Chapter One
Inside the tower on Bota Magna, Axonn, Brutaka, Artahka, Helryx, Tuyet, Vezon, and Miserix stood around the shackled Great Being, debating fiercely the merits of the promise Vezon had apparently made.
"We can't just set this guy free," said Axonn. "Great Being or not, he's clearly nuts."
Beside him, Brutaka shifted in an almost hostile manner. "You know you just insulted one of the greatest of creators, right?"
"And his assessment was correct-" the Great Being began before Vezon cut him off.
"So, you're just like me," the Skakdi said excitedly. "That's wonderful! Welcome to the club of the psychos, I'm glad to have you."
"-to a point" the Great Being finished.
"Oh," Vezon said in a disappointed tone. Moments later, his face brightened. "At least I won't have any competition then."
Artahka ignored Vezon and addressed his next words to Axonn. "Brutaka is correct when he says this is one of the greatest of creators. I ought to know that. But-" He turned to Brutaka. "He is far more insane than he believes he is."
"But he could help us," said Tuyet toying absentmindedly with a nearby rock.
"If you mean with dreams of conquest, I'm sorry but I've my own to carry out," said the Great Being."
"You mind reader," Tuyet muttered in a sulky undertone.
"That settles it," said Helryx. "We leave him here."
"No!" the Great Being cried. "Free me, please! I promise I'll let you live."
"Not interested," said Helryx.
"In living?" said Vezon. "I'm interested in living. How else could I go on entertaining people with my charms?"
"You sicken me, Skakdi scum," said Miserix. "You keep talking the ears off of the others. I'm going find Teridax and avenge myself."
Axonn glanced around. "Hey, has anyone seen Lewa?" he said.
"The green fellow?" said the Great Being. "I guess he got fed up with your bickering and left."
Axonn turned to Brutaka. "We'd better go find him."
"I'll go," said Brutaka. "Where's the nearest exit?"
Axonn gestured towards the door, which Lewa had evidently left open when he'd made his exit. Brutaka nodded and turned to go.
"You be careful, alright?" said Axonn.
The look Brutaka gave him radiated the strong feelings of friendship he felt for the old axe-wielding warrior. He extended his hand to Axonn. Silently, Axonn took it, and held it for several moments. Then Brutaka withdrew his hand, turned, and vanished through the doorway.
As Axonn turned back to the group, he saw Miserix barrel past him, heading for the door. "Out of my way," the Makuta growled as he smashed through the half open door and raced off in the direction Brutaka had gone.
"He's off to find Teridax," said Helryx, "whatever good that'll do."
"Well, aren't we going to free the Great Being?" said Vezon. "I mean, a promise is a promise."
"No, we are not going to," Helryx replied.
"I'll concur," said Tuyet.
"Yes, and we all know why," said Axonn. "Tuyet, you'd better just give up your dreams of power if you want to live."
At that moment, the cell lit up in a blinding flash of light.
Each of the room's occupants had only a split second in which to act.
Sensing the danger, Vezon instantly teleported from the cell with the powers of the Olmak he had so recently gained.
Helryx clutched desperately at Tuyet who, realizing that she was about to die, could only laugh hysterically at the irony of her old captor perishing in the same inferno.
Artahka gazed towards the fires as they swept rapidly over his body.
The Great Being howled in terror as he was consumed in flame.
Axonn kept his eyes on the spot where he had last seen Brutaka.
"Where are you off to?" said Brutaka as he saw Miserix running up behind him.
"I'm going to obtain my revenge," the Makuta replied bluntly. "Don't interfere."
"Huh, good luck," said Brutaka. "If Teridax were here, we'd doubtless have heard of it by now. He's in a giant body that would rock the plain."
"There was a crashing sound when we first entered the cell," said Miserix. "He's here on whatever this place is."
"The Great Being called it Bota Magna," said Brutaka. But Miserix wasn't listening.
"What is it?" Brutaka asked him.
"To the exit if you want to live!" Miserix cried, racing for the door. Brutaka ran after him. Both of them managed to reduce the door to rubble in time to escape the wall of flame that was fast approaching behind them. They didn't stop running until they were well into the depths of the jungle.
On the other side of the pile of rubble that had lately been the fortress, the one who had triggered the explosion smiled.
"I wired the place well," he chuckled. "First Karzahni, then Tren Krom, and now Miserix, Axonn, Brutaka, Tuyet, Helryx, Artahka, Vezon, and that mad, but dangerous prisoner are all gone. All in one fell swoop." Carefully, he placed the eight headstones he had carved atop the rubble in a neat line.
"A fitting tribute to the dead," he said. "Now to find Lewa."