Tala

"Ascend from the depths of the pain of memories..."

— Tala, Sanctus Epitaph

Tala Toa Angelus Matoran Toa Angelus Title Toa Angelus of Fire Mask Red Great Kanohi Hau, Mask of Shielding Tools Flame Buster (Formerly) Status Revived Location Red Star Pronunciation TAH-luh Matoran Class Ta-Matoran Occupation Street Fighter Mask Powerless Red Great Kanohi Hau, Mask of Shielding

Tala was the Toa Angelus of Fire on the Isle of Angelus Nui, and the last leader of the team.

Biography

As a Matoran on an unknown island, Tala was a punk street fighter. He would fight others like him on the island, and occasionally kill them on accident, ending up with four murders on his hands. He continued to flee from the law and survived by fighting. One day, he fought again, and a Toa watched him. When he won, the Toa stopped the loser from killing Tala with a knife. That Toa turned Tala's life around and sent him on his way.

Tala changed his lifestyle, becoming a better man, abandoning his fighting ways. One day he came across a Toa Stone and transformed into a Toa. He left his home island to do his new job as a Toa.

Sometime prior to the year 998 A.G.C., Toa Tala arrived on the Isle of Angelus Nui with Seles and Thete, during a heavy rain. Tala led them, and they soon met with the two Toa currently in control of the island's Toa team. The leader, Gaila, allowed them into the team, making Tala third-in-command. She began to train the lot of them, making them into a competent Toa team.

Sometime after this, Lewin brought Thete and Tala along with him during an attack by a Niveau Un of Water. Gaila and Seles were already at the scene when they arrived, with Gaila ordering Seles not to attack, that the Toa had caused no harm and was obviously in control, not the Corps Stone. She badmouthed the entire team for their foolishness, telling them to leave.

As Lewin tried to diffuse the situation, they were eventually forced to return when the Toa lost control and attacked Gaila. Gaila could handle herself though, and she was forced to kill the Niveau Deux, much to her own chagrin.

Sanctus Epitaph

During 998 A.G.C., a Matoran on the island began to rampage with the power of a Corps Stone, entering into Niveau Trois to wreak havoc. Tala pleaded to his leader, Toa Gaila, but she wouldn't listen to him, nor to either of the other two rookie members, nor to her deputy, Lewin. Gaila stuck stubbornly to her own forming plans, letting the island fall to pieces above them. Lewin used his powers of Air to kill Gaila, and thrust Tala into deputy position as he rushed to face the beast.

Outside, Lewin used the power of his Miru to float to face the beast. He released all of his Elemental Power with a floating Nova Blast, sacrificing himself and killing the beast in the process, thus pushing Tala into the leadership position, but sparing the island.

After the deaths of Lewin and Gaila, his mind snapped and he created Turaga Rekona as a coping mechanism.

Six months later, Tala pursued a Ko-Matoran through the streets of Angelus Nui. When the Matoran was blocked in by the Toa Angelus, he began to use his Corps Stone, despite being warned not to. Upon entering into Niveau Un, the three Toa did battle, quickly bringing this fake Toa down. Their foe still refused to listen, and thus used the powers to enter into Niveau Deux. The trio still managed to bring their opponent down again, and Tala used his sword to destroy the Corps Stone upon its' release from the Matoran's body. The three Toa returned to their Bunker Base, with Tala thinking about the past as they went.

Later, Tala decided to go through the market district. He found a scarf that looked like something he would wear and turned out to also be fireproof. He purchased it, despite the high price, and then spoke to Turaga Rekona of vanity and beauty. Tala then ran off to meet with the others, but returned to the bunker first to retrieve his sword before joining them.

Upon joining with Thete and Seles, they mocked him for his scarf. He ignored it, and soon a Ga-Matoran named Eiran approached, complimenting him on the scarf. After this, they all saw a Le-Matoran who looked to be off, and called him over. When he approached, he took Eiran by the throat and attempted to kill her. He said it was for his beauty, and said that Tala knew what he was talking about. Tala tried to talk him down, to stop him, but couldn't succeed.

Thete was forced to act, shooting "Beauty" in the head to kill him. After the Matoran's death, Tala went off on his own, about to throw the scarf into the Silver Sea. Turaga Rekona appeared once more and stopped him, telling him to keep the scarf as a symbol of what he now knoew about vanity and beauty. Tala decided to keep the scarf and departed.

