Reaching the second cover, Tahu glanced around as Kopaka activated his Akaku, he scanned the area thoroughly. "There are matoran on the other side of this cover," he murmured, "They look like they are waiting for someone."
"Us, do you think?" Pohatu commented as Tahu began to work on melting the welding.
"It's possible, we'll have to wait-see." Lewa added as he joined Aikane who was sitting beside the matoran and Amaya, while Gali, Takanuva and Onua quietly talked about what could lay ahead.
"I wish we had a telepathic link with Kokua." Amaya sighed, as they watched Tahu pause, then tap a couple times on the cover, a few moments later he got a response and chuckled, "They'll know now that they may need to move back." he grinned.
Sitting in a group, the matoran were quietly talking, when Lari glanced over to the tunnel cover. "Can anyone hear that?" she asked, the others glanced up, then they cautiously moved closer to the cover and Kewe tapped it curiously a couple of times, a few seconds later they heard someone tap back, so Kewe tapped again.
"I think we should shift-move back a bit." he commented, returning to where they'd been sitting, everyone watched as a white hot line inched its' way around the cover.
It was approaching early afternoon when the cover slowly moved to one side, Haki and the others watched cautiously as several brightly coloured figures carefully placed the cover against the tunnel wall.
As the figures straightened up, they were joined by several more, Kewe and Haki glanced at the others who nodded, then they stepped forwards.
While they approached the Toa and matoran, Tahu placed his Magma Sword, then everyone watched the two matoran coming over to them.
Several minutes passed, then as the others wondered who these beings were, Kewe spoke up, "I saw an odd-strange figure wrapped in bright-light rest-place her right hand on the cover when I was on watch last night. When I asked who she was, she said I had to ask those who were arrive-coming." when Kewe finished speaking, he and the others were surprised by the reaction he got, the violet one came and took his hand.
"That was the Turaga of Colour you saw. I'm Toa Aikane and these are my brothers and sisters and some of the matoran of Metru Nui."
As the introductions were made, Lari noticed that Toa Aikane kept glancing worriedly towards the tunnel entrance, "Toa, what's wrong?" she softly asked, offering Aikane a water canister, after taking a drink, Aikane sat beside her and explained why she was distracted.
"The Piraka took them into their stronghold." Lehua explained as everyone moved to where the matoran had left their blankets, while they began to pack, Hahli and the others chatted with them while Tahu along with his brothers gathered around Aikane, Gali and Amaya as they tried to sense where Anuenue was.
As the Toa then joined all the matoran, Haki after glancing at Kewe and Lehua, smiled, "The best way to rescue our friends and yours is to take you to our Resistance Fortress."
"Resistance?" Kopaka asked, while a couple of the matoran cautiously peered around the edge of the tunnel, before signalling that the way was clear.
"Yes, most of us have been fighting against the Piraka for ages." Lari explained as they swiftly moved towards several pillars and broken statues, while crouching there, the matoran were intrigued as the Toa switched to their Akaku.
"What does this mask do?" Lehua quietly asked Pohatu as they scanned the area, while he explained everyone followed Haki towards a derelict building.
"You'd better wait here, while I go and explain to Garan what's occurring." as he spoke, Hahli asked if she should go with him, seeing as she was the Chronicler, after a brief pause, everyone agreed and watched as Haki and Hahli hurried off.
Kewe and Lehua noticed that the Toa had switched back to their original masks while Kopaka was deliberately staring up at the sky.
Following Haki closely, Hahli wondered just what she'd got herself into and as Haki cautioned her to say nothing until Garan asked her, hoped she hadn't bitten off more than she could swallow.
Taking her hand, Haki tapped swiftly on the door they'd arrived at, and when it opened slightly, dragged Hahli inside, she caught a brief glimpse of a battle-scarred Ga-matoran before her eyes were covered with a blindfold.
"It's about time you turned up! Where's Kewe and who is this?" Hahli heard a sharp voice say, as she was firmly led somewhere then eventually pushed onto a stool.
The room fell silent as Haki explained where he, Kewe and the others had been and what had taken place in the tunnel, when he'd finished, Hahli listened anxiously while the others in the room discussed what they'd been told.
She then heard someone coming over to where she sat. Blinking as the blindfold was removed, Hahli glanced up at the Onu-matoran who'd taken it off and smiled, wondering who he was.
