Chapter Two: Facing the Storm
Nearly a week had passed since Varrick had recruited Team Avatar for his rescue mission and a part of Lin regretted going on this insane adventure. After leaving Captain Gao in command of the police department while she away, Lin joined the others at the docks were Varrick had already prepared his personal battleship, The Zhu-Li, for departure. The daughter of Toph was still a bit apprehensive about the whole, but she kept her doubts to herself. She kept her reservations about this mission this long, she figured she might as well hold it in for the rest of the trip.
Mako and Bolin had given their boss a lot of space since the battleship's departure from the Republic City harbor. The brothers, as well everyone else who knew Lin, knew that she had been in her infamous moods and she was like that, it was best to stay out of her way. Besides, the brothers were keeping themselves on the ship as it is. The former Pro-Benders were assisting the crew with tasks such as keeping the airships that Asami had brought along on this expedition trip in good condition and loading and unloading the supplies they would need to survive the rescue mission.
The crew in question consisted of soldiers from the Fire Nation, who were providing a military escort in this mission. The reason behind this was because what Varrick had failed to mention to Team Avatar was that the research team he had sent to the island were all scientists and trackers who all hailed from the country. In order to find her missing countrymen, Firelord Izumi allowed Varrick to take garrison of her troops along for the second expedition to the unknown island so they could recover the survivors and bring them back to their families safe and sound.
As for Korra, she and Asami were standing together, watching the waves go by as the ship moved toward its destination. The Avatar and the owner of Future Industries had been busy aboard the ship as well. Korra had been training and meditating both in her quarters and around the ship. The bender even sparred with her girlfriend and several of the Fire Nation soldiers from time to time. Asami would spend the day making she her airships where in tip-top shape so that when they were ready, they fly through any sort of weather that came their way. Despite the daily routines on the ship, the two lovers made time for one another each day.
While the Avatar was away, the task of helping the reformation from Earth Kingdome into the Earth Republic had been temporally placed in the hands of Tenzin and the Airbenders. Korra assured her teacher that she and others would be back as soon as possible. Granted, the Airbenders had assisting Korra since day one of the reformation of Earth Kingdome, but this would be the first time they would doing so without her help since the time of the Earth Empire. Opal had initially offered to join the expedition, but Bolin talked her out it, saying that she was needed more in changing Earth Kingdome and that he would return to her arms before she knew it.
Meanwhile Asami had placed temporary control of her company in the hands of her newly formed board of directors. They were bankers, stockbrokers and lawyers from across the Four Nations. They would watch over Future Industries and keep up business as usual until their CEO returned from the rescue mission.
"You know, it's kinda funny" Korra off-handily mentioned "We've both been incredibly busy with our own lives, and it took a rescue mission to allow us to finally spend some time together"
"Somehow that doesn't surprise me" her girlfriend admitted with a chuckle
The head of Future Industries then leaned on her lover's shoulder, making Korra blush uncontrollably. The Avatar was right about them spending time together, since they lacked that in their still growing relationship. If you were to tell Korra that she would find true love with another woman, she would've merely shrugged it off. It wasn't that she was against being in a relationship with another woman, but more that she always assumed that she was to un-womanly to be around girls. But during after Harmonic Convergence and everything that followed, the Avatar found herself becoming closer to Asami than ever before.
Asami was kind, brave and absolutely beautiful in the bender's eyes. Sometimes Korra thought that perhaps the real reason she was mad at Mako for dating her was because deep down that she wanted to be with young industrialist all this time. As for Asami herself, she also was surprised that she found happiness with a woman. In her eye's Korra was a bold yet kind soul who was slowly becoming the Avatar she was always meant to be. Whatever they would encounter on Skull Island, they would face it together.
"Excuse me, Avatar Korra" came a voice from behind me
The two women turned to see a tall, firmly-built man who was in his late-forties who had a long, narrow beard that ran down all the way down to his chest. This was Colonel Raizo, the commanding officer of the military escort that was accompanying them for the rescue mission. Raizo was one of Firelord Izumi's chief military advisors who was known best for putting down the anarchist cell, the Sons of Ozai, once and for wall. Since then, the Colonel had been battling pirates that plagued the southern seas of the Fire Nation had crushing them with deadly efficiency. Raizo was a skilled firebender and cunning strategist who was fiercely loyal to his men, who were in turn loyal to him without a doubt.
