Chapter 17: Brothers under the sun
Chapter 17: Brothers under the sun
Hammering pain in his head snapped him out of unconsciousness. The emerald Toa let out a husky groan. His throat was sore because of the salty water he had swallowed.
He tried to cough out the rest of it when he heard this voice from behind.
“Don’t barf on my back, Toa.”
Just now Lewa noticed that he was hanging over Reikuta’s shoulder.
A weak struggle to get free, then the Toa gave it up. He couldn’t even manage to lift his head. It looked like the creature had taken his energy completely.
“Don’t worry”, the Ikuta chuckled. “You’ll get free as soon as we reach the market. At least free from me…”
~~~***~~~
Ga Aro, the place where they now brought most of their prisoners. Like Ga Koro the city was built on giant swimming leaves. All the Ikuta had to do to keep the Matoran from running away was, to take away the bridges. Hardly any Matoran beside the Ga Matoran was able to swim. But what did they do with the inhabitants of Ga Aro? Maybe they were still kept in Ta Aro. Maybe Sasha was the last of them … but Lewa didn’t want to think about that.
Two Nektann were crawling around on the beach. As they noticed Reikuta they pushed a bridge made out of bamboo over the water and dragged it back again as soon as the Ikuta reached the city.
The emerald Toa passed by Matoran, who were sold and bought on this marketplace too, saw their expressions on their faces. It hurt. They looked like they had lost all of their hope with his capture.
‘Yes’, he thought, ‘how much hope is really left, if even a Toa has no chance against them…”
~~~***~~~
Lewa was touched, pushed and dragged around as if he was a rare and expensive textile. The Nektann in here seemed to never have seen a Toa before.
He now was allowed to walk on his own (if he could in this mass of Nektann), but as soon as he got away a bit too far his legs gave up carrying him. It wasn’t hard to see what Reikuta meant, when he said, Lewa would never get away from here even if he would try to fly. Soon the Toa believed the Ikuta did this just for fun as he broke down another time without any reason, without even having moved a centimetre away from him.
“Oh, come on, not just touch. Buy”, Reikuta shouted over the market place. “I want at least 600 Widgets for him. Who bids more?”
From time to time a Nektann waved a leg but they seemed to do it only to make Reikuta happy.
“Why is this Toa so expensive?” A blue Piraka pushed through the Nektann and went up to Reikuta.
“Ah, you know, the Matoran we can use for work but this little Toa has … special features, if you know what I mean”, the creature leered, “And I had the pleasure to test him … Look at him. 600 is a really fair price.”
Vezok rubbed his chin and did as if he was thinking it over but his smirk blurted out that he had already come to a decision.
“Yes, I think I can give you the money…”
“I bid 6000 Widgets!”, a voice called over the place.
Vezok looked around. “Wow, you must need that really badly”, he sneered as he saw the green Piraka rushing through the scampering Nektann.
“I just can’t let pass an offer like this”, he grinned.
Only Lewa noticed the twitching muscles on his face, as if he was extremely concentrated.
“Sorry, Vezok, deal is deal, maybe next time”, Reikuta closed the bargain, “For now Zaktan just outbid you…”
Zaktan grabbed Lewa’s hand and dragged him away. “Come, I don’t think I can hold it back any longer.”
Laughters were heard from behind but the Toa had a clue what the green Piraka really wanted to say.
~~~***~~~
They passed the bridge once more. Now Zaktan speeded up. Their way leaded them over the beach some time, then into a bamboo wood.
Lewa’s eyes widened as he saw the building lying in front of them deep in the wood. It looked like an overgrown temple.
The Piraka nearly pushed the Toa through the door, and then fell onto his knees. “Whew, that was close …”
Lewa went back as far as he could. This creature might have rescued him for now, but he was a Piraka after all.