"Welcome Chronicler, sorry about this, but we have to be cautious," he explained, "I'm Garan and I believe you caught a glimpse of Dalu?"
"Yes, if that was the Ga-matoran I saw before I was blindfolded." Hahli replied, glancing around the room curiously.
"Yes, she has gone with Haki to fetch your friends and Piruk is checking out where the Piraka have your friends and ours imprisoned." Garan replied, leading Hahli over to the four matoran who'd stayed when Dalu and Haki had left, and introduced her to them.
"I've read about Metru Nui," Kazi commented as they waited for Dalu and the others to return, "Always thought you'd be taller." he added.
"It's a long story." Hahli murmured, "Will you tell us about your journey here?" Balta asked, while Velika listened as he sketched a smaller version of his latest weapon, Hahli nodded and was about to when Dalu and Haki ushered the Toa and matoran into the room.
Garan asked Hahli if she'd introduce them to the others, while she did, Garan excused himself and went to listen to what Piruk had found out.
Several minutes later they rejoined everyone, as they paused to listen, Amaya was troubled by the expressions on Garan's and Piruk's masks.
"We'll need to move quick-fast if we are to aid-help your Turaga and friend." Piruk said after a few moments silence, then as Garan nodded, Piruk told everyone what he'd seen and heard.
xXx
Kokua opened her eyes and looked around before she stood up, then started as she realized she was dreaming.
As she wondered what was going on, the area around her seemed to shift and Kokua found she was in the middle of a room where her brothers, sisters and some matoran as well as her friends talked earnestly about rescuing Anuenue, her, Shenu, Resha, Tane and Ferus.
Suddenly Aikane glanced to where she was, she then stood up and walked over to where Kokua watched.
"Sister?" Kokua distantly heard Gali and Amaya call out as Aikane stopped in front of her, "Sister, guard Anuenue." she then heard Aikane murmur, holding her right hand out.
Kokua moved to clasp Aikane's hand, the area around her swirled again and she found herself back in the room where she and the others were imprisoned. As her spirit moved back to her sleeping form, Kokua looked at Anuenue's comatose body and whispered.
"I will guard you as Aikane requested." Then as her spirit returned to sleep, she caught a glimpse of a soft glow around her sister.
xXx
Resha, Tane and Ferus looked up as Kokua stirred and awoke, "How do you feel?" Ferus asked passing Kokua a piece of fruit and some water, "Still a little sore. How are you, Tane and Shenu?" Kokua smiled, as she removed the bandages.
"We'll be alright, Kokua. But what can we do for Turaga Anuenue?" Tane asked, as Resha glanced up from where she was sat beside Anuenue, Kokua placed her hand over Anuenue's and looked at them as they gazed anxiously at her.
"The only thing we can do is guard her." she murmured, as the afternoon light shone through the windows.
xXx
Deep in conversation about what they could do to rescue their friends and sisters, Aikane suddenly glanced around, then stood up and went to the middle of the room, as everyone watched curious, Gali and Amaya called out, "Sister?"
When Aikane stopped and softly murmured something as she held her right hand out, a few moments later Aikane sighed, lowered her hand and rejoined Gali, Ahonui, Kongu and Balta, as she sat back down, Gali placed her arm around Aikane's shoulders and gently hugged her.
"What just happened?" Dalu asked Hahli as everyone quietly talked about what they'd just seen, "We'll have to wait for Aikane to let us know," Hahli murmured, then glanced at Dalu, Velika and Kazi, "It looked like she saw someone." she then added softly.
Several minutes passed, then Aikane told everyone how she'd sensed Kokua's dreaming spirit had been there for a few minutes and what she asked her, "Dreaming spirit?!" Kazi muttered sceptically as Garan decided it was time for a break and they went to eat.
Matoro chuckled as Kazi muttered, then quietly explained how close they were, Kazi nodded, but still looked doubtful, then they glanced at Piruk and Kongu who'd started swapping jokes and were sniggering, while Takanuva, Lewa and Onua grinned.
Aikane was talking with Gali, Kopaka, Tahu and Garan as they began to put forward ideas for the rescue.
Pohatu had just asked Velika about what he'd been working on and was now looking perplexed as he, Amaya, Hewkii and Balta tried to solve Velika's riddle.
