The End of Argai Nui

THE END OF ARGAI NUI
A Story By Skorax

Credit to Skraxia for helping with it





 CHAPTER ONE 

Psaerah knelt beside the Ta-Matoran, placing a hand on the side of his mask, she lifted his face to look at hers. Around her was the wreckage of several apartment buildings, strewn with dead villagers and destroyed vehicles.

“I need you to tell me exactly what happened, soldier” she said in her calm, soothing melodic voice.

“I … I… I’m not sure, it was so.. So fast”

“Shhhh, relax, take a deep breath, and let it out slowly.” She said, activating her powers over the element of psionics, Psaerah sent a psychic caress into the matoran’s mind, calming him instantly.

“We received the call for help under half an hour ago. We, we were told the one who had killed your predecessors was back, hunting for something or someone in the streets.

“Executioner” The gruff voice of Toa Plasmax said from behind Psaerah’s shoulder. The telescopic lens built into Plasmax’ mask extended and focused in on the Matoran Soldier.

“Dark Hunter, extremely dangerous”

“We have to stop him!” Said Flaron, Toa of Fire and leader of the team.

“Really, I thought we should give him a basket of fruit and welcome him to the neighbourhood” Said Skraxia, the ice Toa walked over to the group, Aelya, Levron and Verus with him. Altarion, finished using his power of gravity to level a ruined building, stowed his war hammer and joined the group. He offered his hand to Psaerah, who took it and stood up. She smiled at him and sent a psychic caress into his thoughts, laced with one word “''Thanks”. ''

Tomorrow, we need to begin looking for this guy, however, priority for the remainder of the day is evacuation, we need to get matoran out of this sector and into emergency shelters, then have the City Guard lock down the streets and set up checkpoints, enforce a curfew and send out a call to other islands, see if anyone else knows of this “Executioner” and whether or not they know how to deal with him”. -Flaron said.-“Aelya, I want you to go to the Turaga and see if they have anything on this character, Levron, you work with the guard and shut down the chute system, have all railcars removed from the tracks in an hour, then I want you in the air, we need another pair of eyes in the sky.”

“Got it” Aelya said and ran back to the railcar that had brought the team to their current location, she hopped into the cockpit and took off, heading towards the Great Temple, residence of Argai Nui’s Turaga and location of the City’s council chamber and Archives.

<p class="MsoNormal">Levron said nothing, merely saluted and activated his Scythe blades, they extended from his backpack forming energized wings on his back. And he soared into the sky.

<p class="MsoNormal">Flaron turned to Skraxia: “Skraxia, I want you to head all road blocking and containment, get back to HQ, and pick a team of veterans and get on it!”

<p class="MsoNormal">Skraxia nodded and darted off, using his ice power to create a bridge to carry himself back to the City Guard’s main base.

<p class="MsoNormal">“What about us, boss?” Said Veron, Toa of Stone; stepping forward.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You and Plasmax grab a groundcar and patrol the streets”

<p class="MsoNormal">Both warriors acknowledged their instructions and hurried off to carry them out.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m heading back to HQ to help coordinate things there, Altarion, Psaerah, head to the watchtower and hop aboard an airship; you’re on rapid-response duty.

<p class="MsoNormal">The two Toa nodded and hurried off.

<p class="MsoNormal"> CHAPTER TWO 

<p class="MsoNormal">Psaerah meditated with Altarion in the hold of an airship, as it cut through the sky, awaiting orders.

<p class="MsoNormal">Suddenly an invasive burst of mental energy surged into their minds, followed by Flaron’s voice.

<p class="MsoNormal">“All Toa, we have a siting! Head to the foundry, proceed with caution, do not engage the target alone”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Acknowledged” said all Toa and the airships crew at once.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Pilot, set course for the foundry, get all weapon systems online and ready the bikes!” roared Altarion.

<p class="MsoNormal">Soon the roar of the airship’s engines filled the all but abandoned foundry, the ships weapon systems came into life, laser-guided cordak blasters and disc launchers panned around the area, searching for targets. Two pods shot from the ships underbelly and struck the ground with enough force to knock a Kane-Ra Bull unconscious, they then blew open and revealed two identical motorcycles, each equipped with a multi-shot zamor sphere launcher and a cordak blaster holstered on the rear.

<p class="MsoNormal">Then the cargo bay opened and two Toa, the first in armour of Black and purple, the second, a beautiful female in blue and gold descended on rappelling lines. The Dark Hunter known as Executioner watched this all unfold, sitting behind a shipping crate, watching the events unfold through the telescopic targeting and tracking device that had replaced his left eye. He slipped away, into the shadows as the two mounted Toa rocketed past on their bikes.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Time to go to work” Executioner mumbled to himself.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> OUTSKIRTS OF THE FOUNDRY DISTRICT 

<p class="MsoNormal">Veron and Plasmax drove through the outskirts of the foundry, Plasmax at the helm of their small, three-man transport while Veron stood behind it’s mounted energy cannon, panning left and right, using the weapon’s attached spotlight to look for their target. When suddenly a powerful explosion rocked their vehicle, then a second.