As for a person in general, Team Avatar quickly learned that Raizo was by no means a people person. While he wasn't aggressive or irritable toward anyone in particular, the old solider wasn't exactly social with anyone and always had the same, stern expression everywhere he went. Whenever either someone like Korra or Bolin attempted to try to speak with him, he would merely keep any and all conversations short before and heading off to either train or be with his men. The only time he spoke longer than three or four sentences was when he was either giving orders to his troops or speaking with Varrick on what their course of action would be once they reached the island. Bolin once made a passing joke during dinner one night in the ship's buffet room—which they had no idea was there to begin with—that they should try to get Raizo and Lin together, to which Lin overheard and promptly popped the rookie cop over the head.
"We'll be approaching our destination soon" he continued "Varrick is gathering everyone in the lower deck for a briefing"
"We'll be there" Korra assured
Raizo only had a small bow of his head before walking away. Asami only gave a small sigh in annoyance, knowing that her moment with her lover was now ruining. Hoping to get her spirits back up, Korra gave her a quick kiss on the lips to brighten her back up, to which she kissed back. Asami returned the kiss before the two headed down below deck.
Everyone gathered in a large meeting room within the battleship. Sitting on one side was Raizo and his men and on the other was Team Avatar, several crew members of the ship and Zhu-Li, who looked only slightly better than the first time the group had first seen her. ever since they had set sail, Varrick's wife had mostly confined herself to her and her husband's quarters and only came out to eat before quickly returning to her room to vomit. At this point, Asami was starting to understand what may really ailing the former assistant, but she kept her suspicions to herself for now, she wanted to be absolutely sure that she was right.
"First off, I wanna thank you all for coming on this mission" Varrick said in a serious, yet still loose tone of voice "Now then, let's begin"
He then pulled out a larger image of the map to the island and placed it on the board behind him for everyone to see.
"This is the plan" he began "Since the island is surrounded by storms, we're going punch through the south side where it appears to be its weak point. Then, we're going to head west we're ship supposedly crashed. Colonel Raizo and his men will be providing military assistance and advisement as well as defense in case something goes wrong. Avatar Korra, her friends and I will be leading search parties into the western area of the island. There will be a refueling team rendezvousing with us in three days for refueling and then we'll return home with or without any of survivors. I've killed enough people as it is already"
The way Varrick spoke and carried himself throughout the whole presentation surprised Korra and the others. No longer was the sly, smooth business standing before them, but a confident and thoughtful leader who only wanted to save the lives of those in jeopardy. His conscious had been formed when he refused to make the spirit weapon for Kuvira and his newly formed sense of morality was solidified when he married Zhu-Li.
"I'll let the Colonel take it from here" the business before stepping to allow Raizo to take the stage
"Alright everyone, once we reach the island we'll be splitting into two teams" Raizo said "Varrick's team will searching the central western territories while my team will be searching northwestern part of the island. We will remain in constant radio contact through the mission so that we can properly map out each team's positions. Any questions?"
One of Razio's soldiers then raised his hand. The Colonel nodded in acknowledgment before allowing the young man to speak.
"Are we sure that these airships can make it through that storm?" he asked
"My airships have a reinforced hull that can withstand up to a hundred-and-forty-mile an hour winds" Asami answered before Raizo could, defending her machines "It'll get a bit bumpy up there, but we'll make it through"
Once Asami finished speaking, Mako spoke up.
"Shouldn't we be concerned about whatever dangers maybe on the island?" the detective questioned
"Such as?" Raizo pondered, clearly not at all worried by whatever as on Skull Island
"Let me list off all the ways we could die" Mako furthered "rain, heat, poisonous insects, and I haven't even started on the things that might want to eat us alive"
"I can assure you, detective Mako, that my men can handle whatever's on that island" Raizo replied in a tone that sounded he was being chastised
Mako narrowed his eyes back at the fellow Firebender, who in turn did the same back at him. Korra could sense the uneasy tension building between the two men and decided to step in before things got to out of hand. However, before she could speak up, Varrick had already stood up and took control of the situation.
"Easy now, gentlemen" he advised "We're all on the same side here"
"Varrick's right" Korra added on "We'll be approaching the island soon, we should be getting ready for our departure off the ship"
Raizo and Mako continued to silently stare down one another for several more seconds before they both back down. Korra almost blew out a sigh of relief before accompanying everyone back to the upper levels, ready to prepare for the journey that was to come.
