"After a series of heart-stopping qualifier matches, the 8585th District's Kofo-Jaga have earned the privilege of representing Civitas Magna in this week's kolhii tournament! The dynamic duo of Bour and Keahi won over hearts from all across the city, stunning us all when…" Tarduk looked up. "Gaaki? You still there?"

The Ga-Matoran snapped to attention. "O-Oh, yeah, sounds good!"

Tarduk set down the paper he was reading from and leaned forward. "C'mon, Gaaki, we've got a deadline to meet."

"Sorry...it's just hard to focus." She glanced over her shoulder. "I mean, is this really what should be on the front page? There are much more important things going on."

"You mean the things we were explicitly told not to write about?"

"Not just those, no. What about that art that's been circulating? We're allowed to cover that as long as we don't make it sound like we sympathize."

"Perditus is already doing an article on that."

"He is?"

"Yeah. Page 10."

Gaaki ran a hand over her mask. "No one reads to page 10…"

"Exactly. Haven't you figured Ahkmou out yet? He wants to discourage people from buying and selling any suspected Nynrahn art, sure, but he knows that if he puts too much effort into it, people will get curious. A short afterthought of an editorial, though? A casual dismissal like that will plant the idea to avoid it much more effectively."

Gaaki's eyes traced a crack in the ceiling.

"Look...I'm not happy about it, but this is the situation we find ourselves in, Gaaki."

"So we should just play along? Ignore our responsibility to inform the people? Is that right?"

Tarduk sighed. "...It sure doesn't feel right. But what would we accomplish if we made a push right now? We'd disappear, and the Chronicle would carry on as is-the people would be no better off."

A long silence passed.

"We may be in a position to do some good...but if so, we're only likely to get one good shot. Aim carefully, Gaaki."

The Ga-Matoran veered to one side. Her attempts at forming a response were abandoned when the door swung open, letting in a frantic-looking De-Matoran wearing a Hau. He rushed across the room, stopping only when Gaaki rose from her seat to say, "Woah, slow down there! What've you got, Krakua?"

"I was at the wall," the other Matoran panted, "interviewing teams as they arrived...the Mahri-Nui Hydruka showed up…"

Tarduk leaned back in his chair. "Oh, that does sound like a scoop. From what I hear they almost weren't approved to participate."

Krakua waved his hands. "It's even bigger than that! Hahli and Dekar are here, as expected, but Dekar's the substitute! They've got Hewkii on the team now!"

Everyone looked up from their desks. Gaaki gaped a moment before asking, "From the Atero Scarabax? That Hewkii?"

"Exactly! I've got to run this interview by the editor right away!"

Krakua took off once again. Tarduk glanced at Gaaki, who remained perfectly still, eyes practically bulging out of her mask. Time seemed to freeze in the newsroom as everyone collectively held their breath, until the silence was shattered by footsteps coming through the open door. Gaaki was first to see who it was, and immediately returned to her seat, the shock on her face now mixed with copious dread.

"Slow news day," Ekimu said, tools jangling in his apron pockets as he strode across the floor.

"I am certain they are merely stunned by your arrival, Lord Ekimu," Yarion said, the scuffs on their armor still faintly visible despite its recent polish. "We are all humbled by your presence."

At the back of the room, another door opened; Krakua quietly slinked out, and behind him stormed Ahkmou. The Turaga froze mid-step when he noticed the Great Being.

"Ah, Lord Ekimu," he said, quickly smoothing out his disposition. "It is an honor to meet you in person at last."

"Something's wrong," Ekimu said. It was not a question.

"Ah...not to trouble you, my lord, but I did just receive some concerning news. It seems that someone with ties to Xia has arrived as part of the Mahri-Nui kolhii team. I was just on my way to deal with the issue."

Ekimu inclined his head. Turning towards Krakua, he said, "You saw this?"

"Y-Yes, my lord," Krakua answered. "Hewkii from the Scarabax-"

"I'll have him detained at once, Lord Ekimu," Ahkmou said. "Please, there's no need to worry yourself over the matter."

Ekimu's head swiveled back to regard Ahkmou. "I don't worry."

"O-Oh, of course."

