BZPRPG - Le-Wahi

[Keeper of Kraata]

Ic-Otana

 

I do not think so but who knows  he could have gone and settled down  It has been many long-years since I last saw him.

 

IC: "Well, I hope that we're not walking into an old debt, then."

[Friar Tuck]

IC

 

Toa Joske

Location: Kumu Inlets

Prolouge: The Return

 

A lot of people I knew, a lot of people I didn-wait.

 

Utu... not evil?

 

Skyra's... mother!?

 

I rubbed my temple absentmindedly. So maybe things had changed a bit since I've been gone... I took a deep breath and re-focused, settling into the now. I had enough voices in my head and enough to think about than try to piece together a string of events I wasn't even present for.

 

And in an abrupt one-eighty my attitude shifted to a more serious demeanor now that I got all that emotion out of my system. You know, that "new normal" that happened during my campaign across the island?

 

The one that seemingly everyone didn't know or care about. Oh well. I wasn't put on this world to make friends.

 

Oh, the irony, considering my previous occupation.

 

"Thanks, luv, for that. And it's true; I'm only this obnoxious when trying to deal with Dorian - it's the only way I found that makes him listen to me." My voice and stance had radically calmed to the point of pleasant seriousness, a more neutral undertone with a hint of playfulness, proven by the slight wink I gave to Dor. "My apologies for the sudden arrival, but let's just say nothing has been the same since the defeat of Makuta and his minions, lest of all for me. And speaking of... "

 

 I took a half-step back, but did not unlace my fingers with Cael. "Time is short, whether any of you realize it or not. Now that I have my sword back I must continue with my-"  I stopped short, the words caught in my mouth. How strange to be speaking like this these days! Dumb Legend and Stannis with his with one-way ticket to oblivion mask...

 

Focus.

 

"... my mission." I finished slowly, giving a small sad smile to Cael. "Look, I know we just reunited, but there are a few things I really need to do as quickly as possible. I'm not going to tell you no, but I would feel more comfortable if you stayed behind, just for a little longer."

 

I gritted my teeth at that. It was the last thing I wanted to say, and probably the last thing she needed to hear, but I was being thrown head-first into places I had no idea how dangerous they were going to be. I focus my attention on her, desperately trying to convey how serious and grieved I was on this.

 

"Cael, I know it's been a long time. I know there is a lot we need to make up. But you got to hold on, just a little longer. There is one more place I need to go before I can take a break, and it's for personal reasons. Can... can you do that?" I wrapped both my hands around hers on comfort.

 

"I won't physically stop you if you must come, but that is my request. As for Dor... he's probably here fore a reason, but if he's gonna tag along he better keep that mouth of his shut lest we both get killed. But once we get back I'll do whatever you want. Shopping, dinner, just talking... you name it. But I desperately need to go. Will you be alright?"

Edited August 31, 2014 by Friar Tuck

[Razgriz]

IC: "What"

Did I miss something here? Does he understand what exactly he's walked into?

He's not listening.

He's not gonna listen either.

...He really DOES think everything revolves around him, doesn't he?

He threw his hands up in the air with an expression not dissimilar to a substitute math teacher at their wits' end. If this doofus figured he could just hold things up hundreds of feet below sea level, Ciph wasn't having it.

Without a word, he walked on over to where the now suitably mangled mannequin lied, and picked it up by the scruff of it's neck whilst "totally not always this obnoxious guys honest" did his thing. Dragging it over to Dor, who already looked as exasperated with this turn of events as he was getting, he simply raised it with a questioning look, asking what to do next.

Whatever the karz else was going on, at this point he just wanted to keep moving forward. Rapidly growing headache be .

[Jakura Nuva]

IC Hile

(Le-Wahi):

 

Hile hadn't understood earlier, but now he was beginning to see it. Juurok must have a master unknown to either Jakura or himself. Or maybe...

 

"You speak of... the Makuta?"

IC: Juurok

 

"Fool, fool! It is not the Makuta - even He fears the Makuta's name! No, he is different... different..."

[Palm]

IC: Tuara Drigton

 

"What?"

 

Tuara's voice was ice cold, "You left us behind to do your dirty work - which isn't even done by the way, because Utu's dying now! - in the middle of doing your dirty work and after all this time you walk back in just to tell us you're leaving?"

 

Utu added again, "That's Joske?"

 

"You're not the center of our universe! Very few of us owe you anything that we couldn't have figured out on our own!"

 

"This is Joske."

 

She scoffed, "Some of us grieved Joske! We thought you were dead at first."

 

Tuara made no move to get closer to him, "So you'll have to excuse the rest of us when we don't welcome you back with open arms."

 

She turned around and looked at Dorian, "Go on Dor."

Edited August 28, 2014 by Palm

[shadow pridak money gang]

IC:

 

"Oh, so that's it? You, too? I'm just some ###### weapon, now, that you can rev up and fire away? Go on, Dor, sic him, ###### him senseless, what do you want me to do, Tuara? What is with everyone on this team thinking you can point me in a direction and I'll just blow up when you want me to? Tag along, but keep my mouth shut?"

 

Cael saw the signs: "Dor--"

 

"Oh, don't you Dor me. For your information, buddy, Cael hasn't been alright once since you left. Tuara's right, you know - some of us grieved for you. We thought you'd been butchered, or killed, or turned into Echelon's undead bartender before Stannis showed up and gave us the down low and the sword. I killed Utu - smothered him like a child in a crib, because I thought that I -- we lost you. A friend. Even after that, this woman kept it together with more poise and grace than any assassin could ever wish for. And you give her all she ever wanted in the world, the chance to be with you again, and then you're just in and out. Joske Nimil, the Living Whirlwind of Crapola. I suppose I should be thanking you, because this is the exact same thing that led to Tuara and I getting together. God knows if you weren't such a gale force of ego and cheesy eidetic relationship quotes she would have never ended up back in Ta-Koro. I mean, for the love of...do you know how many times I advised people to just leave Utu? That there was nothing in him you'd find that would make losing you worth it? Agni, Merror, Cael, Tuara...even the girl I love didn't want to listen to me, because it meant she would have to put up with the anointed one."

