Co-Authored by Dragon Claw92 and Omicron the IceQueen

Heroes of Spherus Magna

He needs a hero!

Now the mech seemed to notice that something up above was distracting Takiu, so he too looked up. "What's going on?"

"There's something up there but I don't have good lids to block out the light." The Po-Matoran child had to look back down to shake his head and blink before rubbing his eyes.

Bulk frowned a bit, using his free hand to shield his eyes and try to get a better look at the odd something up above. "Got any guesses on what it might be? I don't want to try shooting if it's supposed to be friendly."

"I can't see." The boy shook his head and then shrugged, but looked at the debris that they were now closer to.

The mech shrugged slightly as well. "Oh well. We'll probably find out sooner or later." That said, he turned his gaze back to their surroundings, seeming surprised when he saw a glint of green metal up ahead. Hurrying closer, he seemed almost excited... up until he saw that the bit of green was just a broken piece of metal. "Breez...? I hope she's still okay, wherever she landed..."

"It's not windy until night." Takiu pointed out innocently, twisting around to see the green thing and sat up.

Bulk shook his head as he crouched and picked the piece of metal up. "Not that kind of breeze. I'm talking about one of my team mates; Natalie Breez... she wears... or wore, green armor. This looks like it's a piece of it. I can't really see any other parts of her though, so hopefully she's alright, and still mostly intact."

The boy had claimed his kohlii stick to free up the mech's other hand and looked at the chunk. "It's painted green?" he puzzled aloud.

He nodded as he looked the piece of green metal over, turning it in his hand and sighing faintly. "Yes. Breez' armor is always green, just like Stormer's is always white, and Furno's is always red."

The Matoran child had to brace it on Bulk's shoulder as he couldn't support the armor chunk and his staff. With a chirp and meep, that were just cute in almost any culture, he sniffed, poked and even gave a small nibble to an edge. "What is it?"

The mech seemed surprised at what the boy did. "...Metal? I never really stopped to ask what we Heroes get our armor made out of. All I know is it's tough stuff that can endure a lot more than most other metals can. If it wasn't, we wouldn't really be able to do half the stuff we get into. The armor can also have specific stuff added to it. For example, Furno's armor is acid-proof. Could hit him with a full-on blast of it and he'd be able to shrug it off."

"Doesn't feel like the stuff the Agori tool maker uses..." Takiu tilted his head as he scooted the piece of armor over for the mech to take back. He looked back at were it came from, then perked at hearing shifting sand and rocks. There was just a moment and he leaned back to look straight down. "What's that?"

"Hm?" Bulk asked, looking down as well to try and figure out what Takiu was looking at. "What's what?" His curiosity was easy to see, and while he probably wasn't as curious about things as the Matoran was, he definitely was showing interest.

"I hear falling rocks." The boy said and pointed to were he thought it was, under a slab of hull plating.

"Oh? Hm..." He shifted to try and set the boy down now, his optics fixed on the piece of plating and showing obvious curiosity. "Let's see if I can move that out of the way. We might be able to figure out what's going on if I can."

"That's bigger than before!" Takiu pointed out as he scrambled up some of the bed rock to perch there and watch.

"And?" The mech inquired, seeming rather amused as he stood up straight, stretched a bit, rolled his shoulders, and then walked over to the piece of metal. At first, he just hesitated, seeming to be judging what would be the best spot to start from, and soon deciding. That done, he took hold of the wreckage, dug in his heels, and pulled. Despite the weight of the metal, Bulk managed to get it lifted high enough to push it over, though by the time it was moved he seemed as though it had strained him a fair bit to move it. "... well... let's see what we've got, eh?"

"It's a big hole," the boy observed, taking note if aloud as a chronicler would. He hoped. "And slope-y-ish."

And it was, an indentation like someone who had been stuck under the slab of hull platting had slid back dispute a scramble and into the hole. As they watched more sand and rocks slipped into the darkness as the hole expanded another foot out.

The mech gave a small nod as he knelt near the edge and studied the situation. "... Looks like someone fell in too." He pointed out, indicating the tell-tale signs so Takiu could spot them more easily. "The question is though... who?" A thoughtful look crossed his face, though just what he was debating wasn't fully clear. He was, however, likely considering if this may have been one of his team mates.

"Well... It wasn't a Toa or Kora?" The boy offered, staying on the safety of solid rock. He giggled though, "One would be stuck in there still!"

