The Archive Restoration Project, S&T Contest 2 Options

[Mikerahk]

alright, this is my contest entry
you may call it 'TARP'
enjoy

~~~~~~

“The Archive Restoration Project”

Rahaga Bomonga awoke with a start. Over the past several nights he had slept uneasily, nightmares of the Visorak Horde filled his subconscious mind. He didn’t understand this fear; the Horde had been disbanded by the then Vakama Hordika… it hurt Bomonga to say that word… hordika… it reminded him of the days when he had once been a Toa Hagah, the majority of a millennia had transpired since his mutation to a Rahaga at the hands of Roodaka. Bomonga turned over and fell back asleep.

A lone Visorak emerged from the Archives via a breach in the upper level. Something troubled this Oohnorak; there were no longer any webs in this section of Onu-Metru. He delved back into the darkness to deliver this news to his subordinates. The Boggarak wisely responded, “all the webs have decayed, this must also be why there were no webs on the upper levels of the Archives. Besides, with Sidorak and Roodaka’s complete control of this realm they have probably moved onto another land to capture.” This news troubled all of the Visorak deeply, why would the Horde Leaders abandon them so carelessly, this group was handpicked to map out the Archives in their magnitude and to capture and mutate any and all rahi that they found. Only the strongest rahi had survived to this stage, the weaker rahi were all eliminated by Boggarak with the aid of her dehydration spinner. The Suukorak suggested that the squad of Visorak should go to the Coliseum, and with no better options, they did...

When Bomonga awoke, he flew to the Coliseum to consulted Turaga Dume about his nightmares. The Turaga had lived through fierce wars and his knowledge was astounding. The Turaga stated, “You’re worrying too much on the negatives of the Archive Restoration Project; there can’t possibly be any mutated rahi left, and the Horde was disbanded, so all the Visorak have left Metru Nui. Bomonga took the news wearily, he was actually looking forward to a challenge, he hadn’t responded to a Visorak emergency in well over a century.

Even though he was cloaked, Roporak approached the Coliseum cautiously. He wasn’t pleased with what he saw upon entering the gates… a black Rahaga was leaving the Coliseum… and there were no webs in sight. Also, the walls around the Coliseum were also repaired, the Visorak would never let this happen, they needed the broken walls so they would have enough entry and exit points in the area, rather than having to use the six main gates. The simplest explanation was that the Brotherhood of Makuta operative that controlled the city must had used a kanoka disk with the power of regeneration (x7x). But that still didn’t explain the Rahaga, as a former Toa, he would have never willingly joined the Brotherhood… something was wrong… the horde didn’t have control…

Bomonga exited the Coliseum; the exit trip had been significantly easier than it had been in the past thanks to Turaga Dume recently fixing the elevators with his noble Kanohi Kiril, the noble mask of regeneration. Bomonga figured that it would be easier to fly back to the archives rather than to walk; even if he didn’t like flying, time was of the essence. He activated his rhotuka launcher and a pinprick of light appeared above the ground near the gate to Onu-Metru; The light cast a strange shadow on the ground, the shape vaguely resembled a spider… a spider with a rhotuka launcher… a Visorak. Bomonga removed his staff from the proximity of his launcher and calmly said "Roporak, your horde has been disbanded by Vakama, your viceroy has betrayed your king, and you king is dead; you no longer have any business here on Metru Nui."

"Just because the Horde no longer functions on Metru Nui doesn't mean it's disbanded, especially be some rahi that was a pitiful excuse for a Toa," Roporak aggressively replied as he materialized and then screeched a signal...

Turaga Dume was puzzled over Bomonga's dreams, it was impossible for there to be Visorak on Metru Nui, the Horde was disbanded, the Visorak would have returned to their homeland. A load screech filled the air... the impossible has happened before... An outside structure collapsed causing a load crash, a bioquake! No, it was to still calm for that... He looked out the window to see a mutated Kane-Ra bull, and next to it was a Roporak. The Turaga quickly opened his vault and extracted a Ko-Metru level 8 weakening disk (438) and a kanoka launcher; he promptly shot the disk at the Kane-Ra as it started to extend its neck…

The alpha male Kane-Ra was furious. He could remember another time when he had been caught be little four limbed creatures that walked on two legs, he didn’t remember much past that point; however, he did remember feeling the toxins in his body… his mutation. He was now a gigantic red and silver colossus that could take out any obstacle. Roporak ordered him to attack the black four limbed hunchback, he started to extend his neck, but his attack was slowed by a disk that hit him on his neck, he felt himself weakening, he looked up to see a four limbed creature that stood on two legs with a disk launcher in his hands…

Bomonga held his ground as he saw the Kane-Ra bull attack. He knew that even with the bulls increased offensive power that it would be slowed by one of his rhotuka; however, by launching his own rhotuka, the Roporak would quickly return fire with his disruption spinner. As the Kane-Ra started to attack a kanoka flew from above and the attack slowed and the rahi weakened, Bomonga launched his rhotuka to fell the rahi. Bomonga prepared to dodge the counter attack, but none came...

