CHAPTER SIX
Toa Kopaka activated his Kanohi Akaku to see through the blizzard that had just broken out. He had initially been in the direction of Po-Wahi, in the hopes of finding Pohatu, but with the storm now obscuring his view, he was no longer sure where he was headed.
Suddenly, he heard a series of tweets and whistles. Looking up, he could see a Gukko bird- awfully larger than normal- appearing through the veil of snow and landing in front of the Toa of Ice. Riding it was a small, hunched-over being with a head resembling that of a Rahkshi Kurahk's.
Kopaka blinked as realization dawned on him. "Toa Kualus?"
Something resembling a smile crossed the Rahaga's face. "Not exactly 'Toa' anymore, but yes, I am Kualus. It's a rather long story on how I got here."
Kopaka smirked. "Same here. Mind if you gave me a lift and we exchange stories along the way?"
Kualus chuckled. "I was actually hoping you would say that."
As Kopaka moved to climb onto the Gukko, he suddenly heard a low growl. Kualus heard it as well, for he looked in the direction of the sound and frowned.
"I know that sound," the Rahaga murmured. "That is the growl of a Waldurak."
Kopaka gave him a bemused look. "A what?"
"A rare species of Rahi found on Nynrah. The Fe-Matoran crafters there modified it to test how well a Rahi could control weapons."
"And the result?"
"That," Kualus said, pointing his Rahaga staff at the monstrosity that now appeared from the blizzard.
Large, thick limbs supported a small, flat body. On either side of hiss front legs were two Nynrah Ghost Blasters, while each of its rear legs sported Zamor Launchers. Underneath its body was a Cordak Blaster, and its thin, whip-like tail ended with an acid-tipped stinger.
As the Waldurak started to approach, Kopaka turned to Kualus and said, "I suppose now wouldn't be a good enough time to get your Mask of Rahi Control back."
"I suppose you should get onto the Gukko."
* * *
The Makuta was drawing closer, slowly taking his time but still too fast for Takua's liking. As Nathuz raised his spear, the Av-Matoran shut his eyes and braced himself for the end.
"Stop."
Takua slowly opened his eyes to see that the Makuta had frozen in place, his eyes still glued to him. Behind Nathuz was a female being in black and blue armor, wearing a Kanohi Avsa.
His eyes still on Takua, Nathuz hissed, "For what possible reason should I stop, Makuta Viraka?"
"That Matoran is one of Light."
"And?"
"You know what the Master said."
Nathuz finally peeled his eyes away from Takua and turned to face Viraka, anger contorting his mask but barely inflicting his voice.
"Ah, yes. We mustn't disobey the Master's wishes. Very well, Viraka; I shall work with the Ga-Matoran instead."
"Don't you dare touch her!" Takua snapped before he could stop himself.
Nathuz whirled on him, his scarlet eyes flaring. "What was that, Matoran? Was that a command? Are you, dare I say, telling me what to do?"
Takua's heart raced, his eyes stricken with fear. The Makuta seemed as if he was daring him to speak again, but he could not find the courage to do so.
Viraka finally broke the silence by saying, "Leave the Ga-Matoran for Sorefus. Makuta Nakiv and the others have brought in another group of prisoners. See to their 'sorting.'"
"And you?" Nathuz hissed.
A grin flashed across Viraka's mask. "I shall deliver the Av-Matoran to the Master."
Takua gulped as the female Makuta undid his restraints. This day was getting worse by the minute.
* * *
Pohatu scratched his head as he eyed the Matoran named Lerus strangely. "Fused... with an Onu-Matoran. Okay, how does that work, exactly?"
The black and green Matoran smirked as he set himself on a rock. "Have you heard of the Spear of Fusion?"
"Yeah, it kinda rings a bell."
"Well, there's this Makuta named Nathuz, and... he really likes fusing things. A lot. So, one day, he decided to fuse me with an Onu-Matoran.
"However, it didn't work like he intended. Even though our bodies were fused, my mind kind of... dominated the Onu-Matoran's. So, this is pretty much still my body... most of the time."
"Most of the time?" Kodan asked.
"Well, you see, sometimes when I get really angry, the Onu-Matoran part of me- I think his name's Notar- kind of... resurfaces and takes over."
"And then what?" Pohatu asked.
Lerus shrugged. "I don't know. I never remember what happens after that."
"Most interesting," Pouks said. He then eyed the perched Nivawk. "So, what about...?"
"Oh, yeah." Lerus stroked the bird's side. "Ruri here helped me escape from my Makuta's captors. She's a lot more tame than other Nivawk."
Pohatu scratched his chin. "Say, where are these Makuta located?"
"At this fortress near this volcano," Lerus said. "They call it Fort Chaos, I think. Creative, I know."
A wide grin broke out on the Toa of Stone's face. "Fast name to say. I bet I can get us there even faster."
Lerus' eyes widened. "Wait... you're not actually thinking about-?"
"Hey, we've gotta get to the bottom of this sooner or later." Picking up Kodan and Pouks, Pohatu winked at the fused Matoran as his Kanohi Kakama started to glow. "You're free to come with us... if you can catch up."
With that, the Toa of Stone used his mask power to speed through the Motara Desert and towards Ta-Wahi, leaving clouds of sand in his wake.
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