Onaku

IC: The Ruins of Earth “Great disc of appropriate power must be inserted into NUVA device,” the machine answered Kat. It pulled out the box containing the great discs and began walking towards the device. "Kilo, what are you doing, exactly?" Arkius interjected, stepping forward. "Hand the disks over, we are about to begin the bestowment of the boon." “This unit is activating the device. Is there a problem?” Jutori stepped forward, suspicion in his optics. “Yes, is there a problem, Arkius?” "You? Activating the device? What fault in your programming led you to that conclusion? Jutori here must be the one to activate the device, Kat standing alongside him, for the bestowment of the boon to function properly. I would have thought as much obvious but it seems I overestimated the dependability of your computational prowess. Now hand the disks over so we may begin." “What’s wrong with Kilo doing it…?” Kat asked. Arkius turned to Kat with a confused furrow of his brow. "Kilo is a machine, not a Toa." “This unit is unaware of any species-based restrictions to the device.” The Earthen Toa looked back to Kilo, a bemused expression on his features. "Species? Is that what you designate yourself as?" “The reward ahead of us is for anyone who wishes to seek it,” Jutori countered. He hefted his hammer over his shoulder, gesturing to the machine, then the Ta-Toa with them. “Kilo is as deserving of it as either Kat or I.” “I think it’s a great idea!” Kat spoke up cheerily. “After all, Kilo can’t get stronger through training like other people can, so he can do it this way!” The machine paused for a moment to consider Arkius’ question while its allies vouched for it. Finally it broke its silence. “This unit may not qualify as a ‘species’ based on your definition, but that does not mean this unit is unworthy of this power. Please step aside Toa Arkius.” Arkius glared at the machine that so audaciously designated itself worthy of the boon he assuredly knew only a Toa could be bestowed. "I see now. It's clear your programming has degraded in your long years of hiding." Arkius stretched out his hand, and for a moment, those who had been paying attention recognised his posture as that of preparing to use his power of Earth. But he stopped. Staring into Kilo's optic was the singular eye of Arkius, not the pale emerald hue it had for the most part been since his transformation, but a vibrant green from before, his expression changing from intense and loathing to pleading and somber. "Please… I'm… so sorry… help-" For a brief, almost fleeting moment, Kilo might have noticed the vibrant eye looking at the staff he carried, before snapping back to glare at the machine, its hue fading once more to a pale venomous green before the toa clenched his fist, the ground rupturing with earthen arms that grabbed and restrained Kilo, forcing it to drop the box containing the great discs from its hands. "I don't like having to repeat myself, Kilo. Now let us proceed with this bestowment as it was intended." Jutori suddenly changed stance, taking his hammer in both hands. “Let Kilo go, Arkius. This will go no further.” As Arkius moved towards the great disc box it was suddenly hit by a projectile and encased in a bubble of energy. The mechanical enforcer had managed enough movement in its restrained state to blast the box with its tail. “Toa Arkius, this unit has noticed the change in behavior exhibited by Ally Atamai and yourself. Whatever mental alterations have occured due to the NUVA device is hindering your thinking processes. Additional violence is not required, but Toa Arkius cannot be trusted to select who receives this power.” There was a long moment where Kilo and Arkius stared at each other. Arkius’ eye grew more brilliant again for a brief moment, and it looked like he might concede to the group, before it dulled once more, and his face twisted with a dark scowl. He clenched his hand into a fist once more, and the earthen hands restraining Kilo twisted around, pulling on the Kralhi and with a horrible shriek of rending metal, the mechanical enforcer was ripped in two and thrown across the chamber. The energy bubble encasing the disc box dissipated as the signal was cut off, causing the container to once again clatter to the floor. Jutori‘s eyes flew wide open in shock, and he tightened his grip around his sledgehammer. He knew that, as a Toa, it wasn’t right to think this way, but at the moment he very much wanted to bring it down on Arkius’ head. Brutalizing Kilo was the last straw--the Toa of Earth’s plans would end here. Yet before he could act, the Toa of Gravity found himself restrained with arms of living earth as Kilo had been before, the constructs holding him tight and preventing his movement. Jutori groaned and struggled to break free. Kat was similarly in shock, but she fell back on her training. ‘Keep your eyes on the fight’, Lhii had always instructed. It was a lesson that she’d taken to heart. Her training became her instincts, and she dropped into a more comfortable fighting stance. Arkius had meanwhile picked up the box, taking out the Great Disk of Ga-Metru and gently dropping it. He then took out what he realised was *not* a Great Disk, and looking into the box again, realised that neither of the remaining two were the Onu-Metru disk. "Oh of course." He muttered as he dropped the box, shooting a glare at the felled Kilo before realising Kat's uncertainty. “Come, Katrin, the power of NUVA waits only for you and Jutori to claim it!” Arkius spoke, a fanatical tone to his voice, taking a step forward. Kat’s entire body trembled slightly, but whether it was excitement or fear could not be said. She did not back down. “If it makes me want to hurt people, I’m not sure I want that kind of power anymore!” Her expression hardened, “Just