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Wings – Prologue
Edited by Inferna Firesword, Oct 18 2011 - 05:41 PM.
Posted Oct 13 2011 - 10:50 PM
Wings – Prologue
Edited by Inferna Firesword, Oct 18 2011 - 05:41 PM.
Thanks for the memories, BZP. Time for me to leave.
Posted Oct 15 2011 - 10:27 PM
Hide and Seek
Edited by Inferna Firesword, Oct 15 2011 - 10:30 PM.
Thanks for the memories, BZP. Time for me to leave.
Posted Oct 17 2011 - 05:48 PM
Edited by Inferna Firesword, Oct 17 2011 - 05:49 PM.
Thanks for the memories, BZP. Time for me to leave.
Posted Oct 17 2011 - 10:43 PM
Edited by Inferna Firesword, Oct 18 2011 - 05:31 PM.
Thanks for the memories, BZP. Time for me to leave.
Posted Oct 18 2011 - 05:22 PM
Edited by Inferna Firesword, Oct 18 2011 - 05:23 PM.
Thanks for the memories, BZP. Time for me to leave.
Posted Oct 18 2011 - 10:22 PM
Storm season had come and gone, the grey clouds that hovered perpetually over the Amari Islands during that time giving way to clear blue skies. The temperature that it usually was during the stormy season – the lowest that the region could reach – had not begun to rise and match what it would be in growth season (not that it mattered – the nadir that the island chain could reach was equal to average summer temperatures in the north). Warm winds were beginning to blow up from the deepest south, where few dared to sail, heralding the coming spring.The wind made its way through a carved wind instrument that hung outside one of the huts of Xi-Koro, leaving a playful melody in its wake. The hut was one of the rare two-story buildings on the islands, but the occupant wasn't interested in the song the breeze made for her – she had bigger things to worry about.On the second floor, only three pieces of furniture adorned the one large room: a large, open-air telescope that faced the sky; a desk, with papers and a pair of lightstones covering the wood grain; and a simple chair, currently filled by the islands' astrologer.The astrologer – called Chaka by her friends and fellow villagers – frowned at her marking-covered parchment, which had been made the night before. She was a worthy successor to the former astrologer, but she found making actual predictions the same night she marked the positions of the stars exhausting. Since she made less-accurate predictions that way in any case, she marked the positions down on paper, interpreted them the morning after, and no one minded the break in tradition.With her compass, she marked the angles between some of the major stars in accordance to the Red Star, which never changed position regardless of the viewer's location. The thing that concerned her most was the Toa Constellation, made up of sixteen points of light that surrounded the Red Star. According to legend, each star represented one of the sixteen elements, including Shadow and Light, though the exact order of elements varied from region to region – in Metru Nui, Fire came first and Plasma last, while in the Amaris Lightning was first and Iron last. However, the thing no one disagreed about was that Light was the constellation's second star and Shadow was the tenth. A change in the tenth star's position signaled darkness on the horizon.After finishing her calculations, Chaka leaned back in her chair and stretched back, sighing as her cramped muscles loosened up. Yawning tiredly, she stood and walked away from her work temporarily. Once her mind had rested for five minutes, she walked back to what she had scribbled down on a separate sheet of paper and reread it. Behind her mask, Chaka's eyes widened as she saw her own predictions, like she'd never seen them before.Quickly, she rolled up her star map and predictions, wrapped a band around the scroll they made, and – holding it under one arm – climbed down the ladder to the ground floor. Once there, she ignored everything and barged through the front door, letting an errant zephyr slam it shut behind her.Up ahead, deeper into Xi-Koro, a few villagers were clustered around a storehouse, working on repairing the collapsed roof. If anyone would know where Turaga Stara was, it was one of the workers.The astrologer put on the brakes next to Kouki, who was verbally guiding Scylla and Charybdis maneuver a heavy plank up the erected scaffolding. Once there, other workers would help nail it into place. Knowing better than to distract the guide while such a load was being carried, she waited until the plank was handed off to the rooftop hands before gaining the Ko-Matoran's attention with a poke to the shoulder.The male turned to face her, his intense blue eyes boring into her own. Chaka noted that his white armor seemed to have more gold than the last time they'd spoken just before he replied to her. "What is it?""Where's Stara?" she asked without preamble. Surprised, the Matoran of Ice hesitated for amoment as he thought it over, and then said aloud, "She's overseeing the ones on Notus. There's a group of them on the beach right now, if my timing's correct; in for lunch. You can ask them to bring you to Notus, if you want.""Thanks, Kouki." Any further discussion was cut off by a commotion that caused both residents of the Amari Islands to look up. Apparently, one of the workers on the roof had slipped and sprained her ankle while moving on the fragile roof; Scylla was helping her down the scaffolding. The astrologer nodded towards the Xi-Matoran, whose face was twisted in pain behind her mask."You're gonna help Razra?"The Ko-Matoran was already moving; he tossed a resigned look back at her. "What else can I do? She's my sister."XxXThe once barren island of Notus was now quietly active with the work of several dozen Matoran, all natives of the Amaris. Where the black atoll had once been the home of captive souls, the old fears had eased enough for them to venture beneath the surface and explore the Kingdom of Souls, learning more about their own islands from the perspective of invisible watchers.In the Cavern of Souls, a figure slightly taller than her peers was helping a Matoran record the words on the wall on a tablet. When a runner from the surface approached with a scroll, the taller female straightened up and greeted the Xi-Matoran. A quiet conversation followed, ending with the scroll changing hands and the runner departing for the outside.Turaga Stara left her friend to her work and ducked into a crevice, taking a lightstone to illuminate the writing. In-between two door-less huts, she sat down on the ground and unrolled it. She recognized Chaka's handwriting straightaway, and knew what the rest of it was. She didn't need a guide to help interpret the readings in the stars, as she already knew how. Before becoming a Toa – and subsequently exiled – she had been apprenticed alongside Chaka under Narissa, the astrologer before the Xi-Matoran. Had not the events that resulted in her leaving the islands occurred, she may have become the astrologer herself.She forced such thoughts from her head and focused on the writing. While that part of her past was behind her, and Xi-Koro was finally beginning to move past their shame in unjustly exiling her, thinking too much about it fouled whatever good mood she was in at the moment. As Chaka was, the results worried Stara. However, she had little time to dwell on what'd been found before being interrupted."Turaga?"Stara tore her thoughts away and met Ariadne's gaze. "What is it?""The others opened up a new chamber," her second-in-command said, her hands clasped behind her waist and back as straight as a spear shaft. "They found something they think you should see."Curiosity aroused, the Turaga of Lightning got to her feet and followed the Xi-Matoran, fingering the charm of soulmetal that hung around her throat. Kronus and the spirits of the Toa Rohaya had given two such charms to her two years before, just before they'd ridden the cosmic wind to another realm, with the instructions to give one to Nuju when he finally returned to Metru Nui. When he had, they had discovered the charms enabled them to interact with each other in the realm of dreams, effectively erasing any need to travel and see each other. Letters to each other had confirmed that it wasn't just wishful dreams – they had been able to quote what each other had said in those dreams, word for word.There had been another part of those instructions, a part she had been informed to keep to herself: When the day comes that you know it must be used – and you will know it, in your heart – bring it to the Elemental Well and fling it into the depths. Tell no one of this.To this day, Stara had no idea what her old friend and leader meant by that. However, a feeling had begun to press upon her shoulders, like a heavy shroud of certainty that something would happen soon, ever since work had begun in the Cavern of Souls.They stopped before a home about two non-doors down from the home of the Spirit Chieftains. To preserve any art or writing that had been created by the spirits, shallow tunnels had been dug under the walls, emerging in the floors: while it was agony to destroy parts of the beautiful floor, it was a sacrifice that had to be made.After emerging from the tunnel, Stara's keen eyes quickly spotted the new chamber Ariadne had spoken of – and unlike every other structure in and on Notus, it actually had a door. Two Matoran were examining glyphs carved into the door, while another was inside the chamber, working by the light of a smoky lightstone."You ought to see this, Stara," Ariadne said, gesturing to the door. The others backed away as she continued, "So far as we can tell, this was carved 999 years after the Cataclysm."The Turaga automatically made connections that had been ingrained deep in her mind – 999 years after the Cataclysm meant that it was two years before the Massacre of Rohaya, and the same year her name had been cleared – as she bent down to better examine it. The carving that covered the entire door depicted a rough sketch of a village, which was recognizable as Xi-Koro's central area, where the suva was located. The suva seemed to be on fire … she frowned and studied further.There was a taller figure – a Toa – and judging solely from the illustration of the mask, she figured that the Toa was Selvan, the Water Toa that had been Reya's friend. She could vaguely see Stiaye and Reya herself in the etched crowd, which surrounded a single figure. The being was easily recognizable; her expression hardened as she identified Sekmet.There were three other figures, all grouped around Sekmet and blocking the crowd from her. They puzzled her, since their imagery was too rough to make out clearly. The fingers seemed strangely long-drawn-out and curved, like they were sickles instead of extremities. The feet – all six of them – resembled bird talons, and their limbs seemed as twisted as tree limbs. But the strangest part was the wings rising from behind their shoulders: the scratches that portrayed them were irregular in length, indicating possible raggedness.As the Turaga withdrew, puzzlement in her mind, a cry came out from the room beyond. All four outside moved inside, where the Xi-Matoran was cradling a dusty object in her arms. "I found this in a corner," she explained, handing it over to Stara. "There's some other objects there: some armor plates, a cup, some disintegrating gloves …"Stara barely heard what followed; her attention was absorbed by the article in her hands. Once the dust and cobwebs had been cleared from it, the shape of a Matoran Hau had been revealed. Some Matoran had been brought to Notus in the past – probably to die. That alone would have been appalling, but the fact the Turaga knew this mask made it worse.Years before, back when she had been Narissa's apprentice (and blissfully unaware for what Fate had in store for her), she had gotten into a fistfight with Sekmet, whose head was already swelled up with self-importance. The scrap had spilled out of Stara's house, into the street outside, and had carried on for a minute longer before Stiaye, Athena, Luxa, and Steena forcibly separated them. Ever afterwards, they would insist that the other had started the brawl, but