Into the Darkness

Into the Darkness is a story by Varkanax39, detailing the beginning of Shardak's role in the Second Multiversal Civil War.

Prologue
The caverns below Roxtus were silent. No Rahi dared stir in the twisted depths of the earth, and no voices broke the quiet. It was as if a dark hand had settled over the caves, draping the entire underground city in a dark shroud. All was still, save the torches that still burned with shallow, feverish red light.

The tall, shadowy Elemental who strode through the darkness like a wraith paused for a moment, his dispassionate gaze surveying the cavern. The stench of death filled the air, and as he entered the broken gathering chamber that had been created for the Skrall, he knew instantly he had come to the right place.

Once, this had served as a secret meeting chamber for the leaders of the Skrall race. The dark being could still see the faded remnants of their insignia engraved on one of the walls. Several centuries later it had been used as a center for the growing Alliance of Xaterex, before the cataclysm came fifty years ago and flung this twisted city below the depths of the earth.

Now, it was simply the Crypt.

Very few Rahi dared to live here, for the sheer concentration of dark energy was too much for their weak minds to bear. Even though it had been many centuries since dark power was last used here, the malevolence still lingered there like a half-remembered echo reverberating through the ebony stones themselves.

The Elemental surveyed the gathering chamber, raising one ebon-armored claw to tear away an ancient spiderweb. His armor, which shone like polished obsidian, seemed to glow even brighter in the shadows. The Elemental’s keen vision easily noticed the emerald armored being attempting to cloak himself in the shadows of the Crypt.

"Give it up, Windeus, I know you’re there." hissed the Elemental. The emerald being turned, his cold eyes fixing on the Elemental’s face.

"Skorpix. Where are the others?" Windeus hissed in his snakelike voice.

"Near." said Skorpix cryptically.

The Elemental’s conversation was suddenly cut off by the scraping of chains against the cold stone floor. A twisted, shadowy figure seemed to rise out of the depths of the cavern. The room’s shallow torchlight illuminated a horrific face that appeared to be a terribly burned and melted Spinax Hound head fused with that of an Elemental. The long chains the fusion carried as weapons sounded like nails scraping across iron as she moved to join Skorpix and Windeus.

"Do you bring the prisoner, Nex?" asked Skorpix. "Bring him before us."

"No." said Nex in a throaty voice sounded uncannily like the growl of a Rahi.

"I have him." said a new voice, cutting Nex off. The three Elementals turned to look at the tall, athletic Dark Hunter carrying two protosteel daggers. Her emerald eyes stared contemptuously at Nex and Windeus, and as her gaze met Skorpix’s her eyes turned guarded. She and Skorpix were both rivals for the Emperor’s favor, and while this conflict never became overly hostile, the feeling of mutual dislike was obvious.

Following the Dark Hunter was a gaunt Glatorian. His red armor was torn and bloodied, and his eyes haunted, as if he’d seen so many horrors that his soul had died, yet his body forced to live on.

"So you managed to take him alive, Lariska" Skorpix hissed, already wondering how he could discredit her in the eyes of his superiors.

Lariska tossed her head contemptuously. "Oh, please. This one barely put up a fight. I’ve had more fun with the Shadowed One’s training dummies on Odina."

The Glatorian stirred. His crazed eyes fixed on Skorpix, and recognition flared within his haunted pupils.

"No! I won’t-"

"Be silent.” said Windeus. His voice carried a slight tremor this time. “One of our number is not yet here. She alone will speak with you."

"What? Who do you mean? What do you want from me?"

"The Veiled Ones were forced to break his mind, and even then they didn’t get the full story." said Lariska.

"And you never will!" snarled the Glatorian. He seemed unafraid of them all, but Skorpix felt his mind recoil from the sheer darkness encased in this chamber. "I'll tell you nothing more.!"

"Oh, that I very much doubt. We are masters of...forceful persuasion." said Windeus silkily. “But you can avoid this most terrible torture if you tell us the secret you’ve been hiding from us. Where are the Shadow Hunters?” The emerald elemental snarled the last five words.

"My secrets will die with me." said the Glatorian, but his eyes were slightly fearful now. Skorpix had to admire his suicidal devotion to the rebellion’s cause, no matter how foolhardy it was.

And because he knew what would happen now, he almost pitied the Glatorian.

"My secrets will die with me." said Xandrek, voice faltering as his gaze fixed on the tall, dark Elemental Prince of Earth. Once, he had been one of the most brilliant minds in the rebellion’s armies. Now his mind was torn apart by the Corpsian’s torture. They had broken his spirit and power completely.

Later, they’d taken him back to his cell, and he’d hoped they were finished, until the evil Dark Hunter Lariska came for him. And he knew that those who met the Shadowy Ones rarely lived to tell the tale. These Elementals had once ruled all of Xaterex with their power before the Shadow Cataclysm. Now, their power broken, they had scattered, only a few remaining allied with the Empire.

''But if they're here...that means the Empire is going to begin a new campaign. But what? If there are any celestial bodies beyond the Xaterex and Solis Magna Systems, the Empire would have conquered them by now.''

As if in answer to his defiance, the torches flickered and dimmed.

Lariska’s smile faltered.

Skorpix and Windeus tensed.

Nex muttered something unintelligible and shoved Xandrek toward the shadows, which appeared to be writhing, as if recoiling from something more terrible then they. Xandrek, now irrationally terrified, staggered backward as he noticed the fifth Elemental in the shadows, where before there had only been darkness.

Dread froze his soul as he looked into pitiless red eyes that glared out from behind a slitted mask. The being that stood before him clutched a scepter in one hand topped by a black and scarlet orb, from which shone a dark light so terrible he flinched and looked away. As he was forced to lock eyes with the being, Xandrek noticed that its hands were pale gray and tinged with green, like those on a corpse.

"Bow before Eostra." snarled Skorpix. "Bow before the annihilator."

"No." gasped the Glatorian. "No, please. I’ll tell you everything! I’ll-"

A chilling hand seemed to close over his throat, choking off his voice. The dread being spoke, her voice harsher then any Veiled One.

"Bring it closer." Xandrek saw the raw terror in Nex’s eyes as the green Elemental shoved him to the ground before Eostra. A terrible scarlet light shone down on him from the scepter, bathing him in the dark illumination.

"This pathetic being is shielded by another." the Glatorian recognized Eostra’s scratchy voice. "He has been nearly broken. Let Eostra take him."

"No, please, no." gasped Xandrek as he was engulfed by sheer terror. The world was spinning all around him, but he could still see Eostra’s nightmarish Kanohi as she ravaged through his mind, exposing the secret he had fought so hard to protect from the Veiled Ones, the secret that the leaders of the resistance had trusted him with.

When he had been taken by the Veiled Ones, he had lost all fear of death. He knew there was no escape, but had continued to use the powerful shield one of the rebel commanders had given him to protect the one secret that could destroy the rebellion utterly.

But now Eostra and the other Shadowy Ones knew his secret.

And he had found out there were things far, far worse then death.

Xandrek felt the world begin to fade, felt his vision dim as Eostra’s shadowy power began to spread through his body, chilling and burning him all at once.

''Let me die. ''He thought. ''Let me die now. ''

Then something deep within him erupted like a flame. He couldn't die now. He had to find a way somehow to stop the Shadowy Ones from returning to their full power. If they did, there would be no hope for the rebellion. Slowly his eyes flickered, as if awaking from a stupor.

"I’ll kill you all." He snarled defiantly. "The rebels granted me Elemental power. I’ll bring these caves down on top of you."

Nex looked uncertain now, but Eostra stayed completely cold and emotionless, as if the Glatorian’s threat meant nothing to him.

''Does nothing scare her? Does she feel anything save the hunger for complete power?'' Xandrek wondered.

"You have no power against me." hissed her chill voice.

“You were burned once. One of your members betrayed you. I’ll finish the job.” Fire flickered into existence at his fingertips. Now all of the Shadowy Ones except Skorpix had backed away from Xandrek and Eostra. The two beings, Elemental and Glatorian, seemed to stand still for a moment, then Skorpix’s wingblade slashed down at him. Xandrek ducked the first blow, but the second struck him in the chest. He traded blows with Skorpix for a few moments, then broke away. The small flame he’d created had become a fireball now. As Skorpix drew back to strike again, he threw his arm forward.

Suddenly he was lifted off his feet and flung against the wall. Slowly the caves came back into view, and as his vision cleared, he saw Windeus standing over him. Looking around wildly for an escape route, he realized with a sinking feeling there was none. Skorpix barred one way and Eostra the other. Even if he could escape the three Elementals, Lariska and Nex were still guarding the exit.

He tried to get to his feet, but Eostra’s dread power held him still. Slowly she raised the scepter and pointed it at him.

The Scepter of Darkness. Xandrek thought in horror. He knew exactly what the scepter did, and it terrified him as much as Eostra did. Fire danced for a moment in has armored hand, then flickered out. Seeing his last defense fail, he knew he was dead.

"We know your secret, Glatorian.” said Eostra, pointing the scepter at him. “We have no further use for you."

He was conscious of every detail. He saw Eostra’s corpse hand tighten around the scepter. He saw Skorpix’s dispassionate red gaze scorch him from the darkness. He saw the black lightning arc from the Scepter of Darkness and strike him.

Pain tore through him and he screamed once before his body crumbled to ash.

And in those last moments, he felt acceptance begin to overtake the fear of death. Who was he to think he could challenge the might of the Empire and live? He would die, and soon, the rebels would all die as well. There was no way he could avoid his fate, no way any of them could.

Then the darkest of all shrouds enveloped him and his world went black.

Chapter 1
Shadows obscured the moons of Spherus Magna, draping the city of Intax below in a dark shroud. Ominous clouds moved slowly across the sky, occasionally allowing the glimmer of a few stars to shine through the shadows. For a moment, the stars illuminated the golden-armored being striding through the seemingly abandoned street in the city below. Then, as if they had never been there, the stars vanished.

