Chapter 5: Bendin' The Law A Lot
Roughly one week later, Korra had discovered almost every possible way to not go insane from the mind numbing tedium that was life in space.
Luckily, there were plenty of things for her to learn about the ship itself, despite her discomfort around Kaylee's cheerful disposition. Mainly, whenever she explained something that involved painful death and dismemberment if something were to go horribly wrong in the constant running and maintaining of Serenity's various systems.
Sparring matches with Iris and River, sometimes at the same time, were usually enough to snap her out of her occasional near claustrophobic panic. The simple fact of being sealed in a moving pressure vessel for days on end while coasting through the airless void of space served to unnerve her to no end if she thought about it too much. Hence a pair of psychic assassins doing their very best to distract her from such thoughts, mostly by pummeling them out of her. It hadn't taken Kora long to notice that both River and Iris were easily her equal since they were able to anticipate her every move. Korra always walked away from their matches with a multitude of fresh bruises, but she also usually had a smile on her face afterward.
Then there were Simon's incredibly thorough, or in other words, incredibly boring, impromptu lectures on first aid, basic medical procedures and triage. These came along with his repeated attempts to try and offer her a patient, understanding ear. She had yet to take him up on the offer, even as he patched up her small cuts and bruises after getting her butt handed to her by his sister and Iris.
In typical Zoe fashion, Korra found out that she hadn't been kidding about letting her babysit Emma. The lessons on proper gun maintenance and cleaning were a side benefit, and served to alleviate her general discomfort with being around the strange weapons these people favored. It also helped ease her nerves because Zoe was someone she respected, even if the older woman was at times cold and intimidating, if not downright terrifying.
One night, Jayne even managed to goad her into a game of 'ring ball', which she was determined to beat him at, despite not knowing how to play. It turned into a free for all once the rest of the crew joined in after watching the two of them go at it with needlessly fierce conviction. Halfway through the game, Korra had tripped up the man and sent him tumbling across the deck. She got her first hand on lesson from Simon, helping him pop Jayne's dislocated shoulder back into place before tossing the man a bag of ice. She spent the rest of that night sitting with him on the side lines, watching as the others finished up the game they had started.
Then there was her time with Inara. She had mustered up the courage to take a look around the former Companion's shuttle, upon her invitation, and had found herself talking about Republic City before she left. Whatever it was about Inara, Korra found she had a talent for getting the not-quite-Avatar to spill her guts with minimal effort. To make things stranger yet, Korra found she didn't mind talking with her about the more intimate details of her past as she might have with anyone else onboard. It helped that Inara didn't pass judgment or make assumptions about anything Korra shared with her. If anything, Inara usually had very astute words of wisdom and advice for her.
Oddly enough, she enjoyed her time with Mal most, mainly because he actually let her fly the ship. If making very minor course corrections by pressing buttons could be considered flying. Most of their time was spent gazing out that the infinite black expanse of stars Serenity traveled through. When they weren't tearing each other's throat out anyway. One time, during a particular loud argument over ethics and 'public service' a fuming Mal held up a finger and promptly left the bridge. About forty-five minutes and one very loud alarm later Korra realized she had absolutely no idea what she was doing, and ran out of the bridge only to see Mal grinning from ear to ear at her. It didn't take her long to realize he had pulled a fast one on her.
Much like he was apparently doing at this very moment as she groggily opened her eyes to the sound of his voice echoing through the ship. "All ya'll get dressed and movin', work to be done!" Mal cheerfully yelled, his voice echoing down the corridor from the bridge while he spoke into the handheld connected to the ship's intercom. "We got ourselves a date with destiny folks!"
Korra groaned and glared over at the nearest speaker, seriously debating ripping it out of the wall. Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, Korra slowly slipped out of her bed and groggily padded barefoot out into the corridor. "What's going on, are we being attacked or something?"
"Oh no, it's much worse than that." Simon, equally half asleep, warily explained to her. "It's getting close to Unification Day."
Korra just yawned and stared at him blankly. "And that is?"