no one was really sure just who or what started it. However, Stara had come out the better in the fight, since she'd left permanent damage on her opponent while she just got a few bruises and cuts. Sekmet had made several attempts to mend her cracked Kanohi, but there would forever be a noticeable dent just above her left eyehole.Even when grey, with years of neglect and a lack of a wearer, Stara could recognize this mask as Sekmet's. She sat back on her heels, an unbelievable cocktail of emotions swirling through her. All these years, she had thought Sekmet had been elsewhere – Karzahni, some desert island – and when she had learned years ago how the Matoran had framed her and caused her exile, she had felt smoldering anger towards her for the betrayal. But now, learning that Sekmet was dead, far from the suns' light and achingly close to her home village, she could only feel sad pity. The Matoran had had so much potential, so much to live up to, but had allowed greed, jealousy, and anger to consume her, let her be tricked and taken advantage of by Makuta Kiria, and lost everything before she had been taken away by the mysterious beings that had appeared.The low excitement that had filled her companions vanished when they realized what the mask was, and who had worn it. "What do we do with her remains, Turaga?" Ariadne asked with quiet sobriety.Stara made her decisions quickly. "Find a leather wrap and fold these in it. We'll bring her remains back and bury her. Be discreet about it. We'll let the others know about this discovery – she must have a few people that still care about her – but not yet."XxXLater on, as dusk began to set upon the islands, Stara found herself in her home, working painstakingly on a marble headstone that would rest above Sekmet's grave. As the female who had been directly affected by Sekmet's choices in the past, she felt a certain obligation to lay what was left of her to rest.Once again, her thoughts of what she'd discovered that day swelled in her mind, and she felt sick confusion, especially towards what had been found in that chamber. While she had eternally been nervous of Notus, due to the (true) stories about how it was haunted, learning that one of her own – even one that had been a traitor – had died under the watch of the ghosts made her angry. In particular, she was angry at Kronus, her old friend and leader while he'd lived, and who had gained leadership of the island by the time Halfling Deimos had appeared on the islands. Thinking that he might have had something to do with Sekmet's death made her feel betrayed again – the same emotion that filled her when they had been facing down the halflings, all those years before on Rohaya.She was forced to shove that to the side – there were far more important things to worry about. As the Turaga set her work away and prepared to sleep away the night, the reading in the constellations rose to the fore. The Black Star had moved closer to the Red Star, the Morning Star, and the Storm Star; a grim reading, one that signaled danger to the universe's light. The proximity of the Storm Star meant someone of the Lightning element would get tangled up in the affair – Stiaye, perhaps?There was another part that concerned her, though; one that little to do with the Toa Constellation. Chaka's concern had been with that formation, but as an ex-astrologer, Stara had picked out the minor change even on paper. There were two stars that were said to represent Artakha and Karzahni, the latter having three dim stars circling it. According to the stories and her lessons, the three stars represented the Nightborn, the dangerous Hounds of Karzahni that brought the condemned to their master's realm. Their attacks had been documented almost since the beginning of time, and when their stars brightened, it augured major activity by the infernal trio.In this case, the three stars had brightened and moved towards the Red, Morning, and Storm Stars, seeming to enter a new dual orbit with the Black and Karzahni Stars. This couldn't be good since it meant the Nightborn themselves might be involved as well. How, she had no idea – the star readings weren't clear enough for that – but she knew it was ominous.She thought back to the carving in Notus, of the three strange figures on Sekmet's door, and wondered – were they the Nightborn themselves? Another thought rose to the forefront of her mind as she rubbed the medallion around her throat; the medallion that bore her team's symbol. Is it almost time? And as she began to slip into darkness, she swore a voice answered her – a voice that belonged to no being in the Amari Islands.Soon. Soon.XxXReview hereEdited by Inferna Firesword, Oct 18 2011 - 10:23 PM.
Thanks for the memories, BZP. Time for me to leave.
Posted Oct 19 2011 - 05:33 PM
Naming Day
A day had passed since Shiri had emerged from her casing and "the Matoran" had agreed to help the spirit return to Stiaye. Since then, the Light Toa had quickly learned that just because she looked like a Toa did not mean her new companion was going to listen to her – at least not in the manner Shiri had intended.For starters, the unnamed female had refused to leave the area right away, despite her own statement that she wanted to leave and wouldn't be missed. While packing supplies, she also brought up another issue: while she could be referred to as "the Matoran" in the area of Va-Koro, she would need some sort of name to go by when they left."So pick a name and be done with it," the ex-Toa of Light replied, trying not to lose her temper. Now that she had gained an ally, she was eager to get moving, and having said ally stall made her antsy."No," came the flat reply. "I might not know much about my past or myself, but the Va-Koro healers do. My file is somewhere in the Hall of Records, and I bet my real name – the name wasn't allowed to have – is in there."As Shiri stared at the cloaked female like she couldn't believe her ears, the Cereva-masked Matoran continued. "Don't get me wrong; any name would do if we wanted to head out right away. But it'd be false, and I'd feel better if I knew it was my real name."You want my help? I can give it, but for a price: you help me. Help me get into the Hall of Records and find my file. If my name is there, I'll use it when we depart to find Stiaye – which will be done the moment we return to my home. If we can't find it, we'll leave Va-Koro, return here and come up with a fake name for myself, and then head out."Shiri could not help but wonder if this request layout had been influenced by Bism's own bargaining tactics. "What if I went?" she offered, sensing that her host was not going to give ground from her demand. "They can't see me unless I want them to, and they can't keep me out of the buildings. With directions, I could be in and out within five minutes.""The Matoran" shook her grey-armored head. "That might be the case if the Hall of Records was run by computers, but the Village of Time hasn't quite caught up with the rest of the universe. Last I've heard, the personnel were converting the stone records into the computer, but its' slow going. Its' still mostly stone, and the only physical object you can manipulate is the Spear. We need a better plan, since I'm not allowed to get inside the Hall."As she finished her explanation, the female turned away from her window, where she had been gazing at the midmorning sun. Behind her powerless mask, her expression morphed into one of surprise as she realized that she was speaking to seemingly thin air. "Shiri?""I'm here," came the reply. As the ghost materialized beside the Spear again, she looked at it thoughtfully. "Maybe if you strapped the Spear onto your back, I could create a bubble effect around you – bend the light to turn you invisible. It won't be perfect, but it could get you inside."An excited look replaced the grey-armored figure's bewildered one. "It could! The security is pretty limited in Va-Koro, since they rely so much on their Psionics Toa to detect danger, so I could just walk by – provided I don't slam into anyone.""Just out of curiosity, what would happen to you if you got caught in the Hall of Records?"The response was delivered in a flat, matter-of-fact tone. "Ever gotten hit by a Stone Toa's barrage of elemental power?"The deceased Toa cringed as she realized what her friend was driving at. "Unfortunately, yes.""Then you've got a good idea what awaits me if we screw up.""Well, that's … motivating," the Light Toa said after an awkward pause. "Let's get this rolling before one of us loses our nerve."Taking the hint (Shiri still wanted to make this a fast errand), "the Matoran" quickly slung her stuffed knapsack onto her couch, hitting the Rahi leather with a clanging crash. After tightening her cloak around her throat, she swept around in a dramatic about-face to look toward the Spear of Ajax. Shiri vanished back into the metal casing as she reached out for it, ready to strap it onto herself.The moment her fingers closed around the shaft, though, a bolt of something hit her, making the nameless Matoran stagger. It was like she'd been standing in a room completely devoid of light, with no idea how large it was or where the exit was, and an unseen door had abruptly been flung open to send a beam of illumination to blind her eyes.Except it wasn't her eyes. It was her mind …She saw the shining white bow of – a ship? Momentary confusion filled her – to her knowledge, she'd never been on a ship – until she realized what this had to be: a memory, long since forgotten, of her life before awakening in Va-Koro. Not that she remembered when or where she had boarded a vessel like this, a vessel that clearly had to be a luxury liner. Upon the prow of the proud ship was the name of the vessel in gilded letters: Sa-Fire.Like a movie camera shifting the focus, her eyes were pulled away from the bow and further down its length, finally coming to rest on a passenger deck. Several chairs were lined up on it, the occupants catching some rays as they slept or read, but one figure – a Matoran, decked out in a fancy cloak and hat –was standing by the rails, gazing out at the silver sea. Abruptly, she was zoomed in on the lone, seemingly-wealthy Matoran, forced to watch. As her eyes processed what stood before her, the female Matoran before her turned, adjusting her hat brim to give her a better view. Almost before she caught a glimpse, the nameless one seemed to know who was beneath that hat, whose face was behind the mask.Breathing faster, she looked upon herself."Wake up!""The Matoran" opened her eyes in a hurry at Shiri's urging. She found herself lying on her hut's floor, the Toa spirit hovering over her, deep concern in her eyes. "What is it?""Just you passing out when you picked up the Spear and staying that way for about five minutes," the ex-Toa of Light said dryly, moving back as her ally got up. After checking over her shoulder and noting that the Spear was strapped to her back – apparently Shiri had gotten it on her, though how that was possible while she had been facing the ceiling was beyond her – the nameless Matoran shifted her attention back to her friend and current ally, who now wanted to know just what had happened.Shaking her head in confusion, her only reply was, "I dunno … I thought I saw something when I fainted, but I'm not sure. Come on; let's going.""You sure you want to?""Bism's got a saying: 'You can watch things happen, you can make things happen, or you can wonder what the Karzahni happened.' I'd rather do item two right now, and save item three for later."XxXTen minutes and much squabbling later found the odd couple overlooking the main gate into Va-Koro. Like inanimate sentinels for the people inside, two statues flanked the entrance, in the shape of two robed Toa: one cupping its hands in front of its heartlight as if in prayer, while the other had one hand thrust out towards the horizon, as if banishing enemies from its' sight."They're big on symbols here," the nameless female commented to Shiri, who was floating just behind her right shoulder. Her only reply came in the form of her vision suddenly bending, like