Shardak looked at the cloudy sky and realized this would be a deceptive night. The clouds offered him perfect cover, but if the stars chose to shine down on him, he would lose the darkness that protected him.

I'm a Toa of Light, yet I use the shadows to hide me. Shardak thought wryly. His emerald eyes scanned the empty street, searching for the being he knew was following him.

There! A flash of crimson armor slipped through the shadows and vanished once more. Shardak allowed himself to relax, knowing it was not an enemy now. While he had suspected someone had followed him here, he had no idea whether it was a friend, an enemy, or worse still, a Veiled One.

Wandering in Intax during the night was punishable by death. If he was killed, his Toa friends, Arcturas and Nightshade, would starve to death or worse.

Tonight could end with me being killed. thought Shardak uneasily. This plan is very daring, and could go wrong in so many ways.

"Thar, is that you?" said Shardak, his voice barely above a whisper.

A red-armored Glatorian appeared beside him, causing Shardak to nearly jump in surprise. He hadn't realized Thar had been following him so closely.

"The Veiled Ones are everywhere tonight." said Thar quietly. "They're watching the end of the Eternal Game."

"The Eternal Game?" said Shardak with mock excitement. "Who's left?"

"Serrakaan, Dredzek, Tabaris, Fairon, and Iruka. There's one more, too. A Kodax." said Thar. "Last night Phoenix and Tanuva were killed."

"Quite a few competitors left." said Shardak. "Do they expect this to be the final night of the Games?"

"It will be. They've driven the six survivors so close together that it'll all resolve tonight."

"We'd better head over here." said Shardak, even though he would rather be anywhere else. "Then, at least, we have an excuse if the Veiled Ones find us."

"Kor's over there now." whispered Thar. "Let's go." Quietly the two beings, Toa and Glatorian, vanished into the darkness. Shardak wondered what the Kodax and their Veiled One overlords had planned for the conclusion of this Eternal Game.

No doubt there will be a bloodbath. he thought. Long before his time the Veiled Ones, who had established a totalitarian government on the world known as Drakos I, began their systematic takeover of the entire star system surrounding Xaterex. The result was the Empire, six worlds ruled from the Capitol, Drakos I.

Following the end of the war, the Veiled Ones established the Eternal Game, the Veiled One's massive yearly fight to the death contest based in Metru Nui. Each year, the servants of the Empire were forced to send any suspected rebels, as well as a normal group of four citizens, to kill the other contestants until only one remained alive.

That, and they changed the face of the universe itself. thought Shardak. Once, according to Arcturas, Spherus Magna had been a paradise. Now it was a world of dark hills and canyons, with an entire system of underground tunnels beneath the smashed world.

"We're here now." said Thar, breaking through Shardak's dark thoughts. Shardak looked up, and saw at least fifty beings gathered before a massive holographic screen. It was hard to make out Veiled Ones in the darkness, but he spotted three cloaked figures standing in front of the crowd, their long shredsteel spears held upright.

Shardak turned his gaze toward the holograph, and saw a Toa of light he recognized as Fairon racing toward a cache, in which lay a single device, the teleporter. A massive red and black being was charging at him, and as he watched, the Toa of light vanished. Shardak had seen enough Eternal Games to know he'd fallen into a pit trap. Triumph glowed in the massive being's eyes as the Toa struggled to climb out of the pit. Then, suddenly, he exploded into bloody fragments.

"That was Tabaris." said Thar. "Five left now."

Shardak nodded tensely, then he and Thar vanished into the crowd. Many of the beings they passed were cheering for Serrakaan, the being who'd killed Tabaris. A smaller but just as vocal faction thought Dredzek, another Makuta, would win. The largest faction believed Iruka would win the games. Shardak had seen Iruka in battle. He was more then a match for Dredzek and Fairon, though Serrakaan was a major threat.

"There's Kor." Shardak whispered to Thar, suddenly noticing the gray armored being lurking around the edges of the crowd. "We need to finish this, and fast. The Reavers will have only left a few guards on duty tonight."

Shardak looked at the holograph again. Fairon stood over the Kodax's decapitated corpse, and Serrakaan held the teleporter. Dredzek was fighting the cloaked Makuta now, but was wounded badly. Of Iruka there was no sign.

"Kor." said Shardak, startling the being. Kor's blue eyes stared at Shardak for a moment, then he drew his weapon, a long spiked mace.

"Time?" he asked. Shardak nodded. "This will resolve in a few minutes. We need to go now."

"Nobody's noticed your weapons yet?" asked Kor, surprised.

"They're all watching the games conclude." said Shardak. "They'd miss a Shallows Cat attacking them."

Shardak drew his weapon, and the three beings vanished into the darkness. The sword Shardak held glowed with an ethereal light, illuminating the path away from the center of the city. Shardak scanned the streets for any sign of Reavers or Veiled Ones, but saw neither.

They could be out there. he thought. He knew Kor, who could see perfectly in the darkness, saw no signs of danger, but the Veiled Ones were masters of stealth. Who hadn't heard the stories? An Agori walking along with two friends when suddenly he realized he was alone, his friends lying dead in the streets, their throats cut by the Veiled One's shredsteel weapons. The Vortixx who was found dead three miles away from the nearest city, killed by Corpsian daggers...

When Shardak was younger, he'd scare Arcturas, blurting out things about the Eternal Game and the Veiled Ones who ruled over them in Drakos I. Eventually, he'd realized such talk would only bring trouble with the Corpsians. Still, the flames of anger had not died within him. The Empire had taken so much from others, and could kill Nightshade and Arcturas any minute for being Toa. Their Shadow Cataclsym had destroyed the paradise that was once Spherus Magna, leaving it broken and twisted. And why? Because they'd destroyed the rebellious world of Xaterex as punishment for resisting their rule.

There's nothing you can do against them. thought Shardak. ''I'm just one Toa. They control Spherus Magna and four other planets. Just keep Nightshade and Arcturas alive by completing this mission.''

"Okay, what's the plan?" said Kor when the three were a safe distance away from the crowds.

"We're going raid the Reavers' main fortress. Recently three of our group have been decoying the Reaver's forces away from our hidden camp, and tonight, while most of them are watching the Eternal Game, we'll take their supplies." said Shardak, without enthusiasm. He didn't enjoy taking from those who were as desperate as he was. Still, if they didn't strike first, the Reavers or another one of the factions trying to rule the underworld of Intax would eliminate them.

"Risky." said Kor. "It can go wrong in so many ways. Are we taking any of the others?"

Shardak shook his head. "We can't attract attention. The Veiled Ones are everywhere tonight."

"We have to strike now." said Thar, cutting off Kor's protests. "We've been making attacks on their outposts recently, and if we don't finish them tonight, they'll end up becoming a major threat."

"And if the Drakon Alliance or another faction has planned to attack tonight, we're finished." said Kor. Shardak shook his head in reply.

"They're not going to try something so risky. If we encounter opposition, it'll be Reavers or another small faction."

A lantern flashed through the darkness, for a brief moment blinding Shardak. Thar and Kor vanished into the shadows, as if they'd never been there. Shardak, however, was too slow to react. As he recovered, the lantern illuminated the point of a dagger aimed his neck.

Years of instinct took over as Shardak struck the attacker a blow to the side of the head. The enemy collapsed, and Shardak stared at the face of a scarred Glatorian Reaver lying prone before him. He turned and ran before the stunned Glatorian even realized what had hit him.

"Let's go." said Shardak. "That was a Reaver, and I don't know if he's alone. We have to run." The three beings raced down the alley and turned around the corner. Two Reavers were walking down the street, their long daggers and spears held ready.

They haven't noticed us. thought Shardak. So they're not Skakdi or Vortixx. As they passed so close to the Reavers they could reach out and touch them, Shardak recognized them, an Agori that the Reavers had recently recruited, and a battle-scarred Glatorian. Shardak eyed him warily. Scars marked you as a survivor. If you had been scarred so many times, you're likely a veteran of many battles and raids.

"We could've dealt with them." said Kor once the three warriors were out of range.

"We'd have alerted their entire guard." responded Shardak in a voice lower then a whisper.

"So far we've only encountered advance scouting patrols." hissed Thar. "The rest of the Reavers are probably guarding the fortress itself."

The three wraithlike figures melded once more with the shadows. While a Skakdi or Vortixx could easily notice them, they were nearly invisible to any Glatorian or Agori.

If only there was a way to escape their night vision. thought Shardak, remembering the time he'd underestimated a Skakdi and was wounded badly. He'd narrowly escaped when Thar and Kor had arrived and defeated the Skakdi.

The three of them, as well as two spearfighting Glatorian known as Spirak and Spiruk, had formed a loose alliance. All of them came from different backgrounds, but they all had a common goal: they had to protect and feed their friends who couldn't defend themselves.

Eventually a Skakdi known as Darvak and three Agori joined them, and Spirak and Spiruk were captured by the Veiled Ones and taken to fight in the Eternal Game. But the remaining seven of their team survived in their early battles against the various gangs and organizations that operated in Intax Nui, and Shardak had become their unspoken leader. Under his command they had become more powerful, and various Skakdi and Glatorian joined them.

Now, with ten beings under his command, Shardak had taken on the Reavers, the most powerful of the gangs that operated in Intax. While they all believed he was a Glatorian, and most of them were Glatorian or Skakdi, Shardak liked to think they were his Toa team, like Arcturas had taken him on as his mentor when he was far to young to survive on his own on a world that hunted and killed Toa.

There had been losses, too after Spirak and Spiruk were taken, Darvak had died in a battle with the Ravagers. An Agori was killed by Veiled Ones after being knocked out when the Drakon Alliance raided their old camp, and a matoran known as Onepu had been killed by archers while decoying a Reaver scouting group away from their team's headquarters.

