Chapter 2: List the Suspects

Consumed in his grief, Tahve lost control. Turaga Nolox lay dead in his own chambers. Tahve had been there to guard him, but all he had done was hear his last words. He had failed in his duty as a Guard.

Unable to stay in the room any longer, Tahve tore out of the Turaga's Chambers and down random hallways in the Capital Building. He kept running and running, caring not where his feet took him. If he kept running, then maybe he could run away from what had just happened. Maybe when he came to a stop, he would realize that nothing had even happened, and Turaga Nolox would be there to greet him the next evening.

"Who goes there?" questioned a voice. Tahve ignored it, and kept running. But then a hand reached down and picked him up. He turned to see the mask of Ihrov.

"Tahve?" Ihrov asked, recognizing the Ta-Matoran. "Why are you not with Turaga Nolox right now? Are you not his guard tonight?"

Tahve couldn't hold it any longer. He broke down into sobs, which alarmed Ihrov. "Tahve! What's wrong?"

"Turaga... he... I couldn't... he said..." Tahve tried to speak, but he couldn't get it out.

Ihrov could see that the Matoran was in shock. He took Tahve to a small room and grabbed a glass of water. Using his elemental powers, he created a specific chemical and mixed it in with the water, and forced Tahve to drink the solution. As soon as he drank the liquid, Tahve began to breathe easier.

"It is a chemical that's meant to calm you down," Ihrov said kindly to the Matoran. "And maybe now you could tell me why you are so distressed."

"The Turaga... he's dead," Tahve whispered.

"What!" Ihrov said, alarmed. "You must be mistaken!"

"I wish," Tahve said, smiling sadly. "I wish my fault were as simple as that..."

Ihrov could see that the Matoran was telling the truth. He grabbed a lightstone off the wall, and went to the window. He created a chemical that caused the lightstone to spark and send out brilliant rays into the skies around the Capital Building. He grabbed Tahve, and started to lead him out of the room. "The other Toa will be converging at the Turaga's Chamber. We must get there to greet them."

Ihrov led Tahve through the hall, and they quickly met up with Rhagre. "Ihrov, what is the meaning of this summoning?" the Toa of Iron demanded.

"The worst news that I could ever bring," Ihrov said as he ran. "Tahve tells me that Nolox is dead!"

Both Toa were running now, and they were the first to get to the Turaga's chamber. They entered and gasped at the scene, which was just as how Tahve had left it. Tahve couldn't force himself to reenter the room, and stood outside the doors in a daze.

He was there when the other four Toa arrived. Pyrah was the first to arrive, and then came Lanili, Toa of Water, Bohriv, Toa of Ice, and Gambar, Toa of Earth.

"What's wrong?" Lanili asked. "Why did Ihrov summon us?"

"Because Nolox is dead," Rhagre said, exiting the chamber.

"Dead?" repeated Bohriv. "When?"

"We were not present," Ihrov said. He turned to Tahve. "Only he was here."

Six pairs of eyes focused on Tahve, and he shifted uncomfortably. "I... I was outside, guarding the door, on the Turaga's orders," he said. "I only heard an explosion, and when I entered the Turaga was already dying."

"You were obviously not guarding the door very well," Bohriv said coldly.

Lanili shot her brother a harsh look, as Tahve's head dropped. "Obviously, something was able to get past Tahve, despite his ability," she corrected. "There is little he could've done."

"He is the only one who was present at the time of the murder," Bohriv stated. "That makes him a suspect."

"Murder?" Ihrov asked. "How can we be sure it's a murder?"

"The Turaga did not die of natural causes, and the Nolox I know would be too cautious for accidents," Bohriv said. "It sounds like he was murdered."

"Having seen the destruction, I would have to agree with our brother," Rhagre said. "But it was not Tahve. I trust and respect this Ta-Matoran, and he would not kill his own Turaga. But that means that there is another killer in this city." He looked solemnly at the other Toa. "Please, come in and see what I have seen. But be warned; it is not a sight for the faint of heart."

The six Toa and Tahve entered the room. The destruction was just as Tahve had seen earlier, and the Turaga's body was slumped on the floor by the far wall, where Tahve had left him.

"What's all this?" Gambar asked, picking up a fallen chisel.