Tala was later summoned alongside Thete to an issue involving a false Toa of Hunger. When they confronted him, Thete tried to fight him, but was felled by his foe's powers. Tala attempted to face him next, but his Fire powers were likewise unable to bring Oba down. In the end, Tala was felled as well, forcing Seles to win the fight.

A few days later, Tala was sent into battle against a Corps Toa of Crystal, utilizing a Kanohi Kakama, after this Toa had already felled Thete and Seles. Tala attempted to fight him off, but the Rahi-like second form his opponent took was too much when combined with his speed. Soon, a vehicle appeared, allowing Tala to match his foe's speed. By using his vehicle and his Hau, he was able to overcome the Crystal powers and physical attacks, cutting the fake Toa down to remove the Corps Stone.

Tala's Flame Cycle.

Soon Thete and Seles arrived after recovering from their wounds to discover the Flame Cycle was damaged in the battle. Tala apologized to Thete about the damage, forcing him to repair his new machine.

A few days later, Tala sat, enjoying the rain, looking out into it. He began to think about the day the Toa Angelus were formed, and soon, Eiran arrived, complaining about the rain. He scolded her, and she left him. Then, Turaga Rekona came and spoke with Tala about the rain. Tala recounted the story about how the Toa Angelus formed in the falling rain, and his strong attachment to the rain.

Eiran, having been told the same story inside, came outside, into the rain, ignoring Tala and Rekona. The rain began to burn her, and the Toa discovered that it was acid rain. They began to hunt for the source, splitting up to warn Matoran. Tala was the only Toa to remain inside the acid rain, believing the caster to be inside the radius of precipitation.

He soon found a Toa of Water who carried an Acid Spear. She attacked him, claiming he was an impostor, while he claimed she was. Her insanity labeled her as a Corps Stone user however, allowing him to fight her to incapacitation, rather than kill her.

After insulting the rain too many times, and insulting his memories, Tala eventually lost control, striking her down, destroying her spear, and killing her in spite of the Toa Code. He had warned her multiple times, but she didn't listen, and he believed she deserved her death.

Sometime later, Tala was present at Turaga Otoka's next sermon, listening but paying no attention, becoming distracted and wishing Turaga Rekona was the Turaga in charge of the island. She called him on his lack of attention, forcing him to pay more attention, or at least appear to. Almost immediately after, he was frozen by a Ta-Matoran using a Corps Stone and a Kanohi Toltac.

A few days later, Tala began a pursuit of another Ta-Matoran, whom he believed held a Corps Stone. It was revealed that the Matoran actually had a Duos Stone, and merged with a Ga-Matoran whom he "loved". Merging into a dimorphic Toa, the new warrior beat Tala down with their Kanohi Spen and Bli, alongside their innate elemental powers.

At some point, Tala lost his sword in the battle, and scurried into an alley to hide. His comrades missed him, and missed the battle, tricked out of it by the pair of Matoran. Rekona soon came to Tala's aid and the two spoke. He gave Tala what advice he could, and briefly spoke of love, the love that the two Matoran held. He departed, not wanting to get involved in the battle that was coming.

Tala managed to trick the enemy Toa with his scarf, and blindsided them, managing to bring them down with a quick attack from his Fire powers. He then retrieved his sword and, with a shield from his Hau protecting him, he lunged past a blinding attack, running his foes through with a lethal blow.

Back at the base, he spoke to his comrades and Eiran about the battle, and about the love that the Matoran felt. They wondered if it was a glitch in their artificial intelligence, or rather, the future.

A few nights later, Tala was sitting alone on the cold, dark night. Rekona appeared and began to converse with Tala. He told the Turaga how he hated nights like that one, and asked, when called Rekona's favorite Toa, if he ever called Gaila the same. Rekona replied that he never really knew Gaila nor Lewin that well, arriving on the island not long before they died. Tala began to think about the night when everything changed, telling Rekona about the start of their team's fall.

A few days later, Tala and Eiran were walking through town, with Eiran on her way to get a sculpture made. She invited Tala to watch, but he declined her invitation, claiming that he didn't think art was anything worthwhile. When they parted company, Rekona appeared before Tala and began to speak to him. When he questioned Tala about his scarf, and how that wasn't any different from art, Tala got defensive, but decided to go and watch.

