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Chapter 13 : Resolve
With dawn, came light food and water, and a summons from Asami that they were ready for the meeting. Hide and On Ji however, were ordered to stay behind with the rest of the Southern Raiders while Korra and Mako went into the fort. Their escorts, four silent armored Sentinels, led the pair through the inner most chambers of the fortress, adorned with crimson banners and gold embroidery. Great tapestries of past victories and Fire Lords decorated the halls they passed, a chronicle of the prestige and power of a nation that gave birth to this deadly order.
As they entered one of the first dueling fields and training courtyards, Korra thought the Sentinels were indeed a marvel to watch. Even before the sun had cast its first rays on the the Fire Nation flags fluttering above the fortress, they were already on the parade square conducting drills and training full armor. They numbered several dozen members, all warriors in the black kimono armor, and they moved as though they were one, going through various swordforms with such elegance and deadly precision that it made Korra's own exercises back at the prison seem like a clumsy dance. Others were locked in spars, fighting each other with a combination of weapons, chi blocking and advanced fire bending forms.
It was no wonder that many of the Fire Nation, and their enemies considered them the best warriors on the planet. They were deadly, silent, precise, and under their calm, calculating exterior visage lay an intense, almost feral savagery that they brought to the battlefield.
"Impressive isn't it?" Asami said pointedly as she emerged to greet her guests. Mako and Korra both offered the perfunctory military bows, which Asami returned before gesturing them into the visiting chambers.
"You can say that," Korra said in awe. "I've...I've never seen anyone move or fight like this before."
"Neither have our enemies," Asami replied. "Until it is too late, that is. Consider this a privilege, not many have seen the Sentinels in training. They only see the results."
"Remind me not to get on your bad side then." Korra joked.
"You learn quick," the sentinel laughed, "Although some people don't remember it as often as they should." She looked teasingly at Mako.
As they entered the guest chambers, Asami led them to a simple table where several cups of tea was served. The three sat down quietly, Korra keeping her form ramrod straight, not wanting to upset the still-aching scars on her back, while Mako and Asami leaned forward as they each drank.
"To be honest, I'm half surprised you showed your face here Mako, after what happened last time. This must be some favor you're asking of me." Asami looked at Mako with a grim smile, and he seemed to flush a bit under the pressure. Korra meanwhile, was surprised for two reasons. One, he had never seem sergeant 'calm and collected' so flustered before, secondly, she thought. Mako...with Asami?!
"Look," Mako began speaking rather awkwardly at Korra. "It's not what you think."
"It's exactly what you think." Asami finished smoothly, with an almost amused tone. To Korra, she sounded she was over whatever went on between them, but it was obvious Asami still couldn't resist one last jab at the Sergeant. The Sentinel Warrior sipped her tea quietly, enjoying every moment of Mako's discomfort. To Korra's surprise, she kind of liked seeing this side of Mako for once; when he had absolutely no idea what to do. It was too amusing.
"That was in the past, back when we were Southern Raiders." Mako explained uselessly, which only made Korra raise more eyebrows.
After what seemed like an eternity (to Mako at least), Asami simply chuckled, deciding she had let Mako had enough.
"Ancient history, as Mako said. Let's not look back in the past." Asami said nonchalantly. "I had my pursuits, and Mister big shot here had his own, simple as that."
"Look, I'm sorry if you got hurt...I didn't mean it." Mako said at last, almost sighing as if he were repeating an old apology. " No hard feelings okay?"
"Of course not Mako, I understand, no hard feelings" Asami grinned, calmly taking another sip from her tea. "Otherwise, that would have been poisoned tea you drank just now."
Korra did her best to suppress a chuckle as Mako gulped down the last drops of his tea. "Heh right. I guess I can count myself lucky."
"You better." Asami said teasingly, then continued in a more formal, serious tone. "In any case, what brings you all the way here? You obviously didn't come here to reminisce. I thought you were busy guarding Water Tribe Prisoners." Asami turned to Korra. "No offense of course."
"Believe me, It's okay, I get it." Korra waved off the apology wearily. "I've heard enough of it already as it is."
Asami smirked. She liked this girl already.
