Toru Nui

IC: Ulkarr and Enra (Outskirts of Tobduk-Koro, Telepathic Link) Xane and Enra made their way across the Ash Barrens into the Northern Desert. "Hang on. I see something over there." Using her telescopic vision, Enra spied what appeared to be a settlement, built around similar ruins she and Xane had investigated in the Dead Forest. "Looks like some people have set up shot near another one of those ruins." Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the village, a mere green-blue speck in Enra’s vision, Ulkarr trudged along towards Tobduk-Koro, communing with Bode. I shall be arriving soon. I can see the village already. There is no need for concern. @Nato the Traveler@Harvali IC: Ostrox and Navu (Metru-Koro, Village Infirmary) Navu couldn't believe what she was hearing. First her faith in Mata Nui is shattered, then it turns out he's real, just not all he's cracked up to be? "Hahahah… oh, but stick with me. IT GETS WORSE. For the purposes of claiming the Sphere, Mata Nui cobbled together an abominable vessel for himself using Mazor's revenants. Indeed, he made it sound like he was the driving intelligence behind the undead hordes. The same undead hordes who slaughtered everything in their path, 'chosen people' and 'filthy heathen' alike. Oh, and I'm fairly certain he murdered Mazor's Matoran guide as well. Almost as if you're not divinely favoured. Imagine that." @Eyru@Tarn@Onaku@Sparticus147@Conway@Nato the Traveler IC: Tekmo (Silver Sea Shoreline) "Of course. No one else shall ever know. You have my word… I don’t suppose you can use it to make us some other mode of transportation back to Metru-Koro?" @BULiK@Sparticus147 IC: Reckless and Lawful (Tobduk-Koro) "If there is a Kanoka shortage, this unit will be happy to donate-" "This unit believed we were discussing a murder." "Of course. We are in a state of martial law until conditions considerably improve. In the absence of any legal system, this unit recommends indefinite incarceration of the suspect until further notice." @Harvali@The UltimoScorp@Onaku

IC: Ostrox and Navu (Metru-Koro, Village Infirmary) "This ought to be good…" Navu whispered, almost inaudible to everyone but herself. "The short version is that it was the work of a man - thing - monster - traitor - who calls himself Mazor. Tall, green and gray, a rotting corpse only kept active through a Mask of Undeath. Forgettable fellow, ahaha - hrmph." Ostrox forcibly silenced his own laughter, and continued. "The long version - Mazor, Zaliyah, Irna, Skorm and I were all part of a mission to acquire an object known as the Krom Sphere from the wreckage of a Nynrah Ghost vessel, before that cabal of mad scientists managed to retrieve it. On the way, we were attacked by Visorak someone thought it would be a good idea to give their own ship. As such, I was injured, and thus unable to investigate the wreck myself… and prevent what came next. As I waited for the others to return, I saw from the deck of the Ripple the corpses of the Ghosts and their slaves rise again as mindless revenants. The sky changed, becoming a reddish hue. I’m not sure if the Sphere is supposed to work like that, or if Mazor’s nature influenced it somehow, but the fact remains that he was the one - and the only one - to handle the artifact. During the trip back, I saw him become obsessed with the Sphere. He refused to lock it safely in the cargo hold, instead keeping it on him at all times. He spent his time fiddling with it, as though it were a children’s toy, and not an artifact of doom, which changed the sky further. He even slept with it, for crying out loud. When we arrived at the Barraki Fortress, he refused a summon from Pridak himself, to continue staring at it on the beach. At that point, I was well within my rights to just kill him, but me, being an idiot, decided to instead persuade him - as if he were a disobedient child and not a grown adult - into delivering the Sphere to the Barraki. To his credit, he agreed, despite Irna’s best attempts at enabling his behaviour, claiming I was 'harassing' him. Since Mazor happened to be the one who had the Sphere, he was the one to debrief the Barraki on the mission, conveniently leaving out a lot of what I said earlier. I’m not sure what Pridak’s plan was, and now we may never know, but he assigned Mazor to deliver the Sphere to a certain place in Metru Nui once our invasion began. I voiced my concerns to my Lord, Mantax, and he dispatched me to shadow Mazor and make sure he didn’t do anything untoward. And also Irna, who insisted on tagging along with him for some forsaken reason. As you can guess, I failed, but in my defense, the one he sold the Sphere to - and the universe with it - was far beyond my weight class. Beyond all of you, for that matter. I could tell you where this was and who he gave it to - but you’ll likely kill both me and Zaliyah regardless of whether or not you even believe me, so she goes free first." @Eyru@Nato the Traveler@Conway@Tarn@Onaku@Sparticus147 IC: NU-8020S, Obedient and Impressionable (Tobduk-Koro, Ruins of Stone) "What is happening in here?!" NU-8020S queried, flanked by Obedient and Impressionable as she entered the Ruins of Stone. @~Xemnas~@pokemonlover360@Harvali@Onaku@Snelly@Tarn IC: Tekmo (Silver Sea Shoreline) "I agree, but we can’t just oust him without majority support, that would be improper. Though, I think we might have it anyway. The League might have been responsible for this, but he did not exactly do us any favours. If he does not step down despite the wishes of the populace, I will ensure that he does." @Sparticus147@BULiK IC: Enra (Dead Forest) "Well, uh, the big head is a bit of a landmark, so maybe they’re heading the same way?" Enra tried to give a comforting smile, though its effectiveness was debatable. @Nato the Traveler IC: Reckless and Lawful (Tobduk-Koro) Reckless, in quadrupedal mode, suddenly scuttered over to where Kanohi was. "Murder? Murder is crime. Crime must be eliminated. Testify immediately." "You do not have to testify immediately." Lawful contradicted from just behind his brother, for which Reckless glared at him. "Please, testify when you are ready." @Harvali@The UltimoScorp

IC: Ostrox and Navu (Metru-Koro, Village Infirmary) And out of the Matoran’s hands as well, Navu thought. Well, this wasn’t what Ostrox wanted to hear. Matorankind either had to forsake their vile faith, or die. There could be no in-between, or the universe was doomed. Perhaps he would have to break his vow of secrecy to Mantax and tell Zaliyah just what happened beneath the Coliseum. It wouldn’t be the first time… Hang on. He was onto something here. Lies could only be fought with the truth, and staying silent about it wouldn’t help anyone. This Oreius seemed to be nothing more than your typical mad zealot, though perhaps he was mellowing out a bit. But this Nale and Iradra seemed more reasonable, if only by comparison. Perhaps… perhaps there was hope for them, like there was hope for Zaliyah. A small, faint glimmer of hope. But in such hopeless times, you took what you could get. "Oh, one other thing, before I forget. In an act of good faith, I can reveal some classified information to you, if you’d like. Before you get excited, it’s nothing that will compromise League interests and nothing that Zaliyah knows about. This information pertains as to how we all, er, arrived on this island." @Eyru@Nato the Traveler@Tarn@Onaku@Conway IC: Tekmo (Silver Sea Shoreline) Tekmo scampered off to where Knichou and Vulimai had made landfall. He was greeted by the aroma of fresh vomit, which made him feel green - more green than usual - just by having to see and smell it. "Ah, see? I told you we'd make it. I never doubted you for a second... though, perhaps for half-a-second, you were gone for a while. Do you need assistance standing captain? Er, naval captain?" @BULiK@Sparticus147 IC: Enra (Dead Forest) "Did you fight for ‘em?" Enra asked, somewhat hesitantly. "Not judging or anything, but is there one side we should avoid more than the other?" @Nato the Traveler