"The celebration of the Alliance's victory over the Independents." Simon replied with a casual shrug.
"Right... why does Mal sound so happy then?" It seemed like a glaring contradiction for someone that had fought for Independence.
"You'll see soon enough." Simon walked off, shaking his head and muttering something about needing to stock up on disinfectant and bandages.
"Okay..." Still very confused, Korra headed to the mess to grab herself a cup of coffee, one of the few things she had quickly learned that the crew didn't skimp on. Besides Inara's tea anyway, but she didn't like to impose on the former Companion. Whatever the case, the Avatar couldn't help but think about the last few days as she padded back to her bunk, cup in hand, and prepared for the morning, while trying not to notice the smell coming off the 'clean' shirt Zoe had 'borrowed' from Jayne that she was forced to slip on.
Despite living on a ship that was constantly falling apart around them as far as she was concerned, Korra had started to see why they loved Serenity. In an odd kind of way, it had been made into an almost cozy, if rusting and sharp edged, home by the crew. While she didn't feel the same way just yet, Korra still saw Serenity for what it had become for the rest of them.
A blurry eyed Jayne stumbled out of his bunk only to bump into a semi-conscious Korra a split second later. "Well, well, what have we here?"
Korra looked up and glared at the gun hand over her cup of coffee. "Someone that's going to be really grumpy if you don't move on."
Jayne leered at the girl, a massive grin spreading across his face as was less than subtle about staring down the garish yellow tank top she wore. "You can keep that if you like, not the first philly to raid my stuff, usually get the pleasure of their company first though."
Glaring at Jayne before glancing down at her chest, it wasn't hard for Korra to figure out why the man had such a big stupid grin on his face. Normally she wore thick fur lined clothes, having lived in one of the coldest parts of her world. Here, she had quickly gotten used to the more comfortable climate of Serenity and the lighter clothing everyone wore. As a result, she had never gotten into the habit of wearing a bra, not even a strap, so her chest was free to move about with every step. It was little surprise Jayne was all but leering as she self consciously moved to cover herself, only to drop her cup.
Bending over to snatch it in mid air before it smashed into the deck, Jayne glance up at her with a grin. "Mighty chilly today ain't it?" Sipping at the cup, he shoved his way past her before letting out a cackle.
"Hey! That's mine!" Korra growled as she started after him.
"Finder's keeper's girlie." Jayne countered, snickering while he started walking away.
"I hate you." Korra grumbled, but sighed as she fell in behind the giant ape.
"Know what I think? I reckon you're all twitterpated and such from breathin' in ma manly scent." Jayne chuckled with a lusty smile over his shoulder.
Korra grabbed Jayne by the shoulder and spun him around so fast he sloshed most of his stolen coffee onto the deck. "Listen up you foul mouthed walking trash heap. I'd rather kiss an elephant-rat than have anything to do with you."
"Suit yerself. Guess I'll be takin' ma shirt back then." Jayne leered and held out his other hand.
Korra glared up at Jayne and jammed a finger into his chest hard enough to make him wince after batting his hand away. "What?! Are you crazy?! I am not taking this off in the middle of the hallway!"
Jayne busted out into bent over laughter as Korra's cheeks took on a familiar rosy tinge. "Hehe, you're just too gorram easy girl."
She was struck silent for a moment before her blue eyes filled with indignant rage. "Wait, you were messing with me?!"
"Guess you ain't such a back-berth after all girly." With that, Jayne walked off, cackling the whole way, doing his best impersonation of a very indignant Korra. "Oh my, how dare you make me show ma shapely brown fun bags out in the hall!"
"I'm going to kill you!" Korra yelled as she charged after a teary Jayne. She didn't get far before a half dressed Mal stepped into the hallway. Korra only had time to dodge around him, surprising the captain at how easily she moved on a dime even when she tripped and fell into an empty cabin. "Ow…." Korra groaned, staring up at the ceiling while she tried to get the world to stop spinning. She was so determined to pound Jayne into a fine paste that she didn't even notice when her loose shirt got caught on the ladder on her way back up and promptly tore free as she raced after him.