You can't dwell on their deaths now. thought Shardak grimly. Not when Reavers could be watching your every move.

Turning down a narrow street, Shardak pointed one armored hand at a dilapidated building. The roof had collapsed, and one wall had been nearly destroyed. Although it had been badly damaged since their last raid here, all three, both Toa and Glatorian, recognized it.

Once, it had served as a Veiled One outpost. Later, it fell into disuse, and the Empire stored supplies and weapons there. Now, many years later, it had been abandoned, and it now served as the Reaver's unofficial headquarters. Shardak could make out three shadowy beings moving stealthily through the darkness.

Skakdi. thought Shardak. While he wanted to launch an attack now, before there was a chance the Skakdi noticed them, he knew they had to make sure there were no hidden traps or guards. Blending with the darkness, Shardak watched the Skakdi continue prowling around the building. None of the Reavers spoke, and Shardak noticed another Reaver- a Glatorian or Agori- hidden near the entryway of the Reavers' makeshift fortress. One Skakdi turned his head and looked directly at Shardak. He opened his mouth to call a warning-

His screech was cut off as Shardak struck him a blow to the side of the head. The Skakdi collapsed, and Shardak tensed as the Agori guard slammed into him. Shardak saw the green armor flash as the Agori's claws scratched his shoulder. As the Agori raised his claw back to rake open his head, Shardak twisted upward and flung the Agori against the door of the fortress. The guard collapsed and did not get up.

Thar was fighting two Skakdi and was being forced toward the fortress wall, but Kor was holding his own against the remaining guard. Shardak slammed into one of the Skakdi fighting Thar, and the impact knocked his weapon out of his hand. The Skakdi was able to hold on to one weapon, and stabbed it at Shardak's shoulder. The Toa winced as the blade pierced his armor and sank into the muscle below. The Skakdi stabbed out again, and Shardak narrowly twisted out of the way. Shardak punched the Skakdi in the face, and rolled away from the prone Reaver, grabbing his weapon.

The Skakdi picked up his second weapon, a massive mace, and charged Shardak. The two beings traded blows for a few moments, then Shardak struck the Skakdi a blow to the shoulder and twisted the mace out of his hand. As the Skakdi's dagger slashed at Shardak's chest, Shardak whirled around and smashed the dagger to bloody shards. For a moment the Skakdi stared at Shardak in disbelief, then Shardak slammed the flat of the blade against his chest. The Skakdi fell to the ground.

Shardak surveyed the battlefield. Kor was being driven back by the two remaining Skakdi, and their elemental powers of fire, while weak, were distracting him. The Skakdi Shardak had wounded at the beginning of the conflict was fighing Thar, but he seemed to be holding his own. Shardak struck one of the Skakdi fighting Kor with a blow fromhis weapon. The smallest hint of his Elemental power burned the Skakdi, and while he was distracted for a moment, Kor hit him with his mace in the chest. The Reaver sank to the floor in a bloody heap. "I've got this one." said Kor under his breath. Shardak saw that Thar had knocked his Skakdi unconscious, and the last Reaver was being forced toward the doorway of the fortress. Kor raised his mace, and the Skakdi smashed it to pieces. Kor staggered away from the Skakdi's next blow.

Shardak grabbed the broken mace. As the Skakdi battered Kor to the ground, he flung it at the Reaver. The mace head impacted against the Reaver's skull, and he fell, the wall of the fortress holding him upright. Thar joined him at the entrace to the Reaver fortress, and Kor, after grabbing the unconsious Skakdi's weapons, followed Thar.

Shardak saw the Agori was beginning to stir. Any minute now he would sound the alarm, and the Reaver scouts they'd seen would join him. If they joined with the Agori and Skakdi, they would easily defeat Glatorian and Toa.

"Get inside." said Shardak under his breath just as the Agori yelled for help. "He's seen the unconsious Skakdi." One of the Skakdi Shardak had knocked out was also beginning to stir.

"They'll trap us inside the fortress." whispered Kor. His voice was urgent now. "If they block the exit, we're finished. Shardak heard the Skakdi and Agori talking outside, then enter the building. The Skakdi was carrying one of his fallen warrior's weapons, and the Jungle Agori's claws gleamed in the shadows. Shardak could hear activity outside.

"Surrender, and you will be killed quickly." snarled a voice. Shardak recognized it as the voice of the Agori recruit they'd spotted earlier. If he was here, then the scarred Glatorian Reaver was there was well. Shardak felt dread begin to mount within him. They might be able to fight it out, but Shardak knew that either the Reavers would kill them or he would be forced to kill a Reaver. And it was against every law in the Toa Code to kill. Disable, yes. Injure in self-defense or in defense of a friend, yes. But to take another's life was out of the question.

What can I do? Shardak thought desperately. There must be a way out, somehow-

Suddenly the clash of steel on steel rang out once more. Shardak thought for a moment either Kor or Thar had charged the Reavers, or they had been attacked, but both of them were still standing next to him. He saw the Jungle Agori's eyes close, and watched him collapse. In his place stood a small male Vortixx. The other Agori tried to flee, but before he could take more then a step back, the Vortixx decapitated him.

Shardak knew instantly the Agori was dead, but he still winced as he saw the Agori's shredded body collapse in a bloody heap on the floor.

The scarred Glatorian warrior was fighting the Vortixx now. Two ebon-armored Skakdi, their eyes gleaming in the darkness, fell upon the Glatorian as well. A third, blue-armored Skakdi saw Thar and charged. The torches the new enemies carried illuminated the insignia of the Ravagers, the brutal gang that had killed Darvak in a raid on one of Shardak's outposts.

So the Ravagers decided to attack as well. thought Shardak. And ironically, they just saved us from certain death.

However, as Shardak saw the Reaver Skakdi fall, his throat shredded by the Vortixx, and the scarred Glatorian strike a Skakdi a fatal blow to the chest, he realized the fight had gone against them. Worse, the Veiled Ones would notice the carnage and come to investigate.

"Grab as many supplies as you can." he ordered, trying to keep his voice calm. "We have to go."

Thar broke away from the Skakdi he was fighting, and Shardak grabbed a pack full of the Reaver's supplies. Kor did the same, and they raced from the building.

"Watch out!" Kor yelled. Shardak whirled around to see the scarred Glatorian standing behind him, weapons raised. Shardak staggered away, but the Reaver was faster-

His blade stopped inches from Shardak's throat. As his vision cleared, he saw Kor's sack of supplies wrapped around the Glatorian's head. Blinded, the Reaver staggered away, and the Vortixx struck him in the back with one of his rotating blades. The Glatorian collapsed against the wall.

One of the ebon armored Skakdi was getting to his feet, and Shardak saw the remaining Reaver Agori rise to his feet, taking in the carnage around him. The other ebon armored Skakdi was fighting the badly injured Glatorian Reaver.

Shardak slipped away into the shadows. Eventually, the sounds of battle faded completely. Shardak exhaled softly. He hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath. That was undoubtably the worst skirmish he'd ever been in. There had never been more casualties since Spirak and Spiruk had been taken.

Shardak looked around, wondering where Kor and Thar were hiding. He sensed a presance near him, but he didn't know whether it was friend or foe. Drawing his sword, Shardak crept stealthily forward. He could see the figure now. It was Kor, and he was standing over another being's prone body.

"Kor?" whispered Shardak, then cursed himself, realizing that if any Reavers were nearby watching Kor's struggle, they'd know he had joined his friend.

However, when Kor turned around, there was no sign of any beings near him, except the Glatorian. Shardak saw he was carrying two large packs of supplies. The Glatorian was obviously bringing new items to the Reaver guards when Kor caught him by surprise.

"Caught this Reaver Glatorian on the way back from the Eternal Game." said Kor. "Says Fairon and Iruka are fighting it out right now."

"Are there any other competitors left?" asked Shardak, his curiosity piqued despite the danger that surrounded them.

"None." Kor replied. "Serrakaan wounded Dredzek mortally, then burned up when they set the arena on fire-" Shardak cut him off.

"They did what?" asked Shardak.

"This Glatorian here says they set the arena on fire." said Kor. "Stranger things have happened in the Eternal Game. Remember that one year when the arena was a massive minefield-"

"-And the element-controlling Glatorian Flardrek set them off, killing the alliance that was chasing him." said Shardak. He, Thar, and Kor had watched almost every Eternal Game together for fifteen years. They knew them all. Each one had been irrevocably burned into their minds forever.

"Anyway, they set the arena on fire, and Serrakaan was burned up as well. Either that or Iruka finished him. Iruka then attacked Fairon."

"It could be over now." said Shardak. He hoped Fairon won, though he didn't say so. If a Toa won the games, the Empire would be more then furious. The Eternal Game is their ultimate weapon and you're not supposed to be able to defeat it.

"Where's Thar?" asked Kor, breaking into Shardak's thoughts.

"Here." said Thar. "I ran into one of the Skakdi. The ebon armored one."

"Did you defeat him?" asked Shardak. Skakdi were very powerful and difficult to defeat, unless caught by surprise.

"No, I evaded him, but I had to backtrack toward the Reaver fortress. The Ravagers are losing. The scarred Glatorian and one Agori are still fighting the Vortixx and the Ravager Skakdi."

"Let's return to Intax." said Kor. "If we don't return soon, we'll be hunted down by Veiled Ones. That, or the Skakdi we stunned."

"I don't know why we don't kill them." said Thar. "It's not like they ever showed any mercy on us. They killed Onepu. And they killed an Agori whose name we never learned."

Shardak still remembered the terrible raid on their outpost. The Agori, who had found Thar and Shardak there, wanted to join them, as he was providing for three starving friends. He was killed in the raid before they could even learn his name. Shardak never learned the names of the Agori's friends, or if they survived.

