Chapter 2: To Catch an Avatar
Saltrall had been in his TARDIS for almost three days, researching pretty much nonstop, but he had basically no success, finding nothing in the Gallifreyan Archives, no matter what he searched. Finally on the third day the frustration got to him.
"GOD DAMN TIME LORD INTELLIGENCE!" He shouted, tossing his keyboard to the side, shoving the twisting monitor around, and punching the console.
He stood up and kicked the console too.
"ALL THE KNOWLEDGE IN THE FREAKING GALLIFREYAN DATABASES, AND NOTHING ON WHATEVER THE HELL THIS EARTH IS?!"
He plopped down in a nearby chair and rubbed his temples, thinking back to his time as head of the Chancellery Guard, always studying reports in the library, but he couldn't remember anything.
"Nothing, absolutely nothing!" He muttered softly. He thought deeper, however, and soon had an idea.
He retrieved the keyboard with his Sonic and went back to the console. He sat down, adjusted some settings and fixed the monitor before he typed in the phrase "1 AG," thinking back to the year, what was her name? Korra? said it was. After days of frustration he thought he finally had a lead.
His set his TARDIS to try and scan for any sort of database of any kind. He tried this for over 15 minutes, adjusting various settings until, right before he was ready to give up, he managed to find a single photograph. He got so used to seeing blank screens that he thought he was hallucinating when it showed up. He sat up and grinned. called Republic City, but he could only find a little in photographs, so he decided he would have to visit
"Freaking finally!" He shouted to no one in particular and he studied the image. He had no idea why this image was the only one that appeared, but he was far past the point of being picky. The photo was like a polaroid and it showed a cityscape and had small writing underneath it. He leaned in and squinted, trying to read the small text. Eventually he made out what it said, and he sighed and put his head down. It appeared to show a city called Republic City, it wasn't much, but he had a name, and that was all he needed. He searched for another half hour but found absolutely nothing else, so he decided he would have to visit the city in person. He ran a hand through his hair and realized he hadn't showered in days. He chuckled and decided that personal hygiene beat information for now.
After he got out of the shower he felt like he just regenerated, smiling, he walked in to his bedroom and got out his signature outfit.
He pulled on a pair of blue jeans, a black tee shirt, pulled on a sweatshirt, and finally pulled on his black hiking boots. When he went outside earlier he noticed that the snow wasn't all that deep, so he wasn't too concerned about that. Finally he grabbed a large winter coat, a gift from his last companion, a 1920s American suffragist who had a fondness with fashion.
He was making sure everything looked good when he realized that he had absolutely no idea how to get to Republic City. He frowned a little and sat on the couch he had in the control room. He thought about where it might be, but with only a name, and no map, he had no lead. Eventually he knew what he had to do.
He walked over and grabbed his Screwdriver off the console before heading out. The Sonic was a gift from his friend the Doctor, he wasn't sure why he went by The Doctor instead of his real name, but the Doctor always got defensive when he asked, so he eventually stopped asking. Regardless, before he was banished from Gallifrey he was a member of the Chancellory Guard and he had modified it in response to a threat against the Council. He managed to change the frequency for when it was extended, the frequency he demonstrated to Korra, and added a special button on the bottom in order to prevent any accidents from happening. He added the new feature as a means to kill anyone who threatened him, his loved ones or, at the time, the Council. By placing the extended tip against a body part, it sent out a sonic frequency that destroyed whatever it was against.
He frowned when he thought about the times he had been forced to use it on Gallifrey. It was the last of those times that had resulted in his, as it turned out, temporary banishment, as the Council begged him to come back to fight in the Great Time War. He gulped slightly and felt a cold sweat form on the back of his neck as the memories of the conflict came back to him. He sat down and took several deep breaths as he tried to repress the memories that had haunted him for years. He had never told anyone about those memories, no matter how much they prodded. He shook his head and eventually they had faded back into the part of his mind that let him forget them, albeit temporarily.
He stayed put for a few minutes before he felt comfortable and he stood and left his TARDIS. He pointed his Sonic in the air, and after a few seconds he heard it beep and he checked the display and found that the nearest settlement was a few miles to the north. Steeling his resolve he set out in hopes of finding Korra again, and to do his least favorite thing, ask for help.
