Co-Authored by Dragon Claw92 and Omicron the IceQueen
Queen's notes: Watch out for a panicking Ga-Matoran... and what the Toa of stone can do with his head!
Heroes of Spherus Magna
Toa Hwekii
"I wouldn't mind it." Stormer responded after a moment or two of thought. "Though if he's resting I should probably leave him be." He knew how testy people could get if they were disturbed during their down time, but all the same, he did want to actually meet Hewkii, as well as thank him for his help. After all, the mech knew he and Macku probably wouldn't have stood a chance if things had kept going the way they were during the fight.
"He's not sleeping," Macku giggled, "Just digesting his dinner; if Hewkii wanted to sleep he wouldn't be in the village but sleeping in the deeper water." She grinned as she diverted long enough to get a basket of large blue and red marble spheres, local fruit about the size of a melon, easily able to hold and balance it on her head. "Or in the Great Temple."
The mech seemed amused. "I was referring to getting some alone time." He remarked. "Resting doesn't always have to mean sleep, after all." His gaze then went to the fruit. "...What are those?"
"They're a new kind of Gogi berries," The Matoran grinned, "Very tasty and grow in this Wahi. And again, if Toa Hewkii wanted to be alone, he wouldn't be in the village. Toa love Matoran, and the young, and," she looked ahead with a smile that wasn't a grin or small, and there was something else going on, "And being with a Toa... it's the safest pace to be on the Magna."
Stormer considered her words with intrigue, though inwardly he couldn't help but feel he wasn't quite living up to the sort of standard he should've been. Pushing that side thought away though, he gave a small nod of sorts. "The Toa seem like they're very good people to be around, and have around. I can't imagine what it would have ended up like if there weren't any."
"I know what its like," Macku looked down, "A lot of Matoran do, for a long time there were no Toa, for a thousand years in the Dark-Times."
"...Was there anyone to help you?" He asked, his expression showing concern. "Any form of protection?"
"Not on my island," Macku shook her head slightly, "Like I said before, before the Dark Times, the Toa were all either killed or imprisoned. So we Matoran- well, not all but many had to defend ourselves from infected Rahi. The Ta-Koro Guard on my island, most of the Ta-Matoran proved to be some of the best defenders with Onu-Matoran right behind. Le-Matoran runners and pilots mastered the sky, we Ga-Matoran all became healers. Ko-Matoran hunters and Po-Matoran crafters... we built walls and learned to fight."
The mech was quiet while he listened to what she said, only nodding when she was done and he'd had it sorted. "That does sound harsh... how did the Toa return, or come to be, then? If all of the others were dead or otherwise engaged?"
"Somewhere hidden, the Toa Mata," Macku explained once more, "The Chronicler at the time, my best friend Takua- he's called Taka now, summoned them. I was apart of the Chronicler's Company so I saw the Toa as they saved us, they saved the Rahi too! And though they did fight as any new team will, they rose to each challenge that the Makuta Teridax tried."
"Oh, right. I recall you telling me that." Stormer responded, thinking it through a bit. "Sorry about that. I remember hearing this now." He offered a faint smile of sorts. "Still sorting through the details of everything you told me before."
"It's a lot to take in, and most all of us have lived through it all." Macku smiled as they approached an open temple, large enough for several of the larger beings to stand around in. There were some other Matoran, mostly the blue females, but some larger males of black and brown based armor moving around, checking the temple, coming or going or just passing by. Several were giving Stormer odd and interested looks, but were too polite to pry, not shy or afraid of him, just polite.
The mech nodded as he walked with her, thinking it over a bit more before confessing. "It might take a bit of time before my processors fully have the information sorted, but I'll do what I can to remember everything when I'm asked about it. Please bear with me until it's sorted." He had noticed the looks he was getting now too, but wasn't too phased. He was used to being stared at, so this was somewhat routine for him.
"I'm a Story Keeper now," Macku smiled, "I'm kind of used to repeating stories for Agori." She walked into the temple, looking around and then fallowed the giggles, "Okay kids, give Hewkii loves and time for bed!"
"Aww..." The smaller, clearly children looked down from their perches on the massive frame that was lounging back against the wall.
"Aww..." The Toa crooned, moving slowly and ever so gently to cradle three in his arms against his chest. "It is getting late for you lot." He chuckled, the large crested head tilting down to look at the collection of young sprawling on his frame.
"We want a kiss!" One of the little green colored boys cried, getting cheers of agreement from the rest of the youth, and the giant rolled his eyes, the breather like respirator on his head and helm looked completely integrated though.
Needless to say, Stormer was rather surprised, and amused, by the scene he and Macku came across. While he didn't fully show it, he was laughing quietly inside, as well as surprised by the sheer size of Hewkii. After all, Stormer was supposed to be a Hero, and here the Toa was quite able to tower over him. Certainly not a good boost to one's ego.
