

"You remember your creator?" I ask sympathetically.

"Yes. H-he even called himself my father. He loved me, PIXAL. And he died." His cries sound on the other end of the phone.

"I'm so sorry," I gasp. "And to have forgotten all that...oh, Zane! Where are you right now?"

"I'm at the monastery," he sniffles. "The team is staying there for the night. Please, PIXAL, I...I can't tell them everything yet. I need you."

I leap off my bed. "Where would you like me to meet you? Is it all right if I come to your hideout?"

"I...can we meet at the Ninjago City library? That would be more private."

"Of course." I gather my things from my room. "I'll be there in less than fifteen minutes. Don't be sad, Zane. I am here for you."

"Thank you, PIXAL," he whispers. "Thank you."

***AAAAAAAAAAAH, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! THE ANGST! But it least Zane and PIXAL are on good terms again ;)***