Chapter Four

Nuhrii sat atop a discarded pile of metal, staring at the sea of protodermis that lay above. The artificial sky that once hung over the city was gone, another grim reminder of the fate that had befallen the city of legends. Sulking, he buried his head in his arms.

“This seat taken?” asked a voice from above.

Nuhrii glanced up, and saw Ackar standing above him. Rolling his eyes, he patted his hand on the piece of metal next to him. “I won’t stop you,” he said.

Ackar obliged, and sat down beside the Matoran. For a moment, the two remained silent, awkwardly avoiding eye contact with one another.

“I’m Ackar, by the way,” he said. “Didn’t get to properly introduce myself back there.”

“Nuhrii. Charmed.”

Ackar nodded. Silently, he pulled out the discarded mask Nuhrii had been working on, and examined it closely. “I don’t know much about these masks,” he said. “But from what I can tell, they’re not just headgear. Why do you make them?”

Nuhrii rolled his eyes. “Two kanoka– disks of power– can be used to craft a kanohi mask that combines their two abilities. No doubt you’ve seen Tahu use his.”

“It shields him, yes,” Ackar nodded, recalling his battle alongside the Toa of Fire against Makuta’s forces. “But that doesn’t explain why you make them.”

“Someone has to,” Nuhrii shrugged. “Vakama used to be a mask maker. In my past life here, I was one, too. If we’re able to get the city rebuilt, maybe I can be one again.”

Ackar sighed. “You know you can’t stay here. It’s not safe.”

Nuhrii inhaled sharply, then turned to face Ackar. “Look, I appreciate that you’re trying to help, but you don’t know us. You don’t know what it was like for us. We went out there, we saw your world, and we came back because this city is our home.” He paused, staring off into the distance. A low rumble ran through the dilapidated city streets, shaking up dust as the ancient buildings groaned.

“Any idea what that noise is?” asked Ackar.

Nuhrii shook his head. “No clue.” He turned to the Glatorian. “You want to help? Come with me and check it out.”

✴        ✴        ✴

Click raced across the metallic floor, leaping out of the way as Pewku’s claw came down, threatening to grab him. The Ussal crab chirped gleefully, chasing down the Scarabax beetle. At last, Click backed into a corner, and quivered before Pewku. But as the crab tried to grab the beetle, she found that her claw was far too large to fit in the corner, much to Click’s amusement. The beetle taunted Pewku, chirping and scuttering about as the crab tried in vain to reach him.

As the two played, Vhisola handed a bundle of repair materials to Orkahm, instructing him carefully as she read from an old tablet.

“I’ve done some research into chute maintenance,” she explained. “If we’re going to fix up the city, they’ll be a top priority for transportation. So, I need you two to go up there, and try to see if you can get them working again.”

Gresh craned his neck over to examine the tablet, and scratched his head in confusion. “I’m still not sure I fully get how these work,” he sighed. “Aren’t the chutes made of glass?”

“Not quite,” Orkahm answered. “They’re magnetic, bringing in protodermis and zipspeeding it along.”

“But without power, the magnetic sheath is hardened, making them act more like glass,” Vhisola added.

Gresh nodded. “I understand,” he lied.

“Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll figure it out as you go. Besides, you’ll have Orkahm there to help you.”

With that Gresh and his Matoran companion made their exit. Now left alone, Kiina turned to Vhisola, excited to begin work. While she was hoping to make a connection with the Matoran in this task, she was also looking forward to the opportunity to explore more of the metropolis. The prospect of exploring Metru Nui still filled her with anticipation.

“So,” she asked, grinning ear to ear, “where do we start?”

Vhisola took a stack of Kanoka disks on the table, and gathered them into a bag. She noted a Freeze Kanoka with a level 8 code at the top, and gently moved it to the bottom of the stack. Such a powerful disk would be best saved for emergencies only.

“We’ll be heading for the Great Temple,” she said, hitching her bag to Pewku’s saddle. “It seems right that we should start there, a place dedicated to the Great Spirit.” Next, she gathered three tablets from the table, and took them into her arms. “Besides, the knowledge held there is invaluable.”

Kiina cocked her head to the side. “What kind of knowledge?”

