Chapter 5: 'The First Crack'

"It's weird, being away from Zaofu for so long. I guess I really got used to never seeing the night sky. Still, metal domes serve a purpose and have a certain comfort," Kuvira mumbled distantly as she leaned against the balcony. The sky above them was awash with colour and light that stretched on for miles and miles. It was strange for Mako as well. The sky in Republic City was always so bland because of light pollution. That, and it was silhouetted by skyscrapers. Here the skyscrapers were all natural.

"Yeah, with a view like this, it's easy to forget how close the world is from falling into chaos," Mako replied distantly as he admired the mountain ranges ahead before taking a sip from his tea, exhaling heavily a moment later. "But it's not so easy to forget my friends are in danger, my brother as well. Not even the prettiest view in the Four Nations could do that."

Kuvira nodded her agreement as she turned to face him. "Most of the world just goes on as normal, even when there's revolutions and wars. Ordinary people just get on with it."

"Nothing about my friends is ordinary."

"The Avatar and CEO of the world's biggest company? Yeh, I doubt they'll ever get much peace."

"No, probably not," Mako admitted sadly. "But neither of them deserve to be some play thing for the Red Lotus. At least when they're involved in the chaos, they have a choice. Zaheer won't give them that."

"Getting to choose how you go out? That'd be nice," Kuvira replied softly. "Getting to choose anything at all. That's a luxury ordinary people don't get much shot at, they just drift along with the chaos, whatever hellish path it takes them." The grimness of the Captain's tone suggested she was speaking from experience here.

A deep throated cough from behind made Mako's hair stand on end as he spun around. Oh...it was just Tonraq. Not really the person Mako wanted to speak to at this moment in time since talking to him required actual words, and right now, Mako still didn't know what to say to the Water Tribe Chief. The detective was starting to resign himself to the opinion that there probably wasn't anything good he could say.

"Captain Kuvira, would I be able to speak to Mako alone?" Tonraq asked with folded arms.

"Of course." Kuvira bowed slightly before she shot a sympathetic glance towards Mako and a sort of 'good luck' smile. The Zaofu Captain then swiftly exited with arms folded rigidly behind her back.

Tonraq's heavy foot steps approached.

He's going to throw me off of here. Could I fire bend away? Maybe? Maybe I should just jump off myself...take my chances with the sky.

Mako shuffled awkwardly as he turned to face the huge man. "Is there word from Chief Beifong?"

Tonraq nodded his head as he stared out at the mountains, his muscular arms were trembling ever so slightly. "Lord Zuko sent over all remaining files his government had on the Red Lotus. They contain some very worrying information."

"Like what?"

"My brother, it seems that he was under investigation as a possible member of the Red Lotus. However the task force pulled out, the leads they had on Unalaq were too vague, and well, you can imagine the kind of international tension that'd be caused if the Fire Nation were found to be investigating the head of the Northern Water Tribe."

Mako shook his head bitterly. "War. I can't believe Unalaq would be involved with Zaheer. But then I didn't think he'd turn into a dark Avatar and try to bring eternal darkness. Actually thinking about it, he'd be the perfect sort of mad man Zaheer would work with. Plus his position of power would-"

Tonraq was bristling now and then Mako realized how much he was insulting this man's brother. "Oh, sorry, Tonraq, sir. I didn't-"

"No, you're right. Unalaq was a mad man who tried to kill his niece. That kind of betrayal of blood is one I can never forgive," Tonraq interrupted sharply. So he was shaking with anger then, and at Unalaq, not Mako. That gave the detective a chance to breath.

"So, what do we do now? If Unalaq was a member of the Red Lotus then other people in the Northern Water Tribe might be involved. There could still be Red Lotus cells operating in secret, if we can catch them maybe they can lead us to Korra and Asami," Mako reasoned as his mind began to race, blood rushing to his head. This was the first time in days that he'd felt they were finally catching up to Zaheer. It was a chance.

"That'd be the theory, but investigating the remaining hierarchy of the Northern Water Tribe without more concrete information could be dangerous. The files were vague. We could fumbling in the dark and alert the Red Lotus in our carelessness. Then they'll go into hiding, just like they did when Zaheer was imprisoned," Tonraq explained grimly. "But I can't stand waiting around here any longer. We'll go to the North as diplomatic guests of my nephew and niece, the word 'investigation' won't cross any of our lips."

Mako curled his lip into a smile unconsciously. It seemed like Tonraq was just as willing to defy the law as his daughter. "Good plan. We'll keep in contact with the Air Temple in case Jinora comes up with anything."

"Get Captain Kuvira to ready a ship, we leave here for the North tonight. I won't let the Red Lotus slip away this time," Tonraq ordered as he marched off the balcony, stopping briefly at the door frame. "And I'm not angry with you, Mako. Maybe that'll stop you acting like I'm going to cleave your head off with ice every time we're in the same room."

Mako scratched his black hair in confusion. "You're definitely not angry with me? Are you sure?"

