Kulagi tried to remain calm and look for a way out. That was his specialty; finding a way to escape against even the most dire odds. But panic was clouding his judgment, because he was now facing up to five powerful Dark Hunters.
The lead hunter was Hakann, who pointed his lava launcher at the two Matoran. "As you can see, Ga-Metru is now under new ownership," he said. "But we can find you accommodations in our prison cells. We might even let you live if you tell us everything you know."
"Everything we know?" Triki asked, genuinely curious. "But what if we much-know lots?"
"Good, I would appreciate your cooperation," Hakann said. "The more you talk, the longer you live."
"Challenge accepted!" Triki exclaimed. "Now, first, there are particular ways to greet a Vorzakh Vahki. You have to appear as not-threat. Look-not it straight in the eyes, else it attack you. Also shoot-not it in the eyes. Same result."
"Stop your babbling," Hakann snarled. "Do you take me for a fool?"
Triki tilted his head. "I know-not if you're fool. You ever rodeo-ride Keras Crabs? They called me ever-fool when I suggest that."
Although Kulagi was sure his friend wasn't intentionally trying to buy time, Triki's ramblings were giving him time to calm down and look around. There were Dark Hunters on three sides of them. The street behind them was still clear, but any attempt to flee down it would make them clear targets. However, if the Dark Hunters were distracted, they might have a chance. But how to distract them? A single Kanoka disc wouldn't suffice. But was there something else that could help?
The buildings around them were in disrepair, having been heavily damaged when the Dark Hunters first attacked the region. The one behind Hakann had the second level supported by columns, but many of the columns were crumbling. Only a few were holding up the bulk of the structure's weight, and Kulagi identified one that was likely under the most stress.
"It would've been ever-good vacation and build-team exercise, but the other Le-Matoran protested," Triki continued. "And that's how I got boot-kicked from Le-Metru Philosophy society."
"Silence!" Hakann roared. "I don't think you understand your position, Matoran."
"Kay, kay," Triki said. "I will be silent as the Lohrak."
Hakann frowned. "Lohrak aren't known to be quiet."
"Yeah, that's kind of the point," Kulagi said, taking aim and firing his Weakening Kanoka. "Eat dust, Hunters!"
Hakann dodged to the side, thinking that the Kanoka was aimed at him. But it flew past him and struck the one column, shattering it. As the building's weight got shifted to the other, already damaged columns, they began to give way too, and the whole structure started to fall in on itself. The Dark Hunters were able to quickly scatter and avoid any falling debris, but the collapse kicked up a massive cloud of dust, enough to completely hide the two Matoran.
Kulagi grabbed Triki's arm. "Let's go this way."
"Dark Hunters that way," Triki protested. "Behind us more clear!"
"I know, just trust me," Kulagi said, clenching his jaw. It was an illogical move, but hopefully one that the Dark Hunters wouldn't predict. With luck, they would attempt to chase them down the obvious route, giving Kulagi and Triki a chance to escape for real.
However, their luck wasn't that good. A Dark Hunter stepped forward out of the dust and sighted them. Kulagi froze, pondering the best course of action. But Triki was already ahead of him, and fired his Kanoka launcher point blank. "Here's a present, ugly-face!"
The Dark Hunter started to spasm as the disc struck him, and his legs and arms began to change into lengthy tentacles, similar to those of a giant squid. However, while his new limbs were powerful, they couldn't keep him standing, and he fell to the ground.
Triki picked up his disc, labeled 517. "Hah, that's where my Reconstruct at Random disc went," he said thoughtfully, even as the Dark Hunter's head began to elongate and turn more squid-like.
"Let's go!" Kulagi said, pulling Triki along.
As the dust finally settled, Hakann stood up and realized that the Matoran had vanished. "They couldn't have gotten far," he said. "Find them!"
"Which way did they go?" one of the Dark Hunters asked.
Hakann turned his gaze to Optics, who was just now getting up. "You, tell us which way they went?"
"Ears... buzzing," Optics said back. "I can't hear."
Hakann frowned. The collapsing building had temporarily overloaded Optics' senses, making them useless for the time being.
"They went down that road," the other Dark Hunter said. "The one direction we weren't blocking them in."
Hakann noticed the reconstructed Dark Hunter on the ground and frowned. "Don't be so sure about that," he said. He pointed down the road passed their mutated comrade. "You two go that direction. Optics and I will go the other way."
The two other Dark Hunters rushed off, and Optics and Hakann started down the other street.
"Why are we going this way?" Optics asked. "You saw the signs, the downed Hunter; the Matoran were trying to fool us again."
"Yes, and they have enough of a head start that they might actually escape," Hakann said. "And I don't want to be the one blamed for passing them by. So that's why I sent the other two off to take the blame."
Kulagi and Triki raced down the abandoned streets, ducking around random debris. Finally, Kulagi sighted a decent building to hide in. "Follow me," he said to Triki, and ducked in through the main door.
"This not-nice place to be," Triki said, glancing around.
"Be quiet for real now," Kulagi hissed. "We don't want them finding us."
