Part 2

In the southern islands, it is often wise to do one’s business in the hours prior to the crack of dawn. Most assassins have finished their work, and conquering armies have either expended their efforts the night before or are readying for an assault the next morning. Axonn was neither of these, and no tribal army was out warring at the moment, but as far as the native species was concerned, it was best to err on the side of caution.

Which is why two traders were quietly shuffling north along a dusty island road, making their way to a walled village. Where most of the island was splintered into factions and tribes, the resident merchant class had wisely remained separate from the rest, settling for neutrality as they navigated the conflict. Those who peddled their wares between tribes had found themselves faring far better than those who had sold their allegiance early on.

As his eyes swept the surrounding landscape, the first of the traders, a gold and black-armored fellow, spotted something large glimmering in the first rays of dawn.

“Hold,” he whispered, raising his fist.

“What is it?” asked the second, copper-armored merchant.

“Not sure yet,” came the reply. The black-armored trader knew of a conqueror that had been rampaging around these parts, but as he understood it, the warrior was silver, short and stocky, not gold, tall, and broad.

It seemed the warrior had noticed them, for he started moving in their direction.

“Should we grab the wares and run?” hissed the copper merchant.

“Yes. Take what you can. Make for the hills on my signal.”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” the golden warrior called. Somehow he had heard them even from so far away. “And if I wanted to harm you, well, you’d be dead already.”

“What do you want?” demanded the black-armored trader.

“I seek entrance,” Brutaka pointed at the nearby walled village. “It is urgent I speak to the village chief. I was hoping you could help with that.”

“Nope. Even if we wanted to, they wouldn’t let you in. Not with the Conqueror roaming around.”

“Look at me,” Brutaka frowned. “I am neither the Conqueror nor a friend of his. I am from an island not far from here—one that stands to fall if this island does. I am on your side.”

But beneath his calm facade, he was starting to get impatient. He knew he had to win their trust, and he had to do it the hard way. Dimension-warping into a village wasn’t especially wise during times like this, and the better he won them over, the more effective his plan would be. But Mata Nui if these guys aren’t dense…

“We’ll bring you to the gates,” the first of the traders said finally. “But we are not responsible for what happens there.”

✴        ✴        ✴

The guards peered down from atop the battlements.

“Wares?”

“Jugs. Rugs. Fruit. And swords sent by the bay tribe for support against the northern ones.”

“Who’s the big guy?”

“Says he wants entrance. We only just met him.”

“What’s your business here, goldie?”

Brutaka frowned. “I seek audience with the chieftain. I specialize in conqueror extermination.”

The guards glanced at each other, then at someone behind them. A third voice could be heard approaching, a deep, sharp voice. The guards stepped aside, and a new warrior gazed out over the wall, clad in sleek white armor. Brutaka was struck by how primal this fellow looked.

“What’s your name, traveler?”

“I am Brutaka. A wandering mercenary in search of a worthy cause. It seems to me this conqueror who threatens us all presents a perfect opportunity.

“I am Nuoka,” the primal figure replied. “Lord General of Dirmack’s guard. I will allow you entry… if you don’t try anything foolish, I will allow you exit as well.”

✴        ✴        ✴

Dirmack the chieftain was an imposing figure, a head taller than Brutaka himself. He was lined with scaled white and silver armor, and a line of spikes ran down along his spine and torso. Large round pauldrons covered his shoulders. Like the rest of his species, he walked on four spiked legs.

Besides Dirmack, Nuoka, and Brutaka, only one other individual was present in the room, a silver being who had introduced himself as the captain of the guard. This one said little, but he watched Brutaka closely.

“He says his name is Brutaka,” grunted Nuoka. “Claims he has a solution to ‘our problem.’” The emphasis on the last two words indicated something Brutaka had himself made a point of.

“Our problem, hmm?” the chieftain smiled. “Yes, I suppose your island would be in peril as well. But tell me, why should I accept help from a foreigner like you? What makes you think we need your help?”

Brutaka frowned. He visited this island only once before, and had never come to this particular village.

