Two beings stood on a rooftop gazing at the swirling energy above Metru Nui. The bestial being turned to his cloaked companion and said, "It's almost here; I can practically taste our victory."
"Indeed," replied the other being's thousand voices, "the city of legends, and soon the rest of the world, shall soon bow to our power as we release the power of the Inferno and those who dwell therein."
A smile crossed the hunched creature's face as a chuckle escaped his lips. As he took in the scene before him, the Shadowed One remembered the moment that had started all this.
The Shadowed One sat in his throne room, his expression as blank as the wall behind him. Nothing much had happened today. No new employers, very few mission - to say the least, business was slow.
His mind suddenly told him that someone had entered the building. He concentrated, trying to find its identity. It was Spinner, returning from a Brotherhood raid. The Shadowed One opened the walls of the building, allowing the hunter quick access to the central room.
As he entered the room, Spinner bowed and said, "The fortress has fallen, sir; the Brotherhood is in retreat."
"Excellent, Spinner," replied the Shadowed One. "How many casualties?"
"Only five, sir, and twenty wounded."
"Very good, Spinner, I see putting you in charge of this mission was a good choice."
The two beings left the chamber and made their way to Nidhiki's Beach where the fruits of their conquest were being unloaded.
The raid had been a fruitful one. Weapons of all shapes and sizes were stacked on the beach. Valuables, some beyond description, lay in piles, just waiting to be taken away. Strangely enough, the Shadowed One was not attracted to either of these; rather, his gaze was fixed on a small pile of stone tablets. No doubt these detailed various Brotherhood experiments, but one tablet in particular drew his attention.
Not only was it not in any language he could comprehend, it also seemed to exude a power of its own. Curious, he picked it up. Looking closer, he saw carved on it, an image of the legendary Ignika.
"This could be interesting," he thought.
He looked around. "Hey Toa!" he called to one of the beings unloading the ships. Upon getting the ex-Toa's attention, the Shadowed One beckoned to the new recruit.
"What's your name, Toa?" he asked as the Toa of Stone approached.
"Nerek, sir," he responded a bit sheepishly.
"And is that a Rau you're wearing?"
"Yes."
"Good, I need you to do something for me." He slipped the tablet into the Toa's hand. "I need you to translate this for me." He smiled. "And don't tell anyone else about this. It'll be our little secret."
The Shadowed One chuckled as Nerek took off. "Works every time," he thought. "Act a little chummy, get them to let their guard down, and they'll do anything. New recruits, heh, especially Toa - they all want something, someone, to trust. He'll soon find out. The only one you can really trust is yourself." He sighed. "Sometimes, not even that."
A few days would pass before Nerek would finish his task, but the day he burst into the throne room, the Shadowed One could see that he had found something incredible.
"What have you got?" he asked, taking the translated tablet.
"Read it for yourself," Nerek exclaimed. "It's incredible."
As the Shadowed One read, his eyes grew wide. "This this is unbelievable. Where's the original?"
Nerek produced the tablet from his pack and handed it to his leader.
"Thank you Nerek," said the Shadowed One, "you've been a great help."
With that, power lanced from his eyes and struck the unfortunate Toa. As his body disintegrated to atoms, a ragged scream escaped Nerek's lips. The Shadowed One looked at the two tablets he held.
"No one can know about this, not even the Recorder. I might not be able to meet this person now, but when the time is right Oh yes, when the time is right, the entire world shall bow to my power."