"Leave him be."

Ahkmou raised an eyebrow. "...Ah...not to question you, but are you sure, my lord? I have it on good authority that Hewkii assisted in defending the rebel-held Xia against Atero, and we already had some suspicions toward Mahri-Nui. This is probably a rebel ploy."

"I don't care." Ekimu walked forward. "I came to watch a tournament. Make a mask for the winner. Cause a stir now, and it may as well be cancelled. And what's the worst he can do? Talk? Who's gonna listen when I'm here?"

Ahkmou bowed. "Excellent point, Lord Ekimu. Please forgive my rudeness."

Ekimu passed the Turaga, saying, "Have Vamprah keep an eye on him. Find out what he knows. After the tournament, I'll take him back to the Maze."

"Of course, my lord." Ahkmou nodded to Yarion, who walked back outside. Running after Ekimu, he said, "Now then, on to other matters!"

They disappeared into Ahkmou's office. Tarduk looked again to Gaaki, who was staring hard at the paper in front of her. Quietly, he repeated, "Aim carefully."

Gaaki locked eyes with him. "I will."

Dekar carefully peeked through the blinds. Nothing stood out as suspicious, but it was hard to pick out faces in the large crowd gathered outside the hotel.

"Please stop checking every few minutes," Hahli said. "You're driving me crazy."

"Sorry," he said as he stepped away from the window. "Just a little on-edge."

"I understand. But if someone was coming for us, I'm sure we'd know."

Hewkii lay on one of the beds, casually tossing a kolhii ball up and down. "Be at ease, friends. If we've made it this far, I doubt we have anything to fear."

"Is everyone from Atero so laid-back?" Dekar asked, tone flat as the pavement outside.

"Dekar," Hahli mumbled.

Hewkii sat up. "Oh...sorry, maybe it looks like I'm not taking this seriously."

"No, no, we know you are. But...how are you able to stay so calm?"

"I guess I'm just a little more prepared for being surrounded by enemies. Not that Atero's forces see that much battle, but I imagine it's more than Mahri-Nui's used to."

Dekar crossed his arms. "You'd be surprised. If this is how you approach battle, I'm amazed you've survived this long."

"Hm? You're a warrior?"

"A hunter, at least. I also spend a lot of time surrounded by things that want me dead."

Hewkii hopped to his feet, gently tossing the kolhii ball to Dekar. "I see! That must be exciting work!"

Dekar caught the ball in one hand, instantly stopping all its momentum. "It's necessary work. I wouldn't call it 'exciting'."

Hewkii frowned. Turning to Hahli, he said, "So, what is it you do when you're not playing kolhii?"

"Oh, a little of everything," Hahli said. "Errands, deliveries, even hunting with Dekar every now and then."

"Not really sure what it is you want to do?"

"Well…I've always been curious about reporting, but, there isn't much need for that on an island as small as Mahri-Nui."

"Is that so? Need or not, you could always give it a try."

Dekar shot the ball straight back at Hewkii, the other Toa bouncing it off his chest, rolling it down his arm, and then spinning it atop one finger. Unimpressed, Dekar said, "If you know something isn't necessary, then doing it anyway is a waste of time. Time you could spend doing something else."

Hewkii tilted his head. "...You have quite the work ethic, Dekar. I'm a bit jealous!"

"Is playing kolhii 'necessary', Dekar?" Hahli asked. "You need to have fun every once in a while."

Dekar's arms crossed once again. "I need something to occupy myself. Kolhii at least keeps me in good physical shape. It's practical."

Hahli rolled her eyes. "Oh, alright."

Hewkii began juggling the ball with his foot. "Dekar my friend, I think it would benefit you to relax a bit. Once this is over, I'd be happy to lend you a hand."

"There's no guarantee any of us will be alive when this is over," Dekar said. "Have you forgotten? Did you even understand that risk when you agreed?"

Hewkii balanced the ball on his toe. "I understand, and I haven't forgotten. But what's the harm in a little optimism? Plans falling through is better than seeing a day you never planned for, I think."

"I'll stay focused on the present."

Finally, Hewkii set the ball down, resting his foot atop it. "...You don't like being a part of this operation, do you Dekar?"