“Come now,” he shrugged. “I’m sure you’ve heard the oracles of the Great Spirit. Unity, duty, and destiny are the virtues handed down to us. And what are the second two without the first?”

“I have heard the oracles,” Dirmack grunted. “But you are not the first today who has insisted upon the virtue of unity. And not the first within the past day. The Conqueror himself urged unity. And how do I know that you are not with him?”

Brutaka cursed inwardly. He should have guessed that the warlord would have presented himself as a unifier to this island.

“Why would I be with him?” he said, stalling while he grasped for logic. What would he do now? “I am not of his species, and I have no stake in his fight. He works alone.”

“So the rumor goes,” Dirmack leaned forward. “Yet perhaps it is you who does the work for him. Erode the spirit of the native islanders before he comes in and finishes the job.”

It took every ounce of discipline and strength for Brutaka not to do something he’d regret. He glanced at General Nuoka who watched him closely, anticipating even a slight mistake.

So, when Brutaka finally did speak, his voice was cool, though strained.

“I do not work with him. But I have seen him. He’s big. I’ve seen bigger. All this guy needed was a little determination and willpower and he’s united twelve major islands under his grip. What happens when there comes someone bigger? Stronger? Because in this universe, there are many.”

“And how many islands have you seen…”

The chief glanced at Nuoka.

“Brutaka,” the general said.

“Brutaka,” the chief finished.

“Enough. I’ve traveled the world.”

The silver captain of the guard stirred. “I hear there is a race of scientist-warriors. Have you met them?”

Brutaka started. What sort of question was this? What did this guardsman know?

“In passing,” he lied. “They are marvelous creatures. Why do you ask?”

The Captain gave a ghost of a smile. “I know of a seeker, someone who has wanted to apply to their ranks. I wonder if such creatures would allow a guard from our humble tribe to work with them.” Of course, none present could have possibly known that the seeker was the Captain himself.

“Listen here, Brutaka. I was once told by someone very much like yourself that there is a city in the north,” Chief Dirmack said, leaning back in his makeshift throne. “The gleaming jewel on the Great Spirit’s crown. I have sent envoys there. But they tell me the only thing in the north is a hellhole where fire will freeze you to death and the rain burns like acid. Nothing so glamorous.”

“Sounds like your envoys made a wrong turn.”

“What are you implying, Brute?”

“That’s beside the point.” Brutaka insisted. “Already the networks growing between each island are forming a greater body—becoming cogs in this vast, universal machine. The world is vast, but it will not remain so for long. Beings will explore, as you have, people will conquer greater and greater areas. If you are to survive this, you will have to unite. First as an island, then with those around you. Set aside your differences. Otherwise you only invite needless calamity and conflict.”

“How noble,” the chieftain sneered. “But you assume we need others to survive.”

“And what when you fall because you could not unite with the city thirty kio to the west?”

“They are a foolish lot.”

“You’re a foolish lot, and someone else will kill you both.”

“Too bad,” Dirmack leaned forward, “It won’t be you.”

Brutaka’s fists balled, and a ripple of energy unconsciously twitched between his knuckles. The chieftain’s eyes narrowed at the sight.

“So, you do come with hostile intent!” he proclaimed. “Guards! Subdue him! Take him to the dungeon!”

“You’re joking!” Brutaka exclaimed, exasperated. He looked at the guards. “Your chief’s a lunatic!”

“Lock him up! Let him rot in there!” Dirmack shouted as he was carried off.

✴        ✴        ✴

Hydraxon crouched on a low rise overlooking the canyon and cursed. Letting Brutaka undertake this foolish mission had been a mistake. It was now mid-morning and the agent had not been heard from.

Unfortunately, he was so preoccupied talking himself into going in to retrieve Brutaka that he didn’t hear the cracking of footsteps behind him until it was too late.

Still, Hydraxon had been taken by surprise, but he was not helpless. His hand darted for his belt, easily retrieving a boomerang and whipping it out in a smooth motion. As he stood, he saw Axonn bat it away with his axe.

