Brutaka and Lariska stood together, watching Takadox standing silently by the rail of the ship. "I worry about that one," said Lariska. "He has not spoken a word since we left Tren Krom's island, after the death of his friend Carapar."

"Friends?" snorted Brutaka. "Barraki don't have friends, just people they use—and Carapar was Takadox's favorite puppet. Besides, don't waste your worry on him—save it for us." He pointed off the bow. "We've arrived."

Looming out of the mist was an island of black sand and jagged rock, volcanic peaks and strange Rahi arcing and wheeling through the sky. Despite the bright light that played off the waters around it, the island seemed to be in perpetual shadow.

"Welcome to Artidax," said Brutaka.

Vezon approached, chuckling. "Hope we survive our stay."

Brutaka looked around at his team—a Barraki, half a Skakdi, a Makuta, a former queen of the Visorak, a Dark Hunter, and himself. "Well, if we don't, who knows? The bright side is the world might be better off without us."

Brutaka and Spiriah, being the two most powerful team members, led the way to shore. As they trod on the ebony sands, all seemed quiet. "So you know nothing about the defenses here?" asked Brutaka.

"Only what Krika sometimes talked about. Ideas he had," said Spiriah. "You realize this whole thing is a terrible idea."

"What?"

"Freeing Miserix," said Spiriah. "He can't stop the Plan. All we will find here is an early death. Listen, we— "

What happened next was startlingly fast. The black sands began to swirl around Spiriah, forming a hand which grabbed the Makuta and started dragging him down. Brutaka grabbed Spiriah's hand, calling to the others, "Help me!"

Lariska, Vezon and Roodaka rushed to his aid. Takadox hung back, occasionally glancing toward the ship as if contemplating escape. The pull of the sand was too strong and Spiriah's mask had almost disappeared beneath it. Then Roodaka fired her Rhotuka launcher, the spinner striking the living sand and mutating the grains into a swarm of fireflyers. Unable to maintain its grip in this new form, it freed Spiriah. The Makuta crawled back onto the beach, cursing.

"I'm an idiot," Brutaka spat. "I should have realized—Krika rigged this place to sense the presence of a Makuta and react. He didn't want Miserix escaping, or any other Brotherhood member finding him and finishing him off."

"Then I would be insane to go any further," said Spiriah. "I brought you here—you don't need me anymore."

"On the contrary," said Lariska. "I think you would be very useful. Anyone ever hear of a stalking Kinloka?"

Surprisingly, Vezon was the only one who nodded. When everyone turned to look at him, he shrugged. "Vezok. He saw lots of things, and since I came from him, I saw them too. Say, when we are done here, who's up for killing him? I'll even clean up after."

Lariska turned back to Brutaka, ignoring their lunatic companion. "Kinloka are rodents, found in many places, among them, Zakaz. When the Skakdi need to cross land that might be booby-trapped, they send the Kinloka through first. The creatures set off the traps and the Skakdi can cross safely."

"And the traps here are sensitive to Makuta," said Roodaka, smiling. "I see, I see. And come to think of it, Spiriah is somewhat rodent-like."

Spiriah, back on his feet, looked right at Brutaka. "No. Not even if you threw in the chance to eviscerate that Vortixx—"

"Watch your mouth," Roodaka spat, aiming her launcher at him, "while you still have one."

Brutaka put his arm around Spiriah and led him away. "You're not looking at the big picture here. When all this is over, the Brotherhood could still be a powerful creature, only without a head. It's going to need a new leader…and the beings I work for will remember who helped them…and who didn't. Trust me, they have long memories."

It only took a few more minutes of whispered conversation before Spiriah turned back to the group and announced that he would be their guide through Artidax. He immediately set off inland, with the rest following. Lariska fell in beside Brutaka, saying, "You know full well he could never be leader of the Brotherhood."

"Let him think he might get to be the head," Brutaka replied. "It will distract him from the fact that he might well lose his own here."

Their path took them right up to the slope of a volcano. A tunnel had been bored through the mountain at some point, the only way to directly traverse the island. Spiriah was striding on ahead when Vezon leapt in front of him, holding up his hands. Then he pointed downward, at a razor-thin vine stretched across the path. It led up to a pile of boulders poised precariously on the slope.