Dekar paused. "Honestly? I think it's a bad idea. If it were up to me, I wouldn't have agreed to come."

"It was up to you. You were given a choice in whether you wanted to come or not."

"Hm...I guess I should say 'if it were just about me'. But it isn't. Mahri-Nui has allied with Zaekura, so we all have a responsibility to do what we can to make her vision a reality." His voice dropped a bit. "It's a good vision." Returning to normal volume, he finished, "I'm prepared to do my part, whether I think it's the best move or not."

Hewkii grinned. "I understand now. You're a good Toa, Dekar."

Dekar grumbled something, going to throw himself onto a bed. Hahli said, "Well, I like the plan. Not everyday you get to save the world with kolhii, right?"

Hewkii laughed.

"I'm prepared for whatever might happen. Hearing about what you saw in Xia made me ready to fight."

A knock on the door interrupted the conversation. Hewkii approached, asking, "Who is it?"

"Garan."

Hewkii's face lit up. Opening the door, he said, "Garan! I'm so glad to-"

He was greeted by a punch directly to the mask. Stepping inside, Garan asked, "What do you think you're doing here?"

Dekar and Hahli leapt forward, each grabbing one of Garan's shoulders. "We should ask you that," Dekar said.

"Ow…" Hewkii rubbed his jaw. "I see you haven't gone soft at your new desk job!"

"Why did they let you in?" Garan asked. "Your treachery isn't a secret, Hewkii. It's only a matter of time until you get shipped straight to the Maze."

"Well, if this is going to be my last game of kolhii, you'd better make it a good one."

Garan glared at him in silence for a few seconds.

"Please, Garan-"

"Why? Why did you have to betray us?"

Hewkii shook his head. "I didn't choose to fight against you, Garan. I chose to fight for the people."

"What's the difference?"

"Don't you know?"

Garan huffed. He took a step back, shaking himself free of Hewkii's teammates' grips. "The people will only be safe once Zaekura's defeated. So I'm going make that happen as quickly as possible."

Hewkii gave a single, slow nod. "So that's what you think."

"What else can I think? That it's possible to defy the Great Beings? That a system that's controlled this planet for a hundred thousand years can just come toppling down, and that no one will suffer in the process? You're all just causing pointless chaos-can't you see that?!"

He waited a long time for an answer. Finally, Hewkii said, "I doubt there's anything I can say that you haven't already heard, Garan. Let's get some rest for tomorrow, alright? Play well."

Garan left without another word.

Using her powers of Magnetism, Kojol gently raised a new Peace banner, the old, weathered one now in a pile in the corner. As she set it in place, she heard someone enter the cathedral. She paid them no mind as she made sure the decoration was aligned properly.

"Kojol."

She blinked. Turning, she confirmed what she thought she had heard. "Hmph...seems there truly is a first time for everything."

Gorast growled, taking a seat in one of the pews. "That how you treat your visitors?"

"You're a special exception. Isn't that how you prefer it?"

"Pfeh. You're one to talk."

"Much as I enjoy catching up, Gorast, why don't you simply tell me why you're here?"

Gorast eyed the Suva at the center of the room. "...I don't really know. I was just passing by."

"Then, if you'll excuse me." Kojol continued replacing the banners.

After a very long pause, Gorast said, "I never liked you."

"The feeling is mutual," Kojol said, not slowing in her work.

"You always ignored what the Great Beings wanted and did things your own way. I could never understand that. We exist to serve them."

"Perhaps. The way I look at things, I have a more specific role-not that it need clash with the will of the Great Beings."

"But you're harboring rebels. That idiot reporter interviewed Zaekura right here, didn't he?"

"I am merely carrying out my role as I understand it. Aren't you doing the same?"

Gorast dug her claws into the pew in front of her. "Don't give me that! The will of the Great Beings is absolute, not something you can twist however you want!"

Casting a glance over her shoulder, Kojol said, "Such narrow thinking. Are you wholly dependent on the Great Beings, unable to make any decision for yourself?"

"I don't need to decide for myself!" She slowly rose to her feet. "You may think you know better than the Great Beings, but I'm not that stupid!"

