In the month after Korra and Mako had been decorated for Maridun, their training in the ways of the Sith had begun in earnest. It had started in a rather strange way: Vader had given them a series of practice swords for them to practice with against a series of dueling droids. He said it was to see what Sword fighting of worth they had. In addition, right before he left them on the isolated space station with only their children and KayBee for company, he had recited the Sith code.
"Peace, is a Lie, There is only Passion," Vader began. "Through Passion, I Gain Strength, Through Strength, I Gain Power, Through Power I Gain Victory, Through Victory my Chains are Broken, The Force Shall Free Me. That is the code of the Sith."
"What does it mean?" Korra asked in curiosity.
"When I return, you will have figured it out," Vader told the young couple. "If you don't understand on your own, then I have nothing to teach you." After that, when the two of them weren't training, looking after their children, or looking at the reports from their bending trainees, the two of them were trying to figure out what the code meant.
"A Firebender's power comes from passion, so strength is a byproduct," Mako reminded Korra. "Not sure what the Peace is a Lie thing is, though." Two days before Vader returned, however, the couple was convinced they knew the answer. When Vader arrived, he asked them what they believed the meaning to be.
"I was always told by my teachers before you that internal peace and calm was the path to learning," Korra started. "I never believed them. I learned the first three elements well because I enjoyed it, and I unlocked Airbending because Mako was about to die, and I couldn't save him otherwise. In short, I've progressed because of my passion."
"And shortly before, even though I was restrained with Bloodbending, Korra was in danger and I managed to find the strength to hit my adversary with a lightning bolt, freeing myself," Mako added. "Passion for Korra gave me the strength I needed."
"Interesting, and the rest?" Vader responded.
"The only way to make it in life is to win," Korra added. "Victory is important. As for breaking chains and freeing yourself, it makes me think of a story I grew up hearing. Zuko, that's the scarred Firebender who crossed swords with you, his father, Ozai, was a massive tyrant, to him and everyone else. Zuko realized the only way he could truly be happy was if he got past his need for Ozai's approval. He did so and freed himself. It was a chain placed upon him, both by others, and himself."
"What would you define as your chains, then?" asked Vader.
"The expectations of the White Lotus," she said. "Tenzin's approval. The beliefs of the various peoples of my world over what I should be."
"For me, it would be my desire to become a respected policeman in Republic City," Mako added.
"Your conclusions about the Sith code are as accurate as I could hope," the Sith Lord said. "But if you are right, the only way to truly break your chains is to return home, and defy the expectations of Tenzin, Lin Bei Fong, and the common fools who expect you to solve their problems exactly the way they want."
"I need this power, Master," Korra stated. "If Tenzin and the rest don't appreciate me after all I've done for them, their approval doesn't matter."
"I hope that is the case," Vader said to his two new students. "From the summary the two of you have made, I find it unlikely that your friends, save the one called Kuvira, would approve of your behavior. At least, at first." After pausing for a bit, Vader decided to talk about their sword fighting. Unsurprisingly, Mako was a novice, but while Korra was skilled, he noted her style didn't compliment her strengths.
"The White Lotus was terrified you'd return at any moment," she replied. "I kept telling them that Sokka's sword style wasn't for me, and they constantly retorted the blade shouldn't be reforged. Mom and Dad never stressed its importance like bending, so I never brought it on my adventures." After a moment, Vader suggested that Mako begin learning Ataru and Djem So, both aggressive styles known for their speed and ability to counterattack. He thought Korra should focus on Ataru crossed with Niman. Niman combined elements of all lightsaber styles, so it would fit the master of all elements well. He also suggested she consider Jar'Kai dual blade fencing, and with that, he began their lesson.
"Good start," the armored Sith said to them. "How is your training of the others progressing?"
"Krennic is doing well," Mako reported. "He's certainly learned Firebending faster than everyone in the Republic City education system."
"Krennic is doing this for vanity," Vader replied with a hint of disapproval. "Most of the time, he won't be on the battlefield, he'll be in his office or his lab."
"For that work the emperor doesn't trust us to know, yet," Mako replied. "Still, apart from Jonah and Sabine, he is our best Firebender."
"Sabine?" Vader asked. "I don't believe you have mentioned her before."
"Major Partagaz thought it was good that I'd get a few ideas by observing several academies, before my pregnancy got too obvious," Korra stated. "While on Mandalore, I saw this angry guy called Saxon yelling at this girl a couple years younger than me named Sabine Wren. She said that her machine wasn't ready, he ignored her, and things went wrong. The lab exploded, and Sabine's left leg was burnt. I healed her, and now she's a Firebender."
