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"You're mad. There's no way we can expect to overwhelm their forces. Especially with that do-gooder, Makuta-wannabe, Toa Tahu around, who always rushes in like the 'hero' he thinks he is every time a loaf of bread is stolen. . . To challenge them would be to court death!" The Queen of the Sisters of the Skrall, sitting on her dark throne, slammed her staff hard on the ground, creating a piercing crack that echoed throughout the chamber. "We've been to war with them before. Surely you've heard of this? Our lands are diminished and lacking in resources... of course we've led campaigns. What I wouldn't give to conquer their nations! But we have not the strength just yet." She fingered the striking red jewel that adorned her staff. "We have already lost many warriors." A stranger stood before her, someone even she did not know. This stranger was cloaked in shadow, with a long robe that covered its entire body. A hood obscured the head and face so completely that even the Queen of the Sisters, with her experience with shadows, could not pierce it with her gaze. The visitor was Toa-sized, and stood in the four-limbed upright stance that so many beings possessed, but they could still be many things, or even something new. The Queen could feel an aura of power resonating from the stranger, and an air of authority resembling her own. The convoy that had escorted the stranger to the Queen's court evinced that the being before her did in fact possess both. Beyond this, one other betraying characteristic stood out, the voice. The stranger was obviously female. Her voice was sharp and clear. Strong, yet glazed with a softness that was a little chilling. The Queen approved and almost envied. The stranger began her reply. "I am aware of your former excursions. I have not come before you merely to encourage another attempt, but to offer the hand of assistance. Besides that, I have already spoken with other groups, such as the Vorox, and the Skakdi, among many others. Groups with as much need for land and resources, and as strong a desire for revenge against the Glatorian and the Toa, as you. Many of them have already pledged their support. Feel free to confirm this through your contacts. What I have come to suggest is that a united front, which as I say others have already pledged to, would be much more likely to succeed." The Queen was amused, and displayed the fact with a bemused half-smile. "You speak of unity among us. Yet you must surely realize full well what the outcome of such a united front would be if it failed. If we were to launch a full-scale invasion, the retribution would be swift and terrible, the vengeance complete. None would escape their retaliation should the campaign fail. We would have but one shot, and failure would mean death for us all. . . Yes, I admit this. Their power and capability is that great. I am not foolish enough to pretend otherwise. They may be far weaker than we in other ways, with their precious "mercy" and "honor", but even they have their limits. An invasion the likes of which you speak would arouse even their carnal feelings. Relations are fraught with tension as it is." The stranger spread her arms wide, then slowly let them fall. The Queen cocked her head as the stranger went on. "What if I told you I could guarantee the end of our biggest obstacle? What if I told you my allies and I possess a weapon even the 'great and mighty' Toa Tahu would be helpless against? Something no other Toa, Glatorian, or warrior of any kind could resist." The Queen was intrigued now, but skeptical. "Is this so? And what of their last-ditch, final-resort weapon of war? What of the one who was sought to end their silly civil war of not too long ago? What of Mata Nui and the Mask of Life?" "Mata Nui hasn't been seen since the war you speak of, and hardly at all since the Great Reformation. We will strike so swiftly and decisively that the Mask will be in our hands before Mata Nui can take any notice. You are surely aware of his lethargic slumber and meditations." "You know the Mask's location?" The Queen frowned. "I shall need confirmation of this before I agree to anything the likes of which you suggest. And what of Tahu?" "Discovering the location of the Mask was not an easy challenge, but we have achieved it. You shall have your confirmation. Now, as for Tahu. . . Allow me to show you our secret weapon. Even Tahu shall be helpless before us." She reached into her cloak and withdrew a round object wrapped in cloth, which she held upright. Allowing the cloth to slide open but to remain as a barrier between her hand and the object, she revealed a glowing green orb. "Naturally you shall require a demonstration of its power first." Several guardsmen stepped forward, as if afraid she planned to use it on the Queen. The Queen herself scowled. The stranger returned it to the cloth and her cloak. "It would be useless against you, your majesty. It only affects Toa." The Queen studied the stranger carefully. She was most certainly quite mad. Wasn't she? And yet. . . She leaned forward in her throne, suddenly hungry to hear more. "I'm listening." * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * The Great Plains stretched out in every direction. He thoughtfully took note of the contrast between it and the desert wasteland it had once been, so, so long ago. Now it glistened as far as the eye could see with luscious grass and other vegetation. In the distance, cities adorned the horizon. In the center of the plain stood a great monument of metal, glistening as the sun's rays were reflected off its silver surface, though it was highly textured with the pits and wear of time. At the very highest tip of this monument he stood, a figure of red and gold, alone but for his reflection on the shining metal on which he stood. His mask, bearing an expression of the utmost intensity and bearing a row of three war lines across each cheek, gazed out over the landscape. In this place, far from civilization, he was free from the trials of everyday. Free to fully grasp the big picture of his life. His name? Toa Tahu. He stood on the peak of what had once been known as Mt. Ihu. What a long, long time since it had been known by that name. . . he was almost surprised he still remembered it. Barren of the former stone that had stretched heavenward, it was now a mountain of metal. Indeed, he stood upon the face of the since-transferred Great Spirit Mata Nui. The nose, to be exact. And what a life I've had, he thought. I've led rebellions, fought wars, guided societies, and walked the footsteps of so many strangers. He grimaced. And yet. . . how much have I, right now, to show for it? A good deal, some would say, more than most. . . but is it enough? He contemplated the state of this world, and that of the past. Once, he and his kind had lived in their own well-structured world, governed by an overarching system of order. All they had to do was fulfill their duties, obey their instructions, and the world took care of itself. Only the rebellious, those who turned against this order, needed be opposed. Granted, these rebels won great victories and greatly complicated the otherwise simple world, but nevertheless it stood in stark contrast to this. . . He had lived in that old world up until it fell apart. Since then his kind had lived in a far more different form of "freedom" than any they had ever known before. Without the Great Spirit to guide us more directly, things changed so much. They had to figure life out for themselves. They had the principles and virtues of their old life to cling to, for which they were very thankful and grateful, but their world no longer had a clear structure of its own. They had to build one. And so they had. They