Chapter IX
There are things that are worth something. Then there are things which are worth more. Gold is worth more than dirt, that is a fact. Wine is worth more than water, that is a fact as well, no one can even try and deny it. And such is with people. Some are worth more than others. Some are simply more precious than others, they count as more. Special gems as we tend to call them. But there is something beyond that. What is that? What is the biggest rich of them all you would ask? Isn't the answer to that riddle obvious? Me, of course.
Gems and shimmers, Queen Hou-Ting
The first step was taken, and the words which needed to be spoken were just that – spoken. Asami calmly found herself alone, as the crowd began to do it's best – boil. She cared not however, as it was not within her interests to do anything about that. She sought refuge, a place where she could think about things, a place where she could consider, a place where she could be alone. Her cabin seemed like a perfect fit, yet plans hardly ever work out the way they should, and a visitor inside quickly reminded her just that. Varrick seemed to get along with the place quite nice, as he just began to lecture the scripts and writings she held within one of the numerous briefcases.
"Hello."
He smirked, putting the papers down almost instantly. The opportunity to gain even more wealth has just arrived and because of that, he felt somewhat thrilled.
"How's it going?"
"You." Her eyes widened a little bit, but not enough to show that she's actually surprised about his presence. "What are you doing here?"
"Passing by, you know, the words, big words, flying around, feeling inspired." He spoke fast, like always when he wanted to gain something. " So I came down here, wanted to congratulate, wanted to talk, like old business partners, the usual."
"We were business partners. We hardly are them now."
"Still salty about the past in the Future, need to write that down, Industries?" Varrick stood up, chuckling to himself. "Come on girl, we're past simple grudges."
"What do you want?"
"To the point, I like it, no point in talking around about things, huh?"
"Varrick."
"Yes?"
He blinked a couple of times in a rather silly fashion. He had this special effect on him – when he was near, it was hard to focus on anything in particular, like passing through a wall of nonsense.
"To the point."
"Right."
Just to feel the void between their words, he flicked his hands back and forth, almost as if he simply could not stand still in one spot. As if he was too unstable to achieve just that.
"Listen. All that dangling tangling and doing made me think. You wish Kuvira dead, right?"
"No wonder they call you a genius."Asami rolled her eyes. "What's next, greatest discovery that water is wet?"
"There are debates about that… but that's a different matter. The point is, that you wish her dead, dead as a rat in a barrel full of pickles. But the avatar stands between you and that."
He grabbed one of the papers lying around and rolled it out on the nearby table. His finger began to circle around without any reason, without any kind of point. At least that's what it seemed to be.
"The bigger picture is simple. You wish her dead, sure, dead and all that. But what if we could humiliate her while at it?"
"She allready will be." She almost missed the point of the sentence. "And no, there is no such thing as 'we'."
"No. If you'll succeed, she will be dead." He scratched his head. "No humiliation in that, a humiliation comes with many things. Mostly with shame, yes, shame is one thing to start with.
"To the point."
"Always to the point. Very well. You noticed of course the numerous contraptions I've put around."
"A bit, yes."
"They record, can you imagine, small boxes, and still they perform so well." He clapped his hands excitingly. "And how they record I bet you ask yourself, some believe that there is actually someone or something inside drawing those bloody things, but…"
"Varrick."
"Well, the point is. Recording of it is for my personal taste and usage. But what if we show it differently, from another perspective."
"The perspective is quite clear." He hesitated. "Clear to everyone."
"Well, like a window in a nursery, it's clear and clean, yes." His fingers stopped. "But just think how many fingerprints it left on it, huh?" He seemed to be stunned by his own words. "Wow. That made you think, huh."
"No it did not."
"Well, metaphors aside, because today I think you are a bit slow, we can make a mover out of her. We can add a little bit here and there. And show it to the people around. Cut here, glue there, add some horns, some fire breathing lizards, people love them, add Unalaq…" He thought briefly about it, would seem. "…no, leave Unalaq. Add Zaheer." His eyes widened once again. "What if Zaheer was related to Kuvira? Like father like daughter, huh? And the poster, 'all runs in the family' Can you picture it? Huh? People would love that. And hate them, and…"
"Varrick."
"Right." He sighted. "I forgot about the stick up your butt. Either way, with or without those changes, it would be quite the shocker."
