X-Ray

Chapter 28(The Toa Nuva, the Toa Mahri, and the Toa Hagah are all standing on the southern-most edge of Le-Metru, waiting for the Dark Hunters to come)Lewa: Onua-man, you sure this plan will quick-work?Onua: Absolutely. If I know the Shadowed One, he’d never pass up a challenge like this.Lewa: Great-good! …You do know the Shadowed One, right-yes?Onua: Uh, no, not really. I’ve only met the guy once, and read about him, so, yeah, this plan is basically a shot in the dark.Lewa: Ha-ha! Shot in the dark!Tahu: Huh?Lewa: Get it? Shot in the dark? Dark hunters?Tahu: Yeah, right.(Meanwhile, the Shadowed One’s fleet is just arriving in Metru Nui’s dome. TSO is on the bridge of his flagship, the Darkzilla)TSO: Okay, crew, we’re almost to Metru Nui, and we’re going to sack it. Here’s the plan of attack-(Suddenly, a Gukko bird flies overhead and drops a bottle with a note stuck in it onto TSO’s head, causing it to shatter)TSO: Ouch! Wait, what’s this?Lariska: It appears to be a note, sir.TSO: Let’s see what it says. “Dear TSO. I, Onua Nuva, challenge you to a rap battle for the fate of Metru Nui. Why have a bloody battle in which dozens on both sides would surely die, instead of an honest challenge like this? Signed, Onua Nuva, Toa Nuva of Earth, and the Toa Nuva, Toa Mahri, Toa Hagah, and Turaga.”Lariska: You’re not really going to consider this stupid challenge are you?TSO: Stupid? This is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for my entire life! That rap video may have been embarrassing, but once my rapping skill wins me Metru Nui, everyone will take me seriously!Lariska: Good grief. Hey, Ancient, get a load of this.Ancient: What?Lariska: The boss just accepted the Toa’s challenge to a rap battle.Ancient: Huh? Wow, uh, weird. Um, I have to go to the little boy’s room. (Leaves to a deserted corner of the Darkzilla, pulls out cellphone disguised as a fork) Hello? Helryx? Yeah, this is Ancient. The Toa have just challenged TSO to a rap battle. I figure this should buy us some time until our forces can arrive and the Hero Factory units can assemble their forces. … Wait, what? … Okay, you got it. I’ll keep an eye out for him. … Uh huh. … Okay, bye.(Back on Metru Nui, the Darkzilla has arrived at the southern tip of Le-Metru, flanked by two other ships. TSO leaves his ship with Sentrakh and Lariska flanking him)TSO: Okay, which one of you is Onua Nuva?Onua: Um… I’m da man, yo!TSO: Okay then. Shall we move to the Coliseum where all may witness your humiliation?Onua: You’re the one whose gonna be humiliated, punk!TSO: We shall see.Tahu: You sure you got this, Onua?Onua: I didn’t listen to all those rap CDs for nothing, brother. Let’s have at it!(In the Coliseum, hundreds of Matoran and Dark Hunters have assembled to watch Onua and TSO’s rap battle. Turaga Dume is the referee)Turaga Dume: Ladies and Gentlemen, Matoran and Dark Hunters, I welcome you to the Toa-Dark Hunter Rap Battle! In the right corner, in the black armor, is the orifice of Onu-Metru, the Toa Nuva of Earth, and amateur rap master, and the home player, Onua Nuva!(All of the Matoran cheer, while the Dark Hunters boo)Turaga Dume: And in this corner, in black and yellow armor, the mouth of the south, amateur rapper supreme, the new favorite and the away player, the Shadowed One!(All of the Dark Hunters cheer and whistle, while the Matoran boo)Turaga Dume: The rules are that you must keep a continuous line of rapping for five minutes, after which the audience will vote to decide who won. Should either of you slip up on a rhyme, the battle will be automatically over, and the other person will be the winner by default. Let the rap battle begin! Onua, being the home player, gets to go first!Onua: Ahem. Yo, I’m Onua Nuva, I’m a Toa-HeroI’ve got black armor, and I’m cool from the get goI’m strong, powerful, and best of allI’m the wisest of the Toa, though I’m not too tall.TSO: Your rapping sucks, I’ll tell you that nowYou call this a battle? You fight like a cow!I’m the Shadowed One, second to none!You can consider this battle over and done!Audience: Oooohhh…Onua: You think I’m a bad rapper? Well, let me set the record straight.I’ll win this battle that decides my city’s fate.You think you’re so great? Well, think again!This battle is mine, but it’s your lion’s den!TSO: But the thing about that den is that Daniel did escape.I’m the same way, but I won’t just run- I’ll dominate!The Dark Hunters are my homies, they’ve got skills.We’ll do any dirty work, so long as it pays the bills!Onua: I’ve got a team too, they’re the Toa Nuva!We gather all around, hold our meetings at our Suva!We protect Metru Nui from any threat at all!You and your hunters? Their just the next ones to fall!TSO: Oh, I’m so scared, oh wait, I’m not!I deal out fear, that’s my life’s lot!While you were stuck in a stupid metal tubeI was taking names while I was still a noob!(Meanwhile, Ancient is watching the rap battle, when who should walk up next to him but-)Nobody: Hiya, underbossman.Ancient (Whispering): Nobody? What are you doing here?Nobody: I’ve come to tip the scales in Onua’s favor. I brought this to help. (Pulls out the mask of Irony)Ancient: *Gasp* The mask of Irony! So, that’s what Helryx needed it for!Nobody: That’s right. Now, to use it. (Puts on the mask of Irony) I wonder how it will work this time. (Uses mask of Irony)(Back in the arena, Onua and TSO are continuing their rap battle)Onua: I’m Onua Nuva, I’ve got a name for myself!You dark hunters, you’re just collecting dust on the shelf!You rule by fear, nobody likes you at all!You’ve got a target on your head the size of a mall!TSO: That may be somewhat true, but rest assuredThe line between hero and villain can be quite blurred.I and my Hunters who are in the dark,We- uh, um…Nobody: Ha! The Dark Hunter can’t rhyme on dark! How… ironic.(Suddenly, a huge claxon goes off)Turaga Dume: The Shadowed One has failed to make a rhyme. He is, by default, the loser!TSO: Noooooo! Grrrrrrrrr… DARK HUNTERS! ATTACK!(The Dark Hunters start chasing the Matoran around the Coliseum)Random Matoran #128: AIEEE! Run!Random Matoran #63: There’s too many of them!Onua Nuva: Toa! Fight!(The Toa all start fighting the Dark Hunters. Suddenly, an army of Hero Factory robots fly into the arena)Bulk: Alright, scrap-buckets! Incapacitate all non-Toa, non-Matoran, and non-Turaga!X-Ray: What about me?Bulk: And all non-X-Rays!(Meanwhile, Tahu is fighting the Shadowed One in the center of the arena)Tahu: It’s just you and me, TSO! Prepare to be captured!TSO: You fool! You shall never defeat me!Tahu: FALCON PUNCH! (Tahu gives TSO a powerful uppercut, sending the leader of the Dark Hunters sprawling)(Suddenly, an army of OMN agents rush into the arena)Helryx: Freeze, desperadoes! You’re outnumbered and outgunned!Ancient: Uh, we surrender! … I said we surrender!(All of the Dark Hunters stop fighting and put down their weapons)Helryx: That’s better! Okay, agents! Take them into custody and book ‘em.(Several days later, Turaga Dume is holding an awards ceremony in the Coliseum)Turaga Dume: I hearby award Toa Onua Nuva and Toa Tahu Nuva the Lhikan Medallion for their outstanding performance in the Battle for Metru Nui!(Everybody cheers, including the other Toa Nuva, Toa Mahri, Takanuva, and Toa Hagah, who are in the audience with the Matoran)Turaga Dume: I also extend special thanks to the agents of Hero Factory and the Order of Mata Nui!Crowd: Hurray! Huzzah! Yay! Etc.Tahu: Thank you so much, Turaga!Onua: It really means a lot to us!Turaga Dume: You’re welcome. Now that that’s all taken care of, it’s time to party! Hit it, Taka!(A huge disco ball is lowered over the arena, the collapsible roof is deployed, and some groovy seventies music starts playing over the sound system. Turaga Dume and all of the audience members start dancing. Takanuva is running the sound board and is acting as the DJ)Kopaka: I’m afraid you’ll have to show me the moves, Gali.Gali: Don’t worry, popsicle, we have all the time in world!Pohatu: Yeah! Boogie boogie! Whoo!Lewa: This is ever-awesome-cool-terrific!Onua: Yo, we’re the Toa Nuva, we’re livin’ largeNo more living in an apartment that stinks like bargeWe’re heroes again, we’ve saved the dayNow it’s time for us to relax and play!Tahu: Yeah, dude!X-Ray: *Sigh* Party animals.

