Cederak

Thank you for the insanely detailed review! I have never bothered to go through and Ctrl+F how many instances my characters are smirking across these last couple epics, but I will definitely be consciously drawing back as I finish Cynosure. Throw a little variety of expressions in there. I want to address Toa Jovan for you. Trylac and the Order are basically liaisons for Mata Nui. He has stuff that needs to happen, the Order is told in dreams or visions or whatever. Mata Nui wanted the Ignika-finding Toa team to have backup. Trylac had them look up Adrinor, because he trusts his skills. After filling Metru Nui with war machines, even Toa would have a hard time standing up against a naval fleet or squadrons of drone jets. I will give you the "dismayed" comment though. The truth is that I felt the episode was really drawing out and I did not want to add a scene about Jovan and Adrinor arguing the ethics of murder. I will keep it in mind though, if I go back through and edit in certain episodes as a "director's cut" thing when Cynosure is finished. Glad to hear you think the TV show aspect is working. Truth be told, my intention was to link the song that has a lyric snippet posted at the start of each episode, but the way copyright with songs works with YouTube videos, it is hard to say which links would last and which videos would eventually be taken down. If you want the "true" Cynosure experience, go look up the song quoted in an episode's intro when you finish reading. I was very selective in picking songs that not only had a sound that matched the tones of their assigned episodes, but lyrically played into the story at hand. Offhanded answer: Valixia is from a very old epic trilogy. 2007 or so. With the archive virtually destroyed, I felt I had some freedom to rework some of those characters. Zanteox is a character from the third chapter of that trilogy too, by the way. But it was Valixia, and her sisters Kylios and Cylaia who merged to create Toa Kaita Vylaos. This was my nod to that in my own way, and I am surprised anyone remembered, honestly. Regarding Drelinok, I would say to follow that writer instinct you have. It is funny you mention Episode 09 as feeling "fantasy," because I got that feeling when I had to edit it over before posting. I am much more partial to science fiction, but I have never been to a wedding before, so I decided to use all my experience of watching TV and film and seeing where that would take me. I drop a couple hints early on about Celvey having some kind of special power, and she really has grown on me the more I write about her. Having her stand out in Episode 07 was fun, and if nothing else, an acquaintance of mine read it over and said it satisfies the conditions of the Bechdel test. I had to look up what that is, but I guess several of my favorite movies have failed it. So…woot? Sadly, Kyrhus does not helm another episode. It's hard to get into his head without giving him another since he is so quiet, but I'll remember that as I continue on. Elendra has an episode to lead soon, as does Hadliek. I have not begun writing either one yet, but I am hopeful about the plotlines I have in mind. Trylac will show up throughout, just because I don't want to leave him out of the action. If you have enjoyed seeing Adrinor fall apart so far, strap in. I throw a lot at his character in this story, and he is going to get worse as things move along. Basing him so heavily on my brother, I had to ask him how he would react to certain things and then adapt that into my work. Adrinor has high moments and low, and I think this early on, it should be clear that I can still ruin his day with a lot of the events yet to come. Where he will end up at the end though? Time will tell… Once again, thank you so much! I hope you enjoy what is still yet to come in Cynosure! -Ced

Episode 09 is live! I do not anticipate the next few episodes to reach the length of this one, but there was really just so much to cover. I have never written a wedding for a character, and never attended one in real life, so a lot of my setup is based on watching movies and television. Even so, this episode topped out just over 6,500 words – which is atypical when I look at the rest of the story I have planned. It also has the longest title, but that's incidental. I am not sure how readers are going to respond to this episode, and I am looking forward to any criticisms of my take on letting Kyrhus tell the story for a change. After letting Celvey be the focus a couple episodes back, I will say right now that Hadliek and Elendra will eventually have their own moments to shine as storytellers before the end. I hope you enjoy this latest installment of Cynosure. I am planning to start writing Episode 10 later this week, and I am quickly approaching the epic's halfway point. Exciting stuff! As always, thanks for reading! -Ced

And I can tell just what you want; you don't want to be alone. –Two Door Cinema Club Episode 09: The Marriage of Celvey the Ilisian (Kyrhus' Perspective) It was partly cloudy on the day of Celvey's wedding. I was standing outside the citadel where she had lived for centuries, in a garden of vibrant foliage and elegant statues dedicated to native heroes from ancient times. Many Ilisians were in attendance to witness the ceremony that would make Celvey a queen, while the biomech who would be her king, Zanteox, merely had a few dozen supporters. Soft, sweet music began to play and I watched Celvey walk to the altar, arm in arm with Auredel. He was the central province's king - an Ilisian who had wed long ago and regarded Celvey as the eventual inheritor of his kingdom. I stood alongside Elendra and Hadliek, adjacent to three Trevahkans, the same species of the biomech Celvey was to marry. We smiled at Celvey and she mirrored the gesture, while Zanteox gave a polite nod to his comrades and they in turn did the same. Between us was Celvey, King Auredel, Queen Meruvia, Zanteox, and one other. This last individual was the Minister of Light, an Ilisian ordained with the authority to wed a king to a queen. "Please be seated," The minister requested. The audience took their seats, while those of us at the altar remained standing as the minster began to read from a tablet. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of the Great Spirit to join together this Trevahkan and this Ilisian in blessed matrimony; a most honorable estate, instituted of Mata Nui, and into which these two biomechs present come now to be joined. Therefore if anyone can show just cause why they may not be joined together, let them speak now, or forever hold their peace." I heard the familiar discharge of a gunblade round in the nearby woods, causing everyone to look curiously in the direction of the disturbance. Adrinor suddenly burst into view, forcing his way through a patch of bushes, a living Trevahkan impaled on his blade. Adrinor kicked the unfortunate entity from his weapon and into the dirt before looking up the hill. Adrinor's gaze never left Zanteox as he flipped the gunblade around and pointed the barrel at the mortally wounded biomech at his feet. He pulled the trigger twice, a pair of rounds fired into his enemy's chestplate, and finished with one to the head before storming up the path to the wedding. Many of the Ilisians gasped and shrieked in horror at what had just occurred, while Zanteox's allies drew their weapons and took aim at my friend. "At ease, everyone," Zanteox spoke up, drawing the saber at his side. "I'll vanquish this lowly brute." Adrinor stared down the Trevahkan with an expression of absolute hatred, prepared to engage him in combat. It was quite an eventful day, to say the least, but this is a story that makes the most sense with all of the details crammed in. So I'll restart from the beginning. <<<Two Days Earlier>>> The seas had been disagreeable on our departure from Suizek, and the drizzling rain that followed us from Triphaz's castle had become a downpour once we boarded the Corybant. Voporak's Steltian guards were disappointed to discover Triphaz had been murdered, but even their clan leader would excuse our inability to defeat someone as powerful as Drelinok. We left Makuta Krika and Makuta Cevezia with the task of cleaning up the laboratory and, while I was not a Meldin, I hoped they would treat Triphaz's corpse with some respect during the removal. Drelinok's method of execution had been dreadful enough. I sat near the bow with Adrinor and Celvey, watching cobalt blue waves splash the edges of our vessel. Adrinor's arm was draped over the railing and I could tell his focus was on the island of Meldio we had passed some time earlier. I glanced at Celvey and we silently exchanged our knowledge that something was weighing on Adrinor's mind. "Adrinor," Celvey called. He said nothing, as if he were in a trance. "Hey, Adrinor," Celvey repeated. "I…did my best," Adrinor muttered. "Adrinor!" Celvey shouted. The Meldin shot up and frantically looked around for a second. "What? What happened?" "You zoned out completely," Celvey told him. "Are you feeling okay?" Adrinor did not meet her gaze when he spoke. "It doesn't feel much like a dream anymore. That's what Rovaius called it. A dream. Do you think he lied to me? Maybe he was lying to himself. Maybe there never was a dream; it was only a fantasy." He took a moment to shake his head and sigh, finally standing up and walking away. We watched him head below deck, left to question his mental condition. "He's getting worse," I said. "I know," Celvey replied sadly. "Waking Drelinok did a number on him, and even when I saved him from that Dark Hunter, he just seemed…wrong. It's still Adrinor, but I can't save him from whatever is going on in his head. I can't make this all right." "He's reaching the tipping point. His sense of regret is going to outweigh his sense of responsibility to this team soon, and I think we need to ask ourselves if we want to be there when that happens." Celvey was visibly shocked when she asked, "Are you saying we should abandon him?" "I'm saying that we chose this life to be happy, and even Adrinor no longer finds happiness in it. We're holding out hope that a band of Toa will rescue the Great Spirit and the odds aren't in their favor. There are very few biomechs who could return home with a seat at a throne waiting for them, and there's a heavy question I'm leading up to. Would you rather be on Ilisi, serving as a reluctant monarch, or are you prepared to watch Adrinor destroy himself?" "It sounds like you've wanted to tell me this for a while." "You're the only one in our crew that has anything worth returning home for – a life that could be spent guiding her subjects to a bright future. I'm all for comradery and loyalty, although there is a rational side to this. I know we agreed to protect one another, but please, Celvey, don't throw your life away to uphold the tenets of being an outlaw." "I appreciate your honesty," Celvey replied, her voice shaking. "Can you give me a moment alone?" I nodded and stood up to leave. "Of course." <<<>>> "So let me get this straight," Voporak hissed, trying to keep his cool. We returned to Stelt early the following morning and met with a less-than-pleased Voporak about the matter of Triphaz's death. After Trylac gave a full explanation and his personal apologies, Voporak knew there was no room to argue. It took the strength of a Makuta to kill Drelinok, and even the mightiest Steltian was no match for a Makuta. Without a new assignment to keep us busy, we were free to pursue Trylac's request on Ilisi, and it seemed we would go our separate ways on Stelt. The Dectraz departed Voporak's chamber with the rest of us and started down the hallway, pulling Adrinor aside. He motioned the rest of us to follow. "Do you still have that device you found in Onu-Metru?" Trylac asked him. Adrinor reached into a compartment on his back and produced a small mechanism. He moved it toward his heartlight and it magnetically snapped into place. "You mean this?" Trylac pulled it off and placed the device back in Adrinor's hand. "I'm going to reconvene with my superiors and divulge what Triphaz told us about his work on the Amplifier. With any luck, I can have a contact enter Metru Nui and scan the blueprints you found. Losing Drelinok and Triphaz means their knowledge of the Amplifier is gone. If the blueprints in the Onu-Metru Archives are missing enough critical sections, then any chance of recreating the Amplifier may be gone as well." "That's a good thing, isn't it?" "We don't move forward by setting ourselves back. We have to learn, always. Keep that device safe. I'm still not sure what it could be, but finding it among the Amplifier designs is suspicious. I only wish we'd asked Triphaz what it was built for. Nevertheless, I want to remind you that my allies know the best course of action when it comes to potentially dangerous technology. I'll be in touch when I know more." "Stay safe, Trylac," Adrinor replied, shaking his hand. Trylac left us, and Hadliek clicked the barrel of his heavy pistol a few times. "What's our next move, Adrinor? Are we still taking that field trip to Ilisi?" "I don't see why not," Adrinor said with a smirk. "It's not like any of us have plans tonight." <<<>>> Elendra did not have the time to fully repair her airship and there was no way we were going to carve a warpath through Ilisi to reach Celvey's old home in the central province. Mission failure usually kept Voporak in a livid mood for the rest of the day and it was not something that we were particularly skilled in talking him down from, aside from Celvey. She approached his desk while we looked on from the hallway and pleaded for him to loan us a shuttle to Ilisi. She sadly whispered through a story about missing home and needing a few Steltians to drop us off, at which point Voporak's smile returned and he half-heartedly agreed. Adrinor was still troubled and tired, but at least we had safe passage. Ilisians were a terribly honor-bound species, with a ban on both air combat and the use of deadly force on an aircraft. We received our Steltian airship (colloquially referred to as Corsairs given their typical crew) and a few of Voporak's guards to escort us on our way within the hour. I spent the journey sitting quietly by myself, eyes closed. Sleep was seldom a requirement, but shutting my eyes to think and focus was always welcome. I listened to the others chat, little casual conversations about the past week and wondering what to expect when we arrived. Much of the afternoon had drifted away when one of the Steltians told us our destination was in sight. At this news, I decided to take a peek out the flight deck window. Truth be told, none of us were terribly fond of our homes. Homesickness did not mesh well with our chosen lifestyle, and it was a rarity to ever visit the islands we had come from. Ilisi was an entirely new sight for me, and even in the shadows of the Great Disruption, it was a magical place. From the airship, Ilisi seemed to possess an aura that warded off the encroaching darkness, like a beacon in the night of the universe. I often listened far more than I spoke, and I remembered the stories Celvey told us about home. The ancient architecture of the Central Province was primarily towers of brick and stone, standing tall amid the lush, green land. Around the border was a wide, misshapen circle of forest that one could easily get lost in. From what I could see, the lands beyond the forest were touches of green intermingled with light browns and yellows. Trees were bare, and castles were larger and appeared more well-fortified that the structures within the Central Province. It had been a few hundred years since I heard her tell it, but I once asked Celvey about her history. King Auredel, ruler of the Central Province, successfully led his armies into the Dark Forest and pushed back their enemies at every front. The House of Thunder retreated in the north. The House of Infinity was overwhelmed in the west. The House of Ember was decimated in the south. The House of Aether took heavy casualties in the east. And after centuries of war, King Auredel and the House of Crystal defended their home and left an eternal reminder that they would not be conquered. (For all this fighting, however, I found it odd that Auredel's kingdom was no more than ten kio in diameter.) With the conflict behind them, King Auredel and his beloved Queen Meruvia had been aged by the years and the stress of battle. They had raised Celvey like their offspring and named her the Princess of the House of Crystal. To accept meant Celvey would be married off to a biomech of noble lineage. Unwilling to agree, Celvey fled to the Dark Forest overnight and lost her way for a time. She emerged in the territory of the House of Infinity, arrested by their army and taken to their king. Using the gift she was born with, Celvey escaped and departed Ilisi by way of airship. She sold the craft to a Steltian who reported the peculiar transaction to his clan leader. That clan leader was Voporak, and he wished to meet the individual hoping to make the sale. In the middle of their chat, we returned from a mission of our own and Adrinor took to her immediately. She was a good fit for the crew, and despite her apprehension to take a life, Celvey grew on us after a while. "It's crazy to think that this entire island was at war once," Hadliek said. "It looks so quiet out there – so calm. Did everyone participate in battle?" Celvey was transfixed on the island when she replied, "Only the lower classes of Ilisians went to war, and they fought for their kings. Mata Nui chose who would rule the provinces, and those kings selected to fill their courts with great minds and elite sentinels. Such an honor deems an Ilisian a member of the upper class, well-practiced in etiquette and often in swordsmanship. If they ever saw the field of battle, it was of their own volition." "They clearly revere their kings in the highest esteem," Elendra noted. "Well, no one is trying to shoot us down," Adrinor told her. "We would not receive the same luxury with such a vessel over a matriarch's tower on Xia. Even if the guards are apprehensive, and they have every right to be with a Steltian airship looming, Ilisians appear to obey the monarchy without question." Celvey pointed near the base of the tallest tower in the province – a citadel surrounded by a small village. The pilot nodded and began his descent toward a wide landing pad that jutted out from the castle. At the same time, I could not help but notice that Adrinor's attention was focused beyond the citadel walls, into the forest. Past the rim of the shadowy wood, I noticed a massive structure sitting hidden among the greenery. It was long rather than tall, almost certainly metallic, and shaded in dark violet and jet black. The pilot took us down to the landing pad and opened the side hatch, keeping the Corsair hovering just above the structure. "Are you sure you have a way back to Stelt?" the co-pilot asked Adrinor. "I always have a way," he replied coolly, giving him a smile. We disembarked the Corsair and the pilot wasted no time getting it high into the air. I trailed it across the clouds for a moment, finally refocusing my attention on the squad of soldiers marching our way. The skies were off-limits to them, but there was no ban on sending a militarized unit to confront someone bold enough to land outside a royal citadel. The soldiers were armored in bright gold and white, and their helmets were adorned with a row of spines that ran backwards down the middle. And then came another warrior unlike any of the others. He stood half a head taller than the rest, in an armor composed of obsidian with yellow digital lines that ran down his arms, legs, wrapped in an intricate pattern around his torso, and up his neck. The yellow lines gave off a glow even in the sunlight, and I could tell they were an artificial modification. His head was sleek black with rounded features, and his face was confident. His bright red eyes studied us when his hand reached for the saber at his side. He pulled the weapon from its scabbard and held it in our direction. "It would be in your best interest to drop the sword," Adrinor told him sternly. "I've seen scarier things than you this week." "Such insolence," the warrior muttered in surprise. He pulled back the saber before sending a burst of crimson energies down it, hurling it at Adrinor with amazing precision and an impressive speed. Adrinor drew his gunblade in time to prevent being impaled through the chestplate, but the saber never arrived at its target. It stopped abruptly, suspended in midair. Even Adrinor stood bracing himself for an impact that would not come to pass, and he slowly returned his gunblade to his back. My Meldin friend looked over his shoulder and confirmed what the rest of us already knew. We were looking at Celvey, watching as she held out her hand and mentally pushed the saber back into the warrior's hand. She walked by Adrinor and stood across from the warrior, putting her hands on her hips. "The last time we met, you tried to impress me with that move," Celvey said with a chuckle. "The energies wouldn't focus properly and your aim left something to be desired. You've actually gotten quite good, Zanteox." "I've had a while to practice," Zanteox replied, placing his saber in its scabbard and glancing at the soldiers flanking him. "You stand before your king's chosen heir. Recognize your princess and pay her the proper respect." The sentinels retreated to the edges of the platform and took a knee, bowing their heads in our direction. The gesture was meant for Celvey, but it made me smile all the same. In all the days of my life, no one had ever treated me like royalty. Another squad of soldiers rounded the hallway and took notice of us, led by an Ilisian with a broadsword. "Furthermore, if an enemy to my kingdom dares invade at such proximity to my throne, then I will meet them with a wrath the likes of which"- The broadsword-wielding Ilisian stopped short and placed his weapon out to his side as a silent motion to halt the soldiers. His armor was a bright bronze, fashioned at the pauldrons as though they were trailing flames behind them. Atop his head was a golden crown with a shimmering diamond in the center. I knew the stories – this was King Auredel. He glanced around at the scene, initially curious as to why his sentinels were bowing, baffled as to why Zanteox was not attacking, and finally spotting Celvey on the other side of the platform. "My darling, you've come home," Auredel breathed, overcome with emotion. His weapon fell and he looked beyond elated at the sight of my Ilisian ally. Celvey hurried toward her king, embracing him tightly. "I have missed you more as the years have passed, and Meruvia as well." "She's upstairs," Auredel replied, "and I can't wait to tell her you're back. Have you reconsidered accepting your position of power here?" "I don't think we'll be doing any of that," Adrinor said irritably. He stepped in between Auredel and Celvey, standing up to the king. "I didn't bring her here to get married." Auredel glared and Celvey did as well. "Don't slight me by saying it that way. You may be a leader, but you don't decide everything in my life." Celvey lowered her head when she added to Auredel, "That being said, he's correct. I did not return wishing to be married." The king growled when he told Adrinor, "How you are a leader, I haven't the slightest idea, but from what I have seen thus far, I am less than impressed. I would gladly give you an airship if it meant removing you from my kingdom. Speaking to a princess with such command is unheard of and shameful in Ilisi." "If I may," Zanteox interjected, tapping Celvey's shoulder. "King Auredel and Queen Meruvia grow weary as the centuries drag on. You were named Princess of the House of Crystal and upon your wedding day, they will be relieved of the burden to reign. Put some consideration into your decision, because I see a serendipitous moment at hand. My fellow Trevahkans arrived a few days ago and have ensured the borders remain secure, while also speaking to the king and queen about you." Their arrival was the best explanation I could think of as to why a mysterious airship shaped object was parked in the forest outside the province. "And what did you discuss?" "I wish to marry you," Zanteox replied hopefully. "Together, you and I could rule the province as fair and powerful monarchs. The peace that Auredel fought so hard to secure would be certain with the union of your Ilisian army and my Trevahkan company. We are the law in my homeland, Magistrates by title. You can trust me that I would treat you with all the admiration you deserve, until the stars die out." Celvey smiled at Zanteox's words while Hadliek, Elendra, and I approached her. "Those stars may be dying out sooner rather than later with the whole Great Disruption issue at hand," Adrinor mumbled, less than amused with Zanteox. "Pardon my asking, but what brought you back to Ilisi?" Auredel wondered. "The rare metal Iridiex," Celvey said flatly. "I know there are trace amounts of it on the island, and I recall that some of your most dangerous artillery required it as an energy source. I need a handful of it for…a friend." "The Iridiex is gone," Auredel explained. "When you left, the House of Infinity attempted to invade and claimed that you stole one of their airships. In retaliation, they attempted to reignite the war once again. We pushed them back with the heavy artillery you speak of, but it took the last of our Iridiex to do so." "Perhaps there is still a way to salvage your wasted journey," Zanteox proposed. "Sentinels, I bid you to rise and escort our guests to have their armor polished and provided a good meal. Celvey, you and I will continue to the south balcony and your friends can reconvene with us there." "Thank you, Zanteox," Celvey replied kindly, accepting his hand as they stepped away. Auredel's sentinels guided us downstairs to a large, empty ballroom. A number of citadel servants began to pour in, some with tools to clean and shine our armor, and a few more with food for us. I devoured my serving, trying not to be perceived as savage and animalistic as my reptilian form implied to most. All the while, I enjoyed the humming sound of the tools being used to tidy up my armor and relax the muscle tissue around my metallic parts. "So, quick question," I started. "Have we ever encountered a Trevahkan?" "No," Hadliek replied immediately, awkwardly stirring his food around in its bowl. "North of my home is an island where one-eyed, bright topaz-armored Rahi ride about on colossal, sentient lizards called Tahtorak. Todrano don't make a habit of visiting. What's worse, is the island north of that is Trevahka. The Trevahkans are the only civilization there, with well-protected cities that line the coasts. It's impressive because the rest of Trevahka is a jungle-like ruin of violent beasts, and a legend that these creatures are spawned from a strange cavern in the center of the island." "Spawned?" Adrinor tried to clarify. "Hadliek shook his head. "I don't know what other word to use. The stories go that a massive pool of silvery liquid rests far below the cavern's surface, and that it creates and twists life into things that should not exist." "And just when it was getting too easy to go to sleep," Adrinor replied, laughing a bit. The room was quiet for a few minutes, only the sound of eating and armor being polished was heard. And then Elendra gently nudged Adrinor. "Do you think Celvey is actually going to marry that Trevahkan?" "The Ilisians stand to benefit from it, but I can tell Celvey's spirit wouldn't be invested. She's one of us, not a queen. And as for Magistrate Zanteox…I don't like him." "He does seem like a bit much," Elendra replied. "Too 'high society' for my taste. You can tell that he's always had the advantage against anything in his life. That's a risky way to live, if you ask me. Our armor is being cleaned up to look nice, and untouched. But truly untouched armor means the bearer has yet to experience a battle that tests them. You have to experience a little loss to acknowledge the price of what it means to lose." "You're preaching to the choir on that one," Adrinor told her, sighing into his food. <<<>>> After being tended to, we were taken to the citadel's south balcony. Celvey and Zanteox were chatting at a small table and she was laughing at something he told her. He picked up a pebble on the floor and I noticed something else in his hand when he squeezed his fist down around it. When he opened his hand, he presented a cool blue flower to Celvey. She carefully took it from him and turned it over a few times, confused as to how Zanteox performed such a feat. "Oh, you made it," Zanteox told us, smiling. "Your armor looks brand new, gleaming as though you came into being today." "You're too kind," Adrinor replied sarcastically. "Did you have a nice afternoon?" I asked Celvey. "I did. And…I have an announcement for you. I…accepted Zanteox's marriage proposal. We'll be wed tomorrow and I'd like for you to attend!" "That's fantastic!" Hadliek replied happily. "We would be honored, Celvey. I can't imagine how a long-distance marriage is going to work for you, but we'll figure something out." We all stared at Hadliek, and even Celvey was intrigued by his comment. "…about that," Zanteox uttered. Hadliek frowned. "Oh. You're…staying?" "It would be a tad unseemly to be married and suddenly run off," Adrinor said, narrowing his eyes on Hadliek for a second. "Even so, I really don't approve of any of this." "Wow, Adrinor," Elendra told him. "Maybe draw it back a bit on the power trip?" "Seriously?" Adrinor exclaimed. "Am I the only one here who thinks this is happening insanely fast? We came here for a precious metal that is gone and now Celvey wants to be married tomorrow? I can't handle any of you right now." Adrinor stormed off and we looked at Celvey, mirroring her disheartened expression. "Is there any chance the rest of you can be happy for me?" "It's going to be hard to part ways, but it's not our call to make," I said. "Agreed," Elendra added nonchalantly. "Kyrhus, can you go find Adrinor for me? Zanteox needs to head downstairs to start preparing for our marriage eve festivities, and I'd like the rest of you to meet me up in my former chambers. The sentinels know the way." "Yeah, I'll bring him up." It did not take much searching to locate Adrinor. He was standing a few rooms over, leaning over the railing and staring at the floor below. His arms were folded and he was resting his chin atop them. I marveled at the beautiful design of the grand descending staircase, quickly remembering we were standing in a royal citadel. "Hey, Adrinor," I said quietly, standing next to him. "This is ridiculous," he replied coldly. "She's trying to be happy," I shot back. "You're the one always telling us to pursue the thing that gives us freedom and makes us want to live life. Do you ever think that maybe some of those endings don't include you? I'm not trying to be mean, but I know that there are daydreams we all have of doing things other than shooting and running around. This can't last and it won't. So please, Adrinor. While you still have a chance to leave on a good note, at least listen to what Celvey has to say." Adrinor pushed away from the railing and forced himself to stand up straight, finally looking me in the eye. "Okay, Kyrhus. Take me to her." <<<>>> "So you've known him a while?" Celvey nodded. "We were close friends when we were young. Zanteox's airship crashed here on an expedition through the northern realms of the universe. He was clipped by something off the coast of Xia and had to land somewhere. I had no idea what our chance meeting would lead to one day." "I guess I'm just worried you're jumping into something you might regret," Adrinor replied. "You're better than Zanteox in every way, and even though you seem so comfortable with all this monarchy and fancy living, I'm concerned." "You shouldn't be. Gifts are rare among Ilisians, and I have never encountered another with telekinetic powers like mine. Auredel sees this as a sign from the Great Spirit that I am destined to be a queen, because he was granted the throne by divine right and possesses the gift of telepathy. He searched Zanteox's mind when we met and thought he would be a suitable companion for me." "Why does he need you anyway, why not simply rule as a king?" "It's not that simple," Celvey replied. "The monarchy of Ilisi dates back very far, to the inception of the universe. In our union, the Ilisians and the Trevahkans will be joined. His warriors will stand at his side, pressuring the kings of our neighboring provinces to never strike at the House of Crystal again. I cannot say what benefit Ilisians can bring to Trevahka, but I know it will be positive. Barraki Pridak kept Ilisi and the other islands of his domain in check with such power, and I know it will take a similar display to protect my home. I want this for my people, Adrinor." "Do you want it for yourself?" Celvey opened her mouth to reply and hesitated. "There's an answer," Adrinor continued, frustrated. "I'm done trying to dissuade you from this wedding plan. I'm going to take up Auredel on that airship ride out of here." "Adrinor, stop," Celvey admonished. "I wasn't planning to share this with you, but since we appear to be going our separate ways, it may interest you to know that I planned to be taken away to the Dark Hunters the night we were visited by the Jaecolt." Celvey's eyes went wide and she was more than upset. "My death would have meant safety for the rest of you," Adrinor said, becoming very condescending. "I never expected you to actually rescue me, and I can see it didn't matter much anyway. Best of luck to you and your king." Celvey mentally threw the door open and crushed it against the wall. "Get out of here right now, Adrinor. I've heard enough." Adrinor left without another word and I followed him out, trying to make sense of everything. I had no idea he intended for the Dark Hunters to murder him and expected they would leave us alone upon his death. I tried to keep pace with him as he hurried down the stairs and whispered to me along the way. "Celvey needs to think I have gone, Kyrhus. You must not tell her that I'm investigating this Magistrate Zanteox and his Trevahkan friends. I noticed the violet airship in the forest – it's too strange that they would be waiting for us like this. You can call it coincidence or whatever you like, but I don't trust him. I am going to get inside that airship and figure out just what is going on here." "Be safe, Adrinor," I whispered back. "I hope you find what you're looking for." <<<>>> I had a hard time falling asleep that night, which was ironic because my bed was unbelievably soft and comfortable. Zanteox and most of his Magistrates opted to sleep in the citadel. This meant there was no chance of their return to the air cruiser and a run-in with Adrinor while he snooped around. Even so, I still wondered if Adrinor was okay. Some of the Magistrates were surely left behind to stand patrol for the night. Furthermore, without witnessing the Trevahkans in combat, we had no method of assessing their threat level. It was entirely possible that Adrinor was walking straight into a den of Doom Vipers, metaphorically speaking. He had spoken with King Auredel about departing on a small airship, and left immediately. I could not let on to any of the group that Adrinor had a plan, and I knew they had a hard time reading me if I did not want them to. Although, what really weighed heavy on my mind that night was Zanteox's conversation with us during the banquet. Whether we had Celvey with us or not, I knew assisting Trylac could be beneficial to everyone's future. Our table was at the front of the room, reserved for the upcoming king and queen, and a few of their chosen friends. Naturally, our crew (short of one Meldin) was there, and Zanteox had a few of his most decorated warriors at the table. "I understand you're in search of Iridiex, is that right?" Zanteox asked, casually placing an arm around Celvey. "That's right," Hadliek replied. "You wouldn't know where we could find another mass of the stuff, would you?" Zanteox smirked, snapping his fingers to one of the servants for another drink. "It's funny that you would be the one to ask, Todrano. I once heard a tale about a nightmarish forest in your land that made me terribly interested in Iridiex. A collection of the metal is rumored to exist near the center of the forest, but the plant life is rich with these gelatinous masses of parasitic organisms." "I never knew there was talk of Iridiex in there, but I know the place. The slime monsters are no larger than your head, but even a droplet of that stuff can be life-threatening." <<<>>> The next day was a long affair of watching a village prepare for the most important local event in thousands of years. I thought the entire central province was there, waiting ecstatically to watch their princess be wed. I already covered the introduction to Celvey's wedding earlier, and I apologize for getting ahead of myself. In any event, I'll pick up from when Adrinor arrived at the ceremony after killing a Trevahkan with his gunblade. The Minister of Light stepped forward and furiously inquired, "What do you have to say for yourself, that you should so viciously interrupt this ceremony?" "This Trevahkan has married before, Minister. Each of his queens has met a mysterious death in his play to conquer islands by right of kingship." Of all the truths I thought Adrinor would return with, that was pretty surprising. Zanteox began marching toward Adrinor with his saber ready to strike, asking, "Have you come with any proof to support the deception of which you speak?" "No," Adrinor replied shortly, stopping in his tracks. "But there are Ilisians gifted with powers beyond what can be seen or written. That gift has manifested in Celvey as telekinesis, but I should remind you that King Auredel possesses the gift of telepathy, and your cunning mind is about to betray you. It's time everyone knew your hospitality is a façade." It was then that Zanteox halted as well, slowly returning his blade to its scabbard. He turned back to face the three Trevahkans standing across from me, smirking as he did. "I told you I sensed something clever about this Meldin," Zanteox said, pressing a device on his gauntlet. "I think it's time we take our leave." Auredel's eyes were suddenly glowing bright and I presumed it was a side effect of reading Zanteox's mind. "You were plotting to murder my heir, my darling Celvey! I will never allow you to be the king of my land you creepy little scoundrel! What makes you think I would let any of your treacherous kind walk away from this unscathed?" "Fortunately for me," Zanteox replied with a chuckle, "I'm not leaving the matter up to you." In an instant, Zanteox and his allies faded out of view and disappeared. Moments later, their massive sky cruiser was airborne and fleeing the scene. I suddenly realized that Zanteox activated a beacon to his ship when he touched his gauntlet, and we could only watch them make their escape. King Auredel shook his head and looked to Adrinor. "I usually keep my 'I told you so' speeches to myself, but this seems like a really glaring example of when to pitch one," Adrinor told the king. Auredel begrudgingly lightened his expression, almost laughing at Adrinor's remark. "I owe you my greatest thanks. In the shortsighted dream to see my inheritor find happiness in marriage with a mighty ruler, I had not anticipated Zanteox to harbor such sinister intent. You have saved that which is most precious to me and my queen." "With all due respect, I didn't do it for you," Adrinor told him. "A good leader would not let such a fate befall someone in his service." "Her…leader?" Meruvia said curiously. Adrinor put the gunblade away and extended his hand in invitation to Celvey. "If she'll have me." Celvey laughed softly. "It would be rather cruel to deny the offer after you went out of your way to save my life." Auredel appeared shocked and his eyes pleaded with Celvey for a moment. "Is this truly the life you want?" Celvey nodded. "He'll keep me safe, and I'll do the same for him. I promise." Meruvia put a hand to Auredel's shoulder and said, "She knows what she wants. Let her reside in the company she chooses." Auredel released a long, heavy sigh before finally smiling. "Adrinor, I am allowing this for one reason." "Because you trust me?" Adrinor asked uneasily. Auredel was notably patronizing when he replied, "Because Celvey can make her own decisions." The king turned to her and added, "You have my blessing, my princess." Celvey slowly walked up to Adrinor, grinning all the way. And just as she barely touched the edges of his hand, the ground began to shake beneath us. Adrinor caught her in his arms and it felt that even the air was being shaken about. The sun above burst into unbelievable intensity for a moment, as if there were no clouds between it and the garden. At last, the shaking concluded and there was a noticeable calm. For a change, everything felt right. Celvey looked up at Adrinor and I heard her whisper, "It's happened. Jovan saved the Great Spirit." Review

