AUTHOR'S NOTES: I cannot say when I will get back to regular updating, but as a final goodbye to February 29th for the next 4 years, here's the next long-awaited chapter of The Avatar in Chains. The ideas are there, and someday they will keep flowing, but I still have some semblance of direction as to where I want to go with it. I won't get into my personal life changes, but suffice to say, this story isn't a lost cause just yet.
Happy Reading!
BOOK THREE: WATER
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE: TONRAQ'S TRUTH
Whether it was only a couple seconds or if it was a couple of minutes, Korra remained frozen on the spot as time slowed to a halt. It was also not lost on her that there was something suspicious about them releasing her father. Korra immediately suspected it was a publicity stunt to try and claim that the bad blood between Unalaq and Tonraq had diminished over the years. She could already tell, however, that Unalaq was thrilled to be sending Senna to her death.
Not that she thought that her mother would go easily.
"You can't do this!" Korra finally found her voice, "you take their lives and I'll take yours!"
Bribed or not, this seemed to strike fear into the Judge's heart, and it showed on his expression. Perhaps there was a rational man under the bribes after all, and that he was sensible enough to know that the Avatar did not issue empty threats—especially not when she was angry.
"Korra, calm down," Unalaq was very collected at the moment, and as much as she wanted to blame him, she knew that without any evidence that it would just get her and possibly her family into even more trouble. "I'll talk to him."
Hotah composed himself as Unalaq turned to him. "I know I promised to respect whatever decision you made," the latter explained, "but I must ask you to reconsider. Show these men and women—as well as the Avatar's mother—mercy."
There was a brief moment of pondering as Hotah stroked his beard. "Very well, I will change their punishment. Your lives will be spared, but you will live them out in prison."
"Sounds like what I've been told a few dozen times." Kwan muttered to the dark amusement of Tarrlok and herself.
"Thank you, Uncle." Korra sighed with relief. It was very much possible to break someone out of prison, but it was not possible to bring someone back from the dead, which meant if nothing else, Korra had more time to develop a plan of action.
=Southern Water Tribe Prison, a few hours later…=
The door to Senna's cell opened and she was greeted by her husband and daughter, both of whom rushed in to embrace her. Tonraq lifted both women off the ground for a moment even, although the mirthful joy that was usually in their hearts and faces was absent this time.
"Honey, are you alright?" Senna was the one to ask the question first.
"Never been better; it's you I'm worried about, love." Tonraq remained composed but even Korra noticed there was concern in his voice borne from a deep love and affection for this woman.
"Good," Korra cracked her knuckles, "let's bust you out of here right now."
"No," Senna put her hands up almost immediately, "saving me would start a war and in their current situations the North would crush the South. Unalaq clearly let your father go to maintain some semblance of stability among other Southerners, although it's clear most of your friends and several others in the audience saw through the facade. Still, don't do anything rash, Korra. Love, please help enforce this."
"I will." Tonraq closed his eyes, and it was clear that he had been thinking along the same lines as his daughter. "Come on, Korra. Let's go."
Korra went and followed Tonraq home, but did not stay put for very long. Within minutes she was on the back of her trusted companion Naga and in hot pursuit of Hotah's vehicle, a lead she had gotten from Risha moments before.
Hotah noticed the Avatar and her polar bear-dog in his rear-view mirror, and then slammed his foot on the gas pedal when he noticed Korra's eyes flicker, and she launched herself from her faithful companion's back into the air. Even without Korra, Naga kept barreling forward, intent on knocking the vehicle off course. Fear struck the old judge as the Avatar disappeared from his view, but as he tried to correct the car's course of action, there was an enormous explosion from right behind him that sent him spinning off course. He tried to salvage the vehicle, but whether it was from the snow or from the various impacts from the Avatar's attack, the engine sputtered and gave up the ghost. Naga nearly beat Korra to the wreck, and further fear was struck into Hotah's heart as Korra tore off the car door with some expert metalbending, throwing it aside like a frisbee.
"What do you want, Avatar?" His fear turned to anger as he saw Korra's face, "do you wish to play with your prey before you murder me in cold blood?"
"I'm not here to murder you, and it's not even about what I want…" Korra put her fist into her palm, "It's about what Naga wants—and she wants you to let my mother out of prison."
Naga tiptoed towards Hotah, opening her maw wide, as if making it clear what she would do if Korra gave the order.
"I-I'm sorry!" He raised his arm and cowered, "there's nothing I could do. I was only following Chief Unalaq's orders!"
"What!?" Korra's eyes actually flashed, "What are you talking about!?"
"I've said too much!" Hotah realized the gravity of his situation a moment too late as Korra seized him by his coat and pulled him right towards Naga's still-open jaws.
"Naga's pretty hungry right now, and so unless you want to be her next meal, keep talking."
"I've worked with your uncle for years," Hotah admitted, "I even attempted to report a Triple Threat Triad member who tried to bribe me, but fortunately for you, she seemed too slippery for anyone to follow her trail."
"Keep talking," Korra demanded, "I don't think Naga suddenly stopped being hungry."
