Ambush

Chapter 5: Declaration of War

Part 1

Korra sat there, hating everything about Kayne and Amon, trying hard to figure out what she could do to get her and Mako out of this. It hadn't been long since the two left, dragging Mako along with them. She never felt so alone, so helpless. For some reason, she felt that meditation would be the best thing for her to do. She chuckled dryly. Old Tenzin was wearing off on her after all. She sat back and relaxed as much as much as her restraints let her and she closed her eyes. A strange, almost magical sense of calm washed over her. The cold feeling of steel on her knees vanished. The tugging feeling on her wrists from the restraints also vanished. She felt as if she were suspended in a bubble of air.

"Is this what meditation is really like? Not bad. Tenzin's got the right idea."

She felt gravity take hold on her again. She opened her eyes and her jaw dropped. She was no longer in her dirty cell. She was in a place she didn't recognize. It was a forested area. A canopy of trees sheltered the ground from the invading rays of sun, except for the few that muscled their way through. Despite the amount of cover, the place shone with an otherworldly light.

"Wow…Where am I?"

Korra looked around. Sitting on a hill, meditating and chanting softly, was what looked like a monkey dressed in a monk's robes. Korra approached him, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"Uh, hi."

The monkey peeked at her with one of his eyes.

"Go. Away."

Well that was rude.

"I'm Korra. Listen, I don't know where I am, could you possibly tell me-"

She was interrupted by the monkey chanting even louder.

"OOOOHMMMMMMM. OOOOOOHMMMMMMM"

The monkey stopped and peeked at her again. All he saw was an aggravated Korra. He started to chant again and was interrupted by Korra grabbing him by his robes.

"You done? Good. Now maybe you can tell me where I am."

They monkey seemed shocked.

"How can you touch me? Wait…Could you be…?"

At this point, Korra was entirely lost.

"What are you talking about?

"Are you…the Avatar?"

Korra nodded. The monkey seemed exasperated.

"Oh no…Not again…."

Korra couldn't help but shake the feeling that she had been to this place before.

"Look, just tell me where I am."

The monkey gave her an incredulous look.

"You mean you haven't figured it out yet?"

He sighed and shook his head. He took his finger and pressed it against her forehead. Instantly a scene began to unfold before Korra's eyes. A young boy appeared out of nowhere, looking as confused as Korra felt. He came closer, and Korra could make out the airbender tattoos on his arms and head.

Aang…

The young Aang looked around, then approached a very familiar meditating monkey. A scene, not too different than the comedy that Korra just went through, unfolded before her eyes. Aang ran off after the orb he was convinced would help him and the image faded. Korra blinked, trying to get herself oriented. The monkey looked at her expectantly.

"*Ahem* You may release me now, you know."

Korra let him go and he straightened his robes.

"I…I'm in the Spirit World, aren't I?"

The monkey nodded.

"There is an old friend of yours here to help you."

He gestured behind Korra. She turned to find a giant panda walking toward her.

"Hebai!"

Korra stopped. She had no idea where that name came from, she just knew it somehow.

Ok….That was weird…

Hebai bent low and allowed her to mound him. He took off in a fast trot. The monkey sighed.

"Good riddance….Huh, Déjà vu."

He returned to his meditation.

Hebai took Korra further into the forest. Korra looked around in amazement. The place was alive with the sounds of spirits. She could have sworn she saw a fox the size of Air Temple Island pass her and Hebai as they approached a clearing. It was a calm place, with rocks stacked one on top of another. There was a figure sitting in the middle of the stacks of rocks. It was a man. He turned around to face Korra as they approached. The man smiled, his eyes kind and playful. He stood, his airbender robes falling into place around him and his arrow standing out proudly on his shaved head.

"Hiya Korra. Great to finally meet you."

Korra slid off of Hebai and walked toward the spirit of her past life.

"Right back at you…Aang."

Aang's smile widened.

"I'm sure that you have lots of questions that only I can answer. I'm sorry but there will be some that I cannot answer. At least, not yet."

Somewhat disappointed, Korra nodded.

"Aang…I'm in trouble. I got caught by the Equalists and I'm stuck and Mako got caught because of me…"

Korra felt tears flow down her cheeks.

"And I don't know what to do."

