CH. 5

Ok….it just needs to be said that this season is absolutely phenomenal and it kinda sucks because they are doing so many cool things (horrible things) and I can't copy…..but I'll find a way to make a badass story anyway. Also….Tenzin. TENZIN

The plan was supposed to be smooth. It was simple on paper. Jinora tricks the guards, Bumi, the boys and Kya sneak in, rescue the airbenders, and Tenzin and Lin guide them onto the ship and get everyone out of there. Of course, as it always is with these kinds of missions the best laid plans never turn out like they are supposed to.

Sharp rocks came flying out at the group from the airbenders chamber.

"We have to get in there!" Mako yelled as he punched a fire blast through one of the oncoming rocks.

Bolin jumped around the corner and swung his leg, kicking a block of rock out of the wall and sending it flying towards the Dai Lee that were guarding the airbenders chamber. Two of the agents grabbed it and in a swift move sent it flying back at Bolin. The young earthbender back flipped out of its way and smashed into the wall. Mako sent several blasts to cover his brother's escape.

Bolin breathed hard. "There's no way we are getting past them!"

Bumi crouched against the wall punching numbers wildly into his transmitter. "Lin we need backup!" The chief's voice crackled over the receptor. "Bumi? What's happened?"

"There are more agents here than we thought!" He paused and cringed as a rock smashed into the wall right above his head. "They're guarding the airbenders! We could try an assault from above them by tunneling through the rock but we need more people!"

"Hang on Bumi. Tenzin will guard the ship. I'm coming."

Mako launched around the corner, a sharp rock grazing his cheek. "Airbenders! You have to help us!" He begged sending a strong blast into one of the agents, knocking them back. He retreated as the barrage increased.

The airbenders shared horrified glances as they watched the scene unfurling before them. One jumped down from his bed and sent a sweeping kick of air beneath the closest agent's feet. The agent was swept onto his back mid move, sending his rock smashing into an agent in front of him. The airbender cheered and readied another shot, but two agents quickly encased him in rock. "DO NOT ATTACK THE DAI LEE." An agent boomed. "An attack against us is an attack against the Queen, punishable by death." The airbenders sank back into their beds.

Bumi jumped back as his radio was struck by a rock and exploded. "My radio!"

"Forget it." Kya sneered. She drew the water out of her portable pouch and swirled it around herself. "We have company."

Bumi followed her gaze down the hall to see another group of agents running their way. "These guys just keep coming!" He readied his battle stance. "I might not be good, but I'm ready for a fight!"

Bolin turned to shoot a rock at the newcoming agents but Kya stopped him. "You two handle the guys in the front. We've got these ones." Bolin nodded and turned to fight with his brother.

The oncoming agents ran at full speed towards the siblings. One agent bended a rock hand at the siblings. Bumi used an air blast to deflect it and Kya lashed out a line of water underneath his feet, turning it to ice and causing him to fall, taking two other opponents with him. The other agents jumped over the bodies of their fallen comrades and proceeded the attack. One misjudged the distance between him and Bumi and landed too close. The seasoned general seized the opportunity and landed a kick to the agent's stomach. The agent stumbled backwards but quickly recovered and moved to throw a punch at Bumi's face. He blocked and landed a solid hook to the man's jaw. While Bumi and the agent tangled, Kya was focused on keeping the other agents at bay. She used the water to grab one of the agents and send him flying into the others.

Inside the airbenders chamber the Dai Lee began to feel more comfortable. With attacks from both the front and back they were confident that it was only a matter of time before the intruders were detained. Three agents began to move forward, readying a large electrified net. Their approach was halted as a huge blast from above sent half the ceiling crashing down in front of them. In a flash a metal whip lashed out and hooked the net, turning it against the agents and trapping them in it.

The dust cleared and Mako and Bolin burst into the chamber to fight the remaining guards. Mako readied a blast but before he could send it a patch of earth shot up underneath the agents and sent them straight into air. They were unconscious by the time they landed.

"Chief Beifong!" Bolin called in excitement as he located their rescuer.

Lin drew in her metal gear and motioned to the hole in the ceiling. "Tenzin has the ship up there waiting. We need to move these people now."

Mako agreed. "We'll get them out. Can you get Kya and Bumi?" Lin nodded but before she could move there was a loud bang from outside the room. Smoke began billowing into the room though the opening. There was a brief woosh of air as Bumi cleared the smoke just long enough for he and his sister to enter.

The siblings coughed hard. Kya cleared her throat and pointed back at the smoke that was creeping into the room. "We need to evacuate now. They just sent tear gas our way." Bumi sent another blast at the smoke, trying desperately to keep it from entering the room.

