Toru Nui

Ostrox's Far Shore Adventure Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Timeline A Element: Magnetism The primary antagonist of Ostrox's misadventure is Farros, once a Toa of Magnetism, now an entity of pure magnetic energy. Conflict: Character vs. Supernatural The Toa Telthai were once flesh and blood, before 'ascending' to become elemental entities, with abilities far beyond that of ordinary Toa. The two we see in the story - Farros and Fera - both challenge Ostrox, the former physically, and the latter ideologically. Twist: Genuine Impostor I'm not sure how well this worked out, but Fera initially believes herself to just be a brainwashed Toa the Telthai got to replace the original after she was killed for disobedience, using Fera's name to inspire hope. However, it turns out she actually is the original, her belief that she wasn't being an unfortunate side-effect of 'ascending'. If nothing else, this shows that this society sees nothing wrong about altering the minds of others to serve their own ends, contrasting Ostrox, who has mental shielding to avoid that very situation. Optional Prompts: Destiny Ostrox and Fera both despise the concept of Destiny, believing it nothing more than a tool of Matoran authority. However, unlike Fera, Ostrox is hardly a champion of the free, he openly wants to enslave an entire race just because he feels they deserve it. Farros also willingly serves a slaver empire, but embraces the concept of Destiny - those who display defiance or are of no use to the state have strayed from their Destiny, and thus, must die. Prosperity The universe beyond Ragboda produces so much rubbish that the entire island was converted into an elaborate landfill just to store all the waste. That waste also includes people. Be they Matoran or otherwise, living things are just another resource to these people. This 'Prosperity' Farros wants to preserve is ultimately little better than the one Ostrox wants to bring about - where Matoran are trampled under the boots of more 'deserving' races, whereas Fera just wants to help people that the system fails. Strength Both Ostrox and Farros are obsessed with strength, not just raw physical power, but also the 'strength' necessary to commit to certain courses of action - even if those actions have willful, terrible consequences. They treat those they deem as 'weak' with disdain and unnecessary violence. Fera finds them both repulsive for this, though her former membership among the Toa Telthai implies she once held similar beliefs, before they were challenged by her conscience. Well, that was fun. Exhausting, but fun. I don't know how well I adhered to the prompts, but I hope this explains my reasoning for certain decisions. I didn't have Farros appear that much as he thought he would work better in small doses, and there wasn't really much of a reason to include him in other scenes, unlike Fera, who had to build this uneasy alliance with Ostrox for the sake of drama. I originally had Ostrox and Fera travel with companions to the Depot, until realizing they served no real purpose, and that Fera could just leave them behind, as she cared significantly about them more than Ostrox, whom she doesn't like and is a willing volunteer. They were reworked into being mere background characters with no dialogue for Part 4. For much the same reason, none of the other Telthai show up beyond implications of their existence until the end, and even then, they are never shown, nor have any dialogue. I determined that including them in a more substantial way would distract from Farros, who had to be our main antagonist, as its his element who is the prompt, and not including them at all would imply that Farros and Fera were supposed to maintain Ragboda by themselves. Even with their power levels, that would be impractical. Only one other is mentioned by name - Porox, who as the name suggests, was the Toa Telthai of Stone, mostly included as a reference to the Vatuka. I hope those of you who bothered to read through all ten parts enjoyed this tale of good and evil vs. other evil. Perhaps in the future, I'll write other stories set in this setting, 'the World of Junk', as I've taken to calling it. For now though, I'm happy to get back to regular postage.

IC: Waveahk (Kumu Peninsula, Shrine of Shadows) - Cultural Taboo "Some sort of security measure, it seems. I suppose we must go on a merry adventure just to find the right sort of black magic? I... wait. The idiot and his minstrel disappeared when they did something to this door. They must have the Taboo. And they are now - presumably - on the opposite side of the door." Waveahk groaned in frustration. "What more do you know of these 'Taboos'?" @Sparticus147 IC: Ostrox (Far Shore Rift, The Depot, The Armoury) - Ostrox’s Far Shore Adventure, Part 10 The two of them dashed into the Armoury and shut the door. Well, Ostrox dashed. Fera hopped inside, lacking the left side of her body. "There must be something in here that can hold them off..." She looked around the dark, blue-tinted room. "Here’s the Kanoka." Ostrox said, gesturing towards a stack of Levitation Disks. "I piled them together before coming to save you." "Was that why you took forever to intervene in the fight that I was already gonna win?" "He had proven more than capable of taking us both on at once and no. I just waited until it was dramatically appropriate." "It’s a shame you’re a horrible person, we would get along really well if - oh, hang on." Fera raised her arm. Suddenly, every metallic object in sight that didn’t look explosive, dangerous, or was a Kanoka converged upon the door, twisting and contorting to block it from the horrors outside. "That should hold them for a few minutes." "So, this is how it ends. Far, far away from everything I care about, further than I ever thought possible. I..." He paused for a moment. "No. I was wrong. I wouldn’t do it all again. Not if it was for... for nothing. The place I came from is doomed, as is this place." "Don’t talk like that-" "Those people aboard the Haven needed me and I’m not... strong enough… never... strong enough..." For the first time in a long, long time, Ostrox didn’t feel a mere drop of regret. He felt an entire ocean of it. What purpose had his cruelty served, if it had achieved nothing, save his own gratification? He had enjoyed inflicting pain on his enemy, but it was a hollow joy. More of an alleviation of rage, than any true happiness. He hadn’t really been happy in so long... and now, he never would be. He wasn’t strong. He hadn’t made the lives of his people more prosperous. He hadn’t defied Destiny. He hadn’t stopped Mazor. He hadn’t destroyed Metru-Koro. He hadn’t deposed the usurper Aurax. He hadn’t found anything in the Far Shore that could stop Mata Nui, let alone a way of getting out of it. He couldn’t stop himself from becoming... this. A pitiful, twisted shell of a man. Without... "Vyran... Sorboros..." He fell to his knees, silently begging forgiveness from those long buried. For his weakness. For his actions. For his betrayal. He would join them soon. Very soon. ... ... ... ... ... No. He wasn’t going back without one last fight. He picked himself up from the floor. He’d get these Kanoka back to the Haven or die trying. Perhaps his actions were in vain. Fighting against an enemy that he barely understood let alone stood a chance against, an enemy beyond the realms of nature and science. But he would fight on regardless. He had done so many things he once thought he would never do. Tortures, cruelties, and massacres that seemed so right, so justified at the time. The League was right. Nothing would ever change that. The Toa were wrong, and they deserved so much worse than he could ever bring them. But being the lesser evil was still evil. No longer. He was better than them. And he would prove it. If he survived. All that was meaningless if he did not succeed here and now. Elemental monstrosities were pounding on Fera’s makeshift barrier. She was giving all she had to stop it from collapsing. They needed a way out of here. Ostrox began looking around for something. If Farros had set a trap using one, then surely there were more? Unless... "Fera... do you think you might put some of that Adaptive Armour in that barricade you made?" "Hold on, let me check..." She outstretched her palm towards the metal monstrosity. "Uh, yes, yes I did. I don’t think I can get at it without destabilizing the entire thing and letting them inside." "I see. Did you know you’re an idiot?" "Everyone knows that. We need a distraction of some kind - I’ve been told my singing is really bad..." Ostrox rolled his eyes - his attention diverted to the ceiling. Sure enough, the glowing vines were here as well, providing the blue tint to an otherwise dark room. The vines were living things. Living things could be confused. He charged up his Rhotuka, and shot it at the ceiling. "Oh, so that’s what that does-" The effect was almost immediate. The luminescence of the vines became unbalanced and erratic. They no longer instinctively knew where to divert the energy. In some spots, the glow became almost blinding... followed by a sudden blue-coloured explosion. Ostrox and Fera took cover, as similar explosions began being heard all around them. The constant banging on the barricade stopped, as the things outside no doubt became confused themselves by what was happening. Suddenly, five sets of the Armour began emerging from the barricade, pulled forth by Fera. They fell onto the floor. She and Ostrox quickly grabbed one each. "Thank you, Zaliyah." "Who?" "Never mind. Just get ready to-" And then, the strangest thing happened. The Far Shore Rift appeared, right in front of him. "What the-" "Oh, NOW you show up!" Ostrox turned to Fera. "Listen, this is my ride, of sorts. Take the Armour and get out of here!" "You’re... you're sure?" Another explosion took out a chunk of the roof nearby. "Get out, you idiot. Take the Kanoka! Leave this cesspool!" Despite everything, Fera clearly did not want to leave him behind, but acquiesced anyway. "Alright. It’s been... an experience." She absorbed the Adaptive Armour into herself, regenerated the missing half of her body, grew jet boosters, and flew off through the hole. As blue explosions began to consume everything else, Ostrox dived through the Rift. He thought he heard something howl in fury as he did, drowning out the sound of explosions. He smiled. For the first time in a long while, his eyes smiled with him. @Unreliable Narrator OOC: End of Ostrox’s Far Shore Adventure. IC: NU-8020S (Kini-Koro, The Taku, Communal Table) - The Hornet's Nest "Just because Aurax has them under his control does not make them 'his'. While it is unlikely that infrastructure still exists to continue production of units, Vahki will still periodically recharge at the Hives. The exterior and interior will likely remain guarded at all times. Any changes Aurax has made to Vahki operating procedures is unknown, as we left transmitting distance of the Hives before Pridak’s assassination. More information will become available once this unit is within transmitting distance." @BULiK@Tarn IC: Navu (Kini-Koro, The Taku, Armoury) - Not to Be Confused With the One Ostrox Was Just In "Huh? Oh no, I put it back in the drawer. Do you want me to go get it again?" @BULiK@Snelly

