Mata Nui Comics
2002 - BIONICLE Comic 6: Into the Nest
Adapted by Michael Larson. Edited by Jeff Douglas.
“Look, Tahu. There is the proof you demanded,” Kopaka declared, gesturing with an outstretched hand. The two stood among the foothills of the Mangai volcano, to a region Kopaka had passed while seeking out the Toa of Fire.
Tahu’s eyes narrowed. “No wonder Vakama knew so much about the Bohrok. They are not creatures from some other land—they come from within Mata Nui itself!”
The two Toa stared into the chasm Kopaka had found, watching an army of Bohrok Va exit onto the island. As Kopaka gazed at the sight, he marveled at how lucky a find it had been. The entrance was well concealed, blocked by a natural rock formation that was not easily spotted. Even a few strides out, it was surprisingly well obscured.
To his alarm, Tahu jumped off and began to levitate downward.
“The time has come to end this, Kopaka!” he shouted. “With our combined powers, we can—”
“Have you learned nothing?” the Toa of Ice snapped, staring down at him. “Charging in there now will not save the island. The krana are the key!”
Tahu landed on a ledge not far from the Bohrok Va. When he spoke, his voice was ice cold. “Every moment we delay, the Bohrok and Bohrok Va are free to overrun this land.”
He stopped for a moment, watching the Tahnok Va shuffle along. Kopaka waited silently, knowing that if the Toa was giving it thought, his temper would cool.
True to his expectations, Tahu sighed and turned to climb up. “Still, you are right. As long as our people are threatened, we don’t have the luxury of being merely warriors.” He ascended back up to where Kopaka was. “So I will heed your advice…this time.”
The two began to make their way back to the surface.
“We must send word to the other Toa,” Tahu said. “Most of the villagers have been forced to flee from their homes. We must end this before there is nothing to return to.”
Kopaka nodded. “Gali is with Pohatu, so both should be safe. But Onua left to search for the missing Lewa and has not been heard from.”
“I would not worry about Onua,” Tahu said over his shoulder. “The Toa of Earth can take care of himself.”
✴ ✴ ✴
Lewa strained as his body visibly warred against the krana. His arms and torso were trembling violently now, driven by two different wills, and Onua was starting to fear for Lewa’s life. The time Lewa had been possessed by an Infected Mask, it had nearly killed both of them.
“My energies are yours, Toa of Air!” Onua urged. “Be free!”
“Yes…” Lewa breathed. “Toa… my people… my friends!” His axe fell from his hands and he raised his convulsing arms to his face. “I will not harm Onua, creature…I will not!” With that, tore the krana off. So great was the effort that he sagged to the forest floor.
Onua kneeled next to Lewa, placing a gentle claw on his shoulder. “Easy, my brother. Good work, and thank you. Here—you will need this.”
Lewa looked up to see Onua holding out a golden Miru. Reaching up with shaky hands, he took it from his brother.
“We all suspected you encountered trouble. I found this not far from a party of Lehvak Va, at the edge of the forest. That is how I knew you were in danger,” Onua explained.
“More than bad-danger,” Lewa said, refitting the mask on his face. “I know now, Onua. I know why the Bohrok are here!”
Onua looked at something over Lewa’s shoulder. “Perhaps for the same reason those Lehvak are charging us.” Lewa got to his feet and followed his gaze, seeing the green Bohrok burn their way through the jungle.
“But not to worry…” Onua added. “I brought friends.”
It was then Lewa became aware of more crashing noises coming in their direction. Large bulky machines emerged in the clearing — machines that resembled Bohrok but were each piloted by Onu-Matoran. The legs moved with those of the Matoran pilots, and the arms, long and thin ending with hooks, were controlled by switches. All told, it was one of the most bizarre sights Lewa had ever seen.
“What are those things?” the Toa of Air asked.
“The Matoran have learned that the Bohrok do not truly live,” Onua explained. “They are merely artificial life…mechanical creations. The villagers salvaged parts from fallen Bohrok to build their Boxor vehicles, which you see here.”
Lewa watched the Boxors surround clumps of Lehvak and subdue them. Some suffered critical damage from the Bohrok’s acid shields and went down, with the Matoran escaping at the last minute. Many of the other Boxors successfully opened the headplates of the Bohrok and removed their krana, rendering the Bohrok immobile.
