Chapter 12: Consequences of Their Actions

Remnant Base

The morning hours of a new day were just beginning, and the sun had just started to show its face over the horizon, but they were too far underground to notice. And one man in particular was too deep in his morning meditations to care about anything beyond his own center, his efforts to calm and ready his mind for the day ahead. There was so much yet left to do, and while he was confident they would succeed where so many had failed, he was not one to break away from his established routine even now. A routine that had started the day he could understand the need for order over the chaos of one's daily life.

"Sir…." Looking up from the jade dragon mask that was situated on a pedestal before him, the man didn't look over his shoulder to address the woman who was currently knelt down behind him. The subtlest of nods was all he gave her, but it was enough. "W-we've received reports that our tails have returned from observing the offworlders' combat capabilities. They say that the strangers were quite formidable. They suffered minor injuries at best despite being ambushed at every turn by the gangs, and even captured one of the Terra Triad members for interrogation by the Chief of Police. One man is reported dead, stabbed through the chest by a blade as of yet identified, but not before he was able to throw one of the offworlders into the bay before promptly freezing the woman in question."

"They are human then." The man mused aloud, none too surprised by this revelation, but it was also reassuring to know they were prone to the same mistakes as they were, and thus shared the same vulnerabilities.

Despite having his meditation interrupted, the smile on his face was reassurance enough for the woman behind him since the few people who had dared to do so before hadn't been seen again. Reassurance enough that she found the courage to speak further, confusion lacing her voice as the words spilled from her lips. "Uh….the one he froze was reported to have had blue skin." She replied, not understanding his meaning.

The man chuckled but shook his head at her understandable mistake. "I mean they are not unstoppable, despite their advanced capabilities Ju Zhang. No, this is good news indeed. It means that despite their strange powers and technology, they are just as susceptible to making mistakes, and now we've hurt one of them. That means that if they act as I think they will, they will be driven by their need to avenge their fallen. This presents the perfect opportunity to begin the next phase of our plan." The smile on his face was soon mirrored by Ju Zhang when he turned his gaze to that morning's paper. On its front was a photograph of President Raiko, the headline reading 'End of Raiko's Second Term Imminent.'

"The Earth Empire will be realized soon enough Ju Zhang." The man stated further, and was about to dismiss his loyal second when there was a knock on the door behind them. Another simple nod was all he gave her, before Ju Zhang opened the door with a casual wave of her hand as she used her metal bending to unlock it without getting close.

A quick conversation followed, which saw the door shut and Ju Zhang coming back to kneel behind him once more, yet he could sense something different as she held out her right hand. Looking over his shoulder at last, the masked man raised an eyebrow when he saw what it was she was holding. "Well, this changes things." He said, allowing a hint of his pleasant surprise to filter into his voice when his eyes fell on the weapon that was resting in Ju Zhang's outstretched hand. The red stripe, with its accompanying N7 along the barrel, were what drew his eye first, but it was the simple fact they had acquired one of the offworlders' weapons at all that truly intrigued him. "Have our scientists begin work on analyzing that immediately."

Katara Memorial Hospital

Katara wasn't at all surprised to see Grunt standing outside the room where Ashley and Liara had been put into after the fighting last night. The krogan nodded at the old woman, his rather imposing weapon held across his chest, but he didn't make any further move. He didn't say it, didn't need to, but Katara could see the worry in the massive alien's gaze, the concern for two of his own despite having been hit by lightning himself only a few hours ago. As for the simple fact the krogan was in full armor, holding his giant shotgun in plain view of anyone that came down the hall, no one had been brave enough to say a word against him. After word got out of last night's all out assault, Katara couldn't blame any of Shepard's crew for walking around with every tool of their assorted trades on their person.

Katara merely patted the imposing warrior on his armored shoulder on her way past, and once more wasn't surprised when she saw Shepard sitting with her elbows resting on her knees, her chair pulled close by the asari's bedside. She was the only one that wasn't in full armor, but the sidearm on her hip told its own story. As for Liara herself, it had been a simple matter to melt the ice that had formed around the woman once Korra, Mako, and Jinora had flown in on Juicy, but despite assurances to the contrary, Shepard had refused to leave Liara's side until she woke up. Katara didn't blame her in the slightest as she cleared her throat, loudly, in an effort to get Elizabeth's attention before getting any closer. While she was far from worried for her personal safety, it was probably just as well she made her presence known before getting any closer when Shepard jerked in her seat and her hand immediately went for the sidearm on her hip before she relaxed just as quickly. "Sorry…." Elizabeth muttered softly when she realized who was standing at the end of Liara's bed.

"It's quite alright Elizabeth." Katara reassured her before turning her blue eyes on the asari between them. She appeared to be resting comfortably, but the worry in the room was thick enough to dull a knife. Pulling up the only other chair, Katara sat down next to the redhead, and let the soft sound of the asari's breathing be the only noise between them for several moments, knowing Shepard would start talking when she was ready.

She wasn't disappointed as Elizabeth let her green eyes fall before she opened her mouth, her voice barely above a whisper. "It should have been me." She said simply, but that sentence held a lot more than the casual observer would have detected. Katara was anything but ordinary however, having seen war in all of its ugly truths, and knew what Shepard was truly saying.

"And if it was, Liara would be doing exactly what you're doing now." Katara replied softly, and met Shepard's gaze when she looked away from the asari at last. "None of this is your fault Elizabeth."

