Toa Fanixe

IC:

"Skorm?" Soraph asked. "Who's that? And why do you say his name like that?"

IC:

LoJak looked to Soraya, confused.

"I'm sorry, did I say something funny?  I'm afraid there's still something of a cultural divide in terms of humour between our peoples."

:I am the one with a bit of metal around my neck: Soraph thought back, accompanied by the image of a wide grin.

IC:

"Hmmm... Purity then. It'll be a nice reminder of my home back on Oki."

Soraph watched while Casanuva exchanged the widgets with the merchant for the pendant. It was crazy, people handling metal around like it was as common as seawater. Not that Soraph was complaining. She lowered her head to let the Toa of Magnetism tie the pendant around her neck.

"What do you think is going to happen with Ko-Koro?"

"It's a set of principle and rules" LoJak explained. "They're written down somewhere, probably in Ko-Koro, but that's not so important. You see, they govern the way Toa are supposed to act, the way heroes should act. One of them is never killing; others are seeking out justice, protecting the innocent, helping the poor. Do your Menti have a similar code?" LoJak asked while watching Hanako scribble in her journal.

IC:

Her halberd clanking loudly against the cobbled ground Scar swore at the far more nimble Mashtet outcast. She swung it back up to an attacking position than stretched out an arm. Focusing her Mindarm abilities, she sent the table flying backwards in an attempt to pin Ashka.

Braided kept her distance from the fight and watched one member of the opposing group disappear. With a small grin, she probed the area with her Willhammer-trained mind. She immediately find the Sighteye and dug into her conciousness with dozens of mental barbs.

The three Dashi ran at the Vilda flailing around their cleavers. 

"Move!!!" Robalta yelled, pushing Raiyo to the side. She summoned her own powers and attacked one of the Dashi to keep her at bay.

IC:

"So I've heard" LoJak acknowledged. "It can be difficult to know who to trust on this island nowadays. There was a time when all Toa believed in the Three Virtues and no on dared to break the Toa Code, but things have changed. We're not all the heroes we were destined to be...

"If there's one thing I can promise you though it's that there'll be no drugging anyone while I'm around. I don't drink."

"Are those expensive?" Soraph whispered to Casanuva. She pointed to the six pendants with words etched in metal. Back on Kentoku each could have been a priceless family heirloom.

IC:

"Don't worry Jiyu, you haven't put on that much weight since the Rora's party. A bit of wriggling and you'll make it through."

Kulrik looked to the three other Menti around him, thinking.

"Why don't Shuuan and I each take an arm, and Seigyo can hang onto my back? Then we'll just fly straight into the door and push it open."

"The lot, in general" Scar snarled. She raised her halberd, taking an offensive stance and preparing to strike."'Bout time we started cleaning up the Empire from all the trash, isn't it girls?".

The others grunted in agreement.

Then Scar and the Dashi rushed at the Mashtet-Vilda group.

IC:

"I was hoping we could talk about our two civilizations, to understand each other a little better. And also about this expedition that you've led to Mata-Nui."

LoJak motioned with an arm onward towards the dock, indicating for the visiting dignitary to come forward and begin walking. He took his place beside her.

"As a Toa, I just want to make sure that no ill comes from this meeting of civilizations."

IC:

"Wha- public - what are you talkin- never mind. Fine, I'll take a quick flight in there and let you know what I see" Kulrik said with a dismal shake of his head. 

Activating his Kanohi Kulrik shot into the air and made a quick loop de loop as he enjoyed the rush of the wind. Steadying himself Kulrik slowly descended into the pit of the geyser. There on the wall was large obsidian stone, circular with a rough diameter of his height. It extended a foot off the wall though how it didn't get destroyed by the rhythmical burst of boiling water escaped Kulrik. He ran his hands on all sides of the stone, looking from some sort of hinge or groove, but he couldn't find any. 

Frowning, the Vilda First Son gave the stone a light push right in the centre. If he wasn't wrong, it depressed a fraction of an inch.

He flew back to ground level, still floating a foot of the ground as talked excitedly and relayed what he'd found.

"We've got a way in!"

IC:

Soraph returned the grin.

"And here I thought you were just a pretty face, and it turns out that mask is hiding a horde of cleverness. That's a good idea hiding your friend Vakua with us, even if he isn't a real telepath. I'd love to tell you he can start bunking aboard the Ryuu tonight but there some issues that are going to need to be ironed out before. I'll have to ask the Commodore, and Lady Hanako, she's the official dignitary for this expedition. I personally think it'd be a great idea to have him along, he'd be a great help in teaching us about Mata-Nui. And I think I speak for all Menti when I say that Kanohi of his is very, very interesting...