I hope in darkness we can see, and you're not blinded by the light from me. –La Roux Episode 08: The Alchemist It had been a couple days since Celvey had saved my life, and the nature of her expedition left a lot of questions for the rest of the group. The Dark Hunter named Reaper had placed me into a state of unconsciousness before we left Stelt, and I did not wake until Celvey returned me to Voporak's coliseum. Elendra, Kyrhus, and Hadliek seemed a bit upset that Celvey found it a poor decision to bring them to my rescue, but I knew she had the best intentions. Understanding that they were better off as nameless and faceless to the Dark Hunters as possible, the rest of the crew agreed with Celvey's judgment. "I have an assignment for you on Suizek," Voporak said. We were all standing in his office, and a feeling of relief seemed to come over the room. For most, assignments meant danger and death. After specializing in these fields for a while, the anticipation to continue in them was a rush that I cannot explain. The common response is to recoil or shy away from putting your life at risk. It goes without saying that life as an outlaw will shake up your mental state a bit. "The island is mostly jagged rocks and wild animals," Elendra replied. "There's nothing of value to be found." "Not so," Voporak countered. "Rovaius once traveled to Suizek for Barraki Pridak. It has been many years since, but before he passed away, Rovaius told me about a doctor who lived on the island. As I recall, the mission took place before you met Adrinor." "I remember that now," Elendra said. "We stole a power generator from him. It was so powerful that to manufacture something capable of the same electrical output, the engineers on Trelbin would have had to build a reactor the size of a tank. Somehow, the doctor's invention was an orb so small that it could rest in the palm of your hand." "Rovaius compared it to magic, albeit, very reluctantly. I don't subscribe to the possibility of sorcery in this world, I believe in hard answers and facts. I opened a dialogue with this inventor some time ago by sending a few Steltians to his castle on Suizek. I learned that his name is Triphaz. More to the point, I recently received word that he is concerned his life is in danger. Triphaz is not convinced that the perimeter security of his castle will protect him, and has requested I send a team to bring him to Stelt until Suizek is safe for him again." "Did he mention what is threatening his life?" I asked. "He did not," Voporak replied, notably troubled as he spoke. "Triphaz is a brilliant mind, and I will not risk losing such ingenuity to a random hunter or killer out there. Also, Adrinor, you have some kinship with him. Triphaz is a Meldin." "A…a Meldin?" I questioned, caught completely off guard by the statement. A Meldin had been living alone on Suizek since before the League fell. At least 1,000 years. Meldin loved their home land so dearly, but it would have been hypocritical of me to find his actions odd. To the northwest of Meldio is the Southern Continent, and to the south is Suizek. Triphaz and I both left our homes and did not journey far before deciding to stop. I began to wonder what could have driven Triphaz away when Voporak's voice brought me back to attention. "Also, an old friend came to my door this morning who may be able to assist you." "That would be me," a familiar, raspy voice said from the doorway. We all turned and saw it was Trylac, holding his compound bow ready. "Glad you could make it," I told him, suddenly unable to do anything but smile. Voporak cleared his throat and we looked back at the clan leader. "As you requested yesterday, I have dispatched a crew of Steltians and Ohnbiek to retrieve your wrecked ship on the Southern Continent. Be on your way now. Find the doctor, before it's too late." <<<>>> Voporak loaned us a few of his Steltians and his fastest watercraft, the Corybant. With the task of driving left in more capable (directly ordered) hands, my crew was free to lounge around for the day. Elendra and Trylac were catching up, while Hadliek, Celvey, and Kyrhus chatted nearby. I was feeling anything but conversation, letting my encounter with the Dark Hunter consume my thoughts for a while. There was something about that experience I needed to share with Celvey still, and I was unsure of how to approach the subject. Even alone with my thoughts, having the better part of the day to think it over had not been enough. We reached our destination late in the afternoon, disembarking onto the sandy shore of the island. I wondered what I would tell Celvey. I wondered about Drelinok. I wondered if every passing day was bringing our universe to its bitter end. I wondered. Suizek was a barren thing – a craggy mess of rock and dust that looked as though the Great Spirit had hurtled it like a skipping stone down from Metru Nui. It also appeared the nasty, churning waves of the early universe had carved its shape along the way. I could see Triphaz's castle high above the cliffs, the only landmark in sight. Whatever beasts called Suizek home were seemingly nocturnal, and we still had a tiny bit of the day left to us. A storm was quickly heading in from the west, and I was in no mood to linger. "How long do you think it will take us to reach that castle?" Kyrhus asked. "If we could all fly like Trylac? Maybe half an hour. "And since we can't?" Hadliek said. "Twice that much." After sitting aboard a watercraft all day, you can forget certain particular details. I think each of us had other things on our mind, or maybe we were just strongly inclined to make the journey to Suizek a swift and painless mission. Whatever the case, when I took one step too close to the outer perimeter of the castle and an array of red lasers lit up around the rocks, I immediately thought back to Voporak's discussion that morning. The security Triphaz was worried would not be enough to stand up against his stalkers was activating itself on us, and it was all we could do to react and start shooting anything that moved. A dozen disks flew up out of the rocks, spinning wildly. I pulled the gunblade from my back and picked off a few, just as the rest of the team followed. Celvey took it a step further by grabbing my weapon and slamming it forward onto the stone, sending a powerful ripple of light energy all the way up to the castle. Along the way, several more traps embedded in the uneven terrain shot up and detonated. She placed the gunblade onto my back and gave me a smirk. "There's our path." I smiled and shook my head. "What's the rush?" When we arrived at the foot of the castle, Hadliek took the lead. I could tell he was curious about a device next to the front door and he pressed a button on it. I was not expecting a jingle-like tune to play before an intercom sparked to life. "Hello?" "Yeah, hi," Hadliek said. "We're here to pick up Doctor Triphaz." "You're the team from Stelt?" "We sure are." The front door clicked. "Come upstairs. I'm glad you made it." Hadliek opened the door and looked at us before giving a facetious, "No, please, after you." There was little to see within the castle. The doors to the other rooms were sealed, and the main entryway was ugly and decaying. The handrails were crumbling, the carpets were stained and dirtied with age, and the lightstones gave off a sick, greenish glow. We followed the stairs up to the very top of the castle and I pushed open the doorway to a pristine laboratory. I squinted at how bright white the room was, and the intense lights in the ceiling were not helping. I blinked rapidly and focused on an individual on the other side of the room. He was my height, and of a similar build. His armor was bright green and deep orange, and he smiled when he saw me. "They sent a Meldin," the entity said, stepping away from his desk. "I don't believe it." "Name's Adrinor," I said, shaking his hand. "Nice to meet you." "All the same from this side," he replied. "I'm sure you already heard my name is Triphaz." "We did. We also heard you're looking over your shoulder these days. Something or someone on your tail?" "As a fellow Meldin, you might think this sounds crazy. About a week ago, I had what I suppose you can call a nightmare. Or a dream. Maybe even a vision. Whatever the case, Director Drelinok came for me and promised I would die. The Meldin who absolutely died in a science accident told me he would kill me. I felt so scared, and then I woke up." "I don't know how to tell you this," I started, wondering if I should say anything at all. Before I could make up my mind, I was talking again. "Drelinok never died. And as of about a week ago, he's awake." Triphaz stared at me, confused. "No, no that…that can't be right. He died. I was there on the surface the day it happened." "And I was there the other day when he stepped out of this tube-like chamber and said he would be the next Great Spirit." "It's the Amplifier," Triphaz corrected me, fumbling his fingers around each other nervously. "We called it the Amplifier." "How do you know Drelinok?" Trylac inquired. "I served as a member of his Directorate and head of the island's science division for centuries after the war on Meldio. We worked together on the Amplifier, as well as a prototype suit that could be worn and absorb ambient energy to function. The prototype would suffer power failure after an hour or so, and none of the onboard systems would reactivate for a few months. This was not conducive for a standing army, so we looked at other possibilities. The Amplifier was our answer to playing around with Iridiex, finding a power source that could last for thousands of years. The result would be a permanently augmented Meldin with untold powers, but the Amplifier needed decades to achieve this." Trylac narrowed his eyes. "The prototype you spoke of…where is it now?" "I had the blueprints and the prototype sent to the Archives in Onu-Metru." Triphaz studied Elendra for a moment and paused, glancing back and forth between her and Trylac. "You stole from me. Not just you, either. There were accomplices. You're the reason I was paranoid enough to move my Amplifier work elsewhere. And after the mayhem you caused in my former laboratory here, most of my science team returned to Meldio. I'll have you know, it's been a very lonely millennium." "My apologies," Elendra replied, emotionless. "We should get going," I suggested. "We have a watercraft waiting on the coast about an hour's walk from here. If there's any important data or projects you'd like us to help collect, we'd be more than happy to bring them along." "As I said, most of the important work has been moved to Onu-Metru," Triphaz explained. "I spend most of my days now just tinkering with little experiments, and answers that I keep in my mind. I have memorized the critical steps to causing a permutation within protodermis, actually. Solid…to liquid…back to solid…onto…something that wouldn't sustain itself very long." "What was it?" "I'm still not sure. I could recreate it, but there was no way to study the chemical composure without losing my tools to it. Imagine a silvery substance that acted like a gel and a gas at the same time. It felt alive, if that's even possible. Then it vaporized its way through my research table and left a hole in the floor. Very curious substance. After introducing it to some other chemicals and raw materials, I discovered that it can transform the elements. Fire became water, ice turned to stone, and the earthen soil converted into colorful flowers. I was too frightened by its capabilities to touch my own hands to it, but I theorized that it could produce elemental powers when none existed before, and possibly rearrange any that were already in place." "Oh, how fascinating," a sarcastic voice echoed through the chamber. A high-pitched whir shook the tables and a burst of golden light exploded around the other side of the room. When the luminance cleared and the sound died away, Drelinok was hovering there, smiling at us. "We're too late," Celvey muttered. "Drelinok!" Triphaz exclaimed. "Very nice laboratory you have here, Doctor," Drelinok said, admiring the room. "It reminds me of the circular room I had constructed for the Directorate when I came into power. Do you recall why I requested a circle?" Triphaz hesitated before responding. "You had the answer inscribed above the doorway. It said, 'This circle of trust will ensure that no evil will ever corner thoughts or ideas in this room.'" "Another broken child of my naivety," Drelinok mused. He whirled around and pushed his hands toward the wall, releasing a shockwave that shattered the stones apart and tore the chamber wide open. Hovering above was a small fleet of Light Warriors, waiting for their master's command. Drelinok ascended to join them and turned back to us, folding his arms before addressing Triphaz. "You know, Doctor, you're not the only one who can bend the laws of nature. These gleaming physical manifestations are the essence of ambient energy. I can create scores of them at will, and they fight for me. They are independent and resourceful, but unyieldingly obedient. They are more than I could have asked for in a legion of pro-Directorate Meldin." "No, if you received that from Meldin, they would be slaves!" Triphaz shouted. Drelinok winced. "I've had just about enough of this discussion." "I won't let you kill him, Drelinok!" I yelled up, firing a round from my gunblade as I took a few bold steps forward. The energy bullet bounced off his chestplate and ricocheted into a Light Warrior's skull, destroying it instantly. Drelinok laughed in return, clearly unmoved by my stand against him. "You say that like you have the ability to stop me. You do not. And even if you did, as I float above you with my Light Warriors, one question comes to mind. You and what army, Adrinor?" I lowered my weapon, well aware that he was right. There was no stopping him. I looked back at Triphaz, watching the alchemist cower in his ruined chamber. "I'm so sorry," I whispered to him. Drelinok summoned a blade of light in his hand and descended toward the chamber. I glanced around at my crewmates, at Trylac, watching their expressions reflect the defeat I felt in myself. The sound of thunder rippled across the sky, and I felt a raindrop land on my face. Drelinok landed, looking over his shoulder and snapping his fingers. His shimmering, seemingly angelic hoards faded away and the scene became noticeably darker. The shadowy gray storm drew closer and it started to rain when Drelinok pointed his blade at me. "Now you understand the value of the soldier, Adrinor," Drelinok said. "You wanted to be an idealist once, a conscientious objector, and I can see you've figured out that such thinking cannot last. If you do not fight for what you want, someone else will fight for what they want. It's only a matter of time until those two 'wants' come into conflict with each other. Who wins, Adrinor? Is it the one who vows to abstain from the sword, or the one who has brandished it for his freedom all along?" "You should leave," I replied. "You have lived both lives now," Drelinok continued, ignoring me. "You ran from the field of battle once, and now you oppose me – tip of the spear. While those who put themselves above violence will be made extinct by those who see it as a necessary force, we must hold on to what we believe in. Because it will not be right or wrong, but faith in an ideal that will shape our future." "Don't do this, Drelinok," I pleaded with him. "He just wanted to be at peace." "I'm about to give him peace. Get out of my way." I barely picked up my gunblade when Drelinok mentally threw me aside. "Oh, enough!" he growled. I did not bother trying to recover and leap to my feet. Instead, I watched Drelinok turn his attention to Triphaz. The Meldin alchemist was backed into the wall, his palms touching cold stone as he waited for death. Drelinok took a few steps toward Triphaz, still holding his blade of light outward. "I would strongly recommend you hold still," Drelinok said to him, smiling. "You don't want me to miss. On second thought, I'll make sure of that." Drelinok let his weapon hover in the air and walked up to Triphaz, giving his shoulder a tap. "I've immobilized you below the neck. If this blade should penetrate your heartlight, you won't feel a thing. Just the slow trickling away of your senses as your vision turns to black. It would be painless." "Drelinok, please stop," I begged. Drelinok's blade approached Triphaz's chest and was inches from impaling him. "Drelinok, listen to me." The blade ascended at the last possible moment, driving itself right into Triphaz's forehead. "Drelinok!" I screamed. The agony of hearing a Meldin have every little piece of his mind slowly ripped apart as the blade sunk deeper into his head was sickening. I stared in terror as Drelinok tortured the alchemist, unable to lift a finger. Triphaz screamed and screamed, and his suffering would not end. "But I missed!" Drelinok shouted over Triphaz's screams. "And in that case, you will certainly feel it! You will feel everything!" The edge of the sword was already coming out of the back of Triphaz's head when Drelinok let it burst away into golden particles. His Meldin victim fell dead to the floor in a slump, and Drelinok sighed before looking at me. "Do you know the greatest trouble with life?" he asked me. "Living." "You deserve to die," I spat. "Then so do you," he replied nonchalantly. "This entire arrangement of"- Drelinok did not have a chance to finish that sentence. A superheated laser beam found his head and caused his entire form to explode into bits of shiny, bright yellow dust. The source of that laser beam was Makuta Krika, moments too late to save Triphaz's life, but perhaps just in time to save the lives of my crew. He was flanked by Makuta Cevezia, and the pair landed on the floor, taking stock of the situation. "That was the same energy signature that lived within the creatures that attacked Destral," Cevezia said. "Drelinok." I picked myself up and put the gunblade on my back, feeling as though time was suddenly moving much too quick. "Did you just destroy him?" "Apparently," Krika replied, looking around. "Much as we appreciate your intervention, this is highly coincidental," Trylac noted to the Makuta. "Any particular reason a couple Brotherhood agents are visiting this otherwise desolate island?" "I find myself wondering the same thing about all of you," Krika shot back. "I'm not at liberty to discuss the nature of my business, and I hope you can appreciate why it is in the best interest of the Brotherhood to keep particular information to ourselves." "Of course," Trylac said in an irritated tone. "We were just leaving anyway." "Leaving?" I repeated, somewhat surprised. "Triphaz deserves a proper burial and"- "We are leaving," Trylac maintained. "Brotherhood protocol at the scene of a murder dictates that the area be cleared until the dispatched Makuta have made an assessment and collected all pertinent evidence." Krika gave Trylac a suspicious look. "Yes…that is protocol. I don't know many outside the Brotherhood so well-versed in our policies. Have we met before?" "No," Trylac replied flatly, walking away. "And I don't suspect we will again." "Do we need to detain them for questioning, Krika?" Cevezia asked. Krika shook his head. "Drelinok killed this Meldin. I felt it. We'll investigate the premises, but we don't need anything from these travelers. After their efforts on Destral, I think we can overlook the possibility that any unsavory activity was at hand. Isn't that right, Adrinor?" Miserix must have told him my name. I nodded slowly, still trying to process the fact that a Makuta had just killed Drelinok right in front of me. It felt oddly anticlimactic, which I attributed to the action I was so accustomed to. We followed Trylac away from the battered castle and down through the path carved into the rocks. The conversations among the group sounded like empty noise as I went along, still caught up in Drelinok's actions. With his death, there was a real chance Toa Jovan could save the universe. Hadliek put an arm around me when the coastline and the Corybant came into view. "You all right in there?" "I think so," I replied. "They killed Drelinok. After everything, and they just…he's dead. I'm not sure what I expected this moment to feel like, but it's good. I feel okay. Where do we go from here?" "To Ilisi, I hope," Trylac said. I tilted my head, curious where Trylac was going with his statement. "Triphaz said the Amplifier was powered by Iridiex. My…agency…may have use for what Drelinok was working on. Not to birth world-ending monsters like Drelinok, but for research purposes. Consider this an effort to safeguard the future by better understanding the past. I know that there is Iridiex in Ilisi's central province, and I know that your Ilisian friend could persuade the local monarchy to give you a small amount. We may have failed Voporak's mission, but we learned plenty before Triphaz's demise. There's still some good that can come of this." I gave Trylac a smirk. "After everything you did for me over the years, watching as my protector in the shadows, I think I can do this favor for you." "So I'm headed home, is that right?" Celvey asked. "Yeah," I replied with a heavy voice. "Let's see if your king is willing to part with some Iridiex." Review