<p class="MsoNormal">“CORDAK BLASTER!” roared plasma as Veron swivelled the cannon into the direction from where the projectiles had come from, he only had enough time to squeeze off one shot before their vehicle was flipped over and everything went black.

<p class="MsoNormal">Executioner was furious, his attack had not gone as planned; the motion-detecting mines that he had laid had malfunctioned and he had to resort to dealing with a heavily-armoured transport with a cordak blaster, the Toa had even managed to shoot him once, and the blast of pure kinetic energy from the vehicle’s cannon had blasted Executioner through a wall and crumpled his cordak blaster. As he stood, scanning the overturned transport with his augmented eye, looking for the unconscious Toa. Executioner smiled as he found them and drew one of his Protosteel swords, advancing on the unconscious form of Plasmax.

<p class="MsoNormal">   A green-armoured from slammed into Executioner, sending the Dark Hunter flying, he hit the ground hard and his weapon was knocked from his hand.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You will not harm my Toa-Brothers!” said Levron as he unlimbered his twin Air Scythes.

<p class="MsoNormal">Executioner said nothing, instead he drew his staff and extended it, electrical energy shot through the weapon, crackling as the veteran warrior spun the weapon and charged.

<p class="MsoNormal">Levron could not move fast enough to dodge the Dark Hunter’s first blow, or his second, or his third through fifth strikes, each time the weapon struck, the Air Toa experienced terrible pain as electricity shocked him and was temporarily stunned. Finally, Levron was able to dodge, he backflipped to put space between him and the other warrior and sent a powerful gust of wind toward the mercenary.

<p class="MsoNormal">Executioner was thrown backward as the wind struck him; the toa was on him in an instant and brought down both of his weapons, the mercenary swung his staff to protect himself, but the twin blades sheared through the weapon with ease and Executioner had to roll to the side in order to avoid the Toa’s following attacks. He then drew his pistol and shot the toa in the stomach before kicking Levron to the ground, and shooting him twice more in the chest.

<p class="MsoNormal"> CHAPTER THREE 

<p class="MsoNormal">Executioner stood over Toa Levron’s prone form, about to finish the downed toa when his enhanced senses detected something moving toward him, fast. He jammed his pistol back into its holster as he leapt into the air, narrowly dodging the incoming motorbikes. He landed and threw a chain-snare at one of the mounted Toa; it tangled into the bikes’ wheel then exploded, sending both rider and vehicle flying.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Psaerah!” Altarion cried out as his friend was flung into the air; he quickly fired off all four rounds in his bike’s zamor launcher before, turning sharply and stopping before drawing his cordak blaster.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Time to end this” Altarion growled as he leveled the weapon with his enemies head and fired.

<p class="MsoNormal">The projectile never struck, as Executioner rolled underneath it and came up shooting; his pistol barked as a round sped toward the toa of Gravity and struck his weapon, sending it flying from the Toa’s grasp. Altarion growled, jumped off of his bike and swung his warhammer at the mercenary, knocking Executioner’s pistol from his grasp. The Dark Hunter Jumped back as Psaerah got to her feet and unlimbered her force staff.

<p class="MsoNormal">She sent a two-word telepathic message to Altarion: “Distract him!”

<p class="MsoNormal">Altarion was already doing well enough; he didn’t have time to focus his elemental powers and had to resort to using his hammer to hold the Dark Hunter off. Executioner landed a powerful kick to the Toa’s chest before ducking under another hammer blow and unleashing of a flurry of punches into Altarion’s abdomen; he sent the Toa to the ground with a kick to the head as Psaerah’s mental assault struck him: and did nothing. He turned and faced his new foe.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Sorry beautiful, my mind is shielded, don’t want you or any other telepath slipping in and doing nasty things to it”

<p class="MsoNormal">Psaerah growled in anger, the team’s best fighter was down and she was alone against the being that had demolished three of her teammates and her greatest power was useless against him, her grip on her force staff tightened as she sent psionic energy through it and prepared for the coming battle.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Chapter Four 

<p class="MsoNormal">It happened so fast, Psaerah could hardly believe it. In an instant, the mercenary had been struck by a powerful electric blast, then a stream of fire; before being frozen solid. Aelya dropped down beside her and extended her lightning claws, their tips crackling with electrical energy.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Looks like we arrived just in time princess” She said

<p class="MsoNormal">Skraxia and Flaron appeared next, weapons at the ready, as Altarion got back to his feet and brought his hammer to bear.

