Chapter 5
Shardak felt cold and impassive as he strode down the tunnel followed by Blast and their captors.
At first his mind had been awash with turmoil and doubt. He'd watched as the sapphire being, whom the obsidian beings referred to as Banrax escorted Blast and him into the darkened tunnel. He could see there were four more of the obsidian beings, and two were carrying lanterns that gleamed with acid green light, illuminating the tunnel ahead.
Slowly, they'd begun to walk, he and two of the obsidian beings leading, with Banrax guarding Blast. Both of the beings were carrying lanterns in one hand, spears in the other. Two of the obsidian beings had been sent ahead, and there were four still with them. Escape was impossible.
His mind had been filled with hundreds of questions. Where is Nightshade? Who or what is the Void Circle? And what do they want?
Worry and fear made any thought beyond that impossible. He'd wanted to tell Blast how sorry he was, how he didn't know what they were getting into when they set off in pursuit of the obsidian beings. But as they walked down what seemed to be an endless slope descending deeper into the earth, Shardak began to feel less and less worried, and his thoughts began to diminish, then cease altogether.
Weariness set in slowly, and he began to slow, only the threat of the obsidian beings' spears keeping him half awake. Only the constant, throbbing pain in his side, where the being's spear had struck him the day before, and in his shoulder, where the winged creatures had torn through his armor.
"We are here." announced Banrax.
"What?" asked Blast and Shardak at the same time. All of the beings had halted, but Blast saw nothing remarkable about the stretch of tunnel they currently occupied.
Then Banrax raised his hand, pointing it at the wall. There was a single flash of white light, and then he felt something pulling him toward the wall. Winds whipped around him, cold and forbidding. Even though they nearly drowned out sound completely, he was dimly aware of Blast screaming in surprise and shock. He tried to resist, but the inexorable pull on his body and mind dragged him back.
"Do not fight the power." advised Banrax, his voice nearly drowned out by the winds, which were growing stronger. "It will make the transfer less painful."
"Transfer?" Shardak tried to call back, but the winds tore the breath from his mouth before he could speak. Then he saw that the obsidian being's bodies were growing lighter, a strangely glowing field of energy surrounding them. Then, with a flash of light, the heavy winds seemed to tear them apart, the light that surrounded their bodies disintegrating quickly.
Shardak only had time to open his mouth to tell Blast how sorry he was that it would end like this, and barely had time to wonder if they were dying before they vanished in a flash of light. Shardak was conscious only of endless spinning into an abyss far deeper than the one they'd navigated earlier.
With no corporeal body, Shardak was unable to see or sense anything, beyond distinct areas of darkness and light. At first, the void was full of only shadow, but slowly it became filled with several glowing lights in the endless abyss.
First, he sensed an obsidian being. He reached out with his consciousness, and realized that he could almost "see" a faint nimbus of crackling dark energy in the void of shadows. Other colors and pinpoints of light emanated from the void as well.
He soon sensed several more like the first - the other obsidian beings he realized with a start- and he began to reach out further into them. He quickly realized that they were alive, but their consciousness was weak, and their senses dull. He felt no response to his probing and withdrew.
Reaching out further into the Void, he sensed Blast. The ebon Glatorian was harder to read then the obsidian beings. While he hadn't felt any emotions or ideas coming from the obsidian beings, he realized the energy he sensed coming from Blast was not just moral light and shadow. They were ideas and emotions. He could feel some type of power within Blast, but it was small and, like everything else he'd sensed within the Glatorian, unreadable. He didn't feel Blast react at all to his presence within the aura that held him intact within the void, and continued to probe, trying to puzzle out Blast's emotions.
He quickly discovered the overwhelming emotion within Blast was fear. Fear of death, fear of annihilation, fear that they would never return to Intax. Once he'd broken through the miasma of terror, he sensed other, fainter emotions. It was impossible to describe how he knew they were there. They were visible in a way something bright, vibrant, or overwhelmingly dark was, as though each consciousness in the void radiated pure energy.
Out of curiosity, he attempted to probe the Blade of Arcturas with his strange sense. He felt fire within it, but it was weak, not activated. Disappointed, he began to probe Blast again and gasped.