The End

Well, that's the end of Nuva Nation! The next chapter of Glatorian of Bara Magna: Curse of the Grey Crystal should be coming next week! See you then, folks! X-Ray

Keelerak

Avsa

Chapter 27(Kopaka and Pohatu are sitting in the hall of Ga-Metru Community College, waiting for Onua to get out of class)Pohatu (Looks at his watch): Just a few more minutes, bro.(A bell rings, and half a minute later, Onua and several others come out of the classroom. Onua practically jumps at the sight of Kopaka and Pohatu)Pohatu: Onua, brother.Onua: Errr… what-up, homies?Kopaka: Can it, Onua. We want some answers out of you.Pohatu: Yeah! Just for how long have you been taking night classes at GMCC?Onua: *Sigh* About a month now.Kopaka: Why did you feel the need to hide it?Onua: I don’t know, I guess I just felt comfortable being a gangster, brothers. Being the wisest of the Toa can really be a pressure, and I didn’t want that responsibility anymore. So I took up the “gangsta” lifestyle, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake my intellectual side. So I saved up some money, and I started taking night classes here.Kopaka: It’s okay, Onua, we understand.Pohatu: Yeah, we knew you couldn’t really be such a lunk head.Kopaka: Pohatu!Pohatu: What? I’m just saying.Onua: Well, I have to get back to class now. Cheerio!(Onua walks away)Pohatu: Okay, mystery solved. Now what?Kopaka: Let’s go home, brother.(Kopaka and Pohatu use the mask of speed to go home)(Meanwhile, on Daxia, Helryx is talking with several other OMN members in a conference room)Helryx: Okay, we have a situation, people! The Shadowed One is launching an attack on Metru Nui! Does anyone here have any idea how to stop him?Trinuma: Blackmail?Helryx: Tried that, didn’t work.Axonn: A counterattack?Helryx: We’re working on that.Tobduk: Assassinate TSO?Helryx: Maybe… (Suddenly, Helryx’s cellphone starts to ring) Hang on a sec. Hello? … What? Great Beings preserve us! Okay, don’t panic, we’re on our way. (Closes cell phone) Okay everyone, send a call out to all agents to mobilize at Metru Nui! The Dark Hunters have arrived in the head of the Mata Nui Robot!(Back in Metru Nui, Iruini is standing guard at the southern tip of Le-Metru, when he sees a huge fleet of boats on the horizon)Iruini: Holy cow! A huge fleet of ships! (Takes out his cellphone) Iruini to Gukko Force! I need some intel on this fleet of ships that have just appeared on the horizon!(Fifteen minutes later…)Gukko Force Captain: Bad news, Toa Iruini! It’s a powerful force of evil with no remorse!Iruini: *Gasp* The Brotherhood of Makuta?Gukko Force Captain: No-Iruini: The Taliban?Gukko Force Captain: No, it’s-Iruini: Gasp! The IRS?!Gukko Force Captain: No! It’s the Dark Hunters!Iruini: Sound the alarm! We need every Toa we’ve got to get on standby, and we’ll need Hero-Factory too!(Pretty soon, the entire city has been alerted. Turaga Dume is announcing it on the Telescreens)Turaga Dume: Attention, attention! The Dark Hunters have mobilized a fleet to attack the city! All Matoran not part of the armed forces must take flight to Po-Metru! All guards and Toa must assemble at the Coliseum!(Meanwhile, at the Toa Nuva’s apartment, Tahu is telling the other Toa about their job offer from the Turaga)Tahu: And now he says he wants us back!Kopaka: This is most excellent, Tahu!Onua: I can’t believe we’re going to be professional Toa again!Gali: I can barely believe you’ve been going to college.Lewa: Hooray-yes! Everything is going good and well!(Suddenly, Pohatu comes into the apartment)Pohatu: Uh, guys? I just saw an announcement on the telescreens. The Dark Hunters are mobilizing to attack Metru Nui!Lewa: Why did I ever wide-open my mouth?Pohatu: He also said that all Toa had to report to the Coliseum!Tahu: Well, let’s go! We’re Toa, aren’t we?Other Toa Nuva: Heck yeah!Tahu: Then let’s go! Pohatu, Mask of Speed!Pohatu: Yes, Tahu!(Pohatu activates his Kanohi Kakama Nuva, which allows them to reach the entrance to the Coliseum in seconds. When they arrive, Takanuva is there to greet them)Takanuva: You’re all the first to arrive! Quick, to the situation room!Tahu: We have a situation room?Takanuva: It’s the Coliseum. We have a room for everything.(Half an hour later, all of the Toa Nuva, Toa Mahri, and Toa Hagah are standing around with the Turaga in the situation room. It has a large map of Metru Nui on a table)Pohatu: It sure is crowded in here.Turaga Matau: Okay, guys. According to my OMN friends, the Dark Hunters are mobilizing to attack us because of this video that was posted on the internet. (Shows video of the Shadowed One rapping to the others)Onua: He’s actually pretty good.Turaga Matau: Okay, does anyone have an idea how to stop this guy besides fighting him? A pitched battle would destroy Metru Nui beyond repair.Onua: Actually, I have an idea.Turaga Matau: What would that be?NEXT: The final chapter of Nuva Nation! Can the Toa Nuva hold off the Dark Hunters until help arrives? What is Onua’s plan? Find out next time in the last exciting installment of… NUVA NATION!

