CHAPTER EIGHT
"So, where to now?"
Kopaka, Pohatu, and their fellow escapees had found refuge in a small chamber not far from the one they had escaped from. Kopaka could still hear the agonized cries of their former pursuers....
"Toa Kopaka?"
The Toa Nuva of Ice looked down at Mavrah, whose Kanohi Pakari was creased with fear. "I don't know," he said with a sigh. "Those... things we faced were one thing, but since the Kestora are in control of this station, they likely have better means to get rid of us."
Mavrah went silent, as if he was thinking. Then he said, "Are you sure we couldn't have Botar teleport us out of here?"
"I'm afraid to think of the risks, considering the Kestora have likely tampered with him. Besides, I want to get to the bottom of how everyone who should be dead isn't."
"But there are risks in doing that as well," the Onu-Matoran pointed out. "The only ones who would know about it would be the Kestora, and you just said so yourself that they could kill us if they want to."
"True," the Toa of Ice said, a faint smile crossing his mask. "However, I believe you have given me an idea."
* * *
Toa Iruini moved with as much stealth as he could manage through the Skakdi fortress. It was days like these that he wished he carried a spare Mask of Stealth or Concealment with him. Or maybe even a Mahiki....
The Toa of Air stopped when he heard voices. Part of the reason why the Skakdi hadn't noticed him yet was because they were constantly working, moving back and forth while carrying supplies. Now they had suddenly stopped as a Skakdi in black and dark gray armor became the center of their attention.
"You are being deceived!" he cried. "The one whom you worship may have promised us lives of fortune, but I know better! He is simply using us as tools for his own plans and will dispose of us when-"
He was silenced when a burly Skakdi in crimson armor grabbed him by the shoulders. Another one, clad in blue and green, walked up to the protester, an ugly sneer on his face.
"Perhaps you need a nap, Nohov," the Skakdi of Plant Life said. "When you wake up, you may tend to the Tahtorak pens. They haven't been cleaned in a while."
Ignoring Nohov's pleads, the red Skakdi dragged him away while the others returned to work, giving Iruini the chance to continue moving without their notice.
* * *
After Kopaka had told Pohatu and the others of his plan, the Toa Nuva of Stone did not portray any enthusiasm about it.
"Turn ourselves in to the Kestora?" he said incredulously. "If you had suggested that when we got here, I would've been okay with that. But after seeing those... things we just escaped from."
"I know," Kopaka said. "But if you have a better idea, I'm all ears."
Pohatu stared at him for a moment before sighing, no doubt realizing that he truly did not have a better idea.
"Okay," he said. "So, what do we do?"
"You and I will seek out the Kestora and hand ourselves in as prisoners," Kopaka said. "Then we can hopefully learn something from them."
"Unless they decide to use you for experiments," the Turaga said. "But who am I to question a Toa?"
"But what if something does happen to you?" asked a Po-Matoran. "How would we be able to know?"
"Perhaps you should accompany them, Kodan," suggested Toa Naho. "You should be small and fast enough to escape the Kestora's clutches. That's how you and the other Matoran were able to survive initially."
"I could come too," Mavrah said. "You know... just in case you need two Matoran."
"You can come along if you wish," Kopaka said. "But only if you do as we tell you. Don't go off doing anything... stupid."
"Yeah," Pohatu said with an uneasy grin. "No point in dying twice."
Kopaka shot him an icy glare.
"Well, it sounded funny in my head," Pohatu muttered.
Kopaka simply rolled his eyes and left the chamber with his fellow Toa Nuva and the two Matoran.
CHAPTER NINE
After convincing the Agori to release Toa Lewa, whom the Agori were way of because of his "alien" powers, Gelu and his company spoke with the Bota Magna tribe elder, who had identified himself as Sarob.
"I'm afraid I don't know anything about the Great Beings being here," the elder said. "Except for the Cursed One, of course."
"The Cursed One?" Orde asked.
Sarob nodded. "Before the Shattering, the Great Beings imprisoned one of their own in a fortress not far from here."
Toa Lewa said something Gelu and the Agori didn't understand. Zaria translated for them.
"Lewa says that someone named Vezon transported him and eight others to the fortress. He also says that there is indeed a Great Being in there and that his companions are debating whether or not they should free him."
Sarob's expression darkened. "We must not allow that to happen. We have all heard of the tales of the Cursed One, and if he were to be freed, the power he would unleash...."
The Agori did not finish his sentence, but the power of his unspoken words were felt.
"Right then," Chiara said. "So we go to the Cursed One's fortress and prevent him from getting free. Should be easy, right?"
Gelu and the others stared at the Toa of Lightning. "Chiara," the Ice Glatorian said, "easy is never part of the job description."
Chiara waved an airily hand. "Whatever. As long as it gets done."
"Shall I have Kelos and his men accompany you?" Sarob asked.
Gelu shook his head. "I'd rather not risk their lives against a crazed Great Being. Unless they- or any one of you- know something we don't."
"I'm afraid not."
"Then we shall be on our way." Gelu gestured to the four Toa. "Let's move."
* * *
The unwelcome guests were within range. Their soon-to-be murderer grinned as he sent the signal.
Today was going to be a bright one. He only hoped that the noise did not attract any unwanted attention....
* * *
"GET BACK!"
