From high atop a gleaming Knowledge Tower, Toa Nuju looked down upon the landscape of Ko-Metru. For the Toa Metru of Ice, this was a most unusual vantage point. Normally, his eyes were on the sky, seeking to read the future from the brightness and movement of the stars.
But if Vakama was right, there might not be much of a future for Metru Nui if the Great Disks were not found. It was true that the Morbuzakh plant had done some pretty serious damage to the Metru. Still, Nuju was not sure just how far he wished to trust the Toa of Fire's "visions."
To some, Nuju seemed unfriendly and cold, and in some ways, that was a true picture of him. But at heart he simply was used to working alone and not having to deal with others, so being in a team was not a comfortable situation for him. What he really would have liked was the chance to go back to his work in Ko-Metru and forget about saving cities. But, knowing the future, he accepted that the destruction of the whole city would result in the destruction of his own home of Ko-Metru, and everything the Ko-Matoran had worked for. That, he decided, was what he would fight for.
Down below, all was still and silent. Even the hum of the transport chutes that carried Matoran from place to place was muted here. Nothing was allowed to disturb the work of the Matoran scholars who toiled in the crystal Knowledge Towers. There, they pored over the written records of Metru Nui, deciphered ancient prophecies, and crafted predictions of the future. Once, Nuju had been one of them. Now it was up to him to make sure there would be tomorrows to ponder.
At first, it seemed like that would be a simple enough task. The Ko-Metru Matoran who Vakama claimed had knowledge of the disk was named Ehrye. Finding him should not have been an issue. In fact, it was often impossible not to find Ehrye, even when you wanted to avoid him. He was constantly underfoot, running errands for different scholars and pleading for a chance to become one of them.
Nuju, naturally, had said no. Working in a Knowledge Tower required wisdom, patience, and experience. All Ehrye had to offer was enthusiasm and too much energy for his own good, pushing him to the point of recklessness. So the Matoran went back to running errands and dreaming of life inside the towers.
And now, when I want to find him, he's disappeared! fumed Nuju.
A search of Ehrye's home had turned up a marked Ko-Metru chute station map and a disturbing journal entry. It read in part:
I'm going to show them. If I turn over the Great Kanoka Disk like I said I would, I'll learn a secret that will make them beg me to join a Knowledge Tower!
Nuju shook his head. He had spent his whole life studying what might be and what would be in the days to come, and he knew one thing for certain. There was no future in what Ehrye was about to do.
The Toa of Ice leaped from the top of a Knowledge Tower, his eyes focused on the ledge of another. When he had maneuvered within arm's reach of it, he snapped a crystal spike from his back and swung it hard. It dug into the side of the tower. Nuju swung gracefully around the building, pulling the spike free as he did so. He repeated the exercise twice more on the way down, growing more used to his new Toa tools along the way. Someday, he knew, that experience might save his life.
Nuju had taken the chute map with him when he left Ehrye's house. He hit the ground close to the station that was marked on the map. Talvi, the attendant, was deep in thought and did not notice his approach.
"What? Oh!" Talvi exclaimed when Nuju tapped his shoulder. "Who are you? What do you want?"
"l am Nuju, Toa Metru of Ice. I am looking for a runner named Ehrye. Have you seen him?"
The attendant frowned. "Yes, he was here. I saw him talking to a Matoran from another Metru. I don't remember which. Then he jumped in a chute heading for one of the Knowledge Towers. He was muttering something about a disk."
"Where did he have this conversation?"
"Ummm…let me see. I remember I was analyzing chute dynamics at the time and not really paying attention. But I think it was in that corner over there."
Nuju turned away without saying thank you. He was in no mood to waste words. Instead, he walked over to where the attendant had directed him and looked around. There was little to be seen, just a Po-Metru carving tool and a pass to the Onu-Metru Archives. Either might be important, or they might have been dropped by any of hundreds of Matoran who passed through this chute station.
Talvi had gone back to pondering. It was something Ko-Metru Matoran spent a lot of time doing, in hopes of one day securing a position in a Knowledge Tower. Unfortunately, it also made it hard to get their attention.
