Cederak

Are you accepting requests right now, or should I wait to make a review request?-ibrow

Of all the cliffhangery chapters for me to catch back up on this story at, it had to be the cliffhanger ending to Chapter 7. Act 2 is looking good thus far, with Takua handling the aftermath of losing his home and friends - you're exploring that rather nicely. Your Ko-Wahi is excellently described throughout too, hearkening back to that early Bionicle feel you were aiming for. Keep it up, ZOMBI3S.-Ced

That's a real shame you never finished those epics, Phovos. Though I must admit that happens quite often to a lot of people, which has led me to begin reading great work that suddenly stops short. I hope you have the time/motivation to eventually crank out an entire epic one of these days.Now, not to brag or anything, but of my dozen epics or so, I made a point of getting a finished product out to my audience. In recent years, I won't even begin posting an epic to BZP until most (if not all) the work is done in Word docs. Back around 2008-2009, I began a trilogy focusing on a side-character from earlier epics. He was such a favorite of mine that his name remains my username to this day. Regrettably, his trilogy didn't garner a lot of positive feedback (or a lot of any feedback outside one or two readers) and I never started the third and final story. I still have pages of plot detail, chapter titles, and everything on my computer, but with the direction things were headed, I wasn't convinced it would be an epic I would truly enjoy working on. With Cenotaphs wrapping up soon, I'm fairly certain my epic career is coming to an end, despite the fact I've said that after finishing my last few epics. If I were to write another, I think I'd explore the last third of Cederak's trilogy and provide an ending that is detached enough from the first two without completely abandoning all the work. Easier said than done, I suppose. -Ced

The non-linear approach seemed to work best for this story, despite the fact I've never implemented it for any other epic/short story on BZP. Thanks for reading! -Ced

I flipped the coin and we watched it travel up into the air, waiting for the outcome. It was a bit ironic that Elendra was leaving her fate up to a coin with a Calix on it, but I didn't pretend to fully understand why she did what she did. The coin fell to the ground and a silvery Kanohi stared back at us. Elendra clicked the hammer back and forth on her left revolver before scooping up the coin.

"Come on then," Elendra said with a smile. "Pridak isn't saving himself."

__________________________________________________________

"And take a little walk, when the worst is to come." -Band of Horses

Episode 11: Reflections (Prelude to Disaster)

History will show that we didn't reach Valantru in time. We drove to the shore late that night and joined up with the captain again, speeding off for the city in our watercraft. It wasn't long after our departure from the region north of Kinatra when Rovaius approached me, nudging my shoulder.

"It's been a long day," he said quietly.

I stared out at the sky, admiring the colors, brilliant harbingers of the dawn. "The League's armies should be assembled by now. They have no idea how dangerous this game has become."

"They've known for a while," Rovaius replied. "That's the thing about games, Adrinor. You don't win them all and sometimes defeat is a heavy price."

"Do you think this is a game they can win?"

Rovaius shook his head. "There's too many unknowns to speculate one way or the other. Pridak has been playing against the Brotherhood for millennia, but Takadox…that smarmy little creep. I have to imagine Pridak has no idea he's even playing that game."

I sighed. "Pretty tricky to win a game you don't know you're playing."

Rovaius gave me a nod. "Very true…regrettably."

<<<Rovaius: Wander>>>

There was a time when Rovaius had no friends. He had always possessed a certain charm that drew others toward him, a sort of unexplainable magnetism that made him approachable. It was by choice that Rovaius lived without friends or allies. To deal with the unbearable solitude of that decision one day, Rovaius considered taking a trip into town, chatting with other Nohtalians and perhaps making a friend or two. He decided instead to attempt the robbery of a small bank, successfully escaping with a sack of money. From that one decision, Rovaius left Nohtal behind for a year, crafting tools on Xia with a male Vortixx whose engineering prowess went unappreciated in his matriarchal society.

"Tell me the story again," Zeldren said, watching as Rovaius carefully put the finishing touches on a grenade launcher that unleashed a barrage of tiny mines with every shot.

Rovaius narrowed his eyes on the launcher and placed a black safety mask over his face, adjusting his eyes to the bright yellow tint of the protective eye covering. "I must've told you that story one thousand times by now."

The Nohtalian triggered the welding tool in his hand and carefully sealed up the remaining edges of the weapon. He shut down the tool and set it aside, placing the safety mask on the worktable afterwards. Rovaius picked up the launcher and held it as if he were about to use it, getting a feel for the weapon. He looked down the sights and nodded. "Another one ready for purchase and shipment."

Zeldren extended a hand and took the launcher from him, placing it on the other side of the room. "Come help me with some of these parts, Rovaius. Tell me your story while you do."

"Very well then," Rovaius conceded, approaching Zeldren and beginning to sort through crates of parts with him. "It was a cold afternoon when I entered the town of Prolek, greeting a few Nohtalians as I went on my way. I was armed with a sleek new dagger and an energy pistol of similar size. Both weapons seemed very inconspicuous and no one really paid me much attention."

Zeldren handed Rovaius a blaster grip and part of a broken rifle stock. "Go set those on the worktable."

Rovaius walked the parts over to his station, setting them down against the metallic table. "So I stepped inside Prolek's tiny excuse for a bank and walked up to the first teller that was free. She looked young, like someone who never let go of the naivety of their early years. It was something about her eyes maybe…hard to say why I thought that. I walked up to her with a smile and she asked what she could do for me."

Rovaius returned to the crates and grabbed a few more parts from Zeldren, walking them back to the worktable. "I told her that I needed to withdraw some money. Enough to fill one of the sacks I had seen banks quickly and quietly transfer in and out sometimes. I told her that I didn't have any money in their bank and that I wouldn't be in their database as a member."

Zeldren dragged over a large chunk of protosteel, leaning it against the crafting table. "You're going to need that for the next project. Be lucky I had a Toa of iron craft it for me."

Rovaius glanced at the piece of metal before returning to the crates to search for more parts. "Anyway, the teller looked like she was about to laugh at me. I clearly lacked the confidence required to be taken seriously. Something snapped inside of me in that moment though. I felt very offended by her attitude, especially when she told me to step aside if I didn't have any serious business that day. One of her coworkers was about to speak with her, but I wanted this teller to know how serious my business really was."

Zeldren smirked, spinning a laser cutting gun on his finger.

"So I immediately cocked and fired the blaster, killing her coworker instantly. It took me a couple more seconds to spin back and kill both of the guards. They were ready for the attack, so I had to empty the blaster just to put them down. At this point, the teller is frantic, screaming her head off. I drop the blaster and hold the dagger at her, demanding this time that she get a sack of money for me. The whole bank is a chaotic mess, everyone panicking, wondering what I'll do next. I'm just standing there patiently, waiting for my money like someone who ordered a shipment of weapons here on Xia."

Zeldren laughed, shaking his head casually. "Continue."

"I'm staying on guard, charging my shadow energies at low power in case anyone tries anything against me. I had never thought much about pursuing crimes, but I had always been interested in being a fine shot and training my reflexes to be exceptional. But there I was, having just killed three Nohtalians…the first three kills in my life. I think for some biomechs that would be a horrifying concept, but I was pretty calm. I made the choice, I pulled the trigger…I was comfortable with that. The teller came back with my money and by that point, probably just wanted me to leave more than anything else."

Rovaius stopped for a moment, picking up the blaster grip on the table, studying it for a moment. "I plunged the dagger into her throat, without saying a word. I had already made up my mind that she chose to make the situation more difficult to begin with. So I killed her. Now, I could've left right then, but I didn't. No, I waited and watched her die. I watched her helpless eyes plead with me, begging to know why I had killed her after she followed my instructions. When she was gone, I left the building, hurling a decent-sized burst of shadow energies inside when I did."

"Your cruelty matches that of my superiors, Rovaius. I've said it before, but you would've made a fine Vortixx," Zeldren said, chuckling.

"And maybe that's what brought me here," Rovaius replied. "I fled Prolek that day with my money and the hope that I could refine my skill as a thief. I paid for passage to this island, entirely unprepared for the overwhelming fumes of noxious gas in the air upon arrival. I needed a Xian to teach me to craft weapons before I could even start to consider how to pull off a better heist. You were the first Xian willing to teach me."

"And I have been honored to see you learn so much so soon," Zeldren said with a smile. "You have crafted a number of high-quality weapons now and I think the time has come for you to graduate."

Rovaius frowned. "Have you grown tired of instructing me?"

"Over the course of our year together, I have grown very comfortable with the idea of an apprentice. I am passing on my knowledge to another, a sharp-minded foreigner that can do anything if he truly wants it. If you return home to Nohtal to pursue the life of a criminal, I hope you find fulfillment in it. I have always been a second-rate citizen here on Xia beneath the females, but I hope that is never your fate, Rovaius. Never let anyone make you feel like less than what you deserve."

"Why are you telling me this?" Rovaius wondered, a look of worried suspicion on his face.

Zeldren sighed deeply. "The other day, I received a visitor to my home. I have been chosen to climb the Mountain. Tomorrow."

Rovaius' mouth fell open in shock. "Have they…assigned you a partner?"

Zeldren nodded. "Her name is Roodaka. I have never met her and I fear she will be quite selfish in her efforts to be victorious. It is a trait all Xian females seem to possess."

Rovaius was silent, unable to respond to what he was hearing.

"I am very proud of you, Rovaius. As your final assignment, I ask that you craft a weapon for yourself. What you choose is up to you, but ultimately, craft something that you will hold dear for many years to come."

Rovaius and Zeldren had both given in to the likelihood that the Vortixx would not be returning from his journey up the Mountain. A team seldom returned as a team and even less often with a lone male victor.

"What would you ask me to do…if you didn't come back?" Rovaius asked.

Zeldren stared into Rovaius' eyes and grinned. "I would ask you to go home, make some friends. I would think the life of a criminal is much harder alone. Put together a team and maybe someday you can teach others to craft weapons as I have taught you."

"Thank you, Zeldren," Rovaius said, nearly overcome by his sadness.

"Be brave, my friend," Zeldren replied. "And please, do not attend my scaling of the Mountain. You have a weapon to build."

Zeldren departed the crafting chamber alone that night, leaving Rovaius to build in silence. He stood over the table for hours, carving and cutting and burning until the pieces were just as he needed them to be. He crafted the weapon long after Zeldren's climb had concluded, going without sleep to complete his final assignment. By the time Rovaius had finished his weapon, nearly two whole days had passed. Zeldren did not return and Rovaius knew what that meant.

Rovaius knew he had enough money to leave on a ship for Nohtal the next day, ready to find a few friends to make the road of a criminal a little less lonely. He picked up his completed gunblade, casually swinging it back and forth a few times. It was agile, powerful, and deadly. In a word, it was beautiful. Placing the weapon on his back, Rovaius left the crafting chamber for the final time, ready to see Nohtal again. Breathing fresh air would be a welcome change from Xia and Rovaius was starting to miss the comfort of Nohtal. It was time to go home.

<<<>>>

"What do you think could happen if this League situation goes badly?" I asked Stalgrax. "This could escalate into a war that spans months."

He stared at me, leaning back against the deck railing. "Or years. The Barraki were crazy to dream this all up. They were crazy to abandon their calling in the first place."

We had no idea the League and the Brotherhood were already engaged in battle as we spoke, fighting to the last in and around the city of Valantru. We would see for ourselves though, soon enough.

<<<Stalgrax: Princes of the Universe>>>

The Rahi were the first to notice something was off. All across the universe, different beasts began to act strangely, as if they could detect a storm on the way. In truth, there were signals in the air and it was Rahi that sensed them first. Odd behaviors in Rahi were being reported for several weeks before they suddenly stopped altogether. After that, it was sapient biomechs that began feeling the effects of a universe calling out to them. Beings on every island were receiving disturbances in their sleep for a number of weeks afterwards, visions of Metru Nui and a voice that most believed to be the Great Spirit himself. In the final night of the mysterious dream messages, Mata Nui requested that every biomech ensure Pridak, Kalmah, Carapar, Mantax, Ehlek, and Takadox reported to the Coliseum in a week's time. Suffice to say, much of the universe planned to attend whatever the Great Spirit had in store. While Rovaius opted to remain on Nohtal with the two more inexperienced members of their gang, Trivolox and Stalgrax planned to use their ill-gotten funds to see history in the making.

Stalgrax stared dreamily up at the clouds, taking in the beautiful, sunny afternoon. A few dozen other passengers from lands Stalgrax had never seen were on the transport as well, rocking along with the waves as they journeyed north. "Have you ever been away from home before?" Stalgrax asked his companion.

Trivolox took a few deep breaths, trying to maintain his composure. "No." He shut his eyes tight, gripping the handle of the gunblade in his lap as hard as he could.

"It'll be worth it in the end," Stalgrax said hopefully. "All the stories about Metru Nui suggest it's an amazing place."

"I could care less what it looks like," Trivolox muttered, taking another deep breath. "I think…I'm going to pass out."

"Why come with me then?" Stalgrax questioned. "Why subject yourself to this kind of torture if you know seafaring makes you dizzy?"

"I'd like to witness history happen," Trivolox replied. "Biomechs are going to talk about this day for centuries to come."

