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| Guardian of the Dead Souls | |
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Guardian of the Dead Souls (GoTDS) is the first story in the Hell's Rising Trilogy, and the fourth story in the Primordius Magna Saga. It tells of the rise of the Lord of Death, Narcisca and the efforts of the matoran of Arcajax Academy of Soldiers (Camp Arcajax) to prevent Narcisca from rising. In a sub plot, Kronaxx begins to build a new army, with plans to steal the legendary Great Toa Stone for himself.
Story[]
Prologue: The Beginning of the End[]
In the times of old, during the first age of Primordius Magna , Murtaavak created the planet of Primordius Magna itself, and thus, life began. But the life was primordial, primitive, and rather uninteresting to the great being. Murtaavak wished for an assistant, a companion, an equal. A being whom would watch over the life of Primordius Magna, and keep it in order. From combining the contents of an antidermis pool, and a protodermis pool, Murtaavak brought into existence, the equal he desired. Narcisca was born.
For a year, Murtaavak and Narcisca worked together in harmony. However, Murtaavak had made Narcisca too powerful and too intelligent. Greedy and power-hungry, Narcisca desired more than an occupation as an assistant; he desired to rule the planet himself. Murtaavak’s creation turned against him, and for three days and three nights, the two raged a tremendous battle. Eventually, Murtaavak tore Narcisca’s conscience from his body, and banished him to the deepest underground reaches of Primordius Magna. And so, for the time being, peace was restored.
For thousands of years, deep under the surface of Primordius Magna, Narcisca brooded his revenge, looking for an opportunity, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. During his eons underground, Narcisca took up the occupation of shepherding dead souls into the Primordius Magna underworld. Over time, he built himself empire of the damned, and declared himself their ruler. Narcisca became the Guardian of the Dead Souls
….. 60,077 years later, found the essence of a bodiless makuta, seeping into Narcisca's dark kingdom. Kronaxx oozed his way through the twisted stone passageway before him. Slipping, and sliding, he plunged deeper and deeper into the cavernous depths, searching, searching, in vain, for his one chance to regain his old rule.
Rounding another corner, Kronaxx could feel a dramatic change in the atmosphere, betraying an evil presence. The air around caver grew cold, as if doused in ice. Kronaxx’s mind, first began to buzz, than began to shriek with indignation. If it weren’t for the fact he didn’t have a body, Kronaxx though was sure it would have exploded. The shriek in his mind turned to a blinding, stabbing pain. Kronaxx knew, that their was an evil down here, so powerful, so cruel, that his or her mere presents was enough to cause pain. “Who goes there?” As a pose to hearing a sound, Kronaxx felt as if the words were being cut into his mind with a knife. “Who goes there?” the voice stabbed Kronaxx’s mind once again.
“It is I, makuta Kronaxx.”
“And what business do you have in my kingdom? I do not allow the living into my kingdom, but that can easily be fixed.”
"Kronaxx felt his voice speak against his will, as if the being was controlling his speech, forcing the words out. “I am seeking the Great Toa Stone.”
“And why, I might ask, do you seek this ‘Great Toa Stone?’” Kronaxx attempted, will all his will power, to shut out menacing presence, but to no avail. “The toa stone is an all-powerful stone into which the six Toa Gonda put all their power into when they became turaga. This stone contains powers beyond any one being, and I seek it to activate the great robot, Kraahkatoa. Once this robot is activated, I will have a body once more; a body more powerful than ever before!” Kronaxx was furious that being had forced his plan out of him. “A robotic body, you say? Where can I find this Great Toa Stone?” “I have...I have no idea,” gasped Kronaxx, cracking under the stain of the being’s presence. Very well. And with that last remark, the being sent a bolt of shadow towards Kronaxx, blasting a gaping crater in the cavern floor.
Narcisca turned his attention now, to what Kronaxx had said. A body, a giant robotic body down here? for over 60,000 years, Narcisca had been brooding his revenge on Murtaavak and all the other living beings. With a body, I shall rise out of the depths of the underworld, and spread my shadow across the planet. But first, I need the toa stone!
Chapter 1. Bad Vibrations[]
High above the fathomous depths of the underworld, back on the surface of Primordius Magna, standing atop the great Metru Major Colosseum, stood Turaga Ramus. He was recovering himself, having just felt a great tremor in the earth, as Narcisca blasted a crater in the ground. Ramus raised his right hand, pressed it against his heart, and sighed.
“What is is, Turaga,” asked Divex a Toa of Fire, and one of Ramus’ body guards. He was an average height toa, with gleaming orange eyes, and a fairly easy going disposition. Divex also happened to be a member of the Order of Kentis Nui, an organization devoted to carrying out the will of the great spirit, Kentis Nui.
Ramus spoke without looking up, still gazing out over the colosseum, “I feel an evil presence, darker and more sinister than any other I have met before. His wrath is so terrible, that I can feel it, way up here, above the surface of the ground.”
“You mean that their is a great evil, deep underMetru Major?”
Ramus turned now, to stare Divex straight in the eye. “There is a great evil down their, more sinister than anything we could possibly imagine.”
Now Divex looked genuinely worried. At last, he spoke, “Well...what should we do, Turaga Ramus? How can we stop this great evil that you speak of?”
Ramus considered the mater for a long while, before replying, “Go to Arcajax. Go to Arcajax, and tell Makuta Khraan that the camp must be reopened. He shall know exactly what you mean.”
“Tell him to reopen the camp? What camp?”
“Go. We do not have much time.” And so, Divex set out, across the vast expanse of the north continent, on his way towards the island of Arcajax. Nothing stopped him. Nothing hindered him. Divex did not let anything impede his progress, as he raced to Arcajax to deliver Ramus’ urgent message. Tell Makuta Khraan that the camp must be reopened? What on Primordius Magna does that mean?
Khraan was another member of the Order of Kentis Nui. He was one of the few makuta still in existence, after the great Civil War. Khraan was a maser of combat, and worked as a recruiter and training mentor for the Order of Kentis Nui. Not always the most patient, Khraan’s methods were none the less, affective.
Time and by, Divex arrived on the island of Arcajax. Smaller, and much less impressive than the North Continent, it didn’t take long to find Makuta Khraan. The red-and-white armored makuta was practicing his swordplay when Divex found him. “What?” grunted Khraan, lowering his sword, and looking up at the Toa of Fire.
“I bring word from Turaga Ramus. A great evil is afoot, and Ramus says that you are to reopen the camp.” Khraan paused, and for a moment, Divex was afraid that the makuta was going to cal him mad, or worse, strike him with his blade.
But finally, Khraan just grunted, resuming his sword play, “Alright, tell Ramus I will reopen the camp."
…..
About a month later found three matoran practicing their swordplay, while enjoying a lunch break from their jobs. However, they were only using metal rods that they had found lying about. The first matoran, a red-and-black armored Ta-Matoran by the name of Shanohn , lunged with his rod, only to have it deflected by a matoran of Magnetism namedMagnon.
“Ha, ha!” laughed Magnon, spinning about, parrying Shanohn’s blow, and directing his rod towards a silver-armored De-Matoran named Romulus .
Romulus did not succeed in parrying, and his rod fell from his hands. “Dang it!” laughed Romulus, attempting to pick up his rod.
“You’ve lost, Romulus, give up!” called Shanohn triumphantly, pointing his mock-sword at Romulus’ neck. The next instant, Romulus had sprang on top of Shanohn, nocking him to the ground. “Hey, no fair!” shouted Shanohn, as Magnon, the biggest of the three, dog-piled on top of the other two. “Oof!” All three fell to the ground, rolling around with laughter.
The next second, their laughter turned to cries of surprise. Two vortixx had charged out of nowhere, and grabbed the matoran around the middle. One struggled to keep a hold on Shanohn and Romulus, whilst the second tussled with Magnon. Eventually, the vortixx won, dragging the matoran over to a glossy black vehicle, and thrusting them into the back.
“Where are you taking us?” demanded Shanohn to the two vortixx.
“Release us at once!” commanded Magnon, but to no avail. The vehicle spurred into life, and set off with the three frantic matoran, trapped in the back.
Chapter 2. Camp Arcajax[]
Shanohn, Magnon, and Romulus were thrown about and jostled around the back of the vehicle for what felt like the good part of five hours, before they finally stooped. Magnon could hear the crunch of foot steps on gravel, and then the back door of the vehicle was flung wide open to reveal one of the vortixx. “We get out here,” he said, gesturing unnecessarily over his shoulder.
“What are you going to do with us?” asked Romulus nervously. The vortixx didn’t answer. Instead he led Shanohn, Magnon, and Romulus, out of the vehicle, and across a meadow Eventually, the meadow turned into a moor, and the moor turned into a shallow scrub forrest. Over a hill, the three of them trudged, following the two vortixx, until they came into an open valley.
Magnon gasped. Everywhere he looked, their were matoran training. Some were practicing their swordplay, decked out in chain mail suites. Others were firing rifles over at a shooting range. And still others were racing around a race track on the backs of Ussal crabs. “Welcome to Camp Arcajax!” announced one of the vortixx, “You are to report to Khraan in the auditorium. “And where is the auditorium?” asked Magnon. He was not sure how to feel. On one hand, Magnon despised being dragged to a strange place, against his on volition. On the other hand, this camp looked cool; there was so much to do.
“The auditorium is just inside that big building down the hill, and to your left,” replied the vortixx. And so, the three matoran set off down the hill, and into the auditorium. The auditorium was a large, multi-purpose building. At the moment, it was set up as a mess haul, with a long benches stretching on either side of an equally long table. Sitting at one of the benches, was a red-and-white armored makuta, Magnon assumed was Khraan.
“Um,” Shanohn began to brake the silence, “We were told to come down here and see you.” Khraan looked up, and stared straight at the three newcomers.
“You’ll be new campers, I suppose.”
“Yes,” replied Magnon, “But why have we been brought here?”
Khraan sighed and stood up. “Because these are times. Matoran are vanishing and deceit lurks around every corner. A great evil has ben awakened, and may strike any day. I have been recruiting matoran to Camp Arcajax for the good part of a month. I need to train them to fight, so when this evil arrives, we stand a chance. And what is more, with the Toa Alpha around to protect us, no longer, we have to for a new elite toa team. Only through the camp, can I hope to find the six destined to save us all.”
For a minute, nobody spoke; Shanohn, Magnon, and Romulus were all pondering what Khraan had just told them. And then, the doors to the auditorium opened, and a Fe-Matoran walked in. “General Khraan I- oh, am I interrupting something.”
Khraan looked up at the orange-and-grey armored matoran and spoke, addressing the Fe-Matoran. “Ferrum, would you take these three newcomers on a tour of the camp?”
“Alright,” agreed Ferrum, “but what I came to say is we’re running low on bullets over at the shooting range.”
“I’ll see to that,” replied Khraan,” now run along, that’s and order!”
“Come on,” Ferrum said to Magnon and his companions, “let’s look around the camp. Shanohn, Magnon, and Romulus followed Ferrum out of the auditorium, and back into the valley. “Here is the shooting range,” Ferrum said gesturing over to several matoran, each holding a rifle. Magnon watched as a Matoran of Plasma shot a bullet straight into the bullseye of a target.
“And over here, is the ussal crab race course,” Ferrum continued, leading them across the track. Two crabs shot straight towards them, the rider’s too busy arguing to notice them.
“Look out!” cried Shanohn, and they all leaped out of the way, just in the niche of time.
“Hey, watch it!” called Ferrum, “New recruits coming through!” They continued on their way without any further mishaps. At last, Romulus voiced the question that Magnon had had in his head.
“Where do we sleep?”
“Glad you asked,” replied Ferrum, leading them over to several large cabins, “here is where you will spend the night. You will each have your own bunk in...well, let’s see...You guys can sleep in Dormitory C,” Ferrum gestured at the cabin on the far right, “Now, do you want to sleep now, or continue your tour?”
Magnon yawned. “I think we’ll sleep now. We’re all very tired.” Ferrum left the other matoran to Dormitory C. Shanohn pushed open the door, and they all stepped inside. No one else was there, so the three matoran each close a bunk, and laid down in it. Shanohn and Romulus fell right asleep, but Magnon way awake for a long time, thinking about all that had happened that day. It’s been a very trying day, he thought to himself, I sure hope that we fit in alright here at the camp. Oh, well, sleep will do me some good. And with that last though, Magnon rolled over, and went to sleep.
He was walking through a great, cavernous tunnel. The sound of water dull splat of water dripping off of unseen stalactites reverberated off of the stone walls. It was so quite, Magnon could hear his own breathing. Then all of a sudden, Magnon heard, or rather felt, a voice speak. "Where is it? Where is the Toa Stone, Magnon? Show me where it is, or you will join me in my kingdom of the dead!" The Voice cut into Magnon's head as if the words had been engraved onto his skull, rather than spoken.
"I...I don't know! Magnon shouted back, "Who are you?"
…..
The voice only, laughed, causing Magnon's head to hurt all the more. "Who am I? I am the one who feeds on you thoughts and fears. I am your worst nightmare, your worst enemy. And what is more, you will never elude me forever, for I eventually collect all. And I cannot die, for I am death..."
Chapter 3. Life at Camp Arcajax[]
"Everybody up, and on their feet on the double!" the commanding wake-up call from Khraan drew Magnon out of his dream, and back into the real world. It had seemed so real, the voice, the pain, all of it. Could it have been real?
"Morning, Magnon," yawned Romulus, clambering down from his bunk, "You heard Khraan, let's get a move on." Magnon simply stared down at the ground. The dripping of the water, the vast stone cavern...
"What's wrong, Magnon?" asked Shanohn climbing down from his bunk, and looking straight into Magnon's face.
"Oh, nothing," replied Magnon, "just a nightmare, that's all." Magnon blinked. The voice breaking the silence. That terrible voice, carving the words into his head with a knife, demanding to know the location of the Great Toa Stone, what ever that was...
Magnon's thoughts were interrupted by Khraan's commanding call. "I said ON THE DOUBLE. Come on!" Magnon hurried out of the dorm, followed closely by Shanohn and Romulus.
"Hey, you guys!" if was Ferrum, this time accompanied by a rather board looking Ko-Matoran. "I want you guys to meetImperalux. Imperalux, this is Magnon, Shanohn, and Romulus." Ferrum pointed out each of them in turn.
"Hellos, Imperalux," Magnon said cheerily. Magnon had a boundless good nature, and almost always got along well with everybody. Imperalux just looked at him.
"I take it you are the new recruits Ferrum was blabbing about. Well, welcome to Arcajax Academy of Soldiers, I guess." Ferrum caught Magnon's eye, and sent him a slightly amused, non-verbal message that clearly said, This is his way of greeting people.
The five of them continued on together, towards the auditorium Magnon had been in the first day. I am the one who feeds on your thoughts and fears. I am your worst nightmare, your worst enemy. Magnon shook his head, trying to clear his mind of the dream from the night before. It was just a dream, Magnon told himself over and over, just a dream...Or, was it?