“Everything,” Vhisola replied, handing Kiina one of the tablets. “Our philosophy, sciences, history, art, they were all recorded and taught about in Ga-Metru. I was a student, once. I’ve got several thousand years of studies to catch up on.”

Kiina looked down at the tablet in her hands, scanning the information portrayed. It was covered in rows and rows of a text she could not understand, with diagrams and charts off to the sides. She had done her best to learn some of the Matoran written language, but it wasn’t nearly as easy as Mata Nui’s spell merging their spoken languages into one.

“That sounds exciting, but I don’t really think it’s my thing,” Kiina said dejectedly, handing the tablet back to Vhisola.

The Matoran frowned, and produced another tablet. This one had far less text, only a title and a small description framing a carved image of a warrior with a warhammer fighting off against some four-legged warrior holding a spear. Of the title, all she could understand was the word ‘TOA’.

She looked up and frowned. “I think I could handle reading a bit more sophisticated than this, provided I learn your text,” she grumbled.

Vhisola chuckled, and took both the tablets back. “Well, that’s what we’re heading to the Great Temple for. The stuff I’ve gathered here has historical records, scientific theories, lots of great stuff. But the Great Temple has the best of the best. All the greatest Matoran scholars had their studies kept in the library there. The records will be those that tell us the most core philosophies that our universe is built on. We can rebuild the buildings and chutes, but it’ll be meaningless without something to teach the Matoran.” She smiled, and gathered the tablets into a separate bag. “Besides, I only got to go once before the fall, but it was a mess. It’ll be nice to clean up the place.”

“Wait,” Kiina said, stopping to gather her thoughts. “If you only got to go once, how long were you in Metru Nui?”

“A month or two, if that,” Vhisola replied. “We had barely settled in when we discovered that Mata Nui was dying. Plus, we were working to repair the city the entire time. It was so hectic, we barely had time to process things.”

Kiina nodded slowly. “You never really got to make the place a home,” she realized. “That’s why you want to stay here?”

“Sort of,” Vhisola replied. “It’s… hard to explain why, exactly.”

Kiina shrugged. “Try.”

Vhisola sighed breathlessly, not speaking for a moment. She tried her best to arrange what she was about to say. “On Metru Nui, I dedicated all of my time to Nokama. Following her around, studying with her, getting jealous when she spent time with anyone else. It was a feeling I couldn’t describe at the time… Idolization, obsession…”

“Love?” Kiina suggested.

“I don’t know,” Vhisola sighed. “And I never will. I don’t remember feeling that for Turaga Nokama, or anything from my time on Metru Nui, for that matter. All of my history here exists purely in the Turaga’s tales.”

“So you’ve said,” Kiina nodded. “So, why is it that you want to go back here?”

The Matoran chuckled. “I don’t want to be stuck in Nokama’s shadow forever. I want to do something that I want to do. And right now, what I want to do is fix up this place, and make it a home for the Matoran again.” Hopping atop Pewku’s saddle, she looked over her shoulder to Kiina. “It’s what Mata Nui would’ve wanted, I think.”

Kiina thought about that for a moment. “Mata Nui… he said one day, he would bring me here.”

“And here you are. Impressed?”

Kiina corrected herself. “I am, absolutely. This place is beautiful. I just… there’s some mixed feelings being here, you know?”

Vhisola looked perplexed. “I don’t.”

Kiina sighed. “The Great Beings, they created so much for you all. We were left on Bara Magna. That entire time, we saw other worlds just out of reach, and I was mad at the Great Beings for keeping so much from us.” She sighed. “I guess… I never thought the other world would have struggles of its own.”

Vhisola chuckled. “Imagine what it's like for us. We never knew there was anything beyond our world.”

“You never thought there might be?”

“Well, we never got to ask.”

Kiina smiled. “I see why you’re so eager to keep this place. It’s really something special.”

Vhisola nodded. “I’m glad you can understand.”

“But I wonder, when Mata Nui said he was going to bring me to a new world… if here is really what he meant. Before he went to sleep, he said he wanted us to build something together, something new…” She turned to Vhisola. “I think he’d want us to make something new, not go back to the ruins of the old world.”

“It must be so strange, knowing him personally,” Vhisola mused. “We Matoran never met him, he only existed to us from afar.”

