BIONIC RIM
Chapter 3
Jaller and Lhikan emerged from the chute. Waiting for them was a Toa of Water and a Ga-Matoran wearing a Mask of Water Breathing.
"Jaller," the Toa spoke, "this is Hahli. She is another registered Matoran for the Jaeger program. Tuyet insisted she co-pilot the Ga-Metru Jaeger, Wicked Wave, but I felt it best we test run a Jaeger with another Matoran."
An experienced vet, Jaller thought. Great, now every Matoran's in on it.
"Hello, Hahli," Jaller said politely.
"Yes, greetings," she replied. "It will be nice working with someone of equal stature. The Jaeger can be piloted on even wavelengths. Matoran and Toa mean an uneven amount of energy is focused from the larger being, but two Matoran can balance a Jaeger and move it more fluidly."
"Right. Enough introductions," Lhikan interjected. "Let us show you the interior."
In the wake of the Jaeger attacks, the Coliseum basement had become Jaeger Central. The Jaeger-building factions (often known as the Big Five, or more popularly BIONIC Rim) all had Jaegers stationed here. As Jaller walked, he saw tall Matoran-built Jaegers, Multi-armed and elaborate Xian Jaegers, A barrel-shaped but strong-armed Dark Hunter Jaeger, a radiant, spiked Skakdi Jaeger, and the personal ride for the Makuta of Metru Nui, Striking Shadow.
The Makuta mostly kept to themselves, so very few were in the Coliseum. The only time another Makuta Jaeger was seen was during a Kaiju attack, but Metru Nui's Makuta had his docked for repairs in the Coliseum from time to time. He even refused the dual pilot option. "My mental capacity is more than sufficient for flying this Jaeger solo," he told everyone…repeatedly.
"It was strange to see the loose cannon Skakdi and former nemeses the Dark Hunters servicing us," Lhikan told the two Matoran. "But I guess when the greatest threat arrives; we must set aside our petty differences and unite against the REAL threat. And that is the Kaiju." Jaller recalled Metru Nui's war with the Dark Hunters, and now, just a few decades later, the two fight side by side. Such was the strange irony and reality of war.
Jaller, Hahli, and Lhikan continued to a side room. In this room, test tubes with green fluid bubbled and strange masses were kept off to the sides. Onu-Matoran surrounded these masses, probing and poking them with strange tools.
"This is the Study Room," Lhikan said finally. "Onu-Metru added an extension to the Archives here specifically to research Kaiju, since so many specimens were retrieved." One archivist poked a large sac, which promptly oozed. "We feel the closer we get to the Kaiju anatomically, the better an understanding we have of exactly WHAT they are." He leaned on the green tube. "This is the brain recovered from the very Kanohi Dragon we fought so long ago. The Dragon seems to be the only Kaiju ever to attack Metru Nui. The others in the BIONIC Rim receive their own special Rahi."
"Do you have specimens of those, too?" Jaller asked.
"All but the Destral Kaiju. A Makuta named Mutran described it to me as a giant Visorak with claws, but he couldn't catch it with his Jaeger."
Two more figures ran into the Study Room. One was an Onu-Matoran clad in an orange Pakari, the other a brown Skakdi with what appeared to be downward facing horns.
"These are two of our most esteemed scientists. Our very own Nuparu and Avak from Zakaz. They know the Kaiju better than any being on the planet."
"We are on the verge of a breakthrough, Toa," Nuparu stated. "We feel we can learn all about the Kaiju and their motives if we just run a brain scan. This way, we can determine what the Kaiju are, where they come from, and why only specific Kaiju attack assigned islands."
"Oh, quiet with that Nuparu," Avak spat at him. "Nobody has that kind of technology."
"Which is why I am developing it."
Lhikan stifled a laugh. "Those two," he said slightly to himself. "Oh well, let us introduce you to your ride."
Down one last corridor, Lhikan opened the double doors and showed a Jaeger. It was taller than the Dark Hunter Jaeger, but shorter than most of the contemporary Metru Nui models. It was dichromatic, split horizontally into two colors. One side was schemed orange and red, to resemble Flaming Fury. The other half was deep blue and aqua green, not unlike Hahli's own Jaeger, Wicked Wave.
"Jaller and Hahli, meet the first Jaeger ever designed specifically for Matoran Pilots. Introducing…Searing Tsunami!"
