Descent Into Sky

**Descent Into Sky** is a short story written by Glace. It explains Improbus’ traumatic backstory before the events of The Next Chapter.

## Prologue

*Do you ever wonder about the Muaka that hunts Matoran? A common story, whether it is true that a Muaka would prowl upon a Matoran by its own will. The premise of the tale, should you not have heard it, goes like this:*
A Muaka has taken a liking to killing Matoran. The villagers are panicked about this, and send their Toa hero out to capture it. But a Muaka cannot be captured or contained, and when it viciously fights back, the Toa kills it. Usually the theme is something regarding how dark deeds are sometimes necessary in the spur of the moment, with emphasis on the poor, poor Toa who killed the Muaka and how he feels about it. Other times the tale is told built around the theme of how quickly good intentions degrade in the face of danger and evil. There are at least half a dozen morals to get from that story.

I myself am interested in the Muaka. Why does the beast start to kill?

## Chapter 1

Xendaris tied the knot tight, securing the side canoe to the main body of the raft. This would give it more buoyancy, and prepare the boat for what could be a long journey across a treacherous sea of protodermis. The Ce-Toa glanced up at the hunched figure of Huringa, her best friend, who stood watch while Xendaris worked. Her sister still wore that shell on a string around her neck. Xendaris held its other half, hanging from her own neck, and thought about the day they’d met.

*She studied the shell intently; its color, its texture, the numerous ridges on its back and the contrasted smoothness on the inside. Xendaris wondered if she could find the other half of the shell still lying on the beach, or if the tide had taken it out to the sea, where she couldn’t search for it.*
“What are you doing?”

The Ce-Matoran jumped and turned to see who was sneaking up on her and asking questions. She stared into the playful eyes of Huringa’s Arthron, another Ce-Matoran. What was she doing here, disturbing her thoughts? “I’m looking...at a shell.”

Huringa took a couple of steps closer, narrowing her eyes and stroking her chin as if deep in thought about this shell. “What have you learned from this oh-so-interesting shell?”

Xendaris frowned and felt a little fire burn in her stomach and rise to her throat. So, some cheeky Matoran wanted to tease her? She’d show her. Shells could be very interesting.

“Do you see all these groves at the lip of the shell? Look at them. They’re boxy. Like teeth on a Rahi, but square.”

Huringa nodded. “The shell has teeth. What for, biting nosey Rahi who get too close?”

“You act like you don’t know how a clam works. There is another half to this shell, somewhere. It also has teeth, and these teeth match the gaps in this half’s teeth. The other half, and only that specific half, will fit together with this one, teeth and all. A clam can close itself, tightly seal its soft spots where no Rahi can reach it. It takes a lot of force to pry a clam open.” Xendaris stared at the pinkish underside of the clam. What had happened to this clam, for its two halves to become separated?

“So you’re looking for a shell that fits together with this one.”

“Yes.”

“Well, we better get looking.” Huringa got on her hands and knees and started scouring the beach for the shell in question.

Xendaris cocked an eye at her questioningly. “We?”

“Yes, we,” Huringa replied, not taking her eyes off the sand, “You’ve got me hooked. So I’m going to help you find this shell of yours.”

Xendaris shrugged and resigned herself to search in this person’s company, however unwanted.

The sun was starting to set when Huringa approached Xendaris. Ready to give up, was she?

“I think this might be the one.”

Xendaris rolled her eyes. Huringa had already showed her three shells, none of which matched. This one looked completely different from the one she had. It was darker, and was covered with barnacles and algae. But Xendaris decided to humor Huringa and try to fit the two shells together.

To her amazement, they meshed perfectly. How could it be? The only respect in which they looked the same was their size.

“Found it just under the water about 100 bio that way. You’re welcome.” Huringa crossed her arms, looking very pleased with herself.

Xendaris stared at the shell for a second more. Then she put a hand on Huringa’s shoulder. “Thank you.”

A thousand years had passed since then, or maybe it only felt that way. It hurt to think about the island back then, when it had been a beautiful city of life. A flash of thunder lit up the sky in the distance, illuminating the hollow, ruined city and her friend’s reptilian form. Time seemed to freeze as Xendaris stared into Huringa’s intense, icy blue eyes. They looked like the eyes of a snake, no reassuring playfulness to be found anymore.
Then the almighty BANG of a thunder clap assaulted her, rattling her manufactured ears.

