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[Toatapio Nuva]

Forgotten Destiny is a story created by the imagination and creativity of multiple people. Collected and assembled from posts made in the popular Bzprpg game of Bzpower, this tale is unlike any you have ever read before. Rich with unique characters and storylines, this book provides you with a very special reading experience.

The assembler of this book, Toatapio Nuva, would like to thank everyone involved in the making of this story, both for their interesting characters and their contributions to the story. Permission has been asked from every contributor and they have been credited for their work in the character list. This book wouldn’t exist if not for them. Minor edits have been made here and there to blend the posts together better, but nothing major.

Credit should also be given to the TV series Quantum Leap, which has inspired the fashion of time travelling of Henkka and Alex. Although the idea of time travelling for these characters existed without Quantum Leap, the style of correcting past mistakes has been greatly inspired by the show. The story itself is competely original, however, although some of the biggest fans of Quantum Leap might find a few treats here and there.

But now, let us move forward to the actual story. Most of the chapters are already finished, but I'm still checking them for spelling and so on. I'll publish chapters every now and then, but no long waiting periods. Enjoy!

Reviews are much appreciated


Credit to Reznas Nuva from the Shattered Mask Productions for this poster.

Characters

Here's a list of the characters featured in this epic. Note: Some characters I have not yet got permission to use, because their creators have not responded to my PM's. If they sometime PM me and tell me not to use their characters, I shall remove them. If the creators have anything to ask or comment about this list, please PM me.

Henkka – A time traveler who fights to save and bring hope. Finding himself possessing an evil Po-Matoran with two names, Henkka must struggle against the evil Xa-Kuta to save a Matoran from being converted to evil. Created by Toatapio Nuva

Alex – An evil time traveler who brings pain wherever he goes. Possessing an Onu-Matoran adventurer named Maa, Alex finds himself facing a group of Marines and their allies. Created by Toatapio Nuva

Tapio – A simple bar assistant who has been dragged into adventure through his new friend, Rylus. Created by Toatapio Nuva.

Lux – This brave Po-Matoran flies his pet Nui-Rama, Phantoka, to battle. Created by Emissary to the Void.

Syryn – Former worshipper of Makuta who now fights as a Toa with his plasma powers. Created by Emissary to the Void.

Rylus – A loyal Onu-Matoran who won’t think twice about saving his friends from trouble. Created by Zakann the Diabolical.

Zoma – An Onu-Matoran with a role even he cannot suspect... Created by Zakann the Diabolical.

Wahkua – An evil Inquisitor tasked with fighting the forces of light and spread darkness. Created by Zakann the Diabolical.

Stronin – A Toa of Iron thief about to discover a new adventure. Created by Hubert: Crimson Lord

Lohkar – This Toa-like Lesterin pirate fights both with and against the law. Created by Ghosthands

Kalama – The quick-decisive captain of the Marines of Ga-Koro. Created by Kalama and Ta Rahkshi

The Marines – Brave and resourceful protectors of Ga-Koro. Created by Kalama and Ta Rahkshi

- Lei: A playful navigator who read the winds better than any Le-Koroan.

- Hotu: Strong and quick-witted Deck Hand.

- Juno: Quiet and experienced Helmswoman.

- Nuraka: The proud shipwright of the team.

- Kali: First mate.

- Nala: Ninja-like Night watch.

- Maya: Fisherwoman and Doctor.

- Yuni: Cook with a strange accent.

- Tanuka: A Toa of Water who does her best to live like Nokama and Gali.

Nighting – Powerful Toa of Lightning who uses his Kanohi Kualsi to confuse enemies. Created by Noble Knight Bio Beast.

Agarin – This Toa of Sonics makes your head ring. Created by Toa the kid

Knidia – A strange Toa of Water with a tail instead of legs. Created by The Power That Is.

Kozai – A powerful and eager Toa of Stone. Created by NeoThunder.

Scurra – A muderous Toa of Ice pursued by Kalama’s Raiders. Believing to be fulfilling Mata Nui’s wishes, this mad Toa has a sick sense of humor and cruel ways of murdering his victims. Created by The Mask (permission not granted yet)

Hirvi - A whimpy Matoran who lacks respect towards Mata Nui. Created by Toatapio Nuva.

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Feb 03 2012 - 06:45 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Note: This prologue is not connected in any way to Bzprpg. It has been written by Toatapio Nuva as a way of giving some sort of an introduction to Henkka and Alex and their origins.

Prologue

“Stop him! Stop that Matoran!” Tapio shouted. But it was too late.

Alex activated his brilliant creation and started to glow brightly as a star. Then he grew larger and larger... while the three Toa, trapped on the platform, shrunk. When it was over, the light faded... and revealed the new Alex. He was now slightly taller than a Toa and looked very powerful. Hot energy crackled in his hands. The three Toa on the platform were no longer Toa. They had been ripped of their powers and had turned into Turaga, without destiny allowing it.

“No...” Tapio said and looked at Alex. Alex laughed malisciously.

“Now, I have succeeded in my task... now I’m ready to rule, to conquer... to get hold of this land and many others. And that is excactly what...” Alex was interrupted by the building shaking hard. The walls of the chamber crumbled as a Toa flew in. This Toa was not just any Toa, however. Alex knew this one. It was Henkka, his arch-enemy.

“That is excactly what you’re not going to do”, Henkka said, voice filled with determination. “For it is my destiny to make sure of that. I am Toa Henkka!”

”Henkka! What’s happened to you! You’re a Toa!” Aino, Tapio’s littlesister shouted happily. At the same time she felt grim, though. Henkka was the only one who had a chance against Alex now. If he fell...

“I have come here to end your plan for good”, Henkka said at Alex.

“You have no chances!” Alex shouted. “I have the Vahi... nothing can stop me! YOU wont stop me!”

Alex readied an energy ball of swirling hot flames in his hand, while Henkka readied his spear and shield. Before either one could attack one another, however, the earth began to shake. Actually, it seemed as if the whole universe was shaking.

The whole universe did shake.

Everyone in the chamber fell on the floor. Through the broken walls, however, they could see what was causing the earthquake. It was very staggering. The sea had gone mad, giant whirpools forming and disappearing by turns, the sea level rising and lowing! The whole world was shaking with amazing force, bringing down even mountains. Some parts of their golrious homeland were completely flooded by giant waves of water even as some shores were completely drained of it. A huge tidal wave washed across all existence.

Then everyone could see it. It was very, very far away, but still. An enormous head rose from the depths of the sea far away, destroying an island in the process. The earthquake got stronger as something even more gigantic and huge rose from below. The sea went crazy as the largest thing anyone had ever known rose from underneath it, rising high above the clouds.

Then it stopped.

It was deadly quiet for a moment. Aino stood up first and looked at the incredible giant standing on the sea in the distance. Only the feet of this magnificent being were visible, the rest reached above the heavens themselves. Pieces of earth and rubble were still falling off it, into the ocean.

“Wh-What-What is... What is THAT?” Aino asked.

“It’s not a that, it’s a who,” Henkka said with worry in his voice. “It’s the one we have been waiting to awake for centuries. Mata Nui has risen.”

“Ma – Mata Nui?” Matoran Hordika, a partly mutated Matoran breathed, amazed.

“Yes... but this is far from good!” Henkka said.

“What do you mean?” Tapio asked. “If he’s awake...”

“No... it is Makuta who they have awakened”, Henkka said grimly.

“Makuta?”

Suddenly everyone saw something flashing in the giant. Next, a small glowing object became visible in the sky, until it vanished somewhere in space.

“What was that?” Aino asked.

“Just as I feared... Makuta has taken control over Mata Nui’s body and the Matoran Universe. He captured the REAL Mata Nui’s spirit and put it into the Ignika, the Mask of Life. Then he banished him out of his own universe within the mask... so that he couldn’t defeat Makuta.” Henkka explained, striken with horror.

“Well, looks like you failed at that one!” Alex snarled, still holding the Kanohi Vahi. Everyone turned to face him. They had almost forgotten the existence of this evil being. “As Makuta controls the Matoran Universe, I will control everything outside it! Including this land and many others!” he said. Then he inserted the Mask of Time into the machine he had built and turned it on.

“You already saw what the machine could do”, Alex sneered. “Now, powered by the Vahi, it will make my strength multiply tens of thousands of times. And when that is ready, I will trap all of you between seconds forever until the world is mine.”

“NO!!” Henkka shouted and fired protodermis at Alex. Alex unleashed a burst of energy to cancel Henkka’s attack and grabbed his greatest enemy. “After all these years, it is I who will live on to see the future”, Alex growled, starting to squeeze Henkka and smothering him with his newfound powers. Henkka wasn’t giving up, though. He used all his might to push Alex outward. Alex’s grip held on to Henkka and both of them fell on the powerful machine. On impact, energy started swirling around the Vahi, Henkka and Alex at the same time. Time itself seemed to come to a stop as all three wavered in the air and seemed to fold upon each other. Then a blinding burst of energy flashed in front of the astonished eyes of Tapio, Aino and the others. Then the Vahi, Alex and Henkka disappeared, as one, swallowed who knows where.

“What was that? Where did they go?” Aino asked.

“I have no idea”, Tapio said, turning to look at the giant standing in the sea. “But I’m afraid we have a problem of our own.”

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Jan 04 2012 - 02:40 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 1

Henkka had gotten used to the sensation of being transferred to another place over time. He had also learned that every new situation he was teleported in would be a surprise. All he could do was hope it wouldn't be dangerous or something that required quick acting.

As the energy of the transition faded, Henkka found himself kicking a Matoran strapped in vines. The Matoran rolled over in pain. Henkka gasped and jumped back.

A quick examination showed that he now inhabited a stout Po-Matoran body. By the feel of the mask on his face, Henkka deduced that it was a powerless Komau. He was in a cave with the strapped Matoran who was also a stone type.

Henkka's mind raced. What had been going on before he had arrived? Was the person he now controlled evil? Or was he rescuing the Matoran he had kicked? That didn't seem right. Perhaps the hostage was evil and his “host” was showing him the error of his ways?

All Henkka could do was say, “Um, you alright?”

Not a good start.

The Matoran on the ground groaned and looked up at his attacker in hatred and cursed.

“Whaddya think?! I'm starting to think you have gone insane! Gah, you cool dude!”

Lux didn't like his emotions disrupting reason, but this was beyond reason. “You release me, you lousy Xa-Kuta, and I'll grind you into the floor with my bare hands!”

Henkka was quiet for a while, trying to analyze what he had heard. He had no idea what a Xa-Kuta was. He assumed it was the name of his “host”. It appeared he and the kidnapped Matoran were enemies. Although, that was probably obvious already.

If I'm evil..., Henkka thought. I might as well release him. If I'm good, then I'd better keep him tied up. Whatever I choose to do, it will probably be dangerous to set him free. He'll kill me if he can.

He turned to the kidnapped Matoran. "Um... you think I'm gonna release you after what you just said? I have some instinct on self-protection. If I release you, will you promise not to... grind me... to dust?"

The Po-Matoran seemed rather surprised. And no wonder. Lux was pondering about Henkka’s words. Why would Paha let me go? And why would he be afraid? he thought, confused.

“Fine, I promise if you release me I won't grind you to dust,” he said.

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Jan 04 2012 - 08:53 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 2

As the red energy faded, Alex started looking around where he was now. His last “trip” had been an eventful one. It had been such fun eliminating those poor miners. Not to mention dooming the villagers into an eternity of being ruled by a hostile gang.

This new place seemed familiar. It was Po-Koro, a village on the island of Mata Nui.

Alex looked around. Matoran were living their everyday lives and the sun was shining. So typical. Alex would have to start from scratch.

Trying to get used to the Onu-Matoran body he now inhabited, Alex walked on, looking for any weak spots in the everyday lives of the Matoran.

*

Nearby Lohkar left his Hammer and Chisel in a hurry, promptly followed by an ale-glass that shattered against his back.

”And stay out, ya piece of sea-slime!” yelled the angry bartender.

It's not fair, thought Lohkar. How can I help it if my fingers steal stuff while I'm not looking?

A group of Po-Matoran traders had recognised him, and nobody had heard anything about the murderous Toa of Ice he and his quarry were looking for. On the bright side, Lohkar had managed to have a good few drinks before the bartender noticed that he was pocketing more money than he was paying.

Now, Lohkar decided to try to find Turaga Onewa, to try to find his companions, or at least inform the local Turaga of his current pact with the Koros.

As he walked across the busy square, he spotted a familiar mask in the crowd - Maa's. Maa was part of the company searching for the murderous Toa of Ice.

”Maa!” Lohkar called. The Matoran didn't reply, or even seem to hear him. He just kept walking, a little jerkily. He looked almost as if he were drunk - but Lohkar didn't think he was the drinking sort. Lohkar frowned. Something seemed to be the matter with Maa. Maybe it was just one of the side-effects of having been infected. Few days ago, Maa had been attacked by a Kraata while deep underground. If not for Lohkar and the other members of the company, Maa would’ve become a servant of Makuta for a long, long time.

All the same, it was odd, so Lohkar began following the Matoran at a discreet distance, watching him closely but not obviously.

*

Alex walked around in Po-Koro, with no clear destination. He was simply looking for something he could ruin. He had ruined a lot of lives, a lot of great Matoran works in his time. This alternate Mata Nui would be no exception. Besides, if he didn't do it, he would probably be stuck here forever. And that was out of question.

For a moment, Alex thought about Turaga Onewa. Maybe if he assasinated him, he would get away from here and on to the next world? Could he do it?

Alex rejected the idea. Killing a single Turaga wouldn't be grand enough. He would need a genocide at least, or...

I need information first, Alex decided. He tried to stop Matoran walking around to talk with them, but everyone seemed busy. All except a Toa-like pirate being in the crowd, who was giving looks at him every once in a while.

Alex quickly went over to the pirate. Being in the body of an Onu-Matoran, Alex doubted his “host” would personally know anyone in this village. He took a tourist's approach. “Hello there”, he said to Lohkar. “It's a hot day again, isn't it? Didn't think it would be THIS hot. I would've stayed in Onu-Koro if I knew.”

Lohkar raised an eyebrow. Before he could even think of an answer, a random Po-Matoran landed at his and Alex’s feet. A Ga-Matoran followed and landed on top of this Matoran, assaulting him with a frying pan and screaming at him to take back something he'd said about Mata-Nui. Another Ga-Matoran rammed her way through the crowd apologising and was trying to pull the fanatical Matoran off the poor sod. This wasn't easy due to the crazy Matoran's wild swinging.

After the three seemingly random Matoran had left the scene and the shock of the unexpected event had passed, Alex found himself being intrigued by the motive of the Ga-Matoran who attacked the Po-Matoran. It was something about saying something bad about Mata Nui. Alex would keep this interesting point in mind.

Lohkar finally got the chance to answer Alex, reminding him of the situation at hand. “Aye, the weather's oddly warm for a desert. And what might your name be?”

Alex turned back at the Toa. Or the pirate. Whatever he was. Maybe both. His mind raced. This being was asking what his name was. Alex knew his own name, of course, but couldn't use it in another person's body. His host no doubt had a different name, and Alex didn't know what it was.

”Who cares about names?” Alex said, not being able to think of anything more original. “Now, I'm just looking for some news to deliver back to my village. Ya know, on recent events and so on. Even some older news will do. After all, we Onu-Korans live in a cave. Get it?”

Alex chuckled a bit at his joke. Lohkar frowned at him. Something was definitely wrong. He wasn't sure whether Maa had simply lost his memory, or had developed multiple personality disorder, or was - Artakha forbid - was being possessed.

Lohkar decided that the time for subtlety was over.

During his voyage between different lives, Alex had seen and experienced a lot of things. He had destroyed the dreams and hopes of various beings. He had seen horrible places that would've turned someone more weak-minded insane. He had inhabited beings that were completely innocent and he had inhabited embodiements of evil itself. Yet, he had never been attacked by anyone in the middle of a conversation between two strangers.

Lohkar had jumped on Maa. This act had come out of nowhere, with no way to predict it. Alex's senses told him he should fight and kill the maniac, but then remembered that he would have to act like his host would. The problem was, he didn't know anything about his host, except for the fact he was an Onu-Matoran with a Kanohi Arthron.

”Crazy person, get off me!” Alex shouted in anger.

Lohkar was thin, but still heavy enough to pin the Matoran to the ground. He simply lay on top of Alex. ”Nope”, he replied cheerily, his arms crossed. “I'm not movin' 'til you tell me your name.”

“My name?! What do you want my name for?!”

Alex struggled against Lohkar and cursed in his mind. This weak Matoran body he was inhabiting didn’t exactly give him an edge in strength. At the same time he wondered why this being wanted his name so badly. There was something wrong about all this.

”Get off me. We're gathering looks. The Po-Koro guard will be here soon. Won't be easy to explain to them why you randomly jump on tourists.”

Lohkar stood up, and grabbed the Matoran's upper arms, lifting him bodily off the ground.

”I want your name because I already know it!” roared Lohkar in Alex's face. “Who are you? What've you done with my friend?!”

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Jan 04 2012 - 12:38 PM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 3

Wandering aimlessly through the darkness. Blind. Senseless.

How long have I been here? Zoma wondered, summoning all his willpower to form a cohesive thought, Why am I here?

A hollow, whistling wind was his answer, like a breeze passing through an ancient tunnel. And yet Zoma felt no movement in the dank air.

Before he could begin to ponder any further, a booming yet strangely muffled sound attacked his senses. Twisted, unrelenting, Zoma lost focus on everything else. It was a voice, albeit totally unnatural and garbled. It was some sort of foreign language, perhaps, spoken backwards, heard underwater through a fierce tide. The distorted words were impossible to make out, but brought with them a demanding desire to be heard, to be heeded. They were commands, warnings of a disastrous outcome should they not be followed.

Zoma tried to scream, but managed only a pathetic whimper. The distorted voice responded, louder and more savage than ever. Zoma could barely understand the foreboding words.

No one will save you. You are mine.

*

Without saying a word, Henkka began to untie his prisoner. While he was doing it, he asked “Um, would you remind me why I tied you up in the first place?”

Lux laughed humorlessly. “You really don't know? Number one, you're insane. Number two, you worship Makuta. And number three, I don't.”

“Makuta?” Henkka breathed. “I - I serve the Makuta? Where is he?”

Lux ignored the apparently insane Matoran and slowly got to his feet, rubbing his wrists to get the circulation back. He gathered his belongings, taking care not to keep the sword too far from his hand. “Now, if you don't mind, I'm going. See ya.”

Henkka quickly ran to Lux, being careful not to make a hostile move at him. “Um, mind if I join you? Um, like, I regret everything I've done. I really do. I just want you to remind me why we're enemies. Then you can take me to the police, the guards or whatever. Just give me answers.”

Lux whirled around and pinned Henkka against the wall. “Okay buddy, drop the act. I know you're a Xa-Kuta, you know you're a Xa-Kuta. So, shut up.”

Henkka's, actually his host’s, confused face made Lux stop for a moment. Could it be...

'”What's your name?” Lux asked, suspicion filling his thoughts.

Henkka was startled by the aggression of his prisoner. He had seemed calmer before. Also, he was talking about A Xa-Kuta. Did that mean his host's name wasn't Xa-Kuta?

”What's your name?” Lux repeated. Henkka thought about what he would answer for a while.

”I - I thought you said it was Xa-Kuta... what IS Xa-Kuta?” he asked. He knew he was being careless, but he had to do something.

Lux almost stumbled backwards. What the Karz was going on?

“Okay, this is weird. Xa-Kuta is the magic that the Xa-Koronans use. They follow Makuta, fanatically. Don't they teach this to you in Evil 101?”

Lux looked this situation over and over in his head. Something weird was going on.

Henkka thought about the situation he had gotten himself into as well. He also thought about his mission. Perhaps it was to surrender to the guards or something? One thing was clear - his host was evil. There was no doubt about it.

He knew he had already made big mistakes concerning him being believable in his role. His former prisoner knew there was something wrong with him. Henkka couldn't give up. He would have to regain his believability.

”Oh, of course, THAT Xa-Kuta”, he exclaimed. “Sure, I know that... I've just always called it by a different name... excuse me...”

Henkka thought hard about his next actions. If he was evil, he should do something evil to cover his real identity. Then again, maybe he had been teleported here to stop his host from doing evil deeds. He went with the latter option.

”You know, I'm not feeling well. Could you take me to the nearest village or city?”

Lux still wasn't sure about this guy, but as they say, better to keep a Doom Viper by your bed than to have it lurking about.

“Very well,” Lux said, “But first...”

Lux grabbed one of the vines and began to tie Henkka's hands behind his back. “Just for security.”

Henkka was a little stunned, but understood the precaution. He had been in many battles and had had to face evil so many times. The only thing that worried him was that if his mission didn't involve surrendering his host to the guards... he might remain in jail, trapped forever.

He tried to forget the possibility and simply said: “Alright. But not too tight.”

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Jan 05 2012 - 02:13 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 4

So, Alex thought as Lohkar kept holding onto him. Wrong approach. Again.

Alex decided to try something that had worked before in this kind of a situation.

”Okay, you got me”, he said. “I was just joking. Seems that my prank was successful.”

Lohkar looked around at the people staring at him. Had it just been a prank, or was something really wrong with Maa? Whatever it was, Maa still wasn't talking normally; something about his tone was different. And Maa had seemed the quiet, not the joking, type.

He slowly put the Matoran down.

”All right, nothin' to see here!” he called to the onlookers. “My friend was just playin' a little practical joke.”

When they had gone away, he turned back to Maa.

”An' why, exactly, did ya feel the need to play a prank?”

Lohkar was acting as though he was merely annoyed with the Matoran for causing him to make a scene. In fact, he wasn't nearly convinced that Maa was as he should be.

“We all need a laugh every once in a while, don't we?” Alex replied, trying to sound cheerful. “Now that I'm done with my little joke, we might as well continue what we were doing before. Right?”

Lohkar suddenly had an idea.

”Well, where were you plannin' on goin' next, Ihern?” he asked. “I tried the tavern; not a sausage. Maybe we should regroup with Kalama.”

Lohkar was a brilliant liar, and disguised the trick perfectly. Which was exactly why Alex took the bait. He had learned to store away all information he could get while being in another person's body. He remembered even the most unimportant things he was being told and he would use that memory to achieve his goal in the end. Lohkar had just called him by name. Ihern appeared to be the name of his host. That information was most useful.

”Um, yes, I think we should regroup with him”, Alex said, unaware of the fact he was being fooled.

No sign of recognition at Kalama's name, thought Lohkar. Hesitation while speaking. And he didn't realise I called him Ihern. Conclusion: Maa's not himself. Literally.

Out loud, he said: “Right then, let's get goin' to Onewa's hut. That's where Kalama said ta meet, if I remember rightly. Actually, can you quickly buy some extra water flasks for the group from that stall? We'll need 'em ta get back.” Lohkar was careful not to give the Matoran too much information, just in case. He tossed him a couple of widgets. “I need ta talk ta the Turaga ASAP, to tell 'im I won't be sinkin' any more of 'is ships.”

He gave Alex a roguish grin, and began to walk in the direction of the Turaga's larger-than-usual stone hut, on a side-street off the square. Alex looked at Lohkar as he left. There was something peculiar about him.

Alex didn't let it bother him. Instead, he made his way to the stall Lohkar had pointed at and bought some water flasks with the money he had been given. He had felt an urge to take the money and run, but then remembered he couldn't do anything he wanted here. There was a mission he would have to achieve.

Once Lohkar turned the corner and was out of sight, the pirate began to run, Matoran jumping out of his way. Several shouted at him, but he paid no attention.

Outside Onewa's hut, he found Kalama.

”Kalama!” he hissed urgently. “Something's wrong. REALLY wrong.”

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Jan 05 2012 - 02:00 PM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 5

In the jungle of Le-Wahi, Rylus, Tapio, Syryn, Tuuli, Rohkea, and Vira had just ventured to search for Lux, who had been kidnapped by an evil Po-Matoran. The rescue-party had already run into some trouble. Six Nui-Jaga had sprung from the underbrush, snapping their claws viciously, venom dripping from their jaws.

”We have a Toa-hero with us now!” Rohkea, a Le-Matoran, shouted, “These Rahi-beasts are no match for us!”

Rylus hoped having a Toa with them would be enough. Their squadron had barely escaped last time, and that was with far more soldiers. Then again, Syryn, being a Toa of Plasma, gave the group an edge.

Tapio, a Ko-Matoran, could only scream at the sight. Having worked all his life as the assistant of a bartender, he was not too acquainted with fighting. True, he had been through several battles with his new friend Rylus, but he still wasn’t very experienced. He was about to freeze in shock. No! he thought. I will not freeze this time! Rylus almost died once because I did so. I must act! True to his thoughts, Tapio took out his bamboo disk and hurled it at one of the Nui-Jaga. The beast blocked the attack with it's tail.

“CHAARGE!” yelled Tuuli, another Le-Matoran. Rohkea was the first to use his Volo Lutu to remove one mask of an infected Nui-Jaga. The Rahi beasts advanced.

Syryn, the Toa of Plasma, was amazed at the Matoran's bravery. Or their stupidity. The Toa probably would have hung back, but it was too late now. He too ran at the Jaga, hurling a ball of plasma at the first one. It hit the scorpion in the face, causing it to fall back, stunned and in pain.

