Corpus Rahkshi

IC - Arena

It was painful to accept, but the truth.

He had no chance against that monster. None. Zero. Even the strength of the kaita was barely holding it backing. Kat had lost her arm, one of the three captured Rahkshi was dead... Exxan was going to have a field day when they got back.

If, he corrected himself. If, they got back.

IC: Sontiri (Hoto) - Nynrah Arena

She tried to resist as Jayar's mind gently pushed closer to hers. She couldn't even stop him from stealing away her pain and guilt. She was too weak. All of the pain was wearing at her mind. A Kaita was not to be managed by one. Outside of herself, she could feel Sontiri's steady wingbeats begin to slacken and stutter. She was tearing them apart. It was either let them feel her pain, or let Sontiri die when they were needed most. An impossible choice. Either way, her friends suffered because of her.

It was with relief that she felt him moving away, taking some of the pain with him. What had remained with her was still tortuous. But she still had to cry out. No! Please! she sobbed after him. I... I won't let you! Please!

I... I love you too much...

Please...

IC: Tube - Dorms

Tube pulled themself closer to Whak. "I... I don't know. Legion is scary. Can we stay here and wait until Checkers comes back? Checkers was nice."

IC: Rain - Infirmary

Oh, for the love of art, another bunch? The strange assortment of Rahkshi, the massive and the minuscule, could barely drag themselves into the Infirmary. She, on the other hand, had walked in tall and proud... before getting smashed by Palma, that is. Palma had better things on her mind than her broken spines and skewed arm! It had been rare for her to end up with injuries this severe, but Scribbler had done something inexcusable. She could admit she was more that a little angry.

Speaking of the Piraka, he had slipped out of the Infirmary some time ago. Apparently he was disillusioned with the care as well. She tried to push herself up to follow him, but jolts of pain shot through her dented and scratched back. His demise would have to wait.

"Palma!" she groaned. "I've got better things to do than sit around in bed all day. Would you mind leaving some of the less attractive ones and getting over here for a moment?"

Hopefully Palma could appreciate the sentiment.

IC: Whakatio

Whakatio smiled. "Sure."

IC: Deadeye

Deadeye wanted to silence this fool, and have fun cutting off her limbs, but he did nothing. His fear kept him nice and quiet.

IC: Sontiri (Jayar) / Nynrah Arena

Then you understand.

Worse than all the pain I can bear for you would be not bearing it. To see you in agony is agony for me. Within Sontiri's mind he drew closer to Hoto, and her closer to him, and Era too. They had to be unified. The notion of each of them trying separately to withstand the onslaught had to be discarded. They were as one, bearing the pain in unity. Please, don't resist. Into the maelstrom he was unleashing as strong a current of healing and love as he could summon, counteracting slowly the pain and anguish.

Because I love you too, Hoto. So much. Whatever happens, that will never change.

IC Kat:

The Kaita fighting Phantom let loose an ear splitting scream, tinged with a familiar power. Sonics.

Earlier it had dodged from seemingly impossible angles...

There were only one pair of people with those powers that I knew could form a Kaita.

"Hoto!"

I stepped up onto one of the many large boulders strewn throughout the cavern.

"Hoto, I need you to hear me if it's you in there. L-listen. I know how much you hate hurting others. And I know how much it hurts you to see others get hurt. But there are some causes worth fighting for! Fighting for your friends is one of the best causes a person can have."

I clutched my arm.

"If we don't stop this guy.... He's gonna kill us. I know it's hard, but we can't run this time, Hoto. We have to stop him here, and now. Not just for our own sake, but to protect our friends. The people we care about!"

"I can't do it on my own. I need your help. I believe in you, Hoto."

IC: Sontiri (Hoto) - Nynrah Arena

She understood. She made her decision. As Jayar reached out to draw her back into the mind, she reached out on her own, bringing with her the mental equivalent of a hug. Comfort, kindness... love. Era was not exempt. Through all of the hatred and anger and shock and pain swirling about them, a calm began to spread. Jayar's healing was beginning to soften the pain, physical and mental. They were one. They were...

Sontiri's wings became more steady as we unite. The pain is still there, but we no longer need to bear it separately. We survey the cave to search out our fallen foe. Instead, our gaze lands on our sister, rising to meet us...

