Sorry for taking two months to get this updated. I had a few things come up with drill and have had a pretty serious case of writers block. Watching the Series Finale for Legend of Korra got me motivated to keep going with this. On a side note… y'all have been blowing up my inbox about an update. Sorry it took so long!
Chapter 11
As the dust settled and brass cooled, Captain Wayne looked over what was left of the building the Insurrectionists had parked in front of. There were bullet holes and shell casings everywhere, along with a decent amount of blood and a few dead and wounded bodies. "So what the hell just happened?" He asked as he slid his helmet off and turned to face General Iroh.
The commander of the United Forces simply shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine right now Captain."
"Sir, everyone is up, except for Bronson and Anders." Gunny Grylls said as he approached the two officers.
"Are they hit?" Wayne asked with concern for his men, trying to look past the Gunny and expecting to see a pair of bodies.
Grylls shook his head. "No idea, sir. I can't find em anywhere, and I can't raise them on comm."
"So they took two of you men?" Iroh asked. "I know this was chaotic, but I doubt they could have snatched them."
Wayne looked confused. "I need some answers. Where is the Spartan?" All he got in return were blank stares, causing him to place his palm over his face. "You mean we don't even know where our asset is?" He sighed.
"Cap'n, I might know." Ssgt Traviss walked up. "I swear I saw the Spartan taking one of the Warthogs on the way out. Two of our Helljumpers jumped on with him."
"So that would be Bronson and Anders." Grylls correctly summarized.
"Do we have long range comm? We need to know what is happening."
"Follow me." Iroh said confidently.
The moved into the small communication room for this section of Zafou. Massive antennas on the nearby hills allowed them to have radio communications to several hundred miles. It took a moment, but Ssgt Travis, who had been a radio operator, was able to connect the advanced technology in their helmets to the 1900's era radio equipment.
"I have contact with them, sir." He said after a few minutes of waiting.
"Captain, this is Alpha-258." The radio crackled.
"Spartan, what the bloody hell is going on?" Wayne inquired harshly. His hand gripping the small microphone had white knuckles trying to control his anger.
After a moment's pause, Roland replied. "All I know sir, is a few of the individuals we fought in the volcano broke in and kidnapped Korra. They have her on one of the Pelicans right now heading to the South Pole, but I don't know why."
"So what are you doing?" Captain Wayne already knew the answer and he wasn't happy about it one bit.
Another moment's pause while Roland formulated his words. "I'm going to get her, sir." He emphasized the word sir, to show it wasn't a question.
Wayne knew he had no way to talk the Spartan down. "I can't support you with this. They took out the Pelican you brought in, so I have no way to send reinforcements."
"It's alright, sir." Wayne recognized Bronson's voice. "We'll be here to back him up."
"Is Anders there?" The Captain asked.
The mic was shuffled briefly before Anders voice could be heard. "I'm here, sir."
"What the hell are you two doing?!" Wayne finally let a bit of his anger slip out.
He could hear the smile in the helljumpers voice. "Improvising, sir. We saw an opening and took it, just like you taught us…"
"Very well." The ODST captain sighed" Spartan, we will continue with the plan as scheduled from our end. Good luck out there."
"Thanks, sir. You'll hear from us soon." With that, Roland cut the transmission.
Wayne looked at the others. "I hope so…"
Pelican 2-Actual in route to South Pole
"Mff… whaa?" Korra slowly regained consciousness. She could feel that her entire body was restrained in some sort of device. She even had a muzzle on to prevent her from firebending out of her mouth. She tried to move, but her body was still sluggish from the effects of the drugs and the restraints were on tight.
"Good… you're awake." Unalaq stepped into Korra's field of vision. He had a bandage over his left shoulder and didn't seem to want to move his arm much.
"Ha." Korra's laugh was muffled from the mask. "Did you get that from Roland?" Unalaq glared at her. "Cause that is just a scratch compared to what I'll do when I get out of here." The rage in her voice was impossible to miss.
"Out, Avatar?" Unalaq chuckled. "You won't have to escape… In fact, you'll be set free." He could see by Korra's confused look that she was thrown off. "You just have two simple tasks to do."
"And what are they?" Korra tried to glance around the ship, but her restraints didn't allow her to move her head either. "Betray my friends and join you?"
