Siahta moved quietly down the stone hallway and slipped into the healing ward. She smiled when she saw Vakama lying against the wall, his gold - yellow eyes fixed on the sleeping Water Toa who was lying in the next bed.
He looked up when she started to duck in the cabinets and fumbled around for one herb or another.
"Up finally?" She asked lightly, but was cautious so not to provoke his rather sudden vicious temper.
He glanced at her a trace of irritation in his eyes. "How long?..." He asked her finally.
Siahta shook her head slightly. "Last night." She answered quietly, searching for the dressings for wounds.She opened a cabinet and frowned. They were almost out of bandages. She turned around to see Vakama staring hard at her. She sighed.
"No one, besides myself." She informed him.
He nodded at her then stood up.
"We need bandages. Were running out. We need some bulla berries too, if you can manage." She informed the Fire Toa before he left.
He nodded briefly, but his gaze was on Nokama. "Where did she get the wounds?" He asked her, his voice distant.
Siahta shrugged. "I don't know. I'm not that great of a healer, but she might have had them before she got here. I doubt it though. She couldn't have gotten that when she fell either." She mused slightly, then shook her head.
"Doesn't matter though. She'll be right as rain in a few days." She said softly, half to herself.
Vakama nodded in acknowledgment and, with one last look at Nokama, left. Siahta let out an exasperated sigh, then shook the Water Toa gently. She woke instantly, her orange eyes snapping open as she sat up slightly, so she was propped on her elbows.
"Have a nice sleep?" The crimson Toa asked softly.
Nokama looked up at the girl, and nodded once. "Just wanted to tell you, I'm starting my day. Vakama left not a minute ago, so I didn't want to worry you if you woke up with no one here." Siahta informed her, standing up.
"May I come?" Nokama asked her.
Siahta shook her head. "Not with that crack in your head. You need rest, not labor." She chided gently, pressing the Water Toa back into the bed, then headed for the door, heedless of her protests.
"I'll be back in an hour or two. Halhi or one of the other girls should be bringing your food later." She said briefly, then slipped like a thief into the hall.
The crimson Toa strode into the kitchens and set to work, falling into the old process of cooking the food for her brothers, and some of the wounded Matoran, and of course the children. She hummed a soft tune as she worked, not really paying attention to her surroundings, as she pulled out some of the cooked food for the children and set it on the counter.
"You do this every day?" A surprised voice asked from the door.
Siahta looked up quickly to see Nokama staring at her. She opened her mouth to tell her that she should've rested, then reminded herself that she would've done the same thing as Nokama, and decided to answer her with a simple "yes." And stirred something else into the hot food as she swept it up in her arms and exited the room heading down another hall.
"Where-" Nokama began
"The nursery." Siahta answered before she even finished the question.
Nokama gave her an odd look. "Oh, sorry, I forgot. Um…it's for the children of the Matoran that are either dead, in danger, or on a mission for us, most likely a recon." She explained as she opened at wood door that had a bright blue symbol on the front.
"Oi! Midgets, food!" She called as she set the pot on a mini version of the Tables in the Dining Hall.
There was a scurrying and shrill laughs and squeals as seven or eight Matoran children of various parts of the city scrambled into view, all of them laughing and clearly excited to see the crimson girl.
"SIAHTA!" One of the children, a young Ga-Matoran cried and flung herself on the Toa, hugging her around the knees.
Nokama saw a genuine smile on the girls face as the child hugged her fondly. "Hey there Midget." She said fondly and patted the Matoran's head.
Nokama frowned slightly. Why was she calling the children Midgets? Siahta glanced at Nokama's face and laughed, a true pure laugh.
"Nokama, it's an affectionate term." She explained.
Nokama blushed slightly. She should've guessed that.
"Who tp'at?" the little girl asked, pointing to Nokama.
"I'm Nokama." The water Toa explained, unable to keep a smile off her face at the child's huge, innocent grin.
"She's a very nice lady, who's gonna be helping me." Siahta explained, gently prying the young Ga-Matoran off of her.
"So…who's hungry?" She asked, dishing out what looked somewhat like a stew to Nokama.
The children all cried out, and rushed forward, like a little mob. Nokama giggled at the thought of that as they swarmed around Siahta, clearly fond of the red female. Finally, she got them to sit and eat, not play with their food, or throw it at each other, though she had some food smudged on her mask, she didn't notice.
