Chapter two.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bionicle, Lego does, the story was given thought and life by Greg Farshtey and as such all credit goes to him for getting the movies in existence as well as the series to continue as long as it did. I also don't own any of the music put in this work of fiction. What I do own however Is my O.C. And the way the plot is.

Now to clarify something that some of you might have asked me during last chapter, I'm trying to make this story into a Dark fantasy style of fiction, not exactly anything I have ever worked on before, so please leave me some critizm on such a thing, any bit helps at all for the improvement of the fiction. I hope you guys will enjoy this type of thing, I know I will.


Play No way out-Out of my way.

How can I break the fall?

How can I find my way back?

To who I was before this Shadow fell!

I cannot break the fall

I cannot find my way back

To who I was before the Dark of night...

Conquered my soul!

I cannot break the fall
I cannot find my way back
The future's so uncertain I can't see!

It used to be so clear
But I'm caught inside a misty gloom.

I'm fighting crazy shadows
The amber streams growing wild!

I must move on and I must not give in to
This insane world. It's catching fire
round me now

I'll rise up,
Won't stand down
To anyone's commands, live or die.
I won't break
I'm always ready for another round yeah
I'm alive!

How can I break the fall
How can I find my way through

This maze of troubles and uncertainty?

I cannot break the fall
I cannot find my way back.

The dark is so complete it's blinding me!

I used to know the way
But I've lost the prophets word's inside.
Now I've got no direction
Who'll be my guiding light?!

I must move on and I must not give in to
This insane world, it's got a hold of me now
I'm alright
I'm okay

I'll find my way again, end the fall
I won't break
I'm always ready for another round yeah
I'll survive!

I must move on and I must not give in to
This insane world. It's catching fire
round me now

I'll rise up,
Won't stand down
To anyone's commands, live or die.
I won't break
I'm always ready for another round yeah

I'm ALIVE!


Le-metru.

Another day in the City of Metru-nui starts like it usually does, full of silenced groans from the populace. The reason for the silenced is due to its 'guardians' The Vahki and the Toa, 'encouraging' the populace to help in the empire that they are 'apart' of. To one certain Matoran named Kongu, it was just another day at the docks. "Another dark-find has happened." Thought the Le-matoran/ destined Toa Inika/Mahri...or would be destined had it not been for this crazy universe.

"A fault in the fast-chutes number 19-3 and 23-4 are stuck-pathing material transport for Ta and Po-metru's, if I don't Hope-find a way to fast-fix this problem, I'll be stuck in the cave for an day." Kongu thought Grimly as he proceeds to start fixing power couplings next to the console that he is currently stationed at in the hope that it will jumpstart the chutes...but after a couple of minutes, the only thing that was rewarded for the Matoran was a flow of Liquid Protodermis upon his mask and a faulty console.

Gritting his teeth in frustration, Kongu is about to slam the console when a very seductive voice sounds out behind him. "Why hello their Matoran, how are you doing today?" Freezing in place, Kongu asks himself in his head. "Please Mata-nui, please don't let it be that dark-woman." As he turns around, it seems either his quick prayer didn't have enough power, or Mata-nui wasn't in a mood for listening as Kongu makes eye contact with the queen of the Visorak Horde, Roodaka. "M-Mistress Roodaka!" Kongu immediately bows to the ground in a quick manner, carefull enough not to get any liquid protodermis to fly around. What he doesn't need is anything to set off one of the Spears of Tuyet.

"W-What brings you down here to Le-metru Mistress? I hope nothing has occurred that you would need to see through here your eminence." Kongu quickly stutters out in strong loyalty as well as looking completely at the ground, to avoid making eye contact with Roodaka. "Oh? I'm just here to check on something intriguing." Roodaka replies to which Kongu quirks an eyebrow. "Intriguing mistress?" Kongu inquires as Roodaka sits down on a nearby chair.

"Oh..these are surprisingly comfortable...more so than my own palace." Roodaka states as Kongu has a cold sweat. "Y-You can have them Mistress, I had a friend from Po-metru work on fixing it up, He should be able to make something for my position to replace such a petty thing." Kongu quickly responds before feeling an arm wrap around his body. Upon being lifted up, he is then put face to face with the queen of mutation to his obvious discomfort/panic...which Roodaka seems to enjoy to an almost unhealthy degree.

"You are quite kind to your leaders Matoran...what's your name?" Roodaka inquires as Kongu sweats further. "K-Kongu your eminence." Kongu responds as Roodaka does a slight grin. Upon looking around the room, Roodaka continues to speak. "I take it that you control the shipping to other metru's and other islands?" Kongu nods silently as Roodaka smirks. "Okay..." Roodaka then lets the Le-matoran down to which he takes a sharp intake of breath, obviously fear setting through his body.

"Do you have any idea when transport 13-23 should arrive here?" Roodaka states as Kongu looks upon his notes and past data. Usually when Roodaka states or asks someone, it's usually an order...an order which has strict consequences should it fail. "It should have already Arrived Mistress, At dock 19 but..." Roodaka quirks an eye. "But?" Kongu takes a long time to look up to Roodaka before speaking again, catching a sign on annoyance, he hurries up his speech.

"The fastest way to reach the area is through Chute 19-3, but the chute was damaged during the incident at the palace by the escapee. I'm currently in the middle of repair work." Kongu finishes his explanation as the Queen of the Visorak horde rubs her chin in a pondering manner. "How long should it take for repairs to be complete?" Roodaka inquirs, interest peaking for some reason. "Hopefully it should be done now, though I strongly suggest to wait 5 minutes before going through it." Kongu warns as Roodaka sighs. "So you are telling me I should spend more of my time in this abode of yours until it should be safe?" Kongu immediately pales at this.

"I-I mean no disrespect Mistress Roodaka, but the flow of the Chute could be extremely dangerous for even the most armored of transports. The power of a restarting Chute could snap a Manas Crab in half from the power released..." Roodaka then nods to this before looking out the window.

"Do, Do you need anything mistress? I could go and get you some refreshments if that is what you desire while...humbling my abode." Kongu asks in a surprising tone to the bored mistress of darkness. "Oh? That is unusual." Roodaka says in a somewhat intrigued tone different from her normal speaking. "Unusual mistress?" Kongu inquires once more, this time getting a clear response that doesn't change the subject. "Unusual in the way that most matoran don't bother asking if I should need anything." Roodaka pauses for a moment before a dark and seductive laugh erupts faintly from her mouth and chest.

"I'll try one of those new liquid Protodermis drinks you Matoran like so much, I've been meaning to see if they have anything involving them belonging with the rebels." To this, Kongu nods before all but disappearing from Roodaka's line of sight as he leaves the room as fast as a Mask of speed. Chuckling at this, Roodaka turns her head behind her to see the real objective that she had here was looking up to her from exiting the transport that brought them from near Xia. Rotating her head around once, Roodaka spins her legs off of the table that she had upon before walking out and into the chute that the Matoran said that she would need to take.

Upon reaching her destination, Roodaka see's the sorry mess that these underlings were in despite the fact that they had weapons given from her people to help protect their borders on them! The simple fact that they were defeated infuriated the Queen of the Visorak, but what does it further was the fact that they were in such a slighty pitiful state for the mistress of darkness that almost makes her want to turn the 4 underlings into some abomination that should belong with that female toa of water who helped the shadowed one escape.

Taking a deep breath as the voice of reason and treachery once more soothes her flames of anger to get to the bottom of what in the universe did this to these toa. "What happened." Roodaka asks...no demands as Karvensi looks upon her while lifting the still unconscious Toa of plantlife as both Taslo and Anuvak trudge out of the transport, their feet grinding upon the solid protodermis ground as they attempt to reach the 'leader' of the team. "You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you...infact, he said that you probably wouldn't believe me even if I showed you the evidence." Karvensi speaks as Roodaka taps her foot expectantly on the ground as she speaks. "Told me what?"

Before Karvensi can speak, Taslo speaks up. "What did this to us was a Toa." Roodaka then shakes her head somewhat disappointed, probably that Toa Lesovik doing something once more...wait a moment. "It couldn't be Lesovik, he was in Ta-metru at the time destroying Vahki recharging plants. And the last time I checked he doesn't leave his opponents alive from a fight. So who!?" Looking back up at Taslo with slitted eyes, Roodaka immediatly demands.

"Who Did this!? Tell me now!" The dangerous tone, added into the fact that he was injured, causes Taslo to fall backwards in fright. The person who speaks next is Anuvak. "He was a monster...taking me and Koacris out in one shot; And that doesn't even speak of his powers..much less that black flame from his eye!" Anuvak's hands grasp his mask in fear as his heartlight begins flashing rapidly as he begins to panic. "No...no! Stay back! STay back!" Anuvak shouts as he collapses upon the ground in petrified fear.