Kiina placed a hand on her shoulder. “He told me he regretted that. That he wished he had paid more attention.”

Vhisola was silent for a moment.

“Come on,” she finally said, goading Pewku to get moving. “We’ve got quite the journey ahead of us.”

✴        ✴        ✴

Gresh ran his hand along the transparent walls of the cylindrical structure he found himself in. From within, he could make out the skyline of the city that lay beyond. He and Orkahm were far above the city now, traveling within one of the few intact chutes.

“Impressive, no?” the Matoran asked. “You should have seen them back when the city was intact. You could swift-ride a current of protodermis and get to your destination quick-haste.”

“I’m sure it was fun,” Gresh smiled. “Now, shall we get to work?”

Orkahm grinned, and retrieved a silver disk from his back. “In a quicksecond. I want to sightshow you something first.” He chuckled, and spun the disk between his fingers. “When the Turaga told us about Metru Nui, they told me I used to be evercautious. I think even Matau used the word, ‘unimaginative’.” He held the disk out, gesturing to Gresh. “But since my time on the island, I’ve been a bit more wild-daring. Have you ever heard about disk surfing?”

Gresh chuckled, and drew his twin blades. With a single motion, he brought them together, forming a shield in his right hand. “Can’t say I have. But I think I can guess what it’s about.”

Orkahm held up his disk with a smile. “If you can race me to Le-Metru border, I’ll think-hear you out.” He smirked confidently.

Gresh peered down the chute. “Are you sure? We’ve still got a lot of work to do here. The chutes are in pretty bad shape.”

“Relax. We won’t go far, and we’ll quick-haste back.”

Gresh considered his options for a moment. With a sigh, his shield dropped to the floor, and he placed his right foot at the front of his makeshift board. “You’re on.”

The two turned to face the sweeping clear tunnel that lay before them. Orkahm knew that surfing would prove much more challenging without a flow of protodermis, but the slight downward slope to the chute would work in his favor. He placed a foot atop the kanoka disk, and prepared for the race.

In an instant, the two kicked off, and quickly picked up speed. Sparks flew as the pair’s boards scraped against the edges of the chute. As Gresh rode his shield down, he watched as Orkahm mastered the nature of the chutes, riding along the walls and circling the curvature of the tunnel. The Glatorian frowned, and leaned into his descent as he raced onward.

Snaking down the tunnel, Gresh gazed down at the world below, admiring the towering buildings and flying chutes as he passed them by. Even in this dilapidated state, the world was awe inspiring. Looking back up, he watched as Orkahm shot past him, and chuckled to himself. The Matoran knew these chutes well, and was clearly a master at the art of racing.

A rumble shot through the chute, the metal and protodermis that composed the tube quivering with movement. Gresh shot a worried look, but Orkahm carried on, paying no heed to the ominous shaking. Suddenly, the chute moved, leaning over to the left with a metallic groan. Gresh watched as the tunnel drifted, and further down the line, the chute shattered, breaking into two halves as the pair slid down a piece that was collapsing to the ground. Orkahm fervently threw his arms out, trying to stop himself, but to no avail.

Within moments, his momentum flung him out the open end of the chute, and sent him plummeting to the city below.

Orkahm screamed, flailing his arms rapidly as he plummeted downward. The city seemed to grow closer and closer as he fell, nearing his inevitable doom. He shut his eyes tight, preparing for the end, just as he felt two arms grab him. Opening his eyes once more, he turned his head, and saw Gresh holding onto him.

“Don’t worry!” Gresh shouted over the howling winds. “I’ve got you!”

As he held on tight, the two dove downwards. Gresh knew this would be tricky, creating a cushion of air moments before they crashed. He had done it before, but never with someone in tow. Summoning his focus, he let go of one arm, and grabbed onto his shield. As they swung between the dilapidated skyscrapers, he reached out his shield, and summoned a gust of air. With luck, the wind slowed them down, guiding them towards their destination at a gentler pace. Orkahm watched as he and Gresh soared through the city, and smiled to himself. He hadn’t flown like this since his time on the Gukko force.

At last, the Glatorian and Matoran reached the ground, tumbling over as they skidded across the metallic street, before slowing to a halt. For just a moment, the two were completely silent, allowing the adrenaline to pass them over.

