Rilok made his way into the room, glancing at his surroundings. He hung his cloak up, finally revealing his full Skakdi self. He turned to the commander and smirks\ed.
"Nice hat."
Last Edit: Jul 14, 2016 17:58:25 GMT -6 by Deleted
Rilok made his way into the room, glancing at his surroundings. He hangs his cloak up, finally revealing his full Skakdi self. He turns to the commander and smirks.
"Nice hat."
The officer scowls down at him. "What do you want?"
Rilok took a seat, stretching his weary muscles in the process, his servos whirring in unison with his movement. He shook his head back and forth like an animal would shake water off of its pelt, untangling his long crimson spines that had been pressed together by the heavy cloak. Rilok let out a sigh, and began.
"Twenty-odd years ago, I was a tribal warrior on Zakaz. I served in the army of a relatively powerful warlord, although his power was not what set him apart. No, what made him different was his ambition. He was convinced that if we could take control of one of the Dark Hunter ships patrolling the coast, we could make our way to new lands, and create an empire that dwarfed even the greatest kingdom on Zakaz."
Rilok scoffed at this, as if he were telling the tale of a completely different being, and mocking his ignorance.
"Mind you, this was well before automatic Iron Launchers and tanks were the norm. We had axes, maces, swords, spears, and a handful of rhotuka launchers. I was a Tahtorak rider, armed with one of those explosive-tipped lances. We were the vanguard, the first wave of the attack. We charged our steeds across the beach and into the ocean, lances aimed at the bow of the ship... and then we were falling face first into the waves, our Tahtorak ripped apart by impact trauma and explosives. The Dark Hunters had recently made a bulk purchase of Cordak blasters from Xia."
Rilok sighed, thumbing the grip of one of his pistols.
"The rest of the force were soon slaughtered as they rushed out of the jungle, but I was intent on taking as many of the Hunters with me as I could before I died. I broke the tip off of my lance and primed it, then chucked it into the air and onto the deck. Next thing I knew, limbs were falling into the water. I gripped my dagger in between my teeth, and climbed up the netting on the hull. Once I got onboard, I used my impact vision to break the spines of the first three hunters I saw, and drove my dagger up into the head of the fourth. Unfortunately, the fourth was some thick-skulled, horned thing, and I couldn't dislodge the blade in time. A knockout Rhotuka hit me in the forehead, and the next thing I knew, I was in a jail cell on Odina."
Rilok paused for a second, looking at the ground.
"They were impressed by my skills, and recruited me. I went on several missions, killing, stealing, and threatening all in the name of profit. Then one day I was told I had been selected for a... special assignment. The chief scientist of the Dark Hunters at the time, one of those elastic freaks that slip through cracks, was a guy by the name of Kraki. Kraki didn't really care about furthering the cause of the Dark Hunters, and had only fallen in with them because they were the only organization offering a steady stream of live subjects to work on. At the time, Kraki was working on something called Project Apotheosis, a program hoping to create robots capable of having multiple Kanohi powers programmed into them. But Kraki was much more interested in the inverse. He wanted to take away powers, and hone things like natural strength and rage. So that's what he did to me. Took away my elemental Fire abilities, my impact vision, and cranked up my fury by about 150%. And considering I was already a Skakdi, well... let's just say that Kraki should have taken out my protosteel talon implants before he let me go, because I decimated half a legion of Hordika Dragons before I escaped the island."
Rilok leaned in.
"What happened to me after that is irrelevant. What's happening now could jeopardize not only my continued survival, but the entire Brotherhood of Makuta's. After I escaped, Kraki continued Project Apotheosis, finishing nine Kanohi-imbued robotic soldiers and two kidnapped Toa that had their powers twisted and shaped until they were just walking weapons. The robots were put in stasis after the Dark Hunters disbanded, and I assumed Kraki and his pet monsters had died in one of the many wars since then. But I've recently been tipped off that the robots have been activated somewhere in Av-Ta-Su-Wahi, and Kraki is alive. He's already found his two pets, and he'll be going after the robots next. But before he collects them, he's coming for me. Kraki is rebuilding Project Apotheosis, and he plans to continue his work, creating an army of Kanohi-imbued androids and power-limited, broken monstrosities. And his first target will be the Brotherhood base outside of Atero Nui."
Rilok took a seat, stretching his weary muscles in the process, his servos whirring in unison with his movement. He shook his head back and forth like an animal would shake water off of its pelt, untangling his long crimson spines that had been pressed together by the heavy cloak. Rilok let out a sigh, and began.
