Chapter 4 The Torture

Korra slowly walked back into the party with tears building in her eyes after she put out the Fire in the kitchen with her Waterbending. Asami kept up with her as they both walked towards Senna. Senna saw her daughter's distraught face and approached her with curiosity in her mind. "What was that all about? Korra where is your father? Why isn't he back yet?"

The question caused the tears to finally drop from Korras eyes as she hugged Senna with a firm grip and explained what happened in a depressing tone. "Dad was taken by the firebenders he invited earlier on today. I tried to stop them from escaping but I was too late! They escaped on snowmobiles and I don't know where they're going to go with him!"

Korra continued to cry as Asami hugged the two of them in a warm showing of her kindness and generosity. Katara got out of her chair and decided to give Korra some words of encouragement. "There there Korra. You'll be able to get him back I'm sure. They should have left some obvious tracks when they left."

Korra wiped away her tears and ended her three way hug as she attempted to calm down. "I know that Katara. But where are they taking him? Why did they take him? Was it to intimidate me like how Zaheer took the Air Nation hostage? If they had a problem with how I'm handling my duties as the Avatar they should have kidnapped me!"

"Korra I don't think their motivation is based on your responsibility as the Avatar. At least I don't think it's the main thing at play here. Zuko, was anything strange going on between those grandkids of yours before you showed up at the party?"

Zuko got out of his chair and rubbed his chin as he tried to remember what occurred earlier on in the day. "No. In fact they seemed to just talk to themselves and get along like they normally do. When I asked them what they were talking about they just said that they were discussing the pros and cons of the Fire Lords. I don't understand why they would attack the village chief out of nowhere like they did. My daughter did not raise them like that at all."

Korra was hard pressed for information so she walked over to Zuko and put her hand on his shoulder. "I just want to know where my father is likely to be taken. Can you please give us an estimated guess or even just a clue as to where they might be headed? I understand that I'm a little forceful right now but this could be a matter of life and death and I don't want it to come to that. If what you're saying is true then it's possible that they were planning on attacking my father for quite a while behind your back and behind the back of Fire Lord Izumi. So please tell me anything that might help me."

Zuko tried to think as hard as he could about the possible places Zardok and Yukiko might be headed towards but his mind was just drawing blanks. "I'm sorry Korra. Your guess is as good as mine."

Asami ran over to the kitchen exit and examined the tracks in the snow. She noticed that the tracks had a different pattern than the ones she saw around the village. Asami ran back to Korra to state her findings. "Ladies and gentlemen, I have discovered a lead that might get us closer to finding Tonraq. The tracks made by the snowmobile were in a different pattern than the ones used around the Southern and Northern Water Tribes. This pattern has a few zig zags in the tracks when it should just be a straight line. There's only one company that sold these types of snowmobiles in the past, Cabbage Corp."

Korra was able to put two and two together pretty quickly. "So what you're saying is we need to find these distinct tracks and these will definitely lead us to who we're dealing with? I knew that already but why did you bring that fact up Asami?"

"I'm glad you asked. Cabbage Corp has been going out of business ever since we turned one of their airships into a makeshift sandsailer and when Kuvira took over the Earth Kingdom for three years. Because of this only criminals use the technology from Cabbage Corp now since my security for the Future Industries tech is pretty tight to say the least. So this narrows down our options a bit. Also I noticed that Zardok had a button on his jacket that matches the criminal insignia that was used back 45 years ago when a crime lord named Yakone ruled over Republic City."

Korra was shocked at that statement. "Yakone? That's Noatoks father! You're saying we're dealing with the son and the daughter of a member of this guys gang?"

"Pretty much yeah."

"Well it's a good thing that you're a genius Asami. I'm not going to face these two alone." Korra got up to the second floor to address the remaining guests at the party. "Attention everyone. My father, the village chief Tonraq has been taken by two criminal firebenders just a few minutes ago. I am going to follow these firebenders and bring their criminal activities to a swift and hopefully peaceful conclusion. Ms. Asami Sato is going to assist me as her brilliant intelligence will help me significantly. However I also desire some more volunteers to come along with us. Are there at least three of you that can join us on this mission?"

