Chapter 3: A Night United
"As I had suspected, this mask belongs to a long dead Makuta, Arañas. Like the other Makuta, he was a maker of Rahi, but he treasured his creations too much. He kept them hidden from the Great Beings, they were his children, they were what drove him. The safety of his children was what led him to join Makuta Teridax. I know not why his mask was found within that chamber, but it cannot mean anything good." Turaga Nokama said, gazing into the eyes of the mask.
"I am still confused, why did you call us here if only to tell us a story?" Tahu said roughly.
Turaga Nokama looked to the Toa with a mourning glare, "I believe this to be a dark omen," She looked back at the mask, "if the Rahkshi were drawn to it, that means it is filled with some powerful energy that attracted them. If such power does reside within the Phorbus, then its wearer still lives."
The Toa collectively gasped at the news, "Then what are we to do?" Lewa asked.
"As of this moment," Turaga Vakama stepped forward, "the City-Nui is in grave danger, under the threat of Makuta Arañas, we cannot risk the city's safety."
"But, what of the other Nuis?" Onua said.
"We mustn't allow this Makuta to take any serious action." Turaga Onewa started, "If he is attracted by the energy coming off of his mask, he will come here."
"Then we will stand to protect it from this Makuta Arañas." Tahu interrupted strongly.
"No Toa of fire." Nokama shook her head. "We don't know how powerful Arañas may be, you must find Artakha, he is the only one who can destroy the Phorbus and subsequently send Arañas into a comatose state."
"What are you saying Turaga, we must leave the city to find Artakha, and leave you unguarded?" Takanuva spoke up from behind the Turaga.
Turaga Nokama rubbed her head, "No." She looked to the other Turaga, "Come brothers, we must ponder in the great thoughts." She said and the Turaga left the small chamber with the mask of fear.
Gali turned to see the Turaga out, but she fell frozen when she saw Kopaka standing at the other side of the hallway. The Turaga seemed to disregard him, it almost made her think that she was seeing things. But the way they looked at one another was unmistakable, it was a look of bliss and a cold longing. Gali opened her mouth to say something, but Tahu interrupted.
"There you are frost breath, where were you!?" Tahu leered at his brother, stepping around Gali into the hall.
"I had to think things over." Kopaka said without a waver in his voice. "What's the matter with you hot head?" Kopaka scowled, but he almost smiled when he heard Gali chuckle over Tahu's shoulder.
"That's enough you two," Gali interjected, stepping between the quarreling Toa, "we are finally united again, we should be celebrating with one another, not getting upset over childish things."
"Childish!?" Tahu exclaimed while Kopaka laughed lowly in the back of his throat.
"Indeed, let us all go back to my place and catch up over a bottle of wine." Pohatu said merrily with upraised arms.
"That sounds wonderful." Lewa said, sounding relieved.
"I concur, let's go then." Gali smiled, looking over to Kopaka.
However reluctant, Kopaka nodded in agreement and the Toa started toward the walls of the arena back out into the city.
Turaga Nokama looked over the stars, in her hands she cradled the kanohi Phorbus. The Red Star was balanced between a circle of six white stars. "Then it is time."
"Turaga?" Aledec rose his head to the Turaga's words. "Time for what?"
"The coming of the new Toa."
"To defeat Arañas?"
Nokama shook her head, thinking on the dangers the stars presented. "No, something worse." She closed her eyes tightly, she could see flashes of the near future. Darkness, six masks of gold and some kind of magic, a presence as familiar as the morning sun, a mask…
"A Mask of Ultimate Power…"
Turaga Nokama threw her head up in terror. Her body became weak, the Phorbus fell to the metal flooring and she collapsed, nearly hitting the floor before Aledec caught her in his arms. "Turaga Nokama!" He exclaimed to the Turaga who seemed to have been stricken by something. "Turaga, what happened?"
The Turaga was mumbling something below her breath, but it was incoherent. After much too long, the Turaga's eyes finally began to slip open. She turned in Aledec's arms and the Onu-Matoran helped her to her feet. Without words and only heavy breaths, she returned to the mask of fear and lifted it so that she could look into its eyes.