## Chapter 2

Xendaris turned from her watchman position at the sound of a frustrated roar. Huringa had broken one of their branches while she had been working. She stomped in anger, while Xendaris rushed down the hill to her and put a hand on her shoulder so her psionic powers could calm her down. Huringa turned, startled, and raised her hand to defend herself. The furious flame in her eyes died as she recognized Xendaris and the psionic magic took hold.
“Sorry,” Huringa murmured, “I didn’t mean to break it, I-I-“
“It’s no big deal,” Xendaris murmured reassuringly, “I’ll go find another branch we can use.”
“No please, I broke it, I’ll go foraging.”
“Stay. I want you to relax and just stand watch. I’ll take on the burden.” Xendaris didn’t wait for Huringa to insist again, turning and leaving their little sheltered spot. Memories briefly flashed before the Toa’s eyes: she thought of how she’d found this spot with Huringa years earlier, and how Toa Rutu had found them there just two weeks ago and led them to the Suva...

*A smile crept onto Xendaris’ face as she looked over her new body. She was at least head and shoulders taller than she’d been as a Matoran. Her armor, which had lost its sheen and become dirty over millennia of use, was shiny and new again. She was fond of the pauldrons in particular. She didn’t know why, she just was. She looked over the edge of said pauldron at Huringa, probably twice as amazed at her new Toa form as Xendaris was. She was always excited.*
“Wow!” Huringa broke the awed silence with her usual glowing personality, “I’m not shortest anymore!”

Xendaris snorted with laughter. Tyata glared at them.

“Some respect, please. We’re Toa now, we should act like it.”

“Karzahni, now I’m short!” Old Toa Rutu—now a Turaga—stepped closer to the team she had built, a mischievous glint in her eyes. Tyata tensed, her eyes changing to a pink hue with embarrassment.

“Oh grow up, Tyata. I’ve protected this island for thousands of years, I think I deserve the freedom to be a bit profane in my retirement.”

Tyata nodded vigorously. “Yes Toa Rutu, I mean Turaga Rutu, I uh...”

Kotahi pushed past the three of them to stand in front of the Turaga. “Why did you summon us? Why have we been made Toa?”

Rutu’s expression darkened. “Because I believe a great danger approaching. The Great Spirit has given me a vision: an unstoppable horde sweeping across the island. It is your destiny to fight this force of evil. That is why you have been made Toa. Start training.”

Kotahi stared after Rutu as she leaves. “How?”

The Turaga shrugged as she left. “I don’t know. Get to know each other. That’s an important part of working as a team.”

Xendaris found a decent branch and drew one of her axes. Axes were her weapon of choice: they could chop, and that was something very few other weapons could do. Good against armor. The wood made a smacking sound as she started hacking through the branch. She’d have to hurry, lest she was discovered and killed...or worse, captured...

## Chapter 3

Xendaris carefully crawled under the web. If she touched it...well, Mata Nui knows how many were waiting to feel its vibrations. She hated the webs with a passion burning so furiously she could’ve cleansed the whole island of the sticky silk. The webs represented everything evil that had come to pass...

*They had crawled onto the beaches first, dragging Rahi out of the ocean. They crawled across the island quickly, storming the city with their Rhotuka spinners. The Visorak horde had arrived. Xendaris and her team had been doing their best to defend the city; but here they were, cornered in a broken-down building. The spiders approached at a rapid pace as the Toa tried to catch their breath. Tyata knelt next to Kawahri, who’d been injured in the fight. Xendaris looked out at the unending sea of spiders. Huringa leaned on a wall next to her, weapon held limply at her side. “Is...is this the end?”*
“I think so,” Iwa whimpered, “I love you guys, I’m sorry—“

“Shut the Karz up,” Kotahi snarled, casting an angry gaze over the rest of the team. “We’re not going to lose, not yet. Focus on breaking a hole in that wall, all of you.”

“What?!” Tyata yelped, “There’s no way we can get through that with our weapons!”

“Not your weapons!” Kotahi roared, “Use your minds! You’re Toa of Karzin’ psionics!”

