Bionicle Crossroads S2 pt.2

(The sound of a vehicle rumbles into a empty valley)

Driver:”Just another night…can’t wait to-what was that?”

(Driver stops vehicle)

Driver:”Huh, must’ve been the wind.”

Driver:”Just gotta drop of those supplies for those dark hunter fellas then…”

Driver:”Oh um hey didn’t see you there can…can I help you?

???:”////….////01100011 01100001 01101110 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00100000 01101000 01100101 01101100 01110000 00100000 01101101 01100101 00111111 00001010”

Driver:”Uh-hey, hey! woah there stay back!”

???:”//////….//////01100011 01100001 01101110 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00100000 01101000 01100101 01101100 01110000 00100000 01101101 01100101 00111111 00001010”

Driver:”You want the supplies? take em! just…just stay over there!”

Driver:”Oh…oh no no no no no no please no…not like this”

???:”////…..////01110111 01101000 01100101 01110010 01100101 00100000 01101001 01110011 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01101101 01100001 01110011 01101011 00111111 00001010 00001010”

Driver:”What do you want from me?! I don’t have any money if that’s what you want!”

Driver:”Wait are you doing? no, no! NO-(screams and the sound of weapons discharge and blades shredding through armor)

???:”//////………….///////01001000 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101111.”

(Static envelopes the screen just as the entity turns around)

Ancient:”…And that’s were the footage cuts out, this is the eighth time this month.”

The Shadowed One:”No further sign of this ‘thing’? no trace of where it went?”

Ancient:”Negative, every time we send someone out there, they don’t come back, no matter how much protection the escorts are, that creature tears through them like paper, and its always the same thing every night.”

The Shadowed One:”And what of our supplies?”

Ancient:”Stolen or destroyed, It seems to be only destroying the weapons though, why would it want to steal a bunch of rations anyways?”

The Shadowed One:”Perhaps our ‘thief’ plans to starve us, no matter then.”

Ancient:”Boss, these attacks are getting worse and worse every night, our supplies are dwindling because of that thing!”

The Shadowed One:”Which is why I’m sending you on a job over there to investigate.”

The Shadowed One:”Clearly we’ve been approaching this the wrong way, what we need a proper investigation down there asap.”

The Shadowed One:”Clearly since everyone else is busy with other important business, this task fall on to you.”

The Shadowed One:”You are free to approach this however you please, if you find anything suspicious, anything that stands out…bring it straight to me.”

The Shadowed One:”Any supplies you find still intact, leave them our supply crew will retrieve the remains later.”

Ancient:”Sir, permission to use heavy ordinance if the creature appears?”

The Shadowed One:”No, that will only attract unwanted attention, we are stretched thin as is.”

The Shadowed One:”This investigation is to be kept under wraps, remember, your on your own out there…”

The Shadowed One:”Happy hunting.”

(2 Hours later)

Anicent:”This is where the supply vehicle was attacked and it hasn’t been picked clean yet.”

Ancient:”The armored weapons on this vehicle appear to have been torn off, the engine’s busted, and the canopy seems to have been ripped apart…this looks like the footage from last night for sure.”

Ancient:”Seems like that thing took it’s time to pick through the supplies too, destroyed the weapons caches…and the cash crates as well, strange who in there right mind would destroy money?”

Ancient:”Our like the driver wasn’t lucky, there are fresh wounds from what looks like multiple puncture wounds and some bullet holes around the head, whatever did this must have been heavily ar-”

(A flash of light catches Ancient’s eye as a shady figure plummets from the sky)

Ancient:”What in the…”

Sylus:”Aiiiiiiieeeeeeaa!”

Sylus:”Ow…could’ve nailed the landing better…now where’s my…”

(A moment later Excalibra nuva lands next to him)

Sylus:”Oh there it is…”

Sylus:”Dammit Ekimu! could you at least send me somewhere less bright,I’m missing a arm and this is where I end up ?”

Sylus:”Ugh and less dirty, I just cleaned my armor.”

Sylus:”Oh hello there, can you point me towards the nearest-”

Sylus:”Uhhnnf!”

Ancient:”What do we have here? whats a toa doing all the way out here?”

Ancient:”Your…your mom.”

Ancient:”Don’t get smart with me kid, tell me did you have anything to do with this mess out here?”

Sylus:”Huh? what are you talking about? would you believe me if I told you I had nothing to do with this?”

Ancient:”Given how you just fell out of the sky seemingly out of nowhere,and haven’t answered my question yet, no, I don’t think will.”

