Among Wolves

Among Wolves is the next instalment in the V Osade Alternate Universe, following Vulf shortly after she arrived in the Universe as she and her comrades are being chased by the ruthless force of the Lykos Kinsman Verkhov Commader: Predavis.

Vulf and her team must survive the brutal hunt through the remains of the Northern Continent, to deliver a warning to the last stand against the Lykos of the incoming danger.

Chapter I: The Hunt
It was hellfire.

As the chilling shot echoed through the burnt forest, Vulf narrowed her eyes to the left of her figure, focusing in on the Toa of Water who had been standing close to her. What happened next brought utter fear to the dimensionally displaced agent, as the Toa she had met only hours earlier combusted into a lime-shaded flame, engulfing the bright blue body of the once-Toa into a sphere of intense plasma energy. The Toa of Water wasn't even given a chance to respond, and Vulf's reflex wasn't fast enough to predict the Lykos' projectile to sail in near her direction.

Vulf drew in a new breath, replacing the breath which had been taken from her moments before. Feeling the heavy Lykos-blade she had claimed only an hour earlier, she yanked it from her utility belt. Squeezing the handle of the blade as suddenly a lime-coloured discharge roared from the black and chrome weapon, a premature deployment of the weapon echoed through the chaos-filled atmosphere, striking the left chestplate of her Lykos opponent as the Verkhov screamed in misery.

Watching as the plasma flame consumed her opponent, Vulf couldn't help but feel sorry for the Lykos as every last second of his life was now taken by extreme agony and pain. But she excused these thoughts of regret, as she soon remembered her ally who had been claimed by these Lykos. She enacted the Toa of Water's vengeance on a member of this Lykos hunt which had surrounded her and her new-found allies. More weapon discharges were detected by Vulf's audio sensors, whether it had been Uron's Zamor Sphere Launcher, Askerov's Fire Sword or either that of the Lykos' Plasma Blade or Plasma Rifle.

How could this go so wrong? Vulf thought in panic, casting her gaze towards one of her allies: Askerov. She watched the Toa of Fire struggle with one of the Verkhov's, attempting to dodge the intrusive plasma blade of the Lykos attacker. Lifting his fire blade—the silver broad-sword erupted into flames, casting a wall of orange fire into the mass of the larger Lykos. Caught alight near instantaneously, the Lykos cried out in pain as it attempted to extinguish the flames Askerov doused the Verkhov loyal in. But eventually it learned to ignore these painful flames, concentrating with all its might to enact its own revenge on the Toa.

Lifting the large Plasma Blade, the Verkhov roared something in its own tongue, something Vulf didn't understand. She glanced on as a navy-blue with a red accent clad Lykos lifted its Pulse Rifle to counter the Verkhov's blade, dousing the enemy in a pulse of plasma energy. The Verkhov Lykos doubled over, falling on its back as it roared in agony, letting out its dying breath, and finally gave in to the combination of both fire and plasma flames.

Suddenly something caught Vulf off-guard, as a Lykos close to her roared in triumph. Vulf quickly cast her glance at the offending Lykos, finding a member of the Verkhov look down at her with his Short-Rifle aimed at the Toa of Psionics.

«Ellets hcid lopettaa, Yeretik!» The Lykos exclaimed, his finger quickly squeezing on the trigger of his rifle. Vulf watched, preparing to aim what she though to be a pistol at her opponent. But in a sudden flash, Vulf found herself metres from where she intended to be—the arm of her Toa of Ice ally: Uron, placed on her shoulder as he quickly reloaded his Zamor Launcher. His Mask of Teleportation hummed softly, as the ice-glow of the Kanohi soon shimmered back down to its usual silver shine. The Lykos which had faced Vulf looked around in panic, before letting out a obnoxiously loud roar.

Looking back on the scene Vulf saw that Askerov, Machitis and the Lykos which had accompanied them disappeared as well. Vulf hadn't noticed that when she turned to face the Verkhov with the Short-Rifle, that the others had disengaged and fled into the forest as well, leaving behind her and Uron. The Toa of Ice had luckily been paying attention. The Verkhov which challenged her turned his head into the woods, close to where Uron and Vulf were standing. Naturally the Toa crouched into the burnt brush, peering through the weak branches of the short bush at where the Verkhov's were.

