Whose bright idea was this again? Kiina asked herself. She, Ackar, and Mata Nui were in a borrowed dune chariot, also called a Thornatus, on their way to the water village of Tajun. It was dawn.
Traveling in daylight was not Kiina's idea of a good time. It didn't take long for the temperature to soar in the desert of Bara Magna. If the vehicle kept running, they would make it to the village before high sun. But dune chariots were notoriously unreliable—and this one looked to be patched and repaired a dozen times over. She would have been happier riding her sand stalker, but the animal was ill.
Heat wasn't the only worry. There was no cover out in the middle of the trackless wastes. Granted, the savage Vorox would be more likely to hunt at night, but in full sunshine, Bone Hunters could see potential victims coming a mile away.
Of course, there is some good news, thought Kiina. You can see them, too.
Mata Nui pointed toward a canyon up ahead. "Is the cavern in that canyon?"
Kiina shook her head. "No. It's near Tajun, my village, just beyond that canyon, called Sandray Canyon."
Ackar wasn't listening. The Fire Glatorian sat atop the chariot's pilot seat, where Kiina sat. MAta Nui, meanwhile, clung off the side of one of its rails. Ackar's eyes were scanning the horizon, looking for threats. It had not been that long ago that Bone Hunters had attacked Vulcanus, and before that the Skrall had sacked the free city of Atero. No place on Bara Magna was safe, least of all the wastelands between villages.
X X X
Had he been able to see what was going on behind him, Ackar would have been even more worried. Shortly after their departure from Vulcanus, an Agori slipped out of the village. Making his way up into the rocks, he ran into two Bone Hunters on their Rock Steeds.
Bone Hunters were an unusual breed. Distantly related to the rock tribe of Roxtus, they were nomadic bandits. They lived in the desert, surviving on stew made from the Thornax plant—and whatever they could steal. They were excellent trackers and unafraid to go after prey even in the worst heat of the day. Normally, they robbed and killed their victims. Lately, they had begun kidnapping Glatorian, for reasons unknown.
Under ordinary circumstances, an Agori who encountered a Bone Hunter would scream and run. But these weren't ordinary circumstances, and this Agori was right where he had planned to be.
"The Glatorian are heading for Tajun," he told the two riders. "You know what to do."
The two Bone Hunters glanced at each other. They weren't used to taking orders from villagers. Agori were for robbing, after all. But it had been made clear to them that this Agori's word was to be obeyed. So they grunted something close to a "yes" and rode off.
The Agori watched them go. He didn't trust the Bone Hunters—what sane being would?—but he needed them. Left on their own, they were a dangerous element, unpredictable and wild. But bribed with weapons and water, they could be "tamed" and used. And once they were no longer useful….
He smiled, then, a little smile with no cheer in it. Then he turned back to Vulcanus. He couldn't let his absence be noticed by anyone, not when he was so close to achieving his goals. So it was time to go back to playing the role of trusted Agori: a little eccentric, maybe, but all in all, a good being to have around. And all the while, he would be laughing inside at the thought of what waited for the fools of the fire village.
X X X
"I don't like this," said Ackar. He grew tense as soon as they entered the canyon. "It's the perfect place for an ambush."
The dune chariot had reached the mouth of the canyon. Places like this made the red-armored Glatorian wary. It hadn't been that long ago that, during the Bone Hunters' attack on Vulcanus, he had helped set up an intricate series of traps in Iron Canyon for a Bone Hunter raiding party. All the skill of the bandits had not helped them at all in a place where they were stuck on a narrow path, being picked off by Glatorian hidden among the rocks above.
"Please," said Kiina. "Even Bone Hunters aren't stupid enough to take on all three of us Glatorian." This, of course, was a lie, and she knew it. With the element of surprise on their side, Bone Hunters would dare and try almost anything. But she didn't want Mata Nui to get nervous and decide he wanted off this ride.
Ackar knew exactly what she was doing, and he wasn't planning to let her get away with it. He owed Mata Nui. If the veteran Glatorian were going to expose him to danger, he had a right to know what kind and how nasty things were likely to get. "They're getting bolder," he said to Kiina. There was an edge in his voice that said, Watch it, I'm onto you. "Skrall, too. In the past few months, they've seemed to know our every move before we make it."
"True," Kiina conceded. "But don't worry. It's not like we've got much worth stealing. Well…maybe Mata Nui does."
The Scarabax beetle sitting on Mata Nui's shoulder clicked its pincers in enthusiastic agreement.
"I was talking about his blade, bug-face," Kiina snapped at the beetle. Then, as if suddenly realizing the situation, she shook her head, muttering, "I can't believe I'm talking to an insect."