Turaga Dume was glad that he had helped Bomonga remove the Kane-Ra from the battle; however, the bull had gotten in by breaking one of the Coliseum’s walls, Dume began repairing it immediately. “Was that a Visorak that just fled from view?” he thought, “It looked like an Oohnorak, that breed has the power of limited telepathy, making them the ultimate sentry.” Out of the corner of his Kiril he noticed an object approaching him… a rhotuka fired by Roporak. The disruption spinner struck his fleeing hand, as unconsciousness crept upon him he recalled a quote of Norik’s, “Where wisdom and valor fail, all that remains is faith. And it can overcome all.” The Turaga drifted into sleep with the three virtues in mind…

“Unity,” exclaimed Norik as he landed.

“Duty,” cried Iruini has he landed.

“Destiny,” finished Bomonga, “It seems that I will survive this battle after all,” he joked, but his face turned ashen as he inquired, “Where are the others?”

“They are fighting some Visorak at the Ga-Metru entrance. It appears that the Visorak are split into two groups. Our group consists of this Roporak,” Norik said pointing at the brown Visorak, “an Oohnorak and a Suukorak; this group also has what appears to be two rahi of insect origin. The second group consists of a Boggarak, a Keelerak, and a Vohtarak; again, this group also has some rahi, one appears to be of the corresponding Visorak’s origin. It appears that they have been inside the archives, where else would they have found a protocairn?”

“If they were in the Archives, than they have been there since shortly after their arrival on Metru Nui, because they didn’t know of Vakama disbanding the Horde, nor will they believe me when I tell them,” Bomonga stated.

“So Sidorak and Roodaka thought they would quickwin and decided to explore the archives in their evershort reign.” Iruini said in chutespeak as the Kane-Ra collapsed onto the nearby akilini field…

The Roporak was slightly worried now, one Rahaga was easy enough to fight, but three would be a challenge, especially since Oohnorak had just warned him that the other three Rahaga were attacking the second group of Visorak at the Ga-Metru gates. Oohnorak also said he would be there shortly as a massive sphere of solid protodermis hurled through the wall and advanced towards the coliseum; Roporak smiled, “I forgot about our trump card.”

Norik smiled as he and his fellow Rahaga dodged the projectile protodermis and the stray rhotuka. The two advancing Visorak did have insect rahi; Suukorak’s resembled a Frost Beetle and Oohnorak’s resembled a Catapult Scorpion. Knowing that Catapult Scorpions could only launch projectiles once every few minutes, Norik launched a rhotuka first at the Frost Beetle as he stated, “I’ll neutralize the rahi while you two focus on the Visorak.” He launched a rhotuka that hit the Frost Beetle, trapping it in a net of energy, the beetle could still move, but it couldn’t escape the net. Norik then turned his attention to the mutated Catapult Scorpion who was charging another projectile; he quickly launched another rhotuka, trapping the rahi within a net of energy. He bid his brothers farewell and flew up to find the Turaga…

This Catapult Scorpion lived to destroy everything, he wanted to destroy those little creatures at the base of that large building, and he wanted to see that building crumble upon itself. He was charging his projectile as he saw a wheel of energy flying towards him… he froze as he remembered the last time he say a disk fly at him… he was in the Po-Metru Sculpture Fields destroying stone creations that stood on two legs, he saw a group of small 2 legged creatures approach him and launch a barrage of disks at him… for a third time in his life, he felt fear. The disk hit him and a field of energy surrounded him, instinct told him to launch his projectile… that was the last burst of thought this rahi had…

Bomonga was enjoying himself, this battle was the kind of challenge he had been looking for, of course, nothing compared to using his long gone earth elemental powers, but this was good enough. As Norik focused on capturing the rahi, both Bomonga and Iruini focused on the Visorak, Bomonga specifically targeted the Roporak. He launched a barrage of rhotuka only to be counter attacked. Bomonga launched one last rhotuka at the trapped Frost Beetle, paralyzing it, and reluctantly decided that the best attack strategy would be an airborne assault…

Iruini loved nothing more than taking down a few Visorak, Both the Oohnorak and the Suukorak were attacking him, but that was alright, he could quickdodge any attack. He saw noticed that he was the lone ground fighter, as Bomonga had taken to the air as a distraction and Norik had flown to find the Turaga. As Iruini launched spinners at the Visorak, he received a signal from Bomonga and launched a spinner at the paralyzed Frost Beetle and at the surprised Suukorak…