"Things changed when I put my budding family in harm's way to look for someone that clearly didn't want to be found." She snapped back before looking away, unable to hold Katara's calm, unwavering gaze. "...No, I can't pin this on Joker, even if it was our looking for him that put us in the crosshairs a fair bit sooner than we anticipated. I should have just stayed behind with Liara….I knew she was holding our child, that she was taking care of two people, not just herself anymore, but neither of us stopped to think. We just-"

"Did what you have always done. You ran into danger, guided by concern for one of your own. You did what you thought was right." Katara said, interrupting the guilt induced tirade Shepard had been directing at herself. "She chose just as you chose Elizabeth." Before she could register what was going on, Katara had since stood to her feet and put a hand over Liara's stomach before closing her eyes. Elizabeth watched as the healer's hand started to glow for a moment before a soft smile appeared on the wrinkled woman's face. "And to set your mind at ease, your child's life is not at risk. If anything, I would say she is just as strong as her parents despite being so early into her development."

"How could you possibly know that?" Shepard asked, not in doubt, but rather disbelief since she had seen too much of the locals' abilities not to believe in what they were capable of.

Katara's smile widened as she sat down and put a hand on Shepard's shoulder. "I have been a midwife to many of my tribe before I and my brother Sokka found Aang in the ice, and I still assist in such a capacity every now and again. I helped Pema during each of her own children, except for her last, Rohan. Korra, Mako, and Bolin were there for his, and they acquitted themselves well even though Amon and his Equalists were preparing to attack Air Temple Island at the time. Lin stayed behind to give the others time to escape, although the cost was her bending, and some could argue, a piece of her very soul."

"I had no idea she had done that." Shepard replied, more than a little amazed the grouchy Chief of Police had sacrificed so much for Tenzin's family. While it was clear Korra had likely undid whatever Amon had done to her, it was still amazing to hear the story, truncated as it was, of the woman's willingness to sacrifice what made her who she was so that they had had a chance. Her respect for Lin shot up considerably in any event, but it didn't chase away her own guilt at having brought Liara into a dangerous situation despite what Katara was trying to tell her. "I get what you're saying Katara, but it's not that easy for me to forgive my own part in what's happened. Ashley, Liara, and our unborn child were put in harm's way, and I can't so easily separate myself from what they might have willingly walked into. They're still my responsibility, no matter how you look at it."

Katara only nodded, having come to expect such an answer from the woman beside her, but it was also reassuring to see she so deeply cared for those under her command and for those around her. Katara was able to relax comfortably however upon seeing the grateful nod and the flicker of a smile appear on Shepard's face, no doubt brought on by her personal confirmation of their child's continued well being. The fact she so trusted Katara's judgment was reassuring in its own way, and the old waterbender felt a certain kinship with the Spectre at her side, even if they had come from two entirely different worlds, in more ways than one. They had both lost their families at a young age, had both seen the ravages of war about the same time, and had both been instrumental in their respective ways in saving everything around them in no small capacity. And while Shepard had undoubtedly been the greater of the heroes in their individual tales, the fact remained they had quite a bit in common despite the glaring differences between them.

Although, there was one slightly unexpected similarity between them, one that manifested itself when Shepard blew out a long breath as she held her right hand up and revealed the flame that had appeared in her hand without her consciously calling it forth. Katara didn't visibly react save to raise a gray eyebrow when Shepard shook her hand vigorously in an effort to snuff the flame out, only to let out a frustrated groan when it refused to obey her. "Then there's this I have to worry about." She grumbled, more annoyed than frightened over its appearance. "So, any ideas on how to get a handle on this Katara?" She asked as she clenched her hand, opened it again, and muttered a curse when the blue flame, that strangely enough matched the softly glowing blue lines underneath her skin, appeared the moment the skin of her palm was exposed to the air. "Because short of sticking my hand in a bucket of ice water, I have no idea how else to keep from bursting into flames."

Gently squeezing Shepard's shoulder in an effort to reassure her, Katara grasped the woman's wrist and brought her hand up to eye level, mindful of the heat that emanated from her hand along with the fire itself. Taking a moment to examine the blue flame and the unmarked skin around it, Katara rubbed at her chin with her free hand before a thoughtful noise escaped her. "If I hadn't seen it for myself, I would not believe this possible since our world has already balanced itself out upon the return of the Air Nomads several weeks after Harmonic Convergence. But, perhaps the spiritual energy still thick around our world has affected you much in the same way it affected those that developed the ability to airbend."

"Great, so now I'm stuck like this?" Shepard grumbled before mentally kicking herself for her choice of words.

Katara ignored the comment, knowing she was just worried, and rightfully so, given the circumstances. She was far from the first to go through this change, and Katara had heard the stories of the Air Nomads handling it just as well as Shepard was handling it. Honestly, some of those same Nomads hadn't handled it well at all, but time and circumstances had united them, and had helped them accept what they had become. "Not necessarily since there are ways to remove a person's bending, but I strongly doubt Korra would agree to do so."

