Tales of Gurdians : Kuvira's Redemption
Chapter 9 : Justice Trial
Summary : She yielded to the Avatar, gave up her empire, surrendered her freedom, people she once considered family hated her, and now she is imprisoned for her crimes. Unknown to her, some people... or rather a group of people saw regret, hurt, and pain within her eyes, and hoped she can redeem it. Her redemption will come sooner than she expected, in a way she had never expected either.
Author's Notes : this and several next chapters will set during Ruins of the Empire comic timeline.
Disclaimer : I do not own Legend of Korra, Star Wars, Naruto, or any other fiction appeared here except my original characters, place, and plot.
Two weeks to the trial felt slow for Kuvira. During those weeks, Kuvira continued to train and exercise intensively. She honed her skills in hand-to-hand combat with personnel from all classes. She sparred with the Advanced Recon Command trooper who give her quite a fight. She then has a spar with shinobi, she lost badly against the chakra user. There are some other personnel she exercise with, such as super tactical droid, wizard, and fellow benders. She also tried numerous melee weapons, such as katana, shield, sai, and kunai.
She also trained with the clone troopers who used blaster rifles as their primary equipment. That includes other ranged weapons such as sniper rifle, machine gun, mounted weapons, launchers, and traditional ranger weapons which is crossbow and archer. As the prodigy of Metal Clan, it was a disgrace if she couldn't adapt to a new change. A change that turned her life upside down. She was once a part of the good guy, but after the Avatar reemerged, she was the bad guy all over again. After fighting for what she believed, she surrendered. The outcome was something that she never expected. Joining an intergalactic police.
She opened her eyes and heard a faint 'Kuvira' from the other side. "Come in,"
Her room door opened. Kiala entered. A solemn look in her eyes. Kuvira know that look. It's time for judgement. "It's time, Kuvira". Kuvira picked up her clothes and dressed. Her dark green t-shirt covered her body as she returned to what is the reality.
She was escorted by her female teammates to the Uraki Detainment Facility above The Sanctuary. A majority of White Lotus agents was there. For the outsiders it seemed that Kuvira was a dangerous criminal that need extra escort and to be dealt with if she ever made a single suspicious move. But the truth is the agent was gave her their temporary farewell. They knew Kuvira can returned here at any time, given Grand Master Daizan order. But it would be a lie beneath the reality that's happening right now. Kuvira need to face the consequence of her action, to conquered it, to finished it once and for all. She will never find peace if she didn't confronted Avatar and her companion, not to mentioned the Beifong. People who once she called family yet never treated as equal, only as an extra that later become their head of security.
The ship landed and a police officer from Republic City exited the ship. The fairly looking officer pulled out a paper from his pocket. "Prisoner Kuvira is to be taken to Republic City to answer for her crime against the United Republic of Nations," two White Lotus agents, Meza and Mole step forward and put one of their hand to each of Kuvira's shoulder. She sighed entering the ship followed by her escorts and Kiala.
"Is she still insane?" the officer asked to Grand Master Daizan who watch the ship.
"She still as calm as ever," Daizan answer with a bitter. The skinny officer raised his eyebrows.
"It seems she gives you a hard time, Grand Master. Don't worry though, she will received her punishment tomorrow at the trial," the officer smirk.
"I'll send additional forces to escort her," Daizan said.
"That's good to hear, we need someone at your level to hold her at her place," the officer spat.
"You better get going, officer, you don't want to upset the lady,"
"Of course, sir, we will be going," he bowed and left. The Republic ship was escorted by two White Lotus ships ascended to the sky.
Daizan returned to the underground and went to Control Center to monitor the mission. "They are on the way, has the shinobi ready?"
"Yes, they have been notified and waiting," Ka Trell looked at the hologram table in front of him as Daizan joined him.
