Vakama dashed through Ta-Metru, landing at an abandoned steam plant. Looking around at the tall stacks and pipes surrounded on the ground with dirt and rubble, he stalked into it. Not too long after he entered, he heard forms fall to the ground behind him. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw a Keelerak, a Boggarak, and a Roporak.

The Keelerak kept its gaze trained on him, but strafed back and forth warily. You're going to just stand there, intimidating me and pretending you're angrier!? Vakama thought in agitation. Fine! He charged a Rhotuka and launched it at an overhanging beam before any of the Visorak decided to make a move. The fire spinner caused more debris to fall to the ground, blocking him off from the spiders. The city's already dead as it is… he told himself sadly, quickly moving along to exit the scene.

The map led him to the top of the plant, where he easily scaled a vertical wall using his blazer claws. Pulling himself up when he reached the blasted-open top floor, he walked into a small intact room. In the center of the room, the floor was mostly gone (the reason he had to climb the outside of the building to get here). In the hole that used to make up the floor, Vakama could peer down and see the many levels of the building under him, ending in a pool of lava. The most interesting part of the view, though, was the single cantilever beam sticking out into the open with the Makoki Stone sitting precariously on the end of it.

Determined, Vakama stepped one foot in front of the other out onto the suspended structure and picked up the Makoki Stone. It certainly was an odd shape—one sixth of a sphere; one third of a hemisphere. Vakama's observation of the stone was brought short when he heard the sound of metal groaning and weakening. He knew that sound from his days as a mask maker and protodermis worker. It was the sound of heated metal bending.

Vakama turned around to see a Lava Eel coiled around the base of the beam, softening the metal. The only thing he had time to do was cry out "No!" before the beam gave way and he plunged to his far and molten doom.

As he fell, though, his eyes caught something approaching fast from the side. It was a Rhotuka, and its shimmer showed that it was charged with some kind of elemental energy. It whirled in a circle and struck the area of lava beneath him, creating a platform of stone. Vakama landed hard, but alive, on that platform. Wasting no time, he jumped from the quickly melting rock to a nearby metal grate on one of the lower floors of the plant. Behind him, the rock sank completely.

He looked up to see the Toa Hordika of Stone lumbering toward him. "Onewa! How…?"

"Thought you might need a hand here," came the answer, as Onewa lowered his claw clubs. "I heard from Pouks you might be here, but he didn't say why. How did you end up in such danger anyway?"

Vakama held out the Makoki Stone, letting Onewa have a glance. "I am on a mission for Norik," he replied. "We have to find the six Makoki Stones." He held out the map for Onewa to take. "There is one hidden in each Metru. They will lead us to the Mask of Light."

Onewa raised an eyebrow. "A Mask of Light? That's our priority now? What happened to saving the Matoran, or ourselves—we're just running errands for old Rahkshi-looking shorties?"

Vakama took a step forward, nearly backhanding Onewa. "Don't you dare assume I've forgotten what we need to do! We got most of the airship parts for the Matoran. We have to believe the Rahaga know what they're doing and why this is important. Besides, I asked that, too… " Vakama fought hard to lower his tone. He and Onewa were still on the same side. "Norik says this is vital to the future."

"He sounds like Nuju," Onewa commented.

"Maybe… Let's do this, and then we'll get back to fixing things," Vakama said, though he still wasn't sure how they would do this. He pointed to the map Onewa held. "Go quickly to Po-Metru and find the second Makoki Stone."

"If this is really as important as they say…" the Toa of Stone sighed. "Then fine, Vakama; I will meet with you and the others once I have the stone." He turned and began jumping and running away, but couldn't help growling to himself, "but if this takes too much time or is just some wild Rahi chase, someone's going to be sorry…"

X X X

~RAHI BEASTS: Archives Moles~

Domain: Onu-Metru

These small Rahi originally dwelled Po-Metru, but when the number of Assemblers' Villages increased, they were forced to migrate. The majority wound up in the Archives, living in shadowy corners of the vast museum and feeding on insects and microscopic protodites.

Of all Rahi, Archives Moles are probably among the best at working together. Since they are small and relatively defenseless against large predators, cooperation is the only thing that allows them to survive. They have been known to form living ladders to reach high places and living bridges to cross chasms beneath the sub-levels.