 

Cipher coughed.

 

"I mean...is it because I'm me? Is it because everyone just thought maybe I was jonesing for a kill? Is it--what is it? Do you really think that I'd do anything - anything - to jeopardize you, or or or sabotage you, or ruin the mission if I knew it's what you all wanted to see through? Is that what I've become? Part-liability, part-commodity? I mean, what am I to you people? Just something to break the silence? Charm cops? Get ###### when someone wants me ######? Is there any reason I'm here, instead of with Agni and Merror hunting Echelon, besides that you all look at me and still see a killer with a berserker tattoo on his shoulder? I didn't ask to be here, you know, as people so dearly love reminding me. I was dragged here. I'm not part of the clique. I'm not...I'm a killer, and I know I'm a killer. But it seems like I'm the only one who's working to move past that half the time, and the other half the time...do you know what it's like to see someone you love, you really love, and look at them and know that you have by association put her through more pain than she ever knew or deserved in her life? And that if you hadn't stood by and let it happen, she wouldn't be with you today? None of you will ever know what that's like in your life. I live with it every day. And she's all that keeps me living with it. She's the only one who even devotes energy to looking at me as a person named Dorian. Her, and the people we picked up for this dive - all of whom, by the way, I have made suffer. But it seems like they're the only ones who can even treat me like an animate, living thing.

 

"I'm not a teammate here. I'm nowhere close to a teammate. Teammates say please and thanks when someone gets up to walk across the street and grab a boat, and they don't act surprised when no one had to die to do it. Teammates realize that what you've done, and what you've let be done, can't be undone in a night or in a mission or in a year and a half, and that it's tearing you apart in your sleep and that you want to bite your tongue off to keep from screaming. They say Dor, we really need your help because you're valuable to us and to the team and we trust you to give us a hand. And when you realize that in order for the mission to work, you don't hide the sacrifice play from the player until it's time for him to step up - you say We're sorry, Dorian, we should have been honest with you from the getgo, and I promise you that even if worst comes to worst we won't let you die because that's not what friends do."

 

Tuara started to walk towards me.

 

"This is my life, you know. All of this. All of...all of you. Tuara. You're my life, and my life is...collapsing all around me in little spirals, because I know that if I leave here, I'm going to leave alone and it means this is it....but I know I have to leave. I  know that I can't stay if I don't belong, and I know that there are some people in the world who are just bad guys, even if they don't want to be...and I know that they don't hang out with good guys. So I'm going. I don't care if anyone follows me, or doesn't follow me, or leaves parallel to me, but...I'm going. I think I'm done."

 

Skyra looked up at me, exhausted from maintaining the bubble. Krayn's eyes were unreadable.

 

"Yeah," I finally decided, shooting forward and pushing past Joske and Cael. "Yeah, I'm done."

 

My scarf fluttered around Cael's neck when I passed.

 

-Tyler

Edited August 28, 2014 by Brooklyn Pace-Carlisle

[Razgriz]

IC: Cipher stood for a moment, shocked as everyone else at Dorian's sudden outburst...

Then shrugged and began to follow.

Like it or not, you're the only way I trust out.

Because I'm CERTAINLY not sticking around to find out how Joske reacts to that.

In any case, Dor did his best work when he had an extra hand to help him out, whatever the situation may be.

This?

Probably included in that.

"It's been fun. I'm headed with him. No hard feelin's." He said with the group, waving back at them whilst keeping his eyes locked to Dorian's retreating form.

If he lost sight of that, he had a feeling both of them would be screwed.

[25K Now!]

IC: Iegasa

 

"Then not even this one Islet would exist," commented Iegasa. "The entirety of Kumu fell beneath the waves. Not simply Xa-koro."

[Toatapio Nuva]

IC Kavala

(Kumu Islets, secret hideout):

 

"It all went down", Kavala agreed. "And so it must happen again. With a proper strategy and proper explosives, we should be able to do it. We can crush the foundation of the new village and sink it into the sea."

 

IC Hile

(Le-Wahi):

 

"If he fears Makuta, he cannot be that high above us", Hile said. "Tell us who he is. Trust me, we will protect you from him if you do."

Edited August 28, 2014 by Toatapio Nuva

[Vezok's Friend]

OOC: Merrily skipping through the woods and ahead in time. 

 

IC (Agni):

 

As it turns out, once a team of Toa is resolved to do something, things reall do start moving at a rapid pace, I observed, as we stood once more outside the tunnel entrance that had led us to our confrontation with the legacy before. We'd gathered and readied our personal effects, left the Bright Star Inn and had bought all additional needed provisions within an hour, before rendezvousing back at the Gukko Force headquarters.

 

That Merror had met his Matoran friend in the Force, Sisk, that morning turned out to be fortunate, as he was more than willing to help us out and to provide us with transportation. He was a bit quirky in nature, but that did not derogate his professionalism. From the small-talk he and Merror exchanged while he was the officer in charge of all non-combat operations of the force. Getting three Kahu for us was less than five minutes of work for him.

 

And so, with him escorting us on his Gukko, we'd made our way back out into the jungle, reaching the nearest clearing to where Echelon's hideout had been before noon. Now with solid ground back under my feet, I reached into my satchel, pulling out the specialized mask of psychometry I had gotten many months back, thanks to my former protege. I hadn't really had a chance to use it while we had stayed in the village of air, but this investigation I felt would make more than up for it.