formed kingdoms, nations, they developed governments. But alas, this had led to many a war. Tahu, as the head of the Toa Order, had done his best to lead his brethren in their quest to maintain peace. But oh, the road had been fraught with hardship, and didn't always work out the way they wanted. At least we were used to that part, he thought with a grimace. And now? The world of Spherus Magna was spinning on as it ever had. The nations lived more or less in harmony. The Toa did their jobs well. Alas, their kind were diminishing in number, but then they had help from the Glatorian, among others. Tahu often reminisced fondly the tales of old. Once upon a time his world had been straightforward and clear: Long, long, long ago, many millenia even before the old world had fallen. There had been many lifetimes of struggle with darkness even before the old world fell. But way, way back, there had been peace. Back when the world had been clear and simple, and there was a job for everyone to do good and a world that was also good, and served an immense purpose, and there was little room for darkness.Alas that darkness had ever come to be! The more he thought about it and all the harm it had caused, the angrier he became. Sparks flew from his clenched fists. Finally he settled down. The world was. . . what the world was. If they wanted anything different, they would have to make it that way. If they wanted change, they would have to build it. Unfortunately, not everyone wanted that. There were those groups, oh far too many such groups, who wanted to wrestle power over the world away from those who governed it well. Or well enough, anyway. The darkness, in short, wanted dominion and oppression. He had never understood it and did not believe he ever would. But there it was. The Skrall still lived out in their wastelands, the Skakdi in their old holdings. These among others stood in sharp refusal to convert to any kind of civilization, preferring violence and destruction. They've been acting up lately, he mused. A lot of raids in a short time. Are they planning something? He shrugged off the thought in indifference. As if such plans hadn't been made many thousands of times before in his life by such beings, only to be thwarted in the end. Part of him relished the thought of another war, if only as an excuse to exercise his power and vent some frustration. He would have felt guilty about this desire if he weren't often so frustrated with the world for refusing to shape up. Still, many millenia of war were a hard thing to shake out of beings who lived so long, even out of those who did not. In truth not all the Skakdi and Skrall clung to the old ways, and then there were those of his own kind who turned traitor. More nonsense he didn't understand, and a strange blurring of the lines. Alas, he would have to give the world time. There are so many worlds out there. He remembered from his rare conversations with Mata Nui. How can we expect to get anywhere if we insist on tearing ourselves apart? He wondered if this were true of all worlds, if they all went through these trying periods. Growth pains, perhaps. He smirked at the thought, finding it amusing, in a not completely pleasant sort of way. * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * Distant sounds akin to beckoning thunder drew him from his contemplation. It was faint, but distinguishable. Yelling. And. . . drums? Surely it isn't the sounds of war. That was the last thing he wanted to deal with just then. Once, battle had given him a thrill. He was always quick to lead the charge, with the sense of virtue and charisma that was the hero's standard. But now? After a long life-history of conflict, after experiencing many of the most pivotal moments in a universe's history, and after many millenia of leading a planet's people into the future, including his own, such feelings no longer came as easily. He wanted it to end. He was tired of it. Sick of it. He wanted peace. Peace that would last. But it was peace that was ever eluding him. He strode, slowly but deliberately, to the far eastern edge of the summit. Looking out across Mata Nui's old cheekbone, and farther beyond that, he felt the muscles in his knees weaken. No. Beyond the lay of the Great Spirit machine, the eastern plains were darkened, blackened by swarming bodies. Marching soldiers.And who were they? He saw Skakdi, Skrall, even Vorox, along with many other types of unscrupulous being. He knew there may even be a few turncoat Toa down there, and Mata Nui knows what else. It was a grand army, looking to be a million or more strong. He sighed. He closed his eyes. Come on, Tahu, you've got to work to do. Snap out of it. Indeed, this army looked strong enough to challenge the nations in the west. His people among them, though he owed his allegiance to all the free nations. He took a deep breath. Since the Great Reforming, the Golden Armor had given him great power. Not only was he a master of his innate elemental fire, but in the centuries since he had honed his skills in the use of the powers of the armor, which since being used to destroy Rahkshi Kraata had given him almost all the powers of a Makuta. It was a strange thing, as that same day so long ago of Rahkshi destruction and power gained had seen the end of his greatest enemy, the Makuta Teridax. That armor he now wore. He contemplated for a moment how to approach this. He then did a quick mental check of his powers. There were so many it used to be hard to keep track, though after millenia it came easily. 43 of them, including fire. Then, tipping his toes over the edge of the summit, he began to slide. After a few thousand feet of watching the silvery and pitted surface speed by, he was nearing the bottom of the peak. From there he launched himself into the sky and began to speed ever upwards, at an angle, passing over many more thousands of feet of silver surface. Gravity was his servant. Finally the old shell of Mata Nui slipped to the rear of his view, and he beheld a great swarm of darkness many miles below.He began to descend, at great speed at first, but slowing as he drew within a mile. Many weapons and blasts of energy were now being hurled at him, but his Mask of Shielding combined with his incredible dodging ability protected him from it all. Now close enough to effect his powers, he waved his sword over a group of a thousand soldiers. They were suddenly overcome with great fear, and began to flee. He caused another battalion to become enraged, and they turned on each other in confused conflict. Still another group began to float into the sky, weightless. Another thousand soldiers were scattered by a tornado even as stormclouds gathered around the field; a large number were magnetized into a great heap, while still more were forced to clutch their ears against intense sound waves; some were teleported a mile away, others gripped by thorns and vines; still more weighed down with intense gravity, frozen in stasis, suddenly attacked by hordes of rahi, gripped in a wave of slow motion energy, confused and scattered, or literally fell asleep on the spot. The Golden Armor hadn't had this much exercise in over a century, Tahu mused. He was beginning to feel some of that old thrill. Soon enough this army would be scattered and the free world safe once more. But in the next moment Tahu was reminded of something. See, the trouble with the Mask of Shielding. . . it only protects you from the front. It doesn't protect from an attack on your backside. But a mile in the air, Tahu hadn't been expecting one. Which is why it came as a surprise. He was hit, hard, and whatever it was that struck him was pressing against his back and forcing him toward the ground at terrible speed. In that moment he was thankful for his