Bionicle Legend of Earth 2 - CH 10 The Demon's Pit

"You're not going to give in this easily."

That voice. It seemed familiar and yet, also new.

"I know you can hear me. You need to wake up."

They had no idea where they were. They could feel nothing and yet this voice was speaking out to both of them.

"I need you Toa. You need me. Without each other we will perish."

Neither Tom nor Andrew were able to answer.

"You are still in slumber. Concentrate."

There was no strength left in their Toa bodies. It was as if it had been drained from them by an outside force, yet there was one thing they could try. Using Takanuva's advice about listening to their masks they both focused. There was nothing at first, but soon a bright spark set off the fire. At last they could see, but what they saw appeared to be another vision. They stood side by side in a metal room. Around them were various control panels and on the walls were carvings. The design was archaic, combining stone walls with modern looking technology. A large window was featured on the front wall with a Bionicle staring out. It was taller than the two Boys just as the other Toa were.

"Please don't ask… I have as many answers as you." It spoke, leaving them no chance to utter a sentence. "Look at the carvings."

The boys obeyed him. At first they had been trifling things. They had seen much imagery in their journey across the Island of Mata Nui but upon looking closer these carvings looked to be from a different form of artist. From one wall to another they told a story. The first panel showed five beings standing upon a flight of steps, just like in the Boys' vision. The second showed many others building and prospering. Great cities were featured in others as well as flying ships. Everything looked so glorious, that was until they reached the third wall.

The imagery changed from prosperity to strife. A huge beast of a creature was scratched into the wall, its image not as defined as the others. After this the panels showed anarchy. People ran away as the five beings stood against the beast. It stormed towards them on four legs, behind it hideous creatures were moulded from the ground possessed to follow it in its carnage. As the panels moved along the beast was no longer seen. The Boys could see a feast in one as the people celebrated, but that was the last positive panel. The rest showed imagery of war and violence. The beast had been replaced with a tall figure leading an army of black armoured warriors. Nothing they had seen looked like Bionicle, or humans for that matter. There forms were something new entirely…

"What is this?" Andrew asked the figure still staring out of the window.

"My mind puzzles over this question as well, for that is where we are. In our own minds."

The figure turned round to face them. The light on the room was low but they could faintly see his face. His mask was… unique. There was something about it that gave off a sense of familiarity; the way the pattern was formed like a man raising his arms seemed to tell an old tale.

"Are you like us, from another world?" Tom asked the figure.

He delayed before answering.

"Yes, in a way. I neglected my people. I lost hold of them." He walked over to the carvings by the window and ran his hand along one of them.

The Boys approached him, hoping to find more answers. He was definitely some form of Toa, but the room was too dark to confirm what type.

"Is this your history?" Andrew remembered what this Toa had said about knowing as much as them, but he had nothing else to go on.

"No. Whatever this is… it is darker than what became of me." The Toa walked back to the window, his arms behind his back. "These visions you have been seeing, I have seen them too."

The Boys looked at each other in confusion before looking back at the strange being.

"How do you know about our visions?" They both asked in unison.

He closed his eyes. "Because you are here."

Suddenly the room began to shake. Dust fell from the ancient carvings as sirens began to wail. Lights flashed, leaving the room in utter darkness for a few seconds. The Toa in front of them seemed completely unaware of the situation, or perhaps, he was uncaring. He continued to stare out of the window at the beauty above, and the destruction below. Looking out of the glass themselves, the Boys saw that they were not in a room at all, but in space. Millions of stars glistened in the distance darkness as faint rumblings and flashes emanated from a planet below.

"War…" The being whispered. "Look at them all. So many stars. So many worlds. How many do you think sustain life? How many have seen this." The Toa pointed at the planet below. Great, black star ships descended towards the huge rock. They were in the centre of an invasion.

"It's like my vision!" Andrew told them.

"Past Present or Future… that is the question. Find the answer Toa of Legend. Defeat Shadow, and prepare for whatever comes next."

Since they had left Po-Koro all Andrew and Tom had received was heartbreak, unending questions and ineligible answers. They were beginning to believe that everything they could see was not in fact real at all, but if that was true then at what point had it all begun? Perhaps everything they had experienced was a figment of their imagination, formed from the comatose confusion of their minds after an accident? Maybe they had been killed by the invaders back home and sent to this nightmare as punishment. They were close to surrendering but deep down something held on… their own voice spoke to them.

