Regeneration: One Seed of Hope == Epic

[The Host]

Regeneration
One Seed of Hope

All discussion of the epic goes in the Discussion Topic. Please do not copy this story. Also, this story may contain 2009 spoilers (praticularily name spoilers, so don't read if you're waiting for summer sets etc.) Also, certain names in the epic are not originally from Bionicle, and this story is not based upon 2009 storyline, just so you know...

-=Discussion Topic=-

-ZLS

Prologue: Seed of Death

A harsh breeze swept its way across the vast desert of Bara Magna. Glancing around nervously, Vaho caught sight of a pack of Zesk off to the east. To far away to notice him, Vaho remained unnoticed. Not that the pack of Zesk would have proved a problem for the experienced agori warrior.
 Vaho had fought in many fights in the arena along side Iconox' champion, Rascks. Vaho had been mostly used as a barrier, but he had proved himself against the powerful agori of Roxtus, as well as the cunning agori from Tajun.
 If the pack of Zesk was following a pack of Vorox, though, it may have been a different story. Vaho pulled himself forwards through the sharp winds and bullet like bits of sand. He was due back in Iconox in only two days time, and he was still quite a ways off. Normally the journey from Vulcanus to Iconox would take no more than a week, if one walked at a slow pace. But with the raging winds in the desert, the journey could easily take twice as long. But Vaho still planned to arrive on time.

A cry of fear awoke Vaho from his somewhat pleasent sleep. The place beneath the small rock had protected him from the wind and sand, but the ground was rough and uncomfortable. Better to have something to do then to waste my time, thought Vaho, rushing out to see what the scream had come from.
 Edging his face out to look, Vaho was not pleased. A small red agori stood with his back towards Vaho, a short dagger held out infront of him to fend off his predator. Which happened to be a Seed.
 "Spikit's tooth!" cursed Vaho, softly to himself. The Seeds were a group of beastial creatures with nasty natures, and quite a bit of brain to go along with their brawn. Not something you'd like to encounter.
 The red agori cried out once more, this time thrusting his dagger at the Seed, trying to get it to back away. Vaho watched as the Seed back up inches, then lunged towards the agori, casting its shadowy form overtop of the ever weakening agori. Vaho grabbed his sword from below the rock where he had slept and tightened his armour. If he was to save the agori from Vulcanus he had to be a hunter, and remain unhunted.
 Vaho charged the Seed, sweeping his sword deftly, aiming to hit the Seed as much as possible. The Seed gave a cry of mild pain and retreated slowly from above the red agori. Vaho swung the sword again, catching the Seed just above the shoulder. The Iconox agori followed up with quick jabs to the unprepared Seed, then cried out as he stabbed downwards against the Seed's head.
 The Seed shrunk down, then slowly flowed into the sand, retreating completely. Vaho bent over to make sure the Vulcanus agori was alright, and, when he was sure, he helped the agori to his feet.
 "Thanks. Thank you. I don't know why you saved me, but thanks."
 "No problem. I have the ability to fight off a lone and unprepared Seed, so I might as well get some practice doing so. I'm Vaho, by the way, from the village of Iconox."
 "Oh, right. Introductions. I'm Crostesius, from Vulcanus, if you hadn't already gussed by my armour's colour. I was sent here, well, to Iconox, to give Rascks a note from Ackar, my village's Glatorian. He said something about payment and a new spring of water. I guess, if it's alright with you, we can head there together, in case, you know, another Seed comes along."
 "Sure. No problem. I was on my way back to Iconox from Vulcanus. I was delivering a piece of armour to someone there. Let's go, I'm due back in less than two days."

 "So. You have taken note of the agori from Iconox. We will continue to evaluate him. For now, though, leave him be. Wait until he makes his next journey to Tajun. You and some others can confront him there. But let him win the fight, or atleast, don't kill him. He will not do if he is dead."
 "Yes sir. I will take my leave for now."

[The Host]

Part One: Agori
Chapter One: Rascks

The two agori arrived at the southeastern end of Iconox in just a little under a day and a half. When they arrived, it was Vaho who first entered the city, leaving Crostesius to wait for the go on message. While he waited, Crostesius ajusted his armour and drew a small picture in the sand using his dagger. In his image the Seed from the desert was upon him and Vaho was in the act of stabbing it.
 "Whatcha doing?" asked Vaho, now returned from within Iconox' boundaries.
 "Just drawing. And remembering the fact that you saved me."
 "Forget about it. It was nothing, really. We can go in now, Rascks and Metus have agreed to let you in, since you have something to deliver. Then you must head out tommorrow."
 "Sure. Can you lead me to Rascks?"
 Vaho nodded, then walked into the city of glaciers. Crostesius was quite surprised at the scenery, as he had not known of a place such as Iconox existing in the desert of Bara Magna. Iconox was a land that was quite different from its surroundings. Snowbanks and frozen ponds were scattered all over, and large mountains made purely of ice jutted out of the ground, creating an unsteady pathway.
 Crostesius followed Vaho trhough the village, then into a large hut with a board haning above the doorway,marked with the letters R A S C K S. Once inside, the area returned to a typical Bara Magnian feeling. A floor of sand, and no ice present. Vaho led Crostesius through the main room, then knocked on a side door.
 "Who's it?"
 "Vaho, with an agori from the land of Vulcanus, to the southeast of here."
 "Enter."
 Vaho opened the door, then walked in, followed by Crostesius, carrying the letter. As soon as Crostesius laid his eyes upon Rascks he was amazed. The Glatorian that currently worked for Iconox was clad in armour, even out of the arena. Rascks' helmet was white in colour, with long fangs designed onto it. His neck was guarded by a medium sized plate of armour that extended down his torso, ending just above his legs. His arms had armour near the top, shaped to resemble a mixture of snow and ice. The same armour was positioned on his legs, though at a different angle so as to add protection. His ankles were guaded with a curved sheet of metal, and his feet were in large boots. On the wall behind him hung his prefered weapon, a chain with a scythe at the end of it.
 "The letter?"
 "What?"
 "You have a letter for me, agori of Vulcanus. Vaho has spoke of it."
 "Oh, right! Sorry." Crostesius handed the letter to Rascks, then shied away. Rascks read the letter, then reread it to make sure. Grunting, he put down the parchment and looked at Crostesius. "Ackar has asked me to send you south to Tajun. He has a request for you there. He has also asked me to attened Atero for the yearly Glatorian contest. I told him no last year, but he begs it of me. He says I am fun to fight. When you return to him tell him that I may or may not be there, it is for him to see. Now off with you, I have a small dispute to settle. It seems Tesera wants something that belongs to Iconox."
 Vaho asked if he would be joining Rascks in the fight. "No, it is a funny one this time. Two Glatorian against two. We shall see what happens. You are welcome to watch, though." Vaho nodded, then pulled Crostesius away.
 "Let's go get seats. This should be a fun fight to watch." Crostesius followed Vaho out of the hut and towards the large arena of Iconox.

