CHAPTER TWO
“Does anyone else feel like there’s something fishy about this whole thing?”Standing at the bow of their ship, Lesovikk did not turn to look at Seldaan who had just spoken out. None of the other Toa Tenebrae said anything at first until Zaria quietly cleared his throat.
“Why do you say that?” asked the Toa of Iron.
“Just think about it,” Seldaan replied. “This secret organization, whom nobody’s ever heard of, gathers a bunch of Toa who nobody likes to send to an island where no one’s ever returned from to bring down a tyrant who is the subject of legend. They have a Saevta who can teleport to anywhere in the universe and snap you in half just by glaring at you… yet they send us to deal with Karzahni. Does no one else see the flaw in that logic?”
“To be fair, it sounds like they’ve got plenty of other issues to deal with,” said Chiara. “I don’t know if you’ve heard, but the Makuta are kind of in control at the moment.”
“Still, they’ve got a Saevta. They should already have Karzahni in the bag by now.”
“Maybe this is a test for us,” Zaria said. “Like you said, we’re all — well, except for Varian — Toa who nobody’s really fond of. This could be our chance to prove ourselves.”
Seldaan snorted. “Justify it all you want. I still think there’s some ulterior motive to all this.”
“Well, I think you’re being paranoid,” said Chiara. “Right, Lesovikk?”
Lesovikk grunted in response. “Sure.”
Without looking at them, he could tell that the others were staring at him, exchanging uncertain expressions. He could also tell that both Orde and Varian were trying to get a read on him.
As if on cue, Orde said, “Are we nearing Karzahni?”
“We just passed through Zakaz’ sea gate,” Arctur said before Lesovikk could answer. “Karzahni’s should be next.”
“That’s only if they gave us the proper directions,” Seldaan muttered.
Lesovikk’s grip tightened over the edge of the boat. His heart beat the rhythm of a war drum against his chest. Already he could hear the dying screams of Matoran, the maniacal laughter of a deranged tyrant….
“Is he all right?” He could barely hear Varian through the noise of his own thoughts.
Orde slowly rose and stepped over to Lesovikk, resting a hand on his shoulder. The Toa of Air did not so much as flinch or budge, keeping his gaze on the destination ahead.
“Don’t let yourself be blinded by revenge,” Orde said quietly. “It won’t lead you anywhere good.”
“He needs to be brought to justice,” Lesovikk said under his breath.
“To justice, yes. In one piece. I don’t think the people who recruited us want him dead.”
“You think I’m going to try to kill him?”
“I mean… if you don’t keep your anger in check—”
“Don’t talk to me about anger!” Lesovikk snapped, swatting Orde’s hand away as he spun around to face the Toa of Psionics. “Not after what you did to the Zyglak!”
A dark cloud fell over Orde’s face as he stepped back. “You know that it was not my intention to—”
“It doesn’t matter,” Lesovikk growled. “Point is, you and I have both made severe mistakes. Everyone here has. We are not heroes; just failures. Failures who are expendable.”
“That’s a way to boost morale,” Arctur muttered.
Without warning, Lesovikk stormed up to him. “You’re a Toa of Gravity, aren’t you?”
Arctur let out a startled yelp. “Uh-um, yeah?”
“If I were to give you the order to crush Karzahni with your powers — if it were to come to that — would you do it?”
“Uh….” Arctur’s eyes darted to the others, making eye contact with anyone but the irate Toa standing in front of him. “Maybe…?”
“What do you mean maybe?”
“I mean, it would depend on the situation—”
“Listen here,” Lesovikk said quietly, leaning in closer to the Toa of Gravity. “This being — this demon — that we’re dealing with dedicates his life to torturing Matoran and rebuilding them into broken, lackluster bodies. If we bring him down, no matter the cost, think of all the Matoran we would be sparing from that fate.”
Zaria coughed. “Kind of a moot point, given the Makuta are—ow!” He was silenced by Chiara elbowing him in the gut.
Ignoring the exchange, Lesovikk kept his gaze locked on the nervous Arctur. “I don’t know how long you’ve been a Toa, but in case you’ve forgotten, it is our duty to defend the Matoran. All of them. If we don’t stop Karzahni, how many more are going to suffer at his hands?”