she had been dropped inside a sphere made of thick glass, as the Light Spirit brought her powers to bear.Done, came the whisper in her mind. But I can only do so much for other people on the streets. While I have some control over their minds, I think you should avoid the main roads to get to the Hall of Records.Wasn't planning to go any other way, the soon-to-be-named Matoran replied.I'm just saying, was the wounded comeback.With her heartlight in her mouth, the pair of living and dead moved down the overlooking hill to the dirt road. As it was nearly midday, traffic was down to a trickle in and out, as the occupants prepared for their rest at high noon, making it easy for them to slip in through the gates. Looking through her ally's eyes, Shiri got a brief glimpse of a main street that seemed to lead to a center with a large fountain, but then her host steered down a side street and she lost sight of them.The back ways and alleys of Va-Koro weren't as pristine as the main roads, but Shiri noted that it was made of the same white stone as the rest of the village, and so far she had not seen a single seam where two pieces of rock met. When she mentioned this to her ally, the reply came that the origins of the Va-Koro were thought to have come about as the result of a Stone Toa's labor, who had carved the original village in one night from a mountain that had once stood there.Despite her normal policy of refraining from entering the village, the Matoran knew the way to the center well, as all roads led there in the end. Unconsciously drawing her cloak tighter about herself in nervousness and anticipation, she stepped out of the alleys at last and pressed against the walls of the central square, following the crowd's slowly-circling route towards the temple-like building that she knew was the location she had desired to enter for centuries.The moment she stepped inside the entrance hall, the drone of the crowds outside and the trickling water of the center fountain vanished from their ears, leaving an almost foreboding silence in its wake. Slightly uneasy, Shiri watched as her friend paced towards a door on the left side of the hall, pushing it open on noiseless hinges.The room they found themselves in was large, lined with shelves stuffed with stone tablets. A large wooden table rested in the center, with several chairs flanking it. For a moment, Shiri doubted their ability to find the file in all this.How is this place organized? she asked into "the Matoran's" mind. A slight pause followed, with the hasty reply Huh? Oh, by year, then in chronological order after that, hot on its heels. What was the year you came here?Three years after the Cataclysm – the seventh month of that year, if memory serves.With that to go on, "the Matoran" made a beeline for a section near the back, with an engraved brass plate fastened to it reading "3 AGC". The shelves were located behind others, hiding the table and door from view, which comforted the pair a bit. While Shiri focused on maintaining her light-bending and keeping lookout, the soon-to-be-named female scanned the bookshelves, looking for the date. 4/03, 6/03, a-ha, 7/03. After that, finding the file she sought was easy.Hardly daring to breathe, "the Matoran" opened the file; sure enough, there were the details of her discovery and treatment. With Shiri preoccupied, she was free to peruse the dossier almost at her leisure – even in the thrill of near-discovery, she hadn't forgotten that she wasn't supposed to be here.Patient is of moderate health, read the healer's report, referring to her physical build and the state of her immune system, but has no memory of her previous locations. Work is beginning to discover her name and background; no action towards Act 66 will be executed.Act 66 was the law that divided the people of Va-Koro into their spiritual classes. Amnesiac medical patients were normally exempt from this until more had been discovered about their background and their memories began returning; she had to wonder why she was an exception.After the report lost her interest, she came upon a form that dealt with her profile. And at the top, made up of three letters, was the object of this whole mission: her real name.Almost in a dumbfounded manner, the formerly-nameless Matoran read the name several times as if she was not sure she had comprehended it properly the previous time. There it was, though, plain as day: Name: Kya. She wasn't sure what the appropriate feelings were for this, but she felt more at ease with herself, now that she knew a personal fact about herself. She also felt triumphant that she had done this, thumbing her nose at the twisted system of the Village of Time. In your face!Then she noticed what was written in the 66 box. The action itself wasn't what interested her, but the reason: Suspected to have past dealings with Brotherhood.Kya was struck dumb. Her? Have something to do with the Makuta? Never! She didn't have much time to dwell/protest, though, since Shiri abruptly alerted her that someone was coming. After a brief hesitation, the Matoran shut her file and replaced it on the shelf – much as it agonized her to set aside possible details of her previous life, she couldn't take it with her, as her pack was back in her home and the missing article might arouse suspicions. Pulling her cloak tighter around herself, she began slipping around the shelves, even as the door flew open again to admit the intruders and their argument, jarringly loud in contrast of the silence that had dominated the atmosphere up until now."…can't believe we're in this place, H – this is so far out of our way it isn't even funny." The voice that spoke this was male and slightly high-pitched, something that Kya found slightly strange. At her urging, Shiri darted out to examine the speakers, returning with an image: two Toa, one of the Air element and one of the Stone element; the former wearing a Mask of Intangiblity and the latter wearing some variant of Kanohi Kakama. The former was skinnier than the bulky, muscular Stone Toa, who seemed to be the "H" referred to by his companion."Look on the bright side," the second Toa said, slight impatience edging his voice, "at least we didn't wind up in the Amari Islands; it'd take us a month to reach the rendezvous point from there."As Kya edged past another set of shelves, there was the sound of a scroll being unrolled. "Here's where we are; there's the rendezvous. All we need to do is to head north, charter a ship, and we're good.""Just so long as …"The rest of the argument got cut off as Kya slipped through the doors and left the room; she was slightly disappointed that she couldn't stay longer without risking discovery, but she knew what she needed to get rolling with a clear conscience. And maybe once Shiri's back with Stiaye, I can start researching my background in other cities, she promised herself.These thoughts dwelled in her mind as she left the Hall of Records, pressing herself close to the edges of the crowd as usual. The activity was really starting to wind down for the midday rest, making it easy for Shiri to scan for abnormal activity and suspicious figures.What she saw sent a strong thrill of terror through her, powerful enough to gain Kya's full attention. What is it? she demanded, the psychic fear strong enough to trigger a fight-or-flight reaction in her body.Barely able to mentally articulate, the Toa spirit indicated to a figure behind them. It's him, she whispered. The one who separated me from Stiaye.XxXReview hereEdited by Inferna Firesword, Oct 19 2011 - 05:34 PM.
Thanks for the memories, BZP. Time for me to leave.
Posted Oct 19 2011 - 10:25 PM
Speed of Light
Trying not to take to her heels right away, the newly-renamed Kya peered over her shoulder and through the distorted wall of light that hid her from the eyes of others. Sure enough, the towering, bulky figure that was about three bio behind her matched the appearance of "Stiaye's" attacker (Shiri had provided her with images in her head to prove her point) almost perfectly. The only noticeable difference between Shiri's illusions and the panic-inducing figure now wandering almost curiously through Va-Koro's streets was the red-tinged visor that partly shielded his eyes from outside viewers.While Shiri was still panicking, the grey-armored Matoran had noted something surprising. From the spirit's count, only four days had passed since she had fled the Steltian and his masters. How the giant Makuta servant had tracked the Spear of Ajax down so fast was a mystery, but they clearly did not have the luxury to ponder it at the moment. Their spell in the Village of Time's area had clearly run out; if they wanted to flee safely and quietly, it had to be now.Can you distract him? Mislead him? she demanded of the Light Toa spirit. Shiri managed to float above her fear and shakily replied, I can distract him, but misleading him would be impossible. There is something in his mind – perhaps given to him by the visor he now wears – that allows him to find me and my vessel.So distract him. Just do it long enough for me to get out of Va-Koro.Meekly, the Light Spirit began to work while Kya moved faster through the crowd, no longer caring about not slamming into people. Many a person in Va-Koro felt themselves being shoved aside by an invisible force that day, but most dismissed it as the careless practice of Kalima, the village's Toa of Psionics, making sure her skill with her element was still sharp.Meanwhile, Rarin – for it was indeed Rarin that the duo had spotted – frowned behind the screens of his visor as his mind seemed to feel ticklish. Abruptly, it was like it was harder for his mind to focus on his task, and fearing intrusion by a nosy mind-reader, he retreated behind the barriers in his mind that Hecate had trained him to build. During the days when the Brotherhood had been conquering Matoran lands, his Master had been close to dependant for him to be incognito when he did her work (or at least as incognito as a towering Steltian could be). To that end, she had taught him to protect his thoughts and – more importantly – had taught him how to lie effectively.He could never lie to his Master, that was certain – but he could fool those he encountered on his missions, as he could act perfectly like a normal lower-class Steltian, who were (according to the norm) too simple and stupid to be anything but honest.Narrowing his eyes, he focused on the readings his visor was giving him. According to the machine, the reading on the Spear of Ajax was moving to the western side of the village – the opposite direction that it had entered from. Perhaps there was some ignorant citizen that carried it, unaware of the power that the artifact possessed, wandering to visit a friend. If that were the case, perhaps he could peacefully convince them to relinquish it. It was worth a try – he had no interest in getting Va-Koro's Toa involved if it could be avoided.Bowing his head, he moved after the signal, paying no heed to the people that watched him with apprehension and mistrust.XxXBism stepped back from one of his Rahi and finished tending to their hide, smiling as the creature nickered appreciatively and began tearing into the hay. While Va-Koro was not his favorite place in the universe, it was one of the few places that could properly care for the Serohes that pulled his cart, so he had since resigned himself to the fact he'd be going here more often than he'd like, if only for their sake.Gently running his gloved fingers through their manes of fine metal, he stepped outside to head for his temporary dwelling and promptly proceeded to slam into thin air – More like thick air, he thought as he stumbled back – and what made it stranger was the fact he heard a very familiar cry from the same place he'd banged into nothing."What the … you're here?"In response, a muttered argument was held between two unseen figures, ending when his grey-armored friend appeared as if she had thrown off a cloak of invisibility. "Yes, I'm here," she replied, sounding tenser than she had been a few days prior. "It's unbelievable, I know, but there you