look what you did to Kilo! He’s your friend, isn’t he?” Arkius tilted his head. "Friend? Kilo is a machine, Katrin. To have called it an 'ally' was generous, but assigning monikers of emotional attachment to a machine is utterly delusional. Besides, its programming is obviously far too faulty to serve our cause any longer. Clearly the eradication of those prototypes was the sensible course of action after all." “I don’t believe that for a second! He can think and talk and make decisions just like anyone else!” Kat rebuked. Arkius sighed, “Most disappointing, I had expected more rationality from a Toa of your caliber. It seems you don’t yet understand, but I believe you can... and will, once I have ensured you and Jutori are rightfully bestowed this boon. You should be thanking me, Katrin! This boon, this ascension, it is a great honor!” He took a step forward, “We simply require the disc that machine has erroneously withheld from its rightful bearers.” Arkius opened his mouth to speak more, but was suddenly flung bodily away from the group toward the far wall. Jutori had managed to use his element, breaking the Toa of Earth’s concentration long enough to be freed from his prison. The Ba-Toa radiated with power and a cold anger crept into his voice as he finally spoke, “You know, Kilo and I didn’t trust you. Maybe it calculated something like this would happen all along.” He held his hammer like he was prepared to swing at the Toa of Earth. “It’s not very Toa-like of me, Arkius...but if you take so much as another step toward it, I’ll end you.” The Earthen Toa grit his teeth and rose to his feet, glaring at Jutori with an intense expression, before it twisted into an amused grin. "Good… More and more you are learning how to utilise the power you possess. Your attitude may need some adjusting, but I was right, you are worthy to be bestowed this boon." Arkius stood up straight, the earth churning at his feet. “You only seem to know how to abuse your power!” Kat said, stepping forward, her arms folded. She had a strange expression on her face, a mix of anger and pity. "I only use them for what must be done. Now, stand aside, and I will relieve that hunk of scrap metal of the disk." The temperature of the room had slowly been increasing as the argument had continued, but now it suddenly flared, and Kat took one final, defiant step forward, a step that seemed larger than life, seemed to be too big for a Toa of Kat’s size. “No.” Jutori took the proactive approach, leaping forward and swinging his hammer towards the Toa of Earth’s midsection. “You will do no such thing!” Jutori's attack, broadcasted as it was, met with a wall of soil that robbed it of its momentum, before it crumbled to reveal Arkius throwing a mean right hook aimed for his gut. With little time to defend himself, Jutori took the blow, feeling the wind knocked out of him. He stumbled back, attempting to draw breath again. Kat stepped in, just as quickly taking Jutori’s place, her trained speed far outpacing the other Toa’s, and she snapped a kick toward Arkius’s head, a burst of fire from her leg propelling it to even greater speed. Arkius barely managed to get his arm up in time to block, assisted by his mask, though the strike still knocked him sideways and off balance briefly before he managed to turn with the attack, using the momentum to plant a fist squarely in Kat’s side. His attack met nothing but air, Kat herself had unleashed a second burst of flame to reverse her kick, pivoting away from a counter she’d been expecting, and Arkius caught sight of her again just as she threw him the opposite direction with a second powerful kick to the other side of his head. He stumbled, the solid blow throwing stars before his vision for a moment. The Toa of Earth grunted, quickly regaining his composure as he straightened, bringing his own rippling arms up defensively. A low, rumbling chuckle escaped his lips. “Very well.” Jutori grimaced, catching his breath after the short moment had passed. Kat was fast, way fast. He wasn’t trained like she was, but she’d managed a pretty solid looking hit on Arkius, maybe together they could stop him. There was no time to think about alternatives, and the Toa of Gravity grit his teeth, and let his element flow through the head of his hammer, making it lighter as he dashed in once more, and began to swing, making it heavier as it came for Arkius torso once more. The Nuva of Earth stepped back, letting the hammer fall through empty air, and pulled the earth beneath Jutori’s feet out from under him, causing the Ba-Toa to fall over after his overextension. Kat came for him next, a spinning axe kick that trailed fire. Arkius raised a fist and with it, a column of earth shot upward, meeting the Toa of Fire. Kat tried to use her fire to power through the attack, but it overwhelmed her, and she was thrown back, turning back over once in the air and landing on her feet on the other side of the Nuva machine. She’d barely touched the surface before she was moving again, vaulting over the Machine and pushing off of it, launching herself at the Toa of Earth, fist full of fire. She swung, too early? No, Arkius realized her plan a split second after she threw her arm down, a burst of flame threw Kat up and over Arkius, and another accelerated her leg around, catching him in the small of the back, sending him staggering forward. Her speed was quickly becoming a nuisance, and Arkius used his Calix abilities to regain his feet and throw a kick backward of his own, catching Kat in the chest as she dashed in to continue her own attack. Kat staggered backward, the wind knocked liberally from her. Arkius was strong. Super strong! Her Spirit flared brighter. She really could afford to let loose a little here! That was kind of exciting! Jutori meanwhile