The Council

Quiet!
Okay, we have been bickering since the early morning
And haven't gotten anywhere!

Calm, Orde

Sorry, Turaga
Raanu, as you were

Thank you, Orde, Takanuva, and fellow councilors
When Mata Nui asked for our help
I spoke on behalf of the United Tribes of Bara Magna
I do that now, when I reiterate that we need to mobilize

It's clear, despite Takanuva's wards
And locking down the city
The disappearances have continued
Warriors and citizens have vanished without a trace
And every moment we delay more could disappear
Our people need us, but first, my people need me
I am all for caution, but if this body is not capable of action
We will be forced to act on our own
The Matoran watch games
While the Agori already march in protest
Neither can fend for themselves
So I say, we gather all the Matoran
And protesting Agori into the Coliseum
Let them have their play in safety
While a venerable army of Glatorian sweeps the city
Block by block, until our people are found

You know what setting that in motion would do, Raanu

He knows

Yes, Dume, I know
And you don't need to read my mind, Orde
But what other option is there?
Even the Toa teams you've sent out have vanished!
First it was the Toa Nuva, then the Toa Mahri
Matoran individuals, Agori, Glatorian
Even Turaga alike have disappeared
And all we have are rumors to go on

And what are they saying in the city?

The rumors are varied
People have disappeared from locations across the city
Seemingly at random
Some say that the Dark Hunters have reconstituted
And that the disappearances are their doing
Others claim that spies from the Barrakian Quadrate
Have infiltrated the city in order to destabilize it

Oh I don't like the sound of that
It reminds me too much of the Core War

And yet, there have been no demands from outside forces
No one has taken responsibility for
The disappearances themselves either
It is the same way the War of the Great Beings began

No- No you're not suggesting that-

No, that's not possible
The Great Beings are well and truly gone

But the situation hasn't changed
We played into Velika's hand when the Toa were spread thin
We don't have enough warriors to protect everyone
And we shouldn't send out any more
Search parties without knowing more
Whether we're dealing with one foe or many
We need more information, especially if they have hostages

And that is why we must let the Glatorian protect us!

Then why not reinstate the Vahki to keep order?

That didn't go so well last time, as I understand

I think they worked fine, until Makuta stuffed me in stasis

Have we done a sweep of the Old City recently?
The lowlifes always congregate there

It might be a conspiracy
I could begin interrogations

Hold that thought
What did you say, Kopeke?

They're here?

Welcome, my guests!
As you can see, you've caught us at a bad time

It's quite alright

I recognize you, what was your name again?
Treyla the Trouble-Maker?

I'm actually a Chronicler now, thank you very much

And who is this?
A Shadow Matoran, I thought you lot left?

We've come to help
Please let us explain

Takanuva, what are you planning?
And, who is this warrior between them?
I cannot read his mind

My name is Marendar

See your friend's bravery?
What you sorely lack?

Salvation?

The Toa-Killer

I've escorted these Matoran over the mountains of
Makuta's Spine at the behest of Elder Sister Eltas of Vulcanus
And to help in any way I can
This tablet details my mission

Let say we believed you
That you didn't just kill the envoy and take this missive
What's your proof?

We are

We can attest to his change of character

And I can attest to theirs
Is that proof enough, brothers and sisters?

Your friends speak up
Yet you only nod your head
Pathetic

Eh, Fine by me
Just get on with it

If you can help
You will have paid your debt for wrecking my city

Can you really detect any Toa Power?

I can

*Sigh*
Alright

Excellent
Treyla, was it?
Tell us the story

Yes, Turaga. To begin, this is Ide
They were found wandering in the Great Desert by Hafu
With no memory of who they are or how they got there
Marendar vowed he would escort them here
In case any of you knew anything about their past

I'm sorry to say I don't recognize you, Ide
But there might be a way for Orde here to unlock your mind?

Something like that requires a deep-dive
It's risky, for both parties involved
And it's something we can't afford to try right now

If Toa Helryx were here
Her mask of psychometry might've helped
I'm sorry

Another dead end. What were you expecting?
A name? A past? A tribe of your own?

Please continue, Treyla

Around the same time, Vican's Shadow Tribe
Had just settled into the caves in the mountains of
Makuta's Spine, and they started having visions

In them, we saw a corrupted shadow cast over the land
And people vanishing into it
At the brink, we saw a Matoran faced with a choice
Either stop the shadow at the cost of those lost
Or embrace it to save those people
And Makuta would arise from the shade
Gavla saw that this matoran would be found in the mountains
And not a week later
I came upon Ide in a snowstorm

So this Matoran is prophesied to either save us or doom us
Depending on the choice they make?

You are not ready to make that choice
If you choose wrong, they will all be doomed

This just undercuts the importance of remaining cautious

On the contrary
This is all the reason we need to raise our defenses!

Wait, there's more: Ide had a nightmare not too long ago
In it, they witnessed someone trying to cheat death
And there was a cold voice and talk of failure
I- I can't remember, Is that right, Ide?

Is that so?
Forgive me but this seems all too convenient
How do we know Ide isn't responsible for these disappearances?

It would be a convenient alibi

Your weakness on display

Can we verify this?

I-

What are you going to do?

I'm going to look into Ide's mind
If the nightmare was recent enough, I should be able to find it easily
Now, open your mind, Ide
There, That's it
I- I see... nothing, but
Someone's- someone's reaching out
Someone's trying to- to wake you... or-
Or you're trying to wake, someone
Go deeper, go-
Okay, I hear... I hear wind... and there's a great gate
There's words... there's a bargain, a bargain is struck
But who? Who? I can't-
I can't- I can't tell

If such is your dream, and you will pay the price
All must fall to endless slumber
I shall have my revenge upon this world
Mata Nui's legacy shall die!

And it will be all your fault

Ugh, Oof... My head

Look at the trouble you've caused

Your dreams have been dark ones. That's for certain
I don't know you, Ide, nor do I know how to reverse your amnesia
But if Destiny is still at work in the time after the Great Beings
Then this might be it
Your presence here is no coincidence, maybe even ordained by Mata Nui

Their god is dead

Our situation is more dire than expected

We need to mobilize, find who is responsible now!

Ide, only you can make this choice

Ide, choose to send another search party!

You cannot make this choice, Ide

Ide, you don't need to hide your thoughts

Ide, don't think rashly, but you must choose

It will doom them all

Ide, are you alright?

Let them make the choice

What are you standing there for, Ide?

Only you can save us, Ide

They are better off without you

Ide, what's wrong?

Ide, can you hear us?

Ide
Ide?
Ide?
Ide?
Ide?
Ide!

Run