Mako of the Blue Spirits
Chapter 6: The once Great Uniter
"Negative." Kuzon said to Mako over the radio, "Your mission objective has been updated."
"Huh? What?" Mako asked, looking confused at his transceiver.
"Mako, this is Jiandao. We've gotten reports that Kuvira's trial is taking place tomorrow night." The Alpha took over the radio. "President Moon called Fire Lord Zuko requesting for a prisoner transfer to the Fire Nation."
That piece of news froze Mako in disbelief, "Captain, you're telling me that the Fire Lord wants Kuvira to be under Fire Nation custody?"
"It's under President Moon's request and Fire Lord Zuko's approval, President Moon doesn't want her anywhere near the Earth Kingdom. Your mission is to attend the trial, and escort the prisoner to the Fire Nation. Mei and Jun will be joining you to bring her to the Fire Nation."
"Why would the Fire Lord want Kuvira there anyway?"
"Intel. Indoctrination."
A very long moment silence followed, "You're kidding right?"
"Kuvira has experience in combatting the Red Lotus, and a metal and earth bender will give us an edge. We want to know if she had seen any Red Lotus movements during her time as the Great Uniter. We're not taking her into the Blue Spirits if that's what you're thinking." Jiandao said. "And besides, who will take her now? Think of this as community service for the Fire Nation."
"You know she threatened my brother's life before. She's the reason half of my arm is fried. How can we trust her after all that?" Mako asked and his tone lowered.
"No we cannot. But we'll find a way to breakthrough with her, we'll compel her regardless, Blue Spirit style." Jiandao said, "Now you have orders, follow it."
"Right captain." said Mako as he reached the docks at Republic City, he made his way back to his apartment.
The following night has arrived, at the court Mako took his seat by the corner of the courtroom in City Hall. Korra, Bolin, the Metal Clan family, and various people of importance had arrived.
In the hallway, two White Lotus guards were escorting Kuvira to the courtroom. The once Great Uniter, now in prison garbs and her unkempt hair down to her back.
She had given up her empire, she had given up her freedom, the people she once considered family hate her now, but that was not enough.
Now those in power wanted to humiliate her.
Kuvira stood before the judges in the court, everyone was giving her a look of contempt. Mako at the corner kept his gaze on her. He knew she was tyrannical in her strive to conquer the Earth Kingdom, she sent a giant platinum machine on Republic City and nearly killed him. Everyone saw her as a dictator.
"Why would Fire Lord want her?" Mako pondered in his mind.
"This special tribunal is now in session." The centre judge commenced the session. "Kuvira, you stand accused of crimes against peace. During your reign as the leader of the Earth Empire, your transgressions included: refusing to turn over emergency powers granted to you by former President Raiko and King Wu, numerous wars of aggression throughout the Earth Kingdom States, presiding over inhumane prison camps, invading the United Republic a sovereign nation, and the use of spirit energy as a weapon of mass destruction." The judge paused to catch her breath, "How do you plead?"
Kuvira gave her answer, "I am sorry for the harm that I've caused to the people of the Earth Kingdom and the city, I truly am. But this tribunal seems all too eager to list my offences without giving any consideration to my achievements."
"Please, enlighten us." The judge told her.
"After the fall of the Earth Queen, the kingdom fell into chaos, when no one willing to step up, I brought back order for three years. I brought an ancient culture out of the dark ages and modernised it. Everything I did, I did it for the greater good of the Kingdom and its citizens."
Hearing what she had said, Mako could not help but see that there were some merits to what she accomplished, even if she went too far in attacking Republic City and harming him and his brother. He rolled up his sleeve showing the scars of his arms once more to himself.
"How do you plead?" The judge asked Kuvira.
"Not guilty."
Mako saw this coming, not that it eased the tension in the court, and he observed everyone in the courtroom having looks of surprise and displeasure.
"Order." The judge hit gavel to quieten down the crowd. "Kuvira, under the approval of President Moon and Fire Lord Zuko, you are hereby transferred to the capital prison of the Fire Nation. You will never pose a threat to the Earth Kingdom or Republic City ever again."
The crowd began uprising surprised murmurs by that, Mako sunk in his seat as if trying to avoid Korra and Bolin. Even Kuvira was completely caught off guard, the idea of being shipped away from the Earth Kingdom was daunting her to the core.