That and the Toa was pretty much the same size as some of the larger, and nastier baddies that Stormer had to fight over the years. Yet the actions the mech could see were all slow and gentle, even as Hewkii cradled three children at a time in his arms, ducking his head as low as possible to let them thump their masks against his. A deep rumbling purr vibrating out of his chest in pleasure of being with those that were so innocent and under his protections.
The veteran mech took time to observe and watch in silence, seeming intrigued, amazed, and perhaps slightly uneasy, of the Toa before him. He knew one thing for certain; he wished Hero Factory was able to make Heroes that size. It probably would've been a major help in the past.
Each youngling had to have the same motion, pressing mask to head with the Toa- and that was his kanohi mask though Stormer wouldn't know right away. It was the Bionicle equivalent of a kiss, and after the Toa set each one down, knowing each child by name and shooing them off with parents or caretakers until he was at last free to sit up.
Stormer just watched them go, seeming amused and intrigued as he watched after the kids. He could remember the child bots back on his home planet acting like that, racing up to meet their hero and only leaving when they had their attention for a moment at least. It brought back good memories. Soon enough though, he turned his gaze back to Hewkii, and then looked at Macku, as though asking her what to do next.
She pushed the large basket into his arms, then pounced. Hewkii swept her up and folded her into an embrace, only pulling back so they could press kanohi together, longer than a tap. The Toa's purring changed into a loving tone as he nuzzled and held onto the Ga-Matoran.
"Mata Nui Macku, I thought I nearly lost you today, when I found your boat crush... and the rahi!" Hewkii huffed.
The veteran raised an optic ridge as he watched her go, just left standing there and holding the basket with a confused expression on his face. Eventually though, he shrugged and just stood there, waiting and watching in silence while the pair cuddled.
"Sorry," Hewkii said and his tri-color eyes turned to the smaller mech, one closing as Macku nuzzled against him.
"I'm not!" The girl giggled, dropping down to rest her cheek against the Toa's pulsing heart-light in bliss.
Stormer shrugged slightly and set the basket down. "It's fine. I've held worse." He paused before adding with a small nod of gratitude. "Thank you for helping us earlier."
"Not only is it my duty," Hewkii inclined his shielded head, "But I would never go far, let alone leave my life mate unprotected."
"Your life ma-oh." He figured it out mid-sentence, and smiled faintly. However, he paused to look between the pair, as though trying to figure out how a match with that sort of size difference would even work very well. Eventually though, he gave up. "All the same though, I am grateful."
"I wasn't always this big," Hewkii was grinning inside the breather mask, eyes glittering with mirth.
The mech seemed as though he may have blinked were he capable of it. However, he soon recalled Macku telling him that part as well, and nodded. "Oh, right. I remember hearing about that now." He paused to briefly glance down at himself before quickly looking back at Hewkii. Normally he was the tallest on his team, but now? This just felt awkward.
"Toa have to come from somewhere, and most are made from Matoran, not born Toa," The giant shifted and let Macku slide into his lap, and impishly tickling her to get a trill. Looking back he gave a half smile, "Macku said you were separated from your brothers?"
Stormer gave a small nod of sorts, by now aware that Toa generally called their team by sibling terms thanks to Macku's stories. "Yes. Our ship tore apart and... Well, the part I was in crushed Macku's boat, if I'm recalling it correctly."
"Do you have any idea of the trajectories?" the Toa nudge Macku off to shift up and sit on his knees, clearing up some space and pointed down at the carved floor, he looked around and pointed at a spot with the lay out of the village. "This is Ga-Koro, your landing spot was...here." the other clawed finger pointed at a second spot.
The bot shook his head now and grimaced as he moved closer to get a look at the map. "I didn't. When the cockpit broke off, it was all I could do to actually figure out what happened."
"Not very well made," Hewkii frowned, tilting his crested head, then motioned to the map, "what angle were you coming from,"
"We... I, don't actually know why the ship broke apart. The ships we use normally don't just blow up for something fun to do." He then sighed and looked at the map, grimacing a bit in calculation before pointing in the direction. "There. That looks to be the angle..." He thought a moment. "... I think..." He sighed. "I'm still not used to the area very much."
"What did you see outside?" Macku offered, "It can't be that different than Air Toa flying higher up for long distances."
"... I saw swamp?" Stormer responded with a sigh. "I was a bit preoccupied with figuring out why the ship blew apart."
"Think about it," Macku said gently, her voice calm, "What was the color of the ground, where there shining lines, or mucky? Was it green or brown?" The landing spot was near where three Wahi converged.
The veteran took a bit of time to recall, but eventually spoke. "It was muddy and mostly brown." He remarked. "Very wet, and nothing shiny anywhere. Even the water was dull."
There was a long pause, and then the two Bionicle looked at each other. "Po-Wahi." They said at the same time with a nod.
"The debris trail would be heading to Po-Koro or Ta-Koro in that direction." Hewkii nodded, "If your ship was breaking, it's likely in that direction."
