The city echoed with screams. Horns beeped out as they always did, but now they did so in their owners' attempts to flee. Sirens joined them as they all focussed in on one area. The smoke could be seen for miles as the flames began to spread. Cars lay as upturned wrecks, and the number of dead rose by the minute. Trafalgar Square had been left in ruins, with little more than rubble and deep craters filling the London landmark. All forms of resistance had been quelled with no mercy. Whitehall and the surrounding street had been blockaded by every form of defence that could be mustered in time. Police cars and military jeeps kept everyone out, and the orchestrators of the catastrophe in.

"Wheeled vehicles… it takes me back to the first siege of the City of the One." The black and red Being stood atop the broken fountain and admired his 'handy work'.

"The creatures have surrounded us with defences. Do you think they plan another attack?" The second Being spoke to the leader. He had seen the wrath of humans first hand when given the advantage just a month ago. He was determined not to see it again.

"Most certainly. But nothing they do leaves room for concern. After all, the bigger the audience, the better." The leader had everything planned down to the last detail.

"I do not question your judgement Grand Master, but do you think our slave will destroy the so called 'Toa of Legend' before they discover our origins?" The servant knew everything was riding on this final plan, and if anything was overlooked it could be it all at risk.

"No, I do not. He is a tool and nothing more. Speed was the only thing he could give our plan, whether he succeeds or not means nothing for his live. If they were dead we would have felt it." With that the master pulled out a cube-shaped device from a container built into his leg.

News helicopters filmed the scene from above, staying well clear of the danger. Around the world people could see what these robotic monsters had done, and this time there was no chance of a cover up.

"It's them. The same things that hit a week ago." The agent stared through his binoculars, looking past the barriers of security.

One staff member stood next to him and gulped. He had seen the devastation caused at the remote military base following the attack. Hundreds had been killed, and others… others had risen again. His men were charged in retaking the base from their own fallen comrades. At first his reports were naturally met with much scrutiny, but the footage did not lie. MI5 knew one thing about this incident. The missing Boys from Faversham who had disappeared into an anomaly, along with half the street buildings were somehow connected to this mess.

"Is it true sir, are we speaking… extra-terrestrial?" He spoke to his superior, clearly showing how uneasy he was.

"Either that or someone's just developed the world's most advanced weapon system."

The machines no longer moved. They stood in the centre of the square, their body guards, drabbed in black cloaks and holding up great spears stood vigilant. There must have been thirty of them, but only thirty were needed. The leader held a glowing cube in his hand. With one click it opened, showing the hologram of a cave system.

…

The encounter had left him enraged and with irreparable wounds. He had dealt with his last 'pest', but his plans had been ruined. He had only one option, but he feared it would be took soon. He had been told the identity of the Toa of Legend and what they were capable of. He scorned himself for being so arrogant. He should have killed them when he had the chance. Now Shadow stood in his cave, his eyes closed and his arms resting on a huge table. Around it were maps covering every known landmark of Mata Nui, with arrows and markings written in red on all of them. Standing behind him was his latest creation. The Dark Toa's armour was dented from the fall, but it was still very much alive.

"I had them at my mercy… why did I delay? Why did I make the same mistake Teridax always did? I'll never be rid of him. I'm part of him and yet I despise him. And what of you, how do you see the Toa you were formed from?" Shadow's broken voice spoke of his inner fears.

The Dark Toa did not say a word. It simply stood as the obedient slave it was.

"Why do you not speak? Can you even utter a word? No soul… how? They told me the machine duplicate souls, why not on you?"

It stared at its master, never changing its expression.

"The truth is slave… I fear them. I had the chance to kill them when they were weak and I bragged. If what the Dark Toa have said is true… then everyone should fear them. The Makuta, the Rahi, even the Toa. They have no idea the power they possess. When the Dark Toa acolytes finish their ritual, they say their master will return and the harvest will begin. I care little what happens as long as this world is mine. They can have the human world, well… if they can hold my armies off that is. Perhaps my creations would be enough… to overthrow them."

Shadow would ponder his plans like this to Bahki, but their fear usually kept them from listening. The Dark Toa behind him did not utter a word, but he was listening intently.

