One week after they had returned, Bolin handed a report to Opal about food distribution through the improved train network Varrick had finished with the Empire's help. When they weren't working on their duties on rebuilding the Earth Nation, Opal was learning how to fly a TIE Fighter while Bolin was learning how to use blaster weapons. She'd been surprised to hear the screaming sound from the TIEs before it was explained their engines weren't muffled. Right now, they were working out of the middle ring apartment that the couple shared when off duty. At that moment, Varrick was in the partly rebuilt upper ring, which the Empire had begun rapid construction within. He was there to support his secretary-turned girlfriend, Zhu Li Moon, who, along with the others rescued from Ylesia, were at the new hospital to help recover from the addictive mind control called Exultation. Director Namada had gone there to relate her own struggles with it when she wasn't compiling a list of terrorists to keep watch on. Shortly after Bolin and Opal finished their own work, they were approached by one of the Imperial pilots.
"You're Kanan, right?" asked Bolin. "Hera's boyfriend? I haven't seen her. Same with Ezra and Sabine."
"I know she isn't here," Kanan said. "I just wanted to get to know you two, since we're going to be working together." After a while, they learned Kanan was from a planet called Gorse. It didn't rotate on its axis, like other worlds, and it was so close to its star, that if an unshielded droid walked onto the bright side, it would melt in the heat.
"Well, I guess the Dark Side isn't that bad," Bolin joked, referencing how Vader's power was occasionally referred to as the Dark Side. After pausing for a moment, Kanan went on to explain that the main industry was mining material for explosives. Kanan joined when the business was increasingly automated and to see the galaxy.
"Good for you," Bolin smiled at him. "You get to see a bunch of new places, learn new skills, and help people. In addition to stopping jerks like the Hutts."
"Yeah, some assignments are definitely better than others," Kanan answered. "Too bad missions like Ylesia aren't more common."
"Well, it's not your fault if the Empire isn't in a position to fight a war with the Hutts," Opal noted.
"That's not what I meant," Kanan replied somewhat downcast. "Sometimes, it feels like many of our leaders are causing more problems for the Empire than they are solving."
"Should you be saying that?" asked Bolin. "It could be taken the wrong way."
"Some of my colleagues did," Kanan answered. "I'm more careful now. Besides, perhaps an outsider would be more understanding."
"Okay, get this off your chest," encouraged Bolin.
"Many governors and other officers seem to think compromise of any sort is weakness," Kanan said. "The Emperor has to manage a whole galaxy, so many Moffs are allowed almost free reign to act as they see fit. There are many places where rebellion crops up. I can't help but wonder if they could have been avoided if the local commander had just been more patient. In my darker moments, I wonder if some Rebels have a point about our Empire as a whole."
"Wasn't the Empire started in response to some big business backed insurrection to take over the galaxy so their greed would go unchecked?" the Earthbender asked.
"That was one aspect of it," the supply officer confirmed. "But the Separatists are gone, now. And there are still rebellions."
"Rebels are nothing but trouble," Bolin said, thinking of the various revolutionaries he'd encountered. "If there is no trouble, they make it. If you compromise with them, they get stronger for the war they plan to wage."
"Agreed," Opal added. "I know firsthand how terrible they are."
"What do you mean?" Kanan asked.
"Remember those 'Freedom Fighters' that Korra and Kuvira warned you of?" Opal asked. "Well, there is a bit of history behind that name: towards the end of the Hundred-Year War, a gang of orphans hid in a forest to fight back against the Fire Nation. They befriended Avatar Aang and his companions, but my grandfather was suspicious. Rightfully so, as to destroy the local Firebender garrison, they were willing to flood the whole valley, killing the three hundred Earthers present. Grandpa Sokka thwarted the plan, and since they'd almost been murdered by this resistance group, the locals helped the Fire Nation root them out. Most Freedom Fighters didn't survive the war, but afterward, they reorganized and were joined by adults who wanted to continue it."
"Wait, why would they want to continue a war they had won?" asked Kanan.
"The Earth Kingdom didn't win the war, the Avatar and friends won the war," Bolin noted. "As such, they wanted to continue the fight so as to 'regain their honor' as the saying goes."
"That meant reclaiming the colonized territories on the west coast," Opal explained. "But the colonists, who frequently married the colonized, had no desire to leave. Aang wouldn't tear apart families, and he didn't trust the Earth Kingdom not to murder anyone with gold eyes. That's how the colonies became the United Republic of Nations. The new Freedom Fighters continued agitating for war, attacking anyone who recognized the URN, verbally or otherwise. In addition, they are determined to purge the Earth Nation of all 'Foreign Influence' as they call it, and 'National Shame.'"
"What does that mean?" asked Kanan.
