Bionicle Through The Ages

Excuses, Ideas and Whatnot.

2009-10-25T03:03:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm afraid to say you might be forced to wait a little longer for the next chapter of 'Legends are Real'. The school holidays (for me) are over, and I just came back from a school camp (in Canberra!). And I've been neglecting my duties. So yeah.

The good news? Coming soon from me, (it will have it's own blog) is a Text-Based RPG, similar to the ones you can find on BZPower. It is called 'Bota Magna Online', and in this RPG, you play as an Agori or Glatorian, and struggle to survive on the moon of Bota Magna.

So, as I have stated earlier, the school holidays in Australia, NSW are over, and it's back to school for me, so I am sorry to say, I will have less time for this blog.

But don't worry! You have to things to look forward to, and hopefully, I can pick up the pace, finish all my projects (stories, etc.) and give you the next chapter of 'Legends are Real' and an RPG which I hope you'll like - 'Bota Magna Online'!

r/no.m

Are you glad that the Stars are canon?

2009-10-13T22:43:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm eating my words. It turns out the Stars are (*sighs*) canon.
DUN-DUN-DUUUN!!

But the real question is... are you happy with the fact that they're canon? Let's see what the majority thinks - vote in the newest poll!

And please feel free to also express your opinion in the comments section.

r/no.m

I keep my promises.

2009-10-13T22:34:00.000-07:00

No really, I do! As I promised you, my MoC blog (R/NO.M and Gresh96's MoC Blog) has been updated.

So, please go check out my new MoC, (Pyrol: Glatorian of Fire!) and please comment!

Expect an update for 'Legends are Real' as well. You won't have to wait long, the new chapter is nearly finished. It'll be up soon!!

r/no.m

New Poll Up!

2009-10-13T01:04:00.000-07:00

What do you think of the name 'Bota Magna'?
No need to answer me in the comments section (though you could if you wanted), because the question above is the subject of the newest poll!

So, vote away, my readers!

r/no.m

Hello...?

2009-10-13T00:13:00.000-07:00

Ok, I really have been neglecting this blog, and sorry to all my faithful readers out there, if I have any left, that is.

First off, I would like to remind everyone to have a look at the 'Contests' section of the sidebar, at the very top, I still have a contest going, though no one has sent me an entry yet.

I would also like to turn your attention to the 'MoC and Story Requests' section in the sidebar, just two sections down from 'Contests'. Please send in requests, I haven't recieved one yet.

Second off, I would like to remind everyone of my other blogs, R/NO.M and Gresh96's MoC Blog, and the Legends Are Real Blog. Both have been neglected as well, but expect an update for both soon.

Third off, I would like to present to you my TLR Review!

BIONICLE: The Legend Reborn
Reviewed by Ray/No.Minus

THE PLOT:
Bionicle: The Legend Reborn had a very interesting story. Everything was very well paced, and felt authentic. The traitor did come as a surprise to me, which is good, which means that the traitor is not very obvious at the beginning. If he was, that would really take away from this movie.

Anyway, I enjoyed the story very much. It doesn't reveal too much at one time, which is great. The end was a bit of a surprise as well.

THE PRESENTATION:
Let me just say one thing here - SUPERB ANIMATION. I'm not going to kid you, the animation was great. The only part that didn't look very good was the bit where Mata Nui rises out of the ocean. It looks nice at some parts, but most of it is sloppy CGI, that just looks unrealistic. When he sits up, the CGI is terrible, and when he stands up out of the ocean, with one of his arms at an angle, it just looks ugly and unfinished. The rest of that section was okay, but not spectacular.

I did not like how the title appeared onto the screen. It just came forward like that, in some sort of bad Powerpoint title animation. Lego, seriously, could you have done something better? Like a fade-in?

The movie was very short too. I really enjoyed it, but they went from Tesera to the final battle WAY too quickly. They didn't even drop by Iconox, and Gelu was no where in sight in this movie.

Another thing - Mata Nui VS Tuma was not the epic clash I thought it would be. Tuma knocks Mata Nui down a few times, then Mata Nui gets up and whacks him in the back with his shield 'till he falls unconscious. They whole thing takes less than three minutes. Not epic at all.

THE CHARACTERS:
The characters were portrayed very well. The voices fit very well, especially Mata Nui's, Ackar's and Berix's. Mind you, the other character's voices were great too, like Metus'. He didn't sound like I expected him to, but his voice definitely fit. The screams, crys and grunts of the Vorox, Skrall and Bone Hunters were also very well done.

The characters are very well animated, like how Vastus' snake shoulder armor sways when he walks, looking very authentic, or how bits on the character's helmets move up and down, acting as eyebrows. The giant Malum-shaped Scarabix Beetle monster wasn't WELL animated, but it certainly wasn't BADLY animated.

Another gripe is that all the Agori that watch Glatorian matches, or just pass by, are clones of the released sets. For example: All the Fire Tribe Agori are Raanu look-alikes.

What I do like about the Village Leaders, is that they have some sort of shoulder armour. It just looks really cool.

THE MUSIC:
The music was good. It wasn't spectacular, but it was pretty well done. Compared to the music of the previous three movies, the music of the prequel's prevails, but only by a very small margin.

So, yeah, the music was good.

THE SPECIAL FEATURES:
The special features were nothing spectacular, but they certainly weren't horrible. The deleted scenes were pretty funny, as was the extended ending. The music video was entertaining, the character galleries were limited, but not bad, and the trailer for the upcoming Lego movie (not Bionicle movie, Lego move) was interesting.

THE CONCLUSION:
Well, Bionicle: The Legend Reborn is certainly worth watching, especially if you're a Bionicle fan. It's short, some bits are certainly not very well done, and there's nothing THAT spectacular about the entire thing, but it's just a really fun, well animated movie to watch

So if you're a Bionicle fan, or just someone who's interested in watching it, I recommed you do so.

Yeah, my long review is finally finished.

And lastly, that blog post dedicated to The Stars (Target Exclusives, by the way, NOT 2010 sets) is still coming soon!

r/no.m

Stuff

2009-09-26T03:52:00.000-07:00

First off -
Sorry that I haven't posted in a while.
Second off -
I will post a review of The Legend Reborn soon.
Third off -
Bionicle Stars ~ but you probably already know about them, hmmm?

If not, there will be a post devoted to them coming up.

New Stuff - and a surprise!!

2009-09-10T23:40:00.000-07:00

New vids on Bionicle.Com - Sneak Peak: Escape From The Canyon, Kiina Promo and a Mata Nui Promo. I also have the Legend Reborn!! Who wants to know who the traitor is?

r/no.m

New clips and a teaser.

2009-09-05T06:08:00.000-07:00

Hey - the Bye Bye Babylon music video as well as an 'Ackar Promo' are up on Bionicle.Com

So go check it out!

I'm also working on a new epic - and it will have some pictures.

r/no.m

New Scene and New Clip!!

2009-08-28T21:18:00.000-07:00

Here's a new scene from The Legend Reborn:

And there's also a new clip on Bionicle.Com - Skopio.

New Stuff

2009-08-21T02:54:00.000-07:00

Well - there's a new Legend Reborn Sneak Peak - 'Sandray Canyon', and there's also a story update - 'Tajun'.

Find these updates on Bionicle.Com

Hello

2009-08-17T12:30:00.000-07:00

Well guys, Ray/No.Minus made me a Mod on this blog, this is awesome. I will be posting the same sort of stuff like what Ray/No.Minus Does. Well to start off here's the ending episode from Youtuber Scotttjt.

The Hydros Chronicles Last Episode.

I've Expanded...

2009-08-11T17:56:00.000-07:00

... like so many others.

Needs updating, I know.

Here

New 'Behind The Scenes' Clip on Bionicle.Com!

2009-08-10T20:01:00.000-07:00

A new Behind the Scenes clip is out. It's called 'Writing The Movie'. Go check it out, now!

r/no.m

Hey!

2009-08-08T03:42:00.000-07:00

Sorry I'm posting this news late - but there's a new Legend Reborn Sneak Peek. Ackar vs Strakk. As well as a new vehicle commercial. And have you heard the new song from Cryoshell this year for Bionicle? It's called 'Bye Bye, Babylon'.

Here's the song:

And the commercial:

r/no.m

New Legend Reborn Clip Out!!

2009-07-30T23:33:00.000-07:00

Fight With A Vorox - the new Legend Reborn Clip - is out.

Check it out now at Bionicle.Com

Note: There's a new clip every Monday.

Sorry, But...

2009-07-27T04:01:00.000-07:00

... I won't be able to post much, now that the holidays are over for me (I don't know about you, I'm all the way in Australia!), so just decided to post a word of warning, so you don't start wondering where I am.

r/no.m

Now taking MoC and Story Requests

2009-07-25T02:16:00.000-07:00

I am now taking MoC and Story Requests. For more info, refer to the Gadget 'MoC and Story Requests' which is the second to - the - top gadget on this blog.

r/no.m

Art of Glatorian Striker Helmets

2009-07-23T22:34:00.000-07:00

Did them for fun.

Introduction:

Green One (called him Nahraak):

Red One (called him Pyrol):

White One (called him Koace):

Blue One (called her Kaahli):

Black One (caller him Brador):

How do ya like it? Gresh, whaddaya think? Everyone else, whaddaya think?

r/no.m

New Legend Reborn Page on Bionicle.Com

2009-07-23T20:18:00.000-07:00

There's a new page on Bionicle.Com. It focuses on the Legend Reborn Movie. It has a sypnosis of the movie, the sneak peak. clips and character profiles.

Go there now!!

Here it is.

Bionicle.Com - Updated!!

2009-07-22T22:31:00.000-07:00

I know I should've posted this earlier - but better late then never. Anyway, Bionicle.Com has been updated for the Glatorian Legends. New additions to the Product and Profile pages - and better yet - you can now watch some new videos - including Sneak Peaks from The Legend Reborn - and some Behind The Scenes of the Movie clips too.

New Poll Up.

2009-07-22T22:00:00.000-07:00

New poll up - asking whether you think if the Bara Magna Story arc is good or not.

New Legends Are Real Site

2009-07-22T21:47:00.000-07:00

The story I'm writing for this blog - Legends Are Real - is no longer going to be posted here. Instead, it now has it's own blog.

Check it out here

My New MoC Blog

2009-07-15T05:01:00.000-07:00

Here it is.

Legends are Real

2009-07-11T04:22:00.000-07:00

Prologue - Part II: Legends Are Real

The Agori's name was Ventarr. He was an Agori scout, and though the Agori population had advanced significantly in technology here on Spherus Magna, there were still many ares of it that remained unexplored. And exploring unexplored places was his job, a job that he enjoyed - sometimes.

A pebble fell from the canyon wall. The white figure withdrew from where he was watching. The grey figure looked up at him and nodded.

Ventarr whirled around when he heard the pebble fall. He pointed his sword at it, and drew back. He looked up, and scanned the canyon wall, sharp eyes darting around as he analysed every bit of rock.

The black figure withdrew from its spyhole.

Another pebble fell. Ventarr turned to face it.

The black figure returned to its spyhole, swept a pebble from underneath it, then withdrew again.

Ventarr whirled around to face the latest disturbance. His mind was working furiously. Three pebbles - what for? I can tell they did not fall normally. What is going on?

He spun around in a circle, facing every direction, but spotted no danger. I'll progress through the rest of the canyon on the Valtaka.

He turned and headed back, looking behind him every now and then. He eventually reached the start of the canyon and climbed onto his motorcycle. It took him a bit of time to restart the engine, for it was clogged with sand.

He wheeled it around, and rode off.

~~~

He had been riding for quite a while now - he was just about at the end of Creep Canyon, and he had not experienced anything strange - least of all be in danger.

Then a grey figure slammed down right in front of his bike. Ventarr put his foot down on the brakes and skidded to a halt. Two other figures - a black one and a white one - landed on either side of the middle grey one.

Ventarr was lifted off the Valtaka by a metal grey tentacle - like thing with spikes protruding from it - luckily none of the spikes were stuck in Ventarr. Ventarr struggled trying to break free.

He was slowly lifted into the air...

~~~

Felmar - and Agori sentry, who guarded the city of Vulcanus - saw a cloud of dust being whipped up not too far away. His eyes narrowed, and he shielded them with his hand as he tried to see what was approaching. Then it shot over the nearest sand dune, and he saw what it was. A Valtaka X - V3 model motorcycle - modified - and on it was a tan Agori - sporting a scorpion mask - slumped over the handle bars. The Agori had scratches on his neck.

The bike skidded to a halt in front of Felmar, who quickly moved towards it to tend to it's rider, who he saw was obviously wounded, but the only traces of any kind of wound were the neck marks. The Agori looked up at Felmar, and whispered; "The Legends... they're real..." his eyes widened, and he slumped over the bike controls, unconsious.

Stuff

2009-07-08T02:14:00.000-07:00

1. I'll probably be setting up a blog for my MoCs. If anyone wants to help me make it, let me know.

2. Anyone out there a member of BZPower? If so, let me know. On BZP I'm Chaotic Being ~ Dark Wing.

3. The Endless Ocean Planet that Mata Nui was on - before he was banished - is called Aqua Magna.

That's it.

Oh, and don't forget about my Bionicle Contest. HERE is a link to it.

New Poll up!!

2009-07-06T20:35:00.000-07:00

There's a new poll up. Will you get the Legend Reborn movie?

More stuff on Titan Mata Nui!!

2009-06-25T23:12:00.000-07:00

Recemtly, a member of BZPower has recieved the Titan Mata Nui set as a prize for winning first place in a BZP Contest. He has proceeded to post a review of the set up on BZP, with some juicy pictures too.

Go check it out now!!

Find the review here

Glatorian Legends

2009-06-20T02:26:00.000-07:00

Ackar:

Kiina:

Stronius:

Mata Nui:

Gelu:

Vastus:

There ya go.

Mata Nui - Growth Spurt

2009-06-20T02:13:00.000-07:00

No, Mata Nui is not taking steroids - but he has been made into a titan.

Pic:

New Pics and Info Galore!!

2009-06-20T00:58:00.000-07:00

Cendox V1

Kaxium V3

Baranus V7

Thornatus V9

Skopio XV-1

The Midak Skyblasters on the Skopio and Thornatus are actually called Force Blasters, the Cendox is driven by Crostesius, a fire Agori, the Kaxium is driven by Kirbraz and Scodonius, water Agori. The Baranus is drvien by the Agori Sahmad, who is from a tribe that was around before the great disaster on Bara Magna. That tribe was infected by a mysterious plague, and most died. The driver of the Thornatus is Perditus, a Glatorian of the fire tribe. The pilot of the Skopio is Telluris is from a tribe that existed before the Bara Magnan Great Disaster; his tribe was also infected by the mystery plague - or he could be from the same tribe as Sahmad.

And here's the new, redone cover for The Legend Reborn.

Whew! *wipes forehead* That was alot!! Sorry for going away from this blog for awhile!!

Away

2009-04-15T01:49:00.001-07:00

Just to let you know, I will be away in New Zealand for six days, so, see ya!!

Contest

2009-04-14T00:59:00.000-07:00

Build a Bionicle titan. Must have a specific colour scheme. Must have at least two weapons. Must have a kind of 'backpack'. Contest closes 12/9/09. Winner gets pic of MoC posted up.

Did you know...

2009-04-12T04:48:00.000-07:00

... that a larger Mata Nui set is going to be released Summer 2009? It will porbably be exclusive. It is unknown whether it will have a different peices, be coloured gold, or whether it will just be an enlarged set with huge peices.

Valtaka V3

2009-04-12T04:15:00.000-07:00

My entry to Gresh96's contest: I have tried to build (and failed) the Cendox V1!!

Pics:

Also, Gresh, if you're reading this, I have an idea on how to select the winner. Post links to all the entries, and set up a poll on your blog. Let the public vote for their favourite!!

Legends are Real

2009-03-29T01:37:00.000-07:00

Prologue - Part I: Legends Are Real

More than 2000 years BGD (before Great Disaster)

The Valtaka X - V3 motorcycle sped across the barren desert plain. It's rider, and Agori with a scorpion mask, was hunched over the handlebars as he steered it. The wheels of the bike kicked up sand as they spun, and the sun blazed down, threatening to melt the vehicle with intense heat. The rider's red eyes gleamed, and he urged the bike forward. The wheels spun faster, faster, barely touching the ground. The bike picked up speed, and the ground got rockier; the vehicle was nearing Creep Canyon. The bike shot over the edge of the canyon wall, wheels turning, rider still hunched, and landed with a thud on the gravel. The motorcycle came to a stop, and the rider climbed off it. He pulled out a sword from his belt, just in case anything hostile showed it's ugly face, and walked further into the canyon.

A white figure watched him from up on the canyon wall.

A black figure watched him from a crack in the canyon wall.

A grey figure watched silently from the shadows.

The deeper the Agori went into Creep Canyon, the more the walls seemed to close in, and the more they blocked the sun. He couldn't help feeling uneasy. Then something brushed his shoulder.

He whirled around, but nothing was there.

He mustered his courage, and went further in.

New Poll up!!

2009-03-14T04:34:00.001-07:00

Just lettin' ya know. :-)

A Bara Magna Vehicle MoC...

2009-03-14T04:12:00.000-07:00

...that I'm working on.

Here is the prototype. Mind you, this will not be the final product.

Here it is:

Please comment!!

Toy Fair 2009

2009-03-14T03:47:00.000-07:00

A link to the gallery: here

Thanx B6!! There are better pictures on BZPower:

Licensed Themes
Play Themes
Other Themes

Bionicle 1
Bionicle 2
Bionicle 3

Enjoy! ;-p

Glatorian Arena -

2009-03-14T03:45:00.001-07:00

- is awesome!! 'nuff said.

Have ya played it? If so, whaddaya think?

So many updates!!

2009-02-18T02:19:00.000-08:00

Hey, I've been away from the computer from some time, and there are tons of updates!!

Wanna see them? Just go to BZPower!!

But for now, I'll treat you to the preliminary cover for the upcoming BIONICLE movie:

Poll results:

2009-02-06T03:59:00.000-08:00

The winner of the 'Favourite Summer 2008 Vehicle?' Poll is: The Jetrax T6!!

And the winner for the 'Favourite Winter Glatorian?' Poll is: Gresh!!

Just something...

2009-01-31T18:53:00.000-08:00

Just something I made out of boredom. It's a Skrall, eating a Big Mac, in a pink dress.

Link

He's meant to be holding the burger with his Thornax.

If you like it, please tell me by leaving a comment.

Thank you.

Pics and a Warning

2009-01-29T01:28:00.000-08:00

Images:

Baranus V7 pics -

Spikit

And the rider

And the box for the Baranus

The Kaxium

The Kaxium's box

The Skorpio Box

And the Thornatus Box

And the Skorpio might be able to transform into a tank form.

And the warning is that school is again starting, so I won't be able to update as much.

Thanks.

High Quality Pics!!

2009-01-24T00:05:00.000-08:00

First the Legends: (Yes, they were called Legends, not Lignix XD)

Th first three:

Mata Nui, Gelu and Kiina -

The next three: Stronius, Ackar and Vastus -

Now the Kaxium V3 -

Then the Cendox V1 -

Of course the Thornatus V9 -

And finally the Skorpio XV-1 (It wasn't Skopio it was Skorpio XD again)-

Sorry, no Baranus pics at this moment >.<

The Kaxium seems to be some sort of motorcycle with a tricked out side car, (that is possibly detchable) and the Cendox seems to be a desert-ish snowmobile (XD for the third time) all the vehicles seem to be driven by Bone Hunters, but we're not sure.
The Kaxium has two.

Note: Click on the images to view larger, better quality ones.

Enjoy!

Bionicle 2008/2009, bringing you the best pictures of the Summer 2009 sets.

Summer 2009 Vehicles!!

2009-01-23T02:43:00.000-08:00

Here are the first four vehicles:

Cendox V1, Kaxium V3, Thornatus V9 and Skopio XV-1.

And the remaining one:

The Baranus V7!!

Sorry the Baranus pic wasn't that good. I can tell you that the two headed beast pulling that chariot is called a Spikit.

Happy 2009!!

Goodbye Matoran Universe, Hello Bara Magna!!

2008-12-28T02:22:00.000-08:00

It's nearly the end of the year and we're leaving the Matoran Universe, and going to the desert planet of Bara Magna!! Ahh, Bara Magna. A place of desert that stretches on for miles, Glatorian battles, and Bone Hunters.

Happy Christmas all you blog readers and Bionicle fans!

Bionicle 2009

2008-12-28T01:45:00.000-08:00

Above is an image of the Summer 2009 sets.

Here's a list of the Winter 2009 sets:

Canister Sets - Glatorian: Gresh(Jungle), Malum(Fire), Skrall(Stone), Tarix(Water), Strakk(Ice), Vorox(Sand).

Small Sets - Agori: Raanu(Fire), Tarduk(Jungle), Zesk(Sand),
Berix(Water), Atakus(Stone), Metus(Ice).

Titans: Tuma, Fero and Skirmix.

---

Known summer sets:

Canister sets - Lignix/Legend: Stronius(Stone), Ackar(Fire),
Vastus(Jungle), Kiina(Water), Gelu(Ice) and...

Drumroll please! *drums beat*

Mata Nui!!(Sand, supposedly)

Vehicles(supposedly): Cendox V1, Kaxium V3, Skopio XV-1,
Thornatus V9 and Baranius V7.

Sorry the pic was blurry. Happy Christmas!

More updates than can fit in the Codrex

2008-12-08T00:44:00.000-08:00

Holy Tahu!! There are tons of updates up on BIONICLE and BIONICLEStory with new chapters for all the web serials, and the last of the animations are up. For more info, go to BZPower.

The Chronicles of Hydraxon, Part 2!

2008-10-12T03:58:00.000-07:00

Hydraxon struggled against the creature's grip. He tried to aim his Cordak Blaster but his position was awkward, so he couldn't get a clear shot. He looked behind him and saw just the faintest glimmer of light disappearing from view. Then all was blackness. Hydraxon shifted his grip on his Cordak Blaster. Suddenly, he heard a rumbling from somewhere beneath him. Was it the creature? Hydraxon shifted from his position and looked around. Nothing. He turned around and saw gleaming red eyes hovering above him. What they belonged to he had no idea. Suddenly he heard a voice. It seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. "Ahhhh, Hydraxon," it crooned. "Who are you?" yelled Hydraxon into the darkness. "Don't tell me after all this time you've forgotten?" the voice asked. "Forgotten what?" retorted Hydraxon. "Ahhhh," the voice said again. There was a flash of light and Hydraxon found himself drifting through the waters of the Pit. He closed his eyes and was swallowed up by darkness.

Hydraxon opened his eyes and looked around. He was in a lush forest with the birds twittering in the trees. He slowly picked himself up off the ground and turned. He was on land... so what was wrong? He could breathe! The thought stunned Hydraxon. It put him off guard for a while, giving a nearby, and very hungry, Rahi the chance to jump on him. Hydraxon, twirled around, as he had heard something moving. He saw the Rahi, and blocked the blow with the flat side of his wrist blades. The Rahi tumbled to the ground, and, realizing its prey was too strong, got up, turned, and fled.

"Hmph." Hydraxon sniffed the air. There was a strange fruity smell about it. He saw a fruit on the ground and bent to pick it up. It was a small fruit, with a leathery skin. He bit into it and warm juice filled his mouth. Hydraxon picked several more off the tree it had fallen from and settled down to eat.

After finishing his meal, Hydraxon picked himself up off the ground and walked into the forest.

It was quite some time before Hydraxon realized he was lost. Looking around, he saw that the forest had become thicker, the branches larger. Most trees were choked with spiked vines that wrapped around them. Many types of insect Rahi crawl up and down the trees. But one, in particular, stopped. It began to falter, and soon fell and died. To Hydraxon's surprise, its back split open, and a kind of evil-looking flower came out. "Parasite." he said to himself, grimly. Stepping over the insect, he began to walk away from this patch of forest, when suddenly, all the insects around him faltered. Most died, and parasites emerged. The ones that weren't affected, scuttled away in fear. "What happened?" Hydraxon thought. Suddenly, he heard a faint growl. He lifted his head, and looked straight into the huge eye of a massive parasite.