Lin turned to the airbenders. "You heard the lady. Move it." She flicked her radio on. "Tenzin. Lower the ladder."

"Roger that."

The frightened airbenders looked to the gas, the fallen agents, and finally to the ladder, but no one moved. "We can't leave." One spoke. Another added, "If we leave its treason. I don't want to die." Other benders nodded and muttered in agreement. Sensing that this might take a while, Lin shook her head and used the fallen roof to seal the doorway, blocking most of the gas from entering the room.

"Staying here is going to get you killed." Mako explained.

Bolin extended his hands warmly to the crowd. "Come with us! We are with the Avatar. We can take you away from all this."

Lin's radio buzzed and Tenzin's voice crackled through. "Lin? I extended the ladder but no one is coming up. Is everything ok?"

"No." She barked back. "These airbenders are too frightened to move."

"Hang on. I'm coming down."

"No." Lin protested. "Someone needs to watch the airship." There was no response. Tenzin quickly descended into the room. "What did I just say?" Lin asked demandingly.

He explained calmly. "Jinora and the other children have it secured. Besides this will only take a minute."

"We might only have a minute!" Kya interjected. "Look." She drew the group's attention to the sealed doorway, which was now slowly leaking tear gas.

"It'll hold at this rate for a couple minutes, the hole in the ceiling will help ventilate it, but I'm positive the Dai Lee will be right behind it ready to attack." Bumi explained.

Tenzin took in his siblings words. "You all head up to the airship. I'll talk to the airbenders."

Lin wasted no time propelling up into the ship. She burst into the control room, her worst fears confirmed. Meelo and Ikki were fighting over who should be in control of the wheel, while Jinora and Kai hovered around the door, watching the scene below. Lin shooed the kids away from the helm. "Go wait over there and welcome the new airbenders." Ikki groaned and dragged a complaining Meelo away.

Bumi, Kya and the bending brothers reluctantly followed Tenzin's orders to board the airship, but they kept watch from above.

Tenzin turned to address the benders, who still crouched terrified in their beds. "Hello, my name is Tenzin." He began, addressing the crowd in a calm and friendly tone. "As you may have guessed," he gestured to his robes, "I am an airbender, like all of you."

"We aren't leaving!" One prisoner interjected. "You can't make us!"

Tenzin took a step forward. "I'm not here to force you to come with me. I simply want to present to you a new way of life. What you have here is not living. You are airbenders, and more importantly, people. You have no right to be treated like animals, to be forced to join the army of a queen who doesn't care for you. I offer you an escape. Leave with me today, and I will make sure you never are used like this again."

"What do you want with us?"

"Yah? I don't wanna run from one tyrant to another!"

Several prisoners began to chime in their discontent, but Tenzin pressed on. "Today, I only want to liberate you. You can choose to be dropped off anywhere in the world, and you will never have to see me again. Or, you can remain with me. My father, Avatar Aang had a dream to rebuild the air nation. Now with Harmonic Convergence and its bestowing of airbending to people like you, you can be a part of the dream. If you remain, you will come with me to Air Temple Island, where you will begin to learn the ways of the ancient airbenders. You will have food, shelter, acceptance and safety." He gestured behind him wall as gas was now accumulating in the room. "Remain here if you choose, or come with me to freedom. This is your choice. Now make it."

With that, he used a burst of air to send him up into the ship. His children swarmed him in a hug.

"Are they coming?" Kai asked.

"I don't know yet." Tenzin replied. "Tell Lin to wait a minute while they decide."

The next minute felt like an hour to the crew on the airship. No airbenders had emerged from the prison and Bumi had spotted the Dai Lee emerging to attack the ship. There was a whir as the engines started running and the ship readied to leave.

"We can't leave yet!" Tenzin called to Lin.

The chief whipped around. "If we don't leave now we won't ever leave."

"They just need a minute!" Tenzin protested.

"They already had their minute! We're leaving!" Lin pressed the lever forward and the ship began to pull away. Several rocks came blasting at the ship as the Dai Lee tried to stop it. One flew right through the open door and nearly hit Jinora.

"WAIT!"

Tenzin peered down at the call. The airbenders were trying to climb the ladder but couldn't due to the barrage from the Dai Lee. A few were attempting to engage the agents, sending blasts of air to knock them over.

"We need to cover them!" Tenzin called. Kya ran to the doorway next to Tenzin and helped him deflect the rocks from the ladder. Mako and Bolin climbed to the roof of the ship and began shooting at the agents below. The airbenders frantically scrambled up the ladder, cringing every time Kya smashed through a rock too close to the ladder. Tenzin pulled each one into the ship, trying to speed up the process. He could hear the Earth Queen calling from below.

