Bionicle crossroads S2 pt.4

(The icy region of the Cryptex lay barren from centuries of war from previous inhabitants, scarred, broken, desolate, but at the time…silent, until…)

(…In a bang of light the Marendar finds itself alone once more)

Marendar:”/…/Conclusion; “Never doing that again…”

Marendar:”/…/Scanning environment; 1 objective found, securing asset-”

Nepharus:”Ah there it is the mask of time! wasn’t it Oxidized before? no matter!”

Nepharus:”oh, my ally! you’ve come back! I’ve been contacting you for days but you never responded, but I’m glad your back nonetheless!”

Marendar:”/…/Greeting protocol engaged; “Good to see you too as well.”

Nepharus:”Wait what happened to your voice modulator? I thought It was broken?”

Marendar:”/…/Lying protocol engaged…executing; “I…found a new one...somewhere…I bought it.”

Nepharus:”i find that hard to believe but bah…that’s not important now I need to bring you somewhere private…”

Nepharus:”…Somewhere where I can execute the next phase of my plan…”

Nepharus:”It’ll be a hard responsibility I know…”

Nepharus:”But being a killer robot has never been hard for you right?”

(Later)

Nepharus:”Now before I leave I need to-”

Marendar:”/…/Urgent subject topic;Who is the Prodigal?”

Nepharus:”Wh-how did you? well…”

Nepharus:”The Prodigal…from my research on various ancient documents and texts that I ‘borrowed’ from the Dark Hunters, is…a omnipotent being ‘the first’ and is some kind of judge.”

Nepharus:”Legend says that it was part of a multidimensional race of gene-stealers known as Collectors, beings that traveled the multiverse to copy the traits of anything they come in contact with.”

Nepharus:”But the Prodigal…or whatever his name was before, tried to take traits from a immensely powerful eldritch being.”

Nepharus:”But Instead of dying, it became something…more.”

Nepharus:”Something…Not evil but not benevolent either…”

Nepharus:”But more importantly…it has the power to grant wishes!”

Nepharus:”Which is why I’m want to summon it!”

Nepharus:”With it’s wish powers I can use them to undo the wrongs of the past and find…salvation.”

Nepharus:”But…for this part of my quest I must go alone.”

Marendar:”/…/inquisitive; ”Why? where are you going?”

Nepharus:”A place far far away, that can be reached more quickly through chrono-travel.”

Nepharus:”Which is why I brought you here to leave a parting gift before I go, hold still.”

(Frigid blue fumes begin to pour from the censer as it swayed back and forward)

(The smoke enveloping the Marendar’s repeater cannon covering it in crystalized time, reverting it back to a newer quality)

Marendar:”/…/impressed;”Quite the improvement.”

Nepharus:”Indeed, reverted to as good as the day it was made.”

Nepharus:”Now go…find the refugee’s, keep them safe while i’m gone,”

(As the Marendar turned to leave, Nepharus began to tap into the kanohi Vahi mask of time to enhance his Chrono powers to travel to his destination, conjuring the location and time of arrival)

Nepharus:”Location; eastern peninsula, arrival time:3:34 to 1:37, 5 hours, 3 2 1 GO!”

(In a blink The Makuta found himself on a sandy beach overlooking a endless ocean)

Nepharus:”It…it worked! I’m not dead…or lost in time but…”

…Where am I?”

BIONICLE CROSSROADS VACATION SPECIAL

SANDS OF TIME

Nepharus:”I mean…I know where and when I am but where in this part of the world am I?”

Nepharus:”Maybe I got here at the wrong time again, (sigh) well i’ll just have to wait for the right time another shift is too dangerous, at least it’s nice here.”

(The Time makuta’s thoughts were suddenly cut off when a freak tidal wave black as night threw a number of small objects onto the crisp sands of the beach, one of them looking like…)

Nepharus:”A matoran? here? I thought this place was remote unless the poor thing wash shipwrecked.”

Nepharus:”Hmm actually this looks more like a turaga but that brings up more even more questions, why is a village elder so far from his village?”

Nepharus:”He’s barely holding on any longer and he won’t make it I think I can try something a little risky.”

Nepharus:”I’ve never tried reversing time on living things but first time for anything I suppose, Let me help you elder…”

(a minute of healing later)

Nepharus:”Oh thank goodness your alive, I never though I could bring people back from the brink of death like a real magician could!”

