Epilogue

The corpses lay on the loamy soil, evidence of a battle that was two days past. The number of gravestones in the valley steadily grew. The Bohrok were piled in a ditch outside the valley; less effort and care was taken for enemies.

Také continued his work, gently lifting bodies with others to carry to the other side of the valley. It was the second time in less than a week that he had to perform this. Lamentations for the lost time echoed through the silence once more.

The dead, however, were not on Také's mind at the moment as he grabbed a shovel to shift the dirt. There were too many other problems that boded on his mind, and none with fresh solutions. There was nothing he could do; he would just have to wait –

"Také!" someone called. The Matoran turned from his talk to another pointing to the entrance of the valley. Fearing the worst, the shovel left a small thud on the ground as Také hurried to discover the problem.

"Excuse me – " he kept murmuring as he weaved through the workers. He summoned the power in his Miru to avoid the crowd. His fears about danger were slowly shrinking, but his curiosity was the same. He soon found his answer.

'It's him!'

The captain was the epitome of despair: his whole body was covered in dust, even over the usually white mask. His pack was missing, as well as his mace. His eyes had the most change: the vibrant blue was dulled, filled with… fear?

'Are you all right, sir?" Také ventured as he lowered himself to the ground. "Where are your things?"

Beisbeis stared vacantly at Také, only breathing unsteadily. The soldier stared back, his eyes firmly searching for an answer.

"Sori left with you, right? What happened to him?"

The captain's eyes grew wide, and Také was startled to see tears beginning to roll down the face. After a few seconds, Beisbeis blinked and turned away as he passed the Matoran.

"It was a monster."

Také reached out to grab Beisbeis' arm, but the captain shrugged away the move and continued down into the valley, his head bowed down. The soldier lowered his arm and sighed quietly, almost to himself.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

People were looking at him; whispers started as he passed by. He didn't want to see anybody, and he didn't want anybody to see him. All he wanted was to get through as quickly as possible. He just wanted –

'Come to me.'

Startled, Beisbeis broke his concentration and raised his head. The reverently silent Suva blocked him to his destination.

All other motives were pushed aside. Quickly Beisbeis gasped and ran to the entrance, desperately stumbling to reach the door. His hand stretched to push it open – but it stopped. Like a dream, the Spirit's voice entered into his conscience.

"Beisbeis, stay away from that wall."

The Matoran's hand hesitated. The same voice patiently came to him.

"Beisbeis, come to me."

But shame had already invaded. Beisbeis dropped his arm limply, and with tears running steadily now, turned away and left silence behind.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

It had not been a long time since he had seen it. After what had happened, however, it was still enough to make it foreign, unfamiliar.

BZ-Koro drew nearer, however. First grass growing greener and taller, then numbers of trees made that certain.

He stayed away from everyone else as much as he could. He lived on the hillside, alone, watching the campfires of others below extinguish one by one. When the last one disappeared, the captain was surrounded in darkness – the way he felt now.

The dwindled group quietly made their way along the well-trod path. Beisbeis was near the front, leading them home. His mind was elsewhere, however.

Quietly he prepared himself for sleep, if he could call his nightmares that.

"Sir?"

The Matoran turned surprisingly to find Také breathing quietly on the side of the path, his arms folded determinedly.

"I hope you will not mind me saying this, sir, but the men are waiting for your decision."

Beisbeis remained silent, watching the grass next to Také's feet with a questioning look. The soldier sighed and left the captain, rustling through the brush as he went down the hill.

"Good night, sir."

The next day, they left the valley to return home. Také was right, although all wanted to know where he had been during the battle, they were willing to listen to Také and Khora enough to follow Beisbeis' command. It gave him a responsibility to continue on, if nothing else.

But as the broken walls of their Koro appeared behind the twisting pattern of trees, Beisbeis' relief turned to concern as a Matoran ran through the forest on a creature that Beisbeis had only seen rarely during the campaign at Le-Koro. The Gukko bird squawked once as its feet beat at the ground to slow its run. "It's okay," he called to the anxious crowd, "The soldiers from Mata Nui have returned."

"We are glad to see you safe, fellow captain and friend," the Matoran atop the creature called. "It is comforting to see some goodness and safety of others mingled with our sadness concerning our loss."

Beisbeis hesitated, watching the Matoran regrettably. If they had been here… What might have…

He shook his thoughts away and pointed to the Koro. "I am glad to see you as well, Érnne. Let us return home, and we can give each other our news."

