pokemonlover360

IC Yasurek- Infernavika: Yasurek has been preparing to set sail when he heard the distinctly accented yelling of his captain. After processing what the noise he had just heard was, he decided to pass on a more articulate version of the message to what might have been the intended recipient. Fortunately, it seemed Gunner had returned with the rest of the crew from their investigation. "Gunner, captain's calling you," Yasurek said to Gunner, continuing to work on preparing the ship.

IC Yasurek - Ga-koro docks near the Infernavika: As matoran went about their usual business at the docks, there was one who stood out as a slight oddity. While his blue cloak prevented his color scheme from being too out of place, the fact was that he was clearly a Ko-matoran. While that was certainly not a sight one would expect in Ga-koro, nobody paid his appearance much mind. After all, this was the docks, where travellers from all over the island would be expected to park their ships. Also, he was pushing a sizable cart. The cart itself wasn't particularly fancy either, despite being a rather large one. No, the part of the cart that would draw any attention would be the contents of said cart. On it were a collection of boxes of varies size, all clearly labeled "food", with an even larger cluster of barrels labeled "rum". Next to the barrels of rum were several kegs clearly labeled in large, bold letters "Stralix powder. Not rum. Don't ingest, don't ignite, please," along with a lovely image of a blazing inferno. There were also several coils of rope, some cannonballs, a rack of swords and various weapons, and all of it was topped with a large sack containing spears. These spears came in all shapes and sizes, with most coming in pairs. The sack they were in was labeled "Yasurek's. Please don't touch." The fact that those spears might draw attention of passerby was odd, since the matoran pushing the cart with such exotic goods was carrying several other spears on his back and person. If someone were to think about it for a moment, they might wonder how in the world said Ko-matoran was able to even push said cart, or even just carry all those spears on his back. If they thought of such things, the answer would always come back as "because that's just how it is". Despite his cart's odd contents, Yasurek did not intend to create any sort of scene. He was just out shopping for supplies while his fellow crew went off to go get drunk and engage in shenanigans. Normally, he would tag along to make sure they didn't get arrested while their shenanigans were engaged. But lately, he had grown to trust his friends and allies to not cause too much of a mess to occur when they went out in public. Except Floria that is; he trusted his crewmates to keep an eye on her, the thief. Soon enough, he had pushed the cart through the labyrinth of workers and sailors and mysterious figures that inhabited the docks and arrived at his destination, the Infernavika. It was his home, the object that united him and the rest of the crew, the symbol of all that they stood for. He was sure that they stood for something, but he left the philosophy of it all to other, more capable crew members. He was usually too busy trying to keep things somewhat sane. As he came near the ship, Yasurek noticed something new next to the ship. A large, armored vessel that could only be Po-koro's Fowadi was floating next to the 'Vika. He arrived just in time to watch Lohkar grapple onto the deck of the Fowadi and mention treasure. Ah, I have a feeling I know where this is going, he thought to himself, starting to push his cart up the boarding ramp onto the 'Vika. "Greetings everyone. I have returned with various supplies and things," he announced to the crew that were on board. Some were mentioning ice cream and treasure. Others were mentioning rum along with ice cream and treasure. Some were mentioning treasure, but it was hard to tell due to their accent. Home sweet home, thought Yasurek.

I would also like to add my support to the audio drama idea. As for character voices, I imagine Yasurek has a vaguely Eastern European accent, except cooler and less stereotypical.

I don't design characters too often, but the first thing that I usually think of when designing them is their personality and what kind of role I want them to play, though primarily personality. I usually end up thinking to myself at one time or another of an idea for a character and how they act and what they're like and go from there. After that I come up with an idea of what kind of role they play in society, along with the species and gender and then appearance and powers. Also jobs. I always give my characters actual jobs in every rpg I ever play, even if it's only in the backstory, though what counts as a job is stretched at times. Sometimes though I just make a character for one reason and then they develop or don't. I originally made Yasurek during the first reboot, though in that case he was just made because I thought that having a character that was an actual everyday koro guard was somehow subversive and interesting. In this reboot I took the character and shifted him into having retired from his job because there were openings for the Infernavika crew and I had spent a lot of the last reboot reading Lohkar and Kalama's adventures together, meaning that I kind of rushed through transferring him over. As for how connected my characters are to me, it's a grey area. When I make a character, I try to keep them separate from me but still having some aspect of myself inside them so I can at least connect with what I'm writing personally on some level. Unfortunately, they often seem to drift into becoming more like me as I write them. In hindsight, Yasurek was always like me on some level. Early on, he was my insecurities with the rpg and lack of confidence, trying to fit in within a crew of people that he had never hung out with before, trying to find acceptance. Then he developed a severe depression and lack of self worth about the same time I did in regards to the rpg due to having one of the worst impressionable lurking rpg phases ever in terms of what parts of the rpg I was reading. This carried over to all of my characters and even the impossibly happy character became a somewhat comical voice of my inability to accomplish anything. I eventually managed to develop him out of this with the help of Ghosthands, and now he's become a snarky individual always looking out for his friends and guiding them towards the more moral path, which is now a bit too much like me, which is probably why his dialogue is so easy to write. In terms of all my characters, in spite of their developments and differences, they'll will probably continue to inherit my aversion to rpg combat. When I make my character's power sets and abilities, about one half is on the cool ideas side of the spectrum (teleporting le-toa archer) and the other half is more to create an interesting contrast (The impossibly happy earth toa has a mask of stealth, the plasma toa fisherman with a kaukau). My characters will always be at least competent (in their profiles anyway) so that I will have the ability to force them out of combat situations if they get caught in them (unless both characters are controlled by me, in which case they will actively not be near other player's characters and nothing ends up happening that affects anything in the long run). As for my favorite, it's probably Yasurek. Not first reboot Yasurek, he didn't do anything except chase a toa who escaped with ease, but new reboot Yasurek. To me, he represents in some ways how I've developed as a writer, in that he has become a somewhat 3-dimensional character who has accomplished something in the rpg (i.e. developed at all). He's also my favorite because he's the only one that managed to keep having a plot to be in due to being a part of the Infernavika, despite being the inactivity-sinkhole that it is. In that way, as long as the other crew members keep having things to do (Lohkar in particular), Yasurek has stuff to do, and I have an rpg character to write and participate with. Without Yasurek, I'm just a newbie lurker, despite having been on this site for several years and in this rpg for a few years. With him, I'm a newbie rpg player despite having been on this site for several years and in this rpg for a few years. In summary, my characters don't really develop unless I develop psychological issues and work through, my characters almost always go nowhere because I come up with roles and personalities with no plots for them to actually follow, and they always end up being somewhat snarky heroic characters that are nice despite the darker and edgier nature of the rpg who don't do anything of importance, except the one who went through the most severe bout of depression and went around asking other characters what his role in the story was. Note how I never said my character designing process was an actual good one.

My primary concern with the idea of the ships being capsized is that I personally would prefer the Infernavika to not be damaged all that much. While such damage could probably be repaired, if it was possible to easily repair the damage to the ships then we wouldn't need to be stranded in the first place. Also my character at least is reliant on the Vika or at least her crew to have anything to do at all in the RPG, but that's just a personal issue.

