Chapter 13: Deceit & Self-Interest

For months now, she had been searching. She had started in the deepest sublevels of the Archives, and then… kept digging, into tunnels so old that no Matoran could have carved them. She had learned to check thoroughly for traps: only the Masks of Vision and Speed had kept her from being magnetized to a wall and doused with molten protodermis. She had discovered things Matoran were not meant to know - and yet, after all of this searching, Gali Nuva had come no closer to finding any way to call upon the Great Beings.

Tahu or Kopaka might have given in to frustration, and Lewa or Pohatu might have lost interest, but Gali would not be swayed. She did not let her emotions rule her, but worked to steady them and navigate their ebbs and flows.

So Gali sat in her temporary outpost, once the Krahka’s nest, and meditated. She did not wonder or worry how much time had passed, or what else she might have done in the meantime; but she sat, and thought, and waited, bringing her emotions into balance. When her head was cleared, she would begin her search anew, perhaps try some areas a second time - it was possible that she had missed something…

Her meditations came to an abrupt end, however, when a ceiling hatch gave way and a small blue shape tumbled onto the ground, sending up a cloud of dust. She waved it away and saw a familiar mask on the Matoran now groaning on the floor.

“Macku?”

The Ga-Matoran coughed out dust that had lain still for thousands of years. Gali knelt to comfort her, but Macku cleared her throat and pulled herself to her feet. “Toa Gali, I beg your forgiveness for disturbing your mission-”

“No need to beg,” said Gali swiftly. “If you have come to summon me, matters must be dire indeed. What is Makuta planning?”

“Not Makuta. Ahkmou,” said Macku, as if his name were a dirty word. “He’s taken the Av-Matoran to the Great Temple, to make an example out of them. I’ve been rallying protests, but they’re the ones who were ambushing Rahkshi. They’re a symbol of hope - if he bends them to Makuta’s will, it could mean the end of the resistance in Metru Nui.”

Gali grimaced. To think that a Matoran could fall so far from grace.

“Thank you for summoning me, Macku,” she said. “Ahkmou will not win this battle - this, I swear.”

✴        ✴        ✴

Steeling himself, Ahkmou hurried with his guards across the bridge to the Great Temple. No, not the Great Temple, he reminded himself, not anymore.

Ahkmou had personally ordered the conversion of the facilities, but he was still a little stunned by the changes. All the carvings and artifacts dedicated to the Toa had been torn down, replaced with depictions of Makuta’s various forms. The Toa Suva was gone, although that was not Ahkmou’s doing; just a few days after Makuta’s takeover, it had vanished without a trace. Ahkmou suspected the Toa had moved it into the Archives, but his troops had so far failed to locate it.

Harsh crimson lightstones were set into the walls, pulsing gently but menacingly. Turahk loomed in each corner of the room, their wicked staffs ready for use at a moment’s notice. Filling the worship hall were the Av-Matoran, chained and bound but still glaring in defiance.

Ahkmou cleared his throat, like he had seen Turaga Onewa do before every speech. “Welcome to the Reeducation Center,” he began. “I’ve brought you here to ensure a more peaceful future for the City of Legends.”

✴        ✴        ✴

Gali and Macku broke the surface quietly, slipping onto the water-slicked rim of the temple. A Rahkshi hovered overhead, but they stayed quiet and still, and it veered away. Gali led Macku along the outside of the building to a trail of water trickling down the wall. “These were the Sacred Tears,” Macku realized, running her hand through them. “The tears that reach the sky.”

“They also reach an entrance to the temple,” said Gali, pointing to the tears’ source: a small grate halfway up the temple. With the help of the Miru Nuva and the strength of elemental water, they removed the grate and slipped inside.

As it turned out, the Sacred Tears came from a pool of accumulated rainwater hidden in the temple’s rafters. They slipped through the attic with the power of the Kakama Nuva, moving faster than Rahkshi could see. Up here, a storage level had been converted into a row of cells holding Matoran.

No Av-Matoran here,” Macku reported, “but I recognize my fellow rebels.” She moved to release them, only to see the putrid, rot-like color of their masks.

Infected masks!” Gali hissed, pulling Macku back. “But that… doesn’t make sense. Others could simply remove the masks, as we did. He must know that, so why-?”

