BZPRPG: Le-Wahi

IC: Skyra

I groaned as I lay on the wooden floor, I heard a cheerful, high pitched, and very familiar voice above me. My blurred vision slowly began to clear as I tried to process what exactly had just happened.

I remembered pouncing on Tillian, laughing evilly, and the next thing I knew there had been a Toa shaped object coming toward us through the window. The end result was me on the hard floor, Tillian still somewhere on the bed, and the sound of...

"...H-Hari!?" I slowly raised myself to a sitting position, I felt a little dizzy still from my unexpected flight to the floor so I didn't attempt to stand just yet.

IC:

The catastrophic battle between Echelon's loyalists and Joske Nimil's weekend warriors hadn't done anything to wake Tillian Juturna up. The passage of time hadn't stirred him. The smells of food barely affected him. Armageddon? Good luck waking up Commander Beach Bum.

Two girls on his chest, vying for his attention? Ayooooo.

"What happen. Who there. It's Til. Wha?" he muttered sleepily.

-Tyler

IC: Naona

Vine-swinging was much like riding a Kane-Ra: you would never forget how to do it, no matter how much time had passed. It had been a bit confusing at first for Naona, getting back into practice, but after a few rusty swings, she had gotten back into shape. It was actually rather exhilarating, flying through the air with only strong vines preventing her from falling. She made a note to try and get back into her other hobbies more often - she'd been too busy to do anything but work in the last year, but the amount of free time she had now could change her situation.

Then her protege promptly went flying through a window.

Nearly missing a vine in shock, the guardswoman quickly righted herself, slowly swinging to-and-fro on the vine she had been about to let go of. While the obvious thing to do was chase after her protege, Naona also had to take into account the fact that whoever was in that room might not take the appearance of another flying Toa rather lightly.

Eh.

She could deal with that later.

Taking in a deep breath, Naona swung from vine to vine, quickly building up momentum as she closed in on the window Hari had disappeared through. Seconds later, she let go of the last vine, letting momentum take hold as she flew through the window feet-first. Fortunately for the residents of the room, she did not accidentally kick anyone in the process.

Except maybe the wall.

As she bounced off the now-dented wall, the Toa of Stone twisted her body around, dropping onto the floor with a bang. She slowly rose to her feet, glancing around the room. The building may have been unfamiliar to her, but the residents were - especially the young Toa that was currently in a rather compromising position.

Her eyes wordlessly moved to meet his.

IC:

Just a few moments later, the door to the Bright Star Inn pushed open smoothly, and a De-Toa stepped in, preparing to open his mouth to say hello-

Only to note the Po-Toa standing, staring at Tillian with great annoyance.

"Well, I've been there. Tillian, I'd recommend running."

IC:

"Privacy dead now?" grunted the half-asleep Tillian. "Who there. A-Team?"

-Tyler

IC: Skyra

Slowly I got up, wincing painfully. I brushed myself off as I analyzed all the familiar faces, particularly Naona's death stare.

"I swear...I have no idea what's going on...or how you all got here so fast."

IC: Kidona

Kidona turned around on her seat at the bar of the Bright-star inn and viewed the De-toa who had walked through the front door of the bright-star inn. She seemed to just study them while her left hand rested near the holster she wore which held Oborui, an energy pistol. She did not seem ready to draw it but instead she merely seemed ready incase of anything.

However she looked back at Unari and perhaps said a bit impatiently

"Status update on that drink?"

IC: Naona

"TILLIAN."

IC:

"Naona? 'Eyyyyy, it's Naona. A-Team..." Tillian mumbled sleepily, rubbing his eyes with his shoulder. "Talk to me in the morning. Anyone got orange juice?"

-Tyler

IC:

As the De-Toa - Krayn, he looked like to Unari, one of the older guardsmen around - walked in, completely ignored him, and headed off for one of the other rooms, Unari frowned. Add to that the repeated thumps from upstairs - probably the room that Krayn was going to - and, well, it wasn't hard to figure out what was happening.

Somebody had visitors, and - aside from Krayn - they were completely bypassing the entrance.

Unari hated that.

"Yeah, yeah, it's coming up in a sec," Unari said, shaking his head. After a moment he passed Kidona her drink, shooting a semi-annoyed glance towards the ceiling.

"Do you think I should go check on whoever is up there?"