 

With my free hand I reached behind my head, pulling at my Kualsi until the latches unclipped from my face. I felt slightly lightheaded as the mask disconnected and my power-level momentarily dipped, but I still shot Valria a quick wink before slipping on the other Kanohi. Then I turned to the others. 

 

"Ready when you are." 

 

---------------

 

(Sisk)

 

In the meantime, Sisk was sitting on Skyscratcher's back, watching the Toa with curios eyes, before turning to Merror. "I can not long-abandon my post and therefor can't come with you, but I wish you the most-best of luck-fortune on your search-hunt."

 

He reached down to his side, producing a small, wooden flute which he tossed the veteran Toa of fire. "We've much-increased our watch-patrol high-flights. As long as you close-within Le-Wahi territory, the flute's call will be heard-answered."

 

Then, with a quick salute, a short wave and a smile the Le-Matoran dug his heels into Sykscratcher's sides, who took off rapidly while giving a loud call that signaled the other Kahus to take flight as well, blowing leaves and smaller twigs aside in the downwash of their wings. Then, the three Toa and Aerus were by themselves again. 

[Jakura Nuva]

IC Kavala

(Kumu Islets, secret hideout):

 

"It all went down", Kavala agreed. "And so it must happen again. With a proper strategy and proper explosives, we should be able to do it. We can crush the foundation of the new village and sink it into the sea."

 

IC Hile

(Le-Wahi):

 

"If he fears Makuta, he cannot be that high above us", Hile said. "Tell us who he is. Trust me, we will protect you from him if you do."

 

OOC: I'm going to start using the name "Kirii" in Juurok's IC posts. His name is still officially Juurok, but it's easier right now to use his fake name.

 

IC: Kirii

 

"There... there is no protection," Kirii said, hope gone. "He'll find me, and I'll die."

Edited August 29, 2014 by Jakura Nuva

[TheMegazordman1]

IC-Otana

 

He Laughs .

 

Wella re you two ready to get-going  the forest is green the sun is high and the day has  adventures yet to be had.

 

He wlks out side and his wings open . 

[25K Now!]

IC: Iegasa

 

"Do you possess the capabilities to do so?"

[Palm]

IC: Utu Kotore

 

Leaving? So he's here to save my life, and the next thing I know he's walking away.

 

"Hey!" I shouted, playing right into it all, "What do you mean you're leaving?"

 

I moved closer to the top steps, "Hey!"

 

"You were supposed to-"

 

I felt a strike to my head like a bullet passed through my temples. I stopped mid-sentence and pressed my hands onto my skull. With this pain came a series of flashes. Before me was no longer ruins darkened by the sea, but instead a temple covered in wild fauna. And the men and women that stood before me were replaced by eithed past versions of themselves, or former companions of mine.

 

Before me was the body of Yuru, covered in his own blood. Tank stood next to me, with wounds I enflicted on him with my own hands. Reaver crouched above me. The Salamander was there, bearing my own Mark of fear himself.

 

And in the middle, walking away from all of us was Dorian Shaddix. Too proud, too infatuated with the Toa of Shadows to give us a second thought... to give me a second thought.

 

What were we?

 

We were friends.

 

I look past him, the body of Echelon, laying there. Chest open, metals pooling around him.

 

Was he dead? No, I rememebered. It was a trick.

 

Next thing I knew, I was being carried into an icy cavern. Echelon looking over me.

 

Metals, metals pouring into a stone. Metals being siphoned into a tattoo needle.

 

What?

 

I came back to reality. My jaw was locked open and my head pounding.

 

I winced, and in that moment I looked up again.

 

And in the middle, walking away from all of us was Dorian Shaddix. Pride broken and scarf left behind.

 

What were we?

 

"Dorian, wait!"

 

I stepped down the stairs, pushing past Tuara and Krayn.

 

But it was too late. The man that killed me was already gone, kicking up to the surface. I stopped, watching him. I give Cipher a glance before looking to Joske. He was sort of staring at me.

 

My brow furrows in something resembling disgust, "What are you looking at?"

[Snelly]

IC: Skyra

 

My reasons for sticking around were steadily dropping to zero. There was a lot of drama going on, and in the end Dorian was now leaving because of it. He was also the reason I came all the way down here to the bottom of the sea. With him leaving well...I supposed I'd follow him back to the surface...

 

...except that I was maintaining the bubble that was keeping everyone breathing at the bottom of the sea. I grimaced a bit from the strain, my elemental energy was low to say the least, I'd been managing this enormous bubble, keeping the air breathable all the while for a somewhat large group of people for quite a long while now. Then to make matters worse Joske had swooped in and messed with my bubble, cause me to waste the little elemental energy I had left. I was all but tapped out, running on fumes. 

 

I think the sign that we were in trouble became more apparent when my legs gave out and the bubble suddenly got smaller. I managed to stop it from collapsing but it hurt, trembling under the strain. 

 

"Now...I don't mean to rush anyone...but if we could get inside the temple...go to the surface...or whatever the we're gonna do before I pass out and we all drown...that would be ideal...please help..." 

[Palm]

IC: Tuara Drigton

 

Tuara took over and jumped into business mode, "We got what we came for. Or what we could get at least."

 

She stepped forwards away from the temple door, "Let's get to the surface Skyra. We'll sort out this mess when we're topside again."

 

Tuara gave Skyra a quick approving glance, "Good work."

[Friar Tuck]

OOC: Mmmmm... perfect.

 

IC

 

Toa Joske

Location: Kumu Inlets

Prolouge: The Return

 

I had been warned about this. It was happening not one hour since my return.

 

Yet another thing that old man said came to pass.

 

Slowly whatever hope I had that he might have been a tiny bit off his rocker was fading... much like the current oxygen supply apparently.

