Bionicle: The Return - Chapter 14: Tajun in Ruins

For months now, the people of Spherus Magna have been preparing for war. Word of the Unknown and her incredible strength spread far and wide, and when news of her growing army reached them they began sending troops to all of the villages near that area. One of which was the water capitol, Tajun.

Tajun has already been attacked before. Before the Battle of the Titans, a Skrall Leader named Tuma led an army of Skrall and Bone Hunters against this magnificent city. Now, with the threat of a new threat challenging this rebuilt, grander city, the people have a sense of sorrow and disappointment.

Tarix: What is the point of placing troops here? We’re evacuating anyway.

Ackar: We don’t know what the enemy is up to. They may very well be on their way over here. If they are, we need to buy the villagers as much time as possible.

Tarix: They can fight.

Kiina: But they’ve never fought anything like this. You of all should know this.

Tarix: Neither have any of the New Guardians.

Ackar: But they’ve trained.

Ackar took hold of both of Tarix’s shoulders.

Ackar: I know you care for Glacia. But our first priority is the villagers.

Tarix sighed, and nodded. Ackar patted him on the shoulder, than looked out of the tower to the bordering walls surrounding the village. He then heard someone step into the room.

Gali: Everyone’s ready. We’ve begun taking shifts.

Ackar: Thank you, Gali.

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Teridax and the Unknown stared at Tajun from miles away as Tyrant explained the details about the city.

Tyrant: The city is surrounded by fifty foot thick stone walls. And they have troops setting up along the perimeter. On the western side of the city, they’re evacuating both Matoran and Agori, as well as a few Glatorian and Toa.

Teridax: But not enough to protect them.

Tyrant: Barely. We’ll have to attack the middle of the line if we want to really cause an affect.

Teridax: Very good. Do it.

Teridax stroked his chin. What were they going to do about the walls?

Teridax: Unknown, you said your father donned to you the ability to control matter, yes?

Unknown: That is correct.

Teridax looked at her.

Teridax: To what scale?

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Jonn looked at the massive number of troops before them.

Guanka: That’s a lot of enemies.

Jonn: Nothing we can’t handle. Remember what Tahu used this armor to do.

Shycle: I would love to share your optimism, but I don’t think the armor will act on its own again, now that the pieces are separated.

Jonn sighed and nodded.

Jonn: It was a good idea.

Bolder: Practice makes perfect. Of course, we’ve had no Rahkshi to practice with, and the only Rahkshi around happens to be down there.

Tayr: Not necessarily. You might want to get down.

Everyone laid on the ground. Keeping quiet, they heard some croaky growls and tiny shrieks of a patrolling Rahkshi squad. Jonn looked at Bolder and nodded. Touching the ground, Bolder used his powers to trap the Rahkshi’s feet in stone.

But then one of the Rahkshi shrieked an ear piercing scream. Immediately, a scream sounded from the camp, and a portion of the army began moving in their direction.

Shycle: Nice one, boys.

She jumped up and fired a beam of ice at the Rahkshi, only for it to evaporate.

Jonn: Looks like we’ve got a Rahkshi of heat.

Bolder and Clarrik: Got it.

The two of them summoned earth and stone, and threw it at the Rahkshi. However, a force field appeared, decimating the projectiles.

Guanka: That’s a new one.

Jonn: Teridax could’ve experimented with a Hau. We better get out of here.

The Rahkshi then broke free of their stone bonds and surrounded the Toa.

Shycle: Don’t think they want us to leave.

Suddenly, fire jetted over the Rahkshi, burning the Kraata inside.

Tahu: Good work. Now you’ve got their attention.

Jonn: Sorry, Tahu. We just need to figure out how to activate the armor.

Tahu: So, they handed down my Golden Armor, huh. Well, you don’t need Rahkshi to learn how to control it. Now let’s get out of here, before the rest of them show up.

They ran away from the army, and came upon a group of Toa and Glatorian.

Berix: Well, hello.

Shycle: Shut up, Berix.

Bolder: Oooh, Shycle’s got a… ooff.

Shycle drew her elbow away from Bolder’s gut.

Shycle: You too.

Tahu: Enough. We need to get out of here. Come on.

They ran, and Tayr spun around and used his air powers to stir up the sand, leaving traces of their existence nonexistent. After running for twenty minutes, Tahu said it was safe to stop.

Tahu: That was very foolish of you.

Jonn: Well, sorry, but we don’t quite know how this stuff works.

Tahu: That is no reason to throw away your life like that.

Jonn stared defiantly at Tahu. Tahu then sighed.

