Chapter 8: Operation Daxia

A stream of sunlight meant Kopaka and Chiara had reached the far edge of the Bohrok nests. “Wait here. Watch for Bohrok,” Kopaka said, and stepped around the corner onto a massive stone ledge. Looking up, he was heartened to see the same sun that had looked down on the island of Mata Nui. Looking down, he was crestfallen to see an endless expanse of ocean far, far below.

He had found the Bohrok, too. All along the rusted iron hull of the robot, the insectile creatures were hard at work, chipping away at the rust, barnacles, seaweed, and other debris that had accumulated over 1,000 years in the endless ocean. They cleaned the hull with the same mindless diligence and ruthless efficiency that Kopaka had seen before, but the sight brought with it a new kind of sickening realization.

When we first encountered Makuta, he told us that the Matoran were a people of creators. But he promised that they also had the potential to destroy. Is this what he was referring to? Matoran turning into Bohrok?

Kopaka looked around, and had to face the facts. There was no way out of this universe. True, the southernmost parts of the world would be closer to the surface, but they would still lead to nothing but endless ocean. The Toa Mahri would do all right, but the Matoran couldn’t entertain any thought of escape, so long as Makuta remained in this world of water.

He saw a Bohrok Va notice him and give the alarm. Before the Bohrok could come running with their krana, Kopaka ducked back into the tunnels of the Great Barrier.

“Find anything?” asked Chiara.

“No,” said Kopaka. “Take my hand.”

“What? Why?” Chiara asked. “What is - whooooooooa!”

Kopaka had activated his Kakama Nuva, sending them both hurtling through the tunnels of the Bohrok nest. After a scant few seconds, they had exited onto the coasts of the Silver Sea, with Kopaka’s empty skiff bobbing before them.

“This mission was a dead end. That means we can turn our attention to helping the Matoran and the resistance,” said Kopaka.

“Resistance? What resistance?” asked Chiara. “Who are you resisting?”

“I’ll explain on the way,” said Kopaka, loading his equipment into his skiff. “Though, be warned: Lewa says I am a terrible storyteller.”

With Chiara safely on board, Kopaka cast off from the Great Barrier, and set a course for the continents. This mission was done, but his journey was far from over.

✴        ✴        ✴

From the mouth of a long-dead lava tunnel, Tahu and his group of rebels looked down on the space where the Daxia fortress had been. Makuta had destroyed it utterly and completely; there wasn’t even any rubble left, just a vast expanse of scorched earth. And, of course, several hundred Rahkshi, Exo-Toa, and Visorak.

“That’s a lot of guards,” said Lariska.

“I promised there would be,” said Onua. “And I always deliver on my promises.”

“I’m simply overjoyed,” Lariska muttered, and turned to Tahu. “So, fearless leader, what’s the plan?”

“Glad you asked,” said Tahu. “That army is too big for us to engage directly, so we’ll have to be subtle. Onua, Krahka, and Lariska will stay on the outskirts of the battlefield and pick off enemy soldiers. Make sure the rest of them notice you, then duck away and attack from somewhere else. I want all their attention focused on you. Meanwhile, Johmak and I will sneak into the complex, and I’ll destroy the energized protodermis. While Makuta’s forces pick themselves off the ground, we make our escape. Everyone got that?”

“…”

“Don’t worry, Kopeke, I haven’t forgotten about you,” said Tahu. “While Onua and company are bombarding the enemy, you stay hidden and keep a lookout for any reinforcements. Do you have the flags? Good. If you see reinforcements approaching, wave the flag to alert Onua, and then take cover somewhere else. Staying safe is your top priority.”

Kopeke nodded, and the preparations began. Onua knelt with his palms on the ground, summoning the power of the earth. Lariska sharpened her daggers, and Krahka cycled through a collection of forms, testing their powers. Tahu and Johmak wished them well, then descended into the lava tunnels.

Brimming with elemental energy, Onua stood and reached out to the mountain with his power. “Let’s move,” he said to the group. “In two minutes, this mountain will collapse, and then we’ll attack from the other direction.” He called on the Kakama Nuva, and then he and the rest were gone from the mountain, zipping across the island. Behind them, the mountain shuddered, and began to crack. Rahkshi and Visorak looked up uneasily, and began to move away - before the mountain came crashing down, burying two hundred Exo-Toa and assorted troops beneath a billion tons of rock and earth.

Tahu and Johmak heard the crash, and hurried through the tunnels. They emerged on the surface to see Makuta’s forces charging towards the fallen mountain, firing weapons at an enemy that wasn’t there. A pack of Rahkshi nearby took to the sky and soared towards the crumbling mountain, leaving the path to the underground complex wide open. “Now!”

Moving quickly, they descended into the underground corridors of the former fortress. “This way,” said Johmak, and whisked Tahu down a long hallway ending in stairs. An Exo-Toa waited at the bottom, but Tahu’s magma swords made short work of it, and they continued. Johmak led him through a maze of hallways and hidden stairs, until she wrenched open a door to reveal a huge, circular chamber.

“By the Great Beings,” Tahu whispered, looking around at the cavern. The giant space was all but empty, save for several Exo-Toa stationed around the walls. In its center sat an enormous pool of energized protodermis, its sparkling energies dimly lighting the room. As he watched, the protodermis sizzled, and a blue-green suit of Rahkshi armor emerged. A waiting Exo-Toa pried the armor open and inserted a wriggling kraata, and the Rahkshi came to life.

“This ends now,” Tahu said, and stepped into the chamber, followed by Johmak. He raised his blades, flaring with the energies of flame, and waited for the Exo-Toa to fire… but none did. All simply stood motionless, watching him and Johmak.

Tahu paused and looked around the empty chamber. “This… isn’t right.”

“On the contrary,” said the Rahkshi. “Everything is going exactly as planned.”

Around the room, spidery shapes shimmered into existence. Tahu looked around to see several dozen Roporak appear, clinging to the walls and ceiling, training their rhotuka spinners on him and Johmak. “Concealment,” said Makuta. “An excellently useful ability, is it not?”

“You didn’t seem to think so when you fought Vakama,” replied Tahu. “Or have you chosen to forget that little duel?”

“I have not,” said Makuta. “But I must warn you, Vakama’s tales of my defeat are a little… embellished. It must be that Fire Toa ego doing the talking.”

“Oh, shut up!” Johmak snapped. Tahu froze, and even Makuta seemed taken aback. “If you plan to kill me here, I will gladly go down fighting - but there’s no need to waste my final moments with your insipid commentary.”

“Such spirit,” Makuta chuckled. “Why, Johmak, if I were going to kill you, I would have done so already. I’m afraid I have something very different planned.”

His next words echoed through every Exo-Toa and Visorak in the room, but they were not addressed to the rebels. “Drive them to the edge of the pool,” he commanded, “and throw them in!”