When he returned, he started to watch Eiran's sculpture being made. The Po-Matoran carver quickly attacked, utilizing a Corps Stone and striking at both Tala and Eiran, attempting to kill her, as he had killed another before her. Tala defended himself, taking advantage of his foe's lack of knowledge about how to use his powers, and affected his clay with his heat, stopping Jeun's assault. He ended the fight by running Jeun through, much to his own chagrin.

Some time later, Thete got a report from Turaga Otoka about the possible presence of the Illuminati on the island. He reported this to his two comrades, and told them that they had to go and hunt down the potential assassin, while Otoka hid with the Seraphim protecting her.

Thete answered the other's questions about who the Illuminati were, and what had become of them in recent years. They set out, searching the streets for the member, looking for a specific ring.

Tala eventually found and engaged the Illuminati member. They spoke, with Tala calling him a hypocrite for using powers, able to spawn weapons from his body. The modified Matoran replied that he was weaponized and a living weapon, not imbued with powers, simply weaponry.

He continued to attack, getting ready to slit Tala's throat by spawning a replica of himself from his own weapon. Tala stalled for time, but couldn't for very long. The assailant was killed when Thete and Seles arrived. Seles used his powers over Energy to detonate the man's body, using the Illuminati member's own potential energy to kill him. The three Toa then left, not noticing a hand taking the ring from the remains of the corpse and putting it on, signifying a new membership.

Days later, a procession was coming through the streets, scaring some of the Matoran. The three Toa stopped it, finding a Ce-Matoran with three heavily armed Matoran guards. When they demanded to know who these four were, Tala was attacked by one and nearly killed before Otoka intervened.

She told them that they didn't need answers, and departed with the guests towards her tower. The three Toa set out, talking about this "Princess" Ishiza, and how they couldn't believe someone could be so pompous, so annoying, and so cruel to people, like she was. Along the way they met a fourth guard, whom they told where to go.

They then met yet another guard, one who was seriously wounded, as they continued on. They listened to his story about how they had just let an assassin through, and considered allowing the assassin to kill Ishiza. They also considered the possibility that she had a Corps Stone, making her act the way she was. They decided they had to try and save her, so Tala had Thete summon his Flame Cycle, and rode off.

He rode up and crashed through the window, tackling the Matoran down. Tala was almost killed by the Seraphim and the other guards, but was cleared when Otoka used her limited control over Psionics to read the prisoner's mind, learning he indeed was an assassin. He was dealt with, then Otoka and Ishiza both scolded Tala, with Otoka saying that was the reason she preferred the Seraphim over Toa.

Tala next spent some time in the following days taking his anger out as he practiced with his sword. Eventually Rekona appeared and talked to him about the events of Ishiza's visit, trying to calm Tala by talking to him. It helped Tala to an extent, but not completely.

Eiran came next, reporting that a friend of hers saw a mysterious man in the northern mountains. Tala set off on his Flame Cycle, arriving and questioning the cloaked man.

The man revealed his name to be Ucen, the "Blood Swordsman", and expressed his will to duel Gaila. Tala reported that she was dead, and he was the new leader of the team. Ucen decided to settle on Tala, and discarded his cloak. He attacked Tala, who put up a decent fight against him. Tala started to use his powers of Fire, forcing Ucen to use his Hau and claim that Tala was cheating, as the fight should be between their blades.

The two then continued their duel, with Tala attempting to use greater agility to outmaneuver Ucen. It worked to some extent, taking Ucen down. Tala told him to go, and that he had won, but Ucen replied that he hadn't won, since the Toa didn't kill him.

The next day, Tala sat in meditation, never having spoken to his team about the fight, nor about Ucen. He allowed Seles to go after Thete when a bullet pierced the bunker, and then went back to his thoughts. He admitted to himself that a proper Toa couldn't defeat Ucen.

That night, a tablet arrived for Tala, summoning him to the residence of Gaila's old mentor, a Fe-Matoran named Gyoku. He told the others that if he didn't return by the morning to find him. When he arrived at his destination, the two spoke, with Gyoku desiring to know about who Tala was as a man, compared to Gaila. He challenged Tala to a game of Uuk-Koi, which the Toa accepted, despite its' illegality.