Mata Nui did not crack a smile. His mind was on Ackar's last words. "In my experience, when an enemy knows too much, it can only mean one thing: you have a traitor on your hands."
Ackar nodded. "l was thinking the same thing. But who?"
A low rumbling sound filled the air. The ground beneath the chariot began to shake violently. Then the rumbling became a roar as, up ahead, the earth buckled and heaved.
"Um, guys…. I think we may have a bigger problem than the traitor!" Kiina yelled. "Much bigger!"
"Do you feel that?" Mata Nui yelled. "A tremor in the ground?"
The ground exploded. A massive crimson creature rose up on four great legs and let out an earsplitting roar. Mata Nui had never seen anything like it. It was at least forty feet tall, part organic animal and part machine. Its legs sported massive treads and ended in vicious claws. Sharp pincers extended from both sides of its jagged mouth. When it took a step, the earth shook—and the chariot was headed straight for it. It leered down at what might very well be its next meal.
"Skopio!" shouted Ackar. He had seen this creature once before, from a distance. Getting this close to one was something he could have lived without.
"We should turn back," said Mata Nui.
"Can't," Ackar said, pointing behind the chariot. "They're even deadlier."
Mata Nui turned. A group of black-armored riders mounted on reptilian creatures were riding across the sands in pursuit of the chariot. Each about the size of an Agori, held a sword aloft in the air, and shouted war cries as they rode. Why they were being pursued, and by whom, Mata Nui didn't know. But he doubted they were there to invite the Glatorian to dinner. Unless we are slated to be the meal, he thought.
"What are they?" asked Mata Nui.
"Bone Hunters," Ackar answered, "and a lot of them."
Mata Nui had yet to see Kiina fight, but he quickly learned that she could drive. Little by little, they gained ground on the Bone Hunters.
Their pursuers weren't happy about it. Behind them, the Hunters started launching their Thornax, the explosions rocking the vehicle and further testing Kiina's maneuverability.
Ackar leaned forward and clung tightly to the rungs of the cockpit. "Keep your head down, Mata Nui, or one of those Thornax will take it off!"
Mata Nui did as he was told, crouching as low as he could. "What do these Bone Hunters want?" he asked, wondering if the answer would be more profound than simply 'bones.'
"What they always want," Ackar replied. "Whatever they can get."
"My village—there's another Glatorian there!" called Kiina, leaning forward in the driver's seat. "We just have to make it there! Hang on, we're making a run for it!"
Kiina alternated the controls and aimed the chariot at the narrow gap between the Skopio's left foreleg and the canyon wall. The creature's eyes narrowed and it whipped its leg to the side, blocking the vehicle. Kiina yanked on the wheel, sending the chariot into a skid right in front of the beast.
"Hang on tight!" yelled Kiina.
The Skopio slammed its right foreleg into the sand, just missing the chariot by centimeters. Kiina drove it up the side of the canyon wall, heading away from the monster and toward the Bone Hunters. The beast swung again—and missed. Kiina vaulted the chariot off the wall and over a dune. But she wasn't quite fast enough. The Skopio landed a glancing blow, sending the chariot tumbling end over end and hurling the three occupants onto the sand.
Ackar and Mata Nui rolled to land on their feet first, weapons drawn, facing the oncoming Bone Hunters. "Help Kiina," Mata Nui said to Ackar. "I'll draw the beast away from you."
"Good luck," said Ackar, dropping into a crouch to await the first attacker.
Mata Nui glanced down at Click. "Are you ready?" The beetle snapped its pincers together in response. Then there was a bright flash as it transformed once more into a mighty shield. Mata Nui charged toward the Skopio.
Behind him, Ackar and Kiina were both locked in battle. Kiina parried a mounted Bone Hunter's sword with her staff, looking for an opening. When she saw the Hunter drop his guard, she struck, landing a solid blow with her weapon and hurling him from his Rock Steed. Two more Bone Hunters closed in. Kiina moved like quicksilver, blocking strikes and keeping her enemies off-balance with sweeping kicks.
Nearby, Ackar was having no easier time of it, surrounded; fierce but outnumbered. Fighting mounted warriors on foot is a losing game, he thought. So it's time to even the odds a little.
A Bone Hunter rode down on him, sword flashing in the sunlight. Ackar blocked the Hunter's blade with his own. As the Bone Hunter drew back to strike again, Ackar launched himself into the air and landed a solid kick, knocking the Bone Hunter out of the saddle. The Glatorian landed atop the Rock Steed and urged it forward.
Up ahead, Kiina was hard-pressed in a fight against a bigger, stronger Bone Hunter. Ackar rode toward her, battling two Hunters flanked on either side of him as he went. As soon as he drew close to the canyon wall, he hurled himself from the saddle, somersaulting in the air once, twice, three times. He came out of the move feet-first, slamming into Kiina's opponent and knocking him senseless. Now Kiina and Ackar stood back to back as the Bone Hunters closed in.
