Kakaru

[ Chapter Eight: A Change of Heart ] Aren rubbed her eyes, trying to avoid her own gaze in the mirror. The sickly yellow sheen over her eyes had grown steadily worse and her breaths came in short and shallow to compliment her reduced stamina. She kept attending her classes anyways, hoping the other scholars wouldn't notice her physical condition by a marked absence.Her class' numbers had begun to drop steadily, students trickling into medical crash-courses as open fighting between the rebels and elite Vahki squads increased. Safe routes for commerce were established through the old canals as barricades were erected in the streets. Graffiti littered the once-pristine architecture. The entire city was heartbreaking to see; the most peaceful sector in all of Metru-Nui degenerated into a warzone where slaughter and smoke had become common.The most horrifying part wasn't the mechanical roar of Vahki swarms overrunning rebel outposts or even the nightmarish screams that followed, however. It was the silence that began to drive them all mad. The sickening sound of a Vahki reporting its last kill and the squelch of the bodies being rounded up for processing, the footsteps fading into the alleys, knowing that the only thing to remember her sisters by would be a bloodstain in the morning. That was what she hated most.So as a depth charge rattled the foundation of her block and the windows burst around her, Aren clenched her teeth and closed her eyes, squeezing the tears out as she thanked the Great Spirits for the noise.-=][=- "Our little security experiment has taken a turn for the worse, I only wish I could have foreseen it. Great Spirits help me if the Scholars were right, he will use the stone and he will be forced to come out of hiding in a matter of days. There's nothing we can do in the meantime that won't make the situation worse."The Turaga gripped the stone railing, staring out over the southwest districts. In his mind's eye he could almost envision the thief's hideout, the insurrectionist's hands coiled around the stone, power coursing into his arms--Dume shook his head and spoke deliberately, hiding the weakness in his voice. "The situation has changed. Consider him an active threat to me and this city. When he comes out-"The elder stopped, trying to force the words out but finding no strength. His throat felt clogged by emotion. A great moment passed as he simply watched the sun touch the horizon and dip below. He needed to say it. The city had suffered too much for his cowardice before, and it would not do so again even if it broke him."When the thief comes out, kill him."The Vahki nodded and left, the great doors clicking shut with an echo. Dume put his head in his hands and began to sob. -=][=- "I'm carrying a Toa stone and I'm legally as good as dead. I'm practically immortal.""You're also living on my couch."Kakaru smirked, understanding the irony in Nukoi's tone. He had taken up residence in the common area between Ruhui and Nukoi's rooms for the past couple days. Ruhui had been missing ever since the rooftop incident and only a cryptic note pinned to his door left any indication of where he had gone; the shiny miru he had nicked from a forge shipment was left by the door with a note to pawn it off as soon as possible. Kakaru didn't bother to sell it. His satchel was empty save for the wrapped stone, cleared of all his own possessions as well as the stolen ones. He didn't need his reputation in the market again, not now. He needed to stay hidden. With luck, Dume would tell the Vahki to go back to normal and Kakaru could come back someday soon."Why were they watching you?"Kakaru made and abstract motion with his hand. "Who knows. I think they were trying to shut me up, to discredit me? Like, they knew I was stealing to get everyone to see how corrupt they were, so they were exaggerating it to make me seem stupid? I guess it worked, but that's the thing-""I didn't actually care, I was just making conversation," Nukoi mumbled under his breath. Kakaru didn't notice."That insurrectionist group, the one based out of Ga-Metru that tried to take a hit on Dume? Apparently they wanted to recruit me, so they were watching too. And suddenly they're escalating the conflict in the open since they noticed that the Vahki didn't care about me. So now Dume's got a way bigger mess on his hands up north. I guess the entire thing just works out for me."Nukoi scraped a small portion of food into Oen's dish. "Don't you have a friend up there? A classmate or something? Ruhui mentioned her once or twice." Oen leapt of Kakaru's lap and padded happily over to the dish. Kakaru paused for a moment, then tentatively shrugged. "I'm sure she's fine. I just hear rumours about these little scuffles, nothing else, right? I'm sure it'll all go back to normal."Nukoi raised his eyebrows but said nothing.The moon of the late solar cycle shone through the latticed crystal windows, casting a web over a news tablet detailing the list of casualties in the northern sectors. A Vahki patrol marched by far below, relaying combat reports and increased security commands, and both of them knew that things were most definitely not going back to normal. Kakaru's stomach churned inexplicably."I've got an evening lecture I need to be at," Nukoi said. "Kakaru, not that it's any of my business, but soon we may not have the luxury of small talk like this, any of us. Think about what you really want. Not that grand theological tripe we all love to spout, I mean what's really important. If you knew what was going to happen tomorrow, would all this 'power against the system' really matter?" Nukoi shrugged and closed the door behind him.Kakaru sat up and stared around the room with a long sigh. The silence was only intensified by the sound of Oen and his foodbowl. He picked up Ruhui's stolen miru and traced the smooth lines with a finger, contemplating his next move. Yes, he had somewhere to be as well. Just one visit, just to be sure. [ Review ]

