Author Notes
Thanks so much for the crazy amount of support after just one chapter! Really appreciate it!
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Gotta a couple of character POV's in this one. Needs to be that way in order for this story to work, plus it's nice to have so many different things going on at once. Korrasami will still be the main focus of this though.
Two decades of neglect hadn't left this labyrinth of caves and caverns in very good shape, despite the fact that Red Lotus sympathisers had been living here all that time. In any regard, those amateurs had done a very poor job on the upkeep of this place. Salt water from the sea nearby had managed to squirm its way into every nook and cranny of their lair. Only the Avatar's specially made prison cell was totally water free, for good reasons. Apparently their loyal recruits were good for some of the construction work in all the years the organisations core leadership had been incarcerated.
Ghazan despised every minute of living here, especially after being trapped on a boat at sea for so long, the smell of salt water, the feeling of it on his skin when he went to sleep, it made his stomach churn. Sadly the Red Lotus had no where else to go. This was their main base of operations, far away from the Earth Queen and her soldiers, as far away from any of the world powers as possible whilst still staying connected to the mainland. No where else was more suitable for their revolutionary organisation to call home.
Not once had a dissenter escaped here. Not once had the military powers of the world every came close to discovering this place. Putting up with a little bit of dampness was hardly a huge price to pay for security and secrecy. And hopefully, inevitably, they'd all leave this place together when they were strong enough. When the Red Lotus would be the force for change Zaheer had dreamed of, what they'd all dreamed of.
All those years imprisoned had eroded Ghazan's resolve slightly with each passing sunset. The dream of total freedom was impossible, yet he kept himself in top physical condition, just in case some minor miracle occurred, that he was able to escape that retched boat. And then a miracle really had happened. Zaheer was given air bending. The cause is just. Zaheer was given air bending for a reason. And now they had the Avatar to boot.
Ghazan wasn't sure what Zaheer intended to do with that fierce teenager from the water tribe and it didn't appear that his life long friend was entirely certain of what was to be done with her either. Nothing good. We can't have a power crazy girl under our roof for long before she eventually brings the whole damn place down.
Zaheer stared across from him now as they sat down for some lunch. Small portions of rice and dried seaweed as per usual. "Tell me my brother, why did you bring two back from the Misty Palms Oasis?" their leader asked thoughtfully as he chewed before his expression hardened. "I do recall that I only asked you to collect the Avatar if I'm not mistaken?"
"You did," Ghazan grumbled as he took a large swig of sake. Least we don't have to ration that. A shipwrecked cargo boat had made sure they'd never run of the liquid, although Ghazan could probably drink the lot himself if he'd had a particularly terrible day. "I made an executive decision. This place is falling a part and we're living of shitty seaweed and rice day in and day out, just hoping that a real fancy boat will crash nearby and gift us with some better food before pirates get to it. We need money, Zaheer, especially if we're ever going to challenge that bitch in Ba Sing Se's leadership. If we ransom off that Sato girl to someone in Republic City we'll make a killing."
Zaheer shook his head sadly. "Oh Ghazan. I don't want you making anymore executive decisions without consulting myself beforehand. We cannot ransom the Sato girl for two, what I perceived were very obvious, reasons." Oh great. Another lecture from Zaheer. Ever since the man had become an air bender he seemed to have an excessive amount of moral lessons and wisdom to impart.
"Uhuh..." Ghazan replied distantly as he leaned back on his chair and folded his arms. A pain shot up his shoulder then. That damn polarbear dog. I wish I could've given it a better beating for this shit.
"First of all, ransoming her to anyone would expose our organisation, and at time when staying hidden is essential to our survival. It won't be long before the world realizes Korra is missing and go on the biggest man hunt since the Fire Nation searched for Avatar Aang. Secondly, Miss Sato doesn't have any family left to pay for her. Her mother was murdered and her father is in prison. Didn't you even think Ghazan?" Zaheer exhaled heavily as he made to stand up from the table.