"Why would I be? You didn't kidnap my daughter. You tried your best to protect her I have absolutely no doubt," Tonraq replied resolutely.

"Yeh, both of them. And I'll get them back. I don't care how long it takes," Mako nodded firmly.

"I expect nothing less."

Three days.

It'd been three days since Asami's confrontation with Korra, or 'not Korra', or Rei, or whatever the hell pet name Zaheer was giving the Avatar.

In those three days Asami had been confined to her cell with a pounding headache curtsy of Ghazan and her own reluctance to go back to imprisonment peacefully. She didn't regret her actions though, not for one second, even though the pain in her skull was still bothersome. After seeing Korra...like that...reduced to a half dead phantom, Asami would've brought the whole cave down if it'd been in her power. Burying herself and all the monsters who dwelled here.

The engineer pulled the increasingly dirty cloth of her bed upwards slightly, peering down the small hole in the platinum floor. It was so dark down there, impossible to see the bottom, but a quick dropping of the remainder of her goggles had allowed her to calculate the distance. 3 meters. A fall she could survive, with a maybe a couple of broken bones. The splashing sound she'd heard during the test also confirmed Korra's initial assessment when they'd first arrived here. There was a stream below them, probably leading to the sea. The best escape route they could possibly hope for.

"Escape..." Asami mumbled to herself as she stared at the platinum wall directly in front of her. She'd been doing that a lot recently. Speaking out loud. Talking to herself. The longer she was in here, the harder it was becoming to process anything internally. Even the escape plan.

But now Asami was alone. That was meant to be an escape plan for both of them. The small hole in the wall of what was once Korra's cell across the room a reminder of that. Even if she wanted to, escaping herself was now impossible anyway. She needed fresh batteries for her plasma saw, and maybe some more of that mercury stuff Zaheer had used to poison in the first two days of imprisonment. The dark liquid was good for burning, and Zaheer had failed to notice her stealing some of that horrible stuff after the first round of questioning. It probably wouldn't be so easy a second time.

"Escape. I won't die in prison. Not like you dad..." Asami continued quietly as she scraped the floor with the buckle from one of her boots. "I haven't killed anyone yet. But I will. If that's the only way I can get Korra out of here. I'll kill everyone in this maze."

The corner of the buckle was razor sharp after an hour of quiet scraping. Enough to cut anyone in here, bender or non bender. And it was small enough that she could conceal it between her knuckles, the lethal edge sticking outwards. Ghazan was the obvious target. He'd caused her the greatest pain. But Zaheer was the one who had to die. He was their leader, even if the Red Lotus shied away from such titles and power structures. Zaheer was in charge. Without him, maybe she could break Korra out of whatever trance she was under.

If that was still possible. What if her Korra was gone forever? I never got to...another person taken away from me.

That thought was abruptly interrupted by heavy fists clanging against the metal door of her cell. Ghazan. Cautiously, Asami slipped the sharpened buckle between the knuckles of her right hand and stepped forward lightly. Perhaps the lava bender was here to kill her finally. He wouldn't escape that confrontation unharmed. If she was quick she could slice at his neck.

"Sato. Door. Now."

"Why?"

Ghazan snorted loudly. "Why? I don't remember saying you could ask questions, or talk at all."

Asami held her hands behind her back, keeping her weapon concealed until she found an opening. "And I don't remember when I ever started listening to you, monster."

"Pfffftt! Feeling a bit courageous are we? Rebellious even? Is this because of the whole 'thing' with the Avatar?" Ghazan replied with a taunting edge. "She's not worth it I can assure you. Barely even put up a fight."

"You're lying. Now tell me what the hell you want or leave," Asami spat with venom. Ghazan brushed off what they'd done to Korra with such ease, like they'd accidentally picked the Avatar up late for an event rather than warped Korra's mind. When had these people discarded their humanity?

"Work duty. A little bat bird told me that you were the most talented engineer in Republic City," Ghazan replied casually. "You eat our food, drink our water. Time you gave something back to the Red Lotus. Zaheer's suggestion actually, this place is starting to fall a part and well, that's hardly good for group morale now is it?"

"I'm your prisoner, not your slave."

"Semitics. Now get to the damn door."

Asami remained silent but did step forward as the heavy platinum door was pulled open by a Red Lotus sentry, not Ghazan himself. More people in her way.

The lava bender raised an eyebrow as Asami approached him with purpose. "Eager worker I see. Now show me your hands."

Damn it. Does he know about the buckle? If he does...this is the end of the line.

Asami raised her hands hesitantly, infuriated with herself when she saw just how much her arms were trembling. So much for being brave.

Ghazan grew tired of her slow pace in an instant and grabbed her right hand, wrenching her fingers open with ease. He pulled the sharpened the belt buckle to his eye and inspected it with interest. "Crafty." Then he lowered the lethal edge to the skin of his forearm and cut in a decisive motion, instantly drawing a small stream of blood to seep from the wound. "And deadly. But did you really think I wouldn't sense this little piece of metal? Earth bender. Remember?"

