Chapter 21: Design Time
Korra awoke to see Asami staring in front of her, with Zhu Li and Varrick at her side. Apparently, Tenzin had already told everyone what Bolin, Korra and Katara had been doing, as Asami asked Bolin, "So, how was the training with Sokka? Did you learn anything?" Bolin coughed nervously, saying, "Just a little bit - but we started to run low on time, so Korra and Raava did reverse infobending from Sokka and Piandao into me. I retained most of it, but I am going to need a physical blade if I want to get better at it. Experience counts for a lot, apparently, and swordfighting sounds more like a mix of the four elemental fighting styles." Bolin pointed at Korra and said, "Speaking of four elements - apparently, Piandao thinks that Korra would make a good sparring partner. I'm not sure why, given she hasn't ever shown any liking for weapons. Being that she can control all four elements and all." Asami put her hand to her chin, asking Korra, "It sounds like there's a lot more than what Tenzin or Bolin have told me going on here - care to give me an update?" Korra stood up and put her palm on Asami's forehead, relishing the same wonderful feeling of no separation Korra had felt on Druk's back. After Korra finished, Asami looked at Katara and then back at Korra, winking - so she had gotten the bit about bloodbending and the house modification after all.
Asami whipped out a piece of paper, furiously drawing two different schematics - one very simple jet black sword that she recognized from the Spirit World sparring and Bolin's wish, along with a much more complicated strange form she did not recognize. Asami pointed to the smaller weapon, with Varrick and Zhu Li crowding in to see, saying, "This is the 'lavabending sword' for Bolin, using the exact same design that Korra showed to me just now from Bolin's little sparring match." Asami pointed to a side-view of the blade, tracing a finger to show a thick line above the cutting edge - what Korra could only assume was the earth. Asami confirmed Korra's hunch, saying, "I made it so that the earth is better distributed through the blade - there is no longer any earth directly on the blade's edge. It just sits slightly above the cutting edge and behind instead, hopefully making the metal of the sword harder to break. I'll also need to work out some way such that only Bolin can manipulate the earth or the steel of the weapon so someone doesn't turn his own weapon against him." Pausing for a moment, she said, "I think I may have an idea, but I'd require some more advanced electronics than we currently have - vacuum tubes aren't going to cut it." Asami flipped to the other bizarre blueprint, making some modifications and notes - one of which said "Avatar State compatibility."
Korra realized that the intricate set of blades must be for her! She pointed to the "Avatar State compatible" text excitedly, saying, "How do you plan on making that work, Asami? I may have not considered using a weapon until just a short time ago, but that really intrigues me!" Asami sighed, saying, "That's just an idea for now, until I can get access to better technology." Asami's eyes widened suddenly and she turned to Varrick and Zhu Li, saying, "Varrick - you've had experience weaponizing spirit energy, and Zhu Li - you stayed with Kuvira working on that spirit weapon for quite some time. Do you have any ideas on how to make this idea - bending through the blades and channeling the Avatar State and Raava's energy at the same time - work?" Varrick paced back in forth, emitting a constant stream of "Hmmm"s, and Zhu Li mumbled in a low voice about what she remembered about her work under Kuvira. Katara told Asami, "While I may not know much about technology - my brother Sokka always was the inventor of the family - I know a considerable amount about chi lines. Based on your drawing, it appears these strange mixes between vambraces and weapons are meant to be worn about halfway up the forearm." Katara pointed at Korra's armpits and said, "Based on first-hand experience with airbender tattoos - which follow the body's chi lines - I know that there is a major chi line in this area of Korra's body. If memory serves me right, it may even directly connect to Korra's heart - the place that Korra's Avatar State energy and energy from Raava flow from. If you have any hope of directly connecting a weapon to the power of the Avatar State and your elemental mastery, that would be it."
Asami said, grabbing Korra's armpit, "If there were to be a link between Korra's main upper chi line and the blades, it would have to be artificial. I just don't know how to do it, and after Baatar Jr.'s earlier outburst, I doubt he will be of any help." Finally stopping his pacing, Varrick yelled "I don't know either - I never worked on the cannon, just on its powersource!" slapping himself in the face out of frustration. Zhu Li added, "Kuvira did trust me to work on and around the cannon, but from what I saw, that technology wouldn't be appropriate. The cannon, despite its power, was very finicky, requiring delicate parts that could easily break - some of them quite large. I don't think Korra would want a condenser ring inside her." She sat down on the ground, slumping her shoulders forward as she said, "Looks like this special weapon for Korra might just be a pipe dream after all."