The transport passed through the Sea Gate, into the dome that housed Metru Nui. A pair of suns shined down on the grand city and the distant Great Barrier, wispy clouds slowly moving about in the atmosphere. Trivolox and Stalgrax paid close attention as the ship passed Le-Metru, a district bustling with activity and airships. Ahead of that was a fiery sector, filled with factories and furnaces. It was the glorious Ta-Metru, renowned as one of the largest Kanohi suppliers throughout the universe.

"I heard a rumor once that Ta-Metru was the first location ever built in this city," Trivolox said, watching their transport approach the docks.

"Who told you that?" Stalgrax wondered.

"A traveler I met when I was much younger, long before I knew Rovaius."

"I wonder who told him that," Stalgrax pondered aloud.

"Her, actually," Trivolox corrected. "And I have no idea."

The two Nohtalians busily made their way through the warm streets of Ta-Metru, keeping an eye on the Coliseum's location to ensure they were headed the right way. The constant bursts of flames being emitted from the forge towers left Stalgrax and Trivolox in awe. Though their sea travel had taken them up around the north edge of Xia, to stand in a city that appeared far cleaner and safer—yet retaining that sense of industry—was stunning. Nohtal was a realm of unpolluted countryside and natural beauty, devoid of the luxuries of city life.

A nearby Telescreen lit up, displaying the kind face of Metru Nui's elder, Turaga Zilnyx. Wearing a teal Noble Zatth, his warm smile showed a kind and empathetic elder. Unfortunately for Metru Nui, pacifistic kindness would not be enough to save it from civil war millennia down the road. "Good afternoon citizens of Metru Nui and visitors to our wonderful city. It is with great pride that we host Mata Nui's planned ceremony in our Coliseum later today, ushering in a new era for the whole of the universe."

Stalgrax chuckled. "When he puts it like that, I'd hate to be stuck in one of those forges crafting masks while something like this occurs."

The pair of Nohtalians finished their journey to the Coliseum, entering the main plaza where hundreds of biomechs were packed together, loudly chatting with one another. It seemed like the entire universe had gathered for the event, all connected by a wonder in what the Great Spirit had planned. For such an enigmatic entity, notifying everyone was more than a little surprising. It was shocking to the point that most biomechs wouldn't miss the opportunity. Would Mata Nui arrive in a physical form? Would the six individuals requested in attendance receive a commendation? Biomechs wanted answers and Mata Nui would deliver (as he often did) in one way or another.

Trivolox stared up at Metru Nui's central tower, so pristine, so beautiful. The glossy silver architecture glistened beneath the city-island's twin suns, like a gem at the heart of the city. The Nohtalians approached the Coliseum entrance, paying an Onu-Matoran at the gate and walking inside the grand foyer.

"Hello fellow biomechs, and welcome to the city of Metru Nui!" Turaga Zilnyx greeted through the Coliseum intercom.

His face was on every Telescreen in the city, smiling from his position just above the central arena. Matoran crowded the arena seats alongside biomechs of many sapient species. Countless more biomechs stood in the arena itself, clapping, cheering, and conversing as the Turaga got their attention. Trivolox and Stalgrax were near the center of the arena, a fair distance from Zilnyx and his announcement box. Behind him stood six entities waiting to hear why they had been summoned to the city.

"In light of this very special event, I have given all city workers the next couple hours off, so that we may all witness this momentous ceremony," the Turaga continued. "Now, I request your silence as I explain the reason for this glorious event."

The entire Coliseum was quiet then, awaiting an answer. Surely something great would come from Mata Nui disrupting Rahi and the dreams of biomechs everywhere.

"The Great Spirit has made his will clear," Zilnyx began. "The scholars in Ko-Metru have been aware for some time that Mata Nui wished to have public agents act on his behalf in our universe. We are blessed that he would offer us such leaders, and it was through the dreams that I was spoken to by Mata Nui. I understand that many Turaga on many islands received a similar dream, a mission to see to it that our guests of honor were not simply brought here, but crowned the new leaders of our many realms. Without further ado, I present the Great Spirit's chosen entities."

The Coliseum applauded as the six beings behind Zilnyx were motioned to stand before the Telescreen video camera. The Turaga tapped one of the biomechs, a white-armored one, on his side and said, "Go ahead. They're your audience now."

The white-armored biomech was still for a moment, his chilly blue eyes darting back and forth as he searched for the right words. "Hello. My name is Pridak. I…I don't think I ever imagined this destiny for myself. I was…I have always been a loyal servant of Mata Nui's will…for as long as I can remember. If I am now charged with ruling the universe...then I gladly accept the position."

The audience clapped and waited for the next chosen biomech to stand before the screen. This one was armored in crimson, traces of black in his form as well. "My name is Kalmah, and I also gladly accept the position I have been tasked with. I will see to it that the universe is in fine hands under my rule."

The process continued relatively the same for Mantax and Carapar, giving their name and a few brief words. When the mysterious green individual took to the screen, he was more curious with the ceremony than the others.

"Hello, my name is Ehlek," he said through a breathing apparatus over most of his face. "I am not familiar with the realm of the air breathers, and I must say it is an alien place when all you have ever known is the sea. A week ago, my chief concern was hunting my next meal. Still, I have always had the best interest of my many brothers and sisters in mind, I only wish they could be present for this moment. Regardless, I vow the same best interest in defending our universe from any threat to Mata Nui."

The audience erupted into applause once again, and a blue entity walked up this time. Clearly the most nervous of the group, he fought to remain still as he addressed the city. "He-hello. My…my name…my name…is Takadox. The others have expressed…expressed a faith in the Great Spirit…and a promise…to uphold his will. And so…and so, I shall do the same. Thank you."

"Well he's definitely not one for public speaking," Stalgrax muttered.

"Probably his first time," Trivolox replied, entirely unaware that Takadox's nervousness stemmed from standing near the entity he was charged with keeping tabs on for the Brotherhood. "I'm sure he'll become more comfortable with it."

Turaga Zilnyx took to the Telescreens again and smiled out at the crowd. "Once again, I would like to thank you all for attending the announcement of the universe's new rulers. It is clear that they are proud servants of Mata Nui and they will not waver in protecting us. And now I will swear them into their new positions."

The Turaga held up a brand new, bright yellow Kanohi Hau and displayed it for the Telescreens. "This Great Hau was crafted by a mask maker here in our grand city. It is the symbol of the Great Spirit himself and will serve as the bond to him during this ritual."

Zilnyx held the Kanohi out to the future Barraki and smiled at them. "Place a hand to the mask and repeat my words."

The biomechs followed the Turaga's instruction and he began. "I shall honor the will of the Great Spirit, Mata Nui, in word and deed."

"I shall honor the will of the Great Spirit, Mata Nui, in word and deed."

"I shall place my faith in Mata Nui, so that he may show me the path of truth, valor, justice, and wisdom."

"I shall place my faith in Mata Nui, so that he may show me the path of truth, valor, justice, and wisdom."

"I am bound to the will of the Great Spirit and shall not disregard his commands, for I am a strong and noble servant."

"I am bound to the will of the Great Spirit and shall not disregard his commands, for I am a strong and noble servant."

"I shall put the grace and glory of Mata Nui before myself, and put no others before him."

"I shall put the grace and glory of Mata Nui before myself, and put no others before him."

"I am blessed by Mata Nui and shall live my life in accordance with his virtues."

"I am blessed by Mata Nui and shall live my life in accordance with his virtues."

"Unity."

"Unity."

"Duty."

"Duty."

"Destiny."

"Destiny."

"I accept the Great Spirit's request and shall follow this path until death or removal separate me from it."

"I accept the Great Spirit's request and shall follow this path until death or removal separate me from it."

Zilnyx slowly pulled the Kanohi Hau closer to his body, facing the Telescreens again. "This concludes the swearing in of our universe's new rulers. In a moment, they will be departing the Coliseum with several Toa escorts to visit the separate districts of our city and interact with the biomechs they now serve. Please join me in another round of applause for these fine rulers!"

"Let's return to the port," Trivolox said, "I've seen exactly what I came for. Mata Nui has made his will clear and those six are now the highest-ranking biomechs in the universe. We can only hope they take their vows seriously."

"Would it change anything if they didn't?" Stalgrax asked, nearly drowned out by cheering and applause. "What concern is it of ours that those six might betray the universe?"

"I only speak in concern for their lives," Trivolox replied, leading the way out of the Coliseum. "If they abandon their duty, Mata Nui will surely strike them down."

"And if he doesn't?"

Trivolox thought hard about the question, considering the best response as he moved along. "Mata Nui sees all we do, Stalgrax. If he would allow the new leaders to defy his wishes, if he would let them roam the universe without punishment, then I would lose my faith in Mata Nui. I would probably lose my faith in everything."

<<<>>>

I had learned to be patient during my time with the gang. How Trylac managed to remain as still as he did during our voyage to Valantru is a true testament to his self-control. I sat near him for a while, never saying a word. He enjoyed silent company the best, something about knowing there was someone to converse with if an important matter arose was comforting to him. Of course, Trylac was seldom the first to speak. It made me question how important he found life—his own or the lives of others—to be.

"There's a lot riding on this. Do you have anything to say about it?" I questioned.

Trylac smirked. "We're friends, Adrinor. I think you know the answer."

<<<Trylac: Empty-Handed>>>

Trylac was born on a dark island in the eastern chain of the Southern Islands. Situated near the center of the chain, his home was in perpetual night, constantly overshadowed by a pale blue star that hung in the sky at all times. Since his species was the only sapient life on the island, they named Dectraz after themselves and lived quietly above the dense woods and marshes. The Dectraz made a safe, sturdy home high in the trees, fashioning their work into a network of houses and businesses. They were safe from the beasts that roamed the ground below and the monsters that dwelled within the dark bayous. On an ordinary day, an unexpected visitor came ashore to Dectraz and began searching the shadowy marshlands, capable of fending off the local fauna with his elemental prowess.

The Dectraz had heard rumors of such biomechs from earlier visitors, able to unleash bursts of flame, torrents of water, or tornadoes of wind by focusing their mind. They were the chosen entities of Mata Nui's grace, the Toa. Left to fend for themselves in endless night, the Dectraz were jealous of the Toa's standing in the universe and ordered a young hunter to remove the visitor from the island. That hunter was Trylac, and he found the Toa of plasma with little difficulty, quickly introducing himself and explaining why he chose to reveal himself. The Toa had been convinced there were no sentient biomechs living so far south in the universe, but Trylac was clear evidence otherwise.

It didn't take much of an argument for the Toa to agree to return to his craft, explaining that he was growing tired of exploring the vastness of the Southern Islands. He missed his home on the Northern Continent, his friends as well. As Trylac asked more and more about what the world in the north was like, what it contained, what it was to live in the light of the Great Spirit, the Dectraz was sold. Trylac reluctantly said farewell to his brethren, expressing his wish of seeing another world beyond the island they knew. Leaving behind his entire life, Trylac journeyed north with the Toa of plasma and was eventually approached about a job offer. The role of a hunter on Dectraz had been given to him through merit and Trylac's new position felt like the first real job he ever had. It even allowed him more exploration of the universe in his first month than Adrinor's first few years with the gang. After a couple hundred years, Trylac could hardly believe it was all coming to such an abrupt end.

Axonn and Trylac stood on the beach of the Northern Continent, staring out at neighboring Zakaz as they hurled stones out over the sea. Sunset was on the way, splashing the sky with wisps of deep red.

"Why did you join the Hand?" Axonn asked.

"The same reason you did," Trylac replied. "I was asked to serve as a judge, jury, and executioner to those that would break the laws of our universe. Someone saw promise in me, just as it was seen in you. I think a lot of us signed on because we were looking for a purpose, something real to hold on to, to feel like we actually make a difference and stand for something."

"I think I'd stand for anything now that the Hand has disbanded," Axonn said miserably.

Trylac chuckled. "Someone will make you useful again, I'm sure of it."

"It's waiting until that time that's going to kill me," Axonn grumbled. "I was never all that good at being idle. You're right though, about wanting to make a difference. It's going to be strange without the company of our fellow operatives."

"There's no shame in seeking a purpose, but life goes on. Hydraxon was right to say we were doing this universe more harm than good. Is that the legacy you want to leave behind?"

"Hydraxon is wrong!" Axonn growled. "I always had the best interest of our universe in mind…in everything I did for the Hand! For him to say that we're nothing more than pests, well, that didn't sit right with me."

"Whether you agree or not, Hydraxon is probably halfway across the universe right now, moving on with his life. We need to do the same."

"Let him move on as he chooses," Axonn replied. "I don't need an excuse to uphold the law."

"We've been taking the law into our own hands for a while now. We lacked structure, Axonn, but you can't seem to see it."

"You're one to talk," Axonn shot back. "I remember your story about capsizing a sailing vessel full of biomechs you knew couldn't swim or fly."

"I remember the story too, because I was there!" Trylac yelled. "But unlike you, I wasn't the one making every attempt to argue with the Hand leaders that we haven't outgrown our use! It's over!"

"I don't need the Hand," Axonn said bitterly.

"Open your eyes," Trylac pleaded. "Look past yourself before you make a huge mistake."

"I don't need advice from a bug that crawled out of some slime pit! You were too worthless to give light to and you're still living in your own personal darkness!"

