#tarduk

“Are you sure we should even be out here?”

Onepu trudged further into the brush, knocking aside a shrub laced in spider webs as he did. “Of course I’m sure, my friend. This area of Bota-Magna was left relatively untouched after the shattering. We can discover much about the history and technology of this planet if we can find some sort of records, and we might be able to find more materials for Nuparu to build… whatever it was he was building.” 

Taipu huffed with worry, following narrowly behind his only friend and companion Onepu. “But didn’t you say the Toa haven’t finished clearing this area of the Jungle Vorox yet? Aren’t you worried Kabrua will jump out from behind these trees and hang us by our toes? Grind our masks into dust?” 

Onepu rolled his eyes. “After Chiara zapped half of his army, that brute was chased off into the forest, never to be seen again. We have absolutely nothing to worry about, Taipu.” Onepu jumped and posed triumphantly on a rock. “Just follow my lead, and we’ll be strutting through New Aetero, victoriously hefting parts and the history of this once great civilization!”

“You never could turn down an opportunity to go exploring.” Taipu grumbled.

Without another word, Onepu hopped down from the rock and continued through the jungle. Taipu sighed and followed after him.

Deep down, Taipu knew this expedition wasn’t going to end in anything good. Onepu may have been smarter than himself, but he still had a quirk about getting into situations bigger than he was ready to handle. And while back on Mata-Nui, that usually meant finding a new vein of protodermis, or new gems and riches to uncover, Taipu worried what wandering into this ancient jungle might bring.

“I hope you know what you’re doing.” Taipu muttered under his breath.

*

Sadruo the Vorox awoke with a start, her eyes twitching in the sunlight. Her senses stirred, reacting to something in the air, a smell to be exact. Sadruo was known among the other jungle Vorox for her keen sense of smell. It was for that reason that she was now the leader of the jungle Vorox, after Kabrua had died of his wounds. That, and she had killed all who opposed her in combat.

She sat up, her ears keenly surveying the jungle sounds around her. Insects chirped in the trees, birds flapped their wings as they dove to eat the insects. A Sand Stalker sauntered through the brush a few hundred meters to the right. In the distance, she could hear thunder rolling. There would be a storm later that day, and she’d need to mobilize the rest of the pack in order to not get stuck in their current location. She took a deep breath, inhaling all the scents she could pick up from where she sat. She smelled that same Sand Stalker in the brush. She smelled the wind carrying an odor of grimy, unwashed Vorox, doubtlessly from her many male pack members sleeping just a ways away from her. She let out this breath with a snarl.

“Boys, wake up.” She barked at the rest of her pack. “I’m on a funny scent, and we’re gonna follow it.”

She picked up her blaster and stood, following her nose out of the clearing where they had been sleeping and into the jungle. She agilely and quietly snuck through the bushes, lunging over mossy stones and ducking under Fikou spider webs. It amazed Sadruo at first, the huge host of biomechanical wildlife that took up residence in Bota-Magna, its diversity and its ability to survive, even in a harsh environment such as this. But then they learned where it came from. Gukko Liver quickly became a favorite dish among her pack.

Sadruo crept closer to the source of the scent. She peaked through the foliage and saw a pair of tracks in the mud; the wo oblong, triangular feet each, with two rounded toes sticking out the front. She crept over them, and inhaled deeply, getting a strong imprint of their scent. Almost immediately she knew what they were. Her lip rose in disgust, and she let out a snarl.

“Matoran.”

* 

Thunder cracked in the distance, and Onepu peered over the horizon, watching as dark clouds began to roll in. He wondered momentarily if Bota-Maga had wet and dry seasons the way Le-wahi did back on Mata-Nui, or if the jungle was in a constant state of flooding. The foliage and underbrush seemed to be prepared for that sort of weather; strong roots, convex leaves to let water pour off instead of collect, it seemed entirely plausible to Onepu that this place was a constant rainforest in the way Bara-Magna was a constant arid desert, and Aqua-Magna a constant ocean.

“Think we should find some shelter maybe?” Taipu said, following Onepu’s gaze to the storm on the horizon.

“Perhaps. I’m growing very curious about the wildlife of this place however.” Onepu began to pace. “Why have we yet to encounter any creatures? Do you think they’re beginning to settle down before it rains? Have they learned to avoid upright beings to avoid being hunted by the Vorox? Or have the Vorox been overhunting? Taipu what do you think?”

The grass rustled to their left. Something small and green slithered through the brush.