Those who belonged to the element of fire had quick tempers. Those who belonged to water could roll with the punches and stay calm. Those who belonged to the element of psionics were very sympathetic and emotional, a weakness and a strength. As they stood shoulder to shoulder, pressing their hands against the wall and willing force against it, Xendaris knew they wouldn’t be able to break through with all the stress they were feeling. It drew focus from the action at hand and lowered their psionic power. So rather than focus on the wall, Xendaris took deep breathes and projected an aura of calmness. Nothing happened at first, but then the building rumbled and shook, and the wall exploded outward. The brief satisfaction was short-lived as the building started to crumble and collapse around them. Xendaris braced for impact, but suddenly felt like she was being flung through the air. She opened her eyes just as she slammed into the ground. She’d made it! She was alive! But how? She turned to see Kotahi’s silhouette, shrouded in dust as the tall building fell and crushed her.

Xendaris snapped back to reality as a sob emitted from her throat. Kotahi had pushed them out of harm’s way, saved her team, but at the cost of her life. What had it been for? The Ce-Toa gazed out at the ruined city as lightning illuminated it, a green fog covering the ground around its base. So many people had died to prevent this. Yet it had happened anyway. This isn’t how stories are supposed to go...
Xendaris jerked her head away and kept walking.
*...*
...I wish I’d died in that building.

## Chapter 4

Xendaris arrived back at her hideout feeling even more depressed than usual. Her thoughts had taken her to dark places. It took her a minute to spot what was wrong. Where’s Huringa?!
The Ce-Toa dropped her load and searched the area for her. She should’ve brought her along, she should’ve never left, she should’ve known better than to leave her alone in her state!

Webs bridged across the sky. The stadium, which had once been the town’s meeting place, had been overrun by the Visorak. At its base, hidden behind some rubble, a Ce-Toa stared helplessly upward as four cocoons were dragged across the web.

There! A familiar mask. It was Huringa.

Xendaris gasped as the Visorak stuck their pincers into the cocoons, now dangling from the web. They glowed a poisonous green color, and Xendaris saw Huringa’s mask contort in pain and discomfort. Before her very eyes, it elongated, becoming more lizard-like by the second. A halo-like blade forcefully shoved through the cocoon, then a second, and the two blades tore the wrappings apart and sent Huringa plummeting to the ground. Xendaris beheld the mutation in horror, and as her sisters fell towards the ground, she knew they wouldn’t survive the impact. She reached out her hands, face screwing as she concentrated on slowing the fall.

But she could only save one. She saved Huringa, but the three successive thuds of the others hit her like bullets in the stomach. They ran away from the stadium, finally stopping to rest in the hidden shelter they’d used in happier times. Xendaris looked her friend over. They’d transformed her into some hideous nightmare of her friend. But she was alive, and that was what mattered most.

Huringa had been different after the mutation. More aggressive, more animal in a way. Xendaris worried what this meant, if she had run off or been caught or killed or—
Xendaris turned at a sound behind her in time to see a creature jump right on top of her! It roared in her face and raised a claw to strike! As it came down, Xendaris lifted her axe to deflect it. The block was clumsy though, and while the claw missed and struck the dirt next to her head, she lost her axe. The Ce-Toa blew a bit of dirt out of the side of her mouth as her disarmed hand rushed up and punched the Rahi in the face. It reared back and roared in anger, giving Xendaris time to pull herself away, scramble to her feet and RUN.
She made it to her hiding place, she could see the raft and the shore—suddenly her foot snagged, and the Toa fell down the slope, rolling to a stop next to the raft. She looked up into two green eyes glaring down at her. A lightning flash silhouetted the Rahi as it leapt down the hill after her, about to land right on top of the unarmed Toa. The natural glow of Xendaris’ eyes dimly lit the area, and she spotted Huringa’s spear. She reached out a hand, willing the spear to her, and thrust it upward according to the placement of the Rahi’s eyes. A shattering sound split the night as the creature landed on the spear. Xendaris opened her eyes. She didn’t realize she’d closed them in the fearful moment. The Rahi’s reptilian eyes were wide with shock, a pained gleam giving them a shimmering appearance. It looked down at the spear, and Xendaris followed its gaze. Together their eyes lit the spear, which had impaled the creature right above its chestplate. The Rahi lifted a shaking hand. What had happened to its claw? Or was it a claw?
It cupped something dangling beside the spear. A broken fragment of a shell. Xendaris choked on her own breath as she rolled Huringa over onto her back. The shell fragments, shattered by the spear, made crunching sounds as the hordika’s body rolled over them. Xendaris put her head on her dying friend’s chest, staring at her faintly glowing heartlight. How had she not noticed it before?
“I’m sorry. I’m so—“ her voice caught, and the Toa closed her eyes. She felt a hand rest on her head.
“S—ssssssss...”
Xendaris lifted her head and stared wide-eyed into Huringa’s own. Odd, they were blue again. “Yes?! What is it?!”
“Sssssssssurviiiiiiivvvvvvveeeee...”
“Yes,” Xendaris promised, cradling her sister’s head, “I will, whatever it takes! I’ll survive!”
The mutant Toa sighed as her lights faded for good.

