Chapter 12: Sacrifice
The day after the Rahkshi attack, Cairos sat down with Keyok away from the others. "Hey, what's wrong?"
"You know that vision Vakama had before the Rahkshi showed up?"
"Yeah?"
"I had it too. Laney's going to walk right into…"
"Into what?"
Tears filled Keyok's jade-green eyes. Cairos didn't know that the one Vahki eye had tear ducts, but that wasn't important. "Into life-threatening danger. She's going to save the rest of us - at the cost of her life."
Cairos said nothing. But he started to cry too. "She helped me become who I really am, saving my life in the process. I need to thank her before this happens."
"But there is hope." said Keyok. "The legends say that the gems have many powers. Among them is to awaken the sleeper - if the last gems are touched to her heart, she will live once more. But we have to find them in three days after this, or nothing will bring her back."
"Should we tell the others?" asked Cairos.
Keyok sat in silence for a few. "We should. And we will."
—-
"Hey, welcome back!" said Whenua. "Laney made us some food!"
"It's just congee, nothing fancy." Laney brushed it off as she stirred the pot.
"Pretty good if you ask me." Shane said with a mouthful of broiled eel and rice porridge. He swallowed after savoring it. "Mmm, where did you get eel?"
"Remember how we went fishing with our bare hands in the river?" Laney began. Shane nodded. "Well, apparently protodermis is easier to catch things in. I caught some lava eels this afternoon."
Vakama groaned, "I'm trying to enjoy my food over here!"
"Just for that, Vakama," Laney threatened, "next time I'll triple the chili oil in your portion!"
Vakama quickly deflated. Laney prepared to ladle some congee into Cairos' bowl. "Why the long
face?"
"Keyok had the same vision Vakama did." Cairos explained. "I want to thank you for everything you've ever done for me. You were the first person I came out to, remember?"
"Oh, I remember." said Laney. "Back in the Secondary Training chorus." Her deep eyes got a far-off look before focusing again. "Why do you bring this up?"
My other sons have yet to fight you, young Vahki.
"Oh no, there's that voice again!" Cairos held his head in pain. "Please tell me someone else heard it!"
"We all did." Haidie's face turned grim.
Join me, Cairos.
"Never."
You hold many shadows, so different from the light of your friends. You could have so much power if you just tapped into it.
"I don't want power or anything like that!" Cairos shouted. "I just want to be myself, and for my friends to be safe!"
Ah yes. Do you remember the time Onewa said you squealed like a girl?
Cairos pushed his anger down. "I'm not going to betray Metru Nui over one petty remark!"
But there are more than just petty remarks.
Cairos watched his shadow, in some sort of trance. It changed to the shadow of his child self, joined by shadows of his biological parents. The two larger shadows repeatedly struck the child shadow. Then the child became a university trainee, harassed by his peers and instructors alike. Finally, Cairos forced himself to look away.
You were abused by the ones who were supposed to protect you. Join me, and you can finally exact revenge.
Cairos gritted his teeth. "I'm not interested in revenge. Not anymore."
Such a typical Vahki, blinded by the virtues. You have one last chance. Embrace the shadows within you, and your friends will be spared.
Cairos looked back at the team, who inched closer to him.
"If we're going down," said Laney, "we're going down fighting."
Very well. You have shown your hand. Now… it's my turn.
With those words, three more Rahkshi appeared from a dark mist.
Kurahk, whose anger will threaten your unity.
Kurahk was white and built like a winter predator.
Vorahk, whose hunger will consume your duty.
Vorahk was black and taller than the others.
And Turahk, whose mastery of fear will keep you from your destiny.
Turahk was red with lean muscle everywhere.
"Shit!" Keyok cursed as Kurahk's staff struck his head, knocking him down with a beam of white-hot anger. Unfortunately, the attack didn't have its intended effect. Keyok sprang to his feet and fought more fiercely than before.
"Come on! I can't do all the work around here!" Keyok snapped at Vakama. Vakama responded by sending a blast of fire at Vorahk. Vorahk raised its staff and absorbed the power.
"That didn't work." Onewa commented, while dodging a red beam of fear from Turahk.
"Oh ya think?" Laney shot back. She zapped each of the three Rahkshi's legs with her stun staffs, trying to stay out of range. They convulsed, but soon snapped out of it.
"Laney! Look out!" cried Shane. But he was too late. Vorahk had snuck up behind Laney and grabbed a hold of her braided bun. Then it moved its cold metal hands to her neck. Laney back-fisted the black-armored Rahkshi in the faceplate, but her usually deadly strike had little impact.
"You won't… win that easily…" Laney felt her energy being sucked out of her and into Vorahk's hands. Vorahk was like a vampire gorging itself on blood - except instead of blood, it fed on power and life.
Her face went pale and the stars in her eyes went dark. "Run," she warned with her last breaths, "save your own lives. I'll see you again…" Her eyes closed, and Vorahk dropped her to the cold hard floor of the cave.
Kurahk noticed that its effect on Keyok had worn off. It struck Shane with its staff next - which proved to be a fatal mistake.
"You killed her!" Shane snarled. This was met with silence from the three Rahkshi. "You… monsters!" He descended into a primal rage that scared even the Toa. A deafening kiai roared forth from the depths of his chest, from the center of his aching heart.
"Shane, it's not worth it!" called Keika. "They'll kill you too!" But there was no use in talking sense. Shane normally thought with his head, not his heart, but this time was different. He charged at the Rahkshi, a typical Zadahk move - but something was atypical about it. His eyes, normally a deep earthy brown, lit up with a ghostly blue.
"What's happening?" Ronin was panicking.
"Don't ask!" Haidie pulled Ronin away from the fight. The clang and clash of metal rang through the air… then the sound of thunder. The lightning from Shane's stun staffs had been so potent that it caused thunder to crack. The three Rahkshi were taken out by the electricity.
Shane rejoined the group, holding Laney like he was carrying her across the threshold. Laney hung limp in his arms, her face expressionless. Normally, Shane would keep a straight face and deal with the pain later - he had witnessed many brave soldiers fall in battle - but this was too much. Tears streamed down his face and he began to sob.
"There's still hope." said Cairos.
Shane looked up at Cairos. His friend, who he had literally helped to be a man. "What hope is there?" snapped Shane through his tears. "She's gone!"
"Vakama had a vision. If we find the last cluster of gems and touch them to Laney's heart, it will revive her. But if we don't find them within three days… it'll be too late and nothing will bring her back."
Ever a man of action, Shane adjusted his grip on Laney. "Then let's find those gems."