And then she saw the one who had confronted the group in the first place, lowering its Long-Rifle to the ground. She looked over the peculiar details of this Lykos: the black and chrome armour, the ragged cloak made up of Rahi skin and pelt and the dreadful metal skull of a bear-like creature mounted on his left shoulder-plate. This being disgusted Vulf in every sense, as it conversed with its allies. Their voices were loud as the Lykos put what Vulf thought to be its lower back into place, the lower placing its fist above its heart.

What is it doing? Vulf pondered, a bit confused by this action. She wasn't left to think long as Uron tugged on her arm, seemingly aware of the fact something bad was about to happen next.

"Vulf! We can't sit here, we need to get moving!" Uron muttered quietly, as to not raise the attention of the Verkhov's. But it didn't seem necessary as the lead Verkhov roared something fierce, pointing in the general direction of the two Toa.

''«Nehets thcin, minun Okhota! Nednif Yeretik!»''

Uron frowned, pulling Vulf up to her legs as he helped drag her into a run. The Toa of Psionics and Ice sprinted with whatever they had left, both knowing that the pace they were going at would not last for long. Vulf turned her head back briefly to see if the Verkhov's pursuing them had gained any ground on them, but was surprised to find that the Lykos weren't anywhere to be seen. Uron grunted, catching Vulf's attention again to keep her pace going.

Vulf's head reeled forwards, dodging the burnt carapaces of what would have once been living trees and the luscious grass. The leaves were completely torn from the trees, left to create a thick mat of decay under the boots of Vulf and Uron, the sickly shapes of the dead grass and mountains of leaves slick and mushy. The area smelt atrocious, now that Vulf was required to draw in more and more breath to keep her system functioning. The mixed smell of vegetation decay and burning plasma hadn't been a pleasant mixture for either of the Toa.

But what had made it worse is how empty the Northern Continent now seemed. There was no more indigenous life around the area, the trees completely burnt and the dirt under their feet glass. The rivers had either been evaporated or polluted by the high concentration of plasma, and the Rahi which used to roam free now silenced and prisoned in this hellish world. Not a sound, with the exception of the hallowed wind running against Vulf's audio receptors.

Heading to where an ancient stream once ran free, the two Toa slid under into what seemed to be a trench as the pulled close against the back wall. Vulf breathed heavily, regaining her breath from a sprint which had covered the two pretty good ground from where the assault on the Toa and friendly Lykos took place. Uron slowed, drawing in his own deep breaths as he checked over his Zamor Launcher, quickly holstering the weapon on the series of loops on his backpack. He removed a pair of small ice hatchets from the sheaths on his unnaturally blackened thigh armour, the cool silver and ice blue head of the axe cooling the atmosphere around the two.

Vulf watched as Uron's eyes closed in on her own, as he muttered something quietly. The Toa of Psionics knew that she was meant to hear what he said, but she wasn't able to exactly catch what the Toa of Ice had said. She worded 'what' from her silent mouth, as Uron slowly motioned her over. She obeyed, sliding closer to the Toa of Ice as he slowly whispered into her left audio receptor: "Where are the Lykos?"

The Toa of Psionics shook her head, informing Uron that she did not know. The Toa of Ice made an odd expression on his face, as he then whispered even quieter: "Then use your elemental power... tell me if you feel anything."

Vulf nodded her head, as she closed her eyes and concentrated on the environment around her. The external sensor bristles on her armour twitched, as the Toa used her elemental power in attempt to detect any unnatural movement. A whistle of wind colliding with a weak branch of a tree, the breathing of herself and Uron was made very clear to Vulf. But she however wasn't able to detect any movements from any being like a Lykos. Opening her eyes again, Vulf shook her head. "No. Nothing."

The Toa of Ice released what would have now been considered a noisy exhale, as he pushed himself off the dirt wall of the crevice to the stream. "Alright then, we are clear. For now, keep in mind." Uron pulled a cylinder unit from his utility belt, something which belonged in design to what Vulf had now know as Lykos technology. He opened the cylinder, as it displayed a green holographic map of what Vulf made out to be a responding unit within the vicinity of the two Toa.

