M.I.A. Ch 17

After moaning and shuffling around in bed, Daniel slowly opened his eyes. The air

around was frigid cold and he could see his breath. He felt a dull pain on his amputated leg as

he sat himself up. After yawning he rubbed his eyes.

"How long have I been out?" He looked around and noticed the house was void of

everything except his backpack. "Guys?"

A sharp screech came from outside. The sound nearly made him jump off his bed. He

scrambled to his pack and pulled out his handgun. He then crawled, dragging his pack along,

and pressed himself along the wall by the doorway. Patiently he waited and listened. A low

hum filled the air. It grew to the point that he heard it pass over. Then it stopped and was

followed by footsteps.

Against his fear, he slowly looked around to take a peek. Five feet in front of him,

standing in contrast with the thick fog, he saw the legs of three Rahkshi. He immediately jerked

himself back and held his gun close. His breathing and heart rate elevated. The Rahkshi

began to walk around, letting out several chirps and clicks. Judging by the amount of

communicating, he could make out two more individuals. He heard one approach his hiding

spot. It placed a hand on the doorway and peered inside.

Daniel could see the front tip of its head sticking through as it took in whiffs of air. He

held his breath and heard his heart racing. It soon pulled its head back and walked away

before letting out a screech. Daniel let out a sigh of relief and lowered his gun. Then he heard

another Rahkshi screech from what he guested was the other side of the house.

All of the sudden the whole half of the hut cracked and fell apart. On the other side of

the rubble stood a Guurahk. Panicked, Daniel shot it in the face four times. As it shrieked and

collapsed, he scrambled out through the door and into the open. When outside he fumbled and

landed flat on the ground. When he rolled himself over, a magenta-colored Rahkshi was

looking over him. He fired two shots and killed it. The body began to fall towards him and he

rolled out of the way.

"Scott!" he yelled.

More Rahkshi were coming. Daniel made an awkward attempt at crab walking his way

backwards. When his back hit the outside of a hut he used it to help himself stand. Once up he

looked around.

"Scott, Sam, anyone!" To his concern and horror his comrades were nowhere to be

seen. He then cried out to the top of his lungs. "Scott!"

"Did you hear that?" asked Oscar.

Everyone stopped and listened. Gunshots rang out, accompanied with the screeches or

Rahkshi and a cry.

"That sounds like Daniel." Saber gasped.

Everyone was shocked.

Oscar faced Scott and marched up to him. "You said he was dead."

Scott was flabbergasted. "I-I thought he was. He was stiff, and his face was cold and

pale."

"But did you check his pulse?"

Scott stared with mouth partially open. "No," he replied softly.

Oscar face palmed. "We have to go back for him."

Scott shook his head. "No, you all keep going. I'll go get him."

"You're crazy," said Saber. "What if you get captured too?"

Scott was silent for a moment. "Then carry on." He then turned around and ran off.

A Rahkshi of plant control came up around the hut and startled Daniel. He balanced

himself as he hopped around the other side. A root arched out of the ground and tripped the

Marine. Daniel yelped and flailed his arms before falling to the ground and landing flat on his

stomach. He moaned and got on his hands and knee. He then looked around and found his

gun several feet away.

He crawled towards it in a clumsily manner. Another root arched up and tripped him

again. This time the gun was within arm's reach. Daniel extended his arm out and almost got

hold of it when he froze. He didn't stop intentionally; he wasn't even aware what was going on,

let alone could he think.

Behind him, a blue Rahkshi with black limbs approached, spikes and staff glowing. The

Rahkshi of stasis looked down at his catch and screeched in victory. Seconds later, Makuta

Ruunaja emerged from the fog. The three Rahkshi stepped back and made way as their

master came up to the Human and examined the find.

"Well done my sons," he smiled. He then took away the gun and crushed it between his

fingertips. The Rahkshi cut off its power and Daniel lunged forward. He thought he had the gun

in his grasp and was surprised that he only grasped air. He was confused at first, but then

looked up and looked straight into Ruunaja's smiling mask.