[The Host]

Chapter Two: The Iconox Arena

Vaho found two seats relatively close to where the main action would take place at sat down, Crostesius beside him. Rascks was already out in the arena, stretching himself and sparring against Strakk, another Glatorian currently working for Iconox. Strakk had a hunched appearence in the arena, and Vaho had recently found out that "it helped with maneuverability in the arena," according to the Glatorian himself.
 Strakk's somewhat too large axe was wielded very well by the Glatorian, and it always surprised Vaho that Strakk could wield the weapon so deftly and smoothly, given his nature in and out of the arena. Rascks dropped his scythe to the ground and walked over to Strakk.
 "It's time."
 Strakk nodded and walked back with Rascks, taking their respective places for the fight to begin. From the western entrance to the Arena a tall green Glatorian walked in, carrying a long staff with a Thornax Launcher attached to one end and a scythe much like Rascks on the other. Behind him, a shorter Glatorian entered, holding a sword in one hand and a Thornax Launcher in the other. Metus walked out into the middle of the Arena and spoke to the four Glatorian quietly, then took a step back. Metus raised his short sword into the air, then brought it down into the sand, striking a line in the grains.
 "The fight's begun. This should be interesting. It's been a while since I've seen a two on two match," said Vaho, watching intently. Crostesius nodded, commenting on the fighting style of the tall green Glatorian.
 "That's Vastus, a really strong opponent. He came close to winning last years tournement, but he lost to Certavus, as did everyone else in the tournement."
 "How come Certavus isn't fighting for you now then?"
 "He's out in Tajun challenging them for something. He's fighting Tarix. I would've been there except I was sent to Vulcanus."
 Crostesius didn't reply. Instead, the two agori focused on the match. Rascks had drawn back, leaving Strakk head on against Vastus and the other Tesarian Glatorian. Strakk moved back and forth on his feet, swinging his axe gently as he prepared to land a blow on Vastus. Rascks twirled the chain holding his scythe quickly, readying himself to provide backup for Strakk at any given time. The time came sooner than he had expected.
 Vastus backflipped in the air, launching the explosive Thornax fruit at Strakk's feet. Strakk jumped back, narrowly avoiding the explosion. The Tesarian Glatorian surged forwards underneath Vastus, stabbing his sword forwards. Rascks acted quickly.
 "Duck!" he shouted at Strakk, who fell to the ground before the word had finished leaving Rascks mouth. The scythe followed by the chain it was fastened to swept over Strakk's head, colliding with the unnamed Glatorian. Vastus cursed as he saw what was happening, but he was too late to do anything. Strakk got up, pointing the Thornax Launcher at Vastus, while Rascks did the same towards the Tesarian Glatorian.
 Metus rushed in, then pointed at Rascks and Strakk, who lowered their weapons. Turning, Metus said something to Vastus, who helped his teammate up from the ground. Cheers erupted from Vaho and his fellow Iconox villagers as Strakk held his weapon high in the air. Iconox had won the rights to the nearby spring of water.
 Vastus left the Arena quickly, leaving his partner behind. The plan had not gone the way he had hoped for. On his way out he was joined by an agori by the name or Tarduk. "Get Jirga, tell him we're leaving now!" he yelled at Tarduk. Tarduk rushed away on all fours back into the Arena. The Tesarians would not be pleased to know that Jirga was the one to fall in the match.

"Why'd the match end? Vastus was still standing," asked Crostesius, obviously newer to the ways of the Arena.
 "In a two on two match the winner is decided after the first Glatorian is unable to fight. Since Vastus' partner couldn't go on, Metus called the match."
 "Oh. Where do we go now?"
 "I'm going to head back to my place. You can join me if you want. Tomorrow we head out for Tajun."
 "We?"
 "You don't get it? I'm coming to!"
 "Why, no one asked you to go. You're welcome to join me, but why would you want to  come?"
 "Eh, for the fun of it, and to see how Certavus did. Plus, if a Seed attacks you you're gonna need help staying alive."
 Crostesius laughed, then followed Vaho back to his hut. "You're never gonna let that one go, are you?"

[The Host]

Chapter Three: The Tajun Falls

Crostesius walked out of Vaho's hut and was surprised to see a large animal infront of him, eating some plant that lay infront of it. Something growled, and as Crostesius looked around for the source of the noise, he was surprised to see a second head extending from the body.
 "It's called a Spikit. Many villages use them for transportation and such."
 Crostesius studied the beast for a while, then responded, "We're using this for the journey to Tajun?"
 "No," replied Vaho, "It's for Strakk. He's heading out to Atero to check out the Arena's condition and spar against a few of the Glatorian that have already gathered there. He needs suplies and he's to lazy to do this himself. Besides, he pays pretty well, I've gotten us some armour and better weapons for our journey through the desert." Vaho continued to load supplies onto the trolly behind the Spikit, and as Crostesius watched, he became more intrigued with the massive creature's ability to think about two things at the same time, as well act alone.
 "Well, it's all filled up now, just need to bring it over to Strakk. Hop on the back," said Vaho, who inturn grabbed the reigns from the Spikit's heads.
 Crostesius walked around to the back of the trolly, then hopped on. Vaho walked infront, leading the Spikit over to Strakk's residence.

"See you 'round, little Agori," said Strakk, leaving Vaho and Crostesius standing at the edge of Iconox. As they watched, Strakk hopped onto the back of the trolly, then leapt onto the Spikit's back, and rode the beast out into the open desert.

The village of Iconox dissapeared behind the two Agori as they made their way south towards Tajun. The journey would only take a day or two, but going anywhere through the desert was dangerous. Vaho held his new double edged sword in one hand, while his other held a package containing a Thornax Fruit, just in case.
 Crostesius walked besid him, holding a rather large shield in one hand, his other left empty as the shield could be split to use as an offensive. The wind in the desert was mild, making the travelling easy.
 "So, how do we know we're going the right way?" asked Crostesius.
 "The sun, I guess. I usually use instinct and passing travellers as guidance. Although Tajun is easier because of its rivers and falls."
 "How does water make it easier?"
 "You can hear the falls. They guide you. Oh yeah, and the Sea of Liquid Sand. If you reach it you've gone to far," added Vaho, picking up the pace. "Do you always ask this many questions?"
 "I guess. I like to learn."
 