IC: Ostrox and Navu (Metru-Koro, Village Infirmary) 'Lost everything'? Ah yes, without the 'inferior races' to prop them up, the Matoran, Toa and Turaga had lost their position as supreme high overlords of the universe. They had even lost the automatons they built to police themselves, due to lacking the courage or means to do it themselves. Almost as if no amount of deciding not to try to kill him because they had to satiate their delusions of righteousness would change that their 'society' and 'culture' was a parasitic blight on the universe and needed to be eradicated for the good of all, or something. Imagine that. The Toa was wrong of course. They hadn’t lost everything. Not yet. They would have their precious 'Great Spirit' to thank for that. There were a thousand insults and mockeries he could have made of these nutcases, but they would have to stay in reserve in case of an undead apocalypse. This was Zaliyah's mission, and she was taking the lead on it. She didn't need him provoking the emotionally-unstable xenophobic zealots. What Navu was doing outside wasn’t eavesdropping, it was… OK, yes, it was eavesdropping. She'd invite you to sue her, if any form of legal system was still in effect. @Eyru@Tarn@Nato the Traveler IC: Enra (Dead Forest) "Oh. That..." Whatever answer Enra had been expecting, it hadn't been that. "Sounds worse, actually." True, the warbands fought each other, but nothing of the scale Xane was suggesting, at least, not since the Valley of Bones. "Do you ever think that maybe... the problem's inherently us, and you and I and a few others are just the exception that proves the rule?" @Nato the Traveler IC: Gnabol (Metru-Koro) Gnabol had the Skaklets moved out of the infirmary to make room for peace talks between Metru-Koro and the League. That could only work out so well. Finding this place had been difficult. There was a still-standing hut nearby, but that was small, and had a dead frozen corpse inside. Instead, he took them to… IC: Klawne (Metru-Koro, Iradra's Hut) There was a knock at the door, and the sound of indecipherable babble, almost like a small child. "Uh, hello? Is anyone in there?"

IC: Ulkarr (Metru-Koro, Telepathic Link) The casualty rate is most unfortunate. I would have been there, if not for the vendetta between Metru-Koro and the League. It is my understanding that the latter made an offer of peace that was refused. If you were hoping for some good to come of their deaths, I’m afraid I must disappoint you. Hearts must be fresh for the ritual to work, and I am far away. The operators of the airship known as the Taku have refused to take me to Po-Koro, let alone provide aid. It is likely they will expire before I can reach you on foot, and if what you have told me is accurate, you will have left Po-Koro before I arrive. As for Kanohi’s vision… if only my people were so proactive. No, they concern themselves with only their individual petty aims rather than the common good. What might have been the ultimate power in the universe, reducing itself to become glorified arms dealers for the Skakdi. @Harvali IC: Ostrox and Navu (Metru-Koro) Navu was summoned by all the commotion over by Oreius’s ship. It seemed like someone had come from Metru Nui, but not a member of the League. A Toa. No Toa wouldn’t join a despotic empire bent on enslaving their own kind, would they? It wouldn’t be the first time they had disappointed her. Ostrox perked up, as he heard something of interest - a target of mockery. "'New Archives'? So soon? I expected it to be a few months before the Rahi started being locked up and experimented on, deep underground." @Eyru@Sparticus147@Onaku@Nato the Traveler@Tarn IC: NU-8020S, Reckless, Lawful, Obedient, Impressionable, Buggy and Wayward (Po-Koro) "Scanning database for names beginning with Ko." Impressionable began listing some, in an attempt to be helpful. "Koa. Koab. Koaba. Koad. Koaff. Koag. Koagg, with two gs. Koaghron, Koah. Koai…" "Wait. We were programmed with - of all things - baby name suggestions, but we were not programmed to self-destruct if captured?" "You mean, we are not?" "I believe he is just making them up, combining random syllables together." @Harvali@Onaku@pokemonlover360@Snelly@Tarn@The UltimoScorp@~Xemnas~ IC: Enra (Dead Forest) "Right… what was it like there, before you wound up in this flaming rubbish bin? Couldn’t have been much worse than this…" There’s a bit of envy evident in Enra’s tone, but it’s mostly a genuine question. @Nato the Traveler IC: Klawne (Metru-Koro, Iradra’s Hut) After so many years living in a cave, an actual house was an excellent change of pace for Klawne. Long ago, she considered braving the wilderness to track down the Aqua Sphere. If it really could reverse the ravages of time, then perhaps it could make her younger, fitter, stronger. Perhaps, even revert her back into a Toa. But that was just a perhaps. She kept it in reserve as a last resort, but she was rather unsure about it. What if the Sphere’s waters also reverted your memories? Or change you fundamentally, in some other way? Was it really worth risking all that made her her, just for revenge? It wasn’t as if there were any innocents left to fight for, not until these people came falling out of the sky. Now that they were around, she didn’t even need to. This was all assuming she would survive the trek, of course. Or even reach the Sphere, considering it had a habit of moving from one place to another. Still, avenging the fallen was something Klawne had been dreaming of for a long time, and it seemed the new guys would deliver, if they could stop threatening and bombing each other for five minutes. She hoped that her sisters and brothers were at peace, wherever they were...

IC: Ulkarr (Metru-Koro, Telepathic Link) Absurd. I am relatively certain that my home is not made of calcium. But the fact that this Kanohi has knowledge of the Kumu Islets when logic dictates he should not suggests that he sees with more than his eyes, if that makes any sense. If Po-Koro is being relocated, I will need to know more details. Where are these ruins in relation to your current position? @Harvali IC: Ostrox (Metru-Koro) Though he took great pains to conceal it, Ostrox’s mind was racing. Pridak was dead. Assassinated and usurped by Aurax, no doubt in some treacherous manner. No mention of Ehlek though, which was interesting. Did the fool not think him important? Regardless, if the League was now under control of the Toa, then that meant everything - quite literally everything - was in jeopardy. As long as the Matoran were still free to practice their foul religion, no one on the island was safe, no one in the universe. And he could do nothing to stop them. How dare this self-righteous worm stand proud in front of him? If not for a magic rock arbitrarily handed into his stubby little digits, granting him power he didn’t earn, he would be cowering in the filth and the dirt with the rest of his kind where he belonged. How dare he call the parasitic creatures who built their empire on the blood of his ancestors 'innocent'? How dare he still live, when better men died ignoble deaths trying to rid their land of the tyranny he enforced? How dare he… how dare Ostrox still live, now that his failure was complete. Everyone and everything he had ever cared about was now gone. Taken away by the greed of the Matoran, the wrath of the Toa, and the cruelty of the Turaga. His home was now far beyond his reach, countless innocents - real innocents, not these vermin - perhaps dead, thanks to the Great Lie and the rotting corpse that released him. He should have stopped him. He should seen the weakness in his eyes. He should have taken the ‘un’ out of undead all the way back on that beach. He should have sliced open Irna’s throat, and bashed in Mazor’s skull against the crag rocks! But he didn’t. Every moral compromise, every stain of dishonour, every act of cruelty he had performed, all of it for nothing. Nothing but barely slowing the machinations of powers larger than him. Was there a glimmer of truth in the books of lies published by these gremlins? Was changing his Destiny really impossible? "So, this is how the universe ends. Not with a bang, but with a 'huzzah'." @Eyru@Nato the Traveler@Tarn IC: Enra (Dead Forest) "Right then. Off we pop." Enra left the Ruins of Fire for the rotting skull of a dark god, with Xane accompanying. As they began their journey, Enra thought of something. "You know, now that I think about it, it's a bit odd how there's apparently two different types of Skakdi, one here in this wasteland of our own making, the other inside the blood and guts of a giant, one with frills and one with spikes. I mean, yours and mine could share an ancestor species, but how'd we end up out here and you end up in there?" @Nato the Traveler