Name: Yasurek Species: Ko-matoran Mask: blue powerless kakama Gender: Male Appearance: Yasurek looks like most other matoran. He is white, with grey hands and light blue feet. He wears a leather belt with scabbards for his weapons. He often wears a blue cloak complete with hood. On his back is a large sheathe for holding a multitude of spears securely. Alignment: Practical Good Powers and weapons: 2 long guard spears, a small knife, and a cutlass, along with a pair of non-metallic spears with blue handles and black tips. In addition, has a multitude of spears of various makes and materials in his possesion. Being a matoran, he does not possess explicit powers aside from an increased cold tolerance as a Ko-matoran. He has excellent agility, being able to perform various acrobatic feats even while carrying all of his weapons. His primary weapon focus is with his spears, as he has trained extensively with each individual weapon, learning the ins and outs of each. He is not as skilled with his cutlass, and the knife is more of a backup weapon. Personality: Yasurek Is a moral individual, despite his occupation as a pirate. He maintains a sense of justice and good from his days as a guard, but does not let that get in the way too often when it comes to obtaining results. He prefers for things to go peacefully, but due to the nature of his fellow crew that is rarely an option though sometimes things work out. After coming out of a period of despression that had spanned the last several months he has managed to regain some amount of optimism and is able to look at the world in a brighter way despite the oncoming tensions between villages. He always tries to see the good in people and takes care of his friends, though he is also willing to voice his concerns if things seem off to him. History: Yasurek was a guard in the Ko-koro guard force. For years and years he spent his time protecting important areas of the city from harm and apprenhending criminals. With how the original prophecy of the toa turned out he felt that the role of bringing justice and peace to the island fell onto the shoulders of its current inhabitants, rather than outsiders. Over time though, things continued to worsen. It seemed to him that his current guard was doing nothing to actually help the island, and so he left the force and journeyed out to try to make things better. Sadly, it was not something he would succeed at. Wandering aimlessly, he moved from area to area, trying to makes things better, but no solution came to him. Eventually, despite his firm feelings of good, he lost track of the driving force of his mission. It was shortly after that time when he made his way to Ga-koro. Once in Ga-koro, he noticed an advertisment to travel to an inn and try out for the crew of the pirate ship Infernavika. With nothing else to do, he traveled to the bar and was chosen as one of the crewman with no specific role (Though also not a cabin matoran). On the ship he engaeged in an attempt to steal treasure during a Ga-koro marines expedition. Things didn't turn out perfectly which brought his feelings down, but things seemed to perk up, though there was an unease in his mind that things weren't going to go his way and that he wasn't all that needed. After the crew made their way to Xa-koro, a mutiny was planned against Captain Lohkar by his first mate. While Yasurek would have prefered to keep the current captain in power, he also realized that he needed to tay on the ship, at the very least to get back to the mainland. This didn't last long as after the ship had arrived in Ta-koro to obtain new crew as they forgot about Yasurek and left him there. With the ship gone, he returned to wandering, but shortly realized that the ship was the place that he belonged, and tracked down the ship later on, chasing it down on foot in the Po-wahi desert. After making his way onboard, he wasn't exactly welcomed by some of the new crew members, but found companionship in others. It was then that the ship fell into a cesspool of inactivity, one that it did not emerge from until Lohkar, the original captain, emerged to take control once more. After that the ship fell into another cesspool of inactivity, but the almost nothing that was accomplished there was more than the completely nothing that was accomplished before. Eventually, Yasurek's increasing depression came to a head, and it took an intervention from Lohkar and a reexamining of his past to bring Yasurek out of it. From that day on, he decided that despite the fact that he was a matoran on a crew of more powerful species, he could still do something and maybe sway the crew to more positive actions. After the ship helped defend Ga-koro from Rahkshi, Yasurek and the rest of the crew laid-low for the next few months, enjoying the pardon that was given to them for any prior crimes. Fun fact: Yasurek still hasn't actually commited an actual crime, even after joining the crew of the Infernavika. It's mostly intentional. Weaknesses: He's a matoran, so he is not very strong compared to most individuals on the island. Also, he can't really handle ranged combat unless he is able to hide behind cover and sneak closer, aside from the occasional spear throw. Without his spears he can't fight as well. Name: Hogo Glendalla (Glen-Dahl-la) Species: Dasaka Appearence: Glendalla is primarily cerulean in color. The spikes on her Kadin are less pointy than normal and are colored gold. Her eyes are orange and are outlined by gold lines. Along the outside and inside of her limbs are two parallel gold lines. The lines on her arms extend down to the back of her hand and her palm, ending in a gold circle on each. The lines down her legs extend down her feet and meet before her toes. Her fingers are also gold. A gold circle is also present on her chest and back. Her exterior torso armor is navy, while her should armor is maroon. She is almost always equipped with a katana and wakizashi on her waist. Her right hand is currently covered in bandages to cover severe burn marks left over from misfired soulsword energy. Caste and Clan: Clan Hogo, Menti-in-training Gender: Female Personality and History: Glendalla has spent all of her life hearing legends about the members of Clan Hogo, of their legacy as mooks guardians of the Rora over the years. Being an impressionable youth, she is determined to follow her clan's legacy. Her loyalty is to the Rora and her clan above all other things, and her single-minded determination can sometimes be overpowering. She is confident in her intentions, though she is not always successful at everything she tries to do. She is determined to become a soulsword, as she believes that her soul is the strongest blade that she can have access to in order to protect the royal family. Sadly, despite years of studying she has been unable to get a grip on maintaining her sword after manifesting it. She hopes to sort that out eventually. Her soulsword practice took a turn for the worst after a willhammer, Tapui attempted to help her gain control. When her soulsword backfired and threatened them both on the mental plane, Tapui released her feelings of fear and doubt into Glendalla's mind in order to free herself. While she succeeded, these negative emotions remained with Glen, and arise whenever she attempts to manifest her sword, causing the energy to backfire and burn her hand. Glen has since continued practicing, in the hopes of figuring out what's wrong, not knowing that the problem lies within her mind. Mask: Kanohi Kadin, the mask of flight. Weapons: In addition to her soulsword, Glendalla is equipped with a crystal katana and wakizashi. They were gifts from her clan upon her decision to become a royal guard. The swords have navy blades and maroon handles, with the Hogo symbol engraved in the hilt. Powers and Abilities: Glendalla is an aspiring soulsword. Her sword while manifested is an emerald katana. Due to her inexperience, she can't maintain her sword for long and can easily lose her concentration on it unless she is particularly focused. Since her soulsword is unreliable, in fights she utilizes her kanohi for mobility and her two crystal swords . She is adept with both blades and is never without them if she can help it. Weakness: Her soulsword currently cannot be manifested for more than a brief period at a time. It is also hard to manifest it while she is stressed or distracted.

