Chapter 8

Kulagi awoke with his head next to a floor. Kulagi groaned, and noticed the floor was very well polished. He pushed himself, up, and groaned again. He was in the Turaga's Quarters.

"Kulagi, how nice of you to finally come and visit me," Dume said from his chair. "I have been wanting to speak with you for quite some time."

Kulagi instinctively reached for his Kanoka launcher, but it was not there. The Vahki had taken it away, as well as his pack of Kanoka. Instead, he glared at Dume and sneered, "What do you want?"

"I wanted to discuss your latest crime spree," Dume said, shuffling through stone tablets. "I believe you have evaded my Vahki for the past week in many different Metrus. You've caused significant damage to the archives, parts of Le-Metru, and many old Knowledge Towers. And that does not include the wild chase in Ta-Metru and Ga-Metru, although I am not yet certain that it was you."

"So what?" snapped Kulagi. "Yeah, that was me in the Lava Fields. But guess what. You sent your Vahki after me, and what was I supposed to do? Surrender? Yeah right. If you send Nuurahk, or Rorzakh, or Vorzakh after me, I'm going to run."

"The Rorzakh were originally there to keep an eye on you," Dume said. "Remember, Kulagi, only the guilty flee."

"But I'm not guilty of anything this time!" snapped Kulagi. "Okay, so I evaded the Nuurahk and got some good Ta-Metru protodermis, but it was all an accident."

"That would be hard to believe," Dume said, watching Kulagi closely. "Based off your past records."

"But it's true!" Kulagi insisted. "I saved Sufina from going over the Molten Protodermis Falls, and then I had to evade your Vahki in the Lava Fields. And once I got away from your Nuurahk, the Gang Matoran chased me, and I had to lose them in Ga-Metru. Then once I get back home, you suddenly have Rorzakh on my tail. I made it to Le-Metru, but then you let the Gang Matoran sell away my location without a second thought! And then they captured Sufina, and I couldn't follow her." A sudden weariness spread over Kulagi, and he fell to his knees. "I got her kidnapped again, and I couldn't even help her..."

"I see," Dume said. He reorganized the stone tablets, and put them to the side. "Well then, I believe you. You are cleared of all suspicion, Kulagi, and you are free to go."

Kulagi blinked. "What? You believe me?"

Dume nodded as Kulagi got to his feet. "Yes. It must've been one big misunderstanding."

Kulagi continued to look confused, so Dume explained. "I have already questioned your associate, Vakama, and he has explained the whole fiasco. I now understand your motives, Kulagi, and I see that you did not commit a crime. You are to remain a free Matoran. Yet I hope you have learned a lesson from all this, Kanoka Maker. You need to trust in me. Otherwise, we shall never be at peace."

Kulagi blinked again, as the full impact of Dume's words hit him. "I'm... free? And Huaju and Triki?"

"The Po-Matoran and Le-Matoran are to be freed," Dume said with a nod. "Because you are not a criminal, they are not guilty of aiding a criminal. They shall be freed in due time." He stopped, and then added, "Although the Le-Matoran may need a lecture about safety when making Kanohi..."

"So, that's it?" Kulagi said. "You don't need me for anything."

Dume shook his head. "No, there is one last task I need you to complete, Kanoka Maker. As you are undoubtedly aware of, the Ga-Matoran chemist, Sufina, has been recaptured by the Gang Matoran. As a Turaga, I cannot allow this."

"This particular clan of Gang Matoran are very ferocious. They have a reputation for their use of Kanoka to break the law. The Keerakh captured a few in Ko-Metru, but it is not enough. The Gang Matoran are very difficult to follow, and deadly when found. Whenever the Vahki try to pacify them, they are shot down with Kanoka, and then the Gang Matoran vanish again."

Kulagi couldn't help but laugh. "These Gang Matoran are known for their Kanoka skills? They have weak discs, bad aim, and little respect for the whole art of Kanoka. They're amateurs!"