"Alright, fine. I screwed up. Kill the bitch if you don't want an extra mouth to feed," Ghazan replied coldly as he took another large sip of sake and smirked slightly at the disdain on his friend's face. Zaheer was not a drinker, he never had been. Ghazan was pretty sure his heavy drinking habits infuriated this new air bending master, not that Zaheer ever actually said anything. Dealing with a drunk and brooding Ghazan was better than losing his loyalty and rare bending skills.
"That also isn't an option at the moment. I'm still contemplating my position on the Avatar. If we kill Miss Sato now that will adversely effect our options," Zaheer stated sternly as he finished his meal.
Ghazan's eyes widened dramatically. "What?! Please don't tell me you plan on keeping the Avatar alive?! Hell, you can't complain at me for stupid decisions if that's what you intend to do!"
Zaheer nodded in his usual understanding way that drove Ghazan insane. I can't even get angry with him. "I understand it's a risk, but we always planned on having Korra on our side, to help us bring down the old world order and clear a path for change."
"Yes, when she was a naïve kid! She's near enough an adult now with her own conformist values that have been drummed into her by the White Lotus and her other elemental teachers, like than indecisive air bender Tenzin. She's a lost cause, more than that, she's a danger to our entire organisation," Ghazan replied in disbelief, slamming his huge fists of the small wooden table in his rage.
"Korra hasn't conformed at all to the expectations this world had for her," Zaheer pointed out, still as calm as ice. "In Republic City, she was expected to support the council against the equalists, and even though she made sure that Amon's extreme views could never be implemented, she never openly supported the council either. She pursued change for the United Republic and she succeeded. Sadly, morons like President Raiko can still talk and buy their way into leadership."
"But-"
"And of course more recently she opened the spirit portals after thousands of years. They aren't many people who are happy about that choice, but she did it anyway," Zaheer leaned forward. "Korra has already been a force for considerable change, what she needs is someone to guide her, to show her how corrupt this world is and how the Avatar may play an integral role in bringing down those bureaucratic political systems."
"You mean you then. On your head be it," Ghazan grumbled. What Zaheer was suggesting was insanity, but who was Ghazan to argue? Everything they did bordered on insanity. The Red Lotus had taken a lot of risks in their lifetime.
Zaheer nodded as he began to clear away their bowls. "Of course. I wouldn't expect it any other way, but I refuse to give up how valuable the Avatar could be for our cause." Ghazan jokingly offered his friend some sake knowing fine well the man wouldn't take it. Zaheer almost smiled. That was an achievement in itself. "There are ways to test Korra's loyalty and break down her resolve."
Ghazan raised his eyebrows with interest. Since getting out of his mountaintop prison Zaheer had acquired a large collection of old Fire Nation military manuscripts from various traders, most of them black market dealers who operated a few miles away from the Red Lotus head quarters, on the coastline where authoritarian rule had been totally abandoned, or chased out as the locals would have you believe.
"Been doin' some book reading?" Ghazan teased as he tossed a small stone up and down before eventually trying to land it in a glass across the room. That became boring very quickly, so the lava bender began tossing it at the shabby Red Lotus banner hanging down from the low ceiling. That piece of cloth had been stuck there for decades. Longer than the current Avatar had been on this earth.
"The Fire Nation made some very interesting advancements in understanding the human psyche during the 100 year war along with their considerable technological achievements," Zaheer began as he returned to the table and took a seat.
"War does that," Ghazan replied quickly.
"Chaos does that."
"Before the Firelord ordered the total destruction of the air benders he tried to manipulate many of them, to turn them against their nation. He captured several air benders who weren't located in the hard to reach air temples and tried a whole number of physical torture techniques on them. He wanted them to assist him in taking the Air Temples before the Fire Nation would eventually wipe the air benders our. Physical torture proved to be fruitless, so they moved on and focused on the mind instead. His Generals would soon discover that psychological damage was much more severe than any physical pain. After days and weeks wearing down and destroying the air benders loyalty to their nation he had a blank canvas to work with. Those captured air benders were the Firelord's and no one else's to manipulate," Zaheer explained slowly. "He used those same air benders along with some of his own soldiers to infiltrate the Air Temples in secret and bring down the Air Nation from the inside. An ancient nation which had existed for thousands of years was wiped out in a few days, that included those same captured air benders who had been so vital in his success."
