Bionicle: The Return - Chapter 10: Ignika Revealed

It has been days since Gali and her team of Toa and Glatorian went after the Mask of Life, and the people were beginning to worry. Defenses were being placed all over, and the Matoran and Agori were busy preparing an Under City in case they needed to go into shelter.

Vakama wasn’t busy. Instead, he was sitting in front of the altar, wondering what is going to happen next. Suddenly, a clicking sound was heard from the right, next to Mata Nui’s sword. When Vakama looked, he saw a Vohtarak, a red Visorak.

Vakama: Hello friend.

The Visorak responded by a series of clicking sounds, speaking in the Visorak language. Visorak can easily understand the Language of the Alliance, as it has become known as, but they cannot speak it. Same vice versa, yet even so Vakama has taken the time to learn their language since he met his unusual friend.

Vohtarak: Vakama sad?

Vakama: Yes. And worried. I’m afraid that the Ignika has been stolen.

Vohtarak shook his body like crazy.

Vohtarak: Ignika gone!? To wear!?

Vakama: The West. A team of Toa and Glatorian have already gone, but it will be a while till they get back.

Vohtarak: We help?

Vakama stared at Vohtarak with curiosity.

Vakama: “We”? “Help”?

Vohtarak: You it was as Toa Metru, freed us from Makuta. We owe our lives. You need, we help.

Vakama: What makes you think the others would go along with this?

Vohtarak: We protecting village from dangerous Rahi since creation.

Suddenly, five more Visorak, Boggarak, Keelerak, Suukorak, Roporak, and Oohnorak climbed in through the front entrance.

Keelerak: You sure about this, Vohtarak? Soon as Toa, or anyone, walk in they think we attacking Vakama.

Vohtarak: Chance we must take. Toa need help.

Boggarak: Dangerous, both friend and foe.

Vohtarak: This meeting succeed, friends dangerous no longer. Vakama speak for us.

Vakama: You want me to speak with the council?

Vohtarak: We have no home. No environment good for us. Matoran creates environment for Rahi. Create environment for us, we both benefit.

Vakama stroked his chin.

Vakama: They will not take this lightly.

Vohtarak: Meet me at gate with guards. Take me to council. Translate, please.

Vakama: I will speak to the council about this proposal. I will let you know their say tomorrow.

Vohtarak: Thanks.

Oohnorak: Figure come. Toa or Glatorian.

Vohtarak: Tomorrow, Vakama.

The Visorak then left, running out the door, and to the back. Eventually, a Toa of Water called Helryx came up.

Vakama: How’s the first Toa of Water?

Helryx: I thought I saw something climb in like a spider.

Vakama: Indeed. But no need to worry. I’ll talk about it at the council.

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Takanuva: Alright, Nokama. I’m on my way.

As soon as Vakama came to the council hall, he asked Nokama to contact the council members that could be reached. Using the Windows of Sight, or TVs in our world, Nokama contacted the council outside of the city.

Nokama: Alright. Now hurry. Vakama says it’s important.

Takanuva: Understood.

The connection was then cut, and Takanuva began to collect his gear when he heard a knock on the door. He then opened it… and looked straight into the eyes of Ignika.

Ignika: Takanuva.

Takanuva then pulled out his sword.

Takanuva: So you’re the theif!

Ignika: How can you steel oneself? Isn’t that called running away?

Takanuva: You’re… you’re Ignika?

Ignika: Yes. Now can you point that thing away? I don’t have the time to make another body.

Takanuva: Sorry.

They looked at each other for a second, measuring each other up.

Takanuva: You’ve grown.

Ignika: You’ve shrunk.

Both: Hahaha.

They clapped each other on the back with one big hug.

Takanuva: Now why is it we’re behaving like two close, long lost friends?

Ignika: Because we’re alike in more than one way.

Takanuva then walked over to the sink and pulled out two cups made from the wood of a Thornax tree.

Ignika: I’ve come to ask you something.

Takanuva handed him a cup.

Takanuva: And what may that be?

Ignika took a sip of water.

Ignika: How long have you known that Teridax is alive?

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Akingi: Ignika is getting stronger and closer to discovering us. How are the Rahkshi coming?

Teridax: We’ve got a whole army. Already half of them have been restored, including many of the Golden Rahkshi that I sent onto Bara Magna.

Akingi: The fall of the Titans. My how that rolls off the tongue.

Teridax: It was the fall of A Titan. Mata Nui survived.

Akingi: And fell, sacrificing himself to give life and hope to the planet.

Unknown walked in to the chamber that they were in.

Unknown: What is this place?

Teridax: It’s the command central, the maintenance room of maintenance rooms. Here, the Makuta could see everything. And there…

Teridax points to this giant sphere suspended in the air.

Teridax: There is the brain of the universe.

Unknown: It’s so huge.

Akingi: It needed to be, in order to control this monstrous creation.

Unknown: How could you control it?

Teridax: The mind and brain are two things. The mind contains the knowledge, training and memories of the person. Meanwhile, the brain contains the controls. Whatever brain I possessed, my mind could control it, because my mind remained the same. Yes, I needed to adjust myself to each body I possessed, but I got used to it.

Unknown: You must’ve trained hard.

Teridax: Unknown to the Toa and my fellow Makuta, I trained with the ability of changing bodies for years, using Rahi as test subjects. Ground Rahi, flying Rahi, water Rahi, any Rahi I would practice with. Later, many Matoran fell into an… accident. They would… lose control of their vehicles, and drive straight into whatever I desired.

Unknown: Indeed. Then you got much practice.

Teridax: Yes. And soon, I used my skills to attempt to poses my leader’s body. But he was stronger than I. Yet still, a part of me did get in. A part of me that was my goal, my will, my purpose only: to conquer the universe, and rule the Matoran. Of course, that small part of me became his as well, and he began to organize a rebellion against Mata Nui. But I soon took over.

Unknown: Very interesting.

Tyrant then walked in.

Tyrant: It is confirmed that all the Vahki have been reactivated. Now our progress to recover the Rahkshi is at full capacity.

Teridax: Send the revived Rahkshi to that little town you wiped out. I need to get working on building up my kingdom.

Unknown: What?!?

Teridax: Easy. I have no intention of ruling them. They will be destroyed. But my sons and I will rule this world. And we will begin our search for the Great Beings.

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Takanuva: You mean the dreams?

Ignika: Yes. The dreams.

Takanuva: For a few months now. Nokama said she would look into them. How’d you know about it?

Ignika: Nokama discussed it with Vakama at the Temple.

Takanuva: I see. But, alive? Teridax? That’s impossible!

Ignika: You thought so when you defeated him on the island Mata Nui. And the Barraki thought so when they destroyed the Maxilos that he was possessing. How can you be sure he isn’t dead now?

Takanuva sat there, his cup near the spilling point.

Takanuva: Recently, the dreams have become more vivid. He isn’t wearing the Mask of Shadows.

Ignika: I know. I have not sensed this mask before, but it is indeed evident that it is as powerful as me. Do you remember what it looks like?

Takanuva: No. I see it in my dreams, but when I wake up I forget what it looks like completely.

Male: It’s in the shape of a skull.

Takanuva and Ignika looked at the entrance to see two figures at the entrance.

Takanuva: The Shadowed One.

Ignika: Angonce.