Sylus:”Huh, well if your looking for a thief then…”

Sylus:”I think that’s him over there!”

Ancient:”Hmm?!”

(Taking advantage of Ancient’s distraction, Sylus deliver a powerful kick, but Ancient dodged out of the way and deliver a nasty counter punch to Sylus’ face)

Ancient:”Nice try kid, But i’m old not stupid, not gonna fall for a cheap trick like that.”

Sylus:”Uhhgg!”

Ancient:”You want to do this the hard way huh?”

Ancient:”I’m going to ask again, and if I like the answer I’ll let you keep your remaining limbs.”

Ancient:”Try anything though and I’ll blow off that stupid mask of yours!”

Sylus:”Ok old timer.”

Ancient:”Bold last words…for someone at point blank.”

(As Ancient was about to fire his Rhotuka launcher, Sylus raised his arm in front of his face to block the shots, the projectiles seemingly hit but then deflected back at the veteran dark hunter Knocking him back a few feet, disoriented but not down)

Sylus:”I…have powers now? what?”

Sylus:”Love to stay but I’ve got better places to be, toodles.”

Ancient:”Get…back…here!”

Sylus:”Hah ha! the toa of justice prevails agai…aw crap.”

Ancient:”You…are really testing my patience today aren’t you?

Ancient:”Either you come with me, or I’m going to have to take you back to the boss in pieces, what’s it going to be?”

(One long walk later)

Ancient:”Boss, the cargo was a lost cause, but this punk toa showed up out of the sky, what should we do with him?”

The Shadowed One:”A toa? haven’t seen one of those in a very long time…”

The Shadowed One:”And he…fell from the sky? and he’s not even a toa of air?”

Ancient:”Yes sir…”

The Shadowed One:”I’ll be taking that.”

Sylus:”What the? give that back!”

Ancient:”You would dare to speak The Shadowed One like that in his presence!?”

Ancient:”Don’t make me kill you worthless piece of-”

The Shadowed One:”Enough Ancient, lets not get carried away with our…business opportunities.”

The Shadowed One:”Speak Toa, what’s your name?

Sylus:”Sylus, sir.”

The Shadowed One:”Sir? ha how quaint.”

The Shadowed One:”Tell me do you seek power? fortune? adventure?”

The Shadowed One:”You want to be a big shot? do you want this little…trinket back?”

The Shadowed One:”Well I’ve got a proposition for you, join us…join the Dark Hunters, and make your mark on the world!”

The Shadowed One:”What do you say? do we have a deal? in exchange for your servitude you can have that thing back, plus you will be given shelter, food and protection, and we have excellent dental service.”

Ancient:”Amen.”

(Sylus looks longingly at the amulet in the Shadowed One’s staff before considering…)

(If I don’t take this they’ll kill me but if I join…well what’s the worst that could happen?” Sylus thought)

Sylus:”Fine, deal.”

The Shadowed One:”A wise decision, but...”

The Shadowed One:”We have a few rules around here, break them, and we’ll break you.”

The Shadowed One:”Now that you are one of us now you will need proper training, and equipment, if Ancient’s reports are correct, your sloppy technique won’t get you farther than an early grave.”

The Shadowed One:”And since we have no one else to give you training, Ancient will be your mentor, you answer to him unless I am present understand? try not to die out there, or get him killed.”

(The Shadowed One Disappears in a flash of smoke leaving Sylus and Ancient alone)

Ancient:”You…this is your fault, now not only do I have to monitor the feeds but I have to babysit your sorry hide!”

Ancient:”I trust The Shadowed One’s word but this…this.”

Ancient:”Uuurrraaagghhh!

(Ancient slams his fist into a monitor leaving sizable cracks in the screen)

Sylus:”Wow buddy sounds like you got some anger iss-”

Sylus:”Ghhhkkk!”

(Sylus is choked in Ancient’s vice grip)

Ancient:”Kid, you really want to see my bad side? cause your pushing it, your lucky the boss wants you alive so you better stop right now or else.”

Sylus:”ok ok im sorry *gack*(cough cough) .”

Anicent:”Fine…c’mon, lets get you set up and prepare you for a job.”

Sylus:”Oh wait do I get a cool new codename?”

Ancient:”Do you ever shut up?!”

<to be continued

(later that night)

Ancient:”…And here is W.E.A.R. Weapons/Equipment Assembly and Research for short.”

Ancient:”Alright that about does it for the ten widget tour, any questions? no stupid ones either.”