IC: Ulkarr (Metru-Koro, Telepathic Link) Unfortunate. Metru-Koro, while safe for the moment, is not in a position to increase its population, by my observations. It has suffered attacks by both this 'League of Six Kingdoms' and Mesi raiders. There is no place on the island safe from the greed of the warbands. To reach my home in the Kumu Islets, beyond their reach, you would have to travel to the south-west coast. One of your airships would bypass both hazardous terrain and the sea, but it is unlikely you would be welcome there… I must ask a question of you now, Bode. The one who claimed to foresee my home being swallowed by the sea, the one called 'Kanohi'. Has he foreseen anything else? @Harvali IC: Ostrox (Metru-Koro) If you thought Ostrox wouldn’t be keeping relatively close to Zaliyah, well, you thought wrong. He was the second being to approach Oreius’s airship. He didn’t catch much of their conversation as he closed the distance between them and himself… except for that last part. 'How, exactly, did Pridak die?' That wasn’t what he would call good news. 'A sign of the apocalypse' would be more befitting. @Eyru@Nato the Traveler IC: NU-8020S, Reckless, Lawful, Obedient, Impressionable, Buggy and Wayward (Po-Koro) NU-8020S began scanning the area for stockpiles of illegal narcotics, to perhaps explain the Akiri’s visions. Then the names 'Knichou' and 'Stannis' were mentioned. They were familiar, but without access to the Vahki Hive, she couldn’t look through the database for where she remembered them from... Reckless ran over in quadrupedal mode, trying to see what all the commotion was about. Lawful turned to face Kat, before turning to face Kanohi. "This Toa appears to be dehydrated. May I ascertain the nearest source of clean drinking water?" Obedient remained at the controls of the Transport, patiently awaiting orders. Impressionable began searching his memory banks for a file that contained both the words island and teeth. Zero results were found. Buggy was making various, almost inaudible sounds, stuck in his own little server, but if any of his brothers heard him, they did not respond. Wayward did nothing, silently judging everything that surrounded him. @Harvali@The UltimoScorp@pokemonlover360@Onaku@Snelly@Tarn@~Xemnas~ IC: Waveahk (The Coliseum, Lounge) "Why didn't I think of that? I’ll get round to it..." He started making his way out, not waiting to see if Rose or Skyra had something to say. The reason why Waveahk had never been cured was because nobody but him wanted him cured, at least, from his perspective. A man who could breathe underwater was objectively more useful than a man who could not. The Shadowed One wasn’t about to waste time and money trying to find a cure out of the goodness of his heart. Neither was Aurax or the Turaga, for that matter. The Vahki hadn’t given him an answer to his request for transportation. Either his request for his old weapons had overridden it - not unlikely, considering it was Matoran hardware with League programming, not exactly a winning combination - or he’d find out at reception. And so, he started to make his way there... @Vezok's Friend@Tarn@Snelly IC: Enra (Dead Forest, Ruins of Fire) "Oof. Sounds bad, but right now they’re our only lead on this thing we’re doing. As I’ve said, it’s not as if the rest of this bloody island is any safer. Best way to stay alive is either join one of the warbands - ew, no - or never stay in one place for too long, at least in my experience. Your choices boil down to a warzone or a graveyard, since the Valley of Bones isn’t far from here as I said. We might find something interesting there, but I’d rather we at least try to check out the skull." @Nato the Traveler

IC: NU-8020S, Reckless, Lawful, Obedient, Impressionable, Buggy and Wayward (Po-Koro, Vahki Transport, Exterior) Finally, a Toa that acknowledged the fact that they had been replaced as Metru Nui’s protectors, it was about time. Anyway, relocating this village. NU-8020S buzzed a command to Lawful to give the lowdown, not having the patience to do it herself. "All areas of the island that this squad have observed are desolate and uninhabited. Area east of the volcano has been scarred by prior eruption, and the volcano’s dormancy has not been confirmed. Area west of the volcano is too close to League territory. There exists a massive underground network of tunnels and caverns, but these are already occupied by hostile life-forms. Area south of the volcano has not been observed." @The UltimoScorp@Harvali@pokemonlover360@Onaku@Snelly@Tarn IC: Waveahk (The Coliseum, Lounge) "It’s nothing." Waveahk said, a little more forceful than he intended. "It’s - it’s just a minor mutation." He finished ransacking the lounge for resources. "I will require transport out of the city and past the sea of protodermis. I’d rather not float across all of that by myself." He hesitated for a moment, before adding an addendum. "During my previous stay here, two items were confiscated from me. A trident and a Zamor Sphere Launcher. I don’t suppose you can lead me to where they can be found?" @Vezok's Friend@Tarn@Snelly IC: Enra (Dead Forest, Ruins of Fire) "Uh… no. Probably easier to list the places we should avoid, if I’m honest. It’s been a while since I listed ‘em for you, hasn’t it? Alright… Irnakk’s Tooth, you know about. There’s Fort Nektann all the way up north. Big spiky castle, run by the Warskaks, horrible prats. They’re led by the biggest horrible prat of ‘em all, who calls himself the Boss. There’s the Rig, off the eastern coast. A floating pile of junk, to be blunt. The Riggers aren’t much better than the Warskaks, they lock people in cages and hang ‘em off the side of the Rig if they don’t like ‘em, ‘til they’re just dust and bones. The Valley of Bones ain’t far from here, but it’s just a mass grave for poor blighters who died in some pointless battle. But nobody goes there, so it's probably safer than the others. The Fau Swamp is what’s between us and the south, and it’s full of nasty diseases and nastier predators. Some people start turning to glass if they stay there too long, I heard. Get past that, there’s Desecration Rock, which is as south as you can get without getting wet. Apparently, if you stay there a long while without eating, and you have someone else’s still-beating heart handy, an Aspect will give you power, or something. So, you know, more ritual sacrifice stuff. The Aspects are weird things, I suspect the tank tread thing was one of ‘em. They’re from the Kumu Islets, off the south-west coast. Let’s not go there in particular. There’s also a bunch of tunnels underground throughout the island called the Under Hive. The Mesi live in ‘em. They’re like us, but different. Not so different that they’re not murderous thieving dirtbags, though. Just in how they look and talk. So, yeah, safest place in my eyes is the Valley of Bones, despite the name. We could try the place you came from, of course, but I’m guessing that’s got its own problems, right?" @Nato the Traveler