took the opportunity to at last land a hit of his own while Arkius focused on Kat, planting the head of his hammer in Arkius’ gut. The Nuva of Earth doubled over, pain roaring through his abdomen. He growled, reaching out to seize the Ba-Toa, when his arm doubled in weight, nearly dragging him to the ground. His other arm soon followed suit, and it spread to his whole body, the Earthen Toa struggling to remain upright with gravity suddenly pulling him down with greater force. Jutori’s emerald optics blazed with a righteous fury. The hammer came around once more, and this time, Arkius felt something creak. He fell, hard, and that creak was replaced with a dull crunch as something broke. Pain forced its way into his brain, and with it, rage. Jutori had broken a rib with that attack. The Toa of Gravity wouldn’t be one to admit it, but he felt satisfaction at having a hit connect with Arkius. “I don’t know what fantasies you had of us serving under you after receiving this power, but they won’t be happeni-" Jutori's words were cut off suddenly as the large hands of the Earth Toa wrapped around his ankles before lifting him up, swinging him overhead, and slamming him into the ground, leaving a distinctly Jutori-shaped crater in the floor. The Ba-Toa let out a wheeze of pain. Off to the side of the fighting, lying against one of the room’s earthen walls, green eyes slowly began to glow once more. Critical damage sustained. Performing diagnostics. Mechanical fingers began to twitch, the movement dislodging the earth that still rested on the metallic surface. Cannot detect rear legs and tail. Front legs unresponsive. Arms are functional. The machine slowly rotated its now dented cranial unit, the neck joint creaking from the effort. Observing situation. Allies Kat and Jutori are in need of assistance. This unit cannot provide assistance in current state. Considering options... Kat moved in behind Arkius, her arms slipping under his, then up and behind his neck, and she pulled him down and back, trying to use his height against him, "Arkius, stop it!" What she got in response was a sudden and heavy blow to her gut, knocking her off him and to her knees from the force. She clutched her stomach, confused for a moment. Until she looked up at Arkius. As she beheld his form, she saw clear evidence of the earth having crawled up his form before coalescing into a blunt spike that had shot out from his back, though before she had any further time to contemplate this, the Earth Toa had turned around to face her with an enraged expression, reaching for his axe off his back. “Enough games. Stay down or you’re joining the robot, and then I’ll just have to find someone else to receive the boon.” The earth churned around both Jutori and Kat, and they could both feel it start to grasp at them, pulling them down, while Arkius began striding toward the downed Kilo. Energy containment blast unavailable. Melee combat abilities are currently limited. Weakness discs will not disable target. Searching for additional options... Earth crept up around Kat's limbs, grains of soil moving like ants across her body. She frowned. This was not the way Toa were supposed to act. Toa did not use their powers to hurt their friends. Her spirit burned with righteous fury. She had trusted the Toa of Earth, and he had gone too far. The air around her wavered with heat radiating from her. Power bubbled from within, and all at once she let it free with a shout, an explosion of fire freeing her momentarily. She threw her arms forward, wrists together, palms out, with her fingers arched. A roiling ball of white hot flame appeared between her hands. 'No more games,' Arkius had said. Kat agreed with that. The heat that had been building in the room suddenly vanished, pulled into the ball of Flame that Kat held. And then she let it go. "DRAGON FLARE!" The attack tore across the chamber, headed for the Nuva of Earth. Arkius turned around upon the Fire Toa freeing herself, his grimace deepening as he saw her prepare her attack, before promptly it went off. In response, Arkius quickly raised a wedge of earth that intercepted the blast, splitting the raging beam in two. Even then, the rushed defensive structure quickly disintegrated from the assault, leaving a trail of dust and smoke in the wake of the blast as it traveled past, leaving two large scorch marks in the far wall of the chamber. With no Arkius in sight. Kat only had a second to wonder where he’d disappeared to before a powerful chop to the back of the neck took her out of action, sending her to the ground. With the two toa dealt with, Arkius once more began to advance on the downed Kilo, his singular pale emerald eye fixated on him with an intense expression of loathing. ...Spear of Fusion is within reach. Calculating projectile vectors. Targeting Toa Arkius... But before Kilo could fire the beam, Arkius was upon him, grabbing the spear by the haft and moving it to point away while he loomed over the mechanical enforcer. For a moment, he glared, holding the spear aside with one hand while he raised his axe with the other. Then his eye turned a familiar vibrant green, his expression changed from rage and loathing to a calm one, and his hand turned the spear to point at him again. “Do it.” This unit wants Ally Arkius back. Firing defusion beam. Simultaneously, the will of Kilo and Arkius commanded the spear’s beam, striking the Earth Toa’s chest and permeating throughout his entire form. A translucent glowing silhouette emerged from his back as his entire form became engulfed in an unsettling radiance, the silhouette slowly solidifying into a being while the glowing form of Arkius dimmed again, and the newly manifested being fell back to the ground behind him. Arkius opened the eye he had sparsely seen through since a month