The sound of cracking wood rang out around them as more of the door broke away and the Visorak began to crawl through the hole. A bolt of lightning shot from the darkness as a white-haired woman moved into view, her piercingly bright yellow eyes seeming to glow with rage and hatred for the arachnoid Rahi that were pouring in. The bolt of electricity found its mark, frying the Visorak that it hit and arching to another, killing it as well. Bakuma's eyes narrowed as he held his hands out, palm up. Thorn-riddled vines shot froth from the mossy patches on his wrists, entangling two more of the abominations and crushing them as the deadly tendrils broke off of the Toa's frame, falling to the floor and withering within moments. Out of the corner of Pohatu's eye, he saw Iruini launch an energy disk of his own at one of the attacking creatures, striking it and causing web like strands of energy to wrap around its legs, causing it to fall from the doorway and out of sight.

"Oy! A little help would be appreciated!" Pohatu and Gali both looked towards the voice, discovering that Mihkoro was fighting off no less than three Visorak. Narrowly avoiding an acid green disk, which melted the section of floor that it hit as Gali ducked, the two Toa Mata ran towards their older companion, Gali blasting one of the Visorak back with a jet of water from her palm, and Pohatu hitting one with a piece of rubble that he'd kicked on the way over. Glancing briefly at the two Rahi as they rolled past, Mihkoro barked out a faint laugh.

"I don't care what Metru you're from, that had to hurt!" Pohatu laughed lightly as he turned his gaze to the next oncoming Visorak, just in time to avoid another energy disk. As he did so, the Toa of Stone asked, watching as it left a burn mark on the floor.

"What exactly are those energy disks called anyway?" Iruini frowned as he threw another disk of his own.

"They're name-called Rhotuka, and sting like crazy when you get hit with one."

"I know that last part. But how can you throw them?" The mutated being rolled his eyes.

"Don't bother asking about it. Just quick-fight!" Pohatu sighed quietly, but heeded Iruini's response, kicking another rock and knocking several Visorak right off the wall. That was when he heard Gali scream. Turning just in time to see her get hit with a pale yellow Rhotuka, the Toa of Stone ran towards her, managing to catch the temporarily paralyzed girl before she hit the floor. Now Pohatu had a problem. He couldn't fight and hold Gali at the same time, and setting her down would risk her being taken while he had his attention divided.

"I need some help over here!" Hera, it seemed, was the only one who heard him that was able to help. Racing over and blasting away several of the spider-like Rahi with electricity, she said hurriedly.

"Stick close to Mihkoro. He needs your help as much as you need his!" Pohatu gave a quick nod before hurrying closer to Mihkoro, holding Gali close the whole time. Once he got there, the dark Toa glanced at him and commented, his expression and tone grim.

"I'm almost ready. Stick close so I can send you two through." Pohatu blinked.

"Two?" He asked. "What about Toa Bakuma? He's still coming…right?" Mihkoro didn't answer, but his expression told it all; the mutated Toa had been brought down and taken.

"…Iruini is going with you instead. I would've preferred Hera or Kajuni, but Hera refused and Kajuni's somewhere outside. I'm not leaving until everyone else is safe, which means you're either on your own or with Iruini, and considering the current state of the city, and Gali, I'm not going to let you just run off on your own." Pohatu gave a weak nod, kicking a nearby piece of debris and hitting a Visorak that was closing in on them.

"…Is Bakuma going to be okay? They won't kill him…will they?" The dark Toa sighed as he hurled a fireball at one of the other Rahi, his expression one of concern.

"I'm not sure, Pohatu. For all I know he could be dead already. But dwelling on that fact won't help us make it out alive." Turning, he cut down another Visorak as it got within range. Even as he looked around and dodged a Rhotuka that'd been aimed at his head, there was no hiding or denying that something was weighing heavily on Mihkoro's mind. Pohatu noticed it easily, and as he ducked under another energy disk, he asked worriedly.

"What's bothering you, Mihkoro? …Well, other than the obvious fact that we're in the middle of a bug-infested apocalypse and trying to last out a siege." The dark Toa gave a faint and hollow laugh.

"Amusing choice of words. Anyway, what bothers me is Vakama. What if we can't bring him to his senses? I've killed many people in the past. Too many people. I don't want to add him to the list as well. I don't even know if I could bring myself to finish him off." Pohatu shook his head before moving out of the way as Mihkoro killed off another Visorak.

"I don't think any of us could, Mihkoro… Vakama will be alright. We just have to have faith."

"Yeah…I guess you're right." He hesitated a moment, looking around and soon locating Iruini. Taking note of the Rahaga's location, he shouted. "Iruini get over here! It's time to go!" Hearing the dark Toa's words, the mutated man started towards them, ducking and dodging as more Rhotuka were flung his way.

"I'm quick-coming! Just open the portal-door and get those two through it!" Heeding the Rahaga's advice, Mihkoro quickly moved his hand around in front of him, as though drawing a doorway with his fingertips. Shadowy lines trailed after his hand's movement, and as he finished, the center area filled in, leaving a swirling mass of shadows where the outline had been. Looking at Pohatu, he said urgently.

"Hurry, take Gali and get out of here. Iruini will be right behind you."

"But what about you?"

"Don't worry about me. Now go!" Before Pohatu even had time to argue, Mihkoro had put a hand on him and pushed, sending him stumbling through the portal with Gali still in his arms.

The boy tumbled out into an almost pitch-black tunnel, managing to twist his personage so Gali landed on him instead of the floor. Groaning dazedly, the Toa of Stone pushed himself into a sitting position, now watching the black portal that Mihkoro had pushed them through. What felt like ages passed before the shadows swirled again, seeming to spit Iruini out before it faded, leaving the trio on their own, with no way to get back. The Rahaga groaned irritably as he picked himself up and started to fuss with his fragile looking wings.

"That wife of his really needs to listen-obey sometimes." Pohatu cleared his throat, catching the adult's attention.

"Sir, not to be a pain, but we really need to get moving and we don't have a flashlight. Any idea what we can do about it?" Iruini huffed quietly and shook his head.

"Not a clue. All I know is that Mihkoro really has poor-bad planning skills." Gali managed to recover her voice.

"What about one of those glowing disks you were throwing earlier? Would that work? We can't do anything without having something to use as a light…" The Rahaga blinked as he thought over her suggestion.

"…good thought-plan." However, not long after Iruini's Rhotuka was glowing bright enough, the sound of numerous footsteps echoed to them. Someone was coming.