A/N - Well, this took longer than expected to get out. But I guess that's what happens when one, you're buried in your final year of schoolwork, and two, you get hit by a stronger plot bunny for another story after getting hit by writers block.
Anyways, onto the chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own Bionicle, only my OC Emma and some portions of the plot. Credit to MakutaMutran for letting me use his novelizations of the overall canon as the basis for my plot (as in what's going on canonically). Credit to OmicronIceQueen for the inspiration for the animalistic forms of the Hordika. Also, don't own the movie 'Web of Shadows', or any novelizations. That's LEGO's. Please note that I have added some creative liberty to this chapter, so if it isn't in the canon in any way, it's MINE. No stealy.
Roodaka stood in the gloom of the sundial chamber of the Coliseum Spire. The great timing devices had stopped dead during the dual eclipse in Metru Nui: the moment Makuta had waited for had come and gone, the moment when he would seize his destiny. But the Toa had frustrated him, stood against him, defeated him, and now he lay trapped behind a sealed layer of protodermis.
The ebony viceroy of the Visorak gazed at the stone resting in the palm of her hand. It was rough and black, like obsidian, carved by her from the outer surface of Makuta's protodermis prison. Even so small an effort had cost her much, left her in pain for days; only six Toa, the six who formed the seal, could truly pierce the shell that surrounded the Master of Shadows without paying the heavy price.
"Rest, my Master." She crooned to the stone. "Sleep, and know that as you do, I draw close to waking you."
The viceroy smiled, an expression that would have sent even the bravest Visorak running for refuge. "The Toa have returned, as you said they would. Even now, their broken bodies are being brought to me; so I may drain them of their elemental powers. Powers I will use to shatter the wretched seal they bound you with that keeps us apart!" She hissed, glaring at the red stone that made up part of the sundial.
Then, taking a breath, Roodaka gently, lovingly, placed the stone into the niche in her breastplate over her heartlight. It began to pulse, acting like a larger heartlight. "And then, there will be no need for these charades with Sidorak." She whispered, disgust in her tone at the thought of the Visorak King, even spitting his name. "A worthless ruler, who would rather wash his hands of conflict rather than dirty them with it." The viceroy walked away from the sundial. "Together, you and I will teach the sleeping Matoran to obey your will-" She stopped abruptly, her keen senses picking up movement from behind her. Her expression turned as hard as the stone. Spinning around, blue eyes flashing red for a moment, she coldly demanded, "What is it?!"
A small green Visorak stepped out of the thick shadows, looking like it wanted more than anything to run. But if the message it carried was not delivered, Roodaka would track the unfortunate spider down and then… it shuddered at the thought and began its report.
The viceroy listened to the chitters and whirs intently. After only a few moments, she interrupted the message. "The Toa?!" Her claws dug into the surface of the nearest stone wall. She scraped them along in anger, creating a harsh screech as she cried, "Why do you speak of them as if they are still alive?!"
The Visorak's fanged mouth was dry. It glanced about, making note of where all the chamber's exits were. Then, very quickly, it answered her question, while backing away from the towering female.
Roodaka's reaction was immediate. Whirling, she smashed a pillar into dust. The Visorak darted away before she decided to vent her anger on it. But the viceroy of the hordes had no interest in one mere spider. No, her rage was reserved for a very specific group of individuals, whose name she spat out as if it were poison: "Rahaga?!"
If any of the now-former Toa thought that the day could become any stranger, the six beings before them, Turaga in stature yet not an elder, answered that thought. Despite the tantalizing offer to learn a way to return to normal, the Toa turned rahi were tense, uncertain. For all they knew, this was yet another trap.
The red one, and apparent leader of the six newcomers, spoke again to the former Toa. "You have become both more and less than what you were before." He said. "You walk a road that is all too familiar… we know how it begins, and we know how it can end." He looked at each of the former Toa, making eye contact. "You must act now, Toa, or there is no hope for you or your city."
A surge of hope ran through the group. True, these creatures partially resembled Rahkshi a little too much for comfort, but if they knew how this change could be reversed… "Tell us how to undo this, 'wise ones', and I'll personally build a field full of statues in your honor." Onewa growled, only for Nuju to shove his shoulder and give him a look.
"You would be doing Metru Nui and the Matoran, as well as us, a great service." Nokama quickly said, glaring at her stone brother from the corner of her eye.
"We know of your plight." The stout figure replied, not put off by the growling. "We have been living in the shadows of this city since before the cataclysm." Matau's eyes widened. "We know why you returned, and we know what has happened to you." The red form hopped a bit closer, sadness in his eyes. "We are aware of what happened to the Matoran, as well as what terrible plans the Visorak have for them. But we can do little to stop them. It is you who must act."
"How?" Nuju demanded, stepping forwards. For some reason, the riddles these beings were speaking sparked anger in him. It felt strange, for he was never one to let his emotions get the best of him. Yet at the same time, rage seemed like the most natural reaction to this situation. It was something he would have to think long and hard about later.
"Keetongu." Came the reply. After he had spoken the word, he tilted his head, waiting for some reaction.
Nuju glanced at his fellow former Toa. It was obvious that none of them understood the term. Onewa, at least, was willing to pretend he understood. "The Key to Nongu." He said, matter-of-factly, nodding his head.
Their addressor gave the former carver an amused look, chuckling and shaking his head. "Keetongu," he corrected, "is a most honourable creature, gifted in knowledge of venoms and their counter-agents." The being's smile turned into a neutral expression. "Not to mention our only hope to stand against the Visorak horde." He looked at each of the former Toa. "If you are to be the Toa you once were, it is Keetongu you must seek."
"But… what are we now?" Nokama asked, keeping one foreleg/arm around Emma. She too was having a hard time keeping her temper in check, something which bothered her. The girl was just looking at the being, her head tilted.
Matau took stock of the short beings' appearances, particularly the disgusting Rahkshi heads each one had. They had two legs, two arms, and each had a staff they leaned on, but those heads… he couldn't seem to look away. He leaned towards his sister, but didn't make any effort to lower his voice. "How can we know-trust them? Look at them!"
He jerked back, startled as a pale hand smacked his snout. "Rude!" Emma scowled. "Especially since they saved us! And have you looked in a mirror recently?!"
Nokama quickly turned the thirteen year old away from her brother, in case he decided to snap at her. Then, she made eye contact with the once Toa of Air. "Look at ourselves, Matau, and ask yourself how can we not?" She turned back to the red being, while the green form of her brother looked at the ground. "Speak, and we shall listen."
The red being went on, as though the words Matau had spoken had not impacted him. "Hordika Venom courses through your veins. You are half-Toa, half-beast, prisoners of your own instincts, your own rage… until the day your Rahi nature takes hold completely, and you are no better than monsters bringing destruction wherever you roam."
The once-Toa all felt shivers down their spines, sharing scared looks between each other. That was a terrifying fate.
The white being began speaking, stepping forwards beside the red one. "You are tainted with darkness now… your Kanohi no longer serve you, nor do you have command over the elements the way you did before. Your masks have been physically mutated, and even if they were not, you now lack the mental prowess to use them."
"But beware." The black being warned, walking over with his short staff. "If the venom is not erased from your system in time, if it is not neutralized, it will take root…" he gave the other group an ominous look, "and Hordika you will remain… forever."
A few of the mutated Toa took a step back, now even more fearful. Matau even scrambled to hide behind Whenua's bulk, as if the words were a direct threat.
The third being continued, a look of sympathy now in his eyes. "Worse, you will become beasts in fact as well as appearance… hunters things that stalk the night, bringing destruction but possessing no purpose. Not anymore."
Nuju shuddered at the thought. This could not be their destiny! It could not have been why Mata Nui blessed them with the power of Toa! His mind had been sifting through theories ever since the strangers first appeared. Now he looked at them and asked quietly, "Like you?"
