Entry Eight

After all that, we had failed. Makuta Icarax had escaped with the Staff of Artakha and all we had to show for it was a flooded and destroyed realm of Karzahni.

Tahu insisted that we had to go on, regardless, and carry out the other tasks on the list. We decided to split up. Tahu and Kopaka traveled to an island chain far to the south of the universe to quell a series of active volcanoes. Pohatu and Onua journeyed south as well, seeking out an artifact known as the “heart of the Visorak.” I was assigned to return to the surface of the island of Mata Nui, while Lewa … Lewa simply vanished. I assumed Tahu had given him orders in secret, and only later found out that was not the case.

Mata Nui was much changed from when I had seen it last. The Bohrok had done their work well, scouring it of all trees, rocks, rivers and streams. Their job had not been an easy one, as evidenced by the number of shattered Bohrok scattered about and the badly wounded Rahi dragon that lay in their midst. The beast had evidently interfered with their mission and paid the price for it.

I did what I could to ease its suffering then began my task. Very few geologic features remained on Mata Nui, but to my surprise, the cliffside and its telescope remained (just as the parchment had assured that they would). As instructed, I focused the telescope on the red star far above. I made careful note of the location of the star in space, its angle to the planet, its brightness and whether it seemed to be moving away from the island, toward it, or remaining parallel to it.

Something — I don’t know what — suddenly prompted me to combine the power of my Mask of X-Ray Vision with the telescope’s ability. I focused on the red star… and stumbled back, shocked. For I had seen inside the star, and where I expected there to be a fiery heart of energy, I instead saw… I can hardly even carve the words on this stone…

There was something alive inside the star!