Chapter Text
Varian sat up, stretching her arms tiredly and yawning. She blinked her eyes a few times, trying to get her vision to wake up with her.
Reaching out with her Elemental Powers, Varian noticed that both Calder and Septimus were absent from their temporary home. She got up and headed out the door. Stepping outside revealed a Ba-Matoran guard.
“Toa Varian,” he said. “There's been another death.” Varian nodded somberly.
“Lead the way,” she said.
***
Calder stared at the hanging body, Septimus and Tangelo standing beside her.
“De-Matoran,” she began. “Male. Fresher than the last one. One hour. Hour and a half, tops.” A brown Skakdi guard walked in, munching on some form of food.
“Maybe it was Irnakk,” he said. Everyone turned to stare at him.
“Irnakk?” Septimus asked. The guard nodded. “That's just what they tell you, mate. 'E ain't real.” The guard shrugged.
“That's what they all say,” he said. A Ba-Matoran walked in with Varian.
“Turaga Tangelo,” the Matoran said. “I have been informed by the Captain of the guard that the guards from the other villages were found dead by travellers last night.” Tangelo sighed.
“Thank you,” he said somberly. “Why don't you take the rest of today off.” The Matoran bowed his head in respect, and left.
“How well did you examine the body yesterday?” Varian asked.
“That's what I had intended to do today,” Calder answered. “But today, I'll take care of this one.”
“I'll let you work,” said Tangelo, gesturing for the Skakdi guard to follow.
“I still say it was Irnakk,” the Skakdi said as he walked out. Calder conducted a cursory inspection of the deceased De-Matoran.
“No wounds,” she said. “No signs he struggled. Either he was willing or it was some form of mind control.
“Could it have been that Hypnovian you saw, Septimus?” Varian asked. Septimus shrugged.
“I doubt it. 'E seemed friendly enough, an’ 'e didn't seem nervous,” Septimus replied. Calder climbed atop the bed the body was hanging over, and opened his mouth.
“I don't see any signs of something forced into his mouth, so we can probably rule out any edibles or liquids.” In her peripheral vision, Calder saw Varian grab the Matoran’s discarded mask, a Great Huna, off the ground.
“Uh, Calder?” she said. Calder raised an eyebrow behind her mask. “You may wanna see this,” Varian added. Calder stepped off the bed and walked over. Varian turned the inside of the mask toward Calder. There were words carved on it. Calder read the text out loud.
“The future of the Toa is written in death, and I am the salvation.”
***
The odd trio walked briskly toward the village center to inform Tangelo of what had happened.
Calder's single-minded determination had her staring straight ahead. Septimus looked around for the killer. Varian was trying to touch as many minds as she could, hoping to spot someone seemingly unhinged. She was having no luck so far.
They reached the steps of the village, and the Imbiber guard walked out, brandishing a pike.
“Turaga Tangelo is dead,” he announced. The two Toa and the Skakdi ran in. Varian let out a gasp.
The killer had not bothered with a clean kill this time. Tangelo was sprawled on the meeting table. There were multiple wounds to his gut and his mask was partially melted.
“Varian,” Calder said. “Where is he?” Varian nodded, and called upon her elemental energy.
She touched a number of minds, all pristine as though nothing was happening. Then she brushed against one a bit different. This one was troubled. She didn't push too far into her mind, in case she was discovered, but she could vaguely detect a constant inner dialogue. It was the only one that was abnormal.
“Let’s go,” Varian said. They ran back out, spotting the murderer’s black cloak on the path with ease. However, she caught on, and began running as well.
Septimus shot eye beams at the her, but she rolled to the left and went down an alleyway.
Varian took point, getting her Rhotuka shield out to line up a shot. She fired off her sleep Rhotuka, but the criminal turned and somehow absorbed it. Varian noticed that she appeared to be a Vortixx.
The Vortixx turned off the alley, and Calder made it past Varian. She grabbed her chain and hook, throwing it toward the her. She tried another roll to the left, but the hook caught her ankle. Before she could get it off, Calder sent ice down it, freezing it onto her ankle. Septimus grabbed his hammer, using its Gravity powers to hold her in place.
“I see you finally caught up,” she said. Calder kicked her.
“Who are you, and why did you kill them?”
“The Great Beings cannot be silenced. This vessel can be broken, but new ones can be found!” Septimus turned to the two Toa.
“I think she's lost 'er Kanoka,” he said.
“How very small-minded you are,” she replied. Septimus yawned, and smashed her head with his hammer. Varian turned to him, but Septimus spoke first.
“I know you Toa don't kill, so I did it for you. She was roight-crazy anyway.” Calder simply shrugged.
“Varian, we should notify the Imbiber and be on our way,” she said.
“You two prob’ly 'ave a long trip ahead of you,” Septimus said. “Go ahead and move along, and I'll let 'im know.” Calder held out her hand, and Septimus took it.
“Thanks for the help,” she said.
“Of course, mah’m,” he replied. Varian said nothing, still a bit upset over yet another death. Calder placed her hand on her shoulder, guiding her back to the path home. Septimus went his way.