"If you see Ehrye again, hold on to him," Toa Nuju said.
"Hmmm? What? Hold on to whom?" Talvi asked, confused.
Nuju walked away, wondering why he even bothered to talk to some Matoran.
X X X
The chute Ehrye had taken led to the lower level of a Knowledge Tower. It was such a silent place it made the rest of the Metru seem positively wild and loud. A small number of Ko-Matoran were hard at work, junior seers who hoped to one day ascend to the ranks of those who labored on the upper levels. Nuju had spent most of his life in Knowledge Towers and could not recall ever seeing a group of scholars looking so annoyed.
As usual, trying to get a scholar to take a break from his studies to talk was like trying to teach Akilini rules to a Rahkshi. They did not seem at all impressed by the presence of a Toa Metru. It was only when Nuju mentioned that a Great Disk was involved that one of them agreed to talk.
"A Great Disk, hmmm?" said the scholar, after introducing himself as Jaa. "Incredible power. I would love the chance to study one. Do you have it?"
"No, I am seeking it. I believe a Matoran named Ehrye is as well, and he may have come here."
"Ehrye!" Jaa spat. "So that was his name! He barged in asking a lot of questions about Kanoka disks, the Morbuzakh plant, and other things that were not his business. No, not his business at all! Then he took a chute to the top of the tower, which is forbidden!"
The other Matoran had turned to see what all the shouting was about. The scholar spotted their angry looks and dropped his voice almost to a whisper. "You will find him there, but you must do something for us in exchange for this information."
Jaa dug into his robes and pulled out a knowledge crystal a little larger than Nuju's hand. "The Morbuzakh vines have done great damage to our towers," the scholar explained. "With this crystal, a new tower can be grown. When you reach the top level, throw this into the air. Wherever it lands, a new tower shall appear."
Nuju took the crystal. "A gift to the future of Metru Nui, then. I will do it."
X X X
Of all the Matoran turned Toa Metru, it was Matau who was happiest about the change. Even when he was just an Ussal cart driver, he dreamed of being a famous hero. Now that it had happened, he intended to enjoy every minute of it.
Having a background in Le-Metru, Matau knew all about chutes.
Chutes ran at varying speeds, although the preferred rates in Le-Metru were "fast," "very fast," and "way too fast." Every chute operated in a dictated direction. Reversing the flow of a chute, and thus changing its direction, was considered to be highly dangerous. The main chute controls were the responsibility of a Matoran named Kongu.
There were two ways to board a chute. The recommended way was at a chute station. These stations were located all over Metru Nui. Here, the flow of the chute slowed down enough that boarding could be done safely and easily. The other method, "chute jumping," was illegal, although still done by some of the more daring Matoran. Chute jumping involved leaping onto a chute during the split seconds that the magnetic energy wavered, so that one passed through the outer layer of forces and into the chute itself. There were two reasons this was risky: first, if the jump was not timed right, the jumper could smack into the outer layer hard and possibly fall off the chute and plunge to the ground. Second, jumping into a high-speed chute increased the chances of being struck by another passenger or piece of cargo.
Some Matoran also did "disking" tricks in chutes. This involved riding through the chute while standing on top of a Kanoka disk, often doing flips or sliding along the walls or ceiling of the chute. This was very common in Le-Metru but was also a good way to catch the eyes of the Vahki.
Matau had been riding the transparent, magnetized protodermis tubes from place to place all his life, as had most Matoran. The tubes were held high over the city by enormous metal beams, and could transport Matoran, tools, or goods across the city in a small amount of time. Living in Le-Metru, the main transport hub for the entire city, he had even had the chance to repair a chute or three in his time. He was quite proud of the fact that no one outside of his Metru knew more about chutes than he did.
All of which made it even stranger that he was now hurtling out of control through a chute at a ridiculously high speed, heading for what would probably be a very dead end. The chute speed was beyond even the 'third preferred level' and he had boarded properly (this time).
