Chapter Seven

That same night, the Toa Hordika struggled even more as a team.

They had just succeeded in gathering parts that would help them evacuate the rest of the sleeping Matoran. That they would succeed in rescuing the Matoran, no one doubted—at least, no one willing to speak up and say so. But that had still left the problem of how to get them out of the city and to the island above. The Lhikan II was wrecked, and even if it hadn’t been, it wasn’t big enough to carry 1,000+ Matoran. In the end, it was Matau who suggested they gather the materials to build airships and fly the Matoran to safety.

A city overrun by Visorak and rampaging Rahi made this easier said than done. After a number of harrowing adventures, the Toa Hordika did finally succeed in getting the items they needed and began constructing and hiding ships. What more, they had rescued Turaga Dume from his pod, and taken him to safety away from the Visorak. Once the Matoran had been saved, there would be no need to delay making an escape from the city.

But there was never a break, for the adventures never stopped.

Toa Hordika Vakama ran quickly over chasms and protodermis pipes, using his tools as forelegs to run even faster and more wildly. In the reddened light of fire and the shadow that hung over the city since the Great Cataclysm, he ran over two obstacles, off a wall and onto a ledge to continue his flight.

He arrived at his destination to find Rahaga Gaaki and Rahaga Norik surrounded by three Visorak—a Vohtarak, a Boggarak, and a Suukorak. They snapped their mandibles, excited and ready for the extermination of these long-time foes.

Norik held up his staff, ready to defend himself. But before the Visorak could make an aggressive move, Vakama jumped down from his ledge and kicked the Suukorak with such force it slid several bio away and dropped off a cliff. The Toa Hordika of Fire turned to face the remaining blue and red Visorak.

Vakama charged and launched a fire Rhotuka spinner at the Vohtarak, sending it away in a blast of flame. His attention to it gave the Boggarak an opening, though, and it jumped forward and grabbed him in its jaws. Struggling against the pain, Vakama spun, eventually gaining such rotational momentum that the Visorak’s legs were lifted off the ground. He dropped his blazer claws onto the ground. Continuing to spin, he grabbed the appendages and managed to shake their grip on his body. Once he had a firm grip, he threw the Visorak away.

Swinging a tool with finality, Vakama turned back to the Rahaga.

“Thank you, Vakama,” Gaaki expressed graciously.

Vakama half nodded, and put away his blazer claws for the time being. He crouched to speak eye-level with the Rahaga. “What were you two doing out here? Those Visorak seem particularly interested in you,” he said, with just a hint of a sneer. “The Toa are ready for our next fight with the Visorak.”

Norik felt somewhat uncomfortable around Vakama. The Visorak seemed to particularly hit an emotional spot for him, and hearing from a Toa Hordika that he was ready to fight bore a different message than if it had come from a Toa Metru. “The battle will come in its own time, Vakama. First, there is something else that needs our attention.”

“We already decided to put the Matoran before us,” Vakama said, his tone slipping into growls. “What else is there now!?”

“The Visorak want to steal the secret to a great object of power from us,” replied Norik.

Gaaki reached behind her and pulled out two stone tablets. “These tablets contain information on an incredible Mask of Power…” She handed them to Vakama, who looked at the first of the two. On it was the outline of a Great Kanohi with two four-sided shapes for eye holes, three ridges protruding from the top of the mask, and three ridges on either side. “…the Kanohi Avohkii—the Great Mask of Light!” Gaaki finished.

Norik was a little off put that Vakama shifted from a humanoid crouching position to an animalistic sitting position, but didn’t dare change subjects. They had his attention right now, and the conversation’s topic was important. “We brought it to Metru Nui and have hidden it to keep it safe from Roodaka and the Visorak!” he said. He pointed at the other tablet Gaaki handed the Toa Hordika. “To unlock its hiding place, you must find the six Makoki Stones that we have hidden throughout Metru Nui.”

Vakama looked over the second tablet to see that it bore outlines of six odd shapes, presumably the Makoki Stones. On the back of the tablet was a map of Metru Nui detailing the position of each Makoki Stone.