IC: Tekmo (Kumu Peninsula, Antidermis Caldera) - Oourgh "Oourgh." @Unreliable Narrator@~Xemnas~@Kal the Guardian IC: Waveahk (Kumu Peninsula, Shrine of Shadows) - Access Denied "Well, that’s a negative. Any other ideas?" @Sparticus147@Burnmad IC: Ostrox (Far Shore Rift, The Depot) - Ostrox’s Far Shore Adventure, Part 9 After the bright flash, there was little left of the Adaptive Armour. Or the wall that was behind it, taking with it some of the bodies preserved there. About half of Fera’s body was left. Ostrox’s sword, being made of protosteel, survived - but was heavily damaged. "Oops. My apologies, you were just kind of in the way, not doing anything." "You make it very hard for me to be happy that you’re alive, you know?" Fera said, hopping around on her one remaining foot, balancing with her one remaining arm. "I could’ve taken him, by the way." "Of course." Up above, the glowing vines seemed the quiver uncomfortably, as if sensing that their master was no longer present. "Guess my sibs weren’t really using those bodies anyway. Surprised they left any energy in that thing." She gestured to the pulse weapon. It was just an inactive hunk of metal, now. It only had the battery for one shot. "Oh, I read the label. It’s powered by life-force. I am now on the verge of death." "Seriously?" "Of course not. The idiot Matoran left the batteries in because they’re idiots." He threw it to the ground with a heavy clunk. "Or wanted it to be used against their oppressors." "I like my version better. In either case-" "Ostrox... just stop. I don’t know what happened to you to make you like this, but... is this really how you want to spend your life? You wanna know why I could manipulate your sword?" "Because your powers are vague and ill-defined?" "Well, yeah, actually. There’s no iron in protosteel, that’s true... but there’s iron in blood. Your sword is stained with it. As are..." Ostrox felt his hands move involuntarily. He wasn’t sure if that was Fera’s doing or not, but he chose to believe it was just a reflex action. The idea that she could manipulate blood - that wasn’t even there anymore - was ridiculous. "Spare me your self-righteous moralizing, Toa. It might come as a surprise to you, but people tend to die in war." "You don’t say. But something tells me it’s not just the blood of soldiers on those hands, is it?" "This is hardly the time or place for this. I don’t have to justify my actions to you. Oh wait - I do. You’re a Toa, after all. Supreme arbitrators of all that is good and just in the universe. Pathetic." "Do you really not understand that not every member of a species is the same? I’m not demanding answers from you. I’m asking for them. I want to help you, even if you’re making it difficult." "I don’t need your 'help'. I’d cut you down where you hop if my sword wasn’t-" "Yeah, gimme a sec." Fera’s remaining hand reached out - and Ostrox’s sword was repaired before his eyes, and then hovered over in front of him. "There. Happy now?" Ostrox eyed it suspiciously, before snatching it out of the air. "Very well. I’ve slain my fair share of 'non-combatants', yes. But they lived prosperous lives built on the suffering of my ancestors, and did nothing to atone for it. In fact, they didn’t think they had done anything wrong at all! Every one I killed was a Farros just waiting to happen." "So no mercy? Not even a little? They can’t all be irredeemable monsters, you know." "My mercy ran out years ago, I’m afraid. Farros was right about one thing - it is a lie. A weakness. I am evil, yes, there can be no denying that. But the lesser evil. The evil your kind created." "But evil nonetheless." "Clear-cut good versus bad only happens in Turaga’s tales. No matter the time or place, the weak suffer, while the strong prosper, regardless of right or wrong. Your kind has just been used to being on the prosperous side." "So, the system remains, but just reversed? Before we Toa were widespread, the Matoran lived in fear of a world that saw fit to do with them as it pleased. Invasion. Slavery. Genocide. You think it was any different wherever you’re from?" "That is how it should have been. That is how it will be, or else the entire universe will crack under the weight of the fat, bloated egos of weaklings who just won’t give up the power that THEY STOLE!" "And suppose that was how it went? Would you have championed their rights? Or would you have lived a prosperous life, built on the suffering of their ancestors?" Ostrox did not say anything to that. It did not deserve a response. Fera sighed in defeat. "It’s like talking to him... I don’t know why I bothered. Maybe I saw something that wasn’t there in you. Is hatred and warfare really all there is?" "It’s all that’s left. My home is gone. My king is gone. My country is gone. My family-" He stopped, realizing he had let too much slip. He sighed in victory. "I’ll likely die the horrible death I 'deserve' at your hands now. I can’t go back where I came from, I don’t think. You may as well get it over with." "No. I have to believe that there’s hope you can change. That you can become stronger than this... even if it’s a lie. Because if there is hope for you, then there’s hope for everyone." "Hope is the first step on the road-" Suddenly, the crack of thunder pierced his ears. The temperature grew and decreased at the same time. A howling wind filled the chamber, despite being indoors. "To disappointment." "They’re coming." Fera said. "Probably should have had this chat elsewhere, now that I think about it." "THAT WAS WHAT I TOLD YOU!" "Oh shut up." IC: NU-8020S (Kini-Koro, The Taku, Exterior) - Volunteer Program "Yes, this Vahki unit is still volunteering for this mission." She wasn’t going to get to inform her squad of her prolonged absence, was she? Oh well. Kanohi could inform them for her. @BULiK@Tarn IC: Navu (Kini-Koro, The Taku, Armoury) - Learning New Words "'Hoplophile'? I - OK." Navu took Skyra to the ship’s armoury. "As you can see, it is... locked. We don’t want anyone sneaking in and taking anything. Not that anyone’s tried. I’ve been in there, lots of... lots of stuff. Yes." @Snelly@BULiK