Sylus:”where is-”

Ancient:”Well that’s enough questions for tonight lets get you set up with something better than whatever that is.”

Sylus:”But…but where is everyone? I thought the Dark Hunters were a organization that prided themselves on prestige, shouldn’t their be more people here? it’s practically empty.”

Ancient:”That’s classified info son none of your business, Otherwise we’re fine, alright now here’s something that looks like what you need.”

Ancient:”This is the Ballistics and Armament Multi-tool, or B.A.M.”

Sylus:”That’s a stupid name.”

Ancient:”Well I didn’t name it, and it sounds much better than your’s what is ‘Sylus’? some kind of cult fanatic? as for how it works I push this button here and…”

(A thin blade pops out of the wrist compartment, followed shortly by said blade falling out of it’s socket, smoke starts to pour out of a side panel)

Ancient:”Usually the blade stays in the gauntlet, I guess being that this is just a prosthetic we haven’t been able to get it to work properly, nothing for it to feed into see? but unless you somehow have a hand somewhere on you, this thing is busted.”

Sylus:”Well, funny you should ask, will this work?”

Ancient:”Well I’ll be…huh, I…nevermind, who’s arm did rip off?”

Sylus:”That’s actually mine Sir.”

Ancient:”Real funny, now tell me who-”

(A loud speaker sounds of in the area)

The Shadowed One:”Ancient and Sylus, report to the war room immediately!”

Ancient:”Your first assignment, you ready for this?”

Sylus“I don’t know if I-”

Ancient:”What did I just say about stupid questions? quit standing around and get going.”

(Later)

The Shadowed One:”Now that your gathered here tonight let us begin.”

The Shadowed One:”As for the majority of our veteran staff know, our current agents are either running operations or are occupied with managing our current… thievery issue at the moment so we only have this job available.”

The Shadowed One:”This is Tyrant, a former member of out little family that felt that He just didn’t fit in, so I had him tossed into Metru Nui’s sea millennia ago.”

The Shadowed One:”Seems sleeping with the fishes didn’t change his mind on his ‘rebellion’ plans and what not, but who isn’t trying to stab us in the back nowadays, a agori villager contacted us about a ‘algae-covered monster burning down our fields, send help’ sound familiar?”

Ancient:”Him again? (sigh) does he ever give up?”

Sylus:”Who’s Tyrant?”

Ancient:”Someone you don’t want to get close to.”

The Shadowed One:”Evidently he needs a reminder of who’s in charge, go over there rough him up and teach him a lesson maybe this time we’ll will get through his thick skull that we don’t want him here, besides that the client payed good money for this so don’t muck it up.”

The Shadowed One:”This isn’t anything glamorous or the like, kill the fool or let him go as long as he’s gone then I’m not complaining and I expect none from either of you, you strike out tomorrow.”

(the next day)

Sylus:”So that’s him? looks nasty.”

Ancient:”Yep, that’s our guy, and it looks like he’s right where our contact said he would be.”

Ancient:”So kid, your gonna go down there by yourself and fight him, I’d be careful though, he’s got elemental fire powers, nothing you can’t handle.”

Sylus:”Alright, fire abilities, dangerous weapons, going by myself…wait, I’m fighting him alone?!”

Ancient:”Yeah of course you are, you think just because your new lets you off from doing your first job? I’m not doing this for you.”

Ancient:”Get down there! and try not to get cooked either!”

Sylus:”Wait wait wait wait don’t throw meeeeeeeeeee!”

Sylus:”Oohhh ow. why does this keep happening?”

Tyrant:”Hmm?

Tyrant:”Ahhhh, fresh meat… I was starting to get bored of burning crops and such.”

Tyrant:”You I do not recognize, are you one of his lackeys? seems the last three he sent couldn’t handle my flames, will you be the fourth? my flames are-”

Sylus:”Shut up already.”

Tyrant:”Excuse me?!”

Sylus:”Look man, can we just get on to fighting already? it’s like everyone likes to monologue all the time we get it, just shut up and fight me already.”

Tyrant:”I spent five hours…HOURS coming up with that speech! and The Shadowed One has the gaul send some undisciplined whelp to fight me?!”

Sylus:”Yeah, yeah, blah blah blah, your so great and powerful, honestly you looked way tougher from up there than-”

Tyrant:”Overly confident, just as He described you.”

Tyrant:”Are you really a toa? or has The Shadowed One’s standards really that low that He’s hiring walking trash to do his dirty work that he won’t do himself!”

