Steelsheen

Does anyone besides me wish Macku had a more prominent role in later story development? I mean, obviously, Hahli is my favorite, but Macku was such a great personality - feisty and sad, tough and gentle all at once. My siblings and I actually built Ga-koro entirely out of construction paper, tape, and pipe cleaners just to use our home-made Hahli and Macku. (no, I'm not kidding. It was seriously cool. Sadly, it got destroyed when our basement flooded)

Stave 8 He was walking slowly, walking into a Vahki transport. He had seen transports all over the city, but this one was somehow... different. The walls were lined with spherical containers, all with the hatches open. The Vahki directed him towards the nearest one. "What am I supposed to do?" he asked the machine pleadingly. "Fix it? Close it? What?" The questions were pointless, he knew - Vahki couldn't talk. The machine merely gestured towards the sphere again. "Climb... inside?" he said tentatively. "Is that what the Turaga wants?" The Rorzahk nodded. He shrugged. "Weird... but alright. If it will keep us all safe." "It is important that you cooperate with the Vahki enforcers!" someone's voice boomed over a loudspeaker. He took a deep breath and climbed into the sphere. He had to. If he didn't trust his leader, what sort of matoran was he? Satisfied, the mechanical guardians closed the hatch behind him. "Hey!" he shouted, struggling against the door. "Wait!" His pounding slowed. This sphere was somehow peaceful. Peace was something he had not felt for a long time, not since the rumors of the Morbuzakh began. Something in the back of his mind protested against this cloying sweetness, this strange calm. 'Fight it, fight it!' he thought against his own will. He struggled to move, to think. His eyelids felt heavy. 'Fight! Stay awake!' It was no use. Blackness overtook him. His last thoughts drifted into a dreamless sleep. He would never wake again. * * * Gyet yelled and sat up, panting. The darkness that had just enveloped his sight had moved to outside his windows. It was late, perhaps past midnight, and he was safely at home. Another nightmare, he thought, shaking himself. One would think I was a child, instead of an old man, screaming about a bad dream. Across the room, his wife Yulain stirred slightly on her cot, then rolled over. At least she was getting an unbroken night's rest. He got up and went to the window. Gazing through the night, he could easily espy the Coliseum's single spire against the star-lit sky. The building stood as a symbol of the power of the Great One, and of his chosen city. Chosen and conquered, Gyet reminded himself. A lifetime of believing the Great Spirit was good was not easily overcome. So, he is not our savior. Then who is he? How can our history only begin with our memories of waking for the first time to find him standing over us, smiling? The tablets were carved before I was made. Perhaps he wiped out the previous Metru-Nui, and made a new one, with new matoran. A Vahki patrol moved down the street, carelessly noisy. The enforcers weren't programmed for secrecy; they didn't need to be stealthy to do their job. He shut the window, just to be on the safe side. In a city where nothing made sense anymore, you couldn't be too careful. "Gyet?" Yulain asked sleepily, roused by the sound of the shutters. "Go back to sleep, dear. Everything's fine." She smiled and closed her eyes. He wished he could believe his own words. I need to find what happened to the old Metru-Nui. I have to know. And I know who can tell me.Review

As in Chiara Zanni, Hahli's voice actress in MoL? She was in a BIONICLE serial, and I didn't know about it?! *dies* And, along with Katuko, I'd like to know what was the problem?

I love doing that too! It's so much more fun because it allows you display male/female sides of all the elemental sterotypes... And the odd ones out, of course. I never liked her, either. After GregF made a point of keeping romance out of a storyline mostly geared towards little boys (no offense!), it was kinda.... tacky/creepy to have a (forgive the word) sexy female villainess who used her attractivness as a tool. Not sure who's descision that was, but Roodaka was too much of everything to be real.Your list of cool females in entertainment left one out: the ever-silent, but oh-so-epic Chell from Portal! She and Hahli are my favorite computer game characters.EDIT: Just realized I should probably say I am a teen female, for clarity's sake.

Electric pulse sensing! *crickets chirp* OK, so that needs some explaining.All sharks have a specialized organ called an ampullae of Lorenzini in their snouts. It enables them to feel even the most minute elctrical pulses, particularly those given off by movement (creature or machine, both give off electronic signals). Some sharks can even detect a nine-volt battery over a mile away! They can differentiate between pulses, making it a sort of electronic radar. (e.g., they know it's a fish, not a boat) Being able to sense electrical movement would mean:A. No one can ever sneak up on you again, not even a super-Makuta wearing a Volitak.B. You not only know they're coming; you know who they are... So you can avoid the super-Makuta. Seriously, those guys are bad.