Nepharus:”Do you have a name wise one? hello? can you understand me?”

Nepharus:”Ahmvos? sounds…familiar…might just be imagining things…well I am Makuta Nepharus last of my kind.”

Nepharus:”You want to come with me? well I did tell a friend I was coming alone but I guess having some company with me wouldn’t hurt.”

Nepharus:”What could go wrong?”

(One Hour later)

Sylus:”Blech! nasty…”

Sylus:”Where am…sand? just like the coordinates said they would be.”

Sylus:”Man The Shadowed One’s gonna kill me a hundred times over for losing that ship in the ocean.”

Sylus:”But while i’m here may as well get this over with this ‘Lesovikk’ better be here or-”

Sylus:”Oof!”

(A second wave throws Sylus off balance plunging him headfirst into the wet sand and saltwater)

Sylus:”Why…(cough!) (cough!)”

Sylus:”The…water…it burns.”

Sylus:”The…sun…so…so bright.”

Sylus:”The sand…”

Sylus:”…It’s getting all over!”

Sylus:”And now I have way to get back home either.”

At least this place is supposed inhabited I’m not to keen on building a camp or…”

Sylus:”Aha! tracks and that can only mean…oh no.”

Sylus:”That I have to climb that rock face to get to civilization…C’mon legs we have a long climb ahead.”

(Five hours passed before Sylus made it to the top of the mountain. Exhausted and weary, the toa shambled to the temple in the distance.)

???:”Stop! state your intentions or…oh it’s you.”

Lesovikk:”You got my message, took your time getting here, welcome are you ready for…are you alright? you look like you just…”

Sylus:”Tired…need…rest…climbed mountain…”

Sylus:”(Cough!) (cough! (gasp!)”So much climbing…fell so many times…”

Lesovikk:”Alright, come with me we’ll get you healed up…I can’t believe you climbed the cliff face instead of taking the stairs.”

Sylus:”There were stairs? kill me…”

(Thirty minutes later Sylus found himself in a pool of refreshing clean water his wounds had almost completely healed and his headache had faded away)

Sylus:”(Gasp!) I’m alive! and i’m…still here…what happened?”

Sylus:”Where is…hey are you Lesovikk?”

Lesovikk:”Such a exquisite weapon, truly remarkable craftsmanship…”

Lesovikk:”And yet…It looks worn and beaten…used as a tool of war…”

Lesovikk:”Such a elegant yet powerful tool, capable of bending all of the six elements…such potential…”

Lesovikk:”…Wasted as a simple bludgeoning tool for a honorless thug.”

(Lesovikk finished his statement by swinging Excalibra towards the lake, a ripple formed near Sylus)

(A fountain of water exploded into the sky drizzling the surroundings creating a rainbow in the sunlight of the midday sun, Sylus watched amazed by the water show)

Sylus:”That…was…SICK! what was that?”

Lesovikk:”A simple manipulation of the water in the area, all toa of water know how to alter water in all forms but solid, I’m surprised that you even have this blade to begin with, and yet judging from your reaction you’ve never actually used this sword’s power haven’t you?”

Sylus:”Maybe a few times…”

Sylus:”Pleeease teach me how to do cool stuff like you!”

Lesovikk:”No, I don’t extend my knowledge to mercenaries, especially those working for the Dark Hunters.”

Lesovikk:”Perhaps I should keep this blade for myself and send you back to The Shadowed One empty handed, maybe someone worthy will take this blade instead.”

Sylus:”Look I…I…”

Lesovikk:”Kid save your breath, you made your career choice, and it’s going to take more than a few measly triumphs to impress me.”

Sylus:”I killed the mad tyrant Karzahni!”

Lesovikk:”You? killed him? ha! don’t make me laugh…he’s been dead for centuries!”

Sylus:”Don’t believe me? check the blade again…”

(Lesovikk examines the sword more closely spotting a worn inscription along the length of the front of the blade reading;)

{Excalibra, this blade I forged to slay The God-Emperor Karzahni {my former brother, Whom upon fulfillment of this task I grant {rightful ownership to Toa Sylus now and forevermore

-Artakha

Lesovikk:”How do I know this isn’t some well made forgery?”

Sylus:”Do I look like someone who could make something like that?”

