Near the center of the colossal sphere sits a small room. The doors to it are locked in more ways than one, and the walls have been heavily reinforced. Those expecting to find terrifying weapons of war or secret experiments would be sorely disappointed. The entire contents of the room consist of a single chair sized for a Makuta, a desk, and an overwhelming number of books. Shelves cover every spare inch of the wall and twist out towards the center of the room, almost as if the room was designed to emulate some sort of labyrinth.
Utherix sat at his desk, rifling through a stack of papers that were attempting to devour the surface. There was a particular sketch of his that was somewhere on this desk, and it was staunchly refusing to be found.
Seeing that his efforts were proving to be futile, he leaned back in his chair. Where did I put the Av-blasted schematic? I could have sworn it was around here somewhere...
His silent pondering was interrupted by a mechanical throat being cleared. He spun in his chair to find a Guardsmen escorting a Toa of Ice, who was even now entering the door. This must be the stranger that had fallen from the sky. He did seem remarkably unharmed, just as he had been told.
The Av-Makuta rose from his chair and politely dipped into a short bow. "Welcome to our city, Not-Toa Argai! What can I do for you?"
Last Edit: Aug 24, 2016 19:54:43 GMT -6 by Deleted
Argai nodded. " 'Toa' is fine." He approached the desk with an innocent look about his eyes, but still bearing a clear intent. "I apologize for skipping introductions, but I need to know where Makuta Inharax is. It is said that you spoke with him last, and he is a danger."
Argai nodded. " 'Toa' is fine." He approached the desk with an innocent look about his eyes, but still bearing a clear intent. "I apologize for skipping introductions, but I need to know where Makuta Inharax is. It is said that you spoke with him last, and he is a danger."
The Av-Makuta sat back in his chair. "I hope you don't..." He winced once, twice. "Apologies. We appear to be under attack, and someone attempted to put many of Aluxa's Guardsmen into stasis. The problem is under control."
Returning to his previous topic, he continued. "I hope you don't intend him any direct harm. You understand that I cannot in good conscious give away information that will lead to violence, no matter the weal of the being that violence will be directed towards." Utherix paused. "Perhaps you could tell me about the nature of your grudge with him."
Argai nodded. " 'Toa' is fine." He approached the desk with an innocent look about his eyes, but still bearing a clear intent. "I apologize for skipping introductions, but I need to know where Makuta Inharax is. It is said that you spoke with him last, and he is a danger."
The Av-Makuta sat back in his chair. "I hope you don't..." He winced once, twice. "Apologies. We appear to be under attack, and someone attempted to put many of Aluxa's Guardsmen into stasis. The problem is under control."
Returning to his previous topic, he continued. "I hope you don't intend him any direct harm. You understand that I cannot in good conscious give away information that will lead to violence, no matter the weal of the being that violence will be directed towards." Utherix paused. "Perhaps you could tell me about the nature of your grudge with him."
"Inharax? He's me." Argai plants his hands on the desk. "He used to be me, at least. Toa Argai. Then he -- I -- was killed in an accident, and Inharax was created in the aftermath. I don't know how that allows me to stand before you. He's murdered or horribly mutilated millions of Matoran, stabbed even his own brothers in the back when he was done deceiving them, begged for mercy and then turned around to attack his foes again... Makuta Inharax is nothing but deceit, treachery, and slaughter. Everything in his wake is left burned, mutated, or subservient to him."
A cold look was adopted in the Toa's eyes, and his eyes narrowed. "Anything he has said to you about peace is false. He must fall."
"Inharax? He's me." Argai plants his hands on the desk. "He used to be me, at least. Toa Argai. Then he -- I -- was killed in an accident, and Inharax was created in the aftermath. I don't know how that allows me to stand before you. He's murdered or horribly mutilated millions of Matoran, stabbed even his own brothers in the back when he was done deceiving them, begged for mercy and then turned around to attack his foes again... Makuta Inharax is nothing but deceit, treachery, and slaughter. Everything in his wake is left burned, mutated, or subservient to him."
A cold look was adopted in the Toa's eyes, and his eyes narrowed. "Anything he has said to you about peace is false. He must fall."
The Av-Makuta sighed. Were he an organic in that moment, he surely would have looked old. "I am well aware that no word he has spoken can be trusted. He is a being of Shadow, one of my brothers who was never able to purge his soul of the evil within. I also have no wish to lead my people in a bloody war against a tyrant, one that would be long, difficult, and very possibly turn out badly." He paused, letting his words sink in. "There is another solution."
"What my brother and I have done here is create a place of shelter. The weary and the weak have a refuge, a strong one. Enemies still knock at our gates, as will they always, but we lose little and become stronger with every assault. My people are learning to defend themselves, creating more potent weaponry, building better defenses. Already we could cause the Brotherhood almost unimaginable harm should they choose to attack us, and we are a very young force in this world. Imagine, then, what we might do in another decade?"
