CHAPTER THREE
"It's about time you two got back," Seldaan quipped when Lesovikk and Orde finally rejoined the rest of the Toa Tenebrae. The four other Toa were waiting by a tall stone gate, which left no indication as to what lay beyond. "It feels like we've been waiting for ages."
"So what's going on here?" Lesovikk asked. "Last I remember, we were fighting Dark Hunters on Odina."
"We were, until some sort of titan kidnapped us and brought us here," said Zaria. "She told us to wait here while she went to kidnap someone else."
"And she didn't tell you why she had brought us here."
"She just gave us a cryptic spiel about 'the universe depending on us.'" Chiara made air quotes with her fingers as she said this. "I'm sure it's a bunch of Kane-Ra dung."
"So sure, are you, Toa?"
The six Toa turned to see two figures approaching them. One was a Toa of Psionics like Orde, wearing a blue Kanohi Calix; the other was an old, hunched-over being with long thin attachments extending from either side of his skull.
"If every last Toa had thought the same as you, we would not be speaking to each other," the latter went on as he glowered at Chiara. "Had Toa Jovan denied his destiny, Mata Nui would have died. Had Toa Lhikan denied his, we would already be under the Makuta's rule."
Chiara crossed her arms. "All right then. Convince me that any of us have a special destiny."
"Patience. We must wait for Shikaiju to return with the other."
Chiara rolled her eyes as she sat down, interposing herself between Seldaan and Arctur. Orde looked at the Toa standing next to the strange being, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"You're a Toa of Psionics," he stated.
"What gave it away, the blue and gold armor?" she replied with a smirk. "I see you're one as well, although last time I checked, Psionics type were all female."
"It's complicated." He proffered his hand to her. "Name's Orde."
"Varian," she said as she shook his hand. "And Mr. Mysterious over here is called Amath."
"Amath?" Lesovikk repeated. "So that name wasn't a fabrication the Order of Mata Nui had made?"
Amath glanced at the Toa of Air. "I have no idea what you're talking about. Although I will admit I haven't gone by that name in centuries."
"That's right," Orde said. "You're better known as Shadow Stealer."
Amath smirked. "You're a smart one, aren't you?"
"Sheesh, should we even bother introducing ourselves?" Seldaan muttered. "These Psionics types practically read us like a book."
"All the same, it would be more polite if we do," Zaria said. He turned to Varian. "My name is Zaria, and these are my teammates Arctur, Seldaan, Chiara, and our leader Lesovikk. You've already been acquainted with Orde, of course."
Varian nodded. "Pleasure to meet you all."
"It's convenient you've gotten all that out of the way," Amath said. "I sense we're about to have another addition to our party."
Sure enough, there was a flash of light and the titan known as Shikaiju appeared before the gathered Toa. With her was yet another Toa of Psionics, this one wearing a weathered Mask of Quick Travel. Both Arctur and Zaria reacted to her presence, their mouths gaping open in shock.
"Great Spirit protect me," Arctur murmured.
"Well, well," the newcomer said, crossing her arms as she eyed the pair. "Fancy seeing you two here. It's been a long time."
"Not long enough." Arctur looked to Lesovikk, a pleading look in his eyes. "Can I leave? Like, hitch a ride with Miss Scary there? I don't think I'm really needed here."
"Why would you possibly think that?" Lesovikk asked, the ghost of a smile on his mask. "Every Toa team can use a Toa of Gravity, especially given their rarity."
While Arctur stammered for a response, Chiara spoke to the Kualsi-wearer. "So who are you? How do you know Arctur and Zaria?"
"My name is Trisuma, former leader of the Toa Xia," the third Psionics Toa said. "Arctur and Zaria used to be my teammates."
"Used to be, huh?" Seldaan rubbed his chin. "What happened?"
"There'll be times for stories later," Amath cut in before other Toa could reply. "Right now, we need to get to work. Varian, Orde, Trisuma, stand over here."
The three Psionics Toa tentatively walked over to him and stood before the stone gate. Amath then started to pace in front of them, hands clasped behind his back.
"Sixty thousand years ago, the Order of Mata Nui discovered this island. It has no name for, as far as the Order is concerned, it doesn't exist."
"What do you mean?" asked Lesovikk.
"They found on the island something with great yet terrifying potential. I know not for certain what it was they found, but I have my theories. In any case, the Order knew they could not let it fall into anyone's hands, so they erased all trace of it and sealed the land away with this." Amath finished by gesturing at the stone gate.
"What, a wall?" Seldaan said. "Couldn't you just get a Toa of Stone to break it down or something?"
"It's not as simple as you may think," Amath replied. "Any attempts to physically destroy it only results in death. No, the only way to open the gate is to will it to open."
"Come again?" Arctur asked.
Amath sighed. "Must I spell everything out...? The gate can only be opened by the combined strength of three Toa of Psionics. It is protected by a psychic shield, one that was meant to only be opened by someone with strong psionics capabilities, in case the Order ever needed to use what lay beyond here."
"Hold up." Chiara raised a hand. "How do you even know about all this if the Order erased all knowledge of it?"
"Shikaiju was my link within the Order," Amath answered, gesturing at the titan. "She relayed everything to me under Helryx's notice, not trusting her to ever actually use what is on this island for when the time came."
"So instead we're going to use it ourselves?" Lesovikk asked.
Amath nodded. "Yes. I'll elaborate further once we're through. Now--"
"How do you know this will work?" Orde asked, frowning at Amath. "Have you tested it?"
"Well, no. Toa of Psionics aren't exactly easy to find...."
"This could kill us," Varian murmured. "If everything you said about this gate is true... even if we do manage to open it, which I can't guarantee, I'm not sure we'll survive the process."
"In that case..." Amath shrugged. "At least you'll rest easy knowing that you did it for the greater good."
"What?!" Lesovikk stormed up to Amath. "You can't be serious. You can't be thinking about throwing three Toa's lives away just to open a gate."
"You don't understand what's at stake, Toa," Amath retorted. "The Makuta are making their conquest all across the universe. It's only a matter of time before they take back Metru Nui and tighten their grip on the Matoran."
He motioned back to the gate. "Once we open that gate and obtain what it was built to hide, we will be able to topple the Empire of Makuta and restore order. These three must be willing to give their lives so that millions of others may live."
Lesovikk shook his head. "No. I won't allow it. I'm through being responsible for the deaths of my teammates."
"If a pathetic guilt-trip is all that's bothering you, then I am willing to take the responsibility for their deaths. You can tell people you tried to stop me but Shikaiju pummeled you into the ground." Amath glared at the Toa of Air. "Keep this up and that scenario just may become a reality."
Lesovikk narrowed his eyes and started to reach for his Air Sword. Before he could unsheathe it, he heard a loud snapping sound come from behind him and felt a large shadow fall over him. Seeing the shocked look in Amath's eyes, the Toa of Air looked over his shoulder to see the lumbering horned giant standing there, his fearsome maw clenched tightly in a grimace.
With a rumbling growl, Botar said, "You all have five seconds to improve my mood."
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