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Ignika [A Worm x Bionicle Crossover]

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I mean on the one hand it's more worm, and that shit is just over saturated at this point. On the other hand it's Bionical which is love. I feel so conflicted.
 
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Arc 1.2: Ignition
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    • Arc 1.2: Ignition    ​
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    Saturday night. For all my initial passion, I was rather numb as I checked my supplies. A can of pepperspray, some cash, and a few bandages if I got cut. The thing that bugged me was how everything felt...calm. Like a calm before the storm.

    You alright?

    "Yeah, just nervous." Or not.

    We can stop if you want.

    This is getting annoying.

    "I said I'm fine. Stop doting me, alright?" The mask backed up in a gesture of surrender. I sighed. "Sorry. Just…tense, is all."

    The mask nodded.

    I understand. But, you have me to watch your back.

    I slipped on my utility belt. It held my pepper spray, a few dollars, bandages, and a pen with notepad. My bracelet was still on my wrist, a hidden tool or weapon if I needed to use it. I slipped a sweatshirt over to hide my belt and tied my shoes. All in all, I didn't look like a hero-to be.

    "Dad, I'm going for a run." My dad looked up from the kitchen stove where I smelled bacon sizzling. It was late and he must've been making a breakfast dinner. Shame. I loved his eggs.

    "At this hour? Isn't that dangerous?"

    Of course it was.

    "I'll be back before you know it." I paused. "I have the spray with me."

    "Fine. Just be back soon."

    I nodded as the door closed behind me. I was passing the next block before five minutes had passed. As the buildings started rising, I ducked between the alleys and back roads to stay obscure. My body started changing, shifting to my 'costumed' self just as I reached the docks.

    "There's the Boardwalk. Ready?"

    Of course. Are you?

    "Let's find out." My boots echoed against the wooden planks. The Boardwalk was the biggest source of income since the shipping business died. With the ABB a dying memory, everybody was itching for an excuse to claim it. The problem was security. Besides the PRT headquarters, Arcadia High, and the Protectorate Building, the Boardwalk was the most secure place in Brockton Bay. It was like ambrosia. Everyone wanted it, but no one could have it. Which meant every villain wanted to project the image they owned it.

    "Dead silent." I murmured.

    Something's wrong. Where are the birds? We should have at least heard them by now.

    I agreed. Even with how late it was, I couldn't hear any of the seagulls chirping or shuffling in their sleep. Something made them run. I glanced and made my way over to the west end. I looked over the edge and saw a support beam with cuts on it. The fall barely strained my legs as I jumped down. Tracing the lines, I pulled a hard white chip out. It looked like bone, but dissolved before I could be certain. I looked along the shoreline. Footprints, tracks, and indents dotted the ground.

    "What the hell…" A howl interrupted my thoughts.

    Taylor…

    "I'm going there, and you promised to help." The mask sighed.

    Very well. Let's go find the dog stuck up a tree.

    The time to reach my goal barely registered once I got there. It was almost invisible against the night sky, but I made out a cloud of darkness clustered around a loose grouping of rocks in a semi-circle. The howls I heard earlier seemed muffled now, and I couldn't make anything out from the dark. Was it deprivation? Isolation? Or something else?

    "Ignika?" I asked.

    I can't sense much in there Taylor. It's hard, but I can make out eight things in there. Maybe four people and four...beasts, or Rahi, if I'd name them.

    "Can you make it so I see only their signatures?"

    The mask nodded and vanished. It took a moment, but my vision was suddenly a sharp view of black and white, while the eight figures inside were in clear gold outlines. I stepped inside and assessed the situation. The four people I made out were fighting the largest one, while the three smaller beasts kept trying to overpower him by numbers. From what I saw, one was close to the three beasts, giving commands and directions, while two more were moving towards the rocky shore, looking for cover. The last one was tall, broad shouldered, and covered in clothing top to bottom. I guessed from how he moved in the darkness unimpeded that he had made it, and wasn't affected. Darkness generation. That made the possibles Grue, Fog, or someone with similar powers. The others didn't seem as lucky, since he was directing two of them. I concentrated on the biggest threat: the creature handling the three other beasts. If one of the capes was limping, they'd probably been close enough to see it. That was my first step. Information. I headed for the two dragging along as they knelt between two rocks as the tall one covered them.