Tyrant:”And What are you going do with that stick toa? tickle me with it? that toothpick can’t even hurt me anymore than you can hahahaha!”

(In Sylus’s mind he focused on drawing the moisture from the wet dirt and focusing it into Excalibra)

Tyrant:”Haahahahah ha ha-huh? what the-”

(A stream of water blasts tyrant in the face knocking him over and dousing his flames)

(The traitor dark hunter was blasted across from Sylus who stared at what his blade had just done)

Sylus:”…Woah…that’s new but how? it never did that before.”

Sylus:”Anyways, lets get to the point, I’m going to kick your ass, I’m gonna get paid to do that, and you, are going to go back from where you came, you…soggy lizard.”

Tyrant:”I’ll be damned if i’m going to let some cocky upstart get the best of me!…(Tyrant’s cannon arm only sputters and spews a bit of water from the front…)…curses!”

(Tyrant suddenly darts to the wall behind Sylus)

Tyrant:”Mark my words! I’ll be back and when I return, Nepharus will have your hide! you’ll pay for this!”

Tyrant you’ll- hhgggbblblblbl!”

(Another blast of water knocks Tyrant of the edge of the wall his garbled screams echoing down below)

Sylus:”Oh he’s going to feel that! aw yeah! I could get use to this…”

Ancient:”Well well well, seems you aren’t a fried husk, so I suppose you pass.”

Sylus:”Pass?”

Ancient:”Yeah something like that, boss told me this was to be your initiation test, and while it would have been preferable that you kill that pompous prick…that will have to do I suppose.”

Sylus:”I almost died down there!”

Ancient:”Perks of the job kid, perks of the job…”

Ancient:”Besides he’ll be back eventually, we can talk more about some stuff after we get the payment for the job.”

Sylus:”Where’s the contact?”

Ancient:”Said he’d be over on the steppes just beyond the Obsidian Plains.”

Sylus:”C’mon you gotta admit I was pretty cool down there.”

Ancient:”After watching you get thrashed, I was convinced you weren’t gonna last another minute, but then you blasted him in the face with water and he got so angry I’ve never seen him that mad before, then you knocked him off the wall, I almost laughed.”

Ancient:”How’d you know he hates water?”

Sylus:”I dunno…just a lucky guess I suppose.”

Ancient:”Well hope your lucky enough to survive a hike on the plains cause we got a long walk ahead.”

(Meanwhile)

Tyrant:”…Meeting my eye, who does he think he is? some kind of prophet? he’s no crazier Conjurer was, and he’s dead.”

???:”Greetings…you’ve come alone as requested…good good…”

Tyrant:”What do you want?”

???:”Same thing that we all want, power, knowledge wealth.”

???:”Tell me, was the that toa there like they said he would be?”

Tyrant:”The freak? yeah he was there all right, beat me good too with water, you never said he could do that!”

???:”He used elemental powers? A unprecedented change but a welcome one.”

???:”I only request now that you proceed with the next step of the plan, it must not fail.”

Tyrant:”Listen pal, I got soaked wet and tossed off a friggin wall today! this had better be worth all the trouble.”

Tyrant:”Cause if I find out you’ve been cheating me, I’ll burn you and that villa-”

Tyrant:”Uuuhhggg!”

???:”Patience Tyrant you will be paid in full compensation soon.”

???:”As I said…proceed with my plan and I will honor my end of the bargain; the end of The Shadowed One.”

???:”Because when the Demon Clock’s time strikes right…”

???:”…All shall come to the light.”

<To be continue

(Later afternoon)

Driver:”I-I thought it was s-supposed to be safe at day…”

???:”/////….////01101000 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101111 00100000 01100011 01100001 01101110 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00100000 01101000 01100101 01101100 01110000 00100000 01101101 01100101 00111111”

Driver:”I thought I’d be safe from the attacks, should’ve just quit when I could! they-”

(The entity nonchalantly grabs onto the rollcage and with one hand and tears it off with little to no effort)

Driver:”Ok! ok! I’ll give you whatever you want just don’t hurt me!”

Driver:”Why can’t you just leave us alone?! what did we ever do to you to deserve this?”

???:”///…/// 01110000 01101100 01100101 01100001 01110011 01100101 00100000 01100011 01101111 01101111 01110000 01100101 01110010 01100001 01110100 01100101

Driver:”NO! no get away from me!”