Shepard grimaced at the thought of asking Korra to do anything of the sort. As worrying and frustrating as this latest change was, she wasn't about to drag Korra into such an uncomfortable situation as to ask her to use her unique powers to take away whatever this was. "Guess I have to learn to live with it then." She finally said, and sighed heavily before gently pulling her hand free of Katara's grasp. She did offer Katara a brief smirk though and shrugged her shoulders as she folded her hands underneath her chin once more. "It could be worse I suppose. If I'm able to get control of this, I imagine there's a few uses I could come up with that would make Liara very happy."

Katara chuckled and nodded, a mischievous if wistful gaze filling her blue eyes. "You would be surprised how fun waterbending can be when it comes to the bedroom."

"Oh I don't know, I can imagine quite a bit." Shepard shot back, smirking wider than before while Katara chuckled softly in response. A thoughtful look appeared on Shepard's face then, and she unfolded her right hand before slowly opening her fingers so that the flame appeared as it had so far when allowed to. Katara watched as Shepard slowly twisted her hand this way and that, her green eyes reflecting the fire's soft glow. "I used to hate fire when I was a lot younger. It reminded me too much of what happened on my homeworld. Now? Well, it's still not my most favorite thing in the world, but I can look at it and admire its simple beauty."

"It was believed for the longest time by the Fire Nation that fire was power, their passion and drive given form, and that in order to fuel their flames, they needed to draw it from their rage and hatred. But like so many things, Fire Lord Ozai and Sozin both corrupted what fire truly was, until Zuko discovered the truth and spread it to the rest of his country." Katara replied, drawing Shepard's gaze once more as her curiosity was piqued at the same time. She smiled and leaned back in her chair, remembering when Aang and Zuko had returned from their journey to see the long forgotten Sun Warriors, and their master firebenders, two of the last dragons in existence at that time. "Fire is more than destruction and hatred. It is warmth, life, and light in moderation, like all of the elements, and most aspects of our very existences for that matter. The sun is the embodiment of flame, yet what can destroy can also provide."

"Just as water can both heal and be used as a weapon." Shepard stated in turn, to which Katara nodded sagely in agreement. "And now I suddenly feel foolish." She mused, and with the realization she had been thinking too much on her bad memories associated with the element literally in her hand, the blue flames in her hand slowly shrunk down until it disappeared, leaving no trace of its existence behind to say it had ever been there. The knowing smile on Katara's face was matched by Shepard's own as she gave a sigh of relief at having reigned in her new found ability. "I imagine I still have a long way to go before I'm able to do anything with it beyond make a handy torch, but it's reassuring to know I'm able to control it at all."

"As I told Korra when she was recovering from her injuries after her battle with Zaheer, the mind can be your greatest ally, but it can also be your greatest enemy. The same principle applies to one's bending, as you have already discovered."

"Me as a bender….that's gonna take some getting used to." Shepard replied with a weary sigh as she ran her hand through her short red hair. A part of her mind warned her she'd pull back barbecued red locks if she wasn't careful, but she ignored it, confident in her budding control of this new aspect of her life not to burn her own hair off. "But if Tenzin's rangers could do it, an old soldier like me should have no problem in getting a handle on this. That does raise a question though."

"Who would be a suitable teacher?" Katara asked, yet she somehow made the question sound like a statement at the same time.

"Well...yeah actually. No offense to you Katara, but fire and water don't mix from what I've always heard." Shepard stated, her tone light and playful even if they both knew she was being completely serious at the same time.

Katara chuckled but nodded, taking no offense from the comment, and besides, Elizabeth was correct in her logic, at least as far as teaching how to control one's bending element anyway. She was indeed unsuited for the task, beyond the lessons that were universal to every bending form. The deeper lessons one needed however, were beyond her if it didn't deal with water itself. "It is not commonly known, but as a high ranking member of the White Lotus, I have some sway with them. I could ask, and see if I can't have someone come down to teach you to gain control of your newfound abilities."

Shepard wasn't surprised by the revelation that Katara was White Lotus herself. If anything, she expected it given the waterbender's association with Aang and the rest of her old friends, but Shepard was surprised by the old woman's generous offer to help her find a teacher to help her in gaining control of what she had been given just by being on the planet. She shouldn't have been, she realized almost as quickly given Katara's ever present generous nature, but it still made the Spectre smile in gratitude for the offer. "This is normally the part where I say you don't have to trouble yourself, especially with everything you've done already Katara."

Katara smiled warmly even as she finished the thought that Shepard had begun. "But you've finally learned that I don't take no for an answer, about as well as you do I might add, and insist that it's no trouble at all."

"Pretty much, so I'll shut up and let you be….well you Katara."

"Good, I'm glad we got that settled." Katara replied, chuckling again as Shepard rolled her eyes with a playful snort escaping her about the same time.

"If you two are going to kiss, get it over with." Ashley groaned from the bed on the other end of the room, just as James jerked upright in the chair he'd been dozing in up until that moment. "Ma'am….permission to kick my own ass for the FUBARed situation we got ourselves in?"

Too relieved to react to the kissing comment thrown between them, Shepard chuckled and shook her head as Ashley peeled the sheet away from her upper waist to get a look at her injuries. "Sorry LT, not today. If anything, we all learned a harsh lesson last night." The approving nod she saw out of the corner of her eye from Katara had Shepard giving the master waterbender a subtle nod in return. While she still held herself responsible for the mess to an extent, the weight wasn't so crippling as it'd been before.