By now, all of the matoran in Camp Arcajax had joined the throng, all of the milling around, jostling one another, and exchanging comments. "There's so many matoran here," remarked Shanohn, looking around, "there must be hundreds."
"237, to be precise," replied Imperalux. Shanohn just rolled his eyes and kept on walking.
"Everybody gather around and stand to attention!" commanded Khraan, once they had all reached the auditorium.
Every matoran; all 237 of them, stiffened, arms at his or her side, and stared straight forward, towards Makuta Khraan. "At ease!" commanded Khraan, and all relaxed. "Okay, you all no what to do. Select a station, and go to it. This shall keep you occupied all morning. At noon, everybody regroup here to make teams for capture the flag. All around the group, there were murmurs of excitement. "Start!"
"I think I will go for the ussal crab racing," Romulus said, and set off without further ado.
Shanohn took a little longer to decide. Then finally, he said, "Well, I suppose I will practice my fencing."
Magnon, however had no idea what to do first. Should he go rock climbing? Or go swimming in the pool?
"Hey, what's your name, Magnon." Magnon turned about, and to his surprise, he saw Imperalux. "Would you like to come down to shooting range with me, so you can try your luck?"
"Alright, agreed Magnon, following the Ko-Matoran down a hill, into a shallow forest, and finally, into a clearing. In the clearing, stood two big target boards. And firing at the targets, were four of five matoran.
"Not too crowded down here, remarked Magnon, picking up a riffle from an arsenal.
"No, it isn't," agreed Imperalux, "That is why I like it here." The two of them walked over to where the other five matoran were taking aim. Magnon recognized the matoran of plasma from the day before. He took careful aim, and fired a bullet, straight into the bullseye.
"Good shot, Sadran ," remarked the vortixx, whom happened to be the mentor of the shooting range.
Magnon leaned down, brought the gun to eye level, and fired. His shot missed, sailing over the target.
"Good try, good try," said the vortixx encouragingly. Imperlux knelt known now, took aim, and fired. A hole appeared in the target, a mere inch from the bullseye.
"Remember," Imperalux told Magnon, "Aim slightly higher than what you see through your scope, keep both hands of the gun, and try not to shake or move."
"Alright, thanks." Magnon reloaded and cocked his gun. Aiming, as Imperalux had instructed, Magnon fired. The bullet sailed straight and true, landing dead center, in the bullseye.
"Very good, very good, indeed," the vortixx congratulated Magnon. The matoran named Sadran came over to where Magnon knelt, still holding the gun.
"Very nice shot there," remarked Sadran, "by the way, the nam's Sadran."
"Magnon," Magnon replied, "and thank you." Just at that moment, a whistle blew.
"We had best be going Sadran said, returning his gun to the arsenal, "you don't want to miss capture the flag. Well, I'll se you, Magnon."
Chapter 4. Capture the Flag[]
By the time Magnon, Imperalux, and Magnon and Sadran had arrived back outside the auditorium, everybody else had arrived. Magnon found Shanohn and Romulus hovering near to the back. “How did the shooting go?” asked Shanohn, as Magnon drew up beside him.
“Oh, it went very good I ev-”
“Attention!” shouted Khraan, cutting of magnon mid sentence. Their was immediate silence. “Alright, as you already know, I have scheduled capture the flag for this noon. The teams will be, as follows. Dorm A and Dorm C, will compete against Dorm B and Dorm D. Now, go get your amor on, and pick your weapons! We will start in twenty minutes! Go!”
“Dormitory D?” asked Romulus wonderingly, “Where’s Dormitory D? I thought there were only three cabins.”
“Dorm D’s cabin was destroyed in a storm last month,” replied Ferrum, appearing beside Romulus, “All of Dorm D have been sleeping in the auditorium.” They arrived at the arsenal, and everyone began rummaging through the boxes, trying to find a chain mail suite that fit. Magnon pulled out a suite, so old, the links had rusted through in certain places.
“This won’t do,” Magnon said, looking down at the rust mail.”
“It will have to,” replied Ferrum, “None of those reaming ones are any better, and besides, they probably won’t fit.” Magnon looked unhappily down at his suit again, and then had an idea.
“How much time did Khraan say we had before we start?”
“About twenty minutes,” replied Shanohn, putting on his own mail suite.
“I’ll be back,” Magnon told them. He had just seen a sign that read Metal Shop, and being an inventor back home, the room had a slight appeal to him. Magnon went into the room, and set his mail suite down on a wooden bench. Slipping on a welding mask, and picking up a blowtorch, Magnon began to work. For the good part of fifteen minutes, he worked, forging new rings to replace the rusted ones until finally, Magnon had a suite, that he was satisfied with.
“How does this look?” asked Magnon, stepping out of the metal working room, wearing his newly fixed suite. Shanohn looked amazed.
“Magnon, your skills as a metal worker, and as an inventor will never fail to astound me. But come on now, pick your weapons, or we’ll miss capture the flag." Five minutes later, the three of them, Magnon, Shanohn, and Romulus, arrived to find their team already assembled on a hillside. Each of them wore a chain mail suite, and each carried two weapons; a vibro-blade, and a stun blaster.
“Where have you been?” asked Ferrum, “We’re about to start!”
“Alright!” yelled Khraan over everybody’s heads, “I want I nice clean game, no killing, or maiming, and no torturing of captured prisoners. One one side has captured the flag, and brought it back across the line,” Khraan fired a bolt of shadow from his hand, carving a line across the hillside, “the game is over. Now, go and hide your flag!”
Ten minutes later, a whistle blew, and the game was one. “Alright, called Ferrum to them, “Magnon, Shanohn, Romulus, would you rather play offense or defense?”
“Let’s go for offense,” Romulus replied.
“Very well, follow me,” Ferrum called to them. They all set off, across the boundary, and into enemy lines. Ferrum took a trail to the left, and Magnon, followed by Shanohn and Romulus, took a trail to the right.
“Alright, follow me” Shanohn commanded, as he was the natural leader of the three. They ran through the trees, and into a denser part of the forrest.
“Look out!” cried Romulus, as a Le-Matoran charged at the. Magnon swung his vibro-blade, catching his assailant ant the underside of his jaw.
“Urrrgghh!” the Le-Matoran fell over, momentary stunned. Shots rang out above them, and one caught Romulus in the back.
“Romulus!” shouted Magnon, but it was to late. APo-Matoran and a Ga-Matoran picked up the stunned Romulus, and carried him away.
“Watch out, Magnon!” called Shanohn, as more shots rang out. Magnon turned around, returning fire. To his surprise, Sadran fell out of a tree, and landed in front of Magnon, stunned from Magnon’s shot.
“Sadran!” Magnon said in surprise, “nice of you to drop in!” However, as this wasn’t their territory, neither Magnon nor Shanohn could take him prisoner, and so, they left Sadran their to recover. More blasts rang out, and all of a sudden, Imperalux came staggering out into their path.
“Shanohn! Magnon!” he exclaimed, breathless, “We need you. We need you to go and spring the prisoners. We don’t have enough matoran to capture the- Aaaaghhhh!” Imperalux’s words were cut short, as a Matoran of Lightning struck him down with a single shot from her stun blaster.
“Going to spring the prisoners, are we? I don’t think so. You will have to get pastLinelva first” She drew her vibro-blade and advanced on them. Shanohn drew his blade too.
“You had better move before a zap you with this vibro-blade,” Shanohn said, holding his ground, “Who knows; it may be a shocking experience.”
“We’ll se who gets the ‘shocking experience,’” retorted Linelva, advancing upon Shanohn, blade at the ready. Shanohn lunged, but the Linelva was ready. She struck Shanohn across the chest, and he fell to the ground. Linelva turned, now to face Magnon.
“See, I’m not just a pretty face.”
“No, you lack that too,” Shanohn said helpfully from the ground.”
“Shut it,” she snapped.
Magnon’s thoughts raced. The whole game may depend on my springing the prisoners, he though to himself, but how can I get past Linelva? She’s a better swordsmen than even Shanohn. I’ll have to out smart her.
Magnon drew his vibro-blade, holding it in his left hand, whist drawing his stun blaster, and holding it in his right hand. Linelva lunged, and Magnon only just managed to parry the blow, then Magnon raised his blaster, as if to fire. Linelva ducked instinctively, but was caught completely by surprise as Magnon swung his blaster, like a sword. The blaster hit Linelva, and she fell backwards, into a puddle of muddy water. For a moment, she just sat their glaring at Magnon.
“I’m going to kill you!” she finally spluttered.
“Come on,” Magnon said cheerly, “don’t you find matoran of magnetism at least a little attractive?” And with that, Magnon turned about, and raced down towards the cheering captives, and by tagging them, Magnon set his team free.
The game only lasted another minute. Spurred on by the sudden advantage of all their lost team members rejoining them, Magnon’s team decided to go for the flag. A great cheer erupted, growing louder, and louder, until all of a sudden, Ferrum sprinted across the dividing center line, a red flag clutched in his hands. They had won the game.
Chapter 5. Training in the Digital Void[]
Back in the depths of the Primordius Magna Underworld, Kronaxx could be found, giving instructions to a broad-shouldered red-and-silver armored being. Kronaxx was not ready to give up his attempts to activate and inhabit Kraahkatoa, even with the Lord of the Dead to compete against. However, without a body, digging around for the fabled stone would be extremely.
Kronaxx had decided to hire some hands to work for him. His selection was Nalex, a brutal and bad tempered mercenary. "What you are to do," Kronaxx was instructing him, "is kidnap some matoran, and force them to work for you, mining for the toa stone. Hire some kidnappers, and send them to Arcajax Academy. There, you shall find all the matoran you need."
Nalex smiled. "I already figured as much," he said, smirking evilly, "I've already dispatched Murtran andKelphix to kidnap a few. It shouldn't take more than a few hours."
"Excellent, excellent," rippled Kronaxx satisfied, "Oh, and one other thing: Be careful how deep you dig, or you may meet your death at the hands of the almighty murderous one."
…..
Back at Camp Arcajax, Magnon, along with all the other matoran in the academy, were preparing for a new lesson. "Attention!" Khraan commanded, and the 237 matoran fell silent, "As you know, today we are beginning a new form of training. You will be practicing your combat skills in the digital void; yes, you will be using virtual reality training helmets, the latest models Marltax & Krikk Innovations have released. now, just slip these helmets over your head, pull down the visor, and I shall activate the virtual reality opponents. DOES EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND?"
"Yes, sir!" they all replied, saluting.
"Alright, visors down," the makuta commanded, "Activation in 3...2...1 Activate!"
Magnon starred at the blank screen of his visor, and did a double take. Magnon found himself standing in the middle of an incredibly realistic grass field. Here a herd of Rahi galloped, and there, a river meandered, shimmering so realistically, that it was a wonder that this was only a digital void. This is much better than the helmet I designed, back in my days with Marltax and Krikk, Magnon thought, gazing around at the digital landscape.
"Put your gloves on, and clench your hands as if you were holding a gun," instructed Khraan, "I will activate the assailants in 3..2..1..."
Magnon peered through his visor again. He could see a virtual representation of his gloved hands, holding a blaster. Cocking the virtual piece, Magnon held the gun up, ready for action. All of a sudden, zombies appeared, gruesome skeletal matoran, with bits of loose flesh hanging off of their rotten corpses. Magnon raised his gun, and took aim, as did the zombies. Bang! Magnon let loose a bullet, striking down the first zombie. However, more approached. He shot a second one, straight in the head, only this time, it did not die. "What?" claimed magnon, reloading his gun and firing once again. This time, the zombie fell forward with a groan, and magnon understood. His opponents adapted so that the same trick would not work twice.
Magnon clobbered the next zombie with butt of his gun, dodged a shot of another, and ran a third through with the barrel of his gun. However, for every zombie he struck down, two more appeared. Magnon grew desperate; he was running out of new ideas of how to kill them. As more and more zombies closed in around him, Magnon began to fire aimlessly, in an act desperado. Eventually, a bullet struck Magnon, and his helmet began to vibrate.
"Game over!" Khraan called over in Magnon's direction. Magnon looked around. Most everybody appeared to have lost too. Nearly three fourths of all the matoran had his or helmet off, and was panting or shaking. Eventually, only Sadran and Linelva remained, and eventually, their helmets, too, buzzed as they were overcome by virtual zombies.
"Pathetic!" spat Makuta Khraan, "Just pathetic!"
"This is not fair," Sadran exclaimed in frustration, "there is no way anybody could beat those zombies."
"Yeah," added Romulus, "this game is a no-win scenario! Winning is impossible!"
"That's because," Khraan yelled, nocking Romulus' and Sadran's heads together, "you weren't meant to win. This challenge is designed to test your character in a no-win scenario. Now everybody! Put your helmets back on, and try a little bit harder, won't you?
Magnon pulled his visor back over his face, slipping back, into the digital void. There were those zombies again, approaching him, their mouths sagging open, the realistic stench of decaying flesh, reeking off of their corpses.
Then, all of a sudden, two new characters appeared on Magnon's screen. One was a tall, bulky creature, with four-arms, while the other appeared to be a matoran. This isn't part of the challenge, Magnon thought to himself, these two look like real beings. Too real!
Magnon pulled his helmet off his head, but it was too late. pandemonium ensued all around Magnon. The four-armed creature had grabbed Khraan by the scruff of the neck, and thrown him to the ground. The smaller matoran was running about, beating the unsuspecting campers around the head, and nocking them unconscious.
"Shanohn, look out!" Magnon screamed at his friend but it was too late. The four-armed toa, for Magnon could now see that it was a toa, grabbed Shanohn around the waist and twisted. Shanohn dissolved in a cloud of sparks.
"Noooooo!" Magnon shouted, rushing towards the mutated toa. This was Magnon's mistake. The four-armed toa grabbed Magnon around the middle and twisted. A shower of sparks burst in front of Magnon's face, and he knew no more.
Chapter 6. Ergastulum[]
When Magnon awoke, he found himself in the darkness. He was in a large, cavernous tunnel, not unlike the one in his dream from the night before. In fact, it was extremely similar, the dripping water reverberating off the wall, the ominous feeling of impending doom, as if something was lurking in the shadow, waiting for a chance to strike. It was too similar.
A whip came sailing through the air, and landed with a dull smack on Magnon’s back. “Urrgghh!” he groaned.
“Get up, you lazy, washed up, balls of scum!” The call squat being with broad shoulders, toa-like in appearance. He held a whip in his hand, and an expression of great malice on his face, “You scum work for Nalex now, and you will do whatever I command, or I will punish you!” He cracked his whip underline this point, catching one or two matoran across the face, “I SAID GET UP!”
As Magnon clambered to his feet, he heard a metallic clinking. “Oh no,” Magnon groaned to himself, “this can’t be happening.” An iron ring was clamped around his right foot, and attached to that iron ring, was a long iron chain.
“Magnon,” called a voice. It was Shanohn, “Magnon, what has happened to your body? It has shrunk!” Magnon looked down at his body, and did a double take. It looked as if someone had compressed him armor into the most compact for possible. It was not a pretty sight. But then Magnon looked up at Shanohn, and saw a similar sight.