"Mandalorians aren't known for their acceptance of the Force," Vader replied.
"Sabine's a bit more open-minded, as shown by how much she paints in her spare time," Mako replied. "Saxon keeps demanding her back, though."
"Gar Saxon is a bloodthirsty fool whose loyalty has shifted before," Vader replied. "Whatever side project he was having Wren work on is irrelevant. Continue training her."
"There's another thing, my lord," Korra added. "Colonel Veers is learning Earthbending rather well, to the point he can use it to reinforce the legs of his walker. Our second greatest Earthbender is another matter."
"What do you mean?" Vader asked.
"On our way back from Mandalore, our shuttle had to take a stop at Lothal," Mako explained. "We saw this captain, named Roddance, harassing a pair of farmers despite the protests of his Lieutenant, named Lyste. It looked increasingly like Roddance was going to kill them and we were about to intervene, when someone else did."
"Who?" Vader asked.
"A street urchin named Ezra Bridger," Mako replied. "He used his energy slingshot to distract Roddance before stealing the captain's speeder bike. Roddance grabbed a rocket and fired at Ezra, knocking him to the ground. He then charged forward with his blaster drawn. I told him to stop and he fired at me. Korra jetted up fast to him, and snapped his neck for that."
"How did the garrison react to this?" Vader asked.
"Lyste reported what happened, and Partagaz swept it under the rug," Korra answered. "Piers Roddance died in a speeder accident. Anyway, I rushed to Ezra and healed him. While he was recovering, we discovered he was now an Earthbender. We had searched the abandoned building, and learned he'd survived like most orphans survive: stealing."
"Partagaz agreed to our request for Ezra to be recruited, so now he's here," Mako replied. "He's progressed rather well with Earthbending, to the point Korra thinks he's ready for Metalbending."
"Do you plan to teach him that?" Vader asked. He had observed Korra Metalbending objects made of the same material as his limbs. When he had her attempt to bend his arms themselves, she had failed, confirming his suspicion that, if the metal was attached to his body, it couldn't be bent.
"I'll start teaching him the basics but Kuvira would be the better teacher," Korra replied. "Just like those two training officers, Kanan and Hera, I think they're called, are better at teaching him all the other stuff. Speaking of which, how is the search for our homeworld going?"
"Elementia's location is known but a stable hyperspace route has yet to be discovered," Vader answered, reminding them of their lessons on space travel. "Hyperspace scouts take their time to find safe routes, lest they crash into a star, planet, or navigation hazard. I will tell you when you can return home." Deciding to change the subject, Vader switched the conversation to their first official mission. "You will go in your ship to Corellia," Vader explained. "You will meet Partagaz and Veers, and they will tell you what to do."
"Yes, Master," Korra quickly said, followed by Mako.
It had been eight months since Korra had disappeared and five since Kuvira and Baatar had left Zaofu. They'd encountered several obstacles along the way to Ba Sing Se. One of them was Bolin's Airbending friends trying to dissuade him from joining Kuvira's army.
"What exactly are you saying I should do, Tenzin?" Bolin asked frustrated. "Sit on my hands and do nothing?"
"We aren't doing nothing, Bolin," Tenzin said. "We are helping refugees flee the fighting, reaching out to various leaders, and laying the ground work for Prince Wu's return."
"Because another royal who doesn't know or care about his duties is just what we need," Kuvira commented. She could sense the flash of anger from Tenzin. "He can't do anything. I can bring peace and order across the continent."
"Several others thought they could as well, Captain," Tenzin replied, reminding her of her old rank as opposed to general that many others had applied to her.
"Your relief assistance to civilians is appreciated, councilor," Baatar interjected, determined to increase his profile. "But this isn't a drought or famine. It's a civil war, and an idiot singer won't fix it, even if he does have the title Prince in front of his name. And we're only a few days away from Ba Sing Se, so I think Kuvira and I are off to a good start. Or are you saying that this is a problem only one person in the world can fix?" He paused, waiting for Tenzin to reply.
"We are working on finding her and Mako," Tenzin said reassuringly.
"How long will that take?" asked Bolin, missing his brother.
"We are working on-" "I just want an answer, how long?" Bolin asked. "Do you have any idea when they'll be back?" After a few moments of Tenzin not saying anything, Bolin nodded and replied "I take that's a no. Look, I want them back to, and I'd love to be by their side as we put the world back together. But I heard from Asami shortly after they vanished. I want them back as well but there are two ways our reunion could go. One is where we gush over how adorable my niece or nephew is and ask when their wedding's happening, and the other is telling her to get back to work because no one bothered to clean up the mess Zaheer made." Bolin had heard from Asami that Korra was pregnant at the time of her disappearance. Under the circumstances, no one would have blamed her if she wanted to reject Zaheer's ultimatum and instead wait. But Korra, selfless as she was, put others ahead of herself. No one had bothered to tell Tonraq or Senna the news, as it would only have made them feel worse.