 

Without word or acknowledgement I stepped past the group and knelt in front of the bubble's edge. Behind me I could hear Skyra's groans as she struggled to maintain this breathable abode and I calmly unclipped my backpack and set it before me. Taking a moment to dig inside I finally found what I was looking for. To those with any knowledge of technology it looked like a type of breathing apparatus, and they would not be that far off. With practiced moves I partially disassembled it, eventually holding what looked like a small black box with a pair of probes sticking out the top. Rising to my feet I turned a knob and pressed it against the bubble wall. Immediately there was a hissing sound, like air escaping a container, while on the outside a jet of bubbles shot out into the darkness.

 

"Skyra, in a few moments you should start feeling better."

 

I didn't know if she heard me, but after a minute or two I got the distinct feeling that she was eying me hard, if not for the simple fact that the bubble - or more specifically her - had not yet collapsed. Well, not exactly a feeling on my part. The edge of the bubble was faintly mirrored so I could see the glare.

 

"Electrolysis," I said flatly, continuing the hold the device against the film-thin edge, my voice sounding like a recorder replying the lesson I had learned in my departure, "is the decomposition of water into it's two main parts, oxygen and hydrogen gas, due to an an electric being passed through the water. This will take a bit, but it will also buy you time... not that we have much time to buy."

 

Mentally I smacked myself, the outward reaction an audible, frustrated sigh as I looked dejectedly at the ground. Ignorance is such bliss...

 

"You're right. I'm not the center of the universe. The Toa Maru are - the ones destined to save and protect the matoran. On a more technical term however the island of Mata-Nui is on the geographical center of the planet, which for us makes it the center of the universe. The Mask of Legend is not at what it seems, Stannis is playing with power reserved for that of the Great Spirits themselves. And when you lost a friend into the Legend it wasn't my choice."

 

I blinked lazily. "Your anger... is justified. I have no defense for what you have all thrown at me, nor rightly should I try to defend any of my actions. The only thing I will say is that I didn't choose this. Stannis forced me into the Legend, and the repercussions from that are what they are - I can't change them, and therefore what affects they have on future events. I am truly sorry you all feel this way, though after hearing your outbursts I should have realized this would have been the case. I... I had been warned such. But I did not listen. Things can never go back to how they were... I cannot unlearn what I have been taught... I cannot forsake this dammed path before me."

 

If they were expecting some emotional outburst or some brilliant audible defense, they got none of it. I continued to hold the device, creating air, finding myself speaking ever so quietly. "Some are born great. Some find greatness. And some are unlucky enough to have greatness thrust upon them, ready or not. I... I have been cursed with knowledge, cursed with the destiny that is tagged along with it. I cannot be the nice guy everyone wants. I... have been forced to take the path less traveled. Takua started it, the makutaspawn; he knew who to pick for that Toa Stone. He knew who I was and what I was going to inherit, and he knew that Stannis was going to end it - end the process that he started. People... people are going to hate me." I could not help it as my voice stuttered and cracked, even now after all this time I still had not come to terms with the revelation of my destiny and what it entailed. "Those who are close to me will turn away, I will be shunned, and if I manage to have one person who calls me their friend when all this is done I will count myself as the luckiest Toa in the world."

 

I took a half-step back, shutting off the device with a soft click. "Not everyone can be the proud heroes in shining armor. That spot's already been taken. I... I get stuck with the trash. There needs to be others... others who will have to do the dirty work. Those willing to be a little tarnished. Those with a heard of solid gold but a stained, blackened body. This is why I gravitated to people like Dorian and Utu... for the first time I'm beginning to understand their world. What it takes to do that. Which is why their comments here ring so exceptionally true."

 

I turned to face Skyra after slinging my pack over my shoulder. "That should buy you twenty minutes or so of time, more than what I used. My apologies for the interruption and lack of tack - that classic Ta-Toa bull-headedness is something I still haven't shaken." I smiled weakly. "Though I guess if I'm going to counter anything, it's what he said about love. Love isn't about being friendly, or nice, or emotional... it's about trust. Patience. And Forgiveness. A heart filled with the right kind of love can take a lot. It can wait. And even when presented with an opportunity, but told it wait, it will. Because Love is strong. It's courageous. It can wait that long and then a little more. Because that what Love does - it gives. A never ending fountain of giving; for true love in inexhaustible. The more you give, the more you have. And if you draw at the true fountainhead, the more water you draw, the more abundant its flow."

 

I gave a small snort. "They say a good love is one that sits you down, gives you a drink of water, and pats you on top of the head. But I say a great love is one that casts you into the wind, sets you ablaze, makes you burn through the skies and ignite the night like a phoenix; the kind that cuts you loose like a wildfire and you can't stop running simply because you keep on burning everything that you touch! I say that's a great love; one that burns and flies, and you run with it! Simply put: love hurts. A lot. But in the end it's worth it. I know I have this, and my own love has this, as well as anyone who is truly a friend with another has this."

 

I hit the remaining crowd it my icy stare, my unnaturally blue eyes adding impact. "There is no true love save in suffering, and in this world we have to choose either love, which is suffering, or happiness. Matoran is the more Matoran - that is, the more divine - the greater the capacity for suffering, or rather, for anguish. This is the true definition of a real hero - suffering. On all counts. If that's the case than I choose to suffer the anguish that is about to before me and in fact all of us here shortly than make potshots at those I am angry at. I am not being proud, or precocious, or even self-centered - that was systematically beaten out of me long ago. I simply choose to do what must be done, for the sake of Mata-Nui, to fix what is actually wrong. Take it as you will. I am fully prepared for whatever backlash you and everyone has prepared for me. In all blunt honesty I'm not here to save the world... "

 

It was this moment that I felt a small weight lift off my shoulders as I admitted this. Small, but at this point all I could ask for was small victories.

