Let me start by wishing everyone a very happy 2018! 2017 has come and gone, and while the world has suffered its fair bit of chaos, there continue to be bright spots here and there. I'm very excited for what the New Year will bring, both for myself and the world in general. But while we can always speculate the new events, one thing you don't have to speculate about is a new chapter of this fic. I want to thank Amateraszu, Wildstar93, and SaoirseParisa for reviewing the previous chapter. And now, let's ring in the New Year with a new chapter!
Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko own the Legend of Korra.
The sunlight shone through the sunroof of Asami's vehicle as the heiress zipped down the freeway towards the south part of the city. Even though it was only mid-morning, the summer sun radiance was warm and comforting. It was like the outdoors welcomed Asami as she went down the road at high speed, feeling the wind whipping at her long hair.
However, warmth was the last thing on Asami's mind. She glanced up at the road sign before signalling right, cutting into the junction and onto a smaller side road. Asami was still in shock when her mother returned home the previous night in tears. Apparently, the government officials had Hiroshi brought in for questioning. There were concerns that Hiroshi transferred Future Industries money to a now disbanded terrorist group called the Equalists, something that Asami and Yasuko did not expect. What was the basis for such a preposterous claim?
Asami leaned her left arm over the door, allowing the wind to pass over her limb. Her entire body was tense ever since she got the news, and she barely slept a wink. She was on pure adrenaline and caffeine right now, and part of her wondered how she still had control of her vehicle. She glanced around her, realizing that she was driving the only car on this stretch of road. Asami figured what Tarrlok's department did was overkill, using the special powers to detain Hiroshi in a penitentiary over national security threats. Even so, she had to find out the truth about her father, who had not shown an inkling of terrorism in him his entire life.
Before long, the winding road ended, and a large white building appeared around the bend. Asami pulled into the parking lot and turned off the engine, but it did nothing to calm her nerves. Stepping out of her convertible, Asami trudged her way to the front gates. The sun beat down on the left side of her body, resembling an intense spotlight. Finally shuffling past the barb-wired fence, Asami pulled on the front doors and entered the abyss.
Before her, Asami could see an unassuming lobby, with a couple of benches and nothing on the walls. The only person working at the front desk was an uninterested clerk, who was busy typing on her phone rather than paying attention to her. Asami stepped up to the front desk to greet the clerk, only to realize that there was a transparent plastic panel between them. It really felt like she was completely isolated from the staff here, creating an unwelcoming atmosphere. "Excuse me, may I visit a person who was detained and brought in last night?" she asked.
The clerk lifted her head, her eyes flashing in irritation while gripping her phone harder. "What's the name of the detained?" she demanded, sitting straighter while glaring at Asami.
Asami took a deep breath, trying hard not to let the unfriendly clerk get to her. "His name is Hiroshi Sato, and he's my father," she explained, watching the clerk place the phone on her desk a bit harder than usual, "He was detained and brought here last night."
The clerk did not even bother to look up at Asami, merely picking up the desk phone and pecking at some numbers. She made some strange scribbles on a notebook that Asami could not make out, all the while speaking impatiently to the person on the other line. Asami took another glance around her, thinking about what possibly triggered this investigation. She recalled all the way back when she was young, when her mother was attacked by that fire bender. While Yasuko survived the burns, it did a number on her body, particularly her legs. Yasuko still suffered from chronic pain and had to use a cane, and Hiroshi was bitter for a while.
But once Yasuko was on the road to recovering, Hiroshi was back to his normal self. He even praised benders in general, donating some money to the hospitals to promote water-based healing. Korra's own water bending teacher Katara, then a senior physician, benefitted from Future Industries donations. So why would Hiroshi be linked to a terrorist group like the Equalists, which consisted of non-benders targeting benders in general?
After a few more minutes, the clerk returned to Asami. "Please sign into this log, and then I'll buzz you in," she described monotonously. Asami scrawled her name on the notebook, before hearing a loud buzz followed by a click. She stepped through two sets of doors and was met with another security guard. This large man then took out a metal detection wand, waving it around Asami's body before letting her through once more. By now, Asami was surrounded by dull-coloured concrete, with only small windows letting any outside light in.
"Please have a seat in here," the guard stated, waving at a non-descript room. Asami could see a table with two chairs facing each other, and Asami took the one with the window behind her. The sunlight seeping in from the small window cast a spotlight onto her. As the guard shuffled off, presumably to get Hiroshi, Asami rubbed her face in anxiety.
"Asami, you're here," a husky voice greeted the engineer. Asami glanced up to see her father slinking in, his face wrinkled and his usual bright eyes dulled. Pulling out the seat across from her, Hiroshi sat down uneasily while staring longingly at his daughter. "They're not letting me out yet, at least not until the whole investigation clears me. It's Tarrlok's orders that…"
"I know about Tarrlok's special powers," Asami interjected, clenching her fists again, "His department can detain anyone suspected of threatening national security for an indefinite period. I checked the laws when I was having breakfast this morning. But Dad, what I don't get is why are they suspecting you? What's their reason for detaining you?"
"They have legitimate reasons, Asami," Hiroshi explained, clasping and unclasping his hands several times, "Funds did go out from Future Industries to people with Equalist ties, and I did authorize them. It was around the time your mother was burned in that home invasion and she took forever to recover. Every time I see your mother writhing in pain, sounding like she was on the verge on death, I just became so angry at the way benders oppressed us."
