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CHAPTER XIV - RECONNECTION

"Wh-where are we?" Sung asked. "What are we doing here?"

"We're in your consciousness," Korra said.

"We're in my what?"

"And we're here to fix your out-of-whack chakras so we can reconnect with our past lives and control the Avatar State properly."

"Uhh..."

"I'm so glad I reconnected with my past lives again before I died." She sat down in the darkness, crossed her legs and closed her eyes. "I was never any good at this, but maybe becoming a spirit boosted my spirituality."

Sung sat facing her. "Is that what you are? A- a spirit?"

"I'm not exactly sure what I am, but right now, you need to meditate so I can try to read your chakras." She breathed in deeply. "Just relax. There's a lot at stake here."

"That's not helping me re- relax."

Not long after the Sun rose, Jinora, Ikki, Meelo, Opal and Kai held a lengthy discussion in the Chairwoman's office about how to proceed. Jinora and Ikki wanted to comply to whatever Kaili wanted, to keep their mother alive. Meelo and Opal were convinced that that wasn't necessary, and a little trickery was all they needed to get Pema back safely.

Rohan interrupted the heated discussion, stomping through the door with Ren following behind. "You're gonna wanna see this," he said, turning the TV on.

"The Lotus sent video tapes to all the major broadcast stations," Ren explained. "They're airing them now."

"What?" Ikki said. "Why would they do that?"

Jinora kissed her teeth. "They'll do anything for ratings."

Static filled the screen and speakers before the tape cut to Kaili.

"My name is Kaili. Nine years ago, I served the Republic of Nations as a detective of the Republic City Police Force. We put away a lot of criminals, but I came to realise that a lot of them were a part of organised crime gangs that operated similarly to our own governments.

"It was around this time that I learned the identity of my father, Zaheer, and of his involvement with the Red Lotus and the extreme measures he took to bring freedom to you – you who are listening to me, right now.

"You may have felt relief when you heard about my father's death, which is understandable. But I ask you to search deep within your heart and ask yourself how you felt when the wavering King Wu passed. Deep within your heart, weren't you relieved that Firelord Izumi the Puppet Master and her weak King weren't an issue anymore? Didn't you feel free?

"To you of the Republic of Nations: Did you or anyone you know actually vote for Saikhan? Or was he placed as a piece on the board of the wealthy, eager to do their bidding?

"To you of the United Earth States: You voted for President Lee, but did you really have a choice? Or were you fed lies by the lobbied networks that peddle fake news to fill their pockets? They won't tell you the truth about President Lee. But the Lotus will."

She held up a photograph of President Lee sitting at a table with a well-dressed man.

"This is President Lee meeting with Mr. Chojin of Chojin News, negotiating a smear campaign against Kyoshi City Mayor Yamai, who ran against Lee in the last election, but like many before him, fell victim to hearsay, rumours and, frankly, completely fabricated stories. I know this is a shock to most of you voters, but when your sources of news are manipulated by political agendas, it's hard to find the truth. I urge you, please keep searching, the truth will reveal itself if we strive towards it.

"To the men and women under service of these leaders, I'm not asking you to sympathise with our cause, you can hate me and the Lotus, all I ask I that you reconsider where your loyalty lies, please don't follow these leaders blindly if you don't fully believe in them.

"And finally, to Chairwoman Jinora of the Air Nation: You and your siblings will surrender yourselves to us. We should be outside shortly."

"Okay," Korra began. "Clearly, you have a lot of fear inside you, we need to focus on the chakra that deals with that. I think that's the Earth Chakra. Let's focus on the base of your spine. This chakra concerns survival and is blocked by fear." To Korra's surprise, they sensed a powerful flow of energy in that area. "Uh, I guess maybe that's not the problem, then." Korra admitted.

"Makes sense, I am an Earth kid."

"Okay, let's move onto the Water Chakra. Its located in the pelvis and concerns pleasure-"

Sung giggled.

"...and... is blocked by guilt," Korra continued.

They shifted their focus to find another powerful flow of energy.

Sung smiled and scratched the back of his head. "I mean, my waterbending is stronger than yours, already. Actually, I think all of my bending is."

Korra gritted her teeth. "I'll pretend I didn't hear that. Moving on. The next one is Fire, in the stomach, deals with willpower and is blocked by shame."