The Archives Moles' approach to dealing with the Visorak is simple: run and hide. They can squeeze into spaces far too narrow for a Visorak and can remain there, frozen with fright, until the spider creatures gets frustrated and leaves. Unfortunately, the Visorak sometimes spin webs and block the openings of those spaces, trapping the moles inside. Rahaga Bomonga always keeps an eye out for anything that looks like stray webbing down below, as it often marks an Archives Mole hiding spot.

Rahaga Bomonga says: "Even the small, harmless creatures are stalked by the Visorak. I do what I can to save them, but it is not easy to coax them from their places of refuge. They are afraid…and with good reason."

X X X

~RAHI BEASTS: Artakha Bull~

Domain: Le-Metru

The Artakha Bull is one of the oldest Rahi known to the Matoran, with Archives records dating back well over twenty thousand years. It can be recognized by its unique appearance—that of a spear-wielding centaur with the head of a bull. It is believed to be the inspiration for the legend of the mutant Kane-Ra who guards a tunnel network. Other tales say the Artakha Bull was actually present on Metru Nui before Matoran civilization arose.

It is this latter story that led to these Rahi being named after Artakha, the legendary Matoran place of refuge. According to the tales, these creatures have intelligence far beyond Matoran level. As a result, they were the only creatures allowed by Mata Nui to share Artakha with the Matoran.

Most of this, of course, is probably myth. What is known about the Artakha Bull is that it is swift, strong, an excellent tracker, and seems to be generally hostile. If they were good-natured creatures at any point in the distant past, they certainly are not now.

Rahaga Bomonga says: "It's a smart creature. Catching it means you have to be smarter. The fact that so many are still running around loose in Metru Nui tells you I'm not smarter…yet."

X X X

~RAHI BEASTS: Blade Burrower~

Domain: Onu-Metru

One of the most powerful Rahi known to be in the Onu-Metru Archives sub-levels, the Blade Burrower has been a menace to Matoran for years. Using its powerful claws, it can dig tunnels that closely resemble Matoran made ones. Archivists have been known to mistake these passages for parts of the Archives, wander down them, and never be seen again.

Blade Burrowers hunt largely by smell, having very poor eyesight. When food is scarce in the sub-levels, they have been known to venture up to the public levels, causing huge amounts of destruction. Vahki order enforcement squads have in the past been hard-pressed to contain an enraged Blade Burrower, which often uses its long, club-like tail as a flail to knock down and disperse its enemies.

Thankfully, Blade Burrowers seem to be few in number. Visorak patrols have made efforts to capture them, so far with limited success.

Rahaga Bomonga says: "When I lived in the Archives, I tried mapping the Blade Burrower tunnels. They don't seem to be random at all! It seems like they are building something. What it might be, and why, I don't know."

X X X

Onewa ran through the Sculpture Fields in his bestial form, memories of tracking down Ahkmou in this very place coming back to mind. He pushed away a shudder at what used to be and forced himself to press on in the direction the map indicated. He passed Po-Metru warehouses and storehouses, each one just as broken and eerie as the last. Using his claw clubs as forelegs, he ran through the deserted area alongside some of the other local wildlife.

I don't know which is worse, he thought. That I look like a Vahki or that I look like a Rahi.

The Toa Hordika of Stone jumped and ran, appreciating the faster speed than his usual form. At least that was one benefit of the transformation. Something less positive, he noticed, was that a swarm of Visorak was tailing behind him, running just as fast. They were still behind buildings or on the horizon of the expansive Metru of Po-Metru, but they kicked up dust behind them and were surely coming.

Onewa picked up the pace, pushing himself. The Visorak were gaining, now just several bio away, snapping angrily at him, eager to finish what they had started. He veered off to the right where he saw a canyon. Let's see if they know Metru Nui like I do, he challenged. Leaping from rock to rock, he lost a few, but not many. Hm. Guess they do.

Now an Oohnorak was just on his heels in an expanse again. It snapped at his legs, forcing him to jump out of the way and dash left and right. Of course, that only slowed him down and the other Visorak came close, too.

