But Lloyd shook his head vehemently.
The sound of footsteps echoed from around the corner. The entire crew of the show was bearing down on them.
“There’s no time, Jay. Just give it to him!”
Torn, Jay chucked the box to Pythor.
The snake laughed as he caught it with his tail … and released the sandbags anyway!
“No!” cried Jay. He lunged forward and grabbed Zane. Amazingly, the heavy prop pinning him down seemed to grow lighter, and Jay was able to pull his friend away easily.
Jay and Zane both rolled out of the way a moment before the bags smashed to the ground. Sand exploded everywhere, filling the air.
“Quick!” Lloyd called through the cloud. “We have to escape — now!”
Following Lloyd’s lead, the ninja dashed out the backstage double doors before Gayle Gossip’s crew could spot them leaving through the cloud of dust.
Kai melted the lock on the door behind them. Everyone coughed.
“I don’t believe it,” Jay groaned. “We had the temperature gauge in our hands, and now it’s about to go live on national television.”
“What a catastrophe,” Nya groaned. “Okay, everyone, what do we do now? Anyone have any brilliant ideas?”
Lloyd winked … and pulled out the Thermodynamic Temperature Gauge from under his sleeve!
“Because it had to look convincing,” he said.
“Is that …” started Jay.
“The temperature gauge!” cried Kai. “I’ve never been so happy to see a metal toothpick!”
“When Pythor spotted us, I swapped it out for an ordinary piece of metal I brought from the Bounty,” Lloyd explained. “I had a feeling we’d never get that snake to give up on his fifteen minutes of fame. So I took a page from his playbook and changed tactics.”
“Do you mean Pythor’s about to go on television and reveal a normal metal toothpick that can’t do anything?” asked Kai.
Lloyd shrugged. “Well, I guess it can clean his teeth.”
“That’s why the prop was so light when I grabbed Zane!” Jay realized. “You used your powers after all!”
“Yup!” said Lloyd.
“A very logical decision,” Zane said approvingly.
The ninja all laughed.
“Let’s head home to the Bounty’s big-screen television,” said Kai. “I want to watch the look on Pythor’s face when he realizes what’s happened. In HD.”
The next morning, the ninja headed to the Ninjago Museum of History. They chatted about Gayle Gossip’s show the night before.
Pythor was livid when he realized he’d been duped. Luckily, Gayle Gossip made it look like revealing a fake piece of the BorgWatch was planned all along.
Some fans were angry. Others thought it was hysterical. But after all was said and done, Pythor’s “fifteen minutes of fame” ended up turning into nothing more than a blip on page fifteen of the Daily Dish tabloid.
“I’ll never forget the look on his face when Gayle pretended to clean her teeth with the toothpick.” Jay cracked up. “Priceless!”
The ninja stepped through the Kozu-shaped hole in the wall to find Dr. Saunders bustling around the museum storage room, gathering space heaters and blankets.
“Ah, ninja!” the doctor exclaimed. “I was wondering where you were being. You said you would have the parts to fix my thermostat yesterday, yes? The temperature is all wrong! It must to be fixed immediately.”
“Do not worry, doctor.” Zane stepped forward. “We have come with the replacement part, as promised.”
Using his Nindroid expertise, Zane quickly fused the Thermodynamic Temperature Gauge into Dr. Saunders’s broken thermostat. The technology melded perfectly, and the thermostat kicked on once more.
“Hooray!” cheered the ninja.
“Oh, thanking goodness.” Dr. Saunders dropped the heap of blankets.
“Pretty nifty little piece of technology, huh, doc?” Jay asked happily.
To his surprise, the doctor scowled.
“I despise technology,” Dr. Saunders said.
The ninja blinked. But the cloud passed from Dr. Saunders’s face as quickly as it had appeared. “But I am supposing that for once, yes, it is of benefit. Keeping all the corridors in the museum at perfect temperature.”
“Actually, it’s kind of warm in here.” Kai tugged at his collar. “It’s starting to feel like a sauna in here. Zane, maybe check that the temperature gauge is working right.”
“No, no, it is working fine,” Dr. Saunders assured them. “Perfect comfort. Just right for base — I mean, museum patrons! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have much to clean.”
Lloyd looked around at the mess still remaining from Dareth’s fight with Kozu. “Guys, we have to help Dr. Saunders clean up his museum,” he said. “It’s only right.”
“More work?” groaned Jay.
The ninja gave him a look.
Jay sighed. “Fine. I’ll get the mop.”
As they were leaving, Zane noticed a large hourglass sitting on a high shelf.
“That is an interesting antique, Dr. Saunders,” Zane commented. “It appears to be the only glass item that did not shatter.”
Dr. Saunders followed Zane’s gaze. “Ah, yes, indeed,” he said, nodding slowly. “A very old hourglass. Very special.”
Dr. Saunders ushered the ninja out from the storage room. Before he left as well, he turned to look up at the hourglass.
“Very special,” he repeated quietly. “I’ve been marking time by it for many years now.”
Only Dr. Saunders recognized a hum in the museum basement vibrating through the storage room floor.
He smiled. Then he shut the door.
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First printing 2017
e-ISBN 978-1-338-13525-1
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