“Use launchers and disks! Keep some distance!”

*

Who is Lux?

The question had burrowed itself into Zoma's mind as he hacked away at the ore. Was Lux a better friend than Zoma? A better fighter, perhaps, or more brave?

And how did I end up back in Onu-Wahi, anyway?

Just as he realized something was out of the ordinary, a torrent of ferocious water slammed into him with incredible force, sending him into a daze as he was carried away.

Washing up on the shores of an unfamiliar beach, Zoma picked himself up and spat out salty seawater.

”I get it,” he said aloud, “I must be dreaming. I'm just imagining all this since I can't seem to get home and stay there. But if I'm not in Onu-Koro, where...”

He didn't get to finish his sentence, as a massive wave the likes of which he'd never seen rose from the ocean and came crashing down, snuffing out Zoma's senses.

He woke up on the jungle floor, surrounded by infected Rahi.

*

Lux marched through the Le-Wahi jungle, Henkka in tow. While he wasn't actually on a leash, Lux was keeping a close watch on him.

“So, since there's not a whole lot else to do here, might as well ask: What was your life like?” Lux wasn’t sure himself why he’s asked that.

That was a most unexpected question, Henkka had to admit. The mention of life brought memories to him. Ever since his arch enemy, Alex, had dared to tamper with unbelievable forces of the universe and technology, Henkka had been traveling around in different worlds, doing tasks to help the Matoran. The thing was, he had to do it inhabiting other people's bodies. He had sometimes controlled great beings of power, and sometimes, mostly, powerless Matoran bodies. But whatever the body, he would have to succeed. The problem was, he never knew what he was supposed to do. Made things considerably harder.

”Eventful”, Henkka answered. Suddenly he saw something ahead. A Matoran was lying on the ground, with infected Rahi all around him. ”Untie me!” Henkka shouted to Lux. ”He needs help! Untie me so I can help!” Lux seemed unsure about what to do. Henkka yelled louder. ”DO IT! NOW!”

Lux wasn't sure why he did what he did. Maybe the reaction was engrained in him deep down. But whatever it was, he did it.

He cut the bonds.

“Distract those Ramas!” Lux yelled, “I'll grab the Matoran!”

He sprinted for the Matoran, waving his sword around in the air, trying to drive the bugs away. It was up to Henkka now.

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Jan 06 2012 - 01:49 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 6

The Toa of Ice named Scurra sighed as he walked away from Po-Koro. He expected that those following him would have moved faster. Unfortunately his pursuers he had left long ago, so instead he had sent a messenger.

The Toa that would relay the message awoke, the female Toa of Ice dusting herself off. She started to walk, discombobulated due to the assault of Scurra some hours earlier.

*

”Masks and weapons for sale!” shouted a voice repeatedly, trying to catch someone's attention and sell something to them. Alex couldn't ignore those words. He turned and saw Kozai, a Toa of Stone, along with his trade caravan.

Masks and weapons? thought Alex. Perfect. All my stupid host has are disks and a pickaxe.

Alex walked over to Kozai. ”Hi there. I'd like some weapons. What have you got? I've got 15 widgets.” The 15 widgets were remnants of what Lohkar had given him.

“Happy to have a customer at last”, Kozai said. ”Well, I've got a blade, a shield and a powerless Calix. The blade's 10 widgets, the shield's 5 widgets and the mask's 10 widgets.”

Alex thought about what to buy. The Calix was powerless so he couldn't use it, although being a Matoran, he couldn't use a Mask of Power anyway. It would be an ideal disguise later on, though. Still, if he chose the Calix, he couldn't afford the blade, which he really wanted.

”I'll take the blade and the shield”, he said to the trader. ”Unless you're willing to drop the price of the Calix by 50%.”

”Fine then, so you want the Calix if I drop the price by 50%? Here then, take it”, Kozai said as he handed him the Calix. ”That'll be 5 widgets.”

”All right. Blade and Calix for 15 widgets then?”

Alex handed the trader 15 widgets and took the blade and the Calix.

*

No sooner had he exited the hut than Kalama was nearly run over by Lohkar. ”Whoa Pirate. Where's the fire?”

”Kalama!” Lohkar hissed urgently. ”Something's wrong. REALLY wrong.”

Kalama widened an eye. ”I noticed. You nearly ran me over and I hear Yuni screaming from here. Let's go see who's she's pinned and you can tell me about it.”

Lohkar shood his head.

”No, no, Yuni's just attackin' the usual 'heretic',” he said, clearly very tense. ”Somethin's wrong with Maa. He acted like he'd never seen me before, an' he was talkin' oddly.”

”Oh? Talking oddly how?” Kalama asked.

”Hey, you three,” Knidia, a peculiar Toa of Water with a strong tail instead of legs, interrupted. ”Agarin's found a friend, he wants us all back together.”

Before Kalama could respond to that statement, a female Ice Toa stumbled out of the crowd and, with a squeal, tripped over him.

”Ow! Watch it!” Kalama snarled at her. The Toa sat up, stammering an apology. Kalama wasn't listening. His eyes locked onto a healing wound in her stomach. The cut looked vaguely like...

A laughing Hau.

*

Minutes later at a Po-Koro Footman holding facility, everything was straightened out. Kalama and his group had regrouped. The female Toa of Ice had managed to sob out her story and Tanuka was comforting her.

”Okay group, huddle, Maa I said huddle! Get over here!” Kalama barked at Alex, who was looking around him. He was trying to analyze and read the beings around him. Kalama was a Matoran, a pushy one in Alex’s opinion. For a moment he wondered why Lohkar would follow a Matoran, then shifted his focus on the Ga-Matoran Marines. The Marines followed Kalama as well. They were Lei, Hotu, Juno, Nuraka, Kali, Nala, Maya, Yuni and Tanuka. Tanuka was not like the others, but rather a Toa. In addition to Kalama and the Marines were Lohkar, the sly pirate, Agarin, the calm Toa of Sonics, and of course Maa, an Onu-Matoran. Alex had no idea why such a peculiar group had been formed, but he would find out.

”Alright,” Kalama started. ”Thanks to our kidnapiee here we know a little bit more than we previously did. Better yet we know where he's going next. By the sound of it we only missed him by hours, meaning we're hot on his tail. That's a good thing, I hope, because if it means we're closing, he may not kill anyone.” He paused. ”From what I can tell, our victim's story matched with the note. He obviously thinks he serving as a Toa but he's doing it in a rather twisted way.”

”If I may Com. 'e saounds loike Nuraka when she's oof 'er rockar. Ownlee permanant”, Yuni said with her strange accent.

”What's wrong with Nuraka?” Hotu asked.

”Nuraka was paart of a grrooup tat was takeen ein da Thurd Greet Tarakava rade. The pour lass wassn oonder Makoota's contral fer moonths. She and a feuw oothers whent maad when tey were freed froom teir infeected masks by the 'Orginenal Marieens'.”

Hotu's eyes went wide. ”Kotu, Lanora, Kali, Maya, Opthor, Alya and Pertha right? I remember that! Every Recruit gets taught that in 'Marina'.”

”Rioght. Tey've since caalmed doon but Ah naow tat wheen Nuraka tinks she's beeing taken back she freeks oot. Oi woodn't antagoonize 'er Hotu. Nuraka gets viaoloont when she freeks oot and gets diffacult to controll. Ih saounds loike seein' 'is frrends doie did ta same to 'im.”

”I see. I'll ask Maya when we get a chance about it”, Kalama said. ”I've heard about Xa-Koro. We'll have to get a message to Thessa and see if she knows more about it and why this Toa decided to have a crack at it.”

Kalama got Alex’s entire attention with that word. Xa-Koro. Alex had never heard of such a Koro. It sounded mysterious and evil. Alex made a mental note to find out everything about this additional Koro.

”Big sis?” Hotu asked. ”What would she know about some Koro that we're not even sure exists?”

”Because it's rumored to be located in the Kumu Islets and Thessa is the CO at 'Rockwall' which is in the same region”, Kalama replied. Once again, Alex memorized this information. Xa-Koro in the Kumu Islets.

”Woosent Lei statiooned at 'Rockwall' oonce?” Yuni asked.

Kalama nodded. ”Yes but now we're getting off the subject. We'll figure out why this Toa went after Xa-Koro AFTER we catch him. Pity nether Toa got our psycho's name... Anybody have anything they'd like to add before attempting to object to going to Onu-Koro and seeing if we can cut off our quarry there?”

*

The Toa of Lightning named Nighting wandered through the Po-Wahi desert. Where am I? he thought as he walked. It was hot and dry. He was getting desperate, he had to get to the town in the distance. Activating his mask he quick-traveled to the town gate, and fell to the ground.

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Jan 07 2012 - 02:21 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 7

Zoma was in the middle of a curious situation. He had woken up from an unusual dream in the middle of a clearing, with no idea how he had arrived there. More peculiar, however, was the assortment of Nui-Rama and Fikou that surrounding him. Even stranger, the beasts did not attack. They simply formed a barrier around him, making it impossible to escape, but clearly they had been instructed not to harm him.

And now, before he could intervene, Lux rushed into the clearing, waving a weapon around, scattering the Rama. He looked familiar to Zoma, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Where had he seen him before?

Of course! At the village, when Rylus arrived. Just before Lohkare had knocked him out, he had seen this Matoran in the crowd. But why was a Po-Matoran in Le-Koro? He had only seen one other here so far, and that was Lohkare.

”Who are you?” he asked as the stranger approached, still drowsy and dazed from his fitful sleep.

*

Two of the six Nui-Jaga had been subdued, but that only served to make the others angrier. Vira had already sustained massive damage when a large rock, knocked loose from a stone structure by the tail of a Nui-Jaga, fell onto him and broke an arm. Tuuli ordered him to get back to the village, and he reluctantly did so.

”We've still got them outnumbered,” Rylus encouraged, dodging a blast of venomous acid, ”It's five to four, and we've handled way worse odds than that!”

Even as he said this, Rohkea was flung into the distant foliage by a monster's tail. Rylus glanced in the direction his companion had been thrown periodically for the next few minutes of the fight, but Rohkea didn't return. A Nui-Rama flew overhead as if from nowhere, but did not attack. Where had that come from?

”Did you guys see that?”

Tapio was filled with adrenaline. He threw disks at a rapid pace and used his Volo Lutu furiously against the Nui-Jaga. He had never been like this before, but the pressure was getting at him too. A Nui-Jaga lost both of it's mask. Just then Tapio looked at what Rylus was pointing to, the Nui-Rama that had appeared.

*

Henkka ran fast. His host had only disks, but that would have to be enough. He had battled several Rahi before, this was nothing new to him.

The peculiar thing was, the Fikou and the Nui-Rama weren't attacking the Matoran lying on the ground.

Henkka charged at a Fikou. The Rahi noticed it too late, and was flung at another Fikou by the newcomer. Henkka rolled and flung two disks with blinding speed towards a Nui-Rama, hitting both of it's mask. A Fikou charged, but Henkka kicked it, knocking off it's mask. Had Henkka turned to look at the expressions on Lux’s and Zoma’s faces, he would’ve seen them filled with awe and wonder at what Henkka had just done. After all, Lux or Zoma had never seen Henkka’s host fight with so much skill before. Lux acted quickly, grabbing Zoma. Henkka saw it and smiled. Things were finally going his way.

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Jan 07 2012 - 10:25 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 8

Lohkar frowned as Kalama hastily laid out his plan to his group. Oh, bugger, thought Lohkar. There goes my cunning plan...Darn Kalama, why couldn't he just listen to me?

Alex fingered the powerless Kanohi Calix in his hand, thinking about when he’d get the opportunity to disguise himself by switching his mask. Lohkar glanced at him and noticed the mask, wondering about the reasons he had bought it for. Then he reached out and snatched the Arthron off Alex’s face.

”I'll be havin' that back, thanks, now ya've got yerself a replacement mask,” he said, revealing to Alex that the Arthron hadn’t actually been Maa’s mask.

Alex was startled by Lohkar snatching off his mask. Darn, he thought. I was supposed to use the Calix as a disguise later on...

With no other option, Alex put on the Calix. The mask turned from dull grey to black. Alex was becoming suspicious of his ”friend”, Lohkar. It was almost as if he knew something Alex could not allow. The thought brought up something in Alex’s mind. The Matoran that had been attacked earlier by another one. The incident had taken place during Alex’s first discussion with Lohkar. The poor assaulted Matoran had said something bad about the Great Spirit and the attacker was shouting at him to take it back.

Alex had memorized what this Matoran looked like. He was a Po-Matoran, with a tan Kanohi Akaku. If Alex could find him, he would be an ideal ”ally”. Anyone who would say bad things about Mata Nui would be fine.

Kalama was discussing the move to Onu-Koro with his group, but Alex was getting impatient.

”How long is this going to take?” Alex idly asked Lohkar. Before the pirate could answer, Alex shrugged, ”Oh, nevermind. I'll just go take a stroll. I'll be back in just a moment.”

Alex started wandering around Po-Koro, looking for the Matoran wearing an Akaku who’d been attacked earlier. He met Bour, but noticed it wasn't the right Matoran. Finally, on a yard, he found whom he was looking for.

The Matoran was sitting on a rock, carving a small carving. He didn't notice Alex approach. When he did, he fell off the rock with a scream. Then he got back up and looked at the visitor. He wasn't the maniac he'd been attacked by before. ”Um, hello?”

Alex thought carefully about his first words. ”Greetings. I saw you being attacked by that crazy Ga-Matoran marine. What exactly did you say to offend him?”

The Matoran was quiet for a while, before answering. ”Nothing much. I just...” he was quiet again. Alex looked hard at the Matoran. He was clearly a whimp, but Alex would no doubt be able to mold him into a villain of his wishes.

”Come with me”, he said.

”What...?”

”Come with me. I have a task for you.”

*

Nighting woke up in the gates of Po-Koro. He was amazed that no one had stolen his things. Summoning all his strength, he heaved a large bolt of lighting into the air, hoping someone would notice and help.

*

While Alex lead the confused Po-Matoran, who had reluctantly introduced himself as Hirvi, towards where Kalama’s group stood, Alex saw the bolt of lightning in the sky. Determined to find out what it was all about, Alex left Hirvi with the others, claiming him to be just additional help for their cause. Before Kalama or Lohkar could protest, Alex ran towards the gates of Po-Koro. He found a Toa of Lightning, dying from thirst. A dying Toa, at his feet. He kneeled and whispered in Nighting’s ear. ”Shh. Rest. I will help you”, he said. He then grabbed the Toa's arms and started pulling him away from the Po-Koro gate... away from Po-Koro. ”Keep your eyes closed. Keeping them open will waste precious energy.”

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Jan 10 2012 - 04:20 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 9

Wahkua perched on a high branch, overlooking Le-Koro below. He was flanked on both sides by several Mages.

As a Xa-Kuta Inquisitor, it was his job to hunt down those who avidly opposed the rule of Makuta and subjugate them immediately. Luckily, Le-Matoran were famous for not being able to keep their mouths shut, and Wahkua had been able to discover there was an entire squadron of Rahi fighters in this region. In fact, one of these foolish leaks was with him now.

”I want names,” Wahkua snarled, dangling his prisoner over a bone-shattering fall, ”How many are there?”

”I already told you everyone I know!”

”Don't be ridiculous. Five Matoran? They would never take on Makuta's legions, unless they were incredibly brave or incredibly suicidal. I know you're keeping secrets.”

”Fine, fine, there are more, but I don't know their names! I never even got a good look at them, they left before I could see very many clearly!”

Wahkua grinned, looked back to a Red Mage, and gave a quick signal. The Mage pulled another Matoran from a shroud of leaves and thrust him out over the edge.

”Then obviously, you must not know this scoundrel, right? So you won't mind if my companion here loosens his grip?”

The Matoran under question said nothing. His eyes were fixed on the other captive. That was all the proof Wahkua needed; they were indeed acquaintances.

”Interestingly enough, he mentioned your name when we asked him about that little group of rebels. But surely, he's just trying to save his own skin, isn't that right? Drop him.”

Before Wahkua's prisoner could react, the Mage released the other Le-Matoran. The rebel plummeted down to the swamp below. So far did he fall that his scream was never cut short, merely fading away.

”Don't you see?” Wahkua growled, cutting off his captive before he had a chance to speak, ”We already have everything we need. The last step was finding you, just to be sure our previous guest of honor wasn't trying to pull anything funny. Turns out, he was telling the truth. Your reaction said it all.”

He took a dramatic pause to lift one finger from the prisoner's throat.

”You, however... You were less than honest with us, and I have little patience for liars. Very. Little. Patience.”

Wahkua took one last look into the Le-Matoran's terrified eyes, and released his grip.

”Send my regards to Karzahni!”

He bounded down to a lower branch, followed closely by his gang of Mages.

”We'll find five more of them somewhere in Le-Wahi! They ventured out on foot, so they couldn't have gone far. It may be a big jungle, but no jungle in the world is big enough to find respite from the Xa-Kuta!”

*

Syryn looked around and saw that the Matoran couldn't hold out for long. It was time for some improval.

He summoned his plasma powers to heat the ground below the Nui-Jaga scorpions. It slowly melted into mud, the Jaga sliding into the bog. It wouldn't hold them for long. An area that large, the power was pretty spread out.

Out of the corner of his mouth he said, “When I say run, run!”

Rylus was impressed with Syryn's plan. Nui-Jaga were not especially good at climbing, so this hot bog was a great diversion. Still, he was worried about Rohkea.

”Hold them here, go on with your plan if you need to,” he whispered to Syryn, ”I'm going to find Rohkea.”

Syryn was less than pleased with this, but Rylus had made his decision. He couldn't leave his fellow soldier behind. Hoping he would find the Le-Matoran alive, he rushed in the direction Rohkea had been thrown.

*

Lux grabbed the Matoran named Zoma and hauled him to his feet. “Can you run?” he asked gruffly while casting a nervous glance at the encroaching swarm of Rahi.

Zoma nodded weakly as his rescuer hoisted him to his feet. As his eyes adjusted to the dim jungle lighting, he got a good look at the other Matoran for the first time.

”That's him!” he shouted, ”That's Lohkare! Then... Are you Lux?”

”That's me, but I don't know any Lohkare. This freak calls himself Paha”, Lux answered.

Suddenly, a disk sped through the air, barely missing Lux's head, and embedded itself in a thick tree behind the two Matoran.

”Y-You didn't plan that, did you?” Zoma inquired. He feared that the worst case scenario may have just gotten worse.

Henkka had noticed the disk as well and turned around. He didn't have time to think about the names ”Lohkare” and ”Paha” the two Matoran had mentioned.

”Quick! Get him behind a tree or something!” Henkka yelled at Lux, referring to Zoma. Henkka took out a disk and prepared for whatever might come next.

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Jan 15 2012 - 03:43 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 10

Nighting said nothing as he was being dragged away from the gates of Po-Koro. He kept his eyes open, just so he could tell where he was going. If this person didn't give him water soon he'd die, and usually you don't drag half dead people through the desert. He was about to teleport off and hope someone else found him, but then he remembered Fehdran. She had a friend who had a house in the desert. So he gave the newcomer a chance.

Alex saw the Kualsi on Nighting's face. He also saw his shiny equipment. Just what he needed to achieve his mission. And the Toa was dying. Alex was worried about the Kualsi, though. He wasn't sure exactly HOW weak Nighting was. If he could still use Kanohi, he would teleport away as soon as Alex started to rob him. And even if Alex took it off, the Toa might still be able to electrify him.

Also, he would have to return to the village soon, or his ”companions” would become suspicious. Alex needed to act now.

He slowly drew his new blade. He would quickly remove the Toa's mask and then slice his head off in a most brutal way. That was the way Alex preferred things.

Noticing the danger, Nighting activated his mask and quick-traveled. He was certain he could fight this guy, but what then? He would barely have enough energy to beat him. I'll cross that road when I reach it, he thought as he reappeared right behind Alex, with his dagger drawn.

Nighting had truly taken Alex by surprise. However, Alex was a skilled fighter, even in someone else’s body. He had had more swordfights in his life than any Toa of his universe, he was sure of that. And although his host was a Matoran running against a Toa, Alex wasn't completely helpless.

Before the Toa could act, Alex jumped and kicked the dagger off his hand. I'd better finish him quickly, Alex thought. My quarry expects me to return soon.

”Why bother dragging me all the way out here? I have nothing that would be of use to a Matoran”, Nighting said in a raspy voice as he prepared his mask.

”On the contrary”, said Alex. He was pleased to see that the Toa was in such bad shape. Maybe he could pull it off afterall.

”You have weaponry and a Kanohi. Valuable posessions to anyone. Besides -” Alex drew Maa's disk and flung it at the Toa's mask. ”I'm not any Matoran.”

Nighting’ mask glowed and suddenly he had moved a centimeter to the left. The disk missed by the same amount. ”I have a broken bow, with two arrows. A torn handglider, and the knife you kicked from my hand. Now, don't make me kill you”, Nighting said.

The Toa didn't seem to fear him, Alex realized. This was no wonder. Nighting saw what everyone else did - an Onu-Matoran with a Kanohi Calix. He could not know Alex was posessing the body.

Alex had an advantage in experience. True, he had originally been a Matoran. From the start, though, he had been very ambitious and wouldn't settle with being just a villager. He had formed a band of gangsters. The gang soon became well known and feared in his city. Then, Henkka came.

Alex frowned as he thought about his arch-enemy. Henkka had been a normal Matoran, who didn't seem to fear Alex's gang. Alex had ordered his fellow gangsters to kill Henkka, but Henkka had battled them and Alex. The battle had ended prematurely when the daughter of that city's leader had been injured. Alex and Henkka had both been banned from the city.

For many years, Alex sought to destroy Henkka. In the process he had become a large battlerobot, a four-armed Matoran with strange powers and finally, a huge titan with the power of three Toa, making him incredibly strong. If Henkka had not pushed him into that Life Machine... perhaps Alex would be ruling the universe as the titan he was.

Alex remembered the situation he was in now. He looked up at the Toa, whose mask was starting to glow. He was about to teleport.

”Well, then...” Alex said. ”Then maybe I could... buy something from you? No, not your broken tools or your mask... but your power and help in a mission of mine. In turn, I could take you back to the village and heal you... and give you valuable information about something you can't even imagine.”

”Don't need healing, just water.” Nighting said, his voice still as raspy as ever.

”Well, switching the healing to water... do we have a deal?”

”Sure.” Nighting rasped. ”Now about that water...”, he trailed off.

How tempting it was to just kill the weak Toa and take his things. But no, Alex decided, he would be of much more worth alive.

Alex took the Toa back into the village and gave him water. Then he tended to his wounds. He felt ridiculous doing this ”charity work”, but knew it would pay off.

”Alright, now what do you want me to do?” Nighting asked once he had been fixed up.

”Two things. First, I want to know what's going on here on Mata Nui, and the past. Next, I want you to join me on a quest with me and my ‘company’.”

Alex leaned closer. ”But there's more to it. I'm actually a spy, sent to watch over that company. If they find out, they will surely try to destroy me. So I want you to be my bodyguard. With a Toa on my side, I feel much safer. And I guarantee you will be paid well.”

Alex stood up. ”And about that information I promised... I will give it to you later, when we have time to chat privately. But now, we must return to the others. They must be becoming suspicious of me. On our way, you can explain what's going on on Mata Nui.”

”Okay”, Nighting said. “Well, the Toa Mata, Tahu, Lewa, Kopaka, Gali, Onua, and Pohatu, went to go fight Makuta and lost. After that it's been one big mess after mess.”

Alex's eyes widened behind his mask. He knew the Toa Mata well. In his own world, these legendary heroes had defeated Makuta. Well, Makuta did manage to take over their universe despite this, so they weren't unbeatable. And in this world, it seemed like the Toa had simply lost earlier. Alex found himself thinking what life was like for the Matoran in his own world. Most of them were trapped inside that huge robot Makuta controlled.

”Now you tell me something”, Nighting interrupted Alex’s thoughts. “What 'company' are you traveling with?”

”The company?” Alex repeated, as if he had never heard of such a thing. Alex ralized he didn't even know the names of the beings in his company... except for the name Kalama and his host's name, Ihern. ”Kalama's company, of course”, Alex replied. ”He's the boss. By the way, what's your name?”

”Nighting”, Nighting said. ”What's yours?”

”Ihern”, Alex said. This was the first time he had actually had to say his host's name aloud. ”There they are. That Toa is...” Alex stopped short. He didn't yet know what the pirate Toa's name was. ”Well, I call him the pirate-boy. He's a Toa. At least I think he is.”

Next to Lohkar, whom Alex had introduced as pirate-boy, was a Po-Matoran with an Akaku. He had said his name was Hirvi. That unsuspecting Matoran had come to Lohkar under instruction from Alex and had told him that he had been recruited by a black Matoran. The two were waiting for Kalama when Alex and Nighting arrived.

”Pirate boy?” Nighting asked confused. ”What kind of a name is that?”

*

Scurra smiled, he had no knowledge of the presence of his pursuers but he doubted they would miss something as obvious as a distraught Toa with a Smiling Hau carved on her chest. As he walked to the entrance of Onu-Koro he activated his mask, shifting to the form of a female Ga-Matoran, his vocals increasing in pitch and tone.