Taipu followed it with his eyes. “I think there’s a creature right there, Onepu.” Taipu sighed. “Look, we can make discoveries once we’ve found some shelter. I’m sure there will be a whole bunch of creatures in a nice cool cave, don’t you think?”

“I wonder what sort of creature…” Onepu walked over to the brush that had rustled a moment ago, ignoring Taipu, and pulled apart the branches.

“An Agori?!”

Onepu stumbled backwards in surprise, and a green Agori with a spiky head popped out of the brush. His hands and feet were claws, and his body was dotted with spikes, making him look like a small Agori-shaped cactus.

“Matoran?” He said. “Who are you supposed to be?”

Taipu helped Onepu to his feet. “We might say the same to you!”

The Agori stepped out of the underbrush. “My name is Tarduk. I’m here looking for rarities and relics from the Jungle moon. Now, who are you?”

Onepu stood. “I am Onepu, former Captain of the Onu-Koro Ussalry, and aide to Turaga Whenua.” He pointed at his compatriot. “And that’s Taipu.”

Taipu waved, and the Agori nodded. “You’re a long way from New Atero, Matoran. Aren’t you worried about the Vorox? They’re sure to do unspeakable things to you if they found you.”

Onepu puffed out his chest. “Discoveries are not born on the back of cowardice, but within breasts filled with courage!”

“I see.” Tarduk said, his shoulders drooping. “Well your friend is right, we really out to be finding shelter. That storm will be upon is before you’d expect. The rains come quickly on Bota-Magna.” Tarduk trudged past them, heading deeper into the jungle. “Follow me, I know a cave not far from here we can take shelter in for the rest of the day.”

*

The Earth tribe dozed in the darkness, their sleeping chamber held deep beneath the surface of the cavern they called home, the secret underground city of Korgot. Maugna the Agori was given the duty of watchman, wandering the empty streets of the city during the daytime, listening to the birds as the flew in from the enormous and bright sinkhole that connected the roof of the cavern to the jungle high above. The sunlight was the only thing he didn’t like about the daytime. Otherwise, the earth was quiet. The other Agori were still in the sleeping chambers. He could relax.

But today, something was different. Maugna was uneasy. He could feel the earth beneath him tense and uptight, as if it sensed something that did not belong; a presence not natural to Bota-Magna. An alien.

Seeing that the city was clear and all was well at midday, Maugna decided to meditate before the gates of the Vault of Knowledge. In ancient times the Earth Tribe saw history as a window into what was, and what was to be: by knowing what has happened, one can learn how things became the way they are, and how they may turn out to be. Though this art of foresight was lost, Maugna still appreciated it’s meaning: clarity was so much more than just seeing the future, it was seeing all of time as a whole, and knowing what was, what is, and what may be. As Maugna set his staff down, he could feel the earth holding its secrets deep in sequestered caverns, in the tiniest of vibrations felt long ago many miles away.

As he meditated, he remembered the robots, the two battling for dominance on the surface of Bara-Magna. He remembered the one dying, and the planet becoming engulfed with the new beings called “Matoran,” or so the scouts said. He remembered the impact of Bota-Magna against Bara-Magna, the unrivaled quake that rocked the entire city of Korgot and stirred almost all the Agori from their slumber.

So the “Matoran” creatures, or ones like them, had ventured into Bota-Magna a few weeks ago, but their trespasses were halted by the Vorox, who doubtlessly opposed them and their kind for the horrors inflicted upon their Bara-Magna brethren, or so Kabrua had told the scribes. For such a violent and bloodthirsty being, Kabrua seemed to have a certain respect for knowledge and history not found in many members of his species, and for this he and his tribe were welcome in the secret city of Korgot. His death was an unfortunate loss for the Vorox, and the tribe was left to fight for a dominant leader, until Sadruo, his mate, had risen to the top.

But now, Maugna could feel the unrest in the world above. The Vorox stirred, creeping through the brush, stalking their prey. And even now, two more of those “Matoran” beings fumbled through the jungle, aimless and–

Maugna’s eyes open with shock. No one, not even the Vorox, had ever been so stupid. But these idiotic and naive creatures approached a trap.

He sprang from the pedestal in front of the vault, and rushed towards the main guard tower. The others would need to be awakened to defend the city from the aliens.