"We're nearing the South Pole, sir." A voice came from the cockpit.
Unalaq nodded in the direction of the voice before turning back to Korra. "You will open an ancient spirit portal near the South Pole."
"I'm sorry, what now?" Korra prodded "Why would you need that opened?"
"The portal connects our world to the spirit world, but it has long been closed, by one of your ancestors in fact."
Korra raised an eyebrow, still confused as to why this portal needed open in the first place. "Does this have anything to do with your claims that the Evil Spirits are attacking?"
Unalaq confirmed her question with a nod of his head. "Perhaps if you as the Avatar weren't so out of touch with your responsibilities to the Spirit World, you might have felt these disturbances." Korra inhaled sharply to rebuttal, but was cut off. "Not only that, but there are no evil spirits, there is light and dark in them all. But when they're unbalanced, the darkness takes over. There is even an unbalance in the life of the peoples of this world due to the Fire Nations destruction of the Air Nomad nation."
Korra exhaled softly. "I never realized that before."
Unalaq shook his head in disgust. "And that is the fault of your so called "teachers" within the White Lotus. They above anyone else should have instructed you in these ways in order to restore balance." He paused for a moment before shifting gears. "Have you ever seen the Northern Lights, Avatar?" He already knew the answer.
Korra thought for a moment about the beautiful northern sky with dancing green and pink lights cutting through the darkness. She had only seen them a few times, but they never ceased to amaze her. "Yes, I have seen them, standing next to you in fact."
"There used to be lights at the South as well, but during the Hundred Year War, the South was thrown out of balance and the lights disappeared." Unalaq paused to ensure everything was sinking in. "When the War ended, the North helped to rebuild you physically, as a nation, but we have not rebuilt you spiritually. Now the spirits no longer dance in your skies. Instead, they rampage in the Everstorm."
"The Everstorm? Is that the massive blizzard that's battered the South Pole for decades?"
"Yes, you and your friend were in it briefly while you regretfully destroyed one of Captain Streks ships." Unalaq shook his head in disgust.
"Gotta watch where you park those things." Korra said sarcastically.
"That isn't the point." Unalaq hissed as he struck her headboard, only inches from her face. "You need to open the portal in order to restore balance to the Southern Hemisphere of the globe, it is your duty as Avatar! Even I have sensed a great force within the Spirit World calling to me."
"So why didn't you just come to me in a normal way!" Korra shouted back. "If it is so vital, why did you have to kidnap me and rescue your accomplices who attempted to murder me!"
"Murder you!" Unalaq looked genuinely taken aback. "Who told you we were trying to murder you?"
Korra noticed his confusion and paused for a moment. "They kidnapped me when I was younger… Zuko said…"
"To open the portal!" Unalaq cut her off. "We weren't trying to murder you, Korra. We just want what is best for the world."
Korra silently mulled over her options. "You swear that this is for the right purpose?" She asked.
"Yes, Korra. I have no interest in death or destruction, just balance." Korra could sense truth behind his statement, but the real truth was not how she perceived it.
"Very well, I will open the portal for you." She said submissively. "But, if this is a trick, I'll find a way to stop you."
"Thank you." Unalaq looked over her restraints. "You will be unbound when we touch down, if I have your word that you will not harm anyone or attempt to escape."
"I won't." Korra relaxed in her restraints, and a few minutes later, a blast of cold air chilled the troop bay.
From Roland's pilot seat, he could see the lead Pelican set down as he followed the other's on their landing approach. The snow storm on the way in had been brutal, but after hastily finding the thermal image controls, Roland had an easy enough time following the other craft in to the landing zone.
"What's the plan, Spartan?" One of the ODST's asked.
"This weather should give us all the cover we need in order get close unseen." He looked the two ODST's over. "I need one of you to stay here with the Pelican. It is our only way out of here."
Cpl Anders nudged Bronson with his foot. "Guess who's sitting this one out, boot?"
"What!?" Bronson ripped his helmet off. "I'm no boot… I've made two combat drops already!"
Anders wouldn't hear any of it as he slid his helmet in place and depolarized the lens. "I've made three. So unless you want to convince the pissed of Spartan to stay her and guard the ship while YOU go rescue his girlfriend, I suggest you keep the engine warm for us."