Roodaka has to take a step back at that outburst in surpise. The fact that these two toa were taken down in one shot was surprising despite the armor they given. And that massive fear through their bodies...that can only be done either by a staff of fear from a Rakshii or by shadow powers..."No.." Roodaka whispers silently as she looks at Karvensi in somewhat suprising rising horror coming from her body. "Yes, his name is Toa Kradis...Toa of Shadow." Roodaka then takes a recoil of shock from this knowledge, not believing...no, rather she must not believe what she heard from the injured Toa of Psionics.

Laughing somewhat anxiously, Roodaka then says. "Did...did I mishear you? For a moment, I could have sworn that you said this Toa was a Toa of-""-of shadow. Yes, I know how ridiculous it is, but the fact that he exists right now is as dangerous as the thought of such a thing." Karvensi interrupts Roodaka who, shockingly enough, doesn't retort with her spinner or powers, and her only response is. "Any...anything else?" Roodaka asks as Karvensi looks downward. "Yes...though it's an even worse thought than anything else said." Roodaka shocks Karvensi by gripping her shoulders while looking directly into her eyes.

"What did he say?!" Roodaka demands in a somewhat desperate manner as Karvensi looks downward for a good 6 seconds before responding. "He's coming here...to Metru-nui...for the toa empire." Roodaka, in all of her existence, has never felt the feeling of terror as she has put it into other species countless times, the only time she could ever compare something to that is when she had to climb the Mountain of her homeland...but at this moment, right here and now, her body is feeling that same emotion...except to such a degree that it is paralyzing.

Taking a step backwards, Roodaka then says to herself. "I-I must report to Lord Tuyet...please, take a long rest." Roodaka then starts to walk away, leaving the surprised toa..or rather they would be surprised if it wasn't for a situation like this as they also walk away, wanting this day to be over faster than what could be believed. Walking past a fearful Kongu, who simply responds to the Mistress of darkness. "I-I'm sorry Mistress, they were all gone-out of them, I could go ask a jump-friend in another metru for on-" "No worries Matoran, I'll be taking my leave now...I need to speak with Lord Tuyet and Karzahni about something."

To this, Kongu visibly recoils from this as he see's the Queen of the visorak horde walk out shaken. To this, Kongu can only ask his element, the air, a question. "What in the name of Mata-nui could have caused Mistress Roodaka to hurry-panic like that?" To this, it seems like his element doesn't want to reply to him...


Onu-metru. Home to the archives and now trophy collection

Feeling the boat bump into the bed of the heart of mata-nui, Toa Kradis only looks up at the sky from the small traveling ride. "That sure took a long time...though the turrets and the like slowed me down from getting here, I'm glad I atleast got here or else I would have to swim the rest of the way." Kradis mutters before getting out of the boat...and seeing a giant cliff that must be climbed to reach the Metru. "That's...going to take some time." Kradis remarks as he see's the almost 900 feet of climbing needed to get to the archives.

"There's gotta be a better way to get into there." Kradis ponders his knowledge of the Bionicle verse for any possible side passageways into the metru...and after 30 minutes of pondering options, Kradis sighs. "Looks like I'm going to have to either blast my way into the archives...which isn't very stealthy, or go the obvious route." Kradis considers the two options, and upon deciding that his presence shouldn't be revealed any more than absolutely necessary, starts to climb up the wall face, and after a good hour or two of attempting to climb up the nearly flat wall by using his hands, Toa Kradis reaches the top somewhat abruptly.

Looking at the metru for the first time in person, Kradis can only take in the sight for a while from the relaxing feeling that comes from the area...and then upon deciding he shouldn't spend too long here as he doesn't yet know if Tuyet has heard of his presence and wouldn't want to ruin the surprise, heads toward the door to the archives..and see's a door easily double the size of the cliff side to which he needs to enter. "L-Lord toa! What brings you hear to our metru?" An Onu-matoran stutters out as Kradis turns his face to his direction.

"He must think I'm one of Tuyet's...well, what he doesn't know won't get him killed in the long run. ...Keep yourself together Aube. YOu have to keep your head in check." Kradis rubs his mask to the matoran's confusion...before the matoran asks. "Lord Toa, can you not speak?" To this, Kradis nods to keep up the matoran's perception...even if it was a lie, as the matoran covers his mouth in horror. "Please forgive my transgressions lord, I didn't know of such a thing, I swear it!" The onu-matoran bows in fright as Kradis ponders for a moment.

Walking forward while hearing the onu-matoran's panicked breath, Kradis taps the matorans shoulder before pointing at the door. "Y-You want into the archives?" Kradis nods his head before the Matoran all but hurries off his feet and to the gate, pulling in rapid succesion three switches close the right side of the gate, and at a pause with a sweating Onu-matoran practically panting at the slightest thought coming into his mind if he forgot the combination with one of Tuyets warriors next to him. The door opens loudly, and slightly grinning, Kradis walks through after patting the matoran on the shoulder, suprising the person greatly as he moves onward.

"That was weird." The Onu-matoran says to himself before realizing something. "I don't think there's a Toa of Earth that looks like him...don't tell me he belongs to the rebels!" The matoran's eyes widen as he begins to head to a receiver, only to stop as he also realizes that the people he contacts would also want to know how this rebel got inside the most secured area in Metru-nui besides the Coliseum. "Maybe I'll say that he phased through the door...yeah, that should work." The matoran confirms to himself before resuming his post, hoping that losing his job is going to be the only thing to occur to him this day.


Inside the archives.

"That was easy, maybe looking so similar to a Toa of Earth has it's benefits." Kradis thinks to himself before seeing a large spiderway of paths infront of him. Closing his eyes for a moment to focus on what he should do, Kradis lets his elemental power do its job and sense the darkness in the whole archives, and at several points he visibly flinches in pain as he feels area's of absolute darkness and area's where darkness is completely gone. Searching through the rooms of the archives with his power, Aube can 'see' many items and beasts by his ability.

At one point, a room all but devours it's shadows from it and reform them too fast for himself to comprehend with his Human mind...and Kradis had no doubts that others could handle the stress better than him as he continues onward with his power, hoping to find a darkness that all but eclipses all the ones that came before, and at a point where he would have given up, Aube recoils as a Darkness similar to his own comes forth through his mind, all but suprised at the appearance of a darkness similar to himself.

Focusing on this Darkness, Kradis see's a being cloaked in shadows deeper than even the blackest night as a voice resounds in his head. "WHO ARE YOU?" Jumping backwards as his concentration is broken from the pain of the voice resounding through his stressed mind, Aube collapses into a nearby Vahki squad, Rorzakh's if his memory serves correctly as the Vahki only look at him for a moment before a voice resounds from one of them in a robotic manner. "IDENTIFY YOURSELF TOA. YOU ARE NOT IN THE REGISTERED TOA LISTING UNDER THE TOA EMPIRE. IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY, WE WILL BE FORCED TO DETAIN YOU UNTIL LORD TUYET DEEMS OTHERWISE."

Sighing at this while replying in his head. "There goes the lucky streak, well I had to announce myself to Tuyet sooner or later, might as well get it over with right now unless she has already heard about me from that Toa squad I beat earlier." Getting up, Kradis looks at the Rorzakh squad before replying aloud. "My identification is thus pursuers." Pointing his weapon at the Rorzakh's while continuing. "My name is Toa Kradis, Former biological being who escaped with Toa Lhikan's tools from Tuyets trophy room, and now Toa of Shadows, here for my destiny to set Tuyet's empire to the junk yard. Does that suffice?" To this, the Rorzakh pause for a moment as it searches it's registry for the name of Aube now.

"YOUR NAME HAS BEEN ENTERED AND NOT FOUND IN THE REGISTRY, WITH YOUR RECORDED RESPONSE GIVEN, WE HAVE DEEMED THAT YOU ARE A THREAT THAT SHOULD BE DETAINED BY ORDER OF LORD TUYET'S EMPIRE, PLEASE COME WITH US PEACEFULLY OR BE PREPARED FOR A CHASE THROUGH THE ENTIRETY OF ME-" What the Rorzakh was going to say next is lost as Kradis pulls the trigger on his gun, destroying the head unit of the Vakhi as he replies. "Running and hiding aren't the only options anymore with me around Pursuers. Add that into your database."

To this the other Rorzakh immediately go into action as Kradis charges forward, slicing one in half before saying to himself once more. "Aggressor mode." His right eye's black flame returning once more, Kradis dodges a hit from the Rorzakh's Staff of presence before detaching the blade from the gun, using it to slice the staff apart before kicking the Vakhi into one of the other members of its squad.

Pointing his gun at the two tangled mechanical chasers, Kradis starts to unleash a burst of Shadow energy at them from the weapon, upon contact, they implode and send pieces into their allies. They also impact a nearby exhibit, sending out some smoke but hopefully not enough to wake the thing inside of it, as Aube grabes the face of an injured Rorzakh with an arm stuck in its chest section before stabbing its weapon into another injured Rorzakh with an shattered Staff of presence in its face, making the shattered pieces give it character before it's face gets slammed with the weapon.