"Don't let them escape! Stop them at all costs!"

Two agents propelled themselves onto the roof of the ship. Mako directed a quick blast of lightening their way, shocking one of the agents off the edge. The remaining agent sent a rock towards Bolin. He caught it and directed its flow around him and right into the agent, sending that one to join his friend on the ground.

As the last airbender entered the ship, Kya sliced through the ladder, sending it falling to the ground. Tenzin slammed the door shut, a rock blast smashing into it and causing the door to dent lightly. Mako and Bolin climbed back into the airship. "All good to go!" Mako said, giving a thumbs up.

With that, Lin slammed the ship into overdrive and reared away from the ground. The Queen yelled frantically from the ground, but there was nothing her agents could do. She turned to her lead agent and sneered. "I thought I told you to release a prisoner, not the whole airbending army!"

"I did release only one prisoner! He must have told them we had the army and brought back help!" The guard stammered back.

The Queen froze, her voice suddenly calm. "Which prisoner did you release?"

"The little airbending boy, the one with the sym-"

The queen cut him off with a wave of her hand. "Guards!" She addressed the group, and then pointed to the agent she had been speaking to. "Execute this man for treason. He assisted in this mission to steal my airbenders."

The guard shook his head wildly and put his hands up to show his innocence. "No no I swear! You don't understand!" The other agents readied their stances. "Guys, please, you know me! I can explain!"

"Kill him." The Queen ordered.

"No please don't!" He cried out, but his cries went unanswered.

Back on the airship Bolin was finishing up a head count. "22, 23, 24, 25. 25 new airbenders!"

"Not quite." Tenzin stated. "How many of you would like to be relocated?" There was no answer. "None of you would like to get dropped off elsewhere?"

"Nope." An enthusiastic young bender said, popping up in the crowd.

A bender in the front extended his hand to Tenzin. "Names Mirin. My friends and I would like to join you at the air temple."

Tenzin tentatively accepted the shake. "All of you?" He asked in disbelief.

Mirin nodded and smiled gently. "All of us."

(miles away)

The café was bustling with customers for the lunch rush. Staff rushed to seat everyone and customers greeted eachother loudly and tried to place their orders. Korra pushed through the crowd trying to get a grasp on the utter chaos. Customers were pulling on her sleeve, tapping her back, calling on her one right after the other and it was getting to be too much.

"Alright just hold on!" The avatar exclaimed. She slipped through the crowd and into the kitchen where Asami stood peacefully blanching some herbs in silence. She looked up from the stove at Korra. "Woah, are you doing alright?"

Korra wiped some sweat from her forehead before opening the door a crack and pointing at the opening wide eyed. The sounds of chaos filled the room until she shut the door again. "It's a madhouse out there! Why are there so many people in this ratchet town?"

Asami stirred the leaves and placed the lid on the pot. She turned down the heat to a low simmer and handed Korra a wipe. "It's the only tea shop in this town." She explained casually. "It's bound to be busy."

"Ok well I hate it." Korra jeered.

Asami grabbed her apron off of the table, handed it to Korra and turned around. "Can you tie this for me?"

"Um, sure." Korra agreed.

"If you want I'll go out there and try to handle the crowd. You can stay back here and blanch the herbs." The heiress offered.

Korra finished tying the apron and walked over to the stove. She lifted the lid and examined the floating herbs. "So what exactly do I do?"

Asami explained the basic process and pointed out where the fresh herbs were and where to put the finished ones, and what to do with the water for each batch.

"Seems simple enough. I just have to stir every now and then right?" Korra lifted the lid and grabbed the spoon, pushing the leaves around from side to side.

Asami cringed at the harshness of the avatar's movements. "Not quite like that Korra. Here, like this." The heiress moved up behind Korra and gently guided her hand in a circular rhythm. Korra tried to focus on the rhythm, but instead her eyes were locked on their hands draped together. Her mind kept reiterating how close Asami was, how she smelled like lilacs, how she needed to focus and cook, and how she suddenly felt very hot. Asami's voice snapped her out of her revere. "Think you got it?"

"Yah." Korra swallowed, regaining her thoughts. "I'm the Avatar. I can handle…this."

"Alright, wish me luck!" Asami said as she slipped out the door into the chaos.

"g…Good luck." Korra stammered out after she had left. She ran one hand through her hair and rested it on her neck. What the hell was that all about?

