Loss, and Recovery
Kraken
"Miekka!" Kraken yelled.
"Miekka!"
It was no use, Miekka was in shock, his bodily fluids dripped from the wound, his sword coated in them, it was a ghastly wound. As Kraken stood there trying to get Miekka out of it, Makuta Ranux came barrelling through a hut, launching spikes at his pursuers. Kraken stared at him, not quite sure what it was, regardless it was hostile, Kraken raised his trident, the thing looked at him.
"BOW, BEFORE ME TOHUNGA!" it yelled in anger.
"no, I will not." Kraken replied, assuming a fighting stance.
"Then you will die, it is too much trouble trying to corrupt you Tohunga, the other Makuta made it sound so easy…" The thing lunged at Kraken, Kraken sidestepped, it went hurtling into another hut.
"You're a Makuta?!" Kraken yelled in surpise.
"Yes, I am Tohunga, BOW BEFORE ME!"
"NEVER!" Kraken yelled thrusting his trident at the Makuta, it shattered against Ranux's armour.
"DIE!" Ranux screamed in joy as he bared down on the Kraken.
Just as all seemed hopeless to Kraken, the Makuta stopped, upon closer inspection a sword was now embedded in its side. The sword was held by Miekka, his features pale, he pulled the sword, and backed up panting, obviously in pain. The Makuta turned slowly, his face one of complete fury, he raised his claws, but then stopped short of striking Miekka.
"This one could be useful…" it muttered as it pulled a pulsating object from its armour.
"What the hell is that?" Kraken asked still shaking from his near death experience.
"This, Tohunga, is your doom." The Makuta threw it at Miekka, it latched onto his shoulder.
Immediately Miekka's figure grew darker, his armour seemed to become darker, his wound began closing. Then he kneeled before the Makuta, Kraken couldn't believe his eyes, just a second ago Miekka had been attacking the Makuta, now he was bowing before it?
"What have you done to him?" Kraken asked, horrified.
"If I had more shadow leeches, I would let you experience it for yourself, but alas, that was my last one." The Makuta said, cracking his joints.
"What is you name minion?" the Makuta asked Miekka.
"My name is Miekka, my lord, I do not know your name." Miekka responded obediently.
"I am Ranux, you serve me now, and the brotherhood of Makuta, rise."
"Your first task as my new servant, is to dispose of the Tohunga behind me." Ranux said, walking towards the gate.
"Yes, lord Ranux." Miekka said turning to face Kraken.
Kraken confused stepped back, he had no weapon, he was not skilled in hand to hand combat, he was utterly defenceless. Just as Miekka was about to strike, the ground cracked beneath him, he seemed to be struggling under his own weight. He dropped his sword and shield, squatting under the pressure, he collapsed, his form became imprinted on the ground. Ranux turned, then looking up gave a face of anger, Kraken followed his eyes, standing on top of the wall was Toa Hewkii, his mask glowing. He was aided by a water Tohunga, even from a distance it was obvious he was in pain.
"Don't hurt him!" Kraken screamed without thinking, Hewkii's mask stopped glowing, and with a groan Miekka rose, and retrieved his equipment.
"Miekka, don't do this! Your better than this, fight it!" Kraken yelled.
"Kraken you don't understand, if you do not stand with me, you stand against me." Miekka replied, raising his sword.
"Miekka, let us leave, this fight has stopped being fun." Ranux ordered.
"Yes, my lord." Miekka responded sheathing his sword, and turning away from Kraken.
Makuta ranux, and Miekka walked out of the village unopposed, the village was in shambles, many Tohunga were wounded. Kraken sank to the ground still trying to get a grasp on the situation, his best friend was now the enemy, it was unfathomable, impossible in Kraken's mind. How, how did this happen? He thought, and how do we fix it?
Hewkii
Hewkii stood on top of the wall, smoke rising from the village, the Makuta had gotten away, and taken a Tohunga with him. For Hewkii, the loss of any Tohunga was a failure, he had the Tohunga under his mask power, but then hesitated when Kraken told him to stop. When the Tohunga arose and started attacking again, he tried pinning him again, but the strain of using his mask at all made it difficult for him to remain conscious, and he wasn't able to activate it.