Lesovikk:”Hmm fair point, and this does look like The Builder’s work too…I believe we’ve come to a conclusion.”

Lesovikk:”I will give this back to you and grant you the training I said would teach you in my message…”

Sylus:”Neat! can’t wait to-

Lesovikk:”On the condition that you swear to take these lessons seriously and continue to uphold them afterwards, do we have a understanding?”

Sylus:”I solemnly swear to uphold these teachings, promise.”

Lesovikk:”Good now that that’s out of the way…”

(Lesovikk prys open a plate on the pommel of the blade and carefully removes a small device lodged inside before tossing it into the water)

Lesovikk:”I figured your ‘boss’ would want to keep close tabs on you while you were away, must’ve bugged it while you were packing.”

Sylus:”Why would they want to do that?”

Lesovikk:”Who knows? to keep an eye on you like I said or maybe to find out where I am and blackmail me to join them, either way they aren’t getting anything from me.”

Sylus:”So when do we begin training?”

Lesovikk:”Right here…right now.”

Lesovikk:”So you want to be a toa? then prove it to me by using this easy technique; water walking.”

Sylus:”Water walking?”

Lesovikk:”Yes the ability to channel the liquids around you to form something akin to solid matter, allowing you to walk on the surface as if it were the very ground itself.”

Sylus:”Ok nothing’s happening…”

Lesovikk:”Try and will the water to lift you upward!”

Sylus:”I will walk on water…I will walk on water…I will-Acckkk!”

(Sylus trips on a small stone in the pool and falls face first once again into more water, Lesovikk facepalms behind him)

(Seeing that the other toa is not emerging the Toa of Air calmly sits down in a cross-legged and focuses on the water before him)

(Soon Sylus washes up on drenched and cold, but Lesovikk isn’t done yet making him go back in until he can master this ability. Sylus washed up on the shore over thirty-five times before he eventually managed to stand upright on the surface of the water, by then the sun had set and it was time to enter the temple for rest)

Lesovikk:”Before we rest I want to show you a simple technique on air and to teach you about the toa code.”

Lesovikk:”The first part of the Toa code is that any killing of intelligent beings whether by your hands or not is forbidden, the second rule being that stealing and sneaking around and discreet fighting are not prohibited but is frowned upon.”

Lesovikk:”Now that you know the code and the basics lets try a simple wind refreshment technique.”

Lesovikk:”Although it is not a combat specific art it is used to help relax the joints after a long day, breath in…breath out.”

Sylus:”Not a combat move eh? let me try a little experiment…”

Lesovikk:”No, stop that what are you doing? your gonna-

(A wind storm erupts around Sylus blowing things around the room before suddenly coming to a stop from Lesovikk’s intervention)

Sylus:”I’m sorry i just wanted to-

Lesovikk:”Sorry? you just turned a harmless healing ability into a deadly weapon…in a way that even I did not know could be done.”

Lesovikk:”…Well done you have untapped potential within, we may bring it out yet.”

Nepharus:”Such beauty…a shame that I’m only here for my objective, maybe I’ll come back when I’m done with my quest.”

Nepharus:”Hmm? you want know why I’m here? well that’s a somewhat private subject so…no I really shouldn’t tell just anyone no offense someone I just met-”

Nepharus:”Why? the landscape is flawless I don’t see why…fine I’ll tell you and just you alright?”

Nepharus:”I came here for the fabled Font of Purification, a oasis so pure that it is said to absolve anyone who bathes in it of their sins.”

Nepharus:”Why…Are there…always…stairs?!”

(The two travelers make their way to the body of water at the top)

Nepharus:”Here the Font of Purification! but…why is it not bubbling like the texts said? it should be bubbling! the astral alignment should be correct!”

Nepharus:”Ahmovs no! the pool will drown you without the heat to keep you afloat! Don’t give me that look! just because your a turaga…well you have any better ideas?”

Nepharus:”Look see in the center of the pool? it’s barely visible but the sundial is just a bit early.”

Nepharus:”That means we have time! all we have to do now is wait till…tomorrow…”

Nepharus:”Yep…we’ll just wait here and…you know what? lets just go walk on the beach to pass the time.”

Sylus:”You want me to do what?”

Lesovikk:”Ride a boulder…

…To the top of this cliff.”