"Bolin, I can't stop you from doing this," Tenzin said to the young Earthbender. "But I would ask that you consider what reuniting the Earth Kingdom entails for someone who isn't the Avatar. You will have to impose order and control."
"Nothing wrong with a little order and control," Baatar interjected. "If things were more ordered around here, the Earth Nation wouldn't have imploded when Zaheer killed Hou-Ting."
"I'm aware of what made the Earth Kingdom fall," Tenzin replied with a hint of annoyance, before looking over to Baatar and Kuvira. "And you, Captain? Do you think the Earth Kingdom provinces will follow you, even though they've never heard of you?"
"It is General, now," Kuvira retorted. "And if they haven't heard my name yet, they soon will and come to appreciate it. Of course, you'd hate that, since I'm just a peasant determined to rise above her station." After a moment, Tenzin walked away, realizing the conversation was over. Bolin looked over to her and said that Tenzin wasn't like that. "He's coming across like that," Kuvira replied. "Whenever I left Zaofu, usually with Su and the family to guard against threats, I ran into people with the exact same attitude. They saw me as Suyin's pet and thought it was hilarious a peasant was trying to better herself." She then paused with a bitter look on her face, as if she was thinking of her last meeting with Suyin.
"Tenzin can be a bit awkward but he's not a classist jerk," Bolin reassured her. "Also, I'm sure that despite your...disagreement, Su and the rest still love you."
"Well, maybe some absence will get them to appreciate us more," Baatar remarked. He'd shaved his short beard off and grown his hair out since they left Zaofu. He'd long hated being seen as a copy of his father, and refused to be addressed as Junior. Now, he was working on improving the Mech suits they had in comparison to what came before. Shortly after Tenzin left, Zhu Li walked up to them.
"Varrick just received a radio message, from Lady Senna and Chief Tonraq," the bespectacled secretary reported. "It's for Bolin."
"They're a long way from home," Kuvira remarked.
"They received an offer from someone who says he has a bunch of stuff belonging to the Red Lotus," Zhu Li answered. "He claims that it can return their daughter and is refusing to sell it outside of some town by Serpent's Bay. They don't trust him but they're desperate. Tonraq's asking Bolin to back them up." They all nodded at that in understanding.
"How do we even know Zaheer's garbage might help find Korra?" Kuvira asked.
"They are desperate to get their little girl back," Zhu Li said. "Varrick himself told them it's just a scam and that they shouldn't waste their time but they are already headed there." After a moment, Kuvira asked where they would be meeting the Southern Water Chieftain.
"Bolin, it's good to see you," Senna said to her daughter's friend, shaking his hand. Tonraq shook Kuvira's hand upon recognizing her from the battle with the Red Lotus.
"It's good to see you, as well," Bolin replied. "So, what makes you think this guy isn't just another scammer looking for easy money? I've run into guys claiming to have found Mako's scarf and others who say they found Korra's betrothal necklace." Mako had given his scarf to their grandmother and Korra never had such a necklace.
"He sent pieces of Ghazan's journal, referencing...our friend," Tonraq said, before looking rather hesitant. After a moment, Kuvira spoke up.
"I'm aware of your dark armored friend," she said. "Also, Bolin is a good soldier and loyal friend. I didn't know Korra for long but I thought well of her and the world is the worse without her." After a moment, Senna spoke up.
"The journal tells of some sort of machine Ghazan found a year after Korra was born," the Water Tribe woman explained. "He described it as 'feeling' similar the crystal that brought Vader to our world."
"Okay, that's a bit more credible," Bolin replied, before looking at Tonraq and Senna's faces. She had a few more grey hairs than when he last saw her, and Tonraq looked like he hadn't slept for almost a week. He also looked thinner than before, as if he hadn't been eating. Clearly, they had been extremely affected by their daughter's disappearance. Then, they were surprised to see Varrick walk in.
"Chief Tonraq, a pleasure, I'm sorry it must be under such circumstances," he said in a very sincere tone with a bow.
"Hello, Varrick," the chieftain greeted the businessman who owned so much of the Southern Tribe's private sector. "Why did you come to see me? I just wanted to talk to Bolin."