Avohkii

Chapter 26(It’s six o’clock in the Nuva’s apartment, and Kopaka, Pohatu, and Onua are sitting around watching TV in the living room)Pohatu: Um, Kopaka?Kopaka: Yes, brother?Pohatu: Why do we have a TV if we can just watch stuff on the telescreens?Kopaka: Because the telescreens don’t have a remote control, and you can’t change the channel.Pohatu: …Oh.(Onua looks at his watch, and then gets up, goes to his room, and comes out wearing a backpack)Onua: So long, homies!Kopaka: Where are you going, Onua?Onua: To the hood, yo dawg!Pohatu: You can’t just go gallivanting around the ghetto part of Ta-Metru. You could get mugged!Onua: Dude, who’s gonna mug a guy like me?(Onua exits the apartment)Pohatu: Kopaka, I’m worried about Onua.Kopaka: Really?Pohatu: Yeah. He’s been leaving the house around 6:30 P.M. every night for the last few weeks, and comes home late every night. I don’t like it.Kopaka: Do you suppose that he might have joined some gang?Pohatu: Possibly…Kopaka: That he might be going on clandestine bar crawls?Pohatu: Perhaps…Kopaka: Or maybe he has joined an RPG group?Pohatu: :glare:Kopaka: What do you suppose we do about it?Pohatu: Well, if he won’t tell us what he’s doing, then the only thing to do is to follow him!Kopaka: Follow him? Us?Pohatu: Yeah! Don’t worry, Toa of slush, it will be just like old times, trying to find the masks of power and all!Kopaka: Alright, Toa of pebbles, let us sally forth.Pohatu: Yeah, sally forth, yay…(Kopaka and Pohatu leave the living room, and go down the stairs)Pohatu: Say, Kopaka, I was so busy watching TV that I didn’t see where the other’s went.Kopaka: Lewa is up on the roof star gazing with his telescope, Gali is at Hahli’s apartment studying, and Tahu is at the Coliseum to talk to the Turaga about a certain matter.Pohatu: Righto!(The two arrive on the street, to find Onua nowhere in sight)Pohatu: Drat! Where could he have gone? …Wait, Kopaka! Use your mask of X-Ray vision to find him!Kopaka: In a densely populated urban area? That would invade the privacy of many people, and potentially give them cancer.Pohatu (Mask-Palms): Oh, brilliant. Here, I’ll just zoom around with my mask of speed until I find him. You use yours to.(Pohatu zooms off with his mask of speed, while Kopaka waits for a moment to summon his from the Suva, and once he does this, also zooms off. Ten seconds later, they both meet at the spot where they left from)Pohatu: He’s at the corner of Pearl and Lhikan! Let’s go!(They both zoom off again, until they are down the block from Onua, who is about to get into a chute)Pohatu: Half a minute, that’s the chute to Ga-Metru! What’s he playing?Kopaka: Hmmm… Pohatu, I just had a thought.Pohatu: What is it?Kopaka: Onua never acted like he does now on island, did he?Pohatu: No, I guess he didn’t.Kopaka: No, he was always the wisest of the Toa, or so said those guide books that have been churned out by LEGO for so long. So why does he always act like a stereotypical black ghetto resident?Pohatu: Huh, you got a point there. Maybe he was going through a midlife crisis or something.Kopaka: I think he’s too young for tha- uh oh, he’s boarding the chute!Pohatu: Quick, let’s get on!Kopaka: Wait, I have a better idea. We’ll use our Kanohi Kakama’s to get to the other end of the chute in Ga-Metru before he does!Pohatu: Brilliant, brother!(Kopaka and Pohatu race off to the other end of the chute in Ga-Metru)(Meanwhile, in the Coliseum, Tahu is standing before the seven Turaga, who are speaking to him)Turaga Dume: …therefore, in light of the recent Metru Nui Comic Con debacle, we are considering rehiring you and your team. We have also gotten a budget surplus this fiscal year, so we will be able to afford it. You would be able to live in the old Toa barracks in your respective Metru, and you would get all of your old job paychecks and benefits. What do you say?Tahu: I say, you’re on! I’d have to talk it over with my team first, but I’m sure they’d be thrilled at the prospect of getting their old jobs back. I for one, however, would be very happy to go back to being a professional Toa.Turaga Vakama: Perfect. We need more professional Toa these days.Turaga Nuju: (Speaking in Rahi bird language)Turaga Vakama: *Sigh* Nokama?Turaga Nokama (Using Kanohi Rau, the mask of translation): Sorry, brothers. The Noble version only works on writing.Turaga Matau: Great-darnnit, Nuju, why can’t you just speak normal?Turaga Nuju: Okay, guys. I was asking what we’re going to do about Ko-Metru. Even with we bring back Kopaka, it’s still one Toa short compared to the rest of the city.Turaga Vakama: Nuju has a point. What shall we do about that, Turaga Dume?Turaga Dume: We’ll have to see about hiring a new Toa of ice. Maybe Kualus and Kopaka to take on an intern?Turaga Nuju: That sounds like a plan.Tahu: So, I just have to tell the others, and if they all say yes, we get our old jobs back?Turaga Dume: Yes.Tahu: Alright! Yeah, baby! Whoot! No more being a Hero-Factory freelancer, no more crazy robot bosses, no more cleaning sewers or any of that claptrap! I’m going to be a Toa again! Yeah!(In Ga-Metru, Kopaka and Pohatu are waiting in an alley across from the chute station for Onua to come out)Pohatu: Any minute now… any minute now…(Finally, Onua comes out of the chute station)Pohatu: Okay, Kopaka, let’s follow him inconspicuously and see where he goes!Kopaka: Splendid!(Kopaka and Pohatu inconspicuously follow Onua past the several dozen Matoran who are all half their size, following someone else of the same height)Kopaka: This is ridiculous. How can we expect to stay hidden in a crowd like this?Pohatu: I’ve got an idea! We’ll use the Kanohi Miru, the mask of levitation!Kopaka: A fine idea!(Pohatu and Kopaka summon with Kanohi Miru Nuvas, and take flight in the darkened sky above Onua, but out of his line of sight)Pohatu: Hey Kopaka! Watch out for buildings and powerlines, capish?Kopaka: Yes, Pohatu!(The duo continue to follow Onua, until he enters the grounds of-)Pohatu: Ga-Metru Community College? What?Kopaka: Hmmm… Let us descend, brother.(Kopaka and Pohatu follow Onua into Ga-Metru Community College, where he goes into a classroom. Next to the classroom is a sign that reads, “Greek Philosophy 101”)Kopaka: Let me see if I understand this. Onua is sneaking out at night to go to night school?Pohatu: Yeah, he really threw us a curve ball here. Hey, Kopaka, use your mask of X-Ray Vision to see what’s going on inside the classroom!Kopaka: Well, alright. (Kopaka uses his mask of X-Ray vision to see inside the classroom) Thanks to modifications to my mask made by Nuparu, I can also hear what’s going on inside!Pohatu: Ingenious! Hey, look who the teacher is!Kopaka: X-Ray? Teaching a Greek Philosophy class?(Inside the classroom)X-Ray: And so, that is Utilitarianism. Yes, Onua?Onua: Mr. Ray, How can Plato’s theory of forms be applied to utilitarianism?X-Ray: Well, Onua, I suppose that…Pohatu: Holy nuts! Onua’s his wise old self again!Kopaka: This entire time, his gangster persona has been but a façade!Pohatu: Dude, we really need to talk to him about this.(Meanwhile, on Odina, the Shadowed One is pacing in his chambers, when the recorder enters the room)Recorder: Uh, sir?TSO: What is it, Recorder? You know I don’t like to be barged in on.Recorder: Err, it’s important, sir.TSO: Alright, spill.Recorder: Do you remember that anonymous email we got? The one that threatened to publish an embarrassing video of you if we did not withdraw our forces from the Nynrah area?TSO: Yes, what of it?Recorder: And… do you remember how you told us to give the threat no heed?TSO: Yes! Get to the point!Recorder (Pulls out an iPad): Well, sir, we just received an email, informing us that they posted this video on the internet.(The Shadowed One watches the video, which is low quality cell phone recorded video, with a shaky camera and a feedback ridden, but still intelligible, sound. It’s the video of the Shadowed One rapping that Nobody recorded on his cell phone)TSO in video: Yo, I'm The Shadowed One, just so you know,I and my Dark Hunters steal and kill for dough.I can barbeque people with my laser eyes,And If I give the word, then you sir will die! DIE! DIE! DIE!TSO: This is… this is uncalled for! :burnmad:Recorder: What shall we do, sir!TSO: Scramble all operatives to Metru Nui! Until we know who did this, we shall hold the city captive! And when we find who did it, they will all die! DIE! DIIIIEEEE!(Later on, the Recorder is walking down the hall, when he bumps into Ancient)Ancient: Oh, hi, Recorder. What was all that screaming I heard from the Shadowed One’s chambers about fifteen minutes ago?Recorder: Oh, the boss found out about that video of him that was posted on the internet.Ancient: Oh, yeah. The video’s gone viral around the whole island. Everyone’s cracking up over their computers.Recorder: Yeah, well now the boss wants us to take over Metru Nui until whoever did this is comes forward.Ancient: …Oh, dear me… Uh, well, see you later, Recorder!Recorder: Farewell. (Recorder leaves. Ancient checks to see if Nobody is around, and then, finding that he isn’t, pulls out his cell phone)Anicent: Hello, Helryx? TSO just found out about that video we posted, and he’s mad as Karzahni. He says he’s going to invade Metru Nui until he finds out who did it. … What? … Okay, you’re the boss, righto. Bye. (Closes the phone) Ugh, what have you gotten us into now, Helryx?UP NEXT: Kopaka and Pohatu confront Onua, and the Shadowed One heads for Metru Nui! Be there for the next exciting installment of… NUVA NATION!

Chapter 25(The darkened interrogation room)???: …(Suddenly, the lights turn on, revealing Master Chief on one end of the interrogation table, and Turaga Matau and Agent Vhisola on the other side)Turaga Matau: This is Turaga Matau, Head-Chief of Infernal Affairs, conducting Interrogation session #14 for the MNCCC case, with Agent Vhisola.Master Chief: …Turaga Matau: Okay, Master Chief, if that’s your real-true name. Why did you attack the Metru Nui Comic Con?Master Chief: …Turaga Matau: Come on, I know you can talk! I’ve seen the Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn miniseries!Master Chief: …Turaga Matau: Oh for the love of.Vhisola: Master Chief, you’re so awesome! I’ve played all of the Halo video games! My favorite is Halo 3: ODST, and I can’t wait for Halo 4 to come ou-Master Chief: Wait, your favorite is ODST?Vhisola: Yeah!Master Chief: I didn’t know anybody liked that one.Vhisola: But it’s so awesome! You know, the characterization, the setting, and the Divine Comedy elements in it were a nice touch. I’m personally of the opinion that it’s an underrated-Master Chief: The books. Have you read them?Vhisola: Every single one!Master Chief: The comics?Vhisola: I subscribe!Master Chief: Okay, fine, I’ll talk. Well, you see, it’s like this… Ha! Suckers!(Master Chief is suddenly teleported out of the room in a flash of light)Turaga Matau: What?! He’s gone-vanished!Vhisola: And I didn’t even get an autograph!Turaga Matau: Don’t you see? He was stalling! Stalling while he was waiting for his buddies to ‘port him out of here!Vhisola: Well, this leaves us with a lot of unanswered questions.Turaga Matau: I’ll say. All right, never mind this. At least we were able to quick-nab the Dark Hunters. …Actually, I have a source that just might be able to help us.(Elsewhere, in the offices of 343 Industries, Master Chief is in a dark room, with a bunch of shadowy guys sitting around a table)??? #1: So, how did you find the denizens of the world of Bionicle?Master Chief: Well, I only managed to engage a bunch of those Hero-Factory punks, so I think the mission was a failure.??? #2: Darn! We dare not try the mission again. Not for a while, anyway. At the very least, we can ask, how did you find the Hero-Factory units?Master Chief: They have potential, but they fought like wimps.??? #1: At least we can cross one name off of our list…??? #2: And until then, we’ll have to continue sending you to different worlds…???#1: And, come the advent of Halo 4, we will know who you shall fight! Muwhahahaha!??? #2: Muwhahahaha!Master Chief: This is ridiculous. You’re spending all of this money on teleporting me to different worlds when we can just invent one off the top of our heads. It would cost a whole lot less than buying some disused franchise for the purpose.??? #1: You know, fellow council members, Master Chief does have a point.??? #2: Yeah… okay, you’re right. Cancel the operation and come up with something original.??? #3: I actually have some ideas right here. Okay, so there’s this Forerunner robot army called Prometheans, and…(Master Chief looks up to the ceiling and mouths the words “Thank you.”)(Meanwhile, on Metru Nui, Turaga Matau is at the Ga-Metru Library)Turaga Matau: Excuse me, Librarian. Where may I find the Philosophy section?(This particular librarian, as it turns out, is none other than-)X-Ray: Right over here, sir. (Turaga Matau and X-Ray walk over to deserted corner of the Library. X-Ray begins a whispered conversation with Turaga Matau) What are you doing here, Turaga? My cover’s on thin enough ice as it is!Turaga Matau: Forget your cover! I want to know what the Karzahni Master Chief was doing shooting up the Metru Nui Comic Con!X-Ray: Fine. 343 Industries sent him to see how Bionicle people fight, because they were planning to buy some disused franchise to stick in their next game.Turaga Matau: That’s ridiculous.X-Ray: Yeah, I can’t even believe I thought of it. Fortunately, they decided to cancel their plans.Turaga Matau: Lucky us.X-Ray: Yeah, they could have picked up the Green Hornet franchise.Turaga Matau: Okay, thank you for your time. Stay good-classy.X-Ray: Yes sir! (Shakes Turaga Matau’s hand)Turaga Matau: X, is everything alright?X-Ray: Yeah, why wouldn’t they be?Turaga Matau: It’s just that… this story about Master Chief, and what’s been happening lately. You make me worried.X-Ray: Well, the truth is, I’m looking to end the comedy soon.Turaga Matau: What-now? Why?X-Ray: Because it’s been nagging at me for a while now, and I feel that I ought to finish what I’ve started. As soon as I finish Nuva Nation, I’m going to finish off my other comedies and my epic, one at a time.Turaga Matau: Will there be a sequel to Glatorian of Bara Magna?X-Ray: I don’t know. It’s not something I look forward to doing.Turaga Matau: Well, you’re the author, and I can’t stop you. You get to decide what happens in our little world, so it’s all you.X-Ray: Hey, don’t be sad. Nuva Nation’s not over yet. Not by a longshot.(The next day, Turaga Dume is holding a press conference in front of the Coliseum. The Toa Nuva are watching him on the telescreens from the bleaches on top of their apartment building)Dume (On the telescreens): And furthermore, I would like to thank the Hero-Factory robots and the Coliseum security team for their help in this crisis. Without them, many would surely have been harmed by the evil plot of the Dark Hunters.Tahu: Well, looks like the credit has spread around for everyone, eh?Kopaka: It is most fastidious to get some recognition for our efforts.Dume: We’ll be taking questions now.Reporter #1: Le-Metru Liaison here! Will more Toa be hired in light of new threats like this fiasco?Dume: We will consider that possibility.Reporter #2: The Metru Nui Times wants to know, does the involvement by Master Chief foreshadow legal action by the City of Metru Nui against 343 Industries?Dume (On the telescreens): We will consider that possibility.Reporter #3: Ga-Metru Gazette! Will you be filing your tax returns as part of your re-election campaign?Dume: Err… no comment! No further questions please!Pohatu: I wonder if that has anything to do with those gambling debts that Takanuva told us about.Lewa: It’d be a bummer if that came to light for poor old Turaga Dume.Onua: (Stands up and stretches) Well, I’m beat. It’s almost nine o’clock, yo, and I’ve got to get up early tomorrow.(All of the other Toa go on down the stairs back into the apartment building, until only Kopaka and Gali are left on the roof)Kopaka: A glorious sunset that is, isn’t it, Gali?Gali: Uh, Kopaka?Kopaka: Yes, Gali?Gali: Uh… I want to tell you something.Kopaka: Alright, what is it you have to tell me?Gali: Well… I originally became your girlfriend so that I could make Tahu jealous.Kopaka: I… I didn’t know that.Gali: Wait, let me, finish. Now though, after everything we’ve been through together, I’ve come to really like you, the way you like me, you know? That’s why I’ve been a bit distant lately. I was feeling guilty for starting the relationship on a false premise, so to speak, but I-(Kopaka hugs Gali)Kopaka: It’s alright Gali. I understand.Gali: You’re… not angry?Kopaka: No, no. I understand why you would want to get together with Tahu. I mean, the force of will by the fans alone must be pretty pressuring. But I love you, Gali, and I want to be your boyfriend more than anything in the world.Gali: Oh, popsicle! (Kisses Kopaka on the cheek)Kopaka: Now, let us join the others.UP NEXT: Kopaka and Pohatu trail Onua, in all their buddy-cop-dynamic awesomeness! Meanwhile, the Shadowed One has an evil plan… Don’t miss a single minute of the next exciting installment of… NUVA NATION!