The session was over, Mako could see Korra's gang and the Metal Clan waiting right outside the courtroom door. Mako dared not to go near them, hiding behind a pillar so he would not have to talk to them.
"Boo."
Mako gasped and turned around, Jun Jr was behind him with a smirk, and with her was Mei. Both wearing Fire Nation military uniform.
"Get ready." Mei instructed, "They're going to transfer her to us now."
The courtroom door opened and Kuvira came out escorted by the white lotus guards. Suyin quickly stepped forward to confront her.
"Kuvira. Not guilty?" Suyin raised her voice to her. "The whole world knows what you did."
Suyin stood in front of her, ceasing her tracks, "What are you trying to prove?"
Kuvira looked away, not wanting to see her in the eye. Suyin was not having it, "Don't turn you back on me!"
"I'm sorry Suyin, I hurt you and your family. But you turned your backs on me long before the Earth Empire." Said Kuvira.
"I took you in Kuvira! I provided for you!"
"But I was never really part of your family was I?"
"You attacked Zaofu! You almost killed my son!"
"And I've apologised numerous times Suyin."
"That's what you don't get Kuvira." Suyin glared, "Being sorry isn't enough. You need to take responsibility for what you've done." Suyin turned away from her. "Goodbye Kuvira. May the Fire Nation treat you justly for what you have done."
Mako, Jun and Mei watched the two finally parting ways. The second in command instructed, "Mako, Jun it's time."
Mei stepped out of their hiding spots, Jun followed, by Mako hesitated a bit. Jun Jr turned around and saw her companion's reluctance, leading her to roll her eyes.
"Come on kiddo. Let's go." She grabbed him by and yanked him over, forcing him out of his hiding spot.
The White Lotus guards stopped Kuvira before the Fire Nation personnel. Korra spotted Mako standing amongst the Fire Nation representatives.
"Mako?" Korra said, and everyone else soon spotted him as well. "What's he doing with them?"
"He's working under the Fire Lord now I suppose." Bolin answered, inside he was still down about his exchange with his brother last night.
Mei took charge of the prisoner transfer.
"White Lotus." Mei greeted, "We're the prisoner escorts representing the Fire Nation." She passed them the transfer papers.
The guards took the papers to inspect them, till they finally gave the ok.
"She's your problem now." One the White Lotus guards shoved Kuvira over to Mako. Kuvira nearly tripped over her feet but Mako managed to catch her in time.
"You ok?" Mako brought her back on her feet.
"Yeah, thanks." Kuvira said, "It is Mako right?"
"Let's go prisoner." Mei interrupted, she grabbed Kuvira's arm and pulled her way. Mako waited for Mei and Jun Jr to set out first, he did not dare to give Team Avatar a glance before guarding the back of Kuvira.
Outside the City Hall, the Blue Spirit airship was waiting to transport them.
Jun Jr whipped out a sack and she said to Kuvira. "Don't squirm, it will end messy for you." And she covered Kuvira's head with the sack.
"We're inbound now." Mei said over to their transceiver and they boarded the airship.
Later in the night Korra was with Asami in the CEO's office. Korra started ranting, "You should have seen it Asami, Kuvira was being handed over to the Fire Nation military, and Mako was with them. It's like he's moving over there now or something."
"Well either way, the further Kuvira is away from me, the better." Asami remarked as she look out the window of her building.
Korra noticed her girlfriend's troubled face and began deducing, "Are you upset about what Mako said?"
"Hmm?" Asami turned her head, "Oh no, that's not it."
"I can't believe he would actually accuse your company being involved with the triad. Especially when you worked so hard to get it back on track." Korra crossed her arms.
"Yeah…" Asami fell silent, she then went to another issue, "Korra, I think you should see this." She opened a drawer from her and showed her the envelope she'd received.
Korra took her time reading the letter, her face reacted accordingly.
"You and your friends took everything from me. I shall do the same. I shall do what is fair. An empire can endure anything, but when it falls from within, that's that. Regards, an old acquaintance." Korra set the letter down.
"Asami who sent this?" Korra asked her.
"I've no idea." Asami said. "But that's not all." She showed Korra the photographs.