At first no one raised their hands for such a perilous trek into the territory of criminal benders but eventually two familiar monotone Waterbenders raised their hands. "We accept this mission cousin."

Korra initially couldn't believe her eyes. Desna and Eska walked up to Korra and Asami and shook their hands. "Are you sure about this Eska? It's not that I don't trust you it's just..."

Before Korra could finish her sentence Eska interrupted her with absolutely no emotion. "Do you want to find your father or not? He's my uncle as well. We're going and that's final."

Desna added in his own argument. "Yes cousin. Besides we would like to make up for us you know fighting you alongside our deplorable father? You're welcome. You may express your gratitude through accepting our generous offer."

Korra realized that arguing with these two was pointless and it wouldn't end well if she declined their inclusion. "All right fine. You're coming. Now is there anyone else who wants to help us?"

Senna raised her hand as well and joined the group. "I'll come with you as well. There's nothing that ignites a woman's fighting spirit like someone stealing her husband!"

Korra patted her mom on the back and finished her speech. "All right then. Everyone wish us luck as I'm sure we'll need it. But make no mistake, the five of us will save Tonraq or we will die trying!"

The Waterbenders in attendance cheered for Korras confident speech but Desna and Eska were still less than pleased. Eska let her feelings out while still remaining monotone. "If I die brother will you bury my body close to Bolins eventual grave so he can be my husband in the afterlife?"

"I'd do anything for my sister. Of course I will Eska."

Meanwhile several miles away from the party Zardok and Yukiko arrived at their compound. They exited the snowmobile and carried Tonraqs unconscious body to the building. Zardok pounded on the door until someone answered. An earthbender with a scar.

"Who's there? What do you want?"

Zardok responded with delight. "It's Zardok and Yukiko. We've successfully captured Tonraq alive! I would've preferred his father but the sins of a patriarch often descend to the son. So he'll have to do. Let us in."

"Proceed." The earthbender opened the door and Tonraq was carried all the way to the back room of the building. It was a dark, damp and flavorless establishment. One full of old Cabbage Corp technology and a practical hive of the worst scum and villainy that remained from Republic City's criminal underbelly. Zardok placed Tonraq on a metal chair and barked out orders to the criminals inside like he owned the place.

"Restrain this man. Make sure he can't move his arms or his legs. I want him to suffer before he dies. I want to gorge myself on his misery until I have my fill." Zardoks subordinates restrained Tonraq without questioning him. They locked his legs and arms in platinum chains and tied the chains as tightly as they could to the chair completely immobilising Tonraq. Yukiko grabbed a bucket of water for her brother and Zardok tenderly grabbed the bucket with one hand and hugged his sister with the other hand.

"I love you little sister. Never forget that. No matter what happens you know my family is important to me."

"I know. I'll stand watch first. The tracks that the snowmobile made might cause the Avatar to come and find us."

"Come on Yukiko. Avatar Korra lost a fight to that mongrel Unalaq a few years ago, she also lost to Kuvira, A Mecha Tank, a Dark Spirit and some random Equalists! She's by far the most pathetic Avatar I've ever read about. I'm sure we'll be just fine."

"That overconfidence could get you killed my friend. Many of Korras enemies were killed by their own arrogance. You must not underestimate her."

"All right. All right! If you are so sure that Korra is not to be messed with then you face her first if she appears. I'm sure you're more than capable of beating her with my comrades here. Please leave me be with Tonraq though. We have much to discuss." Yukiko stepped out of the room alongside all of the criminals in the building as Zardok splashed Tonraq in the face with the water in his bucket. Tonraq woke up in a frenzy as he tried to move his arms and legs but the restraints were simply too strong for him to break.

"Where am I? Why is this happening? Someone tell me what I'm doing here!"

Zardok laughed at Tonraqs feeble attempt to escape and walked slowly towards his victim. "What you're doing? Well you're doing what any sane individual would be doing in your situation Tonraq. You're experiencing fear. Fear just like I felt when my father was taken from me. You Waterbenders are just so simplistic and so stupid. It's a wonder how you lasted as long as you did really."