Aang's smile saddened.

"When I was young, I was captured by the Fire Nation. Admiral Xiao sent out professional archers. I think they were called the Yu-Yan. Anyway, I was locked up tight, no way out. I thought that this was it, this was the end. You know what happened then?"

Korra shook her head, wiping away her tears.

"Zuko saved me. Well, the Blue Spirit saved me. My point is, that you can't always be able to save yourself. Have faith in your friends."

His expression darkened and he looked away.

"As for love…Just remember to keep a cool head. There were plenty of times when I almost lost Katara because I thought I could beat the world. Trust them. They're stronger than you think. "

Aang's smile returned.

"If Mako's anything like Katara, I'm sure he'll be fine."

Korra laughed. Comparing Master Katara to Mako was nearly unthinkable. But she felt better. Korra felt a strange tug at the back of her mind. Aang gave her an understanding look.

"Ah. It seems out time is at an end. Don't worry, we'll meet again. I will always be available to you. If you need my help, you only need to ask."

Korra felt herself fading she reached out to Aang, desperate to stay. She had so many more questions. Aang waved to her.

"Tell Katara I asked her to go penguin sledding with me. She'll understand."

Korra's eyes snapped open. She was back in her prison cell, but she felt better than she had when she first came in. She smiled slightly, remembering her conversation with Aang. Her smile disappeared as the door opened and two chi blockers entered, followed closely by Kayne. He spoke in his usual twisted, sarcastic voice.

"Hi. Me again. Listen, I know this may be a bad time, you being all torn up about us keeping your boyfriend at all, but you need to come with us. Oh, and to make sure that you don't decide to try and escape, my lovely assistant here has a pretty little hurt stick and he will use it the moment you try to bend. Kay?"

Korra glared at him, but she nodded. Kayne looked momentarily confused.

"What, no snappy remark? No declaration for your utter hatred for me?"

Korra said nothing. Kayne looked genuinely disappointed.

"Your no fun."

He gestured to the chi blockers and they unlocked Korra's restraints. She gasped in the pain in her legs as they stretched for the first time in hours. A bag was placed over her head before she was led out of the room. She couldn't see anything but blackness. They made a few twists and turns before they stopped at what seemed like a check point. Somewhere nearby, Korra heard a door open and the sound of a police radio filtered out before the door was closed. She turned her attention back to her immediate surroundings as she felt something poke her in the back hard. She walked forward. After a few moments, Korra heard a door open right in front of her. She was roughly shoved through the door. Had her legs been not been confined in a small space, she would have been able to regain her balance. She fell hard. She was hauled to her feet and the bag was yanked off her head. She blinked hard as the harsh light hit her eyes. She was pushed up against something hard and flat. Her arms and legs were spread and were bound. Her eyes finally adjusted and she looked around as best she could. Her blood ran cold. All around her were charts of the human body. Needles plastered all of the charts, notes scribbled next to the charts. Hanging on the back wall with needles sticking out of it, was a body. It was male. He looked as if he were asleep. There was only one piece of furniture in the room. It was a desk under the dead man. Sitting behind the desk was Kayne. He looked up from the papers he was looking over and smirked at Korra.

"I see you've met my assistant, Jax."

He looked up at the dead man.

"He doesn't talk much, but he's oh so useful."

He set the papers down and stood up and walked around the desk. Seeing the look of dread in Korra's face he laughed.

"Don't worry, I didn't kill him. And I'm not going to kill you either. Amon forbids me to kill anyone."

He put on a mockingly serious face and made his voice deep and low, mimicking Amon.

"'If we take any lives, we'll be no better than the monsters we're trying to purify.' Or something along those lines."

He shrugged.

"I personally don't care. I don't see the difference in killing a bender and killing a rabid animal. Both will kill you just the same. Anyway, enough with the distractions. Time to get to work."

He walked toward Korra and pulled out a long, sharp, wicked looking knife. Korra struggled against the restraints but they didn't budge.

"W-wait a minute! I thought you said you weren't going to kill me?"

Kayne smiled.

"I said nothing about maiming you."

Korra closed her eyes as the knife got closer. She heard ripping fabric. She couldn't believe it. He was cutting her clothes off. And there was nothing she could do.

