Part 3

They spread out quickly to their positions across the Volcano Island. Each was a veteran of hundreds of operations, and they knew each other so well that they could act as a single entity without even speaking.

“Everyone set?” asked Mekrani, activating her Kanohi of Remote Communication.

“I’m here,” Wracko murmured.

“Ready,” Trakka added.

“Ready,” came Noxis.

Grraka grunted.

“Great, that’s everyone,” Mekrani remarked. “Noxis, how are we looking?”

“Not nearly as many guards as before. No idea where they went…”

“Stick to the plan. Let us know once you’ve taken those guards out.”

There came a rush of soft breathing from Noxis, followed by a hiss of pressurized gas, a few grunts, and a huff. More grunts followed and then Noxis spoke again.

“Guards clear.”

“Great,” Mekrani said. “Trakka, do you have eyes on the other two?”

“I do.”

“Hang close to them, they’ll probably be mobile soon. Wracko, Grraka, your turn.”

Wracko nodded. “We’re mov… Wait, stop. Are you guys seeing what I’m seeing?”

“What are you seeing?” asked Mekrani, scanning the surface of the volcano with her scope.

“The rim.”

Mekrani raised her gaze… and then her heart stopped. She lowered her scope.

“What are they doing?” she asked breathlessly.

“They’re just… standing there. They’re all just standing there,” Noxis breathed. “Should we… should we—”

“They’re all staring into the volcano,” Wracko replied. “And they’re completely still. So we’ll keep going. Keep an eye on them, and if they start to move, find cover.”

Mekrani gazed at the rim. In all her years, she had never seen something that so unnerved her. It was as Wracko had said — dozens of the island’s personnel had inexplicably gathered on the rim, and all had fixed their gazes into the heart of the volcano and the smoke rising from it. They stood a step away from oblivion, like statues, gathered like Kofo-Jaga to a flame. And now the word Axonn had used suddenly registered.

Cult.

✴        ✴        ✴

Brutaka shifted in his bonds, grunting with exertion. Whatever they had been tied with, it was good.

“Any ideas?” he asked.

Axonn frowned. “If they hadn’t removed your mechanical additions, they’d be so well-placed right now. Can you use your mask to teleport the weapons?”

“I’m sure the Brutaka in another dimension would love to use our weapons, but I’m not worried about him right now.”

“But can you use it to bring them over to us?”

“Moving them such a small, precise distance… if that’s possible, I wouldn’t begin to know how. And the logistics — if I get it wrong—”

“Okay, okay. …What else?”

The pair fell silent as they thought hard. Axonn strained at the bonds again, but even his titanic strength was useless.

“Axonn!” Brutaka inhaled. “Use your mask!”

“Yes,” Axonn rolled his eyes, “I’ll interrogate the ropes and make them tell us how they’ll unravel.”

“No,” Brutaka grinned. “Use the blade on your mask.”

“The… the fin?!”

Brutaka was smiling from ear to ear.

“You’re crazy!” Axonn exclaimed. “But… Do you think…?”

Axonn hooked the edge of his Kanohi on Brutaka’s armor and pulled his face away, causing the Rode to fall into Brutaka’s awaiting hands. The latter immediately set to work, awkwardly cutting at the bonds.

“Next time, sharpen your mask,” he grumbled.

“It’s not a blade, Brutaka!”

“Not yet,” Brutaka grinned, as the bonds fell loose. “Quick, grab your weapons. We have to hurry to the sea if we’re going to pull this off. We can easily access it from there..”

“The sea?” Axonn asked, grinning. “Why would we need the sea?”

“Axonn! Didn’t you hear the plan? This island sits right above one of the largest chutes, and the sea will be the only way we can get to one.”

“Is it?”

Brutaka looked at Axonn. The silver titan was already in motion, seizing his gigantic axe and swinging it down at the center of the cave. A massive chasm split down the center, and deep below the surface, a large chute was visible.

The gold titan grunted something inaudible. As he made his way down, Axonn chuckled and started after.

✴        ✴        ✴

Shokdon moved quickly through the bustling corridors of the dormant volcano, doing his best to look purposeful and dutiful. But this close to the general’s endgame, nobody was paying Shokdon much attention.

Tybus had entrusted Shokdon with no small faith and confidence, but Shokdon harbored no real loyalty for the general. He had latched onto Tybus’ cause with the intention of taking over, but over time he had realized the necessity of leeching what he could, then taking what he had accumulated elsewhere. And either the general hadn’t noticed or hadn’t bothered to intervene.

