Piraka

Piraka are the main villains in 2006 storyline.

History
Shortly after Makuta was defeated by Toa Takanuva, some Dark Hunters heard rumors of his death. They decided to run off and investigate on their own, so they wouldn't have to give up whatever they find to the Dark Hunters. They discovered Makuta's uninhabited armor and mysteriously gained knowledge of the powerful Kanohi Ignika, the Mask of Life, hidden somewhere on the island of Voya Nui. With this, they abandoned the Dark Hunters entirely, instead calling themselves "Piraka", and they agreed to work together to find this mask. However, each planned to betray the others and claim the mask for himself. One, Vezon, abandoned the team and left for Voya Nui earlier then the others; he has not been seen since.

Upon arrival on Voya Nui, the Piraka pretended to be Toa to gain the help of the native Matoran; having them build their stronghold and begin draining the volcano, Mount Valmai, where the mask is supposed to be hidden. In the meantime, Zaktan used the knowledge he gained near Makuta's armor to build a device that collected a kind of virus known as antidermis. The Piraka then used Zamor Spheres filled with this virus to fully enslave the Matoran (however, six of them managed to escape and began to work against the Piraka).

When the Toa Nuva showed up on Voya Nui, the two groups immediately got in a fight. Though it was a fierce battle, the Piraka won; Zaktan ordered the Toa's masks and tools taken and the Toa themselves thrown into the volcano. But when the volcano erupted, the Piraka didn't want to risk their lives and instead left the Toa in the lava's path, the Toa were able to come to in time to escape with their lives (and their tools).

Relations between the Piraka - which weren't that good in the first place - rapidly began to deteriorate. Hakann caught Zaktan secretly making deals with a giant stranger, Brutaka, who wanted the virus; Hakann then decided to take the Zamor Spheres so he could gain the giant's help for himself. Thok and Avak began to suspect that the Mask of Life was actually in the island's "green belt" that strangely thrived in the island's harsh terrain, and they turned on Zaktan. Eventually, it became an all-out brawl between the Piraka (minus Vezok); which only looked worse when the Toa Nuva and rebel Matoran invaded their stronghold, reclaimed their masks, and, as Toa Kopaka put it, "We heard you were trying to kill each other. We are here to offer our help in that long overdue endeavor. Zaktan then offered all of the Zamor Spheres to Brutaka in exchange for stopping the Toa Nuva, which he accepted. While the Toa Nuva were taken captive by Brutaka, the Piraka began to interrogate the Matoran.

The Piraka then began to plot against each other. Vezok interrogated the captured Matoran, but Garan escaped. Hakann, Thok, Avak, and Reidak make a plan to absorb Brutaka's power when the Toa Inika come onto the shores of Voya Nui. Vezok is the first to encounter them, who is defeated by the novice Toa, but not before absorbing Jaller and Matoro's fire/ice lightning blasts. He uses them to escape. A fierce battle erupts between the Piraka and the Toa in their stronghold. Nuparu flies into Zaktan when he is dissolving his form and flies straight into the Voya Nui Bay. Hakann shoots a Zamor sphere at Brutaka to absorb his power. But, at the last minute, Thok grabs him, and gets half of the power. They use their enhanced powers to subdue their 'allies' and the Toa. Nuparu returns and frees the Toa. Axonn makes a special Zamor to reverse the effect.

Meanwhile, the two ultimate Piraka have started fighting. Hakann creates a blast with his heat vision which allows the Toa and Piraka to track him. The other Piraka attack Hakann, while the Inika engage Thok. The Piraka are defeated, except for Zaktan, who shifts out of the way as Hewkii fires the Zamor at Hakann and Thok. The Toa collapse as a result of the Piraka's blast, but the sphere does it's job. When the Inika wake up, the Piraka have headed down the tunnel to the Mask of Life...

Behind the sets
The Piraka were an obvious attempt by LEGO to appeal to a newer generation of children; in a day and age of rap music and more African American influences, the Piraka were advertised as a gang in urban settings. This approach was non-canon, but elements of it remained in the storyline. This change angered many fans, who thought it took away the spirit and mystical mood of Bionicle.