???:”///…/// 01010111 01101000 01100101 01110010 01100101 00100000 01101001 01110011 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01101101 01100001 01110011 01101011 00111111”

Driver:”Just let me go! what do you even want anyways!?”

Driver:”You want that mask over there? just take the damned thing it won’t stop whispering…It’s in my head! it’s in my…”

???:”///…///01101100 01101001 01100110 01100101 00100000 01110011 01101001 01100111 01101110 01110011 00100000 01101110 01100101 01110101 01110100 01100001 01101100 01101001 01111010 01100101 01100100 00101100 00100000 01110011 01101000 01100001 01101101 01100101”

???:”////….//// 01110000 01110011 01111001 01100011 01101000 01101001 01100011 00100000 01100101 01101110 01100101 01110010 01100111 01111001 00100000 01100100 01100101 01110100 01100101 01100011 01110100 01100101 01100100”

???:”///…/// 01110000 01110011 01111001 01100011 01101000 01101001 01100011 00100000 01100101 01101110 01100101 01110010 01100111 01111001 00100000 01100100 01100101 01110100 01100101 01100011 01110100 01100101 01100100…///ERROR/// 00101110 00101110 00101110 01101111 01110010 01101001 01100111 01101001 01101110 00100000 01101110 01101111 01110100 00100000 01100110 01101111 01110101 01101110 01100100 00101100 00100000 01110010 01100101 01110100 01110101 01110010 01101110 01101001 01101110 01100111 00100000 01110100 01101111 00100000 01101110 01100101 01100001 01110010 01100101 01110011 01110100 00100000 01110001 01110101 01100101 01110010 01111001 00111011 00100000 01001110 01000101 01010000 01001000 01000001 01010010 01010101 01010011”

???:”///…///01010111 01000001 01010010 01001110 01001001 01001110 01000111 00111011 00100000 01100101 01101100 01100101 01101101 01100101 01101110 01110100 01100001 01101100 00100000 01100101 01101110 01100101 01110010 01100111 01111001 00100000 01100100 01100101 01110100 01100101 01100011 01110100 01100101 01100100 00101100 00100000 01110100 01101000 01110010 01100101 01100001 01110100 00100000 01101100 01100101 01110110 01100101 01101100 00111011 00100000 01010100 01001111 01000001 00101100 00100000 01100101 01101110 01100111 01100001 01100111 01101001 01101110 01100111”

Driver:”This is all we could gather up.”

The Shadowed One:”Just the vehicle?”

Driver:”We recovered the asset as well, but unfortunately it’s in terrible condition, water damage and such.”

The Shadowed One:”Clearly…anyhow back to the matter of your payment…nada.”

Driver:”What?!”

The Shadowed One:”You heard me, none, nothing, nada, zilch, The package was suppose to be in working condition which it is not, besides your role as just the delivery boy we only give out payment to our own, no handouts.”

Driver:”Delivery boy?! I’ll have you know that I spent a good seven weeks getting this wreck out of that ditch and I still haven’t buried my decapitated brother back there so either you give me my promised pay or you can shove it up your ugly-”

Driver:”AAAIIIUGHH!!”

(The Glatorian’s life is snuffed out by The Shadowed One’s laser vision, all that remains is a few armor pieces and a pile of ash)

The Shadowed One:”Teach you to disrespect me, no handouts!”

The Shadowed One:”Maybe…maybe this isn’t a complete loss, Gadget! get over here!”

(A tall blue steltian covered in cybernetics peers from under the vehicle he was working on)

Gadget:”What is it boss?”

The Shadowed One:”See to it that this machine is brought to working order, and clean up this mess, while your at it.”

(a minute later)

Gadget:”,All set despite some severe water damage.”

The Shadowed One:”Excellent work as always, what is this, a new record for you?”

Gadget:”The tech is inferior and outdated but this was easy compared to the-”

The Shadowed One:”Save me the details for later, lets see if this really works, we may have our thief sooner than later.”

The Shadowed One:”And now the culmination of our hard work.”

Breez:”(Static) If any(Static) can hear me, we’re under attack by a (static) I’ve run a scan and (static) it keeps asking about a mask, I think it called itself the Maren-”

(The hero fizzes out mid-sentence and shuts down the core starts to fume and spark, The Shadowed One reaches out and tears the core out before it overheats)

The Shadowed One:”What. was. that? You told me it was ready!”

Gadget:”It would seem like quaza core just burned out.”

The Shadowed One:”Well? can’t we just replace it with something else? like that super-battery your working on?”

