Chapter 36:The Braintrust

As Asami left the room she shared with Korra, she snuck a look over her shoulder, smiling to see Korra opening her locket, apparently staring at Asami's naked image with rapt attention. Wanting to look at her own locket in peace before she got down to business with the other members of the brain trust, Asami ran off to a nearby bathroom, laughing when she heard Korra yell a particular dirty word loudly and then laugh with glee. Asami didn't have any idea what to make of the bonk sound or Korra's odd confused outburst, especially the loud whump and curse that followed Korra's attempt to clear her head.

Remembering Shiro Shinobi's radio skills, Asami put her necklace back on and headed to Shiro Shinobi's tent. There wasn't enough room inside Zuko's house for Shiro Shinobi to try and set up a more powerful radio transmitter using bits and pieces he had managed to cobble together since the conference. He had begun his work as soon as he wasn't needed for the conference, wanting to busy himself and take his mind off his immense personal loss, and given the rings under his eyes he'd been working a long time. Asami actually had to cough gently to get his attention - someone had gotten him some very high quality equipment and he seemed lost in fascination.

Asami said politely, once Shiro Shinobi was looking at her, "Do you want a hug, Shiro Shinobi? It looks like you could use one." At first, he shook his head, but stopped suddenly, beginning to cry with a vengeance. Asami didn't bother asking his permission, giving him as big a hug as she possibly could, saying, "It's okay, Shiro Shinobi - I know what it's like to be the last surviving member of a family, though I hope I never learn what losing one child, let alone two and the love of my life feels like." He sniffed deeply, adjusting his ragged hat, saying, "Just call me Shiro, Asami. Hearing my last name just makes me hurt even more." Getting a shockingly angry look on his face, he spat on the ground, saying, "I'm going to do everything I can to make that monster pay."

Figuring this would be a good place to ask about Shiro's new gear, Asami asked, pointing at an advanced piece of equipment, "Is that from who I think it is? Given it has the Fire Nation symbol on its side." Shiro managed a weak smile, saying, "Yes - but not who you think. Firelord Izumi ordered this delivered as soon as possible, and I hope I can use it to re-establish radio contact with Ba Sing Se and learn what happened there." He walked away from Asami, standing near a massive tower Asami had mistaken for a palm tree. Shiro managed a weak laugh, saying, "This was a special delivery. It may look like a palm tree, but it's really a very powerful and advanced transmitter. I have been trying to hail Ba Sing Se with it, but no luck so far." Asami asked, getting to the non-emotional reason she had come, "Do you think you could use it to reach the members of the brain trust all at once? I can't project like Korra can and I don't feel like trying to get ahold of everyone individually." Shiro nodded his head, saying, "Not all the rocks around Zuko's house are rocks - some of them are speakers. I just hope Korra didn't break one with her search for gems earlier." Asami laughed, very glad to see Shiro join her, saying, "I don't think she did, Shiro. I'd like to use them to make an announcement." Shiro bowed with a tear in his eye, saying, "Of course, lady Asami. It's the least I can do after your emotional support just now."

Asami picked up what Shiro had told her was the speaker for the rocks, saying loudly, "Attention, all braintrust members! This is Asami Sato, if you couldn't tell, and I need Meelo, Bumi, Varrick, Zhu Li and Kuvira in the conference room. I look forward to seeing you all again in one place, and thank you for your cooperation." Asami laughed as one of the many speakers let out what must have been Meelo's voice, the nine-year old exclaiming, "More war? Good - I was getting bored!" Shiro laughed, though he looked slightly uneasy as he said, "Given yesterday's events, listening wires of our own have been placed in hidden spots. Someone who identified himself as Intelligence Officer First Class Jeong-Jeong was the one who delivered the equipment to Firelord Izumi and did not rest until they were all placed." Asami nodded, saying, "That's good sense - I guess Korra and I were too busy to notice." Shiro nodded, saying, "He kept a low profile - he came in peasant's clothes and I hardly believed my eyes when I saw him propelling one of the boats this stuff came on with firebending." Pointing at the tree, Shiro finished, "He helped me assemble this 'tree' and gave me some more in-depth radio manuals to study. In some ways, he reminded me of you - polite, but he knew his business."

Asami bowed deeply and ran off to the conference room, grasping Korra's special necklace tightly as she did so. She didn't think she would get to savor it any time soon. As Asami entered the room, she was pleasantly surprised to see everyone there and working. Walking up behind Kuvira's shoulder and looking at a drawing she was constantly erasing in frustration, Asami asked innocently, "What's that, Kuvira? And why is it so frustrating?" Kuvira took a deep breath and turned to face Asami, only to look at Asami's betrothal necklace and say excitedly, "Wait... that necklace… you must be engaged to Korra now!" Asami nodded happily, making sure to not let the back of her necklace face outwards, lest the special locket pop open. Asami looked around, taking in the positive reactions with relish, suddenly noticing that Su and Lin were present as well, even Lin smiling warmly. Before Kuvira could say something she looked desperate to say, Meelo said loudly, "While I'm happy for you, Miss Asami, I didn't come here to help Kuvira design a necklace of her own for Mako - I came here for war! I wanna draw!"

Kuvira barked angrily, "I may have changed, Meelo, but that doesn't mean I still don't have a temper!", her face flush with anger, and given what she did next, Meelo's response of nothing was not the proper answer. Kuvira stood up and managed to find a piece of metal that was the perfect size for Meelo's mouth, Lin shouting angrily as Kuvira slapped it over his rude little mouth. Everyone except Lin, Kuvira and obviously Meelo laughed deeply, Bumi saying, "You might be a boy genius, Meelo, but you still have to be polite!" Meelo's cheeks actually turned red from embarrassment. Kuvira must have accepted this as an apology of sorts as she removed the strip of metal, saying, "I accept your 'apology', Meelo. Now maybe Asami can help me design something to win Mako over - I want to give it to him before I start my sentence." Lin slapped her forehead and groaned, "I should have used some of Mai's shirshu poison on you for that metal band, Kuvira, but I'll let it slide - this once." Su growled at her sister, "She's my daughter, Lin, and I fail to see how that was out of bounds! Now let's help Daughter Kuvira with her little present." Lin had a look of thorough disgust on her face, saying, "I'm not sure who's going to be punished by this sentence the most - me, or Kuvira." Kuvira and Su laughed madly, prompting Lin to hit her forehead again, saying, "This is going to be a very long meeting" as she sighed deeply.

For the next ten minutes, Su and Kuvira sat next to each other, one constantly erasing the other's work without hostility, everyone moving closer to watch out of curiosity. While Asami was glad that Kuvira liked Mako, even if the feeling wasn't mutual, she was getting tired of the constant back and forth, finding herself joining Lin in what must have been Lin's tenth exasperated forehead slap, saying, "I don't mean to be blunt, Kuvira, but you and Su have erased so many times you've almost worn through the paper. Let's take a little break, and talk about something serious." Now Lin was the one laughing and Su the one looking dejected as Asami said, "This actually has a tangential relationship with my betrothal necklace, and by extension, Kuvira's 'I love you' going away gift. Korra found a massive deposit of metals and other rare materials in a vein off Ember Island yesterday, seen here." Asami whipped out the map, which Korra had thankfully kept dry, tracing her finger over the massive form slowly for dramatic effect. Meelo said loudly, "Wow, Miss Asami, that's awesome! Nobody said anything about it yesterday." Grinning widely, he asked, "Did she find any cool metals there?" Asami said with a nervous grin, "Yes, she did, including platinum, given how when she earthsensed it from shore using the Avatar State, part of it showed as 'black' to her earthsense." Lin's eyes widened, saying in shock, "Wait - Avatar State earthsense? What else could she tell with it? Given your necklace having some pretty large, high-quality gems in it, especially the sapphire, I assume she visited it somehow for materials for your beautiful betrothal necklace."

