By the time Anuenue awoke fully, night had fallen and the matoran were gathered closely around Kokua, "Sister are you alright?" she murmured gently, as she shifted closer to where the Torahka sat. Glancing up, Kokua smiled weakly, "One of the Piraka, he thinks I'm cute." she shuddered as her sister gently wrapped the blanket around her shoulders before hugging her tightly. All the while Resha and Ferus tried to get her to have something to eat and drink, "Sister, you must eat." Anuenue whispered as she lent against her. Rubbing the tears from her face Kokua nodded quietly, then everyone tensed, hearing footsteps approaching.
Watching the door, Shenu, Tane and Anuenue moved to stand in front of Kokua, Resha and Ferus, as the door opened, Zaktan and Avak entered, carrying more food, water and blankets.
"Ah, Turaga, you're awake. I look forward to speaking with you tomorrow." Zaktan purred as he dropped the blankets down while Avak would have handed the fruit and water canisters to Kokua, but as the three watching him refused to move out of his way, he had no choice but to hand them to Tane and Shenu.
Not taking her eyes from him the rainbow hued Turaga nodded once, then Zaktan bowed mockingly, before he shoved Avak out the room, locking the door again. Turning quickly to Kokua, Anuenue reached her side as she reached out to hug her, Kokua looked at her concerned.
"Sister, be careful, it was him and that beast Vezok who..." her voice trailed away as she shuddered again, Anuenue glanced around at the matoran who'd all moved closer to reassure Kokua, "I will be sister." she smiled at her, then examined some of the fruit that Avak had given to Shenu.
While Anuenue distracted Kokua by asking her to help sort the fruit, Resha and the others sorted the blankets in a corner of the room, then Tane helped carry the fruit while Shenu took the water canisters.
Resha insisted that Kokua and Anuenue had the makeshift beds nearest the wall, while the matoran settled on the blankets around where they now sat.
As they passed the fruit around, Anuenue smiled as she noted that Resha and the others had set out the blankets in such a way that they guarded her and Kokua.
After eating they quietly talked, until they found themselves falling asleep. Curling up beside Anuenue, Kokua hugged her close as she fell asleep, so the rainbow hued Turaga clasped her hand and drifted off to sleep.
In the middle of the night, the door silently open and Avak entered the room, looking over to where the captives slept, he moved closer to them for a better look at Kokua.
Disturbed by a draught, Anuenue opened her eyes slightly and watched Avak closely as he stood there gazing at Kokua, her hand tightened around her staff, causing the lightstone shards to start glowing.
He startled when he realized she was awake, growled menacingly and as Anuenue continued staring silently at him, left relocking the door.
As the lock clicked, Kokua sat up and stared around wildly, before laying down again, she hadn't woken at all, Anuenue gently moved her arm back around her shoulders so that she could hold her hand again and whispered reassuringly to her for several minutes.
When Anuenue drifted back to sleep, she wondered about the dream she'd had of seeing Resha, Shenu, Tane, Ferus and a Ta- and Po-matoran with them standing in a circle and behind them were the ghostly images of Toa whom she'd never seen before, "Guess I'll find out sometime." Anuenue thought falling asleep.
xXx
Haki looked around as the others finished laying out their blankets, then glanced up at the sealed seaway tunnel entrance.
"The cover's welded closed from the other side, what do we do now?" Lehua asked, joining him and passing Haki some fruit while the others settled down to sleep.
"I'll take next watch-guard." The nearest Le-matoran commented as he glanced at Haki and Lehua.
"I get the feeling we have to wait." Haki quietly replied, finding a spot to sit and keep watch, "You should get some rest my friend." he smiled at Lehua, who nodded.
"I'll take the third watch." he replied grinning, as he headed for some empty blankets and settled down.
While his friends slept, Haki wondered why something so dangerous felt like the right thing to be doing, not long after he glanced around puzzled.
"What's that?" he wondered as the sound of bells chiming reached him, glancing around to check on his friends, Haki then walked towards where the sound was coming from.
For a few moments he thought the sound was emitting from the cover, then as he reached it, Haki realized the chiming was coming from a small tunnel just big enough for him to squeeze through.
Haki paused, wondering if he should rouse one of his friends, when the sound changed slightly, turning back to the tunnel Haki silently made his way through, held enthralled by the chiming.
He entered a small chamber and moved towards a chest, which he opened, then lifted out four great Kanohi which he placed on the ground then sat in front of them, a glow surrounded the masks for several minutes as Haki watched mesmerized.
Then when the glow faded, he carefully placed the masks away as the sound of chiming faded, then Haki blinked as he came out of the trance.
"Where am I?" he murmured, glancing around the small empty chamber puzzled, shrugging, unaware he now carried four great masks, Haki retraced his steps back to where his friends still slept.
Sitting back beside them, he wondered how long he'd been in that chamber, glancing towards the entrance, Haki realized his watch was nearly over.