Korra slammed her fist against the ground in frustration - in the process sensing two familiar people walking towards the group. One said, "I overheard you guys talking about a special weapon for Korra, and I think I can help." Korra turned to the woman who had just spoken, and saw something she didn't expect - it was Kuvira! Mako was next to her, who said, "I tried to talk Baatar Jr. into coming over here, but he would have none of it. He thinks we're all traitors for even believing the story about what Kuvira went through, much less those who believe her to be changed. Aaaand he's pretty bitter about being locked up in the first place." Mako added, patting Kuvira's back, "After seeing Kuvira's reactions today, I can safely say I believe everything." Kuvira looked at Mako's face, saying, "I didn't come over here to hear you tell me the obvious - your earlier blush was rather telling." As Kuvira sat down near Asami, Mako's face flushed once again, Kuvira said, "Now let's get to trying to make this crazy idea work."
Kuvira pointed awkwardly at different parts of the diagram, talking in jargon that only Varrick and Zhu Li followed completely, with Asami apparently able to fill in the gaps. Bolin stood up to talk to his brother to the side about his experience in the Spirit World with Piandao and Sokka, while Katara answered periodic questions from Asami and Kuvira about chi lines and energy flow. It was only relatively late in the process that Kuvira began asking Korra questions directly. Kuvira asked her, "Korra - do you think that we'd need a new material to carry the Avatar State and Raava's energy? The existing technology Baatar Jr. and myself developed was based around slightly dark Republic City vines, or neutral vines from the Swamp. I don't know how compatible - if at all - Raava's extremely pure energy would be with the circuits and wiring we used for the Colossus' weapon." Korra didn't know the answer, so she projected Raava out near Asami, who was still studying the blueprints. Raava looked at the blueprints, frowned slightly, then pointed at Varrick, saying, "If Mr. Tuber-Vine is to be believed, you have already developed one technology using his flesh. He tells me of something about electrical current and color movers. Does this give you any ideas, Varrick?" Varrick thought for a short time and then yelled, "I've got it! I take a cutting from Mr. Tuber-Vine, who is obviously attuned to Raava, apply it in a thin film over top of some wire similar to what Kuvira used in the spirit weapon, and apply a large electric shock to both ends. If it works anything like the SpectroMover film, the spirity essence of Mr. Tuber-Vine should be infused into the wires, allowing Avatar State and Raava's energy to flow through them!"
Asami, Zhu Li and Kuvira began clapping, with a pleased Raava telling Varrick, "Sounds like it should work. And don't worry about cutting too much from Mr. Tuber-Vine. He has regenerative properties akin to the original Republic City spirit vines. Goodbye for now!" Raava vanished back into Korra's chest, and Korra thought of a problem, saying, "How are we going to get the energy from my heart into these blades? And how will these blades interact with my bending? I'd prefer them to be almost like tuning forks, with each blade corresponding to different elements. If they work as planned, I might even be able to use them to make my regular bending more precise and powerful." Korra thought she was finished, but then she looked at the blueprints, pointing at a vambrace and blade, saying, "That's not going to work - it looks like the blade is permanently extended. I want to be able to switch between blades and pure bending - if I tried to move my hands upwards, the blades would block them."
After some more discussion between Varrick, Zhu Li, Kuvira and Asami, who made the most contributions, Asami began erasing large parts of the blueprints. Korra pointed out flaws as Asami re-drew the vambraces, finally settling on a design. The finished blueprint looked radically different from any blade she had ever seen - it reminded Korra of a cross between the armblades she had seen Lin bend out on occasions and an Equalist glove wrapped over her middle arm. Katara pointed at the arm underneath the design and said, "You still haven't connected it to Korra's major chi line. Might I suggest a series of 'spiritwires' underneath the skin from under Korra's arm that interact directly with her chi line that connect to a port at the rear of the vambrace?" Asami erased the base of the vambrace, drawing in a port and adding dashed lines coming from the port to represent the spiritwire.