Trylac lowered his head angrily. He might've killed someone else for saying that, but Axonn was a close friend. The Dectraz felt nothing but hurt. "Okay then, Axonn. If you want to run off and paint yourself as a hero, I wish you the best. Take your weapon and your mask, because they seem to be the only things you value in this universe."

Axonn realized the gravity of the situation too late. As Trylac walked away, Axonn's friendship with him was long gone. "Trylac, wait. I didn't mean"-

"I know exactly what you meant," Trylac interrupted, stopping short. "Just know that I really do hope you find some sense of peace out there, wherever you go. If you don't believe that, well…your Kanohi is always a fine second opinion."

Axonn stood alone on the beach, watching his former friend storm off. He was as he had been in the beginning, alone in the universe. There was no reason to activate his Kanohi Rode on Trylac - he could hear the truth in his voice all along, unable to believe it. Axonn knew nothing about where he would go next or what he would do with himself, only that he wished to be respected for his power. He had no idea that would take him down the path of a warlord.

Axonn released a heavy sigh; the future was calling.

<<<>>>

We'd spent a long day at sea when Elendra decided to take a seat next to me, watching the waves splash against the side of the hull. I liked the way the light hit the violet of her armor, glittering dark red off of it.

"We won you in a coin toss on this one," I said. "I'm glad you came with us though."

"Worried you'd need someone to watch your back in a firefight?" Elendra teased.

I shook my head. "Worried I'd lose a friend. We're all so close, well…it was a little surprising you were willing to let that go so easily."

"I wasn't very keen on saving Pridak, so I let destiny decide for me," Elendra replied. "I know what I value and what I honor and Pridak is in neither category. Don't think I wouldn't have been a little…hurt…to depart."

"Leaving the gang though?" I wondered. "Does your revulsion for Pridak run that deep?"

"It does," Elendra said calmly, giving me a smirk. "And it's justified too."

<<<Elendra: Uprising>>>

"Move, Trelban!"

Elendra's homeland had seen finer mornings, occupied by an enemy the inhabitants had no chance of stopping. A crackle of lightning sizzled through black clouds, briefly interrupting the sound of the pouring rain. Trelbin had been experiencing floods for a week, and to make matters worse, they were in the process of combating a League invasion fleet. Elendra was pushed forward by an armored guard, shoved into line with her fellow insurrectionists. She was constantly fighting the energy shackles that bound her hands behind her, pulling to no avail. She had killed over a dozen League soldiers that day alone, murdering several in prior skirmishes. Elendra's first kills had been committed centuries earlier, making her something of an outcast among the generally kind-natured Trelbans. It was only a love of her homeland that caused her to start a rebellion against the invading League, unconcerned what would become of her allies once she drove off the armies. She hadn't planned on being arrested, an action that took half a dozen guards to restrain her while they bound her hands.

Elendra moved with her fellow Trelbans, carefully eyeing the guards. Some of the rebels were being loaded onto League airships, leaving Elendra to assume they would be imprisoned elsewhere for their crimes. She had watched many of them kill League soldiers, but those who failed to kill anyone were being lined up in the grass, executed by firing squads without remorse. Elendra felt rage inside of her, white hot fury that told her to pull and pull at her restrains until they gave. She pulled her arms away from one another again, feeling as though she might break her arms in the process, severing the energy bond between her shackles.

"Hey!" the nearby guard yelled at her.

Before he could react, Elendra rushed him, tackling the guard and attempting to reengage the energy bond when her hands were placed around his head, sending a lethal rush of electricity through him. She grabbed his saber then, watching as electricity wrapped up around the blade from her right shackle. Several guards turned their attention to Elendra, unloading their energy blasters on her. She strafed the attack, quickly discovering the electrical charge was rerouting any energy bullet that came close to her. Using this to her advantage, Elendra charged at her attackers, slashing and stabbing the League soldiers. A saber was a last resort weapon, and one they seldom trained with. It wasn't every day they encountered someone who electrified a sword and caused any bullets to go flying in a random direction. Elendra ran for one of the airships, impaling both of the soldiers outside it with ease. She looked up at the entryway to the airship and felt her rage replaced by a slight sense of panic.

"You must be the insurrection leader I heard so much about," a figure in the entryway said coolly, his words immediately followed by a rumble of thunder.

"You were expecting someone bigger?" Elendra asked, holding firm to her saber.

A flash of lightning confirmed Elendra's fears as the biomech grinned down at her. Armed with nothing but a katana at his hip, his black and white armor was inverted in color when the bolt lit up the sky, but she knew the face of Barraki Pridak as well as anyone in society did.

"I was expecting your capture to be more difficult," Pridak replied. "The last thing I expected was a female of any kind."

"Do you think a female is unable to lead a resistance?" Elendra spat.

Pridak chuckled. "To be fair, I just ended yours. Besides, if the Great Spirit wished for females to lead anything, one of them would rule a sixth of the universe right now and I doubt it would be a Trelban."

Elendra ran at Pridak, throwing everything she had into a slash at him. Pridak effortlessly evaded the swing, punching her square in the chest and hurling her backwards. She dropped into the muddy grass, still clutching on to her sword. Slowly getting to her feet, she watched the saber recharge with electrical power, prepared for Pridak's next attack. He leapt from the airship, drawing his katana in midair. Elendra blocked the strike, but she hadn't anticipated how much force Pridak would land with. Entirely unaccustomed to wielding a sword, Elendra slashed at Pridak again, receiving a punch to the jaw.

Pridak jumped backward, holding his katana out at his opponent. "I have crushed whole islands that dared to fight me. I have the Brotherhood in my hand and enough armies to end you several times. Do not test me."

"Test you?" Elendra said with a laugh. "I'd rather kill you!"

Elendra ran at him once more, but Pridak merely smirked. At the last second, he swung his katana hard enough to remove the saber from Elendra's grasp, leaving her defenseless. Without missing a beat, Pridak swung back and slashed through part of Elendra's breastplate, cutting into her muscle tissue. She fell in pain as Pridak returned his weapon to its scabbard.

"I apologize for that," Pridak said politely. "Are you ready to surrender now, or must I employ further violence to persuade you?"

Elendra struggled to her feet, glaring into Pridak's eyes. As soon as her left foot felt sturdy, she threw a punch at the Barraki. He grabbed her hand and twisted her arm back, kicking at her wound. Pridak then reengaged her energy bonds and rolled Elendra onto her back, sitting on her lower torso with his knees and placing a hand around her throat.

"Much better," Pridak said, studying her like a muaka would study its prey. "Now, where were we?" He softly ran a clawed finger down the side of Elendra's face, caressing her cheek in his palm, still holding tight to her neck with his other hand.

"Let me go!" Elendra growled, struggling for air. She knew that some Trelbans could control their breathing with practice, an art learned through meditation. Elendra had never meditated and she was far too furious to concentrate on something like saving her life as she fought to escape Pridak's grasp.

"Soon," Pridak whispered, running a finger over her heartlight, tapping it a few times as the rain drenched her body. "So brilliantly red…like my own. I see a similarity in you and it is my belief that we can assist one another."

"You don't have anything I want," Elendra fumed, still trying to escape.

"How about a career? You were creative enough to put this insurrection into action, I think you have the ability to be a military advisor. I could use someone like you on Xia to work with newer recruits, acclimating them with the life of a soldier. I want this for you because I find it beneficial to keep friends close and enemies closer. And because I know loyalty can only be bought in this day and age, please, name your price."

"Leave Trelbin," Elendra spat. "Spare my homeland and I will serve you."

"I cannot do that," Pridak said, smirking as he replied. "Trelbin is of strategic importance to me and the island would make a fine training facility."

Elendra laughed mockingly. "One more achievement to parade in the face of your brothers?"

"You could say that," Pridak muttered. "The League of Six Kingdoms publicly acts as a single entity, but my fellow Barraki and I take a certain pleasure in flaunting our victories to one another. More to the point, I will not cease my operations on Trelbin to appease you."

"Then take your offers to Karzahni," Elendra replied. "They're no good here."

Pridak lightly smacked her cheek a couple times before releasing her neck. "I offer you my kindness after you kill my soldiers and you choose to decline? As you wish, Trelban." He rose, brushing himself off as a few guards approached.

"Barraki Pridak!" one of the guards shouted, wiping the rain from his face. "The storm is growing worse and we're leaving to transport the prisoners to Xia at your command."

"Any word from the other companies across the island?" Pridak asked.

"Affirmative," the guard replied. "The remainder of the battalion has a strong foothold on Trelbin, receiving little to no resistance in taking the island. The insurrection in this sector appears to have been an anomaly we hadn't anticipated."

Pridak glared at Elendra for a moment and quickly returned his attention to the guard. "I placed you in charge of this campaign because I was convinced you were prepared for anomalies. The fact that I had to come here from Xia, to see with my own eyes that this rebellion was quelled only proves that I misjudged you." He turned to the other guards, holding his glare steady. "Arrest your former superior officer. He is hereby stripped of his rank and shall be treated as a prisoner until further notice."

"Barraki Pridak, please," the guard pleaded. "I hadn't considered she would overwhelm my troops like this. Besides, we got her! She's right there and I could kill her right now for you! I've worked hard for this position, for your army! I'll take anything but imprisonment, please!"

With blinding speed, Pridak drew his katana from its scabbard and ran the blade through the guard's heartlight, ramming the hilt against the biomech's chest. The guard was in shock and Pridak let him take a few steps back, the katana still inside his body.

"Your fear of prison outweighed your fear of me…a foolish mistake. At least you will evade incarceration now, yes?" Pridak asked, retrieving his blade and watching the guard fall dead into the muddy ground. Pridak returned the katana to its scabbard and stared down at the biomech he'd just murdered. "You are relieved of duty, soldier."

Pridak was notorious for behavior like that, so the other guards were hardly phased. One of them pointed to Elendra and asked, "What should we do with her?"

Pridak laughed over the howling wind. "Ah yes, I had nearly forgotten! Another biomech who refused my goodwill!" His eyes met hers, gazing at her once more like a predator eyes a kill. Pridak then stomped his foot against her head, rendering her unconscious instantly. "Take her onboard with the other prisoners; I have had enough of Trelbin for today."

<<<>>>

In spite of our best efforts to warn Pridak of Takadox's deception, we failed to reach the Northern Continent in time. It was shortly before dusk when our transport was nearing the city and I could see smoke climbing high into the air, the sound of activity all across the Valantru region. There was no mistaking it was the sight of a warzone earlier in the day. As less and less of the sea separated us from the beach, we couldn't begin to imagine what awaited us at shore.

Review

Hello, I would like to request a review, please.1.) Bioni-Lords Book 3: Kako2.) Review topic, Genakex's Journal3.) Currently 30 Chapters, will not be posting more for the time being.

Thank you much. I wanted to approach the contest theme in a way that explored BZPower without taking it too seriously. This was my attempt at straddling that line, so I'm glad you liked it. -Ced

"You're a lonely moon in love with an ocean. Is that ocean in love with you?" -Carolina Liar

Episode 10: A Royal Tryst with Arrogance

We rode the Icodron along the edge of the mountain range, keeping our destination in sight the entire time. As we drew near and the sun slowly fell across the sky, I could begin to make out the features of the mining facility. There was a noticeable contrast in its architecture when compared to the town Diroux was from. Silver and black metal wrapped around the outside of the mine, dotted by tiny cerulean lights. The dark metals had been built in a way that it appeared long, winding veins of technological influence were infecting the simplicity of the Crezeran landscape, extending out from the tramway. I should've expected Artakha or the denizens of his land would've given the tramway's surroundings a personal touch.

The mining facility was surrounded by a perimeter fence, likely to ensure none of the native Crezerans would tamper with the tramway. When we arrived at the gates, everyone dismounted their Icodron and Rovaius strode up to the Gekalan guard, giving a short wave as he approached.

"Good evening," the guard said cautiously. "What brings foreigners like yourselves out to this facility?"

Rovaius chuckled. "We came to Crezera by a ship that, well…won't be coming back for us. Ranger Diroux told us to leave these Icodron in your care and that we could use the tramway to reach Artakha and return to Xia."

"Xia…" the guard trailed off. "You came a long way to assist Diroux, don't you think?"

"In my line of work, there's no destination too far. That's my motto on this side of the Southern Islands anyway."

"Yeah, Mata Nui only knows what's further south of those dark, mysterious lands," the guard replied. "So, how do you know Diroux exactly?"

"We met today," Rovaius said, grinning. "My team was hired to assist him in dealing with some troublesome Crezerans. The mission was a success."

"Good to hear it," the guard said with a short nod. "I used to be a ranger myself, but I decided to retire when the strenuous activity began to argue with my age. Diroux is a good friend though and one of the finest rangers on this island. Tell me, does he still have that painting in his office from when I shot a Fader Bull from several kio out?"

"So that was you," Rovaius replied, a quiet laugh escaping his mouth. "Last Fader Bull on Crezera, huh?"

"That's right," the guard told him. "I'd still be out there riding, but life has a way of making you old without your consent." He stared off dreamily for a moment, probably thinking back on his days with Diroux and the rangers. He looked back at Rovaius and added, "You'd better head on through now; the tramway will be shutting down for the night soon."