Wrapping his arm around his back with the gun, Aube fires the weapon, destroying the one that he has grabbed before throwing the Staff of presence into the leg of another Vahki, stabbing it into the ground as Kradis slashes in half the stunned Vakhi from before. With the blade spliting apart once more, Aube fires an energy slash from his blade at the impaled Vahki, causing it to be sliced in half horizontally.

Pointing his gun at the nearby direction a sound is emitted from, Aube see's that the leg of the nearby destroyed Vahki has fallen to the ground..looking upon the scene of battle Aube only mutters. "...I'd better get moving before backup arrives." Taking a step backwards, Kradis spins around before running down a tunnel, trying to follow the direction that the deepest darkness was at...and to hopefully, his first ally.


At the deepest part of the Archives.

"Is something wrong Teridax?" Krika Inquirs as he looks at his leader, now in a frown as he stands with his back to a cave wall. "I detected a presence in the Archives...it felt like one of us." Teridax states to which Kojol, who has been sitting down, starts to laugh slightly manaically. "Kojol?" Krika asks toward his companion, his mood becoming more and more like what he was when he was at Arthaka. "That 'presence' of yours Teridax tried to contact us, but it seems I frightened him with my presence." Kojol states as he continues to laugh manaically.

Quirking an eye at this, Teridax responds. "Is it someone belonging to that Manas-like toa?" Kojol immediately stops laughing as he turns to look at his leader once more. "No idea. The only thing I do know is that he uses shadow powers like us." Krika then starts to rub the underside of his Kanohi Crast as he replies. "Could it be Miserix?" Turning his head to the Makuta of Zakaz, Teridax muses about his predecessor. "80 thousand years it's been since...you spared him Krika." Krika slightly flinches at the way it was said as he responds. "I didn't want to take a life that we didn't have to. You know that sir." Feeling the situation hopeless at one point, Krika had told Teridax in the past about his imprisoned Miserix...

He was not pleased, everyone in that chamber, and indeed, all of metru-nui, heard the roar of Teridax at this knowledge. It was labelled as a Chute malfunction officially, but all of the makuta know the truth...especially Krika who was 'given' a 'reward' for his decision. "Whatever the case may be..." Kojol starts as both Makuta turn their attention back to him. "Whoever it is is coming here...looking for us." Teridax then speaks up. "Us? Not just one? And you are sure that this being is using shadow powers?"

Kojol nods three times before continuing. "So it's one of three things." Kojol lifts his right hand up before holding his thumb out. "The first is that It's good old Miserix and he's had a change of heart after his imprisionment...or wants all of us gone." Lifting his index finger next, Kojol continues. "The second is that former follower of yours finally coming after us." Teridax lets out a sound of grunting as Kojol lift his middle finger up last. "And finally..." Putting his hand down, Kojol completes his sentence. "It's someone we have no knowledge about, who's goals are unknown as well as how they process their paths to said goals."

Teridax then turns around to start walking out through the entrance to their 'base', past injured Rakshi and exo-toa as Krika asks. "Is it wise to go out? You could be walking into a trap." Teridax only turns around as his pitted and scarred Kanohi Hau starts to flutter, changing shape. "I'm not one to be defeated by one person; Besides." Teridax begins to walks away as his form starts to change. "Call me...intrigued."


Back with Kradis

An infinite maze of darkness, it seems, best suits this place in Aube's mind as he continues onward, the paths branching and swirling, extending and ending, raising and falling. Always changing, not staying the same. Back when he was Human, Aube can believe that any normal being would become insane by this abyss of paths. Now that he is a toa.."It still feels bad...but at the same time, comfortable. Is it because of my abilities now that this place fills me with safety? I guess my fear of the dark is still strong." Gripping his weapon tighter in his right hand, Kradis ventures forth, still walking down these insane halls for a sign of the 5 beings that he is looking for.

"So far, no guards or matoran, odd.." Kradis says to himself as he continue's onward, passing by weapons and armor that looks to be very dangerous. Through without much knowledge of what their abilities are, Kradis decides that touching them, would probably not be the wisest idea in the world. "Then again, I have been making bad decision's lately." Kradis retorts to his own thoughts as he passes by an item that stops him in his tracks.

The item, black as the night..no, black as the abyss in space that swallows all that pass by, looks at Kradis with its empty eyeholes , begging, no pleading to be removed from its current spot pinned onto the wall. "That's..." Kradis starts, his eyes locked onto the mask, his senses all focused upon it. It's sleekness ordering to be touched as its eyesockets want to devour those whose eyes have put it on. In a trance, Kradis starts to lift his empty right hand up toward the mask, its presence absorbing him like a black hole.

"The Kanohi Kraakhan." A familiar female voice sounds out which knocks Kradis out of the daze to spin around to point his weapon at the source of the voice. Her Barbed Broadsword in hand with her mask of intangability on her face, Toa Tuyet stands before Kradis as he replies. "I was wondering why security was so non-existant, but it seems I found the answer...Tuyet."

Kradis is then replied to by the leader of the Toa Empire. "What are you doing down here Toa of earth? No-one is supposed to come down this far-?!" Tuyet's sentence is interrupted as Kradis charges forth, swinging his weapon in a wide arc aimed for her head. Dodging backwards, Tuyet's response is thus. "What are you doing!? I'm the leader of the empire!" Kradis responds. "Not my leader." This causes a quirk of the eyebrow from Tuyet as Kradis tries to skewer the corrupt Toa of water onto his gunblade while she once again dodges.

"What do you mean by that? I control all toa of the elements! Fire and Plasma!" Tuyet begins a swing that Kradis blocks with his gunblade. "Water!" Her right hand impacts into Aube's chest, blasting him back by a Tower of water erupting from the fist. "Wind!" Kradis only slashes away the torrent of water before jumping off of the wall that he is on, attempting to closeline Tuyet with his blade.

"Earth!" Tuyet's response is to do the splits, making Kradis miss and slam into a group of weapons. "Stone!" Kradis then tosses his weapon into his left hand before grabbing a nearby item to throw at Tuyet. "Ice! Tuyet just slaps the item aside, upon doing so, she doesn't see Kradis infront of her! Hearing something metallic coming apart come from behind her, Tuyet swings her weapon to behind her, blocking the stab from Kradis who was going to pincer her between his weapon.

"Gravity!" Grunting loudly, Kradis is thrown off of the former Toa Mangnai by her suprising amount of strength. "Iron!" Tuyet then spins around before jumping off of the ground to slash Kradis in the chest, knocking him into a cave wall. "Magnetism!" Firing another Torrent of water, Kradis scrambles out of the way to avoid it, only to be grabbed in the face by Tuyet. "Psionics!" "Dangit! I have no choice! I'll have to use Aggressor mode again and engage the Ignition mode! It's my only shot!" Kneeing Tuyet in her elbow, Kradis jumps off of the stunned toa of water before stabbing his weapon into a wall.

"Plantlife!" Tuyet prepares to fire another torrent of water at Kradis, who only detaches his weapon and falls to the ground, suprising Tuyet slightly. "But I don't know what will happen if i try Aggressor twice! Plus I haven't even used Ignition mode before either! If I don't take her out on the first hit..." Kradis thinks as he points the gun at Tuyet who is firing another torrent at him. "Lightning and Sonics!" "Win or lose...we're ending this Tuyet! RIGHT HERE AND NOW!" Jumping up into the air once more as he can't hope that his shots will stop that eruption of water, Kradis grabs his blade before unburying it.

"AGGRESSOR MODE!" Kradis Roars as his right eye flames black once more, suprising Tuyet. "Black Fire!?" She yells as Kradis slams his sword into her with all of his strength, only for Tuyet to block with her hand!? "What?!" Kradis yells shocked as Tuyet knocks away his gun with her Broadsword. "Which Toa are you!?" Tuyet demands as she slams her weapon into Aube's weapon, causing it to fling backwards alongside Kradis. "One of the two things you don't own!" "Looks like this is going to hurt! Time to give it all i've got as the being from the dark before I go back home! IGNITION MODE ACTIVATE!" The Black Flame flaring even larger and into his left eye, Kradis let's go of his blade to stab his feet into the ground as Tuyet responds. "What?!" Kradis then jumps off of the ground strongly as his right arm Glows black.

"I am this worlds white shadow!" Tuyet, surprised by his proclamation, barely has time to put her broadsword infront of her as Kradis slams his right fist into her face. "I am the Toa of shadows! Toa Kradis!" Kradis shouts as he fires the energy, the flames instantly disappearing as a large pillar of shadow energy pierces Tuyets face, utterly annihilating the former toa of water as Kradis falls unconscious, his last words in his head are. "Got...you...junk-heap." Upon the last letter of the sentence, he falls into the depths of the abyss that is his being and mind.