Ghazan grinned slightly. "Those poor bastards would've never suspected their own peaceful brothers and sisters would be the reason for their downfall."
"Yes. Those same psychological techniques were outlawed after the 100 year war along with blood bending," Zaheer agreed. "And it will be effective again. I will force Korra to abandon her old belief systems and loyalties. Once she loses all sense of herself she'll finally see the Red Lotus as the only good in this world of her own will."
"It all sounds like a bunch of garbage to me. I think that new air bending has went to your head," Ghazan retorted, getting off of his chair as he spoke. It was about time to do a round of the complex of caves and tunnels. Not that he ever found anything on those scouting missions.
"I understand your distrust Ghazan, but if Korra does step out of line, I can assure you. I will end her myself," Zaheer replied resolutely as he turned to look towards the small opening in the rock which was the entrance to this small cave near the top of the labyrinth.
Ming-Hua stood at the door. "That all sounds very final," the water bender murmured as she stepped inside. "I think you'll both be interested to know, the Avatar is awake, and she wants to speak to Zaheer."
Mako awoke with his face pressed against cold, wet stone. His entire body ached from head to toe terribly as he attempted to pull himself upwards.
"Ahh...my head...what...what happened...?" the detective grumbled to himself as he closed his trembling fingers over and felt water touching the tips. Water...water!
Mako wrenched himself to a sitting position and felt his torso scream out in pain. There was a small piece of wood embedded in his side. Thankfully it didn't appear to have gone in very deep. That armless water bender had really done a number on him and-
"Bolin!" Mako called in alarm as pieces of the night before began to return. Ming-Hua and Ghazan had showed up during their stakeout, and Asami had taken an unconscious Korra away from danger, leaving himself and his brother to hold the crazed kidnappers off. So much for that... The water bender had made short work of the pair of them which had allowed Ghazan to go after the Avatar. Hopefully Asami had managed to make enough distance between them that the huge lava bender hadn't caught up. If he did...oh god...Asami could never handle him...
Once the pain had stopped effecting his vision Mako stumbled to his feet, finding his brother lying on his back at the other side of the pool. He had a black eye and his clothes were ripped and soaking, but Bolin was breathing softly. He was alive. Mako exhaled heavily as he wrapped an arm under his brother's shoulder and pulled him upwards.
"Hey, Bo, it's me, how are you feeling?" Mako asked anxiously as he trudged towards the inns reception. Every step was agony. I need to get this piece of wood out asap or else it's gonna get infected.
Bolin began to stir in his grip. "Get off! the earth bender shouted and slapped Mako's shoulders before his green eyes began to focus. "Oh, Mako, sorry about that. I thought you were crazy lava guy for a sec."
"Do I look like crazy lava guy?"
"Sorta? I mean, you've both got that whole brooding thing going on," Bolin replied thoughtfully after he had inspected his siblings face. "That looks bad bro. We need to get you to a hospital or-"
"Korra, yeh. She's gone. Asami too. I don't know if they got away," Mako interrupted as they stumbled up to the inn reception, his younger sibling was doing most of the supporting now as Mako lost his footing slightly.
"They got away," Bolin assured softly as the receptionist stared at them with wide eyes. "Hey, you! Didn't you hear all that commotion last night?!"
The receptionist stared forward awkwardly. "I...I took the night off. Please don't tell my boss."
"Whatever," Mako grimaced as he leaned against the reception desk for support. "Let us use your phone and we won't be telling anyone."
"Ummm...sure, go ahead," the woman indicated as she pointed to a nearby phone.
As Mako dialled the number in for Lin's police radio Bolin made small talk with the receptionist. "Sooo...I'm guessing us teenagers lived up to your expectations of, well trashing our room, and a bunch of other rooms, and the whole pool area generally. It's fine. Don't worry about it. One of us is super rich. She'll cover the damage."
"Quiet Bo, I'm trying to listen!" Mako snarled as he waited for the lines to be connected.
"Mako, what the hell are you kids doing?!"
The young detective turned in direction of the stern voice to find his boss standing in the doorway of the inn, looking absolutely furious at that as she stormed forward and pulled Bolin and Mako outside with a fierce grip.
