Epilogue - Horizons
(Sheppard's point of view)
"And you saw no reason to bring in these two civilians for questioning and debriefing." The colonel asked from across her desk as she looked over my report on the mission. "Why is that?" She directed her eyes over her glasses at me.
"Judging from the situation I found them in, their help in achieving the objective, as explained in my report, they were not enemy agents and they did not receive any classified information; so it seemed unnecessary." I explained as succinctly as possible.
"Yes and you're sure that the only possible route took you straight past their cells?" The colonel asked with a raised eyebrow, the intent of her question not immediately obvious.
"That's what I put in my report isn't it." I responded, suspecting what the line of questioning was all about.
"It's just that the higher ups wanted to take the base afterwards, and a detour that seemed to have tipped off the enemy to your presence-" I had to cut in at that.
"Colonel Harada," I looked the dark haired colonel right in the eye, "Are you suggesting that I should've left those two there, at the mercy of the fist of the phoenix?" I find it hard to imagine taking down a single enemy cell would be worth the lives of two innocent people." Wannabe 'prince' or not.
"I'm just relating the opinion of the higher ups; of course the fact that the primary objective was achieved-" I cut in again, hoping that it didn't get taken as insubordination.
"With the help of the aforementioned civilians." I added, Asami and Arika were both a great help, I'd rather they're contribution not be forgotten. I gave a quick nod to the document that the colonel had on her desk, "As mentioned in my report." Colonel Harada let out a sigh.
"Regardless, the fire nation will be glad we were able to retrieve the forged and real royal birth certificates promptly."
"I still find it hard to believe that the wannabe prince's plan could've worked." I really did, it seemed ridiculous to think about.
"Apparently the fire sages use some kind of unique method to mark them, faithfully replicate that and few lies about them not being archived as a cover up to a sympathetic sage or two..." She trailed off at the end, her meaning obvious.
"And he could've passed himself off some long lost royal and challenge the current fire lord's claim to the throne." I finished the thought that was left hanging; still hard to believe that a few pieces of paper would let that piece of scum .
"It would be unlikely that many would believe his claim at first, but these type of things can easily escalate out of control."
"So I guess that they're happy we stopped this plan but annoyed they couldn't send in troops afterward to mop up the enemy cell and take out the would be prince." Preventing a foe's strategy was one thing, striking down a foe permanently was better.
"Pretty much, yeah." Pushing her glasses back up the bridge of her nose with a sigh before continuing. "We've covered everything relative commander, you're dismissed." And with that I rose to my feet and saluted.
"Colonel Harada." I turned to leave when the colonel called me briefly. "Two things off the record Sheppard." I turned back to look over my shoulder with a cocked eyebrow, "First good jobs saving the civilians." The colonel and I shared a smirk at that, "And if you go by the university archaeology department, be discreet." And then just the colonel was smirking.
"Thanks, you should do the same around that palace maid." And now I was the one smirking, the colonel's expression becoming a practised neutral.
"I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about." She responded without the smallest hint of deception. I just chuckled and waved back at her.
"Sure thing," I gave another quick, casual, salute before turning back to the door to leave, "I should go, later Chie."
(Asami's point of view)
"Can't sacrifice mobility..." I muttered to myself as I went over the designs for the new insulated metalbender armour, again, trying to find a way to improve them further; after seeing the article in the paper yesterday about Equalist taser gloves leaking onto the black market I figured the cops could use an upgrade to their equipment and a preliminary design would help sell the idea.
I leaned back in my chair, rubbing the bridge of my nose to try and clear my mind a little. It had been two weeks since getting back from the desert, getting those military contracts sent off, getting back to the old routine now with the addition of...
"Your tea, Ms. Sato." Arika called as she came through the door as she entered, tea tray in hands and the morning's paper under arm. As she set the tray down I noticed something else on it. "Today's newspaper and the book you requested."
"Thank you Arika and remember, when it's just the two of us you don't have to be so formal." I reminded her again, I didn't honestly see the need to keep up formal appearances when there was no one to see.
"R-right." The bubbly girl replied with a smile as she handed me a cup of tea, the scent of jasmine emanating from it. "Thanks Ms. Sa-Asami." We both shared a smile at her little verbal stumble. I was glad to have this history book, I'd give it a read to check up about that strange black material I'd seen in the desert.
Opening the paper to the society pages I noticed a photo of just what I was looking for, Korra, even if it was marred by Mako and an article speculating about a recent date of theirs; not something I was inclined in the slightest to read. All I could do was let out a sigh as I stared at the image of the Avatar, torturing myself still.
"Oh, I see." Arika said suddenly her eyes also on the photo in the paper, I raised an eyebrow at her with a small sound of confusion, "You're in love." She stated matter-of-factly, nodding at the photo, which made me chuckle a little before correcting her assumption.
"I can assure you that I have no romantic feelings towards Mako." I couldn't help but roll my eyes the thought of that; I still couldn't believe I dated him to begin with. The tone of Arika's response was exactly the same as before.
"I know, I meant the Avatar, Korra." Huh?
"What would make you say that?" I asked, keeping the tone of my voice even and only looking at her sideways not wanting to give myself away if I didn't have to.
"The way you moaned her name in your sleep back in that cell." The dream? I'd moaned Korra's name out loud? "And how you were stroking her picture just now." I was stroking the picture? I didn't even remember that.
"I..." I was honestly completely unsure how to handle this, if it got out all the hard work building up the company again-
"Don't worry, I don't judge." Huh?
"You, don't?" I asked, turning to my newest friend surprised at this welcome twist.
"Love is love." Arika replied with a shrug, again as though it was just obvious. I couldn't help but smile at the younger girl.
"Thanks Arika, really." I was glad that in my whole difficult life I had at least one person who didn't care about my feelings for Korra; even if she was a bit off it wasn't love, just a crush. I didn't correct her on that, it would ruin the moment.
"You're welcome." She said with a smile and a small bow, before heading towards the door, "I'll be off to take care of my other jobs, so give me a call if you need me." I nodded in response as she left the room, feeling happy at the little victory.
My mind quickly drifted towards the old diary in my desk, I took it out as a question formed inside my head, my mother's diary in front of myself I mumble aloud. "What would you have said?" I'd like to think that she would say something like Arika and be supportive, but it was so long ago and nothing in her diaries, at least the ones I had, that touched in this sort of thing; I guess I'd never really know.
Da - My father would almost certainly not approve, she was the Avatar after all, and I didn't see him changing his opinions on benders any time soon.
As I flicked through the pages and came to entry that had shook my world a little, another question came to mind, "What would Korra think?" It was probably not something that she'd ever expect; I certainly hadn't, even if I was thankful for the possibilities that it gave that had saved the company.
What would Korra say, what would anyone say if they knew? That my mother's mother, my grandmother, was Princess Azula.
AN: And there's the big reveal that the story has been subtly teasing, perhaps too subtly since I get so few reviews, I guess I have a way to come before I'm decent at this type of story. I'd to once again thank my reviewers, both of you (I meant that as a joke last time and it became literal, I hate when that happens), and encourage more to review and tell me how terrible I am and how this makes no sense (or so it seems).