CHAPTER FIVE
-Over 3,000 Years Ago-
Nuparu wrung his hands nervously as Turaga Dume stood with his back to him, looking out a balcony that oversaw the prospering city of Metru Nui. The air of disappointment was strong in the room.
He had failed. For once in his life, an invention of his had failed. The need for law enforcement had arisen and Nuparu had heeded the call to create the enforcers. And they had failed. And he hated himself for it.
The Turaga of Metru Nui finally turned to face him, a look of disapproval on his mask. "I am sorry, Nuparu, but the Kralhi have proven too dangerous for use in the city. They will have to be destroyed."
Nuparu nodded, bowing his head low. "I understand, Turaga Dume, and... I apologize."
"We always apologize for our mistakes, even if we are never forgiven."
Shame further struck Nuparu's heart and he showed it on his mask. Mustering himself, he blurted out, "I can make it up to you, Turaga. I can do better."
Dume looked skeptical. "Can you?"
Nuparu nodded eagerly, finally raising his gaze to meet the Turaga's. "Yes, sir."
Dume thought for a moment before saying, "Very well, then. I will give you another chance." He then raised his index finger and added sternly, "Just one."
The Onu-Matoran nodded again. "Thank you, sir. I won't disappoint you this time."
Dume gave him a rare smile as he placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Just be sure to believe in yourself. If you don't, then no one will believe in you."
-Present-
Nuparu let out his breath as he turned off his blowtorch and raised his protective visor. The creation was barely halfway through and he was already beginning to tire. The plan required the creation to be ready by tomorrow, but it would take two, maybe three of him to finish it on time.
He sighed as he dropped himself down onto the floor. "If only there were some Nynrah Ghost crafters around here. Maybe then this would go a lot faster."
Sitting nearby, toying with a bunch of Kanoka disks, Vakama said, "What is it supposed to be, anyway?"
"A combination of all six types of Vahki," Nuparu replied. "Taller than a Toa, equipped with each of their staffs... a 'Vahki Nui', if you will."
"So if we get it into the Coliseum, how will we control it?" Macku asked.
"With parts of Matau's Moto-Sled, I can create a remote control with a joystick for movements and buttons for actions. And a self-destruct switch."
Macku's eyes nearly bulged out of her mask's eye holes. "What use would that be for?"
Nuparu shrugged. "I don't know, really. Just thought I would include it."
Then, standing up, he lowered his visor and turned on his blowtorch. "Anyway, this thing won't build itself."
* * *
As he and his fellow Rahaga went further down into the Archives, Norik soon began to understand why the Onu-Matoran avoided this particular area. Were it not for the lightstones Pouks had been carrying, the three of them would have been in total darkness.
Carefully exploring the system of tunnels that made up what was known as the Fikou Web, Norik noted that few repairs had been made to them since the Great Cataclysm, if any had been made at all. It clearly was not high on Makuta's list of priorities.
"Do you think the Krahka could have been killed during the Cataclysm?" Pouks asked quietly.
"Or did it even exist in the first place?" Iruini noted.
Before Norik could reply, a loud clang echoed. He moved his lightstone in the direction of the sound but saw only a cluster of Fikou spiders. Surely they hadn't created the sound.
He heard it again. Iruini and Pouks were spinning around, searching for the source of the noise. Another clang, louder than the last two.
"Show yourself, Krahka," Norik called out. "We know you're there."
"I did not invite any guests," a feminine voice hissed. "You are not wanted here."
"We mean you no harm. We-"
"Just like the others who have come down here," Krahka snapped, the sound of slithering following her voice. "I do not wish to live my life in a cage and serve as a display piece."
"We are not Matoran archivists," Norik said, following the voice and slithering sound with his lightstone. "We are not here to capture you. We only wish to talk."
"Talk?" Krahka spat out the word. "And what is it you would like to 'talk' about? Politics? Sports? Your upcoming, gruesome demises?"
"None of the above. How about you helping us topple Makuta and his empire?"
The slithering stopped and Norik's light finally illuminated Krahka's current form: a Doom Viper, all six of its heads staring at him, glowering.
"Why should I help you?" the serpentine Rahi hissed.
"Because it's only a matter of time before Makuta discovers your territory here and claims it for himself."
The Doom Viper screeched as it began to change shape, ending up as an Ash Bear. "Over my rotten corpse!" Krahka roared.
"In that case, aid us so that we can overthrow Makuta and bring an end to his tyranny."
The Ash Bear snorted. "Fine. But on one condition."
Norik frowned slightly but nonetheless said, "Name it."
"I use whatever means are necessary. If I want to tear apart any Matoran, Toa, or what have you that gets in my way, I will. If I want to level the island, I will. As long as it means Makuta becomes nothing, not even a stray atom."
Norik glanced at Pouks and Iruini, both whom shrugged. Deciding it would be best to agree to these terms for now, if only to get Krahka's alliance, and handle anything he disapproved of as they occurred.
"Very well," he said. "We have a deal."
"Good," Krahka growled. "Name the time and place."
"The Coliseum," Norik said, "and sometime today would be nice."
The Ash Bear began to morph and Krahka soon adopted the form of a Muaka tiger.
"Consider it done."
No comments:
Post a Comment