"Foreign Influence can be anything from adopting different ideas of government to owning a car, since it was made by foreigners," the Airbender answered. "National Shame is just code for 'Filthy Halfbreed,' which my entire family entire family except my dad and Kuvira count as. They made a few plots to kill us as a result, which Mom and Kuvira always thwarted. And since the civil war began, these creeps tried to impose their bigotry across the continent."
"And then there are their counterparts, the Sons of Sozin," Bolin bitterly added. "A bunch of Fire Nation purists who worship the viciousness of Fire Lords Sozin to Ozai. In addition to trying to start a race war in the URN, they hope to turn the clock back to when the Fire Nation oppressed everyone. Naturally, since our dad was an Earther, they hate people like me and Mako and are determined to 'burn the world clean of our filth.'" After a moment, Kanan responded.
"Hera and I have run into a few people like that ourselves," Kanan noted sympathetically. "But there are other types of rebels, out there."
"And none of them are good for you," Bolin said with surprising seriousness. "I know this given the rebels Korra and I fought before she met you guys. For example, there are the Equalists, who are utterly convinced that, if you are a bender, you are oppressing them, no matter what you do. They were allowed to speak their point of view, hold rallies, and they repaid that bit of diplomacy by kidnapping Benders off the street and torturing them until they couldn't bend again. I know this, because Mako and Korra saved me at the last possible moment. Of course, when warrants were issued for their arrests, they acted like they were wronged."
"Some Equalists might have done so-""It was their leader at a rally of about three hundred people!" Bolin snapped, angered at sympathy shown to the terrorists. "Later on, they mounted a full-scale bombing campaign, along with Mechs and biplanes, killing thousands. Tenzin was the one councilor who tried to compromise with them, so, what did the Equalists do when their leader dragged him and his eight-to-twelve-year-old children in front of them, boasting about how he was finally going to rid the world of Airbending? They cheered. Oh, and then there's Hiroshi Sato. His wife was killed by a Firebender burglar, so naturally, he concluded that it was part of the 'Bending Establishment's efforts to keep a rich nonbender down, as opposed to it just being a thief looking for something to steal. Our friend, his daughter Asami, didn't listen to his craziness, so he tried to kill her." After a moment, Bolin apologized for losing his temper but replied he hated it when horrible people were treated with kindness and understanding.
"And then, there's the Red Lotus," Opal added, relating her own experiences. "They hate rules and authority in all its forms, because they want freedom without responsibility or consequence. Since Korra's the Avatar, who upholds law and order, that means they want her dead. Not on the battlefield but chained and tortured in their lair until she stopped screaming. When she proved too much to overcome in battle, they kidnapped me, my teacher, his family, and about a hundred other people and threatened to kill us one at a time until she surrendered. When she proved too smart for them as well as too powerful, they pushed her into a portal, gloating over how the only way the Avatar would return would be if she was killed by the Obsidian Knight, as Lord Vader is known among our people. This was after kickstarting the civil war and maiming my brother Wing."
"Rebels are either jerks who hide behind excuses rather than admit they are just crooks out for money and demented fun, or they are madmen who want to burn the world down to make themselves the winner," Bolin added. "Even if you are a part of the rebellion itself, you are not safe. You question the leader, you learn he's a hypocrite, it looks like you're going to be caught, you become the slightest bit inconvenient, you have to die. Or be given a fate worse than death, in one guy's case. Whatever problems with the Empire there might be, the Rebels will be far worse." Kanan thanked them for listening and promised he would consider what they had to say. Noticing Opal had gotten up and was kissing Bolin's neck, Kanan left and shut the door as Bolin took off his shirt.
Kuvira was quite intrigued by lightsabers. They were weightless but could cut through almost anything. Vader had encouraged her to adopt the styles of Ataru and Shien, as they were called, and she took to them fast, developing an interest in Djem So. Baatar was also interested in Djem So and Ataru.
"You handle that weapon better than its last owner," Vader complimented her before turning to Baatar. "You learn sword fighting well, yourself. You learn as fast as you do with mind tricks. This, along with your engineering skill, will make you a fine Sith."
"Thank you, Lord Vader," answered Baatar. He'd grown his hair out into a ponytail, shaved off his beard, and, thanks to Imperial doctors, no longer needed glasses. Zhu Li's eyes had also been fixed, which seem to have made Varrick even more lovestruck. Kuvira admitted she liked how Baatar looked now, as well, complete with the all-black glove he wore over his prosthetic arm.
"But do not get arrogant," Vader stated. "My Apostles must be as wise as they are powerful." Vader had decided to personally teach Kuvira and Baatar. He dubbed them, alongside Korra and Mako, his Apostles, for they would spread his wisdom across Elementia. Kuvira liked the role and agreed with Korra's own moniker for Vader: the Father of Understanding.
When they were alone, Vader asked her what she was hoping to achieve, for the Earth Nation and herself. "I want to help my people," she said.
"And how should that happen?" asked. "Do you wish to restore the monarchy?"
"The monarchy? Never!" Kuvira quickly replied.
