Chapter Four: The Alliance (Part One)
Roughly one week ago...
Vorakx was not happy.
His assignment had begun simply enough: His sister Makuta, Gorast, had learned of the location of an entrance to the legendary Karda Nui. Knowing Teridax had to be informed, Gorast told Vorakx to deliver the message. Naturally, Vorakx had said no (he was, after all, a Makuta; not some message-carrying Rahi), but after a painful discussion with the female Makuta, Vorakx changed his mind.
Soon, Vorakx arrived on the island of Voya Nui, only to learn Teridax had followed a group of Toa down into the black waters of the island's bay. Vorakx made his way down into the waters of "the Pit" and searched for the Brotherhood of Makuta leader. What he found instead was far more interesting: A group of sea monster-like beings had trapped a Matoran inside a cave. As Vorakx listened, he overheard them mention the legendary Kanohi Ignika, Great Mask of Life. Wanting to know what these beings knew about it, Vorakx prepared to attack... only to be greeted by a massive burst of light that sent him reeling.
By the time the Makuta awoke, his armor had been torn open, allowing the foul waters of the Pit to mutate his essence. After making a crude patch of the armor, Vorakx explored the Pit until he ran into Icarax, who was also searching for Teridax. Giving him Gorast's message, Vorakx began the journey back to Destral. Before he could leave the Pit, however, he was challenged by a black and silver-armored warrior and his Energy Hound.
"Who are you?" growled Vorakx.
"Name's Hydraxon, runner." replied the being, readying his Cordak Blaster. "I will be your jailer for the time being. But feel free to resist. Spinax and I haven't had a worthy opponent in hours."
Vorakx's response was lifting and pointing his launcher tool at Hydraxon. He had found it on the sea floor shortly after arriving in the Pit, and, after witnessing its use, learned how it functioned. Using his power to control Rahi beasts, Vorakx summoned a Sea Squid. He loaded it into the launcher and fired. The little squid latched on to Hydraxon's mid-section and began draining his life energies. Almost instantly, the jailer of the Pit felt a great weakness overcome him. Vorakx took advantage of his opponent's weakness, unleashing twin blasts of energy from his eyes and sent Hydraxon sprawling. He then moved in for the kill.
"Manas zya!" yelled the rapidly weakening Hydraxon. An instant later, Spinax tackled Vorakx, snapping his powerful jaws all the while.
With Vorakx occupied, Hydraxon unlimbered one of his knives and impaled the squid attached to his body. Once it was dead, Hydraxon used his sharp claws to remove the little beast. Vorakx, meanwhile, managed to hit Spinax with his eyebeams, taking him out of the fight. The Makuta managed to get to his feet just in time to receive a crushing kick to the mid-section from Hydraxon, sending Vorakx to the ground hard. Hydraxon then aimed his Cordak Blaster. Vorakx was ready, however. The Makuta rolled onto his back and unleashed a power scream that sent Hydraxon reeling.
As Hydraxon tried to recover from the blast, Vorakx analyzed the situation. Hydraxon was very skilled in terms of hand-to-hand and melee combat, but had not revealed any special abilities. He relied on getting close to his opponents to defeat them.
Then long-range attacks it is.
Vorakx unleashed the power of his Kanohi Taiku. A moment later, Hydraxon could feel the toxic energies of the mask poisoning him. He dropped to his knees, to weak to stand. Vorakx smiled as he watched Hydraxon desperately reached for one of the boomerangs mounted on his shoulder. Hydraxon then forced himself to throw it with all his might. Vorakx didn't event try to dodge. He simply used his power of magnetism to hold the projectile in mid-water before it could reach him. He then noticed something odd: Hydraxon had his hands over his audio receptors.
The reason was made apparent an instant later. The boomerang suddenly exploded. The blast sent the Makuta spiraling through the water before hitting the sea floor with a thud. With Vorakx's focus shattered, the horrible sickness lifted from Hydraxon's body. Free from the weakness, the jailer swam to where Vorakx was now recovering from the explosion. He aimed his Cordak Blaster and gave the Makuta a hard look.
"You're a Makuta, aren't you?" he said. "I recently battled one of your kind, so I understand the power you wield. I'm not taking any chances with you. If you so much as move without my permission, I'll blast your head clear off your shoulders."
Vorakx starred at Hydraxon with eyes filled with pure hate. Hydraxon simply smiled.
"Come, Makuta." said the Pit jailer. "It is time to see your new home."
After a few hours of swimming, Hydraxon had led his prisoner to an amazing place. It was a huge cavern beneath the sea floor. Covering the walls of the cavern were hundreds - no, thousands - of what appeared to be prison cells. Most were empty, yet some housed beings of various shapes and sizes.
"Welcome to the Pit." said Hydraxon. He then quickly attached large chains to Vorakx's arms and legs. He pulled the protesting Makuta into the nearest cell and attached the chains to the wall. "I suggest you make yourself at home, Makuta." Hydraxon said, closing the door to the cell. "You won't be leaving for a very long time."
Almost immediately, Vorakx began pulling against the chains in an attempt to shatter them. Hydraxon simply chuckled.
"Save your strength." said the jailer. "Those chains are made of a special type of reinforced protosteel. They not only restrain you, but also drain your power. By now, I'd say you are at about half-strength."
"You will pay for this!" raged Vorakx.