*

Before they even set foot in the cavern, Tarduk felt something was off about it. Maybe it was the way a few Stalagmites were missing from the floor of the cavern, right in the middle, as if something had dug a track in the floor. Maybe it was the way the cavern seemed to remain the same depth and width all the way back as far as Tarduk could see. The way something about it felt artificial yet ancient.

Whatever it was, his matoran companions felt nothing of the sort. Maybe it was his centuries of wariness exploring caves and entering traps, or maybe it was nothing. These matoran were, after all, matoran of Earth, and if they didn’t detect anything wrong, perhaps there wasn’t?

“Onepu! Look at this!”

Then again, Tarduk hadn’t seen or met any Agori of earth in eons, far too long ago to remember. He had no idea what these creatures were like compared to Agori of Earth, and what kind of connection they had to their element. What he did know was that Matoran were a much younger race than Agori.

“Tarduk, are you coming?” Onepu asked, turning back to look at him.

Tarduk shook his head, banishing those absent thoughts. “Yes, I think I see something on the cavern wall up ahead.” He pointed.

Onepu followed with his eyes, and saw what he was pointing at. A strange white painting laid deeper in the cave. “Ah! Perhaps we’ll find some historical records from the Vorox? Or a painting of their brutish and vile deeds? Or perhaps some remnant from the Great Beings? Or-”

“It’s a beast.” Taipu said, walking closer to it.

“What?” Onepu said, following behind him to get a better look. “No daring Vorox slaying it or anything?”

“No, just a beast. I’m no archivist, but I’d wager it was big. A long body and neck too.” Taipu said, scanning the white chalk painting closely.

Tarduk followed them to get a better look. Despite not being able to see very well in the darker rear of the cavern, he could make out the outline of the creature clearly. “Well whoever painted this wasn’t a Vorox. I’ve seen the way they mark up trees and boulders out here. This is way too complex for those archaics. Whoever made this was an Agori.”

“Wait, there’s another one, deeper in the cave!” Onepu exclaimed, running further into the darkness.

“I see it too!” Taipu said, following behind.

Tarduk couldn’t see anything passed the first painting, and the two black matoran had vanished completely. “Hey guys?” 

“C’mon Tarduk, you’ve gotta see this one!” Onepu called, “It’s much more menacing. It’s standing on two legs, and it’s got a bunch of sharp teeth!”

“I can’t see much of anything, Matoran!” Tarduk said, nearly tripping as he followed his companions. “Where did you go?”

“Look Onepu, another one!”

“Oh my goodness, there’s a whole host of them, Tarduk!”

“Guys?”

“Oh wow, they’re all… falling down… a hole?”

“Guys!?”

Tarduk heard Taipu begin to say something, but it was lost under the sound of the earth rumbling and rocks crashing together. The floor of the cavern shifted, and Tarduk lost his footing. The Matoran yelped, and Onepu yelled something that sounded like “Cave in!” right before the floor disappeared beneath Tarduk.

*

Taipu woke up with a throbbing head. He sat up and saw his two companions lying around him. His mask was gone from his face, and had been thrown several feet to his right. The eyeholes of his Pakari stared back at him as he felt his strength slowly leaving. He scrambled to crawl over and retrieve it before being rendered comatose, and discovered what they had landed on.

“Are these…. bones?”

They seemed to be lying on a massive pile of ribs and femurs, skulls and spines. Moreover, they seemed to be stuck in a pit of some sort. The only light leaked in from above, a more open cavern. At its ceiling, Taipu could see the cracks through which they had fallen.

Taipu replaced his mask, and Onepu groaned.

“Get up old friend, I think we’ve found ourselves in a bit of a problem.” Taipu said, gently rocking his friend, who had landed flatly on his face.

Tarduk sat up with a pained hum. “Where are we? What happened?”

“In a pit.” Taipu said, once again scanning their surroundings for a way out. “We seem to have fallen in some sort of trap.”

“Yes.” Tarduk said, scratching his head. “Yes of course. Those markings in the cave weren’t history. They were to show that animals are meant to go in here and fall to their deaths, probably so the Vorox can eat them.”

Onepu rolled over. “Ugh. I’m lucky I’m tough skinned, or else one of these bones would have impaled me.”

Tarduk stood, and clambered over the bones to the side of the Pit. “We have to find a way out of this place.”

“Relax, my dear Agori explorer.” Onepu said, sitting up. “This is hardly our first cave-in. We’ll be out of here in no time at all.”

Horns blared in the cavern above the pit. Footsteps could be heard as well, and the bones in the pit began to rattle.

“What’s going on?” Taipu asked frantically.