"We can start looking for Askerov and..." The Toa of Ice paused, "what happened to Rayil?"

Vulf remained silent, looking down to the ground as she felt a sudden sorrow creep up onto her shoulders. She had completely forgotten about the Toa of Water who had been atomised right next to her after having been chased through the forest. She looked up again, "I'm... I'm sorry Uron. I nearly forgot about her. She... she didn't make it."

Uron closed his eyes, breathing out before clenching them together further in frustration. He swore something quietly, before slowly drawing his eyes back up to where Vulf stood. "I—I can't believe it. Rayil and I have known each other ever since our days in Metru Nui. Students. We studied the History of the Great Spirit together."

He stopped for a bit, holding back his emotional rage before continuing: "Then the Lykos started taking islands at the Southern Chains. Toa attempted to... to push back the Kinsmen's charge, but they were never successful. Rayil and I, were chosen to defend the Matoran and the Line... stop the Lykos before it was too late. She did her part to defend both. And now it is left in my hands alone, mine and Rayil's responsibility now only my own."

Vulf looked at the ground, before pushing off the crevice wall. She stepped forward to Uron, placing her hand on his shoulder in attempt to comfort him. Vulf really had no place trying to comfort him, after having had to rely on him on two occasions already without repaying him whatsoever. "I'm sorry, Uron. We will fulfil that responsibility, and we will avenge Rayil by helping to protect what she sacrificed herself for."

Uron looked up, nodding his head slowly as he looked back up to Vulf. "Thank you. At least..." He paused, "she will be more at peace, departed from this world. Than she would have been, captured by the Lykos."

"What do you mean?" Vulf asked carefully.

"The only gift the Lykos can provide us with is death, Vulf. Anything else they would present us with, anything they would do to us if we were alive... is far more unimaginable than the prospect of death.

"They would give us hell, if they were allowed to take us prisoner."

The chilling wind had begun to pick up within the small clearing within the trees where the fire of what had been a ferocious battle had finally perished. The ever dry and dead ground had become moist with the noxious spill of discarded plasma cells, mixing with the thick blood from the causalities which had occurred on both sides. Beings of grievance and destruction lingered at the scene, resting the bodies of two of their own kin side by side. The head of this hunt, the commander of this company stood quietly over the body of the Toa of Water he had killed.

He quietly examined with interest the bloodied and broken corpse of the quarry he had slain only moments earlier. The barrel of his modified Long-Rifle remained warm, the ventilation shafts on either side of the weapon coughing a warm plasma cloud into the atmosphere. Lifting the weapon above his head, Predavis holstered his rifle before motioning towards a few of his Verkhov he had on watch after sending three others out to search for the other animals he had to hunt.

The Verkhov Commander growled, waving one of his Verkhov over. The lower Verkhov approached Predavis slowly, bowing its head as a sign of sincere respect before asking: "What shall you have me do, great Commander?"

"Strip this heretic of its mask and leave the body for the Burn. I shall have my prize, an addition to my marvellous collection." Predavis commanded, kicking the limp arm of the deceased Toa of Water.

The Verhov lower placed its fist over its heart, bowing its head. "Aj, my Verkhov Commander." Predavis watched as the Lykos removed a plasma dagger from its belt, slowly carving into the metal head of the bio mechanical Toa.

Predavis was disgusted that such an incompetent people had achieved the same evolutionary status as the Lykos, the fact that they had the machine efficiency that the Lykos had while still clinging close to such primitive beliefs of a 'Great Spirit'. Predavis knew very well that these Toa nor the Matoran, Steltians, Vortixx or whatever else plagued this planet were however not on the same level as the Lykos.

But what he couldn't stand the most is that members of his own species have descended to such an inferior level as these heretics had dwelled in. Predavis was unimpressed that Machitis had descended to such a lowly-level, to go against the will of his Republic and abandon his tradition. But at heart he knew that meant that this 'Warmaster' had been weaker, and as Predavis had always known.

The strong stomp out the weak.