Stave 7 Hahli took a deep breath and dove under the Silver Sea. Bubbles rippled off her new Mask of Illusions as she swam deeper, following the cliffside. Nearly thirty feet down, she darted into a small downward-angled opening in the rocks. Inside the sea cave, the water abruptly ended, thanks to the pressure that kept air trapped inside. She stepped onto the smooth floor, shook herself dry and eagerly climbed the rough handholds she had carved out of the wall. Reaching the cavern above, she threw her pack to the floor amid cries of delight. Three children, all under the age of twenty, ran to meet her. "Hahli! You're back! You're back, you're back!" the youngest chanted. She fondly kissed the little Le-matoran's head. "Finally back, Leyana. I thought about you a lot." She turned to the eldest, a Ga-matoran male, and handed him her traveling bag. "Kendral, I brought you some medicine." Her brother smiled gratefully, stifled a cough, and dug through her bag for the package. "And how are you, Jaatiiko?" Hahli enquired of the Ko-matoran who had quietly slipped his hand in hers. "I'm well." His short answer was accompanied with a smile far too wise and mature for a boy of fifteen. Kendral looked his older sister over carefully as he poured some of the precious medicine into a cup. "You're hurt, Hahli." She shrugged, slightly annoyed. Why does he have to say everything he's thinking, especially in front of the little ones? "It's nothing." she said aloud. "A couple scratches. Where's Linkake?" "He left a few hours ago." Kendral replied. "Said he had to go look for something. I guess he's still trying to figure out who he is." Jaatiiko cocked his head slightly. "I think he already knows who he is; he's just scared to face it." "Maybe so." Hahli replied, thinking of the strange red and blue matoran she had found drowning in the Silver Sea only two weeks ago. He remembered nothing of who he was or where he came from, except that her name reminded him of something. Hal-... Hal-something, he had said. Leyana had christened him Linkake, the matoran word for unknown, or stranger. Oddly, he seemed to like it. Or maybe he just likes us, she reminded herself. A blue mask, yellow feet and red armor would be out of place anywhere but this family. Only she and Kendral were related by blood - Leyana and Jaatiiko were children she had found while doing tasks for her master. Both were members of families that had practically abandoned them. Knowing first-hand how cold and ruthless the city was, Hahli had taken the two in and raised them as her siblings. Kendral looked after them while she was away, and her special brand of employment meant she was able to provide them with far better food and clothes than the vast majority of Metru-Nui. It was to these three that she owed her true loyalty, not to the Great Spirit or any Toa. The sound of someone coming up the handholds made her turn, Leyana still clinging to her leg. Linkake emerged from the cave below into the bright, warm family room. "I told you not to go into the city alone." Hahli chided. The young male shrugged. "I had to figure something out. I think I remember why I'm here." Kendral noted the dust covering his friend's armor. "Where were you?" "In the Coliseum." he answered carelessly. Linkake picked Leyana up and threw her onto the soft, Ta-matoran style couch. She giggled and begged for more. Hahli stepped in between him and the little girl. "Leyana, sweetie, I bought you and Jaatiiko some new toys. Why don't you run into my room and open them, alright?" The petite Le-matoran squealed with delight and raced for Hahli's pack. Jaatiiko helped his little sister drag the bag into another room and shut the door behind them. "Should I go, too?" Kendral asked hoarsely, looking to his older sister. Hahli shook her head. "No, I want you to hear this." She turned to the stranger. "Listen, I don't know where you came from, or what you've done, but you need to get something through that thick head. You don't know the city. It's dangerous! You have no district identification, no work papers, nothing! If any Vahki just did a cursory inspection of you at a chute station, you'd be recognized as an outlander and taken straight to the Coliseum. And I don't mean the nice part where the Toa live." He bit his lip. "If you were in my position, what would you do? You'd take any risk to find out who you are and what you're supposed to do!" "If it was just my life I was risking, maybe." she conceded. "But you're not just risking your life - you're risking all of us! I brought you here to keep you safe, not so you could get captured and reveal where my family hides! Not even my master knows I don't live in the city, and there's a reason for that!" She pointed to the room where the younger children had gone. "They are too young to have their lives taken away because you make a mistake! If you stay with us, then you agree not to leave here unless I'm with you. Deal?" He nodded slowly. "I'm sorry. Really. I just... I know I have to do something, and I can't remember what. It's driving me insane." She softened. "Ok, then I'll help you figure that out. But slowly, and carefully. Metru-Nui has two mottos: 'never run from a Vahki', and 'caution saves lives'." Linkake laughed. "You forgot the third one: 'trust no one'." Hahli smiled. "You're getting the idea."Review