Sylus:”And you know how crazy that sounds?”

Lesovikk:”Ha, I said the same thing when I was first taught this technique, but it is possible to do.”

Sylus:”But isn’t earth and stone kinda the same element?”

Lesovikk:”Then would ice and water be the same? just water in a different state? no, earth and stone may be similar but have key differences that set them apart from one another, the stone element extends not only to well… controlling stones but the detection of fissures, animating stone structures and turning it into sand and back, Earth on the other hand can be used to alter the terrain around us and sensing vibrations in a way can help find a enemy miles before they even reach you, today’s lesson is about using them together.”

Sylus:”But what does that have to do with levitating the rock?”

Lesovikk:”Watch…”

(Lesovikk stepped towards the small rock placing a hand on it’s surface feeling the bumps and scratches the stone has endured over eons, then griping on firmly he willed the earth under it to knock it into the air, but before the rock could hit the ground it stopped and hovered in place letting the toa of air hop on)

Lesovikk:”When the stones above and the earth below work together in harmony, even rocks can fly!”

(Lesovikk’s rock platform began to slowly rise into the air before finally crossing over the cliff side)

Sylus:”Flying rocks…Ok either this is some elaborate stunt or I have officially gone crazy.”

Sylus:”Well ok rock…take me to the top floor or somthing.”

Lesovikk:”Whew these flights really take a lot out of me, much harder to do than flying on the wind.”

(Lesovikk gazed out at the beach below, for the longest time he had chosen this place to take refuge here out of necessity to preserve the toa population from the killing machine that had emerged out of the blue for the sole purpose of exterminating them all, His thoughts were interrupted by a loud crack and the silhouette of Sylus cartwheeling into the sky)

(Sylus landed hard on the stony precipice followed by his sword falling and implanting itself next to Lesovikk who picked the blade up and brought it over to Sylus’s battered and Exhausted body)

Sylus:”Oooohhhh…”

Lesovikk:”You made it but where is-?”

(The boulder lands nearby with a thud)

Lesovikk:”Ah there it is, good work.”

Leosvikk:”This technique is one of the harder ones to master so it is understandable that you may fail at this one several times before being able to control it properly, elemental synergy is not easy to do and near impossible to do by yourself especially if you are trying to master anything other than your own natural element.”

Sylus:”Did…I pass then?”

Lesovikk:”Not yet but the fact that you got the rock up here at all is impressive by itself, by the way did you let go of the sword during the flight?”

Sylus:”Yeah?”

Lesovikk:”Hold onto that thing, it would be a terrible tragedy to lose something like that in the ocean or worse it breaks.”

Lesovikk:”But enough talk come back down you’ve got eleven more boulders to bring up here, times wasting don’t lose it!”

Lesovikk:”Sylus come on we need to make our way to the Font of Purifying for our next training course!”

Sylus:”Sorry I was just watching the sunrise i’m coming.”

Lesovikk:”Yes…absorb the heat from the air and use it to make the water boil, your doing great keep it up.”

Sylus:”Why am I doing this again?”

Lesovikk:”Because there are some who would use this oasis’s magic properties for evil. The ‘God-Emperor’ your sword mentioned came here through a shimmering portal once to try and steal the Font for himself, said He wanted to use it as a ‘hot tub’…disgraceful.”

Sylus:”Karzahni came here? he’s the reason why we’re doing this?”

Lesovikk:”no, another time a strange Makuta came to try and corrupt this place, it took everything I had just to blast him to the bottom of the ocean and keep him there, that was over two hundred years ago and now that the stars have aligned once more the font being active again means it’ll be a prime target for others so if we can somehow accelerate it past it’s alignment we could-”

Nepharus:”Just what do you think you are doing?!”

Lesovikk:”…Speak of the devil.”

Nepharus:”And You…what are you doing here?”

Sylus:”Uh do I know you? oh right! your the Brooding guy outside of the shop a couple of weeks ago!”

Sylus:”Listen I don’t want any trouble I just want to boil some water alright?”

Nepharus:”Boil some water!? your defiling a sacred oasis!”

Sylus:”Who gave you the right to say where we can and cannot train?!”

Nepharus:”RRrggghh! first you ruin a entire timeline then you go out of your way destroy a holy site for training!? how petty!”

