A small truck was making its way quickly across the land heading for Ba Sing Se. P'Li was driving as Zaheer meditated, hoping to find the spiritual energies of the two targets that had slipped away. Thanks to the police radio they had stolen in Republic City, they knew the whereabouts of the Avatar, but there was no word on the Spirit's Champion. The Red Lotus was hoping that the Queen might divulge that information in exchange for who they had tied up in the back seat.
Tied up tightly and cuffed Mako, Bolin, and Roy struggled to get out of their bindings. Roy was in a particular awkward situation. The Red Lotus couldn't figure out how to take off his prosthetic, so they had disabled it by pulling out a bunch of wires and circuit board to prevent its use. It now hung uselessly against his side. "When I get out of this you f****** a******* are going to be s*** under my boots. You hear what I'm saying to your boy toy b*****? Zaheer you're nothing but a pile of c***.
Ghazan laughed a little at the angry young adult. He had a mouth on him even if he didn't know half of what he was saying. "I like you, you have guts to make threats when you're in no position to fight. What would your parents say if they heard you right now?"
"I don't know what they would think, they've been dead for years, but I know what my former guardian would say. Keep singing it to the fat cats and eventually they'll take themselves out." Mako, who was sitting in the middle stomped his foot hard on Roy in trying to get the guy to shut up. If Ghazan and Ming-Hua wanted to they could kill them in in an instant.
Ming-Hua leaned back against the wall closing her eyes, already tired of hearing the firebender trying to gather information about their mission. Then the redhead started talking once again saying his brother had survived worse people than them and still came out on top. It was a mistake to hold him hostage because his brother wouldn't come. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I wish for the quietness and heat of the volcano, making up stories, than sitting back here listening to these guys."
"Not me, I'm happy to be free. I couldn't stand renaming the constellations one more time. Do you know what it's like to only bathe when it's raining? It's a wonder I don't stink still," Ghazan responded to that. He shuddered about the thought of being captured again. He vowed that he would die before being locked up again. He turned to look at the young earthbender who was listening in fascination about their lives. He could sense a special power inside him. If he ever unlocked it would be a lot of fun to challenge him.
"Gag them up! You two need to keep them under control. Also, lose the attitude all of you. The Earth Queen can have us executed for just standing in her throne room if she wishes," P'Li reminded them. Squeezing Zaheer's hand he came out of his trance. She raised an eyebrow and he gave her a slight tilt of the head. He hadn't found their targets.
Inside the Palace the Earth Queen was having a good day for once. After Avatar Kyoshi's attack, it become apparent that the Dai Li was gone for good. Several of them couldn't even remember their names, asking them to earthbend was unthinkable. So to protect her interests she commandeered the Council of Five forcing the generals to personally serve her and abandon any duties related to the security of the city or the kingdom at large.
Making Gun squirm he informed her that the Avatar and her female companions had been transport to the airship which was in route to the city. Her golden nails clicked together excitedly. Soon the Avatar would be her prisoner to do whatever she wanted to. The other girls made good bonus prizes. Ms. Asami precious company would fall apart without her. Her companies and people would corner the market giving her a much bigger tax rate to increase her wealth. That other girl, (she couldn't be bothered to remember her name), would enjoy being a living experiment at the University. Her abilities would help create a better army for her, a new type of Dai Li.
She was so pleased she missed Gun telling her about Zaheer's group. She yelled at him for not telling her when she wasn't in deep thought. Falling into a full kowtow he begged for his life as he repeated what Zaheer's group wanted. Upon hearing they had information on her airbenders she let them in.
The boys got tossed unceremonious on the ground. Mako and Bolin eyed the generals in fear as Roy started the Queen down. If he had Superman's heat vision he would have blown up that stupid hairpiece along with her accessories. The Earth Queen stood up and walked over to get a better look. She stopped when she saw that it was not the Spirit's Champion captured. She swiped her nails drawing blood on his collar bone section before getting back on her throne. "Such a humble gift to give me, but what do you wish in return."
"Your Majesty, I along with several people, saw your troops captured the Avatar and forcefully take her prisoner. If she makes it all the way here, the other nations would be forced attempts to free her. Your own people would revolt further upon learning the world's greatest hope being a prisoner for crimes against you. It would be the same if you find the Spirit's Champion. There is a solution to the problem," Zaheer spoke eloquently.