After about an hour or so there, two Ga-Matoran came in- and the children lost interest in the two Toa and they were able to slip away. Nokama couldn't help but let out a fit of laughter that she had somehow kept in while with the children. Siahta raised an eyebrow at her, as if questioning why she was laughed, but Nokama saw the laughter sparkling within her deep indigo eyes, and a small smirk on her lips.
Nokama idly observed that she was much like Nuju, not one to laugh often, though she did laugh, and she had been less reserved than him, but there were similarities between the two.
The two of them chatted- well Nokama spoke more, asking questions and Siahta answering. The crimson Toa tossed the bowls into a sink-like contraption and then pulled out some food
"Eat. You should be starving." Siahta said quietly, but there was no denying the commanding tone in the words.
Nokama nodded and took the food, taking a bite of it as she sat down. Siahta moved around again- checking every cabinet, muttering softly as she went through.
"Have tah go tell Kelki we need more provisions." She informed the Toa of Water, heading out of the kitchens, but gave a soft noise of surprise when she found someone was blocking the way- and she had run straight into him.
Nokama looked up to see Nuju standing in the way- surprised at being run into, but it quickly was replaced by a frown as he looked at Siahta.
"S-sorry." She spluttered quietly to him as she backed away. "You Ok?" She asked the white Toa.
He nodded once and dismissed her apology with a wave of his hand.
"Fine." He said curtly. "Vakama wanted me to inform you that you should-" Nuju cut off when he saw Nokama sitting on a stool, looking curiously at him.
"I see that he had no need to inform you." He said curtly, giving Nokama a sharp look, as if trying to dissect her with his gaze alone- then placed his hand on Siahta's cheek, thumb wiping away the smudge of food gently, as he smirked slightly.
"you always seemed to enjoy the children, but now you're becoming one." He told her, his eyes held- to Nokama's surprise, amusement.
Siahta struggled to hold down a blush, and fought to keep eye contact, dispite her want to look away.
Nuju, who didn't seem to notice this- or if he did he gave no sign- turned around and walked out. Siahta stood there for a moment, and when she turned back to Nokama, the Water Toa saw that she was blushing lightly.
Nokama smiled slightly, but said nothing as the crimson female as she went around the kitchen again- checking the Cabinets that she already checked before for food.
Someone had a crush.
Siahta stood up and smiled distractedly at Nokama. "feel like helping me out with a little project?" She asked.
Nokama tilted her head slightly "Doing what?" She asked curiously.
"Oh, you won't be doing anything much, just tellin' me where to put some stuff." Siahta said lightly
"You're hurt Nokama, and you're not doing a thing until you get better, cause if you get hurt more than you currently are I'm thinking a certain Toa is gonna have my head." She added jestingly.
Nokama laughed at the comment, but was wondering who would have her head. A light blush crossed her face. Surely she didn't mean… him. Did she?
Siahta led her down another hall, a different one- Nokama realized.
"How big is this place?" She wondered aloud. Siahta glanced at her- a smile playing on her lips.
"Oh, fairly big. We have half of the Matoran that are on our side here." Siahta explained.
"Plus there's the nursery, the kitchens, the Hall, the barracks, meeting rooms, healing ward… sorry, blabbing aren't I?" She apologized with a ruleful grin.
Nokama shook her head "Not really."
Siahta pulled a face "You're only saying that not to be rude. Nokama, honestly, I'll tell you out front if you're blabbing, you should tell me if I'm talking too much- you have the right." The crimson female stated.
Nokama laughed at the younger Toa "Alright, alright I will." She promised her.
"Good." Siahta said briefly, then opened a door to her right, revealing a half build room, a couple of Matoran- Po-Matoran were working around on the walls, chipping away at stone, reinforcing the ceiling with huge bars of Protodermis.
"Siahta! About time you got here!" A gruff voice called from the back, as a burly Po-Matoran walked towards them- his sandy eyes held irritation.
"where in Metru Nui have you been? Don't tell me, the barracks." He guessed, mockery in his eyes.
Nokama turned to the Crimson female, who was standing stiffly next to her. "No. The kitchens and healing wards." She snapped her voice sharp.