    "Hey!" My voice must've been muffled as they only gave a cursory glance until I bumped into them.

    "Watch it!" I didn't recognize either of them. The one I bumped wore an old fashioned frilled shirt like medieval nobles used to, and his mask was a stylized theater mask. The girl had long blonde hair with a black lavender scheme to her costume with an image of an eye in the center.

    "If you don't mind," she muttered, "I'd appreciate if you got off?" I looked down and saw her twisted ankle.

    "Sorry," I said.

    "So-" he said trudging through the darkness, "-who're you supposed to be?"

    I was caught by how casual he was, like he was asking about the weather.

    "I'm, um…" my mind went blank for a second.

    Ignika.

    "She's shy." The girl said grinning. The way she looked at me was unsettling, like she knew me. I shook my head to break the pause.

    "I'm Ignika."

    "Ignika. Points for a creative name."

    I tried shifting to the two capes.

    "So, who're you guys?"

    "He's Regent. Call me Tattletale, sweety." Again, that grin. I didn't know whether I was unsettled or invited.

    "There were others. I only caught glimpses. Who's in there?" We felt the sand shift as the darkness finally dissipated. Then I noticed the cloud wasn't behind me, but was receding from me. I looked back as an entry from PHO resurfaced from memory, how capes who changed states or created projections reverted back when incapacitated. Which meant that the cape making our cover, who I now identified as Grue, was out. That was when something feral, coated with knives, emerged from the cloud.

    "Hookwolf."

    I looked at the area. The rocks had been placed in a wedge, with the point facing the sea. Three mutant beasts faced him, cornered him. But Hookwolf was unharmed, even laughing. The beasts, by contrast, had chipped shoulders, puncture wounds, and were panting. The girl directing them was communicating with words and whistles. She had thick thighs, a heavy set body, and was overall unattractive.

    "Kill! Kill!"

    One of the beasts rushed forward, fangs bared and claws ready. Two needles shot through its skull and exploded into a ball of spikes jutting out of its brains. The beast collapsed as the points retracted and I watched the girl scream.

    "She's Bitch." I looked at Tattletale's pained expression. "Man. This was supposed to be easy."

    "What, capturing Hookwolf?"

    "More like corralling until the heroes showed up. Guess that's outta the picture."

    They're villains? And they think I'm a villain? I looked over the group. They were just teenagers, the same age as I was. And they were going to die if I didn't do something. Or at least try.

    "Damn, bastard got creative." I looked at Tattletale, her eyes focused on Hookwolf.

    No. I thought. Under Hookwolf. Now that I knew where to look, it seemed obvious. Hookwolf's stomach was hugging the ground, while his back and front were facing the beasts. He was directing his blades beneath the sand.

    "Rachel's gonna be pissed if he keeps beating her dogs like that."

    I looked at Regent.

    "Those are dogs!?"

    One of the 'dogs' jumped on Hookwolf's arm and bit down before getting a mouthful of needles as a present. He hopped off before another lance could cut him sideways.

    They won't survive like this.

    Grue had a punctured knee, Bitch was too focused on Hookwolf, and the only person who seemed able to help was Regent.

    "Regent." He looked at me. "I need your help."

    "And why would I help you?" I glared at him.

    "Unless you want your teammates to be Hookwolf's newest victims, then I need your help."

    "Ugh. Fine." He tossed his scepter like a ball, unphased at the whole situation. I really was starting to dislike him.

    "Can your powers do anything to distract him, keep him confused?"

    He actually gave me a flat stare. So he does have more emotions than apathy.

    "I'm not exactly open about my,"

    "Yes. If that's what you need to know, then yes."

    It was Tattletale who'd spoken. Regent just clicked his tongue, annoyed.

    "Not cool Tee tee, not cool." I set Tattletale against one of the boardwalk's beams.