Akaku.

Very nice. I have always liked the Matatu, and I especially like the Zamor sphere crossbow-thing and the hands. Absolutely splendid, sir.Sincerley, X-Ray

Hmmm...1.) If I recall correctly, the Bahrag used the pool to create the Krana-Kal, though I could be mistaken.2.) Unknown. To give a shot in the dark, I'd say that Artakha designed them after the Greats Disks and the Kanohi Avokhii.3.) Perhaps in the equivalent of his nasal area (nose/nostrils)?4.) It is either, as Mr. Lielac said, still in the Bahrag's chamber, though I believe it may have been destroyed when the Toa Nuva released the Bahrag.5.) The Toa Metru created this set of Toa Stones in order to make new Toa should the need arise. They simply did not know that the stones would be used in the manner in which they were used.I do hope I've been of help.Sincerely, X-Ray

I've got Closer to the Truth, Bye-Bye Babylon, Creeping in My Soul, and Gravity Hurts on my iPod. Altogether, I wholeheartedly agree with your assesment. X-Ray

I usually open all of the bags, put the stuff in a pile, and then follow the instructions. I usually end up with a few extra pieces, but that's all right. X-Ray

Jaller and Takua/Takanuva. The grim, strait-laced captain of the guard and the easy-going, free spirited Takua worked very well together, back in the days of MoL. X-Ray

I don't believe there's much I can say that Hahli Historian has covered already. You have a nice premise here, but your grammar is quite frankly atrocious. I would advise that you put all thoughts in italics, and follow every piece of HH's advice on sentence structure. Above all, keep writing. Practic does, after all, make perfect. : )Sincerely, X-Ray

First of all, every honest effort is excellent by that virtue alone. Secondly, this is a fairly fine one-shot. The idea of characters being put in odd situations which don't conform to their character at all is a staple of the parody, and this one-shot does just that. Von Nebula's jokes may not have been very good, but the Call Me Maybe parody at the end sure made me snicker. I absolutely love parodies, especially when they involve something I like a lot, such as Batman, Star Wars, and, yes, Bionicle.I have not read many of your works, Mr. ShadowBionics, but I know you by reputation. Thus, I can only say to continue with your writing, and that this one-shot is a good addition to your library.Sincerely, X-Ray

In terms of plot, as far as I'm able to tell, we have here a handful of Rahkshi struggling for survival in the remains of the MU. I can't say that I'm a fan of the multi-colored text, but I think that you were able to bring the primal emotions of the Rakhshi to life very well.The conclusion of the story was unexpected, and introduced a character who is a mystery to the audience. I've never heard of a Rakhshi with four arms before, so perhaps it is a mutated sort of Rakhshi. When you want to make a transistion to another character's point of view, I'd suggest you seperate the paragraphs with stars (* * *) or something, as opposed to changing the color the text. Also, perhaps you could have wrote down some of the Rakhshi's thoughts. The narration sentences that end in exclamation points could have filled in as these quite nicely.Keep writing, Mr. darkslizer, and I'm sure you will become an excellent writer. After all, practice makes perfect. : )Sincerely, X-Ray

I would humbly request this new story of mine to be reviewed:The Golden Age - by X-Ray X-Ray

This short story is quite eloquent, Mr. Void, poetic even. Your origin story for BZ-Koro is well told, and your explanation for the terms BZPower and Black Six are also clever. I like the story-poem format of the story very much, and I believe that this is, all in all, a nice addition to the long list of entrants in this contest. Best of luck.Sincerely, X-Ray