"Many of the older Earthers long for it," noted Vader. "And much of the world is already speculating about 'King Wu' the heir apparent is called."
"They are stupid and too attached to the past to see the future," Kuvira answered. "The monarchy was inept and feeble. I am not putting my life on the line so some spoiled brat can ruin all I've achieved!"
"So, you want what your mother wants?" asked Vader. "For the Earth Nation to become a democracy?" Kuvira didn't respond as quickly that time. After being adopted by Suyin, she had often heard of the theory of democracy, where everyone's opinion counted. The theory had developed shortly before the Hundred-Year War ended and had ultimately become the philosophy of the United Republic. At first, it was governed by a single council, one representative from each nation elected to the position. Of course, with the case of the Air Nation, the election had been a formality. Tenzin had inherited the seat from his father, the only other Air Nomad alive. After the Equalist insurrection, the council was reorganized into a legislative body while the executive branch was filled by President Raiko. By all accounts, he attained his position through empty promises and wealthy donors. None of her friends had anything nice to say about him, not even Mako, who once saved his life.
The Water Tribes practiced elections when the current royal family died or became incapable of continuing its rule. While everyone's vote counted, it was so rare that many Water Tribals forgot they were supposed to be a democracy. And ultimately, while Suyin praised democracy, she'd never started an election cycle in Zaofu. Not that anyone would have seriously challenged her leadership of the city-state she founded.
"I don't believe in democracy," Kuvira answered. "Neither does Suyin, in truth. I don't even think Korra believes in it."
"Then what form will the Earth Nation take?" he asked. Pausing for a second, Kuvira knew the answer.
"It will follow the teachings of the Sith," she affirmed. "Where those who deserve to rule are in charge, having proven their strength. I have proven my strength in many ways to the Earth Nation and I will lead it to glory."
"Good," Vader complimented her. "You have learned your lessons well and shall make a fine Imperial."
After she finished looking over the latest reports from her subordinates, Kuvira went to train Ezra Bridger. His mother had given her life so Kuvira and the others could survive Kor Besadi, so teaching him how to be a Metalbender was the least she could do. After completing their session, Kuvira complimented the blue-haired Lothalite and wished him luck. He was the little brother that Kuvira and Baatar wished the twins and Huan were. Optimistic despite everything, kind to animals, and extremely eager to learn from her. She noticed he liked the armor-wearing, jetpack-equipped Firebender, Sabine Wren, and had been encouraging him to ask her on a date at the end of their lessons.
"Wish me luck, Kuvira," he smiled as he went off to do so. As Kuvira looked over the reports she'd received from her commanders, she was surprised to see Hera Komad come in.
"Lieutenant Komad, Ezra is off asking Sabine on a-""I'm not here for that," Hera said. "I came to ask if I could use your washroom."
"Of course," Kuvira said to the Twi'lek. After Komad finished, she came back out and asked Kuvira if they could talk and keep their discussion to themselves. "Why?" the Metalbender asked the pilot.
"I consider things from other perspectives, not just the Imperial one," Hera answered. "Sometimes, my colleagues confuse that with sympathizing with the enemy. I think an outsider's point of view would do me some good."
"I won't mention it to Lord Vader or anyone else," Kuvira assured the Twi'lek. "What perspectives were you considering?"
"I believe in the work that freed you and your friends," Hera stated. "I never thought I would see someone charge into the Boontana Hutta on behalf of a stranger, but Lord Vader is exceptional in so many ways. Pirates have been chased from many worlds they have run rampant across for decades, roads and new infrastructure are built across many underdeveloped planets. The Senate, in a rare moment of clarity, admitted that we couldn't go back to the chaos that caused the Clone Wars and agreed to make our transition into the Empire official. Criticism of the Empire is mostly just Seppie-Apologist drivel but there is one thing I can't help but wonder about."
"Wonder about what?" asked Kuvira.
"The Jedi Knights had protected the galaxy for thousands of years," Hera explained. "Then, a few Jedi tried to kill Palpatine and the entire order is declared guilty and marked for death. It doesn't make sense with all the stories I've heard growing up about them."
"I heard it was a few Jedi leaders who tried to kill him," Kuvira replied. "It's hard to believe they weren't supported from the rank and file. I heard there was only one loyal Jedi Knight and he confirmed how corrupt the rest of the Order was."
"Still, just one out of ten thousand?" Hera asked. "I can't help but wonder."
"I want to tell you about an ancient, honored order founded by an Avatar that protected the Earth Kingdom for centuries," Kuvira started. "The Dai Li. The Jedi remind me very much of them."
"I've heard of them, somewhere," Hera said.
"I'm sure you have," Kuvira answered. "It was about four hundred years ago. There was a rebellion among the peasants of Ba Sing Se. Avatar Kyoshi struck a bargain with the king: he would implement various reforms to address the complaints, and she would train an elite force of Earthbenders to maintain the Earth Kingdom's stability."
