"Director Carlisle. You sent for me." Nathan walked into the underground office. It was the lowest room in the base.
"Yes. I've called you, Nate, because we have reason to believe that the Avatar has been found by the government. As you know, we've been monitoring him for years now and the boy's parents are already on board. Our original plan of waiting until he was twenty-one is going to have to be scratched. If he has been found out, we have to move him here. His family already knows the procedure for such an event. I have assigned you and the newer agent, Mella Camyra. She should be here shortly." the director stated. In the past Avatars were told of their status around 16. STAR decided to wait, given the circumstances in the times.
Nathan raised an eyebrow. "I understand the meeting sir, but a simple retrieval mission like this? I can do this on my own." The young man was confident in himself. Besides, all he had to do was go and grab a kid. The Avatar didn't know of his bending and especially not that he was the Avatar at all. He was eighteen if he recalled correctly, so he was old enough to know this was important.
"It's not up for debate. I'm assigning her because I feel this will be a good experience for the girl. Besides, you know procedure. Whether you like it or not, any mission of this importance requires two or more agents. I can always send Cameron along?" the man stated with a completely straight face.
The STAR agent winced slightly at the mention of his younger and egotistical cousin. Though he could be described as arrogant himself, Cameron was much more irritating. On the other hand, Cameron did have experience the girl lacked... "That won't be necessary, sir." he regained his composure.
His partner, on the other hand, was still asleep, even at three in the afternoon. The base was mostly underground, and agents were up at all hours of day. It didn't matter when you couldn't see the sun. Three in the afternoon was seven in the morning for the new agent.
Mella woke up to a knock and found a note had been slipped under the door to her room. What? I have a mission? Cool. She hadn't expected a mission so soon after joining STAR. Director Carlisle had told her the first six months or so were just training. Mella got up and grabbed the note. She was to meet up with Director Carlisle and Nathan Price...right now. Of course it had to be right now, it would be too easy for it to be later so I could sleep some more... Mella hurried and got dressed and took the stairs down to the office, not wanting to wait for the elevator and keep the director waiting.
She had heard of Nathan after being with STAR for a couple days. He came off as a nice guy when she saw him around the halls, but wasn't going to judge until she knew for sure. Years at the orphanage and of thinking kids were nice when they really weren't had taught her better than that.
She finally reached the office, tired and out of breath. She knocked on the door. "Director Carlisle?"
"Yes. Come in. I was just briefing Nathan on your assignment." The man motioned for her to enter. Mella walked in. "Mella Camyra, reporting, sir." Reporting, yes. Awake, not really…
Nathan nodded and offered a hand, "Nathan Price. I'm your new partner."
Mella shook Nathan's hand. "Hi, I'm Mella." She turned back to Director Carlisle as he explained the assignment.
"I assume you've heard the legend of the Avatar? A bender who can master all four elements and keep balance in the world? The Avatar had been missing for years after the battle in what used to be Republic City. Eighteen years ago one of our founding members had gained entrance to the government's holding facilities. He had located the Avatar Korra and released her. However, the Avatar State was not enough to save her and while our agent had escaped with his life, the Avatar had used her remaining strength to ensure his safety.
"Ten years ago STAR located the new Avatar. He had been found in this city and we became the main base for the foundation to ensure the Avatar's training and safety. We were instructed to wait until he was twenty-one to avoid the conflicts of the previous incarnations. But due to recent events, that plan will not be carried out. Just this morning, we were informed that the government may have identified the Avatar. He and his family will be moved to a safe location where they will maintain a cover story. The Avatar will be brought here to begin training. If the government has found him, then they will begin to crack down on benders harder than ever before. If we're going to start a rebellion, we have to start now."
"I've heard of the Avatar and benders, but only in books...They didn't say anything about Avatar Korra though...It stopped after talking about how Avatar Aang defeated the fire lord. They weren't exactly up-to-date..." Mella fell silent. She was rambling. So the rumors she had heard when she arrived here were true, the last Avatar was dead. And she was thinking she might be able to meet Korra...well, she couldn't focus on that anymore. The new Avatar needed their attention.
Carlisle looked between the two young agents. "Are you ready?"
Mella looked Nathan straight in the face, hoping her violet eyes didn't freak him out, as they did with most people. She turned back to the director.
"We're ready."
Director Carlisle smiled, "Good. I'll see you when you get back." And so it began.