Not just Macku, mind you. Kopeke was also taken out of play by the marines and never heard from again. I've actually been wondering about this for quite some time, but for now I just assume Heuani killed them both offscreen, or Makuta just sent some other minion to deal with them. Though there is always uncertainty with what has happened offscreen.

IC Yasurek- Ga-koro- Infernavika: "Why is my face wet?", asked the surprisingly not dead Lohkar. His question was met with a solid punch to the face from Yasurek. In hindsight, I should probably not have gone with my first judgement, he thought, looking at the prone form of his captain. Welp, better try to regain some professionalism. "Good to have you back with us Captain Lohkar Sir," he began, speaking to the likely dazed captain. "The reason your face is wet is because you were stabbed by a Lerahk and poisoned, leading us to think that you were dead. The specific cause for the wetness is Zmija, in case you were wondering. Now that you're alive, it would be best to get you medical care so that we can be on our way. Also, sorry about punching you in the face just now. That's just my way of saying 'don't ever do that again'. Now then, let's get to work."

The Yasurek Grieving Process Not my best work in any way, but hopefully an adequate addition to the Lohkar sendoff.

IC Yasurek- Ga-koro- Infernavika: The fight had been a bit more unexpected than Yasurek would have liked. Without so much as a loud hiss, the rahkshi were on the move. Almost immediately, Yasurek began assisting with the cannon barrage. Rahkshi may have been strong, but even they don't like cannon fire on their heads. Soon though, the two ships had been noticed and boarding by the rahkshi began to commence. With a number of the crew taking part in a ground assault, Yasurek remained behind to assist the crew in protecting the ship. Even as the rahkshi flew towards the ship, Yasurek could only think about the fact that no matter where he was in this fight, he was going to die. The first rahkshi began to land. He was just a mere matoran, fighting among other beings of much greater power against a force that dwarfed theirs in both number and strength. Here he was, an ex-guard turned pirate fighting off an invasion by Makuta's own spawn in a village that wasn't his own. A man who had left his life behind seeking an oppurtunity to do more good for the world, helping to ward off evil itself. Life has an odd way of giving you what you want, he thought to himself, ducking under a slash from the creature he was fighting. The rahkshi stabbed its staff downwards, attempting to pierce the ko-matoran to the boat, but he rooled out of the way, letting the staff imbed itself in the deck wood. The monster's faceplate opened for a second to allow the kraata inside to let out an annoyed hiss. It soon turned into a very pained and high-pitched hiss. Turns out rahkshi also don't like spears in their interior. Who would have guessed? Yasurek had little time to celebrate though, for as soon as he had retrieved his spear he was forced to quickly turn and block an incoming slash. The slash was followed by a kick that sent Yasurek flying across the deck, skidding to a halt on the other tip of the ship. He cursed physics as he got up and prepared to rejoin the fight when an idea struck him. Since he wasn't really equiped to fight the rahkshi head on, why not just assist his fellow crew. After all, the rahkshi were too busy focusing on the greater threat to retaliate against a mere matoran. He made his was through the brawl, flitting about, stabbing and tripping up any rahkshi he came across and vanishing before retaliation could be administered. It was helping, but Yasurek knew that they wouldn't be able to keep it up. That is, until the behavior of the rahkshi suddenly changed. No longer were they the organized killing force of before. Now, they seemed to be confused, apprehensive about their current situation. Infighting began followed shortly by retreat. It seemed that the fight would be won. That was when he noticed the Lerahk. It was an ordinary Lerahk, had a staff, seemed to have taken some damage, nothing special. But what was on the end of its staff was what Yasurek focused on. It was Lohkar. The first logical thought to enter Yasurek's mind was to try to get some medicine or aid for Lohkar, but that thought was shortly drowned out by righteous fury. He leaped forward. The Lerahk died. That was the only thing to be said about the matter. A now covered in blood Yasurek rushed to his captain's side. He examined the wound and knew that it was almost certainly fatal, especially with the venom included. He felt for a pulse and could feel nothing. He lowered his head. Wait, why would he have a pulse? We're all mostly mechanical, said the logical part of his brain. He checked Lohkar's heartlight. It was dark. Wait, sometimes heartlights go out temporarily for other reasons, like shock or something, the logical part of his mind chimed in. He checked for any breathing. There was none. Maybe he's just hiding, said the illogical part of his mind. He didn't address it, instead leaving the logical part of his mind to give it a very stern talking to. Around him, the other crew members gathered, all knowing the fate of their captain. Some were speachless. Some spoke of toasts for the dead, of funerals to be had. Yasurek didn't care about any of that though. All he could recognize about the world right now was that Lohkar, his captain, confidant, inspiration, leader, and friend was gone. Forever. He stepped away from the body and made his was to the edge of the ship. He looked out at the landscape, at the island of Mata Nui and how healthy it looked, as if a burden had been lifted from the island itself. He looked up at the sky and felt a warmth and light from the sun that he had not felt before. He thought about the change in the rahkshi's behavior. All of this pointed to Makuta being gone. But how? he thought. He remembered hearing some mumbling about a mysterious toa that had arrived in Ga-koro after the rahkshi's defeat bringing word of Makuta's defeat, but that was impossible. That would require toa to live up to the legends. Could it be that we're finally able to rely on others somewhat for help? he thought. Is it finally possible to believe again? He took another glance at the body of his fallen captain. A weight filled his insides, squirming about in his stomach. It wasn't grief however; it was a question that he had to ask himself. Can I bring myself to believe in things again? Can I trust in others and things that have been predicted, knowing that even with success things of even greater value will be taken from us? Can I let myself do that knowing that next time it might not be just one of the people close to me? What if next time the final battle takes Lasinia and Gunner, or Tellus and Zmija and Verak? What if by that time I actually care enough about Floria that I'd feel bad if she died? Can I go on like this? How can I deal with this pressure on my own without him? "That's the thing Yasurek; You're not the only person on the island who wants to do the right thing." That's what the Boss said to me all those years ago when I first set out. He knew that it was my duty to go out on my own and keep the peace. He would have probably come with me too if he hadn't been at the rank he was. "An' every other time, you've always been reliable. Dependable." Yeah, but you still died, even with me around to watch your ba- NO, WE ARE NOT BLAMING OURSELVES, BECAUSE THAT'S STUPID. He was fighting rahkshi, we were fighting rahkshi. He didn't have spatial awareness, it happens. It wasn't our fault, and that's final. And yet, I still feel empty. Maybe there's a void in me where he used to reside, but I have no idea how to fill it. With life's experiences, same as everyone else dealing with issues? You know what, that might actually be a good idea. I mean, no matter how much I might grieve over his death, I'm still here. It's up to me to carry his legacy with me, along with the rest of the crew. And with them, I won't be on my own. I might be midshipman, and I may be useful, but I'm still a part of this group, and I can't let myself be led astray. But know this Lohkar: I will carry on, and whether as a piarate or not, I won't let you be forgotten. I will carry your legacy with me, just as I carry my spears. He turned back around to face the rest of the crew as they mourned in their own ways. He looked down at his former captain and saluted. "Captain Lohkar Sir, you were a man of inspiration, tact, and a very confusing amount of luck. I think I speak for the rest of the crew when I say that you will be missed, and that we will never forget you. You're probably in a better place now, but know that the mortal realm is also looking a lot brighter, and that was due to your help just as much as any of ours. You have guided us and set all of us on a path to follow, and I thank you for it." He released his salute, whispering one last comment to himself. "Goodbye my friend."