New Content on Bionicle.com!!

2008-09-09T02:51:00.000-07:00

New animations of the Mistika are up and running, and Takanuva's blog has been updated A LOT. The following Takanuva Blog entries were copied from www.biosector01.com

14 July
Using my newfound ability to fly (the result of a Makuta virus I was exposed to in an alternate universe), I traveled to where the Toa was just getting to her feet. As I got closer, I realized that despite the differences in her appearance, it was Gali. And despite how I looked, she recognized me. "What are you doing here?" she asked, even as I said "Are you all right?" I told her it was a long, long story, and there wasn't time to tell it. We had to find the others - they had to know how much danger they were in!

17 July
Gali looked at me as if she were just seeing me for the first time. "What happened to you?" she asked. "Your armor ... your mask ... and is it me, or have you grown bigger?" The darkening of my armor and mask I already knew about. It was a side-effect of the shadow leech attack on Metru Nui. But I had grown in size? Yes, I guess I had, though I had no idea why. What did it mean? Would it stop, or would I keep growing larger? A Turaga might know the answers, but there were none around. Like far too many situations I had been in lately, I would have to learn as I went.

21 July
Gali was ready to head off in search of the other Toa Nuva, but I had something I felt I had to do first. I umlimbered the sundial I carried with me and placed it on the muddy ground. I shone a beam of light on its face and the shadow that resulted pointed to the east. "Okay, so I keep going that way," I said. Gali looked at me, confused. "Is that the sundial Lewa retrieved from the island of Mata Nui? How did it get so small? And what are you using it for?" Those, at least, were questions I could answer.

24 July
"You know of the Order of Mata Nui," I said to Gali. "They told me you did. They shrunk the sundial down and gave it to me. When I shine light upon it, it points toward the spot from which the Great Spirit can be awakened." Gali looked at me as if I had grown two more heads ... which, the way things were going, I would have believed. She was about to ask me if I was quite sure I was okay when we both spotted a gleam of orange off to the east. It was closing on us rapidly, and the dark side of me urged me to prepare to attack. It was getting harder and harder to resist those impulses - and maybe in this case they were right. After all, I didn't know any orange Toa ...

28 July
I was ready for anything as the orange figure approached, flying at impossibly high speed. Gali, though, look undisturbed by the new arrival. She placed a hand on my arm, a signal that all was well. And it turned out the new arrival was Pohatu, though he did not look much like the Toa of Stone I remembered.

He looked me up and down for a moment, before saying, "I can't say I think much of the color change."

"You should talk," I replied. "You're orange."

"Yeah, but I wear it well," said Pohatu, with a grin.

31 July
Pohatu, Gali and I flew to the east, toward where my two friends said the other Toa Nuva could be found. Along the way, they brought me up to date on what had been happening – their arrival in Karda Nui, the discovery of the Makuta here, and the revelation that they had been turning Matoran of Light into shadow Matoran. That last sickened me. I knew now that I must have been a Matoran of Light in the past, though those memories were blocked. I probably worked alongside some of the Matoran the Makuta had corrupted. They might have even been good friends. Right then and there, I swore that no matter what – even if it meant Mata Nui stayed asleep, even at the cost of my own life – I would see to it that the shadow Matoran were cured.

4 August
We had only been flying a few minutes when Gali spotted something down below. A moment later, so did I - half a dozen insectoids, each about seven feet high, flying close to the surface of the swamp. Each had four arms with nasty stingers on the ends. "What are they?" I asked.

"I heard them called Niazesk," answered Pohatu. "Some little pets of the Makuta who got transformed somehow into big pests you see. Better off staying away from them, they're --"

An angry buzz interrupted him. The Niazesk spotted us and were coming in our direction!

7 August
"We don't have time for this," growled Pohatu. He used his power to hurl stone blocks down at the approaching Niazesk. But they were good flyers and evaded his attack. Gali took down one with a water burst, but they were closing fast. I didn't need to be told that sting from one of them would do more than itch. I started to lower my lance to use a light blast against them ... but then I thought, what if it isn't powerful enough? What if one or two get through and Pohatu or Gali gets harmed? I made my decision ... and raised my right arm to call upon the power of shadow.

11 August
I unleashed a blast of pure darkness at the oncoming Niazesk. It struck them like a solid wall. They spun, reeled, and then plunged down into the swamp. I turned to Pohatu and Gali, expecting to get congratulations for winning the fight. Instead, what I saw in their eyes was fear.

"What ... was ... that?" asked Pohatu. And he was actually aiming his weapon at me as he said it!

"There have been some ... changes," I answered.

"So I see," said Pohatu. "I wondered where the Makuta of Metru Nui was still alive, and if so, where he had got to - I guess now I know, don't I?"

14 August
"Are you crazy?" I said, staring at Pohatu. "You think I'm a Makuta?"

"Well, you don't look much like a Toa of Light," The Toa of Stone replied, his weapon still aimed at me. "And we've all been fooled by Makuta before."

Gali looked from Pohatu to me. Even she was showing some doubt now - and who could blame her? I had grown in size and my armor color had changed from white and gold to white and grey. Frankly, if I had been a Makuta trying to impersonate a Toa of Light, I'd be doing a really lousy job.

I wracked my brain trying to come up with some way to prove I was me (try it sometime, it's not easy). I could use my light powers, but Pohatu might just think that was just a Makuta illusion. I could use my mask power to promote trust in him, but I had a feeling the second he felt a shift in mood, he would blast away.

"If you're really Takanuva, then I'm sorry," said Pohatu. "But if you're not, then all our lives aren't worth a widget. So I'm giving you to the count of 10 to tell me why I shouldn't skyblast you out of existence. 1... 2... 3..."

18 August
"6 ... 7 ... 8 ... 9 ..."

"What's a Toa?" I suddenly shouted.

Pohatu paused in his countdown and looked at me, puzzled. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"The first time you woke up on Daxia," I said, the words tumbling out of my mouth in my haste. "You were told you were a Toa, and your response was, 'What's a Toa?' There were no Makuta there, so how could one know about that?"

"There's only one problem," said Pohatu. "You weren't there either."

"But I saw it," I insisted. "I saw your creation, your training, I saw the team fighting avohkah here, and I saw the storm ... that's why I'm here."

An idea struck me. I turned to Gali. "Remember, last year, when I was still Takua the Chronicler? You forged a mental link with me so I could see what you saw when you fought Makuta. Do you think you can do it again?"

"I ... I don't know," said Gali.

"Don't do it," said Pohatu. "Makuta would just love to get inside your head."

"She has to," I said. "It's the only way. She has to look inside my mind, and if she doesn't like what she sees ... you can kill me dead, right here."

21 August
Toa Gali shut her eyes. After a few moments, I felt the unique sensation of her mind reaching into mine. For an instant, I could see myself through her eyes (which was pretty disturbing - even I hadn't realized how much I had changed). Then I felt the link snap as she pulled away. Pohatu reached out and grabbed her to keep her from falling.

"Amazing," she said softly. "A place where Mata Nui died ... another where the Toa rule as dictators ... your journey here was ... eventful, Takanuva"

"Then he is --?" asked Pohatu.

"He is," confirmed Gali. "Darker, perhaps, and not quite the innocent Takua or the eager hero we remember ... but he is our friend."

"What's the situation here?" I asked.

Pohatu pointed towards the east. "The Makuta are putting up a good fight, but we're holding our own. We'll have Mata Nui awake again before you know it!"

"That," I said, taking to the sky, "is what I am afraid of."

25 August
Pohatu had just brought up the fact that even he didn't recall the story I had told of his early adventures when we arrived in the midst of a full-scale battle. The Toa Nuva were fighting a group of Makuta I had never seen before. Pohatu and Gali split off to attack from the flanks, while I rammed right up the middle. If my appearance took the Nuva by surprise, it seemed to do even more than that to the Makuta. My light powers tipped the balance and the masters of shadow retreated to the east.

Tahu wasted no time on welcoming me. He produced six fragments of stone and asked us all to read them. They contained, he said, the secret to awakening the Great Spirit. I really wished I could share in the moment ... so close to achieving their destiny ... but the time had come to tell what I knew.

28 August
I was about to speak up when someone new arrived - yet another Toa, though the others seemed a little wary of him. When he spoke, it sounded like he had just learned to use his voice. He related a stunning story. Apparently, he wasn't just wearing the Mask of Life - he was the Mask of Life. Worse, he was a Mask of Life on a countdown to the annihilation of every living being in the universe ... something about things being out of balance and this the only way to make things right.

I gave the others a moment to absorb the news. Then it was my turn to add a little more cheer to the gathering. "We have another problem," I said. "If we succeed in waking up the Great Spirit, this place is going to be hit with an energy storm that will destroy everything in Karda Nui!"

1 September
I expected shock or anger or even panic at my news. I should have known better. "Then we'll just have to move fast," said Tahu. "We need to get into the Codrex. So we hit the Makuta hard and hope some of us make it inside. This may be our only shot at this."

I didn't have time to ask what a Codrex was before we were in the air and in combat with the Makuta. Lewa and Gali combined their powers to call down a raging thunderstorm while I struck with my light powers. The Makuta started to give way, and that's when I saw it through the mist - a great spherical structure, half-buried in the tip of a fallen stalactite, and looking like it had been here forever and was at the same time totally alien to this place. That, I realized, was a Codrex.

4 September
We forced our way inside the Codrex, using the keystones to get us past a force barrier around it. Once inside, the Toa stopped short. This place, they realized, was where they had been for almost 100,000 years, sleeping in their canisters, waiting for the time they would be needed. I noticed that Tahu looked uncomfortable, but having only been a Toa such a short time, I didn't feel right asking him what was wrong.

Onua started examining some of the machinery in the chamber. He must have hit something, because the floor in the center of the room started to descend. Curious, we peered down into the darkness to see what waited below ...

8 September
Down below, we saw a huge, cavernous chamber. As the section of flooring touched bottom, six great lightstones rose to form a circle. We descended down and began to explore. There were six pathways leading from the center. Lewa was the first to reach the end of his. I couldn't hear what he said, but the next instant, a huge metallic cocoon erupted from the floor. A moment later, it was gone, and in its place was an amazing crimson vehicle with a nameplate that read, "Axalara T9."

Lewa always did have incredible luck ...

Also there is a promotional website on Cartoon Network that has the much anticipated Mistika game. You can find that here.

The following was embedded from YouTube:

The animations on Bionicle.com are:

Meet the Mistika:

Enter the Codrex:

And Inside the Codrex, which isn't on YouTube yet, so I can't upload it. Also you might of heard snatches of the new song for the Mistika. When the full song is released, I'll try to get a music video or MP3 onto this blog.

But for now, bye!!

BZPower's 7th Anniversary!!!

2008-07-23T03:16:00.000-07:00

Seven years ago Jon, (known as Dimensioneer on the BZP forums) started a little website called BZCommunity(BZ stands for BIONICLE ZONE). A year later that site merged with another Bionicle fansite (Kanohi Power) and became the BZPower we all know and love. It's been seven years of fun for the forty-thousand members that have made over five-million posts, and this is the week we celebrate that.From the beginning of this week till next weekend, every member will receive the perks of Premier Membership, and there should be more announcements as the week progresses!

Takanuva Blog

2008-07-19T05:20:00.001-07:00

10 July
A burst of light made the creature menacing my fellow Toa stop and take notice. I expected it to attack, or scream out its rage, or do something else I wouldn't enjoy at all. Instead, the look on its face was almost one of ... sadness and resignation. Almost as if it knew that I, or someone like me, was coming, but had hoped against hope I wouldn't show up. Then it drifted down through the mud like a spirit and vanished. Wherever I am ... this is a very strange place.

14 July
Using my newfound ability to fly (the result of a Makuta virus I was exposed to in an alternate universe), I traveled to where the Toa was just getting to her feet. As I got closer, I realized that despite the differences in her appearance, it was Gali. And despite how I looked, she recognized me. "What are you doing here?" she asked, even as I said "Are you all right?" I told her it was a long, long story, and there wasn't time to tell it. We had to find the others - they had to know how much danger they were in!

17 July
Gali looked at me as if she were just seeing me for the first time. "What happened to you?" she asked. "Your armor ... your mask ... and is it me, or have you grown bigger?" The darkening of my armor and mask I already knew about. It was a side-effect of the shadow leech attack on Metru Nui. But I had grown in size? Yes, I guess I had, though I had no idea why. What did it mean? Would it stop, or would I keep growing larger? A Turaga might know the answers, but there were none around. Like far too many situations I had been in lately, I would have to learn as I went.

Insane BIO quiz

2008-07-19T04:00:00.000-07:00

You're a true Bionicle Fan!!!
Congrats! You got most right!
Well done, just for that, you get a cookie with kanohi shaped chocolate chips!

Go here to try it out.

I scored 48 out of 50 on this test! Can you beat that? If so send your results to atomicramon@hotmail.com for your reward!

Takanuva's Blog

2008-07-09T03:34:00.000-07:00

July 1

My name is Takanuva, Toa of Light. For the past - day? month? year? - I have been traveling through other dimensions trying to find my way to Karda Nui. I was sent on my journey by the Order of Mata Nui, who gave me vital information I must share with the Toa Nuva. Unfortunately, the mask whose power hurled me into the space between dimensions was damaged, so trip has been a rough one. Hopefully, my next stop will be my own universe.

July 3

I see a point of light in the distance. After three wrong destinations, I can only wish that this is Karda Nui. Fighting the currents of interdimensional space, I make for the spot. It is a portal opening to another reality. Desperately, I dive for it. On the other side, I land hard on a small island of mud. All around me is murky water and weird plant life. Have I found Karda Nui, the core of the universe, or simply another strange world not my own?

7 July

I am in a swamp, surrounded by mist. Now and then, I spot a fin or a tentacle break the surface of the muddy water, but I don't see many other Rahi around. Am I where I am supposed to be? Using my new power of flight, I rise into the air. That's when I spot her - a Toa of Water, being menaced by a pale-white, skeletal monstrosity. I don't know if that's Gali or not, but I know a Toa in danger when I see one. Let's see if I can shed a little light on this with my power lance!

More entries coming soon!

Takanuva Blog

2008-07-08T04:40:00.000-07:00

There is a Takanuva Blog on the BIONICLE website.
You should check it out, now!

Ask Bitil and Gorast

2008-07-04T20:47:00.001-07:00

II

Bitil: Hi and welcome to Ask Me and Gorast!
Gorast: How come you always get to say something first?
Bitil: 'Cause he likes me better. Right?
Me: No.
Bitil: Aw, shucks.
Gorast: Anyways, first question!
Bitil: Wait, aren't we being invaded by the Toa Nuva?
Gorast: Why yes, we are!
Tahu: Good news, guys.
Other Toa: What?
Tahu: They noticed us.
Other Toa: Yay.
Bitil: Anyways, charge!!
Gorast: Yah.
Toa: Charge!

*Battle ensues*

Bitil: We're winning!
Toa: We're losing!
Gorast: We know that!
Toa: We're winning!
B and G: We're losing!
Me: I really don't care!
B and G: You should, because we're the stars!
Toa: Not any more!

*Battle continues*

Toa: Ahhhh!!
B and G: Ahhhhh!!
Toa: Ahhhh!!
B and G: Ahhhhh!!
Toa: Ahhhh!!
B and G: Ahhhhh!!
Me: Ahhhhhhh!!
B and G: *snoring*
Toa: Ahhhh!!
Me: *snoring*
Toa: Ahhhh!!
Tahu: I think we're being too dramatic.
Gali: Yeah.
B and G and Me: 'Bout time you found out.
Toa: Anyways......
Tahu: Charge!
Gali: Charge!
Onua: Charge!
Kopaka: Charge!
Av-Matoran: Charge!
Kopaka: Wait, where are Lewa and Pohatu?
*Vision*

*Lewa and Pohatu are sitting on the couch watching Kohlii*

Lewa: Ahhh.... gimme more beer!!!
Pohatu: Gimme more chips!
Lewa: You gimme da beer!!!
Pohatu: Ya gimme da chippies!!
Lewa: Beer!
Pohatu: Chips!
Lewa: Beer!
Pohatu: Chips!
Lewa: Beer!
Pohatu: Chips!
Lewa: Beer!
Pohatu: Chips!
Lewa: Chips!
Pohatu: Beer!
Me: Coca Cola!
L and P: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lewa: Beer!
Pohatu: Chips!
Beer: Lewa!
Chips: Pohatu!
L and P: ???????????????

*End of vision*

Kopaka: So that's what their doing.
Tahu: Right.
Kopaka: Anyways, back to the.....
Tahu: Battle!!!!!!
Toa: Charge!
B and G: Charge!!!

Me: And so the battle raged on until only two Toa were left standing.

Bitil: You're going down!
Tahu: Bitil........ I am your daddy!!!!
Bitil: You're ment to say: I am your father!
Tahu: You are?

Gorast: Prepare to die, Gali.
Gali: No, you prepare to die! MWUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHA-

Gali: Wait, I'm a good guy! So, why am I laughing like a maniac?
Gorast: Figures.

Me: And so....
Bitil: Enough with the "and so" already!!!
Me: I thought this was an Ask Comedy?
Gali: You mean it was.
Gorast: This battle will never end!
Bitil: Yes it will! I have a secret weapon!
Gorast: What?
Bitil: *Pulls out massive laser cannon* "The Burrito Cannon!!" Given to me by the Burrito God!
Gorast: Whatever.

Me: And so.....

Bitil: No "and so"!!!!!

Me: Ok, ok! And thus........

Bitil: None of that either!

Me: Fine. So, the Toa Nuva were defeated by Bitil's Burrito Cannon.

*The Burrito Cannon shot thousands of burritos into the Gali and Tahu's mouths until they couldn't eat anymore*

Bitil: Well that's finished!
Me: So is the Ask Comedy.
Gorast: Some Ask Comedy that was.
Me and Bitil: Uh huh.

END

Next Chapter Coming Soon! (Where they have questions)

The Mata-Nui Daily News

2008-07-04T20:06:00.000-07:00

Chapter 3
Chaos in the studio

Part 1

MN: And welcome to the Mata-Nui News!! Over to you Hahli.

Hahli: Thank you. It appears that the yellow Kraata won this years Grand Leader Turaga election. Unfortunately he ate the other Turaga,
so he has no Turaga to lead. Although he still has the Matoran, The Grand Leader Turaga's job is to lead the other Turaga. Over to you
Matoro.

Matoro: Well the Turaga elections are over, the excitement has died down and I have finally taken a bath.

Hahli: ?????????????

Matoro: Anyway, after consuming a few hundred meat pies, the new GLT has issued his second order.

Hahli: What?

Matoro: He needed to go to the bathroom.

Hahli: ........................................................

Matoro: And he also issued an order for FREE CHEESE CHILLI NACHOS EVERY FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!

*Matoro starts dancing and yells incomprehensible words*

Hahli: Yay! Over to you Takua.

Takua: I thought I got eaten by the Kraata?

Hahli: We extracted you.

Takua: Ah.

Hahli: It wasn't pretty.

Takua: Ah.

Hahli: ................................................................

Takua: Ah.

Hahli: Uhhhhhh....... WAKE UP!!!!

Takua: Ah. Well anyway the Bohrok have been defeated by the Toa Nuva and they now help us to rebuild are villages. If you ask me
that's exactly what they should be doing, those reckless, scummy...................

*Takua is trampled by a crowd of Bohrok who are going to repair a bridge*

Hahli: Ah. Well over to you Macku.

Macku: Thank you Hahli. Now there have been several disappearances. Matoran have gone missing during the voting time for the Turaga elections.
The missing Matoran were last seen going into voting booths. Over to our new reporter.

Makuta disguised as a Matoran: Thank you. Lately Matoran have been vanishing. They were last seen walking into completely safe voting booths.
But they never emerged. We think it could be anything BUT another plot devised by the Makuta.

Macku: Yes. Now back to Hahli.

Hahli: And now............

MN: KAPURA'S WEATH....................

Director: (panicked) CUT! Rahkshi are invading the studio!!!

FIN

for now...............

Will the reporters save the studio? Will they finish the news? Will Takua survive?
Will I stop putting dumb spoilers? All (almost all) is revealed in the next
action packed chapter.............................

The Mata-Nui Daily News

2008-07-04T20:05:00.000-07:00

Chapter 2
Tastes Like Chicken!!!

MN: And now for the Mata Nui Daily, uh, uh, something! Oh right! NEWS!!! MNDN!!!(Mata-Nui Daily News!)

*Director slaps forehead*

MN: Over to you Kapura!

Radio: Di, di, di, di, di, diiiiiiii!!!!

*Director commits suicide*

MN: Uhhhh...I think we need a new director.............

Random Matoran: OK!

*Jumps into director suit*

RM: (In Superman voice) Somebody say they need a director?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

MN: KAPURA'S WEATHER REPORT!

Kapura: Good morning viewers and welcome! The forecasts read that there will be continous showers in Ga-Koro.

*Shows showers falling from the sky*

Kapura: There will also be earthquakes in Onu-Koro, Flying birthday cakes in Ta-Koro, Tornandos in Le-Koro, Bohrok in Po-Koro,

*Shows Bohrok falling from the sky*

Kapura: .....And Ice storms in Ko-Koro.

MN: Thank you for that Kapura. Now over to you Takua.

Takua: (In wheelchair) the Bohrok threat seems to be progressing in Po-Koro. Many Po-Koro inhabitants have taken into habit
to carry around steel umbrellas. I for one...............

*Bohrok lands on Takua*

Takua: ....................Hate Bohrok.....................

MN: Over to you Hahli.

Hahli: Thank you. Now the Turaga elections are over and the winner shall be revealed! Over to you Matoro.

Matoro: The Turaga elections have stopped. Votes are being tallied and.....

Voice in the backround: .....And the winner is: .................KRAATA!!!!

*Cheering from Matoran*

Kraata: And now as my first act to save us all......

*Gobbles up other Turaga*

Kraata: .........................Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm..................Tastes like chicken.........................

*Matoran start to cheer*

Matoro: .................And there you have it! The Kraata wins! Back to you Hahli!

Hahli: (Looks sick) Ahhhhhhhhh, yes and now over to you Jaller.

Jaller: The latest topic for today on Jallers Tuesday exclusive news, is.............THE OOMN(Order of Mata Nui)

Hahli: Really?

Jaller: Yes, Hahli! It has been revealed that Botar isn't as serious as he seems!

Hahli: *Gasps*

Jaller: We conducted a test. We made him watch TV. As soon as he saw Makuta Teridax fall into a slime pit he cracked up.

*Botar appears behind Jaller*

Botar: To the Pit you shall go!

Jaller: (scared) What for?

Botar: For insulting a OOMN member in public on TV!

*Grabs Jaller, both disappear*

Hahli: Well that's all for tonight folks! Catch us tomorrow!!!

*Pahrak charges on stage*

Pahrak: Ah ha! I'm back!

*Everyone stares at Pahrak*

Hahli: Uhhhhhhh.... the news just finished.

Pahrak: Darn!

*Takua rides in on his wheelchair*

Takua: Hey guys!

Pahrak: Well I'll just come tomorrow.

*Exits, crushing Takua with his foot as he walks off-stage*

Takua: Owwwww............Uh, a little help here?

*Kraata comes in eats Takua*

Kraata: Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm......Tastes like chicken....................

FIN
More chappies coming soon!!!!

The Mutran Chronicles!!!!!! Chapter 10!!!!!

2008-07-03T19:21:00.001-07:00

How quickly 1000 years can go by when you are busy outdoing Chirox in Rahi creation. While Teridax busied himself tormenting the Matoran of Mata Nui like a Muaka with a stone rat, I was bringing fabulous creatures into being. True, some of them did not live very long... and yes, one died quite an explosive death... but I had my successes as well. The shadow leech, for example – a mutated kraata that could drain the light out of any living being. Who couldn’t love that?

Naturally, I needed a test subject for it. I traveled to a village in my area of control in search of a Matoran brave/desperate/stupid enough to volunteer (I could have taken one by force, but after 100,000 years, all that screaming and begging grows tiresome to listen to). I was fortunate enough to run across a villager named Vican, eager to find a more adventurous life for himself. What he got for the loss of his light instead was a life of shadow and the honor of being my assistant... a more than fair trade, in my estimation.