armor-given powers of invulerability, quick healing, and adaptation, which he instinctively activated. These powers made it impossible for him to be physically harmed, possible for him to heal quickly, and to adapt quickly to a given situation. He wished he'd been using them before, but hadn't thought it necessary. It's also been a while since I've learned something the hard way. . . His mind was racing as he hurtled toward earth. The next thing he realized, which puzzled him, was that the powers he had just activated weren't working. He still hurt more than he should have. He also wasn't as sure of what to do next as he should have been. What was going on? He still couldn't tell what was pressing against his back. It felt like a weapon? Or a boulder. In his confusion and perhaps a little sudden fear he thrust out his sword in order to emit a jetstream of fire to slow his descent. A chill went through his aching spine when he realized it wasn't working. He tried harder as he drew within one hundred feet of the ground. Come on, come on, not interested in dying as a pancake. . . Too late. He hit the ground, hard. He bounced, striking the ground again and again before rolling to a stop. Now he ached everywhere. And whatever it was that had forced him down now landed in the dirt a dozen paces away. He glanced up at the sound. It was a hammer, and an exquisite weapon of elegant design. In the hilt was a glowing, emerald green gemstone. He thought its color and spherical shape seemed familiar, though he couldn't quite place it. The rest of the hammer was a beautifully crafted gray and gold. He dimly realized he was now lying in the middle of the battlefield, and the forces around were slowly recovering from his attacks. He was, however, in the center of a wide empty clearing amidst them. The only sign of anyone near was the sound of footsteps behind him. Groaning in pain and still wondering why he hadn't recovered yet, he pushed himself into a sitting position and turned round. Striding toward him was a small group of Toa-sized figures. Every one of them was shrouded in a cloak so dark he couldn't make out anything more but the weapons they held and a rough sillhouette. Their number was five. One bore both a shield and sword, another a pair of sickles, the next a pair of staves, and the other two, including the leader, no weapon at all. They were striding toward him, and they came to a halt not far off, a couple of them crossing their arms. Tahu slowly experimented with shifting to a standing position, every nerve on edge. He could feel his body beginning to recover its normal functions, and his mind struggled to form a cohesive plan of action. Whoever these beings were, they were giving off an aura of great power. He was wise enough by now to know there are certain beings you can't afford to take lightly, even if you did possess the power of a Makuta and millenia of battle experience. This is especially true when said powers aren't working like they should. These certainly looked to examples of such beings, especially given the way they had knocked him out of the sky and presumably weakened his powers. They stood, silent, watching him. As if waiting for him to make the first move. As an experiment, Tahu put his hands behind his back and attempted to make a small flame with his finger. It worked, and came as easily as it should have. His aches and pains were also healing quickly, and his mind began to race at normal speed again. And yet caution must remain a virtue. "What is it you want?" he demanded, as if he didn't have a pretty good idea. He noticed that the armed forces were forming a broad circle around them, as if gathering to watch a fight. No, that was evidently exactly what they were doing. He presumed the five in front of him were the ones in charge. Ignoring his question, they stood silent and still. Their arrogance somewhat chilled him. It had been a long, long time since anyone had looked down on him as a Muaka looks on helpless prey, and yet these beings seemed to be doing just that. It reminded him of someone he had once known. Actually multiple beings. Not beings he had liked. And in that moment his hot-headed indignance at such treatment flared up in full force. Well, he would just have to treat them the same way he had treated the others, and if worse came to worse, escape and get help. "I said, what is it you want? Speak!" One of them, the tallest, the one besides the leader who held nothing, threw back his head and laughed, a deep resounding laugh, yet the voice was scratched. Tahu could feel his temper flaring. The leader, then, merely raised an arm and pointed at Tahu. He then drew his index finger across his neck. That did it. "Seeking to fell the leader of the Toa Order, are we? You beyonders have greater gall, ambition, and foolishness than I've seen in long time. I will delight in knocking you from your pedestals." Despite his words, the great Toa of Fire still felt a chill. But he knew his duty. It began. Making the first move with full confidence, having momentarily forgotten that his powers had ever failed, Tahu launched himself into the air with a wave of gravity, and launched waves of fear, anger, confusion, and sleep at his assailants. They shrugged it off and retorted with attacks of their own. Tahu felt his own gravity counter-acted by the same force, while beams of ice, earth, and. . . light were hurled at him? Their minds are well trained, shrugging off my attacks like that. . . and what's with the light? A bolt of flame canceled the ice, while plasma melted the earth and, in a reaction both instinctive and ironic, darkness canceled out the light. Instead of struggling against the gravity, he decided to go with it. Reversing course, he slammed, feet first this time, into the ground, sending shockwaves of plasma erupting through it. Bursts of lava jetted from beneath the surface and great pits of magma were opened across the immediate area. The circle of soldiers backed away. A fitting field of valor for a Toa of Fire. Raw battle erupted. Tahu exerted his entire arsenal of powers against his adversaries in every effective way he could think of. But what they lacked in power they made up for in sheer skill. A string of boulders he'd commanded some trees to throw were all shattered by a single expertly thrown shield, which bounced between them. Already one of them was freezing and solidifying pieces of his magma field, while the very plants he sought to control rebelled against him, commanded by an assailant who evidently had control of his own over the vegetation. Tahu was forced to slice a row of thick advancing trees with a great arc of flame. Well trained Makuta-spawn, whoever they are. . . The one he had recognized as the leader, also the one with the power of elemental light, did a twirl through the air and landed on a small island, upon which that hammer still sat. He gripped the handle and hefted it with a flourish before leaping away to avoid a wave of magma. Right then, that's enough of this! Unleashing a powerful wave of stasis energy, Tahu struck home, managing to lock all but one of his assailants in place. The leader was still free. He grimaced in satisfaction at the statue-esque forms. The next instant he was dealt a searing blow to his side. He grunted, unsure of where the attack had come from. He knew he'd missed one, but the leader hadn't been close enough to. . . He glanced up and saw him speeding away in a blur. Great, now he's a Pohatu wannabe, is he? Well let's watch him dance. . . Rising into the air again and dodging incoming attacks, he retorted with those of his own. But even with the help of the power which granted him perfect accuracy, he failed to land a felling blow. Plasma beams, electricity, waves of gravity, tornadoes, firebolt