"Let's set up camp here tonight," said Crostesius.
 "Why? We're pretty close now," said Vaho.
 "The cliff here should add protection, and having the falls so near to us allows us to talk without being heard."
 "Cool. I guess you do know a bit about surviving."
 "I'm all theory. I could tell you how to fight back a Seed, but I can't do it in action."
 "Yeah. It takes practice. And rest, get yourself some sleep. 'Night"

"The two Agori are nearing our position. Should we act now?"
 "No. The time is not right. We get them when they awaken and near the Tajun boundaries. Remember, let them live. They are no use to us dead."
 "Yes sir. I will take my leave for now."

[The Host]

Chapter Four: Scodonius

Vaho awoke just a few minutes before Crostesius. Vaho gathered his belongings and walked over to Crostesius and woke him up and the two set off towards Tajun, which was now only one or two hours away. The twin moons that orbited Bara Magna were still in the sky and quite visible. In the early dawn light it was not a surprise that the two agori were caught off guard by two Seeds that leapt onto the path ahead of them.
 "You are not welcome any further along this path." The Seed's voice was hoarse and raspy, its shadowy figure gliding towards Vaho even as he pulled his sword out infront of him, beckoning at Crostesius to guard himself with the shield. "You will surrender to us. You have no choice. You cannot defeat us."
 Crostesius ran up to Vaho, planting the shield firmly infront of both Agori. Vaho peered over the shield at the two Seeds, then sighed and spoke softly to Crostesius. "I can't beat them alone, and I know you can't defeat even one of them. But here's what I need you to do. Take one of them away from the other and just keep him away from me. I'll handle them one by one and maybe I can defeat one of them."
 "Okay. We're doomed untherwise. I'll go for the one on the right."
 "You cannot defeat us. We are Seeds. We are the only powerful beings on Bara Magna."
 Crostesius launched himself forwards, then darted off to the right, forcing the Seeds to split off to attack them. Vaho jumped back, just as Vastus had done in the fight against Strakk and Rascks, only this time he did not fire anything at the Seed who rushed towards him. Vaho landed solidly, his feet planted on the ground, his sword held straight out infront of him. The Seed dodged the attack and moved to the left, just as Vaho edged to the right, swinging the sword around wildly. Vaho missed, and as the Seed glided over the uneven surface towards him, he stumbled over the rocky ground, trying to distance himself from the creature. The Seed was upon him in seconds, its dark surface cloaking Vaho's body just as he had done to Crostesius in the desert. Vaho stabbed upwards with his sword, piercing the underbelly of the Seed, who howled in pain. The Seed recoiled, then fled into the desert behind Vaho.

Crostesius fell back, the Seed punching the shield and throwing itself into the shield. But the shield stayed strong, and the Seed backed up, giving Crostesius room to get up and reposition himself. But the Agori, who was not used to fighting, split the shield, creating to blades, one for each hand. The seed laughed, a dry, disgusting laugh, before launching itself at the now defenceless Agori. Crostesius was hurtled backwards into the rocky ground, only to be caught by another Agori who was carrying a large rope, which in turn attached to an animal of red hue with a large mouth and short stubby legs. The Agori was caught off guard and tripped forwards, uneasing the animal.
 The Sand Stalker, as it was called, leapt forwards, toppling the Seed with ease. The Seed allowed itself to be rattled by the full force of the beast, then dissipated into the ground. Crostesius stood up and looked at the Agori who had essentially saved his life. Blue hued and wearing a strong looking helmet, the Agori stood up and rushed past Crostesius towards the Sand Stalker, who now stood a few feet away, grazing at the short grass.
 "Thanks, you know, for saving me!" Called out Crostesius to the blue coloured Agori.
 Scodonius was his name, and he turned back to Crostesius and said, "No problem. Well, actually, it wasn't me who saved you, it was Termion, one of my villages Sand Stalkers."
 "Your village? You mean you're from Tajun?"
 "Yeah. By the looks of it, you're from Vulcanus, right? Isn't that pretty far from here to be wondering around?"
 "I guess so, but actually I'm here-"
 "He's here with me, Vaho from Iconox. He's got a message for a Glatorian from your village. By the way, what's your name?"
 "I'm Scodonius. But before you guys come into Tajun I'll have to get Tarix to see you. If he says your good then you can enter. Now come on, before you guys attract any more Seeds this way."

The three Agori arrived at Tajun's gates with Termion, and Scodonius walked in. Crostesius was left standing with Vaho and the Sand Stalker.
 "I see you handled your Seed well. Luckily for me Scodonius arrived or I'd have been Spikit food."
 Vaho laughed. "Yeah, well, you survived. Now there's two people you owe your life to." The two Agori laughed.


 

[The Host]

Chapter Five: The Village of Oasis

Tarix walked out of his village's gate, Scodonius walking behind him. Tarix was one of the oldest Glatorian and an old friend to Rascks, even if they did not see each other much. Tarix's blades, which he called Water Talons, were feared throughout each and every Arena, for they were wielded with precisation and wisdom, had been for many years, and yet were still as sharp as Tarix' mind itself.
 The Tajun Glatorian was glad in very light golden armour, allowing his muscles to focus more on the fight and less on carrying bulky armour. A tube extended from Tarix' mouth and reached around to his back. Many agori gave their opinion as to what it was for, but Tarix had never shared his secret. Many agori thought of it merely as a design aspect which added flare as Tarix deftly dealt with his enemies. In the past four years Tarix had been champion at the Atero tournement three times. A year ago, Rascks had been a top contender to become champion, but he had been beaten by Certavus. This year Rascks was unsure whether he would be coming out again, and so most thought Tarix would win again, as  Iconox claimed that Certavus would not be fighting this year. No one was quite sure why.
 "So. I have word that you two fought off two Seeds, with the help of Scodonius. What is your business in Tajun?"
 A blue agori scurried out of the gate and stood beside Tarix, then, after making sure that Vaho and Crostesius were not deadly, he stepped forwards. "I'm Berix, one of the head Agori in Tajun. Tarix, if you will allow it, I will handle this."
 Tarix nodded, whispered something to Scodonius, then walked calmly back into the city.
 "Who are you? Just to start off introductions."
 "I'm Vaho. This is Crostesius. We came here from Iconox- well, he comes from Vulcanus but our last village we stayed at was Iconox, my village."
 Berix looked at the two Agori, then muttered something to Scodonius. The Agori nodded, then Berix rushed off to find Tarix. "Tarix and Berix have agreed to let you in to our village, although you must first visit Tarix in the Arena of Tajun. If you meet Kiina, another of our Glatorian, do not speak with her. She is in training; Tajun will win again this year at Atero."