Stormer looked at the pair, one optic ridged raised slightly at their synchronization, but he gave a faint nod all the same. "Well, that should help." He looked back at the map. "I just hope they survived the crash..."
"Hopefully the inside was better made than the hull," The Toa smirked, be no means passing up a teasing poke.
The mech gave a grim nod. "I sincerely hope so." He remarked, frowning as he looked at the floor. He seemed to be trying to figure out just why the ship had broken apart. So far he hadn't figured out why, and it was definitely bothering him.
... It also seemed that he didn't have a grand sense of humor.
Hewkii rolled his eyes, "It will be a while before even the false dawn, not sure how well you can see in the dark."
"A false dawn?" Stormer inquired. "What do you mean? ... And I can't see in the dark that well. I wasn't equipped with the proper gear for that when we set out."
"The time of light before the sun rises," Hewkii explained, nodded to the direction of sunrise.
The mech didn't quite seem to fully understand how that worked. "How is there light before the sun rises?"
"When it's under the horizon but hasn't lifted yet." The Toa said dryly, wondering just were this strange person was from. Hadn't he ever seen a sun rise?
"I thought that was all part of the dawn and sunrise, not a separate thing." Stormer remarked, one optic ridge raised slightly.
"Soon as its light we can head out, I'd rather not go on a two full stomachs." The Toa admitted, "And we can see what's going on."
The mech gave a small nod of sorts. "Understandable reasons. I will be ready to leave when you are."
"After we're sure everyone is safe," Hewkii agreed, "But for now, the time is best used to prepare." The Toa paused and looked down at the smaller Ga-Matoran thoughtfully and arching an eye ridge.
"Don't even think about it!" Macku glared back, "No way I would stay behind, even if I wasn't a story keeper and apart of Takua's company- and you are too!"
Stormer seemed curious, but just let them sort it out, deciding it wasn't his place. Besides, now that he was paying attention to himself a bit more, he was realizing that he would likely need to recharge at some point while he was here. It was pretty clear he was going to be on this planet a lot longer than originally considered.
"Do you need anything Stormer?" The Matoran asked as she won, looking to the mech.
"Hm? Oh, no not at the moment." He responded, though his tone was grim enough to show he would need something soon enough. "Just becoming aware of the power levels in my core at the present."
"Power levels?" Hewkii arched an eye ridge again, the motion just visible to the new comer.
Stormer looked at the Toa and nodded a bit. "My core needs to recharge sometimes, or else it, and I, will go dead. Having no energy left in my core will not only kill me, but make my core utterly useless." He didn't sound worried about the fact that his core was starting to hit lower levels, but he was definitely grim.
The stone giant rumbled thoughtfully, though unseen he was testing the energies he could feel from the mech, Hewkii using his elemental side to do so. "Perhaps rest, or meditation?"
"I don't think that will help me." The mech confessed with a grimace. "I can't recharge that way. It takes an actual source of energy to complete a core recharge."
"Like a power stone?" The great crested head tilted.
"Yes, actually." Stormer replied, hesitating before glancing down at his chest. "My core is made of a rare substance known as Quaza. It's... a complicated mineral that I don't know all the properties of, but it is essentially what gives me life. If my core fully runs out of energy, I die. There's no rebooting or bringing me back. Without my core, I'm... well, nothing. I'm just not."
"Hmm..." Hewkii rumbled as he dipped into subspace, pulling out a canister that had a broken, but defined power stone to hand down to Stormer. "Even if they're shards, be careful."
The mech seemed a little confused as he moved closer and accepted the canister. "What is this?" He asked, his curiosity fairly obvious.
"Twist the top," Macku offered, "Don't touch the shards directly, but it's a broken power stone. We use them to run the bigger equipment."
"Ah... and how would these help?" He inquired, looking to Macku now. "I haven't used anything like this to charge my core before. Mostly I just get hit with energy that's channeled straight to my core."
"It was just a thought." Hewkii huffed, looking away and if a mask like that could pout he might have been doing that.
It took a moment for Stormer to realize that Hewkii had misunderstood him. Shaking his head, he looked back at the Toa and corrected himself. "I wasn't shooting your idea down. I was meaning 'how will I transfer the energy over'."
"Normally we just hock up the stones to what we need, or to a cradle." The Chronicler said, sounding sheepish, "We don't know your systems very well..."
The mech thought it over a bit. "...well, this could be interesting." He remarked as he considered what might happen. "...Guess we'll just have to experiment and see what happens."
"I'll be back," Macku promised, looking up at her lifemate and patted Hewkii's knee. "You should get a few good breaths of the water here where it's clean, and switch out your breather's filter too."
"Yes dear," Hewkii said with an amused tone, tapping the lower part of his mask.
The mech merely smiled a bit while he waited patiently for Macku to finish fussing with Hewkii and telling him what to do. It almost reminded him of some of the senior chiefs back home. Not Zib, not by a long shot, but a couple of the others.