"Destroy him…" Tom could hear faintly. But Andrew heard a different message…

"Let him go…"

The two boys became dizzy. The Toa in front of them could no longer be seen and the room began to fade. They floated through the depths of space. Slowly they fell towards the planet below, unable to move, unable to see. The great heat of the atmosphere made their armour glow bright red as ships flew past. Through the clouds they fell into the hell below. Thunder storms unleashed their wrath across the planet as laser blasts ripped the world apart. The greatest monument of this world began to crumple as they fell towards the surface. The great machine carved from rock stood on two legs. In one hand it held the world and in the other a great sword with five names carved upon it…

Emotion, pain, memory, all of it returned to them like a lightning bolt. The dead screamed of the ancient terror as it claimed their souls. Around them their soldiers ran as the Black Knight approached. His forces bit into the necks of their victims and injected their horrific poisons, rendering them his own. Every manner of creature had been corrupted to his side and with them the Black Knight brought the capital to its knees, but five still stood in his way.

Five beings, five brave, unrelenting and pious warriors were ready atop the great steps to the Palace of the One. It was the last stronghold to stand in that once great city, and with all their strength they would ensure that it would continue to. Their blades were forever branded with their titles, given to them by the one himself. The Martyr, the Father, the Guardian, the Host and the Angel. History was waiting for them…

The land of the living returned at last. The Boys were unaware if what they had just seen was a dream, a vision or a hallucination. They could still picture the Toa aboard the vessel through their hazy, half asleep state. They could feel the hard, unmoving stone below them. Wherever they were the air was filled with dust to the point of nearly choking them, in their human state their asthma probably would have let it. Tom moved his left arm and could hear the metal scratch against stone. It was then he felt something he was not expecting. Someone took his hand. It was small and unable to hold all of his own hand up. He felt another hand attempt to lift his own. Still weak Tom opened his eyes and saw a Po-Matoran staring back at him.

"Toa! You're awake at last. Help me!" The Matoran called to the others around him. In unity they grabbed onto his arm to help him up.

"How… How long was I asleep?" Tom asked in a groggy state.

"Around an hour I think. It's so hard to tell anymore."

There were four Matoran around him. Great bars surrounded the cell they were in, preventing their escape. Scanning his surroundings Tom noticed Andrew lying in the corner of the room.

"Thank God…" He was reassured to see his friend in one piece.

"Thank who?" The helping Matoran asked in confusion.

Tom ignored him and dragged himself across the floor to reach Andrew. He shook his friend in an attempt to wake him.

"Andrew… We need to get out of here" There was little strength left in him but he would use all of it wake Andrew if he had to.

He pushed his leg with both hands rather violently. Suddenly Andrew's eyes shot open as a great burst of energy blasted through him. He lunged his arm out and caught Tom in a choke hold. He bore his metal teeth at his friend, knowing not who he was. The Matoran gasped and immediately darted backwards for safety. Tom desperately attempted to claw Andrew's hands away from his neck but he was too strong. Before it was too late however, Andrew became aware that it was his friend in his grasp. He let go immediately and backed away towards the wall.

"…Sorry… I thought you were… something else." Andrew panted.

Tom coughed roughly, clearing his throat of dust to re-fill his lungs with air. Andrew was shaking and unable to come to term with what he had just done. Before he could apologise further the Toa and the Matoran looked towards the entrance as heavy feet hammered against the stone floor. One after another four Bahki Hunters stomped in and turned to face them. There they stood, doing nothing but staring at the Boys, two at Tom and two at Andrew.

"Room service?" Andrew asked sarcastically.

"Not quite." There it was. That unforgettable voice piercing their ears. They were once again in the presence of Shadow.

The room was lit by four candles scattered around the room, not enough for decent light but enough at least for them to see Shadow at last in his true form. As he approached their jaws almost dropped from his sheer scale. He towered above the Bahki, making them appear insignificant. He was at least twice the height of a Toa and his mask was similar to an upside down version of Toa Whenua's, but far more maniacal. Into his bulky torso four arms had been built, each one covered in various tools and weaponry. On the end of them were what looked like hands, but they featured minute cogs and other mechanisms, as did the rest of the arm.

