Chapter 10: Tracking Scents
Korra kicked a burnt plank of wood violently, cursing bitterly.
"Damnit, he got away!"
They searched every inch of the island but the man had disappeared. The children were overjoyed to be released from their unexpected house arrest; not so much that they had to make up for lost practice time.
The White Lotus guards reported in to Tenzin. They had found a bomb of the same make as the one in the apartment, but this one had been disabled by the guards before it went off, so they could get a better look at it. Asami bent down to give it a look with Lanfan, and her face fell more and more each minute.
"No doubt about it. This is my father's work. I'm amazed the White Lotus men could disable it."
"A firebender with Equalist technology…what is going on…?" Tenzin stroked his beard in a worried whisper.
"Yeah, what is going on? Who is that man, Mako?" Korra seemed to think solving this case trumped her anger with him.
Mako's eyes set uncomfortably on Song as he said "His name's Nobu. He was one of the most efficient attack dogs of the firebenders in the Triple Threats when I…ran numbers for 'em."
Song's eyes narrowed in disapproval.
"So he is a Triple Threat…one of the ones seen on Yangchen…and here too, so he's definitely responsible. The bomb proves it." Korra said, throwing the ruined bars of the cell in the garbage.
"The problem is how did he get his hands on something my father invented for the Equalists?" Asami stroked her chin.
"I dunno. Sato claimed Equalists weren't involved and Zolt says the same thing about the Triple Threats. Are there three firebenders working independently…?"
"We don't even know if the other three are working with Nobu." Ed raised a fair point.
"They must be." Mako argued. "They were with him and you can't plant a bomb like that alone."
"Then why weren't they here this time…?" Korra pondered.
"Lanfan and I searched everywhere." Lin said. "With the White Lotus. His pals didn't come to play."
"But why? Were they not involved, or are they…?" Al breathed.
There was a general shiver at the thought of crazy firebenders bombing more buildings in the city, causing as much loss as the Equalist rebellion did.
"Regardless of why…" Tenzin said. "I'm just relieved everyone is alright. You averted a crisis, young lady. Thank you."
He clapped Lanfan on the shoulder.
"Oh…thank you, sir…"
Ed could see the image of her late grandfather pass across her black eyes.
"Mei! Mei! Tell us a story! Please tell us a story, please tell us a story!" Ikki demanded.
"Yes, please do, miss." Meelo said in his peculiar advanced vocabulary he broke out at the strangest times.
"Okay, yeah, sure. This is a story from our country. It's about the first Emperor who practiced the Purifications Arts and became an immortal…"
After the Equalists recently invading and the near miss that day, Tenzin was taking no chances with his family's safety. The acolytes were advised against and the kids expressly forbidden to leave the house after dark. Korra, being a night owl, was peeved and sulky. Meelo and Ikki got bored as they had planned to play Pai Sho outside with their big sister. So Mei entertained them with Xingese fairytales about immortals and giants, warriors and Emperors, cradling Rohan whom she had volunteered to mind. Jinora, however, was content to read, sprawled under a table in the public dining hall where Tenzin's children had decided to camp out because they didn't want to go to bed yet.
"That better not be a romance novel, Jinora." Korra remarked, finishing off a round of Pai Sho with Ed.
"So what if it is!"
"You read too much of that junk…"
"Al, would you mind taking Meelo to his room?" Mei pointed to the lightly dozing boy. "I'm going to take Rohan to his mother; I think he needs to eat."
Al picked him up by the armpits, trying not to get smeared in drool and snot.
"Korra do you want me to tell Mako to feed Naga?" Al called, leaving the room.
Mako and Bolin had not felt comfortable leaving Korra so they had asked permission to stay the night in their old rooms. Asami had gone home so Mako was now taking her place with Winry helping Pema with dinner in the kitchen. After Naga both helped find Bolin when Equalists kidnapped him and saved Korra from hypothermia in the mountains, Mako had taken a liking to the polar bear dog. He often offered to let her out of the stables to hunt for fish in the bay at night.
"No, I'll do it." Korra said, getting up.
"Oh, but that would mean going outside. Never mind…"
"You think I've never snuck out at night before, Al? I'll be right back."
Ed cleared up the Pai Sho board, and got off the small cushion stiffly (he wasn't used to them like Lin, Lanfan, and Mei were).
"I'm going to follow her…"
Ed was skilled at sneaking around too, and easily eluded the White Lotus guards.
He saw Lin and Lanfan on the roof above the master bedroom. They were acting as extra security detail, helping out the White Lotus keep the place secure. He waved and they gave him silent thumbs up.
He found Korra patting Naga listlessly, Naga licking her cheek slowly.
"Hey."
"Hey."
Ed leaned against the stable door.
"Mako's sorry, y'know."
"I know."
"He was only concerned for you. I mean, holy hell, it sounds like you were beat half to death before we got here. He just didn't want it to happen again."