Smikki and Bricky are my hero. (Also I think this might be the first time a birthday has been featured on the front page but I donno? Thanks for giving me a proper excuse.)

OKAY UHH [11:06:42 PM] Kakaru: 1. [11:06:56 PM] Kakaru: because reasons [11:07:23 PM] Kakaru: 2.2, because Commander is clueless and legitimately doesn't know if there was fighting [11:07:43 PM] Kakaru: 3.2 because he just doesn't know anymore [11:08:37 PM] Kakaru: sometimes I pick the most ambiguous answer because someone tries to talk to me in the middle of a cutscene and I miss important junk

There once was a hero named Brickywhose birthday presents were always trickyinternational shipping was hardso I got him a cardthen I ate it and made a half-limerick insteadHappy birthday bro! You're a super awesome guy and I can't overstate how proud I am to have you as a friend. Hope you have a great one!

I agree. Zerbas are the best. (seriously tho, you and GSR both had some amazing stories. I can't wait to get my copy tomorrow. :3) I'm in favor of that. If your deranged creativity and time-consuming banners and troutful themes inspire writers to write, more power to you. We should all be writing a little more and having a little more fun in doing it. I'll be taking the opportunity, for one. There aren't a lot of fish in the BIONICE Universe, alas . . . though Mavrah provides promising possibilities. To be honest I think you're brilliant. This is the sort of thing we've been needing. EDIT: Question. Can we write about Razor Whales or Lightfish or Venom Eels--aquatic Rahi that are not, technically, fish? Thanks mate!Yeah, I'm down with that. Aquatic things are cool as long as they're Bionicles.Didn't mean to make the rules so restrictive~

I think they happen on Sunday evenings, eight or nine in the evening, California time? At least officially. If you're online you can call a writeoff whenever you want.(also thank you, I drew all the pictures and the cover and I'm super proud of it :3)

Gotta calm everyone down after all that drama in my last blog entry, gosh. Here's a nice story, super short and junk. I even illustrated it myself. IT'S ABOUT FISH

The Ga-Matoran village was unusually loud ever since the talking fish plague. The Po-Matoran settlement across the bay wasn't happy either because sounds carries well over water. At night the fish could be heard chattering nonstop, occasionally interrupted by a cry of "SHUT UP" from the carvers. One insolent fish would always reply with a smug "NO." Turaga Onewa had become fed up after his third night awake and called a counsel of Turaga at Kini-Nui.Turaga Nuju complained the loudest in his clicks and chirps, even if his problems weren't associated with the issue at hand. Since Matoro had died in a freak Muaka accident there was nobody to translate for him, and Matau had taken up a game of matching Nuju's words to a beat while Whenua chanted along. Nuju hated it and his reserved attitude quickly devolved into stabbing at Matau's feet with his staff. Nothing ever got done at these meetings anymore. "Remember when we were Toa and we actually saved islands?" Vakama asked idly. "Metru-Nui was overrun and destroyed, Vakama," Nokama growled. "Good times, yeah." --- Onewa sat at his stone desk with his head in his hands. A fish sat in front of him, blathering away about the weather and the latest koli game and how handsome Huki was. It gasped. "I have become self-aware! I am not a halibut!" Onewa flicked at it and it flopped happily, opening and closing its mouth and rolling it eyes around to look up at the Turaga before continuing its endless tirade of the most inane topics on the face of Mata-Nui. The elder decided that a walk along quieter shores would be wise. He wasn't about to get any sleep here.The telescope overlooking the beach of Ta-Wahi stood silent and reverent, a monument to the first heroes of Mata-Nui and a prophecy of those to come. Onewa started the climb hesitantly, stopping many times to sit down, catch his breath, and admire the moonlight glinting off the waves far below. He was in no hurry. The climb wasn't to be made by weary, sleep-deprived elders and haste would solve their problems no sooner. Mostly because it meant that he would pass out and fall down and die. That wasn't a great thought.The moon peaked in the sky and began its descent as Onewa reached the top and plodded to the telescope. He swung it around on its arc and aligned the red star in the center. Suddenly everything made sense as the stars came into focus. Onewa spat out an inappropriate metaphor and effectively strangled the telescope with both hands. --- The Makuta was content with himself. He had discovered lately that being malicious was only half as fun as being insufferable. This fish thing was a good start to his insufferable campaign, he felt. Everyone hated talking fish.