"The Dai Li?" asked Hera.
"Yes," Kuvira said. "There were many stories about them and their bravery, dedication, and honor. That stopped being the case long ago, if it was ever true at all. In truth, almost all the recruits into the Dai Li were children, taken with or without their parent's consent, taught Earthbending and intelligence gathering, and given virtually no life outside their duty, only being allowed to marry after they turned forty. The justification for this was how the Dai Li had to be detached and how a life outside their jobs would just get in the way."
"That does sound a little similar to the Jedi," Hera admitted.
"Exactly, which leads me to believe the same conundrum applied to them, as well," Kuvira continued.
"What conundrum?" the green Twi'lek asked.
"Making all their recruits' children and isolating them wasn't about detachment, but attachment," Kuvira explained. "Attachment to the agency, for if their fellow Dai Li are the only family they have, the members are unlikely to betray them. But loyalty to the agency isn't loyalty to your ruler or even the country as a whole."
"That's hard to believe," Hera said skeptically.
"When you protect the king, you have access to all his servants, advisors, and administrators," Kuvira explained. "When you have no loyalty to the king or the kingdom, you can control them. This allows you to control the information the king receives, to the point that you are more of a ruler than him. In addition, they were a force of stagnation in our society." Kuvira then paused, before imitating a Dai Li agent. "What's that? Someone is raising questions about why things are done this way, and is offering a modern, efficient alternative? He is a threat to you, because if modernity improves one thing, it improves another. Don't want anyone to question the purpose of your agency, right? But it went further than that with the Dai Li."
"How so?" asked Hera.
"It was eighty-five years into the Hundred Year War," Kuvira began. "The king died, leaving his four-year-old son, Kuei, to be watched over by the Grand Secretariat Long Feng, director of the Dai Li. Long Feng isolated Kuei so much, that he didn't know there was a war happening, even when the Fire Nation breached the outer wall and came closer to conquering the city than any before. He also made it illegal to even acknowledge the war within the city itself. He forced the generals to ignore anything that wasn't directly related to the capital's defense, letting everything outside fall around them, and his big solution to the stream of refugees running from the Fire Nation was to dump them in the lower ring and forget about them. If you want an idea of how stupid this was, one Firebender who wound up there exposed himself to a neighbor, and she didn't reveal his presence because she simply didn't know there was a war on."
"That sounds extremely short sighted," Hera said. "Why would the king's royal guard force do that?"
"Because regardless of what they say, everyone is afraid of losing power," Kuvira answered. "They even harassed and obstructed Avatar Aang, for trying to inform the king of the last realistic chance they had of winning the war at that point. When the Dai Li lost their leverage over Team Avatar, they smashed into the palace and dragged the king to see the wreck of a giant drill that, if it hadn't been for them, would have destroyed the walls protecting Ba Sing Se." Pausing for a moment, Kuvira continued. "Kuei, to his credit, immediately realized the truth and ordered Long Feng arrested but he didn't go far enough."
"What do you mean?" asked Hera.
"The Dai Li were just as guilty as Long Feng, since they enforced his conspiracy to undermine the king," Kuvira explained. "Kuei didn't realize this and let them continue on in their duties, like you're saying Palpatine should have done with the Jedi. How did they repay his mercy? They joined a quartet of Fire Nation spies, imprisoned the people loyal to the king, helped said spies beat the Avatar into a coma, and ripped the walls down so the Fire Army could march through the city without a fight. That is how I know Order 66 was the right thing to do in that situation." After a moment of shock, Hera responded.
"Wait, I thought the Dai Li were active up until the civil war broke out," the Twi'lek asked. "After such a betrayal, how could they continue holding their post for almost seventy-five years?"
"I think it's obvious by now that the monarchs are stupid," the Metalbender answered. "It's easier to reinstate a traitor than it is to find a replacement. And the Queen Zaheer killed liked the name, as it brought fear to those who opposed her. Of course, she enforced stagnation in them like she did with everything, which meant their centuries-old Earthbending style wasn't enough to save her from the Red Lotus." Upon hearing the story, Hera thanked Kuvira for her time and insight before leaving. Kuvira didn't know what to make of the pilot and went to see Baatar. Being the genius she'd fallen in love with, he had already begun to improve their Mechs with Imperial technology and had even modified his lightsaber to include a stun blaster in it. Indeed, the entire world would soon learn from the Father of Understanding and his Apostles.
Two weeks after her return, Korra was close to the Foggy Swamp. It was a spiritually charged place, where visions of the past and future could be seen. Its vines were akin to the spirit vines that now infested much of Republic City. Vader and Krennic suspected they might be a valuable energy source, and if they were, it would be easier to justify the Imperial presence on Elementia.
