"Kooorra." The voice whispered from the darkness.
The avatar tossed, trying to shake the feeling.
"Koooorra." A bit louder this time, but still just out of range.
"KOORRA!" This time so close she could feel breath on the back of her neck.
"Gaahhh!" Korra leapt up in a fit of panic, sucking in a quick breath. She was in Asami's bed with the shower running in the next room. Korra turned, kicking her feet off the side in one clumsy motion. Rubbing her temples gently, she remembered the conversation last night. They were on a break and it would probably go down in history as one of the most light hearted, no nonsense parting of ways in the history of the United Republic.
Korra rose to her feet, "Asami!?" she shouted, hoping to win over the rumbling of the shower.
"Yeah!?"
"You want something to eat?"
She chuckled, "You mean your actually going to cook for once? We should take a break more often."
"How's bacon and eggs sound?" Something she knew she could handle.
"Perfect. I'll be out in a minute."
The door bell chimed. Korra glanced to the clock hanging over Asami's fireplace. 7:15, a bit early for someone to ring.
It rang again. "Could you get that?"
"Yeah I'm on it." she said throwing on her sweats and signature tank top.
The bell was frantic now, "Hold on, I'm coming, I'm coming! Damn." Korra whispered to herself, not having a clue who it would be this early on a monday. Bolin? Mako? "Tenzin!?" she chirped. "What are you doing here?"
"Sorry to bother you two, but we have a situation. Mako thought you'd wanna see for yourself."
"Ok, why didn't he come himself then?" Korra asked.
"Because he and Lin are still busy at the crime scene, now get dressed and lets go." He snapped. Tenzin was still like a second father to Korra, so he was one of the few people who could order her around without getting attacked.
"Ok, Ok." she invited him in while she changed.
A few minutes later both emerged from the upper floor; Korra in her traditional garb only having her locks pulled back in a single pony tail, electing not to take the time to divide her hair into three; and Asami in her usual business attire, deciding she probably didn't have enough time to join them before work.
"Good morning Asami, sorry if I woke you." He said with his usual demeanor.
The two reached the bottom of the stairs, "Don't worry Tenzin, I've been up for an hour. So, what's this about?"
He paused, not sure how to break the news.
This misdirection led them to think it was someone important to them. "Tenzin, who is it?"
"Zaheer's been killed."
Both stood with blank stares before Korra spoke, "What!? How!?"
"I trust Mako told you that business with the Red Lotus member last night?"
"Yeah."
"Well it was done in the same manner," He motioned to the door, "now come on, we'll take Uggie."
They were a few minute's out from the prison by sky bison.
"So, they think he was killed the same way as this other guy? Smashed his heart with bloodbending?" Korra asked from behind Tenzin, clutching the edge of the saddle boat.
"It looks that way, yes."
"Then, if Zaheer was killed...this probably wasn't a Red Lotus member that killed these two?"
"Probably not." Tenzin added. "But after seeing what Zaheer's crew were capable of, who knows what this person can do. Or what they want."
Korra was no longer surprised by crazies, being the Avatar seems to draw them out of the woodwork. The only thing that truly bothered her about her role was the fear of making the ones she loved a target. Korra couldn't bare the thought of anything happening to her second family of airbenders, her surrogate brothers of Mako and Bolin and especially not Asami or her parents.
She paused, remembering the conversation last night, "I know this probably isn't the best time, but figured I'd ask before I forget."
"Sure, what is it?"
"Do you think I could move back into the temple for a little bit? Asami and I are kinda on a break."
Tenzin looked back, taken off guard by the confession, "Really? You seemed fine five minutes ago. What happened?"
She smiled, "I think we'll be fine Tenzin, we just haven't had that spark lately. I'm hoping this time apart might re-ignite it, I just thought it best if I moved back in with you guys in the mean time."
"Of coarse you can Korra, your always welcome on the island." Tenzin nearly swerved in mid air when Korra caught him with a surprise embrace.
"Thanks Tenzin."
They landed a few moments later in a swarm of metal bender cops. Seeing the giant stone doors brought back horrendous memories. Memories that had taken nearly three years off her life. Those walls held the monster that nearly killed her. She had finally mustered the courage to face him a year earlier, a task that Korra knew would have to be done eventually. She felt neither happiness nor sorrow for his demise.
