Redemption of the Dark kind
Chapter 12: Family and acceptance
16th February 2900
Fire Capital.
One day had passed since the Fire rebel HQ's downfall, one day since Alex was injured, one day since Kya was rescued.
Within a day, the rebel HQ had been left in ruins, with only a few casualties, including one fire sage. Alex and any other injured people had been transported by airship to the capital, or on Appa for more severe cases, such as Alex also.
He had been bandaged up well, in both right arm and the lower right face. Aang and Katara did a good job bandaging and healing Alex as best they could, but a horrid scar, and a loss of tissue, would remain. More sinister was how close they came to noticing how quickly Alex's skin healed on his arm, which they dismissed as Katara's healing. However, scarred or not, he had become a hero. He had single-handedly located and infiltrated the fire rebel HQ, and rescued the prisoners with only one prisoner loss.
And for one family, one prisoner's return was truly a miracle. For 11 years, Katara and Hakoda had believed their wife had been killed, despite never finding her body. Kya spared no time telling of how she came to be in that prison. Yon Rah had been intent on killing her, but another fire nation soldier had burst into the tent, looking for him. He happened to be of the same rank, and had reprimanded Yon Rah for what he appeared to be about to do, saying they were to take prisoners, not kill. And as such, Kya was wrapped in an opaque bag, and dragged into a Southern Raiders ship before they pulled out.
During when they were trapping her in her bag, Kya had struggled, and had drawn blood from one the newer soldier in the struggle. That blood is all that Hakoda and Katara had seen on the tent floor.
They had presumed her dead, certainly after she had been missing for weeks, and no one reported seeing the raiders take her.
But now, as Katara lay in her mother's thin, comforting arms, she found memories of her early childhood flooding back, before the raid. They all sat in a large sitting hall, the same one she had actually been in when the Commander had held them hostage, and Alex had saved them in his own, 'unique' manner.
She let her mother run her hands through her hair, a feeling she had long missed since she was 5. Then, she spoke to her: "I found the man I thought had killed you."
The stroking stopped, and Kya shifted herself to face her long missed daughter. Katara continued: "I went after him to try to avenge you, Zuko helped me find him."
"The one who you saw with me in the tent?" Kya asked. Katara nodded, and continued: "I confronted him, Yon Rah. He never said anything about not killing you, I guess he assumed I knew you had been kidnapped instead. I used my waterbending to try to kill him." At this, Katara looked away, tears coming to her eyes now. She finished: "But I couldn't do it. I hesitated at the last moment, and I left him. I saw that he was a coward, and I couldn't bring myself to his level. But when I left him, I was confused, I didn't know whether I'd proven myself as better than him, or that I'd failed to avenge you."
Kya engulfed her daughter as she broke down, shushing her gently as she let her daughter's tears spill forth: "Katara, even if I had died that day, I would have been proud of you whatever you did. Killing someone for vengeance would have stained that lovely personality of yours, but your determination you showed in seeking him out makes me proud to have you as my daughter."
The mother and daughter held each other, the feeling of euphoria of reuniting never once fading. Outside, Hakoda came down from a balcony, having finished sending a messenger hawk to deliver a letter to Sokka and Suki of the news of Kya's return and the rebel base strike. Inside, he found his once shattered family on a couch, Kya's thin body hugging Katara's shaking body. Soundlessly, the need for asking unnecessary, Hakoda encircled his daughter and return wife in a bear hug, incalculably overjoyed that his family, so shattered by war and despair, had been brought together again.
A few hours passed, and by then Aang, Toph, Zuko, Mai and even Ursa had been introduced to Kya. Kya had particularly been touched by Zuko and Aang, both of whom had saved Katara, although she seemed slightly taken aback that a sweet soul like Zuko could have once tried to harm Katara.
Katara had near dragged a shy Aang to meet Kya, who immediately saw that the young Avatar and her daughter were love struck with each other. The group was altogether, in each other's company.
Or at least, they would be in a few minutes.
Fire palace, guest bedroom.