"We are the Rahaga." The red being introduced, a hand over his heartlight. "Norik is my name." Then the bizarre-looking being gestured to his companions and introduced each of them in turn. All of them had the head of a Rahkshi, rotors on their backs with something round underneath, and a walking staff. "And the others are: Gaaki," the blue 'Rahaga' stepped forwards, bowing her head, "Bomonga," the black armoured one nodded his head in greeting, "Kualus," the white one merely regarded the group, "Pouks," the brown one stepped forwards, "and-" Norik blinked at the empty space, before there was a whirling of rotors, and the green Rahaga crashed ungracefully on his bottom besides Pouks. The former merely snook his head, while latter smiled sheepishly. The red Rahaga chuckled. "-and Iruini."
A moment of silence followed. It was finally broken by Matau, who, poking around Whenua, awkwardly asked, "So… how's that working out for you?"
Pouks scoffed, and then scowled as Iruini kicked his leg. Both were then whacked over the head by a blue staff, Gaaki shaking a finger at the two of them. Norik just let out a sigh. "It has its moments." He answered. "This is not one of them."
None of the former Toa, now Hordika, knew quite what to say. It was hard enough to believe all this had happened to them, let alone that such bizarre looking creatures were their only hope.
Nokama shook her head. In the end, it didn't really matter what the 'Rahaga' were or why. All that mattered to her was that they saved Emma, saved them, and now what they knew. Finally, she spoke up. "Rahaga, can you take us to this Keetongu?"
The green Rahaga called Iruini barked out a laugh.
"Iruini!" Norik shot him a stern look, earning a shrug from the offender.
"I… don't understand." The blue Hordika felt so confused. If they knew of this Keetongu, surely they knew where he was. Why was that so… amusing?
Norik turned back to the former Water Toa, a sad look in his eyes. "What Iruini so inappropriately suggests is that this will be… difficult, you see." The Rahaga sighed, suddenly looking as though the weight of the world was on his shoulders while he clutched his staff with both hands. "We Rahaga came to Metru Nui… in search of Keetongu ourselves." He admitted. "And there are those of us that, well…" he sighed heavily, "doubt his existence entirely."
"Oh, wonderful." Onewa scoffed. "Our only hope is a myth."
He was shoved again, getting a growl but the white form ignored him. "And you?" Nuju's eyes narrowed as he asked Norik. "What do you believe?"
The red Rahaga drew himself up to his full height, saying firmly, "l believe in legends."
"Then so must we." Nokama agreed, hope rising in her chest.
"Woooah there, wait, sister-Toa." Matau interjected, fully stepping out from behind Whenua. "Shouldn't we think-talk about this? You know, group-like? What do you say, Onewa? Whenua? Mask-melter?"
The former Toa of Stone and the former Toa of Earth said nothing. They had both dared to hope that their transformation might be reversed, only to find out that the whole thing hung on nothing more than simply another legend.
Vakama never took his eyes from the ground. He stared into the flames at the center of the group's meeting. He was trying to will control of it, yet feeling nothing but the heat of the fire. When the Fire Hordika did speak, his tone of voice said that his thoughts were far away from the current matter. "l say we returned to Metru Nui to rescue the Matoran, not to go on safari and hunt down mythical beasts."
"Oh? And you have a way to do this?" Norik asked sharply, hopping over to him. "Perhaps using your new Hordika powers?" He rapped the taller one on the head with his staff, getting a startled hiss. "Powers you have not yet learned to use."
"I don't know." The Toa of Fire growled, through gritted fangs. Something in his voice told the others he was dangerously close to an explosion.
"Don't know, or don't want to include the rest of us in your plans?" Norik prodded, not put off by the growl.
Vakama spun to face the Rahaga on all fours, snarling and bearing his fangs. Norik did not flinch, but instead kept eye contact, staring the half-rahi down. The former Fire Toa eventually turned his head away, hissing, and stalked off into the darkness, saying only, "Neither."
"Vakama!" Nokama cried after him, shocked at his behavior. All the former Toa were shocked, mostly by the bestial display of fury.
Norik started after the troubled now Toa Hordika, sighing. "I will talk with him."
"What about us?" Matau asked, staring at where his brother had vanished.
Norik gave him a smile over his shoulder, one laced with little humor and a pinch of something else. "Prepare yourselves. We've a legend to prove."
The Metru Nui Coliseum and its Spire stood tall, many dangling webs trailing down its sides or spanning to other buildings and skyscrapers in the city. Once, it was the home of Turaga Dume, Matoran sporting competitions, and numerous ceremonies… Now it was home to something very different and very dangerous: the Visorak army.
Thousands of Visorak poured into one of the Coliseum entrances, while in a higher chamber, a squad of Visorak reported to their command for debriefing. "I assume you are here to tell me that Sidorak and the hordes have been successful, and the Toa have been recaptured?" Roodaka asked, her manicured claws behind her back.
The lead Visorak had nothing to say. A long click of silence passed. Then it was blasted by a spinning wheel of energy. The projectile hit with such force the spider was flipped onto its back, where it writhed in pain due to the mutations spasming through its body. Its legs waved weakly in the air as its comrades simply watched. They knew that they would suffer the same fate if one of them dared to look away.
"Because you know how I feel about failure." The viceroy finished, lowering her handheld Rhotuka spinner. The lead Visorak finally died, succumbing to toxic and lethal biological changes to its structure. "The success of my plans requires the six Toa…" Roodaka stepped on the Visorak, crunching its already hardened corpse into the floor and raised a hand triumphantly for the other Visorak to see and cheer. "And by Makuta's black heart, I shall have them! This I swear! Now go! Hunt them down! Bring me their bodies, alive… or in pieces!"
The spiders scattered at her command, leaving the viceroy in the darkened room, only her snake-like blue eyes visible in the low lighting.
Vakama hadn't wandered too far. Still unused to his new body, the now Hordika only got around a ruined building before tripping and slamming his jaw into the ground. That was where Norik found him, laying sprawled out, stunned. "Vakama?"
The larger red form blinked, before growling, shakily getting to his feet - or rather, all four paws. "What do you want?" He snarled, his voice laced with pain.
"To talk." The Rahaga came up beside him, gently touching his back. Vakama flinched and hissed, hopping awkwardly away. "About what?" The rahi-Toa growled.
Norik didn't answer, instead reaching towards Vakama's side a second time. The Hordika hissed again, pulling away, only to yelp as he was lightly rapped on the head by the fire staff.
"Stop that." The Rahaga of Fire admonished, gently running his hand along Vakama's spine. The larger male hissed, but remained still, warily eyeing the other. "…What are you doing?" He asked eventually.
Norik paused, before sighing deeply. "I am sure you are aware that those who emerge from the Visorak's webs still… change."
Vakama didn't like where this was going. "Yes… we ran into a Lohrak who grew after it broke free of its cocoon."
"Indeed." Norik pressed a spot on the spine just above the Hordika's lower back, getting an immediate reaction. Vakama jumped away with a yelp, spinning around and snapping his jaws with a pained growl.
The Rahaga only gave him a sad look. "It seems that your changes are not done yet, Vakama. Please… stay with us." Norik moved forwards, reaching out a hand.
The Hordika growled warily, but didn't move. Soon he felt the hand along his jaw, which scratched just under the joint. Suddenly the Hordika of Fire felt relaxed, the action sending a soothing feeling through him.
Norik smiled sadly, watching as the once Toa absently leaned into the scratching, a hind foot starting to thump against the ground. "Let my brothers and I guide you in surviving in this new form." The Rahaga coaxed softly, slowly pulling his hand away. "At least until you feel settled in it."
Vakama blinked, a faint whine rising in his chest at the lack of scratching, before he processed the words. Finally, he sighed, lowering his head. "Very well, Norik."
The Rahaga of Fire smiled, and led him back to the others, giving the Hordika gentle pointers on how to balance in his new body. But deep down, worry swirled in his stomach. Hold strong Vakama. You have no idea how much your brothers will need you.
"Umm… Nokama, what are you doing?"
"Hmm?" The now-Hordika of Water looked up from what she had been doing.
Nuju gestured to the young human trapped between the female's now-forelegs, who was sitting there looking very confused. "That?"