"Thank you," Rovaius replied. "Let's get going."

We quietly entered the mining facility, catching a few Gekalan chatting with one another or reclining against large boulders. The work day had concluded, though a couple workers were still using their mining tools to blast through rock. The tools were clearly from Artakha, too elegant to have originated anywhere else. More Gekalan were pouring out of the mine, bathed in the dark blue lights that hung from the stone ceilings. We headed past the workers, coming near the cliffside where the tramway station was located. It was a transparent building, a dome-shape wrapped in rounded silver support beams. The entrance was an enormous pair of doors, presumably to allow large amounts of raw material to be loaded onto the trams with ease. The doors automatically slid to the sides when we were near enough, smoothly opening the way for us. Inside the dome were a couple Gekalan watching a hologram of the aerial tramway line, likely the system engineers on the Crezera end of the link. Beyond them were five docks, two of which contained massive capsules. The capsules could've easily held four of the huge cargo crates Rovaius and I hid in during our escape from Zakaz.

"Can we help you with something?" one of the engineers asked.

"We were cleared for travel to Artakha," Rovaius explained. "We're heading to Xia after that."

The engineer nodded, glancing back at the holographic line again for a second. "Board the capsule on the far left end. It's due to leave for Artakha in a few minutes anyway."

"I'll activate the doors for them," the other engineer said, touching a finger to the hologram.

The far left capsule pushed the rounded end of itself forward, separating in half around to each side of the capsule. The inside of the capsule was two levels, with the bottom entirely filled with crates, mining tools, and large chunks of raw material. Assuming the upper level was designed for passenger transport (with a ladder being the only means of reaching it), Rovaius climbed to the second floor and took a seat near the end facing Artakha. Several sturdy-looking metal wires were in place to prevent us from falling down to the first level, with the rounded edges of the capsule possessing no floor. I sat across from Rovaius, next to Stalgrax, with Elendra and Trylac opting to stand.

"Welcome aboard the Crezera-Artakha aerial tramway," the engineer said over the intercom, closing the capsule. "Please engage the safety wires on the side you entered from." Trylac walked back and pressed a green button on the wall, watching several wires fly out of the wall and connect to the other side.

"Safety wires appear to be connected," the engineer continued. "For those of you standing during your travel, there are cables hanging from the ceiling to allow you more balance as the tram moves. Your travel time will be approximately two hours. During this time we ask that you keep your hands and feet inside the designated passenger area and behind the safety cables. Thank you and welcome aboard."

The capsule lurched forward, unloaded from the station and propelled beyond the cliffside. The tramway was a notably smooth ride. The builders (most likely Matoran from Artakha and perhaps a few Gekalan) had placed serious concern in ensuring freight and passengers would be secure while traveling between the islands and their efforts paid off. I found myself beginning to doze off when something pushed me from my seat.

I turned my head side to side, getting to my feet. "What happened?"

"You were falling asleep," Trylac replied, "and I pushed you. I was curious if you'd catch yourself."

"It's been a long day," I replied groggily. "I woke up in an escape pod, got my weapon repaired on Stelt, and got shot at by angry sailors and Crezerans. I think I've earned a little shuteye."

Trylac nodded. "True as that may be, isn't ranch work a dawn to dusk business? You're always so tired and I can't imagine that was tolerated in your former occupation."

"Ranch work didn't leave me tired the way this job does," I replied, laughing quietly. "I guess I still need time to fully adapt, you know what I mean?"

"I understand," Trylac said. "Ranching wouldn't prepare me for this line of work."

"What was your first job anyway?" I asked.

"I was a hunter," Trylac muttered. "I stalked creatures and kept my brethren safe from particularly dangerous ones."

"I wish sometimes I had started life as a hunter," Elendra piped up. "Would've been a much better position than doing engineering work on Trelbin."

"Your tech knowledge serves you well, Elendra," Trylac replied. "Take pride in that."

Elendra clicked the hammer back and forth on her left revolver a few times. "I do. There are just other occupations I wish I'd pursued in my younger days."

I looked to Stalgrax and Rovaius. "What did you do for work in your early years?"

Stalgrax smirked. "Well, I used to be a guide for travelers to Nohtal and for those Nohtalians unfamiliar with certain regions of the island. I enjoyed talking to biomechs and hearing new stories. I eventually retired when Rovaius approached me about the gang."

Rovaius glanced at the floor before replying, slowly raising his head and staring me in the eyes. "I was a scholar. My job was to study the universe and interpret what the Great Spirit was trying to tell us. I could see the importance of the virtues Matoran hold dear and how they each played a role in every biomech's life. Then came a day when I was visited by three entities, interrupting the quiet of my life. They invited me to join them, to join a group that would act on behalf of Mata Nui himself. I declined, finding more value in my job than running off with them. I never saw the entities again, but I became frustrated with my scholar position, considering it may have been a mistake to have passed up the offer. I eventually resigned, knowing the entities had Mata Nui's interests in mind and that studying the universe might be a task better suited to them. After that, I took a variety of odd jobs before starting the gang with Stalgrax and the others."

"Do you think the entities are still out there?" I wondered.

"Most likely," Rovaius replied. "There's always someone out there acting on Mata Nui's behalf. Toa are a fine example."

The remainder of our journey was uneventful. I think the exhaustion of the day that had worn me down hours before was starting to hit the rest of the gang. It was nice to relax for the evening.

As the final traces of day were swallowed into the black of the night sky, I watched the island of Artakha begin to undergo an astonishing change. The fine, sharp edges of the architecture began to shift, entire portions of the city-island launching into the air, suspended by what appeared to be air propulsion firing out through exhaust ports located beneath the buildings. The brilliant lights of Artakha bathed the propulsion in every color I could imagine, still amazed as the buildings on the ground shifted around one another, continuing to warp their shapes. Large gear components rose from the ground and extended from the skyscrapers, clicking in time with one another like a perfect machine. Finally, the ascended structures began to meet near the center of the island, blasting a trail of charged air along the ground as they repositioned. Airships large and small moved about the cities without difficulty and I could see one more piece rising to join the structures. It fit perfectly between the others, a trail of propulsion energy launching it above the rest. Situated on the colossal platform was a fortress, just as wondrous as the rest of the city, molded into soft edges and adorned with its own functioning gears. I knew without a doubt it was Artakha's dwelling, a lofty tower from where he could preside over his domain.

It was tough to make out at first, but I noticed something about the airships traveling in the night that set them apart from any other I had encountered before. Rather than utilize the power of levitation through Kanoka disks, these ships ran on propulsion and propellers, releasing steam from their exhaust ports. They seemed to exist as a flying counterpart to the terrestrial steam stacks below, illuminated in bronze and gold, blasting foggy emissions harmlessly into the atmosphere. The cities put the Gekalan idea of paradise to shame, every building presented as a work of nobility, each crafted as their own piece of art. The roads and streets were impossibly pristine, the product of Artakha's nascent transformation. The bridges were metallic archways, extending onto the paths they were born to connect, allowing steam-powered personal transports to make their way through the metropolises.

"Impressive," Stalgrax said casually, narrowing his eyes on the island. "Could you imagine what the League might achieve with Artakha under their control?"

Trylac shook his head. "Artakha is widely regarded as one of the most powerful entities in existence. Looking at what he is capable of doing to the structure of his island, the Barraki would be wise not to exhaust resources trying to conquer it."

The capsule completed its course to Artakha shortly after their brief exchange, safely docking in the tramway station. As I stood up, an unexpected blast of static rang through the intercom. I cringed, searching for a sign of what happened.

"My apologies," someone told us. "That happens now and again when I engage the speakers. Um, please stand back from the safety cables as I will be separating them in a few seconds."

We kept a fair distance from the cables, watching them retract as the capsule opened wide. We leapt down to the station floor and I couldn't help but admire the architecture, amazed by the sheer detail involved.

A Ko-Matoran looked up from the engineering desk and raised an eyebrow at us. "You're not Gekalan. Who are you?"

"We were hired by local Gekalan law enforcement to handle some problems they couldn't manage alone," Rovaius replied. "After being stranded on Crezera, the Gekalan informed us the only means of transport off the island was their aerial tramway."

"I don't think Artakha will be very pleased with you staying on his island," the Matoran said warily. "He is very particular about guests."

"We won't be staying any longer than we need to," Rovaius assured him. "We need transport to the island of Xia. Do you know how I would go about doing that?"

"Xia?" The Matoran asked, nearly laughing. "That's quite a distance from here. I don't think even our cargo airships travel to Xia. Still, someone might be able to take you in a smaller craft. Let me contact a friend of mine and I can get you on your way."

Rovaius nodded. "I think we're going to step outside, catch some fresh air. We'll be waiting when you're finished."

We marched out the massive doorway, taking in the sights and sounds of the beautiful night. All across the cities, Matoran of different elements worked together, crafting and building. Down below the propulsion lines where the city sections had joined to meet Artakha's fortress, I could see the lights in the air jets were shimmering across a colossal Kanohi Hau, amplifying the sleekness of the object. The entire island was nothing short of amazing and we had a perfect view from the aerial tramway platform, elevated high above the street level.

The Matoran joined us out on the platform, politely tapping Rovaius on the side. The Nohtalian glanced down and smirked. "Any luck?"

The Matoran chuckled. "I have a friend on his way to pick you up right now. His transport comfortably seats ten biomechs, even Toa-sized ones like yourselves. It was not by luck that he was available - you were destined to depart Artakha this night."

"If you say so," Rovaius replied.

The engineer Matoran returned to the station and we spent a few more minutes watching other Matoran go about their night in the cities below. A transport airship finally drove up to the platform and landed near us, opening the side entry doors. A Matoran of the green exited the craft and looked us over for a moment.

"You must be the biomechs I was asked to pick up," he said. "C'mon, let's get going."

"You heard him," Rovaius said, leading the way onto the transport.

We boarded and strapped ourselves into the seats and I watched Rovaius sit down next to the pilot's chair. The Matoran returned to his seat as well, strapping himself in and engaging the steam thrusters. We were hovering over the platform, but we weren't going anywhere.

"So we're going to Xia?" he asked.

"That's right," Rovaius replied. "Do you know where it is?"

"I used to pilot airships all over the universe, Nohtalian," he said. "I know Xia well. By the way, my name is Holmdir."

The Matoran offered a hand and Rovaius shook it, replying with, "I'm Rovaius." Holmdir looked back at us, pointing to each of us and waiting for us to reveal our names. Our assignment didn't bring us into conflict with any other Barraki, so giving our names under the circumstances wasn't an issue.

"Just out of curiosity, what is this going to cost us?" Elendra questioned. "I can't imagine burning fuel all the way to Xia is cheap."

Holmdir laughed. "We may not use levitation Kanoka to achieve flight, but our steam-powered airships do not require fuel. I won't bore you with the particulars behind it, but the most you owe me for is spending my time on a trip to Xia."

"Fair enough," Rovaius said with a nod. "As a biomech that doesn't typically act on anything that isn't worth my while, I can respect that."

While Rovaius fumbled for money in the relatively dark airship, I stared out the window, still marveling at what a sight Artakha was. I could also see the other end of the island was connected to a barren, uninhabited mass joined by a land bridge. I thought about asking Holmdir why the land was so vacant, but I also thought about getting some sleep. Sleep won.

I spent a dreamless night aboard Holmdir's airship, remembering the soft sound of the engine humming in my head. A burst of sunlight and a sudden swerve to the left finally roused me from my slumber. I glanced out the windshield and could see Xia below us, still as grimy as ever.

"Where do you want me to land?" Holmdir asked.

Rovaius pointed just beyond the dock, outside of the city. "Take the ship down by that street. If you come within about ten bio of the ground, we can jump from there."

"Sounds good. I'm opening the rear hatch now," Holmdir replied, veering down at an angle for Xia.

"We don't encounter a lot of free rides in our line of work," Rovaius said to the Matoran. "Thanks for helping us out."

"What did you say you do again?" Holmdir asked, continuing to steer toward the street Rovaius designated.

"I didn't," Rovaius said with a smirk, leaving for the rear hatch.

We followed the Nohtalian and right when Holmdir had us over the street, we leapt down out of the air. I landed hard on the road, watching Trylac descend gracefully. Elendra performed a roll once she hit the ground, while Rovaius and Stalgrax seemed to be just fine with a simple jump. I watched the craft pull a sharp turn over the Xian skies and double back for its island of origin, engaging a cloaking shield that must've been active while I slept. Artakha was capable of designing some truly incredible technology.

"Nothing like the scent of the Xian air, huh?" Stalgrax said, chuckling.

Rovaius gazed out at the Mountain, into the thick fog of polluted atmosphere above the industrious island. "Let's see what Pridak is up to this morning."

He led us into the city and up to the steps of Anxious Solitude where we went through the standard procedure of having to inform the guards we were on our way up. After that, it was a quick stroll through the lobby, a trip on the elevator, and an uneasy walk through the hallway to Pridak's chamber that separated us from taking our next mission. The guards activated the doorway as they always did and we stepped inside, finding Pridak busy at his desk. The Barraki was known to leave Xia for many matters he liked to handle personally, but there were plenty of documents involved with running the universe.

