Remnants of the Great Beings

Remnants of The Great Beings is a serial story following Turaga Ekumas and his quest to find the Great Beings.

Chapter 1
Outside the remains of the Great Spirit Robot

Night time. Most people dread it, hiding in their huts. Typically, many believe that monsters emerge from their lairs and hunt anyone foolish enough to wander in the dark. While there are certainly such predators, darkness itself isn’t evil. The main reason most people associate the shadows with evil is because they fear what they cannot see. Monsters typically use to it conceal themselves, and as such, most people dread it.

But while the dark can hide the most villainous of beings, it can also hold the most beautiful of treasures. The night sky is full proof of it. He could see comets streaking in the atmosphere, stars flicking like candles. Stars are fascinating things, really. They can either represent a massive fireball, or a distant world.

Turaga Ekumas’ mind wandered even further. He knew that there was an infinite number of planets, of lands beyond their reach. Mata Nui had traveled across the known universe studying each world, and yet he has only scratched the surface of it. He wondered what beings lived out there. Surely, the varieties of life were as infinite as the cosmos.

And somewhere, out there, were the Great Beings: The scientist-kings responsible for the creation of the Great Spirit, and just about every living thing that ever existed within the Matoran Universe. They once ruled Spherus Magna, but they had an obsession with creation. To satisfy their creative urges and the needs for the Agori, They created the Element Lords to watch over them. But when a mysterious substance, Energized Protodermis, emerged from the planet’s core, they lead their Tribes to war over it. And as they fought, the stuff was slowly tearing their world apart.

Failing to prevent the looming cataclysm, they decided to try solving the problem from another angle. They built a massive robot, designed to study other worlds, how they worked and how to undo the upcoming damage. They created the Matoran to act as constructors, and to ensure its health once it was completed. They named it Mata Nui, their “Great Spirit”. Once he was completed, he took off and fled he planet, just as it was fractured.

And over 100,000 years later (despite some setbacks and problems), he fulfilled his function as intended. Yet Ekumas cannot help but feel that something was off. If the Great Beings did indeed wish to return to Spherus Magna, why haven’t they returned? Why haven’t they revealed themselves after so long?

Some of the natives seem to think that they abandoned their world, ran off to some other one. The Turaga found that to be highly unlike. “If they truly didn’t care about Spherus Magna, then why would they have even bothered to try to restore it?” he once asked. Those against his thoughts would argue no further.

He heard footsteps approaching him. He whirled around, staff in hand and Noble Elda glowing. He sighed in relief when he realized who it was. Standing before him was a Toa of Earth, bearing what appeared to be a Kakama Nuva. He knew, however, that it was actually a Zyrlakpe, Great Mask of Infrared Perception. This, he instantly knew, was Toa Labyth.

“Didn't think that I’d find you stargazing here,” Laughed the Onu-Toa.

His old friend chuckled. “I just needed some time alone.”

“Near that thing?” Replied Labyth, pointed at the pieces of the massive construct.

Ekumas turned, gazing at the Great Spirit Robot. For the last few months, everybody’s been dismantling it for spare parts. Some of them have been used to build homes and villages, others for a makeshift prison. There’s still plenty to go around, and they were going to need all of it if they wished to rebuild what was lost.

“Is there a reason for you to have sought me out, or are you here to join me?” Inquired the Turaga, with a hint of humor.

Labyth smiled for a moment, though he did display a bit of seriousness in his eyes.

“The council just got your request. They’re gonna have a little chat with you tomorrow morning.”

“Council” was hardly a way to describe the new alliance between the natives of Spherus Magna and the Matoran Universe. Right now, it was little more than of group of individuals trying to form a new government. Tahu, Gali, Vakama and his crew, and other beings were part of it. Ekumas himself was somewhat part of it as well, though he didn’t have much interest in politics. All that mattered to him was that both worlds stood united.

Ekumas sighed. “Very well. I’ll see them in the morning.”

Labyth accompanied his friend back to their village. Much of it was built from the remains of their carrier, and there was still much more to build. Tonight, the Matoran and Agori workers would sleep. Tomorrow, they would resume their duties. And the two had their own share of jobs as well.

Once the Turaga of Ice was safely back home, the Toa of Earth activated his Kanohi Zyrlakpe. Most of the world took on a dark shade of blue, with splashes of warm colors representing the sleepers. Nothing was out of the ordinary. Sighing in relief, he resumed his nightshift. This was going to be a long night…

Later that morning

“What do you mean ‘no’!?” Exclaimed Ekumas.

Onua and Tarix shook their heads. “We just don’t have that kind of mind of manpower right now. Nor do we have the proper materials right now. We’re still recovering from all of this.” The Glatorian replied.

“Besides,” Onua replied. “I’ve already sent a team out to the Great Jungle to seek out the Great Beings.”

“Four beings, out to trek Bota Magna all by themselves,” Remembered the Truaga. “It’s been months since they set off to find our makers. They could be dead for all we know,”

Ekumas slammed both hands on the table they sat at. “They can’t do this on their own. They need our help.”

Onua frowned. “I’m sorry. I want to find our friends as much as you do, but we’re not in any condition to search them out.”

Ekumas just stared down in disbelief. He couldn’t just leave Gelu and them out there. Nobody knows what could be out there. The whole idea was suicide. But Mata Nui asked of them for this, and he wasn’t just going to stand idle while time ate away at everyone. Defeated, he left the chambers, barely tilting his head up to see the sad expressions on face and Kanohi.