Dume smiled. "This is why I need you, Kulagi. You are one of the most experienced Kanoka Makers on this island, and I will need your skill to go against these Kanoka Makers, and free Sufina. I need you to go on this rescue mission, Kulagi. Do you accept?"

Kulagi hesitated. "I do," he finally said. "But... what are these Gang Matoran after? Why do they want Sufina?"

"Of that, I can only speculate," Dume said. "The Vahki have been investigating these Gang Matoran for months, since the disappearance of the Ga-Matoran chemist. I have gathered all the information off the Vahki network, and I have formed my hypothesis. I believe the Gang Matoran are interested in the one thing that will give them ultimate powers: Energized Protodermis."

Kulagi nodded. "Yes. The Gang Matoran were interested in that stuff. And wasn't Sufina on the team that investigated Energized Protodermis?"

Dume nodded. "Indeed, she was. Sufina was on the team that was trying to create artificial Energized Protodermis. Energized Protodermis is a very unique substance. It has the ability to change someone, if it is one's destiny. However, if it is not one's destiny, the Energized Protodermis can destroy one as well. This protodermis also contains immense energies, and could power many items on this island. Artificial Energized Protodermis could be used all over Metru-Nui as a very efficient power source. Also, artificial Energized Protodermis could also change one, whether if it is one's destiny or not. This topic was controversial, and it was decided years ago that we would not create Energized Protodermis to change ourselves."

"However, the Gang Matoran weren't part of this decision. Over the past months, the Bordakh have reported many lab break-ins. I suspect that the Gang Matoran were stealing any and all information relating to Energized Protodermis. Sufina, being the leading chemist in the recreation of Energized Protodermis, was a likely candidate for abduction. Her team was almost at a breakthrough, but her absence has halted the investigation."

"Sufina is a very intelligent Matoran, but she does not posses exceptional bravery. When she was first kidnapped, she likely held out for quite some time. This obviously led to much frustration amongst the Gang Matoran. When placing her on the Fire River, they may have simply been disposing of her. However, it is possible that they wished to frighten her into submission. They may have been prepared to rescue her once she went over the Molten Protodermis Falls, and force the information out of her while she was in shock. However, you seemed to have complicated matters for them, Kulagi, when you rescued her. They were not expecting a Good Samaritan amongst the Ta-Matoran who'd fly in to rescue an unknown Matoran."

"However, whether they wanted her or not back then, they have her again today. The Gang Matoran are likely torturing her right now, and trying to force out any information she may have. Sufina will try to hold out, but there is only so much a Matoran can handle before they crack. I fear for her safety, and that is why I need to send you in to rescue her, Kulagi."

"But if she gives in," Kulagi pressed. "Then what?"

Dume bowed his head. "Then they will make artificial Energized Protodermis. Right now, as we speak, they could be getting the information out of Sufina. Right now, they could be preparing the Energized Protodermis. And once they are done, they will immerse themselves in it. And when they come out... who can tell what powers they will possess."

Kulagi nodded. He knew who would be the first to soak in the Energized Protodermis, if any was created. Gragu, the leader of the Gang Matoran, would be the first to test the solution. He would be the first to gain the powers and mutation that would come from it.

"My Vahki have located a possible hideout for the Gang Matoran," Dume reported. "However, I cannot simply send my Vahki in. The Gang Matoran are known for their ability to shoot down Vahki, and to send Bordakh in will only warn them of trouble. Of course, because we have so many Vahki, we cannot arm them all with high-powered Kanoka. Any Bordakh I send in would be taken out. And if I left this to the Vahki, they wouldn't proceed with the caution needed for a rescue mission." Dume paused, and smiled. "The Vahki are an efficient crime fighting force. However, when the situations get more complicated, I need something more than a robotic enforcer."

Kulagi nodded in agreement, and Dume continued. "The headquarters for the Gang Matoran is located on the border between Ga-Metru and Po-Metru. They have occupied an abandoned laboratory, one that Sufina used to work in. The laboratory has been shut down ever since a certain criminal broke in and trashed the place."