"Zardok? What's the meaning of this?" Zardok slapped Tonraq right in his face and continued to monologue.

"Shut up! I'm the one who asks the questions and speaks the most! Besides the meaning of this is about my memories. Memories... I find them to be such worrying things. My childhood was just such delight for me. I was lost in the aromas of Fire Flakes and the lovely productions of the Ember Island Players. I was with a mother and a father that loved me oh so much and I had a life of luxury and privilege to look forward to. I had all of that sentimental value in my past. But my past just had to be destroyed when that loathsome Waterbender killed my father and left me freezing in the snow of this repulsive nation. That Waterbender was your dad Tonraq. He shared your outfit, your beard and your feral hot blooded idiocy. I guess I understand why Korra is such an idiot. She must get it from you."

Tonraq couldn't take any more of Zardoks petty insults. "You do not get to talk about my daughter that way! Who do you think you are?"

"Who do I think I am? Well let's just say I'm a guy who's sick and tired of people who mess with my family with no consequences. Your father Lang ruined my life by killing my father. It broke my mother's heart beyond repair. But she had her own responsibilities as a Fire Lord. I didn't lie about being Izumis son. She eventually remarried and I got a sister out of it but the hole that Lang left in my heart wouldn't go away. It ate at me like a parasite that I couldn't take out of my body. Sure my dad wasn't always the best of guys but he knew how to treat me like a son rather than a piece of property that needed constant protection. What were you teaching her?"

"I kept her with the White Lotus because she was a child! What was I supposed to do? Just let her get captured and used as a weapon?"

Zardok slapped Tonraq again and kicked him in the chest in frustration. Then he looked around the Cabbage Corp tech to find a weapon. "Well if you did she might have escaped and she might have become much stronger than she is now. The White Lotus was always full of fools who never knew what was best for the world. But I know what's best for it. There's always a way for one Avatars family to pay for the sins of the past. The past... Yes one minute I had the perfect life with a perfect family of a man a woman and me. The next minute it turned into something that wasn't even close to fair. You see the past can be a repulsive, hot headed, arrogant little brute, like your daughter and that disgusting girlfriend of hers. Ugh! She makes me want to puke!" Zardok eventually found an electric baton similar to the ones used by the Equalists. With a giddy grin he turned it on and walked back to Tonraq.

"Ahh! There I knew we still had some old Future Industries tech! I mean it's just an object, but people objectify girls all the time. Especially in the Water Tribe. Another reason that you're inferior to every other nation. At least I have some female gang members with me."

As Zardok approached Tonraq with the baton he started to sweat and gasp in fear. "Zardok please don't do this... I wasn't responsible for your father's death! Can't you just forget that memory?"

Tonraq didn't realize that what he said was the worst possible thing he could have said. Zardok swung the baton and hit Tonraq right in the arm with it. Dozens of volts of electricity shot through Tonraqs body as he grunted in pain. "Can I forget that memory? Well memories are where my reasoning is based on. If I deny them I deny reason itself! But at the same time I'm not tied down to my empathy, I don't have any kindness in me anymore. So when I beat you with this little trinket and when you're screaming and begging for mercy as I laugh uncontrollably, enjoying my sweet revenge remember this. You can always escape into darkness. You can accept your slow and painful death as the thoughts of your village, your wife and your daughter disappear forever!"

Zardok completely snapped and laughed maniacally as he smacked Tonraq with the baton over and over again, each time more painful than the last! Tonraq tried to act tough but he simply couldn't hold onto his pain any longer and he started screaming as loud as he could as the volts of electricity got more and more intense! Zardok then started electrifying the water that Tonraq was soaked in to spread the shocking electric charge around his whole body! Tonraq cried and screamed in agony until he finally passed out. Zardok stopped laughing and finally left the room to get some more torture supplies leaving an unconscious broken man hanging his head low as he subconsciously thought that he failed the ultimate mission as a father.