Roland already had his helmet in place, concealing his massive smile. Leave it to Hell Jumpers to argue about who had to sit the fight out. "Stay in touch, trooper." Roland told Bronson as he tapped the side of his helmet. "When everything kicks off, we'll need you then."
Bronson nodded and entered the cockpit like a spoiled child who was being sent to his room. He threw his helmet into the seat out of frustration and then looked back to see Roland and Anders waiting for him to open the door. All he could do was sigh as he depressed the button and allow the cold outside air to sweep into the troop bay.
Roland and Anders slipped outside into the dark swirling snow of the Everstorm and Bronson closed the door behind them, residing himself to do nothing but sit there and wait as if her were on post.
Outside, the two warriors moved as swiftly as they could in the snow storm. Roland had his VISR on full, attempting to use it the slice through the blinding snow and see where they needed to go.
"It's bloody cold out here!" Without his helmets audio enhancements, Roland never would have heard the shout, but his helmet was able to filter out the howling wind and the ice pelting against it, so that only vocal noises made it to Roland's ears.
"Shut up and move. Once we get into the forest, it'll be better." After a few more steps, Roland's VISR outlines two figures in front of him. A pair of Insurrectionist troops were moving away from the Pelicans and following the echo of more voices. Without the VISR, the snow would have been blinding, but the two were still able to wade through the storm.
"How are your armor seals, Anders?" Roland asked the Hell Jumper.
"Broken…" Anders replied harshly, his voice barely concealing a shiver. "Or they just suck at keeping the cold out."
Roland nodded as he felt the cold slowly seeping through around his neck seal. "Would you mark the location of Bronson and the Pelican so we can get back in a hurry without visibility?"
"Done." Anders replied after a few seconds pause. A small blue waypoint appeared on Roland's HUD.
The two trudged onward, following the Insurrectionists at a safe distance until Anders tripped over a tree limb. "Where in the hell did this come from?" He cursed as he stood up.
As they walked a few feet further, the storm started reseeding and almost out of nowhere, they were entering into a dead forest.
"Is it much farther?" Korra's voice echoed through the trees.
"That's her." Roland darted in between the trees and moved towards the sound of the Avatar's voice. The lack of wind and snow allowed him to significantly pick up his pace, but Anders had little difficulty keeping up.
At the same moment, Korra was walking with Unalaq and the other members of the Red Lotus down an ancient path leading them into the woods. "No, Avatar, it isn't much farther at all."
Two hundred yards later, the group stood about a two acre clearing surrounded by trees. In the center there was a crater with large glowing orb in the center of it. Stone lined the area with strange markings, but it didn't prevent Unalaq from motioning for the troops to spread out in a half circle facing the crater. Roland and Anders simply crouched behind a tree and watched.
"Don't try anything funny, Avatar." P'Li said from behind her with the other members of the Red Lotus. Korra assumed they were just there to ensure she didn't try to escape.
"Unalaq, what do I need to do to open it?" Korra asked her uncle.
"How should I know? Your ancestor is the one who placed it there."
Korra approached the orb with caution. "This doesn't feel right." She looked back at Unalaq, but still placed her hand onto the protective shield. Nothing happened for a moment, but then the shield slowly started to glow a bluish white and Korra's eyes glowed as if she was entering the Avatar state. This continued for several seconds as the light continued to grow in intensity causing everyone to shield their eyes before it finally flashed it's brightest and winked out.
As the Red Lotus looked back up, a Blue Light shot into the air from the crater and remained as a steady beam. Korra stood next to the portal panting from excursion with her hands on her hips for a moment before straightening up.
Unalaq smiled sinisterly. "The portal is at last opened."
"Alright Unalaq!" Korra shouted. "I've upheld my end of the bargain, let me go!"
Roland tensed as he waited for the Chieftains reply. "Come now Avatar, wouldn't you like to see how I restore balance where you and your ancestors have failed?" Korra raised an eyebrow. She was intrigued as to what Unalaq knew of the Spirit World. "Or I can simply send you back to your allies at Zaofu with one of the Pelicans."
"What's she gonna do, Spartan?" Anders asked Roland. He activated his less expensive but more recently updated VISR and scanned the clearing.
All he could do was shrug. "I hope she doesn't go in there, but if so, we get to go get her. Something doesn't feel right about any of this."