are.""Just how in the name of Karzahni's mask did you just do that?""Do what?"Bism wasn't sure if his friend was playing ignorant or not, but in exasperation he pressed his point. "How did you become invisible? Why did you become invisible? And why are you here?"She shook her masked head, eyes flashing with nervousness. "There's no time for me to explain, Bism. I'm in danger, and I can't delay leaving Va-Koro."Before the Po-Matoran could grab her arm and get her to explain, what felt like a shadow fell upon him and his friend, and looking down the alley made his eyes fall upon the biggest Steltian brute he'd ever seen. The copper-and-colbalt bruiser towered over the two Matoran, his face stern and forbidding, and for a Matoran more than capable of keeping roadway gangs from attacking him, his embarrassing first thought was, We're gonna die."You carry something my master desires returned to her," he rumbled, in a voice that sounded like it belonged to a living mountain. He was not addressing Bism, though – he was facing "the Matoran", eyes locked on the spear he had given her just days ago.The female's face twisted, like she was puzzled. "Pardon? This is mine.""It is hers," Bism said, hurrying to back her up. Something about the muscle-head was giving him creeps beyond the usual "tall, strapping person" creeps – it touched upon a primal fear that stemmed from nightmares he would rather forget. If it came down to an attempted robbery – while he doubted he could effectively combat the giant, he would give his best effort to try and protect his friend."You carry stolen goods, Matoran," he replied, still ignoring the smaller male, which irked him even more considering the fact he was protectively standing before his friend. "She wishes for it to be returned to her – by any means possible. What do you desire? Money? Creature comforts? I could give that to you, if only you allow me to return that spear to my master."Bism didn't turn his head to gauge the reaction – he could sense his friend's hesitation. He knew what she truly wanted: her blank memory restored, which was something she had confided in him not long after they had cultivated their friendship. If past was prologue, she wanted the blank pages to be filled in, for better or worse.Yet he could sense something off this being; an instinct that told him to be on edge. While his promises were like honey, he could sense a hidden poison inside the sweetness. While he could hear the cultured sincerity in this strange person, he did not trust it, causing Bism's cynical self to emerge and warn this being away; warn his friend from giving this male what he wanted, to not cave into the enticing pledges."Listen," he said loudly, drowning out the other's uncertain reply, "I don't know who you are, or who your 'master' is, but I don't like you very much. I don't know where that Spear came from, but she came by it justly – I gave it to her, and it was traded to me before that. I don't think you can offer her what she really wants – if you'd even give it to her – so you should just walk away now."Turning like it settled the matter, Bism turned and took his friend's hand, who allowed it to be held. "Come on – let's blow this place," he said, and they began to walk away.With their backs turned, there should have been no way for him to know carefully repressed anger and frustration had flashed in their opponent's eyes. Yet a voice in his head sent an instinctive warning, and he acted on it, shoving the female Matoran away and jumping to the side before a meaty fist could connect with "the Matoran's" back and deliver a potentially crippling blow."Run!" he yelled, prepare to take a lot of damage for his friend, even as his eyes remained fixed upon the assailant and his massive hands, which were drawing back for another blow.XxXKya was quick to take Bism's advice in a fractional manner, diving behind the stable doors in an attempt to hide close to her friend. Part of her disobedience stemmed from her loyalty to him, but the rest of her reasons came from her guilt – guilt for considering, if only briefly, of surrendering Shiri over to the thug. The idea of regaining her lost memories had been highly tempting, up to the point where she had forgotten that the deceased Toa had told her that he was a Makuta's servant, and they were not to be trusted.Heroes were supposed to reject these wishes, ignore what they wanted desperately in the face of protecting friends. But she knew that only a few people could resist the lure of their heart's desires, especially when it came to them like this, and she was only mortal; she was as susceptible as any other average person. And if the records were true, if she was a former pawn of the Brotherhood, then maybe she didn't want to know it all right away.Her remorseful thoughts were cut off by a cry; through the parted door, she saw Bism's body collapse to the paving stones that made up the street, blood trickling from a head wound, though the grey-armored Matoran couldn't tell if the agent or the impact had delivered it. He wasn't moving, but she could tell from the steady flashing of his heartlight that he still lived.A grunt of satisfaction came from the adversary; he was rid of the pesky civilian that was interfering with his business. With the Po-Matoran out of the way, he would be free to look for her and seize Shiri's casing at his leisure – or, almost at his leisure.The Toa are coming, Shiri reported grimly, the first words she had said since Kya had shamefully said an apology about her traitorous considerations. Two of them; a Toa of Stone and a Toa of Fire. Their leader was alerted of a disturbance here and sent her brothers to investigate.Fear set in; Kya knew of those two – more specifically, the Stone Toa – and knew that if they found her, Kalima would identify her and order for her death. We have to get out! she cried in panic. Can't you do something?!I can … relax and do not resist.Kya could not imagine how she could possibly become calm under these circumstances, but Shiri's influence managed to soothe her feelings of terror to the point that when the deceased Toa's consciousness began to push gently against her mind, she let her in.The Toa of Light's soul washed over her like a tsunami of will, pressing Kya's mind to a backseat while the imprisoned ghost seized control of the tribeless Matoran's body. With it came the knowledge of her powers – the ones she had in life, in death, and the ones gained by her fusion with Ajax's Spear – and it was among the simplest she utilized for their extraction.Eyes gleaming with otherworldly light, Shiri rose to Kya's feet, marveling at the sheer power she felt even in this Matoran shape. Rarin spotted her almost instantly, but before he could advance, a flash of light erupted from her hands to blind him, in a maneuver she had used millennia ago on a similar enemy.The Makuta's servant staggered, eyes blinded by her light burst, but Shiri wasn't done yet. In death, she had gained mastery over the many uses of the Light element, and one of the easiest was enhancing her speed. She began to focus, hold onto the mindset to activate that talent –We're not leaving without Bism, Kya snapped from her passenger seat position, somehow able to wrest back enough control for this request. Amazed by the strength of her host, Shiri readily agreed. Scooping up the unconscious Po-Matoran in their arms, the two raced out of the alley, through the gates before the startled guards could react, and up the path to towards Kya's home – and from there, a location she knew was safe for them to rest.Back in the alley, Rarin had shoved his visor off his face and was rubbing his eyes in an attempt to restore his sight. His ears – as enhanced as his mind – picked up two sets of running feet coming from behind him; the steps themselves informed him they were taller than Matoran but lighter than himself.A hand reached up touch his shoulder plating; his senses told him that the one doing the reaching had to lift up, and they were being cautious about it. A voice asked for him to come; Rarin quickly shifted mental gears. He was busted; he knew the two Matoran and their precious cargo was long gone. The best he could do now was damage control – get himself off the hook, without alerting the Toa that he was Hecate's servant. It would take some skillful acting, but it wasn't impossible."Yeah," he grunted, sliding into his dunce act. "Rarin no mean harm." And with that, the Makuta's agent allowed the pair to lead him off.XxXReview hereEdited by Inferna Firesword, Oct 19 2011 - 10:26 PM.
Thanks for the memories, BZP. Time for me to leave.
Posted Oct 20 2011 - 05:26 PM
The Crystal Pool
Bism prided himself on being a light sleeper. Even when it appeared that he was dead to the universe, the slightest unnatural sound could rouse him in an instant, ready to fight whatever dangers threatened. All the same, it took him a while to lift from the fog of unconsciousness and back into awareness of the world around him.He was lying on a bed of grass and moss, in some forest glade with late afternoon light streaming through the trees around him. The radiance sparkled off the waters of a deep, clear pool, ferns growing around its edges and on the banks. While it was almost like a location from a fairy tale, the Po-Matoran had never seen this place before, so he was naturally confused.As he sat up, a gentle hand rested on his shoulder, and he turned his head to look at his friend as she pushed him back down. "Lie still. You got a pretty nasty knock to the head from the fight. It's not a concussion, but you should stay down until I finish binding it."Obediently, Bism lay down as she continued fussing over the bleeding wound on his head. "Where is this place?""It's about three kio from my home; far enough that Kalima can't sense us. I found it while hiking in the forest a few years ago, and I've visited it enough times to remember how to get here. Not many people know it exists, so we should be fairly undisturbed."The aura around them, of the grove's tranquility, was enough to make Bism wish to sleep again, but consciousness had come with stark memories of the fight, the scrap that had given him another badge of courage. In retrospect – the vision that had no problems seeing – he could see the cold, practical gaze of his opponent, and with the calm safety gave him, he knew that if his friend had not somehow rescued him, he would be dead.Leaning just within his sight was the spear the goon had wanted. He stared at the graffiti-covered thing, not sure what could cause someone like that brute – and the brute's "Master" – be willing to kill to lay hands on it.His friend noticed where his sight was directed. "He didn't get it. To my knowledge, he's currently in the custody of Kalima and her brothers. We're safe for now, and so is it."Bism wasn't what made him continue to stare it, but the way she referred to the weapon – like it was a living being, like it was to be revered – caused him to ask, "Why is it so important? Do you know why that guy tried to kill us for it?""I'm not sure about kill –" she began."But he would've, given half the chance. Just who was he? Do you know him?"The grey-armored female rose to her feet and walked towards the spear. "Well, first off, I've ditched that whole "the Matoran" thing – my name is Kya now. That's what I was in Va-Koro to do – find my records and learn my real name. And that guy was a servant of the last Makuta."Waving aside the fact their enemy's employer was one of the most hated beings in the universe, Bism persisted. "Kya, what would a Makuta's puppet want with that thing?""I'm not the person to explain it. Shiri, care to tell him about yourself?"Before the Po-Matoran could try and muster his mouth for another question, mist began to leak from spear, creeping across the grass and leaving cold moisture in its wake. It swirled upward, consolidating into a figure like air made solid, but the façade rippled like the surface of a disturbed pond."Hello," Shiri said pleasantly to him.Smiling crookedly at her dumbfounded friend, Kya said, "It's a long story," knowing that was the