Comic 9: Divided We Fall

"The heart of the Toa Nuva's power lies in their villages. Steal that heart, and they will be unable to stop us. They do not know we are here. They do not know why. And when they do...it will already be too late."

- Tahnok-Kal

Divided We Fall was the ninth issue of the original BIONICLE comic series, as well as the sixth and final part of The Bohrok Saga storyline. It was initially mailed with the November/December 2002 edition of the LEGO Club Magazine, and was collected in BIONICLE: Volume 1, BIONICLE: The Saga of Takanuva!, and BIONICLE 2: Challenge of the Rahkshi. In this comic, the Toa Nuva test their new powers and choose to split up, even as a new threat emerges.

Opening
''The energies of protodermis have transformed the Toa into the Toa Nuva, more powerful heroes with new masks and new tools. But the change threatens to split the team apart, just as a new threat arises on Mata Nui.''

''What is the secret of the Toa Nuva symbols of power? Who are the Kal, and why can they leave the heroes of Mata Nui helpless? The toa Nuva are about to embark on their first great adventure--and it just may be their last...''

Plot
Gali, Tahu, and Pohatu skirmish with Lewa, Onua, and Kopaka to test their new powers. Gali shoots a blast of water at Lewa. He flies over the attack from the Toa of Water, but is caught in a tornado generated by Pohatu's Mask of Speed. Onua creates an earth ramp underneath Pohatu, who can't slow down in time. Tahu and Kopaka continue to battle, evenly matched. The Toa of Fire traps Kopaka inside a cage of fire. The Toa of Ice, un-flummoxed, freezes the open flames and shatters the prison. As their battle heats up, Gali breaks up their fight. The goal of testing their powers is complete. While they possess far greater control over the elements, their tempers are just as difficult to restrain. The Toa Nuva decide to disband and go their separate ways. Gali protests, but her pleas go unheeded. Each of the others are focused on rebuilding villages, not relationships. Elsewhere, mysterious beings plot to break into those same villages and steal the source of the Toa Nuva's powers. The only hint to their identity is a single word blasted into a cavern wall by the group leader: KAL. Tahu Nuva returns to Ta-Koro, confident that he wields sufficient power to protect his home from any threat alone. The Ta-Koro Guard doesn't recognize the transformed hero, and so protect the village from the apparent intruder. Though he may appear different, Tahu's loyalty to the Ta-Matoran is still the same. On the other side of the island, Nuju speaks to Kopaka Nuva through his interpreter, Matoro. The Turaga inquires if the Toa is pleased with his new Nuva Symbol. Kopaka is dismissive of the artifact, more concerned about the safety of his homeland. Undeterred, Matoro vows to protect the item regardless. Later, the Toa Nuva of Ice reflects upon the decision to disband the team. What if other enemies were expecting this move? What if they were counting on it? Kopaka's fears are proven true when an intruder appears in Ko-Koro, demanding the Nuva Symbol. Matoro attempts to defend it, but finds himself overwhelmed by his own weight, unable to stand due to increased gravity. The figues steal the symbol and depart. At this same moment, Kopaka is working on an ice bridge. The unfinished structure suddenly collapses. The Toa of Ice is unable to access his ice powers, and plummets down the cliff.

Credits

 * Greg Farshtey - Writer
 * Carlos D'Anda - Penciller
 * Randy Elliott - Inker
 * Ken Lopez - Letterer
 * Peter Pantazis - Colorist and Separator

Characters

 * Cahdok - Mentioned only
 * Gahdok - Mentioned only
 * Gahlok Va
 * Gali Nuva
 * Kopaka Nuva
 * Lewa Nuva
 * Kohrak-Kal - First appearance
 * Matoro
 * Nuhvok-Kal - Voice only
 * Nuju
 * Onewa - Mentioned only
 * Onua Nuva
 * Pohatu Nuva
 * Tahnok-Kal - First appearance
 * Tahu Nuva
 * Vakama

Locations

 * Mata Nui
 * Ko-Wahi
 * Ko-Koro
 * Mount Ihu
 * Le-Koro - Mentioned only
 * Ta-Wahi
 * Ta-Koro

Objects

 * Badge of Office
 * Firestaff
 * Bohrok-Kal Shields
 * Electricity Shields - First appearance
 * Sonics Shields - First appearance
 * Kanohi
 * Noble Huna
 * Noble Matatu
 * Powerless Akaku
 * Powerless Hau
 * Kanohi Nuva
 * Akaku Nuva
 * Hau Nuva
 * Kakama Nuva
 * Kaukau Nuva
 * Miru Nuva
 * Pakari Nuva
 * Nuva Symbols - First appearance
 * Suva
 * Ko-Suva
 * Ta-Suva
 * Toa Tools
 * Air Katana
 * Aqua Axes
 * Climbing Claws
 * Ice Blade
 * Ice Shield
 * Magma Swords
 * Mizuni Rotors
 * Quake Breakers

Organizations

 * Bohrok Swarms
 * The Bahrag - Mentioned only
 * Bohrok - Mentioned only
 * Bohrok Va
 * Bohrok-Kal - First appearance
 * Rahi - Mentioned only
 * Matoran
 * Ko-Matoran
 * Ta-Matoran
 * Toa
 * Toa of Air
 * Toa of Earth
 * Toa of Fire
 * Toa of Ice
 * Toa of Stone
 * Toa of Water
 * Toa Teams
 * Toa Mata/Toa Nuva
 * Turaga

Miscellanea

 * Elements/Elemental Powers
 * Air
 * Earth
 * Fire
 * Gravity
 * Ice
 * Lightning
 * Stone
 * Water

Quotes
"Enough! We've learned what we set out to learn. As Toa Nuva, we have greater power--and greater control over that power--than ever before! It is a shame we cannot control our tempers as well."

- Gali Nuva

"Only the enemies of Mata Nui have anything to fear from me. I may have changed...but my love for my people has not."

- Tahu Nuva

"I am...troubled. Our new powers are great, but they have driven the Toa Nuva apart. Perhaps that is best, but...Did someone, or something, know this happen?--Plan for us to split apart? Is Mata Nui in peril once more?"

- Kopaka's thoughts

Extra Features

 * Comic middle: The Origin of the Toa Nuva! section revisits the Toa's battle with the Bahrag and their transformation into Toa Nuva.
 * Comic end: Advertisement for BIONICLE: Matoran Adventures on the Gameboy Advance; advertisement for the Bohrok and Krana, teaser for the upcoming Bohrok-Kal sets.
 * Rear cover: Advertisement for BIONICLE shoes by Nike.

Continuity

 * This issue opens in media res, with the Toa Nuva apparently in the middle of combat against an unknown enemy, before revealing that the heroes are merely sparring to test their new-found powers.
 * Turaga Vakama makes his return to the BIONICLE comics, being absent since Comic 4: The Bohrok Awake, where he served as quick exposition for the reader to explain the power and mission of the Bohrok.
 * Turaga Nuju also reappears in this issue, after being absent since 2001's Comic 2: Deep Into Darkness, where he related the legend of Mata Nui. Matoro returns here as well, after his last appearance in the promotional mini-comic Challenge of the Rahi back in 2001.
 * After being introduced at the end of the Bohrok Online Animations and being discussed in the end pages of the previous comic, the Nuva Symbols make their comic debut here. These six artifacts would go on to play a major role in the upcoming storyline.
 * Speaking of which, a new group of mysterious creatures first appear to steal the artifacts, leaving Kopaka Nuva in a perilous cliffhanger--literally!

Errors

 * On page 13, one of the "Kal"'s lines of dialogue is mistakenly attributed to Matoro instead.