It was shortly after I introduced him to the wonder that is Destral that a most fascinating incident took place: a Matoran went flying through my laboratory, to be dashed against the far wall. His armor was crimson, but it was obvious he was one of mine – meaning another beneficiary of the gift of a shadow leech. He was followed by Gorast, in her usual state of rage/psychosis.

The crumpled heap on the floor turned out to be Vultraz, a Matoran who had been in the service of Gorast for some time before becoming one with the shadows. On a far-flung scouting mission, he had discovered a way into the legendary Karda Nui, the core of the universe. That was the good news. The bad news was that he had decided to keep this knowledge to himself, apparently thinking he could benefit from it somehow. That he did, if you consider being beaten by Gorast to be a “benefit.”

Once she had the information in hand, Gorast informed Teridax (who was busy taking a long overdue bath beneath Voya Nui at the time). His reaction was predictable: we were to go to Karda Nui immediately, seize it, and see to it any Av-Matoran there would pose no threat. Eventually, he had no doubt the Toa Nuva would make an appearance there... if they did, his wishes were clear. Icarax, of course, thought his demands bordered on insanity if not treason to the Brotherhood, and he refused to go. Eventually, Antroz gave up trying to persuade him.

“We’ll call him when there is someone for him to break,” our team leader said. “Otherwise, I can do without his company.”

Karda Nui – how to describe its glory, its wonder, its sheer beauty? How to capture the feeling one gets at the first sight of it? It isn’t easy, but let me try.

It’s a big cave. With a swamp in it.

At least, there has been the sport of hunting Matoran, which has kept Vamprah happy. Gorast, Bitil and Krika went down below to ready themselves in case the Toa appear in the swamp first, and I have not seen them since. I am sure they are fine – certainly, they would not be foolish enough to go into water so obviously foul.

As for me, I am back to creating shadow leeches in my new hive. I have my doubts the Toa Nuva will ever arrive – what sane being would challenge seven Makuta? If they do, things will be most … interesting. Teridax tells us we must show restraint – asking Makuta to show restraint around Toa is like asking a Rahkshi to show table manners.

Hmmmm... what’s that? I could have sworn there was a flash of light outside. It must have been pretty powerful for me to see it all the way in here. Well, I suppose if it was anything important, I will find out about it in time...

Ask Bitil and Gorast!

2008-07-03T17:26:00.000-07:00

Ask Bitil and Gorast!

Bitil: Hi! Welcome to the first episode of ask Bitil and Gorast! I am your host, Bitil!
Gorast: And I'm your other host, Gorast! First question!!

Dear Gorast,
Do you like Krika?-Krika

Gorast: No, he's annoying and has no sense of humor.
Second question!!

Dear Gorast,
Krika does have a good sense of humor-Krika

Gorast: If he does, I have never seen him use it, and I really don't care.
Third question!!

How long is this episode going to be?-Bitil

Gorast: Bitil!! You're not supposed to send YOUR questions!!!
Bitil: I like bannana bread.
Gorast: ??????????????
Bitil: Third question!!
Gorast: You mean fourth.
Bitil: Oh, right.

Dear Bitil,
Have you defeated the Toa Nuva yet?-Teridax

Bitil: *munching a burrito* Uh....... not yet. We're having some minor problems.

What sort of minor problems?-Teridax

Bitil: The sort that involve a burrito eating monster, a Toa with a bad case of gas, and a....
Gorast: Hey, Bitil, we're ment to answer questions, not chat with Teridax.
Bitil: Sorry.
Gorast: Is this 300 words yet? This is getting boring.
Bitil: No, it's only 156 words.
Gorast: Darn! I had a date with Krika!
Bitil: I thought you hated him?
Gorast: Well you thought wrong, buster.
Bitil: Now I've seen everything!
Gorast: No, you haven't! You haven't seen Mata Nui, Metru Nui, Voya Nui, Mahri Nui, *says every single creature and island in BIONICLE*
Bitil: Uh, Gorast? It was an expression.
Gorast: .....and Balta, and the Piraka, and.......... Wait!! Aren't we running an Ask comedy here???
Bitil: About time you found out.
Gorast: Next Q.U.E.S.T.I.O.N.
Bitil: What's with you today?

Dear Bitil,
WE HATE YOU!!!!-The Toa

Bitil: Well that was nice.

WE ARE GOING TO TAKE OVER THE STUDIO!!!-The Toa

Gorast: Well they can't beat us, unless they side with the Av-Matoran.

WE HAVE SIDED WITH THE AV-MATORAN!! YOUR BASE IS OURS!!!-The Toa

Bitil: You and your big mouth, Gorast.
Gorast: Is this 300 words yet?
Bitil: No.
Gorast: Is it 300 now?
Bitil: No.
Gorast: Now?
Bitil: No.
Gorast: Now?
Bitil: No.

*Later*

Gorast: Now?
Bitil: Yes!!
Gorast: Really?
Bitil: No.
Gorast: How about now?
Bitil: Actually, yes!!!
Gorast: Are you sure?
Bitil: No.

*Meanwhile, the Toa and the Matoran are trying to break into the studio*

Gali: In moments, their base will be ours!!
All: MWUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

*2 Hours Later*

All: MWUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHA-*cough* *cough* *wheeze* *choke* *cough*

Tahu: Need.... my..... asthma...... puffer........

*Meanwhile, back in the studio.........*

Bitil: My burrito!
Gorast: No, my burrito!!!
Bitil: Mine!
Gorast: Mine!
Bitil: Mine!
Gorast: Mine!
Bitil: Mine!
Gorast: Mine!
Bitil: We are beginning to sound like the seagulls from Finding Nemo.
Me: What happened to the Ask comedy?
Bitil: Hmmm... screw that.

*Outside*

Gali: Have you managed to bust down the door yet?
Onua: No.
Tahu: I know!!
*Blasts a huge hole in studio door*
Kopaka: Uh... I just discovered something.
Everyone else: What?
Kopaka: The door was unlocked.
Tahu: Whatever, let's go.

*Inside*

Bitil: Gorast, I don't think we have any more questions.
Gorast: Or do we?
Bitil: We don't. But, I'll tell you what we do have!!
*Sounds of blasting can be heard outside the recording district*
Gorast: What?
*Door is blasted open*
Bitil: *Gulp* Visitors!!
Tahu: We have come to posses your studio!
Bitil: Is that some dumb line from a movie?
Tahu: I don't think so.
Gali: Never mind that, charge!!
Gorast: Bitil, charge!!
Bitil: Peanut butter!!!

Will Gorast and Bitil win the battle?
Will the Toa capture the studio?
Is this comedy even funny?
No!
Find out in the next episode of ask Bitil and Gorast!!

The Kingdom

2008-07-02T21:54:00.000-07:00

Part 2

Turaga Takanuva led Toa Takanuva out of the Coliseum and into the eastern portion of the vast city. Toa Tanma trailed along behind, not saying much. He wasn't sure whether to be grateful another Toa of Light had arrived to help him, or upset that the Turaga didn't think he could handle the job on his own.

They arrived at a small, narrow building in an alleyway, not far from the shore. There was no knob or handle on the outside of the front door, nor any carving to indicate who lived there. Turaga Takanuva rapped twice with his staff.

A small panel opened about halfway up the door. No eyes were visible through it, but a Matoran voice said, "What's the password?"

Turaga Takanuva looked at the two Toa. "They've lived among us for ages, and still like to play at secrecy." Turning back to the door, he said, "This is Turaga Takanuva. Open up."

"Wrong password. Not even close."

"Try this one," said the annoyed Turaga. "I have a troop of Bohrok with nothing to do. If you'd like, I can have them tear down this building and turn it into a park."

There was a pause. Then the voice said, "Close enough," and the door swung open.

The three visitors entered a dark hallway, which twisted and turned far more than one would expect, given the size of the building. A door at the end led to a small workshop, cluttered with all sorts of armor, weapons, and other gadgets. A lone Fe-Matoran was tinkering with a nasty looking projectile launcher when they walked in. He looked up at Turaga Takanuva, surprised and annoyed.

"You know the routine," he said. "Leave your request in the slot outside, and we'll get to it."

"Yes, I know that's how you Nynrah crafters prefer to work," Turaga Takanuva replied, making an effort to keep his temper. "But this is a crisis. I have a Toa who needs weaponry."

The Matoran looked Toa Takanuva up and down. "Looks like his color scheme could use some work too. But ... I might just have something here that could be of use."

After a few minutes of rummaging through claw catchers, Rhotuka launchers, and parts of a Visorak battle wagon, the Matoran emerged with a twin-bladed lance. He handed it to Toa Takanuva and said, "Now, aim at that far wall. Just use a little bit of power, not even enough to singe the stone."

The Toa took the lance, aimed it, and focused on releasing just the tiniest sample of his elemental light. The next instant, a blast of energy blew a hole the size of a Kanoka disk in the wall. "How ...?" said Takanuva, looking down at the lance.

"Most Toa tools just channel power," the Matoran said, smiling. "This one amplifies it. And if that's not enough --"

The Matoran searched some more, this time emerging with a launcher. "We don't have a name for this one yet, too new. Draws light from the environment and fires it as a sphere. It hasn't been tested yet, though."

"Fine," said Turaga Takanuva. He turned to the two Toa. "I suggest you start right away. There's no telling how much time we have."

Once they were back on the street, Tanma wanted to head right for the nearest light barrier, but Toa Takanuva held him up. "There's something I want to do first," said Takanuva. "I want to see Matoro."

"That coward?" spat Tanma. "If not for him, we would still have our homes, our universe. You can go see him if you like – I want nothing to do with him."

Takanuva expected that Matoro would be living in the region inhabited by the Ko-Matoran and Frostelus. But he evidently hadn't been welcome there. Tanma directed his new comrade to an area of what was once Po-Wahi, now home mostly to Skakdi. There, in a small hut made of stone, sat Toa Matoro.

"What do you want?" the Toa of Ice said, not even looking up at his visitor. "Go away."

"Matoro, I ..." Takanuva began. "You're needed. You have to come with me."

Toa Matoro laughed. It was a bitter sound. "I was needed 10,000 years ago. My destiny was before me, and I hesitated ... and a universe died. So don't try to tell me I'm needed now. Just leave me alone."

"I heard what happened," Takanuva said. "But I also know that, in your heart, you're a hero. I know how hard you fought on Voya Nui, on Mahri Nui. And I know if you could have saved the universe, you would have ... you would have done anything to do that."

Takanuva, overcome with emotion, had to stop talking. Here was Matoro, who was dead in his universe, having sacrificed himself to save Mata Nui and every other living thing. Here he was, alive, but dead inside, knowing he had failed his people when it mattered most.

Matoro looked up at him. "Who are you? No one in the Kingdom talks about me that way."

"I'm from ... another kingdom," Takanuva answered. "One where people think of you as a hero."

"I see," said Matoro. "Escaped from an asylum, did you?"

"Okay," said the Toa of Light. "You want to sit here and feel sorry for yourself. You blew your chance to be a hero – well, here's another one. Here's a chance to show everyone you aren't a failure or a coward. Here's an opportunity to bring some honor to your name ... do you have the courage to take it?"

"Why do you care?" asked Matoro. "I don't even know you."

"Maybe I know you," said Takanuva. "Or someone very close to you. Now, come on – we have a kingdom to save."

Tanma was not at all happy to see Matoro along, but there wasn't time for a prolonged argument. Fortunately, the most likely problem spot was in the same area as Matoro's hut. The area around Kini-Nui was too well traveled for Rahkshi to have emerged from there unnoticed, but the old Bohrok tunnels in Po-Wahi were out of the way and largely ignored. If the light barrier in the main tunnel had come down, it would be easy for Makuta to send legions up through those passageways.

"Why not just block the tunnels? Bring them down?" asked Takanuva.

"Pohatu and Hewkii tried that during the evacuation," said Tanma. "The Rahkshi smashed their way through and killed them both before Tahu, Jaller and Kopaka drove them back. No, light was the only effective means of stopping them – intense light, more than their kraata could stand."

"And they couldn't just, I don't know, dig their way around the barrier? Or use density control and float up through the rock?"

"They could," Tanma agreed. "But Onua made sure the ground is warded. Any attempt to dig through it or pass through it, and we'd know."

Matoro had said nothing. Takanuva turned and said, "What do you think?"

"I think ... never mind," said the Toa of Ice.

"What he thinks doesn't matter," snarled Tanma.

"It does to me," Takanuva replied. "Tell us, Matoro."

"Well ... what if the barrier didn't go down? What if they've found some way to shield themselves against the light?"

"Then we have a problem." said Takanuva.

Cautiously, they started down the tunnel. Even this close to the surface, Takanuva could feel the chill in the air. The only light came from Tanma, who kept up a low level illumination using his Toa power. "We can't go down too far," he said. "There's no heat down there and what air there might still be is foul. Most of the universe is flooded and a lot of the water has mutagen in it. So whatever did survive the end probably isn't still recognizable ..."

Takanuva glanced at Matoro. Every word that Toa Tanma said was like a dagger in his heart.

They had walked perhaps a kio when the tunnel brightened. Tanma pointed ahead to a wall of light in their path. "That's the barrier. It's still intact. So the problem isn't here. Mangaia, maybe? Or some other access point we don't know about?"

"Perhaps," said Takanuva. "But what if Matoro's right? What if the barrier simply isn't stopping them anymore?"

"I don't have time for Matoran myth," said Tanma. "We have to check other possibilities. Are you coming or not?"

Takanuva glanced at the barrier, at Matoro, and then back at Tanma. "All right."

The two Toa of Light started back up the tunnel. Neither noticed Matoro wasn't following until they heard the sound of ice blasts coming from behind them. Takanuva turned and ran back down, followed closely by Tanma.

There was Matoro, battling four Rahkshi on his own. Behind them, more were breaching the barrier, each clad in armor made of deep shadow. The armor couldn't survive the passage through the barrier, dissolving not long after making contact with the light. But it lasted just long enough to get the Rahkshi through to the other side.

Takanuva and Tanma both dropped to one knee and opened fire with their light powers. Takanuva's power lance took out two Rahkshi, while Tanma drove a third back into the barrier, where its kraata burned to ashes. Matoro froze the fourth in a block of ice up to its head, just long enough to reach in and yank out its kraata. He threw the squirming creature on the ground and stepped on it.

"Excellent," said a soft, sinister voice, which seemed to come from every shadow. Takanuva knew it well – it belonged to the Makuta of Metru Nui, leader of the Brotherhood. "I see that at least one of you has an imagination. Matoro, my old friend ... it seems like yesterday we were teamed against the Barraki and their hordes."

"You," said Matoro, his voice shaking. "Why aren't you dead? So many others died ... why not you?"

"What is there left when the light dies, Toa? Darkness. Only darkness," Makuta replied. "And I thrive in the dark. Oh, my brothers perished, one by one ... Icarax was the first, driven from his body by my attack so I could possess it, his essence left to die in the cold of the void ... but my hatred will not let me die. Hatred of Mata Nui; hatred of all who escaped the end of this universe; most of all, Matoro, hatred of you ... you turned away from your destiny. Mata Nui was meant to cheat death ... instead, I was cheated of my revenge.”

Now the Toa heard a clanking of armor, as if a colossus were coming toward them. The next moment, a 20-foot giant clad in shadow armor erupted from the barrier. As the shroud of shadow fell away, they could see their foe. He was a bizarre amalgam of the Makuta who had attacked Karda Nui and others who were unfamiliar. He was a monstrosity, now truly as ugly on the outside as his spirit was within.

"As my brothers were about to die, I absorbed them into my body," said Teridax. "I used their mass to grow. I used their knowledge to create armor to pierce this barrier. And now your Kingdom will surrender, or it will suffocate in a sea of shadow."

Tanma, Matoro, and Takanuva attacked. Bolts of ice and spears of light rained on Teridax's armor, but the damage was negligible. "I have had 10,000 years to prepare for this battle," the Makuta hissed. "You cannot win."

"Excuse us if we try," said Takanuva, blasting with his power lance directly at the Mask of Shadow. The blow knocked the mask off. Makuta bent to retrieve it, but Tanma was too fast, hitting it with full power and melting it to slag.

"Tanma, get back!" Takanuva shouted. It was too late. Makuta had scooped up the Toa of Light like a toy and triggered the shattering power of a Panrahk. Takanuva had to look away – it was simply too horrible to watch.

"Now do you see?" said Makuta. "You must --"

Makuta stopped dead. Then he smiled at Takanuva. "Oh, I see ... oh, how intriguing. You are from ... somewhere else ... somewhere ... where Matoro died, and Mata Nui lived. The Plan proceeds there to its inevitable conclusion. Did you flee, then, Takanuva? Did you have the wisdom to escape before my reign begins?"

"I ... died?" said Matoro quietly.

"Yes," Takanuva replied. "You did. You gave your life so billions could live. In my universe, you are considered the greatest hero ever to bear the title of Toa."

"And here you are just one more insect to be crushed," said Makuta, advancing. "Or perhaps ... there is some other use for you. The Mask of Life still exists, and you were connected to it ... you have knowledge I can use, Toa of Ice."

A hand made of shadow emerged from Makuta's chest, heading right for Matoro. Takanuva made a move to get between them, but the Toa of Ice hit him with a barrage of ice shards, driving him back.

"Matoro, what are you doing?" Takanuva cried out. "He's going to kill you!"

"I should have died 10,000 years ago," Matoro said. He stood erect, hands at his sides, waiting for the hand to seize him. "I should have saved everyone, but I didn't. If you think about it, Takanuva, neither of us is meant to be here."

The shadow hand took Matoro in its grasp and drew him, unprotesting, into the substance of Makuta. Takanuva got to his feet, blasting light from his power lance and shadow from his other hand, screaming, "Murderer!"

Strangely enough, Makuta did not counterattack. In fact, the colossus actually looked a bit unsteady on his feet. He took a step back, reached out an armored hand to support himself, then dropped to his knees. Both hands went to the side of his head, as he shouted, "No! My will must prevail! I am the stronger! I am --"

Then another voice came from Makuta's mouth. It was Matoro's! "No, Makuta. You once told the Toa Mata that you could not be destroyed, because you were nothing. You were wrong – it is because you are nothing that I can destroy you. You have no heart, you have no spirit, you have no reason to exist – even your hate is a pale reflection of what once burned in you. You survive out of habit, monster, and habits ... and minds ... can be broken."

The scream that came from Makuta then was a long, loud, and strangely hollow. An instant later, the giant collapsed to the ground and lay unmoving. Takanuva edged closer, and confirmed what he already knew: Makuta was dead. Just to be sure, he used his power to send searing light to every corner of the tunnel, but there was no sign of the master of shadows' antidermis. He had not escaped this final confrontation.

Takanuva pondered for a long time as he walked back up to the surface. Turaga Vakama had once told him that when a Makuta absorbs a body, he must crush the will of his victim immediately. Otherwise, he risks other minds intruding upon his own. Matoro had heard the same tales. He had known if Makuta absorbed him, he could fight back from within.

At one time, such an effort would have been impossible – Makuta's will would have been too strong. But Matoro had been right. Makuta truly had nothing to live for. He survived and plotted his vengeance, but it was a hollow pursuit. He had lusted for a control of a universe, only to see that universe destroyed ... and there was no place for him in the Kingdom.

Takanuva would tell the ruling council what had happened down below, and warn them to beware of any other Rahkshi who might still lurk below, clad in shadow armor. He would stay long enough to see a statue erected of Matoro, the Toa who had been granted that rarest of commodities: a second chance to make things right.

Turaga Takanuva would ask his Toa counterpart to stay, even knowing what the answer would be. In the end, the Brutaka of this universe would use his Kanohi Olmak to send Takanuva back into the space between dimensions, on his journey to Karda Nui. There was much to be done, and still a very long way to go.

And that's the end of Part 2!!

The Kingdom

2008-07-02T21:46:00.001-07:00

WARNING!!! Contains Spoilers!!!
"The Kingdom" was a 2 part story
released on BIONICLE.com It could only
be accessed by a BIO Code found in
Legends 10: Swamp of Secrets.

Note: The following was copied from
BioSector01

Part 1

Takanuva, Toa of Light, fell through inter-dimensional space, trying hard not to scream. A moment before, he had stepped through a dimensional portal created by Brutaka. His mission: travel to Karda Nui and warn the six Toa Nuva there of a disaster about to occur.

Somehow, though, this trip was not going as planned. Takanuva was being buffeted about, catching glimpses now and then of weird other worlds filled with beings both familiar and unfamiliar. He could guess that if he somehow wound up in one of those places, he might never find his way back to his own universe.

Suddenly, there was a jolt worse than any before. He was spinning wildly, out of control. There was an instant of complete darkness, followed by a very bright light, and then Takanuva slammed onto a rocky shore. He lay there, stunned, for a long time. When he finally lifted his head, it was to view a sight he could never have imagined.

The city before him was vast. It made Metru Nui look like a collection of stone-cutter shacks. Multiple design styles had combined to create a megalopolis that stretched for as far as the eye could see. Some of the buildings looked like ones in Metru Nui – he recognized the Coliseum, for example – others were totally strange and some almost primitive.

Takanuva glanced up at the sky. No, it didn't look like the one over Metru Nui. It looked – oh, no, that couldn't be, he thought. It was the same shade of blue as the one over the island of Mata Nui.

That's impossible, he said to himself. Everyone left Mata Nui to move back to Metru Nui months ago. And Mata Nui was never this size, or filled with so many beings and buildings!

He stood up and looked around. Everywhere, he could see Matoran of all kinds hard at work. That certainly wasn't unusual. Of course, the fact that they were working side by side with Bohrok, Skakdi, and Visorak was downright shocking.

"Hey," said a voice from behind him. "Who are you? Where did you come from?"

Takanuva turned. A Ga-Matoran, Macku, was there. She gave no sign of recognizing him.

"I'm Toa Takanuva," he answered. "Can you tell me where I am?"

"You're not Takanuva," said Macku, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Try again ... or would you rather we call the Hunters?"

"But I am Takanuva. I know I look different, but -- "

"That's for sure," laughed Macku. "You're a lot taller. Or have you never seen Turaga Takanuva, stranger?"

"Turaga -?" sputtered Takanuva. He recovered quickly. "Um, maybe I was a little confused. Tell me, do you know where I could find Jaller?"

"At the Great Furnace, naturally," said Macku, suspicion in her voice. "What do you want him for?"

"I have, um, a message for him from an old friend," Takanuva replied.

It took some doing, but he finally convinced Macku to escort him into the city, which she called "the kingdom of the Great Spirit." The first person she brought him to was a tall, strong warrior carrying a massive axe. He looked Takanuva over for a minute, then nodded. "He's not a shapeshifter. And he really does think he's Takanuva."

"Thanks, Axonn," said Macku. "So he's crazy then?"

"Not sure," said Axonn. He reached out and snatched away Takanuva's Staff of Light. "Might be better not to let him walk around the city with this. You know how the Turaga feels about citizens carrying weapons."

They walked through the streets of the city, as shock followed shock for Takanuva. Over there were Matoran buying wares from street stands run by Vortixx; further on, a Skakdi was hawking a show, boasting of the amazing Visorak pyramid that could be seen inside for just five widgets. And on every street corner, there was the presence of law enforcers – not Toa, not even Vahki, but Dark Hunters!

Macku left Takanuva with Toa Jaller. The Toa of Fire looked the same as he always had, but he viewed Takanuva without the wariness the Ga-Matoran had. "Well, you're obviously not Takanuva," he said. "But as long as you're not a Makuta in disguise, you're welcome in the kingdom. What can I do for you?"

"Just talk to me," Takanuva said. "Tell me about this place. Are we ... is this really the island of Mata Nui?”

Jaller laughed. "Wow. I haven't heard it called that in close to 10,000 years. Anyway, yes, this was the island of Mata Nui, but it's a lot more than that now."

"I see that. What ... I mean, how ...?"

Jaller pointed to a massive stone wall. "That's what you want. There's a Wall of History in every district – Kopeke made sure of that. You'll find answers there." Jaller paused, and then added, "You know, it's funny. I know I never met you, but somehow you seem familiar. Why did you ask to see me, anyway?"