Asami's eyes widened at the revelation. While she was not surprised at Hiroshi's reaction to the event, Asami would never expect him to take it this far. "She's my mother, but I'll never go fund a terrorist group all because she got attacked!" Asami exclaimed, "Are you telling me you were actively funding a bunch of murderers for several years?"
Hiroshi hung his head in shame, his face no longer visible as it dipped below the light. "I know now it's wrong, but back then I truly felt I did the right thing. What these benders did to your mother was unforgiveable, and I didn't really think about the consequence of sending that money out," Hiroshi pointed out, "But after your mother recovered, I came back to my senses and stopped supporting them. I know that tainted our family name and probably affected our future, given how the Equalists harmed people. But I swear that I never hurt or killed anyone!"
"But just because you did it with a pen instead of a gun doesn't mean you're not guilty," Asami retorted, her eyes narrowing to darts, "When Varrick told you that he wanted to use the Southern Water Tribe goods for peaceful purposes, I was so happy. No longer do we have to worry about our company's products being used for killing in that civil war. Instead, we can put it to good use for the public. But how can I say that now with what you told me?"
Hiroshi bit his lower lip, his eyes tilting away from Asami. "You and your mother are my greatest treasures, and I don't deserve either of you," Hiroshi murmured, swallowing several times to hold in his tears, "I don't know if you two are ready to forgive me, but if I get out of here, I hope I can make amends," Hiroshi concluded, reaching out his hand to hold Asami's.
Unexpected to Hiroshi, Asami withdrew her hand, holding it closer to her body. With tears spilling out her eyes, Asami took one more glance at her father. "I'm so disappointed right now," she replied, her tone barely above a whisper. She then got up and hustled to the door, pulling it wide open and hurrying out. It left Hiroshi alone in the room, letting the darkness consume him and his troubled thoughts.
Unalaq settled into the office especially designed for himself on the large chieftain's ship. With a fancy desk, a satellite phone, and his own laptop computer, it was like a mobile office for the leader of the Norther Water Tribe. While air travel was usually faster, Unalaq preferred going by sea for this very reason, using his own chieftain's ship every single time.
Just then, one of the sailors popped his head into the office and informed Unalaq that they were ready to cast off. Nodding in thanks, Unalaq turned his attention to the satellite phone on his desk. He put it on speaker and quickly dialled a number located in Republic City, hoping to get an update from his contact there. While the call tried to connect, Unalaq flipped open his laptop and turned it on, all the while shuffling some of his other notes around. There was a much grander scheme in mind for him, one that required everything to go perfectly.
Finally, the line connected, and Unalaq did not even allow the call recipient to greet him. "Tarrlok, I hope my last correspondence to you got through to you. What happened in the city was basically gift-wrapped for you," Unalaq snapped, clicking on some files on his laptop, "A riot in Republic City with you as the Minister of Public Safety means you get the glory while letting me take my eyes off those idiots. Did you actually get things done?"
"If you're talking about the riots, yes," Tarrlok responded, a slight edge in his tone. Unalaq frowned at the way Tarrlok responded to him, the chieftain somewhat concerned that Tarrlok was no longer in his hemisphere of control. "I wasn't aware that you were behind it, although I'm not eager to find out what you did. But with how the police handled it, there is yet another internal investigation that I have to take care of."
Unalaq smirked, not surprised one bit that Tarrlok would pull Republic City affairs into the discussion. The entire reason he was making this trip out of the Northern Water Tribe was to cover his bases, in case Tarrlok did something like this. "Your internal stuff won't stop the plan at all," he retorted, "The train is now leaving the station and you're either on or off. If you don't want to see the big picture, then even with a successful election, you won't get much done."
"Well, just like I said to that Korra girl, I don't need a lecture from you on how I do things. Besides, I already helped eliminate one threat, which might also interest you," Tarrlok snapped back, "I had Hiroshi Sato brought in on a previous investigation regarding what he did with his company's funds. He's currently detained under the special powers provision, and until he's released, Future Industries is leaderless. And since they supported the Southern Water Tribe in your civil war, it should put things in your advantage for the next little while."
"Are you seriously this clueless? Hiroshi Sato and Future Industries were never a threat to me, not with what I have in mind!" Unalaq exclaimed, staring darts at the satellite phone, "I don't need you to stop Future Industries to get what I want. I have something bigger that can take out the Southern Water Tribe and keep the United Republic in my sphere of influence. If you haven't figured that out by now, then it's clear you're not even a player in this game."
When Tarrlok was left sputtering on the phone, Unalaq did the merciful thing by cutting the call. He would do anything to put the blubbering idiot out of his misery, given Unalaq's bigger plans at the Southern Water Tribe. Leaning against the back of his chair, Unalaq closed his eyes and took a deep breath. One thing people always knew about Unalaq was how spiritual he was, always taking the time to meditate and research about spiritual connections. It was one of the reasons he aligned with Zaheer, who was equally as spiritual. Unalaq focused more on Water Tribe spirituality, and Zaheer's emphasis was on Air Nomad spirituality. But the fact was that both men could use spiritual information to their advantage, if need be.
Opening his eyes again, Unalaq took in the surroundings. There was a soft hum beneath his feet, suggesting that the ship's powerful engines were already activated, powering him across the cold seas. Unalaq then turned to the windows and saw snow powders fly past. Despite it being summer at the Northern Water Tribe, the breezes were still quite strong. Loose snowflakes that did not melt during the warmer days were often found fluttering past, creating a resemblance to a snowstorm in summer. Unalaq was used to this scene, but the chills that would occur at the Southern Water Tribe, his current destination, would make this look mild.