Well, now you've just gone and made things a lot more complicated for me, now didn't you? I had a feeling that I should wait to see if any Infernavika posts were made before I posted a Yasurek wrap-up. Speaking of which, I should go plan how to logically avoid Yasurek becoming depressed from this and reverting all the character development that I've spent the past year of real time working on. I'm sure I'll figure something out. Probably include some denial in there, likely some mental discussion. Good times. I really am going to miss Lohkar though

IC Yasurek- Infernavika: The matoran that had followed out of the captain's cabin after Lohkar had said nothing as the ship had traveled with the Fowadi to Ga-koro. He had not had a need to do so, and to add words where there were none needed when there was work to be done was unprofessional. But now, as he gazed past the village of water at the beach next to it, any feelings of nostalgia of returning to this land where his pirate life had started were dispelled. Any remarks about marines and their having to accept that the pirates were not evil was blocked. Everything was shut out except for one thought. Rahkshi. Not even a few rahkshi at that, but an entire army, a swirling mass of metallic bodies covering what might have been a plesant looking piece of nature. Actually, not really swirling at all. In fact, the rahkshi weren't really doing anything except standing there. Then the scream occured. It was a horrid noise, one that permeated every fiber of his being, filling his gut with fear, a chilling sensation that soaked through him. They were going to fail. There was nothing they could do against an army that big. There were no heroes left to deal with this. Everything that he held dear would be destroyed, and he was powerless to stop it. ... Hey, wait a minute. Why the heck are we thinking this? The matoran was so taken aback by fear that he was forced to lean on the spear clutched in his hand. He glanced at it, hoping to find some stability from the dreadful sea of despair forming within him. The spear was metal, shaped like a Ko-koro guardsmen spear. It looked awfully familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. As terrified as he was, it was difficult to remember his own identity. What was a nobody like him doing near rahkshi? He closed his eyes, hoping to shut out the fear, but it was still there. It was only then that he realized that something besides the fear was within him. It felt quite hot and where it flowed the chill of fear was banished immediately. The more he focused on it, the brighter and hotter it became, spreading from his center into his limbs, restoring life and motion. The fog lifted from his mind and he opened his eyes. Yasurek, midshipman of the Infernavika gazed out at the beach filled with what would probably be his next opponents. He glanced at the spear in his hand, noted the pristine sharpness in the tip and sheathed it after a satisfied nod. Around were the sounds of his fellow crew, discussing ideas, plans, thoughts. He decided to join in. "I definitely agree with consulting our allies in order to devise a strategy," he stated. "Regardless of what happens though, I'm sure we'll pull through this just fine. This will probably be the most serious thing we've ever faced, and if we end up in straight up combat we'll be in serious trouble, but it's trouble I'd much rather be facing with you all rather than anyone else. Except maybe Mata Nui himself, I think he'd probably prove to be quite useful in this situation if he were active. And Floria, you're honestly the lowest on the list of people I'd fight alongside when it comes to the crew, but your still probably better than many people I don't know. The point is, we'll get through this together as a crew like we always do. So let's get to some planning."

