"What can you see from up there?" Axonn yelled at Lewa.
"I can't eye-see much because of all these trees!" Lewa yelled from the topmost branches of a large fir tree, the largest in the immediate area. "But the trees stop-end a few miles from here! I can see some smoke in the distance! I mind-think that's where the village is!" With the limber grace that came from spending all of his time in the trees while on Mata Nui, Lewa slid gracefully down the trunk, avoiding all of the branches in his path, landing gracefully on his feet.
"Helryx! "Let's go! Lewa saw something a few miles from here!"
"Just a minute, Axonn!" Helryx turned to face Tuyet. "Don't think I don't know what you're up to, Tuyet. I had those experiments run on you for over a millennia. I know what you're hiding. And believe me, I know what you're planning. But it won't work. Even if you succeed in immobilizing the Toa, there are still the Glatorian; they don't fit into your plan; they can stop you. Even with all that power, you couldn't stand up to the power of all the Glatorian. You won't succeed, so don't even think of trying to enact your foolish plan."
With a slight smile, Tuyet met Helryx with an innocent gaze. "I have no idea what you're talking about. What plan?" Her smile widened.
"Don't play games with me, Tuyet, or you'll regret it. I've got my eye on you." She turned. "It's time to head out." She grabbed Tuyet by the crude cuffs Axonn had fashioned for her.
"Axonn, take her."
"With pleasure." Tuyet had tried to escape a few days ago. Axonn had been on watch. He'd woken up with a large, throbbing pain in the back of his head. Ever since, he'd relished in littering her journey with as much misfortune as possible.
Axonn dragged her behind him, ensuring that he pulled hard enough to make her trip and land in the ankle-deep mud more than once. She came up, sputtering mud and giving Axonn a dirty look, but she couldn't do anything; in terms of sheer brute strength, Axonn would beat her every time.
A few hours passed before they found that the trees suddenly stopped. They could see the beginnings of the village in the distance; it was nothing more than the smattering of a few low roofs against the horizon, but it told them they were going the right way.
As they walked, Helryx talked to Axonn. "First thing's first. We have to take Tuyet to the village head. That fellow never mentioned who it was, but I have a feeling it's Turaga Dume. He's the one with the most experience. It would be a natural and easy choice to decide upon him."
"So, we bring Tuyet to him?"
"Yes. He'll know what to do with her. And Lewa has to report to Tahu, and Hafu and Kapura will probably want to find their friends."
"What about Artahka?"
"Yes, what about me?" Suddenly, he was behind them.
"What are you going to do once we reach the village?"
"If you are thinking you can order me around-"
"Not at all. Nothing like that."
"Good. So you are honestly curious. Very well. I intend to come with you to speak with Dume to learn what I can of everyone's current situation. The Great Beings placed me in a position of great power, and I have a duty to protect all of their subjects, which now includes Agori and Matoran. Dume is the one who can give me the most complete view of the entire situation. I'm coming with you, whether you like it or not."
Helryx lightly laughed. "I don't think that we could stop you if we tried."
"I wouldn't try and stop you."
"That is wise."
They reached the village just under an hour later. Helryx turned to face the rest of the group. "Here is where we part ways. I would like to thank each of you for all of the assistance you have rendered. I wish you all good luck." There was no more fanfare; they all went their separate ways.
Axonn pulled hard on Tuyet's cuffs. "Come on, you. We're going to see the Turaga."
Tuyet smiled wickedly. "Ah, old Turaga Dume. It'll be good to catch up with such an old friend."
"Don't get any ideas," threatened Helryx. "I can always order Axonn to rip your head off."
"But you won't."
"And why is that?"
"Because," Tuyet's smile grew wider, "I know you Helryx. You would never allow such a murder, even one you didn't commit directly, to stain your honor."
Helryx didn't say it, but she was right. Someone, someday may order Tuyet dead, but Helryx would not be the one to do so.
But she would never give Tuyet the satisfaction of knowing she was right.
They marched to the outside of Turaga Dume's hut, which they'd been directed to be the villagers, where two guards stopped them in their tracks. "No one is allowed to see the Turaga right now."
"It's urgent."
"I'm sorry, but no one is allowed to see the Turaga."
"Listen, you. I am Helryx, the first Toa and the leader of the Order of Mata Nui. This is Artahka, who I believe needs no further introduction. Now, we wish to see the Turaga. Are we going to have a problem?" She fixed her eyes upon him, giving him the most malicious stare she could.
The guard gulped. "I-I'll let the Turaga know you're here." He quickly disappeared inside the hut.
"Remind me never to make you mad."
"She was just bluffing that whole time. Helryx is gutless, just like she's always been."
"Quiet, you!" Axonn gave her a large knock on the top of the head, which shut her up quickly.
The guard came out. "Turaga Dume will see you now."
"A wise choice." Helryx strode into the hut, followed by Tuyet, Axonn, who had to bend down to squeeze his enormous bulk through the frame, and Artahka.
"I didn't think it would actually be you." As they entered, they saw Dume facing them. "I thought my guard had gone delirious. I was about to have him relieved of duty." He turned to Artahka. "Artahka, it is a true gift for me to be able to be in your presence." He bowed.
