Disclaimers of many lands: Nemám vlastní Bionicle . Ale mám vlastní všechny původní znaků . Tohle je české .

Chapter 11: Take it in your hands

The Rahkshi came for them, with a bizarre, stalking gate that if not for their improbably fast speed, would be almost comic. But as it was Rahkshi, it was far from comic. Kratashi, Pokan, Takena and Tala launched attack after attack, but the Rahkshi proved resistant to nearly everything. And a pair of limited invulnerability Rahkshi took most of the blows, preventing the combatants from destroying the Rahkshi. "We-need-a-new-plan!" Kratashi grunted as he grappled with a Rahkshi of poison. Tala was wracking his brains trying to come up with a solution, and then, like a light switching on, it came to him.

"Split up!" he yelled, slipping out under the Rahkshi' legs and burning a small hole in a yellow one's back. That got its attention. It rounded on him, and fired a blast of heat vision from its eyes. Tala leapt out the way, somehow landing on his feet, and ran, dodging the blasts as the Rahkshi came after him, bouncing over rubble like a scaly, demon Fusa with heat-vision. Come on, come on, he must have had more planning? Surely this wasn't how it was going to be, run down by a Rahkshi trying to fry him? And then he heard Kratashi yell something very odd.

"The ice-statue, hide behind the ice-statue!" Tala didn't need telling twice, throwing himself behind the effigy. The Rahkshi fired a blast to incinerate the statue... and Tala got very wet. The ice had melted! But... he was still sheltering behind the statue? Looking up, he saw a Toa, a real, living Toa, of ice standing there, shaking his head like one awakening from a trance.

"Um, excuse me, I don't mean to rush you, but we're both about to be a Rahkshi barbeque!" Tala yelled, and the Toa saw the Rahkshi charging up another blast. He quickly shot out a blast of ice and froze the Rahkshi to the floor, then, which surprising suppleness for one frozen in a block of ice for however long, delivered a high kick to its head. The Rahkshi crumpled like paper, and Kobrak the ice Toa leapt over it, racing towards his comrades. A Rhotuka Spinner zoomed towards them, sealing them in a dome. "What was that?" Tala asked.

"Shield Rhotuka, creates a forcefield around the target to protect them from harm... and what are you?"

"A friend of the Toa Koro. I'm a personal acquaintance of Kratashi and Takena, and Pokan said he'd proud to have me on the team. So you can trust me."

"Kratashi, Takena and Pokan?" Kobrak said, dazed. At first, Tala was worried that he had amnesia, but then he realised the Toa was amazed that they had been reunited. "They're okay? What happened, I don't remember anything after I was frozen-"

"That's great Kobrak, but we're all going to be Rahkshi'd at the moment, so if you could save the misty eyes for later?"

"Yes, indeed..." Kobrak said. He carried on talking, but Tala couldn't hear him because he was muttering it under his breath, and very fast. As the Rahkshi got closer, and closer, and closer... "bingo!" Kobrak cried, launching two Rhotuka in quick succession at the two invulnerability Rahkshi who were once again at the front of the group, trapping them in bubbles of energy. This prevented them from defending the others.

"Way to go!" Tala cried, punching the air as the barrier around Kratashi, Takena and Pokan fell, and they attacked from behind the Rahkshi. Tala and Kobrak attacked from the front, and between them they tore into the Rahkshi ranks, their morale increased by the return of yet another Toa. And the last, now...

