A Tiny Problem

Stryka: Welcome back to A Tiny Problem!

Cryo: And please give a warm welcome to tonight's guest, Nuju!

Nuju: Hello! Hello! Nice to be here!

Cryo: Welcome, Toa Nuju. So, how are you going to escape the Skadi menace?

Nuju: I don't know. Vakama always seems to have a plan.

Cryo: Does that plan involve rescuing us?

Nuju: Of course. I mean, Toa are supposed to protect people. You guys are drowning, so we have to save you. That simple enough?

Stryka: ...

Cryo: Er, Stryka? Why are you making dove-eyes at him?

Stryka: Eh?

Nuju: Well, moving on! TheOneTrueDestiny does not own Bionicle or Hero Factory! Toa Stryka and Joseph Cryo are his OCs.

The Skadi attack team were almost offended. These were the group they were supposed to apprehend? They were just Matoran! Couldn't the Makuta have sent some Rakshi or something to do that job?

There were fourteen of them in total, and only seven Matoran. There were also a group of floundering shapes out near the bay. The Dark Hunters that the attack team were supposed to catch were probably already caught.

The leader of the Skadi was named Norok. His twin brother, Thok, had been a member of the Dark Hunters, until he had run off. Thanks to that, Norok's loyalty had also been put into question. He raised his launcher, gesturing to the ones on the beach. "Anything to say for yourselves?" he asked.

The group looked around at each other, and then they looked out towards the crashing waves. Norok looked up for a fraction of a second.

"Oh, are those your little buddies drowning out there?" he asked. This was followed by a feral chuckle. "Wanna swim out there and save them? Better hurry. I hear that the waters around these parts ain't so safe. Especially if you flounder."

"What... where are we?" The Ta-Matoran asked.

Norok sneered. "Ain't you a stupid one? You landed on Destral, fool."

Matau raised an eyebrow. "Destral? Yeah right. Why would the Makuta hire a bunch of psychotic murderers?"

"Hey, watch it, punk!" one of the Skadi snapped, but the leader silenced them with a wave of his hand. "Not every Skadi is a Piraka, child." he said, sounding almost condescending. "Too bad for you... I suppose we fit into that category real well."

"Figures." Whenua grumbled. He breathed in, and the beginnings of a tremor appeared between his hands.

The Skadi reacted instantly. They drew their weapons, and twelve of them charged forward, holding an assortment of cruel-looking weapons.

Vakama paled, and tossed a small fireball at the first Skadi. The creature batted it aside with the blunt side of his sword, and continued charging. Matau drew his swords just in time to parry a blade that would have removed his head. Nuju also unsheathed his weapons, and nailed a red-haired Skadi with a blast of freezing air. However, the creature seemed relatively unhampered, continuing to tromp forward although his skin had turned bright red.

Nokama turned towards the water, and raised her arm. At first, nothing happened.

In the water, Breez stopped struggling. "Hey, wait. Anyone else feel that?"

Evo looked down. "A current? But how?"

Surge looked behind him. "Uh, guys?"

The Alpha Unit turned just in time to see a huge wave beginning to rise. The wave swept forward with impressive speed, and nailed the Skadi on the shore.

Stryka applauded. "Nice one, Nokama!"

Nokama smiled. "I have my moments."

The Skadi leader immediately staggered to his feet. "They're Toa! How the Pit did they become Toa? I thought Toa were extinct!" he roared.

"You're only catching on now, Norok?" another Skadi snapped. The creature was promptly on its feet, running at Nokama with swords drawn. Just as it was about to strike, however, a bolt of plasma hit the creature's back, and sent it sprawling.

Breez stood up, still holding the offending weapon. "Hero Factory Alpha Unit speaking. You're all under arrest." she said.

"Arrest? Are you nuts, Natalie?" Surge yelled, still half-buried in the sand. "They're freaking Grin Monsters! How would we get them into prison?"

"Grin monsters?" Rocka wondered.

"Thanks, Green!" Nokama called over to Breez. She charged at Norok, who was just about to fire at her, and sliced his launcher open.

"You're welcome, Blue!" Breez responded, opening fire.

"Hey, that's a great idea!" Matau crowed. He also charged at a Skadi, parrying both strikes with his blades. The rest of the Toa followed suit.

Nex parried a Skadi axe with his 3.0 claw, and delivered a vicious uppercut to his opponent's oversized jaw. Whenua unbalanced an opponent with the tremor he had been holding on to, and kicked him over. Cryo and Nuju both covered their opponents in sheaths of ice. Nothing worked. These guys would just not fall.

Norok's teeth were grinding in frustration. His opponent, Nokama, never let him get an edge, and she was actually forcing him against the wall. Norok blocked one blade with the back of his arm, to Nokama's surprise, and pushed her backwards. Before Norok could follow through with his attack, though, Breez blasted him with both guns. The energy didn't seem to affect the Skadi, who continued to trudge forward, despite being peppered with blasts.