"Speak quickly, I don't have much patients for long-winded speeches." Zaheer quickly went into negotiations. The queen could keep her prisoners and retrieve her airbenders, in exchange she handed the Avatar and Spirit's Champion, should he be captured, to Zaheer. He assured her that the both of them would be quietly dealt with without any evidence trailing back to her.
Finding these terms acceptable, she allowed the Red Lotus to wait in the waiting chamber. The boys found themselves being belt down into separate dungeon cells. The Earth Queen would have them tortured by the generals later before executing them for their crimes against her. Yes, today was shaping out to be a good day indeed.
On the slow flying airship the girls had been placed in a special holding area. Asami was chained to railing on the wall, while Karen found herself in a too small cage with holes to tiny to escape from, and Korra was on a stretcher in straight jacket, a muzzle, and cuffs.
"MMMM! ERTH MMM, RRR NNN GER! LEMMMMMMM OUT!" the Avatar shouted. The muzzle on her face was making her words come out garbled and she was restrained so tightly she couldn't move. The restraints also were responsible for the slowing of the blood in her body and her difficulty in breathing. If Korra couldn't get free within an hour, her body might suffer from irreversible damage.
"Korra, calm down, we'll get you out of there, I promise. Karen, how are you holding up? Can you escape at all?" Asami asked anxiously, silently wishing for her electro glove. Upon capture their all their weapons and Karen's costume had been confiscated. They were currently in lock up a few doors down from the cell.
The black girl, now wore nothing except a simple green tunic a guard had given her, to preserve some of her dignity studied her prison. Her cage left her no room to stretch and she was half hunched over and her legs crossed together sticking behind her. Karen tried to find room to move her hands with no success. "I'm not doing the greatest. This cage is doing a number on my body and is messing with my mind. Even if I had my costume, the holes are too tiny to escape from. Maybe my stingers guns could cut the metal, but I don't have them." She let out a growl of frustration. If only Mal or Atom were here right now, she'd be out in a second.
"So I guess it's up to me to get us out of this room. Good thing these are Cabbage Corp airships." She stood up before jumping over her cuffs and pulling the security bar from the wall, catching it before it crashed to the floor. Working with the bar she found the weak spot in her chain and hit. The cuffs cracked and she was free. She went over to check each of the girls' restraints. After a moment she started trying to open a panel. "I can't free either of you without the keys. In order to take the guard by surprise I'll get our weapons. Just give me ten and start yelling."
It worked perfectly. Asami managed to get their weapons and take out the guard with an electrical shock. Quickly she undid the locks on Korra's stretcher before using the boomerangs to cut the jacket off. Once free Karen quickly slipped on her costume checking for damages before holstering her Stinger Guns and firing tiny blast from her hands. Once Korra was free she said that the need to take the air ship.
"Wait, if we take it by force there's a high probability of us damaging the ship and going down in the desert," she told the girls as she pulled on her hood and goggles. "The local sandbender tribe mentioned that they had a recent encounter with a sandshark that nearly ate them. I don't know about you, but I rather not end up as fish food."
The other two nodded, thinking over the problem. Even if they took the ship, eventually someone was going to notice that it wasn't responding to calls. Other airships would be dispatched to search for it. They would have to move faster and make it back to the oasis before deciding what to do with the soldiers. The question was how?
"Korra, can you use your gravitybending to make the airship lighter?" The Avatar looked at Asami puzzled. "Hear me out, if the airship is lighter than it can move faster. We could also risk taking a slightly different flying manifest without arousing too much suspicion. We then take out the crew and make our way back to the Oasis."
Korra bit her lip. She had never tried to manipulate the gravity around something so big and inside it. She didn't know how long she could maintain the gravitybending while creating a giant dust devil with airbending to give them a speed boost. "I don't know, I've never tried using regular bending with its sub-bending. I need both hands to perform each bending."
"Try using your mind to bend the gravity and your arms to create the air blasts. Can't you use the Avatar State to do remote bending?" Bumblebee suggested. Her suggestion was a good one. She hoped it would work. The group had to keep moving unit they made it to the middle of the ship. They opened a window and Korra crawled on to the repair platform and slowly got to her feet. She nearly lost her balance, but got it back. She removed two boomerangs and gave each girl one in hopes they would help.
After she was left alone she took a deep breath. "Raava, please help me do this. Past lives, lend me your strength so I can succeed." Her jewelry sparkled as she entered the trance. Power surged in her as she used her hands to create giant dust devils, the quick-moving air sending the propellers into overdrive. At the same time her glowing eyes looked up focusing on the ship itself. Reaching out with her mind she connected with the air particles causing them to react. Suddenly the ship went higher and higher into the sky as the dust devils followed them.