Onua scanned the surrounding foliage and noticed Takua standing off to the side. Catching the Chronicler’s gaze, he smiled gratefully. Prior to arriving in Le-Wahi, he had sent word to Onepu of his mission into the jungle. If Onua disappeared, Onepu would undermine and collapse the tunnels beneath Le-Wahi. But Onepu sent word back saying he had a better idea.
“They will need them,” Lewa said, watching the Boxors work. “When I wore the mean-krana, I could hear the voices of the big-swarms. We must act now, Onua, or nothing will be left of Mata Nui.”
✴ ✴ ✴
“They are secure in Po-Koro for now,” Pohatu said. “They have prepared for exactly this. With the main gates sealed, they can last in there for a week. Maybe two.”
“But will that be enough?”
Pohatu said nothing. At Onewa’s recommendation, the Toa had taken a big risk, working with Gali to drive open a path for him to escape the Po-Koro siege. The Tahnok had almost ignored the Toa as they left, preferring to chip away at the village’s outer walls.
“Hurry, Pohatu! This is no time to admire the scenery,” Gali chided.
“I know… sorry, Gali,” Pohatu said, catching up. “I was just remembering when these canyons were full of life. The Matoran used to live in the caves above—before the Bohrok drove them away.”
There was a rumble like thunder in the distance, causing the two to turn. Gali was the first to spy the Tahnok. “It looks as if they mean to do the same to us!”
This was not the same squad they had left at the village, appearing instead to be the ones they had ambushed earlier. Pohatu glanced at their string of prizes he carried over his shoulder. “Think maybe they want all these krana back?” he asked the Water Toa.
He dug his hands into the stone ground, sending stone energy tearing through the ground.
“Well, that’s just too bad—because my people want their homes back!”
A slab of stone erupted from the ground. The Tahnok were unable to stop in time, and the first several rows crashed directly into it. Sensing an unexpected obstacle, the squad attempted to move around it, only for more walls to rise from the ground, fully enclosing them.
Gali mounted the ledge. “There is moisture in the air, even in this arid place. And where there is moisture, I can make a flood!” She raised her hooks and commanded the creation of water, resulting in massive waves that swept the helpless Tahnok about, dazing them.
“Good work, Gali!” Pohatu commended. “But there will be more Bohrok waiting along our path.”
“The krana want to be free,” Gali muttered softly.
Pohatu brought his hands into fists. “They won’t stop us! Let’s go find the others—it’s time to end this threat, once and for all.”
✴ ✴ ✴
At the front of the group, Lewa was speaking softly to Kopaka.
“I’m worried, Kopaka. What if the Krana still controls me somehow? What if I try to stop you?”
“You may try, the Toa of Ice responded briskly. “You won’t succeed.”
Behind them, Tahu had noticed a small opening, to the side and partially hidden along the side of the tunnel. “Tell the others to wait,” he told Onua. “I will go down and investigate.”
“Be careful,” Onua nodded.
The Toa of Fire leaped off the edge of an opening in the floor, even as the other Toa peered over the edge of the tunnel.
As he rose to his feet, what the Toa of Fire saw next took his breath away. It seemed that the opening he had found was an access tunnel of sorts because it led directly into a towering chamber, stretching far above, beyond the glow of Tahu’s sword. Rows upon rows of Bohrok were visible within glass-like tubes.
A nest! Tahu realized. The creatures still slumber, and if we are fortunate… they will never awaken.
Within the nearest tube, two insect-like eyes opened, glowing with the light of the Toa’s firesword.
He gulped.
Throughout the chamber, Bohrok eyes opened, turning to face him. The glass tubes unsealed, and the folded Bohrok exploded from their resting places.
✴ ✴ ✴
Lewa groaned softly. “We’re close now,” he murmured. “Close to the power. Armor… but more than armor. Power greater than any we have ever known.”
In the dim light, the Toa exchanged glances. But if anyone was concerned about Lewa’s behavior, nobody said it.
“If we can ever get to it, Lewa,” Onua grunted, swinging at the door Tahu had vanished through. Peering through the darkness, he realized that the tunnel they had been following ended in a massive stone slab. Perhaps if we break through that, we will find another access tunnel to wherever Tahu’s trapped.
He began pounding on it with all his might, even summoning his Mask of Strength to aide him. But it was to no avail. Whatever it was, it must have been made of the same substance as the prior door.
“With all our strength, we cannot even produce a crack in this slab!” he snapped.
“It’s impossible!” Pohatu frowned, kicking at the slab Onua had found with his powerful legs. “No stone is this strong.”
“Wait a moment,” Gali said. “Where’s the light coming from?”