Seeing that Rai was more or less indisposed for the time being, Maya meandered out into the bustling hangar with the hope of catching a quick word with Fuma; however, snippets of tense conversation as well as a myriad of concerned dispositions alluded to the absence of the fiery leader. That’s just swell, Maya thought as she disdainfully leaned against a wall with her arms crossed across her chest. Grim notions crossed her mind as she fretted that perhaps she would be unable to convince Rai to join the Archons, especially without Fuma’s approval. In a peaceful universe void of malicious beings, that would be a perfectly fine option (preferable, even), but unfortunately, the Archons faced a darker reality. If Maya didn’t get through to Rai with reason and persuasion, someone else would –but in a more join-us-[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7v0PePgVIs]and[/url]-we-kill-everyone-you-know sort of way. 

	Maya’s worries momentarily dissipated upon noticing a handsome rapscallion surrounded by several armed officers. Fuma’s men had apparently retrieved Paul, the “second intruder.” While she would never admit it, she was relieved to see him. With a smile tugging at her lips, she winked at him from afar, enjoying the sight of him in handcuffs.

	A shock of bright orange hair diverted Maya’s gaze away from Paul. Like a sleuth, she slinked across the back wall of the hangar towards a room labeled as the armory. She peeked over her shoulder before quickly slipping inside, hoping not to spark any alarm. After all, most would not appreciate a captured intruder waltzing through their weapons store. Upon entering, Maya was faced by an odd spectacle. Fuma was sprawled across the floor, unmoving. Maya hoped that the young leader simply had an odd choice in napping spots.

	Clearing her throat, Maya hesitantly called out, “Fuma…? You alright there?” 
	
	No response. She prodded his side with her foot. Still no response. 

	She dropped to a crouch beside him and pressed two fingers against his jugular. Raspy, shallow breaths and a rapid heartbeat attested that he was in fact alive. To her relief, she wouldn’t have to do any mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Why was he unconsciousness and unresponsive, though? Dread clawed at the pits of her stomach.  While she hardly knew the sassy kid, she wanted to help him and make sure everything was alright –even if she had her own interests in mind. His flesh radiated heat as if molten lava was pulsing through his veins. Puzzled, Maya did a quick mental sweep of his neurological function to check that his noggin was A-okay. Maya inhaled sharply; her eyes grew wide. If there were any charts, his results would be off of them. A hurricane of surging power and chaos churned within the confines of Fuma’s skull, threatening to spill forth in a blazing aura. 

	Maya uttered violent curses under her breath and grabbed his right arm, jerking it towards her. Upon flipping his hand over, she identified a glowing rune (which had not been there previously) on his palm.   

	“Fire Archon,” she scoffed as she sat down next to him. It was all clear now to Maya. Fuma was in a comatose state brought about by the Activation, an event when an Archon initiates their powers by making contact with their ancestral weapon. Due to the sudden influx of power pouring into their psyche, new Archons are rendered unconscious and forced into a coma wherein their mind and body undergo physiological changes. While the experience is unique for each person, it is during this period that an Archon meets their spirit guide (Andromeda, in Maya’s case). Furthermore, the conversion can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. 

 	“How could I have possibly missed [i]you[/i]?” the Water Archon pouted, “Your hair should’ve been a clue from the start…But I was so sure that Rai was the one. She met all of the criteria.” Maya fidgeted. She hated being wrong. 

	[color=00aeef][i]You’re ignoring the obvious. Rai still matches the characteristics.[/i] [/color]Andromeda pointed out.

	“So, two Archons? Hmm,” Maya pondered in amusement. That made her expedition twice as productive –“two birds with one stone” as the humans put it. 
	 
	First things first. Maya needed to locate Fuma’s weapon and secure it until he woke up again. However, seeing that they were in an armory, this task was marginally more tedious than usual.  Groaning, Maya hopped up from the floor and began to scan the room. Literally hundreds of weapons lined the walls and filled countless shelves and racks.   

	[i]Okay, which of these things is not like the other…[/i] she thought as she eyed various guns, swords, and other deadly paraphernalia. The weapon, no matter what type, would exhibit unparalleled craftsmanship and bear unique runes. A black blade poked out from beneath a storage shelf. Dropping to her knees, Maya pulled it out to examine it. Glowing glyphs adorned it, thus signifying Archonian origin. It illuminated ever-so-slightly at her touch from as if halfheartedly greeting the Water Archon while knowing full well that she wasn’t its owner. 
“Ah, don’t worry. He’ll be awake in a few days. In the meantime, I need to hide you away until we can get back on the [i]Leviathan[/i],” Maya spoke to the sword. In the corner of the armory was a conveniently placed ficus tree. Maya tucked the blade behind its leafy branches, propping it up against the wall. Perfect.
	
  Next order of business entailed talking to Rai again and finding her weapon. Then, at one point or another, Maya would have to negotiate Paul’s release. 

“Err, just stay here,” Maya instructed the slumbering Fire Archon as she went to exit the armory. He responded with a soft snore.