The Republic ship arrived two hours later at the capital of United Republic of Nations. Kuvira, still chained looked at the window and saw there are massive crowd in the Presidential Palace. On the podium is King Wu, President Zhu Li, Varrick, the Avatar and her friends. "What is that crowd?" she asked to the police officer. He looked to her, then to the window
"King Wu announced the transition of Earth Kingdom into Republic," he answered nonchalantly, "away from the window!" he barked. Their ship landed right in front of the Republic Supreme Court. They off the ship and went into the special waiting room before the court charged. Team Meza escort Kuvira during the whole journey.
Mole opened their door entered the waiting room, he closed the door and wait outside. Meza activated his comlink. "We are in the court, all teams report in."
"Team Zola at the Court entrance, over."
"Team Nala at the main corridor, over."
"Team Shamo standing by at the ship, ready to take off any time, over."
"Copy that, there are still no contact from––"
"We have shinobi team at the entrance, they like to meet you, Meza." Zola said through the so long, the door opened to revealed two other persons besides Mole, Kuvira notice they wear a has a robe covered their body. First is a young adult with white eyes and black hair. the second, slightly taller than the white eyes, has a slight dark skin and white hair.
"We are the shinobi assigned by Admiral Trell to assist you," the white eyes said.
"Long time no see, fellas," the dark skin said as he smiled slightly. Meza replied the smile.
"Good to see you two, Tatsuma," the white eyes nodded and smiled, "and you too, Airon," the dark skin nodded.
"So you are Kuvira I presumed?" Tatsuma asked to Kuvira who sat at the chair. Kuvira stood up and shook both of Shinobi hand.
"I like her," Airon said.
"Thank you for your opinion, Airom," Tatsuma commented, "but I'll make this brief, my team, Shinobi Team 62, and Airon's team, Shinobi Team 70 will support your mission. My team will be stationed at the top of higher building next to the Court while Airon as ground team will be outside the Court, anything else, you just contact us through your comlink. Alright, synchronizing our link, now." Beep was heard. "good luck," and they walked out.
"That Tatsuma is straight," Kuvira said.
"Yeah, Hyuga never really into jokes," Meza replied.
Mole opened the door, "It's time."
"The court begin," he said to the comlink. Then, the former Great United walked out of the room followed by Meza and Mole at her side and Kiala at her rear. They walked into the court chamber where everyone Kuvira known has been sat, angry look at their face. Meza and Mole to one side of the wall as Kiala moved to the other, standing guard, their posture directed to Kuvira. Kuvira stand on the well of the court right in front of the judges's bench. The female presiding judge opened the court for public.
"By executive order of President Zhu Li Moon, this special tribunal is now on session. Kuvira, you stand accused of crime against peace. During your reign as the leader of the Eart Empire, your transgressions included : refusing to turn over emergency powers granted to you by former President Raiko and King Wu, numerous wars of aggression throughout the Earth Kingdom states, presiding over inhumane prison camps, invading the United Republic, a sovereign nation, and the use of spirit energy as a weapon of mass destruction. How do you plead?" The presiding judge finished.
Kuvira closed her eyes for a moment. She know that whatever she said will get her punished, she was okay with that. But the knowledge of Guan and his Earth Empire remnant lingering in her mind. She want to be have a better relationship with her adoptive family, even though she knew it will never be the same again. She opened her eyes, she know what to do. "I am sorry for the harm I caused to the people of the Earth Kingdom and this city, I truly am." Well here goes nothing."But this tribunal seems all too eager to list my offenses without giving any consideration to my achievements."
"Please enlighten us," the presiding judge said.
"After the fall of the Earth Queen, the kingdom fell into chaos. When no one was willing to step up, I brought back order. I drageed an ancient culture out of the dark ages and modernized it. Everything I did, I did for the greater good of the Earth Kingdom and its citizens." Kuvira finished.
"How do you plead?" the presiding judge asked again.
