Pixal's P.O.V.:

It had been 4 days now since the kids went missing, and Zane had spent those four days in the lab searching the area around the island near which they disappeared. He was searching for any kind of distress signal, beacon, marker, anything that could tell us if they made it to shore, but he had gotten nowhere.

I wanted to find our son too, but Zane had been standing in the same spot for days looking for them. I had tried to get him to do other things with me. Play chess, watch TV, make our favorite meals, but nothing was working. I was starting to get worried about him.

"Zane?"

He turned around to see me standing behind him.

"Oh, hi Pixal." He said looking back at the screen.

"Zane, I'm concerned about you." I frowned.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"You haven't looked away from that screen for four days straight. Don't you want to take a break?"

"Why? I am a nindroid. I do not require rest."

"I am aware, however you do seem frustrated."

"I am not frustrated! I just..." He blurted out, but then he sighed. "...I just want to find Alex."

"I want to find him too, but this method of searching is getting us nowhere." I put my hand on his shoulder.

"I can't give up now. I'm so close."

"I never said anything about giving up, I was suggesting you take a break."

"Our son is stranded on a deserted island and you want me to take a break?"

"Yes, I do!" I said sternly. "I know that finding Alex is important, but I have been so distraught about him missing and I have barely seen you in four days. I feel like I've been going through it by myself when we should be facing it together."

"I... I am sorry Pixal." Zane frowned and turned off the screen. "I have been working nonstop to distract from my grief about Alex, but I must admit it is eating away at me. I did not realize I was also ignoring you in the process. Can you ever forgive me?"

"I already have." I took his hand. "We need to face this together."

"I know."

Zane and I gave each other a hug. It had been so long since I was able to hug him like this. It was so nice to be able to hug him again.

Skylor's P.O.V.:

I was hard at work in the my office trying to come up with a list of any potential suspects of who may have wanted to hurt Lloyd and Kira, but in this case Lloyd had so many enemies it was harder to narrow it down. None of the suspects I looked at had that tattoo on their ankle Kira told me about, so it couldn't have been any of them, but it was also possible one of them payed someone else to do their dirty work. If that was true I would have to interrogate everyone which would take a lot more time than we have.

I continued to do research when someone knocked on my door. I told them to come in and Kai walked in a bag of food.

"Hey babe." Kai said.

"Kai, what have I told you about visiting me at work?" I sighed.

"Well I just thought you would be hungry." He showed me the food and sodas.

"Ok, you're forgiven." I smiled.

I rolled my chair to the other side of the desk and Kai and I got the food out to eat. I didn't want to admit it I really needed some brain food after getting nowhere with the case.

"So how is it going?" Kai asked.

"It's impossible. None of the potential suspects match the description that Kira gave me about the tattoo." I sighed.

"Are you sure someone didn't pay someone else out to do that?" Kai frowned.

"The problem is forensics didn't collect any DNA that we didn't already know about and even the footprints at the scene are so generic they can't trace them." I sighed. "Unless someone sees the news reports and calls it in, I have nothing."

"This person is obviously trained to cover his tracks." Kai said. "I'm pretty sure it's not his first crime."

"Well then he's never been caught either. I've already gone through the criminal records and there's no one with that tattoo."

"Wait, let me see that picture Kira drew." Kai said.

I pulled out the case file and handed him the drawing. He looked intently at it, almost like he'd seen it before.

"What?" I asked.

"I know I've seen this symbol somewhere in the city." Kai said still staring at it.

"Wait, I think I have too." I realized.

I looked at it even longer and finally something clicked.

"Onyx!" I shouted.

"What?"

"Onyx. Organization of Ninjagian Year-round  Exports." I told him while I typed in the computer. "It's a cargo ship company that has that black snake as their logo. See?"

I showed him the picture of their logo on my computer and compared it to the drawing Kira gave us. It looked almost exactly the same.

"What a coincidence." Kai said.