Despite their valiant efforts, the Toa Koro were still outnumbered three to one, even with Tala, who was, despite his courage, only a Matoran. So things had not gone well. Pokan, surprisingly, had gone down first, taking the two Invulnerability Rahkshi with him, but unfortunately he was unable to stop a Tan-coloured Rahkshi of Elasticity, which absorbed all his hits and turned them against him. And despite his strength, no one could resist a battering like that. Kobrak fared better, freezing the Rahkshi and shattering it mid-stretch. Before a purple Rahkshi knocked him off his feet with a power scream. Kratashi took the blast and turned it back against the Rahkshi, obliterating it, and Kobrak leapt up to destroy a Black and White Rahkshi which was attempting to whip up a cyclone. A Blue and Gold Rahkshi was defeated by Tala, its shape shifting powers no match for an all-purpose explosion. However, a light-blue one then destroyed Tala's Kanoka launcher with its Molecular disintegration powers, to which Tala responded by furiously headbutting the creature, which although not entirely effective, did distract it long enough for Tala to rust it up and cut off its 'head'. Kobrak then found himself cornered by an Ice-Resistant Rahkshi and a Tan and Red Rahkshi of Plasma, which used the former as a shield against Kobrak's blows. In the end, he couldn't take the heat and fell, before Kratashi destroyed the Ice-Resistant one by using the same trick he'd used in Ga-Metru, and letting the Plasma Rahkshi reduce it to a puddle of molten metal on the floor. Before Takena took over, overpowering the Plasma Rahkshi with a blinding steam, before destroying it. Pokan had previously taken down a Rahkshi of Magnetism, but when the three remaining fighters were pinned to the floor, Kratashi had to wonder if he'd missed. Instead, it turned out to be a Rahkshi of Gravity, although, like Baros, it wasn't expecting Takena's surge forward, bringing it down and restoring the normal gravity. Takena paired off with a golden Rahkshi, and they began to fight using their control over the weather, leaving Kratashi and Tala with the remaining four. Kratashi took a black and brown Rahkshi, which, despite Kratashi's best efforts, kept getting up again and again. In the end, Tala killed it by hurling one of his Kanoka at it. It didn't see that coming. Tala then turned his attention to another, but it read his every move before he could act. Luckily, a stray bolt of lightning from Takena's battle fried it, before Takena gave a triumphant roar and defeated the weather-control Rahkshi. The three fighters, exhausted by their efforts, heard the sound of clapping. Zabronix was applauding mockingly, a hissing drawl rolling off her tongue. "Very good, very good. But you missed one." The searing light shot from the shadows, striking Takena in the mask. She sank to the floor, and for a moment, Kratashi thought she was dead. But then he realised her mask was cracked, and she was trying to hold it together. From the fractures came... water?

"Takena!" Tala cried, panicky. "What have they done to you?" Kratashi did not take his eyes off Zabronix, even as he located the Rahkshi and drove it mad by increasing its hearing until it was deafened by the sound of dust hitting the floor. It died soon after.

"What have you done to her?" Kratashi asked, his voice more poisonous than a Lehrak's staff.

"Oh dear. Use your brains, Rahkshi Toa. My IQ scans told me you had a very good processor." Zabronix replied, looking bored.

"I... the Mutagen." Kratashi said, the truth dawning on him. "Her mask mutated into a breathing apparatus?"

"Yes... That was a surprising twist, to say the least. I was rather expecting her to be confined to that pit for all eternity... but oh well. She was really too unstable to be of any use, anyway."

"Take that back." Kratashi snarled.

"Oho! A chink in your armour, is she? Terrible choice... but I suggest you say your last goodbyes, because you won't be saving her today." Zabronix cackled. Kratashi bent down beside Takena.

"Takena, you have to hold on. We'll get away with this, somehow. Please, jut hold on!"

Takena made a tiny motion with her head. It might have been a nod, or just a shudder. Kratashi couldn't tell. But he knew what he had to do. "We will save her, Makuta scum. Even if I have to destroy every wisp of your essence personally." Zabronix checked her weapons.

"Then let's do it, Matoran in hero's clothing. You will not defeat me. I defeated you the first time, and I'll do again!"

"Kratashi." Tala whispered. He knew Kratashi could hear him. "If... if she gets me with Shadow Hand... kill me. It'd be better than making her stronger."

"Very well, my friend." Kratashi whispered back, and then they charged into the battle that would decide their destinies.