"Huh. Don't see that every day." Mal muttered, dumbly blinking when he caught the sight of Korra running after the gun hand more or less naked from the waist up.
Realizing what had happened, Korra hugged her arms around her chest and tried to cover herself with the tattered remains of her shirt. "Gah! Will you stop staring already?!" It didn't help any that Jayne was still laughing his head off, harder than ever when he caught sight of Korra trying to look as small as possible.
Mal calmly sipped at his mug before addressing the flustered half naked teenager glaring at him. "Sorry. Ya know, some women would take it as a compliment."
Korra was far from amused at Mal's so called compliment. "Say one more word and I'm telling Inara you made a pass at me."
"Fightin' dirty? You're catchin' on quick Ponytails." Mal, sipping at his mug of brew, casually leaned closer to her. "Is that a tattoo I see?"
"Gah!" Stomping past Malcolm, more humiliated than she had ever been in her entire life, Korra almost hoped the rickety ship crashed this time when River tried to land. Running to her cabin, she ripped open her clothes drawer and grabbed something at random before throwing off the ruins of Jayne's old shirt. "Captain Buhn Dahn, more like Captain Pervert! He drives me so crazy!" She hissed, but took a calming breath as she slipped into her new outfit just as she felt someone walking by her door. "If you say another word Mal, I'm go-oh…. Hey Inara." She trailed off when she saw the former Companion standing at her door.
"Had another run in with our fearless leader?" The Companion asked, an amused gleam in her eyes as she stopped and peaked into Korra's room.
"Jayne started it. Your annoying, arrogantly smug boyfriend didn't help though." Korra growled out as she kicked her dresser drawer shut before standing to her feet, her arms crossed.
Inara glanced towards the battered dresser before giving Korra a knowing look. "I'm going to guess that you had a rather embarrassing moment this morning."
"What?! How did you-" Korra sputtered in shock before Inara calmly raised her hand.
Inara chuckled warmly and gave her an amused smile at the same time. "The goofy look on Mal's face, and the fact you left a trail of torn cloth behind you."
"Yeah, right. That." Korra sighed, slumping on her bed as she hung her head in yet another bout of rosy cheeked embarrassment. Korra figured that she must have blushed more in front of this crew in less than two weeks than she had in her whole life. But constantly finding herself wanting, or even worse, seen as painfully naive tended to have that effect.
Inara sighed before sitting on the bed next to her. "Oh please, don't be so mortified, you have nothing to be ashamed of."
"Other than I made a giant fool of myself you mean. Again." Korra muttered in return.
Inara grinned and playfully bumped her shoulder into Korra's side. "This might be a good time to tell you about how exactly Malcolm ended up sitting naked in the desert."
"Oh this I gotta hear." Korra asked just a little too quickly for Inara's taste.
"The point is, we've all had our share of less than favorable moments. They aren't worth dwelling over, and become rather humorous once enough time has gone by for us to admit it."
"Mal flirted with me." Korra deadpanned in response.
Inara wasn't fooled by her attempt to shame Mal with a crime she was certain he hadn't committed. "While I'm sure he didn't refrain from looking, he most certainly wouldn't flirt with a mortified young girl."
"He's not that much of a giant turtle-mule huh?" Korra had to smile, remembering the amused grin on Mal's face, not at all the lusty eyed stare she had been dreading when she'd noticed him standing there.
"No, I think... your world certainly is full of some very strange animals."
"You have no idea."
Inara simply nodded before she got the subject back on track. "As for Mal, he has a strange sense of honor and nobility about him."
"For a criminal."
"He prefers ruggedly handsome scoundrel."
"Well whatever he prefers, I'm gonna enjoy getting off this rust bu-ship for a while. I don't know how you do it, living on this cramped vessel for days at a time."
"Sometimes it's been weeks on a single stretch, but from what you've told us, I can understand why you'd feel that way. You're used to being free."