Arctur didn’t answer him nor did he meet his gaze. Grunting with annoyance, Lesovikk turned and returned to the bow of the ship.
“I failed to save the Matoran of my homeland from being sent to a terrible fate,” he muttered. “This is my only chance to make up for my failure.”
“But if you break the Toa Code in the process, can you really say you’ve redeemed yourself?” asked Varian.
Lesovikk sighed as he lowered his head, staring at the silvery sea as it carried them to their destination. “I stopped being a true Toa a long time ago….”
* * *
A large gust of wind sent the Manas crab flying over Takua’s head, causing the Chronicler to duck to avoid getting hit. He felt someone grab his arm as Rahaga Norik pulled him away, activating his back rotor to fly away from the chaos of the action.
A second Manas advanced towards Toa Orkahm, its claws snapping viciously. The Toa of Air brandished his arm blades and assumed a defensive position, waiting for the right moment to strike. Once the Manas was less than a few feet away from him, Orkahm jumped and landed onto the back of the crab’s carapace. As the Manas began to spin wildly, searching for its opponent, Orkahm extended one of his blades and plunged it into the Rahi’s head. It let out a blood-curdling scream as it hurtled aimlessly towards a cliff edge. Orkahm jumped off just as the Manas drove itself off the cliff and into the raging seas below.
Takua heard Norik make a disgusted sound as they watched the battle from above. “Barbaric,” he muttered.
Having heard him, Orkahm shot the red Rahaga a nasty glare. “The Toa Code doesn’t extend to Rahi when it comes to killing,” said the Toa of Air. “Besides, what would you have us do? Let them kill us?”
“There’s more than one way to tame a Rahi,” said Rahaga Iruini as he launched a Rhotuka spinner from his back. It made its way to a Manas that Toa Vhisola was dealing with and conjured an energy net that snagged around the crab’s legs. As the Manas fumbled around, Vhisola created a wave of water that launched the Rahi up into the sky and sent it flying into the distance.
This did little to even the odds, however. More Manas were coming up from the canyon, replacing their fallen brothers. Vhisola attempted to create another blast of water but succeeded in only creating a few droplets. Her damaged mask, leftover from their fight with Umarak, was starting to take its toll on her.
As if noticing her weakened state, one of the Manas advanced towards Vhisola and swung its claw into her chest, throwing her back. Orkahm cried out her name just as Rahaga Bomonga fired his Rhotuka spinner, freezing the Manas where it stood. Orkahm then activated his Mask of Telekinesis and lifted the paralyzed Rahi off the ground before throwing it into the path of three others. They all scuttled to avoid being hit, though the center one still ended up being smashed upon impact.
Still, the Rahi were not deterred. The Manas pressed on their attack, dodging the Rahaga’s Rhotuka spinners and Orkahm’s elemental attacks. As the Toa of Air clashed with one of the crabs, another came up to attack him from behind. Takua’s verbal warning came too late as the Manas struck Orkahm in the back and sent him sprawling to the ground. Despite the Rahaga’s efforts to impede the Rahi, the Manas proceeded to surround the defeated Toa and lift him off the ground. Others did the same with Vhisola before turning to carry the Toa back into the canyon whence they came.
“Where are they taking them?” Gaaki asked as she launched another spinner at the retreating Rahi.
“Great Spirit knows,” said Kualus. “But we have to stop them!”
“There is no stopping the inevitable.”
The voice had come from a lone figure that had suddenly appeared at the top of a slope up ahead. The size of a Matoran, his body was warped and twisted. His arms were long and thin while his legs were short and looked almost like stumps. Adorning his face was a haunting mask that obscured his eyes in darkness while the mouthpiece made it seem like he was hallowing in pain. He carefully regarded Takua and the six Rahaga from where he stood, making no move to greet them.
“Do you know where they’re taking them?” Norik called out to the newcomer.
The strange Matoran ignored the question as he said, “Follow me. Our master awaits.”