"Good morning, Your Eminence," I said politely. "Keeping busy, I see."

"You dropped a sky fortress out of the air the other night," Pridak said. "I have been dealing with a logistic nightmare since I returned to Xia and I have been very busy."

"Not that it's any of my business, but why are you handling Mantax's affairs?" Elendra asked.

Pridak turned away from the desk and faced us, looking exhausted. I had always known Pridak to be the face of strength, elegance, and command. It was odd to see him appear so unkempt and drained of life. "It wasn't until well into the tour of the facility that Mantax revealed his first intention for the Midnight. He wished to use it as part of our fleet in a coming invasion."

"Invasion?" I repeated. "What's left to invade of any worth?"

"I made a name for myself when you were nothing," Pridak replied. "I worked hard every day of my life and then a day came where I was rewarded for that work. The universe was turned over to me…to me and five others. We merely intend to take what is ours."

I thought to myself for a moment, wondering what the Barraki didn't already own, occupy, or wipe out. I only had one guess. "You want Destral or Artakha?"

"They might as well be ours," Pridak said casually. "No, we want a prize far greater than an island full of Rahi-makers or crafters. Tell me Adrinor, what would you say if I suggested that there existed a conquest of such unparalleled worth, that any mere island could only pale in comparison?"

"So you want…a thing?" I asked skeptically.

"In a manner of speaking, yes," Pridak replied. "A very big thing. I am intentionally cryptic only because I am careful. Rest assured, you will know of my victory in time." Pridak shot me a grin, a wicked smile not unlike the one during our first meeting - the one only a Takea could love. "And then the light, the air, the sea…every element known to the universe will be mine to wield."

There was something disturbed about Pridak's last sentence. He sounded enlightened, but the notion was insane. I couldn't imagine what he meant, all I knew was that from his description, failure would be disastrous. If I had known that would be our last conversation, if I had known what I know now, the state of the universe would be very different today. What a teasing word "hindsight" is, don't you agree?

"I suppose you have a mission for us in the meantime?" Rovaius wondered.

"Always straight to business with you, Rovaius," Pridak replied with a laugh. "Yes, I have an assignment for you on the Southern Continent. You will be visiting a cave network not far north of some hole-in-the-wall town named Kinatra. I had to look at a map just to make sure I had the name right."

"I'm from Kinatra," I blurted out.

"Meldin are from Meldio," Pridak replied in his most superior tone.

"I thought I told you the story of how the gang picked me up in Kinatra?"

Pridak chuckled. "I oversee thousands of soldiers and have more important locations to keep at the front of my mind. Forgive me if I forget one story and one worthless town in the middle of nowhere."

"So why are we visiting a cave in some remote location Takadox barely concerns himself with?" Stalgrax asked.

"The cave is a former meeting place for the other warlords and myself. Each of the Barraki assisted me in perfecting a weapon that Takadox supposedly finished a week before the tour of the Midnight. The armies of the League have orders to be on the Northern Continent at dawn in two days on my command. We will be meeting outside the city of Valantru, in the northwest of the continent. I want the weapon in my hands that night, understood?"

"All the armies of the League amassed in one place?" Trylac asked in shock. "What sort of game are you playing at, Pridak?"

"Conquest," Pridak breathed. "It is the same one I have been playing for millennia. Now run along - you have your mission."

We departed Xia uninterestedly that morning, arriving in the northwest of the Southern Continent that evening. With plenty of time at our disposal to retrieve Pridak's weapon and present it to him, we were hardly in a hurry. Still, there was an air of suspicion on the watercraft. Pridak was keeping something from us and—while it wasn't the first time—none of us were ever particularly keen on getting half the facts. Reaching land on Mantax's portion of the Southern Continent allowed us greater access to transport resources, rather than traveling by Rahi. Even taking the additional distance into account, a motorized vehicle would make the journey much faster. As the ship's captain began his route south to meet us as near to the cave as possible, we approached a small port town. The streetlamps were dimly lit and the ground was paved with cobblestones, suggesting we had stumbled upon a sleepy little place. I found an inn on the outskirts of the town and we stepped inside, catching the attention of an alarmed Ba-Matoran.

"Guests!" he shouted, nearly cowering below the desk.

"This is an inn, right?" Rovaius asked. "Why are you so surprised?"

"We don't receive many non-Matoran around here, despite being a port. Mantax set up the trade routes in this area long ago, and the only ships we see are usually full of Matoran from other lands. Mind if I ask what brings you to our town?"

"We're on business," Rovaius explained. "My friend here spotted your inn and we decided to see if we could spend the night here. We'll be heading south of the Tren Krom River tomorrow, into Takadox's territory. As secretive as I'm sure you know Barraki Mantax can be, I know you realize that's all the information I'm allowed to divulge."

"Absolutely, Mantax is famous for his private nature," the Matoran said with a nod, his black and violet armor glowing in the dim light of the inn. "We're completely vacant tonight, so take any rooms you like. I'll just need your payment, please."

Stalgrax awkwardly stepped up to the desk, staring down at the Matoran. "I'm sorry to say we actually don't have any money with us. It's fairly cold out there tonight though and it would be very kind of you to let us stay the night for free. I can promise that we will all recommend your inn to anyone we come across in our travels."

The Matoran gave Stalgrax an apprehensive look, meeting the Nohtalian's expression of utter misery. "Please. Help us out."

The Ba-Matoran sighed. "I cannot, in good conscience, let the Great Spirit watch me throw you out into the cold," he said softly. "Head on up and have a good, warm night."

"Mata Nui will reward you for your generosity," Stalgrax said, quietly ascending the inn's stairway. "Thank you much."

I followed him up and we all stood before our chosen rooms. Trylac and Elendra gave Stalgrax a telling nod while Rovaius pat him on the back a couple times. I extended a hand to him and Stalgrax accepted, whispering, "A display of force never appeals to me the way playing on someone's emotions does."

I awoke the next morning full of energy, following the gang downstairs and off into town. The skies were bright and blue, full of clouds and warmed by the sun above. The climate was so reminiscent of my time on the ranch, it was nice to see some things remained constant in an ever-changing universe.

"Okay, first priority of the morning is to find transport to Kinatra," Stalgrax declared, examining the town's shops. "Nothing that growls or grows weak as the day wears on."

Trylac pointed near the far end of town. "Seaside Vehicles. I think that's what we want."

"Sounds like they specialize in seafaring transport," I said.

"Or their shop is merely next to the sea," Stalgrax suggested. "It's worth checking out."

Stalgrax turned out to be correct. The inside of the building led out to a small dock where several watercraft were parked. Inside the shop were a number of land vehicles, utilizing wheels built to handle tough terrain. A Le-Matoran hurried our way, grinning hopefully at us.

"Morning, travelers!" he said happily. "How can I help you?"

I stepped forward, slightly chuckling at the Matoran as I pulled out a laser shell. "I think we can help you more than you can help us." I glanced at the other Matoran workers and shouted, "This laser shell is taking out the first Matoran in here that chooses not to follow our instructions!"

The Le-Matoran frowned. "Okay, okay, be sensible for a moment. What do you want from us?"

I sighed, clicking the shell into my laser rifle. "I want you to live. The way that happens is by listening to me. I need an all-terrain vehicle, something swift, but a smooth ride too. Recommend me something, and remember, a poor recommendation will bring me back. You don't want me to come back."

The Le-Matoran shakily pointed to a vehicle in the corner. It could seat six and, although it lacked a windshield, windows, or a roof, it looked sturdy enough.

"I'll take it," I said with a smile before turning to Stalgrax. "Start it up for us and we'll be on our way."

The Le-Matoran took a few more steps back, finally breaking into a run. I watched him with a hint of curiosity, loading my rifle in anticipation. He drew a Kanoka launcher from behind a desk and took aim at me. I narrowed my eyes on him and trained my rifle on his position.

"Any chance you're going to tell me what that disk does?" I asked.

"One way to find out," he replied, launching it at me.

I fired and watched the laser blast hit the disk, passing straight through it. The blast hit the Le-Matoran, barely pushing him backwards and leaving a slight mark on his armor. The disk hit me directly and I felt my legs buckle right before I collapsed. Elendra drew a revolver and shot the Le-Matoran dead in an instant, glancing down at me with a laugh.

"Weakness disk," she said. "Not a bad choice."

Trylac dragged me to the transport, letting Rovaius keep his gunblade aimed at the other Matoran while we made our escape. Once Stalgrax started up our transport and we were all onboard, he turned it around and smashed through the doorway, careening out into the street and leaving town in a hurry.

"Well, I've seen negotiations turn worse before!" Rovaius hollered to me over the wind. "It looked like you were having fun until you got hit!"

"I don't see biomechs use weakness disks very often," I said faintly. "To say I was surprised is definitely an understatement."

We spent the entire trip with Stalgrax at the wheel, giving me plenty of time to recover from the effects of the Kanoka. The fields and hills were at peace as we drove along, splashing through the Tren Krom River into Takadox's territory and continuing on our way. I didn't take time to enjoy a lot of warm, sunny days with the gang, but being so close to the place I called home for centuries, I made a point of kicking back and taking in the scenery. Right around dusk, I knew we had to be coming close to our destination and I started paying more attention to our surroundings. Kinatra was in the distance when I noticed a cave off to the left of us. It blended so well with the green of the hills that I almost didn't catch it. I leaned forward, shouting to Stalgrax, "I think we just passed the cave!"

"It's not going anywhere!" Stalgrax yelled back, a smile plastered on his face. "Let's stop over in Kinatra real quick. I didn't get to see this town when we picked you up!"

Stalgrax parked our transport outside of Kinatra, leading the way to a small diner. The staff had a knack for making some excellent energy combinations and, though Matoran and many biomech species could absorb the energy through their hands (Meldin included), the experience deprived biomechs of tasting the complete artistry. While some species found absorbing energy through the mouth to be repulsive, the rest of the gang never had much of a problem with the idea.

We took a seat by the diner's front window, waiting only a minute or two before a smiling Ce-Matoran came up to us, the setting sun reflecting off the gold of her armor. "Hello, everyone. What can I get you this evening?"

"I'm honestly not very hungry," Rovaius told her. "Have them make me a Manas claw, particularly strong."

"I'll take the same," Stalgrax chimed in.

"I won't be ordering anything," Trylac noted to the Ce-Matoran.

"Me either," I told her.

"I'll take an Artidax sunset," Elendra said.

The waitress finished taking down the orders and smiled at us again. "I'll be right back with your drinks."

In a matter of moments, the Ce-Matoran returned with our drinks, giving one to Rovaius, Stalgrax, and Elendra.

"Well that was fast," Rovaius said, chuckling. He glanced my way and said, "You didn't tell me this place had such speedy service."

The Ce-Matoran looked at me and asked, "Oh, do you live around here?"

"I…I used to," I said uneasily. "Is the ranch still nearby?"

"Sure is," she replied. "I've only lived here a couple years myself, but yeah, the Torema Mahi Ranch isn't too far of a walk from Kinatra."

I froze in my seat. "The…what? What did you just say?"

"The Torema Mahi Ranch," she repeated. "I'm not sure how long you've been away from the area, but the ranch owner was shot and killed by outlaws about five years ago. At least, that's the rumor. The ranch was named in his honor."

I stared hard at the table, unsure of how to respond. "He was a good biomech."

I must've made the Ce-Matoran uncomfortable, because her next words were, "Well…okay. If you all need anything, don't hesitate to come tap my shoulder."

Rovaius swished his drink around in its glass, blending the deep purple and orange shades around one another. He took a drink and smiled. "Quick and well done. We really should've come here after you joined, Adrinor."

Elendra took a sip of her own bright red drink, nodding in approval. "They're very good."

Trylac fixed his gaze on me, very aware of my change in attitude. "They honored your former boss by naming the place after him. That's not a bad deal, really. I'd be tempted to pull a gun on someone to have my name immortalized for it. Of course, I'd probably choose a more urbanized location, but beggars can't be choosers I suppose."

"You going to be all right?" Stalgrax asked me.

I looked up from the table. "Yeah. I'll be fine. It's just…being here, and bringing up Torema. It's nostalgic for me, like going back to Nohtal for you."

"I've departed the shores of Nohtal twice in my life," Rovaius replied. "There's nothing left for me there now."

Stalgrax swallowed some of his drink and pointed the glass toward me. "Same here - two departures and one alongside Rovaius. Don't get too attached to the home you once knew, Adrinor. If life ever takes you back there, it'll impair your abilities."

"You don't see any irony in talking about impaired abilities while holding a Manas claw at me?" I said with a laugh.

Stalgrax put his head back and downed the rest of his drink, slamming the glass onto the table before chuckling at me. "It'll take a lot more than a drink to make me feel like I'm back on Nohtal."

The gang finished their drinks and we headed out, letting Stalgrax backtrack to the cave I pointed out earlier. An overgrowth of grass and vines obscured the entrance, making for an excellent hidden meeting spot. Kinatra was so far out of the way and without the presence of Takadox's military in the area, it was a perfect location. Trylac pushed his way through the wild plants and we followed him in, entering the pitch black darkness with nothing but his eyes glowing back at us. They were our only sight as we traversed much of the cave, letting Trylac guide us with his powerful vision. We held hands behind the Dectraz, ensuring no one would be lost or slam into a wall or something. Much of the journey was spent in the dark, but after a while, we starting seeing a Lightstone here or there.