Hello and welcome, everyone. I apologize for the lateness, but I am finally back to start posting in my comedies again. With luck, the new chapters and reposts of Glatorian of Bara Magna: Curse of the Gray Crystal, as well as my epic Bionicle: Infinities will be posted soon. In the meantime, here is the link for the old Nuva Nation like: http://www.bzpower.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=322121&st=0&p=6808485&&do=findComment&comment=6808485It's in the old forums, so be prepared for that. And now, without further ado...Chapter 24(In the darkened interrogation room)?1: …?2: … Uh…(Suddenly the light turns on, revealing Turaga Matau sitting at his desk with Vhisola on one side, and Tahu and Takanva sitting on the other side)Turaga Matau: What? No “Wow, it’s deep-dark in here,” or “Augh! Now it’s ever-bright?”Takanuva: Well, it doesn’t really bother me that much…Tahu: Turaga Matau. What do you want?Turaga Matau: Er, *Ahem* This is Turaga Matau, Head-Chief of Infernal Affairs, conducting Interrogation session #13 for the MNCCC case, with Agent Vhisola.Vhisola: Hi there... Ash-for-brains.Turaga Matau: Takanuva, you first. We know from previous interrogation sessions that you confronted a trio of Dark Hunters lurking in the Coliseum, and you were knocked unconscious.Takanuva: Yeah, that’s right. I was helping to shepherd the attendees of the Metru Nui Comic Convention out the exits. I delegated the task over to Kopaka and Gali, and then went to the security room to see if anyone had gotten lost. I spotted three persons who I later found were Dark Hunters, and went to get them. I wound up fighting them, and they managed to defeat me. I’m not sure what happened after-Turaga Matau: Yes yes, thank you. Alright, Tahu, spill. From the start-beginning.Tahu: The beginning of what?Turaga Matau: I mean from the beginning of when you became deep-involved in this dark-crisis.Tahu: I guess it all started for me this morning. I was on call at Hero Factory. You see, I work there as a freelancer.Matau: I know, I know. Keep talking.Tahu: Well, anyway, I saw that we had a new boss…(Flashback, 12 hours ago, Hero Factory –Metru Nui Branch. In a lounge, Tahu and a few other Hero Factory robots are sitting around, when Duncan Bulk enters the room)Bulk: ‘Mornin, scrap-buckets. Name’s Bulk, and I’m the new Head of Operations here at the Metru Nui branch of Hero Factory.Tahu: Uh, sir?Bulk: What?Tahu: What happened to Stormer?Bulk: I don’t know, the brass back at Makuhero City wanted him for a mission. Some half-baked report about a witch doctor or something.Tahu: Whatever you say, boss.Tahu (Voiceover): Well, not much of anything happened for the next couple of hours, until sometime after… noon, when we received a distress call from the Coliseum.(The Hero Factory Freelancer Lounge Room, 9 hours ago. Tahu is talking to a weird looking alien with one robotic eye. The alien’s name is Chuck)Chuck: So then I just blew a hole right through him.Tahu: Wait, you killed him?Chuck: Yeah, so? He had a hostage, he was kind of asking for it.Tahu: …You can kill people as an HF freelancer?Chuck: Yeaaaah…Tahu: …:evilgrim: Sweeeet.(Suddenly, a large red claxon on the wall starts sending out an alarm noise or something)Claxon: BRAAAAAAAP! BRAAAAAAP!Chuck: That’s us! To the briefing room!Tahu: Right!(In the briefing room, Tahu, Chuck, and seven other Hero-Factory robots are being briefed by Bulk)Bulk: Alright scrap-buckets, we’ve got a message from the Coliseum. An unknown entity has infiltrated an event going on down there, and we’ve got to go in and neutralize the entity. We, Team 2, will be flown in by Herocopters-(Tahu and Chuck snicker)Bulk: -to the twentieth floor, which has a large window-covered balcony attached to it. We will then rappel in, and search for the entity. Team 1 will be flown in to the top floor and will work their way down, while we go up. We have orders to bring it in alive if reasonably possible, but to shoot to kill if necessary. Any questions?Tahu: Uh, I have a question.Bulk: Make it quick, Nuva!Tahu: What do you mean by “rappel in”?(Everyone except Tahu snickers)(Back in the interrogation room)Turaga Matau: So, you’ve never rappelled into any place before?Tahu: Nope.(Flashback, five hours ago, outside of the Coliseum, two Herocopters are flying in. One of them heads to the lower part of the Coliseum)Bulk: Okay, men. Jump!(All of the Hero Factory robots and Chuck jump, but Tahu stays on the Herocopter)Bulk (shouting up): What do you think you’re doing, Nuva? Jump!Tahu: Thanks, but no thanks!Bulk (angry): Jump, or your contract is revoked!Tahu: …Okay!(Tahu rappels into the now broken window, hitting the ground- hard. There are Matoran still being led out of the huge exhibition room where the Metru Nui Comic Con was taking place. Human visitors are being directed out of the giant portal)Tahu: Oof!Bulk: Get up, Nuva! Okay men, to the stairs! Kisinger, you take Squad 1 to floor twenty-one, Brown, you take Squad 2 to floor twenty-two. I’ll take Squad 3 to search this floor. Nuva! Chuck! You’re on Squad 2!Tahu & Chuck: Yes sir!Chuck: Say, Tahu, where’d you get that cool gun?Tahu: Oh, HF gave it to me because they said it “allowed for more efficient flame dispersal” than my swords. Funny, it looks just like Hakkan’s gun.Chuck: Huh. Okay, let’s go!Bulk: Tahu, ask the local security if they have any people on the upper floors!Tahu: Yes sir!(Suddenly, Tahu’s squad passes by Kopaka, who is directing Matoran out through the emergency exits)Kopaka: Tahu! Thank goodness you and the Hero-Factory units are here!Tahu: Yeah yeah, whatever. Have you seen Takanuva?Kopaka: He was near the site of the flash and explosions I think, but I don't see him now.Bulk: Quick! That way, people!Tahu: Gotta go, deputy. Keep Gali safe.Kopaka: Wait, Tahu...!(Tahu goes with Brown, Chuck, and the three other Hero Factory robots to the stairs)Brown: Okay, up to floor 22!(Squad 2 runs up the stairs to floor 22)(Back in the interrogation room)Turaga Matau: So for how long did you search before you ran into Master Chief?Tahu: We had just finished floors 33 through 35, when my squad found him.(Flashback, three and a half hours ago. Tahu’s squad is on floor 35)Brown: Clear!Chuck: Clear!Hero Factory Robot #1 (HFR#1): Clear!HFR#2: Clear!HFR#2: Clear!Tahu: Obvious! Er, I mean, clear!Bulk (Over walkie-talkie): Squad 2! Search floor 38!Brown: Yes sir! (To Squad 2) You heard the man! We’re going to floor 38Squad 2: Yes sir!(Squad 2 races up the stairs to floor thirty-eight. They’ve just arrived at the door to floor 38, when suddenly, someone kicks in the door from other side, revealing none other than-)HFR#2: What the heck?Master Chief: !!!(Master Chief throws a grenade at Squad 2)Tahu: (activates mask of shielding) I don’t think so!(The grenade explodes against the Kanohi Hau Nuva’s shield, which covers all of Squad 2. When the dust clears, Master Chief is gone, the door to floor thirty-eight ajar)Brown: Nice save, Nuva! (Into walkie-talkie) Bulk, this is Squad 2. We’ve found the unknown entity, and it’s Master Chief! I repeat, the unknown entity is Master Chief!Bulk (voice is slightly garbled over the walkie-talkie): Brown, have you been drinking fried oil again? (Sounds of laughter can be heard in the background)Brown: No sir, I have not been drinking fried oil. The unknown is Master Chief, in the flesh! He’s headed up from our location, or else is on floor 38Bulk: Alright Brown, we’re headed to your location. Search floor 38 and report back. (Switches channel) Team 1, this is Team 2. We’ve located the unknown on Floor thirty-eight, and get this, it’s Master Chief. … No, I have not been drinking fried oil, my boy says it’s Master Chief. … Roger that.(Meanwhile, Squad 2 is searching floor 38)Brown: Clear!HFR#1: Clear!Chuck: Not-Clear!(Squad Two runs into an empty auditorium with large plate-glass windows. Master Chief and Chuck are having a shootout, the former Halo-jumping all over the place)Brown: Set your guns for stun!Tahu: My gun doesn’t have “stun” setting!Brown: Then set if for singed, flame-brain!(Back in the interrogation room)Takanuva: Wow Tahu, sounds like it was quite a fight.Tahu: It was. Then the rest of Team 2 got to our location, Team 1 rappelled in. Master Chief was about to fight his way to the door, and I was right next to him, so I did the only thing I could think of at the moment.(Flashback, four and a half hours ago. Master Chief is about to fight his way out of the auditorium, when suddenly, Tahu jumps on him)Tahu: Gotcha!Master Chief: !!!(Suddenly, Master Chief and Tahu teleport out of the room)Bulk: Huh?Brown: What?Chuck: Holy nuts!(Back in the interrogation room)Turaga Matau: Wait, quick-pause, he teleported you out?Tahu: Well, I’m not sure it was him. He seemed pretty confused too.Vishola: Maybe he was accidentally hit with a teleportation kanoka disk.Tahu: That’s not possible. Hero Factory robots don’t carry disk launchers, and neither I nor Chuck had one. Besides, even if they did, those robots can’t aim for two cents.Vishola: Like I said, accidentally.Turaga Matau: So, what happened next?Tahu: The last thing I remember is appearing high up in the air in the part of Ta-Metru closest to the Coliseum, and then a sudden impact, after which I blacked out.Turaga Matau: Yes, you and this Master Chief character were located in that area. Master Chief was stunned by Hero Factory robots, and he is currently in our custody. I believe we’ll be questioning him next. Thank you both for your cooperation. Now, get out of here-now!Up next: Turaga Matau interrogates the one and only Master Chief! Plus, the Toa Nuva go home! Tune in in next time for… NUVA NATION!

The day when I will return to my comedies is on the horizon, but I believe that I shall take this time to sit down and pen this small tale...The Golden Age- A Short Story fan fiction by BZPower member X-RayThe room was small, but not cramped. There was a window built into the opposing wall, with no glass over it, only a rough sheet with two holes drilled into the corners, one of which hung on the right of a counterpart pair of rough iron spikes. There was a crude desk and stool on the left side of the room, as well as a bucket, and a more elaborate version of the sleep pallet on the right. The mat propped up off the floor -What was it called? A bed?- looked shabby and used. But then again, everything about the room, the whole building even, was like that.Turaga Dume knew, however, that the shabbiness was perfectly understandable.Where he came from, everything was shiny and new, constantly being repaired and cleaned, improved upon and polished, by expert craftsmen. There was no such attention to unnecessary maintenance in this city -No, it is more like a Koro, I believe, thought the Turaga- even if resources could be expended for that. Fortunately, a handful of Matoran hailing from Artakha had arrived last week, and were already working wonders in the village, much to the amazement, even bewilderment, of the main inhabitants, the Agori.Where Dume came from, the weather was always at its best, and the nearest desert sands were in Po-Metru, where he did not often go... not that there was much desert sand around this place anymore either. Until several months ago, and only for a few months before that even, he had been able to survey the whole of Metru Nui from the window of his comfortable chambers, high in the Coliseum.Of course, he reflected as he went over to the window, the tallest building in this town, Vulcanus, was only three stories tall, not counting the basement. And he was currently in that structure, the Vulcanus Officiary Building, known informally as “the hall.” Specifically, this room was reserved for visiting leaders and other important personages. Just what is that bucket for, I wonder?As the de facto leader of the Matoran people, Turaga Dume had traveled from the crash site of the colossal Mata Nui robot, in whose head he had once resided, to the village of Vulcanus, or what of it was being re-established after the... ah, sudden break up, of the briefly established Bara Magna mega-city. Dume meant to meet with Raanu, his effective counterpart in the young Spherus Magna government, which was at present little more than a loose and informal confederation of varied societies, who did not always get along. The fire Agori assigned to Dume had informed him that he and Raanu were very much alike, at least to this orderly's knowledge. They were to speak after a small banquet in the evening -Whatever a banquet is- for Raanu had been traveling as well, arbitrating a dispute between the Jungle Tribe a group of Le-Matoran. Apparently, the incident arose when some particularly impetuous air tribesmen from the island of Mata Nui had tried to do some vine swinging at Tesara. The locals were not amused.Dume lurched over to his new... bed, and sat down. It was not as comfortable as his sleep pallet in the Coliseum, but it was far better than the prison cell in which he had been residing for the last few months with his fellow Turaga. He knew that he had a lot of work in store for him, but he wasn't sure that he had what it took to lead the Matoran anymore. They needed a leader who could know what they knew, and who they were familiar with. Someone like Turaga Vakama, or Turaga Onewa, or Turaga Matau, even. Dume now knew that his detached, aloof ways may not have been for the best.He also wasn’t sure whether he had the strength. The journey from the Great Spirit robot had been very hard on his ancient form, even on a good mount, in pleasing weather. The trip had to be made by caravan through the new lush landscape, and had taken him, his entourage, and their Glatorian escorts a week to reach Vulcanus. At least they and the Toa in their group had refrained from any bickering, until they arrived in the town anyway. Dume yawned and set down his staff, stretched his arms, and leaned back. He had not traveled so far in a long time. A long... time...