"Tenzin?" she asked with what felt like a stone in the pit of her stomach.
He turned just as she landed behind him, "Yes?"
"Take me to him."
The lower bowls of the cell chamber were littered with more officers. They passed what looked like a few exhausted white lotus centuries by the door. Mako and Lin were standing by a tarp covered mound in the center.
Mako turned, "Korra," he said solemnly, "you sure you wan-"
"Yeah, I'm sure." This wasn't the first time Korra had seen a corpse. Over the past year, she'd seen a few helping Mako with some crimes involving the illegal sell of spirit vines with the Triads. Technically she'd never killed anyone, except her uncle but that was indirect.
She'd never admit it but Korra wanted Zaheer dead, even considering doing it herself, but that was in her darker days. Korra didn't even recognize herself back then. Luckily she refused to walk that path, a path filled with rage, fear and hate.
Lin turned to Mako and gave a solemn nod.
"Alright." he said leaning down to uncover the cadaver.
Everyone seemed to cringe in tandem, excluding Korra. She simply closed her eyes for a moment to take a cleansing breath, then continued. Zaheer was lying face down in a pool of his own blood, the color was just starting to fade from his skin. He couldn't have been dead more than a few hours. It was cold in the chamber so that helped slow the process of decomposition.
It felt as though a weight had been lifted that Korra didn't know she had; the monster was dead and could never hurt her or anyone else ever again.
Mako motioned towards the shackles on his legs and waist, "He has bruising here, and here. I betting it was done before he was killed."
"So he was in the air, and someone yanked him down, hard." Korra added.
He stood next to the avatar, "Yeah, and I doubt someone just walked up to him and pulled on his chains either."
They finally had the confirmation they needed, as close to hard proof that they would get without witnessing it first hand.
"Bloodbending."
"That's what we're thinking." said Lin. "I'm afraid that's not even the worse part. We just finishing interviewing the white lotus sentry's on duty."
The group listened on intently, this was the first Mako was hearing too. "There were a total of eight guards on duty last night, like always. According to one of them, the two that watch the main doors let a woman in."
They waited a few seconds for the rest.
"Aaaand?" Korra motioned impatiently.
"And nothing, that's all they remember. The ones that didn't see the woman remember a sharp sting before they passed out."
"Noone could get a description of her?! And who were the missing white lotus members?" Korra asked.
"That's just it," Lin passed a file she was holding to Mako, allowing all three to see the contents. It was the three Korra just asked about.
Rya (Water-bender) 5'6", 134lbs, Nationality; Northern water tribe; Age, 23
Jorin (Earth-bender, Metal-bender) 5'9", 210lbs, Nationality; Earth Kingdom;
Age 52
Lee (Fire-bender). 6'2", 245lbs, Nationality: Fire Nation; Age 34
Full photo's, background, and capabilities.
"W-What are we looking at?" Tenzin asked, dreading the worst.
Those are the three that are missing, our moles."
"Wait," Korra couldn't believe what she was looking at, "this can't be right Lin!" she pointed to Lee, "I know him! He was one of the guards at the south pole, he always gave me crap when I wanted to take Naga out. He would always cover for me when I got caught too."
"The other guards confirmed it, they were all on duty and saw each of them up to the attack."
Tenzin was next to horrify, "And Jorin, he joined under my father! He was there when the Red Lotus tried to take Korra when she was a child." He looked to her, "He took you inside right before the attack."
Korra searched her thoughts, trying to recall, "I remember him." the color faded from her face, "He took me inside and read to me. He said the adults had some grown up things to take care of." She remembered the kindness in his voice, the kind of tone an adult uses with an adolescent to shield them from the horrid truth. "How deep do you think this goes?"
"I don't know," Tenzin added, "but I think we should round up all white Lotus members and question them, regardless of seniority."
Lin agreed, "I've already radioed Su and she's sending us five of her best truth seers. They'll be here tonight."
An officer rushed threw the open cell door with a file in hand, "Chief," he cried out before handing her the yellow envelope, "I think your gonna wanna see this."
She withdrew the content's and glanced them over. "Well this just keeps getting better." she said, handing it over to Mako.