after firebolt, and repeated waves of stasis, all to no avail.He dances well. . . Finally he tried something he found both simple and clever. Quickly and wildly calculating his opponent's next move, he raised a root out of the ground in his path. Come on, come on. . . YES, nailed him! The figure crumpled to the ground, losing grip on the hammer while something else was also loosed from his figure. It rose in the air and then fell at Tahu's feet. A Kakama. They wear masks, or at least this one does. . . In an instant the hammer was reacquired, and Tahu watched as he reached into his cloak, retrieving something Tahu couldn't see, and then lifting to his face. Tahu was no longer feeling chilled, but now he felt a little disturbed. Who are they? More roots locked his enemy's feet in place. Glancing about at the gathered army to make sure they weren't yet advancing, he strode forward. He wanted answers. As he drew close, his opponent waved his hammer toward him. The Mask of Shielding instinctively came on, but no attack actually came. Not from the front. An instant later Tahu slammed back first into the ground, crushed by incredible gravity. His limbs were frozen to the ground in ice so cold it felt hot, his torso in earth so solid it was practically stone, and a vine of thorns wrapped itself about his neck. How are they free! He lashed out in anger, only for this to be replaced with fear when none of his powers answered his call. Not one, not even his mask. Desperately he tried power after power, not one working. His five assailants were gathering around him, catching their breath but not making any noticeable effort to keep him in place, except that the leader was pointing the hammer straight at him. They had him. "What is it. . . you want with me?" he gasped against the intense pull weighing him down. The leader handed the hammer to the being next to him, who kept it aimed at Tahu's chest, and strode forward. He stopped, put his hands on his hips, and looked Tahu over, slowly. Then he pulled back his hood, revealing a shining gold Kanohi Tryna, and laughed. The laugh was shrill and high, and Tahu realized that he was a she. "I've told you what we want. With you out of the way, the free world will soon be ours! It will soon belong to all who know what freedom really is!" She raised her arms, and the army, who had now gathered near, erupted in hoots and shouts. "You. . ." Tahu breathed, the chill returning with great intensity. "I know you. . . thought you were. . . dead." "I'm still alive as they come, dear." She smirked. "It was a clever charade, though, I must say, convincing the world of my death. Well, rather those who knew me, like you." She began to walk in a circle around him, step after step. "I've learned a lot since then, though, believe me." "How have you. . . done this?" He had to keep her talking, praying for rescue. "Beaten you? It wasn't easy, I'll tell you that." She leaned down and ran a finger across his mask. "But oh, so worth it, my dear Tahu." She resumed her walk. "You see the stone embedded in the hammer? Surely you noticed it. Does a certain. . . Toa Destroyer. . . ring a bell in that dusty memory of yours? I'm sure it does." Indeed it did. A being whose power was purely anti-Toa. It had the power to completely nullify a Toa's elemental abilities, mask powers, and even their physical strength. A hundred Toa or so had died before they had been able to stop it. Unfortunately, they had never learned the source of its power. The scraps had flown too far, had been too scattered. "Now then, you notice the crystal embedded in the hammer over there?" The green, glowing orb. Tahu had noticed it alright. "Well, tracking it down had been no easy feat, I assure you. I nearly lost an arm. But my point is, that gemstone was once the beating heart of that noble Toa Destroyer of old. It was the source of his power. And here's the best part, my dear Tahu. As you can see, I've learned how it works, and learned to use it against anyone I wish." Tahu's mind raced. There had to be some way out of this. Something. . . anything. Toa Tahu now felt great fear. Only he did not fear death. No, he feared something far worse. "Tahu, you have no idea how long we've all been waiting for this day. The world, in fact. I'm almost sorry it's already over." She reached into her cloak and withdrew a similar hammer, but somewhat more simple in its design. "Do you like my hammers?" she crooned. "I find that they reflect my own character. Strong, noble, powerful. A striking image, they are." Any feelings of hope Tahu had been feeling were quickly fading. His mind had exhausted itself of options. He saw little possibility that anyone would come to his rescue. He had told no one where he'd gone. Time to accept defeat. But not without a final word. "You'll never. . . win. In the end, such as you will always. . . lose. In more ways than you. . . may ever know." She was regarding him with amusement. He knew that look. But he also knew the truth of his own words. He had never expected to live forever, and he wondered if he was about to die. I wonder what it's like. One final idea hit him. He tried going nova. What to lose? But even that didn't work. And he knew there was no reasoning with beings like her. The best he might do is distract her, buy time. But his mind was so sluggish from lack of oxygen, he couldn't think of much to say. "Well Tahu, you're about to discover a new world. . . or nothing. I don't know. I just know you'll be out of my way." She thrust the hammer at him. He didn't even flinch. But she paused. "Actually, it would be a shame to destroy such a trophy. . ." She reached down and peeled the Hau from his face. "Farewell, Tahu." She leveled her hammer. He opened his mouth to speak, but it was too late. And then the last thing Toa Tahu, great hero and leader of the Toa Order, knew before his passing, was light.His final thoughts were these: What will the world do without me? * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * And so the tale of Toa Tahu came to end. Or perhaps the next chapter began. He finally found the peace he sought, although in the final moments he wished it otherwise, for sake of his people.
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Sida sighed. Today was the first day of her new training. She’d been relocated to Matero, a decision that was out of her hands. She wasn’t thrilled about being the rookie. It was never a role that suited her, and quite frankly she wanted to get training day over with. Having moved to a new city wasn’t helping. Sida had never lived in an industrial part of the world before. Everything was changing around her; everything was new. Familiarity was something thrown to the wind now, and the art of second-guessing and relearning was bound to follow. Another sigh escaped Sida’s lips. She had been sitting in a blank room for what felt like hours. Her left arm was pulled across her chest while she strummed her fingers on the table in front of her with her right hand. Her eyes were preoccupied with her left. There wasn’t anything terribly interesting about a blank wall, but then again she wasn’t hoping for anything interesting. Being alone with her thoughts normally suited her fine, however today Sida wanted time to pass. That was the only thing that made five minutes feel like a year. Finally the door Sida had been facing opened. “So, you’re our new transfer. Sida, right? The Toa of the green?” The voice was slightly coy. Sida turned her head away from the wall and met two newcomers. Both were tall figures clad in armor. The one that had spoken was no doubt in front; a Toa in orange and white with a cool smile on his face. Behind him stood a figure in blue and gold. She was smiling. “Welcome to HQ. It’s nice to finally