Nokama blinked, tilting her head before bending it down, starting to groom the girl again. "I don't-" lick "-know what-" lick lick "-you're talking-" liiiick "-about."
The Ice Hordika blinked again, while Emma just sat there, her brain fried from trying to process what Nokama was doing to her. "Umm… you are licking Emma?" It came out more as a question than a statement, conveying the sheer bafflement the former scholar was feeling.
The Water Hordika blinked slowly, not understanding what he was getting at, as well as starting to feel defensive. "And…?"
Nuju blinked for a third time, his confusion only growing, before turning his head hearing footsteps approach. "I would leave them be, if I were you." Gaaki warned softly, placing a hand on the pale Hordika's side, guiding him away.
"But-?" He froze hearing a growl, and his warped instincts registered a defensive female. Nokama had started bristling, armour puffing out in an attempt to look bigger. The Hordika of Ice backed up, until his sister settled and went back to what she had been doing. "Uh…"
Gaaki sighed. "This is one of the side effects of the venom. You all have new instincts…" she gestured to Nokama, who was sniffing a still confused Emma's side. "In this case, her new instincts have identified the child as a 'cub' and that she must care for her."
"I… see." Nuju continued to stare, though his mind did wander back… Nokama had been a mother once, before her child was snatched away. "Is it possible that… this is a form of maternal instinct?"
The Rahaga of Water blinked, before nodding slowly. "I… suppose so." She looked at Nuju, curious. "What made you ask that?"
The Hordika of Ice was silent for a moment, before turning away. "Just curious… that's all."
Gaaki watched him go, before turning back to the female Hordika and the child. Emma was trying to escape from Nokama now, but was instead being gently pinned as she was forcefully continued to be groomed. "N-Nokama stop!" The thirteen year old pleaded; it fell on deaf ears.
This is not like the third movie at all!
When Vakama returned, an uneasy silence lingered for a long while before he spoke. "I can't tell you all what to do." The Hordika of Fire said softly. "It's… obvious that my orders led us to this disaster. It's equally obvious that some of you no longer wish for my company." He looked at Matau and Onewa, who were staring at him with narrowed eyes.
"Vakama, they didn't-" Nokama began, standing from where she had been curled around Emma. (The girl took the chance to crawl away and hide behind a bemused Whenua.)
The Fire Hordika shook his head, stopping her. "But I think we can all agree that our problems pale next to those of the Matoran." He looked his brothers in the eyes. "We have to be sure they are safe before we can worry about how to reverse this transformation."
There was a moment of silence, before Nuju nodded. "As much as I wish it were otherwise, you are right." He raised a hand… paw?… cutting off Onewa before he could retort. "Placing the Matoran first puts us at risk of being Hordika forever, something I would not wish on anyone. But seeing to ourselves before saving them may doom an entire population to this fate, or worse."
"We are Toa-heroes, even if we don't look like it." Everyone was surprised by Matau's sudden agreement. The Air Hordika ignored their looks, continuing, "We have two problems: rescuing the Matoran from the Coliseum, and then getting them out of this city. If you will think-plan on the first, I may have an idea of how to do the second."
"Then let's get started." Onewa said, scrambling to the top of a pile of rubble, his movements somewhat uncoordinated. "We are not getting any younger, and Matau is not getting any better looking."
"Exac-" Matau felt it click exactly what the Stone Hordika implied. "HEY!"
Norik watched the Toa-turned-Hordika talk and plan for their journey back into the Metrus. It was good that they had a mission and goal in mind to keep them from thinking about their fate. He knew better than most what Toa were capable of, but in his heart, he doubted that these heroes could avoid their doom.
Looking at his brother Rahaga, he then approached the Toa Hordika. He knew that as much as they wanted to go out, to begin their Great Rescue… now was not the time.
"If I may," the group looked over as the Rahaga of Fire came up to them, "I believe that it is best that you hold off on your rescue plans, at least for now."
Onewa frowned from his spot on top of the pile. "So what? We just sit around and wait to lose our minds?" His voice was full of biting sarcasm.
Norik sighed, shaking his head. "That is not what I mean." He gave the Hordika a hard look. "I have said this to Vakama already, and I shall say it to you. Your mutations have not yet finished."
The Toa Hordika who were unaware of this froze. Nuju was the first to come to the realization, and looked at Norik. "Like the Lohrak…"
"Yes… like the Lohrak you encountered."
The group slowly processed the information, the realization that the pain wasn't done dawning on them. That there were still mutations yet to occur…
"Please, rest for the time." Gaaki stepped forwards, her eyes filled with concern for the group. "My brothers and I will help you through this process."
The Hordika looked at each other, before they nodded. "Very well." Nokama said softly, wrapping her arms around Emma to pull the child in close. The human didn't say anything, instead hugging back, scared for her friends.
The Rahaga could only watch, knowing that the times ahead would be hard on them. The risk of being torn apart by the changes to come would only increase the longer they remained poisoned.
Roodaka sat on the throne that had once belonged to Makuta, tapping her sharply manicured nails against each other. Sidorak had departed to gather his legions in preparation for hunting the Toa Hordika. The Horde King would rely, as he always did, on the overwhelming force of numbers to achieve his ends. The Visorak would sweep through the city like a plague, never resting until their prey had been run into the earth.
But will that be enough? She wondered. These are Toa…mutated, yes, burdened with the dual nature of the Hordika, but Toa just the same. This is their city. They know it's hiding places, the viceroy scowled, and they have the cursed Rahaga to aid them. With luck and skill, they might evade the hordes.
That would never do. She needed the Toa to achieve her ultimate plan, and as she had vowed, by Makuta's dark power, she would have them. The future Queen of the Visorak rose and walked to the massive sundial that dominated the other side of the dark chamber. Once this device had measured the amount of time remaining before Metru Nui was to be wracked by the cataclysm. Now, it counted down the hours the Toa Hordika had left to live.
Roodaka smiled. Let Sidorak lead his legions on a chase through streets and alleyways. She would make plans of her own, plans so subtle and so devious that even the Master of Shadows would applaud, were he free.
Soon. The viceroy thought. Very soon, now. By my hand will the light be banished from this city, and my Master's darkness left to rule forevermore.
And deep in the bowels of the Coliseum, the sleeping Matoran trembled in the grip of night-terrors that would not end…
The pain was what woke Whenua. Grunting, his eyes tiredly opened, mind still locked in sleep. At least up until the pain spiked in his spine, drawing a roar from his chest.
The entire 'camp' woke to his roar, with his brothers rushing to him out of concern. The black Hordika was laying on his side, thrashing and roaring. His body was convulsing, but the worst was that his armour and hide around his back seemed to be… swelling. Distorting. Like something was moving beneath.
And Whenua's thrashing quickly turned into trying to attack his back, an instinctive attempt to make the pain stop.
"Hold him still!" Gaaki shouted, the Rahaga realizing what was happening. "Quickly!"
Onewa and Vakama pounced on their largest brother, trying to hold him down. But the Hordika of Earth was not only the largest of them, but also the strongest due to his previous nature as a Toa of Earth. Even with his connection to his element severed, he still retained that Earth Toa strength, which was now combined with the mutations that had given him additional strength; rahi strength. Nuju and Matau quickly jumped on as well, seeing their larger brothers struggling to hold the largest of them down.
Only Nokama stayed back, unsure what she could do without access to the healing energies of water, and her new instincts demanding her to protect the 'cub'. Emma was sitting on the ground behind her, having been spooked awake by the commotion, and now staring at the Hordika trying to pin their roaring brother.
Norik watched the scene worriedly, before looking at his remaining brothers. No words needed to be said, and the five spread out to keep an eye out for danger. All the roaring was bound to attract some ill attention.
Whenua's spasms only grew worse, and the sounds of bones cracking and snapping started to fill the air. As he was being pinned, his brothers watched in horror as what looked like hard, metal spines started to break through his hide over his spine. Matau became visibly nauseous, and had to turn his head away lest he vomit on his brother.
