Insurgence: The Benefactors

Insurgence: The Benefactor is the second chapter of the Insurgence serials, diving deeper into the character of Tagah and focusing on the rescue of Fatorak.

Synopsis
After Tagah's mission fails due to interference by Makuta Furtaan, he reflects on his history of his insane friend while plotting to recapture Fatorak.

Meanwhile, Fa comes into the clutches of two Dark Hunters and finally meets their elusive Benefactor, who seemed rather interested in his work.

Scene 1
Tagah slammed his desk as he saw as his monitor blank out. The last image he perceived was is of Furtaan, disrupting his precious mission, as the ship shook from the side. The makuta blew some antidermis gas through the holes of his mask, expressing his tiresome frustration. His eyes became thin through his shadowy mask, the red glow still peaking through like a thin crescent moon.

“He was not always this incompetent,” Tagah noted to himself under his breath. “But that friend is gone. Now he is a traitorous madman.”

Tagah turned from his screens, walking with heavy steps through the dim room he called his lair. It was shrouded mostly in red gasses rising from the ground of the room. A small stream of antidermis flowed as a jagged obstacle through the center of the room. Next to this was seen a table etched with small hexagons into it, as well as tiny bright stones. Towering over the hexagons was two large towers, which oversaw everything else on the island.

Following Tagah seemed to have been another shadowy figure, which climbed down one of the walls behind him. The creature, with spikes down it’s spine and a snake-like face etched to look like a skull, slithered down the piping of the elusively-fabricated wall. It’s clawed fingers dug into the foreign material that made the structure of the room.

Tagah came over to a hanger near one of his doors and took off a very lavish cloak, though it was tainted and tattered by the years of war it had once endured. The old Makuta threw it over his back, clicked the broach over his chest, and coughed a bit to himself as he placed his hand against the wall.

“I have taken all of his responsibilities upon my shoulders,” Tagah admits as he looks into the shadows.

The Rahkshi that followed him drops down from the wall and tip-toes toward it’s master, while Tagah walked over to his table portraying Draxia through hexagonal shapes. He leans on the desk, overlooking the landscape of the place.

Tagah sighed. “It is not easy having to govern two islands. Of course, Furtaan had to stick me with the interesting ones.”

The Makuta caressed his fingers over the two towers sticking up in the map. “One land that struggles with a pursuit of endless knowledge, and an annoying class struggle.”

Tagah pressed a button next to him and looked at the hexagons on the table as they all slid to readjust the landscape. We see a more normal-looking island this time. “The other, riddled with fables and secrets so ingrained into their heartlights. It is no wonder these things drew my friend to look after them.”

The Makuta took a step back and looked away from the table. His mind turned to the memories of a war that tore much of the universe into pieces. His eyes twitch as he remembered the clashing of sword and shield.

''With this, his mind delves into the past, showing a version of Tagah in lighter, more humble armor than he was in the present. He is marching, along with two other brightly-colored allies, through the desolate rubble that was Destral. The landscape was glowing with the material of antidermis splashed against the dark, burnt aspects of antidermis that had fallen before them.''

''“They will all pay for this!” noted a green and black clad Makuta named Gorast. “We shall tear their sickly limbs tendon to tendon!”''

''Furtaan objected to this statement. “Sister, your anger fuels your strength, but it also blinds your sword arm! This kind of behavior is going to lead you to be like these trails of antidermis that flow between our very toes!”''

''“They need to meet the same fate,” Gorast protested. “Murdering one of our brothers is worthy of a thousand tortures!”''

''Tagah stops marching and turns behind to look at the bickering Makuta. “Silence, both of you! This is a capture mission! No death shall be involved. As for the thousand tortures, dear Gorast, you shall be pleased to hear what the Order of Mata Nui plans on doing with them.”''

''Gorast’s interest got piqued. “Are they-?”''

“Botar,” Tagah says, and then turns around again to continue marching.

Gorast squealed a little bit afterword and became jumpy, her mind clearly thinking of the punishments the Barraki would eventually endure.

