Disclaimer: Just in case, I'm putting this up for a scene from a movie that takes place in this chapter (I couldn't resist :)). Read and find out which scene and what movie.
The hours passed and the sun was preparing to set. "I still don't understand why she hasn't transformed yet," the blue Rahkshi-being said to her red counterpart.
"Perhaps it's like Nuju said," replied the red one. "Maybe her physiology makes her somewhat, if not completely, immune to the venom's effects."
"I personally hope it's the latter."
"Just don't get your hopes up too high, sister. There's still the possibility."
The blue one nodded in understanding and the red one departed. It was then that Kit regained consciousness to find the blue Rahkshi creature beside her and gasped. "Calm yourself, young one," it said gently. "I will not harm you." Reluctantly, Kit allowed it to usher her back down; she felt so weak and sick, she couldn't fight back even if she wanted to.
"Who and what are you? Where am I? Where are the others?" she mumbled.
"My name is Gaaki, a Rahaga," the Rahkshi-like being answered with a gentle smile. "You're in Ga-Metru, and your friends are nearby and well. How are you feeling?"
"A little better than I have been all day," Kit replied, after giving it some thought.
"Good," Gaaki nodded, "perhaps tomorrow you'll be strong enough to be moved, if not walk."
After taking note that the girl's condition did seem to be improving with her veins not looking as green, her breathing more steady, and her fever had gone down a little, the Rahaga decided to take leave to let her rest some more and Kit closed her eyes. However, they snapped wide open an instant later; something wasn't right. Her heart rate had increased for no apparent reason and her hands were quivering. "Gaaki," she called to the Rahaga.
Seeing that the kid seemed to be in distress, Gaaki asked, "What is it?"
"Something's happening," Kit whispered.
She instinctively clenched her hands into fists and, without warning, a spasm made her arch her back. She writhed in pain as violent shudders took over her body, making her thrash about. Fearing and knowing what was happening, Gaaki called for the Toa. They were there in a flash and watched in horror as Kit began to glow, change and groan in pain, unable to do a thing to help her. On the other end, Kit could feel muscles expanding and her body being painfully changed, but the worst part was what she could feel happening inside her head. Her mind felt it was being torn apart from the inside and put back together, but not in the way it was before. The pain for that was so great, there was no describing it. Finally, it was over and she collapsed, breathing heavily. Whenua and Nokama were about to move to go see her when Kit began to get up on her hands and knees. Turning to the Toa, she asked, "How bad is it?" When no answer came, she looked into a nearby puddle, and froze. Very, very light tannish-brown colored fur covered her face, arms and hands; her palms were calloused and rough, like the pads under a cat's paws; her round pupils were narrow slits; cat ears popped out through her hair; and her teeth, namely her canines, were fangs.
When she bowed her head, Gaaki approached and placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's alright, Kit," she comforted.
"It's not that," the girl replied. After glancing at the Toa, she whispered in the Rahaga's ear.
The next thing the Toa knew, Gaaki asked them to excuse her and Kit for minute and the girl disappeared behind a statue. "Ready?" asked Gaaki to Kit. The answer must've been yes for then the Rahaga gave a mighty pull. When Kit came back, there didn't seem to be much difference.
"What was that all about?" Onewa asked.
As if in answer, a tail revealed itself from behind her. The red Rahaga watched from close by with sad eyes; the human's physiology didn't spare her from such a cruel fate, only postponed it.
Later, after dark, the Toa and Kit gathered near the fountain, all talking at once about one thing or another. "Brothers, we must be patient," Nokama said, bringing them to silence as she saw the red figure from earlier come near.
"Keetongu" it said.
"The Key to Nongu?" asked Onewa, confused.
"Keetongu," the stranger chuckled, "is a most honorable creature and skilled in the ways of venoms, not to mention our only hope to stand against the Visorak horde. If you are to be the Toa and human you once were, it is Keetongu you must seek."
"But, what are we now?" asked Nokama as she gazed at her weapon-arm.
"Hordika venom courses within you," the stranger replied. "If it is not neutralized it will take root, and Hordika you will be forever."
"Like you?" inquired Nuju, a bit nervous.
"I am a Rahaga. Norik is my name," Norik corrected, and introduced his fellow Rahaga: Gaaki, Bomonga, Kualus, Pouks, and Iruini.
"Rahaga, can you take us to this Keetongu?" asked Nokama. Iruini burst out laughing, but stopped when Norik gave him a sharp look. "I don't understand," said the Water Toa.
"What Iruini so inappropriately suggests is that this will be difficult," Norik explained. "We Rahaga have come to Metru Nui in search of Keetongu ourselves, and there are those that . . . well, doubt his existence entirely."
"And, you?" asked Kit.
"I believe," Norik responded with sincerity in his eyes.
"Then, so must we," said Nokama, receiving a chuckle from Matau, who asked if they should talk about a plan.
"What do you say, mask-melter?" he glared at Vakama, who was experimenting with his new tool.
"I say we came to Metru Nui to rescue the Matoran, not go on safari," the Fire Hordika answered.