Xendaris set out to sea the next morning. The ocean was calm, its waves lapping against the boat the only sound to be heard. She stared into the blue depths. Occasionally fish would swim by, she was so utterly still, but she didn’t bother trying to catch them. She had supplies for two.

## Chapter 5

*How long I have been on this raft, I don’t remember. Days, weeks, maybe months. I’ve battled storms, Rahi, and things you couldn’t imagine. There were times I wanted to let go, to just throw myself overboard, but I couldn’t. I had a promise to keep.*
How I wish I could be rid of these foul memories of mine. I’ve thought long and hard about whether such a thing was possible. I think I could do it. But not yet.

There, on the horizon! A small town on an island. It looks ruined, torn by conflict, but I feel good about it. Maybe it’s the sun gloriously rising to shine its light on the city, the presence of the moons of Bara Magna and Bota Magna both still faintly visible in the sky, or just the fact that there are light stones in the houses, but I have a good feeling about this place. I haven’t felt good about anything in awhile.

Now is the time. Those fishing boats will investigate and find me, and me, I’ll be happy again when they do. I won’t have any foul memories of the island I came from. Its memory will die with mine. First, I need something of important sentimental value I could imagine my memories being stored in. I look around my raft. I hadn’t taken anything of sentiment, only practical things. But as I move, I notice the familiar “clack-“ing sound of the shell tapping against my armor. There was something of sentiment! I lift it to eye level, staring at the bowl-shaped token. It would be perfect, but...

Huringa. This shell had been our token of friendship, of sisterhood. Could I really just throw it away? I don’t want to forget all of the good times we had...in a way,!I had been a shell, and she had pried me open...

I shake my head. No room for thoughts like this. I was going to forget her anyway, that was the point. I tear the shell off my neck, the string snapping. I crouch and stare into it, then close my eyes and channel my memories into it. I think of everything that’d happened to me. Everything.

After recalling millennia of events, I stand up and drop—no, I throw the shell off the raft and into the sea of protodermis.

Lhikan paced the shores of Metru Nui in thought. There was work to be done, yes, but he wanted to reflect a little in the early hours of the morning. He had seen much pain and strife lately; he and his Toa has just defeated the Kanohi Dragon. It had damaged the small towns built around the island, and killed a lot of people. Including many of Lhikan’s brothers and sisters.
Nidhiki landed next to him, interrupting his thoughts. “Good morning, Toa-brother!”
Lhikan looked at him and smiled. “A fine morning it is to be sure, now that we don’t have to fight a dragon all day.”
Nidhiki cocked his head and donned a look of mock sadness. “Aww, you’re still dwelling on the war, aren’t you? Brother, those we lost should be remembered, but at the same time, you have to let them go. Count your blessings. Like me!” The Toa of Air put an arm around Lhikan’s shoulders. Lhikan smiles. Nidhiki was a little ridiculous, but he spoke with surprising wisdom. “Yes Brother. I’m glad that I’ll always have you by my side.”
“Toa Lhikan! Toa Nidhiki!” A Ga-Matoran was approaching them at a jog. Lhikan knelt down to bring himself to the Matoran’s eye level. “What is it?”
The Matoran pointed down the beach. “A boat has sailed to shore. There’s a Toa sleeping on it!”