He let out a quick scream and got on his hands and knee before launching himself

backwards and trying to crabwalk away. Ruunaja laughed. The Rahkshi of plant control

ordered nearby vines and roots, which began to snare the Marine. In seconds Daniel had his

arms wrapped tightly around his waist and chest. He struggled furiously to get out.

"So, what do we have here?" asked Ruunaja. He forced Daniel to face him and locked

eyes. "A poor little Human all alone. What's your name?"

Daniel was still in shock, but quickly shook his head and tried to speak. "D-d-Daniel!"

"Well, Daniel, where are your friends?"

Daniel looked around. "I-I don't know." He shuffled around to find a better position to sit.

Ruunaja then noticed his amputated leg. "Ah, I see what's going on."

"What?"

"You're a sacrificial lamb."

Daniel was flabbergasted. "What?! No! They would never leave me behind."

"Then explain the leg."

The question left Daniel silent for a moment. "It was too badly damaged to fix. They had

to do it."

"Pft, that's what they wanted you to think. Face it, they cut off your leg because you

were the weakest. They wanted you to keep my sons busy while they fled to safety."

Daniel shook his head. "No, that's not true!"

"So where are they then?"

He slumped his head down and muttered. "I don't know."

"Figures. I know, how about you tell me where they are and I'll see to it you get

vengeance."

Daniel couldn't figure out why, but the offer was somewhat tempting, if what he said was

true. From the corner of his eye he saw movement. It was Scott, sneaking around a hut and

hiding. Now he knew he wasn't alone. He just had to make sure Ruunaja didn't know.

"No, I won't let you torture them. Not after what you did to Mike."

Ruunaja tilted his head to the side, and his smile vanished. "Alright then, if you won't tell

me willingly, I'll make you talk."

Daniel then felt a sharp pain in his head and screamed. It felt like hundreds of little

needles were trying to drill themselves into his mind, as memories were forced open. Ruunaja

peered through everything from his childhood to his education and combat training.

Scott saw what was happening and decided to strike. He slowly came out of hiding and

aimed at the Makuta's head. Both the Makuta and Rahkshi had their backs turned to him. For

him, it was an easy kill. He pulled the trigger and three shots fired. They hit their target,

puncturing holes into Ruunaja's skull. As the Makuta yelled and placed a hand over his head,

the Rahkshi spun around. Scott immediately fired at them and killed the Rahkshi of stasis.

The Rahkshi of plant life triggered its power and several roots sprung out of the ground.

Scott looked down and saw them encroach towards him. He climbed to the top of a hut and

fired at the Rahkshi of plant life. Only one Rahkshi remained, but Scott noticed that Ruunaja

wasn't dead. A closer look revealed the holes on the back of his head weren't holes at all, but

the copper bullets fused into the metal.

The Rahkshi of lightning shot a bolt from its staff. Scott dodged by jumping to the roof of

another hut. It fired again and he jumped. In the middle of his jump he realized something

wasn't right, as gravity seemed to turn off and he kept soaring. He flailed his arms and found

himself rolling in a flip as he floated around. Daniel watched with astonishment.

A vine came to life and caught Scott by the wrist. The Marine found himself as a living

balloon, hanging upside down. Ruunaja stood up and approached him, meeting him at

eyelevel.

"So, you're Scott, leader of the Humans. Did you really think your little toy could stop

me?"

Scott wasn't sure how to reply. "Yes?"

"Hmph- Well, you certainly aren't that bright," Ruunaja mocked. "So, why don't you tell

me where you sent your men?"

"You might as well kill me, because I'll never tell." Scott spat.

Ruunaja chuckled. "Oh no, I don't kill my enemies. I play with them. I get a kick out of

making their lives miserable. And when I'm bored or no longer need them, I make sure to kill

them nice and slow."

Scott had a look of disgust on his face.

"And seeing that Daniel is of value to you," He squeezed his hand in front of Scott. The

vines around Daniel tightened and he began to yell. It soon turned into gasps as the air was

being squeezed out of his lungs.

"Stop it!" ordered Scott. "Leave him alone!"