"Didn't know you were into seventeen year old girls." She spat, bitterly.

Kayne chuckled.

"Don't flatter yourself. It's easier to get to the chi passages through just the skin."

He cut away most of her clothing, leaving her undergarments. He expertly flipped the knife around in his hand and flung it over his shoulder. It stuck into Jax, right over his heart. Without looking back, Kayne smirked.

"Bulls eye. Now then, shall we?"

His expression grew serious as he examined her. He muttered what Korra thought was gibberish. He traced his fingers slightly above her body, making complex patterns.

"I see….I see…..Fascinating….I wonder."

He grinned at her.

"This may sting…A lot."

He pressed his index finger against her heart and twisted. Pain wracked her body and her veins sang with agony. It took all of her strength to remain conscious. She could barely hear Kayne's gleeful cackle over her own screams. As suddenly as it appeared, the pain vanished. Kayne had removed his finger. He was looking at something Korra couldn't see. His head was cocked to the side and he was frowning.

"I'm sorry but I have an unannounced interruption. We will have to continue this momentarily unless this interruption wasn't worth my time, in which I will need to permanently injure someone. Back in a moment."

He walked out of Korra's line of sight. She heard a strange whirring sound. She heard Kayne talking and realized that he was on the phone.

"This better be good….Well, if Amon wants me he can come get me himself. I am not some pet he can summon at his will….He found what?…No one touches the body until I get there."

She heard him hang up the phone and hurry out of the room. She was alone. She had no idea what he had planned for her, but she didn't want to find out. Then she remembered what Aang had said.

"Have faith in your friends."

As much as she hated it, Korra knew the only way that she would ever escape, is if she waited for rescue. In the mean time, she would have to just have to endure the torture that Kayne-Her thoughts trailed off as she heard the door open. Korra mentally prepared herself for the worst. A small, dirty face appeared in front of her. It smiled a toothy grin.

"Hey there. You look like you could use a hand." The boy hurried around and undid Korra's restraints. She sat up, rubbing her wrists.

"Thanks. I owe you more than you know. Wait…I know you. You forced Mako to pay you for information when Bolin was kidnapped."

The boy shuffled his feet a bit.

"Well…When you live on the street, any money you can get means you can live another day. Name's Skoochy, by the way."

Korra shook his hand.

"Korra. Got a way out?"

"Sure, but I think we should get Mako first."

"Right. That first. You know where he is?"

Skoochy nodded.

"Follow me. We need to be quick. I don't know just how long my distraction will work."

Korra nodded. She started out the door, then realized Skoochy hadn't moved.

"What?"

Skoochy looked down, blushing.

"You might want to put some clothes on first."

Korra found herself blushing as well.

"Ah. Right. Good idea."

She salvaged as much clothing as she could. It wasn't much, but it was enough.

"Ok. Let's go."

The two rushed off to find Mako.

Mako ran as fast as he could. Korra was reaching for him, calling his name. He needed to reach her before she faded to the darkness. She reached for him, her eyes pleading…Mako jolted awake. He was sweating and his head was throbbing. All in a flash, he remembered what happened to him and how he got there. He tried to stand, but he was chained to the ground by his wrists. He cried out for help, but he knew that it wouldn't do much. He wondered how long it's been since he was brought to…Wherever he was. He remembered vaguely a chi blocker mentioning Avatar Aang Memorial Island. His head throbbed whenever he tried to think hard. He had no idea what he was going to do.

"I'm sorry Korra…I failed you…"

"Oh, your being to hard on yourself. You haven't failed me just yet."

"Korra?"

He looked around and there she was, standing in the doorway. She looked horrible. She looked tired, battered, dirty, and bruised. But she was alive. And she was smiling at him. Mako felt tears of relief stinging his eyes.

"This feel backwards, don't you think?"

She chuckled softly as she undid his restraints.

"I'll sweep you off your feet later. For now, let's just focus on getting out of here."

He grabbed her hand as she moved to stand up.

"Korra…"

He looked into her eyes. He remembered just how close he was to losing her. His emotions were in turmoil as he scrambled to find the right words.

"I…Well…I'm glad your ok."

She smiled. His heart leapt as her eyes sparkled.

"Me too. Come on. Let's go."