Ashley grunted and let the sheet drop back over her upper waist, having gotten a good look at the ugly bruise that covered most of her chest. "No shit Skipper. I didn't think being shot in the chest with rubber rounds would hurt this much. Feels like Grunt decided to dance on me. I ain't going anywhere without my armor after this, I can tell you that right now."

"Just so you know, you scared the Hell outta me when you went down Ash." James said as he got to his feet and automatically went about pouring himself and her a couple glasses of water from a pitcher that had been left by one of the attending nurses earlier that morning.

Ash blanched and looked away even as she accepted the glass James had poured for her before taking a hesitant sip. "Sorry Vega….next time we run into those assholes, I'm gutting tall, dark, and skinny."

Far more relieved in his own way Ash was still as crotchety and ready for a fight as ever, James nodded as his jaw clenched up at the memory of the chi blockers slipping through their fingers. "Not if I get to him first. No one hurts my girl and gets away with it." Whatever anger and guilt he felt over everything that had occurred turned to ash when he saw Liara and Shepard not ten feet away, with Katara watching silently from Elizabeth's side. "Abuela, uh...Katara, I mean. How's she doin'?"

"She and the baby will make it James, do not worry. As for Ashley, you had a number of broken ribs from the close proximity of the blast you sustained, but the healers here were able to mend the bones with ease. The bruising will be slow to fade, but you will make a full recovery in a couple of days." Katara explained, answering Ashley's unspoken question as well as laying James's concerns to rest at the same time.

"Good to know ma'am." Whether she meant her own health or that of Liara and her baby was unclear, nor did it matter. What mattered was that they were going to be alright.

"Now if we can just get our hands on Joker's brittle ass, I'll be happy. We wouldn't have even been out there if we weren't looking for him." James growled out before catching Shepard's disapproving gaze. The marine sighed and nodded before looking away. "I know it ain't his fault, not the way I made it sound just now, but you have to agree Lola, we wouldn't have been out there if not for him."

"You're right in that, but he didn't know we'd be targeted like that James. He's just trying to find his way back." Shepard was quick to point out, earning a glum nod from the giant man. The thought had occurred to her though, that Joker's going AWOL might have needlessly put them all in danger, but Shepard had since dismissed it. The attack, and it had been an attack since it had been too well coordinated, too precise for it to have been a random occurrence, was planned, and that meant someone had been keeping tabs on them. "What happened last night was a well executed strike against us, and only us. They could have hit anyone that was out last night, but they chose to come after us. That means we're being watched."

"Or they have spies among us already." Ashley chimed in, putting to voice the thought no one was willing to state out loud. "Hey, you weren't going to say it, but you were thinking it."

"I am hesitant to agree, but I too have come to the same conclusion. These Remnants were testing you all." Katara agreed gravely, drawing everyone's gaze to her wrinkled face. "I might not have the same military training and experience as you have, but I can still see the writing on the wall."

"Which means they're more dangerous than we initially thought." Shepard let out a drawn out sigh of relief as Liara added her voice to the conversation at large. How long she'd been awake and listening to them was hard to say, but she answered that mystery when she met Katara's gaze and offered her a grateful nod. "Thank you, for confirming the health of our child, master Katara. But getting back to the matter at hand, we have a lot of work ahead of us if we're to drive them out of Republic City, or bury them in shallow graves. Right now I'm not feeling particularly merciful."

"You're going to get some rest before you do anything Liara, and even then-" Shepard started to say, but the cold, icy glare the asari fixed on her silenced the Spectre on the spot.

"If you suggest I sit this fight out after just talking about this very thing with you not so long ago, I will slap you in Stasis faster than you can get out of that chair." If the way the temperature in the room dropped like a stone wasn't warning enough, the soft, underlying threat in Liara's voice certainly clued Shepard into her chances of getting out of this with her dignity intact if she pursued her original line of thought.

"-I'd take a few days off just to be sure you're alright." She wisely said instead, not about to push the issue further, even if she had indeed wanted to dissuade the headstrong asari from getting involved more than she had already. As hypocritical as it might have made her sound, she was understandably concerned for Liara's well being, and not just her own any longer. Last night had scared her though, more than she could ever being scared in her life. She would have rather faced Harbinger again than watch Liara be frozen in ice.

Katara wisely stayed out of the fight that had, for the moment, been avoided between Elizabeth and Liara. She knew though, from her own years of marriage with Aang, that the conversation was far from over, but for the moment it was put on hold in the face of a greater, more present threat.

It was probably just as well though because the grumbling, gravely voice of Grunt telling someone to piss off outside the shared room was met with a voice Katara knew all too well. "I don't care who you are human, you aren't welcome here."

"Grunt. Let them pass." Shepard called out, and mentally prepared herself for the political shitstorm that was about to fall on her head since she had a pretty good feeling she knew who was in the hallway just from the look on Katara's face she had caught out of the corner of her eye. The scoff Ashley let out along with James's scoff said enough as to their own thoughts on the matter, but no one made a move to stop Shepard from allowing their 'guest' into the room. Liara only nodded, silently accepting the fact they had to face up to what happened, even if they hadn't been looking for a fight, unlike those that had attacked them in the first place.

Having seen his picture in the papers, Shepard knew Raiko on sight as he and Lin walked right past Grunt, although the metalbender Chief of Police at least had the decency to shoot them an apologetic look for what was about to occur. Raiko though was understandably pissed if the way his face hardened upon locking eyes with Shepard, but she'd seen similar looks on Udina and the Citadel Council's faces, and they were far from intimidating. "You're Commander Elizabeth Shepard?"