It's like a bad day that never ends; I feel the chaos around me. –Phoenix Episode 07: Reclamation (Celvey's Perspective) I still remember the Great Disruption. There are times when it cannot be sent from my thoughts, and I see the face of the individual I cared about most. In my memories, he is sitting, propped against my nightstand and aiming his gunblade at nothing in particular. I am laying on my bed, my arm draped over the edge as I stare at him silently. I wonder about the motives behind his bright green eyes, and how responsible he must feel for the state of the world. I want to ask what he is thinking, or how it makes him feel, and I never do. I study him for weaknesses, curious if he even feels a change in himself when he takes a life anymore. The memory continues, and he frowns at me. I smile in return, and he forces himself to mimic the response. After all we went through together, the heaviest question that lingers is not how we damaged the universe, but how we may have irreparably damaged ourselves. His name is Adrinor, and he is coming undone. "You know that story I told you, about the day Rovaius died?" "Can we not talk about that right now? Just sit. Twirl your weapon and be calm for a while." "It reminded me of my own life. Rovaius dealt with his rival Trivolox for centuries, reliving the pain of losing his friends to someone he trusted, and that hurt never seemed to dwindle between their encounters. Drelinok is that entity for me, the physical reminder that I did not rise to the occasion once, and someone else paid the price." "You're not doing yourself any favors to dwell on that analogy." "He accomplished a lot in his time," Adrinor said defensively. I climbed down from the bed and set Adrinor's gunblade off to the side. He looked into my eyes, uncertainly, watching me reach forward and place my hands on his shoulders before sighing out my frustration. "Rovaius is gone," I started. "I never knew him, but there's nothing he did that has made any noticeable impact on the universe we live in today. For all his accomplishments you fixate over and his superiority to Trivolox, the reality of the matter is that they are both dead. I almost think that's how you'd like this to end. If you let Drelinok consume you, I have no doubt that you will find a way to stop him, but I'm not convinced you will survive the event." "Are you saying we should give up?" "Yes!" I shouted, shaking his armor. "Trylac told us to go home and let the specialists deal with the situation. You are an outlaw, Adrinor, not a warlord. Just listening to what you told Miserix, I can tell that you respect Drelinok's expertise on the battlefield. There's a difference between leading a few crack shots and commanding an army." "And you would know, right?" Adrinor replied sarcastically. "I would know!" I exclaimed, practically squeezing his armor in fury. "While you spent centuries tending to Mahi as a ranch hand, I watched a king's health decline as he fought to preserve our home against the invading provinces! I sat there, nights and days on end, consoling his queen, telling her that he would be okay. I had to lie to her! I thought her king might perish from the stress of commanding his troops and defending the kingdom he fought so hard to build. So before you go off making snide little remarks about what I know, step back and think about what kind of life would drive someone into the arms of a self-loathing, walking inferiority complex like yourself." "That was a bit more reality than I needed," Adrinor muttered, beginning to stand up. "If that's really what you think of me, I'm not keeping you here." I held him back down and glared into his eyes. "You want reality? I care about you more than you might ever appreciate. I would go to extremes to protect your life, Adrinor, probably because there's something just as wrong with me…as there is with you." Someone rapped at the bedroom door and I released Adrinor from my grip, standing up abruptly. Simply looking at the figure in the doorway nearly caused me to recoil and utter a startled cry. He was tall, wrapped in a tattered brown cloak that concealed his face. His mouth and eyes gave off an otherworldly topaz glow, but his expression seemed to be stuck as it was. This was disturbing because his eyes were angry, but his mouth was a crooked opening of silent laughter. "Can we help you?" I questioned cautiously. "The Meldin," he replied, as though they were his first words in decades. His tone was ragged, but foreboding, and his mouth did not move when he spoke. "The local clan leader directed me to speak with you about some business. I think you might be interested to hear my offer." "Voporak sent you to us?" Adrinor asked, getting to his feet. "And who do I have the pleasure of setting up a business transaction with?" The light in his eyes seemed to expand. "Forgive me, these formalities tend to slip my mind from time to time. My name is Byzorahk." Byzorahk shifted his cloak and extended his arm for a handshake. His hand was a long, thin mess of charred metal and sharp claws. Adrinor accepted and gave him a smirk. "You can call me Adrinor – I'm sure Voporak already gave you the name. What would you like to discuss?" "Can we continue the conversation somewhere private, perhaps? No disrespect to the Ilisian, but I wish to speak with you personally on this matter." Adrinor looked at me, obviously suspicious. "It's late enough as it is. Get some rest, Celvey. We can talk about Byzorahk's proposition in the morning. He came all this way and I'll be the one to listen to his offer." I glanced at the gunblade for a second. "Are you going to take your"- "We're just talking," Adrinor cut me off, giving me a smile. "Bring it to me tomorrow." Adrinor hurried Byzorahk out of my room and closed the door behind him as they departed. I dimmed my lightstone lamp down to the weakest illumination, summoning a ball of light in my hand. I pointed the luminous sphere down on Adrinor's gunblade, wishing I had a Mask of Psychometry and the ability to use it. Irritated and exhausted, I let the light go out and fell back onto my bed. I had earned a little sleep. <<<>>> "Wake up." I opened my eyes slowly, squinting through hazy vision. It was early in the morning and the sun was barely out yet. From what I could tell, there was a warrior at the foot of my bed, hovering gracefully. She was tall and mighty, with a set of silver wings like a bird. They moved gently, glowing bright violet around the edges. Her armor was glossy chrome lined in gold, and she wore a Kanohi I had never seen before. I blinked my eyes a few times and rubbed them, taking another look at my unexpected guest. She was stunning. "What do you want?" I asked nervously. "There was a Jaecolt here, perhaps several hours ago," she replied, looking toward the door. "I need to know where he has gone." "A what?" I wondered. "I've never heard of a…what did you call it?" "A Jaecolt," she repeated sternly. "They are thin, frail-looking creatures. Their species is distinctive by the glow of their mouth, and that it does not move when they speak." "Byzorahk," I muttered, remembering the night before. "You have seen one?" she questioned, glaring down at me. "Where is he now?" I lowered my gaze. "I don't know. And I don't know what business it is of yours for me to divulge such things." "He is a Dark Hunter I have been tracking. They call him Reaper." I looked up at the warrior, piecing the events together. Byzorahk's interest in Adrinor had my defenses up from the moment we met, and I leapt from my bed and ran down the hallway to investigate further. Sidorak was on duty, leaning casually against one of the coliseum's support beams. He watched me hurry through the corridor with a bored expression, not so much as a "good morning." I arrived at Adrinor's bedroom and threw the door open. It was untouched, as though he had not slept at all the night before. I returned to Voporak's infamously incompetent guard, shouting before he was in eye view. "Hey, Sidorak! I need you to answer something!" Sidorak stepped forward and sighed, a short burst of steam released from the tubes on his head. "I live to serve you." "I don't have time for your attitude," I replied harshly. "Have you seen Adrinor this morning? Has Voporak been in his office?" "Do you think I would be taking my shift here so casually if Voporak were around?" Sidorak asked. "We haven't seen any of you since your departure with the Toa team nearly a week ago and Voporak has been away from Stelt the entire time. A clan leader ought to be present among his kind more often, to direct orders and boost morale. His frequent absences leave many of us curious what keeps him so preoccupied out there." I scowled at him as I started to walk away. "And you're setting a fine example by lounging around on the job." "Always a pleasure, Celvey," Sidorak said, leaning back against the beam and closing his eyes. "Always a pleasure." I took another peak around Adrinor's bedroom, moving the furniture around in the hope that something was left behind. I turned toward the door and found the warrior waiting for me. She was still hovering, holding Adrinor's gunblade out to me, grip first. "Reaper was in this room," she said, absolutely certain. "What makes you say that?" I asked irritably, storming about as I tipped Adrinor's nightstand over. "Jaecolt radiate a strain of dark light, if that makes sense. The luminance is there, but it's twisted and…weird. There are many unsettling species that dwell amid the black lands in the Southern Islands, and Reaper is extremely dangerous. Imbued with your own light, Ilisian, I am certain you are blind to such things. Take your weapon." My sonic assault rifle was still in my room, but I accepted Adrinor's gunblade and placed it on my back. Wielding a sword was not my finest skill, but the weapon's balanced weight simplified the task of shooting. I learned the protosteel in the blade reacted to elemental power on the few occasions I had used it before. Adrinor gained no benefit from this, but the gunblade heavily amplified any light energy I channeled into a shot. The warrior stopped hovering, flexing her shoulder blades and causing her wings to contract into a compartment on her back. She closed the door and stared at the back of it for a moment. "There's nothing here," I told her. "Don't be so sure," she replied, putting her hand to the door. Her hand lit up with a burst of lightning and she wiped it across the door, sending a crackle of power into the metal. She took a few steps backward and put her hands on her hips, nodding slowly. Little sparks trailed around the words "Nohtal, catch me if you can." "It's fresh," she whispered. "Five hours old at the most." There were two things I was certain of by that point. First, Sidorak had no reason to deceive me, which meant Voporak had been away from Stelt for over a week. Second, Byzorahk lied when he said he was directed to us by Voporak. The warrior called him a Jaecolt, and a Dark Hunter. I did not know where Jaecolt came from, but I knew the headquarters of the Hunters. The mysterious Shadowed One did not take kindly to competition, from what I understood, but we had all lost too much and fought for too long to become someone else's weapon. Still, requesting an abduction was child's play for the Hunters. Their leader would present the ultimatum to join or die, and that stubborn Meldin would surely perish full of pride unless I managed to save him first. "If Reaper is a Dark Hunter, then he's setting a trap for you on Nohtal. No self-respecting member of the Shadowed One's organization would willingly allow someone to track them back to their headquarters." The warrior looked over her shoulder at me. "Doesn't matter. I'm going after him." "Then we need to leave right now - you and me. If we're going up against the Dark Hunters, I can't allow my crewmates to be implicated for our actions." "You will help me locate this Jaecolt?" she asked. I stifled a bitter laugh, having something a bit more severe in mind. "Sure." She reengaged her wings and offered me her hand. "I'm going to jump out the window. I need you to trust me that we'll be okay." "I would hope the wings are for more than just show," I replied, giving her a smirk. When her serious expression did not change, I asked, "They are functional, right?" "Yes! Now come on!" She took my wrist and threw herself out the window, bringing her wings back for a second to clear the frame. I watched her ascend up the side of the coliseum where a sleek aircraft was sitting on the flat center of the rooftop. She set me down and unlocked the door, pulling it open. "You thought it was wise to park your ship on top of a Steltian coliseum?" "Seemed better than leaving it in the road," she quipped. "Get in." I took her instruction and dropped into the craft, somewhat cramped. There was barely enough space for a pilot and two additional passengers. She nudged me out of the way and sealed the top door before rushing to the controls and hitting a few buttons. It reminded me of watching Elendra fly. I strapped myself in to one of the chairs and watched the warrior continue to work, taking us off the roof and getting the airship into the sky. We turned toward Nohtal and the craft took off, soaring high above Stelt. She left the cockpit controls and took a seat across from me, exhaling deeply as she slouched into her chair. After watching her take charge and demand answers, it was odd that she suddenly appeared so exhausted and worn down. "It always helps to know who you're working with, and…my name is Celvey. You figured out that I'm an Ilisian, but I couldn't tell what you are. You're tall, like a Steltian, but there are a lot of tall things in the world." She rested her head against her fist, saying nothing. "I like your armor," I continued, hoping she might open up to me. "You're a very beautiful sort of creature, almost mythical or royalty of some kind." "Do you need someone to talk to?" she asked, laughing softly. "I was just trying to have a conversation with you," I replied, somewhat offended. "My name is Vylaos," she said matter-of-factly. "Have you ever seen a mask like mine?" I studied her Kanohi, a golden thing of wonder. It was a mask of sharp curves and eyeholes that presented an intense demeanor. Her eyes were hot pink, a rare trait in any species. "It's a Mask of Fusion," she said, staring out the window behind me. "I am an amalgamation of three Toa." I smiled. "That's amazing. Why didn't you enter the Kaita state?" "Achieving Toa Kaita requires intense focus and can be draining in every aspect you can think of. Physically, spiritually, emotionally – the Kaita state takes everything from you, because that is the lifeblood of such a wondrous being. Outside of this fusion, I am the same mind, but a single Toa of lightning. We have summoned our Kaita before and she called herself Vylaos. I like to keep the name when utilizing the mask. It's sort of fun." "How did you get tangled up in a fight with a Dark Hunter?" I wondered. "Toa seldom meddle in the sort of affairs their organization is involved with." "It was our Turaga," Vylaos explained, frowning beneath her mask. "We come from a city on the Northern Continent. Reaper was assigned to kill our Turaga because we handle a lot of trade with other islands. I think someone was unhappy with the fact that we maintain a contract with the city of Metru Nui. Reaper was selected for the task and completed his mission. Something clearly brought him to Stelt though, perhaps a secondary target." "Reaper took a friend of mine," I admitted. "I need to find him…and then I'm going to kill that Dark Hunter for what he did." "You know," Vylaos started, "I can't condone such things." "I'm not asking you to," I replied. "There's not much you can do to stop me." Vylaos gave me a hard stare for a moment. "Your resolve is strong, to live among the warmongers and thugs of Stelt. I should have guessed you would not respect me. There's something I want to ask you though - something I've never had the opportunity to learn. What is it like to take a life? I would do everything in my power to avoid such action, but I have this morbid curiosity about it." I can still recall the reflection of myself in the window behind Vylaos, this reserved smirk coming over my face. "Despite my best efforts to preserve the lives of others, there are some who do not share my interest in everyone's continuity. On those occasions where I have killed, it's always been them or me. This is different, however. Reaper stole someone away from me, and for that, I will see him destroyed." "I would like to think that you will change your mind, and perhaps with a little more sleep, my hopes will be fulfilled. I apologize for waking you prematurely, and I think it would serve us well if you were to rest a while longer." I leaned my head back against the seat, shifting Adrinor's gunblade to allow me some comfort while wearing it. "Fine by me." <<<>>> I want to break away into a bit of retrospection as I finish this story. It should go without saying that we did engage the Dark Hunter Reaper in combat. Vylaos would be better at explaining what happened during that battle, because I learned after the fact that Reaper subdued me with a powerful hallucination. Sadly, I have not encountered the Toa fusion since that day, and she is not here to set the record straight. That in mind, let me touch on the subject of showing and telling. My description of the events thus far have shown everything I saw, but I want to tell something now. The battle with Reaper is vastly less important than the trauma he put my mind through. My first memory after a nap aboard Vylaos' airship is on Nohtal, in the endless dusk, kneeling over Adrinor's corpse. It felt so real to me, and I thought I had lost Adrinor forever. On Ilisi, in the central province, I held the title of Princess – an heir to the throne of King Auredel and Queen Meruvia. I had overseen many battles on the island, and lost friends to the armies of the neighboring realms. The light is a source of purity, and the dark a source of corruption. The Nohtalians to the south of Ilisi often resist the call of their inner shadows with passive lifestyles and practiced calm. Light is strong, perhaps even more powerful than shadow. It demands to be used, and Ilisi wielded it for war. Through the weapons of light, I had known death, and I had known grieving. Sitting over Adrinor, seeing him dead, brought all of that back to the surface. This was not the worst of it, however. What made Reaper's hallucination so genuine, is that it would not fade away after taking Adrinor from me. My mind almost seemed to live another 10,000 years, lonely and alone. In the reality Reaper had borrowed from my own thoughts, the Great Spirit was dead, and Drelinok had taken his place. Much of the universe had been turned pitch black, and his Light Warriors had captured me. They dragged me into the Coliseum and I could see Drelinok waiting for me. At his side, Reaper waited, intending to execute me for his master. After all of this, I wondered if the cloud surrounding my vision was the embrace of death finally coming for me. It was hard to tell why everything was falling away, but I owe Vylaos for destroying the illusion. The instant that Reaper's vision let up, I knew the Jaecolt species held a truly spectacular and terrifying power. I was still kneeling in the grass, but Adrinor was no longer mortally wounded. He was unconscious, but at peace. I looked away from him and turned to Vylaos, mesmerized by her bladed weapon of raw electricity. She was wearing a different mask – something platinum. During my lapse of memory, the Toa sisters had achieved the Kaita state. I would have smiled, if not for abruptly hearing a sickening, desperate scream. Vylaos, as a Toa, would not allow Reaper to die. But watching her launch a steady stream of lightning through Reaper's eyes, I think Vylaos and I knew the same thing. Parted from your senses, the only thing scarier than dying is being left alive. Reaper collapsed into the dirt, probably overwhelmed by pain. And then Vylaos began to glow, and it felt like my vision was trying to compensate for seeing triple. The fusion blinked in and out of existence several times in a few seconds, phasing shadows together, and finally ripping away into three distinct figures. It produced a low, static-like sound when they were finally separated, all standing in front of me. Valixia, the Toa of electricity, flanked by a Toa of water and a Toa of psionics, stormed up to Reaper. "I can't see," Reaper whispered. "Your maker granted you sight, and you used it to bring pain," Valixia replied, disappointed. "Now we have burned the light from your eyes and you will wander the universe, aimless and helpless. If you should find your master, I have a message for him. The Meldin you sought is not interested in joining your organization. And as for you, I have a message for you as well." Valixia bent down and slightly pulled Reaper up by the top of his damaged chest armor. "You picked the wrong Turaga, monster." She released the Jaecolt and offered a hand to her sisters, both accepting the offer as they returned to the form of Toa Vylaos. The Kanohi fusion fluttered her mighty wings, giving me a smile. Despite having every opportunity to outright kill the Dark Hunter who had murdered the elder who may have been a mentor and a voice of guidance, she permitted Reaper to live. I admired her resolve, the strength to hold on to hope in a dying world. "Will you be all right, Celvey?" she asked, lending me a hand up. "I will, thanks," I said, getting to my feet. "My duty here is finished, and your friend is saved. I can return you to the island of Stelt if you wish." I glanced at Adrinor and frowned. "Yeah, we could use a ride back." Adrinor suddenly began to levitate, ascending until he was hovering just higher than my head. Vylaos was on guard, summoning a new blade of lightning. Adrinor began to emit a bright glow like a warm sunrise, and I watched a form materialize behind him. The entity held Adrinor's limp body in his arms, with a powerful yellow aura of his own. Vylaos stared up at him like he was a champion of the darkness, but we had met once already. After listening to Adrinor talk about this Meldin at length, I was far from enthralled. "What have you let befall my brother?" he questioned, giving Adrinor a curious look. "Drelinok," I fumed. He smirked before laughing softly. "Ah, you remember me. I've been told I am difficult to forget. The same could be said of Adrinor here. The Meldin in my arms that you so foolishly pledged yourself to – there is no denying how powerless he is in the face of my strength. Yet you persist, banking on a miracle to rescue the Great Spirit from death." "Who are you?" Vylaos asked, keeping her weapon charged. "I am your only chance at a future," Drelinok told her, his eyes never leaving Adrinor. "The Great Disruption is tearing away at Mata Nui's life force, and he will not last much longer. I embraced the gift of the light, to fill the void of power that will be left when Mata Nui is gone. I will succeed the Great Spirit, brave and noble Toa." He finally looked her right in the eyes. "You may call me Drelinok." "There's more to him than he lets on," I warned the Toa fusion. "He's dangerous, and we could never trust him to be a worthy Great Spirit." Drelinok dropped Adrinor to the ground and floated down, glaring at me. "A worthy Great Spirit, Ilisian? I stand before you, promising a future if you will only support me. What does Mata Nui present? Has he made himself physical, to appeal to the universe for his inaction? Will he answer the prayers of the hundreds of biomechs who plead and beg for an end to this ceaseless night? What did Adrinor tell you about me? Did he call me a warlord? A killer? A monster, perhaps? Take a ship to Meldio, and convince the universe that the utopia I built it into is not a better world than one where my Directorate and the misguided Collective must be forced to suffer one another for eternity. I have listened to their thoughts. I have spoken to the individuals who will be my subjects one day. I know what the world clamors for, and I intend to give it to them." "What will you do?" Vylaos asked. "You will see the result of my labors in due time, Toa of electricity. And to the sisters sharing your mind, let them know that I will bring you no harm. If you follow the light, we will walk into the future as allies." "And what about Adrinor?" I spoke up. Drelinok turned back to me, landing in the grass and picking Adrinor up before placing him into my arms. "Adrinor had the opportunity to join me and he rejected it. For the time being, I have no reason to destroy him, and I am more than convinced the universe will finish the task for me anyway. My gift to the hopeful is a new universe, where none will be unheard, and serenity will reign. But to you and your little band of outlaws, who choose Adrinor before me…there is no golden gate waiting for you. Your gift is this Meldin, and as far as I am concerned, his fate literally rests in your hands. Do with him as you please." "Okay, wait a second," Vylaos said, trying to figure everything out. "You're replacing the Great Spirit? And you think everyone, including the Brotherhood of Makuta who swore to protect Mata Nui, will just let that happen?" "The Brotherhood have certainly done a fine job saving Mata Nui's life thus far, haven't they?" Drelinok replied facetiously. "They will follow the highest power and present themselves as servants when the time comes. Even now, magnificent warrior, you may feel apprehension at the thought of my regime. Alas, change is hard, and the only constant we will ever know. Acclimate, or like the Ilisian at your side, you will be left behind." Vylaos narrowed her gaze on Drelinok. "Take the Meldin to my ship, Celvey. I have heard enough…and remain unconvinced. Mata Nui is the voice that lives within the guiding principles I have known my entire life. I can sense his presence when unity, duty, and destiny direct my hand. And so until it is your voice I hear in those moments, you will never be my Great Spirit." I held Adrinor steady in my arms as I walked back to Vylaos' airship, far less conflicted than a Toa might be. My dearest friend was safe again, in my arms, and I would bring him back to the closest thing we called a home. When it came time to explain our absence to Elendra, Kyrhus, and Hadliek, I told them of my daring rescue. I described Toa Vylaos and the Dark Hunter, but I never spoke a word about seeing Drelinok there. Adrinor needed hope, the same dying light that Vylaos possessed. I thought that hearing Drelinok held him in his arms and called him powerless would only hurt, and there was already enough hurt in the universe. Whether he would admit it or not, Adrinor needed help. We both did. Review

Most of my buddies from my college days (Lake Michigan College) transferred up to Western, and I find myself in the area a couple times a year to visit family and friends. Actually met a BZPer that way back in 2010, as he routinely attended a history seminar every summer for several years. I don't know if Kalamazoo is home for you or not, but I recommend trying the breakfast food at this little restaurant called Crows Nest. Amazing breakfast food all day long. Best of luck next fall! -Ced

@Akavakaku: I think you’re right to say that the focus drops from the Great Disruption a bit suddenly. It made sense going in, because that’s Jovan’s story. The reader glimpses it, sees it from Adrinor’s perspective, but rescuing Mata Nui’s life is up to Toa Jovan’s team. In fact, it’s their destiny to confront that. The Great Disruption has a lot of ripple effect throughout the rest of the story, however, and I will say no more on the matter. Best not to spoil anything for you! @fishers64: I wonder as I’m going along if new readers will think the history between Drelinok and Adrinor is a major topic in Cenotaphs, because in reality, I hadn’t even written him into existence when that story was done! Drelinok is very mysterious, and as I wrote him, it was interesting to learn what qualities really felt right with that character. The same goes with the model of the Matoran Universe that Cynosure builds. Like you said, it’s simple. There are powers, and elements, but the magic is faded. It’s mature, in a cynical way, to look at everything that could be spectacular and say, “That’s just things, that’s how they are.” The marvel of inhaling a balloon full of helium and trying to talk, or finding a small animal in your backyard – it doesn’t translate to Adrinor. It’s not that he’s too old to be fascinated, but I had to really step back and ask myself, “How would you feel walking around with regret for 900 years?” So there is this “silent suffering” aspect to Adrinor, because I think a part of him wants to be like Jovan. He wants the weight of the world on his shoulders, but he doesn’t know how to be optimistic enough to rise to that occasion right now. Regarding Makuta Teridax, he really scares me. Miserix is based on how I looked up to my dad when I was a kid. He’s this larger-than-life, tough but fair sort of character that, if you don’t do what he’s asking, yeah, he’ll probably be upset. But I recall anytime I would do something like that, my dad would say, “I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed.” And that’s the Miserix I wanted to portray. He’s not afraid to laugh, but he knows when it’s time to be serious. The reason Teridax scares me so much is because he can be multi-dimensional and one-dimensional in the same breath. Capturing that Teridax, the one we met in 2004, he was sharp as a tack. But this is an earlier time. Miserix is still in charge, the Makuta have not shut out their inner light yet, and Teridax is still incomplete in a way. The story arc “Legends of Metru Nui” is thousands and thousands of years down the road from the Great Disruption, and Teridax is still like this “tempestuous youth” that knows he wants something, he just isn’t quite sure how he’s going to get it. To everyone: Thanks for reading, as always. More to come soon! -Ced