”Uh, could I get a ussal crab to Onu-Koro.” He asked, pulling out some coinage for the fare.

”Why, of course”, said the handle. ”It would be my pleasure.”

”Thank you.” Scurra replied as the Ga-Matoran once more. As he travelled on the ussal crab's back down the tunnel into Onu-Koro, he began to laugh in his mind, manically. AHAAHAAAHAAAHAA. He paused for a second.

Everything is going according to planned.

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Jan 15 2012 - 12:56 PM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 11

Lux looked around, his mind formulating a rapid and high-risk plan. He pointed to a nearby bog.

”See that bog? Run and get into that, NOW!”

Zoma started to run towards the bog, Lux himself ran after Henkka. He grabbed one of his disks. “Need this for a sec.” Lux activated his sword and held it against the wooden circle. Slowly, embers began to glow, and soon the disk was catching fire. Lux stabbed it with his sword before running up to the Rahi.

”Hey! Want some of this?! Well, do ya?!” he cried as he swung the flaming hunk of wood at the creatures, hoping to scare them off.

*

Syryn groaned as he watched Tapio follow Rylus into the foliage. Now it was just him and Tuuli. He was about to tell him to run, when he heard a screech. It was followed by someone shouting. He couldn't quite tell what they were saying, but they were excited.

”Tuuli, follow Tapio and Rylus. I'll catch up with you,” Syryn shouted. Then, summoning all of his will, he used his Matatu to throw the scalding mud up into the air. With the Jaga distracted, the Toa ran to the direction of the cries.

*

Rylus had not gone far before Tapio approached him.

”You think Syryn and Tuuli will be alright alone? We won't be long, right?”

”Depends. Rohkea was hit pretty hard, so he probably flew far. But there's also a chance he already got up and went back to the village. Syryn knows what he's doing, I think, but if we don't find Rohkea soon, we may have to go back.”

Tapio seemed like he was about to say something, but then they heard a deafening crack. A tree, knocked over by something very big, very angry, and very close.

*

Wahkua was not satisfied by what his squadron had discovered. Hearing sounds of Nui-Rama wings and fighting, they had gone in the sounds' direction. But they didn't find three Le-Matoran, a Ko-Matoran, and an Onu-Matoran as their source had disclosed. Only three Matoran were in this clearing, but one was clearly an Onu-Matoran. The source from the village had mentioned this dweller of Earth to be a valiant warrior, a force to be reckoned with in combat.

We shall see, Wahkua thought to himself, hurling an expertly sharpened disk through the trees. It sped through the clearing, barely missing the head of Henkka.

The group of Xa-Kuta charged into the clearing, weapons drawn, and rushed Zoma before he had a chance to hide. With blinding speed, Wahkua snatched Zoma by the arm and threw him to the ground.

”Did you really believe your pathetic efforts would go unnoticed by us? Makuta's legions are limitless; your attacks are all in vain!”

Confused and sick of constantly being accused of things he didn't do, Zoma indignantly shouted, ”What are you talking about?! All I want is to travel the island without dealing with infected Rahi and false accusations every five seconds!”

”Don't play games with me, Rylus! I know all about your ragtag team of rebels! Where are the others?!”

”Rylus?! I'm not Rylus, you psycho! Rylus won't have anything to do with me!”

”Ludicrous! You really expect me to believe there's more than one Onu-Matoran in the middle of a jungle?”

Zoma never had a chance to answer, because just then an ear-splitting sound halted all movement, and a massive tree in the distance came toppling down. The upper half came crashing down into the clearing, taking at least half a dozen Nui-Rama with it. Then, bounding onto the scene, with splinters in its jaws the size of floorboards, came the biggest Muaka Zoma had ever seen.

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Jan 17 2012 - 04:23 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 12

Lohkar had wasted no time while Alex had gone to the gates of Po-Koro. The minute Alex, whom everyone thought of as Maa, had left them, he had hissed to the rest of the group, Kalama, Agarin, Tanuka, Knidia and the Marines.

”Listen, mates! Somethin's wrong with Maa. He's not 'imself. Literally. Earlier 'e acted like he'd never seen me before, an' the way 'e talks 'as changed. 'E told me it was a prank - but I don't think it's that simple.”

Lohkar smiled slyly.

”So I played a prank on him,” he said. ”Called 'im 'Ihern' - an' he drank it up. I reckon 'e wouldn't try ta cover it up if he'd lost 'is memory. What do you think could've - ”

Lohkar looked up. “Maa” was returning with a Toa.

”Remember, call 'im 'Ihern',” Lohkar whispered to the others.

Kalama's gaze went flat. ”Next time, speak up Lohkar. Yuni, tell Maya to check Maa when we get back. Tell whoever it is Maa was a nickname if he get's suspicious.”

Lohkar caught a glance of the Po-Matoran named Hirvi looking at the group in confusion. Alex had recruited this Matoran, not long ago, into Kalama’s group. Lohkar didn't like Hirvi. He seemed definitely shifty - Lohkar knew shifty, and this wasn't good shifty. And now Alex was bringing with him another being to join the company. This was all getting definitely suspicious. First his whole persona changes, then he starts hiring people.

Putting on a highly convincing friendly smile, Lohkar waved to Alex and the newcomer Toa.

”Ihern! There you are! What kept you? An'who's yer new friend?”

”Hi Pirate Boy! I'm Nighting, this man's bodyguard”, Nighting said with a wave. ”So... Who're you?”

Kalama ignored the presence of Nighting, instead fixing Alex with an unamused glare as he returned. ”Blast it, Ihern, don't wander off during a huddle! I can't keep everyone alive if they don't listen! Next time Hotu gets to drag you back.”

Hotu grinned at Alex. Alex raised an eyebrow, but left it at that.

Hirvi was trembling beneath Yuni's narrow gaze. The Marine Cook hadn't taken her eyes off the Matoran ”heretic” and had shifted her crossed arms so that her right hand rested subtlety on the handle of the meat cleaver on her left thigh. The Survivalist took stock of his group. Yuni and Hotu from the Marines, Lohkar of the Infernakiva, Knidia, Agarin, Tanuka, Maa, the strange Po-Koronan Hirvi who Yuni was currently terrorizing (Hirvi wasn't going to last long among the Marines if he didn't grow a backbone, Kalama made a note to start a betting pool on how long the Stone Matoran would hold out), and a male Toa of Lightning (Kalama could feel the charge in the air as Alex brought this Toa back with him.)

And all this just to track down one Toa of Ice. Lovely.

”I take it you three are coming along”, Kalama said and pointed at Hirvi and Nighting.

”Yes sir!” Nighting replied.

”Don't call me sir! I work for a living!” Kalama snapped. Hotu broke out laughing and Yuni cracked a smile.

”Sorry si- I mean... What's your name?” Nighting said as he took another gulp of water from his flask.

Lohkar’s gaze turned to Alex and his “bodyguard”.

”Ihern, since when do you need a bodyguard?” he asked, sounding skeptical.

Alex was about to snap at Lohkar that he should mind his own business when he suddenly saw the trader who had sold him some items earlier, walking around, seemingly with no destination, looking bored. That sparked an idea in Alex.

”Hey there!” Alex shouted to the Toa of Stone named Kozai. ”If you're not busy with anything, our group could use some additional help!”

Alex's plan was brilliant. Hirvi was a complete whimp and Nighting could be deceptive. With a third personal helper like Kozai, Alex would be in a much safer position. If one would let him down, it wouldn't be the end of everything. Alex smiled.

”Actually,” Lohkar cut in, ”we couldn't. Ihern, I appreciate yer tryin' ta help, but leave the organisation ta Kalama an' me. More people will just slow us down an' hold us up. You've already 'ired two extras as it is!”

Alex was not going to let some pirate-Toa ruin his plans. He felt like cutting Lohkar's throat. Unfortunately, doing so would ruin the plan too.

”I'm hiring people for personal reasons”, he said. ”And I can keep them off your way, if that is your wish.”

”But that doesn't change the fact that the more of us there are, the slower we'll go,” Lohkar replied. ”Also, feel like tellin' us what those 'personal reasons' are? Don't you think you can trust us to take care of you?”

Kozai came to Alex. “Would you really take me along? I sold all of my stuff already, there’s nothing for me to do at that department anymore.”

Alex chuckled. ”Of course! Come along. What’s your name?”

“Kozai”, Kozais said, shaking Alex’s hand.

Before Alex could say more, Lohkar looked over at Kalama. ”'Ey, Kalama, I thought we were s'posed ta be leavin'?”

Kalama did not look happy. His glare rested on the entire group, arms crossed, one foot tapping agitatedly fairly quickly. ”YES LOHKAR.” He said through gritted teeth. ”We SHOULD be moving on when there is a KILLER on the LOOSE. Does ANYONE have any OBJECTIONS or further DELAYS before I DRIVE you into the ground to get to Onu-Koro while innocent Matoran are still ALIVE?”

”No si- I mean, no questions.” Nighting said as he watched his employer's face. If no one would tell him their name, they didn't need to know his.

”Anyone else?” Kalama's gold eyes glanced around at the group, his foot still going. ”Anyone else? Anyone at all?”

Nighting looked around, hoping that no one else had anything to say. This captain had a large temper, too large in his opinion.

But Kalama wasn't the only one losing patience. Lohkar was getting fed up with the waiting.

”Nobody's objectin',” he said. ”I REALLY THINK WE SHOULD BE GOIN'.”

”I agree.” Agarin said ”We're burning daylight and our quarry could've killed another Matoran in the time you took hiring people, Ihern.”

”Fine!” Alex snapped. He hated the way he was being bossed around. But perhaps, when the time was right, he could dispose of these fools.

Even as Kalama watched Kozai, yet another addition recruited by Alex, he almost lost it. Suddenly feeling Nokama's gaze on him again he paused and relaxed. ”Okay, fine. Yuni?”

”Aye Com?”

”Head back to the Invernakiva. Tell Kali to get underway and head for the Port Base leading into Onu-Koro. Send Nuraka down to try and intercept our quarry and have her meet up with us.”

”Aye Com.” Yuni left making a dash for the docks.

”Hotu you're still with me. Rest of you follow me. We'll chase him on foot and see if we can pin him between us and the Marines.”

”Aye Com.” Hotu affirmed

”MOVE OUT! NOW!”

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Jan 18 2012 - 01:24 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 13

Tapio and Rylus saw Tuuli follow them. ”Syryn will be here soon!” he said.

The three Matoran continued into a clearing, where they saw a battle take place. A battle between Henkka, Lux, Zoma and some Rahi... and a group of beings none of them recognized. ”I guess we found Lux...” Tapio said flatly.

*

Henkka wasted no time. Someone had attacked the Onu-Matoran they were supposed to save. Henkka ran at the captor, Wahkua, holding out a disk. To everyone else, it looked like a Po-Matoran was charging at him. They couldn't know his body was being controlled by a servant of Mata Nui created to protect all of his creations. Neither did they know that his battling skills had been forged in hundreds of battles. He had had swordfights with fearsome opponents, he had challenged a powerful Makuta, he had taken on an army of Rahkshi Lerahk, he had defeated beasts nobody else could've.

Unfortunately, this wasn't his body. Could it live up to his skills?

”Hey, you!” Henkka shouted. ”Drop that Matoran right now or I'll have to remove him from your dead hands!”

Syryn watched in disbelief at the scene in front of him. Lux was up against a horde of Rahi with nothing but a flaming piece of wood. The Matoran made called Wahkua had brought a whole group of mages and inquisitors in the clearing and was holding Zoma captive. And Henkka was attacking Wahkua. And there was one thing more: a Muaka. A really, glitching big Muaka.

Syryn ran for the Muaka, leaping at the last second onto it's back. It must have realized this, because it bucked and leaped trying to get him off. The Toa dug his knives into the beasts hide to hold on. With the Muaka's thick skin, it wouldn't hurt it much. But the bucking was hurting Syryn.

It felt like he was a Kohlii ball in the middle of a furious game. He gritted his teeth and held on. But the Rahi had other ideas. The Muaka brought its head up, snapping its jaws at him. Syryn shifted his weight, dodging the strike. However, it caused him to hit a nearby tree, sending him hurtling to the ground.

He slowly regained his senses, just to wish he hadn't. What Syryn saw now, was the unhappy and hungry face of a Muaka.

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Jan 20 2012 - 05:57 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 14

Tanuka collasped against a hut in the Onu-Koro town square, using it to support her as she panted exhausted. ”Never... never again!” She declared. ”Never again will I run that far!”

”Suck it up, Toa”, Hotu panted, though she looked far better then Tanuka. ”Be grateful it was only Kalama barking at you to pick up speed and not some Muaka hot on your tail trying to eat you. That's happened to me before.”

Tanuka gave Hotu a disbelieving stare. The Lance Corporal just grinned at her.

Kalama didn't seem to be any worse-off-looking like he had almost enjoyed the run. ”Now”, he started. ”Where is Nuraka?”

Almost as if hearing her name, the Shipwright materialized out of the crowd. Her bandoleer had a disc and a knife like Hotu's but Nuraka also had tools, as well as a welding laser, attached to her back. Her shoulder piece also had the Marine symbol along with her rank depicting her as a Chief Midshipwoman 3. She had two more patches that made a triangle with her Marine insignia. She handed Kalama a tablet. ”Orders, Sir.”

”Don't call me-” Kalama started before Nuraka handed Kalama a marine bandoleer with the same patches as hers. The rank on this one was a commander's star.

”You've been commissioned Sir”, She gestured at the tablet. ”Orders direct from the Cha-Codfish herself.”

Kozai chuckled a bit at the name. Alex didn’t even seem to hear it. The truth was, he was not liking the course of events. The entire move to Onu-Koro had been an unexpected and most unpleasant turn for him. Kalama had ordered his group to run to Onu-Koro. At first, Alex had been confused about how anyone could ask someone to do such a thing. After all, there was a great deal of distance between the two villages. Only after arriving, Alex thought about how bad it was for him to come here.

For years, perhaps, Alex had been trapped on a journey from world to world, body to body. He had had to grow used to someone else's body at every new destination, do something evil, and jump forward to the next world and body. It could be tiresome at times. Alex's current host was an Onu-Matoran. In Po-Koro, Alex had been sure things would go more fluently... but Onu-Koro was his host's home village. There were bound to be friends and workmates of his in this underground village. If they decided to talk to him and even ask questions... Alex would have a hard time. After all, he didn't know much about his host's life.

Luckily though, he was now wearing a different mask than what he had started with. He had bought the Calix from a trader named Kozai, who was in their party too, now. Perhaps the other Onu-Matoran wouldn't recognize him, as long as they didn't hear him speak.

While Alex tried to blend in with Kalama's group and be as invisible as possible, he thought about his assignment here. He didn't know what it was, but he could guess. A Toa of Electricity had told him that the Toa Mata were dead and Makuta ruled the island. However, the villages were still standing and opposing the master of shadows. Perhaps it was Alex's job to make at least one village fall to the power of Makuta. To complete his task, Alex had hired a whimpy Po-Matoran with bad feelings towards Mata Nui, Hirvi, a Toa of Electricity named Nighting, and the trader named Kozai. These three would play a part in Alex's schemes, whether they knew of it or not... or whether they wanted to or not.

Alex was thinking about making all the tunnels leading to Onu-Koro collapse, preventing them from interacting with the other Koro's, when an Onu-Matoran came running to him. ”Maa! Maa!” he shouted. Alex ignored him, at first. He had no idea who Maa was. But the Matoran kept coming, until he was facing Alex. ”Maa! It's really you! Where have you been? And, um, what's with that Calix?”

Alex looked behind him, but saw no one this crazy Matoran could be talking to. He was talking to Alex. But why did he call him Maa? ”Maa?” Alex repeated. The Matoran, Damek, looked at him, confused.

”Yes, Maa. That's your name, isn't it? Now, don't start with me.”

”But, um... Ihern...”

”Ihern? Who's Ihern?”

Alex stopped to think for a while. Everyone he had encountered so far had called him 'Ihern', but this villager was calling him by a different name, “Maa”. Alex looked at Lohkar and then back at the Matoran. ”Are you sure you're not confusing me for someone else?”

Damek took a step back. ”No, no way! Only Maa has that posture. You do walk a bit strangely, but... You are Maa, aren't you? You've got to be!”

”Um, right. Of course I am”, Alex replied. ”I was just testing you. My, you're good at noticing people... even with a different mask!”

Damek relaxed. ”Phew. I thought I was going crazy. So... what have you been up to?”

”Um, just went for a... visit, to Po-Koro. On my way, I met this bunch. I'm just helping them around. Listen, I'll talk to you later, I'm very busy”, Alex said, giving Damek a light shove. He winked at the Onu-Matoran and glanced at Kalama and the team. Then he returned to Damek. ”All too busy. Like Makuta himself was after me. Oh woah... well, see you. I hope.”

He then returned to the group, smiling at himself. What he did was brilliant.

Damek waved a goodbye and left the group. He thought about the light shove, the speech, the wink, the glance. Then it hit him. Maa was trying to give him a message. ”Like Makuta was after me...” Damek gasped and turned around. He looked at the group that surrounded his friend. There was no doubt. This group did have a peculiar look to it. That team was forcing Maa to aid them in their dark errands! They must've been those Makuta worshippers!

Damek thought fast. He couldn't save Maa himself. He would need help. He started to run. The others need to hear about this, he thought. Perhaps we'll even inform the Ussalry. We WILL save Maa.

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Jan 22 2012 - 11:54 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 15

Lux fell to the ground with a thud. The Nui-Rama had come out of nowhere, and it wasn't happy. It came back around and Lux ducked. He tried to run, but his foot was caught in a bog reed. Lux fumbled for his sword, but knew it was pointless. The Rama was almost upon him, when something blurred past and tackled it. Another Rama. A one-eyed Rama.

”Phantoka?”

The two Ramas brawled it out, throwing each other to the ground. Phantoka lifted up the attacker and plowed it back into the ground. She did it over and over. When it was over, Lux realized he had been holding his breath. Phantoka hovered, as if to say, “What would you do without me?”

Lux grinned and ran over to her. It was nice to have an old friend back.

*

Wahkua frowned. Who was this fool that defied him? He appeared to be a Po-Matoran, but Wahkua sensed that something was off about this one, as if he wasn't fully confident in his own ability.

Roughly heaving Zoma off the ground and shoving him back, Wahkua approached his attacker with a menacing scowl and drew a massive longsword over half his size.

”You speak of my hands as if they are not dead already, stranger. Wherever they go, death follows, and I do not part with my possessions easily.”

Naturally, Zoma took this opportunity to prove him wrong and run for his life. Spotting Rylus and two others in the distance, he ran in that direction, but stopped in his tracks when he saw five Mages heading for the same group.

*

Rylus, Tapio, and Tuuli had little time to process the chaos they were seeing before five Mages, two Black and three Red, their hands and weapons crackling with magical spells, charged them.

”Where is the strong-warrior Lux?” Tuuli asked, unable to find him.

”He's fine, I just saw his Nui-Rama. Right now, we need to worry about them!”

A Black Mage walked up to the trio silently, his footsteps barely making a sound on the damp forest floor. Rylus could tell by the Mage's stature that he was a Turaga, most likely a priest.

”The Makuta controls all, rebels. Would you defy a being whose power is unmatched even by the Great Spirit himself? Consider your options, and let this be your final warning. Choose the winning side, or your impudent struggles will come to an end.”

Rylus stared into the Mage's burning red eyes with cold defiance.

”We already chose the winning side. Makuta will fall.”

”So be it, then.”

A barrage of fireballs, lightning, and numerous other energies tore through the trees.

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Jan 31 2012 - 12:03 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 16

Lohkar smiled at himself. He had quite enjoyed the brisk run to Onu-Wahi, and was quite pleased with himself for managing to be one of the few people Kalama wasn't annoyed with. Or rather, he had been pleased with all of that before he had listened closely to the conversation between “Maa” and another Onu-Matoran.

Oh, bugger, Lohkar thought. Now Maa knew he wasn't Ihern. And Lohkar was sure as Karz he wasn't Maa.

It was getting more and more obvious. Once again, Maa had been confronted with someone he should have known, but didn't, and had passed it off as a joke. That meant that Maa had either gone off his rocker and developed a new personality (not unknown for post-Infected, but that normally set on immediately, not several days later), or someone or something was possessing him. And whatever it was, it was smart.

Then it further dawned on Lohkar, as he watched the Onu-Matoran named Damek scurry off, just how cunning this possessor was. Damek would have picked up the hints “Maa” had given, and now thinking Kalama’s Raiders were somehow coercing Maa. Lohkar believed that the Ussalry would trust the Marines - but Lohkar, with his reputation? Things were looking bad.

Lohkar sidled up to Kalama, who already wasn't looking happy. He hadn't noticed Maa's conversation.

”Erm, Kalama,” he said. ”...We have a problem.”

Meanwhile Nighting, who had also heard the conversation, walked over to Alex and said, in a very low tone: ”Well, Maa, or whatever your name is, who is it I'm supposed to be protecting you from?”

Alex grinned at Nighting's question. ”They're closer than you'd think”, he whispered, glancing in the direction of Kalama’s Raiders.

*

Scurra had reached Onu-Koro hours before Kalama's team had. At that time he had walked into one of the shady bars that populated the village in eternal darkness, lit only by lightstones and fires.

”Hello all”, he had said to the suspicious-looking people inside. “I am looking for about 20 good men, and by good men, well, I think you know what I mean. I need fighters, men good at scaring people, scaring some sense into them....and I pay well.” He dropped 200 widgets on the table in front of him. It wasn't long before beings gathered. He called over another Matoran. “I want you to deliver a message to a Matoran I know is following me.”

This had happened hours ago. Now, at the present time, Scurra had eight beings tied up in front of him, some of them Turaga, some of them Matoran, some Toa, all considerably weakened. After all the beating, that was.

”Why are you doing this to us?” one of the prisoners asked in fright.

”Because you are of Xa-Koro. You are my enemies, the disease that plagues this island”, Scurra replied, his voice sounding almost toxic.

”We gave up on that life long ago.”

”You don't just give up being a Xa-Koronan. So how many of your friends have you sold out?”

”WE GAVE THAT UP!”

”I am going to make this island understand what it must become to stop Xa-Koro and I'm going to use your blood to draw up the plans.”

”No, please have mercy, send us to jail.”

”Kill them”, Scurra said to his new henchmen he had gathered from the bar in Onu-Koro. “But do it slowly. Make them suffer.”

*

Kalama turned to face Lohkar. “A problem? Again?” he demanded, sounding annoyed. Lohkar was about to explain what Alex had done when a Matoran approached Kalama, bounding up with another tablet in his hand.

”This weird Toa of Ice paid me to give this to you”, the Matoran said and gave the tablet to Kalama. The tablet read:

Dear Shorty,

Never the pleasure of your name. So listen I told her to tell you there'd be more bodies and I intend to make good on this promise. There's a cave leading to Ko-Wahi, there's cave off to the side that I know of. My team used to go there, some died there to be exact, the traitors I mean, the ones who helped turn me into what I am. We'll have a little talk, you and whatever team you managed to bring along.

You will learn what all of you must become to stop people like me.”

Looking forward to another talk,

Your friend, Scurra.

P.S. Don't be late, a guest should never be late to the party.

Kalama's eyes narrowed. ”Oh, that does it. I pray to Mata-Nui he does something stupid to make me kill him when I finally catch him.” He finished reading the note.

He gave a sharp whistle to get Nuraka and Hotu's attention before they got out of earshot. ”Adjust fire! One of you go back to the ship and get the rest of the Marines! The other one go inform the Ussalry! The murderer is in the tunnels!”

An affirmation was called back. Nuraka went in the direction of Onepu's hut while Hotu went for the Infernakiva.

Kalama beckoned at everyone who could see him. ”Alright, listen up! We have maybe 15 or 20 minutes before he gets away.” He flipped over the letter. ”Fortunately, the knucklehead led us right to himself.” He tapped at a map scribbled on the back of it. ”The Marines won't be too far behind. Let's give them a five minute head start to ensure they catch up.”

*

Damek ran through the streets. He came to a hut where he knew he would find help. Kaj and Tehuti were sitting around a table, playing a game that involved bamboo disks. Damek barged in. ”Guys! Maa's in trouble!”

”Isn't he always?” Kaj laughed. Maa was known for his curiosity and his tendency of getting into difficult situations.

”No! REALLY, in trouble! He's being held captive by this team of beings from all around the island or something! He told me! He needs help. I thought maybe the Ussalry could aid us.”

Kaj and Tehuti were silent for a while. Then Tehuti spoke: ”All right, I believe you. Let's go to Onepu's hut then.”

*

”WHAT?” Onepu had never heard such a story before. Well, he had heard all kinds of stories, but this one was different.

”You heard him”, Tehuti backed Damek up. ”We will need help to subdue such big a group.”

”So be it”, Onepu answered. ”Our Ussalry is busy fighting Rahi in the tunnels, but I think I can afford enough men and Ussals to save Maa. And imprison his captors.”

Just then Nuraka burst into the hut. ”High Commander Onepu?”

”And who are you?” Onepu inquired, turning to face the Marine.

”Chief Midshipwoman Nuraka of Kalama's Raiders of the Ga-Koroan Marines.”

”Kalama's Raiders? That some new unit?” Onepu raised an eyebrow.