"Are you quite ready, great leader?" called Toa Hain from outside in the courtyard."Be patient brother," called back Toa Dume, slightly annoyed at the Toa of air’s flippant tone of voice. "I'm almost ready." He shuffled through the weapons rack, vowing to give Zima a stern lecture when she came back from patrol. The Toa of Lightning simply did not know how to clean up after herself, no doubt trying to escape the chore of tidying the armory by feigning incompetence.Today was weapons practice day for the Toa Sudak who weren't on patrol at the moment, and that meant, after a brief widget flip, that Dume had their resident Toa of air as a sparring partner. The being was a noble and valiant warrior, skilled in many types of weapons. But Hain was also, as many of the tribe of Le were, a jester by nature, and thus was found by some serious types such as Dume to be annoying.But, thought the Toa of Fire, and recently elected leader of the Sudak, I shall be able to learn to better myself in the art of swordsmanship from my practice with him. With that thought, Dume finally found his favorite sword and shield, and ran to the courtyard.In the courtyard, Hain and Dume were standing with their weapons on one side, with some posts and fence pieces mounted in the ground should they need them. On the other side were Naiphak, the Toa of iron, and Apher, the Toa of water, who were practicing with staves among similar equipment.“There you are!” Hain said to Dume cheerfully. He did a forward flip in the Toa of fire’s direction, drawing his sword and landing in a fighting stance as he finished. “What took you so long?” Hain said. “You were in the armory for almost ten minutes.”“Remember how Zima ‘cleaned’ the armory last night?” said Dume.“Oh, right,” Hain replied, knowing that nothing more needed to be said. “Zimmy really needs to, heh heh, clean up her act.” Hain then burst into a fit of cackling at his own joke, but soon realized that Dume was only looking at him strangely. “Um, very well then,” said Hain, quickly adding “great leader. We’ll start by reviewing Gukko Form, before moving on to Muaka.”“Alright,” said Dume, trying to keep his patience. Even after two weeks, his election as team leader was still a source of mockery for Hain, as well as Tolek, the Toa of Stone. “Let’s start then.”For the rest of the morning, Dume and Hain practiced various methods and forms, and sparred a few times. Dume was stronger and tougher than his opponent, but Hain had the advantage of speed, agility, and experience. There was no danger of either of them harming each other. The weapons being used at the moment had been crafted by Naiphak to be blunted, and therefore of little practical use than as bludgeons, and not very good bludgeons at that. But they were just fine for practice.After Dume had been slammed into the ground for the third time, Hain glanced at the sundial and noted that it was now a half hour past noon. “Break time, Dume,” he said, helping his partner off the ground. Dume, for his part, thanked the Toa of air for his patience, stretched out his joints, and then stumbled over to the fountain for drink of water. Naiphak and Apher were there as well.Hain took his marked cup form a shelf engraved into the side of the fountain. He took a deep, refreshing drink. Nothing like cold water on a hot day after training, he thought. Noting that Apher was standing next to him, he said to her, “Everything good on your end of the court?”The sapphire armored Toa glanced up from her cup, and gave a smile. Apher, like most of the other Toa on the eight member team, was a stranger to the Fe-Koro area. She wore a Kanohi Pakari, the mask of Strength. “Fine enough for Naiphak,” she said, “bad for my sides. I’m still having trouble getting my head around staff fighting.”“You could try something else then,” said Hain good-naturedly. “Some weapons just come easier to certain beings than others. Like say, oh, I don’t know… sword?”“No, no,” said Apher, holding up a flattened palm. “I chose this weapon to work on, and I’m going to stick with it-”“Ha! Stick!” exclaimed Hain, snickering behind his Kanohi Kakama. “Get it? Staff? Stick?”“And- and I’m going to practice with it for more than four days before trying something new,” finished Apher, before letting a “heh heh” escape her mouth. No matter how dumb Hain’s jokes got, there was still cause for laughter; Hain’s determination to not stop telling them. And some of them were actually pretty funny.Dume and Naiphak, meanwhile, had wandered over to the gates leading to the outside of the courtyard. This courtyard, when not being used as a training area for the Sudak, was actually a weathered sports arena, as evidenced by the several seats built around it. The Sudak each had individual homes throughout the town, and the fountain could be lowered into the ground when not needed. The rest of the practice equipment was portable.Naiphak climbed up into the bleachers, and peered over the upper guard rails. He saw the Matoran going about their work, trading, crafting, repairing, moving, guarding in the case of the local patrol, resting, healing, talking, arguing, and, in general, living.“How is it in the town?” called Dume from below the seats.Naiphak looked over his shoulder and called back, “Everything seems to be normal.” Naiphak looked again. He spotted Tyothis, the team’s other Toa of fire, standing watch at the west gate, making sure that incoming and outgoing carts had everything in order, chosen for that task because he wore the Kanohi Akaku, the mask of x-ray vision. He saw Zima, the Toa of Lightning, lazily strolling along the top of the town wall, before disappearing behind a building which obscured the Toa of Iron’s vision. He witnessed Tolek, the Toa of Stone, accidently bump over a fruit stand in the market place, and then hastily apologize to the infuriated owner while trying to help fix the stand. And he observed Juin, the Toa of Ice, talking with Turaga Settu, the village leader and former Toa of Iron, as well as Naiphak’s mentor.By this time, Dume had climbed up into the bleachers and was now standing next to Naiphak, looking over his adopted home. Upon seeing Tolek’s predicament, he was prompted to wonder aloud, “The Matoran have yet to get used to our presence, I see.”“How did it take you to get used to having a Toa around your village?” said Naiphak, narrowing his eyes at the Toa of fire.“We had no Toa in my village,” replied Dume icily, now regretting starting a conversation with Naiphak. The two had been opponents for the position of leader of the Toa Sudak, and there was still some sore wounds over the election. “We only had a worn out Turaga of Water, a handful of hot-headed Ta-Matoran, and the late Barraki Mantax who occasionally visited our village to hunt in our forest.”“You actually saw Mantax?” said Naiphak incredulously. Only Tyothis had been at the battle where Brotherhood of Makuta forces had soundly defeated the armies of the League of Six Kingdoms, and even he only got quick look at the Barraki, before they vanished out of the plane of existence. Rumors quickly flared up that Mata Nui had exacted punishment on them, but the Brotherhood of Makuta had recently rejected that possibility in a public announcement.“Once,” said Dume. “On that particular day, he took two of our villagers and used them as bait for the Muaka he was hunting in the forest. They both survived, but neither of them ever went into the forest again after that, and one of them has only one arm.”There was silence for a moment. Naiphak shook his head, still confounded after all these years on how Mata Nui could have appointed such depraved beings as rulers. Tolek had opined in past discussions that the Barraki were once good and just beings, but had become corrupted by power and greed, while Tyothis vehemently argued that the Barraki had always had souls of rot, and that they just became more inept at concealing that rot.After a few minutes, Dume said, “I’m going to send out Apher to check in with the others.” He went from his spot in the bleachers and hopped over the bottom wall into the courtyard. “Apher!” he called to his teammate, “Go check in on the others! Report any suspicious activity.”“Yes sir!” came her reply. The Toa of water took her staff, running over to the side entrance, before disappearing into the darkness of the indoors section of the arena.Naiphak came from behind Dume to stand beside him. “It looks like we have a quiet afternoon ahead of us, Dume.”“As a wise being once said,” said the Toa of fire, “’never assume.’”