ago. Looking around, he realised that he was looking through not one but two eyes, through which he gazed up at the black ceiling above him before they swiftly trailed down to the looming form standing over Kilo. With a quick exhale of exertion, he got on his feet, and leapt forth. Arkius tried to open the eye he had sparsely seen through before a month ago, but quickly realised he couldn’t. Having dropped both the spear and his axe, he reached up to his eyes and found that behind his mask he had none. Then someone grabbed him from behind. Arkius’ expression twisted into fury, but before he could do anything, the other Arkius, who realised at this point he was smaller than before, proceeded to suplex the larger one, flinging him up and over and into the ground behind him, the eyeless Arkius grunting with pain and rolling over on the ground. The smaller Arkius, with his two vibrant green eyes, swiftly got up again and stepped over to Kilo, reaching a hand down to the mangled machine, an expression of concern on his maskless face. His form was clad in almost pure black armour, only his exposed facial features displaying a grey metallic hue, albeit with lingering hints of the Calix he'd once worn. Jutori climbed to his feet, his armor more worse for wear and a headache pinging the back of his skull, but still alive. For a moment, he thought he’d hit his head much harder, because now he was seeing double. Before him was a pair of Arkiuses (Arki?) in the room. “What...in karzahni…?” Concerned for Kilo, he stumbled over to the Kralhi and the Arkius approaching it, pointing his sledgehammer at the Toa. Now closer, he was able to take in the differences. Both optics intact, a maskless face, pure black armour… this was a new man entirely. Jutori lowered his weapon, resting the head of the sledgehammer against the floor as he leaned on it for support, looking closer at the double. “Arkius?” Arkius and Jutori’s mechanical ally propped its rapidly deteriorating body up on the Spear of Fusion and looked up into the eyes of the newly recovered Toa. “Welcome back, Ally Arkius,” it said weakly. It politely waved the Earth Toa’s hand away before responding to Jutori. “Spear of Fusion usage was successful. Enemy Arkius remains a threat. Allies Jutori and Arkius, work together to stall his advance; this unit will activate the device.” So saying, the damaged machine began dragging itself along the ground using the tip of the Spear. “D-don’t count me out just yet….” Kat managed, struggling to her feet. By now, the enemy Arkius had managed to orient himself, his palm on the ground as he took in all the information his earth senses could afford him. Ally Arkius turned around, suspecting what his counterpart was doing. "Be aware… he may not have eyes, but he can still see u-" Enemy Arkius rose to his feet swiftly and suddenly, and with an upward swing of his fist, an earthen boulder flew out of the floor and at the ally Arkius, who raised his hands to affect the earth… only for nothing to happen, the boulder hitting him square in the chest and sending him flying into the wall on the other side of the chamber. Jutori ran to the side of ally Arkius, still somewhat confused by the situation. “Your element,” he said. “You couldn’t stop his attack. Have you lost your connection…?” The ally Arkius groaned, holding his chest with a wince before looking at Jutori, a worried expression on his features as he propped himself up against the wall. “I… I don’t know… I tried to use my power, but… I can’t feel it there any more.” Meanwhile, the enemy Arkius had bent the earth to bring his axe to himself, which he hefted with a vicious scowl on his eyeless features. "You will ALL DIE for this! And it will not end there! For your treason, ALL YOUR PEOPLE SHALL SUFFER!" "You aren't worthy of being a Toa!" Kat shouted in response, having taken to the air, and punctuating her declaration with a devastating spinning kick to his face. But the enemy Arkius was ready. Robbed of his sight, he used his sense of earth. He felt the Toa of fire push away from the earth, heard her position as she cried out, and he knew which direction the Fire Toa was coming from, and conjured an arch of earth to intercept her, before exploding the arch apart with force, the immense Earth Toa bulldozing through the rubble to swing his axe at her. A new burst of fire changed her trajectory mid air, shunting the Toa of Fire sideways in the air, the axe swing passing dangerously close to her face, and she swung her other foot for all she could give at Arkius' arm, hoping to either do some damage, or at the very least disarm him. The kick connected, knocking the axe out of the enemy Arkius’ hand, who growled angrily, before raising his arms into the air as if he was pulling something up with great effort. Immediately it became apparent what he was doing, as the ground around him and Kat loosened into dust and sand, which whirled up and around them until they were both inside a small sandstorm, with Arkius in the eye of it, and visibility utterly cut off within it area. With the earth in the air, Arkius could see everything, and so he leapt forth at the blinded Kat, bringing his fist in for a vicious strike to her head. With no wind to drive the sandstorm, Kat could still hear, but more importantly, she could still feel Arkius coming. His blood ran hot with the pitch of battle, and his breath warmed the air. She was not new to fighting blind, but the stinging grit of sand took her by surprise momentarily, her guard came up a fraction of a second too late, and she was sent careening out of the storm, stars exploding before her vision as pain lanced through her cranium. Her vision swam for a moment, before she recovered, shaking her head to clear it. Arkius, the one they were fighting, anyway, was