"Confiscated items from the Gang Matoran," Ihrov said. He grabbed the box and began to recollect the items. "They must've scattered when the desk exploded. Nolox was planning on going through them, but it doesn't look like he got the chance."

Bohriv picked up a piece of the shattered desk. "Something powerful must've struck him," he said. "And whatever fired it must've had good aim. There was only one blast, and it struck the Turaga head on." He glanced over at Rhagre, who wore a Great Sanok, the mask of accuracy.

Rhagre and Lanili were currently busy lifting up the Turaga's body and gently laying him down on the floor. Lanili looked over him sadly. "He hasn't been pierced or struck by anything," she analyzed. "His mask and armor were charred by the explosion, but the fatal damage was dealt when he slammed into the wall. The explosion had some force behind it."

"And whatever the explosion was, it was very neat," Bohriv continued. "It broke the desk and threw the Turaga, but it hardly burnt the floor. It was powerful and compact. Almost like a plasma blast."

Pyrah's head snapped to stare at the Toa of Ice, and Gambar frowned. "There is no need to make such accusations, Bohriv. I am certain that no Toa on our team would have a hand in the death of their own Turaga."

"I wasn't accusing, I was merely observing," Bohriv replied.

"None of us were around at the time of the murder," Lanili said. "Gambar and I were patrolling the southern walls together, and we saw Bohriv emerge from the his room on our way here."

"I was comparing the metal shard Nolox had given me with the Guard's weaponry when I saw Ihrov's summons," Rhagre said.

"Pyrah and I had just escorted Saith to the entrance," Ihrov said. "I was on the way to my own private chamber when I saw Tahve."

"Then who could the murderer be?" Lanili asked.

"There are many suspects," Rhagre said. "As you should know, Kavihkli is still at large, and we know that the Dark Hunter is capable of anything."

"The Gang Matoran are just as likely," Ihrov said dully. "After all, their whole campaign is to dethrone us Toa and the Turaga. Murder wouldn't be under them."

"And Saith would be just as willing to join them, especially after we kicked him out," Rhagre said. "Even if it wasn't him, it could have been his girlfriend, Suni."

"But there's no evidence of any of them here," Bohriv pointed out. "Unless the Matoran here saw something."

"Did you see anything?" Lanili asked Tahve kindly.

"I... there was someone," Tahve said. "He suddenly appeared and demanded to speak with the Turaga privately. Afterwards, Nolox was in a dark mood, but he wasn't injured in any way. It was Makuta Krika."

All the Toa took a deep breath. "A Makuta," Bohriv said. "That doesn't bode well."

"We saw no sign of him entering or leaving," Gambar said. "But a Makuta can appear and disappear with the shadows. He could easily slip through any of our defenses. And it wouldn't take much for him to get past a Matoran a second time, and thoroughly blast Nolox to death."

"The Makuta aren't the friendliest bunch out there, but they don't murder Turaga out of the blue," Rhagre said. "Unless Nolox had some sort of hidden quarrel with them, which I doubt, there is no reason to suspect them."

"The Makuta protect the Matoran, in their own way, but they are beings of shadow," Ihrov said. "How can we be certain they work towards the will of the Great Spirit?"

"We can't suspect them until we have ample proof," Rhagre said. "And Makuta Krika is one of many suspects. Toa, hear me now, we will find who killed our beloved Turaga Nolox, and we shall bring them to justice. No one gets away with a murder like this is my city. NOBODY!"

"We need to alert the Matoran Guard, and prepare to announce this to the city," Ihrov said. "The Matoran deserve to know that they have lost a great leader."

"And the Guard needs to be warned," Gambar said. "Whoever struck down Turaga Nolox may strike again."

"So be it," Rhagre said. "Tomorrow, I will also begin to track down the villain who did this. They might still be in this city."

"I'll volunteer Pyrah and myself to guard the Capital Building at all times," Ihrov said. "Just in case."

"What about Nolox?" Tahve whispered, finding his voice again.

Lanili knelt down to look the Matoran in the eye. "We will lay him to rest, and a proper funeral will be conducted in due time. You have done well tonight, Tahve, and have suffered much. Please, go and get some rest. Tomorrow, there will be much to do."

"Our sister is right," Rhagre said. "Tomorrow, we bring honor to Nolox's name, and track down his killer."

"As long as we aren't struck down next," Bohriv added, as the Toa began to exit the room.