Now, on the eve of Tybus’ great triumph, it was time for him to go his own way. Much of the general’s… marvelous equipment had been hidden aboard a small cargo ship on the dock. Only one thing remained.

Shokdon poked his head inside the prison complex. It was empty. The scientists that had been bustling about before had been ordered to the rim of the volcano, and only the Mind Kestrel remained. The path to the docks would also be empty if he moved quickly… and played his cards right.

As soon as he appeared, one of the Matoran spotted him. All at once, several cries went up and the Matoran pressed themselves against the back of the cages, already pleading for their lives.

“Quiet! Quiet! Hush!” Shokdon hissed, taking the keys off the peg where they hung. “You don’t want them to hear you, do you?”

“I don’t understand,” one of the Ta-Matoran said, placing a hand on one of his companions to calm him. “Aren’t you with… them?”

“Until now… only nominally. But I was never taken in by their schemes, nor the grand Tren Krom cult. The true Great Spirit is Mata Nui, and I am his oracle… the liberator, the conjurer of freedom to all Matoran.”

“You’re breaking us out?” replied the stunned Ta-Matoran. This was the same one who had earlier witnessed Tybus’ attack on his friend.

Inwardly, Conjurer chuckled. These Matoran were a slow lot. Would certainly make things easier.

“I am,” he replied. “Now stay calm and follow my lead. You,” he said, gesturing to the Ta-Matoran. “What’s your name?”

“Dragahno, sir.”

“Mmm, that’s a terrible name. How about…. Firedracax? Firedracax, you will help me lead these Matoran out of here. You see, this whole structure is a dead volcano. The great thing about volcanoes is that, contrary to popular belief, it’s a terrible place to build a base… Too many tunnels feed into each other, and there are plenty of secret passages by which one can sneak past…”

✴        ✴        ✴

Around the corner of the prison complex, General Tybus stood against the wall, his arms folded behind his back. He had heard all that had taken place, and indeed allowed it to happen. It was not unanticipated.

The general pushed himself from the wall and started in the direction of his followers. In his time here, Shokdon had heard much but listened to very little. So focused was he on his little machinations that he didn’t realize he was even now moving himself into place.

It was perfect, actually. Tybus had gotten his use out of Shokdon, and now he and the Matoran would be outside the volcano when the end came—exactly where they needed to be. They, like the rest of the universe, would learn that there was no escaping fate.

✴        ✴        ✴

On the rim, the cultists chatted eagerly among themselves. Tybus had ordered the believers to the top of the volcano, even as he and his soldiers from the Hand remained inside.

Excitement grew as General Tybus positioned himself at the center of the main chamber and looked up at them. An electric thrill rippled through — this was the day they had awaited, and they jostled for a view of their leader.

“My children! My believers! My beloved followers! Today we restore the lost order of Tren Krom!”

A frenzied roar erupted, one that resounded across the island and gave the Makuta’s operatives shivers.

“My beloved followers,” the general exclaimed. “Today we end the disorder of Mata Nui! You will be the first to witness the restored universe, the new age… from this privileged position, you will become the first to herald the new dawn. I will now descend into this volcano and seal it to contain the force of its power and direct it into the channel we have carved for it. When I reemerge among you, we will walk side by side into this new era.”

Another roar erupted, one joined in its cacophony by a more ear-splitting rumble emanating from deep within the volcano. Fumes of smoke thickened in the air.

Tybus smiled. One of his lieutenants flipped a switch and gears inside the volcano whirred. A thick protosteel dome rose, closing off the mouth and sealing it from those above. Now the smoke began to build within the chamber.

“The magma chambers are nearing full pressure,” the lieutenant told him. “And the underwater team has returned safely.”

“Excellent,” Tybus replied. “Retrieve the Mind Kestrel and retreat to the vault. I will guard our crystal vat. When the volcano is ready, I will join you.”

✴        ✴        ✴

Brutaka and Axonn were propelled through the underwater chutes, looking for a good place to carry out the next phase of the plan. As they passed under the volcano, the temperature rose where they guessed magma was building above them. But they pressed on, looking for a cold patch where they could smash through.

