AYRH
Why does it feel like night today?
Something in here's not right today
Smoke drifted up from the wreckage of a crashed airship, and ribs of scorched metal scattered on the beach and jutted above the water, the last remnants of what was once a hull. Fires licked at couches, carpets, desks and tables; anything flammable that was left, trying but failing to latch on to the smooth plates of metal. A cloud hung over the sky, despite it being noon, and behind the edges of it, the twin suns were dim.
A ruin of metal and stone shifted, creating an eerie creaking sound that filled the air. A sullied, battered Matoran body crept out from beneath the debris and groaned. Streaks of mud and dirt caked onto its armor, and flecks of green could be seen beneath the dirtiness.
The Le-Matoran, Ayrh, pulled himself to his feet and walked up the beach, dragging along a pair of heavy gauntlets by a rope. He got to the summit of the beach, feeling a spark of hope that he had found someplace where he could belong, and gain new knowledge of things after his time in the Makuta's lab... he opened his mouth, ready to scream his jubilations, but when he reached the top, all he saw was destruction.
Shattered windows and bloodstains everywhere. A multi-legged transport lay flipped over on the street, the torn body of a kavinika impaled on its blunt leg.
Why am I so uptight today?
Paranoia's all I got left
But instead of a reaction of shock, the features of Ayrh's mask pulled together in a deep scowl. "Why?" he screamed, throwing the rope down and falling to his knees. He'd left the isle of the Makuta and traversed the skies seeking a place of hope, of peace. But perhaps there was no peace left. Did war take everywhere?
"Who did this?" Ayrh snarled under his breath. "Ignas? His 'Brotherhood'? Did they do it?"
Dark thoughts and urges swam through his mind... a ray of anger was most prominent... in the background, he could hear pleading. Emotions clashed, different mindsets battling there. Ayrh shook his head and turned to the gauntlets. Fine pieces of technology he'd taken along with him. He slipped them over his forearms and treaded with a new determination burning within him. The culprit would pay.
I don't know what stressed me first
Or how the pressure was fed
Ayrh fumed through the streets of a dark, destroyed city that once would've had a beautiful brown-green glow. Cables and chutes were broken and scattered. Transports smashed to bits, dead Matoran all with puncture holes in their necks littered everywhere.
Ayrh was angry. Very, very angry. Not all because of the state of this city; he barely knew what this city was. He'd had this burning anger ever since he was first fully conscious in the Makuta's claws. Why was he so angry? Shouldn't the Makuta have put some kind of twisted impression on him to null the hate he would have for him at the end? Ayrh didn't know. He didn't care. But so far, everything he'd seen and been through only fueled his anger.
But I know just what it feels like
To have a voice in the back of my head
A rustle. Ayrh whipped to the right and shot a blast of force from his gauntlet, Burrower Drill in title. The rock shattered to reveal a Matoran crouching there. Or at least, he thought it was a Matoran. Sick red eyes, bloodstained fangs, sharp claws... it was a monster.
A vampire, Ayrh realized. What was this vampire doing here? Was it the culprit? Should he kill it? Of course he should kill it! It had caused all this destruction, all this death. But maybe it wasn't the culprit? Were there others? Did it deserve to die? Was it doing this of its own will, or manipulated or cursed in some way? He shouldn't kill it. Should he? Yes he should. No, he shouldn't.
"Ahhh," Ayrh moaned, forgetting the vamp in front and reaching up to clutch his head. It hurt, all these thoughts, all these urges and notions. It was like there was a hundred different beings in the back of his head, killing him with their arguments.
Like a face that I hold inside
A face that awakes when I close my eyes
A dark, sick presence lingered in his mind. It grew strong, oh so strong, as he shut his eyes and entered his mind, like he was basking in its aura. It hurt him.
He opened his eyes to see the vamp staring curiously at him. Ayrh immediately stopped, trying to make himself look strong and not easy game for the monster.
A face watches every time I lie
A face that laughs every time I fall
The vampire opened its fanged mouth, and let out a shrill. It was so powerful that it seemed to rip through Ayrh's mind, blotting out his thoughts, and he fell. But the presence remained, the urges and notions, and they seemed to mock his incompetence.
(And watches everything) So I know that when it's time to sink or swim
That the face inside is hearing me
Shut up! Ayrh told the thoughts that rippled in his head. But they did not relent. He felt searing anger swell up from them, hatred for the monster before him. He reached out and shot blasts of force alternately from his Burrower Drills. The vamp dodged most but was hit by two of the shots. Ayrh ran towards the vamp and overwhelmed it with a barrage of punches. Cornering it to the wall, he slammed his fist into its stomach and made it scream. Nothing but fury and rage and disdain ran through his veins. He knew that it only fueled the urges in his head. He didn't care.
Right beneath my skin
The vamp rolled to the side and avoided a fist to the face. Instead, Ayrh's balled hand created a hole in the stone. It looked at him with a whimpering expression and scampered off on all fours like a Rahi. Ayrh didn't give chase. He stood there, gasping, trying to compose himself.