Apher had a pretty clear view in marketplace. After all, she, like the majority of Toa, stood about the same size as one Matoran standing on another’s shoulders. Thus, even though the crowd swarmed around her like ocean waves, she had no trouble wading about in it. At least I could swim in the ocean, thought Apher. She missed her hometown, a little fishing village about thirty kio southwest of Fe-Koro. But when the call came for local Toa to band together in order to protect the Southern Continent from rouge Barraki soldiers, she knew that she had to go.In her three months as a member of the Toa Sudak, she had wrestled ash bears, vanquished bandits, and mediated every argument among the team from who should be leader to who had to clean the armory. Apher understood the need for a peacemaker, but often tired of her unofficial role. At least things have been mostly peaceful this month.Out of the corner of her eye, Apher spotted Tolek stacking some crates. “There,” he said, rubbing his hands together, “good as new.”“Thank you, Toa Tolek,” said a Fe-Matoran standing next to a pile of smashed bula berries. “Now, go to Karzahni.”Tolek sighed, rumbling along in a different direction, but brightened when he saw Apher. “Sister!” he said, moving quickly toward her. Tolek stood about a head taller than Apher, and wore a bronze Kanohi Hau, the mask of shielding. “What’s the word?”“Dume just told me to check in on all of you,” replied Apher. “Any suspicious activity?”“None,” said Tolek, patting the horn he carried around his neck. “We all know what to do in case of an emergency, though.” He noted a dented portion of her torso armor. “How’s stave practice going?”“Better than wrestling last week,” said Apher, glancing down at her own horn. “Thanks for asking.”Apher continued over to Juin, the Toa of Ice, currently in deep conversation with Turaga Settu.“…and furthermore, Turaga, it would be irresponsible to leave the surrounding villages perpetually unattended," said Juin.“But,” said the Turaga from behind his Kanohi Miru, “this village’s mines are more important to the larger economy than any other in the region.”“Yes, I understand that,” came Juin’s reply, “but if the other municipalities fall prey to bandits and the like, there won’t be any ‘larger economy’ to worry about!”Perfect, thought Apher, another quarrel for me to squelch. Taking a deep breath, she approached the two debaters and addressed them both, saying, “Turaga, Juin, what in Mata Nui’s name are you two arguing about?”“We, dear sister,” said Juin in his dulcet tones, “have been discussing the merits of having all the Toa bottled up in Fe-Koro, or else spreading out to patrol our own sections of the countryside.”“Which is my decision, Toa,” interjected Turaga Seetu. A grizzled veteran with a pitted gray Miru, he and the Toa, including Dume, were often at odds on how to best run the southwestern region of the Southern Continent.“There hasn’t been an attack on the village in over a month!” cried Juin. The Toa of ice was so agitated that his Great Komau began to shake. “And besides, the cost alone to house all of us-”“Juin,” said Apher, “I don’t mean to interrupt, but aren’t you supposed to be on patrol at the mines?”“The mi-?” said Juin, completely forgetting the argument. “Er, truly, I have neglected my duty. I shall go at once.” The Toa of ice turned towards the gate, but not before leaving a final word for the Turaga. “We aren’t yet finished, Turaga. Dume agrees with me, and he said you both would discuss this matter in detail at another ti-”“Get to your post!” yelled the aged Turaga. “Remember the three virtues! Unity, duty, destiny! In the interest of unity, do you duty, or your destiny will be to polish my staff with your tongue!”Apher eyed Seetu’s worn walking staff as Juin went on his way out. It was made out of the finest iron, with a large green gem embedded in the top.“Thank you, by the way,” said Seetu to Apher. “I thought I’d never get rid of him. Rookies, think they know everything because they went to some fancy school.”“You’re welcome sir,” said Apher, “but I didn’t do it for you. I’m interested in the unity of this team, but I’ll leave the management to our leaders.”“Yeah, yeah, sure,” said Seetu, walking away to his shelter. "Turaga Jovan, he'd like you." He glanced over his shoulder before going in out of the bright sunlight.Apher continued over to the bottom of the wall near Zima, the Toa of electricity. “Anything to report?” she called.Zima looked down and made chopping motion with her hand, and then walked along.“Alright then,” shouted Apher. “Thanks, I guess.”Apher’s last stop to make to was at Tyothis’ post. The old fellow sat in the shade, allowing two Fe-Koro guardsmen to do most of the work. His spear was stuck in the ground next to him, but his shield remained strapped to his front arm.“Toa Tyothis!” she called, walking up to the aged Toa. “How are things at the front gate?”“Just fine and dandy,” said Tyothis. He got up, stretched his muscles, and adjusted the shield mounted to his arm. He then took his spear and walked over to Apher. The gate was empty now, but was generally busier in the morning and evening.“How’s staff practice going?” said the Toa of fire.“Good, good,” said Apher. “Any suspicious activity to report?”“Well,” said Tyothis, “we had one wagon with a load of something metal in a box, but it turned out to just be a bunch of iron nails. We had another feller’ with a small herd of Mahi, but they were all right, though one of them-”“Caravan!” shouted the lookout in the tower next to the gate. An ussel cart pulling a cage on wheels, containing a snorting Kane-Ra bull, came towards the gate. A Le-Matoran drove the cart, a Ga-Matoran and a Po-Matoran sitting alongside him.“Well, what have we got here?” said Tyothis. He went over to the cart as the two Fe-Matoran guards ordered it to come to a stop. “You got a license for this here Kane-Ra bull?” said the Toa of fire to the Le-Matoran.“I beg your pardon,” said the Le-Matoran from behind a teal Noble Komau, “but the great Janbar does not have a license! He is wild, untamed, the greatest of his kind, and I, Boroval, am the only one who can tame-”“Do you or do you not have a license?” interrupted Tyothis. Tyothis had little patience for pomp of any kind, and was at this moment not liking this Boroval one bit.“We have a license,” said one the Po-Matoran, pulling a stone tablet from his pack. “Here, sir Toa.”Tyothis examined the license. It was worn and a little crumbled, but it was valid. “See about renewing the thing soon,” he said, handing the tablet back to the Po-Matoran.Meanwhile, Apher noticed that the bull was becoming more and more agitated. It moved crazily about in the cage, eyeing its surroundings with venom.“Rahi like the Kane-Ra bull need open fields and pasture land,” opined Apher. “It’s going mad in that cage.”“Fear not, fair water maiden,” said Boroval majestically. “In the arena, before me, this beast is a gentle as our ussel crab. Come, see our show tomorrow night and-”“Move along,” said Tyothis, waving his spear. The cart moved along, but the bull continued to stare at Tyothis. It snorted, and charged against the bars, the impact shaking the cart and nearly sending the Ga-Matoran over the side.“Sirs!” shouted Apher. “Your bull seems to be extremely agitated. I would advise that you leave the village and-”It was too late. The Kane-Ra bull slammed its head against the bars of its cage a second and final time before they were broken loose from the wooden frame. The bars clattered onto the ground as the bull jumped from the cart, moving around, looking for something to charge at. It spotted Tyothis, standing in his dusty red armor, shield and spear at the ready. The Kane-Ra bull let out a bellow, and began to summon its strength for a charge.Apher was glued to her spot in abject horror at the situation. But training took over, and she reached for her horn, put it to her lips, and blew.

Dume looked up from his sparring match with Hain, the distinct sound of the alarm horn echoing throughout the village. “Go!” he shouted. “It’s the alarm!”The three Toa, Dume, Naiphak, and Hain, raced to the armory to retrieve their Toa tools. Dume took his Ember Blade from its spot, Naiphak his mace, and Hain his sword and shield.“Hain!” said Dume. “Scout the situation!”Hain nodded, knowing that now was not the time for wisecracks. In a blur of green, he rushed from the armory with the power of his mask of speed, and was back again in an instant.“Kane-Ra bull in the market place,” he said, catching his breath as he did. “Tolek, Apher, and Tyothis are trying to keep it in one place, but their efforts aren’t going to hold up for long.”“We’ll settle that!” declared Dume. “Here’s the plan. I and Naiphak will distract the Rahi. Kane-Ra bulls are agitated by the color red, so it will naturally charge at me. Hain, you get Zima, she has the mask of Rahi control. Now go!”“Yes sir!” said Hain, before departing once more.“We’ll distract the beast?” said Naiphak to Dume, trying to keep pace with his leader’s stride.“Yes,” said Dume, igniting his sword. “Your Kanohi Calix might just come in handy.”The two came out of the stadium, finding a largely deserted market place. Most of the Matoran had bolted themselves into their homes, only a few cowering in the shadows while a despairing opera played out before them.Apher was attempting to use her mask of strength to wrestle the Kane-Ra bull to the ground. Tolek was apparently trying to wall the bull in, his lack of success betrayed by several broken stone slabs jutting out of the ground. Tyothis was standing his ground across from Tolek, with Apher and the Kane-Ra between them, but limping. He had his spear couched beneath his arm, his shield over his torso. An overturned cart lay off to the side, on Tyothis’ right.Dume waved his sword at the bull, prancing about on his toes. “Rahi, come forth!” he yelled, swishing his blazing sword back and forth. Naiphak for his part slammed his mace into the ground.Apher looked at Dume, her eyes screaming, Are you insane?“Let go, Apher! I have a plan!” shouted Dume. “Trust me!”Apher nodded, and then let go.The charging Kane-Ra bull galloped in Dume’s direction, snorting, growling even, its eyes full of hate and rage. Dume looked it right in the eye, fully intending to leap out of the way at the last possible second, to play a game of cat and mouse with the bull- when it suddenly stopped.Naiphak looked to the right, and saw Zima coming forward with her hand outstretched, her mask glowing from use. The Kane-Ra bull stopped as though on a leash, digging its hooves into the ground to stop its charge. It then proceeded to turn around, slowly rumbling towards Zima, before collapsing into a sitting position.“Sleep,” commanded Zima. The bull lowered its head and closed its eyes.Dume hadn’t been happier to see his fellow Toa any day before now. “Perfect, Zima!” he called. “Tolek! Make a pit for the beast.”As Tolek did as he was ordered, Dume spotted Juin arriving from the direction of the gate. Tyothis, meanwhile, had dropped his spear, and was leaning on Apher. “Juin!” called Dume, “Help Apher move Tyothis to his shelter! He is injured!”“Yes sir!” came the reply from the Toa of ice. Discarding his blade-staffs, Juin took Tyothis’ shield arm, and walked off with him towards Tyothis’ hut, not far from their current location.While all of this was going on, Matoran began to stream out of their homes, slowly filling up the area. Naiphak quickly created an iron fence to surround the bull pit, while Tolek and Zima directed curious Matoran away from it.Turaga Seetu came through the crowd, led by Hain, and approached Dume and Naiphak. The four beings stood, starring at each other in an awkward silence. Then, Seetu shouted, “Three cheers for the Toa Sudak, who have saved our village on this day!”The crowd of Matoran burst into applause, cheering and clapping in an excited manner which Dume had never before seen in the village’s populace.“Sudak! Sudak! Sudak!” they cried with all of their might. Dume could only stand and wave approvingly, Naiphak and Hain doing the same.“Turaga!” said a voice next to Dume. “Turaga Dume! Turaga Dume!”