Stave 6 Toa Macku of Ga-metru was used to having all sorts of nasty things happen to her. The life of a Toa was filled with deception, intrigue and the angry looks of matoran when they thought the Toa's back was turned. The few who betrayed the Great Spirit's trust were severely punished. Those who made mistakes were berated by the six leaders, sometimes even injured. But even so, she had never experienced anything like this. "I am pleased with the improvement of the canals, Toa." the voice rang with cool approval. "Your record has been unimpeachable." "I am honored that you think so, Great Spirit." she replied, barely able to force the words out. What was this strange presence, racking her mind, reading her thoughts? Was this what they called "mendarii", the Madness? The tall black-and-gold being raised a hand to his chin thoughtfully. "Toa Nihita has recommended you for promotion, and I am, sadly, in need of someone to replace Toa Palti on the Ta-metru docks." He shook his head pityingly at the mention of the Toa who had betrayed him. The Fire Toa who stood at his right side flashed a different emotion at the name: anger. That's to be expected, Macku grimaced mentally. For someone who stepped on anyone and everyone to become Right Hand, Jaller is a fanatic about loyalty. Aloud, she used a surprised tone. "But, Great One, with all due respect, there must be many others who have earned this place in your favor. I have done nothing worthy of a promotion." The Great Spirit laughed. "Such humility! Toa Macku, surely you realize that your district has the best productivity in Ga-metru? Your methods have ensured that the matoran do their jobs well and quickly. Done nothing? On the contrary, you have done much." She could feel herself slipping, losing her grip on reality. Whatever this was, she somehow knew it would be so much easier to give in, to surrender. If she gave herself to this other consciousness, she would feel no more of this pain. But can I come back? she thought woozily. Does it even matter if I can't? Being rid of this pain... is... must be... worth it. The last thing she saw before the blackness obscured her vision was the Great Spirit's face. It was calm, gentle and smiling. And somehow, it was the most frightening thing she had ever seen. * * * "Macku?" a familiar voice said urgently. Something touched her face softly - a hand. "Macku, snap out of it!" She struggled to lift her lids. The darkness still swam before her eyes, but Hewkii's face pierced the mist. She moaned quietly, putting her hand to her head. "Where am I?" she muttered. "Thank the Great Spirit." Hewkii sighed in relief. "You're in the Coliseum, in one of Nihita's chambers. She let me bring you here after the Great One left. For a few minutes, I was pretty worried about you." She dropped her jaw in panic. "I fainted in front of the Great Spirit?!" "Not in front of him. You were perfectly fine until he left. As soon as he was gone, you just keeled over. Most ziron Toa do, the first time they see him." He used the matoran word for a natural, or born Toa. "You get used to it, after a while." "So, I'm alright? I got the promotion?" she asked, feeling warmth flow back into her limbs as her mind revived. Hewkii grinned. "You impressed the Great One. Of course you got the promotion, new head of Ta-metru imports." He clasped her hand with his own and helped her sit up. "You feeling better?" She nodded. "I'll be ok. I'm just not sure what happened." A slight mechanical whir of machinery made her jump, but she quickly realized it was only the air conditioning kicking in. He shrugged. "No one is. Every Toa you see in that throne room has the same feeling you did, in some degree. Honestly, sometimes I go in and can't remember what happened." "Why is that?" she wondered, stretching her aching muscles. "I told you - it's his presence. Something about him just... overpowers you." He didn't speak the finish of his thought, but she could guess. And you'd expect that from someone who took over the city - charisma. Macku bit her lip. "It wasn't fun, whatever it was." He nodded slowly. "Never is. You get used to it." "I don't think I want to." she replied, shivering. * * * The matoran slowly pulled away from the grate, blessing the pipes around him for covering the noise. Spying on Toa was dangerous; even he knew that. But he had to figure out what in Mata Nui's name was going on here. This place was so twisted, so messed up... so unlike the Metru-Nui she had told him about. Who was she? He couldn't remember that, either. He knew the one who found him reminded him of his teacher, but that was all. Any memories beyond a week ago were vague, except for the burning sense of need for fulfillment. As strange as it sounded, even to him, he was here to take down the Great One. That he knew for certain.Review

*gasp* Ceyvim is alive?! Why is he pretending to be Amtra? Did he recognise Talise? Why is he back now? Oh, pleeeeease keep posting!