Roporak was feeling much better, only two Rahaga were left in the battle, one of which wasn’t in an attack position. He reckoned that the battle would soon be over. The black Rahaga was advancing towards the Visorak forces, Roporak released a rhotuka that was aimed at the black rahaga, and he was an easy target that contrasted the white Frost Beetle that he hovered in front of…

“NO!” shrieked the enraged Oohnorak as the disruption spinner drained the Frost Beetle of its energy and inversely causing it to collapse upon itself and land on Suukorak…

Suukorak wasn’t only partially crushed; he was unable to even move his legs. Suukorak judged that using his ability of near death state would be of the best effect, because using it would negate the pain and he could eventually launch a sneak attack when the green Rahaga negated its effect. He rendered himself unconscious before he saw and felt the effects of the kanoka disk…

Norik didn’t feel proud of abandoning his brothers in the mist of battle as he went to find the Turaga. He found the Turaga unconscious on the floor with a kanoka launcher in his hands and an open vault of kanoka disks nearby. Norik figured that the Turaga was unconscious because of the effects of Roporak’s disruption spinner, as it was the only object that could have hit the Turaga at this vantage point. Norik reached into the vault and extracted an enlargement disk (557), “enlargement can’t be of much use in this situation,” Norik thought as he heard a Visorak scream out in pain, “then again…” He loaded and launched the disk at the fallen Frost Beetle…

Bomonga felt relieved. The Kane-Ra and Catapult Scorpion were dead, the Frost Beetle could barely support its new mass in its weakened state, and the Suukorak was crushed beneath the massive Frost Beetle; however, he wasn’t happy about the loss of these rahi, he had dedicated his life to their protection, but now that they were fully mutated, not even Keetongu could have healed them, if he was even on Metru Nui any more…

Oohnorak was enraged. As the leader of this band of Visorak he was supposed to keep everything under control. As a result of a faulty strategy, two Visorak, Suukorak and Vohtarak, had been lost. Without Suukorak’s strategic prowess, Oohnorak would have to rely on the current plan, a plan which was failing. Vohtarak was lost because had decided to activate his berserker near-invulnerable armor as he attacked with his mutated Furnace Salamander; however, no armor is impenetrable to a dehydration spinner. Boggarak wasn’t doing much better herself; she was locked inside a net of energy but was fortunately suspended along the water’s surface, as was here rahi. As for the rahi, three had perished, two were rendered useless, leaving only one in fighting condition; fortunately, the mutated Lohrok had ability of power scream, making it a formidable opponent. As each minute wore on, the chances of success dimmed. “If only Sidorak were here to lead us accordingly,” muttered the Visorak; Sidorak never abandoned any type of mission, he would rather die trying. Though, in order for him to die trying, the Hordes must first have been eliminated… “Who would want to eliminate Sidorak, he was the perfect leader, and we are the ultimate army,” the Oohnorak thought as he contemplated over a new strategy.

“Roodaka,” Boggarak muttered, it was always Roodaka that she turned to for help, but Roodaka wasn’t here now to aid this spider. Relying on Roodaka’s teachings, she had used her lethal rhotuka and her devastating matter-transition hum; both have done nothing but develop more trouble, her rhotuka had killed both Vohtarak and his rahi, her hum had disintegrated her Protocairn Hordika and had turned the protodermic water in the canal to stone, trapping her…

Norik was always known as a great leader, he intended to live up to that title during this battle. He selected a level 5 enlargement disk (155), grabbed the kanoka launcher, and jumped out of the window…

Bomonga couldn’t continue flying, he knew that one of the Visorak would eventually hit him with a rhotuka, and if he flew back to regroup with Iruini he would surely be hit. He launched a suicide rhotuka at the Roporak as another rhotuka disrupted his chances of regaining flight, he started to fall and let his destiny embrace him…

Norik landed on the ground with a dull boom. As a Toa, he had worn the Kanohi Pehkui, the great mask of diminishment; it allowed him to shrink to a tenth of his size while retaining all of his original strength. He had always wanted to know what it was like to be a giant, as he launched the kanoka, he knew the opportunity was finally his to grasp. He saw Bomonga’s rhotuka catch the now paralyzed Roporak off guard, one more obstacle was out of the way; however, as he started to grow accustomed to his new mass he saw Bomonga falling, and there was nothing he could do… he had made a second mistake in his career.