The Toa of Fire stared at the Toa in question. She—it was a Ce-Toa, so it had to be a she—lay on the deck, unconscious. Her armor was worn and scratched by the sea and Mata Nui knows what else. Lhikan knelt and picked her up under the arms. “Nidhiki, get her legs. Let’s get this Toa cleaned up and see what story she has to tell.”

## Chapter 6

Xemdrobis wandered the streets of Metru Nui, watching the Matoran at work. This was her home. She was a Toa of Psionics. That meant she could cause things to happen with just her mind. She had been working on that lately: lifting things, moving things. Lhikan said she would be able to do so much when she finally mastered her powers, but for now she stuck to moving things. She was a Toa. Toa help and protect the Matoran. So that was what she was doing. Going around and looking for people that needed help. She was in Ta-Metru right now. She heard crashing, and saw a Ta-Matoran storm out of a shop. He practically threw himself against the wall outside and slumped to the ground, occasionally hitting something with his fists. He needed help, so Xemdrobis went over to help. “What’s wrong?”
The Ta-Matoran glared at her, taking the Toa aback slightly. “I’m fine. Work’s just a little frustrating.”
Xemdrobis cocked her head to the side. “What do you do? For work?”
The Matoran seemed to lose some of his rage, looking at the ground and drawing figures in the soot-black dirt. “I’m a mask maker. Not a really good one. I can make a Pekhui, a Mask of Growth, a Kualsi, a Kiril, and that’s it. I could probably make a Jutlin, but who’d want one of those? I just can’t figure out how to make masks out of two or more Kanoka disks!”
Admittedly Xemdrobis didn’t get a lot of what he said, but she understood that he was frustrated. I guess it was time to try and cheer him up. “What do those masks do?”
The Matoran listed them on his hand. “A Pekhui lets you shrink, a Mask of Growth lets you, well, grow, a Kiril repairs inorganic objects, and a Kualsi lets you teleport. Jutlins are like the opposite of a Kiril, they destroy things.”
Xemdrobis nodded. “Well those are cool powers! What’s wrong with making those masks?”
The Ta-Matoran shook his head and smiled ruefully. “There’s nothing wrong with them, but if I want to be a great mask
maker I have to be able to combine multiple disks to make a mask. At this rate, I’ll be better off cleaning up after other mask makers.”
Xemdrobis frowned. “Don’t say that! You just have to keep working at it, maybe get some advice from more experienced people! I bet you’ll be a legendary mask maker, you’ll probably make a mask that does...time...stuff. Like slows it down or something. That would be cool!”
The Matoran looked up at her, annoyed but a little cheered up. “You think so?”
“Yeah!”
He got up, dusted himself off, and extended a hand. “I’m Vakama.”
Xemdrobis shook it. “I’m Xemdrobis. I think. I kind of lost my memory or something, but Xemdrobis sounds about right.”
Vakama nodded slowly. “That’s...interesting...Well, I guess I should get back to work. See you around, maybe.” With that he returned to his shop.
Vakama picked up his tools and stared at them determinedly. “A Mask of Time...I should talk to Turaga Dume about that, once I improve...”

Speaking of Dume, he was currently having a conversation with some Dark Hunters.
“I will not allow you to establish a base on Metru Nui,” he said stoutly, frowning at the envoy. “This will be an island of peace and prosperity, not crime and fear.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Lariska snarled, a smile on her face, “but I’m more sorry for you. The Shadowed One will not take this lightly.” She exited with a flourishing bow.
Lhikan looked grim. “What do you think they’ll do, Turaga?”
“They’ll try to kill me,” Dume muttered, using his walking stick to move across the room. “The Dark Hunters are all about assassinating people and whatnot.”
Lhikan pounded a fist on his hand like a gavel. “Then we’ll increase your security. They won’t get past us.”
Turaga Dume smiled. “I trust they will not, Toa Lhikan.”