understatement of the year.XxXWhile the cell would be easy for Rarin to smash open and escape from, the Steltian servant of Hecate did not chose the easy route for flight. That would have the Toa of Va-Koro chasing him, and he could not afford to have a Toa of Psionics tailing him. No, he would have to take the hard route to evade their suspicion – and what better way to pin the disturbance on the Matoran, than to create false memories?The barred and reinforced door swung outward, and the Steltian looked up. It was one of the Toa that had brought him here – Morian, the Toa of Stone. His eyes were hard, the kind of eyes that belonged to those that had lived too long for their own tastes, but would remain if there still were those who wished them to.Morian wasn't the chattiest of people, either. A lot of people in Va-Koro learned the fine art of silent communication, and he was obviously an expert. Rising up from the bench (too low to the ground to comfortably accommodate him), Rarin allowed iron cuffs to be placed on his wristsThey were inside the compound of the Va-Koro Toa, that much was obvious as Morian directed him through the halls, a sword indicating the clear warning. The entirety of the Village of Time had been built to accommodate Ce-Matoran, and this stronghold was meant to help a Psionics Toa. Rarin had once read that there were certain materials that could help or hinder their powers, and white marble was a favored substance, due to its flexible nature. It could both amplify the mental reach and silence their telepathy – no wonder that there were so many Ce-Matoran living here.The journey finally ended in a long room covered in mirrors – considered by tradition to stifle telepathy from traversing the walls. There were four chairs, one way-too-small and chained – obviously meant to contain him. There was one occupant, seated in one of the viewer's chairs in the corner – the Fire Toa that had joined Morian in capturing him, Zraie. The scarlet armor he wore wasn't covered in as many slash marks as the Stone Toa's, but there was a general air of uncaring towards his appearance – the metal plates were dull from lack of polish."Any word on when Kalima will be here?" Morian asked as he directed the Steltian into the tiny chair, who sat down with great discomfort."She said she'll be here soon.""Sure," the older male grumbled. "And Makika toads will fly before she shows up when she saysshe will."As if on cue, the door opened again, admitting a female Toa clad in blue and gold. Her eyes were the radiant colors of spring grass behind her Mask of Biomechanics, but Rarin remembered his training and did not look deeply. Hecate had taught him that the Psionics tribe had the most beautiful eyes of all the tribes, but the beauty was a trap for those unwary of the danger. They could weaken a previously-strong mind if the beholder was enthralled, allowing the Toa to slip into their minds with ease.Psionics Toa had many tricks to read those they faced – their very being was built to accent their powers. Their eyes were one of the most readily at their disposal, to slide easily into the brains of their opposition and tear them apart – to do what an entire line of their kind, including Sirien of Toa Rohaya fame, had done in Va-Koro.Yet he could sense something in this female – Kalima, that was her name – that told him she was different from her predecessors, and especially her brothers. Compared to Morian and Zraie, who had lived through the Brotherhood-Dark Hunter War (even if Zraie hadn't been part of it actively), Kalima was very young and inexperienced – a product of the Rebirth, and hesitant with her powers even after forty-five years. Her fear of crossing a moral boundary was her great weakness – and, in a way, her greatest strength.The young Toa glared at Morian, apparently from the residue of a thought she had picked up (most likely the conjuring of his criticism), and then returned her gaze to him as she sat down in the closest chair to him. As he knew it would, Rarin felt her mind pressing against his barriers, looking for purchase to open a way inside. Instinct was powering her efforts to learn his secrets, so it was easy for the Steltian to redirect her probes – without the finesse that would come with practice and time, Kalima could be fooled by a well-prepared individual like himself.With a graceful air, Rarin turned Kalima's attention away from his unbreakable barriers to a hole he had left open. Eagerly, she slipped through and found what she was looking for – which was only what Rarin wished for her to find. There was nothing that connected him to Hecate, or any hints that he was smarter than he appeared – indeed, nothing real that pointed to him having an identity. In the past, this trick had hoodwinked cleverer mind-readers than she, so she swallowed it without any problems.Then there was one last piece of information to be delivered – an edited version of the altercation he'd had with the two Matoran. Of course, he had clipped the male out of it – there was no need to get a bystander caught up in this – but the grey-armored female he kept, capturing her appearance clearly for Kalima's benefit, spinning a tale that the Spear was his, that she had stolen it from him and he had been trying to get it back, that he had lost his temper and tried to seriously injure her.He sensed her belief in his story – another one fooled with ease – and as she retreated, finding nothing to further interest her, he tasted something from her own mind. He mulled it over as she left and he pulled his barriers back together, wondering how to best turn it to his advantage.Dimly, he heard Kalima speaking with her brothers, and he made sure to tune out her voice and have only the words register – that was another trick, and he couldn't afford to have his barriers weakened right now. Each time a Psionics Toa entered the mind of another, they left tracks, grooves they could follow next time they went inside. Each time would be easier – sometimes it got to the point where she could take control of another's mind without much effort.Granted, his studies told Rarin that it took years for that to happen, but he didn't want Kalima to blow his cover after having a path to follow into his head."He's clean," she was saying. "A Matoran stole something from him, and it was his effort to get it back that caused me to send you."Morian muttered something under his breath, but Zraie was more interested in what Kalima had said. "Who was the Matoran?""He didn't know her, but I recognized the profile from his memories. Seems our little Outlier came inside the walls."The female Toa said it flatly, but her words seemed to agitate the pair, like the hissing of a feline alerting a pack of stone rats. Rarin didn't pay much attention to why they were alarmed by the mention of the grey-armored Matoran – he had been more concerned about the Toa themselves – but as he glanced at Kalima, he noticed something strange. While she listened to her brothers discuss the development and what sort of action they needed to take, there was a minute sort of conflict in her eyes – like she wore a mask of emotional indifference beneath her true Kanohi; the sort of indifference Psionics Toa were famous for exhibiting.They were good at divorcing themselves from emotion, after all.But these tiny breakthroughs, cobbled together with the strange conflicts she had sensed from her retreat, came together in a rough estimation: Kalima didn't like the system Va-Koro used, and wanted to change it. It was her brothers – them and the other members of the old guard – that were standing in her way.Like they suddenly remembered he was sitting there, in a chair that was much too small for him, Morian addressed Rarin. "We're done with you, Steltian; you're free to go. Your things are in one of the lockers in the main hall; the receptionist will tell you which one it is." With that, he and the Toa of Fire left the room, leaving him and Kalima in the room.Rarin was quick to follow them out after prying himself out, but before exiting he stopped, concentrating on a thought he hoped the blue-and-gold Toa would pick up on. What you wish to happen is possible, but while energy can be redirected, your challenge is mind over matter.He left then, hoping she had heard it but turning his mind to other matters. He couldn't think freely until he was out of her range, but he needed to find those Matoran. The last thing he wanted was to fail his Master again.XxX"Lemme get this straight. We're running from a giant, overly-articulate goon that wants that piece of junk?""Don't call it junk," Shiri said sharply, in reply to Bism's blunt question. "I've had to live in it for a rather long time."Sitting beside the Crystal Pool and playing with the cold water in the hollow, Kya sighed, knowing that would happen. Bism, while a good friend of hers, had a tendency to poke fun at those that spoke eloquently, like Shiri often did.Granted, the Po-Matoran did not pursue his ribbing at the ghostly Toa. Instead, in all seriousness, he returned his attention to the female Matoran. "You're bringing her back to that Toa, right?" he asked.She silently nodded."And Shiri can guide you to her?"Another nod; he looked relieved. "Good. Xanthus and Balius are faster than going on foot, but that's not much use if you don't know where to go."Kya was surprised as Bism named the two Serohes that he had tamed and kept with him. "You're not saying you're coming with us, are you?""Kya, if you two hadn't been around to watch my back, that guy would've killed me. I've got something invested in making sure she returns to where she wants to go – making sure I didn't crack my skull for nothing, and to help you. You're my friend, and I won't let you go without me."Kya began to form words that would warn Bism not to come, that it was too dangerous, that she and Shiri could take care of themselves … then paused, as memories blossomed in her head. Bism had stayed in her home many times before, and he usually had stories to tell, the nights they weren't so tired that they went straight to sleep. Sometimes the stories were of real adventures of heroes during the war that he had heard or witnessed himself, but others were tall tales.Either way, as she remembered them, she knew that the heroes of the stories – Toa, Matoran, Menirun, or some other species – were never alone in their stories. Some had started out with companions, while others had picked them up during their travels, but she now wondered: Had they all come because they had insisted on it? Had they followed the hero because of some oath of friendship, or another reason altogether?Whichever it was, she could see the pattern, and realized it as easily as Bism had decided that the Steltian would have killed him: Bism would come with her, no matter if she wanted him or not.Shiri had either come to the same conclusion or thought Bism was a good idea to begin with. However it was, she replied, "Then come with us. Any help will be appreciated.""Anything to help a friend," he replied, climbing to his feet. "Any chance I could be shown the way out? My stuff's still in Va-Koro,""Yeah," the female Matoran said softly. "Be careful, though – Kalima probably found out about your involvement and might want to take you in for questioning."Nodding, Bism was lead out on a hidden path through the trees by the ghost, her form shimmering with ectoplasm. As the suns dipped towards the horizon, his footfalls faded from Kya's hearing until they were gone.XxXAuthor's Note: And once again I find more ways to show my love for mythology. There are references to Greek myth in something Bism mentions, and the name of one of the Toa of Va-Koro comes from Hindu myth. (The former is more obvious if you've read The Iliad (as I have), and the latter should be obvious if you've watched Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.)Review hereEdited by Inferna Firesword, Oct 20 2011 - 05:27 PM.
Thanks for the memories, BZP. Time for me to leave.
Posted Oct 20 2011 - 10:39 PM
Edited by Inferna Firesword, Oct 20 2011 - 10:41 PM.
Thanks for the memories, BZP. Time for me to leave.