"You sound surprised." Elizabeth deadpanned, unimpressed so far by what she'd seen and heard for herself regarding the soon to be retired president before her now. Seeing him up close wasn't doing much for her opinion of him.

"I thought you'd be taller with all the talk I've heard about you Commander." Shepard raised an eyebrow but said nothing in response to that. There wasn't a lot to say, but he didn't let her dwell on it long in any event. "Do you know how much damage you and your people caused in your scuffle with the gangs of Republic City? How many people were put in harm's way? You're lucky I don't have you arrested for the cold blooded murder of one individual found by the water's edge, within the shadow of Harmony Tower no less, one of Republic City's historical landmarks. Of the two, your so called team could be the greater danger to the continued wellbeing of Republic City and its people. As such, I hope you know this won't be happening again, because if it does, I will bring the full might of my administration down on you and have you declared enemies of the state. I won't have people like you gallivanting about, doing as they please."

"Let me stop you right there President Raiko." Shepard said as she stood to her feet and crossed her arms as her eyes narrowed to slits. Even Raiko, who had yet to speak with any of them, couldn't help but swallow the nervous lump that had formed in his throat when he saw the way her face shifted from neutral to quiet fury in the time it took for her to stand to her feet. "That individual in question put my wife and our unborn child in a six foot block of ice. My people were attacked without provocation in every corner of your city. And let's not forget that of the damage done, the gangs did most of it when they tried to kill us. So please, get off your damned soap box. Don't come down here, pointing the finger at me Raiko, because you won't like my response. This is me being nice. Keep pushing me though, and I'll ensure the rest of your tenure is marked in the history books with allegations of corruption. Since you're so quick to defend the gangs, it wouldn't surprise me if it's true."

Ashley was more than happy to pick up Shepard's line of thought. "As for us 'gallivanting about', we didn't start the fight sir. There's writing on the wall that says you have a serious problem you're choosing to ignore, but go ahead and try and pin this on us. We've taken down a lot bigger threats than you buddy."

"Indeed." Liara intoned softly, and ignored the surprised look Raiko shot her way. "I also happen to agree with Elizabeth completely, President Raiko. We were within our full right to defend ourselves, which we did. The use of lethal force only came near the end of our respective confrontations, once it became clear they were there to do more than rough us up. We did only what was necessary to ensure our personal safety, which is more than can be said for those that engaged us. Do what you feel you must, but we will continue to act as we deem necessary. If we must turn our energies into tearing what power you have left down around your ears, so be it."

"Hey, don't look at me, because I happen to agree with them." Lin said when Raiko turned to her next, no doubt in an effort to try and get her support. Except Lin had never liked Raiko in the first place, and her opinion of him had only deteriorated the longer she had been forced to work with him, which thankfully hadn't been often outside of some earth shattering emergency. "You might have done your fair share for Republic City, but I'm not going to shed any tears when your time's up, which is coming soon Raiko. For all the trouble you've caused Korra over the years, let alone the handpicked dung beetle rat you were prepared to drop on the Earth Kingdom, I'm honestly surprised you were even elected for a second term."

"Be it as it may, President Wu has stepped up into his role in the newly established government, and has done much in the restoration efforts after Kuvira's surrender."

"Again because Korra was there to stop her." Katara chimed in at last. Surprising everyone to varying degrees. She held up a hand to stop Raiko from speaking, before folding her hands behind her back. "I am however, not your enemy here President Raiko, because you have indeed done your fair share of good deeds for the city and for the people that inhabit it. I am simply stating a fact that is well known by many. I simply advise you to do something you have not done enough. See with more than your eyes, and know the truth of those you accuse without thought. They are simply lost souls, trying to find their way. The reason why they were even out among the population was to find one of their missing friends, an admirable pursuit if you were to ask me. I understand your concern, and that you simply wish to keep the city and its inhabitants safe as you have always done, but this is a fight you want no part of."

Raiko sighed, knowing when he was outnumbered, outflanked, and outmaneuvered at every turn and nodded his head in defeat ever so slightly. That and Master Katara was a well respected member of society, and if she vouched for them, there was little he could do against her on a good day. "Very well Master Katara, but this isn't over." Raiko warned, but it was all but hollow air at this point as he walked out of the room with his head held high despite having been defeated at every turn.

"And this is why I hate politicians." Ashley said aloud, ensuring Raiko heard her before the door shut behind him. The soft growl the man let out said he had heard her just fine, but the deep, menacing laugh Grunt boomed out drowned out whatever response he might have thrown over his shoulder before he walked away.

"As much as I might not like him, I am still stuck with him Commander." Lin stated once the room had fallen quiet.

"Which means if he orders our heads on the chopping block, you won't be able to say no." James replied, which earned an aggravated huff from the Chief of Police. "It's cool Lin, you at least we respect since you've been alright, even if you are a bit crotchety and hard to deal with at times."

"I'll take that as a compliment. But that still leaves the matter of the attack. Even my rookie cops can see that you were followed and attacked with precision. This was no random occurrence. Too many players were involved and they knew exactly where to pounce. And while I shouldn't tell you this, CSI came back with the same result, that they fired the first volley and you responded in kind as anybody with half a functional survival instinct would have done, so your alibi checks out. Even if Raiko ordered your arrest, I wouldn't follow through since there's no real case to be made against you."