literally in his element here. They needed an equaliser. She grimaced. Would her master approve of her plan? It would only be for a little bit, and then she would stop the technique. Surely that would be okay? She didn't see many other options. "Hold him!" She cried, assuming a strange stance. Her hands placed above and below her heart light, palms facing each other. Jutori turned his attention to the two opponents. With the other Arkius still inside the sandstorm, and Kat apparently cooking something up, the battered Toa of Gravity focused his element onto the location of enemy Arkius. He increased the gravity around the Toa of Earth greatly, to the point it was putting a strain on Jutori. “Do your...thing...any time, now…!” he said. The world faded away for Katrin, as she closed her eyes and she stretched out with her senses. The sun, far above. The volcanoes. The magma deep below. The scorch of lightning. The rage of wildfires. The safety of a campfire, the heat of a warm sandy beach, the heart of a forge. She called out to them all. And then, she called for the Dragon. And it answered with a roar. Around her, the air shimmered and warmed and the heat turned the chamber into a veritable oven as power rose from within. Kat opened her eyes, brought her hands together over her heartlight, and spoke. "Forbidden Technique: Wrath of the Dragon." Flames blossomed across her body, an aura of fire wrapped around her entire form until within the inferno, all that could be seen was a silhouette, and the three gleaming lights that were her eyes and heart light. She exploded into movement, the ground scorched with every footprint, and she leapt at Arkius, now revealed from the immense pressure bearing down on him and his storm, and unleashed a furious flurry of blows to his torso, pushing him back with each attack, an unrelenting barrage of pain that she capped off with a flame assisted haymaker to his eyeless face. But… As the dust cleared from the assault, Kat found her fist clasped firmly in Arkius' palm, a dense, muddy soil keeping the flames from burning him. Her eyes widened in shock. Protected by the muddy layer he’d surrounded himself in and holding Kat’s fist in a vice grip, Arkius began his counter assault, his fist flying forward into her gut, throat, and face in rapid succession and repetition. Kat avoided or blocked the most dangerous of these as best she could, though the close proximity ensured she did not escape unscathed. When an opening presented itself as Arkius pulled back for another attack, Kat struck, throwing herself forward with a headbutt to the other Toa’s face, and unleashed a blast of fire from her mouth for good measure, only for Arkius to grasp her mouth shut with his free hand and knee her in the gut. Her aura of flame wavered, then disappeared. As the fighting continued, the damaged automaton continued its journey. Behind it were several sprockets that had fallen loose from the gap where its rear torso was attached as well as a trail of important-looking liquid that slowly trickled from its chassis. Despite being packed down the earth that made up the floor was easy to stab the Spear into to force it ever closer to its destination. Finally the machine was within reach of the NUVA device. Retrieving disc 619 from storage. Jutori watched the two fight, unsure of what he could do, and feeling spent from using his element. He looked to the ally Arkius. “Your other self is wiping the floor with us,” the Ba-Toa said. “We have to do something, have to help out Kat...any ideas? He’s basically you, you should know your own weaknesses.” The ally Arkius frowned in response, looking briefly at Jutori with a mild glare. “He’s not… I’m... “ His glare faded into a worried expression as he looked at his counterpart laying into Kat. “I would, but he’d know them better than me and account for them... We have to distract him. Do it at a distance if you can. As for me…” Ally Arkius charged in with the enemy Arkius cocking his head slightly, briefly pausing his assault on Kat upon noticing his counterpart’s approach. An earthen pillar shot out of the ground and toward the ally Arkius’ gut, only for him to vault over it as if he’d expected it, ducking away from a chunk of earth thrown his way a moment later. Kat threw one last flame boosted punch with her free hand, nearly knocking Arkius’ mask askew. He snarled in pain, but that pain brought him from his blind rage. Now he sensed how close Kilo was to the machine. He could not reach it in time, but he didn’t have to. With a roar, he yelled, “NO!!!” before he forcefully lifted Katrin up and threw her with great force at Kilo, just as the mechanical enforcer was about to insert the disk into the mechanism. The ally Arkius leapt forward, tackled the enemy Arkius, who toppled, already off balance from the throw. He was far from helpless however, and brought both fists down into his counterpart’s back in response in a hammer blow, and although the ally Arkius did not budge from the assault, he did cry out in pain. The larger of the two Onu-Toa stood, the new Arkius trying desperately to keep his darker counterpart from advancing. Summoning what little elemental strength he had left, Jutori brought down the gravity around the enemy Arkius once more, closing his optics and focusing all he had into pulling the Onu-Toa into the floor. Arkius took a step. Then two. His eyeless face twisted with rage as he struggled to fight gravity's inexorable pull upon him with his own unnatural strength, while the ally Arkius grappled against him to limited avail. But it was too late. With a click, that seemed to echo through the chamber, Kilo at last slotted the Onu-Metru Great Disc into the machine, just before Kat could hit the mechanical enforcer. @Eyru@Tarn@The UltimoScorp@pokemonlover360