"They're just as desperate as we are." said Shardak. "But we aren't a gang struggling to survive. We're trying to help others, and we're not helping them by killing those as desperate as they are. Taking their supplies can be justified. They have so much more then we do since they attacked the Drakon Alliance. But killing them isn't...the answer."

If only he could explain to them he was a Toa. He could never allow his friends to visit his other team, for if they were captured by Veiled Ones or another gang, they would be forced to give away all of their leader's secrets. And while the Veiled Ones barely cared about the gangs that were formed in Intax, a group led by a Toa would never be acceptable. They'd hunt him down with their entire militia on Spherus Magna if they had to.

He'd never visited Kor's or Thar's friends. They'd never asked him, and he knew they also valued their privacy. Perhaps they were hiding a dark secret as well. He would never know, probably. It was possible that Thar could be a Toa in hiding as well, and that Kor could be a Corpsian spy. Highly unlikely, but possible.

Trust no one. thought Shardak. It was a lesson that had served him well in the years he'd spent within Intax.

"Let's divide the supplies we've captured and return to Intax before the Veiled Ones come and investigate." whispered Shardak when Kor and Thar did not respond to him. They nodded.

Kor was carrying a sack of food that would last about two weeks. Once they divided it, it would be good for about three days each. Shardak's sack was smaller, and contained many healing herbs as well as edible plants.

"We'll split it three ways." said Shardak. The food would last for just under a week for each of them. Each of them also donated half their share to their team's supplies, for the other members of their group that hadn't participated in the raid.

It'll last for four days at most. thought Shardak. Then they would have to go raiding again. ''All this, and for what? For four days of food that would simply force us to raid the Reavers or another gang in a few days.''

"We barely got out of there alive." said Kor, as if sensing Shardak's thoughts. "We're lucky we escaped with anything."

"I know." said Shardak. "But this will just infuriate the Reavers. Worse, if the Ravagers win the battle, it'll force the Reavers to raid us to take their supplies back."

"We'll have most of it hidden by then." said Kor.

"I know." replied Shardak. "But eventually we'll be forced to kill, or be killed." "We have to leave now." said Thar, breaking in. "If the Veiled Ones find us-"

He didn't bother finishing the thought. All of them were aware of the unspoken punishment that awaited them if they were ever captured carrying weapons. All forms of violence, except "law enforcement" by the Empire, were prohibited in Intax.

The three warriors raced toward the center of the village. They could hear screams, the clash of weapons, and the roar of flames. It was nearly over now.

As they rounded the block and began to merge with the crowd, he saw Fairon, hanging on the edge of a massive abyss, fumbling with the teleporter. Of Iruka there was no sign. As he watched, Fairon vanished.

"He won?" asked Shardak excitedly. "Fairon won?"

"Have you been paying any attention?" asked a Glatorian. Shardak thanked the shadows, which obscured the dried blood which still stained his armor from the Glatorian's sight. "Yes, he won." the Glatorian said grimly.

Then Shardak realized something startling. No one was cheering for the victor. Not even the Kodax, or the beings who were simply beyond caring what happened in the arena. Not a single being. Shardak saw dread and outright terror in the faces of Intax's citizens, and while the Veiled Ones, as usual, displayed no emotion whatsoever, Shardak saw the promise of death in the eyes of the Kodax.

"A Toa has won the Eternal Game." whispered Shardak in awe. "He's defeated their ultimate weapon."

Then, he realized what was terrifying the population of Intax. Dread stabbed through him, as fierce as a Ravager dagger.

What will the Empire do now?

Chapter 2
It was long past midnight by the time Shardak returned to Arcturas’ camp. Pale streaks of pink light were beginning to replace the shadows as the sun crept tentatively above the horizon, illuminating the black, twisted caverns. The surface of Spherus Magna had been scarred unrecognizably by the Shadow Cataclysm, and in place of the great northern forests and the deserts of Bara Magna, twisted canyons and underground tunnels covered most of the planet. Dark, abandoned cities stood as a ghostly remnant of all that Spherus Magna had lost.

"Shardak!" a voice rang out through the forest, startling a group of nearby insectlike Rahi. Shardak tensed, then realized it was Nightshade. They'd probably been waiting for him all through the night. He'd promised he would return after the Games were finished, but it had taken him longer then he'd expected to evade the Kodax. Veiled Ones were everywhere, and he knew they must have realized what had happened at the Reaver's stronghold.

I hope Kor and Thar escaped safely. thought Shardak. Mata Nui protect them if the Veiled Ones have them-

"Shardak!" called Nightshade again.

"Coming, Nightshade!" he called back. He had to let them know he was alive. Intax was a dangerous place for the unwary, and if he was killed, they would be forced to enter Intax and try to hide the fact they were Toa as well. Shardak saw the ground curve sharply downward, and saw the caves in the distance where Nightshade and Arcturas had been living recently. While they were always on the move, they never wandered too far away from Intax.

As he strode toward the cavern, he saw Nightshade standing near the entrance to the darkened maw. She was a tall, slender Toa who wore gleaming silver armor. Her eyes were a beautiful emerald green color, and she looked relieved as she saw Shardak. Or maybe she was relieved to see the supplies. He could never tell with her.

"Ah, the city-dweller returns." she said as he joined her at the mouth of the cavern. "We've been searching for you all night."

"It took me longer then expected to escape the Veiled Ones." said Shardak defensively.

"Never underestimate your enemy." said a new voice. Both Shardak and Nightshade turned to face a tall, golden armored Toa standing beside them. His eyes glowed with relief as he noticed Shardak.

"Arcturas." said Shardak respectfully. He owed this Toa his life. Arcturas had told him in the days when Toa had not been completely eradicated, one of the Toa's order had created Shardak using the energies of a Toa Stone soon after, the Empire had launched its final, cataclysmic attack on the Toa, killing almost the entire group. Arcturas had escaped with Shardak, and began teaching him how to control his Elemental Power. Even though he could barely remember the days when he had been created, some part of him remembered fire, as well as the clash of weapons.

"So you managed to complete the raid." said Arcturas, with a slight hint of disapproval in his tone.

"He barely got away." said Shardak. "But you have to hear this, it's too dangerous in Intax now for us."

"What happened?" asked Arcturas. "Were you spotted by the Corpsians?"

"No. But the Eternal Game is over. Fairon won." Shardak replied.

"Fairon?" asked Arcturas. "He's a Toa." Then the horror struck him dead-on. "The Empire will be furious at his victory."

"I know." said Shardak. "We should probably abandon Intax now. But I can't leave my friends. They'll be slaughtered by Reavers without me."

"Kor and Thar can take care of themselves." said Arcturas.

"But not seven more Glatorian and Agori!" said Shardak, exasperated. "Back when the Empire first took over, Toa weren't killed off immediately. Some Toa victors are still alive today. But now, Toa has become synonymous with corpse!"

"I know." said Arcturas. "But what else can we do? If you leave Intax suddenly, you'll leave a trail easily traced by the Veiled Ones. A trail that could lead them here."

Shardak realized they were trapped. They could leave, and risk being tracked by the Veiled Ones, or they could stay, and be attacked and rooted out by the Veiled Ones. While he and Arcturas were reasonably sure the Corpsians knew nothing of their camps on the outskirts of Intax. But as Arcturas had often said, underestimating the Veiled Ones was a sure way to get them all killed.

But they'd never been in a situation like this before. Now, both of their choices could very likely end in death. Shardak saw Nightshade watching them, fear in her eyes. The Veiled Ones used to scare her, and while now she was not as afraid as she had once been, being put in this indefensible situation made their lives doubly as dangerous.

Shardak turned his gaze toward the skies, watching the dawn break over Spherus Magna. The darkness was replaced by half-light now, and the Veiled One's artificial sun was beginning to rise higher into the sky.

"Shardak! Watch out!" yelled Arcturas. Startled, Shardak whirled around, startled.

"Arcturas? What-"

A Veiled One stood before them in a its dark glory. Its dark hood seemed to melt into the remaining shadows, and one clawed, corpse-like hand held a long sickle. Quicker then Shardak thought possible, it stabbed out at Arcturas. The older Toa raised his weapon, the powerful Blade of Arcturas, and blocked the Veiled One's second blow.

"Arcturas! No!" screamed Shardak. His own weapon gleamed with silver light as he charged the Veiled One-

Suddenly he felt weak and dizzy. He tried to right himself against the sudden vertigo, but was unable to and fell to the ground. As his vision cleared he saw a smaller, dark-armored soldier standing above him. Despite his confusion at the sudden attack, he recognized this Veiled One. A Copy of Corpse.

Shardak saw the Scythe slash out again at Arcturas, and blood spurted along the blade as the Toa staggered away from his attacker. More Corpsians appeared in the darkness, their cloaks concealing them in the shadows. Arcturas' blade exploded into flames, illuminating a Copy's skeletal Kanohi for an instant before Arcturas slashed it to the ground. The dark figure collapsed beneath the blade. Arcturas whirled around as a second Corpsian lept at him, and the original Veiled One, his robes smoldering, stabbed Arcturas through the back.

Shardak couldn't watch any more. He raised his sword, and the blade glowed with power. He looked back for the briefest instant, and saw that Nightshade was nowhere to be seen. Had she been taken by a Corpsian? Shardak raised his glowing sword and stabbed at the Copy. Faster than lightning, the Corpse soldier whirled around, his daggerlike scythe stabbing into Shardak's forearm. The pain was excruciating, and just as Shardak thought he was going to die, the pain was replaced by a feeling of icy numbness, deadening his arm. He stabbed at the Copy again, but the soldier disarmed him in a single blow. His sword, bent and damaged, fell to the ground, gleaming for a single moment before going dark.