“You can come closer”, Zaktan chuckled, “I don’t have plans to eat you …” Then he got serious again. “I can understand if this is confusing for you. You must know, we don’t do that all because it’s our decision. The Ikuta keep us under their control. But sometimes we manage to break out of this. During that time I found that temple and as I walked in it felt like nothing can ever harm me again. It may sound stupid but this building protects me from the mind control. In here I’m just myself. I brought you here because we’re safe now. But I can’t stay here for too long. Otherwise I’m afraid the Ikuta might get suspicious and search for me. And then this temple would be doomed…”
“But … why have you rescued me?”
The Piraka stood up and walked over to him. “Look, I don’t want this all to happen, but I can’t fight against it anymore. But now you and your Toa friends appeared. I trust in you. I can’t give you any advices what you should or can do, but still I believe you will make it. Let this island be a free place again.”
I had a dream, of the wide open prairie
I had a dream, of pale morning sky
I had a dream that we flew on golden wings
And we were the same, just the same, you and I
Lewa slowly shook his head.
Zaktan started again, “We may look different and we may be enemies right now, but we have the same things we want to reach. That kinda makes us to brothers…”
We are like birds of a feather
We are two hearts joined together
We will be forever as one
My brother under the sun
“We have no chance too”, the emerald Toa said. “So many fights and we hardly won them.”
“I know, but be honest, how many of your first fights against the Rahi have you won?”
Lime-kissed eyes shot up. He was right. Their beginnings had been a struggle between live and death too.
Zaktan gave him a warm smile which looked a bit scary on a Piraka’s face. “Now go. I can’t keep you here any longer. Reikuta may trust only in his brute strength all of the time but that doesn’t mean he’s stupid.”
“But how … I don’t know where my friends are.” Lewa sounded more desperate than he wanted to.
“I’d suppose that they’re somewhere near Onu Koro because I knew Reikuta caught you on your way to this city, but it’s just a guess. I’ve heard that Toa and Guardians can always find each other no matter where they are. And you are both. So just trust in yourself… And remember not to get caught again. I gave all my money for you so I won’t be able to buy you a second time … if I’m still alive if it comes to that again …”
The emerald Toa felt guilty welling up. Zaktan was risking his own life for a Toa’s freedom … for the freedom of the whole island …
They looked at each other for a last time.
“Thank you …”
“What for?”
“For buying me, for risking your life … for just everything …”
Were his eyes playing tricks on him or was there really sadness on the Piraka’s face for a short time? He wasn’t sure because within a blink it was gone.
“Don’t keep up any longer. Just go, Toa … or better run, run for your life …”
Follow your heart, little child of the westwind
Follow the voice, it’s calling you home
Follow your dreams, but always remember me
I am your brother under the sun
~~~***~~~
He nearly had forgotten about it. Now his head stroke back with fullest pain while running.
How long was it ago that he had rested? Minutes? Hours? He hadn’t thought about it, didn’t want to think about anything anymore, just concentrated on the way lying before him.
The bamboo wood was still around and it was hard to see if he was still heading into the right direction. Bamboo all around, not any sign of Onu Aro. Flying would have led him faster to his destination and he would have been able to see more, but he avoided it at any costs. The Ikuta could the same. Down in the woods he at least had cover.
His body was screaming for a little bit of rest, while his senses kept on alarming that grave danger was around. He nearly could feel Reikuta behind him.
What happened to Zaktan? Lewa hoped he was able to make Reikuta believe his little Toa slave escaped alone without his help.
How was the Ikuta able to follow him that fast? Had he seen him running away from the temple? Had he followed them to the temple at first place? Had he heard anything they had been talking about? I this case, Zaktan was doomed.
He suddenly grew sicker than ever before.
Now he felt something different from the direction he was running to but his senses didn’t warn him so it seemed to be no danger.
His legs finally gave up carrying him. He broke down exhausted, vomited up nothing but stomach liquid, but jumped up immediately after, stumbled forward some more meters, then broke down again. Now way he could carry on. An incoming enemy would just find a very weakened Toa who was no danger at all.
And now it came, came crashing through the woods.