Inside the ship the crew didn't know what hit them. Using Korra's boomerangs as a distraction, the girls took out the crew, locked them up in a new cell room. Asami took charge of flying and Bumblebee flew outside to keep an eye on Korra and for danger. With their increased speed they should reach their destination within an hour and half.
Twenty minutes later, Korra had to stop or she would burn out. In fact, if Asami hadn't been there to catch her she might have fallen into the desert below. The heiress half carried the girl to cockpit while Bumblebee decided to check on the prisoners. After all, it was past lunch.
Upon entering the cell she saw four disgruntled men glaring at her. Now it was them chained to the wall and floor, but at least they could sit down on the tiny benches on the walls. They'd been stripped of weapons and items they could use to free themselves with. "How are you guys? Can I get you anything?"
"You and your companions would be wise to free us. If you don't I promise you will suffer further under the Earth Queen's wraith. She might even have you executed," the Captain informed her. "The three of you can't avoid the Earth Airships forever. They'll find you girls and won't hesitate to rough you up. If you free us and returned to your cells, I promise I won't mention this to the Earth Queen when we deliver you to her."
Bumblebee bristled hearing those words. She'd heard something similar to often by others. People telling her to give up because she was a girl. That she wasn't smart enough to earn a degree in microbiology science. Because she was black no one would take her seriously.
She set down her basket of food and stood straight up. She turned to the captain and removed her hood. "Let me tell you a story captain. Once a few years ago a child with amazing speed was asked to deliver a life giving heart to a hospital where a little girl named Perdita waited. He was very caught up in thinking he wanted to fight the people creating a snowstorm to stop him. He almost didn't realize when an evil count, in attempted coup, tried to prevent the heart from being delivered to his nine year old niece. The boy managed to get the heart to the girl, who turned out to be the queen of her country. A small queen brave enough to revoke the count's rights and land him in jail forever. She offered her savior a gift, but he told her the greatest gift was seeing her alive."
The rest of the crew looked at her awed by the story. The captain's face showed he wasn't so she told him another story. "Centuries ago, my ancestors were living peacefully in to own lands until slavers captured them. That cage you shoved me in? Imagine it much smaller with three people mangled up in it. For years we were treated with no respect, tortured and executed because of the pigmentation of our skin. Eventually we found a way to create equality. An equality today that lets me not only attend college, but lets me be a superheroine without being second class."
"There a point to all this?" the captain asked. She nodded. "Yeah sometimes people can do amazing things, especially when they realize that the rules of a leader or traditions of a country are morally wrong or unethical. Ask yourselves, do you want to serve a queen who cares nothing for you, or do the right thing by letting us go free?" She would have said more except something big crashed up against the ship sending it twirling around rapidly.
Flying out the door and through the ships she caught a glimpse of what was attacking them. Her worst fears confirmed as she saw a sand shark breaching as it tried to take a bit out of the ship. Once in the cockpit she blurted out. "I though those beasts couldn't jump this high!"
"Without me out there bending we started to drift slowly back down. I have to get back out there ahhh," Korra tried to stand only to fall back on her knees. She was still exhausted from using the Avatar State. Until she remastered it, the unorthodox way she did it would continue to drain her. "I can't get up, I'm too tired."
"Asami, keep the ship in motion, I'll go out there and get Sharky to leave us alone." Without waiting she opened a window and flew out. The big shark was starting to jump again after the ship. Using super zoom she flew towards the monsters, pulling out her Stinger Guns blasting the creature's underbelly. It let out a bellow. It twisted in the air as it fell trying to chomp on her. Bumblebee flew out of the way doing loops around the creature zapping it.
The creature submerged itself in the sand sliding through the sands. Tracking it she watched for another breech. Just before it exploded out towards them again she went small. Flying into its mouth she used her wrist stingers burning holes in the tongue. She then attacked the teeth breaking most of them. The creature was in great pain as she exited its mouth as it returned to the dunes below. "Hopefully no more surprises like that. I hope the others are doing okay."
In the dungeons below the palace; Mako, Bolin and Roy were in two cells. The brothers in one and Roy in the other. Mako was yelling to be let out saying that had something urgent to tell the Earth Queen, but no one came.