"I haven't been home in a while, your excellency," he started. "But I still have friends there. There are concerns that you are going to pay this scam artist with government money. I am here to say that I will pay the fee, if you wish."
"In exchange for?" Tonraq asked, knowing Varrick's greed and underhandedness.
"There is still an arrest warrant on me in Republic City," he replied.
"Because you broke out of prison," Senna noted.
"Unalaq broke the prison during his spirit-mode rampage," defended Varrick. "Zhu Li and I were just trying to stay alive. Korra handles him and I head back, then I learn I'm now a fugitive for staying alive and I'll be sharing a cell with Sato if I'm caught. I was going to return home, but I hear I'll be extradited if I do."
"You are a Southern Water Tribal who has committed no crime in his homeland," Tonraq replied. "If you did assist your chief in such a manner, you would be free to come and go as you please."
"Thank you, your excellency," Varrick said. "We will get her back, I'm sure. And Mako, hopefully he'll have learned how to have fun by the time he gets home."
The plan was this: Bolin would go with Tonraq and Varrick to meet the man who was offering them the item. Kuvira and Senna would hang back in case something went wrong.
"Okay, where's the rest of it?" Tonraq asked the thief.
"Where is my money?" the thief asked back. Varrick opened a bag and showed it to him. After counting the money, the man handed them a small diary and Tonraq tore into it. Looking upon the book, Bolin saw a bunch of strange descriptions.
"I was looking through an abandoned house for something to steal and pawn," the page right before the removed section began. "Looking inside, I found a collection of fake identifications, all of which belonged to Yakone, the Bloodbender crime lord. Within a hidden room, I found a strange crystal pyramid. I felt drawn to it, so I took it." Bolin shuddered, he'd heard stories of the nigh-unstoppable gangster, and had been on the receiving end of the wrath of both his broken sons.
"This crystal speaks to me," Ghazan's writing continued. "It calls itself a Holocron." Well, that was worrying, Bolin thought. Ghazan thought an inanimate object was talking to him. "It told me of something called the Force, an energy generated from all living creatures. It taught me to understand it. This gave me greater insight into the world around me. I can now turn soil and stone into lava. If we succeed tomorrow, this treasure will show the Avatar the true nature of the world." That is where the journal ended.
"That's it?" asked Varrick.
"You asked for the rest, that's the whole journal," the slimy thief replied.
"The rest of Ghazan's stuff!" Tonraq yelled. "Where is it, including this crystal?"
"Oh, well that will cost extra, as others are interested in it," the slimeball smirked. "Got more money?"
"I'm not paying for anything else, and for all I know, the 'Holocron' is as fake as this journal," Varrick retorted. At that, the thief made a Waterbending motion, and all three of them were pinned in place. To Bolin, it felt almost exactly like when Tarrlock Bloodbent him and his friends after they learned he'd kidnapped Korra. Several of the thief's allies also readied an Earthbending stance.
"Is that real enough for you?" the slimeball asked. "I've heard the Holocron talk to me, as well. And now I can Bloodbend whenever I want. Since you doubted me, I'm thinking of having my friends try giving one of you a Lava bath." He then paused for a moment, as if thinking to himself, before turning back their way. "Nah, I'm feeling like learning how Amon Bloodbent the bending out of people." He then smirked and started walked toward Bolin, only for a piece of jagged metal to fly out and hit him in the stomach. As soon as he was free, Bolin Earthbent a chunk out of the floor and sent it flying upward, driving the metal deeper into the thief's body and knocking him backward. Tonraq covered his hand in ice and punched another thug, sending him flying. Senna Waterbent a shield in front of her husband but it was obliterated by one of the thugs. He Lavabent his way through it, forcing Varrick to push the chief out of the way. Kuvira sent a bladed disc flying at the Lavabender. He managed to block it but he didn't see the rock Bolin had tossed his way, hitting him on the head and causing him to fall face first in his own magma. One of the thieves ran for the door but Kuvira stopped him and bound both his hands and feet.
"Where's the Crystal!?" yelled Tonraq as he rushed forward, not noticing another thief had Earthbent a rock toward him, hitting him in the head and knocking him unconscious. When he awoke, Senna was tending to him.
"Easy, Tonraq, you took a nasty hit," she said. "You need to be careful." That is when Bolin came up to them.
"Kuvira is questioning the thief, now," their daughter's Earthbending friend said. "The thing is, I'm more concerned about you." He asked them when they had last slept. Unsurprisingly, it had been sometime. "I miss them, too. For a while I wanted to look over every corner, follow every lead. Then, I remembered how they disappeared. The only way they can get home, as far as I know, if for the White Lotus to figure out Zaheer's crystal, or for Vader to give them Unalaq's crystal."