Then, Orkahm leapt to his feet, laughing heartily.

“That was wild-fun!” he cheered, running over to Gresh. “You’re a natural Le-Koro windflyer!”

“Yeah,” Gresh said breathlessly, staring straight at the pool of protodermis on the ceiling, “‘wild-fun’. Let’s not do that again.”

A sharp whistle ran through their ears. Turning their heads, they watched as a tornado slowly began picking up, twisting and turning as it carried on towards their location. Pieces of scrap metal, discarded limbs of mechanical creatures and old weapons were caught up in the storm, swirling around in a deadly spiral. The twister snaked and turned between buildings, growing closer and closer.

Orkahm adjusted the scope on his mask to zoom in on the storm, and gasped. Turning to Gresh, he urged him to rise. “The weather further out is dark-bad,” he said hurriedly, “let’s quick-hurry inside.”

Gresh quickly hopped up to his feet, grabbing his shield. Watching the tornado for just a moment, he sighed. “I know you love this place, but… Is this really worth it?”

“I ever-appreciate the concern, but I’m good,” Orkahm shot back. “I don’t know what’s out there. I don’t want to know. On Metru Nui, I was a cautious Ussal rider. On Mata Nui, I was a brave Gukko Force member. I don’t want to change who I am again.”

He let out a long exhale. “Besides, wouldn’t you do the same for your home?”

Gresh began to reply, but found he had nothing to say.

✴        ✴        ✴

From within the wreckage of the damaged city streets, the Shadow Kraata emerged once more, now armored in a powerful Rahkshi suit. It trod over the empty carcasses of the mass produced yellow Rahkshi that had died in Makuta’s last stand, and marched forward into the open with purpose.

Holding out its right hand, it allowed a staff to materialize with a brilliant glow. Raising it to the sky, it watched as energy swirled around the speartip, floating rubble and dirt around as though they were weightless.

Looking down, it stared blankly at the cracks in the streets below, and knelt down. Silently it waited, even as a faint glow began to emerge from beneath the cracks.

“You have done well,” a voice echoed from within. “The city will fall, and soon, I will be freed. But another issue has taken precedent.”

The Rahkshi’s head turned upwards, staring into the light.

“Someone has entered the city, attempting to halt the plan,” the voice continued. “Invaders from the outside world. You must stop them.”

Silently, the Rahkshi nodded.

“Gather our forces,” the voice echoed. “Ensure that destiny is not obstructed…”

The Rahkshi stood up, raising its staff once more. Looking down, it watched as the glow faded away, and the city streets returned to their dull gray. As it turned to leave, it was oblivious to the Matoran and Glatorian eavesdropping on its conversation.

From a distance, Ackar and Nuhrii shrunk behind a pile of rubble, doing their best to remain hidden. Nuhrii felt numb as he watched the Rahkshi pace back and forth across the dilapidated street. After all, he still remembered his encounter with the Rahkshi on the island.

Ackar turned back to the Ta-Matoran. “Rahkshi,” he whispered. “I didn’t know they were still active after Makuta died.”

“That’s not what confuses me,” Nuhrii replied, “I want to know what exactly it was talking to.”

Ackar frowned. “Is there anything else in the city that got left behind?”

“Aside from us and the Rahkshi, nothing,” Nuhrii replied. As the azure Rahkshi at last shot off into the air, his fists clenched tightly. “But it doesn't matter. These monsters destroyed my home once before,” he spat. “I won't let them do it again.”

Ackar pensively glared at the Matoran. “You’ve… you’ve got something on your mask, by the way.”

Frowning, Nuhrii placed his thumb against his mask, and rubbed off his cheek. “You need to go. Find the others.”

“I’m supposed to bring you back with me,” Ackar protested. “What are you planning?”

“I'm going to end this.”

Ackar furrowed his brow. Trying to get Nuhrii to talk openly was like trying to pry fruit from the jaws of a Sand Dragon.

“I don't doubt your abilities,” Ackar began. “But if we're going to go after that Rahkshi, then we need to trust each other.”

Nuhrii rolled his eyes. “Danger is the anvil on which trust is forged,” he said, before rising to his feet. He took two steps forward, then paused to look back at Ackar.

“So, are you coming or not?” he finished.