"I just told you, I've worked with your uncle for years!" Hotah pleaded, "He said he needed everyone to believe it was a fair trial! He was originally going to leave your mother out of this, but when she attacked, he seized the opportunity. He was more after your father."
"What changed his mind?" Korra's eyes were no longer flickering but she was no less menacing for it, and for the judge there was no way out. "If he was after my dad, why did he change his mind and have you sentence my mom?"
"Chieftain Senna has been a thorn in Chief Unalaq's side for decades," Hotah scowled, "Her causing a scene threw a wrench into the system, and it was a lot harder to paint Tonraq as the guilty party and Senna as the innocent party after that… and while you're not like to believe me at this point, Avatar, know that I mean this when I say I honestly believe that Chief Unalaq may have let a much more recent personal vendetta get in the way."
"So what did my dad do that makes Unalaq want him out of the way?" Korra asked, "apart from marrying my mom, at any rate?"
"He wants to keep you on his side but wants your parents out of the way—just like when he got your father banished. I've already said too much though, and so if you want to murder an unarmed man who has told you what you were after, that will be blood on your hands, Avatar."
"One last thing then," Korra demanded, "how did it happen?"
"It was simple, really," Hotah answered, "the barbarians that your father chased into the spirit woods that he then razed to the ground were hirelings of the Chief himself. The rest, as they say, is history. Now tell me, Avatar Korra—do you still wish to feed me to your companion?"
"Perhaps not," Korra pouted only for a moment before her expression sharpened again, "but I'm sure the justice system would LOVE to hear about how you're taking bribes…"
This time Hotah's expression shifted into one of greater confidence, "Even if I did admit to accepting your Triad money, Avatar Korra…" he began, "would you really want that secret of yours getting out, or should we both forget we ever learned any of this?"
"I'm not about to let Unalaq off the hook for trying to put my mom to death!" Korra barked.
"What you do with Chief Unalaq at this point is between you and him, Avatar." Hotah rose to his feet and brushed himself off, although did not try to flee. "I did not take any bribes, and you are not making any shady dealings with Triple Threat Triads from Republic City. As far as anyone knows, I skidded on some ice and totaled my vehicle in the process, and I certainly did not get threatened by a young woman and her Polar Bear-Dog."
Korra dug her nails into her palms for a moment, her coat hiding the otherwise visible tenseness in her arms as she clenched her fists in anger. Hotah had cooperated with her to save himself, but he had given her a blunt reminder that her dealings with the Triads did have consequences. She would find time to weed out corruption like that, but since there weren't other lives at stake apart from Senna's, Korra had to establish priorities.
"Fine," she spat, "I never saw you, and you never told me anything."
"Chief Unalaq always said you were a shrewd woman," Hotah nodded, "seems he was telling the truth about at least one thing. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to hobble back into town, since I don't imagine you're about to offer me a ride on your hungry steed."
"You're an observant one," Korra riposted as Naga growled. "Don't worry, I think she likes you… but I'm in a hurry and I've got to save my mom."
"I would expect nothing less," Hotah raised his hands as if in defeat as the Avatar and her faithful companion took off at breakneck speeds back towards the city.
Mako, Varrick, and Asami nearly jumped as the door to Varrick's lounge nearly flew off its hinges, Korra's heavy boot still in the air from where she had kicked it open. Bolin was oddly absent, although Korra's focus was clearly elsewhere as she looked around.
"Unalaq is a liar and a traitor!" she barked.
"Your mother was definitely onto something, kid," Varrick murmured, "I've been trying to say this to everyone from the get-go!"
"What happened?" Mako kept his cool in the hopes of helping Korra diffuse some clearly pent-up anger.
"I learned the truth of my dad's banishment;" Korra responded, "Unalaq hired the brigands to attack the tribe, and directed them to hide in the spirit forest, knowing my dad would go after them. Once the damage was done, it was easy for Unalaq to use that as an excuse to get him out of the way and become chief himself."
"So Unalaq wanted your father out of the way then," Mako repeated as if processing this revelation, "the whole thing was a setup, just like the trial."
"Exactly like that!" Korra raised a fist indignantly, although for a moment the words of Judge Hotah rang through her mind again.
"...know I mean this when I say I honestly believe that Unalaq may have let a much more recent personal vendetta get in his way."
"And I think my mom might have inadvertently saved my dad," Korra muttered aloud, "still, I can't believe I trusted Unalaq! I'm busting my mom and the other rebels out of jail before they get executed. I need your help!"
"Korra, if you do this," Asami looked up, "there's no going back."
"I know…" Korra lowered her head, the fear of putting Asami into danger nearly giving her pause, "and you know I don't want to drag you into something over your head."
"Hardly," Asami almost chuckled, "you know I'm in it for the long haul, Korra."
Before they could say much more, the door burst open and there in the doorway was a frantic Bolin and an oddly calm Pabu, both wearing dark purple robes.
"Do I even want to know?" Asami raised an eyebrow.
"Bolin, is that a betrothal necklace?" Korra gawked, "and what's with the drab fashion choices? You look like you took notes from my cous—wait back up. Please tell me you didn't…"
"Of course I didn't!" Bolin swung his arms wildly, "but she thought it was a brilliant idea to marry me and you know how she is when she wants something, don't you?"
