As Korra and Mako looked out of the mining ship they were on, they saw Sozin's Comet. Darth Vader had determined that the legendary comet was actually a giant Kyber crystal, which is why it enhanced the power of Firebenders. Mako and Korra could feel the power of the Force radiating off of it, as they reached out with their powers to grasp it. As they held it in place, the mining ship sent out grappling drones to grab the massive comet, and pulled it into their bay, where several mining droids began carving it up. Before they left on the shuttle which would take them back to Fort Haruka, Mako pulled one small piece to him with the Force, while Korra summoned two other pieces she felt drawn to.
"Can't wait to try these out," Korra smirked to her husband as the shuttle flew them back. One of the benefits of the Empire was how, instead of taking days or even weeks to fly across the world, they could now do so in minutes. After landing, Korra contacted her parents.
"I'll be back as soon as I can," Korra told her mother, who smiled softly.
"I know you have responsibilities as Avatar, Korra, and that Mako is doing his best to help you," Senna said warmly. "But Harou and Saria need their mommy and daddy too."
"I'm starting to appreciate the struggles the other Avatars had as parents, as well as everything else," Korra replied. "But Mako and I will be back tomorrow. How are things going?"
"Well, Naga and Pabu adore the children, but they don't get along with KayBee," her mother revealed. "You should work on bonding the new pet with the old ones. Even if the new one is a droid."
"But KayBee has stopped thinking Naga will eat the twins?" Korra asked, which her mother confirmed. "Then we're already making progress." She told her parents she loved them before closing the link and joined her husband in the next room. She sat down next to him and took out her own lightsabers. Opening them up, Korra removed the crystals already inside and replaced them with the Kyber shards she'd removed from the comet. After reassembling her lightsabers, Korra felt a new connection to her weapons, as she'd picked out new crystals for them. Mako also felt energized with his new lightsaber, as he'd constructed a handle identical to Vader's own hilt. Korra liked her old design, so she kept the same hilts as before.
"Wow, it feels really good to have our own crystals, instead of someone else's," Mako smiled to his wife. She kissed him on the cheek after agreeing with him. Right after that, Bolin walked in, though he started walking back out when he saw Mako's hands on Korra's shirt.
"What's going on, Bolin?" Korra asked, tucking her shirt back in. "Have you and Opal settled on a date?"
"Oh, we were thinking in about a month, after Baatar gets back," Bolin told his sister-in-law, smiling sheepishly. "It's just that the ship carrying Iroh and the others that were rescued is only an hour out. I'm wondering, how do we get them back home? I'm not sure Sentinels and Lambdas are the best idea. People might think it's an invasion if they see a fleet of those shuttles in the sky." Fort Haruka was the only place on Elementia the requisitioned passenger liner could land on, so the passengers would have to be taken home from there.
"We'll send them to the Northern Air Temple," Korra replied, knowing it was the most expedient way to get them home. "Tenzin and his security detail won't have a problem."
"Yeah, I guess that makes sense," Bolin replied. At that moment, Colonel Veers walked into the room to give a report on how his new trainees were adapting to Imperial walkers.
"They prefer to use their Dark Trooper suits in place of AT-STs," the Imperial officer revealed. "I cannot fault them, as it is a more versatile escort. Still, the ones interested have made excellent progress on both the Scout Walkers and AT-ATs. They, along with the rolling Juggernaut tanks we've gotten out of storage and retrofitted for them, have been patrolling the border rather frequently, to ensure the URN doesn't get any ideas." Korra liked the Juggernaut Turbo Tank herself. A truly massive vehicle, it looked like a bunker with two cockpits on either end on top of five pairs of gargantuan wheels. The front was distinguished by the elevated perch for a sniper/spotter team, while the back had a repeating laser turret on top, meant both for vehicles behind it and for aircraft. The front end had a pair of chin-mounted blaster cannons, while a large anti-vehicle cannon was in the middle, with two rocket launchers on the sides toward the front, and an additional pair of laser cannons on the sides, as well. Each had a combined crew of roughly a hundred operators and ground troops riding within, with about one month of provisions and repair parts. Most had been painted with green and chrome to illustrate their part in the EUA arsenal.
All the sudden, a beep came in on his radio, and Veers answered it, before speaking to Korra. "Ma'am, we've spotted the renegade Swamp Benders," the colonel revealed. "They're heading for the fake camp. How will we handle it?"
"Don't worry," Mako said, picking up his lightsaber. "I'll take care of it, myself."
"Are you sure?" asked Bolin, noting it was a full moon, and night would soon fall.
"I've handled greater Waterbenders than leaf-wearing primitives," Mako assured his little brother. "And I've only gotten stronger since then." After kissing Korra, Mako got in a shuttle which would fly him to where the fugitives were going, while Korra readied herself to receive the people on the passenger ship.
As they continued on their journey home aboard the commandeered passenger liner, Bumi and his family headed for the cafeteria. As they sat down to eat, Katara spotted Captain Sloane had just taken her own lunch from the chef. Deciding to be friendly, Kya asked the captain if she was on duty.
"No," the dark-skinned woman politely answered.
"Well, would you like to sit with us?" asked Kya.