Taking his eyes off the hypnotic snowflakes brushing against his window, Unalaq turned back to his computer and clicked on a bunch of files. Even though the civil war had been on-again and off-again for decades now, the two tribes still relied heavily on each other, hence Unalaq's trip to oversee his tribe's interests down there. But if Unalaq could take advantage of some tension down there to show some power, then he was willing to take the chance. "Let's see how the Southerners react when I do some naval exercises in their vicinity," he muttered.
After reviewing his laptop files once more, he reached for the satellite phone again. The famous ice walls of the Northern Water Tribe fortress were no longer visible, suggesting to the chieftain that they were now in Open Ocean. Even though the journey to the Southern Water Tribe would take around a month, and Unalaq would not be back to the Northern Water Tribe for around three months, he still wanted to keep an eye on things at Republic City. And the person he wanted to call now was one such contact he could use to keep things in line.
Finally, the line connected to the other side. This time, Unalaq took a more patient approach, allowing the other speaker to explain himself before he gave further instructions. "The Triple Threats were eating out of our hands," Zaheer stated from the speakerphone, "No one even realized where they got their orders from, and the city's leadership is messier than ever before. With the Satos being investigated and the local police not looking deeper into Triple Threat ties, we're getting that much closer to carrying out the next step of the operation."
"Good work, much better than my other useless idiots," Unalaq responded, placing his hands closer to each other and tapping his fingertips together, "Once you have Republic City's leadership in ruins, I'll act against the Southern Water Tribe. It'll be a tense few months for them down here, but with my crazy brother being pulled by two sides, one of the two governments will fall. That's consistent with your goals too, am I right?"
"Of course, and if we can target the dear Minister of Foreign Affairs along with the president of the republic, then it'll make your life easier," Zaheer added, "That would put the affairs of the Southern Water Tribe at risk as well, since Tonraq has so many ties with that place. I'd like to see how your sister tribe survives without support from the United Republic."
"Just make sure you don't leave any witnesses, especially those that Korra will run into," Unalaq reminded Zaheer, specifically referring to Aiwei, "Don't disappoint me again." With that, Unalaq stabbed at a button on the phone and ended the call. With the office in complete silence, Unalaq once again leaned back and began his meditation. Outside the window, the ship sped through the northern waters, carving a path straight for the other side of the world.
On the shores of Rocky Bay at Republic City, a different group of people gathered at the famous windy beach. After running into Kai at this beach a few weeks back, Jinora decided to invite Kai, along with her friend Opal, for a weekend outing. And as expected, Opal invited Bolin, while Jinora brought Ikki along. It turned into a fun but unusual fivesome, all of whom wanted to spend time away from the stressful situation in their normal lives.
However, it was anything but well, especially for Opal. Despite looking fairly appropriate in her black string bikini, the air bender seemed uncomfortable in the presence of so many people. She kept glancing around, her body fidgety and her hands constantly rubbing her bare upper arms. "Come on, Opal," Ikki quipped, "Are you just going to sit there all day? Aren't you going to get into the water and swim with us? Or do you want to play volleyball or something?"
"I'll be there, Ikki," Opal replied, "Why don't you head on down to the water with Kai and Jinora? Bolin and I will join you in a second." Opal glanced around again, wondering where Bolin was. Why did he have to take so long just to get some snacks?
Ikki sighed, planting her hands on her hips while glancing around for Bolin. It was so awkward, given Opal was older and taller than Ikki. But with Opal sitting there looking fatigued, it was no match for Ikki's usual energetic self. After waiting for another minute or so, Ikki finally pointed out Bolin's arrival. "Seriously, come join us after you finish your snack," Ikki reminded Opal, "It's not worth coming to the beach just to sit there and do nothing."
Opal waved at Ikki as the younger air bender trotted off to the surf, leaving her alone with Bolin. The earth bender, wearing dark green trunks and a light green sleeveless tank top, squatted down and handed Opal an ice cream cone. "Are you doing okay?" he asked.
Opal's hand tightened involuntarily around the cone, her green eyes avoiding Bolin the whole time. "I'm not really sleeping the last few days," Opal explained, "I keep going back to when I was cornered by the Triple Threats, and they were about to light my clothes on fire. I know I tried to fight them, and you and Kai came to help me. But I keep getting thoughts about what if you didn't arrive in time, or what if you got overpowered. That could have been it."
"But you didn't get hurt though," Bolin insisted, now sitting down next to Opal, "Kai and I got there in time, and we fought them off together. Besides, you're such a strong and skilled air bender. Why would you think you can't fight them off?"
"I know, I know," Opal responded, her tone sharper and her body tightening more. Bolin could hear a slight crunch from Opal's hand, making him wonder if Opal would destroy her ice cream before she even got a chance to eat it. "And I know you and Kai are strong and skilled as well. But the same thing keeps repeating in my head, almost like I'm being told I can't do it. It's so stupid, you know! How come it keeps coming up when I know it didn't happen?"
Bolin didn't know what to say. This sounded almost like some people he heard about from Mako's line of work. A few junior officers that joined the force the same time Mako did had traumatizing experiences. After a shootout or a hostage situation, those officers had recurring negative thoughts plaguing them. "It might be PTSD, Opal," he murmured, licking his ice cream a few times, "Have you talked to anyone about it?"