Beneath him, countless corpses littered the barren desert floor, their lifeblood and limbs scattered as far as the carnage spread. At his feet, four figures were present. Sru'sky was on her knees, spirit broken and eyes wide with horror and fear as she stared at her antagonist. Trion was at the point of collapsing, his energon leaking over the floor in bright blue drops. Quirinth lay on the floor, lightly wheezing as the multiple wounds on her body oozed blood. And finally, the fourth figure at his feet:
Himself.
His old self, a shattered, broken boy, a boy abandoned on an alien world, ultimately ended for his beliefs and devotion to his cause by the very people he had befriended and called family. Here, Alex knelt before his successor.
The Dark Hunter reached out a hand, and a dark tendril extended towards each person. It hovered momentarily in front of their chests, as if contemplating the next action.
A dark, sadistic laugh pierced the air, and beneath his helmet, the red eyes glinted in feral lust, ready for the kill.
The tendrils lunged, and all became black, with only the evil red eyes piercing the eternal darkness.
Alex's eyes snapped open, and he bolted upright in his bed. He immediately grasped his right face in pain, where bandages covered the lower portion of his face. As he ignored the pain, he looked around.
He was in a bedroom, fire nation in appearance. He wore no clothes, except his underclothing. His arm was bandaged also, covering the already healed arrow wound, but leaving his shoulder scar visible.
He saw a set of clothes nearby, his old clothes, now green, yellow and brown again. Painfully, he slipped them on, careful not to touch his face when he slipped on his tunic. After a few minutes he was dressed, and he walked towards the door, ignoring the stinging from the bandage on his face.
He opened the door, and immediately he heard voices from down the hall, voices he recognized. His mechanical limbs carried him swiftly, his hand constantly holding his bandaged face in pain. He ran down the hall, ignoring tapestries and portraits as he ran. Finally, he came to the sitting room door, and with an unceremonious bang, he kicked the door open.
Inside, Toph's eyes widened as she felt the rapid footsteps in the hall beyond. She then said to all present: "I think Alex is up." She then looked towards the doors. With a loud bang, they flew open like a cannon blast.
From inside, a disfigured man emerged, clad only in his trousers, tunic and jacket, which had been torn slightly from his injuries. His right arm held a bandaged wound, and on his right shoulder a vicious chunk of flesh seemed to have been sliced out in an upwards cut. His face was the worst, his lower right side covered in bandages, his hand grasping it in pain. Along his left face a long, deep cut scar ran from his chin to just short of his ear. His blood red eyes scanned the room in panic, before he relaxed his entire body.
He then slumped slightly, and said: "Sorry 'bout that. Just making sure you're all still alive, since I wasn't around for long to help-ow this actually really hurts." At this, he walked over to a nearby couch, which Toph and Ursa had just occupied, and he sat down in an unceremonious heap, clutching his face in pain, while propping his feet up on the table, not caring for manners.
Toph asked him then: "You OK? Those were some nasty wounds you got there." Alex shrugged his shoulders, and looked up at the ceiling, saying: "As long as I have my arms, legs and mind intact, I don't give a damn what happens to my body. Its what harm could befall others that I need to protect that I show concern about."
Toph smiled, realizing he probably gained all of these injuries from encounters where he protected others. Katara meanwhile had started to talk: "Are you sure you're fine? I mean, you just woke up." Alex merely said: "All I ask is if these-." He pointed at his arm and face. "-will leave scars." Katara looked down at the floor dejectedly, muttering: "Sadly, yes."
Alex then muttered: "Well that's good. More to add to my ever growing collection of scars I suppose." Hakoda then said: "You found my wife, you've restored my family, and you've helped us effectively end the Fire rebel cause. I don't know how I can repay you for what you've done."
"You can start by not feeling indebted to me. I don't want anyone throwing themselves at my feet in servitude, I find it incredibly irritating." He then thought to himself: "However, I do think perhaps a ceremony or celebration is in order for the Fire Rebellion end, perhaps scheduled for after Sokka and Suki's return? And also one I could have a hand in organizing events for?"
He looked at Zuko, who immediately nodded in agreement. He said: "The world needs all the celebration it can get, to get over any misery from the war and rebels."
