ULTIMATE BIONICLE 2
Author's Note: In the past I have been known for fast updates. However, as some of you may know, they have been rather slow lately. I'd just like to state that this is due to the lack of reviews I have received, which right now is 0. Though I would never stop writing because of this, since finishing this story means a lot to me, I would really appreciate it if I could receive some reviews. I find that reviews really motivate me, and get my creative juisces flowing, but this current lack of reviews has really been bothering me. I would appreciate it tremendously, even if I were to receive just one or two reviews a chapter. I'd just really love to hear some feedback again. Thank you for reading, and have a Merry Christmas.
Now that that's out of the way, on with the story!
Sometimes a question of honor can sway a warrior's heart more than the tearful pleas of others.
Chapter 4: Decision Time
"I am sick and tired of sitting on the sidelines while all the others get to do all the fighting!" He yelled angrily, "We had a deal and you haven't fulfilled you're your part of the bargain. If it keeps going like this then he will be dead before I can get to him."
Makuta grunted with amusement, "You're far too eager to kill. A statement, even I myself, find ironic to say to someone. In order for things to work out the way we want them to, the Toa must stick around a little bit longer. Then you will get what you want."
"But that's what you said before!" He retorted. "And ever since I've gotten well I've been nothing but a caged beast, and you know what they say happens when you cage a beast for too long without feeding it." He said rather boldly.
"At that time it didn't matter what you did. However, the current situation calls for a different approach. And if you continue to talk to me like you are somehow my equal, I'll make sure you never utter a word again."
"I don't care about your damn pointless conquest or your stupid plans with the Toa." He sneered. "And I sure as hell am tired of taking orders from the likes of you."
"What was that?!" Makuta questioned furiously.
"I think you heard me just fine," He responded, "Working for you is a waste of my time, so it's about time I became self-employed."
Before Makuta could react he ran towards the balcony and leapt off of the Coliseum. As he fell he passed by Vorak, who was levitating up along the tower.
Vorak landed on the balcony, Makuta was standing there silently. "Did you want me to stop him?" Vorak asked.
"No," Makuta said, "His involvement makes no difference at this point. So let him have his fun. He won't stand a chance if he tries anyways." Makuta then looked down at Vorak, noticing that he was empty handed. "Weren't you supposed to come back with someone?" He asked rhetorically.
"Yeah, and I did." Vorak answered, "Nidhiki is carrying in Onua, the Toa Nuva of Earth."
"You couldn't have chosen a better hostage." Makuta said with a pleased smile.
"Hostage?" Vorak asked, "I thought we were going to use him against them."
"We are." Makuta answered.
&&&&&&&&
She sat up quickly, gasping as if she hadn't taken a breath in ages. She breathed hard as she scanned the room, feeling confused and out of place. The room had stone walls with many shelves stocked with medical supplies.
She then winced as she felt a horrid stinging sensation in her side. She lifted her blood-stained blanket to she that her waist was completely bandaged up. Then she remembered all that had happened.
Nokama lay back down with a sigh, "Onua…" She muttered sadly. She suddenly looked to her right, having been startled by someone exhaling deeply. Whenua leaned against the wall, his head hanging tiredly. He was fast asleep. "What's he doing here?" She wondered lowly.
As she stared at the sleeping Toa Hordika of Earth, it was almost like she was seeing a different person. The serious and ruthless Whenua that she had known was replaced by one with a relaxed, peaceful look on his face, something she had never seen before. Nokama smiled fondly, the sight of him having a strange, yet calming affect on her.
She turned quickly, having heard someone enter the room. "Oh, you're awake," said Gali with surprise. She was carrying a bowl of food in each hand.
Whenua shook himself awake, blinking tiredly. He looked up at Nokama. He made a low grunt, and then rose to his feet and stretched out, his body stiff from sitting. Whenua then headed towards the door.
"Don't you want to eat something first?" Gali asked.
Whenua shook his head, "Not hungry," He said as he exited.
Gali simply shrugged and sat next to Nokama, placing the food in front of her.
"I wonder what's gotten into him." Gali said.
"He's always angry about something…" Nokama murmured.
Gali pretended not to hear her. "Looks like you're feeling better," She said cheerfully, "We were afraid we might lose you for a while. Do you want something to eat?"
"No thank you, I'm not hungry…" Nokama responded weakly.
Gali sighed with frustration. "You need to build up your strength, so you should really eat something. You have been knocked out for two days."