Korra nodded her head at that since Inara was, as usual, spot on. "So, wanna give me a hint what all this 'Unification Day' stuff is about. And why Mal is acting like it's getting close to his birthday?"
"Some things are better experienced than explained." Inara left Korra to consider her cryptic response, with a small, amused smile on her lips.
"Fine!" Exasperated, Korra went to squeeze past Inara, only to freeze up, feeling like she had butter-dragonflies in her stomach when Inara's hand brushed against her arm. "Um, just need to squeeze through here..."
"Korra, if you ever feel like talking with me again about... more personal things, know you can trust me to keep anything said between us private. Simon as well, but he's not as good a listener as I am." Inara told her with a melodious chuckle.
"Thanks but I'm fine." Korra said simply and started away after jerking her arm free, but stopped and looked over her shoulder. She started to say something, but shook her head and moved on just as the ship started its final approach to whatever rock Mal had steered them towards this time. She hadn't been lying about needing to get off Serenity to stretch her legs, but Inara's offer had made her consider opening up to the woman then and there. Her pride got in the way of that idea though. "I don't need your help."
"Of course, if you ever reconsider-"
"I won't." Despite her curt response, Korra got the distinct impression that Inara knew better. Walking away from the former Companion, she couldn't shake the feeling that one day, she'd seek Inara out and her offer would still be on the table.
Going down to the cargo hold just as Zoe opened the ramp, Korra had to blink and adjust to the sudden brightness from being on a planet again. She sighed with relief at the simple pleasure of being able to breathe fresh, non recycled air for the first time in days. "Never thought I'd say this, but I think I might get used to the idea of kissing the dirt."
"Wasn't plannin' on the dirt kissin' myself." Zoe chuckled, but nodded in understanding since she knew where Korra was coming from. "It can get pretty crowded, crew gets a nasty case of cabin fever sometimes as Simon so elegantly put it, all sealed up together, but you get used to pretty much anythin' after a while. You ain't gonna run off into the wilds are ya? Don't seem suited to traveling in the black."
"Wasn't planning on it. Not after I heard how River and Simon got themselves kidnapped and almost burned alive." Korra retorted, and sent Zoe an amused grin. "Starting to understand why someone might though, after living with Mal's giant, overinflated ego, and Jayne's lecherous nature." Korra stated with a roll of her eyes.
"Shame, that was a fine shirt." Zoe said with a knowing smirk as she started to unstow the mule.
Korra's eyes bugged out as she stomped a boot in frustration. "Does everybody know everything that happens on this ship?!"
"Pretty much. If you feel the need for a little recompense, you can always ask Jayne about the motley collection of junk he saves up to send back home, 'long with a lion's share of his pay."
"Huh, never thought I'd hear that about him. Guess he has a heart after all. Gah, that just sounds wrong! Great, now I can't hit him." At Zoe's wry glance, Korra quietly explained. "I can't beat up a guy who sends trinkets and money back home."
Zoe laughed and shook her head in response. "Oh there's plenty times he still deserves a bit of roughin' up. Don't let the fact he has folks stop ya."
"You are just plain scary Zoe."
"You haven't seen me be scary."
"Right….so, where are we anyway?" Korra asked as she subconsciously took a step back from the First Mate.
"Ares, small outer colony world." They turned and saw Mal being followed by River. "We got a wave, askin' for a few gun hands to round up or put down some raiders who've been causin' all manner of trouble for the locals. Been promised a nice little bounty in exchange."
"You mean... kill them?" Korra asked incredulously. "What about going to the local law enforcement?! You can't just go around killing people!"
Mal gave her a glare as he helped Zoe with the mule. "The only law out here is what people make for themselves. Alliance don't care much about folk once a planet's been terraformed, never have. They drop people on a rock to make their own way. They either survive or they don't. We're doin' a public service, puttin' these low life types outta business. It helps we get paid for the job, but I ain't much for preyin' on the weak and helpless."
"Captain's right Korra. We're doin' more good out here by helping these people." Zoe stated, sounding mildly annoyed with the girl's glaring naivete.