IC: Skyra

"Tillian, it was morning five hours ago." I said flatly.

IC: Kidona

Kidona looked back at Unari and seemed to consider his question. She merely shrugged her shoulders

"Could be a scuffle or something.. Might be a good idea to look."

IC:

"Surprisingly enough, for once I'm having trouble believing that."

IC: Naona

"Tillian. Why is Hari on you."

IC:

...

"Right. 'Course I knew that."

-Tyler

IC: Kidona

Kidona nodded as she heard this.. However as she leaned down to pick up her drink the axe she wore on her back caused the small amount of sunlight entering the inn to glint off the blade

"It could be anything really..

IC: (Hari)

I realized just now that I was straddling Tillian's chest and that Naona was fuming, and that Skyra was still recovering and I was lying on top of my Commander. I turned to see Krayn standing there as well and I quickly tried to get off of Tillian, falling backwards as I stumbled, twisting about and landing on the ground, all tied up in blankets and sheets.

"That is what it looked like!" I bemoaned, I swear this happens far too often, and it's soooooo embarassing! I mean can't a girl catch a break, everyone is always there to witness my shortcomings. I was never going to stop looking like the total ditz everyone thought I was.

IC: Naona

"Well this is an absolutely wonderful reunion," drawled Naona.

IC: Skyra

Usually in situations like this I'd find a reason to be annoyed or other wise slightly ######, but for whatever reason, watching Hari get tangled up in the sheets and fall over was quite amusing, and my amusement was quite apparent.

"Oh Hari...I really missed you..." With a giggle I leaned down and began to untangle her, mostly by yanking the sheet as hard as I could and letting the wind do the rest. Her yelps of surprise with each yank increased my amusement.

"Did you come to take me on that shopping trip?" I wasn't even gonna try to avoid it, I was going to have to get it over with eventually.

IC: Naona

The very moment the word "shopping" was uttered, Naona disappeared underneath the bed.

IC:

"Is there scrambled egg on my cheek? Did someone put breakfast in my bed and let me sleep on top of it?" Tillian moaned, rubbing at his face. "Who does this? Why? What could this possibly do to benefit someone?"

-Tyler

IC: Skyra

Naona had scrambled under the bed pretty quickly after the word 'shop' came out of my mouth, but I'd deal with that in a moment. I looked over at Tillian, like a rahi trapped in a corner.

"Um...the smell of breakfast food has awakening power? I mean...who doesn't like the smell of eggs and bacon...all over you?"

IC:

For the first time since they had started speaking and walking together, the other Toa showed a sign of emotion as he allowed himself a small smile. Yet, the darkness did not disappear completely from his expression and as Brykon mentioned fighting the ones that were responsible for the fate that had befallen him and his brothers a thousand years ago and sent them on their age-long quest in the first place. Despite his seemingly frozen expression slipping up and allowing his empathy for the warrior walking alongside him to show through, there still was the righteous anger that was burning in the Aitua's hearts. It lingered and burned like an underground fire in a coal-mine, always below the surface, unseen and impossible to put out.

And though Brykon had lowered his guard slightly as a sign of beginning trust and mutual understanding, what he'd just said had kindled those flames. As they walked, he began to briefly recount the events he had witnessed and the correlations between them he and his team had uncovered.

"When the Kumu Islands were destroyed and sunk into the endless ocean, I was fighting against the Makuta's minions who attacked the ILF in Pala Koro, which happened around the same time. Pala Koro's defenses held, especially after recent upgrades that had been paid for and planned by somebody I only knew as an 'architect' back then. We fought the attackers off until the core-defense, an anti-element generator, turned out to be a trap, set up weeks in advance during construction of the defenses. After that, the village fell quickly. But one of my brothers caught the saboteur, or rather the on executing the saboteur's orders and...made him talk. He didn't say much before he was taken away...but he did tell us of a plan: Just like the old world fell into the sea, Matoran society would fall as well when he and his associates would slay the great spirit, within twelve lunar changes. Godslayers he called them."

It was likely none of this was news to the other Toa, but he let the last words hang in the air for a second, just in case, before continuing.