 

"... I'm here to rebuild it."

 

With a solid click my pack was secure and I looked up towards the surface, adjusting the sling on the sword accordingly. "Cael, if you're still ready and willing, I'll be back. If not, I understand. The path before me is not easy, and if you wish to bow out now I will hold no grudge. The world is about to change like never before, and those from beyond the sea will shake things up like never before... and if we are to survive I must be ready. Ready to assist the Maru, ready to help the Maru defend all of us." I closed my eyes.

 

"Sometimes destiny can be really dumb."

 

With a powerful leap fueled by years of professional athletics I broke through the bubble, this time being extra-careful to make it as little of a strain on Sykra as possible. My mask glowing before me it would only take seconds to reach the surface.

 

So, Joske, how was your first day back?

 

Well, are we talking of omens of things to come?

 

Hmmmm.

 

...

 

Sucky.

Edited August 31, 2014 by Friar Tuck

[Toatapio Nuva]

IC Hile

(Le-Wahi):

 

"The gukko force can provide you safe quarters and Matoran to guard you", Hile said. "They have done that before."

 

IC Kavala

(Kumu Islets, secret hideout):

 

"At the moment, no", Kavala admitted. "I don't have anything here that we could use. I do have an idea on what might be needed, though. Say, have you heard about the substance called Caesium?"

[25K Now!]

IC: Iegasa

 

"No."

[Toatapio Nuva]

OOC: I assume it exists in this game?

 

IC Kavala

(Kumu Islets, secret hideout):

 

"It's said to explode violently on contact with water", Kavala explained. "Even if we can't find caesium itself, I think we should use something of the sort. After all, water is all around here and our best possible tool to exploit. If we can create bombs and get them in various spots underneath the Rockwall, they should be able to create much damage. The problem would be to get the bombs into the fortress... but I will think of something. What do you say?"

[25K Now!]

OOC: No clue. Ask Nuju.

 

IC: Iegasa

 

Iegasa hmmed. "Where would you obtained such a substance?"

[Toatapio Nuva]

OOC: Alright. Until then we can refer to it vaguely.

 

IC Kavala

(Kumu Islets, secret hideout):

 

"Whether we can find and use caesium or not, we can nevertheless find useful chemicals from Onu-Koro", Kavala said. "I like to think of it as the chemistry capital of Mata Nui. But before we can even form a proper strategy, we need to know more about the fortress. We don't even know how it's built, how strong the wall is, and what the Matoran are using it for. A scouting mission is required. But since they already know me, I doubt they would take my entrance there lightly. You, on the other hand..."

[25K Now!]

IC: Iegasa

 

"It would be nice to visit," said Iegasa, smiling.

[Toatapio Nuva]

IC Kavala

(Kumu Islets, secret hideout):

 

"Excellent", Kavala said, laying a hand on Iegasa's shoulder. "While you explore the place and write down everything, I can comb the ocean floor to find out more about what the marines have been doing and maybe even discover gas pockets or something to utilize."

 

Kavala took a notepad our of the chest, and a tool to write with. "You can use these to record whatever is relevant."

[25K Now!]

IC: Iegasa

 

Iegasa nodded, taking the tools. "I will endeavour to do so."

[Jakura Nuva]

IC Hile

(Le-Wahi):

 

"The gukko force can provide you safe quarters and Matoran to guard you", Hile said. "They have done that before."

 

IC Kavala

(Kumu Islets, secret hideout):

 

"At the moment, no", Kavala admitted. "I don't have anything here that we could use. I do have an idea on what might be needed, though. Say, have you heard about the substance called Caesium?"

 

IC: Kirii

 

Kirii simply shook his head and mumbled to himself hopelessly.

 

 

IC: Jakura

Jakura scratched his chin. "That's strange. Matoran are usually much... braver than that. I think I'll investigate...

[Toatapio Nuva]

IC Kavala

(Kumu Islets, secret hideout):

 

"Meet me at the tip of Le-Wahi when you're done, but do not hurry. I will take my time with my job and you should definitely make sure you learn as much as possible."

 

With that, Kavala entered the water.

 

IC Hile

(Le-Koro):

 

"How? What are you going to do?"

Edited August 29, 2014 by Toatapio Nuva

[sunflower]

IC: Mihlra

 

A woman was sitting at the surface, her magenta gaze directed down toward the glittering expanse visible beneath the clear surface of the water.  Waves silently lapped against the side of the boat, sending away little spirals of current in their wake.  Purple arcs of energy danced across her open palm, jumping from one hand to the next as if it was alive, some sort of strange snake, and waving a basket of light in the air.  Her greatcoat was spread out beside her, drying in the sun.

 

She'd exited the bubble being maintained by her daughter some time before, it really didn't seem like she was needed, and it certainly took some strain off of Skyra.  Besides, she really didn't have the vaguest idea on what was actually going on.  Well, she did, Mihlra wasn't stupid after all, but that didn't help in making any sense of it.

 

Skyra'd have some explaining to do once this was all over.

[25K Now!]

IC: Iegasa

 

Iegasa watched as his companion disappeared.

 

"I suppose," he said bemusedly to himself, "it is time to get to work."

[Toatapio Nuva]

IC Kavala

(Kumu Islets, seabottom):

 

Kavala wondered if Iegasa was up to the task he had been given. The plasma Toa had never had any obligation to join Kavala's cause, so his input could not be taken as granted. Still, scouting around was not an overly bothersome task, and Iegasa paid allegiance to Makuta as Kavala did. Destroying the Rockwall would serve those interests for sure.

 

I'll just have to trust him. It's not like I have any other allies around anyway.

 

Kavala discarded his doubt about Iegasa and concentrated on examining any interesting things he could find from the muddy seabottom.