''After this, Tagah got to his knees and started to crawl, gesturing the other Makuta to do the same. Furtaan and Gorast ducked below to meet with Tagah. Slowly and surely, the Makuta inched behind fallen pillars of protodermis, until they spotted a black-clad barbarian silently skipping across the ground despite his heavy armor.''

“See him?” Tagah whispered.

“How shall we take him?” Furtaan asks.

''Tagah paused a moment while his eyes still trailed Mantax. “He is rather keen. He will attack us stealthily. Keep your eyes sharp: we shall be the prey today.”''

“P-prey?” Furtaan stuttered.

''Tagah got himself up from the ground and raised his spear and shield. He began to run, charging toward Mantax. The Barraki looked behind himself, to find a Makuta rushing through the gravel and dust of the buried Destral and charging at him. Mantax quickly decided to fire an energy bolt at the Makuta, but Tagah dodged the fire.''

''The Barraki then leaped into the air and dove into the ground. Tagah looked around, hearing motions going through the earth beneath him. The makuta squinted his eyes, eyeing the ground along with the soft sounds of digging. The digging then stopped, and Tagah broke into a moment of utter fear.''

''“URK!” Tagah cried as Mantax grabbed him from above. The Barraki had apparently leaped from the ground silently.''

''“HOLD STILL!” Gorast cried as she aimed her blaster. She fired a shot at Mantax as he was holding Tagah.''

''Mantax threw Tagah aside as he dodged the blast. He dug into the ground again. Gorast starts firing at the ground when she hears it shift. However, Furtaan grabbed her arm and stilled her.''

“Be still and silent, and you’ll hear him,” Furtaan remarked.

''The ground shifted a few more times. Suddenly, Furtaan was pulled from the side as Mantax grabbed him. Then, the Barraki swirled Furtaan a few times around in the air and then proceeded to throw the bat-like Makuta against a few pillars of protodermis. Gorast rushed at him and places her arms around the neck of Mantax. However, the Barraki reacted to this and bent himself over to throw Gorast onto the ground.''

''“Are you stupid as well?” Mantax asked as he stared at Tagah. “Run away.”''

''Tagah, however, stood his ground. Mantax decided to dive into the ground again, shifting around. Tagah’s eyes darted across the ground as his mask began to be covered in a shadowy essence. Tagah then took a step to the left.''

''“GRAH!” Mantax cried as he leaped from the earth. However, he was soon met with a foot in his face.''

''Mantax skids across the ground. Then, his energy begins to be drained from him. His body starts to curl and twitch as Furtaan closes in on him. Then, Mantax stopped himself as his armor began to turn grey. He breathed heavily, staring at three Makuta now holding blasters at him, as well as Tagah sticking his spear into the Barraki’s side.''

''Tagah looked to the Barraki strangely in a timid fashion as he held his spear firmly. “Halt, and surrender.”''

The Makuta’s mind stopped this memory from progressing, remembering that the present was still at hand. His Rahkshi, a Vohrak, slithered around his master as he saw the darting eyes of the old Makuta contemplating.

“Forgive me, Vohrak, I was getting caught up in a dream,” Tagah noted.

Tagah waved his fingers toward the Vohrak and started walking out of his lair and into a hallway. Here, the outside of the building could be clearly seen. It was high up, overlooking the dark parts of Draxia and overseeing the valley of monuments.

“Come, I need to message Toa Kylerak. He needs to know what went on in Xia and dispatch the rest of his team to grab Collerak and Viatra and then go after those Dark Hunters. Meanwhile, I shall attend to protecting Cartrax. I am giving you the task to guard this tower. Do so with your life, my son.”

To be continued...

Characters

 * Barraki
 * Mantax
 * Makuta
 * Furtaan
 * Gorast
 * Tagah
 * Rahkshi
 * Tagah's Vohrak

Trivia

 * BIONICLEToa was really looking forward to writing a sequence with Tagah going against Mantax in the past, as he wanted to enforce his military background.
 * This chapter, BIONICLEToa decided to try and improve his writing and become a little more vivid and concise, as well as describe things better.