Everybody wants to rule the world. –Tears for Fears Episode 06: Ancient Menagerie Trylac's description of the Kanohi Ignika's labyrinthine cavern still keeps me awake at times. I wonder what hardships Toa Jovan and his team were forced to endure, and why even after commending my abilities, he warned that anything less than a pure soul would be obliterated. I lived a peaceful life on the Southern Continent for ages between my departure from Meldio and the beginning of my time as an outlaw. That memory coupled with the thought that something so powerfully sinister lurked far below my bed through the years was an unsettling notion. We followed Trylac's advice and drove back toward Stelt, clearing the rest of the continent after a long day of riding. The journey back to the land of Voporak and his kind took us on a course due north, intending to rest near the beach before concluding our trip the following day. I remember wanting to sleep as I rolled my head back and forth on the speeder frame that my body was propped against. The night was immeasurably dark and my crew was sleeping more soundly than I could. I was honestly concerned for Toa Jovan and his team. They were good, kind individuals. In the life I had forged, such characteristics were a health hazard, and it made me worry that something on the way to the Mask of Life might play upon their weakness in that department. For a change, it was not about saving myself. I really hoped they would survive for their own sakes, even if the universe was beyond rescuing. I could picture Jovan's yellowish green eyes in my mind, filled with inspiration. I thought I was able to picture them more realistically than anything, until I noticed something else. The demand for sleep would have soon overwhelmed my desire to muse on Toa Jovan's fate, but the yellowish green light was real, because my eyes were wide open. "Wake up!" I shouted to the team. I listened over the sound of the waves for my crew starting to stir in the dark, watching intently as the lights out on the water swirled violently. Like tendrils ripping through from another world, ominous trails of emerald intertwined with a sickly lemon that began to build brighter and wider. The gaseous field emitted silence, calming the water and seeming to draw the life from everything it touched. "Any guesses on what we're looking at?" Kyrhus asked. A bolt of energy rippled out of the distortion, crackling in the air before vanishing. A few more followed, shattering the quiet with their power. "I've never seen anything like it," Elendra replied. "Ready the speeders. This could be bad." I moved to start up my transport when the green cloud burst into a shockwave, flying at us and passing through our bodies with a mighty explosion. The clouds faded into a thin mist, and the tendrils were being replaced by more solid structures. Towers dotted with crimson lights were painted into existence, and energy pylons jutted high above the ground. The well-fortified walls of a stronghold began to surround the architecture, blocking our view of the sanctums and courtyards with a smoky veil. Along the edges of the bastion were sparse patches of dirt and grass, all stable above the sea. "It's a landmass," Celvey said, captivated by the sight. "Hey, Adrinor, any chance your 'savior of the universe' friend has something to do with this?" Hadliek wondered. "Drelinok? Calling him my friend may be a new high in your sarcastic repertoire, but his involvement is a possibility. We still don't know the extent of his powers, although I can't say there are many in the universe capable of moving an entire citadel like this." Elendra activated her speeder and told us, "Whatever is going on, our life expectancy would probably be improved upon by leaving this place. As much as I love a solid firefight, bullets are no match for hurtling towers across dimensions." I scanned the stronghold again, watching a ball of light burn into existence in the sky. A few more sprouted from the dark, steadily growing larger. In seconds, there were dozens of lights surrounding the towers, humming angrily amid the shadows. "That looks like Drelinok's handiwork," Hadliek said, notably disturbed. "He's repeating what he did back near Mt. Valmai." "Why waste the effort though?" Elendra pondered. "Was Drelinok expecting to catch us off guard in our sleep with this?" A bright spiral of ruby energies soared through the air, impacting one of the lights and causing it to destabilize. The ruby trail of power faded away with the ball of light, but I could see more beams of energy rippling through the night. They were assaulting the lights, which led me to a new conclusion. "Drelinok isn't the one using this citadel," I muttered. I felt my crew's eyes on me when I added, "They're under attack." "We barely fought off the Light Warriors in the Green Belt," Elendra replied. "Do you really want to enter this confrontation with them?" "Drelinok is a strategist," I explained. "He sent his Light Warriors after us as a test. Whatever is going on in that stronghold, Drelinok has a reason for finding it important. I'd rather help whoever they are than let Drelinok gain a foothold anywhere in the universe." Elendra responded by revving her speeder and taking it out onto the waves, hovering above the water and taking a banked turn along the edges of the landmass. The rest of us kicked our own speeders on and followed her lead, ready for a fight. The lights of the citadel were bright enough to keep us from crashing against the walls, but we needed a way inside. I sped up to Elendra and wanted to gauge her for advice. "Can we clear the outer perimeter with a good boost?" Elendra thought about the question before finally nodding. "Definitely not what I had in mind, but if you give it everything it's got, you'll clear the wall." "All right. I'm going in." I disengaged the speed governor and flipped off a couple more switches that acted as regulators for the speeder system. There was a chance that the speeder could very well explode before I pulled off my intended maneuver and I decided to play the odds. I continued skirting the perimeter as my speed shot up, curious how large the stronghold truly was. I looked up and a winged figure blasted one of the solidified Light Warriors with a burst of blackish green energy. Behind the figure, a hoard of Rahkshi followed. I tilted the speeder back to let the tail dip into the water and burst upward, soaring over the wall and landing hard in one of the courtyards, smashing my way through a bust of a Kanohi Avsa. "This is bad," I spat, tensing up as the speeder rolled a few times and I was thrown from the controls. I pulled my gunblade and took aim at the Light Warriors right before a tall, thin entity scooped me to my feet. He was armored in glossy white and bright red, wielding a sharp and deadly scepter as he eyed me curiously. "Your kind should not be here!" he yelled at me, pointing his scepter at one of the Light Warriors and unloading a blast of chain lightning. "This is not your home to defend!" One of the creatures drew near and my gunblade ripped through it, causing the entity of pure energy to be extinguished. "I need to talk with the one in charge!" I replied. "We're all in danger." "Do you have any idea where you are, Meldin?" he asked. I took a couple shots at the Light Warriors, keeping them at bay while Rahkshi and other figures like the one addressing me managed to reduce their sparkling ranks. "Yes," I nodded, well aware that I did not want to insult the sort of being I was talking to. "I had never seen this place before, I only knew the stories and the legends. Please forgive our intrusion to your mighty fortress of Destral, Makuta." "You may call me Krika," he replied, starting to hover off the ground. "And if we can drive away these things, I will take you to the one in charge." Makuta Krika soared away just as Elendra cleared the wall, letting the speeder get away from her as she ducked into a roll. The Trelban sprung outward in a fluid movement, drawing her revolvers and putting her back to mine. "Seeing the Rahkshi scale the towers gave me all the answers I needed," Elendra said. "The matriarchs on Xia used to marvel over this place and now I see why. The tales that Destral could phase out of local space-time and reenter at another location really were true." "We've got more Light Warriors headed our way. There's a Makuta overhead in combat with them, but I think a shadow bomb might even the odds a bit. Can you pop one for me?" "Start moving. When you return to your original position, I'll do it." Elendra and I kept our backs together and began turning, firing on the nearest Light Warriors. It was only seconds before I was standing where I started, hurling a shadow bomb up into the battle between dozens of Light Warriors and a single Makuta. Elendra turned back and fired her revolver over my shoulder, hitting the grenade. Darkness spewed forth from the explosive device, erupting in a frenzy of static and black violet power. The blast radius consumed the Light Warriors, engulfing them in blackness. All the elements of the universe were inaccessible to me, but it was only shadow that commanded a fearful respect. The Toa could manipulate their elements to help and heal and grow, but there were no Toa of darkness. Shadow took and destroyed and left only ruin and emptiness. In this case, it happened to leave a lone Makuta behind. She was clad in armor of gold and gunmetal, with a diamond Mask of Summoning. She descended onto my position, giving me a nod that suggested she was slightly impressed. "Do you have any explanation for this invasion fleet?" she questioned. "We know the individual responsible," I replied. "Why warp your fortress to this location though? It looked like the Light Warriors were expecting you." "How do you know their name?" "We don't. It just seemed fitting. Makuta Krika told me that he would take us to the one in charge if we could stop the Light Warrior attack." "I can arrange that," she said firmly. "Rally your team and meet me in the next courtyard. If another should approach you, tell them to speak with Makuta Cevezia." Cevezia phased out of sight and I glanced at Elendra. "You saw that right?" "Yeah," she said, still thinking. "It looked like she teleported." "How many powers have you figured out Makuta possess now?" "Roughly 35." "And how many powers have you figured out that I possess?" I paused, narrowing my eyes. "I don't have time for this. Unless you plan to directly assault the Brotherhood of Makuta, this has gone on long enough." "I suppose it has. Very well, Adrinor. I have what I want…no reason you should not be entitled to the same." "What?" Elendra turned to me. "I didn't say anything." I blinked rapidly a few times. "Yeah, must have been hearing things." Elendra stared hard at me, finally putting her weapons away. "Don't lie to me, Adrinor. It's unbecoming." I watched her walk away, leaving for the next courtyard. I placed the gunblade on my back and reluctantly followed her, staring up into the sky as the last Light Warriors blinked out of existence. I broke into a run and caught up to Elendra, stopping when I got a look at Cevezia. The courtyard she was standing in, flanked by Hadliek and Celvey, was absolutely demolished. Krika descended and Kyrhus let go of the Makuta's forearm, dropping next to me. "Well, we won," he said. "That would be the most likely answer to what happened," I replied, wholly unconvinced. "Answers," Krika said, directing his attention to me. "We could use a few more of those." "Right. You were going to take us to the one in charge?" "Actually," another Makuta interjected, "that task would belong to me." Everyone present turned to look at the newcomer, the most renowned member of the Brotherhood in the universe, as his cape fluttered in the night air. He was the one who led an army against the League of Six Kingdoms. He was the one who arrested the Barraki for their plot of treason against the Great Spirit. And had it not been for the arrival of the mysterious Botar that night, he would have been their executioner, in spite of countless Toa arguing a more humane alternative. His armor was a mixture of sterling silver and obsidian black as the void. Behind his unique Kanohi, the Mask of Shadows, were the most cunning ruby eyes I had ever seen. This was not the determination I could see in Drelinok, or the yearning for freedom in Rovaius, no. This Makuta's eyes seemed to say that they knew so much, and intended to share very little. "Teridax," Krika stated. "What news do you bring from the fortress?" "The beings of light were unable to penetrate the inner structure. Seeing now that they have gone, we have time to fortify and retaliate." "Respectfully, Makuta, there is no retaliating against them." Teridax sharply turned his gaze on me, appearing disgusted that I had spoken at all. "This Meldin seems to know more about the situation than we do," Cevezia said. "I am certain that Miserix wishes to be brought up to speed on the matter." "And he shall," Teridax replied, looking at my crew. "Join hands, now." We did as instructed, and Teridax placed his hand on my shoulder. In an instant, the world spun and faded into a blend of colors, before reshaping itself into a throne room. We stood in the center, and in the exquisite throne itself, sat the leader of the Brotherhood. He was reclined, one leg lifted up over the other, his clawed hand turning lazily as he studied us. Even sitting, I could tell he was a head taller than Teridax (who was easily beyond a head taller than me). His heavy armor was scarlet, with traces of white metal here and there. It was almost impossible to tell he was wearing a Mask of Mutation—or any Kanohi at all for that matter—due to how reptilian his face was. It resembled some of the features of Kyrhus' species, the Gekalan, with a snout, scales, and a pair of lime green eyes that had slits down the middle. Miserix had the addition of a pair of fangs that protruded down from his mouth. He pushed off of his armrests and stood tall before us, a long scaly tail whipping to the side. "Miserix, my master," Teridax said, kneeling on one leg and lowering his head. "These lesser creatures have knowledge to report about the light invaders. I brought them to you, so that we may learn what we can of this strange new enemy." "Sentience levels the playing field, Teridax," Miserix replied coolly as he strode up to us. "You once called the Barraki such things, and had I adopted your arrogance, Pridak would view us as the lesser beings today. I see a Meldin, a Todrano, a Trelban, a Gekalan, and an Ilisian. Within each of them is the capacity to outthink our ranks, because such ingenuity was necessary to the survival of their species. Strength, powers, and a seat of control cannot allow us to fall into complacency, on the contrary, it means we stand to lose so much more." "I understand," Teridax replied. "Do you? I wonder. Look at me, my lieutenant," Miserix told him, touching the edge of his tail to the top of the Mask of Shadows. Teridax, still on one knee, glanced up. "Unto those the Great Spirit grants much, much is demanded. We are not gifted, but tasked, with a responsibility. This fortress, our mighty physical bonds – these are not the things that make us great. Our majesty draws from the mantle of leadership in this universe that we are required to uphold. And it would behoove you to never forget that, my brother. Now rise." Teridax stood, brushing off his cape. "Wise words, my master." Miserix turned toward me and smiled. "Welcome, visitors. The island of Destral, this citadel home to the Brotherhood of Makuta, will always permit those who defend it, so long as I am in charge. My name is Makuta Miserix." "Adrinor," I replied, offering a handshake. The Makuta's hand swallowed my own, shaking politely. "Let's take a walk. I'm sure you would like to be on your way soon." "And I'm sure you'd like an explanation for what just happened out there." "All too true," Miserix said, taking the lead, motioning Teridax to follow us. "I am curious, Makuta Miserix, why your island fortress warped here and the Light Warriors appeared immediately." "I see you have discovered the legends are true – this island possesses the ability to move freely about the Matoran Universe as we require. Although, the light creatures arrived on our former position. Tell me, Adrinor. Who sent them?" "His name is Drelinok," I replied, craning my head up to look into the Makuta's lizard-like eyes. "He is a Meldin who utilized an ancient power amplification project and has gained an array of dangerous powers. The Light Warriors can be summoned by him in hordes, and they appear to act autonomously once brought to life. Aside from following what their maker wants, I have not watched them attempt to communicate. They only know how to attack." "Why now?" Miserix wondered. "How long has Drelinok had these abilities?" I shifted my gaze downward. "He was locked in stasis with them for millennia. I released him the other day." The leader of the Makuta scowled at me. "You were working together?" "No, it's not like that!" I shouted, trying not to panic. "Mind your tone, Meldin," Teridax warned me. "Let him speak, Teridax," Miserix shot back, still walking along. I hung my head before continuing, staring at the ornate carpet that ran down the lengthy hallway. "I found a blueprint for his machine and believed he might be a threat. I released him to learn what was going on, and quickly realized he was far more powerful than I imagined. He declared war on a portion of Meldio's population long ago, and I was among those he hunted. I fled my home for the Southern Continent, and Drelinok became Director of the island." "Your leader?" "Yes," I said quietly. "And an old friend." "An old friend, eh?" Miserix breathed. "Still…a friend?" "We haven't been on those terms in a very long time." I invoked my most sarcastic tone when I said, "Given the fact that our first conversation in centuries was quickly interrupted by his decision to pick me up by the throat, I don't expect the circumstances to change soon." Miserix chuckled, slapping a couple vigorous pats to my back and coaxing a smile out of me. "No, I suppose not!" I looked up at him, my smile fading. "I'd like to talk with you seriously for a moment. Makuta, tasked as universal protectors, demand a certain level of reverence. I do not wish to embarrass a noble leader in his own fortress, and such an indiscretion would only serve to humiliate me as well. That said, I wish to speak freely with you." Miserix grinned. I was certain that he had witnessed enough ingratiation to know when it was being presented to him, but I had nothing but sincerity to offer. Much like my view of Voporak, I admired the command that Miserix wielded, because I could tell that it was not a power that had enslaved him. Teridax simply folded his arms, obviously amused by the discourse unfolding before him. "While I am flattered, Meldin, you are no agent of the Brotherhood. What prompted this display of courtesy?" "The best leaders know how to serve," I replied. "Power often consumes those it is bestowed upon, and brings out their darkest parts. You were above that call, somehow, and I would say that is worth my courtesy." "Then please," Miserix offered, "speak freely." I took a deep breath and sighed, staring into Miserix's electric lime eyes. "With all due respect, I would take great caution in engaging Drelinok." Miserix's lieutenant growled in revulsion at the notion, leaning forward and visibly annoyed. "At ease," the scarlet Makuta said calmly, motioning Teridax to stand down. "No offense taken. Isn't that right?" Teridax scoffed. "You must find more humor in what a fool this Meldin is than I do. Clearly, I'm fixating on how outrageous it is to think one entity could destroy us." Miserix glared at him. "Whenever you fret over your pride being at stake, it keeps you from seeing why it is prudent to take steps to educate yourself." "I have a right to my pride," Teridax argued, "for I am a being of great power." "Knowledge is power," Miserix replied condescendingly. Teridax glanced away without another word, leading his superior back to a conversation with me. "Describe this enemy of ours, Adrinor," Miserix requested. "Tell me what you know about him, and let me understand the qualities that justify your concerns." I nodded. "Okay then." "This should be good," Teridax muttered. "Out!" Miserix snapped at his lieutenant. "Now! You will wait for our guests at the dock." Teridax wasted no time in storming to the far door, whispering angry curses all the way. Miserix released a furious groan before pinching his eyebrows toward one another. "I apologize for him. Please, proceed." "Very well," I said. "Drelinok is the single most unwavering biomech I have ever known. He is persuasive, opportunistic, and not above destroying someone or something that stands between him and an objective. He also possesses a loyalty to anyone who acts in his service, and I have seen him reward even the most sycophantic gestures. He is not a lumbering beast of a warlord or anything quite so crude; everything about Drelinok is refined and particular. He chooses his words carefully, but he knows he has a way with them. His actions are deliberate yet smooth, because he made them familiar. And he recognizes his inability to be a good sport, meaning Drelinok often chooses not to engage in events where he predicts an abysmal defeat." "A fine commander knows when to listen to the wisdom of his lieutenants," Miserix replied. "He can hear the truth, even when it is buried beneath courtesy and deference. Tell me something, Adrinor, and be no less than honest with it. Do you believe Drelinok foresaw a victory against my forces this night?" "That wasn't the point," I said, making my own realization of the matter as I spoke. "Drelinok was a field commander, not the type to delegate or issue orders from his chambers. If the campaign was critical, he was there alongside his soldiers. I think he was testing you…all of you. If I were a military strategist, I would take stock of every potential threat to my autonomy and assess their firepower. That's what Drelinok was doing. He sent an armada and wanted to see what you would do. Only when his options are exhausted, when a retaliation has left him more desperate or determined than what mere curiosity your existence has stirred in him, then he will come." "You are worried," Miserix declared. "Did you ever face this Meldin on the battlefield?" I shook my head. "I left Meldio before it came to that. What discourages me is what the warring army on Meldio once told me about Drelinok. They called themselves the Collective, and they often said that Drelinok's presence in the combat zone was always met with failure. Much like the Barraki, he carried enough influence to demand his soldiers fight to their very last, and they did. His directions were swift and his movements were impossibly thought out for dancing with death. They said it was like watching something more than a biomech go to battle with them. They said it was like divinity on the wind." "What the mind will conjure when blinded by fear," Miserix said, a grim smile plastered on his face. "I appreciate your candor tonight, Adrinor. Living in a universe of constant change, it can be difficult to know who can be trusted. I am rewarding your behavior with a symbol of trust." Miserix reached into a compartment on his armor and produced a small triangular item. He extended it to me and I accepted, turning over the device in my hand. "That is a Tablet of Transit," Miserix explained. "Makuta Teridax once suggested to me that these would serve as a means to identifying friend from foe in our expansive world. Only a Makuta can present these as a token of our good will and protection. You will notice the insignia bears the picture of Teridax's mask, the one of a kind Kanohi Kraahkan. It was his idea to introduce these little devices, and I left the artwork in his hands. Make no mistake, however, that I am the final authority on the Brotherhood's allies and enemies." "I'll keep it close, and I'll keep that in mind," I replied, putting the item away. "Thank you very much, Makuta Miserix. This is more than I could have asked for." "On your way now, warriors. Your transports should be waiting for you at the dock by now, and I am certain that Teridax will bid you farewell for us." The leader of the Brotherhood left us without another word and I had no intention of lingering on Destral. Despite my curiosity about what mysterious, monstrous Rahi might be locked below, I was not looking to challenge Miserix's kindness by snooping around his home. We found the gateway that led to the dock and headed out, finding Makuta Teridax waiting with an impatient expression on his face. "Is he done with you now?" Teridax asked. "Yeah, he's done. We're leaving." We followed Teridax toward the edge of the dock, and I stood at his side as we walked along. I looked up at his Mask of Shadows, waiting for him to say anything. "From what I understand, Drelinok's power has left you greatly perturbed. It may put you at ease to know that we have dispatched Krika and Cevezia to investigate his whereabouts and track any energy signatures of the Light Warriors we encountered. His transgression on this island will be treated as an act of war and, as such, Meldio will be under examination as well." "Do you remember me?" I asked. Teridax put his arm in my way and we both stopped walking. He gave me a once-over with his deep, ruby eyes, and I could almost feel the calculations behind them. His eyes widened for a second. "The Northern Continent, outside Valantru. We spoke briefly on the morning after my victory over the Barraki; it was a momentous time for us all. Were you not traveling with a Nohtalian that day?" "That's right," I said, smiling wistfully. "He's…gone now." Teridax was visibly taken aback by my words and I looked at him in confusion. "Have you never lost someone you care about?" I wondered. "It takes someone worth caring about in the first place," Teridax replied nonchalantly. "Regardless, your friend served the Great Spirit to fight alongside my legions. I am sure he met his destiny proudly, as we should all aspire to do." "It's a comforting thought," I said. "If you could indulge my curiosity for a moment, though, I must ask you something. What do you imagine became of the Barraki on that fateful night?" The Makuta gave me a twisted grin before answering. "They failed to see how unfit they were to take the throne of Mata Nui and were struck down for it. The truth weighs on my thoughts from time to time, but in the end, I usually imagine them dead." Review