NO GIRLS ALLOWED GO AWAY

Q1: What is your favorite section of the Library? Any specific reasons why?SHORT STORIES. Because that's where all my stories go becaise I'm too apathetic to write epics and too dull and serious to write comedies.Q2: Least favorite subforum?SHORT STORIES. Because it doesn't have enough of my work in it.Q3: Should the entire Library have a 300 word count minimum? Why or why not? (old question)No. Can you imagine a 300 word epic? I tihnk the reason that comedies has the limit is because they'd become prone to just posting one-off Bionicle themed jokes, whereas short stories and epics aren't just for posting one neat quote, because that's not a story. To clarify: A joke may be a comedy, but a sentence is not a story. Unless it's a really short story. Like a haiku.SCRATCH EVERYTHING I SAID. WE SHOULD ABOLISH THE RULE ENTIRELY.Q4: Should comedies be merged with the rest of the Library? Why or why not? (old question)No, it can still be its own thing. I'm not sure why that genre was isolated from any other ones either, but it works fine.Q5: What are your favorite themes to write about? Do you feel there are some that could be better expressed through your writing without the influence of Bionicle?APOCALYPSE AND BLOOD. If I didn't write Bionicle I could put blood in. A lot of my stories in that regard aren't about Bionicle at all, so they're not posted here.Q6: How often do you tend to post stories? How often do you review stories? (old question)When I feel like it and when I feel like it, honestly. I have no schedule or creed to maintain.Q7: Have you ever made use of the critics clubs? Do you often find them helpful? (old question)No and also no. Since I don't use them I can't say whether they helpor not.Q8: Ambage is the newest writing club that has been inserted into Short Stories forum. It's a community of writers attempting to help each other, and holds flash fiction writing contests. Do you think something very similar to that should be made for the Epics forum? Maybe also for Comedies? Why or why not?Ack I dunno. The Ambage is hard enough to maintain, who else would head the others? I think the Ambage is meant for all the forums, honestly, even if we come across as comedy-haters. BECAUSE COMEDIES SUCK AND WE ARE SERIOUS.Q9: Who are your favorite authors on BZP? Do you feel any specific ones inspire you more than others?Janus, Velox, and GSR all have amazing stuff, but I'd be doing a disservice to ToakiroV if I didn't say that his work was the first that made me stop and reconsider what Bionicle fiction could be.Q10: What are your favorite stories on BZP?The one linked above plus all my own.Q11: Do you feel the activity of the Library has decreased recently? How do you think it could be increased?Maybe a little. More encouragement to new writers might help.Q12: Do you think that Round-Robin writing should be allowed? Why or why not?No, except for special contests and junk. They degrade into incoherent messes too easily and aren't fun to read unless they're incredibly well coordinated.Q13: Do you think there are a sufficient amount of Library-related questions here? Why or why not? (note, if you do have ideas for other or better questions, please post them and I will be glad to add them to the main topic postyes these will do nicely

I'd like to say I'm serious about this challenge but serious is exactly what we don't need. That said, the challenge is for real for anyone interested. There are no points, no consolation prizes, no deadlines, no requirements.*This is a writing prompt because I felt like this club needs more writing in it. Just flat-out writing for the sake of writing. It's what we've been about and it's what we should still be about. The Ambage should be a fun experience without being tied to rules and regulations designed to encourage activity while actively suppressing it. It's why my log of achievements is 90% fabricated and I don't join critics clubs or anything. I'm barely even a part of this club, I just jump in to pull stunts like this. I don't take my writing seriously, and it's those times when my best work comes out. That's what we should be encouraging.WITH THAT, I WANNA SAY THAT I AM DEAD SERIOUS ABOUT MAKING THIS A BETTER PLACE. I GOT MY CUSTOM MEMBER TITLE CHANGED TO "fish" TO REFLECT THAT (thank u Becca).NO DRAMAS, NO NEGATIVE OR PRETENTIOUS BLATHERING. WE'RE ALL WRITERS HERE, SO LET'S WRITE.*you still have to write about a bionicle fish. This isn't a loophole.