”Recently organized from our Reorganization. Kalama is in charge.”

”Ah. Makes sense. Is that scoundrel back in my Koro?”

”Yessir. We're currently tracking down a Toa from Ga-Koro.” Nuraka hurriedly explained the situation. ”Kalama just got a letter from the Toa. The Marines in his group are on their way down to join Kalama. Any support from the Ussalry would be greatly appreciated.”

Onepu nodded. ”Well, I don't know how much we can give the Marines since we're kind of tied up. I've got Rahi in the tunnels, the Ko-Koro Arctic Watch is requesting aid to deal with some Toa of Gravity that's messing around up there, and I've got to scrape up some spare troops to rescue an Onu-Koronan by the name of Maa.”

”Maa?” Nuraka widened an eye. ”I just saw an Onu-Koronan called Maa. He's been with us since that Toa of Ice went nuts in Ga-Koro.”

”Funny. Maa was last seen heading for Ga-Koro...”

”If that's the case, then he's fine. A little strange in head after we left Po-Koro by Hotu's mouth and one of the group called him Ihern but I doubt he needs to be RESCUED.”

Onepu let his thoughtful gaze rest on Damek, Kaj, and Tehuti.

”I swear! He gave us a signal!” Damek said.

”Well...”, Onepu said. ”Maybe we should ask him, now shall we?”

”That'll do”, Damek said. ”And if he turns out to be fine, I'm gonna wanna know what that shoving and whinking was about...”

*

As the Ussalry gathered up to Kalama’s group with Nuraka, Lohkar hummed a little to himself. Things might turn out well after all. Onepu, being a military Matoran, was likely to trust Kalama's word much more than a few civilians'. For once Lohkar felt grateful for his companion's status.

Alex, too, smiled as the Ussalry arrived. Then, suddenly, he noticed Nuraka amidst the group approaching. Alex gulped. That cursed Kalama's servant might have ruined his plans.

Onepu approached Alex. He glanced at the other beings around him. Then, with a soft voice, he asked: ”Maa... You need... assistance? Everything alright?”

Alex knew what this meant. Someone had told him that his host had been with the company from the start and now Onepu was looking for the truth behind things. Alex was going to give him an invented one.

He suddenly turned around and said in a loud voice: ”Capture them! They're on a devious mission to asassinate a Toa! They forced me to help them in their dark plans!”

Alex grabbed Hirvi and Kozai, pulling them away from Kalama’s crew and to his own side. He then gestured to Nighting. ”Now would be a good time to protect me, Toa”, he said. Onepu looked at Maa in disbelief, then the group. He didn't really believe Maa, but what choice did he have?

”See?!” Damek shouted, running to Alex's side. ”I knew it!”

Everyone waited for Onepu's reaction. The Ussalry Captain had known Maa before and the only one to tell him a different story was a stranger. There was no choice. ”Imprison them for interrgoation”, he said.

Lohkar walked up to Onepu, apparently ignoring his imminent arrest.

”Glad you could make it, mate!” he said, moving his hands around as he spoke and smiling disarmingly. ”D'you really think you'll need ta be imprisonin' us? I'm 'appy to discuss this like reasonable people.”

He continued without giving Onepu the chance to reply.

”Allow me to introduce meself. Name's Lohkar, cap'n o' the good ship Infernavika. That there's Kalama, a commander o' the Marines, a military man like your good self. Knidia, Toa of Water - (watch the tail), Agarin an' Tanuka, Nuraka, another marine, an' I believe you're already acquainted with Maa.”

Lohkar's smile faded a little.

”Or at least, you think you are.”

”Stop lying, Ihern”, Kozai snapped. Then, turning to Onepu, he said: ”This man is lying. The team isn’t carrying out an assassination attempt, they are trying to stop a rogue serial killer Toa. They aren't necessarily going to kill him. Isn't that right, Kalama?” he said as he glanced at Kalama. ”I'd think twice before apprehending these men, Onepu.”

”Traitor!” Alex shouted at Kozai. ”I hired you, you were supposed to care for me!”

”Kalama, show them the tablet,” Knidia said, meaning the one couriered to them by the elusive 'Scurra'. ”That proves the authenticity of the mission we're on.”

Onepu then grabbed the tablet Kalama was carrying without waiting for him to give it to him. After all, he had just recently arrested the group. He could examine their items. Onepu was sad to realize that the group really was telling the truth and that they were after a killer. Why on earth was Maa lying to him?

”Why did you lie to me? And us?” Onepu asked sadly.

Alex knew he couldn't pretend this to be a joke anymore. He didn't reply to Onepu, but instead turned to Nighting, saying: ”I paid you. I hired you, employed you. Now I give you your first job.” He pointed at Onepu and Kalama's group. ”Destroy them.”

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Feb 02 2012 - 12:43 PM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 17

Tapio watched in horror as the Mages called upon great energies. How could he and his friends prevail if the enemies could perform magic?

There was no choice. They would have to fight till the death. Tapio was scared by the idea, but he wouldn't surrender. He owed that much to everyone. Mostly himself.

He took out his Volo Lutu launcher and fired it at one black Mage's weapon. If only he could seize it...

*

Most Matoran would've been horrified by the Inquisitor called Wahkua approaching with a longsword, but not Henkka. He had done swordfights before. He had prevailed over wizards. He had challenged the deepest of darkness. But as Henkka began to pull out his sword, he remembered his host didn't have one. Henkka didn't betray his emotions. He still looked as calm as ever. But in hid mind, a race took place. Disks wouldn't be enough to defeat a Mage, only to hold him back for a couple of moments. He needed a sword.

Or perhaps not?

”Your possession?” Henkka said. ”No Matoran is anyone's posession. All Matoran are masters of themselves, even those imprisoned, infected, enslaved. But you can never take from them the right to freedom.” While talking, Henkka took out a disk and prepared for what would come.

”A confident speech for one who lacks a weapon”, Wahkua laughed. “If we were masters of ourselves, would either of us be here, about to fight to the death? Freedom is a laughable concept, the piteous fantasy of delusional dreamers. No one is free, except for Makuta. Freedom lies with control, and control lies with power. Makuta is that power.”

Wahkua charged, his blade at the ready, shouting a bloodcurdling battle cry that would send all but the bravest of beasts crawling back to their caves.

*

Syryn rolled backwards, landing in a crouch to avoid the jaws of the Muaka. It backed up for another attack. That couldn't happen. Syryn unsheathed his twin blades and launched himself at the creature. The beast charged again, but he dodged to the left, slashing against the cat's flank. It roared its displeasure.

Syryn backed up, just as the creature wheeled around with it's head, narrowly missing. The Toa saw his chance. Activating his Matatu, he called on the last of his strength to bring down a nearby tree with a small Madu Cabolo hanging from it. It wouldn't be a big blast, but enough to scare the Rahi. He envisioned the fibres of the tree breaking down, decomposing.

With a satisfying snap, the tree came down and the fruit exploded with a bam! The Muaka backed away from the fumes, with a look of disgust, before slinking back into the jungle. But Syryn wasn't conscious to observe it. That last gasp of power had exhausted him and he collapsed onto the forest floor.

*

Lux leaped onto Phantoka's back, beckoning her towards the mages that had arrived to menace Rylus, Tapio and the others. Lux counted five mages, three red, two black.

Lux and his steed dive-bombed down, already upon the wizards before they knew what had happened.

Zoma wasn't sure where to run. Syryn had taken care of the Muaka, luckily, and Lux was flying in to help Rylus and the others. The Inquisitor was distracted by Henkka. A swarm of Nui-Rama buzzed about chaotically overhead. Zoma couldn't help but feel somewhat sorry for them. Like himself, they were confused by the battle around them, and probably trying desperately to fight Makuta's influence.

No, that was just a dream, he reassured himself, I'm not infected. He can't get to you if you're not infected.

Noticing the Toa of Plasma had fainted, Zoma decided all he could do for now was try to revive him.

Meanwhile Rylus was in a heated struggle with a Red Mage. Literally. The Mage's sword was smoldering with flames, swinging wildly at the Onu-Matoran.

His strength quickly fading, Rylus grabbed a large chunk of wood off the ground and tried to use it as a shield. The Mage's blade struck the plank, setting it ablaze. Startled by the sudden ignition, he tossed the makeshift shield to the side, and, by a stroke of luck, it slammed into a Black Mage dead-on. He wouldn't be rising back up anytime soon.

Lux arrived just then on his trusty steed, Phantoka. The deadly duo had once saved Rylus and several others from a horde of Rama, so he was finally optimistic that these Mages would be defeated.

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Feb 03 2012 - 12:15 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 18

”So, it's come to that, eh?” Kozai said as Alex told Nighting to attack. “Fine. I'll fight you and your crony.” Then, turning to Kalama, he added: ”You run away along with your group. I'll hold 'em back.” As he jumped into the air, a huge block of stone formed around his hands which he proceeded to smash on Nighting. ”Stone-Stone Sledgehammer!!” he yelled as he attacked.

Nighting chuckled darkly as Kozai attacked him. ”Yes sir”, he said to Alex and then grabbed his arrows and nocked his bow. He activated his mask of quick-travel and teleported away from Kozai’s blow right before it could hit.

”Finally”, said Lohkar. ”Now you've put yer foot in it, 'Ihern'.” He drew his cutlass, and levelled it at Alex and Nighting. He grinned. ”You really think the two of ya can fight off all of us?”

Knidia did nothing for now. She was glad this was happening in Onu-Koro, not Po-Koro. Because in Onu-Koro there was moisture in the air, in the walls of earth, even in the ground beneath them. She was drawing on this moisture, gradually gathering it around her, ready to condense it into water and strike out should the need arise.

Although Kozai’s strike at Nighting had missed, he quickly regained his composure and prepared for another attack. Nighting was ready with his weapon and his lightning powers. Before either could make a move, however, a yell caught everyone’s attention.

”WHAT IN MATA-NUI'S NAME IS GOING ON HERE?!” Turaga Whenua announced himself, flanked by the remaining Marines from the Infernakiva.

Kalama, who had remained silent throughout the entire feud, finally spoke up. ”I believe I can explain, Turaga. Hotu, restrain Maa.”

Before Alex could react, the bigger Ga-Koronan, Hotu, grabbed his arms from behind and twisted them behind him.

”Bring him here”, Kalama ordered.

Hotu marched the time traveler in front of the Turaga and Kalama.

Whenua looked at Alex and then at Kalama. ”That does not explain why you have my villager, Son of Nokama.”

”I'm getting to it. When was the last time you got any news from Ga-Koro?”

”What does that have to do with anything?”

”I'll get to it. When was the last time you got any news?”

”About two weeks ago.”

Kalama nodded. ”A lot has happened in that time frame. There was a incident involving one of the villagers, Amaya, which brought to our attention a rather unstable Toa.” He handed Whenua the description along with one of the note copies. The Turaga read through it before handing both of them back to the Matoran. Kalama took back the letter he'd just gotten from Onepu. ”I finally have his name. Scurra. Thanks to this letter he just sent me. He's expecting me in the Ko-Wahi tunnel. Nokama wants him alive for judgment if possible.”

Whenua read the letter Kalama handed him. ”Well, I say that clears up everything, at least regarding the Marine action that seems to be going on here. Onepu, release them.”

”But Turaga-”

Whenua gave Onepu a stern look. ”You heard me, Onepu. That description has Nokama's seal on it! These Marines are on an official investigation of a killer. Mata-Nui, I pray this day had never come. Toa finally turning on Matoran. Bad enough they were turning on each other and enslaving each other, but now?” He shook his head. ”Unless Onua and the others have survived these long years underground, it appears we may be on our own against the Makuta... Kalama, are you alright?”

Kalama had spaced out while Whenua was berating Onepu. He shook his head and whacked his foremask with his palm. ”I'm alright. Those voices were acting up again.”

”Oh? What did they say?” Whenua asked excitedly.

”Nothing new. Still the same whispers of doom I've been getting about us if the Toa don't make it.”

”Oh.” Whenua seemed to deflate. He sighed. ”Well if nothing else, it gives me some hope that perhaps Onua and the others have survived after all, if they keep saying that. However...” He looked back at Alex and Hotu. ”That does not explain why you still have my villager.”

”Maa came along with us after I prepared to chase down Scurra. He's been acting strangely lately, since we left Po-Koro. Lohkar here thinks he has an idea about why.”

”Lohkar? Pirate Captain Lohkar? Kalama, what are you doing traveling with that scoundrel? I thought he was wanted by the Marines.”

”Lohkar came to Ga-Koro to beg for redemption from Mother. She let him come with me and if he behaved himself and help catch some of the problem makers of Ga-Koro she'd pardon him. He's been behaving himself...” Kalama gave Lohkar a sideways look. ”...so far and as much as one can expect a Pirate Captain to behave.”

The Marines giggled.

Whenua gave Lohkar a look. ”Alright then, pirate. What do you have to say about my villager here?”

While Lohkar explained to Whenua, Agarin stood behind a hut, waiting for something to happen, having decided to keep an eye on Alex. He could see him preparing for an escape. It could not be allowed to happen. Agarin ran as fast as he could towards the others. Using his sonics power to keep silent, he snuck up on Alex and clapped next to the Matoran's audio receptors, releasing a miniature sonic boom to knock him out.

Hotu gasped in surprise, then picked herself up from where Agarin had trampled her and glared at the Sonics Toa. Oh well... at least she didn't have to keep holding Alex now. Tanuka went over to the Marine. ”Oh dear, are you alright?”

”I've been run over by worse.” Hotu brushed the dirt off herself.

”Sorry.” Agarin said, turning around ”He should be out for a few hours. And our quarry isn't going anywhere.” He then picked Alex into his arms.

Kalama was standing next to Lohkar while the pirate told Whenua about “Maa’s” strange behavior. Kozai walked over to Kalama. ”Sorry to interrupt you,” Kozai said. ”But what do we do now? Shall we continue on our chase?”

Nighting had watched the scene unfold, but now he would take no more. He had been hired to protect Alex and he was determined to keep his word. He walked towards Agarin, who now held his emplyer, and said: ”You should let go of the Matoran if you value your life.”

Knidia’s eyes widened. Now seemed like a good time to do something. Knidia unleashed the water attack she'd been working on. A tidal wave slammed into Nighting with all the force of a sledgehammer, hurling him aside.

”I really don't think you're in a position to make threats,” she told him

”You just made my job all the easier.” Nighting said with a chuckle, getting up.

Lohkar paused talking to Whenua and glanced over at Knidia. His eyebrows shot up, his eyes widening. ”Knidia, ya really don't want to attack a Toa of Lightning with WATER!” he yelled, scrambling onto a hut to get out of the layer of water on the ground.

Meanwhile, Alex suddenly awoke to find himself in the hands of Agarin. The sonic boom had been a hard one, knocking him out efficiently. However, Alex had a strong mind and over time he had grown accustomed to these kind of situations. He saw Nighting attacking his captors. Alex smiled. This Toa would be valuable to him. He would definately share the fruits of victory with him.

In the corner, Hirvi observed the battle. He didn't even think about joining the fight, but Alex knew he would have to, eventually. Oh yes, he would.

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Feb 03 2012 - 06:56 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 19

Wahkua charged, shouting a bloodcurdling battle cry that would send all but the bravest of beasts crawling back to their caves.

Of course, Henkka was an exception. Like he usually was for any rule.

Henkka had once inhabited the body of a Turaga on a mission to take a baby back to his home. On the way, he had encountered a corrupted Toa who controlled dark energies. He wanted to kidnap the baby, and Henkka wouldn't allow it. He hadn’t had a weapon except for his Badge of Office, but as the Toa had charged, he had leaned slightly to the right. The Toa had prepared to strike in that direction. As the strike had come, Henkka had suddenly hopped to the left. He had hit the Toa in the head with his staff and the Toa had fallen.

Henkka decided to try it again, now. Wahkua charged, ready to strike him with his sword. Henkka leaned to the right and hoped for the best. The mage struck and Henkka leaped left. It worked! Wahkua struck the ground and Henkka used Paha's disk to hit him in the back of his head. The Inquisitor fell, unconscious. Henkka grabbed his sword. Now he had a weapon.

Henkka looked and saw Tapio crying in triumph as his Volo Lutu grabbed the weapon of a black mage and pulled it from his grasp. Enraged, the maze charged. Tapio saw him too late to react. Henkka charged in to save Tapio.

*

Phantoka swooped down dangerously low and grabbed one of the slower mages by the armpits and picked him up. He screamed and Lux smiled, enjoying him squirming.

”Okay buddy, just cooperate, and we won't make you into a rather unattractive smear on the ground.”

The being snarled, “I don't deal with heathens.”

Lux shrugged, “Have it your way. Phantoka...”, he said, patting her side.

Phantoka loosened her grip so the Xa-Toa was now dangling from his wrists. He screeched this time.

”Okay, okay! I'll cooperate! Just call off the Rama!” he yelled in terror.

”Okey doke. Let us down. Gently.”

Phantoka slowly lead them down to the ground, where she released the shivering Toa. They certainly didn't make the Xa-Kuta like they used to.

Lux leaped down and stuck his sword up to the being’s throat. “So, you feeling like talking?”

The Toa nodded furiously, “Yeah, yeah. What do you want to know?”

The Matoran smiled. This would be fun.

*

Tapio was about to be killed by the mage assaulting him when Henkka approached, sword in his hand. This did not comfort Tapio. After all, Lohkare had been the evil one who had kidnapped Lux earlier. Tapio couldn’t know Lohkare was being possessed by Henkka.

Nearby, Wahkua came back to his senses quickly. That insolent Po-Matoran would pay dearly for stealing his weapon.

Spotting the majority of the rebels fighting with his Mages, he charged in that direction, a razor-sharp disk in each hand.

”I'm done playing games with you! You must think you're quite a warrior, taking your opponent's weapon. But my sword isn't my only weapon, heretic!”

Wahkua flung a disk with all his might. The disk flew past Henkka and left a considerable gash in his arm. Henkka screamed in pain and the mage about to kill Tapio turned to look at the newcomer. Tapio used the opportunity to hit the black mage with a disk and dislodge his mask.

While Henkka was still recovering, Wahkua glanced to his right, noticing the other Matoran of Stone, Lux, questioning a Red Mage, the only Toa of the group.

Weakling. I should have realized he was not worthy of this task. And a Toa, no less!

He leapt to the cowardly mage and jammed a disk into his chest, sending the unsatisfactory subordinate to the ground with one fatal blow. Xa-Kuta never surrender.

”And you would be?” he asked the Lux, who had apparently befriended a Nui-Rama. Although Lux was tall, for a Matoran, Wahkua had faced- and defeated- far more imposing foes and wasn’t easily impressed.

Henkka shook his head in pain, but regained his senses quickly. Seeing Tapio was alright, Henkka decided to turn back to Wahkua. He would have to keep fighting, even though his right arm had been injured. He threw a disk at Wahkua and managed to knock his mask off.

Lux saw the Inquisitor groping around blindly for his knocked mask. Lux stepped on his hand, grinding it with his heel, keeping him away from his mask. He didn't remember being this brutal. War really did change people.

He turned to Henkka: “Thanks for that! I mean, not as if I couldn't have taken him but...”

Lux grinned and saw Tapio nearby, with an unconscious mage lying next to him. Given “Paha’s”... mind issues, Lux guessed that he might not recognize Tapio.

”Hey, Paha! This is Tapio! You kind of tried to kill each other earlier on”, Lux said with a mock sense of joy.

Wahkua wasn't used to this many things going wrong. The rebels had his squadron outnumbered now, and to make it worse, this blasted Po-Matoran was keeping his mask just out of reach. His hand was throbbing furiously under the Matoran's foot, but he refused to give up easily. Never before had he allowed a heretic to escape his wrath, and he wasn't about to let that change.

”Take your disgusting foot off my hand, heathen!” Wahkua spat. ”If you don't release me right now I'll--”

But he was distracted by something he had just spotted in the distance: A Toa of Plasma, one who perfectly matched the description of a wanted Xa-Kuta traitor. Wahkua had paid him no mind before, but now that he recognized him...

With his free hand, Wahkua snatched a disk from his back and swung it wildly at Lux's leg. He didn't make contact, but his foe did jump back off his foot in shock, giving him the perfect opportunity to leap up from the ground and run toward the Toa.

*

Zoma was standing over Syryn, who was apparently an ally of Rylus and the others. The hero had just fought off a massive Muaka, but had expended all his energy in the process and fainted.

Zoma then noticed Wahkua approaching and decided it would be best to try to negotiate before getting thrown to the ground again. ”Look, I'm not Rylus! My name is Zoma, we used to be pretty close until one of your little friends tried to convert me. Interestingly enough, the guy you were just fighting. The one who stole your sword.”

”You've got a lot of nerve, kid. But you are a good liar, I'll give you that. Join the Xa-Kuta, Rylus... Zoma, whoever you are. You may not be much in a fight, but we'd be able to put your talents to good use. So let's make a deal. You hand over this Toa, let me finish him off, and you're in. Think about it.”

Zoma wasn't sure what to say. He doubted he could win in a fight with this hardened warrior, but could he really betray Rylus's trust again?

”To Karzahni with the Xa-Kuta! You're not doing anything to this Toa!”

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Feb 04 2012 - 02:12 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 20

Kalama was deeply annoyed by the battle growing around him. He had more important things to do now. Scurra, the murderous Toa of Ice his group was hunting, might have already gotten away.

”At this point you have two options”, he addressed the non-Marines loudly, trying to get their attention. ”Well, three if you want to take the easy way. One, you walk away from this right now. Two, I turn you over to the Ussalry for impeding a Marine investigation. Three, you stop this silly feud right now and follow me. We've wasted more than enough time. Scurra knows someone is following him and he knows it's me. We've lost the element of surprise, so now we need to drop him hard and fast.” Kalama nodded to Whenua. ”I apologize for the headache Turaga. If you want Maa back, I'll turn him over to you since he's not one of mine. If you see any Toa described like the one we're tracking, Nokama wants him alive if possible. Be careful, he's not all there in the head and could get violent.”

”What? Who? Oh. Yes.” Whenua said, confused by Kalama’s lack of interest towards the fight. ”I'll have Onepu brief the Ussalry.” He then tottered away, sighing. This island could be a strange place sometimes.

Kalama turned the Ga-Koronans. ”ON YOUR FEET MARINES!!!” he barked. They suddenly snapped to. Kalama handed Kali the letter with the map on it. ”Helm Major, get these maggots moving! I want Scurra pinned down until I can personally rip his legs off myself.”

Kali saluted. ”Aye Commander! YOU HEARD HIM MARINES! GET UP AND GET MOVING!” She hustled them off into the tunnels.

Kalama looked back at the group. ”The rest of you have 30 seconds to suck it up and either follow, or continue to kill each other here. I'd rather have that aggression pointed at our quarry but it's your hand. I can't make you point it where you don't want to.”

”Just a sec!” Kozai shouted over to Kalama and quickly covered Nighting with stone. It would be effective for holding off the Toa of Lightning for a moment. There were more important things to do now, finding Scurra. Kozai was loyal to Kalama’s cause. It's better to fight for a reason than to waste time and energy fighting for nothing, he thought.

Lohkar glanced at Kalama, still expecting Nighting to somehow manage to electrify the water launched by Knidia on the ground. True, the Toa of Lightning was trapped in a cage of stone, but it would never hurt to be alert. He threw Agarin some rope for tying up Alex. Then he joined Kalama, Kozai and the Marines as they walked into the tunnels.

Alex pretended to still be unconscious as Agarin tied him up. It would not do Alex any good to start struggling now. He could easily free himself. However, he did not feel happy about being carried by Agarin, away from the caged Nighting, into the tunnels of Onu-Wahi. Still, Hirvi was tagging along the Raiders, joining them in the tunnels. And Alex was certain Nighting would be able to free himself.

I only hope he’s dutiful enough to try and find me, Alex thought.

*

The group of Kalama marched in the dark tunnel leading to Ko-Wahi.

”Are we there yet?” Nala asked.

”Lei?” Kali asked.

”We'd be there sooner if Nala would quit griping.”

”Not my fault the stupid searag made us track him in the middle of the night.”

”Day.”

”Shut up, Maya.”

”Girls! Enough!” Kali chided them. ”Lei.”

”Hold on First Mate! Let's see... turn here and...”

The Marines looked up.

Lei dropped the tablet.

”MATA-NUI!!!!” She shrieked.

Agarin rolled his eyes. The Marines were a bit too much... lively. As the group got closer to their destination, Agarin made the decision to leave Alex behind. Given his new evil identity, it was not wise to bring him close to another demented being like Scurra. If the Toa of Ice would manage to free Alex... he didn’t even want to think about it.

Agarin placed the time traveler in a small hole in the wall of the cave, convinced that the rope would keep him still. Then he ran after the others.

Alex was pleased. He knew Nighting would free himself and come after them. Besides, Hirvi was silently following Kalama’s group. Alex knew he could benefit from ruining the mission of this company. All he had to do was wait.

*

The Marines were way ahead of the rest of the group. As they entered the chamber they were seeking, they saw Matoran, Turaga and Toa tied up to slabs of stone, each with a wound shaped like the Laughing Hau, Scurra’s symbol. There was lots of blood, leaving the idea that the cruel Scurra had let his victims bleed out. Scurra himself was sitting in the room, on a large rock with his cloak down. He had two Toa sitting on the rock with him.