Matau had started his search in a very sensical way—by going to Orkahm's house. Orkahm was not there, but a quick search around the home revealed a map with a specifically marked chute station. Matau had gone to that station, where he spoke with the chute station attendant, Tuuli. Tuuli claimed that Orkahm was acting odd—"nervous-wired"—he had said. He then directed Matau to Orkahm's Ussal Pen. It was reachable from that station, and the Le-Matoran was confident that was where he had been going. Matau had then taken the chute, finding himself in this predicament.
Outside the chute, the green-and-brown structures of Le-Metru were nothing but a blur. Matau whipped around a corner, heading for a busy junction and hoping he was not about to collide with some poor Matoran. For at least the tenth time, he tried to jump through the walls of the chute and exit onto some platform or building. But he was thrown, back yet again, slamming into the opposite wall of the magnetic energy and then picking up speed again.
I wanted to get there quick-fast, but not that quick-fast, he thought. He wasn't sure how anyone could manage to seal off the walls of a chute, or whether this affected the entire Metru's system or just the tube he was rocketing through. But I can take a smart-guess. Fire-spitter was right. These disks must be important, and someone doesn't want me to find mine.
Matau's mind raced almost as fast as his body through the chute. The chutes ran throughout the city, but the densest concentration was in Le-Metru. They all fed into one another in the air subcity. If it was only this chute that had been tampered with, then it should be possible to steer into another at the junction.
"Possible. Not healthy-safe, but possible," he muttered.
The first thing Matau had to do was slow down. He unhooked his twin aero slicers from his back and tried digging them into the walls of the chute to act as brakes. But whatever had made the chute resist exits also made it too tough for the swords to pierce.
I'm thought-planning like a Matoran still, Matau told himself. The tools aren't the power. I'm a Toa-hero. I'm the power!
The Toa Metru of Air glanced ahead. The junction was rushing up toward him, and a transport cart was heading for it from a side chute. At the rate he was moving, he would slam right into the cart. But if he could use his power to slow just a little….
Matau was not famous for deep thought and concentration, but he managed some now. He forced his will on the air in the chute, making it form a thick cushion to lower his speed. Little by little, he could feel himself slowing, but would it be enough?
The transport cart shot through the junction. A split second later, Matau went through. Straining, he reached out and grabbed the back of the cart, letting it pull him down the side chute. The abrupt stop and change of direction almost ripped his arm out of the socket, but somehow he found the strength to hang on. It was only when he had traveled some way from his original chute that he let go and exited out the wall. Then he waited until the world around him stopped going in circles.
X X X
Matau found himself not far from his original destination: the Ussal crab pen of the Le-Matoran named Orkahm. He decided to skip a chute and instead take the sky route via the cables that hung everywhere in Le-Metru.
On the way, he passed a home-owned business called "Tamaru's Transports." Tamaru was a fast-talking Matoran that rented and sold used Ussal carts, failed test track vehicles, and other modes of transport from his shop. After washing out as an airship pilot because of his fear of heights, Tamaru decided it made more sense to have a career firmly on the ground. For Matoran who wanted a change from riding in chutes, that was the place to go.
Ussal pens could be found all over the Metru. The carts they pulled transported goods too large or fragile for the chutes or carried Matoran who preferred to travel a little more slowly. The large crabs were specially trained to obey the commands of their riders, although they had been known to get temperamental at times. Even from high above, it was easy to locate an Ussal crab pen by the aroma—they were not the sweetest-smelling Rahi around.
Matau dropped to the ground near one of the crab keepers, who Matau recognized as Vira. "Don't worry-fear! It's me, Matau. I am a Toa-hero now!"
Vira dropped his tools in surprise. "Wow! You've pulled some fine-great jokes before, Matau, but this—this big-tops them all."
"This isn't a joke," Matau insisted. "l was given this Toa Stone, and I brought it to the Great Temple, and…there isn't time for this. I am looking to seek-find Orkahm. Have you seen him?"
"No," the keeper said. "And I would just as soon wish-hope he stays away. He's been acting mad-crazy. Said he lucky-found something on his route-path, but wouldn't show it to anyone. He was going to bury-hide it. Orkahm always seemed like such a good rider. Who knew the hard-pressure would get to him?"
Matau nodded. It would take too long to explain the situation, but he knew Orkahm had not lost his mind. The Matoran had found a Great Disk and knew someone would try to take it away from him, maybe the same someone who had sabotaged the chute. "So he's gone?"