In the two weeks since her return, she and Kuvira had begun working to bring the Earth Nation into line. Many of Kuvira's followers were surprisingly accepting of the Obsidian Knight, looking up to him in awe. And with both the Great Uniter and the Avatar herself telling them the Empire was their future, any protests were quickly forgotten.
"The shield generator is proceeding ahead of schedule, Colonel Korra," Major Sunber reported through the comlink she was holding. Having grown up in a desert, Sunber had requested somewhere cold, so Korra sent him to the Southern Water Tribe. "The people your dad sent to help still don't know what to make of me."
"Noted," Korra said. After briefly talking with KayBee, who was rather pleased with his new body, she had her mother hold her comlink close to the kids so Korra could say goodnight. Then, she felt a disturbance in the Force close by, and went to investigate. Going deeper into the swamp, she thought of drawing her lightsabers but decided not to. The Foggy Swamp Tribe was always the least of the Water Tribes. Their obsession with communing with nature ensured they would never advance beyond the level they already were, and their lack of contact with the wider world meant their Waterbending lagged behind their cousins in the North and South. They'd be no match for Korra using only one element, using the Force would make it into a farce.
As she approached a hollow tree, she saw what looked like an older woman in Earther clothes. Firebending herself some light, Korra called out to her.
"Well, isn't this a surprise," an old voice replied, stepping into the light. After a moment, Korra was shocked to see who it was.
"Toph Beifong?" she asked. "You're alive?"
"Indeed I am," the blind Earthbender answered. "Heard I was dead? I heard the same of you, Twinkletoes." The nickname was said in an endearing way but Korra's eyes flashed with anger at it.
"I am not Aang," she bluntly stated. "And he's gone, just like the others before him."
"An old lady can't crack jokes?" she asked more negatively. "I know Aang is dead but-""Not dead, gone," Korra interrupted. "During his scheme to become the Dark Avatar, Unalaq severed my connection to the past Avatars. Aang, Roku, Kyoshi, and all the rest, are gone. And as far as I know, they aren't coming back."
"Didn't your parents teach you it's rude to interrupt?" asked Toph. "I heard a lot of crazy things during Harmonic Convergence. The spirits that can now pass through those portals Unalaq opened talked about Raava and Vaatu, along with how Wan Shi Tong was tricked into helping the latter's scheme but they didn't say anything about your past lives being severed."
"I opened the portals," Korra replied. "Unalaq just took my sister hostage when it was clear he couldn't open it on his own. And it was my decision to leave them open, reviving Airbending from the edge of extinction."
"Well, someone has a thing for taking credit," Toph noted.
"Given how much the world needs me, I deserve-""The world doesn't need you," Toph cut her off. "I spent half my life as police chief of Republic City. I put away a lot of crooks, but did it stop crime? Of course not. One thing you learn is that the names may change but the streets stay the same." Upon hearing Toph, Korra laughed at the old woman's ignorance.
"Those streets would never have been built if Ozai's comet plan succeeded," Korra replied. "Streets that would have been destroyed if Amon, Unalaq, or Zaheer had their way. Streets that now have spirit vines coursing through them. Streets that will change again, very soon, upon my return to the wider world." After a moment, Toph noted Korra hadn't heard anything she said. "All you've said are excuses for why you weren't there when Amon tortured Lin and hundreds of others," Korra retorted. "Why you weren't there when Unalaq tried to destroy the world. Why you didn't help when your granddaughter and over a hundred others were taken hostage by the Red Lotus. What exactly is more important than that?"
"For one thing, I didn't know that was happening until after," the elder Beifong said. "Wandering the world like in my youth, I decided to pass through Gaoling so I could get my hate for it out of me. I heard rumors about Yakone's boys stirring up trouble but you didn't need me to fix it for you."
"Why did you stop here?" Korra asked more politely.
"Right before we met, Aang, Katara, and Sokka went through here," Toph noted. "They had a vision of me, which is how Aang knew I would be his teacher. I figured now was the time to see what was so special. I arrived right as Harmonic Convergence was ending. Those vines in Republic City are also here. I learned that I could see through them. Granted, I was still having trouble when you vanished, and I don't see everything, but you are blind compared to me."
"I doubt that," Korra retorted.
"If you feel like a match, you're welcome to challenge me," she smirked. "The Swampbenders have tried but now they've given up on it."
"Swampbenders are nothing," Korra boasted. "And in my time away, I have learned more about bending than any Avatar in history."
"You up for a wager, then?" Toph asked.
"Yes, if I win, you stop hiding from the world and visit your family," Korra said. "Lin is a hardass but I care about her, and she needs to get some closure with her lackluster mother. While Su needs to be reminded leaving home and irking your parents is a family tradition, and to stop giving Kuvira and Baatar crap."
"I didn't know I had a granddaughter by that name but fine," Toph answered. "And if I win, you will stay here to learn some humility, which your other teachers clearly failed to teach you."