It's like I'm paranoid lookin' over my back
It's like a whirlwind inside of my head
The voices came again. He squeezed his eyes shut. No! No, shut up!
A rustle.
Ayrh swung around instantly and shot a burst of force. The source of the noise, a big stone bench, exploded into bits. But there was nothing behind it. Looking up, Ayrh saw that the noise had just come from a tree branch in whatever breeze there was. He let his shoulders slump.
Stupid.
Ayrh's face clenched and he fell to the ground out of mental pain. There were dark thoughts, and more dark thoughts, and then furious thoughts that made no more sense than to be angry, and then reasonable thoughts, and then "good" thoughts that fought with the dark thoughts. It was like a cyclone inside his very head. It was sheer pain.
It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like the face inside is right beneath my skin
Ayrh yelled in pain, not stopping until his lungs ran out of air. He collapsed to the ground, wallowing in the agony that encompassed him. Was this Makuta Ignas? Or his impression? No. It was something different. It was part of him, as excruciating as it may be.
Another bombardment made Ayrh jolt. He clutched the ground weakly, and now crawled cross the road. He had to get somewhere safe, so he could settle down, and quick.
I know I've got a face in me
Points out all my mistakes to me
Ayrh walked through the Metru of Fire, trying to contain the rage that boiled within him with every forge and flame he saw. Makuta Ignas loved fire. Ayrh hated Makuta Ignas. Ayrh hated fire.
But why? It was irrational. Just because his lunatic captor happened to be crimson and had a fondness for flames, doesn't mean he had to go around hating the thing. It was, after all, a force of nature.
Shut up.
Who was he talking to?
Ayrh gritted his teeth. These urges. This dark sense of his...
His? They don't only belong to you. I demand some credit.
Ayrh scowled. Lyranix. His mind was shared between him and Lyranix, and their clashing feelings and thoughts had caused Ayrh great pain weeks before, when he'd first come onto Metru Nui.
Not only mine and yours, Lyranix reminded him, Gefka's, Kolum's, and a Muaka's.
Doesn't matter, Ayrh thought angrily. They were overwhelmed and perished. Why should I give them credit too?
Because even if they're dead, they still took part. What you're doing is ignoring the fact.
I wish you would shut up.
But-
SHUT UP.
You've got a face on the inside too and
Your paranoia's probably worse
Vampires. They had what Ayrh had; those dark urges, that mental and emotional agony. They probably had it worse that he did. He felt sorry for them.
Sorry? For those disgusting monsters?
Was that Lyranix?
No. That was him. The vampires were insufferable. And they needed to pay.
Ayrh walked through the gates of Igni-Koro, Village of Life. He would assist them, and get rid of the plague of vamps with them. He hoped.
I don't know what set me off first
But I know what I can't stand
The gold-blue Matoran stared at him. Akui, leader of the Matoran, looked utterly petrified. Ayrh frowned.
"Speak with Pohatu Nuva," she said finally. "He'll know what to do."
Ayrh walked off. He had to admit, he'd been really disappointed by the Matorans' reactions upon his entrance into Igni-Koro. But this? This was incredibly stupid and unreasonable.
Everybody acts like the fact of the matter is
I can't add up to what you can but
They acted like he was a freak. Why? Because he had a voice inside his head and he had insane powers. But mostly the former. Ayrh gritted his teeth. This is prejudice and stupidity,he thought. They treated him like some kind of monster. Please! He'd seen a Skakdi in these walls. And he was a monster?
Everybody has a face that they hold inside
A face that awakes when I close my eyes
Ignorance. That's what it was. He was no more a "freak" than every single last cursed Matoran in the island. Everybody had what he had. Opposition of emotion was a natural thing, and it helped keep balance, and reason. Sometimes it went below reasoning though. But everyone had it, that little voice inside their head commenting on their every move, their every thought, that voice that filled your mind.
A face watches every time they lie
A face that laughs every time they fall
Every time one being deceived another, or deceived themselves, there was always that hint of mentality that protested and retained. Always. There was always that ironic feel every time you made a mistake. Every being had it.
Only on a much smaller scale, Lyranix butted in. Every Matoran does not share thoughts with another being.
You get what I mean, Ayrh snapped, so shut up and stop being a pain.
(And watches everything) So you know that when it's time to sink or swim
That the face inside is watching you too
Ayrh left Igni-Koro and spat on the ground. What a waste of time. Why did he even think they would welcome him? They disgusted him as much as the vamps did.
Are you going to stand here all day wallowing in your rejection, Lyranix snapped, or are we going to go back home?
Ayrh blinked. He'd forgotten for a second Lyranix was there.
I am always here.
Right inside your skin It's like I'm paranoid lookin' over my back
It's like a whirlwind inside of my head
Ayrh stepped into the cavern that was his home and gasped. His desk was thrashed, broken vases were on the floor, and scrapings from claws marked the walls and floor. Ayrh clenched his teeth to keep himself from yelling. Vamps.