Was it a good plan? Not particularly, but it was the best shot they had, especially if they wanted to outflank Wracko and his team and get to Tybus first. Still, never had they done something this unsafe, and if they were wrong, they had seconds to escape before magma spilled into the chute.

But their eyes widened as they neared the center of the volcano. A gaping hole had already been carved in the chute, rising into the volcano. An access point had been constructed, one as robust as any they had seen on past operations. Nor did this appear as old as the chute — this was brand new.

The pair exchanged worried glances, then swam for the access point.

✴        ✴        ✴

Wracko flew through the lava chambers, shouting like a madman, and firing energy blasts from his helicopter blades. The Hand soldiers could scarcely form their tight formations before he barreled through them.

“I love this!” he roared. “These cultists aren’t bad fighters, are they?”

Grraka lumbered after him, wondering at what point he’d have to intervene on behalf of the cultists.

“We are soldiers of the Hand of Artakha,” one of the commanders grunted as he locked blades with Wracko.

“Hand, eh?” Wracko leered. “Too bad you fight like less savory body parts.”

In his head, Grraka heard Mekrani’s voice. “Grraka, grunt twice if you need help.”

Grraka frowned. “The Rahi… is close,” he growled.

“No, I mean help with Wracko.”

✴        ✴        ✴

“These cultists… What have they done?” Axonn breathed.

“What have we walked into?” added Brutaka.

They had emerged into a large chamber cleaved in the very heart of the volcano. Suspended directly above the access point was a gigantic crystal vat filled with a purple gas so thick it almost looked black. There was only one door to the vat, and it appeared to have been sealed. Cracks like spiderwebs were running through the stone ceiling, and as the volcano trembled, dust rained down.

“This is what they’ve been working on,” Brutaka continued. “If they intend to dump this into the underwater chutes, it will be spread through this whole southern island chain. Maybe further.”

“One does not build a volcano merely to dump something,” came a voice behind them.

Axonn and Brutaka whirled. A massive titan, easily standing eleven feet tall, was striding toward them from one of the magma veins. His armor was various shades of gray accented with orange. He didn’t wear a mask, merely a complex breathing apparatus that was modified to cover the whole of his head. One of his hands held a giant sickle while the other held a scythe that was also strapped to his arm.

“A sickle and a scythe?” Brutaka asked. “Isn’t that overkill?”

“You two have come by the world’s underwater chutes,” Tybus continued, “even as the rest of the universe has yet to discover their existence. I’m sure it was Helryx who sent you two, but I only know one of you,” he told Axonn. He looked at Brutaka. “What’s your name?”

“Brutaka. What an… elaborate operation you have going on here.”

“It will do the trick,” Tybus shrugged. “It will return the world to the way the Great Beings intended it.”

“Remember what Helryx said, Brutaka,” Axonn breathed. “Don’t listen to him.”

“Oh Helryx… Helryx believes I have some unnatural power of charisma. I don’t,” Tybus scoffed. “I’m just right.”

“Why shouldn’t we at least listen to him?” asked Brutaka. Axonn shot him a glare, but his partner ignored it. “What does this great vat accomplish?”

“This gas is the emission of the Mind Kestrel,” Tybus replied. “In its most potent form, it will strip beings of sapience, returning them to their original state as created by the Great Beings. What you see collected here is enough to accomplish it — enough to sufficiently dose the universe’s major population centers.”

“And the force of the volcano… shattering the vat and firing it into the underwater chutes…” Brutaka breathed. He staggered as he realized the extent of the plan.

“What makes you think this is what the Great Beings wanted for their universe?” Axonn shot back. “A reversion to a primal state?”

“Do you think it’s any coincidence that the Great Beings disappeared as Mata Nui and sapience arrived?” Tybus asked simply. He looked at Brutaka who stood slack-jawed.

“T-tybus!” Axonn snapped, rage mounting within him. “This is not your decision to make.”

“You’re welcome to prove me wrong, Axonn,” Tybus replied coldly, undaunted by Axonn’s towering fury. “But the Great Beings appointed me as leader in the Hand and entrusted me with the wisdom and intelligence to make it. I am bearing the mantle of responsibility for the whole universe. You need only wait for it to be over.”

✴        ✴        ✴

Near the base of the volcano, Noxis’ eyes widened. The scent of gas he had detected before had slowed. The biggest source of fumes across the island had seemingly been cut off, but he could still see smoke flowing from the observation posts.