Gadget:”No, that would be too dangerous, she wouldn’t be able to handle it, plus it’s still unfinished.”

The Shadowed One:”Bah! worthless junk! wasting my time!”

Gadget:”So…does this mean…”

The Shadowed One:”Yes, you are dismissed, continue working on the battery and find me a new solution to our problem, I want it done asap!”

Gadget:”Yes Shadowed One, right away sir.”

Gadget:”Shall I dispose of the hero?”

The Shadowed One:”No, keep it intact I still need it, besides our newest recruit could use some…further motivation.”

(Meanwhile)

Sylus:”I can’t believe that the contact was that far away! it’s like we’ve been gone for months.”

Ancient:”That’s because we have been gone for that long, most folks would rather live out in the wilds than find a good spot to start a village, ever since that machine showed up it’s turned any settlement it can get close to into smoldering ash.”

Sylus:”Huh? what thing? that guy? what’s his name…”

Ancient:”Tyrant, and no it’s not him, he’s not dumb enough to attack a entire team of Toa by himself.”

Sylus:”So if it’s not tyrant who is it?”

Ancient:”That’s the thing, we don’t know yet but they clearly don’t want us to, c’mon lets get back to the boss, he doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

(An hour later)

The Shadowed One:”Welcome back, your just in time for this next job.”

Sylus:”Already? but we just-”

The Shadowed One:”This, is from what i’m told is a quaza core, a miniature energy source used to power expendable dime a dozen machines called ‘heroes’.”

The Shadowed One:”Back in the day these so called heroes enforced the peace after the death of Makuta Teridax, since then they haven’t been particularly popular then and they still aren’t now.”

Ancient:”Clearly they didn’t get the hint that they weren’t wanted.”

The Shadowed One:”When they started to apprehend our agents we wiped them out, they called it war, it was more like pest control, bad for business and all.”

Sylus:”How are we gonna get a new core?”

The Shadowed One:”Patience my naive business investment…as you know, given our predicament, we cannot afford to send a large caravan out to gather supplies, so we are going to order locally.”

The Shadowed One:”This is our local supplier, he has the tech we need for this job, I want the both of you to go pay him a visit and obtain a spare core from him.”

Sylus:”Who’s this guy? looks a little weird”

The Shadowed One:”This is Touraz, a skakdi who’s been giving us our supplies for the last couple of months since he moved here with his partner, these supply raids hurt him as much as us so he will more than willing to help us, but if he doesn’t want to cooperate feel free to remind him who funds his store.”

The Shadowed One:”And that’s all, any questions? stupid questions will be ignored, especially stupid questions will get you vaporized…anything?….good, I thought so.”

The Shadowed One:”I entrust you Ancient to complete this mission and to help our newest recruit with his field training.”

Ancient:”Yes, Shadowed One, I will not fail, or let him fail.”

The Shadowed One:”Our client said he had some wares for sale, feel free to browse while your there.

Ancient:”Of cour- wait a minute what?”

Sylus:”Shopping trip?”

<To be continued

Sylus:”Are we there yet?”

Ancient:”Ask again when I’m actually listening.”

Sylus:”Are we the-”

Ancient:”No...”

Ancient:”Well actually we are here now so now we just wait.”

Sylus:”More waiting? ugh can’t we just barge in and take the replacement core?”

Ancient:”Boss said to Bargain with our client, not rob him, besides even if we were to go in and steal a spare it would stain our reputation, on top of that, he’s the only one who knows how to repair a quaza core.”

Ancient:”So wait we must.”

Sylus:”Any idea when he’ll be here?”

Ancient:”You ask alot of questions for a toa, speaking of which, there’s something i’ve been wanting to ask you for a while now, what kind of toa are you?”

Sylus:”A…toa of justice?”

Ancient:”Kid, I have seen and fought hundreds of toa over the years and there’s no such thing as a toa of justice, and if I recall none of them look or act like you.”

Sylus:”I’m…special let’s just leave it at that.”

Ancient:”Suit yourself, we all got secrets, I ain’t no exception.”

Sylus:”OHMYGODWHATTHEHELL!”

Ancient:”What?! what is…”

(Sylus stares at into the empty eyes of a run down machine looking similar to…)

Sylus:”Karzahni?!”

Ancient:”Oh…that? that’s not Karzahni that’s…uh ‘Mr. Sparks’ I think?”

Sylus:”Mr. who?”

Ancient:”Yeah Mr. Sparks, you see I’ve visited this place before and the owners call it that, some kind of advertisement robot, y’know a mascot, suppose to greet people when they come in.”

