"You've been watching us for a long time?" Trelex asked, more than a little surprised. "exactly how long is 'a long time?'"
The mysterious being known as Durdrax didn't even bother to face the Toa of Electricity as he answered his question. Instead, he continued towards the Rahkshi of Quick Healing, which continued to struggle its way up the stalagmite. "A few thousand years, if you must know," He said dismissively. "When it became known that there were ten Matoran on this island who were destined to become Toa, it became my job to find them and make sure nothing happened to them that might keep them from their destiny." As he got even closer to the stuck Rahkshi, his form shimmered and was replaced by that of a muscular black-and-red armored Toa.
Both Aroda and Trelex had to do a double take at the newcomer's sudden change in appearance, but it was the Toa of Electricity who spoke first. "Wait, you're a Toa?" was all he could manage.
Durdrax laughed and turned to face the Toa. "Nope! I'm a Makuta. Shapeshifting is an innate ability in my species." Both Toa had their weapons drawn at the word, but Durdrax paid them no mind. "Please. Even in this form I'm far more powerful than the two of you put together. Besides, I'm on your side. Anyway, I shapeshifted to a Toa so that I wouldn't attract as much attention from the Matoran." He gestured to the muttering crowd that was just beginning to gather around the Toa and the trapped Rahkshi. "They're not supposed to know I even exist. Hopefully they'll assume that I'm a Toa who can shapeshift."
"And what if they don't?" asked Aroda suspiciously. "What if they figure out the truth?"
"They won't, trust me." Durdrax said nonchalantly as he returned his attention to the Rahkshi. The Rahkshi's faceplates opened to reveal its hideous face, tentacles waving maniacally. Durdrax reached out and grabbed the writhing tentacles in his clawed hand and pulled hard. To the great shock of both of the Toa, the creature's face came out of the armor, revealing a long, snakelike body. As soon as the creature left the Rahkshi, the Rahkshi's limbs fell limp and it slid back down the stone spike.
"Ugh!" Trelex gagged at the sight of the squirming creature. He was joined by a collective gasp from the crowd. "What is that, and what was it doing inside that thing's head?" It reminded him a bit of a Doom Viper, except with one head instead of six. He had once had a terrifying encounter with a doom viper, and he had been deathly afraid of snakes of any sort ever since.
"This?" Durdrax indicated the creature he held in his hand, as if it were nothing. "It's a Kraata. Don't let it touch your mask or you will fall under the control of Makuta Vidaraz. Believe me when I say you don't want that to happen."
Aroda's eyebrows went up. "Oh? It's happened to you?"
"Ha! Hardly," Durdrax chuckled, "I simply happen to… have some experience with the process." Aroda and Trelex glanced at each other uneasily. They silently agreed not to pursue the subject.
Durdrax slipped the Kraata into a small canister and tossed it to Aroda. Because it had not been intended as an attack, Aroda's Mask of Foresight did not alert him to the incoming object. He fumbled with it for a few seconds before managing to get a firm grip on it. "If this thing is as dangerous as you say it is, why are you giving it to us?" he asked Durdrax.
"While it's true that Kraata are dangerous," Durdrax explained, "Kraata of Quick Healing can be quite useful. They possess the ability to heal not only themselves, but also others. Place it on a wound or injury and it will heal right up, as good as new."
Aroda looked into the container. Its walls were almost transparent, and he found a smug feeling of satisfaction to see the Kraata confined in such a tight space. "Serves you right, you little bugger," He scolded, giving the canister a good hard shake. There was a muffled hiss as the Kraata responded angrily. He replied in kind by stuffing the canister into his backpack.
"Hey, Aroda! Trelex? Are you guys okay?" The two Toa forgot about Durdrax and looked up. They were greeted by the sight Zakita descending above them. The Toa of Stone and Electricity grinned at each other.
"Don't worry, we're fine!" Trelex said as the Toa of Air's feet gently hit the ground. "Where are the others?"
"Right here!" called out a voice that Trelex recognized as Jakorak's. Trelex peeked over Zakita's shoulder and saw Jakorak and the rest of the Toa wading through the crowd of Matoran, which slowly began to separate to form a path for them.
"You know, I never thought I'd be so happy to see you!" said Hedak. "I was actually worried about you guys!" He caught Trelex in a sudden headlock and proceeded noogie the Toa of Electricity.
"Yow!" Trelex yelped. He struggled in vain under Hedak's grip. "Anyway," he said through clenched teeth, "We managed to take care of the Rahkshi. You guys missed the fun." He managed to slip out of the headlock using his Mask of Friction.
"Rahkshi?" asked Sasi. "What's that?"
"The creepy lizard things that attacked us." Aroda said, pointing at the motionless armor on the stone spike. "That thing." The newly arrived Toa noticed Durdrax standing next to the defeated creature.
"Who's the new guy?" asked Zakita.
"Who?" Trelex asked, suddenly remembering the Makuta. "Oh,you mean him. He's a -"
"I'm a wandering Toa who heard that Gundaru Nui is in a bit of a pinch as of late and decided to help."
Sasi scowled. "That's not exactly a complete introduction. Can't you, like, at least tell us your name?"
"If was getting to that, Toa of Ice." Durdrax shot back before turning his attention to the rest of the Toa. "I'm Durdrax, Toa of Shadows."