”Oh, my guests having finally arrived. It's good to see you. I was beginning to think you wouldn't come, this party is pretty much dead.” Then he burst out into laughter.

*

It didn't take long for Lohkar to catch up to Kalama, who was walking fast in the tunnel. ”Let's hope we 'aven't lost 'im with all that delay”, he remarked to Kalama as they strode together through the Ko-Wahi tunnel.

Suddenly, a shrill scream echoed down the tunnel.

Lohkar and Kalama looked at each other, and began to run. Kozai was only a few steps behind, running with all his might. Lohkar kept running, looking back to see the trader running behind them. Breathlessly, Kozai asked: ”D'you know exactly what we're running from, Lohkar?”

”Not from, to,” replied Lohkar with a grin.

”What, the maniac Toa's lair or something?”

”I believe that's the idea,” Knidia replied, catching up to the others. Her mask of speed allowed her to move fast despite her having a tail instead of legs.

Kalama finally rounded the corner of the chamber and pushed his way to the front of the Marines. Taking one look around at the gruesome sight, he viewed the opposition. 20 beings, Matoran, Toa, and Skakdi stood with Scurra, who stood up from where he was sitting.

Kalama spoke to his enemy: ”You know ignorance of my name does not excuse you from trash-talking me without knowing who you're messing with. The name is Kalama. You...” He pointed at Scurra. ”Are Scurra, I presume.”

Scurra grinned his nasty psychotic grin. ”You guess correctly.”

The rest of Kalama's group arrived behind the Marines then, looking in shock and disgust at the sight that greeted them. ”Good”, Kalama responded to Scurra, ignoring his allies for now. “Now I know from which one of you I have to break the legs as opposed to those who I just simply have to break in two.” Kalama readied his shields.

The group of Scurra’s mercenaries broke out laughing. ”Are you serious, Boss?” One Toa asked Scurra. ”You hire us to do a job and all we have to do is stop a pipsqueak and his little girly fan club?”

A couple Marines growled and readied their weapons.

”Ooooh, they're so frightening!” a mercenary laughed.

”You'll be screaming in terror in about 2 minutes.” Kali snarled.

”Awww, and what are you going to do, little girl? Hit me with your delicate little fists?”

”Steady, Marine”, Kalama warned Kali as she twitched.

”3 seconds, Com. Just give me a 3 second head start.” Kali hissed.

”Not yet. Scurra, I'm giving you one chance. One chance to stop this farce, lay down your weapons, and answer for your crimes of kidnapping, murder, assault, and terrorizing the islanders. Failure to comply will result in me having to take you by force and I might not take you alive if you resist. Are you going to come quietly or do I have to start breaking every limb in your body to ensure you don't resist being judged?”

”3 seconds Kalama, that's all I need”, Kali begged.

Lohkar rolled his eyes at Kalama's speech.

”Great, so it's tough-talk time”, he said, his voice dripping sarcasm. ”Tell me when you two are done inflatin' yer egos. I'll just go an' stand in the corner 'til then.” He then frowned at the bodies lining the walls. ”Your guests don't look very well,” he remarked to Scurra.

Agarin was ready for a fight. He set himself up in an amatuer fighting stance, which only earned him the laughter of the enemies. Lohkar realized, upon looking at the Toa of Sonics, that he no longer carried Alex with him.

”Wait a minute - where's Maa?” Lohkar asked.

”Farther back in the cave”, Agarin said ”He may be posessed but the body is still Maa's. Don't worry, he's bound well.”

”Lovely,” said Lohkar. ”That's good rope - 'e won't get loose, long as you've tied 'im up properly.”

”Hope so”, Agarin said.

Scurra spoke up. ”You see this scarring, this one right here?” he pointed to his chest.

”You know how I got it? Well, I'll tell you. Some years back I was normal, like the rest of you. I travelled with a Toa team and we thought of something. We thought if we could go to Xa-Koro and, ya' know, snatch some High Priestess, we could strike the same fear into them, that they had to us. So our little group planned, and planned, and while we gathered some support, it wasn't enough. Anyways, our team travelled to Xa-Koro, disguised, and also during the night. We snuck inside, even had a few men on the inside or so we thought... As soon as we entered the Priestess's chambers we were met by a contingent of both Mages and Inquisitors, weapons and magic ready. They captured our group and then they took us to somewhere, where no one would bother to look.”

Scurra sighed, his hands on his face. ”By the way, I've been unarmed this entire time. My knife is lying there and these men won't do anything. Now back to our little story. I got the name Scurra because they loved my laugh, and I was always seen as the Joker. You see, Scurra is Joker in an ancient matoran dialect. Anyways Scurra and his merry band of Toa had reached the end of the line. Poor Scurra and his two male teammates were forced to watch as they carved the image of a Laughing Hau into their three female teammates chests, a Mockery of Mata Nui. They then took the woman away. Scurra still has no idea to this day, he can only assume the worst.”

Scurra cried and then chuckled a bit. ”Then they did the same two my two friends and then burned them alive. They waited for me, for I had been snarking at the them the whole time, before the torture. They carved the image deeper, and then forced a mask on my face before taking it off. I saw awful things but not as awful as what had happened to my team. They then left me to die and by some miracle of Mata Nui a kind Matoran found me. I was taken back to Ga-Koro and was healed, I was sent back to Ko-Koro and for the longest time, I didn't know what to do, then my mind saw the truth.”

”And what was it?” Kalama asked him.

”THAT IT WAS NOT JUST MY FAULT FOR THEIR DEATHS, BUT YOURS AS WELL!” Scurra roared, almost demonic in sound. ”All of those people in Ga-Koro, those were the people my team asked for help, those were people that opposed Makuta but didn't want to do a darn thing about it! These people here in Onu-Wahi, formerly of Xa-Koro, but the thing is you never leave Xa-Koro, it's a stain on you forever. You see Kalama, I'm doing Mata Nui's work, I am making people on this island pay for their sins. You must realize something, in order to stop people like Xa-Koro, you will first learn what you need to do to stop people like me. You see you all just need a little ”push” in the right direction. So, finally I have one thing to say, will you continue to strike at some small threat like me or will actually address the real issues, the issue I have been trying to show you: That Xa-Koro deserves no mercy and it must burn to the ground. And that if you are truly on the side of the good you believe in. You will do anything, anything to stop them.”

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Feb 04 2012 - 11:52 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 21

Tapio was confused. The crazy Po-Matoran Makuta-follower, Lohkare, was helping them? And why was Lux introducing them to each other?

The eyes of Lohkare/Paha looked deep into Tapio’s, but it was Henkka who saw his friend. ”Tapio?” he said, having a hard time believing it. In his own world, a Matoran named Tapio had been his best friend. Even when Henkka was sent on his... journey... Tapio had been there with him. And this Matoran looked very alike. His body was smaller, but the colors, the posture, the light brown Matatu... This really was Tapio.

This is an alternate timeline of some kind, Henkka thought. I guess he doesn't remember me... I mean, wouldn't even if he could see my true form. Henkka then remembered what Lux had said upon introducing them. Paha, Henkka’s current host, had tried to kill Tapio? Henkka grew angry at the body he was wearing, but calmed down. ”Hello...” he said to Tapio, fighting down a tear. Tapio simply nodded, confused.

Remembering that the fight with the mages and the Inquisitor wasn’t over yet, Henkka turned and saw Wahkua threatening Syryn and Zoma. Henkka did not know the Toa of Plasma, but Zoma was the Matoran he had tried to save, with the help of Lux, since the beginning of the battle. Henkka tightened his grip on the sword he had stolen and advanced towards them.

*

Rylus and Tuuli were up against the final three Mages, as everyone else was apparently preoccupied with the Xa-Kuta group's leader. The Mages were powerful, and Rylus had taken quite a beating, but they'd come this far. He was confident these dark beings could be defeated. He flung a disk at a Red Mage, sending the villain tumbling into the underbrush.

Still, Rylus was worried about Rohkea. Their Le-Matoran companion should have landed in this general area after being thrown by that Nui-Jaga, but he was nowhere to be found...

*

Outraged that Zoma, that imprudent Onu-Matoran, had denied his offer to join Makuta, Wahkua was just about to slice the fool's head clean off when he heard footsteps behind him. Hastily turning, he saw Henkka, who had bested him before, advancing.

With my sword, Wahkua thought with a snarl.

”What I did to your arm, I can easily do to the rest of you. Hand over my blade, or I'll slice you to ribbons,” he growled, holding a disk in each hand.

Zoma stood just behind, not sure whether he should intervene. Lohkare seemed to be a capable fighter, and this strange presence in his body had clearly heightened that ability, but the Inquisitor was a frightening specimen, nearly as tall as any Toa. And speaking of Toa, the one Zoma was trying to awaken was still out like a light.

”Now would be a really good time to wake up, Toa”, he whispered to the unconscious hero.

Syryn saw dark shapes. They were wavering, like a desert mirage. One was pitch-black, an aura of evil surrounding it. Others were lighter.

I'm going out of my mind, he thought.

Suddenly he heard Zoma’s voice. Toa. He was being called a Toa. That, he was. He was a protector. Syryn sat bolt upright, and, almost by reflex, sent tiny sparks of plasma shooting in the direction of the evil shape, who turned out to be the Fe-Matoran Wahkua.

Seeing Wahkua being challenged by both Syryn and Henkka, Lux left them to deal with the Inquisitor and headed over to Rylus and Tuuli. They were faced off against two mages. He drew his sword and smiled at Rylus.

”Just like old times. Y'know, besides the fact that I don't know what the old times were.”

*

Henkka showed no fear while Wahkua threatened him. It was a trick he had learnt. If you show fear to an enemy, he will grow bolder. By showing no signs of weakness, you make him less comfortable in his own skills.

Still, Henkka knew Wahkua was right. Given the opportunity, those sharp disks would shred his host's body. He wondered if he would still survive, even if his body was destroyed, or if he would die with it. Whatever it is, this is no time to find out..., he thought.

Henkka kept advancing. He was preparing for a dangerous trick. ”Come on, then!” he shouted. ”Throw those puny disks! See what they can do.”

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Feb 04 2012 - 02:00 PM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 22

Nighting concentrated hard within his stone cage. Using the sharp end of one of his arrows, he carved the thinnest spot of the rock, managing to make a small hole in it. This had taken a lot of time, but finally he could see enough to teleport out with his mask.

Nighting stumbled as he tried to regain his footing, now outside the cage. He looked around. It seemed that he had made it. He looked around and started to follow the footsteps of Kalama’s group. He'd get them back for what they had done.

*

Alex was bound in rope and lying in a tunnel. He had to admit the rope was very strong, and well tied and knotted. Still, he knew how to get free. He had long ago posessed a murderous Matoran captured by some Toa. While the Toa had been discussing strategy, Alex had learned something about biomechanical beings. They had mechanical parts, like their ”armor”. It was tough. And at some places, sharp enough to weaken rope. Alex had slowly wriggled and moved under the rope. It had taken almost an hour, but finally, the rope had become loose enough for him to get free. The Toa had ended up dead in the end, after Alex had escaped and ambushed them. Alex smiled at the memory.

Now he was doing just the same thing. The rope was stronger this time, but he would eventually get free. Besides, he knew Nighting would be on his way here. He was certain about it. When he comes, he though, then it will be time to act. Until then, I'll just have to prepare...

Alex went on, slowly weakening the rope.

*

Nighting continued following the footsteps of Kalama’s group in the tunnel. Sneaking around a corner, Nighting looked around for his employer. As he spotted Alex, he started to sneak towards him, being careful not to attract any unwanted attention in case there was someone nearby.

*

As Scurra talked to Kalama’s Raiders and taunted them, Lohkar suddenly had a hunch. A worried one. He did sometimes get these hunches, and he knew they were not to be ignored. It had been a mistake to leave Maa all alone, unprotected. He would have to check on him.

”Please excuse me a minute”, he said to the gathering.

He walked out of the cave, back to the Ko-Koro tunnel, where he found a wriggling Alex.

Alex didn’t notice Lohkar until he saw a pair of armoured blue feet walk into his line of vision.

”Well, well, well”, said Lohkar, with a glint in his eye. ”You seem to be ruinin' some of my best rope.”

Nighting stopped before he walked all the way to where Alex was. It seemed that the meddlesome pirate guy had walked inside the room. Now this just won't do, Nighting thought as he looked at Lohkar. Activating his mask silently he teleported behind Lohkar and tried to grab his neck with his lighting laced hands in an attempt to paralyze him. Lohkar frowned as he heard a faint crackling behind his head. On pure instinct, he ducked, and Nighting's hands grabbed thin air above Lohkar's head.

In response, Lohkar jabbed an elbow backwards at the Toa's legs, hoping to knock him off his feet.

Nighting reacted by teleporting on Lohkar's elbow. He fired off a round of electricity at Lohkar before teleporting away again. Lohkar yelped in pain as the electricity shot through his body. He staggered, but straightened up again, drawing his cutlass.

”I thought you Toa were s'posed ta be all virtuous”, he said. ”That wasn't very nice.”

”Virtuous is in the eye of the beholder”, Nighting said as he fired two lightning-laced arrows and then disappeared. Lohkar blocked the arrows with the flat of his cutlass, the leather-wound handle insulating him from their charge. Nighting appeared again nearby. ”I'm doing my duty by keeping my oath and protecting my employer, and thus by extension we have unity, a common goal. And as for destiny... I don't believe in destiny. We make our own destiny.” Nighting teleported before Lohkar could pinpoint his location.

”Does it worry ya that your employer is mentally unsound?” Lohkar called, looking around for Nighting.

”Unsound? More like multiple personalities. Or he's possesed”, Nighting said with a grin as he fired an arrow, then teleported. He did the same thing three more times, very rapidly. Lohkar now had four arrows flying at him from four different directions. Although, being in a tunnel - and a fairly narrow one at that - it was more like two pairs of arrows coming at him down the length of the tunnel.

Lohkar stepped out of the way of them, although one pinged off his blade.

”I think that's EXACTLY what 'e is. I'm curious”, Lohkar said as he casually drew his Zamor launcher, and cocked it, ”are you one o' these Makuta-worshippers, or is it Mata Nui? Or are you out for yourself?”

”I will answer your question if you answer mine. Who do you believe in and why?” Nighting said as he reappeared behind Lohkar. He formed a electrical gate that boxed him from coming any closer to Alex. ”Alright, now let's just talk and not fight. Deal?” Nighting asked.

*

”Enough talk”, Knidia said to Scurra in the chamber, ”Time for you to go to gaol now.”

Knidia had been drawing water all the time on their journey to Scurra’s chamber. Now that water flew at Scurra, where it would strike at his face with the force of a sledgehammer. It would either knock him unconscious or simply crack his mask. Either way, he'd be less of a threat

The Marines had conferred amongst themselves while Scurra had been talking. Kalama watched as the blast of water shot over their heads, towards Scurra.

Scurra neatly side-stepped the wave. Kalama rounded on Knidia. ”Seriously, Knidia? I just said I was going to give him a chance to surrender! How about I just let him kill you next?” He snapped.

”A chance to-? Were you not listening to his ‘I'm totally evil’ speech just now?” Knidia said incredulously to Kalama. ”He made it fairly clear he wasn't going to surrender!”

The Marines let Knidia have a glare before turning back to focus on their adversaries. Kalama looked around, deciding to ignore Knidia’s defiance. ”Alright, who have we got?”

”Looks almost even Com”, Maya commented.

”Shame. I was hoping to give him a chance. We've got too much of an advantage.”

”3 second head start, Kalama.”

”You have one second. The big one is mine. Get 'em Kali.”

Kali grinned and drew her blades, spinning them once in each hand. She rested them on the stone floor. In a shower of sparks and the blink of an eye, Kali had closed the distance and vaulted through the air landing a flying kick on the Toa who had insulted the Marines earlier, sending them both into the cave wall, the Toa hitting first.

By the time the mercenaries had realized they were under attack and had turned back after watching their 'second-in-command' and that Matoran go flying back behind them, the rest of the Marines were on top of them.

Scurra had the unpleasant surprise of having Kalama in his face as he turned back to face him. ”Hello Psycho! Is it my turn to laugh yet?” Kalama grinned.

Knidia shook her head in frustration and reformed the wave of water Scurra had side-stepped earlier, sending it straight at him again.

*

”I believe in ME”, replied Lohkar to Nighting, lowering his blade, but not sheathing it. ”Makuta an' Mata Nui are real; no doubt about it. I don't worship either of 'em. But it seems ta me that if Makuta controls this island, my freedom'll be compromised. So I'm helpin' the 'good guys'.”

”And what if Mata Nui controls the island? Wouldn't he then compromise your freedom? So either way you loose, unless the island falls under your control”, Nighting said as he started to walk away. ”Now if you will excuse me, I have to go make sure my employer is okay.”

”Because if Mata Nui's as wise as 'e's s'posed to be, he understands me, and why I do what I do”, Lohkar replied. ”An' if YOU'LL excuse ME, I 'ave ta do the same.”

With that, Lohkar rushed back to the cave of Scurra and into the fray.

*

Tanuka took a battle position next to Agarin.

”I figured”, Tanuka said, ”we don't know how to fight properly. So we should watch each other's backs.”

”I agree”, Agarin said with a smile as Scurra's henchmen attacked.

”Stupid, stupid Kalama and crew”, Scurra sighed loudly at all combatants. “I'm not nearly as stupid as all of you. I had figured you’d attack me, so I set this up.” The wave of water sent by Knidia passed completely though him, the image shifting like a screen going out. ”Yes, I took five of my weakest men and set them up, they were going to rat me out anyways”, Scurra continued and then turned to those he was speaking of. ”I'm sorry boys, maybe you should learn to betray your teammates before they betray you.”

Scurra turned back to Kalama’s group. ”You see, I'm not here, in this chamber, well I'm not this, this, my friend, is an illusion. I lead your group here because I wanted you here. Our fight will take place in the Wastes of Ko-Wahi. Not here, a cave would a terrible place to die.” The fake Scurra faded from existence. There was a wave, from another path from the cave.

”See you in Ko-Wahi.”

*

While Nighting arrived to check on Alex, the time traveler broke free of the rope at last. ”You came”, he said. ”I guess now it's time for me to keep my promise.”

Alex rose up. ”The secret I promised you. We're alone now. And before we go after that team, I thought you'd like your ultimate prize.”

After a short pause, he continued.

”I - I'm not from around here. I come from another world... another reality. But my time was much like yours. There was an island called Mata Nui, where the Matoran lived. And yes, Makuta did rule. But he was defeated by the Toa Mata.”

He looked around him, making sure nobody was spying on them.

”I think this world is much the same, except for the twist of fate. You know little about what goes on beyond this island. I know a great deal. I have hundreds of secrets to share with you. If you have a question, go ahead and ask. But for now, I'll reveal one secret only... and that might answer all your questions at once.”

Alex waved his hands around. ”When you look for Mata Nui, what direction do your eyes go? The heavens? He's not there.”

Alex pointed down. ”He's down there. Deeper in the ground than Makuta himself. He's there, he can't reach the Matoran. He has lost control of this world. And that's why Makuta's down there. To prevent you all from getting to him.”

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Feb 05 2012 - 02:04 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 23

”Just like old times”, Lux said. ”Y'know, besides the fact that I don't know what the old times were.”

Rylus grinned. It was hard to believe that Lux had saved them from those Nui-Rama mere days ago. It felt like he and Tapio had been in Le-Wahi for ages.

Now it was four against two, provided the unconscious Red Mage didn't come to his senses anytime soon. Rylus liked those odds. The last remaing Red Mage charged at Rylus and Lux, his axe glistening with ice, while Tapio and Tuuli dealt with the Black one.

”Blasted heathens! Your insolence will not go unpunished!” the Mage shouted, sending a barrage of lethal ice crystals at the two. The majority of the spikes headed for Rylus, who was just about to jump out of the way when one struck his arm. The effect was indescribable, like frostbite from the inside out all while being stabbed in the same spot. Rendered motionless, two more of the icicles struck him in his side, sending him to the ground. Unable to lose consciousness, he lay crumpled on the damp ground, gasping for breath.

Meanwhile nearby, Tapio launched his Volo Lutu but missed the black mage. The mage caught the Volo Lutu sphere as it flew past him. Keeping it in place, Tapio was pulled right to his enemy.

The mage struck Tapio with dark energies, making him fall asleep and see horrible nightmares. As he twitched on the ground, the mage turned to Tuuli. Tuuli proved to be too quick for the mage, but he didn't have enough power to defeat the mage alone. He kept dodging, hoping for someone to help or Tapio to awake.

*

Even as Henkka advanced, Wahkua felt a strange jolt in his back, and dared a quick glance behind to see that the unconscious Toa of Plasma had awakened.

”Syryn...”, Wahkua said. “How good it is to finally meet you in person. I've heard a lot about you... Almost everything, in fact. Just hang on while I take care of this Po-Matoran, then we can catch up. It shouldn't take but a minute.”

With no warning, Wahkua whirled around at insane speed and threw a disk at Henkka, aiming directly for his foe's head.

Henkka smiled. Like he hadn't dealt with this situation before? Please.

But as Henkka blocked the disk with his (well, Wahkua's) sword and flew backwards, hitting the ground hard, he remembered this wasn't his body, but a Po-Matoran's. Worse, he noticed he had been stunned by the impact. Stupid Po-Matoran..., he thought as he fought to recover before Wahkua would attack again.

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Feb 05 2012 - 07:18 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 24

Kozai blinked in surprise as he saw Scurra fade out of existence. ”What the heck was that?” he asked Kalama.

Before Scurra was fully gone, Kalama swung at him in anger and frustration and swore before he hit the wall behind Scurra’s illusion. Several other mercenaries vanished as well, leaving the Marines confused. Only four Matoran were left. Kali had crushed the Toa she had attacked to the wall. She pulled her blades free, letting the dead body slump to the floor.

”Could somebody just explain to me what just happened?” Lei asked, bewildered.

”BLAST THAT MAHIKI!” Kalama thundered as he dropped back to the floor. ”He set us up! That wasn't him at all! It was just an illusion!”

Suddenly the area around them shimmered and changed. Kalama's eyes went wide as he spotted the Rahi surrounding them.

”Oh, I am so going to kill him. Orders or not.”

The Kofo-Jaga stared at them. A few of them were wet and steamed from the water Knidia had summoned. They chittered angrily. The Marines quickly arranged themselves in a circle facing outwards. ”Uh... Kalama? Are they mad?” Kali asked him.

”Yes, Kali. We walked right into their nest and attacked them. They are SEETHING.”

*

”Really... That's some juicy information you got there”, Nighting admitted in awe at the information Alex had just given him. He had just hinted that Mata Nui had a physical form and that it was located somewhere below the earth. Nighting was suspicious, though. In fact, he didn’t trust Alex’s words. The Great Spirit being underground? Alex himself being someone from an alternate timeline? Please. Nighting decided to take care while talking to this Matoran. There was something strange going on.

“So... Let's see... Nope. No questions”, Nighting said as he heard the sounds coming from deeper in the tunnel. ”Oh wait, I actually had one. Can we go help them? I won't involve you in it, I just really wanted to get in on that fight.”

”Who do you wanna help?” Alex asked. ”I intend to go help in it myself... oh, yes I will.”

Alex started walking slowly towards the sounds. ”Keep silent”, he said. ”Until we know exactly what they're doing. And after we're done doing whatever we want to with them, we're going to retrieve an object of power.”

”So wait, who are we helping? Our old group or the killer?” Nighting asked suddenly, confused.

Alex turned at Nighting and grinned. ”We'll see”, he said.

”Thanks for the cryptic answer. I'm starting to think you are a villain. Cryptic answers, possessing someone’s body, it's just a generic thing”, Nighting said, hoping to figure out what really was wrong with his employer. Whether he was being possessed or if he just had multiple personalities.

Alex didn't even look in Nighting’s direction as he replied: ”It is none of your business who or what I am. I hired you. It's your duty to protect my duty.”

*

Agarin cursed under his breath

”Kofo Jaga. It just had to be the Kofo Jaga.”

He squinted and faintly saw one crawling towards him. He also saw that even though he couldn't get a straight shot, the angle of the ceiling the Kofo Jaga was under was perfect for a controlled ricochet shot. He aimed at the proper angle with his index finger and released a low frequency hum. He would keep going higher until he found the pitch or frequency that the Jaga couldn't stand, once he'd found it, he'd use it to drive them off.

”Any ideas on how to get us out of this mess?” Tanuka asked, thrusting at one Kofo Jaga that came too close, making it skitter back out of reach.

”Three.” Kalama eyed two Kofo Jaga that were trying to decide if he was a weak link in the circle. ”One involves retreat, one is a one way ticket forward, the last involves a bloodbath.”

”I like the bloodbath option”, Hotu joked. The Marines chuckled.

”I'm glad you find that funny, Lance Corporal”, Kalama said dryly.

”Just trying to keep the moral up, Sir”, Hotu grinned.

”Your fellow Marines thank you. Please accept this medal as a token of our gratitude”, Kalama sarcastically retorted.

”Sweet! I've always wanted my own Medal of Irony. Is it made of iron or bad humor?”

The Marines burst out laughing. Kalama shot Hotu a death glare instead. ”Hotu you're going to have to find some sharper wit if you intend to kill them with your bad jokes. Yours is duller than one of Nokama's speeches.”