Ancient:”He broke down a year ago such a shame, but the youngsters loved this thing, the song he use to sing was pretty catchy too.”

(Ancient shoves the robot slightly, when suddenly it lights up and comes to life)

Mr. Sparks:”H-H-HEY EVERY ! ! IT’S M-E-E-E-E-E! YOUR OLD PAL [god] MR. SP-SP-SPARKS!”

Mr. Sparks:”WELCOME TO WANDERER’S STOP! WHERE WE O-O-OFFER YOU ONLY THE BEST YOU COULD [wish] FOR AT THE LOWEST P-P-P-PRICES GAR-GAR-GAR-[granted]-GARENTEED! COME AND SHOP AT THE W-W-WANDERER’S STOP-P-P-P-P-P-P-P-PP-P.!”

(Sparks and smoke start fuming from the animatronic’s body as flames erupted from it’s eyes before abruptly shutting down)

(Not a second later a short figure rounds the corner and puts out the fire)

Touraz:”Ugh, I always hated that thing, gives me the creeps, why Izzy wanted to keep this thing is beyond me we should have just left it in the dump…”

Ancient:”Ahem.”

Touraz:”Huh? oh! customers! how may I…”

Touraz:”I…oh no…is this about the debt? I already told your boss that I’m working on…”

Ancient:”This isn’t about your debt we need you to help us with something important and I believe it’s in your best interest to comply.”

Touraz:”Um, ok so then what do you need?”

Ancient:”A Quaza core, can you fix it?”

Touraz:”A…Quaza core? ok alright just come into my shop and we can discuss on how we can do this.”

Ancient:”What do you mean ’discuss’? can you fix it or not!?”

Touraz:”Oh course I can!.. could maybe which is why I need you to help me first.”

Mr. Sparks:”G-G-G-G-ET 40% OFF ON [freedom and salvation] ARMOR AND W-W-WEAPONS FOR ONLY THE FAIR PRICE OF…[your soul] 6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6—6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6”

Mr. Sparks:”6.99! (GARBLED STATIC) COME BACK SOON!”

(Sylus stares uneasily at the former god emperor and doesn’t stop staring until he’s inside the massive warehouse gates)

(One long “totally not due due the shots of the inside of the inside of the shop not coming out great so we scraped them” conversation and trip later)

Sylus:”Why did we come here again?”

Ancient:”To make it short, Touraz doesn’t have the tools he needs because the shipment he was suppose to get never came in likely due to our ‘ thief problem’ his partner went out to get the supplies herself but she never came back either…”

Sylus:”So this ‘Thief’, he was here? looks like he didn’t steal anything just broke some stuff.”

Ancient:”Strangely enough it only the mask shipments go missing, but lets focus on the job, the sooner we find the supplies and Touraz’s business partner the sooner we can go back.”

Ancient:”Besides this place is teeming with rahkshi and I don’t want to be around when they start prowling.”

(A sudden shuffling is heard from behind the wreckage)

Sylus:”Hey I’m gonna check out the back real quick.”

Ancient:”Well…alright just don’t take too long, and don’t even think about stealing anything back there.”

(A small blue matoran with a purple arm brace could be seen huddling behind the vehicle, she is clearly distressed)

???:”Please please please don’t find me, by the great spirit don’t let her find me.”

Sylus:”Hey little buddy what’s the matter?”

???:”No! get away from me! stay back!”

Sylus:”Woah woah woah calm down I’m not here to hurt you just tell me what’s wrong.”

???:”Your not one of them? your…a toa? oh thank Mata Nui! your here! I thought they were all extinct!”

Sylus:”Um, yeah ok cool what appears to be the problem?”

???:”Well, I was going out to check on the Thornatus to make sure it wasn’t picked clean yet, then this crazy Skakdi came out of nowhere and trashed everything.”

Sylus:”And the dead body?”

???:”Rahkshi maybe, but i’ve never seen them maul a body like that before, or maybe the Skakdi did it I have no clue.”

???:”But as far as I know She’s is still over there, been for days.”

Sylus:”Ok, just point me to where she is and I get to it.”

???:”You…you really want to go after her? well she’s over there.”

Sylus:”Oh…wow just wow.”