Over the course of the game, Gyoku was able to overcome Tala, quickly gaining a three tile advantage. He told Tala that Gaila would have him matched tile-for-tile at this point, angering Tala. Tala eventually put up a better fight, but was overcome by Gyoku's strategies of slipping his mental focus around Tala's.

Gyoku ended up being the winner, despite their game ending before one of them took serious mental damage. He told Tala that there was something obvious on his mind, and ended up learning that Tala had a difficult rival who he was reluctant to kill. Tala said he couldn't, because of the Toa Code. Gyoku told him to do what he must, and that the game would help him to figure that out.

Tala came back the next morning to demand information from Gyoku. He threatened to get the Seraphim involved if Tala didn't leave, for breaking into his home. He demanded to know how to be a better leader, hoping to get information about Gaila.

Gyoku told him that it was up to Tala himself to figure out what he had to do about leadership. He could do nothing for him.

Tala went to the countryside on his way back to town, wondering about trying to find Rekona. He hoped to ask the Turaga for advice on the subject, then realized he didn't know where Rekona lived, nor where he could get that information. Rekona then appeared when Tala needed him, claiming to have a sixth-sense for his need.

Rekona could give him no advice, claiming he didn't have to as a Turaga, that he had shown himself worthy as a leader, but didn't need to give the knowledge out constantly to anyone asking.

The two spoke some more and Rekona started to tell Tala a bit about his past, how he was a Toa team leader, and how he never killed anyone. He told Tala that leadership wasn't needed to kill, but was authority to fight, in some situations. He told Tala that he was using leadership as a cloak to obscure himself from his duties, trying to hide behind what he believed he needed. Rekona left Tala to go to the unknown again.

Tala then went back to the north to face Ucen. Ucen mocked him with the Three Virtues, then he attacked. Tala and Ucen dueled, with Ucen starting to gain the advantage. He threw Tala aside, but Tala managed to use a tree to stabilize himself, as Ucen got ready for his next attack.

As their battle continued, Ucen started to gain the advantage, prompting Tala to fight back with more ferocity and hate. Ucen called him out on this, but Tala said he would do what he had to in order to win. Tala began using spins and the like in order to start to deflect Ucen's stronger blows, continuing to annoy the "Blood Swordsman".

Ucen eventually got Tala and stopped him, plunging his sword right in front of Tala's mask, demanding to know about the Toa, and why he was fighting the way he was. Tala told him that he was conflicted over leadership, an idea that Ucen had never had, having never worked with anyone else. Tala began to tell him his entire story, due to the hate in his eyes.

He told Ucen about how, as a Ta-Matoran, he was a punk fighter on his home island. He had killed others in street fights, and eventually stopped when he met a Toa. The Toa turned his life around and saved his life. Tala continued by telling Ucen he was always in denial over the killings he had perpetrated, trying to convince himself that he had never killed.

Ucen attacked again, allowing Tala to fight back. Tala used his Flame Buster, and then abandoned the Toa Tool in close quarters, using its' built-in dagger instead. The two continued to fight, and Ucen nearly won with his two-handed attacks. He leapt forward, about to cleave Tala in half.

Suddenly Seles and Thete, Tala's teammates, arrived. Seles stole all of Ucen's kinetic energy to stop his attack, and then released it, detonating the potential energy stored within Ucen's body. He aimed for Ucen's armor, but missed his mark and struck Ucen himself, resulting in a painful death, that greatly disturbed Seles for what he had done.

After leaving the site of Ucen's death, Tala returned to the bunker to rest. When the others hadn't returned from their patrol, he went out with his Flame Cycle to search, soon finding a female warrior and an organic lizard creature. He attacked the creature with his vehicle, causing major damage to it.

When Lyala explained who she was, he attacked her, but she evaded his blade and his Fire powers, using a kick to his throat to take him down. She attempted to use her Mirror of Souls on him, but he passed out before a vezon could manifest. All he could see was something that looked green emerging from the mirror. This would have been the first time he would have realized that Rekona wasn't real.

When Tala awoke, he found that his audio receptors weren't working properly. He could see Thete and Seles arguing, with Thete even more battered than before, and his weapon had sustained massive damage. He got the gist of it being that Lyala had attacked Thete and escaped, but that was about it.

Tala looked outside, believing his visual receptors weren't working properly either, since a building was there and gone. The others realized that indeed a building had just vanished, so the team went out to investigate.

