A/N: I am soooooooo sorry it took so long to upload this. It makes me feel like a bad person. In my defense, I was over at my dad's for a 3-day weekend last weekend so that meant no writing Sunday and no time Monday. Tuesday I wrote half, but it was too short... and then I had a 2-day math test and an AP History test. So yeah, busy busy week. But I am uploading now and I am happy! Sorry for any typos, my editing was somewhat lacking in my excitement to get this uploaded. Reviews are appreciated a lot!
Special thanks to ContractKillerN01 and Chrosis for the lovely feedback. I hope that you keep enjoying reading it as much as I enjoy writing it.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my imagination and my addiction to wild cherry flavored tick-tacks and the two boxes that satiate it.
Previously on Events Unexpected…
The music was soon drowned out by screams of surprise and then horror as glass erupted throughout the chamber. Bodies dropped to the floor in an attempt to shield themselves from the shards raining down on them. Black garbed men burst through the holes in the window panes, rushing with incredible speed toward the panicked party guests.
Korra's limbs felt leaden as the ice particles flew toward her exposed body, the dress itself holding her captive better than any chains. The only thoughts running through her head were questions about why waterbenders were attacking them. A violent force knocked her off of her feet, crushing her painfully into the floor. Her head made contact with the cold marble and she felt her vision blur in a moment's confusion of the senses.
The masked man slung Kaji precariously over her shoulder and gave a muffled call to his companions. Kaji inwardly smirked at the bemused expression that was on Minister Aroostook's face as the assassins took him gently by the arms and escorted him to one of the broken windows. Together they entered the awaiting zeppelin that would provide their escape.
"My ultimate goals do not concern you at this point. As for what I want with you… well, you are going to help me start a global war," Kaji grinned.
"I'll do no such thing!" Aroostook found his courage, though his voice shook more than he would have liked.
"Agent Kain, if you would please make our Minister a bit more cooperative."
"Well, let us begin," she said, reaching for him.
The man was but a shadow amongst the granite walls of the building he leaned against. The dark awning and the relative lack of street lighting in the particular area, thanks to some knowledge of short-circuiting wires, made him practically invisible to any and all midnight strollers. Thankfully there weren't very many of those around.
The particular apartment that he was looking for was located on the third story of the building parallel to his position. With an almost inhuman flexibility and agility, he jumped onto the first-story window pane, then the second, then third. He crouched on the balls of his feet- the 4-inch ledge not offering footing for much else. A small metal tool was procured from the many folds in his black waist-length coat. It looked no bigger than a nail file and was about as wide and thick. When carefully inserted just below the window, and moved around slightly to loosen any bolts or locks, it had the desirable effect of popping it open with ease. The man's face showed no signs of triumph or pleasure when the welcome 'click' came and the window lay unbarred before him. It was not his first time at this after all. A stray blonde hair slipped out from under the wrappings that hid his head from the elements and the eyes of onlookers. His piercing luminescent eyes twinkled whilst taking in all of the room's contents.
A hardwood desk, glittering with a well-kept finish, was the central figure amongst surrounding bookcases displaying a variety of literature on the theory of political science and law. Papers were meticulously stacked in orders of indiscernible categorization. He held no interest in the mundane workings of a mediocre politician and only spent what time was necessary in analysis before stepping onto the spongy white rug that covered the expanse of the room. His steps left no imprints as he snuck over to the mahogany piece of furniture. Gloved hands pulled out the chair with the most delicate of touches, making sure to hold it aloft with one hand as he searched the bottom of the desk with the other. Most men of government that he knew would keep a hidden compartment accessible to the right hand if it were slipped in just the correct fashion… or perhaps the left if their dear Tribesman was left-handed.
