This was not supposed to have happened. Su was furious and it was taking all her power not crush the phone in her hand. She had called in many favors to make sure her son did not end up on trial. So why the hell was Riako ordering her detain her son. Taking a deep breath she began to speak.
"President Riako I really don't this is necessary. Zaofu has been instrumental in the rebuilding of Republic City..."
"Be that as it may."
"And without the direct intervention of the Beifong family, there might not even-"
"Be that as it may Ms Beifong, the entire world is aware of your sons involvement- "
"President Riako."
"Furthermore, there are many records and orders signed by your son. Not even you can make this disappear."
There was a moment of tense silence before she spoke again.
"Riako, how confident are you in your reelection?"
"Is that a threat Su?"
"Its a question. There have been a lot of people made homeless, by a dictator you put in charge. You need all the support you can get, do you think you could stand against the Beifong family. If I put my power behind your competitor, you would not have a chance."
"Then, I look forward to my retirement Ms Beifong. I will have the comfort of knowing my family is whole. Good day."
The tone rang in her ear, and Su stood there phone in hand. The anger was swelling in her. This was all Kuvira's fault. Fury overflowed and with a scream of rage, though the phone at the wall. Hands flat on her desk she seethed in rage. She should never have taken that girl in.
"Mother?" Baatars voice came quietly from behind her. She hadn't heard him come in. "What happened?"
She didn't answer. What could she say?
"Mother?"
"I have been ordered to transport you to the Fire Nation," she replied finally "For a trial."
"oh."
"Yes. oh."
She could feel him behind her and within seconds she was hugging him, tears in her eyes.
"I'm sorry Baatar."
"Don't be sorry mother, this was my own doing."
"I should have been able to protect you from this. I should have done more."
"There wasn't anything you could have done... Will you come with me?"
"Of course. We're a family. We're not going to lose you again."
Not because of her.
The lights flashed annoyingly in the cockpit. She should never have let Varrik play with the electrics. The rest of his upgrades had been great, once she had vetoed a few things. Like the bouncy room. To mix the ideas around in his words.
What an idiot, or a genius depending on his mood.
The worst part about the lights was that, as far as Asami could tell, they did absolutely nothing. They just flashed. Repeatedly.
She was going to kill him or make him fly because she was not going to put up with the flashing for the two day flight to Zaofu.
Still the airship was ready to go. It would be a bit cramped. The ship was smaller than the one they had taken to find the air benders. This one would fit just the people coming and Naga obviously.
Her, Korra, Mako, Bolin, Tenzin, Lin, Varrik and Zhu Li, plus a few pilots and whatnot.
Tenzin had decided to come himself, leaving the Air Nation in the charge of Jinora with Bumi and Pema to help her should their be issues with the other Air benders. She was pretty sure the only issues would be with Ikki and Meelo. They were still made they were coming.
Asami eyebrows furrowed. She could hear yelling from outside the ship. Standing on her tip toes and bending over the console, she was just able to make out Opal yelling at Lin and Tenzin on the landing pad below her. The glass muffled the noise but Asami knew what they saying without the need for audio. They had been having the same argument for three days now.
She realised she wasn't alone and smiled.
"Admiring the view?" She called out.
"What! No I mean." Asami could practically hear Korra blushing and sure enough, when she turned around Korra was standing, face pink trying not to insult her or complement her. Teasing Korra shouldn't be this easy. Or this fun.
Korras fluster came to end as she tried to just move.
"So you ready to go."
"Yeah, my stuffs in our cabin and Future industries can run itself for a while. It will be nice to have a break."
"Yeah it will."
"Korra you haven't done anything for six months," she smirked.
"Yeah but now I can do nothing with you."
It was Asami's turn to blush.
"Well I should... Hmm." She cleared her throat. "Make sure the ship is ready."
"Need any help?"
The engineer winced.
"No offense Korra, but you can't even drive on the ground."
"Yeah but there's nothing to hit in the sky."
"True," she grinned. "but if you break suddenly, we fall out of the sky."
"Maybe you do," Korra muttered.
The argument with Opal had come to an end and she was now stomping away, apparently defeated as the two of them watched.
"Can really see the family resemblance can't you?" Korra said while Asami laughed.
"Yeah, did Naga ever forgive Lin for bursting her ball?"
"No, she still pouts anytime they meet."
"Lin or Naga?"
They laughed together before falling into a comfortable silence, hands intertwined within each other.
"And that is why, you don't mix mechanical oil, a wedding dress and-"
"Varrik if you finish that sentence I will start treating you like every other prisoner going to a trial."
Varrik narrowed his eyes before leaning back in his seat annoyed.
"Well Mako asked about our honeymoon."
Mako started into his glass, feeling slightly scarred.
"I really wish I hadn't."
"It was very romantic," Zhu Li answered in her usual business like tone. Somehow that only made Mako feel worse.
Take off had been uneventful, with everyone taking a few hours to settle into their cabins. He wasn't really sure why it took so long for people to put bags down in a room but it had, but at least it had killed time until dinner.