The sharp cries of pain soon reached the audio receptors of the Verkhov Commander, turning his attention towards the direction of the offending noise. Thanalavis, one of his respectable Harbingers had been busy at work attempting to 'coax' information out of one of these offending Lykos traitors. The hostage was bleeding, a large gash running up the right side of his chest as the Verkhov Harbinger continued to beat the head of this poor Lykos with his gauntleted fist.

"Has our prey offered anything useful, my Harbinger?" Predavis asked, pacing slowly over to where his senior officer had been busy interrogating the Lykos prisoner. Thanalavis shook his head, hitting the traitor one more time before standing back up to face Predavis.

"It offers nothing but blatant lies, my Verkhov Commander. Claims that this traitor, Machitis, is the rightful heir of the Lykos people. It seems as if our Second Commander had lost his sense as well, misleading such peasants so that he could attempt to overthrow our Ultra Director's Republic!"

"Such is false. Machitis is driven mad after having been defeated by such lowly creatures after our battle at Daxia, left to sink and become a tool that these heretics can exploit. And now he thinks he is set to inherit our great Republic?" Predavis asked, looking towards the traitor.

The Lykos traitor remained quiet, keeping its gaze on the burnt ground of the forest. Perhaps it didn't understand it was being addressed by its superior, and if corrected it certainly wouldn't make that mistake again. The Verkhov Commander smiled, pulling his arm back before slamming it into the side of the poor Lykos' head. The bound body hit the floor, gagging as it was then reeled back up into a submissive kneel before the Commander, it being propped up by one of the Verkhov lowers.

"Answer me!"

The traitor stuttered, "Y-you cannot believe that our 'holiest' Ultra Director is indeed the preferred of our Pantheon! He is a fool, an intellectual inferior to one such as the great Machitis, our true Ultra—"

Predavis had removed his modified plasma blade, heating the device before pressing it harshly on the open chest wound of the traitor. The Lykos roared with pain, crying for such a dishonour to cease but the Verkhov Commander was not willing to relent his power over this situation. "By the Pantheon, you have been deranged as much as Machitis has!"

"Y-you will fall! You speak as if you think the Pantheon is actually on the side of your pitiful Ultra Director! Polemistis is a fraud, a disgrace to all that have come before him! Machitis is a true Ultra Director, the truly preferred of the Pantheon! And under his blessed guidance, we shall claim—"

The traitor yelled in sudden agony, the elongated blade of plasma tearing through his chest as the body of the dead Lykos slumped over. The lower Verkhovs released the body of the traitor as it fell to the floor, Predavis tearing his weapon out of the dead and disgraced Lykos. The Verkhov Commander kicked the idle corpse of this Lykos, looking up to the Lower who had been holding up the Traitor for the interrogation. "Strip this of anything useful," Predavis commanded, "the rest can be left for the Burn."

"Shall we leave our animals to run, Commander?" Theamis questioned, "Because of we just let the wolves chase our prey, they will only find holes to hide in until they pass!"

The Verkhov Commander turned on his Harbinger immediately, his eyes scrutinising every detail of the younger officer. "Then are they not effectively cornered, Theamis? Let the lower have their chase before we reel back on their leashes, for they will find us our prize."

"They'll be after the kill, my Commander," Thanalavis replied, "not any day that they can kill a heretic Lykos, especially one who once had held a position which much regard in the Republic."

"Machitis shall be my kill, Thanalavis." Predavis responded instantly, "his insolence and betrayal shall be punished by the hands of the highest authority on this cursed land. If he and his followers dare to challenge the Republic, I shall let his following know that the Ultra Director shall not tolerate any imperfections by his spilt blood."

"Aj, my Commander." Theamis muttered, looking up to Thanalavis. Predavis looked to the more experienced of the two officers.

"Prepare the best of your Hunters, Thanalavis. When our wolves shall catch their wretched scent, we shall set out to claim our trophy. As for you, Theamis... I believe you will find yourself worthy to head ahead of us, prepare a way to ensnare our quarry. Give them no ground to run, shall we startle them."

"Aj, my Commander." The younger Harbinger nodded, before proceeding towards a group of idle Verkhovs. Saying something to the small group, the Lykos then accompanied Theamis and set out into the forest with a variety of tools they have collected for their operation.