Nepharus:”I will not allow you to desecrate this place any further, leave. now and I will spare you my wrath!”

Sylus:”Save your breath you multicolored clown, we don’t take orders from you.”

Nepharus:”It’s Nepharus you Insolent wretch! last of the Makuta the demon clo-!”

Sylus:”Lamest name ever, you make it up yourself? I think multi colored clown sounds better.”

Nepharus:”But enough! I have no time to quarrel with you, maybe this can be still salvaged despite your vying interference.”

Lesovikk:”Huh?”

Lesovikk:”Gone? what was that? could it be?”

Lesovikk:”Sylus there’s something I need to tell you-”

Sylus:”Cowabunga it is…”

Lesovikk:”Cowa what? what are you…Sylus No!”

(Sylus shoulder tackles Nepharus, causing the makuta to lose his balance and topple into the Font taking the toa with him)

Nepharus:”(Gasp!) (cough) (cough)”

Nepharus:”You…you…”

Nepharus:”Hrrkkk!”

Sylus:”’Scuse me, thanks for the lift!”

Lesovikk:”Was that a really good idea?”

Sylus:”Of course it was! He was practically asking for it.”

Sylus:”Another point for the good guys! show him to mess with us!”

Lesovikk:”Your ego blinds you to potential retaliation you should be cautious.”

Sylus:”He’s beaten he won’t be coming back.”

Lesovikk:”Look out behind you!”

Nepharus:”Could you repeat that?”

Sylus:”But how did you?”

Nepharus:”Do you have any idea what you’ve just done? now both of us are cleansed! and I won’t have you interfering with my quest any further!”

(Nepharus in a blink of an eye summons his staff and pluges the crystal blade into Sylus’s shoulder)

Lesovikk:”Leave my student alone makuta! I don’t know why your here but you won’t win this!”

Nepharus:”Win? I am not here to ‘win’ anything.”

Nepharus:”When I have the power to undo everything wrong with this world, you’ll all thank me for doing th- oh whoops…”

(Lesovikk tumbles towards the bubbling liquid protodermis the heat from the pool searing parts of his armor)

(But before he could use his water walking technique his decent into the water was suddenly halted as Nepharus grabbed him by his foot)

Nepharus:”That could’ve ended badly, anyone else and and the Font would have destabilized.”

Nepharus:”…In other words very, very, bad things.”

Lesovikk:”Why…why did you save me? weren’t you trying to kill us a couple of seconds ago?”

Nepharus:”Trying to stop you from destroying the Font of Purification, if you had boiled it prematurely the magics holding it together would have become unstable and destroy everything in a mile radius.”

Lesovikk:”Uh…thanks, we weren’t trying to destroy it, we just were trying to train here, but If I had known that could even happened I would have just used the beach instead.”

Sylus:”Ey you little bugger get off me c’mere!”

Sylus:”Thought you could take me out right then and there?”

Nepharus:”Ahmovs! put him down!”

Lesoviik:”What are doing!? put the turaga down now!”

Sylus:”No! he was going to stick his fingers in my wound with some weird vine things coming out of them!”

Lesovikk:”He’s probaby a turaga of plantlife he was trying to heal you!”

Sylus:”Oh no I know Bo-matoran and toa of plantlife when I see them and this is not one of them, so I’ll just press on the throat here and…”

(with surprising strength Ahmovs reached up and swatted the sword out of Sylus’s grip to the toa’s surprise)

Sylus:”W-what? that’s…not normal, ok maybe I could just give a little squeeze and...”

Sylus:”Ghaaaaaah!”

Sylus:”My arm! he tore off my arm!”

Sylus:”Why does this keep happening to me?”

Sylus:”First Dameta then this guy! I don’t care if it’s a prosthetic it still hurts!”

Nepharus:”Oh my! oh…oh no what have I done?”

Lesovikk:”You had something to do with this?”

Nepharus:”I found him dying on the beach! so I kind of nutured him back to life I didn’t know he was going to do that!”

Lesovikk:”Found on the beach…oh no.”

Sylus:”Urrgghh…the pain.”

Sylus:”It hurts so bad…someone…anyone…help me…”

Nepharus:”(sigh) Just this once…”

(The makuta gently placed the injured toa’s arm back into it’s socket then using his censer to reverse the damage done, after qa couple of seconds Sylus’s convulsions stopped and visible relaxed)

Lesovikk:”Is he going to be alright?”