Giving the pair an irritated frown, Korra crossed her arms and defiantly stared back at them. "Fine, but I'm coming with you. Someone needs to make sure you give them a chance to surrender peacefully."
"They won't accept the offer to parlay." River whispered softly as she passed and stopped at the bottom of the ramp, her face uplifted towards the sun for a moment before she spun gracefully on her heel to face Korra directly. "Raiders are almost as bad as Reavers. They prey on the weak and helpless, taking what they want. Money, food, medical supplies, sometimes women and children if they think they can get away with it. Just like those criminals on Persephone you encountered your first day in this space-time had planned for you if not for your quick and decisive action before I arrived."
"I get the point. That doesn't make it right, but fine. But I'm going to say it now, I won't be a party to needless killing."
"Oh, won't be needless darlin', you can bet any decent folk around here won't be cryin' any tears. But if you don't believe me, feel free to tag 'long and see for yourself Ponytails." With that, Mal nodded for Zoe to go ahead and get her armed and armored up before hopping in the mule himself.
Being tossed an armor vest, Korra slipped it on underneath her shirt before strapping on the knife and gun belt. She had no intention of using the gun, but Korra wasn't about to say no either with Zoe standing over her.
Once they were ready to depart, Mal, River, Zoe, and Korra soon left the ship behind, traveling through verdant green hills and patches of rocky terrain. It was certainly a far sight better than Shadow had been, even with the plumes of smoke in the distance that emanated from mining facilities, according to River. Ares was a prosperous mining planet, rich in ore that the Alliance used across the core planets and in their shipbuilding. But that very prosperity also attracted the worst kinds of people, who were all too keen in taking advantage of the minimal security presence that were stationed in the mines and not the nearby towns themselves, where they were actually needed.
"I reckon we'll stop in town, talk with the local folk, get the lay of the land 'fore we take on these bungers." Mal glanced over at Korra for a moment, an amused twitch at the corner of his mouth. "You know, a thought occurs to me. Korra here sorely needs a proper education on the way of things. I say we let her handle this job, see how well she does."
"Our chances of success just dropped significantly." River deadpanned, drawing an irritated glare from Korra while Zoe rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"Excuse me?!" Korra turned to stare at the dark haired Reader sitting next to her in the rear of the mule. "You know what, fine, I accept your idiotic little challenge." She said after throwing her hands in the air in frustration.
"Sir, your head been checked by Simon lately? Because you still have a problem with your brain being missing. Might want to look into it."
"Oh you worry too much Zoe. Kid wants to try her hand at our various frowned upon business enterprises, try to find her higher path and all that, I say we let her. Fair warnin' though, when she gets herself in over her head, I ain't dashin' to no rescue. Might take my sweet time."
"I thought you were supposed to be all protective of your crew, being the captain." Korra growled in response, her blue eyes burning holes in the back of Mal's head.
"Guess you have a lot to learn Ponytails. You ain't crew till I says otherwise." Mal countered, grinning over his shoulder as he pulled into the small town about the same time. Hopping out of the mule, Mal shot her a grin as he stepped aside and gestured for her to lead the way. "Don't mean I won't let ya fumble too much though, seein' as you're still new to this here 'verse and all."
Gazing at the rundown clapboard buildings, none of them higher than two stories, and many in dire need of repair, or a bulldozer, they didn't have to wait long to meet the local 'welcoming committee'. A grizzled old man with piercing brown eyes was the first to take notice of them as he spat brown sludge in the dirt and ambled on over to them. "You the off world folk that was called in?"
Mal gave Korra a nudge when it became apparent he was waiting for her to speak up. "Um, that's us alright." Korra stated, sounding less than awe inspiring, much to Mal's amusement. She gritted her teeth but did her best to ignore him as she addressed the man before her. "You saw the Firefly that came down? That was our ship, so unless there's another ship on the edge of town, you're looking at the right people. Who are you?"
