Gratitudes,
To Caleb, whose great epic set my imagination churning.
Theme: I dreamed a Dream, Les Miserables.
Prologue
The Prisoner
Something not yet clear, something not yet here has begun…
The room in the Toa Fortress was dim and dry. A barred window was set opposite the door, and a table with two chairs was against the other end. In one of these sat a Toa of Iron, placidly staring at the floor. He looked up quickly as the door opened. A Toa of Fire strode in, his polished armor a brilliant red underlaid with black. He seemed to be smiling, but that was only the build of the Kanohi Miru he wore; his green eyes behind it were calm and sober. A slender Kanoka launcher was slung on his back, unloaded. He paused behind the empty chair.
"I am Toa Faeros," he said slowly. At the start of his name, the prisoner looked sharply up, but relaxed after hearing the rest. "You," the Toa continued. "Are Rahkan, a former Toa Commander, Village protector, now a cutthroat and mercenary. You have murdered four Toa and many Vortixx—among others. You have robbed and destroyed a Xian forge. Why?" Only then did Rahkan look up.
"There are some classes in this world that will never give, nor need, a why. Addicts, slaves, and mercenaries," he responded, his voice laced with bitterness.
"Yes," Faeros replied, ignoring his point, "But why did you become a mercenary? Your fortress was destroyed by Dark Hunters, why would you become like them?"
"The same reason anyone does anything. To survive," Rahkan said, holding the gaze of his interrogator. "I'm a hunted Toa, I could not protect a village or do some other tame, legal trade."
He stopped abruptly, looking down once more. There was silence for a little. Then the interrogator spoke abruptly.
"You have three options. We imprison you and run the risk of Dark Hunters coming after you, we execute you, or we release you. Take your pick."
"I'll take the second," Rahkan responded. Then he looked up. "But I forgot, you're Toa. You don't kill." His strange Kanohi hid his expression, but the sneer in his tone was all too evident. The Toa started, angrily.
"Hold your tongue!" he snapped. "I was sent to give you mercy. Do not spurn that!"
Rahkan gave a short laugh, more of a bark than a tone of merriment.
"Release might be considered that, but I know your ways, that is not the third option. Explain it more, if you would have me not spurn it!" he snapped, his tone elevating to match Faeron's. They glared at each other for a moment before the Toa of Fire broke the lock.
"All right then! Your imprisonment will be faked, and you will be transported to a small village in the Southern Continent that is in need of a Toa. Does that satisfy you?"
Rahkan nodded. "It does. I accept."
The sea was an endless view in front of him, and all around him. Rahkan leaned against the rail of the small ship he was in. A cloak obscured his armor and head alike, but his lightstone rifle was slung on his back all the same. He stared with empty eyes at the approaching landmass. He was tired, so tired. His body still ached from the running fights with the Toa Xia who had captured him. More than that, his heart was weary, scarred and battered. He slumped down, back against the railing, fingering his Kanohi. His mask of memory was half active at times like these, his mind unconsciously calling faces and sounds, fragments from long ago out of it.
He gave in, closed his eyes, and remembered…