"It's good to know in any event Chief Beifong." Liara replied before crossing her arms over her chest and looking towards the ceiling. "As for the Remnant and their lackies, we'll stick with our original plan, except this time, I have a feeling they aren't going to get off nearly so lightly as before."

"What gave you that idea Liara?" James droned, knowing full well what Shepard would do now that she was sure everyone was going to be alright. "The fact they tried to kill us or the fact they tried to kill us?"

"Either or James."

"Well, after last night's blatant attack, you have my full support, but my last demand still stands. I won't have this turn into a bloodbath." Lin stated, her tone making it clear she wasn't about to back down from this.

"You won't have to worry on that point Lin. We'll get the job done on your terms, but it will be done." Shepard reassured her while making sure she understood that they'd follow through with their goal to see the Remnant destroyed before they had a chance to hurt anyone else.

"That's good enough for me. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a mountain of paperwork that I've put off long enough." Lin turned to leave but stopped when she reached the door, before looking over her shoulder. "Despite my misgivings about you when we first met Shepard, I'm starting to get why you're so respected among your crew. Just don't make me regret trusting you." With that, Lin made her way out of the hospital room, but not before giving Grunt an acknowledging nod on her way out, which the krogan returned, much to Shepard's slight surprise.

"What? I like her, which is more than I can say for that pyjak you sent running with his tail between his legs." Grunt offered in way of explanation when he saw Elizabeth's curious glance in his direction.

No sooner had the words left his mouth did a gust of wind blow past him, and Ikke made herself visible just as her wind tunnel shot past her. Shepard had to bite her tongue when she saw the super soldier give her an uncomfortable glance out of the corner of his blue eyes, as if silently pleading for her to save him from the little airbender. She wasn't alone as Jinora, Meelo, Tenzin, Korra, Mako, and Bolin ran down the hall to catch up with her. While it wasn't surprising that they had come to the hospital to check up on her and the others, Shepard was touched by their concern, and it didn't take a mind reader to see the rest of her people were just as thankful for the gesture as Tenzin's family soon filled the hospital room.

"My apologies for the invasion, but when we heard what happened, Ikke insisted we come down immediately. Mother." Tenzin offered in way of explanation before nodding to Katara.

The old waterbender only chuckled warmly in response while Shepard smiled and waved off the master airbender's apology. "Hey, I'm just glad not everyone hates us right now."

"Let me guess, Raiko came down here and all but threatened you?" Korra grumbled knowingly.

"Oh he wasn't that subtle with us kid." James chimed in, and shot the group an appreciative grin despite the harsh meeting they had had with the president. "But after last night's mess, we're just happy to have friends lookin' out for us."

"Well duh! You're one of us now Mr. Vega, sir." Bolin cheerfully replied. "Besides, Raiko's just blowing hot air anymore these days."

"Even hot air can be a danger under the right circumstances Bolin." Liara intoned gravely, before perking up when Ikke plopped down on the edge of the bed. "But it's indeed nice to know we have allies when we need them the most."

"You plan to go after them then? Despite what just happened?" Mako asked, more than a little stunned they'd be so eager to go back out there after last night's near miss.

"It's who we are Detective Clueless. We got hit, but we're gonna hit them harder. A good marine can take a hit, a better one can take a hit and come back the stronger for it." Ashley shot back.

Korra made her displeasure known when she turned her gaze on Shepard directly. "If you're going after the Triads, you're gonna need help. Help you should have asked for last night in the first place when you went off to look for Joker."

"It was my decision not to drag you into our mess because Jeff's one of ours." Shepard replied softly, and sighed before looking up to meet Korra's intense gaze with one of her own. "But you're right, we should have asked, but I didn't want to because you have enough of your own problems to deal with. That and you had done a lot for us already."

"What's done is done." Jinora stepped in before Korra and Elizabeth could get into a shouting match, as well meaning as it might have been. "But instead of dwelling in the past we should direct our focus to the future. And I have to agree with Korra, you don't have to stand alone anymore Elizabeth." Shepard sighed heavily, but offered the young airbender master a grateful smile as Ikke nodded vigorously in agreement.

"Yep! You have friends now! 'Sides, this was our home long before it became yours you know!" Ikke pouted, and jumped once next to Liara before flopping back across the asari's lap, throwing her arms over her head as she did. Liara chuckled and ruffled the girl's hair but nodded, not about to argue with the people around them further as she met Shepard's eyes. As much as they might not agree with each other continuing to put themselves in harm's way, no matter the reasoning behind it, this at least they could agree on. Having allies like these, people that had accepted them almost immediately despite their otherworldly origins, was the best thing they could have asked for.

Kyto's home.

Joker couldn't help but stare at the horizon as the sun rose over the mountains in the distance. That morning had seen him walking up to the roof of Kyto's home, to get some air, but he had gotten lost in the view that stretched out before him. He'd seen a thousand skies on a thousand different worlds, had seen their cities and the people that inhabited them, but by and large, he hadn't walked through their streets. His world had consisted of the Normandy's helm for the longest time, outside of the times he had gone on shore leave with the rest of the crew anyway, so he had missed a lot of the excitement most of his friends had been a part of. But that wasn't the only thing really. He hadn't really stopped to enjoy the simple things. Just being alive was a gift of its own he hadn't appreciated until everything had transpired. And running away from the people that had been through the thick of it right alongside him? How stupid could he be to have done that?