Spiriah stepped carefully over the vine, followed by the others, and went into the tunnel. It was only when they were already inside that Brutaka noticed someone was missing. "Where's Takadox?"

Lariska turned. "There! Look out!"

Brutaka turned to see Takadox bringing his blade down on the vine. In the moment before an avalanche of rocks cut them off from the Barraki and trapped them in the tunnel, they all could see his evil smile.

X X X

Solek struggled painfully back to consciousness, and immediately wished he hadn't bothered. The sight that greeted him was horrible. Kopaka Nuva was huddled on the ground, unmoving, eyes open but just staring into space. Makuta Mutran stood over him, smiling wickedly.

"I didn't think it would be so easy," Mutran was saying. "I have always known Toa to proclaim their strength and resolve. But you melted like an icicle in a pool of lava, Kopaka. It will be a mercy to finish you off."

Mutran raised his hand, preparing to fire a bolt of shadow energy. Seeing this, Solek raced across the room and dove toward Kopaka. But his dive fell short—he wouldn't be able to block the bolt with his body. All he was able to do was grab Kopaka's arm and cry out, "Stop!"

The shadow energy flew from Mutran's claw, but it never reached Kopaka Nuva. A shield made of light erupted from Solek's hand, intercepting and reflecting the shadow bolt. Both the Av-Matoran and the Makuta were taken by surprise, so much that neither noticed the gleam of intelligence return to Kopaka's eyes.

The Toa Nuva sprang up, firing ice from both hands at the startled Mutran. Rock-hard hailstones the size of boulders pummeled the Makuta, while razor-sharp icicles pinned his armor to the wall.

"You're alright?" Solek asked, in disbelief.

"A little trick Lewa, of all beings, taught me," said Kopaka, never taking his eyes from Mutran or letting up on his devastating attack. "When attacked by an ash bear, it pays to play dead."

Mutran grimaced, trying to summon a chain lightning attack against both Toa and Matoran. Kopaka, noticing the expression, intensified his assault until the sight of Mutran was lost amidst the ice and snow. "I knew, given time, Mutran would win," Kopaka continued. "So I let him think he already had, to buy time. But how did you create that shield?"

"I don't know. It's never happened before," answered Solek. "Is he beaten?"

Kopaka shook his head. "Not even close. Delayed, at best. Where are the others? We need to finish what we came to do and get out of here!"

"I'm afraid it's too late for that." The words came from the hive mouth, where Antroz, Chirox, and Vamprah stood with two of their shadow Matoran. "Judging from the temperature, I am guessing Toa Nuva of Ice," Antroz continued. "That would make you Kopaka, would it not?"

"Yes," the Toa answered. "A few degrees colder, and your fellow Makuta will be permanently frozen…so I suggest you not make a move."

Chirox smiled. "Didn't anyone ever tell you, Toa, how it was that Makuta evolved into pure energy encased in armor? We found we didn't need our bodies. We can strike down our enemies without flexing a finger or taking a step."

Vamprah suddenly plunged the entire cavern into darkness with just a push from his mind. Chirox's Kanohi Shelek cut off the Toa's hearing along with their sight, then his shattering power followed the Mask of Silence by opening a crevasse in the cave floor, knocking Kopaka and Solek off their feet. Antroz finished the attack, using his power of magnetism to slam metal-armored Toa and Matoran against the hive walls until both were unconscious.

Radiak scampered over the bodies to the block of ice that imprisoned Mutran. "The Makuta is trapped. Shall I try to free him?"

"Oh, leave him that way," said Chirox. "If he can't free himself he is worthless to our cause."

"More importantly, Toa serve an important role in the universe: they help to keep my claws sharp. But…they are also like spiked fireworms," said Antroz. "Where you find one, you find more. And like the worms, it is best to grind them beneath your heel. Call it a lesson to any other foolish creatures who might try to get in your way."

X X X

Later, Lewa Nuva would remember that sound. It was a high-pitched, keening wail that threatened to split his head open. Pohatu, their strange new ally, and the Matoran heard it, too. The two Av-Matoran dropped like stones. The Toa remained standing long enough to see their attackers, three Makuta. Then they, too, succumbed to the pain and passed out.

When they awoke, it was to find themselves chained to a wall in the hive. Chirox and Vamprah were gone, leaving Mutran and Antroz to greet them. "The challenge of being a Makuta is choosing which power to use to eliminate your enemies," said Antroz. "We have, after all, fifty or so, not including mask powers…and it gets so boring using the same ones all the time. Variety is the spice of destruction, after all."