"Was it the mask? Did it use its power on you?" Aledec asked in fright.
That was why Turaga Nokama was so distraught, it was not the mask. "No. No, no. Not the mask."
"But it's the mask of fear, didn't it show you your fear?"
"I did feel fear, but not from the mask. No, from my gift from Mata-Nui."
"You saw…" Aledec hesitated to consider his own scientific beliefs against those of the supernatural. "The future?"
"A not so distant future." Turaga Nokama added grimly.
"Then, what of the mask?"
Turaga Nokama ran her fingers over the gemstone in the mask's forehead, it was blood red and reflected nothing. "No, no. The mask, its power, it has been...stolen?" She said, terror and confusion in her tongue.
"Stolen?"
Turaga Nokama's eyes fell wide in realization. "No, not stolen." She looked back at the Onu-Matoran, who appeared just as frightened as she was. "It was given." The Turaga paused to comprehend the situation, then only one question circled in her mind, "Who was the first to touch the mask in that tomb?"
The Toa sat, ate and drank together, laughing and recollecting on their past ninety-seven years apart. Tahu spent his first thirty years on Spherus Magna fighting in the war with the Dark Hunters-who'd allied with the Skrall and Bone Hunters. Upon the Shadowed One's death, he was assigned to track down any remaining Skrall and bring them to the City-Nui for trial; most were executed. After this he returned to Ta-Nui to aid in its construction.
Gali had spent most of her time helping the Turaga lay out a new political system for the Matoran and Agori alongside Onua and Pohatu. However, when the war began, Onua had to return to Onu-Nui and Pohatu decided to join in the fight while she continued their work. She was eventually tasked with helping prosecute the arrested Dark Hunters, Bone Hunters and Skrall.
Pohatu led a squadron of Glatorian during the majority of the war to intercept weapons shipments being sent to Dark Hunter outposts. He eventually was able to locate the Matoran providing these weapons along with many Dark Hunter outposts. After the war, he decided to take residence in the City-Nui to work alongside Gali while also being a sportscaster for the kohlii tournaments alongside Toa Hewkii.
Onua spent his time before the war traveling to help construct the Nuis until he went to the City-Nui to assist Gali. When the war began, he returned to Onu-Nui to help protect it from the Bone Hunters. After the war, he continued to live in Onu-Nui to take part in the mining operation.
Kopaka spent the majority of the war secluded in the Frostbyte Tundra until he was contacted by Turaga Nuju to protect Ko-Nui. After the war, he spent his time engaging in the construction (and reconstruction) of the city. Once that had ended, he was given a task by Turaga Nuju to track down the remaining Rahkshi and destroy them.
Takanuva had spent the war guarding the City-Nui and keeping the Turaga protected. However, he was eventually sent to the Kini-Nuva to protect the Ignika from any kind of threat. When the war had finished, he was allowed to return, however he spent most of his time within the arena walls.
"So Lewa," Onua gestured, "you were gone for quite a time. What were you doing all the way out in the Beyond?" Onua asked, nudging against the Toa of air's shoulder.
Incomprehensible vocalizations of agreement rose up from the other Toa. Lewa glanced around the room, then down at his empty glass, he looked over to the night sky beyond the glass wall in Pohatu's apartment. Lewa stood, looked around at the wondering faces of his brothers and sister. Lewa slipped his hand down to his waist and unlatched something, "The only item of note I could think to mention, is this." Lewa lifted a wooden flute to the mouth of his mask and began to play it. The instrument, hand crafted with the greatest of precision, played the song of nature; it emulated the gentle wind against the tree leaves, the trickle of morning dew into a lake teeming with life. It told the legend of the trees, spoke the words of the mountains and reminisced the flutter of bird's wings. It made a song of pitch most uplifting, like a noble triumph over a long fought enemy, yet it was tragic, filled with mourning, but it was still beautiful. As Lewa played, the other Toa seemed to lose interest in what else Lewa had done, he couldn't have just made, and learned to play a flute in nearly a century. There had to be more, but those questions fled before they came. Then something happened, no one knew what it was, perhaps they didn't even know it was happening, maybe it was only in Lewa's mind.