Takanuva thought about telling Jaller the truth. He could share all sorts of things only the real Takanuva would know. But then he decided that, at best, he would scare his old friend ... and at worst, he would wind up arrested by the Hunters.

"Right. Well, I met Turaga Takanuva once, and he ... um ... told me what a great friend you were. He said if I was ever in trouble, to come see you."

"Well, that's a pleasant surprise," said Jaller. "None of the Toa Mahri are very popular around here, even after all this time ... even after how things turned out. I don't think anyone's even seen Matoro in five or six thousand years."

The name startled Takanuva. Matoro was dead, killed when he sacrificed his life to save the Great Spirit Mata Nui and the universe. A theory was starting to form in the mind of the Toa of Light, and the Wall of History was where it could be proven or disproven. He thanked Jaller and hurried on.

Yes, it was all there all right. The first thing he noticed was the date – it was 10,000 years after he had left Metru Nui! But that wasn't half as surprising as the story the carvings told.

The Toa Mahri had journeyed to the underwater city of Mahri Nui in search of the Mask of Life, just as he recalled. But after that, the story had changed. Toa Matoro - referred to in the carvings as the "Disgraced One" – had hesitated a few moments too long in his pursuit of the mask. The core of the universe had been sealed off, making it impossible for him to revive the Great Spirit Mata Nui with the mask. And Mata Nui, ruler and protector of the entire Matoran universe, had died.

But the tale didn't end there. The Turaga of Metru Nui had been planning for just such an eventuality. Mobilizing the Toa, the Vortixx, the Skakdi, and many of the universe's other species, they led a mass migration to the surface over the course of a few days. The Order of Mata Nui revealed its existence and helped as well. Even as more and more beings poured from Metru Nui up to the Mata Nui, those who were already there worked to construct floating platforms to hold them all. Naturally, not everyone made it – it just wasn't physically possible to evacuate a universe in that short an amount of time – but many did. It was obvious that only by working together could they survive on the surface, and so the concept of the Kingdom was born.

Only two species from the original universe were not represented here. The Zyglak had refused to evacuate, choosing death over accepting assistance from Matoran. The Makuta attempted to migrate, only to find their way barred by Toa Takanuva and the Order. Together, they drove the Makuta back underground, and no sign had been seen of them since. His destiny achieved, Takanuva had sacrificed his power to bring a new generation of Toa into being. These included Toa Kapura, Toa Balta, Toa Dalu, Toa Velika, Toa Defilak, and a new Toa of Light, Tanma. Takanuva had then become a Turaga and was named leader of the Kingdom in recognition of his heroism.

Things got stranger from there. Turaga Takanuva had formed a new ruling council, consisting of Turaga Dume, a prime Skakdi warlord, Roodaka, the Shadowed One, Helryx, and a Nynrah Matoran. Dark Hunters had become the primary law enforcers, while Toa were put to work using their powers to help the city in other ways. First, they prevented the collapse of the original island in the wake of Mata Nui's death. Then they created new and more stable land masses to support the city's expansion. After 10 millennia, the Kingdom was now a mega-city and home to all the survivors of the original universe.

Turaga Takanuva and his Council ruled from the Coliseum. Toa Takanuva not only couldn't resist paying a visit to his other self, but he needed to find some way out of here. The Wall had shown him he had not simply traveled into his future somehow. This was not his universe at all.

As he walked, he had to admit that part of his wished he didn't have to leave. Who would have imagined that Matoro's failure would have resulted in a paradise like this? Everywhere he looked, he saw beings of different species working side by side. Only Toa and Hunters carried weapons, but they looked like they hadn't been used in ages.

He expected to find the Coliseum heavily guarded, but the opposite was the case. The seat of government was open to all in the Kingdom. Instead of asking to see Turaga Takanuva, though, he sent a message to Helryx. It was short, reminding her of what her original plan had been to warn the Toa Nuva about conditions in Karda Nui and asking if she could get him in to see the Turaga.

That produced results. Takanuva was escorted by Trinuma into the Turaga's chamber at the top of the Coliseum. Turaga Takanuva was in conference with Toa Tanma and Roodaka. Resting in the center of a large table was a Rahkshi head.

"You say this Rahkshi appeared in the center of the city, near the Piraka fountain?" the Turaga said.

Roodaka nodded. "A bunch of Fe-Matoran were there feeding Avak and Thok, making plans to add iron supports to the western land mass. They spotted a Panrahk and called the Hunters, who took care of it. This is all that was left."

"It shouldn't have been able to get through," said Tanma, grimly.

"Maybe it was an accident," Turaga Takanuva offered, sounding as if he didn't believe it himself. "Maybe one slipped through before the light barriers went up and has been hiding here all this time."

"I wish," said Toa Tanma.

"The light barriers are going down," said Toa Takanuva. All three turned to look at him, startled. "I ... know a little about light."

Turaga Takanuva started to say something, then stopped. He turned to Roodaka and Tanma and asked them to leave the chamber. Once they were gone, he said, "How is this possible?"

"You know, then?" said the Toa.

"How could I not?" said the Turaga. "And Helryx has told me what she planned to do, if things had gone differently. You're from ... someplace else, I take it?"

The Toa nodded. "Someplace else, it's true, but not someplace as peaceful. You have done an amazing job." He smiled. "I'm proud of me."

The Turaga shook his head. "It can't last. Onua and the others have done all they can, but the original island cannot survive much longer. We will have to move on again, perhaps to the stars if Nuju and Nuparu's project works. But until then, the Makuta – if they still live -- must not be allowed into the Kingdom!"

Turaga Takanuva looked at his Toa counterpart from another universe, not his own. "I know this isn't your world, and I know the message you carry is vital. But Tanma ... and the entire Kingdom ... could use your aid. When you're done, we can find a way to send you back. Will you help?"

Toa Takanuva nodded. "Of course. But ... I could use my Staff of Light back."

Turaga Takanuva smiled. "Oh, that weapon went out of style 10,000 years ago. I think we can find you something better than that, old friend."

Part 2 coming soon!!

BIO Codes

2008-07-02T21:36:00.000-07:00

Enter these codes in the Battle for Power or
Kanoka Club and it will unlock rewards.

BIO527

opo612

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The Mutran Chronicles

2008-07-02T02:49:00.000-07:00

This is the last story serial during Winter 2008.
(Note: the following is copied from BioSector01, the BIONICLE
wikipedia!)

Chapter 1

As I, Makuta Mutran, recline in my hive in Karda Nui, carving this record, I am gratified by the sight of Shadow Leeches taking form in their bubbling vats. The invasion of the universe core is proceeding well, my newest creations are spreading darkness and corruption, and in general, it is good to be alive.

My assistant, Vican, is busily stuffing a failed experiment back into its crate. Normally, I dispose of any "accidents" as soon as possible... but in this case, this hissing, biting, and incredibly toxic creation would make a fine gift for Chirox.

Ah, Chirox... it was only 100 millennia or so ago that we were the best of friends, working together to create new and better Rahi to aid the Matoran.

It was during the reign of Makuta Miserix, first leader of the Brotherhood. The fortress of Destral had only recently been constructed and all Makuta were based there. Our sole job at the time was Rahi creation. I recall one particular day when Chirox and I were bent over our slab, trying to make something useful out of one of Spiriah's experiments.

"Too many legs," muttered Chirox. "And those teeth..."

"Do we break it down and start over?" I asked. "Or simply lock it in a room with Spiriah?"

Miserix chose this moment to enter. He took one look at the squirming thing on the table and snorted in disgust. Then he glanced up at us. "We have a... situation," he said. "The inhabitants of Xia are demanding higher payments for their goods than most Matoran cities can afford. I want one of you to go with Makuta Icarax and his aide, Pridak, to explain the necessity of cooperation to them."

After he left, we flipped the Rahi to see who would have to go. Unfortunately, it had two heads and no tail, so it took quite some time to arrive at a decision.

The mission was successful, of course. After days of negotiations, Icarax lost his temper. Later, after the rubble had been cleared away, the Xians were more than willing to be reasonable. We practically had to drag Pridak off the island, so taken was he with the place's potential.

It was only when we were close to Destral that I realized I had forgotten my pet project, my favorite sentient rock. "I must have left it in the center of the island when we were inspecting the factories," I said. "Most disturbing... I never travel without it, but it can be... difficult."

"What's the problem?" growled Icarax. "It's a rock."

"Well, true," I answered. "That is, unless it starts eating Xians and grows into a Mountain. Still, what are the odds of that ever happening?"

We sailed on then, leaving behind an island full of factories, a hard-working population of Xians... and a very, very hungry rock.

Chapter 2

Ah, Pridak ... it was not so very long after our excursion to Xia that he left the service of the Brotherhood of Makuta for "greater things." I gather that Makuta Miserix kept an eye on him, through an easily corruptible character named Takadox. And so the formation of the League of Six Kingdoms came of little surprise to us.

That's not to say we were happy about it. Oh, my, no. It was one thing to know you were always below the Great Spirit on the ladder of power – quite another to be receiving strongly worded "requests" from six jumped-up warlords who didn't know their proper place in things.

Well do I remember sitting in a cold, damp chamber in some Barraki tower, listening to Pridak and Kalmah discuss how they intended to carve up the known universe into territories. We Makuta would continue to provide Rahi beasts and anything else they might need that was within our power to give them. Miserix listened to all this with growing impatience until he could take no more.

"Insolent gnats," he spat. "The Makuta serve only Mata Nui. We do not put our secret knowledge to work for every being with a strong arm and legions of rabble behind him."

Pridak leaned forward, smiling. "That 'rabble' is prepared to march on Destral on my orders. Before your Toa and Rahkshi can even marshal their forces, we will have taken your fortress ... and claimed your precious secrets. You would do well to remember that, while you serve Mata Nui, we are his chosen rulers in this universe."

"Then perhaps the Great Spirit is not as smart as we have been led to believe," said Icarax.

I glanced at Takadox then. A member of the League and a seller of information to the Brotherhood, he truly belonged with neither side. Perhaps that is why he looked like he wished he could sink into the floor.

Pridak rose, followed by Kalmah and the others. "You have a choice, Makuta – cooperation, or conquest. I trust you will choose wisely."

"What about the places not on your map?" asked Makuta Chirox. "Artakha ... Metru Nui ... the unknown lands to the south ..."

"We are in ... discussions with Metru Nui," said Kalmah. "As for Artakha, let the old fool putter among his creations. And the southern lands are fit only for stone rats and lohrak."

"Then this lot should fit right in," I muttered, earning a glare from Kalmah.

"This meeting is over," said Pridak coldly. "We will expect fresh war beasts as requested. If you choose to obstruct the designs of the Great Spirit, then your fate will be on your own heads."

One by one, the League members filed out, Takadox shooting a worried glance at Miserix as he departed. After they were gone, Miserix turned to his most trusted lieutenant and spoke the words that (though we did not know it then) sealed the Barraki's fate:

"Swords so easily drawn beg to be used ... and are rarely so easy to put away again. These Barraki may prove troublesome. Watch them."

Chapter 3

The war was over.

Not that I got to witness the final, grand battle between the forces of the Brotherhood of Makuta and the upstart League of Six Kingdoms. Oh, no – Miserix's lieutenant claimed the honor of leading the attack and getting all the glory. I and another Makuta, Gorast, were sent on what amounted to clean-up duty in the fortress of Kalmah.

Needless to say, I was not excited about this task. If you have ever been to the northwestern regions of the League's territory, you know that it stinks like the breath of a Kanohi Dragon and is littered with the carcasses of dead Rahi. Of course, that last is my fault – Kalmah never showed the proper respect due a Makuta, so I never sent him Rahi with a lifespan of more than three days.

Add to that the company of Gorast, as warm and friendly as cuddling up with a spiked lava eel. She said nothing on the trip north, other than to urge me to move faster, which was fine with me. Gorast is a fierce warrior, but once you have finished discussing dismemberment, slaughter, carnage, and decapitation, she has nothing much left to say.

Kalmah's "fortress" was hardly that. Word of the League's surrender had spread and that remnant of his army that had been left behind had sacked the place. They had fled before we arrived, so that all we found was a pile of rock and debris. A brief search revealed no signs of any weapons, charts, equipment, or anything else that would be of use.

After a while, Gorast spotted a few stragglers and hunted them down. I tried to clear some of the rubble to make a space to sit down. That was when I spotted the carving. Looking it over, I realized that some of my creations – the Rahi beasts I named "Blade Burrowers" – had defied the odds and survived. What's more, Kalmah had discovered something most interesting about them. When enough blade burrowers are present, they start to tunnel every which way. At first glance, the tunnels look random – two long, curved ones running north and south, with smaller ones in between them – with the same pattern of construction, repeated over and over again. But Kalmah had realized they were not random at all, as any fool could see. No – the blade burrowers were constructing a map.

But... a map of what?

That question plagues me to this day. The shape of the tunnels looks like no land mass I know of. I even once tried having an imprisoned Toa wearing a Mask of Translation communicate with the burrowers, but to no avail. It seems the burrowers don't know why they are building the tunnels in this pattern either, only that they must.

I felt certain then, and still do now, that this means something ... perhaps something devastating. But it is a mystery beyond even the Brotherhood's capacity to solve ... and although a Makuta should never admit to feeling fear, I confess the memory of that carving haunts my dreams.

Chapter 4

There is nothing quite so... amusing... as Matoran at war with each other. There they are, with their powerless masks and their little weapons, trying to look formidable as they march into battle. One has to laugh.

Of course, Makuta Miserix did not find the situation at all amusing. A mere 500 years after the defeat of the League of Six Kingdoms, the Matoran of Metru Nui had gone to war with each other. It had begun as a simple dispute over boundaries and trade between Ta-Metru and Po-Metru. It escalated when Po-Matoran sank some of the transport barges and Ta-Matoran destroyed a Po-Matoran warehouse with molten protodermis. Onu-Metru sided with the fire Matoran, Le-Metru with the stone. The Ko-Matoran attempted to intervene and were rebuffed, which pushed them into the Po-Matoran camp. Ga-Matoran efforts to remain neutral failed miserably and they eventually sided with fire and earth as well.

Work ground to a halt as arguments evolved into pitched battles. Entire blocks of streets were badly damaged or destroyed. With no Toa stationed there, and the Turaga ineffective, it seemed as if nothing could halt the destruction. This suited me just fine, since I was using the chaos as an opening to slip new Rahi into the city to test their destructive potential.

Miserix ordered his lieutenant to step in and stop the fighting. By this time, that particular Makuta was already contemplating the overthrow of the Great Spirit Mata Nui, so no doubt he saw this as an opportunity to show how well the Makuta could impose order. Unfortunately, his solution was to seal large numbers of the opposing armies in the Archives and unleash the exhibits on them. It was, needless to say, quite a mess to clean up later. And it did nothing to inspire great love for the Brotherhood in the hearts of the Matoran, though they certainly behaved themselves afterwards.

What happened to the war leaders, we do not know. Possibly they were spirited off as the Barraki had been, to parts unknown. But from that time on, Miserix decided that each of us would be assigned a particular region to watch over. His lieutenant was assigned the prize of Metru Nui, while I was given the center section of the Matoran mainland. (Not that I ever paid much attention to what was going on there, being too busy with my experiments. Really, who cared what happened to a few Matoran here or there? There were always more where they came from.)

Of course, much of what I have related here, I did not witness personally. No, after the war was well underway, I was given another job by Miserix. By the time the Archives Massacre took place, I was well to the south, heading for a meeting with a legend... a legend named Tren Krom.

Chapter 5

Wherever you may travel in this vast universe of ours, it is likely you will run across someone who will tell you that Tren Krom is no more than a myth... just a legend of antiquity, no more real than Irnakk or any other figment of the imagination. Setting foot upon his island will not bring terrible consequences, they insist, just a pleasant walk on a rocky beach. To those beings, of course, I say, "What would you like for your memorial upon your death? So I can start planning it now."

For it is a well known fact to those who know it well that Tren Krom is no myth. He is older than the stars themselves, born in a time when there was no Mata Nui, no Makuta, only never-ending darkness that encompassed all. He walked through a universe in the throes of its birth, and even the shadows feared him. To meet Tren Krom was to court madness, or worse... so naturally, the Brotherhood chose me to seek him out.

The reason for the meeting was obvious: the Brotherhood could not allow a being of such power to dwell unchecked in our universe. We had to know his intent and whether he posed a threat to the lands we watched over. Thus I followed a trail of half-remembered stories told by the mad until I reached the shore of an island whose shores had not welcomed a visitor in millennia.

In the interests of writing a complete record, I should include every detail of my time there. In the interests of the sanity anyone reading this, I will not. Even when I look back now, I remember only a scarlet mass, a face that was not a face, tentacles lined with tiny, sharpened hooks, eyes that were little more than holes in a gelatinous skull, and that voice... oh, that voice made Makuta Teridax sound lilting and sweet.

I expected to die. When Tren Krom's mind touched mine, and I saw the reality of what he was, I almost wanted to perish in that moment... better that than to live with the memory. But he saw something in my thoughts that must have intrigued him... hard to imagine what it might have been, given how alien he was to any form of life. Rather than crush me in his grasp, Tren Krom explored my consciousness, like an Archives mole rooting about for a meal. It was amazing... it was horrifying... it was a view into a mind as far beyond mine as mine is beyond a fireflyer's... and it was feeling my mind turn into a nest of serpents, hissing and slithering and trailing slime.

Then everything went black.

When I awoke again, I lay on the deserted beach. There was no sign of Tren Krom, or even the cavern in which I had encountered him. I thought perhaps the whole thing had been a nightmare, some trick of my fellow Makuta... and then I knew it could not be. For I understood now... I knew how the universe worked, and as much as my mind could stand, why the universe worked.

And I knew one thing more – that Makuta Teridax's mad dreams of overthrowing the Great Spirit Mata Nui were not just fantasies. It was possible. It could work. The knowledge I held was the ammunition for the weapon Teridax would one day wield, a weapon that would win us a universe.

Chapter 6

Well do I remember the day Makuta Teridax first revealed his Plan. I had only recently returned with the information I learned on the island of Tren Krom, knowledge he listened to without comment. Then he did something no Makuta other than Miserix had ever done – he demanded a Convocation.

Technically, any Makuta could demand that all members assemble on Destral. But normally, only the leader of the Brotherhood would ever do it. Worse, Teridax had not bothered to get Miserix's permission to do this. The two were on a collision course from the start.

Teridax stated his idea briefly and clearly: we were to strike at the Great Spirit Mata Nui and seize power in the universe. Some of our number, like Gorast and Bitil, were immediately on board. Vamprah and Krika kept silent, for reasons of their own. A handful of others raised objections. Teridax seemed to listen carefully to them, but I could tell he was really memorizing a list of who they were for later.

Miserix, of course, saw this for what it was – a naked bid to take over leadership of the Brotherhood. His response was to rise from the head of the table, hurl a bolt of shadow energy from his gauntlet and blast Teridax halfway through the wall. I started to rise, intending to help him back to his feet. But a look from Miserix froze me where I stood.

"Treason," said Miserix. "Worse than treason – stupidity. Succeed in your grand design and you risk the death of the universe itself."

"A risk," said Teridax, brushing rock dust off his armor, "I am willing to take."

"And what will you use to attack the Great Spirit?" sneered Miserix. "Your shadow hand? A troop of Rahkshi? You are an insect in the eyes of Mata Nui... and in mine."

If I could have ducked under the table and maintained my dignity as a Makuta, I would have. Teridax vaulted the length of the room and caught Miserix by the throat. He slammed the leader of the Brotherhood against one wall, then another, before flinging him down to the ground. Before Miserix could react, Teridax had his staff at our leader's throat.

"You are a relic," Teridax snarled. "This universe belongs to the strong, and your position of power has made you weak."

Miserix grabbed the staff, sending a surge of lightning up it that sent Teridax hurtling backwards. "Insolent worm," Miserix shouted, rising. "You would lead the Brotherhood to destruction and disgrace!"

"I would lead it... to supremacy," Teridax said. "Supremacy that is ours by right." He turned to the rest of the assembled Makuta. "I leave it to you... to choose who you will follow."

Gorast and Bitil moved immediately to his side. Vamprah, Antroz, Chirox and Spiriah followed. I hesitated for a moment, but could not escape the fact that of all present, I knew his Plan could work. So I too joined Teridax. Others did as well, with Krika and Icarax being the last to come stand beside us. Only a small number of Makuta sided with Miserix. Seeing that they were outnumbered, they moved – somewhat reluctantly – to our side. Miserix was left alone.

"I claim leadership of the Brotherhood, through the will of the Convocation," Teridax said. "The Plan will go forward. As my first act... I sentence you, Miserix, to death. Krika, Spiriah, you will carry out my will."

Miserix, stunned and enraged, looked at the assembled Makuta with contempt. "You are suicidal fools, tampering with the very order of the universe. And this... this maniac will lead you nowhere but to your deaths!"

The former leader of the Brotherhood stared hard into the crimson eyes of the new one. "This is not over, Teridax. Kill me, scatter my remains from here to Metru Nui, but someday... I will be avenged."

Teridax had already lost interest. He was huddled with Chirox and myself, discussing how best to strike at the Great Spirit. Krika and Spiriah moved in quickly, knowing Miserix's penchant for shapeshifting into exceedingly nasty reptilian creatures. They hauled him out of the chamber. I would never see him again.

This is not the end of the tale, of course. Over the next year, Gorast and Icarax tracked down and killed all the Makuta who had stood by Miserix's side. Teridax would order their masks nailed to the wall in the Convocation Chamber as a warning to others who might consider rebellion.

The only thing that puzzled me was that one mask was missing from that group... the one worn by Miserix. What, I wondered, had Krika done with it?

Chapter 7

Bitil was the first one to notice. We were both visiting Destral at the time, laying plans to support Teridax's planned coup against Mata Nui. As I recall we were discussing how unfortunate it was so much of the plan might hinge on the actions of Makuta Kojol, who oversaw the region of Artakha. Kojol was a secretive sort, never sharing what he knew with anyone, not even the location of Artakha itself. His specialties were flying Rahi and sea Rahi, both of whom protected his region from any intrusion, even by us.

But I must stay on the subject. Bitil was making a point in his usual way, by throwing a weapon at the wall. He went to pick up an axe and found he couldn't make his armor move. It was like all his muscles had turned to water. My amusement at his panic faded when I realized the same thing was happening to me.

Chirox pulled away some of Kojol's armor, only to see a greenish-black mist rising from inside the shell. Worried, Chirox caught a sample, then did a crude patch of the armor. After extensive tests, he returned to inform us of his results.

"This," he began, holding up a tube with the mist inside, "is what is left of our bodies. We have evolved from muscle and tissue to pure energy. No longer do we need to eat, or breathe, nor do we need fear the pains that come with advanced age.

"But there is more," he continued. "If a Makuta's energy disperses, his consciousness will disappear and he will die. So it is critical to guard against damage to our armor that might allow our essence to escape."

How did I feel about this, you might wonder. Intrigued... resentful that Chirox figured out what was happening before I did... and unsure what this meant for the future of we Makuta. Would we be more powerful now that we did not have to worry about organs and muscles being harmed? Would the fear of our armor being pierced and our energy dispersed make us too cautious?

Teridax wasted no time worrying. He ordered the "Nynrah ghosts" brought to Destral so that they could modify our armor to take advantage of our new "bodies." They added additional layers of protosteel, possible now that we had no physical forms that required space.

An unexpected benefit of our new existence was discovered in quite a painful way (for me, at least). Wandering through the fortress, I encountered a lone Exo-Toa. When I tried to pass it, the robot picked me up and threw me the length of the hallway, all the while laughing a most familiar laugh.

"Chirox?" I asked, getting back to my feet – for that was whose laugh I heard.

"Our new forms," came the reply. 'With them, we can take over robot bodies – perhaps living ones, too, I do not know. Think of it – the ultimate disguise!"

"Ah, yes," I answered. "Once again, you find a better way to hide."

He fired a missile from the armor in response, but not fast enough. I stalked over and tore an arm off the robot, then smiled as I saw his energies begin to drift out of the gap. My smile grew broader as I heard him cursing in my mind, while he directed his energies back toward his empty Makuta armor in another chamber.