"But it's my job to put myself in danger for everybody! That's what the Avatar does! And I can't do my job if everyone's going behind my back and arrgh, I just…"
"You just feel angry at yourself. I get ya."
Ed sat down, ignoring Naga's large teeth.
"I don't like disappointing people either. Always been that way. It drives Al and Winry crazy but I've just never been able to accept help…always shouldering things and beating myself up when I fail..."
"Well, what else is there? I'm the Avatar, that means it is my responsibility and if I fail, I fail the world."
"I've always felt that way too. I felt Al and Winry were my responsiblily because I'm the eldest and..."
Uncle, Uncle, is it true you and Auntie are leaving?
That's right, Ed. You're the man of the house now. So I need you to look after Winry and Al while we're away, okay?
Yeah…but you're coming back, right?
Of course we are.
"...I think that caused them grief because they never liked to see me put so much pressure on myself. I'm sure that's what Mako's feeling too."
"Aah…I know…" Korra confessed, defeated. "I'm just so angry!"
She threw a punch Ed barely dodged.
"Woah!"
"C'mon, Ed, I'm pissed. Let's go, it'll work off some steam."
Ed grinned. "Why didn't you just say so?"
He threw a punch that really did land, sending her sprawling.
"Ha, ha, jerk!"
She scrambled up, grabbed his legs, and flipped him.
He landed splat into Naga's hay, and they both laughed wildly.
"Thanks, man." Korra wiped tears from laughing so hard and took Ed's hand, helping him up.
"I still think I'm a shitty Avatar, though." And girlfriend…
Zhi dropped down from his branch to face the Avatar.
"Hello, Zhi."
"Avatar Aang. How might I be of service?"
"I want to know why you interfered with Wa Shi Tong. I thought you were going to be a neutral party."
"Are you dissatisfied? They are not looking for an Earth Kingdom newborn as we speak…was not that all you asked of me?"
"That Korra and her friends are safe? Yes, but that still doesn't explain why you did that."
"It is not in my best interests to let my wards die."
"I'm grateful, of course, but you've just angered one of the most powerful spirits of all time."
"I merely did what is my right as Guardian Spirit of Journeys."
"But what if this turns the spirit world against you?"
"Wa Shi Tong has many friends from before his seclusion. If they find out what you did and take offense…"
Aang trailed off as he felt a joyously familiar tug. Korra trying to contact him.
"Let's continue this conversation later, Zhi. Just remember that trying to manipulate fate as you have can have dire consequences. It didn't work for Sozin and I doubt it will work for you any better."
"We shall see, Avatar."
Aang closed his eyes and immediately found himself facing Korra. She was not on the meditation pavilion this time. She was in the Island's stables, where Appa had lived out his last days.
"Hey, Aang. Am I bothering you?"
"'course not. What's on your mind, kid?"
Korra told him about the bombing and the suspect they caught.
"So Mako says his name is Nobu. Do you know anything about this…?"
"Hmmm….Nobu…He doesn't have a surname so I'm not certain where his family is from. Perhaps they've always been a Triple Threat family. There have been mobs here for years. When I was alive, it was Zolt's father who ran them. I can check this man's history with the Soul Judgement Spirit to see what kind of background he has."
"….Thanks, okay. I'll look in the city census for information on him."
"…Something else is bothering you, isn't it?"
"Aang, I'm a horrible Avatar!"
"Now, why do you say that?"
"I let those people die."
"Korra, I slept for a hundred years and let countless people die in a war I was responsible to stop. How do you think I felt? But I had to move on and so do you." Aang said forcefully but gently.
"…I know. You're right. It's just so hard to accept I mess up all the time."
"You are human. The Avatar is not supposed to be perfect. Just remember you have an amazing family to turn to."
"Korra! Korra!"
"Tenzin?"
Aang winked and Korra was alone again. The stable door creaked open.
"Korra, there you are!"
"…I'm grounded for going out after cerfew, aren't I?"
"Never mind. Korra, City Hall has been bombed."
Spirits, not again…
Tenzin saw the look in her eye.
"No one was killed, thank the spirits. But this definitely confirms once and for all this is anti-bender terrorism. As though we didn't already know that given they attacked our home. Wither it's Equalists or not. And that means they're after you. They already tried once, they'll do it again. I want you inside now."
"But I kinda still need to feed Naga."
"I'll do it. Go."
Back in the dining hall, the teens discussed their theories while Jinora listened (Ikki, Meelo, and Rohan had gone to sleep).
"Hmmm….it sounds like they're after high ranking benders in general, not just you." Ed remarked to Korra.
"Was Nobu behind this thing at City Hall…?" Mako scratched his head. "No, he was here for hours. No way he could run from the police and pull this off."
"You mean those other firebenders were in on it after all?" Bolin clutched Pabu to his chest as if they were after the creature.