"You know why I made you creature? Because you now share a link. A gateway to their world. Their powers are yours, and when they repair that mask of theirs, you will call on its power. When my Bahki forces swarm that other planet, I will finally be the most dominate being in existence."

At first Shadow had been all to glad to serve the Dark Toa for promises of power. But he now had reason to loath them. They had angered him, and in his mind betrayed him. The incident with his machine had given him reason to doubt his trust for them.

Shadow's pondering was ended when a device lit up on his desk. It began to float as its six sides opened up, revealing a red crystal inside. Shadow knew what this meant. He stood in front the device, looking as menacing as he could. The crystal dissolved into thousands of floating fragments, all of which came together to form a hologram of the Dark Toa standing in a Human city.

"We are ready to hear your report slave. Are the Toa in your custody? Why are they not dead?" The Master's voice was the only one that Shadow feared.

"…They have proven to be stubborn... I had them…" Shadow felt fear and anger.

"You had them? Am I to believe you have failed us? The Toa of Legend walk free?" The Master was not angry in the slightest.

"…You promised me there would be no problems! You said your machine would work perfectly, or were you telling the truth all along and I was simply there to build it? I harnessed their Toa essence as you said and created a Dark Toa using it, but something else was there… Something tried to kill me." Shadow felt now that if he was to have power, it would be through his own doing.

"…You felt his presence?" The master seemed suddenly upbeat.

"Who's presence?" Shadow had no idea who he spoke of. They had never intended on telling him the whole story.

The master turned away from Shadow to face his own warriors.

"The Dark One yet lives! The harvest approaches acolytes! When it does, we will gorge ourselves on life and blood just as we once did!" With his speech his servants roared with bloodlust. "The time has come. We will draw the Toa of Legend out with countless waves of the dead. If this worthless slave cannot quell Gen Two, then it will be Gen One that we will draw them to and then end their lives!" He pointed towards the hologram of Shadow floating in the centre of the fountain.

"You dare call me a worthless slave!? Once I have destroyed the Matoran you will join them!" Shadow slammed down on his desk in rage.

"You cannot threaten God's, mutant of creation!" The master taunted before leaving the fountain with his servants.

Many teleported away, deeper into the city. Shadow could see them charge at the humans around them. Gunshots wailed through Trafalgar square from soldiers, police officers and jeeps, followed by screams. No weapon the human's possessed could harm them. All they could do was stand and die for their city. Shadow could see the carnage they were unleashing on the humans.

"…If they want a war, I will give it to them." Shadow marched away towards the room's entrance.

Shadow's Dark Toa did not follow. He was mesmerised by the spectacle. He walked slowly towards the hologram and stared at it, never blinking. He reached the dented, metal table and rested his hands on it. He turned his head to the side slightly and listened to the sound of the people in the city. He could hear their cries and pleas for help as the creatures tore down innocent bystanders. Amongst the noise he could make out the voice of a woman.

"Henry no! Please, not my baby!"

The Dark Toa opened its eyes wider before slowly opening its mouth.

"…Henry…"

…

It had been two days since their escape. All of them were exhausted. The Matoran dragged their feet through the sand, one drank from one of the bottles Tom had brought with him in his bag. Andrew dragged his sword through the sand and trailed a line. No one spoke a word during the journey. They could only hope Artahka had made it out, but in their minds it was doubtful. They had only known this stranger for a short while and yet he had risked his life to help them. They knew not of his 'Master' who he had said had sent him.

Unbeknownst to the rest of the group, Takanuva had had an inkling that Artahka would sacrifice himself, or at the least hold Shadow off long enough for them to escape when he passed him a curious object in the last tunnel. He had studied the item during the journey back but nothing he did would open it. It appeared to be a similar device to others Shadow had in his possession. He had shown the rest of the group but none of them were able to activate the device either. Tom had told Takanuva that he had seen said device on the table in Shadow's lab. He assumed Artahka must have taken it.

"Look." Pohatu pointed out into the distance.

They were there at last. The natural stone walls of Po-Koro were directly ahead.

"At last!" One Matoran praised.