Without looking over his shoulder, Joker acknowledged the kind old waterbender that had taken him in the night before with a nod and a weary smile. "Sorry, was just admiring the view from up here Kyto. Kinda ironic really, since I spent a lot of time flying over places like this, but I never really stopped to just look at what was right in front of me."

"You saw without seeing." Kyto stated, earning an amused but agreeing snort from the pilot as he soon stood by Joker's side, his hands folded neatly before his chest. "Far more people do that than we realize. They don't stop to appreciate the simple majesty that is life, not until it's gone and the twilight falls upon them."

"Yeah….idiots like me tend to just keep going, never lookin' behind us since there's little point to it. We just...fly on by, hoping to leave our troubles behind us ya know? Yeah, that doesn't work so well when your ship's in pieces, so I got it in my head to just walk away instead, hoping to outrun what's been chasing me since my home was trashed." Joker let out a tired sigh and let his gaze fall to the cracked, stone roof they were standing on. "Hilary, my old man, I wanted to believe they died hating my guts for not being there for 'em when they needed me the most, but that's just another excuse ain't it? Another way for me to keep running." Picking up a piece of the roof at his feet, Joker casually tossed the rock off the edge before dusting his hands off on his pants. "What do you do when you run out of runway? That's really what I'm trying to figure out."

Unbeknownst to Joker, Kyto subtly waved his hand towards the synthetic that had since found him, and shot the metallic woman a knowing smile. EDI, having finally caught up with Joker that morning, more out of dumb luck than anything else, cocked her head to the side but nodded before falling back into the shadows of the roof they were on. Her enhanced, superior senses were enough to hear everything that was said, so there was no need to get any closer. Kyto, once he was sure the man's friend wouldn't interfere, stepped a little closer and knelt down beside the pilot, his gaze falling on the Downtown Spirit Portal in the distance. For the longest time he said nothing, but he broke the silence after tapping Jeff on the shoulder and nodding towards the softly glowing lights off in the distance. "I was here when Kuvira decimated the city. I saw the might of her army, the power she had accumulated in so little time. People loved her, were drawn to her cause, and while her methods went too far, her core reasons were just and geared towards making the Earth Kingdom something to be proud of after decades of corruption and worse. But not everyone were so driven to follow her." Joker raised an eyebrow when Kyto pulled up his right sleeve and revealed a tattooed like brand on his upper bicep. "I escaped the 'reeducation camps', along with several others, after I saw how far she was willing to go. I had believed in her, I would have lain down my life for her vision, but after I saw the truth, I was without a cause. I was lost, and my friends, those I had fought beside despite not being an earthbender myself, I lost them along the way. Some because they refused to give up Kuvira's misguided dream, others because they followed me, but didn't make the journey here. I was the only one to make it, but Kuvira got here about the same time with her army. Then the Avatar came, and her friends did the impossible. Yet my problem remained. The guilt, the loss, and my inability to do anything to stop her or help those she still had imprisoned. Then….I found this place. I found Saria, and other lost souls like her that had had everything taken away from them."

"And you made them a home." Jeff mused, and couldn't help but see Kyto in a new light as the old man rolled down his sleeve once more, covering up the tattoo that had been engraved in his skin, not out of shame as he might have believed, but more acceptance of a past he was even then doing his small part in trying to redeem himself of.

"It's not the answer you require perhaps Jeff, but you and I are not so different. I'm a healer, as well as an old soldier, I could have signed on with the United Forces or taken a prestigious position at any of the hospitals in the city, but instead I stay down here in the poorest section of Republic City. I choose to remain, because these people need me. I'm able to sleep at night again because I offer them something they can't find anywhere else. Hope. Even if it's something as simple as a warm place to sleep, that's enough for me after all I had done before, under a woman that had simply wanted to secure a place for her people, yet had become lost herself along the way. Your true problem, is that you're afraid of forgetting those you've lost once it stops hurting, so you continue to carry the guilt with you. You continue to run away, but you don't have to, Jeff." Having said his piece, Kyto patted Jeff on the back before standing to his feet and started away.

He wasn't at all surprised when Jeff called out to him. "Thanks….Kyto." The old man only smiled at the pilot before continuing on his way, but not before giving EDI a nod on his way by.

"Who are you?" She asked, softly enough that Jeff wouldn't hear her, not yet. Even so, the subtle amazement in her voice wasn't lost on the healer.

"Just a man trying to find his way in the world, as I suspect, you are as well in your own way. You have a good heart for being mechanical yourself, that much I could see when I saw you at my door. As for why you're here, I can guess easily enough." They both turned to look at Jeff who was only then starting to stand to his own feet, albeit far more carefully than either of them, before Kyto held out his right hand to the synthetic. "He's a good man, and he is far more lucky to have you than he might ever realize."

"You have it backwards. I am the fortunate one in our mutual relationship, but I thank you for looking out for him as you have." EDI replied and firmly grasped the offered limb. Kyto smiled warmly and nodded deeply before leaving them to get reacquainted. EDI watched him go, lost in her own thoughts, which, while naturally far quicker due to her nature, still took long enough that when she turned back around, Jeff had since reached her side.