"Shall I write it down?" Hahli asked as Macku, Lari and Dalu began chuckling, while Kewe and Haki laughed.
xXx
"Guard Turaga Anuenue. But how?" Murmured Ferus, as Shenu went and listened intently at the door, Kokua glanced at Anuenue's still form, then asked them to come closer to her, "Remember the dream we shared?" Shenu, Resha and Tane nodded, while Ferus listened intrigued.
"Well when your spirits fell asleep, the Great Spirit..." Kokua paused and stared at the door listening intently for a few moments, then continued.
"Told Anuenue and I that we were to guide you to your destinies." she whispered softly, as they murmured amazed, Ferus looked at Anuenue, then shifted closer to Kokua, glancing up at her he whispered.
"I had a strange dream last night, you telling Shenu, Resha and Tane, about the one you shared reminded me." He was just about to tell Kokua about it, when the sound of Piraka approaching reached them.
Reidak shoved the door open and entered the room while Thok watched as he stalked over to where the matoran and Kokua were standing.
"Zaktan wants a word." He rumbled, catching hold of Kokua's arm and practically dragging her as she stumbled behind him, they left the room while Thok chuckled darkly as he locked the door.
Glancing worriedly at each other, the matoran hugged, then checked Anuenue, they noticed that the lightstones on her staff glowed slightly, "I hope that's a good sign." Tane murmured as Shenu glanced at Ferus. "What was the odd-strange dream you had?" he asked, while Resha and Tane settled beside them.
Ferus looked embarrassed, then as late afternoon shifted to evening, he explained what he'd dreamt. "I found myself walking in mist and when I stopped to look around the mist started to glow and change colour."
As Ferus paused for a sip of water, they heard a distant scream and listened until they heard the Piraka returning. When the door opened Zaktan dragged Kokua roughly into the room, she was pale and her left arm hung useless.
Shoving Kokua towards the matoran and Anuenue, Zaktan hissed angrily, "Your excuses will only bring you more pain and won't help your Turaga!"
As he left, Vezok dropped more supplies by the door, "Lets see how long it takes you to heal this time." he snickered before locking it.
When the lock clicked, Kokua collapsed to the floor, clutching her arm as Ferus, Resha and Shenu hurried over to help her, carefully they straightened the breaks, then bound Kokua's arm to her body, before assisting her over to the blankets beside Anuenue.
Ferus then gently wrapped another blanket around Kokua as she trembled with pain and shock, "Oh sister, please hurry." he and Resha heard Kokua whisper as she brushed tears from her face.
Unsure what more they could do to help, the matoran settled close to Kokua, silently offering their support and took turns gently hugging her.
After a while Ferus told Kokua about his dream, "And as I stood there watching the colours, a voice said my destiny lay with Shenu, Resha, Tane and two others."
There was a stunned silence when he'd finished, as Shenu, Resha and Tane glanced at each other, then they shifted over to softly tap fists with him.
Smiling through the haze of pain, Kokua then raised her right fist and gently tapped his fist too, as they smiled at each other, she stifled a yawn as sleep finally overcame the pain, when Kokua's eyes started closing, Shenu and Ferus gently eased her into a laying down position and made her as comfortable as they could before they settled close to her and Anuenue, as Tane and Resha helped.
xXx
Slowly Anuenue became aware of a gentle warmth around her, followed by the sensation of being carefully propped up against something.
As the last thing she remembered were feeling extremely dizzy and unnaturally tired, then catching a brief glimpse of Kokua and struggling to speak before the tiredness overwhelmed her, Anuenue opened her eyes and looked around.
Sitting beside her were the spirits of Turaga Lhikan and two Toa, one platinum and one indigo, all of them were watching her and looking worried, as Anuenue looked at them puzzled.
"Youngest Turaga, you should not be here." The indigo Toa said gently, as the mist swirled around them.
"It's too close to where those who have passed into legend rest, and it is not your time to join us." The platinum one added quietly.
As they helped Anuenue stand up, she asked if the Toa would tell me their names, while they and Turaga Lhikan led her away from where they'd discovered her sleeping spirit.
"In a while Turaga Anuenue." The platinum one replied softly, as they carried on walking.
Sometime later, they paused, looked around then sat down.
"We are to wait here for a while." Phira quietly explained as Anuenue settled beside her and glanced at Turaga Lhikan as he nodded to them before walking into the swirling mist.