    "Thank you." She smiled at me.

    "Hey, if you wanna thank me, get us out of here in one piece."

    I didn't answer. I wasn't sure if I could stop Hookwolf. But I was going to try.

    Regent looked at me.

    "So, what's the grand plan girly?"

    "I handle Hookwolf and you handle what I can't."

    "That's your plan?" He scoffed.

    "I'm improvising. Now come on."

    Ignika. I focused on my consciousness as we headed towards Hookwolf.

    Taylor. What is it?

    We know I can control metal. Can we extend that? Maybe, let me detect metal too?

    Ignika frowned. I think so. But it will only work about twenty feet. If you're thinking of fighting Hookwolf, you're insane. You won't be able to hit him.

    I cursed under my breath. I looked at the arranged stones, and an idea sprung.

    What if I didn't have to hit him?

    Ignika's expression changed as he caught on.

    That, might work. I smiled beneath my mask.

    "Get Grue out of here and distract Hookwolf. Hit him with your power if you have to."

    Regent shook his head.

    "Won't do much except give him a headache."

    "Don't care. If it works, do it." We broke off and I headed for the fight. Hadn't Hookwolf fought one of the Toa before? I remembered it being a big event when one of them stood trial. Glory Girl actually apologized to him during the session. Still stuck with me.

    Taylor, I think I have it.

    Tell me, details and all.

    You'll be able to sense any metal around you in twenty feet. But I can't regulate the sensation. So it'll feel like a bullet if you get hit. Anything else will feel like a weak headache, and get stronger the closer you get.

    So you turned me into a magnet?

    It's the best I could do on short notice, now-Duck!

    I dove beneath the metal scythe that swung over my head. In the next second I could feel the metal around me interacting. I felt a constant tug coming from my bracelet, and it grew every time I focused on it. Hookwolf's spears darted under the sand like snakes on a desert, directing their angle towards me. Two came from my left and a third was coming from behind. I dove out and right as the spears pierced empty air. I kept running, adrenaline flowing through my blood.

    I sensed the next attack coming when it slowed and missed by two feet. Regent's power no doubt. I'd thank him if I got a chance. I noticed the next wave when the spears changed direction. They were headed toward Bitch. I dug my feet and yanked my arm back like pulling a rope and watched the spears jerk left and miss. The spears retracted as I headed for Bitch--Hellhound, as the public news called her, now that I remembered her.

    "Hey!" I could feel the anger rolling off her. "I need you to keep Hookwolf off me, alright?"

    "I don't give a fuck!"

    Well, she lives up to her namesake.

    "Look I'm trying to-Get down!" We fell as three more spears struck our location before retracting. "Fine. If you won't help, at least get your team out. I'll distract Hookwolf."

    "I don't take orders from you!"

    "Go!" I didn't wait for an answer and headed towards the wedge of rocks with Hookwolf at the center. The spears were faster, and every attack came sooner than before, with Regent's attacks only helping in bursts. The next step put me in range of Hookwolf and the pull I felt from him was dizzying. It was only weaker against the pull from my bracelet.

    "Another of you? I'm surprised. You Toa don't seem the type to help villains."

    I didn't slow my run. If anything, I ran faster, trying to outrun the spears.

    Seventeen feet.

    Hookwolf rose from the ground, a pair of lances extending from his shoulders.

    Twelve feet.

    I dove under the lances, and began morphing my bracelet as I neared my target.

    Eight feet.

    A massive creature bull-rushed Hookwolf and knocked him aside. As I hopped over, I noticed Hellhound riding on top.

    Two feet.

    My bracelet was now a thin dagger mounted on my wrist. I sliced the rock over Hookwolf at an angle, the cuts barely noticed. An instant passed as gravity and slope shifted the rocks down towards us.

    "Run!"

    We sprinted as the falling rocks came down on Hookwolf's head. It kicked up sand and dust all over us as we came to a tentative stop where the others had gathered. I looked up at Bitch, her face set in a scowl.

    "Um…thanks." She looked at me like I'd just slapped her and growled before looking off.

    "Fuck off."