Kraken was sitting on the ground, a healer talking to him, the fight appeared to have hit him hard, he was visibly shaking. The healer helping Hewkii was saying something, but Hewkii was preoccupied with making sure Kraken was alright. Kraken was the only person who was nice to him since he had come to Rappa-Nui, naturally Hewkii was worried.
"I need to get down there." Hewkii said to the healer.
"You need to lay down." The healer responded.
"I'll lay down once I know how Kraken is doing." Hewkii said pushing the healer away, then jumping off the wall, he landed hard on the ground, but managed to crawl over to Kraken.
"How ya doing Kraken?" He said grunting in pain.
"Hewkii… he took Miekka…" Kraken replied.
"We'll get him back, don't worry, the effects of the shadow leeches can be cured."
"What's a shadow leech? Is that was he used on Miekka?" Kraken said turning and helping Hewkii to stand.
"Yes, only thing I can think of that would have that effect on somebody."
"How is it cured?"
"I don't know exactly, but it can be done."
"The thought that it is possible gives me even more reason to hunt this Makuta." Kraken said, his face a look of pure rage.
"Teamwork will be the solution to this threat, but first we must heal, and repair the village." Hewkii said, laying down on a stretcher. "We will get your friend back."
Later that day, Kraken came into the healer's hut, followed by the village elder, both wore somber looks. The elder spoke first;
"Hewkii, earlier today, our village was attacked by an entity of which we have no experience fighting, but that you have warred with for many years. This attack calls for retaliation, and I would be happy to help you do it, this is of course a threat you are familiar with."
"I will take your offer, but Kraken will come with me, his friend was taken by the Makuta, and he appears a capable fighter." Hewkii stated.
"Very well, Kraken will go with you, if there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to ask, every Tohunga is willing to assist you." The elder answered.
"Thank you elder, the help will be much appreciated, the healers say I should be back on my feet in a few days. Kraken, until then I need you to do some recon on the enemies location, once we are positive where their base of operations is we can start planning."
"Alright, but first you need equipment, the dermismiths can make you any weapon you wish." Kraken said, gesturing at his new trident. "What kind of weapon would you like?"
"An axe, I would like an axe, one handed." Hewkii answered quickly.
"Alright, I will tell the dermismiths, they can begin work on it immediately."
"No, Kraken you stay here with Hewkii, I will bring the request to the smiths, and get them started on proper armour for both of you." The elder said, "It should take no more than a few days."
"Again, thank you elder." Hewkii said as a healer gestured for them to leave."
The next few days passed uneventfully, the village was rebuilt, Hewkii began exercising his muscles again, and Kraken brought information on the Makuta's location. It took 2 weeks for Hewkii to fully recover, his injuries were extensive, but the healers were talented, and they were mostly gone by the time their armour was done. Hewkii had opted for armour, and weapons similar to that he wore as a Toa Inika, the armour was grey, not very fancy looking, but effective, his one axe was designed to be wielded one handed. As Hewkii tested his new weapon, he realized how empty his left hand felt, as a Toa Inika he had held a Zamor sphere launcher in it, now, it didn't feel quite right. A red Tohunga approached, and as if reading his mind tossed a shield at Hewkii, he caught it with ease.
"Uh, thank you, stranger." He said.
"My name is Nyrax, I am experienced with one handed weapons, they always feel better with a shield in the opposite hand."
"I will try it, thank you." Hewkii said, turning and testing out his new shield.
"I have a feeling a longer offensive shield would be better suited to you." Nyrax said after a moment of observation.
"What is that?" Hewkii asked, pausing to look at Nyrax.
"It's a shield that's designed to be used as a weapon, ideally it's about as long as the users arm, with about a foot of sharpened edge at the end generally held up in combat. It's ideal for warriors with a quick paced style, you seem to be used to fighting without a shield, but you need something in that other hand, so it might work for you."