"You're in for a long wait, if you think anyone's coming boy," A prisoner across from them informed him. Judging by his appearance he'd been there for a long time. "Ever since the Dai Li's been destroyed, the regular guard's been stretched to its limits. Queenie cares more about her own self-preservation than us. We'll be lucky if we get served a meal in the next two weeks. Try conserving your water and food."
Mako ignored him. He tried to burn the bars apart, but quickly stopped when the sparks started flying back towards him. "What are these bars made of? Why can't I burn through them?" The prisoner yelled at him that the bars melting point might be too high of a temperature for him to cut through without hurting himself. Turning to his brother he told him to metal bend it.
"I told you already, I'm not a metalbender. I've tried since before we arrived at Zaofu. I can't do it, I'm not the one in a hundred benders with the ability too. Sorry Mako, but I'm not breaking us out."
"Are you saying you're not even going to try? Come on! I thought you didn't quit at anything! I believe in you so start bending that metal!" There was a banging on the left side of their cell followed by Roy's voice, "Give it a rest Mako, he says he can't do it, then he can't. So if you have nothing more to offer than let me work on fixing my prosthetic in peace." The twenty two year old looked at his arm sighing. He didn't have his kit or proper tools to fix this. Hopefully he could jury rig something, he at least had to get it locked back into place. "Hey, anyone down here have some sort of tools I could use please? I need to fix my prosthetic."
There was a quite mutter between the other prisoners and a few minutes later he had a couple utensils, a piece of a mirror, a single tweezers, and some odds and ends. It was much and very primitive tools to use, but he had to make do with what he had. Slowly, he used a small toothpick someone had to start the diagnostic.
Thirty minutes passed quickly, giving Roy a chance to run a diagnostic and fix some of the wiring when something cracked the foundation all the way down to the cells. The ceiling threaten to collapse on top of them. Through the cracks dripped water and they could hear sounds of combustion. A whistling sound was going on. What was going on in the throne room?
It had been a one-sided battle between the Red Lotus and the Council of Five. Learning that the airship carrying the Avatar had gone missing, the four of them had demanded to know the location so they could fetch her themselves. Outraged that they listen to her private conversations she declared that they would die. Within seconds the Red Lotus had dispatched the Council of Five and sent Gun running. Leaving the Queen alone she stood next to her throne declaring, "You wouldn't dare harm the Earth Queen. I'm the ruler of the entire Earth Kingdom! Harm me and the rest of the nations will crush you."
Zaheer calmly used his bending to hop and land him on top of the throne. His blood-red arrow started to glow as the energies of the dark airbenders he absorbed whispered in his mind. An intense pressure filled the room as he started to speak, his voice conveying all the dark airbenders. "I don't believe in Queens or any form of government. Those in charge always corrupt themselves taking the freedom of the people for themselves. You're just like them, believing your position gives you the right to take and give it on your whim. You're wrong dear Hou-Ting."
Before the Queen could protest the winds circled around her body making it impossible to move. A small ball covered her face as she felt her lungs constricting and their air being pulled out. Her entire body was in pain as she tried to breathe the air back in, but nothing came.
Zaheer landed right behind her quickening the process. "Air is the element of freedom, a necessity to life that you thought to control. You can't take their freedom any more than they can stop breathing. Yet, I hold the power over your life and I chose to send you into the dark," he replied coldly as he asphyxiated her to death. The other members of the Red Lotus gave looks of pride at him. He gestured to the body letting the others take their turns.
Ming-Hua used her ice claws to slice the body into three sections. P'Li set the torso and legs on until there was nothing, but bones. Ghazan broke the bones in pieces with his earthbending before using lavabending to destroy the bones completely. Together the four of them preserved the Queen's head and mounted on the top of the palace. It would serve as a reminder of the past, a symbol to show the Red Lotus meant business.
Hoa had just exited the Spirit World landing on the roots of the swamp. The second her toes made contact she felt agony, fear, and jubilation rush over her. Losing her balance she fell off the root hitting the ground rather hard. "HOA! Headsman Bao, we found Hoa!" a young voice called out fuzzily.
Distantly she could hear skiffs powering closer as the vines wrapped themselves around her gently putting her on her father's skiff. A healer started to look her over, wondering if the transition from the Spirit World as a spirit back to the Physical World as human had been the reason she lost her balance. "I'm fine, really," she told them as she forced herself to sit upright. "I fell because the Swamp is in great pain."
