Mako and Bolin strapped on their gauntlets, Asami pulled on her shock-gloves, Lee got on his generator-pack, and Noatak fastened the pouches to his back.

"Ready, everyone?" he asked.

Lee nodded. "Yep."

He kicked the door leading into the airship lobby open with a slam.

"W-Whoa, Lee!" Noatak said as the doors swung back. "Save it for the Red Lotus!"

"Sorry."

"Well, at least he's enthusiastic," Iroh chuckled from the table, alongside Korra, Zaheer, and Kuvira, already in her metal uniform. Everyone gathered around as well.

"So," Asami asked, "are we actually hoping to find the Red Lotus here?"

Noatak snorted. "For our sake, the world's sake, or Lee's sake?"

"Well," Iroh thought aloud, rubbing his chin, "if the Red Lotus isn't in Gaoling, we'll have no other leads on them. So...I guess we are hoping to find them."

"Fantastic," Lee said with an eager smirk, cracking his knuckles.

Iroh took a large map of Gaoling from the captain with a nod. He spread it out on the table. "Okay," he instructed, pointing at the map, "so Bolin, Asami, and I will stay here on the airship. Kuvira, Noatak, go north. Korra, Zaheer, go south. Mako and Lee, the fishery is to the west, right there, up the road near the river. You guys find out as much about the Red Lotus as you can. I suppose that goes for everyone else as well." He looked up, determined. "Let's get to the bottom of this, everyone."

Everyone nodded, ready to get to work, ready to be one step closer to stopping the Red Lotus.

#

Lin and Kuvira's kids ate with Pema and her children at Air Temple Island. That little radio call with Kuvira earlier had put everyone in a chipper mood, including Lin.

"So what are we gonna do today, Auntie Lin?" Takeo asked as he sat at the table, done with his breakfast.

"Not quite sure, Tak," she replied. "Hmm...We could go back to the Spirit World if you want, since we weren't there for very long."

"Yeah!" Anaya said happily, hopping out of her seat. "Can we?"

Lin chuckled. "I suppose so, unless you guys can think of anything else to do."

"Well," Pema suggested, "Meelo and Rohan could use some help feeding the lemurs and bisons today, if you guys wanted a job to do."

Lin looked down at Park. "What do you think, Park?"

Park looked up, still eating. After a little moment of thought, he nodded. "Yeah, Spirit World sounds good."

Lin smiled. "Spirit World it is, then."

Kuvira's kids all cheered, until they were interrupted by a knock at the door.

"I'll get it!" Rohan declared, getting up and running to the door. He opened it.

He furrowed his brow. "Why are you guys here?" he asked their unexpected visitors.

"Because, Roven," Varrick replied as he walked in with President Raiko, "there is a seriously serious problem going on here in Republic City!"

"...Rohan."

"Tomato, tomahto," Varrick dismissed with a wave his hand. He pointed. "Chief Beifong! We need you!"

Lin stood up. "Varrick? Mister President? What's the problem?"

Raiko shook his head. "It's not good, Chief. I'm not going to sugarcoat it: Varrick thinks that the Red Lotus is here, in Republic City."

"W-What? But they just attacked Zaofu yesterday! They can't be here already!"

"It's not just one group, Varrick's saying. They must have factions all over, working together in unison. He thinks that one of them attempted to drug him and myself at the Future Industries banquet."

"Not 'think'!" Varrick interjected. "I know it was them! And they actually got to me! We're lucky I survived!"

Raiko rolled his eyes. "Yes, where would we be without you..."

Lin crossed her arms. "That's not good. But what do you need me for?"

"We'd like you to investigate," Raiko said, "to find out if they're still present in the city."

Lin uncrossed her arms. She looked down at Takeo, Anaya, and Park, all of them suddenly sad.

"I," Lin said softly, "I'm sitting for Kuvira's kids, though..."

Raiko looked down at them, seriousness in his eyes, but also a hint of sympathy. He looked back up at Lin. "I'm sorry, but I need you to do this. We can't risk the Lotus harming any civilians. Who knows what they'll try to do? I understand you want to help Kuvira, and I don't want her kids to get hurt either, but please, we need you."

Lin looked down at the kids again, thinking. "Can I...watch them until noon, and help you then?"

Raiko rubbed his chin as he contemplated. He finally sighed. "Alright. 'Til noon."

"Yaaay!" Kuvira's kids cheered happily, all rushing to hug Lin.

"We'll be waiting at the police station," Raiko informed her with a nod.

Lin nodded as well, a smile tugging at her lips. "Understood, sir," she said as professionally as she could manage with three giggly children wrapped around her waist. "I'll be there at noon."

#

Iroh dropped everyone off in the outskirts of Gaoling, with the exceptions of Bolin and Asami. After he offered some encouraging words (and a green light on that Pai Sho tournament), everyone went their separate ways.

Korra and Zaheer walked through the southern streets of flourishing Gaoling. People were hustling and bustling about the charmingly traditional city, paying the two of them no extra attention, even though the Avatar herself was there.

Korra sighed as they walked. "To think that these people have no idea what could be lurking over their heads..."

Silence from Zaheer.

"...Zaheer?"

"Korra."

"...What do you think about Ghazan and Ming Hua?"

He hesitated as well. "What about them?"

"Like, how they're running the Red Lotus. What do you think about them attacking Zaofu like they did?"

Zaheer furrowed his brow, then realized. "You think that what they're doing is against what the Red Lotus believes."