Kratashi shoved himself to his feet for the... he'd lost count how many times now. The bladed end of a weapon swung out of the darkness once again, and he blocked it with his staffs. Again. Shadows flew at him, black on black, and he was forced to dive to the ground, trying not to cry out as his knuckles scraped the ground. The screeching of the metal was worse than the pain, far worse... he hated his hearing getting better when he was stressed... he could hear his heart hammering like a war drum, cutting through the smoke and haze of battle, and it gave him focus. Again and again he struck, but all in vain. His primary weapon, sound, was useless, and he really didn't have too much experience using his staff as a combat weapon. Besides, every blow was like a pinprick against the being that towered over him. Zabronix, for her part, seemed to be amused. Or perhaps that was just a facade. Because when Tala hit her with yet another explosive Kanoka, and struck her face, her expression changed into one of terrible rage. "You dirty little Brakas!" she yelled, a dark hand bursting from her chest and surging towards him. Kratashi knew it was going to happen before it did. The hand grabbed Tala, and he yelled for Kratashi, pleading him... Kratashi's grip tightened on his staffs, to grant this last request. In fact, probably his first, too. Kratashi threw everything into the blast, screaming Tala's name in grief as the wave of sound burned away the Shadow Hand and sending Tala soaring through the air... both combatants followed his path through the sky, and he smiled warmly at Kratashi, trying to convey his thanks... his bravery, like a burning fire, never fading... before plunging into the pool of Energised Protodermis. And just before he hit the surface, Kratashi felt a chill and thought he saw the bizarre entity once again, the silver Toa standing by the pool. And then Tala was gone, all that marked his pacing a splash of silver like leaping flames.

Zabronix, initially irritated at being cheated out of a victim, was delighted. "Oh, oh oh! This is fantastic!"

"..."

"He asked you to kill him, didn't he? And you did it!"

"Be quiet."

You've just thrown your status as a Toa into that pool, you know."

"Be quiet!

"You are officially an outlaw, a monster. This is great!"

"SILENCE!" Kratashi screamed, shaking, rage and sorrow vying for attention. He turned away from the pool, back to Zabronix, normally warm orange eyes now blazing. Zabronix studied him as one would a child throwing a tantrum. But a small fear was burning in her stomach. Kratashi, as far as her raiding of his memories had shown, should be cold and broken. This blazing rage was something she hadn't seen before. It worried her. But still she continued.

"Your little Matoran friend would rather commit cowardly suicide instead of honourably accepting his end. In fact, he couldn't even do that! He had you do it instead!" then she felt the impacts. Again and again. She couldn't feel it exactly, but she could see Kratashi, his face twisted with hate, smashing his staffs against her armour again and again. All inklings of a plan forgotten, hitting her continually. And screaming.

"How dare you!" he yelled. "How dare you speak that way about him, you foul daughter of Karzahni! You dare call Tala a coward, when you cannot even risk being fought with my Sonic Powers! You Makuta, who put Mata Nui to sleep and exiled him, because you feared he would fight you... betrayal and subterfuge, and you dare! Why! Tell me! Why!" Zabronix took a step back, out of his reach. He had really unnerved her now. This violent anger was more suited to another. What was the cause? Well, whatever it was, it could be twisted.

"Did you care for him?" she simpered. "Was he your 'best friend'? He must have been an even bigger loser than you. Because let's face it, you're not exactly worth an investment, are you?"

"He was a great Matoran! Better than you, you monster!"

"I think you'll find that it is you, the Toa who killed his best friend, who is the monster. I really think you'll find you have nothing going for you now. Not even your status as a Toa."

"You're wrong, Zabronix." A voice like a grind-stone rasped. Takena was on the floor still, but she was forcing herself to speak. "Kratashi has everything going for him! He's done so much for all of us... he's modest, he's kind... he made me a better person, he saved me." Takena, despite her position, looked rather flushed. Then she regained her usual attitude.

"Come on Kratashi, you're not going to let some Makuta beat you with words, are you? You're the Toa of Sound, so show her how it's done! Come on, we're all behind you..." Takena coughed and fell silent.

"How touching." Zabronix simpered derisively. "A pity really, because if you'd waited just a few more seconds and you could have died without showing your soft side." She raised the bizarre blaster she carried, like a bladed shield and cannon rolled into one. Shadow energy did not light the barrel, but instead sucked away even more of the low light. She fired the shot, and Takena watched, unblinking, as it streaked towards her. She would not close her eyes... something blurred obscured her vision just before it hit her, and the explosion did make her shut her eyes. As the light faded, she saw Kratashi lying sprawled in front of her. She couldn't see any movement.

"He killed himself for you? How pointless." Zabronix huffed. "That's just cheating, that is."

"Not dead yet, Zabronix." Kratashi wheezed, using one of his staff to lever himself to his feet. "You'd have to try harder than that."

"All you did was buy her time." Zabronix snarled. "And now you've weakened yourself. Why?"