After a half hour walk through the frozen landscape, which was actually warmer than he thought it would be, and found the village. Not wanting to draw unwanted attention he stayed around the outskirts and out of plain sight.
He walked around for several minutes until he finally found the person he needed. He moved into the village and waited between some huts. He found her practicing with fire today, instead of the, he assumed, usual water, which she suggested was her strong suit by her blue outfit and the fact that she lived on a glacier.
After about twenty minutes she took a break, and he took that opportunity to try to get her attention. He got out his Sonic and buzzed it several times. Korra noticed and turned to face the disturbance, her eyes widening when she saw him and she backed away a couple of steps.
He quickly gestured her over to where he was, but she just shook her head. Saltrall rolled his eyes and set his Sonic down and she cautiously walked over.
"W-what the hell are you doing here?" She asked, terrified that he had found her.
"Look," he replied, suddenly anxious, "I need your help,"
"Oh yeah, what with Mr. alien man?" She said, looking him up and down, sizing him up.
Saltrall rolled his eyes, "Yes I do, I hate that fact, but it's unavoidable."
Korra seemed to be calming down because she just chcukled nervously and looked at the Screwdriver in the snow.
"Alright fine, what do you need?" She asked, trying to look like she wasn't absolutely terrified, "it's better than this boring firebending,"
"I need dir- wait, I thought you were a waterbender?" Saltrall asked, furrowing his brow in confusion.
"I'm the Avatar, I can bend all four elements," Korra replied, smiling for the first time in front of Saltrall.
"Fascinating," Saltrall said. He noted that she had a very cute smile, but then he realized how stupid he sounded and he shook his head, getting focused on her again, "how old are you?" He asked, really noticing for the first time how young she looked.
"16," she replied.
"Dammit," he thought to himself.
"Anyway, what did you need help with?" She asked him, seeming fully comfortable in front of him for the first time.
"Oh, right, I need directions to Republican City," he said, remembering why he showed up in the first place.
"You mean Republic City?" Korra asked, an amused smile returning to her face.
Saltrall groaned, "Yeah, yeah, whatever, can you help me?"
"Yeah I guess, if you're willing to pay," she said.
"Pay what, I'm a time traveler, I'm broke!" He said, pulling out his pockets for emphasis.
This made her laugh, "I was kidding, I don't need money," she said, "can't you take a joke?"
He looked away, blushing, "Not really, no..."
He looked back at her and she was still smiling at him, and he realized that she must be comfortable now if she just cracked a joke at the expense of the guy she was terrified to see 10 minutes prior.
"Don't worry, I don't want- actually, hang on, did you say time traveler?" She said, the smile falling from her face as his words sunk in.
"Yeah, and apparently, one time dimension crosser, if my hypothesis is correct" he said, picking his Sonic and twirling it between his fingers.
"So why do you need to get to Republic City?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, as you know I'm not from here," He replied and she nodded, "so I need to..." He paused, thinking of the right word, "get acquainted with the environment."
Korra nodded in understanding, seemingly thinking, before responding.
"Sorry, we don't really get much news around here, so all I know is that it's far to the north, on the shores of Yue Bay, I believe it's called."
"Alright, thanks I can find it from there," he said, before turning around to leave.
"Now hang on," Korra said, grabbing his arm, causing him to look back, "you come barging into my village asking for my help, and you don't even ask me if I want to come along with you?"
"Sorry," He replied, "lately I've been travelling alone, and I'm not sure how much I trust you just yet. Besides, you look busy."
"You can trust me!" She pleaded, tightening her grip and looking up at him with sad eyes.
He almost cracked and let her come along, but his resolve held and he put his hand softly on her shoulder.
"I'll be back, that's a promise, I can't say when, but I will be, and when I do I promise I'll take you with me," he said as she let go of his arm, her eyes still full of sadness, "but I still need time to adjust here,"
He started walking back to his TARDIS when he heard Korra sigh dejectedly and she went back to her bending practice. Saltrall looked back at her one last time before sighing himself and continuing on his way.