Lewa yanked on the chains. They were made of protosteel, one of the hardest substances in the universe, and so thick even Pohatu would have a hard time breaking free by sheer strength alone. Of course, a quick use of their elemental powers could get them loose, and the Makuta had to know that.

"If you are thinking of escape, don't," said Antroz, as if he were reading Lewa's mind—which he might well be, thought the Toa of Air. "You will notice your Matoran friends are conspicuous by their absence. They are with Vamprah and Chirox, having a…discussion. Attempt to break free or attack us and a telepathic flash will alert my two allies, who will immediately kill Photok, Solek, and Tanma. Is that understood?"

Lewa glanced at Pohatu and Kopaka to his right, and their new companion, still unconscious, to his left. No one answered. Antroz nodded at Mutran, who walked toward the opposite wall. For the first time, Lewa noticed that it was lined with bubbling vats.

"Little tricks of the mind," Mutran chuckled. "You saw my precious toys as a blank wall as you flew by…and then your ally as a monster to be destroyed. Illusions are, if nothing else, an amusing Makuta power."

"You are expecting to die, of course," Antroz said to the imprisoned Toa. "We will question you about how you got here, how many other Toa might be on their way, and you will bravely refuse to answer. You still stay true to your heritage and never break, until we are forced to kill you. And then four more names will be added to the roster of dead fools."

Mutran reached into the tank and fished out a large, squirming shadow leech.

"But, you see, you're not going to get off so easy," Antroz continued, his sightless eyes darting along the wall where his prisoners were chained. "You will get no chance to be heroes. No Chronicler will remember you with honor. Instead, you will be branded as traitors and your names will be cursed by all free Matoran…for the short time they have left."

Mutran walked to Lewa, holding out the shadow leech, still dripping liquid protodermis. It hissed as it drew close to the Toa's Kanohi mask. "You came here looking for the shadow leeches," Mutran said, smiling. "Isn't it time you met them face-to-face?"

X X X

Elsewhere, Vican was about to have a meeting of his own. If it wasn't quite as frightening and final as an encounter with a shadow leech, it was just as much to be dreaded. He had been expecting a much longer journey to reach the bleak and barren island of Destral. Surprisingly, he had arrived there in less than half an hour. Had Vican thought about it, he wouldn't have been so shocked. Destral had been known to teleport through space, appearing wherever its occupants chose. Once the location of Karda Nui was discovered, some member of the Brotherhood of Makuta had moved their base as close as possible to one of the entrances.

The island itself was little more than a jagged rock in the silver sea, dominated by the massive Brotherhood forces. Down below, a huge number of Visorak, Rahkshi, and mechanized Exo-Toa battlesuits could be seen on patrol. The only area that seemed relatively clear was the rocky shoreline, most likely because it was lined with traps for any unwary visitors. Anyone who attempted to land on Destral would be captured within moments and hauled to the fortress for interrogation…or worse.

As for the fortress itself, it was bigger than Vican's entire homeland. It took up the entire land mass of the island, with the exception of a small portion at the southern tip. Constructed entirely of stone and metal, it looked like some obscene growth that had erupted from the core of the island. A blisteringly hot wind rustled the Brotherhood banners that hung from the parapets. Vican wondered for how many beings this fortress had been the last sight ever seen.

He reached into his pack and fingered the Brotherhood tablet of transit, just to reassure himself it was still there. With this hand-sized piece of stone, he would be allowed to enter the fortress and carry out his mission. Without it, he would be seen as an intruder, tossed in a cell (if he was lucky), and never heard from again.

Vican guided his flying mount to a landing before the massive gates. As soon as he touched down, a half dozen Visorak and a silver Rahkshi converged on him. He scrambled to take out the tablet of transit and then held it before him, as if it were a talisman to ward off evil. The Rahkshi stopped in its tracks at the sight. The Visorak kept coming, pulling him from atop the Rahi and herding him toward the gate.

The huge portal opened at his approach. Hesitantly, he stepped inside. When the doors slammed shut behind him, he jumped half a foot. The corridor in which Vican found himself was dark and cold, with a ceiling at least five hundred feet high. Mounted on the walls were the trophies of past Brotherhood conquests—Toa masks and weapons, Rahi heads, and a few things so grotesque even Vican looked away with a shudder.