Bulk chuckled a little. "They're too big for a hole this size, eh? Well, that narrows it down to..." He paused to think a bit. "A Matoran, a Hero, or... what was that other thing you mentioned? Agouti? ... No that's not it..."

"Agori." Takiu said slowly, to make sure he got it right.

"Ah... Go... Ree... okay, got it." The mech responded, nodding once. "Agori... how big are they anyway? Would one of those fit down the hole too? Just so I know for later reference."

Takiu thought about it as he watched the mech to see what he'd do. "Manu isn't any bigger than you...maybe smaller, she's Matoran size."

"Alright. Hm..." Bulk looked back down the hole, lifting a hand to his helmet and trying to activate something. After a few seconds of nothing happening though, he gave up and sighed. "Rats, my flashlight broke... Well, now we can't really see just how deep this goes." He looked back at Takiu. "What's your call? Stay here, or move on and come back to it later?"

"I don't like it in the dark..." The boy said, on the surface it was different with two moons reflecting light and so many stars... Underground in Onu-Koro was dark and no light if you're away from the light stones.

The veteran bot gave a small nod of understanding. "We'll leave it be for now then. Maybe we'll find someone who can check it out for us later on. What matters though, is that we found the hole before somebody else fell into it."

"Buts it's going to get dark, what if someone falls in that can't see? You moved the big metal thing." Takiu asked and it was simple in that child like way and in that way he did have a good point.

"... Good thinking." The mech remarked after a pause to consider what Takiu had suggested. Getting up fully, he shifted a bit before walking back over to the large chunk of ship and set about putting it back in place. "There. That should keep it covered, for now at the very least."

"Do you think so?" The Po-Matoran perked up again, tri-colored eyes wide at the praise. "And are you going to be okay? You look tired." Takiu added, not seeing the sweep of wings above.

"I do think so." Bulk agreed, turning to look at Takiu. "It's a perfect cover for the hole." He then smiled reassuringly as he walked back over to the boy. "Yeah, I'll be alright for a while yet. Trust me; I've been in far worse situations than this. Nearly died a few times in my day too. This though? This is- huh?" He seemed to have noticed the flying motions, and was now distracted. "What was that?"

"What-" Takiu started to ask as he looked up.

Just in time to see the multi sets of legs closing in on him. The Matoran child promptly screamed as would be expected given the swooping grab and flee. But the... giant dragonfly like creature had moved too fast ahead of its hunting wing mate that was a few body lengths behind and aiming for the Hero with splayed legs.

Bulk had his ball launcher out and ready within moments, already backing up and firing on the creature that was flying his way. However, he only got off three shots before turning and bolting, trying to keep up with the one that had grabbed Takiu, as well as trying to figure out how he could get the child back from it without hurting him. "Hang on, Takiu; I'm coming!"

"Rama! Rama!" The boy was screaming, and sounding honest to the core terrified for the first time. These predators survived and migrated to the new world, but the Nui Rama were big enough that an one on one fight with an adult Matoran was almost evenly matched, and a fifty-fifty chance of if not winning than doing damage with those fang filled mandibles to protodermis armored frames. One good bite here and now, and that was it for the Po-Matoran child with his thin armor and body that was small, as well as be a little more organic then an adult would have exposed.

The mech seemed almost to be powered up by Takiu's cries, increasing his speed as much as he dared before opening fire on the massive creature. He was aiming for the wings, hoping that he could knock it out of the sky, or at least make it drop Takiu. The rapid beating of the double set of wings saved them from damage, but not from being clipped as the Rama-creature dipped back lower into the ten foot range. It swung to the left to favor the wings on that side, screeching in an insect like way, the sound echoed from the second predator as it got back into the air, stinger sliding out of the tail but forming a ball of dark looking energy in its mandibles.

Hearing that the second 'big ugly' was up and buzzing again didn't seem to make Bulk any more relaxed, but that was rather understandable considering the situation. Frowning a bit, he shot again, aiming for the first Rama's undamaged wings in the hopes he could knock it down before the creature behind him could get in close to attack.

What the mech didn't know, however, was that the massive creature had more tricks than just the stinger, and as such was completely unaware of the growing danger behind him.

"Spitfire!"

A new voice yelled just before something tackled Bulk, sending his next shot at an angle to impact the Rama holding Takiu on the thorax, making it warbled and sink lower. He himself also wasn't hit by the dark ball of energy that crackled over the ground where the Hero had been.