This time he realized he could sense the scythe Blast had found, and recoiled in shock. The raw, throbbing power within the scythe was impossible to fathom, so great it tore his own sense into writhing tendrils of matter. He was forced to withdraw slightly or risk his own presence in the Void's destruction. He didn't know whether that would kill him or not, and he hoped to never find out.
Then, suddenly, he felt another presence touch his, the aura mingling with his own, confirming the owner. Banrax! He thought in shock, and began to read their captor's emotions. Surprisingly, he realized the overwhelming emotion was...recognition. Quickly, Banrax withdrew slightly, seeming to realize what he was probing.
The shock emanating from Banrax was so great and unprepared that Shardak thought for a minute the bolt of searing energy would tear his own presence apart. Just when he thought the pain would be too much to bear, Banrax withdrew, and Shardak realized that the vibrant colors that surrounded him were vanishing.
Slowly, vision returned. His eyes were blurry, and his body felt sluggish, as though it was just awakening. Every drop of vitality had been stolen from him in the transfer, and the shock that suddenly the corporeal world had returned was so sudden he almost fell over. When his vision was completely restored he noticed Blast lying on the ground. As he was about to race to his friend's side, Banrax suddenly seemed to sense what he was thinking and moved to intercept him.
"He is alive. Spontaneous matter transfer is very dangerous and debilitating for those who cannot sense the aura field. He will recover in a few hours." the being said. The tone of his voice made Shardak slightly worried. It was as though the being was examining Shardak in a slightly detached yet curious tone, like a being examining a corpse.
"Matter transfer? We were transported here? What happened?" asked Shardak. "What was that...energy?"
Banrax smiled. "You'll learn soon enough."
"Where are we? Are we still underground?" Shardak asked. With a sinking feeling, he realized the possibility of returning to Intax was growing slimmer every minute.
Banrax merely smiled, his expression cold. "Look around you."
Shardak turned and gasped in shock and awe.
Directly ahead of them, perhaps several bio away, a titanic stone column rose above toward the ceiling of the massive cave in which they stood. The wide stone base of the column was built up with streets, half-fallen walls, and several larger, more elaborate structures. A few glimmered with faint silvery illumination, and here and there a lantern shed green illumination in small pools of green light separated by gulfs of shadow.
Along the pathway leading toward the gates of the massive city, Shardak saw several lanterns lit with the same green light as those carried by the obsidian beings and Banrax, and by that illumination he saw a river of winding gray water surrounded the base of the column in front of the walls. As they walked slowly toward the city gates, Shardak noticed the river flowed into a massive sea that stretched on and on in the distance. In the eerie, cold green illumination, the sea appeared a deep, unfathomable emerald.
The cavern was massive, reaching more than one hundred bio into the air and stretching an undefinable length into the distance. Shardak couldn't tell whether this was made by beings in the distant past by unknown powers, perhaps elemental like those of the Toa, or if it was a naturally occurring phenomenon. Looking around, he saw the cavern was far wider than the tunnel they'd been standing in moments ago, and he could not make out the cavern's walls at all.
"Approach." ordered Banrax, and wordlessly Shardak did so. Dark stones, carelessly thrown together, formed an open gatehouse. The arch revealed a rubble-strewn roadway, a rather rundown wall that had collapsed altogether in some places, and an ominous cityscape beyond.
Although no one seemed to be guarding the gateway, Banrax seemed completely at ease. Raising a clawed hand to point at the archway, he whispered something unintelligible. Almost immediately, several beings seemed to appear in front of them. Shardak almost gasped in shock when he saw a being seem to materialize in front of him.
The beings were stocky and tall, with pale, almost white eyes. At first they reminded Shardak unnervingly of the creatures they'd fought in the void above, but then he saw a spark of intelligence in their pale eyes and relaxed slightly. They were mostly organic, with light green armor, and one wore a helmet that obscured his face completely except his eyes. They all carried spears that matched those
"Lord Banrax." said one of the beings, bowing slightly. Banrax did not acknowledge the being at all, but gestured imperiously toward the gateway. As he saw several more of the obsidian creatures emerge from the darkness, he began to speak again, this time not in the common language, but in several short words. They reminded Shardak of the common language, and wondered if they were code words.
