"Hey Gali, I've got a question."

"Yes Pohatu?"

"What are we going to do with this kid?"

The Toa of Water had to think on that for a while. What could they do? They'd lost track of Nuju and Iruini, stumbled across a corpse, and now had a very dazed four year old to worry about. Pohatu could tell she was having trouble, seemingly, because he grimaced and commented, though it was more of a question. "Maybe we should try finding something to eat? We don't know how long this kid's been down here, after all."

Gali nodded a little, thinking the situation through carefully before giving a response. "That's a good idea, Pohatu, but there's one small problem. We don't even know where the exit is, or if there even is one any more. The only way I know the woman over there didn't starve to death was because she didn't look like she'd suffered from prolonged lack of food and water. Her Brother grimaced at that theory, though when he replied he tried to sound optimistic.

"At least we know there was a way in and out, right? Isn't that something to be happy about? That, and at least this little guy is still alive. It'd be down right horrible if he was dead too." Gali gave a small nod.

"That's also true. However, we don't know how this boy got in here. That woman could've carried him in here through the same path that we entered by." She sighed, looking around the room in grim unease. "All the same, you do have a point… There's no harm in looking around, just in case there is another way out." Pohatu gave a small nod and started walking, holding the lantern high so they could see more of their surroundings. They appeared to be in a large, almost circular room, with broken bits of shelves scattered along the walls and countless books littered the floor. Smashed jars scattered the floor as well, their contents strewn here and there all over the room. Pohatu grimaced at the destruction, picking up one of the less damaged books and looking it over. The cover bore no name or title, nor did the spine, and the pages, or what could be seen of them, had very little signs of being old. Confused by this phenomenon, the Toa of Stone showed it to Gali, his perplexion obvious.

"Hey, what do you make of this? I mean, I'm no book expert, but shouldn't this have a title?"

The Toa of Water blinked slowly as she looked it over. "Yes." She said finally. "This isn't normal… The only books I can think of that wouldn't have a title are notebooks, diaries, or journals. But why would an unlabeled one be down here?" Pohatu shrugged, tucking the book into his satchel as he responded.

"Well, once we get out of here we can take a look and see what's in it." He would've said more, but the boy Gali was carrying murmured something, though it was more like unintelligible nonsense than actual words. Pohatu glanced at him with curiosity. "That was… interesting. No idea what he just said, but at least he talks." Gali gave a slight nod as she looked at the four year old in her arms. His eyes weren't open yet, but he was certainly more awake than a few moments ago.

"How are we going to explain to him that he's only got us to take care of him now?" The Toa of Water asked softly. "It'll hit him harder than you can kick a ball."

"Hey," Pohatu replied, shrugging a little as he looked around the room. "For all we know this kid might not even remember his parents. We don't really know what that capsule was meant for or what it even did. It could have done anything from brain washing to playing music." Gali was about to answer when a very faint breeze blew past them, briefly freshening the air for a few seconds before it faded away. Pohatu looked excited as he sped up, a small grin forming on his face. "Did you feel that?"

"Yes," she replied, smiling a little as she quickened her pace a little. "I certainly did. With any luck we'll be out of here in no time. Personally I'm starting to hope we find a functional shower or fountain nearby. All of this crawling around underground is starting to make me feel just filthy." Her fifteen year old Brother looked at her with amusement, though curiosity laced his expression.

"Are you really complaining about being dirty? At this point in time I'm just thankful for a potential way out of here. That, and the fact this Takua kid appears to be okay." However, that was when the faint sound of clicking echoed to them, sounding as though it were coming from somewhere in front of them. The two teenagers went pale as they looked around in panic. Finding a small side room that seemed to have a functioning door, Gali and Pohatu dashed inside, closing the door behind them and bolting it shut.

"Sheesh…" Pohatu whispered. "Those creepy crawlies are all over the place, aren't they? Where's the bug spray when you need it…" Gali didn't respond, her eyes wide as she stared up at the ceiling.

"P-Pohatu?" She breathed finally. "I-I think we have company…" Blinking, the Toa of Stone looked up, his face paling even more when he saw what 'company' was. Four Visorak, each a different color, were staring hungrily down at them, now clicking their pincers noisily as they started to close in and drop to the floor.

"G-Gali, lend me your hooks." She didn't respond, though judging by her expression it wouldn't have been a problem. Quickly setting the lantern down, the Toa of Stone confiscated his Sister's hooks from her belt and turned to face the four monstrosities that were heading his way. Two of the Visorak attacked at the same time, giving the fifteen year old very little time to react. Barely managing to avoid the attack, Pohatu hooked onto one of the Visorak's pincers, jerking it as hard as he could and managing to throw it into the other that'd charged. Even while this happened, the other two Rahi hurled spinners at the teen, both smashing into him and throwing him against the wall. Within seconds he was fully immobile, not to mention barely conscious. Gali shivered as she pressed herself against the wall, eyes wide as the pair of Visorak moved in on her. Holding Takua close and mentally praying for a miracle, the blue haired girl squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for the end.

But it never came. Instead, the sound of something thick splatting on the floor and the scent of burned meat became shockingly noticeable. Opening her eyes, Gali was met with the sight of four half melted, half charred masses littering the floor, the molten half bright orange and glowing faintly. Too panicked now to do anything else, the Toa of Water slid down the wall, tears streaming down her face. Whimpering quietly, she looked around the room, trying to figure out just what'd happened to the Visorak, and her gaze eventually fell to the half-buried figure at the other side of the room. From what she could see, the man was mildly tanned, had popsicle orange hair, and pale purple eyes. He also appeared to be staring at her, his unblinking gaze studying her every feature. Not too far away from where he lay was a peculiar eye piece, very much like Kopaka's, save that it was very light orange and designed to cover the wearer's left eye instead of the right. Gali finally found her voice, and as she set Takua down, she asked quietly.

"Who are you?"

"Nobody of importance." He replied, his voice quiet "What matters is that you and your friends are okay. I don't have much longer in this world as it is. I've been trapped far too long to have much chance of surviving anywhere, even if I was free." Gali cautiously moved closer to him, avoiding the glowing goo that'd once been the Visorak. Shaking her head as she set about trying to unbury the man, the Toa of Water said softly.

"It's never too late, sir. I'll try to get you free." He looked her over again as the fourteen year old continued moving the rubble that pinned him down He appeared to be debating something about her, because as Gali worked, a thoughtful gleam crossed his eyes.

After several minutes, Gali had managed to unbury the man and pull him away from where he had been trapped. Once he'd been pulled far enough away, Gali started to form a large orb of water between her hands, concentrating as hard as she could and watching as it started to glow pale blue. The half crushed man just watched with amazement as the young Water Toa did this, and appeared to be surprised when she held her hands out towards him, the water spreading over his frame and lingering there like a large bubble, though his face was uncovered to allow breathing. Gali smiled weakly at the man on the floor as she leaned against the wall, sliding down it and into a sitting position. Now thoroughly exhausted, she smiled tiredly at the stranger, her orange eyes seeming to have lost some of their vibrant color and charm.

"See?" She whispered, her voice laced with fatigue. "I told you there was still hope… just rest now, it's the best thing you can do for the moment…" Yawning quietly, the blue haired girl smiled a little more. "I'll keep watch for now… I…" Whatever she was going to say would have to wait, however, because even before Gali could finish, her eyes had closed and she drifted off to sleep.