“Shanohn, theirs something wrong with your armor too. Everybody’s armor has been compressed.”
Nalex’s whip cracked again, hitting the two matoran with a sharp blow. they staggered backwards, Shanohn bleeding from a cut to his head. “Nothing to worry about,” Nalex jeered at all the matoran, “I have just “fixed” your armor a bit, to prevent you from escaping. Welcome to the mines of Ergastulum !” “Magnon, hey Magnon,” it was Romulus, “You know a bit about metal working; is there any way the break through this-”
“Shut up, matoran!” Murtran, the four armed toa cracked his own whip, catching Romulus across the back. Romulus fell forward, the wind nocked out of him.
“Now everybody,” shouted Nalex, his voice reverberating off the walls, “Get to work digging. if you find anything of interest, let me known at once, and I may consider setting you free. However, hide anything from me, and you shall feel my wrath!” Nalex grabbed a Le-Matoran violently around the neck, swung him around his head, and tossed him, screaming, into a river of lava bellow.
Magnon winced, looking staring around, taking in, for the first time, the full horror of the situation. Here he was, in a subterranean mining city, with rivers of lava on either side, enslaved to a vile bully. And now he was being forced to spend hours digging for some unknown object of value. All in all, the outlook was not one of happiness.
…..
“This is so pointless,” Shanohn was grumbling to Magnon an hour later, “We are being forced to work for that vile creature, digging up rocks for all eternity. This is just slave labor. SLAVE LABOR!"
Magnon was no really listening. He knew Shanohn could rant for hours, and that it was not worth listening. With every strike of his spade upon the hard, rocky soil, magnon thought about means of escape. He knew iron was was quite flexible, having worked with it before. If only I had a protosteel blade, Magnon though miserably to himself, then I could just sever my chains, and I would be free. However, Magnon had no protosteel blade; nor any blade, for that matter. What Magnon did have was a metal spade. Without any other means of escape handy to him, Magnon began to hack at the chain clamped to his foot. He did so inconspicuously, hitting it every other time that he brought his spade down. After about ten minutes of this, Magnon began to see progress. His chain certainly looked a little bit battered, but he still had a long way to go.
“Gold!” exclaimed Kelphix, the matoran kidnapper, as he stopped to inspect the progress of the slaves, “Boss, get over here! This one’s got gold!” Nalex came over to where Kelphix and the chained matoran stood. It was Sadran, and sure enough, in his quivering hands, there sat gleaming yellow nuggets.
“Not bad, not bad,” Nalex said taking them, and holding them up to his eye, “Put these in the crate, Kelphix.” Nalex handed his assistant the gold, and Kelphix deposited them in the crate.
“Am, am I allowed to go?” asked Sadran timidly. Nalex threw back his head, and roared with laughter. “Gold is good, but gold is not what I’m after.” Nalex said, striking Sadran across the head, “Anyone whom finds gold, give it myself or one of my assistants, or else. Back to work, all of you, or you shall have a date with that river of lava down there.”
Gold is good, but gold is not what I’m after. Magnon pondered the meaning of the slave driver’s words, If it isn’t gold, then what are they after? Magnon racked his brains, trying to think of an artifact, more valuable than gold, that could have be down here, in Ergastulum. Many artifacts were lost during the Skakdi Syndicate’s plunder of the Toa Tower, Magnon thought to himself But what was in the toa tower that would be so valuable to the miners down here? However, this was no time to think about ancient artifacts. Magnon could see his chains beginning to bend, as he repeatedly hit them with his spade. Only a little further now, come on. Just a little bit further...
….. There was a great uproar. “Hey,” yelled Murtran, waving his four hands, “this one has broken free!” It was true. After hacking at his chains for the good part of an hour, Magnon was free. He sprinted across the stone floor of the cavern, not knowing where to go. A great cheer erupted from the onlooking crowd of enslaved matoran, as Magnon dodged out of the way of an incoming Kelphix. However, with his new “fixed” form, Magnon found that his legs were no longer as powerful as used to be. His running was slowing, and Murtran was gaining on him. Then all of a sudden, Magnon was brought crushing to the ground, as if a big rahi had just sat on him. “Ha, ha! I love being a Toa of Gravity .” Murtran grabbed Magnon by the legs, and dragged him backwards, until they reached Nalex. “Now!” Nalex yelled, lashing Magnon with his whip over and over, “You get a taste of what happens to wrong-doers. Get back to work, matoran!” Nalex spat the last word as if it was curse, throwing Magnon into the pit where everybody else was still mining.
Chapter 7. The Gukko Fights[]
Life in Ergastulum was far from a happy one. Magnon and all the enslaved matoran were forced to work at the tiring labor day in, and day out. Hour after hour, shovel full of dirt, after shovel full of dirt, Magnon dug his way into a great pit of misery and hopelessness. What was this all about? What was Nalex looking for?
It was becoming an obsession; Magnon though and though, pondering the possible objective of all this mining. What could it be? Magnon simply had no answer. It was a riddle, a puzzle with a real obvious solution, Magnon was sure of it, but he simply could not solve it. Down in the mines of Ergastum, pondering the meaning all the digging, Magnon was going mad.
Another greatly unpleasant activity of their enslavement was an event Nalex called the "gukko fights." The so called gukko fights were simply one-on-one tournaments the Nalex held for his personal entertainment. During these tournaments, Nalex would randomly select two slaves to duel one another to the death, bashing and battering on another's bones with their soldiers. Magnon could see no purpose in these competitions, save for quenching Nalex's thirst for bloodlust.
During on such battle, the two matoran, a Po-Matoran and a Ce-Matoran were chosen to fight, and refused to dual one another. Nalex had taken a spade from the nearest matoran, and proceeded to smash the skull of, first one, and then the other. Ever since then, whenever the contests were held, the two opponents made sure to put on a spectacular performance.
"Alright!" bellowed Nalex, and everybody looked up from their digging. In the last five hours of exhausting labor, Magnon had succeeded in finding several extremely fascinating clumps of dirt. All in all, magnon was in no mood for whatever sadistic idea the slave driver had came up with this time, "It is time for another gukko fight! Let's see who the luck contestants will be today. You!" And to Magnon's horror, Nalex grabbed Shanohn around the neck and pulled him to his feet. "We have our first contestant! Any volunteers, or will I have to make a selection. Everybody was silent, for no body wished to be beaten to death with a shovel. For one wistful moment, Magnon hoped that that the dual would be called off due to a lack of participation. However, Magnon knew that his wistful thinking would soon be laid to rest.
"You!" Magnon was suddenly grabbed violently by the neck, and pulled to his feet too. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have our second contestant!" This was far worse than anything Magnon could have ever imagined. Not only was he competing in the sadistic tournament, but he would be fighting his best friend Shanohn. And before Magnon was thrown roughly into an arena, consisting of a circle drawn in the dirt, Magnon knew there was no way he was killing his friend with a shovel.
"Let the games begin!" Nalex shouted, to jeers of approval from Mutran and Kelphix.
Magnon clenched his spade, sweat pouring down his brow, as he gazed across the arena at Shanohn. The Ta-Matoran, likewise, bore every sign of wanting to lay down his spade, and run, run until he was back in the civilized world. "Let's make this convincing," Shanohn mouthed, barley moving his lips. And with that, the two of them began their mock-duel. Shanohn swung his spade, as if going for Magnon's legs, and Magnon deflected it. A metallic clang reverberated of the stone walls of the cavern. Now Magnon swung his spade, as if for Shanohn's head, missing by a few inches. Fully aware of how unconvincing that last spectacle had been, Magnon attempted to make up for his cautiousness, by enveloping Shanohn in a whirlwind of swings.
"Come on now, more blood!" Nalex shouted over at the two matoran. Magnon knew, and Shanohn knew that Nalex was not convinced in the slightest. And then Magnon had an idea. It was desperate, but it was the only logical solution.
"Shanohn," Magnon mouthed, in barely more than a whisper, "I am going to have to fake my death; but you have to make it convincing."
"Got it," Shanohn replied, looking ever the more nervous, as he raised his shovel. As Shanohn brought his shovel down, Magnon readied himself. Holding his spade loosely in a defensive posture, Magnon intended to fall down as if struck by a fatal blow. However, Magnon misjudged just how hard Shanohn was swinging his spade. As the shovel cam down. Magnon held his shovel up, holding it with just a tad too lose a grip. Wham! the shovel connected with Magnon's stomach, thrusting him backwards, and to the ground. From his position on the the hard rock soil, nothing remained for magnon to do, but to recover the bone.
"Humph!" spat Nalex, lashing Shanohn with his whip, "I've watched a creature with three broken limbs put on a better performance of murder than you exhibition."
Magnon lay in the position, on his back, for the next half hour, trying to recover himself. Eventually, when he had summoned up enough energy, Magnon slunk back to the pits where the other slaves were still working. With the chains still clamped firmly around his feet, their was no hope of escape.
Chapter 8. Tentative Decisions[]
Back above the surface of Ergastulum, back on the remote island of Arcajax, nearly of Order of Kentis Nui was gathered in a meeting. Inside the order's great compound, in a board meeting room, Optimidus leaned forward in his seat, listening intently to the debate at hand. There on, Optimidus' side, sat Malleus, the famed Titan Lord of Protodermis. Malleus was busy arguing with the being to his left, a massive red-and-gold armored Craydaxian named Ankylos. Across from them, Divex, the Toa of Fire, and Mauta Khraan were attempting to calm down the tension.
"It all comes down to this!" Malleus was saying, his voice rising with passion, "those matoran may are the hope and future. The fate of Primordius Magna rests at the finger tips of six destined matoran. They must rescued at all costs!"
"It is too dangerous!" retorted Ankylos, slamming his great clawed fist on the oval table for extra emphasis, "You don't know of the evil that lurks down bellow the surface. I many honorable warrior, down their in the unforgiving depths. I was luck to escape with my life, and I shall not risk it again!"
"Now see here, Ankylos," Divex began, slamming his fist down on the table as he spoke, "We-" Divex's words were cut off as a the door to the meeting room burst open, revealing a bedraggled and windswept Toa of Air.
"Not to worry," the Toa of Air said cooly, leading against the door, I will go down to Ergastulum and rescue them myself.
This his bedraggled Toa of Air whom had just burst in on the Order of Kentis Nui's emergency meeting, and beseeched a bold proclamation, was none other than the infamous Toa Nalihki. Well known for his unorthodox and rash decisions, Nalihki had been captured by the Red Hand of Assassins, and suspended in a stasis tube for the mast 256 years.
Nalihki awoke with a start, not knowing where he was. Closing his eyes, Nalihki began to recall, Cornered by two bounty hunters, closing in fast, their blades raised, and ready to strike. Nalihki shook his head, clearing the flashback. And that was when he realized just what a predicament he was in. As Nalihki had shaken his head, he had felt a floating, as if he was underwater. But when he opened his eyes, Nalihki found not what, but a glowing green liquid, surrounding him on all sides. Oh great, the toa thought to himself, I am trapped in a stasis tube! But, how come I am awake? There must be a fault. Now's my chance to escape!
Nalihki stared around the tube, looking for an exit. However, the only way out was a metal lid, sealed firmly to the thick glass tube. Swimming up to the top, Nalihki pushed and pushed with all his might, but to no avail. "Let me out! Let me out!" Nalihki shouted, hammering his fists against the glass. Defeated, Nalihki sank back down to the bottom of the green liquid. No, I can't give up! I won't give up!
Summoning up his elemental power, Nalihki began to absorb all the air in the stasis tube. If he could only decrease the air pressure enough... There was a resounding crack, as the tube imploded, folding in on itself. The content of the tube poured all over the hard earthy floor, for Nalihki had been suspended in the RHA's secret base, set deep into a hillside. Coughing and spluttering, Nalihki got to his feet.
"Going some where, toa?" asked a cruel and taunting voice. A tall red-and-black armored being, with great leather wings, and two pointy black horns, stepped forward to face the toa.
"Sheir-Khan, you were al fool if you believed that you could keep Nalihki behind lock and key, well, in a stasis tube." Sheir-Khan only laughed.
"That tube kept you held for quite a while, 256 years I believe."
"What?" yelped Nalihki, in shock and surprise, "I have been suspended in animation for the past 256 years. Inconceivable!" And with that, the Toa of Air turned tail, and sprinted down the cavernous hallway, the mad demonic figure of Sheir-Khan hot on his tail. Rounding a corner, Nalihki found two mercenaries, ominous hulking brutes with double-headed axes, blocking his escape.
"No escape for you toa!" Sheir-Khan appeared around the corner now. Nalihki glanced back and forth, his mind racing. With both paths blocked, and not wishing to be stuck in a tube for another 200 years, Nalihki sprinted for a nearby window and dove out of it. Plummeting 20 feet, Nalihki folded back his arms, and swooped upward. He was free. For the good part of five hours Nalihki flew, soaring over the shining sea below. "Agghhh," the toa sighed, "It's good to feel the wind on my face again. However, flying along for 5 straight hours, for the first time in 256 years, was extremely energy consuming. Nalihki began to loose altitude. "No! This cannot be happening! I'm going down! Must...keep...flying." The waves of the sea below were growing closer and closer. Nalihki fought hard to stay airborne, but to no avail. The waves were way too close...
When Nalihki awoke, he found himself lying in the surf of a beach. Becoming aware of the waves crashing upon his body, Nalihki pushed himself to his feet. "Hey, I recognize this beach. I'm on Arcajax!" And without further preamble, the Toa of Air set off, across the island in a drunken fashion, towards the Order of Kentis Nui complex.
"And how, I might ask, do you prepose to find and rescue the matoran?" asked a skeptical Khraan. Ten minutes later found Nalihki standing in the doorway of the Order of Kentis Nui meeting room, having just volunteered for the mission at debate.
"I do not know that yet, but somebody has to do it. I have been trapped in stasis for the past 256 years, and I wish to see action." The Toa of Air peered around the table, as if looking for some one. "Where are Tesla and Codfax ?"
Optimidus now got to his feet. "If you are serious about your decision to rescue the captured matoran down in Ergastulum, than I shall let you. But remember: only if you are truly serious. It was that kind of fooling about that got you expelled from the order in the first place. As for Tesla and Codfax, they are dead. Codfax was killed by the Skakdi Syndicate, shortly after your disappearance. As for Tesla, he died in the Primordius Magna Civil War, 78 years ago.
"Wow," said Nalihki looking down, "A civil war? I really have missed a lot. I am sorry to hear that Codfax and Tesla are gone; they were, they were great friends. However," Nalihki said, straightening up, I shall do my best to rescue the said matoran, and then maybe when I return, we can put the past behind us, and you can allow me to rejoin the Order of Kentis Nui?"
"That," replied Optimidus, betraying no sign of emotion, "will depend on the manner of your return."
Chapter 9. New Hope[]
Back in the depths of Ergastulum, the enslaved matoran continued to toil away at the task set to the; the task of finding and unearthing an object of seemingly great value. "We've been toiling at this task for days, and still, we have gained absolutely nothing out of this," Romulus complained to no one in particular.