"Humility is a weakness," Korra retorted, readying her fighting stance. Toph seemed to be waiting for Korra to make the first move, embodying Neutral Jing. Without moving, Korra gripped a tree branch with the Force and sent it flying at Toph from the side. Surprised at how something unbendable hit her arm, Toph just barely erected a wall in time to stop Korra's Airbent blast. Tossing numerous rocks at Korra, the young Avatar jumped out of the way and sent forth many ice shards from above down on the elder Earthbender, who sped away with her own Earthbending. Toph, noticing a large amount of metal nearby from a plane wreck, Metalbent a shield around herself while sending forth bindings toward Korra. One hit Korra but she easily broke through it with her own bending before flying at Toph like a rocket, Waterbending an ice drill to bore through the shield and stopping just before it hit Toph. Grabbing the older woman with her own hands, Korra rapidly ascended to the heights of the swamp thicket with her Firebending before Toph could react. Waterbending rapidly, she froze Toph's entire body save the head to the tree, before jabbing tree branches around her to hold the old woman's head in place.
"I win," Korra smirked. "Looks like I do see better than you."
"In some ways," Toph conceded. "When I was younger, I would have destroyed you. So, you figured out Woodbending?"
"Oh, it's far more than that," Korra boasted. "But I believe we made a bet."
"I'll stop by Zaofu and see if Su wants to see me," Toph replied. "I guess if Lin forgave her sister, she's forgiven me. Word of warning, though. The vines are scared of your power. Maybe you should reconsider using it."
"Or maybe they are scared of something new they don't understand," Korra dismissed. "I heard that's a problem too many people suffer from. Also, forgiving her little sister for cutting her face by accident during an argument isn't forgiving her mother for being an absentee workaholic." After the elder Earthbender left, Korra contacted Kuvira and told her to begin laying the groundwork for harvesting the vines from the swamp. Naturally, the Swampbenders would have to be imprisoned, as they were too stuck in their ways to adapt to the changing world, just like the Sandbender tribes. They'd have to be dragged into the wider world before the wider world came to them.
Tonraq looked over the shield generator that was being constructed. It looked rather bizarre to him, fitting for a piece of alien technology. The Water Tribal engineers involved were sworn to oaths of secrecy by him and Korra, though all of them had been shocked at who Darth Vader was. After some reluctance and panicking, most of them had seemed to accept their chief's and Avatar's story about how he could be trusted. Still, he couldn't help but wonder about this Empire that Korra had insisted they join. Of course, she hadn't used the word join but it was clear what she meant. He noticed that one of the Imperials wasn't a human like most of the others. She had blue skin and tails coming out of her hairless head. Maybe, she would have a different perspective. After she was done working, he invited her to sit down with him.
"What is your name, corporal, is it?" he asked.
"It is sergeant, now, sir," she answered with a salute. "Sergeant Tivva Soot, Combat Driver First Class. And before you ask, my species is called Twi'lek." She paused for a moment before practicing the Waterbending Korra had given her. "Thank you for helping us Imperials learn. Korra's a great teacher but there are a little too many of us for her."
"You're welcome, Sergeant Soot," he said, remembering how names usually worked for the Imperials. "Apart from you, I haven't seen many Imperial...non-humans."
"It sounds like you have a question, sir," she answered.
"Are you...bullied by the other Imperials?" he asked.
"Not all of them but there are many who don't think a Twi'lek belongs in uniform," she answered. "Despite this, us Twi'leks are one of the only races that can serve in the armed forces on a large scale."
"Why is that?" the chief asked.
"We eat the same things as you, we take the same medicine as you," she answered. "Our lekku," she paused gesturing to her head-tails, "hold the memory parts of our brains, and that is the only real difference. As to be expected, since we are a human offshoot."
"Wait, like a pack of arctic wolves who wind up in a warmer place?" Tonraq asked intrigued. "Whose pups get lighter coats?"
"No," Soot answered. "That sort of thing has happened but not for my ancestors. An extremely long time ago, there was an evil alien race called the Rakata. They took many humans captive and experimented on them. These slaves escaped and settled on new worlds, where their children became more than simple humans. On Iridonia, they became Zabraks. On Shili, they became Togrutas. And on Ryloth, they became Twi'leks."
"Are the Rakata still a threat?" he asked, rather worried.
"No, and they are probably extinct, at this point," she answered. "But you seem to have something else on your mind, not just curiosity for the wider galaxy."
"How did you come to join the Empire?" he asked.
"I was born on the capital world Coruscant," Soot answered. "There are more Twi'leks living on Coruscant than there are on Ryloth. Many other planets have larger Twi'lek populations than the homeworld as well. But as for Ryloth, it has been in the Empire for the entirety of its existence, to the eternal frustration of fools like Cham Syndulla."
"Many people value their independence," he said. "We recently fought a war to make the South independent of the North."
"I thought the war was about keeping your brother from becoming a god," Tivva noted.