"It's not a coincidence, it's a lead." I smiled. "We need to go investigate that place."

"How? These are experienced criminals, they aren't going to answer to a cop."

"True but they might answer to someone who wants to join their gang." I looked at Kai.

"I walked right into this one didn't I?" Kai sighed.

"Yep." I nodded. "You need to go undercover at their headquarters to see what you can find out."

"You mean I get to help you on a mission?" Kai said excitedly. "Yes! The red ninja is back baby!"

"Just try not to blow it ok." I sighed.

"Yes Ma'am." Kai saluted.

Kai's P.O.V:

Skylor and I set up a plan to see if her hunch was right. I called the place from a pay phone and said that I wanted a job there and we set up an interview. My job was to go undercover and gain some intel on the company.

She was giving me a ride over to the docks where the Onyx headquarters was. I was already in my sailor disguise.

"Alright, the place is just around the corner." Skylor said pulling the car over. "Just get in, learn what you can, and get out before people get suspicious."

"Ok but why did you park a block away?" I asked.

"So they won't see our car." She said handing me an ear piece. "Here put this in. That way I can hear what you hear."

"Are you sure this going to work?" I asked.

"It has to, because if it doesn't than this case goes cold."

"I won't let you down."

We shared a kiss and I walked to the docks. The guy told me to meet them inside the warehouse. I did the secret knock he told me about and I was let into the building by a burly man.

"Ahh, you must be here for the interview." He said in his raspy voice.

"Yes sir." I said.

"I'm Jerry, I'm the head manager here." He shook my hand.

"I'm Kai... le... Kyle. Yep that's my name." Shook his hand back.

I could hear Skylor sighing in my ear piece.

"Right this way." He said.

Jerry took me into the warehouse and we walked to the back. On the way I looked at all the pool tables and the karaoke stage.

"I thought this was a cargo ship company." I said.

"This is just the break room." He said. "We like to spoil our employees in between shipments."

"Oh, looks like fun." I said. "Can you hear me ok Skylor?" I whispered into my ear piece.

"Loud and clear." She said. "And don't use my name, you'll blow our cover."

"Oops, sorry." I said.

"About what?" Jerry said.

"Oh, um... I thought I stepped on your foot but, I didn't." I shrugged.

"Ok." He turned around still confused.

"Nice save hotshot." Skylor said in my ear.

I groaned and kept following Jerry into his office. It was a small room with a desk and a chair and pictures of past employees on the wall. Nothing really seemed out of the ordinary, but as I looked down on his ankle I saw the same tattoo Kira showed us. I didn't ask about it, but it definitely was concerning.

"So how long have been working here?" I asked.

"40 years and counting." Jerry said. "It's a good gig. Health insurance, flexible schedule, good pay."

"Well that sounds good." I said.

We kept doing the interview and he asked me some pretty basic questions about my past jobs and stuff like that. I had no intention of taking the job for real, but I was trying to sell that I wanted it. Even if I was trying to get it, the only two things on my resume was birthday party entertainer and fast food employee so my chances were slim anyway.

"Well, I think that's all I needed from you. Do you have any questions for me?" He asked.

"I do have one." I nodded. "That tattoo on your ankle. What does that mean?"

"Oh, everyone who works for Onyx over ten years gets one of these." He said.

"Kai, ask how many people have them." Skylor said in my ear after a long silence.

"And how many people have one?" I asked.

"All of my old buddies from my first crew have one." He pointed to a picture on the wall. "There's probably a lot more out there, but that's all I know of. Why do you ask?"

"Oh I was just curious." I shrugged.

"Alright well I'll give you a call if anything comes up." He said. "Come on, I'll walk you out."

"Ok." I nodded.

Jerry walked out of the room. Before following him, I took a picture of the photograph of him and his crew. Hopefully that would help Skylor with the case.

I caught up with the guy and he took me out the door. We said our goodbyes and I started the walk back to Skylor's squad car.