Kojol beat her staff against the floor. "Calm yourself at once! This is a place of peace, and I shall see it remains so!"

"Hah! You really think you could stop me?"

"You may be a peerless warrior, Gorast, but even you could not face down the whole of Ga-Koro single-handedly."

Gorast clicked her claws together. "You sound awfully sure of that."

"Are you prepared to learn why?"

They held each other's gaze for a minute. Then, Gorast snarled and turned aside. "You all sicken me. I'm the only one who deserves the title of Makuta."

"You are certainly the only one who views it the way you do. You're like a child, proudly ignorant of the outside world, clinging to your parent's leg so you cannot miss a single of their acts to perfect your mimicry. At least the child does not know anything else."

Gorast whirled. "What did you say?!"

"I've no intention to repeat myself." Kojol returned to work. "Will you be staying long?"

"...I need to escort Lord Ekimu back to the Maze in a few days. Maybe I should just stay here until then."

"Very well. I hope you enjoy your stay."

Gorast paused. "You'd really let me stay?"

"Of course. Ga-Koro welcomes all."

She wished she had an answer, but she couldn't even process what she was being told. With a low grumble, Gorast sat back down, angrily watching Kojol work as she waited for some kind of retort to come. As she waited, many came and went, offering prayers at the Suva or briefly conversing with Kojol about something-they all seemed wary of Gorast, but none were deterred by her presence. She wasn't entirely sure how she felt about that. Eventually, she got up and left the cathedral; she was only just down its steps when she bumped into a Guurahk wearing a beret.

"Oh...Makuta Gorast," he said. "W-What a surprise…"

Gorast sneered. "It talks...one of Bitil's, I take it?"

"Ah...yes. My name is Ulwin."

"I don't care."

Ulwin nodded and turned to leave.

"...Wait."

Ulwin stopped, half-turning to face her. "Yes?"

"Is Bitil here?"

"No, he isn't."

"...And you're willing to tell me that?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

Gorast clenched her fists. "One of your enemies is right here. Doesn't that worry you?"

Ulwin glanced up the steps for a second. "...It does, yes. But I know that I'm safe here."

Some unfamiliar emotion pulled at Gorast. Ignoring it, she said, "You really think Kojol cares enough to protect you? Bitil's the only one who can stand you mutant slugs. I'm surprised you'd go anywhere without him."

Ulwin's eyes narrowed slightly. "I admit...it has been difficult. And we knew it would be-that's certainly part of why we were always so reluctant to leave father's side. But, slowly, people are coming to understand us, to accept us. Makuta Kojol has welcomed us just as she would any other, and I have complete faith that she would protect us as any other. We've come to realize we don't have to be dependent on father forever."

For reasons she couldn't quite explain, Gorast felt a sickly flame rising within her.

"I quite look forward to venturing to other cities, getting to know more people. I look forward to the safer world Zaekura is fighting for."

"Zaekura," Gorast spat. "She won't win."

Ulwin shrugged. "I suppose we shall see. Good day, Makuta."

He made his way into the cathedral, leaving Gorast to stew. Just as she was about to take her anger out on whatever was within reach, Kojol emerged, eyes immediately locking onto her. Gorast hesitated. And that made her disgusted in herself.

No...I won't be swayed, she thought, turning and walking off. I'm only holding back because the Great Beings told me too.

Her thoughts shifted to Ulwin.

Stupid slug. Rahkshi aren't meant to talk back. Everyone...just keeps stepping out of line.

The crowds parted as Gorast made her way down the street, not a single soul eager for the misfortune of getting in her way. She barely noticed.

But I won't. I'll stay loyal, even if I am the only real Makuta left. Questions and doubts are for the weak. I won't give into that weakness.

ADDENDUM:

-Civitas Magna is so huge that it'd make more sense for each District to have their own kolhii team, but for fairness only one should get to compete in the tournament against teams from other cities.

-"Krakua wears a Suletu, it was only shaped like a Hau because of piece limitations and we have a Suletu design now" yes but the Suletu is ugly as sin, Krakua's mask here is powerless anyway so I'll stick with the good-looking one.