You did not desert me, my brothers in arms. –Dire Straits Episode 05: Reunion in Radiance We slept in peace after our encounter with the Frostelus, distant enough from their dwellings that we knew the danger was far behind us. After a good night's rest, we all began to stir around midmorning. There was little to talk about, our journey was nearly over. I suppose that is a funny way of putting it, as Jovan and his team would have the task of claiming the Mask of Life. I was far more interested in finding out if Trylac was truly alive. It was a few more hours of driving until we reached the base of Mt. Valmai, finally dismounting our speeders. Toa Jovan put his hands on his hips as he surveyed the area with a smile. "The volcano is a bit much, but there's something nice about this region. Very agreeable." Elendra rolled her eyes. "Yeah, it's breathtaking. Now, I thought you said we'd be meeting up with your contact here." A towering figure stepped out from behind several large boulders, wielding the largest axe I had ever seen in my life. His bright green eyes narrowed on me and he pointed the weapon in our direction. "That's not Trylac," I breathed, firing the gunblade at him. The entity blocked my attack with the broad side of his axe, glaring back. "A Meldin. It has been a very long time since I have seen one of your kind. I was not aware your species had a warrior class. Are you so eager for combat?" "This is the team that Trylac had us seek out, Axonn," Valtriak said. "They are all very adept fighters." "This one, Toa of water, I wish to test. He carries much within himself…things he would like to hide away from the world." He returned his attention to me, his silver mask emitting a faint gray glow. "You cannot hide from me." "Sounds like I'm not the only one looking for a fight," I replied, wrapping a finger around the gunblade's trigger. Axonn smirked. "Come forth." I ran at him, swinging the gunblade and firing a round for his mask. His axe deflected it and he brought the blade down with so much force, the ground shifted beneath me. I stumbled back, haphazardly firing a few more rounds. They bounced off his armor like harmless pellets and Axonn raised his weapon high for another strike. He sunk the blade into the ground again, but I leapt at the exact second it landed. He watched me vault the axe and just as I was about to slice his chestplate wide open, Axonn landed a solid punch with my abdomen. He knocked the wind out of me and I went reeling, my gunblade flipping and landing near my position. I could hear Axonn's booming steps coming closer and I scrambled for my weapon, holding it ready for the next round. "You are courageous and determined," he said. "That's the positive side. Remember, Meldin, I have seen what lurks beneath your surface. Now we both know the negative side." "I wouldn't let his abilities unnerve you too much," someone else said, entering the scene. He was clad in azure and gold armor, just as sturdy looking as Axonn and wielding a double-sided blade. "Have you ever seen a mask like his?" I studied Axonn's Kanohi and vaguely recalled seeing one on Xia once. "It's a…Rode. No wonder you said you could see beneath my surface." "The truth always comes out, in the end," Axonn told me. He motioned to the new figure and added, "This is my ally, Brutaka." Jovan stepped forward and smiled at them. "We entered the city of Metru Nui, fought our way through the warzone, and located the information you wanted us to seek. We even found a Kanohi Elda." "One of you should wear it," Brutaka replied. "The mask will guide you." Ticonahk approached Jovan and said, "Let me take it. I'll see the way for us." Jovan handed over the Elda and Ticonahk quickly replaced his Pehkui with it. We watched him stand completely frozen, mumbling incoherently as he witnessed things we could only imagine. "Ticonahk?" Jovan asked worriedly. "Are you all right? What is it? What can you see?" Ticonahk put his head down and took a few long breaths. "The Mask of Life is below, beyond traps and trials. The tablet in the Archives was right." "Which raises one last point," I said, looking accusingly at Axonn and Brutaka. "Why send us on a suicide mission? The Archives told us the Mask of Life was here, and Jovan's team knew to meet you here. I don't often subscribe to the possibility of coincidences. You knew." Everyone turned to Axonn and Brutaka, but our answer came gliding down on insectoid wings and stood at their side. He had not changed a bit in almost a millennium, still armored in deep blue and brilliant emerald. He had four garnet eyes—bug eyes—and mandibles surrounding his mouth. He was a Dectraz, and his name was Trylac. "Of course we knew," he told us. "To know the will of Mata Nui is so great a burden, and some wishes cannot be overturned. The journey to Metru Nui was foretold of the Great Spirit's saviors long ago. We did not know it would be Jovan, nor did we know he would have outlaws at his side, but certain events must transpire. This is the way of the world." I put the gunblade on my back and walked up to Trylac, wanting to be overjoyed that my friend still lived. The harsh reality was a bit different. "A lot has changed," I said, offering a hand. "Not really," Trylac replied, shaking in return. "I no longer have a reason to deceive you, Adrinor. I have been watching you a long time…and I watched Rovaius even longer." "Don't you say his name," I growled. "I don't know what you're caught up in, but you left us to die. You left me to die. I'm glad that you're alive, but I'd like some answers." "Agreed," Elendra added, standing next to me. "Your friend Trylac has upheld the will of Mata Nui for a very long time," Axonn said. "He has done more for this universe than you might think." "That doesn't explain why he abandoned us," I argued. "A Makuta shot me through the abdomen right out of the sky," Trylac said, tapping on a black scar in his armor. "Aside from the burning pain of my wounds, there was no tracking you in the rainstorm, Adrinor. I thought the Makuta killed all of you because we had incurred his wrath. When I finally located you again, I wanted to keep my distance. I've been…busy, these last several hundred years. The journey with Rovaius was insightful and eye-opening, but it was his relationship with Barraki Pridak that kept me near. I have no reason to stay with you, but you don't need me anyway. I can see you've grown into a fine leader." "You did call me an outlaw a few minutes ago," I reminded him. "There are worse words for what you've done, and it would be highly hypocritical of me to use them," Trylac said, chuckling. "We should move. Toa Jovan and his team are coming with me to the forest - the Green Belt as some call it." "This is excellent," Jovan said happily. "My own team combined with Adrinor's could no doubt"- "It doesn't work like that," Trylac cut him off. The Toa of magnetism frowned. "I don't…I don't understand. We came all this way together." "They may accompany us into the woods," Trylac started, "but your voyage down the staircase is yours alone. This is the will of Mata Nui, that his champions may see him through to safety. Adrinor and the others may not follow you, for there are things you will encounter that only those pure of soul might survive. Anything less would mean your death, and the Great Beings intended it so. You truly are the chosen ones, Toa, and your moment is coming soon. Before the day is won, and the Ignika found, the universe will ask much of you. You must all be prepared." I looked at Jovan's team, feeling sorry for their worried and anxious expressions. I had no idea what they might encounter beneath the volcano and, the way Trylac spoke, I really had no interest in finding out. "What happens when we reach the mask?" Argeph asked. "Where do we take it?" "To the heart of all things," Brutaka told him solemnly. "The Ignika knows the way." "It knows?" Haltryox wondered. "We have said enough," Trylac decided. "We're going." "Back on the speeders, everyone," I ordered. "Follow my lead through the sky," Trylac said. "Axonn and Brutaka will follow close behind on foot." "Yes, I could use a good run today," Axonn said, smiling. Trylac's wings moved rapidly and he soared off. I activated my transport and hurried after him, finding myself smiling. It almost felt like the old days, having him on my side again. And then I remembered the gunblade was on my back, and I knew that it would never be exactly the same. After all the years of hiding, it took a cataclysm for Trylac to reveal himself. I thought for a long time that if I ever saw Trylac again, I would be upset and furious, but instead I was overcome by nostalgia. I was very inexperienced the last time I saw him, and it was fair of him to think I had died at a Makuta's hand. There was no room for emotional responses that day, and Trylac had to make a logical decision. Ultimately, I had to admit it was the right call. "Hello, Adrinor." It was Drelinok's voice, surrounding my thoughts. He was in my mind. "What do you want?" I asked quietly. I noticed in my peripheral vision that Jovan was looking ahead at me, probably thinking I was talking to him. I tried to be inconspicuous as I listened for Drelinok to speak again. "I see you have arrived at your destination. The Toa in your group wish to fulfill their destiny and rescue the Great Spirit. I often wondered what power destiny might have in the face of a divine being that argues the matter." "Where are you?" I hissed. "Far from you," Drelinok laughed. "I think I'll send some company to liven up the party. You'll like them, actually. You think you're so smart, and they're a bright bunch. Literally. Just you wait and see." Bright lights began to dot the landscape, clouding my vision as I tried to focus on the forest in the distance. I searched for Trylac and noticed he was wielding a compound bow as he flew along, taking aim at the brilliant glowing orbs. "Adrinor?" Jovan called over the wind. "Be ready for anything!" I shouted back. "It's Drelinok!" Jovan unlimbered his weapon and aimed it along our right side, completely unsure of what to aim at. Suddenly, the lights exploded and a horde of Toa-like soldiers surrounded us. They were featureless, only bright and lemon colored. Then they started firing bolts of light from their hands, blasting the ground with their power. I could dodge them, maybe even outrun them, but we had to reach wherever Trylac was taking us. Jovan had to succeed. One of Trylac's arrows landed in a Light Warrior's head, shattering the entity like glass. The Toa started firing on the entities as well, blasting them apart with single shots. The other soldiers of light were morphing back into orbs and flying ahead of us before rematerializing as bipedal creatures and blasting the speeders. We were all taking fire from them, but Elendra's machines seemed to be holding up for the most part. "I think we're going to make it!" Jovan yelled. In the instant I took my attention from driving to listen to the Toa of magnetism, a Light Warrior snuck out from behind a tree and slammed his fist into the front of the speeder. Jovan and I went flying, tumbling off the transport and rolling through dirt and dust and shrubs. Trying to stay focused, I watched the Light Warriors begin to slaughter several of the local fauna - arachnid Rahi called Dagger Spiders. The warriors tossed the broken bodies into a pile and more orbs of light began to appear, entering the damaged mechanical forms. The metal fused together, wrapping pieces around on another as the monstrosity grew larger. At last, the amalgamation was a giant Dagger Spider, staring down at me with a pair of yellow orbs where the eyes should have been. "To battle, Adrinor," Drelinok whispered in my thoughts. Jovan moved to separate the parts, but they were hardly budging. Drelinok's light was more powerful than a Toa's element, it seemed. "I can't tear it down," Jovan told me. "Then we'll rip it apart my way," I replied, running toward the colossal spider. The Light Spider plunged its sharp leg into the dirt, attempting to impale me. I swung my gunblade and severed the leg, causing the creature to screech. A stream of the creature's toxin sputtered out of the wound, burning an acidic hole through a patch of grass. I wondered if the Light Warriors could feel pain, or only simulate what the Dagger Spiders would have done in life. Whatever this thing was, it was no longer a Rahi. "Incoming!" Axonn boomed, hurling his axe into the creature's face. The spider staggered backward, flailing back and forth in an attempt to remove the weapon. At last, the head exploded and Axonn's blade went soaring back at him. The spider head reformed and hissed at us, hardly given an opening before Brutaka moved in and began slicing the legs apart. I assisted him, cutting through the metal with the gunblade and thrusting it into the thorax section. I dove out of the way and the spider fell as I expected. Instead of going to retrieve my weapon, I searched for my team. The other speeders were far ahead, and I could see they were contending with other Light Warriors flanking them. Trylac was still overhead and the spider was finished when Axonn came to my side and gave me a smirk. "I think you want this," he said, handing over the gunblade. "If you'd like, I can tell them you got it started for me." Axonn lumbered forward and slammed his blade through the middle of the spider, slicing it right in half. The essence of light surrounding the machine faded away and I gave Axonn an impressed nod. "Bring me the speeder, Jovan," I said. The Toa of magnetism activated his element and lifted the transport back to us. We hopped on and I hit the override to Elendra's governor in the speeder, hurtling forward into the woods. Axonn and Brutaka would arrive soon enough, but I felt responsible for protecting Jovan's team all the way to their mysterious staircase. Jovan kept firing at the orbs following us, and I tried my best to ignore the war in my mind. "There's no stopping me, this is only a formality." "Get out of my head." "There's no trying, and you know I'm right. Do you remember what I promised on the day I started the war, Adrinor? I said that there are consequence for standing in the way of the future." "It doesn't matter!" "I'll see you soon, Adrinor. And dead or alive, you're mine!" "Leave me alone!" Saying something out loud snapped me back to reality, and I reactivated the speed regulator. I had nearly caught up with the rest of the group and I could see Trylac was descending into a nearby clearing. The orbs of light were diminishing back into the nothing from which they came, and I had to wonder how extensive Drelinok's new abilities truly were. We dismounted the speeders, awaiting further instructions from Axonn or Brutaka. "All right, someone needs to tell me what just happened," Brutaka demanded. "It's a long story," I admitted awkwardly. "I'll get the briefing from him on it," Trylac told his large friend. Jovan and his team put their tools away and their leader folded his arms, giving me a smile. "That was really something," he said. "I've had better days," I replied, taking his compliment as casually as I could. "Looks like this is where we take our separate paths. I have to know one thing though, Adrinor. Was it all about the money, or are you at all satisfied that you may have played a role in saving the world?" "I think you know," I told him. "Good luck down there…to your whole team. We're all counting on you." "No pressure, right?" Ticonahk asked sarcastically. Hadliek scanned the area and glanced at Axonn. "Hey, where is this staircase everyone is talking about, anyway?" "You think we'd leave it in plain sight?" Axonn questioned, activating his Kanohi. His expression became frustrated and he sighed. "You do think we'd leave it in plain sight." "These ones are harmless," Brutaka said. "Not to offend any of you, your skills in battle are…adequate. I simply mean that you pose no harm on a universal scale." I furrowed my brow and gave a defeated nod. "Fair enough." "Show them, Axonn," Brutaka suggested. Axonn pushed by us and spun his axe around in his hands a few times. He then gripped it hard and aimed for a patch of dirt near the edge of the clearing, firing a beam of raw energy that tore through the earth and revealed the uppermost edges of an ancient-looking staircase. The soil was steaming from Axonn's power and he lowered the weapon, turning back to us. "You will provide no greater service to the world than what you are about to embark on, brave Toa. There are Matoran not far from here, fearful that these are the end of days. Give them hope…give them a future." "Well said, Axonn," Trylac replied. "Come, Adrinor. There is nothing more we can do for them." "Farewell," Jovan told us. His fellow Toa echoed the sentiment, giving us a few brief waves. "Farewell is for dying," I said, walking away. "I'll see you around!" Trylac followed me away from the scene, keeping pace as we returned to the speeders. "So you've been watching me, huh?" I began. "I must be pretty special to your boss." "Rovaius was special to my boss, authorizing me to confront even those in our organization if suspicions were raised. After you spent time around him and the Barraki, you and Elendra became just as special. You are privy to a piece of history that the Brotherhood tried to erase, but it's more than just that. I believed we would need you one day, and I was right." "Your organization isn't big on being in the spotlight, are they?" "As far as anyone else is concerned, Adrinor, we don't exist," Trylac said coldly. "Understood," I replied, pulling out the mechanical part I found in the Archives. "Do you know what this is? We located it in Onu-Metru and I haven't been able to comprehend its function. It was among Drelinok's tablets about a power amplification machine." "Who is Drelinok?" Trylac asked. "He's, uh…the one responsible for the lights." Trylac took the part and started to examine it closely. "Keep talking." "Drelinok is a Meldin who locked himself away in a power amplification chamber. The experiment failed and sealed him in stasis for a very long time. I went home to Meldio the other day and we accidentally set him free. He says he's the most powerful being in the universe now, maybe even stronger than the Great Spirit. He entered my mind and spoke to me before the soldiers of light appeared, and I think he's capable of much more. He went to war with Meldio long ago, when he was a common Meldin, and he won after slaughtering all who opposed him. He wants a perfect world, and he'll do anything to achieve it." "This would not be a part for a power amplification machine," Trylac determined quietly, handing it back to me. "But keep it close, because I'm not sure what it would be used for." "And what about Drelinok? Are you concerned?" "Notably," Trylac replied. "I'll inform Axonn and Brutaka, and we'll make plans to assess what damage this Meldin could cause." "Anything I should do in the meantime?" Trylac shook his head. "I'll be in touch if we need you. Otherwise, return to Stelt, rest in your own bed, and return to your life. It's not the most admirable line of work, but I am proud of you Adrinor. Rovaius would be proud too." "Thank you," I said, smiling. "I hope to see you again soon." "Nothing personal, but I'm glad Elendra was never as sentimental as you. She and I understand that sometimes less is more when it comes to words. On your way now, Adrinor." "I suppose that's as close to 'nice to see you too' as you'll tread," I said, hopping onto one of the speeders. "I'll take what I can get." Review

It's so easy to blow up your problems; it's so easy to play up your breakdown. –The Cars Episode 04: A Point of Contention When Toa Jovan told me about the twilit lands less fortunate than Stelt, one of the victims to which he referred was the Southern Continent. Elendra had taken our aircraft to the southeastern edge of the landmass and narrowly managed a safe landing. The crash on Meldio had compromised the hull integrity to a greater degree than expected, and Elendra refused to take the ship any further than she had to. We spent the night there and everyone had a chance to catch some sleep before continuing on for Mt. Valmai. I can attest to how well the rest of the team slept, because I found myself wide awake through most of the night. Celvey had temporarily put my mind at ease after our encounter with Drelinok, but the more I thought about it, the more concerned I became. It seemed there were no lasting effects of his war against the Collective though, and Meldio would have been perfectly fine if not for the snowstorm. Even the Directorate building, the pristine tower from which all judicial decisions were finalized, was without a security fence or guards on patrol. When we were friends, Drelinok often dreamed about a perfect world where Meldin could live in harmony forever. I wondered if that was his lasting legacy, and if his war had led to the utopia he always hoped for. A great loss of life was the price our species paid, but Drelinok did not seem mentally unchanged by his time in the stasis chamber. He had developed something of a god complex—that much was certain—but if his goal for peace still meant destroying anyone who stood in his way, another war was right around the corner. It was late in the morning when I exited the ship. The sky was smeared in a dusky shade of deep blue, mixed with fiery reds and oranges. I clutched my arms against my chest when an ocean breeze came up to meet me, unprepared for the chilliness in the air. In all the quiet years I spent on the Southern Continent, the humid climate had been a routine of clear days and warm nights. Toa Valtriak was standing alone on the beach, staring out toward the direction of Meldio with her feet in the surf. I marched up to the Toa of water and slowly immersed my feet in the cold ocean, standing at Valtriak's side. "What are we looking at?" I asked. "I am listening for the Great Spirit," she replied. "Through the bitter cold, I can sense something is there. He lives, but for how long, I do not know." "You figured that out by standing in the water?" Valtriak shook her head. "You seem to suggest this took an explanation, but it is just a feeling I am in tune with. It's difficult to describe to someone with no elemental affiliation." I smirked at her. "There are some of us better off without access to things like that. I have a question for you though. Have you ever fired an energy bullet?" "No," Valtriak said, taken aback by my inquiry. She pointed to her glaive that was resting in the sand. "That is a tool, capable of fostering and guiding, or breaking. What you have is a weapon, designed with lethality in mind. Toa keep a code that does not permit that level of engagement." "Then they are deliberately putting themselves at a disadvantage," I replied sharply, walking over and scooping up the glaive. I pointed the blade of the Toa tool at Valtriak and stood ready for combat. "You're going after a legendary Kanohi and even Drelinok might stand in your way. You must be prepared to do anything in your power to put down a threat. You have an element at your disposal, you have watched me in battle, and I know next to nothing about your fighting techniques. There should be no reason you cannot beat me." Toa were a noble breed, but even they had a breaking point. Armed with nothing but her element, Valtriak stared me down with so much indignation, and I thought a tidal wave might swallow me right then. She took a fighting stance and I ran at her, leaping with the glaive ready to strike. The Toa dove out of harm's way, clumsily falling into the sand. I had learned to chain my attacks long ago, moving from a slash to a thrust in a second. I could not be sure if she was going to let me impale her on her own blade, but she gave me an answer quickly enough. I was within half a bio of her breastplate when I suddenly felt the absence of sand beneath my feet and Valtriak's influence dragged me beneath the water. I struggled through the swirling torrent, encased in a sphere of ocean water. Through the raging liquid, I could see Valtriak holding out her arm, maintaining steady control. It was not enough that she had me; she was forcing the water into my mouth. If nothing else, I had to admire her enthusiasm, curious if she was fueled by the fact that she watched me shoot and kill biomechs. At last, the sphere was thrown onto the beach, collapsing on impact. I sat there on my back for a moment, barely holding on to the Toa tool. I coughed up spurts of the water and attempted to regain my sense of balance. "Had enough?" she asked. I got to my feet, letting the glaive drop to the wet sand. I was hunched forward, my hands balled into fists. "What else have you got?" I spat. Valtriak glared before running headlong at me, a sphere of water spinning in each hand. The truth of the matter was that, while I had swallowed some ocean water, I was far from beaten. My stance suggested otherwise, and it led to Valtriak underestimating her opponent. Before she could attack, I pulled the gunblade from my back and, with the precision of a Sanok, grazed the very top of her translucent blue Akaku. The water vanished from her hands and Valtriak stumbled forward in a state of shock. "Easy there!" I said, catching her around the waist. Valtriak stared at me, completely stunned while she gasped over and over. "You…almost killed me. I almost…"- "Died, yes," I finished for her. "I wasn't going to kill you, I was just trying to prove a point." Both of our teams poured out of the ship, obviously alarmed. All the Toa hurried over to me, carefully lifting Valtriak out of my grasp and holding her steady. "We heard your weapon go off," Haltryox said. "What was going on out here?" "Training exercise," I explained. "She'll be fine." "Valtriak?" Ticonahk whispered curiously. I stared at the Toa of water, waiting for her to expose my straightforward attempt at teaching a lesson. "I'm not hurt, just a bit shaken," she assured her teammates. Valtriak released herself and took her glaive from the sand before storming up to me. "Was that supposed to make me more cautious or were you simply trying to remind me that you're able to take a life?" "If you won't kill an enemy, you need to be prepared for the possibility that they may feel differently about you. Let them live if you must, but give them a reason to not want to get back up. Even the dullest creature will remember a certain magnitude of pain inflicted upon it." "You're talking about torture," she said. "I'm talking about persuasion through force," I argued. "I don't get to act superior to my adversaries and wave the banner of a hero in their faces. I have to work with what I've got, and sometimes that means drastic measures. Sometimes, it means reminding someone that death may be the least of their worries." Valtriak looked at me in disgust and I sighed. "I'm only telling you this because I admire what you're trying to achieve. There's a supercharged, vainglorious murderer that I just unleashed upon the universe, and he will destroy you if you let him." "We could have already saved Mata Nui if not for your insistence on going home." "I know," I said, outwardly annoyed. "And now, not only have we been delayed, but your old friend might just kill us before we can reach the Mask of Life?" "That's enough." "I don't know what Trylac was thinking to entrust you with our lives." The gunblade fell from my grip and I struck Valtriak's cheek with my open hand. It had just barely been enough to make her stop talking, and she stared at me in total surprise, her mouth just barely hanging open. "You crossed the line," Haltryox growled, marching toward me. Valtriak summoned a wall of water between her fellow Toa and myself. "I crossed the line first. Not that it gives him the right to slap me." "I am not a hero," I told her, taking a glance at her stunned comrades for a moment. "I told you on Meldio that I won't let the universe fall because it seems wrong that so many should perish for the actions of so few. If we could survive in a world without Mata Nui, however, I would let him die without a second thought." "Then you are a cruel and ungrateful monster," the Toa of water said, evaporating the wall of liquid. I bent down and grabbed my gunblade. "From an economic standpoint, the Matoran war in the north has adversely affected the markets on several high-traffic islands. There is a rumor that, decades ago, someone requested all personnel working for the Shadowed One to be dispatched to Metru Nui and forcibly end the fighting. Sometimes the story goes that they were a Vortixx, other times a Steltian. In all versions, this individual was an entrepreneur with something to lose without goods sailing out of Metru Nui. I imagine such an operation would have been successful, but the entrepreneur did not possess the riches to make the Dark Hunters bend to their will." "What does that have to do with anything?" Valtriak asked, still upset with me. "The Dark Hunters, like my own crew, are swayed by payment. In my line of work, if the price is right, a deal can be arranged. Now let me answer your question. The last Toa of water I killed was named Kriisan." Valtriak made a sound, an audible revulsion of my words. I continued anyway. "There exists a species of exotic Rahi in her homeland called Xylen. These creatures grow a small patch of the rare material called iridiex on the top of their skull. A Xylen is a majestic and powerful beast, galloping through fields and charging at potential threats. They are often killed if someone wishes to safely extract the iridiex. It sells for such a hefty price in certain areas, but Kriisan and her team felt the Rahi should be protected regardless of this fact. In the competitive market of hired guns, the unionized Dark Hunters are known for doing the job perfectly in exchange for a considerable amount. To stay employed, I am usually willing to charge less for similar tasks. The mission that introduced me to Kriisan was to stop the Toa team from upholding an island-wide ban on hunting the Xylen." "So you just sailed there and shot the Toa, is that right?" Valtriak presumed. "Not so," I replied. "I met with them, I invited them out to eat, and we had a chat about the dispute at hand. Within a couple hours, I could see they would not be reasoned with. I bid them farewell, tracked them in the night, and then they were shot." Valtriak frowned. "I think we've wasted plenty of time talking. Mt. Valmai awaits, and I recognize that we may still require your services." She extended a hand to me and I reached out to accept the offer. I was legitimately surprised that a Toa would sneak an uppercut into my jaw at her earliest opening. There had been a small part of my mind that was nagging me to keep my guard up, and I ignored it for reasons unknown. Valtriak had unwittingly turned my own lesson back on me, and I underestimated my opponent. The Toa started heading back toward the ship and I decided to stay put on my back. I could hear footsteps approaching and quickly found Celvey staring down from above my head. "You're not here to help me up, are you?" "You slapped her," Celvey replied, disapprovingly. "I would have decked you in the mouth for that myself." "I was provoked." "Aren't you the one always telling us how the last owner of your gunblade believed that emotions were a loss of freedom and sensible thought?" "And he had his moments too," I replied. "I'm still not helping you up," Celvey said adamantly. I rolled over and picked myself up from the sand, returning the gunblade to my back. Elendra was stepping inside the ship when Jovan called out to me. "How do you expect us to cross half the continent? Surely not on foot. Mt. Valmai is easily more than a mio from here!" Before I could respond, Elendra had apparently reached the controls. Several compartments unsealed from the sides of the ship, ejecting 5 hover speeders onto the beach. "Looks like you've got your answer," I told him, walking up to one of the speeders. "What am I looking at, Adrinor?" "These are hover speeders. Elendra recently built them as prototypes based on technology the Trelbans had been working on." "And this is going to be their first test run," Elendra added, returning from the controls. "I've gotten them up and running before, but they've never crossed vast distances. I'm curious to see how well they handle the strain." "How fast are they?" Haltryox asked. "I designed their top speed to max out around eighty kio per hour, but the operator can override the governor if necessary," Elendra said proudly. "The Le-Metru Moto Hub would have a field day with one of these. Go ahead and power them on, and the Toa can ride as passengers." Elendra lifted her leg over the seat of her speeder and leaned forward onto the controls. She activated it and the machine quietly lifted off the ground, hovering in wait for its next instruction. I hopped on one of the speeders and Jovan took a seat behind me. "Think you'll have a hard time holding on?" I wondered. "I'll keep my power on low in case I need to regain my balance or something," Jovan replied. "I'll be fine." I glanced around to take stock of our teams, but Elendra abruptly revved her machine and took off along the coast. I activated mine and looked over my shoulder when Jovan said, "Huh, so that's how they work. I can sense magnetic pulses among the electronics. Very creative." "She's a genius wrapped in a psychopath, that one," I said with a laugh. <<<>>> We drove all day up the Southern Continent, keeping a distance from any towns or settlements. Distractions were the reason Drelinok was actively roaming the universe and I would not have another burden like that weighing on me until Toa Jovan and his team completed their objective of retrieving the Mask of Life. If they could pull off an accomplishment like that, I had to believe nothing was beyond me too. The edge of the Tren Krom River was in sight when I spotted a clearing to make camp and began slowing down. The other speeders came to a halt and I deactivated mine, hopping off the seat. "We can stop here," I told the group, curious if I would be able to see their facial features if not for their glowing eyes. I stared up at the great dome that housed the Southern Continent, into hazy blues and faded tangerine. It was so late, but the sky would grow no darker than a twilight scene. "Do you smell that?" Ticonahk asked everyone. "It's like…something burning, but…not quite." Kyrhus took a whiff of the air and nodded. "It's familiar. I can't say why, but I've smelled it before. Rather unkind to the senses, to say the least." "It can wait, I'm sure we're all tired," Celvey said. "Long day of driving will do that to you." "Don't let your guard down so easily, Princess," Elendra quipped. "You don't know what's out there." "And you do?" Celvey questioned. "I don't," Elendra replied, "and that's what makes me careful. Not a fear of the unknown, but a respect for what it could hide." "I think I found the source of our foul stench on the wind," Toa Argeph said. He was standing over a Burnak—the stone variety—that had been slashed open and brutally killed. Kyrhus approached and took a sniff for himself. "Not very pleasant either, but this is a different smell. Something powerful managed to stalk and kill this Rahi, definitely utilizing some excessive force. Also, I can tell the Burnak was still alive for a while after suffering this injury." "Could've done without knowing that," Argeph replied. "Well whatever did it is long gone now," I said, trying to reassure even myself as I sat down next to the speeder I had driven all day. "Don't wake me for anything smaller than a Muaka." The rest of the group started propping themselves up against the speeders, knowing there was no chance of a truly comfortable sleep out in the wilderness. It was hard to know if Toa Jovan's team was accustomed to such things, and I did not care enough to ask. I let my head rest on the speeder, knowing sleep would come soon. It was my first moment of relief since Drelinok had woken up. I closed my eyes and let my thoughts run back and forth for a while, just wondering what I might do if I had to confront Drelinok in combat. It was hard to tell how much time passed as we rested there in the dark, and I paused to take in the moment. The chill that haunted the air by the coast was long gone, replaced by the humidity I knew the Southern Continent to be famous for. I could hear the chirping of insects, the occasional call of a bird, and the constant rapid flow of the Tren Krom River. And then there came a different sound. A loud cracking noise jarred me wide awake, and I squinted my eyes in thought. It had to be a tree coming down. The cracking sound came again, louder and longer this time. It made no sense to me. Another crack echoed out, followed by a screech. I thought hard about where I had heard that animalistic cry before, thinking back through my adventures to the best of my abilities. When an answer came, I was not sure I wanted to deal with the truth of the matter. Everything added up. The cracking noise, the smell, and even the dead Burnak…they were all tied to the same thing. I scrambled around the speeders on all fours, pushing and shaking awake my companions. I reached Kyrhus last and I could see his emerald eyes were already open and active. "I see we both just stumbled onto a similar conclusion," Kyrhus said, his snout faintly twitching. "It was the smell that gave them away. I can't believe we didn't realize it sooner." "Can you see them?" I asked. Kyrhus scanned the Tren Krom River and nodded quickly. "I can…and they're drawing closer. We could try and go around them, but it's quite a risk. Their territory could span a great distance along the river." Hadliek crawled next to us and lifted up his heavy pistol. "Then we'll fight our way through them. Full disclosure, I have no idea who or what we're talking about, but I'm going to assume fighting our way through is a viable option." Argeph kept his thick voice to an angry whisper when he asked, "What is going on here?" Kyrhus narrowed his sight on the Tren Krom. "There is a pack of Frostelus traveling down the river by way of icebergs. It would appear they are leaving their frozen dwellings to investigate an intruder to their territory." "Three guesses who that intruder might be," Hadliek said. Kyrhus motioned the rest of the group over to us and they did as requested. Elendra had a revolver ready and the Toa were waiting with their tools in hand. Celvey was still unarmed, but I could read her concerned expression. "Kyrhus determined we've got Frostelus coming down the river," I started. "They are nasty, vicious, and a few well-placed claws could put you down for good. You will do whatever it takes to survive, and if you aren't holding yourself to a Toa's standard tonight, executions are encouraged." "You would exterminate a pack of Rahi that is acting only on instinct?" Haltryox asked, obviously shocked. "That tone," I muttered. "I've had just about enough of the judgmental chatter among your team. It boggles my mind how any of your kind are still alive if you provide the utmost courtesy to anything that threatens your life. Now to answer the question, yes, I would certainly exterminate them, Toa Haltryox. I'm not letting a pack of smelly, angry creatures be my end, and if you're that concerned about the Frostelus, maybe stop off on Destral and ask the Brotherhood to make a few more." "Okay, enough talk," Hadliek told us. "Let's shoot something." "For once, we're on the same wavelength," Elendra replied. Hadliek flipped the activator on his pistol and launched an incendiary round into the distant dark. I could tell it struck one of the Rahi, because an enraged screech followed. The Todrano vaulted the speeder, took off running toward the river, and we followed his lead. I loaded the chamber on my gunblade and could see the Frostelus were swarming on the riverbank. They growled and hissed at our presence, retaliating with an array of ice blue disks from their shoulders. Hadliek's pistol was still in activator mode and I watched 9 more fiery bullets assault the Frostelus. Elendra outran us and attempted to start popping headshots on the Rahi. We had encountered the creatures once before, curious if the pack we saw last time was particularly well-armored. Watching every bullet from Elendra's pistols ricochet managed to tell us that all Frostelus had thick hides of armor. "You might want a little fire kick to those rounds, Elendra!" Hadliek shouted while he finished reloading. He gave a chuckle at her expense and continued firing away at the Frostelus. From behind us, Celvey's sonic assault rifle couldn't put a dent in them and it looked like Kyrhus was carefully sniping for openings in the Frostelus' armor. His rounds were staggering the creatures, but they were hardly deterred. More glowing sapphire spinners were headed our way and we took cover. I turned around and realized the Toa were watching us work, awestruck with our skill in combat. I was furious. "You've seen us fight before, haven't you?" I yelled. "Get in this fight, now!" "What are our orders?" Jovan asked. "Seriously?" I hollered, taking a second to fire a round at one of the Frostelus. "Tear the armor from their bodies magnetically! Drown them in the river! Give them a plasma heatwave they won't soon forget! Anything is better than standing there!" The Toa reacted immediately and what I saw was glorious. Toa often kept themselves in check, but being at the mercy of my command kept things interesting. Valtriak summoned several waterspouts from the river and launched the icebergs before smashing them back down on the Frostelus. Jovan took my advice and started magnetically pulling at Frostelus armor, exposing their vulnerable insides. The beasts were only a few bio away at that point and the Toa had managed to keep each target alive. My crew kept firing with everything they had, and then the other Toa stepped in. Argeph pushed an earthquake right through our path, ripping its way through the river out to the other side. Haltryox followed up by growing vines out of the grasses and flinging about a dozen of the Rahi aside. Then it was Ticonahk's turn, and the plasma burst that he brought to life was astonishing. A white hot laser beam came forth from his hands, powerful enough that it could have torn through the Frostelus if focused correctly, but short enough that it left them alive. The largest Frostelus in the pack stomped its foot a couple times, pointing its two right hands at me. One was a hook-like appendage, the other was made up of blade-like claws. It tilted its head up, bellowing a few times. And then, as if survival instinct had trumped territorial dispute, the Frostelus stepped away. It snarled at us, angry, but knowing it had lost the battle. The others did the same, stepping away and opening a path for us to cross. "They've conceded," Jovan whispered. "And we will honor that decision by leaving," I ordered. "Everyone back to the speeders. We continue on for another fifty kio and we'll make camp there." The group headed for our transports and I eyed the large Frostelus angrily. It would not take another step back, and I had no reason to bring it any further harm. For understanding nothing of one another, it seemed we had reached an agreement. The injured Frostelus were mostly returning to their icebergs, but something eerie caught my attention as I watched them. One of the beasts that Hadliek had dropped with his incendiary rounds attempted to stand back up, but it seemed wrong. It moved as though it had never controlled its own body before, and then it looked right at me. It looked at me with a directness that no beaten Rahi would dare, and I could tell that it wanted me to look back. I met its gaze, and I watched the eyes glow bright yellow for a split second before the creature fell dead for good. "Drelinok…?" I wondered to myself, a cold feeling rushing down my spine. Elendra's speeder rocketed by me, followed by Hadliek's and Celvey's. Jovan scooped me up by my back and threw me onto the moving vehicle as a passenger. His control over magnetism made it quite the smooth transition, but I was in not in the frame of mind to compliment him after his team failed to react initially. "You all right, Adrinor?" he asked, driving the speeder along. I took another look back at the Frostelus camp and the yellow eyed Rahi was still dead. I returned my attention to Jovan and told him, "Nothing a little sleep won't fix. Let's get out of here." Review