Posted Oct 21 2011 - 05:25 PM
An Unexpected Detour
This time the vision did not take Kya to a forest, or a place beyond the silver sea – she was now looking at the inside of some sort of building, one that looked older than Va-Koro, though that was impossible. Va-Koro had been standing almost since the suns first rose over the universe; her assumption came from the fact the stone was nothing like the undamaged perfection of the Village of Time's own building materials. It was worn and grey, as ancient-looking as the being before her.The Matoran (was it a Matoran?) wore armor that was pitch-black, making it match the deepest shadows. Those limbs were as twisted as those found on the oldest of trees – yet the seemingly crippling defects did nothing to keep the figure from advancing like its legs were whole and healthy. The glowing eyes and heartlight were a deep purple, but the Kanohi was extremely alien to her untrained orbs. It resembled a Matoran's naked face, with long strands of metal hanging off its back and a second pair of slits positioned above the initial ones, black pieces of glass obscuring the emptiness behind it.As she watched, the twisted figure turned towards her, like it knew that there was a watcher. The mask began to glow, the second eyeslits shone, and the metal braids rose up as if under the influence of a Gravity Toa. With sudden fear in her heart, Kya realized that those ropes were not braids, but metal snakes …Kya's eyes snapped open, breathing hard with her fingers wrapped claw-like around the shaft of Ajax's Spear. She was leaning against the trunk of a tree, with Bism and Shiri watching her and waiting for the vision of the past to end."What was it this time?" the ghost inquired."Some old building. There was someone there, a Matoran – at least, I think it was a Matoran – who had a really creepy mask, like she was wearing a nest of snakes on her head. Her arms and legs were all twisted, like they were broken, but she could still walk –""How do you know it was a female?" Bism asked rather reasonably."Instinct. I just know that the person was female."Seemingly accepting the explanation at face value, the Po-Matoran started counting off on his fingers. "So ever since I gave you that spear, you've seen a boat, a bunch of homicidal maniacs with skulls for shoulder-pads, a really posh apartment, and some Toa of Water that you don't remember the name of – and other than the fact you think they're part of your missing memories, they have no other concrete connections.""Pretty much." Not wanting to continue the conversation, Kya strapped the Spear to her back and addressed the deceased Toa of Light. "Is Stiaye still heading the same direction?""Yes. I've been able to get a better lock on her since we left the Va-Koro area two days ago. She's still heading north towards the village you told us about, Bism. If we move quickly for three days, we can intercept Stiaye.""Then let's get moving," the grey-armored female said, walking towards the clearing they had left Balius and Xanthus in while they had rested. Bism waited until she had left the range of hearing, then quietly asked, "Just how is she getting these visions? I held the Spear for a good two days before I passed it on, and all I got was a strong desire to dig a hole and bury it."The spirit shrugged. "I'm not sure. Ajax's power flows into the Spear – I'm only just learning the full extent of them. It could be that she's a Carrier: someone who can carry the Spear but not use for its intended purpose.""But wasn't there a Toa of Air who was a Carrier? He didn't have anything like that in the stories.""Aeolus didn't have amnesia," Shiri pointed out. "And in any case, a connection with a Toa is two-way. Kya's is more of a one-way connection: my power goes in, nothing comes back.""Then why –?""I don't know," she groaned, shaking her head like a Muaka shaking off flies. "Her element might have something to do with it, but I haven't got a clue how this works. I don't know all the answers, Bism – we'll have to figure it out as we go along."As if to put an end to the conversation, Kya's voice floated out towards them. "Guys, I thought we were in a hurry!"XxXRarin never really approved of the two-bit gangs that roamed the more rural roadways of the Northern Continent, and for more reason than that they clogged up transport of goods. They smelled bad, were more often than not clumsy with their execution of any plan, and paying them to do something for you usually ended in spending enough widgets to buy an opulent Ga-Metru apartment. Most weren't the intelligent warriors that any gang that needed to be successful, and the ones that were tended to be pre-Madonna leaders that were dreaming of control over a major road before they had even cemented their hold over one minor path.Much as he disliked them, the Steltian had to admit that the gangs were useful for a few things. They were numerous, meaning he could threaten to barter with another group down the line so his real set of "employees" would settle for a smaller price. They had crude methods of operating: while he could make sure his enemies would remain unharmed, and his victims would always be aware of it, you couldn't tell with a gang. That made them threatening, and any gang-buster worth their weapons would be looking for a way to put them out of business right away if captured.That led to the final three perks of employing gangs: They usually weren't the best fighters, they were expendable, and the dead couldn't reveal who was paying them.Such were his thoughts as the gang he was currently working with left their campsite and began to set up their ambush on the road half a kio away. Rarin had finally settled the price of the job with their leader, a Matoran whose armor was so filthy it was impossible to tell what his element was. His band was one of the more successful groups on this highway, and – according to some lesser groups – they had long been attempting to victimize Bism, the Po-Matoran that had fought Rarin in Va-Koro. Bism had always fought them off, but this time he'd have valuable goods to protect. Rarin had advised the crew to hold the female Matoran hostage to force his surrender, and then hold the pair, and everything they had, in camp for one night."I will be waiting further down the road," he had finished. "At dawn, I will return and take custody of them.""I hope you bring a brute squad to help you with that," was the leader's only reply. "Payment in advance."The payment in question: 5,000 widgets, plus any valuables and the two Serohes that Bism had. Rarin had insisted on keeping the Spear, which wound up ratcheting up the final payment to the Serohes and 7,500 widgets. That stung – it almost exhausted the purse he had of his funds – but if his hunch about Bism and his companion was correct, it wouldn't matter anyway.Now they were gone, the thundercat that had been beside the chief's side the whole time still chained to its metal stake in the center of camp. It had only been captured within the last three days, if the raw marks on its flanks were any indication, and it was clear that it didn't take to its captors very well. Each time one of the grunts had come close it had hissed and spat sparks at it from its teeth, electricity racing over its claws. They were resorting to tossing raw chunks of meat at it from a distance to feed it.Rarin had never had much of a connection to nature, but he disliked seeing the beautiful, sleek, black feline with golden rosettes, famous for its speed and for the powerful connection it had with the Lightning tribe, tied down like a savage attack dog. If what he thought what would happen, happened, he hoped the creature would be spared, if not released.The Rahi's flat amber eyes focused on him, like it was trying to seize up this great big thing that was in its line of sight and figure out if it could reach him and tear out his leg. Hastily, the Steltian pushed out of the clearing and deeper into the forest: he'd lied about his position. There was no way he was going to wait down the highway; thinking about this would drive him mad. He needed to be nearby, to watch what might happen.XxXTime passed, time that Rarin spent resting as afternoon began to sink into dusk. He'd had to run too many kio than he'd care to count in the last few days, so he'd get ahead of Bism without being spotted. Inquiries with smaller gangs had turned up the information he needed, and then he had to race back to check on the group's progress. The female was progressively getting better with riding the Seroh, but she still needed to be linked to Bism to stay in control. It was a crucial weakness in an attack, and the mob was sure to take advantage of it.No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than rustling in the bushes ahead and loud, raucous voices announced the return of the gang. Quickly retreating further into the trees, Rarin watched as the group hauled the two Serohes in by their reins, the two Matoran still sitting in the saddle and not looking at all happy. Bism in particular was looking like he was ready to unleash Karzahni on the crew, but as the Spear's new carrier had a sleazy-looking passenger holding a knife to her throat, the most he did was glare furiously at the gang leader, who returned it with a look of smug contentment.The two Matoran captives were dragged off their mounts and lashed securely to a tree; across the camp, so were the Serohes, who whinnied nervously. The packs were turned inside out, their contents sorted through, and the money they found was put in one pile with the Spear of Ajax, while the things they did not value were strewn about carelessly, including what looked like packets of medicinal herbs. Rarin's excellent vision allowed him to read the labels, and recognized some of them to be cures for fever, while another one was filled with hallucinogens like nightshade.The Spear was leaning by a tree not far from the Steltian's hiding place. A being with less patience than himself would try and snatch it, but he restrained himself. If nothing of interest happened here, he would get it tomorrow; if something interesting did happen, he'd have valuable intelligence to report to Hecate.A small group of the raiders left the camp as the rest got to work on their evening meal and throwing raw meat at the annoyed-looking thundercat. When they got back later, it was clear some of Rarin's coin had gone to getting alcohol for the crew. As they cheered and filled their cups, the Makuta's servant wrinkled his nose – he hardly drank, even when times had been good for the Brotherhood. He couldn't perform his duties for Hecate when inebriated, and he certainly couldn't think straight when he downed some of the stuff. Now that he thought about it, the last time he could remember touching alcohol was … a long time ago. Certainly not after the Dark Hunter-Brotherhood War had started.He shook his head and returned to observing. Much to his amusement, one of the grunts – who looked like he was dumb to start with – actually opened the discarded packet of nightshade and put some of the leaves in his rum. Some of the tipsier ones followed suit, and he sighed in exasperation.Glancing towards the tree Bism and his companion were tied to, Rarin was surprised – although not very much – to see the Po-Matoran had vanished from his side of the tree; the female had realized it herself, and even over the din of the party he could hear her softly, worriedly, calling out for him.So far, so good.As if his thoughts were a signal, Bism himself reappeared, his knife in hand. "Get Shiri," he heard the Matoran say as he cut the female loose. "We're getting out of here."Rarin's momentary confusion – just who was Shiri? – was erased as he listened to her reply."How?""Just sneak around and get the Spear, Kya. They're too drunk on success and Madu rum to pay attention to us. Leave the rest to me."Bism slipped away again, and after momentary hesitation, so did Kya. Rarin shifted his gaze, watching as she cautiously picked her way through the bush. The closer she got to his position, the further he retreated, until she was close by. Her cloaked back was turned to him, giving him a view of the slight hump that covered her spine. She reached out of the trees; grasped the Spear.Kya shuddered as her fingers made contact with the metal, and when that happened, the Steltian noticed something unusual. When the shiver reached her torso, motions like something was straining against the cloth of her cloak emanated. This was another piece of evidence he needed, but it wasn't the proof he desired.That was only a heartflash. At the same time, in the clearing, all Karzahni had broken loose.When the female Matoran had grabbed the