It hurts.
IT hurts.
It HURTS!
She doesn't understand.
A innocent trash can roll down the sidewalk. A groan resonated from beside it's attacker.
"Was that really necessary?"
"Really!? Kai that's all you have to say? We just got kicked out of our only place to stay in this shit hole of a town!"
Kai rolled his eyes. "What else do you want me to do Ikki!? I'm just as tired as you are!" He yelled glaring at her.
She smirked. "Well that's a start but you're angry at the wrong person. We can still go back and kick his ass some more." Ikki suggested as a smile found its way on her face for the first time that day.
Kai huffed trying not to encourage her. He shook his head. "It wouldn't solve anything and I don't want to go back. I hated that place." He said frowning.
"Yeah me to." She visibly deflated though as she remembered something. "We still have to go back and get are stuff."
He was quiet for a moment. "I want nothing but the pictures of mom and dad."
"You think they would be proud of us?" She asked looking up at the sky.
"They would be but would probably hate they way we ended up." He said with a distant smile.
"Probably?! Mom would of have a heart attack know that we had to basically live on the streets. She would have probably killed Gerald by now." Her and Kai bubbled over with laughter.
No not the avatar. She doesn't know ho wit feels to be taken from your home and beaten day in and day out. NO! The avatar doesn't understand how humans are mindless greedy creatures. They be the end of like always time after time. Restart or not. I just want to go back. I hate them! They all want to cause me pain.
A growl broke their moment. The turned around to see a dragon spirit growling wildly at them.
"It's hurt." Ikki said taking a step forward but her brother grabbed her arm.
"Wait." He scanned it. "Run." He whispered before turning and dashing down the street. Dragging his sister with him.
"Wait Kai!" She stumbled to gain her footing.
"No! Come on! He's probably the reason we've been feeling the spirit energy is all out of control."
Ikki chose that moment to look back and see the spirit turning red before it starts to open its mouth. "Fuck!" She looked to her right and pulled Kai into a alley as fire blocked the entrance. "Dammit!" Ikki said punching the brick wall stopping them from escaping the spirit.
"Ikki!" Kai hissed at his sister making her turn around.
The siblings came face to face the trembling spirit. It was clear he was hurt and saw them as a threat simply because he saw them. It's skin had long turn black and was starting to fall on to the ground. Beneath it you could see the fire that made up its body. They knew better than to talk or else they could easily be killed. Another growl had all three looking up. A giant wolf spirit landed in front of the siblings growling at the dragon who hissed back.
"Naga stop that!" A voice said before someone landed in front of the dragon.
It shuffled back like it was afraid but the person held up its hands. The person took slow steps and the dragon closed it eyes stepping back.
Hey hey now. You know who I am. Korra said speaking into its mind as she raised her hands.
Stop it! The dragon whined out as it stepped back.
I can tell your hurt. Korra said soothingly. She stopped when the spirit stopped. Tell me what's wrong so I can help.
You can't help avatar. The spirit said sadly as tears brimmed in its eyes. All you do is try and we suffer more.
Korra's heart lurched and all she wanted to do was erase all the pain. Tell me who did it then and I will end them. She said seriously.
It shook its head. No just send me home for the last of my days.
But- Korra said reaching out and stepping forward.
The spirits eyes widen as it growled. No!
Then fire was being hurled at her. She was more than ready for it this time. Her hands were out blocking the flames with fluid motions. Sending it spiraling into the air. Her fist raised bring earth with it to trap the spirits legs. It struggled glaring at Korra as she started moving forward. Fire leaked from it's mouth as it hissed again at her. It's fire surged towards her but a single hand of her deflected it. It kept coming at Korra as she got closer. Her hand glowed as she connected with the dragon's chest. The fire stopped but the hissing did not.
Don't worry I'll take it all away. Korra said before a white light enveloped them both.
"What's happening?!" Ikki yelled as she shielded her eyes from the light.
"I think a spirit hole is opening." Kai yelled back as looked away from the light.
Naga relaxed the light started to dim some.
Korra removed her hand from the dragon's chest as it started to open its' eyes.
"Avatar?" The spirit said as it looked around. It jumped up looking around every where it could. "Is this really the spirit world?"
Korra nodded looking over the land herself. "This is where you wanted to be isn't it?" She said looking back up at it.
"Yes but aren't I- aren't I going to die?" It asked looking confused.
Korra shook her head. "No I took it all away." Her white eyes ghosting over its body.
The spirit shudder as it flew up. "Thank you avatar. I don't know how to repay you."