Putting two and two together from all that, here is what I have gathered. Artakha could have placed the chisel near (or in) the Bohrok nests. Before becoming a Turaga, Onewa could have simply stumbled upon the chisel and decided to hold on to it. We know that the portal face was destroyed, so it is very likely that was not meant to be there. Whether EP or Matoran built it, we know it is gone. This still leaves some wiggle room regarding the spherical opening piece, however. It is too bad the MNOLG ends there, because we do not know if the spherical entryway would have reopened if Takua returned to it from the outside. If it did not reopen, even with the chisel in place down below, then it stands to reason that it was designed to keep out "alien intruders" while simultaneously acting as a gateway to the outside for those living in the robot. If it did reopen, well, that seems like bad engineering. -Ced

Your question had me curious enough to do some exploring over at BS01. The "Bohrok Nest Portal" was destroyed after the Bohrok cleansed the island of Mata Nui. I checked the page for the "Great Telescope" as well, just curious if that got torn apart after the Bohrok razed the island. The telescope remained intact following the cleansing, and the reason for this is cited as "it was a pre-existing part of Mata Nui." Bearing that in mind, it stands to reason that the portal was created following the spillage of Energized Protodermis during the Great Cataclysm. I am not sure if Great Beings or Matoran built the Bohrok nests, but the destruction of the portal face suggests neither party constructed it as an exit route. While it is not specified if the portal face and the long passageway are both destroyed, the kinetic bubble would have jettisoned the user out into space. This opens up the possibility that the passageway could be safely used if the robot's camouflage was in use, which makes sense if the portal was intended for Bohrok use. That is a complicated theory though, and I will explain why. If the kinetic bubble passageway was built for Bohrok to quickly reach the camouflage surface to wipe it clean, either the Bohrok simply chose not to pursue Takua back to the Ta-Wahi beach, or something else came into play. We can see a few different tunnels branching off the one Takua is flying through during his passage back to the surface. Is the kinetic bubble's path dependent upon the user? Can it register what kind of creature is using it? We only see Takua make use of it, but Takua has a connection to the Bohrok. They are former Av-Matoran, and he is an Av-Matoran. Inversely, the golden device may have simply "registered" Takua as a non-Bohrok entity and the path to Ta-Wahi was the chosen route for that designation. Here is where I really take a leap with the speculation. Saying the answer to your first question is no, we can chalk things up to "this was a game, and the developers thought it would be a quick, simple way of getting the protagonist back where he needed to be safely." But if we can say it is a yes, and the portal is stated to have been destroyed by the Bohrok (for the sake of simplicity, I would say the theory could reach to include the passageway being destroyed), then it was a product of the Energized Protodermis. More importantly, a product of destiny. Takua has the key, he uses it, and he travels away from harm. However, the answer to why his specific return path is chosen for him and the Bohrok do not appear to utilize it…well, that is where the complication arises. A "computer" in the golden sphere makes sense in a universe within a colossal robot. To me, anyway. So, I narrowed things down to a few conclusions. 1.) A convenient online game developer plot device. 2.) A destined saving grace for one adventurous Matoran. 3.) A kinetic bubble "computer" with path determination features. It would still make Takua outrageously lucky, but this is 2001 Bionicle. The good guys win in the end. At any rate, this is my first S&T post in years and I probably overlooked or misread something. /disclaimer -Ced

The devil is not the nature that is around us, all around us. But the nature that is within us all. –Mutemath Episode 03: Direction Elendra got her wish when we returned to the aircraft, picking off curious Matoran troops, much to the dismay of Jovan and his team. I would have liked to take the non-lethal route for the sake of the Toa, but I knew we were outnumbered and it would take a lack of empathy to send the Matoran cowering. They did not know who we were or what we were capable of, and they were right to be scared of that. Once we had an opening, everyone boarded the aircraft and Elendra had us on our way out of the city, ultra-thrusters held active until we reached the sea gate. Hadliek had only sealed Ticonahk's wound in Onu-Metru, and he got to work performing the slow, careful process of allowing the Toa's muscle tissue to properly regrow and heal. Jovan's team stayed at their injured ally's side, while Kyrhus spent most of the flight sleeping. With Elendra at the helm, that left me some time to chat with Celvey. "I know we both come from places that have faced hardship," Celvey started, "but I've never really heard much about Meldio." "It was nice," I said flatly. She gave me a curious look. "And?" I sighed and made no effort to hide my frustration. "When I first began this life, as an outlaw, I lied and said I left my homeland because I wanted to see more of the world. The truth is, Meldio was once all the world I ever wanted. It was a magical place, with forests and sunny coasts and warm breezes on the air." "And then you met your friend?" I laughed shortly. "I met Drelinok the day I was born, within my first minutes of life. We were great friends for a long time, until our ideals of how Meldio should be governed began to differ. But where I was content to idly complain about my grievances with the ruling powers, Drelinok made an effort to enter the political realm and rally Meldin to support his cause." "What happened after that?" "Drelinok was very driven, and I have to believe that he achieved what he set out to do. He wanted to become the leader of the island, the Director, as was the official title. Of the few Meldin we've encountered, I never bothered to ask about what happened to Drelinok. He was a remnant of the past I left behind and, until today, didn't seem very relevant to my life anymore." "You said in Metru Nui that you were prepared to kill him if you had to," Celvey recalled. "I am," I replied confidently. "Drelinok sent Meldio to war, and he was responsible for the deaths of his friends and my own, just so he could sit as Director and force his values onto others. He is charismatic, manipulative and dangerously influential. For what he's done to my home, I am prepared to kill him." Celvey did not meet my eyes when she said, "Perhaps it won't have to come to that. At any rate, I'm going to join Hadliek for a while and make sure the Toa will make a full recovery." She stood up and walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts and memories. I headed in the opposite direction and sat next to Elendra in the cockpit, staring out at the sky. Elendra gave me a suspicious look. "Did you come up here for a conversation or something?" I smirked and fixed my sight on the distant horizon. "Don't worry, I just wanted some company to sit in silence with for a while." "Then you came to the right place," Elendra replied contently. <<<>>> "The controls aren't responding!" My eyes snapped open and I realized I was upside down, strapped to the copilot seat. The aircraft spun around a few times and flipped back over, violently attempting to throw me forward as the seat straps locked me in place. Compared with the crash in Metru Nui, Onu-Metru may as well have been a blanket of clouds. "Are we dead?" I heard Hadliek grumble. "I can't tell if we're dead." The ship was half-buried in dirt, but as I struggled to release myself from the seat, I found it peculiar that a snowstorm was raging outside. "Where are we?" I asked, my eyes darting around. Elendra released herself from her seat, a sigh of relief escaping her mouth as she leaned forward. "This is Meldio, Adrinor. You're home." "I lived on Meldio for 4,000 years," I said through ragged breaths. "It never snowed once." "Mata Nui's dying," Elendra reminded me. "Nothing is as it should be, these days." "My critical thinking doesn't kick in like yours after a crash, clearly." Elendra chuckled, leaving the cockpit. "Is everyone all right back here?" I stumbled to my feet and swaggered to the aircraft's door, throwing it open before collapsing into a pile of snow. I began to crawl up an embankment created by the ship's crash, grinding through icy flakes as I moved. When I reached the top, I scanned the area and, within seconds, recognized two things. The first was the legendary Directorate Facility, a large building comprised of three cylinders that merged into a central tower where the island's leadership deliberated. Our aircraft had smashed through the surrounding Meldio Capital Garden, demolishing a large statue in the process. The second object of note was that severed statue's head and torso. It had been constructed in Drelinok's image. Through the flurries, I squinted to read the inscription on the statue's pedestal, making out the line "In remembrance of our finest Director." "He did it," I whispered. "He really did it." I stood up and broke into a run, sprinting toward the pedestal. I was cold, and in pain, but nothing bothered me like my desire to know the truth. In moments, I was standing at the base of the sculpture, a bio in height, supporting five bios of statue that remained after being shattered at the waist. "In remembrance of our finest Director, a paragon of Meldin resolution, Drelinok. This monument is dedicated to his efforts in ending our conflict with the Collective and going on to serve as Director until his untimely death, 10,000 years after Meldin society was born. Beneath this statue is the unfortunate tomb that was Drelinok's laboratory, suffering an explosion before he could complete his work on what he called 'the next step in biomech evolution.' May he find peace beyond this life." I paused, trying to piece together the timeline of events. I had departed Meldio after 4,000 years of life, which meant Drelinok served as Director for roughly 6,000 years and had been deceased for 10,900. I turned and looked back at where the ship had crashed, realizing how caught up and single-minded I had been over determining our location. Crewmates could have been injured, but when I examined the crater we left in our wake, I began to wonder if I could access Drelinok's lab. Unsure of the current state of the island, I drew my gunblade and headed back toward the crash site, struggling to ignore the chill in the air without the distraction of an elevated heartlight rate. Jovan's team had pulled through, making their way up to the surface, arm in arm. My own crew followed, climbing up individually. "Well, we're here!" Toa Argeph shouted over the storm at me. "It cost us the ship, but at least you got to come home!" "There's something in the crater!" I yelled back. "We need to investigate!" "There's nothing down there but an abandoned chamber!" Jovan hollered. "I thought you came here to find someone!" I hurried back toward my companions and replied, "I did! And I think he's down there!" I continued running past my crew and the Toa, sliding down the embankment and into the ruined laboratory below. I held my gunblade ready, examining the heavily damaged chamber. The explosion mentioned on the pedestal appeared to have caused a cave-in, and it looked like no attempt had been made to reopen the chamber. The tools and benches were in terrible condition, with much of the far wall crumbling apart. Near the middle of the room was an ancient-looking stasis pod, covered in the dust of many undisturbed millennia. My crewmates and Jovan's team dropped into the chamber with me, examining the ruins for themselves. "By the Great Spirit," Toa Haltryox said. "What happened here?" "An explosion," I explained, approaching the tube. "The statue above is dedicated to a Meldin that I believe is inside this stasis chamber. He was presumed dead after the room collapsed during his research, but I'm willing to bet this device has sustained him." I wiped away a layer of dust and debris from the tube, peering inside to glimpse the face of the first friend I ever made. Drelinok was unconscious, calmly floating in an unknown, nearly-transparent liquid. It would have been easy to line up my weapon and blast him into oblivion, but I came home in search of answers. I glanced at the release valve and slowly clutched my fingers around the icy cold metal. "Are you sure about this?" Jovan called out to me. I looked over my shoulder at him with a nervous grin. "Not really." I turned the valve, listening as an alarm began to ring throughout the chamber. I braced myself for anything, watching the liquid drain from the tube and down through several hoses, letting Drelinok gently land on his feet. The tube door opened upward and Drelinok's eyes screamed awake. He fell forward onto his knees and I caught him by the arm. He looked up to examine me, his eyes a bright, glowing shade of lemon. I had always remembered them being a dull blue, but I chalked it up to a side-effect of the machine. His armor had become thicker somehow, the same mix of gunmetal and cerulean it had always been. The features that made him a Meldin were all still there, he was just distanced enough from them that he seemed strangely alien. "Hello, Adrinor," he whispered, his voice as warm and captivating as I remembered. "Drelinok," I said, my thoughts racing. "Are you okay?" He blinked a few times as the alarm faded out. "No. The liquid in this tube kept my body in an artificial coma, and your actions stirred me. My mind has been so very alive, for over 10,000 years, while my body has grown stronger in sleep. I have felt so much in the universe, like Mata Nui himself. I have even felt you." "You've felt me? Like a telepath?" Drelinok's expression grew angry and he mentally lifted me into the air, holding me aloft as he telekinetically clutched my throat. I heard several weapons being loaded behind me, but my primary focus was still Drelinok. "You are a Meldin," he began, invading my memories, "and yet you have abandoned your heritage…in a life among criminals. Is this what our leaders, the Meldin Directorate, would have wanted?" "I left Meldio because my views no longer matched those of the Directorate," I struggled to say. "I sided with the Collective and you tried to bury them under your ideals of conquest and destroying the unworthy. You don't need to search my thoughts to know that much." "And so you departed this land for your own self-interested motives," Drelinok replied, sifting through my mind. He released his mental grip on my throat, but I was still floating against my will. "You are no longer the Meldin I once called my brother, too far gone in pursuit of your…freedom. This universe is dying and you came here to use my technology?" "I needed to know what you were doing. The last time we met, you were leading a campaign against your fellow Meldin, so pardon me if I thought you would be a threat to the universe. This machine, whatever it is, could protect my team in saving Mata Nui." "It took centuries for this machine to amplify my power to its current level, not that you deserve the products of my genius," Drelinok spat. "Mata Nui's well-being was of no concern until your life was finally at risk. Though you may not realize it yet, resign yourself to the reality that this universe will soon be the tomb of every biomech who ignored the Great Spirit's cries. There was never enough communication between the master and the pawns, and so Mata Nui must perish as well. The Matoran of Metru Nui wound him further with each day at war and I am now the most powerful being in the universe." "And what will you do with that kind of power?" Jovan asked, the hum of his sonic weapon growing higher. "There will come a day when the sun will no longer shine, the snow will no longer fall, and the birds will no longer sing. Darkness will rule this universe after Mata Nui, just as darkness came before him. Only this time, I will purge the shadows and preside over this universe. And you will know my reign by the sound of peace that rings gallantly through the air." "We haven't abandoned our faith in the world," Celvey said. "Place your faith in me, Ilisian," Drelinok replied, "this world is lost in hate and destruction." "The world cannot handle the loss of the Great Spirit!" Jovan argued. Drelinok hurled me backward and released his control over my body. He extended a hand to the sky, instantly causing the blizzard and gray clouds to vanish. The sun shone down on the open chamber and Drelinok appeared to bathe in it, smiling as he felt its enveloping warmth. He hovered toward the Toa of magnetism and said, "Take heart, brave Toa, we will overcome the world. Spread my message of peace to your brothers and sisters; I must see to the edges of this universe and know the borders of the kingdom I shall soon inherit." I was furious as Drelinok ascended out of the broken chamber, watching him stare back with a face wracked by disappointment in me. I got to my feet and brushed the frost and debris from my armor, turning back to my crew. "Where is he going?" Jovan asked me. I looked up through the chamber's opening, squinting against the sudden appearance of sunlight. "I don't know. He was searching my thoughts, as if he were looking for a particular memory that wasn't there. Even my knowledge of the Mask of Life was passed right over, which means he doesn't consider the notion a threat." "And what about us?" Elendra questioned. "Did he find us threatening?" "If he possesses the kind of power he described, I think he would've killed us if that were the case," Hadliek replied. "You saw what he was able to do to Adrinor and the weather." "Yeah, he could never lift someone off the ground like that before," I said, still a little unnerved. "What was that he was saying about a directorate?" Celvey wondered. "Kyrhus," I started, putting up my hand, "remote explosive device, please." Kyrhus clicked a metallic shell attached at his hip and tossed it underhand to me. I caught it and spun backward in one fluid motion, heading for the stasis pod. "This island was once governed by a group of my kind that took up the mantle of leadership and referred to themselves as the Meldin Directorate." I slapped the device against the side of the pod and took a couple steps back, examining all the parts. "When a great number of the citizens began to dispute their views, a Meldin Collective was born. The Directorate viewed it as an act of war and Meldio tore itself apart." I turned back to my crew and glanced directly at Kyrhus, the detonator in his hand. "Drelinok's experiment in this laboratory must have begun after the Collective lost, when Meldio presumably returned to harmony. Understanding that I left Meldio behind to avoid Drelinok's conflict, you can see why his philosophy about the universe is a bit different from my own." "And what, pray tell, is your philosophy?" Jovan asked. "I am of the mind that the Great Spirit doesn't bother himself with who we are or what we need. But as long as he's alive, there are biomechs out there relying on him, guilty and innocent lives that don't deserve to be wiped out like this. Maybe I'm more of a reactive type, but I promise you, Jovan, I won't let Mata Nui die. I won't doom the universe to its grave." "Then let's return to the ship and be on our way," Jovan replied. "This excursion to the wayside has only served to waste our time. Not only that, but I fear you have unleashed a great evil onto our universe." I lowered my head. "Much as it may pain me to admit, Drelinok is not evil. He has always wanted biomechs to live together, happily, without war. It took a great loss of life to achieve here on Meldio, but he seems to be remembered as the island's finest Director because he did not compromise in his beliefs. His conviction makes him dangerous, but there is no malevolence in him, only the passion to build a better world." "It sounds like he reshaped your society to be utopian by removing those he deemed 'unworthy' as you put it. If he has departed to replicate that work onto the rest of the world, a lot of biomechs are going to die in the process." "And we can deal with that in due time," I said. "For now, let's keep focused on the mission at hand." "Elendra, can we fly again?" I questioned. "I performed a diagnostic check after you left," Elendra said. "We can make it to the edges of the Southern Continent, but anything more would be a fatal strain to the aircraft in its current condition. If we leave it there, we can sail back from Stelt eventually with the components necessary for a thorough repair." "I understand, and I apologize. I know you put a lot of hard work into this ship, and having it crash in a snowstorm was far from ideal. Let's get back onboard and get these Toa to Mt. Valmai." I looked to the Gekalan in our crew and added, "Kyrhus, you're the last one out. I don't want anyone getting caught in the fireworks." I took a running start before climbing the side of the wall and pulling myself the rest of the way up. There was a lot on my mind, and being perceptive as she was, Celvey took me by the shoulder and turned me around. "It's going to be okay, Adrinor." "I just released a super-charged Meldin that used to be dangerous enough with words at his disposal. He could destroy us all if he wanted, but if he was being honest that his mind has been awake for so long, he's had time to plan. Drelinok is after more than just the seat of Director this time, and I have a feeling we'll be seeing him again." "And if we do, we'll face him together," Celvey told me. "We can't change what we've done, but we can always face our fears head on. You said you were willing to kill him, then we'll gain the allies necessary to do it. Does that make you feel any better?" "Hardly," I admitted. "But when I think about it, I'm curious what harm Drelinok could bring to a universe that is essentially policed by the Brotherhood of Makuta." Celvey frowned. "We'll find out soon enough, I'm sure." Review