“You think that a mere—”

The boomerang swung back around and hit him in the back of his head. Axonn whirled, looking for an attacker. He realized there was none quickly, but that was more than enough time for Hydraxon to get to his feet.

“Well played,” Axonn growled, turning around. “Hydraxon.”

“Axonn,” Hydraxon nodded. “How long has it been?”

“Let me guess, you’re here with Brutaka.”

“What Brutaka? I’ve never met anyone named Brutaka.”

Axonn snorted. That’s when Hydraxon realized the warlord’s mask was glowing.

He cursed.

“You and Brutaka are up to something, aren’t you?” asked Axonn.

“We are.”

“You’re here to stop me?”

“Tell me, Axonn,” Hydraxon said, circling the other. “I know the Hand didn’t quite suit your taste, but conquest? Really? It’s a bit of a leap if you ask me.”

“In fact, you’re not only here to stop me, but perhaps also to kill me.”

“How far do you think you can get under Mata Nui’s gaze?”

“By evading my questions,” Axonn frowned, adopting a battle stance, “You’re telling me exactly what I need to know.”

Hydraxon laughed.

“Yes, conqueror, we’re here to kill you. At least, until my partner went and got himself captured by the natives we were here to save.”

Axonn scowled.

“In that case, old friend…” he pointed his axe at Hydraxon. “It’s time we see how those daggers of yours fare in close combat.”

Hydraxon sneered and slipped two daggers from their sheaths.

“You’ll—”

At that moment, there was a flash of green, and the walled village exploded.

“WH—WHAT?” roared the Tahtorak.

✴        ✴        ✴

Under a pile of what was once a dungeon, Brutaka woke up dazed, and blinked as his eyes adjusted. Coughing out dust, he groaned as he pulled himself free of the rubble.

Not far away, a Tahtorak roared and brought its fists down, sending masonry flying in every direction. Brutaka scrambled for cover as his wits assembled.

Let’s see, they were taking me to their prison, I got mad, and…

Oh. Right.

Spying Brutaka’s gold form, the Tahtorak swiped at him, sending him flying. Brutaka landed with a grunt along one of the canyon walls.

In the distance, Brutaka could see the white-armored islanders pulling themselves out of the now-ruined village and scrambling for cover as they fled the Tahtorak’s wrath. Further along, other distant villages were observable as their inhabitants peered out at the chaos. They didn’t seem particularly interested in sending any aid, though.

Brutaka scowled. Let’s change that.

Rising from the dirt, he called on his Kanohi Olmak, opening a portal directly beneath the Tahtorak’s feet. The giant Rahi gave a look of startled helplessness before it tumbled in, grasping at air as it fell.

The next moment, a small void opened directly above the nearest standing village and the bulky green form tumbled out.

Brutaka was actually feeling pretty pleased with himself when a mighty hand seized his shoulder and spun him around.

“Are you insane?!” shouted Hydraxon. “What do you think you’re doing?”

To Brutaka’s surprise, Axonn stood behind the handler. Both seemed rather perturbed, and Brutaka vaguely wondered if he’d had the unintended result of uniting them against him.

“I can explain.”

“You can explain why you’re abusing your Olmak privileges to warp a Tahtorak around a helpless island?”

“No time for that,” Axonn pointed. “The Tahtorak’s moved from that last village to the next.”

“What’s the answer?” the giant Rahi distantly wailed.

“What is the question?” quipped Brutaka.

“Hydraxon,” Axonn said suddenly. “We will settle our differences later. For now, we must sort this matter out.”

“Very well,” Hydraxon grunted. “Brutaka, warp us to the Tahtorak. The three of us will deal with it personally.”

Wordlessly, Brutaka activated his Kanohi, and the three stepped in.

✴        ✴        ✴

On a mountain peak far above, a lone creature watched the chaos unfolding far below. He was a savage, monstrous entity, sporting a maw inlaid with sharp teeth, hands lined by narrow claws, and Shearing Blades that jutted from his wrists.