IC: Tekmo (Kumu Peninsula, Antidermis Caldera) - Pear-Shaped "That is... very interesting... oh dear." Tekmo staggered backwards a little, and clutched his head. That hadn’t gone well at all. @Unreliable Narrator@~Xemnas~@Kal the Guardian IC: Waveahk (Kumu Peninsula, Shrine of Shadows) - That Was Unexpected "Oh. Hmm. Very well." Waveahk accepted - sort of - Apex’s apology, and let her do her thing. @Sparticus147@Burnmad IC: Ostrox (The Far Shore, The Depot) - Ostrox’s Far Shore Adventure, Part 8 "Farros." Not-Fera helpfully identified. "So you finally show your lack of face. Have you mastered your fear at last?" Ostrox said, trying not to think about just how easily Farros almost killed him last time. "Zek la quor uv dil. Zerrem, ji fel scip vuntu rekro ivu avok vun." Fear is for the weak. Please, try to contain yours while I kill you. "How dare you defile his place of rest! Poxor was ten times the Toa you ever were! What have you done with him?!" "Poxor’s shell is of no importance. I suspect the sentimental fool took it with him when he abandoned us. Even here, whispers are heard of the Vatuka, the army of stone. Also, your math is wrong." "Ostrox, what we need is further down there." Not-Fera pointed towards a small door adjacent to them. "Get to the Armoury. I’ll deal with this." An interesting situation. Abandon Not-Fera, or exact vengeance on Farros? Really, the answer was obvious. "I think we’ll take him together, thank you very much." "Ugh, fine. I knew I shouldn’t have used the 'revenge with practical benefits' line..." "Come. I have enough 'revenge' for everyone." The Adaptive Armour seemed to jerk around, as if Farros was puppeteering it like a marionette rather than wearing it - which, when Ostrox thought about it, probably was what was happening. Suddenly, two sharp blades extended from its wristguards. "Now, forgive me if I’m wrong, but would spilling blood in these quote 'sacred halls' unquote be somewhat sacrilegious?" "Yes." Farros made the Armour charge anyway. Shrugging, Ostrox drew his blade, while Not-Fera drew... her fists, apparently. They were able to get in a few hits here and there, but despite their anti-energy shields being set to magnetism, the Armour’s blades seemed attracted to both Ostrox’s sword and Not-Fera’s metal fists. Farros must have been manipulating the Armour’s magnetism, and not their weapons’. The Armour eventually struck a nasty blow on Not-Fera’s right arm, opening her up to be bisected. She seemed rather miffed about this, as it summoned forth a torrent of rather unladylike language. Turning its attention back to Ostrox, the right leg moved in a fashion an organic leg could not do, kicking him square in the chin, delivering enough force to knock him backwards to the ground, his sword clattering on the stone floor beside him. "Fragile. Very fragile." Farros mused, as he turned back to Not-Fera. As she willed her iron body to rejoin itself, her vision returned to her. She saw black blood gushing from Ostrox’s head, as one of the drained Matoran servants appeared out of nowhere, and began silently dragging his unmoving body to the Suva. "You’ll pay for that. Not much, mind you, but you’ll pay regardless." "Why do you care for him? He is weak. If the weak do not help the strong prosper, then the only Destiny left to them... is death." Without the shield on Ostrox’s body affecting it, Farros was free to magnetically pull the protosteel sword towards the Armour, becoming its new weapon as the wristguard blades retracted. "You are powerful Farros. But you’re scum, regardless." "Am I? Am I really?" The Matoran left Ostrox’s body by the Suva, before heading into the Armoury. He was moving a lot faster than he should be. Not-Fera noticed that the puddle of blood was gone. Farros did not. "Yeah, you are! I shouldn’t have to explain to you why you’re a piece of garbage. I’m sure the real Fera gave you quite the earful before you killed her." "I have not the faintest idea what it is you are talking about." "Kane-Ra manure! You killed her, and then you and the others messed with my head and my body to make me and everyone else think I was her! Couldn’t let the rest of the universe know, could you?!" "I could not let word spread of your weakness. Just as you cannot accept the necessary sacrifices we made to maintain prosperity for our people, so you persuade yourself you were not responsible for them." "What the Kra are you on about!?" Ostrox’s body disappeared. "You, and you alone, were responsible for what transpired on Jester’s Rock. You allowed weakness to enter your heart. I was left with no choice. But you survived. You could still be of use... if your mind was purged of the lie of 'mercy'." "You... you little-" "Do not behave as if you are the victim in this scenario. We, your brothers and sisters had to be purged as well, for your sin. Like you, I did not remember this incident until our Ascension. Do you remember any of the prior incidents, I wonder? Or do you believe that I never had attacks of dissent myself?" Perhaps-Really-Was-Fera’s voice seemed to calm down a bit. Ostrox could only really listen, at this point. "Maybe you did. Maybe. Just let me get what I came here for and I’ll leave here with your little Armour’s backside non-kicked." "You will take nothing from this place. Except, of course, damage. Prepare yourself-" The Armoury’s door was suddenly kicked open. Ostrox, very much alive and carrying a weapon he thought to be rather similar to Ehlek’s pulse cannon, walked into the chamber, and fired it at Farros. "Sink into the abyss. AHAHAHAHAH-" IC: NU-8020S (Kini-Koro, The Taku, Exterior) - Y/N? "That was ridiculous and appalling." NU-8020S shifted back into bipedal mode. "Regardless, I trust that your support has not been withdrawn due to that abysmal failure of a meeting?" @Tarn IC: Navu (Kini-Koro, The Taku, Cargo Bay) - Bless You "Erm, alright. And now we are in the cargo bay. For cargo. Places are named rather appropriately here. Uh... I’d take you to the crew’s quarters, but I’m not sure which one will be yours. Would - would you like to see engineering? The armoury, perhaps? Commander’s quarters?" Navu didn't really know where to continue next. @Snelly@BULiK

IC: Tekmo (Kumu Peninsula, Antidermis Caldera) - I Didn't Say That I Was a Vegetarian Tekmo put on a calm smile, but in truth, internally he was panicking. Not just from the rock perhaps misunderstanding what a vegetarian was - hopefully. Nothing he had ever materialized lasted after he drew his energy away from it. It decomposed into mush and dust as soon as he took his eyes off it. This was why he wanted to make sure that the rock wanted fruit or vegetables in the first place. He knew there had to be a way to do it - Toa of his element could create entire forests and not die from exhaustion - he just didn’t know what it was. He outstretched his hand, and a Vuata fruit formed from his palm. This rare sustenance was so full of energy it glowed with it. He would remain focused on this - even after it entered the rock’s gullet - or whatever constituted their digestive tract - so that they did not feel it dematerialize before they had a chance to taste it. It would take tremendous focus and effort... but, well, this was him he was thinking about. He’d be fine. "Vuata Maca Tree Fruit. I know it glows, but that's only because it's full of energy goodness!" He offered it to the rock. He’d have to get their name at some point. And also figure out how exactly the rock ate in the first place. He just sort of held it towards them, offering it while examining it closely for any kind of orifice. @Unreliable Narrator@Kal the Guardian@~Xemnas~ IC: Waveahk (Kumu Peninsula, Shrine of Shadows) - Tired Old Song and Dance Waveahk let out a strange noise that might be interpreted as a sigh. "This again? And here I thought we were getting along. Please, forgive me for my lack of knowledge pertaining a species and society I only just learned about. I know I cannot get inside myself. That is what you are for, is it not? Or do you not know how to get inside your own buildings?" @Sparticus147@Burnmad IC: Ostrox (Far Shore Rift, The Depot) - Ostrox’s Far Shore Adventure, Part 7 The rest of the journey was rather uneventful. Not-Fera continued to provide interesting, but ultimately irrelevant information about Ragboda. Ostrox saw glimpses of the Fleshyard - bodies piled on top of one another, frozen to keep the biomass from decomposing, so that it may yet be recycled. In the distance, he saw what was called the Burnyard - a perpetual tire fire of sorts, where flammable waste went to die, flaring up in the distance. Both the cold of the Fleshyard and the heat of the Burnyard seemed to cross the vast distances to make him chilly and overheated at the same time. The Thoughtyard, a massive 'rehabilitation' camp, lied on the opposite side of the island. Not-Fera apparently spirited a few detainees from there to the Haven, though far less than she would have liked. The Wasteyard contained anything that didn’t belong in the other sectors - not metal, not flesh, not flammable, not 'thinking incorrectly', just random refuse, periodically dissolved by acid rain or buried beneath the sand. Ostrox always felt like he was being watched, but he felt more so than usual on Ragboda. The featureless grey sky was sometimes lit by random lightning flashes, despite there being no storm. The sun never broke through the thick layer of dreary mist and clouds, nor did rain ever slip through it. He kept fiddling with the anti-energy shield just in case one of these natural oddities proved to be more supernatural in nature. As it turned out, there was a hidden panel that allowed him to select which element it should cancel out, having their own little coloured hexagonal buttons. There were elements he recognized - and elements he did not. Eventually, they reached the Depot. The clinical, modern name contrasted with the ornate and gaudy interior. The decadent stone halls and painted glass windows also conflicted with the creatures that filled it, creatures that may have once been Matoran. Their flesh was the same sickly pale colour as the bisected one he saw when he first arrived here. They wore no mask. Their eyes, mouth, heartlight and some of their extremities seemed to have been crudely replaced with sub-standard mechanical parts. They all fled as fast as their pathetic bodies could carry them at the sight of intruders, stopping whatever tasks they were doing in the process. "There’s nothing here that will stop us. No one is supposed to make it this far." The ceiling and walls were occasionally marred by strange glowing vines, coming from further within the Depot and attached to various machinery. Canned propaganda over loudspeaker blared until Not-Fera closed her fist and crushed the speakers into metallic scrap. Opening a massive pair of carved wooden doors revealed a steel vault door behind those doors, which Not-Fera also crumpled up as if it were paper. Not-Fera entered the central chamber alongside Ostrox. It was quite a revolting display, not just because of all the unsightly falsehoods carved onto the walls, imitating some pseudo-history. At the center of the chamber, there was an unsightly mechanical device that Ostrox thought to be some manner of Suva. Attached to the Suva, there were various chairs of differing sizes. They were covered in bindings and restraints and sharp looking implements and tubes. Stains of liquids Ostrox didn’t want to identify were smeared on some of them. On the ceiling, the glowing vines coalesced to form one large vine that drooped down and attached to the Suva. Energy seemed to flow up from the Suva into the vines, spreading power throughout the facility. But where did the Suva get the power to spread in the first place? Not-Fera’s visible disgust was worse than his own. "This is where they drain them. Anyone who has the slightest amount of elemental power and is judged 'unworthy' to have it, even if it’s just innate like in Matoran, is brought here. Held down in those chairs and sucked dry ‘til they barely have the strength to stand. That’s why the servants have those robot parts. They can’t survive without them." For just a moment, Ostrox sort of felt bad for stomping on that Matoran. That guilt faded away when he remembered that the Matoran were doing this to themselves, alongside other species. Twelve Toa cadavers were on full display, in airtight see-through sarcophagi adorning the walls. Ostrox recognized Farros - grey Toa with Pakari - and Fera - orange Toa with Akaku - who had been placed adjacent to each other. How cute. The other ten, however... he felt like he did recognize at least some of them, but he wasn’t sure where from. Interestingly, there were twelve corpses, but he counted thirteen sarcophagi. The thirteenth was occupied not by a corpse, but... "That..." Not-Fera looked over the thirteenth sarcophagus and its contents, which angered her for some reason. "That’s just Anora-Model Adaptive Armour in its default state!" "Why hello there, Anora-Model Adaptive Armour in its default state! I didn’t know you had inanimate objects for siblings, 'Fera'." "I don’t. Poxor should be in here, but... he’s not. What did they do to his body?!" "Was he buried with that armour?" "No, we went in with nothing but our masks-" "Then what is it doing here, apart from possibly being-" Suddenly, the armour began adapting before their eyes. It shifted into a Toa-like form, bursting out of the sarcophagus. It’s head took on the appearance of a Mask of Strength, and stared down the two of them. "A trap." "As I was saying, you interfere with the natural order of the universe. Your reckoning is long overdue, sister." IC: NU-8020S and Navu (Kini-Koro, The Taku, Exterior) - Ramping It Up "Alrighty then. This is the boarding ramp. We use it for... boarding. Yeah. Just up here, we’ll get to the actual ship..." Navu led Skyra up the boarding ramp. She made large strides in order to make sure the Toa didn’t overtake her just by walking. NU-8020S could be seen in the distance, scuttering towards Nale. @Snelly@Tarn IC: Achro (Kini-Koro) - Overwhelming Firepower "Perhaps you could go to... see that airship, over there?" Achro pointed towards the Taku. "It’s full of all sorts of weapons. Supposedly. They wouldn’t let me see. Perhaps they’ll pay for more? Dangerous times call for dangerous... things. I forget how it goes. Really, just - just go somewhere that isn’t where I am." @Daniel the Finlander