"Lookin' at dead folk if you're the best they got girl. Name's Marston, town ombudsman, figure you won't be needin' a first name." The old man spat out another disgusting wad of brown slime on the ground by Korra's feet before he pulled out a small box of more of the same stuff, sticking a small cube of the it into his mouth which he promptly started to chew. "Got about five dozen families on this spit of land, all of 'em were hoping to get a good night's sleep, but I'll have to tell 'em not to hold their breaths since I figure you'll be dead by morning. But I've been wrong before. You lot might surprise me yet."
"Sir, you don't need to worry." Korra gestured towards their small group with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "We'll take care of these raiders. If not, you'll get to keep our ship."
River snickered, Zoe looked ready to blow a gasket, while Mal was understandably thunderstruck by this unexpected twist. "Huh? Wait, what?!"
The old man raised one bushy eyebrow and grinned widely at the offer. "Got yerself a deal. I like ya, got spunk kid, but that ain't gonna stop a bullet. 'Long as you and your band a' heroes here plan to gun down those no good dirty bushwackers anyhow, I'd be obliged if you could bring our people back with ya. Some of 'em at least, I ain't askin' for a miracle. Be willin' to pay double the agreed terms for your trouble.
"How many have been taken?" Korra asked, all business, once again surprising Mal and the others behind her at this sudden shift. They hadn't seen her so confident save for when she was going through her practice drills in the hold, or sparring with River.
"'Bout dozen, few of 'em no older than ten. Their Da Jeh Da's way of deterin' us from goin' after them in their little hidey holes or retaliatin' anytime they come rollin' through town. They hide up in the hills, so they ain't exactly easy to miss when they start coming down to cause all manner of ruckus." The old man pointed to a distant series of hills and rocks that were on the west side of the ramshackle town. "Kick up 'lotta dust since they ride horses mostly, draggin' wagons behind a few of 'em. Easier to carry out anythin' they like."
"We'll bring your people home, I promise." Korra stridently vowed, much to the surprise of everyone around her, including a heavily jaded Marston.
"Hearin' a lot of talkin', but you almost sound convincin'." Marston said as he rubbed at his chin, a thoughtful gleam in his brown eyes. "Kinda remind me of my old CO durin' the war. Fought for Independence, woulda followed that gorram woman to Hell and back. Almost did, 'cept she pushed me outta the way of a shell. Not without cost mind ya." He patted his left leg before he moved on. "Almost wish she hadn't, Bonnie woulda been a mite handier to have round here these days."
"Don't give yourself enough credit." River stated softly, drawing Marston's gaze to her like he was looking through a sniper's scope. She returned his focused, intense gaze with her own, and was unsurprised when he couldn't maintain it. Few people could stare long into her eyes without feeling unnerved. "You've done better than you realize. These people look to you, because you didn't leave them to rot as so many others might have."
"Yeah, suppose so. Didn't stop that Bu Hui Hen De Puo Fu from taking their mothers and daughters though." Marston muttered angrily in response.
"They won't get to run wild anymore. Mal, Zoe, River, let's go see what we can do." Korra commanded, earning her two slightly surprised looks from the two veterans once again at this unexpected shift in her personality.
Taking a walk down the street, Mal was the first to break the silence that had settled over their little group. "Gotta say, I'm impressed, 'cept with the part where you offered up my gorram ship. I don't recall us discussin' that particular matter."
"If we end up dead, we won't be around to worry about it." Korra countered tersely before turning to the captain. "I still don't like the idea of killing these raiders, but I can't stand by and let people like that run rampant either. It goes against everything I trained for."
"Well ain't this just great! Got us a martyr in trainin'. Ever think not all of us might get dead. What 'bout Emma, Kaylee, hell Simon, this job goes sideways I'm gonna have to ruin my already not so grand reputation by backin' out of the deal."
"You wanted me to take charge!" Korra shouted at the scoundrel.
"She has a point sir." Zoe replied coldly, torn between knocking their heads together or walking away from the pair.
"Team Avatar can not fail." River stated, to blank stares from Mal and Zoe and a slight frown from Korra.
Korra turned to face River's not at all unsettling stare. "Please don't say that again. Besides….Team Avatar isn't here. It's just me." She sadly finished and looked away from the psychic.
