"So, we're all in agreement?" said Trell. Zorkek and Redizic nodded in assent.
With that, the three of them entered Cedrak's room. The Skakdi was sitting on his bed, a despondent look on his face. Tahlis was curled up in his lap, sleeping soundly. He looked up as his friends entered the room.
"She was so close," he said. "Had I been just a bit faster..." His voice trailed off as he began to cry silently once more.
Trell sat beside him and placed his hand on his shoulder. "Cedrak," he said, "we might not know what you're feeling right now, but we're here for you."
Cedrak looked up at his friends and said, "Thank you, Trell. But it's no use now. She's gone, and I don't know where she is."
"Actually, my friend, I think we do," said Redizic. With that, he pulled a parchment map from behind his back and laid it out on the table in Cedrak's room. Several lines and circles were drawn across various parts of the map.
"We all know she came from Tedra Nui," he said. "Here's Zeriger," he pointed to a point on the Southern Continent's coast. "And here is the island of Tedra Nui."
Cedrak's eyes lit up as he looked at the point on the map. The island was far out from the coast, set apart from any other land mass.
Cedrak looked up at his friends. "Thank you, my friends. Now that I have a direction, I know what I have to do. I won't ask you to -"
"Oh, don't be ridiculous!" said Trell. "Of course we're coming with you."
"Yeah," continued Zorkek, "we didn't come this far with you just to stop now."
"Same goes for me, pal," said Redizic. "I need some adventure, too."
"But what about the inn?" asked Cedrak.
"Already sold it," said the Aquaton. "I've had someone wanting to buy the place for months, anyway."
"So, what's our plan?" asked Cedrak.
"Well," said Trell, "we checked the ship schedules, but there isn't another ship headed in that direction for another week."
"Fortunately," said Redizic, "I know someone who can help with that."
The Aquaton led the three others through the streets of Zeriger to a less savory part of town. Here, the streets and buildings were even more chaotic than the rest of the city. Finally, he stopped in front of a small hut. A rotten wooden door hung slightly off its hinges, creaking in the breeze.
"Where are we?" asked Cedrak.
"The guy who lives here," said Redizic, "is probably the most powerful being in the city."
"Then why does he live in this dump?" asked Trell.
"Keeps him under the radar, and there's one thing you should know though," said Redizic. "Jagrin's a bit unstable."
"Well, thanks for letting us know," Zorkek humphed.
The door creaked open on its own, and a voice from the inside said, "Come in."
The four beings entered the hut and found themselves in a small room, poorly furnished. A small being sat off to one side, shadows falling over his body.
"What have we here?" asked the being, his voice creaking almost as much as his front door.
"Yes, Jagrin, we're here to ask a -" said Redizic.
"Of course, Redizic, you want me to do something for you. Why else would you be here?" replied the small being.
"Um, pardon me for asking," said Cedrak, "but how exactly can you help us?"
The small being turned his bright orange eyes towards the Skakdi. After a few moments, a grin began to slide across his lizard-like face.
Jagrin laughed quietly, "Hehehe, a Skakdi in love with a Toa, hehehe. Oh, that's rich."
"Hey," said Zorkek, "we came to do business, not be laughed at for - Gah!"
The Po-Matoran suddenly flew off the ground and floated upside down in the air. Trell and Cedrak just stared their friend as he clawed at the air.
"Amusing friends, you have here, Redizic," said Jagrin. "They've got more pluck than I would have thought had I just been looking at them. So," he turned his attention to Cedrak, "you need to get to Tedra Nui, as soon as you can, eh?"
"How did you know?" asked Cedrak.
"Ah, you know, telepathy, mind control, that sort of thing," replied the small creature.
"Would you mind putting Zorkek down?" asked Redizic.
The small being looked a bit surprised, as though he had forgotten about the floating Matoran. "Certainly," he said, releasing his telekinetic hold on Zorkek.
"Now, Redizic," he continued, "you know I don't work for free, and since I know everything in your head, I'll need to ask your friends here."
"What do you mean?" asked Trell, as he helped Zorkek up.
"Jagrin doesn't accept anything physical for payment," said the Aquaton. "All he takes is information. It has to be stuff he hasn't heard before, too."
"So," said Jagrin, "tell me something I don't know. Though, it might be kinda hard for you. An old Arlon like myself has seen and heard a lot."
"Uh," began Trell.
"I know that," replied Jagrin, receiving the information telepathically.
"How about -" Zorkek started.
"Nope," said Jagrin.
"How about this?" asked Cedrak, as his eyes narrowed slightly in concentration.
Jagrin reached into Cedrak's mind again, and his eyes grew wide.
His mouth dropped slightly before he said, "A Great Being?"
Cedrak nodded.
The reptilian creature sat still for a few moments before his smile returned.
"Redizic," he said, "I think I've found sufficient payment. So, you need a ship to Tedra Nui. One moment please."
Jagrin closed his eyes, a look of deep concentration on his face.
After a few moments, he opened his eyes and said, "A ship will leave tomorrow at noon. The captain, who will be at Wharf 14, will be a Steltian elite. When you find him, ask him where he is going. He will tell you Metru Nui. If you ask him if he will take you to Tedra Nui, he will say no, but offer to pay him in advance, and he will assent."
"How do -" began Trell.
"Oh it's quite simple, really," replied Jagrin. "I simply use some telepathy, mental detection, a little mind control, some persuasion, and a little bit of telekinesis to make sure that it all happens just that way. I've never been wrong before, and I'm not now."
He turned to Cedrak. "Thank you for that delightful tidbit. Rest assured; I'm excellent at keeping secrets."
He whipped his gaze over to Zorkek. "Actually, lots of people take me seriously." He smiled.
As the four beings left the hut, Jagrin called after them, "I wish you all good luck on your voyage."
When they reached the Burrowing Burnak, Trell turned to Cedrak and asked, "Would you care to tell us what exactly you told Jagrin that he found so fascinating?"
"Certainly," said Cedrak, "but over some of Redizic's famous Madu brew. I could drink a river right now."