"Well...yeah," Korra said. "I mean, Su is hardly a queen or a president. Why would they go after her?"

Zaheer shrugged. "It was most likely a ruse. They didn't really want to kill Su. She was only bait for you, or Kuvira, or possibly the both of you."

"I don't know," Korra said in thought. "When Kuvira and I tried talking them down, they seemed pretty set on killing her. Heck, they almost did kill her! You had to save her! They were saying that she's all 'influential' to the world and that she's trying to control people."

Zaheer narrowed his eyes.

"You really think they're doing what you'd want?" Korra insisted.

Zaheer looked at her. "You think I know what they're trying to do?"

Korra looked away with a shrug. "Just wondering."

They rounded a corner that led down a busy street market. Korra looked over. She saw a boy being handed an apple by his sister. They giggled together before running off.

Korra smiled a small, tired smile.

"Maybe this is something you need others' help with..."

Korra looked at the pavement as they walked, struggling against her thoughts.

"Can I," she started, "ask another question, Zaheer?"

"What now?"

"Can...you give me some meditation advice?"

Zaheer didn't reply at first. "Why? What for?"

"I've..." Korra bit her lip. The words almost came out. "Lately I've been having trouble, and I thought you could help me, like you have before."

Zaheer gave her a funny look. "Surely there is more to this than that."

Korra looked away and shook her head. "N-Nevermind. Forget I asked."

Zaheer eyed her for a moment. "You're doing it in quiet, secluded places?"

"Yeah," Korra answered, not looking him in the eye.

"You're clearing your mind? Breathing evenly?

"Yes! Of course!"

"Mm," Zaheer said. "Perhaps it is something...internal. Something...unresolved that is burdening or halting you?"

Korra bowed her head and sighed.

Zaheer looked back forward. "I'm afraid I do not have a good answer for you, Korra."

Korra bit the inside of her cheek.

No one does, no one will...

#

"Of course it was hard to learn," Lee said to Mako on their way to the fishery. "But it's also hard to fight against! I mean, how the heck are you supposed to fight a guy who's using sticks?"

Mako nodded. "When you put it like that, I guess you're right." He smirked. "Yeah, it was hard to fight against you."

Lee stopped smiling. "Um...hey, I...I realize that I never really got the chance to apologize to you, personally."

"For what?" Mako asked.

"For everything I did to you, to your brother, to Korra. I remember beating you guys up a bunch, and the other way around. I just want you to know that—"

"Hey," Mako stopped him, "I got nothing against you. Don't worry."

"I...Okay," Lee said with a smile. "Great. Glad you understand."

Mako smiled back. "No problem. There's no reason to get mad at you for stuff you did in the past, for stuff you regret. If you guys didn't convince me at Air Temple Island, you sure did at Zaofu. You're different now."

"Awesome." Lee looked down. "I wish Asami was the same way."

Mako raised a brow. "Huh?"

"Back at Zaofu, when we were lookin' for the Beifongs together, I apologized for everything I did to her, and about her father being an Equalist, but...she didn't really accept it."

Mako furrowed his brow. "She's...she's not like that. Asami forgives...doesn't she?"

Lee shrugged. "Guess not. I don't think she realizes people change: Kuvira, Noatak, or me."

Mako blinked in surprise. "She hasn't forgiven Kuvira?"

"Nope. And she denies that she hasn't too."

"But..." Mako shook his head in disbelief. "She forgave her father. I mean, not easily, but she did."

Lee shrugged. "I guess that's 'cause he was family. It's a bit different: forgiving when it's someone you don't really know."

"Huh..." Mako looked forward, packing away uncomfortable thoughts for later assessment. "I think this is the place."

Lee looked forward also. He frowned. "This place seems like a bit much for fish," he observed.

"Well, this is Gaoling," Mako said with a shrug, "where the Beifongs used to live."

They walked into the Gaoling Fishery. It seemed more like a well-furnished office building than where people went for fish. There were a few people talking and bustling around in the lobby. The lobby.

"They have a lobby," Lee grumbled.

"Excuse us," Mako said as he walked up to the front desk, the secretary turning to him. "My friend and I are here with General Iroh of the United Forces. We're looking for the man in charge. We understand that he was attacked a few days ago. We want to find out who did it and why, and stop them from hurting anyone else."

The secretary nodded. "Oh, yes, of course. He'll be out in a few minutes."

Lee frowned. "He has an appointment? For fish?"

The secretary looked at him. "I...said he'll be out soon, sir. Please, you can wait here."

Lee inhaled, but stopped himself. He walked over to the nearest chair and sat down with crossed arms, next to a woman, who cautiously pulled her child away from him.

Mako nervously laughed next to the secretary. "I'll...keep an eye on him, I promise."

#

After some additional planning, Asami, Bolin, and Iroh exited the airship outside of Gaoling.

"So," Asami asked, "what do we have to do exactly?"

"We just gotta go around the city," Bolin told her, "see if there's anything that looks bad, help any people that need help, and that's it! I used to do stuff like this all the time when I worked with Kuvira! It's easy!"

Asami nodded, not sharing Bolin's enthusiasm, energy, or pleasant memories.

"Pretty much," Iroh affirmed. "There's not much to it. We just need to speak with the mayor first, to let him know what's going on so he doesn't get the wrong idea about us."

Asami frowned.

Wrong idea. Sure.

