All righty then people, here is chapter ten. Before we begin I'd like to thank everyone who commented, or reviewed. What you guys think always means something to us writers. I only own the plot, and OC's.

10: Options

"Are you out of your mind!" Bolin yelled as he took a threatening step towards the president: only to be held back by Lin.

"You're not actually considering killing him are you?" Tenzin asked in shock.

"No he is not." korra said coldly as she stood up, and glared at Raiko. "We are not going to kill him."

"We may have no other choice." Raiko stated as he met Korra's glare with one of his own.

"The last time a dark avatar came into existence hell followed immediately after. While most of you were fighting against his army of dark spirits at the North Pole; I watched helplessly as Vaatu laid waste to my city. The Dark Avatar existed for less than two hours and in that time he caused mass destruction, and snuffed out hundreds of innocent lives on a whim. You remember that day just as vividly as I do Chief Beifong."

Lin looked away, and remained silent.

"This is Mako we're talking about here." Kai interjected.

"This makes him an even greater threat." Raiko said cutting him off.

"Last time Vaatu merged with a water bender, and wiped out three quarters of our Navy in seconds. Can you even imagine what he could do with fire at his command?"

"I beat Vaatu before, and I can do it again." Korra stated firmly.

"Barely, you barely managed to defeat Vaatu, and it cost both you and republic city dearly. If memory serves you weren't able to save Unalaq either."

Korra's fists clenched tightly at the mention of her uncle, and her lost connection to her past lives.

"Right now Vaatu is at his most vulnerable. If we strike now hundred, maybe thousands of lives will be spared."The office once again fell into silence. No one was able to find fault with Raiko's logic. Not even the air benders who found all life sacred could argue for one life over thousands of others.

Bolin couldn't believe what he was hearing. "So that's it you're all just giving up on him?"

No one was able to look Bolin in the eyes. "Come on you guys Mako has put his neck on the line for every one of us. We can't just turn our backs on him now. Come on Korra there has to be something that you can do." Bolin said desperately as he grabbed Korra by the shoulders.

"Bolin I'm not sure there is anything she can do." Asami said sadly as she rubbed her bandaged palm gently. Her wound seemed to burn more as tempers, and emotions flared around her.

"Wait maybe there is" Korra interjected. "When I first faced Vaatu as a dark avatar he managed to rip Raava out of me. Maybe I can do the same to Vaatu."

"If that's our only chance than we need to take it" Opal said taking Bolin's hand in hers.

"We need to hurry then; there is no time to lose." Tenzin said as he began leading everyone out of the office with Korra being the last to leave.

"Korra" Raiko called, and she stopped in the doorway.

"Save him if you can, but if you can't it is your duty as the Avatar to stop him no matter what the cost."

Korra didn't reply, or even turn around. She merely walked out, and slammed the door behind her.

Mako glared as Vaatu began to circle him again; this time wearing Korra's form rather than his own.

"One down six to go." Vaatu said with a teasing smile that still made his heart flutter.

Mako quickly shook his head, clearing away thoughts of korra. This was Vaatu he was dealing with. He couldn't afford to be distracted.

As Vaatu circled Mako could better examine the life size statues of Korra, Bolin, Asami, Lin, Raiko, and even one of himself when he served as Wu's bodyguard. Each statue was in perfect condition except for the statue of him. While the others looked as if they had just been carved, his looked slightly weathered. His neck, arms, legs, and chest were connected to each statue by thick chains.

"You know before we were merged I always believed that loyalties, and bonds to others were a weakness. Nothing more than something that holds one back. However since Unalaq freed me at harmonic convergence I've come to realize I was only half right."

Mako raised a pointed brow at that. The last time he'd been in Vaatu's presence the dark spirit had been the epitome of vein, arrogant, and prideful. The fact that Vaatu would admit to being wrong or even half wrong was almost unbelievable.

"It was through her bonds with others that Korra was able to defeat me so close to my ultimate triumph. I broke her down, and laid her low, and yet despite all of it she was able to rise again. She proved to me just how strong others can make you."

Mako smiled as he remembered standing tall alongside korra, and the others. No matter what the odds were they stood together, and faced them head on.

His happy memories were interrupted as Vaatu continued speaking. "However while she may have proven me wrong, you yourself have proven me just as right."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Mako asked as he struggled against his chains again.

Vaatu suddenly appeared right in front of him. There was barely an inch between them as crimson eyes stared into amber.

"It is true that bonds of respect, loyalty, friendship, and love can make someone very powerful indeed, but only if they are mutual. You have given your loyalty, respect, friendship, and love, and yet you receive little to none in return. These bonds do nothing now but hold you back, and drag you down."

"You're wrong!" Mako yelled in Vaatu's face.

Vaatu merely rolled his eyes as he stepped back, and leaned against the statue of Asami.

"Honestly Mako you sound like a broken record. Tell me; am I wrong because my words are untrue, or am I wrong because deep down you know that they are true, and you can't face it?" Vaatu said crossing his arms.

Mako wanted to say that Vaatu's words were false. That there wasn't a grain of truth to anything he said. He wanted to so badly, but his tongue couldn't move. The words wouldn't leave his mouth.

Vaatu just shook his head in pity. "The thing is Mako we are all ready so deep down that lying to you is impossible. I can't do it, and neither can you."

Vaatu then pushed himself away from the statue, and began circling like a shark squid again.