Asami nodded, saying, "It was very difficult, but Korra managed to get close enough to the vein to form a large metal shell around her, using a combination of projection and some Raava-powered headlights to take a look." Before she could continue, Meelo asked, "Did she find anything that could explode? I hope she did! Wait… Miss Asami, why are your eyes so wide?" Asami shook her head, thoroughly disturbed by Meelo's prescient question. As Asami described Korranium and how Korra was unwilling to bring any to the surface, she could see Kuvira's eyes widen in terror, Meelo, Zhu Li and Varrick look more and more disappointed as she described Korra's opinion of the metal, and Bumi, Lin and Su with slight looks of fear on their faces. Asami had saved the most disturbing news for last: weaponization potential of Korranium. Noticing Meelo's conflicted-looking expression, Asami said, "Keep in mind, any weapon made from this metal would likely emit what I called Asami particles at the blast site, and given Korra's uneasy feeling about the lighter ore, I don't think the Asami particles would be a good thing." Meelo shook his head in agreement, prompting Varrick to say loudly, "We still need a replacement for tuber-vines eventually, and this Korranium sounds like it fits the bill! If we ever find any outside of that vein, I still want to study it." Seeing Zhu Li nod her head, Asami sighed, prompting Zhu Li to say, "Science can be dangerous, Asami, but the cost is worth it in the end. Just think - if we had refused to use coal power because it's dirty, we'd still be stuck at a pre-100 Year's War technology level. I think something similar applies to Korranium." Noting in frustration that everyone but Kuvira was nodding in agreement, Asami said, "Why don't we talk about something lighter for a while."

Liking the confused looks she got, Asami stood up and pointed at her necklace, then her belly, saying, "Love. All this talk of Korranium is giving me the chills." Showing more emotional intelligence that Varrick, Zhu Li said, "Oooh, the baby! Did you name the baby today or something?" Asami shook her head, explaining what Korra and Raava had found in more detail than what had been said at the press conference, including the baby's full name. Asami loved saying Atokara's full name, so she said as she smiled and placed her hand over her stomach, "Atokara Raava Sato." Kuvira's face was flush as she said, "I knew Raava gave you a baby as a gift, but her energy being in it… that's just amazing." Asami smiled as everyone but Zhu Li nodded, deciding to ignore it and say instead, "Enough about me and Korra - I think I have some advice for Kuvira now."

Kuvira's eager expression made Asami wince inside, knowing what she was about to say. Saying with great tact as she held Kuvira softly on the shoulder, Asami said, "Let me give you some advice, Kuvira: wait until Mako returns your advances with anything other than hostility." Seeing Kuvira's crushed look, Asami added with a smile, "You're still hurting from your breakup with Baatar Jr. - twice." Glad that Kuvira laughed at her little joke, Asami continued, "I have personal experience with dating him, as does Korra, though hers was genuine dating. He's not going to just jump at you because you had a transformative experience - if that was the case, I'd probably be single right now and Mako would be dating Korra. Probably since she came back to the world from her personal journey, at that." Seeing Kuvira didn't look quite so sullen, Asami said something she thought Su might find slightly offensive, saying gently, "Your experience with Baatar Jr. won't help you with Mako. Baatar Jr. isn't the strongest-willed individual in the world, while Mako doesn't take guff from anybody - not even the Avatar. Mako and Korra fought plenty, so he's no pushover." Ignoring Su's morose look, pressing while Kuvira looked receptive, Asami stressed again, "Mako is not Baatar Jr., Kuvira - Baatar Jr. is a lot more fragile psychologically than Mako, and definitely not as sentimental." Asami laughed unexpectedly, saying on impulse, "Although, I always figured Korra to not really be a lover, but let me tell you - she can be so sentimental at times in the bedroom, she makes me look like a sex-obsessed brute." Recovering from her unplanned interjection to the sounds of laughter, Asami continued in as serious a voice as possible, "You can't just bend Mako to your will. Mako also still has some unresolved anger at the world, and given your reaction to Meelo - even if he was being rude - you do as well. Given you are both orphans, that anger may never be fully resolved, so you'll need to keep that in mind." Giving Kuvira a warm smile, Asami finished, "Don't worry too much, though - Mako has grown a lot over the past four years, and you just underwent a transformation more dramatic than Zuko's. I wish you luck, Kuvira."

Asami was surprised when Kuvira nodded in agreement, saying calmly "If anyone's going to be the lover, it might just be me - I tried being dominant and strong, and all it got me in the end was these chains around my hands and one very broken ex-boyfriend," with no hint of anger on her face - only remorse mixed with hope. Su's distraught expression wasn't surprising, but concerning nonetheless. Su now had a sappy look on her face and was about to say something emotional to Kuvira, but a familiar voice interrupted, saying, "While I do find it touching you're trying to help Kuvira with decidedly non-military matters, I have a request to make." Asami turned towards Korra's projection the quickest, listening as Korra said, "Just now, Mako called you a member of Team Avatar, Kuvira, and it made me realize that even if you still have to serve your sentence, in many ways you are a member. You gave us some solid advice after you got out of that wooden cage, Kuvira - and not just on military matters. I don't know if Asami mentioned Korranium yet, but it is a good possibility for a human power source, even if I think it is too dangerous." Kuvira said, apparently containing her joy out of business reasons, "Given my own experience with spirit weapons, I agree with you strongly on Korranium, Korra." Asami could practically see Zhu Li and Varrick shrinking as Korra laughed at their hunched-over shoulders, no one else wanting to contradict Korra even slightly. The two only looked more defeated after Kuvira brought up a disturbing possibility, saying, "I don't even think it should be used as a power source - something tells me that any Korranium used for civilian purposes could still have military use - a 'dirty bomb', designed to spread Asami particles and misery."

Asami wasn't entirely sure if Kuvira was showing a delayed reaction to Mako calling her a member of Team Avatar, or that she was glad to see no braintrust members contradicted her opinion on Korranium. In any case, Kuvira said, "I don't think you came here to tell me that handsome firebender considers me a part of Team Avatar. Wait - let me guess. You want us to come up with a piece of equipment for me, just like the other projects?" Even though she was blue, Korra's projection was more attractive than an image made of gems, so Asami just stared at Korra as she said, "I'm not sure what we could make you, aside from another Colossus, and we don't have that kind of time, unfortunately," keeping her gaze fixed on Korra as Kuvira responded, "I want one of these. It will need things I can metalbend, like grappling hooks and steel projectiles - the Satot rounds would do nicely. Instead of twin blades, I want plasma saws that are also hooked to the tuber-vines, in case I need to fight with a spirit." Asami was too busy looking at Korra to realize her Asami's Reach would no longer be unique, or even question how someone had gotten the blueprint out in the first place. Asami glanced over at Meelo idly, seeing that he was grinning nervously, so she stuck her tongue out at him, figuring he was the culprit. Asami snapped back to full attention when she heard Kuvira say, "I may not have mentioned this yet, but Jinshu Kuangmai is in possession of all my blueprints and a significant amount of platinum, as well as the largest spirit vine stockpile near Zaofu, so I wouldn't be surprised if he tries to build an improved version of my Colossus."