Opal shook her head. Then surprisingly, she turned back to Bolin and cracked a smile. "I guess when the adrenaline wore off, that's when reality hit me, you know?" she stated with a chuckle, "I grew up in Zaofu, one of the safest cities in the world. I don't worry about triads or gangs, and it doesn't hurt that Kuvira, my adopted older sister, is on the security force. I guess no matter how many times my parents remind me to be careful, it doesn't hit home until I live it."
Bolin sighed. He took a gander at the horizon, and he could see Kai with his feet right at the edge of the water. He didn't enter the waves, but allowed it to lap at his feet. It resembled Opal's current situation, where she was between two different places and wasn't sure where to go. While Bolin was no psychologist, he knew he had to be a good boyfriend and supported Opal through this. Shifting his body, he leaned to his left and wrapped an arm around Opal's shoulder. "I won't let you go down no matter what, so don't give up on yourself, okay?" he assured her.
Opal leaned into Bolin's body, his warmth calming her chills significantly. "I think just being with you is a good enough start," she responded. With that, she finally turned to her ice cream and took a lick. "Now let's finish these and join them in the ocean, okay?"
Meanwhile, at the edge of the water, Kai could feel a huge wave to crash into his lower legs. Jinora had already entered the water, and Ikki joined her not long after. "Come on, Kai," Ikki shouted, "I thought you had a sense of adventure!"
Kai took a few more steps forward, and then paused again. The water was now up to his hips, just over the waistband of his light blue board shorts. "Sorry, you guys," he apologized, "I just have a lot on my mind. I'm still coming in, but I'll be a bit slow today."
"Is it about the riots?" Jinora queried, swimming up to Kai. The water was shallow enough to allow Jinora's head to stay above it, even though she was almost sitting down. "My dad told me about them, and he's really concerned right now. Dad and the president are doing everything they can to find out what happened and what we can do to reassure the people."
"Right, but then they arrested Asami's dad a few days ago," Kai responded to Jinora, this time lowering himself to be at eye level with his friend, "So if Future Industries is involved, then that affects the warehouse again. I don't want to work for them if they're with the Equalists, but I don't want Yung to lose his job either. It's another lose-lose situation for me."
Just then, a wave crashed into them, tilting their bodies sideways and pushing them back to the sand. Jinora and Kai readjusted their positions to steady themselves, all the while Ikki looked like she wanted to enjoy the surf. After making sure her sister was alright, Jinora turned back to Kai. "I'm not sure if there's anything I can do, but I'm sure everything will be fine," she reassured Kai, "Remember what we talked about with the hurricane incident?"
Kai nodded. Dipping his chin to the water, Kai blew a few bubbles before turning back to Jinora. "But I don't want Yung to face it all alone," he pointed out, "He did so much for me, and the least I can do is return the favour. But what can I do when I can't even get out of this rut?"
Jinora pursed her lips as another wave came at them. She glanced at how Ikki fearlessly challenged the waves. Between them, Jinora was the more methodical and by-the-book one, while Ikki, and to an extent Meelo, flew by the seat of their pants. They definitely mastered the freedom aspect of Air Nomad culture, given how they embraced change and the spirit to achieve. Maybe now was Jinora's time to take a risk and helped out a friend she truly cared for.
Reaching out, Jinora grabbed Kai's hand and stared him in the eye. "No matter what happens, I'm glad you're still here with us," Jinora stated with resolve, "Your life is not a mistake, and you're allowed to keep achieving what you want to achieve. You just have to find yourself and push forward with what you have, and I'll do everything I can to help you with it."
Kai cracked a smile and placed his hand on top of hers, just as an even larger wave came at them. It smothered them completely, caused both to go underwater for a second or two. When they finally surfaced, they could not help but laugh. It was like all their troubles were washed away, even for a few seconds. Before long, Bolin's boisterous voice called. His tank top was now off, and he and Opal made a beeline for the water. While they still had problems to solve, it was clear they always had each other, and none of them wanted it any differently.
It was a lonely corner of the bar that Mako found himself seated at, nursing a drink and glancing at the fireplace. Even though it was a summer evening, there was still a small flame at the fireplace. Mako wondered if the fire was for decoration more than anything else. Whatever the case, it resembled the flickering flame that was Mako's desire to continue with his career.
Mako took another sip of his drink, all the while observing the scant crowd in the bar. Mako was not an alcoholic, and even when he networked with co-workers, he drank limited amounts of alcohol. His goal to care for his family was above all else, and that meant staying sober and getting home early. But with what happened at the police headquarters, Mako wasn't sure if he even had that chance. He was barely a week into his month-long suspension, and already he questioned if he made the right choice to go into law enforcement.
"Hey, aren't you Mako?" a familiar voice called. Mako turned his body around and saw a fellow fire bender standing before him. "I thought I recognized you. You're not on duty at the Firewood Bay pier today?" General Iroh greeted him with an extended hand.
Mako pursed his lips. He always respected Iroh for the way he handled difficult affairs. There was a reason why the man was the youngest person ever appointed as general of the United Republic's military. Shaking Iroh's hand, he waved at the seats across from him, inviting the general to sit down. "Who's the guest you brought with you?" Mako asked, tilting his head at the wild-haired man next to the general, "I don't think we've met before."
"This is Bumi Anil," Iroh introduced the older man with the strange beard, who quickly shook hands with Mako, "He is a retired member of the republic's military and one of my mentors before I was appointed as general. He is also the vice president's older brother."