As expected, it was similarly bright. Of course it was, it would have been more of a shock if the boy sitting before Korra held even a speck of shame within him.

"Next, Air. It deals with love and is blocked by grief," Korra said. "It's located in the heart."

Sung stared towards her heart.

"Sung, we're focusing on your heart right now, not mine."

Sung shook his head out of his inappropriate gaze. "S-sorry!"

Another healthy flow of energy.

"The Sound Chakra, located in the throat. It deals with truth and is blocked by dishonesty."

It was completely unblocked too. Well, Sung was pretty honest, blunt, even.

"This has to be the one that's blocked," Korra hoped. "The Light Chakra, deals with insight and is blocked by illusion. Located in the head."

This flow of energy was so dark it could barely be felt.

"To be fair," Sung said. "I don't know what three of those words mean."

Korra palmed her forehead. Of course the problem was the one located in his head, in retrospect, that's the first place Korra should've thought to check.

"So how do we- we fix it?" Sung asked.

Korra wanted to be harsh, but Sung was only a child, so she settled. "Curling up into a ball and running away during an invasion doesn't help."

Sung gazed at the non-existent ground.

Maybe that was still a little too harsh.

"I mean," Korra continued. "You do realise it's just Kaili under that hood, right?"

"I know... I know that, but... but…" Sung had been petrified of the fictional character ever since he could remember. "Every time I see her like that... I panic. She looks exactly like the One with a Thousand Swords, I can't help it."

Whenever Kaili told Sung that story, he'd freeze up and cry. Kaili had remembered that and used this phobia of Sung's to gain an advantage. But a part of Sung almost thought that Kaili might have done it to protect him by keeping him out of the fight.

"Don't worry, Sung. We'll meditate on it."

"Yeah," Sung assumed his lotus position once more. "That usually helps."

The helicopter and accompanying airships hovered low. The four siblings stood side by side by side by side. The One called Kaili stared them down. Her weapons had taken flight already.

"Where is the Avatar?" asked the One called Kaili.

"We don't know," Jinora answered honestly. "He's not here. He tunnelled underground and we haven't seen him since."

Kaili's bare feet landed on the cliff. "Fine," Apparently she had believed her, as unlikely a story it was. "Then I'll take the four of you, or she dies."

Four of her fighters followed her wearily towards the family. It was hard to find someone who had no knowledge of Tenzin's children and their abilities. The white soldiers were particularly fearful of the eldest, the Chairwoman, and her captain, the youngest, Rohan.

"Wait," said Jinora. The Lotus stopped. "How do we know she's still alive?"

Kaili supposed it was fair enough that she wanted proof. She stepped into the airship herself and escorted the woman out. She was gagged, but other than the injuries sustained on the day the East was attacked, she was otherwise unharmed.

After she was returned to custody, they walked again.

Rohan whispered as she approached. "Are we just gonna do what she says?"

Jinora answered through her teeth. "We don't. Have. A choice."

Rohan and Meelo both clenched their fists as the One who took Korra away from them got closer and closer.

"We have to do something!" Meelo whispered.

The nervous Ikki was unsure and stayed quiet. In truth, she didn't want things to go like this either, but Jinora's instructions were absolute, she was always right.

Opal, Kai and Ren peered through the office windows, powerless.

"Turn around," demanded one of the Lotus after finally getting close enough. "And put your hands on your head." His voice was more confident than his careful stance let on.

Jinora's siblings awaited her next movements and she awaited Sung's. She stood, delaying for a moment, so Sung could suddenly appear just in time.

No sign of him.

Smokey ice crackled up the hand of the man threatening Jinora.

Still no sign of Sung.

Finally, Jinora turned around slowly and her glaring family complied with her. They were gagged, blindfolded, cuffed and led to the airship.

Jinora trusted Opal and Kai to take over things until their return, though was unsure if they would return.

"I-I think I'm ready!" Sung declared. "Look at my pelvis-chakra now!"

Korra focused on the energy emanating from Sung's- "Wait, no-" Korra focused on the energy emanating from Sung's Light Chakra located in his forehead. It wasn't as bright as the others, but it was certainly an improvement from the abyss it was before. She gave him a satisfied nod.

Sung gleamed.

Korra's eyes did the same. "You're connected with the past Avatars again," she spoke with voices not her own. "However difficult, we trust you to make the right choice."

Sung regained consciousness in a deep tunnel of his own creation. Determined, he made his way back up to the surface.