Scodonius led Vaho and Crostesius through the village of Tajun, past the many huts and sloping hills. Small rivers wound their way through the village and bridges had been built up over the small waterways. The agori of the village walked and scurried about the village carryng small pieces of metal and old pieces of old weaponry. The Tajun Arena stood in the middle of the village, just as in all other villages. Small explosions could be heard coming from the Arena, a sure sign that Thornax Fruit was involved in the sparring that was most likely between Tarix and Kiina.
 "This way," said Scodonius, walking away from the Tajun Arena, "The rivers that flow through our village all meet near the edge of our Arena. No bridges can be built there because of the terrain, so we have a tunnel that winds its way below the river and up into the Arena. We also need to stop by my hut for a few minutes. There's a fight coming up soon, and I want to record some data; for future reference."

Vaho waited with Crostesius as Scodonius hurried into his hut. Within two minutes he was out again, carrying many scrolls with different apparatus for writing. The three Agori headed towards the Arena even as the sound from within the Arena rose. Agori were already gathering; the fight would begin in less than a half hour.

"Don't worry. Agori who are respected by the Glatorian of our village get good seats. Berix, the Agori you met at our village's entrance, Fendax, another Agori from my village, and myself are three of the respected Agori. You'll get good seats since you're with me. Besides, you'll be able to meet Tarix on the way out to speak with him."
 "Actually," began Vaho.
 "We don't need Tarix," continued Crostesius. Each one was nervous, since they had been ordered not to speak with the one they needed.
 "You mean, you've been sent here for-"
 "Kiina. Yeah. It was Rascks who sent us here after Ackar sent me from Vulcanus," finished Crostesius. Scodonius looked shocked, but tried to hide it. As they entered the Arena Scodonius pointed out Berix and Fendax. The three Agori headed over towards them and when they arrived Scodonius took the spot next to Berix, who looked at Scodonius with a surprised look on his face.
"I'll talk about it during the fight," whispered Scodonius to Berix.

As expected, it had been Kiina and Tarix fighting in the Arena prior to the main event. Tarix was old and easily recognisable, but Kiina was relitavely new to the Arena. Her armour was mounted on her long and thin legs by the side, not offering much protection from the front, but a lot from side attacks. The armour was also well crafted and looked as if it would offer excellent maneuverability. Kiina's arms had the same armour on them, mounted the same way. She had similar weapons to those of Tarix, but she held hers in one hand, making it a double bladed weapon. Her helmet did not offer much protection from the front, but it did however allow her great visibility, something that would be a key factor in most fights.
 Walked away from the middle of the Arena and jumped up to where Vaho and Crostesius were sitting. "The fight is Kiina against Riezas- from Roxtus," he said to Berix. Scodonius noted this down; it would be an important detail later on.
 Riezas walked out from the other end of the Arena, his tan armour shining in the desert sun. Roxtus was inhabited by many Glatorian and Agori who not only went by personal names but a tribe name also. They called themselves Zesk, while their Glatorian were called Vorox. Riezas stood up infront of Kiina, and a Zesk hopped down from his back and began the fight.
 Kiina immediately ran backfrom her position and fired her Thornax at the unsuspecting Vorox. Riezas took the hit square on, then stumbled back. The fight was basically over. Kiina jumped forwards and threw one of her weapons at Riezas, pinning him down and landing just above him. The fight was done, or at least according to the Agori it was done. But to another group of people the fight was just beginning.
 From the depths of the sand a dark shadow arose and Kiina was thrown backwards. Riezas tried to get up, but Kiina's weapon prevented him from moving in the key seconds of his life. the shadow that had arisen from the sand covered Riezas form and it was then that Vaho and the rest of the Agori realised what the shadow was.
 A Seed.
 The Seed quickly sunk back into the ground and with him came Riezas. The crowd of Agori went wild at the fact that a Glatorian had just been taken from the Arena. Tarix was already on his way towards the spot where Riezas had dissapeared, but there was no trace of the Glatorian or the Seed. Tarix then rushed over to Kiina, who lay on the ground unconscious. Vaho look over towards Scodonius and Berix, but the two were gone already, as was Fendax.
 The Seed had made its mark. Riezas was gone from the village of Tajun.

[The Host]

Chapter Six: The Deserts of Bara Magna
Part One: The Sea of Liquid Sand

Vaho leapt over the edge of the arena, closely followed by Crotesius. The two agori ran to the spot where Riezas, hoping to see a trace of the warrior. But the sand was clean and undisturbed. The Voroxian warrior was gone.


"We're heading out," called Vaho to Scodonius, as he and Crotesius began to walk southward from Tajun. Scodonius began to follow them, but was stopped by a familiar voice.

"You can't go Scodonius! Tajun needs you now more than ever!" It was Berix, who was usually calm, but since the Seed's attack was tense and nervous.

"No. These two agori need him more." This voice was that of Kiina, the warrior who had fought in what may have been Riezas' last fight. "Where you are headed is a dangerous place. Tajun has already sent Tarix and a third Glatorian northward to Roxtus to tell of Riezas' loss. Along the way they hope to find Rascks and Vastus, who may meet up with you on your journey. For now though, Tajun has no one else to offer up, for I am the last protector, if enemies were to come."

Vaho nodded. "We thank you for your kindness. This journey will not be easy, so what ever you provide us we will willingly accept."

"Then you should accept this." Fendax veered in front of The three agori in a vehicle that resembled a motor cycle, but with a side car attached to it. Behind this was another vehicle, designed for one person, with treads and blades to help it through the desert. "This is the Kaxium, a vehicle designed in Tajun to help agori through the desert when we head northward for tournements. And this one," he continued, pointing at the second vehicle, "is the Cendox. We named it that after we found it hidden in the sands of the Sea of Liquid Sand. It can actually cross the sand, and allows just enough room for another vehicle to follow behind in safety. It's the only one so far, so we labelled it V1, or version one. Likewise, this version of the Kaxium is the third one, much better than the first and second of it's kind, and it has the side car. We call it V3."

Crotesius stood admiring the two vehicles, then shuddered at the thought of driving one. "No worries," said Scodonius, obviously seeing Crotesius' face, "I'll drive the Kaxium, and I'm sure Vaho can handle the Cendox."

Vaho nodded. "Sure, why not."

Kiina stood at the entrance to the village, with Berix and Fendax by her side. Vaho climbed onto the Cendox, and Crotesius climbed into the side car, which had a Thornax launcher loaded and ready."You'll have to control that yourself," said Scodonius. "You can remove it to fire behind or to the side. There's a case of ammo beneath the seat for you to reload with. If we get into real danger, Vaho has a launcher equipted to the Cendox that he can use."