A small pressure against a certain portion of the wood was all it took to give away the small hollow. The clasp was internal as could be discerned by the resistance it gave whenever he pressed hard enough to hit it against the top interior. The man pressed up with a little more vehemence in an attempt to nudge the lock open. He heard the satisfying sound of metal scraping against metal a mere second before he felt the hidden flap give way. The documents were attached to the small plank with a sort of tape that was adhesive enough to the wood without being too attached to the documents themselves. Still able to use only one hand, the thief reached into the pouch and pulled out the three letters it held. Two were pale white, holding the Northern Chief's seal, and seemed to be proof of Aroostook's appointment as the official representative of the Northern Water Tribe. Those were carefully placed back. Such documents would be needed to kindle the sparks of doubt that were believably running rampant amongst those still left at the former Sato Estate. The third paper was concealed in a dark blue envelope with a red sash tied around it, the mark of something important. Balancing his weight on the table, the black-clad man lifted his knee perpendicular to the floor and placed the chair over it so as to keep it suspended. His remaining foot sank ever so slightly down into the confines of the carpet. The letter within his hands was quickly undressed from its wrappings and held up to the faint starlight that drifted through the windows. He somewhat regretted not bringing the night-vision goggles but their greenish hue had always annoyed him somewhat. Cold blue eyes moved over the fine black print upon the leafy pages within his grip.
To his utter boredom it turned out to be nothing more than a list of names and contacts that would be helpful to their hostage as he made his way amongst the political bodies of the day and age. Still, it could be of some value in the end. He tucked the script into another pocket, larger than the one containing his file, and proceeded to take out another set of papers from within his inner breast pocket. It was truly perfect that he should find the red-striped letter at that time; now all he had to do was hope that the police force in the wretched metropolis had sense enough to check for hidden catches. He quietly slipped the false documents into their envelope and replaced them into their place among the others. The hidden compartment was then closed and the latch automatically replaced. For added effect and some insurance, he made sure to leave a small corner of the crimson envelope protruding so as to give off the feeling of urgency. The chair was set down exactly as it had been before, not a thing disturbed. All that was left now was to rummage through some of Aroostook's personal possessions and take whatever was deemed 'necessary' to make it appear as though he knew that he were leaving. They were to be small things of course, but enough to make it count. A spyglass here, a diary there, some letters from home, etc. until all hidden folds and pockets were full of trinkets. Having completed his task, he withdrew from the room as he had come in and was then lost unto the night.
Kaji waited impatiently in the small cove just beyond the visibility of the city lights. The grand thing about Republic City being ringed with mountains was the fact that finding visual cover was fairly easy. It had been a few hours since the attack on the exhibition and she was ready to set a steady course for the outer reaches of the snowy wasteland that they called the Northern Water Tribe. Perhaps she wasn't that anxious to go quite yet. Ice and she had never agreed with each other.
The awaited knock on her door shook her from the thoughts of infernal chills running over her perfect skin. Closing her eyes halfway in a relaxed position of superiority she gave an assertive, "Yes?"
The blonde man who had become her third in command walked into the small office room. She had preferred the large bridge room with its expansive view of the surrounding environment, but those walls left too much room for spies and echoes. This one was much easier to secure and the walls were of considerable thickness to dismay anyone who did not possess a bat's hearing. Her guest walked up to the iron chair that had been placed on the other side of the ornate bronze table where Kaji sat. He quickly gave a formal bow before taking the seat and sliding over two sheets of paper. Kaji took them up gently, bringing down her half-rim reading glasses- more for show as she had perfect vision and the lenses were simple glass neither concave nor convex- as she looked at the contents.
"Interesting. These names may come to our use, good work…" she tripped up slightly, realizing that she still had not procured his name. Silently she berated herself for the mistake.
"Karak," the man said, noticing his superior officer's pause. He did not really find it insulting, as some might have, to have had his name overlooked.
"Anything else of importance?" Kaji continued unfazed. The identity of the blonde man was forever stored in her mind now, so it was most prudent to continue with business as though she had known it all along.
"The false papers were planted and, with a small overestimation of the intelligence of those Earth Kingdom… well, I made it obvious enough to make it subtle," Karak stopped in his insult at the shake of his Princess's head. He knew that many of their allies would fall under the category of Earth Kingdom and it would not do well to speak ill of them, even in private. "I apologize for my slip of tongue."
Kaji decided that she genuinely liked Karak. The man was smart and very useful in completing his assignments. She gave him one of her signature cold smirks before complimenting, "Very well done. You may leave now. I will be requesting your presence once Agent Kain has finished with Aroostook's session. Then we shall discuss our strategy once we arrive at the Northern Water Tribe."