The idea of destroying the armor before he could reach it did, I admit, cross my mind. Did I refrain out of mercy, or kindness, or some sense of fellowship with my brother Makuta?

No, no, quite the opposite. I simply knew how long Chirox had been struggling to develop a flying serpent with just the right amount of exterior slime to allow it to slither through small crevices, while not so much that it left a trail wherever it went. And as soon as he was back in his body, I was going to take a great deal of joy in introducing him to my Lohrak, wings, slime, and all...

Chapter 8

Well do I remember the first time I saw the Kanohi Avohkii, or Mask of Light. Truly no more vile or disgusting thing has ever been created in this universe. There it was in the hands of Teridax, not even having the courtesy to be the color of a lump of clay when not being worn – oh, no, the Avohkii gleamed golden. Locked within it was the one power we Makuta dreaded, and the unspoken promise of something far worse – the existence, someday, of an actual Toa of Light.

Whispered rumors had reached Destral that such a mask had come into existence on Artakha. Natually, Makuta Kojol, being the idiot he was, had not learned this directly. But he was more than ready to lead an armada against the island and seize the thing.

Teridax wanted a subtle operation, a few Rahkshi, that's all. Kojol, at his peril, chose to ignore this. He assembled a strike force of Visorak, Rahkshi, and even a few Exo-Toa, intending to overwhelm any defenses on the island with one crushing blow.

It didn't quite work out that way. The first things the Visorak ran into when they hit the beach were two massive serpents that seemed to be made of crystal. The Visorak, supremely confident as always, thought they would make short work of such large Rahi. Instead, the rays of the sun focused through the bodies of the snakes promptly incinerated Kojol's entire first wave.

Kojol pulled his ships back and tried another approach. Fortunately, Rahkshi are good climbers and were able to get a clawhold on more treacherous terrain. While the Matoran on the island posed little threat, the devices of the island's ruler – also named Artakha – took a heavy toll on the Rahkshi. They bought enough time for the Exo-Toa to deploy, however, and with their power added to the battle, the island fell.

Kojol could have - should have – taken everything in sight from the fortress. But it took him so long to come ashore, and so long to find the Avohkii (since the interior of the fortress was booby-trapped), and then he claims there was this intense blizzard as he tried to depart. Worse, he was never supposed to have set foot on the island at all – the point was for this to be a secret raid, not one that could be tied to the Brotherhood. (True, Visorak and Rahkshi are associated with us, but without the actual presence of a Makuta there, we could still deny knowledge of what happened.)

Kojol returned to Destral in "triumph", and despite disobeying orders, Teridax praised him for claiming the mask. The Toa Hagah who served us showed no indication they knew anything about the raid, meaning somehow our plans were still safe from view. The story, it seemed, was over.

Then something strange began to happen. Two squads of Rahkshi dispatched to a remote part of the southern continent were never seen alive again. When I found them, their armor was reduced to scraps and their kraata to dark smears on the ground. It seemed an interesting coincidence that they were the same Rahkshi who were on the Artakha raid.

The Exo-Toa were next. In the middle of the night, they vanished from their guard posts. To this day, we have no idea what became of them. By then, I was beginning to suspect that Artakha, or someone close to him, was taking revenge for our raid. That would mean Kojol would be next. Teridax needed to be informed immediately...

So, naturally, I did nothing.

Why? Because Kojol was a posturing, arrogant, obnoxious buffoon. If someone else wanted to spare me the trouble of killing him one day, so be it.

Oh, it looked like an accident, of course. He was visiting Xia, presenting them with a new armor-eating virus he wanted them to incorporate into a weapon. Either he made the virus better than he knew or else someone substituted a different one – for when it escaped, it turned out to have a taste for protosteel. His armor was devoured in seconds. Well, accidents happen. Of course, that didn't explain how his energy form wound up in a high-temperature Vortixx furnace where it was completely destroyed.

The virus had died almost immediately upon finishing its work, and we have never seen its like again. The Vortixx claimed innocence, but Teridax ordered part of the island razed anyway, as a reminder to them to be more careful in future.

It was only later that I realized what a fool I had been. Kojol was the only one who knew where the island of Artakha was, and I should have forced the knowledge from him before he died. When the Brotherhood tried to seek out others likely to know where the island might be located, we found that all had mysteriously died. Artakha – if it was him – was being very thorough.

In the end, we did not keep the Mask of Light for long. Teridax's squad of Toa Hagah actually dared invade the Destral fortress and steal the mask! They paid for it in the end – remind me to write sometime of Roodaka's nasty sense of humor – but they did escape with the mask.

Once that happened – once we knew there were Toa who had divined our new purpose in life – the Plan had to go forward swiftly. The time had come to bring down the Great Spirit and begin our march to power.

Chapter 9

Perhaps readers of this chronicle will have heard the old saying, "When Teridax is away, the Rahi will play." Our leader spent most of his time off of Destral, particularly after the Toa Hagah's rebellion. This left the rest of us to our own devices, particularly when we were visiting that island.

For example, shortly after Teridax left for Metru Nui to initiate the next stage of the Plan, I had a visit from Chirox. He was holding a dead specimen of my new Rahi, the Lohrak. He did not look at all happy, which was nothing new.

"Lohrak! Lohrak?" Chirox raged. "I created the Lohrak, millennia ago, and it wasn't this... this... winged waste of protodermis! How dare you use the same name and try to replace my creation!"

"Your creation is best forgotten," I replied. "As usual, you design Rahi that are a bludgeon rather than a dagger. I, on the other hand, put some subtlety into my work. It's as if I signed my name to them."

"Signed your name?" spat Chirox. "You can't even spell your name!"

I was about to crush him with the perfect insult in response when the world shook. We were both thrown off our feet as a violent earthquake struck Destral. Masonry cracked, ceilings collapsed, and it was all I could to do to shapeshift a pair of claws to dig into the stone floor and hold on. The shaking lasted perhaps a few seconds, or perhaps forever, depending on your viewpoint.

When it was over, I struggled to my feet. The fortress of Destral was in ruins. Some of our prisoners were dead, some wounded. At least one of my fellow Makuta had seen his armor damaged to the point where his energy was floating freely in the air (fortunately, we were able to get him into an Exo-Toa body until his armor could be repaired). Most beings would have reacted to this event with despair, even panic, and I have no doubt many of those mewling Matoran out in the larger universe were doing just that.

But not Chirox and I, for we knew what the tremors meant. They were a sign that the Plan had worked – Mata Nui had fallen before the Brotherhood's attack! Now, if all went right, Teridax would seize complete control of the city of Metru Nui and we would be close to the power we all longed for.

Alas, the best laid plans of Makuta and Matoran... the days following the fall of the Great Spirit proved to be a complete fiasco. Consider:

• Our glorious leader was defeated in battle by six novice Toa and a Turaga.

• The Metru Nui Matoran we so prized were spirited out of the universe by those same Toa, leaving the city of legends abandoned.

• Sidorak was killed and our Visorak legions scattered to the winds.

• Teridax's rash actions led to the deaths of two Dark Hunters and ended up sparking a war with that organization that rages to this day.

• The Mask of Time – a treasure beyond price – wound up in the hands of a Toa, along with a pledge by Teridax not to menace the Matoran for a full year!

It was around this time that Icarax began to grumble in earnest about Teridax's leadership. He proposed his own plan: seize Metru Nui, Matoran or no Matoran, and from there launch a wave of conquest that would make the Barraki look like a bunch of irritable sand frogs. Crush entire continents beneath our heels, loot the halls of the Nynrah and Artakha (if we could ever find that island again), and dare Toa to try to dislodge us from power.

Icarax actually had the insane courage to try to implement his ideas without approval from the rest of the Brotherhood. He left his assigned realm of Karzahni and journeyed south with a small army of Manas crabs. A number of small settlements on the northern continent had fallen to him before Teridax confronted him.

The battle that followed was epic. Icarax was the better fighter, but Teridax was more cunning. He allowed Icarax to pound him for hours on end, until the rebel's energies were almost exhausted. Then Teridax exerted the smallest amount of his will and turned the Manas against Icarax. Once he was surrounded, Teridax used every power at his command to defeat... no, demolish... no, perhaps humiliate would be a better word... Icarax.

Surprisingly, after all that, Teridax let him live. "Your talents are still of some use to me, and so I will not kill you... today," the leader of the Brotherhood said. "But one day – perhaps in a year, or 1000 years, or 100,000 years – I may grow tired of you, Icarax. You may cease to be amusing, with your posturing and your boasting and your lust for battle. And on that day, your armor will be a meal for metal-eating scavengers, and your essence a wisp on the wind."

Although Icarax made light of it later – claiming Teridax had been "too afraid" to try to kill him – I know he never forgot that battle. He remains to this day a danger to the Plan and a threat to Teridax – expecting him to be anything else would be like expecting a Zivon to place its head in your lap and purr.

Teridax did not linger on Destral to oversee repairs to the fortress. He returned to his lair at Mangaia, readying himself for the prophesied arrival of the Toa Mata, the keys to all our planning, all our hopes, and all our dreams of conquest.

And that concludes the all the Winter 2008 story serials.
Stay tuned for the Summer ones!!!

Finales

2008-07-02T02:43:00.001-07:00

Finally Dark Mirror and Federation of Fear has come to an end.
Here are the final chapters. (The following was copied and pasted from
www.biosector01.com)

Federation of Fear

Chapter 9

Brutaka scanned the cavern with narrowed eyes. The glowing eyes of the insects all around made it feel as if he were trapped in some lunatic starfield. Behind him, he could hear Vezon humming softly to himself, as if out for an afternoon stroll.

“Do we fight our way out of here?” asked Lariska, hand on the hilt of her dagger.

Brutaka’s answer was to turn to Spiriah. “Okay. You control Rahi. Make them clear a path.”

“On one condition,” said Spiriah. “Once I do, I go free. I turn right around and march out, take the boat – if Takadox hasn’t already – and leave. And I never see or hear from any of you, or anyone associated with you, again.”

“I wasn’t asking you,” replied Brutaka. “I was telling you.”

“I am a Makuta,” said Spiriah. “Disgraced, perhaps; a victim of jealousy and prejudice, most definitely. But I will not be dictated to by some obnoxious, insane --”

Brutaka hit Spiriah a solid blow in the mask, knocking the Makuta over the side of the narrow bridge. Spiriah caught on to the span, just barely, and hung in space.

“I think this is what they call ‘in no position to deal,’” said Brutaka. He triggered his mask power, opening a dimensional portal in space just below Spiriah’s feet. “If I move that opening just a little bit further toward you, you’ll find yourself in a dimension full of beings made of solid light. Know what they eat there? Shadow. You’ll be a food bank for them, Spiriah, but I have to warn you – they’re always hungry. And they don’t close their mouths when they chew.”

Spiriah said nothing. Instead, he reduced his density and floated up and away from Brutaka’s portal. Then he drifted back down to the bridge and turned solid once more. “I’ll do it,” he said. “Then I leave. I advise you not to try and stop me.”

The Makuta concentrated, triggering his power to control Rahi beasts. Nothing happened, other than restless stirring among the insects. After a few moments, Spiriah gave up in frustration. “They’re already under the control of a more powerful will. It must be Miserix.”

Brutaka gestured toward the wall of insect life that blocked the way they had come. “Then I guess you’re not leaving.” He turned to Lariska. “And we’re fighting. You stay back with Vezon. Roodaka, Spiriah and I will lead the way.”

On Brutaka’s signal, he and his two powerful allies unleashed their powers at the insects who blocked the passage way up ahead. As quickly as the crimson creatures fell, more came to replace them. Worse, the ones behind were now skittering across the bridge, closing in on Vezon and Lariska.

“I have an idea,” said Roodaka, summoning a Rhotuka disk into her launcher. She fired at the insects up ahead, the power of her disk mutating them into unrecognizable creatures. An instant later, the other insects fell upon the unfortunate victims of her attack. The mutated insects were dead in seconds, killed for being different than the rest of the species.

Seeing that her ploy had worked, Roodaka repeated the process, this time focusing on the insects blocking the end of the bridge. As the mutations took hold and their former allies turned on them, an opening appeared in the wall of living creatures. With a roar of triumph, she led a charge across the bridge and into the tunnel beyond. The team didn’t stop running until they were well away from the cavern.

“Are they following?” asked Brutaka.

“They don’t seem to be,” Lariska answered. “Maybe they don’t like to leave their nest.”

“”Or maybe they just know we have to go back out that way, so they can eat us then,” Vezon offered, cheerfully.

“Maybe there’s another way out up ahead,” said Brutaka.

“Or maybe we’ll get to like it here,” said Vezon. “A few grass mats, some cave drawings, the heads of my enemies mounted on the wall … it could be quite pleasant.”

“Brutaka!” Roodaka called from up ahead. “I think you had best see this.”

The team rushed through the tunnel to join Roodaka. She was standing at the tunnel’s end, looking out at another vast chamber. More specifically, she was looking at the largest occupant of the chamber, a massive dragon-like beast chained to the stone floor. All around it flew much smaller Rahi, darting and dodging the shadow hand that occasionally shot out from the creature’s chest.

“What … is that?” asked Lariska.

Brutaka shook his head in amazement. “Well, it’s about 40 feet tall, red and silver, with four legs, a tail, and a nasty disposition – and it’s who we’re here to rescue.”

“Miserix,” whispered Spiriah.

“All right, we can take him home,” said Vezon, “but don’t expect me to clean up after him.”

Chapter 10

Vezon looked from the massive, chained form of the dragon-like beast to his partners, then back at the dragon, then over to Brutaka. He opened his mouth to speak, but Brutaka cut him off.

"Don't say it," said Brutaka.

"We're going to need --" Vezon began.

"A bigger boat. I know," Brutaka said. "Anybody know what those... things... are flying all around?"

Small, winged creatures were indeed flitting all around the dragon. Now and then, one would let out a scream that shattered rock. "They're called klakk," said Makuta Spiriah. "Something Mutran created a long time back – their sonic scream is formidable. They must be meant as guardians."

Brutaka frowned. Guardians, all right, but against whom? He knew the dragon was in fact Makuta Miserix, ex-leader of the Brotherhood. He had been ordered executed, but Makuta Krika had instead chained him up here on the island of Artidax. It was Brutaka's job to rescue him so the Order of Mata Nui could use him against his former organization.

At that moment, Miserix suddenly took notice of them. His great eyes narrowed as he spoke and his voice rumbled like a distant avalanche. "Who... are... you?"

Brutaka started to say, "Friends," then decided he didn't really want to be considered a friend of that thing. "We're here to free you," he said instead. "Can you shapeshift to a smaller form?"

"Why would I wish to do that?" asked Miserix. "Do you know how many of these creatures I had to absorb to reach a size where their screams no longer pain me?"

"See, the size is a problem, your immenseness," Vezon cut in. "We only have a small boat, hardly more than a raft, really, and if it sinks we have to swim. Personally, I am not big on swimming – some friends of mine went for a swim, I heard, and now they look like sea snakes, just a head and a spine. And I have no spine, so I would be just a head, and --"

Miserix's eyes glowed red. A burst of laser vision struck Vezon, sending him tumbling backwards. "Gnat," muttered the Makuta.

Turning to check on Vezon, Brutaka saw that Spiriah had backed way up into the shadows. Miserix noticed too and bellowed, "Tell that one to come forth."

Spiriah took a reluctant step forward. At the sight of another Makuta, the dragon smiled. "Spiriah. I do remember you. When Teridax rose against me, you were one of the first to be by his side. I have so looked forward to meeting you again."

Brutaka tightened his grip on his weapon. He did not like Miserix's tone at all.

"Do you know I have not seen one of my species since Krika left me here?" Miserix continued.

"We all meant to come," Spiriah said hurriedly. "Teridax wouldn't let us. We all knew we would benefit by your experience, your power, your very presence."

"But you did not come," rumbled Miserix. "So now I shall benefit from yours."

A hand made of living shadow erupted from the dragon's chest, grabbed Spiriah, and pulled him into Miserix's body. There wasn't even time for a scream.

Vezon, back on his feet, stopped dead when he saw the Makuta consumed. "I thought we were here to rescue him from captivity," he whispered. "Not from that mid-day empty feeling."

"You know, we could just leave you here to rot," Brutaka said to Miserix. "Or wait for the next volcanic eruption to rain lava down on your oversized head. Or... you could have your chance to take revenge on your brothers. What's it going to be?"

Miserix considered. Then he leaned forward as far as his chains would allow him and said, "Make your attempt, for what good it will do."

"I have seen those kind of chains before," said Lariska. "They grow and shrink with him. They feed on his own power and use it to hold him."

Brutaka hefted his weapon. "Can they be broken?"

"Not without causing him great pain."

Brutaka gave a grim smile. "I'll cry tomorrow. Find me a weak link. Roodaka, we are going to need your help."

The Vortixx had been silent since they had entered Miserix's presence. Brutaka had no doubt she was planning something. But she dutifully stepped forward and stood beside him, her eyes never leaving the chained Makuta.

"There," said Lariska, pointing to a segment of the chain that held Miserix's right arm. "We concentrate our fire there."

Brutaka and Roodaka took aim, he with his blade, she with her outstretched hand. Energy and shadow bolts struck the weak segment of chain, bathing it in a continuous stream of power. After several minutes, the substance of the chain began to flake off. After a few more, it began to crack. Then the link shattered to pieces. Miserix screamed, loud enough to crack the mountain itself.

The klakk reacted instantly, flying toward the rescue team and unleashing their sonic screams. Vezon and Lariska fought them off, while Brutaka used his blade to parry the streams of sound. Meanwhile, Miserix raised his arm tentatively. Seeing that it was indeed free of its bonds, he reached over with it and tore the other chain from the ground. This time, he did not scream, but only smiled.

The klakk were gaining ground now, driving the team back toward where the insects were still lurking. Miserix watched the battle for a moment in silence. Then he opened his mouth and unleashed a power scream that felled the klakk, along with Vezon and Lariska. Brutaka and Roodaka barely remained conscious. Crawling over, Brutaka checked on his two team members – both were still living.

"Now, then," said Miserix. "Where is Teridax?"

Brutaka laughed. "And if I tell you, you have no reason to keep us alive. Gratitude is not high on the list of Makuta emotions. I'll show you. But you are going to need to shrink down to make it out the way we came."

"Your lack of imagination is disappointing," said Miserix, in as close to good spirits as a Makuta ever got. He reared back and struck the side of the mountain with all his might, once, twice, again. The rock cracked and began to crumble. Miserix followed up with his fragmentation power, reducing the entire side of the volcano to shards of stone. Beyond it, Brutaka could see the sky and the sea.

"At last!" said Miserix. "After so many millennia – I am free!"

Before Brutaka's startled eyes, the dragon grew wings. Then Miserix turned his crimson-scaled head to Brutaka and said, "Come. Show me where my enemy hides, so I may grind his armor to dust and feed on his energies."

"No!" shouted Roodaka. "They want to lead you into a trap! Listen to me, I too am an enemy of the Brotherhood. Brutaka wants to use you, to sacrifice you as a pawn in a war against the Makuta. I want you for an ally!"

Miserix lowered his lead and leaned in so that his massive face was up against Roodaka's. When he spoke, it was in a whisper. "Little one, I am Makuta Miserix. I am no one's pawn. I am no one's ally." His next words came in a roar that drove Roodaka back into the rock wall. "And I am no one's fool!!"

Brutaka watched, looking unimpressed. "Are you done?"

Miserix nodded slowly. "Let us go. I have a universe to rediscover."

Brutaka loaded the stunned Roodaka and the now semi-conscious Lariska and Vezon onto the dragon's back. Then he climbed on himself. Miserix unfurled his wings and stepped out into the open air. They soared high above the island, pausing only long enough for Miserix to make a muttered vow to come back and destroy the place one day. Brutaka noted that the team's boat was gone – Takadox had gotten away after all, then.

Let him run. It doesn't matter, thought Brutaka. A storm is coming to this universe, and when it hits, there will be nowhere for anyone to hide.

Miserix spread his wings and turned toward the north, carrying his passengers into the unknown.

Dark Mirror

Chapter Eight

Takanuva crouched behind a wall, a wounded Lesovikk beside him. All around, Elemental Power bursts were flying, warriors were screaming and a disaster beyond his imagination was taking place. It had all started out so well: Lesovikk's van had made it close to the Coliseum before being spotted. As planned, Takanuva had used his new found Shadow powers to blind the guards. Pohatu followed with a massive fist of stone that cracked the walls of the huge structure. To the east, Makuta Teridax led Krika, Kojol, Turaga Dume and Takua into battle.

At first, they made short work of the Matoran and Toa who guarded Tuyet's fortress. Then it all went wrong: a Toa of Iron appeared on the walls and a hail of spikes spelt the end of Takua. Takanuva watched in sheer horror as his other self collapsed and died. Kojol fell next, his armor crushed by the Toa's power, and his essence incinerated by a Toa of Plasma. Teridax was forced to pull back.

Things were going no better for Lesovikk's squad. Primal had run into Tahu in the eastern entrance, and killed the Toa of Fire. But the sudden appearance of Gali, and a sphere of Water around the Dark Hunter's head left him to drown on dry land. Toa Krakua hit Gali with a wave of solid sound, blasting apart her mask and armor. Pohatu cried out too late: Ahkmou had already dashed ahead and slain the fallen Toa of Water. He didn't get to enjoy his triumph long. Kopaka flash-froze Ahkmou, and a swipe from Onua's claws shattered the Matoran into little pieces of crystal and Protodermis.

Now it was no longer one battle, but a dozen seperate ones being fought at once, the lines moving back and forth. Pohatu fought his way into the Coliseum, but found himself too evenly matched with Onua to make much progress. Lesovikk fell with an Ice dagger in his shoulder, but rallied to blow Kopaka off his post high atop the Coliseum. Takanuva winced as the Toa of Ice hit the ground and lay still.

"Now," said Lesovikk to Takanuva, "Darkness will lead the way. Get in there and do what you have to."

"What about you?" asked Takanuva.

"We'll give them something to remember," said Lesovikk.

Takanuva took one last look around. Nuju was side-by-side with Guardian, keeping a Toa of Magnetism too off-balance to use his powers. Teridax's forces had charged again. Krika used his Vacuum power to absorb Lewa's attacks until Teridax had summoned a bolt of Lightning, powerful enough to turn a Toa into ashes.

Darkness was already on the move, slipping through the cracks in the Coliseum walls. Takanuva used his Shadow power to enlarge them and followed. Inside, the Coliseum was strangely silent. One would never know a battle raged outside its walls. A team of Toa rushed by on their way to join the fight. Steeling himself, Takanuva fired laser blasts at the ceiling, bringing the rubble down on top of them. He still found himself hoping he had only stunned them, not killed them. Together, Toa and Dark Hunter fought their way to their goal: the Hall of Masks. They had made it to the chamber door when Darkness paused. He heard something. The next instance, the door exploded outward as a wall of water erupted from within, sweeping Darkness away. Takanuva managed to grab hold of the doorway, holding on with all his might and holding his breath. Outside, Teridax's attack had met with success as Toa fell before him and Krika. Turaga Dume had rallied Lesovikk's group, although not before Nuju had been pulled into the Archives by plantlife gone wild. Guardian, too, fell, but took half a dozen Toa with him. Back in the Coliseum, the deluge had finally stopped. There, framed in the chamber doors was Toa Tuyet; Nui Stone in one hand, Mask of Dimensional Gates in the other.

"I know who you are," she said. "Or rather, I had guessed. You don't belong here."

"Neither do you," said Takanuva. "You don't exist in my world. True Toa must have stood up and stopped you before you went too far."

"In my world, I am much more... competent," she replied. "How unfortunate for you."

"Alright then," said Takanuva. "For Takua, for Lesovikk, and for all the Toa and Matoran whose lives you have ruined, I strike."

Chapter 9

Toa Tuyet stood over the battered, semi-conscious body of Takanuva, Toa of Light. He did not stir. Being blown through half-a-dozen walls by a focused tidal wave would do that to you. Tuyet smiled.

"Pathetic, truly pathetic. If you are an example of what Toa are like in your Universe, it's a wonder you haven't all been hunted to extinction by now."