Kat...

We listen to her words, though her pain threatens to drive us apart once more.

We... must not harm...

But... Kat speaks truth. Our reluctance to do harm will only bring about more harm to those we love.

We must fight.

We must win.

Not for ourselves, but for the many who rely on our aid, here and elsewhere.

It may hurt us, but to run would only cause worse pain.

We will not run. For we are Sontiri.

We acknowledge our sister's words are heard with a gentle nod of our head. We hope we can convey all of our appreciation in that simple gesture.

With renewed courage, we search for the monster we fight. Our distraction, our separateness, has given it an opportunity to move. But he cannot escape our all-seeing song.

As our wings flap and our remaining spines quiver, the haunting melody seeps throughout the cavern. It is beautiful, but there is power behind the beauty. And that power will not allow us or our friends to fall.

For we are Sontiri!

IC Vaalku

Ah, there he was.

Ignoring the annoying booger, Vaalku skidded a little, getting out of Exxan's thrashing reach. "Well, nice to see you're back."

IC: Deadeye

Deadeye couldn't laughing at help how stalkerish and metagamey Vaalku was. "That's a little creepy Vaalku, he might end up punching you...in fact I hope he does."

IC Vaalku

Vaalku turned and was about to scowl at him, when he laughed. Quite a bit, actually. "Oh Deadeye, I'd hate to be as imperceptive as you."

IC: Deadeye

"You're an idiot, hehehehh." Deadeye said, forgetting that Palma was RIGHT THERE.

IC: Xara - Dorm.

"It kind of was...." I admitted, "....you were right. I was being cruel and malicious and uncaring.... to everyone."

Metal / Courtyard, Setting up the Talent Show with Vlad, Drift, and Sanurahk IC:

"What the Karz man!" Metal called after Shadow, giving him a rude gesture that was gaining popularity around the school. Swearing some more under his breath, the Powerahk went back to his work. After taking a step back to get a full view of the frame of the stage, he looked at the others and said, "This needs to be solid construction, but it also needs to be temporary. What would be use to fill it in, and how? We've got plenty of boards and plenty of boards to go under those boards. A platform would work much better for our purpose."

Short / Infirmary IC:

Short dragged herself over to an empty cot (which was on the entire other side of the room) and slowly got herself into it. For winning the fight, she imagined she was in much more pain than Shark at the moment. Sometimes remaining conscious was not the best thing after a fight. Sure, if it was life or death she lived, but for a spar in a school it sure hurt. With a constant wince, she waited patiently for someone to get around to fixing up her legs.

IC: Vlad / Courtyard

"Vell, okay." Vlad agreed with Metal. He went to the pile and returned with an armful of boards, which (miraculously) he managed not to drop on anyone's foot when he set down.

IC: Drift - Courtyard

"Alright. Let's get to making pillars. I'm thinkink three-by-four, spread evenly inside the perimeter we've made. Just stack up blocks until they reach the height of the perimeter..." I counted quickly.

"That'll be... six blocks tall."

IC: Being locked in the mental and moral quandaries within its own head was enough to keep Sontiri distracted from Phantom's movements. But they were right in thinking their echolocation could root him out...

Right behind them, as it happened.

Phantom hadn't even bothered going invisible. He was covered in so much dust and his own blood, thick and dark purple, that it would have been nakedly obvious where he was to anyone's eyes. He'd used his few seconds of time as the Rahks within Sontiri searched their souls to get round them, and was even now hurtling towards their back.

He was going for their wings. Trying to take them out of the air, regain his advantage to hold the ultimate high ground. Not to mention the wings were rather more undefended than the rest of Sontiri, fewer spikes around them to avoid unfortunate shredding issues. Odds were good he was also banking on there being more muscle, nerves and other soft tissues around there, things he could hurt without the need to peel off armour...

And all the while above the sky-duel, the ceiling began to shudder and quake ominously...cracks were spreading, chunks of rock were falling loose, the few stalactites left were chiming with vibration. The cave had suffered too much damage, it did not have long left too live. 

More explosions at the back of the cave drew the attention of the Rahkshi on the ground. The Matoran who had been trapped in the cavern with them, rather than try and fight through rubble and Rahkshi to get out, were simply using the weaponry they'd brought with them to blast their way free. Cordak rockets blew holes in the rock and freeze kanoka created layers of ice to strengthen the tunnel walls. This arena would not become their mausoleum...