"Because that's what you do in a team." Kratashi said. "Someone died for me once. So I'm paying back my debts."

"Well then, you can consider your debts fulfilled. One life for another, what difference does it make, really? You cheated me out of two lives taken today. So you should really have known it would end this way." Kratashi almost, almost knew what was going to happen. But he was spent. That valiant act of hurling himself in the way of the blast, intended to crack Takena's mask and frail body, then leave her to choke to death, had ruined him.

"Life well spent!" he yelled, before the Shadow Hand cut him off, constricting him and reeling him in. Then, he was hit by a searing wall of heat, he could feel his armour blistering, his eyes watering, his lungs screaming for air... and then it was over.

Tala first knew he was still alive because he reasoned that being dead shouldn't hurt this much. His second clue was his pondering of the matter. He opened his eyes. He was hovering above the pool. He could see the battle, but it was like looking at a still frame. Zabronix's snarl captured perfectly on her face. Anguish burning away at Kratashi, as he reached vainly for Tala. Takena, eyes cracking open. And a sight that scared him greatly. Vala, the previously almost cationic Toa, was standing up now, her eyes wide and bloodshot, locked onto him, and gesticulating at him, her mouth open in a silent scream, although what it could be was beyond him. Something was deeply wrong with that Toa. But then his attention was diverted to something moving near the entrance. Someone walking out of the darkness. The creature, whatever it was, looked around at the frozen tableau, sorrow the expression behind its mask. A Toa in crimson armour, a Kakama worn proudly on his face. He carried no weapons, but his gauntlets were tipped with three spikes. On his chest was a strange emblem, a detailed etching of... an island? Now where had Tala seen that before... his eyes slid over to Kratashi, reaching for him, and, now he knew what to look for, picked out the same symbol, faded and rubbed away to some extent, but still recognisable. He had a sneaking suspicion he would see it on the other Toa's chest armour as well. So was this their team badge? The Toa was watching him now, inspecting him, and, quite suddenly, he spoke. "So you're Tala. I was expecting a run of the mill Matoran, but then I always knew that was a naive assumption."

"Um, excuse me? Who are you?" Tala asked. "And why are you and me the only ones not frozen?"

"Hmm?" the Toa murmured, looking him over. "It's not so much that their frozen. It's more that your perception of time has been altered. To seem as if everyone is frozen, but in actuality, time is proceeding at normal speed. This exchange will last less than a second in true time."

"I see..." Tala replied, and despite his technical knowledge, he was bamboozled.

"No, I don't get it either." The Toa replied. "I'm Toa Daufu." There was a swift intake of breath from Tala.

"Oh, I... I'm so sorry. Wait, am I dead?"

"I appreciate your concern, for both our souls, but no, you are still alive. For now. Whether you exist for much longer is up to you." Daufu replied, his eyes still boring into Tala's. His eyes were a shocking icy blue, like Tala's own, and it was quite unnerving to have those eyes staring at you, unblinkingly.

"What do you mean?" he asked suspiciously. Daufu was supposed to be a Toa of great honour and courage, according to Kratashi, and so should be trustworthy. On the other hand, it was Tala's life in his hands.

"You are falling into a pool of Energised Protodermis. The power to create or destroy, manifest in this shining silver liquid. Destiny is the decider."

"And for the majority of us, it's death to jump into Protodermis." Tala replied. Daufu shook his head.

"No! You must understand this, it is imperative to the survival of all I hold dear. And all you do too, I expect. But it's more than that. The universe's destiny rests on your shoulders, Tala. But your destiny is a matter of choice. If your will is strong enough, you can choose your destiny's path."

"So you've come here to help me?" Tala asked, shivering.

"No. Simply to prepare you. You must face it alone. But... if you succeed, then perhaps this day will end happily."

"I... I understand." Tala said, sounding a lot braver that he felt.

"And I understand too. It's natural to be scared. Fear keeps you strong, keeps you alive. But there is something I must give you." He produced a stone and tossed it to Tala, who caught it. At the same time, he felt himself beginning to fall again. Slowly at first, but descending faster... "We all made them. Mine got turned down. Something about a lack of respect for Toa."

"I'm really sorry about what happened to you." He called to Daufu.