Spear, the dying campfire suddenly flared up again, like a Toa of Fire had coaxed the embers back to life. At the same time, the Serohes neighed loudly and began yanking at their restraints; on the other side of camp, the drowsing thundercat leapt up, snarling and tearing at its chain. Electricity raced over its body as its teeth worked into its links, headless of the fire that had begun to swirl above it.Even in their boozy hazes the gang could hardly fail to miss these strange happenings. Yelling hoarsely and staggering somewhat, they snatched up weapons to do battle with their strange new enemies. But drunken enemies were no enemies at all, and it was into this chaos that Bism reappeared and threw himself into. Ancient scars from fights long ago gleamed in the inferno's light, amongst them a scratched Matoran number 24 on his right shoulder, and on his wrists were what Rarin had hoped to see: long, wicked, ebony-colored claws, freed from the gloves that had hidden their sheaths.It was clear the gang had never seen their old foe like this, and didn't know how to react. Closer to Rarin was the female Kya, whose shudders had faded. A shimmering Toa-like figure had appeared beside her – the mysterious Shiri? – and as the orange light of the dancing flames played upon the forest trees, the Steltian looked at her cloaked back and wondered: did he see the outlines of what he thought he was seeing?XxXLike a bolt of knowledge had fallen from the sky and hit her in the head by touching the Spear, Kya's eyes snapped open, a decisive light burning in her green orbs. Hurriedly, she fumbled with the brooch that she had bartered from Bism, which was holding the cloak that hid her disfigurement from the world. She finally tore away the silver leaves, letting metal and cloth fall to the grass.Now in the dim light of the fire, a harness of thin leather was revealed, wrapping around the Matoran's waist, shoulders, and belly; disguised as they were in the cracks of her armor, it took a keen eye to notice them. As the female took out the knife Bism had stolen and given to her and cut several knots in the bindings, Shiri began to ask just what her companion was doing … then the leather fell away, and her words froze, unneeded as her question was answered.Rising up and out into view, stretching out to the span of a Gukko's own, were a pair of wings, their feathers a softly-glowing silver in the radiance of the fire in the clearing. They were in a slightly mussy condition, after all their time pressed under the cloak and harness, but as Kya stretched them out, it was clear that given the right conditions, they were ready to fly.Her expression eerily serene, the Matoran lifted her hands up, cupping them around her mouth to magnify her voice. From her throat came the sound of a hunting Rahi eagle, echoed hundredfold by the winged creatures that made their home here as wind began whipping around her, stirring her feathers as it flew into the clearing.The whole thing seemed baffling to the Toa spirit, but Kya knew exactly what she was doing. The vision the Spear had given her of her past had helped her relearn these talents, but of more help had been the image of Bism's claws shining in the fire's light. Memory had exploded into her head like fireworks, and with those memories had come the knowledge. There were still gaps in places, but there was enough for now.Her eyes remained riveted to the clearing; the gang that had waylaid them had not yet taken real notice of her. Bism was dancing around them, black talons flashing and his eyes flat. And in time with her throbbing blood, thoughts whispered in her mind about him, unalienable truths: Bism, brother, friend, brother, protector, brother, brother, brother …As the wind whirled around her, the facts flew through her mind. Bism (brother) was here, he (brother) could control the flames and stir up the four-legged Rahi, but not all the time. For that he (brother) needed her, Kya, to be close. She could command the winds when Bism (brother) was near, and call upon the fliers that rode it – birds, bats, insects. She could fly without being taught, an instinctive skill and gift – a gift Va-Koro had tried to steal from her, tried to make her feel shame for having …And somewhere, she knew there was a third sibling. She knew they were near.But there was no time. She had no claws, but she had her knife. Leaving Shiri and her casing, she dove into the fray, slashing with the blade, and found herself standing near where the thundercat still struggled with its chains. Balius and Xanthus were kicking at any robber that came too close, but the feline was desperate to escape.Without knowing what she was doing, Kya grabbed the cruel collar that was around its neck. At her touch, the creature fell still, flanks heaving with its efforts, letting her cut the leather away and set it free.With a roar, electricity in its teeth and over its claws, the thundercat gathered itself and sprang at its former captors, and with a final cry of terror, the mob of thieves gave up and scattered into the forest. The feline wasn't through with them as it gave chase and left the clearing; Kya and Bism were the only living creatures in the camp.Sanity returned slowly. Bism's breathing slowed, his eyes – which had become dull and flat when the fight had started – returning to their normal luster as the fire retreated back from its spirals, devolving into a quiet campfire. The Serohes quieted, large eyes looking docilely at their master, who watched Kya retrieve the Spear and set it down in the center of the glade, and then straightened to look the Po-Matoran in the eyes.For a moment, all was quiet in the campground. The frightened cries of the roadway band and the roars of the enraged thundercat echoed through the trees, but the only sounds that were in the ears of the two Matoran was the crackling of the fire. It was a strange scene, had an unsuspecting passerby had looked at it: a pair of Matoran, one with wings and the other with claws, standing on opposite sides of the clearing and – from the look on their faces – were half-expecting a fight to continue. On one side, the fire burned; on the other, the spirit of Toa Shiri hovered above her shell, confusion in her eyes.Then there was a blur of motion, and suddenly the two Matoran were in each other's arms, holding each other like the survivors of a ship-wreck. To the orbs of the Toa of Light, they no longer looked like old friends, but siblings that had lost each other long ago and only now had they found each other again.Lacking the ability to read minds, Shiri didn't know what was going on. She made it her business to find out."What in the name of the Dark Lord of Karzahni was that?" she demanded to know. "Kya – I've never even sensed those wings before, not even when I possessed you! And since when were you two able to control elements?"For all the good her shouts were doing, she might as well have remained silent. The two Matoran's eyes were focused firmly on each other, their thoughts on the memories that the other's presence was unlocking. "I can't believe it," Bism said hoarsely, throat somewhat raw from the smoke he had inhaled during the fight. "I spend over a thousand years looking for something I wasn't sure of – and it turns out to have been in front of my mask this whole time.""How long have you known?" she whispered. "Your claws were the trigger, but I haven't known anything before then.""Only what my nightmares gave me, Kya – but not enough to tell me that I could control flame when you were near, or to command the Rahi of the earth."Shiri decided to try again. "Could I please have some explanations right now?" she said a bit louder."We can hear you perfectly fine, Shiri," Kya said, eyes shimmering as she looked at the Toa spirit. "But we are currently trying to sort out what's been going on. Could you wait a few minutes for us to give our confessions?"The deceased Toa of Light sighed – this was far too much weirdness for one night. "Fine."And in the bushes, hidden from their eyes by the tamed fire, Rarin smiled. His night was getting better and better with every word they said.XxXReview hereEdited by Inferna Firesword, Oct 21 2011 - 05:26 PM.
Thanks for the memories, BZP. Time for me to leave.
Posted Oct 23 2011 - 12:14 PM
Code of Memories
"I guess it starts with our pasts – or maybe just mine," Kya finally said after who knew how long a time. She had sat down on one of the fallen logs the raiders had used for seats; bottles of Madu rum littered the ground around her feet, along with the scattered packets of her herbs. She had picked up her cloak, harness, and brooch, but was yet to fasten them again to hide her wings. With the fire sketching an orange-tinted silhouette behind her, her green eyes and heartlight glowing in midnight-forest gloom as she looked at Shiri, Kya looked nothing less than a fiery, fallen angel. "At least – what I can remember of it."Bism had sheathed his claws and put his gloves back on; with those fantastical elements hidden, he looked like a normal Matoran of Stone again. He was standing beside Xanthus and Balius, soothing them after the chaos of the previous hours, but it was clear that he was listening intently to what Kya was hesitantly saying as she pieced together the story, ready to jump in with any information that he felt might be relevant."My memories of the past came back," the winged Matoran said, and for some reason she sounded embarrassed. "Not all of them, but … enough. I was Kya, an upper-class Xi-Matoran from Aleris. Those days aren't the most flattering thing to remember, especially now." Her sentence was accented with a hot flush beneath her mask.Shiri chose to pass over the subject of who Kya had once been, and from his silence, so did Bism. The female Matoran took this as an indication to continue. "At some point, I was on a ship, a cruise liner. She was called the Sa-Fire, and it was her first mate, Toa of Water Zriah, that I saw in my visions.""I remember that ship," the Po-Matoran said unexpectedly. As the newly-remembered Matoran of Lightning turned towards him in surprise, he kept going. "She was caught in a storm about 20 years after the Toa-Dark Hunter War and presumed lost at sea. There were reports later on where people found former crewmates and passengers all over the universe, but they had no memory of what had happened to the ship, or how they got to where they were.""Well, it did get lost at sea," Kya replied. "We capsized on an island that wasn't on any charts at the time, not too far from Shi-Nui. I think it might have been Rohaya, before it was discovered by its Toa and put on the map – its description matches the island I can remember."It'd take too long to recount everything that happened there – they're stories for another time – but essentially, there was a tribe on that island that didn't like us being there. They were called the Arutayi, and they had the practice of stripping the flesh off their victims and using their bones as armor. We managed to escape the island with the help of Nocti, a real native that wasn't thrilled with the Arutayi being around – and that's all I remember of that little episode."After pausing for breath and moistening her lips – neither Toa of Light nor Matoran of Stone had interjected – Kya continued. "When my memory picks up again, I'm in this prison cell and I'm with Bism. And that's all I can really remember until I wake up outside Va-Koro; Bism remembers more than I do."Falling silent, Kya looked into the depths of the fire, and Shiri noticed something branded on her right shoulder, which she hadn't seen before. Like the Po-Matoran himself, who stepped into the spotlight, there was a two-digit number in her armor pad; unlike him, though, she had the number 17 where he had 24. Idly, Shiri noticed that the forest had fallen completely silent; she could no longer hear the screams of the gang or the roars of the thundercat. Either they had moved out of range of hearing, or the Rahi had … taken care of them.The deceased Toa of Light shuddered slightly."Kya can remember what happened before," Bism started. "I can remember what happened to us when we arrived in that cell."XxXWhen I arrived (he said), there were only 30 of us. Kya was part of my original cell group, along with another female Matoran we only knew as Prisoner 19, and there was a two-to-one ratio between females and males.We were held in a fortress, but none of us knew where it was, or who was holding us. We were guarded by sick hybrids of Matoran and Visorak, but they were controlled by another person: the Steltian that attacked us in Va-Koro. Since we know now that he's a Makuta's servant, maybe there was something strange going on there even