    Yep. Definitely lives up to her namesake.

    Shut up Ignika.

    I looked at the others gathered around. Tattletale had a bandage pressed to Grue's knee, and Regent was tossing his scepter.

    "So, you are, um…."

    "Sorry, but that's on a friend-to-friend basis. You're an acquaintance. Sorry."

    "You did well, back there." Grue hissed between breathes.

    "So, is he dead?" Regent asked looking at the pile of sand and stone.

    "Don't know, but I wouldn't bet on it." Tattletale replied.

    I looked back at the rubble. Had I really just killed someone? I hadn't meant it, right? It just, wound up that way. I moved back toward the rubble, silent.

    "I wouldn't…."

    Rock and stone flew from the pile, knives and blades carving like a whirlwind of silver. Before I could move, four knives skewered my right arm and shoulder. I couldn't fight back. I screamed as pain overrode my senses. Ignika was right; the spears felt like bullets that dug every second they were in my flesh.

    "I must say, that was a clever trick girl." He made the knives twist further. "But I'll pass you some advice before you die. Never underestimate your enemies." He raised his arm into a lance, aimed at my forehead. I shut my eyes as I awaited the deathblow.

    Taylor!

    Who'd think that on my first night as a cape, I'd die with a mask as the only one to call my friend? I waited for the kill. And waited. And waited. I opened my eyes. The night sky shone above me, and I realized I was free.

    "You alright?" Tattletale said as she helped me up.

    "I… what, happened?"

    "I can give two guesses. One, Leviathan suddenly decided to try the hero gig, in which case we're fucked, or-"

    Hookwolf rose to his feet, when a tower of water rose from the ocean and pulverized him into the sand.

    "-we've got the attention of a Toa, and are marginally less fucked." I looked at Tattletale's expression. Was it fear, concern, or excitement? "Come on, let's get out of here before anyone else shows up."

    She lifted me by my good arm and started moving towards the group.

    "Like who?"

    "I'd rather not find out. Now let's--oh no, incoming!"

    I only had time to realize a wave was approaching before it swallowed us all and knocked me across the beach. I fought to keep conscious against the pain in my arm and chest. When the tide finally pulled away, I coughed up at least a pint of salt water. Probably bled a good amount too. I looked around. Regent and Bitch were near the shoreline, while Tattletale and Grue were closer to the Boardwalk. I felt something press against my head.

    "Hands up."

    I tried, but stopped when my right arm reminded me it was punctured in several spaces.

    "I said hands up."

    "C-can't. Right arm, hurts too much."

    I heard a pair of boots crunch under sand as someone approached. The pressure against my head vanished as something replaced it. From what I sensed, it was wider and longer than the last. The sound of metal clinked as a pressure wound around my hands. Cuffs?

    "Turn around. Slowly."

    Taylor.

    I nearly jumped at Ignika's voice.

    Do as they say.

    What? Are you crazy?

    If you try to run you'll only hurt your chances of explaining yourself later. Please, trust me. Do as they say.

    I let out a deep breath, and turned to face a gun barrel held by one of my heroes.

    "....Miss Militia."
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    A/N: I apologize to everyone for taking so long to get this update on here. I can't change how long this took. But I will endeavor to bring content sooner. Enjoy, and a Happy New Year!
     
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    • I wonder if this goes badly the Hero's may alienate the Toa, their a pretty loyal bunch on the whole.

    Though it would take clutching the idiot ball like it's your firstborn for it to go that badly.
     
    The Imperator said:
    Right, but it wasn't about design choices, it was about canonicity, which as one of the guys that could use the story bible, he is eligible to make a call on
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    I think he still avoided it, but he stated it some of them didn't fit too much. The only ones he mentioned was the Legend Reborn designs which looked way too robotic.
     
    Arc 1.3: Ignition
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    • Arc 1.3: Ignition​
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    I wondered about the phrase "Never meet your heroes." With capes, maybe it was better not to take that only as metaphor. Miss Militia glanced over my shoulder and looked at the others.

    "Are they with you?"