Shardak saw Arcturas throw an attacker off him and raced to Shardak's side. His face was set in a grim line. Too late, Shardak saw the Corpsian he'd been fighting a second ago appear out of nowhere, the scythe raised to cut Shardak to the ground. Arcturas raced out of the darkness and slammed the Corpsian with his shoulder guard, knocking the soldier backward.

Shardak saw another Copy, his scythe gleaming a bloodred color, stab out at Arcturas. Arcturas narrowly blocked the blow, and stabbed out at the Corpsian.

Suddenly a dark blur appeared behind Arcturas like a phantom. Shardak opened his mouth to cry out a warning, but was unable to get the words out before the original Corpsian had stabbed the dagger into Arcturas. Arcturas fell to the ground, blood pouring from a ragged wound in his chest. The Corpsian stabbed out at Arcturas again, and the Toa collapsed on the ground.

Shardak raced over to him. The Corpsian raised his scythe to decapitate the younger Toa, but Shardak flung out his hands and rays of fire struck the Corpsian. The soldier blocked the first blow, but was unable to stop the second from striking him. The Corpsian vanished into the darkness. Shardak looked up and saw more of the Corpsians standing in the shadows, firing dark pulses from their weapons.

"Arcturas!" Shardak said urgently. "We're under fire! Run!" Arcturas opened one eye. "I am dying, Shardak." He gasped.

"No!" said Shardak. "We'll get you to Intax, we can invent some story-"

"The wound is fatal, Shardak. I cannot move, or I will hasten my passing."

"Take this," he said, placing the blade in the hands of Shardak. The Blade of Arcturas. Normally Shardak would've argued, saying he wasn't worthy of the legendary weapon, but now he reached out and touched it. A bolt of energy shot up his arm, and his vision went out of focus.

"We can still escape." Shardak said desperately, and for a moment he was oblivious to the Imperial soldiers firing at them, to the noises of the night, to everything but Arcturas.

"No. Run!" Arcturas gasped. "You have to live. Then we may still have some hope." His voice softened. "You can survive. Just- don't hate me in the end. When you know the truth."

"What truth? What-" Shardak was cut off by the sound of fire as the Corpsians fired more dark red pulses at them.

"Flee..." Arcturas gasped, his speech horribly slurred. "They'll not follow you, they only want me. Run!" The effort of speaking made the blood flow faster from his horrible wounds. Shardak knew then there was no way to save Arcturas. If he fled with the Toa, the Corpsians would follow them, and kill them both. And Arcturas had said he must live. For what reason, Shardak did not know, but he guessed it went beyond the bond they shared.

"Go to the resistance..." Arcturas' voice had become quieter, and Shardak saw the Corpsians charging up the slopes. The Imperial soldiers held their daggers tightly, and their dark red eyes gleamed. "Seek out Ion. He will guide you in the ways I should have. Go!"

Shardak turned and fled into the night, racing into the darkness. Brambles whipped at his face and plants sought to entangle him, but still he ran. He could see the Corpsian's flaming obsidian scythes even in the darkness, and he cursed the Empire over and over again in his mind. He could still see the fires of death burning in the shadows, and could see the shadowy Veiled One soldiers as they closed in around Arcturas' prone form.

Well, I can't remain here much longer. Shardak thought. The Veiled Ones knew that he was with Arcturas, and they don't like to leave loose ends hanging. Later, his emotions would come. Now, all he felt as he raced through the broken world outside the city was an icy numbness more cold then the scythe of a Corpsian.

The sun had risen over Intax, but it no longer held any meaning to Shardak.

The Empire has destroyed everything I have ever loved. Thought Shardak as he raced toward Intax, heedless of the thorns and briars that snagged on his armor and impeded his running.

He could not think properly, much less rationalize, without a fresh wave of shock, terror, and sorrow washing over him, as deadly as a real wave. He was still in shock of all that had occured. So many Corpse soldiers, apperating from nowhere...and killing Arcturas. He could hardly believe that the Toa was dead. And what had happened to Nightshade? She'd possibly been killed or captured as well.

Their small Toa team had been ruthlessly crushed. As soon as the sounds of battle faded, Shardak stopped, letting out his breath in long, ragged gasps. He hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath.

The unthinkable had happened. While they had discussed it happening, and taken many precautions against it, it hadn't mattered. The Corpsians were deadly enemies, and another wave of panic washed over Shardak.

I can't survive with the entire Empire against me! Shardak thought, imagining what the Corpsians were doing to Arcturas now. Ripping him apart, devouring him, imploding him...

Shardak shook his head. His thoughts were painful, so he put them from his mind. Instead, he thought of Arcturas' last instructions.

''Ion? I've never met a being called Ion. And-''

Suddenly a scythe flashed in the light. For a moment he saw the Corpsian standing before him. He tried to dodge the Veiled One's first blow, but it caught him on the shoulder. He stumbled, and saw three more Corpsians closing in on him.

I'm going to die. he thought. The irony was chilling. After surviving a large battle between two of Intax's gangs and escaping the Veiled Ones when the hooded Corpsian's group attacked, he would finally die at the hands of six Copies of Corpse.

Shardak stabbed one of the Veiled Ones through the chest, and winced as it fell to the ground. The Copy's wounds began to heal before Shardak's eyes, and the Copy grabbed his weapon and began to stagger toward Shardak.

They can't die. thought Shardak. ''Mata Nui help me. They're-''

He saw the flash of shadowy armor too late. He fell to the ground, and as his eyes blurred, he saw a Veiled One standing above him, triumphant, scythe raised. The last thing he saw before his world went black were twisting tendrils of fire snaking across the shadowy earth.

Then he was lost in a world beyond life, death, or caring, where the sound of Arcturas' last scream echoed ominously in his mind.

Skorpix's gleaming red eyes shone in the darkness as the Elemental watched the Corpsians overwhelm Arcturas. They'd crushed the other Prince quickly and ruthlessly. Skorpix now strode over to Arcturas. His eyes were no longer red, but a pale shade of blue, and blood poured from the horrible wound the Corpsian had inflicted on him. Skorpix eyed his former friend coldly, watching as the being he had hunted for twelve long years after the defeat of the Shadowy Ones bled slowly to death on the ground.

"So, Arcturas." said Skorpix, his voice as icy and pitiless as those of the Corpsians, "I see you've kept busy while I hunted you for years and years."

"And you finally caught up to me. I knew, one day, you and your Empire would."

"Oh, did you?" asked Skorpix mockingly. "I'm going to stop with this useless talk. Where is the Shadow Orb?" Skorpix's voice was calm, but layered with menace.

"I do not have it."

"Where is the Shadow Orb!" Skorpix screeched, and raked his claws down Arcturas' shoulder, lacerating his side. Blood welled from the open wound, and Arcturas' eyes began to glaze over.

Skorpix seized his chance. A mental ray of immense power invaded Arcturas' consciousness, and Arcturas was unable to block in time. The first thing Skorpix saw was the Toa, the one who had stood beside Arcturas, then fled when the Corpsians began to fire on them.

Oh, we'll deal with your Toa friend soon enough, don't you worry about that. Skorpix spoke into Arcturas' mind and laughed menacingly. Arcturas tried desperately to block out Skorpix's mental probe from delving deeper into his consciousness, but Skorpix crushed his defenses with deadly power that spoke of years of using his powers.

Where is the Shadow Orb? Skorpix snarled, losing patience. As soon as the dark Elemental mentioned the Shadow Orb, Arcturas' memories surfaced. The golden warrior quickly regained control over himself, but Skorpix was faster. Seizing control of Arcturas' mind, Skorpix ripped the memories from Arcturas and absorbed them into his won memories, reliving the Elemental's recent life. Skorpix saw Shardak's creation, and their first meeting with Nightshade.

Shardak will regret that decision you made. Skorpix hissed mockingly.

What do you mean, traitor? Arcturas asked, but Skorpix could tell his life was fading fast. His voice was distant, and blood still poured freely from his horrible wounds.

So, what do you know about the Spherus Magna rebels? asked Skorpix menacingly, his voice a soft, but barbed with poison more deadly than that of a Doom Viper. Arcturas was unable to shield his thoughts in time, and the Elemental quickly absorbed the location of the base. Skorpix withdrew from Arcturas' dying mind.

"What should I do with you?" Skorpix hissed. "I admit it would be more satisfying to leave you here, insane and lost, but...I crave instant satisfaction. I'm shallow like that. Goodbye, Arcturas. You evaded us for twelve long years, but in the end we found and killed you. Die knowing this: no one escapes the might of the Empire." Skorpix's Kanohi glowed, and a lance of black lightning burst from his claws, striking Arcturas dead-on and killing the Elemental instantly. His body writhed grotesquely on the ground for a few minutes, then fell still.

Skorpix gestured to a nearby Corpsian, and said in the scratchy, indecipherable Veiled One language, "Hang his body on a pike before our next attack. He will show the Hand and all of the rebels that no one escapes us. Ever."

The Veiled One nodded, and the soldier melted into the darkness to do Skorpix's bidding.

They are the perfect soldiers. thought the Elemental. Fearless, nearly invincible, and ruthlessly efficient. Still, while the Corpsian commander in charge of this expedition, the Fury, would have easily overwhelmed the Toa, Skorpix would rather personally oversee the death of his longtime enemy.

"Lord Skorpix, we have carried out your commands. Kharna is with us as well. However, the Toa of Light accompanying them escaped."

Skorpix hissed something unintelligible, and said. "Dispatch six Copies of Corpse to attack the Toa. But return him alive."

"Did they know anything of the resistance or the Shadow Hunters?" asked the Fury, in his nasal, emotionless voice.

"Nothing. He's been hiding outside Intax for at least three years, and before that he was near Avarus. They they've never left Spherus Magna since the final battle."

"A pathetic waste of the last Toa in the multiverse." said the Fury. "Arcturas could have used the Toa's power to rule the Empire."