It was decided then, the celebration would be held in the Fire Nation capital, in a week's time. Until then, everyone would remain here, awaiting Sokka and Suki's return in five days.
Although Alex would have to check in with his island base.
20th February 2900
Island base.
The intercom system patched through, and Alex called into the island system mainframe the commands and updates he needed.
"I request an update on RAXLER's development."
"RAXLER demonstrates expected results in physical and processor capabilities. All software downloads have proceeded as expected, and he is beginning to develop a personality of his own, with a few minor concerns."
"Request clarification on matters."
"RAXLER demonstrates capacity to express emotions and personality, but only does so in situations that bring out particularly strong emotional responsiveness. Otherwise, subject displays emotional inertness and simple, cold behaviour. This was to be expected, as artificial intelligence had not yet reached the full capacity to express emotions that living beings do constantly."
"Affirmative. Proceed with training, I shall observe and personally interact with RAXLER upon my next return."
The channel went dead, as Alex transmitted a code to another part of the island base, the medical centre:
"Request status report on subject A76."
"A76 at foetal stage, estimated time to maturity 2 months."
"Acknowledged, proceed as normal."
The transmission cut, and Alex placed the radio away in his secret compartment, and he returned to his bedroom in the Fire Palace, to finish sleeping for the night.
February 21st, 2900
Fire nation Capital
Alex waited at the port with Toph, Katara and Aang. He watched impatiently as the water tribe ship moored at the docks, and he stifled grin as Sokka and Suki practically sprinted onto the docks as soon as the ship was moored.
Sokka hugged Katara, saying: "Hey little sis. How's things all going here?"
Katara pulled away, and said: "Oh, fine, just fine." Suki then nudged Sokka, noticing the looks that Toph, Aang and Katara were all trying to hide: "Are you keeping something secret?"
"It's a surprise." Toph said with a smirk, as they began to walk up to the palace, with Sokka constantly pleading with them the entire way: "Please tell me! C'mon, tell me!"
After 30 minutes they reached the volcano crater, and had just made it to the palace gates. By this time, Sokka's pestering was beginning to get annoying.
Sokka: "Please?"
Toph: "No."
Sokka: "Please?"
Katara: "No."
Sokka: "Please?"
"Sorry Sokka." Said Aang, a look of boredom on his face. Sokka turned to Alex:
"Please?"
"Yes." Said Alex in a bored tone. Sokka perked up: "Really?" Alex: "No, I'm just screwing with you."
"AWW!" Sokka hung his head in defeat, while Suki laughed of the incident. They reached the doors of the sitting room, where Toph, Aang, Suki and Katara entered. Alex however, grabbed Sokka by the shirt, and held him back. He confronted Sokka, pointing to his face:
"Alright, we called you and Suki back because we found someone of great significance to you. In fact, I stuck my arm out to get this person to the point where I was hit by an arrow-." He jabbed his finger at his bandaged arm, and then pointed to his bandaged face: "-and burnt in the face."
Sokka looked at his confusedly, and asked: "What happened?"
"Fire Rebel HQ, rescued prisoner in living room, and that's all I'll say for now, other than this. When you see who it is, regardless of your reaction, you will be in tears."
Sokka looked at him worriedly: "Who is it? Tell me?"
"The person is just on the other side of the door, you idiot! Either way, you will cry, either by joy for seeing this person, or by a serious blow to your genitals should you show no tears of joy, which I'll see as ungratefulness in that case."
Alex threw open the door: "Well, get moving! Any minute today darling would be very appreciated!"
Sokka marched into the room, muttering as he looked back towards the door: "Man, just cus' you're injured doesn't mean you get to be an asshole."
Sokka turned back to face the group in the living room, worried for his legs now. As he looked at them, he saw Katara and his father standing by a woman, dressed in a Southern Water tribe outfit. She had slightly dishevelled brown hair, and she had the same ocean blue eyes as Katara. As Sokka saw the resemblance, he turned to Hakoda in a very serious tone: "Dad, who is this?"
"Sokka, as hard as it is to believe, this is your mother."