"We are doomed to die here," Shanohn said dramatically, "trapped digging in this hell-hole, for nothing, save for the amusement of that vie creature, Nalex."
Magnon didn't have the heart to join in these caviling complaints. He turned instead, to see how his other friends were doing. Ferrum was thrusting his shovel repeatedly into the dirt, as if he were imagining Nalex's head to be underneath him. Imperalux was calmly digging away, as impassive as ever, although without any real conviction. But what caught Magnon's eye, was that Linelva, the matoran of lightning, had stopped digging, and was clutching a set of metal clamps between her hands. Linelva was loose.
"Linelva," Magnon said aghast, "how did you get out?"
"Shhhhh!" she hissed, "I've been picking away at the lock for hours with this," Linelva held up a small, pocket-knife-type instrument, with various complicated bits and pieces Magnon could not identify, "If you blow my cover, I'll...ggg..'ll..."
"Stutter at me? Listen, you won't get far, if you try to run, and I doubt you could hide. But, if several of us broke free, there would be a greater chance of one of us escaping, getting to the surface, and getting help." Now Shanohn and Romulus had looked up, as did Imperalux and Ferrum; all listening intently.
"Alright, Linelva said, tossing Magnon the tool, "but this had better work." after about half an hour of frantic picking at the iron clamps around their feet, Magnon, Shanohn, Ferrum, Romulus, and Imperalux were all free too.
"Alright guys," Magnon whispered so a passing Kelphix would not hear them, and rase an uproar, "on the count of three, one...two...three!" At the sound of three, the six matoran scattered, all in different directions. Ferrum had the misfortune to run headlong in Murtran, whom promptly began to beat the Fe-Matoran. Shanohn and Imperalux both lasted longer, but in the end, were corned by Nalex, himself. As for Romulus, he was hit in the back by a rock thrown by Kelphix. Only Magnon and Linelva remained. And Linelva was nowhere to be seen.
Magnon found Murtran approaching fast from his left. Magnon swiveled around, only to find Kelphix baring down upon him. Deciding he had a better chance of escaping another matoran, as a pose to a four-armed toa, Magnon took his chances with Kelphix. Running towards the matoran slave driver, Magnon launched himself, throwing his body upon Kelphix.
"Yaarrgghh!" the matoran slave driver screamed in pain as Magnon flattened him. However, as Magnon pushed himself off the groaning Kelphix, he found himself face-to-face with Nalex.
"This time you die, imbecilic matoran!" screamed Nalex raising a blade. Cornered, and with no alternatives, Magnon threw himself down the cavernous opening of a hole in the side of the rock. The hole was far deeper than Magnon had anticipated, and he fell, slipping and sliding through the rocky slide, before finally coming to rest at the bottom. Dazed from the fall, Magnon lay there for twenty minutes before recovering himself. Where am I? Magnon wondered, starring around this new locating, not knowing where to go. A small cave looked the most promising, and so, Magnon ducked down and entered.
"Who is it?" a voice asked, clearly alarmed. There, to Magnon's astonishment, was Linelva. And what was more, she was clutching sulfurous yellow stone between her hands.
"What is that?" Magnon asked, staring amazed at the yellow stone.
Linelva sniffed. "How should I know?"
"Allow me to have a look." Linelva reluctantly handed over the stone, and Magnon took it in both hands. It looked familiar, but Magnon could not think what it was. And then the world came crashing down upon him as he remembered. Magnon had seen this very stone, set on a plinth in the great Toa Temple. It was the Great Toa Stone, lost 60 years back when the Skakdi Syndicate raided the temple. According to legend, the six Toa Gonda had all put their elemental powers into this stone when they became turaga. In other words, this was a stone of immense power. "Linelva, do you know what this is? This is the Great Toa Stone! This must be what Nalex is after."
"You mean...You mean that this...This is the Toa Stone?" breathed Linelva aghast, "You mean that this is the stone that the Toa Gonda bestowed with great power? We can't let Nalex get ahold of this!"
"Yes," Magnon said, "but we also have to rescue the others."
"And that's were I come in." A Toa of Air air dropped down into the cave, causing Magnon and Linelva to leap backwards in alarm. "Have no fear, for Nalihki is here!" the toa proclaimed with a bold, and somewhat cocky manner.
Chapter 10. Nalihki[]
In the depths and the darkness of the Primordius Magna Underworld, in the place where you slowly ceased to locate any sign of life, two rahi could be found, squabbling over the carcass of what looked horrible like a deceased matoran. The two cave stoats, for that was what the rahi were, were small, twitchy, opportunistic scavengers, whom, due to the lack of abundance in fresh meat, devoured any carcass they happened upon.
The two stoats looked up from their squabbling, and an icy cill fell over the cavern. The first stoat turned tail and fled as fast as its short, stubby legs could carry it, but the second one remained behind, rooted to the spot in terror. The icy cill grew colder, bitting into the stoats flesh, like the way he had bitten into the flesh of many a matoran. The stoat began to tremble, uncontrollably, as an ominous, and powerful aura of menace, death, and despair entered its simple mind. As this evil presence drew closer, the stoat began to writhe in agony, its mind clouded in a blinding blanket a pain, boiling up until finally, the stoat combusted, in a burst of flames, nothing left of it, save for a few ashes fluttering down to earth.
As the sinister presence rounded the corner of the cave the two stoats had recently vacated, he noticed the corpse of the matoran on the ground. Curses. This could have been the perfect opportunity to inhabit a temperamental body, Narcicsa though to himself. However, he was not after temperamental bodies, so fragile they would deteriorate after a few days; Narcisca was after bigger game. creeping along silently, drifting along like a cloud of shadow, Narcisca happened upon, what appeared, at first glance to be a giant heap of scrap metal. But upon closer examination, Narcsica found it to have a true, defined form. The form of a body.
"So this is Kraahkatoa," Narcsica spoke out loud to himself, "this is the body Kronaxx sought. Well, Kronaxx, I have beat you to the body, and I will inhabit the body. I know you still seek the Great Toa Stone, but when you find it, I shall be ready. Once more,I shall rise, greater and more powerful than ever before. Once more, I shall have a body, greater and more powerful than ever before. And once more, Narcisca shall rule over the land of the living!"
…..
"Who are you?" Linelva asked, eyeing the Toa of Air in suspicion.
"I already told you, the name's Nalihki, and I am here to rescue you." Magnon was not quite sure what to make of this newcomer. On one hand, is was an enormous relief that someone had come to rescue him, and Linevla, and all the other enslaved matoran, but on the other hand, Magnon did not recognize this toa. He certainly was not a member of the Order of Kentis Nui, and he seemed, to Magnon, a tad over enthusiastic.
"My god, what has happened to your amor?" Nalikhi asked, staring down at Magnon's deminished form.
"This?" Magnon replied, looking sadly down at his armor, "Nalex 'fixed' our armor so that we could not escape."
"Well," Nihliki said, clapping his hands together, "I can fix that up as good as new!"
"And how," asked Linelva, skeptically, "do you prepose to do that?" Nalihki only smiled all the more.
"I wear the Falin, the great Mask of Healing. I can instantly right the damage to your armor." And with that, the Toa of Air activated his kanohi. The Falin glowed bright green, and within seconds, Magnon felt an odd writhing sensation, as if he was about to vomit. When the sensation had finished, Magnon peered down at his body, frightful of what he was about to see. To his astonishment, Magnon found that he had his original form again. In fact, he looked even better than before. His armor had a good, solid appearance, his limbs felt as if the muscles had ben enhanced, and best of all, he was no longer a small, deminished matoran.
"Thank you very much," Magnon said, feeling himself warming towards the toa.
"Amazing," Linelva breathed, "you have a very handy mask power. I thank you."
"Your welcome," Nalihki said, pleased with his own work, "oooh, I am good!" Magnon and Linevla continued to stare in astonishment at their newly refurbished armor, as Nalihki continued to praised himself for his own cleverness. Finally, Nalihiki addressed them again. "Well, we have business to do, heads to split open, matoran to set free. Let's get cracking! But first," Nalihki continued,, stooping down and producing a large red sack from nowhere, "you two look a little low on weapons. He handed each one of them a basic blade and launcher.
"Wow," Magnon breathed, admiring his large, sharp blade, "this is much better than anything I used during the Civil War."
"What civil war?" asked Nalihki, confused, "Oh yes, Optimidus mentioned it." Linelva turned to Magnon.
"Don't you think that was a bit odd? It sounded as if he had somehow missed the civil war."
"A lot of things are odd," replied Magnon, "for example, how was he able to find us so quickly, and how did he know that Nalex had enslaved us?"
"Come on!" Nalihki yelled back at them, "let's get cracking!" And so, the two matoran, Magnon and Linelva, followed the eccentric and mysterious Toa of Air, out of the cave, and up the vertical tunnel Magnon had fallen down earlier.
Chapter 11. Liberation[]
Up and up, they ascended the narrow stone tunnel, until they emerged out onto a rock ledge. Peering down, Magnon could see Nalex cracking his whip as the enslaved matoran frantically dug, searching for the Great Toa Stone that Linelva happened to be cradling. "So, what's the plan?" Magnon asked Nalihki, "There may three of us, and three of them, but Linelva and myself are mere matoran."
Nalihki smiled, "You don't have to be a toa to be a hero; you just have to have a good heart, a strong head, and a boundless amount of courage."
"That doesn't answer the question!" Lineva snapped impatiently, "How are we going to overpower Nalex, Murtran, and Kelphix, and set free all those matoran?"
"We need to invoke mob-psychology," replied Nalihki, smiling that arrogant smile Magnon found a little annoying, "we have to show the slaves that there is hope, if they unite.
"Yes," replied Magnon, deciding that this toa was not only eccentric, but impractical too, "the enslaved matoran cannot rebel; they are all chained up!"
Nalihki though for a minute before speaking, "Alright, a change of plans; I will divert the the slave drivers’ attention, while you and your friend there sneak into the pit, and cut the bonds on the other matoran.
“I don’t know, it seems an extremely dodgy plan to me, Magnon replied, peering down, once again, at Murtran and Kelphix milling about, circling the enslaved matoran.
“Its the only plan we have, Magnon,” said Linelva, fingering her own wrist-blade nervously, “we must set the matoran free. Now Nalihki-” She turned about, but to her surprise, Linelva found herself addressing thin air.
The Toa of Air had leaped off of the ledge, and sailed cooly down towards the unsuspecting Nalex. As Magnon and Linelva watched, Nalihki alighted on the hard stone floor, and drew his blades.
“Oy!” Nalihki shouted, causing Nalex looked around in alarm, “Put down your weapons, and surrender, or I’ll have you heads skewered on a stake, and mounted on a plinth.”
“Toa!” hissed Nalex, advancing upon the Nalihki, his own blade raised, “So this is your heroic rescue, is it? Well, I’m afraid I am going to have to put my foot down, on your severed head! And with that, the two beings lunged for each other’s throat.
As the metallic clink of blade-on-blade reached the two matoran, Linelva beckoned. “That’s our cue. Let’s roll!” Linelva set off, down the steep rocky ledge, Magnon following close behind. Magnon could see all the enslaved matoran, not 50 yards away. But as he and Linevla slunk silently towards the pit where the matoran dug, they found their path blocked by the ominous figure of Kelphix.
“Ha, ha! Caught in the act! Well, I’ll have you lashed good and thor-” Kelphix never finished his sentence, for at that moment, Magnon and Linelva sprung upon the slave driver. In one rapid movement, Magnon raised his wrist-blade, and slashed the matoran’s head clean off. Kelphix fell down, dead, at their feet.
“Nice one,” Linelva praised, as they continued, unimpeded, into the pit where the other matoran were toiling away. The sudden appearance of the two matoran was met with a predictable response. Ferrum looked up in shock and surprise.
“Magnon? Linelva? How did you manage to escape?”
“We thought you had been killed,” chimed in Romulus.
“Good to see your back!” exclaimed Shanohn, “Hey, your armor is fixed!”
“Is the Toa Stone safe?” this last remark came from Imperalux. Magnon felt his stomach plummet like a stone, but Linelva set his worries to rest.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got it here.” She produced the sulfurous yellow stone, for just a second, before safely storing it in a sack that Nalihki must have given her.
“What’s going on?” Shanohn asked, “Who is that Toa of Air?”
Magnon started to speak, but it was Linelva who answered. “That’s Nalihki, but at the moment, he is only a distraction. Magnon and I are going to set you all free while Nalex’s attention is diverted.
As Nalex, now aided by Murtan, attempted to fend off Nalihki, the Toa of Air danced around, taunting the slave drivers. The two slave drivers swung their blades at him, and he parried. They cracked their whips at him, but he simply dodged. They cursed him, and every drop of blood in his veins, and every toa who had come before him, and all his seed to come after him. “Come on, you nearly had me there! Whoops! You missed!. Ho, ho! Am I annoying you?”
“Come on,” Magnon said to Linelva, and the two of them set about the slicing through the chains of the enslaved matoran. From one matoran to the next, they went, severing their chains with a few brisk strokes.
"Thanks, Magnon," Shanohn said appreciatively, as his chains fell away. He stared around the pit before speaking, "Well, that looks like everybody. So, Magnon, what's the master plan this time?"
Chapter 12. Bathgohl[]
"Steady now, steady,” Magnon said as the matoran around him tensed their shovels, spades, and assorted digging tools. “On my word, we will charge ate Nalex and his two cronies.” Sadran inclined his head, “This is an awful risk we are taking, especially in our diminished state.”
“Ok,” Linelva snapped at him, “Would you rather stay here and toil a way for a few more months?” Sadran fell silent, but he tensed his pick, ready for combat.
“Now,” Magnon addressed the pit at large, “On the count of three. One... Two... THREE!” Magnon’s cry of THREE! was lost amidst a great holler that went up, as the tide of matoran surged forward as one. Nalex, Muton and Kelphix, caught off guard, were slow to raise their weapons. Kelphix was lost to sight as Shanohn, Imperalux, and several other matoran leapt upon him, thrusting and stabbing with their spades. Magnon, followed closely by Linelva, Ferrum and Sadran, sped towards Nalex, only to fin their path blocked by Mutran.
“Time to die!” The four-armed toa raised four daggers high above his head, and brought them down with as his might. Magnon raised his new wrist blade and parried. The weight barring down upon Magnon’s blade seemed to be increasing. With a sudden jolt of panic, Magnon realized that Muton was using his elemental power of gravity, giving him an unfair advantage. “What’s the matter, matoran?” jeered Mutran, “Too heavy? Feeling week.”
"Take this!” Magnon shouted, raising his projectile weapon and firing.