Along the way, the others got separated from Tala and he was attacked from behind by a Corps Niveau Un of Elasticity, who was constricting him with his arm. Tala countered by superheating his armor, and then learned from his foe that this Toa was part of a team, much to Tala's disbelief. They also had stable unity, unlike the Toa Angelus at the moment, surprising Tala.

His foe entered into Niveau Deux and attacked, but Tala was able to defeat him with his Fire powers, destroying the Corps Stone and wondering about the unity within his own team.

A few days later, Eiran was visiting, talking to the various Toa and asking them about their Toa Tools and the like. Thete showed her his repaired firearm, while Seles was annoyed by her presence. Tala, in the meantime, started to pour his Fire powers into the Flame Cycle in an attempt to keep its' reserves stocked. Tala tried to convince Eiran to find friends other than the three of them, so she left.

The three Toa were soon confronted by the Corps Stone user named Ainer. He used his powers of Anger on the Toa, causing them to argue and fight with each other. When Eiran returned, the Toa squabbled with one another, and then threatened Eiran herself, but didn't want to kill her, since they didn't want to deal with the Seraphim.

Eventually Ainer returned and mocked Eiran. He said he would kill the Toa Angelus one-by-one, killing the first and having a brief fight with the last two. Before he could do anything however, Eiran rushed for the Flame Cycle, using the stored Fire powers to attack the four Toa, sending them flying.

Ainer's power was broken, allowing the Toa Angelus to fight back. They beat him around, forcing him to use his Niveau Deux form. Thete continued to fire on him while Tala used his Fire powers. The cycle of pain continued until Seles punched him to end it, shattering his Corps Stone.

After Ainer was defeated, Eiran told Tala that she would find more friends and that she wouldn't rely only on the Toa anymore.

A few days later, Tala was walking around in the rain, thinking back. When it started to storm, he thought about how perverse storms were, and felt something slightly off. He rushed to the base, but found nothing out of place, even finding it remained locked.

He tried to think, and then went to try to find Eiran's home. He wasn't quite sure where she lived, so he started to wander, eventually deciding to find Rekona, though he was likewise unable to find the Turaga, and he soon ran into his team, who had left in search of whatever caused the odd feeling in the storm.

They returned to the bunker and Thete started to build a machine to find the source of the feeling. Tala saw a Matoran standing in the middle of the storm for some reason, and went out to talk to him. The Ho-Matoran felt nothing wrong with the storm. Tala returned, keeping his eye on the Matoran of Electricity, who started to watch from the door.

Eventually Thete finished his device, and the Matoran acted. Seles stopped him with his powers, and Thete used his new device to read that he had something off about him. He immediately transformed into Niveau Un, and the others attacked him, forcing him to enter Niveau Deux fairly quickly.

When he retreated into the rain, Tala goaded him into attacking with his powers, which electrocuted him, allowing Tala to slash at the foe. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck him down, and two more Toa approached.

As the two new Toa drew near, it was revealed that they were a Toa of Water and Air. Tala was shocked to see this, instantly taking to mind that the elements were the same as his late teammates, leading to a breakdown as he began thinking of his former comrades.

Thete trained his weapon on the two Toa and told Seles to take care of Tala. Seles did his best to talk Tala out of his shock, to get him to stop blaming himself for something that wasn't his fault, but Tala wouldn't overcome his past, no matter what Seles tried.

Eventually the Toa of Air attacked with his dagger, plunging it into Thete's side from a distance with the aid of his powers. Seles told Tala to flee while he would stay and fight. He said he would take care of Thete, and told Tala that if the two Toa came after him, that he must have failed.

Tala fled and leaned against a building after escaping, hating the fact that the rain was being perverted like this, that these Toa were taking advantage of such a beautiful thing. He wondered if it was a psychological attack they were planning on him, but didn't think so.

When the Toa of Water found him, he rose to fight. Then the Toa of Air appeared thanks to his mask power. They combined their powers and attacked him. He couldn't summon his shield due to his own rattled state of mind, so he deflected the storm's lightning with his blade, grazing the Toa of Water's arm and offsetting the Toa of Air.

Tala then attacked the Toa of Air, who disarmed him. He used his dagger on the Toa, taking him down. He dug it into the Toa of Water's wounded arm to bring her down as well, and then threatened to finish them both off with death. They released their Corps Stones, which Tala burnt apart. He said they would be sent to prison and be watched, before he went back to his mantra, realizing that memories were powerful.