For a minute, Sokka and Kya stared at one another, taking in each detail to appreciate and memorize, and in Sokka's case, try to see if this woman really was Kya. Sokka asked her: "What age did your daughter first show waterbending?" It was a question only Hakoda, Sokka, Katata or Kya knew the answer to. And yet, this woman answered it perfectly: "When she was age 3, she froze you in your bath during a month in the summer light."
Off to the side, Alex, having joined the group, stopped himself from laughing at that mental image. It was then that Sokka walked slowly to Kya, asking: "Mom? Is it really you?" Kya smiled through her tears, as she saw her son begin to weep for joy, and the two pulled each other into a hug, which Katara and Hakoda soon joined in.
As the Southern Water tribe royal family embraced in a long awaited reunion, Alex shared his thoughts with Toph and Suki: "This is the second person I accidentally came across that was missing for a while."
Suki tearfully looked at Sokka, saying: "I'm just so glad Sokka got his mom back, makes you think of your own family, doesn't it?"
Alex snorted, and said: "Well, it would, but my family are dead, so it can't really apply in my case." Suki then looked embarrassed, and said: "Oh, yeah, sorry. You actually confirmed your parents' deaths."
Alex looked downcast: "Yes, I'm the only one here who accidentally killed a parental figure, and indirectly killed the second by heartbreak."
Alex then smiled, and rubbed his hands together, saying to those two: "Well, what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. And I shall be living to that saying tomorrow, when I find my alcohol limit in celebration. I believe I've rightfully earned it."
Toph punched Alex in the shoulder, saying: "Now you're speaking my language!" Alex said: "Hey thanks." As Toph looked away, Alex rubbed his punched left arm, ignoring Suki and Toph's giggles as he did so. Even Sokka and Kya had broken off to see the brief exchange.
Between tomorrow and now, the group would fill in Sokka and Suki on info on the raid and Kya's tour in prison, and Alex would reveal to Kya his forged back story.
February 22nd, Fire nation Capital plaza, festival.
The evening events were filled with dancing, music, food and entertainment everywhere.
It was not since the end of the century war that such celebration was seen in the capital city, and the mood of the citizens was joyous. Children watched performers, cheering as they saw spectacular tricks performed. Couples danced in the plaza, in rhythm with the music. And off to the sidelines, numerous stalls and restaurants were packed.
In one such restaurant-
"Twenty-hic, one!" Alex raised his most recent empty pint jug in declaration. The bar roared in amazement, as only he and another person, a large, well muscled man, were left in the drinking game. The score was now Alex on 21, to the other on a mere 14 pints. Off to the side, Toph, Hakoda and Suki stood by with their mouths agape. Surely Alex would have passed out by now?
Toph however, was loving it: "He wins this, I get easy money!" Hakoda looked at the blind girl in surprise: "You bet on him?"
"Yep, so he'd better win." Then, the older man fell backwards off his chair, and the bar erupted in roars and cheers as Alex stood up on the table, swaying on his feet slightly, while doing mock bows. Suki commented: "I think he just did."
Alex jumped off the table, and as he stumbled, he called to the barman while throwing him some silver pieces: "Hey barman! How 'bout one for the road?" The crowd handed him another drink while some patted him on the back. "Thanks-hic!"
Toph barely controlled her laughter as she asked a stumbling Alex: "Hey dimwit, you okay there?" Alex surprised them in an analytical tone: "21, or soon 22 pints of ale? I'm just stumbling on my feet is all. Other than that I'm fiIINE!" Alex fell forwards slightly, but Hakoda and Suki just caught him mid fall. Luckily for Alex, he didn't spill his drink.
Suki suggested: "How about we let you sit down somewhere?" Alex grinned, and said: "Alright, near the dance floor, I'd like to see who's good and who sucks."
Over near the dance floor, Kya was stood by Sokka, Ursa and Iroh. They looked over to see Hakoda and Suki half dragging Alex across towards them, with a cackling Toph behind them. As they set Alex down on a nearby bench, the four others walked over, trying to stifle their amusement. Sokka asked: "Too much to drink?" Alex meekly nodded, and said in an airy voice: "21-hic pints, 'scuse me." Alex then downed his next pint of ale in a few gulps, giving a loud belch as he finished. All present grimaced or laughed at this, and let Alex finish: "Make that 22 pints of ale, and I'm only unsteady on my feet. That stuff's weak!"