"Do you think he is the one the Infinus foretold?" asked Skorpix, casually reading the Fury's mind. The Elemental sensed the Fury knew this question was a test, and that Skorpix had already made up his mind about the Toa of Light. His tone sounded guarded as he replied.

"I believe nothing, yet. If the Infinus is correct, and if the Last Prophecy is true, then he could very well be the Toa of legend. If he isn't, well...he won't be captured by the Copies."

Skorpix did not reply, but nodded slightly in acknowledgment. "If the Toa is not captured, follow him. And leave no loose threads behind."

The Fury gave no hint that the decision had been made to kill any surviving beings associated with the Toa, but instead inclined his hooded head toward Skorpix and turned away. The surviving Copies had begun to disperse, some heading toward Intax with the Fury, others to back up the Copies if they failed, and the three others remaining with Skorpix.

"We're returning to Dreadhold Fortress." said Skorpix in the nasal Corpsian language. "The Fury will handle the Toa and any of his associates. We must show the rebels that none of them will ever escape the might of the Empire..."

Shardak awoke to pitch blackness.

The Toa's first thought was confusion, wondering where he was. Then he remembered the events of the past day. Nightshade was gone, possibly dead or imprisoned, while Arcturas was dead. He remembered racing through the woods, fleeing from the Corpsians, and the Copies of Corpse. Then-nothing.

Shardak reached for the Blade of Arcturas, then realized it was not beside him. He looked around in the darkened chamber, trying to find his Toa friend's sword.

A lantern suddenly appeared in the gloom, and Shardak's eyes recoiled from it. As he became used to the light once more, Shardak made out a massive being standing in the shadowy illumination.

He was stocky and tall, with charred, dull yellow armor protecting his body. Two razor edged wings jutted from powerful shoulders. His hands were clawed, and while his body resembled a Toa of massive proportions, the head was horribly squidlike, with viscious sensory tentacles across his face. A cold, chill slime coated the head, and three gleaming, sunken blue eyes, two normal and one set above the others, completed the primeval image. What type of being this was, Shardak did not know. But it was obvious that this was no Toa, Matoran, or villager. Only the Empire could use such a hideous creature as a slave, and Shardak wondered if he had been captured by the Empire and submitted to horrible tortures.

"Do you serve the Empire?" Shardak managed to make out, trying not to focus on the creature's staring blue eyes.

The being raised the lantern to illuminate the pitted surface of Shardak's Kanohi.

"No. If I did, I could have killed you or tortured you long ago. I am Ion."

The being's words made sense, but Shardak could not believe them. He had heared tales of Imperial servants who pretended to be friendly to Toa or Matoran rebels, then betray or kill them after they had revealed the information they were looking for.

Ion realized this as well and sighed. "Once, I was a Toa, like you. But during the War, the Empire sent one of their agents. I managed to overcome him temporarily, but he teleported me to The Pit, a dark prison far below the darkest oceans. I had an antimutant armor peice on, but it could not prevent my gradual transformation. Eventually I escaped the Pit and returned to the surface before I became a true water-breather."

"This may be true, but why should I trust you?" Shardak asked, hoping he sounded defiant.

"You are aboard a Xaterex Starcraft miniship under the control of the Spherus Magna Resistance. If you need more proof, follow." Ion raised his lantern, and Shardak hauled himself from the floor of the Starcraft. The lantern illuminated the starcraft. It was a simple design, with only one room and one set of controls. A clear protodermis glass was set above the controls. The Starcraft was small, not suited to flying long distances, and most of the walls were damaged badly by fires. One had entirely collapsed, only rubble from the ship's ceiling and walls kept the Starcraft in darkness. The corpse of a Matoran bearing an Imperial insignia lay near the helm, and dried blood splattered the rubble-strewn floor.

Ion smiled, if such a word could be applied to the primeval Toa. "The Empire thought they had killed me, and if I had been any other being, it would have. But the Pit granted me endurance that allowed me to survive what would have killed almost any other being."

Shardak glanced at the torn, crushed armorplate and realized that this was true. But he still did not completely trust Ion.

The Toa-being read his thoughts. "I cannot force you to trust me. But we may stand a chance."

"Who are we? Shardak asked. "My Toa friends, Arcturas and Nightshade, are dead or imprisoned. Our home will be looted by those who find it. What, exactly, do you want?"

"Arcturas told you nothing of his past?" Ion asked. For the first time since Shardak had known him, Ion seemed shocked.

"No, simply that we were Toa and must avoid the Empire. I have some mastery over my Elemental powers of light, but not nearly enough."

"You are a Toa of Light?" asked Ion. His voice was wary now, and Shardak heard him whisper something in a language he didn't recognize. "What has Arcturas shown you inm the past few years."

"Where are we?" he asked. He still didn't entirely trust Ion.

"Near the location that was once called Iron Canyon. Now it's a network of tunnels, where we hide, where we form our plans to challenge the Empire." Shardak looked all around them, and saw that they were definitely underground. Tunnels on the surface of Spherus Magna were not uncommon, but this tunnel had obviously been hacked out using both weapons and elemental powers.

"Who are you? What do you want. If you don't serve the Empire, then whom do you serve?"

"I serve no one." said Ion. "This is an underground shelter built by the organization I belong to, the Spherus Magna rebels."

"Rebels?" asked Shardak. "You actually oppose the Empire?"

"Yes." answered Ion. "We've been actively fighting them since the Shadow Cataclysm. The Empire tries to hide it. They say they're simply having 'heated discussions' with the various rebel factions. Still, we've never fought an open war with them."

"They're too powerful, now." Shardak answered. Then another thought struck him. "What happened? How did I escape the Veiled Ones?"

"You knocked one out with Arcturas' weapon, and I killed the rest." said Ion. "There were more Copies following that squadron, but we escaped before they were able to kill you.

"I need to know your story." Ion continued. "You have to trust us."

Shardak realized Ion had trapped him. If he didn't tell Ion about their life near Intax, Ion would have to kill him. He also knew that now that he knew so many secrets, he would never, ever be allowed to leave the resistance alive.

For the next half hour, Shardak discussed his life in Intax, including his team of warriors, the various gangs that inhabited Intax, and his secret- that he was a Toa, and Arcturas and Nightshade relied on him for food and other essentials.

"Then the Veiled Ones came." finished Shardak. "And...you know what happened after that. They killed him, and probably killed Nightshade as well."

"I-" Ion began, then suddenly broke off as a tall, dark-armored Skakdi entered the room.

"Zoth?" Ion asked. "What has happened? I told you-"

"This is important." said Zoth. His voice rumbled, reminding Shardak of Darvak, the brutal Skakdi who had joined their team. He had refused to obey Shardak's orders not to kill other gangs, and died in a brutal battle against the Ravagers when he was wandering alone, at night.

"You need to return to the base now." rumbled Zoth. "There has been a major development regarding the force you sent to take the Shadow Orb."

Ion tensed. "Are they on Spherus Magna?"

"Soon." said Zoth. "The council wishes to speak with you."

Ion turned to Shardak. "I have to go, now. This could be catastrophic for the resistance groups across Spherus Magna."

"And what about me?" asked Shardak. "You can't leave me here for the Empire!"

Ion sighed. "Untrained, you are dangerous, but will more than likely eventually be captured. The Empire's plans are long-term, and even if you thwart them over and over again, eventually one will find you. Arcturas spent twelve years hiding from the Empire, but still they caught him in the end. And so they will do to you. The only option is for you to accompany me."

Accompany Ion? Leave everything behind? Leave Nightshade to fend for herself? Shardak's head was spinning. All these revelations were throwing him into turmoil.

REVENGE! The thought tore through Shardak's mind like a bolt of lightning. He would avenge Nightshade, Arcturas, and Ion's Toa friends. Ion could train him, teach him how to use his Kanohi mask's power.

Ion knew what Shardak would say a moment before he said it.

"I will come."

Ion smiled for the first time since Shardak had met him.

"Good. We will need your talents very soon."

Chapter 3
Ion, Shardak and Zoth strode down a dimly lit corridor, which intersected with many other tunnels. Flickering torches illuminated large footprints, as well as smaller, Matoran-sized tracks. Shardak recognized some as Skakdi and others as Glatorian. However, there were many, many other tracks that he didn't recognize, and Shardak began to worry again.

''Is this an elaborate trap by the Empire? Can I really trust Ion and Zoth? No. ''He reminded himself. ''They can be trusted. If Ion wanted me dead he could have left me with the Veiled Ones. ''

"What happened?" Shardak asked as they raced down a narrow corridor, then turned sharply down another. Despite his size, Ion was fast, and Shardak had to struggle to keep up. Zoth brought up the rear, and his usually grinning Skakdi face seemed unusually somber to Shardak.

"The Empire." replied Zoth, as if it were obvious. "They've been purging their domain. Ever since our raid on one of their fortresses, they've been hunting us down. One of our number, the Veythari Listra-"

"A Veythari?" asked Shardak. "They exist?" Shardak had heard of Veythari before, but he and their team had always dismissed them as an ancient, now extinct species.

"Yes, they exist." Zoth grunted. "And before today I didn't know that any Toa still existed. How did you escape the last purge?"

"Arcturas created me after the near total destruction of the order." said Shardak. "Soon after they wiped out the Toa group."

Zoth tensed. He eyed Shardak strangely, as if contemplating a mystery associated with the Toa. "You remember nothing?"

"No. Arcturas told me it was normal for Toa not to recall their early memories."

Zoth said nothing more, but looked at him strangely. "We must talk." he said, as the three beings rounded another corridor. Before either of them could say another word, the startling clash of weapons rang through the air. Shardak rounded the corner and stepped into a full-scale battle.

The wide cavern was littered with the bloody corpses of Glatorian and smashed Rahkshi armor. Shardak could see a massive causeway decending into the abyss below. The steps seemed to be carved into the obsidian stones, covered in blood that appeared as black as the stones themselves in the shadowy illumination.

