ENDLESS COMA
-Present-
The Shadowed One sat in his cold, dark throne room. As he awaited Sentrakh to report on his mission of tracking down the rogue Piraka, he glanced at a stasis vat that stood in the corner of the room.
The leader of the Dark Hunters chuckled quietly, remembering vividly the day he captured the being that currently floated in that vat, resting in an endless coma...
-17,700 Years Ago-
The bright sun reflected off of Toa Varian's emerald and azure armor as he sat on a small slab of stone, watching the Matoran of the Northern Continent work and play as any other normal Matoran. It reminded him fondly of his days as a Matoran, all of those times he spent with his friends.
However, those friends were long gone, for they were brutally killed before his very eyes by the Dark Hunter known only as Screamer.
With a sigh, Varian rose to his feet to meet up with the other members of his Toa team. Toa Dume, leader of the Toa team, was speaking with the Turaga of this region of the Northern Continent. A few months ago, Dume and his team were asked by the Vortixx to transport weapons to the Northern Continent, Stelt, and Odina.
"Well, Turaga, we're off," Dume was saying as Varian walked up. "I hope these weapons will do."
"They shall, Toa Dume," the Turaga replied. "I wish you a safe voyage to wherever you and your comrades are off to."
As the team of seven Toa returned to their boats, Varian turned to Dume. "So where to now?"
"Odina will be our last stop," the Toa of Fire answered. "The Vortixx didn't tell me much about the island, which I find rather strange..."
"Yeah, well, I've always been told to never trust a Vortixx," muttered a Toa of Air known as Iruini. "If we were to get killed on our way there, I'd be sure to blame them."
No one responded to the sarcastic Toa of Air as they climbed into their boats and sailed off, crossing the Silver Sea on their way to Odina. During the Toa's voyage, Varian could not help but feel dread as they grew closer to the island; the same dread he felt when he saw his friends die at the hands of Screamer.
It soon appeared to Varian that he was not the only one who felt this way. "I have a terrible-bad feeling about this," Iruini said quietly.
"So do I," Dume muttered. He called out to the three Toa in the other boat, "Be prepared!"
The moment those words left his mouth, a strange looking being leaped out of the water and attacked the vessel. The four Toa in the boat unleashed their Elemental powers at the creature, but came to no avail, as the being tore the ship apart and drowned the Toa.
The whole time, Varian and the others could only watch in horror, too shocked to do anything to save their comrades. By the time the being attacked again, this time at their boat, the three of them were ready. Varian used his Elemental powers to tangle the creature in vines, loosening them enough to let Iruini unleash a blast of Air that sent the being flying away.
Iruini let out a triumphant yell. "Ha! Farewell, you ever-ugly beast!"
Varian was about to join him when something caught his eye. "Er, Iruini, I wouldn't celebrate just yet...."
"What do you mean, brother?" the Toa of Air asked.
His answer came in the shape of a winged being that waited the surviving Toa on Odina's shore. The creature raised its staff and sent a blast of Acid at their vessel, devouring it like a meal. The three Toa scrambled to the shore as the being launched energy webs from its chest, binding the heroes together.
Shortly after the short and one-sided conflict, three more beings approached the Toa and their captor. The lead being was clad in gold and azure armor, and seemed to be older than the stars themselves. On his left was a hunchbacked creature that seemed to follow the ancient one's every move. The last one however, struck Varian to be the most recognizable of all, and the being's silvery appearance boiled him hotter than an angry Ta-Matoran.
Screamer...
"Well, well, well..." the ancient one muttered. "It's not often that we get visitors here." He turned to the silvery armored Dark Hunter. "Take these Toa to the Shadowed One, Screamer. Sentrakh, keep out for anyone who survived Amphibax's attack."
"What would the Shadowed One want with three Toa?" Screamer asked in a raspy voice. Varian cringed at the sound of it.
The ancient one glared at the silvery-armored Dark Hunter. "You are in no position to question my orders. Take them to the Shadowed One at once."
Muttering an unspeakable insult, Screamer seized Varian and Dume and dragged them away, while the winged one took Iruini. The two Dark Hunters took the three Toa to a large fortress that stood amongst huge cliffs. Inside, they entered a dark room that sent cold chills down Varian's back.
