Chapter Three

Far from where the Toa Hordika were fighting, the Rahaga had embarked on a quest of their own. Ducking low in the sculpture fields of Po-Metru, the group gathered around Norik, huddling behind a large statue. The red Rahaga reached into a panel carved into the statue’s base, retrieving the object of his search.

“Here,” announced Norik, rising up from behind the large statue. “The start of our quest.”

The others quickly gathered around, and watched as the Rahaga of Fire produced two stone tablets, each with careful inscriptions on them. Each of the Rahaga recognized them, of course. Long ago, they had carved these very tablets, providing them with the directions they needed to find the treasure they had hidden in the city.

“Our treasure will be best kept from Roodaka’s clutches,” Bomonga said. “The sooner we find it, the sooner it’s out of her reach.”

“The Visorak’s takeover has disturbed much,” noted Kualus. “Can we be sure that everything is where we left it?”

Pouks hummed in agreement. “No doubt our task will be difficult, but these tablets give us a place to start.”

“Indeed,” mused Norik. “We’ll start in Ta-Metru, where the first of the stones is located.” He offered the tablets to the blue armored Rahaga. “Gaaki, you take the lead.”

“Very well, Norik,” she mused, and moved to the front of the group.

As they began to move out, Norik remained at the back, watching Gaaki lead onward. Beside him, the green armored Iruini waited as well, keeping pace with him. “Tracking down the mask again, sure does remind you of old times, doesn’t it?”

The Rahaga of Fire sighed. “Yes, it’s quite familiar. I only hope our opposition is more forgiving. We’re not as powerful as we once were.”

“You can say that again,” his companion chuckled. “Still, it feels good to be adventuring again. Easy to forget we’re not some Turaga.”

“Well, let us hope the Toa are able to find their Turaga. Another mentor would do the Toa some good.” He grimaced. “Perhaps he’ll finally put an end to Vakama and Matau’s bickering.”

Iruini smiled slyly. “Were we so different?”

“Shush,” Norik warned, his expression growing serious. “Vakama and the others have enough to deal with already, sensing any conflict among their mentors will only make them lose trust in us.” He sighed, looking off into the distance. “I pray they’re faring well, wherever they are.”

✴        ✴        ✴

Whenua had always fared well in the Archives. Such a passionate Archivist as he would come to have a near encyclopedic knowledge of Metru Nui’s many species of Rahi. Studying the behaviors and traits of the various beasts was instrumental in learning how to contain and maintain the beasts in the Archives.

Despite this, Whenua’s immediate knowledge of the beast that stood before him did not put his mind any more at ease. Rather, it only confirmed to him his fate.

“Chute Lurkers,” he grumbled. “Grumpy on the best of days. Inexorable on the worst.”

Matau stepped forward with brazen confidence. “Let’s blow this nasty-bugger back to where it came from!” As soon as he finished speaking, he paused, and looked down at his hands in horror. “Oh, right. No wind power.”

Hissing viciously, the Chute Lurker swung forward with one of its lanky appendages, striking Matau hard in the chest and sending him flying back.

“What’s the deal with this guy?” asked Nokama, ducking low as the creature began to slowly circle around the group.

“The collapse of the chutes must have made it seek refuge here,” Whenua noted. “Refuge, and new hunting grounds. They’re skilled hunters.”

Vakama swung his weapons forward, charging towards the creature. “Excuse me if I want to test that theory!” Leaping into the air, Vakama thrust his blazer claw forward, only for the creature to dodge out of the way with surprising ability.

Swerving behind the Toa of Fire, the Chute Lurker fired off a Rhotuka spinner, paralyzing Vakama upon impact.

“I always thought Vakama would look good as a statue,” Onewa quipped.

“Hypothesis proven,” Nuju remarked. “Do we want to leave the Turaga?”

The other Toa stared at him as though he had grown a second head.

“Didn’t think so.”

It soon became clear that Vakama’s attack had only enraged the spider. With a menacing growl, the lead Chute Lurker fired off a flurry of spinners at the Toa, bouncing throughout the tunnels.

“Everyone!” shouted Nokama, leaping out of the way as a stray Rhotuka whirled past her, “Get cover!”

Onewa looked to the tunnel behind him, and noted that there was little to hide behind. Looking back to the front, he spotted Vakama, still frozen where he was standing, and got an idea.

“Vakama!” he exclaimed, looking to the others. “He’s our cover!” Flipping over in midair, he landed just behind the frozen Toa of Fire and ducked low.

“What’s he doing?” Nuju asked. He motioned for Onewa to return to the group, only to watch as the creature’s spinner struck the already paralyzed Vakama, covering Onewa from the blast. “Oh,” he muttered, coming to realize his plan.

Before long, the Toa Hordika arrived in a single file line behind Toa Hordika Vakama, circling around the frozen figure to stay behind the Chute Lurker.

“Keep Vakama between you and it!” Matau shouted.

“Be careful,” Whenua warned. “If it grabs you with its arms, you’re done!”

Vakama grumbled something, but his frozen state prevented it from being anything coherent. Onewa and Matau shared a brief glance, both thinking of the exact same idea. With a heave, the two leaned forward and grabbed the frozen Toa by the sides, and flung him forward.

“Clear the way, leader!” called Matau, watching as Vakama tumbled through the air. A hailstorm of spinners struck him, having no effect on the already paralyzed Toa as he slammed straight into the Chute Lurker’s head. While the Toa Hordika grumbled incoherently, the spider stumbled back, before collapsing to the ground. The creature’s eyes slowly shut, its body no longer moving.

Matau gulped. “Is it…”

“It's dazed,” remarked Whenua.

Nokama cast her gaze over at Vakama’s limp body on the floor, before shooting a disapproving glare at Onewa. The Toa of Stone took the message instantly, and hurried over to help his paralyzed brother Toa to his feet.

“Sorry brother,” mumbled Onewa as he lifted Vakama to his feet. “But you did say not to use our spinners here. No other option, really.”

“It was the quickest way to zoom-saving the Matoran,” Matau noted.

The Chute Lurker’s legs stirred, only to be stilled once more as Whenua’s tool struck it in the head. “Stay down,” the Toa of Earth spat.

“Vakama was the one who said that we needed to save Dume,” Nuju said, gesturing to the metal Matoran pod. “Nokama, will you do the honors?”

The Toa Hordika of Water nodded, and strode over towards the pod. Placing a hand atop it, she watched as the panel hissed open, expelling steam from within as the contents of the pod were revealed. But just as quickly, she gasped in horror.

“It’s empty!”

The other Toa were quick to gather around, and questions ran through the minds of each as they looked upon the empty Matoran pod. What could have happened to Dume? Where could the Turaga be?

Their answer came in the form of a familiar voice, as a figure with crimson eyes stepped out from the darkness. “So,” the voice trembled.

Five Toa Hordika turned on a heel, and froze almost as still as the paralyzed Vakama.

Before them stood Turaga Dume, shrouded in a dark cloak, aiming a disk launcher square at them. “My captors reveal themselves at last,” he said.