"Wow, that's weird." he whispered, then went to wake Kewe, after listening to Kewe grumbling about his favourite dream being spoilt, Haki chuckled. "You've had that dream loads of times."
Kewe grinned "Yeah, but it's a glad-happy dream, everything vibrant and cheerful." he smiled as Haki mock punched his arm, before settling down to rest.
...
Halfway through his part of the watch, Kewe stood up and had a quiet look around, he was just sitting down when he saw a glow appearing in the entrance to the tunnel.
It moved towards where he stood and as the glow moved past him, Kewe realized there was a figure within it.
"Er..." he murmured as the glow moved towards the seaway cover, the figure glanced towards him and gestured that he wasn't to speak, Kewe nodded and watched as the glow covered figure reached out and placed its right hand on the cover.
When the glow covered figure moved back to where Kewe stood, it paused and glanced at him, then nodded silently and as the glowing figure began to disappear, Kewe murmured, "Who are you?"
A few seconds later, he thought he heard a whisper. "Ask those who are coming."
xXx
Waking from the dream of touching the blocked seaway entrance, Anuenue slowly eased Kokua's arm away to let herself up and then placed her staff where he'd slept. She mumbled, stirred slightly and clasped it pulling towards her.
Glancing towards the nearest window; the Turaga saw that dawn was trying to lighten the cloudy sky.
Silently moving away from where Kokua and the matoran slept, the Turaga sat on the bench nearest the door and waited.
Fairly soon she heard footsteps approaching and watched the door, when it opened Anuenue glanced over to Kokua and the matoran, then left the room before Hakann could grab her arm and drag her out.
The Turaga of Colour glanced up at him, Avak and Thok as they glowered at her.
"Zaktan wants a word with you Turaga." Avak growled, as he locked the door, its click rousing the matoran
As they started back down the corridor, the rainbow hued Turaga was suddenly picked up and unceremoniously carried down several corridors before they entered a large room where the other Piraka waited.
"So nice of you to join us, Turaga." Zaktan's mocking voice commented, as Thok dropped her on the table, Anuenue glanced around at the Piraka as Zaktan stalked over to the table where she sat.
"Now then, what are you and that freak doing here?" he growled as the other Piraka stood around the table.
"I really don't know why," Anuenue replied, determined not to tell them about what the Great Spirit had said in the dream Kokua, Resha, Shenu, Tane and she had shared, "I was quite surprised when I awoke in the old hall."
When the Turaga finished speaking, the other Piraka sniggered, while Zaktan's face darkened in barely controlled rage.
"What was that glow which surrounded you, Kokua and the matoran?" Avak suddenly asked, while Zaktan snarled curses the Turaga had never heard before. "What glow?" she asked as innocently.
"The glow that covered you when we captured you!" Reidak growled, Anuenue shrugged, "If it happened while we slept I've no idea." the Piraka moved into a huddle and spoke quietly for several minutes before turning back to the table, Vezok and Thok grabbed the Turaga's arms and held tightly.
"You and that freak have information I want," Zaktan snarled as he glared at her. "And seeing as you don't know your destiny. Here allow me to provide it for you."
with that comment, he placed his hands either side of Anuenue's head and pulled her mask off.
"Take her back, this should make her friend talk." he chuckled darkly as the others joined in, Thok lifted Anuenue up while her vision blurred and darkened.
xXx
Kokua awoke as Resha gently shook her arm, "Mmm...what's wrong?" she murmured, rubbing her eyes.
"Oh Kokua, Turaga Anuenue's with the Piraka!" Resha whispered while the others drew closer to them, Kokua shivered as she hugged Anuenue's staff.
"Any idea how long?" Kokua murmured as they finished the fruit left from last night and looked at the fruit they'd left for Anuenue.
"Too long!" Ferus replied worriedly, they jumped as the door opened and Thok walked in, as Thok put Anuenue on the floor and Avak put more fruit and water down, Zaktan leered at Kokua.
"Your precious Turaga didn't give us the answers we required, so I'm hanging onto this until you do." he held up Anuenue's mask, then chuckled as he and the others left.
xXx
The Turaga watched as the Toa and matoran climbed into the boats.
"It'll be odd-strange, you not being with us." Lewa murmured, as he stood beside Matau and Dume, who smiled, "One of us is waiting for you along with Kokua," He said "So we will be with you in a way."
Lewa nodded as he joined Tahu, Macku and Ahonui in the last boat, while the others waited a short distance out.
When they reached them, everyone looked back to where the Turaga watched, they then raised their staffs in salute.
"Mata Nui guide you." they heard the Turaga saying, then after raising their hands in response, the Toa began paddling towards the other end of the seaway tunnel.
The journey passed quietly for a while, then suddenly Aikane stiffened and dropped her paddle into the water before fainting.
Hahli swiftly retrieved it, while Takanuva and Onua quickly moved their boat closer so Gali could help Aikane who'd turned pale as she shivered.