“Urrggh!” The tremendous pressure barring down upon Magnon’s blade was lifted, as Muton recoiled in pain. Seizing his chance, Magnon stabbed his blade, plunging it deep into the toa’s flanks. Muton screamed as the shovels of Ferrum and Sadran fell upon him.“Ughh, what a mess.” Magnon wrenched his blade out of Mutran’s corpse and looked around the cave. Only Nalex stood between the matoran and their freedom now. Unlike Kelphix and Muton, Nalex appeared to be a skilled swordsman, and more that a match for all the matoran. Nalex had backed up against a wall, and was cooly cutting a ring around himself that no matoran could cross. Magnon watched as a Po-matoran fell to the blade, followed by a gallant, but fool-hardy Ta-Matoran whom attempted to seek up from Nalex’s left, only to meet a similar fate.
“Come on!” Shanohn said, appearing at Magnon’s side, “Don’t just stand there, we have to help!” Magnon, Shanohn, Linelva, Ferrum, and Sadran raced towards the spot where Nalex stood. As Imperalux joined them suddenly from the left, Magnon felt the Toa stone slip, slightly in his sweaty grip. It was only slightly, but a glint of Sulfurous yellow caught the light. Nalex suddenly froze in astonishment.
“The... the Great Toa Stone!” he spluttered, staring at Magnon. With that, the slave driver leapt at the six matoran, scatting them. Magnon was nocked off his feet. Peering upward, Magnon found himself almost eye-to-eye with the hideous face of Nalex. He was so close that Magnon could smell his foul putrid breath. “Give me the stone, matoran!” he growled, “Or I shall tear you limb from limb!” “Magnon, over hear! shouted a voice from the right. It was Sadran.
“Throw the stone to me! You have now choice!” Magnon lobbed the stone without questing, as Nalex dived, attempting to intercept the throw. The stone sailed five feet, and Sadran caught it, one-handed. With a roar, Nalex started after Sadran, swinging his blade as he came. Without warning, Magnon’s thoughts became blurred, as a scene unfolded in his head.
He was looking down into a large, circular room surrounded on on most sides by a sea of lava . There , in the center of the room, the Toa of Air stood. He was fighting some unseen force that seemed to be controlling his every move. Nalihki raised his hand and held it out in front of him, his eyes closed. And then the voice Magnon had head before in previous nightmares filled Magnon’s head, as if white-hot knives were piercing his head, as Nalihki spoke. Häshaf kul ogmi! Nägul ur svalkt! An enormous hulking figure erupted out of the lava. It had an immense coat of body armor, flaming red in color. Perched on top of its large, beefy shoulders, was a grotesque head, filled with razor sharp teeth, and sprouting two long black horns that cured downward to the ferocious maw. It was a demon. Go, Bathgohl, my son, spoke Nalihki in the same unnatural voice, I sense the Toa stone is near. Find it, and devour all whom impede you. Perhaps this toa will make a good appetizer.
Nalihki seemed to return to normal, for he screamed, and started backwards. “Where did that come from?” Nalihki ran backwards, tripped and fell down. Two great wings unfurled as Banthghol leaped from the lava, to come crashing down upon Nalihki...
“Magnon? Magnon! Are you all right” It was Shanohn, shaking Magnon out of his trance. “Come on, Magnon,” Shanohn said, pulling Magnon to his feet, we have to defeat Nalex, remember? He has Sadran and Imperalux!”
“No! Magnon gasped, “No time! We must escape! Demon... coming! We have to get out of here!” With a great effort, Magnon got to his feet. Shanohn ignored him, and picking up a great metal chain that had, until recently bound a matoran, raced towards Nalex. Nalex paused, about to slice Sadran in two, as he found himself being violently choked by the combined efforts of Shanohn and Linelva, the former having flung the chain about his neck. As Shanohn and Linelva tussled with a writhing Nalex, a deafening roar spit the ear. Magnon could swear that very walls of the cave glowed red as a torrent of fire filled the cavern. Banthgohl entered, his eyes a blaze, and roared. From his maw spewed another great torrent of flame.
“Run!” screamed Romulus, darting to left, and down a dark stone passage way. Sadran and Linelva followed suite as pandaemonium ensued. Matoran ran left and right, screaming bloody murder, only to be engulfed in flame as the Bathgohl advanced. Imperalux went next, followed closely by Shanohn. As prepared to clamber after his friends, Magnon paused to watch the scene unfold. The Bathgohl was tossing screaming matoran into the air and catching them in his monstrous set of jaws. Chuckling in a deep booming voice the demon advanced upon Nalex, clearly pleased at the hight amount of edible flesh the slave driver provide. As Banthgohl tossed Nalex into the air as if he were no more than a grape, Magnon, slipping and sliding across the rocks, followed his six companies deep into the tunnel.
Chapter 13. More Enemies[]
Kronaxx could here are great rumble above him. Amidst screaming, the makuta could hear a gigantic beast roaring and spewing flames. Typical, Kronaxx thought to himself, I hire thugs and scum to find the Great Toa Stone, and what happens? They awaken a primeval monster. I should never had sent their filth to do a makuta's bidding. Knonaxx was thinking these bitter thoughts as he oozed his way into a familiar room. It was a large, spacious chamber cut into the stone caverns. In the center of the room, a great oval table stood, looming ominously out of the shadow. Kronaxx knew the place well, for it had once been a headquarters for Brotherhood of Makuta. "Ah, I haven't seen this place in 2,000 years. If I remember correctly, they should be over here, on the left."
What Kronaxx was searching for soon became apparent. A large cage stood concealed in the shadows, blending perfectly into the cavern wall. Inside the cage was about nine or ten skeletal figures. These inanimate figures, yellow in color, had an ominous aura about them. "Rahkshi," Knonaxx said loving to himself, "Rahkshi-va, the greatest invention known to makuta. Kronaxx slid easily through the cage bars, into a small, spherical room. Behind the last rahkshi shell, there was pool of shimmering green-black liquid, with steam rising from its surface. "Ah, antidermis," Kronaxx said with satisfaction, starring for a moment into the ominous green pool. Then, with a sudden burst of shadow, the ten rahkshi shells were thrown into the air, to come splashing down in the pool. Kronaxx watched, as the last shell fell into the pool and waited. After almost two minutes of silence, a yellow hand broke the surface, followed by the body, and the legs of a great yellow rahkshi of heat vision. Its eyes glowed red, the antidemis visible behind its eye sockets. Within minutes, Kronaxx had an army of ten of these red-eyed monsters surrounding him, hissing and spitting in apprehension.
"You, my friends, are rahkshi-va. Antidermis corse in your veins. You don not need kraata when you can be a makuta!" The ten rahkshi roared with approval. "You," Kronaxx said, pointing at the largest, "You will be the leader. Go forth, and bring me the Toa Stone. Take all, and leave none alive!"
"It will be done, master," rasped the rahkshi, a great staff appearing in his outstretched hand as he let loose a terrible, primeval hissing roar.
.....
Through the twisting rock tunnel, Magnon and his six companions scrabbled, not daring to look back, less the Bathgohl followed them. Slipping and sliding, his knees cutting up on the jagged rocks, Magnon suddenly found himself falling through the air. Twelve feet he fell, before landing with a sickening thud that resounded around the air. Six more heavy thuds told him Shanohn, Imperalux, Romulus, Ferrum, Sadran and Linelva had all fallen as well. Magnon looked down at his hands. The Great Toa Stone flew out of from between his fingers when he had fallen. Fortunately, Ferrum had picked up the stone, and was examining it in the dim light. The matoran had fallen into a large circular chamber with high walls, and a lake of fiery lava bubbling to the left. With a great sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, Magnon realized where he was.
"Who goes there?" thundered the same ear-splitting, mind-wrenching voice that Magnon had heard only too often in your dreams.
"It is I, Magnon, and six others," Magnon said, trying to sound braver than he felt, "And who are you?"
"Who am I?" Let me explain something to you. The relationship between time and death, is like that of dog and master. Time hunts you down, stalking ever closer, biting at your heels. Eventually, it will catch up with you, and bring you triumphantly back to the master. I am that master. I am death. I am Narcisca, Guardian of the Dead Souls."
Magnon could feel something like a cold gust of wind as Narcisca spoke; a gust that brought fear, despair and hopelessness wherever it blew. This gust now seemed to move slightly to the left, as Narcisca spoke once more. "You've put your trust in the wrong friends, Magnon. Ferrum, bring forth the Great Toa Stone!" Ferrum hesitated, staring around at Magnon and the five others. Then he sighed, "I'm sorry, everyone," and without further word, or a backward glance, Ferrum, the same Ferrum who had shown Magnon, Shanohn and Romulus around the camp, the same Ferrum whom Magnon had befriended and trusted, was now walking slowly towards where the voice spoke. He kneeled down on one knee and held the Great Toa Stone in his out stretched hands.
"Traitor!" screamed Linelva, sweeping out a hand, and pointing a finger menacingly at Ferrum, "We trusted you!"
''"Get used to it," chuckled Narcisca, "things are about to get worse. A lot worse." Narcisca was right, for as Ferrum held the Toa stone in his outstretched hands, the stone glowed a sulfurous yellow, and began to rise. Slowly, it rose, glowing brighter and brighter, until, suddenly it blew. A blinding yellow light filled the room, as Magnon and the six other matoran were nocked to the ground. Then the stone clattered to the floor, looking once more, like an innocent sulfur crystal. Then, with an almighty rumbled, the ground below Magnon's feat was split as an enormous black robot erupted out of the ground. However, the Great Toa Stone was mot finished. With a second, equally blinding flash of light, Magnon, Linelva, Shanohn, Imperalux, Sadran and Romulus were all thrown to the ground. The difference this time, was that the light did not die down. A yellow colored lightning surged from the stone into the six matoran, mutating their features. Magnon watched, as his limbs elongated, his body increasing in size, a raw power filling his body with a new warmth. Just as suddenly as it had begone, the yellow lighting fizzled out. Magnon and the others got to their feet, and stared around at one another. They were toa!
Chapter 14. Narcisca[]
Magnon stared around the room, not believing his eyes. They were all toa. He looked from Shanohn's thick, black and red armor, to Sadran's lightly armored, but masculine appearance, to Linelva's slim and gracile new form. He fixated on Imperalux's neutral white coat, and could do nothing but stare as he gazed upon Romulus' sleek silver scheme. Looking down at his own body, Magnon saw he was the most heavily armored of the lot, with a striking gunmetal grey scheme.
A great metallic clanging noise drew the toa's eyes off of their bodies, and onto the the robot. It had began to tremble uncontrollable. Suddenly, the limbs began to thicken, great talons erupting from the feet. Magnon stared in horror as the horrible head began to shift, taking on a squared appearance, with insect like mandibles that glimmered menacingly in the low-light. "Meet Kraahkatoa, the great doomsday machine!" thundered Narcisca, as two yellow eyes leaped to life in the robot's sockets, "Now, once more, Narcisca reigns supreme. I shall make this body my own with your blood!" Narcisca stretched out one gigantic clawed hand, and held it over Magnon's head. Magnon could feel his heart beat quicken as those horrible talons drew nearer. Blood was pounding against his head, which had started to swim. Amidst the throbbing pain, Magnon held on to one thought. I need to stop Narcisca! He is trying to take my blood! I need to stop him! Without warning, Narcisca fell, his great robotic shell hugging the floor. Narcisca did not just fall; rather he had been pulled smack into the ground, with a sound that reverberated around the cavernous room for some time.
"Magnon!" Romulus said, sounding amazed, "You- your hands... their glowing." Magnon looked down at his hands and realized that what Romulus said was true. Dim though the light was, Magnon could see a pale silvery light residing around his outstretched fingers.
"Well, I guess I am a Toa of Magnetism now," Magnon said, still amazed at what he had just done.
"He's waking up!" exclaimed Imperalux, pointing at Narcisca. The lord of the dead was angry now. Abandoning all attempts to impress and intimidate the six toa, Narcisca raised is hand, and shot a bolt of shadow at the six toa. They scatted, as the bolt made contact with the ground. A gaping crater was all that was left of the spot the toa had recently vacated. Linelva ducked as another bolt of shadow came soaring through the air. She then sent her own bolt of lighting straight at Narcisca, missing him by inches.
"We have to get out of here!" cried Shanohn, as a third bolt of shadow explode the rock over his and Romulus' head. Fortunately for the toa, Narcisca had not yet mastered the use of his new body. Imprealux froze the ground underneath Narcisca, causing the lord of the dead to stagger. Sadran shot a bolt of plasma, which bounced harmlessly off of Narcisca's armor.
"Fools!" he cried, barring down upon the toa, "You are mere matoran in toa armor. None of your powers work against me. I am invulnerable. There may be six of you, but each of you is as alone and helpless as the next!"
"Magnon, he's right!" Cried Linevla, showing Narcisca in a bolts of lightning, but to no avail, "What can we do?" Magnon however, was not listening. as he ducked and dodged the bolts of shadow flying at him, he pondered what Narcisca had said " There may be six of you, but each of you is alone alone and helpless as the last. Six of you, each alone and helpless... Suddenly, with a stroke of inspiration, the answer came to Magnon.
"Everybody, fire your elemental attacks upon Narcisca! Do not break the connection!" As Magnon spoke, he raised his hand and let loose one continuous dull-grey jet. Five more jets, one white, one silver, one red, one blue, and one orange erupted out of Imperalux's, Romulus', Shanohn's Linelva's and Sadran's hands respectively. The jets met in midair, and focused upon one point; Narcisca's chest. Straight and true the jest sailed. Narcisca screamed in fury as a great crystalline cage encircled him, trapping him. When the toa finally broke the connection, they were exhausted Narcisca stood, frozen in his cage of protodermis. Relief washed over Magnon as he sank to the floor, his eyes closing. When he reopened them, he found himself staring into the wizened but kind face of Turaga Ramus.
"Well done, Magnon, well done indeed. Way to use teamwork. Ingenious."
Chapter 15. Kronaxx Strikes Back[]
Ten yellow-clad Rahkshi-va stood before Kronaxx, their vivid glaring hungrily, their mouths watering in anticipation. Kronaxx looked at each one in turn, looking for flaws in his new army, waiting for one to slip up, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. One of the rahkshi, large in physique, but slightly diminutive in character, began to sway nervously. In a flash, Kronaxx was upon him, wrestling the Rahkshi backwards, back towards the pool of antidermis. The other nine rahkshi watched as Kronaxx and his quarry disappeared into the murky depths of the pool. As they watched, the rahkshi Kronaxx had attacked began to rise out of the pool, slimy green antidermis falling from his body as he rose. Only, the rahkshi was no longer the yellow-clad, orange eyed monster that had fallen in. This rahkshi was black in color, with flecks of dark red here and their. This rahkshi had long clawed hands, thick spiky armor, and a pointed black head, with gleaming yellow eyes. as the figure rose higher, each and every rahkshi-va could see that what had appeared to be a head, was actually the kanohi Kraahkan, the Great Mask of Shadows. It was Kronaxx behind that mask, Kronaxx inside the armor of what had formally been a rahkshi of heat vision. "Now," Kronaxx spoke, raising a great clawed hand and pointing, "We move out!"
.....
