A/N: I don't own Legend of Korra or Kong: Skull Island
…..
Chapter One: Rescue Mission
In all honesty, when Korra received a message from Varrick, her first instinct was to ignore it completely. She had more important matters to attend to these days. It had been six months since Kuvira's defeat during the battle of Republic City and the Earth Kingdome still had a way to go before it became a united republic. Roving gangs of bandits still plagued the unstable Kingdome, as well as legions of soldiers who were still loyal to Kuvira and still held power in many territories throughout the once mighty Earth Empire. Korra had been working very closely with the General Iroh and the United Forces in combating both the bandits and the remnants of Earth Empire and hopefully finally bring the stability that the Earth Kingdome had been without for so long.
It wasn't just the Earth Kingdome who required her attention, but also Republic City as well. Ever since Korra and Kuvira had inadvertently created a third spirit portal had the center of the city, tensions between humans and spirits had begun to rise higher than ever before, and as the avatar, it was course Korra's job to bring balance to the world. it was an exhausting task to say the least, but with her friends and family, as well as her girlfriend, she continued to fight for peace.
However, her mission to once again bring balance to the world was put on hold when Varrick had sent both her and Asami a message asking for their assistance in what he called an important matter. The message the millionaire had sent to them didn't specify as to what that important matter was exactly, but it did say that both he and his assistant turned wife, Zhu-Li, would be coming to Republic City in order to further explain the reason as to way he had reached out to them.
That was two days ago, and now the Avatar and her lover were standing by the Future Industries airfield alongside Mako, Bolin and Lin, whom the businessman had also contacted for the same still unknown reasons, watching Varrick's airship land. Following in his brother's footsteps, Bolin had join the police force in the hopes that he could be as great as a detective as his elder sibling was. However, the Earthbender wasn't as…skilled at police work as Mako was, much to the chief's chagrin.
"So, does anyone know why exactly Varrick called us all together?" Bolin asked the others
"Your guess is as good as mine, Bolin" Asami replied "I just hope it's nothing to serious, I've got a lot to do today"
The young industrialist wasn't wrong, ever since the end of way battle of Republic City, Asami's company had a massive undertaking in helping to rebuild the city and rebuild around the spirit portal. The reconstruction of the city had given Asami a massive boost in her business. While Future Industries had be prospering in the past three years since it's near bankruptcy due to Varrick's schemes, the restoration of Republic City had really given Asami's company a massive increase in productivity without the need to build weapons of war.
However, while this good thing Asami and all those employed by her, it did put a strain on her relationship with Korra. Much like the Avatar's duties to the world, the young millionaire had responsibilities to the city and her company. This caused the couple to go weeks without seeing one another, and when they did, it only for a few short days until they had to return to their respective duties. Fortunately, both women understood that they each had a responsibility to the world at large that was bigger than their relationship and gave each other the love and support to one another every step of the way, knowing that one day they would be able to settle down once the world was finally at peace.
Just then, Varrick and Zhu-Li stepped out of their airship. After their honeymoon in the Fire Nation, the newlywed couple returned to the millionaire's native home of the South Pole where Varrick controlled his business while spending time with his new wife. The couple hadn't really been in touch with Korra and the others, until now that is.
"How y'a guy's doing?" Varrick asked the group as he and Zhu-Li approached them
"It's good to see you to, Varrick" Korra greeted before looking over to his wife "and you as well, Zhu-Li"
The former assistant only gave the Avatar a small nod in regard to her greeting before walking past everyone and making her way directly toward Asami's home. Everyone's was taken aback to say the least. They knew that Zhu-li wasn't much of a talker, but it wasn't like her to be outright rude to others like that.
"You'll have to excuse the misses" her husband explained "Zhu-li hasn't been feeling well these past few days. She caught some sort of stomach bug, but don't worry, it's not contagious"
"Tell me you didn't bring us all together just to cure your wife" Mako groaned
"Nope, even better!" the businessman corrected "c'mon, I'll tell you all about it when we're inside Asami's house"
….
Once the group returned to Asami's home, Varrick gathered everyone the living room. Zhu-Li, however, went upstairs to get some rest, but not before helping herself to a box of fire flakes and a large sandwich she made for herself. Korra and the others were a bit perplexed by the former assistants need to eat despite being ill, but they kept their opinions to themselves and instead focused on whatever Varrick had to say.
"Alright Varrick, what's this about?" the Avatar questioned
"Are you doing a reboot of Nuk'tuk?" Bolin inquired with a hint of excitement in his force while his brother and boos glowered at him "What? It could happen? The people want more Nuk'Tuk!"
"Actually, they don't. In fact, I sold the mover rights to another company a few months ago" Varrick mentioned, making the earthbender frown at the news
"Then why are you here?" Lin demanded sharply "I do have a police department to run you know"
In response to that, Varrick reached into his coat and proceeded to pull out a small piece of paper. He then unfolded it and placed it on the table for the rest of the group to see. The piece of paper had a drawing of what looked like an island with what appeared to be coordinates written on the bottom left side of it. Korra and her friends were confused at first by this small map and wondered what this had to do with them. Before they had a chance to ask, Varrick spoke up once more.