## Chapter 7

An explosion rocked the street, sending Xemdrobis stumbling to her knees. Her sound receptors rang, and her vision was filled with dust. A Toa of Air crawled towards her, trying to say something. Xemdrobis couldn’t hear him. He grabbed Xemdrobis by the arm, pulling her closer, and yelled something that sounded like, “Warn Lhikan!”
Xemdrobis got to her feet and reached a hand out to help the Le-Toa up, but just before he could take it he was dragged into the cloud of dust. A massive bladed arm rose out of the cloud briefly before it quickly dipped out of sight towards the ground. Xemdrobis took off at a run; she had to make it to the coliseum before...whatever that was caught up with her. She could see smoke rising from all over Metru Nui.
“Toa Lhikan!” The Ta-Toa in question glanced at Xemdrobis gravely.
“Yes...I know.” He drew his swords and combined them into a hover board. “The Dark Hunters have arrived in force.” They plan to conquer the city.” He makes to leave, Xemdrobis tagging along behind him. Before he exits, he turns to her. “I need you to stay here and guard Turaga Dume. Can you do that for me?”
Xemdrobis looked up at him, a look of frustration painted on her face. “I want to fight them. I want to protect Metru Nui!”
Lhikan put a hand on her shoulder and lightly pushed her away. “Then protect its leader. Please.” With that he left.

While a war raged outside, Xemdrobis waited in the coliseum for something to happen. Sometimes she’d practice with her new axe and shield, other times she’d talk to Turaga Dume, and sometimes she’d gaze outside at the war-torn city.
It was during one of these gazing sessions that the Dark Hunters came.
Xemdrobis didn’t hear as much as a sound as they crept up on her, but suddenly she had been grabbed in the massive crab-like claws of a Dark Hunter assassin. She smacked the claw with her shield and tried to swing behind her with her axe, but it did nothing. She heard an energy weapon charging just behind her and realized she was probably going to die.
And for whatever reason, she decided there was no way in Karzahni she was going down quietly. She had to ***SURVIVE.***
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and heard the Dark Hunter’s neck snap behind her.
The Hunter fell backwards, dropping Xemdrobis. She rolled out of the claw, standing on all fours and smiling at her remaining opponents—three more Dark Hunters. Rising to her feet, Xemdrobis laughed intimidatingly, spinning her hatchet once as she casually approached. Then both sides charged, and the fight was on!
Xemdrobis raised her shield, blocking a Dark Hunter’s laser eyes as she charged right towards them, pounced, and smashed into their face with a shield. She was already up as the Dark Hunter hit the floor, swinging her axe and letting it fly from her hand and straight for the next one. They grabbed the axe head, feet digging into the ground as the axe pushed. Suddenly, the axe flipped under their legs and flipped the Dark Hunter onto his back.
Xemdrobis looked around her, trying to spot the last one. Where had they gone? She couldn’t see them any—
Xemdrobis yelled as something heavy landed on her from above, the yell becoming louder and more pained as an electric device similar to a cattle prod stabbed into her neck. The Dark Hunter stopped, taking the prod away, leaving Xendaris panting as a bit of steam rose from her neck. She barely had a moment to rest when the prod went in on the other side. Her screaming became louder and louder, reaching a high-pitched, hellish crescendo, until finally Mata Nui must’ve felt some pity and sent the sweet angel of unconsciousness to put the Toa to sleep.

Furnace stood up, stepping over the Ce-Toa’s unconscious form. Just his luck. Ce-Toa were so much more...*responsive* to his hobby. He picked her up under the arm and started dragging her towards the exit. Predator sat up, rubbing her head as she watched Furnace leave. “Where do you think you’re going?” She demanded.
“I’m storing my find. If you two can’t take a Turaga, that’s more your problem than mine,” he responded with a hint of sass.
Predator snorted and woke up the last Dark Hunter. “Come on, time to kill Dume.”
“You will not be killing Turaga Dume today, little hunters.”
Predator and her ally turned with a gasp, gazing upon the unmistakeable shadowy form of Makuta Teridax.
“Turaga Dume is MY prey,” Teridax snarled as shadowy tendrils shot from his arms to pull his foes apart.