"Yeah, seems way too nice of them to send her back on a Pelican all by her lonesome." Several on the stone flashed bright yellow in Anders VISR. "Hang on a second…" He zoomed in on the inscriptions and took a screen shot. "Those stones have markings that are forerunner in origin."
"I need a decision, Korra." Unalaq shouted.
Roland was torn between Anders discovery and Korra's predicament. "I never learned much about the forerunners, but it could explain a lot about this world." Anders nodded in response.
"Fine. I'll go." Korra hissed. "If you try anything stupid, I'm going into the Avatar state on your butt."
"Good!" Unalaq exclaimed. "Now we must just deal with one last thing." He placed a knowing hand on Carr's shoulder.
"Now." Carr hissed into his mic.
"I got personal approaching the Pelican." Bronson came onto the radio. "I think they know I'm here." He didn't sound worried, but more annoyed.
"Stand by, we're in route." Roland hissed. The two of them turned to trace their way back to Pelican.
"Nope." Bronson replied. "Their opening the door now, you'll have to find another way out." A burst of gunfire crackled and a moment later, Bronson's HUD icon winked out. Anders looked at Roland and the two returned to the log without a word. Unknown to the two of them, Bronson had been subdued with waterbendering and no one had been killed.
"What are you talking about?" Korra asked Unalaq.
"Just a moment, and you shall see." Carr shouted to her.
After a few minutes, a pair of insurrectionist soldiers walked down the path with Bronson between them in wrist restraints. "Who is he?" Korra shouted as she moved away from the portal. She recognized the armor, but was shocked to see an ODST here.
"One more moment please, Avatar." Zaheer stepped forward and pulled a pistol from one of the insurrectionist soldiers holsters. He pulled Bronson's helmet off and raised the pistol to his face."
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" Korra shouted as she took a bending stance, causing everyone else to prepare to fight her.
"SPARTAN?" Zaheer shouted into the forest. "I know you can see this!" Roland and Anders clicked off their safeties. "You may be preparing for a fight, but this man will die first unless you throw down your weapons and step forward to be seen."
"He's right." Anders said as he looked at the other insurrectionists. "They have other weapons on him."
"You have ten second to decide!" Zaheer shouted.
"Hey hamburger face." Bronson said to Zaheer. "I'm alone, but go ahead and make sure you hit my good side." And with that he turned his face up a bit and winked.
Roland pulled his M6C out of the holster and slid it into his breast plate and Anders followed suit. It was uncomfortable to wear but it fully concealed the pistol and with that, the two operators stood up. "Stand down!" Roland shouted as they walked into the clearing. "Send a message to the Captain, attach the forerunner picture and make sure he knows were compromised."
"Roland?!" Korra looked at him incredibly confused as she ran towards him.
A trio of water benders ran forward to remove their weapons and helmets. "It's done." Anders hissed as he handed over his helmet.
"Stack them right there." Carr motioned with his rifle to have all the equipment stacked near the entrance of the portal. Korra kissed Roland briefly before being pulled away.
"Unalaq." Roland nodded towards the chieftain as he and Anders were restrained like Bronson.
"Why are you restraining them?" Korra hissed.
"For everyone's safety, including their own, Avatar. Now that everything is in the open between us, let us go for a stroll." Unlaq smirked as he walked into the portal. Followed by Carr and his men.
"You heard the man." Zaheer motioned for the prisoners and Korra to follow as the Red Lotus entered as well.
Sorry this chapter is still a bit shorter. Wait till you see what I have worked up for the spirit world/forerunners. It took me forever to come up with a concept and tie it all together and I hope it works out.
On a side note, for those of you who watch the Legend of Korra, what did you think of the Series Finale, specifically towards the whole Korrasami stuff that is blowing up the internet. IMO, I don't think it was supported enough in any way through the series to jump to that conclusion. I feel that it is just two friends who nearly died together trying to get a vacation, and my mind has a hard time making it much more explicit than just that. Looking at it that way, I am honestly glad a show could end with a character NOT in a relationship. So many shows and even the books I've wrote all focus on love affairs, and rarely on a solid friendship. Feel free to disagree, but that is just my take on it.
Please now that you've read all of that let me know what you think by reviewing!