Authraw & Code Lyoko: Thanks and glad you like it…

Popie the Popester: Thanks for reading. Its always good to have new readers…just don't disappear like all the others. Just keep reviewing.

Feline Freak: Glad you like it…still. (Hey! All you people who read these answer-review things…if you like humorous stories, Crazy Adventure by Feline Freak is great…I was rolling on the floor laughing…literally.

MasteroftheIceBlade: Love the name! Yes, I'm guessing Kopaka is your favorite character…mine too. Never mind. Okay…same goes for you as I said to the Popie the Popester…don't disappear…and keep reviewing.

First Ever disclaimer…and last…YAY! This applies for the whole story: Bionicle is not mine! But Enai, El-Koro, the Eli-Matoran, and most importantly, Toa Eli and Ko-Kohilii are MINE! M-I-N-E! Don't care about Naiza (the ko-matoran though...you can use him if you want)

Chapter 16: The Escape

Tahu, Eli, and Kopaka's footsteps could be heard echoing throughout the series of chambers beneath the surface of Mata Nui.

"Oh, that's just great!" Tahu retorted.

"What?" Eli asked skidding to a stop in front of him.

"We're lost," Tahu finished, "Not to mention that Makuta could be lurking around any corner just waiting to ambush us."

Eli shot Tahu a look.

"Lets try to be positive," Eli said warmly.

"And…we still have to find the others," Tahu said.

"Right," Eli agreed, "let's do that and get out of here."

"And not die," said Tahu.

"Thank you for reminding us," Kopaka said shortly. Eli let our an exasperated sigh.

"Let's go," Eli said quietly racing off into the darkness once again.

"Why does she always have to be the leader?" Tahu said.

"Why do you always have to be so hot-headed?" Kopaka started.

"Why do you always have to be so cold?" Tahu said in return.

"Well, stupid, I am the Toa of Ice."

"I'm hot-headed because I'm the Toa of Fire."

"I'm the Toa of Love and I could make you hug each other right now," Eli called over her shoulder.

"NO!" Tahu and Kopaka screamed

XXXX

Finally, after a minute of sprinting Tahu and Kopaka had caught up with Eli. They were right on her tail when she stopped suddenly. Tahu and Kopaka braked to avoid a collision.

"What was with the sudden stop?" Tahu asked. There was no reply from Eli. Tahu came around the front of Eli. Her eyes were large and glossed, as if transfixed on a foreign object. "Do you think she's having a vision?" Tahu questioned.

"Most likely," Kopaka answered.

XXXX

The blackened hallway was like a large, gaping mouth waiting to eat her alive. Eli's feet began to walk straight and then turned left at the first intersection she came to. Walking blindly down the hall, she stopped a door. Matoran markings lined the door. Ezmine Kchadamine it read. Eli reached for the doorknob-

"Eli!" Tahu shouted in her ear.

"What?" she asked startled.

"What did you see?" Tahu asked. Eli looked at him curiously.

"Why…and how did you know that I was having one?"

"Well, you look like this every time you have one of the visions," Tahu said putting on his mock in-a-trance face. Eli growled under her breath.

"So what did you see?" Tahu asked again.

"You kind of disturbed me as I was about to find out," Eli pointed out, "but I'm guessing it was the room where the other Toa are."

"Oh," Tahu said. Kopaka snickered.

"So, where are they?" Kopaka asked. Eli looked around.

"I believe it's this way," Eli said pointing to her left.

"How can you tell?" Tahu chimed in.

"I have this feeling…"

"What if this feeling is leading us the wrong direction?" Tahu questioned. Eli looked at him helplessly.

We are trying to be positive here, Tahu.

Yeah, well, you know me…always negative, Tahu said to her through telepathy.

You got that right, Eli told herself.

Tahu gave her a shove towards the gaping black hallway.

"You first," Tahu said.

"Thanks…I think," Eli said in reply. She paused a minute, then grinned slyly. "Wait a second…if you're the fearless Toa of Fire, why don't you go first?"

Tahu looked at her dumbfounded. How was he supposed to answer to that? If he accepted her challenge, he would appear to be a showoff…If he declined the challenge, Kopaka and Eli would laugh at him and think of him as a coward.