Iroh laughed at this: "I can't even drink 6 pints without getting near drunk." Alex laughed at this: "Ha! Lightweight!" Alex then looked around, and asked Kya: "Hey, I may be near drunk, but I can see some are missing. Where are Katara and Aang? Or Zuko and Mai?"
Ursa and Kya looked to the dance floor, and the others all saw both couples dancing together in near perfect harmony to the slow music now being played by the nearby band. Aang was dressed in ceremonial air nomad robes, and Katara was slowly leading him, dressed in a long blue water tribe outfit, and her long hair let down past her shoulders and down her back, similar to the earth kingdom hairstyle and dress she wore on special occasions.
Zuko was dressed in his Fire Lord robes, and was holding Mai close to him as he swayed, while she wore a set of long, fire nation dress robes, with her hair pinned up in its usual fashion.
Kya sighed, and Hakoda came up beside her. Kya said to her husband: "I missed so much. My little girl's now all grown up, she's found the perfect man for herself."
Hakoda looked at her, and said: "Aang does love her very deeply, he'd do anything for Katara." Kya giggled, and remarked: "She really is like me then. I had you wrapped around my little finger just like she has Aang now." Hakoda then pulled Kya into a hug, and said: "Well, soon may come the time when Aang summons the courage to ask Katara for her hand in marriage." Kya looked at him slyly: "Oh, how long do you think?"
Toph answered this question: "I'd say about a few months, when he's 16, old enough by your customs to marry." As she said this, the slow music ended, and the couples retreated off the plaza. As Aang and Katara returned, Kya gave Aang a nod of approval, showing she trusted her daughter's love for him.
As a new, but still slow dance music piece came on, Sokka asked Suki to come onto the dance floor with him. As they went, Hakoda offered a hand to Kya, who graciously took it as he led her out also. As Alex looked at both couples, he looked around at the group, and when he saw Toph, he got a daring idea. He found himself looking at her long black hair, which she had let down form her previous, pinned up style by Katara's advice. The ebony locks attracted Alex's gaze, along with her faded green eyes, hidden at times by her long fringe. Her dress was like the clothes she normally wore, but in the evening light it showed off her mature figure very well. Standing up, Alex offered his hand to Toph, and asked in a careful tone of voice: "Care to dance?" Toph looked incredulously at him, and said with a small snort: "I can't dance well." Alex looked at her, and said; "It's a slow dance, it's hard to make mistakes. Besides, I can't dance as well as others, but that's not stopping me. Besides, your attractiveness will definitely distract anyone from any misplaced steps."
Toph blushed at this, and asked: "You think I'm attractive?" Alex said in an honest tone: "I call people how I see them, and you are definitely attractive by any standard. Now, shall we?" Gladly, Toph took Alex's hand, and let him lead her onto the dance floor.
Off to the side, Aang looked amazed at what just happened: "Did Toph just agree to dance with someone?" Katara looked on, saying: "Aww, that's so sweet, I think Alex has a crush on Toph." Zuko then added: "A crush on Toph? He'll end up being crushed if he says something wrong."
On the dance floor, Alex stood close to Toph, and as she looked up at his face, both of them realized just how big the height difference between them was. A foot height separated them, which made the dance slightly awkward, but nonetheless special to both of them. This was the first time Alex and Toph had first danced with someone else like this.
Toph then said to him: "I'm not sure if I can dance, or even look up at you while doing it." Alex looked down at her, and reassured: "Just match my foot movements, you'll be absolutely fine." As Alex pulled her in, a hand wrapping around her shoulders, they slowly began to waltz around in circles, taking the dance slowly, but almost never once missing a step.
After a minute, the pair fell into a slow rhythm, and as Alex moved his other hand beneath her arm, she reached up to hold his waist and shoulder. With a high reach, she secured a hold on Alex's right shoulder. As they continued to slowly spin, Alex felt Toph gasp slightly, as she felt his shoulder, around the massive scar where he had to near sever it in his first life. He said: "What?"