Asami wondered what meeting she was attending when she heard Varrick say confidently, "Okay - so that's eight tuber-vines out of thirty used for personal projects, another four for the two battleships, two for the aircraft carrier itself, and ten for five of each of Meelo's planes. That doesn't leave us very much room to use the tuber-vines as anything but a power source, but I think we can manage, especially considering Mr. Tuber-Vine and the others have regenerative properties." Asami almost fell out of her chair in shock when what must have been a tuber-vine said "HMMMMM HMMMMM" loudly. Asami missed what Varrick said next, but she gave Zhu Li an angry look over her comment about Atokara's unusual nature, only stopping when she heard "Korra Sato". Asami's head was swimming, and as soon as Korra left, she said loudly, "I don't feel very good - I have to go use the bathroom. Bad. I feel like I'm going to throw up. And my attention is shot." As Asami ran from the room, Zhu Li yelled, "That nausea sounds like morning sickness - but it's almost 5:30 PM! I hope you're okay!"

When Asami got to the bathroom, she realized in horror she hadn't eaten anything in hours, yet still somehow had "morning" sickness, producing dry heaves that she hated. Knowing the likely cause of her 'attention', or lack thereof, she managed to stumble into the kitchen and grab something to eat, making sure to chase down the food with plenty of cold sweet tea. Asami sat down on the floor, panting heavily, still confused. She had just eaten a fair amount of food and drank plenty of tea, but her stomach… it felt empty still! Dismissing a random nagging thought about her figure, she devoured two cooked shark whale steaks cold, and chased it down with some sake and seaweed, on some odd urge.

Asami felt full - finally. She missed the presence of Korra and Raava - she figured they could explain this bizarre event. Remembering that Korra's energy as well as Raava's was inside the betrothal necklace, she closed her eyes, hoping the necklace could help her somehow - even just a one-sentence explanation. Asami let out a yelp when she was greeted by a voice she had never heard before that said, "Thank you, mommy Asami! I was hungry! You need to eat better!" Keeping her eyes closed and not daring to say anything out loud, Asami deliberately thought, "What happened to me? Please tell me!" The same girl giggled, saying, "I have something I want to show you first!'

Asami saw an image of Raava in her human-y form holding a small, gift-wrapped box which she handed off to two small girls. Who they were took a moment to register - one was in Water Tribe dress and had a pronounced gut, while the other had jet black hair and red lipstick on, despite appearing to be four years old. What must have been both her own and Korra's inner child was joined by another small, partially obscured figure once the young Asami opened the box excitedly.

Asami's heart practically skipped a beat - she could see nothing but the child's skin color on a bare leg and foot, but even this small detail made her cry happily through closed eyes.

The skin was a perfect blend between her own and Korra's - this voice must have been Atokara, somehow! Thinking deliberately, Asami "said", "Well, hi, Atokara - I didn't expect to hear your voice so soon! What happened to me earlier?" Atokara's voice giggled, saying, "If you're going to be my mommy, Asami, you're going to need to eat regularly - I am not an ordinary child, if that wasn't obvious. That's what happens if you don't eat when you should." Asami laughed internally, saying, "That wasn't exactly a long time between eating, Atokara - and that was a lot of food!" Atokara laughed, saying with a giggle, "I don't know much more than you do, aside from this: you're eating for two now, and I'm growing a lot faster than a normal baby!"

Asami had one last question to ask, thinking, "From what I know about normal human growth, most children don't have a brain for a long time. How are you able to talk to me?" Atokara laughed, Asami catching a glimpse of twin white hair braids in the style Asami recognized from drawings of Yue, the human Moon spirit. Atokara's voice said, "Like I said - I'm no normal baby! I'm touched by Raava, my… third mommy? No, that's too confusing. Say hi to momma Korra for me!" When Asami opened her eyes, she noticed that her stomach felt just a tiny bit bigger than it had before, almost imperceptibly, but not everywhere. Knowing she didn't want that awful reaction again any time soon, Asami gathered a shark-whale steak, a pitcher of tea and some rice. Suddenly remembering that no one else in the conference room had eaten in a while either, in all likelihood, she went through the trouble of heating up six more steaks in addition to her own, as well as warming more rice, yelling at the top of her lungs, "Come get some food, everyone! I need some help carrying it all out!" Lin yelled, "Put it all on ceramic plates - it will make it easier!" Asami put everything on ceramic plates and inside jade or porcelain jars, Lin, Su and Kuvira using their earthbending to carry the food without effort.

Asami still felt hungry, and realized that Atokara must have had a Raava-augmented growth spurt of some sort earlier. As she took the last bite of shark whale, she heard a familiar voice say, "We're both full now, mommy Asami! I'll help you keep from overeating as best as I can." Forgetting she was surrounded by the braintrust, Asami accidentally said out loud, "How old are you now, Atokara?" After a giggling in her head, Asami said, "Two weeks or so" without her input - out loud. Zhu Li was staring at Asami with an open mouth, saying, "Yeah. I take back my backpedaling on being glad to have normal children." Kuvira said bluntly, "I'm not speaking a word until you tell us what the… blazes happened in there, Asami. Your morning sickness was obviously not natural, and you can talk to Atokara somehow now."

After Asami had finished explaining, she said to a stunned table - even Meelo and Bumi were silent - "I'm as freaked out as you guys are. Just remember, it's actually happening to me, as opposed to just second-hand for everyone else." Seeing Zhu Li start to speak with a concerned look on her face, Asami said sternly, "I will be the one to tell Korra, and no one else. You got that?" After everyone nodded their head, Asami said, "Why don't you show me what you came up with during my absence. I'll give the best input I can." Asami laughed when she heard Atokara's voice say "I will too! I'll help mommy Asami!" and was relieved to see that no one was staring at her like Asami was a lunatic. Asami was starting to sympathize with Korra having to deal with Raava all the time.

Kuvira was the first to go, whipping out a piece of paper with a schematic that Asami recognized as that of the airbender steel projectile dispenser, but with some major modifications. A large, four square box with detailed drawings took up the left side of the paper. Kuvira pointed to the dispenser and what looked like a much more slender Equalist glove, saying, "I actually came up with this idea much earlier today and drew it while ignoring most of the press conference, aside from things that sounded new." Kuvira shivered, saying, "I'm glad I'm not the Avatar - Dark Korra sounded more terrifying than my own metal doppler." As Asami clutched her betrothal necklace tightly at the mention of Dark Korra, she heard a little girl ask, "Oooh, what's that you're grabbing, mommy Asami? It's making you feel good!" Asami sighed, saying, "Just a minute, Kuvira - someone needs to go to their womb," she heard raucous laughter as she thought, "I'll explain when you're older - a LOT older. From now on, don't 'come out' unless I tell you it's okay, sweetie." Asami's face flushed in anger as Atokara's disembodied voice said, "NO! You'll have to make me go to my womb!"

Asami took a deep, resigned sigh as she put her elbows on the table and cupped her face, staring at her hands thinking, "If you don't, I'll get momma Korra to use her connection with Raava to lock you in until you can learn some manners." Asami was relieved to hear Atokara's voice say, "Fiiiine. Given Raava's energy, it's not like I won't see everything you do anyways, now that we've connected - I can see the inside of your hands. They look a lot like mine will." Before Asami could ask for a complete description of her annoyingly precocious daughter, Atokara added, "If you don't treat me nice, I won't share what I will look like with you, and if I'm rude or need to shoo, you can send me to my womb, where I won't look at what you're seeing. Deal?" Asami laughed out loud, thinking, "I can see you inherited my business sense. Deal." Varrick looked like he wanted to say something clever or witty when Asami looked up but Kuvira gave him a withering glare for Asami. He whimpered, memories of his work under Kuvira still fresh. Asami laughed, saying, "If you use that on Mako, maybe you will be able to manipulate him better than Korra could." As everyone but Kuvira and Asami laughed, Kuvira said, "No. I'm done with using fear, and I hope you don't keep Atokara in check heavy-handedly." Asami laughed, explaining their "deal", and Kuvira smiled, saying, "That sounds like a pretty even deal to make with someone who sounds like they are four years old. Now, back to our business."