He turned to see Lisfek, Turaga of “Silver”, walking towards him. He bore black, grey, and silver armor, and bore a Tryna-shaped Sanok. He carried a short spear as his Badge of Office, what was once his Toa Tool. They had known each other since they first became Toa, but they were separated from each other several years ago. They had only reunited after the Order of Mata Nui revealed themselves.

“As much as I hate to admit it, they do have a point,” He said. “We need to recuperate if we wish to survive. I hate leaving my collages behind, but…” He bowed his head.

Ekumas shook his head, walking right by his collage. Someone grabbed his arm. He turned to see a Turaga of various blues and a Noble Rau. He instantly recognized her as Nokama, one of Vakama's collages.

“Actually, I might have something that can help you,” She said.

She handed Ekumas a scroll. Puzzled, the Turaga of Ice decided to take a look at it. It was a map, one of Bota Magna. There were several places marked on it, places that have been untouched since the Shattering. Lein’s Drift, the Skrall Homeland, a Field of Mist, and…

Ekumas raised an eyebrow. There was a question mark by one of the locations. It appeared to be deep within the jungle, far beyond a city of Vorox. He looked back at the Turaga of Water.

“A wanderer from that area came by here earlier,” she said. “Said that he was hoping to make contact with the residents of Bara Magna. Claimed to be a member of the Earth Tribe.”

The one of Ice raised an eyebrow. “Earth Tribe?”

Nokama nodded. “Indeed. Ranuu confirmed that there was such a Tribe before the Core War. They were the only one not to partake in it.”

“Why was that?” Inquired the other Turaga, interested.

“They were tied to mother nature, were weary of the war’s effect on it,” She replied. “Their culture centers on farming, and they depended upon nature for all of their resources.”

“Resources that they felt would be lost if they partook in the Core War,” Finished Ekumas.

“The major of the Tribe was stranded on Bota Magna, including our visitor.” She said.

“And where might I find this character?” Asked her collage.

“He’s resting at the local inn here,” Guided Nokama. “And he’s hoping to bring some of the natives back with him to reestablish contact with his Tribe.”

Ekumas smiled. “Thank you, Nokama,” And with that, he set off to find the mysterious being.

The Turaga of Water pointed toward a small building not far from where he held his meeting just a few minutes ago. He pasted through the guard, a Glatorian of the Jungle Tribe, and into the inn. It was nothing spectacular, with simple furniture and a few select beverages. He could see the bartender giving out a glass of water to someone.

That someone was a Glatorian in brown-and-black armor, bearing something atop his head. What was the word their precursors used for that kind of object? “Hat”? Yes, hat. The hat he had was long and round, likely to ward off the sun’s heat. His armor was a fusion of plant matter and metal, as was his sunhat.

He had a spear on his back, alongside a crossbow and some bolts for it. The figure turned him, having a blade of some plant in his mouth. He raised an eyebrow at the sight of the Turaga.

“You one of dem metal fellas from space?” The stranger asked in an odd accent, something that some beings might identify as being “country”.

“If by “space” you mean the fallen giant in the distance,” Replied Ekumas. “Then yes, I am.”

“You a Turaga?” The Earth Tribal asked. The other being nodded.

“And I heard that you were wishing to reconnect with the other Tribes,” Said Ekumas.

The warrior grinned. “Indeed I am. Just talked to that red fella, Ranuu. Said I could bring some of your folk back to see mine.”

“Would you mind if I and a few friends of mine were to be part of your expedition back to your homeland,” Asked the Turaga.

The Glatorian smiled. “I’d be much obliged, stranger. What’s your name?”

“Ekumas,” Replied the shorter one, offering his hand.

“Mutul,” said the outsider, shaking the old one’s hand. “We leave in three days,”

He got off his seat. “If I was you, I’d use this time to gather your party and say goodbye to your buds,” He suggested. “We might be gone for months.”

Ekumas nodded, watching as the newcomer left the building. He smiled to himself. This was the perfect opportunity. If this guy truly was from Bota Magna, then he might have a lead on the Great Beings. If not, well, at least they’ll have some new friends.

He paused, though. The man did just say that they may be gone for several months. If that was the case, the he’d have to pack carefully and chose his friends wisely. The first one to come to mind was Bodrix, one of the new Toa he had recently transformed. Labyth was assigned as the trainer of him and another Toa, so those three were the first choices.

He needed to find Fa-Matoran as well. They make good navigators, and something told him that they were going to need one. Might have to bring another Glatorian and an Agori as well. He was going to need to play along if he was going to find his makers. Le-Matoran are naturally adapt to the forest, so it’d be wise to have one as well. Finally, a Nynrah Ghost might come in handy (assuming that he can find and convince one, that is).

With a plan in mind, Ekumas set off to find his candidates. Deep down, he knew that there was a chance that he and his crew might not back it back. But it was a risk he was willing to take. In a few days, he was going to dive into the unknown. In a few days, he was going on the adventure of his life.

Characters

 * The Expedition
 * Mutul
 * Ekumas
 * Labyth
 * The "Council"
 * Tahu (mentioned only)
 * Gali ( mentioned only)
 * Onua
 * Ranuu (mentioned only)
 * Tarix
 * Vakama (mentioned only)
 * Nokama
 * Lisfek
 * An unnamed Glatorian of the Jungle Tribe

Trivia
TBW...