Indeed, no sooner had they taken cover than they sighted two Dark Hunters wandering down the street. Both of them were glancing at the buildings, but weren't checking out their interiors. They passed by the structure Kulagi and Triki were hiding in and continued on.
Kulagi breathed a sigh of relief. "I think they passed us by," he whispered.
Triki tugged at his shoulder. "I think we should quick-leave," he said.
"Not until those Dark Hunters are out of sight," Kulagi replied.
"Me-thinks they have counter-offer," Triki said, pointing into the dark.
Kulagi glanced back and saw movement in the shadows, complete with hissing. "Oh no, not now," he gripped.
The building was inhabited by a dozen Kinloka. Kinloka were known as a dangerous pest, who would eat almost anything in their path, including Matoran. They usually inhabited abandoned factories, but the destruction caused by the war had expanded their habitats. Worse, they were one of the few Rahi who utilized Kanoka discs that they could shoot from their tails. They were usually only equipped with low level Kanoka, but they had incredible accuracy, which made them particularly dangerous.
The Kinloka opened fire, and their discs ricocheted off the various walls, causing a commotion. Kulagi didn't have enough Kanoka on him to fight off a small Kinloka swarm, but they were rather slow so it was easier to outrun them. Both Kulagi and Triki chose this option, and rushed back out onto the street.
Unfortunately, the commotion caught the attention of the two Dark Hunters, who turned and sighted the Matoran. Kulagi and Triki quickly ran off, heading down a side alley. The Dark Hunters followed, but were slightly delayed as the Kinloka poured out of the building and attacked them.
Kulagi sprinted between the labs and temples, thankful that they were in a densely populated area of Ga-Metru. In other parts of the Metru, the buildings were more spread out, and the Dark Hunters would've been able to give chase with ease. Here, they had a chance as long as they could navigate the maze of buildings.
But then Kulagi's luck ran out. They turned one corner and found a dead end. There weren't any side streets to duck down or even doors to enter. Kulagi drew his Kanoka, considering blowing a hole in one of the walls. But that would leave an obvious sign for the Dark Hunters to follow, and he didn't know if there were more dangerous Rahi hiding in the buildings.
"Let's double back," he said to Triki.
"Good-not idea," Triki said, pointing. The two Dark Hunters had caught up, and were now blocking them in.
Kulagi immediately fired his Weakening Kanoka at the largest of the two, but he swatted the disc aside before its powers could activate. Even as Kulagi reloaded, one of the Dark Hunters fired a stone projectile, and the two Matoran were forced to dive to the ground to avoid getting him. Triki quickly leapt back to his feet, but Kulagi wasn't quick enough. One of the Dark Hunters pinned him down with his foot.
"Let him go!" Triki yelped, leaping at the Dark Hunter. But the being reached out and grabbed Triki in midair, cutting off his attack. Triki shouted and swung his arms, but the Dark Hunter held him out far enough that he couldn't strike anything.
"This is it," Kulagi said to himself. "We're done. Huaju was right; there really wasn't anything I could do."
But as Kulagi resigned himself to his fate, something struck the Dark Hunter on top of him, causing him to teeter back. A small volley of Kanoka shot down from the roof, striking both Dark Hunters. The one stepped off Kulagi, and the other dropped Triki. They looked around for their attackers, but were only greeted by another volley of discs.
Suddenly, Kulagi sighted another Matoran rushing towards them. "Cover your eyes," he shouted, and then threw a lightstone in the air. He had a Kanoka launcher in hand, and fired it at the lightstone, but missed. It landed nearby, next to Triki, and now the two Dark Hunters focused on the newcomer.
But Kulagi knew what the Matoran had been attempting. "Triki, grab that lightstone and up-fling," he shouted to his friend. "Then cover eyes!"
"Eye protection optional?" Triki asked, picking up the lightstone.
"This time, it's required!" Kulagi responded, grabbing his fallen Weakening Kanoka. He didn't have enough time to load it into his launcher, so instead he swung back his arm and threw it, just as Triki tossed the lightstone into the air.
Kulagi instantly covered his eyes, and for good reason. The disc struck the lightstone, and caused it to fracture and then explode in a brilliant flash of light. The light temporarily blinded the two Dark Hunters, who stumbled in the afterglow. But the three Matoran had properly shielded their eyes, and could still see as the glow faded.
The other Matoran, who Kulagi recognized as a Ta-Matoran, waved them forward, in a gesture to follow him. Kulagi grabbed his equipment and then Triki's arm, and raced after the Ta-Matoran, who led them into a side building. They quickly navigated the halls and headed up the stairs.
"Thanks for the save back there," Kulagi said. "I thought we were toast." He paused. "Who are you?"
"I'm Agni, of the Matoran Guard," the Ta-Matoran replied. "The bigger question is, who are you? We've been trying to help the Matoran who got stranded here, but there weren't many Onu-Matoran or Le-Matoran round last I checked."
"Oh, we quick-flew in," Triki said. "After we heard about Dark Hunters and their takey-takey of city."
"You what?" yelped Agni. "Are you mental?"
"I have been described as that before, yes," Triki said with a nod.