"I don't need anything." She said blinking clear blue eyes up at him. She smiled shooing him away. "Go on."
"Do me favor and let them know I'm sorry I didn't mean to take my anger and pain out on them." The spirit blew fire into the air as it took off.
Korra smiled before she disappeared into a white light. She sighed stepping back into the human world.
Naga was on her in a second looking her over. "I'm fine girl." Korra said removing her mask. She looked over at the teenagers. "He say's he's sorry for going after you two. It's a really shitty apology but you'll have to excuse him. That spirit just went through something shitty itself."
Kai and Ikki looked at each other before looking over at the pair.
"Um?" Ikki said not really sure what to say.
"Who are you?" Kai asked stepping forward but taking it back when the wolf spirit growled.
The woman smiled petting the spirits' head. She closed her eyes opening them for a moment. When she opened them again her eyes were white and theirs were blue.
"Why can't we turn it off?" Kai asked looking at all the spirit energy flowing from and all around her.
"And why are your eyes white!?" Ikki pointed out in shock.
The woman chuckled tilting here head to the side. "That's kinda part of the avatar state." The woman closed her eyes and opened them to reveal clear blue eyes while their eyes returned to normal.
"So your the avatar?" Kai asked unsurely.
"Yup the one and only." The woman said smiling.
"Right." Kai drawled out.
"Oh my gosh! That's so freaking cool!" Ikki said jumping and down. The woman watched in amusement as the teenager bounced over to her. "I never thought in my whole entire life that I would meet the avatar."
"Please excuse my sister..." Kai said but didn't know what to call her.
"It's fine and the name's Korra and this Naga." Korra said motioning to her partner who was getting petted by Ikki.
"Well I'm Ikki and that boring boy over there is Kai." Ikki told Korra.
Kai rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Anyway what now."
"How about we start with why you two were outside this late." Korra said looking them over. "You don't strike me as trouble makers and you're spirit bonders."
It was quiet as the siblings didn't no what to say but finally Ikki spoke up. "We walked out of our group home for kids because we couldn't put up with that places bullshit anymore. And plus they hated that Kai is way more feminine than me but he still likes girls."
"Ikki!" Kai huffed blushing from what his sister just gave away.
"What it's the truth!" Ikki frowned.
"Yes but most people will agree with them." Kai said trying to explain.
Korra shook her head. "Not me and my friends. We're very open minded people and I have a cousin like you but he's into guys. So I think you two could get along. Anyway do you guys have place to stay?"
They both shook their heads no. "Then you can come home with me." Korra said as she headed for the entrance of the alley. "Now which way is it to the group home so we can get some of your stuff." She asked as she activated her face mask.
"Wait up!" Ikki said turning around to her brother. "Come on! Our lives are finally about to change. If you don't move it she might change her mind."
Kai rolled his eyes again as he ran after her. "I doubt that she's the avatar after all. She probably decides something and then everyone else how's to deal with it."
Opal arrived at the building phasing through a wall. "Bo are you there? I kind of need you buddy." Opal said as she looked in both directions of the dark hallway.
"What do you need?" Bolin answered back through her head piece.
"A map of this place would be nice." Opal said gliding down one side of the hallway.
"Alright here you go. It leads right to where the alarms went off." Bolin said sending her the map.
"Thanks Bo." She said pulling it up.
"No problem I'll be here if you need me." Bolin said existing the call.
"Alright I was on the right path." Opal said continuing on her way.
She thought it was weird that she hadn't seen a person or spirit yet but the spirit energy in this place was crazy. She wasn't feeling any fusers around so she was guessing that it was professionals. She sighed internally because professionals usually meant triads involvement. As she turned down a different hallway she noticed a light coming from under a doorway.
"Well if that doesn't scream trap I don't know what does." Opal said to Juicy.
Juicy agreed and suggested the ceiling. Opal halfway phased through the ceiling and looked around the new area she was in. She noticed she was in a huge lab and that she wasn't alone. There were four heavily armed men at four glass cases and a woman at a control panel. Opal wasn't close enough to see what she was typing but she could see it was some type of code. When she was done typing all the cases opened. Each man let go of their weapon and pulled out another weapon which seemed to pour of spirit energy. The woman took one inspecting it before turning it on. The spirit energy was so high that Opal winced and Juicy shuddered.
"Not bad looks like he will be impressed after all." The woman smiled before putting the weapon in a black case. "Put them away and let's go. The avatar and her reject crew will probably be here soon." The woman sighed and the other men jumped into motion filing out of the room like they were never there.
