Paradise Island
Chapter Ten:
Turaga
When Major Samantha Carter stepped out of the shimmering 'pool' of energy the first thing she were no less then six, armed Matoran. The red, black and orange coloring of three Ta-Matoran guard as well as three Matoran colored in white and grey. As said, they were all armed, the white ones have different shields though, longer and shaped more like a water drop.
A yellow masked head peeked over one of the brown shields with a flame design, "Neka!" Jaller's ordered and the guard relaxed a little, but spears and….what ever the white ones were holding weren't put away. Only the Caption of the Ta-Koro Guard slid his onto his back, he reached to the under side of his shield, pulling out a translation stone, tossing the medallion to the human woman.
"Greetings Major." Jaller said formally.
"Captain." Samantha nodded, "It's good to see you again."
"Friends of yours?" Jack asked coming up beside the woman, catching another medallion.
"The Turaga wished that the Ta-Koro and Ko-Koro guard make sure this 'star gate' is watched until the barriers are made." Jaller said, still in that formal way that meant he was On Duty. The Ta-Matoran turned to another, "Kapura, escort them down to the chamber the Turaga are. They wish to talk to you." He added turning back to the humans, passing over the other two translation stones.
A tall, clack and orange Matoran stepped away from the others, his long spear like staff held at a relaxed, but ready pose, "This way." Kapura said in a surprisingly soft voice, and started down the adjoining hall.
Jack shrugged at the other three members of SG1 before fallowing. He gave Jaller a nod as they passed and got one in return, though the other guards remained still and looking rather intimidating.
"Is Ga-Koro alright?" Daniel asked their guide, coming up beside the taller Matoran.
Kapura looked down at the human with a little surprise, "...Yes." again his voice was soft and on the quite side, "The Toa defeated the swarm."
"What are the Bo…the things anyways?" Jack asked, and then halted in his steps when they rounded a corner. He was almost ran over by Teal'c, who just managed not to do so, though the big man jerked up his staff weapon at what he saw.
"That." Kapura said and helpfully pointed at the hulking... monster in case the humans missed it talking up most of the room in the hall and part of the doorway that led to the chamber beyond.
It looked to be crouching, but relatively short legs were stretched out behind it, it had 'hands' that were more disk like but pattered shields that rested on the ground. The monster has limbs, legs and arms but it was bipedal like human or Matoran. The body was more rounded and the 'head' was almost too big, it too also looked like shield, sloping back and was very wide. It had some kind of black marking on it with the silvery background making the marking stand out, as well as being a bit worst for ware with some small grooves and nicks here and there.
On the lower most portion of the head were sizable tusks that were larger then a man's forearm and looked like the mouth could clamp down on and break a Toa's own arm…or wrist at the least. There were also two, darkened, large 'eyes' that appeared to be carved crystal of a deep green.
The thing was more bug-ish then anything, and it some how gave the impression it could curl up. It was partly curled up for that matter. The Bohrok would stand up right at a good ten, maybe fifteen feet tall. It was most a black color with silver joints, shields and feet a well as dark grey under tones.
It moved.
The humans leapt back, hands dropping to what ever were the closest weapons to hand. Although Dr. Jackson had side-jumped to half hide behind the safety of the Ta-Matoran.
Kapura looked at them camly, not seeming to mind the one using him as a body shield… this wasn't the first time some one had sheltered behind him. Kapura was after all the second in command of the Ta-Koro Guard led by Jaller. His softly glowing white on red eyes shifted from SG1 to the Bohrok carcass and then over its. "How is the building?"
That comment had Daniel peeking out. "What?"
The head of one of the slender Ga-Matoran also peeked up from behind the Bohrok's head shield, "Oh, Kapura!" The Bionicle couldn't blush but there was a definite humming like sound that suddenly came from the girl, "Sorry this is in the way, we had to make room for the others the Toa had brought up. Hang on…"
She vanished from sight and the empty carcass shifted again, the head shield moving forward and then falling. Kapura stepped forward and caught the edge, lowing the having looking thing down. The Ga-Matoran slid down on the inner part of the head that vaguely looked like a seat. Using some interesting tools pulled from a deepspace pocking she disconnected the shield that was almost as big as she was.
"Wow." Sam said watching the Ga-Matoran, who barley cleared Kapura's chest, heft the shield over her head and ran effortlessly into the next chamber.
"I got another one!" She called to other blue, and a few black colored Matoran working on a gate like barrier of a wall, keeping the chamber and thus the Stargate sealed from the rest of the Great Temple.
"We Matoran are very strong." Kapura said and for the firsts time showed emotion, almost puffing up in his pride before relaxing back to the calm quite of before, "Bohrok are not biomechanical like we and the Rahi, so they are easer to recycle." The Ta-Matoran said as he side stepped the arm and then the foot of the over sized 'bug,' "No fear, the Krana of this Nuhvok and the others are no more." He added as he waited for the SG1 team to cat up.
Kapura stayed mostly quite after his brief talkative mood. But just before he led them the way to a new part of the Kini Nui, something Caught Teal'c eye.
The Jaffa slowed his stride as he looked to the right down a side hall that was dim but the two figures there. A black Matoran and a smaller blue one that came up to his chest, he had just caught her hand and then the other. For a moment nothing happened, then slowly he ducked his head and pressed he mask to the Ga-Matoran's, both staring at each other in the eyes that were glowing.
It wasn't a kiss as Teal'c knew it, but he was struck with a realization that this was a tender moment for the two Bionicle being and he looked away respectfully. Thought he did make a mental note to tell Dr. Jackson of this.