Predavis smiled with pleasure, this was too closely akin to his cherished hobby of hunting in the wilderness of Exusia. A noble sport only meant for the small collection of royals from each of the now five Lykos Paketos.

The Lykos had sadly once been a weaker race on an island plagued by titanous Rahi, which had hunted the Lykos. Fighting for their lives the Kinsmen drove these beasts to the age of extinction, where they then assumed dominance over the rest of the island. And now, these Rahi cowered before the Lykos. And their terror and flight to safety was only met by the bloody satisfaction of their deaths.

Now it was a similar game for Predavis on the Northern Continent. These Rahi had once challenged the Lykos Kinsman and were now fleeing for whatever cover they could shuffle into. Predavis watched as Thanalavis gathered the best members of the Hunt to join his search for the Toa and the Traitor Lykos. About to head out himself with a few other members of the Verkhov, Predavis found the Lower he had assigned to search the dead Lykos, presenting a thick cloth to him.

"I found a message inscribed on this cloak, my Commander. I believe you shall find it interesting." The Lower said, as Predavis carefully plucked the cloth from its claws.

Lifting the material up, Predavis flattened out the cloak to read the inscribed details which were sewn with golden silk into the cloth. The branched lines which made up the Lykos alphabet were organised in the fashion that the content of the message said: The Red Flags of Soyedmevos rise once more.

Predavis paused instantly, frightened by what had been written into the cloak of the dead Lykos. Yet again the Heretics have dared to mock the history and the faith of the Republic, shockingly at the origins of the Republic itself.

The Red Flag of Soyedmevos was once a militaristic party within the old Lykos Kinsman Empire, nothing more to the established monarchy than a group of revolutionaries. The Red Flag was able to exploit the weaknesses of the Empire, and use the imprisoned Lykos people against their royal masters. The Red Flag of Soyedmevos had always been regarded highly, and the fact that these Heretics have been defiling the origins of the Republic in attempt to inspire revolution against itself was sickening.

He clenched the cloth in both of his hands, before twisting the cloak and tearing it. The shreds of the cloth hit the ground, as Predavis roared with anger and frustration. He turned his head towards the direction that the Heretics had fled, removing his Long-Rifle from the holster placed over his fur cloak. He looked to the group of Verkhov Shock Commandos, who had been startled by their Commander's sudden aggression.

He motioned for them to move through the forest. They did as they were commanded, quickly falling into the dead forest in search of their prey.

"So, they shall, incite rebellion against us?" Predavis muttered, "then I shall have them by the throat. No longer shall they offend our tradition, no longer shall they roam our realm. They shall be nothing more than pelts, additions to my cloak... and mere stories of my hunt, my legacy!"

The trail along the stream followed the pathway of a thousand marble stones. As the round, disc-shaped pebbles shifted under the weight of the boots of the two Toa, it sounded as genuine as the river might have once been. Vulf truly wondered how beautiful this place must have been, as her vision focused on the white trail lain out before her. The running blue river, the luscious green trees and the brown earth. The blue skies, and the white clouds. A paradise.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Uron, the solemn Toa of Ice finally speaking after several moments of silence. "So you said this was all new to you. That you didn't know anything about the Lykos—when we first met. What happened to you? What happened to your Toa Team?"

Vulf hesitated for a moment, before precisely recalling what she had said before. "My Toa Team had come here to face a Skakdi Warlord. On our final push to his camp, I was knocked unconscious. I figured that it was temporary, but apparently not so... after I had been lost in the darkness, I have no idea what happened to the rest of my team. I woke up, and set out to find them only to see that things; that things have changed."

Uron grunted, nodding his head. "It has changed. Everything has changed ever since the Republic starting invading."

"Why exactly is the Republic invading the rest of the universe?" Vulf asked carefully. Uron suddenly paused, closing his eyes and exhaling. Vulf was about to expand her question, before Uron replied: "We look back a few years for the start of this. We knew the Lykos for nearly two decades, knew what threat they presented and knew they were willing to invade. No one wanted to believe that these Rahi were going to start taking the Southern Chains one island at a time. In fact, I think a few of us knew that they weren't.