Poor Lei was in tears, she was laughing so hard.

”Well at least we can say we went out with our boots on.” Even Nala's grumpy demeanor vanished in the infectious good humor defying their imminent death. She had a grin on her face.

”What does that even mean, anyway?” Nuraka asked.

”I think it means we died with a smile”, Maya said.

Tanuka looked more bewildered than in good humor. ”We may die here and you guys are cracking jokes?”

”It's the life of a Marine, Tanuka. We die in service for our Koro. Everyone dies sooner or later. Might as well die fighting, trying to do something such as defying the Makuta than to live under his control”, Juno said.

”Alright, girls. Let's show them who they're messing with!” Kali twirled her blades before readying them. The rest of the Marines followed suit. On an unspoken command they all said at the same time: ”WE ARE GA-KORO MARINES! WE WILL NOT FALTER! WE WILL NOT FAIL! FOR GALI AND GA-KORO!”

Nobody was sure who moved first, the Rahi or the Matoran. It didn't matter, because both launched and attacked the other and the fight devolved into a messy brawl.

Tanuka barely got her shield up to deflect a Kofo-Jaga that threw itself at her. She danced about, unsure as to what to attack first. There were so many!

Kalama stood his ground, laying a beatdown on anything that came too close. He deflected a blow from one Kofo while pounding another into the ground with his fist.

Kali was was blur, never stopping, always moving, leaving a trail of wounded or dead Kofo behind her. Juno had organized Hotu and Lei with her and were fighting as a unified force, trying to break through to the rear in case they needed to retreat. Lei's chain reached out and cleared a path while Hotu practically threw Kofo out of her way. Juno was protecting their rear.

Nala was completely surrounded. The ShadowWalker, however, was calm and unafraid despite the odds against her. She stared down the Kofo, fingers working against the grip of her Trench knives. One Kofo suddenly tried to jump her from behind. Nala's movement was hard to follow as she reacted.

Yuni gave each one a resounding WHACK! with her rolling pin. Those that refused to stay down were hit by the frying pan. Those that didn't learn from the pan discovered what the butcher's knife strapped to her thigh was used for.

...Still not a good idea to think about it...

Nuraka was favoring her boring drill over the wielding laser due to the Kofo's immunity to fire. She cackled gleefully as the unfortunate Kofo squealed and screeched when she hit them, followed by the wet squishy grinding noise the drill made as it did it's job boring holes into things. ”You know, you're going to have to clean that”, Maya said as she followed Kali's trail, putting the wounded Kofo out of their misery. ”Who cares?” Nuraka grinned. ”It's totally worth it!”

”Just make sure you at least finish them. That's cruel and unusual. We are the ones who invaded their home, after all.”

”And I'll do the same to anyone who invades mine”, Nuraka retorted.

”...That's actually a good point”, Maya mused as she finished off a squalling Kofo, silencing it.

Knidia sank the water she'd brought into the ground, transforming it into squashy mud underneath the Kofo Jaga. Their legs became stuck and trapped, holding them in place

Agarin was getting closer to the frequency, the Kofo-Jaga were starting to squeal in pain. Figuring he didn't want to get jumped like when he was bitten by a bat earlier, he activated his mask. Agarin poured his focus into the sonic waves and within two minutes, he had found the frequency. He called to Tanuka to toss him her spear.

Lohkar wandered into the cavern at that point. He found himself behind a veritable swarm of Kofo-Jaga, with his friends right in the middle, fighting off the Rahi tooth and claw. The floor seemed to have turned into mud, which was making problems for the Rahi, being low to the ground.

”Did I miss the party?” Lohkar called, waving to them.

One Kofo-Jaga got free of the mud, and, shrieking, jumped at Lohkar. Barely turning, he drew his Zamor launcher, cocked it, and fired a smooth ball of metal at the scorpion. It struck it in the underside, and kept going, ramming the Jaga into the wall. One of its legs twitched erratically.

”I hate it when I'm late.”

*

Following Lohkar, Alex and Nighting came to a bend in the tunnel. Alex peeked and saw Kalama's company fighting Kofo Jaga.

”Keep quiet”, he told Nighting. ”They will surely defeat the Jaga. Once they've done that, we follow them. We won't take action until they've reached the murderer himself.”

”Sure can do boss”, Nighting said as he reached the corner and stopped.

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Feb 05 2012 - 11:27 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 25

Lux cried out as he watched Rylus fall. He looked back at the mage, only to be met with a knee to the head. Lux went sprawling to the ground.

”Now, it is time you heretics learned to respect your superiors”, the mage cried.

Over my dead body, Lux thought.

Lux rolled to the left, narrowly dodging the Xa-Koronans axe. The mage raised it high and the Matoran saw those deadly icicles forming. Lux righted himself and rolled to the right as they whirled at him. But one grazed his arm and he screamed. It felt like he was being frozen and burned at the same time.

Lux stumbled and grabbed a tree for support. He turned to see the mage preparing another barrage. Suddenly, Lux had an idea. It was crazy, suicidal even, but worth a shot.

He steeled his mind and charged at his opponent. His muscles screamed in protest, but he kept going. The mage was unprepared for this and the icicles spewed everywhere. Lux reached out and grabbed one, the pain screeching in his muscles. He took it and rammed it into the mage's side.

Lux's mind went blurry. He heard screaming, but he couldn't tell what it was. Lux fell to the ground, moaning.

Meanwhile, Tapio twitched and rolled on the ground as his mind was being invaded by horrible nightmares. He saw hideous monsters, Matoran falling, Makuta destroying everyone on Mata Nui in the cruellest of ways. And the worst thing was, he knew it was only a nightmare, but couldn't wake up.

Tuuli was challenging the black mage. The mage was preparing for another burst of dark energy. Tuuli launched his Volo Lutu at a tree and flung himself away from the mage. Then, he took out a disk and threw it back at the mage. Unfortunately, it missed.

Trying not to think of the ridiculous pain in his arm and side, Rylus looked up to see the Red Mage fall, impaled by his own ice spike. However, Lux, too, had gravely injured himself, and fell into unconsciousness. Tapio was knocked out as well, and Tuuli was now struggling alone against the last remaining Black Mage.

Summoning all his remaining strength, Rylus extended his good arm as far as it would go and dragged himself forward. He wouldn't be able to do much in his current state, but perhaps he could at least distract the Mage and give Tuuli a chance.

*

Wahkua was just about to deliver the finishing blow to Henkka when Syryn interjected, standing upright and smiling. “Always nice to meet a fan. But I gotta run, and I'll be taking him with me”, he said, pointing at Henkka.

Wahkua chuckled dryly. ”Him? What could you possibly want this scoundrel for? To help you plot against the Xa-Kuta, I imagine? I don't want to rain on your parade, Syryn, but if my experiences with him are anything to go by, he's more brawn than brain.”

”Oh, he's got brains, alright”, Zoma cut in. ”This guy thinks of excuses faster than anyone I know, at least until--”

”Until what?” Wahkua inquired curiously.

Realizing he was blabbing about things best not known to the Inquisitor, Zoma kept his mouth shut, hoping Syryn would take care of this villain for good.

While Syrun and Wahkua had been talking, Henkka had managed to recover. He quickly grabbed the sword he had obtained and lunged himself at Wahkua, aiming directly for his side. If this would work, Wahkua would be pretty dead soon.

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Feb 06 2012 - 07:18 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 26

The Kofo-Jaga weren't the only ones stuck in the mud. The Marines were having trouble fighting them and trying to keep upright, slogging through the liquidated earth. Fortunately, being the amphibious force they were, they managed... somehow.

”Hand you my WHAT?” Tanuka asked, looking at Agarin like he'd lost it. The Toa of Sonics had just asked for Tanuka’s blade. In other words, to disarm himself.

Kalama slogged his way to another Kofo-Jaga and pounded it into the mud. Something was nagging at him. There was something grievously wrong with this picture. It was a Kofo-Jaga nest with lots of Kofo-Jaga.

So what was he missing?

Tanuka suddenly felt something. ”Hey guys?” she asked as she wiped perspiration off her foremask. ”Is it me or did the temperature just suddenly go up?”

It hit Kalama like a Kikanalo stampede. The heat source for the nest! Where was the heat source for the nest?!

A mud bubble suddenly expanded within arms length of him and then popped, issuing scalding steam that hit Kalama just as hard as the realization. He stared at the place where the mud bubble had popped, in sheer terror, for two heartbeats.

Kalama then made a mad dash as best as he could through the mud to the exit. ”GET OUT OF THE MUD! GET OUT OF THE MUD! FOR MATA-NUI'S SAKE IF YOU WANT TO LIVE GET OUT OF THE MUD!!!”

The Marines stared at him for a minute before realization hit them too. They abandoned their fights, all making a mad dash for the exit and safe, hard stone.

*

”Uhh, boss? Shouldn't we follow them? They're getting away”, Nighting said to Alex, watching the marines flee.

”They are only getting out of the mud”, Alex replied. ”But whenever they really start going somewhere, out of our sight, we will follow them immediately.”

*

Agarin didn't really feel what Kalama had yelled, but when the mud started to bubble, he knew he had to forget his original plan and make a run for it. Tanuka was quickly behind him in their escape when they saw Knidia stuck, unable to get much traction because of her tail.

”We have to go back for her!” Agarin said to Tanuka. He then turned to Kozai. ”We'll need your help too!”

Just as Agarin had said that, Kozai shot out a giant spoon of stone from his hands. ”Stone-Stone Scoop!” he yelled as he scooped up Knidia from the mud, using the spoon, and deposited her on safe ground.

Knidia shook herself dry from the mud. ”Thanks for that,” she said to Agarin and Kozai. ”Last time I try to use a Kakama on mud...”

”OK, then. Let's get outta here!” Kozai said as he ran out of the cave.

Lei had managed to get her chain wrapped around one of the stalactites and had managed to haul herself up to it. The agile navigator quickly bounced from stalactite to stalactite. Some of them fell into the mud, creating platforms that some of the Ga-Koronans got on top of.

Landing on the Onu-Koro side of the cavern, Lei tested the land, making sure it was firm enough to stand on without erupting into boiling mud. Like the skilled fisherwomen her Koro was known for, Lei flung her chain out to those still in the mud, fishing them from possible death.

The Marines had all regrouped on their side and had just pulled Kalama free when a scream got their attention. Hotu had gotten stuck and had frantically writhed about in the mud, trying to find some purchase when a mud bubble had burst right under her legs, hitting them with searing heat. The Matoran thrashed about, screaming in pain, slowly sinking into the mud.

”HOTU!” Lei cried out.

Kalama didn't waste any more time. Without a second’s thought he took one of his shields and ran, diving back into the mud like a surfer. Only moving agonizingly slow. Braving the hot mud, he hissed every time he had to stroke through it, ignoring the pain from the heat with only one thought on his mind: save his Marine.

Finally grabbing Hotu, Kalama pulled her onto his back and waved. Lei's chain suddenly snaked around and wrapped around his arm. Kalama yelped as the force of the chain nearly wrenched his arm out of its socket.

The group had made it back together. Maya was cleaning off and wrapping Hotu's legs. The Marine simply lay there and whimpered.

”How's it look, Maya?” Kalama asked, rotating his left shoulder to see if the Ga-Koronan had actually wrenched it. It seemed to be in working order.

Maya shook her head. ”Well, it's not too terrible. I'll be able to treat it better at a medical facility than out here in the field. By the looks of it we've all got some degree of burns. Hotu's the worse off. I don't know if she'll be able to preform, much less walk. How's your arms?”

”Tender, but I'll live. Not my first brush with molten earth. AH! Ow! That was uncalled for Maya!” Kalama complained as Maya gently smacked one of his arms.

”Things will never change with you, will they? Always got to be the one to put himself in danger to save one of his own.”

”Well, someone has to”, Kalama shook his head. ”I don't even want to try and figure out how that situation devolved so quickly.” He growled. ”We'll get him next time.”

”Yes, but now we need to recover so there WILL be a next time. I'm ordering Shore Leave for the whole unit”, Maya said. Kalama stared at her.

”You what?”

”Doctor's orders. SHORE. LEAVE.”

”I heard you”, Kalama growled. ”Alright Marines! Let's go. Looks like we'll be staying in Onu-Koro for a bit! I need time to cool off and plot anyway...”

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Feb 06 2012 - 12:12 PM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 27

Tuuli, Rylus saw, was running low on disks. He tried to pick himself up off the ground to help his ally, stumbling but slowly managing to get to his feet. The Black Mage turned to see a battered Matoran with icicles protruding from his body in three places. Naturally, he didn't think of this one as much of a threat.

How wrong he was.

Realizing the idea was ridiculous, but trying it anyway, Rylus wrapped his fingers around one of the spikes in his abdomen and ripped it out. He gritted his teeth and grunted in pain, but refused to lose his nerve. With his unharmed left arm, he hurled the icy projectile at the Mage. The Xa-Kuta was too slow to react, and the icicle disappeared into his hood with a dull crack.

Rylus cringed. He had never directly killed another sentient being. The Black Mage from before was technically killed by his ally's attack. This had been deliberate, vengeful murder. He had just committed an act most Toa didn't have the stomach to do. And somewhere, he knew Makuta was proud.

Nearby, Lux moaned as he clawed his way back into the real-world. His head was whirling around in his skull, and his whole body ached. He managed a glimpse of the action. Rylus had managed to kill the last mage, but Tapio was out for the count.

Lux grabbed his old cane and used it to prop himself up. He half hobbled, half slithered to where Rylus lay.

”Nice work there”, he said, but his voice was raspy and weak.

Tapio was also recovering. Slowly, the nightmares ended and he came to. He looked around, confused at first, then remembering everything.

Rylus dropped to his knees, the wound in his side and an overwhelming sense of guilt forcing him down. Tuuli came to his side and propped him up against a tree.

”You brave-won this fight, friend. Only one remain-stays, the bad-boss Inquisitor. I believe our Toa-hero is taking quick-care of him.”

Rylus was glad to hear Tuuli's encouraging words, and noticed Tapio waking up a few feet away.

*

Wahkua wanted answers from Zoma, who had just said something interesting about Lohkare, but out of the corner of his eye he noticed the particular Po-Matoran preparing to attack. It was getting difficult to deal with both Syryn and this warrior, he noted, groaning with annoyance.

He leapt into the air and flipped toward a large tree, jumping off the trunk with a razor-disk at the ready. He was getting sick of this brash heretic.

As Henkka saw this, he quickly swung his sword at the evil Matoran. He managed to make impact! The sword didn't do much damage but managed to stop Wahkua's attack and make him lose his balance.

Syryn then ran for the Xa-Matoran, polearm at the ready. He hoped he wouldn't have to kill this guy, but if not...

The Toa leaped into the air, jabbing the staff into the ground behind the Matoran, trapping him between him and Henkka. Distracted by Syryn, Wahkua wasn't prepared for Henkka's next attack. Henkka flung his sword at the evil Matoran's mask.

Wahkua ducked just in time, the flying sword going just over his head and slicing off the tip of his hood. That was a close one, but Henkka had just relinquished his weapon. With a sword in his hands, Wahkua was unstoppable.

Grabbing the blade from the ground, he whirled around and struck Syryn's staff with a powerful blow, sending the weapon flying off into the bushes.

”Let the Onu-Matoran speak. What was it, Zoma, that you wanted to say before? Something about how your Po-Matoran acquaintance has... changed? What exactly happened to him?”

Zoma was stuck between a rock and a hard place, now. For one thing, he really had no clue how and why Lohkare had suddenly switched sides. Still, he didn't want to tell this wicked Xa-Kuta anything, but at the same time he had just seen what Wahkua could do with a blade...

”I... I don't know what--”

Wahkua, knowing that his two enemies wouldn't just let him stand there until Zoma answered, slammed into the Onu-Matoran with all his weight and held him in a deadly headlock.

”Alright, you two listen up. One false move, and this pathetic heathen dies. I want a timeline of events, from the very second you turned against Makuta. Not you, of course, Syryn, I already know of your foolish misadventures. But you, Lohkare... Or whatever your name is, I want to know everything. And don't leave anything out, because believe me, I'll know.”

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Feb 07 2012 - 12:21 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 28

”Uhh, boss?” Nighting asked cautiously. ”They're not heading forward, they're heading towards us.”

Alex looked around, trying to find a hiding place. There was none. Kalama's group would walk right up to them. A battle would be risky, since he had to rely almost completely on Nighting. And Kalama's group had the numbers. Running back to Onu-Koro would make him have to face Whenua and Maa’s ”fellow Matoran” again.

”We'll have to try to get past them and go to Ko-Wahi without starting a battle with them”, Alex said. ”I trust in your powers, but there's too many of them. Maybe they won't attack if we just appear friendly and not hostile.”

Kalama’s group came out of the Kofo-Jaga nest and walked towards Onu-Koro. Kalama glanced off to the side and spotted Alex and Nighting watching them as they traveled. ”Will you three quit messing around already? We could have used your help back there!” he shot at them. The group trooped past the three, continuing on to the city. The moment was very akward for both sides, neither making a move to attack the other. Lohkar gave Alex a look, but followed Kalama’s lead.

When Kalama’s group had trespassed, Alex went towards the tunnel that lead to Ko-Wahi, signaling for Nighting to follow. The two travelled deadly silence. ”You alright boss?” Nighting finally asked his employer. Alex simply nodded.

*

After much deliberating among the company, the decision was made to take up residence at the inn for the night.

Lohkar was the only member of the party who hadn't been scalded by the mud or hurt by the Rahi, as he'd been tussling with Nighting for most of the Kofo-Jaga fight. He'd lent a hand getting the Marines back to solid ground, and helped Kalama back to the Koro. Currently he was sitting at the inn's bar, shocking the bartender with the sheer amount of alcohol he could pour into his system, and still make good conversation.

Downing his eleventh mug of Madu ale, he looked out of the window to see three marines fall past, landing with a painful-sounding thump.

”An' I thought they were s'posed ta be injured”, he told the bartender. ”S'nice ta be able ta have a good drink <hic> without someone stealin' yer bottle or whackin' ya every five secon's...”

He trailed off a little woozily.

Knidia was in a corner in the bar, sipping on a bula juice and keeping an eye on Lohkar. There was no point in letting him get into trouble should his piratical impulses take over while he was inebriated

*

Alex and Nighting finally emerged from the tunnels to the coldness of Ko-Wahi. ”We should find that murderous Toa”, Alex explained his plan to Nighting. ”I wonder where we should start looking. Or maybe we should go to Ko-Koro first. To equip ourselves.”

”Well, we should probably head to the Koro. I'm just a bit tired out of the constant battles we've been having. And no doubt the other group is just getting drunk and acting like fools”, Nighting said with a small chuckle.

”So be it, then”, Alex said, starting towards the Koro.

It didn’t take long to reach the village. In the town center, Alex said to Nighting: ”Why don't you look around for a while and rest. I have some arrangements to make before our leave.”

Nighting nodded. ”Can do boss”, he said as he went to the closest inn and ordered both himself and Alex a room. He went into his and sat on the bed, taking a deep sigh. When was the last time he had been surrounded by so complete peace and silence?

*

Alex had no time to rest. He was busy prepaing. He went into a shop to look for some equipment. He didn't have any widgets, but he hoped he could somehow purchase some weapons... or just kill the trader.

Alex found a nice longsword with carvings of the Ko-Koro symbol on it. It was much sharper and tougher than the blade Kozai had sold him. Now he just had to pay for it. Alex took out his old sword, which was of much cheaper quality than the one he was about to buy now. ”I'll sell you this blade”, Alex said, offering his old blade to the trader. The trader looked at it in disbelief.

”And you think that should be enough?”

”Yes. I'll also give you a hint”, Alex replied. ”The secret of life. Give me the sword and accept the blade and you will live on.”

The trader gulped. ”Oh-okay... all right. I get it”, he said. He grabbed the blade and looked at Alex, fear in his eyes. Alex took the long ice sword and left the shop. Soon he was walking the streets of Ko-Koro, admiring his new sword. He was thinking about making other preparations when he glanced back at the shop and saw the trader talking to a guard. He pointed at Alex and the guard looked. At that moment, Alex decided the preparations he had made would be enough and started searching for Nighting. They needed to go.

Finding the inn and asking the innkeeper what room he was in, Alex barged in where Nighting was resting. ”We need to go. Now.”

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Feb 07 2012 - 11:59 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 29

Lux grunted when he saw the shape Rylus was in. He was no medic, but he could still tell. He took his cane and shoved it into the Matoran's grasp.

“Don't say anything. You need it way more than I do”, he wheezed. Himself, Rylus, Tapio, and Tuuli were all exhausted and far beyond fighting conditions.

”We should keep looking for Rohkea”, Rylus suggested. ”If he hasn't found us by now, he's either gone back to the village or...”

Death was a sore subject for Rylus at the moment, as he had just killed for the first time, and rather brutally. An icicle to the face is not a pleasant way to go down.

Tapio was still groaning and recovering from the mage's nightmare attack. Tuuli didn't waste any time resting. He went looking for Rohkea, searching through the bushes frantically.

*

Syryn gritted his teeth. This Inquisitor was good. But Syryn was better. He had to be.

He rose to full height, loosening his cloak so it fell to the ground. “Let him go, Matoran. Don't make me hurt you”, he said, trying to appear menacing.

”Hurt me?” Wahkua laughed incredulously. ”As if you know the first thing about true pain! I've experienced things most beings would lose their sanity over, and I've experienced them over and over again, every single day.”

”How come do YOU want to know about me?” Henkka asked Wahkua, all the time forming a plan in his mind. ”If it's me who you want, release the Onu-Matoran and take me. I won't resist you.”

Wahkua turned to Henkka. ”I suppose I could release the Matoran, but then, you see, I have no leverage. I could snatch you up and whisk you away to the Kumu Islets in a second, if I wanted, but then you would have no reason to talk. I have something you want, now, and I'd be a fool to give that up.”

Zoma wanted more than anything to drive his elbow into the fiend's stomach and run, but he knew Wahkua would be down on him like lightning. ”What... do you want?” he gasped, struggling to talk with all the pressure on his throat.

”Answers. What made you turn against Makuta? What happened that made this Po-Matoran so powerful? How many are there like him? ...And why the Karz aren't my Mages back yet?!”

”I can answer that last one”, Henkka said, smiling. ”They're dead. They fell before my friends, who fought for justice, freedom and the will of Mata Nui. You will be dead too, eventually, if you don't release that Matoran.”

Henkka took a step forward. ”And about me...”

He took yet another step. ”You've experienced true pain? Things most people would lose their sanity over? Every single day?”

Another step. ”You have no idea what experiencing pain and death every single day is. You live in a world that never changes. Even with all the danger, this island is the same. The rivers remain, the villages still stand, the mountains are in place. But imagine, for almost your entire life, hopping between lives, from life to life, place to place, timeline to timeline. Living inside a different body, different surroundings every day, surrounded by strangers every day, having to face the problems of others because they can't solve them on their own.”

Henkka had begun walking towards Wahkua. He had forgotten all about the danger to him or his plan to distract him. He had got lost in the flow of his speech, as he almost unwillingly shared secrets with the Inquisitor he could've never imagined sharing before.

”And as long as anywhere in this vast universe, in all of reality, there are the kinds of you, who seek only personal profit and are willing to sacrifice innocent Matoran for your own greed... as long as you exist, my life will be nothing but switching in and out between timelines, just so I can hit your mask, over and over again. And after you have got to taste justice, there is still an endless amount of others like you. And I have to go and teach them the wrong of their ways! I have to travel and save those innocent Matoran you threaten!! I haven't seen my home in millenia, you stupid mage!! My friends need help from me more than anything or anyone and I'm forced to work to correct the mistakes of strangers I don’t even know!!! I'M SICK OF IT!!!!”

Henkka was up to Wahkua now, his eyes blazing with fury.

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Feb 07 2012 - 01:26 PM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 30

Alex hated the wastes. Originally, he had been born as a Ta-Matoran, so this was only natural. Luckily, this body was not a Ta-Matoran's. It relieved his suffering.

With him traveled a Toa of Lightning named Nighting. The Toa had been hired by Alex to serve as some sort of a bodyguard. So far, he had proven himself to be very useful to Alex’s needs. Now, as the two were journeying, searching the hideout of a crazed Toa of Ice, Alex knew Nighting's skills would come to a test. As well as his.

”I only see snow around. But I know he's here somewhere”, he said.

”Can we get this over with?” Nighting asked, clearly bored.

Neither had any idea that they were being tracked themselves. Three of Scurra’s mercenaries had swiftly moved from hill to hill. Another two were hidden in the snow banks and burst forward, their blades drawn. Meanwhile, the three other trained their crossbows on the group. The one Matoran mercenary had his blade at Alex's throat.

“Ah, you seem to be the kind of people we’re looking for”, Alex said. “Particularly one of your kind... one who likes to carve. On corpses.”

”Do you have business with my employer?” the mercenary holding his sword at Alex asked. “If so, you should say so quickly. The men working under me tend to get nervous when they're being followed.”

”Why yes, yes we do”, Nighting said, not even blinking at the sight of his trackers.

With almost foolhardy nerve, Alex pushed the blade away from his throat. ”If your employer is a Toa if Ice who likes to kill people, then yes”, he said. ”We're not here for a fight. I simply want to talk to him.”