“You and the other Toa Hordika must hurry!” Gaaki insisted. “Keep that map safe, and out of the clutches of the Visorak!”

Vakama stood up. “Yes, Rahaga—we will find the stones and retrieve the mask!”

He jumped away then, but heard Norik call after him amidst the broken equipment and damaged Metru, “If the Visorak find the mask first, all hope for the future is lost!”

✴        ✴        ✴

Vakama dashed through Ta-Metru, landing at an abandoned steam plant. Looking around at the tall stacks and pipes surrounded on the ground with dirt and rubble, he stalked into it. Not too long after he entered, he heard forms fall to the ground behind him. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw a Keelerak, a Boggarak, and a Roporak.

The Keelerak kept its gaze trained on him, but strafed back and forth warily. You’re going to just stand there, intimidating me and pretending you’re angrier!? Vakama thought in agitation. Fine! He charged a Rhotuka and launched it at an overhanging beam before any of the Visorak decided to make a move. The fire spinner caused more debris to fall to the ground, blocking him off from the spiders. The city’s already dead as it is… he told himself sadly, quickly moving along to exit the scene.

The map led him to the top of the plant, where he easily scaled a vertical wall using his blazer claws. Pulling himself up when he reached the blasted-open top floor, he walked into a small intact room. In the center of the room, the floor was mostly gone (the reason he had to climb the outside of the building to get here). In the hole that used to make up the floor, Vakama could peer down and see the many levels of the building under him, ending in a pool of lava. The most interesting part of the view, though, was the single cantilever beam sticking out into the open with the Makoki Stone sitting precariously on the end of it.

Determined, Vakama stepped one foot in front of the other out onto the suspended structure and picked up the Makoki Stone. It certainly was an odd shape—one sixth of a sphere; one third of a hemisphere. Vakama’s observation of the stone was brought short when he heard the sound of metal groaning and weakening. He knew that sound from his days as a mask maker and protodermis worker. It was the sound of heated metal bending.

Vakama turned around to see a Lava Eel coiled around the base of the beam, softening the metal. The only thing he had time to do was cry out “No!” before the beam gave way and he plunged to his far and molten doom.

As he fell, though, his eyes caught something approaching fast from the side. It was a Rhotuka, and its shimmer showed that it was charged with some kind of elemental energy. It whirled in a circle and struck the area of lava beneath him, creating a platform of stone. Vakama landed hard, but alive, on that platform. Wasting no time, he jumped from the quickly melting rock to a nearby metal grate on one of the lower floors of the plant. Behind him, the rock sank completely.

He looked up to see the Toa Hordika of Stone lumbering toward him. “Onewa! How…?”

“Thought you might need a hand here,” came the answer, as Onewa lowered his claw clubs. “I heard from Pouks you might be here, but he didn’t say why. How did you end up in such danger anyway?”

Vakama held out the Makoki Stone, letting Onewa have a glance. “I am on a mission for Norik,” he replied. “We have to find the six Makoki Stones.” He held out the map for Onewa to take. “There is one hidden in each Metru. They will lead us to the Mask of Light.”

Onewa raised an eyebrow. “A Mask of Light? That’s our priority now? What happened to saving the Matoran, or ourselves—we’re just running errands for old Rahkshi-looking shorties?”

Vakama took a step forward, nearly backhanding Onewa. “Don’t you dare assume I’ve forgotten what we need to do! We got most of the airship parts for the Matoran. We have to believe the Rahaga know what they’re doing and why this is important. Besides, I asked that, too… ” Vakama fought hard to lower his tone. He and Onewa were still on the same side. “Norik says this is vital to the future.”

“He sounds like Nuju,” Onewa commented.

“Maybe… Let’s do this, and then we’ll get back to fixing things,” Vakama said, though he still wasn’t sure how they would do this. He pointed to the map Onewa held. “Go quickly to Po-Metru and find the second Makoki Stone.”

“If this is really as important as they say…” the Toa of Stone sighed. “Then fine, Vakama; I will meet with you and the others once I have the stone.” He turned and began jumping and running away, but couldn’t help growling to himself, “but if this takes too much time or is just some wild Rahi chase, someone’s going to be sorry…”