Nokama's eyes widened, "Two days…?" She said, picking up the bowl of food. A few fruits shipped in from Mata Nui were inside of it. She picked out one of them, and slowly began to eat it. "What happened to Onua?"
Gali stared sadly at the ground, "Whenua told us that Vorak and Nidhiki captured him."
A bitter expression appeared on Nokama's face. "He probably let them take him…" She said with resentment.
Gali was immediately puzzled and shocked by Nokama's statement. "What's with all these negative feelings towards Whenua all of a sudden?"
Nokama sighed, "I don't know…I just don't feel I can trust him the way I used to anymore."
"What do you mean?" Gali asked curiously.
Nokama began to explain, "Until recently I hadn't seen Whenua since we decided to divide ourselves across Metru Nui. Suddenly I see him again, and he's completely different. In the past I had thought it was his natural aggression talking; nothing he would act upon. But then suddenly the very sight of him sent chills up my spine, and my concern became that of actual fear. I don't know if it's because he's a Toa Hordika now that's causing him to act this way, or that it was destined to be. Now I feel that I just can't trust him."
"What are you talking about?" Gali asked with confusion.
"He murdered someone, Gali." Nokama put is simply.
The words struck Gali with blunt force. She knew Whenua was fierce, but she never believed he could actually kill anyone. "Well…it wouldn't be the first time I've known of a fellow Toa killing someone, or having murderous intentions. But my brothers have since learned what it truly takes to be a Toa, and it has not happened again."
"That's the problem, Gali." said Nokama, "I confronted him about it, and I knew he felt no remorse before he even told me. He told me he didn't enjoy it, that it was only the satisfaction of protecting others that he felt. But I knew that was a lie. I could tell that deep down inside, part of him enjoyed it."
"I don't believe it." Gali dismissed. "There's no way-."
"Well it's true!" Nokama exclaimed, "I can sense it. I know how he feels about what he did. It almost seems like he craves it. As far as I know, that was his first murder, and he didn't even hesitate. I watch the whole event in his mind, he-."
"You think just because you have telepathic powers you can just probe the minds of your fellow Toa whenever you want?" Gali cut in. "Who do you think you are?"
"Of course I don't!" Nokama said defensively, "I only do that when I feel I have to. I have never done that without a good reason to I swear."
"You know," Gali said, changing the subject, "For someone who seems to be so self-righteous, you're acting really hatefully towards him."
"I don't hate him… I just…" Nokama was having a hard time responding to what Gali had said.
"You know Nokama," Gali started, "For all I know you could be right. He could very well love to kill. But sometimes you have to accept people for who they and stand by them, no matter how much you may not like it. He's still our friend and he still cares deeply about all of us. If that weren't true then he wouldn't have-."
Pohatu's heavy feet suddenly stepped into the doorway, "Vakama's called a meeting." He said. He glanced over at Nokama and smiled, "Good to see you're feeling better." He said before proceeding to leave.
Gali rose to her feet, helping Nokama up as well, being too weak at the moment. She put her right arm over Gali's shoulder and she helped her hobble over to the doorway and outside.
As they crossed the threshold, Nokama looked to left and was immediately struck with immense regret. In the midst of the heated discussion that had just taken place, she had been telepathically unaware of what was happening in the world around her. Standing there, leaning against the wall was Whenua with his arms folded across his chest, staring right back at her.
Gali stared as well, knowing what was silently going on between the two.
Nokama stuttered a little, struggling to find words to explain herself.
Whenua's expression was blank, almost distant, as he stared at her. Then he raised an eyebrow, "What're you doing just standing there? We've got a meeting to go to." He simply said, turning away and walking ahead.
Nokama stood speechless and puzzled, "He couldn't have been completely oblivious to what I said could he?"
"Well you heard him." Gali said, "Let's get going."
&&&&&&&&
Gali lead Nokama to the largest building in the entire encampment. It was a temple with a large arched doorway which appeared to go into a large hall, but the building itself was still significantly smaller than that of the Great Temple.
Much to Nokama's surprise, as they entered the temple, all of the Toa, excluding Onua, were standing there. They all stood in a circle, Vakama standing at the end near the opposite wall. Behind him, in between two torches, was the Amana Volo stone; the life giving stone that they had to keep from Makuta's grasp at all costs.