“You haven’t learned to think like Ahkmou. Regrettably, I have,” said Macku. “The masks can’t be removed without putting them to sleep. We don’t have any masks to replace them, and we can’t carry dozens of comatose Matoran out of the temple… which means we can’t rescue them.”

“And only the combined energies of Toa can purify an infected mask.” Gali frowned. “Diabolical. Of all places, to subject the Great Temple to this horrible treatment, for no reason other than spite…”

“Wait,” Macku realized. “There might be another reason. The temple’s not just for worship; it’s also for science.” She looked urgently at Gali. “The laboratories!”

✴        ✴        ✴

Tanma struggled against his bonds. “Ta-Metru made; they’re brand-new. Still, I might be able to make a dent in them. Keep Ahkmou talking, and-”

“What’s the use?” Radiak muttered bleakly. “Even if you break free, they took our power swords and packs. Without those, the most we can do is color our armor.”

“The Toa will save us,” Solek insisted. “Kopaka Nuva once defeated Makuta’s six strongest Rahkshi on his own-”

“The Toa are gone. They fled the city,” said Photok, “and I’m starting to think they had the right idea.”

“Hush,” Kirop urged. “We survived without Toa before, and we’ll do it again. Ahkmou is no Makuta, and his heart is not of shadow. I may be able to negotiate.”

“Negotiate-?” Tanma gave Kirop a dirty look, then realized Ahkmou’s voice had trailed off. He looked up to see the Po-Matoran staring daggers at his group.

“How disrespectful, to chatter like gukko birds during a service to the Great Spirit,” Ahkmou said snidely. “Care to share with the class?”

“Turaga Ahkmou,” Kirop said, his voice low. “We are both leaders of our people, and want the best for them. Your goal is to keep this city running; ours is to live in peace and comfort. We need not be at odds-”

Tanma strained against his chains. “You’ll never break us!” he spat, glaring at Ahkmou and then Kirop. “We’ve never bowed to Makuta before, and we won’t bow now. We destroyed the shadow leeches and the Makuta who made them. You can’t make us obey.”

“Can’t I?” Ahkmou chuckled wearily. He reached inside the podium and drew out a glass sphere, filled with an acrid, green liquid. The Av-Matoran stirred in horror - those who had been Shadow Matoran recognized this substance as antidermis, the essence of the Makuta.

“Infected masks’ control is fragile,” Ahkmou explained, “but exposing a Matoran to this substance robs them of their spirit and will completely, turning them into an obedient slave. I’m told it’s a horrible thing… a living death. At least as a Shadow Matoran, you could still think. And thanks to the Order and Toa destroying all known sources of energized protodermis… there’s no cure. Not anymore.”

Ahkmou loaded the sphere into a zamor launcher, and turned to the Av-Matoran. “But I’m not without mercy. There’s only one Matoran who needs this treatment; the rest of you, I’m sure, are capable of seeing reason.” He walked slowly towards Kirop, noting the fear in the Av-Matoran leader’s eyes. “I’ll spare your people from this, if you can answer one question. If not…” He pointed the launcher squarely at Kirop. “Who is the leader of the resistance in Metru Nui?”

“We’ll never tell,” Tanma protested, but fearful murmurs were already spreading through the crowd.

“I’m sorry, Tanma.” Kirop looked at Ahkmou. “She’s—”

CRASH.

Ahkmou whirled to see a segment of pipe burst from the wall - and a Ga-Matoran crawl out. “Let these Matoran go, Ahkmou. None of them are the one who’s been taking your ‘city of legends’ apart, brick by brick.” Macku grinned. “The leader of the resistance… is me.”

“Oh, of course,” Ahkmou scowled. “Hewkii’s little ‘friend’.” He aimed the zamor launcher at her, as Kirop breathed a sigh of relief. “He abandoned you, didn’t he? How do you think he’ll feel when he sees you rendered a mindless slave?”

“Proud,” Macku spat, “that I stood up to scum like you.” She looked at the zamor launcher with disgust. “I knew you were a snake, Ahkmou, but this? This is monstrous. How can you want this?”

At that, Ahkmou laughed. “I don't want this! Nobody wants this.” He gestured to the reeducation center around them. “That’s why this exists. All I need is a city at work - you’re the one who defied that. I’ve tried everything to bring you in line, but you’ve refused to see reason. Now you’ve gotten Makuta’s attention… and his orders are unyielding.”