Korra finished straining the last pot of water and looked at her work. She mentally congratulated herself on a job well done. Glancing at the clock she realized that somehow three hours had passed. She peaked through the door, expecting chaos again. Instead the state of the café was a complete 180 from before. There were only a few tables occupied by customers, and the servers were leisurely wandering and cleaning. Asami was seated at a table by the window talking to a young man who looked oddly familiar. She wandered over pretending to clean, but Asami noticed her and immediately called her over. Korra slid into the seat next to her and looked at the man across the table.

"This is Kanan. He was just telling me about the town." Asami gestured to the man, who offered a friendly wave.

"I was just telling Kimiko all about the ins and outs of the city. Figure since you guys are new here it couldn't hurt." Kanan sent a wink to Asami. "And besides, I couldn't resist the chance to talk to a pretty lady."

Korra felt her stomach churn when Asami winked back. She decided to cut the flirting off as soon as she could. "So what were you saying Kanan?"

Kanan took off his headband and placed it on the table. He pointed to the skull and crossbones in the center. "This is the symbol of the resistance." He explained, his voice low.

"The resistance?" Korra asked, brow raised.

The boy nodded. "We're a biker group that resides in this town. When tax collectors come for the gold, we go out after em. I was sick and missed the last raid, but I heard the Queen sent the Avatar and some fancy broad to do her dirty work for her." Asami tensed at the use of the term broad, but tried not to let it show. Kanan continued, tying his headband, "This town used to be one of the richest in the lower ring. Granted the lower ring was never that rich to begin with, but it wasn't always like this either. Then when she" he growled and clenched his fist, "came along she fucked it all up. She started collecting taxes no one could pay, neglecting affairs, sucking money away from official town funds to keep up with her own wants. Next thing we knew the city became this shithole you see here."

"It's not that bad." Korra offered.

Kanin shrugged. "After a while you'll understand how bad it really is." He glanced out the window as the sun began to set. "I gotta go, but it was real nice meetin you ladies." He waved goodbye and left the shop.

"Fancy broad." Asami muttered, still peeved about the term.

"He did say you were pretty though. And it's your fault for talking to him in the first place." Korra pointed out nonchalantly.

Asami flipped her hair over her shoulder. "I get things done." She lowered her voice to a level only Korra could here. "And I think we need to stick around. From what he said I'd say there's a lot more we don't know about this place."

Korra nodded in agreement, and the pair began heading to the back room. "I finished blanching all the herbs!" Korra said excitedly.

Asami feigned excitement. "Oh good! But did you do them well?"

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaat?" Korra replied in disbelief.

"You heard me." The heiress teased.

Korra grabbed two cups and set them on the break room table. "I'll show you!" She turned and stared at the stove and the herbs. "Ok maybe you could make some tea and see for yourself."

Asami laughed and moved next to Korra. "Lesson number two, making tea. This is a big day for you huh avatar?"

'Shut up." Korra laughed.

(one fantastic cup of herbal tea later)

"So did I deliver? Or did I deliver?" Korra taunted.

Asami chuckled and took a sip of the tea. "You delivered, but I never really doubted you would."

Korra drummed her fingers on the table. The sun was nearly set now, and the shop would soon be closing. "We still don't have a place to stay."

Almost as if on cue the door opened and an older woman walked in. She introduced herself as Yin, and apologized for interrupting. "I couldn't help overhearing that you both are in need of a place to stay. I live just next door, and I have a spare room you both could stay in."

"That's very kind," Korra bowed thankfully, "but we'd hate to impose."

The woman smiled and waved it off. "Don't you darlings worry about imposing. It'd be an honor to help the Avatar and her partner."

The girls exchanged a worried glance. Had they been talking too loud?

Yin noticed the exchange. "Don't worry girls, your secret is safe with me."

"How did you know who we were?" Korra asked.

Yin chuckled to herself. "Most people don't move into places like these. Especially two pretty girls such as yourselves, and even more so people who are clearly not from the Earth Kingdom. Also, I recognized you both from the other day when you came to get the taxes."

Korra rolled her eyes. "Ugh great. If you recognized us other people probably will too."

"Don't worry," Yin assured her, "Most people hide away during tax collections. As long as you don't cause a ruckus you both should remain undetected."

"We're here on an important mission." Asami explained. "Do you think we could ask you some questions?"

Yin agreed quickly, but suggested they move to her house before they talk. On the way, they learned that Yin happened to be married to the shop's owner, Zhong, and that he was away on business leaving her to care for the shop.