"Kill me then."

Ghazan lowered a hand onto her back and again Asami found herself trembling, despite how resolute her voice had sounded a second before. "And give you what you want? No. Zaheer wants you alive. He wants your assistance. Now, get moving." He shoved her forward with a powerful push. "Barracks first. You can sort out that bloody damp problem. I hate having wet bedding."

"No. Take me to Korra or kill me."

"Korra..." Ghazan smirked as he leaned into her face, the smell of ale on his breath was stifling. "Can't say I know her. But Rei, what a nice, obedient girl she is, you're welcome to speak to her."

Asami's eyes widened with fury as she recoiled away from the huge lava bender with clenched fists. "This is a trick! A trap! You nearly broke my ribs pulling me away from her a couple of days ago!"

"Only 'nearly'? Damn! I really thought I was pulling you hard then. Guess you're more sturdy than I thought Sato," Ghazan said with folded arms before he placed his hands on her shoulders with a strangely light touch. "Things have changed. My bald friend has decreed that you may speak to Rei, but only if your conversations meet certain - guidelines." He tightened his grip.

"Guidelines?"

"Simple to follow for a genius like you," Ghazan mocked as he pocked her in the forehead. "Rule number one. You don't address Rei by her correct name."

"So you admit there's a corr-"

Ghazan pushed her to the ground with ease and continued his lecture from above. "Rule number two. You don't speak to Rei about her past. As far as she's concerned, you two don't know each other. Rule number three, who you are. As far as you're concerned, you ain't the CEO of Future Industries. You're our engineer who tried to betray us. Now you're our prisoner. Guess that last part's sorta true."

"So who the hell am I, am I still Asami Sato?"

"Sure thing. You're name is still Sato." The way Ghazan said it churned her stomach. "But the rest of you, your past, your skills, your everything. None of that is true any more. You are a tool of the Red Lotus. Make sure Rei is made fully aware of that. Rule number four. You listen to what I say. If I tell you to leave a conversation, you leave. No second guessing me or any of your former Red Lotus comrades."

"And what happens if I break your guidelines?"

Ghazan pulled her bodily from the ground by her shoulders. "You die. The Avatar dies. I hear even a whisper that you've been mouthing off about any of this stuff, you're both for the chopping block. And I won't make it quick either. I can promise you that. How would you like to watch your precious Avatar end in agony?"

Asami exhaled heavily at that image. To watch Korra die would be the last straw, the thing that would truly end her.

But she needed some control here, even if it was only a little, it was more than she'd had up to this point. Ghazan or one of the Red Lotus would keep their eye on her for sure, but they were bound to slip up at some point. If she could do the right things for them, fix what was broken, then maybe some of the more inexperienced group members would cut her some slack. She could steal what was still required for the plasma saw.

As for talking to Korra. That was a nightmarish thought. Speaking to a total stranger with your best friend's face, your best friend's voice. It was something Asami prayed didn't come to haunt her in later life, if that was still a possibility. Still, perhaps Zaheer even allowing her such a privilege, even if she had to guard what she was saying, was the start of those slip ups. A mistake made in his over righteousness as a new air bender could offer Asami a way into Korra's head, even if no one else realized it.

That was if there was any of Korra left to salvage.

Asami, this Asami, a Red Lotus dissenter, would become the Avatar's friend all over again. And she'd do it without using any of their past history or the wonderful experiences they'd already shared. As a business woman she knew people well, how to read them, manipulate them if necessary. And she happened to know Korra very well.

Hopefully that'd be enough, to put just a small crack in the walls Zaheer had constructed in Korra's mind. Enough that Asami, the real Asami, could find a way in, and bring Korra back, or whatever was left.

Ghazan stared at her with narrowed brows, releasing his grip on her shoulders but still keeping their bodies close together.

"So, what do you say, Sato? Work or die? I really don't mind if you choose the latter."

Asami folded her arms tightly, more for self assurance than a display of false confidence. "Show me what needs fixing."

Author Notes

Thank you for reading and commenting and everything else you've been doing so far!

Oh the double meaning of that last line. There's only one thing Asami wants to fix. Her bae.

I'm now quite invested in the idea that Zaheer's recent successes are going to his head, along with the whole new air bender thing. We know in canon he thought that proved his cause just, and I'm just amplifying it a bit more in this story. He believes that because he was chosen that he's not capable of mistakes, or that because his path is just, it cannot fail. The 'universe' wants him to win.

But then he's severely underestimated Asami Fucking Sato. (Can you tell I've recently finished reading 'Republic City Blues'? You should go and check it out.) I think this Asami needs some of that Asami if she's going to survive and save Korra in the process, because she is going to have to sacrifice some of her humanity if she is going to succeed.

Anyways, hope you're still enjoying this story. So much things are going to happen and I'm very excited. Please leave feedback, however little. It's all appreciated greatly and the ultimate motivation.

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