One of the obsidian beings whispered something in common, and the pale-eyed beings stepped aside fearfully as they watched Banrax's gaze travel over them. Finally he turned and, gesturing for Shardak, Blast, and the rest of his patrol to follow.
Slowly, heart heavy, Shardak stepped past the gate and into the city. Very few beings were standing on the streets, a stark contrast to Intax's usually crowded alleyways. He could see well, thanks to the ghoulish green light that shone down over the city.
As he looked for the source, he saw that it was shining from several tall lampposts that were designed with claws with three talons that grasped luminous spheres of green light. In the eerie glow, Shardak made out several more of the obsidian beings, as well as the pale-eyed creatures that had been guarding the gatehouse. Slowly, as they moved toward the massive spire of earth that stood at the center of the city, the small crowd dwindled.
Then he saw another being. It was neither one of the obsidian constructs or the pale-eyed beings, but a tall, thin individual standing beside one of the lampposts. Bathed in the green half-light, Shardak saw he was wearing a black cloak that shrouded his face in darkness. His entire body was tense and sinewy, and bent slightly forward. One corpse-like hand grasped a small, curved dagger.
Even in the faint illumination, the being's robe appeared darker then the blackest night, as though taunting the light itself. As he saw them pass, he raised his veiled head to stare at them, and Shardak glimpsed cold, red eyes under the hood. Its entire being radiated darkness.
Then it hit him like a lightning bolt. This being was the same hooded being that had killed Arcturas. Shock, cold and burning at the same time, tore through him for an instant before being replaced by the dull ache of despair.
"We're in real danger now, Blast." he whispered shakily as they passed through a much higher gate, with ghostly silhouettes of guards patrolling the ramparts. Blast did not reply.
Banrax halted before the massive spire. Now, up close, Shardak could see the spire was made entirely out of pure black rock, darker then even obsidian. Whereas obsidian gleamed in the darkness, this rock almost seemed to absorb the light like the veiled being's cloak. He could see ornate windows carved into the spire's walls, and with a start he realized the interior was hollow. Two more of the obsidian beings stood rigidly at attention at the nondescript door. Had Shardak not been standing directly in front of the spire, he would not have noticed it.
"Enter." hissed Banrax as the two Glatorian halted, feeling very small and weak in the shadow of this colossal formation.
Shardak couldn't tell in the cold green light, but he thought Banrax was half-smiling at him. But it was not a smile of friendship. It was the smile that a hunter wears after a successful hunt, a detached smirk that spoke of a mission well completed. Uneasily, Shardak and Blast steeled themselves, and then stepped through the doorway.
The interior of the spire was lit with several torches, even darker then the lanterns hanging in the city outside. The crackling flames were not orange, but a cold blue or green. Shardak shivered as he passed one of the lanterns, and realized, fascinated but also horrified, that the lanterns gave off not heat, but cold.
"Burning Ice," said Banrax, as though he'd read Shardak's thoughts. "It's one of the unique substances that occurs naturally in the Circle."
Shardak could barely hear him, however. The spire was open and not narrow, but somehow he felt mounting claustrophobia and dread, as though the shadows themselves were closing in on them.
Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity but in reality could have only been about five minutes, Banrax halted before a large steel door. In the cold blue light, Shardak made out runic letters written in a strange language inscribed on the door. Banrax opened the door slightly, then slipped into the room, closing the door silently behind him.
Blast and Shardak stood for a few moments outside the chamber, and heard Banrax's voice through the door, as well as another voice, speaking in a strange language that sounded horribly like nails scraping over a rock. Another voice, slightly deeper than the first but still nasal and rasping, joined the first in the same language.
A few minutes later he heard Banrax whisper several words hastily and opened the door. While he was smiling, his eyes were cold and slightly scared.
"Come." he ordered, motioning for the obsidian beings to remain outside.
Slowly, Shardak and Blast stepped into the chamber. Not knowing at all what to expect, the two Glatorian entered the chamber.