Botar grinned upon seeing the Tahtorak arrive on the island, and his menacing fangs bared. He could not confirm why the beast had arrived so suddenly on the island, but he could guess. Only an Olmak contained such power.

The Olmak and Botar himself.

He had warned Helryx of the consequences of allowing Brutaka to keep such a powerful Kanohi. Such a power could not be entrusted to a wildcard such as Brutaka, but Helryx had seen fit to allow it anyway. As she argued, Brutaka had more than proven his capability in the Brotherhood, and the warrior would make for a talented troubleshooter. Even so, letting him bear the Olmak was a rash decision, the likes of which she was occasionally prone to.

Yet she had the foresight to test Brutaka, sending both Hydraxon and Botar to monitor him if things went truly awry. For now, Botar was to stand down, but if things escalated beyond even Hydraxon’s capacity, well…

Botar was itching to get started.

✴        ✴        ✴

Four villages were in shambles. The natives scrambled to escape the Tahtorak’s wrath, and even villagers who had yet to be hit were starting to wonder if they should evacuate or hope that the Tahtorak would somehow neglect them.

Some distance away, General Nuoka stormed through the village, furious. Spotting his quarry not far from him, he marched right up.

“Chief Dirmack,” he declared, startling the chief who had been watching the Tahtorak. “I have rallied our warriors, but our numbers are not enough. I am sending envoys to the other villages to garner their soldiers.”

“To do what?”

“To drive it into the sea.”

“Don’t be absurd,” snapped the chief. “You are falling directly into Brutaka’s plan. Did you not hear him before, with his talk of unification?”

“Then united our villages will drive Brutaka into the sea as well.”

“Chief Dirmack, General Nuoka is right,” said the Captain of the Guard, who had been standing beside the chief. “We cannot face this beast alone.”

“Do not do it,” Dirmack said, turning to Nuoka. “The villages will agree to fight with you, but in the heat of the fight, they will withdraw, leaving you and your soldiers to perish. I order you to recall those envoys.”

“If the villages do act so heinously,” Nuoka said, donning his war helmet, “then not the Great Spirit nor the forces arrayed on this island will prevent me from bringing the wrath of justice upon them.”

✴        ✴        ✴

“Tell me why!!!” wailed the Tahtorak, swinging its fist through a stone tower and bringing down what little remained.

Some distance away, the three titanic warriors looked on as a gaping void ripped open beneath the giant beast. Unlike before, however, the Rahi caught itself on the surrounding structures and avoided falling in. Brutaka tried enlarging the portal and moving it around slightly, but the Tahtorak had grown savvy to his powers.

“It’s learned,” Axonn mused.

“Guess we’ll have to beat it the old fashioned way?” Brutaka shrugged.

The Tahtorak lumbered away from the village, treading carefully should any gaping holes rip open beneath it. Axonn attached his axe to his back and ran after the beast. Brutaka glanced at his handler before running after him.

Hydraxon rubbed his forehead. “I could have been in the Pit right now.”

With that, he started after them as well.

The Tahtorak, for its part, was in the middle of searching the island for answers when it felt a sharp stab in its rear end. It jumped forward with a shout, before whirling in time to see the axe returning to Axonn’s hand.

With a terrifying roar, the Rahi leaped into the fray. Brutaka swiped his hammer up, dealing a blow to the Rahi’s jaw. Axonn’s axe dealt a gash to the Rahi’s front leg, and Hydraxon’s explosive boomerangs drove it steadily backward.

Realizing it couldn’t take on all three, the Tahtorak charged Brutaka, sending him hurtling away. This was a lucky choice. Brutaka was still sore from his bout with Axonn, and he was unable to control his flight. The titan skidded into the dirt and lay still, dazed.

This gave Axonn an opening, who channeled pure energy through his axe at the Rahi’s exposed side. The blast pummeled into the Tahtorak, who lumbered sideways.

The giant green Rahi stumbled backward, even as Hydraxon landed, digging some daggers into its back before nimbly dropping to the earth. The daggers exploded in the Tahtorak’s back, and it let out an earth-shattering roar.