"Yes Princess," Karak stood, bowed, and left the room. Kaji rested her elbows on the cool metal surface of the table, placing her forehead against her interwoven fingers, before letting out a heavy sigh. The thrill of holding the strings of the world in her hands was sometimes a bit overwhelming, even for her system. Not for the first time did her mind drift off to a certain sunset and a certain someone lying next to her as they watched it descend. Shaking the memories away, she stood up and went to find her captain.
Korra had been bandaged up as well as the police force first aid kit would allow. Her head was going through a major migraine, but she was still fighting Tenzin with all she had when he tried to get her to lay down on one of the make-shift beds that had been spread out in every available space in the room. She relented only when he promised to ask Lin about any leads if she behaved herself. Growling, she lied down and tried to relax her sore muscles.
The bodies of the deceased had been cleared a few hours ago, leaving quite enough room for everyone injured and the physicians and policemen frantically running about. The first few shifts of each had been mayhem, what with all of the adrenaline still pervading throughout the survivors of the massacre. After the first initial hours had gone by, most things had returned to order. The critical patients were then loaded onto the awaiting ambulance vehicles and wheeled off with all haste to the nearest hospitals. The law enforcers had collected all they could take as 'evidence' but the cold reality was that there was barely a trace of the assailants. Their weapons had melted in the first half-hour after they were used and not a scrap of cloth or hair had been left for even a shirshu, not that they had one available, to sniff out.
Korra groaned as her head started to throb again. It had been on and off, becoming especially painful when she scrunched up her forehead in thought. She let out a string of low curses under her breath all of which ceased as soon as she noticed the Airbending Master and a certain metalbender coming her way. Her eyes couldn't help but light up in the faint hope that they had caught the airship and Kaji was somewhere save and sound, being treated for her wounds. The hope quickly died with the stone cold expression on Beifong's face and the apologetic one worn by Tenzin.
"You didn't get them did you?" she wanted to cry; wanted to scream; wanted to go into her Avatar state and uproot the entire region, the world even, to find her injured firebender. Korra couldn't help but picture all of the blood that had been oozing from the wounds inflicted when Kaji had used herself as a shield to save her.
"Not yet," Lin sounded tired, as though she had gained ten years in those few moments. Anger laced the older woman's side comment. "And just when we were beginning to enjoy the peace after Amon's rebellion."
"I have to go after them," Korra demanded. She was done sitting on the antiseptic cloth beneath her. She was the Avatar and, everyone else be damned, she had to do something. Because, if she didn't, that hole in her heart would only be torn further apart. In reality, she was equally as afraid of what would happen to her without Kaji's supportive presence as she was about the girl's predicament. The desperation was clear in her voice, however, for once, she didn't care who heard or what conclusions they drew. She didn't care that it seemed somewhat spontaneous for her to suddenly care so deeply about a girl she had just met. Her mind simply didn't think about such details anymore.
"You are doing no such thing right now," Tenzin cut her down immediately. He could see the conflict and pain behind Korra's bewildered blue eyes, but he also knew that she had taken quite a hit and was still in shock. He understood why she was so worried, having seen how Kaji and his pupil had become quick friends. Still, the father in him was not about to allow her to endanger herself further… at least not yet.
"But Ka-" Korra began.
"Kaji will be found," Tenzin reassured. "Lin has her best men on the case and they have a description of the zeppelin from a few witnesses. They sent a search party to Councilman Aroostook's appointed residence to look for anything suspicious."
"Councilman who?" Korra wasn't happy about being interrupted, but her curiosity was piqued and took priority.
"The new North Water Tribe representative," Lin supplied. "A few witnesses stated that they saw him being escorted into the ship before the Fire Nation Princess and the other three hostages were taken aboard."
Korra's mind suddenly flashed through her last few moments before everything went black. The coat of fur and the tall man with black and grey hair who had worn it; the men in the black outfits kneeling before him as he walked rigidly into the airship; the burning hatred she felt for him in those few seconds; every iota of information that she had on the man was once more there before her. "So that's who it was. That explains the waterbenders."