#

Lin walked into the Republic City Police Department. She hated leaving Pema with so many children, but it was noon, and she had a job to do. Pema had the air acolytes around to help her out. They could all handle seven children, couldn't they? Kuvira's kids weren't exactly rowdy like Meelo and Rohan. Energetic little things for sure, but not rowdy.

"G'day, Chief," one of the desk-workers greeted as she walked in. "Glad you made it."

She nodded to him. "Good to be here."

She walked into her office, where Raiko and Varrick were waiting as they had said. "Ah, excellent," the president said. "You're here. Right on time."

"Of course," Lin said as she walked over to the closet containing her metal armor. She opened it up, bending the armor on. "So," she asked, rolling her shoulders and double-checking her cable spools, "you got any ideas where we should start?"

Raiko held his chin. "I say surveying the dance hall where the ball took place would be the best course of action, to see how they infiltrated the party, if they've left any clues. I doubt we could track them down." He glanced at Varrick. "Unless Varrick somehow got a hold of their business numbers."

"Hey," Varrick said defensively, "I don't even remember what the guys looked like! We're lucky I was able to remember what they told me! I don't know where they got that stuff from, but it was bad!"

Lin nodded. "Alright. I'll gather up a squad and see what I can do."

#

The whole while Mako and Lee waited for the fishery owner to finish his appointment, Lee aggressively tapped his heel against the floor.

He finally sighed. "Okay," he quietly growled as he stood up, "forget the stinkin' fish! Who knows what the Red Lotus could be doin' right now? We need to talk with this guy!"

"L-Lee!" Mako stopped him, hoping not to start a mass panic at the mention of the Red Lotus. "We can wait a little bit longer! It doesn't—!"

"Hey! What's all the commotion for?"

Mako and Lee looked up. A portly balding man was walking into the lobby.

"Oh," the secretary said. "These two are with the United Forces, Mister Buon. They want to talk about when you got attacked a few days ago."

Mr. Buon looked at Mako and Lee with worn eyes. "Ah," he mumbled, itching at his cheek, "yes...that." He finally waved for them to follow. "You two, please, come with me."

#

Mako and Lee took seats in this Mr. Buon's office. He sat at his neatly cluttered desk. Among the things on it were a cup of tea and a few pill bottles. It seemed that near-death experiences at the hands of terrorists took a toll on more people than just Korra.

"So," Buon started off with a sigh, folding his hands on top of his desk, "what can I do for you two fellows?"

"We're with General Iroh, Prime Minister Kuvira, and Avatar Korra," Mako said. "We're part of a team called the Black Lotus. It's our mission to take down the Red Lotus."

"O-Oh, yes!" Buon said. "I heard about you all in the news! You saved Zaofu!"

"We're in the news?" Lee asked. "Already?"

Mako shrugged. "Guess we got Su to thank for that." He looked back at Buon. "We didn't exactly plan on saving Zaofu. We were actually coming here to start searching for the Red Lotus first, but we got a distress call from the Beifongs, so we went to help them."

"Ah, I see," Buon said, nodding. "So, you would like to know about my affair with the Red Lotus, Mister, uh...?"

"Detective Mako. And yes." He took out his notebook, and asked, "Now, are you sure it was really them?"

Buon huffed. "Well I thought that the red lotus they placed next to me was a dead giveaway!"

"I'm not saying it wasn't the Red Lotus, but the thing is, they've always gone after people with governmental power, like President Raiko, and, well, they did manage to murder the Earth Queen. We're just having a hard time figuring out why they attacked you is all."

"Me too!" Buon exclaimed. "I have no clue why they had to go after me of all people!"

"It's okay, sir," Mako said with a gently raised hand. "You survived. Is it going to be too much if I ask you to tell me the specifics of your encounter? Where you were, what you did, what happened?"

Buon shook his head. "N-No, no. I can share the details." He shifted in his chair. "Okay, let's see...It was morning, a-almost noon. I had gotten a gift basket from a friend in a village in the surrounding area. I was all alone."

Mako nodded, writing in his notebook. "Mm-hm. Go on."

"As Gaoling was coming into view, I noticed a group of men, about seven of 'em, walking towards me on the road. Th-they didn't seem like simple travelers. They all had these...these black robes and red shawls, like they were all part of some army or something."

"Hey," Lee recalled, "that's what all the soldiers at Zaofu were wearing."

Mako nodded, still jotting down notes. "Then what?"

"Well, they must've been looking for me, because just as I could start making out their faces, they all ran at me! I dropped my basket, and one of them hit me and knocked me down. He and his goons were all laughing at me."

"The leader, what did he look like?"

Buon scratched his chin. "He...had a beard, a short one. He was pretty pale. Um...h-he was wide-faced, average height."

"So that wasn't Ghazan," Mako deduced. "Continue, please."

"After they were done laughing at me, the leader grabbed me by my throat, and he said, uh...something like, 'the Red Lotus with clean everything.' Ah, the world! That was it!"

"'Cleanse the world'," Lee mumbled. "Not liking their wording there."

"Me neither," Mako said. "And that's when they beat you into unconsciousness?"

Buon nodded, shaken. "Yes. I thought for sure they were going to kill me. Thank goodness they didn't. B-Before I passed out completely, I heard one of them say that what they were doing would make that Ghozo you mentioned quite happy."

"Ghazan," Mako corrected him. He glanced down at his notes. "And that's all that happened?"