Gaaki could only bear witness, her heart aching, though she knew that there was nothing that could be done to lessen the pain. Eventually she stepped forwards, and gestured for the males to get off their panting brother. As they did so she approached, taking a look at the changes. Thick, curved, armoured spines ran along Whenua's back now, stained with purple blood.
Kneeling next to him, the Rahaga of Water gently stroked the side of his head. "Easy…" she murmured softly, while the Earth Hordika's eyes were wide and glazed with pain. She then pulled out a small flask, popping the cork and pouring some of the contents into his mouth.
Whenua weakly lapped at the liquid, before passing out with a sigh. His brothers worriedly crowded around, some instinctively sniffing or whining in worry.
"He will be alright." Gaaki placated softly, standing and moving to clean the Hordika's back. "I gave him a sleeping draught to help him."
Vakama lifted his head, looking at the Rahaga worriedly. "Is this… what Norik was referring to?"
"Yes." The female Rahaga said softly, gently dabbing the blood away from the new spines.
Nuju was quiet, thinking, before he spoke up. "Out of all of us, Vakama was the first to mutate. So why did Whenua go through… this… first?" He asked, looking from his now sleeping brother to the blue Rahaga.
Gaaki frowned, thinking. "It may be that each of you received varying doses of venom. Given Whenua's size, it is likely that he received a comparatively larger dosage."
Onewa shuddered, absentmindedly scratching his back. "Don't remind us." He muttered, his side giving phantom aches from the bite mark.
"So, there's no pattern to which of us will mutate again next?" Vakama asked, trying to ignore the itching of his own back. He soon started biting at his hide, the itch incredibly annoying.
Gaaki hopped over, gently pushing his muzzle aside and instead rubbing a cooling salve over the itchy spot. As the Fire Hordika sighed in relief, the Rahaga spoke. "For now that seems to be the case. Unfortunately, we will have to wait and see."
Matau grunted, biting at his tailbone. "Well I'd rather-!" He suddenly roared loudly, pain exploding in his rear.
The four conscious Hordika jumped at the sound, while the Hordika of Air collapsed. Before the Rahaga could even shout to the Toa they were already rushing to hold Matau still, if only so he wouldn't hurt himself.
Onewa, who was holding his roaring brother down by his haunches, noticed the hide over Matau's tailbone… moving.
Then, the hide split, blood spurting out as metallic bone seemed to grow out, followed by muscle and then new hide.
Mata Nui… The Stone Hordika felt like he was going to be sick, blood draining from his face.
Before his eyes, what could only be a… tail… started to grow, bones cracking and new tissue forming over. The others noticed as well, with Nokama quickly moving to cover Emma's eyes.
Though too late, as the human had already fainted, face ashen.
Eventually Matua's thrashing and roaring died down, the male left laying on the ground, panting. Gaaki moved around to his rear, her heart breaking at seeing the long, slender yet still well muscled tail. It was also longer than Matau's new, mutated, elongated, quadrupedal body. "It also seems that… you each will mutate differently compared to each other." The Water Rahaga said softly, moving up to the Air Hordika's head and carefully pouring some more sleeping draught into his mouth. Matau weakly swallowed it, before closing his eyes with a whine.
As the lithe Hordika fell into a drugged sleep, the remaining three males regrouped with Nokama, who had moved Emma into a more comfortable position. They all shared scared looks… they could each feel pain increasing in different areas of their bodies… it was only a matter of time before they too succumbed to their next mutations.
Roodaka, viceroy of the Visorak hordes, stood in what had once been Turaga Dume's box in the Coliseum. A red Visorak, called a Vohtarak, stood beside her, awaiting her commands. Down below, Visorak scurried to and fro, like tiny insects, carrying cocooned Rahi. These would be placed either in the webs that lined the arena as trophies of another conquest, or mutated, left to be either hunted for sport or trained as guards.
Soon, the Toa would be joining them, that she knew. The six heroes of Metru Nui had combined their powers to trap their foe; her master, Makuta; in a protodermis prison sealed with the symbol of the three Matoran virtues: unity, duty, and destiny. With such a "lock", even Makuta, with all his dark power, could not break free. Only the power of those six Toa together could undo what they had done. It was only too bad that their tiny organic companion hadn't survived… she would've loved to have seen what made the creature tick.
"Vakama and his allies made two great errors." Roodaka said aloud, sharp blue eyes trained on her Visorak far below. "The first was thinking Master Makuta helpless. Though his body is frozen, his power is stalemated… his mind is free to roam. His thoughts reached out to us, across the seas and through the Great Barriers. Now Metru Nui is ours."
The Vohtarak nodded enthusiastically in agreement: not agreeing with the viceroy was almost inevitably a fatal mistake. The viceroy smiled as she fondly recalled the Toa's return to Metru Nui. So proud they were, so confident, so convinced that nothing could defeat them. But the venom of the Visorak changed all that. Now the Toa were Toa Hordika; half-hero, half-Rahi, forced for the first time to confront the shadows within.
"The second error… they should have fled far from this place." Roodaka reflected, idly playing with her manicured nails; sharp and pointed metallic digits, like claws. "They should have traveled to a star of which even Mata Nui never dreamed, far outside this shadowed universe. Now there is no hope for them. In a matter of hours, days at most, the hordes will track them down."
She paused, glancing down at the Vohtarak. "But why am I telling you this? You are not even a Visorak… are you?" The stare the viceroy gave was unwavering, knowing.
The Vohtarak hesitated for a moment under her piercing glare. Then, with a shrug that defied anatomy, the 'Visorak' transformed in a flurry into a perfect replica of Toa Nokama Metru. "Once again, you are correct." The voice that answered was Nokama's, but the Toa of Water had never worn such an expression of hatred. "I am called Krahka. I am a rahi, one of those your hordes have been hunting in this city." She took a fighting stance. "And I have come to strike you down like the monster you are."
Roodaka's answer was both to push the button to lower the balcony, and laughter; long and shrill, carrying with it more than a little trace of madness.
Krahka circled warily. The shapeshifting Rahi had faced many foes in her life, including the six Toa Metru. But this female was something different. Every move she made was carefully calculated and all part of a grand strategy, one that he kept close to her chest. There was no wasted motion, no scrambling to react to Krahka's changes of shape. Like she had been aware from the get-go.
For her part, Roodaka was enjoying this. She could have had Krahka slain immediately with Visorak attendants, but chose instead to face the rahi in single combat. To lure the creature to this place. The arena floor had been cleared for them, and they both stepped onto it once the balcony lowered to it. Now the Visorak watched as their leader prepared to claim another victim.
Krahka swiftly abandoned the guise of Nokama in favor of a subterranean creature whose appearance would be enough to drive a sane Matoran mad. She now towered twelve feet high, with a slimy, pale white body and six long, metallic-bony spines coming out of her sides. Each spine was extremely flexible and could be cracked like a whip. At the end of the spines were wickedly curved claws that could rip through six inches of metal with one swipe. In human terms, she looked like a giant millipede from the Carboniferous, only much more deadly.
It should have been no contest. The Krahka had strength, height, and reach over Roodaka, and a body designed to make it impossible for any blow to land solidly. But the Visorak viceroy smoothly slipped away from every one of Krahka's strikes, then struck with her own talons. Worse, Roodaka struck so swiftly and so often that Krahka had no opportunity to shapeshift into either a faster or defensive form.
The viceroy slipped through her opponent's defenses and landed two quick blows, earning screeches from the Krahka. Then she launched her Rhotuka spinner, whose power could transform Krahka permanently into a figure out of nightmare. At the last split second, the Rahi shifted into a small burrowing creature and vanished underground, burrowing through the barren protodermis.
A tense silence descended upon the arena. Some of the Visorak believed Roodaka had won via the opponents retreat, while others were not so certain. The Visorak viceroy herself stood perfectly still, waiting for any sign of the Krahka's return in a new form.
The ground shifted slightly beneath Roodaka's feet. Before she could react, the arena floor was crumbling beneath her and she was falling into the massive, tooth-filled maw of a Po-Metru troller worm. Some of the horde charged forward as if to save her, while the rest seemed perfectly happy to see the viceroy devoured.