The review for Danger Close is up! Thanks for your request, Peach 00.-HH

ECC Review:The premise of one of my favorite TV shows is an FBI agent overloaded by demands from his superiors and following protocol. Your story has a similar idea: Toa on a relatively high-tech island in charge of security and, seemingly, a matoran army. The scene where Jilin is attempting to finish all his paperwork is a funny touch. I certainly would never have pictured a matoran being able to boss around Toa, but it seems to work in your world of Rohan.You appear to have a very vivid picture in your mind, which you try to share with your readers by using quite a lot of descriptions and adjectives. One thing you should remember, though, is that your pen (or keyboard, in this case) isn't a movie camera. You don't have to describe everything in such minute detail - leave your readers a little room for their own imaginations to kick in, and you'll find they enjoy it more. In this case, less is more.Some of your sentences are a little hard to follow, mostly because you tend to repeat yourself for emphasis. For example: All you need to say is: Excessive wordiness is easy to fall into, I know. Remember that if you read your writing aloud to yourself, you hear all the little things that you subconsciously gloss over when reading.You have an excellent vocabulary - spelling "claustrophobia" correctly isn't something that I see often. Your imaginative names and characters are also well done, although you may want to be careful of making some of them just a little too extreme or two-dimensional.Keep writing and improving!-HH

Stave 5 Gyet gingerly lifted the mold filled with molten metal using his forge tongs. He set the mold down on a special cooling rack lined with low-power freeze discs, then hit the switch on the machine. The discs began sweeping back and forth, striking the hot metal with a hiss. As the mold and it's contents hardened, he began working on the next set of tools. Day in and day out, this was how he functioned. A Le-matoran would have called it boring, but he found comfort in the steady rhythm of his routine. Or rather, he would have, if not for those tablets. They were destroyed long since. He and five others had memorized them perfectly before they were melted into slag. It was better that way; they could never be found in someone's home or workplace. But the memory of them still burned in his mind, as clearly as if he was seeing them for the first time. There were two of them; rough, a little scorched and carved in haste, as if the author had feared someone - or something - was looking for him. The letters were scrawled rather than printed, but still legible. And the story they told was enough to rattle even a Toa. If they are true, then none of us are safe, even those who do not understand. Our Great Spirit is our great enemy. They were written by someone named Vakama, who claimed to be a Ta-matoran living a little more than two hundred years ago. His writings named a Toa called Lhikan, a "Turaga Dume", and a four-legged creature who had been terrorizing the city. What a Turaga or a four-legged creature were, Gyet had no idea. But Toa were something he understood... And that was the problem. Lhikan was described as a hero; someone Vakama looked up to and trusted. It seemed as though the whole city loved the Toa, who had risked his life to defend them. The Toa Gyet knew served only themselves and the Great Spirit. Most were personally chosen by the Great One himself and transformed from matoran into Toa; a few were the children of Toa, and so grew up Toa themselves. A few have proven themselves useful to us, and one was able to get us those kanohi, even if it was inadvertently, he thought, removing the now-cooled mold from the rack. But heroes? That, I will have to see to believe. He turned out the cooled chisel heads he had just crafted and ran his hands along them. They were perfectly smooth and sharp. As always, he somehow felt that he had missed his calling in life by being assigned to be a tool-crafter. He belonged among the mask makers, the great craftsmatoran of the city. Sometimes he even had dreams of crafting kanohi. He would create the finest masks in the city, and they would be exported by the Toa to a world that would marvel at their perfection. Wake up, Gyet. This is the real world! Mask makers are few and far between. And anyway, would I really want to create things to honor someone I think may have enslaved us all? He shook his head and got back to work. Daydreams were for Ga-matoran, worrying about the future was Ko-matoran business. He was a Ta-matoran, and he would do his duty in the here and now... Whatever the cost.Review

Has anyone suggested Krakua yet? He does seem to have the ability to influence the past (Vakama's vision) and is extremely wise. He's cold and calm, rescourceful and alive. I think he fits pretty well.