    I shook my head. Her eyes narrowed marginally.

    "Forgive me, but I find it hard to believe someone would go fight a monster like Hookwolf and win solo. More likely to bring a team along."

    "I believe she was merely trying to help them, Miss Militia."

    We both looked to the ocean. A gorgeous figure in blue armor stepped forth, with yellow eyes and braids from behind a mask. She stood at seven feet, a good match to Narwhal. From the way she moved through the water, it seemed less she was moving than the water was moving around her. Was she a hydrokinetic?

    "Gali. I thought you were at the Graveyard."

    "I was, but I sensed something further down the shore. Apparently I was being drawn here."

    I felt small as the hero approached me. She towered over us, and if her attack on Hookwolf demonstrated anything, her power was terrifying to face.

    "Well, whatever it was, you came at the right time." Miss Militia turned me around and pushed me up to the sidewalk. "I've got several villains that need to be arrested, including a few unknowns and Hookwolf. I'd suggest you keep your distance from the biker and the heavy girl. They're known villains, and one is a murderer."

    Gali didn't sound too concerned.

    "If they are anything like Hookwolf, then I doubt they will cause too much trouble. Although, aren't they rather young, to be fighting a creature like him? If anything, I think she-" she motioned to me, "-was just trying to help them survive."

    "Much as I'm inclined to agree, that doesn't change the fact they're villains."

    "I'm not a villain." I muttered. Miss Militia paused.

    "Then why don't you at least tell me your name so I might apologize for my mistake?" She loosened her grip.

    "Ignika. My name's Ignika." I said.

    "Well then Ignika, I'd suggest you cooperate. With luck, if you're telling the truth, then you'll be out before the end of-"

    "Militia wait!"

    Miss Militia stopped and looked back at Gali. I chanced a look as well. She seemed concerned, even worried. "Miss Militia. I know I may sound mad, but I must ask you: please let Ignika go, and please don't tell anyone about her."

    My face must have mimicked Miss Militia's under my mask.

    "Gali, are you insane?"

    "Please, I beg you, just let her go. If it pleases you, I will see to her myself."

    "Gali, you know I trust you, but this is beyond what I can swallow."

    "Miss Militia, I can vouch for her, Ignika would not be with villains unless she stumbled on them by accident. Please, let her go."

    "Gali, I'm sorry, but I can't-"

    Something grabbed my stomach, like a hand squeezed every acid up my throat and forced it out.

    "No Regent! Stop!"

    I faintly heard Tattletale's voice as a dog howled and bounded away from us. I could feel bile rising through my throat as I made the mask open to let my mouth empty its contents. It lasted for only a minute, but from the amount it could've been an hour. I looked over to Miss Militia, who seemed to have suffered as well. Gali wasn't as lucky. She was gasping and seizing on the ground. My eyes grew wide as I realized what was happening. She was dying.

    "Nonononono! No!" Without thinking I tore off the cuffs and sprinted down towards Gali, pain in my arm be damned. I was at her side in moments.

    "S-Sister. Run."

    Like hell I am.

    I started to check her vitals when a shot rang out across the shore. I looked up. Miss Militia was holding a Desert Eagle in her hand. It shifted to an assault rifle as she aimed for me and began to approach Gali and I.

    "Step away from her. Now."

    I swallowed my fear as best I could.

    "I can't. I have to save her."

    "That's not your call to make." She began pulling a phone from her pocket.

    "Even if the Protectorate get here in the next five minutes they can't help her. And if we waste any more time she'll die." I looked Miss Militia in the eye. "Please, just let me do this, and I'll come with you quietly." I didn't look away even as the barrel pointed at my skull. She broke the gaze first.

    "Fine. But if you try anything I don't think is helping, I'll take you down. Understood?" I nodded. "Then keep your end, and save her."

    I looked back to Gali. It was bad. Her breath was ragged, her muscles were seizing, and I couldn't find any openings for her costume, despite how form fitting it was.

    Damn it what do I do? I know what I said, but I don't know how to treat her, let alone how to get her costume open.

    Taylor.

    What!?