Nepharus:”For the moment, but that’s all I’ll do for him…I want him alive and well for tommorow.”

Lesovikk:”What for?”

Nepharus:“For our duel tomorrow at the summit of the mountain.”

Lesovikk:”What? even after you saw what happened you still want to fight him?”

Nepharus:”Yes, we Makuta are a prideful species as you would surely know, If I do not fight I will be seen as weak and cowardly, a prime target for replacement.”

Lesovikk:”But all the Makuta are dead! you said yourself that your the last one! you don’t have to prove anything.”

Nepharus:”I thought so too…but I have a hunch…between just you and me, I think that He’d be better off fighting me than…whatever that is.”

(Later that night)

Nepharus:”There you are! I wanted to talk to you about what you did earlier today.”

Nepharus:”Now Sylus is well for a lack of a cleaner term…a annoying twat, but ripping his arm off? even if it’s just a prosthetic is crossing a line.”

Nepharus:”You know…I haven’t heard you say a thing since we met and even though you speak to me telepathically, something tells me you aren’t who you said you were.”

Nepharus:”What? what do you mean that- how do you know about the Prodigal? I never told you…your not a turaga aren’t you? Ahmvos probably isn’t your real name, who are you really?! show yourself demon!”

(Ahmovs slowly turns around, his empty souless eyes bleeding black ichor, then he spoke in a hollow voice of a unknown language that felt like a hot blade pierced into Nepharus’s skull)

Ahmovs:”.ycrem siH nowk dna ti pihsrow ,efilnu eht fo sterces eht ot yek si ygoloxod dercas ehT”

Nepharus:”Huh? what did you just say? wait, what are you doing? no! get away from me STOP NO!”

(The next morning, mountain summit)

Sylus:”Ok I’m here…what do you want?”

Sylus:”I was told that we would be fighting today so you want to do this the old fashioned way? or you want to establish some ground rul-”

Nepharus:”The doxology of our sacred Leviathan, the holy worship of that which-is and is-not divine.”

Nepharus:”Forsaken child…the undeserving, the forsaken, the that-which-shall-conquer…welcome to absolution.”

Sylus:”Uh, are you ok?”

Nepharus:”I like you was once blind…lost, sucking on the teat to the life-milk of reality to find purpose, until I sought Him out and in return my eyes were opened…made more than just a puppet to fate.”

Sylus:”Ew…”

Nepharus:”Worship in the ways of The Crown, and you may also see as I do.”

Sylus:”What the heck are you rambling about? what’s wrong with you?”

Nepharus:”I am giving you naive child, a single chance to abandon the destiny set for you by the He-who-judges, a single chance to find salvation in unlife.”

Sylus:”…Your not Nepharus aren’t you? your that thing from yesterday.”

Nepharus:”The well-being of the vessel is irrelevant…I will impart a inevitable truth upon thee;”

Nepharus:”When the sacred Leviathan comes to consume this world, many will perish…damned to absolute finality...but you child…Our Holy Wyrm sees the unstated potential in you, undeserving as you may be, you may still find redemption…accept this divine obligation or be digested along with the rest of this fabricated realm of deception…choose.”

Sylus:”How about you take your offer and tell your ‘Leviathan’ it can choke on it for all I care.”

Nepharus:”You would reject His generosity? His mercy? disappointing…so be it.”

Sylus:”Listen Neph! if your still in there snap out of it!”

Nepharus:”This vessel has been shaped into the perfect truth, a truth you shall soon be embraced by.”

Sylus:”Ok fine, looks like this needs a good old fashioned beat-down!”

(As the blade slashes through the exposed plate, a small vine wrapped around the back snaps revealing a glittering golden object tucked within)

Sylus:”(A weak point? hmm…)

(Nepharus blinks out of existence before the blow can be dealt all around Sylus time slows down to a crawl)

Nepharus:”futile…like a fish trapped on land you flounder and drown in a world that you do not belong in...perishing in clueless agony.”

Nepharus:”Your mortality betrays you, your faithlessness denies you of clarity.”

Nepharus:”Your resistance makes you predictable…”

Nepharus:”And your dedication to imperfection only leads you to absolute finality…the game is concluded, there is no escape from the absolute truth.”