Asami pointed to the dispenser, saying, "I recognize that as my own design, though I do like the dual Earth and Wind symbols, and the note that says they are etched in steel. That should help all the former Earth Kingdom airbenders feel a little more comfortable using them." Kuvira pointed to some characters Asami had not noticed, saying, "There are two different types of dispensers now - lethal ammunition and nonlethal. In the original design, Satot rounds and the blunt rounds came from the same magazine. I can imagine how mortified a more peaceful airbender would be if they blew a hole in someone's head instead of stunning them." Asami said, "I notice the dispenser is still the same size, though. Are there more of each round type now?" Kuvira shook her head as she pointed at the four squares, saying, "There's still two types in each dispenser. Zhu Li was 'bored' during the press conference much as I was, so she suggested two new types of ammunition: one nonlethal type coated in shirshu poison or a compound with the same effects, and one lethal type that would let airbenders actually cause harm to machines. Zhu Li hopes to use chemistry to synthesize artificial shirshu poison, and the new lethal type will be filled with an improved version of the explosive Varrick used to take down your ships all those years ago."

Glad to finally be getting somewhere, Asami didn't even bother giving Varrick a hard time, saying, "Good to see it put to good use. Just one question, though - how will an airbender re-load once they run out of ammunition? Actually, two - care to explain the gloves?" Kuvira had a blank look at first, so she sketched a wingsuit and put two pouches into its stomach, saying, "If you wanted more carrying capacity, you'd need to add aerodynamic pouches to the wingsuits. On the gloves, the airbender can flip a switch using their bending inside the glove and swap between blunt rounds and shirshu darts, or Satot rounds or… grenades, let's call them." Bumi walked over, pointing at the glove and asking, "What about just regular airbending? This glove might get in the way." Seeing Kuvira's skeptical look, Bumi asked Asami, "Asami, let me see your electroglove and demonstrate. Betcha you won't think I'm totally crazy after this, eh, Kuvira?" Kuvira said, deadpan, "You could get a hundred doctors to pronounce you sane and I'd still think you're slightly crazy." Bumi laughed, responding, "Well, good - crazy means I'm unpredictable. Like this!" Bumi extended his hand and shot an airblast straight at Kuvira's chest, prompting Su to bend a piece of metal around Bumi's hands and say, "And I thought Meelo was being rude!" in a huff. Bumi just grumbled, making Asami laugh all the harder as she handed over the glove finally.

When Bumi repeated the move with the glove, palms forward, a reduced blast of air came out, the glove apparently containing part of the air. Kuvira shook her head, saying, "Give me some metal and let me bend it over your hand, and you'll see why this only happens with the electroglove. Su gave Kuvira her mantle, seeing that Lin was slightly reluctant to provide Kuvira any metal. Once Kuvira had formed a mockup of the new airbender glove over Bumi's hand, she stood up, bracing her legs as she said, "Now try me, Bumi." Bumi was surprised when the slimmer glove didn't produce a repeat of the earlier failure, but even more so that Kuvira could stand against the blast with no bending. Kuvira gave Su her mantle back, saying, "I'm not a pushover - you just caught me by surprise earlier."

Meelo finally spoke, asking, "Suppose an airbender didn't mind killing. Could he… or she wear two lethal ammunition pouches?" Even Bumi gave Meelo a disgusted look, saying, "Meelo! Not even Opal would want to do that. I doubt even Zaheer would take nonlethal force off the table completely." Meelo didn't mind the comment, saying strongly, "Uncle Bumi, what if we're up against an armored enemy, like a lot of tanks? Even Satot rounds would be useless there." Bumi nodded his head, saying, "The kid does have a point. If we get enough spiritwire, we could even put some around the tip of a Satot round and have Korra infuse Raava's energy into the wire directly, letting an airbender hurt or take out a Dark Spirit." Kuvira took out her pencil and drew spirit wire around half the tip of the Satot round, saying, "I think we're done with this now. Why don't we take a look at the four mechasuits and refine them."

When Asami looked at her own suit, Asami's Reach, she heard Atokara's voice say, "Oooh, that looks pretty! Is that what mommy Asami looks like?" Asami stared at the suit, saying out loud, "No, it's not, Atokara. And looking at the other suits, they don't look like their user either. Particularly Zhu Li's - that thing is a monster!" Zhu Li laughed, saying as she pointed to Asami's Reach, "I see you came up with the exact same names for our suits as we did, Asami. Atokara does raise a useful point - your trademark goggles and feminine form still don't capture you very well." Asami sat down with a pencil, re-designing the suit to look more like her. She added another set of spirit blades - this one to the points of high heels, the spirit blade running up the inside of her distinctive boots, to be used for a more powerful kick. Finally realizing a use for the stupid skirts Kuvira had on her mechasuits, Asami drew in a thin, flexible metal skirt with spiritwire on its surface from Asami's Reach's waist. She re-formed the helmet, making it better contour her face, leaving enough room for her to move her jaw to speak into some undersigned radio comm system. Asami realized with a start she should have invited Shiro to come and join them, feeling ashamed at her oversight. The last thing she added was a pair of ruby lips, their color only a note, prompting Atokara to say, "Oooh, I like that! I want to wear whatever does that! But where's your hair?" Asami laughed, saying, "Apparently, Atokara wants to wear lipstick like 'mommy Asami'. Can anyone think of a combat use for hair?"

Apparently, Shiro had gotten lonely, as Asami heard him say from behind her, "That would make a good place to hide communication equipment, though the hair obviously couldn't be real, and I don't think hair as long as Asami's would make combat sense." Asami turned around, slightly embarrassed as she said, "I'm sorry I didn't think to invite you, Shiro - it was awfully rude of me." Shiro shook his head, saying seriously, "I needed more time alone to deal with my loss, as I am sure I will after this short visit."

For the next thirty minutes, everyone gave input on the four mechasuits, including personalizing touches. Meelo suggested Varrick include his mustache on Iron Varrick, Zhu Li suggested a symbol of the Moon on Zhu Li's Thing's shoulders and Varrick adopted the symbol as well, pleasing Zhu Li to no end. Su cried for a while after Kuvira put the Beifong family crest on her suit's shoulders, Lin approving of the omission of Kuvira's former signature metal straps and Asami successfully suggesting that Kuvira include her mole. After Asami had looked at Zhu Li's face and glasses, Atokara even contributed, suggesting that Zhu Li put her glasses on the mechasuit. Zhu Li said with a soft look, "Maybe being able to talk to your kid before they're born isn't so bad after all. I wish I could eat as much as you did and retain my figure." Varrick laughed, saying, "Who, you, beautiful? You could actually use some more weight - your suit might be strong, but you still look like Kuvira or Bumi could snap you like a stick." Zhu Li giggled, saying, "And here you were, complaining that I could stand to lose a few Zhu Lis when rescuing me not long ago. Though I don't think Bumi or Kuvira could snap me like a stick."

