Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Red Star

After everything they had done, the Toa had failed. Makuta Icarax had escaped with the Staff of Artakha and all they had to show for it was a flooded and destroyed realm of Karzahni.

Tahu insisted that they had to go on, regardless, and carry out the other tasks on the list. To do that, they would have to split up. Tahu and Kopaka traveled to an island chain far to the south of the universe to quell a series of active volcanoes. Pohatu and Onua journeyed south as well, seeking out an artifact known as the “Heart of the Visorak.” Gali was assigned to return to the surface of the island of Mata Nui, while Lewa… Lewa simply vanished. It was assumed that Tahu had sent him on another mission.

Mata Nui was much changed from when Gali had last visited. The Bohrok had done their work well, scouring it of all trees, rocks, rivers and streams. Their job had not been an easy one, as evidenced by the number of shattered Bohrok scattered about and the badly wounded Kardas Dragon that lay in their midst. The beast had evidently flown up from Voya Nui to the south, interfered with their mission, and paid the price for it.

Gali did what she could to ease its suffering then began her task.

Very few geologic features remained on Mata Nui, but to her surprise, the cliffside and its telescope remained, much as the parchment had assured that they would. As instructed, she focused the telescope on the red star far above. She made careful note of the location of the star in space, its angle to the planet, its brightness and whether it seemed to be moving away from the island, toward it, or remaining parallel to it.

Later on, she could not explain what came over her, but she found herself compelled to combine the power of her Mask of X-Ray Vision with the telescope’s ability. She focused on the red star… only to stumble back, shocked. For she had seen inside the star, but she had not seen a fiery heart of energy, as she’d expected, no. She had seen something else, which chilled her to her core.

She looked again to be sure – yes, her eyes had not deceived her.

There was something alive inside the star.