When Opal was sure they were gone and the spirit energy had dropped down to a considerate level. Only then did she drop down to the floor. She scanned the area to double check before she moved around. She went over to where the woman once stood. She took off her Sato watch and called Bolin.
"Opal is everything alright?! There were two huge spikes of spirit energy and Korras not answering." Bolin said full of worry.
"Hey earth boy calm down." Opal said as she walked around the lab checking it out. "Everything is fine on my end. The triads were here. I could have taken the lackeys but I wasn't sure about the woman that was in charge of them. She was definitely a fuser."
"What are you sending me?" Bolin asked he looked at all the files coming in on his screen.
"I'm transferring all the files on this computer to you. I don't know what they took but the energy that was released was like nothing I've seen before." Opal said as she stopped in front of a award wall. She picked one of the shelf reading the name. "Holly shit." She whispered.
"What!?" Bolin asked confused. "What's happening Opal?!"
"Dr. Rohan." She said hurrying back upstairs to the computer.
"What about him?" Bolin asked looking at the continuing flow of files into his computer. He started to transfer his own files to a back up system. "Dr. Rohan has been missing since the spirit portal bomb."
"Then tell me why I'm standing in his lab?" Opal said as she pulled up a chair to the computer screen.
"What are you talking about?" Bolin asked he picked a one of the many files coming through.
"You tell me. I'm sending you all his shit." Opal said as she navigated her way to the security cameras.
"Already on it." Bolin mumbled as he read through the file.
"Son of a bitch." Opal said as she watched a security team lead in a handcuffed Dr. Rohan. She fast forward and watched him carry on with his day. Then they came back handcuffed him and lead him out. "They've had him this whole time." Opal said as she got up. She went in a circle just looking at everything. There were different inventions lad out everywhere.
"And they kept him busy." Bolin said as he clicked on file after file. "Most of these are inventions. Mainly dealing with spirit energy. Whatever they've had him working on it's something big." He said sighing. "Opal." He called out to her breaking her trance. "They took this man and made him their on lab monkey for three years. And the way that he looks in these videos doesn't seem to be in good health."
Opal was quiet for a moment as she figured out how she wanted to handle this. "Connect me through to Lin and make it quieter than the conversation we're having. I don't want anyone hearing us."
"On it." Bolin said as typed away. "See you at home skydiver." Bolin said before he ended the call.
He watched as the transfer was nearly complete. They had finally discovered something big. Their enemy had finally slipped up instead of the other way around. It seemed like something was actually going his way and he didn't like it.
Opal disconnected her sato watch when the transfer was complete. She took a seat waiting for Lin's call.
"Opal kid I love you but I'm kind of busy here." Lin said as she watched her men handcuff the fusers after they were separated from the spirit. Tenzin was busy sending the spirits back to the spirit world.
"Lin I need you to come to the Republics City Bank building." Opal said as she flicked on the lab lights from the computer. "Why? It's a banking company building." Lin asked confused wondering what her niece had gotten into. It was past midnight after all.
"I need you hear and I need it spirit portal bomb quiet." Opal said trying to calm the restless spirit she was bonded with. It was quiet for a while.
"Who." She finally heard her aunts voice vibrate through her head piece.
"Dr. Rohan." Opal said as she scanned the room noting that almost everything had spirit energy.
"Alright I'll be there in ten." Lin said as Opal heard a car door slam.
"No Lin get Tahno to bring you and Tenzin. Everything here has is caked with spirit energy. I want this movement to be unseen. I need someone who can cover up spirit energy and that's Tenzin. Tahno can get the vehicles we need and do it without a problem. I also want this place cleaned. I give it to them on choosing this place. Nobody. Not even us would think anything about it. But this wasn't a easy concept to pull off. I want to when, how, and who knew. If someone even goes on the wrong hallway or floor than they normally do. I want them brought in and questioned up to the place they were born. I want anyone who was hired or fired in the last five years to be treated the same. I need your top men people who you know won't be turned or wouldn't mind losing if things turn bad like they usually do for us. You of course have full opportunity to turn over whatever you want to the president. However I don't recommend all of it." Opal said as she walked over to a window. She sometimes felt sorry for the people who never knew about the dangers that were right around the corner for them.
"Anything else Opal." Lin asked smiling as she headed over to Tenzin. Her niece never stopped amazing her.
"Try not to yell at Bolin to much as he's giving you directions. I know they might not be the most humane ways but they'll have to do." Opal laughed lightly already knowing her aunt would have it rough for a while.
