Chapter Eleven

Nokama and Nuju stood in front of a fork in the canal structure. One fed back into Ga-Metru, while the other followed overhead chutes to Ko-Metru. Their journey had finished at the same time as Nokama’s explanation of the Rahaga’s mission for the Toa Hordika. “We will have to part ways here, Nuju,” she said. “We now have four Makoki Stones—and you must find the fifth. That map I gave you is precious—it bears the locations of the Makoki Stones, which will be used to unlock the Avohkii. Go to the Knowledge Towers in Ko-Metru to get the fifth stone.”

“I will, Nokama,” Nuju said, turning to depart. “I will meet you back at the Great Temple when I have it.”

Without another word, the two jumped off in their respective tunnels. Sure enough, Nuju found himself in the crystal and glassy district of Ko-Metru. He navigated through the ruins of his old home Metru, trying to find the Knowledge Tower he wanted. As he traveled, he couldn’t help but think of his surroundings. As much as I hate to admit it, Vakama made the right move getting the Matoran out of here, he thought, tripping over a Kanoka disk in a chute station. There’s nothing left for them here.

His trek brought the Toa Hordika of Ice to the Knowledge Tower he sought, which was actually in the special class of the Towers of Thought. These towers had more Keerakh patrols and higher security for high-level investigations and research. Appropriate, if one wanted to hide an artifact, Nuju thought. Though when he neared the building, no such security was in place. Due to the power surge and quake, any electronic equipment was utterly destroyed, and the physical defense systems were askew or otherwise worthless at this point.

Following the directions on the map, Nuju ascended to the proper floor. Not usually one for being sentimental or personally introspective, he paused. “Follow the map.” It was what Toa Lhikan had said to him when he gave him his Ice Toa Stone. Nuju sighed…it felt so long ago, and hollow at that, especially after knowing that he was never meant to be the Toa of Ice in the first place. So many mistakes, and no opportunity in the future to correct them, it seems, he pondered.

Nuju’s musings carried him to the floor he desired, which brought him back to the task at hand. This little room, tucked away in the corner of the Tower of Thought, had very little to decorate it but remained highly artistic. The floor extended from the jagged, crystalline walls of the room only half a bio before descending an inch into an engraved recess. The engravings were different geometric shapes overlapping with radially spaced lines stretching from the top. Along a curved branch, Matoran symbols were inscribed, asking Mata Nui for a blessing on the particular building.

Nuju crossed the ornate room to the only feature there, a safe on the back wall. Entering the code scratched onto the map, the small compartment opened to reveal the sought Makoki Stone inside. Nuju stepped forward and took it, trying to picture the hope this object would bring for the future.

A cracking sound made the Toa of Ice put away the Makoki Stone and immediately pull out his Hordika teeth, the tools he used to fight with in his new form. He turned around to see cracks spreading through the crystal-like walls of the Tower of Thought before most of the support imploded toward him, battering him with crystal and ice. He noted that his attackers were one Visorak from each elemental swarm. Even as the rubble was still settling, some jumped over or moved along webs near the ceiling to surround him.

The Oohnorak was the first to jump at him. Nuju ducked underneath and fled in the direction from which it had come, creating an opening in the balanced ranks of its brothers. In the middle of running through that opening, the Keelerak dove for him, knocking him off his feet briefly and sending the Makoki Stone skittering farther out onto the crystal. Regaining his footing, he side-flipped in the air, charged an ice Rhotuka, and landed facing the Keelerak.

Nuju fired his Rhotuka at the green-colored Visorak, making it jump to the side rather than continue after him. With that accomplished, Nuju continued running toward the exit, cartwheeling over the Makoki Stone on the ground to pick it up and then flee down the tower’s corridor. The Visorak, he could hear, hurried behind him.

Racing through the winding corridor in the crystal structure, Nuju zigzagged to avoid hitting the walls and maximize his speed. The Visorak pursuers behind him simply crawled on the walls when their momentum carried them into one. As Nuju rounded a sharp corner, he ducked immediately through a door, hoping he could hide in the room, but when he came through he saw that this room and the surrounding walls had been demolished. He simply looked out into the open air of Ko-Metru. Worse, the Visorak had seen him come in here. With a growl, he turned around to face them as three entered the room eagerly.

Looking back behind him, all Nuju could see was the frigid mist of Ko-Metru’s high altitudes. “Come on then, you Rahi! You’re no better than I am.” He prepared his Hordika teeth and an ice spinner, but needn’t have bothered.

“Nuju!”

The Toa Hordika of Ice spun to look over the edge again. Climbing up the wall of the tower and now resting on a ledge, was Matau. He smiled, beckoning with his hand for Nuju to come closer. The higher Toa complied, jumping backwards off the edge just as one of the Visorak jumped after him.

Nuju’s jump propelled his lower half to revolve upward and his hands lower, such that Matau was able to catch them as he fell by and then help pull him up to safety. By kicking off the wall he had landed against, and with Matau holding on, Nuju flipped back overhead to arrive next to the Toa Hordika of Air. Knowing the Visorak would pursue after Nuju, Matau hopped into the air and released a spinner at the edge. His read of the enemies was correct: just before it hit, three Visorak peered over the edge. The only thing they saw was his cyclone spinner hitting the edge by their feet and scattering them.

Matau smiled, an ugly expression. “We got them, Nuju.”

His fellow Toa walked over, holding up the Makoki Stone. “Do you know our mission?”

Matau nodded. “True-sure. I’ve met with some of our Toa-monsters, while they were on their way to the Great Temple. They speak-said that these Stones are valuable in obtaining a bright-mask for the future. They also said dark-trouble has been met for everyone.”

“Yes, that’s accurate,” Nuju replied. He handed Matau the map—the last Toa that would need it. “Take this, it will lead you to the Makoki Stone hidden in Le-Metru. Once you have found it, destroy the map. With luck it will prove useless to the Visorak, but still…the less we leave for them the better.”

“I will do as you think-ask,” Matau assured him, taking the tablet and studying it. “Scram-hurry back to the others. I will move speed-quick and be there to finish this.” With that, the Toa parted ways, Nuju toward Ga-Metru and Matau toward Le-Metru to collect the final stone.