"Nice to meet you, Mako," Bumi greeted with a smile. Tried as he might, Mako could not muster up any friendliness towards the older man, even though Bumi's presence showed warmth and collegiality. This was not unnoticed by both military men. "Is something on your mind?"
Mako sighed, his eyes tilting around him. Other than the two guests seated before him, no one was near their table, giving him some privacy. Turning to Iroh and Bumi, he moistened his lips before describing his ordeal. "I've been suspended from the force for a month, allegedly for misconduct," he explained, putting air quotes around the suspension reason, "I tried to tell my colleagues that the Triple Threats might have been involved in the riots from a week back, but I was ridiculed, and even Chief Bei Fong took their side. It's like I'm working with a group of idiots! I called them out in a boardroom, and then the chief suspended me for that. I got so ticked off, I just threw my badge in her face and told her I don't respect her anymore."
Iroh and Bumi glanced at each other, surprised at Mako's outburst. Iroh saw Mako a few times at the pier, and he knew Mako tended to work efficiently without much emotion. To see him air out these grievances so openly was not a good change. "Did you try to be clearer when bringing that up?" Iroh pointed out, "An outburst in a boardroom probably isn't the best way."
"It's not the outburst in the boardroom that I'm concerned with," Mako responded, taking another sip of his drink, "It's the fact that I have senior detectives and officers who don't give two hoots what I think. They continue to have this deluded belief that they're more correct than me. And with the chief not giving me a chance, it almost feels like everyone just thinks I'm too junior in the field to be an authoritative voice. Is this how the police do things nowadays?"
"But when you work in a team, you're bound to butt heads with people every now and then," Iroh responded, waving a waitress over. The waitress put forth drinks menus for Iroh and Bumi, to which Iroh nodded back in gratitude. "Throwing a badge in Lin's face probably isn't good form, no matter how wrong you think she is. I have sympathy for you, but I can also see why you rubbed people the wrong way. Can you just work this out with Lin when you go back?"
Mako pursed his lips and sighed again. From beside him, the fireplace let out a low rumble, almost like it turned into an engine of sorts. "I'm sure I'll be fine with the chief, since she always speaks positively of me. It's just those other senior detectives that I can't stand," Mako responded, frowning in disgust at the mention of Lu and Gang, "Sometimes I wonder if the chief is telling the truth when she keeps saying that I'm first in line for the next detective opening. Why doesn't she just get rid of those two and make me take their spot instead?"
"If I can just interject here," Bumi chimed in, waving a hand at Mako, "I think you're making the same mistake that most junior professionals make. You're so eager to please your superiors that you end up doing what they want instead of doing what you want. In other words, you're losing out on what makes you who you are, and that's not a good thing."
Mako tried to rebut, but by that time, the waitress had returned. Iroh and Bumi quickly ordered their drinks, handing the menus back before turning back to Mako. "I had something similar when I was younger. Did you realize that Tenzin and I didn't always get along?" Bumi pointed out, much to Mako's surprise, "Tenzin takes after my father, who is more traditional with Air Nomad culture. Even though I'm older and I'm also an air bender, I'm much less traditional towards Air Nomad culture. Due to that, Tenzin and I were often at odds. Just the fact that I don't have tattoos even though I'm just as skilled as Tenzin illustrates our differences."
Just then, the fire in the fireplace increased in intensity, making their table that much warmer. "There was an event back when I was still active in the military, when the Equalists were at their peak," Bumi recalled, clasping his hands before him on the table, "The military was called in to intervene against the Equalist leader, Amon. It was against everything my father taught me about taking a life. But I realized in that situation, I had to make a decision. So I went into it knowing I would probably make Dad really disappointed."
"Bumi did something so crazy that no one anywhere will replicate," Iroh added, "Amon was actually a water bender instead of a non-bender, and he was carried by a waterspout at the time. Bumi then charged into the water and, using a mix of enhanced speed and tornado, he trapped Amon inside his own waterspout. It allowed the lightning benders on our team, one of which being me, to basically shoot Amon down. Bumi got out just before we fired, or he would be electrocuted. But without Bumi, we wouldn't be able to finish the task."
"I was worried about Dad and Tenzin when I got back," Bumi stated, now glancing at the large flames shining through the fireplace, "I thought Dad would be upset at me, but it turned out that he was still proud of me. While he disagreed with me taking part in a mission that ended a person's life, he knew I had to protect everyone. Dad assured me that he always supported me and never favoured Tenzin over me. When he said that, it was like a boulder was lifted off of me. I even reached out to Kya, and we smoothed things over with Tenzin afterwards."
Bumi turned back to Mako, who furrowed his eyebrows in thought. "You shouldn't act a certain way to please people. Even if your goal is to help another person for whatever reason, you should behave consistently with who you are," Bumi advised the fire bender, "Despite the differences in beliefs, my dad never wanted me to be his reflection. Instead, he wanted me to be me. So don't do something because of what Lin said. Do it for what you value."
Mako did not respond. Even when drinks arrived for Iroh and Bumi, he kept his eyes on the fireplace. The flames were almost hypnotic to him, but their increased intensity reflected his own desire. Could he reflect upon his values and re-ignite the fire within himself?
"Thank you so much for meeting with me, Kya," Korra stated, taking a seat on the living room couch. Beside her was the daughter of her first water bending teacher. Dr. Kya Anil, still a closer mentor and friend to Korra, took a seat right next to Korra. "I know you might not want to visit this late, and maybe you're busy at the hospital, but I'm still glad you can make it."