Looking at the blueprints, Korra removed a rock from a nearby seawall and bent it into a three dimensional, life-sized representation of the design. Korra held it in mid-air, admiring its unique form. Twin longblades jutted slightly past the tips of Korra's outstretched fingers from two protrusions striking out from the main vambrace. Korra knew the blades could be mostly withdrawn into the main, larger body of the vambrace if she wanted to bend normally. Korra bent the contraption onto her arm and manipulated the twin blades out and in, wanting to make sure that the longblades stowed properly inside the cavities inside the vambrace. She noticed that the blades stowed well, both just barely not hitting her hand when she bent her hand as far back as it would naturally go. Feeling that the vambrace itself looked rather bland, Korra etched the four elemental symbols onto its center, noting happily that Asami drew them onto the blueprint shortly after. Remembering what she had said earlier about wanting to bend through the blades, she added etchings into them. Asami asked Korra, "What are those for?" and Korra replied, "Those are bits of spiritwire implanted directly into the blade to allow me to fully channel my bending or Raava's energy into the blades. I drew inspiration from what Kuvira described on her prototype 'kuviricon' transistor chips. That should work, right Kuvira?" After managing to no longer stare at the mockup, Kuvira said, "Yes - I think that should work. This will take a while to construct." Korra said, "That's fine - I want two of them. Let me add one last touch, and I will be very happy with the design." Korra etched the symbols for air and earth into the left blade-containing protrusion, and the symbols for water and fire onto the right blade-containing protrusion.
As soon as Asami added the spiritwire embeds to the blades and the four additional elemental symbols, Korra removed the three dimensional representation from her arm and placed it on the ground next to Asami, with "blades" retracted. Asami lifted the precious form off the ground, storing it in her backpack and saying, "Let's store this in our house for now until I can begin work on it and my other two projects in earnest." Asami turned to Varrick and said, "I will need Varrick's assistance to complete these projects - the airbender steel projectile magazine, Bolin's lavabending sword, and most of all Korra's armblades. All are equal priority." Seeing Varrick rub his hands together, Asami said, "We'll discuss payments or counter-favors later. I don't feel like haggling in the middle of a party." Varrick groaned loudly, saying, "But that's the best time to make deals - if you get someone drunk enough, they'll agree to anything! Say, want some sake, Asami?" Varrick held up a small metal container near Asami, who slapped him on the face lightly and said, "NO!" making Zhu Li laugh heartily.
Once she had stopped laughing, Zhu Li appeared deep in thought, finally asking Asami, "You talked about some airbending steel projectiles. How would that work, exactly? I don't think an airbender aside from the Avatar could fling one with sufficient force to reliably kill someone. A blunt end would almost always produce a knockout, but against a stronger opponent like Jinshu Kuangmai, I don't think that they would cut it." Asami whipped out her notebook to where she had apparently written down Opal's request, reading it multiple times. She then took out another sheet of paper, drawing two different pieces of metal separately, and making another drawing - apparently of them together. Asami erased a portion of the front of the larger, blunt metal piece, filling in a strange pocket with lots of dots. Now apparently finished, Asami pointed to the larger united projectile and said, "This is what the airbender propels at their target at high speed. Upon impact, a charge of some unknown explosive detonates, sending the pointed piece flying forward with great force. If this round - I'll call it a 'Satot' round - hits even a metalbender as proficient as Kuvira or Jinshu Kuangmai in the head, they're as good as dead. On the plus side, this would be a fairly painless and quick death - something that I imagine even an airbender who's willing to use this ammunition would care about." Asami moved her mouth into an uncomfortable pout, saying, "I just don't know how to make the charge explode on contact in such a small projectile, or what the charge should be, for that matter."
Zhu Li stood up suddenly, saying "Fireworks! That's what we can use - firework powder, spark powder! I'll need to formulate a new, more powerful powder mix - firework powder isn't going to cut it for raw power. This same powder should also work in making a contact detonator. I'll call it Lipowder - I want something big! I never did appreciate weight being in Zhu Lis, and power in Varricks." Varrick laughed, saying, "You can name it P'lipowder as far as I am concerned - you're going to be on your own, as I never was one for advanced chemistry." Varrick continued, looking Zhu Li directly in her now glittering eyes, "All that naming was before I became a changed man - I never figured that Kuvira had that little voice in her head too." Kuvira elbowed Varrick in the ribs playfully, saying, "I have a conscience too - I just never listened to it before. It's not like you have a stellar track record yourself, Mr. Arsonist. Not to mention you worked on the spirit vines for a pretty long time before having any qualms." Varrick shrugged, saying, "Hey - I did what I thought I had to do to get people involved in the Water Tribe Civil War, and my image of Unalaq as eeeeevil schemer proved to be very true. Plus, you did pay me pretty well to work on those vines, until that little incident at the back of the train. Then you just paid me mainly in threats." Zhu Li, Kuvira and Varrick began laughing deeply, drawing the attention of Bolin and Mako. Bolin said, "Hey - at least she wasn't going to send you to a 're-education' camp! Which reminds me - what kind of 'education' did you give at those camps, anyways?"
