Lin was coming home from a long day at police headquarters, Raiko had them going over defense plans in the event that Kuvira attacked the city. She was ready to put her feet up and eat something for the first time today. She walked in the door of the house to see that the kids were all back with Korra and Opal.
"Hey kid. Glad to see you're alive." Lin said in greeting to Korra. She had a second to brace herself before Opal launched herself at her. Lin caught the girl. "Whoa, what's wrong Opal?"
"Mom, dad, my brothers!" Opal cried. "Kuvira captured all of them."
Lin felt her stomach drop. "What!"
"I'm sorry, Lin." Korra said. "I tried to stop them but I failed." she looked down rubbing her arm.
"It's not your fault Korra," Tenzin said, entering with tea. "No one expected you to defeat her on our own. Why don't you explain what happened at Zaufo."
Lin was less than thrilled to hear about Su's attempt to attack Kuvira at night and unprovoked. It was beyond stupid. "Don't sweat it, kid." Lin told the avatar. "Su was…" She trailed off running a hand through her hair. "It was stupid."
"We have to rescue them." Opal said, pulling at Lin's arm slightly.
"We will kid, let see if we can get Raiko and Izumi to back us on that." Lin said, sharing a look with Tenzin. Raiko shouldn't be too hard to convince, he had taken it personally when Kuvira had refused to yield power.
"I already have a meeting with them in the morning." Tenzin told them. "Go to bed, you all need your rest."
The kids got up to leave the room when Ikki stopped. "Oh yeah, Aunt Lin." she said. "We met your mom."
Both Tenzin and Lin were surprised to hear that. "You met my mom?" Lin asked.
"Yeah in the swamp where we found Korra. She was like an older grumpier version of you." Ikki said.
Tenzin laughed at that description. "That sounds like Toph."
"She really helped me." Korra told her. "After she beat me up and yelled at me."
Lin chuckled. "You're lucky you survived, that means she likes you."
"Really cause I got the impression that she didn't," Korra said.
"If she didn't like you, you would know. Trust me." Lin told her. They bid the kids good night.
"Tenzin this is bad." Lin said turning to him and rubbing her temples.
Tenzin steps forward taking hold of her shoulders. "Don't worry we'll get your family back." He told her. "Come on we can't do anything until the morning."
The next day She and Tenzin both had a meeting with Raiko, fire lord Izumi and Prince Wu. Why Prince Wu was there was beyond her. Lin was standing in between Izumi and Tenzin slightly back from the table, arms crossed just watching the proceedings.
"We need to deal with this Kuvira situation immediately." Raiko said strongly.
"Yes!" Wu said. "I say we tell her she's won an all inclusive vacation." he said completely seriously.
LIn resisted the urge to growl. She could see Izumi stiffen, it was taking all of her strength not to roll her eyes and dismiss the Prince. Tenzin raised an eyebrow at him. Raiko suddenly found his hand very interesting to study as the prince continued with his stupid ideas.
"I say we take the fight to her." Raiko said.
"Look, Kuvira hasn't done anything aggressive towards the United Republic, we can't just attack." Tenzin said well aware of Lin glaring daggers into the back of his head.
"Not yet but Kuvira can't be trusted. It's only a matter of time." Lin spoke up for the first time keeping her voice controlled and neutral. Korra and Opal burst in before anyone else could speak.
"Raiko I need to talk-, what's going on here?" Korra asked as she entered.
"Oh hey, Avatar, we're just talking about what to do about Kuvira. For the record I told Raiko he should have invited you." Prince Wu just had to say.
"You invited him but not me!" Korra lashed out angry.
"Korra-" Raiko started. But just then Bolin and Varrick burst in.
"Guys Kuvira is building a super weapon!" Bolin cried. "Oh good you're all here."
"Let me guess it has something to do with spirit vines." Korra said.
"That's it!" Raiko said standing. "We need to attack now."
"You won't do it without my army." Izumi said calmly. "The fire nation can not be involved in an unprovoked attack against the earth kingdom."
"I can't have the air nation involved in that either." Tenzin said solemnly.
