"So that's our plan then?" Kopaka inquired, going over the situation carefully in his mind.

"It's the only one I've got." Vakama confessed. "I can't think of anywhere else that would be safe enough, or large enough, for everyone."

The fifteen year old nodded to show that he'd heard, though his expression showed that he thought something was amiss. "There's only one problem with your plan; how are we going to get everyone to go there?"

The Hordika gave him a grim and mysterious smile. "Leave that to me. But I need you to give me something first."

"And what might that be?"

Vakama didn't answer, though as he moved closer, Kopaka caught sight of the feral glint in the Hordika's eyes; a sure-fire sign that, whatever he wanted, it wasn't going to be fun handing over.

^v^v^v^v^v^v^

Tahu frowned as he looked back at the others. "Hurry; we don't know how long our luck is going to hold out." He didn't like how quiet things were; sure, the absence of Visorak was a vast relief, but for things to be this quiet, and for this long… It just felt off.

The others seemed to share his concern, Nokama in particular. Frowning as she ushered Matau and Hlahlu on ahead of her, she responded grimly. "We're hurrying, Tahu. Just stay focused on watching for danger; for all we know, we could be walking straight into a trap."

Hlahlu whimpered faintly. "Why are people trying to trap us? We didn't do anything wrong…" She looked nervously up at Matau. "Did we?"

The colorful Hordika shook his head, pausing briefly to give her a small hug. "Of course not; we're the Toa-Heroes, not the evilbad Rahi-spiders."

Tahu refrained from groaning as he scouted on ahead a little ways. As much as he was glad Matau had his girlfriend back, it was starting to grate on him just how little she could remember. It also reminded him of just how bad the rest of the trapped Matoran would be when they woke up, if not worse. He didn't like the odds, or the idea of having to teach them everything they used to know. And then trying to rebuild Metru Nui had to happen, a veritable nightmare in and of itself. It made him wonder if it was even worth the headache on top of everything else that had to happen.

The fifteen year old was about to voice this to the others, when he caught sight of something up ahead, just barely visible in a nearby alleyway. Was that Kopaka? Without even stopping to consider the situation, Tahu bolted forward, nearly reaching the alley… only to have the figure move further in, as though trying to lead him somewhere. Tahu kept following, determined to catch up. Why was Kopaka running away from him? This was no time for games! The more Tahu thought on it, the angrier he felt. "Kopaka this isn't funny!"

"We're almost there." Kopaka answered. "Just a little further."

Tahu broke into a full-out run. "Slow down!"

"Hurry up then."

The Toa of Fire rounded the last corner, livid by this point… up until he caught a powerless Rhotuka in the back, drawing out a yell as he was knocked forwards. Too dazed to move thanks to smashing his head on the uneven pavement, Tahu stared through watery eyes as he was rolled onto his back… Finding himself face to face with Vakama.

"Looking for something?" The Hordika sneered, dangling a familiar, blood-stained eyepiece where the boy could see it.

"Where is he…?" Tahu coughed out, squinting past his tears and glaring at Vakama. "I… I heard him…"

"Did you really?" The Hordika asked, smirking as a black Visorak moved into view. "All I heard was my Oohnorak messing with your mind, tugging your strings as if you were a pathetic little puppet."

Fury burned within Tahu now, but there was nothing he could do other than glare. "Did you kill him too? Write some fun little message on his back and dump his body somewhere for the others to find?"

"Kill Kopaka? No, he's very much alive. You'll be reunited with him soon enough." The sound of footsteps could now be heard, and Tahu could hear his name being called. For a split second, he felt hope, but then he saw Vakama smirking and it all vanished like smoke in a breeze. Within moments, he, his captor, and the Visorak were all up on the roof, just in time for Nokama, Matau, and Hlahlu to come into view below. "You're too late." Vakama gloated, hoisting Tahu by the back of his shirt so he was easier to see. "I've already got him."

"Vakama no!" Nokama gasped, her expression one of horror as she stared up at them. "You're better than this!"

The Fire Hordika laughed. "Am I? Am I really better than this? What's going to stop me from just gutting him here and now?"

"He's only a child!"

"Lhikan was only my father, and look what happened to him." Vakama waited just long enough for the horrified disgust to set in before continuing. "But, I suppose I could be merciful. Come to the Great Temple if you want Tahu back. If you're fast enough you might just get him back alive. Move extra fast and you might even save Kopaka." With that, he turned and carried Tahu over to the nearby Visorak and dropped him on top of it. What surprised Tahu was how lightly he was dropped. What surprised him even more was Vakama's look of concern and uncertainty. "Stay with the Visorak until you're at the Temple, Kopaka's fine and waiting for you. Sorry for the scare, bye!" And without another word, the Hordika took off like a bullet, leaving Tahu blinking after him.

"… The Karzahni was that all about?"

The whole trip to the Great Temple was spent in confused deliberation. In fact, Tahu only realized he was there when the Oohnorak literally bounced him off onto the doorstep. Blinking back to his senses, the Toa of Fire watched the Rahi scuttle off before remembering why he was there and entering the building, cautious and unsure of what was going to happen next. It looked as though a warzone had hastily been cleaned up, which was likely true, and at the far end of the room sat Kopaka, who was lazily amusing a four year old boy with a few scavenged building blocks. He looked up as soon as Tahu moved closer. "So Vakama found you." The Ice Toa remarked placidly, though there was an undeniable relief in his voice. "He didn't rough you up too badly, I hope?"

Tahu could only stare at him. Here he was, seeming perfectly fine and unharmed – other than the bandage on one of his hands – and even wearing his own, surprisingly clean, eye piece. "You're… You're okay? But Vakama said… and your mask… Kopaka what is going on here?"

"Vakama's getting everyone gathered together again." The Toa of Ice remarked, airily waving his hand. "And what about my mask? I've had it the whole time."

"But Vakama-"

"Made a fake. Honestly Tahu couldn't you figure that out when you saw me wearing this one?"

"The blood was real." The redhead protested sourly. "And how do you know Vakama's actually on our side? He could be doing this to try and trick everyone!"

"For the love of Mata Nui, keep your voice down." Kopaka sighed, shaking his head as he absently gave the child beside him another building block. "One would think you were upset about the whole thing."

"Well of course I am!" Tahu snapped. "I get tricked into thinking you were leading me somewhere, ambushed and threatened by Vakama, and the next thing I know, I'm here, you're perfectly fine, and Vakama is apparently 'playing nice' with us now? What is there that I shouldn't be upset about!?"

The pale one gave him a deadpan stare. "The act that I'm perfectly fine and that Vakama is 'playing nice'. Besides, would you have listened if he just showed up out of the blue and asked you to come here?"

"Eh… no?"

"Exactly. Now just relax; there's a whole plan sorted out already."

"There is?" Now Tahu was curious, a factor that was overriding his previous annoyance at the situation. "What is it?"

"Quite simple, really." Kopaka explained. "Once everyone is here, we'll split up into two teams; one leaves to hunt down Keetongu, and the other goes after Roodaka."

"Somehow I think Team One is the safer option."

"Theoretically, perhaps, but it is still likely to be dangerous. At any rate, that detail is going to be sorted out once everyone is here. In the meantime, we have a more important job."

"Oh? What job is that?"

Kopaka gave the ghost of an amused seeming smile. "Babysitting."