Raanu, leader of the village of Vulcanus, had grave concerns. Without Malum, his village had just one experienced Glatorian available. There were several potential candidates to take Malum's place, but they were young, and inexperienced. Regardless, the last Glatorian duel with Iconox ended in victory for Vulcanus. Iconox had to pay Exsidian, but the precious metal had not yet arrived. Raanu had discovered why. "Through the Spike Mountains? Are they crazy?"

Metus, Glatorian trainer of Iconox, spread his hands. "You know that with the Bone Hunters…"

"I know about the Bone Hunters," Raanu interrupted. "I've heard that excuse before. But my people have justly earned the victory in the arena. If your pay does not deliver, Iconox—"

"Vulcanus will not be willing to pay our winnings, if we lose, in the next fight," Metus concluded.

"And if that happens, Metus…our system will collapse before our eyes. By stopping the practice of settling disputes with Glatorian warriors, we can expect only one thing: war."

Metus gave the Vulcanus leader's words some thought. Undoubtedly Raanu was right. Centuries ago it was clear the Agori could not afford an armed conflict between tribes. Nobody wanted to try and imagine the nightmare of destruction left by the last war. Thus, all disputes between tribes were settled with Glatorian.

However, this system was based on mutual trust. The result of a duel in the arena was not subject to discussion and was absolutely accepted by all. If a village broke the rules or didn't pay as agreed, the other did the same. "I hope that those who were hired by Iconox won't disappoint me," he said softly. "If the Bone Hunters or even the Skrall intercept that shipment…we're in trouble."

X X X

Malum vanished as quickly as he had come. He became one with the rocks, with the ease of someone who had been born among the mountains. Where had he gone? Gresh didn't even want to know, but he did not take the former fire Glatorian's warning lightly.

"Skrall…" Tarduk said. "I once tried to unearth some artifacts near Roxtus…bad idea, I know. I barely escaped. Had I been caught, I would have been a corpse."

The road through the Black Spike Mountains to the east was there, but barely so, due to the passing years. The fresh mountain air brought some relief to the trip, especially for Strakk, who occasionally had to turn back down the mountain to help push the caravan uphill. The silence was broken only by the sound of the hooves of the horse-like Sand Stalkers, the whistling of the wind passing between the peaks and the tranquil sound of wagon wheels.

A sharp cry of a Mountain Striker made both Glatorian jump. A second cry made Strakk turn his gaze to the sky. Mountain Strikers were birds of prey whose wingspan could be as wide as five feet. Their claws could tear through armor as easily as an Agori could tear through dry parchment. They hunted mostly small animals, but if driven to great hunger, they wouldn't hesitate to attack opponents much larger than themselves. Strakk and Gresh prepared to fire their weapons, hoping not to meet someone more dangerous than the Mountain Striker.

"I didn't see anything, do you think it was really just a Striker?" Strakk asked, his voice barely audible.

"It sounded more like a signal," said Gresh.

"Skrall?"

"Exactly. Bone Hunters do not haunt these fields."

Strakk shook his head. "And if the Skrall made that signal, then the Bone Hunters are smarter than I thought."

"What do we do?" Tarduk asked. "Try to escape? Or should we be ready to fight?"

"We heard his signal. That means they're close. Too late to escape," Strakk said. He turned to Gresh. "Well rookie, you always wanted to be a hero. Now's your chance to die as one."

Gresh plunged deep into thought. He had to find a way to save them. They could try and leave, pretending they hadn't heard anything suspicious, and move on, trying to escape from the Skrall ambush. He tried to guess which option Strakk would choose: running as soon as possible and leaving the mountains behind, or just giving up. Wasn't there any way to get the goods delivered to their destination? Too late. He had already wasted too much time trying to decide. As he looked up, warriors in black armor emerged from their hiding. The Skrall had surrounded them.

"This is the land of the Skrall," said one of them.

"Travel through these mountains is forbidden for anyone," added a second.

"Unless you want to see Tuma," added a third. "What's in the caravan? Show us!"

"If we do, they will take the Exsidian," Kirbold whispered nervously.

"And if we don't, they will kill us," Tarduk replied, then turned slowly and uncovered the load. Rarely did the Skrall show any joy, even a smile was uncommon. However, the fighters managed to see something that was not normal for their species—the Skrall nearly laughed. They briefly saw a priceless treasure that belonged to them. Interposed between the precious metal and themselves were only two Glatorian, and two Agori. In an instant, time seemed to stop.

"Take the contents of the caravan out. Now!" ordered the group leader.

Strakk sighed with relief. Apparently, fate had been kind to them. It was true: the Exsidian was lost, but at least he got to keep his head. They had been lucky that the "supply" of the Skrall sounded better than killing them.

"We have business with Iconox," Gresh said proudly. "The burden is not ours. But, we can't leave without the consent of the owner." The Skralls' faces became serious.

"Try it," threatened a Skrall.

"I will," said Gresh.

Why are you doing this? Strakk thought. They just said they'd let us go! Now, they'll kill us all!

"Iconox is in debt to Roxtus," Gresh lied. "We have orders to deliver payment directly to Tuma as a humble apology for the delay. He wants to see it himself. Do you want to be the one to tell Tuma that you had not heard of the apology and sent us back into the desert?"

His words served to panic the Skrall. Tuma, their leader, was the only being who really frightened them. Sending back the payment would bring his anger upon them. He would break the bones of any Skrall who disappointed him. Nobody wanted to stand before him and explain why they hadn't received what he had expected.

"You will come with us," said a Skrall. "But unarmed."