Unknown amount of time later, as well as location.

Dark, that is what Kradis...no Aube is feeling, his whole core dark and black as the night. Opening his eyes, he sees himself as a human, in chains, countless yet strong, these black chains with the design of a flame wrapped around himself in an abyss. "Back here again I see." His Toa form replies, his guns absorbing the abyss on his back, but its a futile effort as this darkness is infinite, but that doesn't deter the look-alike. "Again?" Aube says as he tries to move, but the chains, though slack, weigh an incalculable strength and weigh upon each chain. "You came here when you became me." Kradis states as Aube raises an eyebrow. "Why don't I remember that?" Kradis sighs as he replies. "Probably from the intense pain you felt."

Taking another moment to sigh once again, Kradis continues. "Anyway, what were you thinking activating your mask's power twice in a day, much less activating my powers with it?" Aube then looks downward. "You know that using the mask is dangerous enough Once, you should be glad you are unconscious instead of dead." Aube then grits his teeth. "I know that.." Kradis then responds with. "Then why." "I had to take her out, I had to." Aube replies as Kradis continues. "Well you could have done it without using your powers, now you've gotta pay the price." Aube's eyes quirk as he asks. "What do you mean by price?" Aube's question is soon answered as, through the Abyss, the chains holding his right arm go more tight as the Black flame Aube's mask emits race down its length, impacting his arm. "GAAAGH!" Aube screams in pain as the flames disappear as quick as they appeared, leaving behind a blackened arm.

"You're probably asking yourself what just happened." Kradis says as he looks up at Aube's shocked face. "What happened is simple, you know that feeling you got when you became a toa? That feeling of something...not quite right?" Aube then turns to look at his other half as he says. "Yeah? So how does that have to do anything with me and these chains and flames?! Aube shouts as Kradis only response is to point his right index finger at Aube. "The problem is yourself, you own soul and nerves are what's causing the problem here."

Aube then responds. "What?" Kradis continues. "See, your nerves aren't exactly as great as anyone else in this dimension, that's why you got the Mask of enhancement in the first place. What wasn't expected however, was that your nerves were so incompatible with basic mask powers. That's why those chains are here, there your nervous system and the flames are the pain from the mask!" Kradis then looks at the chains once more, and realizes that when he attempted to move, the chains would move the same way..

"What...the...hell!" Aube curses as Kradis continues again. "And the reason you are here." Kradis waves his hand around the abyss that they are both currently in. "Is that this is what's left of your human self." Aube looks once more around him, chuckling slightly. "Oh? What's got you mister chuck-a-Luck?" Kradis asks intrigued. "Isn't it Ironic that a man afraid of the dark, has powers over said darkness, and his soul is stuck in an abyss?" Aube jokes as Kradis shakes his head. "That isn't funny Aube." Aube responds. "Why isn't it? I mean, look at all the witty banter the people back home coul-""I said it isn't funny for your situation so shut it." Kradis interrupts Aube who reels his head back slightly.

"Why isn't it funny?" Aube asks after several minutes so his other self could calm down, don't need him skewing himself...would that be considered killing himself Aube wondered. "Because," Pointing at Aube's right arm once more, the human part of him looks once again to see the darkness in places where his arm should be!? His elbow's gone completely yet Aube can still move his wrist and the like. "Wha-?!" Aube Gawks as Kradis continues. "Every time you use these elemental powers, you risk losing what light in your soul you've got left. And when that happens..."Kradis stops for a moment to collect his thoughts before he speaks again.

"Those chains will pull your remains into this abyss, outside of your protection right here and you'll be devoured, completely gone." Aube widens his eyes. "What!? You mean I could die by using my powers!? That's..." Aube can't say anymore as Kradis continues. "Not dead." Aube once again says. "What?" Kradis then explains...which Aube really, really, REALLY didn't want to know. "What happen is that you'll become like all the other toa of shadows...but worse, without any toa's of light or weapons of light, you'll become a raging berserker, destroying everything in your path until this whole dimension is put into this abyss that your soul was lost in.."

"...And you didn't mention this to me before because?" Aube starts as Kradis immediately replies. "I've already said this before! You just forgot!" Aube recoils once more before Kradis looks up at something. "What's wrong?" Aube asks. "Seem's like our time here is over old me. This time though, try to remember what I said, it gets very tiring having to repeat the same warning's over and over without anyone even taking notice." Kradis states while waving with his right hand. "Good luck." At this moment, Aube feels pain once more, and passes out in this abyss...


Once more, unknown time and location.

It seems like darkness is all Aube is going to be waking up to as he opens his eyes into a cave as dark as any other, all light seeming to be absolved from its existence here in the Archives. Shaking his head a couple of times, Kradis is going to get off of whatever he is on before feeling something holding him down. Peering downward, Kradis see's restraints made of some metal onto his limbs, keeping him held down onto some sort of bed. "Great." Kradis states as he looks around, trying to see whoever has put him into this mess. Upon doing so however, he finds that his mask, as well as his weapon, are both missing!?

"Alright, I know you're studying me from somewhere in this room. Mind if you be courteous to introduce yourselves to the-in-the-dark-and-strapped-to-a-table-unarmed-to a?" Kradis asks as a dark chuckling, easily the kind that you hear in the worst nightmares, comes rattling forth from all around him..and indeed through him as it echoes forth, making a cacophony of dark enjoyment for the unknown being. "I'm so displeased that you don't remember the person you blasted into the face with your power, young toa..." Kradis widens his eyes as he turns to see Toa Tuyet, her mask slightly damaged, alongside Karzhanni who holds his Shadow craftor as Roodaka stands beside, spinning his mask into her venomous hands.

"Unusual weapons...Seem's to be made of Protosteel." Karzahni says to Tuyet who nods before Roodaka speaks up. "A flawed mask if I ever saw one, but very potent...I think I'll take it." Kradis growls at this with a threatening motion, but with him tied down and having no powers whatsoever, he might as well be trying to wrestle the wind. "How in the world did you survive the Ignition mode's shadow blast?! That should've annihilated you!..Unless you triggered your mask right when I was firing it!" Kradis realizes as Tuyet rubs her mask somewhat sorely before Tuyet responds. "Your only partially right Toa..." Kradis makes a confused face before realizing who the three really are..

"Makuta.." Kradis says somewhat respectfully, somewhat fearfully as he has a good idea of who he attacked now. "Well, there goes the fun of scaring the toa now Teridax." 'Roodaka' states as 'Tuyet' replies. "Yes Kojol, and here I was hoping to find out about our young...guest." 'Karzahni' then takes the time to interject into the conversation. "But we could still ask him now...in our real forms. They would be much more comfortable to be in then in these...wretched bodies." Surprisingly, 'Tuyet' and 'Roodaka' both nod before shapeshifting once more, with 'Tuyet' Turning into Makuta Teridax, 'Roodaka' turning into Makuta Kojol, and 'Karzahni' turning into Makuta Krika.

"Well, to say for starters lord of darkness, I'm sorry for blasting you in the face." Kradis apologizes as the makuta in the room nearly trip over their feet at this note. "That...was too fast!" Krika states as Teridax responds. "Um..you tell me sorry after the deed? Usually when a Toa is here, they would be either A. Screaming out of their mask, B. Go completely insane, or C. thinking its all some hallucination caused by Doom viper venom." Kradis does his best shrug that he can currently do in the position he is in. "Well..I kinda thought you were Tuyet...sorry bout that." Kradis says once more apologetically as Kojol interjects. "You must really hate the manas of a toa for you to fight our glorious leader here."

Kradis then says. "More than you probably know." Kradis then replies while looking at Teridax. "So, how would you say I did? Average? For getting you damaged a bit anyway." Teridax then takes a moment to ponder. "For starters..." Kradis holds his breath as he waits to hear the review. "It was awful." Kradis visibly flinches as Teridax continues. "For starters, If I used my other powers, you would have no chance of defending against them. Another note is that your combat sense aswell as your capability for using those weapons and mask need more work, you just use pure strength for the work, no finesse in it at all." With every word, a larger metaphorical building lands onto Aube's body, causing him pain.

"And another thing, if you used your powers better, you would have caused me to take you a bit more seriously." Teridax finishes as Kradis slightly grins somewhat nervously. "It's not that I could use my power better, it's that I kinda can't." Kradis states as Kojol responds. "Explain." Kradis then pops his neck before speaking up. "The more I use my power apparently, the more of a berserker I become, so I focus on my weapon and mask for battling instead of focusing on something that might or might not work. In battle, the only thing you can trust are the tricks that allowed you to survive in it for so long, so if you want to practice something else, you gotta have a very good reason to integrate it into your skills. And even then, the things got to fit well into your strategy, no need to get an elemental power bonus if you don't use your elemental abilities in the first place...right?" To this, the Makuta take a moment before nodding, it makes sense in what the Toa is saying, if you were to use something not even checked before hand, it could cause catastrophic results to occur.

