Listen, Part 5

Onua wasn’t known for a great many things, despite being one of the most powerful Toa in existence.  It wasn’t that he wasn’t good at anything; quite the contrary:  He was particularly adept at mathematics, puzzles, and occasionally puns.  The truth was that most people who were familiar with him didn’t really know him that well.  Even his teammates, the ones closest to him and closest to his heart, could never quite tell what he was thinking.  Though Onua did not shut people out, he just didn’t tend to let people in.  He spoke when it was necessary and when someone needed guidance, but rarely would he ever discuss his personal life with anyone.  As a result, the only things he was particularly known for was being strong, being dependable, and being calm.  Right now, though, he was feeling much more like the calm before the storm.

Taking even breaths as he followed Cicada down the hallway, he struggled to find the best word to describe himself.  All he could come up with was stupid.  Stupid, unbelievably stupid!  Well, maybe foolish would be more dignified, though stupid had a better ring to it.  Careless was definitely in the running, too.  It was certainly accurate.  How else could he explain having bonded with a fragile young woman on a dangerous island in the middle of a dangerous mission, left her alone, and not expected Teridax to target them?!  He knew better than to put someone else at risk, yet he’d completely thrown caution to the wind!  Why on earth had he let his guard down?

Before he could answer his own question, Cicada turned the corner into the lobby.  Just as Onua followed suit, he heard her scream.  Bolting to her side, he pushed her behind him, covered her with his shield, and readied his blaster.  Just as quickly, though, he lowered it with wide eyes.  There were no enemies in the lobby.  In fact, there was nothing alive in the lobby anymore.

The Ba-Matoran owner of the inn lay slumped by the check-in counter; next to him was a Le-Matoran who was likely purchasing a room.  A Ga-Matoran was sprawled prone near the entrance, arms outstretched towards the door.  Most disturbing of all, at least to Onua, was an Onu-Matoran sitting dead in the rocking chair where he himself had sat with Jerbraz only hours before.

The muffled sobs of Cicada made him turn around.  She was beginning to hyperventilate and was quaking with fear, her delicate wings fluttering behind her back.  Onua put a hand on her shoulder for comfort, and she immediately embraced him, crying into his shoulder.  

“M-mata Nui…” she choked out.  “Are, are they all” –

“Yes,” he said quietly.  “There’s no heartlight, not on any of them.”  Cicada’s next sob shook her whole frame.  After a moment, Onua pulled away from her.  “Come on,” he said, taking her free hand.  “Come on, we’ve got to get out of here now.”

Cicada shook her head rapidly.  “I can’t… I can’t go through there.”

“Yes, you can,” he reassured her, gently squeezing her hand.  “Hold onto my arm and close your eyes.  Everything’s going to be okay.”  The girl said nothing, just stared at him while blinking back tears.  After a moment, she swallowed hard and gripped his arm, squeezing her eyes shut.  She felt a warm cloth wrap around her and pull her closer to him; he must have shared his cloak.  Slowly, the Toa of Earth guided her through the room.  He tried not to look at the Onu-Matoran by the fireplace, and he carefully led his companion around the girl lying by the door.  It felt like an eternity to Cicada, but at last her nose caught the scent of damp air and mud, telling her that they were finally outside.  Once she heard Onua shut the door behind them, she opened her eyes and stepped forward alone.  The street was empty and wet, but it was ten times better than what they’d left behind.  She turned around to see her concerned companion.

“Are you alright?” asked the Toa, though he knew the answer was “Karzahni, no”.

As he expected, Cicada shook her head.  “What… why were they – and where did you – how did you not see…?”  She took a deep breath, trying to recollect her thoughts.  “What in blazes is going on?”

“I am so sorry, Cicada,” Onua began, “I never meant for you to” –

“I don’t care about that!” she snapped.  “I want answers!”

Onua sighed, trying to figure out where to begin.  “The Exo-Toa that threatened you were sent by Makuta Teridax, the maniac piloting our universe.”

“Yeah, I figured that much,” answered Cicada.

“He’s intent on crushing any Toa he can find, but he’s especially interested in my team.”

“Why?”

“We fought him personally, played right into his hands, actually.  He won’t kill us outright; we’re some of his favorite toys.  He wants to see us suffer.  That’s why he came after you, I think.”

“What are you talking about?  He attacked me because he thought I knew where you were, didn’t he?”

“He could have found me on his own, if he wanted to.  He’s operating our whole world.  True, he can’t see everywhere at once, but if he was so intent on finding me he could have done it himself.”  Onua paused, feeling slightly sick.  “He just wanted me to find you dead.”

Cicada looked down, trying to process everything.  Finally she spoke:  “Where did you go?  How did you not see all…” she gestured towards the inn.  “All that?”

Onua cracked a broken smile.  He reached into his cloak and pulled out a canteen and a sack of Bula berries.  “I wanted to bring you some breakfast.  You were still asleep, and I didn’t want to wake you.  I’m such an idiot…” he muttered to himself.  Shaking his head, he continued.  “I was on my way back when I heard the shots.  I figured that if I tunneled straight underneath them I could catch them by surprise.”

“It worked,” Cicada said softly, smiling slightly.  It quickly faded as she thought of all the people in the inn.  “What happened to them?”

“There was no sign of struggle.  I think Teridax sucked all the air out of the lobby.  Sound can’t travel in a vacuum, so you didn’t hear them coming until he wanted you to.”

“But wouldn’t a vacuum crush it all?”

“Physics don’t apply unless he wishes it now.”  Despite their grim conversation, Onua smiled.  “That’s a very good observation, though.”

“Thanks, I guess.”  Cicada sighed, forcing the horrific images out of her head.  “So what now?”

“I have to set sail,” he answered.  “I was supposed to meet some allies last night on the Northern Continent, but the storm changed my plans.”

“Do you have a boat?”

“Yes; Toa canisters are too conspicuous.  I can get you one, too, if you’d like.”

Cicada’s brows drew together.  “What?” she asked in confusion.  “What do you mean?”

“It’s way too dangerous here,” he replied.  “I can buy you passage to Nynrah or the Southern Continent, anywhere you’d feel safe.”

Cicada laughed harshly.  “Safe?  Where is safe anymore?”

“Well, you can’t stay here.”

“I don’t intend to.”

“Wait, what are you saying?”  Onua was now thoroughly confused.  “If you’re not staying here, then where on earth” –

“I’m coming with you.”