Kaulus was elated, the team of Visorak had practically eliminated itself de to Boggarak’s unnatural powers, and the Keelerak with it’s mutated Lohrak were easy to eliminate with a combination of his Boomerang spinner and Pouk’s Bolo spinner. Pouk’s and Gaaki were moving the Lohrak to the Archives so it could be preserved in a stasis field, so Kaulus volunteered to go and help the aid their brothers in the other battle. As Kaulus flew through the air he saw Bomonga get hit by a spinner and start to fall, he quickly landed and launched a lone rhotuka…

Bomonga was never fond of flying, he much preferred to say earthbound. He remembered his joy of discovering that his Great Kanohi wasn’t a Kadin, the mask of flight, or a Miru, the mask of levitation. Flying was more of Iruini’s thing since he was once a Toa of Air, but Roodaka had a sick mind, putting a Toa of Earth in the air was disrespectful. Bomonga’s least favorite part of flying was falling, now more than ever because he was rendered too weak to activate his flight powers, if anything, he wished he had access to a Calix, the great mask of fate, that would save him, but the ability to use Kanohi Masks was lost when he lost his earth elemental powers. As a Rahaga he had learned to trust the three virtues, he also knew that he could always rely on his brothers and his sister; it was their unity that made them strong. As he saw Kaulus’s spinner fly towards him, a smile crept upon his face.

Oohnorak knew he was the last of the Visorak force, all of his ‘brothers’ were unable to fight and the rahi were all captured or dead. He moved over and bit the Roporak, as the toxin entered the spider’s circulatory system he started to gain large grows along his head and abdomen, it was unlikely this Roporak would survive the mutation, the brown Visorak perished as the Oohnorak fled from the battle. Self preservation was the foremost thought on Oohnorak’s mind, as a member of the horde it was his duty to carry out Sidorak’s will, but Sidorak wasn’t here to find out about this traitor. The black and orange Visorak flew to his left, aimed at the fallen Kane-Ra bull, he would have preferred to leave via the Onu-Metru entrance, but there was a gigantic Frost Beetle in the way...

Iruini watched as the Oohnorak tried to escape to the Rahaga’s right. By tracking the air patterns that the Oohnorak was creating, Iruini launched a lone rhotuka…

Oonorak’s species was known for it’s dexterity in battle, they could use themselves as living battering rams, the Visorak used this to his advantage by ramming into the Kane-Ra’s neck which created a shield that defended him from any ground-based attack. He then climbed over the dead mass and leaped… right into a rhotuka…

Iruini knew Visorak well enough to know their crazed strategies, and the Oohnorak played right into his trap. Norik picked up the Visorak and showed him a special headstone…

“Sidorak!” gasped the Oohnorak.

“Yes,” replied Norik in an affirmative tone, “he perished because Roodaka betrayed him and the Horde.”

“I don’t believe you, this is a fake meant to deceive me,” the Oohnorak spitefully said. He felt some kind of presence within his mind, telling him to escape to flee, when he already knew that he was doomed… madness took him…

Norik placed the twitching Oohnorak on the ground as he felt its pulse die away, and soon returned to his normal size. The Turaga rushed outside as Gaaki and Pouks rejoined the group. The Turaga thanked all of them for their efforts, Norik replied, “it was really Bomonga that did most of the work, he sensed the coming of the Visorak and had alerted all of us to come to the Coliseum. We were skeptical, but we heeded his consul.”

“I remember,” Bomonga replied, “that one of my brothers once said ‘Unity, Duty, Destiny; it starts with Unity.’ And it was unity that allowed us to win today.

“Unity, Duty, Destiny!” the group chanted as they clanked fists.

~~~~~~

yeah... that's it
if you can spot any references to sidorak or nuparu you get a tarp