Swapping places with Kongu, Gali knelt beside Aikane as Kopaka tied their boat to the one Takanuva and Onua paddled, both nodded and switched to their Pakari, while Kopaka steered.
"Oh!" Gali exclaimed softly, causing Kopaka and Hahli to glance around as the boats continued through the tunnel, Aikane lay there, still unconscious, but the diamond on her mask now glowed brilliant white.
This was noticed by everyone else who steered their boats closer to see if there was anything they could do to help.
After a while Amaya swapped places with Hahli to see if she could restore Aikane's colour, several minutes later, they watched as Aikane's form regained its proper hue.
When Amaya exchanged places with Hahli, Matoro offered her some fruit and water, and she watched the boat with Gali and Aikane in intently while she ate.
Roughly an hour passed before Gali noticed that the diamond was turning back to sky blue and not long after, Aikane's eyes flickered as she began to come round.
"Oh sister, you worried us. What's happened?" Gali softly asked as she helped Aikane into a sitting position, she silently hugged Gali, "Someone has taken Anuenue's mask from her. She's drifted into a coma." came Aikane's silent reply.
Then everyone caught their first view of the platform that led to the welded cover Kopaka, Takanuva and Pohatu had seen, quietly they watched as Takanuva, Onua and Kopaka steered the boats up to the platform behind the other two boats which Matoro and Macku were tying up.
Ahonui caught the rope Onua threw and began to fasten it.
"Oh Ahonui, let me," Macku smiled "You still haven't mastered that particular knot yet." she murmured, as he watched her tying it firmly to the post, the Toa then gathered around Gali and Aikane, to find out how Aikane was.
"Please don't tell anyone yet." she asked Gali, while she reassured the others that she was alright, as they moved to where the matoran had finished checking the moorings and were getting the bags out, as they did, Amaya slipped her arm around Aikane's shoulders gently reassuring her, "I heard, I won't say anything until you are ready."
xXx
As soon as the door closed on the Piraka's mocking laughter, Kokua and the matoran hurried to Anuenue's side.
Resha glanced worriedly at Shenu as Kokua lifted Anuenue up and took her over to the blankets, gently placing Anuenue down; Kokua glanced at Shenu as he joined her.
As they watched Anuenue, her eyes flickered open briefly, bending closer to hug her Kokua carefully raised Anuenue up and they all heard her murmur, "Destiny." before lapsing into unconsciousness.
"Sister, wake up." Kokua whispered as she lay Anuenue back down again and Tane covered her with a blanket.
"Kokua, unless we get Turaga Anuenue's mask back or another, she will remain trapped in a coma." Tane whispered as Kokua began to silently cry, the tears dripping onto Anuenue's face.
Resha, Ferus and Shenu coaxed Kokua to sit beside Anuenue and then draped a couple of blankets around her shoulders, she held Anuenue's staff tightly for a while, then turned Anuenue's right hand, palm up and held hers over the symbol there.
"Mata Nui!" The matoran exclaimed as a thin beam of rainbow coloured light flowed from her palm to Anuenue's, when it stopped, Kokua placed Anuenue's staff in her right hand and gently closed her fingers around it.
"How did you do that?" Resha whispered amazed, as Kokua sank back against the wall exhausted, she looked at the matoran who gathered closer to listen.
"Anuenue and Amaya are Turaga and Toa of Colour. The spark on my palm was once Anuenue's, it gives me some ability with colour." she glanced at Anuenue, then accepted the piece of fruit Tane passed her.
As they silently ate, the sound of footsteps reached them, then Shenu, Ferus and Tane moved to stand in front of Kokua, while Resha positioned herself in front of Anuenue.
The footsteps stopped outside the room, then after several long minutes the door opened and Zaktan entered, followed by Vezok and Reidak.
"Ready to tell us why you and the Turaga are here, freak?" Zaktan growled as he moved closer to where the matoran, Kokua and Anuenue were, Kokua looked up at him as he stopped and glared at her.
"How can I tell you, when neither of us know." Kokua whispered after several moments of silence passed, Zaktan snarled as he shoved Shenu, Ferus and Tane out the way and grabbed Kokua.
Pulling her closer, until they were face to face, Zaktan hissed, "Don't try and fool me. You're here for some reason and she won't get her mask back until I've found out what!" he then let go of Kokua suddenly, causing her to stumble as she tried not to fall onto Anuenue and slammed into the wall, Zaktan paused as he followed Vezok and Reidak out the room.
"The longer you stall telling us, the deeper her coma becomes." he added ominously before slamming the door behind him, locking it.
Rubbing her shoulder and arm, Kokua helped Shenu and Tane up, while Resha aided Ferus, when they'd been settled, Resha gently checked Kokua's arm and shoulder, then ripped a blanket up and used it to support Kokua's wrenched shoulder.
As Kokua sat back beside Tane and Shenu, she watched Anuenue until she drifted into sleep.