I was about halfway to the car when I heard someone yelling from an alleyway.

"Help! Help!" A young man shouted.

Obeying my ninja instincts, I knew I had to help. I ran into the alley and looked around, but I couldn't see anyone there.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" I yelled.

"K... Kai? You're... b-breaking... u-up..." Skylor's voice came through my ear piece static.

All of a sudden a group of thieves jumped out from behind a dumpster and proceeded to attack me. I tried to fight them off but I was outnumbered and they managed to kick me in the ribs and pin me to the ground.

"W-What do you want?" I coughed.

"Stop getting in our business ninja. You have been warned."

They roughed me up and I felt something hit me in the back of the head. The last thing I heard was a police siren before I passed out...

Skylor's P.O.V.:

Kai's signal went dead on his earpiece and I couldn't track his phone. I knew something had to be wrong.

I took my car and backtracked the route he was taking. I knew that alley where thugs would hang out so I went there first. When I arrived at the scene, I found Kai laying in the middle of the alley. I ran to him with my first aid kit.

"Kai!" I checked his pulse. "Kai can you hear me? Kai wake up."

I tried for a few more minutes and then he finally clinched his teeth and opened his eyes. I was so relieved he was awake.

"Skylor?" Kai sat up slowly and held his sides. "What happened?"

"You were attacked." I told him. "Are you hurt?"

"A few scrapes and bruises but nothing too bad." He kept holding his sides.

"Come on, we're not safe here."

I helped him up and noticed he looked dizzy and was limping a little. I helped him into my car and sat him in the front seat so he could relax. I put his seatbelt on him and then I drove him back to the hotel. He was quiet for most of the ride.

When we arrived I got him into the room and sat him the chair. I got him some ice packs and wrapped his head and ribs in bandages.

"Skylor, I think they took my phone." He frowned.

"That's ok. I'm sorry I sent you in there." I frowned.

"In there wasn't the problem." He frowned. "They actually seem like pretty decent people, I think the person you're looking for isn't a part of Onyx, at least not anymore."

"Did your attacker have the same tattoo they did?" I asked.

"Maybe. I didn't really get a good look at his ankle." Kai said still holding his head.

"Are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital?" I frowned.

"No, I'm fine." He said. "Plus Lloyd is there and I don't want to freak him out."

"Ok but if you start feeling worse let me know ok?"

"Ok." He nodded.

"Did he say anything to you?" I asked.

"He said something about a warning and to stay out of his business. Whatever that means."

"Did he look like the man Kira described?"

"I didn't get a good look. I took a few pictures on my phone, but they took it before I could send them to you."

"That's ok. Now that we know Onyx isn't the one behind it, I can go in there and see if there's any ex-employees that might have been fired or held a grudge against the company."

"So, we have enough to figure out who did it?" He asked.

"We're definitely getting somewhere, but we need more evidence." I said.

I kept pacing the floor trying to think of how to get more answers. I looked over at Kai and he kept holding the ice pack on his ribs and he looked like he was pain, but also very sad. I sighed and sat down next to him, rubbing his back.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I just... I hope the kids are alright." Kai frowned.

"Me too."

Lloyd's P.O.V.:

I was in the hospital with Kira, as I have been since what happened. She had been improving a little. She was able to talk now but she needed a wheelchair most of the time to get around. All the doctors said she'll eventually get back on her feet, but it would be quite a while before that happened.

Something else I still haven't told her about was the attempted murder case. Yeah she answered Skylor's questions, but she still thinks it was a robbery gone wrong. With the kids still missing, I just didn't want to freak her out more than she already was.

The doctor wheeled Kira back into the room from physical therapy and I was there to greet her as always.

"Hey Kira. How did it go?" I smiled.

"She's making some good progress." The doctor said. "If you like, you're well enough to go home with regular visits."

"R-Really?" I asked.

"Yep, all of her tests look good and with the progress she's made, there's no reason she can't be treated as an outpatient."

