Toa Kovorix: Ice-Cold Rebellion | Chapter 2: Part 1

Chapter 2

Bratik also took to the chutes and headed for the armory. He liked the feeling of the magnetized protodermis flowing around him and propelling him at high speeds. He hitched a ride on a crate and thought. He thought about Gaaku and Lekk. He wanted to find a toa stone like they had. Being a matoran would have to do for now though. After all, he had everything a warrior could possibly want. He unsheathed his sword and looked at his reflection. In the background, he saw a red glint briefly on one of the support rings.

"I have got to be daydreaming. If my eyes aren't playing tricks on me, that looked like it could be a toa stone" he thought to himself. "That had to be an illusion. I would be crazy to go back."

Still, subconscious curiosity drove him to leave the crate and fight the current, which was nearly futile. Slowly he made his way towards the spot. The magnetized protodermis was not so welcome now.

"I wonder if the others had to do something like...this to get their....toa stones. If its...unhh...even a toa stone!" the Ta-Matoran said. "If it's not...I'm..." 

Suddenly, a large crate hit him square in the face. Bratik, dazed, reached out a hand to steady himself. He found nothing. Bratik hurtled through the chutes and tried to regain control. He reached out again for balance and unexpectedly found himself grasping another matoran's hand. He looked up through hazy vision to see Gami hauling him into her chute speeder. As he recovered his composure, he motioned for Gami to stop and pull out of the chute at the next possible moment. The chute was entirely enclosed at this point, but after a few minutes, Gami slowed down and piloted the craft to the surface of the now open-roofed chute. She then steered over to the side where the chute speeder magnetically attached to the side of the chute, keeping the vehicle immobile. 

"Thanks. Who knows how long I would have been sprawled out in the chutes if it weren't for you. I can't waste another moment though, thanks again" Bratik said rapidly as he ran back the way he came.

"Bye" Gami called out after him, slightly confused.

***

Kovorix finished speaking his instructions to Gaaku and leapt into the chutes again in aqua mode. He headed for the armory where he was sure to find Bratik. As Kovorix arrived at the armory, he reflected on it's construction. The seemingly small building housed about ten sub-level stories of storage rooms, weapons crafter workshops and meeting rooms. The armory was still being constructed when he had returned from his journeys. Still, at that point it was only a hole in the ground a few stories deep. Once it had reached the desired depth, a mold was developed for each floor and molten protodermis was poured into the perfect molds. When the molds were destroyed, what was left was a perfectly geometrical floor with a hall and rows of doors on either side leading to rooms. The walls were perfectly formed because of the mold method and more importantly, was incredibly hard. When it reached the ground level, the armory were developed into a small fort with very defendable walls around the main building. 

Artakha had originally planned on having the armory as a place for the crafters to make weapons and armor for the equipment of the matoran and other Artakhan inhabitants in the case of another invasion, despite the fact that anyone who knew of the island's location had apparently been eliminated. "Apparently" wasn't good enough for Artakha. He would do everything that he could to make sure that another invasion, if ever it came again, would be stopped. Eventually, the Artakhan guard was formed and at one point in every Artakhan Matoran's time on Artakha, they would serve time in the guard. In this way, everyone on the island had become trained warriors and were ready for action if a battle ever came. The Armory was the obvious choice for the headquarters of the Artahkan guard. 

Kovorix descended to the lower levels of the Armory and entered the barracks hall. As he walked down the hall, passing each of the living quarters, he saw one of the thick metal doors open and a small rahi walked out. At first look, the rahi looked like some kind of pet but a closer look revealed that this rahi did not belong. Suddenly, the rahi attacked ferociously and knocked one of the guards down, as he ran straight for Kovorix. Kovorix didn't have time to pull out his blades so he launched a blast of ice at the creature. Without even breaking it's stride, the dog-like rahi launched two energy bolts from its chest. The first one neutralized the ice, shattering it everywhere. The second bolt came through the haze and hit Kovorix straight in the chest plate with massive force. Everything went dark and he collapsed onto the ground sensing shadows of matoran hurriedly move to counter the threat. Then there was nothing.

To be Continued...