Remembering that Korra had made a full-sized model of Asami's Reach, Asami said, "If I can get Lin, Su and Kuvira's help, I can show you a full-size mockup of Asami's Reach before the re-design. There may still be some metal left from the chunk of ore as well - it would be nice to have a mockup of everyone's suit." Once they arrived in Asami's room, Kuvira managed to carry the mockup by herself and Lin and Su went outside to see how much metal was left, leaving Asami by herself. As Asami idly walked around, she realized that Atokara didn't know how her own mother looked just yet, let alone Korra. Asami stood in front of a mirror deliberately, thinking, "This is mommy Asami, Atokara. Care to tell me any features we share in common?" Atokara laughed, saying, "I know you have a picture of momma Korra you don't want me to see, for some reason." Asami gasped when she heard Atokara's voice say, "Come on - you can show me! You're no airbender prude." Asami wasn't surprised by Atokara's request in the least - somehow, Atokara knew most airbenders were uptight, even though she had only 'met' Bumi and Meelo! Apparently able to read her emotions as well, Atokara said, "I know more than what you show me, mommy Asami - a little of Raava's knowledge rubs off on me." Asami thought, "Why don't I show you momma Korra's dress first, so you can at least see her with clothes on?" Atokara laughed, asking, "Why? I don't have any clothes, and I don't think I wanna either!" Asami laughed, thinking, "I guess you inherited Korra's free spirit, before she was crushed by the White Lotus. Apparently, she used to like running naked in the cold of the South Pole."

Asami removed the betrothal necklace from her neck and flipped it over, thinking of Korra's beautiful skin with her eyes closed as she savored the feelings holding the necklace caused in her. Asami heard a click and she opened her eyes, staring at Korra's beautiful naked body. Atokara said almost immediately, "Momma Korra is beautiful, mommy Asami! She must be quite the artist, too! I don't see why people wear clothes at all!" After Asami replied to her daughter, "Part of it is to protect from the sun, cold, heat and other nasty things, and a bigger part of it is social convention," Atokara said, "Okay - I guess. I still don't want to wear clothes unless I have to - running naked in the freezing cold sounds fun!" Asami laughed as Atokara asked, "Will my body be like that when I come out? I like all the curves!" and all she could think was, "I don't think so, sweetie. Even Raava doesn't know what you'll be like when you come out - just yet." Atokara gave Asami her first interesting piece of information, saying, "I have hair like momma Korra - dark brown. Well, except… no, that's going to be a surprise!"

Knowing what little she knew of Atokara, Asami wouldn't find out this other bit about her hair until she was born. Having completely forgot she was supposed to be in a meeting and not communing with her unborn daughter, Asami thought, "Okay, mommy Asami time is over!" as she closed the betrothal necklace back up and ran out to see what Lin and Su were doing.

Somehow between the two of them they had managed to get another piece of ore through a combined effort and were panting as they created iron bars. Remembering that there were more than three metalbenders on the island, she tried something different. After explaining what she had been doing and would be trying to Su and Lin, Asami stood perfectly still, eyes closed as she focused on a powerful energy - both in her betrothal necklace and within herself. When she felt something click, she heard a familiar female voice say What do you need, Asami? This isn't normal - for a non-Avatar to contact me by focusing on my energy instead of meditation. Asami thought, "Do you know where Bolin is?" and she heard Raava laughing as she said Sorry, I don't. Now don't contact me like this again - even this exchange is breaking all sorts of rules. I only interact with people other than the Avatar in extreme emergencies. I do the contacting to anyone except Korra. She can talk to me any time she likes, but you can't. Got it? Asami half felt like screaming in frustration - Raava was acting as illogically as every other spirit usually did! Asami just decided to try and find Bolin the old-fashioned way, annoyed and hurt at Raava's response.

By the time Asami found Bolin, she was pretty sure that Lin and Su were done anyways, only bothering to approach to see what he was doing in such an isolated spot. She had gotten directions from a local, and as she got closer, she quickly turned around. Given the sounds and words she was hearing, Opal and Bolin were finally having some private time - though nowhere near as intimate as her own relations with Korra. Asami ignored Atokara's protest of "I wanna see!", running back to the conference room.

Asami nearly fainted when she got into the conference room, and not just because of the imposing metal forms in the room, including one she definitely did not remember discussing. Asami said, pointing at an exhausted Lin, "Why did you take Kuvira's cuffs off? I don't think she's going to run away, but still…" Lin groaned, with an odd look in her eye, sipping some hot tea before talking, "My sister and I were completely exhausted by our earlier feat with the ore - there's no way we can harvest it with current technology without Korra's help. Given your failure to find Bolin, the only metalbender that was available was Kuvira." Su said, a disgusted tone audible through her exhaustion, "Lin ordered Bumi to stop Kuvira with airbending if he needed to. You know…" Asami turned to Lin, saying, "WHAT? Why didn't you just wait until you felt better! That's awful! And given Bumi's stare at you, he didn't like the idea either." Bumi said, grumbling, "All I was willing to do was something like what Korra did with bloodbending - use the air in Kuvira's lungs to keep her from running, not steal her breath. Meelo suggested it as a compromise."

The subject of all this dissension said loudly, slightly choked up, "I'm done with my work. You can replace those shackles now - I will serve my sentence willingly, despite Lin's misgivings." Once Bumi had replaced the platinum handcuffs, Kuvira walked over to Lin in a huff, saying loudly, "I think I have more than proved my changed nature, Lin Beifong. A last name, I might add, you share with me now more than ever." Not letting Lin get in a word edgewise, Kuvira continued, "I've helped design a new weapon for the Avatar like the world has never seen, given all sorts of advice, offered my technological expertise with no conditions to speak of, Korra trusted me to keep some very sensitive information secret that even you can't know, opened myself up emotionally in a way I never have before… what does it take to get your trust, Lin? I bet even if Raava herself vouched for me in her full form, you'd still have reservations!" Lin's eyes flared with an unstable look, apparently no longer exhausted as she said with rage in her voice, "Don't you lecture me! They say that actions speak louder than words, and it's going to take a lot more action than fixing some mechasuit mockups to convince me you've changed!" Slamming her hand onto the table violently, she added, "And just what is this secret that I can't know, Kuvira? I demand you to tell me, and everyone else in this room!"

Asami coughed loudly, saying, "I'm afraid she can't do that, Lin. Avatar Korra's orders." Kuvira gasped in shock at what Lin did next, along with everyone else, though only Kuvira began to cry. Asami saw Lin move her hands rapidly as the floor beneath Asami rumbled and a very tight earth cone formed around Asami as Lin screamed, "Oh, so you're in on this too, Asami? I think I just might know what this secret is about - or should I say, who!" Lin approached with wild eyes, a metal armblade extended and Lin howling, "Tell me everything you talked about with my mother, Toph, right now, Asami! I know she has some secret - I remember her covering her mouth after she said 'family' very clearly!" Asami cursed not being a bender - specifically, a combustionbender. There was a wild look in Lin's eyes that Asami found all too familiar, and very disconcerting - they closely resembled Baatar Jr.'s eyes as he was dragged off, screaming.

Lin gasped as the extended armblade snapped off and formed a restraining belt as Su yelled, "MAYBE YOUNEED THE HANDCUFFS, LIN! How dare you threaten Asami like that - if there's something that Kuvira, Korra and Asami see fit to keep secret about the Beifong family, maybe it needs to stay secret!" Asami fished wildly in her pack, now freed from the earth cone, getting out the electroglove again - to subdue another Beifong. Lin looked about ready to snap fully, screaming, "It's a third child, isn't it! My mother never could keep her pants on." Lin's eyes widened as Asami approached, fixating her wild gaze on Kuvira, and what she said next made the electroglove irrelevant. Lin said, sweeping the metal holding her back, forming a blade again, pointed at a crying Kuvira this time, "YOU! You know the secret, and it is connected to our family, and you've already worked closely with one Beifong during your reign of terror - Baatar Jr. I think you've worked with one more - JINSHU KUANGMAI!"