Profile port of Zadred Name: Zadred Breed: Skakdi of Plantlife Faction: Refugees Brief Description: Diminutive for a Skakdi, standing between a head below the average Toa, Zadred cuts out a meagre frame. With a teal and muted lime colour scheme, and two amber eyes staring out of her sockets, she's about as frail in stature as a twig, and about as likely to break as one from the look of her. Background/Occupation: Life on Zakaz was never easy for Zadred. Being a veritable runt of her litter, she was pushed around, bullied, and at times even beaten up by her fellow Skakdi, to the point where she became withdrawn and meek, seeking out isolation wherever she could find it, until one day she ran away. Eventually she found Xane, a Skakdi with a vision of a better Zakaz, one which she desperately desired. Joining him, she ventured to Metru-Nui on their ship, where upon the Cataclysm's arrival they were separated, with her waking up in a strange new land. From there, she eventually found her way to Metru-Koro, where she took up tending to crops and other flora in the settlement. A week later, she agreed to explore the island with Atamai and the Odd Company, traveling with them to the ruins of an old Skakdi fort where they retrieved several tools and vehicles, and later to the Ruins of Stone. There she stayed behind to study its construction and the surrounding environment while the Odd Company moved on to Po-Koro, eventually welcoming Atamai back who had brought a box of Great Disks with him. Directing Atamai to Po-Koro, she once more stayed behind, guarding Atamai's box while he sought out the Odd Company, bringing them back along with the survivors of Po-Koro who went on to establish the settlement of Todbuk-Koro, which she helped establish and grow food for. Flaws: Zadred is a pacifist by nature, abhorring violence of any kind and becoming withdrawn upon any display of it. Her traumatic early life left a permanent scar on her psyche, where a more ferocious self lies boiling under her surface waiting for the right stressors to break her and let her loose, something not even she is truly aware of but is subconsciously terrified of. As a result of her pacifistic nature, she has no combat experience what so ever, nor is she willing to fight, running away from any combat where she can or curling up in fear when trapped. Powers/Equipment: Zadred has the element of plantlife, an element she cannot access unless in conjunction with another Skakdi, or through use of her staff which allows her to channel her plantlife powers. Her vision power is one of telescopic sight, whereupon she can see things far in the distance as far as the horizon allows her, which as allowed her to evade threats throughout her life when on her lonesome. Her tertiary power is one she prefers never to use, as it allows her to turn things she touches into explosives where the amount of mass determines the size of the explosion. She has a staff which allows her to channel her element, a metallic staff of sturdy make that has many utilities outside of combat. Demoting Ardoku to Fighter MC Name: Ardoku Breed: Toa of Plasma Faction: Refugees Brief Description: Ardoku is a rather gangly toa, standing at average height, with white armour and an orange secondary colour. His white cracked Hau looks remarkably more battle worn and damaged than the rest of his armour which looks almost new. Behind that mask stare vibrant blue eyes with an ever uncertain look to them, yet even then, a strong resolve shines through. Looking closely, one might notice the slight green in the blue of his eyes. Role: Fighter, protecting Todbuk-Koro Background: Toa Ardoku woke up in the desert of Zakaz with no memory of who he is or how he got there, remembering only the name Ardoku which he figured was his own. The only things he had on him upon waking up were a white sword with a hollow fuller running up the entirety of its blade, and the strange cracked mask he wears, from which he could glean little to nothing of who he is or his current circumstances. Since then he's slowly been regaining his memories, a fragment here and there of a life he feels distant from. Sticking around in Todbuk-Koro, Ardoku has provided the village with protection using his reflexive skills as a swordsman. Flaws: One month ago, Ardoku woke up with no memory of who he was. Since then, he's slowly been regaining snippets of his memories, though there's still many concepts he has a hard time grasping and is occasionally tripped up by things others take for granted. He is also, as a result, somewhat naïve, relatively easy to deceive and manipulate. He consistently feels a sharp pain shoot through his right arm, powerful enough to throw him off physically, which means that although he is more skilled in wielding the sword in that hand, it is more reliable for him to wield it with the left hand which does not suffer the same surges of pain. Powers/Equipment: Ardoku currently possesses the muscle memory of an expert swordsman, allowing him to wield his sword defensively and offensively with expertise. Though he is impeccable wielding it in his right hand, he also possesses great skill in his left, albeit not to the same extent. His only equipment is a white sword with a hollow fuller up the entire blade, and a cracked and powerless Hau that otherwise provides the benefits of a Kanohi mask. As a Toa of Plasma, Ardoku is resistant to extremely high temperatures, and his eyes are naturally protected against bright light. He has, as of yet, been unable to utilise his element, still unable to recall how he did so before he lost his memories.