By now, Brutaka was back on his feet, despite seeing stars. Heaving his warhammer, he slammed it into the back of the beast’s knee, causing it to buckle from beneath its owner. As it fell, the Rahi brought its fists down hard where Brutaka was standing. But he leaped and rolled out of the way in time.

The Tahtorak was now prone, but rolling back to its feet. Hydraxon took two steps and leaped into the air, intent on digging more daggers into the beast’s armor plating, but it swatted him into the canyon.

Axonn, for his part, had moved from the rear to the front of the Tahtorak, and was poised to bring the flat of his axe down on its head. But as he was raising it above its forehead, the Tahtorak bucked forward, propelling him backward. Axonn landed on his feet, the wind knocked out of him.

Brutaka was moving in the opposite direction, scanning for a weak point, but before he could do anything with his warhammer, the Rahi’s tail whipped toward him. He ducked under the tail and ran over to Hydraxon, helping him to his feet.

Axonn ran over as well.

“These canyons!” he shouted. “They are too narrow to do battle with a beast of this size!”

“The entire region is like this,” replied Hydraxon. “Except the forest to the south. But they are too treacherous to navigate.”

Brutaka activated his Mask of Dimensional Gates. The Tahtorak stumbled and nearly fell in, but it was still too strong.

“We need something else,” he said. “Enclosed in these canyons, it will swat us like gnats.”

Axonn pointed. “Something like that?”

Brutaka and Hydraxon turned. Racing up along the canyon, a column of the four-legged warriors roared in vengeance. At the head of the column was General Nuoka, and at his signal, the soldiers in the first row sidestepped and hurled their spears at the Rahi. Then the second wave stopped, stepped in front of them and hurled their spears, before the third row did the same. With each volley, the Rahi was driven backwards, and as the column continued to step forward, each line retrieved more spears from their quivers and readied for their turn again at the front.

“Impressive,” remarked Axonn.

“Come!” barked Hydraxon. “They’re buying us an opening.”

With that, he hurled his boomerangs at the Rahi who batted them away, only for them to circle back around and explode. Now temporarily blinded by the smoke and ash, the massive Rahi lunged through the canyon wall, smashing through it and arriving on an outer embankment.

Now, with the open seas on one side and the assorted warriors on the other, the Tahtorak was backed into a corner. With a primal surge of fear and anger, the distraught Rahi roared. Despite the sharp pain of the spears and the awaiting hammers, axes, and daggers, it realized it had no choice.

With a guttural roar, it pounded its chest and charged at the column of warriors.

The earth trembled beneath its feet. Many of the warriors started running, while others were frozen in fear.

Yet as it lunged forward at them, a giant void opened in front of it. Unable to stop its momentum, the Tahtorak stumbled. With that, the dimension door closed, and the Tahtorak’s cries were extinguished.

Axonn whirled toward Brutaka. “Where did you send it?”

Brutaka grinned and winked. “Metru Nui. They’re dying for some action up in that city. If we get out of here in time, we can find a good view.”

✴        ✴        ✴

The battle was over.

Axonn, Hydraxon, and Brutaka stood to the side, looking on as Nuoka and the village chiefs conferred with Dirmack. It didn’t take much imagination to discern their intentions here, especially given how well the three outsiders clearly knew each other. Hydraxon looked completely embarrassed, Brutaka appeared bemused, and Axonn was anxiously studying the chiefs’ expressions. Either Brutaka’s gambit would succeed spectacularly or fail miserably.

For their part, the chiefs had begun their discussion quietly, but their voices had gradually risen enough that they were audible.

“Chief Dirmack,” General Nuoka insisted, “You have placed me in charge of our forces for a reason. If we had not worked with the others, we would have lost far more lives and taken much more damage. It is necessary to form a defense pact with the other villages, even if we do no more than that.”

“Do not countermand me, General,” Dirmack snarled. “I will not see my destiny shaped by that outsider.”

“Dirmack, please,” one of the other chiefs insisted. “Let us join with you. Even if we serve you, let us work together. Let us all partake equally of the island’s resources.”