meet our new brother. My name is Miln.” This time the Toa in back had spoken. “My name’s Tanu. I apologize for being blunt.” Tanu’s voice wasn’t any less smooth despite his apologetic speech. “Hrmph. Charmed.” Sida refused to move from her seat. “Wait… You’re female?” Tanu had hardly finished speaking when he was knocked off balance. Sida had, in one motion, stood and unleashed several vines which wrapped around Tanu’s torso with a firm grasp, knocking the table over in the process. Miln had tightened her stance in response, ready for battle. “Got a problem with that?” Sida’s voice was a low growl. “Heh. You’re pretty fast. We could use more Toa like you.” Tanu slowly placed a hand on Sida’s vine and they vaporized in what appeared to be liquid fire. “You’ll forgive our curiosity, Sida.” Miln had stepped between the two. “We will not demand an explanation should you not wish to provide one.” “Good.” Sida retracted her vines and loosened her stance. She was still standing boldly with her arms crossed. Miln and Tanu shared a look for a brief moment before one of them spoke. “Well, Sida, barring any further arguments, we should get you started. We could use all the help we can get with our latest case. I’ll meet you two there.” Tanu casually walked through the door and turned to the left before vanishing from Sida’s vision. “Sida, a moment, please?” Miln waved her hand and the table Sida had knocked over placed itself back up right. Two chairs moved to opposite ends of table, and Miln gestured for Sida to sit. Reluctantly, Sida took a seat and Miln sat across from her. “Pardon my asking this, but are you having any problems with being relocated here?” “So what if I am?” Sida stared, her eyes unrelenting, into Miln’s Hau. “Sida, while you’re here, we need you focused. Underlying emotions can be dangerous if unchecked, especially in our line of work. I understand we just met, but if you have any problems please feel free to talk to me.” “Why wouldn’t you just read my mind? It would save us these unnecessary questions.” Sida’s glare didn’t waver. Miln, however, seemed to shrug it off by shaking her head. “I assure you, I only tap into the consciousness of others in a state of crisis. Abuse of such a power is unethical.” “And when I had Tanu, that wasn’t a state of crisis?” “No.” Miln’s voice was bold, and her face solemn. “If you wanted to harm our organization, you chose an inopportune time. Your demeanor showed signs of clear aggravation, likely at what Tanu had said. While you did assault him, you merely bound him and left no physical damage. At best that’s a petty disagreement between Toa.” “… I see.” “If you’re interested, I could help you with your emotional state.” “How so?” “I can use psionic energy to tap into your emotional state, with your consent, of course. It won’t alter your thoughts or memories, but it will basically help you feel relaxed.” “I’m not following.” “Alright then,” Miln reached behind her and produced two golden discs around half the size of her hand. She proceeded to twirl one of them in her right hand. It spun around smoothly, forming the illusion of a sphere. “Imagine this is a balanced emotional state. This, however," Miln said, the second disk sputtering around wildly in her left hand, "is an emotionally unbalanced state. Sometimes we get angry or sad or what-have-you, and our emotions sometimes cause our actions to be biased. What I can do is alter this emotional state to an equilibrium to help remove bias caused by lingering emotion.” The disk in Miln’s right hand began slowly spiraling around the one on her left. Slowly but surely it wobbled less spastically and eventually matched the smooth rotation of its twin. It was like watching a dance. “Interesting. I’m afraid I’ll pass.” Sida never broke eye contact with Miln. “… Very well, it’s your decision.” Miln stopped the disks and put them away. “We should meet Tanu. He should be waiting for us at the morgue.” Miln stood and pushed her chair in. “A murder?” Sida followed her lead. “… We’re not sure.” Sida and Miln walked out of the room. A few turns, a walk up a staircase and two halls later, they reached the morgue. Miln hadn’t briefed her on the case so much as point out the facilities as they were passed. A lab for examining evidence, a sparring room for testing weapons and hand-to-hand combat, a robotics lab for creating and repairing robotic law enforcement, etc. Sida reflected on the last one. She’d heard stories about creatures named Vahki from the big city. As she recalled, that story didn’t end well. She asked, briefly, but was assured that they were “more state-of-the-art,” and that “measures were being taken to ensure they won’t be corrupted.” “There they are; my two favorite co-workers!” Tanu seemed to perk up as they entered the room. He was talking with a creature that was tall and lean. Its legs and arms were long, but its torso seemed more compact. Sida hadn’t met anyone quite like this before, however it was clear to her that the creature was completely mechanical. “It’s a bit early to act like old friends.” Sida sneered. “It’s also a bit early to act like bitter rivals.” Tanu chimed. “Sida,” Miln interjected, “this is one of our robotic officers. Here at HQ we have twenty two units total. Each is connected to one central computer system. Basically, they have access to information on any case in our records. They can even access information instantly on units currently on patrol; their position, status, and the current state of certain areas of this sector in the city.” Sida looked at the robot in front of her. It stared back, as if awaiting orders. “Only this sector?” “They’re prototypes.” Tanu wrapped his arm around the robot’s shoulders. “A Toa engineer came up with their design, and so far they’ve proven very effective. I’ve named this one Che.” “They are very easy to interact with. Why don’t you try it out? Ask about case 8-5-3-5.” Miln gestured towards Che. “… Che…” Sida glared at Tanu briefly. “Please tell me about case 8-5-3-5.” “Accessing case 8-5-3-5… Complete. What would you like to know?” The mechanical Che did not express much emotion in its speaking. Its voice was low. “Erm…” Sida wasn’t sure how to continue. “Che, please provide an overview of the case.” Tanu demonstrated. His voice seemed to tighten while he gave the command. “Overview: Two days ago a body was discovered in Southern Matero. The deceased is an Agori of unknown element. No visible injuries were found on the body; however a strange mask is covering the head completely. The cause of death is uncertain; however it is thought to be asphyxiation. There is no record of any witnesses to the death of the deceased. The body was discovered abandoned in an alley by Patrol Unit 019.” Everything was stated plainly. “The victim is here. We’ve taken to calling him Urnu.” Miln pulled on a bar sticking out of the wall, and revealed a bed with a body covered in a white sheet. Tanu pulled the sheet back down to the body’s mid-torso. Sida looked at the mask. She had never seen anything quite like it before. It was green and ugly, with large fangs sticking upwards from its mouth and a glare set in stone. Sure enough, the mask surrounded the head completely, and there were no visible signs that it could be removed. “Our friends in the lab have tried many techniques to remove this thing.” Tanu’s voice was low. “Nothing has worked so far.” “The lab sent us the mask in hopes that we might be able to find something they overlooked.” Miln stepped in front of Tanu and gestured for the two of them to step back. “I’m going to try to see if I can find something within the mask’s interior.” She closed her eyes and concentrated. A few moments passed when Miln let out a gasp and stumbled to the floor. “What’s wrong?” Sida managed