"Why don't we all go have food later, I'll Willhammer your minds to make sure you're completely safe and then I'll ask the people in charge tonight?" Soraph offered. Seeing her two Dasaka friends run off towards some merchants, Soraph grabbed Casanuva wrist and dragged him along too before he had a chance to answer.

"C'mon, we can't miss any of the fun!"

"Perfectly understandable. My name is Toa LoJak" the Toa of Fire side with a slight nod. 

"I know you must be busy, and a little taken aback by everything you've seen here, but I was hoping I could have a word with you. If you'd prefer, I can show your around some of the better parts of the village as we talk?"

IC:

Of the five Dasaka two were Menti, both wielding wicked looking crystal halberds, and the other three were Dashi with large butcher knives. None of them looked particularly pleasant or amused by the presence of the the Vilda and Mashtet.

One of the Menti, this one sporting a black thunderbolt design on her clothing, stayed back while the other four converged on Robalta and company.

The other Menti led the Dashi onwards.

"Scum like you want here on Sado? Trying to steal another part of the Rora's empire like those retched Dastana?" the hoarse-voiced Menti said.

"It's settled then" Kulrik exclaimed with a friendly slap on Shuuan's arm. "We get inside that door, find the Key inside and return to Sado for a quick break. Which means the only problem is finding our way inside. Ideas?

IC:

:One of them is about as harmless as my cousin Kulrik, so there's nothing to worry about there. Apparently the other has already spoken with someone from the Ryuu and needs our help? I'm still figuring that out. I don't think they'll cause us any trouble at all.:

"So," Soraph asked Casanuva, "Janu got your tongue?"

IC:

"Thank you so much, ma'am. I'd like to stay here and wait a few minutes in that case, should miss Hanako come out. If she doesn't, I'll catch up to you. If you'll have me, that is" LoJak said. 

"As long as we don't spend too much time there. I don't think my friends will want to spend all day staring at walls and empty spaces."

Soraph gestured for the little group that formed to begin walking.

"Let's start walking then, and why don't you begin telling me what's gotten you so scared you had to come running back to me?"

IC:

:We could take him: Soraph thought back to Aki. :And if he even suggests we come over to his place, we squash him:

IC:

"Oh, I see...That's understandable I guess, you can't be too careful, even with Makuta gone..."

LoJak looked down at the ground, slightly disappointed. He'd been hoping to talk to the Dasaka in charge, and the sooner the better. But he wasn't about to stand outside praying for the right person to walk outside. 

He looked back up.

"It's LoJak. Do you need anyone to show you around Ga-Koro? I don't have any plans for the day."

IC:

Soraph pouted and placed her hands on hips comedically.

"And here I thought you came back all the way here to see me. I'm hurt." She sighed. "What is it you want to talk to me about? My friends and I were hoping to explore the village, so you can walk along with us."

"Could you ask them if I can enter the submarine then?" LoJak asked.

IC:

Soraph shielded her eyes with her arm against the sun, intensely bright when compared to the inside of the Ryuu. Once her vision acclimated she was finally able to see a number of visitors waiting for the Dasaka. Two seemed familiar, Soraph had definitely seen them previously, one of which must have been the telepathic Toa. A third was the Marine Whitehot, branding a bottle of alcohol from the looks of it.

And there, right in the centre, was the little fox Casanuva.

Smiling widely she blew the lothario a kiss before setting herself on the dock and walking up to him.

"Did you miss me?"

LoJak focused on the Asa, first Dasaka to emerge from the sub.

"Excuse me" he inquired,  "do you know were I could find Commodore Ayiwah or Miss Hanako?"

IC:

Neither of her superiors had answered her -maybe they were asleep, or busy with something else? Soraph hadn't broadcasted her request very loudly - but the Vilda did hear the suggestion of two other crewmates to go exploring the village. 

:Hold up! I'll be right there, just let me change quickly:

Soraph did just that, removing the clothes that had been suggested by Asa to the commodore. Feeling ridiculous, she clambered after the other Dasaka out the hatch door.

LoJak looked curiously at the two Dasaka that had just emerged from the foreign ship.