"There is a third crystal, here, we need to find it," Tonraq pointed out.
"We know almost nothing about these crystals," Bolin reminded them. "And if Ghazan's journal is right, it doesn't even look like the one Zaheer used. Also, apparently, it talks and teaches people Daytime Bloodbending and Lavabending? No mention of going to a strange new world."
"It's something," Tonraq said. "Maybe, it'll teach to me connect with the other crystals and open them."
"It sounds like you should start talking to the White Lotus, again," Bolin said. "Unless, you plan to steal the pieces." Pausing for another moment, Bolin decided to change tactics. "Do you think Korra would want this?"
"Want what?" Senna asked, an edge to her voice.
"The two of you, chasing phantoms and falling for traps," Bolin answered. "Imagine how crushed she would be if you got hurt while trying to find her, or how broken Mako would be if he saw I died because I fell for some trap offering a lead on him. All we can do, is have faith in them, and Darth Vader." With that, he walked away for them to think on what he'd said.
The thief had been injured, and Kuvira refused to have him treated until he revealed what he knew. Not wanting to die, the thief revealed where he and his gang had hidden the box containing the 'Holocron.' Baatar had found the box it was in, and Kuvira quickly ripped it open with her Metalbending. Within, was the black, pyramid-shaped crystal. Curious, Baatar immediately picked it up, and a ghostly image appeared in front of both of them.
"You have the strength necessary to unlock my holocron," the image stated. "Whether you are worthy of my knowledge or not remains to be seen."
"You are seeing this too, right?" Baatar asked.
"Yes," Kuvira confirmed. "Holocron, what do you know of Darth Vader?"
"The title of 'Darth' is granted to those who become Lords of the Sith," the Holocron confirmed. "A new name is placed afterward. It shows how the Sith has become more than who they were before. I know of no one named Vader, however. It would be proper to call him Lord Vader." Before that could continue, they heard a knock on the door, and put the holocron away.
"Ma'am the thief died on the operating table," the doctor said.
"Too bad, he could have told us more," Kuvira replied, having no sympathy for the man who'd embraced the lawless world Zaheer tried to create. "How are the Avatar's parents doing?"
"They are up, and wish to speak with you," the doctor answered. After leaving the room, Kuvira went to where the Southern Water Chieftain and his wife were, joined by Bolin and Varrick.
"Thank you for your help with this," Tonraq said. "I heard the last thief died on the operating table. I don't suppose he left any clue where the crystal was?"
"Just a vague idea," Bolin said, unaware that he had revealed it to Kuvira. She was going to speak up but the Holocron had already intrigued her, so she didn't. "We'll tell you if we find it, but it can't be a priority. Also, we have only a vague description of it, not a picture."
"I know," he said in understanding. "Thank you for your help, and your words, Bolin. I'll be returning to the South Pole, now."
"What about Korra?" Kuvira asked.
Tonraq answered, "It was the hardest thing to admit but I can't help bring her back. All Senna and I are doing is killing ourselves and hurting the South with our inattention."
"All we can do is live our lives and hope Korra comes back," Senna said in resignation.
"We'll be sure to tell you if we find anything," Kuvira said. She didn't reveal they had the Holocron. After all, it was just a teaching device, not a portal key like the other crystals.
"We appreciate that," Tonraq said as he got up and looked at Varrick and Zhu Li. "Varrick, Miss Moon, you are free to come and go from the South whenever you please."
"Thank you, sir," Zhu Li replied. After Tonraq and Senna left, Kuvira and Baatar went back to the Holocron, wondering what secrets it might unlock.
Well, that was unexpected. I thought I would show you a glimpse of what was to come, and the Empire making itself known to the Elemental Nations. Given their history, this is how I think Korra and Mako would come to interpret the Sith Code. Yes, the Specters from Rebels have made their appearance. In this timeline, Kanan and Hera are working as Imperial support staff to spy on the Empire, as well as hide from the Inquisitors. Ezra will be both a Metal and Lavabender, as well as having the powers he does on the show. Next chapter, Mako and Korra start their first mission.
I always wondered how Yakone and Ghazan figured out their special powers, so a Sith Holocron is my answer. I figured Varrick would be more deferential and less obnoxious with Tonraq and Senna, given the circumstances. I also wondered why he fled to Zaofu instead of his homeland, so here's my answer. Kuvira will begin to learn the secrets of the Force from this artifact. BTW, given how resentful he was to be in his father's shadow, I'm surprised Baatar Jr didn't do more to make himself visually distinctive from his dad.