Dinner itself was fairly dull. He smiled to himself slightly. His younger self would have killed him for finding any meal dull. How times changed? Speaking of times changing.
He watched as Korra laughed at as joke Asami made. The two of them had been taking all through dinner not that he cared that much. He just wanted some time to actually talk to Korra. It seemed like such a long time since he had.
Their relationship had surprised him if he was honest. Asami had mentioned a previous girlfriend when they had dated but Korra had never mentioned anything. Though she hadn't had any boyfriends before him either. Not a lot of people her age in the White Lotus compound.
It had been surprising but it didn't bother him. What bothered him were the jokes that everyone made around the station made. How they even knew there was a relationship baffled him but the jokes that he was a bad enough boyfriend he had turned his exes gay were wearing thin.
"Jinora?"
Mako looked up, surprised ing with everyone else to find Jinoras spirit form floating on the table.
"Hey dad."
"Jinora what are you doing here. Is everyone alright?"
"Umm yeah, everyone here is fine but..."
"Jinora?"
"Well...uhh about an hour after you left Ikki realised that Opal was missing..."
"Missing?" Lin asked through gritted teeth before standing up and and taking off her boot.
"Yeah we searched the island but we can't find her so-"
A loud dull thud echoed around the room, interrupting the young girl. Mako looked around to see Lin standing eyes closed scanning the ship
"She's in the cargo hold," the Chief muttered.
"Of course she is," Tenzin sighed. "Thank you for letting us know Jinora. Come back in an hour and we'll let you know what's going on."
Jinora nodded before vanishing as Mako stood up along with everyone but Varrik, Zhu Li and Asami who had suddenly been caught in the rest of the honeymoon story.
"So anyway."
The cargo hall was mostly empty, with not much having to be brought with them. It mostly just used for Naga, who ran immediately up to Korra, and a couple of boxes.
"Opal we know your in here," Tenzin called diplomatically.
"Get out here Kid," the chief ordered rather undiplomatically.
There was silence before Korra rolled her eyes.
"Naga fetch."
The poler-bear barked happily before jumping straight to one of crates and picking up a rather disgruntled looking air bender in her mouth.
"Opal," Bolin called out happily before being the chief silenced him.
"I swear to god Bolin."
"Opal what are you doing here," Tenzin asked. "We told you to stay on the island."
"And I did..." She said not looking at them. "For about an hour."
"You caught up with us after an hour?" Mako asked. "That's actually kinda impressive."
"Detective."
"Sorry chief," he muttered.
"Look Tenzin, I know you wanted me to stay on the island, but I can't just sit by when both Bolin and Baatar could be imprisoned."
Lin was having none of it.
"Opal we specifically told-"
"No Lin. She's right."
"What?"
"I am?"
"She is?"
"I shouldn't have tried to keep you there. I didn't think about who else was on trial. I'm sorry."
Opal smiled up at her mentor while Lin Grunted before stomping off.
"So does that mean Opals staying?" Bolin asked hopefully to no one in particular.
"Yes Bolin," Mako sighed." she's staying."
"Where is gonna sleep?"
"She can stay in my room," Bolin exclaimed walking off with Opal
"What?" Mako asked." What about me?"
"You can keep Naga company." Korra smirked while skipping off. "Don't worry she's warm."
Mako sighed as Naga whined for being left alone again.
"I know girl."
Only Asami would have made sure her room had a desk. They were going to be flying for two days but Asami had to make sure she could work for at least half that time. Korra lay on the bunk watching her work.
"What are you walking on?"
Asami sighed.
"I'm sketching a new engine design."
"Sounds fun."
"It is."
A thought struck the young Avatar and she smiled.
"Can you draw me?"
"Uhh I can't draw people."
"Yes you can. I saw your sketch book."
Asami blushed.
"What?"
"I liked the one with you riding an Air Bison."
"Shut up."
"'Asami and muffin' was it?"
Asami covered her head on the desk.
"Cupcake," she groaned while Korra laughed on the bed.
"You named your sky bison cupcake?"
"You win. I'll stop working."
Korra grinned as Asami left her desk and sat on the bed.
"You are incredibly annoying you know that Korra."
"It's funny. You act all tough and cool but deep down you just want a big fluffy bison called cupcake."
"You're the one who slept with a bear until you were fifteen," Asami smirked while Korras face burned.
"I told Bolin that in confidence."
"Well that was silly of you," she smiled lying down next to her.
"How long do you think the trial will be?"
"I don't know," Korra replied. "I still can't believe they want me to take her bending."
There was a silence before Asami spoke softly.
"She deserves it."
Korra sat up.
"What?"
"I don't think they should be forcing you to do it Korra."
"Asami, when Amon took my bending it felt like." She stopped, struggling to find the words. "It was the worst thing that's happened to me, if Aang didn't give me it back I don't know what I would have done. No one deserves that."
"Kuvira is dangerous. She almost killed you and the work camps! If you took her bending, she can't escape in thirteen years and try again."
"Kuvira isn't like Zaheer. She surrendered. She saved my dads life."