"We came to help," Kulagi said.
"Well, you're not helping very much," Agni said angrily. "In fact, you've just stirred up the Dark Hunters and endangered the rest of us even more."
"There are more of you?" Kulagi asked. "Look, I came here to find a friend. Maybe you've seen her."
"We can discuss that later," Agni said, entering a room near the top of the building. Suddenly, there was noise on the other end, and he drew his Kanoka launcher. However, it was only a small group of Matoran who stepped out of the shadows.
Agni sighed with relief. "Glax, is that you? Did everybody make it?"
The lead Ko-Matoran nodded, and lowered his own Kanoka launcher. "Yeah, those two Dark Hunters were certainly disoriented by that lightstone blast." He narrowed his eyes as he sighted Kulagi and Triki. "Who are the newcomers?"
"Visitors, apparently," Agni said with a shrug. He glanced back at them. "Who the Karzahni are you anyway?"
Before Kulagi could respond, he heard somebody shout, "Kulagi!" One of the Matoran pushed through the crowd and raced towards him, and suddenly he realized it was Sufina. She grabbed him into a hug. As she backed up, she said, "I can't believe this! What are you doing here? And Triki's here too!"
"Hiya," Triki said. "This your place? Kinda dark?"
"Sufina, I'm so glad you're safe!" Kulagi said. "We flew out here as soon as we heard about the attack!"
"Are you bringing reinforcements?" Agni asked. He was a tough Ta-Matoran, who wore a red Miru and carried a Kanoka launcher like a professional.
"Nope!" Triki said brightly. "They actually tried to stop us. Say it was ever-dangerous to come."
"Well, they were right!" Agni said. "We've only barely gotten all the Matoran here into hiding, and when we heard that the Dark Hunters were on the move, we thought you were just civilians. But now it turns out we risked everything just because you rushed into danger needlessly!"
"We were trying to help," Kulagi snapped back. "And we can help more now that we're here. I'm pretty good with a Kanoka, you know."
"We don't need help from some Onu-Matoran Akilini player," Agni snapped. "You should've stayed back and let the Toa deal with this."
"I'm not some amateur disc sportsman," Kulagi retorted. "I'm one of the finest Kanoka Makers on this island."
"They you should've stayed at your forge and made more discs," Agni said. "What makes you think you can take on the Dark Hunters?"
"Because I've fought creatures like them before," Kulagi shot back.
"Wait," one of the Po-Matoran in the group said. "You're not that Kulagi, are you? The one that defeated Gragu Nuva and all those Gang Matoran?"
"One and the same," Kulagi said. "Glad someone appreciates my help."
"I dunno, I heard that he was just another criminal," the Po-Matoran continued. "He's done some major jail-time in the Coliseum."
"Why is that what you people always focus on?" Kulagi said, frowning.
"I don't care who he is," the Ko-Matoran named Glax said. "How do we know if we can trust him? He just appears out of nowhere after apparently defeating a bunch of Dark Hunters? I smell a trap."
"I can vouch for him," Sufina said. "Kulagi helped me a lot in the past, and he's been providing the Toa with powerful discs during this war. We can trust him."
Glax adjusted his white Mahiki mask. "And the Le-Matoran."
"Yeah, Triki's okay too," Sufina said. "I was with them when they defeated Gragu Nuva. They're powerful allies."
"Well, it doesn't matter," Agni said. "With the Dark Hunters in such an uproar, we might not get back to the hide out without getting caught."
"Where have you been hiding?" Kulagi asked.
"See, there he goes, asking for important information!" Glax said.
Sufina held up her hand to silence him. "We're in the protodermis drainage pipes underneath the city," she said. "Back in its golden days, those tubes were used to transport purified protodermis from the various laboratories to the Great Temple. They've been out of commission for years, even before the war, and are hard to get to, unless you know where to look."
"There are only a few entrance ways in that are large enough for a Matoran," Agni said. "So far, the Dark Hunters have overlooked them, but if they were able to discover one, that would lead them right to our hide out. And there are a bunch of civilians there, from Ga-Metru and Po-Metru, who would not be able to survive a Dark Hunter attack." He frowned. "I would rather sacrifice ourselves than lead them to our people."
"And we'd have to cross some streets to get to the closest entrance," Glax added. "That lightstone spectacle was great for a quick getaway, but it's also a beacon for all the Dark Hunters to converge in this area. We won't be able to sneak around much longer."
"While we can, we will set up a fortification," Agni said. "Then we'll hold out for as long as we can once they find us. We may go down, but we'll go down fighting."
"Or we could all escape and get back safely," Kulagi said. "I think I might have a plan that will work."
"You have a plan?" Agni asked. "That's laughable."
"Yes, I do have a plan," Kulagi said. "I just need you to trust that I know what I'm doing."
"Do I trust you?" Agni repeated. "Absolutely not."
"I trust him," Sufina said. "So let's hear what he has to say."
"Fine," Glax said, annoyed. "So what's this plan of yours?"
Kulagi grinned, and rubbed his hands together. "One that only a master Kanoka Maker could think up!"