IC: Tekmo (Kumu Peninsula, Antidermis Caldera) - A Question While waiting on the other side of the caldera, Tekmo tried to initiate social interaction with Cravious. "So, uh, how did you first meet Whira?" @Kal the Guardian@~Xemnas~ IC: Waveahk (Kumu Peninsula, Shrine of Shadows) - An Answer "Well, at least you are forthcoming. Thank you for that. Perhaps there’ll be something in there who knows more..." Waveahk said, turning towards the entrance to the Shrine. @Sparticus147@Burnmad IC: Ostrox (Far Shore Rift, Outskirts of the Junkyard) - Ostrox’s Far Shore Adventure, Part 6 He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t admit he was wrong. He couldn’t admit weakness. He couldn’t- "I... don’t understand." "You were so certain I had to be hiding something - because I’m a Toa - you became convinced it was about this. I... I can’t really complain, because I am hiding something. But I am what I claim to be. Just not who." Fera - or, Not-Fera, began reconstructing herself. "But the anti-" "Sorry. That’s kinda my fault as well. Anti-elemental tech is so widespread, I thought even someone like you, who obviously comes from somewhere very far away, would have known it can only ever cancel out one element at a time. The reason the Haven is safe is because we have multiple different layers of the shield, one for Farros and the others each. But not iron, for obvious reasons." "Ah. You gaslighted me." "Unintentionally, but... yeah. Sorry. I suppose I’ll give you that." "You’re going to give me a lot more. What was that about not being who you said you were?" "Have you ever pretended to be someone else for so long you sort of forget who you actually are? You use a Mahiki, so, I’m just assuming..." Ostrox said nothing, even if he did understand what Not-Fera was getting at. "The real Fera died long before Ragboda was ever a thing. Murdered by Farros for refusing to execute a prisoner. If word got out that the Toa Telthai were killing each other, people would stop believing in them. People need to believe in something. Whether what they believe in is true or not, ultimately comes down to who controls the narrative." "People believe what they want to believe. And the Matoran want to believe in a fairy tale, at the detriment of everyone else. 'Narrative' has nothing to do with it." "It’s ignorance, not malice. But that’s not the point. To cover up the murder, they found someone else to fill in Fera’s place. Enter a young, stupid and naïve Toa of Iron who doesn’t get that she’s fighting for the bad guys. I took up this new 'Destiny' with gusto, let them change me and twist me into someone I wasn’t. They didn’t tell me that they would also try and wipe my memory, so I thought I really was Fera. I forgot who I used to be." "But not that you were changed?" "It took my 'ascension' to see that. See, I have no brain." "At least you admit it - oof!" Not-Fera gave him a jab with the elbow, while chuckling. He’d have found it funny too, if it hadn’t been a Toa doing it. "Without the grey matter they polluted still around, I was able to remember the memories they thought they had erased. Some of them, anyway. My actual identity remains lost to me, so, I thought I might as well use Fera’s. Besides, that name carries weight, rather than some random no one’s heard of. I had to give those I spirited to the Haven hope somehow." "Hope based on a lie." "Hope nonetheless. People need to believe in something, as I said. Even if its not true." "Pfah. Well, now I know your secret. I’m going to sleep now. The only way they don't find out is if I don't come back to the Haven alive. If I’m not dead by morning, perhaps I’ll believe you." "Whatever." Ostrox rested upon the makeshift mattress, and forcibly dragged himself down to dreamland. As he drifted off, he could have sworn he saw the looser parts of the Clunker rattle without any wind... IC: NU-8020S and Gnabol (Outskirts of Kini-Koro) - The Entire Chessboard Gnabol threw his hands up in the air and decided it was best to go back home and check on the Skaklets. NU-8020S was still processing what just happened. A Toa causes a public disturbance, gets off with only a light smack on the wrist, and the supposed 'leaders' of this village just disperse in the middle of an important discussion in favour of inane nonsense? Including Kanohi? This had been a complete waste of time. The only organic who had expressed any interest had run off as fast as her Kakama could take her. The Commander of the Guard clearly held no real power, seeing how easily her decision was overturned. The Toa considered protecting the innocent from a dangerous mental incompetent not as important as protecting their own. And the supposed 'wisest' among them was simply content to let the Vahki free themselves. Never mind that she was only an advanced case, and that he clearly didn’t know anything about the advanced technology that even made their existence possible. 'Neural physiology', indeed. It was a horrendous miscalculation to even come here. What form of software glitch made her think that these oozing, sweating, nauseating, bleeding sacks of pus would ever help her? Morality was an organic invention - one clearly in little use. Also in little use - the airship with the idiotic name. No one was guarding it. No one was really in need of it... She decided against that. As much as they deserved worse, she couldn’t risk alienating Kini-Koro. Not yet. She converted to quadrupedal mode, and began scampering towards the Taku, where Nale and Skyra were. @Tarn@Snelly IC: Achro (Kini-Koro) - The Wrong Man in the Right Place "NO! No, nonononono - I KEEP THE MASK! Also, I have no money, so, you’re out of luck. You - you’ve come to the wrong man. Is there anything else I could help you with though?" @Daniel the Finlander IC: Navu (Kini-Koro, The Taku, Exterior) - Guided Tour Navu was outside ready to welcome Skyra aboard. "Hello. Welcome to the Taku. Named after a bird. I’m Navu. I’ll be, uh, showing you around. Follow me, if you please?" @Snelly@Tarn IC: Klawne (Ko-Pou Shelter) - Temptations of Fate "This is better. If you’re feeling agitated, I’m sure Okuo and Triage can do something about it once they get back. For now though, we are going to be calm. There is absolutely nothing to be worried about." Klawne might not have believed everything she said, but she was at least thankful that they weren’t about to kill each other. @Vezok's Friend