"Yes, pretty much. When I woke up, I was in the Gaoling General. I was in pretty bad shape, but you're right, I did survive. One of the nurses told me that the folks who found me managed to grab my basket and everything in it for me. B-But there was that darned red flower in it too. I asked why it was in my basket, and they thought it was mine! They said it was by my head on the ground." He sighed, collecting himself. "And that's all. I haven't seen any more Red Lotus men around Gaoling at all."

Mako finished writing all the information down. He pursed his lips in thought as he looked over his notes. He finally looked up and nodded. "Alright. Thank you for your time, Mister Buon. We'll get to the bottom of this and bring those responsible to justice."

Buon nodded and shook his hand. "Alright, then. Thank you, Mister Mako. You two take care now, and keep your eyes peeled."

"We will. Thanks again," Mako said with a nod. He and Lee walked out the office.

"What a nice guy," Lee said with a smirk.

#

Kuvira and Noatak walked through Gaoling's streets, not quite sure what they should be looking for exactly. At least five people had come up to them along the way, asking for autographs and such from Kuvira. The Prime Minister had been kind and polite to every one of them, answering their questions, giving kind words, exchanging thank-you's and your-welcome's. She even hugged the last girl that came up to her. What a beacon of hope and strength this woman was for the people of the Earth Kingdom.

Noatak sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck as they walked. "So, uh, Pri...I mean, I can just call you Kuvira, right?"

Kuvira smiled at him. "Of course, Noatak."

He smiled as well. "Alright. Well, yesterday at Zaofu, when I was with Korra, she told me that I said something that almost offended you. I just wanted to apologize for that, if it did offend you at all."

Kuvira frowned for a moment. "Was this the joke about 'strong opinions'?"

"I think so, yes."

Kuvira sighed with a smile. "Oh Korra. She keeps thinking that I'm still so sensitive about everything that's happened to me, but...I'm not. She helped me move past that all a long time ago, and I can't thank her enough for it."

Noatak nodded. "She thought I was the same way."

"Not that there's anything wrong with her wanting to help and protect us, but...I don't know," Kuvira said, frowning. "I think she's trying to keep everyone from realizing that she's the one that needs help."

Noatak furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"

Kuvira caught herself. "I-I...Sh-she's..."

"Is this something that I shouldn't know about?" Noatak asked apprehensively.

Kuvira sighed with a shake of her head. "I...I don't know. Korra's been out of sorts lately." She hesitated. "You promise not to share this with anyone? For Korra?"

Noatak looked forward with a smirk. "I've proven to do pretty well with keeping secrets."

Kuvira raised a brow and smirked at Noatak's self-deprecation. "So, you know how she lost connection to her past lives during the last Harmonic Convergence?"

"Yes," Noatak said with a nod, "that sounds familiar."

"Well, last night she told me that...that she was too weak to stand up to Unalaq. If she hadn't lost to him, she'd still be able to talk with the past Avatars and learn from them. She said that if she hadn't lost that fight, she would've been wise enough to talk me out of attacking Zaofu back when I was the Great Uniter. She blames herself for me being imprisoned."

Noatak's face softened. "Oh," he muttered.

"Yeah," Kuvira sighed. "I didn't have anything helpful to tell her either."

Noatak looked down at the road as they walked. "I...Oh no..."

"What?"

Noatak looked up, worry in his eyes. "When Lee and I first came to Air Temple Island, I told her that her past lives were a great ability. I told her that her powers were amazing other times as well, but...she never looked happy to hear it. She hasn't been sharing this, with anyone it seems. You are right. She is very troubled. She needs help."

Kuvira nodded. "I want to help her too, but...I don't know how. It's awful. I can't say that I've helped too many Avatars try to accept that part of them is just gone forever. In fact, I don't recall reading on any Avatar who hasn't been able to connect to their past lives."

Noatak raised a brow. "You've read every past Avatar's history?"

Kuvira shrugged. "There was a lot of time and a lot of books in prison."

Noatak leaned back a little in surprise. He chuckled. "Wow, you're right. I was right too. You are incredibly well-adjusted to all that's happened to you." He hesitated, a smile growing. "I told Korra this, those people earlier proved it, and I'll tell you now: you are truly an awe-inspiring person, Kuvira."

Kuvira smiled, lighting up with sincere honest gratitude. "Thank you. It means the world to me to hear that, from everyone who says it." She smirked. "You're something unreal yourself, Amon."

Noatak looked forward with a well-humored smirk. "And thank you as well."

He suddenly stopped.

"W-What?" Kuvira asked.

Noatak waved his hand silently and pointed down an alleyway. Kuvira looked.

There were two people at the end of it, staring straight back at them.

"Red Lotus?" Kuvira asked Noatak in a whisper.

The two people sprinted away.

"I suppose we'll have to find out!" Noatak yelled as he took off after them, with Kuvira close behind.

#

"So what do you think, sleuth?" Lee asked Mako as they walked out of the fishery.

Mako flipped through his notebook, thinking. "I'm not sure. This was obviously a rag-tag group of Red Lotus soldiers acting out on their own. They weren't following orders. I don't know what would've made them think that Buon would be a good target. And what's with the flowers? It's like they want people to know that it's them doing this."

He suddenly slapped his notebook shut. "Ugh! What the heck does the Red Lotus think they're doing?! Su kind of made sense, but this guy, Buon...I-I don't get it!"

"Questions for another time?" Lee asked.

Mako shook his head. "No. This is all we got on them. We need to know why. And now."

Noatak suddenly stopped in front of them, panting. "G-Guys!" he wheezed, his hands on his knees. "There's two Red Lotus men on the run!"