"Though I have to admit," The makuta look back at Kradis as he continues. "You seemed to enjoy that battle as well Lord of shadows." Teridax then quirks a metaphorical eye before saying. "How so? I could have just been focusing on the game that you were giving." Kradis then smirks before saying. "Well, it seems like your body was slow and aching, but it seemed like wanting to go over it's limits at the moment at hand, I guess that's why you kept on using those Water geysers...hey wait a minute! Since when do you fire water blasts out of your hand!? The last I checked, shapeshifter's don't get the powers of the thing they are changing into!" Kradis demands as Teridax reveals in intriguing device on his left hand, the gauntlet, easily the size of Kradis, is a deep azure blue that seems to be drawing him in and raging at all who stand in its way. "This device here I made out of a...friend of our's Toa disk, it comes in handy when making people with the smarts to know what you said believe that I'm that toa..."

"Among other things I guess?" Kradis gets a nod from the Lord of darkness as he asks. "Now..." Kojol's spiked staff goes onto Aube's neck as he continues. "Who exactly are you? You aren't exactly a normal toa." Kradis responds somewhat matter of factly. "And this coming from a guy in an armored suit when his body is just gas?" Krikal's blade falls near Aube's neck as he demands. "How do you know that?! Who are you!?"

Kradis only continues to look at Teridax as he continues. "Look, we can do this two ways. Number one is that you get rid of me, and all those questions you have will be left unanswered for the rest of eternity...if you even exist that long, or you can let me up so we can have a courteous sharing of stories...you decide Teridax, leader of the Makuta." To this, the room goes deathly silent, before a loud clack is hear, making the clamps on Aube's limbs come off.

Alongside this, both Kojol and Krika retract their weapons so our Toa of Shadows can stand up to stretch. "Much better." Turning around, Kradis replies. "Oh and don't worry, I'm not going to escape here without my stuff, and besides, I only have half the power of a toa, so there won't be any chance to escape." To this being deemed satisfactory to himself, Kradis then sits down onto the floor to give the Makuta the feeling of towering over him, being stronger, which they naturally are and no one can question it in this situation.

"Now to start things off here, my name is Toa Kradis, Toa of shadows." This causes the Makuta to look at him deeply as the shadows in the room only seem to widen and cover all light in the room as they slither toward Aube. "I know it's hard to believe, but heck, not everything goes exactly as planned most of the time. So might as well take what you can get right?" The Makuta only stare at him in silence as the shadows pause before continuing to examine him. "To how I came to be, you might want to ask the Former Makuta of Arthakha how his watchmanship needs more work."

Kojol begins to laugh crazily as both Teridax and Krika widen their eyes at this knowledge. "You were created in Arthakha!? A toa of Shadows, the destroyer of all made in the city of creation! That's the greatest joke I've ever heard of bwahahaha!" Kojol continues to Laugh as Kradis responds. "It's up to yourselves to believe what I've said, but is their any point lying to beings who could annihilate me any split second right now?" The Makuta don't respond as even Kojol's laughter silences simultaneously while he looks back at Aube with a studious glare, the kind that makes any person who research something want to devour all that has any information belonging to to their subject.

"But before I was a toa, I was a Human named Aube, from a planet called Earth. I arrived here in this dimension from a damaged Kanohi Olmak from one of these dimensions, it probably brought me here because it malfunctioned. Anyway, that's not the point, the thing is that from my dimension, you guys are all just stories read to children, that's how I know most of what I do that should be secret, like you guys having 42 vision powers, or the fact of your being made out of Antidermis...see what I'm getting at? The only other people who would know this are Tuyet and you obviously know How i feel about that witch lord of shadows." Kradis explains as Teridax ponders with his fellow makuta.

"His story sounds ridiculous." Krika states as Kojol responds. "But then how would he know about us being made of Antidermis!? That is a secret only known to the Makuta!" Teridax then says. "Weather his story is plausible or not, he knows things that other's don't. So until we can prove what he says is false, we must take his word on it as like he said, why would he lie to one who can annihilate him in a split second?" Looking back to make sure that kradis was where he was at, the Makuta continued their speaking after having a Half-damaged Rakshi enter the room to look after him. "Teridax, why would you trust such a preposterous thing?! For all we know, he could be under Doom viper venom!" Krika says as Kojol replies. "Just think of it! Other dimensions we can hide in! More experiments we can perform!" Krika only looks at his fellow for a moment before continuing. "We need to think this through rationally."

"Um...can I say something?" The Makuta as well as the Rakshi turn their heads toward the person of interest. "What is it?" Teridax mutters, his patience obviously thin and growing thinner by the moment. "You guys do know about the Makoki stone fragment here along with a great disk right?" The makuta freeze in place at this note. "What?" Kojol says as he pushes aside the other Makuta and the Rakshi to grab Kradis by his shoulders. "Um...I know about it because Im kinda a knowledgeable person about this universe. Or universes. Like in the prime universe, where Tuyet got killed in, Teridax took over Mata-nui's body?" The makuta pause before looking at each other one more time, an somewhat incredulous feature on all of their faces. "Lets hear what he has to say..." Krika states, now trying to believe what Kradis is saying.


Several hours later due to periodic questions of the Makuta as Kradis tells the tale of the bionicle.

"So let me get this straight. If we succeded in the plan, Teridax and Miserix would be the only makuta left as I die in some planned accident while Krika here gets destroyed by our light hungry friend Gorast? Add that into the fact that Teridax would be killed by a planet of all things crashing into him?" Kojol asks as Kradis looks somewhat pleased at how the conversation is going, infact, some other rakshi came forward to hear him tell his tale. "Yeah, but he got killed in style! Who do you know has had a planet crash into them?" Kradis states as the makuta look to eachother once more.

"Look, I know you guys don't trust me, and I don't trust me in my current state either. But the best way to prove I am on your side is to do something completely dangerous with probably no chance of success. So want me to get the Kraakhan back into your hands Teridax?" The makuta are taken aback by this response as they look dubious at the intentions. "And how are we supposed to get it back? If we could have done so by now, we would have taken the chance." Kojol states pessimistly for once as the makuta look at eachother somewhat downtrodden.

"If there's one thing I learned about life, it's always got it's flaws...so know of any problems that could give Tuyet more priority over than the Kraakhan?" Kradis asks as the Makuta look to eachother once more. "The Vahki recharge centers. Tuyet has to periodically send out vast amount of Toa to other continents to keep up the Empire's power into the people minds, as such, the only peple to enforce the laws here besides herself and her generals are the Vahki." Krika states as he leans against a wall. "Good, that's one thing, if I cause enough havoc on the surface, they won't be able to come down here to check on one little procurement of items down here." Kradis mentions as he gets up off of the floor to grab his mask, only for Teridax to take it out of his hands. "That won't be the only Vahki here, all of the vahki in metru-nui, alongside tuyet herself would come down here, how would you stop those numbers?"

Kradis smiles as he replies. "Well, block the entrances and they would have to take the time to unburry now wouldn't they?" Krika shakes his head as he mentions. "Then how are we supposed to escape?" Kradis only points behind him toward the wall. "We are close to the edge of the metru, we just need to blast our way out and into the open. Once out, we'll leave the metru in the boat I used to get here, I disabled a turret on the sea to be used as a base of opperations." Kradis mentions to the Makuta who only take note of the ridicoulousness of the plan.

"This is madness." Kojol states once more pessimestly. "We'll decide if its madness later, right now, focus on getting a way through. I'm going to procure the Makoki stone fragment and the great disk so we don't have to make a second trip later." Kradis is about to leave but is impeded by Krika standing in his way. "We'll get the Makoki stone, you get the great disk, once you hand both to us, we'll begin the plan." Kradis visibly grits his teeth together before speaking again. "Look, we don't have the time to split up, we need to have our escape route done as quick as possible so that we don't get bottlenecked down here."

To this, Krika is going to retort but Teridax lifts his hand, silencing him as he speaks up. "It's your plan, so we'll give you some leniency...but!" Jabbing his face into Aube's, his pitted Hau glaring like a demon as he speaks his next words. "I am going to retrieve my mask! That will not be debated!" Kradis finally sighs before throwing his hands up into the air. "Just do what you guys want, I'm going to seal the entrances down here. The Great disk is in the room that devours and emits shadows, just grab it and run. The makoki stone should be near it so i'll leave it to Krika and Kojol for retrieving them." Kradis doesn't even bother looking at them as he grabs his Shadow chaser once more before holding out his empty right hand. "Now would you kindly give me my mask back?"


Several minutes of wandering later...