"Is it just me, or do they look...different?" he whispered to Vakua and Casanuva, the other Toa waiting outside the submarine.

IC:

LoJak had been with the Dasaka delegation throughout their meeting in the Akiri's hut, but had left shortly thereafter. Deciding it was about time to make sure the visitors were settling in all right, he walked the distance across Ga-Koro to the submarine they'd arrived on. There were already a number of other Toa already waiting outside.

"These Dasaka sure are popular" he said with a friendly smile to one of his fellow Toa paying a visit.

IC:

Hello? Hi. This is Vakua... the Toa with the Suletu? The mask of Telepathy? That is completely unable to read your mind? Yeah, anyway, my brother and I are outside. We have business to discuss with...

Soraph stirred in her cabin. She picked up her head, looking around for whoever had spoken. 

... with Soraph Vilda. Well, Casanuva to discuss, anyway, given my... impairment.

Casanuva was back? Already? From the way he'd made it sound, Soraph had thought the Kulirk-esque Toa would be gone for weeks. Now here he was knocking on her front door as it were, and with a telepath as well? Things definitely stayed interesting on Mata-Nui.

:There are two Toa outside the submarine. One of them I know, and the second might also be known to one of us. They'd like to speak to me. Can we give them permission to come aboard? Or can I get off to speak with them?: she asked her superiors.

IC:

"But we've already come all this way" Kukrik said, almost pleading. He gestured down into the hole. "That's got to be some sort of entrance. We're so close to the next Key!  And when I found the blade, all Kilanya and I had to do was walk down a dark tunnel. This'll probably be just as easy. So what do you say, one more little adventure?"

If Shuuan said yes, Kulrik promised himself he wouldn't even mention those nicknames she called him for the rest of the day.

"First off, we've got to find one of those Dastana twins. Preferablly Toroshu Arsix, if not then her brother Jasix. Last I heard they were still hereon Sado, but young people these days like to move around so much. They just can't sit still."

Robalta narrowed her eyes, frowning.

"Who are those people? Are they friends of yours?" Not too far away five Dasaka were making their way straight for the Vilda-Mashtet meeting. They didn't look very friendly.

IC:

Soraph gasped as the transformation. It was totally unlike anything she'd been expecting. From what she'd heard the Parakuka were parasites, all consuming slugs that drained their hosts. But here was proof they could just as easily give, and the results are incredible, if not terrifying. She felt regret for not standing up for the Parakuka earlier - if the Dasakans could have studied them, learn to duplicate that sort of power...

But what was done was done.

"Yes," she said to Fyura, "that was demonstration enough. Thank you for teaching us about the creatures. Now I think it'd be best if you left."

Privately, using her Willhammer powers to speak directly into the newcomer's mind, she said :Could we meet another time for you to tell more about those things? Maybe in a day or two?  Tell me when and where. And think the answer, don't say it:

Not sure if the Skakdi was yet safe to be around, Soraph still got ready to withdraw her dagger.

IC:

There was glimmer of light from the newcomer's eyes, and then it vanished.

"What do you mean?" Soraph asked cautiously. Fyura looked dangerous, and just a little bit crazy.

IC:

Soraph gritted her teeth at being ordered around, but wasn't going to disobey an order from a superior. She was about to head back to the sub with the others when someone new appeared (a skald? was that what they were called?). And they had large Parakuka attached to their back. There was some arguing and from the looks of things, a fight could very possibly break out.

The Vilda decided to stay behind a few minutes just in case.

"What is it you want?" she asked the Skakdi.

IC:

Now Soraph was angry, but she kept the bubbling pot of emotions in check. How could they question her friendships? However, there was no point in disrespecting ranked officials, it would only end up worse for her.

"I understand. I'm sorry if you think I was trying to endanger anyone, I was not. If you believe it does, then please kill them. But I'd like to remind you that the more we learn about our foes and these creatures, the better prepared we'll be against them. Knowledge is much more powerful than a sword."

She waited for people in charge to make and carry out their decision.

IC:

"I haven't got any boxes or bags on me" Soraph explained. "Once we're back on the ship I can put them in a glass cage filled with water, in a crate that's well secured in the cargo area.  Out here I'm keeping a close eye on them, and I can stop the Parakuka if they try anything. Dangerous animals are nothing to new to a Vilda. Honestly, I didn't think it was a big deal. We're going to encounter lots of new and dangerous things on Mata-Nui, and we've got to learn as much as we can about them."