The room spiraled into darkness, dimmer and dimmer it fell. The notes began to falter, some of the Toa began to stand as Lewa stumbled slightly. Lewa could see himself back in that forest, no, only the other Toa saw it as a forest. The Beyond was never anything as beautiful as any forest. It was cold, barren, only bordered by trees along Le-Wahi Nuva. Only dark things lurked there, and they all came back. Creatures, eyes of death and bodies comprised of pain and sorrow, reaching out for Lewa. "Brin...em...e...To...Lewa…", a voice, it came from nowhere, yet it came from everywhere whispered behind the Toa's ear and he collapsed to the floor.
"Lewa!" Gali exclaimed, lifting from her seat and rushing over to Lewa. She turned him over so that his head faced the ceiling as the other Toa gathered around them.
Pohatu knelt down beside the motionless Lewa and put his index finger to his neck where an artery ran below the metal covering him. Using his elemental powers, Pohatu felt down below the metal and found a pulse, and the way it wavered was rather familiar. Not wanting to startle the others though, Pohatu moved to a lighter excuse. He chuckled in as convincing a fashion as possible, as expected, the other Toa looked to him with disdain. "Well don't you see?" Pohatu laughed again, hoping it would be rather obvious. When it was obvious they didn't know what he alluded to he groaned in a humorous fashion, "He's drunk!" He said in an exaggerated tone.
The Toa sighed in realization, however Gali and Kopaka didn't seem convinced. "Are you sure?" Gali asked, rubbing her hand over Lewa's forehead, coating it in a cool layer of water.
"Of course, just too much wine that's all." Pohatu replied reassuringly. "Come along Onua, help me get him to one of the beds." Pohatu gestured, stepping over to Lewa's head. Gali moved out of the Toa of stone's way and he lifted Lewa by his shoulders while Onua picked him up by his legs. "He'll be alright, just a bit of rest and he'll be his old self again." Pohatu chuckled nervously as he and Onua pulled Lewa into the hall and into one of the extra rooms.
Gali and Kopaka looked at one another, unconvinced by Pohatu's story. They didn't need to speak any words out loud, it was obvious what they both were thinking. "I don't believe him."
"Are you sure Turaga?" Aledec asked.
Turaga Nokama nodded in the darkness. "The Phorbus' power is lost, so Arañas will not track it here, only the one who carries its power now."
Aledec looked down at the mask between his fingers, "But he's still in the city. Turaga, we have to do something!" Aledec whispered.
"That is not for you to worry about." Turaga Nokama responded, resting her hand on the Onu-Matoran's shoulder. "Make sure the mask remains hidden, the Toa have much to do now in this time."
Aledec sighed in disagreement, but he knew that the Turaga was making wise and calculated decisions. Then he dropped the mask down into its metal canister and sealed it once again.
"Return to Onu-Nui, whatever threatens us will be dealt with." Turaga Nokama added.
Reluctant, Aledec turned away from Turaga Nokama and walked out of the arena into the street. No Matoran and Agori remained in the street, only the dim streetlamps accompanied the Onu-Matoran. He walked down the road a ways until he reached a small vehicle. He opened the door to it, stepped in and pulled down the lever to activate it. The rotors on the very top of the vehicle began to spin, soon Aledec was off the ground, heading northeast back to Onu-Nui.
Turaga Nokama watched from beneath the arena walls until she saw Aledec's aircraft vanish into the night, when it did, she returned to the walls of the arena. Ever since the war had passed, walking alone in the shade of night was not as foreboding for the Turaga. She actually found the feeling rather odd, to not be constantly searching for dangers in the night, and after more than a decade of having these feelings, she felt it was about time to accept them as the norm. However, there was a new threat, the Makuta who sought the mask of fear and his army of Skull Spiders. The Turaga sat down on a bench beside a fountain that was carved into the shape of the Suva Kaita, with the shapes of the Toa Mata's masks in the spaces where they would normally go.