"That explains nothing," Tenzin insisted. "All we have at this point is conjecture."
"Whatever," Korra wasn't paying attention. Her mind was set on one thing only, getting Kaji away from her captors. If she ended mangling the son-of-a-bitch who concocted all of this, then that was an added bonus.
"Korra," Tenzin grabbed her arm and turned her so that she was gazing into the compassionate clouds floating in his eyes, so similar to his mother's if but for the color, "I need you to listen to me. You need to rest. Kaji and the others will be found and rescued… for now though, you can't do anything without hurting yourself."
"But-"
"No 'buts' understand," it was not meant to be a question.
Korra glared, refusing to be put down just yet.
"If you are both quite done," Lin interjected. She had her eyes closed and her lips pressed into a thin line. All of the bickering was not doing her nerves any favors. "Korra, I will be sure to inform you of any new developments we have found and, when Master Tenzin has deemed you fit, I will be requiring your services in locating and fighting against this new threat. However, until that time, you will sit here and recuperate or I swear I will chain you to the floor."
Tenzin nodded his agreement but was quickly cowed by the menacing green eyes that turned to him. He let out a small sigh when they went back to focusing on the defiant young teen staring at her feet. Korra didn't want to wait; she wanted to hunt and fight. It was her nature. The sense in Lin's words rang in her head and she knew that she would eventually capitulate to the older woman. Quietly, nearly inaudibly, she gave a defeated, "Fine."
"Brilliant, glad to see we can agree on something," Lin clapped her hands, officially closing the matter.
"Chief Beifong!" a winded police officer ran up to her. He huffed a few times before regaining his breath and the ability of speech. "W-we found something in a hidden compartment in the Councilman's office."
He held up three pieces of paper, two white slips and a blue envelope with a red stripe. Lin perused the information given by the former articles, giving little attention to the lengthy ceremonials and more emphasis to the legitimacy of the seal. It was certainly Water Tribe and no one had the Chief's ring but him so a forgery of such detail was practically impossible to create. She finally flipped to the envelope. She knew enough about the Tribes to know that this was the symbol of a document of utmost importance. Korra and Tenzin both leaned in; in Korra's case looking up at the parchment whilst Tenzin looked over the shorter woman's shoulder. It was really rather disappointing. All that had been scratched into the rough paper with a graphite-tipped pencil was a crude schematic of some sort of building. It had three stores with an average of five or six rooms to each. The top story was labeled with such things as 'armory', 'provisions room', 'meeting room', 'lieutenant quarters', and by far the most important: "Councilman's quarters'. The second story, also presumably the ground level one, held more quarters for a few men in employment along with a kitchen and recreation room. The final story, also labeled as 'Basement Level' held was looked like five rooms, each split into four sections that looked like little holding cells. Two dots at each door and one in each room labeled the positions of guards and a few times were etched next to the outside of the building; presumably the change in shifts. The other two seats of paper that had come with it were conspicuously blank. Neither of the trio was willing to bet that there was no importance to them, but it would have to be deciphered from its encryption.
"What is this supposed to be?" Tenzin made the inquiry more to himself than anyone around him. He had taken to stroking the goatee that ran down from his sharp chin.
"Most likely the facility where they plan to hold the prisoners," Lin stated. "It could be quite useful to us."
"But why would he leave a thing of such importance?" Tenzin was growing suspicious about some of the details to the plot. "Why make his involvement so publicly known? And why leave this in his office when he must have certainly been aware that it would be the first place we looked?"
"Because it's worthless," Korra's disheartened voice answered him. Both Tenzin and Lin turned to look at her with raised eyebrows and a similar question on their tongues. "I know because it doesn't matter what the blueprints say; we still have no idea where that place is."
Tenzin's brow knit together and Lin pinched the bridge of her nose to keep the impending migraine from coming on. Korra's logic was infallible. What could they really do with the insight garnered if there was no location? Lin turned to the man who had brought them the slips and handed them back with instructions to file them with anything else they were able to find.
"It is late," Tenzin observed. "We should be getting back to the island. Pema and Mother will be worried about us and I wish to put their fears to rest."