Tahu: You’re new to fighting in war. Until you…

Jonn: New to war? Who held off the Rahi surrounding Lewa-Mata while you Toa were gone searching for a legendary relic? Who held off the Rahi, Skakdi and all other stuff that Makuta threw at us, while the Toa left searching for a way to defeat Makuta? Who had to get everyone to shelter, as our universe, our home, collapsed around us? You think I’m new to war? If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that war is rash, and comes at a cost.

Tahu: Only if you make it so, Jonn of the Shadow Faction.

Everyone else stared at Jonn in surprise. Jonn looked at Tahu with a sad smile on his face.

Jonn: How’d you know?

Tahu: Only one Matoran did all that you did.

Jonn: Well, the Shadow Faction was not my team. At least, not at first. That was the army we were fighting.

Tahu: That still doesn’t permit the action you took against them.

Jonn laughed out loud.

Jonn: Where’d you get your information from? Teridax? We fought and killed all that assaulted our walls, loosing thousands. Then we made the assault. We drove them to the ground. Not one survived. At least, none that were there. We had minimum casualties. But what thanks do we get for defeating those murderers? Rebuke. Shunned from our home. So we left, and began searching for whoever was working for Teridax, hunting them down. Then came the Rahkshi.

Jonn punched the ground.

Jonn: We lost 37501 of our good men, out of 45493. The battles lasted till we reached Metru Nui. The Rahkshi then retreated, and we thought we would have time to recover. But then the tremors. As Teridax and Mata Nui battled, many structures began to collapse. We had to begin evacuation, taking everyone to the sturdier parts of Teridax. We lost about 1500 of our men from the quakes alone. About 25% of the neighboring Matoran and Toa were lost as well. Then, one more quake happened when Aqua Magna hit Teridax. All the systems deactivated, including the artificial gravity. We were scrambling for a footing as our universe collapsed. After the collapse, only 3521 of us survived. Only a shadow of what was left. So, we renewed the name Shadow Faction. Members of the original Shadow Faction came, seeking judgment and redemption from their past crimes. So we tried them, imprisoned them, and after ten years enlisted them to us. We left the corpse of our universe as everyone began to throw the Rahkshi corpses into the depths, and the Bohrok began destroying the circuitry, and all the mechanics of the machine, leaving only the shell. Our home gone, we left to the jungles, only to be assaulted by creatures known as Vorox, as well as many creatures neither we nor the Agori knew about. In the end, only ten percent of us were left. So we came back here, and placed ourselves as part of society. Some of us changed our names, some our masks. Originally, I had a Kanohi Aki, Mask of Valor. But when I returned, I found a Mask Maker, and paid him to make me a Kanohi Mahiki, Mask of Illusion. Ha, fitting, isn’t it? Turaga Matau used his Mahiki when he was a Toa to disguise himself as whatever he chose. I used it to hide my true identity. Anyway, I then joined a Kolhii team, and began teaching the Agori how to play. No one ever suspected me.

Tahu: That’s why you’ve got a scythe and a shield. You played goalie.

Jonn: That’s right. After that, I had a normal life. Till now.

Berix: Now you’ve become a Toa, fighting alongside the heroes of old.

Jonn: Yes.

Shycle leaned back.

Shycle: So that’s why you decided a live testing. To the point.

Jonn: If we don’t do something now, we may be too late.

Tahu: Then let me teach you. I know how this armor works, I can train you to control it.

Clarrik: But even you couldn’t control it.

Tahu: Well, I couldn’t control where the power went. I could, however, control when to unleash it. And since each of you has a piece of the set, each of you has a sixth of the power. It will be easier to control for you.

Female: Tahu!

Everyone looked to see two Glatorian and a Toa running towards them. It was a Glatorian, Chila, who had called out.

Chila: Tahu, the enemy’s attacking.

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Teridax looked out as his army of Rahkshi and Vahki moved in towards the city. As soon as they passed over the hill, he could hear the trumpets sounding the alarm. Thirty seconds later, strange objects came at them and began hammering at them, some of them even exploding. As he watched, the Unknown stepped in front of him and lifted her arm. An incoming projectile slowed down, and floated in front of her hand.

Unknown: This is some sort of fruit.

Teridax: Really? Let me see it.

The Unknown handed the strange fruit to Teridax. It was rock hard, but at the same time light and fragile. Teridax stared at it, amazed at its texture. He then remembered something.

Teridax: This is the same thing the Skrall had.

Unknown: It must have some sort of chemical that, when the fruit’s ripe, will explode.

Teridax held the fruit before him for a little longer. Then he punched it with his fist. Sure enough, it exploded in his face, though it didn’t even faze him. All the Rahkshi guarding them looked at him to make sure he was okay, then faced back towards Tajun.