Opal, Kai and Ren couldn't believe who had just walked into the office.

"Chairman?" Ren said.

"What? How... why are you..." Opal had a few questions but struggled to articulate them.

"Chairman Tenzin," Kai said. "Please, sit. Where have you been?"

"I've been hiding in the Republic," he replied, taking a seat opposite the three.

"Why?"

"That day I left... Jinora tried to kill me to get the Chair."

"What!?"

"We met on the cliffside at night, but she attacked me as soon as I came. She struck my head, I fell into the ocean and she left me to die. When I awoke, I couldn't remember anything, I had amnesia. Luckily... or unluckily... I began regaining my memories. I've been hiding and kept myself away from Jinora out of fear of what she might do to me, but I'm done running. I am the rightful Chairman and I-"

Opal airbended him backwards out of his chair, he bounced against the wall and dropped down, toppling the chair to the side.

Kai leapt out of his seat. "Opal, what are you-"

Opal did the same and slid over the table to strike him again before he could recover. She picked him up by the neck and held him up to the wall.

Ren stood stunned.

"Convenient timing, Tenzin," she said. "Your family just got taken by the Lotus and you come back to claim your Chair?"

Kai and Ren felt lesser for not realising it immediately. As dark as the thought was, if Jinora wanted Tenzin dead, he would have been.

"Who are you!?" she interrogated.

Tenzin struggled.

WEEKS AGO

Kaili arrived at the dank cave once again.

"Father Glowworm," she said. "It's me."

The spirit slithered himself into view. "Kaili, my old friend," he hissed. "What can I do for you?" He still owed the woman a favour or two for restoring his power.

Kaili dragged the unconscious man in chains that she had brought on her excursion in front of Glowworm. He was bathed beforehand, but it could be assessed that it wasn't a regular privilege for the old man.

Kaili introduced him. "The Chairman."

The spirit's cackle echoed through the cave. "You don't disappoint, do you?"

Kaili gave a flattered smile. "You might not like my request," she said. "I need you to possess him."

The spirit backed away suddenly, he seemed to be startled by the suggestion. "I will not," he stated. "You're aware of the dangers."

Kaili shook her head in disagreement. "A spirit of your power won't be harmed."

She stuck her hand out at Tenzin. "His airbending is strong, but his spirituality is weak."

Glowworm edged closer in contemplation.

"You owe me." Kaili added.

"I won't be in him for long."

"I only need him a few hours at a time."

"After this, my debt is repaid."

"Of course, Father Glowworm."

He nodded and began to enter the man's spirit.

PRESENT

"I..." Tenzin hissed. "Am someone who will use this body better than Tenzin!"

Tenzin's hand tensed and Opal lost her grip, her, Kai and Ren were held still by the air. They found it hard to breathe, constricted by even the air in their lungs. They had only ever heard about airbending power like this. They could breathe again as soon as the possessed man flew out of the window.

Kai coughed, holding his throat. "He's almost as strong as Jinora. How?"

"It has to be the drug," Ren struggled to say. "The one they injected the Avatar with."

"We have to do something..." Opal rasped. "We have to find Sung."

Kai helped his wife and the Captain up. "There's not much we can do. We'll have to wait until he comes back."

The ground outside rumbled.

Ren ran to the window. "We might not have to wait too long." He leapt out and down, the air breaking his fall.

The couple followed.

Sung swam out of the ground.

"Where were you?" Opal asked harshly.

"I was reconnecting with my past lives."

"Couldn't you have picked a better time for that?"

"I'm sorry, I would have been useless anyway." Sung apologised. "Where's Jinora?"

The three exchanged solemn glances.

Ren ended up breaking the news to him. "Kaili took her along with Ikki, Meelo and Rohan."

"What?"

"We don't know how," Ren began. "But she flew to the Eastern Temple and kidnapped the Matriarch before we could get anyone over there to help."

"Where are they?"

"We don't know."

Without hesitation, Sung dropped to his lotus position and set out for Xai Bau's Grove - the place Kaili had taken him time and time again.

He often used to find Kaili meditating under a certain tree, but didn't this time. Instead he found a note.

Si Wong Rock. Alone, or everyone dies.

The words of the three didn't reach Sung after he awoke to find a glider and make his way to the desert. "I'm sorry," he had told them. "I have to go alone."

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