The adult Matoran rolled and bounced back onto his feet, a staff not unlike Takiu's in hand, only larger and made of metals not wood. He kicked up a stone the size of a two hands, and then twisted to add momentum as the hammer slammed the rock and sent it back to the Rama behind them.

"What the- oof!" Bulk took a moment or two to pick himself up, having not expected this sudden 'attack'. However, as soon as he was back on his feet, he fired on Takiu's captor again, deciding to say thanks to his own savior once the child was safe again.

"Get the kid- aim for the eyes!" the Matoran yelled as he distracted the second Rama, not shy at all about leaping up to hit it directly when it was in range.

"On it!" And like that, Bulk was off at a run once again to try and keep up, shooting at the first creature whenever he got a shot at its face, eyes in particular. "Come on... a good hit would be nice right around now..."

It lifted higher, turning to hover and try and form a ball of that same energy as the second did, the only trouble- for it, was that the Rama had to stay in place to do so.

This pause was the perfect opening that the mech needed, and he wasted no time in opening fire on the Rama's face, aiming to hit its eyes at least twice if he got lucky enough. "Now that I have your attention..."

The first impacted and it jerking with a scream of pain, then again as the second hit as well. Reflexively dropping its still flailing prey to shoot straight up and cover its vulnerable eyes with the legs.

Though happy to be free, Takiu didn't really show it and that was understandable as he fell. More than a good ten or twelve feet up at his small size it might as well been fifty.

Bulk surged forward, putting his gun away as he jumped, managing to catch Takiu before any more damage could be done, and twisting himself so he landed on his back, Takiu held close, but not painfully so. Wincing a he landed, the mech shuddered a bit before he sat up. "I think I landed on a rock... that's going to hurt later..." He then shook his head and looked at the boy in his arms with high and obvious concern. "Are you alright?" It could be noticed that he was keeping watch on the flailing Nui Rama up above too; he didn't want that thing to go after him again without being ready to deal with it.

Above the rahi predators were flying in circles, both blinded, whacked into each other and then were pelted with flying rocks to distract and harass the creatures into realizing this was just too painful and too much trouble here. Blindly they rose higher and off, whacking into each other several more times and almost tangling wings.

"And stay away!" The adult Po-Matoran threw one more rock at the Rama, waving his staff before planting it, it was nearly as tall as him at six feet. He huffed and growled softly watching to be sure for a few seconds to see if any others showed up before turning and trotting over to the mech and the ball of shivering armor, "Mata Nui, is he okay? Any bites?"

Bulk gave the Matoran a small shake of his head, looking Takiu over with incredible concern, but sighing with relief after a moment. "He's fine... just very, very frightened..." Turning his gaze to the Po-Matoran again, he said. "Thanks for your help. I'd have been toast without your assistance."

He then looked back at Takiu. "Hey kid, say something okay? Anything. Could even say a flat up lie if you wanted to, like... oh I don't know, your feet are purple." Sure the suggestion was rather odd, but the mech seemed to know what he was doing. If he could get the child talking, it might help him recover.

"Not purple..." A tiny voice said.

The mech wouldn't be the only one to sigh as the Po-Matoran adult knelt down beside Bulk. He fished out a packet from subspace and pulled a thing that looked like two types of candy twisted together. Offering it to the boy and smiled as Takiu latch on to it and hid against Bulk's armor now instead of balling up.

"Its okay, you're safe now," He purred, looking to the mech and smirked in that Bionicle way, "And saved by a tiny Toa-Hero! Heh, go on and eat it, sweet roots help with the shakes. It's all over now, clear skies!"

"Alright then, your feet aren't purple." Bulk said with a soft chuckle as he smiled at Takiu, his motor system thrumming and vibrating his frame a little while he held onto the boy.

Satisfied in knowing that the child was going to be alright, the mech turned his gaze to the Matoran adult. "Just doing my job, sir." He responded, deciding he could fuss over the details of not being a legitimate Toa later on. "Wouldn't have been right if I just let something bad happen."

"Not just Toa can be heroes," The Matoran chuckled as he patted the odd armor, "Nor apart of the Guard. I'm Hafu," He grinned as Takiu gave a squeak and peeked up.

The mech smiled at that, and gave a small nod of his head. "It's nice to meet you, Hafu. The name's Duncan, but everyone 'round where I'm from just calls me Bulk." He then looked curiously at Takiu, as though wondering if the boy had gotten pinched due to the squeak, but seeing that the boy was okay, he relaxed fully again.