Unknown: So what’s next?

Teridax: Once our forces reach the wall, you will tear it down. Then, as the Matoran and Agori begin fleeing and panicking, Tyrant will take his army of Skrall and breach right in the middle. The Toa will be surrounded, and there will be enough survivors to warn everyone else what we can do, putting them into chaotic fear.

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Ackar and his fellow companions were firing all that they got. But they were almost out of Thornax fruit.

Ackar: Toa, it’s your turn.

The Glatorian stepped back, readying their weapons. Meanwhile, the Toa brought out their launchers and began firing. Yet still the enemy came.

Tarix: We’re not having any effect on them.

Ackar: Then it’s time for stage 3. Everyone, use your elemental power to the best of your abilities. Let’s go!

Toa and Glatorian summoned up their power. Earth, stone, and fire burst up from the ground. Water formed mucks. Wind blew the enemy around. More and more traps were set, making the enemies progress weaker, but no slower. Soon, Vahki and Rahkshi reached the wall. But then they stopped.

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Tahu and the others stared over the hill behind the two titanic figures. Shycle had made a set of binoculars, one for each, out of ice. But what they saw made no sense.

Jonn: Why’d they stop? They’re not even blocking a shot.

Tahu: I don’t know. There’s enough Rahkshi there to breach a hole through the wall.

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Teridax: Ready?

Unknown: See you there.

The Unknown then ran forward, charging through the army before her as they scrambled out of her way. In a matter of minutes, she too was before the wall. By then, the Toa and Glatorian had ceased fire, believing that they wished to discuss terms of surrender. Though with no intentions of conceding, they would listen to them anyway.

They had no idea how wrong they were.

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Ackar: WHAT DO YOU WANT, UKNOWN?

Unknown: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Ackar: I DON’T KNOW. WE’VE NEVER REALLY GOTTEN TO TALK.

Unknown: WELL, TALKS OVER.

Suddenly, before their very eyes, the wall began to disintegrate. The front turned to sand, and the erosion proceeded towards them.

Ackar: RETREAT! RETREAT!

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Tahu: What in Mata Nui’s name is going on there?

Jonn looked carefully. Suddenly he knew.

Jonn: Bolder, concentrate on that wall. Try to hold it together.

Bolder: Yes, sir!

Tahu: Jonn?

Jonn: The Unknown is disintegrating the wall. We need to stop her.

Bolder: I can’t hold it. She’s too powerful. Even if I was next to it, I can’t do this. She’s literally breaking it down.

Jonn: Then it’s time to make a distraction.

Tahu: Not so fast. What are you thinking?

Jonn: How about an explosion, or a series of explosions, right in the middle of the army?

Tahu: You plan on doing that?

Jonn: Yes, sir.

Tahu: Alright, you and your team go do that. I’ll deal with Teridax.

Golden Toa: Right away.

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Unknown: Is there a Voyeyahk here?

Voyeyahk: Here.

Unknown: Someone’s resisting my power. Whoever it is will delay our plan by five minutes. We can’t waste a second. Tell some of your kind to help me.

The Voyeyahk then shrieked, and ten Rahkshi stepped forward. They then began swinging their weapon, and bit by bit pieces of the wall exploded at the point of contact.

Akingi: Unknown, can you hear me.

Unknown: Yes, I can.

Akingi: What’s going on over there?

Unknown: Someone’s resisting me. I asked the Rahkshi to help.

Akingi: And the defenders?

Unknown: Retreated off the walls.

Akingi: Careful. I sense an army ahead of you. They must be on the other side of the wall.

Unknown: Waiting for me? That’ll be a brilliant welcome party. And their biggest mistake.

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Tarix: Everyone, aim at the wall!

Half of the defenders had remained behind. Tarix volunteered to take charge as Ackar helped evacuate the villagers. Glacia, Tarix’s girlfriend, stood by his side.

Tarix: Ready!

A hole appeared on the wall, eroding away. Everyone aimed at the wall. Then the erosion stopped.

Tarix: READY!

Suddenly, the wall exploded inward, and a swarm of Rahkshi and Vahki swept in.

Tarix: FIRE!

Far away, an explosion could be heared in unison with the firing projectiles.

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Bolder: Too late! They’ve broken through.

Jonn: Well, it was worth a try.

Shycle: And it worked. At least, partially. Over half of the enemy is already swarming that spot.

Jonn: Well, no one there. I’m going to help Tahu.

Shycle: No, Tahu told us before we split off that we are to go to Tajun.