“Unyielding?” Macku scoffed. “You could stop doing his dirty work at any time. We would welcome you for it, shelter you from his reprisal. But that would take courage, and I suppose I shouldn’t expect that from a coward.”

“I could defy Makuta, but what comes next? Do you think he can't replace me?” Ahkmou cried. “I've seen the followers he has in the rest of the world: butchers, the lot of them.” The zamor launcher trembled in his hands. “My appointment here is a mercy, and you are squandering it.”

“This is your idea of mercy?” said Macku, staring down the zamor launcher. “So afraid to do the right thing, you're willing to subject me to a living death.” She stood defiant. “Let’s see if you’re bold enough to pull the trigger.”

Ahkmou grimaced. “You chose this.”

The launcher recoiled as he fired the sphere. He didn’t realize he’d looked away until he heard the sound - a strange sizzle, instead of a dull thud. Looking up, he saw Macku standing proud… surrounded by a shimmering, blue shield of energy. “Now!” Macku cried, and the shield rapidly enveloped the crowd of Av-Matoran.

Realizing what was about to happen, Ahkmou stepped into the shield - only for Macku to block his path, venom in her eyes. “You chose this,” she hissed, and shoved him out of the bubble.

Then the pipes burst. Water filled the worship hall as Gali Nuva emerged from the flood, her Hau Nuva aglow. Rahkshi and Exo-Toa were swept from their posts. Ahkmou clung to the podium, glaring at the Matoran sheltered from the storm… then he sighed, and let go.

Under the Hau Nuva’s shield, Macku and Gali cut the Av-Matoran free. “Follow Gali through the flood,” Macku urged. “We’ll sweep the holding cells. Warriors, knock off their infected masks; the rest, carry the unconscious Matoran.”

Tanma nodded as she broke his bonds. “Gali Nuva! Pair with Solek,” he commanded. “He can create light barriers to keep the Rahkshi back.” Kirop narrowed his eyes, but said nothing.

Gali nodded, and let Solek climb onto her back. She shifted back to her Kaukau Nuva, sharing its power with the crowd as the waters collapsed onto them. “Go!”

✴        ✴        ✴

Ahkmou opened his eyes. A Noble Mask of Water Breathing glared down at him.

“They’re gone,” said Gavla. “Gali took them out of Metru Nui.”

Ahkmou said nothing, merely coughed out water. So, he had failed. Makuta had given him one task, and he’d failed. This is the end for me, he thought. It’s all over. Somehow, that thought felt like… a relief.

“Why did you save me?” he asked hoarsely.

“I didn’t,” said Gavla. “It’s by Makuta’s grace that you survived.”

Ahkmou blinked. “Why…?”

“The Av-Matoran aren’t in the city anymore,” said Gavla, impatiently. “Technically, that’s our problem solved.” She gave him a sharp kick in the side. “Now let’s go. The city’s not going to run itself.”

Ahkmou groaned, pushing himself to his feet. Gavla shoved Dume’s staff into his hands, then walked briskly towards the Coliseum. He looked around, considering his options. Then, with a heavy sigh, he followed.

✴        ✴        ✴

“That’s everyone,” Macku reported. Hewkii had told her of an underwater chute his team used; now she, Tanma, and Gali shepherded Av-Matoran and captured rebels into it, one after the other.

“I will shepherd them to safer lands,” said Gali. “I can bring you, too.”

“No,” said Macku, stepping back. “The city needs me.” She took a deep breath. “I’ll find my own way back.”

Gali frowned. “Very well. Great Spirit guide your path.”

“And yours,” said Macku. Tanma bumped her fist and nodded solemnly. Then he took Gali’s hand, and they stepped through the chute’s walls. Macku watched them disappear, then scurried into the hidden places of the city.

Now Metru Nui has no Toa at all, she thought to herself. Save for the Toa Hagah, who aren’t living in this reality. We’ve made it this far with Matoran alone, but still… what I wouldn’t give for one Toa, just one, to lend their power to the resistance…

Deep in the Archives below, a spark flickered in the musty air of an empty room. A portal began to appear, pulled open by one hand of a blue-armored figure… as their other hand clutched the piecework shards of a glowing red stone.