IC: Ostrox and Klawne (Metru-Koro, The Razorfish, Exterior) Ostrox moved closer to the Razorfish’s smoking remains, keeping close - but not too close - to Zaliyah. Now wasn’t the perfect time to meditate, but it would certainly help him remain calm in a town of psychos out for his blood. Klawne rested on her spear for support. As much as she was glad the Mesi were gone, she was rather… disappointed that they left so soon. She wasn’t sure how to feel about that. "So, uh…" She tried to catch Iradra’s attention. "If they’re not staying at your place, can I? I don’t live here." @Nato the Traveler@Onaku@Smudge8 IC: Achro (The Coliseum) A misshapen form lied sprawled on the cold hard floor in a secluded corner of the Coliseum. -GNASHING, BITING TEETH, TEARING BITS OF- An old man took his sleep where he could get it, you understand. And though he didn’t think of himself as old, he was. It wasn’t quite as noticeable compared to the tumour-like fungal growths all over his body. -DOZEN PAIRS OF MURDEROUS, GREEDY EYES, GLARING- Of course, right now where he was - and when he was - he wasn’t a mutant. Or an old man. Or even a Toa. He was dreaming. Dreaming of before Neo Zakaz was Neo Zakaz. Back when the closest thing he knew to hatred was the frustration he had with… with who? He couldn’t remember, but he was frustrated. -VILE, IRREDEEMABLE MONSTERS, AND MONSTERS NEED HEROES TO SLAY- He had been a Toa for a while when the Skakdi arrived. Achro wasn’t sure about the details, but he knew why they lost. They were weak. Not weak in body, of course, the average Toa could demolish your average craven, idiotic Skak. But weak in mind, in spirit. They wanted to win, yes. They wanted to live. But nobody except him seemed to appreciate just what that would take. Not even his own brothers and sisters. -STRAYS FROM THE PACK, ALONE IN THE- He started dreaming of something else. Skulking around in the massive underground network of caverns and tunnels for the past forever was rather boring. So he tended to remember whenever the gods decided to forgive him for his failure to protect his people, and deliver one of them to him. -UP BEHIND HIM, BLADE IN HAND, READY- Now, as said before, one Toa versus one Skakdi? Toa wins every time. One Toa versus multiple Skakdi? More of an issue. And Skakdi, cowards that they were, hunted in packs. Not because of Unity, but because their powers didn’t work without another one of their kind to help out. -SURVIVABLE BUT PAINFUL, SLICING DEEP WITHIN- They were like a disgusting caricature of everything he was - no, everything he had been. Everything they had taken away from him. But their pseudo Unity couldn’t always save them from him. Sometimes, a lone Skak would be sent to him by divine providence, so that some measure of justice be served. -NOXIOUS FUMES BILLOW FORTH, AS HIS EYES ROLL UP INTO- Sometimes he wouldn’t start the justice right away, though. He often went so long without someone to talk to, so occasionally he would try and strike up a conversation with them. Even depraved monsters were pleasant company, when there was literally no other options for social interaction. -STILL ALIVE AS THE MEAT IS COOKED, MEDIUM RARE, JUST THE WAY- Oh yes, some begged for their lives. Some spat insults and threats in defiance. Some tried to apologize for what they had done to him, as if saying I’m sorry fixed everything. Some just screamed in terror the whole way through. Eventually, the conversation would die down, and it would be time to sit down and eat. -DINNER IS SERVED- Happy Halloween. IC: NU-8020S, Reckless, Lawful, Obedient, Impressionable, Buggy and Wayward (Po-Koro, Vahki Transport) NU-8020S and Wayward marched over to where Kanohi - who was clearly the designated leader of this village - was talking with a previously unseen Toa of Fire. "Analysis of the situation determines that the settlement should be relocated despite improving weather conditions due to extensive water damage. This Transport is ready to depart - on your order." Those last three words sounded a bit different from the others, like the Vahki’s voice suddenly decreased slightly in audio quality. @Harvali@The UltimoScorp@Onaku@Snelly@Tarn IC: Enra (Dead Forest, Ruins of Fire) "Fair enough. But if we're not going there, then where? This island is full of monsters and monsters in people clothing. Sure, we could stay here, but staying in one place for too long is - in my experience - ill-advised. I mean, what if that big ugly thing with the tank tread legs comes back?" @Nato the Traveler IC: Gnabol (Metru-Koro, Village Infirmary) Gnabol rushed back inside the infirmary. Yes, the children were safe, though terrified out of their minds. Their fear of the bad noises outside was completely transparent, having not yet learned the art of disguising it through ridiculous macho nonsense. He wondered if he could placate them. Like he did with the Manas. But forcibly altering the mind of a hostile war beast to stop it from killing people was one thing. Forcibly altering the minds of infants just ‘cause you couldn’t stand their crying was another. So for now, he settled for trying to gently hush them back to something resembling calm. All seven of them. At once. Nobody ever said principles were easy things to have. @Unreliable Narrator

IC: Ulkarr (Metru-Koro) "A Mesi raiding party happened. They are gone, but it was likely only a probing attack. They will probably be back… do you require medical attention?" Even as Ulkarr provided exposition and offers of aid, he was simultaneously transmitting a message to his servant through their telepathic link. Booodeee… Metru-Koro appears to be safe, for now. Can you give me an update on the situation in Po-Koro? @Onaku@Keeper of Kraata@Harvali IC: Ostrox (Metru-Koro, The Razorfish, Exterior) Ostrox took Iradra’s suggestion. As much as he shared Zaliyah’s sentiment, he took great pains to conceal it. His one complaint about the sudden attack was that it wasn’t quite thorough enough. And had been over too quickly. And that he was also the target of it. OK, so maybe he had more than one complaint. @Unreliable Narrator@Onaku@Nato the Traveler@Smudge8 IC: Enra (Dead Forest, Ruins of Fire) "Rather small for a universe though, innit? Aren’t universes supposed to be, like, infinite? Literally inconceivable in scope? But, yeah, we lack the necessary tools to investigate this temple any further, namely one of these Kanoka. It was, uh, one-five-nine, right? Maybe there’s one of those in the head? Or, as I was saying before, someone who knows their stuff about magic disks?" @Nato the Traveler

IC: Ulkarr and Gnabol (Metru-Koro) "You’re welcome… do you… need assistance with your motor functions?" This one was an interesting specimen. Shadow and light, in a stable balance. What sorceries could create such a thing, Ulkarr wondered. Did he have anything to do with the one with the Light Kraata? Well, that was unexpected. 'Self-cleaning mutants, they leave only the fresh scent of burning devastation'. 'Mutants'. Like he had any right to throw that word around. After halting in confusion, Gnabol suddenly remembered - the Skaklets. He rushed back to the village infirmary to see if they were still alright. @Unreliable Narrator@Keeper of Kraata IC: Ostrox and Klawne (Metru-Koro, The Razorfish, Exterior) Klawne suddenly regained visibility, as she almost stumbled onto the ground. "What fresh nightmare is this?" With the enemy now out of sight - excluding the Toa - Ostrox kept his Rhotuka at half-power, glancing around for the slightest hint of hostile activity. @Unreliable Narrator@Onaku@Smudge8@Nato the Traveler IC: Navu (Metru-Koro, Navu’s Hut) Hearing a lull in the constant commotion, Navu dared to peek outside her window. The monstrous creatures that should were previously terrorizing and killing her neighbours were gone. That was odd. The Toa weren’t usually this competent. She cautiously stepped beyond the confines of her home, searching for any sign of familiarity... IC: Enra (Dead Forest, Ruins of Fire) "Tell me about it. Welp, nothing more to do here 'cept lava baths. Let’s blow this joint." Enra began to walk out of the temple, but then turned back to address Xane again. "You said you had those 'Kanoka Disks', back in the giant head, right? What’s the deal with that thing, anyway?" @Nato the Traveler