Toa Kovorix: Ice-Cold Rebellion | Chapter 1: Part 2

Part 2

Kovorix charged up his armor's levitation ability and jumped up to where Bratik was.
"Hello old friend. The defense preparations are coming along nicely I presume." the Toa of Ice said
"The preparations are going pretty well, but to face anywhere from five hundred to a thousand rahkshi, The island of Artakha would have to be invincible." Bratik responded "And, that's not counting Exo-Toa if they come."
"Well, At least Artakha can control this island's elements and matter. Otherwise, we could have what happened to Daxia here. I still cannot believe it has only been three days since Makuta's reign of shadows began. I think I'll fly up and take a look at the island from the air. See you at Artakha's fortress." 
Kovorix knew Bratik was right, there was little hope, but he would hold on to it even to death. He charged up his levitation ability again and leapt straight up into the air. He took the compacted Kotrev T2 off his back and expanded it, firing up its engines. He flew to an altitude of about 90 bios (400 feet) and surveyed the island below. Artakha looked like the beautiful island it always had been only this time there were close to 60 turrets on the white stone walls. Artakha's own fortress looked far more impressive than usual. Its walls were much higher than normal and the protosteel gates were thicker than ever. over the gate were two pairs of Midak Skyblaster quad turrets. All around the walls were crystals that would create a dome of solid light over the fortress during the battle. Kovorix flew down towards the city. He put the Kotrev T2 on his back again and dove into a magnetized protodermis chute heading towards Artakha's fortress. Soon, Gakku, a toa of water created by the first of Kovorix's four toa stones, swam up beside him and motioned him over. The two emerged from the chute and landed on a platform above the moving protodermis.
"These chutes are faster than Metru-Nui's system, but not as complex and extensive" she said in her usual lively tone of voice.
"Metru Nui is based off of this city. What do you need Gaaku?" Kovorix asked
"Well, two things. For one, your third toa stone has been found!"
"Who found it?"
"A Po-Matoran named Tolick."
"Tolick will make a great toa."
"Toa Lekk and I will be delighted to work with him...and fight with him. How are the defense preparations coming?" Gaaku asked in a slightly worried tone of voice.
"Artakha has been turned into probably one of the most secure fortresses in the Matoran Universe. But, Artakha says there will be as many as a thousand rahkshi that will try to storm the island."
"One thousand!" Gaaku exclaimed in dismay.
Kovorix thought for a little bit and then said
"Gaaku, meet me here after dark tonight provided we are not attacked. I will explain then."
"See you then Kovorix."

***

    Kovorix dove into the chute once again and switched his adaptive armor to Aqua mode with its hydro turbines to make up a little bit of his lost time. He thought about the other toa. Gaaku was a smart and trim toa and Kovorix did like her a little, but not nearly as much as she liked him. He got slightly annoyed of it because his first love was for his home and close to that was his love for the ways of a warrior. As for Lekk, he was a bit reckless, but, as Artakha had said, the temperament of an air element being is nearly the opposite to that of the ice element being. Lekk had a natural control over mask powers and he used three very well in addition to his Komau. He was a skilled toa and Kovorix secretly took pleasure in mentoring him. 
    Kovorix sped through the chutes weaving in and out of its traffic and got to Artakha's fortress fairly quickly. As he exited the chute system and headed towards the now bigger gates and even more imposing fortress, he thought of his past. It was tainted by his time with the Dark Hunters, but Kovorix felt he had nearly overcome any trace of their ways in his life. He walked through the gates of the fortress and Bratik joined him on their way to the great hall of Artakha.
"I've been waiting for a half an hour Kovorix" Bratik said
"I'm sure you are annoyed old friend." Kovorix remarked
"Only slightly." Bratik replied dryly. Then he laughed.
"Remember the days when we could see Artakha? After I returned from my first journey, I saw him only once and since then, I have not seen his bodily form." Kovorix said
"I don't remember." Bratik said "I must have forgot it due to Artakha's telepathic powers."
"That is probable." Kovorix said
The two friends walked through the second set of gates and entered Artakha's hall.Artakha's voice greeted them.
"Welcome Kovorix and Bratik. We have battle plans to discuss"
"That is why we have come" Kovorix answered.
A door opened to the far left of the hall and the two warriors walked through it.
"Welcome Kovorix and Bratik" Artakha said again, his body in plain view. "We have battle plans to discuss"
Kovorix and Bratik knelt and rose again as Artakha motioned for them to look at the map of the Matoran Universe.
"As you know, Daxia has been destroyed by Makuta's new-found power over all of the elements of this universe. The same thing will not happen here as have even more control over the island than he does. Unfortunately for you, I will not be able to use any of my power to help you in your battle while I am preventing Makuta from tampering with the island's terrain." Artahka said
"We will fight harder" Bratik stated.
"What is the earliest time possible you think Makuta will mount his attack on us?" Kovorix asked
"It could be as early as tomorrow morning" Artakha replied
To be Continued....