HELLOOOOOOOOOO FELLOW HUMANS!As an official Ambage staff member* I'm here to present a formal writing challenge to both member and non members alike. (please note the banner which took me like six minutes with Paint and a tiny trackpad) This challenge will test your limits as a writer! You will be forced to push the boundaries of humour and tragedy in an emotional rollercoaster of a story with this latest and greatest OFFICIAL AMBAGAGE WRITING CHALLENGE for your brain!The challenge is twofold:FIRST, WRITE A STORY ABOUT A FISH.But not just any fish! This must be...A BIONICLE FISH.HALIBUT DO NOT COUNT. SHARKS DO NOT COUNT. CARP IS JUST RIGHT OUT. THIS MUST BE A BIONICLE FISH.Second, and this is imperative! Your story must not be under twelve words long. If it is under this mandatory limit it probably doesn't belong in the library, unless it's an adorable haiku or poem or just a great story anyways. Put it in your signature if you're not sure about it.YOUR DEADLINE IS WHENEVER YOU FEEL LIKE IT. IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH IT POST IT IN THE LIBRARY. IF YOU'RE NOT, PM IT TO ME BECAUSE I WANT TO READ IT ANYWAYS.NO POINTS OR BADGES WILL BE HANDED OUT. THERE ARE NO PRIZES UNLESS YOU BRIBE ME WITH CANDY, IN WHICH CASE YOU'D BE BETTER OFF KEEPING THE CANDY FOR YOURSELF BECAUSE THERE WILL STILL BE NO PRIZES.YOUR MISSION, SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT, BEGINS NOW.(yes this is actually a carp but don't tell the staff) *the statement way up there is a complete lie. I just said it because it sounds official or whatever. Shut up.

Hahahaha, dang. Well I refuse to discuss his politics because he's on a badge. >:c

It's some dude and he's on a badge, therefore avatar.

Ack what I should have been saving to send you a proper gift instead of going to Cascade :C ohoh! Come to Cascade and I will have a gift for you! :3

You missed one.

gorramit guys I can't just feel miserable for a while without being reminded how many awesome friends I have and how there's no reason to feel like this >:C THANKS FOR MAKING ME FEEL BETTER DARN YOU

It wasn't, but

Ditto. *hug* But :C

Sometimes you can't make a difference and nothing gets better. Getting the good ending isn't possible; the messenger just gets shot in the process.

This is what I've been thinking all evening but thank you for being so concise about it. also because so you can chill with me in Denver sometime in a couple months

smikki I will get a toothbrush just for you I will name it after you and draw a happy face on it and it will represent your spirit and you may be there with us

[9:26:07 PM] Kakaru: PRIDE IN THE ELITE [9:27:04 PM] Kakaru: OBEDIENCE IS HAPPINESS [9:27:27 PM] Kakaru: A BUSY MATORAN IS A HAPPY MATORAN [9:28:27 PM] Kakaru: TURAGA DUME SEES ALL [9:28:35 PM] Kakaru: THOUGHTS CAN BE DANGEROUS [9:29:05 PM] Kakaru: FOR PEACE AND THE LAW [9:30:05 PM] Kakaru: MIGHT MAKES RIGHT [9:30:16 PM] Kakaru: TO SERVE AND TO PROTECT [9:30:37 PM] Kakaru: it's like the BZP staff got their code of conduct from the vahki animations [9:31:46 PM] Robert D: Shut up you. You're on staff.

That is all. It's gonna be so rad I can't even explain. :3

HAHAHAHAHAI DIDN'T MEAN FOR YOU TO USE ALL OF THEMAlso, listening to Andrew trying to read Becca's questions out loud was the best thing I've heard all year. Magnificent~