"Come on now," Turaga Ramus spoke, pulling Magnon to his feet, "We must make haste. You and your friends may have stopped Narcisca for now, but there is no telling how long that protodermic cage will hold the lord of the dead." Magnon was anxious to leave the scene, but Ramus waited patiently for the rest of the Toa to get to their feet. When finally an exhausted and disgruntled Shanohn pushed had summoned up enough will power to get to his feet, the seven of them set off up the sloping stone passage way, Romulus stopping long enough to pick up the Great Toa Stone.
"I am very proud of you all," Ramus spoke as they jogged down the passage way, "You showed that it is not one's capabilities as an individual that counts, but one's ability to cooperate with a team that draws the line between success and failure. Always remember that, my friends."
"Yes, but unity alone isn't going to Narcisca from spreading evil," Sadran retuned, "He isn't just going to abandon his plan to rise, just because a couple of us are working together."
"Yeah, we are going to need to train everybody to combat him and his demons when they come," added Linelva, as they continued to run.
They were ascending to stone passage way at a quick rate, and now the light was growing brighter by the minute. Just when the light became bright enough that their eyes were beginning to sting after long weeks of darkness, Romulus suddenly stopped. "Hold it! I hear footsteps approaching fast!" Remembering how Romulus was now a Toa of Sonics, and could here sounds the other's could not, Magnon stopped too.
"He's right," Magnon said, after a few seconds pause, "I can hear something, or somethings moving towards us."
"Run!" cried Sadran, and the six Toa, along with Ramus set off once more, quickening their pace. they had almost reached the surface when they were set upon by nine yellow-clad, staff-wielding figures, and one monstrous black-and red figure.
"Rahkshi!" exclaimed Imeralux, halting in front of the large red-and black figure.
"Rahkshi-va" corrected a cruel and sneering voice Magnon remembered only too well.
"Kronaxx!" cried Ramus, pounding his staff into the ground in fury. "You have caused enough pain and suffering already. Why not rejoin the right side? We can learn to forgive with time, and we shall. We must unite against an enemy who threatens to release his shadow across the lands. Come and aid us, Kronaxx."
Kronaxx sneered, "Perhaps I wish to spread my shadow across the lands. Perhaps I wish to reign supreme over the lands, to regain my old empire."
"Then you are lost!" cried Ramus pounding his staff into the ground again to emphasize his point.
Chapter 16. The Fight that Followed[]
For several silent seconds, Ramus and Kronaxx glared at one another, with cold contempt, and then, in unison, both cried "Attaaack!" The toa and the rahkshi-va flew at one another. Magnon punched an oncoming rahkshi right in the head.
"Urrrgh!" is hissed, recoiling. Magnon seized its staff, and pulled it out of the rahkshi's loose grip. Wheeling around, Magnon jabbed he staff into the hip of a second rahkshi. It squealed like a piglet, but did not backdown. In a flash, its eyes glowed bright orange, beams shooting out of them.
"Ouch!" Magnon could feel his armor heating up fast. It was becoming unbearable, and Magnon knew that if he didn't do something fast, his very armor would melt.
A jet of fire sailed over Magnon's head, and came to land upon the rahkshi that had assaulted him. The rahkshi screamed, retreating fast. "I though you might need help, brother." Shanohn stood over Magnon, his wrist still smoking from where he had summoned the fire.
"Thanks,' Magnon said gratefully, now I owe you one."
"Magnon, over here! Throw me that staff!" It was Sadran. He and Linelva were backed up against a wall, four rahkshi-va bearing down upon them.
"Catch!" Magnon shouted, hurling the staff over the heads of the rahkshi. Catching the staff is his right hand, Sadran directed it at the wall of rahkshi. A bolt of plasma sprung from the tip off the staff, coating the rahkshi in a cloud of ionized gas.
"Hot enough for you?" Sadran asked, as the Rahkshi faltered, momentarily stunned by the great cloud hovering around them.
"Not bad, Linelva said, grabbing the staff from Sadran's hands, and directing it at the bundle of rahkshi, "But I think they saw that coming. Perhaps they need more of a 'shock!'" A bolt of lightning shot from the tip of the staff, and shot directly into the mass of rahkshi. The began to spin uncontrollably, trapped in a storm electrified gas.
"And a little bit of ice should make this drink nice and cool," Imperalux added, touching the mass of rahkshi with his hand. A wall of ice jumped from his palm, incasing the four rahkshi in a solid translucent case.
Four of the rahkshi may have been contained, but five were still at large. And what was more, Kronaxx was still running amok, and was now bearing down upon Shanohn, Ramus and Romulus, firing bolts of shadow at them as he came. One of the bolts of shadow hit Ramus squarely in the chest, blasting the little turaga off his feet
"Noooo!" Magnon screamed, launching himself into the air flying over the heads of Sadran and Linelva and their assailants. Wait a minute, Magnon thought, as he soared towards Kronaxx, flying...? But how...? He didn't stop to ponder this, however, for he saw his friends were in great danger. He was drawing closer and closer towards Kronaxx, the makuta becoming more visible with every second. Magnon realized, too late that he was going to crash. Wham! Magnon plowed full force into Kronaxx, sending the makuta flying forward. He crumpled against the wall in front of him. Magnon, slowed down by the surprisingly robust body of Kronaxx, landed more gracefully, falling flat on his face.
"Magnon!" Shanohn exclaimed," how did you do that?"
"It was his mask," rasped a feeble voice from the left.
"Romulus!" exclaimed Magnon, hurrying to the old turaga's side, "Are you hurt?"
"No, not badly," replied Ramus, as Shanohn and Romulus helped him to his feet, "but we have a more pressing matter to attend to." Magnon turned, around and looked at the scene behind him. Imperalux, Sadran and Linelva were all sprinting as fast as they could towards him. Close behind them, the last five rahkshi-va ca came, staffs in hand and hissing wild battle cries.
"There are too many of them!" shouted Shanohn in a panicked voice, "What can we do?"
"Brace yourselves!" Magnon shouted, gritting his teeth, although he knew perfectly well there was no way they could stop all the rahkshi at once. The rahkshi were now just feet away from them; magnon could see the orange of their eyes glistening as they came.
Without a word, Romulus suddenly stood up, and raising his hands high above his head, he clapped them together with all his might. As Magnon watched, a great shockwave sprung from Romulus' hands expanding into a great ripple that washed over everybody, Toa and rahkshi alike. Magnon clapped his hands to his ears as a deafening bang reached him. A second loud cracking noise told Magnon that the stone passage way was caving in.
"Run!" screamed Linelva, scrambling backwards as a great chunk of rock fell towards here.
"There's no way out!" cried Romulus, clearly astonished and panicked by what he had just done.
"Yes there is!" Shouting Magnon, as his mask began to glow, "Everybody, grab onto the person in front of you! I will fly us out! With no time to argue, everybody flowed Magnon's instructions, and with an almighty effort, Magnon jumped into the air. They flew through the crumbling stone passageway, swaying dangerously as the went.
"Magnon, is there any way we can go any faster?" Linelva asked from the end of the chain, as the collapsing rocks drew nearer. As if in answer, Sadran's mask began to glow orange, and with a great lurch, The six toa, along with Ramus were propelled through the mouth of the cave, and straight to the ground, just as the cave mouth behind them collapsed.
"That was close," breathed Imperalux, rolling onto his back.
"Much to close," agreed Magnon, before collapsing into unconsciousness.
Chapter 17. The Order of Kentis Nui[]
"Magnon?" The voice was soft, calm, and somewhat familiar. With great effort, Magnon opened his eyes. Looking back at him was a great hulking figure with a navy blue mask, a giant hammer is his hands.
"Malleus!" Exclaimed Magnon, attempting to sit upright and falling backwards into the bed where he lay. Looking around him, Magnon realized he was inside a very large and elaborate looking building. Pearly blue tiles lined the floor, glistening with what looked like gold, set into the mortar. Beautifully cut marble pillars rose to a high ceiling, painted with a colorful depiction of the Titan War. "Where am I?" Magnon wondered aloud.
"You are inside the headquarters of the Order of Kentis Nui," replied Turaga Ramus, sidling over to his bedside.
"What, you mean to say, that this is that same dilapidated-looking concrete building that Khraan pointed out to us from Camp Arcajax? The same one?
Malleus smiled, "Yes, the same run down old warehouse."
"Where is everyone else?" Magnon asked, addressing the room at large.
"They are all in the mess hall having a late dinner," spoke a tall, silver-and-white armored being as he appeared at Malleus' side.
"Ah, Optimidus, I wanted a word with you." Malleus turned to face the Order of Kentis Nui leader and asked in an undertone, "Have they reached a decision yet?"
"No," replied Optimudus in barely more than a whisper, "No, they haven't even reached an agreement yet that he is back and dangerous once more."
"Who, Narcisca?" Magnon asked, sitting up in his bed, "He is back, and has a new body. I promise you, I saw him. We all saw him!"
Optimidus smiled, "Perhaps you can convince the members of the high council that we need to take immediate action against Narcisca."
Magnon threw the cover off of his bed, and got to his feet. "Let's go now! We have to alert the council now!"
"Just a minute, Magnon, "Spoke Malleus, placing a hand on the toa's shoulder, "Council will not resume fro an hour. Go and have some supper with you friends. They will be relieved to know you are alright."
"But," protested Magnon, "But I-"
"Go," Optimidus said firmly, gesturing to the door he had come through "I promise, you will feel better." Magnon sighed, getting to his feet. He strode out the door, and down a hallway. As he lumbered down the hall, he gazed at the pictures lining the walls, portraits of great toa heros, of wars and battles, of warriors long forgotten in history. The sight of them both intrigued and sickened him. I have so much to live up to, now that I am a toa, he though, as he came upon a pair of double doors that led into the mess hall. Inside, there were rows and rows of tables where the solders dined, but all were deserted, save for five figures seated around one of the tables.
"Magnon!" exclaimed Linelva, delighted to see him, "Come and sit down!"
"Well look who finally decided to wake up," grinned Shanohn.
"How are you feeling?" asked Romulus, as Magnon took a seat between him and Imperalux.
"Not bad," replied Magnon, helping himself to a plate roast gukko bird, and some mashed kivwak fruit.
"Can you believe it?" Sadran asked, when they had all settled down, "Us? Toa heros? I mean, it's so mind boggling."
"Yes, it is hard to believe," agreed Linelva, "And yet after being kidnapped, enslaved, attacked by a murderous demon, and then confronting a psychotic spirit, and living to tell the tale, I'm ready to believe anything is possible, including an intelligent Shanohn, or a singing Imperalux." They all laughed, even Imperalux. Magnon's chest ached; it had been a long couple of months, and it was good to share a humorous hour together.
Then, without warning, Magnon fell backwards of his seat, as he was plunged into a new vision. He was back in the depths of the Primodius Magna Underworld, standing in front of a great towering figure. The figure was encased in a great, glistening crystalline case.
"Come, Magnon. Come to me. Set me free." It was the same voice that had haunted Magnon's nightmares on all too many an occasion, the same voice that felt like it was working a knife deep into Magnon's head as it spoke. "Release me from this cage!" Narcisca commanded.
"Noooo!" groaned Magnon, trying to pull away from this vision, "No, I won't! Please, leave me alone! Please!" 'Narcisca laughed a cruel and merciless laugh that made Magnon's head feel as if it were about to split open.
"Release me, or suffer your doom!" Spoke Narcisca, putting an emphasis on the last three words. Magnon could not bare it any longer. With an almighty effort, he ripped himself away. As he did so, Magnon could see out of the corner of his vision, the great prododermis cage encapsulating Narcisca, shatter into a thousand small shards.
Chapter 18. The High Council[]
"Magnon, what happen?" Imperalux's sharp and anxious voice reached Magnon's ears, "Did you have another vision?"
Magnon pushed himself into a sitting position before replying. "Narcisca!" he gasped weakly, "He attacked me. he forced me to shatter the protodermis incasing him. He is free!"
"Just brilliant," Sadran spat sarcastically, "I was looking forward to a nice lie down, and now, you mean to tell us that you set free the Lord of the Dead, just because he caused you a little discomfort?" Magnon launched himself at Sadran, tackling him to the ground in a rage.
"A LITTLE DISCOMFORT?" Magnon thundered, "A little discomfort! You try having to deal with these visions for once! You have a taste of what it's like to have his voice cutting into your very conscience! You try-" But words had failed Magnon. He stood there one hand pinning Sadran to the ground the other raised high, ready to strike.
"Magnon, calm down!" Linelva said, taking advantage of his silence, "Sadran was wrong to have said that, bust that outburst didn't do anyone any justice. Magnon relinquished Sadran, staring down at his own hands.
"I don't know what got over me," he said, looking from Linelva to Sadran, "But it seems as if part of me wants to beat you all, to make you feel pain, to make you suffer." Magnon spoke the words, as if through a stranger's lips.
"That's not good," Shanohn said, looking almost alarmed at the sight of his best friend, as if he expected Magnon to attack him too. "That's not the Magnon I know."
"I think," spoke a voice, "That there is some connection between Magnon and Narcisca that would account for why you have had those visions." Turaga Ramus had entered the room, looking grim, and older than ever. "I think that Magnon's fait may be tied with Narcisca's. As a matter of fact, I have reason to believe all of our fates, especially yours," he pointed at the six toa, "are tied with Narcisca's. Come now, the high council is meeting."
Magnon and the six toa followed Ramus out of the mess hall, and down a torch-lit passageway. It was growing dark outside, shadows creeping in like stalking predators. I wonder if we will ever see the light of day again, pondered Magnon, as Ramus led the six toa down a flight of stone stairs. By and by, they came upon a pair of oak doors, with large brass handles. Ramus rapped three times on the double-doors with his staff.
"Ramus, is that you?" Optimidus's voice spoke swiftly from the other side of the doors.
"'Tis I, and the six toa," replied calmly, leaning on his staff. The doors swung forward to admit the. As they walked in Magnon saw eight people, all clustered around a long rectangular table, all debating in loud voices.
"Quite!" called Optimidus from the far end of the table, and everyone fell silent, staring at the new comers. Magnon glanced around the table to see who else had ben summoned to this council meeting. He saw Malleus sitting adjacent to Optimidus, his hands clasped firmly together. On Malleus' left sat Divex, the toa of fire whom had raised Linelva. He had been talking to a hulking Craydaxian whose name, magnon knew, was Ankylos. To the right of Ankylos sat two beefy wild-looking Melunosians whose names Magnon did not know. To his right, Khraan was absent-mindedly tapping is fingers on the tabletop. Across from him, a wizened old Turaga of Sonics whom Magnon had never seen before.
Ramus seated himself at the opposite side of the long table, as Magnon and the other toa hastily took seats around the table.
"Alright," Optimidus spoke, once they had all seated themselves comfortably, "As you know, Lord of the Dead, Narcisca, is dangerous once more. He has possessed the robot known as Kraahkatoa, and in is planning to rise once more, and spread his shadow across the lands. Our fate may rest with these six toa." Optimidus swept out a hand, gesturing towards Magnon and the five other toa. "They were captured," Optimidus continued, "And forded to slave away for over a month. Fortunately, as fate would have, it they escaped, brining to us the news of Narcisca's rise, and... this!" With the air of a conjurer pulling off a stunning spectacle, Optimidus produced the Great Toa Stone for all to see. "This small stone may be our key to thwarting Narcisca."