“We’ll soon find out!” Onepu said. “Hold fast!”

From the top of the cavern, black and purple armored troops began to look down at the trio. They were armed with spears that look somewhat like drills, and carried large, circular shields. One of them was wearing a spiky-looking helmet and wielded a barbed broadsword.

“State your business here, intruders!” She shouted, pointing her sword at the trio.

“We’re explorers from the surface world,” Onepu shouted up to them. “We mean you no trouble, we wandered into this hole by accident!”

“By accident indeed,” the warrior shouted down, sheathing her sword. She turned to one of her troops. “Throw down the ropes and pull them up.”

The other warriors tossed three ropes into the pit, and the three explorers grabbed onto them as the warriors hauled them up.

Onepu brushed himself off as he stepped onto the ledge. “Whew, thanks, I thought we were done for.” He looked up, and one of the warriors shoved a blade an inch from his mask.

“On your knees, outsider.” The warrior spat. Onepu raised his hands and knelt down, and he could see all the warriors but the one wearing the spiked helmet, presumably the leader, were Agori. The leader paced before them, her cape billowing as she walked.

“So the outsiders have finally found our secluded city in the earth.” She said. “Having crossed treacherous Vorox controlled jungles. In a way, I’m almost impressed, outsider. I’m almost inclined to congratulate you. Almost.” She stopped pacing and leaned down to meet Onepu’s eyes. “I know that one is an Agori, but you are something else. The earth tells me, something artificial even. So what are you, trespasser?”

“My friend and I are Matoran.” Onepu said. “Denizens of another world entirely. The Matoran world. He is Taipu, and I am Onepu, former Captain of the Ussalry and right hand of Turaga Whenua.”

“Ah, a Matoran.” The warrior said, standing back up straight. “Daethius speaks of you and your kind. One of the Great Being’s many playthings they wound up in an attempt to try and fix this mess they made. Which I see you finally accomplished.” She crossed her arms. “Very well Matoran, my people strongly believe knowledge of equal value should always be shared for being’s mutual benefit, so I will tell you my name. I am Tera, Primary Glatorian of the Earth Tribe, Commander of the Korgot Guard, and Co-ruler of Korgot.”

“Earth tribe?” Tarduk said with surprise. “But everyone knows the Earth tribe vanished whe-”

One of the guards kicked him. “Silence, Bara-magnan! You will speak when the Commander asks it of you!”

“Restrain yourself sergeant.” Tera said, walking towards Tarduk. “If what Kabrua has told us about what these other Agori have done to the Vorox on their world, I’m sure Sadruo and her clan will be very curious about our visitors. Take the Agori to the prison and wait for her arrival.”

“Wait! you can’t do this!” Tarduk said as he was grabbed by the guards. “Please I’ll give you anything!”

Tera turned back to the Matoran. “And as for our other guests, I think it’s time someone found out what has really been going on while they were away. Spread the word! Open the Vault of Knowledge!”

*

Onepu and Taipu stood before an enormous vault, the likes of which put the doors within the Archives in Metru-Nui to shame. They watched as it turned, unlatching from its opening. Steam hissed as the pressure was released and balanced with the outside world, and slowly the door began to swing open to the right, revealing an enormous pitch-black tunnel lit only by a pair of distant torches on either side of its circular walls, several hundred meters in.

Taipu looked behind him. They had just been paraded through an enormous city, at least ten times the size of Onu-Koro. Earth tribe Agori from all over town had come to see the “strange outsiders,” and in exchange the two Matoran got to get a good glimpse of how these Agori lived. Lichen gardens dotted every building, and on the bottoms of most stones. Guard towers were every 500 meters or so, so Onepu could assume they had almost no crime. Even better, Taipu could see most buildings had ways into deeper tunnels below, and he immediately knew the city they were seeing was only a small portion of this place. Their visit was brief however, as it seemed the Agori wanted them to go inside this vault.

“Once inside, there is no escape, Matoran.” The guard behind them chuckled.

Tera stood behind them her arms crossed. “In this vault, one of two things will happen, Matoran.” She boomed. “You will cross the gates alive and find the knowledge you seek, or you will die. There is no other way.”

The guards pushed them with their lances, and they were ushered forward into the dark cavern. Once they were inside, the vault door began to close.

Onepu looked back at Tera. At the last second before she disappeared behind the door, she mouthed ‘good luck.’ The vault closed and latched behind them, leaving the pair in a darkened cavern. Luckily, being Onu-matoran, their eyes adjusted almost instantly.