She looked into his eyes, with foggy green meeting crimson red, and she asked as they continued to Waltz: "How did that happen?" Alex exhaled slightly, and said: "That scar was perhaps the most painful for me, because unlike the rest, I didn't get it quickly. I was stabbed through the shoulder and pinned to a wall by a sword. It was near the top of my shoulder, and I needed to escape very badly. So I just quickly yanked myself downwards, and the sword tore a chunk out of my shoulder. Nonetheless, I was free. Heavily wounded, but free."
Toph pressed a hand against his shoulder, and commented softly: "You seem to take so much damage, it's a miracle you survived so much." Alex then said: "Yes, a miracle you could say. What followed that wound was the most traumatic experience I ever faced." As the music ended, Toph heard Alex' voice waver at the last comment. As they walked off the plaza, she said: "I'm not one to normally comfort, but you don't have to share all your past if you don't want to."
Alex smiled fondly at the little 15 year old earthbender, and said; "Thank you, I've just had many experiences that I don't want or need to retell. It's great that a beautiful girl such as you can understand this so well." Toph looked away, a small blush creeping onto her face.
As Toph came back over, Katara saw Alex smile at her, and say something that caused the young earthbender to look away and blush. Alex left her side, going off to a nearby bench to relax to himself. As Toph came back over, Aang too noticed the blush on her face. Katara asked: "So what did he do?"
"Not much, we just danced together, nothing to complicated, just a simple waltz. Then I felt just how bad that scar on his right shoulder was, and he told me how it happened."
She then retold Alex's story, and then Kya, Hakoda, Sokka and Suki returned from their dances to listen also. The rest had gone off elsewhere for now. None of them knew the full story of Alex's history, in fact, he remained a mystery to them all in many respects. However, the fact that he sported such an extensive collection of old and new injuries and scars gained him sympathy from them all.
However, despite his sacrifices, despite his cold, sometimes stoic nature, he had found solace in this collection of companions from around this world, who supported him, accepted him and valued him, especially after he helped end the Fire rebellion and return both Ursa and Kya.
He had a new planet to call home. He had taken the best of both worlds, the technology he needed to defend and maintain his secret powerbase being on the island, and a new social group to be an integral part of on the mainland.
He had found a place where he truly felt home.
February 22nd, 2900. Planet Feresil, Gau 24 system.
The two apprentices stood aboard the cargo shuttle, waiting for the deployment. Norstith's orders had been clear, to kill all inside and retrieve the information as quickly and quietly as possible.
As the shuttle docked with the orbiting space station, the access tunnel opened, and under cloaking the two of them set off into the hallways, silent in their footsteps. As they rounded the first corner, a security guard walked in front of them. As he passed them, the male apprentice held out a hand, and using his own dark matter, choked the Kro'nogri security guard. Before the guard even hit the floor, the two of them had stolen his access key-card, and were now headed for the main vault.
Inside the vault corridor, the two apprentices de-cloaked. Both were clad in organic looking armour, each one highlighting their figure, and the armour itself resembled a coloured muscle tissue suit. The male wore a smooth black helmet, with a gray jaw structure beneath it, and his bodysuit was coloured black with red trimmings and muscle lines, showing off his well developed muscles and masculine build very well. Te female wore a similar black and gray helmet and jaw structure, but her suit hugged her curves and muscles also. Unlike the male, her suit had white trimmings instead.
After a few tense minutes, the vault was open, and the pair of them secured the information data devices in their pockets. As they made their way back up towards the shuttle, they killed each person they met in the quickest way possible. The female would draw one of her double swords and stab her victims in the neck mainly, for an instant death with minimal bleeding. The male however, preferred to sever his victims at the abdomen, stabbing the spine to kill them, but also severing many blood vessels and the intestines as he thrust his blade into each person's body. As such, the male's victims were left in a less dignified state.
Within a half hour, it was all over. The cargo shuttle was long gone, and as it had jumped to warp speed, the other security drones and personnel had alerted the base of the robbery and the killings.
Alex may be gone, but his legacy had literally lived on, in those two. Norstith had made sure of that.