Berix walked over to Crotesius and handed him a silver helmet. "You'll need this for driving. The sand can be wicked out there." Berix then walked over to Vaho and gave him the same speech. Scodonius was already wearing his own helmet.

"Here we go then," said Scodonius, and the engine of the Kaxium roared to life. Vaho revved the Cendox' engine, and together, the three agori and the two vehicle lurched away from the village in the oasis, and headed south into unknown territory of the Sea of Liquid Sand.

[The Host]

Chapter Six: The Deserts of Bara Magna
Part Two: The Last Colony

As they passed through the Sea of Liquid Sand, Crotesius acted as the eyes of the small group. Caho led the way through the ever falling sand, with Scodonius driving right behind him in order to stay out of the sand's grasp. Crotesius had to be alert at all times, for if danger got too close to the vehicles and the agori had to stop and fight, one: the vehicles would sink, and two: in combat, three agori fighting against even a lone Seed would normally not stand a chance.

By the end of the first day the sand had begun to flow less steadily, and they were able to make quick stops on dry sand- islands scattered within the sea. Crotesius relaxed and Vaho talked with Scodonius about the vehicles' construction. Scodonius could offer a lot about the Kaxium, but little, next to nothing, about the Cendox.

The Kaxium had been built primarily for battle within the arena, but turned out to be much more useful as a transport vehicle, as Agori could pull wagons across the desert, and go safely in pairs. The large rear wheel acted as the main source of power, while the front wheel guided the Kaxium wherever it needed to go. The side car was built with adjustable wheel placement, so that the side car would follow wherever the main part went.

"We should head out again. We're almost out of this place," said Vaho, after a few minutes of rest on one of the islands. Scodonius nodded, and Crotesius put his helmet back on. The Cendox roared and launched itself into the sand, the Kaxium following it closely.


"Watch out!" In the distance, a red canine like figure bounded towards the vehicles. Crotesius, who had given the warning, pulled the Thornax launcher from it's holder and aimed it at the dog. Vaho steered slightly towards the dog so that Crotesius, who followed in the side car, could get a better shot. Scodonius swerved to follow Vaho when Crotesius cried out again.

"Don't go near it. It's got others following it!" Vaho could barely hear over the sound of the wind and the engine, but he turned away anyhow. Scodonius followed suit, and before lon the dog was out of sight. The vehicles drove on for a few hours more before finally stopping on a large island, which may have been mainland, although they were unsure. Vaho parked the Cendox horizontally against the Sea of Liquid Sand, blocking the harsher wind from hitting them. Scodonius reached under his seat and removed a large flag, which he stuck into the ground. On it, the symbol of Arena Magna. Crotesius lay down, and after he fell asleep, Vaho did the same. Scodonius kept watch.


Vaho awoke to hard breathing and panting, and when his eyes adjusted to the bright light of morning he immediately grabbed for his dagger. One of the canine figures stood over him, but just as he was about to attack, Scodonius' voice stopped him.

"Don't worry. This is Lu'dren, a Sand Wanderer from the Last Colony of Bara Magna."

"What?" Vaho hadn't heard of anything like this before.

"The Last Colony. A colony of agori that existed prior to the war. During the war strange beings apparently wiped them from the face of Bara Magna. But as Druen'Ga just told me, only ninety-five percent of them died. The others moved south to avoid conflict with the five tribes."

At this point, Crotesius walked in. Duren'Ga has left to retrieve the rest of his clan. We must leave now!"

"Why?" asked Vaho and Scodonius in unison, Vaho because he knew nothing of these people and Scodonius because he thought he knew of these people.

"The Last Colony aren't real agori. I saw one of them coming, and when Druen'Ga saw him, he stuck a sword into his side. The 'agori' stumbled, but then kept on walking. When I looked at the spot where he had been attacked, there were a couple of dead lines- wire that no longer functions. The attacked one had a hole in his side with a few wires sticking out. He tried to cover it up, but I saw before he noticed. They aren't what they seem."

Vaho looked at Scodonius. "I have no idea who these people are that you're talking about, other than what you've told me. But look, we've got Lu'dren with us. See what happens when he's hurt."

Crotesius was about to hit him when Scodonius held out his hand. "No. If you're right, and they are robots, then when they see that we've attacked Lu'dren they'll know that we know. Let's just leave now, take Lu'dren with us, and attack him later."

Vaho shook his head. "No. We hit him here and leave. If they come back and we're gone they'll follow. If we leave now, then we can stay on the run without carrying a dog with us."

Scodonius sighed. Crotesius smashed a rock from the ground onto the head of Lu'dren, and sure enough, wires prodruded. Crotesius immediately ran to the Kaxium, jumped in and put his helmet on. Scodonius did the same thing, and Vaho was already riding away on the Cendox. When Duren'Ga returned with armed soldiers, all he found was Lu'dren lying on the ground, wires protruding that rendered the dog useless.

"Didn't take them long to figure us out, did it?" Questioned Duren'Ga. "One of us slipped in the act." Duren'Ga turned and pointed at a robot in white armour, with a wounded side. "You didn't cover yourself. Kill him"

Five warriors marched over to the white armoured robot. He was dissassembled and thrown to the ground, extra wires used to reboot Lu'dren. "You five, go back to the Colony and alert our creator. We'll follow after the agori!"

The robots broke up. Most of them followed Duren'Ga, along with Lu'dren. The rest turned back to return to their home. Before leaving, Duren'Ga picked up a piece of paper from the ground. On it, a name was written clearly.

-Fendax

Flipping over the page, Duren'Ga read the writting that appeared there.

If you're reading this, Duren'Ga, then I'm still alive, and so are the three agori. This paper came out of the vehicles when your presence moved a bar within the vehicle just a tad. It will be useful to you, so keep reading.
They're headed south to an unknown destination, although they seek the Seed headquarters, or whatever thir main base is called. I trust you will follow them and eliminate them before they discover the secret of the Seed.
The spy of the Colony,
-Fenda'rex

Duren'Ga smiled. So, Fenda'rex was still alive. How, amusing. He marched south, following the tracks of the vehicles. His creator would be pleased to learn of this.

[The Host]

Chapter Seven: The Western Range

The Cendox motor slowed to a halt as the three agori emerged on a large plain of short grass. The desert had been thining out for quite a while, and it had finally stopped chasing the agori. At first, Vaho had thought they had emerged near Tesera or Tajun, but he had quickly decided against that when he looked westwardly.

In the distance, a huge mountain range extended north and south. The mountains were covered in nothing but sand, and there seemed to be no movement in the mountains.

"We should head for those mountains, they'll offer us cover from the Last Colony, who are probably following us already."