Outside they could see various Matoran running about. Some pushed large stakes of sharpened wood into the sand whilst others carried weapons into the city through the mask-shaped entrance.

"It looks like Nuparu managed to get help." Tahu guessed.

"Thank Mata Nui for that Gukko bird of his." Jaller spoke through tired lips.

The Matoran guard could see them on the horizon. They waved in excitement, relieved that they were still alive.

"Home, sweet home." Whispered Pohatu.

The group reached the great gate, its arch carved into the shape of a huge mask, with the doors acting as the mouth. Around them the huge statues of Po-Koro stood strong leading up to the gate along the path of prophecies. The Toa could see many Matoran standing atop the rocky walls that surrounded the village. They were all preparing large devices forged with metal and fused with stone. From the look of it they were ballistae of some sort. The Boys looked at Pohatu and he stared back at them concerned. This was his village that was preparing itself for the worst and from what they had seen in Shadow's lair, it would be one hell of a struggle.

The Matoran opened the stone doors for the arrival of their heroes. As they made their way through the centre of the village, crowds of Matoran clapped for them. The rescued Matoran ran to their families and embraced them. They told of the Toa and their bravery in the factory, and of how Andrew inspired them to keep going. To the Toa themselves, this victory was bitter-sweet. Yes they had retrieved Tom and Andrew's Toa power locked away in their Toa stones, but they had lost two friends in the process. Andrew held his arm as they came closer to the great hall. His mask had mostly healed his shoulder in the journey back but it still caused him pain. All of the Toa had been hurt is some way during the fight and all were eager to rest up.

"Brothers!" It was Nuparu running down the stairs of the hall. "You made it out safe and sound. Where's Artahka?"

"Not quite safe and sound… not all of us." Takanuva broke the news.

"Oh… He didn't?" Nuparu looked shattered.

"He covered our escape. We don't know what became of him." Tahu told him.

"Then there's hope isn't there?" Nuparu looked slightly more cheerful with this news.

The Toa looked around the village to see the preparations the Matoran were making. It was all going far too slow.

"Nuparu, we need to rally all of the Toa to the hall and speak to Turaga Onewa." Takanuva needed the village to know of the urgency of the situation.

"Right… Right! Straight away! Nuparu saluted his brother and went on to find the Toa that had gathered in the village.

"And all senior Matoran of the Ussalry and the Windrider Cavalry. They will need to know as well." Takanuva added.

"Will do!"

Half an hour later, the hall was filled with Toa and Matoran ready to hear what the group had to say. They had been told that Po-Koro was under possible threat from Shadow, the fall gravity of the situation however they were unaware of. The Matoran sat on stone chairs facing the back of the Hall. With the Toa either sitting at the back behind the front desk facing the Matoran or at the side of the hall on benches. All current Toa had gathered, both the Toa Inika and the Toa Nuva, making the count fourteen including the Boys. As for the Matoran, there must have been at least fifty of them.

The book had been placed standing up on the front desk, with the painting of Shadow and the Beast shown clearly to the audience. Takanuva took his place and prepared to tell them all what was coming.

"Toa, people of Po-Koro. We stand today on the brink of destruction."

The Matoran looked startled, and even the other Toa looked confused.

"By now you will all know of a new foe that has shown himself who calls himself Shadow. This 'Shadow' is in fact a creation of Makuta Teridax."

The anger in the Toa around the hall began to build. They had lost too much to the Makuta in the past, including the life of the Toa Inika of Ice, Matoro.

"So it's true. The Makuta has not been slain." Toa Kopaka, the Toa Nuva of ice spoke.

"Indeed." Takanuva continued. "However, Shadow is no longer a servant of his. Shadow was an experiment of Makuta in an attempt to create a new body for himself. When I faced him in Kini-Nui, our duel left him with no body of his own. Unfortunately for him, a piece of his soul now resides in Shadow and this piece rebelled. Such is the selfishness of the Makuta. He cannot even share with himself."

This comment caused Tahu to tut in agreement.

"Shadow has been building an army of Bahki far greater than the one that attacked Le-Koro last Month. With this army he plans on conquering this village, and he will not give in until he does so. On top of this danger, Shadow has been contacted by another race. A race, we believe, that's from another universe."