Yin gave them "the grand tour" of the house. While in reality it wasn't much to look at, she was obviously very proud of the foundation she and her husband had worked to build, and Korra and Asami respected her for it. The kitchen and dining area were together in one room, the study connected to the bathroom, and there were two bedrooms; one master and one guest.

"Now there's only one bed, and it's a twin, but I don't sense that will be too much of a problem." Yin explained.

Asami tried to fight a small frown. Even after everything she still hated small beds. Luxury is hard to break from. Despite the slight disappointment she knew how to be respectful. "It will be just fine Yin. Thank you again for letting us stay here." The two girls bowed to the co-owner.

"Now about those questions you needed to ask me." Yin walked them back to the dining room and lit the small fireplace.

Korra began. "For starters, what do you think of the Earth Queen?"

The old woman sighed deeply. "It is very tough to have a real opinion on her. She is our Queen, our leader, our protector. She has an incredible taste and interest in agriculture and sculpture."

"It's not that great." Korra interrupted. Asami sent her a shrewd look, which Korra shrugged off.

Yin continued, smiling to herself at the girls antics. "She doesn't truly understand economics and politics, especially for an area the size of Ba Sing Se. I believe she could handle just the upper ring, but she doesn't know how to govern this many people."

"Why do you think that is?" Asami asked.

Yin thought to herself for a moment. "I believe the constant absence of her father probably played a large role. He himself wasn't the best leader either. The city was actually doing very well until the fire nation withdrew its political roots here."

The girls were taken aback. "What do you mean?" Korra squinted in confusion. "The Earth King wasn't fire nation."

"No, but technically he wasn't King either." Yin answered. Sensing that the girls had only gotten more confused she elabprated. "I'm sure you know that during the Hundred Year War the city of Ba Sing Se fell at the hands of Princess Azula of the fire nation and her two friends." The girls nodded. "Well as it turns out when the war ended, the Avatar's lack of political knowledge caught up with him. The Earth King," she used air quotes with his name, "wasn't ever officially instated as King, only put in as a defacto figurehead. Since the Dai Lee made all the decisions in the city anyway, no one thought anything of it."

"So Princess Azula was still technically ruler of the Earth Kingdom even after the war." Asami reasoned.

"Yes." Yin confirmed. "Story goes that a few years later when she realized that she was still ruling, she and her brother made a pact to keep the information hidden, and to rule together while the king remained a figurehead."

"Zuko was in on it?" Korra questioned.

"While most people in the Earth Kingdom wouldn't want to be ruled by fire nation leaders, legally it was sound. They weren't doing anything wrong. In fact Azula was an incredible leader. The city was in better condition than it had been throughout the whole war." Yin explained.

"So what happened?" Asami pondered.

"Several years of prosperity later, Katara found out the truth about who was ruling. How she found out, no one knows, but nonetheless she wasn't happy. She demanded that the fire nation retract its rule and officially turn it over to an actual member of the Earth Kingdom. Lord Zuko attempted to fight her pleas, but his sister had already moved on to bigger things. She abdicated the throne without a second thought." Yin answered sadly. "After that things began going downhill. Now it is how you see it here."

Korra sat in disbelief. "That's crazy. I never knew that."

"Most people don't." Yin shrugged. "My father was the lead Dai Lee agent during the time. That's the only reason I know."

"Earlier today someone mentioned that there were a lot of things in this city that we don't know about." Asami began. "Do you know what he meant by that?"

Yin sighed again. "Hopefully you two won't need to find out."

Before the girls could ask any more questions they were shooed off to bed. Seeing as they were guests they couldn't quite refuse. They thanked Yin a final time that night before heading off to their room.

They laid shoulder to shoulder on the bed staring upwards at the ceiling.

Korra rolled over to look at her friend. "I feel like we're stumbling our way into something that really doesn't concern us. What do you think?"

Asami crossed her legs, still staring upwards. "I don't know Korra. Maybe there's nothing we can do about this, whatever it is. But I don't think we should give up just yet."

Korra nodded. "I think your right. I just wish we knew what the hell was going on here. Everyone is being so damn mysterious."

"I have the feeling we'll find out soon enough. For now, let's just get some sleep. Night Korra."

"Night." She replied, rolling over once again and drifting into a deep sleep.

She was in the tunnel once again, the swirling red symbol of the red lotus before her. Hundreds of unintelligible whispers swarmed the Avatar's ears. She tried to understand them all, but only one stood out, repeating over and over again.

"They're coming."

ok this turned out so much longer than I anticipated. I considered breaking it up but decided against it. As always hope your enjoying…there's a lot of stuff I need to get too in here so if you aren't already buckled in you might wanna. Once again hope ya liked it!