The ruler of the Toa Empire slipped off her Mask of Intangibility, and replaced it with a Kanohi Olmak: the mask Takanuva had come seeking. This mask alone had the power to open gateways to inter-dimensional space, and it was Takanuva's only hope of escaping this twisted world.

"Your friends outside are dead, or soon will be. I admit I was surprised to find they still had some fight left in them after 3500 years. But, they can't be allowed to rob the Matoran of the peace I have brought them."

Takanuva managed to get to his hands and knees, rubble sliding off his back as he did so. He looked at Tuyet with eyes that held equal parts of contempt and pity.

"Peace?" he said in disbelief, "Is that what you call perverting the Toa into secret police, terrorizing the villagers, killing anyone who opposes your rule?"

"I did what had to be done. I made the world right. And who are you to judge me? You are nothing but an alien from some other dimension."

Takanuva hurled a blast of Shadow at Tuyet, temporarily cloaking her in darkness. By the time she could see again, he was gone. But his voice came from high above her, saying:

"That's true, my world is messier than yours, more dangerous in some ways, but it is a world that's better, because you're not in it, Tuyet."

The Toa of Water unleashed her power, bringing the ceiling down, but Takanuva was not there. Instead, he sprang from the opening at the far end of the hall, hurling blinding light at Tuyet as he made a grab for her mask. She spun, caught him by the arm and threw him hard to the floor.

"I have hundreds of times your power. You are nothing but a Lightstone to be ground to dust beneath my heel."

Takanuva attacked again, hurling bolts of Shadow and Light. To his amazement, Tuyet parried them with ease. Seeing his surprise, she laughed.

"You know, we had no Toa of Light in this Universe. We didn't need one. And in a few moments, we will be back to being without one."

Takanuva charged. The next few seconds were a blaze of battle. Lasers turning water to steam, waves crashing against walls, a race to see what would happen first: Takanuva drowning in the tide, or Tuyet drowning in darkness. When the fight was through, Tuyet stood once more triumphant.

"Enough! I have wasted enough time on you. Your rebellion is finished, and now, so are you."

Tuyet was about to strike when a strange sound penetrated the damaged Coliseum. Takanuva raised his head and glanced at a hole in the wall. He saw hundreds - no, thousands - of Matoran marching toward the building, all of them armed. In the distance he could see Airships and sea-going vessels carrying other Matoran, Dark Hunters, Vortixx and others. All of them were descending on the city, their eyes fixed on the Coliseum.

"Still think the rebellion is over?" Takanuva asked, "Or maybe it's just beginning."

"The fools. With my power, I can sweep them all away in a flood like no one has seen before."

Takanuva looked right into Tuyet's eyes.

"Then who would there be left to protect? Who would you have made your perfect Universe for?"

Tuyet smiled.

"Very clever, Toa. True, a Universe with only drowned Matoran would not be of much use to anyone. But they must be taught respect."

"Why? If they're so ungrateful, why not use your mask to travel somewhere else? Some place that needs you. Start over again, in another Metru Nui, one where they might welcome a ruler like you."

Tuyet glanced down at the street. The mob was coming closer, and though she could easily kill them all, it would leave her as the ruler of an empire of corpses. Perhaps Takanuva was right. At the least, she could leave and return with an army of Toa from another dimension, enough to stamp out every last visage of rebellion in her own world. She turned away and activated her mask. A portal into inter-dimensional space opened before her and she prepared to step in. That was when Takanuva made his move. He somehow managed to hurl himself at Tuyet, snatching the mask from her face. For the second it lost contact with her, its power shut off and the portal began to close. Takanuva, mask in hand, dove through, but Tuyet was not about to let him escape so easily. Even as he cleared the portal, she grabbed on to his leg, trying to follow him. She blasted him with hard bolts of water, catching his hand and tearing the mask from his grasp. It floated away into the space between dimensions.

Takanuva turned back. What he saw horrified him, but his shout of warning came too late. Tuyet was halfway through the portal, trying to drag Takanuva back in. She was so consumed by rage that she never noticed the portal closing until it was much too late. She screamed as reality slammed shut on her body, leaving her upper half in the void and the lower half in the Coliseum on her world. Mercifully, death came instantly.

Takanuva hovered in space for a long moment. He wondered what would happen in Tuyet's universe with her gone. Would the Toa become protectors again? Would the Matoran take control? Or would some group of the Dark Hunters and Makuta become new dictators? Perhaps someday, if he was able, he would return to find out the answer. He turned his head away from the remains of Tuyet, wondering how a Toa could go so wrong, and realizing with a shudder what a fine line it could be between justice and tyranny. Tuyet's life had been wasted, but the lives of no more Toa would be lost if he could prevent it. With grim resolve, he resumed his journey to Karda Nui.

END OF BOTH FEDERATION OF FEAR AND DARK MIRROR

BIONICLE Website Updated!!

2008-07-02T02:14:00.000-07:00

If you go to BIONICLE.com right now you can view....

-A Takanuva blog

-Updated content

-A new video

-New Downloads

-New Products and updated story information

Oh, and here's a BIO Code:
BIO527

Happy viewing!!

Mistika Unleashed

2008-07-02T00:03:00.000-07:00

Federation of Fear

2008-05-21T04:45:00.000-07:00

Below are the Story Serials from BIONICLEStory.com
The story below was copied and pasted.

The story so far......

Chapter 1

Vezon opened his eyes, astonished to still be alive. The last thing he remembered, he was surrounded by Zyglak, who seemed immune to his wit and charm. Then there was a flash, the sensation of being grabbed by someone far stronger than he, a weird sensation of travel, and darkness.

He looked around. The room he occupied was a large cell and he wasn’t in it alone. Vezon didn’t recognize any of the other four occupants, all of whom stood well away from the others. By reflex, he started calculating how long it would take to disable them and how quickly he could pick the lock of the cell door.

Vezon’s musings were interrupted by the appearance of a sixth figure outside the cell. He was tall, lean and strong, wore a domed helmet, and carried a wicked double-bladed sword. The newcomer looked over the five prisoners as if they were cargo-hauling Ussal crabs up for auction.

“My name is Brutaka,” the visitor said. “I know you have questions – I’m not here to answer them. Where you are, who I work for, what this place is – you don’t need to know. What you do need to know is that there are two, and only two, ways you can get out of here.”

A Xian female stepped up to the bars and said in a dangerously soft voice, “And they are?”

“You can walk out, Roodaka, under your own power, and carry out a mission for some friends of mine,” Brutaka replied. “Or I can carry you out, plant you in a hole outside, and we’ll see if anything grows.”

Brutaka turned his attention to the others. “All of you have something in common – you have all had dealings with the Brotherhood of Makuta. Roodaka, here, betrayed them to the Dark Hunters, then betrayed the Dark Hunters as well – now both sides want her dead. Takadox and Carapar over there are Barraki, whose armies were crushed 80,000 years ago by the Brotherhood. The Makuta in the corner is Spiriah, who fouled up an experiment on the island of Zakaz so badly that his own people marked him for death.”

Vezon timidly raised a hand. “Excuse me, oh brutal, blade-wielding, lover of gardening. I have never met any Makuta face to mask and wouldn’t know one if he stepped on me and ground me into the dirt. I think maybe you wanted someone else … I’m Vezon with an ‘n,’ you see, not Vezok with a ‘k,’ and --”

The crab-like Carapar loped over, picked up Vezon by the neck, and bounced him off the back wall. “You talk too much,” the Barraki growled.

“Oh, yes,” Brutaka muttered, shaking his head. “This is going to work out just fine.”

Chapter 2

Roodaka was furious. As she walked along the waterfront, clad in a cloak made of plant fibre, she imagined over and over again all the disgusting things she would someday turn Brutaka into with her Rhotuka spinner. One way or the other, he was going to pay for this.

Brutaka and his team – Roodaka, Vezon, Carapar, Takadox, and Makuta Spiriah – had arrived on the shores of the island of Stelt in a small boat. As soon as Roodaka recognized the skyline, she began to protest. Stelt was the home of the late Sidorak, her former comrade, and his people. Worse, Roodaka had set Sidorak up to be killed, and it was likely everyone on Stelt knew that. She would be about as welcome there as a Kikanalo stampede.

But Brutaka had insisted they would need a bigger boat to get where they were going, and this was the easiest place to get one. The only other team member to voice an objection was Spiriah, who believed Brotherhood of Makuta agents were waiting in every village to grab him.

“And just how are we going to purchase this boat?” Roodaka hissed. “We have no equipment, no arms other than yours, not even those ridiculous Matoran widgets. We have nothing of value to offer in exchange.”

“Of course we do,” Brutaka answered, as he pushed open the doors of a trading house. “We have you.”

No sooner were the words out of his mouth than Carapar had seized her from behind. The team, along with the struggling Roodaka, stepped inside the dimly lit and foul smelling shack. The proprietor was one of Sidorak’s species.

“We’re here to make a purchase,” said Brutaka. “Your fastest ship, outfitted with supplies for a long voyage to the south.”

“To the south?” snorted the trader. “Meaning I will never see my ship, or you, again? Unless you can make me rich --”

Brutaka took the hood off Roodaka, who glared at him with murder in her eyes. “Would the reward you’ll get for capturing the killer of Sidorak be payment enough?”

The trader smiled and invited the party out to view his prize craft. So excited was he by visions of the wealth that would soon be his that he never noticed Takadox had slipped away. The boat turned out to be good-sized, well armed with disk launchers, and large enough to accommodate at least a dozen beings. A crew of large, blue and gray armored bruisers were at work on it now.

“We’ll take it,” said Brutaka. There was a loud splash from the ocean side of the ship, but no one paid much mind to it.

“And I’ll take the murderer,” the trader said. “Sidorak was no prize, but we can’t let Vortixx and Rahi kill our kind and get away with it, now can we?”

There was another splash, then another, and another. Brutaka ignored them. “Of course not. But if you want people to believe you caught this dangerous criminal, you will need to look like you’ve been in a fight. A light tap to your head would do the trick, perhaps. My colleague, Vezon, can handle it – you won’t feel a thing.”

“Ever again,” Vezon chimed in, smiling.

Splash. Splash. Splash.

The trader looked over Vezon, who was nowhere near as physically imposing as the rest of the team. How much damage could he do? “All right,” said the trader. “One blow – a light one! – just to look convincing.”

Vezon’s grin grew wider. Roodaka struggled against Carapar’s grip. Brutaka walked casually away from the scene, surveying the boat. Vezon drew his fist back. Then, in one smooth motion, Brutaka whirled and whacked the trader in the back of the head. The trader crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

“Hey!” said Vezon. “He was mine! I woudn’t have hurt him … much … and I only would have needed three or four hours and the right tools, just to make sure he would be no trouble.”

“That’s the point,” Brutaka replied. “You enjoy your work a little too much. Now everyone on board – that includes you, Roodaka.”

They climbed on the ship to find Takadox standing alone. The Barraki took a little bow, pointed to his hypnotic eyes, and said, “The crew decided to go for a swim, all at once. Imagine that.”

“Why all the trouble?” muttered Carapar. “We could have just stormed in and stolen the ship.”

“And had all of Stelt after us?” asked Brutaka. “Not to mention every Dark Hunter and Brotherhood member around, as soon as they heard Roodaka was here?”

“But what about the trader, you fool?” said Roodaka. “He saw me!”

Brutaka laughed as the ship moved slowly away from shore. “Who’s going to believe anyone stupid enough to stand still and get hit?”

Chapter 3

Brutaka and his bizarre crew had been at sea for three days when he called them all together. “It’s time to let you know our mission. And before you ask, you were all chosen for this trip for one very good reason: You’re expendable. No one is going to care if any of you live or die, which makes you ideal for this job.”

Carapar grumbled something unspeakably foul. Brutaka chose to ignore it.

“We are going to an island far south of anything on any chart,” Brutaka continued. “But it’s not uninhabited. In fact, it has one very special resident: a Makuta named Miserix.”

Now it was Spiriah’s turn to mutter something, though his words were more in shock than in anger.

“Miserix, for those of you who don’t know, was the leader of the Brotherhood of Makuta before the current holder of that title,” said Brutaka. “He was overthrown and wound up imprisoned on a volcanic island. He’s guarded by Rahi and the Great Beings know what else – things someone figured would be able to kill an escaping Makuta. And it’s our job to break him out.”

At first, none of the team members said anything. Then Takadox spoke up. “And what do we get out of this? Money? Power? Our freedom?”

Brutaka smiled. “You get to live another day.”

“And what do we do with him after we have him?” asked Roodaka. “Hold him for ransom?”

“That’s not your concern,” Brutaka replied. “All of you have a role to play in this mission. When we get close to the island, you will be given weapons and equipment. Try to run, at any time, and friends of mine will hunt you down – friends who make me look like a big, cuddly Ussal crab.”

It was Vezon who spotted them first. A small fleet of ragtag vessels was approaching from the west. They were about the ugliest boats one could imagine, slapped together from remnants and wreckage and barely sea-worthy. But he wasn’t focused on the look of the ships, but rather the identity of their crews.

“Zyglak!” he shouted.

The others rushed to the rail to look. Sure enough, the reptilian beings known as “the Great Beings’ mistakes” were manning the ships. Notoriously violent and destructive, Zyglak hated the Great Spirit Mata Nui and anything associated with him. It was doubtful they were paying a social call.

Brutaka tried to steer the ship away from them, but the wind and waves were not cooperating. After a few minutes, he realized why: Makuta Spiriah was using his power over weather to keep the ship in place.

“Did you really think it would be this easy?” said Spiriah. “I deduced our goal days ago and passed a message to my Zyglak friends through channels on Stelt.”

Vezon looked horrified. He had spent many days a captive of the Zyglak not so long ago. It wasn’t an experience he was anxious to repeat. “Friends? Zyglak don’t have friends... just meals they haven’t eaten yet.”

“They are outcasts,” said Spiriah. “And so am I. Now, Brutaka, I am taking command of this ship. We will be setting a new course, for the island of Zakaz. It was there that I met defeat and disgrace – there that my grand experiment failed, because the inhabitants were too savage to know what to do with my gifts. It is their fault I was cast out of the Brotherhood – and now they are going to pay!”

Chapter 4

It had been three days since Spiriah’s takeover of the team’s vessel. Since then, they had steered a course for the island of Zakaz, surrounded on every size by boats filled with murderous Zyglak. Spiriah had been acting every inch the captain of the ship, ordering the others about and being particularly hard on Brutaka. Through it all, Brutaka said nothing and made no attempt to strike at Spiriah.

“To think, we were beginning to feel a little afraid of him,” Takadox said, gesturing toward Brutaka.

“Speak for yourself,” Carapar replied.

“Home,” beamed Vezon. “True, I’ve never been to Zakaz... I’m not even really one of the native species... in fact, they’ll probably kill me on sight... or worse, tie me upside down over a spiked dagger plant... but at least I’ll die at home.”

Roodaka had abandoned any hope that Brutaka was going to act and concentrated instead on Spiriah. “The Brotherhood has overextended itself in recent years,” she assured him. “Warring with Dark Hunters and Toa... they are weak. If you struck at them now with your army, you could take over Destral and rule the universe. Of course, you would need someone by your side who knows all the factions and how best to use them...”

Spiriah looked at her as if she were something stuck to his boot. “I would sooner offer my neck to a dull axe blade than trust you, female. Your name has become another word for ‘treachery.’”

“Better that than being another word for ‘failure,’” Roodaka muttered.

The conversation was ended by the appearance of land off the port bow. It was the island of Zakaz, in all its ruined “glory.” A handful of Dark Hunter vessels could be seen in the waters nearby, on patrol. At a word from Spiriah, the Zyglak vessels attacked. Taken by surprise, three of the Dark Hunter ships were sunk immediately. The others beached on the shores of the island, only for the crews to be slain by a mob of Skakdi natives.

Spiriah laughed at the sight. “The Skakdi believe they know what savagery is,” he said. “But they have never met the Zyglak. And the Makuta believe they know all the colors and shapes of revenge... but I will introduce them to a shade darker than even they could imagine.”

The mini-armada surged forward, Zyglak already preparing to storm the beaches. They were still 500 yards from shore when the first Zyglak ship suddenly lurched and began to sink. This was followed by another and still another. Soon, Zyglak vessels on every side were taking on water, gaping holes torn in their hulls below the water line.

Takadox rushed to the rail. He caught a glimpse of beings just under the water, attacking the Zyglak craft. From a distance, they almost looked like his old ally, Ehlek. Whatever they were, they moved like fish underwater and the ships were no match for their claws.

Shocked by the abrupt annihilation of his force, Spiriah was unprepared for Brutaka’s attack. An energy blast knocked him off his feet, a well-placed kick kept him on the ground, and then Brutaka’s blade was pressed against his chest armor.

“Go ahead,” Brutaka said, coldly. “Use one of your powers. Think you can do it before I rip open your armor? And how long do you think your energy will last out here, with no body to occupy? Or maybe I should just throw you overboard right now.”

“How... ?” Spiriah began.

“How did I deal with the Zyglak?” said Brutaka. “Simple. You have friends; so do I. Mine are an species of water dwellers who were specially modified by my employers to kill Makuta. They live off the coast of Zakaz, and right now they are practicing their skills on your Zyglak. You don’t want to look... it’s messy.”

“Wait a minute,” said Takadox. “Not that I am complaining, but how did you manage to get in touch with these ‘friends’ of yours? You never left the ship.”

Brutaka hauled Spiriah to his feet. All around, the ocean was littered with wrecked ships and dead Zyglak. “Spiriah had his friends following us. And I had someone following us since we left Stelt, just in case of emergency... and here she comes now.”

The others turned to see a small skiff approaching from the east. Its lone pilot was a female, lithe and well-armed. As she came alongside and clambered above the ship, Roodaka noticed that her left arm was completely mechanical. For a moment, she almost felt sorry for Spiriah.

“This is the last member of our team,” said Brutaka. “Treat her as you would me... and be sure she will treat you even worse than I do. Her name’s Lariska.”

Chapter 5

Lariska stood at the bow with Brutaka, watching the ship cleave through the water. Behind them, the other members of the team were keeping a careful eye on Makuta Spiriah – not that they could have done much to stop him if he tried to make a break. But Brutaka had done a little math and explained to Spiriah how many hours he was likely to survive once the Brotherhood of Makuta knew where he was. Then he assured Spiriah that if the ship and its occupants were all destroyed, the Brotherhood would be notified immediately where to start looking.

That was a bluff, of course. But Spiriah had spent a lot of his life fleeing from his former comrades, and running and hiding get to be habits after a while. As Brutaka expected, Spiriah bought it and backed off.

The ship had veered away from Zakaz and was on its way south. There was one more stop to make before they headed for their ultimate target. This was the one Brutaka dreaded – it was time to arm the team.

The island that came into view was little more than a piece of barren rock. It was not the original site for this meeting, but plans had changed. Two Order of Mata Nui members, Botar and the nine-foot tall warrior named Trinuma, had been dispatched with a cache of weapons for a rendezvous on a small, wooded island just off the mainland. But a Makuta named Icarax had spotted their appearance and attacked. The fight was furious, but brief. Botar was slain, crushed by the Makuta’s magnetic power, and Trinuma barely escaped to tell the tale. In desperation, he stored the weapons at the first place he came to before returning to Daxia with the tragic news.

The ship dropped anchor just off the coast. Brutaka warned Takadox and Carapar he would be keeping a careful eye on them on the swim over, just in case they got any funny ideas about diving deep and escaping. Vezon was the first to react when they set foot on the rocky shore.

“There is something... wrong here,” he said, his tone unusually serious. “Something beyond even my powers to cope with.”

“You don’t have any powers, freak,” Carapar roughly reminded him.

“I don’t?” Vezon said, seemingly confused. “Where was I when they were being handed out? Let me see... Makuta’s lair... Voya Nui... tunnels... prison... how could I have missed the meeting, I was always where the action was.”

“Quiet,” said Lariska, dagger drawn. “There is one true statement in your babble. There is something not right in this place.”

Brutaka approached, carrying the weapons. Takadox took a long, thin blade, while Carapar grabbed a broadsword. Roodaka pounced on a Rhotuka launcher. Brutaka handed Spiriah a projectile weapon and warned him with a cold smile not to point it at himself... or anyone else. Vezon got a spear, which he turned over in his hands with no real enthusiasm.

“What’s it do?” he asked.

“Nothing,” Brutaka answered. “But with your powers, you don’t need it, right?”

Vezon brightened. “Right,” he agreed, having forgotten once again that he had no powers. Carapar growled in frustration and stalked away.

“We have what we came for,” Takadox said nervously. “Let’s go.”

“There’s something in that cave up ahead,” said Lariska. “I can hear what sounds like breathing, but it’s a... wet sound, as if the being were inhaling through mud. And there’s something else... it almost sounds like... something slithering.”

Spiriah took a step back. “I know where we are,” he said, his eyes darting from side to side as if expecting an attack. “Mutran told me of this place, though it didn’t look like this ages ago. We have to go. We have to go now!”

But it was already too late. Vast walls of rock suddenly sprang up from the shore line, forming a 200-foot high wall around the island and cutting the team off from their boat. “Blast it down,” Brutaka ordered. But even the power of his blade was not enough to penetrate the stone.

Spiriah had shapeshifted himself some wings and was trying to fly over the top. A sharp spear of stone erupted out of the top of the wall and impaled one of his wings, sending him spiraling toward the ground. Lariska ran, leapt, hit the wall feet first, and propelled herself into mid-air to catch the falling Makuta.

There was no time to marvel at her athletic feat or make other attempts to escape. For now a voice was coming from the cave, but not a voice like anyone present had ever heard before. It sounded like the slimy, repulsive sound that comes when a nest of feeder worms is disturbed. Even Brutaka had to suppress a shudder.

“Visitors,” said the voice. “At last.”

“Who are you?” said Brutaka. “Did you imprison us here? I warn you, you don’t know the power you face.”

A massive tentacle shot out of the cave, wrapping itself around Brutaka and pulling him inside. The next moment, he was in the presence of something so horrible, so alien, that it took all his willpower just to hold on to his sanity.

“Now,” said the entity that held him in its grip. “Now tell Tren Krom of your power.”

Chapter 6

Brutaka tried to close his eyes. It didn’t help. He couldn’t get the image of Tren Krom out of his mind – a writhing, crimson mass of tentacles emerging from a gelatinous central core, with two dead yellow eyes that somehow followed every movement without ever moving themselves. At least, that was what he had seen at a glance – somehow, Brutaka knew to gaze for long at Tren Krom would be to invite madness.

The entity seemed over time to have merged with the stone floor and walls of its cave, so that lurker and place of concealment were one. The acrid stench of decay hung over everything. In vain, Brutaka tried to break free of the grip of Tren Krom’s tentacle. He could feel the strange being trying to probe his mind, but so far, Brutaka’s mental training had allowed him to resist. If that should fail, he knew, the secrets of the Order of Mata Nui would be exposed to this monster.

“What wonders have come into my universe in the millennia since my exile?” Tren Krom said softly, his voice as revolting as his form. “I must know!”

Hesitantly, the other members of Brutaka’s team had entered the cave, only to wish they hadn’t. It was only Lariska, protosteel dagger in hand, who kept them from fleeing.

“You think me an alien... an ‘other’...” Tren Krom continued. “But I am of the substance of this universe, and I walked here long before you or even Mata Nui himself. Have you not heard the tales?”

“There is a Tren Krom in legend,” said Brutaka. “But... the tales obviously left some parts out.”

Tren Krom laughed. The sound made the team wish death would come for them right now. “Before the Great Spirit Mata Nui was born, the Great Beings created one being who was purely organic. They taught me the ways of the universe they were creating and they placed me in its core. There I was to remain, maintaining the heat, the light, all the forces that made their creation whole...”

Brutaka had managed to work an arm partway loose. With a little luck, he would be able to get his hand on a dagger and cut himself free... all he needed was time. “So what happened? How did you end up here?”

“My time was always to be short,” Tren Krom replied. “I was to shepherd this universe until Mata Nui was prepared to take power. A Matoran of Light came to me and said the hour had come for me to move on... a crafter of canisters he was, whose sanity did not survive our encounter. I surrendered myself to my fate, only to be exiled here by the Great Beings and bound to this rock.” His voice tuned heavy with bitterness. “The universe, it seems, did not need two entities supreme.”