“Well,” Taipu said. “This is pretty bad.”

“Don’t fret my dear companion.” Onepu said to him. “I have a feeling one way or another things will work out for us. Let’s continue through these ‘gates’ Tera spoke of.”

“Right.” Taipu said, following as Onepu began to walk towards the first torch down the hallway. After a moment, he asked his friend. “What do you think is in here?”

“I couldn’t fathom.” Onepu hummed. “Tera did say ‘he’ would want to see us, whatever that could mean. I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see.

They neared the torch, and as they did Onepu could see the cavern opened up into a chamber, at the opposite end of which stood a large metal door. Depicted on it was a warrior of some sort, his arms flexed to show his incredible strength and musculature. From the ceiling, in the middle of the room, a rope hung down and brushed against the floor.

“Well this is strange.” Onepu said. He walked over to the door, and pushed on it. “How do you wager we’re supposed to get this open?”

Taipu inspected the rope. “Perhaps we pull down on this?”

Taipu tugged, and gears could be heard tugging in the walls.

“The Test of Strength begins.” An ominous, booming voice echoes throughout the room.

Suddenly, with a loud metallic crash, the floor dropped out from under Taipu and most of the room. Below it, there was a huge trench with spikes. Taipu had managed to cling to the rope just before falling, and Onepu stood safely on a ledge by the door.

“Taipu hang on!” Onepu called.

“Not to worry!” The Onu-matoran said. “I weigh a lot less than a boulder. I’m going to try and swing to you!”

“Alright, be careful!”

Taipu began to swing his feet to gain momentum, and it wasn’t long before he was flying across the room like a pendulum.

“Almost got it…” he said, swinging away from Onepu, and then back. At the peak of his swing, he released the rope and fell onto the ledge, and almost reeled back into the spike trench had Onepu not caught him.

“Whew, careful friend!” Onepu said, pulling him away from the spikes. “You looked like a real Le-Matoran out there, swinging around like that!”

“Mata-Nui, am I glad to be back on solid ground.” Taipu said with a huff.

“Test of Strength: passed.” The echoing voice called. The door began to rise from the ground, allowing them to pass into the next tunnel. As they travelled, Onepu noticed something.

“This architecture…” he mused. “It looks so much like that of Metru-nui… only bigger.”

“Probably built for bigger beings?” Taipu replied. “Like the Glatorians?”

“Or something else…” Onepu said.

After another while they reached the second chamber, this gate embellished with the scene of a brave figure proudly sticking out his chest to a much larger foe.

“The Test of Courage begins.” The ominous voice boomed yet again.

A strange sound echoed from the ceiling, and Onepu looked up, and immediately was stricken with horror. He patted Taipu to get his attention, who whimpered when he saw the abomination above them.

A mass of red smoke and writhing tentacles with four glowing eyes stared down at them with a hiss-like cackle. “I am Phomema.” It said, its voice like the sound of granite scraping glass. “I feed on fear of lesser, puny creatures. Now, show me what you fear.”

Onepu trembled, but he took a deep breath. “I am Onepu, Captain of the Ussalry. I fear nothing!”

Phomema howled with laughter. “Perhaps, but your companion is not of the same mind!”

Onepu looked at Taipu, who curled into a ball and held his hands to his ears.

 Phomema fell to the floor, and immediately began to change. His tentacles disappeared, his glowing yellow eyes became two red ones, and he grew in height. The Kanohi Kraahkan emerged from the smoke, and almost instantly, the image of Makuta Teridax stood before the two Matoran. He laughed his deep evil laugh, and leaned in towards the Matoran. “Fear me!” He boomed.

 “Taipu, it’s just a trick! He can’t hurt you!” Onepu yelled, trying to help his friend.

 Makuta lifted his staff of shadows, and knocked Onepu away. He collided loudly against the cavern wall.

 “Your friend cannot save you, Taipu. And now, he will die because of you!” Makuta howled with laughter. “You will die in this cavern.”

 Onepu struggled to stand up. “Don’t- unf, listen to him, Taipu! He’s not real!”

 Makuta looked at Onepu with rage. “Silence!” He boomed.

 “I know you Taipu! You’re brave enough to know this isn’t real!”

 Taipu took a deep breath and stood. He looked into the eyes of the Makuta, and he puffed out his chest. “I may be just a digger, but I am an Onu-matoran!” He shouted. “And you don’t scare me anymore!”