"My cause is simple. I will aid those he is oppressing without ever lifting arms against him. I will heal both sides of any war he begins, grind his every operation within my sector into a stalemate, serve as a place where all his enemies might recover and grow stronger. I will cripple him without ever inviting a war and, should he choose to make war against me in any case, I will throw down or turn any of his forces sent to oppress those who have joined me."
Utherix extends a single hand to the Toa. "If you consider yourself a foe of his, aid me. You will find few willing to contest his forces directly. I offer you a way to strike back against him."
Last Edit: Aug 25, 2016 22:51:18 GMT -6 by Deleted
"Inharax? He's me." Argai plants his hands on the desk. "He used to be me, at least. Toa Argai. Then he -- I -- was killed in an accident, and Inharax was created in the aftermath. I don't know how that allows me to stand before you. He's murdered or horribly mutilated millions of Matoran, stabbed even his own brothers in the back when he was done deceiving them, begged for mercy and then turned around to attack his foes again... Makuta Inharax is nothing but deceit, treachery, and slaughter. Everything in his wake is left burned, mutated, or subservient to him."
A cold look was adopted in the Toa's eyes, and his eyes narrowed. "Anything he has said to you about peace is false. He must fall."
The Av-Makuta sighed. Were he an organic in that moment, he surely would have looked old. "I am well aware that no word he has spoken can be trusted. He is a being of Shadow, one of my brothers who was never able to purge his soul of the evil within. I also have no wish to lead my people in a bloody war against a tyrant, one that would be long, difficult, and very possibly turn out badly." He paused, letting his words sink in. "There is another solution."
"What my brother and I have done here is create a place of shelter. The weary and the weak have a refuge, a strong one. Enemies still knock at our gates, as will they always, but we lose little and become stronger with every assault. My people are learning to defend themselves, creating more potent weaponry, building better defenses. Already we could cause the Brotherhood almost unimaginable harm should they choose to attack us, and we are a very young force in this world. Imagine, then, what we might do in another decade?"
"My cause is simple. I will aid those he is oppressing without ever lifting arms against him. I will heal both sides of any war he begins, grind his every operation within my sector into a stalemate, serve as a place where all his enemies might recover and grow stronger. I will cripple him without ever inviting a war and, should he choose to make war against me in any case, I will throw down or turn any of his forces sent to oppress those who have joined me."
Utherix extends a single hand to the Toa. "If you consider yourself a foe of his, aid me. You will find few willing to contest his forces directly. I offer you a way to strike back against him."
Argai is slightly upset that his plans to destroy Inharax had been deflected, but there was no reluctance in taking the Av-Makuta's hand. This was an advantage, and no small one. "Thank you."
"Inharax? He's me." Argai plants his hands on the desk. "He used to be me, at least. Toa Argai. Then he -- I -- was killed in an accident, and Inharax was created in the aftermath. I don't know how that allows me to stand before you. He's murdered or horribly mutilated millions of Matoran, stabbed even his own brothers in the back when he was done deceiving them, begged for mercy and then turned around to attack his foes again... Makuta Inharax is nothing but deceit, treachery, and slaughter. Everything in his wake is left burned, mutated, or subservient to him."
A cold look was adopted in the Toa's eyes, and his eyes narrowed. "Anything he has said to you about peace is false. He must fall."
The Av-Makuta sighed. Were he an organic in that moment, he surely would have looked old. "I am well aware that no word he has spoken can be trusted. He is a being of Shadow, one of my brothers who was never able to purge his soul of the evil within. I also have no wish to lead my people in a bloody war against a tyrant, one that would be long, difficult, and very possibly turn out badly." He paused, letting his words sink in. "There is another solution."
"What my brother and I have done here is create a place of shelter. The weary and the weak have a refuge, a strong one. Enemies still knock at our gates, as will they always, but we lose little and become stronger with every assault. My people are learning to defend themselves, creating more potent weaponry, building better defenses. Already we could cause the Brotherhood almost unimaginable harm should they choose to attack us, and we are a very young force in this world. Imagine, then, what we might do in another decade?"
"My cause is simple. I will aid those he is oppressing without ever lifting arms against him. I will heal both sides of any war he begins, grind his every operation within my sector into a stalemate, serve as a place where all his enemies might recover and grow stronger. I will cripple him without ever inviting a war and, should he choose to make war against me in any case, I will throw down or turn any of his forces sent to oppress those who have joined me."
Utherix extends a single hand to the Toa. "If you consider yourself a foe of his, aid me. You will find few willing to contest his forces directly. I offer you a way to strike back against him."
Argai is slightly upset that his plans to destroy Inharax had been deflected, but there was no reluctance in taking the Av-Makuta's hand. This was an advantage, and no small one. "Thank you."