Hydraxon turned to leave. "I'm sure." said the jailer, swimming for the opening of the Pit.
Over the course of the next few days, Vorakx watched and waited. Hydraxon, it seemed, was very fond of his work. The Makuta witnessed the jailer bring in several more "escapees". Most came into the Pit without a struggle. Some, however, put up an impressive resistance. One runner, a brute named Nocturn, managed to smash his way out of five cells before Hydraxon found one strong enough to detain him. Another called Mezahk would have killed the jailer were it not for the actions of Spinax.
As time passed, Vorakx was looking for anything to keep his mind on. If he didn't he would certainly go mad. That is when he noticed something on one of the walls of his cell. They were a series of Matoran letters that seemed to be carved into the stone by a sharp tool. The stone they were carved into also seemed to have been scorched by some type of heat source. Upon reading them, he realized they were not merely words, but names. They read:
Hydros, Botar, Helryx, and Takadox.
Vorakx had never heard of Hydros or Helryx,... but Takadox and Botar? Yes, the Makuta had heard of those two particular names. Takadox was one of the six Barraki warlords. He had sold vital League of Six Kingdoms information to the Brotherhood eons ago. He was defeated along with the other Barraki and captured. Before they could be executed, however, a being called Botar stepped in and spirited the six warlords away, never to be seen again.
So... thought the Makuta. The Barraki did survive, at least for a while. Botar must have been working with Hydraxon somehow. Botar brought the Barraki here where they could be imprisoned.
Vorakx's thoughts were interrupted by a sudden change in the water. He looked up to see everything around him; every fish, every strand of seaweed, even the very water itself, seemed to be frozen in time and space. Everything except him.
"How can this be?" Vorakx muttered in awe.
"Because, I wish it so." said a voice.
Vorakx turned his head this way and that, trying to find the source of the voice. "Who is there?" asked the Makuta.
Suddenly, a bright light flashed. When it subsided, a sphere of energy was floating in front of Vorakx. Inside the energy field, stood a being. He was clad in orange and grey armor, and wore a mask that was somehow familiar to Vorakx. One thing was obvious, of course: The being was a Toa.
"Who are you?" asked Vorakx. "Another guardian of this putrid worm hole?"
The Toa chuckled. "Name's Akatark. And no. I am not here to watch over you, Vorakx." The Toa then pointed his spear and fired a burst of energy. The blast struck the chain that connected Vorakx's left arm to the wall. Moments later, chains strong enough to detain a Makuta rusted, fractured, and finally shattered. Vorakx starred in amazement at his freed limb. He then looked at the Toa, who had just finished destroying the rest of the chains.
"What kind of power..." he began.
"There will be enough time for answers later." interrupted Akatark. "Now, you will come with me."
"I don't think so." replied Vorakx. The Makuta then unleashed twin bursts of energy from his eyes. The bolts collided with the Toa's energy field where they were neutralized. The Toa retaliated with a burst of energy that trapped the Makuta in a sphere of power.
"Listen to me!" the Toa yelled.
Vorakx made a few attempts to escape, all ending with failure. He then sighed. "Fine." Vorakx said. "What do you want with me?"
Akatark willed the energy field around Vorakx to disappear. "Tell me," Akatark began. "Why do you follow Teridax's plan?"
The Makuta's eyes narrowed. "Why? What do know of it.?"
"I know enough." the Toa replied. "He plans to allow Mata Nui to be awakened giving him and his fellow Makuta the opportunity to unleash a shadow age never seen before."
Vorakx shrugged. "I think you have answered your own question. I do it to help the Brotherhood achive the power and respect that should have been ours in the first place."
Akatark gave a sad smile. "You actually believe that is Teridax's true plan, don't you?"
"What are you talking about?" asked Vorakx in a confused tone. "That is the true Plan."
The Toa shook his head. "No, it's not. You want to know how I know?"
Vorakx's silence gave Akatark his answer.
"Because, once Mata Nui is awakened, an energy storm of untold power will strike Karda Nui." Akatark continued. "The very location your brother and sister Makuta are operating now. Once the storm hits, any living being in the Universe Core at the time will be incinerated. Tell me, did Teridax mention that to his fellow Makuta?"
Vorakx couldn't believe what he was hearing. For reasons even the other members of the Brotherhood never knew, Teridax had always said Mata Nui's awakening was the most important asspect of his Plan.
"But, why?" the Makuta asked.
"Think about it." replied Akatark. "Teridax sends the most powerful members of the Brotherhood to Karda Nui to delay the Toa Nuva. Once the crucial moment is at hand, the Makuta would allow the Toa to awaken the Great Spirit. With the Toa and Makuta destroyed by the energy storm, Teridax is left to complete the final stage of his plan and assume control of the universe on his own. After all, if he can rule the world on his own, why would he need you or the other Makuta anymore?"
Vorakx wanted to believe this Toa was simply lying, but something deep inside the Makuta told him he wasn't. The realization caused anger to appear on his features.
"Teridax!" Vorakx screamed. "That traitorous wisp of shadow! The next time I see him, I will insure he suffers a painful death!"
"It is not too late to undo his scheme, Vorakx." said Akatark, slowly releasing reality from his power. "Come with me. Either that, or rot here."
Vorakx took a moment to consider. The Makuta then nodded. Akatark allowed Vorakx to enter the energy field with him. Then, they vanished, taking the first steps toward their destiny.
To be continued...