Chapter Six

Dust blew down a strangely quiet Po-Metru canyon. Once, it would have been filled with the lively sounds of Po-Matoran carvers hard at work, herds of Kikinalo stomping by, and transports scuttling across the roads. The Visorak’s attack had silenced the once bustling city. Those who were not captured by the Visorak were forced to seek shelter underground.

But today, something had changed. Without warning, the stone gate marking the way into the tunnels below burst open, sending rock and debris everywhere. From the tunnel, six Toa Hordika emerged, pouring out from the darkness. Accompanying them was Turaga Dume, just barely escaping in time.

“Onewa!” shouted Vakama. “Bring the tunnel down!”

The Toa of Stone quickly obliged. Firing a Rhotuka spinner into the wall, he watched as it collapsed before him, boulders piling atop one another. Beside him, Whenua fired off a spinner of his own, sealing the tomb with earth.

For just a moment, all was still once more. The seven watched the entrance they had just sealed with bated breath, waiting for anything that could occur. Minutes ticked by as they watched, slowly relaxing as they came to realize no attack would come.

At last, Turaga Dume broke the silence. “Witnessing your power today,” he said, “it reminded me of the Toa of old. Lhikan would be proud.” He looked upon the six Toa Hordika. “I am proud.”

“Thank you, Turaga,” said Vakama, humbly bowing.

“Where will you go?” asked Nokama. “The Visorak have spread across the city, even into its darkest corners.”

“There are layers of this city even the Visorak couldn’t dream of penetrating. I will go into hiding there. But before that…” He reached into his cloak, and pulled out a smooth, pale stone. “Take this, Toa, and always keep it.”

Looking at it inquisitively, Whenua took it into his hands. A small figure bearing a Kanohi Hau seemed to be carved into the face of the rock “What is it?”

“When I was a Toa about to become a Turaga, this stone came into my possession–an omen from Mata Nui about the Matoran that I would pick as my successor,” he explained. “I gave it my Toa power and eventually saw it into the hands of a Ta-Matoran with a Hau, like the one carved on the stone.” He smiled, as though experiencing a happy memory. “The day Lhikan came to this city, he brought this stone back to me. Now his power lives on in you six. You, too, will have to lay down your powers, if you are to awaken the Matoran from their slumber.”

Onewa’s mind rushed back to the Toa Stones he and his fellow Toa Metru had hidden on the island above. Vakama had said he had a vision of them laying down their powers, but the Toa of Stone had been hesitant to do so. But now, it seemed clear that there was no other option. “Does that mean…”

“You have served your duty as Toa well. But the Matoran will need the wisdom of Turaga.” Dume gestured to the stone in Whenua’s hands. “The Hau itself is a symbol of Mata Nui and his protection. Show it to the Matoran when they awaken. Make more stones like this one and let them be reminders for the Matoran that Mata Nui is with them. Always. And one day, he will send the Toa Mata to bring them home.”

The Toa Hordika had nothing to say. Dume had provided them with the wisdom they sought, even if it was hard for them to process. They had just lost the access to their Toa powers, now they learned that they would have to surrender them in the future, possibly forever. But none were going to question the Turaga. It would take some time, but the Toa would fulfill the roles they were destined for.

✴        ✴        ✴

“Are you sure this is the place, Norik?” Gaaki asked curiously as the Rahaga scanned Ta-Metru for their treasure.

“It’s here,” Norik replied confidently. Looking upon the Great Furnace, it towered over Ta-Metru like a mighty volcano, billowing with smoke as it overlooked all. Even in its current state, covered in webs and filled with cracks, it was still a sight to behold.

Bomonga sighed, setting his staff against a rock. The group had split up into two teams, himself, Gaaki, and Norik scanning Ta-Metru, while the others made their way to the Onu-Metru Archives.

“If it’s here, let’s find it and get back to the others,” he sighed. “It’s not wise to be split apart for so long.”

Gaaki looked over her shoulder, and gasped. “We’ll have to make haste, look!”

The team turned around and beheld it. Over rubble and ruins, a group of Visorak was fast approaching, scurrying over to capture the Rahaga. Bomonga picked up his staff, ready for a fight, but Norik placed a hand on his shoulder.

“We’ll need help, brother,” the red Rahaga said. “Go find the Toa Hordika. We’ll hold them off.”

Bomonga began to protest, but as the two nodded in agreement, he sighed, and turned away. Firing off his Rhotuka, he rode it as it shot into the air, heading for Po-Metru, where the team had last seen the Toa.

“Come on, beasts,” Norik spat, raising his staff to the group of Visorak before him. “Do your worst.”

Flying away, Bomonga spared himself only one glance back at his two fellow Rahaga, surrounded by the stealers of life. Fight well, brother and sister, he thought to himself. You won’t be fighting alone for long.

✴        ✴        ✴

Once Turaga Dume had left for his hiding place, the remaining Toa Hordika were quick to go back their separate ways. The memory of the Rahi captured by the Visorak haunted them, and they were eager to rescue as many as they could. The Turaga urged them to return to the Rahaga, a mission Vakama was reluctant to venture on.

“Last I checked, the Rahaga don’t fall under the category of ‘heart of Metru Nui’”, he grumbled to himself as he wandered the dilapidated Ta-Metru streets. “Not sure why we don’t just forget about them and get back to what really matters.”

It seemed that every victory for Vakama was only a reminder of his failures. He had found Turaga Dume, but the Matoran were still in danger. His team escaped from the Dark Hunter prison, but only with Dume’s leadership, not his own. What’s more, his teammates seemed far more eager to find the Rahaga once more than listen to his leadership.

The team needs a lesson in respect, he grumbled. Somehow, I’ll make them respect me.

Interrupting his thoughts of self doubt, a loud crash grabbed his attention. Turning his head, he watched as Rahaga Bomonga stumbled out from a pile of debris, hurrying over to the Toa Hordika. “Toa! There you are,” he sighed.

“There you are,” Vakama remarked plainly. Where have the others–”

“There’s no time!” Bomonga urged. “The Visorak have captured Norik and Gaaki! I was able to escape, but they’re surrounded! Please, you must save them!”

“What were you even doing to get captured?!”

“They’re in Ta-Metru,” the Rahaga explained. “We were searching for a relic we had hidden, but–”

“Enough,” growled Vakama, stomping away. “I’ll handle it.”

And so Toa Hordika Vakama ran off towards his next adventure, pushing away his dark thoughts to focus on the task at hand. But as is so often the case, such thoughts remained within him, festering and growing darker by the minute.