"Tell me where they're hiding."

Scott's thoughts raced. Daniel's face was changing color. He had to do something and

fast.

"Alright, I'll tell you. Just please, stop." Ruunaja put his hand down and Daniel took a big

gasp of air.

"They- they're back in the Osprey, up along the mountains over there." He pointed in the

direction, despite the fog being so thick.

Ruunaja had a pleased look. "See, that wasn't so bad, now was it?" He then grabbed

the vine and pulled Scott close to his face. "But just in case you're lying, I'm going to keep you

floating around until I come back. If no one is there, then I'm going to break the link that keeps

you afloat and you'll fall to your death. understand?"

Scott quickly nodded.

"Good." He then cut the vine and let him go, giving a light wave as the Marine began to

float upwards.

"Scott!" cried out Daniel.

Scott panicked and flailed his arms while he spun around wildly. He looked over his

shoulder and saw everything below move farther away. Thinking quickly, he readied his gun.

When his back faced the ground, he fired. The shot rang out and the recoil sent him spinning

towards the ground. His back hit a hut and as he redounded back up, he twisted his body and

grabbed hold of the vegetation that covered it.

Ruunaja was amused. "Clever, but you should really get going."

Scott was once again upside down, with his back facing Ruunaja. He brought his head

up to see and looked nervously at the Makuta. He then heard something and brought his head

back. From his angle he could only make out a dark figure run up and jump right pass him. As

it cleared the house in a single bound, he heard loud and powerful booms. He flinched and

covered his ears, but then realized he had let go.

Without warning he dropped to the ground like lead and tumbled down the side of the

hut. He moaned and looked up to see Ruunaja stumbling back, followed by Xipher firing a few

rounds from a fifty-caliber machine gun.

Scott was almost speechless. "How in the world-"

Sam ran up and knelt next to him. "You okay?"

"Yeah," he groaned. He then pulled out a knife. "Free Daniel."

She took the knife and ran, only to be cut off by the Rahkshi of lightning. It screeched

and raised its staff in the air. Xipher spun around and fired a bullet. It penetrated the side of the

Rahkshi's back and blew out the other side. The Rahkshi dropped and Sam ran around it and

reached Daniel. As she began cutting, Xipher fired the whole magazine belt at Ruunaja.

Each hit knocked the Makuta back until he was within feet of the cliff edge. To Xipher's

disbelief, the massive bullets only created large, baseball-sized dents in the armor. He then

flipped the gun and grabbed the barrel end. He was going to swing it like a bat, but realized it

was hot. He yelped and let go mid-swing. The gun flew across the air and whacked Ruunaja in

the face before falling over the cliff. It didn't knock him off, but he did get down on one knee as

he covered his mask.

As Ruunaja recovered, Xipher drew his blades and ran at him. When the Makuta got up,

Xipher jabbed his chest. To both of their surprise, the blades punctured the armor. Xipher

placed a hand on Ruunaja's chest and pulled the blades out while pushing Ruunaja back. The

blades popped out and, with no anchor, Ruunaja fell off the cliff, leaving behind a faint trail of

anitdermis. Xipher paused and watched the black and green substance dissipate.

He then brought his attention back to the Marines. Sam was slowly sawing through the

roots, while Scott was still reviving from his fall. He paced over and gently pushed her aside

before readying his blades. Daniel closed his eyes and looked away as Xipher made one quick

swipe. The roots were sliced into several pieces, while Daniel was scratch-free.

"Thanks." said Daniel.

Xipher gave a blank stare. "What?!" He put a finger inside his ear. "I can't hear anything

right now!"

Sam almost smirked. She knelt down and, with gestures, asked Xipher to carry Daniel.

He compiled and picked him up.

Scott walked over, sore, and led the way into the forest. After several minutes Xipher

regained his hearing.

"Where did everyone go?" he asked.

"Saber is leading them deep into the forest." Scott replied.

"So why then were you two still at the village?"

Scott stopped. He was hesitant to answer. "I- I misdiagnosed Daniel." He looked to the

ground in shame. "I thought he was dead."