"Two more murders, both with ties to the Red lotus." he said with a stern brow, "I was thinking power struggle but I'm not sure what to think now."
The group drew there attention to Korra, fallowing Tenzin's lead, "I think it maybe safe to assume they'll end up coming after you."
She sneered, "Of coarse they are, everyone wants a piece of Avatar Korra."
"Relax," Mako interjected, "It's defiantly something to take into consideration , but I wouldn't jump to conclusions just yet. You aren't the same person you were four years ago. I think they'd have to be stupid to try something like what Zaheer tried; and the fact that they're killing red lotus members and only red lotus members is a bit puzzling."
"My thoughts exactly." Lin added. "Assuming its the same person, why go through the trouble of leaving loose ends? It suggests something bigger's going on."
"Chief I'm gonna check out those crime scenes myself." Mako took his leave.
"Hey wait up, let me check'm out too." Korra asked catching up. Having been with him on several high profile cases, she enjoyed working with Mako whenever she got the chance. It gave her a wonderful feeling of nostalgia.
"Sure, but be careful it'll start to wear on ya."
"...kooooorrraa." A whisper, barely audible sang threw the empty chamber.
She stopped dead, turning only with her waist to find the source. She quickly noticed noone else seemed to hear.
"Koooorrra." This time from the front.
The color fade from her face as she spun back. Nothing, just busy cops.
Mako took notice, "Y-you ok?"
"Yeah," she lied, "I just forgot, I was supposed to do something for Asami. She's probably pissed." Korra forced a smile.
Mako didn't become head detective by chance, he knew something was wrong, "Korra," he grabbed her hand as she turned away, "what's wrong?"
She hated lying, especially when she knew it was obvious. "Nothing," lightly pulling her hand from his, "I'm fine...I promise."
Asami had already left for the day by the time she returned, so Korra elected to take Naga out for a quick run about the estate. This always helped clear her head when it was feeling over stuffed. And to top it off, Korra was afraid of what she might hear in the vacant house. This had been the third time, enough times to be a pattern...not coincidence. Common sense and a little something she picked up while working with the head detective. Korra had replayed the voice in her head at least a dozen times, trying to place it. The more she thought about it, the more in gnawed at the back of her mind, it sounded like hers.
She pulled Naga into the stable that Asami had made for her, "It's ok girl, we'll still come visit your other mommy. I promise." Korra smiled while Naga showered her with affection.
The Avatar approached the side door with caution. Hoping beyond hope that she wouldn't hear the ominous voice. First, it was up to their shared bedroom for her cloths; Korra didn't really have that many to begin with but Asami seemed to have tripled her wardrobe. Second, to the bathroom for the few products she did use from time to time. Finally, a picture. The couple had taken several photo's together but Korra elected to take the first one they took after returning from the infamous vacation. She smiled softly to herself, hoping beyond hope things would work out.
Kuvira had spent the better part of a year in a maximum security prison deep in Earth Union territory. She had given herself up entirely to the mercy of the people she once called her own. As part of a plea bargain, all but her closest advisors, excluding Baatar Jr., were pardoned, she was spared the death penalty and perhaps the most surprising stipulation of all, Kuvira willing gave up her bending.
Aside from Baatar Jr. who visited as often as he could, Avatar Korra would visit from time to time and play her in a game of Pi Sou. She was taught by one of the best, Iroh I, while vacationing in the spirit world. Even Opal and her new fiancé had shown up a few times to mend wounds. Kuvira was content spending the rest of her life in confinement.
It was late in the evening and Kuvira was being escorted back to her homely little cell in chains by two white lotus centuries. She had just finished a visit with Baatar Jr. and Su. Arguable the greatest earthbender who ever lived,Toph Beifong, had passed away two months prior and this was the first time Su had accompanied her son to see the former tyrant; so it was safe to assume her mothers death might have had something to do with this sudden change of heart. Probably a speech about regretting things before your time is up, don't take crap from anyone and that Zuko was thought to be beyond redemption too. Knowing that Suyin was at least willing to see her now, after all she had done was all the comfort she needed.
They took the usual route, keeping her blindfolded as protocol. That didn't matter though, Kuvira had memorized the path; straight for about fifty feet, check point, left about twenty five feet, check point, then a final fifteen before her cell. But this time was different, about halfway threw the process the pair hoisted her off the ground.