    I don't think she's like you, or Miss Militia.

    I paused. What?

    I can sense muscles, nerves and organs, but they're connected, merged with…machinery, engines, and things I can't comprehend. Whatever she is, she's     not human.

    I froze. If she wasn't human, then what could I hope to do? I didn't know the first thing about treating, whatever she was. I panicked.

    Taylor.

    I was losing perspective. I was going to die, and it was because I couldn't save an alien's life. Hell, a life I hadn't even thought was an alien. What would dad think of me? What would mom think of me?

    Taylor!

    I jumped.

    Stop. Deep breath, and remember where you are now. Good, that's it. Now, this is not beyond saving.

    How?

    Ahem.

    You?

    It's worth a shot. Remember how we fixed the TV and the basement forge?

    But those were just machines! This, she's, I've never done this on a live person!

    Taylor, breathe. You're not doing this alone. We can do this. Together.

    I nodded. "Okay, okay." I looked back at Gali, and noticed a faint light coming from her chest.

    That light, do you think it's some way to open her costume?

    Maybe. I wonder what happens if-whoa!

    I passed my hand over the light and Gali's body went stiff. Gears and wheels ticked away as movements began to slow down, until only the light in her chest remained. Steam flushed out from hidden vents along her body, when her armor seemed to split into the petals of a metal flower with a gorgeous blue bud.

    "Wow." I mouthed.

    Miss Militia was stunned. "My God."

    A network of tubes, muscles, wires, and nerves ran across Gali's chest. A pair of lungs grew and shrank with each breath, as mechanical microbes scrambled to clean the organs and allow the best connection between muscle and machinery. Wires carried electrical signals towards the center of the chest. At the heart, a crystalline structure flickered and blinked in weak pulses. I placed my hand onto the machine, and lifted the shard to my level.

    "This," I could barely hold my breath. "This is-"

    Incredible.

    "Yeah." I looked at the crystal. A long crack ran down the middle of the shard, a faint vapor seeping out.

    Taylor, I think we can fix this.

    "How?" I asked.

    It's faint, but I can detect a cluster of neural activity from the crystal. In a word, it's alive.

    I looked at the crystal.

    So we can fix it?

    If I'm right, we can make it like it was never broken.

    Then let's get started.

    I put the crystal back in it's resting place, and let the mask's power pour out through my body. I felt the entirety of life around me: the microscopic insects in the sand, the crustaceans skittering along the beach line, the fish darting in the sea beyond. And Gali. I felt her inside the crystal. I saw a world beyond imagination unfold before me. Waters of bright azure reflected the sun's rays on its surface as I rushed through the waves, my 'body' flying across the water as mechanical fish surged out and took to the sky, gliding on webbed wing-like appendages, followed by creatures monumental and minuscule in size racing through the current as well, all headed for a remote island in the distance. The small body of land zoomed towards me and became a city of tribal huts mixed with technology closer to smart phones than stones and clubs, crabs the size of large dogs moving supply boxes and people the size of children bustling around me, all of them strikingly similar to Gali. But the domed monument in the distance, surrounded by six spires, was my interest. Even as the stones were covered in vines and moss, it didn't detract from its presence; instead they amplified it, like a high-arching church that had stood for thousands of years, and even as time marched on, it stood strong. Yet even as I looked at it, I felt like I knew this place. It gave me the same comfort when mom was alive, when our house was filled with this light that touched all of us, like the rays of a sun that warmed our hearts and shined light in our souls.

    "m-Mom." I couldn't help it. I cried.

    Taylor, you should stop. You're using up too much energy.

    "It's beautiful." The feeling, the warmth, I could almost lift up like I was on a cloud.

    Taylor, you need to stop now!

    Just one more step, and I'll be home…

    Taylor!

    I took a deep breath, and poured the last of my will into the organisms breaking down and filling up the crack. I saw a stone as calm and calamitous as an ocean, fluid like water. A stone without cracks, and whole, like before. A brilliant light shined from Gali's chest. I passed out as the light faded. The last thing I heard was Miss Militia's boots against the sand.
     
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