[Eyru]

IC (Cael)

 

The waters parted easily before Joske, his Kakama-powered ascent quickly gaining speed. Then, suddenly, they didn't. The waters, that is. They stopped parting. And started pushing.

 

As if gripped by an invisible hand, the Toa of Fire slowly decelerated and came to a stop, then began moving backwards. Back in Skyra's bubble, Cael was sweating as she manipulated the sea itself, using every ounce of her strength to pull destiny off course.

 

With a splash, Joske fell back into the bubble, his second entrance hardly as graceful as his first. 

 

"Don't think you're getting off that easily," Cael said calmly, her demeanour at odds with what she'd just done. "I don't know what's wrong, but you're clearly not in a healthy state of mind. Letting you run loose after a speech like that would almost be classified as malpractice.

 

"So, she continued, "You're going to tell me what's going on. You're going to explain how you got back from a one-way trip, why you're acting so strange, and why, suddenly, you're willing to break all connections to everyone who loves you. Who waited for you, even when they thought you were dead. And if I'm not satisfied, the only way you're getting out of here is in a straitjacket."

 

Raising her arms, the Toa of Water used what strength she had left to manipulate the currents around the bubble, taking much of the strain off of Skyra. That would give them some more time, though not much: the healer's elemental energy was already nearly depleted by her stunt, and wouldn't take much more. Hopefully, Joske would start talking before time ran out.

[Razgriz]

IC: Kick those legs, work those lats!

Need more pow-er?

Use the mask!

Sure to the rhythmic chant of the man who once taught him to swim, Cipher's Calix glowed as he activated it, cutting through the water with just a little more impetus than before.

Which was good. He'd had to exhale a few small bubbles to lessen the difference in pressure as soon as he left, else his lungs might explode.

Unfortunate thing was, the surface seemed a long way off.

This could get ugly.
 

Edited August 29, 2014 by Snoop Razz

[Jakura Nuva]

IC Kavala

(Kumu Islets, secret hideout):

 

"Meet me at the tip of Le-Wahi when you're done, but do not hurry. I will take my time with my job and you should definitely make sure you learn as much as possible."

 

With that, Kavala entered the water.

 

IC Hile

(Le-Koro):

 

"How? What are you going to do?"

IC: Jakura

 

"I'm not sure yet - but this seems rather strange, and to be honest I don't have much more to do right now, anyways. I had business on the swamp, anyway. You're welcome to accompany me, if you wish..."

 

Did I seriously just ask him that?

[Toatapio Nuva]

IC Hile

(Le-Koro):

 

"Well, this looks like something significant, and I'm a chronicler. All things significant are my domain."

[Jakura Nuva]

IC: Jakura

 

"Very well," Jakura said, unsure of his decision. "If you take Kirii to the Gukko Force, I'll get us some provisions."

[Toatapio Nuva]

IC Hile

(Le-Koro):

 

"If he truly has a master who would want to kill him, I must advice the gukko force to be on guard in case he shows up", Hile said. "I'll do it."

 

With that he began dragging Juurok towards the gukko force headquarters.

[Friar Tuck]

IC

 

Toa Joske

Location: Kumu Inlets

Prolouge: The Return

 

I stood there, calmly, my mind spinning and calculating. Her demands were justified, but she was asking the impossible. I stood there for a moment, trying to come up with a reasonable answer.

 

What in the world am I doing?

 

[Flaskback]

 

The desk was hard and cold, the room not much better. I gripped the edges of the platform with a death grip, wondering why he had to set it up like some middle-school classroom. But I didn't know which was worse; the setup, or the nonsense he was telling me.

 

"No, I refuse to believe it."

 

"What I said or the what the repercussions will represent?" came the tart retort.

 

"The former. Latter. BOTH!" I pounded my fists angrily against the wood. "You mean to tell me that my path, this 'grand destiny' will put me in collision course to, well, everyone?!"

 

"Most everyone, yes."

 

"And they're going to hate me for it?!"

 

"Because they don't understand."

 

"I don't understand!"

 

The other gave a frustrated sigh, like as if he was teaching a child some basic principle that the child was just not getting. "Because you are the Gatekeeper, as I have said before. Stannis had no idea how true that statement was, let alone what he has unleashed. But I digress. As the Gatekeeper your job isn't to be nice. You're not here to make friends. You hold the keys, know only two things - open or close. Yes or no. Entry or no entry. Up, down, left, right... take whatever idiom you want, that's what you represent. You work in a world of grey yet represent absolutes, and trust me people hate absolutes. Because with absolutes there is no middle ground. either they are correct, or they are not. Either they are right or they are wrong. And as much as you need to show mercy, you con't give in either. You have a job to do-"

 

He paused, no doubt staring at me as I rubbed my temples. This... this was all too much, too fast. From martoan superstar to Toa to opening doors and fighting Makuta's henchmen, only to watch my love die, bring her back, then almost immediately get tossed into Legend-

 

"WAKE UP!"

 

The slap of the ruler across the desk snapped me back to reality, or whatever counted as reality here. "You need to stop thinking so hard."

 

"I can't help it you-"

 

"Me what? You know I technically don't exist and that you can't hurt me even if you tried. I have one purpose here, and that's to prepare you for what is about to happen down there. I exist to help you, just like you exist to help the Maru. That is what the Gatekeeper is, that is what he does. He is the background character, never fighting evil directly. You work in the shadows, in the grey, in the very territory of the enemy, doing things that might seem questionable. Your duties lie behind the scenes, behind the curtain, not in the open. Matoran instinctively distrust that - those are not the qualities of a Toa. It goes against the very code that they are entrusted with, and they know that."

 

I forced myself to be calm, to take it all in the best I could. Leaning forward, I lanced my fingers together, placing all my weight on my elbows. "So what you're saying is, because most of my friends have this instinct, it's the reason I will become distrusted."