The group passed through the ruined arch. Cries of both joy and grief echoed through the ruined walls.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Érnne sighed quietly when Beisbeis finally finished. "Well, I never really trusted Niwan, and neither did Karon, from what he told me – " he nodded to the lieutenant. "…But – " He shook his head and allowed quiet to come over the enormous dome building. Light shone dimly on the floor as Beisbeis recalled so much that had happened to him in that room… So much…

"…This will be a lot to tell everyone when we head back…" Beisbeis blinked from the statement, his eyebrows lowered with confusion.

"What are 'we' planning to do?"

"We're leaving," Karon answered. "There's nothing for us here now. Most of the soldiers are still on Mata Nui, waiting for us to come. We still need to finish planning the journey, especially with everyone…"

The Matoran continued debating and proposing, but Beisbeis could not hear them. After a few minutes, Beisbeis excused himself with a nod and left the dusty building behind. There was only one place he wanted to be now.

The same light that barely shone through the Council building illuminated the Library. The Matoran stood staring at the eyes that he once accepted, once loved… Now he couldn't look at them.

"Sir?"

Beisbeis spun around to find the teal Miru watching concernedly. "Are you all right?"

Silence was his answer. Beisbeis stared at the ground, his heart wanting to burst out of his chest. The Spirit would not let him keep it buried any longer.

"…Také… I need to tell you something."

The steps echoed as the soldier drew closer. "Anything you need, sir."

"…I'm the monster."

The sharp noise disappeared. Také stared, confused. "What?"

Beisbeis inhaled deeply, his whole body quivering. "Hapori Tohu told me not to go, but I didn't listen, and – and he came, too, and…" His lip trembled; his breathing was ragged. "I – I killed Sori – " He covered his mouth despairingly. Tears poured and fell to the floor. His silent weeping were are that could be heard now.

He did not know how long he lay crying there; but he did hear a tentative voice.

"…Sir?"

The Matoran opened his eyes for a short moment before closing them again. His lamentation subsided as his fatigue emerged. All he awaited now was Také's response.

"…What do you plan to do?"

Beisbeis sat, surprised. "Well, I'm not going to Mata Nui. I need to stay here – "

"Then I'm staying with you," Také replied resolutely. Beisbeis shook his head fiercely.

"No, you won't. They need you to – "

" – Beisbeis – "

" – And I'm not going to hurt you – "

" – Beisbeis – "

" – I need to be alone – "

" – Beisbeis."

Beisbeis hesitated. The Matoran kneeled to lift him up by shoulders and stared lovingly into his eyes.

"Yes, you have done something horrible. You are a danger to everyone… But I'm staying with you. You need someone. I am your friend, and I am here because I want to be. Please… let me help you."

Beisbeis looked into Také's eyes.

He saw truth.

With one sweeping motion, he embraced his friend, tears once again overflowing.

"…Thank you… Thank you."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The waters pulled forward and receded. It drew itself into the sea, calling to those who were journeying into it.

"Hurry, we're leaving soon!" A Matoran shouted as the mass continued to move onto the ship. Khora continued hefting the boxes of whatever was left on The Island for them to take. As he continued his work, he watched two Matoran standing on the shoreline, immobile.

"Hey! You better hurry!" he called to them. They did not move. Curious, he looked at the boat for one second before running off the dock to discover who they were.

"…Beisbeis! Také! When are you getting on?" He asked, his smile slowly beginning to wear off. The Matoran shook his Akaku quietly.

"We won't be joining you, Khora," Beisbeis whispered.

The Matoran stood in his place, shocked. He had not expected this. "Why aren't – "

"I'm not ready to tell now," Beisbeis answered respectfully. "It will have to wait."

Khora could not think of anything to say. Beisbeis grabbed the Matoran's shoulder and whispered, "Just know that you are a true leader, Khora. Guide these people… They will look to you."

Khora's eyes stung from the salty tears, trying to shake his emotions. Beisbeis embraced the Matoran and whispered in his ear, "I promise you we will meet again."

It was enough. Khora looked once more in the blue eyes and nodded with a small smile. He turned to return to the boat. He was the last to board the vessel.

The ropes were retrieved. The boat pushed off, leaving the small cove. Khora glanced back at the Matoran, peace in himself. First The Island, then each Matoran slowly disappeared behind the fog.

He could hear the gulls calling as the water carried them away.