She pulled him to his feet. The left the cell to find a very amused Skoochy leaning up against the door.

"Oh, you done makin' out? Cuz I wanna get out of here as soon as possible, if that's ok with you guys."

The pair blushed and looked away from each other. Mako cleared his throat.

"So, any idea how we get out of here?"

Skoochy nodded.

"I got an escape route marked out. Follow me."

The three of them started off. Skoochy led them through tunnels filled with cells similar to their own. Korra looked around.

"Wait, what about the other members of the Task Force? Where are they?"

Skoochy shook his head.

"I don't know where they are. This complex is bigger that you think. They're probably in a different section."

"Skoochy, how do you know all this?"

He pulled out a rolled up piece of paper.

"Map. Nicked it off of a chi blocker on my way in."

At that moment, their was a strange crackling noise, and they all looked around. A voice came out of nowhere.

"THERE IS AN INTRUDER IN THE COMPLEX. THE AVATAR HAS ESCAPED-"

There was a jostling and then Kayne's voice screamed.

"I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE OTHER BRATS. KILL THEM IF YOU WANT BUT BRING ME THE AVATAR!"

The three looked at each other.

"We need to get out of here. Now."

Skoochy pulled out his map.

"I'm on it."

With Skoochy in the lead, the three navigated the complex, avoiding as many checkpoints as possible. Unfortunately, their luck ran out. They turned a corner, and almost collided with a patrol of chi blockers. Within moments, the groups sprang into action. Mako unleashed a torrent of flames at the patrol as Korra and Skoochy threw boulders at them. The chi blockers dodged and evaded every attack. Korra saw an opening and took it. She twisted her wrist and trapped two of the chi blocker's feet. They were quickly dropped by fireballs from Mako. The other two threw down smoke bombs and disappeared into the smoke. After the smoke cleared, the three of them were alone. They looked around for any sign of the chi blockers, but they were gone. Skoochy frantically scanned the map.

"Ok, if we head down this path. there is a giant storage area that has an elevator that leads to the surface. Now, we need to be careful because of-"

Mako shushed Skoochy.

"You hear that?"

All three of them listened closely. The sound of padded footfalls echoed down the hallway. Skoochy paled.

"Re-enforcements. Lots of them. Run!"

All three of them bolted down the hallway. They ran as fast as they could, flying past cells, labs, supply closets, and personal quarters. They turned a corner and saw a huge doorway that led into the giant storage area. As they started toward it, a door behind them opened and two chi blockers rushed out, followed by Kayne.

"I grow tired of this little game. GET THEM!"

Korra turned as the chi blockers reached them. She began to shoot a jet of flames, but the chi blocker was faster. He caught her arm and the flames stopped, her arm dangled useless by her side. She flipped backward and slammed a rock into the chi blocker's chin. As she landed, she saw Mako doing battle with the other as Skoochy took on Kayne. Korra was unpleasantly surprised to see that the crazed scientist was a decent fighter. He laughed as he dodged everything that Skoochy threw at him. Mako quickly came to the rescue after dispatching the other chi blocker. Together they drove Kayne against the wall and, with one well timed duel attack, took him down. Kayne fell to his knees panting.

"No…Not yet…My research…"

Skoochy and Mako hurried over to Korra.

"Korra, you alright?"

Korra nodded. She could already feel the numbness leaving her arm.

"I'll be fine. We need to go."

They turned to leave.

"NO!"

Many things happened in quick succession. She heard Kayne's infuriated scream, a faint whistle, Skoochy's cry of "Mako, look out!", and the noise of heavy earth being moved. Next thing she knew, Mako had crashed into her and they were both on the ground. They untangled themselves from each other and looked up. Kayne was unconscious, the boulder Skoochy hit him with lying beside his body. Skoochy was standing there, his back towards Mako and Korra.

"Mako, you ok?"

Skoochy's voice sounded strangely quiet.

"Yeah, I'm fine. What's wrong?"

It was as if Skoochy didn't even hear the second question.

"That's…That's good."

Skoochy fell to his knees, and The two could easily see the dagger protruding from Skoochy's chest, right where his heart was.

End Chapter 5 Part 1

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Next-Chapter 5: Declaration of War Part 2