On a String

Chapter 10

Kai waited half a minute before also leaving the table, heading for the training room. He had a lesson to prepare for.

And, the training room was right next to Sensei Wu's quarters.

"...And I'm saying, I made a promise. I'm not going to tell anyone else what he said. No disrespect intended, Sensei."

Sensei Wu had designed his quarters to be a peaceful place. Colourful woven mats, wide windows and burning incense gave the room a light, airy, meditative feel. With his arms folded and face set stubbornly, Cole looked out of place.

Sensei Wu clasped his hands behind his back and turned to face the window. "I understand the position that you are in, Cole. But you're the only one who has gotten close to Kai. I need you to get answers from him and report back to me. You also need to tell me all that he has told you so far," his tone was regretful, but also firm.

Cole shook his head. "I can't do that. I promised him I wouldn't do that,"

"By refusing to do so, you are putting everyone else on board in danger. We need to know as much about them as possible if they are to be stopped. Kai's our best source of information. He got far deeper into the group than anyone else we know," Sensei Wu said, looking out at the stretch of dry sand, wishing things were not so complicated.

But wishing would do no good in solving the matter at hand, so he dismissed the regretful thoughts. "All of Ninjago is at risk from this group. We owe it to the people to do everything we can in order to make their city safer. I don't like asking you to do this, but it really is our only hope,"

"Sensei, I can't," Cole protested.

"Others will die. Those that don't die will live in terror. You cannot refuse to do this,"

"I can't accept, either,"

They had come to a stalemate. Student and teacher stared at each other, each refusing to back down.

"Kai is your student," Cole reasoned- sticking to his guns. The Earth is strong and can be stubborn. Mountains don't just get up and move because someone asked, after all. "You know how badly he's been affected by this. We can't do anything to make him worse. He needs to be supported and reassured, not treated like an uncooperative source of information,"

Sensei Wu's eyes closed tiredly. "I know, Cole. But he is also our only hope,"

It takes a long time for a mountain to erode and Cole was not ready to stand down. "Shouldn't we be trying to help him, then? The only reason he trusted me in the first place was because I assured him I wouldn't say anything to anyone else. How will it look if I break that promise? He won't trust anyone again. He'll break. We'll lose our brother! And, we still won't have any information on this group and therefore can't help the people. It'll be a lose-lose situation," Cole debated.

Sensei Wu turned around, wrinkles creasing into a thoughtful frown. "Cole, you cannot lose a thousand lives while you attempt to save one,"

So, this was what things came down to? An equation? Cole walked closer to his teacher. "I'll compromise with you, Sensei. I don't report anything to you, but when I'm making a strategy I'll keep his information in mind. It means that you'll have to trust my judgement and follow any decision I make. But it is a win-win solution because we can still stop the group and I won't be betraying Kai. The last thing he deserves is betrayal,"