Xipher growled. "You left him behind, didn't you?!"

Scott spun around and shrugged. "It was a mistake. His body was cold and he wasn't

responsive."

Xipher wasn't buying it. His spikes rattled. "He could've been killed!"

"Enough!"

Everyone looked at Daniel. "It's alright, Xipher. It was a mistake. Can we please just

keep going? I want to get off this island."

Xipher stared at him before continuing on. With his sense of smell he followed Saber's

scent back to their group.

"Xipher!" Saber cheered and ran out of the cave. "Mata Nui, you're alright."

Xipher exchanged a weak smile and walked past her. When he entered the cave, he

was greeted with a mix of shock and relief from the Marines. The Matoran, however, where at

a distance and kept their eyes on him. He laid Daniel against the wall and took a step back

while Oscar examined him.

"So what happened back there?" asked Josh. "We heard a lot of gun fire."

"Rahkshi." Xipher spat. "Alongside Ruunaja."

Josh looked at Daniel. "You actually faced Ruunaja?"

He shrugged. "More like ensnared by him. You should've seen what happened. He was

able to control the plants around him, he dug through my thoughts and memories, and even

turned off gravity and almost made Scott float away!"

"That's only the beginning." said Xipher. "Makuta have several dozen powers. And

judging by the rumors and stories I've heard, Ruunaja isn't dead, just out of the fight for now."

"How?" said Scott, "You just bombarded him with a fifty-cal and stabbed him. How could

he not be dead?"

"Because they're not like us. Their essence is made out of some kind of energy. You

can't stab and shoot energy." He then took off a pack. "Speaking of which, Sam and I have

theses for you." He dropped the bag and magazine clips spilled out.

Josh and some of the marines smiled and began reloading their guns. "So what's the

plan now?" asked Josh.

"We go back, retrieve the raft, and leave," stated Xipher.

"We can't." said Scott. "They destroyed it."

Sam and Xipher were shocked. Xipher then growled. "So, not only did you leave a

brother behind, you failed to secure our escape?!'

Scott stood his ground. "Hey! At least I didn't go crazy and kill him like you would've."

Xipher roared.

"Enough!" shouted Sam.

The two stopped and stared at her.

"This won't help us. We'll just build another; just tie up a bunch of logs."

They were both silent. Then Xipher stepped away. "Vey well," he spat. "Lets get

moving."

"Hold on," snapped Scott "We need to rest."

"We don't have time for rest. There are Rahkshi out there."

"Xipher." Saber said softly. "Please, they need it. Just look at them."

Xipher examined the Marines. Nearly all of them were sitting against the wall with their

heads slumped. Dark circles wrapped under their eyes.

"They've been up for three days now and have hardly gotten any sleep." said Saber.

Xipher paused and then grumbled. "A few hours, but then we're moving."

"Where exactly?" asked Scott.

"To the north. There are several hiding places and it's your best chance of finding

Vaptech." He then began to leave the cave.

Sam followed. "Wait."

He stopped and looked at her.

"Where are you going?"

"Away from everyone." he mumbled.

"You can't just leave. we need you."

He kept his voice down. "No, you don't. I'm as much of a threat as Ruunaja."

"You're wrong!"

The sudden outburst surprised Xipher and got everyone's attention. She then brought

her voice down so only Xipher could hear. "Ruunaja knows how to bring 'Zyphor' out. Your

next solo encounter with him increases the chance he'll succeed."

"So what do you propose I do?" he growled.

"Stay with us."

Scott heard it and jumped to his feet. "Woah, I don't think that's a good idea."

Sam looked over Xipher. "And why is that?"

"He's a danger and never told us until it was too late."

"But he saved you and Daniel didn't he? In fact, he saved me last night from Nui Jaga

venom. He's more hero than monster."

The statement surprised Xipher and almost made him blush.

"Well, then I say we vote on it." said Daniel.

Scott paused a moment. "Agreed." He then faced his men. "All opposed to having

Xipher around, raise your hand." He kept his hand in the air.