"Ok…that looks a lot worse up close" Bolin pointed out as he looked directly at the wall dark storm clouds that sat in front of the ship
The battleship had come to complete stop fifty miles away from where the island was supposed to be, but standing in their way of them was the wall of fierce storms as Varrick said there would be. Admittedly, the massive storm clouds did look imposing to even the Avatar herself, but everyone was confident that Asami's airships could make it through. Mako and Lin had already boarded an airship alongside several of Raizo's soldiers. Bolin was supposed to also be on the same airship had he not been distracted by the storm ahead of them, thus making him to share a ride with the Colonel and several of his men. The Avatar had entered an airship her girlfriend was personally flying that was also carrying several other Fire Nation soldiers. Just as Varrick was about to board his airship, he saw his wife making her way toward him, and she did not look pleased with him once bit.
"You're not leaving me behind" she firmly stated before her husband could speak first
"Honey, you're sick as an otter-dog" Varrick pointed out "there's no way I'm letting on an island where you could die!"
"I'll be fine" Zhu-Li reasoned "If I can carry you for ten miles with a broken ankle, then this would be a walk in the park"
"Yeah, but this is different" her boss turned husband reasoned gently as he touched the side of her face "we'redifferent"
"It'll be fine, Iknik" his wife assured, using his first name "with our luck, I probably won't even have to get off the airship"
At this point, Varrick knew that it would pointless to continue this argument. Besides, his wife had proven time and time again that she was more than capable of taking care of herself on more than one occasion. Without another word spoken, Zhu-Li proceed to make her way toward the airships. While he would've preferred for his wife to ride alongside him, the airship Varrick was to be seated on was full of Fire Nation soldiers. Zhu-Li instead boarded the airship that contained Korra and Asami, giving the millionaire some comfort before boarding his airship as well.
"Everyone set?" Asami asked the other airships over the radio
"We're strapped in and ready to go on your mark, Ms. Sato" one of the other pilots confirmed
"Then let's go" the head of Future Industries ordered "Initiate take off sequence"
Bolin said a small prayer as the airships engines ignited as the turbines began to lift the crafts into the air. There were a total twelve airships that took off from the battleship and all of them headed straight for massive storm that stood between them and Skull Island. It wasn't just Bolin who was silently wishing to make through to the other side, but several of the soldiers as well—even Lin had some inner doubts about Asami's claim that her airships could make it through. Korra on the other hand, had the upmost confidence in her girlfriend. She knew that Asami built her machines to be absolutely efficient and triple-checked ever Satomoblie, plane and airship for any hint of the smallest flaw before giving the ok.
As the airships flew straight into the storms clouds, they began to rock violently mere seconds into their voyage into them. Bolin, who had forgotten to fasten his seatbelt, bounced out of his seat and into the ceiling before landing on some of the soldiers, who promptly shoved him off themselves and onto the ground where proceed to fumble around on the floor of the airship until he finally managed to get back into his seat and put on his seatbelt.
Meanwhile, Mako and Lin remained perfectly still in their seats, only bouncing slightly in their seats. With the detective and his chief, neither were still fully convinced that anyone was fully prepared for what was in store for them on the island. No one knew what the terrain or weather would be like on Skull Island, or if there were any hostile inhabitants on it. Mako also had a sneaking suspicion that Raizo was a bit over confident in his troops and underestimated whatever dangers there may be on the island. Mako may have been a bit paranoid, but he had a gut feeling that something was wrong, and when he had a gut feeling about these sort of situations, they were more than often right.
The airships shook more and more as they pressed deeper into the storm. From the windows, everyone could see lighting streak across the sky as the rain continued to pelt the airships. The winds blew furiously, causing some of the airships to tilt a bit, but they still remained in a tight formation and on course. As the rage of the storm grew stronger and stronger outside, everyone could only guess—or better put, hope—that they were approaching their destination.
"We're gonna die!" Bolin exclaimed in terror
Suddenly, as quickly they had entered the storm, the airships flew out of the storm and into a blinding light. While Bolin and a few others at first assumed they had crashed, it was in fact the opposite. It was the sunlight, that shine down on them and the island that the rescue party was now suddenly looking down upon. Both the soldiers and Team Avatar where in a state of awe at the sight before them. despite some of their doubts, they had actually reached the fabled Skull Island that Varrick had told them of. While it was a breath taking sight, the men and women aboard the airships knew they had a job to do and were ready to carry it out, hoping that this would be an easy in and out assignment.
However, several miles away from the were the airships had entered the island, something heard the sound their engines and instantly knew that they were intruders to its home. More than that, the sound those airships were making would no doubt attach the attraction of the horrors lived below the island. The king of island knew that if was to stop the devils from coming out from under the earth, he would have to put an end to these intruders.