Kulagi narrowed his eyes. "Just so you know, your Bordakh did most of the trashing. I just accidentally fell through the skylight, and then your Vahki went on a rampage to get me."

Dume shook his head. "Kulagi, your ambitions have led you on a criminal rampage. You desire high powered Kanoka discs, and this leads you to find off limit protodermis. In your quest to find such protodermis, you have broken the law many times. However, it cannot be denied that you make powerful Kanoka. Your discs are some of the most powerful Kanoka on the island, Kulagi. And today, we need those Kanoka, and one who can use them. These Gang Matoran think that they have the power to take down anyone, be them Matoran or Vahki. But once you pit your Kanoka skills against theirs, you will come out victorious, Kulagi. Now you shall prove your worth as a Kanoka Maker. You shall free Sufina, and take down the Gang Matoran. Because if you can't do it, Kulagi, then nobody can."

"Okay," Kulagi said. "But how can I fight these Gang Matoran if I don't have any Kanoka? Your Keerakh have taken my launcher, I noticed."

Dume snapped his fingers, and the door behind Kulagi opened. A Keerakh walked in, with Kulagi's pack and launcher in its jaws. It dropped them next to Kulagi, and turned to leave.

Kulagi reached into his pack, and found all of his Onu-Metru and Le-Metru Kanoka inside. "Thanks," he said to the retreating Vahki. He turned back to Dume. "Anyway, how will I get there? In case your Vahki didn't tell you, my Hover-Bike is trashed."

"You shall get a new one in due time," Dume responded. "You will take a chute to Ga-Metru, and then a squad of Bordakh will escort you to the laboratory. They will leave you within a few blocks of the building, as not to arouse Gang Matoran suspicion. Then it is up to you to find a way in and a way to free Sufina. You shall also need more Kanoka discs than that to take on the full might of the Gang Matoran. You shall receive some protodermis from Ko-Metru and Po-Metru, and then you shall craft some more discs for your adventure."

"What kind of protodermis?" Kulagi asked.

"Pure protodermis," Dume answered, and he chuckled as Kulagi's face lit up. "Yes, Kulagi, this is normally off-limit protodermis. However, this time, you have my permission to use it."

"Great," Kulagi said. "So I just need to make some good Kanoka, and then take on these Gang Matoran on my own. Sounds great."

"You will not embark on this mission alone," Dume said. "You shall have an accomplice."

"Really? Who?"

The door opened behind Kulagi, and he spun around to see Vakama. "You!" he cried.

"Me," Vakama confirmed.

"You're making Vakama go with me?" Kulagi asked Dume.

Dume turned his attention from Kulagi to another stone tablet. "I am not making Vakama go. He volunteered."

Kulagi spun around to face Vakama. "You volunteered? You, who's been against me the whole time? You've been telling me to turn myself into Dume this whole time!"

"And it turns out that I was right," Vakama shot back. "If you would've just come and confessed to the Turaga, we wouldn't be in this situation! But... well, you've helped me out a lot. You helped me avoid the Rorzakh, you distracted the Vorzakh, and you saved me from the Gang Matoran. We've had our differences, but you still went out of your way to help me out. And I guess I can't let you go into this danger without offering to help."

"But you hate risking anything," Kulagi said.

Vakama shrugged. "I hated running from the Vahki. Since I'm on the right side of the law this time, I'll be justified."

"Wow," Kulagi said. "Thanks, Vakama. For a mask-maker, you're not that bad after all."

"And you're okay as well, Kanoka Maker," Vakama said. "Even if you are reckless and insane."

"Then it is settled," Dume said, getting to his feet. He handed two bags to Kulagi. "This is the protodermis you will need to craft your Kanoka, Kulagi. I will give you a couple of hours to carve out some Kanoka, and then I will give you a few more to rest. After that, I will send you to Ga-Metru, and the two of you can embark on your mission. Use your time well, Kanoka Maker."

"I will," Kulagi said. He smiled, despite the enormous task that lay before him. "I will."