Unlike the rest of the spire, this chamber only had a single blue torch hanging on the wall, the rest of the room was shrouded in darkness. The cold light illuminated two tall, cloaked beings standing in the shadows, their hands corpse-like and emaciated, like the being Shardak had been on the street within the city. Their eyes, cold dark red, burned with a horrible intensity.
Unlike the being in the city, Shardak could see they were wearing masks that hid their faces except for their slotted red eyes. They stared at Shardak impassively, their expressions completely unreadable.
"These beings are the Ix." said Banrax, though Shardak could see his expression was one of fear. He was trying desperately to conceal it, but it was obvious to both Glatorian. "They will ask you several questions."
"You may go." said one of the Ix, his voice cold and nasal. Banrax nodded and hastily walked out the door, his head bowed. Shardak wanted to run out the door as well, but the Ix's cold red eyes kept him anchored to the spot. Both of the Ix did not speak for a few moments, then raised their hands as one.
"Do not fight the darkness." rasped the Ix on the left. "Or it will rend your soul apart."
"The darkness?" asked Blast, and though he tried to keep his voice calm, he was unable to disguise the fear in his voice. "What do you mean?"
The Ix gave not the slightest hint of emotion, but one said, "You will find out soon enough."
"We-" began Shardak, but one Ix held up a hand for silence. Both beings stared at the two Glatorian, and Shardak felt the same sensation he'd felt during the transfer, that another being was touching him. Looking at Blast, he saw his friend was surrounded by a field of energy, similar to the one he'd seen during the transfer. The scythe he carried was a blinding ray of immense energy, and Shardak could not stare at it for long without becoming dazzled.
Then he felt the touch again, and saw a black tendril of energy had touched the white light surrounding him. Slowly, the darkness spread across the entire field, tightening slowly. Shardak felt horrible cold engulf his limbs, holding him almost completely still. He opened his mouth to speak, but felt cold hands on his throat, choking off the words.
Do not fight the darkness. He heard the Ix's nasal rasp in his mind. Let the pain flow through you.
Shardak felt the darkness spread, containing the energy field around him completely, and while he was completely distracted he felt a blinding flash of pain within his skull. He tried to speak, but the flash came again, and this time he felt pain, a harsh jolt against the cold numbness before, spread through his body. While he could not see anything beyond the haze of light and darkness, he was conscious of screams coming from the world outside.
The Ix began questioning him, each syllable a painful jolt that wracked his body until he cried out for it to stop. It vanished for a moment, then returned, greater than before.
What is your name?
Where do you come from?
What is your purpose?
Do you know a being called Arcturas?
What do you know of the Empire?
Each word was uttered within his mind, and each word was more painful than the last. He was dimly conscious of his mouth moving in reply, and he could see the hazy forms of the Ix channeling bolt after bolt of dark energy into the light field around him, all the while questioning him.
Do you know how to utilize the Aura field?
What do you know of the Empire?
What is your name?
Do you know a being called Arcturas?
"Stop!" he was screaming, over and over. The pain was becoming even more intense now, as though it was scouring his very soul for the truth. The Ix were still questioning him, and he knew that on some level he was replying, but the pain was too great for him to do anything else.
I don't care anymore, let me die, I want to die, stop, stop...the pain- His thoughts were swept away by the indifferent hand of the Ix as he continued the questioning.
Do you know how to utilize the Aura field?
Where did you come from?
Slowly, their words were again lost in the abyss of pure terror and pain. He felt as though he was drowning in a sea of liquid torment, as though answering the Ix's questions only kept him barely afloat. He was not conscious of time, nor did he ever learn how much he'd told the Ix, but slowly he felt the pain begin to drain out of him, and felt the dark energy surrounding his energy field dissipate.
His first thought was, Mata Nui, this hurts. Then he fell to the ground, half-conscious. He could see Blast leaning against the wall, his eyes half closed and his armor plates somewhat damaged. The torture had left him feeling strangely empty on the inside, as though it had eaten away at his very soul. He could also see Banrax standing in the doorway, his face a carefully composed mask.
"That will be enough." said one Ix, his horrible voice devoid of all emotion as before. Shardak tried to summon up hatred for these pitiless torturers, but could feel nothing but the terrible emptiness within him. "Banrax, take them to the Holding Cells. We will continue the session tomorrow."