"I'm pretty sure the guy is supposed to give the girl the necklace," Korra pouted, "and that one looks tacky as all get-out. I guess Eska didn't get the memo."
"Look Bo," Varrick piped up, "the only way to deal with crazy women is to lie big and leave fast. Lucky for you, Varrick's got your back. Now everyone gather around Ping-Ping. I've got a plan that extends far beyond just ditching the stalker. We're gonna pull a prison break for Mozu-Kaiyo, and get Unalaq's insurrectionists out of our tribe!"
Kwan had not gotten into bed when she heard a knock on the door of her room, although it was Tarrlok who answered it.
"I don't imagine you're here to ask about political situations at this point, are you?" He looked down at Korra and her friends.
"No, this time it's about the local prison, so we need an expert." Bolin blurted out. Asami slapped her forehead with her palm, but Tarrlok actually snorted.
"I hate you all, you know that?" Kwan grunted, "You infiltrate a prison and your first thought is 'oh we need to know the layout of this prison, Kwan probably knows it!' That is to be my reputation in life then, is it?"
"I didn't mean offense," Korra backtracked slightly, "and I hope you never have to go back to any prison really. We're looking at the prison block to the north and east of the capital city. If you're not familiar with it then I hope we didn't upset you."
"Look at you all going soft," Kwan threw an elbow at Korra's chest, "nah, you picked the right girl. I know that one like the back of my hand for a little stint Shenzi and I did back in the Southern Air Temple with… ah, heck it, you're better off not knowing."
Asami crossed her arms and furrowed her brow. Tarrlok gave her a distinct look that she exchanged, but neither of them said a thing.
"So gather around and I'll share whatever Varrick hasn't told you yet." Kwan smirked. "If that's where they've taken Senna, then you've got to bust her out before they drop the axe on her."
Kwan was relieved that they did not ask her to come with them, and Tarrlok, who had mentally prepared a sound argument for who his pregnant wife should not try breaking into a prison in her current state, also sighed in relief. Mako and Bolin stayed back to help watch the perimeter while Asami and Korra did the actual infiltration thanks to Korra's powerful and precise bending.
The guards never saw it coming when Korra and Asami used a combination of stealth, water, and electrocution to take them out. Korra's old violent disposition was all but a thing of the past here, and she was not about to put these men to death just for doing their job—especially when most of the inmates that were not Tonraq and Senna's rebels were in fact hardened criminals.
"Which cell do you think is Senna's?" Asami whispered.
"Probably the deepest one in this labyrinth," Korra mused in response, "let's move."
Surprisingly they met little resistance, and Korra led them deeper into the prison maze, per Kwan's instructions and the crudely drawn map she had given them.
"This is it," Korra put her hands to the door, using metalbending to undo some of the heavy locks. "She's behind this door."
"How do you know?" Asami looked curious as she carefully rearmed her electric gloves in case they were spotted.
Call it intuition." Korra answered. "Tucking my mom in the farthest corner of this prison seems exactly like something my uncle would do."
"You are absolutely correct." a voice spoke up from behind Asami, who had turned towards the door when Korra had opened it. Both women turned around after seeing that the cell was empty, and found themselves face to face with Unalaq.
"My mom," Korra got right up in her uncle's face, "where is she!?"
"I'm sorry, Korra." Unalaq frowned. "Your mother is on a ship headed to the Northern Water Tribe so she can face the people that she and the Red Lotus wronged before she meets justice. Unfortunately, you will never see your mother again."
"Bring her back or I'm taking you out and the rest of your invading army." Korra threatened.
"Remember who you are." Unalaq kept his cool in a way so disarmingly familiar to Amon that it actually gave Korra pause, "as the Avatar, you cannot threaten war. You must remain neutral, or the Water Tribes will never find unity."
"You don't want unity, you want power." Korra snapped, "You've always been jealous of my dad and hated my mom? Maybe if you hadn't been so hungry for my dad's position, they wouldn't have ever met and you wouldn't have had to ever worry about dealing with me because I wouldn't exist."
"You of all people should know why the Avatar taking sides is dangerous, Korra," Unalaq warned, "you've met many of your past lives—including Avatar Zeruda, who plunged the world into war. It is one thing to take a side in a conflict, but even Avatar Aang did so only in defense of those he loved. Starting a war because you think our attempts to restore order to the South are an invasion would not hold in any type of international convention. On top of that, if you start a war, dark spirits will feed off of the disharmony and will annihilate the South, and even I will be powerless to stop them."
"Even if that is true, I'm done being manipulated by you," Korra blew steam out of the corners of her mouth, her own body heating up from her fury. "You are going to bring my mother back and then you and your troops will return to the North."
"And why would I do that?" Unalaq smirked.
"You still need me to open that Northern Portal." Korra retorted.
"Actually, I don't." Unalaq crossed his arms, although his guard was still up. "You've served your purpose in that regard, Avatar Korra."
For a moment Korra and even Asami stood in stunned silence, and even Korra was at a loss for what to say in that moment. The last resort she had had for keeping her uncle in line was gone.