Everyone but Asami and Kuvira gasped in the room in horror as Lin said, withdrawing the threatening blade slowly, "Jinshu Kuangmai isn't a real name - it means 'Metal Veins', after his sick ability! It fits perfectly! Asami and Korra stay behind to talk to my mother after the Restoration about something she doesn't want to get out. After Korra rescues Kuvira from Koh and Long Yumao in the Spirit World, Kuvira conveniently mentions information at the same time about Jinshu Kuangmai, which was very heavily edited by Korra." Lin stopped pointing at Kuvira, forming an angry fist, punching the hard wood table as she re-extended her armblade quickly, saying in an offputtingly calm manner, "Knowing what we know about Jinshu Kuangmai following the conference, he takes special relish in punishing Kuvira's home and Su's city, Zaofu, by kicking out its civilians and turning it into a fortress." Removing her hand from the top of the table and retracting the armblade again, Lin said in what was much closer to a normal voice, "Given his sickening ability and psychopathic personality, I guess that Toph couldn't handle him and dumped him on some hapless family, probably when he was young." Lin spit on the ground, saying, "Until I started to figure this out, I thought I was over the gulf between me and my mother, and the rest of the family. I was wrong - how typical of Toph, to not want to deal with emotional issues or things surrounding family head on." Sitting cross legged on the floor, Lin said with closed eyes, "I need to 'meditate'. And don't bother me!" At first, everyone honored her request, but as Asami idly looked at her betrothal necklace, she jumped - it was glowing a bright white!

This is a time of extreme need, Asami - I can feel Lin slipping, much as Kuvira was inside her wooden cage. She's not right. Shock her enough to incapacitate her, then place your betrothal necklace over her heart. And quickly!

Asami did so without hesitation, not bothering to explain. After she had held the betrothal necklace to Lin's chest for what seemed like an eternity, Lin began weeping, trying to stand up but falling forward weakly, saying with much effort, "Thank you, Asami… thank you. When I closed my eyes, I was taken to a place much like the one Kuvira was, except when I looked to see who was on the other side of the orb, it was my mother, Toph. The orb… it was wildly flashing between black and red, blue and white." Gritting her teeth, Lin said, "When I looked at her, she had a very sad expression on her face, which I noticed was made of flesh. When I looked down at my own chest…" Lin stood up weakly, wobbling over to a remarkably calm Kuvira, saying as she did so, "I saw… thick…metallic lines… emanating from where my heart was located. I asked Toph about the lines and she said, painfully, 'Given what Raava has told me about the past ten or so minutes in that conference room, that is all from your reprehensible behavior towards Kuvira and, most of all, Asami. You have to forgive me, Lin, or that metal and your feelings will eat you alive. I did what I thought was best for Tonga Beifong.' I then pointed at her angrily, saying, 'You left him as an orphan, except he knew better! He was old enough, I believe, to know his mother hand intentionally abandoned him, like the coward she really is. Just like Kuvira's parent's - it's probably your fault he's so screwed up!'"

Lin embraced Kuvira tightly, sobbing, "When I looked at my hand, I noticed that it was gradually coming more and more metallic. Toph cried out, running over to hug me, 'NO! I've already lost one of my children to darkness. I won't have you going insane!' It was at this point I could feel an immense power envelop me and a voice in my head that said You have a lot to live for, Lin Beifong. I think you need to see your mother's life through her eyes to fully heal. I saw my mother's life flash before my life. Everything. Everything she ever did, felt, said, her hopes and fears, her dreams." Hugging Kuvira tighter, Lin finished, "Much as you did, Kuvira Beifong, I screamed 'I want to live!' and felt an immense weight lifted from my soul and indescribable peace replace it, the metal gone." Kuvira said, with tears in her eyes, "I'm glad you won, Aunt Lin - it's not easy. Now let's look at these amazing mechasuits, and the new addition - as a family." Lin made to remove the handcuffs from Kuvira, but Kuvira stopped her, saying, "I'm not taking these off permanently until I've helped heal the United Earth Republic. Though, they could be wide enough for me to bend properly..." Lin hugged Kuvira so tightly Kuvira let out an "Ooof", saying, "Don't kill me with kindness, Aunt Lin!"

When Asami finally managed to look around the room, she saw Bumi hugging Meelo tightly - who for once wasn't struggling - and noticed Bumju was now sitting on Bumi's head, trilling contentedly. Su had gotten over her shock and was getting up to join the Beifong family hug, Shiro looked genuinely happy, and Zhu Li was tugging on Varrick's hand, saying, "The Thing, now, Varrick! I want a family too!" Asami laughed, saying, "I think we need to finish here first, Zhu Li, and it's not like you'd get a baby immediately - you have to get lucky like everyone else, unlike me and Korra." Knowing what the smaller figures on the table were, Asami said, "I can see you all finalized the designs for the civilian and regular military mechasuits - they don't look much different than Kuvira's mechasuits, aside from what looks like a 'caution' theme etched into the metal for the construction ones." Asami held out her necklace - but not for the usual reason. Pointing at the four elemental symbols, she said, "It might be a good idea to somehow distinguish the military mechasuits from the ones Kuvira's army used - something tells me that Jinshu Kuangmai has plenty of them left, given what we know about his strength."

As Kuvira etched the four elemental symbols onto the small, generic military mechasuits, Asami turned to look at what must have been Zhu Li's Thing and Iron Varrick, along with an unnamed mechasuit that must have been Kuvira's. Walking around Zhu Li's thing, Asami said, "I like the extra spirit jets on the back, Zhu Li - if this thing is going to fly, you'll need them." Zhu Li ran over, excitedly pointing to Zhu Li's Thing, which dwarfed almost everyone in the room by height alone, not to mention bulk. Zhu Li said, running her hand over the mechasuit's left hefty shoulder, "This shoulder can fire two different types of Meesiles - most, unguided like the ones Meelo designed for the Flying Hogmonkey, while the other eight larger Meesiles can be remotely controlled. This was Shiro's suggestion, and he will help me and Varrick make the eight Meesiles easy enough to control that I can guide them with one hand's movements." Zhu Li nodded to Kuvira, who demonstrated how the Meesile was to leave its square using metalbending. Asami watched silently as Zhu Li pranced to the other side, proud of her creation as she said, "The other shoulder has much more familiar weapons on it - two small-bore repeating spirit cannons underneath a larger one, closer to Kuvira's Colossus' weapon in how it works. It even has the same rifling her weapon had, though it will probably share the same slow firing time."

Kuvira must have been feeling better now, seeing how she made the mechasuit move with metalbending, saying, "This mechasuit is the heaviest of all four - even my own is lighter. If it weren't for the large spirit jets on the back, it likely couldn't fly." Asami said, laughing slightly, "Aside from the glasses and the moons on its shoulders, I'd hardly know this suit is yours, Zhu Li. I knew it was going to be intimidating from the blueprint, but in person, it's awe-inspiring. The broad chest, those grooved legs, the stocky arms… they look like - " Asami shook her head, thinking to herself, "Comparing them to my mental image of Jinshu Kuangmai is probably not a good idea" as she said out loud, "They remind me of drawings of lion-turtles." Zhu Li was pleased with the comparison as she finished, "The big grooves are extra spirit wires - the jet on the back wouldn't be enough to get my Thing flying like I want it. The upper arms below the shoulders have special grenade magazines in the outer armor, shot out by Lipowder instead of airbending. The thicker arm on the right has a concealed Varrick gun, and the other arm has a spirit blade stowed inside it, in case I need to fight a spirit."