“What... what do you want with us?” whispered Vezon. “And please don’t say someone to hold your mirror for you.”

“I would know what has gone on in the universe in the last 100 millennia,” Tren Krom answered. “My visitors have been few in number. You seven will remain here and I will gain the knowledge I need from your minds... of course, sadly, you may have no minds left when I am done.”

“Why ask us?” said Lariska. “You obviously don’t really care.”

“Would you shut up?” hissed Carapar. “Rule number one: don’t annoy the giant, tentacled monster, or don’t they teach that one in The Shadowed One’s school?”

“Be quiet,” snapped Lariska. “Tren Krom... your universe is in danger. It’s our job to help save it. If you keep us here, you’ll be hurting the one thing you helped bring into being.”

Carapar edged slowly to the side, sword in hand. No one paid any attention – all eyes were on Lariska, who had been grabbed by one of Tren Krom’s many arms. Without the discipline Brutaka possessed, her mind was an open book to the entity. She screamed as a lifetime of memories were sifted through in an instant, screamed as she saw glimpses of the ancient mind of Tren Krom. When he finally released her, she collapsed on the stone floor.

“Mutran,” Tren Krom muttered to himself. “So long ago now, I entered his mind … and he mine … and so he learned how best to strike at Mata Nui. He and his kind have dared reach for power that fate chose to deny them. How... intriguing.”

“It’s more than that,” Brutaka said. “Tell him, Spiriah – tell him what will happen to him if the Makuta succeed in their plans.”

“If the Plan succeeds...” Spiriah began. He glanced around as if one of his former comrades might be somewhere nearby, listening. “A shadow will fall... Makuta will rule the universe, their will enforced by Rahkshi. Anyone with the power to threaten that rule will die... and that means anyone.”

“Impossible,” said Tren Krom. Suddenly, the minds of every team member were filled with nightmarish images projected by the tentacled entity, visions that would sicken even the mad. “No one can approach without my assent. No one can fight me. No one can kill me. I am eternal!”

Brutaka had his dagger in hand now. “Maybe not,” he said. “But I’m betting there was a time you said no one could bind you... and look what happened.”

Tren Krom paused in thought. Brutaka started to make his move, then caught Carapar out of the corner of his eye. The Barraki was raising his sword to strike the entity. It was too late to shout, too late to stop him.

Carapar brought his blade down, confident he had taken his enemy by surprise. Then a third eye suddenly appeared on Tren Krom, one gazing right at Carapar. The Barraki froze in mid-blow. A shaft of energy shot out from the eye, bathing him in its glow. The next instant, Carapar shattered into fragments as if he had been made of crystal. Then there was nothing left of him but a pile of glittering dust on the stone floor.

“I helped to birth a world of order,” Tren Krom whispered. “But from what I have seen in the female’s mind... you have turned it into a universe of madness and fear. It is not worth saving. But it is the universe you and your kind deserve.”

Tren Krom hurled Brutaka at his team. Spiriah used his magnetic powers to catch him before he could slam into the wall. The tentacles withdrew then, wrapping themselves around the core of Tren Krom’s being.

“Go,” the entity said. “Take yourselves from my prison... take your memories and plans with you... for the horrors already in your minds are worse than any I could visit upon you. I condemn you to your fate – life in the universe you and your kind have made.”

No one was going to take the time to argue. Gathering up Brutaka and Lariska, they fled the cave even as the stone walls that surrounded the island receded into the sand. Only Takadox paused to look back at the cavern where Carapar had died, wondering for a moment just what it would take to end the life of a being older than the stars.

Chapter 7

Brutaka and Lariska stood together, watching Takadox standing silently by the rail of the ship.
“I worry about that one,” said Lariska. “He has not spoken a word since we left Tren Krom’s island, after the death of his friend Carapar.”

“Friend?” snorted Brutaka. “Barraki don’t have friends, just people they use – and Carapar was Takadox’s favorite puppet. Besides, don’t waste your worry on him – save it for us.” He pointed off the bow. “We’ve arrived.”

Looming out of the mist was an island of black sand and jagged rock, volcanic peaks and strange Rahi arcing and wheeling through the sky. Despite the bright light that played off the waters around it, the island seemed to be in perpetual shadow.

“Welcome to Artidax,” said Brutaka.

Vezon approached, chuckling. “Hope we survive our stay.”

Brutaka looked around at his team – a Barraki, half a Skakdi, a Makuta, a former queen of the Visorak, a Dark Hunter, and himself. “Well, if we don’t, who knows? The world might be better off without us.”

Brutaka and Spiriah, being the two most powerful team members, led the way to shore. As they trod on the ebon sands, all seemed quiet. “So you know nothing about the defenses here?” asked Brutaka.

“Only what Krika sometimes talked about. Ideas he had,” said Spiriah. “You realize this whole thing is a terrible idea.”

“What?”

“Freeing Miserix,” said Spiriah. “He can’t stop the Plan. All we will find here is an early death. Listen, we -- ”

What happened next was startlingly fast. The black sands began to swirl around Spiriah, forming a hand which grabbed the Makuta and started dragging him down. Brutaka grabbed Spiriah’s hand, calling to the others, “Help me!”

Lariska, Vezon and Roodaka rushed to his aid. Takadox hung back, occasionally glancing toward the ship as if contemplating escape. The pull of the sand was too strong and Spiriah’s mask had almost disappeared beneath it. Then Roodaka fired her Rhotuka launcher, the spinner striking the living sand and mutating the grains into a swarm of fireflyers. Unable to maintain its grip in this new form, it freed Spiriah. The Makuta crawled back onto the beach, cursing.

“I’m an idiot,” Brutaka said. “I should have realized – Krika rigged this place to sense the presence of a Makuta and react. He didn’t want Miserix escaping, or any other Brotherhood member finding him and finishing him off.”

“Then I would be insane to go any further,” said Spiriah. “I brought you here – you don’t need me anymore.”

“On the contrary,” said Lariska. “I think you would be very useful. Anyone ever hear of a stalking kinloka?”

Surprisingly, Vezon was the only one who nodded. When everyone turned to look at him, he shrugged. “Vezok. He saw lots of things, and since I came from him, I saw them too. Say, when we are done here, who’s up for killing him? I’ll even clean up after.”

Lariska turned back to Brutaka, ignoring their lunatic companion. “Kinloka are rodents, found in many places, among them Zakaz. When the Skakdi need to cross land that might be booby-trapped, they send the kinloka through first. The creatures set off the traps and the Skakdi can cross safely.”

“And the traps here are sensitive to Makuta,” said Roodaka, smiling. “I see, I see. And come to think of it, Spiriah is somewhat rodent-like.”

Spiriah, back on his feet, looked right at Brutaka. “No. Not even if you threw in the chance to eviscerate that Vortixx --”

“Watch your mouth,” Roodaka spat, aiming her launcher at him, “while you still have only one.”

Brutaka put his arm around Spiriah and led him away. “You’re not looking at the big picture here. When all this is over, the Brotherhood could still be a powerful creature, only without a head. It’s going to need a new leader... and the beings I work for will remember who helped them... and who didn’t. Trust me, they have long memories.”

It only took a few more minutes of whispered conversation before Spiriah turned back to the group and announced that he would be their guide to Artidax. He immediately set off inland, with the rest following. Lariska fell in beside Brutaka, saying, “You know full well he could never be leader of the Brotherhood.”

“Let him think he might get to be the head,” Brutaka replied. “It will distract him from the fact that he might well lose his own here.”

Their path took them right up to the slope of a volcano. A tunnel had been bored through the mountain at some point, the only way to directly traverse the island. Spiriah was striding on ahead when Vezon leapt in front of him, holding up his hands. Then he pointed downward, at a razor-thin vine stretched across the path. It led up to a pile of boulders poised precariously on the slope.

Spiriah stepped carefully over the vine, followed by the others, and went into the tunnel. It was only when they were already inside that Brutaka noticed someone was missing. “Where’s Takadox?”

Lariska turned. “There! Look out!”

Brutaka turned to see Takadox bringing his blade down on the vine. In the moment before an avalanche of rocks cut them off from the Barraki and trapped them in the tunnel, they all could see his evil smile.

Chapter 8

Brutaka pushed aside a pile of rubble and struggled to his feet. Around him, Spiriah and Roodaka were using shadow energy to blast themselves free. Vezon and Lariska were nowhere to be seen.

He glanced back toward the now blocked tunnel entrance. A few blasts of power would no doubt clear away the pile of rocks and stones, but Takadox would be long gone by now. There would be time to settle with him later.

“I’ve got him!”

Brutaka turned to see Lariska holding a squirming Vezon by the throat. “I caught him sneaking down a side tunnel,” the Dark Hunter said.

“Let us track down that traitor,” snarled Roodaka. “I want his shattered body beneath my heel.”

“We’re here to do a job,” Brutaka replied. “We keep moving. All of us,” he added, looking hard at Vezon.

The tunnel proved to be far more than a mere pathway. It opened upon a vast underground cavern spanned by a narrow bridge made of fibrous protodermis. Down below, the floor was littered with a massive tangle of what looked like dead branches intertwined with each other. Deep channels had been carved into the walls by lava flows over the centuries. Strange flying Rahi hung from the ceiling, their six eyes blinking slowly at the sight of intruders into their realm.

“Remind me not to let Makuta Krika arrange for my next pleasure trip,” muttered Spiriah.

“This whole island is volcanic,” said Brutaka. “Minor eruptions over the years, but nothing major. Tahu and Kopaka are supposed to have taken care of the problem. Otherwise, we would probably be flash fried by now.”

“No Carapar, no Takadox,” said Vezon in a sing-song voice. “Who will go next? Spiriah the Sullen? Brutaka the Boorish? Vezon the Vanquisher? Or Lariska --”

The Dark Hunter whipped out a dagger and flung it into the stone right at Vezon’s feet. The mad half-Skakdi turned to her, smiling, and said, “Or Lariska, the wise, wonderful, and gloriously homicidal.”

Brutaka led the way across the bridge. At the far side, light spilled through a narrow opening. The symbol of the Brotherhood of Makuta was seared into the stone beside that portal. Someone – maybe Krika, maybe Miserix – had marked their path, so long ago.

“What are we going to do with this legendary Makuta when we find him?” asked Roodaka. “What makes you think he will help the likes of you?”

“Miserix hates the Brotherhood for turning on him,” Brutaka replied. “He would ally with three Matoran and an Ussal crab if it would get him revenge on his fellow Makuta.”

“And so what will he be for you?” Roodaka pressed. “A general? A hero? A symbol around which to rally resistance to the Brotherhood?”

Brutaka shook his head. “Nothing quite so grand. He’ll be a weapon, like a Rhotuka launcher or a ghost blaster. And we’re going to aim him right at the Makuta fortress on Destral.”

Roodaka smiled. “And who, might I ask... are ‘we’?”

Brutaka smiled back, the grin of a Kavinika about to feast. “Now, now … what you don’t know won’t cut you in two and dump you off this bridge.”

“I hear something,” said Lariska. “Up ahead... it might be a voice... or the rumble of the volcano.”

“I hear something too,” said Vezon.

“Shut up,” replied Roodaka.

“And I see something as well,” Vezon continued. “But since you aren’t interested...”

“We’re not,” Roodaka snapped.

“Personally, I always find my comments and observations most interesting,” Vezon rambled on. “You haven’t truly lived until you have seen the world through the eyes of madness. Why, half the time I don’t know if what I see is what’s really there, or what I wish was there … or what I pray, I beg, I plead is not.”

“Why did we bring him again?” said Spiriah.

“He breaks up the monotony,” said Lariska.

“I’d like to break something much more satisfying,” hissed Roodaka. “I hear Skakdi make a most appealing sound when you snap them into pieces.”

“But, since you seem to have no interest,” Vezon continued, utterly disregarding his teammates’ comments. “Well, then, I won’t tell you that the floor is moving. You can find out on your own.”

“The floor is...?” Brutaka repeated. He looked down. Far below, the tangled growth of dead branches had indeed begun to shift. The reason why rapidly became clear: they weren’t branches at all, but the twisted limbs of thousands of crimson insects, now disentangling themselves from each other. Apparently, it was time to wake up and they were ready for their morning meal.

Swifter than anyone could have predicted, they began to swarm up the walls of the canyon on every side. In an instant, they had blocked the openings on both ends of the bridge. The surrounding rock was now gone, buried beneath a skittering sea of red and thousands of unblinking, predatory eyes.

“No, no, no,” said Vezon, shaking his head. “Too late to apologize. Much, much too late.”

Dark Mirror

2008-04-28T23:33:00.000-07:00

Below are the Story Serials from BIONICLEStory.com
The story below was copied and pasted.

The Story So Far.....

Chapter One
Plunging through the void between dimensions, Takanuva, Toa of Light, could hardly believe what had happened to him in the last day. While patrolling the shores of Metru Nui, he had been attacked by a creature he later learned was a Shadow Leech, and barely survived. When he awoke, he discovered that his light had been partially drained, leaving him with the ability to fire light from his left hand, and Shadow from his right.

His rescuers turned out to be members of the secret organization called the Order of Mata Nui, who tasked him with a vital mission. He was to bring important information to the Toa Nuva in Karda Nui, and if he failed, the six Toa were surely doomed. The fastest way to get him there was using the power of a Mask of Dimensional Gates worn by reformed member Brutaka. But the mask was ever so slightly damaged and the ride had already been a rough one.

A circle of light opened ahead of him. He plunged through it hoping he'd reach Karda Nui in time. Instead he went flat on his mask in the familiar surroundings of the city of Metru Nui. Or was it familiar? The city was intact and beautiful as it had been when he left, but something was odd. There were statues of Toa everywhere: Tahu, Gali and the others, but not in their Nuva forms; as they had been before they transformed. There were other statues too of Toa Takanuva did not recognize. And looming over them all was a massive sculpture of a Kanohi mask: the Mask of Intangibility. "How long have I been gone?", wondered Takanuva, "And who decided to re-decorate?" He spotted a Matoran he knew well, Kapura, scurrying quickly through the street. Takanuva stepped in front of him and said:

"Wait friend. I don't think I've ever seen you run before. What's the hurry?"

Kapura looked up at him, there was shock and fear in the Matoran's eyes, but no recognition. "Forgive me great Toa," he said so fast the words tumbled over themselves, "Was I not running fast enough? I promise I will try to do better."

"Kapura it's me, it's Takanuva, what's come over you?"

"Nothing, nothing!" insisted Kapura, "All is well great Toa, for how could it be anything else with such wise and benevolent leaders?"

"Alright, I've had about enough of this," said Takanuva, "Where's Turaga Vakama? Where are the Toa Mahri?"

"I don't know who you're talking about," insisted Kapura, "Let me pass, please, before..."

The temperature suddenly dropped all around. The next moment Kapura was locked in a foot-thick shell of ice from his neck down. The Matoran cried out from the intense cold. Takanuva looked up only to see Tahu and Kopaka standing nearby, frost still drifting from the sword of the Toa of Ice. "Tahu, Kopaka, thank the Great Beings you're here," said Takanuva. "Something's wrong with Kapura... maybe with the entire city."

"The only thing wrong here, stranger, is you," said Tahu. "Who are you? Why are you here? Where is your identity tablet?"

"I-I'm Takanuva! I live here! You know me, and I don't know what an identity tablet is!"

Kopaka raised his sword and unleashed a hail of ice that shocked Takanuva, knocking the Toa of Light to the ground. Standing over him, Kopaka held the point of his sword to Takanuva's neck. "Well, 'Takanuva', if that is your name, you are now a prisoner of the Toa Empire, against which you've committed an act of war."

Chapter Two
Tahu and Kopaka dragged a protesting Takanuva to the Coliseum. Vahki guardians saluted and stepped aside to let the Toa enter. Wordlessly, they hauled Takanuva through winding corridors, finally tossing him into a cold, dark cell.

"Make yourself comfortable." said Tahu. "Someone will be back for you when Toa Tuyet is ready to question you in a day, or a week."

"If this is some kind of a joke, it isn't funny anymore," said Takanuva, "what is going on around here?"

But Tahu and Kopaka had already walked away.

"What's going on, stranger, is that you came to the wrong place at the wrong time," said a weak voice behind Takanuva.

The Toa turned, surprised to find he was not alone. Hanging on the wall from chains around his wrists and ankles was a Matoran. Using the merest fraction of his Light power, Takanuva illuminated the cell. He stumbled back against the cell door in shock. The imprisoned Matoran was none other than Takua - a fact that seemed impossible since Takanuva had been Takua before becoming a Toa.

"This is insane!" said Takanuva. "You're me - I mean, I'm you, how..."

"I see," said Takua, "you're not one of the smarter ones. You wouldn't happen to know how to pick a lock would you?"

Takanuva shook his head. If this was a dream or an illusion, it was a whopper. But just in case it wasn't, he fired a thin beam of laser-light from his left hand and sliced through Takua's chains. A quick move let him catch the Matoran before he fell to the stone floor.

"That's a neat trick," said Takua, "so what are you in for?"

"I-I don't know," said Takanuva, "I'm not even sure where I am."

"Metru Nui, City of Legends." said Takua. "Of course, these days all the legends end with "and the Toa crushed anyone who got in their way." Or, in my case, spent more time wandering than working. When the Vahki treatment didn't take, they put me here."

"I can't believe this." said Takanuva, "Tahu and Kopaka insane, or worse, Matoran jailed, and me sitting here talking to myself. Listen, where's Gali?"

"In Ga-Metru, of course," the Matoran replied. "She and Karzahni run the re-education center."

"Listen, umm..." Takanuva paused, unable to bring himself to say the name 'Takua'. "What happened here? How did things get so crazy?"

"It was about 3,500 years ago now," said Takua, "Toa Tuyet tapped into the power of something called the Nui Stone, which gave her the power of maybe a hundred Toa. When Toa Lhikan tried to stop her, he got killed by her and his traitorous friend, Toa Nidhiki. And that's it. Tuyet took over Metru Nui and convinced the other Toa it was their destiny to smash anyone who posed a threat to the Great Spirit. That meant anyone from the Makuta, to the Dark Hunters, to Toa who didn't seem enthusiastic enough, and Matoran who didn't work quite hard enough."

Takanuva suddenly reached up and took off his mask of power. Before Takua could protest, he had placed it on top of the Matoran's mask. Nothing happened. Takua tore the Mask of Light off, saying, "What are you trying to do, smother me?"

"Just testing a theory." said Takanuva, rising and putting his mask back on, "Come on, we're getting out of here."

"And go where?" asked Takua.

"We have a date in the Archives," the Toa of Light answered, "or rather, below them. And here's hoping Vakama's stories about what's down there, who's down there, were all true."

Chapter Three
"Where are we going?" asked Takua."How did you take out those Vahki guards so fast? What's down here? Have you been down here before?"

"Would you be quiet!" Takanuva snapped.

He had never realized before just how annoying he was as a Matoran.

"There's no telling who, or what, is down here and I'd rather not have unexpected company."

In truth, it was more than Takua's chattering that was bothering Takanuva. In his universe, the Metru Nui Archives were filled with exhibits of Rahi beasts, carvings, tools and other things that Onu-Matoran and Ko-Matoran scholars might study. But in this strange world that he had stumbled upon, the Archives were more like a museum of conquest. A long dead and mounted Visorak stared from the shadows with glassy eyes. A collection of weaponry was nearby, each item identified with a small inscribed tablet. The staff of The Shadowed One, the Spear of Fusion, Zamor Sphere Launchers, Rhotuka launchers, and more. Next to that was the most amazing sight of all: the Kanohi Mask of Shadows, the property of the leader of the Brotherhood of Makuta, now nailed to the wall like just another trophy. Moving further into the depths of the Archives, the Toa and Matoran came upon a group of stasis tubes. These were used to keep Rahi in suspended animation so they could be studied. At least that's what they had been used for in Takanuva's universe. In this dimension, he saw with shock that they served a quite different purpose. One tube stood apart from the others, the glow of a Lightstone playing on its face. Takanuva wiped the dust from the crystal and gasped: inside, trapped in stasis, was Turaga Dume, ruler of Metru Nui.

"I can't believe this," Takanuva said, "Even Toa as mad as they are here would never do this."

"Dume talked too much," said Takua sadly, "and coming from me, that's saying something. When Toa Tuyet took over, he stood up and said that true Toa value justice and mercy, and she had neither in her heart. You had to admire him for it, all the way up to the moment when they hauled him off and stuck him in there."

Takanuva fired a beam of laser-light from his left hand, slicing open the crystal case. Takua grabbed his arm, trying to pull away.

"Are you crazy?! What if there are alarms? You can't do that!"

"I just did," said Takanuva, catching the falling Dume. Consciousness slowly returned to the Turaga, and when he saw Takanuva, he said, "Who are you?"

"I'm a...friend," Takanuva replied.

"You? A Toa? No Toa is my friend." said Dume.

"I don't have time to argue with you," said Takanuva, "Somewhere down here there is an intelligent Rahi called a Krahka, at least I hope she's here. We need to find her, something is very, very wrong in this world, and I'm going to need help if I'm going to make things right."

"Help is exactly what you need, Toa," said a voice behind Takanuva.

He whirled to see the one figure he never expected. Takua and Dume both backed away in fear. Standing before them, was the leader of the Toa Empire, the wielder of the Nui Stone and the unquestioned ruler of the known universe: Toa Tuyet.

Chapter Four
Takanuva, Takua, and Turaga Dume walked in single file to the depths of the Archives followed by the silent Toa Tuyet. The ruler of the Toa Empire had not spoken a word since capturing the three of them, simply gestured with her Barbed Broadsword for them to get moving. They marched for what seemed like hours through twists and turns past long forgotten exhibits and into regions that probably even the Archive care keepers didn't know existed.

Takanuva was puzzled. Tuyet could have just brought them back to a cell on the surface, or for that matter killed them. Why go on a tour of the Archives? Things got even more disturbing and bizarre as they rounded a corner and entered a large chamber. In the back were a half dozen badly damaged Rahkshi and an Exo-Toa armor suit missing its right arm. Even more surprising was the sight of two figures clad in black armor, who sprang to their feet at the sight of the newcomers, Shadow energy crackling in their hands.

Takanuva turned around, but Tuyet was no longer there. Standing in her place was another Makuta, this one wearing a scarred and pitted Kanohi Hau. When he spoke it was in the familiar, grating voice of the Makuta of Metru Nui.

"A simple strategy," he said, "Tuyet has left us little choice but to use our shape shifting powers when we venture out. Even then we were captured, just as we have captured you."

"I don't understand," said Takanuva, "Why aren't you wearing the Mask of Shadows? I saw it hanging in the Archives."

Makuta gave Takanuva a look that would have chilled the snow atop Mount Ihu.

"The mask is warded. If it is so much as touched, Tuyet and her minions will know at once. She keeps it there on unguarded as a taunt to me, knowing how I long for it and cannot touch it."

The two other Makuta and those Rahkshi that could still move closed in.

"But you are not so protected, Toa. Give me one good reason why we should not kill you now as your kind has killed ours for so many centuries."

"I'm not..." Takanuva began, then stopped as he debated how much to tell his captors. These were, after all, Makuta, the most evil beings in the universe from which he came. Here, though, they were hunted fugitives in a world gone mad. "I’m not one of Tuyet’s Toa. My name is Takanuva. I am a Toa of Light."

The three Makuta recoiled. Takanuva could understand why; a Toa of Light was the ultimate weapon against beings of shadow.

"Listen to me," he continued, "I come from someplace else, where there is no Tuyet, no Toa Empire. I can’t claim I understand what happened here, but I do know this: I don’t belong here, and I need to get back to my own universe."

The three Makuta were silent for a moment. Then they began to laugh, a horrible sound that echoed throughout the chamber for long minutes.

"And just how," said the Makuta of Metru Nui, "Do you propose to get back to this universe of yours, my poor, mad Toa?"

"By finding the one who sent me on my journey," Takanuva replied, "A being named Brutaka."