The two Skrall approached the Glatorian and took their Thornax Launchers, along with Gresh's double-bladed shield and Strakk's axe. Then they searched the carriage. They found an extra launcher, which they confiscated, and ordered the Glatorian to stay away from the caravan. Under the watchful eye of the Skrall, the team began to question their chances of survival.

"Great idea," Strakk murmured. "Next you'll want to give our hands over in addition to the Exsidian."

"No," said Gresh. "It isn't my intention to stay with them."

"What?"

"Right," replied Gresh, hitting Strakk over the head with an Exsidian ingot. Most surprising of all was that the wounded Strakk gave no answer. After a while both were fiercely fighting in the caravan.

"Stop!" the Skrall said, as they approached the trailer to separate them.

"This is just what I expected," said Gresh. Once the Skrall were within his reach, Gresh delivered a powerful blow with the Exsidian. Gresh grabbed a Thornax Launcher from the Skrall, and before anyone could react, he fired, hitting the rock wall on the right. He reloaded and fired again, this time at the rock wall on the left. Both shots caused an avalanche, dropping tons of rock upon the caravan and their escort. The Skrall fled before the avalanche. Gresh jumped straight to his Stalker and shouted, "Ride, Kirbold!"

The Agori took the reins, and sent the Spikit running at full speed, something that anyone in that situation would have done. The rocks fell toward the trailer's sides, making the road even narrower.

"We need to go faster!" Tarduk cried.

"We can't!" Strakk replied, "We're driving a carriage with a few tons of Exsidian. How can we go faster?"

"Come on!" yelled Gresh. "We're making good ground!"

"It's better to stop talking!" Strakk growled, massaging the spot on his head where Gresh had struck him. "The next time you plan something like that, would you mind telling me about it?"

Strakk snatched the Thornax Launcher from Gresh and turned around. He pointed at the rocks that were rolling toward them and fired. The rocks shattered, creating another shower of stones. At that same moment, the entire hillside exploded, sending a gigantic piece of rock rolling down the hill toward the trailer.

"It's heading towards the caravan!" Tarduk cried.

The Spikit stopped and stood near the convoy, almost blocking it, but its body managed to hide Strakk and Kirbold. Gresh left his Stalker, grabbed the saddle, and placed it over the trailer. Tarduk plunged into the carriage. While he did so, a wave of rocks hit the trailer but when they collided with the saddle, it pushed them off to the sides.

A moment later, it was over. Where the Agori and Glatorian had previously been standing, there was now a pile of rubble. The air was stifling due to the dust. Soon, silence ensued. The Skrall, who'd managed to escape alive, approached the pile. At first, they attempted to push some of the larger stones out of the way, but were unsuccessful.

"What will we tell Tuma?" asked one of the warriors.

"Nothing," said the leader. "There was no transport. No one saw it. If anyone ever finds out what happened to them, we'll say that it was an accident…one of the many that can happen in a dangerous place like this."

The Skrall looked down at the axe and shield in their hands—the Glatorian's weapons. After some thought, they were thrown into the rubble. "We don't need them, they are no longer useful."

X X X

Makuta's Diary - 3

When the Toa Metru returned to collect the still sleeping Matoran, they were ambushed. Visorak venom turned them into animal-like Toa Hordika and they were about to be killed when they were rescued by the Rahaga (six little thorns in my side since they rebelled and stole the Mask of Light from Destral). They learned that the only possible cure for their condition was a legendary Rahi beast known as Keetongu, one some of the Rahaga believed was hidden somewhere in Metru Nui.

The Toa Hordika launched a search for Keetongu even as they fought the Visorak throughout the city. In their darkest moment, Vakama abandoned the team, allied with Sidorak and Roodaka, and captured all but one of the Rahaga. It seemed as if the city was doomed. Even trapped within protodermis, I read the minds of those around me, entertained and pleased by the ongoing events.

But, in an unexpected change, all was not yet lost for the Toa. Allying with Krahka and a mighty creature, the Tahtorak, the Toa scored a temporary victory against the Visorak. Discovering the location of Keetongu resulted in yet another powerful ally. In the final assault on the Visorak's headquarters in the Coliseum, Matau managed to convince Vakama to fight alongside the Toa once more. Roodaka betrayed Sidorak, leaving him to be killed by Keetongu. Vakama used his control over the Visorak (gained while he was on their side) to order the army to abandon the city.

That left only Roodaka. She battled the Toa Metru, baiting them into striking at her with their elemental powers. The Toa Hordika did not realize that she carried a portion of the cage in which they had captured me. By striking it with their powers, they were undoing the Toa seal and freeing me from their protodermic prison. Redeemed, I rescued Roodaka from death at the last moment by teleporting her to safety.

The Toa Hordika knew they had to move fast. Cured by Keetongu and returning to being Toa Metru, they gathered the sleeping Matoran into airships for transport to the island of Mata Nui. The Rahaga, Keetongu and Turaga Dume chose to stay behind and look after the city.

Vakama returned once more to Metru Nui, in search of the Kanohi Vahi, which had been lost in the fight. His adventure forced him into an alliance with me, as we both tried to stop The Shadowed One from claiming both the mask and the city. In the end, The Shadowed One was defeated (quite easily, but still memorably). Then, in an insulting negotiation, Vakama forced me to promise to leave the island of Mata Nui alone for one full year by threatening to destroy the Vahi and rip time itself to pieces. I knew that agreeing meant the universe would still exist to be gained later, and the Vahi, too. I accepted.

Together again on the island of Mata Nui, the Toa Metru used their power to awaken the sleeping Matoran. In doing so, they transformed into Turaga. The Matoran were safe once more, though far from home, with no Toa to protect them. And it would only be a matter of time before they would speak my name in fear again…

Makuta, the Great Spirit