No, really?
Urges. Dark notions. It'd been so long since he'd had them. Ayrh noticed a crevice in the corner where the vamp must've escaped through. He didn't hold back this time. He screamed and burst the crevice open a good two more bio with a blast. In the newly made hole, he stomped through. It was a long winding corridor he found himself in, but he didn't stop, he wouldn't stop until he found the vamp behind this, and slew him.
The hall opened up into a wide chamber. Ayrh stepped in and looked around. A whoosh of air above, and Ayrh looked up – too late. The vamp landed on him and gouged his shoulder. Ayrh bit back a scream and rolled over to avoid a second clawing. He got onto his feet and glared at the vamp. Then his eyes widened. This was the very same vampire he'd encountered when he first arrived here in Metru Nui.
"I've been waiting for this," the vamp hissed, lolling his forked tongue out and in. "Now, I will take revenge."
It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like the face inside is right beneath my skin
Anger, anger. Rage, rend. Rend, kill. Shoot, blast, kick, rend. Rage. Anger.
These were the words that ran through Ayrh's mind as he fought the vamp. It was a tied battle so far, with both opponents wounded mildly and filled with hatred for one another. The vamp was skilled and driven by a deadly mixture of bloodlust and revenge. Ayrh was driven by his hatred of vamps and the dark urges that flowed through him. They clashed for hours, never tiring.
Finally, the vamp saw an opening and cleaved at Ayrh's side. He screamed and fell back.
It's like I'm paranoid lookin' over my back
It's like a whirlwind inside of my head
Defeat. Defeat? Never. Fight. Must fight. Must win. Must destroy.
"AAAHHHH!" Ayrh sprung up to his feet and sent massive blasts of force towards the vamp. They were so giant and powerful, the entire cavern rocked. Great amounts of energy drained from Ayrh, but he didn't notice neither did he care. All he wanted to do was to win, and to defeat this vamp. He must. He must.
It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like the face inside is right beneath my skin
Nothing else. Nothing more. Just blast. Just blast, win, and destroy. Blast, win, destroy. Blast, win, destroy. The words transferred from his heart to his body, and rage bubbled right underneath his armor.
The face inside is right beneath your skin
Blast.
The face inside is right beneath your skin
Win.
The face inside is right beneath your skin
Destroy.
The sun goes down
I feel the light betray me
Gone. The vamp was gone. Ayrh blinked, for a moment getting out of the frenzy he was in. There was a hole in the ceiling. Snarling, he leapt up the wall and through the hole. The calming sands of Po-Metru greeted him. Over the horizon, only a sliver of orange was the sun. It was evening.
Ayrh looked around. Twelve vamps surrounded him. Among them was the one he'd just been fighting.
"Karzahni."
The sun goes down
I feel the light betray me
"You said he has unusual powers?" one vamp hissed.
"I have the bruises to prove it." Ayrh's previous opponent replied.
"What do we do with him?"
"Kill him and divide his parts to the gang."
"Simple enough."
The sun
I feel the light betray me
The sun. There was no more sun. The vampires were free to roam the desert. Ayrh felt suddenly squeamish. He stepped back, but the crumble of stone reminded him of the hole.
"Curse it."
The sun
I feel the light betray me
A blast of light. That was what Ayrh did. He heard a sizzle, and then a frantic scream. A dozen vamps charged him, shouting with rage and hunger. Ayrh shot beams of light, darts, blasts, anything... he meant to shoot again, but nothing came out. He was drained of energy, and felt tired already. Two vamps jumped onto him and pushed him into the ground.
Is this the end?
It's like I'm paranoid lookin' over my back
It's like a whirlwind inside of my head
Sadness. Defeat. Defeat? Defeat? No. Couldn't be. Helpless. No. Impossible. Angry. Angry. Rage. Anger. Fight back. Fight back. Pain. Pain. Impact. Determination. Frustration. Anger. Fight. Blast. Claw. Win. Win. Must win. Must win. Must. Must. Must!
It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like the face inside is right beneath my skin
Fight. Fight! Anger. Anger. Rage. Pain. Impact. Pain. Pain. Rage. Pain. Impact. Fight. Fight. Blast. Fight. Kick. Fight.
It's like I'm paranoid lookin' over my back
It's like a whirlwind inside of my head
Pain. Impact. Weak. Weak. Can't fight. Must fight. Can't! Must! No. Yes. Blast. Kick. Fight. Anger. Weakness. Anger! Anger! Not anger. Anger! Rage! Fight!
It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within
Fight.
It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within
Fight.
It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within
Victory. Victory? Not victory. Yes, victory. Partial victory. Enemy flees. Enemy flees.
It's like the face inside is right beneath my skin
Pain. Impact. Weakness. Tired. Hurting. Tired. Pain. Weakness. Hurting. Pain. Hurting. Groggy. Tired. Tired... tired... sleep.