They were destined to be disappointed. Roodaka latched onto the sides of the hole with her claws and pulled herself out right before the huge jaws snapped shut. Once back on solid ground, she paused and listened to the sound of the great worm moving beneath the surface.
Moving too quickly for the eye to follow, the viceroy plunged her arm through the ground, and with strength that did not parallel her size, seized the Krahka/troller in her claws. With a mighty heave, she pulled the giant worm up through the arena floor.
As soon as she realized her predicament, Krahka shifted to a much smaller Lava Eel. Her now fiery hot hide burnt Roodaka's hand, forcing her to release her grip with a yelp. Krahka slithered away and shifted again, this time taking the form of one of the gigantic Kahgarak spiders, a breed of large elite Visorak, that guarded the gates of the Coliseum. Then she spat a stream of webbing at the vortixx, binding her to the arena wall.
"You… cannot defeat me… with one of my own creatures." Roodaka hissed, eyes flashing crimson. Flexing her muscles, she tore free of the web, which fluttered into tatters around her. "And at that size, you are too big of a target to miss, rahi."
The viceroy launched another spinner. Krahka started to shapeshift, but too late as the whirling energy struck her. The rahi's own powers blunted the effects of the mutating force, but it was still enough to send her sprawling in the dust. Now back in the form of Nokama, albeit somewhat off, she struggled to regain her footing.
Roodaka was upon the rahi before she could rise, a talon held to Krahka's throat. "I could end this now." The viceroy hissed, pressing the claw against a vein just beneath the hide. "But you have possibilities, creature. I did not get where I am by wasting potential resources."
Krahka cursed at her. In response, Roodaka grabbed her by the neck and forced her to look around the arena at the hundreds of Visorak that had assembled to watch the match. "At a single word from me, even a nod, they would bind you and turn you into something so horrible you would die of fright at your own reflection." The Visorak viceroy stated, as though this were a normal conversation. "Or we can come to an arrangement. You decide."
Roodaka dropped the Krahka, letting her crash to the ground. The Rahi slowly got to her feet, still in the off shape of the Toa Metru of Water. "What sort of… arrangement?" She croaked, her voice slightly distorted.
"Not every rahi needs to end up in our web, Krahka." The viceroy purred, absently sharpening a nail. "Those who are useful will survive intact, even thrive, under my rule. You can be one of them. Your particular skills and your past experience with the Toa Metru–" she smirked at the startled expression,"–oh yes, I know about that – make you ideal for something I have in mind."
Krahka pondered the offer. If she refused, she had no doubt that Roodaka and the Visorak would defeat her… or worse, if the fate of the captured rahi were anything to go by. If she accepted, there might still be some opportunity to get her revenge on Roodaka later on. "Alright." The Rahi said after a moment of thought. "What do you want me to do?"
Roodaka smiled. Right into my web. "Sidorak and his hordes are hunting for the Toa Hordika, formerly the Toa Metru." She stated aloud. "If they catch them, all is well; but just in case they do not, I intend to make sure that the Toa will be… unable to oppose me."
"How?" Krahka asked, shifting into a form similar to that of Roodaka.
The viceroy put an arm around Krahka's shoulders and led her away, smirking. "We are going to do the heroes of Metru Nui a favor, you and I." She purred, a malevolent gleam in her eyes. "We are going to tell them the truth about themselves."
When morning came, the remaining four Hordika had also undergone mutations. Nuju and Nokama had each gained tails; the former Ice Toa's long like Matau's, while the female's was only as long as her body, thick, with a sail-finned tip, like a fish's. Onewa had also gained spines along his back, though they were thinner and sharper compared to Whenua's thick ones. Vakama, in comparison, had gained a sort of large, spined sail, which could fold against his back.
Each had been given sleeping draught from Gaaki, and even as the weak, lone sun rose over the ruins, the Hordika slept fitfully. The Rahaga of Water was exhausted, yet refused to rest. Not in the event that another mutation occurred.
"Will they be okay?" The soft, tired question made Gaaki raise her head. Emma was kneeling next to Vakama, gently dabbing blood away from around his new sail. Despite her earlier fainting episode, once she had come to, the human had immediately jumped in to help. The Fire Hordika whimpered in his sleep, earning him a comforting stroke along his eye ridge.
Gaaki let out a deep sigh, tiredly rubbing her face. "I…I am unsure, child." The Rahaga answered softly. "They likely have more mutations yet to come… then they will have to adjust once again."
Emma paused her actions, looking at the other worriedly. "Do you want to call the others back? You look exhausted…"
Gaaki shook her head, moving over to check on Onewa. "I will be alright. Given the roars, it is best that my brothers work to keep any unwanted visitors away."
Thirteen year old glanced over towards where she had last seen the male Rahaga vanish. "Okay… but you look like you're about to fall over." She stated, turning back. She wasn't lying; the Water Rahaga was swaying slightly, eyes unfocused somewhat. "I can handle this."
"I… guess I could use a rest." Gaaki admitted, shuffling off to one of the nooks.
Emma watched the Rahaga disappear inside, before turning back to cleaning Vakama's back. To be honest, the girl felt… numb, inside. Not only was she completely and totally out of her element, but she knew for certain that none of this had been in the movie… Then again, Legends of Metru Nui didn't include fighting the Morbuzakh, or half of the running through the Metru's we did. That was in the comics and I only somewhat knew thanks to wiki… dumb me never thought to read more into Web of Shadows. And I think there was a book too… oh man! Swallowing back a sob, the thirteen year old focused on what she was doing, trying not to cry. She was tired, numb, overwhelmed… scared… Why me? Why am I even here?! I shouldn't be! I-I'm just some dumb kid! I…I want my mommy!
She hadn't even realized she had started crying until she tasted the salty tears, making her wipe her reddened face with an arm. S-She had to stay focused-!
A metallic black paw lightly grasped her arm, making Emma jump. Her teary-eyes met with concerned green, before the girl was burying her face into Whenua's chest, crying. The still weakened Hordika held the pre-teen close, lightly nuzzling the top of her head, feeling her body wrack with sobs. A deep rumble welled up in his chest and throat, providing a surprisingly comforting sound.
Emma hiccupped a little, weakly mumbling, "You're purring…" before another sob choked itself out of her throat.
Shh… it's okay now. Whenua gently nuzzled the girl, feeling her start to go limp against him. Rest little one… rest…
Slowly, the massive Hordika lay down, keeping the child tucked against his side. He watched, quiet as the young human eventually fell asleep. He would protect the cub… he had to…
Norik watched quietly as the Hordika inspected their new appendages. Matau was going in circles, inspecting his new, prehensile tail; though it often ended with him tripping over it before getting up again with a round of complaints. Nokama was curiously folding and unfolding the fin on her tail, while Onewa was rubbing his spines against an old wall. Vakama had found a weak sun beam and let his new sail fully open to it, instinctively absorbing the warmth. Nuju was experimentally moving his new tail, watching as it reacted to either outside stimuli or his own focused thoughts. Only Whenua was not inspecting himself, instead curled around the young organic child, who was sleeping soundly against his side.
"We should get started." Pouks stated quietly, standing beside his brother Rahaga. "The sooner we do so, the better for them."
"While I agree," the Rahaga of Fire kept his eyes on the Hordika, "we should also factor in the child, as well as the changes their bodies are going through."
"Very well brother." The brown Rahaga sat down, resting his staff over his lap. "But time is of the essence."
"I know." Norik watched as Onewa and Matau started squabbling, then wrestled each other, all over the latter tripping into the former. "I know…"
Eventually Nokama broke up the squabble, literally shouldering between the two of them and snapping her fangs. Both males bowed their heads, before slinking away from each other. The female huffed, before prowling over to Whenua. The large male opened an eye as she approached, rumbling softly, but did not budge as she laid beside him, starting to groom the sleeping human.
"I fear that 'sooner' has long passed." Pouks muttered, grimacing as Matau shoved Vakama out of his basking spot, getting an annoyed hiss, followed by another scuffle.