At the place where he was close to entering, Kradis looks around the tunnels for any other signs of life, upon finding none, Kradis lifts shadows chaser to point at the wall. Erupting out of its barrels are a barrage of shadow energy, smashing into the walls of the tunnels causing them to crash as thousands of tons of earth come to meet eachother once more. Walking backwards, Kradis begins to lazily fire while returning to where he saw the Kraakhan at, only to hear a loud crack as one of his shots his the Cage that the staff of precense was in causes the glass to crack, it completely falling apart as a beast erupts out of it. "Great, just what I need. A late sleeper." Kradis grimly jokes as erupting out of the exhibit was a Doom viper.

The rahi it seemed looked especially angered at it's rude awakening as the second it looked at Kradis, it immediately hissed its 6 heads at him before breathing out a large cloud of toxic gas. Jumping backwards as it's his only escape route, Kradis begins to fire the Shadow Chaser suppressively at what he presumes is the Doom viper through the cloud, only to hear more cracking as more shapes come through the black-like smoke. Barreling through the smoke, a large Manas breaks through, smashing Kradis across the face as he flies into the top of the tunnel that he is in.

"Once more?" Kradis thinks to himself as he prepares to activate his mask, but hesitates. A nearby crash brings Aube's attention back as now a Sand Tarakava is released, barreling toward him to begin smashing it's powerful arms into his body. Exhaling his breath largely, Kradis is launched into the wall of the cave and into another side passage. "I got to find a way to get out of here!" Kradis shouts as the Doom viper slithers through the hole he came through as the Manas breaks through, with the Sand Tarakava trailing behind.


Play Red Fraction by Mell

Closing his eyes for a moment, Aube's eyes widen as he kicks off of the wall he is currently on, slamming the flat of his blade into the face of the sand Tarakava, knocking it into the Doom viper who's response is to blast it with its poison. Screaming out in pain, the Tarakava runs away while voicing its disturbance. But Kradis cannot focus on such a thing, as the Manas is coming toward him once more. Jumping backwards, Kradis begins to fire at the ground near the Manas, hoping that there is a tunnel below him to delay the danger while he handles the Doom viper.

Sadly, that doesn't seem to be the case as the beast only goes past the blasts and slam into Kradis once more. His breath being choked from breathing in at the moment of impact, Kradis is obviously stunned into a wall, but somehow manages to stab the blade of the gun into the top of the tunnel. "Alright, that's enough!" Kradis roars as he detaches the gun from the blade before beginning to fire at both the Manas and the Doom viper, which obviously decides that attacking an opponet in the air isn't a good melee option, so once more, it let's out it's poison cloud of death that must have surely killed that sand Tarakava by now.

Gritting his teeth while closing his mouth completely, but knowing that won't help much as the Doom viper's poison cloud inserts itself through any organic contact, Aube let's go of the blade to attempt to run past the cloud. The reason for this is simple, he is in a downwind position, so he would have to run all the way down and hope for a side passage in this sealed part of the archives in order to dodge it, and since he doesn't intend to get lost, he must avoid this at all costs!

His obstacle in the way of this is the heavily armored Manas. To which, Kradis leaps upon before using it as a spring-board to soar into the air, or at least 10 feet as he rises over the cloud to get behind the viper. "Gotcha!" Thrusting his weapon to the back of the rahi's head, its white head is starting to fire out another cloud but Kradis unloads shadow energy bullet after shadow energy bullet into the unprepared rahi, causing it to hiss in excessive pain as it flies off from the hits, into the abyss of the archives as it disappears from sight...hopefully for good, but Kradis cannot sigh in relief at this as his battle isn't over, the Manas still in his proximity.

Holding his weapon with his other hand, Aube warily walks over the dip to see the Manas at it's last known location...only to find it gone!? "What the-!?" Kradis starts in surprise as he couldn't believe that the Manas would retreat so quickly...unless! Spinning his weapon to behind him, Kradis prepares to fire his weapon at anything that stands out before seeing a large shadow appear above him!? "Oh you've got to be kidding me! That shouldn't be possible for how big it is to get that high without being noticed!" Kradis thinks to himself in his head as he looks up in time to see, yes in all of it's implausability, the Manas is up in the air coming down to crash into his body due to gravity!?

No time to get away, Kradis is crushed by the weight as he lets out a painfull yelp as he's pretty sure he's going to need a long rest after this. "Get..." Aube furiosly starts as an unhealthy glare emits from his eyes. "OFF OF ME!" Kradis roars as he puts his arms onto the underside of the rahi, lifting it up to its surprise. (Note, please do not attempt to lift a Manas normally, they are very heavy and you would need multiple toa with Mask's of strength to do such a deed, Aube can do such a deed because he is powered by anger!) "Go flying!" Kradis prepares to throw the Manas down the tunnel only for the immense weight to completely disappear. "WHAt!?" Looking up, Kradis cannot believe his eyes as the Manas is gone once more!? "Where-!?" Aube starts only to get slammed into the back by the being he is looking for. Turning around, Aube see's that not all of the manas is back to what it was when he lifted it, infact, half of its mask is missing but being filled by the second.

"A...Manas with teleportation abilities!? What the hell! Now that's just freaking cheating!" Kradis yells in outrage as he points his empty right hand at the Manas accusingly. To this, the rahi's response is thus, arm dissapears...then colliding with Aube's face! This sends him crashing into his blade still stuck into the top of the tunnel. "Ok, now I'm really mad!" Picking up the now freed weapon, Kradis splits the blade before charging forward at the unusual Manas, who's only response is to teleport once more..."Right there!" Spiralling in place with his feet grinding into the ground, Aube unleashes a shadow energy wave emitting from his weapon at the starting to form Manas, it's shadow telling its position quite well. This causes the beast to fly backwards in pain as Kradis replies. "Seem's like you can't teleport again until you finished atleast getting most of your body back together now can you! And it seems it works to my benefit if you do such a thing anyway!"

(Now to many who are reading, this response seems odd, but looking at the Manas, they can understand what Aube is meaning. As the Manas teleports, it's armor has to form last, meaning its practically undefended and helpless as it transports big things, like its whole body, but if its small, like say an arm or something, then it can easily reform quicker.) The Manas, having a large gash appearing in its armor, only seems to look at the Toa of shadows in disdain before stretching slightly and then the gash starts to close?! "Oh come on! Now you're healing?!" Kradis screams out but thinks to himself in his head. "Great! Now how am I supposed to defeat it!? If I attack it while its transporting, it'll just heal itself! And if I do make dents on its armor to get an attack in, it'll just put me back to square one! Think Aube think! There's got to be a way to take it out in one hit! That's your only chance!"

Before he can think on any sort of battleplan, Aube's knocked out of his thoughts once more as the Manas slams into him, but before Kradis can even get up, the Manas picks him up by its hands before smashing him into a wall, and then start to dash across the ground, dragging Kradis into the sides of the tunnel. "If I used a shadow Nova attack, I could take it out...no, too risky! I'll be interrupted during the process! And even then, I would just free up the tunnel and that would cause a cave in, probably taking out the Makuta down here as well as the other beings! What should I do!?" Aube screams in his head as his body slams into a nearby Bohrok exhibit, knocking it over and Kradis to land onto the ground. Before he can even say anything, the Manas only starts to drag him onto the floor, sparks flying once again. "I could really use help here! Please! Someone, anyone! Give me a clue on what I should do here!" Hope quickly leaving his body, Aube prepares for the worst...only to see his blade split open once more and his gun to open up due to the stress it's being put under.


Play Gundam X ost 1, song 18, satellite cannon.

Combining the weapons in a desperate gamble, Kradis fires the gun at the underside of the Rahi's arm, causing it to let out a screech of pain as it let's go of the Toa of shadows. Spinning around, Kradis replies. "I don't know what's going to happen but..." The Manas, enraged at being hurt while letting it's anger out, spirals in place before charging at Kradis. "It's all I've got left!"

Upon saying this, the barrels to the gun portion of the weapon flip around, so that the Shadow collecters on the sides are as close to the semi-split blade portion as feasibly possible. The blade opens up wider, until locking in place. The shadows around the entire tunnel swirling into a black maelstrom focusing into the collecters, and thus, the split section of the blade as the shadows form a spiralling darkness in the weapon, reaching an untold blackness deeper than that of any nightmare.

It's sense of danger growing, the Manas instead decides to ignore it for the satisfaction of damaging its opponent, to which Kradis replies. "Target...locked on." An Imaginary green Targeting circle goes ontop of the Rahi's body, instantly turning black upon doing so. "Fire!" Kradis shouts as he pulls the trigger, and for one single moment, the sounds of the world stopped as an destructive laser of black color erupts from the weapon.

The size of it small, yet undeniably powerful. The power of the weapon rips Kradis off of his feet as he flies backwards from the recoil, several hundreds of feet per second before crashing into a wall...and going through the wall and into another, then another, and another. And after an eternity of slamming into things, the beam stops, causing Kradis to collapse onto the ground.