"Of course, Korra," Kya responded, "Anything for a friend." She quickly nodded to the housekeeper in gratitude as a cup of tea was handed to her. Varrick and Zhu Li were busy in the study, leaving Korra alone with Kya. "So, what's on your mind?"
Korra breathed deeply before exhaling again, resembling the wind outside the windows. Outside, the sun was dipping towards the horizon, but instead of creating a bright array of colours, it was filled with grey. The low-lying clouds did not help either, suggesting to Korra that there was a rainstorm on the way. It reflected Korra's current mood: unstable and hesitant.
Turning back to Kya, Korra stared into the blue eyes that resembled those who she trusted the most. Varrick, Zhu Li, Tonraq, Senna, Katara, and Kya all sported blue eyes, so similar to Korra's own. Korra was actually comfortable in staring into them rather than avoiding them. Seeing Kya fold her hands on her lap and wait patiently for Korra, the younger water bender moistened her lips. "Kya, I have a problem that only you can solve," she stated, "It's a personal issue, and I think you'll understand it better than even Varrick and Zhu Li."
Kya lifted the teacup to her lips and took a sip, just in time to see Korra tilt her head slightly away. "I'm having conflicting thoughts about Asami, both with what's going on in her family and how I feel about her," Korra described, going into detail from the beginning. She touched upon Asami reading Korra's journal, to Korra being fired, to the current riots against Future Industries, and now Hiroshi being arrested. "Even though I didn't like what Asami did to me, I can't help but feel for her and I want to do something for her."
The physician placed the teacup down again. She could see Korra stretched out her arms before rubbing the side of her face with her right hand. "I'm still shocked when Asami confessed that she sees me as more than just a friend," Korra stuttered, before pressing her palms together just in front of her face, "I didn't like her violating my privacy, but part of me actually felt that way about Asami for a long time. Up until now, I've only been interested in boys. But is it normal to be interested in Asami too?"
"Let me rephrase what you're saying," Kya interrupted, turning her body she could face Korra directly. Korra now leaned her head into her pressed palms, the thumbs sliding under her chin while the index fingers balanced against the ridge of her nose. "I think you're asking if it's normal to question your own sexuality, right? And other than Asami, you're not sure if anyone, including Varrick and Zhu Li, is in the same situation. That's why you want to ask me because I went through the same thing when I was your age, right?"
Korra did not respond. Kya took a peek at the windows and could see the darkness taking over from the setting sun. As Korra sat closer to the window, the shadows now crept up to her body, whereas Kya was still illuminated by the indoor lighting. "I was very fortunate in that both my parents were supportive of me when I came out to them," Kya explained, "Because the Air Temples used to be segregated by gender, it's not unusual to see same-sex relationships. The only rule is that members must practice abstinence until marriage, as Air Nomads see sexual activities as creating a bond. Since Air Nomads detach themselves from worldly concerns to achieve freedom, serious bonds like relationships are permanent, which is why marriage and sexual activities come together. Other than that, they are the freest in terms of acceptance."
"Right, but that's because you're half Air Nomad. Your father and both your brothers are air benders," Korra pointed out, dropping her arms and tilting her head back, "I grew up with a Southern Water Tribe couple, and I'm friends with another Southern Water Tribe couple. Other than Yung, Kai, and Tenzin's family, I don't have too many Air Nomad friends."
"The Water Tribes are more structured in that there used to be gendered roles. For the Northern Water Tribe, they even believed in arranged marriages," Kya continued after another sip of tea, "There's a pretty communal atmosphere within the tribe, and romantic preferences are usually respected. Nobody will disown you for coming out, but unless something will affect the interests of the whole tribe, your romantic preferences are usually kept private."
Korra ran a hand through her hair before rubbing her forehead. "I haven't told Varrick and Zhu Li about this yet, but according to what you're saying, it's unlikely they will reject me," she analyzed to herself, "And you think Tonraq and Senna will feel the same way?"
Kya nodded. "If I were you, I'd be more worried about your other friends, because they all have Fire Nation or United Earth States heritage," she elaborated, leaning her back against the couch, "Before they democratized, the United Earth States was known as the Earth Kingdom. Being so big, it's hard to control every part, and there are regions that are more oppressive or regressive than others. My uncle Sokka married a girl from Kyoshi Island, which is the most accepting of different sexual preferences, mainly because the founder of that place is bisexual herself. But if you end up in a less tolerant region, you may get in trouble."
Kya reached out to her teacup again, her eyes keying in on Korra the entire way. By now, half of Korra's face was in the shadows, creating an eerie vertical split. "The Fire Nation is the one that you should be most concerned with. When it was still an authoritarian regime, the Fire Lord could pass whatever law they wanted, including outlawing same-sex activities," Kya stated, tilting her teacup back and forth, "It, along with the United Earth States, improved dramatically now, but those attitudes may still exist. I know Hiroshi and Yasuko are pretty progressive, but with their Fire Nation heritage, their extended relatives may disapprove of Asami's preferences."
Korra's eyes widened, finally turning back to Kya. While she knew there were previously repressive Fire Lords, she did not know that they outlawed same-sex activities for such a long time. "So are you saying Asami might get in trouble with her extended family?" she gasped, "What can I do to make sure that she doesn't get into fights with them?"
Kya sipped her tea again. "I think right now, you have to find yourself first. You are still conflicted about whether you and Asami are friends, let alone a romantic couple," Kya pointed out, "And given Asami's problems with Future Industries, maybe you should start with that first. Despite the transgression with your journal, do you want to restart a friendship with Asami? Do you believe your relationship with Asami is so strong that it can't be broken with that event?"