(The sounds of distant battle come closer as a red blur approaches, the field is littered with the limbs of rahkshi everywhere)

(A single long rahkshi stood before the towering hulk before it, this one had slaughtered many of it’s people over the course of three weeks, the piece of scrap metal it used as a shield and a weapon was covered in dirt and gore from it’s rampage surely it could do nothing more now that it was face to face with the murderer of its kin, but even now there was still the chance it still could-)

Izrahm:”Ah, finally come damn breakfast!”

Izrahm:”And my favorite too, yes.”

Izrahm:”Alright c’mere little guy.”

(Sylus and Ancient watch as the crimson being tears off the decapitated Rahkshi’s hide and rips it’s still squirming Kraata out of it)

Izrahm:”been so long since I had Kraata, especially the white ones, maybe I should cook this…”

Izrahm:”Hmmm…nah I like mine raw anyways!”

Sylus:”Hey! can. you. not do that?!”

Izrahm:”Eh?”

Sylus:”First off, that is Disgusting and you should really get a new hobby, secondly…are you Izrahm?”

Izrahm:”Yeah that’s me, did my weakling of a brother send you to bring me home? he can’t manage the shop himself?”

Sylus:”Yes.”

Ancient:”Seriously? just yes? I thought you toa loved your big speeches.”

Sylus:”Well I’ve learned with Skakdi as long as you speak plainly you’ll do just fine.”

Izrahm:”Alright yeah sure I come home, I guess my brother needs me after all, (sigh).”

Sylus:”See what I mean? I may be just a ‘rookie’ to you but you could learn a hing or two about…”

Sylus:”…meeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”

Izrahm:”Take a hike loser! You really thought I was going back that easily?”

Izrahm:”You wanna take me back you gotta make me! so come on, show me what you got!”

Izrahm:”How about you old man? looks like you need to be sent back to the retirement home!”

Ancient:”Well how I send you to the emergency room, permanently.”

???:”Come on toa! wake up! please don’t be dead!”

Sylus:”Oof, I’m alright, nothing broken at least.”

???:”What are we going to do?”

Sylus:”Well you got any ideas?”

???:”Uh…um…”

Sylus:”Don’t answer that, nevermind.”

Sylus:”Alright, so my options could be either I sneak behind her and tackle her to the ground.”

???:”What about throwing things.”

Sylus:”No…perhaps I could repair this vehicle and ram her with it.”

???:”Or you could just throw things.”

Sylus:”O what is your obsession with throwing things have to do with-”

(Sylus turns and spots a pair of jet boots and attempts to put them on, they unfortunately do not fit and don’t work either)

Sylus:”…Right, throwing things it is…”

Izrahm:”Getting tired yet old man? I could do this all day!”

Ancient:”That makes two of us.”

Izrahm:”Just face it, your out of your prime geezer!”

Izrahm:”Your slow…”

Izrahm:”Your weak…”

Izrahm:”And to top it off…”

Izrahm:”…Your done for, tell give The Shadowed One my regards when I come for him next!”

Ancient:”Then you obviously have no idea what your getting yourself into Izrahm, you kill me and it’s going to be your head on the floor the next time-”

(a single boot shoots into the air and nails the female Skakdi right into the side of her neck)

Ancient:”What? seriously? you had plenty of time to save my hide and you choose that?!”

Sylus:”Yeah sorry, I was aiming for her head.”

???:”Seriously? of all the thing you could have done you throw a freaking shoe!?”

Sylus:”Hey you told me to throw something!”

Izrahm:”(laughter) Is that all you got? your gonna have to hit a little harder than THAT if you wanna impress me!”

Izrahm:”C’mon hit me with your best shot-”

???:”…”

???:”Um…”

Sylus:”…It was alot lighter than it looked.”

Ancient:”Sylus we were suppose to take her back ALIVE not kill her!”

Sylus:”Well would you rather be alive or Skakdi food?”

Ancient:”…You have some nerve talking to your superior like that…”

Sylus:”I never wanted to join the Dark Hunters but your boss didn’t give me a choice to say no now did he!?”

???:”What? you work for who?”

Izrahm:”Ha ha ha ha ha ah ha!”

(The ruined vehicle is tossed away like it was a wooden branch as Izrahm gets up and dusts herself off still laughing)

Izrahm:”Man, that. was. awesome! the best fight I’ve had in forever! I haven’t felt this sore in ages!”

Izrahm:”I like you tall metal man, you got spunk and I think that’s cool, alright I’ll come back to the shop tell Touraz, my brother that I’m coming home.”

Everyone:”…”

Sylus:”Ok…cool...that was easy.”

???:”…”

Ancient:”Are. you. kidding. me-”

<to be continued