"We were," Mako replied, more focused and serious as well. "We are on the hunt for two high profile fugitives that recently escaped from the South Pole. From what Korra tells me, they are elite water benders, taking down platoons of our troops singlehanded."
"I can see why you've come to us then." Asami replied noncommittedly.
"There's something else." Korra added grimly. "They have some other kind of bending, one I've never seen before. That allows them to control the blood inside your body."
Asami's eyes fluttered at the mention of it. "It sounds...horrible."
"He called it, 'bloodbending'." She cringed at the mention of the word, recalling the horrible painful memory of having her blood pushed against its will throughout her body
"I've heard the rumors of this art." Asami commented. "They say it's an urban myth."
"It felt real enough to me." Korra said quietly, flinching slightly as another shot of pain went through her back.
The Sentinel nodded with sympathy. "Still, what do you propose to do? What does this have to do with me?"
This time, it was Mako's turn to speak up. "The Sentinels are well known not only as assassins and warriors, but also as trackers. We figured you could be a great asset."
"That would be right..." Asami replied carefully.
"Not only that," Mako continued. "You have one of the best spy networks in the Empire, as Phoenix Lord Azula's eyes and ears. You must have heard something about two escaped prisoners making it to the mainland, otherwise, your reputation would just be for show."
At that, Asami gave a skeptical look on her face. "That is also true. And you expect to come in here, a mere sergeant of the Southern Raiders, and ask the Phoenix Lord's personal guard to help you in your little quest?"
"Yeah." Mako said uneasily, "I figured it is in our Lord's interest that we track all her enemies. It's not like the Sentinels had much more to do in the field lately."
It was a weak excuse, and both of them knew it. While Asami stared intently at Mako, trying to gauge his sincerity, he was desperately trying to think of a way through this. It was true that Asami was an expert tracker, and could probably hunt the prisoners down in no time, but that wasn't the only reason he went here.
In truth, the other reason he wanted Asami was so that she could possibly induct Korra into the Sentinels. It was as good of a plan as he could have come up with for his promise to Senna. Jade Sentinels were the elite of the elite in the Empire, granted rank and privileges reserved typically for the highest echelons of Fire Nation nobility. In the field, they had the power to overrule any commanding officer up to a High General for missions. Mako could not think of a better way of granting her the freedom that her parents wanted for her. It was a long shot though, for induction into the Sentinels was rare and exclusive, but from his time with Korra, he figured if anyone had a shot at it, she did.
It also seemed like Asami was onto his game, as she suddenly stole a glance at Korra. Then she replied.
"The resources of the Phoenix Lord's elite guard aren't just to be given away lightly. You must earn our services."
"How so?" Korra jumped in impatiently before Mako could reply, tired of being a mere spectator to all these head games between the two. Time was being wasted and every minute spent here was one less spent out there looking for the two water benders.
"An Agni Kai." Asami smiled smoothly, pointing at Korra. "With you."
"Wait, what?!" Mako stated in confusion, he was hoping that Asami would simply lend a hand, and maybe in time, consider Korra as a potential recruit. He never thought in a million years to have Korra fight Asami, especially now since she was still recovering from her injuries.
"Why?" Mako asked
"Well, aside from the fact that I can kick your butt any day of the week." She smiled. "I'm very curious. She's obviously got some talent, or else she wouldn't be sitting here with you."
"You're not a bender." Mako noted quietly. "So it wouldn't be an Agni Kai."
"And you think that puts me at a disadvantage?" Asami gave a cocky smirk. "A friendly spar. Agni Kai. whatever you call it, it's all the same to me."
"I thought you needed to be a firebender to be a Sentinel?" Korra blinked in surprise.
At this, Asami gave a cocky grin. "Usually you do, but at the end of the day, it all comes down to how good you are."
"It's true, you don't get into the Sentinels for nothing." Mako confirmed. "In fact, Asami is the only non-bender to have ever reached her rank, that tells you how good she is in the other skills."
"You flatter me too much Mako." She said slyly, then looked at Korra. "Well, what do you say?"
"This isn't a good idea." Mako whispered.
Korra remained silent, gathering her thoughts.