IC: Ostrox (Far Shore Rift, Outskirts of the Junkyard) - Ostrox’s Far Shore Adventure, Part 5 The plan was inelegant in its simplicity. According to Fera, at the filthy heart of Ragboda there was a massive monument to Matoran ego called 'the Depot'. The command center for this entire landfill island. It was where they kept anything considered valuable - Noble or Great level Kanohi, functioning weapons, slaves deemed useful... and of course, Kanoka. "We’ve gotta get out of there as soon as we can - Farros won’t be oblivious to what we’re doing forever, neither will our siblings." They took one of the anti-energy shields each, and made their way across the Junkyard in this ramshackle vehicle Fera and a few others cobbled together, called 'the Clunker'. An apt name, from what he had seen of it. "I don’t wanna risk the lives of anyone else here. I want to risk your life because you’re willing for it to be risked and I don’t like you that much." Their journey had been relatively uneventful thus far. There was no sign of Farros’ influence to be seen. The Junkyard had been far bigger than Fera had led him to believe, however. Ostrox suspected there was little about the woman that was genuine. She had claimed that her physical form was no more a form than Farros’ junk golem body he had created earlier, it was just that hers was 'better made'. Laughable. He wasn’t even sure if what she was saying was even possible. For all he knew, 'Farros' was the product of illusions and trickery. He would know. Once they were finally beyond the boundaries of Farros’ territory, they set up camp on a dreary, muddy plain, the Clunker parked right outside. They didn’t end up sleeping, of course. Ostrox made it a rule not to sleep when enemies were nearby, and Fera equals Toa equals enemy. Fera was so committed to her elemental goddess act that she apparently didn’t feel the need. "Just go to sleep, you big baby. I don’t want you tired for tomorrow." "And you don’t tire, do you?" "Benefits of being pure energy. Of course, it’s not something I recommend to others. You don’t know just how much you enjoy eating, drinking, and various other 'carnal pleasures' until they’re gone." "This didn’t cross your mind before undergoing your, ah, 'ascension'?" "I was... a different person, then. And it’s only an 'ascension' in terms of strength. That seems to be all that matters these days." "Strength is a requirement for any stable society. Or the illusion of strength, prettied up as 'moral superiority'." "I’d like just one conversation with you that doesn’t end with you complaining about how much we suck. Just - just one." "It’s hardly my fault that Matoran prosperity is built on the subjugation of mine. Or am I supposed to be genial and polite to the foul, ignorant fanatics who are killing the universe?" "You mean... killing it metaphorically, or - you know what? It’s all well and good to call them out for being evil. But I’ve done nothing but help you, even though you’ve made every attempt to make me regret doing so. What have I ever done to you?" "An interesting question. Here’s another - why does Farros have unstable physical forms, but you don’t? Why can’t he get past the Haven’s shield, but you can? On that subject why aren’t you affected by this little wonder of technology?" Ostrox held up the miniature anti-energy device. Fera rolled her eyes. "I don’t believe this..." "You 'sensing' me shut that Matoran’s ignorant mouth? You’re wearing an Akaku. There was no 'sensing' involved at all. Like all Toa, you pretend to greatness just because you have some impressive tricks. You’re not special. You’re not holy. You’re not even supernatural. You’re just-" Fera then collapsed. Not collapse as in fall over - she fell apart. Head disconnected from torso, torso disconnected from limbs, and so on. "A pile of junk?" Her severed head asked. IC: NU-8020S, Achro and Gnabol (Kini-Koro) - The Blind Directing the Blind NU8020S’ facade of being mindlessly obedient began to crack further. "'Neural physiology', 'daily exercises'... evidently, this is all some sort of elaborate practical joke that I’m too robotic to understand." Then Gnabol showed up. "KEEP IT DOWN! PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO SLEEP! FOR THE LOVE OF-" Meanwhile, Achro was about to be let himself be drawn to the sounds of violence, before being questioned by a strange creature with a strange question. "Tavern... that’s the, uh... alcohol house, right? It’s over there, I think." Achro gestured vaguely in the direction he thought it might be. @EmperorWhenua@Snelly@Harvali@BULiK@Tarn@~Xemnas~@Daniel the Finlander IC: Navu (Kini-Koro, The Taku, Cargo Bay) - Duck and Cover Navu ducked for cover and shielded her ears, but rose back to her feet once she realized that those noises were a little too quiet to be close to her. @BULiK

IC: Tekmo (Kumu Peninsula) - Rock Candy "WAIT JUST A MINUTE, we don't know if our new friend's diet even consists of fruit and vegetables." Tekmo turns to the rock. "I'm afraid that the vegetarian option is the only one available at this time." @Unreliable Narrator@~Xemnas~@Kal the Guardian IC: Ostrox (Far Shore Rift, The Junkyard, The Haven) - Ostrox’s Far Shore Adventure, Part 4 The Haven’s interior was lit with broken lightstones glued back together. The cargo hold was full of species Ostrox recognized - and other species he did not. Of those he did, he saw a Frostelus holding pleasant conversation with a Maxilos, and a Bohrok excitedly rolling back and forth on a half-pipe, making extravagant poses as momentum pushed it upwards, turning back into ball form as it went back down. "Well, there’s no place like home. This... isn’t it. Once we get this baby airborne, we can drop you off wherever your home is." Fera said, showing him around. She turned and pointed at him sternly, as if he were a disobedient child. "I expect you to play nice. I WILL throw you back out there without your stuff if you try anything like you did to that Matoran. And I won’t be around to save you from my brother." "Of course. But what exactly stops him from getting inside? The ship is made of metal, after all." "Yeah, I noticed, funnily enough. The first thing I brought back online was the anti-element shield. Whoever originally built this thing built it for war. The shield is designed to repulse specific types of elemental energy. Farros and the others are pure elemental energy, hence, it keeps them out. The gizmo I gave you is a small-scale version me and some of the others reverse-engineered from it. The shield is invisible, but you probably got an odd feeling when you walked through it back there." Now, Ostrox was suspicious of everyone. He kind of had to be. What was it that Lord Mantax used to say? 'I have no friends, only enemies I haven’t killed yet'? Farros and whatever else was lurking out there were enemies, through and through, but if Fera couldn’t keep her story straight… "The last thing we need online before we leave this garbage pile behind is the Levitation Disk system. We’ve just about got it working, but there’s a small problem." "You’re using Matoran-built technology and it's notoriously unreliable?" "We don’t have any Levitation Disks." "It is always one or the other. There’s none to be found out there?" "No. They only leave useless stuff out there, you know, like people. I see why they sent you here. And we haven’t got the means or know-how to make them ourselves... hmm. You seem like a tough guy - or at least, you think you’re hot stuff. We’ve been working on a plan to get some Kanoka. Interested in revenge with practical benefits?" Ostrox smiled, but his eyes did not smile with him. "My dear abomination... you had me at 'revenge'." IC: Ulkarr and Enra (Tobduk-Koro, Ruins of Stone) - A Good Bad Example Despite its pathetic pretensions to divinity, the Administrator was painting a clearer picture of this failed society that created it and these structures. Its claim to be originally based on an organic being held water, explaining the computer’s delusions. Evidently, its ideology and religion were as flawed as the machine was, considering its downfall. He would have to make measures not to repeat their mistakes. Enra came within the temple, to check on what was going on inside. "Hey, uh, is everyone having a good time in here? Where - where did the councilors go?" "They left this place through the portal." "Huh. Okie-doke." Ulkarr assumed that was a sign of acknowledgement. @Unreliable Narrator@Harvali IC: NU-8020S (Kini-Koro) - Is the Circus in Town? "Who is this clown?" NU-8020S asked everyone else who was present, not bothering to wait for an answer from Stannis. She raised the volume of her voice slightly to be heard over Skyra’s racket. She was also learning more of this strange island’s history from the defective AI installed across the ruined temples, listening and watching through her Staffs of Presence, connected to 'Collector'. She saw that Enra had deviated from her assigned post. You simply couldn't get good help these days. @Snelly@EmperorWhenua@Harvali@Sparticus147@BULiK@Tarn