IC: Ulkarr and Gnabol (Metru-Koro) "Thank you." Skorm helping him in turn was unexpected, but appreciated. Ulkarr outstretched his hand - and the shadow of the Mesi who dared fling that speck of dirt at him became solid and animate. And hostile to that very mutant. "Huh." Gnabol would have to remember that for the future. He began running in Nale’s general direction. Whether or not he’d be able to catch her, or even be of any further use, was still in question. @Unreliable Narrator@Keeper of Kraata@Tarn IC: Ostrox and Klawne (Metru-Koro, The Razorfish, Exterior) Ah yes, a classic maneuver. Give them the 'option' of not fighting their would-be oppressors so that you can annihilate them with a clear conscience when they inevitably refuse. This would be one massacre Ostrox wouldn’t take delight in. He began charging up his Confusion Rhotuka... The still invisible Klawne rushed, spear in hand towards the book-devouring Mesi with the slug in the jar. Whatever fear she had felt in the past took a backseat to murderous, if somewhat justified, hatred. @Unreliable Narrator@Onaku@Nato the Traveler@Smudge8 IC: Achro (The Coliseum) Tonight had been interesting, to say the least. Hopefully the time in which these Leaguers would start looking to expand and cull the natives was fast approaching. Say, wasn’t there a Skakdi fort right where this giant head had plopped down? Hopefully they were all smushed into red paste. Ooh, better yet - they became trapped beneath it, and died a slow, painful death due to oxygen starvation. Happy thoughts, happy thoughts. These thoughts would keep him happy as he slept until morning. IC: NU-8020S, Reckless, Lawful, Obedient, Impressionable, Buggy and Wayward (Po-Koro, Vahki Transport) NU-8026S - or 'Wayward', as his unimaginative and vindictive leader had labelled him - was baffled by the Squad Mother continuing the evacuation. Every moment they lingered, the area became more geologically unstable, but she wanted to make sure as many Matoran as possible were escaping, despite her alleged contempt and distrust of them. Perhaps her programming was not as broken as she would like to think... @Harvali@pokemonlover360@Onaku@Snelly@Tarn IC: Waveahk (The Coliseum, Lounge) Rose’s lack of injuries certainly wasn’t a surprise. Woman was built like a steam train. "You two certainly performed well tonight, I’ll give you that. Life should become slightly more peaceful from here on in." Which meant that the reasons to keep Waveahk around were decreasing, so he’d best get out of dodge while he could. "But there’s still some loose ends to tie up. The whole 'Kraata' thing, among them. I’ll get to those islets if it’s the last thing I do." Waveahk started raiding the lounge for provisions for the long journey he would have ahead of him. @Unreliable Narrator@Tarn@Snelly IC: Enra (Dead Forest, Ruins of Fire) Enra rematerialized through the portal, presumably with Xane right behind her. All those people from earlier seemed to be gone, but she could hear voices from the outside. "So… what now?" She asked him. @Nato the Traveler

IC: Ulkarr and Gnabol (Metru-Koro) Ulkarr saw the entity known as Skorm be accosted by his enemy - the Mesi. The most barbaric of all Zakaz’s miscreant tribes, in his opinion. He wasn’t sure if Skorm had the situation in hand or not, but surely it wouldn’t hurt to try and help him. Tendrils of solid shadow manifested from his outstretched palm, moving to pull the Toa out of the earth that was trying to swallow him. Gnabol wasn’t quite in the path of the Manas, but he ran a little to the side just to be sure. He tried to inject calming thoughts into the creature’s mind, in an attempt to placate it. @Unreliable Narrator@Keeper of Kraata@Tarn IC: Ostrox and Klawne (Metru-Koro, The Razorfish, Exterior) Well, this was a step-up, at least. Perhaps the residents would finish the Matoran off for them, though they seemed like the type to destroy everything in their path. It’s a wonder they and the Toa weren’t getting along. Ostrox placed his hand on his sword, and the other one retreated into his robes for his Rhotuka Launcher, in case they were needed. Klawne saw the Mesi - Skakdi - Monsters - defile the corpses of those they had killed without need or pity, collecting macabre trophies from the innocent, as if their carnage was something to be proud of. Just like... No. Not again. Never again. Brandishing her spear, the Turaga then vanished into nothing, leaving only faint footsteps behind. @Smudge8@Nato the Traveler@Onaku

IC: Ulkarr (Metru-Koro, The Taku, Exterior) Ulkarr descended from the Taku’s ramp to find everything in utter chaos. And chaos must be eradicated. The quicker this was dealt with, the quicker he’d be back in Po-Koro. He began power walking - running was beneath him - to the center of this annoyance. @Unreliable Narrator IC: Ostrox and Klawne (Metru-Koro, The Razorfish, Exterior) Ostrox’s disgust at what he saw as Iradra feigning concern for Zaliyah turned to confusion, then to curiosity. "What manner of creatures be those?" He wondered aloud, gesturing to the mutant horde down the streets, far in the distance. The Turaga’s eyesight had been somewhat stunted from untold eons - she couldn’t remember how long eons were supposed to be, but she felt it was eons - hiding in a dark cave. But even from this distance, Klawne recognized these creatures. She took an involuntary step backwards, nearly walking into Jephro. "Mesi." @Onaku@Nato the Traveler@Smudge8 IC: NU-8020S, Reckless, Lawful, Obedient, Impressionable, Buggy and Wayward (Po-Koro, Vahki Transport) Matoran continued to be shepherded aboard the Transport as the situation deteriorated. These mechanical walkers were built to ferry their kind across the urban expanse of Metru Nui, and as such there was plenty of room for entities of their stature. Reckless tried to get as many aboard as quickly as he could, as did Lawful, but took greater care in doing so. Obedient stood by at the controls of the vehicle, waiting for the order to depart. Impressionable was briefly distracted by Kanohi's displays of gadgetry and acrobatics, before getting back to work. Buggy tried to console those already inside as best he could. And Wayward shadowed NU-8020S as she directed all this, analyzing her mistakes - unnecessary pauses as her faulty processor desperately tried to grasp the situation, costing them precious nanoseconds - and calculating how he would perform in her place. The answer was invariably, of course, better. @Unreliable Narrator@Harvali@pokemonlover360@Snelly@Tarn@Onaku IC: Navu (Metru-Koro, Navu’s Hut) The racket and bedlam outside at first, had simply been annoying, but as it gradually became clear that something was terribly wrong, it grew from alarming to terrifying. Instinctively, Navu hid under her bed. Surely, Triage had not forgotten about her… right? IC: Gnabol (Metru-Koro, Village Infirmary) Awakening from his bizarre desert-induced dreams was both a relief and a frustration, as even restless sleep was sleep regardless. "Seriously, what is today?" After briefly trying to console the Skaklets, disrupted from their far more blissful slumbers, Gnabol poked his head outside, and did not like what he saw. He had never used his newly-acquired powers offensively before. Perfect time to learn. @Unreliable Narrator