"What are yo-" she began asking in a panic before an overwhelming numbness swept through her body, emanating from a sharp prick on her neck.
Kuvira felt the rough dirt under her dull green prison garb. It was dark and muggy, with heat coming from directly behind her, accompanied by the distinct crackling of a fire.
She jolted upward, turning toward the source of the dim orange glow.
"Relax." A woman spoke poking at the fire.
"W-who the hell are you!?" Kuvira said with the authority she once commanded. "An Earth Empire sympathizer!? I thought I told you people in that press release to stand down!?"
"I said relax, you might hurt yourself. Or haven't you noticed yet?"
"Noticed what?"
She smiled, "I restored your earth bending."
"Impossible." she whispered, reaching out at the dirt only to feel it was at her mercy. Kuvira retracted her hand in disgust, not even willing to ask how this woman did the impossible. "Take it back." She forced back rough memories of her past sins. Taking all those innocent lives, willing to kill the one she loved as if he were nothing.
"Afraid I can't do that." The dark skinned woman spoke with an authority that mirrored Kuvira's.
"I didn't ask you to do this, I don't want this power back!" The once proud ruler was now struggling to hold back emotions, and act that used to be second nature. "I can't trust myself with power."
"You know, out of all of the obstacles, all of the challenges and all of the enemies the Avatar had to face...you were the most important." She prodded at the smoldering logs. "Each thing forced her to re-evaluate something about herself; Amon, her reliance on her bending, Unalaq her spirituality and Zaheer her role as the Avatar."
Kuvira froze, unsure on wether or not to take her seriously.
"You on the other hand, you challenged all three of those things... forcing her to become the Avatar she was destined to be. And at the same time, you were there to show her what she'd become had she strayed from the path."
She considered catching the woman in a prison of stone, but elected against it; that was something the Great Uniter would do, not this new Kuvira. She let power go to her head once, she wasn't about to squander this second chance.
The woman stood, patting some lingering dust from her pant legs. "But I'm sure you already knew that, seeing as you two already had a little heart to heart when you made the new spirit portal." She paused before dousing the fire with a pale of water. "It could also be said that you taught her restraint and compassion. Not only could she have killed you, but most would argue that she should have killed you, or at the very least taken your bending on the spot. But she was willing to let you come to that decision on your own."
She knew that if the positions were reversed she would have killed Korra in a heart beat, she had even tried. Luckily Opal and Jinora were there to stop her. Kuvira was at a loss for words, unsure of what her mystery savior even wanted from her.
It was the early morning hours and the sun was rising over the horizon. It gave her just enough light to see the grey beast that was resting just ten feet away, causing yet another startle from the once collected ruler.
It was an giant Eaglewolf, "Relax," the woman said as the animal nuzzled lovingly under her arm. "Nala wouldn't hurt a fly unless mommy wanted her to, no she wouldn't." The beast seemed enthused by the emphasis on the last phrase. "Now," she tossed Kuvira a sack off the saddle on Nala's back, "you have two options; You can stand around here and wait for a patrol to pick you up, tell them about a tall dark skinned woman on an Eaglewolf that some how gave you your bending back." leaping onto the back of the great stead, she motioned behind her, "Or you can head in there and do a little soul searching for yourself. Never know what... or who you might find." She looked to the former tyrant one last time before ushering the wolf to carry her off into the rising sun, her long black hair flowing behind in the dim light like a stream of smoke.
Kuvira approached the pack with caution before retrieving a medium flashlight strapped to the outside. She used it to search the contents; a few days rations, a change of cloths, flint and all the essentials. 'Was she serious?' she thought to herself. Kuvira began to carefully weight her options; turn herself in, hoping they would believe her outrageous story, or take this woman's advice and seek enlightenment and a new start in the destination that lay before her?
She drew a deep breath with clinched eyes then took a solid stance, popping up a chunk of earth and casting it forward with a strike. She stood awe struck, somehow this woman had restored her bending. But for what purpose? The Great Uniter wasn't sure, but she had her answer. She would take this stranger up on her offer. Kuvira was to return to the place that ultimately led to her down fall, the Swamp.