"Where's Korra?" Lin asked as she motioned For Tenzin to follow her.
"The avatar is handling what I assume was the distraction. Something I would have no idea how to handle." Opal said turning and leaning against the glass.
Juicy had finally calmed but was still weary of the fact that they were there.
I know. Opal thought to her spirit.
Me to. It'll be better if we just left. Juicy thought back.
"Yeah I'll show you the video when this is over." Lin said as her and Tenzin got into the Tahno's truck.
You know we can't just leave. Opal tsked as she looked back out the window.
Yeah yeah. Juicy thought back.
"Tell Tenzin what's going on before his beard turns white from stress. I'll see you in ten." Opal said as she crossed her arms and sighed long and hard. It should feel great something like this but it only made the pit in her stomach deeper.
"That's all your taking?" Korra asked pointing to the backpacks the kids were putting on.
"Yes we don't need a lot in this hell whole." Ikki said as she headed outside where Naga was waiting.
"Where is everyone at?" Korra asked as she looked around before falling them.
Naga bowed a little so the teenagers could get on her back. "Oh they are hiding and picking out watching us." Kai said shrugging his shoulders.
They both held tight as Naga flew up. "Are they afraid of us?" Korra asked as she flew up beside them.
"In a way I guess. We have always been watched since we've been here because we were different." Ikki said as she held tighter as they started flying away.
"This place was affected the most after the spirit bomb. You weren't in the city yet so you didn't know about the evil or tainted spirits that came through there and acted people. So when so much as one spirit comes through they all lock up and hide away. Everyone but us that is." Kai said looking over at Korra.
"I still do not know the full after affects of the spirit portal bomb to this day." Korra said frowning.
"Do not beat yourself up about it. It was not your fault and you could not stop something when you were in a whole different part of the world." Ikki said smiling over at her.
"People like to blame something when things happen and that so happens to be you. When really all they need is to have eyes like ours." Kai said taping his head as his spirit eyes came on. "To see that it's nobody's fault. Things will happen if they are meant to happen regardless if you try to stop it or not."
Korra put up a spirit energy shield around them as they got close to the warehouse. They phased right through the wall into the living room. Korra deactivated her mask as she looked around at everyone.
"Maybe let us know that your bringing home strangers." Lin huffed crossing her arms.
Korra went into avatar state activating everyone's eyes in the room then existing out of it. "Any questions?" She dared anyone.
Tenzin sighed long and hard. "Their story?" He asked as he got up.
"Not as important as whatever you're talking about." Korra said looking over at the teenagers. "I'll introduce you all to them tomorrow. Tenzin will show you to your rooms and anything else you need." Korra said taking Tenzin's seat.
The two nodded as they followed after Tenzin with Naga following only because Ikki looked at her with pleading eyes.
When the stairwell door closed Korra looked at her bestfriend. "How bad?"
Opal leaned forward over Juicy who was resting in her lap. "I'm assuming worse than the spirit portal bomb." She said tensing up just from the name of it.
"Fuck." Korra said leaning her head back and resting her eyes.
"Oh it gets worse." Lin said getting up.
She didn't need to look back to see that Korra was following her. She went over to the die of the warehouse that wasn't really used and went downstairs to the lower level. She opened the door letting Korra go in first. Tahno and Mako were down there directing where to put stuff.
"Almost done chief." Mako said to Lin and nodded to Korra.
"The energy blocking shield Tenzin put up is at a hundred percent so Shi left." Tahno said heading over to them. "You'll never believe who these fuckers have locked away somewhere." Tahno said to Korra who was still looking out at everything.
"Who?" Korra asked still in shock.
"Dr. Rohan." Mako said leaning against the wall beside them.
"But I thou-"
"We all did but this is becoming bigger than we hoped it would." Lin said placing a had on her shoulder.
"Look kid Opal's going to show the video when we leave. I'm thinking are gloves are going to come off on our next couple of moves. Just make sure you get some sleep afterwards. You won't be any good to us half dead." Tahno snorted as he headed back down the stairs and started leading everyone out.
"I'm going to head out with him and the chief. Then I'm going to seal the door up and crash at Tanho's place." Mako said following his coworkers.
Korra just nodded as she watched everyone disappear out of the wing. She came back into the room and set next to Opal. She offered her a weak smile as the faced the TV. "Do I have a face and name to hate now?"
"One out of some many." Opal said as she set back.
"One will do for now." Korra said as the video started to play.