"And why," asked one of the Melunosians, a green one, standing up, "Should we believe the stories of these six new toa? Look at them! They are mere matoran and toa armor! Utterly delusional, if you ask me."
"Thank you, Gibrek," Malleus said firmly, and the Melunosian sat down. Malleus then turned to Magnon. "You say that you witnessed the toa stone activate the Kraahkatoa robot?"
"Yes, I do." replied Magnon.
"And you say that you saw Narcisca possess the robot?
"Yes," replied Magnon.
"And you say that you fought Narcisca, and escaped with the Great Toa Stone?"
"Yes."
Malleus turned to look into the face of Gibrek. "There you have it," he said cooly, "An account from a witness."
"I believe him," spoke the Turaga old Sonics, in a slow, calm voice, "And I also believe that the Great Toa Stone Ramus created is too powerful for us to wield."
"But why not use it?" piped up Shanohn, "Why not use it against him. Why not use it against Narcisca?"
"The stone is great," replied the turaga, "A great and terrible weapon, one that we cannot afford to let fall into the wrong hands."
"Oh, stuff it, Narko," spoke Ankylos, slamming his great clawed fist on the table, "I agree with the toa, we have been blessed with a weapon. Why not use it?"
"Because," spoke Ramus, getting to his feet, "The stone has a mind of its own. It can trick and deceive you. Hold it too long, and it may even curse you!"
Ankylos got to his feet too. This was a far more impressive move on his part, for he towered over Ramus as he spoke, "We have no time to be cautious! Narcisca may cone at any moment. We must act now!" Soon , everyone was one their feet, arguing about what should be done with the Great Toa Sone. Magnon watched them silently for a minute, his eyes slowly becoming unfocused...
He was back underground, gazing out over the subterranean city of Ergastulum. The tall buildings and structures looked like pinpricks to Magnon. He began to move down toward the city, his massive robotic body clanking loudly. As he reached the city limits, a Fe-matoran emerged from a shop, ladened with shopping. As he saw Magnon, the matoran gave a terrified squeak, dropping his bags. "Please, don't hurt me," he begged, starring up into Magnon' s eyes. Magnon laughed, a terrible, cold, other-early laugh, as the matoran dropped to his knees.
"You think Lord Narcisca is going to be merciful," asked Magnon in a taunting voice, "Well, you thought wrong!" Magnon stretched out a great clawed hand, and held it over the quivering matoran. A great surge of power coursed through Magnon, as his hand curled. The matoran began to shake uncontrollably, and then all of a sudden, his head burst open in a shower of blood. Magnon felt a sudden warmth go though him, as arteries and veins sprang to life inside him. Magnon could feel a massive heart beating against his chest. Ahh, it was bliss. He had forgotten what it was like to have life coursing through him once more. The robotic body, was now his, no longer a shell, but a fully organic body. "Now to steal some more lives," Magnon said to himself, gazing at his reflection in a pool of water. Yellow eyes gleamed through slits in a black, reptilian face.
"Aggghhh!" Magnon awoke with a start, finding himself on the floor of the Order of Kentis Nui council room. Every pair of eyes was fixed on Magnon, as he pushed himself to his feet.
Chapter 19. Demons and Decisions[]
"What in the name of Kentis Nui was that all about?" spluttered Gibrek, utterly flabbergasted at the drama.
"I...I had another vision...," Magnon gasped weakly, staring form face to face.
"What did you see?" Prompted Turaga's Ramus.
"Narisca...I, I mean he, stormed into Ergastulum, and killed a matoran. He simply raised his hand, held it over him, and he was dead. And I felt a warmth surge through my body. I was Narcisca. I killed that defenseless matoran. I..." but Magnon could not continue.
"You see?" screamed Gibrek triumphantly, "He is raving, utterly mad!"
"I think I have an adequate explanation," spoke Turaga Narko in a firm voice. Gibrek fell silent at once, glaring at Magnon, arms folded across his reptilian chest. "Narcisca," Narko continued, "has the ability to 'steal the life' of other beings, by which I mean their souls."
"How does he do that?" Inquired Shanohn, looking a little skeptical.
Narko sighed, "Every being, no matter how nefarious, now matter how devious has a soul. Nobody knows exactly what it is, but is known to be some form of life force buried deep in your body. Narcisca is, by right, the Guardian of the Dead Souls. However, he learned a means summoning the souls from living beings. When summoned, the soul takes the shortest path out of your body, usually through the head, as the summoner usually holds their hand above their victims' head. I say the word usually, but you will seldom come across anybody who knows how. There was a cult that worshiped Narcisca, who were said to have been taught how to steal lives. Fortunately, no activity of this cult has surfaced in nearly 300 years."
"I see, Magnon said, a lump developing in his throat at the thought, "but how come I watched through Narcisca's eyes as he stole the matorn's life? In every other vision, I was a spectator to his actions."
"That, I cannot answer," replied Narko with a tone of finality. He turned now to Optimidus, "The time has come for us to make a decision; do we stand our ground or flee?"
Optimidus, whom had be watching this entire spectacle wordlessly, now spoke, "If we flee, we surrender a world we have worked thousands of years to build. To run and hide would be easy, but is it the right thing to do? I think not, for if we flee, thousands will die for our cowardice. Narcisca will rise, spreading his shadow across the land, and we shall rise to meet him. It has been decide; when Narcisca comes, we shall be ready for him. We have our six new toa," Optimidus proclaimed, sweeping his hand out to point to Magnon, Shanohn, Romulus, Sadran, Lineleva, and Imperalux, "These six matoran proved themselves the most capable and dedicated of all Camp Arcajax. They shall be known as the six Toa Alphanovum , or the A-Team for short." Optimidus stood up now, looking around the room at the eagerly expectant faces. "I know they will, for I have foreseen our fate." Optimidus reached down, and picked up a small, translucent green orb. Holding to the light, he began to recite,
"At the hour in which the world goes dark,
When all of hell is released,
Six new heros shall rise to restore the peace.
There are many paths to choose,
But only one leads on forward.
Deceit and lies lie in wait,
Like the loop of a noose.
An unsung hero shall have his song,
But the search for him will be hard and long.
Old enemies will rise, the most bitter of foes,
Brothers and sisters of a distant past,
Whose side they will take,
Only the Great Beings know.
The Guardian of the Dead Souls has many a trick up his sleeve,
From fire, an army monsters, he will certainly weave.
Now these six heroes plus one more,
Have a chance to save us all.
By joined forces with an order so noble,
That time itself has forgotten they exist
But the chance is slim, the prospect black,
All may perish, and fade into black."
Optimidus finished reading, and gazed around at the bewildered and dumbstruck room. "Six heroes plus one more?" Khraan asked, "Dose this prophecy imply that the Toa Alphanovum are not to be our saviors?
"And what of this secret order so noble?" Ankylos asked, pounding his clawed fist upon the table once more.
"I do not have all the answers, "Optimidus replied calmly, "Only time will tell. For now, we must rally all resistance against Narcisca. Malleus, see it the army is ready to march when the time comes."
.....
Narcisca starred down at his clawed hands, flexing his fingers. He could here the roar of flames and the screams of terror coming from the city of Ergastulum, but he paid them no heed. It was so wonderful to feel the pulse of life in his body once more. The Kraahkata robot was no longer a mere shell; it was his body, his own body. Blood coursed through arteries and veins, feeding oxygen to every reach of his body. His eyes were flawless receptors, taking in everything around them, painting a juicy picture in his mind.
"Ahhh, for the price of a few worthless matoran, I feel more alive then ever before," Narcisca purred to himself, "more powerful then ever before. I feel like celebrating." A great torrent of shadow escaped from the palm of his had, sailing straight into the center of Ergastulum. There was a deafening explosion, coupled with more screams of anguish from the matoran. Chuckling to himself, Narcisca turned his back on these scene of destruction, and began to lumber into the darkness.
He continued to descend deeper into his domain, until finally, his destination became clear. He was back in the circular room, surrounded on three sides by a sea of lava. Narcisca closed his yellow reptilian eyes, and began to recite an incomprehensible chant, twisting the dark magic around his tongue. Narcisca spread wide both his arms, raising them slowly upward as he chanted. The lava began to churn and bubble, ripples beginning to disturb its surface. Then all of a sudden, the ripples became great waves of lava, towering fifteen feet in hight. Each of these waves bore a fiery demonic face, twisting and writhing like great fiery serpents. Then, from the lava erupted thirty or so broad shouldered, red armored, black horned demons, like the one Narcisca had summoned through Nalihki.
"Bathgohl," Narcisca said lovingly to himself, "Obedient like hounds, and ruthless like myself. An excellent army of killing machines." He now raised his voice addressing the thirty or so monsters he had just summoned, "Long have you waited, sleeping alway the millenniums in the fiery depths of hell. I have waited my whole life for this moment. No more do you have to sleep. Go forth, and destroy all those who ever denied you your freedom. Once Primordius Magna is cleansed of its life, we shall be the ones to live on its islands. We shall be the ones to build the empires, and dominate the lands. And they shall be the ones to suffer an eternity of pain and torment in the underworld. Go forth, my sons, and rest not until every matoran, toa, skakdi, and every other species that ever defied us lies dead beneath your feet!"
Chapter 20. A Tool fit for a Toa[]
Magnon lay on a hammock overlooking the Order of Kentis Nui's botanic gardens. It was a quite and pristine place, what with its hedges cut to resemble various rahi, colorful flowers blooming everywhere, and a small creek, shimmering in the sunlight as it meandering between grassy hills. Magnon should have been enjoying it all, but he was too sick with nerves to appreciate the beauty around him. Nearly two weeks had elapsed since the meeting of the high council had taken, and still no news of Narcisca's activity had reached the Order. Nor had Magnon's dreams been plagued with visions since the high council had made its decision.
During those last two weeks, Magnon and his five teammates had under a series of training exercises mentored by Makuta Khraan. Khraan had also given the toa their Toa tools, indispensable weapons for all forms of combat. However, Magnon had requested more time in choosing his weapon. "I want something that I can work comfortable with," he had told Khraan, as the others had picked out their weapons.
"Fine," Khraan had replied irritably, "but I hope you understand we don't have much time! Narcisca could come any day at any time." He had given Magnon a simple blade which Magnon grudgingly accepted.
Magnon sat up in his hammock now, drawing this blade and examining it with distaste. "Blades are such clumsy and uncivilized weapons," he said turning the blade over in his hand and examining the hilt, "I don't much fancy getting any closer to an opponent then necessary. What I need is a gun. Quick, clean and precise." With this new notion in his head, Magnon climbed out of the hammock, and began to lumber through the garden in the direction of a small arsenal, with an equally small black shack in the background.
"Ah, Toa Magnon, I have been expecting you." The speaker was a a broad shouldered, slightly fat Po-Matoran by the name of Davix, whom Magnon knew to be a blacksmith for the Order of Kentis Nui.
"You have been expecting me?" Magnon asked, quite surprised.
"Oh yes," replied the Po-matoran in a light, casual tone, "Khraan told me you might come looking for a firearm. Well, as you see, I have quite a selection." As he spoke, Davix gestured around the arsenal. "Pick some up, and try them out.
Magnon walked over to the nearest rack, and picked up a small shotgun. It felt quite clumsy in his hands, even as he raised it and fired at a target board that Davix had set up earlier.
"No, no, that one will not do at all," the Po-Matoran said in a slightly arrogant tone, plucking the shotgun out of Magnon's hands and replacing it in its rack, "Try these pistols."
Magnon tried what felt like every last gun Davix had in his arsenal. Finally, Magnon was forced to accept that none of these guns were working any better for him than his sword. "Do you have any more guns?" he asked dejectedly.
"No, you've tried them all," replied Davix, half annoyed, and half amused, "Are you sure there are none that you like.
"No," replied Magnon helplessly, "None of them feel right to me."
Davix looked first into Magnon's face, and then down at his own feet. "I do have one other idea," he said slowly, "You're a Toa of Magnetism, aren't you?"
"Yes, replied Magnon, without any idea of what this matoran had in mind.
"Well, perhaps you could make a gun that suited you, using your magnetism powers to work the metal."
"Hey, that's not such a bad idea," Magnon said, his enthusiasm rising, "I learned to work metal during my time with Marltax & Krikk Innovations."
"Really, your worked for Marltax? I did too! Were you fired as well?"
"Fired?" Magnon repeated blankly, "No, I was drafted into the Metru Minor Army during the Civil War."
"Oh," replied Davix, his eyes darting from left to right, "Um, I was too. Did I say fired, I meant forced to leave." Davix now led Magnon inside of the small shack to a spruce-wood table where several blocks of protosteel lay. "You may be a Toa of magnetism," Davix said, picking up one of the blocks, "But these will be easier to work with once I have heated them a bit.
When at last the silvery metal glowed golden-red, Magnon set about making his weapon. First, he carefully shaped a barrel long enough and light enough to let lose bullets at a high velocity. Next, Magnon began to shape the parts necessary for quick action; he was making a semi-automatic rife.
"You'll want a comfortable handle, just the right size," advised Davix, coming over to admire Magnon's handy work.
"I remember when I was a matoran, I had to crank out weapons for the Confederate Empire of Shadows," remarked Magnon, as he shaped the handle into a lightweight, but firm grip, "But I never dreamed that I would do it with my elemental powers.
When at last Magnon had attached a targeting scope to the top of his rifle, Magnon stepped back to admire the result. It was a sleek, elegant instrument, a glossy black in color, with a narrow, nozzle . Magnon picked it up, turning it over in his hands. It felt just right, fitting his hands like a pair of gloves. Pointing it at one of the arsenal targets, Magnon peered through the scope and fired. Straight and true, the bullet sailed, landing directly in the bullseye of the target.
"Bravo, bravo!" cried Davix, thumping Magnon in the back, "Test it a few more times in case it jams." Magnon raised the gun, and fired several rounds in rapid procession, the bullets flying from it as fast as he could pull the trigger.
"You know," Magnon said, peering down at an exhilarated Davix, "I think I have found the Toa tool of my choice." And with that, Magnon drew the blade he so disliked, and drove it into the earth.
Chapter 21. Early Morning Idle[]
With his new gun in hand, Magnon felt complete. He had a magnificent toa team, and a weapon that could only rival in magnificence. Magnon was itching to put its capabilities to the test, but he was also afraid for the day he knew all to well, was to come; the rising of Narcisca. And thus, Magnon spend the next few days on tenterhooks, watching, waiting for any sign that would signal the arrival of Narcisca. He jumped once, at a clink of metal that turned out to be Davix busy at his forges. Another time, he nearly squashed a disgruntled-looking Gibrek, as he overturned a great stone basin, having herd a great heaving grunt that turned out to be Sadran snoring loudly from his hammock.
"You need to relax," Linelva told him one early morning, after he had nearly shot her with his newly constructed gun, "You're too paranoid. Narcisca will come when he comes. There is no reason to become so worked up over the inevitable."