The Matoran looked at Nokama and grunted "'Nother female. Harmph." He snorted then strode towards the back of the room
"Well? What ya waitin' for Girl? The rock to finish this by itself?" The Matoran called. Siahta strode swiftly towards him, and in one swift movement had lifted the burly Matoran off the ground and slammed him against the wall.
"I'm sorry, I thought I heard you order me around." She said- her voice deciptivly calm.
"That's what you're here for ain't it? Ta get this done?" The Matoran seemed rather relaxed for his position.
The activity in the room ceased, as all eyes turned to the Toa and Matoran. Siahta's eyes glinted in the semi dark. "How about 'Please come and help with this SIAHTA." She growled, putting an emphases on her name and please.
"An' why should I? You're worth nothing cept working, though you ain't to good at that either." The Matoran growled. Indigo eyes narrowed dangerously, and behind her the beams laying on the ground began to lift off the ground menicanly as her grip around the unfortant and rude Po-Matoran.
"Siahta, stop." Nokama said sharply, resting a hand on the enraged females shoulder, in a futile attempt to calm her down.
She gasped as she felt herself raise up, off the ground, her head beginning to feel like it was being compressed- hurting terribly.
"Worthless? You know what's worthless? A dead Matoran, which is what you are about to become." Siahta hissed as she beams behind her slowly begin to spin- much to the terror of the other Matoran in the room who were crying out in surprise and fear.
There was a loud bang as the door opened, then he heard a shout "SIAHTA METRU!" A voice bellowed from the doorway, as Nokama turned to see an enraged Toa of Fire in the doorway, a frightened Matoran behind him.
"Stop this at once!" He shouted at her- but she paid no heed to her elder, the Matoran she was pinning heartlight was flickering rapidly from gray to white to black.
Nokama saw Vakama nod to someone behind him and stepped aside to reveal Onewa with his mask activated- and almost instantly Nokama felt the telikenic power- or whatever was suspending her in the air weaken as she heard Siahta cry out softly, but the anger won over pain as she continued to attempt to kill the Matoran.
Again, the power waned as Siahta gave a soft whimper of pain- then Nokama dropped to the ground as she saw Siahta fall to the ground- knocked out cold.
Nokama heard cries of relief from the Matoran as she rubbed her head- willing the headache away as she heard someone walk over to her "You Ok?" She heard Vakama aske- his voice much calmer than it was a minute ago.
She looked up at the Toa of Fire- making an effort to smile when she saw his worry. "Fine." She lied smoothly as she allowed herself to be lifted to her feet.
"What the hell was all of that?" Onewa demanded roughly- looking at the frightened faces.
Nokama sighed, not wanting Siahta to get punished. "She...got angry. Something about being useless. I don't know- it all happened so fast…" Nokama murmured quietly.
"It's fine Nokama." Vakama soothed the slightly distressed Water Toa. "Come on, to the infirmary with you." He said, his voice slightly more business like than before, one arm offering support for her.
She distantly nodded her head as allowed herself to be led to the healing ward. She felt herself being layed down, and she closed her eyes- surprisingly tired. Almost immediately, she drifted into the dark.
Siahta groaned silently- feeling pain wracking her head- like someone had split her head in half. Why the hell?... Oh, yeah, that. Damn Onewa and his mask of Mind Control.
She flinched slightly as she felt something caress her face, something cool. She made a soft noise in her throat and tried to open her eyes, failing miserably.
"Ouch." She muttered softly to the air. There was a shifting and she heard someone stand up. 'Wait.' She tried to speak, despratly trying to open her heavy eyes. There, again was the touch on her cheek, then she again fell into the darkness.
Soft whispering was the first thing Siahta was aware of. That and a splitting headache, which she quickly remembered was from Onewa and his damned Mask.
She tried to lift her hand to touch her head, but to her surprise it was restrained by something. She frowned.
Chains? Why would they do that?
Her eyes opened a crack and slowly, her eyes adjusted to the light and shapes. She turned her head to try to see where she was.
Beds, white clean beds. Healing ward. Wonderful.
She turned her head again to see Nokama laying on a bed, apparently just waking herself. Her orange eyes blinked sleepily as her head turned towards the doorway, as did Siahta's.
Standing there was Vakama Metru, along with an unfamiliar Le-Matoran.
