Things are heating up. Be sure to pm me if you don't understand anything.

Disclaimer: *Sighs and looks at you seriously*

It was close to sundown now. Purples and yellows reflected off the water as the sun sank lower behind the horizon. Normally, Nasukoh would stop and watch (sundown was her favorite time of day) after the matoran had packed up there tools and assignments for the day and gone back to their huts. But today was different. Today she was too focused on what was to come to take the time to enjoy what might have been her last peaceful sunset.

She leaped onto a rock outcropping, scanning the water below her and out towards the horizon. It didn't take her long to find what she was looking for, glinting in the last rays of Mata-Nui's two suns. The canister. And inside was a sleeping Toa. But which one? She had a feeling that she was about to find out whether she wanted to or not. The canister bobbed in the water, clearly having trouble getting any closer because of the sloping sand bank. And if she was seeing correctly, and her eye sight and never failed her before, then the canister was actually being pulled back to sea. In the last rays of light, it was easy to spot why. A Makuta fish had dared come close enough to shore and was actually butting its head against the canister in attempts to set it off course. Nasukoh didn't need to ask why.

Now, Makuta fish were known for their, erm, inhospitable natures, (Thus the name Makuta fish) but this one had an extra catch to it. It was wearing an infected mask. Which meant Makuta knew exactly what these canisters were. Nasukoh's eyes narrowed.

"Oh no you don't!" She muttered, leaping into the water with a splash and wading into the waist deep sea water. The Makuta fish immediately turned on her and charged, razor teeth and fins ready to rip and tear. Too bad it was about to bite off more than it could chew.

Nasukoh swept one hand into the water and then thrust it towards the fish, grabbing its mask firmly and wrenching it from its face. Then, she seized the disoriented rahi by the end of its tail and with one simple flick of her wrist, it was sailing through the air before landing in deeper water. She watched in the dark as the fish splashed away, no longer having the urge to fight a creature much more powerful than itself. The dilemma with fish resolved, the Toa Teacher returned her attention to the canister.

"There's no way you're making your way up this bank without help." She sighed, seizing a small crack at the top and dragging the canister forward, grunting with the effort to pull it through the thick, wet sand.

Strength was Zenick's department, but Nasukoh was pretty proud of herself when she managed to get the canister halfway up onto the beach. Then she set to work opening the thing. It wasn't really complicated. Just a matter of finding the right way to turn the hatch. With a hiss of air being released and a creaking of gears, a prone form fell right into her surprised arms. The Toa was unconscious and she quickly set him in the sand. In the light from the stars, she could see that his armor was a fiery red and his naturally overheated body temperature could point to only one thing. She'd just met the Toa of Fire.

"Nice meeting you, Tahu." She muttered to the prone form. For that was indeed his name as legend suggested. Little did she know, that this Toa was still semi-concious. And he'd just heard his name. She reached past him and into the canister, revealing a sword that was forged to resemble flames and a Hau, a Great Mask of Shielding. She whistled. "Nice. These should come in handy."

Nasukoh set them in the sand beside him before backing away. She knew he had rough times aheaed of him, but she also knew that he'd have to face the first part of it on his own. Which meant she couldn't be there when he woke up. Besides, she had other Toa canisters to find. Silently, she observed the beach looking for any threat she may have to take care of before leaving, but saw nothing. She cast one last glance at the unconscious Toa and then turned around to head into the jungle. She sighed. It was going to be a late night.

It was turning light when Nasukoh finally dragged herself into her haven on the island. It was an under sea cave that led up into a small cove that had breathable air and fresh water. She'd carved it out long ago. With a groan, Nasukoh threw herself down on her cot, glad to have some time to rest. For the majority of the night, she'd spent her time saving Toa from Makuta's efforts to rid him of them. That was probably the only thing that made her own efforts worth while. Being a thorn embedded deep in Makuta's side. He wasn't getting rid of her that easily. Or the Toa. Let them be his headache for awhile.