<p class="MsoNormal">It was then that the ice coating Executioner cracked and shattered. Flaron sent a stream of fire towards the Dark Hunter whom dodged it effortlessly; Flaron changed tactics and created a fire cage around his foe, the mercenary leapt into action at once; throwing a small pellet at the base of the cage, and it froze instantly. Executioner then threw a second object, larger and it rolled to Flaron’s feet, before exploding in a blast of pure kinetic force, the fire Toa was knocked unconscious on the spot.

<p class="MsoNormal">Altarion triggered his power of Gravity and slammed the warrior into the ground.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Take him down!” he yelled.

<p class="MsoNormal">No, Executioner would not be beaten so easily, he produced a levitation kanoka and slammed it into himself, cancelling out the Gravity Toa’s attack. He got to his feet only to be kicked in the face by Aelya, who proceeded to viciously attack him with her electrified claws. Forced onto the defensive, Executioner blocked most of her strikes with his protosteel gauntlets, before catching her wrist and throwing Aelya into a nearby building. Skraxia charged, but the Dark Hunter drew a long-bladed combat knife and blacked the Ice Toa’s initial strike, following up with a kick to the stomach, Executioner threw his blade at Psaerah, distracting her from her own attack, the steel beam that she had telekinetically lifted into the air dropped to the ground as she blocked the incoming projectile. Executioner rolled under Skraxia’s second attack and jumped into the air, he performed a flying kick and sent the Toa of Ice into a wall, he did not rise again.

<p class="MsoNormal">Executioner was then struck dead-on by Altarion’s warhammer and sent flying, as Psaerah telekinetically threw a steel beam at him. It struck the mercenary dead on and he hit the ground hard.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Good thing I heal real quick” The downed warrior growled as he got to his feet, his healing powers and ability to adapt after every defeat had saved his life more times today than he wished to remember.

<p class="MsoNormal">Psaerah looked in horror as the warrior got back to his feet, Executioner had been beaten within an inch of his life and looked the part, but before her eyes, his wounds began to heal. She used her telekinesis to throw another steel beam at him, but immediately after being struck te mercenary got back to his feet, as if the attack had been nothing.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Adaptation is quite a good power to have”

<p class="MsoNormal">Psaerah was stunned “how could he just take that like it was nothing? How can we hope to beat him?”

<p class="MsoNormal">Altarion swung his hammer with all of his might, only to have Executioner catch it by its handle with one hand. Altarion tried to tear his weapon free, but the Hunter was too strong, an instant later, Executioner punched Altarion in the face with his free hand before ripping the hammer from the Toa’s grasp. He tossed it aside, before punching the Toa Twice more, grabbing the back of Altarion’s mask and headbutting him. The mercenary followed up with a knee to his foe’s stomach before throwing him to the ground and stomping on the Toa’s head, knocking him out.

<p class="MsoNormal">Psaerah finally overcame her shock and leapt to her feet, she reached out with her telekinesis and threw the Dark Hunter into a nearby building, and she did it again, before tossing him high into the air and bringing him hurtling down again. When the dust cleared, there was a whistling sound as something flew out towards her, Psaerah couldn’t react in time and was struck by the weakness kanoka. She fell to her knees and saw Executioner toss his disc launcher aside, he roared in pain as he snapped his right arm back into its socket with a sickening crack and began to move toward her, his armour was a ruined mess, his holster and utility bet were gone, only part of his armoured backpack remained and his helmet was badly damaged, he was limping badly…… But he was alive. Executioner closed the distance between himself and Psaerah and stood over her.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Chapter Five 

<p class="MsoNormal">Psaerah was on her hands and knees, the weakness kanoka had done its job, her energy drained; the Toa of Psionics could barely raise her head to face her foe. Executioner retracted his helmet’s mouthplates; revealing a savage grin, he had won and he knew it.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Lights out beautiful” He said.

<p class="MsoNormal">Psaerah tried to call on her powers but couldn’t as a crimson armoured warrior slammed into Executioner, Flaron relentlessly attacked his foe with his Fire Lance. Psaerah finally collapsed from exhaustion and her wounds and fell in a heap nest to Altarion.

<p class="MsoNormal">Executioner roared in ager as he snapped his opponent’s weapon in half and punched him to the ground.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I win” the Dark Hunter growled” though he hated to admit it, this was the second most furious battle that he had ever fought, surpassed only by his encounter with the one known as Skorax.

<p class="MsoNormal">“No, YOU LOSE!” Flaron roared as he called on his power of heat and melted the causeway beneath Executioner. As the mercenary fell, Flaron felt something sharp buried in his chest plate, he tore it out. The object he held was a protosteel dart, the kind used to inject toxins into a target and its shaft was void of anything, save a few drops of glowing brown liquid. Flaron’s world went dark.

<p class="MsoNormal"> END OF PART ONE