“Mekrani, have the others detected the source of the fumes yet?”

“No, they’re still moving toward the Mind Kestrel.”

Noxis paced anxiously. He stared up at the volcano, then paced again.

“Protocol… protocol says…”

Noxis gritted his mouth.

“I have to go in, Mekrani. Something is terribly wrong here.”

✴        ✴        ✴

Axonn flew at the general with a roar. Tybus snarled and raised his weapons, and while the axe looked like it might shatter them, they held firm. The general shouted as pain shot through the arm bound to the scythe.

The Order agent wasn’t about to let up. Swinging his axe again, he sliced up at Tybus who batted it away, then swung at Axonn who dodged. The pair exchanged violent blows — the general significantly taller and strong in his own right, but Axonn was far mightier and using his low center of gravity to his advantage. Further, Axonn employed the full array of powers.

Tybus rallied and swung his sickle at Axonn, striking him with a blow that would have felled a Kanohi Dragon. But Axonn shrugged it off.

It was here that Tybus realized the extent of his opponent’s fury.

“You seek to harm all we swore to protect,” Axonn raged.

Tybus brought his scythe down with enough force to split a mountain in half. Axonn barely noticed.

“You have betrayed the oath that we took.”

Axonn seized the general’s breastplate, hoisting him into the air.

“If you wish to take up arms against the Great Spirit—”

He tossed the general and swung his axe, striking him with the flat of his weapon and sending the general hurtling into a pile of empty zamor spheres.

“—then I will cut off your hands,” Axonn snarled.

✴        ✴        ✴

Through all this, Axonn’s vision was so red that he didn’t notice Brutaka, standing to the side, motionless. The gold titan was more shocked than anything — he had never ever seen his partner so furious, so zealous, even so vengeful, and it was like nothing he had ever witnessed. But it was also making him reckless against the general who was keeping calm and determined.

Brutaka looked at the vat. The general had goaded them into disproving him, but was there any way to? Could Brutaka be certain that the Great Beings had intended the whole of the universe to possess the same sapience Tybus enjoyed?

What if… what if the general was right?

✴        ✴        ✴

Noxis emerged inside the observation posts and was immediately struck by the steel blast doors poised directly above the windows. Mekrani had noted that the volcano was reinforced by protosteel. But he’d never heard of observation posts needing blast doors.

“Mekrani, the Mind Kestrel’s fumes are thick in here,” he said, activating his Mask of Air Filtration, even as the volcano quaked.

“Grraka and Wracko will be nearing your position with the Rahi. They’ll come from the northeast lava vein.”

“The scent isn’t coming from the northeast,” Wracko replied. “It’s coming from the heart of the volcano. Something is down there.”

All at once, the blast windows slammed shut. Noxis whirled and threw himself at them with all his strength, but it was no good — he was sealed in.

“Mekrani! We’re trapped!”

✴        ✴        ✴

Axonn swung his blade again, but Tybus was ready. He caught the weapon with his own and hooked it, yanking it from Axonn’s grasp. The axe flew away, but its owner barreled into the general like a wrecking ball, sending him crashing into the wall.

“Why do you fight… the will… of the Great Beings,” the general growled.

“We are not meant to be automatons!” Axonn snarled.

“Then what was the point of the Hand, Axonn?” Tybus pulled himself from the wall.

“We were guardians… guardians until the coming of Mata Nui.”

“We were guardians of the world before Mata Nui. The time before his time. Mata Nui who ushered in a host of new species. Mata Nui who brought the advent of sapience. Mata Nui who brought chaos. I ask you to consider what good Mata Nui did to the world.”

“Why do you act like universal sapience is bad?”

“Why would it be good?” Tybus countered. “Why when we were, from our beginning, set apart on an innate, biological level?”

Axonn looked at Brutaka who was saying nothing. To his horror, he realized Brutaka was actually considering the general’s words.

That idiot! Axonn thought. I told him not to listen to Tybus!

“I… I’ve never considered it before,” Brutaka conceded.

Tybus smiled grimly.

“No,” Brutaka said suddenly. “No, wait… You say you are set apart on an innate, biological level… but you must prove it.”

“Hmm?” asked the general.

“Prove it,” Brutaka continued, gaining assurance. “There must be something that sets you apart, yes? Then why all this protective equipment? Why the breathing apparatus? What are you afraid of?”

The general frowned. He tried to anticipate where Brutaka was taking this.