Lin nodded in understanding before moving to shout orders at her lackeys and send them scurrying to do her bidding. Tenzin gingerly propped up his young student and slung her arm over his shoulders. Korra let him take her without complaint. She felt completely drained. Still, upon seeing the same man who had given them the parchments, she made an excuse for Tenzin to give her a few moments. He stood, worry evident on his face, as Korra vanished into the flurry of others.
Korra located the man, speaking to one of his commanding officers about some manner of transportation to the headquarters. Korra didn't even have to use much stealth in her movements when she 'accidentally' bumped into him. At first he seemed flustered, but upon realizing who she was, he quickly fumbled out an apology. Korra waved it off nonchalantly and walked away with a large grin plastered to her face. In her hand and then hidden in the depths her bra-as she was lacking in pockets- was the blue and red letter with the schematics. Finding Tenzin, she accepted his shoulder as a support once more and they made their exit from the building. Their departure was swift and quiet, flagging down the first taxi they could find and directing the man to the Air Temple.
Once they had stepped onto the familiar soil of the peaceful place, they were assaulted by two very worried women and three sets of eyes curiously peering from behind the door; the children having been officially sent to bed but evidently snuck out once they heard the commotion. Korra excused herself from the arms of Pema and Katara, stating she was tired and wished to sleep off the events of the evening. Both mothers looked upon her with concerned and compassionate eyes. She couldn't help but flinch when they began to murmur about Kaji after she had walked a few paces away.
Once back in her room, Korra could only vacantly stare at her wall, not wanting to think anymore. The lights around her slowly blew out one by one until she was sure that everyone else had retired for the night. She silently felt a pang of anger at how they were so unfazed by Kaji's kidnapping… princess-napping? Whatever it was to be called. In the end, she was too tired to actually continue in feeling. The fatigue she felt seemed to reach right into her very spirit, sapping everything out of her, and yet, whenever she tried to lie down, she could not fall asleep. She went back to staring at the dark grey walls, covered as they were in the shadows that encased the night.
A sudden spark flickered behind her glazed eyes. She hadn't even noticed the silent tears that had been streaking down her face until she reached up to rub her numb cheeks. The spark steadily grew brighter as she began to rub against the leaking salt water with more vigor. She was not about to sit there and twiddle her thumbs, expecting others to find her lover for her. It was her responsibility before anyone else's to find Kaji and yet there she was, complacently waiting like an obedient puppy for Tenzin's sign of approval. With a renewed resolve, she quickly and silently moved toward her closet. She grabbed a sturdy bag of animal skin, one she had used often on her journeys through the North. Grabbing a few clothes for varying conditions, she packed everything into the sack. She quickly drew off the dress, being careful to place the letter into the safety of a convenient pocket of her new outfit. She then snuck out of the room; making sure to slide closed the door with the greatest of care. The kitchen was not too far away from her but she didn't want to risk being caught now. Instead she slipped out of one of the many windows. She remembered that she had kept a small amount of emergency money within Naga's saddle. She would use some of that to get anything she needed in the context of food, water, and other such supplies.
The stables were musty from the humidity brought in on the cool sea breeze. Naga made to whine when she sensed the presence of her master and friend. Korra hushed her with urgency, paranoia setting in like a smothering blanket. Each creak of a floorboard or snap of a twig sent tremors up her spine and bile into her throat. With shaking fingers, Korra saddled her polar bear-dog, praying that she would be able to make it far enough, before the morning revealed her absence, to not be overtaken by any of Tenzin's search parties. In retrospect she wondered whether it would have been prudent to leave a short note, but it was too late now and Tenzin would eventually come to the conclusion of why she had gone. Not thinking of anything more, she spurred Naga forward, running north.
They hit the edge of the island but did not stop, even when it appeared as though they were plummeting to their deaths. At the last minute, Korra's arms moved in the familiar arcs of waterbending, creating a sort of funnel that sucked them into the depths of the sea. The bubble of air that surrounded them was enough to keep her and most of Naga dry and breathing while also leaving the animal's legs on the outside so that she could paddle them toward the distant city lights. Korra aided in their speed by propelling them with the currents. She swerved slightly to their right, wishing to avoid the urban sprawl as much as possible. Despite it being the wee hours of the morning by that point, there were always those who were awake and alert. Any of such description had to be circumvented if she had any hope of completing her mission.