Mako and Lee looked over to see Kuvira leaping off of a roof, shooting her cables at two people running away through the parting crowds.

Lee laughed, joining the pursuit. "Finally!"

"I-I can't fight yet!" Mako yelled to them as they both took off. "I'll go find Iroh!"

"Okay!" they yelled back.

Mako paused and gave himself a moment, thinking over too many things at the same time.

So the Red Lotus really is in Gaoling. They think that Buon's important, but why? He's not the mayor. Why didn't they go after the mayor instead? That'd make so much more sense! Is it just a distraction? Ugh. Ming Hua and Ghazan are way too unpredictable. We need to find out what they're planning as soon as possible.

But...what about Asami? I thought she made up with Kuvira a long time ago. Has she been keeping this bottled up inside for this long? I guess we'll have to—

He was suddenly grabbed from behind.

"Long time no see, Sparky," Ming Hua cooed in his ear.

#

Bolin and Asami waited outside of the Gaoling City Hall on a bench. Iroh had gone inside to speak with the mayor about the Red Lotus and what the Black Lotus was doing in Gaoling.

Bolin rubbed his hands together as he sat. He looked at Asami, who was only looking at the ground.

"Are...you alright?" he asked her.

She hesitated to look up. "W-What do you mean?"

Bolin shrugged. "You...just seem kinda down today."

"I'm...fine," Asami mumbled, looking away and shaking her head.

"I don't think you are," Bolin said, concern in his voice.

Asami wrapped her arms around herself.

"Really, Asami," Bolin insisted. "If there's something you want to talk about, I can listen."

Asami shook her head again. "No, Bolin," she said a bit too harshly. She caught herself. "I'll...I'll get over it."

After a long moment, Bolin turned away, not convinced.

#

Noatak pulled water from the air, forming several small icicles. He shot them at the two Red Lotus spies trying to run away. They both ducked and jumped to the side, the icicles whizzing past them.

Kuvira shot her cables at another rooftop and pulled herself up to higher ground. After a roll, she stood and shot metal strips at the spies' ankles, attempting to immobilize them. The first one dodged, but the second's ankles were successfully bound together. He flopped onto his side.

The first spy looked back, but kept on running.

"We got this guy!" Lee yelled to Kuvira. "Go get the other one!"

"Can do!" Kuvira yelled back before sprinting across the rooftops.

As the crowd of civilians backed away in confused panic, Lee and Noatak strode over to the spy. He tried to crawl away from them in fear, but didn't get very far.

Lee stepped on his wrist, pulling out one of the shock-staffs from his pack. "Alright," he spat, "let's make this quick." He held the staff close to the spy's face, it crackling with electricity. "What's the Red Lotus doing here? Why Gaoling?"

"N-No!" the spy whimpered. "I-I'll tell you! Please, don't hurt me!"

"Won't have to if you just spill it."

"We're...we're here for the Avatar!"

Lee and Noatak exchanged a look. Lee bent down closer to the spy's face. "Alright, Korra, sure. But what about the fishery owner?"

"W-What about him?" the spy asked. "We never went after that guy!"

Lee and Noatak exchanged another, confused look.

"You totally had a band of your guys beat him to a pulp!" Lee accused. "What do you mean you didn't go after him?"

"We...we never went after him! I-I don't know why he was attacked! Really! Please!"

He doesn't know. Why doesn't he know? How doesn't he know?

"This can't be right," Noatak mumbled.

"Well, what now?" Lee asked Noatak, his foot still on the spy's wrist. "Do I keep going? Or can we think of something else?"

Noatak thought for a moment. He knelt down next to the sniveling spy. "Who sent you?" he interrogated. "Where are they?"

"M-Ming Hua!" the spy blurted. "She's waiting at the water tower!"

Noatak stood slowly. He looked up into the distance.

The large water tower, built by the Earth Empire several years ago, at the edge of town: not exactly the most covert of hiding places. If this man was telling the truth, the key to crippling the Red Lotus was just an encounter away.

What if it was a trap?

Noatak snorted.

Of course it would be.

"Take this one back to the airship," he told Lee with a wave.

"You're...you're gonna take down Ming Hua yourself?" Lee asked, sounding more disappointed than concerned.

"She'll be expecting all of us to meet her," Noatak said as he turned to walk away. "I have this, don't worry."

Lee sighed. He drove a chi-blocking jab into the spy's neck, then slung him over his shoulder. "Fine. But give her a good beating for me." He smirked. "And for the fishery owner too. Be careful. She'll put up a heck of a fight from what Mako's told me."

"I'm expecting it," Noatak said, running off.

#

Lin crossed her arms.

What a waste of time this was...

The Future Industries dance hall was completely bare of any evidence. No prints, no clues. Nothing. And every witness had nothing useful to say either, save for agreements on what Varrick had involuntarily declared about the President's wife.

"Chief Beifong," Raiko asked as he walked up with Varrick, "have you found anything?"

Lin turned to him and shook her head. "Sorry, Mister President. None of my guys are finding anything. I'm afraid the Red Lotus has a leg up on us. They haven't been slacking off during all those years they were underground. They know what they're doing when it comes to covering their tracks."

Raiko frowned. "Darn." He scowled. "Darn..."

Lin looked at the floor, thinking the same thing.

Varrick scratched his cheek. "You don't think they would've just left Republic City, do you?"

