Mata Nui II

The Mata Nui II is an underwater Matoran colony contained within a large metal complex. It is located on the planet Impel Down, and was previously a prison of the same name, until it was overtaken by forces belonging to Blackout. As a result of the Battle of Impel Down, the remainder of its original occupants plus the forces of Blackout and Zev deserted the prison, prompting the Matoran to claim it as their new home.

Levels
All the levels of the Mata Nui II contain Matoran, peaceful Rahi and a select handful of Toa.


 * Level 0: This is the part of the facility that is closest to the surface. Level 0 lies underneath a gigantic circular hatch, the top of which rests above the waves and opens to allow Matoran to enter via a ladder running down the side. The opening is large enough to accommodate most kinds of small spacecraft, and has a landing pad on the bottom for visitors to park on. Makeshift boats crewed by many different types of Matoran on a rota circle the hatch at all times, protecting it from potential hostile forces or jumping sea creatures.


 * Level 1: This level of the facility was known by its previous inhabitants as the "Bloody Prison", for it used to be an area filled with needles for grass and trees with blade-leaves. Prisoners were forced to run through it by the Gaolers. For a long time it was dyed red with all the blood, but the Matoran have since washed and painted it slightly more cheerful colours. It is the second closest level to the surface, and contains a singular docking bay for a submarine built by Defilak for Matoran to take to the surface. The dangerous plants have been replaced with ones more familiar to the Matoran, and as a result this level is mostly occupied by Le-Matoran, Bo-Matoran and Fa-Matoran.


 * Level 2: This level was formerly known as the "Beast Prison", for it was filled with deadly creatures like Basilisks (chicken-dragons), Manticores (human-faced lions), and the worst of all, a giant, feathered, human-faced Sphinx. Their purpose was to hunt down prisoners who escaped from their cells. The entity known as "Maelstrom" was kept here until he was killed during Blackout's invasion of the prison. The animals have since been transported back to their own planets, and Av-Matoran, Ce-Matoran and Vo-Matoran have taken up residence here instead. A large power generator has been installed in this level which powers the rest of the facility.


 * Level 3: Previously nicknamed the "Starvation Prison", level three was a desert wasteland, baking hot from the heat of the level below. Prisoners kept here were given only just enough food and water to keep them alive, so that they were constantly on good behavior in the hope that they would be give more rations of food and water. This level is adjacent to an outcrop of a large underwater cliff-face which is known to contain various precious emeralds and ores. Since the Matoran occupation, the heat of this level has been turned down somewhat so that Po-Matoran, Onu-Matoran and Fe-Matoran can work on the outcrop in relative comfort.


 * Level 4: Level 4 was called the "Blazing Prison" among its unfortunate ex-occupants: It was a gigantic maze of hanging platforms and staircases, kept blazing hot from a titanic kettle of boiling blood below. Prisoners here were forced to do constant manual labor, and if they took breaks when not instructed, they were simply thrown into the boiling blood below. This is where Liquid Ocelot was kept, and he was the only prisoner dangerous enough to warrant a separate cell. The maze has since been demolished and the kettle disposed of, though the fires and furnaces have been kept for the Ta-Matoran and Su-Matoran to enjoy. The rogue Shadow Matoran known as Vultraz also lived here in Ocelot's old cell, but he was disregarded by the others as being a funny-looking Ta-Matoran because of his reddish armour and quick temper. He was later abducted by the TrSBoM and died, prompting someone else to use his living quarters/cell as a storage area.


 * Level 5: This level was given the name "Freezing Prison", for it took the appearance of an arctic wasteland. Prisoners here were constantly in danger of freezing completely; they could not even eat food properly, as all was totally frozen. Wolves, the most dangerous beasts of Impel Down, resided here to stalk prisoners who wandered from their paths of work. The Wolves were kept here because they attacked other beasts when on Level Two. Communication here is completely cut off from the rest of Impel Down, so even the Gaolers were at risk of being savaged. This level is now slightly warmer due to the heat of the furnaces above, but still significantly colder than the other levels of the Mata Nui II. Ko-Matoran and Ga-Matoran reside here inside newly-grown Knowledge Towers to continue their study of Rahi and the planet's history. It is also where records are kept of the history of the old Matoran Universe, and where new Matoran are taught about the universe and the meaning of the Three Virtues.


