As he soared through the void of space, heading for Bara Magna, Makuta thought about how it all began.
The Makuta species had been created by Mata Nui. They were to live inside of Mata Nui's then massive robot body, serving his interests and protecting the nanotech workers called Matoran. Their primary job was the creation of animals, fish, birds and insects, collectively called "Rahi," who would serve various purposes within the "universe" that existed inside Mata Nui.
Over time, the role of the Makuta changed. They became actively involved in protecting Mata Nui from various internal threats, from races like the Barraki, the Skakdi, and others. To aid them in this task, they created a species of armored warriors called Rahkshi. These lethal creatures were made from the Makuta's own substance and were loyal, fierce, and relentless in battle.
The important responsibilities they had should have been enough for the Makuta. But from the start, they were cursed with ambition. They looked around and saw the Matoran honoring Mata Nui—the source of light, heat, and virtually everything else in their lives—and it frustrated them. After all, it was the Makuta who had created the birds that filled the skies and the fish that swam in the waters. Why did no one honor—or better still, worship—them?
Frustration led to anger, which led to thoughts of revenge. If the Matoran admired nothing short of ultimate power, then the Makuta would seize that power and conquer their universe. That meant turning against Mata Nui and bringing him down. The risks were enormous. If their Plan failed, Mata Nui would have no choice but to purge them. But if it succeeded…
Teridax, leader of the Brotherhood of Makuta, hatched a complex, multi-layered plot. It began with the use of a virus to infect Mata Nui's robotic systems. When the systems crashed, Mata Nui lost consciousness and crashed into the waters of the planet Aqua Magna. Taking advantage of the chaos, the Makuta attempted to seize power, only to be driven off by heroes called Toa Metru.
Defeat simply fed the Makuta's ambitions. Teridax resolved that if he could not run the universe in Mata Nui's absence, he would become the universe. He would take control of the gigantic robot body and leave the Toa, Matoran and other denizens no choice but to obey him.
It took 1,000 years of patience, manipulation, and even a few feigned defeats for his plans to come to fruition. Badly damaged by the crash, Mata Nui finally died. A Toa named Matoro, wielding the Mask of Life, brought the robot back to life at the sacrifice of his own existence. But before Mata Nui's spirit could return to his body, Makuta's consciousness took control of the robot. Since no form could have two guiding spirits, Mata Nui now found himself barred from his own body.
Teridax's revenge wasn't done. He destroyed the rest of the Brotherhood of Makuta to make sure they could never recreate the virus that had downed Mata Nui. Then he forced Mata Nui's spirit into the Mask of Life and ejected the mask into outer space.
At the time, Teridax had been confident he had seen the last of Mata Nui. He thought surely the mask would float endlessly through space, or be burned up by a sun, or shattered by an asteroid. He was wrong.
Only days ago, he had managed to get all of the robot's sensors working again. Immediately, he detected the Mask of Life's energies on another planet, a place identified by electronic records as Bara Magna. If the mask still existed, then so did Mata Nui. This was something Teridax could not allow. Even though it was doubtful Mata Nui could pose any threat, Teridax wouldn't begin his conquest of the greater universe with a potential enemy on the loose.
Mata Nui had to be destroyed.
Activating the jets built into the robot, Makuta rocketed into space toward a final showdown with Mata Nui. It would be absurdly simple: land on the planet, crush the mask beneath his armored foot, and perhaps some of the inhabitants too, for good measure. Bara Magna would become a base from which to launch future attacks on other worlds, and its residents slave labor and (if they were lucky) part of Makuta's new army.
Now, Makuta Teridax increased his speed. He was anxious to eliminate the last remnant of his past and begin his glorious future. His strength was beyond compare, his power enough to destroy a world, and his resolve like iron.
How could anyone stand against him?
X X X
Tahu, Toa of Fire, was frustrated and furious.
It had been months since he first learned that his universe—every landmass, ocean, even the sky and the stars—were part of the interior of a giant mechanical being. Worse, he discovered this after the universe had been taken over by Makuta Teridax.
Since then, he had led a rebellion against his now far more powerful enemy. But despite some minor victories, he and his allies had been unable to truly harm Makuta. It ate at him. Here he was, a Toa—a hero—created to protect the Matoran villagers from harm. Yet he and his teammates had been unable to provide safety or security to any inhabitant of the universe. Now they were scattered, fighting skirmishes against Makuta's armored warriors, the Rahkshi, and accomplishing nothing.
His frustration had only grown in the last few hours. He and Onua, the Toa of Earth on his team, had prepared an elaborate ambush for a dozen Rahkshi. Just as they were about to stumble into the trap, the creatures turned around and silently departed.
"What happened?" snapped Tahu. "Did they spot the trap?"
Onua rose, watching the column of Rahkshi through narrowed eyes. "No," he said, with certainty. "Something else happened here, and I think we better find out what it was."
Tahu spotted something, coming in low on the eastern horizon. It was a winged figure, one who looked vaguely familiar even from far away. As the newcomer drew closer, he recognized her as a member of the secretive Order of Mata Nui, skilled fighters dedicated to the cause of the Great Spirit. They had been some of the most powerful warriors in the fight against Makuta, but had also suffered terrible casualties in their ranks.
The winged female fluttered tattered wings as she hovered above the two Toa. "I've been sent with a message. Rahkshi are on the move all over, heading south. No one knows why, but they're massing into an army."
South? wondered Tahu. But there's nothing down there. The lower part of the robot was a scattered group of islands, largely uninhabited and of no strategic worth. Why would Makuta—and it surely is his work—be sending the Rahkshi there?