On top a stone throne sat a large, black armored being who glared down upon his visitors. Speaking in a cold voice, the Shadowed One said to the two Dark Hunters, "What are these scum doing here?"
"They washed ashore here," Screamer replied. "Along with an assortment of weapons."
"Is that so?" The Shadowed One's gaze turned to the captive Toa. "And why have you come to Odina with weapons? Have the Toa decided to attack us?"
"The Vortixx asked us to deliver them here," Dume muttered. "They didn't mention anything about you."
The Shadowed One smiled cruelly. "Ah, I see. I think it is simple enough to understand that you were betrayed. My...allies on Xia have told me how bothersome Toa can be. It is understandable that they sent you here to die.
"But don't worry, I won't kill you. Not today, at least. As long as you Toa stay out of our way, we won't harm you and your Matoran friends."
"LIAR!" Varian shouted. To his surprise, the energy webs that bind him wore off, allowing him to jump to his feet and advanced towards the Shadowed One. "Your slime have done more than just harm Matoran!"
Before he could attack, Screamer lashed out at Varian and pinned the Toa of Plant Life to the ground. The Shadowed One let out a mirthless laugh.
"Reckless are we?" the leader of the Dark Hunters said. "Well then, Screamer, I think this Toa deserve a challenge for his behavior. Wouldn't you agree?"
The silver Dark Hunter grinned silently as he backed away from Varian, unsheathing a pair of wrist-mounted blades. Varian reluctantly brought out his two Jungle Swords and braced himself as Screamer lunged at him. Blades crossed and Screamer quickly got the upper hand, pushing Varian back towards a wall.
The Toa of Plant Life activated his Mask of Speed and used it to evade the Dark Hunter. Before he could regather his composure however, Screamer emitted a sonic scream, which nearly deafened Varian. He quickly straightened himself and charged towards the Dark Hunter.
He collided with the warrior and sent them both crashing into a wall. Vines sprouted from Varian's hands, restraining Screamer to where he stood. Varian then brought his sword to the Dark Hunter's neck and hesitated.
All eyes were upon him. The Shadowed One, eagerly awaiting what would inevitably happen next; Dume and Iruini, hoping that their comrade would not dare to break the Toa Code; Screamer, boring his grey eyes into Varian's, anticipating the Toa's act of vengeance.
"Go on," the raspy-voiced Dark Hunter hissed. "Finish it."
All anger inside Varian erupted in flames and melted any feeling of regret or guilt. He brought his sword down and cut Screamer's last laugh short.
For the longest time, silence filled the room. Then, a slow clap jolted Varian back to reality.
"An excellent performance," the Shadowed One muttered as he approached Varian. Behind him, the winged being was dragging Dume and Iruini out of the throne room. "Your friends will be returned safely to the Northern Continent, as a reward for your bravery to break the Toa Code."
"So what happens to me?" Varian asked, preparing himself to face the Shadowed One.
"As for you," the Shadowed One responded, "you will be given a choice. You can join the Dark Hunters, for you have indeed proven your worth. Or you can fight me to the death for your freedom off of this island."
Varian's only answer was to raise his sword.
The Shadowed One smiled coldly. "Death it is, then."
Before Varian could make his move, a mass of darkness leaped out of the shadows. The last thing he saw was a pair of scarlet eyes staring down at him menacingly.
* * *
"I still don't understand why you kept him alive," Ancient muttered as he and the Shadowed One watched the large Dark Hunter Charger place a stasis vat in the corner of the throne room.
"It is because he is living proof of how foolish and stupid a Toa can be," the Shadowed One replied. "No matter how brave."
He gestured to where the other two Toa, Dume and Iruini, were dragged away so they could be sent back to their homeland. "His comrades were living proof of how smart a Toa can be, which is a rare occurrence among their kind. While I would rather have them as trophies...I don't think suspended animation would fit the meaning of their place."
"An interesting philosophy, I must say," Ancient remarked as he turned to leave. "Very interesting indeed...."
THE END
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