Better to be bold…but If I do that, I would seem-

Tahu, you're thinking too hard…either you do it or you don't. I don't want you to hurt yourself, Eli sighed.

Stop reading my thoughts! Tahu groaned.

But it's fun to see what you are thinking, Eli said, being the playful one this time. She grinned. "And did you just ask why I had to be in the lead? Well, here is your chance," she said giving Tahu a playful shove. Kopaka eyed her every move. Eli put her hands on her hips.

"Girls…" Tahu muttered, taking the lead this time.

Moments passed and the trio reached the door Eli said was the door in her vision. Eli lit her arrow; the hallway glowed a dim yellow-gold light. Matoran markings from many years passed were engraved. Eli traced the lettering with her fingers.

"Ezmine Kchadamine…" Eli read.

"It's not anything I've ever heard or seen before," Tahu said. Eli and Tahu looked at Kopaka. He was studying the markings closely. Finally, he spoke.

"It's some sort of Rahkshi language," Kopaka said. Eli looked sideways at him. He caught her gaze. "Ezmine Kchadamine means 'doorway of trepidation'."

"Is this it?" Tahu asked looking at Kopaka with an odd face that seemed to say 'how did you know that'. Tahu reached for the handle.

"Wait!" Eli stopped him, grabbing his hand. Tahu felt the excitement and suspense building in his chest. "Maybe Kopaka could see through the walls," Eli suggested. She turned to Kopaka. "Can you see if there are life forms on the other side of the wall?" Eli implored.

Kopaka nodded and focused the Konohi Akaku beyond the barrier wall.

XXXX

Eli appeared patient but she shifted uneasily. Tahu could sense the anxiety and tenseness radiating from her body. Tahu grabbed her hand. She jumped and looked into Tahu's eyes.

What? She asked.

It will be alright…they will be alright…we will be alright.

I guess you are right, Eli said tearing her gaze away from Tahu's glassy eyes. There was something about Tahu that made her feel very safe when she was around him. Maybe it is because he is the oldest and it's his job to care for us, Eli said to herself, still holding Tahu's hand absent-mindedly.

What is she thinking about? Tahu thought as he noticed her absence from reality. Kopaka's reply interrupted his thoughts. Tahu quickly released Eli's hand.

"There are five on one side of the chamber and six on the opposite wall," Kopaka said noticing Tahu counting on his fingers. Eli noticed too.

"There are eleven bodies of life in there," Eli told Tahu. Tahu stopped counting on his fingers, feeling stupid. "There is a catch, isn't there?" Eli said noticing Kopaka's silence. Kopaka still said nothing.

"They could be any eleven creatures," Tahu guessed.

"I guess we will have to take that risk," Eli said.

Kopaka cleared his throat.

"What?" Eli asked looking at him.

"They are in there," Kopaka said.

"Why didn't you say so? That could have saved us a bunch of time," Eli said.

"The door is locked," Kopaka said changing the subject.

"No, really?" Tahu said sarcastically. "Makuta would just leave the door open so we could walk right in."

Eli was not listening to them argue. She was looking at the marks on the floor.

"Whoever was guarding this door is gone…" Eli said interrupting Kopaka and Tahu.

"That's good to know. Then you know what to do with the door, right?" Kopaka inquired. Eli nodded.

"None of us have the power of earth, except you at the moment," Tahu affirmed.

"Then I assume you know the drill," Eli implied. Tahu and Kopaka backed up. Kopaka stood behind Eli this time.

Eli felt the power drain from her body as the ball of energy grew. With great effort, it hit the wall with a great force that sent the three Toa flying back a few feet. The pieces of the door rocketed across the room, slamming into the other wall, shaking the underground caves. A few moments passed.

"Where's Eli?" Tahu asked.

"I would be alright if you and Kopaka would GET OFF ME!" Eli snapped. Tahu looked down. Eli was underneath Kopaka, who was underneath himself.

"Yes. Would appreciate that," Kopaka concluded. Tahu scrambled to his feet. Kopaka quickly did so as well.