”Then we will escort you to him, but no funny business”, the Matoran said. He and his men, who were, surprisingly, all Toa, trudged through the Wastes, Alex and Nighting following them. They eventually happened upon a cave where Scurra and the remaining mercenaries stood, waiting.

”Good evening, Matoran, I don't believe we have met before”, Scurra smiled. ”My name is Scurra, and my friend here tells me you want to discuss 'business'?”

”Indeed, that is the case”, Alex replied, ignoring the mercenaries around him. He looked at Scurra, emotionless. ”I believe we both know about Kalama and his group and their mission to track down and kill you. I thought an alliance between you and me would serve us both. What do I have to offer, you ask? For one thing, I have some sort of a... spy among Kalama's team. He will prove useful, for sure. In addition to that, I have the rights to offer you the assistance of this Toa of Lightning, being his employer. And finally, I have information that could be useful to you. In return, you will give me assistance in completing a mission on this broken land. What do you say?”

When Scurra spoke, his voice was cold. ”The battle must end here. You need to make them believe that I'm dead, when the battle is finished. Otherwise those fools will continue to dog me.” Scurra laughed. ”In other words, during this battle, we need to fake my death.”

”Wouldn't it be much more satisfying to kill them instead?” Alex asked.

Scurra waved his hand. ”Actually, you may wish to complete your objective alone, I am tired of running and I am tired of living. What was it you wanted from me in the first place? A distraction? If you leave now, you can escape Kalama and his crew.” He smiled. He wasn't being heroic, he believed that part of him had died long ago.

Nighting was uninterested by the conversation. ”I personally don't have any reason for contacting you other than I was hired to. But if you want, I could kill you to save some time”, he offered.

”I'd hate to disappoint Kalama, so if you and friend here, could leave, I would appreciate it.” His cheery voice dropped, to reveal a menacing one. ”You know, I always loved blades, you can cut meat with them, you can cut rope. A knife is more surgical but also much more fun, so see I get to savor little emotions. You see in their last moments you get to see how people really are.”

Alex realized that Scurra wanted to die all along. He was definately sick. What a shame, Alex thought. SO much power and evil intentions, and he wants to die. Alex considered arguing, making Scurra want to live, but decided to let it pass. This island was filled with beings of power, after all. And, besides, maybe he could still use Scurra without him even knowing it.

”Very well, then”, Alex said. ”We will bother you no more, istead leaving you to your fate. Come on, Nighting.”

Alex lead the Toa of Lightning out of Scurra's hideout. After they were far enough from the place, he spoke to Nighting. ”We go to Ko-Koro again. Kalama and his group will go there before getting Scurra. And when they do, we'll be ready.”

“Or, we could go back to Onu-Koro where they probably still are”, Nighting said with a board tone. ”It's your choice, but I expect a hefty payment for this. I was hired to protect, not fight your battles for you.”

”Of course”, Alex replied. ”It looks like it's time for a raise. Would... say... a Mask of Time suffice?”

”No, cold cash works. No cash, no services”, Nighting said with a grin. ”Nice try, though.”

Alex tried to think of something to give to Nighting. The Toa was demanding cash, even over a legendary Kanohi. And the truth was, Alex had no money to offer Nighting. Of course, he might find some from his host's house. Alex doubted Maa had much, but little was better than none.

”Okay, we're going back to Onu-Koro, then”, Alex said to Nighting. ”You will get your payment there. I assure it. How much do you want?” Alex started walking towards the Onu-Koro Highway.

”Half now, half after the battle”, Nighting replied with a sly grin. ”For now, I'll take, 1,000 widgets.”

Alex gulped. There was no guarantee his host was that rich. But he had to try. ”We'll go to Onu-Koro. You'll receive your first half there. I have no intentions of battling Kalama and his group in the tunnels. We'll only stop by.”

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Feb 08 2012 - 12:38 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 31

Lux looked around. The battle was nearly over, except for that Inquisitor who didn't seem to be able to pack up and go home. Lux wished he could help Henkka and Syryn, but he would only be a liability.

Instead, he busied himself tending to Rylus, who was pretty badly banged up. The ice thorns had been removed, but the tissue was scarred. It could heal naturally, but it would take time, and they had to make sure it didn't get infected.

”Thanks for all your help, Lux. You've done a lot for us the last few days”, Rylus said. He was certainly glad Lux had some medical knowledge, otherwise he may not have lasted much longer. Tuuli eventually emerged from the bushes, an unconscious Rohkea over his shoulder.

”He still breathe-lives, but just barely. Several smash-broken bones.”

Rylus breathed a sigh of relief, but still worried about the others. He still wasn't totally confident in Zoma's loyalty, but they had been friends for years, and when near-death experiences like this happened every day, he didn't want to just throw that away.

*

Syryn was astonished at what Henkka had just said to Wahkua. That was bold for a Matoran. Extremely. But what about “jumping timelines”? He would have to ask later. If they made it out of this. He tensed his muscles, preparing to strike if things went awry.

Wahkua had stood calmly through Henkka's speech, savoring every word with a twisted sense of satisfaction. The Po-Matoran had just told him almost everything he wanted to know, probably without even realizing it. Apparently, Lohkare was a rogue Makuta fanatic, who drove Zoma and Rylus(who may or may not have existed), to rebellion. Somewhere along the way, they had allied themselves with Syryn, and Lohkare had become possessed by the tormented being he was fighting now.

”I was like you once”, Wahkua began to respond. “Striving to save those who needed it. Dimension-hopping, no, but exploring unfamiliar territory nonetheless. There was a time when many would have called me hero, like yourself. I rescued a small mining outpost in Onu-Wahi from a swarm of Nui-Jaga, long ago, and what did they do? They ran off. Left me there, on an unstable wooden tower with a dozen Jaga bringing it down. Of course, it fell, eventually, and I knew for certain I would be killed. But somehow, I escaped, blinded by their venom. Have you ever had to stumble blindly through an already dark cavern, far enough beneath the surface that no one would ever hear your screams?”

Zoma shuddered at what he heard. As much as he hated this Inquisitor, he knew exactly what it was like wandering aimlessly through an abyss. The feeling had been all too real in a recent nightmare... Perhaps it was real? Is that how he had ended up here, in this clearing, surrounded by Rahi?

”I don't recall how long that lasted, or when I blacked out,” Wahkua continued, ”But when I finally came to my senses, kind words greeted me. I assumed one of the grateful villagers must have come back and taken me to the village, but when my damaged eyes adjusted I found that was not the case. It was a Black Mage, by the name of Hethros, who became my mentor and my closest friend until he was killed by a Priest gone rogue... can you guess who?”

To his right, Zoma noticed Syryn look down at the ground. Clearly these two had more common history than he had realized.

”You say you're so sick of what you do?” Wahkua kept talking. “How you have to save strangers every day, or watch them die? Try watching your best friends back home die, picked off by one of their own. If you're sick of not knowing your surroundings, then just quit. Stay here, don't bother finishing your hopeless 'missions.' You'll be able to make new friends, and not have to abandon them. And then when they're killed... you'll understand suffering.”

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Feb 08 2012 - 01:40 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 32

Alex had told Nighting to wait near a bar in Onu-Koro while he'd get the money. The problem for Alex was, he had no idea where his host might live. He was certain he was looking from the right village, but Onu-Koro was big. There were simply too many huts to just guess.

Alex decided to get the money in a way only he could.

Alex stopped an Onu-Matoran. ”Hello there! You look like someone who could use a new hut!”

The Onu-Matoran shook his head. ”No, I'm fine with my...”

”Don't be silly. I'm not talking about some small hut, but a palace-like hut! It's in Onu-Wahi, but not too far away from the Koro. Do you have 2000 widgets?”

”No, only like, 200 or something.”

”Come, anyway. I want to show it to you. You can spread the word.”

And so Alex lead his misfortunate Matoran into a Kofo-Jaga cave in Onu-Wahi. Before the Matoran died, Alex managed to get his widgets. He had 215 widgets now. It wasn't enough, but Alex wasn't done yet.

*

Meanwhile, Nighting was walking into the bar when he suddenly heard a disturbance from there. He bolted off to go investigate. As he entered the building he saw Kalama's group about to fight with some insane Toa of Fire. Hoping he wasn't going to be noticed he slipped into a corner of the bar and waited for the action to begin.

”Come to watch, 'ave you?” said Lohkar to Nighting, revealing to Nighting that his efforts to remain stealthy had been futile. He hadn't escaped the pirate's sharp vision. ”Long time no see. I was wonderin' where you'd got to.”

”I came to see what the impending fight was about”, Nighting said as he looked around. ”Care to fill me in?”

”Basically, this fine fellow thinks 'e can just walk in an' smash people's glasses, so Knidia an' Kalama are givin' 'im a warning”, Lohkar replied. ”Incidentally, 'ave you thought any more about your employer?”

”Yes I have, and I still am going to work for him, pays very well. 2 000 widgets to be precise.” Nighting said.

”Interestin'. An' where is 'e gettin' these 2000 widgets, exactly?” asked Lohkar, one eyebrow raised.

”Don't know, don't care. None of my business where my employer gets his money”, Nighting said as he waited for the action to start up.

He didn’t have to wait for long. The Toa of Fire, way too drunk, started fighting Kalama and his group. The fight attracted the attention of other drunk, violence-loving pub customers, and soon a full-scale bar-fight had broken out. More drunk outsiders joined, trying to battle against the Marines of Kalama and the other members of Kalama’s Raiders. They found their opponents to be too quick, too agile, too skilled and too smart, however. Nighting and Lohkar watched as the pub turned into a battlefield.

*

1327 widgets, Alex counted. He still needed more. He was getting tired of fooling these Onu-Matoran, killing them, whatever he had to do to get their money. After he had started collecting money, 7 Matoran had gone missing. Alex had no doubt the Ussalry would set out to find them. And they would most probably find them too, one from a Kofo Jaga nest, two from under a cave-in and so on.

Long before his timeline journeys, long before he had ever been something greater, Alex had been a gangster and a robber. And he had done it well. Even the police force wouldn't dare to oppose his band of criminals. Alex had experience of this kind of stuff, but alone, things were more difficult.

Álex came upon an empty hut. He peeked inside. Could it be...

Alex went into the hut and started looking for any clues of this hut's owner. He found proof from some scattered letters that this was actually Maa's home! This meant it was his now, too.

Alex looked around. The hut was filled with different artifacts, rare-looking gems and tools of all kinds. His host had apparently been a passionate collector of rocks and minerals. Alex already knew he was a miner, so it wasn't impossible at all. On the contrary, Maa had probably secretly salvaged some gems while mining, adding them to his collection.

Alex suddenly got an idea. He didn't hesitate, but instead got to work.

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Feb 08 2012 - 04:55 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 33

Henkka went stiff with hatred. His eyes blazed as he looked deep into the eyes of Wahkua. ”I have many of my friends die”, he said calmly. ”Yes, back home. Back where I came from. You have no idea how many happy, free, promising Matoran were killed because of me.”

Henkka lunged forward and grabbed the sharp end of Wahkua's sword. His hand received a deep cut as Wahkua resisted, but Henkka ignored the pain. This wasn't even his own body and his host had been evil, so what difference did it make? Henkka wrenched the sword from Wahkua's hand and threw it away before hitting him with a fist.

Wahkua hadn't been expecting such a strong hit from Henkka, but did all he could to absorb the blow and keep his grip on Zoma. Taking several steps back, he tightened his hold on the Onu-Matoran, digging his arm into his captive's throat.

”Try anything like that again, and he will die. It doesn't take a sword to snap a neck.”

Zoma tried to talk, but could barely utter any cohesive words, ”What more... want? You alrea... know everything!”

”Of course I know everything I need, Zoma. But that's not what I came here for. I came here to eliminate any chance of an uprising, which can be done one of two ways, as I'm sure you all know. But for one of us...”

He flung a disk in Syryn's direction before Zoma had even realized the Inquisitor had taken it out.

”Too late to have the option.”

*

Tapio sighed in relief as Tuuli brought Rohkea back. The battle was mostly over and Tapio felt like he had proven himself to Rylus. He had taken out one mage, after all. Tapio smiled. Suddenly he heard sounds ahead. ”Come”, he said to Rylus, Lux and Tuuli. ”I think the others could use some help. I know we're still recovering, but... I'd never leave a friend in trouble.”

Lux wrapped Rylus' wounds in some large leaves he had found and sealed it as best he could with a liquid he carried around in a bottle.

”There, that should do until we get back to Le-Koro. Now, in the meantime, Tapio's right. They look like they could use some help.”

*

Syryn had already ducked backwards to avoid the disk hurled by Wahkua and, out of sheer reflex, grabbed it out of midair. He stood for a moment in amazement. 90,000 years he could try that and he would never be able to do it again.

Henkka spoke to Wahkua with an almost mocking tone: ”Do you really think I wouldn't kill you just because it would cause the death of another one?”

Henkka reached and picked Wahkua's sword from the ground. Once again, he had stolen it from its owner. He felt satisfaction over the fact.

”As I told you, I have caused the death of many others. I have also worked as a 'bad guy' for maybe even longer than you have. But I made a choice. And another one. That's what my life is all about these days. I might've hesistated once making this decision, but not anymore. Not for a hundred years.”

Henkka threw the sword down, to the feet of Wahkua. ”If this body dies, so will I”, he said. “If you want to get rid of an uprising, you can go on and kill me.” Henkka threw away his disks, leaving him completely unarmed. “Release that Matoran and you'll see I’m true to my word.”

Wahkua knew better than to release his captive Matoran just because some fool was ready to sacrifice his own life for it. Obviously, as soon as he released Zoma, the Po-Matoran would charge and take the opportunity to attack him. Wahkua was just about to tell Henkka the trap was obvious when Syryn shouted behind him.

”100 years of you!” he screamed at Wahkua, full of fury. “100 years of Xa-Koro and Makuta! 100 years of events leading to this! 100 years of terror and desperation in the hearts of Matoran. Why won't you die!?” Syryn then threw the disk he still held at its original owner.

Wahkua reacted too late to the disk thrown at him, and it sliced a nasty gash in his left arm- not the one he was using to hold Zoma, luckily. Wahkua scowled: ”As long as Makuta lives, there will be those who follow him. Those who choose power and life over miserable hope and inevitable death. And is Makuta dying anytime soon? Not a chance.”

Wahkua had noticed others approaching, apparently the ones who had defeated his troop of Mages. It was one against six now, and he'd have to be out of his mind to tempt those odds, especially considering the power of this particular group. The time he had always dreaded, the time he had even brutally punished many of his subordinates for, was upon him.

Time to surrender. To quit while he was ahead.

Wahkua snatched his sword from the ground and jumped to a tree, climbing to a high branch faster than many Le-Matoran could. Now with Zoma and his sword, he shouted down to the assembled heathens below.

”Unity”, he scoffed, ”How can one honor such a virtue at the same time as courage? The two hardly go hand in hand. But soon you will all find that your unity”, he grinned and hopped to another branch, ”Is so easily poisoned.”

And with that, he disappeared into the trees.

Tapio launched his Volo Lutu at Wahkua, but it was too late. The Matoran was already gone, with his hostage. This reminds me of something..., Tapio thought, annoyed. Not long ago, Lohkare had disappeared with Lux. Now both were back, Lohkare even turned good, but another pair was on the loose.

Rylus felt grief over the kidnap of his friend. Their friendship might have been damaged, but Rylus couldn't let Zoma meet whatever fate the foul Inquisitor had planned for him.

Tuuli spoke. ”We're bad-injured. We should quick-leave for Le-Koro and treat our wounds. Then we'll thought-think of something to save that Onu-Matoran.”

Henkka cursed. He had already guessed his mission was involved with Wahkua and Zoma somehow. He would have to find them. ”You go if you want to”, Henkka said. ”I will go look for them. There's no time to waste. He will do something to that Onu-Matoran if I'm not in time...”

Syryn walked up and said: “I shall come as well. If that Matoran is half as evil as his teacher, he is a force to be reckoned with.”

Rylus wasn't sure whether Henkka could be trusted. The Po-Matoran was clearly acting more noble and heroic, but Rylus was worried about what might happen should Syryn go into the woods with him alone. ”I'll go with you”, he said, trying to ignore the pain in his side. ”There's strength in numbers, and we'll be needing it with someone that brutal.”

Tuuli interjected: ”But Rylus, your hurt-wounds! You must make quick-haste to a doctor!”

”I'll be alright. Lux's bandages should hold for a while, right?”

Lux leaned on his sword, using it as a cane. He stared almost in awe at Henkka. He had risked his life to challenge an Inquisitor. He had to have guts to do that. And now he was going after him.

”Hey, Paha”, he called. He wanted the truth before one of them died.

*

If Zoma thought the dense forests of Le-Wahi were dark before, his fear was fed further as night fell quickly. Despite the various beasts and insects roaming about the jungle, the journey had seemed eerily silent. Neither Wahkua nor his prisoner had said one word to each other since leaving the clearing. Zoma knew there was no point in struggling. Wahkua's left arm may have been injured, but his right was as strong as ever and wouldn't be letting go anytime soon.

Gazing into the black depths of the space between trees, Zoma wondered just how extensive this forest was. He knew, of course, that Mata Nui was an island, but in these woods it felt as though the trees and foliage went on forever, covering the entire world. He had considered asking Wahkua where they were going, and why, but decided against it. It wasn't that he was scared to ask. He had simply... lost interest. So much had happened in the past weeks that he actually cherished the solitude and silence of being pulled across this unfamiliar territory.

Wahkua, he had always assumed, was a despicable being, but held so tightly in the Xa-Kuta's arm he felt safer than he had in a long time. What if the Inquisitor's intentions were not evil at all? Perhaps the others were the crazy ones, fighting for a lost cause that could never hope to be achieved. Wasn't Makuta already in control? Wasn't Mata Nui already asleep? The Toa had tried, all those years ago, to bring him back, but to no avail. And besides, they never really knew from the beginning how to wake him up, did they? What were they trying to accomplish? Maybe Makuta had a reason for putting his brother to sleep. Maybe there was a good reason the Toa had disappeared into the depths of the island, never to return. Maybe the Toa were still alive, deep below the surface, side by side with Makuta.

But then, as he wondered if changing sides wasn't a bad idea after all, he remembered that terrible dream he'd had the night before. The impenetrable darkness that had surrounded him, the tangible shadows that had squeezed the air, the very life out of him. And finally, the long silence was broken by a terrible, twisted scream.

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Feb 08 2012 - 12:44 PM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 34

15 382 widgets. Alex grinned and held the widgets in his hand. Selling all of Maa's stuff had been pure genius. The Onu-Matoran owned lots of beautiful gems and stones and by selling them to other Onu-Matoran and tourists, Alex had made a lot of money. In addition to this, Alex had also sold all of Maa's furniture and tools. In the end, he had sold the hut to an immigrant for a good price. Of course, Alex's host now had almost no property and no place to live, but that didn't concern him. What concerned him was that now he had enough money to pay Nighting. With this much payment, Alex was sure he could use Nighting all the way through his stay in this world.

Alex had kept some of Maa's stuff, though. He now had a backpack, a Ko-longsword (bought by Alex in Ko-Koro), a lightstone, a pickaxe, a small dagger and 5 bamboo disks.

Alex left Maa's hut to it's new owner and started looking for Nighting.

*

Damek looked in amazement as Maa apparently sold his home and left.

”Kaj, look!” he said to his friend. ”So there IS something wrong with him!”

”We have to do something.”

”We shall. We will follow him and find out what he's up to.”

A hand rested down on Damek's shoulder.

”You don't know how right you are,” said Knidia, ”Permit me to help? You may need me if things get bad, and I certainly need you to point out the strange things he does.”

While Damek was recovering from the shock, Kaj spoke: ”Hey, I've seen you before. You were with that group Maa told was holding him hostage. Then it appeared he wasn't a hostage after all and we were all just confused, Turaga Whenua came...”

”And you left”, Damek finished. ”But yes, we'd be glad to get help. I've known Maa for years. He's never been like this before. He never lied. Now he has sold his own hut! He's lost it, I'm telling you.”


*

Alex had found Nighting from a very unexpected place. A prison hut. Alex was baffled by Nighting tinkering with the lock of a cell that contained a Toa of Fire. An unconscious Toa of Fire. Alex frowned. What was Nighting up to?

Alex was even more confused by the lack of guards in the hut. He looked in each direction to make sure no one saw him, then slipped inside to speak to Nighting. ”I've got your payment. But could you tell me who this guy is? And why are you trying to break him out?”

”Yeah, well, himself and I have some unfinished business. He was subdued so quickly by those Marines that I never got a chance to really talk to him. We met in a bar…”

”You drank at a bar?!” Alex spat. ”There's a big battle coming and you get yourself drunk?! And what are you trying to do with him now, break him out?!”

”Relax, it's part of my plan.” Nighting said, revealing that he wasn't drunk at all. ”I have a brain you know. I'm recruiting someone to help us against Kalama's group. And you won't even have to pay him.” Nighting said with a sigh. ”Now can I finish my brilliant plan?”

”Okay, but hurry”, Alex said, not convinced about the wisdom of what Nighting was about to do. ”We need to get out of here fast. I can already feel several eyes watching us...”

Suddenly, two Onu-Matoran guards entered the hut and ran to Nighting, pointing their spears at him. ”Hey! You don't have permission to be in there! Come out at once!” one of them shouted.

The other one called to a nearby sergeant. ”Hey, Sarge, a Toa just teleported into the annoying guy's cell! They're talking about breaking out!”

*

”Interesting”, said Knidia. ”What was Maa doing before he started acting strangely? I know he was working in the other Koro, but why?”

”In another Koro?” Damek said. ”It makes sense. The last time we saw him before he became strange was long ago. He was here, in the village, doing his daily work. Then he just... disappeared one day. That used to happen often, so we weren't worried. Maa had a habit of leaving on his own little adventures every once in a while, to collect rare artifacts or simply trying to find some experiences.”

”But this time he was away for a very long time”, Kaj continued. ”Then he suddenly came here with your group. He hinted to Damek that you guys were keeping him hostage. He was acting very strangely. And after the incident with Onepu and Turaga Whenua, he just left again, along with you guys! Didn't even stay for a minute to chat with us or tell what all that was about!”

Damek continued: ”And now he came back and sold his property along with his hut!”

If he's selling up, that means he might be moving on again... Knidia thought, Possibly back to where this problem started...

”Have a word with that Matoran who runs the Ussal taxis, Midak”, she suggested, ”Tell him to keep an eye out for Maa, see if we can figure out where he's going.”

”I'll go and inform Midak”, Kaj said. ”Then I'll come back.” Kaj ran into the tunnel leading to Po-Wahi to find Midak.

Nearby Lohkar walked out of the bar, satisfied with what had happened. The Marines had ended the barfight quickly, many combatants were taken to prison and the best of all, Lohkar was not punished for anything. As he walked, he suddenly saw Knidia talking to the Matoran he recognized as Maa's friends. He walked in their direction, and heard them talking about Maa's new-found oddities.

”I think perhaps I can add some information”, he interjected. ”The change happened in Po-Koro. We split up, an' when I found Maa, it was like 'e didn't recognise me. Said afterwards it was a joke, but I wasn't so sure. So I called 'im by a different name - Ihern - an' 'e accepted it. Seemed like a completely different person. That's what made me think he's - ”

Lohkar paused.

”Possessed.”

”Posessed?” Damek thought out loud. ”Who would want to posess Maa? What could one gain from it? Maybe - maybe it's Makuta himself? After all, no one knows what he's truly capable of...”

”But he doesn't look infected. So, if its not the Makuta, then possessed by what?” Knidia said.

”Who knows?” Lohkar replied. ”There's a lot o' strange things on this island, but I've never seen anythin' like this before. I've seen people go mad, forget everythin', even 'ave more than one personality. But it was like 'e wanted ta find out everything 'e could about himself.”

He frowned.

”Whatever's controllin' him, it's clever - very clever. What it doesn't know, it finds out as soon as it can. That's why it fell for my name trick - it needed to know what its name was.”

”Some kind of mix-up with an Iden maybe?” Knidia suggested, ”Though I don't know how that would work on a Matoran.”

”No, I think we've got somethin' else here”, Lohkar replied. Then, a bit sheepishly, he added: “To be honest, I'm a pirate, not a scholar. I know me fair share o' stuff, more than many, but the niceities of Psionics escape me.”

*

As the guards approached Nighting, Alex did his best to stay unmoving. Since he was an Onu-Matoran, the guards weren’t paying that much attention to him. But Nighting, he would have to be able to handle these guards on his own.

Nighting raised his hands. ”I'm just here during visiting hours, isn't that allowed?” he said with a grin.

The guards kept both their stony expressions and spears where they were.

”Not fooling us! We heard you talking about breaking him out. Now get out before we sound the alarm!”

”I believe that you are talking about the prisoner. I never said anything about breaking him out.” Nighting said, his never-ending smile still on his face.

”And?” said the smarter of the two guards. ”Whoever mentioned breaking out, this guy is dangerous and we're not taking any chances.”

”Look, I just wanted to... I know the people who put him in here for goodness sakes! We're, well we're not buddies, but I helped bring this guy down. Don't a get a good one liner?” Nighting said with a sigh. He didn't want to have to kill these people.