The place they were led to was big enough for more then one Toa to be comfortable in. All of them in fact, as well as many Matoran (or human) could side here with room to spare before it got to tight. The entire place was lit by well placed, illuminist ferns as well as foot high stones that both gave off a gentle, blueish glow that was bright enough that all of them lit the place.
There was six levels, not including the bottom, that were used like benches for sitting. Each level was smooth and polished, carved seamlessly into the bedrock under the Great Temple. Here and there were some groves made by Matoran bodies that had jostled each other for a better view or an ill placed foot of a Toa in the past.
The levels were wide enough for the vibrant green giant on the second lever near the bottom to stretch out. The Air Toa was lounging on his side, with his head propped up with on hand. The other was on his side and partly over a much, much smaller black and tan colored Matoran child that was sound asleep. To his young knowledge there was no safer place to take a nap then to be on or near a Toa, and there wasn't.
Lewa, like all Bionicle, didn't have true lids. The way one could tell if his eyes were closed was that the glowing gaze was narrowed to horizontal, dimly glowing slits. He seemed to be deep asleep, thus not as threatening.
There were others in this place, two Matoarn to each of the six hunched, aged being that had to be the Turaga. Nokama her self was there with the others at the very bottom surrounding a sand pit and talking. She turned when one of her aids tugged on her arm and pointed up at Kapura and SG1.
"Brothers, our guests have arrived." The water village elder said, drawing attention away from what ever they had been discussing. It had something to do with 'Kohii.'
Kapura bowed to those below, and then stepped back. He left with a soft, "I must return to my duty."
Jackson wasted no time in getting down, sitting and hopping down to the next level. He smiled at the Matoran he recognized, he also saw Takua who had been hidden from sight leaking back on the legs of the Toa as he dosed himself. The Chronicler had a long few days after all.
If the man hadn't been at the angle of the last level he was on, Jackson would have missed it.
Lewa, far from asleep, nudged Takua's back lightly with a knee to wake him. The Toa then went back to pretending he was sleeping.
"Welcome travelers." The Turaga of Ga-Koro said, formally, "These are my brothers, the Turaga. Matau of Le-Koro."
"Highgood greetings farwanders." Matau was a shade darker then Lewa, his two aids sitting on the first level just as bright as the Toa. He bobbed his head to Daniel and then tilted it to watch the rest of the SG1.
"Whenua, the Turaga of Unu-Koro." Nokama motioned to the black elder that was comfortably sitting on the first level to the human's left. The nearest light stones covered to save his green on blue eyes that were glowing the brightest along with the Onu-Matoran hovering close to him.
Whenua inclined his head, his staff across his lap, but didn't say anything yet.
"This is Onewa of Po-Koro."
Onewa gave a snort as he looked each human and Jaffa over with critical eyes. Taking notes mentally as well as making Samantha shift away from this obviously grouchy elder standing under and in front of Whenua and leaning on his staff.
Nokama inclined her head to the white elder that had a shadow that was really a Matoran, grasping his free arm for added support, "Dear Nuju, Ko-Koro's leader. And Matoro."
Turaga Nuju gave a rather loud whistle (leaving Daniel to wonder how he had that much breath being the leanest looking of the elders), staring at Jack and Teal;c, pinning them with his white on blue eyes. He rapped his staff on the stone flour, making an series of clicks, slightly less loud whistles and a few other sounds. After he was done, Nuju's living shadow spoke up.
"The Turaga wishes you to know that its ride to stare at Toa Lewa, and to put your weapons aside. For there is a Toa here to protect us all." The Matoran, Matoro translated. Apparently the medallions couldn't do so.
Teal'c nodded before resting his staff weapon down on the level behind him.
"Probably a good idea sir." The Major said as she unhooked her rifle.
O'Neill looked at Toa Lewa for several long moments as he mentally debated. It would be a good impression and Daniel was optimistic that they could possibly trade and become allies. These people weren't really that aggressive, well... The Matoran weren't. Tahu and a few of the other Toa didn't seem to like humans, leading Samantha to wonder back in the safety of Stargate Command if the Bionicle had had bad experiences.
Maybe it was times, but the air Toa let out a soft sound almost like a snore. He was still 'asleep.'
"Toa Lewa will not harm any of you." The last Turaga said in a rich voice as he walked over to the nearest human, Samantha. His eyes, orange with red ring irises and white centers, "The Toa are protectors of the Matoran." He rested a hand on the shoulder of Takua, who was the first of the Matoran to dart over to help the elder.
Teal'c was impressed of how the Matoran took care of their Turaga elders.
The red Turaga pointed at the relaxed giant, and then at the black and grey child that clutched the green armor as he truly sleep. "As long as you do not threaten them the Toa, and Kora, will protect you as well."
"We shouldn't trust them Vakama!" The tan and brown Onewa said, rapping his staff for attention, "For all we know they may have the Makuta's shadow sickness like the others did last time!"
"Er," Jackson started, or tried to.
"If they did," Nokama said calmly, holding up her free hand, "The Kora would have already converged on the wanders. And…" She motioned up wards, "The Kora of Air has not stirred, or have you old bagnahs forgot she was up there?"
All heads looked up.
Vakama and Whenua laughed and the Kora that was using her guilder as a bed barely shifted.
"I know Nokama has told you some of out story." Turaga Vakama said turning to the humans while giving Onewa a look, that was returned, "Please listen again to our story now that we are here," Vakama nodded at the sand pit that was framed by four posts.
Jack pulled himself up to the first level, sitting on the edge, he noted that several of the seated Matoran were leaning forward. They wanted to hear this too even though they probably heard it several hundred times. "I like stories," The man said smiling. Either way this was going to be intresting.