“No,” Dirmack replied. “What is mine shall stay mine.”

✴        ✴        ✴

To the side, Axonn facepalmed.

“It’s not working. Dirmack is so obstinate.” He rubbed his face. “What am I even doing here. Bringing these people together… I should have known better than to try. It’s such a lost cause.”

Brutaka shrugged. “Perhaps. Perhaps not. But then, aren’t lost causes the only ones worth fighting for?”

Axonn opened his mouth to respond, before closing it again. He considered this, then smiled.

“I wouldn’t take you for the proverbial type,” he remarked.

Brutaka grinned. “With good looks like these, who would?”

Axonn chuckled. Turning his attention to the small council, his face straightened. “This is a cause I have fought for all my life.”

✴        ✴        ✴

“Chief Dirmack,” Nuoka folded his arms. “I will not permit you to continue treating the other villages in this way. By the power invested in me, I relieve you of your station.”

“Why, you—” Dirmack snarled. He started to advance on the General, but at a signal, Nuoka’s soldiers raised their spears. He looked to the Captain of the Guard, but the latter shook his head. The guards made no movement.

“We need not unite,” General Nuoka said. “But there is no reason why we cannot attempt working with the others. We have warred against them for so long. I have lost many soldiers to our conflict. I will not suffer this needless warfare to continue.”

He whirled.

“And you three,” he said, advancing on the three titans who stood nearby. “Begone from this island or we will drive you out. Your actions here have desolated our canyon and ruined our way of life. If any of you set foot on our island again, I will cut you down where you stand. Retrieve your belongings and go.”

Axonn sighed and shrugged.

“Fair enough,” he grunted. He turned and started toward the mountain, and Brutaka ran after him.

Once they were a safe distance away, Brutaka grinned. “Does this count as unified?”

“Good enough.”

“Then you will end your conquests?”

“Tell me, Brutaka,” Axonn stopped and faced him. “What do you expect me to do once I end this way of life?”

Brutaka turned and looked at Hydraxon, who had been trailing some distance behind them.

“Can I tell him?”

Hydraxon sighed. “I will tell him.”

“What?” Axonn asked, looking between them. “Tell me what?”

“It concerns the fate of the Hand of Artakha,” Hydraxon said. “You can decide now. I can tell you the truth of what happened to it. If I do, I will take you into custody and I and my superiors will decide whether to recruit you or to imprison you. Or we can go our separate ways, never to meet again unless you make the mistake of trying to learn more.”

“Tell me. I’ll take my chances with your ‘superiors.’”

“So be it.” Hydraxon said. “The Hand of Artakha. You were there as it was collapsing. Because you had left prematurely, we did not consider you for recruitment as it was reborn.”

Axonn looked from Hydraxon to Brutaka to Hydraxon again. It took several moments for this to sink in. But then a light seemed to dawn.

“I see,” he nodded. “Is the new organization dedicated to the Great Spirit as the Hand was?”

“Yes.”

“Does it use its power for good and not for its own interest?”

“More so even than the Hand.”

Now Brutaka realized that Axonn’s mask was glowing. Hydraxon was already aware, although he appeared unconcerned.

Axonn nodded.

“Then take me into custody,” he said. “Let me see what has become of our old crew, Hydraxon.”

“Excellent,” Brutaka grinned. “A wise choice indeed.”

“And you, Brutaka,” Axonn said, looking at him. “I thank you. I know Hydraxon too well to know he would not have shared such secrets of his own accord.”

Brutaka shrugged. “As someone once told me, I am too opportunistic for my own good.”

Hydraxon rolled his eyes.

“Then let’s go,” Axonn said, “But don’t let me forget to find you a more suitable weapon, Brutaka. That warhammer has seen better days.”

With that, the three warriors trudged off in the sand, ascended the barren slope little-knowing all that the future held in store. Smatterings of grass that clung to the valley lulled in the open breeze then shuddered as a dimensional gate boomed in and out of existence, leaving only their incomplete footprints…