Suddenly, Turaga Dume woke up.He looked around, seeing a red face against the dark ceiling. He looked up towards his window. It was night out.“Turaga, sir,” said the Agori attendant. “The banquet is in one hour, and I was told to come and let you know.”“Eh… yes, of course,” said Dume, righting himself into a sitting position on the bed. How long was I asleep? he thought. “I’m sorry, what is your name?” he said to the Agori.“Kyry, sir,” said the fire Agori.Dume adjusted his mask. It had gone crooked as he lay asleep. “Kyry,” he said, “please send for my aide, Aft.”“Yes sir,” said Kyry. He gave a slight nod, and then turned and left the room.Perhaps there is more for me to do yet, thought Dume. What else are old duffers like me for anyway?About ten minutes later, Aft came into Dume’s room. “You sent for me, Turaga?”“Yes, Aft. I want you to prepare a message for Kopeke the chronicler while I go to Raanu’s banquet.” Dume stood up to stretch his legs. He took his cane from its position leaning next to the wall.“In this message,” said Dume, looking Aft in the eye, which was hard because Aft wore a Kanohi Akaku, “tell the chronicler that I wish to share with him my years as a Matoran and Toa, for the sake of posterity. I wish to begin as soon as possible.”“Yes sir,” said Aft, nodding. The fire Matoran bowed, and then left the room.Dume then sat back down on the bed, ready for Kyry to come back to escort him to the banquet. Yes, perhaps there is still a duty for me yet.

Okay. Was this serious or sarcastic? Was Vakama the disillusioned guy who is being made fun of, Berix the stupidly honest guy being made fun of, or Mata Nui the gullible guy being made fun of?

How about all three?Anyway, I liked this - it sort of reminded me of one of my old works, but a bit better. Here's what I liked best:

Taipu1: They’re just reading a card some guys holding up.GregF: I have a name!

(Speaking of which, "guys" should be "guy is")

Berix: I thought you worshipped the ground he walked on.Vakama: Only because he was the ground I walked on. No need now, overall there was a lot less stress when Makuta was in charge.

I'm not sure if Vakama is being sarcastic here. I think he is, but not sure on it.Good job, looking forward to next chapter if this thing is going to continue.

This is quite possibly the greatest short story that I have ever read on BZPower. Kiina's character is completely fleshed out, in a portrayal worthy of Greg Farshtey. Your story is a genuinely brilliant character of study of her, and I just love a good character study. And for once, Onua is living up to his purported attribute of being the "wisest" of the Toa, and I just love that he hasnt' been reduced to the level of boistrous bruiser here. Our favorite Toa of Earth is a great character for Kiina to bounce off of. Likeable, wise, patient- generally everything that Kiina isn't. My favorite part was when Kiina asked Onua why he had is feet stuck in the ground, and his response made me laugh out loud. It's also a quite interesting detail which adds depth to Onua's character, very much so.I find it a little hard to believe, however, that one of the most sacred artifacts of the Matoran Universe, which once had huge amounts of security, has been repurposed for the sake of decoration. I'm sure that the Order of Mata Nui is throwing a fit over that matter. Also, in this story, you used the term "Le-Korans." The proper term is "Le-Matoran." And finally, how was Onua able to touch the Mask of Life without being cursed? Was he too "destined" to touch the mask? I feel like that should have been addressed. Kiina would surely point this out, I believe.But nevertheless, this an absolutely phenomenal tale, and I would fervently place it upon my my list of favorite BZP fan-stories, should I ever be called upon to compose such a list.Best of luck with that contest!Sincerely, X-Ray

I think they should use the old American way of animating, animating cels and that stuff. But aside from that, blood is out of the question for MU beings, but maybe for the Bara Magnians. Romance could work for Bara magma but not sO much for the MU. If anything, it needs to be more horrific in design for te villains in order to get a better feel (maybe Tim Burton could help visualize it) since the story can get dark. I guess the glatorian and agora could look more human since they are not organic, (and to help people relate o the show) but its out of the question whether the Toa, Turaga, and matoranshould look human

Ohmanohmanohmanohman... First off, I'd like to apologize to everybody here, especially boneseii, for getting all flamey. Truly, I do not like arguing at all. Secondly, I realise that I'm taking this whole thing way too seriously. I have really strong views on things like this, and I let that get in the way of having a friendly but serious chat about this subject. Thirdly, I realise that due to a lack of my own understanding, my own theory may be flawed, and all of this argument has been for naught.You were talking about the original pit? Oh man, that changes everything. (Of course, since the OMN still used the "new" Pit for a long time, there's still issues there, but I digress).So, let's set down some points here.Point 1: While vague, the Toa Code has been established to indeed provide for the use of lethal force, but only in situations where such force is reasonably justified. Point 2: The original Pit was actually a pretty humane prison. The new Pit, not so much.Point 3: The Toa and Vahki's role as police/soldiers has never been entirely clear, but the general idea is that the Toa and Vahki enforce the laws, catch criminals, and preserve the peace, like officers of various real life law enforcement agencies.Point 4: The OMN probably isn't looked down upon soley for killing, but mainly how they're so cold and casual about it, with their cavalier ends-justify-the-means-take-no-prisoners attitude. That, I really think is worthy of being concerned with.Let's step back from all of this text-snarling (entirely my fault. Really, really sorry, I did get a bit emotional back there; also, treespeak for the win!), so that I may start over, and ask- are these points what you are trying to say? X-Ray

I think it may have been stated somewhere that the "Toa Code" allows for killing only when absolutely nessascary, but throughout the Bionicle saga, our heroes on consistently written as if it's no killing, period.

Yes, it's confirmed by Greg. There was a major debate once between someone worrying because the Toa were killing in extreme cases, and Greg and me pointing out how sometimes it's necessary. He gave lots of reasons and scenarios in that topic why the Toa sometimes need to kill, etc.And again, I think the reason it's written this way is literally a challenge to you the reader to change your thinking. Notice you're worrying about the exceptions and the killing. It almost seems as if people who do this (I'm not talking just to you here so pardon if this doesn't describe you, just a general observation from experience) are missing the point of the Code. It is to emphasize, strongly, that we should be thinking about how to avoid killing, not about how to find reasons TO kill.Maybe if we humans truly adopted this attitude we would have seriously advanced stun technology beyond the rather clumsy tazers we currently have, and police would have long ago been fully equipped with these. Notice how on TV you almost always still see cops drawing a gun first, not a tazer. Why? Tazers are lame for the most part, even today. That's basically the fault of the entire populace for not seriously trying hard to fund research into better stun technologies. We don't care enough about it.

Also, I'm comparing the Toa to a real-life police force in terms of principle. Toa are essentially military police in function, even though they talk like they're superheroes half the time (thus, no to all killing), and most of the threats they fight, are, like I said, acts of war anyway, and that's something else entirely.

No, they really aren't, though. The closest thing to police are Vahki, and even these have various advanced no-kill options (prior to the glitch ).Toa are more like highly skilled special ops commandos with very advanced stun technology and skills, who often go after high-value targets who need to be captured for information, not killed.

As for the Pit being a more merciful alternative to execution; dude, it's the Pit. It's a living death. And of course regular prisons in the MU (if they existed) would be a lot different from real life prisons. But all they need is a courty system and some laws actually carved out in stone, and *POOF* -all moral ambiguity and any drama derived therof disapears.

I really don't understand what you're trying to say here. For example, what do you mean that it's a "living death"? Maybe that's how you think you would feel if you were put there, but that's just you, isn't it? And how is that, again, any different from real prisons? They're not fun either.And that last line opens up a ton of cans of worms. Legalism has become a monster in and of itself in modern society. Most problems can be solved with the simple principle of thinking things through carefully with a strong goal towards peacefulness and harmony. A lot of times exponentially increasing laws create the impression that something is okay as long as there's a legal loophole for it.