Lin frowned. "I'm not sure. They were right under Su's nose in Zaofu. Who's to say if they aren't still hiding here?"

Raiko looked up. "You're willing to search the entire city for them?"

"Me?" Lin scoffed and shook her head. "No. We've got a whole force of police officers for that. I've done all I can here. If we want to stop the Red Lotus..."

She turned and looked out one of the large ballroom windows. "It's the Black Lotus that could use my help."

#

After speedy climb up the water tower ladder, Noatak swung himself up onto its roof. Waiting there for him was Ming Hua, as the spy had said.

But also with Mako in her watery-armed clutches.

A trap indeed.

"Oooh," Ming Hua speculated with an evil grin, one of her tentacles frozen around Mako's throat. "Now isn't this something. The waterbender who wanted to purge the world of all benders. You've got to be one of the biggest hypocrites I've ever heard of."

Noatak took a defiant step forward. "The past is past. I'm a changed man. I am not proud of anything that I did. I regret it all." He assumed a waterbending stance. "And if you don't surrender and release him, I'm going to make you regret what you're doing too."

Ming Hua laughed dryly. "No thanks. Empty threats don't intimidate me, especially not ones from frauds."

She started walking backwards, dragging Mako across the roof.

Noatak's eyes widened. He stepped forward. "H-Hey! Surrender! Let him go!"

"That's what I'm planning to do, Amon," Ming Hua hissed back.

Noatak found his throat tightening. "W-What are you trying to do?"

"If you want to stop me from killing your friend," Ming Hua said, "you're going to have to bloodbend me."

No...

No, she wouldn't...

"N-No!" Noatak yelled desperately. "I won't! I can't! Not even to you!"

Ming Hua laughed again. "It's him or me! I never liked this one much anyways. I couldn't care less if he dies or not. Your choice."

"N-Noa—!" Mako rasped, Ming Hua's tentacle tightening around his throat, suspending him over the side of the water tower.

Noatak's heart pounded in his chest.

I can't. I can't do this...can I? Can I throw away my promise to Tarrlok this once? Just this once? Would that be right?

But where will it stop? Could I even stop myself?

Noatak clenched his fists.

How does she know about my aversion to bloodbending at all?

"Clock's ticking," Ming Hua taunted.

Darn. Lee should have came with me. There has to be another way. What can I possibly do? A well-aimed icicle could do the trick.

Noatak inhaled. He looked up and stared Ming Hua in the eye, hoping to avert her attention from his open, backwards-facing palm. He started collecting just enough moister to form a small icicle, no bigger than his middle finger. Shooting it was going to be a different matter.

Quickly and accurately. Quickly and—

Mako screamed as he started to fall off the water tower.

"N-NO!" Noatak shouted as he lunged forward to the edge, dropping his icicle. Ming Hua stepped to the side, laughing.

Mako yelled as he flipped uncontrollably. How was he supposed to get out of this? A large blast of fire before he hit the ground might be enough to slow himself down.

Where was Zaheer when you...?

Mako had suddenly stopped falling halfway down the water tower.

He was just floating in place, midair. He started slowly rising upwards, an unexplainably awful feeling coursing through his veins.

After what felt like an hour, Mako, shivering and in shock, was gently set back onto the roof of the water tower, by Noatak.

And Noatak, dropping his arms, no longer in his bloodbending position, bowed his head.

Ming Hua was surprised. After a moment, she started to laugh. "I...I can't believe it! I didn't think this could get any better!"

Noatak dropped to his knees in crushing defeat. He looked up at Mako, also on his hands and knees, shuddering and breathless.

"M-Mako, I'm...I'm so sorry..."

Mako's blank, disturbed stare crept up from the water tower roof to Noatak, only to shakily sink back down again.

"Ohhh this is just delightful," Ming Hua said with a grin, walking up next to Noatak. "You've failed your friend and yourself. How will you live with this?"

Noatak clenched his jaw.

How indeed...

"Well, what to do with you now?" Ming Hua asked rhetorically. "Kill you both? No...How about I drop him again and see if you'll—"

Whatever cruel thing she was going to say was interrupted by Zaheer, flying in and body-slamming her. He knocked her out with a single hit. Her unconscious body skidded across the water tower, but not off of it.

Korra climbed onto the roof also, panting, exhausted. She ran up to Noatak and Mako, Zaheer slinging Ming Hua over his shoulder. "W-What happened?" she asked fearfully, looking between the two of them. "G-Guys? Guys, what happened?"

Mako groaned, still shivering.

Noatak only slowly shook his head.

Korra's eyes widened. "Oh no..."

#

The Gaoling investigation had not turned out like anyone had expected.

The Black Lotus had successfully captured two Red Lotus spies, and Ming Hua herself, but failed to gain any answers on why they had attacked Mr. Buon.

Not to mention Mako and Noatak had both been severely mentally disturbed.

They both sat cradling their heads in their hands in the airship lobby, surrounded by everyone, all concerned, yet all unable to do anything to help them.

"Man," Lee said, his hand on Noatak's shoulder. "I sure haven't missed feeling like this..."

"I," Noatak mumbled incoherently, "I had no choice. She forced me. I couldn't have saved him any other way. I...I—"

"It's okay, Noatak," Lee tried to comfort him. "He's alive. He'll...he'll be fine."

I hope.

"No," Noatak said with a shake of his head. "No, it's not okay..."

"Mako," Bolin said, afraid, his hand on his brother's shoulder, "y...you're okay, man."