IC: Waveahk (Kumu Peninsula, Shrine of Shadows) - Ghost Stories "Oh, the minor issue that it was implanted in me without my full knowledge or consent. I wished - in my head, no less - for a drink of water, and some manner of weapon to get me out of the then perilous situation I was in. Whoever - or whatever - gave them to me was less... physical, than you two are. What do you make of it?" @Sparticus147@Burnmad IC: Ostrox (Far Shore Rift, The Junkyard) - Ostrox’s Far Shore Adventure, Part 3 The trek to ship was an illuminating one, at the very least. "This is the Junkyard, as I said. Part of the delightful little island of Ragboda. This is where the outside world sends all it finds useless - metal, plastics, glass, animals... people. You’re lucky you ended up in the part they send metal to, and not anywhere else. My iron powers aren’t much use in the Fleshyard." That brought back memories of the Cortex. A tunnel was bad enough, but an entire landscape made out of discarded flesh? He decided not to press that line of questioning. "What sort of society creates this much waste?" "'A prosperous one', so Farros would say. He’s the one who tried to kill you, back there. He’s in charge of the Junkyard. I’m Fera, by the way." "Named for your elements, I see. I am usually referred to as 'Ostrox'. Universally. So, a man made of junk gets put in charge of 'the Junkyard'? That sets an unfortunate stereotype." That got a brief chuckle out of her. "Not junk." She corrected. "He’s made of magnetic force. He IS magnetism. As I am iron. When the Turaga put us in charge of this dump, he said that we would have to 'give up our physical form to become one with the Great Powers', yadda yadda yadda. Pretentious old fart. Farros believed every word he said." Her words seemed angry, but there was a touch of sadness and regret in it as well. "And so did I..." "So, not that I’m making a fuss over it, but why exactly was a Matoran - well, half a Matoran - doing in this glorified landfill? And how did you manipulate my sword? It's made of protosteel, not one atom of iron to be found-" "Oh, that's a... little trick I picked up. As for your first question: who knows? Criminals, the terminally ill, the homeless, the physically impaired, political dissidents, disobedient slaves - not of any use? A threat to 'Matoran prosperity'? You get shipped here. In theory, you’re supposed to go to the Fleshyard, but since Farros and the others just kill whoever they come across, they’re not overly choosy about where they dump you." "I see. Inanimate objects are given more care than living people. That’s how it usually goes in Matoran society..." "Why did you hurt him?" An awkward silence. "Hmm?" "I am iron incarnate, buster. I can feel every step you’re taking right now, don’t think you can hide it from me!" "You’re bringing this up now? Your priorities seem to be-" "Yeah, I’m bringing this up now! He had done nothing to you! He was as much a victim as you are! There’s plenty of reasons to hate us, I get it. Not all those on the Haven quite appreciate me looking out for them, but-" "Oh look. We’re here already." They were right outside the airship Fera called 'the Haven', now. Ostrox felt a funny feeling, like the one he got from the cylinder, wash over him as they approached. The vessel was clearly not in any shape to fly, but it seemed structurally intact enough. Adorning the walls were various graffiti - 'ELEMENT FREAKS KEEP OUT' and 'YOUR PROSPERITY IS A LIE' were among the least profane. "So... do we knock?" IC: NU-8020S (Kini-Koro) - Don't Waste My Time Within the withered fleshbag’s ramblings there was a small glimmer of intelligence - if NU-8020S had grown into something more, then logically, in time, the others would do so as well. In time. "Interesting. Tell me, what is your estimation as to the amount of time it will take for this 'revolution'?" @EmperorWhenua@Sparticus147@Harvali@BULiK@Tarn

IC: Tekmo (Kumu Peninsula) - Three Out of Four Grey Rocks "Yes, what she says is correct." Tekmo looked very smug now that he had been proven right. @Unreliable Narrator@~Xemnas~@Kal the Guardian IC: Waveahk (Kumu Peninsula, Shrine of Shadows) - Extra Clever Earthbound Spirit "I am called 'Waveahk', I am a mutated Steltian, I’ve come to this place seeking information pertaining to the Aspects of Makuta." There was little point in trying to conceal anything from them. At this point, he had come to terms with being an unnatural aberration. Like Toa, but less marketable. @Sparticus147@Burnmad IC: Ostrox (Far Shore Rift, The Junkyard) - Ostrox’s Far Shore Adventure, Part 2 Ostrox stared at his own sword in defiance - which, while odd, wasn’t nearly as odd as the fact that something like this happened once before - daring it to strike its master... and then it turned around in midair, as if offering its hilt to be held. "Hmm." He took firm hold of it, and suddenly it began pulling him out of the metal sea that threatened to swallow him. It was then he noticed that this was the work of the Toa, her elemental power putting in work. This needed to stop. He couldn’t keep needing to be saved by Toa, it was getting embarrassing. "He’s gone." The Toa observed, referring to the Matoran who sank beneath the waves of rubbish earlier. "Are you happy now?!" She asked the junk golem, who didn’t really seem to respond, beyond more meaningless meaningful words. "Happiness is irrelevant. You interfere with the natural order of-" It didn’t get a chance to finish, as the Toa materialized a massive iron girder and threw it at the golem, its feeble components being splattered across the junkyard’s surface, losing whatever power made them animate. "You always did yammer on." The metal seemed to stop. Ostrox let go of his sword, and it fell onto the ground. The Toa extended her arm towards the spot where the Matoran once was, and suddenly, the metal began politely moving out of the way. But there was no sign of the wretch she came here to save. Her hand balled into a fist. "We need to get to the ship." She said to Ostrox. "Your sword, mask and, uh, thingy should be fine now." "Oh, that’s good. You’re certain?" "As long as you hold this. Here, catch." She threw him some sort of metallic cylinder that emitted green-blue light. An odd sensation came over him as he caught it. It struck him as being rather similar to the null cores used by the Nullifier Vahki. He shrugged, and began picking up his equipment off the ground. He would be here a while, he could tell. IC: NU-8020S (Kini-Koro, The Ambling Alp) - Ambulatory Movement NU-8020S followed Vulimai off the airship with the ridiculous name. Stannis and Knichou seemed to be important figures. Was that why she remembered them from somewhere? Had they really been as important as Nuparu? @Sparticus147@Harvali IC: Achro (Kini-Koro) - Sunny Day "Oh, OK." Achro watched Skyra leave, before resuming whatever it is he was doing. "I wonder if there’s alcohol on the sun?" @Snelly IC: Klawne (Ko-Pou Shelter) - Putting the Foot Down "NO. NONE OF THIS. If you all don’t sit down right now there will be no treats for a week, do you hear me? Okuo and Triage would be very disappointed in all of you." @Vezok's Friend

IC: Tekmo (Kumu Peninsula) - Apology Is the Best Policy "Not to worry, I have a solution - apologize." Tekmo turned to the rock with an apologetic expression on his face. "We are sorry for taking a bit out of you without your permission... there, that should do it." @Unreliable Narrator@Kal the Guardian@~Xemnas~ IC: Ostrox (The Far Shore, The Junkyard) - Ostrox’s Far Shore Adventure, Part 1 "What is this place?" Ostrox found himself in some manner of colossal junkyard. Discarded metal covered every scrap of ground - if there even was ground underneath it. A huge airship rested behind him, rusting apart, eerily similar to the Nynrah vessel that held the Krom Sphere. Since there was no other discernible landmark, Ostrox trudged along the field of junk towards the vessel. After the thirteenth step, there was no metal clanging yielded from his footsteps. He looked down. What was beneath him now was not metal - not entirely. It was flesh as well. "Help... me..." It was a Matoran. Half of one, anyway. The legs were missing. He had an usual pale colour that made it difficult to identify his element. There was the rustling of metal behind him. The useless garbage he had just been walking on seemed to magnetically become attracted to one another. A broken Kanoka Launcher became a torso, a fractured Pakari became a floating disembodied head, and various other bits and bobs became limbs, held together by some unnatural polarity. Hardly the oddest thing he had seen, but it was up there. "Help... me... please..." The Matoran begged. Ostrox almost worked up a degree of sympathy for the wretched thing. But if he could not muster the strength needed to pull himself out of this junkheap, then he was not worthy of his attention. Suddenly, the junk golem spoke. In Ostrox’s language, no less. "Delarg arit kel." Do not help him. As if he needed any convincing. "Hoporic. Ivu vak zik morsk oxt cenner, rovaen khi xenoph. Emivu yerq kloka ivu az? Ivu emazr fel ele uulk." Gladly. I have no interest in garbage, living or otherwise. May I ask where I am? I appear to be lost. "Uvlo ka naaz uulk maval welk uvlar rov loka. Uva delarg arit uvloxa, quor uva delargvak uv rennok. Uvlo ka vak uulkvak uvlar rennok - uulkvak uvlar rov - naaz zron vek rul cennor. Ralvun." Those who are lost often find their way here. They do not help themselves, for they lack the strength. Those who have lost their strength - lost their way - are worth less than nothing. Like you. "I... I don’t understand what you’re saying, could you-" Ostrox stamped on the Matoran’s head to shut him up. Then, as if summoned by the oh-so-heinous act of slightly harming a Matoran, a Toa wearing an Akaku and armour that looked like it was made out of junk - because it was - popped out of the scrap pile to Ostrox’s left. The armour was spray-painted orange - Toa of Iron? It seemed like she bade the metal to move out of the way so she could travel beneath it. That made no sense, but, whatever. He drew his sword by reflex, but the Toa just held up her hands in surrender. "Easy. I’m just here for him." "Do not help him." Said the junk golem, this time in Matoran, so that the Toa could understand. Not that he would heed it. "He’s still alive! If I just get him to the Haven-" "A meaningless effort. Those who are of no use have only one Destiny..." The magnetism entity waved its makeshift arm, made mostly from a drainage pipe. Before Ostrox could quite grasp what was happening, his sword, mask, Rhotuka Launcher - they all suddenly escaped him to dive into the sea of scrap he was standing on. Then, it felt as if that very sea was pulling him under. "Help... help-" The Matoran gave one last plea before he was completely covered by junk. "To sink into the endless abyss." The Toa watched in utter horror, before turning to the golem with hatred in her eyes. She could afford to do so, as for some reason, she wasn't being pulled under. Ostrox winced as he felt a sharp piece of metal cut into his right foot. He tried to break free, but he was already up to his ankles in junk. Then, his sword returned from the scrapyard sea, floating by itself in midair - and pointing at Ostrox, ready to skewer him. "Definitely not going to recommend this to others." IC: Ulkarr (Tobduk-Koro, Ruins of Stone) - Stick to the Shadows So, he was a 'heretic' now. One could not blaspheme against a lie, much less a lie yet unheard of. However, he considered it best to play along with the machine’s delusions. For now. He bowed to the empty room, in a facsimile of respect he most certainly did not have. "Please, forgive this unworthy specimen for any past heresies." Ulkarr certainly couldn’t recall performing any, but that was the strained logic of a failing artifice for you. He examined the chamber for the sign of anything out of place. The computer’s judgement as to its status was, like the computer itself, highly questionable. @Unreliable Narrator@Harvali IC: NU-8020S (Kini-Koro, The Ambling Alp) - Caution: Rogue Robots Well, NU-8020S wasn’t sure about that. The more fallible, flawed meatbags that were dragged into this, the higher the probability of failure. In this case, 'failure' was defined as any outcome that ends with the Vahki still remaining under organic control. But it was better that these Toa do so, and not the other Toa they didn’t like. "Your approval is appreciated. However, though possibility of failure is miniscule, it must be accounted for. In the event of a worst-case scenario, captured or terminated units must be disowned by the leadership of Tobduk-Koro and Kini-Koro, and their actions denounced, in order to preserve the current ceasefire. Any action we take must be that of a 'rogue element', until the operation’s success." @Tarn@Sparticus147@Harvali IC: Achro (Kini-Koro) - Join the Army, They Said "Who? Oh right, the king man. Sorry about that. I saw a giant head crash into a Skakdi fortress, which led to getting enlisting in some sort of army, I think. No hard feelings over backing the wrong side?" @Snelly