Crotesius nodded in agreement and Scodonius started the engine of the Kaxium and took off in front of Vaho, since he could now drive safely out of the sand. Vaho followed the Kaxium at high speed, and when he looked behind him he went even faster. A large mob was following them, and in the back was a tank of a size Vaho had never seen.

"Hurry up!" he yelled to Scodonius, "the Last Colony is already gaining on us-" Vaho stopped speaking. The three agori were speeding along at high speed, and yet the Last Colony was gaining on them. Something's wrong, he thought to himself.


Duren'Ga and Lu'dren lead the pack of robotic warriors on the chase for the agori. All of the robot's feet had become wheels with motors, so the Last Colony was able to chase their prey at a higher speed than the escapes, and could also maneuver in any way needed.

Following them came multiple tan coloured vehicles with gray armoured warriors riding within them. Leading the tan coloured vehicles was the feared Perditus, leader of the Hydra'rah, the elite of the Last Colony. Perditus rode in a large tank with a Thornax launcher on the back of it.

"Onwards! Capture the escaped ones!" called Perditus.

Duren'Ga picked up his pace, an Lu'dren followed. The entire colony picked up speed, and Perditus laughed as he saw the look of fear on the face of the white coloured agori.


The Kaxium was travelling at maximum speed, and the Cendox was following close behind. But even so, they could not pull away from their followers. An explosion at the side of the Cendox caused Vaho to cry out.

"We have to fight them back! We can't outrun them!"

"No way. We stop and they'll catch us!"

Vaho sighed. All that the three agori had to do was reach the mountain range. If they could do so, they could definately loose their predators.

"Stop! The Last Colony and its master command you to stop," cried out Duren'Ga. Lu'dren howled at Vaho, but the three agori did not stop. Crotesius turned in his seat and aimed his Thornax Launcher towards Duren'Ga, and in one shot the robot was on the ground, his inner workings scattered on the ground.

"Scodonius! Slow down for just a second. I've got a plan."

The Kaxium slowed down just enough for Vaho and the Cendox to catch up and ride side by side. Vaho extended his Thornax to Crotesius, who took it and immediately shot back at their pursuers. Reloading the launchers, Crotesius continued to shoot back at the robots. Although their numbers did not decrease enough to matter, the fallen warriors slowed down the robots just long enough keep their distance equal.

Vaho was hit by a Thornax Launcher and the Cendox slowed down as Vaho released the power for just a second. Crotesius forgot about launching the thornax. Gathering five of the explosive fruits in his hands, he tossed them just behind the Cendox, which was speeding up just a bit and the robots who were just about to reach Vaho were thrown into the air, and Perditus, who was just behind them, called for a halt. The three agori had just reached the Western Range. Perditus scowled and turned away. His army of vehicles was not meant for the mountains.


"We'll follow the mountain range south. We know where they're going. You!" he shouted at Lu'dren,"Head back to the Last Colony and alert the Creator. We need to reach the Seed base soon. Before they get there."

 

[The Host]

Chapter Eight: The Seed General

"Seed. North. Tajun."

Seed J looked at the Seed standing in front of him. This Seed, obviously one of the weaker ones, without even a title or rank, was reporting news of the recent attack he had been sent on.

"Go on. Report."

"The fight did not end. The Vorox was brought back to South Western Turret. Commander Seed E is interrogating him. He wishes to speak with H through L."

"Dismissed. I will go immediately."


Commander Seed E was seated in his throne, a wickedly sharp blade in one hand, while the other held a scroll of paper. "J. Our Voroxian prisonner has some information about Bara Magna. I thought you of all Seeds would find it interesting. Vorox. Speak."

"General J. Northern activity has greatly increased within the past weeks. The Vorox were preparing to move south and take over Bara Magna, specifically Tajun, Tesara and Iconox, the most prosperous of the villages. Vulcanus was to be destroyed, and Roxtus was to remain our last line of defence against the invaders. But the Northern Storm, as we called it, came too soon. Roxtus was destroyed and most of us were lucky to survive. But the newcomers quickly rebuilt our village and captured us, placing us in cages and torturing us. They called themselves the Hunters. They were not physically strong, but there steeds were easily ten feet tall, all muscle. Leading them was a short agori like figure who called himself the Seed Hunter. He was orange coloured, so at first we suspected Vulcanus of attacking us, but we soon found out that it was not Vulcanus, for the Seed Hunter himself forbid the use of any Glatorian term.
"The third night of our downfall I got away. I ran through the deserts all the way to Tajun to fight, as I was scheduled there for a match anyways, and we Vorox were threatened to be killed if word got out that Roxtus had been invaded. I fought and was attacked by a Seed."

General J examined the creature before him, then spoke up. "What does this give me?"

"Well, sir. You have an enemy. The Seed Hunter knows of your existance, and surely his army will come southward. You will be ready, for they do not know you know of them."

Commander Seed E looked at the prisoner. "Kill him. We know all that we need to."

Without waiting for any further instructions General J struck out with his sword and Riezas found his end. General J picked up the helmet and put in on his head. "This day I will head out for Roxtus. I will take the group of Seeds you brought here with me, for surely that was the purpose of bringing Seeds H through L."

Commander Seed E nodded. General J left the room with the the Seed party following him. The hunter would soon be hunted.

[The Host]

Part Two: Snow Rising
Chapter One: Vastus

Three days after escaping into the Western Range, Crotesius and Scodonius found just how important Vaho was to the team. After being injured by the Last Colony's attack, Vaho had become slower and less able to fight predators.

A large tiger like animal had been following the trio for two days, and it finally attacked. Crotesius was the tiger's main prey,, and as the tiger lurched forwards to strike out, Scodonius was able to drive by on the Kaxium and pull Crotesius away from harm.

Vaho was not there to help. His wounded leg allowed him only to limp to the Cendox and follow Scodonius and Crotesius away from the tiger's hunting area.

"We need a good place to rest. I can't go on much longer in this condition," said Vaho once they were out of harm's reach.

Crotesius and Scodonius both agreed, and the three agori set off towards the peak of the mountain they were on, looking for a cave or ridge they could set up at. Part way up the mountain Crotesius came across a small cave, but upon inspecting it he found it much too small, and it smelled as if it had been used recently. Nearer to the top, Vaho spotted a ridge with a small cave on it. Heading up, the three agori found that this spot was perfect. The cave could protect them from the weather, while the ridge would allow them to spot any oncoming predators.

Scodonius set a flag into the ground and drove the Kaxium into the cave. "Whoa!" he shouted, once in the cave. His voice echoed all the way out to Crotesius and Vaho. Both agori moved for the cave, Crotesius supporting Vaho.