After Zhu Li finished talking, Varrick slapped Iron Varrick hard, rubbing his palm in pain as he said, "My turn! My suit hasn't changed much since you last saw it, but I still want to talk anyways." Asami was surprised to not hear Lin groan as Varrick pointed to the smaller suit's arm, Varrick saying excitedly, "When I extend my arms completely straight, these two long, hollow squares meet each other, forming a small VarriMag gun." Sighing slightly, Varrick continued, "The high power demand of the twin VarriMag guns means I couldn't include any spirit weapons on Iron Varrick aside from twin repeating spirit cannons in the shoulders, as well as spirit longblades on the forearms much like your own suit, Asami's Reach. The rest of the shoulder stores VarriMag ammunition." Finishing as he pointed at a chest that resembled that of Zhu Li's Thing, except smaller, Varrick said, "Well, I guess there is one more spirit weapon, one that I added while you were gone - a condenser ring hooked directly to both tuber-vines that can shoot a beam. Like the one Korra did at UnaVaatu during Harmonic Convergence."

Asami got a dirty yet practical idea, and given Atokara's giggling inside her head, Atokara loved it as well. Pointing at Asami's Reach, Asami said with a grin, "That sounds like a really good idea, Varrick, and I figure those ridiculous boobs on my suit may as well serve some purpose. Can someone add that feature to mine - double?" Kuvira was laughing so hard along with Su that it was Lin who had to make the change, Asami admonishing, "Uh-uh, Lin - they have to look like condenser rings too, or else they won't work properly, I imagine. Right, Kuvira?" Kuvira said, "Yeah, sure - but I don't think that's the only reason you're being a stickler for form, Asami. The main reason probably starts with a K." Lin laughed as she honored Asami's request, saying, "I always figured you for a sexually rambunctious spirit, Asami, even a little bit before you came out with Korra, but this just takes the cake." Asami blushed for the first time in a long time, saying, "I figure with the power inside my betrothal necklace and its strong link to Korra, the 'condenser rings' aren't just for show." Getting some confused looks, Asami said with slight exasperation, "What, you forgot the little spiritwire cradle for my betrothal necklace that's linked to my suit? If I can add my love for Korra - physical and emotional - to the twin blasts, they'd be sure to hurt any Dark Spirit it hits gravely. Maybe even destroy them entirely."

Satisfied with the nodding heads she saw, which Asami noticed with a start now included Bumi's sister, Kya, Asami said, "Now, to Kuvira's… unnamed mechasuit, the last I heard." Lin said, with an odd pride in her voice that Asami had never heard before, "Kuvira's creation is called Kuvira's Remorse. And given her look, she doesn't want to change its name - even after my… experience earlier." Curious to see when exactly Kya had come, Asami got her answer, based on Kya's confused look. Kya said, throwing her hands in the air, "Bumju came to me, trilling with what must have been concern, and I ran here as fast as I could and snuck in, expecting to see something bad. I just saw Zhu Li yanking on Varrick's hand like she wanted sex right then, and figured whatever it was, it was finished, so I just went to the bathroom. When I came back, you were defending your breastbeams." As everyone else laughed, Asami said, face flush again, "They aren't breastbeams - they're lovebeams!" knowing that wasn't even half true, her mouth forming a pout. Kya frowned slightly, saying, "I didn't mean to offend, Asami - I think they're actually a good idea and not dirty. Being a waterbender and daughter of Katara, I don't have any problem with the feminine form, clothes or not." On some innocent impulse, Asami ran over to Kya, saying, "I bet you'll like this, then," showing her betrothal necklace to someone she hardly knew. Asami was happy to see her gut instinct about Kya was right as she said, staring at Korra' naked form, "Wow - I never knew Korra was an artist! That's beautiful! I like the other side even more, though - the way you're holding hands…" Bumi said, as his sister sighed deeply, "Even with Meelo's antics, sometimes I find myself wishing I had married…"

Seeing Meelo move out of the corner of her eye, Asami shut the betrothal necklace, and just in time. Meelo, apparently frustrated he couldn't satiate his curiosity, said, "If you won't show me your necklace, Miss Asami, can we at least look at Kuvira's Remorse and the new war balloon?" Asami laughed, saying, "Sure, Meelo - why don't we start with what I already know partially: Kuvira's Remorse."

Kuvira said, pointing at Asami's watch, "I can see from here that it's getting pretty late - the little interlude must have taken quite some time." Shiro interrupted, saying, "My watch reads almost 8:00 PM. I'll excuse myself temporarily to see if I can hail Intelligence Officer First Class Jeong-Jeong and see if Korra and Mako are returning yet." Asami sighed, asking Shiro before he could leave, "You mean Zuko or Uncle Iroh aren't coming back?" Shiro shook his head, saying, "They both decided yesterday they needed to stay in the Fire Nation and help convince people to help fight Jinshu Kuangmai. Or should I say, Tonga Beifong." With a wink, Shiro left the room as Kya said, "Wait - what? I don't know Shiro as a liar, but that sounds impossible. Isn't Jinshu Kuangmai, like, 32?"

As Lin explained what happened earlier to Kya in detail, Asami took Meelo and Kuvira aside, asking Kuvira, "Want to show me any changes you made to the suit?" Kuvira laughed, saying, "I'll probably add a condenser ring to my suit, though not the twin suggestive ones you did. I didn't change much - the make of the suit is still similar to your own. It still has a mix of the lethal and nonlethal airbender projectiles that I can shoot from the shoulders, grappling hooks, twin spirit longblades where I'd normally have armblades, with a slight modification at the ends that lets them double as plasma saws." Not remembering plasma saw spirit longblades, Asami asked, "Just how do you hope to do that? The plasma saws on the hummingbird suits were very specialized." Kuvira bent out one of the longblades, though they now looked closer to Bolin's sword than the longblades on Asami's Reach. Kuvira clenched her fist, and the fatter, shorter blade did something very odd. The side of the blade on the interior of the mechasuit's arm retracted about half-way back inside, revealing a hollow inside the remaining larger portion. Kuvira said, "It's my idea, but I'll need your help to make it a reality. Once we defeat Long Yumao, we should probably switch to blade like this one - hummingbird suits aren't a good way to get inside a Colossus, and knowing Jinshu Kuangmai, he may even attack before Long Yumao is defeated. Hence why I wanted this now, and not later."

After Asami corrected the blueprints, widening the blade to make sure the plasma saw portion would have enough room, she turned to Meelo, saying, "Now why don't you tell me about what I have to assume is your idea, Meelo?" Before Meelo could speak, Asami added, "And why does it resemble one of Kuvira's war balloons? I thought Jinshu Kuangmai would have almost all of them." As she bent the strange form closer, Kuvira explained, "There is a secret facility beneath what used to be the Earth Queen's palace that I constructed, making sure to only let those I trusted most know of its existence - not even Jinshu Kuangmai was told. It's protected by a 'password', and houses a good amount of spirit vines, spirit weapons, along with about ten special airships, maybe many more - I can't remember exactly." Getting an uneasy feeling, Asami asked a nervous Kuvira, "Who constructed the facility? I know there were crystal catacombs beneath the palace - at least until you and… whoever made a secret base. That place must be massive, and extend far beyond the old green crystal caverns." Kuvira said, with a sick look on her face, "That was probably my worst crime. The most resolute and stubborn prisoners were forced to excavate the cavern using shovels or bending, with harsh elite metalbenders for taskmasters who assisted in construction." Kuvira started crying as she said, "My mechasuit isn't called Kuvira's Remorse for nothing, Asami - to keep the secret, I worked the workers to death, then turned on the overseers, sicking Jinshu Kuangmai on them at a different location, telling him they were all traitors. I made sure Baatar Jr. wasn't there and that he believed the workers were fine." Meelo whacked her on the head with a small hand, saying, "Evil Kuvira! Evil! Bad! No Miss for you!"