 The makuta dissolved and screamed, the red smoke retreating to the ceiling with a loud hissing sound.

 “Test of Courage: passed.” The voice called out again as the door rose.

 “Onepu, are you okay?” Taipu said, rushing to his friend.

 “I’m alright Taipu. I’ve taken worse beatings. You on the other hand stood up to your worst fear! I’m amazed!”

 Taipu chuckled. “It was just an image. You yourself didn’t have any fears from the beginning!”

 Onepu shook his head. “I was bluffing.”

 They continued through the tunnels, and eventually reached a third, larger cavern. The only thing they could see was a small totem on the far side of the room, near the door. On the door was depicted a large crab-like creature; one of its claws was much larger than the other, and it had a rectangular body with ten long legs.

 “The Test of Power begins.” The voice echoed once more, signalling the beginning of their test.

 “I wonder what that totem says.” Onepu said, beginning to walk towards it. As he did, low, deep clicking sounds erupted from either side of the cavern.

 “Oh, what now…” Taipu pouted.

 A pair of red eyes glowed in the shadows. From them emerged two enormous crabs, just like those on the door. They blocked their path.

 “Manas!” Taipu said, running away in fear. One of the enormous creatures chased after him. Taipu was by no standards a fast runner, and the creature only barely kept up with him.

 Onepu observed the creature before him. It was huge and menacing looking, but it was mostly biological, like most beings and creatures from Spherus-magna. They weren’t Manas, but judging by their huge claws and dripping, hungry mouths, they were just as dangerous.

 The crab snapped at him, and he only just managed to get out the way in time. Alright think Onepu, he said to himself. The Test of Power. What is Power? Power is… knowledge!

 “Taipu!” Onepu yelled, dodging the creature’s claw yet again.

 “Help me!” Taipu yelled back, still being pursued by the other crab.

 “Taipu, I need you to read the totem!”

 Onepu watched as Taipu led his crab into a corner, and dove under its body to read the totem before it could turn around. “I can’t read it, it’s just a picture of a being under a crab!”

 Onepu’s head lit up. “Of course! Under their bodies, that’s their blindspot!”

 Onepu quickly dove under his crab, and instantly he felt the beast become confused. It turned around to wait for Onepu to come out its other end, to no avail. Taipu quickly caught on and hid under his crab.

 “Test of Power: passed.” The voice called for the last time. Hissing and clicking, the crabs retreated into the shadows, leaving the matoran unharmed.

 The door opened, but as it did, bright light beamed into the room, blinding Onepu and Taipu before their eyes could adjust. When they did, Onepu could see a singular being standing before them.

 *

 Tarduk fidgeted nervously in the cell. The Earth Agori had been hospitable enough to give him some food, which consisted of moist lichen bread and a white meat he could only speculate was crab. He dared not touch any of it.

 Footsteps approached his cell, and he rushed to meet his captor. Tera stood outside, her towering height darkening the entryway. “Our guests will be here shortly.” She said.

 “Please, Glatorian, don’t hand me over to those monsters!” Tarduk said, grasping at her cape through the bars.

 “Perhaps you should’ve thought of that before you let the others of your tribes commit genocide on the Vorox?” Tera said, crossing her arms. “To the Vorox, you’re the monster, Agori.”

 Tarduk’s head sank. His heart pounded with anxiety.

 Scraping sounds echoed through the chamber, and on the far wall, a group of green and tan Vorox emerged from a slide-like tunnel. They were led by a slender female.

 “They are here.” Tera said to Tarduk as they approached. “Sadruo, my ally, how has Bota-Magna been treating you after you killed your political competition? You look thin, can we get you some lichen?”

 “Enough talk, spike head!” Sadruo, the Vorox leader hissed. “Where are the Matoran filth?”

 “Matoran?” Tera blinked. “There are no Matoran here, I promise.”

 “Then why does their foul stench pervade the air?” Sadruo said, standing right in front of Tera, threateningly.

 Tera was not fazed. “You must be tracking this Agori, who’s been living with a Matoran companion.” Tera gestured to Tarduk, who shuddered in his cave. “We found him in one of our traps and thought he might be a thief.”

 Sadruo huffed. “I don’t want an Agori. I want to kill those aliens who invaded our home!”

 Tera shook her head. “I know, my friend. But you won’t find any here today, I’m sorry.”

 Sadruo’s eyes narrowed. “If I find out you’re lying, a cave-in in the sleeping chambers will be the least of your worries.”