"But, I digress. What brings you here, Helryx? And who's your friend?" He looked at Axonn.
Helryx cleared her throat. "This is Axonn, a member of the Order whom I trust greatly. But he is not the reason I come to see you today." Axonn yanked on Tuyet's cuffs and threw her on the ground in front of the two of them.
Dume's face twisted in anger. "I never thought I'd see your face again, traitor. Through what black magic are you still alive? After that giant beast dragged you off, I figured it had killed you."
"No, Botar merely took me to The Pit. Helryx wouldn't be satisfied until I'd gotten the very best in prison accommodations."
Dume's head snapped up. "You did this? You took her all those years ago?"
"It was for everyone's safety." Caught up in her argument with Dume, Helryx forgot to ponder why Tuyet hadn't told the whole story, and to tell it herself.
"I was the head of Metru Nui! It was for me to decide then, and it is now! I don't care what has happened since, but Toa Tuyet will die!" Dume exhaled loudly to calm himself. "Is that the only reason you came to see me today?"
"No. An army of Vorox is on its way here, intending to lay waste to this village and everyone here." Artahka was blunt and to the point.
"How far away are they?"
"It'll take them a week or more to march here, but from what I was told, it seems like it'll take them two weeks to assemble. So, liberally, three weeks."
Dume sighed and planted his hands on the table in front of him. "We can't handle an attack. Half of our Toa here are off on one mission or another; the same can be said for the Glatorian. Now is perhaps the worst time for an attack."
"Which is, most likely, precisely why they've chosen to attack now."
Dume sighed again. "You're right, of course. I'll double patrols and put everyone on alert. I may not be able to put up an army, but I can at least prevent us from being taken by surprise. Can you work with Hydraxon to begin arming everyone, and preparing them?"
"Of course."
"Axonn, could you escort Tuyet to her cell? My guards will show you where the prison is."
Axonn looked to Helryx for confirmation. She nodded.
"It would be my pleasure, Turaga." Roughly picking up Tuyet, he dragged her out of the hut.
Helryx and Artahka turned to leave, but before they could, Dume spoke. "I don't care what happened to Tuyet in the interim. I don't want to know. But I can tell you this; I am the head of this village. Right now, I've been placed in charge of all Matoran by the Toa Nuva. I will have my way; Toa Tuyet will die. Helryx, I need your word that you will not attempt to stop me for whatever reason. I realize that I cannot force you to act in one way or another, Artahka, but I would still like if you could give your word."
Through gritted teeth, Helryx responded. "As you wish." She turned and left, not caring if Dume had anything else to say to her.
Artahka turned to leave. "Do as you will."
"Stop her! Don't let her get away!" It was Axonn's voice. Helryx and Artahka rushed to the source. Axonn was on the ground, a large would in his chest armor. He was gasping for breath. "She… she surprised me. She used her mask to slip out of the cuffs, and she grabbed the guard's sword." He feebly laughed. "I guess this is what I get for letting my guard down." He coughed.
His eyes turned towards the sky. "Tuyet's gone by now. It would be foolish to send someone after her. With the power of that Nui Stone, she'd be able to overpower anyone we send after her. Why didn't you have me kill her earlier? It could have saved us a lot of trouble."
"Tuyet was right. I could never commit a murder, even an indirect one. I just-I just couldn't do it. I'm sorry Axonn. Maybe if I had, you wouldn't be like this."
"Don't apologize. You did as you thought best, just as we all must do."
There was a long silence.
"I know Brutaka's alive, out there, somewhere. If I survive this, might I have permission to seek him?" He was clearly losing grasp
"'If,'" thought Helryx, "not 'When.'"
"Yes, Axonn." She held his hand. "When you're better, I will relieve you of duty and allow you to go search for Brutaka." She knew he wasn't, couldn't be alive, but Axonn was determined, and he was going to go whether she gave him permission or not. It was just easier this way.
"I'll kill him. Whoever took Brutaka, I'll kill him. No one can hurt one of my friends and get away with it."
Helryx smiled. His dedication to his friend was inspiring. Even now, with his grievous wound, his foremost thoughts were on Brutaka.
"But if I… if I don't make it…"
"You'll make it, Axonn. You've lived through worse than this. You'll live." She turned to him and smiled. "I promise. The healers will be here any minute."
She summoned her water powers and drew water out of the ground. "But until then, let me help you. This isn't much; I'm no healer. But I'll do what I can." She ran the water over his wound, cleansing it and soothing the pain as much as she could. But soothing was about all she could do; like she said, she was no healer.
Axonn relaxed, a smile appearing on his face as he whispered, "Thank you."
Helryx and Artahka sat down to wait for the healers to arrive.
A moment later, Dume arrived. "I've heard the news. I've sent out groups to go catch her! I'm sending out our strongest Toa!"
"No!" Helryx yelled, "Not Toa! I would say that you shouldn't send any patrols, but if you must, send Glatorian! Just not Toa!"
Dume stared at her. "Come with me. I know I just said that I would prefer not to hear what happened to Tuyet, but given recent events, and your strong feelings about the situation, I feel that it would be beneficial for both of us if I understood this situation and its consequences in its entirety. You have a lot of explaining to do, Helryx."