"A couple years ago, a Lykos Kinsman Ambassador makes a trip to Metru Nui to negotiate the land that they claimed was their inheritance. Turns out that a few other beings were stationed there, and the Lykos wanted them gone. Well, things went from bad to worse when this Ambassador was assassinated at Metru Nui."

"Their Ambassador was assassinated?" Vulf interrupted, before receiving a cold stare from Uron. She let him continue, fearing what the Toa of Ice might do next if she didn't let him talk.

"Yes. We don't know who did it, and the Lykos used it as grounds of invasion. I personally believe the Lykos killed their own Ambassador so they could feign a reason to start invading our lands. Everyone was in panic, worried that the Lykos would snatch them up. To make it worse, the Makuta decided to sign a treaty with the Republic."

Vulf cringed, understanding the horrors an alliance like that would bring to anyone who was against either force. Uron continued, "So the Lykos start invading, taking islands one by one as they let the Matoran scatter to warn the other tribes of their impending doom. So we organise this thing called the Grand Council, gather the Turaga, the Vortixx and Steltians to decide what we should do to prevent the Lykos from reaching a certain point. They decide to build this massive installation known as 'The Line' to stretch along the boarders of Lykos and Council territory.

"But then the Makuta managed a way to put the Great Spirit to sleep. Had the Lykos and the Makuta remained allies at this point, I think it would be pretty evident that it was going to be a losing battle."

"What happened to their alliance?"

"What didn't happen to the Brotherhood-Republic treaty? They couldn't sustain the treaty for much longer. Teridax and the holy Ultra Director couldn't come to terms of what belonged to who. We were lucky that the Makuta was now fighting a two front war at this point, and eventually the Lykos Kinsman Republic obliterated the Brotherhood at the Battle of Destral. Soon enough, the Makuta come to 'The Line', and propose that they should align with us. And sure enough, after hearing what the Lykos was capable of, we did." Uron finished, "And now we are here, struggling to survive as we are being hunted down by what could possibly be the most brutal Lykos Commander in the history of the Great Spirit."

Uron and Vulf then came to the face of a small waterfall, the soil weak around the base and would surely come loose if too much pressure was put on it. Vulf looked at it, quietly calculating the options that they had to ascend it. It was too high to just vault over, as well as being too high to climb over by themselves. Uron was about to offer his Toa of Psionics ally a boost, but Vulf shook her head. Unleashing her psionic energy, Vulf managed to lift herself up and over the waterfall as a sudden boost of momentum carried her up. Lying closely down to the edge of the waterfall, Vulf offered her Toa of Ice comrade a hand.

"Show-off," Uron muttered as Vulf helped to pull him up onto the waterfall face. The support for it was beginning to weaken, as the Toa of Psionics rolled away from the edge quickly as the soil soon sputtered and collapsed under what had been the weight of the Toa of Psionics and Ice. Uron leapt to safety, watching as Vulf slowly rose to her feet and dusted off her armour.

Uron was moving to remove his Ice Hatchets suddenly, before slowly halting. The tense, defence ready stature of the grizzled Toa of Ice relaxed back into an at ease posture. Vulf turned her head in the direction of the Toa of Ice, looking exactly at what was in front of the two. The red and black clad Toa of Fire who Vulf knew as Askerov entered the scene, as he looked with warm orange eyes towards the two. "You know, I heard you a distance away. You really need to be careful, especially if we are being tracked."

"Thanks for the concern," Uron muttered, "we sure were worrying that we may never see your hideous mask ever again."

Askerov couldn't help but smile, before saying: "Likewise, cube-head."

The Toa of Fire motioned into the thicket of burnt trees, as a sudden rustle was heard from within. The black and chrome frame of a Verkhov Lykos rolled out onto the ground, as Vulf was preparing to respond, finding her hand on the hilt of her plasma blade once more. The Verkhov gasped in shock, struggling to get up as it found its limbs immobilised with a sort of strong bond.

Out of the thicket followed the blue armoured Lykos Kinsman, the red details on his armour standing out from the rest of the blue of the armour. This Lykos Kinsman had what appeared to be a similar model rifle to the one which assaulted her earlier, figuring it out to be some sort of assault model.

Askerov pointed to the bound body of the Verkhov Lykos as it continued to struggle, before presenting it: "We managed to capture this on our sprint out of the ambush. He started squawking for help immediately, but now he is just shaken up and refuses to speak."