Vakama stared at Nokama as she entered. "Good to see that you're feeling better," said the Toa Hordika of fire. "You're probably surprised to see all of us here." He continued, acknowledging Nokama's question before it had been asked. "Find yourself a place to stand or sit down, whatever your preference is in your current condition, and we will get down to business."
Nokama responded with a simple nod before Gali helped to set her down among the others.
Vakama looked left and right at his fellow Toa. The torches that were lit behind him gave him a fiery backlight, while it shadowed his front. "In case any of you don't know, I will fill you in on what's been going on." All the other Toa stood and watched eagerly waiting for Vakama to speak.
"Somehow, Makuta discovered the location of every other base that we had throughout Metru Nui. By means we are currently unaware of, he or should I say Vorak, snuck troops through the defenses and completely destroyed each base, but strangely did not bother to make sure everyone was killed. These actions forced all of us to progressively move towards this place, our Ga-Metru base." Vakama explained.
"Well we already knew that. What's your point?" Matau asked impatiently.
"I'm getting to that, Matau." Vakama said irritably. "After much discussion with Tahu and Takanuva, one of the conclusions we have come to is that we have been herded. Makuta has been slowly pushing us towards this spot, and now here we all stand."
"So what does that mean?" Lewa asked, "Wouldn't 'herding' us into one spot only make our chances of success greater if we are together? Every Matoran and all the Toa are here after all."
"On the contrary, not all Toa are here." Vakama reminded, "Onua has been captured by Makuta, and is being held hostage." It appeared that statement was a shock to some of the Toa, since they had arrived much later. "This morning we received this message from a Bohrok that immediately shut down after reaching us. The message stated Onua's whereabouts, and said that if we do not go to rescue him alone, within twenty four hours, he will be executed. This is an obvious trap, but it puts us in a dilemma. If we get killed or captured trying to save him, the Matoran will most likely surrender. That leaves us with only one clear option."
Nokama slowly rose to her feet and look up at Vakama, an angered and tearful expression on her face. "You want to leave him there don't you?"
Vakama sighed and looked down to the floor, "Yes…we decided that that might be best."
"WHAT!" Pohatu yelled, "We can't just leave our brother there!"
"How could you suggest something so heartless?" Gali asked, stunned from the suggestion.
"The lives of many Matoran and their very way of life are at stake if we try to help." Vakama argued, "The life of one Toa is not worth the lives and freedom of hundreds of Matoran. I don't like it anymore than any of you do but we had to make a choice and this is what it has come down to."
"Tahu you actually agreed to this?!" Lewa questioned furiously.
Tahu's gaze trailed to the floor shamefully. "As much as I hate it, Vakama is right."
"You can't just leave him there!" Nokama retorted, "His life is of value to more than just those of us in this room, and you just want to let him rot in the hands of the enemy?" Tears of fury ran down Nokama's face as she spoke.
"I'm sorry, Nokama." Vakama said sincerely, "But I think we have little choice in the matter."
Nokama fell to her knees in disbelief, devastated from what she was hearing. She stared at the floor, her mind blank. "Have I been betrayed…?"
What happened next surprised them all, especially Nokama.
Whenua stepped forward out of his silence, and stood in the middle of the circle, facing Vakama. "Where is your honor, Vakama?" Whenua asked.
"What are you talking about?" Vakama questioned.
"You are right, many Matoran lives will be at stake if we try to save him," said Whenua, "However, you cannot make this decision without his consent. When this is all over, he will have a life to go to, and I'm certain he's not going to want to give that up. As Toa we do not sacrifice any lives except our own. So you can't just throw his away. If you had any honor at all you would want to go against the odds and free him! Not just choose the lesser of two evils!"
"So then you would rather choose the greater?!" Vakama retorted. "His life is not equal to that of hundreds of Matoran and I don't want hundreds of others to lose their freedom and be enslaved, just to save him!"
"I would rather have neither happen, and that is what I would choose. Could you really live with that on your conscience? Knowing that you are responsible for his death?" Whenua asked.
Vakama stood there, silently staring at Whenua.
"The only thing at risk if we go to save him is our lives." Whenua said, "Losing our lives is what will ultimately bring the surrender of the Matoran. I don't know about you, but I'd rather die trying than sell out the life of a fellow Toa."
All the other Toa gazed at Vakama expectantly along with Whenua. There stare was so hard that Vakama could almost feel it.
"But in the end, I guess the decision is still left to you," said Whenua, "So what's it gonna be?"