CHAPTER EIGHT
Weakened from his battle with the two mysterious warriors, as well as the loss of his mask, Brutaka staggered through the jungle, headed for the mountains which Axonn dwelt in. He wasn't sure if his comrade and mentor had also been attacked, but he had to warn someone. Unfortunately, his legs were not willing to work with him....
"Brutaka?"
Startled by the voice, the Morcian fell to his knees. Turning around, he saw his leader, Toa Helryx, standing before him, along with fellow Order agents Botar, Viraka, and Orkosan.
"Helryx," he gasped. "Thank... goodness...."
The Toa of Water rushed over to him. "What happened? Where is your mask?"
"Taken," Brutaka muttered. "By two beings, neither whom I recognized. They were a Morcian and an Ankorian."
"Did you see where they went?" Viraka asked.
Brutaka shook his head. "Both of them teleported away. I was headed to find Axonn until you appeared."
"Teleportation is a rare ability," Helryx said, frowning in consternation. "Did either of them wear a Mask of Quick Travel?"
"No. The Morcian wore a Mask of Gravity and the Ankorian had a Sanok--"
"Sanok," Orkosan echoed, his voice booming. "I know of an Ankorian with such a mask: Fortaan."
"That's right," Helryx muttered. "He was a member of the Hand of Artakha with you and I."
"What is he doing here then?" Viraka wondered aloud.
"They could be after the Mask of Life," Botar growled.
"No." All eyes fell on Orkosan, who was looking off towards the distance. "They are here for something else."
"And what would that be?" Helryx asked.
"Think about it," the four-armed warrior said. "Where was the Hand of Artakha located at, prior to its disbandment?"
Helryx took a moment to recall. "Here, on the Southern Continent...."
"They stole Brutaka's Kanohi Olmak." Orkosan gestured at the Morcian as he said this. "My thinking is that Fortaan and his new friends are planning a move."
"But Castle Artakha was destroyed when the Hand was disbanded."
"Castles can be rebuilt. And organizations can be reorganized." Orkosan turned to Botar. "Can you take us there?"
"Only if it does indeed still exist," the Saevta said as he linked hands with the Order agents. "Otherwise, we might be taking a swim."
* * *
Kazi watched with wide eyes as the five beings vanished in a flash of light. He and the other Matoran had just borne witness to their encounter and conversation. All these terms and phrases- Kanohi Olmak, Hand of Artakha, Mask of Life- were alien to him and made his head spin worse than Velika's riddles.
"What do we do?" Dezalk whispered to him.
The Ko-Matoran shook his head. "I don't know. They could have gone anywhere."
"One of them mentioned a Castle Artakha, here on Voya Nui," Ceras said. "Should we go find it?"
"You are not going anywhere."
The four Matoran turned, readying their tools. Standing before them, arms behind his back, was Dasan.
Kazi glared at the De-Matoran. "How did you know we had left the village?"
"Elrisa noticed your absence, and Oren told me that you had offered to stand in for him." A nasty smile crossed the Matoran of Sonics' mask. "If you wish to flee from a predator, you should always cover your tracks."
"Dasan, our friends are in danger," Ceras said angrily. "Do you expect us to just leave them to their fates?"
"No, I expect you to follow my orders," Dasan retorted. "I suppose that's too much to ask for these days."
"Well, you have no way of stopping us," Dezalk said. "You're just one Matoran, without any tools or powers, against four of us. Unless you've got a Toa hiding behind you, I don't see how you can stop us from doing what needs to be done."
Dasan glared at the Ta-Matoran, his blue eyes boring into his. Finally, the De-Matoran said, "You're right, I can't stop you. In fact, I might even be able to help you."
Kazi eyed him warily. "What do you mean?"
Dasan grinned wickedly. "You say you want to go to Castle Artakha. Why don't I take you there?"
Before the four rebel Matoran could stop him, Dasan lunged at them and in a flash of light, they were gone.
* * *
"Hail, Lord Mallake!"
The collective voices of the Hand of Artakha members- numbering at least twenty- rang through the main hall as the tall, ebony being strode down, gleaming in the majestic light that illuminated the entire castle.
Axonn and his newfound Matoran allies stood by as spectators, restrained and watched over by Drandora and a Skakdi member. At the end of the hall was, doubtlessly, King Mathus, still obstructed by the blinding light.
Mallake came to a stop just outside the light's reach. Letting out a grating growl, the ancient being said, "Your reign has come to an end, 'King.'"
"Rightfully so," Mathus replied. "How wonderful it is to be in your presence, oh, great Mallake."
"Spare me your pleasantries," Mallake snarled. "Step out of the light so that I may see your unsightly visage."
Silence at first. Then, hobbling into view was a short Turaga, clad in black and gray armor with a pristine Mask of Shielding on his face and silver robes draped across his hunched-over form. In his hand was a pronged golden staff, almost longer than himself. As he stood before the nine-foot-tall Mallake, the vast difference in size between them was apparent and almost comical. However, no one present was in a joking mood.
"A Turaga?" Mallake almost spat out the word. "A hundred thousand years in the Pit and this is what replaced me?"
His crimson gaze fell on everyone in the room, making even the resistant Fortaan and stoic Banteras cower before him.
"You should all be ashamed of yourselves. Turaga are meant for leading and guiding weak, defenseless Matoran, not those dedicated to the will and protection of Mata Nui."
Mathus smirked. "Considering we were able to accomplish everything required for your return, I'd say I was successful."
Without warning, Mallake swooped down and seized the Turaga by the neck, hoisting him up in the air.
"Successful?!" the ancient being roared. "Mata Nui has fallen! An event which could have been prevented had I been in command! A hundred thousand years work put to waste!"
"I doubt even you could have prevented the Great Spirit's fall, Mallake," Axonn spoke up. "Only Mata Nui himself could have foreseen--"
"Axonn." The mere mention of the Ankorian's name immediately silenced Axonn. "Have you sneaked out of Helryx's shadow for this special occasion?"
Axonn glowered at him. "If it were up to me, I'd be as far away from here as possible."
"My, such animosity. If only Hydraxon, Orkosan, and the others were here to make this a proper reunion."
"Seems to me that you're halfway there."
All eyes turned to see Helryx, Botar, Brutaka, Viraka, and Orkosan materialize in the middle of the chamber, weapons brandished.
"Helryx. Orkosan." Mallake regarded the newcomers with malice. "And three of your blind followers. Hmm, not my idea of a good reunion."
Helryx gestured threateningly with her spiked mace. "Explain yourself, Mallake. How did you get out of the Pit? What do you have planned here?"
"Those are questions for another time," Mallake said, "as I see that we have even more guests."
Again, everyone looked in time to see five Matoran appear in the chamber. One of them, a gray-armored Matoran of Sonics, walked up confidently to Mallake and knelt before him.
"My liege, your humble servant has returned."
"Dasan. And just what have you brought here?"
The De-Matoran gestured at the four other villagers. "These Matoran--"
"What use have I for Matoran?" Mallake said darkly.
Dasan blanched behind his mask. "I- I thought they would make ideal servants--"
"No." Mallake released his hold on Mathus and stormed up to the De-Matoran. "The need for slave and servants is no more. We need to lighten our load."
He gestured his followers to the eight Matoran and six Order members.
"Execute them."
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