One of the Makuta nodded. He was tall, with armor lined with short, curved, and very sharp blades. "I have heard of legends of a Brutaka. It's said he is a great hero who guards a valuable treasure. But in Matoran legend, every pile of rocks is a treasure, every Rahi larger than a Stone Rat is a monster, and anyone who doesn't scream and run when the thunder cracks is a hero of great courage."

"Very true, Krika, very true indeed," said the Makuta of Metru Nui, "Very well then, you, Toa, are either a liar, a fool, or a mad man, I know not which, but if you need our help, you have to pay a price."

"And what is that price?" asked Takanuva.

"A Matoran expedition, escorted by a pair of Toa, left Metru Nui weeks ago, bound for the island of Artakha," said Makuta. "They were to retrieve an object of power; the legendary Mask of Time, one of the few weapons that might be effective against Tuyet. By now they have it, and are on their way back. I want you to attack their force and steal the Mask for us. In return we will smuggle you out of the city so you can find your Brutaka. But be warned, the Matoran leader is a fanatic, who would rather die than surrender his prize. You will have to grant him his wish."

"And just who is this leader?" asked Takanuva.

"No one you would know," said Makuta Krika, "A Ta-Matoran, someone named Jaller."

Chapter Five
Toa Takanuva had experienced many strange things since arriving in what he now knew had to be some kind of alternate universe. But nothing quite equaled what he was experiencing right at the moment: the sensation of flying under his own power over a vast stretch of ocean. Even stranger was the fact that he had Makuta to thank for this ability. After telling him roughly where to look for the caravan that would be carrying the Mask of Time, Makuta Krika had commented that he would never be able to intercept them in time by sea, even if he managed to steal a boat and slip away from Metru Nui. Flight was the best choice. Before Takanuva could argue that he didn't have the ability to fly, Krika had blown a fine powder into his face. The Toa of Light couldn't help but breathe it in. With a laugh, Krika explained that he had just been exposed to a Makuta Virus, which would, at least temporarily, give him the power of flight. If it had any other side effects, Krika chose not to say. Takanuva didn't know whether to thank him, or hit him.

Still, his directions had been good. Up ahead on the land, Takanuva spotted an Ussal crab-drawn cart driven by a Matoran, flanked by a Toa of Ice and a Toa of Earth, mounted on Muaka tigers. Takanuva could only guess that both cart and Rahi had been loaded and unloaded from a ship, since part of the journey to Artakha had to be made by sea. Despite the Makuta's warning that he would have to kill the Toa and the Matoran with them, Jaller, Takanuva had another idea. He was a Toa, after all, in a world dominated by them. It was worth trying, anyway. He landed right in front of the cart, prompting Jaller to reign it to an abrupt halt. The two Toa raised their spears and shields and took a step forward.

"Who are you?" said the black-armored warrior, "Speak or face the power of my Seismic Spear."

"What my grim friend is trying to say," said the Toa of Ice, "is that we were not expecting visitors, not even multi-toned ones such as yourself. Surprises make us nervous, and when we are nervous, other beings sometimes get hurt."

"Lower your weapons," said the Toa of Light, "My name is Takanuva, I am here on business of the Empire."

"I am Toa Kualus," said the white-armored Toa, "My surly friend is Toa Bomonga; and what might your business be, Takanuva?"

"I don't trust him," said Jaller.

Takanuva barely recognized him in his red Kanohi Komau.

"Kodan keeps a record of every Toa in the universe, and I've never seen his name before."

Takanuva fired a thin beam of light at Jaller, shooting the reins out of his hands. Pewku, the Ussal crab, reared up, startled.

"When I want your opinion, Matoran, I'll ask for it," Takanuva said, trying to sound like a Toa from this universe.

Kualus' response was a blast of Ice from his Sub-Zero Spear, but Takanuva easily shattered it with another light beam. Bomonga made a move to attack, but the Toa of Light temporarily blinded him with a flare.

"If you're done," said Takanuva, "Tuyet has received word of a plan to steal the Mask of Time. She has decided that two Toa are not enough to guard it. Particularly you two, so she has sent me to join you."

"And just what makes you the right choice?" growled Bomonga.

The Toa of Light thought fast, "Have you ever heard of... Takutanuva?"

Both Toa shook their heads.

"How about Graalok the mighty Ash Bear?"

Again they shook their heads.

"And I suppose you haven't heard of the beasts of Mount Ihu, or the flame serpents of the Tren Krom Break, or even," he dropped his voice for effect, "even the Kolhii creature of Ga-Wahi."

"We haven't heard of any of those things," said Kualus.

Takanuva smiled, raised his lance high, and then plunged it into the sand in front of the two Toa. "There is a reason you haven't heard of them, brothers... and if I could defeat them, I could surely handle a threat to the Vahi."

Bomonga and Kualus glanced at each other, then Kualus shrugged, "Very well, brother, you may travel with us to Metru Nui, but since you're so powerful, why don't you walk in front of us? That way you can meet any challenge head-on. Incidentally, who is this that plans to steal this mask from us?"

"A very powerful and evil being called Brutaka," Takanuva replied.

This time, the two Toa obviously recognized the name. Bomonga even smiled.

"You know of him, then?" asked Takanuva.

"And well I should," said Bomonga. He plunged his spear into the ground next to Takanuva's lance, "After all, I killed him."

Chapter Six
Back when Takanuva was Takua, a Matoran in the village of Ta-Koro, he had once found himself walking through a stretch of jungle, being stalked by a monstrous Nui-Jaga scorpion. Whenever he moved, the scorpion moved; if he stopped, it stopped. If he turned to face it, it would kill him, but if he led it back to the village, it might harm others before it was driven off. He was finally saved by a sudden inspiration: he changed direction and led the Nui-Jaga straight toward a Muaka-cat cave. Angered at the intrusion of its territory by the other Rahi beast, the Muaka attacked the Nui-Jaga, and Takua escaped.

Which just goes to show, thought Takanuva, nowadays there's never a Muaka around when you need one. Here he was, trudging across the barren plains of Karzahni in this weird alternate universe. Behind him were two Toa, Bomonga and Kualus, both of whom served the oppressive dictatorship of the Toa Empire. Between them was Jaller, a Matoran, who in Takanuva's world, was the Toa of Light's best friend. In this universe, he was a servant of the Empire, transporting the Mask of Time back to Metru Nui. That wasn't the worst of it, though: Takanuva needed to find Brutaka and the Mask of Dimensional Gates if he was ever going to make it back to his own universe. And Bomonga had just announced that Brutaka was dead, killed by him, all of which left Takanuva exactly nowhere.

"Ah, Brutaka," said Bomonga, "He fought well, but when he turned to fight Gaaki and Pouks, I hit him from behind and that finished him."

"Not very... fair," muttered Takanuva.

"Fair?" asked Bomonga, "He was an enemy of the Empire, he tried to prevent our lawful exploration of Voya Nui. Who cares how he died, as long as he's dead."

"Our friend, Takanuva, seems to be carrying a conscience," said Toa Kualus. "That is a heavy burden in a place like this. You would be amazed how many poor, dead beings I see on the side of the path who just couldn't go one more step with that load on their backs."

"Spare me the philosophy," snapped Takanuva, "What about Brutaka's weapons and his mask? What happened to them?"

"You should know," said Bomonga, "If you really served Toa Tuyet as you claim, any treasure like that gets brought to the Coliseum on Metru Nui for safe-keeping."

"Right, naturally," said Takanuva.

This was going to be a problem: how was he going to get into what happened to be the most heavily guarded spot in Metru Nui to get that mask?

"You know, you remind me a little of someone," said Bomonga, "A Toa of Water, one of Lhikan's old team. What was her name? Toa Naho, that was it. She came along on one of our missions to Odina to clean out that nest of Stone Rats. Offered to go after The Shadowed One herself, take all the risks. Turned out she was helping that creep escape. He got away, she didn't. Tuyet turned her over to her friend Roodaka and, well, she wound up an interesting exhibit in the Archives."

Takanuva knew he should keep quiet, but he couldn't.

"Do you think this is what Tuyet really wanted? Toa betraying other Toa, Matoran living in fear of their heroes. Toa were supposed to be respected, and looked up to!"

"But we are," said Kualus, "Everyone respects what they fear, and they can't help but look up to us when we always look down on them."

Takanuva heard a stirring behind him. He could guess what it was: Bomonga and/or Kualus getting ready to blast him from behind. While there was no choice, he would have to try and take them both out and get the mask from Jaller. It would take a lot of luck, probably more than he could hope for, but... Then he heard other sounds; a rush of wind, startled cries from the two Toa which receded in the distance and the sound of a cart crashing. He turned to see a strange Toa standing amidst the wreckage of Jaller's Ussal cart. He was retrieving the Mask of Time, which lay next to the unconscious Jaller. When he noticed Takanuva, he stopped.

"You're not one of them," the Toa of Air said, "That's why you're still alive. Don't make me regret that decision."

"Who are you?" asked Takanuva, "What do you want here?"

"What do I want?" said the Toa. "I want some peace, but I'm never going to get any while that crazy Toa of Water is running things. So I keep an eye out for things she wants, like this Mask here, then I take them from her. That's why when you see her list of enemies of the Empire, you'll find my name at the top: Toa Lesovikk."

Chapter Seven
Under the cover of darkness, Toa Lesovikk and Toa Takanuva darted through the sculpture fields of Po-Metru. They had slipped back to Metru Nui via an underwater chute a few hours before. Lesovikk knew a few there were closed for repair but were still functioning, and the best of all, unguarded.

"Where are we going?" whispered Takanuva. "The Coliseum is the other way! If Brutaka's mask is in there, that's where I need to go."

"Right," said Lesovikk. "But if you want to get in and out of there alive we do it my way. And my way starts at the Throne of Stone."

The Toa of Air pointed straight ahead. Not far away was indeed a huge throne made of rock, mounted atop a base of Rahkshi parts. Po-Matoran bearing torches surrounded it, and seated in the great chair was Toa Pohatu himself.

"Umm, excuse me," said Takanuva. "I ran into Tahu and Kopaka not long ago, and...are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Trust me," said Lesovikk, smiling.

After a few hours, the Po-Matoran left to go back to their homes. As Pohatu descended from his throne, Lesovikk scraped three times with his armored boot against a nearby rock. The Toa of Stone stopped, head turned to listen. Then he said, "Lesovikk, you're out of your mind."

"It helps," said the Toa of Air, leading Takanuva to where Pohatu stood. "This is my new pal, Takanuva. He's waiting for the five widget tour of the Coliseum, particularly the Hall of Masks."

"Wait a minute," said Takanuva. "I don't understand any of this. Tahu, Pohatu and the rest were supposed to stay asleep until they were needed to awaken Mata Nui. But Mata Nui never fell asleep here, so why are they here?"

"He talks a lot, doesn't he?" Pohatu said to Lesovikk. Lesovikk shrugged.

"OK, glowfish, let me tell you a story," Pohatu said, "Toa Tuyet found out where we were from Artakha. She sent some Toa in to find us, but none of them survived the trip. That was when she found a spot in the Coliseum no one had ever seen before. A place from which she could fake the signal that would launch our canisters. Next thing you know, here we are. She laid it all out for us. How the Makuta and the Dark Hunters were plotting to take over, and how it was our duty as Toa to stop them dead. It was the only way to make the universe really safe. So we all signed on, but after a while I started to have doubts. They turned into fears when I found out Tuyet had sent a squad headed by Toa Nidhiki to wipe out the Nynrah Ghosts, just because they might someday make something that could be used against her. Four dozen Matoran dead. 'Still makes me sick. That was when I made contact with Lesovikk, and we've been working together ever since. Of course, Tuyet doesn't know that."

"You're a regular stone Wall of History," said Lesovikk. "But it's going to be light soon. We need to get the troops together and get ready for a raid."

Pohatu led the two Toa back to his cavern. Once inside, he used his power to send a mild tremor the length of Metru Nui. Not enough to cause damage, just enough to signal those who would understand and then respond. They started filtering in through underground tunnels not long after. Nuju, Ahkmou, three Dark Hunters: Guardian, Darkness and Primal, one Toa: Krakua, and a Po-Matoran that Lesovikk introduced as Kodan.

"It's handy to have the Toa's Chronicler on our side," said Lesovikk, "Helps us stay informed."

"So what's the plan?" asked Takanuva, "We sneak in, steal the mask and get out?"

"He thinks small, too," Pohatu said to Lesovikk. Lesovikk shrugged.

"Listen, junior. I don't know where you came from or why," said Pohatu, "But I'm betting Tuyet doesn't know either, and maybe that gives us an edge. So we're putting everything on one Akilini play. Ahkmou here has alerted the Makuta in town, Darkness took care of any Dark Hunters nearby who were still on two legs. Everybody's in."

"In what?" asked Takanuva.

"Tuyet's had her own way for too long," Pohatu answered, grabbing a Protosteel Axe off the wall. "It's time to take her down."

Note: The text above starting from the words "Chapter 1" was copied and pasted.

I will post more story serials here!

The Mata-Nui Daily News

2008-04-24T22:42:00.000-07:00

Chapter 1
Breaking News!

Matoran Narrator: .......And now the Mata Nui Daily News!

*Music plays*

Radio: Daaaaa, da, da, da, da,da~!

Everyone else: Be quiet!

*Radio turns off*

Matoran Narrator: And now the.......

Director: You said that already! Get on with it!

Matoran Narrator: OK. And now the..........

*Director says a bad word*

MN: OOOOKKKKK, Over to you Hahli.

Hahli: Thank you Random Matoran with no name. It appears that downtown Ga-Koro has been invaded by Bohrok and no Toa seem
available to counter the threat. What do you think Takua?

*Takua appears on screen, surrounded by angry rampaging Bohrok*

Takua: I don't think we need Toa, Hahli. The Bohrok have not harmed any villager. Besides those Bohrok are too stupid.........

*Bohrok jump on Takua*

Takua: (muffled) Help! Ahhhh!! My back!! Aggghhh!! My back! My beautiful back!!!

MN: Back to Hahli.

Hahli: Most enlightening Takua, now over to you Matoro.

Matoro: Top news! The Turaga elections have reached an exciting climax! Ga-Koro has voted for Nokama, Onu-Koro for Whenua,
Po-Koro for Onewa, Ko-Koro for Nuju and Le-Koro for Matau.

Matoro: But strangely Ta-Koro has gone yellow. Why? Because Turaga Vakama slipped on a Kraata and fell into a lava pit.

Hahli: Poor guy. I almost feel sorry for him.

Matoro: Ever since Ta-Koro has voted for the yellow Kraata that Vakama slipped on.

Hahli: Huh?

Matoro: I know, disturbing isn't it?

Hahli: YES...................Over to you Kapura.

*Lights flash*

MN: KAPURA'S WEATHER REPORT!!!!!

Kapura: Good morning viewers........

*Producer whispers something in Kapura's ear*

Kapura: Good afternoon viewers!

*Kapura looks at Producer who shakes his head*

Kapura: Oh, well, then.

Kapura: Good night viewers!

*Falls asleep*

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 Hour later..................

Kapura: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....................................

*Producer punches Kapura on his mask*

Kapura: Ahhh.....Morning Mom..................what the?

*Straightens mask*

Kapura: Ahhh, yes. The WDOMNML (Weather Department of Mata-Nui Matoran Lunatics) have announced that there will be storms in Ga-Koro,
SANDstorms in Po-Koro, EARTHstorms in Onu-Koro, Cyclones in Le-Koro, Ice Blizzards in Ko-Koro and Acid Rain mixed with lava
and the occasional flying Muaka Cat in Ta-Koro.
*Catches breath*

Curtains close.

Radio: Daa da da!

Everyone else: QUIET!

*Radio looks hurt*

End of Weather Report.

MN: Back to Hahli.

Hahli: Actually the news is over.

MN: OK

Pahrak: Wait! We can't end the episode yet!

Hahli: Why not?.......................

Pahrak: BECAUSE we need to see my DANCE!!!

*Pahrak starts dancing*

Pahrak: Everybody do the chicken, everybody do the chicken!

*Director kicks Pahrak off stage*

Pahrak: I'll be baaaaaaaccccckkkkk................................

Director: That is the end, for tonight we dine in THE ATTIC!!!!!! MWUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry, change of personality.

FIN
The next Chapter will be along soon!

The Chronicles of Hydraxon 2 Part 1

2008-04-16T18:41:00.000-07:00

Hydraxon struggled against the creatures grip. He tried to aim his Cordak Blaster but his position was awkward, so he couldn't get a clear shot. He looked behind him and saw just the faintest glimmer of light disapearing from view. Then all was blackness. Hydraxon shifted his grip on his Cordak Blaster. Suddenly, he heard a rumbling from somewhere beneath him. Was it the creature? Hydraxon shifted from his position and looked around. Nothing. He turned around and saw gleaming red eyes hovering above him. What they belonged to he had no idea. Suddenly he heard a voice. It seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. "Ahhhh, Hydraxon," it crooned. "Who are you?" yelled Hydraxon into the darkness. "Don't tell me after all this time you've forgotten?" the voice asked. "Forgotten what?" retorted Hydraxon. "Ahhhh," the voice said again. There was a flash of light and Hydraxon found himself unable to move.

"Bionicle Defenders" mobile game

2008-04-05T20:53:00.000-07:00

The following review was copied and pasted from here Give all credit, not to me, but to the website in the link.

Set in an underwater universe, the goal of the game is to position various elemental towers around labyrinthine paths, destroying wave upon wave of evil sea creatures (known as Barraki). You receive money for critter obliteration, which is then used to bolster your defence. If just one of the blighters reaches your base, however, it's game over.

There are five different enemy types, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Eels for example move quickly but are easily destroyed with air-blasts, whilst Jellyfish move slowly but can sustain more damage overall. It's a simple system that does well not to overcomplicate things, and allows the game to flow at a swift pace.

Campaign mode consists of 16 missions and, most importantly for a strategy game, the difficulty curve is spot-on. The first few levels ease you gracefully into combat, without spoon-feeding you war tactics. Handily, any new items that you unlock are briefly described in the menu before gameplay begins – a nice touch that adds further polish to an already glittering display.

Maps soon become more complex, though, and defensive positions need to be carefully structured. The Barraki grow deadlier, traversing multiple paths and attacking in large groups, and so what at first resembles a playground brawl soon looks more like The Battle for Middle-earth. Thankfully, it's never so frustrating as to bring violence upon your handset.

Survival mode, meanwhile, pits you against a never-ending onslaught of creeps. When there are 30 starfish being electrocuted onscreen and missiles ready to be launched towards an army of crabs, you really have to keep your wits about you. It's controlled chaos, and utterly engaging.

Visually, it sucks you in right from the start. The menu system is impressive, flashing between screens in true sci-fi fashion, and even the loading bar looks high-tech. The 2D environments don't offer much variety, but this is easily forgivable when your defence fires up. With up to 100 towers blasting away on your display, you can't help but become immersed in the battle.

Lego Bionicle Defenders offers outstanding value. The campaign can take anything up to seven hours to finish, which, considering the similar length of some home console games, is impressive to say the least. Add to that a robust Survival mode (more maps would have been the icing on the cake) with online high-scores, and you've got the perfect weapon for killing time – a habit you won't want to kick.

Legend of Mata-Nui

2008-04-02T22:58:00.000-07:00

Vakama finds Tahu's canister

2008-04-02T22:57:00.000-07:00

A short video about Turaga Vakama.

Kini-Nui

2008-04-02T22:55:00.000-07:00

An animation about the Toa at the Kini-Nui temple.

Infected Lewa

2008-04-02T22:51:00.000-07:00

This is a short test animation featuring an infected Lewa.

The Chronicles of Hydraxon

2008-04-02T22:47:00.001-07:00

SEQUEL COMING SOON!

The Chronicles of Hydraxon

2008-04-02T22:02:00.000-07:00

"Stupid runner." muttered the silver clad figure as he stood atop a cliff. The powerful blue being was less than a challenge to the jailer. He jumped from the cliff, flipped over and fired a mini-rocket from his Cordak Blaster. The projectile blew up part of the ground behind the escapee and the runner went sprawling. Hydraxon smiled and dove down to nab the runner. He landed just as the runner got to his feet and shot a strange seaweed-like vine at the jailer. Hydraxon grabbed the vine and twisted, slashing it apart with his wrist blades. Then he threw a explosive boomerang which exploded and knocked the escapee unconsious. Hydraxon whistled and Spinax, his energy hound came to drag the prisoner away.

Back at Hydraxon's headquarters Hydraxon walked through the hallways checking that each and every prisoner was secure. When he came to his most high security vault the bars had been ripped open and several guard robots were scattered on the floor, destroyed. Hydraxon grimly turned and nodded to Maxilos, the guard robot who had followed him. Then Hydraxon walked towards his armory.

Hydraxon was scouting near Razor Whales Teeth, a rock formation, normally a meeting place for the now captured Barraki. He jumped down from a ledge and looked around. Nothing. Suddenly, massive tentacles shot out from the darkness and dragged Hydraxon down into the darkness of the Pit.

2005 Titan Knockoffs

2008-03-30T22:12:00.000-07:00

BZpower members have discovered that you can find action figures
of the 2005 BIONICLE Titans with less articulation points and local
petrol stations. They are dubbed "Max Battle Warriors" and they still have launchable Rhotuka Spinners. Keep on the look out for these!

Fan Fictions Are Here!

2008-03-29T21:20:00.000-07:00

You can now send me your own Bionicle story! Every week we pick the best one!

Send entries to: atomicramon@hotmail.com

Fan Fictions!

2008-03-29T21:19:00.000-07:00

COMING SOON!

Bioniclestory.com

2008-03-24T19:09:00.000-07:00

Visit www.bioniclestory.com to get the latest story updates and news.
You can view videos and play games and check out character profiles!

Go there now!

FUN ZONE

2008-03-24T02:16:00.000-07:00

Go to The FunZone on the BIONICLE website to
play games and watch movies

Battle for Power

2008-03-24T02:13:00.000-07:00

There is a new game on bionicle.com and it is called
"Battle for Power". I know the name sucks but it's a great game.

You play as each of the Phantoka, facing their own challenge.

Try it now in the games section of BIONICLE.com.

Toy Fair 2008

2008-03-24T02:07:00.000-07:00

If you go to BZPower you can find Bionicle images from
the 2008 Toy Fair.

You can see the Phantoka, Matoran and even the Mistika coming
Summer 2008!

Happy viewing!

BZPower

2008-03-23T22:50:00.000-07:00

Go to www.bzpower.com for the latest news updates in the
Bionicle world! If you become a member then you can post your own news too!
I learned that if you check there daily, you'll be able to find story sequels,
exclusive images and more! Check now!

Gravity Hurts

2008-03-23T22:44:00.000-07:00

Gravity Hurts is the name of the new song used to
support the 2008 Bionicle franchise.

Here's a music video:

Mistika

2008-03-23T22:39:00.000-07:00

The Mistika are the Toa and Makuta coming Summer 2008.

They will include: Toa Tahu, Toa Gali, Toa Onua, Makuta Bitil, Makuta Gorast
and Makuta Krika.

As the Phantoka were armed with Midak Skyblasters, the Mistika will be sporting
projectile weapons known as Nynrah Ghost Blasters.

Bionicle Story

2008-03-23T20:18:00.000-07:00

This video is a 4-minute retrospective of the Bionicle story.

Enjoy!

Phantoka Commercial

2008-03-23T16:55:00.000-07:00

Here is the new Phantoka Commercial. Enjoy!!

Matoran

2008-03-22T21:34:00.000-07:00

The new Matoran for 2008 are:

Good Matoran:
Photok(Stone), Solek(Ice), Tanma(Air)

Evil Matoran:
Radiak(Fire), Gavla(Water), Kirop(Earth)

Kopaka MP3

2008-03-22T21:29:00.000-07:00

Pohatu MP3

2008-03-22T21:28:00.000-07:00

Lewa MP3

2008-03-22T21:27:00.001-07:00

Phantoka Video

2008-03-22T20:54:00.000-07:00

Phantoka

2008-03-20T03:50:00.001-07:00

The new BIONICLE for 2008 are here! Sets include: Lewa Nuva, Pohatu Nuva, Kopaka Nuva, Makuta Antroz, Makuta Vamprah and Makuta Chirox.

Check here for more news on the new BIONICLE Phantoka!
(And the Mistika coming in Summer 2008)