Six Rahkshi were locked in combat with a large group of Glatorian and Skakdi. A Copy of Corpse was fighting Ion, and a smaller Matoran was struggling against three large Rahi. Their Copy overlords watched as the Matoran's throat was torn open and he fell dead.

"Attack!" Zoth yelled, and he and Shardak charged forward. I can't watch Matoran die! Shardak thought. Whatever doubts he'd had about the resistance before had disappeared. Now, all he felt was the need to protect the Matoran and other resistance warriors from the Veiled Ones. As he charged into the fray, he noticed more Copies massed below a massive causeway.

The Blade of Arcturas created a fiery arc of light across the battlefield as Shardak brought it down on a Copy. The Veiled One fell to the ground, flames still trailing from its dented skull. A second Veiled One brought his weapon down on the Blade of Arcturas, and the force of the nearly disarmed Shardak. The Veiled One battled Shardak across the carnage, and finally he managed to disarm the Veiled One.

Shardak raced down the causeway steps. He saw that the descent seemed to cascade downward into oblivion, bridging a massive chasm. Shardak saw three more Rahkshi massed at the base of the causeway. Some were fighting on the steps, others lay smashed at the base of the stairs. Shardak disarmed a Copy and slashed open another's shoulder. As the Copy staggered backward, Shardak turned around and fought his way up the causeway steps.

"Watch out!" Zoth's voice rang out above the others, and Shardak turned around just in time to see one of the massive Rahi slam into him. Iron Wolves! He thought, before the creature's momentum slammed them both against the wall. The blow didn't faze the wolf, but nearly knocked Shardak unconscious. As the world came back into focus, he saw a tall red-armored being armed with two long daggers leap onto the creature's back, stabbing the Iron Wolf. Blood welled from the wounds, and the Iron wolf snarled and threw the being to the ground.

The wolf's jaws closed in around Shardak. As the long, curved teeth came closer and closer, Shardak began to feel weak. The wolf's claws tore at his armor, and he was startled to see blood flow from his leg. The Wolf's jaws came closer-

There was a sharp crack as the wolf was dragged away from Shardak. A torrent of water swept the being off his feet, and the Iron Wolf yelped as the flood swept it over the edge of the causeway. As his vision cleared, he saw a tall sapphire being armed with a three-bladed claw dripping with water standing before him. Shardak saw a bolt of lightning arc from her laser crossbow and strike a Copy dead-on. The Veiled One collapsed, and fell over the edge of the causeway.

Is she a Toa? wondered Shardak. He'd never seen anyone other then himself or Arcturas use Elemental powers, though there were rumors that element controlling Glatorian once existed. Before he could open his mouth, a second Copy slammed into him, nearly hauling them both over the edge of the causeway. Both the Toa and the Corpsian managed to stop themselves in time, and as they both tried to re-orient themselves, another wave struck them, drenching Shardak from head to foot. He was flung down the stairs and collapsed at the bottom of the causeway. The Copy was not so lucky, and was hauled over the edge of the cliff before he could even scream.

Shardak's vision cleared, and he saw two Rahkshi standing before him, one silver, the other yellow. The yellow Rahkshi's eyes glowed and a searing arc of crimson energy struck Shardak in the shoulder, penetrating his armor. Shardak felt burning pain race through him, and as he staggered away, the Rahkshi stabbed out at Shardak.

At the same time the yellow Rahkshi was distracting Shardak, the silver Rahkshi closed in on him. The silver Rahkshi's staff caught Shardak a glancing blow to the shoulder. Shardak managed to dodge the silver Rahkshi's next blow, but again felt searing pain as the Rahkshi of Heat Vision struck him with another blast of its power.

Shardak narrowly whipped to one side to avoid a blow from the silver Rahkshi, and saw the Rahkshi of Heat Vision stagger away from him. Shardak looked around in confusion, expecting to see one of the other resistance members battling the Rahkshi, but saw they were all fighting Copies or Rahkshi. Only one Iron Wolf remained, one had fallen into the abyss, the other lay dead surrounded by shattered Rahkshi armor and corpses of both Copies and resistance fighters.

Maybe the use of their power leaves them weakened. thought Shardak. The silver Rahkshi's staff blocked the blade of Arcturas effortlessly, and Shardak was forced to stagger away from the creature to avoid being killed instantly. The silver Rahkshi, seeing his concentration slip, fired a silver bolt of energy from his staff. The bolt struck Shardak dead-on, and flung him against the cavern's wall. His hands grasped out for anything to hold on to, but, still stunned from the lightning, was unable to gain any purchase and collapsed at the very edge of the causeway.

As he staggered to his feet and looked around, he saw the silver Rahkshi bearing down on him. Shardak had no time to react before the staff struck him in the leg, tearing it open. The Rahkshi whipped the staff around and raised it to stab the prone Toa.

Shardak heard screams coming from above the causeway steps. As the Rahkshi fired lightning bolt after lightning bolt at him, forcing him toward the edge, he saw a massive shape leap from above the causeway. Both the Rahkshi and Shardak turned to look at the maddened Iron Wolf, covered in wounds with a spear embedded in its left eye, bearing down on them.

Shardak saw the silver Rahkshi tried to dodge out of the path of the wolf, but was struck by one of the claws and swept over the edge. The Rahkshi of Heat Vision fired a ray of light from its eyes, bathing the Iron Wolf's face in red light. Totally blind, the Iron Wolf struck both Shardak and the Rahkshi. There was a sickening crunch as the Rahkshi armor was crushed completely. The faceplate opened to reveal a Kraata, screeching in rage as Shardak, the Kraata, and the Iron Wolf were swept over the edge and into the darkness below.

Shardak managed to tear himself free from the Iron Wolf's claws, and landed on an overhang jutting out into the abyss. The Iron Wolf, maddened by pain and unable to see anything around it, locked its claws around Shardak's leg. Shardak twisted out of the Iron Wolf's grasp, and the Iron Wolf, the Kraata, and what remained of the Rahkshi vanished into the void. Shardak stared at his leg, wounded badly by the Iron Wolf's claws. Blood stained the overhang, though weather it was his or the wolves, he wasn't sure. The darkness made it hard for him to make out anything, even the things next to him.

The Toa raced up toward the battlefield below the causeway. The battle had turned against the resistance, and despite the defeat of most of the Rahkshi and all of the Iron Wolves, many Copies were still fighting, their scythes eliminating any resistance members in their path.

Shardak dodged a Copy's sickle, and blocked the same Veiled One's blow with the Blade of Arcturas. The Copy fired a crackling bolt of red lightning from his fingertip, which struck Shardak in the shoulder, reopening the injury he had suffered during the battle near Arcturas' camp. The Copy, weakened slightly from the use of his power, lowered his guard for an instant. Shardak thrust upward, tearing through the Corpsian's armor and lacerating its leg. The Copy fell to the ground, and Shardak leapt over it and back into the fray.

A Vorahk, a Rahkshi of Hunger, charged him, its black armor allowing it to blend in with the shadows easily. But Shardak had spent three years fighting for his life in Intax and was able to spot the Rahkshi's staff in the darkness. Shardak was unable to block the Rahkshi's first blow, and the staff ricocheted off his armor. The Toa brought the Blade of Arcturas down on the Vorahk's staff, but the Vorahk managed to block the blow. Shardak slashed at the Vorahk, then whipped the Blade around and slammed the edge of the weapon against the Vorahk's faceplate. The blow didn't faze the Rahkshi in the slightest, and it battered Shardak back using its staff, ignoring the Blade of Arcturas that was hacking at its armor.

Shardak narrowly blocked the Vorahk's next blow, and realized the Rahkshi had backed him up against the edge of the chasm. Shardak countered the Vorahk's attack again, but was forced backward by a sudden offensive. Metal flashed in the darkness as the Vorahk's staff rent through Shardak's armor, and Shardak felt an icy numbness spread through him, similar to the Veiled One's shredsteel scythes. The Rahkshi readied to deal a final blow.

No! Shardak screamed silently, and dodged the swiping weapon. The Rahkshi swiped again, and Shardak felt the blade graze the tip of his Kanohi. The Toa staggered away from the chasm, and the Rahkshi followed. As the Vorahk swiped again, Shardak raced toward the stairs, where the resistance were still battling two Rahkshi and three Copies.

The Vorahk charged after him, but Shardak stabbed the Blade of Arcturas through the charging Rahkshi's shoulder. The Rahkshi, distracted by the blow, hesitated for a brief moment, allowing Shardak to regain the offensive, thrusting under the Rahkshi's guard and denting the armor. The Blade of Arcturas illuminated the faceplate of the Rahkshi just as Shardak brought the weapon down on the Vorahk's staff. The Blade struck the end of the staff, causing one point of the spear to shatter. The Vorahk charged after him, using the remaining end of his staff like a javelin. There was a sharp crack as the spear embedded itself in the obdidian wall. The Rahkshi turned around and saw Shardak standing behind him, holding the Blade of Arcturas.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze, then both Shardak and the Vorahk began their deadly dance anew. Flames crackled against the dark power of the Rahkshi as they battled their way up the causeway steps. The Vorahk was slowly regaining the offensive, forcing Shardak down, toward the battlefield below. Shardak tried one desperate slash at the Rahkshi's leg. The Rahkshi's spear came down at the same moment against Shardak's chestplate, and the Toa flung the Blade to the ground and fell against the wall to avoid being skewered.

The Rahkshi sensed its prey had been weakened enough. Shardak saw the dark maelstrom descending upon him, and narrowly dodged the Rahkshi's spear again. The staff struck the wall, shattering into thousands of bloody fragments just as the Rahkshi's mechanical bulk slammed against Shardak. As the Rahkshi grabbed a fragment of its staff, Shardak grabbed a flickering torch off the wall and slammed it against the Rahkshi's faceplate.