IC Yasurek-Infernavika: Honor, Dependability, Having your friends' backs. Sounds a lot like being in the guard, Yasurek thought to himself. I mean, Lohkar's a lot more easy going than my old boss, but things still seem similar. *** The door to the Ko-koro guard HQ burst open and Yasurek stepped in. Today was the day, he knew it. He had had enough of this job, this station, enough of this place. It was time to move on and he was going to let his boss know. But first, he made sure to knock on the boss's door and get permission to enter. After all, there's still politeness to keep in mind, even when preparing to make a proclamation. The Boss, to his credit, didn't even look surprised at Yasurek's unexpected visit to his office. He had a simple office made of snow and ice, with a desk and a filing cabinet. Through the window one could see the almost perpetual snow falling on the village. His desk had a nameplate on it, but Yasurek had never bothered to read it. In fact, he had immediately forgotten the Boss's name in favor of calling him "Commander Sir". After all, everyone lower in the guard was essentially a generic grunt, so why shouldn't the Boss be called any different? "Commander Sir, I'd like to talk to you," Yasurek announced as he entered. There was a chair on his side of the desk, but he had no intention of staying for long. "I would expect that given your coming to visit me on your day off," the Boss replied. "Regardless, go on." Here it was, the moment of truth. "Commander Sir, I have decided to leave the guard," he said. There it was, the moment. And then it was gone and the weight was lifted off his shoulders, and the obly thing that could ruin it would be if- "May I ask why you've decided to leave?" the Boss asked. Karz it. "I have come to the conclusion that being here in my current position and duties limits my ability to actually keep the peace and uphold justice within the koro. Namely, I am all too aware that as time passes, more and more toa, skadi, vortixx, and who knows what else arrives on this island. A fair portion are just people who follow the rules, but a distinct number are egotistical, power hungry, thieving, murderous, insane, or just plain evil. Even many matoran have become criminal in nature. As it stands, our practice of standing around important areas looking important is not going to ever get around to solving the source of the problem." "And do you, Yasurek, know the source of this problem? Do you honestly think that one thing brought about all this wrong-doing?" the Boss countered. "Maybe if the First Toa had succeeded-" "Do NOT mention them," Yasurek stated. "They had a moral obligation to save us and they didn't. If they had succeeded, yes, we might be in a better position. As it stands though, we have to learn from the First Toa that we, the matoran, have to rely on ourselves to fix things. I have spent years of my life standing outside the sanctum, or the HQ, or the walls of the village doing nothing. Every few days I hear stories about a serial killer, or a robbery, or a hostage situation, and I know that if I had been in the village itself, actively keeping the peace, many of those crimes wouldn't have happened. We can't just sit around and do nothing-" "We aren't doing nothing; We're guarding things. You have to be in one spot to guard a stationary object Yasurek, I hope you realize that." "What I realize, Commander Sir, is that we are too busy guarding buildings and places to guard our own people. We may be a guard, and guarding pthings and places may be important, but we are also the police of this village. It's our job to uphold the law, not just make sure bad looking people don't walk through doorways. That's why I have to leave. I can't do my true job if I'm stuck here." The Boss took a moment to consider the words before speaking. "... Very well. If you really think you can do much better than us on your own as a vigilante or something, then go. You've always been determined to do your duty and complete your assignments to the best of your ability, so maybe that determination and reliability will help you out there. Try not to lose your way though. Maby individuals who go on their own journeys wind up losing sight of who they are and what their goal is. Hopefully you won't be like them. Take your spears with you. I've never seen anyone in the guard with such a deep connection to their weapons, and they'll always remind you of who you are, and what you stand for. Besides, we have an entire warehouse nearby full of identical spears, so having you turn yours in wouldn't be too important. I will need your insignia though." Yasurek handed over a small rounded object with symbols carved into it. "To be honest Commander Sir, I'm surprised you were this supportive of my plan." "That's the thing Yasurek; You're not the only person on the island who wants to do the right thing." *** Yasurek replayed that moment a few times in his mind before drawing his guard spears. "I didn't always have two spears when I was in the guard," he explained to Lohkar. "I obtained the second one when a criminal tried to break into the sanctum. He took down the guard next to me leaving me as the only one between him and the building. I took up my spear and my partner's and fought the criminal to a standstill before backup arrived and took him down. "In the hospital, I met with my partner and he insisted I take his spear and use it along with my other one. He had always wanted to try using swords anyways, and it seemed I had a knack with using two spears at once. Two weapons let's you split your attacks, cover more ground, help more people." He rested the tip of the handle on the floor and leaned on the spear. "That was the theory anyway. I wouldn't go so far as to say my ability to uphold justice was improved substantially by having another pointy stick, but it just felt right." He paused. "The thing is, I left the guard because I wanted to more actively uphold justice and help people. I wanted to go out there, find criminals and put a stop to them. I wanted to do what some thought was impossible, to stop crime from happening. To bring peace to the island. Regardless of whether Makuta sent rahi against us, there was always going to be the problem of sentient threats to the peace, people who went around causing chaos for fun or profit." He glanced at Lohkar before continuing. "Over time, I... lost track of that goal. I became aimless, I grew aware of my limitations. After all, I'm a matoran on an island that is rapidly becoming over-populated with superpowerful individuals, there's a limit to what I can actually do to stop the criminal ones. It got to the point where I needed a purpose, any purpose at all, some poeple I could work with, anything. "Then, I saw the flyer you put up advertising your crew. The lawful part of me complained about the idea of becoming a pirate, a criminal, the very thing I had gone on a quest to stop. But the rest of me needed anything to feel like a part of something. To be a part of something greater then myself. I went and joined and met you and the others, and I started to notice something: Not all pirates are bloodthirsty criminals causing chaos. In fact, you guys in general seemed to be relatively alright people, even with the moral issues. You guys all had a semblence of a moral code, even if it wasn't the stirctest, and I appreciated that. I had a job, and things to do, and I did everything I could to accomplish my tasks, even when my own limitations prevented me from completely succeeding. I started to feel like I had a place to belong. The flip side was that any time I couldn't succeed I felt disappointment, not just from myself but also from not succeeding at helping the crew as a whole. Nobody wants to be the weak link on the team, and as a matoran I had to work extra hard to not be the weak one. But I gradually found myself feeling powerless in the situations we encountered. Then, the mutiny happened. "I never really wanted the mutiny to happen, Captain Lohkar Sir, I want you to know that, but when it happened, I found myself going along with it because I didn't want to leave the ship. I had become too invested in it to leave it for the sake of one person, even one that I respect as much as you. So I sailed with the ship to Ta-koro, where there was a need to acquire more crew. I came ashore with Grochi and Gunner and Raknar, but after obtaining the required crew, they sailed away while I wasn't looking. Not intentionally, I'm sure, but just because they forgot me. They didn't notice me enough to remember I was there. So I was stuck, separated from the ship and crew that had brought purpose and drive back into my life. After that, I traveled on my own for a while. I was back to not having a goal, the idea of justice having left my mind long ago. Several weeks later I heard news of the Infernavika's attack on Po-koro, and the subsequent battle. I headed out to Po-wahi, hoping to find the ship. With a bit of luck, I did end up stumbling across it, and after a bit of convincing and the fact that Gunner remembered that I was actually part of the crew, I was let back on. It wasn't the same ship though. The purpose had been stripped form it, and nothing happened. Raknar didn't seem to care about anything going on and insanity was left unchecked. The main good thing that had been added was Lasinia, who despite being, Lasinia, is an excellent companion. There was also Perkahn, who, despite not really knowing the definition of 'legend in their own right' was a force of good on the ship. Despite the ship having become a sinkhole of inactivity, there were a lot more moral individuals present. With your return, we might have lost a bit of that morality (no offense) but we had a purpose. It was then that all of the feelings of disappointment came rushing up and overwhelmed me. I felt inadequate about myself, felt powerless to succeed, and unable to please the crew. I felt like a failure. But now, I've realized something." Yasurek stood up straight and sheathed his spears. "This ship, despite being a pirate ship, is still similar to being a guard. There's still a boss and employees, but unlike the guard, everybody is different. I look around this ship and I see individuals, not faceless grunts without personality. I look at everyone and I can see the different strengths they bring to the group as a whole. And I can now see that there are overlaps in the moral code of a guard member and a pirate. And using those overlaps, I can both help my crew to achieve their goals and uphold justice like I planned to. I can be both a member of the crew and a honorable and just man. And it's entirely possible that my goodness has spread to the other crew members, who knows? I also know that I have a role on this ship: I'm a good man who helps keep things on track and moving in a positive direction. I look out for the crew and work as hard as I can to see us through our goals. I'm dependable, I'm honorable, and I'm useful. I'm just a matoran, but that just means that I work harder than others. I only have spears, but they're all I need. "I'm Yasurek, midshipman of the Infernavika, and I'm a valuable part of this crew." For a few seconds, nothing happened. Yasurek was kind of hoping for some triumphant music to fill the silence, but there was none to be had. So instead, he decided to do his job. "Now then, Captain Lohkar Sir. I believe we have an island village to avenge. I suggest we get under way."

IC Yasurek- Infernavika, Captain's cabin: "The best of us?" Yasurek thought to himself. He can't be serious. I'm a matoran who can't fight well, left my job as a law enforcer because the law wouldn't let me do enough good only to become a pirate, a career that involves stealing from people, I can't fight well and my attempts to help are usually if not always foiled, I carry around a bunch of weapons that I don't use and I have self-esteem issues that cripple most attempts to engage that aren't screwed up by other people. I'm pretty sure that doesn't make me even one of the good people on the ship, let alone the best. On the other hand, you are one of, if not the most loyal members of the crew, work hard even if it doesn't turn out all right, and you stay on task while trying to keep others on task too. And you have positive relationships with everyone on the ship except Floria, and with her it's understandable. Good points. Maybe we should just ask to be sure, he concluded. "With all due respect sir, I'm having a bit of difficulty figuring out what you mean as 'best' and how it relates to me," he said after a bit of mulling it over. He didn't want to put too much pressure on the captain, and he wasn't looking for compliments or anything, just an explanation.