There was only one way to find out.
"Find as many other Toa as you can," he told the Order agent. "Tell them we're going in pursuit of those Rahkshi."
"Tahu, what if this is a trap? What if Makuta wants us to leave everyplace else defenseless?" asked Onua.
"If Makuta wanted to destroy all of us, plus every Matoran, he could do it in an instant," said Tahu. "He doesn't need tricks, not anymore. But if we can pen up his Rahkshi and wipe them out, maybe we can slow down whatever he has planned." He looked back up at the flying figure. "Do it. Find whatever help you can. We have an opportunity, and I'm not going to waste it."
X X X
Nektann stood atop the ruins of a once great structure and watched the Rahkshi march past. The armored "sons of Makuta" had been sent to the island of Zakaz to pacify its residents, the Skakdi race. They had not been gentle in doing their job.
It was still shocking to realize that Zakaz and everything around it was not part of a world, but just the insides of a giant robot. Nektann knew about being a warlord, but he was not an engineer and did not comprehend how large machines worked. Wouldn't each part of a machine have to play a role? And if so, what was the role of the Skakdi?
His people had always been warriors, savage and brutal. Then a member of the Brotherhood of Makuta named Spiriah came and changed them, tinkering with their nature and making them even more violent and merciless. His goal had been to turn them into an army, but the result had been battle-crazed fighters who destroyed their own cities in an all-out civil war. Other species had feared and hated the Skakdi ever since, and the Skakdi had hated the Makuta.
Now a Makuta ran the entire machine, and things had changed. Nektann had been the first Skakdi warlord to ally himself with the new power in the universe. The other members of his species who objected to Makuta's rule had been taken care of by the Rahkshi. And so Nektann's legion fell into line behind the marching Rahkshi, heading for boats that would carry them south.
Nektann didn't know what was waiting for him or his troops among the uninhabited islands, but he did not hesitate to give the order to move out. After all, Makuta had promised them a new world to conquer.
X X X
It was a testament to the respect the Agori had for Raanu that, at his request, they packed up what few things they owned and abandoned their new city. Yes, there were questions and some complaints, but they trusted the elder of Vulcanus. If he said they had to leave, there had to be a reason for it.
Now Mata Nui stood inside the head of this long unused robot body. In his hands, he held a small, metal box containing a tiny spark of energy. Retrieving this from inside the volcano had almost cost him his life. Anyone looking at it would have wondered how something so small could possibly bring so massive a robot to life.
Mata Nui could not have answered them. But he knew from what he had learned in the tower that using anything but the most miniscule amount of this blindingly bright energy would just result in a second explosion. The pieces of the robot might be blown across Bara Magna again, or simply disintegrate. There would never be time to retrieve them and try again before Makuta arrived.
"You sure about this?" The question came from Kiina. She had just finished a last check of the city to make sure all the Agori and Glatorian were gone from inside it.
"No," Mata Nui answered. "But it's what I have to do. Dimly, I could sense my old body standing on the water moon. Although I no longer control it, I know that battles rage throughout the robot that Makuta Teridax now controls. The Toa and Matoran I ignored for so long fight in vain to free themselves from an evil I allowed to flourish. I must help them."
"You could be killed," she said. "You might kill a lot of other people too, if this thing blows up. Have you thought about that?"
"Of course," said Mata Nui. "If I don't try, though, I will be dead, and so will who knows how many others. Anyone Makuta doesn't see a need for, he will destroy. That's just fact."
Kiina nodded. She looked up at the ceiling high above, still having a hard time comprehending that this was the interior of a robot's skull case. The Great Beings had done some pretty crazy things in their time, but giant robots was a new one to her.
Mata Nui nudged Click off his shoulder and onto his hand. He extended it to Kiina. "Take him. I don't want him hurt."
Kiina accepted the insect with a little reluctance—she was not a fan of bugs. But she knew how important this beetle had been to her friend, so she did what was asked. "It's never going to be the same, is it?" she said quietly, as Click climbed onto her shoulder.
"What isn't?"
"You, for one thing," Kiina answered. "You fought with us, laughed with us, wept for our dead, and helped us rebuild after the Skrall invasion. You've been one of us, and now you're going to be…this."
"But still the same person," Mata Nui assured her. "Still your friend."
"A friend who's millions of feet high?" she said, with a harsh laugh. "I'll look smaller than an insect to you from up there. We all will. And you'll have about as much in common with us as we do with Scarabax beetles."
Mata Nui put a hand on her shoulder. "I won't forget you, Kiina…or my promise. I will get you to a new world. Once, I made the mistake of ignoring others because they weren't part of my mission, taking for granted that they would always be there to do what I needed them to do. If I had paid more attention…well, a lot of bad things wouldn't have happened." He smiled. "But amid all the bad, some good came out of my mistakes. I met you."
Kiina rushed forward and hugged Mata Nui. "Don't make me cry," she said softly. "I'm a Glatorian. We don't do that."
After a few moments, Mata Nui gently pulled away. "You had better go. This is going to be dangerous."
"I could stay and help," she suggested. "You might need me."
Mata Nui shook his head. "Go, join Ackar and Gresh. Tell them…tell them thank you. I've seen many worlds, but you all showed me one I had never discovered—the world of friendship and faith and trust."
Kiina's voice wouldn't come. She nodded quickly and walked away, headed for the nearest exit to the desert. Once outside, she climbed on to her mount and rode for the far desert, where the rest of her people waited. And as she rode, sands that had never known rain were kissed by her tears.