"Son of a bitch that has alot of kick. Note to self, never do that again." Kradis weakly lets out as his numb body rises once more. Looking back to see if he took out the Manas, Aube's face is slack jawed at the destruction he wrought. Destruction, the word is said again and again in his mind, but it does nothing to state the damage he has done, yet that is the only word of such a magnitude that he knows of. The black laser obviously fired, what Kradis didn't expect was the massive recoil to launch him back, causing the damage to spread as everything in the tunnel he fired from was...gone, small parts are here and there, but the fact is, all was taken down. Obliterated. The farther he flew backwards from the recoil, the more and more items were appearing, completely damaged and irecoverable. From where he got up, the tunnel was pratically widened into a cave and the items onto the ground making the level of it rise atleast by a foot for several hundred feet.

"Again, not using that." Kradis states as he sorely walks to his 'entrance' into this tunnel only to hear a moan and reply. "Oh no way." Kradis turns around slowly to see the Manas from before, but missing half of its body, it seems the accuracy of the shot, coupled with it's regenerative and teleporting powers helped it reduce the damage drastically along with its armor, and is in the process of repairing itself. "You know what, you handle yourself, I'm going to leave and hope I never see you again." Kradis states as he walks off, not wanting to fight with the Manas any longer as it retreats into the deepest depths of the tunnel...and hoping not to encounter the Toa again either.


With Makuta Teridax...

Looking upon the Kanohi Kraakan, the mask of shadows...no his mask. The lord of Shadows grasps the sides of the wall that it is on for support, digging his claws into it to prevent himself from ruining this plan. "Finally." The Lord of shadows whispers in his dark voice. "Finally we'll be re-united you and I, and then vengeance will belong to us once more! Our brotherhood begun anew!" Teridax then begins a deep and dark chuckle, the likes of which can easily give people nightmares, and lifts his head high to continue it. As he does so, he begins to ponder about his new 'ally'.

"His story is crazy, but then again what could be considered not crazy in these times of our predicaments? Even without my mask I can sense the hate in his body, his anger a rolling ocean of lava that wants to consume Tuyet and all in his path. Yet his fear...that is the interesting part. His fear directed at me before he fought me was infinitesimal. Yet when he woke up, his fear reached an untold of level, the likes of which could rival this Metru-nui at any point. What could have caused such a thing I wonder? And How could I use it to my advantage? Yes he's helping us get the Kraakhan back, and yes he's fighting Tuyet...but what's his real goal? His real...agenda? With the power of the destroyer in his hands, he could easily become the next Tuyet if he want's to, and if that happens..." Teridax starts to crumble the rocks in the wall in a subconscious gesture.

"If he does show signs of becoming like that Manas of a dictator, then I'll atomize him the second he wins against her." His plan set in his mind as he hopes to discover more about Kradis, Teridax then feels the darkness of Kradis coming around the corner. "Is it ready?" Teridax asks, obviously trying to stay calm in being so close to returning what is 'his'. "As ready as it will ever be, once we do this, we are going to need to escape here at full pace. I only hope that you guys got the exit complete-." Kradis is stopped in his speech as Makuta Teridax, leader of the Brotherhood of Makuta, rips the Kraakhan off of its spot, instantly causing thousands of matoran letters and warning to glow inside the cave, nearly blinding Kradis...but to Teridax, there is no sign of discomfort as he puts his 'property' back onto his face, throwing off his tattered Kanohi Hau while doing so.

Picking it up, Kradis set's it aside before Teridax begins to walk off. Only to pause as he looks behind. "What are you waiting for? I thought you said we must hurry?" Teridax questions as Kradis picks up a nearby item before blasting the area behind him with his gun. "Just wanted to get a souvenir." Kradis responds while returning the weapon to his back before sliding the Shadowed one's staff between it and the Kanohi Hau that belonged to Teridax. Not even showing a sign of caring for such a thing, the lord of shadows continues his pace downward...into their base.


At the Coliseum.

"So..." Tuyet starts as she see's the alerts from the wards she put onto the Kraakhan, and indeed the shadowed one's staff, go off with a flare. "It seem's our friends in the dark want to give themselves up...why don't you go and play with them?" Tuyet speaks to her nearby companion, Toa Norik who only nods once with his dull and lifeless eyes before turning around, his Volcanic spear and Rhotuka shield in hand for battle. "So weak..." Tuyet says proudly as though Norik cannot hear even if he was given supersonic hearing, for he just walks on, not caring. Or rather, not able to care. As was mentioned in the first chapter, he along with the rest of his Toa Hagah team are under mind control by Tuyet.

Before Tuyet can even think of anything next to say, her thoughts are interrupted by Roodaka, queen of the Visorak horde, breaking open the gate to her room to which Tuyet raises an eyebrow. "What is it Roodaka? You look like you've seen a Nynrah ghost...which shouldn't be possible unless my 'brother' Nidhiki let one go." Tuyet asks as Roodaka pants. "We have to talk." Tuyet raises the other eyebrow. "What can be said to me can be said to all in the room-" "Not everyone mistress, not everyone." Roodaka interrupts, noticing Tuyet's ire at being interjected in her speaking.

"Leave us." Tuyet speaks to all other's but herself and Roodaka in the room, the Mixture of Toa and other species leaving in a somewhat group as the room empties is disconcerting, but unnoticed to the two women in the room. As the gate closes behind them, Tuyet replies. "This had better be important Roodaka, my patience is-""There's a Toa of Shadows in existance." The words cause whatever Tuyet was going to say next to choke, looking at her right hand in widened disbelief.

"What did you say!?" Roodaka only replies once more in a trembling voice. "A Toa of Shadows is here, coming for us!" Tuyet slumps back into her chair as she cannot believe what she has heard, before realizing something. "Oh no...he's in the Archives!" Tuyet immediately sends out a signal, the signal's purpose is simple...call all Toa back to Metru Nui at once. This signal has never been sent before, and most likely never will again, as sirens and Matoran letters whine and glow fervently, signalling one hell of a day coming to Metru-nui.


Back with Kradis and Teridax.

Play I ran so far away by a flock of seagulls

Running down the tunnels as quick as possible without a Kanohi Kakama. Both being from the dark are practically flying across the ground, focusing on getting to the former base of the Makuta as can be. Teridax then mentions to his ally. "You thought this plan out well young toa, but I do have one question." Kradis doesn't even look at Teridax so as to focus on trying to keep up with him. "Go right ahead." Teridax responds. "Once we do leave here, where are we supposed to go?" Kradis then bites his lip. "I kinda have a base on the water outside here. We just need to reach it and we are home free my friend in the dark."

Teridax then replies. "And this base is?" Kradis then replies truthfully. "You know the turrets on the border of this place? I kinda had to disable one of them in order to get another boat. But it took time and so I had to make due with my surroundings as best as I could; not like I could have an underwater base or anything of the sort." Teridax then questions. "But wouldn't our dear friend notice that one of her turrets in her defense grid is offline?" Kradis responds. "I modified the settings on it, it still works, but it won't target me or anyone I bring with. Smart work eh?" Teridax only response is silence as he continues on his way.

Reaching the tunnel, Kradis see's that both Kojol and Krika have returned, both looking somewhat worse for wear. "YOu could have warned us about the defenses." Krika mentions as Kradis responds. "I told you to just grab it and leave, is it that hard to understand on dangers?" Krika only shakes his head as Kradis continues. "So is the tunnel done? We are kinda going to need it soon." Kojol only looks at the two questioningly. "We thought you guys did it and just went for some extra loot?" Teridax then responds. "You mean to tell us that there isn't an escape path!?"

Kradis replies. "Damn." Looking behind them, he see's that the cave base that the makuta were using is still the same. "Looks like I'm going to have to improvise a path." Kradis aims his Shadow chaser at the wall but stops as its barrel is open again like before. "What's wrong?" Kojol asks as Kradis only bites his lip once more. "I'm going to have to find a different way, if I use the cannon mode it'll just announce our presence to everyone outside." Kradis stops as he hears a faint rumbling from up top, probably someone blasting through the blockade that he put up.

"No other choice." Pointing his weapon at the wall after disengaging the blade from it, Kradis fires a shadow blast at the wall. The impact causes some of the hardend stone to give way, but for the amount he needs it barely reaches 1 percent of completion. "It'll take too long at this rate!" Krika exclaims as kradis once more closes his eyes in frustration. "Come on Aube! You have to find a way! You will find a way! Your vengeance will not stop here! Until Tuyet is under your heel you must survive!" Opening his eyes, Kradis see's his chained self once more, smiling while keeping its eyes closed. "Fight on...me. Don't worry about our body, I'll keep it safe." A voice rings out, himself...or is it Kradis?

