"The Earth Kingdom is in chaos. There's a vacuum of power, and I'm concerned about what will happen if someone doesn't take control of the situation," said President Raiko. I stood to his side and adamantly listened. It's of utmost importance that I pay attention, I told myself. That same message rang throughout my head constantly, ever since the Avatar had left for the South Pole. At this point, it was what kept me focused.
"And you think I should be the one?" Questioned Suyin. My dutiful expression changed in the slightest to distaste and I held back a scoff. She's running away from this, I thought.
"You're the perfect person to take charge. The world leaders trust you, and as a Beifong you have credibility in the Earth Kingdom," insisted Tenzin, noticing her hesitance.
"I'm honored that you thought of me, but I'm not interested in imposing my ideals on an entire nation," I turned my glance towards Su.
"I'm afraid I can't help you," I took a step towards her cautiously.
"Suyin, I know this isn't my place, but I think you should do this. Zaofu has always been a beacon of modern progress, and now you can share that with everyone," I approached the situation calmly, even though I knew it was already a lost cause.
"What would you have me do? March into Ba Sing Se with an army? We'd be seen as conquerors and greeted with nothing but war," I was slightly taken aback by her reaction.
"There are already wars. The Earth Queen nearly destroyed our nation. This is our opportunity to change things," Suyin glared at me with anger I had never seen before in her eyes. It almost hurt to see.
"It's not going to happen," she declared with a tone of finality. I looked away. Tenzin and Raiko stared at the both of us in silence for a second before they both stood up.
"Thank you for your time, Suyin," said Tenzin, brushing off his robes. He nodded at me before leaving the room. I continued to stare straight ahead.
"Kuvira, it wouldn't work. Zaofu may have the most advanced technology, but that doesn't mean everyone else would accept it, or want it," Su spoke in a softer tone after a moment of silence, regretting her initial hostility.
"Suyin, there are people starving to death. People don't have access to clean water. People are broke and dying. And I wouldn't want to live in a city where the one person who can help decides to sit back in her estate. If you don't do this, their blood will be on your hands," I hissed in a quiet, but dangerous tone. I walked to the door and opened it, and Su stared at me in a furious silence.
"There are millions of kids cast aside by their parents. And few, if any, get a chance. There aren't many other matriarchs of strong cities that feel generous enough to take in an orphan," I said in a slightly hurt tone, leaving the room and closing the door behind me. I sighed before angrily fast-walking through the halls of the Beifong estate. I was caught up in the moment and didn't notice Baatar, in the same state, until I was crashing into him. As we collided, the various plans and blueprints Baatar were holding fell to the ground in an enormous clatter.
"Oh, Baatar, I didn't see you there," I said, bending down to help him pick up his scrolls. He gave a meager grin.
"Were you going somewhere?" I asked after a short silence. He looked up at me quickly, and his glasses slid down his nose.
"Oh, no, I just— it's nothing," he uncomfortably laughed, pushing up his glasses. One of the blueprints I was refolding opened up. Perplexed, I sat on the floor. I unraveled the paper, and held it up to the light.
"What's this?" I asked, looking at the colorful diagrams and calculations scattered across the parchment. Baatar looked at me hesitantly. I looked back at him and put the blueprint down as we locked eyes.
"Come on Baatar, I may be a guard, but that doesn't mean I don't know anything about engineering," I teased, starting to smile. I held the diagram up again.
"Oh— well it's just, I thought that the spirit wilds in Republic City are unknown to humans for the most part, and I just thought that there was, perhaps, some sort of energy that we could capture— I don't know, it's stupid," he said quickly, looking at the floor with red cheeks. He stood up with his scrolls, which were all wrapped up again, and pushed his glasses back one more time. He held out a hand to help me up. I took it.
"This is amazing," I said quietly, checking the calculations.
"Oh— thank you," he said, looking surprised. I folded the scroll up and put it under my arm.
"I was just about to go out, would you like to join me for dinner?" I asked him. He gave a small smile.
"Yes, that would be, I just need to—"
"We can put your work in my office, if you like," I said. He mumbled in agreement. We continued to walk down the hall until we reached the door of a small room with a desk. I sat his scroll on the table, and he put down his load as well. He looked around.
"It's small, but since I'm captain, I get a little something," I said smiling. He smiled back at me.
"Where do you want to go?" he asked.
"I— well I heard Kwong's Cuisine just opened a branch downtown," I gushed, secretly grabbing the blueprint for spirit energy and shoving it behind my robes.
"Wonderful. I just need to wash up a bit," he said nervously, but happily.
"I can meet you outside of the barracks?" He asked. I nodded. We parted ways.