”Weeell...” said the guard, ”I suppose you can gloat a little. Don't try anything!” he warned.

They returned to their posts, on either side of the Toa of Fire’s cell.

Alex was becoming impatient. This was taking too much time and Onu-Koro wasn't the place for all this. They needed to get out of here.

Alex looked at the two guards guarding the cage. He looked around to ensure nobody was watching and took out his Ko-longsword. As he struck the other guard and killed him, he firmly said without shouting: ”Nighting, other guard.”

The other guard heard Alex's words and gasped, noticing his dead comrade lying on the ground. Instantly, he drew a horn from his belt and blew several sharp blasts. The alarm.

He then ran.

*

Lohkar heard the sound of an alarm trumpet, coming from the prison.

”Somethin's goin' on”, he said to Knidia and Damek. ”An' I reckon I know who's behind it.”

With that he hurried off in the direction of the prison. How odd, he thought. If this is what I think it is, I'll be helping PREVENT a jailbreak. Funny how things change.

Just as he got to the door of the jail, a Matoran guard burst out of it, clearly panicked.

”Help!” he gasped. ”Murderers! They killed - ”

”Don't worry, I'll take care o' this”, Lohkar said grimly.

He strode into the prison, and saw several things. A Toa of Fire in a cell. Nighting. Alex, holding a sword that dripped blood. And a dead Matoran on the floor.

”Ah”, said Lohkar. ”'Ihern'. Funny how we keep running into each other.”

He drew his cutlass.

”Mark my words, it'll never happen again.”

Alex's eyes widened behind Maa's mask on seeing Lohkar. This was exactly what he had feared. He threw a fistful of widgets in Nighting's direction. ”Here's your payment, now dispose of him and get me out of here!”

Damek had ran after Lohkar and arrived in the hut as well, seeing his former friend, Maa, sword in his hand with a dead Matoran next to him. ”No...”, he said in disbelief. ”Who are you?!”

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Feb 09 2012 - 02:41 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 35

Henkka turned to Lux, who had just asked for his attention. ”You wanna come too?” he asked.

Lux chuckled. “No thanks. But I do have a question: Who are you? Don't try saying you're Lohkare or Paha. I want the truth.”

”What do you mean? Of course I'm Paha... don't I look like him? Look, I simply decided to switch sides. Sort of... enlightement.” Henkka did his best to get away from the question. He had no idea what would happen if he actually told someone he wasn't what his host had been. He had never done it before.

Rylus had been willing to join Henkka and Syryn on their chase for Wahkua, but Tuuli insisted he should return to Le-Koro to be healed. Rylus wasn't happy about the idea of heading back to the village when Wahkua was out there somewhere with Zoma in his clutches, but the others were right- his wounds needed professional treatment, fast.

”Alright, then, back to the village... Who's going back with me, and who's in the search party? Tapio and Tuuli, you probably want to get back to the village with Rohkea. Syryn and Lohk... Paha are heading out to look for Zoma. What about you, Lux?”

He was privately hoping that Lux would opt to go with Syryn and Paha, but the Po-Matoran, like himself, was not in great shape. Still, Wahkua was not one to be trifled with, and Rylus was worried that someone needed to keep an eye on Paha.

*

”What's wrong with you?!” Wahkua shouted at his prisoner, who was violently trembling and clearly very disturbed.

Zoma said nothing in response. His eyes stared unseeing at the canopy of foliage high above, trapped in some dark dreaming state. A scream that loud must have attracted the attention of anyone around... Wahkua sighed and wondered if this one was even worth the trouble. There had to be a reason the Onu-Matoran was in that clearing with those Rahi. Normally a swarm of Nui-Rama that big would have torn any trespasser to shreds, but not Zoma. Why?

There was no way Wahkua could know the means by which Makuta chose his disciples, but it would be insane to deny that Zoma had indeed been chosen. To think, Wahkua had come all this way to find and destroy a group of rebels, and instead he may have discovered a being that could fill even his own shoes.

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Feb 09 2012 - 04:02 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 36

”I had a different way of handling this, you know”, Nighting muttered, annoyed, at Alex. ”Not everything ends in death.” He turned to Lohkar and said: ”Sorry mate, but I can't go back on my word.” And with that he swung his sword at the pirate, hoping to give Alex time to get away.

Lohkar smiled at Nighting. ”I don't think so, mate!”

He was just about to attack Nighting when another Toa suddenly leapt out of nowhere. The newcomer saw Nighting and ran at him, hugging him to the ground. “Nighting!” she exclaimed. “Where have you been? It’s so good to see you again!”

Lohkar simply shrugged and stepped over the two of them.

”Well, well”, he said, grinning at Alex. ”Seems I've got you all to myself.” With that, he thrust at him with his cutlass. It was at least twice as long as Alex's blade.

“Fehdran?” Nighting breathed in amazement, then remembered Alex and activated his mask, barely making it to Alex in time to separate him from the pirate. ”It's great to see you too”, he called to Fehdran, “but can greetings wait a second? I'm a bit busy.”

”Oh... did I interrupt something important?” Fehdran asked. Nighting raised an eyebrow.

”Nothing much”, Nighting said. ”Just a classic duel to the death between two anti-hero's.”

”Your funeral, mate”, Lohkar said to Nighting, grinning. Then he turned to Fehdran. ”Yes, you did, love”, he said. ”Your friend here's assistin' a murderer in his escape.”

Not caring about Lohkar’s words, only of the safety of her friend, Fehdran put on her clawed gauntlets and rushed at Lohkar. She soon found Lohkar's Zamor launcher loaded and pointing right at her.

”Stay out o' this, love”, Lohkar growled. ”I don't like hurtin' ladies.”

”Let me put it this way”, Nighting said, his bow leveled with Lohkar's head. ”If you harm her, well, let's just say it won't be a pretty sight.”

Fehdran frowned. ”Let me tell you something, 'love', I'm not afraid of your little peashooter. Now, you got two options, stay and be beaten by the two of us, or leave.”

”I wonder, mate”, Lohkar said to Nighting with a wicked grin, still aiming at Fehdran, ”does she know you're a murderer's accomplice?”

Fehdran was caught off guard by the statement made by Lohkar. She thought she recognized him from the description given from a stranger in a bar. She was good at gathering information and knew everyone worth knowing on this island.

”I wonder 'mate,' can you stop talking like that for a second?” Nighting asked. “Or are you stuck talking like that? And will I have myself an answer if I cut off your head?”

Knidia had been watching the conflict from outside the prison hut without participating in it. Now, however, she decided to act. She gathered moisture from the small river than ran through the Koro's centre. She was creating three hands out of water to grab the trio facing off against Lohkar.

”You know, I'm not really doing what you think I am”, Nighting said with a smirk. ”You think that Maa's the only one possessed? I'm on the trail of another possessed person in your very own group. Their name is-” right as Nighting was about to finish his remark he was grabbed by a hand of water, keeping him from finishing his sentence.

”I'm going to have to ask you about all this later, but for now, how bout we get out of here?” Fehdran suggested and used her own powers to break down the fists holding them. ”Might I suggest we run to somewhere filled with less people trying to kill us?”

”Yeah, maybe your right...” Nighting said as he landed on the ground. He sprinted towards Alex, grabbed him, then bolted out the door. He headed towards the Ko-Koro tunnel and set Alex down. ”My job is complete, see ya later”, he said, and with a wave of his hand he was gone in the tunnel with Fehdran.

”WAIT! YOU FOOL!” Alex shouted as Nighting left. ”You... traitor...”

Alex was desperate. During his life, he had betrayed countless people, leaving them to their fates. Still, it was hard for him to accept being left behind himself. That had not happened often. Now he had no ally in this world, no one to protect him or aid him. He felt angry and frustrated. He wanted revenge, but what could he do? Obviously Nighting didn’t care about the 15 000 widgets Alex had to pay.

Alex looked around in panic. Onu-Koro was a dangerous place. He was being hunted by Maa's former friends and Kalama’s Raiders. That wasn't good. He ran as quick as he could to the tunnel leading to Ko-Wahi.

*

Damek saw Alex running to the Ko-Wahi tunnel. ”He's off to Ko-Wahi”, he said to Lohkar and Knidia. ”We should go after him! Whatever is posessing him, it will leave my friend, I swear it!”

Kaj hurried back. ”I told Midak about Maa's condition. So... what have you been doing?”

Damek gave him an annoyed look.

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Feb 12 2012 - 01:36 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 37

Henkka grinned. He had a gnash in his left arm and his both hands had deep cuts in them. But he couldn't let Wahkua escape forever. Henkka believed it was his mission to save Zoma.

”So, Lux, you coming or not?” he asked. ”Cause we're leaving now.”

Lux smiled sadly. “No, I have to go back to the Koro. But...”

He whistled and a buzzing sound suddenly appeared. It grew louder and a Nui-Rama came down from above.

”Take Phantoka. She'll get you there in no time.”

Henkka nodded. ”Thank you. Mata Nui bless you.”

He turned to Syryn. ”Okay, let's go.” Henkka boarded the Nui-Rama.

Rylus was reassured by Lux's offering of Phantoka. The loyal Nui-Rama had gotten them out of danger before, and would certainly be of help to Syryn and Henkka.

The two groups parted ways, Rylus, Tapio, Tuuli, and Lux heading back to Le-Koro. Upon reaching the patch of leaves where they had left Rohkea, they were relieved to find him unharmed, but still unconscious. Rylus was beginning to worry about how long the Le-Matoran had been out. A concussion? Fatigue? Impossible for any of these gathered Matoran to determine, as they were fighters, not medics.

Rylus's mind drifted once again to Zoma's situation. How had he ended up in the that clearing, and why? How did he even manage to slip past all the Matoran sure to be watching him? And now, he was out in the jungle somewhere with a vicious Inquisitor...

*

The voice was speaking to Zoma again. That distorted, shadowy voice that haunted his dreams and filled him with dread.

Who are you? Zoma asked it, even though he knew the answer.

The voice swelled like a tide, it's jumbled words barely cohesive but getting the point across all the same. It was nothing... And everything. It was the terror that lurks in the corners of a dark room. The sense of unsettling mystery in an unfamiliar place. The startling chill that surges through one's spine on a cold night.

The power of destruction. The Master of Shadows.

Why me? What do you want?

Fear, as it turned out, was the answer to both. Those without it were useless to him. Fear of the unknown, of the mighty powers that the reclusive monster might possess. Without fear, none would follow, but without it no one would ever care enough to challenge him. An enigma. Either way, he fed off of fear. He used it to twist the minds of those who let it consume them. And from there, the new followers inspired fear in others, and the cycle continued. A brilliantly effective method of maintaining control, and ensuring his presence.

Even when he wasn't there at all.

*

Henkka flew above the forest of Le-Wahi on the Nui-Rama called Phantoka, with Syryn. Henkka was in pain. His left arm had a gnash in it and most of his fingers had deep cuts in them.

Henkka looked down. Le-Wahi was a thick jungle and it was impossible to see the ground beneath the trees. ”We're not going to find that evil guy like this”, he said to Syryn. ”But searching in the swamp isn't going to be easy either. Or quick, for that matter.”

*

Tapio sighed as the group arrived in Le-Koro. He had been here for a very long time. His boss's mask was probably red with anger by now. Tapio was supposed to bring fruit to the Ko-Koro Inn. He had obtained the fruit but had been dragged into an adventure with Rylus and the others. And it hadn't worked out well. Many Matoran were hurt and had they actually accomplished anything?

”I need to get going”, said Tapio to Rylus. ”Back to Ko-Koro.”

Rylus looked at Tapio. The two had become fast friends on the journey here, but deep down Rylus had always known this was not Tapio's ideal lifestyle. The Ko-Matoran had never really wanted to go on adventures and fight Mages; they had originally come here just to buy some fruit, after all. Rylus briefly considered going with Tapio, but realized that Le-Wahi was in much worse shape at the moment than Ko-Wahi, as far as he knew. The Le-Matoran could use all the help they could get, and Rylus still wanted answers from Zoma and Paha. He certainly wouldn't mind having a word or two with Wahkua, either.

”Very well, then... If you need to get home, I won't try to stop you. I have a feeling our paths will cross again, someday.”

Rylus wondered what it might be like to go home and leave all this madness behind, but the thought held little appeal to him. He belonged in the fight against the Xa-Kuta, aiding his fellow Matoran in the struggle for freedom.

Deep down, Tapio had hoped Rylus would join him. But he also knew Zoma, Rylus's friend, was in danger and the danger was in Le-Wahi. He couldn't just leave. Tapio felt a little guilty about going and leaving Rylus, Tuuli, Lux and the others. But he needed to go. Serving the inn was his duty. He couldn't abandon it.

With a moment of hesistation, Tapio said his farewells. ”Goodbye, Rylus, and Lux. And Tuuli, of course. I hope we'll see each other again.” He then left, fighting against his conscience as he did so.

So long, Tapio, Rylus thought to himself, I can only hope Ko-Koro is still safe...

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Feb 20 2012 - 01:30 AM.

[Toatapio Nuva]

Chapter 38

Lohkar exited the prison hut, frustrated. Alex had got away, along with Nighting and his girlfriend.

”Well, as I understand it we're headin' for Ko soon anyway”, he said to Knidia, Kaj and Damek, who were still recovering from the shock of Alex murdering a Matoran. ”I'll talk to Kalama, see when we're leaving.” He looked at the body of the guard being carried away. ”I'm not sure if there's any of Maa left in there, now.”

Lohkar soon found Kalama. ”Kalama!” he called as he approached. ”When're we leavin'?”

Knidia followed Lohkar to Kalama. ”It seems we’re now hunting two people in Ko-Wahi”, he said, then added sarcastically ”Fun.”

Kalama looked at Knidia. ”Two? Where'd the second one come from? Who's this second target I need to worry about?”

It was Lohkar who answered. ”Our new target is Maa. 'E killed one o' the guards at the cell. Nighting was helpin' 'im. We tried ta stop 'em, but a friend o' Nighting's arrived an' they escaped. They were headed for Ko, last I saw.”

His expression was dark, contrasting with his usual carefree mood.

”Now I'm sure of it. Maa wouldn't murder one o' his own tribesmen in cold blood. An' there's the issue o' the money he's payin' Nighting. Where's that come from, I wonder?”

Kalama’s eyes widened. ”Maa killed an Ussalry guard?” He asked. ”You're right, that doesn't sound like him.” He thought for a minute. ”We know Makuta's Madness is spread through infection but it only affects those wearing infected Kanohi.” He frowned. ”Which doesn't make sense considering he switched masks here in Onu-Koro. In the brief seconds he wasn't wearing either one he would have snapped out of the Madness. Then there's the matter of Nighting. Did he actually help Maa kill the guard or not? There's a big difference in the eyes of the law.” He gave Lohkar a wily look. ”Something I wouldn't expect you to know considering you’ve been skirting the law most of your life.”

”On the contrary, Kalama”, replied Lohkar with his roguish grin. ”Knowin' the law makes escapin' it much easier. Funny how just one word can mean the difference between innocence an' a conviction for fraud.”

”As for the money,” Kalama continued after Lohkar's response. ”That's their business and none of my concern. As for why Maa was acting funny, I have no idea.” He looked between the Lesterin and the Toa/Rahi. ”They killed an Ussalry Member in the line of duty in Onu-Koro so it's out of my jurisdiction as a Marine Commander and the case belongs to the Ussalry. If we run across them in the wastes I'm willing to look the other way if you want to question them but unless they make an attack on some Marines there's little I can do about backing you on it. You'd be working in a unofficial capacity so if you get caught I'll be forced to deny involvement, meaning you're on your own if you get in trouble for interfering in an investigation.” He glanced around.

”Now if you were to get there before the Ussalry and... oh say... play the part of an informant who ah... happened to overhear something Maa and Nighting said. That's a different game entirely. If you catch my meaning”, Kalama said, hinting at something.

Lohkar thought back for a moment. ”Actually, Nighting seemed ta disapprove of killin' the guard”, he said. ”Which means 'e isn't liable, I s'pose. But 'e did help Maa escape.”

Kalama paused to consider Lohkar's words. ”Huh... I've never thought of it like that... that would make sense seeing as we haven't captured and hung you by now. Liable or not he was still there when Maa killed the guard and he teleported Maa out so they could still link him as accomplice for murder.”

“D'you think the Ussalry'll be able ta take 'em down?” Lohkar asked.

Kalama grinned. ”The Ussalry will be fine. They're the only ones better than the Marines at hit and run and ambush tactics. They're fairly tough and creative. I'm sure they'll have no trouble bringing down a single Toa and a Matoran. Nobody wants to face a joint Ussalry hit and run ambush with a Marine's explosive raiding ability. They call it the Mata-Nui Blitzkrieg. Tore the Ta-Koroan Guard offensive apart in the last wargame the way I heard it.”

The Marines gave the group a rather unnerving, collective wicked grin. ”They never knew what hit them, sir, and they're still trying to figure it out”, Hotu said proudly.

*

It was the evening before Kalama and his group would leave. A big concert was taking place in Onu-Koro and none of the Marines wanted to miss it out. Damek and Kaj, Maa’s friends, were also watching this concert. They had been disappointed to hear from Turaga Whenua that they would not be allowed to leave the village to go after their possessed friend. Lohkar and Kalama had assured they would do all they could to capture him. Still, Damek and Kaj had wanted to go out on an adventure and it was frustrating to have to stay.

Both were watching the evening concert with interest and excitement. It wasn't everyday there was such an event occurring in their home village. At some point, Damek, however, stepped out of the crowd and returned to his hut. Apparently, the recent events had been too much for him.

Kaj saw another being standing apart from the crowd as well. It was a Po-Matoran. Hirvi. Hirvi had been part of Kalama’s group, but he hadn’t really been very active or anything. Kaj wondered for a while why he had even joined the group. He decided to go talk to the Matoran.

”Hi.”

”What do you want”, Hirvi snapped.

”Easy. I just came to talk to you. Why aren't you enjoying the party?”

”Pfft. Parties. I just wanna go home. I don't know why they dragged me into this.”

”Neither do I.”

”That Maa guy just came to me and hired me for no apparent reason. Said I would be of use to him. He wanted to train me or something, I don't know. He told me the most peculiar things on our way to Onu-Koro.”

”Like what?”

”Oh, just something about being ready when the action began. He told me to trust him and that I would be well paid afterwards. But he's gone now, isn't he? Yes, I know he murdered a Matoran and is on the run. Why do they still keep me around?”

Kaj pondered Hirvi's words for a while. ”Well, you can be of use to them while they hunt him down?” he offered.

”Yeah, right.”

”I'm serious. They need all the help they can get. Now what do you say if we join the others?”

Hirvi nodded. The two joined the crowd as they clapped and cheered.

*

Tapio stepped into the icy village of Ko-Koro. At heart, he felt guilt over leaving his friends, but at the same time, returning home felt good. Now he would just have to face his boss.

”I'm back”, Tapio said, walking into the inn he worked in. His boss was cleaning a table. He turned and looked at Tapio and suddenly his eyes were filled with anger. ”Do you have any idea how long it's been?”

”I'm sorry boss... I sort of... got in the middle of...”

”I don't care”, Tapio's employer snapped. ”You've been gone for days. During that time I have been forced to take care of this place alone. And there has been no fruit to give to the customers!”

”I've got the fruit now”, Tapio said, opening his pack. He gasped in horror as he saw the fruits squashed and rotting inside his backpack. They had been in there longer than he had thought.

”That settles it!” Tapio's boss shouted. ”You're fired! I can hire someone else. Someone better than you.”

”But boss...”

Tapio hit the ground next to the inn hard. His boss sure knew how to deliver a powerful kick-out. Tapio sat on the stairs of the inn and cried. For his whole life he had been the helper of this particular inn-keeper. Now he had lost it all. His life. Just because of a stupid adventure that had taken a bit too long.

*

Alex emerged from the tunnels, anger blazing in his eyes. He had been betrayed. He was alone. He still had no idea what his mission in this world was. He had tried to cook up an evil scheme, a master plan, a mass murder. It had failed miserably. All he had managed to kill was a jailguard. And he was still stuck here, in this world, in a weak Matoran body.

Alex arrived in the village of Ko-Koro, thinking about his next move. Something caught his eye – a crying Matoran on the steps of an inn. Why he cried didn't interest Alex at all. But on looking at him more closely, Alex realized he knew the Matoran. Of course, not in this world, but in his own world there was a Matoran who looked exactly like the one crying. Tapio. It had to be. He had been the best friend of Alex’s worst enemy, Henkka, where he came from. Alex grinned and went closer, intrigued.

”Excuse me, you all right?” he asked Tapio. Tapio lifted his head to look at the newcomer, an Onu-Matoran with a Calix.

”I'm... fine... I just...”

”You're not fine.”

”Well, I just got kicked out of the inn... I worked there... but...”

”Tell me more.”

”I... I went on this adventure in Le-Wahi and sort of... ignored my duty. And so I was fired...”

Alex thought about the possibilities of this Matoran. He was crushed, unemployed and miserable. Just how Alex liked his enemies. But then again, Tapio wouldn't need to be his enemy in this world. It was a different place, a different time.

”What would you say if I employed you?”

”Would... would you do that? What would the job be?” Tapio asked with hope in his eyes.

”You'll find out soon enough”, Alex said. ”All I need is a stout warrior who can help me in a quest. It's for... the good of the island.”

Tapio considered. He had never been a fighter, but the battles in Le-Wahi had given him experience. Perhaps he could take the risk?

”All right... I can do it”, Tapio said.

”Well then”, Alex replied, ”looks like we're an employer and an employee. Come along. There is much for us to do...”

*

”Remind me again where it is we're going?” Lei asked as she packed another snowball and threw it against Kalama's shields on his back with a THUNK!

”The Diamond Tipped Snake Fangs, and stop that! I can't focus on the land marks to keep us from getting lost if you keep pelting me!” Kalama berated Lei.

She ignored him and hit him again with another snowball. Kalama and his group had just left Onu-Koro to track down Scurra in the Ko-Wahi wastes. Snow, naturally, had sparked the Marines to have a little fun. Kalama was annoyed by this, this was a mission, after all.

Lohkar stomped across the frozen wastes. Personally, he preferred water when it was wet, but snow had its uses. As Lei was demonstrating. And that gave Lohkar an idea.

He discreetly withdrew to the back of the group, drawing his Zamor launcher. He made a large ball of snow, quite densely packed, and loaded it. He carefully took aim, and fired at Lei's back.

The force of the snowball lifted the Matoran off her feet and sent her flying into a drift. When she scrambled over, she found Lohkar, silhouetted against the ice-white sky, standing over her.

”I'd appreciate it if ya don't get us lost”, he said, blowing ice from his launcher, ”navigator.”

Lei stuck her tongue out at him and then promptly sweep kicked at his feet. Lohkar simply hopped backwards, avoiding the kick. Being a Matoran, Lei's legs were not particularly long and thus she had to move forwards to kick at him. Lohkar had long Lesterin legs, and was very good at jumping, and as quick as she was, Lohkar was quicker.

He smiled charmingly at her.

”Maybe next time, love”, he said sarcastically.

Knidia was having no problems with the snow. Her tail was as good for sliding over snow as it was for propelling her through the water.

Juno was walking ON TOP of the snow without sinking in. When asked about it she simply shrugged. Hotu explained: ”It's because her father was a Ko-Koroan or she's dating one and he showed her how to do it.”

Nala had somehow ended up on Knidia's tail and was sleeping peacefully as the Toa/Rahi moved along.

PIFF! Lei's snowball found it's mark, splattering all over Lohkar's face. Lei grinned. ”And maybe next time you'll know to duck. LOVE”, she mocked him before freeing herself from the drift and flouncing off next to Hotu.

Kalama suddenly held up a fist. The Marines went tense at the signal and wordlessly drew weapons. They watched Kalama to see what he would do next. A few tried to look into the distance to see if they could see what he was seeing.

Kalama's left hand flicked out to his left. Juno, Nuraka, Maya, and Kali spread out in that direction. When Kalama's right hand flicked out, Lei, Hotu, and Yuni spread out in that direction. Nala suddenly vanished from Knidia's tail without waking. No one knew where she went.

Kalama gestured at the rest of the group to stay behind him while the Marines formed up into a V formation with Kalama behind them in the middle. Looking left he saw Kali flash him a thumbs up. Lei did the same to his right. Kalama motioned to move out. Lei and Kali echoed it to the Marines just out of sight on ether side of them. The whole formation suddenly took off in unison, moving quickly through the snow. Kalama centered, obviously following tracks.

Hirvi looked around, bored. Still these guys were hanging onto him. He really would've just wanted to go home. Lohkar noticed this and approached Hirvi while they marched on. ”Somethin' wrong, mate?” he asked.

”What do you need me here for?” Hirvi asked. ”Will there be something important for me to do later on? Why are you keeping me here?”

”You're free ta leave whenever ya want”, Lohkar replied. ”Kalama's made it clear that nobody's bein' forced ta come. If ya want ta go home, no-one's goin' ta stop you.”

”It's just... Maa told me to stick around until something big happened”, Hirvi said. ”He told me to be ready. He told me to trust him. But he's gone now, right? Or is he coming back?”

Lohkar’s answer was cut off by a a sound in a nearby cavern...

Edited by Toatapio Nuva, Feb 20 2012 - 02:49 PM.