At first no one did, but slowly Josh, two other Marines and the Matoran raised their

hands. "All in favor." Slowly the rest of the group brought their hands up. Xipher was

speechless.

Scott brought his head down. "He stays."

*17,008 Years ago*

With his vision finally clear, Xipher used his strength and ripped the door open. A Toa of

sonic saw it happen and alerted the whole prison. Xipher sprinted away. Several turrets and

guns emerged out of the walls and began to fire a barrage of Kanoka disk and Zamor Spheres

at him. He took the shield away from an approaching Toa and used it to deflect the volley of

projectiles. Another Toa created a thick wall of ice, which he found useless as Xipher melted a

hole through with heat vision.

He made it through a doorway and ran up a spiral staircase. He could hear guards

marching down towards him. Ahead of him was a window just large enough for him to squeeze

through. It had four steel bars running vertical. For Xipher it was no problem as he yanked

each one out with a quick pull.

When the Toa arrived, he slipped through the window and sunk his claws into the wall.

Like a cat, he climbed around and down the tower. Nearly thirty feet up, he jumped and landed

on the ground. Xipher then sprinted away into the forest. It wasn't until he was several miles

away that he looked back.

This was his fifth escape and he wondered just how many more he would have to do

before he ever found a way to control what he was becoming.

*Three weeks later*

Xipher and Vaptech curled up as they lay near a fire, while Saber perched herself on a

branch. The sun shone through the forest canopy. It would be very relaxing for Xipher, except

there were chattering birds. The birds conversations soon stopped and Xipher felt ready to

close his eyes and relax. But then it occurred to him that they don't stop unless there's trouble.

"Xipher." whimpered Saber.

He looked up and saw six Toa along a ridge. They each had gold and silver armor and

carried a spear and a shield. He and Vaptech jumped to their feet.

Xipher growled at them. "Leave me alone!"

"Relax," said the Toa of fire. "We're not here to arrest you. We just want to talk."

"There's nothing to talk about." Xipher snarled.

"On the contrary." said the Toa of water. "You have an interesting record, Xipher."

He looked at her with concern. "If you're with the Dark Hunters, the answer is no."

The Toa of water chuckled softly and approached him. "No. We are the Toa Haga.

We've heard about your story and the reputation you've built over the last decade."

"Great," Xipher rolled his eyes. "I have fans."

"Not quite," said the Toa of fire.

He and the others came up and stood within feet of Xipher.

"We were asked by several Turaga and leaders to capture you."

Xipher eyes narrowed.

The Toa brought a hand up. "But, we saw things differently and persuaded them to

delay your warrant."

Xipher tilted his head to the side. "Why?"

The Toa of water spoke. "You were once a Toa. You want to be a Toa again, don't

you?"

Xipher's spikes went down. "You have no idea."

"What we're offering is a chance at redemption." said the Toa of fire.

Xipher was so surprised that he took a step back. "Redemption?" he almost laughed.

"It's too late for redemption. How could I possibly make up for the lives I've taken?"

The Toa of fire folded his arms. "By letting us help you."

Xipher was skeptical. "I've spent years searching for help and everyone refused to give

it to me. Why should I take your offer?"

The Toa of fire replied firmly. "Because everyone deserves a chance."

Xipher paused, while Saber and Vaptech looked nervously at him.

The Toa spoke again. "We'll give you time to think. But just know that even if you reject

our offer, we'll leave you be. However, we won't get in the way of anyone sent out for your

arrest. You'll spend the rest of your life fleeing from your brothers. If that's what you want, then

you're free to do so." He and the other Toa turned around and left.

Xipher didn't keep his eyes off them until they were well out of sight.

"Well?" asked Vaptech.

"Well what?" Xipher replied coldly.

"Join them."

He looked at Vaptech with surprise. "What?"

"You heard me. This is your chance to be a Toa again."

Xipher huffed. "Oh please, like I could ever be a Toa again."

Vaptech tilted his head to the right and raised an eyebrow. "So you're accepting the title

of monster." he smiled.

Xipher's ears pulled back. "No," he rushed.

"Well, then what are you? A Toa or a Monster?"