Later, Tala and Seles sparred in their base, when Tala got a lucky shot in after being slower than usual, taking Seles down. Yet Seles didn't rise, but was instead asleep. Then Tala too fell asleep. They later awoke when Thete defeated Feran, a Corps Stone-user of Sleep who was behind the incident.

Later, Tala passed by Otoka's movement through the streets, but when a Toa of Disintegration appeared, he intervened, throwing his shield up and getting between Otoka, the Toa, and the attack, protecting Otoka. A Seraphim told him not to interfere again, or to touch any of them. The other three tried to stop the Toa, but he escaped.

Tala questioned Otoka about what had just happened, since the Toa had claimed that she had murdered his friend. He had since dispatched Seles and Thete to search. After returning to Otoka's Tower, she told him a story about how a Ga-Matoran had worked for her and ended up being killed by a Nui-Jaga, which was defeated by Lewin and Gaila, before the Seraphim ever came. She explained that the Ga-Matoran was Ilyos's - the Toa of Disintegration's- friend.

Tala claimed that he didn't quite believe the story, but left anyway to help the others. The Toa regrouped and discussed a plan, after Thete and Seles reported that he had been using Ethanum and Ambrosil, making him too dangerous to fight directly.

They decided to ambush him and set up a trap, claiming that Otoka would be moving through an area. When he went there to get at her, the Toa had a machine set up to create smoke, while Tala would use heat to create a mirage and Seles would provide energy. The form of the Ga-Matoran looked better than it should have, but they didn't question it.

They took him down at that moment. Thete used his powers on the man, finding the Stone and forcing it to eject. They destroyed it and took Ilyos prisoner.

Later that same day, the Toa met, pondering their next move. Tala expressed interest in going after Otoka and getting her deposed. The others questioned his motives, and he even expressed that Ilyos's word wasn't enough, but they would find evidence somehow.

The other two decided to go with him, decided to break Ilyos out of prison and get him to help them. They decided that even though he seemed crazy and drug-addled that he was possibly right. As they attempted to leave, a Toa of Spirits came into their path at the door, stating herself as Rien, and searching for Gaila, desiring to join the team.

Tala spoke with her briefly, and thoughts came out if she was a Corps Stone user. While the Toa were initially ready to attack her, Seles was the only one after a few moments with any apprehension yet, and fought her, giving her the Flame Buster sword as her weapon.

The fight was quick and brutal, with Rien going down quickly, taking enough of a beating to release the Corps Stone if there was one. Rien wasn't deterred by this, and went with Tala to see Otoka.

Upon arrival, a Seraphim tried to turn them away, claiming he was the only one there, despite Rien sensing five auras. They entered, and Tala accused her. Rien continued to read into her with her powers of Spirits and her Rode, finding that she was lying about the incident in several places, and realized that she had indeed murdered Viyon, the Ga-Matoran.

The others arrived with Ilyos, and Tala went to the Seraphim, telling them not to stop him since he was doing justice. He took Otoka away to prison for her crime of murder, but she claimed she would return, and told the Seraphim to rule in her place.

After Otoka's fall, Rekona and Tala spoke about the subject. They pondered about the Seraphim, with Tala asking questions, but Rekona unable to answer any, since he knew just as little as Tala did about them. Tala said that Rekona should lead, but he said he wasn't the type, then suggested it to Tala, who hated the idea of leadership, and even hated to lead his own team.

They spoke about the people, and what they would think of Otoka's fall. Both of them had heard that some Matoran were pleased, and some hated it. They couldn't get much information from pooling what they knew, so Tala left to search for more, while Rekona remained behind.

Tala wandered through the streets, searching for anyone to talk to on the subject, when he crashed into a wall. He found that an invisible wall was stopping him, and trapping other Matoran nearby. He did his best to help them, and tried to follow the invisible walls, but didn't get far.

Rien soon found him, having followed his aura with her powers. They went off together, while Rien searched for the cause of the invisible walls, then soon discovered that they weren't invisible walls, but rather dust particles raised to incredible density from a Toa of Density's powers. They continued on, knowing their target, while Tala talked about fighting.

She said that she used mental attacks, and her powers were otherwise for support. She said that she didn't fight with direct confrontation, unlike him. They argued briefly, but continued on, following the trail of aura to its owner.