"When my brother returned from the interrogation we decided to share the news but before we could leave a group of Skakdi, survivors from the islands. They told us of the islands fate...and the sabotage to the islanders ships. Destroyed rudders, booby-trapped hulls, slashed sails and broaken oars. If not for their combined elements, the Skakdi would not have made it out alive. Taking both events into account, it began to look like far more than coincidence. Cemented by the fact that by the time we made it to Le-Koro, it was under attack by fighters from the Islands thinking the Matoran here were to blame."

"We had the crimes and thanks to the interrogation we had the motive too...what we lacked was the head of the snake. Our strongest lead so far is the architect...Ambages. He is involved in all this on a high level. He would be dead by now, if we knew he was the only one responsible. And if it weren't for the ILF and their ineptitude, we would know by now and could have taken him down already."

"That is what I know, what I've witnessed myself or have been told in person." Kehua finally said, falling silent again. "Maybe the ones we came here to hunt are involved as well, maybe not. We couldn't find any evidence of their actions helping to advance this scheme...but they are here, that much is fact."

Now the large Toa waited for the other to fill in the blanks.

IC: (Valria)

 

"Hello Merror. Everyone is fine, although Utu is currently under medical watch, Cael is with him, and so is another doctor. Dorian and Tuara are here in Le, but we don't know what they're doing. Considering all that has happened they're probably taking the time to cool off." I paused for a second, frowning, but Agni had been really helpful in catching me up on all that had happened. Considering what he had been through, it was best to leave some things out, mainly so Merror didn't stalk off and give Dorian a tongue lashing for temporarily killing Utu or chasing down Stannis wherever he may be. I sighed, taking a breath after giving Merror the short version of all that had happened while he was gone. "Anyways let's get you healed up as much as we can here, we're going to need to sit down and talk later, about what happened and where we go from here."

 

Agni was exhausted, a man that be dealing with a lot, suffering a lot, and you know what, this wasn't about me, and my problems, I might have barely met this people, barely got to know them, but they are my friends in a way, Agni is something...more to me. So at least once I could take the reigns, make things less difficult for him, taking some of the weight off that poor man's shoulders, and maybe, maybe I'd get to see him really smile at some point, when he wasn't surrounded by so much trial and tragedy. I'm not the old Valria who sits on her hands while people suffer, I'm not going to be weak, I am strong, I am a Toa, and I am Valria. I was broken once, but not anymore. I can't be broken, and I refuse to be.

 

It was time to stop letting things happen to me and start making things happen. First thing, was ensuring this team stayed whole and healthy. Our work wasn't finished.

"As much as Valria is right about your injuries...I'm afraid they will have to wait a while longer." I said, looking at Merror, shooting the Toa of gravity an apologizing glance for overruling her. "Stannis came by to talk to some of us...I imagine he'll want to talk to you too."

Merror looked understandably curious. "About what?"

"About our mission. Something's come up, but it's better you talk about it with Stannis first. You'll need the emotional distance, trust me." I said, not in an unfriendly tone, but serious enough to let my friend know that I meant what I said. Merror nodded.

"Where is Stannis?" he asked, all business. "I left him down the hallway leading to the patients rooms, outside the cafeteria. I'd start looking there."

We exchanged another look and bumped fists, then the older Toa of fire was walking off. Valria and I watched until he'd disappeared from view, then I sighed and turned towards her. "Sorry." I said. "But it's easier to have Stannis tell him now and get medical attention later than it is the other way around. I know I would hate to be kept in the dark right now. Speaking of which...I need to find Dorian. He and I need to have a serious talk."

---------------------------

At the same time, not far away, Sisk was walking down the path leading to Kongu's hut as fast as his still injured leg would permit. However, it was getting better, little by little, day by day. The fact that he could keep up this pace and not stop after a minute to relax or to just hobble proved as much. Besides, walking with a cane was somehow...classy.

I should buy a monocle... he pondered as continued along his way, but stopped the silly line of thought as he reached the Akiri's hut. He approached the guards outside.

"Is the captain in?" he asked. The shook their head. "No, sergeant. He is currently out. We don't know when he will be back."

"Would you mind if I stay and wait then?" Sisk asked. Technically, he knew he could pull rank on the two others and the mischievous voice inside his head told him as much, but then again, there was nothing more annoying than having a superior drop in and mess with your assignment. Especially, he remembered, when that assignment was to catch a Ghekula, of all things. Somehow, said Ghekula had managed to trick him back then and he had returned to the village caked in mud and bog water from head to toe.