"What do you mean the Swamp is in great pain?" Boa asked. He took a seat next to his daughter checking her over to make certain she was fine. "I was just meditating under the Banyan-Grove Tree. Your mother said she was sending you home because of danger. I had hoped you would exit near home, but that was not the case."
"Feel it Father, our beloved Swamp is feeling the pain from a distance and the energies of the people in that area." The Headswoman in training begged her father. He pressed his hand against the bark of a nearby tree connecting with its spiritual energy. A gold trail appeared as it surged through the swamp, out into the Earth Kingdom and to Ba Sing Se. Terrible images appeared before him. People looting the palace where the Earth Queen had hung. Riots breaking out on all the rings. In the Lower Ring a raging fire threaten to destroy the homes and the people who lived there. The spirits were struggling between the desire to save people or get out as fast as they can.
"Chi! Get back to the radio hut. Contact our cousins. See if they know anything that's going on in Ba Sing Se!" Chi nodded as he rode his catgator Slim III back to the village. Standing up on the edge of his skiff he spoke to the rest of the tribe. "My kin, something terrible has occurred in the Earth Kingdom capital. The spirit of the Queen has been snuffed out, as a result, chaos and destruction is spreading like wildfire. While I don't have all the details, I do know our precious home might be attacked because our treaty with the Earth Kingdom, might not recognize us anymore as Water Tribe. It's our duty to protect the Nexus and our home. With a heavy heart I ask you to become a force to be reckoned with once more. We need to do whatever is necessary to keep the Swamp alive!"
Bao held his daughter as they watched the tribe power through the currents to set traps and enforce the boarders of the swamp from harm. Hoa clutched her pendant tightly, knowing that the spirits, especially Hei Bai, would be horrified by this violent act.
The other two Water Tribes had already heard the news. In the Southern Tribe Senna listened to the radio holding back tears and fears. Katara held her hand tightly giving her a reassuring look. "The Earth Kingdom fell once when I was a girl. It's frightening now, but I promise that the future will be brighter and happier."
"Thanks Master Katara, but I'm less worried about the Earth Kingdom as I'm about my husband. Tonraq is a brave, kind, and powerful leader. Still, I fear he won't be able to survive against Red Lotus." Both Southern Tribe benders turned their attention back to the radio, hoping to hear some news about Korra and the others.
In the Northern Tribe, Regent Pipaluk sat in the partially reconstructed throne room. Many important people and a great many warriors had been lost in the destruction of their home. Only a small bit of the city had been reconstructed as aid came from the villages in the tundra who had rushed to aid them. Regent Pipaluk, (who looked remarkably like her children), listening as the advisors informed her about what the radios were broadcasting. "It seems that the Red Lotus, had a greater agenda then killing Chief Desna and destroying our home. They wish to eliminate all government leaders and allow the countries to run wild. They're saying their goal is freedom for all."
"If freedom was their goal, they went about the wrong way. Many of our people are homeless, our culture destroyed. I understand that the people need freedom, and I've been very liberal in this time of crises. Will this pose a problem when I return leadership of the tribe back to Eska?" Regent Pipaluk asked.
The advisor opened his mouth to speak, but stopped looking at something behind the Regent. Hope flared inside Pipaluk as she stood up and looked behind. Sitting in a wheelchair, with simple prosthetics for now, sat Eska. Her normally bored look had changed to one of determination and sadness. Her nurse rolled the chair closer as Pipaluk hugged her daughter tightly. "My sweet little Eska, I'm so glad you're alive! Oh how I wish you could hear me."
"Motherrrrrrrr, I Imm deeeeeaaaaaaaaaaafffffffff, buttttt I cannnnnnnnn stil still read lipppppppppps." Her voice was coming out very raspy and it was harder to talk with her jaw partially fused. In her heart, she knew Desna was gone, but she was determined to lead her people, with her mother's help until was completely recovered.
It was the same story in the Fire Nation, United Republic, and Air Nomads. Everyone in the nations were shocked news and didn't know what to do. Fire Lord Izumi ordered her troops to protect the people first, her second. She even ordered the Imperial Navy to fetch her son and bring him home where he'd be better protected. President Raiko spoke to his entire country asking everyone to look after one another and not to hesitate to call for reinforcements if the Red Lotus showed up. In the Northern Air Temple, the Council and Tenzin, plus the Young Justice heroes, started discussing plans to evacuate the Northern Temple and head to the Southern, when they would be better protected.
