CHAPTER EIGHT
Zamor Spheres zoomed past Kopaka's head as he and Kualus evaded the Waldurak while riding a large Gukko bird. He returned the vicious Rahi's attacks by sending out shards of ice from his Ice Sword, but they had no effect on the creature.
The Toa of Ice and the Rahaga were well on their way into Po-Wahi and the Waldurak was showing no signs of ceasing pursuit. As another Zamor Sphere nearly missed his head, Kopaka turned to Kualus and said, "What's your Rhotuka power?"
"Carries the victim towards us," the Rahaga said bitterly. "Which, obviously, is the last thing we want."
Kopaka pondered on their situation before coming up with a solution. "Send out a bird call."
"I beg your pardon?"
"There must be more bird Rahi nearby. Perhaps you can summon more to help us."
"And if they're worse than the Waldurak?"
Kopaka grimaced. "Only one way to find out."
A frown creased the Rahaga's face, but he went with the Toa's plan anyway. Putting his hand to his mouth, he let out a series of clicks, whistles, and hoots, not unlike the ones Turaga Nuju often uttered. For a while, nothing responded. Then, a loud caw greeted them as a large, winged figure flew into view.
Kualus' eyes widened. "Oh, Great Beings protect us...."
The Nivawk spread its vast wings and shot towards them.
* * *
Takua winced as Makuta Viraka tightened her grip around his arm while she dragged him towards this 'master' she and Nathuz were referring to.
"There is no point in struggling," the Makuta hissed. "Your fate has been decided."
The two of them eventually arrived at a large, black door. Keeping her grip on Takua's arm, Viraka rapped her fist against the door. Without any vocal acknowledgement, the door slowly creaked open and the Makuta dragged the Matoran into the chamber.
The room was made completely of obsidian. Fire illuminated the black walls, lined up in a row that led to the jagged throne at the end of the hall. Occupying it was a tall, burly being armored in all black, with only his silver Kanohi mask breaking up the color scheme.
In a voice colder than the tip of Mount Ihu, the Master spoke. "What brings you here to my comfortable abode, Viraka?"
Viraka finally released Takua while the door behind them slammed shut.
"This is one of the beings we abducted earlier, Makuta Necrosis," the female Makuta said. "He is an Av-Matoran, and used to be the Toa of Light Takanuva before arriving here."
"An Av-Matoran, you say." Makuta Necrosis' eyes flickered with intrigue. "The bane of our brothers. The first to be introduced to our universe."
"Yeah, and the most ticked off and bemused person in this room," Takua said irritably. "You'd better have answers to my one hundred-thirteen questions and fifty-five followups."
A wry smile twisted the Master's mask. "I will see what I can do."
"First of all, what is this place?"
"The Matoran call it Eratus Nui, loosely translating into 'Great Prison.' It was created as a pocket dimension attached to the Matoran Universe to imprison beings too unstable for the Pit to contain. My fellow Makuta Sorefus and Nathuz were the first to be imprisoned, before we broke from our chains and traveled between dimensions to obtain subjects for our experiments."
"Okay, now explain why Hahli and I are Matoran again."
"People who end up in Eratus Nui are instantly reverted to the weakest form they've been in life," Necrosis said. "Whether it be Matoran or Turaga, it matters not. There have been exceptions, of course. Case in point...."
The Makuta gestured with a clawed hand and a hidden chamber near his throne opened, revealing a chained-up, multi-colored monstrosity, a gold Kanohi Hau being the only recognizable part Takua could identify.
"This hapless mutant Ta-Matoran calls himself Gaardus," said the Master. "He landed here practically in my lap, outside my fortress. Normally, I would have Nathuz or Sorefus work on him, but I see him as a potential future asset."
"I'll never work for you!" Gaardus snarled, wrestling against his chains. "I'll tear you apart!"
Necrosis made another gesture and the door to the small chamber slammed shut, silencing the mutant Matoran's screams. He then returned his attention to Takua as the latter spoke again.
"So, why was I brought here?"
A wicked grin contorted the Master's mask. "As I said earlier, Av-Matoran are the bane of my people. One less potential Toa of Light will rid us of an obstacle to our total domination."
Takua swallowed. "Are you going to kill me?"
The Makuta laughed harshly. "Kill you? Goodness, no. You're no use to me dead."
Suddenly, Takua felt his legs wobble and he fell to his knees, feeling awfully drowsy. Behind him, Viraka's Mask of Hunger glowed brightly.
"Alive, on the other hand...." The Master chuckled. "Alive, you are worth much, much more."
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