Everything Lewa could do was breathing faster although he had thought increase wouldn’t be possible any more.
Something blurry appeared between bamboos. The emerald Toa tried to correct his vision but it was impossible right now.
“There you are”, he heard Reikuta’s voice. “Felt something getting away from Zaktan and had to look after it. Stupid Piraka. Can’t even watch over his own things.”
Despite the danger Lewa felt a bit relieved. After all Zaktan was out of danger. But now there was a Toa who was supposed to die.
He readied his Katana – at least he still could move his arms – but it was futile to think he could fight right now. In the best case parry some strikes – if his vision cleared up. He still could see only blur where an Ikuta should have been.
“Hm, might not be good to sell you again. Risk’s too high, that you run away once more. Silly Toa, the Piraka may have treated you like a slave but at least you could have stayed alive longer”, he moved closer, “Now there’s no other way than killing you …”
“Get away from him!”
A brown figure came flying over Lewa and created a little earthquake when it landed. And he felt another quake when something black shot out of the floor.
“Not you again!”, Reikuta yelled.
The last think Lewa heard, then he felt his head hitting the ground. Too weak to keep it up any longer. He wanted to be part of the following battle, wanted to help the two figures whoever they were, but the exhaustion now spread through his body rapidly, taking its toll.
So tired…
~~~***~~~
‘Where am I?’
The ground was still shaking. No, not the ground. He was carried by someone, was lying in black and grey arms. And now he noticed the chest armour he leaned his head against and the black Kanohi over him.
“Pohatu, wait, I think he’s waking up.”
The auburn Toa looked around. “Well, yes, I think we can stay here for some time. At least we’ll see enemies fast. It looks like it will be dark soon and it mightn’t be good to wander around then.”
Onua knelt down, laid down Lewa carefully but still held his head in his arm. “Are you alright?”
Lewa groaned. “Uh … yes … just still a little tired … Thank you two for helping me.”
Pohatu smiled. “Well, when we got out the tunnel near Onu Aro we had a very bad feeling. As if danger was close and someone of our team was involved … But it would have been harder if Tupua hadn’t lent us a helping hand.”
The emerald one looked around but couldn’t see the Spectre anywhere. “But … where is he?”
“He wanted to see after the others”, his ebony friend answered, “Maybe they’re in danger too. We’ll try to follow him soon. But for now … want something to eat?”
Lewa took it gladly. There was a dull feeling in his belly. But at least his headache was nearly completely gone.
He asked them too if they knew more about Tahu and Rui but they had no clue. Everything they knew was that they had to wait for any sign of Tupua.
While they were eating Lewa was staring at the sunset. Another night in slavery, another night in fear for so many Matoran. He desperately wanted to help them. Better now than later.
“I need to get back to Ga Aro.”
“What?” The two others looked at him as if he had announced he wanted to kill Tahu.
“Yes, now I know the Piraka are controlled like Tahu once was but they can brake through this sometimes as far as Zaktan has told.”
“Who?”
“Believe it or not, he’s a Piraka too …”
The Toa of air told them in short form about how he was torn away from his group, the slave market and his escape.
“I believe it’s possible that all Piraka snap out of their control. Maybe they won’t be on our side but the Ikuta are their enemies too.”
“No,”, Onua shook his head, “Your shot can go off behind…”
“It can’t. If they ignore the Ikuta, which I can’t believe, it’s the same as before for us. Two parts of enemies but with the little difference that they don’t stick together anymore. But otherwise we get a little help. It’s worth a try.”
“We should do it”, Pohatu agreed, “but it’s night now, so it would be better to wait until tomorrow.”
The emerald one jumped up. “No, every second we wait can be a second too late.”
“But we’re alone”, the Toa of air argued, “Do you have any plans how we can do it? I don’t think we can do it? I don’t think we can go up to a Piraka and try to reason him.”
“We can”, Lewa gave him a grin, “And I know him. Now we only need to find him.”