"...the Hafu?" Takiu squeaked again, eyes widening as he clucked at Bulk's arm.

"The very one," Hafu never lost his grin as he bowed playfully and knelt back down with his staff resting on one shoulder. He pulled out as small thing, a very intricately carved ruby in the shape of what almost looked like a feline or kitten, but had that same bio-mechanical look to it as the Rama and Matoran. "Here."

The boy took it, calming down with distractions and reassurances. He looked up to blue optics and showed the solid gemstone carving.

The mech seemed curious about what the big deal was about Hafu, but he decided he'd learn it in time, and as such just smiled before looking at the carving that Takiu was showing him. "Wow... that's some quality craftsmanship there." He remarked, sounding quite intrigued, and impressed.

"Never show or give something that isn't the best," The Po-Matoran Hafu had a grin on his mask that never left, and he seemed almost not really too-proud. That level were he knew he was just that good, but also trying to keep himself in check now.

Bulk chuckled in amusement. "Displaying the best is what all artisans aim to do, am I right?" He remarked, expression showing he was rather intrigued. "I take it you've been at your craft a long time, eh?"

"With the lost time, a good two thousand years." Hafu shrugged and then stood, "I think we should go back to the Koro and him checked over."

"Two... thousand?" Bulk repeated, seeming highly surprised at this, though he soon shook it off as he too stood up. "Well, certainly explains why you're so good at it. And yes, that sounds like a good idea. Poor kid..." He shook his head a little before glancing around. "... Which direction is it?"

"That way," Hafu pointed with the scoop of his staff, "A good lope, no more than a bio-length away. Think you can do it," He tilted his head, noting the stress marks in the metal much faster than Takiu did.

"Oh yeah, I can manage that." The bot responded with a small shrug, seeming almost oblivious to his own damage. That or he was just ignoring it. "... Are you coming to? Or are you off to do something else?"

"Nah, I was coming to this Po-Koro anyways to check out the new quarries," He turned and ahead to lead the way for now. Glancing back and making a motion of a silent question, wanting to know if he should take the child.

Bulk shook his head a little, implying that he was fine to carry Takiu. In fact, he seemed like he rather wanted to. "Ah, I see. It'll be nice to have another person along."

"Another set of eyes," Hafu agreed, looking up to the sky as he picked up the speed, seeming just as used to distance running as he was carving. In fact his build was an odd mix almost, but was also fitting, having an expected powerful build of a stone worker, with broad shoulders and chest, powerful arms and study armor that was worn tan-gold with undertones of a darker brown hide.

There was also something athletic about the Matoran, in how he moved was a little to graceful. As if used to sudden movements and needing to act or react fast.

The mech hurried along after Hafu as quickly as he could. While sharing some qualities with the adult Matoran, such as a sturdy build and powerful limbs, Bulk wasn't exactly the type who looked like he could win a foot race. He was built for heavy lifting, tanking damage, and not much else, seemingly.

"Yeah, having another set of eyes will be useful, especially if those bugs fly back here for a rematch."

"Wouldn't be them, it takes a few days for Rama to heal their eyes, likely another set." Hafu sped up to make a jump up to a rock formation and looking around from there. "Rama shouldn't be out this far though, I want to know where they came from..." The Matoran Carver tapped his staff on the rock before hopping down, he hadn't seen those rahi that aggressive and bold since the time of the Toa Mata.

Bulk did his best to follow after Hafu, though he was a bit slower and more careful with his movements, likely a mix of not wanting to drop or shake up Takiu, as well as the damages of his body slowing him up a bit. "Where do those... Rama, things, usually show up at? Are they always this nasty?"

"Jungle Wahi mostly, but the hives are kept small and few, and their not that big any more... but that one was almost as big as me!" Hafu huffed, glad he kept up on his training. "They shouldn't be anywhere near this Wahi natively."

"Hm..." The bot seemed to thrum quietly as he considered the different situations and potential reasons. "...perhaps something stirred them up or drove them out of their home area?"

Hafu shrugged, "I don't know, I hope not. It took forever the last time there was just one out of control hive."

"How big are hives, generally?" Bulk inquired, an optic ridge raising a bit as he spoke.

"Right now," Hafu considered, "Eh, about twenty bugs. Back in the Dark Time, hives ran a few hundred, or more."