But before Korra could say anything, the doorbell sounded off. Korra and Kya hustled to the front hall, where Varrick and Zhu Li were already gathered. When the front doors were opened, the group was greeted with another team of government officials. "Mr. Varrick and Ms. Moon, we are expanding our investigation into Future Industries," the head official declared, showing them a warrant, "We request that you two come with us to assist with the case. If you cooperate, then we won't press any charges against you for now."
As Varrick and Zhu Li were escorted out, Korra sputtered with fury. "Wait, you can't take them! What did they do wrong?" she yelled, waving her arm and kicking the doormat in frustration. It took all of Kya's energy to prevent Korra from hitting the official, which would guarantee criminal charges for Korra. The two water benders could only watch helplessly as the government vehicles pulled out of the Varrick compound and into the darkness of the night.
"Quickly take those bodies away from the front entrance and keep it moving," Zaheer whispered in a harsh tone. Following him closely were P'Li, Ming Hua, and Ghazan. While their junior associates took care of the deceased, the foursome had a much bigger goal in mind.
Zaheer trotted up to a wall and pressed his back against it, taking a quick peek around the corner. With no guards in this area, he signalled his team to hustle past. The air bending master took one last glance at the front gate, just in time to see the junior associates load the bodies of the dead guards into their truck. It was a simple plan, really. Hijack a large delivery truck, use it to transport them here, and inform the guards that they were making deliveries to the presidential residence. When the guards checked the information, they were overwhelmed with numbers and ferocity. They could not even get their weapons before the Red Lotus destroyed the frontlines.
Zaheer trotted in after his team, leaving Ghazan at the lone open doorway. The earth bender stomped on the ground and turned the area before the door into lava, effectively blocking anyone who could enter. "Do you want me to just stay here for now?" he asked Zaheer, "I don't know if the president is with anyone, or if they're guarded in any way."
Zaheer nodded. "Stay here for now, just in case those front guards called for backup," he instructed Ghazan, "We can't have them rush in while we're still locating the president."
Ghazan flashed a thumb up to Zaheer, letting the bald man hurry off. With Unalaq at the Southern Water Tribe, Zaheer would target the leadership of the United Republic. The riots against Future Industries caused the leadership to struggle with the mess. But if they could take out members of that executive team, then things would get worse. "Once Raiko is out, the vice president will take over, but we all know about his power struggle with Tarrlok Yakone," he murmured to himself, "And with Tonraq torn between here and the South, we got it made."
Just when Zaheer snapped out of that thought, two presidential guards were tossed out of the hallway turning to his left. Each one was held by a water tendril, and both guards slammed into the wall so hard that Zaheer was surprised it did not collapse. By the time Zaheer turned into the hallway, P'Li fired a shot from her forehead and incinerated the ground, sending another line of guards to the sidelines. That placed Zaheer and his Red Lotus team in perfect position.
Zaheer screeched to a halt and whipped his arms around, sending a series of air slashes at the group. As each guard was sent flying into the air, Ming Hua froze them to the walls with her tendrils. Those who could fire bend to break free were soon dispatched by P'Li again, sending fire bursts that killed or seriously wounded them. "Not even a challenge," Ming Hua sneered.
"Don't let up now, because I think we've reached our destination," P'Li pointed out. Indeed, before them was a set of doors, presumably where the guards came out from. Taking in a deep breath, P'Li fired another shot, blasting the doors to smithereens. Amidst all the smoke and debris, P'Li marched in and found her targets. "They're trying to escape!" she called.
Indeed, at the far side of the dining room, President Raiko and his wife Buttercup were being escorted out. They were surrounded by various guards, all of whom took up battle stances. But to Zaheer's surprise, there was an additional VIP couple with them. "I didn't know he was having dinner with the Minister of International Trade and his wife," he commented.
"It's Zaheer and the Red Lotus! Get out of here quickly while I help the guards hold them off!" Tonraq barked, shooing Raiko, Buttercup, and Senna out the back door. While a couple of security personnel went with the president, a handful of others stayed behind. Tonraq lined up with the rest of the security team and took a fighter's stance. There were still a few glasses of water on the dining room table, which Tonraq could use to his advantage. "You're not getting through us, Zaheer," Tonraq growled, "We're sending you straight to prison today."
But before Tonraq could even reach for the water on the table, Zaheer threw him back with a wide air blast. Ming Hua reached for the water and, expanding her tendrils, launched a series of ice daggers. Had a fire bending security guard not melted the ice, they would be fatally stabbed. "Get the minister out of here," he barked, launching a fire blast the other way.
Unfortunately, P'Li jumped in front of the blast. Absorbing the fire, she took a deep breath and launched a shot across the room. Whatever chance the security team had was gone as the combustion bender incinerated that corner. Bulldozing forward even before the smoke cleared, P'Li trotted down the narrow passage that led to the outside. "Where is the blasted security car?" she could hear one guard call into his radio.
Just then, the ground before the group turned into lava, blocking Raiko, Buttercup, Tonraq, Senna, and the handful of security personnel with them. "There's nowhere for you to go," Ghazan taunted, slowly appearing into the picture, "Why don't you all just surrender?"
Tonraq and Senna both glanced around, realizing they had no water around them. With Raiko and Buttercup being non-benders, the security personnel were all they had to protect them. Unfortunately, they too were no match when Ming Hua swept them aside with her tendrils and froze them to the walls. "They're all yours, Zaheer," she reported.
