BULiK

IC: Arnex She looked at the ship. "We're already here..."

IC: Arnex "Where do you want to go, captain?" IC: Berys Berys groaned. He was alive. He would make it. Probably.

IC: Knichou, Ehlek's Fortress Knichou saw in his hud as Nale and Vashni moved to a new location. He turned mid stride and barreled through the fortress, walls parting from his element or tumbling from Varian's strength as he burst through the fortress to rejoin Nale as fast as he could.

OOC: WHOOPS DOUBLE POST

IC: Exuze, Kini-Nui Exuze shed a tear at the sight. There was no reason to wait. Finally, he could get off this Karz-forsaken rock. "Thank you. I am in your debt. You know where to find me if you need my, uh, admittedly mediocre set of skills." The Ta-Lesterin stepped through the portal. IC: Arnex, The Taku Arnex shut the #### ramp.

IC: Jojax and Berys JOJAX MUST FIGHT But how could Jojax fight and project her master at the same time? Jojax saw the Taku out of the corner of her eye. Berys saw the ship and felt a glimmer of hope that Jojax observed. FRIEND PROJECT JOJAX FIGHT HARDER The Tahtorak rapidly rotated her head with a satisfying crackle of scales. The diminished Berys lost his grip and was flung off, powerless, in the direction of the Taku's open boarding ramp. Rose heard a kindred fighter psionically give an order. It wasn't a word as much as a feeling. :CATCH:

IC: Knichou, Ehlek's Fortress Knichou reached the intersection. "Is he with you?"

IC: Arnex, Irnakk's Tooth, The Taku "C-captain Triage? What do we do?"

IC: Knichou & Varian, Ehlek's Fortress, Asylum Pre-Processing "You are alive, that is what matters. Fear not." Knichou set Nuparu down and climbed into Varian's cockpit. As the loose fitting restraints shut, the Turaga's mask glowed with power. Varian's dry mechanical bones were washed with a shining drizzle of liquid metal, the nanites rapidly weaving themselves into sinewy muscles of protosteel that made the Exo-Toa almost look like a real one. The claw retracted into a wristblade and a blob-like hand sprouted in it's place. The electro-rocket was joined with a second barrel, a ghostblaster that Nuparu had never seen before. Adaptive Exo-Armor. Huh. Knichou scooped up Nuparu in the Exo-Toa's arm and began to retrace his earlier steps to rejoin with his team. NU followed her father... and... uncle? Family friend, how about that. "Nale, I'm on my way. What's your status?"

IC: Arnex "What do you mean inside the volcano? How?!?? There might not be any volcano left soon!" Arnex said, pointing to the kaiju. A speck of green dangled from its forehead.

IC: Arnex, Irnakk's Tooth, The Taku, Bridge Arnex was in awe at the sight of a tahtorak ripping and tearing into the volcano. "Mata Nui..."

IC: Berys, Irnakk's Tooth, A Leaf On The Wind A comforting strap slid loose as Jojax swung around. A satchel was flung off in a wide arc, bouncing against the cliffside before coming to rest near the piles of skulls marking an entrance to Irnakk's tooth. Hopefully nothing important was inside. OOC: @Tarn

IC: Berys, Irnakk's Tooth, On Top Of The World The Le-Matoran murmured, wobbling on the verge of consciousness. He held onto the rocks around him for dear life... the rocks... the scales... the warmth... not lava... The air... fresh... Roaring winds... Unprocessed air... Berys was flying. Was he... dead? Did he fail to save Triage? Was that light the - no that was definitely the sun. ow. A half-broken berys clung to Jojax's head, struggling to keep his eyes open. He was alive but not yet free of danger. His fight was not finished. Jojax's master hoarsely whispered, but she could feel his thoughts with her powers. "must... fight... mountain..." "Save... t-tr-"

IC: Arnex, Irnakk's Tooth, The Taku, Bridge "If Berys couldn't land there, you can't," Arnex said. "No offense." She pulled a lever marked 'boarding ramp'. "Just pull us close enough for them to jump on." The Onu-Matoran contacted Rose's turret over the intercom. "Rose, help them get aboard." A psionic and sonic roar vibrated throughout the mountainside. Even the Taku felt like it shook. Arnex cradled her head for a few moments. "What was that? Who is Jojax? Let's make this quick..."

IC: Arnex, Irnakk's Tooth, The Taku, Bridge The Taku rose, the mountainside clearer from above. Halfway up the mountain, Vahki were waving for their attention. "I don't know. The team was going to a tunnel higher up the mountain, right? Let's check there, first."

