"Asami. Please. I'm begging you, don't go out today. I just have a horrible feeling about it. Something bad is going to happen."
The older woman reached out and cupped Korra's face in her hands. The diamond engagement ring on her slender finger glinted beautifully in the sunlight that crept through their living room windows, "Korra, I promise you nothing is going to happen. We have done dozens of ground tests on the jet and everything has gone perfectly. All we need to do is have a flight test and we can finally reveal the plane. If this all works out we will revolutionize aeronautics like never before. This jet is the feature of travel." Her eyes sparkled with pride at her newest invention. For months Asami had spent countless nights in the office planning and designing the X-32. It was her pride and joy. It was her baby as she had so eloquently put it. Korra sighed,
"Then why don't you have one of your hundreds of flight testers test it?"
"Because I always test out the maiden flight of a new ship. Plus there is no way I am letting anyone else be the first person to fly my baby." She flashed Korra a smile than lit up the room, "I have been designing this since day one. It is going to change everything. Future Industries will absolutely be the power house in the industry and there is no way any of our competitors will be able to come back from this once the plane is revealed. Now if I don't go now I'm going to be late. It's going to be fine. I promise." She pulled Korra into a tight embrace and kissed her. Lightning buzzed through the younger woman's body. She would never get used to kissing Asami. It felt like their first kiss every time. Charged with love and passion. It was indescribable. "I love you." The water tribe woman stated. The engineer smiled once more, "I love you more." And then she was heading out the door. Korra sighed once more before continuing her daily schedule. Hour long work out, shower, eat, take Naga for a walk, go to work at the Air Temple, grab dinner on the way home, welcome Asami home.
Work at the Temple had been uneventful. She gave around five tours that day and nothing interesting happened besides the lady passing out during the meditation session. She had lunch with her longtime friend Opal and her husband Bolin at Narook's Noodlery. On her way home it began to rain lightly, but other than that it seemed to be an ordinary day. Once home she cooked up a Caesar salad and plopped down on the couch. She absent mindedly flipped through the channels until she landed on Criminal Minds. Naga, their massive pure white Alaskan malamute, hopped up on the couch and snuggled next to her. Korra placed her dish down and nestled into the couch pulling a blanket over herself and Naga. A few moments later she was asleep.
Harsh knocking on her front door snapped Korra awake. Asami must have forgotten her keys she mused. Sitting up she yawned loudly and stretched out her aching joints. Naga woofed softly before curling back up under the blanket. The knocking resounded through the living room once more, "Alright, alright." Korra grumbled as she stumbled to the door, scratching her behind. She glanced up at the clock, "Ten already? Huh, Asami must have made a break through." She thought aloud. She got to the door and pulled it open. An older woman with grey hair and two long scars that raced down her cheek stood before Korra. "Lin?" she questioned. The Master Chief of the Coast Guard was staring pointedly at the ground. "What are you doing here at this hour?"
The woman began to speak but the words were choked, "Korra…" The water tribe woman stared intently at her before realization of what was happening began to dawn on her,
"No. No." she said firmly, "NO. T-this can't be h-happening." He legs began to fail her, "Please, Lin no. N-not her. Not Asami." Her legs couldn't take her weight and she began to fall. The Chief caught her and cradled her in her arms as Korra sobbed. She clutched tightly to her uniform, "No. Please tell me it isn't true. She… she can't be gone." Korra wailed. It was a while before Lin spoke again,
"I'm so sorry Korra. It was an hour into her flight when we stopped receiving contact from her. When we still hadn't heard anything from her a few hours after she was supposed to land we sent out a search crew and found the remains of the plane. No body was found. But we were able to recover the black box. We listened to the dialogue and think it was merely a failure in the equipment. A complete accident. But she… Asami left a message for you. You should really listen to it." Lin tenderly lifted her to her feet. "Come on. I'm taking you to the base."
The whole journey was a blur. Korra didn't remember getting into the car, driving to the Coast Guard's base, or leaving the car. It was only when she was in a tiny metal room did she realize she was no longer in the hallway of her apartment complex. Tears streamed down her face. She felt completely numb. A few moments passed and Lin walked into the room carrying a big black box and a set of headphones. She set the box down on the table, plugged the headphones in, and handed Korra the earbuds. She gave the grieving woman a sad smile before leaving the room. Korra stared at the box intensely for a few moments, absent mindedly twisting her engagement ring around her finger. Eventually, she placed the head phones in her ears and pressed the play button.
This is the Raven. Do you read me FS Tower? Over.
This is Future Industries Tower. We read you loud and clear Ms. Sato. Over.
Excellent. The climb was smooth and we are now cruising at an altitude of 50,000 feet. 800 miles per hour. Taking it slow for now, I'll see what this baby can do if a few. Weather is excellent, not a cloud in sight. Zero turbulence. This is going to be a smooth flight gentlemen. Over.
(Silence for a few minutes)
Alright, I'm gradually increasing the speed. 900 miles per hour. 950. 1000. 1500. Yes! 2000 miles per hour! Wahoo! Look at this baby go!
(A loud explosion)
What the hell was that? Panic filled Asami's voice. Shit! Engine one has blown. Flipping on emergency engine.
(A secondary explosion)
No no no no! She cried. The emergency engine is offline. Oh my god. Mayday. Mayday. I'm rapidly losing altitude. 35,000 feet. I repeat mayday. Mayday. FS Tower? Do you copy? Over.
(Silence)
Her voice was sheer with panic, For God's sake please respond. This is Asami Sato. There has been a massive malfunction with engine one and the backup engine. Engine two is beginning to fail. I am rapidly losing altitude. FS Tower do you copy? Over. She was practically yelling now, Shit! Help! Anyone! I can't stabilize it. I'm starting to spin. 15,000 feet. I'm going down! Mayday, mayday. Anyone? Help!
(Silence)
Her voice was suddenly calm. Korra. I don't know if you will ever hear this, but I want you to know how sorry I am. I should have listened to you. I should have never gotten in this stupid plane. I'm sorry. She was beginning to sob, I'm sorry that we never got to have our big day. But for whatever its worth, I was going to say I do. I love you Korra. I love you so much. I lo….
(A loud explosion)
(Silence)
(End of transmission)