Seeing an opportunity, Onewa led to another fissure, but this one had one skinny bridge of stone crossing it. He ran out onto the pole, then jumped and spun around. In the air, he launched a stone Rhotuka at the bridge, causing it to break apart and collapse. Three Visorak had made it onto the bridge, only to fall into the chasm below. The rest of the group merely stopped at the edge to look across.

Before they thought of a way to cross, Onewa turned and kept running in his original direction. His side of the bridge had held a cave. It was into that cave he ran.

Inside, there were several crystals growing. They looked like ice, but were in fact minerals of a see-through structure. Following the instructions he was given, Onewa used his claw clubs to smash a hole in the ceiling. Sure enough, there was a hidden chamber up above. When he climbed into it, Onewa's eyes immediately fell onto the Makoki Stone. He put away his Hordika tools to admire the stone.

Suddenly, from behind, he was grabbed by a long appendage from the ceiling and shaken around the room. Onewa looked to find its base, but with all his movement, he could only make out some blue tentacled Rahithat had hidden here. Worse, what he could see were Visorak climbing up through the hole he had made. "Uh-oh…" he said, watching a Suukorak charge its Rhotuka.

The white Visorak let its spinner fly. Onewa wasn't sure if it was aiming for him or the Rahi, but knew what would happen if it landed—an electric stasis field would keep its target captured and a prisoner of the Visorak. Then let's make it choose this beast, he told himself, grabbing the tentacle and forcing it between him and the spinner. The spinner clipped the Rahi, causing lightning to appear around its form and slowly shrink.

Onewa, meanwhile, was released and landed hard on the ground to face the Visorak spiders. He readied his claw clubs, already not liking the odds of five Visorak on one half-Toa. "Alright, then, bring it on!" he yelled, in somewhat of a roar.

The Vohtarak in the lead started forward, but stopped when the ground trembled. Before it and its troops could even figure out how to escape, the floor beneath them collapsed in an earthquake. Onewa blinked in surprise and approached the edge of the new chasm. He smiled when he saw Hordika Whenua climbing up one of the rock faces.

The Toa of Earth jumped to stand next to the Toa of Stone. "Whew, thanks, Whenua! You were just in time," Onewa said, putting away his tools.

"Well you know how it is," Whenua replied with a smile. "Someone has to save you."

"Just this once," Onewa replied.

"Why do you have a Makoki Stone?" Whenua asked, pointing to Onewa's find.

The Toa of Stone held it up closer so Whenua could get a better look. "You know what this is?"

"Only by legend," Whenua replied. "It looks like one of the six pieces."

Onewa nodded, putting the stone away. "It is, and it's real. We have been given a great mission by the Rahaga." He handed Whenua the map. "You must find the stone hidden in the Archives."

Whenua's face became downcast. "Hmmm…the Archives are heavily patrolled by the Visorak, and that may be where lots of Rahi still are. What is this for?"

"Supposedly it's to obtain a Great Kanohi Mask of Light," Onewa said, obviously only half-believing.

"How do you know?" asked Whenua.

Onewa snarled, his face twisting. "Vakama…" he muttered. "Said he got it from the Rahaga."

"Is that a problem?"

"I'm just tired of listening to him—look what happened!" Onewa said, gesturing around. "We followed his plan to get the Great Disks, go the Great Furnace, present them to Turaga Dume, and flee Metru Nui…and this was what we came up with?"

"Don't you trust him?" Whenua asked, concerned to see the team breaking apart at such a critical time.

Onewa turned away. He and Whenua weren't close as Matoran, or even early Toa, but after all they had been through, he knew he could confide. Still facing away, he said softly, "No…I don't."

Whenua nodded, unsure of his own feelings on the Toa of Fire. "Well, for better or worse—"

"For worse…" Onewa interrupted.

Whenua cleared his throat. "Ahem, well, regardless, we're here now. If Vakama got these from the Rahaga, I trust them." Though it's a sad day when we trust strangers over our leader… "I will meet with you and the others once I have the stone," Whenua finished. "Until we meet again, Onewa."

"Yeah," muttered Onewa, still thinking about their conversation. "See you soon."