The owner of the voice matters not, as the fear of using his power's dies down slightly, Kradis activates a function of his mask that he hasn't before. "Amplificate." Kradis replies as his eyes return to the real world, his sword raised up as it's cylinder circles once more, but instead of for getting the Overcharge function ready, the darkness flows to his mask as black flames emerge inside of it, making his face appear as a black flame. Upon doing so, the sword topples to the ground loudly with Aube's arm as he aims the gun portion at the wall with a struggle. "Fall!" Kradis roars as he holds the trigger down, a flurry of massive shadow spheres erupting out of the weapon in a storm.

The recoil of the shots due to his weakened body causing the weapon to rise heavily, but Kradis only holds his arm down with his other hand and rips the wall to sunders. The makuta back up as Kradis advances forward, the blasts still coming forth like a grenade launcher. After nearly a minute of constant firing, the sounds stop as Kradis returns. "The way's clear now! Lets go!" To this, the Makuta nod somewhat hesitantly as they move out, but before leaving, Kradis heads up to the Exo-toa that is left behind. (Due to it being too big to fit into the tunnel.) And asks it. "Look, in the deepest part of these archives there is a Rahi named Kraakha and a Turaga in a matoran capsule, I need you to find them and tell them of what is going on." Surprisingly for Kradis/Aube, the Exo-toa listens as it walks forth, doing it's probably last duty before expiring from the damage it has sustained.

"Good Luck pal." Kradis remarks before pointing the Shadow chaser at the walls once more, firing at them to cause a cave in in the former Makuta's lair.


Outside.

The sun, a sight the Makuta haven't seen and dreaded in so long, surprises them greatly as they exit with their children, the 12 rakshi and Kradis. "I have a boat here, but I don't think that you guy's will fit." Kradis in interrupted by Krika lifting up by the waist before replying. "Who said we were going to get onto a boat?" They then fly off, into a distance as countless Vahki come through a gate to the Archives, searching for anything out of the ordinary...but to their dismay, they will find nothing of the ones that they were sent to search for.

"Land over there." Kradis points to a nearby gun tower, easily the size of a regular building, but with massive cannons on its body, practically an armoury for any being. After 10 minutes of flying, the Makuta and Rakshi land, surprised that the tower didn't shoot back. "Told you I programmed it well." Kradis boasts before Krika drops him onto the ground, nearly falling into the sea. "Ow." Kradis says painfully as Krika replies. "Sorry, forgot you were there." Kradis sighs. "Well, Might as well show my guests in. Otherwise I'd be a rather rude host." Kradis dusts himself off before getting up. Walking up to a nearby wall, Kradis pushes it in, causing it to topple over and reveal a room with massive impacts inside of it.

"Do I even want to know what happened in here?" Kojol asks as Kradis responds. "They had alot of Vahki in here, it took quite some time cleaning this whole place out." Kradis then waves toward the main room, easily twice the size of the cave where the Makuta were in. "This was the ammo storage, I moved the items to somewhere else to open up the space a bit." To this, Kradis then points into the air. "Up there is multiple floors of turrets both manned and unmanned, perfect for the Rakshi to stay on guard for in shifts."

Before continuing onward, Kradis then snaps his fingers before replying. "I moved the ammo upstairs, so be careful. I don't need an explosion occurring from any fights that may occur upthere." Walking up to another wall, Kradis only opens it by the side to reveal a small storage room. "Here is a small place that you guys could come to if you want to be by yourselves. I'll just move the Items to somewhere else to give you more room." Moving about 3 feet to the side, Kradis reveals a side passage that holds Scraps of Vahki that have obviously been forcefully disassembled.

"This here is where I put the...former occupants in, the charging spots obviously can be converted to what you need, just use the remains for fortification and the like." Lastly, Kradis then Moves past Kojol before lifting up a cover on the ground, revealing a room at the bottom with two boats on the outside tied to it, but made for underwater use so the user can breath in them. "This here Is where I'm going to be staying, as i think you guys would prefer being up at the top, down here is also the planning room, so when you guys want to make plans, tell me and I'll prepare for such."

"So what do you guys think, obviously a bit better than your old abode wouldn't you say?" Kradis states as the Makuta and Rakshi have ignored him, heading to places where they would be the most comfortable. "Well...that kinda ruins the homely atmosphere." Kradis deadpans before realizing that he could use some sleep, and upon going down, heads to one of the Boats for rest, his eyes closing before the darkness of the ocean, along with its rocking motions making a simple lullaby for him.


The next day...

Being poked at by something, Kradis open his left eye to see a Rakshi, more specifically a Rakshi of Sonics touching him with it's staff, looking quite similar to a Kerakh staff. Jumping up, Kradis hits his head against the top of his bed but shakes it off to exit. "Something wrong?" Kradis asks as the Rakshi takes a moment to nod before leading him up, to see the Makuta waiting somewhat patiently. "What's wrong? Has Tuyet found us?" Kradis asks, obviously worried as Kojol responds. "What my friends and I were wondering is what are you going to do next?" To this, Kradis pauses. "What I'm going to do? Obviously I'm going to take out Tuyet." Krika shakes his head before saying. "But how are you going to reach that goal? That is what we are wanting to know."

Kradis then takes a moment to think on this as everyone else in this location is looking at him intently, gauging his features for any clue of his intent. "They got a point, it's not like Iike I can just storm up to Tuyet's palace, that place would be too heavily defended. I would first need some more help, and that help would have to know about her defenses...wait a moment, didn't Tuyet say something during our encounter? That..." Aube's memory goes back, seeking what Tuyet said about Gaaki...and probably the rest of the Hagah.

"Ah yes, dear Gaaki here alongside Norik and Iruni disagreed about the decision to change them back into toa...so I had dear Roodaka here change their brains to be more...acceptable to my persuasion." "Wait a second..the Hagah stole the Kanohi Avohkii didn't they? If they are under Tuyet's palm..she might know where the Mask is! And Since Takua is imprisoned in her place, she could have a subservient toa of light on her side! Crap..this is bad. Wait, scratch that, the Hagah might have destroyed the mask in order to keep it out of Tuyet's hands. The only way to find out if it's still exists is to get that info from the people in question...but they would probably fillet me the second I step infront of them."

Decision reached, Kradis replies to the waiting beings from the dark. "You guys remember what I said about the Makoki stones?" Teridax nods before revealing the fragment alongside the great disk of Onu-metru. "In the prime universe, the Toa Hagah hid the Mask of light in Metru-nui, and if Tuyet knows about that..." the Makuta take a moment to think before Kojol responds. "They she could create Toa's of light to be her troops!"

"Calm down Kojol, if she did so we would have heard about it by now." Krika reasures but Kradis responds. "He's right, but that doesn't change the fact that she has a Matoran destined to be a Toa of light in her highly guarded prison." The Makuta whip their heads back to him in surprise. "What?" Teridax rumbles as Kradis continues. "Look, we don't know where the Mask of light is. And I'm pretty sure Tuyet doesn't either, so the question we need to answer here is.." Kojol continues. "Where is the Avohki?"

Nodding at this, Kradis continues. "The only people that would know such a thing are under mind control of Tuyet, so we need to find a way to free them from her control, or atleast one of them anyway." Teridax replies. "Then why don't we just destroy these Toa? If they are gone, then we wouldn't have to worry about such an occurance happening." Kradis shakes his head to the groups confusion.

"Wrong, If we don't know the condition of the mask, weather or not it's been destroyed, someone could accidentally find it if it still exists, so until we are sure it is destroyed, we cannot endanger the lives of the only people who know its state." Teridax grimly nods before Kradis continues. "Kojol." To this, the former Makuta of Arthakha replies. "Yes?" Kradis asks. "I take it that you can make something that can cure them from Roodaka's spinner?" Kojol thinks for a moment before shaking his head no. "Sorry, but her Spinner is permanent, we can't change it unless she decides to herself."

Grunting in disdain, Kradis is about to slam a hand into the wall when Kojol replies. "Hold on, there is still something we can do." Kradis then takes a moment to look at the makuta before saying. "I thought you said we couldn't return them to what they were?" Kojol nods to this before explaining. "We can't change them back, but we can increase their mental acumen by using an injection of complicated materials." Kradis questions. "Wouldn't that make them stronger?" Kojol answers. "On the contrary, since Tuyet conditioned them, the increase in mental functions can restart their former personalities and set up mental walls once more."

Kradis nods to this before saying. "So, where the injection?" Kojol then replies. "Not in existence yet." Kradis then answers. "What?" Kojol responds. "All of the serum was destroyed during the attack on our base, so the only way we can make it now is to retrieve the materials from across Metru-nui." Kradis then slightly nods toward this before saying. "So...what's on the list?"


Chapter end.

Next chapter. 'In search of a way to free a member of the Toa hagah, formerly under the rule of Teridax and now Tuyet, Kradis ventures into Po-metru to access One of Teridax's lab's. Upon reaching their however, he finds that some things can't always be easy...'