 

"One of many, yes."

 

"And because I know things that I can't reveal until certain events occur?"

 

"Another reason."

 

"Because... "

 

"Because Makuta is watching." came the flat reply. "And as Stannis ###### him off. Hard. The noble Toa in a sense cheated, though he doesn't know that. Which is not how true Toa operate. But once cannot condemn on ignorance. So at this point Stannis and his Company have Makuata's complete and utter attention... along with the matoran who so happily rejoiced his apparent defeat. Which means he isn't watching you - not that he could anyway, you're here and away from his prying eyes."

 

"Again, this doesn't make a lot of sense... "

 

The Toa was more patient this time. "How does the Makuta operate?"

 

"Elaborate?"

 

"Does the Makuta operate openly and with frontal assaults?"

 

I opened my mouth to answer, but stopped as the glimmer of light trickled in. "No." I finally replied.

 

"Then how does he normally operate?"

 

"In... in the shadows."

 

"Precisely." he paused for a second, letting it all sink in. "The Makuta rarely fights out in the open, rather operating through the back in in secret. That is where his greatest power resides. It's only when his plans come to fruition, or otherwise forced to, does he show himself fully. Unlike proper Toa, your responsibility resides in this shadowy world - on his very doorstep. Which makes you, in a sense, a greater threat since you are targeting his plans directly."

 

He paused again. "This is my you cannot reveal much once you return, if at all. He won't know you're back, at least not right away. You need to use that time to the best of your ability to get as much done as possible. Once he sees what you are up to, he will not hesitate to throw everything he has at you. The Maru are troublesome, annoying, and a constant distraction as they foil his plans. You, on the other had, are dangerous, because you know the process."

 

"The process." I repeated.

 

"The process of awaking Mata-Nui," He clasped his hands behind his back and paced. "Just because you know doesn't mean you will be the one doing it - that's not you job, not completely. Others will help you, others will do the heavy lifting, but you need to get the ball rolling. You need to start the process. And if the Makuta can take you out early, the Maru won't stand a chance when this all comes to a head. You need to be discrete. You need to be quick. And you need to be prepared."

 

"It's all about the Maru, isn't it?"

 

He stopped, and chuckled. "Yes, they are - the ones destined to save and protect the matoran. The world really revolves around them, as it should. They replaced the Toa Mata and thus have the mantle of responsibility. Though I must admit on a more technical term however the island of Mata-Nui is on the geographical center of the planet, which for us makes it the center of the universe. But that's for another lesson."

 

I leaned back in my chair, exasperated, trying to wrap my head around all this. "So I'm the new Gatekeeper. I need to rebuild what the Makuta has destroyed, which is the only hope to re-awaken Mata-Nui. Which means I need to keep my mouth shut and do whatever it takes to make that happen... even if it seem contrary to mainstream. Because there is far too much at stake, far more than anyone realizes. And because of all this I will lose many friends as gain even more enemies. So I'm to go it alone?"

 

"Oh no, people will follow. Who I don't know, I'm not a fortune teller, but they will come. Not many mind you, but a solid core will emerge. From all walks of life, from all places they will come. Some for the adventure, some for the conviction, and some because they are too naive or stupid to understand what they are signing up for. And you're the ringleader. You'll lead them and with them start the rebuilding process. Doesn't it sound exciting?"

 

I found his sarcasm not amusing. "Why... why does this have to be so painful?" I finally said, slumping in my chair. "I spent so long, so hard, building and creating relationships, ones that were real and shallow like I had before. I even gave it all for one of them. And you're telling me I'll be throwing it all away to do this?"

 

The Toa stared at me for a long moment before slowly walking forward. He grabbed the edges of my desk and with precise movements our masks were eventually mere inches apart. The intensity in his eyes was something else.

 

"Pain? Suffering? Love. I am going to tell you a secret, one that I myself learned the hard way long ago: Love IS suffering. There is no true love save in suffering, and in this world we have to choose either love, which is suffering, or happiness. Matoran is the more Matoran - that is, the more divine - the greater the capacity for suffering, or rather, for anguish. This is the true definition of a real hero - suffering. Some people do all the work while others take the glory. Some must suffer so that others may not. That is YOUR job." He poked a finger in my heartlight. "Be prepared to take the blame, to take the fall. Maru are the sword, but you are the shield... their shield. Which will lead to decisions that you otherwise might not make. But it's not without hope. Trust me, the reward is worth it, even if it takes a lifetime to achieve. Besides, if they truly love you, don't worry about it. yes, they will be angry - very angry, trust me - but when pust comes to shove true love stays strong. Brotherly love, sisterly love, fatherly, the love of a lover. They say a good love is one that sits you down, gives you a drink of water, and pats you on top of the head. But I say a great love is one that casts you into the wind, sets you ablaze, makes you burn through the skies and ignite the night like a phoenix; the kind that cuts you loose like a wildfire and you can't stop running simply because you keep on burning everything that you touch! I say that's a great love; one that burns and flies, and you run with it! THOSE are the kind of people you need to associate with. If your friends truly have this, they will come around. Maybe not at first, maybe not for a long time, but eventually they will. You will simply need to toughen through it."

 

The empty room was silent for a long time. My mouth way dry and I felt clammy, licking my lips as I tried to speak. He broke the silence for me.

 

"So, any more questions before we begin?"

 

"No," I said, regaining my voice at last, "just a statement - if you weren't already dead, I'd probably kill you myself."

 

For the first time I say him grin, and it was one of mild victory. "No you wouldn't; that's not like you. But I know what you mean - and that's good, very good. I think you're finally ready."

 

With that he stepped back in grand fashion as the white room exploded with pictures and graphs, the world coming alive in greater fashion than I ever thought possible.