"EDI….I guess I screwed up huh?" He started and rubbed the back of his head, unable to meet the woman's brown eyes that even he had noticed had become increasingly expressive since having taken possession of the body she inhabited now. He looked up just as she closed the distance between them and pulled him flush against her metallic shell. The pilot could only lean into her embrace, and closed his eyes as he simply went along for the ride. "I'm sorry….for running from you most of all babe." He managed to get past the lump in his throat after a pregnant pause had fallen between them.

EDI remained unusually quiet as she slowly pulled away just enough so that their faces were mere centimeters apart. "I am just glad I was able to find you again, Jeff." Joker chuckled weakly while she felt her lips pull up ever so slightly in response. The not so hidden meaning behind her words weren't lost on either of them.

"So am I EDI." Joker replied softly before reluctantly pulling away so that he could stand with his hands planted firmly on the edge of the roof, his gaze on the horizon again although he wasn't seeing it this time. "I was in a pretty bad place, although I don't think I have to tell you huh? I'm still not out of the woods yet, but I'm getting there. And the funny thing is, I didn't even do it alone, which I thought I could until I ran into some old guy and his little home for refugees. Guess it goes to show you even badass ace pilots need a helping hand every now and again." Looking over his shoulder, Joker sighed but the soft smile on his bearded face never faltered as he turned around and crossed his arms over his chest. "He was right….about me, why I ran off like a total tool. It was easier than trying to face my losses head on and risk forgetting their faces….what they meant to me."

EDI said nothing, not because she couldn't think of anything, but because she knew he needed to get this off his chest. "Hilary would probably laugh and poke me in the gut, saying I need to get my head out of my butt for thinkin' like that. And my dad? He'd just smile in that way he always did and put a hand on my shoulder, knowing me better than I know myself. He was always like that, saying nothing until he had something worth listening to, and man could he get your attention. Me, I talked enough for all three of us, especially after mom passed."

"They sound like people I would have enjoyed meeting, Jeff." EDI said at last.

"Yeah, they'd have loved you. My badass robo babe, guardian to me and the rest of the Normandy's crew, but they'd have loved ya just for the simple fact you're you. Cerberus built, yet you grew into something more than you were intended for. They'd have seen that, just like I do now." Joker didn't react when tears started to run down his cheeks as he slowly slid down to the ground, his back to the edge of the roof. EDi sat next to him and slowly let her arm fall over his shoulders. "Yeah….just like that babe." He said as he reached up and grasped the fingers of her hand that was hanging over his shoulder. "Anyone says you don't have a soul can kiss my brittle ass."

Some time passed as Jeff slowly let go of the guilt that had been weighing him down, time EDI spent to send off a message to the rest of the crew she had found their wayward pilot. She didn't say if they were coming back just yet though, and they didn't ask. A part of her was grateful that they didn't, but she kept that to herself as she let Jeff have his time to process what had driven him away in the first place. It took time, but EDI had nothing but time, her synthetic nature notwithstanding of course. And despite the impending war they were preparing to unleash on the gangs, and eventually the Remnant, EDi was willing to stay right there on that roof however long Jeff needed her to. And he knew that she was sure when he leaned against her side and gave a contented sigh.

When he moved to stand to his feet at last, EDI was there to help him up. "Thanks for always being there for me EDI. How'd I get so lucky I'll never figure out babe."

"As I told Kyto, you have it backwards, but the sentiment is still appreciated immensely, Jeff." Digging into a hidden compartment on her hip, EDi produced his omni-tool, and held it out between them. He stared at it for a moment before making his decision, and slipped it back onto his arm where it rightfully belonged, but it went beyond that. By taking it back, he was silently confirming his rightful place with the family he had now, and the one he'd never leave again as newfound determination filled his brown eyes. Before they left though, Jeff made it a point to take a slight detour on their way down to the ground floor. There was someone he planned to take with them, provided she even agreed to the idea in the first place.

End Notes; While I'm not entirely happy with the last few sections of this, mainly after Korra and company rushed into the hospital room and this stuff with Joker, overall I think me and Nomad did a pretty good job. But as you can see, their actions will have consequences, and we've set down more than a few seeds for future chapters as this little war that's brewing between Team Avatar and Shepard's crew against the Remnant and their allies slowly builds to a bloody head. And blood will be spilt before this is over, you can be sure of that. As for Raiko, despite the good things he's done throughout the series, and he has done his part in keeping the city together, I could never bring myself to like him. He was almost as useless as Udina from Mass Effect, and those that have played ME know how that ended between Shepard and Udina, so it shouldn't be a surprise why they don't see eye to eye despite having only just met each other.

At any rate, Kyto has kind of taken on a life of his own in a good way. I had honestly meant to keep him as a faceless healer that Joker ran into, yet because I was having so much trouble getting this chapter to cooperate for the past couple of days, my muse decided to take over and added more character to the guy than I had originally intended by making him an escapee of Kuvira's reeducation camps. I was pleasantly surprised by it, and the rest of the chapter kind of fell into place from there, although I'm still not a hundred percent happy with how some of it came out. Meh, oh well, nobody's perfect lol. Anyway, see ya folks, and I hope this continues to be well received. Thank you for all the reviews, faves, follows, and the well wishes regarding Archer83's unfortunate disappearance from FF. May you all find peace and balance in the days to come. Adios!