The Verkhov Lykos spat, before speaking in what was perfect Matoran: "You will pay, heretic! Do you know who I am?!"

"Not so quiet anymore," Vulf replied, looking towards Askerov as the Verkhov continued to speak. "The holiest Ultra Director shall have your heads for this foul act! He shall surely seek vengeance for you attacking his own kin!"

The blue armoured Lykos became suddenly interested, as Askerov and Uron both turned their heads in disbelief as well. The blue clad Lykos was the first to reply, however: "O, are you of the kin of Polemistis? And if so, what be your title?"

The Verkhov Lykos paused for a while, mustering all its strength before announcing as mighty as possible: "I am Kvar! Kinsman of the holiest Ultra Director's Paketo!"

The Lykos and Uron spat in disgust, as someone would after expecting something amazing but being presented with something rather mediocre. Askerov smiled amusingly, but again the blue clad Lykos was the first to reply: "Surely you are joking?"

Vulf only watched in complexion, looking around at the rest of her allies and then back down to their hostage, who was attempting to both break free and look as intimidating as possible to the Toa and the traitor Lykos. "But you are not of Paketo nobility, strange one." Askerov finally said, approaching the bound Lykos before crouching by its side. "Why would Polemistis care? At most, you would have been a lowly swordsman."

"I am a great swordsman!" Kvar spat, "and I stand tall within the great Ultra Director's Paketo! Shall you release me then shall I prove you wrong heretic! I challenge you do to so!"

Vulf stared at Kvar for a long time, approaching the bound Lykos as well as it began to attempt to break free its arms. The Toa of Psionics knew that the Lykos were indeed very strong beings, but the metal ropes which kept Kvar tied were too strong for it, as the Lykos eventually showed signs of weakness to the metal bonds.

"You might be able to swing a sword, Lykos. But right now I see you are tied up and incapable of escape. So I suggest that you show a tiniest bit of respect." Vulf said carefully, looking over the Lykos. "What do you even do anyways?"

"I shall not take that tone from the likes of you, heretic!" Kvar replied. His eyes then dwindled over to where the other Lykos had its rifle, the barrel of the weapon coming closer to the head of Kvar.

Kvar struggled again, attempting to escape for one last time before giving out whatever information he had: "I am a specialised Shock Commando, I work as a great Message Interceptor!"

"The Shock Commando part might be the least bit impressive," the blue Lykos said disinterested, "if you hadn't been a Translator. Askerov, the only real use this baggage has to us is to either give us information I doubt he has—"

"I shall tell you nothing!" Kvar growled, before being silenced again by the blue clad Lykos. "—or to carry some of our equipment. Other than that, as far as I am concerned he is as good as dead."

"I shall not be your pack Rahi!" The Verkhov growled again, as Askerov looked over the black and silver design of the stealth armour again. "You know, Kvar-pal. I was going to let you walk without doing us any favours, but I think I will take Yarvok's advice here because you have been so very rude with me so far. Yarvok, if you will please."

Yarvok smiled, as the massive blue armoured Lykos helped the black armoured Kvar to his feet, the Verkhov prisoner attempting to break free from what to it seemed cruel and unnatural. The blue clad Lykos removed its massive hard-shelled case from its back, applying it to the back armour of Kvar as Uron and Askerov then began to strap on their supplies as Yarvok held the frenzied Lykos in place.

Askerov looked over towards Vulf, as Vulf shook her head with a small smile, knowing perfectly what the Toa of Fire was suggesting. She had no need to insult this Verkhov, and the fact Kvar was being used to carry around everyones stuff was good enough itself. She was about to explain why, before the bristle sensors on the exterior of her armour pulled, alerting her of some unknown force. She looked around, before Askerov then turned to see Vulf looking about. Vulf looked at Askerov as his eyes widened, as Vulf turned around to face the distortion in the air.

She stood her ground, as she felt as Askerov, Uron and Yarvok prepared themselves for what was about to reveal itself to them.

Vulf's hand felt its way down to the handle of the plasma blade once again, as she took a defensive pose. And prepared herself for whatever was to come next.