IC: Iradra - Kini-Koro Iradra nodded and resumed her hurried walk with the matoran guard down the path leading out of Kini-Koro, expecting Vashni to follow. Along the way down to the lake, she spotted a being sitting at a desk of what she recognised to be hardlight, busy writing something down. "Intriguing..." @Snelly@Kal the Guardian

IC: Okuo - Metru-Koro Okuo raised his eyebrows. The Ark. The launch. Triage asked an obvious question, though Okuo thought of a more personal inquiry. "Do you happen to know a Turaga by the name Klawne? She's another native to this land." @Harvali@Tarn IC: Iradra - Kini-Koro Iradra sighed and shrugged. "Did you know of an outpost of afflicted matoran by the Ice Ruins designated Ko-Pou? Apparently information does not spread as easily in Kini-Koro as I would have liked, this is the first I'm hearing about it. I suspect the afflicted are dealing with Hordika mutations of some kind." @Snelly

IC: Okuo - Metru-Koro Okuo turned around, surprised. He hadn't expected to run into anyone else in the village, though he supposed it made sense that stragglers might seek refuge in the less destroyed sections of the ruins, especially since parts had been repaired before the eventual evacuation. "Er, I suppose you could say that. The population was evacuated though, we're just here on an investigation. I am Okuo, by the way. Who might you be?" @Harvali@Tarn IC: Iradra - Kini-Koro Iradra perked up as a matoran came running to her hut, looking out of breath and in a hurry. "Toa Iradra, you're- guh- urgently needed- huff- at the Ko-Pou outpost."Iradra cocked her head, looking at the matoran, guard she realised, with confusion. "Ko-Pou outpost? Where is that?" The matoran was befuddled. "Wh-what do you mean where? Haven't you heard? It's the outpost by the Ice Ruins, where the afflicted from Metru-Koro are being treated. Come on!" Iradra's confusion turned to concern as she stood up to follow the matoran, grabbing her staff and setting off after him. "An affliction? What kind of affliction??" There was a desparate tone to her voice as she assumed the worst. The matoran seemed slightly startled at the intensity in Iradra's voice, but quickly regained his composure as they made their way down the path leading through the village. "Th-the afflicted have been... transformed... into rahi-like forms, and seem to have regressed behaviourally into ones as well... I guess... turned into rahi wouldn't be inaccurate. Though Toa Okuo, with his mask, seems able to communicate with them." Iradra relaxed slightly. This was a different affliction. Not a resurgence of her own. She sighed, taking in the information she'd been provided. Matoran turned into Rahi... That sounded vaguely familiar. "Did they develop a Rhotuka launcher? The matoran's eyes flew wide open in response. "Y-yes! They did! Do you know what it is that ails them??" Iradra nodded, stroking her chin thoughtfully. "I have my suspicions... It's unfortunate I hadn't been notified of this sooner, I might be able to help." At that moment, the familiar figure of Vashni came hoverbiking by, Iradra raising her hand in greeting. "Oh, Vashni, hello!" @Snelly

IC: Okuo - Metru-Koro Watching as the silhouette of the airship slowly shrank against the sky, Okuo eventually turned to Triage, before looking behind him down the street leading to the familiar abandoned abode. "Right then... suppose we should get back to checking out Vhisola's house." He said, turning fully to start approaching the building, his eyes peeled and his analytical software in full swing on his HUD as he took everything in. Last time he'd been here he'd had enough on his mind, too distracted to pay attention to his surroundings. This time would be different... He hoped it would be different. @Vezok's Friend@Tarn

IC: Okuo - Ko-Pou Shelter Okuo nodded to Tuyet and Exuze, giving a wary glance with a hint of appreciation to Xaril, before turning back to Tuyet. "Just... don't go getting yourself killed either, alright?" With that, he disembarked from the airship, turning around to watch it off before he'd return to the investigative task at hand. @Unreliable Narrator@Nato the Traveler@BULiK@Tarn

IC: Okuo - Metru-Koro "Wh- I... I can't go to Metru-Nui! I have... dinner to cook!" He said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly while frowning. "Listen, it's been... interesting to catch up again, really, but I have other responsibilities now, and I can't just shirk those to go gallivanting off to a sinking city on the off chance that the double-triple traitor running things there might lend some vahki to a cause even I barely know what is any more. This has already been enough of a distraction, and I need to get back to investigating this ghost town before I end up having to go back empty handed." @Unreliable Narrator@Tarn@BULiK@Nato the Traveler

IC: Okuo - Metru-Koro "I can get back to Ko-Pou almost instantly, get another bike from there and come back here." He said, pulling the teleporting dagger out though holding it in a non-threatening manner, inspecting it. "Each of those can carry two people, so it should be enough, and we can get out of handprint's hair." @Unreliable Narrator@Tarn@BULiK@Nato the Traveler

IC: Okuo - Metru-Koro Okuo sighed and nodded, looking down. "Sorry, just... trying to figure out where to go from here." He rubbed the back of his neck, a ponderous look on his features as he seemed to look through the floor in front of him @Unreliable Narrator@Tarn@BULiK@Nato the Traveler

IC: Okuo - Metru-Koro Okuo leaned back against the bulkhead behind him, sighing and closing his eyes. All that strife, repairing the machine, putting the disks together, sending Tuyet on her way, none of it had helped. The timeline, a paradox, was still collapsing. Timelines... He was reminded of what he'd heard of that Nuju guy in Kini-Nui, with his portal and talk of universes and makoki stones or whatever they were called. A distant beach or something... no, wasn't it... the Far coast? Bay? Shore? The Far Shore. Yes, that sounded right. Perhaps that was connected. Perhaps there was still something that could be done. "Tuyet... you know anything about Nuju and the Far Shore?" @Unreliable Narrator@Tarn@BULiK@Nato the Traveler

IC: Okuo - Ko-Pou Shelter "What happened to you? Or the plan to repair the collapsing paradox or whatever it was you were going to do?" Okuo had an expression that was a mixture of disbelief and bittersweet elation as he looked the wayward toa over. "World didn't stop falling apart after you disappeared, so..." @Unreliable Narrator@Tarn@Nato the Traveler@BULiK

