Chapter 06: Ikuta incoming
Chapter 6: Ikuta incoming
In the night Lewa was woken up by a bright light shining through his windows. Looked like … Le-Koro burning? When he ran out he saw several flames, on the huts, on platforms, in the trees, but they didn’t spread like fire normally does. As if they were kept in places by something.
“Worried ‘bout your people, little one? Don’t be. They’re in safety. We’re heroes to them… for now”, he heard a voice from behind. As he turned round, he saw the two weirdest creatures, he’d ever seen. They looked like a mix between Toa and Rahkshi. One was red, the other black.
“Who … who are you? What are you? And where are my Matoran?”, Lewa asked, slight fear in his voice.
“Aww, you don’t know us anymore? Ah, I forgot that we’ve deleted your memory about your past”, the red one chuckled in a sarcastic manner, “I’m Lhikuta, this is Reikuta, but you can call us the Ikuta brothers. Your Matoran we’ve … let’s say … ‘beamed’ to safety.”
Lewa was now confused. “I-I knew you in the past? I had a past before Mata Nui?”
“Yeah, before your departure to Mata Nui, we attacked you and your colleagues. You were half a kid. You all were nearly half kids. We could beat you so easily, that we were nearly ashamed that we had attacked children… Since that three years had passed and we need you back.”
“Why do you need me just now?”
“’Cause we had other plans in the past. But for our newest ‘project’ you’re one of the keys. So we have no other chance than to take you to our homeland … to your homeland.”
“And where should that be?”
“Uh, I can’t tell you. Don’t wanna spoil. You’ll see when we take you there.”
“You take him nowhere!”
The green Toa’s head shot around. “Onua! You’re here?”
“Yeah, I was in the jungle to see if everything is Rahkshi-free. Then I noticed that Le-Koro glowed as if there was something big burning. Sure thing, I had to come for help.”
“Too much talk, too less action”, Reikuta muttered, “Let’s eliminate that black pest and take the kid!” In his hands a Rahkshi-like staff appeared and he stabbed at Onua. The ebony Toa could avoid that attack by jumping back but was struck through a fire sword from behind.
“Hey! That wasn’t fair!” Lewa ran into Onuas direction but Reikuta stepped in this way.
“And where d’ ya think ya goin’?”
He rammed the side of his staff against Lewa’s chest so that the green Toa wasn’t hurt but lost his balance and fell back. The creature tried to stab through the Toa’s armour but his staff was crossed with Lewa’s Air Katana.
While the others were still wrestling with their weapons, the fight between Lhikuta and Onua was a battle for life or death. The fire sword slashed through Onuas chest. Little trails of blood dripped down but his chest armour had prevented him from being hurt worse.
“Oh, I see I should attack something less protected”, the red creature said in his sarcastic tone.
“But you won’t find that!” Onua rammed Lhikuta against a hut. Therefore he earned a slash through his face.
“Found it.”
“Why … don’t you … attack me … instead of … blocking”, Lewa snarled, still trying to keep the staff away.
“Cause we need you in one piece. You shall recover fast and that’s only possible that way.” He finally activated his staff. “I’m more Rahkshi than you believe.”
Lewa suddenly got weaker and weaker. His sword glided out of his hands. “No …”, he whispered, fighting to stay conscious. But from the beginning on, his fight was just lost. The emerald Toa finally blacked away.
Onua was nearly beaten too. His legs felt like they couldn’t hold his own weight anymore and he fought to keep balance.
“You see, I’m still standing. And as long as I’m alive you won’t be able to harm Lewa.”
“We’ve no time for that”, Reikuta said from behind and touched him with his staff.
The ebony Toa wanted to turn around but instead sank down on his knees. He couldn’t control his body anymore.
“So, that should be enough. His wounds will give him the rest”, Reikuta chuckled.
Lhikuta took Lewa off from the ground. “Let’s go!”
They vanished into red and black smoke.
Onua was still fighting to stay awaken. “No … I have to get … after them…” His body slowly glided sidewards.
~~~***~~~
The two suns were already shining. Only one cloud was seen. Too bright for a from unconsciousness awakening Toa.
‘Man … my head hurts … just as if a Rahi stomped in at one ear and out at the other …’
He rubbed his forehead and felt something wet and sticky.
‘Eww … my blood hasn’t dried enough … But … it means that I wasn’t out for too long. I still can sense Lewa. He must be somewhere in the tunnels of Onu-Po-Ta-Le-Wahi (what a stupid name). But I won’t be able to fight these creatures alone. Time counts, I can’t search for the others, but maybe Tahu is in Onu-Koro. I can remember, he said, he wanted to help out or something.’
Some Matoran helped him to get up and back to the tunnels. They still didn’t know, they were beamed away and brought back again that night and wondered what happened to Onua and where Lewa was.
~~~***~~~
Tahu walked around in Onu-Koro. “No Rahkshi anywhere, just as I expected. I wish I was the one living in Onu-Koro. The city is awful and I hate the dirt, the darkness and the tunnels but I could live much nearer to my green angel.”
He went over to the tunnels to Le-Wahi.
“Maybe I should check Le-Koro as well. Kopaka didn’t want us to work in groups but no one can forbid me to look after a friend…”
He nearly ran into Onua, who shot out of one of those tunnels.
“O-Onua? You don’t look good if I may say that … What happened? Where’s Lewa?”
“The Ikuta brothers have him. We must go after them.” The ebony Toa was panting heavily.
“Uhm … Ikuta brothers?”
Onua continued running down another tunnel.
“I’ll tell you on our way. We have no time to loose. I can sense Lewa in this tunnel.