Rien attacked a Matoran with her mental attack, forcing him to transform into Niveau Un. He quickly went to Deux when her mental attacks proved too powerful, using his lesser mind to overcome her attacks.

Tala attacked with his Fire powers, but couldn't do too much. Seles and Thete attacked from rooftops, having been searching. Together, they brought his defenses down, allowing Tala to use physical attacks to bring the Toa down.

Soon the team was after a Toa of Energy Niveau Un, whom they quickly surrounded and fought. The Toa Angelus were able to hammer him, especially using Seles's masterful control over his powers to defeat the lesser skilled foe. The Toa was eventually felled by the four of them, and his Corps Stone was destroyed.

They told Rien to take care of him, having counted it as their five hundredth Corps Stone, which was the limit. They had finished their mission of defeating the Corps Stone users, and were going to pay their respects to Lewin and Gaila. Rien obliged and took their prisoner away.

The three went to a tree atop a hill where the remains of their leaders were buried. They began to repent and simply talk to them, tell them about the good news of the end of the mission, and about Rien joining their team. They spoke in turns, asking forgiveness and speaking in joy.

They told the two about Otoka's fall, and what they had done. They also talked about finally accepting how Gaila had acted, seeing why she had done it, why she had been the way she was, and accepting it. Seles also spoke to Lewin, claiming he couldn't have made such a sacrifice, not that any of their Nova Blasts would have been effective enough without getting others caught in the crossfire.

Rien eventually came, but didn't intrude too much. She listened to them as they went to their personal prayers. Thete promised to work to his breaking point for the good of the island, if he would be forgiven by them. Seles promised to accept Rien into the team and be a better man if he were forgiven. And Tala promised to never kill again if he would be forgiven.

Rien spoke to them, asking if she could join the team, asking for their approval from the next life. Tala told her that he was sure she had it and would be a final addition, and then started to speak to "Turaga Rekona" behind him. When he questioned the others about Rekona's words, they told him they couldn't see him, shocking Tala, making him wonder if they were crazy.

Seles threatened to kill Rekona by blowing him up, but nothing happened. Thete, likewise, tried to use his powers, but couldn't find a system to manipulate. Rien then read Tala's mind, finding that he did believe someone was there. She even projected his aura, but no Rekona aura emerged. She used her Rode to determine that he was telling the truth, he did believe a Rekona was there.

Rien talked him through it, and they figured out that Rekona only appeared after the deaths of Lewin and Gaila. Tala claimed Rekona was keeping him sane, but on the contrary, he existed because Tala had snapped. His mind had created the Turaga as a coping mechanism. When he realized this, he screamed.

Tala went to the beach in order to think about things, when someone came to him. He turned to whoever this was, shocked by the voice and appearance. It was Ucen, back from the dead. Ucen revealed that he had been playing dead, and had simply screamed in a convincing manner. Tala admitted that they hadn't confirmed his death, not wishing to see a corpse from that method of kill. Ucen attacked him, trying to make good on his desires.

Tala and Ucen had a long, hard battle across the beach and forest. Tala lost his Flame Cycle as a result, and major damage was caused to the surrounding areas with his Fire powers. He took Ucen down eventually, but Rien soon arrived. Ucen stayed up and attacked again, with Rien telling Tala that he was a monster, having read the man's aura and mind.

As Ucen went for the kill at Rien, Tala was forced to take it to save her. His wound was mortal, so he unleashed all of the power he could right into Ucen, burning his own body apart in an attempt to kill the man.

He had failed to kill Ucen, but had managed to nearly mortally wound him, including having burned his lungs and destroyed most of his armor. Rien took up his weapon and fought Ucen, killing him, as per what she believed was Tala's will.

The team looked at his Soul Stone after Ucen's death, where Tala's last will was to have Rien lead the team. His remains, as few as they were, were later placed at the same grave as the other two Toa. The entire team later went to give their thanks and thoughts to Tala after the defeat of the Eruo, and Rien placed a new Fusha scarf on the tree to thank Tala for his help, as if he had helped in spirit.

After Tala was buried, he was reincarnated on the Red Star, as part of the Star's primary function. However, the return mechanism of the Star had since malfunctioned, and Tala was trapped in the Star along with other revived beings.