IC: Arnex, Irnakk's Tooth, The Taku, Bridge The Taku's engine's flared to life as Vican and Niidak learned on the job together. Levitation Kanoka clanged. Generators purred. The refugee flagship awaited Niidak's command. "I don't know," Arnex responded. She tried to use radio. "Hello? Is anyone there?" Silence. "This is the Taku, do you read?" A ghastly voice could be made out in between coughs. << PKAhkjn... afhellpppppp... haaaalivphca... >> "Someone's alive, and it sounds like they need help, fast." OOC: @Daniel the Finlander, pretty sure @Vezok's Friend won't be posting for a bit so just go on ahead.

you'll love 2022

IC: Berys, Irnakk’s Tooth, the ####ing blowhole of the ####ing volcano!!! Berys was afraid. The Kahu had flown through the plume of smoke as it successfully knocked the assailant to his doom. That was when Berys’s real problems had begun. The Le-Matoran hacked as the poisonous smoke scorched his lungs, and was barely able to see ahead as the Kahu rocketed forwards. The airship tilted slightly downwards as the Le-Matoran tried and failed to wipe the soot off his Kaukau’s visor. The Kahu hit the inside of the volcano at full speed. Berys would have been thrown from the vehicle, ending his flight then and there, if it weren’t for his seatbelt. The Kahu began to tilt downwards as the engine scraped it against the wall, and the two front levitation engines burst into smoke, making utterly horrid noises. The roll cage around the passenger section was the only thing between him and being ground against the volcano’s inner wall. Berys struggled to reach around him for the emergency kanoka parachutes. Where were they again? The partially blinded Le-Matoran heaved, his arm eventually reaching some kind of strap. That was his ticket out. He wrapped one strap around his shoulder, and reached for the other, but it was not to be found. This was no parachute. The Kahu hit a large rock outcropping and began to spin around it’s yaw axis, which had actually become it’s roll axis. Berys only saw a faded swirl, his hands felt for the parachutes, and found the small compartment in the dashboard they were stored in near the passenger’s seat. Berys grabbed onto one, unlatched his seatbelt, and was promptly flung from the vehicle from the force of it's spinning. The skydiving Le-Matoran was starved for air, all he could comprehend was the glow of the magma below, threatening to singe his optics. The Kanoka parachute had left his grasp, but it was free falling with Berys. The airship pilot saw the dark blob amidst the burning light below and promptly attempted to intercept like his life depended on it, because it did. The Le-Matoran flailed about, trying to spread his body in the right way that air resistance would push him closer to the chute. Berys collided with it mid air as the ground approached. He tried to put it on as he aimed for the one spot that wasn’t magma – some kind of outcropping where there was signs of a battle? He pulled the rip cord and the levitation kanoka yanked him upwards, the pilot’s momentum knocking the wind out of him. A moment later the weight increase kanoka kicked in and Berys fell at half gravity the last few meters, landing with a crunch. The sounds of the Kahu’s crash echoed throughout the tunnels. The vehicle hit the magma fast, and the liquid protodermis tank burst and its contents boiled, temporarily cooling parts of the lava below. Berys attempted to stand, took a limping step forwards, and crumpled to the ground, coughing. His arm landed on the satchel, and a forgotten hand radio buzzed to life, the Le-Matoran’s sputtering and the bubbling of magma and steam broadcasting on the airwaves with a weak signal. Berys was alone, Berys was afraid. OOC: @Tarn @Vezok's Friend @Daniel the Finlander and maybe @Unreliable Narrator

IC: Exuze, Kini-Nui, Kaita Bunker Exuze stepped through Zataka's portal... and found the valley was filled with even more chaos than before. "Wait, what do ya mean 'if you don't see either of us again'?" Exuze asked, confused about the specifics of the 'plan' here. "Aren't'chya takin' us home now?"

save the meme... save the dream...

IC: Exuze, Kini-Nui, Suva thingamabob Exuze was quiet as they arrived at the temple. He was just glad to be off the airship. He kept his mouth shut as Zataka and Viltia did things way beyond his pay grade. He just wanted to... actually, Exuze wasn't sure what he wanted anymore. He had stood up to a titan and won, and probably saved the universe. Maybe a universe. Look, Exuze knew he saved something. Probably. The forager watched Viltia reforge the legendary kanohi. Could she make him a new arm in that forge? Exuze looked at the blackened protosteel. The large dent stood as a reminder of his one heroic deed. He stared at it for a few moments. Exuze decided that he didn't need any repairs or replacements. The Ta-Lesterin looked up as Zataka donned the mask. The portal was like magic. "Woah... I think I get tha 'how' of yer plan now... wherever you're going, take me with ya..." IC: Arnex, Irnakk's Tooth, The Taku, Bridge "Niidak... you installed those engines, you should get to use them for once," Arnex said, gesturing to Knichou's comfortable pilot's seat. The Taku awaited her command. "Pilots, let's get closer to the volcano, see if we can get eyes on them. Rose, go to your turret and be on lookout below us." OOC: @Vezok's Friend @Daniel the Finlander take off whenever, both of you are at the wheel (presuming niidak wants to be, that is. you never know with niidak hahahha)