Some part of Asami wanted to just punch Kuvira in the face so that she'd never be the same - just a strike to the nose, in the right way… Kuvira caught her off guard by stepping back and kneeling, shaking her shackles as she said, "I can only thank Raava that I did not have to feel that hurt, in my original vision - it would have broken me. There's a reason I'm going along with this sentence, Asami - remorse." Finding her rage dissipating, Asami just hugged Kuvira deeply, saying, "I vaguely considered punching your nose in in a devastating way, maybe even fatal way, Kuvira - but after seeing Lin go crazy, I don't think I could do it." Kuvira said, with a completely neutral tone, "I deserve death for what I have done, Asami - my only hope is that, as Lin said, I can earn life through actions. I might have been saved by Korra, twice, judged worthy by Raava in a roundabout way, shattered my metallic self - but it's still not enough. It may never be. My honor, my conscience, my soul… all have been sullied forever."

Asami half fainted when she heard a strong, emotional voice say, "No, Kuvira - you cannot carry the burden in your soul, forever, never forgiving yourself though many have forgiven you. I have to admit, your method for making that cavern you told us all about earlier when Asami wasn't here would probably have led me to cut one of your limbs off earlier… but I know from personal experience, nursing hurt doesn't do anything." Lin finally entered Asami's field of vision as Lin finished, "If you let the guilt from your past actions eat you alive like I was letting my anger at my mother consume me for what she did to Tonga Beifong, you just might go insane. Or worse - revert. To metallic Kuvira." Kuvira said after starting to cry, "You're right, Aunt Lin - I've been good for less than a week, and evil for roughly three years. I can't let guilt slide me backwards…" Meelo surprised everyone around him by having some sound emotional advice for once, saying, "Zuko got his honor back through action, and you can too, Miss Kuvira!"

Pointing at what must have been his creation, Meelo continued before anyone could get sappy again, "This is something I came up with when Kuvira showed us all the form of the airships inside that big room. They originally had spirit weapons on the sides, but I turned them into engines and streamlined the form of the war balloon. It's more like a biiiig plane now than a balloon. It still has enough gas in it to help lift it, but there's also four other, smaller engines that replace the old propeller height and position adjusters." Pointing to the side, Meelo said, "It has stubby wings with different guns underneath each side. One side has two Varrick guns and one medium-bore spirit cannon, and the other one has two small repeating spirit cannons and one medium-sized VarriMag Gun. I wanted it to be able to engage spirits or physical targets, no matter what side was facing out." On a cue from Meelo, Kuvira flipped the sizeable model over, saying coolly, "With increased lift from the spirit engines and two tuber-vines for power, it could even go fast enough to be a bomber as well - with modification. Just remove the guns and have a large 'bomb bay'…" Realizing that neither form of war balloon and plane hybrid had a name, Asami said, "Why don't we call the gunship Raava's Wrath, and this bomber the Angry Airbison."

As Meelo laughed, apparently loving the bomber's name, Asami heard a door open and close. Looking at her watch and realizing with a start it was now almost 8:30, she turned to see who it was, half expecting to see Korra and Mako. Instead, it was Shiro, saying, "I finally managed to contact a Fire Nation officer, though not Jeong-Jeong, and they said that Korra and Mako left about 45 minutes ago, both propelling the boat. My best guess is that they will still be a while - the capital is not very near Ember Island. An hour, tops." Shiro walked over to the mockup of Raava's Wrath intently, cradling his chin as he said, "Have you considered making a version of this craft that jams radio communications? The communication blackout with Ba Sing Se has proved most problematic. I would need to design the equipment first, though." Asami stood up, hugging Shiro as she said, "I'd like to officially make you a member of the braintrust, Shiro." Shiro had a steely look in his eyes as he said, "I accept. Anything I can do to get back at Jinshu Kuangmai - he's not Tonga Beifong, not after what he did to my family."

After Asami broke the hug with Shiro, she wanted to say something else, immediately forgetting when she heard a young male voice say, "Stop it, Jinora! Who are you, Asami?" What must have been Jinora giggled, "Come on - they can probably hear us now. I'll have to pester you some more later." Asami half felt like opening the door to see just what could have happened to Jinora to make her so feisty, but something told her it was as long and complicated as her own story since she got up this morning and saved Korra from her dark half.

Jinora and Kai finally entered the room, with wide eyes, like they didn't feel sleepy at all. While Kai marveled at the various mechasuits and Raava's wrath, Jinora produced an odd bag, saying, "This is full of Jang Hui kelp, and needs to be kept wet with fresh water. If you boil it and drink the 'tea', you won't feel tired for six hours!" Asami laughed as Varrick rushed over and grabbed the bag, Varrick saying, "Looks like that's not the only side effect, given how Kai was asking you to leave him alone and comparing you to Asami." Jinora didn't blush at all, prompting Bumi to say, "Where'd the grumpa-Jinora go that I used to know? Wherever she went, she can stay there - I like the sparkle in your eyes!" Kya said as she wet the odd bag with ambient moisture, accidentally splashing Varrick, "It sounds like you had a long day, Jinora - why don't you get something to eat?" Asami's eyes widened after Jinora said, "You got any shark whale meat left? I'm starving, and the only real meat I've eaten today is fish!"

As Jinora dug into a sizeable cooked shark whale steak, Lin said loudly, "Okay - whatever happened to those two, it's a lot more complicated than what happened during our 'braintrust' meeting. Probably more important too, given Jinora's eating a shark whale steak, and they returned from Jang Hui, apparently successful in converting the Painted Lady." Asami coughed, saying, "Why don't I start with when Korra left for the Fire Nation? Nobody here can infobend, so this could take a while." Kai said, running over to his pack, "Anyone want some of this Jang Hui kelp tea?" Varrick looked like he just might give in, but said, "Not yet - I don't want to be up at 3:00 AM, wide awake." Giving Zhu Li a nudge, he said, "I plan on being fast asleep after some quality time with Zhu Li." Jinora giggled, saying, "You can say sex, you know, Varrick. I'm not four." Asami joined in the laughter as she heard Atokara's voice say proudly, "That doesn't apply to me, mommy Asami. I've seen momma Korra without clothes on, after all." Asami almost passed out, her voice now too hoarse from laughing to be the first speaker after all.

Different people took turns speaking, first explaining the metal forms in the room as well as the blueprints, Jinora staring at the lethal airbender projectiles as much as Kai did. After people had settled down from Kuvira's repeat of her worst crime, Lin and Su took turns describing Lin's borderline insane behavior, making both Jinora and Kai cry at times. Asami's eyes widened at the lack of reaction to Jinshu Kuangmai's identity from the two young airbenders. When Asami asked Kai about it, he said, "That's something for when Korra is here and well-rested - she's going to be very busy infobending tomorrow morning."

Asami idly looked at her betrothal necklace, and noticed something odd - it was pulsating in a distinct pattern, with the figure of Korra on the front illuminated with white light. As Asami saw who entered the room next, she knew why.

"Momma Korra!"