"And, you have a way to do this?" Norik bounded over to him. "Perhaps using your new Hordika powers . . .," and he blew out the small flame that Vakama managed to conjure, "powers you have not yet learned to use."
With a frustrated growl, Vakama slammed the rip in the pipe shut and walked off. Norik offered to go talk to him and followed. No one noticed that Kit also walked off, toward the direction of the fountain. Though the girl knew cats could see very well in the dark, she was still, at first, a little surprised that she could see so well in the dark. She stared at the image in the water, hoping that somehow it would change and show her a human kid. But, a human-cat hybrid creature just stared back at her and, feeling anger rise up inside of her, she splashed the water with her hands. 'That's not me. I'm a kid, not a monster,' she said to herself as she continued to splash the water, as if trying to beat the creature that looked back at her. Finally, she gave up and walked back to the campsite.
"Where've you been?" asked Whenua when he saw the girl.
"At the fountain," she replied, then a light from a fireflyer caught her eye and she chased after it.
The Toa and Rahaga watched in wonder. "I honestly don't know whether to find this disturbing or cute," Nokama said with a smile. Like a kitten, Kit leaped after the insect trying to catch it in her hands.
Shortly after the fireflyer flew too high for her to jump after, Norik arrived, alone. "Vakama has a lot on his mind," he said. "We must give him time to find his destiny."
"Yeah, but what if finds a really bad one?" Onewa asked.
Unable to think of an answer for that, Norik simply pointed out that they had to start their search for the legendary Keetongu immediately, to which Matau was more than happy to oblige. "But, where to start?" asked Nuju.
"Somewhere you know well," Norik chuckled, and he led the way.
The red eyes of a Boggarak spotted the group and recognized them as the ones Roodaka wanted. It vibrated a strand of the web it stood on, sending a signal to its brethren to come. Within moments, reinforcements arrived and they planned an ambush.
As they walked, Kit suddenly froze and stiffened. Her ears twitched this way and that, her senses were on the alert, and she could smell a scent in the air that did not belong to any of the Toa or Rahaga—a scent that inexplicably made the hairs on her spine stand on end. Bomonga noticed and was about to speak when she motioned for him to remain silent. After a few tense moments, he tried again and whispered, "What's wrong?"
"Do you hear that?" asked the girl. The Rahaga shook his head, and Kit answered, "Something's here." Suddenly, quicker than the eye could follow, Kit grabbed the Rahaga with a yell of, "Get down!" and leaped to the side, just barely avoiding a Rhotuka spinner.
The squad of Boggarak showed themselves and surrounded the group. The Toa Hordika and Kit in turn formed a circle around the Rahaga. One Boggarak screeched at Kit and the girl answered with a glare and a mountain lion-like scream. The spider didn't even flinch, used to beasts making threatening sounds, and it pounced. To the Visorak's slight surprise, Kit also leaped into the air and knocked it back down to the ground. By now, Kit and the Toa were engaged in battle with every member of the small squad. However, during the fight, the Toa and Kit learned that their elemental, mask, and energy powers weren't responding to their commands. Thankfully, the Rahaga instructed them on how to use their new Rhotuka launchers. Although, being left without such a device, Kit was left to use nothing but her hands, feet, and claws. One of the robot spiders charged, only to be stopped by Kit grabbing hold of its mandibles. Girl and spider struggled and, certain of its victory, the blue Visorak's eyes gleamed with evil anticipation. However, in one swift movement, Kit twisted the spider's head. There was a loud crack, the Boggarak screeched in pain, and it fell to the ground. Without a second thought, Kit sprung toward the two remaining Visorak. She leaped onto one's back and, before the spider could do anything about it, she spear-handed her claws through the armor at the back of its neck. Like its fallen comrade, the spider screeched as she ripped out a bundle of cords and it too fell, its eyes dark. As for the last Visorak, the last thing it saw was a look of ferocity like none it had seen before in the small one's eyes.
Kit gazed at her handiwork and let out a roar, a roar of triumph over an enemy. When she looked at the Toa Hordika and Rahaga, there was horror on their faces. "W-What's the matter?" she asked. "What are you all staring at? You look like you've seen a ghost or something."
"You killed them," Nokama said in a quiet voice. Seeing the girl's confused expression, the Hordika of Water pointed to the dead Visorak.
Kit gasped in shock, "H-How? Why?"
"The last two, you ripped out some vital circuits," Pouks said after some examining, "and this one's neck is broken, between the second and third vertebrae."
Kit couldn't believe it—she was actually capable of all of that destruction? "You don't remember doing any of that?" asked Nuju.
"I do, now that I think about it," she replied, "but it's like it wasn't just me, but something else was there, too."
"It was the instinct of the beast," said Norik, "the battle had roused it." Then, deciding it was best to put the incident behind them, he insisted that they continue on their way.
Later, Matau gazed at the back of the group where Kit trudged. If he didn't know any better, he could've sworn she was purposely staying back. He slowed his pace so he was right next to her. "What's the problem-matter, Kit? You look so dark-serious," he asked.