They emerged from their marine cover into a dense forest. The foothills of the mountains spread before them, darkening masses of pitch black that were indiscernible from the skyline except for the lack of celestial bodies that hung in the latter. Korra gazed into the stars, gauging their position relative to that of Ursa Major.
"Alright Naga," she whispered, procuring the blue and red envelope that she had secretly snagged from the unwitting boy while he was too busy apologizing to her. She held it to the sensitive nose of her fluffy companion. The canine hybrid took a large whiff and then a few shorter ones to commit the scent to memory. "I know you know Kaji's scent and now we have this one to go by too. You're no shirshu, but I'll bet you are the next best thing."
Naga whined and placed her nose to the ground. Her brain was too inferior to understand the complexities unraveling around them, but she knew that Korra was anxious and she didn't want to let her down. Still, when nothing but the scents of the crisp grass and pine hit her nostrils, she couldn't help but whine in annoyance. She could pick up the faint traces of mouse-hares and weasel-foxes but nothing to match the almost overpowering cinnamon of the firebending girl or the musky smell of the man who had held the letter. Naga whined again, saddened that she held no answers for her master.
"It's okay girl," Korra petted her behind the ears to reassure her. "I didn't expect you to pick up anything anyway. Well, where would a councilman of the northern Water Tribe, who obviously doesn't care if his identity and affiliation are known, take prisoners? I think I at least know where to start. It has been a long time since I've been home."
Turning the reins to indicate a Northeastern direction, Korra spurred her ride forward, both disappearing into the dark of the wilderness.
Kaji's deft fingers curled around the pen with perhaps a bit too much pressure. The snapped and disfigured remains of its five predecessors lay in a pile at the far edge of her desk. The ink jar was also running empty. She would have to remember to request another one. The mass of crumpled letters that piled into and around the wastebasket was starting to irritate her in the way that it kept exponentially growing. Still, she had to phrase all of this perfectly, leaving nothing to create suspicion or even the slightest doubt. True, it would be an anonymous, but she had learned to be overly cautious. The final touches were impeccably scrawled long-hand onto the paper. The final copy, revised and edited so as to be completely vague and yet most informative. She had observed Inzei for quite a time, even if he himself had not known it to be so for the majority of it, and she trusted in his ability to decipher the subtle hints she placed within. It was such a simply letter really, written in the hand of someone she knew Inzei would find familiar with. In fact, he had been the one to appoint the implied person to the high position that was held by said person in the politics of Republic City. Kaji sat back to observe, for one final time, her handiwork.
To the Fire Lord,
I speak of matters concerning you and the nation to which I should not, and most likely will be forced not, to speak about. I doubt that news will reach your ears until the matter has been resolved by the delegations of the governments of Republic City and the offending nation which I will not yet name. But it is not fair for you to be left in the dark. The daughter of Agni has been taken by a man of Tui. To this matter I shall keep you informed. Please look for my letters and do not let them be read by others.
Perhaps it told too much for the first letter of importance. She had sent one before simply requesting that the next one to be sent be read in private. Still, it was not ascertained that Inzei would consider the plea for privacy. She had to obtain his attention though. So, with a resigned huff of expelled air, she gave it to the attending servant and bade him send it in the familiar black envelope. Black had always signified importance in their nation; Kaji felt no need to break with tradition now. After all was done, she allowed herself a moment's reprieve from the sudden flood of events. She couldn't fully say that she hated synthesizing her grand schemes, but at times she did catch herself dreaming of the slow days of her youth or the past few of leisure spent amongst friendly faces. Such thoughts were banished as soon as they appeared and the firebender went back to studying her maps. The stars pointed their ship to its destination, north and east.
P.S. Well, I hope that it was worth at least half of the wait. Now that my week of Thanksgiving break, the one good thing about the California deficit, I will probably be writing more... but then again I may have to perform family duties. Shudder at the thought. Review!