…
Watching the mist, Anuenue found herself stifling a yawn as she began feeling sleepy, "Sorry." she murmured, trying to stay awake.
"Don't worry sister, it's because your mask's been stolen. We'll watch over you." Atinu smiled as Phira let Anuenue lean against her and the rainbow hued spirit drifted into sleep, then he and Phira glanced in the direction Turaga Lhikan had gone.
Atinu and Phira quietly talked as they waited for Turaga Lhikan to return, then Phira shifted Anuenue so that her head now rested on her lap.
"I wonder where her staff is?" Atinu commented, as Lhikan reappeared from the mist and beckoned to them. Gently, Phira lifted Anuenue up, then both spirit Toa followed him into the mist.
They caught up with Turaga Lhikan and quietly walked beside him, when they reached a clearing in the mist, Atinu and Phira were not surprised to see that the Great Spirit was quietly speaking with his Daughter.
As they drew closer, Aikane glanced around and watched anxiously while Turaga Lhikan bowed to Mata Nui, who nodded and beckoned Phira to join him and Aikane.
"Anuenue's spirit still fights." Phira reassured Aikane as she reached her sister, Aikane smiled relived, then they watched as Mata Nui lifted Anuenue's spirit from Phira's arms and gently passed a gently glowing hand over her mask less face.
As he did that, Phira glanced at Aikane, "Atinu and I helped Lhikan drive the Kanohi Dragon from Metru Nui and we were there when Anuenue's mask regained the power she willingly gave up."
"So that's what you meant when you said 'Hello again, sister'." Aikane murmured, smiling at Phira, as Atinu and Lhikan joined them, sitting down together, they all watched the Great Spirit until Aikane's spirit fell asleep.
Resting her down in the mist, Atinu and Phira then stood up as the Great spirit nodded at them and held Anuenue's sleeping spirit out to Phira.
"When she wakes, keep her talking." he murmured as Turaga Lhikan joined him and the mist around them began to glow brightly, then as Mata Nui and Turaga Lhikan vanished, Anuenue opened her eyes.
xXx
When they'd eaten, Dalu, Lari and Kewe showed the Toa and matoran where they could rest, as they followed them everyone talked about various things.
Aikane quietly thought about how she'd sensed Kokua's dreaming spirit and didn't notice that she'd returned to the room where they'd been planning to rescue Anuenue, Kokua and the matoran
Silently she moved to the middle of the room and sat down to meditate, a few minutes later Aikane was deeply asleep and a soft blue glow surrounded her.
When they realized Aikane was missing, Dalu, Hahli and Gali went to find her, they saw Kazi and Piruk standing at one of the entrances to the main room, murmuring surprised as they kept glancing into it.
As they joined them, Kazi looked up, "Toa Gali, what is Aikane doing?" he murmured, his normally sharp tone subdued, Gali looked into the room, then explained, as Garan came to find out what was happening.
"It looks like the Great Spirit is speaking with her," Gali murmured as Garan, Dalu, Piruk and Kazi listened while occasionally peeking around the corner. "The best thing we can do is wait for morning." she added calmly.
"Why Toa Aikane?" Kazi quietly asked, as they went back to their quarters, Garan, Dalu and Piruk were chatting with Hahli, Gali smiled.
"Aikane is unique, she is Mata Nui's Daughter," she chuckled gently at his stunned expression. "We only found out when we came to Metru Nui." Gali added as they reached the rooms where the rest of the Toa and matoran rested.
"Do you think Aikane will need a blanket?" Kazi then asked, as they entered the rooms and he walked beside Gali to the spare bed, while Kopaka and Amaya watched while Dalu settled beside Hahli and Lari.
"I think she'll appreciate it." Gali smiled, as she picked a folded one up and handed it to him.
Returning to the main room, Kazi quietly thought about what Gali had told him and the others, glancing around the entrance, he saw that the glow was fading and Aikane was now curled up on the floor asleep.
As he walked over to her, Kazi began unfolding the blanket, then found Gali had given him two, after covering Aikane with one, Kazi wrapped the other round his shoulders and sat close by watching Aikane as she slept.
After a while Kazi also drifted off to sleep, occasionally the matoran on duty glanced in, curious as to why the Toa and Kazi were resting there.
"Should we move them to one of the rooms?" one of the guards wondered as he glanced at his companion, "Na they look peaceful, let them rest." Analu gruffly replied, turning to resume her patrol.