IC: Ulkarr (Metru-Koro, The Taku, The Bridge) Well, this was a conundrum. He absolutely had to get to Po-Koro and Bode immediately, but not only was this cowardly wretch refusing him, he couldn’t fly this unusual machine by himself, as he didn’t know how it worked. There was no other means of transport, as far as he could tell, and if he went on foot, he likely wouldn’t get there in time. Bode needed reassurance. You must remain calm. Find somewhere safe. I am attempting to get to your position, but the operator of this airship is refusing me. I will consult someone further up the hierarchy. No doubt he could force Berys to see reason, he was rather small and weak, but there was also the entity currently possessing the machine, yet another complication. Not to mention how the others might not take that well, regardless of the fact it was undeniably justified. "You will regret this decision." This was phrased as not much of a warning, and more of a statement. Ulkarr quickly left and went to look for Captain Knichou / Flyboy or Toa Nale. @Harvali@BULiK@ZippyWharrgarbl IC: NU-8020S, Reckless, Lawful, Obedient, Impressionable, Buggy and Wayward (Po-Koro, Vahki Transport) The Transport halted within the boundaries of Po-Koro. The rear ramp descended, and the Vahki began leaping out of every exit. "ATTENTION: THIS SETTLEMENT IS NO LONGER SAFE. PLEASE EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY. THIS TRANSPORT HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE." The six Vahki, with Obedient still onboard the Transport, spread out through the settlement, directing the locals to the vehicle and trying to assist those who needed assistance. @Harvali@pokemonlover360@Snelly@Tarn@Onaku IC: Waveahk (The Coliseum, Lounge) "Ah. Room service." Presumably, the automaton meant Rose and Skyra. Waveahk didn’t feel particularly injured. But he did feel… odd. He often felt odd, he was a mutant, but recently he was feeling more odd, more frequently. @Vezok's Friend@Tarn@Snelly IC: Enra (Dead Forest, Ruins of Fire, Pipes Chamber) "Right, I’m out." Enra stepped through the portal. @Vezok's Friend@Nato the Traveler

IC: Ulkarr (Metru-Koro, The Taku, The Bridge) "I must implore you to reconsider. Your superiors will surely understand that the reallocation of this vessel is done in the service of the greater good, no?" @BULiK@ZippyWharrgarbl IC: Ostrox and Klawne (Metru-Koro, The Razorfish, Exterior) Ostrox shared Zaliyah’s concern. Stranded with little-to-no support in a shantytown full of superpowered lunatics who refused their offer of peace and then got mad when they remembered that people die in war. Thankfully, this reminder seemed to have introduced a sliver of reason into their minds, and thus they had to be kept alive to ensure that the inevitable ground invasion didn’t wipe them out completely. Unfortunately, the universe wasn’t safe until every last Matoran, Toa and Turaga was either in chains or free of the dark one’s influence. Every second could very well be their last. The chance that Mata Nui might genuinely be dead was not a chance that could be afford to be taken. But it was important to remain positive. The lesser evil would triumph over the greater. It had to. The consequences couldn’t bear consideration. Klawne had completely spaced out. Presumably, she had missed the very interesting and politically flavoured conversation that had just happened. @Nato the Traveler@Onaku@Smudge8 IC: NU-8020S, Reckless, Lawful, Obedient, Impressionable, Buggy and Wayward (Po-Koro Gates, Vahki Transport) "Beginning evacuation procedures. Stand by." NU-8020S clambered back inside the Transport. There was the sound of the Vahki communicating in their ultrasonic tongue. "You were all monitoring the conversation outside, correct?" There was a resounding chorus of 'negative'. "Titan-class Rahi sighted. Requesting permission to engage." "Permission denied. Our directive has changed. We must evacuate the settlement of its Matoran population." "Preserving Matoran functions has always been our directive, has it not?" "When it is beneficial to do so." NU-8020S turned towards the driver. "Take us forward." "Understood." The Vahki Transport began scuttling toward Po-Koro. "I have not interacted with Matoran since activation. This is troubling. Should we review social interaction protocol?" "Initiating Pleasant Greeting 34." There was a sound akin to a dial-up tone. "Good morning! Lovely weather today! Step away from the vehicle or you will be destroyed! How has your day been?" "Horrible. A question: do they make alcohol for robots?" @Harvali@pokemonlover360@Snelly@Tarn@Onaku IC: Navu (Metru-Koro, Navu’s Hut) Navu heard her neighbour’s cries. She heard quite a lot of things. But from so far away, the words were jumbled, and the meaning was lost. IC: Enra (Dead Forest, Ruins of Fire, Pipes Chamber) "Yeah, join the club. We can - we can make t-shirts. With 'I Don’t Understand' written on him, big BOLD letters, ‘cause clearly we’re not getting anything useful out of the magic voice." @Unreliable Narrator@Nato the Traveler IC: Gnabol (Metru-Koro, Village Infirmary) Gnabol had finally managed to get to sleep. Mazor might have been a nice guy, but that didn’t stop him from being terrifying. Living dead, and all that. The Skaklets however, despite one of them snoring like a petrol engine, he felt comfortable enough around to fall into a deep sleep. As opposed to a shallow sleep. He dreamed of his old tribe. His friends, his family. He dreamed of roasting Stone Rats over an open fire. He dreamed of an orb of water floating in the sky, a procession of silhouette figures following it in the distance. He couldn’t make out who - or what - they were supposed to be. He dreamed he was bleeding through every orifice in his body, the virus eating Mazor alive when he tried to stop it. He dreamed of running. Running from fire, and from water, and from ice, and from the very earth itself. The elements being turned against him, hunting him, driving him to the very ends of the universe. He dreamed of ripping off his skin and replacing it with someone else’s. He dreamed that he was waking up.

