Protodermis

Protodermis is a mysterious fictional substance within Lego Bionicle franchise. It seems to be similar to the matter of which our universe is made of.

The Substance of Life
This nickname for Protodermis first appeared in the BIONICLE storyline when Turaga Whenua called it 'the stuff of life'. Protodermis is called the 'Substance of Life', namely because almost everything in the Bionicle universe is made of it, except for the air and the water surrounding the island of Mata Nui. The Matoran do not eat it; however, the biomechanical bodies of the Matoran are made with it. The forges of Ta-Metru construct and forge masks and launchers and tools and Kanoka disks with it, making it extremely vital to the Matoran. Without it, nothing would be. It is a somewhat magical substance, with very interesting applications. This substance was also once used by the Toa Metru to defeat the Makuta, encasing him in the substance (sealing him within it). Unfortunately, it was held tight by the force of the Toa Metru's combined elemental powers, and, in the case of Web of Shadows, Roodaka carved a stone from that seal with which she would want to fulfill her plan to release Makuta, the Toa Hordika hit the stone (which was placed in Roodaka's chest at the time, as a heartstone, rather than a heartlight) with their elemental Rhotuka spinners, breaking that seal, and thus setting Makuta free.

Forms
Technically, nearly everything in the Bionicle universe is made of protodermis. When a substance is specifically referred to as being made of protodermis, it refers to one of the following forms:
*Solid Protodermis is a kind of metal ore that can be either carved or melted down and forged into useful objects. The hardest known variation of this metal is called protosteel, analogous to Marvel Comics' fictional metal adamantium. In its molten state, protodermis is similar to lava, hot enough to melt anything in its path. When protodermis is properly forged, it imbues the object with a special power. The Shadowed One can also create crystalline protodermis with his staff.
*Liquid Protodermis is, for all intents and purposes, identical to water, except for its silvery color; when cleansed of impurities, this color turns blue. A Toa of Water can control this form of protodermis as easily as she can regular water. Liquid protodermis can be heated into its molten state, or frozen into protodermic ice.
*Energized Protodermis is a remarkable variation of protodermis. It will transform beings that are destined to transform, and has been used to form the Toa Nuva and Rahkshi; but will destroy anything not destined to come in contact with, such as the Karzahni plant. Ironically, it also has some living properties itself. Energized protodermis is also the only known cure to the antidermis virus.

Name
Protodermis is the combination of Greek words Proto- (meaning "first") and -Dermis (meaning "skin" or "Layer of tissue"), thus directly meaning "first skin". This is an odd translation, but it has been postulated that this is because it can be a tissue substance. It has also been suggested that, deep underground though it is, it may only be the first layer under the surface. The name could simply be an attempt on LEGO's part to produce a "cool-sounding" name for a substance.

Protodermis was at one point called Biodermis in Bionicle.com's "Mata Nui Online Game". However, several details of the game are not considered canon, and the game itself later used the name Protodermis consistently.

Energized Protodermis Entity
In trying to return to Metru Nui after the Great Cataclysm, the Toa Metru were blackmailed into getting some energized protodermis for the Karzahni plant creature. They were told they could find a pool of some in one of Makuta's lairs, but when they got there they found a shapeshifting being made of the energized protodermis itself.

This entity was an arrogant being, believing itself to be "as far beyond you as you are from the lowliest Rahi" and describing itself as "a force of the universe". Instead of allowing the Toa to take some of the protodermis they came for, it demonstrated its power by mutating a tiny insect into a 200-foot monster; it then watched as the Toa defended themselves against the beast, and when it got tired of the fight it coldly destroyed the insect. This led the Toa to attack the entity, and in response it began mutating a number of harmless creatures into fierce monsters.

After the Toa defeated the creatures, they began taunting the entity and luring it into destroying the pillars holding up the lair. The Toa attacked from all sides; with the entity at a loss where to direct his attacks as attacking one would leave the pool open to damage from the others. With one pillar remaining, the Toa halted and offered to leave it (and the lair) standing if they could take the protodermis they came for and leave safely; they also pointed out that Makuta might have made a protodermis-eating creature that could be let loose if the lair caves in. The entity reluctantly agreed to let them take it - but almost immediately tried to kill them with a tidal wave of energized protodermis. The Toa quickly shattered the last pillar and collapsed the lair, destroying the pool. The entity likely survived the encounter and is plotting revenge.

The entity had the ability to form itself into any shape it chose; the book Maze of Shadows described its form as having "the semblance of the Toa Metru" but the video game of the same name shows it looking like Makuta's "Shadow Titan" form with a pillar of liquid from the waist down; the Toa Metru form is the one recognized as canonical. It can also launch jets of energized protodermis, and can form itself into a tidal wave. It seems that the entity can sense whether or not a being will transform from energized protodermis, but not exactly how it will transform.

The entity's relationship with Makuta is unclear. It considered itself a guardian (presumably of the pool) and denied that Makuta was its master, but never confirmed or denied that the two worked together. It can be assumed that the entity at least allowed Makuta use of the pool, but whether it helped Makuta beyond that is unknown.

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