"That's not what it started as," Tonraq explained. "Many of our people wanted to be free to follow the spirits the way they wanted, not the way Unalaq advocated. We only learned the truth shortly before his attempt at godhood. It will be a massive shock to learn the wider galaxy is filled with life. Many people will not be so eager to give up their independence. Either here or in the other nations."
"Independence is a danger born from pride," the Imperial explained. "And nowhere is that more evident than Ryloth, the homeworld of my species."
"Why do you say that?" the chief asked.
"Ryloth is a deadly world," she noted. "Much of it is desert and there is relatively little farmland. Between the sandstorms and the assorted predators, it's a bit surprising any advanced civilization arose at all. Most cities are simply carved out of mountainsides as opposed to built from the ground up. As such, it is unsurprising that the outside galaxy found the Twi'leks before they found the galaxy. Of course, these outsiders weren't as friendly to my ancestors as Lord Vader is to you."
"They sought to conquer Ryloth?" he asked, puzzled why they would do so for such a desolate world.
"Not at first," she said. "They just wanted slaves to take home and sell to their friends." She then gestured to herself. "Especially beautiful ones, which Twi'lek women are universally considered as." After a moment of realization, Tonraq's eyes shot open in realization and alarm. "Then, they learned of a new type of spice beneath the surface of Ryloth," she added.
"You mean that narcotics ingredient?" he asked, remembering what Korra told him about Ylesia.
"Legal or otherwise," Tivva noted. "For most of my people's history, all the wider galaxy ever wanted from Ryloth was Ryll spice or Twi'lek slaves. By the time my parents were born, Ryloth had been unified and the occupiers had left long ago. Not from anything the Twi'leks did, despite the insistence of fools like Syndulla but because of the efforts of others in the galaxy who sympathized with us. Still, fools like Syndulla rejected reality in favor of the dream of independence."
"What do you mean by rejecting reality?" Tonraq asked.
"That once you join the wider galaxy, there is no going back," she noted. "Slavery might be illegal now, but that doesn't change how barren Ryloth is. Simply doing what's required to keep things running is hard. Any money left for a defense force will be woefully inadequate. And that's assuming the pirates on a slaver raid don't have help from some locals.
"Were your parents slaves taken that way?" Tonraq asked.
"My grandparents were, they just refused to move back to Ryloth after they were freed by what passed for a navy, back then," Soot answered before continuing. "Unsurprisingly, when a real army invaded, Ryloth was swiftly conquered. Syndulla and his friends hid in a hole, attacking tiny droid patrols, acting like they saved the planet, when in truth, it was the clone army building the Empire that drove the Separatists from our world. After Palpatine made the Empire official, new mines for starship hulls were opened, as were metal working facilities. Safety requirements there and for Ryll mining were tightened. New roads and cities were built, along with hospitals for all that only the wealthiest Twi'lek could have afforded before. Few slaver ships would try their luck against a world that star destroyers frequently passed by. But Syndulla didn't care, he just wanted independence."
"So, he rose in revolt," concluded Tonraq.
"Exactly," Tivva answered. "He recruited reactionary old men, children raised on lies of past glory, and criminals out for profit and enjoyment into his Free Ryloth Movement. He even attacked a star destroyer carrying Lord Vader and Emperor Palpatine, stranding them in the wilderness and attacked an entire isolated village because they refused to break hospitality for their guests. Fortunately, that was effectively the end of the FRM. Yes, Syndulla is still alive, pretending that hiding in a cave is somehow a victory but the Empire's grip on Ryloth is tighter than ever, and will never be broken. Not that it should."
"So, you are saying that it is better for the Empire to rule than, say, those Hutts I've heard of," Tonraq concluded. "And that ruling themselves simply isn't an option."
"Exactly," Soot said. "They will never have the strength to govern themselves and will always be subservient to outsiders in some way. Ryloth's heroes aren't fools like Syndulla. Their heroes are the clones who freed them, the stormtroopers who defend them, and outsiders like Raith Sienar. Everyone dismissed him as a rich jerk who came there to pay the locals pennies to work in a starfighter factory. He sent his Twi'lek wife, and about fifty people, off world in his ship while he stayed behind and hid with Syndulla, building a transmitter that could learn what was happening elsewhere while they were cut off from aid, signal information for the invasion force coming to retake the planet, and who is now Ryloth's biggest foreign investor."
Upon hearing Tivva's opinion, Tonraq thanked her for her time and went home. There was wisdom in her words. Independence wouldn't matter if everyone was dead, or no one came to help them. But there had to be a middle ground between independence and subservience. He believed Vader was sincere in his promises of friendship, but many other Imperials looked at him and other 'Elementals' as they'd taken to calling the Four Nations with disdain, simply because their technology wasn't as advanced. As he arrived at his home, he saw KayBee staring down a growling Naga, to his annoyance. Hopefully, the family polar bear dog would soon warm up to Korra's new friends. Those thoughts were interrupted, however, when Darth Vader stormed past toward his shuttle followed by Korra. He had come to the South Pole both for another healing session and afterward, to investigate the Spirit World.