to catch Miln before she hit the floor. “Miln? Miln, are you alright?” As if responding to Tanu’s words, Miln opened her eyes and shook her head quickly as she woke. “I’m sorry, I’m not sure what happened.” It was around this time that all three Toa looked up to the bed. Urnu was sitting up. A piercing scream filled the room, and Urnu jumped and ran for the door. Che was the first to give pursuit, running forward with impressive speed. Sida pushed Miln towards Tanu, who instinctively supported her and helped her stand. Sida ran after the two, not far behind. Che caught up to him and attempted to grab hold when Urnu turned and nimbly slipped passed his reach. Sida slid under Che, jumped back to her feet and continued her pursuit. The Agori was ten feet away, and the distance between them shortened. Sida saw how it moved; ducking and weaving around more oncoming robots, probably reacting to what Che had seen in the morgue. Sida quickly gave chase, ducking and weaving like the Agori. It was just like passing through the jungle back home. The chase continued for some time, until eventually her target made it outside HQ. Finally Sida had a clear shot. Five vines surrounded the Agori’s body and wrapped around tight. It was then that the vines dropped to the ground and Sida let out a scream. She stumbled forward, but managed to prevent herself from falling. Frustrated, she tried creating sturdy tree branches to entrap the masked fiend. The branches only managed to grow around a foot off the ground before their growth was halted. The last thing Sida recalled was a shrill screech before she lost consciousness. *** Sida woke in aggravation. “Well, look who finally came to.” Tanu was not helping. He was sitting a chair to the left of the bed she was in. He appeared to be fiddling with a glowing slab of stone. There wasn’t anyone else in the room, though there appeared to be six beds total. “What happened to the Agori?” Sida’s voice was groggy as she slowly sat up. “… Dead.” Sida’s mind froze for a moment. Dubiously, she turned to look at Tanu, who proceeded to stand and walk up to her side. “Here, you should see for yourself.” Tanu placed the flat, rectangular slab in front of Sida. It was displaying a video of her pursuit from earlier. Eventually at one point, she fell to the floor. The events following that were perplexing. The mask on Urnu opened and seemed to regress to the size of a normal kanohi. The mask fell to the ground and the Agori with it. Both lay unmoving as half a dozen robots moved in and surrounded the area. Tanu stopped the video. “What we appear to be dealing with,” Tanu explained, “is a strange case. We don’t know exactly what that mask is or where it came from. Our lab currently has it in custody, trying further experiments to find out what exactly it is and how it works. Between what happened with you and Miln, the popular theory is that it fed off of elemental energy. Of course that’s just a guess at this point.” “…Why did I faint?” “… We’re guessing that thing set loose some sort of signal. Our robotic officers’ recordings managed to pick up some strange background noise right as you fell to the ground. It didn’t do much to our metal friends, but it sure took its toll on the three of us.” “You mean you and Miln?” “We’re both fine. We were still inside the building when it happened, so we were only out for around ten minutes. In your case, the effects lasted around an hour.” Tanu and Sida appeared to be staring at the same wall. “I should be thanking you. You were fast enough to catch that thing before it reached the rest of the city.” Sida got out of the bed and started heading for the door. “Thank me some other time. This is far from over.” Sida sighed. Life in the city of Matero was already proving far more tedious than she had anticipated. --------------------------- This short story is a part of a collaboration I'm in with a couple of dweebs. These series of short stories we are currently releasing are a warm-up for our upcoming epic, Volition. These short stories are done independently and are to be considered "semi-canon" for our epic. ~Trivia~ The name Urnu is a shortened form of Ur-nohi. BZP member Tolkien has been working on the Matoran language and after I asked, he posed the words "Ur-nohi" or "Urnu" to mean "faceless" Sida's name is pronounced [see-dah] however Miln and Tanu have been mispronouncing it as [side-ah]. Sida feels correcting them would be a waste of time and finds such matters trivial. I chose the number 8535 for the case file because it is Toa Lewa Mata's set number. Sida's character started from a simple MOC I did.
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Gali walked with her arms spread to either side, caressing each branch and leaf and frond with her fingertips. Kopaka followed behind her, keeping his arms to himself and holding his sword close. "I can think of nothing I ever had to do as a Toa," said Gali, "that was more difficult to do than unleashing the Bohrok on our island." "It wasn't for us to choose." Gali stopped and Kopaka tensed. He relaxed as Gali kneeled and reached out slowly to a small beast, some kind of winged rodent. Kopaka stepped around her and took the lead. "Now Mata Nui is beautiful and alive once more," said Gali, standing up, and the creature scurried away. She hastened after Kopaka. "We left Mata Nui a long time ago." "And now we have come home, brother. " "It's changed too much." Kopaka shook his head. "This isn't our home." The Toa emerged from the trees onto a promontory overlooking a deep valley. The land fell away steeply and far, until the ground below faded in clouds of mist. Vegetation sprang up out of the sand blown in by the years. Trees and brush and grass turned the ground green and billowed with the wind. But at intervals, where the sand and verdure became sparse, a glimpse of a sheet of rusted metal revealed the true nature of this strange land hidden beneath its lush facade. Gali watched a flock of Taku nestled together in a high tree far below. Kopaka focused his telescopic eye on a Burnak devouring an unsuspecting Jungle Fox. He looked away. "This used to be Naho Bay," Gali said. "The falls were probably there"--she pointed--"and the village would have been there"--she pointed. "In the gardens below, the sea was full, and alive--there were Ruki and Takea and seaweed and coral and underwater caves. My people lived here and swam here for thousands of years. I lived here less than one. And still I call it home, Kopaka. My first memories were walking these beaches and swimming these waters." She spread out her hands. "This is where it all began. Our battle started here. We fought the Makuta here for the first time, before we knew he had a name, before we knew there were Toa who came before us. We saved the Rahi from his control and faced him, and we thought we destroyed him." "We thought that many times." Gali sighed. "And every time, we were wrong." Kopaka shrugged. "The battle didn't start here. It started in Metru Nui long before us. Maybe before that." "That was a different battle. One that the Toa and Mata Nui lost. The Makuta won for a time. This island is where our battle began. Together, we won it. The shadows we all fought for so long died here, in these eyes." She peered down into the valley. "We won this battle. . . ." "The question is," said Kopaka, "was it the last? Was it the end of the shadows?" Gali looked at him over her shoulder. "No," she said. They looked at each other a moment longer. Kopaka turned to follow the rim of the valley. "Come. Let's finish our mission." "Yes, of course. . . ." * * * The Great Coliseum lay in ruin. Three spires were fallen in different directions. The fourth had vanished into scattered rubble. The stands and walls were collapsed, in some