BIONIC Rim
Chapter 5
Jaller and Hahli met at Searing Tsunami the next day. Lhikan was at the front of the Jaeger to send them off.
"Remember, this is just a trial run," Lhikan assured as he opened the cockpit. "You will be doing nothing at the front. Just become acclimated to the different landscape within the Jaeger. Since this is your first time, Jaller, we've even lowered usual frequencies."
"And above all else, RELAX!" Hahli asserted.
Even after their little game, Jaller still had no idea how to psychologically prepare for this event. Not only would he be controlling a robot the size of a tower with his brain, but he would be bouncing brain functions off another living being. If their brain waves collided, it could rupture both their minds. Jaller breathed in and spoke to himself. It's just a trial run, I can do this.
The systems powered and Searing Tsunami went online. Nidhiki, Roodaka and Nektann sat in the control panel, instructing the two Matoran. "Alright," Nektann's voice blared through the communicator, "we just want you to find a happy place for now. Focus on getting the Jaeger to move. We do the rest later."
"Get the Jaeger to move," Jaller repeated. He tried remaining calm, but inside his mind, it was anything but. He saw all his fears, all his deepest insecurities racing back at him. He was overcome by great emotion and dread. It was as if the Jaeger was specifically meant to control his negative emotions. He felt his knees buckle and he collapsed.
As he fell, he heard Hahli shouting at him. "It's okay. You're not in any danger. Just stay calm."
Jaller was beyond help. The imagery exploded within him, and his body convulsed. Outside, the grid glowed as Searing Tsunami's flamethrower function began to power up.
"He's overpowering," alerted Roodaka. "Shut everything down, quick." The entire floor rushed to disconnect. Jaller felt the heat inside the cockpit rising, but eventually it cooled down.
He walked out feeling dejected. "I am very disappointed in you Jaller," said Lhikan sullenly. "You seemed like the next best hope for a Matoran pilot, but we just could not control your impulses."
He walked away into the hall, but Hahli never left him. "That was rough," she piped up finally. "Don't worry. It took me a little while to get used to the emotional strain of piloting a Jaeger too. But once you try the emotional rush more, you'll love it."
"Yeah, whatever," Jaller retorted. He asked the question, "How easy did you take it on me during the pole fighting."
She paused, as if to reflect on this long event. After a moment, she replied, "I knew you were a rookie, so I went a bit easy. But I did NOT throw the match. That was all you."
Jaller stood stunned. Maybe he did have more control than he thought. If he could defeat the best Matoran pilot in the academy (well, maybe that honor goes to Vira, but she was close), then maybe he could pilot a Jaeger after all.
"Now be careful walking in," Nuparu cautioned Avak. "Skakdi aren't exactly welcome guests here. I really like you, but please don't draw attention to yourself."
They stood at an outpost on the edge of Onu-Metru and Po-Metru. There were vendors from both Metru present, all of whom exploited Kaiju parts. There was a Po-Matoran selling Kaiju kabob, another who marketed a skull, saying he fished it from the water, and several Matoran had even built their shacks from the bones of the Kaiju. Nuparu and Avak stood in front of one such building, with engravings across the bones.
"Mavrah Sector," Avak read aloud. "Looks promising enough."
They entered a bustling foyer quite similar to the Research Room at the Coliseum. This time though, the archivists were focused mostly on extraction. Peeling off parasites and drawing needles into various body parts made Nuparu sick. None of these Matoran looked like a Mavrah though. He thought he would ask where the store owner was.
"Um," Nuparu began coyly. "We're looking for a Mavrah."
"Mavrah is not merely available by request. He's in his quarters and does not like any disturbance," replied an archivist in a black Kakama.
"Yes, but you see, I need to continue my studies on the Kaiju and we only had one brain."
Brain? Was he mad enough to attempt a brain scan, something archivists were told never to attempt? The archivist ran a scan. He noticed Nuparu's bloodshot eye and trembling hands. "You did it," he gasped in surprise. "Right away sir."
He ran down the hall shouting. Moments later, a Matoran with eye covering and a purple Pakari emerged from the dark corridor. Nuparu heard the click, click of golden boots on the floor as the Matoran walked.
"Brains, huh. Quite the dangerous maneuver, but seeing as you are still alive, you are possibly the greatest hope we have now," the Matoran spoke darkly and menacingly. "I can help, for I…am Mavrah, head of the Kaiju Black Market."