"Thank you Tala. And I want to thank you, for helping Kratashi get over what happened to me. Tell him I forgive him."

"I will. I need to survive, or all that hard work'll be wasted!" Tala cried, death making him flippant. Daufu smiled and began to walk away, as time sped up, increasing speed like a train leaving the station. At the last second, he suddenly turned and ripped off his Kakama, tossing it to Tala.

"Mata Nu has a lot of things to answer for. But I'll be damned if I let you be one of them. Ignite the fire within!" He cried, and for a moment his eyes blazed, the last flames of his anger at his destiny leaving them, and stirring the flames in Tala's heart. Peace at last. Tala snatched it as time reached full speed and he hit the pool, burning him like an inferno. His last thoughts before he succumbed to the battering of the energies within the pool were: I'm going down. I'm drowning, sinking deeper into a silver sea. Every thrash and kick only drives me deeper still. Why? Because Mata Nui willed it so. But what becomes of me now? That is my decision alone, and nothing, Mata Nui least of all, is going to stop me today! Too many lives hang in the balance, too much has been robbed from us already, for me to fail today! The fires of courage will burn bright today, and I will prove that the mantle of Toa, of a hero, can be worn by any being! And there, in the depths of a pool of energised Protodermis, was born the biggest irony in Tala's long life, in among the roaring fires. And that was saying something.

Kratashi fell, and it was like an electric shock, charging him with energy. He was alive. Something had saved him. But they were both dead. Even so, he had to check... his eyes flew, not to the blasted cage, but the silver lake. And the being standing on its shores. His armour was crimson, his feet were clawed, his head was that of a Rahkshi, and piercing, icy-blue eyes pierced the darkness like searchlights. He wore spiked gauntlets, and his chest armour resembled a Kakama. And etched on that was the insignia of the Toa Koro, engraved onto Kratashi's own chest. In the being's left hand was a long, jagged sabre that strongly resembled one Kratashi had seen carried by Lewa Nuva, and in his right hand was a flame-adorned Disk-Launcher. The Sabre's red-hot glow persisted from the scorching blast. "Makuta!" Tala yelled, surprising himself with his somewhat deeper voice. "Leave those Toa alone!" Kratashi played a few notes, playing song requests having become second nature to him millennia ago. Zabronix, had she been a being of flesh and blood, would have blanched.

"What on earth are you?" she roared at Tala. But Tala, never easily intimidated, looked downright bored now.

"Who am I?" he repeated, rolling his eyes. "I, oh unobservant one, am Tala, taller, faster, cooler, and with lots more firepower. So get ready to feel the heat. I daresay you've had it coming." Zabronix yelled in fury and hurled a bolt of Shadow at him, but Tala suddenly wasn't there. Instead, he was standing next to Kratashi. Who was still taller than him. "Now, me old buddy, me old mate, Zabronix claims to be wearing devices to stop Sonic Attacks affecting her. At what temperature do you think those would cease to work?"

"Um, I don't know. At a guess, I'd say at the temperature the wires melt."

"Yes, that is, according to too many failed experiments, about 1100 degrees Celsius."

"I'll kill you before you can reach that temperature. You know I can!" Zabronix snarled.

"Oh yes. If I intended on staying still, that is." Tala parried, the Kakama on his chest glowing with the colours of a fire. Then he ran, ran faster and faster, fire streaming from his sword into a fiery tornado. "I'll melt your ears to slag, Zabronix!" he yelled, as he continued to run, and Zabronix began to scream, although whether in pain or in anger no-one could tell.

Tala suddenly skidded to a halt, leaving a trail of flame behind him, and spun to face Zabronix, whose armour glowed red-hot. In the darkness, the hellish image was quite disturbing. But the damage was done. Kobrak and Pokan had returned to their feet now, and the four Toa stood before the burning Makuta, waiting to see what would happen next. "This isn't over!" she screamed, writhing in the burning flames. "I will kill you all!"She lunged at them, her flaming claws, unwittingly granted her by Tala, raking the air as she came.

"You need to cool off." Kobrak said, blasting her with supercooled elemental energy. Her armour, hot enough to glow, was quenched like steel, freezing her form solid. Kratashi looked over at Kobrak.

"That has to be the coolest thing you've ever said. And it was a cliché!" then he looked back at the statue that had once been Makuta Zabronix. "So what happens now?" he asked.