IC: Okuo - Metru-Koro Okuo could hardly believe his eyes and ears as he recognised the toa before him. A toa he had last seen over a month ago, moments after he'd been turned into one himself, a toa he'd helped with fixing a machine before seeing her vanish. Just moments before the world came to a harrowing end. "... Tuyet?" @Unreliable Narrator@Tarn@BULiK@Nato the Traveler

IC: Okuo - Metru-Koro ruins Okuo nodded to Xaril appreciatively, wordlessly following Triage onboard, looking with curiosity into the ship to see who the patient could be. @Unreliable Narrator@Tarn@BULiK@Nato the Traveler

IC: Okuo - Metru-Koro ruins Okuo nodded determinedly before looking in the direction of the approaching airship, his hand slipping back to his side. "Couldn't have gotten through this last month without your help." @Tarn

IC: Okuo - Metru-Koro ruins Okuo placed a hand on Triage's shoulder. "Hey, you've got me there with you in that case, alright? I'm not letting no Leaguers kidnap you, and that's a promise." @Tarn

IC: Okuo - Metru-Koro ruins Okuo turned to Triage with wide eyes before worriedly knitting his brows. "They have injured onboard? And they specifically called for you from Ko -Pou... But how did they know to do that?" @Tarn

IC: Arkius - Ruins of Earth With his triumphant mood sullied by Kilo's interruption, Arkius did little other than grunt in acknowledgement before making his way, he assumed, deeper into the temple.

IC: Okuo - Metru-Koro ruins "Yeah... Vhisola's hut. As good a place as any I suppose. Would be nice to give it a lookover with fresh eyes." Okuo clicked a button on the side of his mask, the HUD springing to life before his eyes, and with a few swipes and gestures, his software began recording and analysing what he saw while the two of them made their way to the abandoned hut of the former blogger. @Vezok's Friend@Tarn IC: Arkius - Ruins of Earth Following Kat and Jutori's descent through the hole, a small platform of earth formed in the middle, filling almost completely into the hole except for a slight gap all the way around. Arkius stepped on, and subsequently the platform lowered down into the mirrored room, before floating over to the door carrying Arkius on top of it, the Earthen Toa standing proud with his arms folded in front of him and a cocky smirk on his mask's hau-like features. @Eyru@Tarn@pokemonlover360@The UltimoScorp

IC: Arkius - Ruins of Earth Arkius smirked, stepping back toward the wall. "Have a go at it then." @Eyru@The UltimoScorp@pokemonlover360@Tarn

IC: Arkius - Ruins of Earth Arkius grinned wide ripping his weapon out of the floor. "It's not a mirror! The floor is transparent!" @Eyru@The UltimoScorp@Tarn@pokemonlover360

IC: Arkius - Ruins of Earth Arkius strode out into the center of the chamber, a thoughtful expression on his face. Kneeling down, he placed his palm on the reflective floor... reflective. Was it? Standing up, Arkius retrieved his axe off his back, orienting the spike to face forward in his grip before he brought it down with all his might. @Eyru@The UltimoScorp@Tarn@pokemonlover360

IC: Okuo - Metru-Koro ruins Finally, the bike came to a halt on the outskirts of the abandoned village, with Okuo stepping off the bike and taking the key out of its ignition. Taking a couple steps away from the vehicle, he surveyed the ruins of the former settlement, taking it all in and pondering. "Alright... where to start first?" @Vezok's Friend@Tarn IC: Arkius - Ruins of Earth "Very well, might as well try the simplest solution first." Arkius said, walking to one of the wheels and placing his hands on it, preparing to turn it. @Eyru@The UltimoScorp@pokemonlover360

IC: Iradra - Kini-Nui Settlement "It was a month ago when he first told me, though at the time my mind couldn't process its implications. Only after our... retreat... from the Coliseum, when he and I spoke further, did all of it start to click into place. I would recount what he told me, but I'm sure he'd be able to summarise it far more eloquently than I with my second-hand account of what he witnessed. But the implications are clear enough. Mata-Nui stands in direct opposition to free will. He was responsible for the dead walking, and if given the chance, He would do the same to us all." Vulimai's scrutinizing gaze was met by Iradra's own intense look, though her expression remained reserved if not coloured by the intensity in her eyes. @Sparticus147

IC: Arkius - Ruins of Earth "Do us a favor and turn off your vocal synthesizer until you're spoken to, Ally Kilo." Arkius said with barely contained vitriol, the sarcasm practically dripping off the last two words like molten tar. @pokemonlover360@Tarn@The UltimoScorp@Eyru IC: Okuo - To Metru-Koro Taking one of the larger bikes parked at Ko-Pou, the two toa sped off toward the abandoned village, with Okuo grateful for the heatstone Triage had provided. Eventually, they crossed the boundary from the snowy mountains of Ko-Pou and the Ice Ruins, into the sparsely grassy plains and hills of the formerly populated Metru-Koro in the north. All the while, Okuo kept an eye on the red ship headed in the same direction, dread spreading over his Rau features. "I really hope this doesn't get messy... Last thing we need right now is another conflict with the League." @Tarn