The guards shook their heads. "Of course not, tamer." they said with a chuckle. Sisk laughed as well, before sitting down where he stood and starting to twirl his cane.

"So, have I ever told you the story of the two-headed Muaka me and Leah took on some years ago...?"

IC: Kidona

As Kidona washed down the final amount of her drink she seemed to hesitate standing up though she still turned to Unari

"How much do i owe you for the drink Barkeep?"

IC: Kunitu

The gym's door slowly opened up as a female Toa of Air strode in, her eyes focused on the piece of paper in her hands. If she was right, this was the place that held that "gym" her superiors endorsed. It sounded like a pretty good idea - these days all the young Matoran were staring at the iStones instead of going out and fighting Nui-Rama or inducing trauma on their friends by throwing them into fields of mutant tomatoes. Being able to exercise would definitely be good for the next generation.

"Hm, looks like I'm right," she murmured, looking up to see the equipment strewn around. "Although ..."

She quickly surveyed the room, finding it to be quite empty.

"Helloooo? Anyone there?"

IC: Colx (Le-Koro Fitness Center)

Colx looked up from behind his pipe and letter to peer across the training grounds through the window in his office.

A lone Toa of Air had entered, and seemed to be a bit on the ditzy side if Colx were to be asked, but he probably wasn't.

"Ah, well. Might as well make the best of it" Colx thought as he stood up. She wasn't all that bad looking either.

"Over here, missy" he called even as he walked across the grounds, his crooked pipe wedged between his teeth as always.

IC: Kunitu

Kunitu blinked at the sound of a voice, her entire body shifting to face the speaker. Her first impressions of the old man were of a fighter - one who had gone through quite a bit and had the scars to prove it. The way he carried himself corroborated her thoughts: it was impossible the mistake him for anything but a guy who liked a scrap; or at least someone who'd been in a lot of them.

"You in charge here?" she asked.

IC: Colx (Le-Koro Fitness Center)

"Yup" Colx replied.

If nothing else, Colx was able to take notice of the few remaining scars of battle that Kunitu had. It was clear that she wasn't here to waste his time, Colx could appreciate that.

"Hang on, you look a little familiar"

IC: Kunitu

"Didn't I bump into you earlier?"

IC: Colx (Le-Koro Fitness Center)

"My memory's a little hazy, but I think I bumped into you" Colx admitted, before immediately jumping back to the current situation.

"So, what can I do you for?"

IC: Kunitu

"I felt like arm-wrestling someone," she replied nonchalantly.

IC: Colx (Le-Koro Fitness Center)

Waste of time? Yes.

Enjoyable waste of time? Karz yes.

"I'd be happy to oblige" Colx replied even as he took a closer look at the Toa of Air. She didn't look particularly strong, but then again Colx knew appearences could be deceiving.

IC: Kunitu

"Alright then! Let's get started!"

IC: Colx (Le-Koro Fitness Center)

"Over there" he said, pointing to a table by one of the walls. One generally used for a short break in between exercises.

IC: Kunitu

Kunitu made her way to the table, plonking herself down on the chair.

She stretched her right arm, and dropped her elbow onto the surface.

"Let's see what you got."

IC: Colx (Le-Koro Fitness Center)

"Brace yourself" Colx chuckled as he locked hands with the Toa of Air.

"Alright, one, two, three and..."

IC: Kunitu

Kunitu's arms pushed. Her years of training with a longsword had given her quite a bit of strength in her arms, but she could not underestimate her opponent. Skakdi were already known for their brute power, and this one, no matter how old he was, would probably be no different.

IC: Colx (Le-Koro Fitness Center)

Colx pushed back, matching Kunitu's efforts. Be that as it may she had some upper body strength to speak of, Colx, (although he may have forgotten most of it) still had milennia of brutal fighting to his name, most of which were carried out swinging around a really heavy, spiked club almost as big as his own arm.

Colx brought his full might to bear on Kunitu, refusing to buckle in.

IC: Kunitu

Kunitu gritted her teeth, refusing to let herself budge. Her strength pushed back against her opponent's, every inch of her energy devoted to pushing him back down.

IC: Colx (Le-Koro Fitness Center)

Colx relaxed a little, just a little, letting Kunitu get the upper hand for just a second, before pushing back again relentlessly.