"Is something wrong?" Tonraq asked them.
"While I was exploring the Spirit World, I saw Zaheer being freed," Vader stated, alarming the Southern Water Chief. Korra swiftly contacted Boba Fett and Bossk, who'd been tasked with watching the Red Lotus leader's prison.
"His convoy taking him to the Boiling Rock has been attacked," reported Fett. "There are at least thirty Benders with him, one or two are Airbenders themselves."
"Follow them and wait for backup," Korra commanded. "We'll show up with reinforcements in a few hours." Korra then contacted Kuvira, telling her there was a change of plans. As Korra got on Vader's shuttle, her father hugged her and told her to be careful. She smiled back and said, "Zaheer and his minions are no match for me. I'll be back by morning, tomorrow."
In the three weeks since arriving, Ezra had learned much about Earthbending. Kuvira had praised his Metalbending, while he was also starting to learn Lavabending from Bolin. He hadn't heated any material into magma yet, but he was getting there. In addition to his progress as a Bender, he'd also progressed with Sabine Wren, the beautiful Mandalorian Korra made a Firebender. She'd taken him up on the date he offered, and both had enjoyed it. She'd been sympathetic to the loss of his parents, and he'd been fascinated to learn more about the Mandalorians. They'd certainly moved past their initial stumbling when they first met.
"So, what are we wearing, sir?" Sabine asked Major Kallus, intruding on Ezra's thoughts. "Our regular gear, or the uniforms Kuvira's soldiers wear?"
"Kuvira's for everyone except you, Corporal Wren," he said as he readied his bo-rifle. "We wouldn't want our Mandalorian to go without her jetpack." At that, Ezra began to put on the green uniform complete with a chrome version of Darth Vader's helmet. Sabine donned her Mandalorian armor painted black and red, signifying her Firebending, while their friends Jonah Martin and Koko Partagaz donned the same uniform as Ezra. When they were finished, they came into a courtyard in the rebuilt Ba Sing Se Upper Ring, where they were met by Korra, Kuvira and Mako. Ezra and his friends were joined by many other Imperials, some dressed in their normal uniforms and others wearing what Kuvira's army had adopted.
"All of you have progressed far under our tutelage," Korra started. "Some of you became Benders on Maridun, others more recently, but you have all done well, to the point you are our greatest students. And now is the time for your final test."
"An army of bandits have taken up residence in the Northern Air Temple, and it's up to us to uproot them," Kuvira stated, showing a holographic image of the Air Temple. "Most of you, including Director Krennic, his protection detail, and the Elemental Hand, will be going there, alongside Mako and myself."
"Kallus, Ezra, Sabine, Jonah, and Koko will be coming with me to handle Zaheer and his rescuers," Korra said. "Today is the moment of truth, make me proud."
Since Opal is an Airbender, I figured she'd be interested in becoming a pilot. As demonstrated, Rebels of any sort will have trouble recruiting Benders into their ranks. The Freedom Fighters and the Sons Of Sozin are ideas I've had about the world of Avatar for a while. Naturally, Kanan is more suited to hearing bad opinions about Rebels just as Hera is better suited to hearing bad things said about the Jedi. Baatar is pretty much identical to Ling Yao from Fullemetal Alchemist Brotherhood.
Vader getting Kuvira to admit she wants to rule is based around Darth Plagueis doing the same with Palpatine. Given how the Dai Li have several noticeable similarities to the Jedi Order, it's unsurprising that Elementals would equate the two.
Vader being dubbed the Father of Understanding is inspired by the Templars from Assassins Creed. He dubs his four students Apostles because each has something that reminds him of himself. Korra is the chosen one everyone puts the weight of the world on without supporting her as much as they should. Kuvira is the orphan prodigy who was alienated from her adoptive family because of their neglect. Mako is the loyal orphan who will do anything for the people he loves. And Baatar is the engineering genius determined to fix the world and help those he thinks deserve it.
I have several problems with how Toph was characterized in Season 4, so I've changed a few things. Also, I decided to show what would happen if Korra went into a fight between them at the top of her game. I hope I am characterizing Imperial Korra well.
I thought I would show a loyal Imperial reassuring someone who is more reluctant. My idea of Twi'lek origins came from the Sith Inquisitor SWTOR campaign. Tivva Soot is telling the truth but leaving out the strings attached to the good things the Empire does. You will get to see what Vader did in the Spirit World next chapter.
Next chapter, Ezra and friends fight the freed Zaheer, while the other Imperial Benders handle the stronghold the North Air Temple has become. Vader instills terror to intimidate some old foes, Kuvira and Baatar face their own tests on different planets, and new foes start to scheme.