As soon as she got them, Korra gasped with a hand covering her mouth. "Wh-Who is this? Who's the deceased? Who's the boy?"
"I don't know." Asami was clueless as well. "I don't know who that is or who sent all these and what is this creep trying to get at."
"Whoever is responsible for this, is trying to attack you specifically? Or me? Or someone else?" Korra wondered.
"Your guess is as good as mine." Asami said. "It can just someone trying to make threats on my company, it's possible that someone just hates the industry competition."
"But it does not explain who the deceased people in the photo are." Korra said.
"I know, but judging the condition of the photos it show that these photos are very old, maybe before our time. Listen, Korra don't tell anyone about this." Asami added.
Korra gave her a confused look, "What? Why not?"
"It's nothing they need to be worried about ok? They need to focus on the possible air benders at the Fire Nation." Asami gave her reason.
A lightbulb lit up in Korra's mind, "Right! The journey to the Fire Nation! If we go to the Fire Nation, and this doesn't follow us. It would certainly cross out if this is targeting us. Besides nothing is going to stop us from finding more air benders."
"I suppose." Asami could see Korra's point in a way.
It was in the middle of the morning night. The sack over Kuvira's head had been removed. The once Great Uniter breathed heavily, looking all around. She was seating on a wooden chair with every limb tied, everywhere else around her was pitch black.
"What is this?" She whispered, her heart beat in her chest.
Blue flames ignited around here, torches dimly lit up the vicinity, revealing she was in a full metal cell, and the blue flames were unsettling badly enough.
Kuvira tried getting out of her chair.
"Kuvira." A low voice echoed in the area. Kuvira immediately turned her head around trying to find who called her name.
When she turned her head back, she gasped in shock. The Blue Spirit was right in front of her, staring her down.
"What is this?" Kuvira hissed, trying to pull her hands free.
The blue flames burned brighter and the room finally lit up proper, revealing the Blue Spirit Unit in the vast cell with her. The alpha, Jiandao was standing in front of her with crossed arms. The rest surrounded her, with Mako behind her wearing his own mask.
"Relax." Jiandao said to Kuvira. "You have no enemies here." He then leaned forward and snarled at her, "But whether that changes or not, that's on you."
"Welcome to the Fire Nation." Noren added.
"So," Kuvira lowered her head, "This is it. I'm away from the Earth Kingdom. And who are you guys? And those masks?"
"Listen," Mako said to her, "We need information and you may be able to help."
She analysed every Blue Spirit around, and she could not get any read on those masks. She finally asked, "Not that I would not cooperate, but what makes you I-"
"Because we have a common enemy. The Red Lotus." Kuzon cut in.
"During your reign as the Great Uniter," Jun Jr said, "Have you come across any rogue Red Lotus?"
Kuvira answered, "Just once, it was in the north west section of the Earth Kingdom. After Ba Sing Se fell, members tried to come to take the land but my troops caught sight of them. But they escaped."
"Did they say anything? About what they have planned?" Mei asked.
"Just that they wanted to avenge Zaheer and his followers."
"Nothing else?" Jiandao asked threateningly. "No other possible suspects?"
"No, none I swear." Kuvira said.
Jiandao gave her a glare one last time before gesturing to Mako. He pulled out his ninjato sword, and cut Kuvira's bonds free.
This genuinely surprised Kuvira, she rubbed her wrists and stood up.
"That's all for now." Jiandao said, "If you're needed again, we'll come for you. And don't bother bending the metal here, you can't. Blue Spirits, out."
The team made their way out of the cell, Mako was the last to leave. Giving Kuvira a glance one last time before exiting the cell.
In the upper levels, the Blue Spirits assembled.
"Well that was a bust." Noren remarked.
"Not entirely." Mako said.
"Go on detective." Jun brought an arm up leaning on his shoulder.
Mako said, "Kuvira said that the Red Lotus she'd found were fleeing North West of the Earth Kingdom, this could mean that they may be going around Republic City to cross the sea unnoticed, they may be in the north of the Fire Nation. I know it's a stretch but it's possible I'd say."
"For now, head back and rest up." Jiandao instructed. "Get your rest because Fire Lord Izumi will getting guests soon with the Avatar."