“I’m not afraid, Brutaka. I have worn this to set an example to my followers — those who would be vulnerable to its effects.”

“But you don’t need it anymore, do you? So why are you still wearing it?”

Tybus lowered his arms. “It doesn’t make a difference if I wear it or not. The Rahi’s pheromones wouldn’t affect me.”

“Have you tested it?”

“No. I just know it.”

“Sounds like a statement of faith,” Brutaka smiled. “See, my friend may not have the sharpest mask in the suva — speaking only literally, of course—”

“Now you’re just taking the piston,” Axonn grumbled.

“—But even it can cut through the reasoning that underpins your premise. If you can’t prove that you’re different, then your faith isn’t built on anything more than his, or anyone else’s.”

“The Great Beings—”

“The Great Beings have left us to whatever fate we choose,” Brutaka pounced, “And Tren Krom is gone too. We and our Great Spirit are all that are left. And if you’re correct,” he looked at the vat, “Then let’s test your theory.”

The general’s eyes narrowed. To Axonn’s shock, Tybus released his weapons and pulled off his breathing mask.

“Very clever, Brutaka,” he muttered. “Very well… a test of science. If the pheromones strip my sapience, then there is no innate difference between those who were created sapient and those who were awakened, and all I have done here is an exercise in vanity. If it does not strip my sapience, however, then I will have proven to you that there is an innate difference.”

“Correct,” Brutaka nodded.

“Very clever,” the general repeated.

He started in the direction of the vat, to the lone door that granted entrance.

“Only… one thing before I do,” Tybus said suddenly, as something occurred to him. “The Great Spirit I honor abandoned the universe. Who can say yours won’t do the same?”

“Enough,” Brutaka snapped sharply.

Tybus nodded. He took two steps toward the gas… and then stopped.

“But,” he muttered. “If it does take my mind away, promise to kill me… It would be humiliating.”

“You would subject others to a fate you cannot bear? And where’s your confidence?”

The general scoffed. He started forward again. Brutaka looked on, triumphant and eager.

“Wait!” Axonn suddenly called. “General, don’t do this! It’s not worth it! None of this—”

“You’re wrong, my friend,” Tybus growled. “I could not live without knowing… if I am set apart… or if I am just another drone.”

With that, the general gritted his teeth… and marched forward.

✴        ✴        ✴

Wracko and Grraka barreled into the observation posts, Mind Kestrel in hand. When he found Noxis helplessly struggling to open the blast windows, Wracko dropped the Rahi and hurried to the controls.

“Grraka, try to punch through this thing!”

Grraka grunted and began swinging at the barrier with all his might. But all three knew it would make little difference.

“The fumes are nearing toxic levels,” Noxis gasped. “If we don’t get out, they’ll poison us.”

“We’re locked in a waking volcano,” Wracko replied. “Poisonous fumes are the least of our concerns.”

“Whatever’s locking you in is also sealing the rim of the volcano,” came Mekrani’s voice in their heads. “The control to it may also unseal those doors.”

“We’ll look. But Mekrani, Trakka, get off this island. That’s an order,” growled Wracko. “When this volcano blows—”

“When it blows, our team will be here together, boss.”

✴        ✴        ✴

The general disappeared amid the blackish-purple fumes within the vat. Only his feet, hands, and the glow of his eyes could be seen. His eyes closed.

“There he goes,” Axonn murmured.

“Unbelievable.”

The pair whirled. Trakka was standing right behind them.

“What they have done here… You were right. It’s more than I imagined.”

“You followed us!” Brutaka exclaimed.

Trakka nodded. “I saw and heard everything. Whatever cause you serve, Brutaka, and whatever organization you abandoned us for… You need to tell us more.”

The walls exploded in an ear-splitting cacophony, and magma seeped in.

“—Once we get out of here!” Trakka added.

“We can’t leave before we stop it,” Axonn shouted over the roar. “These gasses—”

“Mekrani!” Trakka shouted. “Have the others unsealed the volcano?”

Neither Axonn nor Brutaka heard anything, but Trakka turned to Brutaka frantically. “They unsealed it and are climbing out. But they’ll still die if the volcano—”

He didn’t have to finish. The force of the volcano would no longer explode down into the chutes, but now the force would just go up, killing all of them.

Brutaka looked at Axonn. Axonn’s eyes widened… but then he nodded.