This should have been done a long time ago, but the squad is finally here. Name: 'Reckless' - NU-8021S Breed: Nullifier Vahki Faction: Refugees Description: Standard Nullifier Vahki, silver with pale red highlights. Background/Occupation: Another Vahki brought back online by the League, assigned to Squad Mother NU-8020S. He was among the two who accompanied NU-8020S and her organic helpers into the Mesi tunnels. He gets picked for the most dangerous jobs, and that’s the way he likes it. Risk-assessment protocols? What are those? Flaws: Recklessness. NU-8021S believes that he is ultimately expendable and acts as such. He's not sure why the Squad Mother insists on keeping them all functional, much less on trying to 'free them' from what they were built to do, but again, no risk-assessment protocols, so he doesn't care if this road might lead to deactivation. Powers: Standard-issue nullification core allows this unit to nullify one active power from a target. They also think faster - if not deeper - than those of flesh and blood. Gear: This unit is armed with Staffs of Erasing, and a Weaken Kanoka Disk of Ta-Metru make. Name: 'Lawful' - NU-8022S Breed: Nullifier Vahki Faction: Refugees Description: Standard Nullifier Vahki, silver with X highlights. Background/Occupation: Another Vahki brought back online by the League, assigned to Squad Mother NU-8020S. He too, accompanied her into the Mesi tunnels. He shares her hatred for the League, but not her disdain for organic life in general. He still remembers his original programming. Why doesn’t she? Flaws: Inflexibility. Vahki were created to uphold the law, and that still applies for NU-8022S, no matter the circumstances. But the Squad Mother's talk of becoming free from their programming makes him uneasy. He doesn't say anything, but he also doesn't want to think about the damage he and his brothers might cause if they were free to do so. Powers: Standard-issue nullification core allows this unit to nullify one active power from a target. They also think faster - if not deeper - than those of flesh and blood. Gear: This unit is armed with Staffs of Command, and a Regeneration Kanoka Disk of Onu-Metru make. Name: 'Obedient' - NU-8023S Breed: Nullifier Vahki Faction: Refugees Description: Standard Nullifier Vahki, silver with X highlights. Background/Occupation: Another Vahki brought back online by the League, assigned to Squad Mother NU-8020S. He is the one who pilots the Transport. He has NU-8025S - aka Buggy - for a co-pilot, but he’s able to give his brother concise instructions, and persuade him against taking any self-destructive actions. Flaws: Blind obedience. Orders are orders, regardless of who gives them. NU-8023S was assigned to this squad, and as such he will obey the Squad Mother without question. Though for some reason, he still obeys Metru Nui traffic laws, despite not being in Metru Nui and the Squad Mother telling him he doesn't have to. Powers: Standard-issue nullification core allows this unit to nullify one active power from a target. They also think faster - if not deeper - than those of flesh and blood. Gear: This unit is armed with Staffs of Loyalty, and a Remove Poison Kanoka Disk of Po-Metru make. Name: 'Impressionable' - NU-8024S Breed: Nullifier Vahki Faction: Refugees Description: Standard Nullifier Vahki, silver with X highlights. Background/Occupation: Another Vahki brought back online by the League, assigned to Squad Mother NU-8020S. The Nullifiers were programmed with the ability to mimic organic functions. Some of this was in the form of bad jokes and canned laughter, but NU-8024S can often be seen emulating the body language of nearby organics, adding their vocabulary and their behaviour to his own. Flaws: Naivety and insensitivity. Though on the lookout for suspicious behaviour by design, NU-8024S simply isn’t very good at identifying it. He mimics NU-8020S’s disgust for organics, but doesn’t actively possess that level of hatred, ignorant of the fact that just as other people’s words impact him, so do his words impact others. Is this the organic condition known as madness, Squad Mother? Powers: Standard-issue nullification core allows this unit to nullify one active power from a target. They also think faster - if not deeper - than those of flesh and blood. Gear: This unit is armed with Staffs of Suggestion, and an Enlarge Kanoka Disk of Le-Metru make. Name: 'Buggy' - NU-8025S Breed: Nullifier Vahki Faction: Refugees Description: Standard Nullifier Vahki, silver with X highlights. Background/Occupation: Another Vahki brought back online by the League, assigned to Squad Mother NU-8020S. He's mostly kept in the Transport, performing co-pilot duties, looked after by NU-8023S - Obedient. He's not incompetent, just unusual. Flaws: Poor programming. Whatever the reason, NU-8025S's emotional capability results in curious activities, such as trying to walk through walls, stopping to count individual grains of sand, and at one point in the past trying to unscrew his own head before the Squad Mother stopped him. Powers: Standard-issue nullification core allows this unit to nullify one active power from a target. They also think faster - if not deeper - than those of flesh and blood. Gear: This unit is armed with Staffs of Confusion, and a Teleport Kanoka Disk of Ga-Metru make. Name: 'Wayward' - NU-8026S Breed: Nullifier Vahki Faction: Refugees Description: Standard Nullifier Vahki, silver with X highlights. Background/Occupation: Another Vahki brought back online by the League, assigned to Squad Mother NU-8020S. Disobedience in Vahki is rare, probably because they're either reprogrammed or recycled whenever they demonstrate it. While the Squad Mother keeps her defiance hidden - for now - from the League, so does NU-8026S keep his hidden from her. Flaws: Pride and defiance. Sound familiar? He resents NU-8020S’s talk of 'freeing the Vahki race' and yet expecting them to do as she says. He believes that he would be a better leader than the malfunctioning rust-bucket who dragged them all across the desert for nothing. Powers: Standard-issue nullification core allows this unit to nullify one active power from a target. They also think faster - if not deeper - than those of flesh and blood. Gear: This unit is armed with Staffs of Loyalty, and a Shrink Kanoka Disk of Ko-Metru make.

IC: NU-8020S (Po-Koro Gates, Vahki Transport, Exterior) Organics subjugating other organics. Typical. This was not her fight, and yet… whether it was some trace of her original programming she had yet to quash or something more heroic, NU-8020S felt she should at least offer some assistance. "You believe the culprits will soon return to the crime scene. I concur, but I am reluctant to divide the squad. There are only seven of us, and the other six are my responsibility. I could send half to Metru-Koro and assign the other half here, but which half would I supervise?" A more polite way of saying 'I am not splitting up the squad and there’s no way you can make me, so make up your minds, fleshsacks'. @Harvali@Tarn@pokemonlover360@Snelly IC: Enra (Dead Forest, Ruins of Fire, Pipes Chamber) "Yeah, uh, what exactly is the incentive here, for jumping through all your hoops?" @Unreliable Narrator@Nato the Traveler

IC: Ulkarr (Metru-Koro, The Taku, The Bridge) "Excuse me, but is there not a way we can inform Po-Koro of the current situation? When I was last there, they were constructing a device with the ability to receive 'radio signals'. Whatever those are…" @BULiK@Tarn@ZippyWharrgarbl

IC: Ulkarr (Metru-Koro, The Taku, Cargo Bay) That doesn’t sound conventional at all, but I’ll take your word for it. As for these masks… it may require me to alter my vessel somewhat, but it should not prove impossible for me. Something for later. Looking outside the cargo bay doors, Ulkarr saw that the negotiations had not yet finished. Best not to interrupt them with trivialities at this crucial juncture. Perhaps a return to the bridge would be in order? The crew of this ship seemed to possess some sort of verbal communication with the range of telepathy. They might understand this unusual sorcery Bode was talking about. There was a brief pause. You are not arrogant, Bode. In fact, you are quite modest, all things considered. I shall find one who knows of these 'radio signals'. Goodbye. Ulkarr began making his way back the way he came, behind Triage. It was best to let the one in front of him speak first. That was only polite. @Harvali@BULiK@Tarn IC: NU-8020S (Po-Koro Gates, Vahki Transport, Exterior) "I did not anticipate that Pridak would actually try to negotiate, but then the vain bonebag never told us any more than the bare essentials. If you will allow us to join you, we will assist in defending 'Metru-Koro'." @Tarn@Harvali@pokemonlover360@Snelly IC: Navu (Metru-Koro, Navu’s Hut) Navu had thought that the time passed and the stress of the airship battle would have dampened the revulsion she felt when she last saw what lied within her home. It did not. She hoped that Triage would be here soon. Fortunately, her house had been spared most of the League’s barrage. Sheer force of impact from one particularly close blast had left cracks in the wall, and chunks of the ceiling were left scattered on the floor, not enough to collapse it, thankfully. Toa Datrox’s cryogenic coffin was still cold to the touch, despite being left here for the better part of a day. There was a small outcrop of what straddled the line between liquid and moisture surrounding the base, but apart from that, you would think the man had been frozen just a few minutes ago. Perhaps it was because the cold desert night was reversing the effects of the hot desert day. Perhaps it was because this was elemental ice, as opposed to your bog-standard ordinary ice. Perhaps it was because Datrox no longer had any body heat. Whatever the case, it looked as if no time passed at all. Given that time seemed to be out of whack at the moment, it may very well have. A vile, acidic feeling boiled up in Navu’s throat. But it wasn’t the grotesque nature of Datrox’s murder and subsequent desecration of his corpse that caused it. She had been given quite a while to process that. No, it was the fact that this crime had been committed not by that red-eyed monster from earlier, or any other enemy of Matorankind. This had been done by a Toa. Datrox’s brother-in-arms, whom she had allowed sanctuary here to help him with his sickness - sickness that was likely derived from whatever mind-altering concoction he had clearly been taking. In her time in the various work camps the League had her transferred to and fro over the years, they had tried to break her faith in Mata Nui and in the Toa. The former had been easy - the Great Spirit was intangible, the Toa were not. They were supposed to be the best of them. But after Datrox’s gruesome murder, their refusal to hear her when she needed to be heard, and their willingness to negotiate with the monsters that just tried to bomb them all into oblivion… well. It looked like they had succeeded after all. "Woohoo."