 * Level 5.5: Previously known as the "Secret Hall of Love", Level 5.5 is a giant network of rooms and tunnels underneath Level Five. This is also where Zev took up residence after escaping from his cell on the level above. Every room was like a cross between a sit down cafe and a discotheque, and rich prisoners lived in joyous peace here. It now serves as a communications hub for the other levels of the station to communicate with each other or even the governments of other planets. Level 5.5 is not crewed by any particular subspecies of Matoran, but rather by all different types skilled in networking, engineering and technological advancement.


 * Level 6: The "Eternal Prison", this is where prisoners too dangerous or inconvenient for any of the other floors were kept. Prisoners here either served a life sentence or were on death row. Now, permission must be granted for inhabitants of other levels to enter here, for it is said that this level is now inhabited by Artakha himself, working on ways to improve the Matoran way of life on Impel Down. It is confirmed that De-Matoran live here (the rumoured reason being that this is due to the silence that Artakha likes to work in), Ba-Matoran live here because it is the part of the station closest to the planet's core, and also Wo-Matoran created by Makuta Ordak because one was apparently sighted on the level above before disappearing with a flash.

History of Impel Down
Impel Down was originally run by the Gaolers, powerful prison guards; the Chief Warden Magellan, a giant gargoyle with the power to control poison; Vice Warden Hannyabal, a devil-man with a face shaped like a Japanese hannya mask; and Chief Guard Sadi-chan, a she-devil wielding a pitchfork with a concealed whip. Impel Down had an entrance level, where visitors were checked before being brought in, and five main levels.

The Last Secret of Impel Down
Long ago in Impel Down, there was no Vice Warden. Instead, there were two Chief Wardens: Magellan, and the much more dangerous Shiryuu. Both were equals in power, but Magellan's working hours were limited by the gastrointestinal aftermaths of his eating of poisonous foods, so Shiryuu was considered much more dangerous. Shiryuu's appearance was of a gigantic man, with sandy blonde hair, a broad nose and chin, a black suit with a long white coat draped over his shoulders, a thick buck cigar constantly lit in his mouth, and a proportionally sized katana at his side. One day, while Magellan had been blessed by a rare reprieve from his stomachaches and likewise, he was on patrol in Level Two, where he discovered a grisly sight: Several dismembered, disemboweled or just beheaded prisoners strewn about, laying in pools of blood and guts. As he got deeper, he discovered Shiryuu, blade soaked in the blood of the prisoners. Shiryuu had always been sadistic and believed the prisoners to be no more than trash, but this was simply crossing the line. Shiryuu was narrowly defeated in battle by Magellan, and sentenced to death in Impel Down, but given a postponed sentence so that he could rot indefinitely until the G.G. (Galactic Government) decided that the execution of a vicious criminal would boost their popularity. He is currently in Level Six, the Eternal Prison, where he may stay forever. However, the flames of anger and hatred haven't even dimmed in Shiryuu's heart; in fact, they have gotten ever stronger, and if given half a chance, he could very well break out of his cell and go on a rampage even worse than the one that got him imprisoned.

Downfall
During the final phase of Blackout's plan to take over the galaxy, he invaded Impel Down, the first invasion of the planet since the Shadow Proclamation's war with the Vrai many thousands of years ago, and the only successful one ever. It was extremely carefully planned, as Blackout had spent some time as a Shadow Proclamation operative, and knew everything about the prison. Two neutron bombs were teleported to the surface, destroying Level Six and killing the prison's wardens. The moment the planet's automated defence turrets locked onto Darkmount, the Makuta leader's city-ship, the defence mainframe was deactivated by a computer virus planted in the system. Before the command center could be evacuated, it was completely annihilated by a salvo of fusion bombs. With the entire planet completely defenceless after the initial attack, Blackout and a squad of Rahkshi teleported to the surface and began freeing the prisoners, intending to transport them to various planets and cause chaos all over the galaxy.

However, as revealed once by Zev in passing, the Top Gaolers and Shiryuu of the Rain somehow escaped. Apparently, somebody gave them a warning and instructions on how to escape; if one were to thoroughly examine Level Six, they would find that no significant residues of living creatures are left for all of those prisoners to have been killed -- Essentially, that kind of blast in such close proximity would have fossilized them. Also, Zev's words are revealed to be true, as Shiryuu has made a few bloody entrances onto the stage.