CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR: ONE BAG FOR TWO

Kopaka slumped down against the walls of his 'prison'. Vilak had effectively sealed the cold Toa inside his own mind, and was doing whatever he chose with the body. Kopaka beat his fists against the walls that surrounded him, but to no avail.

"Damn…" he murmured, falling against the walls again. He hung his head in his hands, watching the outside world through the pair of windows that had once been his eyes. "…I shouldn't have been so weak."

He began to pace, finding that the movement helped him relax. He decided to analyze his current situation, attempting to glean an escape route. He was trapped as a memory within his own mind, while his body was controlled by a phantom from the past. This wasn't good.

He paused, watching through Vilak's eyes as the demon tore into what was undoubtedly the Earth Guardian. The living earth seemed to come apart as Kopaka watched, and he wanted deeply to kill Vilak as the demon picked up the fourth shard. If Vilak got all five shards… he thought, but forced the remainder of the thought back within his mind. He had to escape… somehow.

As Kopaka was fighting to free himself, Gali was busy explaining herself to the council of Turaga back on Mata-Nui. Initially, her statement about a Kopaka-demon hadn't gone over too well. Three of the Turaga laughed, one coughed self consciously, and two began asking if she felt alright.

It was only after she presented the Turaga with the footprints on the beach where Vilak had left her that they began to show some interest.

"So…" asked Vakama, pacing around one of the clawed footprints, "…what do we do?"

Tahu stepped forward, "Turaga, is there any chance that Kopaka is still alive… or has he been replaced?"

Vakama shrugged, "Search me," he said, "I have no idea whatsoever. Toa Demons are a lost part of history, Tahu."

Onua perked up, "It's happened before, then?" he asked, hesitantly.

Vakama nodded, "Four-thousand years ago, a brave Toa named Kakara was infected by a demon that possessed her body. She managed to control it long enough to find the antidote… but…"

Pohatu tapped his large foot against the ground, "But what?"

Vakama began to pace faster, his staff leaving a third footprint in the sand. "The records of the antidote were lost long ago. All we know was that it was a godly power."

Something flickered in Gali's mind. It was like a ghost of a dream, but tangible. Before she could get a handle on it, it vanished. She shook her head. Her tears had long since dried, but her face still showed the strain of her sobs.

"Well," said Lewa, "Why don't we seek-find white-brother?"

The five remaining Toa stared incredulously at him. "Lewa…" said Takanuva, stepping toward the green Toa, "Kopaka's been infected by this demon! How can we seek him out if…"

Lewa shot Takanuva a glare that could have killed most Rahi. "I know what I'm doing, LightStone!" he snapped, "I'm going to quick-rescue our brother!"

Takanuva took a step backward, "Do what you want."

Thau, however, had other plans. He imprisoned Lewa in a cage of fire before the Toa could move. "No-one goes anywhere!" he snapped, glaring at all those present. "I'll go!"

Gali shook her had, imprisoning everyone within a cage of water. "No," she said, looking at the thunderstruck Toa and Turaga. "I will go."