'And quite the money maker' he wished to add. He already pictured it. 'Legend of Kuvira: Bataar Edition' as well as 'Kuvira Strikes Back: The Untold Story'. Of course his eventual disappearance after said events would only be natural. Good thing Zhu Li already got that covered.
"What that would change?" She dared to ask, ending his long-time dreams. "Not much."
"Nothing." He grinned. "Everything."
He looked at her deeply, with a gaze that she never saw from him. More serious, more calm. Just an act perhaps, but at times, certain times, it's not much to shift someone to a certain point.
"You do not trust me, I get it. I don't trust myself either. But hey, I know it can be rough up there." "Loosing your father, being alone in all of this, having Korra on a different side. That's rough. Like a grindstone. But should you just let go of it, of morals for one brief moment, and attempt it my way. Let's say you fail. With my help, even if she'll be alive, she will never, never find her place in this world." He considered his words, as his facial expression changed once again, towards his more playful nature. "Perhaps spirit world? Hm, we could attempt a mover for spirits too?" His eyes widened. "Varrick, the first mover creator within the realms of spirits. How does that sound?"
"Nonsensical."
"Well, now you talk just like my wife, and should I wish to talk with my wife, I would, well, go and talk with my wife."
He paid close attention to her however, and he saw that she somewhat felt curious about his idea, still, she held it within her. It was a lock which Varrick himself needed to get around. And he was exceptional with locks. And getting around.
"You hesitated, because you know me. You do not trust me either. But you know me well, right?" He grinned. "And you know well what fuels me and what sparks loyalty in me."
"Cash."
"Coin."
"Wealth."
"Money." His teeth seemed to glitter in the vague light surrounding them. "So why not?"
That was a good question. Nothing was stopping her. With Future Industries running and operational, she had enough for her own personal revenge. For her personal goal. But Asami never was the one that simply strove with revenge and only revenge. After all, the avatar saw much within her. And she learned to see much within herself as well.
"It sounds so…" He bit her lip. "…wrong."
Varrick thought about it a little bit. Of course it was somewhat wrong. But it needed to be wrong to succeed. You don't earn a lot on things which are right. Now the opposite, those pay in numbers, as no one wants to take part in them and those who will, wish a lot for it.
"Listen kid. We all know what she did. I don't care. Or, I partially care. But you could end Kuvira. Not just her, but her name. Everything she stood for. That sounds big, right? Bam, wham, no Kuvira, for good. Isn't that big? Big enough to trust me?"
He put his hand before him, in a gesture of compromise, awaiting for her to shake it. He already know it was unavoidable. The question was – did she knew the same.
"So do we have a deal, miss Sato?"
"I always have my doubts when I deal with you, you know?"
"Well. Isn't there a little bit of thrill in uncertainty?"
"No."
"A shame." He shrugged. "Still, decision is you to make, miss Sato."
"Right." She closed her eyes. "Don't make me regret it."
A firm grasp of a woman that knew what she wanted to obtain. Asami liked to have her share of certainty and Varrick… Varrick simply enjoys the fact that he can make his time worth double. The more, the better.
###
At first, the calmness was almost unsettling. With time however, people figured that waiting for yet another entertainment brought by Korra and Asami was getting tiresome. Whispers were made, at times open, neglecting sentences. Eventually shouts which lead the crowd from their sits. Waiting was just a nuisance. And they could end it that easily. They forgot however that there were those which were in charge of order. Namely Lin, with the hefty amount of her people.
"This outburst will not be tolerated. Just get on your place and…"
That hardly did the job, as some parts of the crowd wished to serve their justice right now, right at this moment. When words were not enough, Lin always had different methods of persuasion. And so did those with her. As the mess began, the air was full not only by the sounds of someone's cursing, as the fragments of chairs and other types of scenery began to fly around. The notion hardly went unnoticed by those, which wished to mangle with it the most.
"What do we have here, brother dearest?"
"Like previously, reminiscence of the old days and ways, struggling around."
"Should we help her, brother of mine?"
"It would be fitting and would establish us as helpful sister."
Without any kind of doubt, they helped in their own way, separating those which were too agitated by the trial itself to be talked down by words. Walls of water were effective enough, just as the streams pouring over their heads, which helped somewhat to calm some of them down. They seemed to enjoy themselves pretty much, however as with every enjoyment, it ended when everyone took their methods for granted, and they were left alone with Lin and Lin alone. She simply nodded at them, as it was all the appreciation she wished to give, they however, remained at their spots.