Eli brushed herself off and lit her arrow once again, illuminating the cell with an eerie, luminous glow. It reflected off the polished walls.

"Heh. I'd know those three anywhere," Lewa's voice said cheerfully from the right side of the wall.

"Come to rescue us at last?" Pohatu chuckled.

"Did you defeat Makuta?" Takanuva asked from beside Gali. His natural glow had faded to that of a moon behind clouds at night.

"Well, he sort of vanished after Eli had defeated the shadow clone Makuta had created of her," Tahu said melting the locks on Pohatu's wrists.

"That's really reassuring…Ouch! You burnt me, Tahu!" Pohatu said.

"Sorry," Tahu muttered less than apologetically.

"It's good to see you again," Gali told Eli as she picked the locks. Eli looked up at her.

"And you," Eli returned. Gali dropped from the wall. Eli moved over to Onua.

"How did you find us? Did you blast through every doorway you came to?" Gali said releasing the locks from Takanuva's wrists, and then his ankles. Takanuva began to glow again. Eli switched off her arrow.

"Not quite," Eli said.

"She had a vision that you were here," Tahu said picking at Lewa's locks.

"Actually, about this door," Eli corrected. She paused a second, then looked at Onua. "I'm surprised you couldn't break out of these…especially you Onua."

"The locks were especially made so the blocked our elemental powers and weakened us," Onua replied.

"Oh."

"How did you escape?" Onua asked landing on his feet.

"Well, Makuta made Eli battle the shadow Tao. She released us be melting the locks. We battled the shadow Toa. Makuta disappears. Eli blasts through the wall…" Tahu said.

"Basically that's how it went," Eli said. Kopaka suddenly appeared at her side. She looked at him curiously. "Where have you been?"

Kopaka motioned over his shoulder. Six Turaga stood gazing at the eight Toa.

"Well done, Eli…Tahu, Kopaka," Turaga Vakama said with a nod, "because of the bravery you three displayed, our lives have been spared. This story will be placed on the Wall of History…Right Chronicler?"

"Yes…" Takanuva nodded and the Toad and Turaga let out quiet laughs.

"Thank you, Toa," Vakama said. With that, Vakama bowed low and the other Turaga followed. Eli smiled and lowered her eyes in embarrassment. Kopaka looked amused. Eli looked at Tahu.

They don't normally do that, do they? Eli assumed as she looked at Tahu.

Nope…Tahu laughed. …But we couldn't have done it without you…

Thanks, Tahu. But without you…I could be dead.

XXXX

Kopaka looked at Eli. He knew that she and Tahu were exchanging thoughts. If Kopaka only knew what they were exchanging, he would be satisfied. Kopaka cleared his throat.

"I believe it is time to depart," Kopaka said, feeling happy that Tahu looked disappointed.

A rumble shook the underground cave. Eli looked Vakama, then appeared startled.

"Yes…let's," Eli said. She looked at the other Toa. "Grab your Turaga…"

"Why?" Pohatu asked.

"You hear that rumble?" Eli asked. The replies of the Toa rang through the cave. A stalactite crashed to the ground beside her. She didn't even flinch when it grazed her armor. Gali looked fearful for a moment. "I may not be one with the earth like Onua but…that's why."

"How did she know that the cave was going to collapse?" Gali asked grabbing Turaga Nokama.

"Common sense would help, but…her mask power is telepathy," Tahu replied, Vakama tightly gripping his back.

"Can we talk about this later?" Eli commented taking the lead and running through the hole in the wall, followed closely by the Toa and their Turaga.

The Toa ran silently through the hallway until they came to a wall.

"Dead End?" Eli cried. The other Toa and Turaga watched and waited for her next action. Eli looked to Kopaka, whom had been studying the wall the entire time. His mask whirred, as he looked beyond the wall.

"Staircase," said Kopaka, "there was a staircase there once…but it was blocked off by this wall by Makuta. The reason I don't know."

"There was a wall, or still is?" Eli asked him avoiding a chunk of rock that fell from the ceiling. The whirring noise from the Konohi Akaku stopped.

"Still."