"It appears so, brother." Norik made his way over, stepping between the two bristling Hordika and stopping the fight. "Given you have recovered for the time and have ample energy…" he gave both gold-crested Hordika a Look, before raising his voice to be heard by all, "I feel it is time to fully understand your new bodies. To do that, each of you shall be paired with one of us," the Rahaga of Fire gestured to himself and the other Rahaga, "and venture into your respective Metru."
Nokama stood up, a frown on her muzzle. "And what about Emma? Who will she go with?" As much as she wanted to bring the cub with her, she feared something happening again to her. And Whenua was just as protective, if the glare he was giving the Rahaga was anything to go by… though the Hordika of Water felt twitchy at the thought of not being with the cub.
At that, the Rahaga shared a worried look… "We… were thinking of leaving her here…" Bomonga spoke slowly, well aware of the hard stares trying to glare right through him.
"But rest-assured, she will be safe!" Gaaki quickly stepped in as hackles raised. "There is a safe spot where she may remain undiscovered by the Visorak-"
"Absolutely not." "No." Both Nokama and Whenua spoke at the same time, their glares hardening.
Norik did not want to go this route, but the Hordika were not thinking in their proper mindset. "So, you wish to bring her into dangerous, Visorak-infested territory?" He asked.
The growls he expected. But it was Nokama's response that threw him for a loop. "I will stay here. At least until one of the others returns, or we chose to leave. Emma will not be left unattended." The female Hordika gave them a look that dared them to challenge her. "Either way, she is much safer with myself than alone."
The Rahaga shared looks, before giving in. The tone in her voice had left no room for argument; at least not without a fight.
"Very well then." Norik nodded. "Gaaki shall remain with you both. The rest of us," he looked at the male Hordika, "will head out."
The five grumbled but agreed, heading out with the respective Rahaga. As he walked beside a quiet Vakama, the Rahaga of Fire looked up at the shrouded sky. Metru Nui will be our final showdown with these creatures from the pit. He told himself, his mind going back to the many lands devoured by the Horde; lands too late to save. And before it is done, either Visorak or Rahaga will be no more.
High above Le-Metru, a member of the Visorak Roporak species kept a careful watch. Its brown coloration allowed it to fade into the tangled mass of cables and webbing that shrouded the Metru's sky between the towering buildings. Beside it, an unfortunate Gukko tried in vain to escape a cocoon. The creature would fail, of course, and soon cease to be any potential threat.
The Roparak had to forego the pleasure of watching its captive's struggles. The green Toa Hordika and his companion, the Rahaga named Iruini, had appeared only moments before. Their behavior was puzzling, to say the least. The Rahaga traveled rapidly over the rubble, but constantly had to stop and urge the former Toa on. The spider could not understand everything that was being said, of course, since Visorak knowledge of the Matoran language was rudimentary at best. But, it could recognize the tone. It was the same tone that the viceroy of the Visorak, Roodaka, got in her voice just before she dropped one of her guards from a high place.
The Roporak had already sent a message through the webs to let others know the Toa was here. Since their escape from the Coliseum, the six Toa Hordika had been on the run. They had so far managed to evade a few half-hearted efforts by the Visorak to catch them, and no doubt thought they were superior to the hordes. Little did they realize the spiders were simply testing their defenses before beginning the hunt in earnest.
Nearby, the Gukko had finally exhausted itself and given up. In a short while, it would be locked in sleep, with no more worries, cares, dreams, or desires. The four-winged avian's system would slow to such a point that nutrition would no longer be required. There would no longer be any need to seek food, or fly over the city, or build a nest in the cables. The Roporak wondered what such complete isolation from the world would be like. The idea of having no Roodaka to answer to was strangely appealing.
The Visorak caught itself just in time. True, Roodaka couldn't read its thoughts - hopefully - but the Dark One she served… that one knew all. It was best to concentrate on the hunt, and not risk thinking thoughts that could lead to an early end to existence.
The Toa and the Rahaga had vanished inside one of the large buildings. The Visorak had no idea what they were seeking there, but it really did not matter. Vibrations in the web indicated that the horde was closing in.
The first Toa to fall would serve as bait for the rest. The heroes would walk right into the center of a web… and never walk out again.
"This was your idea." Iruini recalled as he cartwheeled along behind Matau. "Now you are having second thoughts."
"And third. And fourth." Matau snapped back, his new claws scraping against the metal as he climbed over a piece of fallen scaffolding. "Thank you for spot-noticing." The Hordika grumbled.
Iruini did a quick flip overhead, landing with surprising agility on a piece of pointed debris, likely part of a walkway. "You wanted to gather materials for airships so you can transport the Matoran out of this place to their new home, then worry about reversing the effects of the venom on you." He stated, tilting his head at the Hordika.
"I. Know." Matau growled, tail lashing and nearly sending him off balance. He hissed and snapped at it, before growling hearing his 'companion' laugh.
The Toa Hordika angrily swatted away some rubble that blocked his path. The Rahaga was right, loath he was to admit it. It had been Matau's suggestion that the Toa use airships to transport the Matoran out safely; he'd had his fill of boats. But the Visorak had wrecked all the existing vessels in Le-Metru, which meant needing to build more. That was part of why they had split up to find the necessary materials and anything of importance they might need to bring on the journey. Odds were that if - when, Matau corrected - the Matoran were rescued, there would be precious little time to load the ships and go.
The Toa Hordika and Rahaga of Air had come to this airship hangar in search of undamaged protodermis membranes that could be used for new vessels. This portion was sentimentally in even worse shape than what he had seen when first returning to Metru Nui. Now a dangerous, mechanized jungle, Le-Metru was home to many of the wild Rahi who escaped the Archives.
"What would you rather be doing?" Iruini inquired, hopping along beside the larger.
"Norik said there might be a way to save-cure ourselves… a Rahi-creature named Keetongu, who holds the good-key. I wish to be seek-finding that Rahi you spoke of." Matau stated, irritated at having to remind the smaller of the obvious. "Keetongu: the one who can cure-save me of… this." He gestured to himself, growling.
Iruini snorted, much to the other's agitation. "Ha! I suppose you still believe that Mata Nui himself comes through the chutes on Naming Day bringing gifts to good Matorlings, too." He front flipped, landing before the Hordika and getting an irritated hiss. "Let me tell you about Keetongu." The Rahaga of Air grinned. "Keetongu is the hope of every Visorak victim; a mighty Rahi whose Rhotuka power changes based on who he fights. He can cleanse one's whole system of venom… of course, that's if he judges you worthy…" he waggled a finger, "and if you can find him."
For simply the heck of it, Iruini flipped up onto another broken ledge. "There's only one problem: he doesn't exist." His voice had changed, from playful to… empty. "He never existed. Keetongu is just a myth, Matau. Some of the other Rahaga believe in him, but I don't. A Rahi as big as that existing for so long without being found? Please." He huffed, glancing back at the Hordika.
"Oh." Matau stopped, his muzzled face becoming downcast. "Then there's no light-hope? We will remain rahi-Hordika forever?"
Iruini ran, leapt, grabbed an overhanging pipe and did some lightning fast acrobatics; a stark contrast to his introduction to the Hordika. Then he let go, somersaulting three times in midair before landing on his feet on a piece of rubble in front of the Toa Hordika. "Don't worry… being a Visorak-spawned freak isn't so bad. You get used to it."
Matau looked at the Rahaga in stunned surprise, tail up. "Wait…" his tail lowered as realization set in. "You mean you, and the others…?"
Iruini crouched atop the pile of scaffolding and smiled. "Do you think I always looked like this?" He snorted, rotors flaring a little. "That we were always like this? Did you think my name was always 'Rahaga' Iruini? Not so." The green armoured Rahaga jumped to the ground, rolled, and sprang up again in front of Matau, arms held wide in grandeur. "'Toa' Iruini, I was, once… long ago, along with the others." His arms dropped sadly with a sigh, his rotors going limp. "But you never forget, brother. Trust me," his voice became melancholy, "you never forget."