"I have no business with you two."
"We don't have business with you either."
"Just passing by."
"And passing the news sister?"
"Just passing the news around. There is no harm in that."
And yet once again, despite their words, they still stood there before her, like two obscure statues. Even their facial expression remained the same. It was only a matter of time before they got the attention they wanted and wished for, as at some point, everyone can lose patience, even Lin.
"What do you want. Both of you."
"A word."
"A sentence?"
"A talk."
An answer she expected they will give. After all, Eska and Desna were known for their cryptic nature and unknown motivations.
"About what exactly?"
"About you and your role in this."
They came closer, Desna on her right and Eska to her left. The metal bender remained at her spot, as she never willingly showed any kind of emotion. She was somewhat agitated by their presence however.
"It's no surprise you will be used as a counter argument towards Suyin Beifong eventually."
"The saner sister, or at least the one which this time around can bare compassion."
"Can Lin Beifong bare compassion however, dear sister?"
"Time will show, this is questionable brother of mine."
They hesitated for a little while, but it was clear that the talk itself brought them much joy. And joy, while it lasts, is quite desirable.
"A pawn is just a pawn however."
"Just a pawn indeed."
Lin just sighted, as she rubbed down her forehead. It was easier when the two were on their father's side. At least then, she could simply whack them on the head without any kind of remorse or responsibility. But since now they were considered as rulers of the Northern Water Tribe, that kind of action would be somewhat unfitting.
"And you know this because?" She finally asked. "I don't think any of the sides is even remotely considering talking with you."
"Because we do not care, yet we are capable to look at the bigger picture."
"Not that we care – it simply amuses us."
"Besides." Eska shrugged. "Is it really that hard? Suyin needs to be blamed."
"So Kuvira can look better." Desna quickly followed. "Simple calculation, the sooner the better."
"White as a flower?"
"Like a snowflake."
There was logic within their sentences, true. Trusting them with anything however was like trusting a viper. It always bites, it's just hard to tell when and what agitates it to do so.
"And you are telling me this why?"
"Because you won't go there on your own."
"Not unless someone asks you."
They shrugged once again and chuckled one to another, like children who knew some kind of dirty secret which they hardly wished to share.
"We know."
"Everyone knows."
"But not everyone looks at people like we, right dear sister?"
"Of course, brother of mine."
They swirled around, changing the places on her side. Just another game of theirs, to keep the confusion spreading. They were really good at that. Exceptional some would even say.
"You see something more than just an old man, right?"
"Memories, Eska, memories."
"Right Desna. Sentiments."
"They make a fragile shield."
She knew well what they talked about. She was simply tired of riddles however. Everyone around her used them in one way or another. Just for a change, she wished it to be simpler. She wished that when someone has something to say, it's simply said. Not as a riddle that she needs to look into, but just straightforward, towards her.
"Can you be less cryptic?"
"The old man will come."
"Because our cousin will ask him to, as he is the greatest tool to use."
"But what would that be, if he just walk by to ask."
They both began to laugh uncharacteristically the way they usually did when they figured that their joke was somewhat amusing, at least to them. Most of the time, it was quite the opposite towards those that were near them.
"We looked and searched."
"And sought even, Desna."
"Yes, we even sought, Eska, and a curious notion appeared."
"The old man came here alone."
"Family left aside."
"Family left safely."
"Alone with his thoughts perhaps."
"Caring for Korra. Caring for himself."
"Will he care for someone else as well?"
She did not say a word. How could she. Saying a thing would be like admitting to things they told. And admitting to those, would be admitting to one's feelings. Those of Beifong hardly ever did that.
"An opportunity?"
"Perhaps brother of mine."
"Clearance?"
"Doubtful."
"It's time for us however, dear sister."
"Indeed, let us leave her here with her thoughts."
"Her thoughts alone?"
"In her thoughts, she is never alone, brother of mine."
And just like that, they vanished. The worst part of it all was the fact that on more than one occasion they were right. And that made her think, made her consider. The world changed numerous times in the recent years. She changed, her family changed. Perhaps other things changed as well. She never had much to lose on those terms, and Beifong hardly ever puts down a challenge, regardless of it's source.