Hello! I have had the same screen name here for about seven years now (it used to be Toa Cederak), and I was an active part of the Library a couple years back. I mostly returned to start posting a sequel to my last epic that I wanted to function as a standalone story as well. It's purely coincidental that there is a lot of hype surrounding Bionicle's return during the time I happen to become active again. I am a much busier person these days, but I always accept PMs and will make every effort to respond as soon as possible. Anyway, I'm not expecting to make any waves this time around, though that's not to say I won't enjoy my time here. -Ced

There are children standing here, arms outstretched into the sky, tears drying on their face; he has been here. –James Blunt Episode 02: Beauty in Ashes It was often said that the Great Spirit watched over every creature in the universe, and if we lived our lives in accordance with his virtues, no harm would come to us. It was an optimistic line of thinking, that we should be so special. A sort of favoritism existed, however, between those that clawed their way through the dark of the Southern Islands and the more fortunate that lived in the light of the northern realms. But there were none more blessed by Mata Nui than those who held the potential to become his chosen guardians, the ones who performed a labor of love to support their wondrous city. Born to be united, instructed to carry out a duty, and destined to change the world – the Matoran. In the days of my youth, I heard tales of these chosen protectors from seafarers that stopped on Meldio from time to time. Roughly half my size, Matoran were described as passionate little workers. Carvers, teachers, scholars, archivists, crafters, pilots, and so much more, maintaining a pristine metropolis that had never known strife. I imagined it to be their own chunk of paradise where they could work in peace until the end of their days. Once the Matoran abandoned their work and their virtues, that paradise came to an abrupt halt. Only it was not just their home that suffered, it was the whole of the universe. I laughed when I first learned of the civil war. Matoran were the chosen biomechs of the Great Spirit, yet they found creative ways to discover unhappiness with their lofty position. The first rumors arose a few months later, when talk of the Metru Nui suns losing their luster came to Stelt. I brushed the news off, and tried to reason that it could not always be blindingly bright up north. Then the abnormal behavior of the Rahi followed. The aggressive species grew quicker tempers, while the docile became sedentary and slept more often. More suns around the universe began to dim, seas came to a complete calm or rose to a violent torrent, and vegetation cropped up slowly if at all. The Matoran waged a selfish campaign against their brothers and sisters, unaware of the universe in peril to the south. That was not to say Metru Nui was without scars of its own. I had not seen the city since before the war had begun and, in those days, it was a glorious sight to behold. When Elendra steered our aircraft through the deserted entry point that was the Metru Nui sea gate, I beheld a Metru Nui quite different from the one I knew. Thick smoke rose from multiple points around the island and distant sirens echoed through the air. Ga-Metru had set up a perimeter of warships in the Silver Sea all along the southern coast and their guns began to change direction, not paying us any notice, but following a squadron of Le-Metru jet fighters skimming the line of battleships. I sat amazed with my crew as we watched the jets commence a bomb run, raining down dozens of bombshells that sunk several warships almost instantly. The untouched portion of the fleet let loose their cannons on the jets and an array of seeker missiles proceeded to home in and destroy most of the air squadron. Kyrhus tapped my shoulder and pointed out at the city. "Their destructive capabilities are astonishing. What I can't understand is how they have the population resources to keep up this degree of warfare for 400 years." Jovan glanced our way with a curious look. "If given the option, would you make yourself a direct resource for a war if you could find another outlet of conducting your operation?" Kyrhus raised an eyebrow at the question. "Another outlet? Like a proxy war?" "Not exactly," Jovan replied. "You really don't know, do you?" I returned my attention to the window, trying to discover the answer before Jovan might reveal it. More of the Ga-Metru warship cannons opened fire on another wave of jet fighters and—as we closed in on the city—I could see fireballs being flash frozen out of the sky on the edges of Ko-Metru. It was not until one of the fighter jets spiraled into a dive that I figured it out. The aircraft opened up completely, parts rapidly shifting around one another until the jet had taken on a bipedal shape. It landed on one of the warships atop a pair of sturdy "legs," activating the thrusters to move about while the "arms" opened fire on the watercraft's weapon systems. Another jet transformed the same way in midflight, executing a dive kick into a warship before reverting to its jet form and soaring off. Of a Matoran pilot, there was no sign. "They're being controlled remotely," I said in awe. "The battleships as well," Jovan added. "Matoran were not born to go to war, but they are terribly clever." "It's certainly impressive," Kyrhus said, "but this isn't the war we were told of. In our travels, we heard Matoran were battling in the streets, capturing areas for their leaders and living in constant fear of death." Toa Valtriak tapped a finger against the window. "If these war machines can cause such devastation along the coast, can you imagine what the ground forces are capable of? If you were hesitant to come here, think about what it means for us. We were like them once, Matoran given a duty to uphold. When we arrive in the city and see the stories come to life, the battles to gain a foothold over a city block, the rampant destruction of infrastructure and dwellings, to know it all came from the hands of Matoran, that's going to hurt to watch. And if you've been living as mercenaries too long now to care, consider this was your home at war." A warship cannon managed to clip one of the jets, forcing it to spiral downward until it smashed into another, the pair of aircraft engulfed in flames before their smoldering remains dropped into the sea. "It's tragic, really; the entire universe is paying for their disregard for one another. There can be no mistake that the Three Virtues govern all of our lives." The cabin echoed a silent agreement with Valtriak's words and I walked behind the cockpit seat, watching Elendra monitor the control panel while she steered us into the warzone. "Take us up along the coast to Onu-Metru," I started, pointing out the windshield and beyond the iron jungle of Le-Metru, "and keep a safe distance." Elendra gave me a hard stare. "If one of those warship cannons so much as touches us, we're already dead." I could tell what she was thinking and looked out the window, surveying the Ga-Matoran fleet. Elendra had personally outfitted our ship with what she called ultra-thruster technology a few months prior, a last resort exit plan for assignments more dangerous than usual. Ordinary airships ran on a rechargeable battery that required an electromagnetic energy harvester to remain active. With a constantly charged battery, the airship could direct power to the thrusters and convert ambient energy into usable electromagnetic power. Airships used the electromagnetic fields of the universe to "pull" themselves in a given direction at a given speed (by drawing more or less electrical charge from the air). Elendra's title on Trelban was that of a Master Engineer, adept at constructing mechanical devices. She was never annoying or haughty about her knowledge, on the contrary, it was seldom that she would freely discuss it. With a little prying over the years though, I compiled a basic understanding of engineer work. Her ultra-thrusters bypassed the demand for electromagnetic power by using fuel cells, utilizing specially treated liquid protodermis that reacted to air exposure by turning into thruster power. The process was slightly more complicated, but Elendra was kind enough to inform us that while the fuel cell chemical reaction would produce greater speed, it was highly unstable to the point of "potentially tearing the ship apart." "How confident are you that the ultra-thrusters could get us safely through the warships?" I asked. "They'll never see it coming. My real concern is shutting them back down. We'll reach Onu-Metru without question, but stopping there could prove difficult. The better question is whether you prefer to swim through a fleet of battleships or land in downtown Metru Nui to fight your way through dozens of Matoran soldiers." I nodded slowly and looked over my shoulder at my crewmates and the Toa. "Hold on tight to something, we're going in." Elendra flipped the switch to prepare the fuel cell and we could all hear a sudden, rising hum that gently vibrated the ship. Elendra slowly pushed the accelerator forward, her finger hovering over the ultra-thruster switch. "Fuel cell ready. You may feel a slight push." She flipped the ultra-thruster switch forward and the entire control panel flickered out for a second. In an instant, the instruments were back online and what I expected to be a "slight push" managed to throw me backward. The ultra-thrusters sent us screaming past the southern coastline and over the city. I glimpsed a convoy of Ta-Metru tanks traveling along the blocks of Le-Metru, indiscriminately setting fire to cables and buildings. On the outskirts, jet fighters were bombing the tanks to pieces, assisted by massive, six-footed machines that emitted freezing beams, not unlike a Toa of ice. I saw all this in a matter of ten seconds, because by the eleventh, we were definitely over Ko-Metru. Ta-Metru's machines had melted a trail through the district, allowing smaller Ga-Metru warships to sail in and assault the region. If I had been anywhere else, I would have laughed at the irony of calling this a civil war. As it was, Elendra was piloting us over a sea of chaos and I did not find the prospect of death looming so close all that humorous. Ten more seconds passed and the aircraft shook hard. Elendra pulled the accelerator back and growled. "Are you kidding me?" Our speed began to decline and I felt my unease growing. "What happened?" Elendra furiously smacked the control panel, flipping a few switches backward. "A crack shot Ko-Matoran just froze the thrusters. Years of probably being a scholar and I think he found his calling in warfare." Hadliek approached us and asked, "How are we still flying?" Elendra pulled back on the control column and flipped another switch. "It's more like gliding," she said tensely, "but the ship's wings are designed to work with the wind to keep us leveled out. Even so, we're declining in altitude and that's going to change our life expectancy quite a bit in the next few minutes." "Can we make it to Onu-Metru?" Jovan asked from his seat near the back. "Providing we don't take another freeze ray hit, a shot from a cannon, a blast from a jet fighter, or any other enemy fire…I don't see why not. The alternative would be for someone to exit the aircraft and thaw the thrusters manually. Convenient that we have a Toa of plasma onboard, right?" "I wouldn't call asking me to put one of my teammates in the way of harm a convenience, Trelban," Jovan fumed. Elendra chuckled, trying to hide her anxiety. "Call it what you like, because if he doesn't get out there soon, you probably won't be calling anything ever again." I lowered my voice and asked her, "Do you think we're going to make it?" Elendra gripped the yoke tight and narrowed her sight out the windshield. "I don't think pointless questions are going to improve our odds, Adrinor. I respect you quite a bit, so don't take it personally when I say to get away from me and let me drive this ship." I left Elendra to her work, very familiar with her attitude in stressful situations. Unless she was shooting something, Elendra was often prone to reacting in a standoffish manner. I turned and walked away from the cockpit to find my crew alongside Jovan's, weapons ready. "I can keep a magnetic hold on Ticonahk while he repairs the thrusters, as long as your team can provide covering fire," Jovan explained. I put a hand to his shoulder. "Let's go to work then." I strode up to the ceiling's escape hatch, flipping the locking mechanism open before letting the door swing down. Without missing a beat, I pulled myself up onto the hull and a blast of icy wind met my face. I clutched onto one of the securing bars used by ship mechanics to keep from falling during repairs, pulling my gunblade out with my free hand. Jovan's team made their way topside as well and Toa Ticonahk began crawling toward the thrusters, grabbing the securing bars along the way as he moved. With Jovan following him, I had three Toa at my command in addition to my crew. Trying to be heard over the wind, I yelled, "Separate and don't stop scanning the sky! If you see anything come close to us, take it out!" I looked ahead of the ship and squinted my eyes against the cold, unrelenting Ko-Metru airstream. I could see the edges of Onu-Metru through the snow, and the canyons above their legendary Archives. We were on the edges of the sector—nearly a kio high—but the Onu-Matoran and Ko-Matoran were not allies in the war. Sirens blared in the streets below and tiny figures could be seen moving around, like little black and white dots exchanging fire. As quickly as I began to wonder what technology the archivists had at their disposal, I watched a dark, twisted pillar rise from the ground. Black metal climbed up around itself like a weed, and then it came to a sudden stop. In the next moment, the street cracked apart around the pillar in a circular shape, rocking both the Onu-Matoran and Ko-Matoran in the quake radius as jagged earth was explosively forced up. "On our left!" Toa Haltryox shouted. I rolled backwards, catching another securing bar as a stray Le-Metru jet fighter closed in. In the distance, a couple Knowledge Tower freezing rays were charging to fire on the ship and I could see Ticonahk had nearly finished thawing the first thruster. Using plasma heat without damaging the integrity of the component appeared to be a careful process, but I did not linger on his progress. Lining up a shot on the jet, I knew the next order I wanted to give. "Hadliek and Celvey, target that ship! Kyrhus and Jovan's team, give me something long-range on those freeze rays!" I took a deep breath, kept my arm as steady as possible, and exhaled as I squeezed the trigger of my weapon. Compensating for where I expected the jet would be, I managed to put a hole in the cockpit where electronics sat in place of a pilot. Hadliek emptied a clip of incendiary rounds on the jet, catching fire to it immediately. The jet began to dive, but Celvey finished with a well-placed burst to the tail engine, causing it to explode. Kyrhus and the Toa focused their efforts on the first freeze ray, but the second was nearly ready to unleash a beam of frosty death on us. "The first thruster is almost thawed!" Jovan hollered. I smirked, but my relief was short-lived. It did not take an engineering expert to reason that if one of the thrusters was suddenly clear again, it would kick on immediately. Without a second active thruster, focusing that kind of power to one side of the aircraft would make steering an entirely new challenge. The second freeze ray let loose a beam of ice and I did not have much of an opportunity to consider whether Elendra had bothered to disengage the thrusters after they failed. Suddenly rocketing forward was all the answer I needed. "Jovan, catch him!" I screamed. Ticonahk went hurtling backward and Jovan did everything in his power to regain control of his metallic parts again, magnetically pulling the Toa of plasma along as our single functional thruster sent us on a collision course with Onu-Metru. I watched Toa Haltryox attempt to put his weapon away and gain a better hold to the ship, but a minor slip was all it took before he was flying backward as well. Toa Argeph tried to scoop him up, but the Toa of plant control was swept too high. I instinctively looked to Celvey who was already staring at me with an urgent look. Before I could say anything though, Jovan let go of the ship and magnetically held Haltryox along with his second hand. I could tell from how Jovan's feet were scraping along the hull that he was struggling to keep himself from flying away. "I can't hold them much longer!" Jovan shouted. "We're moving too fast!" We were bordering on a 45-degree incline with the Onu-Metru district and our landing was going to be anything but pleasant. It was not my first brush with dying, but I found that my mind liked to reflect on certain memories when I might be facing the end. The memory playing in my head was an ancient one from the time when I still lived at home on Meldio. I was near the beach with the first friend I ever made, a fellow Meldin. We had been talking of our responsibilities to one another and to the Great Spirit. I could not remember why, but he recited the Meldin Creed – the words that our leaders believed would inspire us to greatness. "I am a Meldin, a servant, noble and proud. I will keep the universe from war or hardship, and I will promote the freedom of choice. No matter the cost, whatever the effort; I will lead us to a brighter future." Meldio went to war eventually, releasing what had started as violent arguments into tactical advances on the enemy. That is what became of Metru Nui, controlled chaos. No order was given without reason, no weapon fired without a cause. Like all sentient beings, the Matoran and the Meldin were driven by a want for something. On Meldio, my brothers and sisters battled for political control, while the Matoran struggled over the matter of trade routes. Turaga Zilnyx (Metru Nui's elder who inaugurated the Barraki so many years prior) was rebuffed in his efforts to prevent a war, forced to become a prisoner of his silver tower in the heart of the city. The Meldin were spurred on by those in charge, to stomp out any ideas that conflicted with their rule. Both the Matoran and the Meldin lacked the experience of war, neither group had any indication of what picking up weapons against their own kind would invite to their shores. I knew enough of battle to work with the chaos, to move with purpose and ask of my comrades only what I knew they could handle, not what they thought they could handle. It was that mindset telling me Elendra would bring us down without a casualty. The ship spun around moments before impact and we struck the Archives with the ultra-thrusters, blasting a hole through the roof. The airship flipped through the hallway a couple times before skidding to a halt in an empty corridor. I had shut my eyes tight just before the crash, focusing on the Meldin Creed. When I finally opened them, a sudden pain surged up through my left arm, still clutching on to the ship. I let go and gently slid down the side of the aircraft, landing on my feet with my gunblade ready. "Is everyone all right? We need to move!" There was no point in keeping my voice down like on a stealth mission. War or not, every Matoran for a kio out must have noticed our landing. Ignoring the pain in my arm and the growing discomfort in the rest of my muscles, I began searching for my crew. "That was…rough," Toa Argeph grumbled. The Toa of earth pressed a hand to the ground and paused, motioning us to stay still. He took a few hard breaths and added, "We have a couple minutes before the first Matoran troops will arrive." "We had better be on our way then," Kyrhus said, limping out from the wreckage. He was followed by Hadliek and Celvey, arm in arm with Valtriak and Haltryox, all of them appearing injured and in mild pain. I looked to the deputy leader and frowned. "Did you see where Jovan or Ticonahk went?" Haltryox shook his head. "I felt Jovan release my armor when we hit, but I got knocked around too fast to keep track of where everything was." "Hadliek!" Elendra called from the distance. We made our way toward the sound of Elendra's voice, finding her and Jovan kneeling near Toa Ticonahk. Hadliek and I stood over them and I could see Ticonahk was leaking protodermis around his lower torso muscles. "I tried to hold on to you; it was too risky to use my Kadin," Jovan whispered in anguish. He looked to Hadliek and asked, "Is there anything you can do?" "We're about to find out," Hadliek replied, kneeling beside Jovan. Hadliek snapped his fingers and his hand began to emit a bright blue aura. He touched a finger to the Toa of plasma's chest and we watched as the wound Ticonahk had sustained was slowly healing before our eyes. The muscle tissue resealed and Hadliek helped the Toa of plasma to his feet, giving him a pat on the shoulder. "That's going to need more time to heal properly," Hadliek said, studying his handiwork, "but it should do until we leave the city." "Thank you, Todrano," Ticonahk replied, forcing a smile. "Don't thank me yet; we still have to escape Metru Nui." I looked to Elendra and asked, "Any chance our ship is going to fly again?" "It's far more durable than we are," she assured me, "but I'd imagine it'll be swarmed by Matoran when we return. After nearly getting launched out the windshield, I could use a little combat actually." "Our first order of business should be to locate an Archives directory," Toa Haltryox proposed, waving us away from the crash site. "Onu-Metru is famous for having catalogued a great deal in a very specific format and that could work to our advantage." "I'm sure the halls are just painted with 'legendary Kanohi information this way' signs," Hadliek replied. Haltryox glared at him before heading down the nearest corridor and we followed along. The Archives were dim and quiet, the occasional drip of water echoing here or there. Lightstones led the way through the halls, casting ominous shadows on the mysterious Rahi kept in stasis pods. Ancient stone carvings in unknown languages were on display as well, paired with placards that explained what they meant and the archivist who deciphered the text. It was a museum that appeared to be dedicated to collecting and understanding everything about the universe and how we came to be. If not for the faint sound of alarm sirens ringing out in the streets above, the whisper of firefights, and the uncomfortable feeling that Matoran troops could be waiting around any corner, it would have been a nice visit. "Have you entered a warzone before?" Toa Argeph asked. I could not be sure if he was asking anyone in particular, but I shook my head. "I left Meldio at a time when it seemed war was on the horizon. I didn't have it in me to pick up a weapon and draw it against my own kind, so I fled the island one night without telling anyone." "I have," Celvey spoke up. The Toa immediately directed their attention to her, appearing much more interested to learn she had experience on the matter at hand. "I was born on the island of Ilisi, a beautiful realm of rolling green hills and magnificent castles." Celvey paused and I could tell she was hesitating to continue. I said to her in my quietest voice, "You don't have to tell them right now." "The history of Ilisi is no great secret, Adrinor," Jovan replied. "It is common knowledge that Barraki Pridak ruled the region where Ilisi is located and met with the island's kings. He demanded they put an end to their war for resources and power and submit to his reign. Those who refused were executed in favor of his own high-ranking troops. Pridak was said to handle most of his kingdom that way." "That's most of the story right there," Celvey said. "A new war began when the League fell and I left the life I knew behind. Soon after, I met Adrinor and decided I wanted to share his dream of living in freedom. We're outlaws, yes, but I'm convinced there will come a day when we put all of our fighting behind us and settle into peaceful lives." "There's no shame in fighting for the right reasons," Jovan told her, holding up his magnetic bolt launcher. "Ideally, I would never need to fire this tool again, but that day hasn't come yet. Like you, I am a soldier in the service of a greater cause, so that all biomechs may live in freedom." I smiled, admiring Jovan's humility. He walked a path of blind hope to wish for such freedom while Matoran tried to kill one another above our heads. I could picture the smoldering dust on the wind, the medics desperately trying to remove the wounded from the battlefield, and the few neutral parties that cowered in the dark, praying the end would come quickly. Metru Nui would forever remember the atrocities of war if they survived the event, but a sudden concern crept into the back of my mind. If Jovan actually managed to save Mata Nui, who would stop the war? What would prevent the Matoran from driving the Great Spirit back into illness? I figured Jovan was merely buying us time…a few more years, months even, to wrap up our affairs and say our goodbyes. We made our way deeper into the Archives, almost unable to hear the war at all. In place of that nightmare, we began to hear creatures growling and clawing at the chambers around us. It made a lot of sense that the Matoran would not risk battling among such dangerous beasts, for fear of releasing them. I kept my distance from the doors, catching the glow of a large map on the wall at the end of the room. "Mata Nui," Ticonahk uttered, awestruck. "The archives span beneath most of the city." "Welcome to the automated Archives directory," a computerized voice greeted. "How may I be of assistance?" I studied the map carefully, assuming a teal blinking dot near the Onu-Metru and Ko-Metru border to be our current location. Much of the archive mapping was blinking red throughout the other districts of the city and I tapped the Ga-Metru region to see what would happen. "The Ga-Metru archive monitor system has been offline for approximately 238 years," the computerized voice explained. "Routes may be unreliable or outdated – traverse at your own risk." "Where can I find information on the Mask of Life?" I asked. "Searching records, one moment," the database replied. The map placed a target around Onu-Metru that slowly began to shrink and move toward the northern part of the district. "Last archived tablet on 'Mask of Life' placed into storage at this location. You will require a medium security clearance to access this information." "I think incendiary rounds constitute as 'medium security clearance' access," Hadliek said, chuckling to himself. We followed a winding path through the northern region of Onu-Metru, encountering weapons strewn about along the way. I imagined the early parts of the war had been fought underground, likely under attack from the neighboring Matoran of stone. It probably was not long until some nasty creature was accidentally released and no further attempts were made to breach Onu-Metru through the Archives. The chamber indicated on the map was hanging open—as were most of the surrounding chambers—and I stepped inside. Several stacks of tablets were sitting in one corner of the room and on the other side was a collection of equipment pieces. Jovan stood next to me and tapped his chin a few times. "I'd better start reading those. Adrinor, you should see if those machine parts have any instructions. They probably have something to do with the mask." I nodded and walked up to the parts, picking up a long, rounded piece and displaying it against the chamber ceiling's dim lightstones. I set it down and reached for another piece, picking up a Kanohi instead. I turned to Jovan and said, "I think you wanted this." I tossed him the mask and he caught it with both hands, studying the shape for a moment. "Of course!" Jovan replied as though he just solved a puzzle. "I've heard of these, but this is my first time ever seeing one. It's the Mask of Detection I heard would be here." "Can it detect where in this room your Mask of Life is so we can leave?" I questioned. "I was never told the mask would be in the city," Jovan replied. I frowned and returned my attention to the parts, unearthing a blueprint for a larger machine in the shape of a biomech. Much of the text had been etched away, but a circular device in the center appeared to be connected to all the pieces. I pushed another piece of machinery aside and found the circular part, not much larger than my heartlight, sitting in the dirt. I was uncertain, but I slowly brought the piece closer to my chest, stumbling backward when it magnetically clicked onto my armor. Jovan turned my way and smirked. "Having fun?" I detached the piece from my armor and placed it into the compartment on my back, awkwardly looking away from Jovan. I continued looking for more tablets about the machine, stumbling upon a disturbing piece of information. "Amplification…" I struggled to make out. "Further testing…" There was one more line, but I shook my head, trying to separate the letters. I read it again and did not want to believe what I was looking at. "Celvey," I called, "can you come look at this?" The Ilisian knelt down beside me and looked at the tablet in my hand. "Most of the writing is gone." "I know. Just read the last line." Celvey narrowed her eyes on it and furrowed her brow. "That's…not a word, at least not one I've ever encountered. Drelinok?" "We need to leave for Meldio, Celvey. I have to know what this means." "Meldio?" Celvey asked in disbelief. "The one place you've refused to set foot on for millennia and you want to go there now? How important is that one word?" "Drelinok…was a friend. This machine, I think it was supposed to make Meldin stronger, somehow. I need to know how and why it ended up here." "I don't think it worked," Celvey replied. "We haven't encountered a single Meldin in our travels that was any stronger than you." "Drelinok had a lot of plans for the universe when I knew him. He could have an entire army of super-soldiers on Meldio waiting to conquer the world for all we know. He was a visionary, but I always sensed something dangerous about him. We need to investigate this." Celvey gently pulled the tablet from my hand and set it on the floor. "You say this Meldin was your friend, but your voice betrays you. This, Drelinok…he scares you, doesn't he?" "Yes," I whispered. "I left Meldio because of him, because the alternative was to confront and kill him. I couldn't do it then, but if Meldio is anything like the island I left behind, I'm not afraid to do it this time." "Valmai," Jovan remarked. Celvey and I turned to look at him and he smiled. "The Mask of Life is on the Southern Continent, at Mt. Valmai." "It'll have to wait," I told him. "I need to say farewell to someone back home first." Jovan opened his mouth in shock. "Adrinor, this is the fate of the universe at stake and you want to deviate from the plan we put together? I knew it would be risky to trust a team of outlaws, but I thought you'd be smart enough to save yourself from the end of the world." "I know it sounds crazy, but I have a strong feeling that something bad is going to happen soon. Toa have said they can sometimes feel Mata Nui calling out to guide them toward their destiny. That's what I'm feeling right now!" Jovan finally looked concerned. "All right…we'll go to Meldio. You have one day, and then I'm going to Mt. Valmai with my team." "Don't worry," I replied. "We'll be right there with you." Review