"What do you think Lloyd?" Kira asked me.

I didn't know what to say. I didn't feel safe going home with that guy still out there, but I couldn't tell her that.

"Well I'm glad you're getting better, but maybe it's best if you stay here a few more days." I said.

"What? Why?" She frowned.

"I'll let you guys think about it and then come back in a few minutes." The doctor said leaving the room.

"Ok, you've been acting weird since I woke up. What's going on?" Kira said.

"I just want to make extra sure that you're ok." I said.

"Lloyd, I'm a nurse. If I wasn't ok I would know. Now please tell me what's bothering you."

"Nothing."

"Is it because you miss the kids?" Kira frowned.

"Yeah, that's it." I sighed. "I just don't think going back to that big empty monastery is a good idea."

"Honey I miss them too, but we can't stay here forever." Kira held my hand. "I know it's hard but we just have to power through and trust that they're ok."

"Kira we... we can't go home."

"Why not?"

"BECAUSE SOMEONE IS AFTER ME!" I yelled.

Kira was shocked by the volume I used. I took a few deep breaths to calm down and sat down in a chair. Kira rolled over to me in her wheelchair.

"That's why Skylor and Kai were asking me so many questions, wasn't it?" She asked. "This wasn't a normal robbery, this was..."

"Attempted murder." I frowned. "That's what Skylor thinks anyway."

"Why does she think that?" She asked.

"They didn't hurt anyone else or take anything." I said. "There's not really another explanation."

"So that's why your afraid to go home." Kira frowned. "You're afraid he'll find us."

"I don't know if he's after you, or shot you because he couldn't find me, but either way he's after us." I frowned. "I have a feeling he's not going to stop until he finishes what he started."

"Skylor doesn't have any leads?" Kira asked.

"Not that I know of." I shrugged.

Just then I get a text from Skylor:

>>>>>>>>>***Lloyd's phone***<<<<<<<<<

Skylor: Hey Lloyd. Big
break in the case.

Lloyd: What happened?

S: We matched the tattoo to
a shipping company down
by the docks. I sent Kai in
undercover to check it out.

L: Ok what did
you find out?

S: Everyone who worked at Onyx
for over 10 years has that tattoo.
All we have to do is find someone
who got fired and holds a grudge
against the company.

L: Why would they be after
me and Kira though?

S: I don't know, but now
that we can narrow down
the suspects, we can figure
it out.

L: That's great. Thanks
for the update Skylor.

S: I wish it ended there. 😔

L: What do you mean?

S: On Kai's way back, he
got mugged in an alley.
We think it might of
been the same guy.

L: What? Is he ok?

S: He's a little roughed up but
he should be fine. They took his
phone and warned him to stay
out of his business and knew
that he was a ninja. I think the
others should be on their guard.

L: Ok, I'll warn them. Thanks.

S: Stay safe Lloyd.

L: You too.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I looked at Kira and showed her the messages on my phone. When she was done reading them she gave it back to me.

"That's good that have some leads." She said.

"Yeah, but it's what happened to Kai that bothers me." I frowned. "Now he's not just after us, he's after the other ninja too."

"You better call and warn them."

"I will, but I'm also worried about you." I frowned. "When I saw you on the ground covered in blood I... I felt terrified. I had never been so scared in my life. I thought I would lose everything and I can't go through that again."

"It's alright." Kira nodded and grabbed my hand. "We'll stay here one more night and head to your dad's place in the morning."

"I don't want to put them in danger too." I frowned. "We need some place more secluded, like your old treehouse."

"Lloyd I've just now gotten to the point where I can take a few steps in a straight line. There's no way I could climb into that treehouse in my condition."

"Oh, right." I frowned. "Well don't worry, we'll think of something."

"Yeah." She nodded.

I stepped into the hallway and called all my friends to tell them what Skylor had told me. Hopefully they all would stay safe.