"He is, but his cart's here. Why are you so deep-interested, Matau? Planning a trick-joke on him?" Vira said, laughing. "He already doesn't spirit-like you. I don't think you want to make it bad-worse."
Matau spotted Orkahm's cart, sitting alone off to the side of the pens. Each rider kept a logbook of his travels during the day, and Orkahm was no exception. Matau fished it out from under the seat and flipped it open, only to discover the careful rider had written the whole thing in code.
Matau was tempted to give up. Then he reminded himself that the other Toa Metru had probably made contact with their Matoran and were waiting for him. He couldn't show up empty-handed. Besides, finding Orkahm and the disk would prove to everyone in Le-Metru that he was a Toa-hero.
He sat down on the cart and began studying the code. Matau had known Orkahm a long time. Orkahm was a chief Ussal cart driver in Le-Metru. The Matoran was thorough, methodical, cautious, and meticulous…which made him a slow rider. Matau, on the other hand, had always been fast and reckless, which was why the two never got along. In a way, Orkahm had always envied Matau's speed and quick wit. But the most important thing Matau remembered about Orkahm was that he had little imagination.
Once the Toa realized that, breaking the code was simple. Orkahm had substituted numbers for letters, but it wasn't done in a particularly clever way. Deciphered, there were three entries, all dated the day before.
Disk hidden.
A. wants disk.
Moto-hub sector 3.
The center of Le-Metru was the Moto-Hub, home to the vehicle manufacturing factories and the chute system controls. Roughly half of the Le-Matoran worked here. The rest mainly did repair and maintenance work in Le-Metru or elsewhere in the city.
He's deep-hiding in sector 3, Matau realized. He's either a fool or very, very scared. Probably both.
Matau jumped in a chute headed northeast. Sector 3 was just across one of the major protodermis canals from Ta-Metru. It had long been known for the sheer number of chute malfunctions that took place there. These were blamed on everything from poor construction to just bad luck, until repair crews sent to the area started disappearing. That was when rumors began to spread that the Morbuzakh was behind all the troubles. Since then, all repair crews traveled with Vahki Vorzakh escorts. Even with that, the Vahki usually returned alone. And since the security squads were incapable of speech, they couldn't explain what had happened.
Unlike most Vahki, the Vorzakh didn't really seem to enjoy chasing lawbreakers. They were direct, impatient, and therefore efficient, if indelicate. If they needed to find someone, they simply levelled everything standing in their path until they located them. Vorzakh Staffs of Erasure were incredibly powerful, able to temporarily eliminate higher mental functions in Matoran, leaving only motor functions intact. Le-Matoran had grown used to seeing these unfortunates, called "shamblers," wandering through the Metru.
If Orkahm wanted a place to hide, he chose a dangerous one, Matau thought recalling the information about Sector 3. Unless he think-knows something I don't?
Matau leaped out of the chute at a station on the outskirts of the sector. The area had not been abandoned. There were still plenty of riders and other Matoran to be seen, hard at work. But everyone seemed to be moving very quickly and looking over their shoulders every few seconds. This part of Metru Nui wasn't ruled by Turaga Dume or the Vahki. It was ruled by fear.
The sudden appearance of a Toa in their midst drew a lot of attention from the Le-Matoran. They crowded around, asking questions, looking up at him, admiring his armor, and saying that now they were sure everything would be alright. Matau was having such a good time he almost forgot why he was there.
He was reminded abruptly when Kumo, the transport manager, came up to him and said, "Are you search-looking for Orkahm?"
"Yes. How did you know?"
"He came hurry-running through here a little while ago, and took the chute that way. He said someone might be dark-following him, and if anyone asked, not to tell them where he had gone."
"Then why are you telling me? Not that I am sad-complaining," said Matau.
"Because you are a Toa-hero," Kumo replied. "I have seen Toa-heroes before, a long time ago, but never met one. I know the legends, though—how Toa are here-strong to protect us and keep us safe. Whatever Orkahm is doing, I don't think he's safe right now. Do you?"