"You think you're strong enough to fight? I saw you limping a bit on the way in, so you must have had an injury recently." Asami commented, deciding there was no harm in letting Korra know of her observation. It wouldn't change a thing in her mind, and it offered Korra a chance to back away honorably. She knew the type of game Mako was playing, and she would not hold back.
"I know so." Korra replied in a firm, confident tone; ignoring the pain and refusing to back down, her eyes were focused and determined.
"You're a warrior after my own spirit." Asami flashed a smile, "But don't think I'll go easy on you."
"I won't let you." Korra found herself returning the grin.
"Very well then," Asami nodded. "Then let's see if you've got the right stuff. We'll duel first thing at dawn. And your weapon of choice?"
Korra shot a quick glance at Mako, who was doing his best to hide his nervousness at this confrontation.
"Swords." Korra replied almost without hesitation.
That night, Korra found herself in the dueling yard by herself, spinning through the various sword forms that she remembered during her time with Mako. The jian hissed through the air as she cut her way through the motions that she spent hours upon hours memorizing. As she moved faster and faster, the blade seemed like a mere extension of her body, one that she could bend to her will. Had an unfortunate bystander stepped in beside her, she would have cut him into several pieces, at least, that's what she hoped it looked like.
Korra's focus suddenly snapped as another wave of burning pain shot up her back. She grunted softly, dropping the sword onto the ground and leaning on a post to prop herself up.
Ignore it.
Push through it.
Be Strong.
She closed her eyes, breathing slowly as she gritted her teeth. By all rights, she shouldn't have been straining herself too much lest her old wounds opened up. But there was no time, and this was her one shot to enlist someone who could find those two prisoners on her side. She already swore to herself that she would do anything to achieve her goal, this was simply one of the obstacles she would overcome.
Korra picked up the sword again, raising it and trying to imagine her opponent, and how she would attack him.
It wasn't helping however, that the opponent she was imagining was that nightmarish Wolf Tail warrior. His eyes were cold and inhuman, and the sound of her own blood pushing against the bones and muscles of her body. The burning pain. The feeling of blood being drained from her organs and crushing against the back of her eyes and skull...
Korra realized that as she held the sword up, it was rattling in her hands. She was trembling.
With what? fear?
It was an emotion she never expected or encountered before a fight, and it disturbed her.
Did that water tribe boy unrattle her that much?
"You're hesitating." A voice said behind her, and Korra almost jumped back in surprise, but saw that it was only Mako. She breathed a small sign of relief.
"Are you okay?" Mako asked.
"I'll be fine." Korra quietly sheathed the sword, pulling a cloak from a nearby stand around her. It was getting chilly.
"Scared?" Mako couldn't help but noticing Korra's shaky hands from before.
"No. I'm not." She insisted, even if she was, it wasn't about Asami.
"I would be." Mako admitted. "Asami's one of the best fighters in the Empire after all. She's bested me several times in our spars when we were in the Raiders together.""
"You're. Not. Helping." Korra grumbled irritably.
Mako laughed. "Haha, sorry, I was just kidding. Thought I'd lighten up the mood. I'm here to see how you're doing. You don't seem like your old self."
"I'm just a little rusty, that's all." Korra sighed, sitting down on a nearby bench.
To her surprise, Mako placed a hand on her shoulder as he sat down next to here, and she felt her heart skip a beat.
She looked at him, and he simply smiled encouragingly.
"Hey, it's okay, there's no need to feel nervous, just remember the sword forms I taught you. You can do this."
Korra nodded. She appreciated the words of encouragement, but this was something she was used to, something that she had done all her life. Nevertheless, she gave an exhausted smile.
"Thanks. I'm just tired...some rest tonight will do me good."
Mako simply nodded, both of them sitting for a bit, until Korra turned and look at him.
"Mako...there's always been something I've been meaning to ask." Korra began.
"Yes?"
"Why are you helping me?" She asked, genuinely curious. "I mean, I appreciate it and all, but you're going a lot out of your way to help me out."
"Well..." Mako settled back on the bench. "There's something special about you. I just can't explain."
He looked at her with a teasing smile. "Who knows? Maybe you're the one destined to end the war and lead the Fire nation to victory!"
"Right. Real funny city boy." Korra grumbled.
"Okay, that was a bad one." Mako admitted with a smirk, then settled back as he thought it through.