"I can't believe you dumped me in Zaofu, you idiots. You know how dangerous and stupid that was? Zaheer could've..." Lin began and then started to look around anxiously when she realized Team Avatar was missing two members.
"Korra and Asami. Where the hell are they?" the Chief asked with increasing concern when she finally took note of the brother's various injuries. "Tell me detective. Did you four confront Zaheer and his group alone?"
Mako nodded his head sombrely.
"Idiots!" Lin spat as she slapped Mako and Bolin's shoulders in unison. "Where is the Avatar?! Does Zaheer have Korra?!"
"We don't know," Mako began as he stared out to the desert in the distance. The sun was just rising. "Asami and Korra had to runaway on Naga when two of Zaheer's guys showed up at the inn. I don't know where they went after that, but I think Asami would've headed to Zaofu. Somewhere safe." Though that statement is barely true now.
"Well she never got there, I didn't see any sign of them on the way here. Either Miss Sato went off road or Zaheer got to them," Lin grumbled anxiously as she pulled out the microphone on her radio. "Tonraq, I'm in the Misty Palms Oasis. Korra and Asami are missing. Looks like Zaheer might've captured them."
Tonraq shouted something that Mako couldn't quite hear though he could probably guess.
"I'm going to try and follow their trail, get here as soon as you can," Lin finished as she glanced up to Mako. "Both of you, go and get yourselves seen to before you bleed out. I'm going to call Su and get as much of the metal clan here as possible. We need some serious backup. Once you're in a fit state meet me at the town entrance, we'll see if we can find anything on the road out of here."
Mako agreed reluctantly. He wanted to go out looking now, feeling increasingly responsible for what had happened. Or for what might have happened. Please be okay. Please be okay.
An hour later and Mako was walking tentatively up the hill that led to the Misty Palms Oasis, the small impact wound the piece of wood has created was in real danger of opening up again if he pushed himself. Not like I could stay seated.
This road didn't look so daunting now, in the warm light of day with the occasional cart or motor struggling through the dirt. Cabbage corp cars. Figures. It must've been a totally different game at night. How scared was Asami when she was running up here alone? With no way of knowing if she was being followed or not? Mako had said he'd hold Ghazan and Ming-Hua so that the girls would be safe.
He'd failed miserably.
"How you holding up bro?" Bolin inquired cautiously as they walked. He was maintaining a careful distance between himself and the police Chief who was marching forward like a woman possessed.
Mako barely even heard his brother, agonizing over those last few moments before Asami and Korra had disappeared into the night. What would Tonraq say when he arrived? The water tribe chief would be furious for sure. Mako hadn't protected his daughter very well. That was unforgivable. "I'm okay, I just want to find them."
"Me too," Bolin replied sadly before holding both his brother's shoulders reassuringly. "But we will. Don't worry about it. Besides, Asami and Korra are a crazy strong duo. They'll protect each other."
Mako nodded slowly. That was something he could definitely agree with. His ex's got on really well these days and were obviously very close. Best friends. He admired them both for that, to be able to move of from both of their relationships much more quickly than he had. Still, he was finally losing the awkwardness. The team really felt like a team now. No divisions or jealousy. Just a group of friends saving the world. Totally normal teenagers.
"Don't go feeling guilty now," Bolin interrupted when he noticed Mako's silence. "This isn't your fault. You came up with a plan, a good plan, the only plan. You gave them a chance. Neither of us could've done anymore to stop lava guy and water arm lady. We did our best. Korra wouldn't expect anymore of us."
"There has to be something I could've done differently," Mako berated as he shook himself. He'd almost rather this was his fault, his mistake, rather than just being weaker than Ghazan and Ming-Hua, not being strong enough to protect the people he loved as per usual.
"There wasn't," Bolin replied with uncharacteristic firmness.
Suddenly his brother disappeared behind a haze of white and Mako summoned a ball of fire into his hands.
"Wooohh!" Bolin called in surprise as he was bundled to the floor before he noted his amber eyed siblings aggressive stance. "Cool it hot head! It's just Naga!"
