A/N: Yay! Another chapter (finally)! What complications will it bring? :)
1: The Message
Circa 500 BC
Approx 1500 BGC
Haavok hesitantly removed his Kanohi Hau to put on the semi-organic wraparound synthetic mask resembling the planet's dominant species. He sighed as he replaced the Hau on the Wall of Masks.
As he smoothed the weird mask over his features and put on his cloak, Haavok pondered over the problem of the Mahiki only disguising him as a member species of Mata Nui.
Even though the Kanohi Mahiki—also known as the Mask of Illusion and another of his many Kanohis—was capable of causing the wearer to change their appearance to that of another creature, it was unable to disguise him as a "human", as those creatures called themselves. He already tried several times over thrice as many years.
"I'll have to work on it," he muttered as he pulled the hood over his head and stepped into the bright light of the local sun.
For 500 local years, the Toa dispatched by the Order of Mata Nui had observed this world under various aliases, from the faceless cloaked figure to various named people of many races.
Mata Nui specifically chose this species for monitoring as they possessed the ability to kiss and make up remarkably fast, despite being nearly constantly at war. This also happened to run along Mata Nui's primary goal: study all war-related and/or peace-related behaviours of other species.
Each time Toa Helryx sent him a note on what to observe, such as "visual documentation of a local battle/war as soon as one naturally occurs"; he would be sent gallivanting off to the nearest zone of tension to observe battle after sickening battle.
Some messages, however, didn't make any sense. Examples include the mysterious "Search to entire world tirelessly for one similarly attired and mannered as you, or a native who acts out of line. Kill on sight and return to base only when the entire surface has been searched twice, or when aforementioned individual has been eliminated."
He had just received that particular message and was troubled by its wording. It went against the Toa Code to kill; even the Great Beings despised the act. Why would Helryx, head of the most powerful and loyal organisation in the whole of Mata Nui—and above all, Toa—order him to go on what could degenerate into a killing spree? Given the number of madmen among humans this was very likely.
Ah, the advantages of being biomechanical.
He banished the thought. What has he, a mere pawn, to know of the mysterious ways of the Order of Mata Nui's leader? His orders were to follow orders and serve the Great Spirit faithfully, both of which he did, and was doing, to the best of his ability. He triggered the base's defence mechanisms and buried the entrance.
Saddling his "horse", as the locals called the beast of burden, he rode off in search of the unknown and mysterious person of his cryptic message. Shifting uneasily on the ill-fitting saddle and wishing he were on a Kikanalo instead, he began to ponder: Now, why would such a person be so wanted? Does Helryx want documentation of people likely to cause war?
Little did Haavok know how much trouble this particular being would cause him. His first clue would come way, way too late.
A/N: Hi guys! Chapter 2 is up! Are you happy or what? (Say you're happy)
Q282_