"Bolin," Iroh said somberly, "I'm afraid old wounds like this aren't things that you can just snap yourself out of. He's gonna need some time. A lot of time, unfortunately."

That didn't stop Bolin from hugging him.

Kuvira sighed as she stood next to Korra and Asami. "And his arm just started feeling better too."

"I know," Korra said regretfully. "And I'm sure that this was the last thing Noatak needed to have happen to him."

Kuvira grimaced. She sighed again. "It seems his past hasn't forgotten him quite yet."

Asami rubbed her arm, her eyes falling to the floor.

Iroh's troubled gaze went from Mako, to Noatak, to the floor. He shook his head and inhaled. "I," he started, trying to muster up morale for everyone, including himself, "I know that this is a bad situation, everyone, but...we came through on one front: we've captured Ming Hua. We're one step closer to crippling the Red Lotus."

He looked to Noatak, his confidence dissolving. "Even if they have crippled us as well. We'll get through this, everyone. We...we will."

Sadly, his words weren't even convincing himself.

The captain walked into the lobby. "General," he saluted, sharing everyone's sorrow, "Ming Hua is finally coming to."

Iroh blinked and looked up at him. "Th-thank you, captain." After a moment, he turned. "Zaheer, you're up."

Zaheer looked up with a blink. "I'm...up?"

Iroh nodded. "Yes. Ming Hua's awake and ready for interrogation."

Zaheer exchanged a look with Korra. "What does this have to do with me?"

"This is what you're here for," Iroh said, motioning for him to follow. "You're the one who's going to be interrogating her."

#

Ming Hua was being held in one of the few cells aboard the airship. The two spies were in the ones next to hers. Korra had come along with Iroh and Zaheer, just to be there in case anything...unexpected happened.

Iroh unlocked the cell door, opening it slowly. "This is a one-way glass," he informed Zaheer, nodding towards the window. "We'll be watching you both the whole time. Try to find out what she and Ghazan are planning."

Zaheer nodded, and walked into the cell.

"Are...you sure this will work?" Korra asked Iroh as he shut the door.

He hesitated. "They trust each other, and Zaheer's good at probing for information, so...it should."

Korra crossed her arms, biting the inside of her cheek.

#

Zaheer stepped into the dimly lit cell, a place too familiar, a place he'd rather not be. There wasn't anything in the room, save for Ming Hua, tied to a chair with rope. She stirred as the door slammed shut. She blinked before looking up. "Z-Zaheer?" she asked in hazed surprise.

"Hello, Ming Hua," he replied.

Ming Hua only stared at the floor for a moment, as many thoughts on her mind as Zaheer's.

"So," she muttered, "they really did turn you against us."

Zaheer shook his head. "Not quite. They're forcing me into this."

Ming Hua looked up, hopeful. "Does...that mean you're going to help me and Ghazan?"

Zaheer shook his head again, much to Ming Hua's puzzlement.

"Ming Hua," he asked heavily, "what happened?"

"W-What do you mean?"

Zaheer met her eyes. "Why? Why Zaofu? Why Su...yin?" he caught himself.

Ming Hua furrowed her brow. "W-Why did you save her?"

He looked away. "My hand was forced."

"They made you rescue her?"

"N-No..."

"W...What's that supposed to mean?" she demanded.

Zaheer glanced at the window, then looked back at her. "I'm supposed to be the one asking questions," he said, taking a step forward. "What are you and Ghazan planning?"

Ming Hua looked away. "We're too far now. It won't matter what you try."

"That's what I thought about the Earth Kingdom, but look at what Kuvira has done."

Ming Hua breathed out her nose.

"They need to know, Ming Hua," Zaheer persisted. "If you don't tell me, you're going to tell them, one way or another. None of us want it to come to that."

She still kept silent.

Zaheer looked into the window, half-hoping that Korra and Iroh would come in and take over.

He looked to the floor, then back at Ming Hua. "Why did you do what you did to Noatak?" he asked, changing the subject.

Ming Hua looked up. "What? Getting him to bloodbend the Avatar's friend?"

Zaheer nodded.

Ming Hua settled back in her chair. "I was hoping for Korra, but I thought, 'Hey, since he's here instead, why not tear their little team apart, piece by piece?' A little bit of chaos can go a long way." She tilted her head to the side. "I'm guessing it worked."

She wasn't wrong.

"You never answered my question about Suyin."

Ming Hua stiffened up. "She poses a threat to the world, so Ghazan and I thought we should...remove her."

Anger started to bubble within Zaheer. "She is no queen," he rumbled as he stepped closer. "She is no president. She owns a city, not a nation. What were you two thinking?"

Ming Hua blinked, startled. "I...The people of Zaofu don't have to answer to her and what she wants. They can choose for themselves!"

Zaheer tore the rope that bound Ming Hua and barricaded the door shut with her chair all in an instant. He grabbed her by her throat, holding her above the floor, her feet dangling.

"N-No!" Iroh shouted. He tried to push the door open, but it wouldn't budge.

"No, no, NO!" Korra yelled. They could only watch in terror.

"How can you think that?!" Zaheer demanded. "That is not freedom! That is meaningless, senseless killing!"

Ming Hua wheezed, wincing. "Z-Zaheer...why? You've killed plenty of people before!"

"Not. Without. A reason."

"W-What happened? When'd you get so soft?"

Zaheer punched Ming Hua right in her stomach.

"ZAHEER!" Iroh shouted from behind the wall of the cell, pounding against the door. "LET HER GO!"

