Bionicle Alternatives: Empire of Makuta IV, Chapter Eight

CHAPTER EIGHT
--Daxia--

    "The seal's been broken?!"

    "Yes," Botar replied, unfazed by Helryx's anger. "It would appear Shikaiju has been working with the Makuta to gain access Okoto. She convinced the Dark Hunter Shadow Stealer -- whom you know as Amath -- to help her retrieve the three Toa of Psionics necessary to break the seal."

    "So the Makuta know about Okoto." Helryx tightened her grip on the balcony railing, focusing her seething expression on the training grounds below. "I knew I should have just had the entire island destroyed."

    "And kill hundreds of innocent Matoran? Even you are not willing to go that far." Botar was silent for a moment before saying, "However, something must be done, and quickly."

    "I know," Helryx muttered. She then looked up at the Saevta. "Who did you say were present with Amath and Shikaiju?"

    "The six Toa you sent after Karzahni. I don't know how they have deviated so far from their original mission, but I suspect Amath and Shikaiju had a hand in that."

    "We need to get them out of there," Helryx said. "Return to Okoto and bring them back here. In the meantime, I'll devise a strategy on how to proceed from here."

    "Don't take too long," Botar growled. "After all, the Makuta have a moving island. We don't."

    And with that and a flash of light, the Saevta was gone.

--Okoto--

    "That took a lot more than thirty seconds."

    Lesovikk rolled his eyes. "It's not exactly the easiest thing to explain."

    The Ta-Matoran continued to regard him suspiciously even as he lowered his bow weapon. The others followed suit, although the Onu-Matoran had her's permanently grafted to her chest.

    "Still," the Matoran of Fire went on, "your story checks out, for the most part. We have been aware for many millennia that there are forces that desire the power hidden here on Okoto. We have spent eons preparing for the moment the seal was broken... which appears to be now."

    "Great," Lesovikk said. "Now that we're on the same page, how about helping us locate our friend? She's a Toa like us, with a gold Kanohi Kualsi."

    "We have not seen a being of that description," said a male Ga-Matoran. "However, perhaps we can--"

    Lesovikk never caught the rest of the Matoran's sentence, for in the blink of an eye the scenery of Okoto had been replaced with the walls of a fortress... and Botar was standing before them.

    "Well, so much for that," Seldaan muttered.

    "No!" Lesovikk glared at the Saevta. "Trisuma is still missing. We can't leave her behind!"

    "Not that I would mind," Arctur said under his breath.

    Botar regarded the seven Toa coolly. "You had a mission. Trisuma is none of your concern. Karzahni is."

    "But who knows what dangers that island contained!" Lesovikk protested. "We don't know what kind of trouble she could be getting herself into."

    "I do," Botar said. "As I said, she is none of your concern."

    "Why not?"

    "Because she's already dead."

    With that, Botar produced the blue and gold form of a Toa of Psionics and tossed it onto the ground. Empty dead eyes stared at the Toa Tenebrae from behind a Kanohi Kualsi.

    "I found her interrogating a Matoran," Botar went on. "She was going after the same thing as Amath and Shikaiju. She was in on their scheme."

    "And... you killed her," Zaria said quietly.

    "She was a liability the Order didn't need. Now, enough talk; we've already wasted enough time as is. You must capture Karzahni and bring him to us."

    "Why can't you guys do it yourselves?" Arctur asked, earning him warning looks from the others. "Considering you can just teleport to anywhere in the universe anytime you please...."

    Botar glared at him. "The Order has far more pressing concerns than some mad tyrant. Between the Makuta mobilizing and Okoto having been discovered, we cannot spare the resources to handle Karzahni ourselves. That is where you come in."

    "Still, the least you could do is take us there."

    Botar simply glowered at the Toa of Gravity before teleporting away.

    "Or you could do that...."

    "All right then," Lesovikk grunted. "I guess that's the end of that conversation." He glanced over to Varian, who looked dumbfounded by what had just transpired. "I know it's probably too late to ask this, but are you sticking with us for this mission?"

    The Toa of Psionics shrugged. "At this point, I feel obligated to. It would be kind of off for me to jump out now."

    "I'm glad you have that settled then," said a voice, even though there was no one else in the room besides the seven Toa. While Varian and the others were startled by the invisible being, Lesovikk took it in stride. It was far from the strangest thing they had encountered so far.

    "Your ship is waiting for you at the docks," Jerbraz said. "You leave now."

--Metru Nui--

    "You fool!"

    Turaga Dume moved with a start. Turning around, he saw Lhikan storm into the Coliseum. Despite being a Turaga as well, the former Toa of Fire still managed to carry a bold and intimidating presence, one which put even Dume on the defensive.

    "You have led the Toa to their doom!" Lhikan roared.

    "Do please elaborate," Dume stiffly replied.

    "I just watched them depart from the docks. They're headed for Karzahni." Lhikan scowled as he stepped closer to Dume. "Didn't you direct them to the passage that takes them to the Northern Continent?"

    "No, I did not. What of it?"

    "Do you not know the legends? Karzahni is a land of despair! Few have entered that realm and even fewer have returned!"

    "I am aware," Dume said. "Your point?"

    Lhikan furiously tapped his Firestaff against the floor. "How do you expect them to find the Toa of Light if you send them to a land of darkness?"

    "Through great trial," Dume answered firmly. "It is what all Toa must know if they hope to live up to the name. If they cannot get past Karzahni, then they are not worthy of being called Toa Metru."

    "But... but the Rahaga are with them! As well as a Matoran!"

    "The Rahaga know danger; they betrayed the Makuta and lived. As for the Chronicler..." Dume broke his gaze away from Lhikan's, turning sad in his expression. "I was not aware he was with them until it was too late. If it were Kodan, I would not be too concerned. But Takua...."

    Lhikan frowned, his demeanor becoming more disappointed than upset. "What are you trying to prove, Dume? You were never like this before the Cataclysm. What changed?"

    "Everything, Lhikan. Metru Nui, the universe... myself." Dume let out a heavy sigh. "These are dark times, my friend. Times that we were never prepared for. If Metru Nui is to stand strong, then--"

    "Turaga!" Bursting through the Coliseum doors came a Ta-Matoran guard, panic stricken across his mask. "The Makuta are here!"

    Both Turaga stiffened. "The Makuta?" Dume murmured.

    "Yes! Destral. It's... it's just appeared on the Silver Sea. Rahkshi are flying over as we speak!"

    Lhikan looked to Dume, and for the first time in his life, the Turaga of Metru Nui looked scared.

    "And so it begins," he whispered. "The fall of the Great City."