"I know," Magnon replied, looking into her deep green eyes, "It's all this waiting. Honestly, I'd feel better in open battle, rather than sitting here waiting for the enemy to find me."
Linelva relapsed into thoughtful silence before speaking at last, "This must be exactly what he wants," and when he looked at her in bewilderment, she went on, "Narcisca, I mean. He knows delaying his rise will cause a panic; nobody will know when to expect him to come. It is ingenious."
Magnon felt some of his tension slacken. It was comforting to sit here idle, taking to Linelva in this way. Perhaps she was right; Narcisca would come when he came, and there was no point in worrying himself over it now. With the wind blowing gently, caring the songs of birds and the snores of Sadran, Magnon lay their peacefully, thinking of nothing.
And then out of the blue, a horn sounded, one drawn-out sad note that sent a chill down Magnon's spine, as he sat bolt-upright, his heart pounding against his chest. A great rumbling grew louder and louder, until with an almighty boom, the double doors of the order of Kentis Nui base flew open as a tide of warriors poured out, Optimidus leading them.
"The time has come!" Optimidus cried, as Magnon hurried over, his heart now in his mouth, "Bathgohl demons were sighted at the north remote, a horde of them!" Magnon panted as he ran to keep up with the sea of soldiers as they all surged forward. As he ran, Shanohn appeared at his side, Twin Lava-sickles in each hand.
"Just like old times, isn't it?" Shanohn remarked as they ran.
"No, this time we fight together as friend" replied Magnon, remembering how he had had to fight his best friend in the great Civil War. And so they ran on in silence, save for their huffing and puffing.
Time and by, they came upon a ridge overlooking a barren lake bed. Here they stopped to catch their breath. Even as they stood panting, a cold gust ran through, chilling Magnon's bones. Great black clouds began to roll in, repainting the merry morning sky with a gloomy grey back drop. And then, all of a sudden, the ground began to rumble and shake, causing every warrior to stagger. A great fissure opened before their very eyes, and from that fissure poured enormous red demons with leathery winds, and snarling faces. The Bathgohl eyed the warriors with hunger and contempt, and for a long while, no one moved a muscle; not the Bathgohl, nor the warriors who were all frozen in terror. And then, the nearest Bathgohl opened its mouth and let loose a terrible, otherworldly sound, and pandemonium ensued.
Chapter 22. Fighting the Inevitable[]
Left and right, Magnon ran, ducking and dodging as the Bathgohl demons lashed out with their spiky tails, or else gnashed their terrible teeth, and spat a sheet of flames from their gaping maw. "Magnon, look out!" screamed a voice. Magnon looked up, too late, and was sent sprawling upon the ground. There standing over him was a thirty foot monster, with blood-red skin, horns as black as death, and gleaming red eyes. Magnon felt a clawed hand cild roughly around his body, slowing puling him towards those gleaming read eyes, and those razor sharp teeth.
As, Magnon struggled to free his arm pinioned to his side, the Bathgohl opened its mouth to a wide gape. A putrid stench emanated from the monsters mouth, as Magnon found himself inches away from the teeth. And then, without warning, the monster dropped him, and staggered backwards. A hammer fell upon its skull, splitting the monster's head down to the bone.
"I told you to watch out," grinned Malleus, leaning upon his giant hammer.
"Malleus," choked Magnon, spluttering to get the fowl stench out of his nasal passage, "Am I ever glad to see you." The Titan Lord pulled Magnon to his feet, and together, they rejoined the battle. As noon wore on, it became clear that the Bathgohl were getting the upper hand on the battle. Left and right, the Order of Kentis Nui soldiers were falling, as the Bathgohl, ripped, tore, stopped, and roasted them to death.
Screams issued from Magnon's left, and he turned to see a Bathgohl bearing down upon Romulus and Linelva. The two toa were doing their best to hold off the Bathgohl, but their elemental attacks simply bounced harmlessly off its hide. Magnon cocked his semi-automatic rifle, sighted and fired. Bullets sailed from Magnon's gun, as fast as he could could pull the trigger. However, the bullets were no more affective on the Bathghl's armor than Romulus' and Linelva's elemental attacks had been. They did, however, cause the Bathgohl to stop in its tracks, wheel around, and charge and Magnon instead.
"Magnon, look out!" hollered Romulus, as Magnon sent a stream of bullets bouncing harmlessly off of the Bathgohl's flesh. Thinking this time, Magnon raised his gun, and waiting until the Bathgohl had lowered its head to consume him, fired a a single shot, deep into its throat. The Bathgohl coughed and spluttered, staggering about. As if in suspended animation, the Bathgohl froze, smoke billowed from its mouth, and then with an almighty crash, toppled over. And then, to Magnon's utter astonishment, a great swirling mass of Protodites forced their way out of the Bathgohl's esophagus, and solidified into the form of a lean green toa.
"Nalihki!" Magnon gaped the Toa of Air, the same toa he had watched this very Bathgohl consume, "How-"
Nalihki placed his hands on his hips, looking for all the world like a pixilated image, "Bathgohls have very slow digestion, and they use Protodites to aid them. Fortunately for me, you were able to kill the Bathgohl before the Protodites had finished. I am still alive, although, I am little more than a spirit held together by trillions of little organisms." He seized a blade from the ground and thrust it deep into his chest. "See," he continued as Magnon continued to gape, "virtually intangible. Right, I'm not going to let a little thing like a swarm of Prtodites for a body stand between me and fighting!" And with that, Nalihki leaped into the air in a very comical fashion, like a great swarm of locusts flying as one.
During this time, the remaining Bathgohl had surrounded the standing Order of Kentis Nui members, forming a wall of flesh and fire. They began to close in, tightening the circle around Order. Everywhere Magnon looked, their was a hissing, spitting daemon. They marched slowly but deliberately, knowing their prey was defenseless. "We're trapped!" cried Sadran, "We're all going to die, burned to a crisp!"
Other's began to give similar cries of dispare, "There's no way out of this! We're doomed! What a way to die!"
"Thank you for that vote of confidence," said Optimdus in a strangely calm voice. His hand was tensed around his rifle, and he seemed to be thinking. "Alright, listen up," he spoke with a note of urgency in his voice, "We can escape if we created a gap in their lines. On the count of three everybody fire upon these ones in from of me. Do not worry about the ones behind you, Malleus and I will take care of them. Alright now, One...two...three!"
At the cried of three, everybody surged forward, driving his or her weapon home. A torrent of fire pored over their heads. Left and right, the fighters fell, but the rest of them continued forward towards impending doom. Magnon fired, ducked, rolled and fired again. A gap appeared momentarily in the wall of Bathgohl.
"Well, what are we waiting for!" yelled Gibrek, seizing the chance to run. As he sprinted pell-mell towards freedom, a particularly large Bathgohl swooped down upon him. Magnon averted his eyes as he heard a blood-curdling scream issue from Gibrek, as he was burned to a crisp in a burst of flames. Once more, the Bathgohl closed all gaps in their ranks, and advanced upon their victims. Magnon looked left and right, daemons filling his field of vision everywhere they looked. Magnon watched as if in slow motion, as a great torrent of fire surged towards him and the others, about to engulf them in a wave of fiery inferno. As the red glow danced in front of Magnon's eyes a sheet of a silvery liquid spread across his field of vision, blocking the flames as if a great glass door had been shut on an even greater fire place.
"Go!" yelled Malleus, as he struggled to support the protodermis dome he had created, "Run!, Optimdus and I will hold them off!" As Malleus spoke, Optimidus kneeled down, loaded his shotgun, and aimed in the direction Gibrek had met his fate.
"On my word, run as fast as you can. Malleus will shield you with protodermis, but only for so long. Ready, now!" As Optimidus shouted, he fired his double-barreled shotgun into the mass of daemons to Magnon's left. A gap appeared once more in the wall of Bathgohls, as one of the daemons fell back. This time, no one hesitated. With Malleus' shield encasing them, Magnon, Linelva, Shanohn, Sadran, Romulus, Imperlaux and all the other survivors surged as one through the gap.
As they neared the gap in the Bathgohls' ranks, the whole world began to tremble and shake. Dark clouds rolled in, enveloping the landscape in a deep grey coat. Thunder claps issued from the sky, as lightning crackled overhead. But all this was drowned out, for the rumbling of the earth grew louder and louder, until finally, with an almighty cracking noise, the whole world split in two.
Magnon was sent staggering backwards into Sadran, who promptly fell on top of him. From his position on the ground, Magnon watched a a fissure opened wider and wider, dispelling a great black cloud that began to swirl like a great tornado. The lightning overhead cracked vivid purple and the sky was bathed in a fiery red glow, as if all of hell had been turned loose. And as the swirling black mass solidified into a great hulking creature with wickedly sharp talons, and shiny yellow eyes, Magnon realized that the analogy was in fact literal.
Narcisca flexed one of his massive clawed paws, and gazed down upon the Order of Kentis Nui, all of whom were froze with fear. For a whole minute, no one moved, not even the Bathgohl, although they hissed and growled hungrily. There was such an air of anticipation, that Magnon could feel his heart beat a violent rhythm in his mouth. Then at last, Narcisca spoke, his words hitting Magnon as if they were physical objects dropped from a great hight.
"Welcome, one and all, to the new reign of Narcisca, Lord of the Dead! There will be no living souls allowed in my domain, so I come to you with an offer: Surrender you lives willingly and join my ranks as soldiers of the dead, or else face eternal suffering as all of Hell is released! Give me the Great Toa Stone, and I shall be merciful."
Turaga Ramus stared strait up into the glistening yellow eyes of Narcisca, and Magnon was astonished to see not fear in the wizened old Turaga's face, but rather disgust, "You, Narcisca, are a fool! Go back to the fires that bore you, and leave us all alone. You cannot rule a world whose inhabitance despise your very name. A house divided amongst itself cannot stand. Your empire will come tumbling down, just as the mighty empire of Cradaxia did!"
Shock and anger flooded Narsisca's features, as he glared down upon this importunate little being that spoke such words of strength. "You dare challenge me?" Spluttered Narcisca, almost exploding with rage, "You dare defy the Lord of the Dead? Well then, you are about to learn what I do with petulant little roaches like you!" The lightning overhead began to crackle evermore violently, as Narcisca raised a great clawed palm, to the heavens, drawing the lighting to his palm in a great rod of energy.
Just as Narcisca fired this great purple bolt straight at Ramus, the Turaga produced a large sulfurous stone, and held it high over his head. A glowing yellow shield encircled the turaga, causing Narcisca's bolt to disperse harmlessly in all directions. But the toa stone did not stop their. Sensing its master was in peril, the stone began to feed energy into Ramus, causing him to take on a bright red glow. Ramus glowed brighter and brighter, shining like a beacon, until, with an almighty surge of power, the toa stone shot a vivid red bolt of energy straight between Narcicsa's eyes. As the bolt hit Narcisca, it expanded over him, encasing him in a glowing red web of energy. He stood their for a minute, struggling to get free, and then slowly sank back into the great fissure from whence he had come. The Bathgohl two, were drawn into the fissure, as the energy web mushroomed outward, snaring all of Narcisca's daemons. When the last Bathgohl had been swept from sight, the fissure re-ceiled itself, leaving nothing behind but the Order of Kentis Nui members.
A great cheer went up, slowly at first, and then erupted into a full explosion. Order members thumped one another on the back, and a beaming Shanohn almost nocked Magnon off of his feet. "We did it, magnon, we did it! we stopped Narcisca."
But Magnon had eyes only for one person, and this person was keeled over, the Great Toa Stone clutched loosely in his outstretched hand. As Magnon hurried over to Ramus, he realized that the Great Toa Stone had demanded a price for its use, and that price had been the old Turga's life. "Ramus? Ramus! RAMUS!" Magnon's cries made the old turaga open his eyes, and stare around. The whole order of Kentis Nui was crowded around the hero who had given his life to save them all.
"It is no use now, Magnon," croaked Ramus feebly, The weight of the years have come crashing down upon me. The toa stone sapped me of more strength than I had. But I had to...I had to do it. Though I must die, rest assured it has not been in vain. I accomplished my final goal; Narcisca is gone," The turaga suddenly gave I violent shudder "No!...only for the time being! No, I have failed you all!"
"No!" shouted Magnon, tears in his eyes now, "No, you have conquered! You did save us all!.
"Magnon, the Ramus spoke in a soft voice, placing his hand on Magnon's, "You are a good, kind toa. I am proud to have called you brother, but no, I have failed!"
Magnon felt the turaga's hand grow cold in his, the fingers slipping. Ramus gave one last shudder, and was still.
Epilogue[]
Three days after the Battle on the North remote had passed, found Magnon and Shanohn sitting on a hillside. Ramus had been cremated the previous day, and his ashes scattered in the winding creek below. Magnon and Shanohn sat in silence, each reflecting on what had taken place over the last few months. They had been recruited to Acajax academy where they had been trained. Then they had been kidnapped, enslaved, and forced to mine for devious slave owners. After that, they had escaped fought Narcisca and won, but only briefly. And then finally, they had fought the battle in the North remote, and Ramus had been killed. Narcisca had been right, right about time stalking you like a predator. And yet, Magnon though to himself, he was not entirely right.
"Shanohn," Magnon spoke softly.
"Yes," the the other replied."
"I was once told that time was an enemy, stalking ever closer, dragging you down. Now I realize, time is a gift; every moment to be cherished. So precious is time, that we cannot afford to fritter it away."
Shanohn though for a minute before replying, "You are right, Magnon. Narcisca is still out there and he will not wait for anyone. Much has happened in this small space of time, but I am afraid this is only the beginning."
With that, the two friends relapsed into silence, pondering what the near future would hold. And although the outlook was not a happy one, Magnon and Shanohn both knew that they would cherish every moment of it.
The End
Trivia[]
- The primary inspiration for GTDS was The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, as reflected in the later chapters; however, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and 52 Days of Night were the main inspirations for the early chapters.
- Guardian of the Dead Souls [[Special:Editcount/PepsiCola99|Special:Editcount/PepsiCola99 Edits!]]
This promotional signature was created for this story.
- At 23. chapters, GTDS peaked at 23th longest page on the wiki.
- The Melunosian's were created by Makuta Tarkairadan.
- The banner was made by PepsiCola99, with the help of M.T., whom did the lettering.
- Cola considers this story the most fun to write of all his stories
Characters[]
Protagonists[]
Primary Protagonists
Supporting Protagonists[]
- Ankylos
- Davix
- Divex
- Khraan
- Malleus
- Nalihki
- Optimidus
- Ramus
- Gibrek (Deceased)
- An unnamed Melunosian (Gibrek's servant/adviser)
- Narko
Antagonists[]
Primary Antagonists
Supporting Antagonists[]
- Ferrum
- Kelphix (Deceased)
- Kraahkatoa
- Kronaxx (Fate Unknown)
- Murtran (Deceased)
- Nalex (Deceased)
- Rahkshi-va (Ten, all Presumed Deceased)