"At least we know someone has been through here," Stalgrax muttered.

"And they were smart enough not to light up the entire cave," Elendra replied. "I'd bet my last bullet that was Ehlek's idea. He lived in dark waters before the League, I doubt he required much light to walk through here."

"Wouldn't surprise me," I said.

The occasional Lightstone managed to keep us in what we assumed was the right direction, but it was barely enough illumination. The Barraki practically owned the universe, so to use a cave for a meeting rather than speak at one of their countless fortresses, I could only imagine what they had to discuss in the darkness outside of Kinatra. I thought back to the evening aboard the Midnight, Pridak's warning to Kalmah about keeping quiet, and even Voporak's message from Mantax not to leave Stelt. The Barraki were going to set something terrible in motion, that much was certain.

Without warning, I heard Rovaius stumble and slide into the dark, tumbling down through the cavern. Elendra followed and I could hear Trylac engaging his wings. Stalgrax grabbed my arm and we fell down into another room. The chamber contained enough Lightstones to allow us to see one another, as well as a crude ladder that led back up to the entrance. I picked myself up, examining the chamber in wonder. The walls were full of drawings and descriptions, mostly etched or burned away. Worktables had been thrown about, chairs as well, countless destroyed tablets littering the cavern floors. Even some of the Lightstones had been crushed into pieces, the entire room in shambles.

"This place is a mess," Rovaius growled, walking up to the wall and brushing his hand against it. "They really didn't want anyone to see what they were working on."

"I don't think Pridak had anything to do with this," Trylac replied before pointing to the far corner. "I believe those are the remains of the weapon we were sent to retrieve."

We cautiously approached the broken weapon, a cannon that required two hands to operate. Someone had torn it to shreds, pulling out entire pieces and ripping them away. Elendra knelt down before the cannon, grabbing some busted Lightstone bits and throwing them into the weapon. The extensive damage had left it beyond repair, but I knew Elendra wouldn't pass up a chance to analyze weapon tech.

"Let's see what Pridak was working on," Elendra muttered, digging through the weapon's inner components. As she tinkered around, I glanced back at the walls, trying to make out some of the untouched words. Whoever had done so much damage to the room had been pretty thorough, leaving a few words like "invade," "Toa," and "islands."

"Mata Nui," Elendra whispered. I whirled back to her and she glanced up at us. "This can't be right."

"What does it do?" Rovaius asked.

Elendra paused, almost lost for words. "It's a modified version of the prototype Toa Rifles we picked up on Nynrah about a century back."

"Really!?" Stalgrax said, just as surprised. "I thought Pridak concluded the process would never work because the weapon couldn't remain stable after absorbing energy."

"It does explain why it was modified into a cannon," Trylac said quietly.

"What's a Toa Rifle?" I wondered.

"It was an experiment the Barraki were looking into over a hundred years ago. They believed the energy that allowed Matoran to become Toa was possible to absorb and manipulate," Elendra told me. "They did extensive tests, successfully turning a Toa back into a Matoran and then back into a Toa again. While the process was never able to do anything with Turaga other than outright kill them, the Barraki thought the mass production of Toa Rifles would prevent any problems if the Toa ever decided to rebel against the League."

"Unfortunately, the rifle usually exploded while absorbing Toa energy or right after completing a drain. It would kill the user and no one wanted to carry a weapon that killed them once activated. The project was shut down, but the research was apparently saved. Whether he could use it on the battlefield or not, Pridak had a way to manipulate destiny. The original absorption process was done in stasis tubes, but with no way to hold an enemy still in a war, the Barraki had no use for it. This cannon seems to suggest someone finished the work done all those years ago, perhaps even perfecting it."

"For all we know, that cannon is in its current condition because someone tried to use it," Stalgrax spoke up. "Pridak would be using these already if they worked, don't you think?"

"Whatever the case, someone arrived here before we did," I said, somewhat unnerved by my own words. "And since the Barraki are supposed to be meeting on the Northern Continent tomorrow, I'm going to go ahead and say it wasn't them."

"Maybe the visitor or visitors left some evidence behind," Stalgrax suggested.

"Have you seen this room?" Elendra replied, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Even if Stalgrax is wrong, we don't gain anything by standing around," Rovaius said.

I returned to staring at the walls, looking for words I could make out. Stalgrax pushed away the ruins of a few tablets and picked something out of the remains. I watched him brush the dust from it and hold it to one of the Lightstones on the wall.

"Agent Takadox," Stalgrax began curiously. He continued reading in silence for a few more seconds before lowering the tablet. "You're going to want to hear this."

"Is that so?" Rovaius asked with a chuckle. "Surprise us."

Stalgrax went back to looking at the letter and continued. "I apologize that I could not reply directly, but this Rahi is a fine messenger in my place. Having made your intentions clear, I am prepared to take the next step. You informed me that Pridak has scheduled his timetable for assembling the League's armies and I will be sending a fleet to have him and the other Barraki arrested before they begin their warpath to Metru Nui. Do not lose the Tablet of Transit you received with our insignia upon it, as the Makuta being deployed to handle this situation has no knowledge of your contribution. I would prefer to keep this matter as private as possible, a fact I'm sure you can appreciate. By the will of Mata Nui, we will put down these would-be usurpers to the Great Spirit's throne and return peace to the universe. Respectfully, Miserix."

And Pridak's comment from the morning prior was suddenly too clear. The Barraki wanted the entire universe without Mata Nui above them on the chain of command. Pridak wished to become the new Great Spirit and occupy his throne. I had never considered that Mata Nui could actually exist in one physical place, given that he was described as being the living seas, skies, and earth all around us.

Elendra stifled a laugh. "The Great Spirit is in Metru Nui? Since when?"

"Miserix is the head of the Brotherhood," Trylac reminded her. "He wouldn't just say something like this. The Matoran are more blessed by Mata Nui than any other biomechs in the universe and Metru Nui is their greatest achievement. Even if the Great Spirit isn't there, I'm willing to bet that his power is accessible somewhere in that city. The Barraki wouldn't go through all this trouble if there wasn't a prize to be won. They could've taken Metru Nui if they really wanted it about seven thousand years ago, instead of signing a trade deal with those worthless little heroes-to-be. If they're really heading to Metru Nui, there's no doubt in my mind the Barraki will find the Great Spirit's throne there."

"We need to warn Pridak then," I said at once.

"He wanted his armies assembled on the Northern Continent in the morning. We'll never make it in time," Rovaius replied.

"If we can't remove the Brotherhood's element of surprise, we can at least fight for the League. We could be on the verge of a very lengthy war," Trylac added.

Stalgrax nodded. "You have a point. The League has the numbers, but the Brotherhood probably has some nasty Rahi locked up on Destral."

"What about all this Great Spirit business?" Elendra asked. "I mean, there's no guarantee that Pridak can even replace Mata Nui. It sounds like more of a theory than anything else."

"I'm not concerned about that," Rovaius said flatly. "We're going to the Northern Continent and we're going to speak with Pridak. Hold on to that tablet, Stalgrax. I want to see Takadox executed for his deception."

"You have fun with that then," Elendra muttered. "I'm out."

Rovaius turned and stared in disbelief at her for a moment. "You're really going to fight us on this? Killing and stealing are fine, but you can't defend our"-

"Our what!?" Elendra interrupted. "He's not our friend, Rovaius. He's not one of us! Pridak is a Barraki - someone who lets others build his weapons, make his money, and do his fighting. He didn't work for what he has, it was given to him by Mata Nui! Pridak is the second-in-command of the universe right now and you need to ask yourself something."

"Go ahead, tell me," Rovaius spat, folding his arms.

"Do you really want a universe controlled by the Great Spirit Pridak?"

We all stared at Elendra, taking in what she said for a moment. Mata Nui was a benevolent entity, providing us with the warmth of day and allowing us to roam his universe. Pridak's universe would be nightmarish by comparison, because I had a vague idea of how his mind worked. If that were to become the very universe, there would no longer be a need for The League of Six Kingdoms. Pridak would annihilate resistance without hesitation and every land would obey his commands or die in defiance.

Despite the bleakness of that future, I had to be clear with her. "You said it yourself that there's no guarantee Pridak can really replace Mata Nui, but it isn't right to turn our backs on him like this. The League will surely defeat the Brotherhood's army. Then what? The other warlords may not know who we are, but if Pridak wanted to, he could have all of their forces actively hunting us. The Great Spirit can see all we do, that's all I ever here. Pridak will find out that we knew about the Brotherhood attack and chose not to warn him. I don't know about you, but Pridak as the Great Spirit sounds a lot better than living in fear!"

Elendra cursed under her breath. "We're taking a serious risk either way then. If we save him, he'll become the Great Spirit and we'll be constantly watched by him. If we don't save him, he'll have us running for the rest of our lives. There's also a chance that the Brotherhood will actually manage to overpower the League, but that's a slim chance."

"So what're we going to do about this?" I questioned. "The League is summoning their armies and they're walking right into a trap."

Elendra flashed us a silver coin, flipping it through the air at me. I caught it and looked it over. There was a Kanohi Calix on one side and the number fifty on the other. I looked back up at Elendra and caught her smirk.

"Flip it," Elendra commanded. "If it lands on the Calix, I'll help you save Pridak. If not, consider it my resignation."

<Concluded in next post due to length>

@MC - Thank you, really. I must admit, I have a certain attachment to the line you quoted from Rovaius. While I can certainly see traces of myself in each member of the gang, Rovaius has more of me than Adrinor and that belief in using time well is one we share.And you pointed out the disconnect between chapters, which is also worth talking about for a moment. The word "episode" seemed the best fit for what I wanted to present the audience with, like keeping up with a miniseries. At the same time, the overarching story of the whole epic was important to me as well. Even with Adrinor at the helm, this is not his story alone. It's everyone's story because by the end, they'll have all been affected by one another in some way. And I can assure you that comment will make more sense when Cenotaphs concludes.In regard to how constant the gang remains after five years, you picked up on my reasoning there pretty well. These aren't humans, so the idea that they change over a few years was thrown out the window for me. I can think of several canon characters that remain relatively unchanged after thousands of years, much more stagnant that humans. I mentally split Cenotaphs into three acts though. The first five episodes are an introduction to the MU I'm exploring, while the second five episodes are much more focused on an exploration of the gang and Adrinor feeling more comfortable in their world. The final five episodes will be a blend of further exploring the gang, looking outward at the MU, and the importance of consequence. I think you're going to like it.Episode 10 will be "coming soon." That's honestly the most I can say right now because I still have some minor details to fill in with that episode. The rest are written and edited, so 10 is the only thing holding up episode releases right now. It will make for a smooth transition into the third act, and hopefully it won't take me another two weeks to finish writing, clean up nice and neat, and get posted.-Ced

Cederak remains my favorite, though I spent last month dedicating my username to my old epic character Valixia. Before that was Toa Cederak, but after doing a little epic retcon work, the Toa portion was no longer necessary. Not that many of you probably recall when the switch occurred. -Ced

For set purposes, I would take Umbra. The world is a crazy place and you never know what sort of enemies you'll make who might have an epileptic reaction to his blade lights before they try to harm you.For personal reasons, I would take Toa Lhikan because he's a cool looking set and the guy was a war hero.-Ced

I ran through Bionicle Heroes once on the Gamecube and a second time years later on the XBox 360, short of only two achievements. Not a great game, but I've played far worse.-Ced

I didn't bother to immerse myself in Hero Factory much. I stopped buying Lego sets (Bionicle included) in 2008 and Hero Factory didn't change that for me. As a story, it didn't catch my attention with the same sort of spark Bionicle introduced. So the short answer is no, I don't like Hero Factory.-Ced

I am pleased to announce the newest member of our team: Nick Silverpen. Make him feel welcome here at the ECC, he'll be a fine addition to the ranks. -Ced

Hi!Tittle: We are Metru(Re-Write)Epic:http://www.bzpower.c...?showtopic=5945Review Topic:http://www.bzpower.c...?showtopic=5946Number of chapters: 2 at the moment, however by the time you get round to reviewing it, possibly more.If you could just give me some constructive criticism, that would be awesome.Thanks guys! Really appreciate what you do.

Hi! Please review An Uneasy Alliance.Story TopicReview TopicChapters: 5 short chapters, possibly more when you read it.Would love some constructive criticism as I feel I have a lot to learn about writing!Thank you!

Curiosity-ReznasThanks in advance!-Rez

I'll take that dare! I will spellcheck all my things and pay attention to L.A. class!MY STORY WILL GO ON!By the way, do you think my pictures are good?

I think it's fair to say you've caught the attention of several writers with this epic. Your story was brought to my attention, placed on my radar, if you will. I read this all over a few times. If the Comedies rule of a 300 word count were in effect over here, you'd be in hot water right now. It's not, however, and this epic has made me realize it's value to our community and what a benefit it would serve. Anyway, like I said, I read your story. I analyzed your plot. Before I can even begin to discuss it though, there are other issues to attend to. Namely the grammatical ones.I was taught in first grade that only the first word in a sentence is capitalized. I couldn't access the internet without assistance (not that the internet was terribly important in the late '90s when compared to today), let alone log in to a website like this, but I was very much aware of that rule. I'm sure someone taught you the same, which begs the question of why you blatantly ignored it time and again throughout your epic. Let's take your intro as an example.