IC Yasurek- Infernavika: "Come with me, mate," he said. "I think we need to 'ave a chat," Lohkar said, leading the way to his cabin. Yasurek followed behind, walking calmly, but inside there was only chaos. OhnonononononononowhatdidIdowhatdidIdo- Breathe. You can get through this. He just wants to "'ave a chat'". He's not gonna hurt us or anything. But what are we gonna chat about? He might think we're not fit for duty or that we're causing too much trouble! He might ask us to leave. He wouldn't do that. He needs us on this ship. He knows that we always mean well whenever we do anything. But lately we haven't done anything of note. Neither has this ship. We never did anything beforehand either. What's there to worry about. But- But nothing. You just have to believe that you are important. People want you on this ship. Just believe. I just have to believe, eh? Okay. People want me on this ship, people want me on this ship... Believe, just believe in yourself. Believe, believe, believe harder! What Lohkar didn't notice while his back was turned was the midshipman of his crew punching himself in the face. After that act, Yasurek had regained a bit of composure, just in time for him to follow Lohkar into his cabin. As he walked in and shut the door behind him, he turned to Lohkar and asked, "So what did you want to chat about, Captain Lohkar Sir?"

IC Yasurek- Infernavika: Truly, the thoughts of an individual are a fascinating place. Lasinia's earlier talk with herself had shown that much. As for Yasurek's thoughts... Well, they were well-intentioned. Lasinia thinks I'm cute? thought the ex-guard member. Well, that's new. Not all that new, he thought in response. She thinks every one's cute. Yeah, but the way she phrased it seemed like we were especially cute. Regardless, that was 5 years ago. You need to get on task. Is it worth it? Are you seriously doing this again? What do you mean? I'm just asking. You ALWAYS do this! Every time anything happens, it's always "Is it worth it?" or, "Do I matter?" Every time it's the same old boring repetitive story. You need to stop this man! It needs to end. Make some friends or something, talk to them. Leave me out of this. But you're me. Yes, but you're being lame, so go be me to someone else. I'm going to sleep. Fine, he grumbled to himself. Opening his eyes, it seemed that things had happened a bit. There were crew members going around to their posts and getting the ship moving. He wasn't quite sure where they were going or what they were going to do, but he knew that they were working with the po-koro guard now and that was something. Would it be like in the ko-koro guard? Where he did his job with no real thought, merely completing his task to the best of his ability? Would he just end up being pushed aside so other more capable people could do cool things? Would he have a place in anything? Maybe he should take his own advice and talk to someone... Walking up to Lohkar, he paused a bit, mulling over his words and trying to figure out what he was actually trying to say. Lohkar would understand. They were close friends who had shown that they were loyal to each other to the end, or at least that Yasurek was. He also knew more about what was going on than most members of the crew. "Captain Lohkar Sir," he began, working very hard to form the words he was looking for. "We're working with the po-koro guard now, and that's great in all, but do we have any plan? Any goal? Any leads? What exactly are we doing now, and what are we supposed to be doing?" He facepalmed, not very happy with how he had phrased things. "Sorry, I'm just, concerned. I'm not sure what I'm doing in the crew is all. I mean, I like being here, and the closest thing to a family is here, but 'm not sure what role I'm playing in the crew. What does a midshipman do? Do people even want me here? Is there a point to anything? Captain Lohkar Sir, I'm sorry for dropping heavy philosophical questions on you, but in the story of this ship, who am I?"

IC Yasurek-Infernavika: Upon hearing Lasinia mention something about Floria, probably her returning or something, Yasurek immediately made his way over to the hatch leading belowdecks and assumed a ready stance atop it. She better not be back to steal the rum again. One would hope she had learned that attempting to do so was not the best idea. Still, better be ready. Don't want a scene to break out.

IC Yasurek- Infernavika: Yasurek, being himself, hadn't actually been assigned a combat position by Lohkar, and thus had remained on deck just in case a melee broke out. The situation was starting to get rather heated, and he really didn't want to have a massive fight break out, so he stepped forward and attempted to resolve the situation. "Excuse me miss," he called out to Naona, cutting into her and Verak's conversation. "Might I ask for what the charges you are using to justify taking us into custody are? If you're here about the kidnapping Turaga Onewa, you'll find that a distinct number of our crew were neither part of the crew at the time nor aboard the ship. Therefore, sailing up with the intent to threaten all of us with arrest is simply not legal. Applying charges and criminal status in a general sense like that is really not proper behavior for a guard member at all, nor is it all that moral either. If you have a specific list of people from our ship that you'd like to capture, go ahead and charge them, but trying to take all of us is simply going to lead to both of our crews fighting each other, likely resulting in damages and injuries to both sides. Therefore, as current midshipman of this vessel, as well as a former guard member and a law abiding citizen, I'd like to ask you to please be reasonable and not cause a fight to break out, at least not until people start actually resisting arrest." He stopped there, wondering if his plea would be effective. I mean, technically some of us DID kidnap the turaga, but that was not only a while ago, but also not the last time he was kidnapped. Besides, they still got some justice because they rescued him from us. Yasurek was also fully aware of his not mentioning the numerous ex-slaves that were recently rescued and still on board the ship. It was entirely possible Lohkar had a plan to use them, and he had no intention of messing it up. I mean, he was probably looking for a fight, but less combat might be better, he reasoned. Eh, even if he doesn't have a plan for them, they're a fallback we can try to use if things go bad, along with them being more loyal to us than the guards. Extra combatants on your side doesn't hurt too often when in all out combat.

OOC: Sigh... I go to visit relatives for a week and you go and start a fun battle for the Infernavika crew? Welp, better get Yasurek in there while I can. IC Yasurek- Entering battle: Before one of the remaining skadi slavers could attempt to engage the attacking crew already on board the slaver ship, a familiar cloaked figure tackled him to the ground, a spear in each hand aimed right at the skadi's throat. Having knocked his foe to the ground, Yasurek rolled his foe over and chocked him into unconciousness with one of his spears. He looked up from his handiwork to observe the rest of the fight. "Anybody need help up here?" he called out to the rest of the crew.

At this point, I've become much too cynical and pessimistic to try fighting other players. Then there's my personal rule against interacting with or combating magnetism, iron, or gravity toa, but that's just a personal code. Experience has not brought any love towards in game fights, though I guess I can understand where some would see some appeal. As for character detailing and introspection and the like, my view of the aspiration mountain leaves me with little motivation to climb it, even if sitting atop the metaphorical upper ledges would be nice. Until my skills reach a level I feel would make climbing the mountain a pleasant exercise, I'll just stay on my little hill of alrightishness. Also, my skills in terms of writing tend towards the more comedic than the serious, which is intensely frowned upon by a distinct vocal portion of the playerbase. But I've been trying to make it more fluid and fitting for my characters, so hopefully it doesn't cause issue with anyone who actually reads my posts. Just stating my views on the game, no offense to any people intended.

IC Yasurek- Infernavika: Shortly after Lohkar had called out to the crew, Yasurek managed to finish climbing his way up onto the Infernavika, because some people did not have a grapple gun to make it really easy. "You want to let the crew know what we found out in town, captain?" he asked Lohkar.