Mako exhaled a breath of relief as the polarbear dog licked Bolin's face mercilessly. That was indeed Korra's huge, ridiculous friend. "Hey girl, mind releasing my little bro? He's sort of fragile." Naga complied immediately, running up to Mako instead and nearly knocking the detective off of his feet. "Wow, calm down girl. It's good to see you as well. Now...where are Korra and Asami?"
Lin started strolling over to them, she pulled some metal from the beast's dirty white fur. "Tranquillizer darts. Six of them. Looks like the same ones Zaheer used to disable Korra in Zaofu," the Chief noted grimly.
Mako's gut twisted horribly.
That confirmed it then. Zaheer's group had gotten to Asami before she'd gotten Korra away to safety. They barely got beyond the town...we really let them down...I really let them down. This was his responsibility.
But he would find them no matter how long it took. This was a good a place as any to start that search.
Mako had taken part in the analyse of a crime scene many times before, but those were normally confined to a room, a building. Some man made structure in Republic City, not out in the open, in the middle of nowhere really, where all evidence could've been lost in a few hours or at the very least contaminated.
"Six darts...and none of them fired on any concentrated location on Naga's fur like in Zaofu," Lin noted as she pulled the jagged devices gently from the dog's pelt.
"Fired in a panic then," Mako rationalized as he examined the nearby marks in the dirt. "Ghazan had more of a fight than he bargained for." Mako couldn't help but grin slightly then, feeling some pride in the fact that Asami clearly hadn't let Korra go without a fight. For a non bender she's freakin insanely skilled in fighting.
"There's blood in the dirt, and on the edge of Naga's mouth," Mako noted as he crouched down. "Looks like Naga took a bite out of Ghazan or one of his men, but knowing that guy, he probably took on the polarbear dog all by himself. Idiot."
"Over here!" Bolin called as he picked something small and shiny out of the dirt.
Oh no...
"This is Asami's isn't it...?" Bolin asked anxiously as he passed the object over to his brother.
"Yeh...that's her hair pin," Mako noted sadly. The little, light blue pin was covered in blood. There was no telling who exactly that blood belonged to. He had a grim feeling it was probably the black haired engineer's, knowing Asami. That girl wouldn't surrender for anyone. Not even her dad...
Mako showed Lin the pin briefly before he sealed it carefully in his pocket and kept his hand over it.
"Alright, you!" Chief Beifong commanded as she pointed to Naga. "Sniff out your owner!"
Naga's start was optimistic as the beast put her nose against the dirt and began to wander around. Then it quickly became apparent that the Avatar's companion was going in full circles before the dog stopped entirely and sat on its back legs. Naga's efforts had made her dizzy. Damn it. How the hell are we going to find them if we don't even have a trail to start with?
"Either there's no trail to follow or that toxin in those darts has messed with Naga's senses," Mako explained as he hit his head with the back of his hands.
"Alright..." Lin spoke softly as she looked back to the settlement below. "There's nothing we can do here. Let's get back to the town and wait for the others to arrive. Then we can come up with a plan. We won't let Zaheer keep our people very long."
Mako and Bolin both nodded sadly as they followed the Chief slowly.
Tonraq's going to kill me.
Asami shoved the haphazard plasma saw under her stained bedding as she shifted cautiously towards the door of her cell, staying on the balls of her feet to keep as quiet as possible. The hole between herself and Korra's cell was getting larger now, enough that she could stick four fingers through and actually see a good portion of the Avatar's face. That was a welcome relief after the days of hell Asami had endured whilst her friend had been unconscious. Zaheer had been so frustrated in that time.
The hole on the bottom of her own cell was progressing nicely as well but the damn saw was nearly out of juice. She desperately needed a new battery to continue with their escape plan. Asami couldn't help but think of her father whilst trapped in here. Could her dad have come up with the same solution if he was put in her place? Would he be proud of her ingenuity? Even if he was...He'd hate you for crushing like a teenager on the Avatar. The BENDER of all benders.
It was the sound of several footsteps approaching that had grabbed Asami's attention as she leaned against her cell door and peered out of the hatch. Several Red Lotus members were coming. It was an inevitability once one of the guards had realized the Avatar was awake.