Kuvira made a retching sound, clearly disgusted with her past actions, saying, "I took a page or two from old Dai Li techniques, attempting to brainwash uncooperative citizens of the 'Earth Empire', as well as forcibly training younger prisoners in fields I found useful - mainly, military related topics. A good number of my conscripts came from those camps. The only good thing to come out of those camps was intelligent peasant boys and girls alike being schooled in sciences both military and civilian. It wasn't out of any concern for them as individuals - I knew that they would have a great sense of debt to me for letting them learn, whereas Earth Queen Hou-Ting would have never allowed such a thing. I wanted a new generation of scientists to continue the new 'Earth Empire' legacy of technological innovation. If anyone from those camps is still truly loyal to me, it would likely be those young boys and girls. Jinshu Kuangmai's face wasn't the one plastered all over the walls and associated with the chance to learn new things and advance themselves out of an outdated social hole. I just hope they can manage to make their way to Ba Sing Se." Kuvira laughed weakly, saying, "When I first started that program, that was one of the few times since my rise to power I felt as if my conscience was even vaguely pleased. At the time, I didn't really care - but I do now." Korra yelped in surprise as Opal - who had apparently overheard the words "re-education camp" and bent her way over - said from behind Bolin, "I guess you were partially right, Bolin - people did learn some new 'trade skills' in those camps after all. Though I get the feeling they were mainly trained in military science, and not civilian." Kuvira laughed, saying, "Yes, you are partially right - the smartest ones were pressured into the military sciences, or areas that had overlap between civilian and military, such as farming, clothing and equipment manufacturing, and chemistry. All four had dual uses, and knowing the importance of money in war, I even had some 'students' learning about business - I had always thought the Earth Kingdom was too reliant on agricultural wealth. Only Ba Sing Se had anything approaching the kind of merchant class that I admired in Republic City. It's my hope that one day, the Earth Kingdom will have companies that rival Varrick Global Industries and Future Industries."
Asami blushed slightly as Varrick said, "Hey - I don't need any competition!" prompting Zhu Li to hit him over the head with yet another ledger, saying, "The more wealth there is in the world, the more people can afford our products. How'd you like to start producing more of those huge private 'battle' ships - like the Zhu Li - and sell them for outrageous prices to newly moneyed Earth Kingdom entrepreneurs?" Varrick yelled, "Zhu Li, Kuvira - you're both geniuses!" as Asami added, "I could even start moving more of the higher-end Satomobiles. I get the feeling I won't be doing much business aside from reconstruction in Republic City for a while."
Finally getting used to constant interruptions, Korra didn't react when Zuko appeared from behind Asami and said, "Speaking of reconstruction - world leaders aside from those directly involved in the events since Zhu Li's and Varrick's wedding have no idea what is going on. I believe it would be a good idea to update people on these recent events, especially the Spirit Civil War and the threat this Jinshu Kuangmai poses to restabilization of the Earth Kingdom. I know of a place from my youth that should be appropriate - I even own a property there, though I rarely visit. It reminds me too much of the madness of my father and sister." Korra's eyes glowed momentarily, hearing an excited projection of Aang ask, "Are the Ember Island Players still there? I loved the play!" Zuko laughed, saying, "I'm afraid there hasn't been real talent behind their newer plays in years - they just show the play my mother loved, 'Love Amongst the Dragons', as well as 'The Boy in the Iceberg', over and over. Though I may add, after my father's defeat, I ordered them to change the ending, and fix the original casting - no more male Toph or female Aang. I also told them to find a… more attractive actor for Katara's role." Aang was laughing wildly, and Katara was blushing slightly. She ran over to hug Zuko, unexpectedly giving a light peck on the cheek, making Aang laugh even harder and Zuko's cheeks flush the same color as his fire. Before Aang's laughter brought the whole party to their location, Korra yanked him back in, but not before he could say, "Just remember, Katara - you're still mine, and I'm still yours!" only managing to get part of a giggle out before he returned to Korra's heart.