Granted, but someone figures out how to recreate reality, and does it so they are the king of everything, and you are the scullery maid.I wish I had a Kanohi Kaukau.

Actually, it is praying mantis, named for the way they hold their front limbs... Like they're praying.

Ok, ftr, I HATE bugs. I have nightmares about them. And so the first thing I did when I saw the pic was scream: "AHHH!". It really does look like a praying mantis! You did an amazing job with this! Did you spend a long time on it? The details are so cool.

Stave 4 "Hey, move that crate along! We're behind, you lazy slugs!" An electric whip cracked over the backs of the dock workers. The matoran that was hit winced and picked up the pace. "Come on, get moving!" The overseer cracked the whip again. He was a Toa of Earth, impressive and powerful in his black and purple armor, and none of the matoran even dared to cry out in his presence. Carefully setting the box she was carrying into a cart, a young Ga-matoran worker went back to unload more from the newly arrived ship. She tripped on a protruding plank, instantly ensuring Toa Palti's wrath. "Get up, you imbecile! By the Great Spirit, how am I supposed to reach even half my quota if I get handed matoran with no brains?!" The whip fell mercilessly across her shoulders, cutting through her flax tunic and stinging her skin - dock workers were not allowed to wear armor for that very purpose. "I'm sorry!" she cried, springing back up only to be struck again. "I'm sorry, Toa; it won't happen again!" "I'll see it doesn't." he snarled. "The rest of you, watch. This is how those who don't honor the Great Spirit are punished!" He pulled a modified vibro-blade out of it's sheath and slashed it across her mask, breaking it into shards and scarring her face. She grimaced in pain and wooziness from the loss of her kanohi, but made no sound. Again, the blade swung down and across her cheek, but she still held her tongue. "Mark this well, matoran!" Toa Palti commanded. "Back to work, sea scum!" He kicked her towards the boat, before turning his attention to some other unfortunate worker. The beaten matoran ran on board the ship and ducked into the hold. Or rather, she whisked around a corner and appeared to go down the hold. In reality, she had slipped into the captain's cabin, shutting and bolting the door noiselessly. She ran her fingers gently over the fresh cuts on her face. My information had better be good to make up for this. Quickly, she went to the floorboard that ran just under the window seat. As she had hoped, one end of it was worn smooth, as if someone had tugged on it often enough to wear it down. She pulled several different ways before the catch was undone. The window seat top lifted up to reveal a smuggling compartment, filled almost to the brim with sacks of various sizes. She opened one. Just what I thought. He'll be pleased. She slung two sacks around her neck and under her tunic. Two would be enough, and besides, without armor, she couldn't carry much without it showing. She shut the compartment and put the board back, taking care to wipe away any dust marks she might have left. Judging by the sounds, it was safe to exit, but she had learned the hard way never to trust appearances. She closed her eyes and focused with her mind. Sensing the water inside living bodies was harder than usual, without her kanohi, but she managed it. There were only two matoran down in the hold and none on the deck. She made her escape and resumed unloading. * * * Several hours later, the Ga-matoran slipped down a back alley, weaving her way through the city streets cautiously. It was after curfew, and plenty of Vahki were always on guard to enforce the law, so it was better to err on the side of caution. Gliding from shadow to shadow, she reached the district near the Coliseum. This was where the Toa lived in lavish mansions or even small skyscrapers, depending on their rank. She went to the back of the tallest one and opened a hatch that blended perfectly with the wall. Inside, a chimney-like access shaft ran straight to the top floor. She crawled in and let the hatch close behind her. After about ten minutes of climbing, she came to the small landing at the top. She knocked on the door in front of her. "Come in." The voice that answered was deep, commanding, and slightly absent. She swung the door open and bowed. Across the room, a Toa of Fire sat at a desk, studying a hologram computer. He looked up as she entered and smiled. "Ah! I expected a report tonight. Anything good?" "I had heard rumors that one of the captains was smuggling in goods for himself from the Outlands." she replied, fishing the two bags out of her cloak and handing them to him. "I got on board Toa Palti's boat and found a compartment full of these. I'm sure you won't find them in the ship's summary." He undid the drawstrings and let the contents spill onto his desk. Two contraband kanohi gleamed in the light of the large fireplace. His eyebrows went up ever so slightly, but she knew what it meant. He was pleased with her success. "He'll have moved them by now, of course, but I figured I could plant these in his home somewhere your searchers would find them and that would be enough." she added, adjusting the temporary mask she wore to cover her injuries. "Well done. Palti is currently in line for a position as head of all imports; this will end his chances in a heartflash." He looked from the illegal cargo to her, studying her face. She met his gaze, unafraid - she had nothing to hide. "You sustained some injuries to get these?" She nodded. "I'll see to it you receive a new kanohi, and extra payment. Anything special in mind?" She hid a smile. "Medicine. My brother has a bad chest cold." The Toa gave her a glimmer of a thoughtful frown. "I'll have it at your chambers within the hour. Plant the masks tonight, and I'll have his house searched tomorrow morning. You may go." He handed her the contraband kanohi and dismissed her with a wave of his hand. She bowed again and headed back towards the access shaft. His voice stopped her. "Matoran!" She turned expectantly, awaiting his orders. "Who commands your loyalty?" he asked, standing up. His bright red and gold armor flashed in the firelight. His eyes looked at her keenly through his Kanohi Hau. "You do, of course, Toa." she replied easily. No hint of a lie appeared on her face. He nodded approval. "Your skills reach new heights. If I didn't know better, I'd believe you." A smile spread across her lips. "You know my loyalty lies with the Great Spirit, sir." Her second answer was the correct one, and he was satisfied with it's sincerity. "Finish the job, then go home to your family, Hahli." "Thank you, sir."Review