Abilities & Traits

Tala was a calm, collected individual. He had a temper and showed great anger when Matoran were corrupting themselves with the power of Corps Stones, and causing damage, but otherwise was able to keep his emotions in check. Despite being thrust into leadership, he was a natural leader, and maintained a cool composure in most situations. Tala hated mind games, especially Uuk-Koi, which he played with Gyoku.

After the deaths of his leaders, Tala snapped. His mind created Rekona as a coping mechanism, thus only he could see and interact with Rekona, who was really himself, telling Tala what he already knew, but helping Tala to think through problems as such.

Tala had a sense of style and beauty, which he confused with vanity. He also wore a variegated white and blue scarf that is made from flora immune to his Fire powers. Tala had a nostalgic love of the rain, finding peace in it, and remembering a happier time. Tala had a problem with art, feeling that it is a waste of money in most cases.

Tala hated his past with nearly an unrivaled passion. He abandoned his old ways of life and put them out of mind, believing they never happened, trying to convince himself that he had never killed anyone, despite knowing that he had in both the past and the present.

After repenting, Tala promised to never kill again.

Being a Toa of Fire, Tala had an innate control over the Elemental Power of Fire.

Mask & Tools

Tala wore a Kanohi Hau, Great Mask of Shielding, and wielded the Flame Buster sword along with its' conjoined, hooked dagger. Tala could also utilize a cycle-like vehicle to focus his powers through, or to use for travel or as a weapon.

Trivia

• This character was created by BZPower and C.I.R.C.L.E. member Koji.
• Due to Tala's past, he always tells himself he has never killed, despite having slain multiple Corps Stone users during his time as a Toa. He represses his actions, denying that they ever happened.

Appearances

• Sanctus Epitaph
• Legacy (Form Assumed; non-canon)

Ta-Matoran
Cyril Nui Residents	Cyril Nui	Ankh
Dyteeli Residents	Tolliwam	Noreht
Harvask Residents	Harvask	Pekaht | Vurakk
Kamas Nui Residents	Kamas Nui	Callan | Kegak
Kemet Nui Residents	Kemet Nui	Jezira | Tukuå
	Punt Nui	Jahpex | Whetar
Mashau Nui Residents	Doppel Nui	Fata (Deceased) | Linke (Deceased)
Northern Continent Residents	Princess' Island	Sion
Metru Nui Residents	Metru Nui	Aafon | Aft | Agni | Aodhan | Brander | Jev (Deceased) | Kapura | Kalama Keahi | Kenal | Maglya | Neth | Nuhrii | Taeprah | Terin | Tiribomba Vohon | Wel (Deceased) | Xac | Yed
Nui Sea Residents	"The Pit"	Teles (Deceased)
Nurane Nui Residents	Nurane Nui	Klarak
Nynrah Residents	Nynrah	Kenn (Formerly)
Ouir Nui Residents	Ouir Nui	Jevaih | Kroteu | Mali | Tacoza
Resi Nui Residents	Resi Nui	Rohn
Southern Continent Residents	Manax Nui	Takya
	Southern Continent	Balta | Dezalk | Sarda (Formerly)
Tepthei Residents	Tepthei	Surik
Terra Nui Residents	Terra Nui	Pyar | Sari | Takan | Tåkån (Deceased)
Yezo Nui Residents	Yezo Nui	Khazard (Deceased)
Zelix Nui Residents	Zelix Nui	Ignus | Wexl
Zerox Nui Residents	Kora Nui	Rratora (M.I.A.)
Murtua Residents	Industry Region of Uteara	Touran
Transformed		Ainult | Artakika | Auserv | Cenox | Cohal | Dume | Eiros | Elmårå Firedracax | Fokra | Gaardus | Grunekt | Haruko | Hibuthil | Hoji | Jaller Jasil | Kara (Deceased) | Karak | Konitu (Deceased) | Layef | Lhikan (Revived) Matoba | Mezuah | Mordak | Norik | Ordius (Deceased) | Renjok | Rukoua Slehk (Deceased) | Tahara | Taharu (Deceased) | Tahren | Takuma Tala (Revived) | Talvak | Tamek | Taraki | Tavka | Teft | Tidan III (Deceased) Tolkien | Tvkret | Utora (Deceased) | Vahro | Vakama | Vernes (Deceased) Verpon | Vortel | Vultraz | Xere (Deceased)