"And she killed mine."
"I know but-"
Her words died as she saw the look on Asamis face.
"But what?"
Asami stared at her and Korra didn't know what to say. Finally Asami sighed and looked away.
"I should go check on the flight path."
"Asami I'm-"
"It's fine Korra," Asami muttered. "Get some sleep."
She got up and left, leaving Korras apology dead on her lips. She groaned falling back on the bed. Why did she have to ruin everything?
Overall, things had gone better than expected. Sure trying to catch an airship had been harder than she had thought it would be, but in the end Opal had managed and now Tenzin was okay with it, even if Lin was still annoyed.
She still didn't know why her Aunt didn't want her here. Lin and her mother may have had problems in the past, but they had worked past that hadn't they.
It was all Kuviras and Baatars fault, if they had just stayed in Zaofu then none of this would have happened.
Still, what Lin had told her about mother had shaken her. She didn't like that she had tried to tamper with evidence. And her mother had them she was staying out of it. It explained Tenzins reaction when she had asked about Kuvira though. It seemed strange at the time that he had barely answered and quickly changed the subject.
She wished they would just stop treating her like a child.
The door opened and Bolin walked back into the room, hair still wet from the shower. She smiled at the way his eyes lit up when he saw her.
"Hey," she said as he grinned at her.
"You have that look on your face."
"What look?"
"That look where you are thinking super hard about something."
"I don't think you have that look."
"Oh that's funny Opal."
"I thought so," she giggled at the way he pouted at her.
"So what are you thinking about?"
"Kuvira and my brother."
"oh."
"Yeah. I'm worried about my brother."
"Your mom won't let anything happen to your brother," Bolin said sitting down next to her. "I'm more worried about Varrik and Zhu Li. They're so happy now."
"Yeah." She replied, leaning into him before she asked him something she knew she would regret. "What about Kuvira?"
She felt him tense around her.
"What about her?"
"What do you think should happen?"
"I don't know. I just hope she's treated fairly."
"What do you mean?"
"Opal."
"No what do you mean? Treated fairly like she treated the people in the work camps?"
"Kuvira made mistakes but she started out with good intentions and I just hope that people remember that."
"Don't worry. I remember what she did," she muttered standing up.
"Opal we are not having this fight again," he groaned.
"How can you think she doesn't deserve punishment."
"I'm not saying that, I just think-"
" I know what you think," she snapped. "Just forget it."
She huffed turning her back on her boyfriend, though she could still here him pacing.
"You know what, no. Kuvira went to far, but If she hadn't done what she did, Ba Sing Se might still be burning. We helped a lot of people and you can't just forget that."
"Without Kuvira, the Air Nation would have still been there," she replied angrily.
"You were spread too thin, you didn't have the man power or the resources to fix it. Zaofu did and your mom wasn't doing anything."
"You think this was my mothers fault," she asked incredulously as he held up his hands defensively.
"I'm not saying that."
But now Opal was done. She stood up pushing past Bolin who just stood silently fuming. Slamming the door she stomped away from the room, hearing a yell of frustration coming from her room.
They were preparing to move her. For a trial. Honestly she was surprised. A trial was not a luxury she had been expecting. Who has pushed for she wondered? Suyin? Riako? Korra?
No one who had the power had any reason to not just leave her at sea to rot. Still she was grateful whoever the cause. Any respite from the seas was a relief.
A group of guards walked towards her cell, nameless faces she recognizes from her time here.
"Step to the middle of your cell and kneel."
She complied waiting a for the few seconds it took until the guards were sure. Then her cell opened. Part of her wanted to run even if it was a pointless endeavor.
Don't be a fool, we will have our chance.
Running would be pointless. Besides the warden trusted her, however slightly. She would never break that again.
The guards approached her, surrounding her, wooden stocks supported between two of them. Memories of imprisoning Suyin came back as the wooden closed around her neck and wrists.
"Rise and follow the guards in front of you." The orders came clear and calm. Disciplined soldiers that would follow orders no matter what. She couldn't help but respect that.
The stocks weighed her down more than she thought it would. She hadn't thought she had lost that much muscle. Still she walked by herself, unwilling to look weak.
Looking vulnerable was weakness enemies would exploit.
Imprisoning Suyin had been hard, but Wing and Wei had been harder. Ever since she and Baatar had decided to rule the Earth Empire she knew that one day she would have to fight Su. It had hurt, but it was something she had prepared for.
Baatar had told her to prepare for his brothers to be there. It seemed obvious but having to actually see them go down and all she could think was growing up with them. Learning with them, teasing her, teasing them.
She sat down on a row boat. A larger ship was anchored near by. Her new prison for the next few days. She looked down, focusing on the wood and not the water that was splashing in or the way the boat rocked even worse than the rig. It didn't work.
The warden sat down opposite her.
"Fire Nation ships. Strong builds them."
Was he trying to comfort her, or merely talking aloud? Either way she would be thankful when she could finally stand on solid ground. No matter how much platinum was in her way.