CHAPTER ONE

The Ruby-Eyes never really had a special talent that they could show for. If being harsh and short-tempered was one, then the Ruby-Eyes sure had a talent just like the rest of their species. No one went near the Ruby-Eyes for this reason, all of them gathering around the members that shared the same eye colors as they did. Fraternizing with another eye color meant more suspicion for the Rahkshi. More suspicion meant more metallic fragments and, as everyone knew, more metallic fragments meant more death as well as more work.

More. The word had two meanings. From the common, standard, and average perspective, the word more means an addition, but in the psychological perspective, more, pronounced moray, meant a custom of a culture, that, when violated, harbored deathly serious consequences. One of the customs on the island was to never go near the volcano. No one asked why… Well, some did, and the idea of asking was dropped after the questioners met shrapnel. That was many years ago. The Eyelanders never ventured to the northern parts of the island, where the volcano thrived, even now because they have completely forgotten the edict, the Eyelanders being used to the daily routine: waking up, being followed by their Rahkshi to the building site, working until the sun was replaced by the moon, being taken back to the village, and falling asleep, the Rahkshi standing guard in case the Eyelander wanted to leave, not that they could have, anyways.

So it was a serious more violation that the Ruby-Eye would have somehow disabled the Rahkshi, somehow slipping through the village unnoticed by all of the other Rahkshi, even going so far as to set off towards the volcano and not attempt to salvage up a boat out of the metals at hand. This was not a more violation anymore, it was a violation of law; it was sheer suicide.

Or was it? The volcano seemed to hold many secrets, and for thousands of years, the Eyelanders have been laboring… For what? Someone who wouldn't even show his face to the Eyelanders, who would wrap the island in secrecy, who would kill the ones that he was, supposedly, in charge of protecting. There couldn't have been a reason to kill off so many, to do all of this. What was the point?

Even further still was the never-ending question of why the workforce never lessened, always seemingly retaining the same number even though so many have died at the hands of the Rahkshi. Perhaps the Makuta had an infirmary of his own, where he patched up the Eyelander, or Eyelanders, and sent them back… But from where? This is why the Ruby-Eye started his climb up the slope, to answer some of these swimming questions in his head. This was his purpose.

The Ruby-Eye paused his ascent and looked around for the second time that day. His Rahkshi was looking for him; no doubt, flying all across the island, never thinking that this one would be foolish enough to even go near the volcano. He smiled at this. He was ready for them, though not 'ready' in the way that most would expect. He was ready to die.

He decided that he was ready as he saw the Rahkshi fly towards the volcano, staff in hand. It alighted at the base and stood there, menacingly clutching its staff as if that were all it had left in the world. The Ruby-Eye waited for the creature to make a move. It didn't, except to roar towards the sight of the Rahkshi leading everyone to work. One of the Rahkshi, a spineless one, flew over towards its 'brother' and stood next to him, its cold, blue eyes gleaming in the early morning sunlight.

"Come here," The Rahkshi said in monotone, pointing towards the ground next to him. "Now." The Ruby-Eye looked up at the caldera of the volcano, and then walked down towards where the two Rahkshi stood. He came here to find answers, and now he has found one: There is something inside of the volcano. Something important to the Rahkshi.

If the enforcers had been looking at the Ruby-Eye, they would have questioned his smile. If they could read his mind, however, the Rahkshi would have been puzzled by the two words that entered his mind during the smile: The Makuta.

Months had passed since that day on the volcano. The Rahkshi had since then watched their charges more closely, the spineless ones now issuing death threats in order to keep them working, since the fortress was nearing its completion within a week.

The Eyelanders, the Rahkshi noticed, were getting nervous. Since the announcement that the fortress was soon to be completed, the Eyelanders were questioning what they would do after the building was done with. They could go on and practice their traits, turning them into jobs to benefit the community, but would that be what the Makuta would want?

"I say we escape to the sea!" said one Azure-Eye, raising his arm for attention. "We can just barrel through those Rahkshi!" said one of the Emerald-Eyes, his comrades backing him up with rowdy encouragement. A Sapphire-Eye piped up, "We can escape to the stars! We can strip down the fortress metals, build a rocket, and… and…" He stopped his rambling and looked up from his plotting hands and saw that the entire room of Eyelanders was looking at him.

Months ago, one of the Amber-Eyes noticed that the Rahkshi never watched anyone in their homes. He moved his bed with some difficulty and started tunneling under the earth using the Rahkshi-regulation knives he got for gathering metal under the soil. This Eyelander loved the earth because of those beautiful knives, and their serrated edges were perfect for cutting off the limbs of his fellow species to replace… Or store away for the future. He was a medic, after all. He tunneled for hours and finally bumped into a Ruby-Eye, starting a partnership that would last for millennia to come.

Soon after that day, whispered talk about the underground meetings took place between unrelated phrases like, "Pass me the welder, would you?" or "Hand me that piece of metal." and even "Grab me some dirt. I'm hungry," and more Eyelanders dug underneath their homes, creating a network of tunnels beneath the surface of the island, as well as a central hub connecting the tunnels in the middle of the village. This led to massive overnight digs that helped construct a large room that housed all of the population of the island. Fortunately, stones that emitted light were found during the digs, allowing for a safe and easy way home as well as to help light up the meeting hall. The best part about this was that the Rahkshi never noticed. It was all too easy.

"So, my Ruby-Eyed associate," said an Amber-Eye carrying two serrated-edged knives, "How was the volcano?" The addressed whirled on the addressee, "Horrible," his voice was dripping with disgust and a trace of malice, "I learned nothing except that heat is good and that you have no foresight… Always egotistical, you ambers," he said, walking away towards the podium on a makeshift earthen stage, "Always."

"Attention! Members of the Island Via Underground! Members of IVU!" The congregation kept talking. "SILENCE!" Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked up at the Ruby-Eyed one at the podium and a hush fell over the crowd. A smile of accomplishment came from the visage of the Ruby-Eyed being. He cleared his throat and spoke. "The time has come to rebel against the Rahkshi and take ownership of this island! We will go to the source of this misery and bring down those responsible for it! No longer will the Makuta's shadow threaten this place with his darkness!" The Eyelanders started cheering as the Ruby-Eye continued, "We will then live under a new rule… Our rule! The rule of IVU!"

At this point, the crowd erupted, the Rahkshi standing guard above believing it to be a small earth tremor. They still kept their guard, though. Better to be guarding the dome than looking around for the source of a natural cause.

The Ruby-Eye walked off the stage, away from the cheering mob of Eyelanders and his Amber-Eyed partner. Let them cheer, he thought, Let them have their fun… While I enact my plan…

He later placed his bed over the hole beneath leading to the congregation room and crawled onto the slab of rock, exhausted. However, he had last thought he had before drifting off to sleep. My plan to make this island mine…