The Archives Beast

The Archives Beast was a strange RahiRahiThe Rahi were the biomechanical wildlife of the Matoran Universe, built largely by the Brotherhood of Makuta, ranging from background fauna to engineered war beasts. locked away in the lower levels of the Archives in Onu-MetruOnu-MetruThe deep archive-city that made mining and historical records preservation the beating heart of Metru Nui., on Metru Nui. It could change its shape, and it was thought to have some connection to the Kanoka power that reconstitutes things at random. (BIONICLE Adventures 2: Trial by Fire)

Containment in the Archives#

The only known specimen was kept in a sub-level of the Archives, under tight lock and key. Its reputation was grim. Before going down, Whenua warned that the last Archivist who went there hadn't spoken a word since, though he screamed a lot. (BIONICLE Adventures 2: Trial by Fire)

Like the other Rahi of the Matoran Universe, its species was created by the MakutaMakuta: species, title, and TeridaxMakuta means three things in the Matoran Universe: the Antidermis species Mata Nui created, the Brotherhood rank, and most often Teridax himself. from viruses and liquid protodermis. (BIONICLE: Makuta's Guide to the Universe)

The Toa Metru Encounter#

Toa WhenuaWhenuaToa Metru of Earth and later Turaga of Onu-Koro, formerly an Onu-Metru archivist whose career in the Archives shaped his role across the rescue of Metru Nui and the long residency on Mata Nui. and Toa NujuNujuNuju served as a Ko-Metru seer, Toa Metru of Ice, and Turaga of Ko-Koro who spoke only in bird calls translated by Matoro. entered the beast's cell in search of the Onu-MetruOnu-MetruThe deep archive-city that made mining and historical records preservation the beating heart of Metru Nui. Great Disk. The cell looked empty, because the Rahi had taken on the appearance of an empty room. (BIONICLE Adventures 2: Trial by Fire)

Then it grew claws from its interior and began to change shape around them, trapping the two Toa. Nuju created a blizzard in the cell, the cold made the Rahi uncomfortable, and it threw the Toa out. (BIONICLE Adventures 2: Trial by Fire)

Powers and Limitations#

The beast's main ability was changing shape, well enough to pass for the room it was in. It could also sprout claws from inside that disguise. Its weakness was cold. (BIONICLE Adventures 2: Trial by Fire)

It wasn't a hunter in the encounter we see. It reacted when the Toa came into its space and got rid of them once the blizzard made it uncomfortable. No true form is ever described. (BIONICLE Adventures 2: Trial by Fire)

Origin and Classification#

Beyond the general fact that the Makuta made the Rahi species, the beast's origin isn't explained. The link to the reconstitute-at-random Kanoka power is offered as a belief, not a confirmed fact. (BIONICLE Adventures 2: Trial by Fire; BIONICLE: Makuta's Guide to the Universe)

Later Records#

Trial by Fire is the beast's only appearance. Greg Farshtey later said, outside the stories, that it moved to Spherus Magna along with the rest of the Matoran Universe's inhabitants. (BIONICLE Adventures 2: Trial by Fire)