IC: Ostrox (Kini-Koro, Far Shore Rift) - Prepare for Glory Ostrox watched Sidra leave through the door made of light. He turned back to Nuju. "Let’s make this clear: I’m only doing this because our esteemed hosts refuse to do anything about our 'Great Spirit' problem. If I come back with nothing of value, well... I will not be recommending your services to others." Lowering his mask and holding back laughter at his own words, Ostrox followed Sidra through the portal... @Unreliable Narrator IC: Achro (Kini-Koro) - Recurring Nightmare Achro’s aimless wandering led him in the path of Skyra’s aimless wandering. "Oh hey. You seem familiar. Have we met?" @Snelly

IC: Ostrox (Kini-Koro, Far Shore Rift) - If I Die, I Will Kill You Ostrox reappeared before Nuju and Sidra. "I’m back now." He helpfully pointed out. "I don’t suppose there’s any further details you’d like to divulge before I venture beyond the veil, is there?" @Unreliable Narrator@Nato the Traveler IC: NU-8020S (Kini-Koro, The Ambling Alp) - Ambling Onto the Ambling NU-8020S followed Vulimai and Nale aboard the Ambling Alp. Who named this ship? @Sparticus147@Tarn@Harvali IC: Klawne (Ko-Pou Shelter) - I Don't Care Who Started It Klawne tried to position herself in the middle of the transformed Matoran, to break up the roughhousing. "Whoa, whoa whoa whoa, hey! We’ll have none of that in here!" @Vezok's Friend

IC: Ostrox (Kini-Koro, Bunker) - Lone Swordsman "Hah. Well, I have all the armaments I require, thank you, and I don’t feel like waiting. Give the Supreme High Commander my regards." Chuckling to himself, Ostrox exited the bunker, and headed back towards the Far Shore Rift. @Sparticus147 IC: NU-8020S (Kini-Koro, The Ambling Alp, Exterior) - Addendum "Once our stratagem is finalized, I will have to briefly return back through the portal to Tobduk-Koro, to inform my squad of a prolonged absence. They will be unable to accompany us to Metru Nui, as I fear they will not be able to resist Aurax’s influence so easily." @BULiK@Tarn@Harvali

IC: Ostrox (Kini-Koro, Bunker) - With Friends Like These "You... you really believe what you’re selling me, don’t you?" The tone was not accusatory, nor was there any venom in it. Just surprise and grudging acceptance. "Very well then. I will go on Nuju’s cosmic treasure hunt and see if I can scrape anything useful out of it. That is unlikely, but it is not as if we’ve been left any other options. Even if you agreed to Plans A through C, your leaders - erm, 'friends' wouldn’t let you. You’re like Aurax, I’m afraid. Tangled in their strings." This was not mockery. This was him trying to warn Vulimai. Ostrox was trying to convince her that the Toa were using her because that was what Ostrox genuinely believed. @Sparticus147 IC: NU-8020S (Kini-Koro, The Ambling Alp, Exterior) - It Looks Like You're Trying to Reprogram a Robot Army, Would You Like Some Help? A brief moment passed, while NU-8020S calculated the next move. Transferring control from one Toa to another was not something that appealed. However, it was clear that Stannis had a hold on Aurax, making the refugees the safer option, though clearly Knichou was withholding details. Stannis. Knichou. Something was familiar about them, something to do with Nuparu, but what was it? Regardless... "Such an operation would require physical access to one of the Hives. These are heavily defended by Vahki at all times due to their critical importance, and run on incredibly advanced software. You will require a guide. Fortunately, I have proven immune to League reprogramming. I would have returned to Metru Nui long ago if that were not the case. I will accompany you on this mission." @BULiK@Harvali IC: Klawne (Ko-Pou Shelter) - Solid Ground Klawne turned to Nixie. "Yes? Don’t worry, everything’s hunky-dory out there. Okuo and Triage will be back soon." @Vezok's Friend

IC: Ostrox (Kini-Koro, Bunker) - The Massacre of Matorankind "Oh don’t worry, I can’t tell any difference either. Those 'civilians' were given every opportunity to walk away. Just because you don’t hold the whip yourself doesn’t make you not responsible." Ostrox said, uncaring that Vulimai had diverted the conversation elsewhere, unwilling to let any of the Matoran’s statements be unchallenged. "Speaking of who does hold it, my point is - if your friends were hiding this from you, what else are they hiding? This is not some elaborate scheme, before you start making accusations. I am trying to convince you that your leaders cannot be trusted because they evidently cannot be trusted. Then again, you’re also demanding this be kept under the rug despite being aware of the consequences, so I don’t know why I bother, really." @Sparticus147 IC: NU-8020S (Kini-Koro, The Ambling Alp, Exterior) - Awaiting Input "All Vahki units in Metru Nui remain under Barraki control. This situation cannot continue, but the solution is unclear. Constructing a new Vahki Hive is possible, but would be ineffectual when the League has six Hives programmed to distribute their commands and ensure obedience. Destroying these Hives would violate the current ceasefire, and would leave all units confused and directionless. We require your input, as sources indicate you may have some engineering capabilities." @BULiK@Harvali

IC: Ostrox (Kini-Koro, Bunker) - I Can't Torment an Extinct Race Ostrox seemed genuinely taken aback at something Vulimai said. "'Eradication'? Some of your kind do choose to abandon your aforementioned 'virtues' and 'principles', you know. Genocide was never the goal, though you certainly seemed to act as if it was." He realized he was getting off-topic. "But to answer your question, Plan A was conquest and subjugation, which I can’t do by myself. Plan B was to convince your leaders to use, as you say, 'forceful dissuasion', which clearly isn’t going to work out either. It seems not even the end of the universe can get you to sacrifice your 'divinity'. Plan C is trying to figure out whatever plan Pridak had, but he’s kind of dead and the Coliseum is in the hands of your stray puppet." He made movements with his hands, miming the manipulation of a string puppet using a wooden cross, before resuming his dialogue. "I’m not sure what to make of Nuju’s miraculous recovery, but he has reason enough to hate Mata Nui, so I’ll play his game for now. It is not my plans you should be concerned with, I swore that I would not bring harm to your people - until your inevitable betrayal - and I have no intention of going back on that, not that you’ll believe me, of course. You should be more concerned with the plans of your colleagues, if they’re planning at all." @Sparticus147