Not quite getting everything that was going on, Varrick said, "Whatever all that was about. Don't tell me Katara had a thing for both Aang and Zuko?" Before he could continue, Katara spun around, wearing the same expression Korra had seen when she was stringing Katara along the night after Korra's failed vacation, and she said loudly, "I may have pushed for its outlaw, but if I could bloodbend during daylight, I'd half consider making you punch yourself in the face for that!" Zuko coughed loudly, saying, "Varrick, why don't you contact President Raiko and the other representatives from the United Republic of Nations - Iroh II is the only one that comes to mind - over the radio, and see if you can get a chain of contact established with my daughter, Firelord Izumi, as well. Tell her that she needs to see what her inaction cost Republic City before any meeting at Ember Island - I want her in a more open mindset than she was before Kuvira attacked. Also, get in contact with 'Prince' Wu - if he's not too busy singing, that is." As Varrick and Zhu Li ran off to their huge boat to send out radio calls, Zuko continued, "I do not think that the Northern Water Tribe will be easy to reach with radio - the interference from magnetism and the Northern Spirit Portal is too great, and I am not sure if they have radios anyways. Korra will need to make a 'personal' remote appearance for that." Zuko let out a slight sigh, adding, "Make sure to try and keep Aang from interrupting - I think he would find them both… reminiscent of one of my former love interests."
Katara started laughing again, though this time lightly, saying, "You're right - Eska and Desna do remind me of Mai! So emotionless… Which reminds me - where is Mai?" Zuko, despite looking like he didn't want to talk about this "Mai", said, "I believe she is retired from any sort of official duty, now living along with Ty Lee on Ember Island. Don't worry - their house is far from where we will be meeting." Katara said, "Korra might want to meet with them anyways, after this conference - Ty Lee has knowledge that Korra will find… useful soon, and Mai may be able to teach Korra a bit more about physical combat. Come to think of it, Asami would probably be interested to talk to them both as well." Seeing Asami's quizzical look, Katara explained, "Ty Lee was the original chi blocker - she knew just where to hit a bender to disable their advantage, and was quite the acrobat, and your own fighting style reminds me slightly of hers - though with less electrogloves and more poking. The accursed poking… Mai, on the other hand, specialized in throwing knives and other, smaller bladed weapons, as well as her natural agility." As Katara explained Ty Lee's knowledge of chi blocking, Korra realized what Katara wanted her to learn from Ty Lee, and a predatory grin appeared on Korra's face. She had always hated the technique Amon used to block someone's bending, and looked forward to learning where the key weak points were so that she could use regular strikes or bloodbending to block someone in a less traumatic way. Asami said, "After seeing what those Equalist chi blockers could do to a bender, I always wanted to learn how they did it. My father offered obliquely, but I declined, suspicious of his 'special self-defense program' that was hush-hush. Though, I doubt Ty Lee will be in physical shape to demonstrate personally. Even though I don't use blades myself, I could use Mai's experience with agility and quick strikes. The current URN military mechatanks Future Industries provided are very ungainly, and even the suits used by Kuvira weren't as agile as I would like them to be if I were to use one. Though I don't know if Kuvira would be willing to share the designs."
Kuvira gave Asami a withering look and grunted, saying, "Of course I'll share! I just helped you design a weapon for the Avatar, unlike any the world has ever seen," admitting, "Varrick came up with the originals anyways." Satisfied that Asami wasn't going to be inconsiderate again, she continued, "One thing I haven't mentioned yet about Jinshu Kuangmai - he possesses a knack for innovation. I don't know how many letters he sent me, suggesting tweaks to our equipment. Most of them were good, but not wanting to upset Baatar Jr. at the time, I did not implement them while giving Jinshu Kuangmai credit - I just brought up his ideas as some of my own. In addition to ideas that were actually my own, of course - most of Jinshu Kuangmai's ideas were evolutions of current equipment, not the revolutions in equipment that Baatar Jr. and myself came up with. Whenever we could conquer a new area, Jinshu Kuangmai would scour it, looking for ideas to incorporate into his own." Kuvira pointed at Asami and said, "This is why we both need to continue innovating in the arms and weaponry department, and make sure that at ALL COSTS Jinshu Kuangmai never manages to raid Future Industries for technology. You will probably want to start posting bender guards as well as conventional security around your headquarters. However, if he decides to come himself without Korra around, his blood-iron bending ability would mean game over. In our conquest, I saw him raise entire gangs of bandits into the air, sometimes twirling them in a large wheel, laughing as he did so."
Not wanting to hear any more of Jinshu Kuangmai's sickening antics, Korra said, "While you two finish talking about technology, I'm going to contact Eska and Desna." Korra sat down on the ground, legs crossed, focusing on the energy of her two cousins. Korra hoped that Aang wouldn't interrupt.