The Red Lotus actions had frightened both man and spirit. They had achieved their goal of freedom in the Earth Kingdom. The question was who would be standing after the chaos and blood stopped. Would they even be able to rebuild like the North or was the Earth Kingdom gone forever?
The girls were completely unaware of what happened. They had turned off the radio some time ago as they slowly descended on the outskirts of the city. The approach of the airship startled some sand benders who scattered on their sand sailer taking off in different directions. Asami did her best and carefully landed the craft on the edges of the Misty Palms Oasis. Gathering the crew they disembarked the ship looking around puzzled by all the activity.
"I've never seen this place so active," the captain commented. People were running around whispering. Some had pulled on dirty white garments. The florist was handing out flowers, saying they were on sale for anyone who wanted to mourn. "Something extreme must have happened to cause this much panic."
"Sir, I think I'm seeing things. That's not a dragon waiting by the tavern is it?" the lieutenant asked, rubbing his eyes. They all glanced over towards Druk calmly sunning himself in the fading sun. "I need a drink badly."
Karen wasted no time, she unlocked their cuffs and told them to get going. The captain nodded as the four of them headed out to talk to the local constable. The girls passed Druk who let out a small grumble of approval. They each stroked his nose. He leaned in for some well deserve scratching. Just before they entered the tavern, the girls got bowled over by white fur balls.
"Naga, stop that tickles! I'm glad to see you to girl! Oh I love you so much. What are you doing inside, I thought they didn't let animals inside," Korra laughed as she pushed herself up. "Hmm I guess the tavern owner is a nice guy, letting an arctic creature rest inside a cool hut to beat the heat." With pups yipping at her heels she entered the tavern.
Inside in the corner sat Lin, Zuko, and Tonraq sat discussing plans. Kilchii, Virgil, and Jason sat between them drinking cold juice and occasionally adding in their two cents. Tonraq looked up first and his smile widened. "Korra! Thank Yue you're safe!" Father and daughter embraced each other tightly. He stroked her hair whispering to her as Kilchii joined them.
"KAREN!" "GUYS!" The three teen heroes embraced each other talking a mile a minute. The boys talking about their adventure in finding the leaders and talking to them. Jason was much calmer and not as snotty. Apparently talking to Zuko was the equivalent of meeting your favorite movie star. Virgil emphasized with Karen when she spoke about her treatment on the ship.
After the introductions Asami asked what had happened to cause this sleepy town to go crazy. Lin just pointed to the radio and said wait five seconds. Seconds later the radio crackled. "Our top story continues. The Earth Queen is dead at the hands of the Red Lotus. Chaos reigns supreme in the capital and is quickly spreading to the rest of the country. City states are experiencing similar problems as the capital as the smaller villages and providence are unsure what this turn of events means to them. One thing is clear, the Earth Kingdom is in peril. Who will save us?"
Korra looked at the group in horror. "When did this happen?"
"About forty five minutes ago. No one knows where the Red Lotus disappeared to, but all capitals, leaders and their heirs are under a lockdown to prevent further anarchy from spreading. Chief Eska has woken from her coma thankfully, but it depending on the remaining warriors to keep herself and the North safe. My daughter ordered her troops to protect the people asking only a small team of Imperial Guards to fetch my grandson," Lord Zuko explained. "I should be heading home on Druk, but first we need to ensure the safety of the new airbenders."
"Are they in great danger?" Asami asked tensely. She was already going over the statistics in her mind. With only one airship and a few bison, there wouldn't be enough transportation to successfully evacuate the Northern Temple if that was where Zaheer was heading. Deep in her bones she knew that would be his destination. Everyone else felt it too.
"Airships and bison from other temples have already been dispatched, but it's unlikely they'll get there in time," Tonraq informed her. He sighed looking towards Kilchii, who also had frown on his face. "According to the Spirit's Champion here, Varuna is very confused by what's going on."
"He's confused by what's going on. He's seen things like this before from downloading the history of our world from the Tree of Time. I'm trying to give him context, but I can't properly explain what's going on and if it's right or wrong." Kilchii clutched his head as another headache threatened to make his brain explode. "What I wouldn't give for some Aspirin right now."
"The entire world is out of balance. How much worse can this get?" Korra questioned before covering her mouth. Oh she hoped the universe didn't hear her. It had a tendency to respond with additional dangers and problems.