In the Time Before Time...The Great spirit Decended from the Heavens. Holding The matoran with him. And Bringing them. To This Paradise...Then, A young matoran known as Takua, Summoned the 6 Known Toa To there Island home...Yet They were only six...

In the time before time...The Great Spirit descended from the heavens, holding the Matoran with him and bringing them to this paradise.Then, a young Matoran known as Takua summoned the six Toa to their island home.Yet they were only six...

"C'mon Loganto! you going to join-race kewa flying or what?"

"C'mon Loganto! You going to join-race kewa flying or what?"

"be right there!" I said.

"Be right there!" I said.

"then it is as I thought.... here" he hands me an object wrapped in crumpled foil.

"Then it is as I thought...here." He handed me an object wrapped in crumpled foil.

"Then it is as I thought.... Here." He handed me an object wrapped in crumpled foil.

"Then it is as I thought.... Here," he said, handing me an object wrapped in crumpled foil.

Then It dawned to me. I unwrap the foil and I find...

Then it dawned to me. I unwrapped the foil and I found...

"Because you were chosen by mata nui HIMSELF!"

That shocked me so much I froze. I felt as if I was in a frozen lake in ko-wahi.

That shocked me so much I froze, feeling as though I were beneath the waves of a Ko-Wahi lake.

I started to eat a protobar when I saw my destination.

I walked thrue a couple more logs when I tripped.

I walked through a couple more logs when I tripped.

I looked at my toa stone. to find that there was a crack in it. and one side was turning a dark blue.

All of our toa stones glowed with a blinding light... and then... They split in two, and then with might they smashed into the suva with great power. And then... something came out in a blinding light from the suva! Then It zapped everyone in the area! I felt a sensation in my heartlight when six masks burst out of the suva and were fused with ours. Our bodies were filled with unimagenable power. Then I passed out.

One fell near me. It shook it's head and tried to lift off again, yet it couldn't. one wing was broken. I decided to help it. but for safety I made small reins for it out of vines. I put it on him and he started slashing at me. Then I repaired his wing. he lifted off, but I weighed him down. then I had an Idea. I sat on the rahi's back and it lifted off with ease.

Then I ran tward the sea, for the only cure for the poison was Protosalt.

@Ballom: Wow, I can't believe you're the first person (myself included) to notice the Garai/Sanok slip-up. Thanks for pointing it out though, I felt a little silly that it took this long. Thanks for reading!

Two things:First, requesting a review ofSafe and Sound - ZaraynaAlso, I expect to be back from my hiatus sometime in October.

"Our wrongs remain unrectified, and our souls won't be exhumed." -Muse

Episode 09: The Last Frontier

The next couple hours were tense. After briefly dividing up the money Rovaius received for the job from Voporak, there wasn't much else to do. We opted to stay on the deck, standing near a corner below the bridge. Stalgrax leaned back against the railing, staring at each Steltian that dared to make eye contact with him. Trylac and Rovaius stood on his left and right respectively, while Elendra and I sat atop a small crate. We had been waiting for the captain's revenge ever since we left port in Stelt and I casually passed a laser shell back and forth between my fingers in anticipation. I have never possessed Trylac's brand of patience, so it felt like a slow two hours of torture before the captain descended the stairs from the bridge. He refused to meet our gaze, marching intentionally to the other side of the deck.

A number of Steltian sailors joined him there and he pulled a laser carbine rifle from his back. Unlike my weapon, the carbine was a smaller variant designed for closer combat. It also didn't require shells to fire, but utilized a rechargeable battery to draw power from. The battery could then draw in enough ambient energy to fire once every minute or so. The downside was that the shots wouldn't be as potent as my own. I knew the weapon so well because I was interested in purchasing one about a year after I first joined the gang. Once I learned about its drawbacks though, I decided it would be best to stick with what I had.

We all stood up, waiting for the Steltian captain to say something. The silence was broken from my side instead.

"Can we help you?" Elendra hissed, drawing her pistols. The rest of us immediately pulled our own weapons, taking aim at the Steltians.

The sailors reacted as quickly as they could, drawing their own swords and blasters on us.

Stalgrax chuckled. "Looks like we've got a standoff on our hands."

The captain gave us a wicked smirk. "Not for long. It's a shame I'll have to tell Voporak that you never made it to Crezera, that an unexpected storm tossed you from the deck."

Rovaius and Stalgrax slowly backed away toward the stairs, inching their way higher.

"I'm sure we can settle this in a reasonable manner, right?" Rovaius asked.

The captain laughed. "Reasonable left the ship when you opened that big mouth of yours."

"Everybody move!" Stalgrax shouted, bolting up the steps. We all rushed in his direction and I lunged for the bridge when I heard, "Fire!" yelled from behind me.

A shower of lasers struck the bridge's outer wall, shattering the windows in the process. I had already snapped my laser shell into place when we drew on the Steltians and I clicked my new bolt handle into place. While my weapon charged, I glanced to my side and watched Trylac and Elendra get off a few shots. She emptied her first clip in no time, performing one of her incredibly swift reloads and getting back to work. Trylac was more meticulous, peeking out from different windows and firing at a different angle every time.

"I've had enough," Rovaius said, rolling out of the safety of the bridge and leaping from the steps. His body was surrounded by an aura of shadow and when he swung his gunblade, a wave of darkness swept over the deck. The force of the energy struck the sailors hard enough to bowl them over and it left Rovaius with an opening. Just as the captain was about to stand up, Rovaius pulled his gunblade's trigger twice. Both shots entered the Steltian's forehead, but I'm certain the first one was his killer.

Rovaius intensified his dark aura, jamming his gunblade into the floor. "I am in charge now, you spineless excuses for sailors, and we are going to Crezera." It was settled so easily. Rovaius returned to the deck with us for another quiet half hour or so until the ship made land on eastern Crezera. The sailors opted to remain below deck for the remainder of the trip.

We disembarked the Dalliance with a leap and Trylac refused to turn his back to it, supposing the sailors might take a cheap shot at us. I think we were all expecting it, but just as we reached the divide between beach sand and dusty grass, the Dalliance sped away. The craft bolted through the waves, stranding us on Crezera. I thought about the situation rationally though and considered a couple things. The Gekalan were in contact with Stelt and Stelt was a port. The Gekalan had to possess some form of sea transport.

As for Crezera, it was stunning. There were notable disparities in technology across the islands of the League and an island's advancements were measured by a Barraki's value of it. Crezera was Ehlek's territory and he was smart enough to see the worth in some rare minerals. In order to deter the other warlords from siphoning resources from the island though, Ehlek was very secretive about his interest in Crezera. He thought he could fool the rest of the Barraki into thinking it was a worthless rock. In that respect, he wasn't so smart. Pridak knew what existed on Crezera, but the island was too distant for his concern, explaining why we had never visited it before. Crezera was a realm of extensive plains surrounding a foreboding mountain range at its center, all bathed in the light and heat of a desert.

We marched across the empty plains, making our way to a small town in the distance. It was a bustling little place, the perfect kind of place to make some money with a few choice words and a loaded weapon. That wasn't our agenda, however. There was more important business to handle.

"Hey, train rails," Stalgrax said, pointing to a length of track not far ahead. I visually followed the tracks in each direction and both sides were built as far as my eyes could see and further. The tall mountain range taking up the island's center stood in the way of confirming my theory, but I assumed the tracks wrapped completely around the island.

"Which means trains," I replied. "Seems a little primitive though, don't you think?"

Elendra smirked. "Says the Meldin we picked up on a ranch out in the middle of nowhere."

I opened my mouth to reply, but sighed and smiled instead. Outside the town, I could see several Gekalan working on a Mahi ranch, tending to the creatures as I once did. As they labored under the hot sun, I wondered if they had their own dreams like mine. I wondered if they ever thought about leaving their lives behind for a chance to see what mysteries lay far beyond the borders of Crezera. "Rovaius, do you think"-

"Stop right there," Rovaius cut me off. He knew exactly where I was headed. "It's not happening."

"Don't you think they feel trapped here?" I asked urgently.

"Maybe, but someone else can liberate them," Rovaius said flatly. "We made an agreement after Jelveci, Adrinor. End of discussion."

"Fair enough," I conceded. I should've known Rovaius wasn't prepared to revisit the possibility of another, similar loss. In his defense, I don't think the rest of us were either.

A biomech riding a swift, crystalline Rahi came our way from out of nowhere, glaring as he approached. His beast galloped majestically, its crystal mane glimmering as it flowed in the wind. The Rahi was an Icodron, crafted by the brilliant (and twisted) minds of the Makuta within Destral. The Icodron's rider brought the creature to a halt right before us and he scowled. "You're not from around here, are you?"

"Not by a long shot," Rovaius said. "We're looking for a Gekalan named Diroux."

He dismounted the Rahi and looked us over. Like the biomechs on the ranch, he was reptilian in form - a thick-armored biomech of silver and teal. With a tail that ended in a sharp blade, clawed fingers, a snout, and a pair of spikes protruding from behind his head on each side, he was an alien sight. His forest green eyes blinked rapidly a few times before he smiled. "Well, excuse my poor manners. I'd been waiting for Voporak's soldiers to show up. I had been expecting more of you though. The name's Diroux, Elite Ranger at your service." His voice carried a politeness to it, but strong enough to lead others.

"I'm Rovaius, nice to meet you," Rovaius replied, shaking hands with the Gekalan. Diroux went down the line and extended his hand to each of us and we shook in turn. That was, until he reached Elendra, whose hand he lifted and gently pressed his forehead to.

Elendra was fuming, pulling for one of her revolvers. "Special treatment is not"-

"What've you got there?" Diroux said, forcibly pulling the weapon from her grasp in one swift move. He examined the revolver, quickly spinning it a few times. "It has a nice weight to it. You let it go rather easily though."

Elendra smirked. "That's why I have two," she said, drawing the second revolver on him.

Diroux laughed. "A wise decision," he said, tossing the revolver back to Elendra. She caught it and put both weapons away with her typical celerity. "Why don't the five of you follow me into town? We can discuss the situation in my office." Diroux leapt back onto his Rahi mount and headed for the town, leaving us to follow on foot. This was hardly our first visit to a foreign land, so the mistrusting stares and hushed whispers of the Gekalan in the streets weren't a surprise by any means. We finally approached a decent-sized building in the middle of town where Diroux had tied up his Icodron to a post and stepped inside.

"Not bad," Stalgrax said, looking around. We were definitely standing in the main lobby of the town hall.

A Gekalan at the front desk grinned at us, flashing her razor-sharp teeth. "Ranger Diroux's office is just around the left corner," she said, pointing to the side.

Rovaius gave her a short nod as we passed. "Thank you."

Diroux was hanging up a rifle on the wall when we entered his office, turning to us immediately. "Please, please, sit down," he offered. "Make yourselves comfortable."

Rovaius laughed, bounding over the desk and landing in Diroux's seat. "If you insist."

I sat down on a long couch with Trylac and Stalgrax while Elendra leaned next to the doorway, lifting her leg up and pressing the back of her foot to the wall. Rovaius spun Diroux's chair all the way around a couple times, thoroughly enjoying himself. I don't know how I missed it when I first walked in, but there was a lengthy painting of Diroux and several other Gekalan on the far wall. They were standing out in the empty fields, grinning as they stood over the corpse of a Rahi. A plaque beneath the painting reading "The last Fader Bull" left me a bit confused, however.

"What does that plaque up there mean?" I asked the Gekalan.

Diroux had finally gotten the rifle into a proper adjustment on the wall and whirled around to examine his painting. He turned to me and smiled. "An old friend of mine painted that scene a couple centuries back. A bunch of us were out on the other side of the island and he shot the last Fader Bull on Crezera that day." Diroux said, chuckling. "The natives didn't like that much."

Rovaius abruptly sat up in the chair. "The…natives?"

Diroux marched behind the desk, lightly sliding the chair aside before fumbling through his desk for a small tool. Rovaius let the momentum carry him, patiently waiting for Diroux to explain. I think the gunfight on the Dalliance put him in a good mood. The Gekalan walked up to Elendra, using the tool to detach a larger painting from the wall and propping it in front of the desk so we could all see it. It was an old image of biomechs living on what appeared to be the same island, only different. There was grass…green grass, and the mountains were right in the island's center. The biomechs in his painting were nowhere to be seen outside though.

"A very long time ago, the Artakha Island Chain was made up of five primary islands - among several smaller ones. My species, the Gekalan, lived in the central island just south of Crezera. One day, well before there was a League, one of the males in my village awoke with interesting news. He had spoken to Mata Nui in a dream."

"And you believed him?" Trylac asked, almost laughing.

"Yes," Diroux snapped, sounding offended. "He said that the Great Spirit told him it was the destiny of the Gekalan to settle the land to the north. Mata Nui wished for us to prosper there and to be free from the tyranny of our rulers. We hadn't considered that someone was already occupying the land."

"The natives," I said.