"Twenty-odd years ago, I was a tribal warrior on Zakaz. I served in the army of a relatively powerful warlord, although his power was not what set him apart. No, what made him different was his ambition. He was convinced that if we could take control of one of the Dark Hunter ships patrolling the coast, we could make our way to new lands, and create an empire that dwarfed even the greatest kingdom on Zakaz."
Rilok scoffed at this, as if he were telling the tale of a completely different being, and mocking his ignorance.
"Mind you, this was well before automatic Iron Launchers and tanks were the norm. We had axes, maces, swords, spears, and a handful of rhotuka launchers. I was a Tahtorak rider, armed with one of those explosive-tipped lances. We were the vanguard, the first wave of the attack. We charged our steeds across the beach and into the ocean, lances aimed at the bow of the ship... and then we were falling face first into the waves, our Tahtorak ripped apart by impact trauma and explosives. The Dark Hunters had recently made a bulk purchase of Cordak blasters from Xia."
Rilok sighed, thumbing the grip of one of his pistols.
"The rest of the force were soon slaughtered as they rushed out of the jungle, but I was intent on taking as many of the Hunters with me as I could before I died. I broke the tip off of my lance and primed it, then chucked it into the air and onto the deck. Next thing I knew, limbs were falling into the water. I gripped my dagger in between my teeth, and climbed up the netting on the hull. Once I got onboard, I used my impact vision to break the spines of the first three hunters I saw, and drove my dagger up into the head of the fourth. Unfortunately, the fourth was some thick-skulled, horned thing, and I couldn't dislodge the blade in time. A knockout Rhotuka hit me in the forehead, and the next thing I knew, I was in a jail cell on Odina."
Rilok paused for a second, looking at the ground.
"They were impressed by my skills, and recruited me. I went on several missions, killing, stealing, and threatening all in the name of profit. Then one day I was told I had been selected for a... special assignment. The chief scientist of the Dark Hunters at the time, one of those elastic freaks that slip through cracks, was a guy by the name of Kraki. Kraki didn't really care about furthering the cause of the Dark Hunters, and had only fallen in with them because they were the only organization offering a steady stream of live subjects to work on. At the time, Kraki was working on something called Project Apotheosis, a program hoping to create robots capable of having multiple Kanohi powers programmed into them. But Kraki was much more interested in the inverse. He wanted to take away powers, and hone things like natural strength and rage. So that's what he did to me. Took away my elemental Fire abilities, my impact vision, and cranked up my fury by about 150%. And considering I was already a Skakdi, well... let's just say that Kraki should have taken out my protosteel talon implants before he let me go, because I decimated half a legion of Hordika Dragons before I escaped the island."
Rilok leaned in.
"What happened to me after that is irrelevant. What's happening now could jeopardize not only my continued survival, but the entire Brotherhood of Makuta's. After I escaped, Kraki continued Project Apotheosis, finishing nine Kanohi-imbued robotic soldiers and two kidnapped Toa that had their powers twisted and shaped until they were just walking weapons. The robots were put in stasis after the Dark Hunters disbanded, and I assumed Kraki and his pet monsters had died in one of the many wars since then. But I've recently been tipped off that the robots have been activated somewhere in Av-Ta-Su-Wahi, and Kraki is alive. He's already found his two pets, and he'll be going after the robots next. But before he collects them, he's coming for me. Kraki is rebuilding Project Apotheosis, and he plans to continue his work, creating an army of Kanohi-imbued androids and power-limited, broken monstrosities. And his first target will be the Brotherhood base outside of Atero Nui."
Rilok leaned back, still gripping the pistol.
The officer does not move, does not blink, for the entirety of Rilok's story. When he finishes, the officer makes a note: "Apotheosis -- Kanohi robots -- strike NEH"
"Right... Thank you for the forewarning. Your contribution to the Brotherhood is appreciated."
"Because unlike you, he has a brain and will actually understand that this is a threat. But hey, it's not like I care if you die. The more bodies by the end of this, the better. Still, I'm not done with my life yet. I have things to do. So if you're going to carve your own obituary, can you at least let me stay here until I can figure out a way to escape Kraki?"
All of this was said without any eye contact, while Rilok idly reloaded his pistol.
Last Edit: Jul 14, 2016 18:27:40 GMT -6 by Deleted
"Because unlike you, he has a brain and will actually understand that this is a threat. But hey, it's not like I care if you die. The more bodies by the end of this, the better. Still, I'm not done with my life yet. I have things to do. So if you're going to carve your own obituary, can you at least let me stay here until I can figure out a way to escape Kraki?"