Thanks for the early reviews, fishers64 and ZOMBI3S! I know it can be difficult to jump into an epic when the initial chapter is so dedicated to exposition like this one, but the action really gets turned up during Episode 02. Hopefully that will be online sometime tomorrow. -Ced

Thanks for reading! I really didn't plan on this story sparking any interest in Cenotaphs, but sharing more of my work as a side-effect is awesome to hear. Person/people felt too human, but I wanted a word that I could use in their place that was appropriate. There have been examples of AI in their universe that appear to be fully mechanical, like Fire Drones in Ta-Metru and the Vahki, which add a little credence to the distinguishing term. But ultimately, I guess it just worked for me. -Ced

It's weird actually, posting a sequel to a story that was written a couple years ago. That's the average wait time between movie sequels these days, while words should be easier to type up and place online. In any event, the promise was that Cynosure would arrive in summer of 2014. My calendar says that autumn is in a few weeks, so I'm barely making good on my word, at least to those of us in the northern hemisphere. Thanks for reading and reviewing, by the way! Jovan's team was a lot of "fill in the blanks" work, but BS01 is an amazing resource, and the Great Disruption is one of those pieces of the storyline I wanted to explore further in my own way. And that led to these non-canon characters who impact/experience canon events, a lot like Forrest Gump (if Forrest Gump were a biomechanical entity living inside a giant robot). I think it's funny that you brought up the element capitalization bit, especially because I did the same thing in Cenotaphs and no one mentioned it. Or maybe someone did, and I just forgot during the past couple years. Anyway, I had to actively remember to capitalize elements for Matoran/Toa/Turaga in my work, and I decided to stop around 2009. Fanfiction exists as something that every writer takes stylistic liberties with, and I guess you could call that one of mine (in addition to my frequent use of the word 'biomech'). Great to hear I already have a reader along for the ride! There's no set schedule right now, and that's mostly because several episodes are still being drafted. Since I posted the full title listing, I can safely say that the overall structure is done, I just need to go back and make the details look pretty now. -Ced

The autumn of our lives asks us to recede, determining whether we shall last the winter… Episode 00: My World Has Changed My name is Adrinor and I was born in the universe of the Great Spirit, Mata Nui. In this world, for 14,000 years, the League of Six Kingdoms controlled many realms with a forceful grip. Their reign was simple and their demands as well: align yourself with the League or become their enemy. By declaring these enemies to be in conflict with Mata Nui as well—having received the divine right to rule the universe—the Barraki were able to dispatch their rivals without remorse and gained a fearful respect as the mighty warlords they were. In time, the world was not enough, and the Barraki sought the one seat of power seemingly out of our reach – Mata Nui's. This betrayal was revealed to the mysterious Brotherhood of Makuta, and one of their kind flanked by his noble legions managed to successfully put down the attempt to usurp Mata Nui's throne. In a single day of battle, the League's warriors were defeated and displaced, bringing a swift end to the rule of the Barraki. It was their abrupt departure that gave rise to the burden of choice throughout the universe, allowing islands to elect leaders that put the interests of their kind before the orders of a half dozen warlords. An organization known as the Dark Hunters began operating out of Odina during this time, nearly monopolizing the business of hiring out biomechs to perform unscrupulous tasks. Elsewhere, relations began to sour between the districts of Metru Nui, and what had begun as minor disputes among the Matoran led to all-out civil war that divided a once prosperous city. Without their labor, a Great Disruption began throughout the universe and it became abundantly apparent that Mata Nui fell weaker with each passing day. Suns lost their shimmer, seas fell quiet, and the wind carried an icy touch. These were the darkest and most desperate times the universe had ever seen. Everything we knew was shutting down slowly, but surely, and we were hopeless to stop it. I have seen a great deal during my lifetime, but the story I am about to tell is from an era of terrible memories. This is ultimately a story of responsibility and the battle between light and darkness that surrounds us all. Looking back, it would be arrogant to say I lived through those days. On the contrary, I barely survived them. Episode 01: Soldier On A powerful light shone down through my window, illuminating my face and stirring me awake. I squinted against the intensity of the sun, feeling the warmth of a familiar star as I slowly sat up in my bed. I was three stories above the ground level, peering out at the island of Stelt with mixed feelings. The island's caste system made the elite Steltians (their self-proclaimed title) the undisputed rulers of the land with Matoran ranking just below them. The Ohnbiek, meanwhile, were relegated to being laborers and the Pontiir were slaves to slaughter one another in the arenas. My employer, a Steltian named Voporak, had agreed to allow my crew to rent out several rooms above one of his coliseums. Few buildings lasted very long on Stelt, but anything that supported a good fight was sure to hold. After the first few years, I grew accustomed to sleeping through the sound of biomechs being murdered beneath my room. While Steltians went about their morning in the dirt roads below, I pulled my weapon out from behind my bedpost and set it at my side, carefully examining the silver and obsidian wonder. It was a gunblade, a specially crafted weapon made many centuries earlier. It once belonged to a friend I had the misfortune to dig a hole in the dirt for, not long after the League collapsed. Unlike the revolver gunblades sometimes manufactured in Nynrah, my weapon possessed a thinner blade and a long, bayonet-shaped attachment on one side. This was where my bullets fired from, activated by a sequence of gears that connected to the trigger. The grip piece of the weapon was slightly curved, allowing me better control whether I needed to shoot or swing. Above that was a guard piece that arced back from the protosteel blade, doubling as a stabilizer when I took long-range shots. The gunblade was a fine weapon, finer than any I could have asked for. I placed the weapon on my back and stared down at my armor for a moment, shades of crimson and ivory composing my sleek parts. A male Meldin, my form was similar to that of a Toa, minus the elemental powers. In spite of that fact, after years of using the gunblade and many decades as an outlaw, I had trained and achieved a physical strength that rivaled some of Mata Nui's champions. I was living a dream, pursuing a life of freedom alongside a crew of likeminded biomechs. I described my gunblade so particularly because it was the catalyst of my freedom, the instrument that took me across the Matoran Universe, exploring new lands and carrying out jobs for the right price. My team was like a privatized sector of Dark Hunters and, as you might imagine, we were on the Shadowed One's radar. Voporak's clan offered my crew a degree of protection from wandering Dark Hunters on Stelt, though I remained conflicted about how their island operated. Whenever I broached the subject with Voporak, however, he politely reminded me that it was not my place to argue the matter. He was a clan leader, not me. I was not even from Stelt - my native land of Meldio just south of the Southern Continent. Steltian society was the concern of the Steltians and, if they were content to wage war until the end of the world, that was their business. I opened my bedroom door and shut it behind me, whistling as I headed down the corridor to speak with Voporak about new work. I heard a weak grunt echo above me and instinctively drew my weapon, pointing it toward the ceiling. One of Voporak's guards, a Steltian named Sidorak, was forcibly connected to the ceiling by what appeared to be magnetic force. He suddenly dropped, crashing on his face and passing out. "I traveled a long way to speak with you," a voice called from around the corner. "Your friend seemed to think his arm blade would stop me." I smirked at the thought as I lowered my weapon, flipping Sidorak onto his back with a push of my foot. "This Steltian is an insincere, power-hungry moron. Had you done this to one of my actual friends, my patience would be much thinner right now." My visitor stepped into view, a lone Toa of magnetism. His gunmetal and black armor was scratched and scraped, suggesting he'd seen as much of battle as I had. He wielded a launcher of unknown origin in his left hand and a magnetic weapon in his right. I paid close attention to his lime green eyes, staring me down from behind his jet black Kadin. "You have a name, hero?" I asked. The Toa held his stern expression. "You're Adrinor, right?" "No one's told me otherwise," I said, relaxing a little bit. If the Toa wanted a fight, we would have been fighting already. Toa did not dance around their intentions often, it was not in their nature. "My name is Jovan. My team heard about you a couple months back," he told me. "You were on an assignment in the Northern Continent, escorting a Toa with some dangerous enemies. I was told the mission went successfully." "I got paid, if that says anything," I replied, letting one of my fingers wrap around the trigger of my weapon. "I don't like the suspicion that I'm being followed, so you might want to make your point soon." "Then I'll dissolve any suspicions and tell you outright that my fellow Toa and I have been on your trail," Jovan said awkwardly before clearing his throat. "After seeing your team in action, I think you're exactly what we need. I'd like to hire your crew as security detail for my own." "And where would we be going if I accepted?" "Before I say," Jovan started uncertainly, "I'd like you to accompany me out to the balcony momentarily. I need you to see something." Sidorak groaned and rapidly blinked his eyes, glancing up at me. "What happened?" "Business transaction," I muttered. "I'd tell you not to run off in case things turn against me on the balcony, but I have a feeling you'd just accidentally shoot me anyway." I followed Jovan out onto the nearest balcony of the coliseum, watching him put his weapons away. I stepped out further then, catching sight of four more Toa near the building's entrance. They had incapacitated an Ohnbiek guard by the name of Krekka, his burly form collapsed into the dirt. Nearby Steltians went about their typical morning activities, walking by or chatting up merchants with wares for sale. The sight of Toa on Stelt was a rarity, but no one was terribly interested in starting anything with them. "Mata Nui is dying, Adrinor," Jovan said sadly, looking into my eyes. "Stelt is still fortunate enough to have a sun shining in the sky, but there are other lands not quite so lucky. This place is a brigand's haven, not a home for a Toa, and yet I do not wish anything ill on the biomechs that call this place home. My team and I want to save the universe and we're in desperate need of someone who can protect us." I nodded slowly. "Then I'll ask again; where are you headed?" "Metru Nui," Jovan replied, suddenly lowering his voice. "The Onu-Metru Archives are legendary for containing rare and one-of-a-kind items among their exhibits. I recently encountered a rumor that the Archives may contain information about a Kanohi that could save the Great Spirit from death. Furthermore, they may also hold a Kanohi that can ascertain its location, called an Elda." "Sounds valuable," I mused. "I don't know a lot of biomechs who would willingly step into a warzone, even if the belligerents are mere Matoran. That said, I think you and I can set up a business arrangement. I presume this security detail job will begin on Metru Nui and conclude once your mythic Kanohi is retrieved?" "That's correct," Jovan replied. "Now, how much were you hoping to receive in terms of payment?" I grinned. "Well, let's see. My team's initial hiring fee is the first number that comes to mind. Then you'll be paying for our munitions, labor costs, and there's a daily charge as well. I also need to factor in a "saving the universe fee," which, is almost too great to put a price on. Alas, the price will be tacked on to your final bill." Jovan gave me a surprised look. "You must be joking." "Mostly, yes." I chuckled. "Why don't you tell me how much you've got and we'll go from there." The Toa of magnetism reluctantly handed over a small pouch and I let it rest in the palm of my hand. It was definitely heavy for such a tiny size. I pulled the strings apart on the bag's opening and peered inside, finding a couple dozen gold coins. I shifted the bag's contents around, allowing me to see how each coin had a Kanohi Hau on one side and the number 500 on the other. I looked back up at Jovan with a smile and he politely smiled back. "My team has saved some wealthy individuals in the past and, while we try not to accept payment for our services, some biomechs won't take 'no' for an answer." "May the Great Spirit bless them," I replied sarcastically, shaking Jovan's hand. "So we've got a job from a Toa, huh?" Jovan and I whirled back to see my crewmate Hadliek staring at us from the doorway. Holding his large caliber pistol up toward the sky, he lightly clicked the activator switch back and forth. Roughly my height, Hadliek wore matte black and cerulean armor, his eyes a shade of soft teal. He was a Todrano, from the eastern chain of the Southern Islands. His weapon, on the other hand, was manufactured in Xia. A heavy pistol, the barrel could hold 10 rounds, while an activation switch on the side could give them an incendiary kick. "Yeah, we've got a job," I said. "Jovan, I'd like to introduce you to my friend, Hadliek. Hadliek, this is Toa Jovan. We'll be protecting his team on a mission to Onu-Metru." "Nice to meet you, Hadliek," Jovan said cordially. "Same to you, hero; I haven't been to war in a while," Hadliek replied in his most casual tone, holstering his weapon at the hip. He possessed a natural cool that made being debonair look simple. "What kind of money is he walking around with to make you agree to that, Adrinor?" "Enough," I said slyly. "You know we could just take the money and save ourselves the trip," Hadliek suggested with a sinister grin. I watched Jovan begin to reach for his launcher before I gently put a hand to his shoulder. "That's not how we operate." "Forgive me," Jovan replied, "but you are hired guns. I've watched you steal." "Well…yeah," I said inelegantly, "but that was on assignment. We don't usually…I mean, not unless we have to." I sighed for a moment, trying to focus my thoughts. "Jovan, we have a code in this crew. Don't bite the hand that feeds you." "And yet you request payment to ultimately save the life of the Great Spirit. Ironic, wouldn't you say?" Jovan asked. I smirked. "If Mata Nui cares to notice, I still need to eat and reload my weapon from time to time. I don't exactly see him dropping any favors on me." "The ways of the Great Spirit are mysterious indeed," Jovan said assuredly. "Won't argue with that," Hadliek told him. "Let's continue this conversation down in the ground floor lounge," I proposed. "I'd like to meet the Toa I'll be protecting." "Yes, assemble your crew and I'll see you down there." Jovan lifted himself off the floor—presumably pulling himself by his magnetic parts—and smoothly descended to the ground below. Hadliek and I departed from the balcony and a quick scan of the corridor left me proud. The other three members of my team had been waiting silently, weapons loaded in case our guest was restless for battle. Elendra stood to my right, both of her revolvers ready to fire. She was an edgy sort of biomech, her ice white and violet armor never hinting at the volatile individual underneath. A Trelban from Trelbin, Elendra's frost-colored head was shaped like a Mask of Possibilities, mirroring the rest of her Toa-sized kind. On my left was Kyrhus, a platinum and black Gekalan. Kyrhus had very reptilian features (common in the Gekalan species) - a snout, scales, sharp claws, and a tail that ended in a blade. His dark forest green eyes were like staring into an alien world, but for all his formidable qualities, Kyrhus was the most kind-hearted of us. He held a sniper rifle at his side, an energy bullet-based weapon that had impeccable range with the right user. Kyrhus was certainly one of them. "Good morning," Kyrhus greeted in his usual, refined tone. "I see we have company." "Toa, of all things," Elendra said with a chuckle. "They must be desperate to have come to Stelt. I didn't quite catch your entire conversation." "They want to save the universe," I told her matter-of-factly. "I imagine they would've gone to the edge of the Southern Islands if they needed another crew like ours." Elendra raised an eyebrow. "The universe? Okay, I'm interested now." "As am I. They're waiting downstairs," Hadliek said. Our fifth member dropped down from the rafters, ducking into a roll when she hit the ground. She leapt to her feet and placed her sonic assault rifle on her back, innocently smirking at us. "Good morning, Celvey," I said, holding back a laugh. "Were you waiting for an invitation up there?" "Just waiting for the sake of it," Celvey replied sweetly. Celvey was an interesting individual, to say the least. East of Xia is a pair of islands. The north island is Nohtal, inhabited by biomechs imbued with natural darkness. These Nohtalians live in harmony with one another for the most part. South of Nohtal is an island inhabited by biomechs imbued with natural light. The island is almost constantly at war, ironically enough. This island is called Ilisi and, by extension, Celvey was an Ilisian. Her figure possessed more natural femininity than Elendra's, the contours of Celvey's form being more rounded, yet still defined. She was a lithe entity, armored in light silver and auburn, but able to hold her own in combat. Celvey favored a "civilized" alternative to a gunfight, but in our line of work, that was not always an option. The five of us marched downstairs, passing Voporak's empty office along the way. He left the coliseum from time to time to deal with personal matters among his clan, often times simple territorial disputes. A favorite—and quite clandestine—agent of Barraki Mantax during the era of the League, I could not begin to imagine what sorts of secrets he harbored from that age of the world. We met one another mere days before the League fell and I was never one to pry about the days of old. I stepped inside the lounge and quickly noticed Jovan sitting with the four Toa I had seen on the ground, his team taking up half a large booth near one of the windows. I led my crew through the lounge and we took our seats across the table from the Toa, settling in for a chat. "Good morning, everyone," I greeted the Toa. I looked to Jovan and asked, "So, should we all go around the table and introduce ourselves, or…how would you like to do this?" "I'll start," the Toa of magnetism replied. "My name is Toa Jovan and I am the leader of this team." Jovan looked to his right and nodded at a Toa of plant life. "My name is Haltryox," he said in a kind voice, "and I am the deputy leader of the team." Next down the line was an Olmak-wearing Toa of earth who introduced himself in a gruff tone as, "Argeph. I'm not a leader, more of an enforcer." "Would you mind sharing the difference with us?" Hadliek asked pleasantly. "We don't get to learn about the lifestyle of Toa very often." "Jovan here sets the rules as leader, be it for our group or criminals we've apprehended. If someone thinks about overstepping those rules, I'm more than willing to remind them of their place." "Don't worry, he's got a soft heartlight under all that talk," the next Toa down the line giggled. A Toa of water, she continued with, "My name is Valtriak, by the way." "And last, but not least, I am Ticonahk," a Toa of plasma at the end of the table said with a grin. "Nice meeting you all, my name is Adrinor and, since it's already been established that you've seen me at work, I'll let my crew get their introductions out of the way." "My name is Hadliek and my hobbies include shooting things, shooting other things, and getting paid when a job is finished." "What a well-rounded Todrano," Valtriak said facetiously. Hadliek shot her a slightly impressed smirk. "Oh, and long walks under the moonlight." Elendra gave him an annoyed look and began, "My name is Elendra and if you're pinned down under fire, I'm probably nowhere in sight." "My name is Kyrhus and…I really couldn't think of anything off the top of my head the way Hadliek and Elendra did." "You have a very polished voice, Kyrhus, if you don't mind my saying," Haltryox noted. "Forgive me, but your appearance suggested a more…feral creature." Kyrhus smiled. "No offense taken, the Gekalan are often mistaken as such." "And my name is Celvey. I am the newest member of the crew and," she paused, glancing down the table at me, "may I tell them?" I frowned and shook my head. "Not here." Her voice lowered to a whisper as she added, "Another time, I suppose." Jovan clapped his hands together. "Well, a pleasure to meet all of you. Now that we're up to speed in the personality department, I think we're going to get along on this mission just famously." I grinned. "Don't let that magnet-head of yours get too attached to us. We're still some of the finest killers you'll meet in this town." Jovan's expression suddenly turned more serious. "I can overlook that for the time being, given that you're willing to assist us in the greatest endeavor in the history of the universe. Saving the life of the Great Spirit, well…it's not the kind of work I'd expect a team of hired guns to usually sign up for. My team is ready to journey north this afternoon if yours is." "Slow down, Metru Nui wasn't built in a day," I replied. "And don't sell yourself short either, Jovan. You'll be doing the hero stuff. We'll just be watching your backs for gunfire." "At any rate, the Great Spirit cannot wait forever for his saviors," Jovan told my crew. "I'd like to be on my way to Metru Nui before sundown." "Metru Nui?" Kyrhus repeated, clearly taken aback. "That city is a warzone." "Need I remind you how this town turns into a warzone from time to time?" Elendra asked him. "Not to mention Steltians seem bred for war in a way Matoran will never be." "Well the conflicts here never last hundreds of years," Kyrhus muttered. "Even so, these are only Matoran," Elendra said, trying to reassure him. "They have powerless masks and can't aim a weapon to save their lives." Jovan went to stand up, but I quickly pulled the heavy pistol from Hadliek's hip and held it near my head, pointing the barrel square at the Toa of magnetism. "I think you'd do well to sit back down, Jovan." Argeph went to grab the pistol, but I triggered the incendiary activator and said, "Any closer and I'll light him up." "Stand down, Argeph." Jovan resumed sitting and gave me an angry look. "What do you want, Adrinor?" "The truth," I replied, slowly lowering Hadliek's gun and flipping off the activator. "You think I would readily believe anyone, even Toa, would blindly run headlong into Metru Nui on the basis of a rumor? The risk is too great for anyone to enter that city over a bit of gossip. So you're going to tell me exactly what you know, or I'm going to count to ten and drop the number of Toa on Stelt by one." Haltryox glanced at Jovan. "I don't think we need-" "No, he's right. Adrinor deserves the truth." Jovan turned his attention to me and whispered, "My team was approached by an agent that spoke on behalf of Mata Nui." "Did this agent have a name or were you able to determine his species at least?" I asked, still holding the gun ready. "Yes, he was a Dectraz by the name of Trylac." I felt my heartlight skip a beat as Jovan finished speaking. Looking down the table at Elendra, I could only imagine I was wearing the same expression of disbelief. When the League fell 900 years prior, when Makuta Teridax oversaw the defeat of the Barraki in a single day, I had not yet become a leader. That title belonged to another, to the Nohtalian who once wielded my gunblade. And it was his crew that contained a Dectraz named Trylac who was shot out of the sky, presumably murdered. "Are you all right, Adrinor?" Jovan wondered, clearly aware he said something disturbing. I lowered my head and returned the gun to Hadliek, my thoughts still racing. "I watched a Dectraz named Trylac fly off one day…right before he was shot and plummeted to his death. Only his broken rifle was recovered from the crash site and we thought his body was destroyed." "Isn't it possible that Trylac merely left the scene, perhaps limping away in his damaged condition?" Haltryox asked. I glared at him, my fury rising again. "He would've looked for me! He would've come back, okay?" "If you truly think Trylac died, we were planning to meet up with him on the Southern Continent in a matter of days. You can talk with him there and resolve your misunderstanding," Jovan replied. "It's funny, Trylac actually pointed me in your direction to begin with. He seemed to think you were very capable of protecting my team." "We should return to the coast soon," Valtriak said. "Our watercraft is decent, but it will be a long journey to Metru Nui." "Elendra," I said, turning to her, "I think it's time we put your side project to the test." She smiled at me before looking at Jovan's team. "I've been hard at work on an experimental aircraft kept beneath this coliseum. Looks like it'll finally see the light of day." I felt a sense of hope welling up in my mind. Trylac had been watching my crew for quite some time, it seemed. But why he kept up the secrecy, how he evaded our detection - it was all beyond my ability to comprehend. I knew then that I had to see him on the Southern Continent; I needed answers. Review

Cynosure was written as a standalone piece and I cannot stress that enough. As a reward to those who read through Cenotaphs, however, this is also a continuation of that epic. Any necessary callbacks are properly explained, so new readers will not feel out of the loop. I hope you enjoy the story, and please share your thoughts if you have a moment. Thanks! -Ced Episode 01: Soldier On Episode 02: Beauty in Ashes Episode 03: Direction Episode 04: A Point of Contention Episode 05: Reunion in Radiance Episode 06: Ancient Menagerie Episode 07: Reclamation Episode 08: The Alchemist Episode 09: The Marriage of Celvey the Ilisian Episode 10: Majestic Eclipse Episode 11: Corruption, Part 1 Episode 12: Corruption, Part 2 Episode 13: Resonance Episode 14: Catharsis Episode 15: Irrevocable Overture Episode 16: Lawless Episode 17: Past Transgressions Episode 18: Forerunner Episode 19: Destral after Dark Episode 20: My Shadow Episode 21: Halcyon Episode 22: Affirmation Update: I have left some parting notes after you finish reading Cynosure. It definitely spoils the ending, so...fair warning.