"Mako, Bolin, Naga, and Asami are closer than you think." River countered, and pointed to Korra's chest before walking away, silent as a ghost.
Mal cocked his head to the side, an all too familiar smirk pulling at his lips. "Mako huh? She an interestin' gal?"
"Mako is my boyfriend, captain." Korra growled, not amused with Malcolm's eternally smug banter.
"Sounds like a girl's name to me kiddo." Mal chuckled before taking a step further down the road, his eyes sweeping very every square inch of the town in front of him. "Zoe, think I could persuade ya to take up roost on that balcony above the saloon by chance?" He asked, his mind at work on how best to handle the raiders the next time they rode into town.
"Might be better if I take position up in that steeple sir." Zoe nodded towards an old fashioned white clapboard church and it's open belltower. "You can have the saloon."
"And miss out on all the fun while our fearless leader gets herself riddled full o' holes? Nah, rather have Jayne up on the saloon, that way I can clean up the mess from down here. Better shot up close anyhow."
"Your fearless leader's right here you know." Korra growled back, but nodded her head as she looked around and spotted several old, partially rotted wagons and a dozen crates stacked against a nearby building. "We could use that junk to make ourselves some barricades. Give us more cover where we need it, maybe even block off some of the side streets and force them down the main road."
"By your command, your Ponytailness." Mal stated with a smartass little bow. It was a good plan, but he wasn't about to tell her that.
"There's something else to consider." Korra said, ignoring Mal, as she looked to the people themselves, a plan of her own forming behind her blue eyes. "Even if we get rid of these raiders, what's to stop the next group from swooping in the moment these ones are gone?"
"What are you thinking?" Zoe asked, curious to see where Korra was planning to go with this line of thought.
Korra gestured to the town at large. "I'm thinking we need to get these people into fighting shape. Or at least able to shoot one of your guns and actually hit something."
"Huh, that ain't half bad." Mal, pleasantly surprised by Korra's insight, and gave the girl a nod of approval. He'd give her a little acknowledgment at least. "Might take a while, gettin' these folk able to defend them and theirs, but it could be done. They certainly have reason enough to hate bein' pushed around. Be worth it if we can wrangle more coin out of this."
Korra was less than pleased by Mal's apparent greed. "We're here to help these people, not take everything they have left."
"Ah Hell, there's that starry eyed hero again. And here I thought you were makin' some mighty fine progress too." Mal lost his goofy grin when he turned to face Korra head on. "You've seen how hard life is for me and mine, and I know you ain't dumb Korra. Can't get by on generosity." He stated, leaving no room for further argument on the subject, or so he thought.
"So you're perfectly alright with being almost as bad as the raiders we've been hired to take down? You'd fit right at home with the Triple Threats Triad in Republic City." Korra spat out in obvious disgust.
Even with her superior training, Korra never saw the haymaker coming until she was already on her back, her jaw aching from where Mal's fist had smashed into it. "Let me make somethin' perfectly clear for you since I have your attention now. I ain't alright with takin' from folk less fortunate than me, but I don't got a lotta choice if I want to keep my crew together, let alone my ship. I seem to recall havin' this conversation, or one very similar, with you once already, and I don't like repeatin' myself. Next time, you're off my boat, don't rightly care where that happens to be."
Korra said nothing as she pushed herself off the dirt road and stomped off. Zoe merely shook her head at Mal before going after Korra, leaving River and the captain behind.
You're such a boob." River grumbled, but held up a hand before Mal could turn his ire on her next. "But she'll figure out you're right when we're done here."
"Don't care what she does or doesn't learn, long as we get paid. Come on, let's head back and get Jayne and Iris. I got a job in mind for you and Baldy."
River nodded her head, already knowing what Mal had planned, but she wasn't content to leave things alone as she swung the conversation back to Korra. "You care, otherwise you wouldn't have tried to make her feel welcome at all."
"You're beginnin' to wear on my last nerve Little Albatross."
"I haven't gotten started."