CHAPTER FORTY-TWO: DIGGING AROUND

Kopaka awoke with the sense that something was wrong. He looked down in surprise, finding Gali curled up next to him with her head on his chest. He figured she'd been unsettled by the heat and was using his cold body as a catalyst to prevent herself from overheating. I wonder what would happen if she did… would she evaporate?

The Toa of Ice shook his head in pity. She probably didn't realize that she was placing her head against the hollow chest of someone who had a monster rivaling Makuta sleeping in him.

"Good morning…" she murmured, looking up at him. Her eyes suddenly widened as she realized where she was, and she jumped to her feet. "I-I'm sorry!"

Kopaka shook his head, standing up. "I was a catalyst to protect you from the heat, am I right?"

Gali looked down in shame, but nodded. Kopaka tipped her head up with a fingertip, "It is alright. There is no shame in self preservation."

The feeling of his cold fingers on her chin made her shudder, and Kopaka quickly withdrew them. "Are we going to go to the library now?" she asked, gesturing toward the empty streets of Ta-Ara.

Kopaka nodded, beginning to walk out onto the island that was the Fire Village. "It is sickening to think that all of the Matoran here were sacrificed to Malak's so-called Master, is it not?"

Gali nodded as she fell into step beside him, "But I can see you are ready to avenge them, aren't you?"

It was Kopaka's turn to nod. "Listen… Gali…" She looked at him in surprise. His voice was slightly different, almost unsure. "…about Vilak…"

Kopaka was surprised to feel her hand on his shoulder. "Whatever you're going to say, Kopaka, keep it. I forgive you already. I'm not afraid of Vilak."

The stoic Toa felt as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He nodded in thanks and pointed at one of the stone buildings. "That is… or was… the library."

The building in question was slumped off to one side, the roof was caved in, and the door was blocked by rubble. Kopaka slowly walked over to the building and allowed his forehead to connect with the doorframe with a resounding THUNK.

"It's just never easy, is it?" he muttered as he switched to his Pakari. The rocks that blocked the doorway began to disappear one by one as Kopaka hurled them to the side. Each rock was accompanied by a curse at Malak as the boulders bounced away down the streets. Gali tried to help him, but even with her Hau she was hesitant to get close. Kopaka was flinging the boulders in every direction with wild abandon, and she feared catching one with her body.

"Kopaka!" she called, seeing the doorframe above him begin to shake, "Look out!"

Kopaka looked up in time to see the upper doorframe collapse, showering him with bits of debris and large stones. His Hau activated in time to deflect them, however, for which he was grateful.

"Stupid piece of…" he snarled, kicking one of the smaller rocks away, "Why can't things ever be easy?"

Eventually the door was cleared, and Kopaka stepped inside. The library was dusty, and light streamed in through the broken roof and walls. He immediately set to work rooting around for the manuscript the sought. Eventually, with a cry of triumph, he held up a stone tablet.

"It's done… let's get out of here and find that Guardian."

He turned toward the door to see a familiar outline. "I'm afraid you're not going anywhere, Kopaka," drawled Malak, leaning casually on the doorframe. He walked over to the white Toa and took the stone from his hands before he could react, "The Blade of Blinding Truth?" he read, curiously, "What a heap of garbage."

He hurled the tablet over his shoulder, breaking it. Kopaka suppressed a cry of rage, his eye narrowing.

"Oh but I digress," continued Malak, "No matter how scholarly you are now, Kopaka, you can stay here for good. At least until this island sinks into the lake, that is. Farewell, my friend."

Malak faded from view, and Kopaka instantly felt the library give a shake as the island began to descend into the lake of lava below.

"Aw crap."