Antroz had given him precise instructions for where to look for Icarax. Turned out they weren't necessary, because that Makuta was not making himself hard to find. Instead, the powerful, black-and-red armored warrior was sitting on the ebony throne normally reserved for the Makuta of Metru Nui—and he was wearing Teridax's Mask of Shadows!

Vican felt like his heartlight was in his throat. What was going on here? Had Icarax staged a one-Makuta revolution in the absence of the other member and taken over Destral? If so, how would he react to Antroz's summons? Right now, Vican wished he was anyplace else. A nice, long spell in a Rahi creation vat even seemed like an appealing alternative.

He stood in the doorway of the central chamber, too scared to move or speak. Icarax was busy sharpening his twin-bladed, rotating sword. Then his eyes flicked up, and he caught sight of Vican.

"You tempt fate, approaching without announcing your presence. I might have killed you," Icarax said, his voice like distant thunder. He leaned forward, eyes locked on Vican's. "I still might."

The mutated Matoran somehow managed to find the will to move. He held up the tablet of transit. It did not seem to impress Icarax, but the Makuta made no move to spring on his visitor and rend him to bits. Vican took that as an encouraging sign. "Um…forgive me…um," he stammered. "I…I…"

A wisp of shadow energy drifted from Icarax's spiked claw. It wrapped itself around Vican and began to squeeze. "You have thirty seconds in which to be extremely amusing," said Icarax. "After that…I will find a multitude of ways to amuse myself with you."

Vican could feel the breath being forced out of his lungs. His arms were already close to snapping from the pressure. He struggled to speak. Icarax rose, walked over to him, and held his sword to the Matoran's throat. "Short," said the Makuta. He glanced down at the blade, then back at Vican. "Or to the point."

"Antroz sent me," Vican gasped. "He wants you in Karda Nui. He said…he said immediately."

Icarax frowned and withdrew his sword. The shadow chain around Vican dissipated, and the Matoran inhaled a big breath of air. "Antroz," Icarax said, so quietly Vican could barely hear it. "So…Makuta Antroz has a problem he cannot solve, and he turns to me. I journeyed to Metru Nui, to the very home of the Toa of Light, to retrieve the Mask of Shadows lost there by Teridax. I returned and claimed this throne. And I arrive to find Antroz presuming to give me orders."

"He—all of us—we're just following the directives of Makuta Teridax," Vican said. It was a moment in which he should have said nothing…he knew it was a mistake as soon as the words left his mouth.

Icarax yanked hard on a chain hanging from the ceiling. A section of the floor slid away, revealing a pool of energized protodermis far below. The Makuta grabbed the Matoran and held him by his ankle over the pool. "What do you think? Will that liquid transform you, or destroy you?" said Icarax, his manner calm. "A gamble, you see—Teridax has always been fond of gambles. His entire Plan is a colossal wager against destiny. If all do their part, then perhaps, maybe, ultimate power will be ours, he pledges."

The Makuta hurled Vican to the floor. "I believe in certainties. The strength of my limbs, the power of my mask, the sharp edges of my blades—that is what I build my plans around. Trickery, deception, plots, complex strategies, and schemes—they are for the weak! And they will not defeat Toa Nuva…only power will do that. And I am power. Learn this, underling, as a blessing from my wisdom to you: if you want power, and another has it, you get it not by outwitting him—you get it by stepping over his corpse."

Icarax kicked Vican toward the door and seated himself on the throne once again. "Run back to your master. Tell him Icarax comes. If he is wise, he will tremble. I will go to Karda Nui and save my brothers from dirtying their claws in battle. Then we will see who leads the Brotherhood of Makuta…" the red-and-black armored titan brought his blade next to the prized Kanohi Kraakhan he wore. "Oh, yes…then we will see, indeed."

Vican got to his feet and fell out of the chamber, down the corridor, and beyond the gates. He slammed into a Visorak so hard he knocked it off its feet (causing it to angrily hiss at him as its legs wiggled in the air), then scrambled atop his flying Rahi. An instant later, he was on his way back to Karda Nui to deliver his message. After that, he decided, it might be wise to dig a hole, climb in, and pull the stones down on top of him. He didn't think he wanted to see what was soon to happen.