Plus, being the leader doesn't mean they're responsible for all the success of the group. Think about how many times the Toa Nuva would've failed without Onua, or Kopaka (I picked the two least likely to lead). Fire may be at the forefront in some groups, but that doesn't make it the star.

I called the originals "Toa Mata" as far back as when the Toa Nuva were released. At the time, everything seemed to have a "Mata" in it somewhere. (ok, so it was just the island and the Great Spirit.... I was 8 years old! Two was everything! ) "Olda" seems like a fanism that wasn't particularly imaginative.

Stave 3Ah, she made it, Hewkii thought to himself, gazing at the Toa of Water across the room. She was actually one of the few people in the room who's name he did know. Macku saw him, smiled and made her way over. "Hey, hotshot; where've you been?" "Oh, checking warehouses, running loyalty tests on young matoran; you know, the usual." He smiled. Somehow, she always made it seem like there was nothing in the world to fear. "I'd have stopped by yesterday, but I got assigned some extra work since Ulaki got promoted." "Any trouble with Vahki?" she asked, slipping her arm through his in a familiar way. "Ever since that meeting the Great One called, I catch them following me more and more often. Always lose 'em again, but still." "I had four tailing me today, but I ditched them." He took a moment to process the full meaning of her words. "Wait, you think the Great One suspects you?" She shrugged as they walked to find some seats. "I don't know. I haven't given him any reason to." "You mean, beyond figuring out that he's not actually the Great Spirit, betraying his teachings and trying to figure out a way to kill him?" Hewkii was only half-teasing. "Yeah, besides that." She grinned, brushing her red-gold hair out of her eyes. "I think it may just be Selpa trying to catch me messing up. I can't figure why that guy hates me so much." "I can." Hewkii tried to shrug off a little jealous twinge. "Because when he offered to move you up the ranks in exchange for marrying him, you turned him down." Macku tossed her lovely head. "If he still hasn't gotten over that, that just proves he's a psycho. Hey, they're getting ready." Hewkii shifted his attention to the front of the room. It had been designed like a stadium, with each row of stone benches being lower than the next. Someone standing at the very bottom of the room could speak quietly and everyone could hear them clearly, while talking at the top made hardly any noise. It was a marvel of Po-matoran design, especially considering that it was built underwater. From the outside, it appeared to be a small cave in the side of a sea mount. Inside, there was a dock for boats, a storage area for supplies, the main hall where they sat now, and the treasured library. Fresh air was let in through special holes drilled through the rock to the top of the sea mount, and given the need, enough supplies could be stored that the entire group could stay for weeks. Hopefully, that will need will never come up, the Toa of Stone mused as he watched three matoran walk down to the bottom of the room and prepare to speak. He recognized one as a carver from south Po-metru, but quickly shifted his thoughts before he could remember his name. "Friends!" One of the three speakers, an old Ta-matoran raised his hand to quiet the assembled conspirators. The thirty-odd matoran and four Toa in the room grew silent. "Two days ago, one of our own was discovered. I felt his last thoughts - he had been taken directly to the Great One." "Did he revealshow us?" a female Le-matoran asked nervously. "He was number eighteen." the Ta-matoran replied sternly. "He took his own life rather than betray us." Macku shook her head sadly. Since names were not known in the group, they all went by numbers. Number eighteen was the matoran who had first brought her here. Hewkii put his hand on her arm, both to comfort and to remind her to show no weakness. As two of the four Toa allowed in this group, they were constantly