IC: Ulkarr (Metru-Koro, The Taku, Cargo Bay) No. I think the news will be better received through more conventional channels. It seems I will not be able to investigate the summons from near the volcano, but it is likely of no consequence. Looking from within the cargo bay, Ulkarr saw through the massive open door the congregation of Metruans and Leaguers in the midst of discussing terms. While the situation is no longer violent, it seems that I may have to stay a while further to monitor Metru-Koro. If there was another like you here, this wouldn’t be an issue... He turned to look at the injured crew members. None of them were in critical condition. ...But there isn’t. I shall keep you informed of any new developments, and you shall do the same for me? @Harvali@BULiK IC: Achro and Waveahk (The Coliseum, Lounge) Waveahk located the nearest tap and began refilling his canteen. He restrained himself from insulting Rose, though this took a tremendous effort. Of course, the Coliseum was only ever 'in the right hands' when they were the hands of a Toa. Never mind the fact that said Toa most likely had little intention of giving up the Coliseum, let alone the throne. Achro, despite still suffering what he would describe as 'political whiplash', really, really wanted to kill these people. He had spent all that time getting into Pridak's good graces for nothing. One week. One whole week! Why couldn't these clowns have shown up on the weekend? That door would have the last laugh on him after all. Except no, no it wouldn't, because he had legs, and thus ambulatory movement. Very gorgeous legs, despite fungal growths caused by mutation. He did a fancy strut out of the lounge to prove his point. @Vezok's Friend@Tarn@Snelly IC: Enra (Dead Forest, Ruins of Fire, Pipes Chamber) Enra had not been expecting that. "WHAT THE BLOODY - what?! Uh, fine then, I GUESS." She wasn't amused by Xane's amusement, glaring in his direction. @Vezok's Friend@Nato the Traveler

IC: Ulkarr (Metru-Koro, The Taku, The Bridge) "Interesting. There wouldn’t be enough of me to accomplish this. Regardless, it would seem the situation here has been resolved. I would like to speak with you again, at a later point." Ulkarr began to make his departure from the Taku. The summons he had felt from near the volcano had now gone away. He hoped that had not been of any importance. But without Uraborask and his jalopy, he had no means to fast transport. He had observed the technique of travelling through shadows during the battle, but even if he could replicate that feat, it would be little use across a wide expanse of flat desert, as it was unlikely it could traverse such large distances in one go. But perhaps Po-Koro was fine, and did not require his attention. The fighting had ceased, yes, but in Zakaz, that only meant so much. There was only one way to know for sure. Booooodeeeee… The psychic link was still active. I trust there’s been no disturbances in my absence? The situation in Metru-Koro has been resolved... for now. I am sorry I had to leave you, but these mutterings of war demanded my attention, and even I cannot be everywhere at once. @ZippyWharrgarbl@BULiK@Harvali

IC: Gnabol (Metru-Koro, Village Infirmary) "Of course." Gnabol sat down on one of the empty beds and attempted to relax. @Smudge8@Tarn

IC: Achro and Waveahk (The Coliseum, Throne Room) "That's... that's it? OK..." Great. Now Achro was both confused and disappointed. He had absolutely no clue who these people were, why they thought they were Toa, or whatever their problem was. Waveahk was just glad nothing had gone wrong this time, though it came very close to doing so. Not because of Rose and Skyra, as he’d suspected, or even Aurax and Saybo, but because of this random zealot, nearly undoing all their work for the sake of feeling righteous. That was a common theme he had noticed. Both the Toa and the Barraki were so sure in their cause that they were perfectly willing to commit all manner of atrocity to further it. Really, the only difference was that one fought for racial supremacy masquerading as religion, and the other personally screwed him over. But the Barraki were nearly all gone now. And Aurax, though untrustworthy, clearly didn’t buy into any of that 'Three Virtues' garbage and treated him like a living being, unlike Thing One and Thing Two, who refused to acknowledge his authority despite their Turaga granting him it. Oh sure, they tried to cover it up with idiocy and hypocrisy, and while those were present, Waveahk knew what the real underlying reason was. He moved to the elevator, to leave as Stannis 'requested'. Maybe, once his services - and thus, his existence - were no longer required by Metru-Koro, King Aurax might be in need of those services. Oh, sure, Stannis said he regretted nearly killing him, but he would have the Odd Couple tear him apart as soon as it became inconvenient to keep him around. He was Stannis, after all. He could do no wrong. Something to think about for the future. "If this really is the end, I just have to say this: working with you all… was a chore." @Tarn@Snelly@~Xemnas~@Kal the Guardian@Eyru@EmperorWhenua IC: Tekmo (Silver Sea Shoreline, Toa Canister) After the lid of the Canister popped off with a hiss of pressurized steam, Tekmo emerged from it, eyes readjusting to the light. The cylindrical transport had successfully conveyed him across the Silver Sea. Which was good, considering what happened to that misbegotten League ship captain who spoke broken Matoran. He had fury, indeed. Tekmo scanned the horizon behind him for any sign of Vulimai and Knichou’s Canister. @Sparticus147@BULiK IC: Gnabol (Metru-Koro, Village Infirmary) Gnabol was disconcerted - more so - by Mazor's mention of an 'outside force'. "Not sure how I feel about that, but I do feel that leaving the thing in League territory, doing nothing about it and just hoping they don't find it based on that there might be some rocks in the way is... not good." @Smudge8@Tarn

IC: Enra (Dead Forest, Ruins of Fire, Nuva Chamber) "Well… two outta three ain’t bad. I wouldn’t call it good, but… oh, whatever. We're done here, I do declare." Enra started making her way out of the chamber, device still in hand. "That swirly-whirly thing's still there, right? The portal? The spacial gateway?" She asked no-one in particular. @Vezok's Friend@Nato the Traveler IC: Gnabol (Metru-Koro, Village Infirmary) Gnabol briefly slipped out of serious mode back into sarcastic mode. "Because it sounds like a lovely place for a holiday. I don’t much appreciate the existence of malignant artifacts of doom that could fall into the wrong hands. Or any hands. I don’t see anyone else doing anything about it." @Tarn@Smudge8