places crumbled to powder. In the Coliseum's place, a jagged mountain of rock loomed into the sky, towering above the Great City. It was a souvenir left by the moon that had killed the Makuta who had once been guardian over the island. "We killed an evil-bad Makuta with an ever-big rock, and all we got was a smaller ever-big rock that's pointier and ever-ugly?" Onua clapped dust off his hands and smiled at Lewa, who was standing nearby on a pile of debris and frowning up at the grim steeple. Somehow, Lewa always focused on the worst side of things, and made it into something comical. "We won a lot more than that, brother," Onua said. "Oh, that's right, how could I quick-forget!" Lewa gave his Kanohi an overdramatized slap. "We won the big happy-prize! We get to here-stay with a bunch of wild-mad Rahi-people!" Onua frowned. He understood his brother's feelings. Migrating from Mata Nui to Metru Nui with the Matoran had been one thing. Onua remembered it as a time of stress and confusion. Their unity had seen them through then, but a sense of destiny, a feeling that they were returning home, had made it easier. Leaving the Matoran Universe and everything they had ever known behind them, to live in a strange land none of them had ever even dreamed could exist, was much, much harder. Five years had passed since the Falling, and they were still struggling to cope. "It is nice to be back in Metru Nui again," he admitted aloud. "True-said, brother." "Give me a hand with this protoblock, would you?" Onua grunted. "It's 'ever-heavy.'" "I thought you were the power-strong one," Lewa gibed. Lewa flew to his side and together they heaved the brick into the airship. They went about their work in silence for a while, collecting any undamaged materials they could salvage from fallen buildings. They had already rummaged through the ruins of Le-Metru, Ko-Metru, and Onu-Metru, and now they were scouring Po-Metru. When they had successfully loaded a life-size stone carving of a Kikanalo on the airship, Lewa swept his brow with his hand and said, "I'm beat-tired! Are we done in this dry-bald wasteland yet?" "Not yet. We should check the protodermis warehouses first." "Then can we quick-take a rest-break? We've been hard-working all day!" Onua agreed to this. He lay down on a bed of rubble while Lewa perched on a broken Gukko statue beside him. Onua looked up at the sky, where whatever artificial light had given them their sun had died into a flickering, dusk-like glow. That made it difficult to see what they were doing without Ruru, but on the bright side, it meant they didn't have to work in the heat of beating daylight. "Hard to believe this trash heap used to be our home," he sighed. "And now we live in a mystery-land of know-nothingness," said Lewa. "We'll get used to it." "In the old-age, when we were out brave-fighting and getting in ever-trouble, no matter the dark-luck, I could dream-think of the stories we used to tell in Le-Koro, like the 'Far-Wanderer.'" "Is this anything like the one about the three Matoran and the Manas and the--" Lewa whistled and laughed and shook his head. "No, brother, not a chuckle-good humor-tale! The Far-Wanderer was a tree-brother who vast-explored far-away lands. He got into risk-hazards and had many heart-thrilling adventures, but he always home-came to Le-Koro at the story-end." Lewa's eyes became hazy and distant. "And I used to dream-think . . . wherever I far-wandered, whatever the trouble-bad, as long as I could home-come to Le-Koro, everything was happy-fine." He rocked back and forth and smiled. "I had to home-come to Le-Koro. I couldn't fall-die, because I had to home-come to Le-Koro. No matter what, I just couldn't fall-die." He closed his eyes and frowned. "Now Le-Koro is ever-gone . . . there's no heart-home to home-come to, not anywhere." "I miss the island, too," said Onua. "But it's the people that matter, and we'll always have them to go home to, won't we?" "Well true-said." Onua sat up and leaned on the Gukko statue, tilting his head back to look at Lewa. "We've been through a lot together, brother. You and me, the team, our people. We've been through dark times. That's over now. I don't know where we're going now, but it's like Turaga Whenua used to tell me. The future is like a tunnel--you may not be able to see far ahead of you, but as long as you keep going, you will end up in a better place." Onua put his hand on Lewa's shoulder. "As long as we stay together, we can handle anything Spherus Magna throws at us." Lewa's gaze raked over the desolation of Po-Metru. Onua looked over his shoulder and frowned at it. "Quick-come, then," said Lewa, leaping up with a resolute smile on his mask. "Let's get back to hard-work." * * * Tahu stood with Turaga Vakama inside the gates of the Coliseum, at the foot of the towering moonrock. "This is where the Makuta cast Mata Nui into slumber," said Tahu. "This is where you and the other Turaga defeated him, and where you defeated Sidorak and Roodaka and the Visorak horde. This is where you saved the Vahi. The scene of all our greatest victories, destroyed." "Destroyed for our greatest victory yet, lest you forget," said Vakama. "The Great Spirit did what he had to do to save Spherus Magna. Perhaps it was the right time for what we knew as our world to come to its end." "So we could live in a world where we do not belong? A world unprepared for our coming? So we could share the homes of a people who do not want us here?" "You are their hero, Toa Tahu," said Vakama. "They will not soon forget that." "It's a lot to ask of them, even if I did help save their lives." "It is a big change for them," Vakama agreed. "It is a big change for us all. None of us chose this path, but we must all cope with it now." "But we were never meant to live there, Turaga. The very Great Beings who created us wanted to keep us out if it. They tried to destroy us." "And yet the Great Spirit, whom they created to reunite the world, their broken world, was the one who saved Spherus Magna. He saved it for the people who lived there, as well as his own. I do not know about you, Toa, but I have more faith in a hero like that, and the destiny he gave us, than in any creator, no matter how powerful they are nor how knowing they claim to be." They moved on, strolling in circles around the broken field of the Coliseum. "We've never dealt with anything like this," said Tahu. "We have always had some darkness to defeat, some enemy to stop, but this is so different from anything we have ever had to do." "You are more than the leader of a team now, Toa Tahu. You and your brothers are the leaders of a new world in its infancy." "There have been many times when we could hardly keep ourselves together. The people of our old universe couldn't even get along. How can we keep two universes united?" "I do not know all the answers to your questions." Vakama sighed, pulling thoughtfully at the chin of his mask. "Destiny has changed. Once we looked to the Great Spirit to guide us. Now he is more difficult to see. Our world has become more complicated." He turned to Tahu and twitched a finger. "Come here." Tahu kneeled beside the Turaga. "Yes?" "Look back on all the times when you have come to me in the past, Toa, when your mind was troubled with doubts for the things that had to be done. Think how hopeless things seemed then. Every time you faced one challenge, a newer, and harder one would take its place. That is the way of things, it seems. But listen to me. Destiny has always been ours to carve. It is our choices, and the things we do, that decide it, nothing else." He shrugged. "None of us expected what has happened, and yet I believe as time passes we will find we were better prepared to face the future than we realized. The Great Spirit is still