Impact

Prologue
The stars twinkled across the evening sky on Meta-Nui The bright orbs of energy hung in midair, kept aloft by seemingly magical powers. Below, the winding Kaita River churned slowly on as it had for 50,000 years. Bordering the river was a pine forest, filled with Gukko birds settling down for the night. It was postcard pretty. It was a place that made you feel at peace. There was just one big splotchy stain on the picture of peace and that was the big stone fortress in the middle of the forest. Dark and filled with shadows, all the Rahi tended to avoid it. It was an old fortress, older than the Kaita River, and legend was it had been base for Makuta Antroz long ago. There, the shadows seemed to leap out at you, and the darkness seemed to swallow you up. It was as if even though the forces of the dark had left long ago, they still had a foothold there, to warn all others away. If one was brave or foolish enough to venture into the fortress though, they would find remnants of a something that were definitely not Makuta. Known as the Zyglak, they were one the of Great Beings' many "mistakes" and hated everything in existence. On the walls were grotesque carvings of pitted Kanohi Haus, and Toa being stabbed, along with Matoran being tortured and other things that were better left unidentified. So it was strange that two figures were walking in one the many catacombs beneath the fortress. They looked like wannabes for the show Adventures of Sonny and Cher, a Onu-Matoran reality show. One was extremely tall, most presumably a Toa of Earth. Another looked like a tired "fixed" Ba-Matoran, the reason for his short, stubby legs, and carried twin Echo Forks which he dragged behind him, a testament to his exhaustion. The Toa was wearing a Great Kanohi Crast, strange for it was normally considered immoral for his kind. The spikes jutted out of the big mask, the giving the Toa a fearsome appearance. His Matoran companion, wearing a Kanohi Gard, mask of Chain Lightning, followed behind his companion, struggling to keep up with the Toa's big legs. They rounded another one bend and found themselves in a hallway that looked just like the previous one. But since they were already lost, they walked forward again, knowing there wasn't much else they could do. The Ba-Matoran groaned and muttered something under his breath before he kept walking. The Toa just kept striding forward, as if this were just a leisurely walk on the Ga-Matoran coastline. It was evident the Matoran couldn't go on for much longer. After another half hour they were still just as lost, probably even more so, with every corridor confusing them more and more and making them wonder where in Mata Nui's name they were. Yet another five minutes and the Ba-Matoran could barely walk, and needed help from the Toa. After another ten though, a different hallway presented itself to them, with far less carvings and metal door at the end of it. With caution he had picked up over the last few weeks, the Toa activated his mask power, sending ground behind them up in tall pillars, which would hopefully slow any pursuers behind them. Then, he advanced slowly towards the door, checking for traps or any other sort of fiendish device meant to trap or ensnare anything that passed through. The corridor was safe. Swip! Something flew through the air toward the Toa's shoulder, a dagger by the looks of it. Upon contact the armor disintegrated, making an angry hissing noise like that of a doom viper's and the Toa clutched his shoulder in visible pain. Out of the shadows came five more Zyglak, each snarling and holding daggers, ready to finish off the intruders in their domain. Raising his echo forks, the Matoran slammed them together, creating a devastating shockwave that knocked two of their enemies flat on their faces. Reaching out with his mind, the Toa assaulted the other three with earth blasts until they too dropped unconscious, their bodies not able to take the bombardment. "Come on! There are more of those, many more probably here! We need to get out of here!" Yelled he Toa. "But Deskal, the Rahkshi are waiting outside for us to come out!" "But they'll be easier to handle than at least thirty more Zyglak," "Alright" Deskal focused his powers and the (under)ground started to shake until there was hole up to the surface. Then, he grabbed his companion and they shot up back into the cool night air, thanks to the Kanohi Crast. The exhilaration of the thrilling ride didn't last long though, and the fact that out in the forest, there were many Rahkshi didn't help. A mini-cyclone whipped past them, just missing them. A black and white Rahkshi stepped out of the trees, snarling and hissing, it's Kraata sticking out of it's armor like a giant sore. Before the Toa and Matoran could even move for their weapons, the Rahkshi had created several more cyclones, sending the whirling anomalies at them