"I guess, it's because of my father." Mako said thoughtfully.
"Your father?" Korra asked.
"Yeah." Mako reaffirmed his answer. "He taught me that everyone deserves a fair shot. And just seeing you back at the prison reminded me a lot of what my family's gone through."
"Somehow, I really doubt that." Korra murmured.
"Maybe not completely." Mako admitted. "But I know what it's like to be treated like a second class citizen. To not be given the same chances as everyone. I'm a colonial after all. And my brother is an Earth bender, so that kind of makes him the black sheep of our home town. I had to look out for him since we were kids, especially when..we lost our parents to the war." He said stiffly.
"I'm...I'm sorry to hear that." Korra didn't think life was all easy for Mako, but she certainly didn't imagine him losing his parents. She couldn't even imagine how she could grow up without her own.
"Like I said, I'm not totally oblivious to how tough life can be." He replied sympathetically.
"My mother passed away early on, while my father was a general in the army, lost in the war." Mako explained. "It was tough having them gone, raising my brother alone. But they were good people, and I learned a lot from them."
"My dad showed me that the Fire Nation can be a force for good, to bring the world together and provide equal opportunity and prosperity to everyone. It was his dream to make it so." Mako said with a passion that surprised even himself.
Korra almost wanted to puke at that statement. "Bring the world together? Maybe bring the whole world together under one happy internment camp, that's the more accurate way of putting it."
Mako nodded quietly, realizing where this was going. "I admit, they've made a lot of mistakes along the way."
"That's probably the biggest understatement of the century." Korra said bluntly.
"When the warden and his goons arrested me." she continued with a cold anger in her voice, "All that mattered to him was that I wasn't from the Fire Nation. He called me a useless colonial and told me I would get my just deserved punishment. Now, I'm basically just the warden's lap dog." she clenched her fist.
"No offense Mako, but I don't think the reality was anything close to what you just described." she said bitterly. Korra didn't intend to say this much, but she found it hard to stop once she began. Getting that off her chest wasn't easy, and even now, she found herself wiping her eyes.
Mako sighed, feeling the anger build up as he heard that, mainly at the injustice that was brought upon Korra, not just by the Fire Nation, but almost it seems, by fate itself. That thought disgusted him.
More than that though, he genuinely liked and admired Korra. She had been fighting all her life, and getting nothing but scraps in return. She deserved at least something after all the setbacks she had to deal with. He was determined to make it up to her. To show her that the world wasn't as bleak as it looked. and that there really was opportunity within the Fire Nation for her and her family.
"I know, and that's what I keep fighting." He said passionately. "To make it my countryman see the error of their ways; so that everyone gets an equal chance. It's my goal to show the world what the Fire Nation can really be capable of."
Korra simply crossed her arms skeptically in response. "Good luck with that one."
Mako sighed softly. "I can't blame you for thinking like that, or for feeling that way about the Fire Nation. And I won't defend the warden or Rho. But I'm loyal to my people and my nation. My- Our friends... On Ji, Hide, they didn't become soldiers so that the Fire Nation could hurt innocent people like your father and mother. They did so to fight for their loved ones, and because they love their home."
"I just want you to understand where I'm coming from with this." Mako said softly, knowing he was treading on dangerous ground.
Korra closed her eyes as if lost in thought. "I know Mako, I don't consider you like the warden or Rho for that matter. But I don't know if I can think of that way, not after everything that's happened."
She closed her eyes, clutching her arms tightly. "Not after everything I've been through."
"I know," Mako nodded in sympathy. "So we'll just have to show you one step at a time then." Mako smiled. "For now, you should focus more on your match tomorrow with Asami. She's a powerful ally. Get her on your side, and she'll open so many doors for you. Believe me."
"Thanks Mako." Korra nodded, feeling more at ease now. She found that she was starting to enjoy Mako's company more often now.
"Don't mention it." He smirked. "Just do me a favour."
"What?" Korra asked curiously.
"Wipe that arrogant smirk off of Asami's face for me tomorrow." Mako gave a sly grin.
Thanks everyone for the reviews/faves/reads! :) Next chapter look forward to seeing lots of action, on both sides!