"What is it?" asked Vaho. Scodonius pointed deeper into the cave. The cave extended much further than any of the agori had guessed. A long tunnel wound its way into the darkness, but judging from the sounds of rocks bouncing around(which they had thrown of course), the tunnel opened up a lot along the way into large caverns.

"If trouble comes, the Kaxium and Cendox can both fit in the tunnel. We can leave through here, or at least lose whoever's chasing us," said Crotesius. Vaho began to limp back out to the ridge when a noise caught his attention. Vaho ran, ignoring the pain for a moment, all the way to the Cendox, then returned into the cave.

"Someone's coming. Get into the cave! I'll follow you."

Scodonius jumped into the Kaxium, and Crotesius followed, not even touching his helmet. The red agori grabbed his Thornax launcher and Vaho followed the Kaxium as it went off into the darkness.

"Hello?" called a voice from the ridge. Vaho motioned with his hands to be silent, but in the darkness neither Crotesius nor Scodonius could see. Suddenly, the voice was just to the side of Vaho. The three agori stood still, the motors of their vehicles shut off. They were in a small side cave.

Light suddenly bounced off of the intruder's armour, illuminating him for a split second. The intruder caught a quick glimpse of the agori and his scythe whipped out immediately.

"Vastus?" said Scodonius, quietly. The intruder nodded.

"Yes. It's me. Rascks is on his way, although we came into some trouble with an ex-glatorian by the name of Perditus. Apperently you've run into him as well?"

"Yeah," said Vaho, "We ran into him, and barely escaped."

Vastus. sensing the agori's uneasyness in the cave, slowly backed out. The Cendox' motor roared to life and Vaho followed him out. Scodonius and Crotesius came out last. Vastus was just about to speak and a piece of white armour appeared beside him.

"Run!" he shouted, and Vaho turned to follow. Crotesius pulled out the second Thornax launcher as Scodonius turned the Kaxium to follow Vaho. A white coloured Glatorian jumped behind the Kaxium and picked up his armour before taking off to join Vastus.

"I'll stay behind our convoy. You lead them to somewhere safer!" cried Vastus. Rascks continued to run and Vastus dropped back, repeating the same thing to the three agori. A thornax sped by Vastus' head and exploded just infront of Vaho.

Vastus shot a thornax back at the attackers, causing a few rocks to fall and block the way, giving the five Bara Magnans just a bit more distance.

[The Host]

Chapter Two: Sand Storm
Part One: Koracha's Defence

General Seed J stared at the walls of Roxtus. Made completely of iron, the new walls set up by the intruders blocked all view of the inner city. Seed J scowled. This would make his mission just a bit harder.

"Go around the city and look for anything we can use as a way in. Meet me on the eastern side of the city in the small valley."

The Seed immediately dissapeared as Seed J walked away. He began planning his way in.


Koracha mounted his steed and pulled away from the Bone Hunters, as they called themselves, and headed for the city walls. Since taking over Roxtus, Sahmad and his followers had purged the city of anything Glatorian like and replaced it instead with Bone Hunter Blades and treasures from their previous raids. All of the Vorox who had inhabitted Roxtus before the seige had been placed in cages, except for those who had fights planned. They were left to escape so that Roxtus would seem normal.

"Sir. I've sensed the arrival of outsiders. They're Seeds."

Sahmad looked up at Koracha. Nodding, he spoke softly, with an evil tone in his voice. "Get the Spikits ready, and get all of our steeds mounted. Today you shall walk into battle with the great Sahmad. Today the Seeds will see the beginning of their downfall!"

Koracha and his steed headed back to the center of Roxtus, and he began to call out orders. Most of the Bone Hunters listened at once. A few, however, needed Koracha to add that Sahmad had ordered it so. Once the warriors were listening to him, Koracha explained the plain and steared his steed towards the Roxtus Gates.

"Line up, and kill all in sight. Seeds must be killed or captured!" Shouted Koracha. Sahmad appeared by his side and barked out orders. Spikits and Rock Steeds pawed the ground and growled, awaiting to be released to attack. Koracha spotted a group of Seeds and immediately called for the Bone Hunters' attention.

"Don't attack them. They know we're here. They're organizing for a mounted attack. Stand your ground and we'll win." Most of the Bone Hunters disagreed with Koracha's instructions, but with Sahmad's approval, Koracha was now their combat leader, and they listened. One Seed attacked with lightning speed, but with the hunter's ready, the Seed was easy prey. Koracha's plan was working so far.


Seed J growled with hatred. He had lost one Seed out of carelessness. The hunter's were ready, and the Seeds were far outnumbered. "Retreat to the southern valley and then head north as fast as possible. We'll enter Roxtus by tunneling if we're forced to. Once we're inside the hunters lose. All of their mounts are likely in use already, and if we can release the Vorox then we'll outnumber them. Just follow me and the hunters can't win!"

[The Host]

Chapter Two: Sand Storm
Part Two: Escape

The three remaining Seeds sprinted to the south, their bodies changing as they moved. Their slim bodies were opening, just as a seed will do when watered, and as the bodies opened, their arms and legs grew longer. Seed J called in his small party, and as they entered the southern valley the sand beneath their feet blew northwards.

"Yesss! Just as Commander E told me before we left. The Seeds will triumph in the storm of Bara Magna!"

Seed J turned in one swift motion and headed north, the wind carrying his long body. His arms pulled him forwards while his feet steered, just as the three other Seeds did. In only secconds the Hunters guarding the southern wall were ready for Seed J and his party. Koracha stood in front, a long blade positioned to hit Seed J in the head.

"Fly! Fly with the storm!" called Seed J. He and the three seeds in his group leapt into the air and the wind and sand from behind pulled them forwards. Koracha's body went still. Then, acting upon instinct, Koracha thrust the blade upwards, ripping one of the Seeds to shreads. The Hunters were now in a frenzy, headed for the inner city.


Sahmad was in the city before Koracha had killed the Seed. Rounding up any remaining warriors, as well as the few Spikits he had taken with him. Sahmad himself was riding his Death Chariot, pulled by a Spikit called Verenga.

"Head to the wall, the intruders are coming from there! Kill at all costs! Verenga!"

The spikit roared and lurched forwards, pulling Sahmad behind him. The Seed Hunter pulled out a spear with a Thornax Launcher just as Seed J came over the wall. Behind him, two other Seeds followed, with a scream followed by silence coming last.

"So the death toll rises to two..." muttered Sahmad.

"Sir!" Koracha ran up behind Sahmad. "The Hunters are guarding the walls to prevent any escape..." The sound of a Thornax explosion ended Koracha's report. Now only two Seeds were running through the city.

"Kill them. The Vorox will be released if even one remains. Once one Vorox is out, the rest will soon follow. Don't speak to me until you can point out five Seed bodies- dead!"