"What are these guys made of? Titanium?" Surge asked, yelling to be heard over the clang of weapons. He slammed one of his lightning guns under the jawbone of an attacking Skadi, and pulled the trigger. It didn't even slow the creature down.

"Skadi. Really tough skin. Some of them have powers of adaptation, I think." Whenua said, reciting from memory. That was pretty impressive, seeing as he had just taken a massive hook to the skull, and was staggering around dizzy. Before the Skadi could finish him off, it was blasted up into the air by Matau.

One Skadi ducked under Rocka's claw, and tripped him from behind. Luckily for Rocka, he managed to turn that into a backflip, flipping over his attacker and striking him across the back. It left a nasty mark, but not much more. The Skadi leered, and prepared to run Rocka through.

Suddenly, a large explosion split the air. Every combatant froze, and turned towards the noise. A cloud of smoke rose from the middle of the battlefield. When it cleared, the Skadi's jaws dropped.

Stryka stood on top of an immobile Skadi, which was groaning for mommy. To everyone's surprise, Stryka was armed. She held two very familiar weapons in her hand.

"Those are Firelord's lava launchers! How did you get those?" Nex asked, amazed.

"I memorized their structure. My secondary power is the power of duplication." the smaller Toa said. She shifted one launcher in her hand, and aimed it at Norok. "I've had about enough of this. Scram."

It took Norok and his allies roughly five seconds to come to a decision. They all roared insults, and charged at the Toa again. Stryka didn't look so dangerous anymore. "Aw, crap."

Vakama raised his arms, and prepared a large fireball. He looked over his shoulder at his teammates. Nuju was covered in scratches, with a few nasty looking cuts. Matau was bruised and battered, Whenua was semi-conscious, and Onewa was out like a light. Even Nokama and Stryka looked in bad shape. The Heroes weren't much better.

Before either side attacked, however, a massive portal appeared in front of the Skadi. A familiar face emerged from the portal. Von Nebula raised both arms, and the Skadi froze in their tracks.

"Aren't you the brats from the Factory?" The old man asked, his eyes on the Toa.

"Er... yes?" Matau answered before he could stop himself.

"Excellent. And you brought the Alpha Unit as well! I guess it's okay that we let those Dark Hunters pass." Von Nebula said, chuckling. "Take these guests to the garrison, Norok. And don't kill any of them."

"Are you kidding me?" Norok snapped. He fell silent when Von Nebula's purple eyes fixed on him. "Yessir, right away sir," he stuttered. The remaining Skadi moved forward.

"And what if we refuse?" Bulk asked, raising his metal shooter.

A portal appeared in front of him, and Von Nebula's fist connected with his stomach. The silver-haired Hero crumpled.

"Any more questions?" Von Nebula asked, closing the offending portals.

Location: Hero Factory, enhancement chamber

Furno's eyes were shut. But even if he opened them, he would have only seen blackness. He breathed in. It's okay. It's okay. This is normal. Furno told himself. He searched around inside himself, searching for the cold feeling Cryo said would be there. He couldn't find it.

No, wait, there was something. But it wasn't cold. Furno blinked. This was different. His body was beginning to heat up rapidly. It wasn't uncomfortable, but it was strange.

Furno flexed, and his eyes opened. Now his world was full of red, orange, and yellow. Flames danced around him, and a quick visual scan confirmed that he was standing in the middle of an inferno. Fire everywhere.

As Furno watched, disbelieving, the flames began to bond with his body. He felt a strange energy being imbued in his body. Now it was painful. Furno yelled out, but the pain was gone in a flash.

Then his vision cleared. Merrik Fortis and four other scientists stood a few paces back. Furno was about to respond, but he felt a weird heat at his throat. He reached a hand to his neck, and touched something. His hand closed on it, and he pulled back. It felt like putting a hand in pudding. It took Furno a minute to figure out what he was holding. The metal restraints had melted around him.

"How do you feel, Will?" Fortis asked, sounding concerned.

Furno walked over to his boss, and put a hand on his shoulder. "Best I've ever been, boss," he said, grinning. "Now, where are those Dark Hunters?"

End of Chapter 9

Cryo: Oh, good grief! We're going to jail!

Stryka: Was I badass? Was I badass?

Nuju: Eh... maybe?

Stryka: ZOMGTHANKSTHAT'STHEBESTCOMPLIMENTEVER-

Furno: Hey, guys!

Nuju: Someone looks sharp.

Furno: I know, right?

Nuju: Are you going to bust us out?

Furno: ASAP, of course.

Von Nebula: And wasn't I badass?

F, N, S, C: ...

Von Nebula: Anyone?

Furno: Thanks for reading, see you next time!