“We have no interest to meet with Karzahni,” said Pouks. “Tell us how to save our friends so that we can leave!”
“There is no leaving Karzahni. If you are wise, you will follow me.”
“And if we refuse to do as you say?” asked Iruini.
The Matoran shook his head. “You have no choice.”
As if on cue, a new horde of Manas crabs appeared behind him. They dispersed until they had the Rahaga and Takua surrounded, leaving no room for escape.
“This is your home now. Our home.”
A second Manas advanced towards Toa Orkahm, its claws snapping viciously. The Toa of Air brandished his arm blades and assumed a defensive position, waiting for the right moment to strike. Once the Manas was less than a few feet away from him, Orkahm jumped and landed onto the back of the crab’s carapace. As the Manas began to spin wildly, searching for its opponent, Orkahm extended one of his blades and plunged it into the Rahi’s head. It let out a blood-curdling scream as it hurtled aimlessly towards a cliff edge. Orkahm jumped off just as the Manas drove itself off the cliff and into the raging seas below.
Takua heard Norik make a disgusted sound as they watched the battle from above. “Barbaric,” he muttered.
Having heard him, Orkahm shot the red Rahaga a nasty glare. “The Toa Code doesn’t extend to Rahi when it comes to killing,” said the Toa of Air. “Besides, what would you have us do? Let them kill us?”
“There’s more than one way to tame a Rahi,” said Rahaga Iruini as he launched a Rhotuka spinner from his back. It made its way to a Manas that Toa Vhisola was dealing with and conjured an energy net that snagged around the crab’s legs. As the Manas fumbled around, Vhisola created a wave of water that launched the Rahi up into the sky and sent it flying into the distance.
This did little to even the odds, however. More Manas were coming up from the canyon, replacing their fallen brothers. Vhisola attempted to create another blast of water but succeeded in only creating a few droplets. Her damaged mask, leftover from their fight with Umarak, was starting to take its toll on her.
As if noticing her weakened state, one of the Manas advanced towards Vhisola and swung its claw into her chest, throwing her back. Orkahm cried out her name just as Rahaga Bomonga fired his Rhotuka spinner, freezing the Manas where it stood. Orkahm then activated his Mask of Telekinesis and lifted the paralyzed Rahi off the ground before throwing it into the path of three others. They all scuttled to avoid being hit, though the center one still ended up being smashed upon impact.
Still, the Rahi were not deterred. The Manas pressed on their attack, dodging the Rahaga’s Rhotuka spinners and Orkahm’s elemental attacks. As the Toa of Air clashed with one of the crabs, another came up to attack him from behind. Takua’s verbal warning came too late as the Manas struck Orkahm in the back and sent him sprawling to the ground. Despite the Rahaga’s efforts to impede the Rahi, the Manas proceeded to surround the defeated Toa and lift him off the ground. Others did the same with Vhisola before turning to carry the Toa back into the canyon whence they came.
“Where are they taking them?” Gaaki asked as she launched another spinner at the retreating Rahi.
“Great Spirit knows,” said Kualus. “But we have to stop them!”
“There is no stopping the inevitable.”
The voice had come from a lone figure that had suddenly appeared at the top of a slope up ahead. The size of a Matoran, his body was warped and twisted. His arms were long and thin while his legs were short and looked almost like stumps. Adorning his face was a haunting mask that obscured his eyes in darkness while the mouthpiece made it seem like he was hallowing in pain. He carefully regarded Takua and the six Rahaga from where he stood, making no move to greet them.
“Do you know where they’re taking them?” Norik called out to the newcomer.
The strange Matoran ignored the question as he said, “Follow me. Our master awaits.”
“We have no interest to meet with Karzahni,” said Pouks. “Tell us how to save our friends so that we can leave!”
“There is no leaving Karzahni. If you are wise, you will follow me.”
“And if we refuse to do as you say?” asked Iruini.
The Matoran shook his head. “You have no choice.”
As if on cue, a new horde of Manas crabs appeared behind him. They dispersed until they had the Rahaga and Takua surrounded, leaving no room for escape.
“This is your home now. Our home.”
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