"This is a map I got from merchant a few years ago" he began "it leads to a location to a lost island. I've been trying to find it for a long time now"
"That's what this is all about? An island?" Lin scoffed "there is no way I'm leaving my department to go off on some insane expeditions, Varrick!"
"Well thankfully this isn't an expedition, it's a rescue mission" the millionaire informed her "you see I sent a research team out on one of my shipping vessels in order to find this place and see if it was the real deal or not"
"What happened?" Asami asked
"What the merchant didn't tell me was that the island is surrounded by perpetual storms" Varrick answered "the ship I sent to the island was sucked up into those storms. But just before that happened, the ship's captain managed to relay their last coordinates, which is exactly where the island is supposed to be"
"So, let me get this straight" Mako gathered "You sent a ship full of innocent people to some uncharted island that may or may not exist that is surrounded by storms"
"Well it sounds pretty bad when you say it, but yeah, that's the about the gist of it" the businessman replied "I want to send in a rescue team in after any survivors and get them out of there, and I figured that you guys would be perfect for the job. I mean come on, you saved the whole flippin' world for crying out loud—this should be a cakewalk for you!"
Team Avatar was taken aback by this. True, they did collectively have an idea that this was where Varrick was taking conversation, but what they didn't understand was why the millionaire would go to them when he knew that they were busy with other important matters instead of someone else. It was tragedy what happened to those men, but it was still unclear if anyone survived on the island—assuming that there ever was an island to begin with.
"You are aware that we're wrapped up in other things right now, right?" Asami pointed out "Korra's trying to help bring stability to Earth Republic, I'm trying help repair the city after the damage Kuvira's army caused and Mako and Bolin are detectives now"
"Technically I'm a beat-cop" Bolin corrected
"The point is we can't drop everything just save some people that could be dead already" Lin said bluntly
"Despite how the chief put it, she does have a point" Mako added on "We can't leave everything we've worked so hard to rebuild just to search for some people who may not even be still alive"
"It's not like I'm asking you go live on the damn island, just to help me search for any survivors" Varrick countered sharply "Look, it'll be only for couple of weeks—three tops. I've already hired a crew and we're taking the Zhu-Lu—the battleship, though Zhu-Li the wife is coming to. All I need is a few of Asami's airships in order to punch through those storms and for you guys to tag along. You're the only people who I trust in this world—and that's a word I don't use loosely!"
After Varrick plead his case, all eyes then turned to Korra, who had remained silent during the debate. Her arms were crossed over her chest as she kept her line of vision locked solely on the map that was sitting on the table. Asami had noticed that this was a trend that her girlfriend had picked up in recent months. Korra would seem to stare off into space when she was deep in thought, taking on a wise face as she did. It was as if her past lives were reaching out from their severed connection with the young woman. Korra took on this sage-like expression when she was thinking over something as serious as a matter as this. The past four years had given the Avatar a level of clarity that would've given Aang a great sense of Pride if he could see her now.
"Korra…" her lover said as she took her hand in hers "What do you think?"
Korra remained silent for several more seconds before finally giving her answer.
"We should go" she finally answered in bold yet wise tone "We may have a duty to the world, but those survivors are a part of the world. What kind of people would we be if we just ignored this altogether? I know we've all got a lot on our plates right now, but those survivors need our help, and as the Avatar, it's my job to see them returned to home safely"
Korra's words rang true for her friends. How could they call themselves heroes if they left those people to die on some godforsaken island? The world would still be there when they returned, but for those who were trapped on the island, they didn't have that option. It was at that point that everyone knew what course of action they would have to take.
"Well you already know I'm with you, sweetie" Asami assured
"I'm in!" Bolin commented with confidence
"So am I" Mako added
"What about you, Lin?" the Avatar asked
Lin remained silent as she mulled it over in her head, keeping her usual scowl on her face.
"Fine…" she finally relented with a growl "But this better not be some wild otter-goose chase!"
"Yes! I knew I could count on you guys!" Varrick cheered, throwing his fist into the air in triumphed as he did
"Zhu-Li can stay here if she wants" Asami offered "She might be too sick to travel"
"Good luck with that" her former business partner brushed off "I tried to keep her at home, but she refused to leave my side"
"Probably because she knows your helpless without her" Bolin mentioned
The millionaire opened his mouth to argue that point, but then quickly closed since he knew that the former mover star was right.
"So, what's this island called anyway?" Mako inquired
Varrick paused for his usual dramatic effect as his face took on a more ominous façade.
"It's called…Skull Island" he finally replied with dark, forbidding voice
"Well that's comforting" Bolin said in petrified voice