Turaga Nokama rested her head on the head of the bench and looked up to the ceiling. On it was engraved the three virtues: Unity, Duty, Destiny. The Turaga sighed, it seemed the entire world was united, making it their duty to strive for a better tomorrow. But where would their destinies lie with the threat of Makuta Arañas? The Turaga couldn't imagine the answer to such a question.
"Sister." The distinctive voice of Turaga Vakama said from the end of the corridor. Turaga Vakama approached the bench so that he was beside Turaga Nokama, but he didn't sit. "Is it done?"
"Yes, the mask has been taken to Onu-Nui." She nodded, however her voice was almost saddened in its tone.
"What is it Nokama?"
"This is dangerous, entrusting the Phorbus with Aledec, breaking apart the Toa just as they've come together! It's just maddening."
"Do not worry sister," Turaga Vakama said, sitting down beside her, "this will be their final task, if you've read the stars right that is."
"Are we even certain they can find Artakha?"
"No, but the map I was given is all we have, we must trust in the Great Spirit."
"I find that hard to do nowadays." Turaga Nokama sighed, lifting off of the bench. "So much has happened." She looked up through the skylight. "I feel like there isn't even a great spirit anymore."
Kopaka looked over the city, the silence reminded him of Ko-Nui before the war. Ever since Turaga Dume provoked the Shadowed One, Ko-Nui never returned to its former glory. All that remained from its archives resided in his and Turaga Nuju's masks, for the Library of Matoro had been burned in the sieges. The Ko-Matoran turned to lives of strength seeking and they gradually lost their lust for knowledge.
"What are you doing out here?" Gali's voice said from the doorway leading out onto the balcony. Kopaka slightly turned his body to her as she stepped further out into the cloak of night, she ran her hands up her arms and shivered, "Aren't you cold?" She asked jokingly.
"You're very funny." Kopaka said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
"You speak cynically now, but I saw you smile." Gali pointed, leaning into Kopaka's shoulder as he chuckled quietly behind his mouth. She sighed quietly and looked up at Kopaka, "Why didn't you tell them?"
Kopaka leaned his eyes toward her, "Why didn't you tell them?" He repeated mockingly.
"I suppose you're right." She replied with disregard, turning her New KauKau toward the night sky. She looked over at the Red Star, surrounded by six white stars, she then realized that Kopaka had never explained how he had returned from there, only that he and Pohatu were taken up by a winged being she didn't remember the name of. "How did you and Pohatu get out of there? The Red Star I mean."
Kopaka tilted his head to the star were Gali's eyes fixed, he zoomed in on the red light with his largest eyepiece. He made a crude sound behind his mouth but said nothing. He was trying to remember, but the memory had faded after a while, yet it seemed like the sort of memory that would stay with one forever. "There was a Matoran." Kopaka began, pausing to remember what came next. "His mask, it wasn't one I'd seen before, but I knew it was a powerful one. He said something along the lines of 'Your spirits still drift whole, the cold of death has not met your throats, you can leave the star'." He said, the words came more specific and vividly than he thought they would. "Then there was a light, the sense of sinking in the sea. Pohatu and I awoke to the faces of the Toa Mahri looming over us."
Gali snorted to contain a laugh, she knew that awaking to being surrounded must have discomforted him. This, she found humerous. "Well, at least you're home safe." Gali said soothingly, tipping her head into Kopaka's neck. She took deep breaths with her eyes closed, as if she were sleeping against his shoulder armour, which couldn't possibly be comfortable.
Kopaka looked down at Gali, the pale moonlight drifted across her armour like it would over a pond. Kopaka rested his head against her's, a small spark jumped between their masks, but they didn't notice it that much, it had happened before. The jolt sent feelings that drowned out any kind of negativity, repelling the shadows around them, and the memories of darker times that echoed in their minds became less than whispers. "Much too long, it's been much too long."