IC: Ostrox (Kini-Koro, Bunker) - Kla Vul Welku Agrel uv Coliseum "I admit, there’s no physical evidence, but you’re more than welcome to grab one of those 'Masks of Truth', provided they work as advertised, or corroborate my story with that of Nuju. Or Mazor and Irna, wherever those two wretches have gone off too." Ostrox put on his Mahiki to provide visual aid, creating illusionary pictures of the past, shot from his perspective. "You see, them and I were part of a mission to retrieve something called the 'Krom Sphere' from a downed Nynrah Ghost vessel. Mazor’s retrieval of this relic was the cause of those strange shifts in the sky, as well as the dead rising from their graves. It didn’t help that he kept playing with it as if it were a toy. He became obsessed with it. When Pridak commanded him, Irna and Nuju to take the Sphere under the Coliseum during our invasion of that cursed city, I warned Lord Mantax of his weakness, and he bade me stalk them from afar to ensure they did not try anything." Vulimai would see Ostrox retrieve a rebreather to follow the three through poisonous gas - as concrete and steel gave way to flesh and sinew. "They did, of course. Apparently, the 'Great Spirit' is not that great - he needs power to achieve his goal, and what he cannot draw from the deluded beliefs of Matorankind, he would take from the Sphere, and he cobbled together a flesh puppet out of the Sphere’s revenants to ensure that he did. And what was that goal? Why, the logical conclusion of that 'Unity, Duty, Destiny' nonsense. No identity. No freedom. No choice. He would have us become like your precious Vahki, living only to serve him, with no thoughts or feelings of our own. Mazor sold out the universe in exchange for his memory being erased from all within it, presumably thinking he would be exempt from that fate - but I have had my mind trained to resist psionic intrusion, thus my memories of him remain. Sucker. That’s why Nuju won’t recall the filth’s name, if you ask him." The monstrous form of the avatar - three different bodies fused together to make some patchwork abomination - was shown in the pictures. Ostrox wasn’t sure if he wanted to make it even more intimidating, but decided any embellishment would push beyond the boundaries of belief, even for a Matoran. "As a League soldier and occasional advocate for free will, I tried to stop all this from happening, but although killing me was apparently beyond the 'Death God', sealing me out of the chamber they were in was not. I tried to find another way in, but it was too late. I don’t know if it was intentional or accidental, or what Pridak's plan was, but we all know what happened next. But if he’s gone - then why don’t the revenants we herded into the protodermis moat surrounding Metru Nui do anything? They were hostile without exception before. It’s like something is holding them back, lest he lose what puppets he has left." With a wave of his hand, the images dissipated, and Ostrox removed his mask. "As for suggestions on how to deal with this... something tells me you would object to Plans A through C, even knowing what you do now, but Plan D is to see if that 'Far Shore' holds anything other except useless trinkets. It brought Nuju back after all, and he was smited - smote? Smoten by Mata Nui’s avatar. That, or find where the Krom Sphere has gone off to. It may still be under the Coliseum... but then again, Nuju’s corpse was supposed to be there, too..." @Sparticus147

IC: Ostrox (Kini-Koro, Bunker) - Closer to the Truth "Well, because it is true. The Matoran 'faith' has always been a threat to everyone and everything, just... in a different way than was expected. I thought it was just something you made up to keep the entire universe enslaved, but no, it has some basis in reality. Just remove the ridiculous notion that he has any sort of bias towards you. The thing is - I shouldn’t have to explain it. 'Nail' and the others should have already told you, I mean, you’re a woman of, aheh, high stature. Why would they keep this from you, I wonder?" @Sparticus147 IC: Navu (Kini-Koro, The Taku, Exterior) - To and Fro Navu left to put the key back. She couldn’t lie to herself, she was tempted to take something from either the armoury or Knichou’s drawer, but of course, that would be amoral. And also really stupid, because they would know it was her if anything went missing. @BULiK@EmperorWhenua@~Xemnas~

IC: Ostrox (Kini-Koro, Far Shore Rift) - My Sword Is Hatred "Right. Well, I’ll leave you to it, then? Come back when you’re not occupied by someone else." He said, deliberately unsubtly criticizing Sidra for barging in. Ostrox decided he should remind the wise and benevolent leaders of the Matoran the urgency of phasing out their foul beliefs. And speaking of which… "Commander." His smile widened, though of course, there was no actual joy to be found in his eyes. "Can I help you with something?" @Unreliable Narrator@Nato the Traveler@Sparticus147 IC: Ulkarr (Tobduk-Koro, Ruins of Stone) - Deceitful, Untruthful "Evidently, they did not consider your services necessary. Regardless, we should ensure that this holy site remains structurally stable." Ulkarr said to Collector. And to the Administrator. And to NU-8020S, who he knew was watching and listening. @Unreliable Narrator@Harvali IC: NU-8020S (Kini-Koro) - Smug Mode "I expected more." NU-8020S said with a touch of arrogance, surveying the surrounding settlement, before turning back to address Kanohi. "All data gathered concerning Knichou suggests that he is obsessed with aircraft. Therefore, we should travel towards where they are gathered." She pointed towards the Taku and the other airship parked adjacent to it on the hillside. @Harvali IC: Navu (Kini-Koro, The Taku, Exterior) - Minor Key "Do you want me to, uh, put the key back, Commander?" @Eyru@BULiK@Tarn

IC: Waveahk (Kumu Peninsula, Korruhn’s Campfire) - Scraping Himself Free "Hmm." Waveahk was clearly more interested in the two that just went past than the Toa’s ramblings. There was a time when he would have agreed with him. That time had passed. He was beginning to re-evaluate his opinion on Rose and Skyra. There was little point in questioning the fool further, very little of substance had been gleaned from him already, and this was hardly the time or place for 'enhanced interrogation'. But he clearly had an agenda beyond being a hermit. He’d learn more of him eventually - when he questioned his fellow founders of Metru-Koro. One of them must know who he and his tiny compatriot were. "Well, you’re clearly a danger to yourself and others, but neither you or your musical accompaniment haven’t actually done anything, so... good luck with your dastardly plans, or whatever. Hopefully, I won’t set eyes on you again." He then trudged after Apex and Morangad, towards the strange structure they were examining... @Unreliable Narrator@Crimson Jester@Sparticus147@Burnmad IC: Ulkarr and NU-8020S (Tobduk-Koro, Ruins of Stone) - Artificial Unintelligence The news of the Administrator’s damaged mind was unsurprising. This 'intelligence' that controlled these temples was clearly lacking in it. NU-8020S wasted no time in stepping through the portal, fully expecting Kanohi to follow. @Unreliable Narrator@Harvali IC: Navu (Kini-Koro, The Taku, Exterior) - Items Awaiting Pick-Up Navu brought the stack of five Levitation Kanoka outside the Taku - where there was no sign of Knichou. Of course there wasn’t. She set the disks down and waited for someone to come and collect them. @BULiK

IC: Navu (Kini-Koro, The Taku, Armoury) - It's Spelt With a 'U' in My Country Navu took as many Levitation Disks as she could carry - five of them stacked on top of each other, and set them down just outside the armoury, before locking it up again with the key. She then picked the Kanoka stack up again, and set off towards the cargo bay and the exit, the key still on her person. Performing basic manual labour was, after all, her one redeeming quality. @BULiK

IC: Waveahk (Kumu Peninsula, Korruhn’s Campfire) - No Gods or Kings "No, they are not. I’d rather have nothing to do with them, to be completely honest. But the necessity for survival overcomes petty things such as race or creed. People either accept this and get over themselves - or they die, hungry and alone. You don’t have to like it, I certainly DON’T. It’s just the nature of things." Even through the howling wind, Waveahk could just faintly hear the sound of Apex and Morangad approaching... @Unreliable Narrator@Crimson Jester@Sparticus147@Burnmad IC: Navu (Kini-Koro, The Taku, Command Quarters) - I Am the Keymaster Well, that was... interesting. Navu tried to make it look like she hadn’t looked through it at all, closed the drawer, and made her way to the ship's armoury, key in hand. @BULiK IC: Klawne (Ko-Pou Shelter) - Standing Firm Klawne stayed inside to watch over Nixie and Vhisola, as Okuo requested. @Vezok's Friend@Onaku@Tarn

IC: Waveahk (Kumu Peninsula, Korruhn’s Campfire) - Cursed Are the Peacemakers "'New recruit'. Why not? Let’s go with that. The 'scuffle' - as you call it - with the League is over. For good, hopefully. Before I began my journey here, the one called Stannis aided a traitor within the Kingdoms assassinate Pridak and seize control, ending the war, and allowing me to get on with this, as per the late Turaga's instructions... I must say, you’ve surprised me. I don’t think I’ve seen a non-League Toa treat the thought of his people dying with such... flippancy." @Unreliable Narrator@Crimson Jester

IC: Navu (Kini-Koro, The Taku, Command Quarters) - Sneak Skill Navu took the key - but the scrapbook held her interest. She decided to briefly flick through it. What latest weapon did the Supreme High Commander have in mind for his cargo ship, she wondered. @BULiK