IC: Palma gave Rain a frosty stare, before begrudgingly stalking over to her bed and laying the tip of her staff to the Rahkshi's back, channeling healing energies into the wounds and scars

Metal / Courtyard, Setting up the Talent Show with Vlad, Drift, and Sanurahk IC:

"That's why I marked it down. Just set up the pillars where I marked it out, and build a support linking each together. That should give it enough stability. After that, we can start nailing down the boards." Metal dropped a block on top of one to finish a pillar before moving to the next.

IC: Drift - Courtyard

I did the same, stacking and aligning pillar after pillar.

IC: Sontiri (Era).

The part of us that had been Era was well aware of the internal discussion going on between Jayar and Hoto, and as much as she'd wanted to join in, she'd been unwilling to do so. We're still in the middle of a fight; someone has to focus on our surroundings. 

The creature rears up behind us, throwing itself at our back - at our wings. Era's instincts - honed by a lifetime of fighting blind - spur us into movement, and we spin towards the creature, swinging our bladed chains out to intercept it. 

IC: Sanu-Courtyard

"Ok." Said Sanu, Getting a Beam, and Planting it in the Ground

IC: Sliver - Causeway.

So, this was Tridax's idea of a school? A grotesque, foreboding structure of rock sitting on top of a lonely, forgotten island also entirely covered in rock. Boring, unimaginative, and exactly the sort of uncreative nonsense my father had told me to expect of the high and mighty Makuta Tridax. 

Pathetic....

The Causeway, at least, served a purpose. The spiky visage and the dexterity required to navigate it would serve to deter unwanted visitors. However, it seemed whoever had constructed it had failed to account for the fact that Rahkshi could fly. 

I sailed freely over the Causeway, landing on an even part near the school's entrance and walking the rest of the way. Sunlight glittered off the right side of my body, gleaming white, while my left side did not, the black finish on my armour allowing no light to escape. 

Two Rahkshi - students, presumably - had positioned themselves near the end of the Causeway, seemingly waiting for something. It was almost as if they'd known I was coming. "Hello?" I walked up to them. "Is this Corpus Rahkshi?"

I already knew the answer to that question, but acting naively would be more likely to make these two lower their guard and divulge any information they had regarding my brother. 

OOC: That's Alpha and Fang. 

IC: Alpha/Causeway

"Hmmm?"

I turned my head to see a Rahkshi approach.

"Yes. Are you new here?"

IC: Sliver - Causeway.

"Yes," I replied with what looked like a grateful smile, "I'm looking for someone. My brother." 

IC: Drift - Courtyard

I put the final pillar in place, huffing. Then I looked over at the rest of the Rahks.

"Now, let's put these boards together to make a platform. Do we have a hammer and nails? Or something?"

IC: Fang - Causeway

Fang eyed the new arrival warily. He wasn't exactly in a welcoming mood.

"Brother?" he asked.

IC: Vlad / Courtyard

"I thought zat ve had been usink hammers unt nails zer whole time," pointed out Vlad, confused.

IC: Sliver - Causeway.

"One of many," I explained smoothly, "my Makuta is very interested in the new breed of Kraata, and has devoted a lot of time to making more of them." It was always good to give a bit of context, "He only saw fit to send one of my siblings here, though."

I paused, trying to recall the stupid name he'd come up with, "Calls himself Exxan, I believe. You know where he is?" 

IC: Sanu-Courtyard

"Yep we do Drift." said Sanu, as he grabbed a few nails, and Hammered to boards together.

IC: Fang - Causeway

He grew even more wary, if possible. His eyes narrowed and his armor warmed at the mere mention of the name. "Why do you search for him?" he hissed. "Have you... heard of his recent actions?"

IC: Tube - Dorms

Tube flopped back onto Legion's bed and looked up at Whak. "I'm happy you got your old suit back. That was scary."