being analyzed by the matoran leaders to ensure that they were not being crossed. "But before he died, he found something." the Ta-matoran continued. "The Great One attempted to read his mind... And he failed. Our training will enable us to withstand him." The Po-matoran at the front of the room nodded. "Judging by what he told number eighteen, the Great One suspects there are more who know his secret. He'll be looking for us." The third matoran stepped forward. "This is our last meeting for at least a month. The less we all know, the less we can tell. Keep training, and be diligent at your jobs. Those who have to will continue bringing fresh supplies here every so often, just in case." "Dismissed." the Ta-matoran proclaimed. "But if the Toa would stay a few moments..." The matoran quickly got up and headed to their transports. The sooner they got back to their homes, the less suspicion it would arouse. The four Toa - Hewkii, Macku, a Toa of Ice called Matoro and a Toa of Air who's name he didn't know - made their way towards the Ta-matoran known as number nine. "We know that the crackdown will make it especially hard for you Toa." Nine pulled four great kanohi out of his pack. "A friend managed to get these for us. They'll help if you find you need to escape." "Kanohi Volitak." Matoro said, surprise in his cool voice as he took one of the Masks of Stealth. "They're not made here." "No." Nine agreed. "They are not. And these are special, according to my friend. When activated, they take on the shape of your dominant mask. Even if you are spotted, it will appear that nothing is wrong." "Nifty." Macku commented, placing the kanohi over her face and letting it fade in with her Mask of Concealment. Number nine shifted uncomfortably. "As you know, many were against our admitting Toa into our group. I hope you understand the level of risk that my friend underwent to get these for you." "We sureheart understand." the Toa of Air nodded. "We deepfeel the trustfaith in us, and I heartpromise not to let you downfall." "Yeah... What he said." Hewkii rolled his eyes as he put on his new mask. Nine nodded. "Thank you, Toa. After all, if what the tablets say is true, your kind were once protectors, anyway." The four bowed slightly and turned to leave. Matoro tapped his fist against Hewkii's and Macku's, acknowledging the trio's longstanding friendship. "Good to see you both." "'Still alive' was the end of that sentence." Macku laughed. "Good to see you too, pal." Hewkii cut past the pleasantries. "Any news?" Matoro shrugged. As the Toa in charge of the main chute station in Ko-metru, he naturally heard quite a bit of gossip and rumors. Using his inborn logic, he was able to glean fairly accurately what was true and what was mere chatter, making him a major source of news for the conspirators. "Nothing that wasn't said in the meeting." "Mind letting me into the loopswing?" the Toa of Air asked. "I'm number twenty-two. Clubjoined back when I was still a matoran." "Yeah, yeah; nice to meet you and all that." Hewkii brushed him off. "I'm thirty-five, and this is thirty-four." He gestured at Macku. "And if you don't mind, I need to be back in my metru pretty soon, so I gotta run." Matoro followed his brown comrade. "Oh. Yeah, surefine." The green Toa's face looked a little crestfallen. Macku tried to heal the breach as Hewkii and Matoro walked away. "Don't mind him. He has a thing about Le-matoran. You're new to the scene, huh?" "Yep. Got specialchosen last month, bit of longtraining and Toa-power and bam! a new Toa-hero for Le-metru." He smiled, grateful that at least someone cared to ask. "Have you been a Toa-hero for many leafdawns?" "Yeah; all my life." Macku glanced around. Already, there was hardly anyone left inside. "We should get back. It's dangerous for everyone if we stay out too long." "Right, right." the other acquiesced. "Hurryback and hardwork and all that. Heartlife goes on as normalfine."Not really, Macku rolled her eyes. Not if our information is correct. Not if the Great One is who I think he is.Review