 

"So, Gatekeeper, are you ready? You training begins now."

 

I saw Cael before me again, looking just as intense as she was before my mind's eye took over. Taking a slow breath I turned my head ever so slightly.

 

"Fair enough. But I need to ask some questions first, questions that will help me gauge just how... " I paused, trying to find the right words, "... how to properly answer them. Is this permissible?"

 

Her glare said one thing, but was overruled by a simple nod. Good enough I guess.

 

"Ok, first question: Have beings from another island come recently, arriving in strange ships?"

 

She peered at me strangely. "There are rumors of creatures called 'Dasaka'. It is said that they met met Grokk, then met Hahli, then inexplicably left. Apparently they look like us but have strange powers never before seen."

 

Ok, so the Menti haven't shown up proper. That's good, but that limits things severely. "Alright, I take it you know of the Vault?"

 

"Yes, under the ruins of Kini-Nui."

 

Okay, good. "Has the Riddle been found?" I was venturing a bit far with this one.

 

"It's common knowledge-"

 

Yes...

 

"As well as the creature that protects it, called the 'Abettor'."

 

Even better... I could feel my pulse quicken slightly. Perhaps, just maybe-

 

"Has anyone figured it out?"

 

"No."

 

Makutaspawn.

 

Thank Mata-Nui I didn't say that out loud, but my crestfallen face must have clearly shown, for I could see it in their masks a streak of suspicion that I knew something. In any case, this would going to be tough.

 

Real tough.

 

With all the courage I could muster while staring down a very angry Cael, I looked her straight in the eye. "Answer to one-way trip? No. Can't tell you that."

 

I could see her stiffen, but she said nothing. "Answer to why I am acting so strange... it's what I mentioned earlier. I have been cursed with knowledge, things that need to be known but cannot yet be revealed. So I guess you could say I have a... unique perspective on current events. And it's perspective that I am forbidden to talk about." I paused, trying real hard not to spill me guts at this point. "Which leads into your third question, why I would be willing to break all connections... "

 

I sighed. "I don't want to. Mata-Nui help me, I want things to go back how they were. I didn't ask for the Toa stone Takua gave me, nor did I ask Stannis to send me away. I wanted to stay here, with you, ALL of you. But the world... the world has changed, though nobody knows it. What I know... what I know is what Takua knew."

 

I relaxed slightly, finally having a comparison to use. "Takua was withdrawn. He didn't have a social life. He acted strangely, and did weird things. We ALL know this. What he didn't know is why. Why would he go to great lengths to be alone? Why would he be so secretive and shady? And how did do what he did and know what he knew? Well... now I know. I've... become the new Takua so to speak."

 

I looked back up to Cael. "He did it because the last person on the island to know things. Great things. Terrible things. Things that the Makuta wanted eradicated. He had no friends, went out in secret because the Master of Shadows was gunning for him personally. Anyone close to him would be targeted too... just look at the Turaga."

 

That seemed to get a reaction from the crowd. "I'm not burning any bridges Cael. I... can't do that. I've been told I must, but I don't want to. On the same token once it becomes known that I'm back, and people start seeing what I am up to... it's going to get ugly. Real quick. The corruption of the Toa Mata, Heuani... love, that was just the start. If I don't finish what Takua and those that were with him started, what Stannis did will only have given us a respite from the Master of Shadows. Time is short and I need to use what little there is left to get as much done as possible before I'm discovered. And once I am I will be dodging and weaving for a long time. I'm not going to allow my friends to be used as bargaining chips or collateral damage... but nor am I going to stop them if they want to go along anyway. The stakes are ten times higher now love and this time you have to choose to follow me blindly. No explanation, no reasons, not until later."

 

I stared at the ground. "That's... that's all. I know it's not much but already I fear I've said too much already. Maybe one day I'll wake up and realize this is just a dream and I'm not crazy, but until then I have to play along. I... I'm sorry."

 

I didn't cry, but my eyes were a little misty. It was killer not to tell someone you confided everything to, but right now that's what needed to happen.

 

It would be a small miracle if they were willing and understood my predicament.

Edited August 31, 2014 by Friar Tuck

[Jakura Nuva]

IC Hile

(Le-Koro):

 

"If he truly has a master who would want to kill him, I must advice the gukko force to be on guard in case he shows up", Hile said. "I'll do it."

 

With that he began dragging Juurok towards the gukko force headquarters.

OOC: From now on, my characters will be presented in first person

 

IC: Jakura

 

I watched the Chronicler drag the struggling Kirii away. What a strange turn of events, I thought to myself.

As I gathered some food from a vendor, I pondered the situation. I had just taken on a new quest, even though I still needed to find Mesonak - two villains to capture, neither can wait. And now, I had to watch over a Matoran - and a Ko-Koroan, at that. They weren't to fond of firespitters, if I remembered well...

After getting the provisions, I walk back to Kirii's stand and take back my launcher and cloak. Both could come in handy, and it was a mistake allowing that little Makutaspawn to have it in the first place.

 

When I finished, I waited for Hile to return.

Edited August 29, 2014 by Jakura Nuva

[Toatapio Nuva]

IC Hile

(Le-Koro, Gukko force headquarters):

 

Hile practically carried Kirii to the large building that served as the headquarters of the Gukko force. There were several offices scattered around the village, but the main building happened to be the closest one. The Le-Matoran guards working there took in Kirii and asked some questions from him and Hile, who explained the situation thoroughly.

[Jakura Nuva]

IC: Kirii

 

I was determined that things would end badly - if there was some way, any way at all that I could sever my ties with the Master, I would - but I can't. Even if I wanted to, the Master can reach all. I considered warning the Force, but decided against. I answered their dumb questions and foolish trivia, and found myself being escorted to my cell.

Edited August 29, 2014 by Jakura Nuva