"So who do you think will turn on you first hmm? Will it be your puppeteer president Raiko? Your baby brother Bolin or perhaps Lin Beifong the iron maiden of republic city will be the first? Oh, or maybe it will be Asami Sato your lover turned friend turned rival."

Mako seethed silently as Vaatu counted off each one with a grin.

"Then again maybe the one who will rip out our still beating heart is the very person who is closest to it; Avatar Korra."

"My friends won't turn on me. They couldn't, they wouldn't." Mako said.

"Oh Mako if your loyalty wasn't going to get us killed it would be a very admirable trait. The fact is that they will turn on you. They would, and they most definitely could."

Vaatu came to a stop next to the statue of Raiko. "And now I am going to show you why."

The dark spirit in Korra's form reached out, and grabbed the chain connecting the statue to Mako's neck.

"President Raiko, the first elected leader of the United Republic of Nations. As a dedicated police officer you have been nothing if not loyal to him, and this nation. Hell you yourself voted for him. For the most part he's been a good president. I mean sure he's a calculating politician, but at least he's always put his people first. When Korra tried to drag republic city into the water tribe civil war Raiko said no. He wasn't going to throw away lives for a war that wasn't theirs to fight. When Korra tried to go behind his back anyway you told him."

As Vaatu spoke memories flashed before Mako's eyes.

Korra and he had been dating for almost a year, they were in love, they were happy, and yet somehow they still managed to rub each other the wrong way. While they would fight on occasion when the civil war started thing only got worse.

He had tried his hardest, but to korra he could never do anything right. Master Katara had once said that in any relationship there is pushing, and pulling. Like the moon, and the ocean. Those words of wisdom didn't exactly help much. Whenever Korra said pull he pulled, but then she turns around and says he should have been pushing. When she said push, he pushed, but again he was apparently wrong, and should have pulled. Everything she wanted from him became contradictory.

Her home was in danger. He could understand that, but high jacking the URN Navy was crossing a line, and he'd put his foot down. Doing so had cost him Korra.

"Ever since that day you have been one of Raiko's favorite political puppets. Lin even told you as much."

Now Mako saw memories of when he'd been forced to be prince Wu's body guard for three damn years. As he watched those memories his feelings of anger, and humiliation grew.

"Raiko never cared about where you went, or what you did as long as you did what he wanted. You were an asset, an expendable asset. Now however you are a threat to him, and his city. He is going to do everything within his power to eliminate us, because that is exactly what calculating politicians do."

With each passing memory Mako's anger grew. The thunder in the distance seemed to grow louder, and closer.

Unlike the chain that bound him to republic city, this one only rusted, and warped slightly. Vaatu released his grip on the chain, and the flow of memories stopped; yet the powerful emotions remained. Vaatu slowly walked over to the next statue in the circle.

"Ah Chief Lin Beifong" Vaatu said grabbing the chain restraining his right arm.

"One of the most powerful metal benders in the world, and by far republic city's most dedicated protector. It is no wonder you hold so much respect for her."

Memories of Lin now flooded his mind. There was her, and Korra fighting equalists at the probending arena. Lin ripping apart air ships with her bare hands to save the last air benders. Then there was Lin rushing towards Kuvira's colossus alongside him, and the others.

Mako's anger calmed for a moment as he felt pride for the woman he'd proudly served under. Law, order, and justice were the ideals she represented, and lived for. Lin Beifong had been his inspiration to join the RCPD. To protect people, and fight against monsters like the one that took his parents. She made him believe he could truly make a difference.

"Isn't it ironic Mako that the thing you respect most about her is that she will go to any lengths to safeguard republic city. Even put us down."

Mako's eyes went wide, and every warm emotion he felt at the memories went cold at Vaatu's words. Mako quickly turned to face him. The dark spirit in Korra's form only chuckled at the look of incomprehension on his face.

"Don't look so surprised Mako. You actually know her better than most. She has already witnessed the destruction that the first dark avatar caused to republic city. You know full well that she would do anything within her power to prevent it from happening again."

A somber expression appeared on Mako's face as he accepted the spirits words as true. There was no relief though as a powerful ach filled his chest, and his anger began to burn again.

To Mako's surprise Vaatu flinched, and pressed a hand to his own chest.

"Well doesn't that just make a sad truth even sadder. You actually looked up to her as a mother figure?" Vaatu asked incredulously.

Mako quickly turned away with a glare, but said nothing.

"I understand that you've lacked a positive female role model for most of your life, but Beifong? You could get a warmer hug from a brick wall."

Suddenly new memories entered Mako's mind. There were ones of Lin chewing him out. They were followed by the memory of her standing aside watching emotionlessly as he was arrested for a crime that Varrick framed him for. He could even hear the other officers laughing, and calling them mom boss, and detective son behind his back.

"Lin Beifong is a stone statue Mako" Vaatu said as he stared at the actual stone statue of Lin.

"She could get ten more eager young recruits just like you from the academy. What you mean to her isn't even a fraction of what she means to you. To her you are a lowly pawn, nothing more."

Vaatu released the chains as they began to wither, and rust. Powerful icy winds began to blow through the darkened city, and the approaching thunder grew even louder.

Had Mako been able to focus on anything besides his own pain, and anger he might have noticed that Vaatu actually seemed saddened by his own words. The look was missed however as the spirit of chaos scowled at the feeling of these strange emotions.

"Let's see now, who is next." Vaatu muttered as he slowly made his way to the next statue in line.

Thank you all for reading, and please remember to leave a comment, or review. Untill next time then.