"As much as I hate to admit it."
Ed saw the shame and painful memories flicker in the tall boy's eyes.
"But why do firebenders have my father's inventions and why are they going after other benders?"
Korra snorted. "Amon had no problem bloodbending fellow waterbenders."
"But how many benders can there be like Amon? And even assuming there are three firebenders who hate bending where are they getting these explosives?" Mako frowned. "Did they steal explosives Sato made for the Equalist rebellion? Or did they get the plans for them somehow and built them themselves?"
"They could have stolen the plans from Equalists…" Al theorized, scooting over to Bolin and scratching Pabu's ears. "Stealing the physical bombs would be tough, but taking a blueprint and following it would be much easier, if you know how."
"They couldn't be Future Industries employees…? But the plans for those bombs would be top secret, and now that I think of it, my father didn't hire one firebender since Mom died." Asami realized thoughtfully.
"I'd say they were part of the Equalists, but Sato said Amon had no bender lackeys, and I'm no Bei Fong, but I don't think he was lying." Korra said.
They lapsed into a tense silence of buzzing brainstorming, the only sound being Jinora turning her pages.
"Instead of the details of their motives and means…" Al disrupted the quiet night "Maybe we can think of where they might hit next?"
"Good idea, Al!" Ed pumped his fist. "We know they have it out for powerful benders. Let's start there."
"They already struck a…an Avatar supporting neighborhood…" Korra tallied off with effort.
"…City Hall…."
"…Here where Korra and Tenzin live…"
"So the next likely target…"
"THE FIRELORD!"
Jinora looked up from her book in surprise. "Really!?"
"Think about it. They already hit City Hall, where the council was blatantly corrupt and discriminated against nonbenders." Korra said in a drone, reeling from the conclusion.
"And the Fire Nation Royal family has been all firebenders for as far back as anyone can remember. Warmongering ones." Mako got up hastily and buttoned his jacket. "I'm going in to the station. They're gonna need backup working overtime from the bombing anyway, and the Chief will want to know about this."
"…So you think the Firelord is next?"
"Yes. They've targeted City Hall and Korra's home. The Water Tribe and Earth Kindom don't have a tradition of bender rule except for Omashu and we think they have more reason to hate the Fire Nation."
"Hmm. There might be something to that. I will inform the Firelord of this."
"We'll do it! We can contact General Iroh, he trusts Korra, and if I have your permission, I can go, and…"
That might not be wise, kid. When you went to Ba Sing Se these attacks were just a bad feeling, and Korra had to help those foreigner kids out. But now that the attacks are very real, I think it's best she stay low."
Oh Korra will love that. Mako thought.
"With respect, ma'am, Korra will…probably object to that. Loudly."
"She'll just have to deal with it. It is my business to protect the citizens of Republic City, and she will not obstruct that."
"Yes, ma'am." Mako bowed, anxious at how Korra would take Bei Fong's stance.
"…By the way, ma'am…" he added "Did…did Song mention what the escaped suspect, uh, said about me?"
"What, that you worked for the Triple Threats?"
Oh, my ass is so fired. Or in jail. So much for watching the Ferrets win the championship this season. So much for making up with Korra. So much for marrying her some day.
"Don't worry, kid. You were a minor, so even if there was a record, it'd have been struck by now. Besides, it seems you were never arrested or connected to their activity in any way. Given that, I can…look past it."
Mako exaled loudly and nearly crumpled into the office's guest chair.
Bei Fong smirked. "Relax, kid. It would be hypocritical of me to dismiss you for going…outside the law to do what you needed to, when I just did the same thing and I'm still behind this desk. Now, we have the City Hall incident under control, so you are free to go home. You are excused."
"Thank you, ma'am."
Relief filled him as he entered the almost deserted station lobby.
"Hey, Mako, got chewed out by the Chief?"
The youthful officer on duty at the front desk waved to him.
"Nah, I managaed to stay clear of that."
"You want to get some drinks? I'm about off my shift."
"I'll think I'll pass, Hui. I'm exhausted. I'll see you later, alright?"
"Sure, man. The Chief's idea of overtime is murder. I totally understand."
Mako passed a strange old lady with large glasses and a pet platypus bear on the way to the front door.
When his eyes adjusted to the dark he saw Korra standing under a streetlamp.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"I've been waiting for you. Hungry?"
She held up a paper bag of dumplings dripping with greese.
"I'm sorry."
He felt even more relieved than he did finding out he still had a job. He kissed her and took the bag, dug a dumpling out, and ate.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you."
Korra shook her head. "Be Fong's orders. I get it, Mako. I'm really sorry, I just…felt so bad I let this happen…"
"Hey. Look at me. One person can't save everyone. Those people know you fought hard for them."
"I didn't do anything for them."