OOC: Nen, Thama, and Sashina from Po-wahi IC Nen, Thama, and Sashina- Foresty bit sort of near Ga-koro: The trip had proceeded uneventfully, much to the relief of the trio. They had traversed the desert at record speed, actually managing to follow the path and not get lost, an accomplishment that filled Nen's heart with joy. Unfortunately, hanging on to a kakama-wearing toa while they were running as a method of travel did not bring joy to his insides. The ride was often quite bumpy. He took a glance around at the blur of landscape passing him by, noticing that they seemed to be entering a forest. A quick glance ahead saw Thama making the signal to stop and rest. He felt his momentum gradually decrease as he and Sashina slowly came to a halt in front of Thama. "Truly, there is no other form of travel quite as... special, as that," Nen remarked, letting go of Sashina. "Why did you call the rest though?" he asked Thama. "Simple: while teleporting isn't quite as... special, as running really fast, it takes it out of you. I simply want to make sure that I'm not exhausted or out of commission whenever we get attacked." "Do you think they would attack us here? We are close to the village, and they might not have known where we were going." "They have to have been spying on us for at least a week or so. They would definitely know where we're going. I'm not sure if they know exactly where we are right now, but we need to be ready for them. I'm good to walk, but Sashina can't take us both and I don't want any of us being left here on their own. Sashina, maybe you could quickly go check your workplace while me and Nen make our way to the koro?" "I can do that. Are you sure though? I really don't want to not be here if you end up getting bad guys attacking you." "We'll be fine. If we get attacked, we'll escape, simple as that. Go on ahead." "Very well," Sashina grumbled, clearly worried about the idea. Despite her worries, she soon vanished with a whoosh of her mask, leaving Nen and Thama on their own in the forest. "Might as well get moving," Nen decided, starting the trek through the woods, Thama right behind. While Thama and Sashina were worried about being attacked, Nen wasn't. After all, they had teamwork and friendship on their side, along with Thama's old team not really making a good first impression on him as to their competence. Regardless, he couldn't afford to be overconfident, adn his eyes scanned the trees around them as they walked. There were enough breaks in the leaves that the ground beneath the trees was well illuminated. This was good so they could spot any approaching individuals, but also made them easier to see. Thama was worried, even with the comforting atmosphere of the forest around her. There were just too many ways for an enemy to get the drop on them. Her bow was out and ready, her hands tense with the anticipation of a fight. Nen may not have been worried, but Thama was. After all, the group was chasing them to kill her only; Nen and Sashina were just obstacles to the main goal. She wondered about the old team. Could they really bring themselves to kill her? She hoped that they couldn't. It would make it much easier to stop them if they didn't go all out on her. "LOOK!" Nen shouted, shattering any sense of coherent thought in Thama's mind. "... it's a bird!" He pointed at the small songbird. While he was saying that, an arrow promptly flew past him and hit the bird right in the torso. There was not even a squawk as it fell to the forest floor. "NO! The bird!" Nen cried, moving over to try to help it. He turned to Thama, cradling the barely living creature. "You shot it!" A very stressed out Thama slowly lowered her bow, her hands shaking with fear and anger and annoyance. "NEVER. Do that again. EVER," she warned. "And give me my arrow back," she said as she walked over to Nen, plucking her arrow out of the bird. It was miraculously alive. "I didn't kill it, so it'll be fine." "But you shot it without even thinking." "I would have been able to think if you hadn't yelled about it. I was in the middle of some introspection. Now the moment is ruined! And we're giving our position away by yelling!" The duo paused, thinking about Thama's last statement. "We're giving our position by yelling," Thama said to herself, eyes wide in fright. She looked at Nen. "Let's run," she suggested. "Agreed," Nen replied. The duo took off at a brisk pace, trying to keep as quiet as possible. *** Kalence was not having the best day. His team had been tracking Thama and her crew with ease, what with all their witty bantering and discussions about life. That, and his team already knew where they were going. But he was still amazed that the trio was this hard to find. The cursed forest was just ruining everything. He continued to tromp through the brush, angry at life. The logical part of him reminded his brain that the forest was the best ambush spot, and the trio was bound to stop here, even for a moment. It was a perfect place to stage the attack. The problem was finding the targets. He glanced around for the 20th time and sighed. Darn sneaky people, always being difficult to find. He was in luck though. The sounds of shouting were off in the distance, a distance that Kalence closed in seconds with his kakama. It sounded like them, and there seemed to be only Thama and Nen. From his hiding place several trees away from them, Kalence smiled. Of course, now I need to wait for the others before I can attack them, he realized. It would take his team some time to reach his location. He sighed. It's hard being faster than your team. How are you supposed to kill someone if your allies are too busy running? Woe is an evil person's work.

IC Yasurek- Walking with the crew: Lohkar felt a hand grab his shoulder. Looking down to his side, he'd see Yasurek, hood down, looking right at him. "Captain Lohkar Sir, if I may be so bold, let me tell you that you don't need to feel so down." Before Lohkar could respond, Yasurek continued. "The thing is, yes, Xa-koro was a home away from home for us. It was a place where we could walk in the open without fear of guard attacks. Yes, it was a place that thematically fit our piratey nature. But at the same time, it wasn't our home. It wasn't where we went to at the end of the day, it wasn't where all of our friends were, it wasn't the only thing that we had in the world. We still had the 'Vika. The Infernavika is our home, it's where all of our lives are. Without it, we wouldn't be anything. We wouldn't be a crew, or pirates, or a family, and I say family because as you should know by now, nobody on this island has your back as much as the rest of the crew and me do. "Without Xa-koro, we're still who we are. We still have everything we had before, and even if we can't go into every town without trouble, we still haven't angered every village. So it's fine. Xa-koro was a loss, but not the greatest loss we could have. You say that we've lost people like us. I'll have you know that regardless of who they were, there was nothing to be done. In fact, it was a miracle we got out of Xa-koro before it went. The thing that separates us from the victims is that we have each other. There were many good people lost, but we don't want to lose you too sir, certainly not to depression." He paused for a moment, trying to think of what else to say. "... Lohkar, I don't want to lose you," he added after a pause, dispensing with his usual formalities when addressing Lohkar. "You're my friend, my captain, and a part of my family. My life is here on this boat with everyone on it, and I can't let you destroy yourself over this. So, as a recommendation from your trusted midshipman, don't let it get you down and cheer up. We have adventures and pirating to do, and we need our captain to do it. So let's go out there and show the world that nothing can get us down." He grinned, truly a rare expression for him. "What do we have to worry about? Whatever it is, we can do it, together." OOC: Inspiring Yasurek speech, activate!