"That's it, admire your foe in the flesh, if you'll pardon the pun… humans"

Staring at the roar firepower built into Shadow's very body made them fear for the future of Mata Nui, and indeed their own. Slowly Shadow razed his right arm and pointed towards the cell. Moving his hand from one side to another he randomly pointed at the Matoran until he had made his choice.

"That one."

He had chosen the Matoran that had helped Tom. The cell opened as the Bahki throttled the Toa, ensuring that even in their weak state they couldn't make a dash for the exit. The other two dragged the Matoran out into the hallway.

"Hold him against the wall."

The Bahki obeyed Shadow without question.

"Snap his leg."

"No leave him alone!" Tom yelled through the Bahki's grasp. In retaliation it slammed his head against the wall to shut him up.

"Which one my Lord?" One Bahki spoke in a deep, mechanical tone.

"Your choice…"

The Matoran was petrified. He stared straight into Tom's eyes, silently begging for help.

With no one to stop him the left Bahki rammed his heel down towards the centre of the Matoran's leg. The crack was unbearable for the Boys to watch. They squeezed their eyes shut so hard that it hurt, but the resulting scream was what brought tears to Tom's eyes. Andrew zoned out and began to faint, all he could see was the image of Golyo falling to his doom. The Matoran beside them cried in terror. They huddled together, taking each other's hands.

The Bahki enjoyed the Matoran's pain, but the pleasure wasn't enough. The second Bahki kicked out and crack went the other leg.

Tom lunged out and screamed at Shadow.

"You're nothing but a Monster! I swear before this all ends I will tear your heart out!"

Tom's efforts were in vain. The Bahki held him back with ease and even considered snapping his leg.

"Now I will show you the power that I possess. You want to know my strength Toa? Then check out these guns!"

Shadow raised his right arm again towards the suffering Matoran. The gears in his arms came to life, transforming it into a heavy cannon. Tom clawed and lashed out for all the strength left in him to stop the horror in front of him, as did Andrew who had gathered his strength, but there was no time. The cannon whirled with energy as its tip glowed bright red. The explosion echoed throughout the cave system. All Bahki could hear it and all knew what it was. It was the symbol of what would happen to all those who opposed Shadow. Another one of his foes had been executed.

The body had not fallen, giving the Boys and the Matoran ample view of Shadow's handy work. The shot had made its way straight through the mask and head, leaving only its edges and sparks. Letting go the Bahki allowed the body to crash to the floor, along with the Boys' hopes. There was silence. No sound could be heard besides weeping. Shadow did not laugh, he simply stared into the Boys' eyes with a blank expression. He knew he had already won. The Bahki released their grip and returned to their Master's side as the Matoran crawled over to the protection of the Toa.

"There is little these Toa can do to protect you now." Shadow taunted them.

"If that's true than why aren't we dead?" Andrew barked at him.

"You are about to find out."

Two more Bahki entered the room behind Shadow. They approached the cell carrying a pair of large handcuffs each, obviously for the Toa. Even in their weakened position Shadow would take no chances after the events at Kini-Nui over a month ago. The Boys' attempted to resist as the cuffs were locked into place in front of them. They then felt the hard impact of the Bahkis' fists against their masks. Swiftly they were dragged from their cells out towards the rest of the complex, leaving the Matoran alone in the darkness.

The Bahki were incredibly strong, able to drag the Toa behind them with one arm at a quick pace. Shadow's sheer size allowed him to cover a large distance in one step and so the Bahki had grown used to the fast pace they were forced to use. More and More scratches were made in the Boys' armour as it grinded against the rock and debris. The tunnel was abysmally dark, that was until they reached the heart of Shadow's realm. The open area around them was gigantic. Built inside and below one of the great mountains in the Po-Koro desert. Around them they could smell burning and hear the crashing of metal. It didn't take long for Andrew and Tom to realise that this underground realm doubled up as a factory.

"The Bahki…" Tom whispered. Below them were lines of conveyor belts pushing along what must have been thousands of Vahki and Bohrok bodies.

"Incredible, aren't they? First the Bohrok's Krana is removed by force, then they are brought here. Using my great Protodermis vats they are combined with the Vahki we have built." Shadow seemed to be enjoying showing the Toa what was about to destroy them all.