Jonn: I know. I’m ordering you to obey his orders. But if Teridax is as powerful as he once was, he’ll need all the help he can get.

Shycle stared at him for a second. Suddenly, she froze Jonn in a giant piece of ice.

Clarrik: What’re you doing?

Tayr: Doing what Tahu said: getting everyone to Tajun.

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Tahu and his team were almost half way up the hill to Teridax.

Tahu: I’ll attack first.

Everyone else nodded. As soon as they reached the top, Teridax turned and looked at them. Tahu jumped at him, only to pass through the illusion. Teridax then appeared next to Tahu, and picked him up.

Teridax: Good job, Shakerahk. Now, go cause some chaos over there.

A Rahkshi bowed down, then ran towards the city. Meanwhile, Tahu’s team attempted to attack Teridax, only to be blocked off by his body guards.

Teridax: Well, guess it’s just you and me.

Akingi: You know, I’m starting to feel quite left out.

Teridax: Shut up.

Tahu: I… *cough*… I didn’t say… anything.

Teridax realized that Akingi had only spoken to him.

Akingi: Don’t worry, I know I’m the secret weapon. But I’m getting impatient. When do you plan on letting me free?

Teridax: Did you really think that you and your friends could beat me, Tahu?

Tahu: We… we hoped we could buy some time.

Teridax: Oh, I see. You wanted to help the villagers escape. Well then…

The Rahkshi pinned down Tahu’s team, and faced them towards the village.

Teridax: Be glad I decided to let you live… for now. You get to see how your work has not paid off. You see, the Skrall should be attacking about… now.

Suddenly, a swarm of blackness rose from the sand next to the fleeing villagers. Skrall who had proceeded underground, with the help of the Nui-Jaga they had caught.

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The Unknown looked over the borderline. The Toa and Glatorian had retreated, leaving behind their fallen companions. The Rahkshi and Vahki swarmed through the widening hole, breaking down the wall more and more.

As the Unknown looked around, she looked at all her victims. Every single one, frozen in stone. Her first victim, a Toa of Water, whose elemental power was frozen with her, creating a stone structure sticking over the area. The Glatorian of Fire, who had lost his arm. And the Skrall warriors who stood over their fallen brethren.

But one statue caught her eye. Two Glatorian were on the ground. A male, who had a staff belonging to a Rahkshi stabbed into his abdomen. And a female, holding his head in her arms as he lay across her lap. As she looked, a vision of a long past memory came to mind. Two lovers, a male, dying of radiation poisoning, and his wife, holding him in the same way.

Husband: Maryly. Please, go. You’ll die.

Wife: No. I’m not leaving you.

Trisa: Mam, you can’t stay here. Please, we must go.

Wife: No. I thank you for your offer, but I’m not leaving his side. Even if it means death.

Trisa: You’d rather die by this man then survive?

Wife: I’d rather die than leave my place by the ones I care about.

The vision passed, and the Unknown looked down at the two. What was happening when she killed them? Think, think. What were they saying?

She suddenly remembered.

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Glacia: Tarix!

Tarix: It’s okay! It doesn’t hurt.

Glacia: Doesn’t hurt? The spears gone all the way through you.

Tarix: And damaged my nervous system. I’m completely numb below my chest.

Glacia stroked Tarix’s forehead. Tarix then coughed, and looked into her eyes.

Tarix: Glacia, tell me what we’re going to do.

Glacia rocked back and forth, tears streaming down her eyes.

Glacia: We… we’re going to get married. Then we’re moving up north, to a jungle, and make a cabin by a lake.

Tarix: Yes, that’s it. Then what?

Glacia: We… we’re going to open a hotel. A vacation spot for everyone to come enjoy. And we’re going to raise a family.

Tarix: Yes. A… *cough*… A boy and a girl, right?

Glacia: That’s right. And a pet. You’ve always wanted a pet.

Tarix: Yes, but no bugs. Click, Mata Nui’s Scarabax was cute, but I still don’t want one as a pet.

Glacia: No bugs. Okay. How about a dog?

Tarix: That’s good. Agh!

Glacia: Easy, easy.

Tarix stared at her. Her eyes were still streaming, and her lips trembling.

Tarix: Glacia…

Glacia: Yes, Tarix?

Tarix: Tell me… tell me one more time. Say you love me.

Glacia looked down for a second, then back at Tarix.

Glacia: I love…

Then everything became stone silent.

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The Unknown stared at the two of them for a little longer. The longer she is on this planet, the more she’s realizing that there is not much difference. She looked at the surrounding area. The corpses, the ruins. And now she wonders, what is she fighting for?