Zaheer snickered. With Ghazan blocking the path out, and the remaining guards frozen to the wall, there was nothing that could stop him. "Remove the two ladies for now," he directed, "I'll deal with them later. First, I want to tackle the president and one of his trusted ministers."
Ghazan bent a huge slab of concrete and separated the women from the men. He melded the concrete onto the walls, trapping the women with it the same way Ming Hua trapped the guards with ice. Zaheer loosened his arms and waved one before each man. "I've never done this to two people at once, so maybe you'll see my skills before your last moments," he declared.
Before long, two balls of air surrounded the heads of Tonraq and Raiko, the air inside their bodies slowly flowing out of their mouths. Buttercup could only watch in horror as both men clawed for the air, none of which were returning into their bodies. Zaheer could only smirk at his handiwork, realizing his success while mindful of the longer time it took to complete the task. It was harder with two people done simultaneously, but Zaheer could feel his goal reaching the end. "Are you enjoying this, ladies?" he further taunted Buttercup and Senna.
However, nobody kept an eye on Senna, who spotted a potential water source. Wiggling a free finger, Senna managed to manipulate some of the ice used to freeze the security personnel on the wall. Sharpening a piece of ice, she aimed it right at Zaheer, knowing she only had one shot. Taking a deep breath, Senna flicked her finger and sent the ice shard right at Zaheer.
Senna knew she succeeded when Zaheer yelped in pain, releasing the air and gripping his left shoulder in pain. With the air rushing back into the lungs of Tonraq and Raiko, the two men collapsed onto the ground, unconscious but still alive. "Are you alright, Zaheer?" P'Li asked.
Yet before the Red Lotus could react further, gunshots could be heard in the background. Ghazan glanced over his shoulder and saw a full SWAT team in battle armour charging their way. The slight drizzle from earlier was now a downpour, making it even harder to navigate. While he tried to form a lava trench to block the SWAT team from entering, it caused the lava around the president to dissipate. With more security personnel rushing in, things were falling apart by the second. Still in great pain, Zaheer uttered, "We failed. Let's get out of here."
And as usual, I have my list of inspirations and acknowledgements, which is as follows:
1.) For the first time in my writing career, I based the chapter on a music video. It is "Incomplete" by the Backstreet Boys, and each of the first 5 scenes represent one of each element that appeared in the video. The elements are sunlight, snow and ice, waves, fire, and rain, and I specifically chose them for each character and what they are going through at this time. The chapter's title is also a play on the lyrics of the song, so please check out that music video if you are interested in knowing more.
2.) SaoirseParisa deserves a lot of credit in the scene with Kya and Korra. The conversation itself surrounds a sensitive topic, one that Korra herself approached in "Turf Wars" when she and Asami questioned their own sexuality. The scene itself is inspired by "Turf Wars" when Kya, who came out to her family and friends when she was young, gave them advice. While I enjoyed the manga, I disagreed with how the different cultures addressed sexual preferences, so I changed a few things. But I mainly want to thank SaoirseParisa for advising me on dealing with questioning one's sexuality on top of dealing with autism. Her story in the Tales of Zestiria fandom did exactly that, when the main character, who is also autistic, also started questioning his own sexuality. So many thanks for the valuable input, and I really hope this scene conveys Korra's concerns.
3.) I also took inspiration from the original Avatar series. The scene with Bumi is inspired by "Serpent's Pass" from Book 2 of the original series. When Bumi used air bending to trap Amon inside his own waterspout, it is the same technique Aang used against the serpent. I figure it's the most appropriate, considering Bumi is questioning whether Aang will support him after complaining that Tenzin is the favourite child. And of course, Aang's own comment that Bumi is not a reflection of Aang, and that Bumi should be himself, is a variation of his quote to Tenzin in "Darkness Falls" from Book 2 of the Korra series.
4.) If you haven't noticed already, I gave Ikki a bigger role in this chapter, albeit indirectly. I always see Ikki as the forgotten middle child of the series, with Jinora being a master while Meelo being an attention hog with his military tactics. Ikki has done lots in the series, and some of her grievances against Jinora and Meelo are well-founded. I also don't like how some fics, particularly those using the Kai/Jinora pairing, portray Ikki as Jinora's rival. So instead of doing that, I made Jinora be inspired by Ikki, as shown here with Ikki's actions inspiring Jinora to help Kai. I hope it can finally give Ikki the recognition that she truly deserves, even if it's implicit recognition.
5.) Asami's visit to Hiroshi in prison, along with some of the dialogue, is from "Enemy at the Gates" in Book 4. Opal suffering from PTSD and having recurring nightmares is a variation of what Korra went through in "Korra Alone" in Book 4. Varrick and Zhu Li being arrested and Korra's subsequent reaction are variations of the scenes when Tonraq and Senna were arrested in "Civil Wars, Part 1 and 2" in Book 2. Senna interrupting the Red Lotus assassination attempt by temporarily stunning a Red Lotus member is a variation of what Bolin did in "The Terror Within" in Book 3. And Zaheer attempting to remove oxygen from Raiko and Tonraq, only to be interrupted before he completes the task, is a variation of what Jinora and the air benders did in "Venom of the Red Lotus" in Book 3.
And that's it for the first chapter of this story posted in 2018. Here's hoping that everyone will have a fantastic year ahead. Once again, thank you so much for dropping by and supporting this fic, and I'll see you soon with another update.