Some of the Matoran gasped at this. They had heard the rumours and stories of the Boys, but to hear of a third universe altered their perspective on life.

"These other Beings have aided Shadow in his rise, and even now they threaten Andrew and Thomas's home world of Earth. I believe that Mata Nui has sent these two new Toa and the Tome to us to help as defeat Shadow, so that in return we can help them."

The Matoran began to nod.

"May we say something?" Andrew asked Takanuva.

"Umm… of course brothers." This request caught him off guard.

The Two Boys had been quietly agreeing on what they were going to say on the bench, now they were ready. They approached the front and stood before the curious Matoran and Toa. More than any time on their journey on this world, now was when they felt most homesick. Andrew started nervously.

"…A month ago, Thomas and I were living very ordinary lives back home. We weren't special, at least we didn't see ourselves like that. Maybe we were always meant to come here, maybe we weren't. Either way…" He struggled to continue. He could remember the visions he had seen in the desert, and Golyo.

Tom continued for him.

"Either way, we're here. And we met you. We met you all and the Toa. You have helped us both from day one. We were frightened, and mesmerised by this place, but in a way it reminds me of home. We have evil there too, people who think they can own everything they can see simple because of who they are, their beliefs or their own ambitions. If I've learnt anything here, it's that friendship, bravery and unity can hold us together, even in the face of death. Brothers, Sisters, we thank you all. And no matter what it takes… we will stand with you to the end."

Someone in the hall began to clap from the side of the hall. It was Tahu, giving a big grin and clapping his red hands together. Soon the rest of the hall had joined in. The Matoran began to cheer and yell.

"Unity! Duty! Destiny."

The meeting had ended and everyone in the village was helping in any way they could. Soldiers practice their drills and the Toa duelled one another and showed off the experience they had gathered fighting Bahki. If you want a village of Matoran to rely on for craftsmanship and tactics, it was Po-Koro. What gave them all more room for hope was the unveiling of the Matorans' latest weapon.

"Fellow Po-Matoran! I give you all the shock-tip arrow!" A proud Matoran stood amongst them.

The Boys and many of the other Toa watched the unveiling. Hewkii pulled a black piece of cloth off of a tall cage. Inside was a captured, and rather angry Bahki.

"How did you get one of them in that Nuparu?" Hahli asked him.

"Persuasion techniques." Nuparu sharpened his sword as he answered her.

One Matoran held a bow and took one of the new arrows.

"Although Bahki are tough up close, these arrows with leave little resistance in them from a distance!" The demonstrating Matoran continued.

The soldier pulled back the string of his bow and let the arrow fly at the target. As the projectile hit the creature it was engulfed in a field of electricity. Mechanisms exploded from its head as its body was overloaded. The beast fell lifeless with the arrow sticking out of it.

"Damn!" Andrew commented.

The audience clapped. The instructing Matoran bowed.

"Thank you, Thank you. I'm sure there weren't ever any doubts." He showed off.

"Nice work Velika, these will definitely help even things out a bit." Pohatu praised him.

"A bit? Did you not see that!? Boom!" He acted out the explosion with his arms.

Velika was always excited about his new ideas. Every archer on the walls were now being fitted with these new arrows. Whether they would help against Shadow's colossal horde though was yet to be seen.

The plan was set. Night was falling and Ussalry scouts had returned with news of Shadow's army marching across the desert. They estimated that they would arrive at dawn. All of the Matoran and Toa in the village had gathered in the centre of the Village. Together they had built pyres on which they placed those that had fallen in recent raids. Andrew looked up and saw a familiar looking Matoran on the tallest pyre. Golyo lay at rest. Andrew looked at Nuparu, who looked back reassuringly. Nuparu had flown back to Po-Koro with Golyo in his arms. The boy looked up and smiled with a tear in his eye.

"Goodbye brother."

Matoran whispered prayers to the Great Spirit Mata Nui for the fallen. Andrew watched the peaceful embers flicker above him. As he did so he spotted a large, red star in the night sky.

Prepare yourselves fellow Toa, for the Battle of Po-Koro…