"l want the truth, Kualus." The white Rahaga glanced up briefly at hearing Nuju's voice. "What are we doing here?"
The two were standing on the outskirts of Ko-Metru, a once majestic district devastated by the bio-quakes and overrun with Visorak spiders and their webs. The Knowledge Towers, the Hordika of Ice once revered above all other parts of the city, had suffered great damage; their once sparkling exteriors cracked and shattered. The quakes had also fractured canals nearby, resulting in icy pools and pillars of frozen protodermis flooding the once pristine road and walkways. The only surviving part of the Metru were the icy mountains that made up the wilds.
The crystal surface of a Knowledge Tower caught Nuju's attention; fragment reflected the once-Toa's distorted appearance. Once a powerful Toa, the venom of the Visorak had transformed Nuju and the other Toa Metru into monstrous Toa Hordika. Half-rahi creatures that teetered on the edge of insanity and darkness.
The Hordika of Ice studied his reflection in the crystalline rubble. His mask had been fused to his now muzzled face, which was warped beyond any recognition. His body was stronger, more muscular, yet twisted like that of a Rahi, and his new appendage left him feeling even more detached from himself. Worse than that, were the changes he felt inside both his body and his mind. The Toa and beast halves of his mind were at war now, and it took all his willpower to fight down the animalistic urges that threatened to consume him. It did not help that the mutations were not yet over; his new tail, while useful for balancing, proved to also be quite the trip hazard.
The Ice Hordika turned to see that Rahaga Kualus was looking elsewhere. The small, bizarre figure's eyes were trained on the sky. Nuju followed his gaze; however he saw nothing but the occasional Ice Bat swooping across the sky.
"Beautiful, aren't they?" Kualus whispered, acknowledging the Hordika who walked up behind him, idly noting the lashing tail. "Perfectly aerodynamic. Completely efficient distribution of mass. And their flight speed: did you know that an Ice Bat can outrace a stampeding Kikanalo herd?"
"No." Nuju replied coldly, a tinge of annoyance in his tone. "I did not." The Toa Hordika wished he could just walk away and leave this strange little being to his obvious obsession with flying creatures. But circumstances dictated that he could not. There was a mission to perform and he needed Kualus' help to complete it. "We are wasting time." Nuju growled, in a tone that startled himself. "We have a city of sleeping Matoran to save." He stressed, forcing himself to take a breath, even as his tail lashed again. "We came to my Metru to salvage parts needed to build transport, not to admire birds."
"Rodents." The Rahaga of Ice corrected, which got him an irritated growl. "Ice Bats are rodents. Surprised that a scholar like you wouldn't know that." He ignored the pissed snarl. "What were you looking at all those years in the observatory?"
Nuju opened his mouth - though whether it was to answer or snap he wasn't certain - but was cut off by Kualus holding up a hand. The Rahaga of Ice then pointed toward a lone bat flying shakily toward the ground. Its wing had been damaged in a collision with a tilted Knowledge Tower. Unable to control its flight, it was heading straight for a Visorak web.
"Stay here." Kualus instructed, already leaping over rubble to follow the Ice Bat.
"What are you doing?" Nuju demanded, bounding after. "It's just a bi- a rodent!" He tried not to think about how he had to correct himself.
"l am doing the same thing Toa do." The white armoured Rahaga replied, activating his rotors to get up to the rahi's flight level. "l am saving one who cannot save himself." Keen eyes tracking the bat's flight path, Kualus unleashed the spinner attached to his back, just over his rotors. It flew straight and true through the air until it reached the rahi. The spinner immediately adhered to the flesh of the flyer and steered it back toward the waiting Rahaga. Kualus snagged the spinner and removed the panicking, wounded creature from it. Then, after landing, he began to gently tend to the Rahi's wounds.
"Handy little thing, isn't it?" Kualus commented, sensing the now intrigued Hordika's approach. "They are called Rhotuka spinners."
"Yes." Nuju murmured, sniffing at the bat, who hissed at him. "If I ever need a bat catcher, you are the first one I'll call."
Kualus shoved the curious Ice Hordika's muzzle away, before he hastily improvised a splint for the Ice Bat's broken wing. Once he was done, he placed the creature inside a niche in a damaged Knowledge Tower. When the Ice Bat tried to leave the shelter, the Rahaga began to make clicks and whistling sounds, all the while making sharp gestures with his hands. To Nuju's surprise, the Ice Bat seemed to be listening.
"What in Mata Nui's name are you doing?" The Ice Hordika demanded, his impatience growing by the moment. "What is that gibberish?"
"Not gibberish." Kualus countered, pointing upward and smiling. "It is language. The language of the flyers, or at least as close to it as a non-flyer can come." He chuckled, stroking the bat's head as it chirred. "I'm talking not just to this one, but to those rahi up there." He gestured to a group of Ice Bats perched on a ledge high above them. "Just as they don't waste any energy when in the air, they don't waste words when they speak." He chuckled. "Perhaps you might like to learn or try it sometime?"
Nuju scoffed and shook his head, his eyes narrowing in disgust. He then turned and prowled away, tail lashing in agitation. What a waste of time… "No. I have nothing to learn from birds." He almost spat that last word.
Kualus decided to skip repeating the fact that more than just birds counted as flyers. "They are flying free up there." He said instead, in an attempt to make a point and make Nuju stop again. "You are down here, mutated into a Toa Hordika and on the run from the Visorak horde. Maybe it is them who have nothing to learn from you, Nuju."
"Maybe." The Hordika growled, keeping his voice from boiling over in anger. "Now can we move on?" He asked, claws digging into the ground
Kualus sprang to his feet. "Very well, Toa Hordika. Lead, and I shall follow…" he walked up, then past the other, "as long as I like where you are leading."
"Nokama, are you alright?"
The Toa Hordika of Water looked up at Gaaki's voice, and nodded. "I am. Why do you ask?"
"Because you are pacing." The Hordika stopped, then sat on her haunches, sighing. "I feel… agitated." She admitted, pawing at the ground.
Gaaki hummed, glancing over at the third member of their group. "What do you think, young one?"
Emma jerked, looking up from where she had been drawing in the dirt. "What?"
Nokama prowled over, nudging the child. "Don't worry about it, little one. It's nothing."
Gaaki huffed, hopping forwards. "It is not 'nothing'," The Rahaga corrected. "You are agitated, Nokama. It is best to learn why before you lash out."
The Hordika growled, her finned tail lashing. "Maybe it's because my team and I have been mutated against our will." She hissed.
Emma was quiet, watching the standoff, before meekly speaking up. "Umm… Nokama, what are you feeling?"
Both Rahaga and Toa Hordika looked at her, before Nokama frowned. "What do you mean?"
The human sat with her legs criss-crossed, looking at her friend. "Well… do you have any… urges? The need to do something?" She clarified meekly.
Gaaki's eyes widened in understanding, while Nokama sat down again, frowning. "I…I want to swim." She said after a moment. "I want to feel the waves and the currents… the coolness of water…"
"It is your instincts as a Hordika that are making you agitated." The Rahaga of Water murmured, looking at the Hordika. "Your rahi-half is drawn to the water, to your element. Where you feel the most comfortable."
"Then let's go swimming!" Emma jumped up, only to squeak as she came over light-headed, her legs giving out. Nokama quickly caught the thirteen year old, and nuzzled her. "Careful little one! You are still recovering…"
"Given the amount of agitation you are showing Nokama," bioluminescent blue and organic blue eyes turned to Gaaki, " it would be best to go out and swim. Before you accidentally lash out."
Nokama tilted her head, Emma tucked up between her front legs. "That does sound wonderful." She admitted, sniffing the thirteen year old's head, ignoring the irritated swats. "And maybe even be able to bathe off all the dust…"
"Let me go find a secluded spot." Gaaki said, watching as the Hordika started to preen the girl's head. "Once I find it, we can head over."