"Good," Eli concluded, and looked to Onua, whom had just appeared at her side. Eli did not have to ask him anything. He was smiling at her, his quake-breakers already in hand.

Eli nodded as Onua began boring holes in the wall, shaking the ceiling more that it could stand. More and more rocks fell on the Toa and Turaga's heads.

"Onua! Hurry!" Eli cried. She did not have to wait long; Onua's quake-breakers broke through the barrier, producing a small light.

Eli was getting excited as she watched Onua kick the wall with all of his strength. The wall collapsed enabling bright sunlight to stream through and fall upon the Toa, blinding them for a few moments. When their eyes had recovered, Eli motioned for the other Toa to exit the cavern. Eli stayed behind for just a moment more, gazing into the cavern for the last time. Eli was running out of the cavern when SLAM! A falling stalactite fell between her neck and her spine. She fell down in shock from the impact.

Eli struggled to climb to her feet but she could not find the strength to do so. Black stars flashed in front of her eyes. Eli could no longer see the daylight streaming from the stairwell. Then all went black.

XXXX

Tahu did know what was taking Eli so long. Finally, she appeared in the mouth of the cave.

"Finally!" Tahu called to her, "I thought…"

Tahu's voice trailed off as he saw an extremely large stalactite fall from above her. It hit her in the back of the head. It connected with her so hard, she crumpled to the ground instantly. Eli desperately tried to get up, but failed.

"Eli!" Tahu called fearfully. Kopaka and the others turned towards Tahu. Vakama jumped off his back and Tahu raced to Eli's aid. Tahu picked her up as carefully as possible.

A rumble from above Tahu's head did not want to make him hesitate. Tahu grabbed Eli and ran towards the other Toa. All of a sudden the entrance of the cave, in front of him, began to collapse. Tahu put all of his energy into running, getting out of there alive.

I'm not going to make it…Tahu thought in fear. At that moment, an idea found its way into Tahu's head. Nuju…

"Nuju!" Tahu called. Nuju looked at Tahu as he approached. "Keep the cave from collapsing!"

Kopaka looked at Tahu with amazement. He had a bright idea…for once. Kopaka chuckled to himself.

Nuju's mask began to glow as he worked the powers of the Konohi mask of telekinesis. Tahu could tell Nuju was struggling with holding the cave up. It had been a long time since his Konohi Matatu had been used. That just gave Tahu reason to speed up. Seconds later, he exited the cave. Nuju released the floating rocks and they crashed to the ground behind Tahu, creating another wall of stone.

Tahu walked slowly and came to a clearing, which he recognized as the Kini Nui.

Tahu was exhausted as he walked himself to the raised plateau in the center of the Kini: The Amaja Circle. Tahu laid Eli in the sacred sandpit. Kopaka appeared at his side. Neither of the two Toa said anything.

"Is she alive?" Kopaka asked, looking at Eli, speaking after a minute.

"Yes," said Tahu watching Eli's chest rise and fall with the rhythm of her slow breathing.

"You did good, Tahu," Kopaka said quietly, surprised at himself for complimenting Tahu.

"Thanks…" Tahu murmured just as surprised as Kopaka was.

Eli shifted position and slowly opened her eyes. She looked startled to see Tahu and Kopaka standing over her. A sigh of relief escaped Tahu and Kopaka's mouths.

"Eli…" Kopaka said with a small smile.

"Thank Mata Nui you are alright," Tahu said.

"We thought we lost you for a minute there," Pohatu said walking up the steps to the Amaja Circle.

"That would have been a sorry-bad tale," Lewa said appearing next to her. The other Turaga and Toa surrounded her, muttering greetings. Eli smiled warmly at Tahu and he returned the smile, nodding slightly.

Eli motioned for Kopaka and Tahu to come nearer. Still weak from the impact, she grabbed each of their shoulders to stand up. A hush fell over the Toa and Turaga.

Still, with support from Tahu and Kopaka, she clunked fists with the other Toa and bowed slight for the Turaga.

Eli made eye contact with everyone present. Taking a deep breath, with the Toa of Ice and Fire at her side, she spoke,

"Toa…and Turaga," Eli began," We have made…the escape."