IC: Arnex, Irnakk's Tooth, The Taku, Bridge Arnex punched a button on the dashboard forcefully. Some kind of rectangular cartridge was spit out, labelled "Knichou Mixtape #1" The music stopped. "Let's check in," Arnex said. She worked the radio for a few moments but neither Berys nor Triage were responding. "Uh oh..." "I think you're right, Niidak, we need to get moving. Do you think you and Vican can fly this thing?" OOC: @Toru Nui @Vezok's Friend @Daniel the Finlander

IC: Knichou, Ehlek's Flying Fortress Knichou gave Varian a gracious nod. The time would soon come. The Turaga was tired. "Don't worry, NU is... she has a mind of her own," Knichou admitted, unexpectedly moved by the automato-synthetic's words. "Not one of the others. We're here to help."

or a new foe her benevolence has yet to be determined

IC: Knichou, Ehlek's Fortress, Asylum Preprocessing Knichou ignored the Vahki's words, stunned by what he found. He couldn't believe his optics. Not just at the horrors lining the room, but the one hopeful sign he saw in front of him. Rapidly diminishing, much like Knichou's hope throughout this ordeal. All of this had happened before, and it would happen again. The Onu-Matoran's shackles melted, the instruments of torture were telekinetically pulled away by their metallic parts as Knichou drew close. Knichou cradled a mortally wounded Nuparu in his arms for the second time. He was powerless to stop the universe's collapse for the second time. Knichou wept. Tears filled his optics, the world morphed into a blur. Knichou saw a bright flash, a melting mask, optics burst into flames. "There's not enough time-" Nuparu was right. There never was enough time. Time was running out, as it always had been. Knichou saw a Turaga give up ultimate power to trust a young hero. "You have whatever you need, but first, our time has come." Sans was right. Knichou had everything he needed, and more. His time had arrived. Knichou saw the shores of a land long abandoned . He saw his love, beautiful as ever in a form he never thought he'd see. He saw rolling fields of not his homeland, but his home. Home followed one, shapeshifting into whatever it needed to be. Nynrah burned. Artakha burned. The Taku was rebuilt, more his own creation than it's original incarnation. Home was not a place, but a feeling, and Knichou knew that much like home, love would fit whatever shape he and Nale found themselves in. Two razorfish playfully leapt out of the Nynran sea in an arc, splashing back beneath the crystal blue waves before returning to their play. Knichou thought he could retire here. He wished he would. A Toa could dream. The former Ghost's fight was coming to an end. He had performed his duty to the memory of his people, fulfilled the wishes of Dume and Sans by doing all he could to stave off oblivion, and had inspired others to pick up their tools and build a brighter future. Stannis descended into the final chambers to save Knichou's people once again. "I’ve done my part well, the others will do theirs, you will do what must be done. It will all work out. I did my part...” Knichou was powerless to stop the universe's collapse for a second time. There was nothing more Knichou could do to change this cycle's fate. He had to hope his wish was fulfilled, but either this fight finished... Knichou knew he wouldn't need his current strength. His hopes, the hopes of a bright future for the Matoran, were with Caedast. No, Stannis. Knichou had learned what felt like a year ago that one Toa could not save the universe. But one Toa was all it took to save a life. The Wanderer had faith that if another Toa of Iron was needed, Destiny would ensure a new hero arose. The commander knew a Fe-Matoran who was far more deserving. Perhaps the former Ghost would live long enough to meet him again, guide his friend along the path, should Destiny will it. Knichou blinked away the tears. Nuparu was in his arms, heartlight fading. Not again. The Au-Toa would not watch the world's horrors repeat themselves. Not while he could still do one last thing about it. The cycle must be broken, the cycle must be broken, the cycle must be broken! The Au-Toa wept. His body glowed as his energy flowed into the Onu-Matoran, and felt his form diminish as Nuparu's faint heartlight strengthened. Wounds patched themselves, the Onu-Matoran's body was rejuvenated by the impossible power of a Toa's raw energy. The Turaga of iron and light wiped away his tears. OOC: @Unreliable Narrator @Toru Nui