 The Vorox left, and Tera unlocked Tarduk’s cell. “You can come out.”

 “Was that your plan? Bluff?” Tarduk asked.

 Tera nodded.

 “So… are you trying to protect the Matoran?”

 Again, Tera nodded. “The story of the Agori and Glatorian, especially we Glatorian of Earth, is coming to a close. We have lived for eons, and we don’t have much to say for it. These younger creatures though, these Matoran, they have a chance to become something greater. And there is great power within them, though they might never truly realize it.”

 Tarduk blinked. “So you’re saying these Matoran will become better than us?”

 Tera looked at him. “Become? Silly Bara-Magnan can’t even see his own travelling companions for what they really are. They’re not destined to become better than us. They already are.”

 Tarduk looked towards the vault where his friends had gone hours ago. But for how much longer? He mused.

 *

 “Hmm, this piece goes like this hmm, yes, very good. And then this- no no no, start over. Alright, and then here we have- and then this one, hmm yes…”

 Onepu cleared his throat. “Umm… Hello?”

 “And then right here, no there- or was it there? Not sure, I’ll come back to it, hmm hmhmmm, very good here… yes yes, perfect….”

 “Hello!” Onepu said again, his tone sharper.

 The being continued to dance around as lights emanated from a central cone-like structure in the middle of the room like a strobe, displaying holographic images too quickly to follow. Still, the being manipulated them and moved about in an organized fashion, humming and speaking to himself.

 “Hello!!” Onepu finally shouted.

 The being stopped dead in his tracks and looked at the two matoran, his eyes wide with shock. He blinked, momentarily. “Matoran? In my workshop? How odd.”

 “Can we ask who you are?” Taipu asked.

 For a moment the being went back to his tasks. “You can ask your Great-Being master all the questions you like but you can’t thi- wait.” He stopped again and stared narrow eyed at the Matoran. “You can think?”

 Onepu and Taipu looked at one another. “Yes?”

 The Great Being paused. “Well who’s idea of a practical joke was that?”

 The Matoran said nothing, too baffled to respond.

 “Well it doesn’t matter. If you must know who I am, I’m Daethius. The important question is who you are, and why you’ve been assigned to my service.” The Great Being picked up a tablet-like device, which scanned the two matoran with a red laser. “Onu-Matoran 61174 deisgnation ‘Onepu’ and Onu-Matoran 73260 designation ‘Taipu,’ Matoran assigned to Metru-Nui archives and drilling team respectively, last known assignment, restoring Spherus-Magna under the service of Mata-Nui. Status: completed, 4,711 years behind schedule, but we all make mistakes, especially considering you’re sentient- Hmm how odd. No record of you being assigned to me.”

 “We came here to find you, Great Being!” Taipu said with some enthusiasm. “To discover your secrets!”

 Daethius laughed. “Sentient Matoran, how ridiculous! I only wish I knew who did this to you so I could give him a right slap on the head!”

 Onepu huffed. He wasn’t catching the same enthusiasm Taipu had about meeting a great being. He was mainly flooded with more questions. “Did what to us?”

 Daethius scratched his head. “Hmm, perhaps I should dissect you, see what they did to make you think like this. Of course, I’m not authorized to tamper with Matoran, but what can they do, kill me?” Daethius chuckled.

 “Hey!” Onepu yelled loudly. “Now I understand you’re not used to us matoran having our own free thoughts, but listen! I came here to find you and see why you left!”

 Daethius blinked. “Left? Who left?”

 “Why the Great Beings left Bara-Magna!”

 After a brief pause, Daethius pulled up a hologram. It was Spherus-Magna, a globe of it. On the side facing them, Onepu could clearly see the many villages or the Agori, and the two ocean and jungle moons in their rightful spots. “We never left, Matoran.” Daethius spun the globe, and on the opposite side of the planet, a huge sprawling city sat on the equator.

 Onepu blinked. He had no response.

 “I’ll put it plainly Matoran, I don’t appreciate being screamed at by some obsolete worker droid who’s gotten his brain scrambled.” Daethius said, tapping his tablet and making the Spherus-Magna hologram disappear. Walls of text began to shine through the central projector. “I’m giving the order. You, as well as all the other beings assigned to Mata-Nui are to report to Nilkuu City at these coordinates. Someone else will figure out what to do with you.”

