Retirement

First of all, I'd like to credit Ynot, who basically wrote this story. I just took what was his and wrote it in a different way.


Blackout opened his eyes and looked around. He was still sitting in his throne room. He sighed with relief, and got up. It was just a dream, he thought to himself.

Years and years in exile did that to a person.

It seemed that not so long ago, he was the saviour of all existence, his hand reaching forth to take the stars and impose order where no such thing had existed before. Now, he was on the run.

He could've destroyed F-Klak. He could've been where that worm is now. But the Users just had to meddle, they had to take control, like they always did. He hated them. He hated everything.

At the Fields of the Nephilim, at the Gates of Silent Memory, his armies were forced to bow before F-Klak's might. He disbanded them, and fled with a small number of Makuta and Rahkshi. He popped back up on the radar every once in a while, raiding some obscure planet. He claimed it was to obtain resources. Everyone knew it was just to entertain himself.

His ship was christened the Saber. He called it his mobile citadel. Everyone else called it his mobile retirement home.

And then one day, he heard of an old enemy's return.....

Suddenly, Ynot crashed into the Saber. He plowed through it, ripping decks to shreds, knocking Rahkshi into the void. Blackout spotted his chance. He stood in Ynot's way, grabbed him, and threw him to the ground. "What in the name of David Pierce are you doing alive? I thought you dropped dead!" he said.

Ynot didn't reply. He got up off the ground, drew his sword, and slashed at Blackout's face. The Makuta cried out in pain as Ka-Oni-Santsu ran over his eye. As Blackout tried to regain his vision, Ynot simply continued on his way, leaving the Saber.

Blackout was angry now. Not only was this traitor still alive, he was ignoring him! He followed him out of the Saber, and screamed after him: "What, no banter? What's going on, Ynot?" But Ynot carried on ignoring him. He kept following him, until he decided to get his attention by firing a shadow energy blast at him. Ynot was hit in the back, and turned around. He looked at Blackout, then carried on his way.

Blackout looked on as Ynot flew away. He shrugged, and went back to the Saber. He was very curious as to where Ynot was so eager to get to.

Meanwhile, Ynot had arrived at BZP. The twilight of the Users had begun.

The Saber arrived in orbit of BZP. Blackout walked onto the bridge. "Do we have any idea what he's doing there?", he asked the Makuta present.

"He landed in the User HQ." one answered, then carefully inspected his screen. "Woah!"

Blackout walked over to the Makuta's station. "A life sign just disappeared. Someone died." the Makuta said.

"Maybe they forced him to come here so they could destroy him?" Blackout speculated, only to be proven wrong when another life sign then flashed out of existence. "Or not."

"Maybe it's the other way round. Maybe he's killing the Users." the other Makuta said as life sign after life sign blinked and vanished.

Blackout didn't need to hear another word. He went to retrieve an item he had acquired during one of his raids, an item which would prove very useful now.

Ynot had killed all the Users, save one. Chocoman had gotten away, but everyone else was now a thing of the past. He had taken what he felt was his. He now ruled all of existence.

He heard a familiar voice call to him from above: "Getting cocky in your old age, are you?" "Blackout, how nice to see you. Come to grovel at my feet?" he replied.

Blackout dropped down from the ceiling, landing in front of Ynot. He was carrying a small box. "I come with a gift, an artifact of great power, to welcome our malevolent ruler to his throne."

Ynot tilted his head to the side. "And why in Mata-Nui's name should I trust you?" he asked.

A rush of excitement went through Blackout as he thought of what was coming. He grinned, and retorted: "Because you have my respect, you have managed to do what I have been trying to all these years." He watched Ynot frown, and then open the box. He wanted to laugh out loud, but instead simply said: "What a fool you are." The look of realization on Ynot's face was worth all the humiliating years in exile. "You have just opened Pandora's Box, you low level scum. Now it will claim your soul, like all the others that have in the past."

There was a flash of red and blue light, and Ynot disappeared into Pandora's Box forever. The box fell to the ground, and Blackout kicked it across the room. He laughed, and sat down in the Architect's throne.

He sent a telepathic call across the stars, summoning his old soldiers back to him. His retirement was over, and it was time for revenge.

The End

Blackout's point of view is always interesting.
He thinks himself savior, while everyone else sees him the villain.
I am glad to read this, though I think it could have been a little longer.
For instance, what did Blackout think when Ynot crashed through F-Klak's ship, or of the Vrai colony Xeno and Cicero started.
Perhaps a flashback on HOW he got the box, as I'm sure it was guarded.
Overall, a great story, just a little bare bones

I think this story does something that no one else on this site has done: you allowed us to peer inside the mind of a major BZPB villain, and see how he thinks. The result is that Blackout is not simply the ham-fisted big bad: he's a psychopath who considers himself a savior, and will kill anyone who stands in his way. When others attempt to achieve his goals, he jealously cuts them down, or in this case, traps them in a box.

Excellent story, gentlemen. However, as Ynot said, it is quite brief, and leaves several questions unanswered. Perhaps a sequel can help clear matters up.

Thanks for the feedback! And yeah, I shall probably write a sequel.