Toa Kovorix: Ice-Cold Rebellion | Chapter 1: Part 1

Chapter 1
Part 1

    The Artakhan matoran were building up defenses. They always had been. Their preparations before had failed. Makuta Kojol lead his large strike force of rahkshi, visorak, and exo-toa and breached the city, stealing the Kanohi Ahvoki, the mask of light. It was a close battle, but the city was stormed and the fortress breached. The Makuta stole the mask and left. Rebuilding was initiated quickly, but the Artakhans knew simply to rebuild would not be enough. The matoran were mostly crafters, but many were warriors. Artakha, the ruler and the namesake of the island, was a crafter-warrior, but did not seek to turn the beautiful island into an imposing fortress, but a beautiful work of military architecture. Even before Makuta Teridax's voice echoed throughout the matoran universe, The Matoran had constructed a high wall around the island. It was built to the shore except for on the southern shores where the powerful crystal serpents had all been accounted for. Lekk, a toa of air using a great Komau, the mask of mind control was able to somewhat tame them and feed them The four serpents would make valuable defenses as they were during Kojol's invasion.

***

    Kovorix braced himself against a disintegration turret as the island, under the control of Artakha morphed into a natural fortress. On top of now sheer cliffs that went out directly to the liquid protodermis sea, the protosteel-reinforced wall rose another 20 bio. Beautiful architecture and carvings decorated the ivory-colored wall. Now, Kovorix was helping lift more disintegration turrets using his Great Matatu, mask of telekinesis. It felt good to use his powerful Matatu again. For the sake of training, Kovorix had not used this Matatu, made from Power-level 9 disks, for centuries. Now, a task like this was easy. He had to concentrate, but still had plenty of consciousness left to see all of the other activities around him and to be carrying on his current thought process. He watched Velika, a Po-matoran recently sent to Artakha from the southern continent along with the rest of the "Voya Nui resistance team," weld the turret in place.

***

    Bratik, the commander of the Artakhan guard, directed six squads of warrior matoran to go to the armory inside the city. It would have been a long walk for them, but Matarik, a Le-Matoran, commandeered a nearby transport and sped off towards the city with half of the warriors promising to "return in a quick-minute". Bratik surveyed the defensive preparations that had grown exponentially in urgency since Makuta's announcement. The Ta-Matoran looked over to see Tanma, a new Av-Matoran formerly in Karda Nui, powering up his jetpack and donning impact armor. It gave Bratik hope to see matoran like Tanma on the island, but only a faint glimmer of hope. Bratik stood on the highest parapet, sun glinting off his red protosteel armor, pondering if there was any possibility of success at holding off the coming onslaught.

***

    Gami prepared her mini fighter-sub that would lead the Trident squadron on scouting missions and on a frontal assault on Makuta's rahkshi transports once the inevitable invasion began. She walked around the sleek vessel and examined the twin external Artakhan Cordak blasters loaded with phase 2 seeking rockets. "Where are those energy crystals I asked for?" Gami called to Feylu, a Fe-matoran mechanic.

"They're coming your way now" Feylu answered, bringing a cart of glowing crystals.

Gami picked up two crystals and removed the engine slide. After placing the crystals in, Gami closed the engine slide and warmed up the craft.

"I'll take it out for a test run Feylu"

***

    Balta and Piruk were still new to the island and in awe of the greatness of it. Balta, as well as Piruk and Kazi, had adjusted well to his new home. Garan just seemed not to fit in and Dalu was hardly ever seen. Velika was one of the elite crafters already. Balta wondered at Artakha's creation abilities. The great ruler had crafted his weapons into armor that functioned in the same way of the original blades. Artakha seemed slightly humbled that it was Karzahni who had thought of something so useful but simple to make Balta mused. Still, Artakha rewarded Balta for bringing new technology to the island. The other members weapons of the former resistance team did not seem to interest the great crafter as he had seen them many times before. Balta wondered what Artakha looked like, but knew he needed to focus on his work. Piruk had appeared next to him calling him to help with setting up a defense mechanism.

***