"Sounds wonderful." Nokama purred, easily keeping the squirming child pinned. "And if we're able to, we can get what we need from Ga-Metru as well…"
The Rahaga nodded, before hopping off. She chuckled, hearing Emma's protesting yelps. Once a mothering Hordika had her 'cub' pinned to preen, there was no escaping.
"I do not like it, Roodaka!" Sidorak's voice bellowed through the Coliseum's Spire. The voice's owner stepped forward to a display of Toa Magnai Lhikan's Kanohi Hau. The Seltian smashed it to pieces. "Not at all!"
Roodaka came over to the throne room, bowing her head in respect. "What troubles you, my king?" She asked, a purr in her tone.
The King of the Horde spun to face her. "Toa! Rahaga! I should have crushed them all when I had the chance, instead of allowing you your…your experiments!" He stormed towards her, towering over the viceroy. "Now, they are a plague upon my rule!"
Roodaka kept her face low so Sidorak could not see her eyes narrow at his comment. "My 'experiments' in the effects of Visorak venom serve the shadows, and you, my king." She answered. "And as you well know… plagues can be eliminated." And once the Rahaga are dust, she thought to herself, and the Toa at my mercy… your usefulness will be over, my "king".
Sidorak growled, before turning away. "Very well, Roodaka. But they must be dead so our rule is secured."
"Of course, my king." Roodaka bowed, before leaving. Once the doors closed behind her, she snarled and lashed out at a carving of a previous Turaga's mask. Her long, sharp claws left deep gouges in the stone. "Of course…" she spat, before stalking off into the darkness.
Kualus followed along behind the Toa Hordika of Ice, sighing. "You are very wise, Toa, but in this new world, wisdom is not enough."
"You sound like Ehrye." Nuju returned, peering around a corner to check for Visorak or Rahi. He scented the air, but smelled nothing, so he prowled forwards, tail swishing.
Kualus cocked his head. "Who?" He asked, hopping after.
"A Matoran I used to know." The Hordika scoffed at the memories the mane brought up. "He always insisted that scholars were not as wise as we claimed to be." He shook his head, tail swishing. "Yet he himself failed to become one time and time again."
The Rahaga cocked an eye-ridge, but before he could ask Nuju froze. "What is-?" He started to ask, only for the Hordika to shush him. The former Toa then strained his hearing, looking around. Surely, that couldn't have been…
From around another corner, a small voice whispered in a hushed tone. "Nuju… help me… Nuju…"
"It can't be…" Nuju started moving towards the source of the sound, "that is Ehrye's voice! How could he be free?" He started rambling, confused. "I thought he was one of the Matoran we took to the island above. Maybe he was the one we lost…?" He stopped at a small cave created by a fallen Knowledge Tower. Two slants of a broken crystal window joined together to make a small alcove, which quickly deepened into darkness. He sniffed the air, yet still could find no scent. "It came from in there." He murmured to the Rahaga who had to almost run to catch up to him. "We must not have transported him. I guess he escaped the Coliseum and has been hiding here all along…"
Kualus shook his head, hitting his staff's hilt on the ground. "Do you realize how unlikely that is? Nuju, you aren't thinking like a Toa… you are feeling, like a Hordika." He wagged his staff at the larger white form. "The Visorak will use that against you."
The former Toa wheeled on the short Rahaga. "I am sick of hearing about the Visorak!" He roared in Kualus' face, startling the smaller, especially at seeing the sharp fangs. Then, Nuju turned back and marched into the cave. "Saving all of the Matoran begins with saving one, and to blazes with the Visorak!"
"But-!" Kualus began, but the Hordika of Ice cut him off. "I see him moving in there." He squinted hard, looking for Ehrye's white form against the darkness. "Ehrye? It's Nuju, come out." He scented the air again… before he stiffened at a foul stench.
Two shapes flew at Nuju, but neither was the Ko-Matoran he was expecting. They were two black Visorak, the kind called Oohnorak. They bit at the former Toa's legs, but he pulled away just in time, hissing and snarling. The two Visorak chittered, before unnervingly, the sound came from them again, out in the open. "Nuju… help me… Nuju…"
Before the confused Hordika could ask, Kualus explained. "Oohnorak can imitate the voices of those you trust, stolen from your very thoughts telepathically." He waved his staff, rotors slightly splayed. "I tried to warn you!"
"Next time, try harder!" Nuju snapped, before snarling as one of the Oohnorak jumped at him again, pinning him to the ground. He dodged his head left and right as its jaws snapped at him. In anger, it screeched in his face, its hot odorous breath washing over him. "I endured your venom creature, and your webs, but one thing I will not endure is your breath!" The Hordika brought his hind legs under the creature and managed to kick the Visorak off of him. Luckily, it crashed into the other, stunning it.
"Get behind me!" Nuju ordered, even as he shoved Kualus away from the two spiders with a foot.
"What are you doing?" Kualus asked, stumbling.
The white Hordika charged a Rhotuka on his back. His own projectile launcher was similar to those of the Visorak and Rahaga, and had appeared during his initial mutation. When he triggered it, a flap rose from his back, angling over his head, so as to allow him to target and fire it. "You told me my powers are now in my Rhotuka; I'm buying us time!" He replied. Then he let the spinner go, where it curved sharply and landed right in front of the white pair. Instead of creating a wall or block of ice, a dome of energy spread out from it, the ice energy materializing into a dome of hard ice, surrounding Kualus and Nuju.
The Rahaga looked around, rapping his staff against the ground. "That ice dome will delay them, but we have to get out of here. And we can't go forward, backward, or up…" He stopped when he looked to see a grate in the ground, one that provided heat to rise from protodermis pipes and doubled as water drainage down underneath the city.
"So we go down." Nuju finished, already prying away at the grate with his broad claws.
Toa Hordika Nokama purred as she swam in the cool waters of the cove. On the shore, Gaaki was sitting with Emma, letting the curious preteen inspect her rotors.
Nokama felt at peace. She was at one with the waters, moving through the cove with strong, smooth strokes. It seemed that she could sense every movement in the water, from the smallest currents and eddies to the passage of even the tiniest fish. Sensing the approach of some swells, she let her body go limp and rode with them, finned tail flicking to keep herself balanced. She had never known such complete peace, certainly not since she had become a Toa Metru. It seemed strange that such a monstrous mutation as becoming a Hordika could bring such a feeling.
Eventually, she swam back over to the shore, her webbed paws treading the water. "This… I have never felt so connected to my element. To the sea…" she sighed, rolling on her back and pawing at the air as she easily floated, "I never thought becoming a beast would give me such peace."
"Yes. It is not all bad." Gaaki smiled, chuckling as Emma poked at her spinner. "Allowing the rahi inside to guide you can be so tempting, you might never wish to turn back."
"Would that be so terrible?" Nokama admitted, rolling onto her front, tail twitching to keep her steady as she idly floated in the shallows, paws tucked up. "I can still serve my city. I can still protect the Matoran… even like this."
"But can you protect your friends? Can you protect yourself?" Gaaki pressed, standing and hopping into the water. "It takes a being of great willpower not to succumb to the lure of the Hordika." She stroked Nokama's head, which got a purr. "Yes, you may discover new powers and new ways of being, but you may also revert to a primal state and bring destruction to everything you hold dear."
The Hordika of Water suddenly wished the Rahaga would just shut up. She was not going to destroy anything; the very thought was absurd. Instead, she was going to use her new abilities to be an even better protector of Metru Nui than before. Stronger, more…more powerful. Powerful enough to protect her territory.
Gaaki was just jealous, she decided. Even in this form, Nokama was lithe and strong. Of course, the frail and elderly Rahaga envied her for that. I shall let her remain by my side. Nokama thought, pulling away and starting to swim again. But I shall keep an eye on this one. I do not know that I trust her. Even if she did protect my cub.
A/N - And that's all for now! So, thoughts?
Also, is it almost Christmas already?! Man where has the time gone? Happy holidays everyone!
I'm gonna maybe post the next chapter before the new year, but that depends. A lot is going on in real life so, who knows.
Well, until next time!
Next Chapter: Unraveling