Tom and Andrew had been taught many aspects of Bionicle history during their stay on Mata Nui. They had been told that the Bohrok were little more than swarms that destroyed all in their path for an unknown purpose. Their masks, known as Krana, acted as parasites built into their rounded heads to give them their power. The Vahki however were law enforcers created on the Matoran's old island home of Metru-Nui, before Makuta Teridax took over and wiped their memories that is.

"With the swift agility of the Vahki and the destructive power of the Bohrok, I have created the ultimate force of chaos. With their Krana twisted by my power they will obey me and no other!" Shadow continued to boast.

They approached their destination across the catwalk. Above the empty doorway Matoran symbols were carved into the rounded arch. Neither Tom nor Andrew could read them, having only been taught their language for less than a Month. If they could have read however it would have put them in a further state of panic, for the sentence read 'Laboratory and Surgery'. This new section was much better lit by light stones built into the walls, as it needed to be for Shadow and his minion's research. Around them the Boys could see Matoran being forced to build further tunnels and rooms. Most of them were Po and Uno Matoran.

"This entire complex was built by them and my Bahki builders, my first wave. Their Krana suffered my first attempts to manipulate them, the result was… worse than unpleasant. Yet they make great slaves, and target practice." Shadow spoke slowly as if he was struggling to speak.

The Boys broke their silence to attempt to get more answers from Shadow whilst he was in his state of bragging.

"Were you created like this, by Makuta Teridax?" The dust still affected Andrew's metal lungs.

"…Not quite. After his body was destroyed and the defeat he experienced in Mahri-Nui, he was left as little more than Antidermis. Without a body he is nothing but a ticking time bomb… he resulted to more unorthodox methods. He tried to build a new form for himself. Bigger and stronger than his former body, but he only half succeeded. Little did he realise he had split part of his essence in this new machine… me!" Shadow spanned his four arms around him to show his unrivalled size. "I had his desires and ambitions, but his ambitions do not include sharing…"

Screeches and screams past through the cave system, and the sounds of something strange. As they were dragged along the floor the Boys saw something huge through one of the laboratory windows. It was completely covered by various fabrics and chains which it constantly struggled against, whatever it was it was very much alive. The shape it formed under the fabric was unrecognisable, it looked neither like any Bohrok or Vahki they had come across.

"What is that!?" Andrew asked Shadow, unable to contain his fear.

"The future." Shadow spoke nothing more of this creature.

"Did you kill him?" Tom continued to drag information out of him.

Shadow grunted, not knowing of whom he meant.

"Teridax, did you kill him?"

They had reached their destination deep under the mountain scape. Shadow walked through the archway to the final room and turned towards Tom.

"…You cannot kill the Makuta."

Lights burst on around the previously pitch black room. In the centre was a great machine with pylons and energy canisters built into its structure. Beside it were two metal chairs with chains and other devices hanging from them.

"Are you ready for your experiment Toa?" Shadow grinned at them as their captives dragged them towards the contraption.

They pulled with all their might, kicking and biting to be free but nothing was of any use. Shadow's creatures had drained their masks of their energy prior to their awakening.

They were slammed into the seats. The Bahki pulled the heavy chains around them and locked them into place around the chair. Above them wires and drills lowered on pulley systems. Petrified, they looked around for a means of escape. In doing so they noticed two familiar stones locked into the machine.

"So close, and yet so far Toa. I've found a better use for your Toa Stones anyhow. Begin the connection sequence." Shadow ordered his servants.

Immediately they pulled the Boys' heads back and brought the machinery above them down on the Boys. Using a control panel built into the centre machine one Bahki brought it to life. Further lights activated revealing a huge vat of Protodermis, or Antidermis, whatever it was the Boys knew no good would come from it. The Toa were almost deafened as the head sets started buzzing. Around them tiny drills approached their masks ready for the procedure. Andrew tried to form a shield around him and Tom, but his power had all been drained. The machinery reached them. The pain was beyond excruciating and Shadow took delight in their reaction. To the Bahki however they were little more than two more screams echoing through caverns to join the many others they hear on a daily basis.

The drilling stopped. The machinery was ready. Shadow stared at them from the other side of the room. The two stones began to glow as the machine manipulated them.

"Begin."