"Can one be made for me?" Hewkii asked curious.
"Yeah, one can, just need a measurement of your arm, then its simple."
Nyrax pulled a measuring device from his pouch, and approached Hewkii, Hewkii held out his arm, the Tohugna measured it, took down some notes on a tablet, then stepped back.
"How long before you go after the Makuta?" Nyrax asked, stowing his measuring device.
"3 days ideally, can it be done before then?"
"We can have done for when you leave, at the latest, earliest it could be done for 2 days from now." Nyrax answered.
"Then you have 2 days, I want to test it out before we go after the Makuta."
"it will be done"
Nyrax turned and left toward the forges, it seems this village is starting to warm up to me, Hewkii thought as he resumed his drills. The armour and weapons made by the Tohunga were among some of the best Hewkii had ever used, light but strong the material they were made of was amazing. These creatures have flourished in an unlikely environment for centuries, we have much to learn from them, Hewkii thought, the army could really benefit from this material.
Makuta Ranux
Ranux sat in his throne of scrap metals, his new servant was salvaging useful materials from the wreckage of his transport ship. He was disappointed that he wasn't able to get more servants, but he could start breeding shadow leeches with the materials from the ship and try again, so 1 servant was not a total loss. But what to do about that damned Toa he thought angrily, He has been a thorn in my side for too long, 3 weeks too long.
He stood and walked out of his cavern base to examine the area he had cleared for his fortress, a small rodent wondered out into the clearing. Ranux shot a protodermis dart at it, it let out a squeak and stopped moving, Ranux picked it up and ate it, it tasted nasty, just like everything else on this stupid island. He stood there for a moment, then thought I want it bigger, he raised his arms and let streams of protodermis fly into the trees. The substance morphed into spiked balls flying at high velocities, they tore through the trees, branches came crashing down, Rahi fled in every direction. Just at that moment his servant came into view pulling a cart filled with scrap metal.
"Tohunga, clean up this mess." Ranux ordered.
"Yes lord Ranux." The Tohunga replied.
The robust creature began clearing away fallen trees, and protodermis balls with remarkable speed. Soon I will have an army of these creatures Ranux thought as he walked back towards his throne, he grabbed the cart of scrap metal and took it with him to begin expanding his throne room. My fortress shall be the envy of the Brotherhoood he thought as he began melting down the scrap metal with molten protodermis.
Someday, someday I shall have Teridax's body, someday…
Miekka
Miekka watched helplessly as his body performed tasks for the Makuta "Ranux", he could still think, he still experienced the world through his senses. But his arms and legs, and voice refused to follow his orders, his mind was like an argument between 2 Tohunga, he was losing. A voice in the back of his head told him to accept it, and become one with the darkness, but he didn't wish to become a servant to evil, but he resisted.
No he thought, Give in, said the voice in his head, give in and embrace it, it said the voice, rolling the "ace" like a "ssssss". Suddenly, Miekka blacked out, a flurry of images passed before his mind's-eye, then he was at his earliest memory, the great war prior to the splitting of Spherus Magna. He stood on top of a hill, a battle going on below, he was fighting as well, his opponent was a fire Agori, he was being brutally beaten. Then suddenly a Soturi brought down a wicked blow on the Agori's head, and it fell unconscious. The same Soturi then gave an inspirational cry, and the Tohunga fought with renewed strength, overpowering their opponents.
Waves of newly freed up Tohunga then washed over the fire Agori, their foes were soon overcome. Miekka, snapped back into the present, and for a brief moment, he had control of his body, but it quickly reverted to the control of the shadow presence. It would appear, he thought that the Soturi's ancient power still resonates, maybe that's the key to escaping this mind control he thought to himself. The Soturi, much like Toa, were once the greatest warriors of the Tohunga, chosen by Mata-Nui to be given a new form, and power. They lead the Tohunga in the wars against the Elemental Lords, they vanished after Spherus Magna split.
Remember… Remember… Miekka tried, and tried, and then he blacked out again, and returned to the war that he had forgotten so long ago.