IC Yasurek, Nen, Thama, and Sashina: Yasurek had taken some time to go off on his own from Lasinia and Mimira. He was sure that Mimi would be adequately protected, and he didn't want to be around for any possible scenes that might have erupted. Making his way elsewhere into the bazaar, he constantly surveyed the people around him, always looking for potential informants or threats. Alas, it was a bazaar, and there were no such individuals present. Just as he was about to return to the group, a group of toa at a particular stand caught his eye. The stand had a sign on it reading "Crystal Emporium: we sell crystal". The trio of toa shopping at the stand were mulling over various weapons made out of crystal. The first toa had a black volitak, with a cloak covering the rest of his body, though Yasurek could see the occasional glimpse of shiny silver beneath it. He was examining a green crystal longsword, one that looked like it could be wielded with one or both hands. It was glimmering in the daylight as the toa shifted it back and forth, his eyes expressing nothing less than wonder and fascination. Yasurek was rather confused by the toa's enthusiasm, but walked closer. The second toa was a toa of water, based on her coloring. Unlike what he expected a water toa to be carrying, she was holding a very large crystal axe. The fact that she could hold it up amazed Yasurek. The gleam from the axe seemed much more wicked than the first toa's sword, but there was still a benevolence to it's red material. Her kakama had a big grin all over it as she took a practice swing, the axe ringing from the speed and ferocity of the swing. Satisfied, she turned to the third toa. his one was different than the others. She wore a cloak, but it didn't conceal her slate grey body. In her hands was a blue crystal bow, one that looked sturdy and reliable, but she did not appear as enthusiastic as the other two. Rather, she was poring over the bow with a concentrated glance, checking it for any flaws or errors. After her thorough examination, she smiled and turned to the shopkeeper. "I think we'll take them," she told the matoran, handing him a good pile of widgets. The matoran gratefully accepted them and wished her and her companions a nice day. "Nen, Sashina, let's head back. There's plenty of planning to do for our trip." She turned to leave, catching the eye of a hooded Ko-matoran. His blue cloak was distinctive in the crowded bazaar, and his eyes betrayed that he had been watching the trio. Thama's eyes narrowed. He could be a spy, an agent of her foes come to finally find her. She had been trying to hide for a while now, keeping low with Nen and Sashina while doing the occasional odd job to get some income, but she had always known that some day she'd be found again. She held up a hand as quickly as she had started to leave, halting her companions. "Ko-matoran, blue cloak. He was watching us," she whispered. Her toa of earth companion leaned close to her. "I don't think he's an enemy," he observed. "Looks pretty harmless. Probably just a nice guy." "Nen, I keep telling you, they could be anywhere," Thama replied, a bit of annoyance in her voice. She liked Nen, she really did, but he was too carefree all the time. It was hard to tell when he was serious about something. Yasurek, for his part, was turning to leave when a blue blur whooshed in front of him. He felt eyes on the back of his head and turned his head slightly to get a glimpse of who it was. The axe-wielding water toa was right behind him, and she did not look happy. Well, this is a great situation, he thought to himself. "Could you please come join me and my friends for a bit, mister?" she asked, her tone friendly, but with a distinct hint of no-nonsense. Yasurek nodded and was led back to the other two. The quartet then walked a few stalls down, coming to a stop in an alley between two huts. Yasurek was starting to feel a distinct sense of worry coming on. "Alright matoran," Thama began, "Who are you and why were you watching us?" "My name is Yasurek. I'm a midshipman for a vessel docked outside the koro and I'm here to gather information on recent happenings on the island." "Well, I'm sold," said Nen. "I mean, he looks perfectly fine to me, and he didn't seem to be lying." "Only one way to find out," said Sashina. She pulled out her metal axe and pointed it at the matoran. "Are you lying, Yasurek?" she asked, the axe getting closer. Well, these guys seem odd. Seriously, asking me if I'm lying? "No, I'm not lying," was what he said. "And you haven't ever heard of a toa named Harynthia or a malicious team of five toa either?" "Nope. Can't say I have." "Fair enough." Thama visibly relaxed. Whatever this matoran was, it wasn't a threat to her or her friends. "Sorry for dragging you here. I'm Thama, this is Nen, and this is Sashinalabafocasanowa. You can call her Sashina." "And together, we are the SemDysFunc do-gooders brigade!" Nen added. At Yasurek's incredulous look, he added "We help people in trouble. Then they can give us money if they want. It's a good lifestyle. We're currently camped out here because Thama has this evil old team of toa that's out to get her under orders from Makuta. That's why we were rude to you." "Sorry about the whole axe thing," Sashina apologized. "I'm really quite nice. To things that I'm not currently chopping in half." "Good to know," was all that the now very confused Yasurek could say. "If you're looking for current events, we could just give you a copy of the mata nui daily," Thama offered. "Or we could just tell you. The main event of the day is that Xa-koro was apparently destroyed and has sunk into the sea. Nobody knows why." Good thing I wasn't there when it sank then, Yasurek thought. Those poor people... It's not like I could have done anything anyway. "Other than that, you can check the paper yourself. We're planning an adventure!" "Really now? How long have you been planning this adventure?" "Several months. It's been great laying low all this time." "Why haven't you done anything else? Why wait?" "It's dangerous out there. There are dangerous people out there," Thama commented. "The unknown is unknown because those who go to explore it never return to tell us about it. Either they're killed... or lost." A flicker of darkness seem to wash over her previously bright face before returning to normal. "It's not really a situation many people would understand." "What I understand is you three sitting around letting things constrain you. Be free! Take charge and go forth! Do something!" "Why don't you?" Sashina replied after a pause. "I'm sorry?" "Why don't you do something? Look at you, you have spears poking out of you everywhere, you clearly have agility, and your eyes convey a determination that doesn't come along often. Go use it." "I can't. The universe won't let me." "So get over it. If the world's going to try to knock you down, you just need to stay up. Once you know how to do that, you'll be free to do whatever. Just find a way to succeed." "It's not that easy." "Neither is facing the unknown. Just go out and do it, and we'll do the same. Sounds fair." Thama looked at Yasurek. She could see darkness in him, a need to be free, but there was also plenty of honest good in him. There was a desire to fix past mistakes, to help. Guess I'm not the only one, she thought to herself. "Looks like they have us both beat," she said to him. "Might as well get on with our plans. "Very well. Until next time." He left them in the alley, hearing a few "byes" from them. A bit of searching later and he had obtained a copy of the Daily. He flipped through it, getting back to Lasinia and Mimi just as Lohkar returned. He did not look happy. "Did you hear anything, Captain Lohkar Sir?" he asked. Hopefully Lohkar was alright. *** As Yasurek hurried away, Thama and the rest of the trio made their way out of the city. At one point she was almost certain she had seen the toa of iron who had tried to kidnap Hafu all those months ago, but she paid it no heed. After all, he wasn't that dangerous, and she had more things to worry about. She and the pair were heading to Ga-koro so Sashina could check in with her courrier company and catch up on late work. They reached the desert in good time. She turned to her friends. "This time, let's follow the road so we don't get lost." "Excellent plan. Follow me." Sashina grabbed Nen and blurred away, dragging him with her. They were soon gone past the horizon. "Thama watched them go and turned, looking around. It was only a matter of time... She turned and warped after them, making a series of far jumps across the landscape. They'd be there soon. OOC: Nen, Thama, and Sashina to Ga-wahi

IC Yasurek- Desert with crew:"It's a good thing that nobody in any of the island's law enforcement agencies knows that you wear an Arthron sir, or that would be a very easy to see through disguise," Yasurek observed. He pulled his hood up, obscuring his features, his cloak still perfectly nice and blue like it always had been despite what it had been through. "We'd best get mov-" he started to say, before he noticed Mimira tagging along. "Captain Lohkar sir, what's Mimi doing here?" he asked.