 Daethius tossed a small device that displayed the hologram of Spherus-Magna at Onepu’s feet. Onepu’s fist clenched. “So that’s it then?” Onepu looked up at the Great Being, who stood occupied with his tasks. The display cone again flashed like a strobe, only irritating Onepu more. “You make us, you get us to do the job you didn’t want to, and then you dismiss us like this?”

 “Be gone, Matoran!” Daethius said firmly. The Great Being didn’t even look up from his task. “I will not tell you again.”

 “Onepu, we should go,” Taipu grabbed his friend’s shoulder. “We found what we were looking for, let’s get out of here.”

 Onepu unclenched his fist. He picked up the hologram device and stormed out of the room. “Some Great Being.”

 Taipu followed him out, and the pair continued through the room and out the door.

 “I don’t suppose you have any ideas of how to get out of here do you?” Taipu asked.

 Onepu didn’t respond.

 “I guess we could try tapping on the Vault door, see if Tera will let us go?” Taipu offered. “Got anything else?”

 Still Onepu said nothing and continued walking.

 “Onepu?”

 The purple Onu-Matoran stopped. He looked at the device in his hand. “I can’t believe this.” He said softly.

 Taipu blinked, unsure of what to say. “The Great Beings?”

 Onepu turned to look at his friend. “All of it, Taipu. We’re nothing but slaves to them. He didn’t even treat us like real beings. He looked at us like… things, Taipu. Like toys….”

 The moment was broken when the earth above them trembled and rumbled loudly. The Matoran were rocked violently, and lost their balance.

 “Another Cave-in?” Taipu shouted over the roar of earth moving.

 “No, this is something else!” Onepu shouted back. “I think… I think the cavalry’s coming!”

 Sure enough, from the roof of the cavern, Toa Onua burst through the rocks, sending a spray of earth throughout the room. He landed on the floor with a booming crash. As he regained his balance, Onepu could see Onua’s adaptive armor had reshaped itself to fit the Bota-Magna environment.

 “Haha, there you two are!” He bellowed loudly. “You guys alright?”

 “Onua!” Onepu exclaimed. “Mata-Nui, am I glad to see you!”

 “You two are an awful long way from Bara-Magna. I hope you found what you’re looking for, because we can’t stay here much longer!”

 With one arm, Onua lifted the two Matoran up and jumped up into the roof of the cavern, tunneling back upwards through the earth.

 “Onua, there’s something we should tell you, it’s very important!” Onepu shouted over the roar of earth.

 “And what’s that, little one?” Onua shouted back.

 Onepu held out the hologram so Onua could see it. “We’ve completed Toa Orde’s mission! We found the Great Beings!”

 Epilogue

“That is one incredible story, Onepu.” Tahu said, his fingers laced as he listened to the end of the Matoran’s tale. He and the rest of the Toa Nuva had been alerted of the Matoran’s disappearance when they left New Atero, and with the help of Kopaka’s Akaku Nuva, they were able to locate the pair. After Onua brought them back, Tahu sat them down on some fallen logs, and had them reveal their incredible story. “And you’re sure of what you heard from this Daethius?”

 “Yes, Toa. I’m sure of it.” Onepu said. “And Taipu can vouch for me.”

 His black and tan companion nodded.

 “This news, brother.” Gali said, leaning against a nearby tree. “It troubles me.”

 “As I am sure it will trouble all who hear it sister.” Kopaka, standing next to her, replied.

 “Perhaps it would be wisest to keep this information a secret until we can commune with the Turaga.” Onua offered. “After all, they control what is left of our society. They need to hear this first, decide what to do about this.”

 Tahu nodded. “Pohatu has already travelled back to New Atero to summon the Turaga and the Agori leaders.” The Toa of Fire stood and gazed off at the setting sun, watching as it fell towards where their destination lie. “They will be there to hear of this news when we return. Lewa scouts ahead for Vorox. Toa, let us be underway.”

-Fin-

Ending remarks: 

I would like to give a special shoutout to Tumblr user Ghost-mantis for inspiring me to write this fic! Their contributions to the Bionicle Fandom are innumerable, and I always love to see their headcanons and passing thoughts about G1 and life for the beings we all know and love after it. In fact, their prompt for a writing contest is what inspired me to write this, as well as several more fics I have planned to continue this story! So if you haven’t already, give them a follow!

I’d also like to thank tumblr users Binkybonkles and Justanothertoaofair for letting me run ideas and concepts by them and get their opinions on how I should spin this, as well as the overarching storyline I’m cooking. Show them some love too!