with us. Times have changed and they will change again, but the heart of our people will not. You will see, Toa. We will have a say yet in what comes next." Vakama nodded his head once, twice, thrice, and turned and hobbled on again. Tahu followed. * * * So while everyone else is off gathering building materials and studying geology and taking nostalgic strolls down memory lane, I'm running back and forth across an endless desert, thought Pohatu. Scenery that all looked the same whizzed past in blurs that all looked the same as he sped across the desert at full speed. He was returning from the newly founded city of Matero with his precious package strapped securely to his back In a deep, gravelly voice that didn't sound nearly as much like Vakama as Pohatu liked to think it did, he said, "You are the fastest and the most gullible. You are the obvious choice to do this most biggest, most important, most boring task that nobody else wants to do." He imitated Tahu next. "You know it's not safe in Matero. There have been too many attempts to steal it already, and even though we kicked each sorry rear that tried it, we must go to the exaggerated and unnecessary lengths of burying one of the most powerful artifacts in all the universe someplace where we'll never be able to get at it again." Pohatu's voice rose shrilly. "We must all do our part, brother, because I'm the goody-goody conscience of the team, something about unity and duty and destiny, something weepy and dramatic about hope!" Gali was the worst of his imitations. He made his voice airy. "Go-run wind-fly-quick with-having ever-speed, good-great-noble Toa-hero-warrior-guy!" He made his voice stiff. "Get your rear to Matero before I freeze you where you stand with my icy eyes because I'm so cool I'm frigid." He made his voice very deep. "Ummm, what're we talkin' about?" Pohatu's hearty laughter echoed behind him into the desert. * * * The months crawled by, until at last, the new Kini-Nui was finished. Gali and Kopaka had scouted out the location of the original Kini-Nui, above the entrance to Mangaia, beneath which still lay the abandoned Maze of Shadows and the tunnels that descended to Metru Nui. Lewa and Onua had been able to salvage a wide variety of materials, not only allowing them to rebuild the temple itself exactly as they remembered it, but also leaving plenty left over to work with in the engineering of defenses. By design, it resembled the 777 Steps of Voya-Nui. Chamber after tunnel after tunnel after chamber, armed with traps and tests and puzzled to impede thieves, descended into the Maze of Shadows, where any thief who had somehow made it this far still had to face the almost impossible challenge of navigating the maze to its heart, where one final security measure protected the innermost vault. All entrances from below had been collapsed or blocked or otherwise closed at regular intervals, leaving the Kini-Nui as the only possible point of access. Now, the package had been placed within and the traps had been set, and the Kini-Nui was waiting to be sealed. All that wanted now was the arrival of the volunteer who would dwell in Mangaia as the guardian of the universe's most prized artifact. Since before construction had started, finding this volunteer had been Takanuva's task. The six Toa Nuva, together with the six Turaga, waited atop the temple. "You didn't forget to activate the chutes in the third chamber?" Tahu checked. "True-certain, sir Toa-Leader," said Lewa. "And the furnace in the fourth chamber is ready?" "Check," said Onua. "And the--" "Calm yourself, brother," Gali interrupting, chortling. "Nothing has been forgotten. Every smallest detail has been carefully prepared. We are ready." Vakama hobbled between the two Toa. "You have all worked long and hard for this moment, and naturally, we are all nervous," said Vakama. "But there is nothing left to be done now other than the sealing of the temple, and for that, we have only Toa Takanuva to wait for." "And until then," said Nokama, "we have nothing to worry about. No precaution has been spared, and until the temple is sealed, we have the six of you here to guard its entrance. The Mask of Life will be safe now for all time." There was a moment of silence to appreciate those words. Inevitably, it was Lewa who broke it. "So deep-safe," Lewa added, "that even if the Makuta were to back-return from the old-bone, not even he could take-snatch it!" Pohatu groaned. "Please, brother, don't even joke. The Makuta has returned from the dead enough times." A moment later, Lewa cried, "Wind-flying sky-ship! Our brother is here-come!" Cheers erupted on the Kini-Nui, and whooping and shouting Lewa took to the air. He flew up to meet the approaching airship and flitted around it in playful circles. Moments later, before the airship had even come close to the ground, Lewa returned to the temple and landed beside his brothers wide-eyed and silent. "I--I quick-took a look-see in a window," Lewa stuttered, and in spite of further questions he said nothing more. But as they waited in suspense for the airship to land, a smile grew on Lewa's mask. Takanuva came first. He was greeted warmly and patiently, but he could sense the tense anticipation of his brothers and sister and elders. With a strange grin, he announced, "Well, you asked for a volunteer, and I've brought him. He's an old friend from my dimensional travels." He turned to the airship and called, "Come out, brother!" A tall, brawny figure clad in radiant white stepped out of the airship. Most of the Toa and Turaga stared in silent shock, or gasped out loud. Pohatu cursed, and Lewa nearly broke his mask laughing. "Friends," said Takanuva, "welcome the new guardian of the Mask of Life--Makuta Teridax." END * * * * * Unless you've skipped here to the end (in which case I refer you to the beginning of the story where you belong), you have just finished the first in a new series of short stories collectively entitled "The Tales of Matero," a series I am co-writing with two of the most horrible people on BZP (AKA two decent buds who can actually write kinda goodly). The purpose of these short stories is to usher in an epic we are currently working on getting written. Keep reading for another paragraph and I'll tell you a little bit about it. Almost there. Just a little further. The story is set some 100,000 years after the Fall, that is, the F.A.L.L., the "Foiling of the Antagonist via Lame Lunar-rock" (love you anyway, Greg). Mata-Nui has been gone for millennia, and even the Great Beings are gone, and the world has changed. In the city of Matero (Mat[a] + [At]ero, not to be confused with that beloved guy who died) a new hero will rise, and some stuff will happen, and people will do things, and there will be some ties to earth-shaking attempts at world conquest, and some memorable characters will make appearances and there will be drama and feels and lots of exciting literary devices and suchlike to engage your interest. So if you like stories and epics and drama and emotions and characters and awesomeness and all things BIONICLE, you may or may not enjoy our epic (we'll let you be the judge of that). And you may or may not want to keep an eye out for it (you can judge that, too), which may or may not be coming soon (unfortunately we reserve the right to be judges of that). tl;dr - You just read a 3,000 word epic, and you can't read two paragraphs? srsly? Vale
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It's happening now I'm seriously excited right now. ;u; This collab has been in the works for over a year now, and now we can finally get the ball rolling. Like, the only way this day could be any better is if we found Samantha. GET OFF MY LAWN! ~Tekulo
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