All of this was said without any eye contact, while Rilok idly reloaded his pistol.
The officer huffs. "You can see Inharax if you, like, then. I'll have a transport in the airfield right now to send you."
The officer allowed a pause for Rilok to take that in.
A lone member of Hydraxon's species trudges across the landscape. He has entered the livable zone yesterday, and already he is feeling better. His RMS cap is long gone, destroyed in order to distract a pair of guards. He has kept his other weaponry, though it is worn. He stops for a moment, stands up straight, and activates his radio. "RMS AGENT Juliett Oscar Romeo Tango Hotel CALLING THE RMS. REPEAT, RMS AGENT Juliett Oscar Romeo Tango Hotel CALLING THE RMS."
A lone member of Hydraxon's species trudges across the landscape. He has entered the livable zone yesterday, and already he is feeling better. His RMS cap is long gone, destroyed in order to distract a pair of guards. He has kept his other weaponry, though it is worn. He stops for a moment, stands up straight, and activates his radio. "RMS AGENT Juliett Oscar Romeo Tango Hotel CALLING THE RMS. REPEAT, RMS AGENT Juliett Oscar Romeo Tango Hotel CALLING THE RMS."
He receives a reply almost immediately.
"Agent, you are read. Long time since departure. Sending transport now. Remain in place. Repeat, remain in place."
A lone member of Hydraxon's species trudges across the landscape. He has entered the livable zone yesterday, and already he is feeling better. His RMS cap is long gone, destroyed in order to distract a pair of guards. He has kept his other weaponry, though it is worn. He stops for a moment, stands up straight, and activates his radio. "RMS AGENT Juliett Oscar Romeo Tango Hotel CALLING THE RMS. REPEAT, RMS AGENT Juliett Oscar Romeo Tango Hotel CALLING THE RMS."
He receives a reply almost immediately.
"Agent, you are read. Long time since departure. Sending transport now. Remain in place. Repeat, remain in place."
"Agent, you are read. Long time since departure. Sending transport now. Remain in place. Repeat, remain in place."
A cargo truck is immediately deployed.
"Roger." Jorth waits.
The truck finds Jorth's position within a few minutes, and an agent jumps off to meet him. "You look in terrible shape," he jokes. "Heard you've been gone for a few months. What brings you back to the land of the living?"
He meanwhile gestures back to the truck, intending Jorth to take a ride back to base.
The truck finds Jorth's position within a few minutes, and an agent jumps off to meet him. "You look in terrible shape," he jokes. "Heard you've been gone for a few months. What brings you back to the land of the living?"
He meanwhile gestures back to the truck, intending Jorth to take a ride back to base.
Jorth looks at him with a mixture of joy and weariness. "I managed to get one of those Kestora's Olmaks. Wait, did you say a few months!?" he asks the agent as he walks towards the truck.
The truck finds Jorth's position within a few minutes, and an agent jumps off to meet him. "You look in terrible shape," he jokes. "Heard you've been gone for a few months. What brings you back to the land of the living?"
He meanwhile gestures back to the truck, intending Jorth to take a ride back to base.
Jorth looks at him with a mixture of joy and weariness. "I managed to get one of those Kestora's Olmaks. Wait, did you say a few months!?" he asks the agent as he walks towards the truck.
The agent ignores the term "Kestora." He had no idea what they are, but if they had an Olmak they must have been some Southern Islands species. "Yeah, months. Inharax ruled the world, then we lost it all. Now we're stuck on this Karzahni-like planet called Spherus Magna, trying to scrape a life for ourselves while the Toa and Matoran live in prosperity. There's a lot of catching-up to do. I'll fill you in on the ride back." The agent enters the vehicle.
Jorth looks at him with a mixture of joy and weariness. "I managed to get one of those Kestora's Olmaks. Wait, did you say a few months!?" he asks the agent as he walks towards the truck.
The agent ignores the term "Kestora." He had no idea what they are, but if they had an Olmak they must have been some Southern Islands species. "Yeah, months. Inharax ruled the world, then we lost it all. Now we're stuck on this Karzahni-like planet called Spherus Magna, trying to scrape a life for ourselves while the Toa and Matoran live in prosperity. There's a lot of catching-up to do. I'll fill you in on the ride back." The agent enters the vehicle.
Jorth climbs into the vehicle as well. "Please, enlighten me." [fade out]