IC: Rain - Infirmary

It appeared Palma did understand. Rain allowed herself a sigh of relief as the healer's energies washed over her. Painful dents popped out, her spines righted themselves, and her stab wound sealed up neatly. In a moment, the pain was gone. But it still left scars and scratches she would need to fix up. She couldn't bear walking around long without her armor being flawless. She felt incredibly self-conscious just from her brief chase around the school grounds. That one Rahk with the glowing paint had seen her armor in a... less than dignified state.

She sat up and pushed herself off the bed, grabbing her staff in one smooth motion. "Er... thanks, Palma," she offered sincerely.

Now... let's go kill that Scribbler...

But first... paint. I must be looking my best for the last sight he will ever see.

She walked out of the Infirmary, intending to go straight to her room, only to remember her last batch of paint was still in Squid's dorm.

Where is that Squishy?

IC: Drift - Courtyard

I paused.

"We have?" Then I shook my head and grabbed some next to Sanurahk.

"Okay then."

IC: Sliver - Causeway.

"I know he killed someone. Daddy sent me to find out who, and why." 

Metal / Courtyard, Setting up the Talent Show with Vlad, Drift, and Sanurahk IC:

Metal began to wonder if Drift was all there. With a reassuring (crazy-looking) smile, Metal responded, "Yes, yes we have. That's what we mainly used to build the frame. I think we have enough nails, and if we don't, we could probably figure something out." He took a hammer and started to lay down a board across the stage, nailing it at every point it touched a support or pillar.

IC: Fang - Causeway

A malicious grin spread across Fang's faceplate. Exxan's Makuta had heard of his actions, and now wanted retribution. As vile as the Makuta were, they did protect their own. And right now, Exxan would probably be in the Infirmary, weak and helpless. If he even made it that far...

Karz, if he killed Exxan, he would have this one to grapple with. Something in her demeanor said she would not go down easily. Perhaps it was the carefully honed blades of her bow, or the stark contrast of her color scheme.

"If he has any luck, he'll be in the Infirmary," Fang explained. "Your brother can be a real... Brakas sometimes. He deserved what he got."

IC: Drift

I nodded tentatively and continued my work.

 

 

IC:Glass

 

"Wait no no no, I am taking this seriously. I just don't want you to beat yourself up over this. It isn't your fault, after all."

IC: Xara - Dorm.

 

"It kind of was...." I admitted, "....you were right. I was being cruel and malicious and uncaring.... to everyone."

IC: Glass

"I could have been a little more helpful in telling you. Besides, you weren't cruel to everyone ."

IC: Shadow-Library

Shadow Finally finished his sword, "Wow my Powers useful, this sword is sharp, just now something I didn't Consider, How good am I with a Blade?"

IC: Xara - Dorm.

"Pretty much everyone," I sighed, "everyone who didn't matter."

____________________________________________________________

IC: Sliver - Causeway.

Deserved what he got? Perhaps my dear little brother wasn't quite to useless anymore. "What did he do to you?" It didn't take a Mind Reading Rahkshi to pick up on the hate radiating off of this guy. Heat as well. "And where is the infirmary?" 

IC: Shadow-LIbrary--->Hallway

She Could be lurking anywhere, and Everywhere.... Have to keep my guard, be Prepared...

IC: Fang - Causeway

"That Rahkshi Exxan killed... well, he happened to be a friend of mine," Fang spat. "We were never on good terms. He tried making amends, but as it turned out, he was only using me to get a poisoned blade. First thing he did, with it still hot out of the forge, was turn it on my... friends. Alpha here can testify to that. He tried to confront me afterwards, and I... taught him to be a little more careful. Palma's good at what she does, but don't expect a miracle. He's probably lying right next to his own victim right now.

"You'll find the Infirmary close to the Dormitories. It's usually one of the more crowded rooms in the building. You can't miss it.

"By the way... what's your name?"

IC: Sliver - Causeway.

"Sliver..." I stammered, disbelief fogging my mind. Exxan being manipulative? Exxan betraying people? Exxan killing a violent Rahkshi's friend? Perhaps our Makuta had been right after all. Corpus Rahkshi had changed Exxan, for the better. 

"I'll...." I needed to find Exxan. Now. "....I'll see you around." 

IC: Fang - Causeway

He watched Sliver leave with a self-satisfied smile. Exxan deserved whatever she was bringing.

As soon as her black and white body vanished into the school, he turned back to gaze at Nynrah. All was quiet, for now.