## Chapter 8

“We needed to get out five minutes ago! Grab anything that’s essential!”
Furnace scrambled to obey the command, packing up his gear in a bag. Teridax, now the overlord of the Matoran Universe, had found their headquarters on Odina. Now the island was being swarmed by Rahkshi. Furnace was almost ready to go, he just had to get one more thing off the wall...
Firedracax gave Furnace a weird look as he carried a Ce-Toa on his back. Poor thing was barely conscious. “Furnace, what in Mata Nui’s name are you doing?”
“I’m carrying my equipment and my favorite patient for experimental interrogation methods. I can’t just leave her here after all the good times we—or more accurately, I—had on this island!”
Firedracax shook his head. “You’re the most twisted, Karzed-up son of a Rahi I’ve ever had the displeasure of living with. You know that?”
Furnace smiled. “Ah, but what else could I use to drown out your snoring but the screams of a Toa, dear Dracax? We’re Dark Hunters. We’ve never cared what people think of us, and I’m not about to start today.”
Red glowing cracks started forming on the opposite wall. The Rahkshi were about the breach the fortress. Furnace wasted no more time on Firedracax, hauling his load out the door and down into the many escape tunnels.

The Ce-Toa’s Mind was gone. After what felt like centuries of suffering at the hands of the Dark Hunter, it had shattered it in a rush of pain. The Rahkshi’s energy attacks striking the tunnel around it, the evacuation onto a submersible craft to take them to Xia, and the cataclysmic earth-shaking event that took place when Teridax was defeated that crushed Furnace under tons of rubble were a blur, literally and figuratively. It was like a computer taking forever to reboot, to think and feel and function. Buried under the rubble of a universe, it finally came to and started to think.
*…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………................................................................................................................................D.......D......A.......R...........K..............................................................DAAAAAAAARRRRRK.........................................................*

Velika stood atop a chunk of the Great Spirit Robot, watching his army of servants move the pieces into place for a fortress; the bastion of his new empire. The Matoran had an entire city—no, an entire universe—to build their city with. But they had immediately harvested the life and resources of the region now known as the Wastes. The name perfectly described the lifeless destruction left behind.
A call from a worker snapped him out of his thoughts. The Great Being slid down to the bare dirt and walked closer to the worker. They’d found something.
He stared down at the broken body of a Toa of Psionics. It regarded him with blank eyes, like those of the first Matoran he had helped to create. Velika knelt down and returned the look kindly. “Hello there. Who are you?”
The Toa cocked its head to the side.
“Do you not remember your name?”
The Toa’s head lolled back. A scratchy sound emitted from its voice box. “...Naaaaaaaaame...”
The Great Being nodded. “Yes, yes. Can you sound it out? What sounds right to you?”
The Toa’s head fell down to its chest. “Eeeeenmmm...”
Velika nodded. “Im...?”
“Dr-dr-dr-p-p-p-p-p...”
Admittedly Velika was very confused. This Toa might be too damaged. Can’t even say its name.
“Rrrooooh...bisssssss...”
Velika sat for awhile, thinking the sounds over. “...Improbus?”
The Toa’s eyes lit up. That must be it. “Iiimprooooobuuuuuusssss...”
The Great Being ordered his workers to dig the Toa out. “You’re very lucky. I’ll have you fixed up in no time. We’ll see what you have to give in time.”

## Epilogue

*Do I feel sorry for myself? After all I’ve suffered, everything I’ve been through, do I think someone should show my mad self an ounce of compassion? No.*
In my madness I have done horrific things. Things I think would’ve made Furnace envious. In truth, I am not even sure if I can even call Improbus me.

No, I will not even consider him a part of me, something I could’ve become naturally. It’s something else. Different name, different personality, Karz, it calls itself a He. He and I are nothing alike except in appearance. In truth, I am dead.

And yet...I wonder if this really is me. I killed my mind, let go of my memories, gave the darkness a chance to be nourished. Is Improbus just another side of me I was able to control when I was sane?

I kneel on a chopping block, both figuratively and literally in the mindscape. He intends to be rid of me forever. Too boring, too sad, he has a million reasons. The last bit of my conscious will be blown to smithereens, still there but too scattered to do anything. Then he will forget me as I forgot everything I once cared about. I hope someone, or something, kills him and ends this truly evil menace to the world. There is no hope for me. He reins and I will never regain control. Great. He’s singing about “the song of angry Toa.”

I tried to teach him. I tried to tell him about Huringa, about what it means to be a Toa. Right from wrong. He insisted that he was right and I was wrong. There is only one thing, one aspect of my past self that I imparted to him; a promise he has taken upon himself to keep.

**Survive...**