The Vorahk staggered backward, and the smell of melting armor tainted the air. Still holding the broken remnants of the staff, the Rahkshi vanished into the abyss. Below, Shardak heard a sickening crunch, and the scream of an agitated Kraata as it tried to free itself from the burning Rahkshi.

Shardak grabbed the Blade of Arcturas and surveyed the battlefield. Two Rahkshi of Heat Vision were driving back a small group of three resistance fighters, and the other rebels were fighting the three remaining Copies of Corpse.

Leaping away from the fallen Vorahk, he grabbed another torch, and, armed with both the torch and the Blade of Arcturas, struck a Copy. The force of the blow hardly fazed the Veiled One, and Shardak only narrowly dodged the blow. His first blow ricocheted off the Copy's armor, and the second struck the wall as the Copy whirled around, weapons ready, but Shardak, used to dodging blows in the deadly fights between the various gangs who occupied Intax, felt the blade rip through the air just above his shoulder.

The Copy was ready for Shardak's next blow, and easily blocked it. Shardak suddenly whipped the weapon to one side, distracting the Copy for a fraction of a second. Shardak stabbed upward with both torch and weapon, and they struck the Copy simultaneously, flinging him backward against the wall. Shardak swung the Blade of Arcturas in an arc, disarming the Copy of Corpse.

The battlefield seemed to grow silent. Shardak realized the Copy was completely at his mercy.

Killing the Copy would violate the code. thought Shardak. What-

Suddenly, he felt his muscles tighten. He gasped for air, and the Copy's power continued to force him down. The world began to spin, and he sank to his knees, gasping for a breath that wouldn't come. He was dimly aware of the Copy standing above him, red eyes glowing triumphantly. One dark, clawed hand reached out at Shardak, and the Toa tried to drag himself away from the Veiled One. In the flickering torchlight, the Copy's hand appeared to be almost white.

Suddenly, a dark silver blur shot past Shardak. A long scythe struck the wounded Copy in the shoulder, flinging him to the ground. Instantly the Copy's concentration was broken, and as Shardak took a precious, gasping breath of air, he saw a tall, masked being standing above the fallen Copy. His gleaming green eyes, darker then Shardak's but paler then Nightshade's, gleamed in the half light.

The Copy was staggering to his feet, blood trailing behind him. One dark claw snaked out at Shardak. The Toa, unable to do anything but breathe, was unable to respond in time and the Copy's corpse hand touched him. Instantly Shardak felt cold spread through him, simular to shredsteel but more mental then physical, as if the ice was seeping in to his very soul. The Copy's grip tightened, and Shardak felt the pain intensify. The dark being was shouting something at him, but he was oblivious to everything save the Copy's vengeful red eyes.

I'm going to die. he thought. Was all this for nothing?

He saw the Copy's burning eyes begin to fade. Without a sound, the Copy fell limply to the ground, its scythe still trailing blood.

Shardak took a gasp of air, and coughed, finally able to breathe. As his vision cleared, he saw the the ebon armored being was standing next to him, the Copy impaled on his scythe. The being tore the scythe from the slain Veiled One's body, and the Corpsian collapsed at the edge of the void.

"Thanks." gasped Shardak when he'd recovered enough to speak once more. "He would have killed me."

"I escaped the Corpsians once." said the being. "I wasn't going to let them kill another Toa. Before today, I thought Kyhrex and I were the last Toa."

This being is a Toa, yet he killed a Veiled One. Shardak tried to make the obvious connection, but was unable to. He was far too tired from the massive battle. In a single day his world had turned upside down. He had fought Corpsians, raided the Reavers, and fought a pitched battle with a large group of Rahkshi and Veiled Ones.

Shardak looked around. The battle was over. Three slain resistance fighters lay in pools of their own blood, torn apart by the Iron Wolf. Two others had been slain by Rahkshi, and four had perished against the Veiled One's scythes. All of the remaining resistance fighters were wounded, even Ion, who had taken a Veiled One javelin through the side. Zoth was alive as well, though he had been speared through the shoulder by a Veiled One and scored by an Iron Wolf's claw.

"You're a Toa?" asked Shardak. "Zoth said you didn't have any Toa among you."

The dark being smiled. "Zoth thought Ion was going to train you before we had to fight in a real battle. The fact that there are Toa are among us is one of our most carefully guarded secrets. Before we had two, a Toa of Air and a Toa of Fire, but the Toa of Fire died in a battle with the Veiled Ones outside Dreadhold, and the Toa of Air-Echo-was sent to the Spirit Fells for protection."

"The Spirit Fells? You have soldiers there?" asked Shardak. The Fells were perhaps the most mysterious of all the aberrations on Spherus Magna, a byproduct to the Corpsians' Shadow Cataclsym. Heavily shrouded by mist that was known to cause insanity in some beings, it often led confused beings into the mysterious depths of the Fells, leading them over the edges of cliffs to their deaths.

"Not us." replied the dark Toa. "Another resistance. You'll find out everything during the council."

"The council?" asked Shardak.

"This attack was an act of war." said the Toa grimly. "We need to warn the Veythari and the other rebel factions about what has happened." Then, as an afterthought, he added. "And to tell them that a Toa of Light is among us."

Shardak thought over this for a moment. Both Ion, and now the Toa, had hinted that something was brewing, something to do with a Toa of Light. He thought back to Zoth, who had seemed puzzled when he'd told him that he couldn't remember his past. Arcturas had always told him it was normal, and that even the Toa Nuva didn't remember where they had come from.

At last he said, "What's your name?"

The Toa smiled. "Blast. What's yours?"

"Shardak."

Blast, however, did not seem to hear him. His gaze was fixed on the approaching shadow of Ion.

"Ion." said Blast respectfully, inclining his head to acknowledge the two crimson beings standing behind Ion. "Silencer, Melnox. Your mission was successful?"

None of them answered. "Night approaches. It is nearly time for the council. Show Shardak where he'll be staying."

Blast nodded. "Has Listra returned?" he asked.

A look passed between Silencer and Melnox, but it was Ion who answered.

"She is coming. The mission has succeeded."

"What mission?" asked Shardak. Had they raided the Empire? It seemed risky, considering the fact that the resistance group contained less then twenty beings in all. And more then eight of them had been killed in the battle with the Empire.

"It's classified information." said Blast. "Ion has connections to many other resistance groups. He's involved somehow with a mission spearheaded by the Veythari."

Ion's face betrayed nothing. "We will evaluate the damage the battle caused, then send scouts to warn Gresh. It's fair he knows, as he's very near the Valley of the Maze."

Gresh... Shardak knew that name. Had he played a role in the ancient legends of the Toa Nuva and the Makuta? He definitely remembered Arcturas mentioning Gresh, but after the battle he was too tired to make the connection.

"You need to rest." said Ion sympathetically. "You're lucky to be alive. If Silencer hadn't brought reinforcements in time, we would have all been slain."

Shardak nodded, and Blast led him away from the battlefield, toward the caverns. But his tired mind was unable to rest, for one question was still plaguing his mind.

What did Zoth want to tell me?

Chapter 4
Silent as a wraith, the dark figure moved silently through the shadowy tunnels. The flickering torches illuminated his crimson armor and primal features. Two glowing red eyes, calculating but not malevolent, surveyed the chamber, searching for any sign of another being. Slowly, he began to relax, and strode down the tunnel. Had anyone been watching, they would have noticed he left no footprints at all.

And as far as the being knew, there was no one watching him. However, another pair of eyes was watching him intently.

Shardak drew the Veiled One cloak he was wearing around him, breathing as silently as he could to avoid detection, either by Melnox or another one of the hidden traps in the makeshift arena. There could be up to fifty different traps within this wide chamber, and allowing even one to get the better of him would mean failure, for both him and Blast.

It feels like I've lived below Iron Canyon forever. reflected Shardak as Melnox again scanned the chamber. Shardak's eyes followed him closely, paying close attention to the way he walked carefully around a hidden trap and bypassed a narrow chasm.

In reality, it had been two months. Two months since the raid on the Reaver's supplies, Arcturas' death, and the subsequent battles. Two weeks of rigorous training by Ion, Melnox, Silencer, and the others in the Hand of Mata Nui. Shardak allowed his gaze to wander for a few minutes, briefly resting on the crevasse in the wall before focusing on Melnox again. This once-Toa had trained him well, and Shardak knew Melnox knew his fighting style like the back of his hand. In fact, Shardak was uncertain if Melnox was watching him now. If he was, he had to warn Blast. The ebony Toa had hidden himself so well that even Shardak couldn't see him.

Zoth's still out there. He reminded himself. ''For all I know, he could be fighting Blast now. Never underestimate your enemy.'' he thought, thinking Ion's often quoted line almost subconsciously. While it usually took much longer then two months to become a full member of the Hand of Mata Nui, they had very little time. Things had been ominously quiet on the Imperial front since the battle below Iron Canyon, though many scouts and a few military units had been dispatched to spy on the Empire's activity. Likewise, Listra's mission was also confidential. No one but Ion, Melnox and the high command were aware of any new development, and Shardak had heard nothing since then.

Chapter unfinished...

Trivia

 * The Combat forms were created by The Slicer.
 * This page won Featured story.
 * The battle that Skorpix shows the captured Toa on board the Shadow Destroyer is the same battle fought at the edge of the Void in chapters 28 and 29 of The Eternal Game.
 * Into the Darkness is the 19th longest page on the wiki.

Reviews
Note: Please post reviews on the talk page.

"Into the Darkness is absolutely fantastic! I'm being serious, the writing is so deathly paced and calm, and destructive and emotional at the same time, yet also extremely sleek and descriptive as well. I swear, you [Varkanax] are doing absolutely fantastic with your story, can't wait for more!"

- Chicken Bond