Another punch.

"ZAHEER!" Korra cried.

Another.

"STOP!"

One last punch, and Zaheer flung Ming Hua onto the floor. She rolled, wincing in pain.

"Whatever you think you and Ghazan are running, it is not the Red Lotus!" Zaheer bellowed.

He airbent the chair into a wall and flung the door open. He stormed out of the cell, leaving Ming Hua on the floor, in more pains than one.

"Zaheer!" Korra yelled to him. "What—!"

Zaheer didn't look back as he stalked down the hall.

Korra and Iroh could only look at each other, speechless.

#

Ghazan idly spun a small lava shuriken around in front of himself as he sat, his feet up on that cluttered desk. He had gone through every blueprint in the old Earth Empire warehouse that Baatar Jr. had been too stupid to remember to throw away. He'd found some interesting devices along the way, but they were nothing compared to what he and Ming Hua had discovered earlier.

Speaking of, shouldn't she have returned by now? Like...an hour ago?

Ghazan took his feet off of the desk. He let the shuriken cool off and fall into his hand.

Give her another hour or two. She'll be fine. I mean, this is Ming Hua we're talking about, right?

After a moment, Ghazan got up anyways and walked out of the office, forming the shuriken back onto one of his rock gloves.

Outside the warehouse, some Red Lotus soldiers were talking with each other. All of them snapped to attention once they noticed Ghazan. "S-Sir!" one of them said. "What is it?"

Ghazan looked them over. "Ming Hua's not here yet?" he asked bluntly.

"No," another one answered. "She...hasn't returned."

Ghazan glanced over at the parked airship that they'd stolen. He looked back at the soldiers. "They should've been back an hour ago."

They all exchanged looks.

"Sir!" Ghazan heard another solider call out, running out to everyone from the warehouse. "Sir! There's news!"

Ghazan crossed his arms as he approached. "What? Does Ming Hua want us to rendezvous at Gaoling? Does she have Korra?"

The soldier shook his head, panting, but not from exhaustion.

Ghazan's eyes widened. "What. Happened?" he demanded.

"Sh-She's..." The solider shook his head, blubbering, "M-Ming Hua has been captured...b-by the Black Lotus."

Ghazan's eyes fell to the ground. "No..." He scowled. "No, NO!"

He stomped into the ground, a plume of lava erupting behind him. All of the soldiers cowered in fear.

"How?!" he demanded. "How did she get captured?!"

"Z-Zaheer knocked her out! They're holding her on General Iroh's airship along with the two that went with her!"

Ghazan grinded his teeth, trying to suppress his rage.

Zaheer got her? Darn it! Is he really with them or not?! Who do I have to beat up to ask him myself?!

He clenched his fists.

"W-What should we do, sir?" a soldier asked.

Ghazan craned his neck, thinking. A plan, that's what they needed. Something like Zaofu, but without much reason. Just a diversion.

No. Maybe not just a diversion...

"How are the guys in Republic City doing?" Ghazan asked.

"Last we heard, they couldn't get to Raiko. They got to Varrick, but he survived the poisoning."

"Darn."

The soldier started to crack a smile. "But I heard that while he was drugged, he told everyone at the party that Raiko's wife has a face like a wolf-bat."

Ghazan found himself smiling as well. "Well, that's not dead, but that's worth something."

"That's not all. Word is, Chief Beifong is leaving the city to join the Black Lotus."

That was it. All the pieces started falling into place.

If Zaofu hadn't proven to the world that the Red Lotus meant business, this would.

Ghazan looked up, a smile growing. "I think I got a plan. Tell the guys at Republic City that there's a little pick-up they need to make before they evacuate..."

#

Korra stood in the airship's bathroom, splashing cold water in her face, still trying to comprehend just what exactly had happened in that cell.

I...I thought Zaheer and Ming Hua were friends? He just...he just beat her like she was nothing to him. How could he do that? I thought he was actually...changing. Was Ming Hua right about him getting soft? He went out of his way to save Su at Zaofu, so he at least has a conscience.

But what if that was just a front? Does he even still care about Su? It sure looked like he did. Was beating up Ming Hua just a front?

Like you haven't been putting up fronts...

Korra shook her head.

Th-this isn't about me. This is about Zaheer. He's...He can change. I know it.

No he can't. He has no respect for his own friends. A man like that? He'll never change. He's not even worthy to be called a man. You got lucky with Noatak and Lee, but him? No, not him.

Yes. Yes him. He just...he just needs some guidance.

Like what you gave the pathetic sniveling orphan that's now running the entire Earth Kingdom? How about you give him a hug and some empty encouragements too at that rate? You think 'guidance' is enough to save him? What he needs is guidance to the nearest grave—

Korra slammed her fists against the sink, the water still running.

What. Is. WRONG with me?! Where is this coming from?! This isn't me!

Yes it is—

N-NO! I...am Korra. I am—

The worst Avatar that has ever existed.

NOO!

Technically the only Avatar in existence, thanks to your uncle.

Korra grinded her teeth until her jaw popped.

I survived losing my bending! I survived losing Raava! I survived being poisoned! I survived all those hallucinations! With everything that I've gone through, I'm the strongest Avatar the world's ever known!

And apparently the most prideful, cocky, hot-headed, deluded, selfish, irresponsible Avatar at that.

N-No! No! NO! NOO! I...I am...

I...am...

Korra went limp.

She fell down onto the bathroom floor, unconscious.

END