"Yikes... sounds almost as bad as some of the hive planets I've seen." The mech remarked, shivering a little at the thought of it. "I can't imagine having a few hundred of those things all after someone at once. That'd be devastating."

"Its why Le-Matoran back at The Island had long spears, and we all got really fast." Hafu said as he slid into a long distance stride that was a lope, not a jarring jog.

Bulk kept up for the most part, tailing a little bit behind as he hurried along. "Yeah, one would have to be fast to get away from those... I'm just glad those two didn't do anything to Takiu... nothing permanently damaging, at least."

"Me too, but why are you two way out here?" Hafu looked back and slowed down.

The veteran Hero gave an awkward little laugh. "The ship I was in blew up and Takiu found me way out in the middle of wherever that was."

"Ship?" Hafu echoed, frowning now, "There's no hover crafts this far from Metru Nui."

"It... wasn't exactly a hovercraft." The bot explained with a small laugh of sorts. "More like a flying vehicle capable of carrying people to and from different planets. I'm really not from around here in the slightest."

"A space ship?" Hafu stopped, turning to face the mech. Surprised to say the least but at the same time not shocked. The concept of Bulk being an alien mecha wasn't hard for him at all. "No one but a few strays has come to Spherus Magna since before the Shattering."

"You mean my team and I aren't the only space travelers who've dropped by?" Bulk inquired, his expression showing confusion, and curiosity, at this news.

"The first in a good dozen centuries." The Carver looked up at the sky that was starting to become a noticeable few shades darker. "Ish."

He laughed quietly at the response. "Let's just leave it at a very long time then, yeah?" While Hafu glanced to the sky, Bulk's gaze went to Takiu to see how the boy was holding up.

The boy was nibbling or sucking on the candy he'd been given, and looked up to Bulk. "Um?" The child blinked, Takiu biting off a piece to chew on. "If vood." He informed his saver, having been watching him for a while.

The mech chuckled with warm amusement. "I can tell. You've been having yourself a right nice time sucking on that. Nice to see you're cheered up again."

"Never had it before." Takiu said, not in the least minding being held and carried like he was. It was reassuring really, more than that.

"Sweet root helps with the shakes," Hafu chuckled as he started waking again, "Love those twists myself, almost always have some with me." He adjusted his heading a bit, so they were heading straight to a domed shape in the semi distance. It had been there the whole time, but when paying closer attention the new group could see it clearly.

Bulk smiled at the child in amusement before looking at Hafu, raising an optic ridge as he hurried along to keep up. "Sounds like they're quite the treat." He remarked before glancing up ahead. "That dome there... that's where we're going?"

"Yes, that's the Kini Nui of this wahi. A strong hold now from what I was told the Po-Matoran made of it." Hafu grinned at that even as he remembered his first village's fall. The confustion of that attack and aftermath, but that hadn't happened again. His people had learned. "I like that, the Koro's not far so it's a good landmark."

"It certainly does stand out." The mech agreed, his tone implying that he wasn't meaning it stood out in a bad way. "Not sure what a Kini Nui is though. Mind explaining?"

"A great temple." Takiu piped up, shifting as he nibbled on his treat some more.

Hafu grinned back at them, "Yep. But it's also the transport hub of a Wahi now as well."

"Sound interesting. Not sure why a temple would be a transport hub, but hey, I won't question it." He remarked, smiling as he looked at Hafu. "I don't know much 'bout this world so I'm not about to question anything."

"Hubs are put there to be protected and space to channel the energies needed." Hafu snorted, rolling his eyes, "rather stupid to have all that inner workings exposed out of the rocks and protodermis to be tampered with.

Bulk seemed a little confused still, but shrugged a bit. "Eh, whatever works best, right? So long as things aren't going to get messed up, things are just fine."

"Thus a great temple sitting on all of it." Hafu huffed, back into a lope, one eye on the darkening sky. "Can you go faster? If Rama are in the area I don't want to be in the dark- whoa!" He flailed as something big flashed by, and yelled even if he knew it was useless as he toppled over from the wind, "Makuta bones! Pohatu! Don't do that!"

Reviews!

Autobot Phoenix
Omicron: we're trying to!

Species Unknown
Omicron: Cannon? Bah! where's the fun in that?

Shimmer Mane
Omicron: He is, and won't be the only one. and I'm glad you like the little stone-pebble-spazz