Kopeke and the other Matoran did as Takanuva ordered and ran back the way they had come. An enormous explosion suddenly rocked the earth and sent them flying off their feet. Smoke started to obscure Kopeke's vision and the Ko-Matoran soon lost sight of Takanuva.
With debris falling everywhere, Kopeke scrambled for cover but was prevented from doing so when a huge slab of rock landed on his legs, crushing them. His cries of pain went unheard. Then, several things happened at once:
A mighty roar shook the earth; several voices called out, though the words could not be understood; the sound of elemental energy being fired; and then, silence.
For a long time, Kopeke remained still, uncertain if he should move to free himself. Suddenly, he felt the stone's weight on him vanish as a large being in red and silver armor removed the piece of debris.
"You weren't needing that, were you?" the stranger asked.
Too shocked to speak, Kopeke began looking around for his companions. "Where's-?"
"Right here." A blue finger tapped him on the shoulder and the Ko-Matoran looked up to see Macku, Garan, and the others. Noticing his crushed legs, Macku's eyes widened. "Kopeke, your legs-"
"Don't worry," the stranger said. "I can mend them, at least to ease the pain. He may need help walking, though."
"Who are you?" Kopeke asked. "What just happened? Where's Toa Takanuva?"
"My name is Axonn," the being said as he tended to the Ko-Matoran's legs. "I'm not exactly sure myself about what has just happened. I was simply protecting the two Matoran."
Kopeke blinked. "Matoran?"
As if on cue, a Ta-Matoran and a Po-Matoran came out from behind Axonn. "How's it going, Kopeke?" the latter said.
Kopeke beamed. "Kapura! Hafu! What are you doing here?"
"Long story," the Ta-Matoran Kapura said. "We should be asking you guys the same."
"Long story, too."
"There," Axonn said, standing up from Kopeke. "I've done what I could. Can you stand?"
Rising to his feet, the Ko-Matoran confirmed that he could, albeit weakly. Balta walked up to him and gave him one of his Repellers so that he could balance on it.
From the site of the explosion, a blue-armored female- Kopeke assumed she was a Toa, despite her scarred appearance- walked up to Axonn, an unsettled look on her face.
"They're gone," she said.
Axonn frowned. "Who is?"
"The Great Being, Vezon, Miserix, Tuyet, and the Toa of Light. They all went through the portal."
"What portal?" Macku asked. "Where's Takanuva?"
The female Toa sighed. "Save your questions for later. We need to get out of this place and-"
"What in Mata Nui's name just happened?"
Everyone turned to see a green and silver Toa of Air, accompanied by three other Toa and a Glatorian.
"Toa Lewa?" Tamaru exclaimed. "Looks like we're accomplishing everything we set out to do!"
"Don't get your hopes up," Kopeke murmured. "I think things are going to take a turn from here on out...."
With debris falling everywhere, Kopeke scrambled for cover but was prevented from doing so when a huge slab of rock landed on his legs, crushing them. His cries of pain went unheard. Then, several things happened at once:
A mighty roar shook the earth; several voices called out, though the words could not be understood; the sound of elemental energy being fired; and then, silence.
For a long time, Kopeke remained still, uncertain if he should move to free himself. Suddenly, he felt the stone's weight on him vanish as a large being in red and silver armor removed the piece of debris.
"You weren't needing that, were you?" the stranger asked.
Too shocked to speak, Kopeke began looking around for his companions. "Where's-?"
"Right here." A blue finger tapped him on the shoulder and the Ko-Matoran looked up to see Macku, Garan, and the others. Noticing his crushed legs, Macku's eyes widened. "Kopeke, your legs-"
"Don't worry," the stranger said. "I can mend them, at least to ease the pain. He may need help walking, though."
"Who are you?" Kopeke asked. "What just happened? Where's Toa Takanuva?"
"My name is Axonn," the being said as he tended to the Ko-Matoran's legs. "I'm not exactly sure myself about what has just happened. I was simply protecting the two Matoran."
Kopeke blinked. "Matoran?"
As if on cue, a Ta-Matoran and a Po-Matoran came out from behind Axonn. "How's it going, Kopeke?" the latter said.
Kopeke beamed. "Kapura! Hafu! What are you doing here?"
"Long story," the Ta-Matoran Kapura said. "We should be asking you guys the same."
"Long story, too."
"There," Axonn said, standing up from Kopeke. "I've done what I could. Can you stand?"
Rising to his feet, the Ko-Matoran confirmed that he could, albeit weakly. Balta walked up to him and gave him one of his Repellers so that he could balance on it.
From the site of the explosion, a blue-armored female- Kopeke assumed she was a Toa, despite her scarred appearance- walked up to Axonn, an unsettled look on her face.
"They're gone," she said.
Axonn frowned. "Who is?"
"The Great Being, Vezon, Miserix, Tuyet, and the Toa of Light. They all went through the portal."
"What portal?" Macku asked. "Where's Takanuva?"
The female Toa sighed. "Save your questions for later. We need to get out of this place and-"
"What in Mata Nui's name just happened?"
Everyone turned to see a green and silver Toa of Air, accompanied by three other Toa and a Glatorian.
"Toa Lewa?" Tamaru exclaimed. "Looks like we're accomplishing everything we set out to do!"
"Don't get your hopes up," Kopeke murmured. "I think things are going to take a turn from here on out...."
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