It turned out that things could get much worse. At the moment Bolin was clumsily steering a ransacked airship filled with his extended family. Mako was checking on everyone making sure they were okay and giving them some food that had managed to find before they left Ba Sing Se. Once he was sure his grandma Yin was okay, Mako made reentered the cockpit. "How are we doing? Have you figured how to navigate yet, without the instruments?"
"For the most part, have to keep checking the sun and ignore the compass once and while. You should count yourself lucky, that Eska took the time to teach me all about navigation so I would never be late to wherever she need me," Bolin sniffed. Thoughts of Eska once more filled his head, but he pushed them down only for an image of a smiling Opal to appear. Letting go of the wheel for a second he started furiously scratching his head. "AAAAAAAAAH! Why must I be plagued with the girl thoughts now?"
"Take a break Bolin, you need it." Mako took over the steering as Bolin joined his family in the back. Noticing her grandson upset Yin walked over. "Are you alright my dear? Saving the world must really get to you. Why haven't you settled down with a nice girl and started living a productive life by now?" Bolin just slipped further into depression, sinking so low in his seat he nearly fell off.
"Mom, now is not the best time to be talking about ones love life. Why don't you go take a nap in the bunks? We'll alert you when we reach our destination," Chow informed Yin. She did as he ordered. Watching her go he turned to his nephew, "Sorry, mom tends to meddle in everyone's life and because she's matriarch, she gets a lot of leeway."
Bolin rolled his eyes saying that she would be thrilled Mako was dating the heir to the Sato Fortune and Future Industries. Muttering about his own assorted love life he turned away from his uncle. "My girl troubles aren't important now. I'm more worried about what's going to happen when we catch up with Korra and Kilchii. They're both going to be crushed and desperate after hearing what Zaheer told us."
"Does it have something to do with the strange package you guys stowed away? The one we're not allowed to touch?" Tu pondered out load. After escaping the fire and flying away he noticed his cousins fussing with a package being really delicate with it. "What's in it anyways?"
"Trust me cousin, it's not something you want to see or mess with." Silence filled the cabin for a time. Sometime later Mako let them know he had received a call from Lin ordering the boys to the Misty Palms Oasis. As twilight started to fall they landed just outside the city. This was the first time the family had been outside the walls of Ba Sing Se so they didn't know what to make of the sights. Tu screamed when he saw several ball of white and silver mixed with one red charged at them.
"Watch out! Vicious animals on the loose!" Tu shouted standing front of his family. The pups started yipping and jumping trying to get pats and belly rubs from the family only to whine when no one did what they wanted. Naga, was holding Mako in a bear hug as Pabu and Bolin reunited. "Are you two crazy?! These are wild animals wanting to eat us!"
"I've heard a lot of people call Naga a lot of things, but not a person eater. Relax, she and her pups are just big fuzzy balls of love," Korra commented as she walked over to the group. Night had truly fallen as the stars lit up the night sky and the moon bathed them in its gentle glow.
The family gasped. It was the Avatar and standing next to her was the Spirit's Champion! Soon others joined them making them gasp even more. Famous people and teens in strange civilian outfits had approached. Asami threw herself at Mako telling him how much she was worried for him. Bolin started freaking at seeing Lord Zuko. He was about to talk to him when he remember why they had been released in the first place.
Karen, Jason, and Virgil looked around, but didn't see any sign of their leader. The pups sensed their worry brushing up against the teens. Bolin ran back in the airship before coming back with a package. Unsteadily, he handed it over to Kilchii. "Zaheer wanted us to deliver a message. This was the first part." Kilchii carefully unwrapped the package, his breath stolen as they all stared at the mangled prosthetic. Kilchii's eyes narrowed as he clenched his fist as he looked at the arm. "Where is my brother?" he asked tightly.
"He's a hostage of the Red Lotus. Ghazan ripped the limb right off, I don't know how much damage was done to it. Roy kept protesting that you wouldn't come to his rescue. Zaheer didn't believe that saying he was extra incentive," Mako informed. He looked directly into Korra's eyes. "He's going after the airbenders and if you and Kilchii don't surrender yourselves at Laghima's Peak in two days, the Red Lotus will destroy the Air Nomads and Roy."
The news made everyone still. Korra was beating herself up inside. Why had she taunted the universe? Now things were worse! Next to her Kilchii was swearing on his life that he would save his brother and not allow his child to grow up without a father. Young Justice silently agreed that they would kick the Red Lotus's butts and save the world.