"Fine, we'll focus on defensively strengthening our borders." Raiko said, resigned.
"In that, you'll have our support." Izumi said and Tenzin nodded along. Lin could admit Izumi had a point. The Fire nation could not just attack the earth kingdom after the hundred year war, but Tenzin was not held back by history.
Izumi reached out, stopping Lin before she left. "I'm sorry about your family, Lin." She said genuinely. Lin could only offer a nod in response.
"Opal I need a word, Privately." She added seeing Bolin move to follow them. "I'm sorry we could get the world leaders on our side."
"So our family?" Opal asked worried.
"Looks like we are going to have to save them on our own." Lin said
"Don't you think we can get some other people to help? MaybeTenzin or-" Opal asked.
"This is an un-sanctioned mission. We can not ask others to risk their necks for our family." Lin told her firmly. The kids were not going on an extremely dangerous mission. Tenzin, she would try to convince but she didn't have much hope in that. Korra ran up to them and interrupted them.
"Jinora's been captured by the spirit vines." She said breathless.
"Let's go!" Lin said worry gripping her. "Opal go tell Tenzin."
When they arrived on the scene, Lin quickly clipped out order to her officers.
"Let me go in there." Korra told her.
"No wait for Tenzin." Lin said, but the spirit vines had other plans and nearly smashed them against the side of a building. "Okay fine go. But be careful." Lin implores the avatar as she ran into the spirit wilds. Korra still seemed a little off of Lin. Tenzin had mentioned that as well from what she gathered Su hadn't gotten all the poison out of her and Lin wondered if it was still affecting her. A little while later Tenzin came running up to her.
"Lin, what happened? Where's Jinora and Korra?" he asked.
"Korra went to see if she could find Jinora." Lin told him for now putting her angry at him for not fighting Kuvira to the side. Jinora was both of their top priorities. "She's been stuck there before, she'll be alright." Lin told Tenzin, trying to reassure the both of them. Tenzin began pacing while he waited until Korra and Mako returned.
"I need to see Zaheer." Korra said. Of all the things she could have said that wasn't anywhere near Lin's mind.
"What?" Tenzin asked, equally as confused.
"I've been having a version of him blocking me from connecting to my spiritual half. If I face him maybe I can get back to the spirit world and rescue Jinora." Korra explained.
"What no. I'll call your father and have him enter from the south polar." Tenzin said, shaking his head.
"You don't believe in me either." Korra said mad.
"What no I just think-" Tenzin started. Lin cut him.
"Tenzin, we don't have the time. Zaheer is here, it will be the quickest way to get Jinora back." She pointed out putting a hand on his arm.
"Fine, I'll get you clearance." Tenzin sighed. Lin stayed down at the spirit wilds after both Korra and Tenzin left. She was beginning to form a plan on how to save her sister. Opal would come with her. They would take a bison and scout out the area to find where they're family was being held. Tenzin returned sometime later. The two didn't say a word just paced waiting to see if Korra was successful.
"DAD!" Jinora cried running to him as she and the other emerged from the spirit vines.
"Jinora!" Tenzin said, relieved hugging her.
"What happened?" Lin asked relieved as she approached father and daughter.
"Korra saved us." Jinora said before hugging Lin as well. The three headed back to air temple island.
"Go on kid." Lin told Jinora when they landed. "I need to talk to your father for a minute." Jinora looked between the two of them before nodding and leaving the two of them alone.
"Lin, I'm sorry Raiko isn't attacking Kuriva but-"
"No buts, Tenzin this is my family." Lin said, finally allowing her anger to bubble up to the surface. "I can't just leave them to her!"
"I know Lin but what would you have me do? Commit all 100 hundred airbenders to your suicidal quest to save your sister." Tenzin shot back.
"You would do it if it was your family." Lin growled at him.
"Thats different!" Tenzin spluttered.
"How! I am your family aren't I!" Lin yelled back.
"Yes! But we don't even know where they are!"
"It doesn't matter." Lin turned on her heel. "Me and Opal are taking a bison and going after them. If you're not going to help, fine but don't get in our way!" Lin snarled, stalking away from him.