"Makuta armour... it's completely sealed. I don't know why, I just know their impregnable. Nothing gets in."

"Or out..." Kratashi continued, remembering his fight with Torax. "I fought a Makuta once. One of her lab assistants. When I pierced his armour, gas leaked out. His essence, as it were. So if it's completely sealed, and we just froze it..."

"Then Zabronix is imprisoned forevermore." Kobrak replied. Kratashi nodded, and then sprinted back to Takena. She was barely breathing now.

"No! Come on, Takena, fight it! You have to, just until we get you to some water..." Kratashi yelped, tears glistening in his eyes. He knew he'd never get away fast enough. A red, spiked, hand landed on his shoulder. For one moment, he thought Daufu had returned to help him. Then he remembered.

"If you don't mind..." Tala said, lifting Takena up. He stood watching Kratashi for a few moments. "Well, do you mind? I mean, it is your girlfriend."

"I... no, of course not. Just go, save her!" Kratashi shouted, his voice following Tala down the tunnel as he streaked away. He would make it. He had to.

Takena's eyes opened slowly. She was staring at the sky... how strange. And there was a face... it was an odd one alright, sort of like a Rahkshi's... "Kratashi?" she murmured, the sound creeping out of her mouth, as if fearing to disturb the silence. Was... was that blood staining his armour red?

"Nope, sorry, I'm Tala." Tala replied, waving.

"Oh Mata Nui. I'm dead, aren't I?" Takena gasped, her eyes snapping fully open. Then she noticed his new physique. "Hey, if we're dead, how come you get to be a Toa, and I'm still walking round wearing a fishbowl?"

"Because you're not dead." Another voice interjected, and Kratashi appeared in her field of vision, looking relieved.

"Oh, well that's a relief. But then... how? And why is Tala a Toa?"

"Well, I have absolutely no idea. At least about why Tala's a Toa. But he did just save your life. And defeat Zabronix for us." Kratashi said, sounding quite giddy now. He wanted to throw back his head and laugh. It was insane. Every last part of it. In a good sort of way.

"So... you mean that I owe my life to Tala, on multiple accounts, and he actually beat Zabronix for us. He also rescued all of the team. Except me."

"Um... wow, when you put it like that, it does sound rather impressive." Tala said, chuffed.

"And yet another overblown legend is born. But I have to make a living somehow." Kratashi chipped in. "And now that all this madness is over, we can go... home." It was then that the full implications, or what he thought were the full implications, hit him. It was over. He could go home. And they would welcome him. And he could go back to living life as the local Toa, dealing with the little things. But still... it would be rather little dull after all this. Kratashi really did laugh then. He was turning into Takena!

Having attempted to help Takena return to the boat, and restrained her from leaping overboard, the Toa piled onto the ship to set off home. Maybe it was just his imagination, but the winds were awfully good, pushing them swiftly towards Kiraea. So fast in fact, that Tala woke them all at the dead of night to point out the island just ahead of them. But as they reached Ga-Koro harbour, they realised something was very wrong. Maybe it was just the low-level sounds were off, but Kratashi knew as they got nearer that something was very, very wrong. And he was soon proved right. There was a strange cloud on the horizon, like a swarm of Nui Rama on the island of Mata Nui. A pulsing black cloud. Kobrak had seen it too, and the familiar whirring of his Kanohi Akaku's lenses, well above the lower audible levels after an incident years ago, brought the group to a halt, awaiting his verdict. A few moments of silence, and then... "Rahkshi!" Kobrak gasped. "Rahkshi, a huge army of them, coming towards the island!"

Whew, I am completely exhausted after the May Day long weekend. But at least I managed to finish chapter 12. I'm worried it's a bit rushed, but oh well. So now it's just an epilogue to go and I bid farewell to Kratashi and friends... for now. Thanks to everyone who's reviewed. And my next story, Past of Shadows, has hit a writer's block. Or maybe that should be a planner's block. I'm hoping to take it to Karda Nui post chapter 1, and I'll talk about this more when I post it. Suggestions are welcome. Very welcome. On another note, a bit closer to home, I've hit the 45, 000 word mark! Whoop! The next one should take it past 50, 000. I'm so chuffed!