Diroux smiled. "Precisely. My kindred and I tried to make a deal with the native Crezerans to own the island together, but they wouldn't have it. In their tribal foolishness, they believed only Mata Nui could lay claim to the land. It was around that time we discovered a number of minerals around the mountains as well as the raw materials now used in Artakha's protosteel process. Gekalan rushed to Crezera to quickly strike it rich and slowly but surely, we gained the upper hand against the Crezerans. The rangers, myself included, started by placing the Crezerans in designated zones. They kept trying to harm civilians in an effort to reclaim Crezera, so we did the only thing we could."

I nearly shuddered. "You…you wiped them out?"

"In an ideal world, perhaps," Diroux replied, rolling his eyes. "No, we burned their villages to the ground and forcibly drove them up into the mountains. Unlike much of the universe, Crezera experiences seasons. It was a harsh snowstorm that hit right around the start of the trip. The rangers and soldiers were well-protected, but the Crezerans suffered for their crimes. A number of their species died along the way, succumbing to the bitter cold. After we drove them into isolation on the mountains, some came back down. They would die in battle or retreat, but none ever came close to this town. After a while, the mining and mineral work became manageable. There wasn't a terribly large amount to be made in it anymore, so my kind turned to ranching Mahi. Eventually, we even constructed a railroad that wraps all the way around Crezera, making transport much faster."

I was right about the railroad at least. "You were making a point about the first painting though, right?"

"Yeah, I was just coming back to that," Diroux told me. "The last Fader Bull, those swift and rare Rahi of so few lands, was killed on a sunny day by a dear friend. The Crezerans were furious when they found out, but that's life, right? It was the will of Mata Nui that we come here to enjoy our own little piece of beauty in the world. It's a place where every sunset is more stunning than the last and the water always splashes a sweet scent across the land. This is paradise…this is our paradise."

Elendra snickered. "Well that's a cute story. So tell me, why does paradise need a few guns for hire to come out from Stelt?"

"Given that the Crezerans had a long, rich history here, they haven't relented in their attempts to take the island back. It is impossible now, especially since we combined our industrial dreams with Barraki Ehlek's resources. And yet, they continue to make their presence known on the plains, by damaging our property or bringing harm to other Gekalan. This is disheartening, to see them so openly defy Mata Nui. You were requested here to help me drive the native warriors back into the mountains."

"Do we get to ride one of those shiny Rahi you have outside?" Stalgrax wondered.

"I don't see why not. Like the Crezerans before us, we managed to tame the Icodron and use them as mounts in battle," Diroux explained. "Let's head out to my stable. I'm sure the other rangers have arrived by now."

Diroux led us out to a large stable behind town hall and we quietly stepped inside. A few other Gekalan were busy tending to the Icodron in the stalls. A half dozen more Gekalan were leaning against the far wall, each carrying a rifle or shotgun of some sort. Their armor appeared more durable than those of the Gekalan handling the stable Rahi, but it had to be if they were out gunning against other biomechs.

"Those individuals over there are some of the finest rangers I have ever had the privilege of working with," Diroux said, grinning. "I brought them here from across the island to help us today. They are experienced gunfighters and have fended off the Crezerans before."

"What kind of weapons do the Crezerans possess?" Stalgrax asked.

Diroux frowned. "In the early history between Crezerans and Gekalan, we traded our blasters with them for other items. They have since modified the weapons to make them even more powerful."

One of the rangers chuckled. "Tell them about the crossbows!"

Diroux looked at me and I smirked back. "We've had to dodge bolts before; this won't be a problem."

We rode out of town alongside Diroux and his rangers, letting the veterans take point. They were leading us closer to the vast mountain range, an island of imprisonment from which the Crezerans were forced to watch the Gekalan desecrate their former home below. I remembered the painting, the lush grass and flowers. Crezera was now hellish by comparison.

My Icodron dashed across the plains, showing no sign of exhaustion. It was a marvelous creature and perhaps one of my favorite achievements of the Brotherhood. I could see riders in the distance, the sunlight glistening off their mounts as they rode toward us. I steadied myself and loaded a shell into my rifle before staring into the scope. I paused before pulling the trigger, studying the approaching biomechs. They were just as the painting depicted - bipedal biomechs with golden-armored forms, two pairs of arms, and blue, insectoid eyes.

"Here they come!" Diroux shouted. His voice didn't sound right. Even the clan leaders on Stelt had a respect in their tone for the coming destruction when a battle lay ahead. Diroux sounded overconfident and almost pleased that we'd be killing off the Crezerans. This was a species that had done nothing wrong, but because a single Gekalan believed Mata Nui had spoken to him in a dream, they were being corralled up into the mountains as prisoners of their own land. In another time, I would've shot Diroux through the head without a second thought.

In direct contrast to that, I lined up my sights on one of the Crezerans and fired. The laser burst struck him in the chest, causing the biomech to fall from his Icodron and go flipping through the dirt. In the process, I could see the Crezeran also possessed several long, thin tails that ended in stingers.

"Great shot!" one of the rangers said, pumping his energy shotgun.

The sound of multiple weapons being fired echoed through my audio receptors and I squinted out at the Crezerans before reloading. After a second, I could see a number of tiny, red objects headed in my direction. I forced my Icodron to strafe right, evading the attack. Rather, I evaded most of it. I felt something strike my shoulder, almost like I'd been hit by a pellet. I glanced down and found a small metallic disk attached to my shoulder armor. A bright red light was blinking on the device, steadily getting faster. I ripped the object from my shoulder and hurled it away from myself. The device exploded in midair, creating a blast much larger than I expected an object of that size could create.

That's a new one. I thought, reloading my rifle and shouting to Diroux, "How did they get weapons to fire timed explosives?"

"They're awfully crafty!" Diroux replied, rushing his Icodron ahead of us.

More of the Crezerans were on their way, shooting in our direction with an array of weapons. I wondered if Diroux felt foolish as he rode toward them, foolish for taking their land, foolish for handing over advanced weaponry to their kind. I stopped contemplating that for a moment when I noticed one of the Crezerans had a crossbow trained on my chest. I effortlessly shot him off his Icodron and kept going, nodding a bit as Elendra shot a Crezeran through the side of his head. The rangers seemed more preoccupied with taking shots that would do minimal damage, physical reminders that the Crezerans should not be on the plains. The gang's methodology was to perform shots that would ensure our prey wouldn't need to be reminded.

I believe that in prior conflicts, where the rangers desperately sent the warriors back into the mountains with few causalities, the Crezerans thought they could exploit the enemy's hint of goodwill. They hadn't anticipated the Gekalan would hire a team accustomed to being less considerate and shooting for a kill shot at every opportunity. You don't fully appreciate the value of aiming for the absolute weakest point on an enemy until you've had to gun down Zyglak. Much like Toa in that they won't stay down until they're dead, Zyglak want you to die about as much as you want them to. Of course, once you've watched someone like Trylac pin a Zyglak that barely scratched him and force the creature to pull its own eyes out, you lose some of the respect you had for the vicious things. I suppose we can't all be as fortunate as Dectraz to possess a natural immunity to the Zyglak's lethal disease.

The remaining five Crezerans dropped their weapons and dismounted their Icodron. They were not fighters to the end and knew defeat when it was staring them in the face. As they bitterly knelt before us, Diroux leapt from his mount and cautiously approached the Crezerans, followed close behind by Elendra. The rest of us remained on our Icodron, waiting for Diroux to address the warriors.

"You were sensible enough to realize this was an impossible fight," Elendra said, walking near the Crezerans. "Cowards."

I stared at the Crezeran kneeling on the far left and he stared back at me. "Can you not see what we have lost so unjustly to the Gekalan? Why do you fight for them?"

"Quiet," Diroux barked before turning to us. "These warriors will be spared for their decision," He looked at Rovaius. "I believe this victory will prevent any further mishaps in the near future."

I was about to nod when I glanced at Elendra. In the blink of an eye, I watched her draw her right revolver and open fire. Five shots. A bullet passed through each Crezeran's head and, almost simultaneously, their bodies dropped to the ground. By the time Diroux looked back at her, Elendra had already withdrawn her weapon.

Diroux pointed his rifle at her, probably glaring as he did. "They surrendered."

"If you reward cowardice, you invite trouble," Elendra said. "I did you a favor, so you better put that rifle away."

"You're a monster," Diroux replied, lowering his weapon. "Nothing but a thief and a killer." For a species that had forced the island's natives into a mountain range, there was some irony in his comment.

"And how did your kind gain dominance here? By stealing land and killing Crezerans, yes?" Elendra said with a grin, as if she were reading my mind. "I'm not paid to be concerned with your opinion." She looked at the rest of us, slightly tilting her head. We weren't going to defend her, if that's what she thought. I had visited Trelbin with the gang before. Elendra's species was not a naturally violent one, but she was by far one of the most volatile biomechs I'd ever met. She would've made a decent Barraki.

"While you may not agree with our methods," Trylac spoke up, "we will need transport off the island today."

"I can't really help you there," Diroux said.

"You work with Ehlek and you haven't perfected sea travel yet?" Stalgrax questioned.

"We never would've left our old home to the south if we didn't perfect sea travel," Diroux reminded him. "We disassembled our ships after a while though…at least once we planned to stay here. Why would you build a way to leave paradise?"

"So we're trapped here?" I asked, trying not to seem as anxious as I was.

Diroux lowered his head, thinking to himself. He suddenly glanced back up with a smile. "You can ride the aerial tramway." The Gekalan excitedly pointed towards the northern edge of the mountains. "We do a great deal of mining out that way. Once Ehlek wanted in on some of the materials, he decided it would be best to have them shipped to Artakha where fine tools and weapons could be made by the greatest crafter in existence. As such, the Matoran workers from the island managed to construct an aerial tramway that connects from the southern realm of Artakha to the northern mountains on Crezera."

"How did we miss that?" Stalgrax said to himself as we all stared out at where Diroux pointed. There was indeed a number of cables that seemed to run all the way out to Artakha and we'd been too preoccupied the whole time to notice.

Diroux chuckled. "If you want to head out that way and tell the mining team that Ranger Diroux is allowing you to use the transit, I'm sure they'll let you on. After that, you should be able to take an airship off to wherever you're headed. Artakha is a very understanding biomech."

"You've met Artakha?" Rovaius smirked.

Diroux nodded. "A few times, yes. It was a long time ago, back when we still lacked a strong amount of control over Crezera. I started my life here as a miner myself, but when Ehlek planned to negotiate Artakha's services, I was one of the chief miners brought along. He's a powerful entity and inventive too. Barraki Ehlek says it has something to do with his Kanohi - the Mask of Creation. Wondrous thing to see, almost like it was meant for another world. Artakha says it's a reflection of our world and our separate cultures. He has an aura to him as well - an unspoken benevolence hidden beneath an exterior of gray and green."

"Why are you telling us this?" I asked.

"Because Artakha does not leave his fortress for trivial matters and you will probably not meet him. I am telling you this because he is a majestic and fair ruler in a world of vicious and merciless Barraki. Gazing into his eyes almost seems to spark creativity in others, though, that is only a myth." Diroux seemed lost as he spoke for a second. "You should be going now. The tramway does not operate after sundown."

"Then we'd better head out. We'll leave the Icodron with the miners," Rovaius said. "Thank you for inviting us to share in your paradise, Diroux."

"And thank you for defending it for my kind a bit longer," Diroux replied earnestly. "You're a good biomech, Rovaius, and you have an efficient team."

"Well," Rovaius sighed, turning his Icodron toward the north, "you're half right." He lightly kicked the Rahi's side a couple times and the beast took off. I did the same to my Icodron and the mount galloped swiftly across the mountain. We had a tram to catch.

Review

@fishers: Yeah, I can understand that. There is a degree of disconnect for the gang and the world around them, making them relatively unaffected by their environment. They can roll with the punches through the best and worst, a result of being in the same line of work for thousands of years. That has allowed them to develop a "nothing really surprises me anymore" sort of take on their career and their approach to it. Adrinor becomes the variable that really changes their lives. Without spoiling too much, I can say Jelveci's death will continue to haunt the gang into the third act of the story.In regard to the canon characters, I'll admit I did a lot of BS01 work to try and make Cenotaphs fit into the canon universe as much as possible. My epics are typically huge deviations from canon, but I really wanted to see what I could do working within the boundaries of the storyline. I don't think I could ever do a story from the perspective of characters like Vakama or Tahu, but Cenotaphs was designed to be an exploration of a time we don't know a lot about. That's not to say I haven't worked to make the gang feel multi-dimensional, as the final third of the epic will attest to.

Thank you for the very detailed review, Velox. After going over everything you had to say, waiting for you to get away from Rowling and Martin is entirely understandable I will say that you brought up an interesting point about why Mirzova was chosen over any other Matoran. I had to consider an answer for myself after reading that question, and I think this is the best I have for you. It's possible that during its escape from the Archives, the creature fled into Metru Nui and simply chose Mirzova's home as a place to hide from the Vahki. In the process, however, it also found a potential meal, but due to the aforementioned fear of Vahki and being returned to Onu-Metru, it restrained itself until the machine was dealt with. It's a decent theory, and again, the best I've got for ya.Once more, a fantastic critique. Thank you very much.

Alright I'd like to get The Last Guardian reviewed please. And thank you!