in rapid succession, succeeding in knocking both of them of their pillar. Deskal thought quickly and created a soft platform of earth for them to land on, but the Rahkshi's reaction time was just to quick. It destroyed the platform and the duo hit the ground hard. "Since when were Rahkshi that fast?" Groaned the Ba-Matoran. "Must be something new that the Brotherhood is trying. I've never seen a non-specialty Rahkshi move that fast." "So what do we-" the Matoran was cut off as the Rahkshi came down and almost drove it's trident into his back. Deskal rolled to the ground and drew out a Cordak Blaster, firing toward the direction of the Rahkshi, but it moved to fast. Dodging the bullets with almost a calm ease it dodged and fired right back, a cyclone knocking Deskal off his feet. Groaning he hauled himself to his feet just in time to see his companion Zephus send a sonic blast the Rahkshi's way. Clutching his side, the Toa sprinted for the cover of the forest, motioning for Zephus to follow. Once the two were both in the trees, they relaxed a bit. "What now?" Asked Zephus, clearly afraid. "Not sure," replied Deskal, motioning to a certain part of the forest, "but whatever it is we are going to have to do it fast before those Roporak catch us." The name made Zephus go cold, even though it was a warm summer night. Roporak were a breed of Visorak, part of the Makuta's army, and their Rhotuka Spinner would sap all your energy if your were hit by them. Even now he could see the glint of their bright, yet dark and evil eyes, a predatory gleam throughout the organs. They won't spot is, we're too well hidden, it's a very low chance they will spot us, Zephus thought, trying to console himself, but he knew it not to be true. The Visorak were skilled hunters and would find them almost easily. Maybe they won't spot us, maybe they won't-. The Visorak were so close now, the Matoran could see the many pores on the grotesque spider-like creatures, and the thick layer of slime that coated them. He also noticed the terrible stench of rot clinging to the air, as if just their presence made the air go sour. The foul creatures scanned the area, but passed right by them, making Zephus breathe a sigh of relief. But then they perked up, and looked in their direction, their eyes gleaming with the anticipation of a hunt. Zephus groaned inwardly and motioned to Deskal, who nodded. The Visorak were supposed to approach carefully. It was standard procedure. But they were itching for new victims and they didn't follow standard procedure. Grave mistake. Deskal motioned with his hand and the Roporak were scattered like leaves in a strong autumn wind, thanks to his Kanohi. Grinning, the Crast wearer turned the ground that the Visorak were on to mud, and chuckled softly as the spider-like Rahi tried in vain to gain purchase on the mucky ground. But their victory was short lived. Due to the commotion, the Rahkshi had spotted them and slammed into both of them, sending Toa and Matoran flying in opposite directions. Calling upon his control of earth, the Toa created a giant dirt fist, intent on catching their oppressor. The Rahkshi tried to dodge, but Deskal created fist after fist of earth, in which one finally ensnared the Rahkshi. Moving warily toward the Rahkshi, Deskal and Zephus tiptoed over, not wanting to attract any more unwanted attention. The white beast was snarling and hissing, hatred toward it's captors nearly radiating off it's metal body. Peering curiously at their catch, Deskal didn't see anything different then normal Rahkshi that would discern it as a result of mutation or anything else obvious. It's long back armor was still normal, it's spikes still jutting out of it's back, and it's hideous blue and grey Kraata still stuck out of it's armored shell, hissing. Also, the Rahkshi wasn't unusually tall, and didn't seem to have any unusual growths of any sorts. There were no traces of mutation. No traces. Lost in thought, the Toa never noticed the Rahkshi, rising back up again, it's long spear held in it's claws. Zephus cried out too late. A blast of shadow hit Deskal sending him flying backwards into a tree, where he lay still. The Rahkshi snarled, and then turned to Zephus, anticipating an easy kill, it's eyes blazing with anger, green gas surrounding he Kraata. Wait, green gas? The Gard wearer put two and two together. This was a possessed Rahkshi, an empty shell for a Makuta's essence. That's why it had been so powerful. The body had limited the Makuta's powers, but it still had access to a select few. He felt himself go cold. He was staring at a Makuta. The possessed Rahkshi, sensing he knew the truth, launched a telepathic attack at him, sending him his knees. Zephus felt himself losing consciousness, his brain slowly being turned to mush. And then he was falling into a bottomless, black abyss, where no one could rescue him, and he lost consciousness.