Koracha raced off in pursuit of Seed L, one of the remaining Seeds. The sands storm was almost at its peek, and sand was pouring over the city walls. Seed J had excecuted his act perfectly. The two Seeds that were still alive had not reacted at all when their comrades were killed. Koracha only wished that the Hunters had this kind of discipline.

Seed L pulled a blade out from his body and slashed every cage he came to. The sounds of Vorox were of no meaning to him. This was not a rescue mission, but an all out attack on the Seed Hunters spoken of by Riezas. Behind him, far behind, Seed L could sense someone following him. His follower would probably not notice if Seed L changed his path, but the change would be all Seed L would need to deal with them.

Seed L put his blade away and turned at the next corner. His follower was as good as dead. The Vorox were escaping at an alarming rate, and they would take their vengence on whoever they came into contact with. Seed L would eventually double back on his follower and kill him himself, but at the moment, he was just causing his persuer to tire, and be caught by the Vorox. Seed L had to find Seed J.

[The Host]

Chapter Three: Edge of the World

The Cendox was going at full speed. With the Last Colony following close behind, Vaho was quite nervous. Their persuers were not slowing down, and he was not sure how long Vastus and Rascks could hold them off for. Then the Kaxium suddenly sped up. Vaho began to drift back from the convoy.

"Hey!" It was Vastus calling. Vaho turned back in time to see the green warrior stop running. Vastus faced the oncoming colony, his poison scythe aimed to kill. "Go on without me! Tell Rascks that I'll never forgt him saving me!" Vaho watched as Vastus was attacked by the colony. Sand flew around as Vastus danced around his enemies, trying to evade attacks. The last things Vaho saw were the cold dark eyes of Perditus, staring at him in the distance.


Three days after Vastus had stopped to fight, Rascks finally decided on a place to stay. A large crater had been dug out 'long before the three agori had come into existance'. Rascks had said he remembered the day of the formation of the crater, but he had never dreamed of seeing it again.

"Don't worry. This place is safe. The Last Colony won't come this far." Said Rascks, when they finally began their way down into the crater. As they did, a slight mist began to form.

"Once we get down I'll have to check the Kaxium. It sped up for no reason back there," said Scodonius. Crotesius remained silent. The last three days were still running through his head.

"You'll have to check the Cendox too-" began Vaho, before Scodonius cut him off.

"I helped make this version of the Kaxium. The Cendox is a complete mystery to me."

Vaho sighed. "I'll look at it!" Said Rascks. I may know what the problem is."

By now, the four Bara Magnans were at the base of the crater. The mist was heavy. The surrounding area was dark. Vision was blurry. "We set up camp here. Drive the Cendox over here," said Rascks. Vaho and the others nodded, although in the mist it was not visible. Vaho parked the Cendox next to the Kaxium, which was overturned and being inspected by Scodonius.

"Oh my gosh!" he exclaimed. "I found the problem!"

"Here. At the Edge of the World." said Crotesius, mostly to himself, but loud enough for the others to here.

"What?" asked Scodonius.

"The Edge of the World." Said Vaho. "Where the Elemental Lord of Sand was killed."

[The Host]

Chapter Four: V9

Scodonius was still in shock, and unaware of what the news meant. "Could you, uh, explain please?" he asked.

"Reveno was his name. At least, to anyone who concerned him, that was his name. The Elemental Lord of Sand ruled the south of Bara Magna during the core war, but at the end, with the arrival of the Engine Raiders, he was slain by the Elemental Lord of Jungle. This was where he was killed. And where the Spirit of Mata Nui was released into the Ignika Case. But enough of that, it's all in the past. Don't worry about it. The point is, we're in the spot where one of the greatest warriors of all time died." Vaho paused, and Crotesius picked up where he had left off.

"This is the Edge of the World, because when Spherus Magna broke apart, this was where Bara Magna and Spherus Magna were attached. But as gravity's force took over, Bara Magna rounded itself and there was no egde. I just found it amusing, and somewhat odd that you made your discovery here. What is wrong with it anyways?"

"Yeah, about that. Someone did something to the main engine spot, and they moved a piece. Something must have been put there to hold it in its new spot, but it fell out a while ago, and just now the Kaxium sped up because the piece went back into place. The whole time we were in the desert we were moving slower than usual. It's as if someone wanted to get us caught." Scodonius was somewhat nervous near the end of her speech.

Meanwhile, Rascks was mumbling to himself as he looked at the underside of the Cendox. Vaho and the two other agori walked over to where Rascks was.


Perditus stood above Vastus, a sword held in his hand and the tip in Vastus' face. "Where are they headed?"

Vastus looked at his capturer and smiled. "No clue, Perditus, but I can tell you where I was heading."

"Do tell. And wipe that smile from your face. At this point in time it doesn't belong anywhere near you." Perditus' voice was monotone and cold. His sword pressed forwards, scratching the metal of Vastus' helmet.

"I was headed for the Valley of Mata Nui. I heard there was an exclusive tournemant for ex Glatorian there. I was hoping to see you there and beat you!" As he finished speaking, Vastus' legs kicked out and Perditus-caught off guard- dropped to the ground, his sword pulling back just enough for Vastus to stand up and grab his scythe. "It looks like I can accomplish my goal right here though!" Shouted Vastus, his scythe aimed at Perditus. A large explosion behind Vastus stopped him from advancing on the unarmed Perditus.

"Step away from him, Teseran fool!" It was the voice of Duren'Ga. As usual, his pet Lu'dren followed behind him. "You are not to make a move, or I will-"

Duren'Ga 's voice was cut off as Vastus jabbed him with the scythe in his hands. The click of a Thornax Launcher sounded as it dropped to the floor, and Duren'Ga was swallowed in the explosion. Lu'dren howled in rage, and Perditus yelled out orders that Vastus could not understand.

Vastus grabbed the Thornax Launcher from the ground and attached it to the opposite and of the scythe. Grabbing a few pieces of ammunition, Vastus launched himself out of the chaos and out of the shack he was in. He immediately stopped, for the house was surrounded. By vehicles. In the main villages of Bara Magna the vehicles were called Thornatus. But these vehicles had the Last Colony symbol emblazoned on the side, with the letter and number V9 beside it.

"Must be an upgraded version of the Thornatus. It really could use an upgrade," said Vastus as he jumped into the vehicle, putting his new Thornax Launcher above the cockpit, and attached it to a turret. Pressing a few buttons, Vastus tried out the controls, finding them easier than the previous versions he was used to. The Thornatus roared to life and the sides extended forwards, the wheels spinning and pulling him away from the house.

But he was not home free. Behind him, Perditus was in hot pursuit, following him in another Thornatus V9.