From the small gap in the hatch Asami could see a little portion of the rest of this lair. It was old, really, really old. A maze of caves and tunnels. The smell of salt in the air was over powering at times. Most notably, there was some unusual imagery engraved into walls high above, symbols Asami remembered from her time in private education in Republic City. That was the way the people of the Earth Kingdom used to write many hundreds of years ago. When the world had became more integrated, the country abandoned its old language for something more universal. How the hell did the Red Lotus every find this place? It's a ruin...
Zaheer was amongst the group of Red Lotus approaching, a stern but determined expression on his face. It made Asami's blood run cold. For an air bender, this man was incredibly threatening, nothing like stubborn but well meaning Tenzin.
"Korra. Nice of you to finally join us," Zaheer spoke softly as he stopped outside the Avatar's cell.
"Zaheer. Look, I – I want to talk to you," Korra began, following the start of the escape plan as best she could. Convince Zaheer of her loyalty. That would be incredibly difficult.
"You are talking right now," Ming Hua pointed out before a raised hand from her leader silenced her.
"We will talk Korra, I give you my word," Zaheer replied calmly. That means absolutely nothing. "Come to the front of your cell, and don't do anything stupid."
Asami tensed her arms as she heard Korra's cautious footsteps through the wall. What was Zaheer planning? "I swear. I won't do anything," the Avatar replied firmly as she stopped at the hatch, waiting for the Red Lotus to open it.
"Do it."
Asami gasped in horror as she spotted a familiar device in the hands of one of the Red Lotus. An electrified coil, the exact same one Amon and his chi-blockers used. She hadn't anticipated for one second that her father's inventions would haunt her here.
"Korra get back!" Asami shrieked in panic as she watched blue light pulse down the black wire of the coil.
The warning came too late.
The coil whipped through the open hatch before Asami heard it crackle when it made contact with the Avatar. Korra cried out in pain for a few seconds as blue light shimmered on the metal floor of the engineer's cell. An agonizing eternity later and the sound of Korra's dropping to her knees and then flopping over entirely thudded in the air.
"Leave her alone!" Asami called as she slammed her fists incessantly against her cell door, barely registering how bloody her knuckles became after a few solid hits.
"This again," Ghazan grumbled as he punched his fist into the outside of Asami's cell door. "You didn't do a very good job stopping me last time."
Asami was about to shout something back in retaliation when she spotted some of the Red Lotus opening Korra's cell door slowly. The hole! The engineer sprinted to the back of her cell and hastily shoved the separated piece of platinum back over the hole she'd cut, catching a glance of an unconscious Korra on the floor which halted her momentarily. Her heart ached painfully at the sight.
"Put the Avatar in chains for the next two days. I don't want you to let her sleep for one second or have any food or water," Zaheer commanded coldly.
Asami felt herself ready to shout again but stopped herself. The last thing either of them needed was for a Red Lotus guard to come in here and foil their escape plan. Instead, the engineer gritted her teeth furiously at her inability to do anything for the Avatar, her best friend. So useless. So completely useless.
What was Zaheer planning anyway? Why was he torturing Korra for no reason? This didn't make any sense.
A few minutes later and the Avatar was chained up tightly, most of the Red Lotus had moved away as Korra's door cell was slammed shut. Bastards. Monsters. How are these people even human?
Only Ghazan and Zaheer remained.
"So this is the start of your blank canvas?" Ghazan questioned with interest as he crossed his rippling arms.
Zaheer simply nodded as he began to walk slowly away, being join by the huge combustion bender P'li. How can she love a monster? Unless she's just a monster too. Then Asami reminded herself how much she still loved her father. The engineer was in no position to judge on that issue.
"Oh Korra..." Asami whispered softly to herself as he pulled the metal plating back off the wall. The Avatar was tightly bound by chains against the back of her own cell, totally unconscious. "I'll make them pay. I swear to you. I'll get you out of here."
End Notes
Thoughts would be much appreciated! I love you guys already for all the interest and input so far! Keep it up :D
-What Zaheer's talking about in terms of a 'blank canvas', what he's actually referring to his a technique called 'deprogramming'.