"That isn't true…hey, tell you what. I haven't visited my folks' grave in a while. Maybe tomorrow, we can go, and you can put offerings for everybody who died today."
"Yeah…that would be great….by the way, did you tell Bei Fong our theory about where Nobu might strike?"
"Yeah, I did. But she vetoed you going to the Fire nation. Too dangerous, she said."
"Nuh uh. None of that. I let this happen on my turf, not gonna let it happen somewhere else, too."
"But Bei Fong…"
"Bei Fong ain't the boss of me."
"But she's the boss of me. You can do what you want but I need Bei Fong's permission. I have to do what the Chief says. And I am not letting you go halfway across the world chasing terrorists out to kill you without me."
"We'll think of something. For now I know who we can turn to if we want to get in touch with Iroh. But you're probably tired. Why don't we do that in the morning?"
"Thanks, I am beat." Mako stretched and yawned. "Since you snuck out already, want to come to my place for a while?"
"Sounds great." Korra smiled, glad Mako had forgiven her, and took his arm.
"Please tell me why we are in a sewer." Ed beseeched monotonously. The misty early morning rendered him unable to form much in the way of complete sentences
Al rubbed his eyes, watching Shao Mei as she squealed trying to stay out of the muck.
"And you!" Ed pointed a finger acussingly at Lin. Lanfan gave him a dirty look from behind her mask. They were both knee deep in mud and seemed happy about it. "How the hell can you be okay with this? You're royalty, you should act like it! An Emepror wading in crap with a smile on his face is just weird!"
Lin gave him an offended and annoyed look that was intimidating on his thuggish face.
"Well excuse me for not living up to your standards of dignity. It's not like I've never spent a morning in a sewer before."
Lanfan shrugged.
"I figure if I spent the day in a sewer armless and didn't contract tetanus, it's fine with both arms. Besides, I must follow his Majesty wherever he might go."
"Argh, two years and I've already forgotten you're both insane. Mei?"
The younger girl was skipping, splashing brown water everywhere.
"Mr. Scar took us on adventures through sewers all the time! I'm used to it!"
"No wonder you're into this girl…" Bolin whispered to Al.
"Mei, please be careful." Winry entreated to no avail as she was splashed. "You do realize I have to do the laundry later, right? Oh man, Pema will have my head…"
She watched everyone's clothes get dirtier and dirtier in despair.
"Al, will you do something about the hyperactive piece of rice!?" Ed glowered and guarded himself from sewer water.
"But Brother, I'm sleepy…"
"Argh…Where the hell are we going anyway, Korra?"
"He should be up here…unless he's moved…he was in the park when I got here…" Korra muttered to herself in answer.
They emerged from the sewer dirty, sweaty, and stinky. Korra jumped onto solid ground, kicking her boots together to clean them.
Ed scrambled up behind her as she lead them down a corridor. He saw they were in a vast underground court, full of tents and lean-to's. It looked like an Ishbalan refugee camp.
A bald man in a ragged suit noticed the teenagers' arrival.
"Avatar Korra! It's an honor. Paying our camp a visit? We've heard about the attack on Air Temple Island... are you okay?"
"Yeah, everyone's fine, thanks. We're actually here about that. We need to see Gommu, if he's still here."
"Diiid….I hear my name?"
The homeless man they had met in Central park quite some time ago came out of a tent grabbing a filthy cooking pot by the handles.
"Oh! Avatar! Did you come to have some of my famous street gruel?"
"Not quite. I was wondering if you could send a message."
"To whom, Avatar?"
"General Iroh."
Gommu tested his gruel, smacking his lips.
"Yes indeedy, I can." He set his pot down. "Just you follow me, Avatar."
His telegraph equitment was right where it had been when he used it to contact Bumi for Iroh. Now he tapped away while Korra dictated:
THIS IS KORRA STOP CONTINUING TERRORIST ACTIVITY STOP FIRELORD IN DANGER STOP REPLY STOP
It didn't take as long as refusing the pot of street gruel to get an answer.
THIS IS IROH STOP MESSAGE RECEIVED STOP PLEASE COME TO FIRE NATION CAPITAL STOP DETAILS LATER STOP
A/N: Happy 2013! First update of the new year! And it's chapter 10...two milestones in one!
As always, thank you for reading/faving/following/reviewing
Please review and tell me what you think about this arc!
starphantom: Here you go! :) XD
Edit: cleaned up the dialogue in regards to the character's speculations to be clearer. I had meant it to be clear that the bomb was designed after one of Sato's plans, and they knew this because of how advanced it was, not that Sato necessarily physically built those particular ones. The antagonists could have stolen them already made or gotten the plans and made them themselves is the point they're making with guessing how they got a hold of them. But I think I made it sound like Sato definitely built them himself so thanks, CmdrNilles, for pointing out that wasn't obvious, and I hope it makes more sense now.