She groaned again and thought about her night. After Tahu, she had to keep the Toa of Air, Lewa, from sinking into the mud at the edge if the Le-Wahi jungle. Then, she had to find Kopaka, Toa of Ice and keep him from sinking into the bay. (A Tarakava had punctured his canister.) Shortly after that she had gone in search of Onua, Toa of Earth and had found that his canister had already been opened and a large hole had formed itself in the stone wall beside it. She didn't have to be told what had happened and had left the Earth Toa to his own devices. Gali, Toa of Water, had been no problem as well. She seemed at home in the water, her canister having also been opened, but her unconscious body floating in a protected reef. Toa of Stone, Pohatu, had been a tricky one, seeing as she had to deal with a herd of infected Kikonala and two Nui-Jagas. She was luckyto have gotten out of there with the Toa's life intact.

Well, it was over now. Nasukoh comforted herself with the thought that she had accomplished a big thing that night. Now she could sleep for a few hours and then watch. Patience was something she was not short of. Breathing deeply, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Morning. Or was it afternoon? He wasn't sure. You were never sure in this area of the universe. It was always storming and dark and cloudy, but he liked it that way. The Original sat himself at the stone desk and hummed to himself. Why did he like the storms? Because it kept his small little island secret. There wasn't any possible way you could find this place unless you knew where to look. And many a time, he wished that he could make it so that even those who knew where to look couldn't find it. Still, it was necessary and he knew it. He hunched over his newest creation, his tools glowing hot and the metal protodermis melting easily into the shape he wanted. The silver armored being hummed a cheery tune as he worked.

"What are you making THIS time, tinkerer?" and amused voice came from the doorway to his work room, making him jump. He fell off of his stool with a loud bang and groaned, sitting up and rubbing his head. This was promptly followed by loud laughter and the being who had spoken was doubled over as his laughter gained in volume. The silver Original glared at his dark green armored brother.

"Not funny, Kaz!" He muttered angrily.

Kazea merely continued laughing. The look on his little brother's face had been hilarious! Tarusoh was the easiest to startle since he was naturally jumpy and energetic. Not only that, but the inventor normally had his mask in a project and tended to tune out the world around him. So sneaking up on him required hardly any effort at all.

Tarusoh frowned and ignored Kazea, turning back to his project after removing himself and his tools from the floor. His brother always picked on him, but he found it difficult to stay mad at him for long. Kazea had a way of bringing a smile to your mask even if you didn't want one there.

And that's what he was doing now. "Aw, c'mon brother, you know I didn't mean it1" Kazea smirked, striding to his brother's side and throwing an arm over his shoulder. "Besides, I brought you something." The green Original reached into his pack and pulled out a glass vial before waving it in his brother's face.

Tarusoh glanced at the vial and then did a double take. "Is that…?" he breathed reaching for it.

"Protodermis in its purest form? Yes, yes it is." Kazea grinned pulling it out of his brother's reach. "A bribe from Ugarah, saying that this is one meeting you can't miss. So I've come to retrieve you."

Tarusoh stopped smiling, his expression faltering. "A meeting? What for? What's gone wrong now?"

Now it was Kazea's turn to look uncertain. "I…. I'm not sure this is the place to tell you."

Tarusoh's eye ridges shot up. "Why not?"

Kazea shook his head and the grin returned a little strained. "Nuh-uh. You gotta come find out for yourself. So come on! Up and out of your seat, inventor!"

Reluctantly, Tarusoh stood. He didn't like the tone in his brother's voice. Something was wrong. He followed Kazea out into the rain and gripped his shoulder. Kazea wore the Great Mask of Teleportation. Tarusoh closed his eyes and both Originals disappeared from sight.

It didn't take long for them to appear in a long forgotten jungle, dripping with moss and humid. Tarusoh stumbled and Kazea steadied him. Teleportation was always rough if you weren't used to it.

"Okay, brother." Tarusoh sighed as he followed Kazea through the jungle to their annual meeting spot. "You've got me this far and I don't think I'll be getting back on my own. Do get to hear this news?"

Kazea remained silent and Tarusoh could feel the tension building before his brother finally sighed and turned to face him, his expression grim. "Avion's missing."

PLEASE PLEASE PLEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASE review?