Chapter XI: Reunion Part I
Later that night, after Mako and Bolin returned to the stadium where they lived Korra began to go inside, but stopped and turned when she heard Saltrall follow her
"Aren't you gonna go back to your TARDIS?" Korra asked, leaning against the doorframe as Saltrall stopped walking.
"I'll get it in the morning," Saltrall said, smiling a little, "it's not that difficult for me to retrieve."
"Alright..." Korra said, furrowing her brow in confusion as Saltrall walked past her into the house.
"I'll sleep on the couch," Saltrall said, patting her on the shoulder.
"Okay," She said with a soft smile, "come on, I'll show you around."
After the small tour Saltrall laid down on the couch and was soon fell asleep within minutes. He slept soundly until he was awoken early the next morning by the scream of Korra from a few rooms over.
Saltrall shook his head and jumped up once he realized what he'd heard and ran into her room, Screwdriver drawn. He saw her sitting up in her bed, breathing heavily, and he ran over to her.
"Korra, are you okay?!" He asked, concerned, as he put his Sonic in his pocket and crouched next to her.
She looked at him, sweat dripping down her face, eyes slightly wild, and he put a hand on her shoulder softly.
"Hey, Korra, it's me, you're okay," he said, softly, trying to calm her down.
When it finally hit her who she was looking at she calmed down and her eyes softened as she nodded softly.
"It's... It's alright, Saltrall. I just had a bad dream" She said, gulping slightly and forcing a smile.
"Are you sure?" Saltrall asked and she nodded, "alright, I'll be in the other room if you need me," he said, standing up.
He walked out, looking over his shoulder before he left and Korra watched him leave until Naga took her attention away from him. She sighed and laid her head against Naga, trying to keep her composure, only to have a couple tears fall down her cheeks.
Saltrall went back to the couch and sat down, reaching underneath it to grab his boots. As he reached down however, he felt like he was being watched. He sat up and looked out the window in front of him, but he saw nothing. He focused and listened for any sign of movement, but all he heard was the sound of Tenzin's children playing outside.
He quickly tied his boots and walked out the front door. He stood in the doorway and looked around again, but stilldidn't see anything. He decided to be just a little more cautious and he walked around the house, examining the bushes, just to make sure. When he was finally convinced it was his imagination he gave up searching.
He decided it would be a good idea to visit the brothers to make sure they weren't too shaken up by the previous day's events. He pulled out his Sonic and changed the frequency. He activated it and his TARDIS appeared in front of him.
"Everytime I think I have you figured out you have a new trick up your sleeve." He heard from behind him. He smiled and turned and saw Korra standing against the corner of the house.
"Yeah, I'm an enigma," he said, opening the door, "you never know what I'll do next."
"Where are you going?" she asked standing up straight and walking over to him.
"Nowhere in particular, just into town, wanna come with?" he asked, stepping inside and resting against the doorframe.
"No, I gotta train, thanks for the offer though," Korra replied, smiling. Saltrall just shrugged and smiled.
"Suit yourself. But hey, I got an open door policy, well as long as I'm inside, that is," He said looking away from her towards the end of his sentence before facing her again, "see you soon," he said, waving goodbye and closing the door.
He walked over to the console and sat down with a sigh. He ran his finger along the edge of a panel and looked at it.
"Jeez, it's been less than a day and you're already dusty," he said, "I can't leave you anywhere," he fake scolded his machine while slapping it lightly.
"I'm kidding, now come on, let's go hit the town." And with that he pulled a few levers, spun some diddly-doos, and pressed a button before gripping the console as it shook with the force of the take off.
Korra stood and watched the machine disappear in front of her. She shook her head and wondered just how she got mixed up with such a strange man, smiling as she walked away to her training area.
Later in the evening Saltrall was sitting inside the TARDIS after catching up with Mako and Bolin, listening to the local radio station lackadaisically while he read a book. His attention was ripped from the book when he heard Amon's voice suddenly appear on the radio.
He jumped up and listened to the radio intently.
"...As you have heard, the Republic Council has voted to make me public enemy number one, proving once again that the bending oppressors of this city will stop at nothing to quash our revolution,"
Saltrall rolled his eyes and used his Sonic to short out the radio.
"Public enemy number one, what the hell is he talking about?" Saltrall asked himself, putting his book down and spinning in his chair to face the console and setting the TARDIS' coordinates back to Air Temple Island, "Tenzin has some explaining to do."
When the TARDIS landed he made sure he grabbed his jacket as he opened the door and walked out. He turned to close it and walked straight into Korra's back as he turned around.
"Ow, sorry, my bad!" He said, holding his nose. He had ran into her back, and she seemed to be knocked out of a trance when he did so.
"What? Oh, hey, welcome back," she said, turning, forcing another smile, "you're fine."
"Korra? Are you alright?" He asked, looking at her face and seeing the forcefulness of her smile.
"Yeah, I'm just fine, don't worry about me," she said, her smile wavering but not falling completely.
Saltrall looked her over but nodded softly, "the radio broadcast, right?" She finally sighed and nodded, looking down at her feet. Saltrall lifted her chin so she looked at him.
"Keep your chin up, Korra, you're strong, you just need to focus," he said, putting his hand on her shoulder. Korra smiled softly and nodded.
"I'll try, thanks Saltrall," she replied, hugging him suddenly. Saltrall was caught off guard and blushed before returning the hug.
"That's what I'm here for," he replied, pulling away, "now, I have to go see Tenzin."
She nodded and stepped aside, allowing Saltrall to walk past her. She watched him walk away before shaking her head and going back to her air-bending poses.
Saltrall walked into Tenzin's office without any warning to the older airbender, he just walked up to his desk and placed his hands on it.
"What the hell did Amon mean by 'Republic Council has voted to make me public enemy number one'?" Saltrall asked, looking at the perplexed airbender.
"What happened at the meeting today is none of your concern," he replied with a hint of venom in his voice, standing up while keeping his arms in his sleeves," and I know you're a friend of Korra's but you can't just barge into my office and ask me questions like that! I don't even know your name!"
Saltrall took a deep breath and stood up straight, trying to calm himself down.
"My apologies sir, where are my manners," he said sticking his hand out, "My name is Saltrallosimozonyith, I'm a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation Kasterborous, I am 603 years old and I'm just here to help."
"Alright Saltrallo- Saltrall," Tenzin said, calming down as well, "what do you want to know?" and he sat while motioning for Saltrall to do the same.
Saltrall sat down and took his jacket off, calming down, and thought for a second.
"What happened at the meeting earlier?" He asked.
Tenzin sighed and summarized the city council meeting, from his attempts to reason with the Northern Water Tribe representative Tarrlok, to their decision to start an anti-Equalist task force. Saltrall asked questions when he could and Tenzin answered them respectfully.
Saltrall sat there, nodding slowly before replying.
"Well, Tenzin," he said, standing up, "I'm afraid things just became a lot more difficult, for all of us."
Tenzin nodded and stood up as well.
"Yes, I'm afraid so. But, no matter, it was a pleasure to meet you, Saltrall," Tenzin said with a small smile, "even if it started less than cordial, you seem to be very knowledgeable, I respect that." He held out his hand and Saltrall smiled and grabbed it and shook it.
"Likewise. I'm just happy that we're on the same side through this mess," Saltrall replied, making Tenzin chuckle before letting go of Saltrall's hand and sitting back down.
"Now, I apologize but I have some work to attend to," Tenzin said, grabbing a few papers from his desk. Saltrall nodded and bowed before leaving the office. Then he thought back to his short meeting with Korra earlier and decided that he had to talk to her before things became even worse.