"I can't stop thinking about what happened with those Visorak back there," she answered without even meeting his eyes. Matau nodded in understanding, figuring that what happened back there must've unnerved her far more than it did him and the others. "I can't explain it, but, back there, it felt like something else, a feeling I've never felt before, took over. Then, I felt a desire to protect my territory, and those that wouldn't leave . . ." Then, Kit turned to the Hordika of Air with desperate eyes, "Don't you get it? I enjoyed it; the neck-twisting, the ripping out of vital circuits, the killing, everything."
Matau remained silent; as much as he wanted to say something, he didn't know what to say. Norik called for a halt and pointed to what lay before them. "The Great Temple?" Nuju gasped at the structure silhouetted in the rising sun.
Matau, skeptical, said, "I'm certain-sure it could've helped our old Toa-hero selves, but now?"
"We'll never find a way to change back if you keep talking like that," Onewa snapped.
"You're right, I'm sorry," the Air Hordika mockingly apologized. "I don't know what's gotten into me. Oh, that's right—some kind of Rahi-monster!"
Nokama groaned as her brother Toa put on a show of growls and slashing movements. "If you are quite done, we should go inside," Norik chided, which brought Matau's fit to a halt.
"Kit, would you not mind getting your tail out of the way," Nuju asked, annoyed. The girl glanced to discover that her new tail was twitching all over the place near the Ice Hordika's feet, forcing him to watch where he stepped to keep from stepping on it.
"Sorry," she apologized as she grabbed it, "I guess since I'm not used to having a tail, it kind of has a mind of its own." Suddenly, a grasshopper-like insect caught Kit's eye and, just like with the fireflyer, she wanted to chase it. She stopped herself, remembering that it was the animal instinct that made her so vicious earlier, but the urge to go after the little thing was too much to resist and she pounced—only to just miss the bug.
Norik noticed the girl's attempt and chuckled, "What are you doing, Kit?"
"Pouncing," she replied after a failed second try.
"If you like, I could give you some pointers," the Rahaga offered.
"You know how to pounce?"
"I know a few things."
Norik eyed Iruini nearby, "Iruini, would not mind turning around so your back is facing Kit and me?" The green Rahaga complied with a nod and went about his business while Norik whispered, "Stay low to the ground," to Kit, gently guiding her posture.
"Stay low to the ground. Check," she confirmed, then Iruini happened to glance behind him.
"What's going on?"
"A pouncing lesson," Norik answered.
"Oh, good, pouncing," said Iruini, then, eyes wide, he realized what was going on behind him. "Pouncing! Norik, you can't be serious."
Norik, however, proved he was serious by gesturing Iruini to turn back around. Once he was, Norik whispered to Kit, "Try not to make a sound."
"What are you telling her, Norik?" Iruini asked, only to discover that teacher and student disappeared amongst the rocks, as if they had never been there. "Norik? Kit?" the Rahaga asked nervously.
Suddenly, without warning, a shape sprang and pinned him to the ground. Norik, to say the least, could be heard laughing his head off, and Kit trotted back to him. "That's very good, for a first try," he praised. As the three went to join the others, Iruini mumbled under his breath that he was going to get Norik for that.
Kit then became aware of an itch in the very center of her back, but, not matter what she tried, she couldn't reach it. "Need a hand?" Gaaki asked.
"Please?" Kit inquired as she lowered herself.
As soon as the blue Rahaga started scratching the trouble spot, Kit reacted as any cat would—she slightly arched her shoulders, purred, and her tail wagged excitedly. "You see? It's not all bad," said Gaaki, earning a questionable expression from the girl. With a simple wink, Gaaki activated her rotor blades and followed her brothers toward the temple.
"Come along," called Norik as he bounded after them. "Our best chance to find Keetongu lies within the temple." He turned back to find Kit and the Hordika a way's back, as if meaning to keep their distance from the building. "Is something wrong?" he asked.
The Toa and Kit looked at each other; they all knew they could all feel it. For some reason, they felt they couldn't come any closer to the temple, and whenever they tried, each step was harder than the last. "It might be best if we wait here," said Nokama. "The Great Temple is sacred to Toa. Given what has happened to us, I'm not sure it would be right."
Norik nodded. He understood that what was happening was their Hordika sides, a corruption, was responding to the Great Temple by making the Toa and Kit very uncomfortable being anywhere near it. "I understand. Our work here will not go unnoticed. You must guard the gates. We need until tomorrow morning."
"Consider it done," Nokama agreed, and she and the others dispersed. All except Matau, who tried to suggest that they talk about the situation, but was struck down by the others. Norik shrugged and left to join the other Rahaga.
That night, Kit and the Toa stood guard at separate posts around the temple. At one point, Kit thought she saw something move in the shadows and heard something. Carefully, she crept over the ridge to get a better look, but saw and smelled nothing. 'Hphm, must be hearing and seeing things,' she said to herself, and walked away. Down below, a pair of green eyes observed the girl leaving and the red figure continued on its way toward the Great Temple, followed by a few Visorak.