then, something related to the Plan.We were locked up in groups of three, and over time our cell mates began to disappear. Some were killed for trying to escape the fortress … others just were taken by the hybrids and we never saw them again. After 19 was taken, a new female joined us: Prisoner 39, someone from the outside that had been recently captured. I don't remember much of what we all talked about, but I know she, Kya, and myself all managed to live to the end.The hybrids took us to a room that last day, and they helped the Steltian and someone – I'm betting the Steltian's Makuta master – injected us with serums that gave us physical attributes: my claws, Kya's wings, and something else for 39. We were told that it was just one injection out of many, but before they could keep going, something happened … and that's all I can remember before I woke up in Aleris.I couldn't remember everything, but I could remember Kya and 39. I knew, just knew that I had to find them again, so I started looking.XxX"I got into the jewelry business, and that's how that mostly ends, until now," Bism finished. Ignoring the Toa of Light spirit, he looked directly at Kya. "Now I've found you, and Kya, I know 39's not far away. I can feel it in my heartlight. Maybe when we find Stiaye and return the Spear to her, we could find her. Please tell me you will."There was a note of pure emotion in his voice, a note that the Xi-Matoran had never heard during the course of their long friendship. Knowing what she did now, and hearing his voice, filled with pure yearning, how could she possibly refuse him? Smiling faintly, she dipped her head in assent, feathers quivering on her wings.A brief, somewhat awkward silence followed, only to be broken by rustling in the bushes, heralding the thundercat the bandits had been keeping. Blood glistened on its muzzle, flanks, and front paws, but there were only a few new wounds on its body. Paying no attention to the strange creatures that were staring at it, it sauntered into the space just beside Kya, lay down, and began washing itself."What is it doing back here?" the winged Matoran asked, not taking her eyes off the animal."It might be reclaiming turf," Bism offered, scratching his head. "This might have been its territory before the gang moved in. Or it might just like us. Some members of the Lightning tribe keep these as pets or companions."As if it was reacting to a signal, the thundercat looked up and locked amber eyes with the Po-Matoran. There was a deep intelligence to them, one that went beyond the average beast. Swallowing nervously, he added, "At least, that's what I think."Hesitantly, Kya reached out as if to pet the Rahi, but then pulled back, hugging the Spear's shaft to her chest. Curiously, the feline's broad head turned so its gaze would fall upon the small female, then snorted and lay its head down."I think we might be safe tonight," Bism said at last. "If it didn't like us being here it would try and chase us off, but it's not making any hostile moves. I'd rather we didn't press our luck, though."Shiri was staring, almost fascinated, at the cat, but shook herself and vanished inside the Spear again. The two Matoran and the Serhoes elected to move to the other side of the campfire, putting fire between them and the drowsing hunter, but for the reunited members of the Trinity, sleep claimed them almost instantly when they closed their eyes.XxXIt was well into the early morning hours before Rarin slipped out of his hiding place to steal a hand mirror from the robbers' stash. He had heard every word that the two Matoran had said, and an onlooker would have thought each syllable that escaped their lips was a diamond hewn from the depths of an impenetrable mountain. They had confirmed every suspicion he'd had and more; now he had to relay it back to Hecate.Retreating back into his hiding place – keeping a wary eye on the drowsing thundercat the whole time – the Steltian clipped a new communication device to the mirror's rim and activated it. Hecate's image swam into view almost instantly. "What news?" she demanded to know, looking and sounding more anxious than he could remember his Master being in some time. Hastily, he filled her in on what had happened since they had last communicated."Well done, Rarin," the Makuta congratulated him. "This might make our plans to obtain the Spear somewhat easier."The Steltian didn't quite follow Hecate's meaning. "How so, Master? From my point of view, it would make the work harder."She smiled: an expression that made lesser beings run for cover. "I have my reasons – more specifically, the theory that Subject 39 is far closer than her brother and sister believe her to be. I will explain in full when Tageria and I join you. Remain where you are, and when the Matoran leave, contact me. We will come.""Yes, Master." Just before he could break the connection, Hecate added, "Rarin? Your reward will be given when we achieve our goal. The thing you want most will be yours soon enough."Before Rarin could say anything else, her image faded from the mirror's surface, leaving him staring at his own reflection. The thing he wanted most … she had promised it to him when he had went to steal the Spear of Ajax from Stiaye. And although in his heart of hearts he wanted it so badly it was almost painful, part of him wondered … how much would the final reward cost him?XxXIn the refuge of the last Makuta, Tageria had teleported into Hecate's part of the base within five seconds. Her companion's psychic message had hinted a battle ahead, and true to form she was arrayed with weapons. The former Virus Master had expected this reaction, along with the blunt "What is it?""Rarin has located the Spear of Ajax," was the smaller female's reply. "That and more – it is being carried by two of the last subjects of Project Fury.""Project what? This is the first time I have ever heard of such a thing.""This is the first time I have ever spoken of it to another Makuta, save Teridax who assigned it to me." Turning away from the scrying crystal to face her fellow Makuta, Hecate continued on. "Project Fury was conceived as a branch program for the Plan – to create Brotherhood-controlled versions of the Nightborn to enforce Brotherhood rule when the Plan succeeded. Teridax advised me to make them as close to the true Nightborn as possible, but to make improvements when necessary."I worked on the Project in my primary fortress, in the section of the universe I was assigned to. Rarin abducted thirty Matoran for use as initial test subjects, but captured more when they began to run dry. By the time we had refined the virus formulas, only three had survived to become our final product. They were designated 24, 17, and 39, meant to be Astark, Alesi, and Isipha respectively."Everything was ready. Rarin and I had injected them with the first round of virus strains. Each was different: 24 gained claws like a rock lion's, 17 had wings like a Gukko's …""And 39?""Let's just say she could bite someone's head off once her mutation was complete. Before the injections were finished, though, my stronghold came under attack."Tageria knew this part of the story already – the entire Brotherhood knew about the day Makuta Hecate and her servants had returned to Destral after decades in her territory, driven away by forces of Toa that had discovered her presence. Other than knowing Teridax had taken the Virus Master aside for a long, private conversation afterward, that had been all she had known, until now."To hide what we had been doing, we destroyed our records of the tests, erased the memories of the subjects, and scattered them throughout the universe. Before we relocated them, I preformed a Binding on them."The ex-Makuta of Xia couldn't hide her surprise. "In the middle of a battle?""Yes." Hecate didn't bother concealing her pride – it was tricky to do a Binding to start with, let alone in that sort of chaotic environment. "When the three were hidden, I placed them within the same general region– all awoke in the Northern areas of the universe. I instilled them with a desire to travel, so they might stumble across each other. Once they did, their memories would begin coming back, and their innate abilities would be unlocked. And once they were all together again …""You would feel it," Tageria finished. Bindings always included the Binder, and they were the ones that could sense when the other members were reunited."Indeed. Now that two of them are together once more, I can faintly sense the third. Her identity – well, I'll tell you when we join Rarin later today, since I hate having to repeat myself. Be ready for a fight when we go, as we'll have to move when the Trinity, Spear, and Stiaye are all together."Reading the response in Tageria's eyes, Hecate smiled again. "It will be easier than you think, I assure you. Now leave – we need to prepare. I will call you when Rarin summons us."With a flash, the warrior left the room, the Virus Master once again the only living being inside. Looking again into the depths of the scrying crystal, which had once belonged to Makuta Deimos, Hecate let out the faintest of sighs, even as a new image began to materialize. Like Hecate herself, the being on the other side was black in color, but their expression – even when partially-formed – was as forbidding as the roughest of storms."I worry about her sometimes," she murmured, claret eyes piercing the crystal and somehow meeting the neon-cast pair within. The image began to recede, until only Hecate's reflection was darkening the mirror-like surface."Luckily for me, I won't have to soon – ever again."XxXA/N: By now, you're probably wondering: Who's Subject 39? While I can assure you that she was the dreamer from Chapter 9, you'll have some theorizing to do before Chapter 12, which is when her identity is finally revealed. >=DMood Music:Edited by Inferna Firesword, Oct 23 2011 - 12:14 PM.
Thanks for the memories, BZP. Time for me to leave.
Posted Nov 20 2011 - 11:26 PM
Edited by Inferna Firesword, Nov 20 2011 - 11:36 PM.
Thanks for the memories, BZP. Time for me to leave.
Posted Mar 03 2012 - 12:40 PM
Edited by Inferna Firesword, Mar 03 2012 - 12:53 PM.
Thanks for the memories, BZP. Time for me to leave.
Posted Aug 31 2012 - 12:09 AM
Lover's Ancient Art
Thanks for the memories, BZP. Time for me to leave.
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text:
Ps Rob from Bayside Church gave an excellent sermon last week. He's been doing a series titled "Church Without Walls" and educating the congregation about the value of our going out into community and the workplace and being a light to the world on a daily basis. That being a Christian does not stop inside the church walls but extends far beyond that.
Last week it was session 12 with an emphasis on 'work'. He shared how God has given us gifts which help demonstrate our creative abilities in many ways – and that we should be using those gifts on a regular basis. That these gifts can be employed in all of our lives including through the workplace.
Ps Rob prompted us to consider that every gift is a spiritual gift, that every gift is vital, that every gift is unique because it's filtered through our own personalities and what makes us, us and he asked us to think about what were we made for?
I know that answer for me and I also know it took me over 30 years to find that answer. I have a daughter who is very blessed at the age of 23 to know that answer and she has known it for a long time. But do you know the answer for you?
Ps Rob then explained the difference between a job and a vocation.
Job = what you get paid to do
Vocation = what you are here to achieve. It's where your gifts meet the world and it's your calling in life.
Now, for some, job and vocation are exactly the same thing – I know it is for me. But what about you? Are you working a job you don't enjoy and you're just doing it for the money? Or is it something you were called to do?
If we are made in God's image (and we know that is the case) then we are called to work and were indeed made for work. There are heaps of instructions in the bible that tell us to work with diligence, to work for our boss like we are working for the Lord, that hard work is commanded (Eccl 9:10 "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might"), that hard work is satisfying and that there is a balance between working too hard and not working enough.
Ps Rob finished up with information about the ant and the sloth and seemed to delight in saying the word 'sluggard' often to drive the point home. Prov 6:6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
A little saying for you which I thought excellent:
Vocation without vacation leads to vexation!

subset: commoncrawl