A runner, Siahta judged, by his darker mask, lined with scratches and the familiar Gukko feather wristband on the left arm, a good luck charm, meaning speed.
There was a worried frown on Vakama's face, signaling that the news that the Matoran carried was not good.
Nokama turned to face Siahta, her eyes clearly showing relief as she mouthed
'You're awake.' Siahta nodded and offered a smile towards the Water Toa
'Sorry if I-' she began, but was cut off by Vakama's voice
"you're awake then" He said briefly, his voice disapproving, and Siahta was aware that a long lecture was coming her way.
"Why is she bound down?" Nokama asked Vakama before he said anything, her voice accusing.
Vakama shifted uneasily under her gaze "Well you know she nearly killed that Matoran.." He began- only to have Nokama glare at him
"She had the right." Nokama said certainly.
"Don't even try that Nokama. He's not gonna give you an answer, so Onewa will and then you won't be too happy." Siahta said, her voice a bit surly.
"Why?" Nokama asked as she sat up.
"Siahta, this is not the time." Vakama cut in swiftly.
"Why? Because then, if she wants to, she can leave? Tell her when we're pinned down so you can keep you're new little toy?" Siahta's voice dripped with venom.
Vakama flushed with embarrassment, but glared at the younger Toa. "Too late for letting her go now Siahta. Dark Hunter's just got another army together." A curt voice came from the door, behind Vakama.
"you're here." Vakama greeted the newcomer as he stepped aside. Nuju nodded and stepped in.
"Where's our other brothers?" Vakama asked. Nuju looked at the Toa of Fire
. "Out on missions, all of them. And this time- the Hunters have found the base- not the fake we have." He reported.
Siahta's eyes narrowed "Vakama….did we get provisions, bandages anything?" She asked urgently.
Vakama shook his head. "Oh no…" Nokama whispered.
"Then….." "Were pinned down. With no food and nothing to heal- or help heal with." Siahta finished darkly.
"There's no way that all of this could be a coincidence. Three Toa out in the City- trapped, and most likely going to be captured, we're low on provisions and they've found our base, the real one." Siahta said thoughtfully.
Nuju glanced at her, eyes cold. "You're right Siahta, there's no way this is all just a coincidence." His eyes turned to Nokama, as did Vakama's and Siahta glanced at her- confused as the Water Toa.
"We have a spy in our midst." He finished, his voice almost triumphant, as Nokama looked down to see she too was chained to the bed, a protodermis cuff on one hand. "NO!"
A dark gold and scarlet figure dragged an unconsis Air Toa down a hall, shaking his head in disappointment. He was too easy.
There was no fun in catching them. The Stone and Earth Toa had evaded him, but they would be caught soon enough. Then their pathetic excuse for a resistance would be enilated- along with the rest of the Toa.
He hauled the Air Toa into a dark cell that the Former Fire Toa knew too well.
"Company for you BROTHER." He sneered as he unceremoniously flung the young Air Toa into the cell, then slammed the door with a loud clang and laughed at the dark figure sitting in the corner.
As the scarlet figure walked away- the dark figure stood up and turned the captured Air Toa- his new cell mate over and drew him into a dark corner, so he didn't provoke the Dark Hunters who often wandered down the halls- trying to make the prisoners life miserable- if they saw them.
He sighed and looked down at the unfortunate soul.
"It hard-tried little brother, I hard-tried." He murmured to the Air Toa.
As he stared out into the hall like he always had. "Come seek-find him quick-soon little ones." He prayed softly, then fell silent as a Dark Hunter walked by- one that was unfamiliar to him, but by the various weapons that he carried, he wasn't one to be messed with, nor to reveal ones presence to.
Hours passed as they always did, until finally, the Air Toa stirred. The dark figure turned and helped him up "Welcome- greet to Dark- prison young one." He said, forcing a wry smile onto his features.
Matau stared up at the figure- shock written on his mask. There was no way….he had been killed, years ago! But here he was- larger than life infront of him, that trademark smile that he always wore when there was trouble coming.
"T-T-Toa N-Nikikhi?"
-Moans- I'm a lazy ass at my fathers. I wrote this out of complete boredom. This is the one place where I will update stories really quickly, cause there is really nothing else to do here. This story though is by far the most fun to write.