Mata Nui was having problems of his own with the Skopio. Its attention was now fully focused on him, which was what he wanted. Its blows were coming dangerously close to landing, though, and Mata Nui had learned at least one thing about his new body: it grew tired. And if he slowed down even a step, the Skopio would finish him.
The great beast, meanwhile, was growing impatient. It was time to crush this golden-armored pest. The Skopio concentrated, mentally triggering the mechanical Thornax launcher built into it ages ago. With a hiss of hydraulics and a metallic hum, the launcher rose from the creature's back and locked into place. Taking aim at Mata Nui, the Skopio fired.
Mata Nui stopped dead, unable to believe his eyes for an instant. For just a moment, he watched the beast's transformation in disbelief. That delay almost cost him his life, as he just barely got his shield up in time to take the brunt of the blast. Even with its protection, he was still knocked off his feet. The Skopio advanced, lifting a clawed leg into the air, ready to crush him. Mata Nui scrambled to his feet. He leapt aside to dodge the blow, wheeling in the air and landing neatly in a roll ending in a crouched position on his feet. This time, he'd be ready for the Skopio's next attack.
He heard the sound of Kiina's voice behind him. "Ackar!" she said. "We're finished unless we can make it to my village."
"Try and get to the chariot!" Mata Nui yelled to the two Glatorian. "I have an idea!"
This time, when the Skopio swung a leg at him again, Mata Nui didn't try to move aside. Instead, he launched into the air and grabbed onto the leg. As the Skopio drew its limb back, Mata Nui was pulled high into the air. When he was at the same level as the monster's head, Mata Nui jumped off the leg and landed on the Skopio's back.
It took Mata Nui only a moment to figure out the controls for the mounted Thornax launcher. Aiming at the Bone Hunters menacing Ackar and Kiina, he fired. The blast scattered the Hunters like grains of sand before a fierce wind. Ackar and Kiina took advantage of the opening to run for the chariot. Bone Hunters who pursued them were met by another devastating Thornax blast, courtesy of Mata Nui.
Angered by its unwanted rider, the Skopio whipped its stinger tail forward, knocking Mata Nui off his perch. He twisted in midair and managed to land on his feet on a high ledge. Down below, Ackar and Kiina had reached the vehicle and were speeding toward the Skopio, hoping to slip underneath the creature. Mounted Bone Hunters galloped close behind.
Mata Nui drew his sword and plunged it into the rock beneath his feet. The power of the blade split the stone, sending half of it tumbling down the mountainside. It struck other boulders, knocking them loose. Soon, the whole mountainside seemed to be moving, stones careening down in a huge rockslide.
Kiina heard the sound of the avalanche and saw the first rocks strike the sand up ahead. "This is going to be close!" she yelled to Ackar, pushing the chariot to full speed. The metal frame of the vehicle shook violently, bolts snapping off and flying in every direction. She gripped the wheel so tight it felt like she would pulverize it. Spotting a gap barely large enough for the chariot, Kiina aimed right for it. The vehicle shot through it and onto open sand just as the rain of rock brought the Skopio down with a tremendous crash.
The Bone Hunters weren't so lucky—they were under the creature as it fell, buried beneath its body and a ton of rock. As they neared the mouth of the canyon, Kiina allowed herself a relieved sigh. Then she suddenly realized someone was missing. "Hey, where—?"
Ackar pointed off to the east. "There!"
Kiina saw him now, too. Mata Nui was surfing down the side of the mountain on his shield, vaulting over outcroppings as if he had been doing it all his life. Then one particularly large rock sent him high into the air. He somersaulted, grabbing his shield and spinning into an upright position just in time to land on the hood of the chariot.
Ackar laughed with clenched fists. "Gutsiest move I've ever seen."
"Woo-hoo! Those Bone Hunters are going to be eating Skopio belly for weeks," Kiina said, smiling broadly. "Not bad, other-worlder."
Ackar's grin abruptly vanished from his face. He laid a hand on Kiina's arm, as if to steady her against a shock. "Kiina!"
She glanced at him, then up ahead—and that's when she saw it. A plume of black smoke rose from the nearby oasis. Through that cloud of ash and soot, fires could be seen raging beyond and flames rose into the desert sky. As they drew nearer, Kiina could hear the sound of shelters collapsing, Sand Stalkers screeching in fear and pain, and something even more chilling: the war cries of Skrall. She gasped.
Tajun was burning.
"Is that—?" Mata Nui began.
"Tajun," Ackar answered grimly. "It's Kiina's village."