"Not guilty." Kuvira answered. The chamber was silenced. The judges discussing among themselves and nodded. The presiding judge ended the session. The audience walked out. Meza nodded to Kiala. They walked out of the chamber as Kiala and Meza at her side while Mole at the rear.
"It's okay, Kuvira. It's fine," Kiala whispered to her.
"Thank you for the comforting word." Kuvira appeciated the gesture. They walked throught he corridor before Meza aware the Avatar and the Beifong at the corridor. Suyin Beifong closed the distance between them and looking at Kuvira.
"Not guilty? The whole world knows what you did, Kuvira!" she stepped in front of them, forcing the team to stop. "What are you trying to prove?" Kuvira looked away, "Don't turn your back on me!"
"I know I hurt you and your family. But you all turned your backs on me long before the Earth Empire existed."
"That is a lie! I gave you a home. I provided for you." Suyin retaliated.
"But I was never really part of your family was I?" Kuvira pushed.
"You attacked Zaofu! You almost killed my son!"
"And I've apologized. Numerous times. When will you see through all your anger to forgive me?" Team Meza noticed there are plead in her tone.
"That's what you don't get. Being sorry isn't enough. You need to take responsibility or what you've done. Goodbye Kuvira." Suyin walked away followed by the Beifong and Team Avatar.
"All team, regroup to the ship, we're leaving." Meza said
The whole task force returned to the OWL detention facility near the city. Kuvira walked outside the ship entered the facility. "How are you feel?" Meza asked.
"Not good." Kuvira replied. Kiala relesed the handcuff from Kuvira's hand as they walked into the detention chamber. The same chamber when she was first held before Grand Lotus Daizan offered her to join AUG.
"Do you need company?" Kiala asked.
"No, I just want to calm myself down."
"We understand," Mole said. Kuvira nodded and the team left.
Korra arrived at the entrance of the facility riding Naga. She dismounted from Naga and walked to the guards. "I'm here to see Kuvira."
"Of course, Avatar Korra," one of the guard responded. They opened the door and bowed. Korra entered the facility straight down the detention level where Kuvira was held. Korra opened the door and saw Kuvira stand, her back facing Korra.
Kuvira just remembering her time with her former "parent" before she sensed Korra was here. She turned back and looked at Korra. "I had a feeling you were going to be my first visitor."
Korra walked closer to her, "I need your help,"
Kuvira raised her eyebrow, from all other thing that she might come her, Kuvira didn't expect Korra come for a help. "With what?"
"Tell me about commander Guan," Korra said. So this is all about, so the Republic know about them. She must played this right.
"Why are you so interested in him?" Kuvira asked.
"Were you aware he and his troops never surrendered?" Korra asked again.
"What?" with fake surprise, but still surprised, "no, I wasn't," she stay silent for a bit, "Guan is a cunning strategist with a keen mind. I put him in charge of my southern forces because I knew he could keep that region in line."
"I'm worried he's going to try to derail the upcoming elections. How of a threat do you think he is?" Korra asked want to know everything about this guy.
"If Guan hasn't surrendered by now, then that means he's plotting something. I'd treat him like a barrel of blasting jelly with a very short fuse." Kuvira explained to the Avatar.
"If you were in my position, how would you deal with him?" she asking solution. This is a bright opportunity.
"I'd take someone with me who Guan respects. Someone who can reason with him and bring him into line." Kuvira stated.
"You want me to bring you?" Korra's voice risen.
"Guan's not going to roll over just because the Avatar asks him to, but if I meet with him, face-to-face, I guarentee I could convince him to concede defeat. Then you and King Wu can carry on with your little election." She finished.
"Thanks for the info. But I can handle Guan without you." Korra confident, but Kuvira catched hesitant in her tone. Korra turned around, but before she can walked, Kuvira gave the final push.
"Think it over. I'll be here when you need me. And you will." She smirked to her back. Korra who didn't notice walked away to the elevator. Kuvira looked at the camera at the high wall and nodded. The real mission begin.