Bionicle Destiny: Volume II, Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWO

   "The Great Beings, you say?" The Great Creator Artakha shifted his size uncomfortably in the seat supplied to him by the Agori of Bota Magna. "A daring quest indeed."

   A lot had happened in the past half-hour before this dinner. Not too long ago, three Toa- Orde, Chiara, and Zaria- and a Glatorian named Gelu had set off to find the Great Beings at the request of Mata Nui. Along the way, they had encountered Vorox and Agori native to the Great Jungle and rescued Toa Lewa Nuva. Not long after, as they were approaching a fortress which housed a Great Being, the building exploded and the party met up with Artakha and others who had been inside the fortress, along with several Matoran who were also approaching the fortress.

   And yet, in spite of all this, they were no closer to finding the Great Beings then they were before.

   "You sound like you knew them," Gelu said as he looked disapprovingly at a piece of raw meat served by the Botan Agori.

   "Not personally," Artakha said. "I heard merely their voices when my brother and I were pit against one another over the Mask of Creation. From their speech, I could understand that their name was apt."

   "It was," murmured the Agori elder Sarob, who sat nearby. "We may have not known them that well, but the things they created was proof of their capabilities."

   "Like what?" asked Toa Zaria.

   "The Baterras," the elder said bitterly. "The modified Skopio. The Element Lords."

   Gelu raised an eyebrow. "You must have lived during the Core War."

   "Indeed. I was in the service of the Element Lord of Jungle during that time, supporting his Glatorian soldiers. After the Shattering, I was elected to lead what was left of our tribe here in Bota Magna."

   "So let me get this straight," Toa Chiara said. "Artakha doesn't know anything about the Great Beings, and he's pretty old. Sarob doesn't know much more, and he's even older. So, I must ask: who does?"

   "I do."

   The party turned around to see the Vorox known as Kabrua standing before them, flanked and restrained by Agori guards.

   "He asked to see you, sir," said a female guard named Draida. "He wouldn't say why."

   The Vorox tilted his head, regarding the Toa, Gelu, and the others coldly. "I know something about the Great Beings- one of them, at least. In fact, he's been hiding among your people for over a hundred thousand years."

   "Do you happen to know his name?" asked Toa Orde.

   Kabrua smiled mirthlessly. "It is one I could never forget, for he was one of the ones who experimented on my kind. His name is Velika."

*  *  *

   Kopaka wasn't sure how long he and the female Toa had been walking, but they eventually reached the Tribe she had mentioned earlier, which happened to be located in what he knew as Ko-Koro. There, dozens of Matoran, Toa, and even Vortixx moved about, varying in shapes, colors, and sizes. They took no notice of Kopaka or the Toa he traveled with, instead going about their daily lives. 

   The two of them eventually reached a marble-colored building, which Kopaka recognized as the Sanctum, which, on Mata Nui, served as Turaga Nuju's residence. Entering the building, Kopaka and his new-found companion found a trio of Turaga standing before a fireplace, conversing amongst themselves. Upon noticing their new arrivals, the Turaga turned to face the two Toa.

   "Ah, Toa Luna," an Elda-wearing Turaga of Plant Life said to the female Toa. "I see that you have returned from your excursion. Who have you brought with you?"

   "He calls himself Kopaka, Toa of Ice," Luna said. "I found him near the North March."

   "I see." The blue and green Turaga stared at Kopaka studiously. "How did you come here?"

   "I wish I could tell you," the Toa of Ice replied. "One minute, I'm inside a Red Star; the next, a portal opens underneath my feet and drops me here."

   "He's been abducted then," murmured a Turaga of Sonics. "But then why was he not immediately taken by the Makuta? Is he a spy?"

   The third Turaga, one of Psionics, took a step towards Kopaka and raised a hand towards him, contorting her face in concentration. Finally, after a moment of rather awkward silence, she said, "He is not a spy. Perhaps Toa Luna was simply able to reach him in time before the Makuta's forces did."

   "What is this about abduction and Makuta?" Kopaka asked. "What is this place?"

   The Turaga of Plant Life smiled slightly. "There is much to tell, Toa Kopaka. As for where you are... we call this place Eratus Nui. This is the Lost World."

*  *  *

   Takua walked aimlessly across the beach of Ga-Wahi, listening to the gentle hum of the waves. He had no idea where he was headed, let alone why or how he was where he was in the first place.

   "Takua?"

   Startled, Takua jumped and whirled around to see a Kaukau-wearing Ga-Matoran standing before him.

   "Hahli?" he exclaimed in recognition. "What are you doing here? And why are you a Matoran again?"

   "I should be asking you the exact same thing," Hahli said. "And why are we in Ga-Wahi if it was destroyed with the rest of Mata Nui?"

   "If you're asking answers from me, you're asking the wrong person," Takua said. "I'm just as in the dark as you."

   "And you will forever be in the dark."

   Both Matoran froze at the sound of the cold voice. The waves suddenly became still and the wind ceased to blow over them. Neither Takua nor Hahli dared to move as the voice went on.

   "Notice how even nature itself fears my presence. I am the omen which brings about your reckoning. I am the terror that stalks the night. I am the nightmare that haunts your dreams.

   "I am Makuta Nathuz."

   Then, a red blur passed before Takua's eyes and everything went dark.