"Thank you," Sloane replied as she sat down with her own meal. Iroh thanked her for having been part of the mission to T'Surr. "Missions like that are why I like serving the Empire," the officer answered. "As the Ultimatum is due for a refit, I decided to fly this passenger liner in the meantime."
"Well, thank you," Kya replied. "So, I'm guessing you know a lot about us."
"I read the briefing on Elementia," Sloane answered politely, with Iroh reflecting how it was a fitting name for their planet. "I'm also aware of your...past with Lord Vader. I wasn't there, so I cannot comment on it."
"Well, why don't you tell us about yourself?" asked Suyin, who was sitting close by with Kuvira. Kuvira was busy reading a report on the new Earth Nation in between having her meal.
"I'm from Abregado-Rae, a world in the Southern Core," Sloane revealed. "My parents named me after the second star our world orbited. It's a pleasant world of grassy hills and rivers where one of the greatest hyperspace lanes in the whole galaxy, the Rimma Trade Route, starts, but it only has forty million people living there." That surprised the various Elementals, as it was far smaller than even their own world's populace. "For most of my childhood, it was all but ruled by gangsters."
"Like Nar Shaddaa?" asked a surprised Kya. Bumi wondered if his sister had a new crush, to which Katara rolled her eyes in annoyance at her daughter. While their father never had a problem with who Kya fell in love with, Katara had been more resistant. While she had since accepted who Kya was, she was annoyed at how her daughter hadn't actually settled down with someone.
"Not as overtly as that, but they held great sway over Abregado," Sloane explained. "Everything from smuggling Bacta from Thyferra, to Death Sticks from Balosar passed through Abregado."
"Death Sticks?" a surprised Kya asked. Boba Fett, who was eating close by, explained it was a narcotic made from a mushroom native to Balosar, combined with a series of industrial chemicals. How it made things look brighter to the users, at the cost of brain damage that, as far as anyone knew, was unfixable, shortening the user's lifespan with each dose.
"Though, shortly before I was born, my dad had to dismantle a Death Stick operation that made a unique flavor: it turned its users into zombie minions of a Jedi turned cult leader," Fett added, creeping out the people listening. "Don't worry, Dad killed them all. Then, when I was nine, he crashed a giant tanker into Balosar itself. The local government had decided that Death Sticks were too profitable to turn up their noses at, even as most of the Balosars themselves became their own best customers."
"The destruction of Balosar is still a celebrated holiday on Abregado-Rae," Sloane added, noticing how the Elementals were stunned to hear of Boba casually talking about his father blowing up a planet. "Jango Fett deserves the honors he's received on Coruscant, as well. The Empire wiped out the rest of the gangsters who ran roughshod over us. I wanted to be like the heroes who saved my world, so I went to Prefsbelt, the main naval academy, then an old training ship called the Defiance. And that is where I first met Darth Vader."
"Does Vader surround himself with friends and associates?" a surprised Suyin asked, noting how many of the Imperial officers they'd met seemed to know Vader on a personal level.
"I don't work closely with Lord Vader very often, but he taught me the most important lesson I ever learned," the captain replied. "At the time, Pell Baylo was perhaps the most famous naval instructor in the galaxy, very old, and still at his post despite his painful injuries. Of course, I soon learned Darth Vader outstripped him in every way. The Emperor was meeting with several prominent officers onboard the Defiance, that day, and had tasked Lord Vader to judge the effectiveness of Commandant Baylo's training."
"What happened?" a curious Bumi asked.
"We were about to jump to hyperspace, and I had just input the coordinates when Baylo strode over, claiming he wanted to double check my calculations," Sloane revealed, sounding bitter. "He then berated me as foolish and input his own course. He and Lord Vader then had a standoff, with Baylo acting almost insubordinate and exceptionally disrespectful to the Sith Lord. He walked off the bridge, some of the crew impressed by him, and we prepared to jump, but Lord Vader halted us. Instead, he asked if I was right the first time. I affirmed that I was, shocking several people at my apparent arrogance in defying the commandant. To which Lord Vader commanded we use my original calculations, so I did."
"So, he wanted to spite the teacher over an argument?" a baffled Katara asked. She'd met numerous spiteful people, and Vader had never struck her as petty, despite everything.
"That's what many of my classmates thought, convinced the emperor would punish Lord Vader for delaying their rendezvous at Christophsis," Sloane revealed. "Then, we were informed to go to the cafeteria and watch an important message played over the screens within. It was of a meeting happening at that moment, between Emperor Palpatine and Commandant Baylo, with Darth Vader observing." That surprised the Elementals, even Kuvira.
"What happened?" a curious Bumi asked.
"Oh, Baylo ranted about how Palpatine had perverted the Republic he loved and twisted the navy he served into something he hated, and how all his colleagues were traitors for accepting it," Sloane revealed. "He then tended his resignation and accepted that he'd have to be detained until in port, and then Lord Vader spoke up. You see, the reason Baylo lied and put in his own set of coordinates, was to crash the ship into a star." That shocked all the Elementals.
"So, he was suicidal?" asked a surprised Kya.
"More like hateful of the new world he was in," Sloane concluded. "So hateful he wanted to drag as many people down with him as possible. Upon learning Lord Vader and I had thwarted his treason, Baylo ranted and raved about how me and the other students were all just mindless drones better off dead, at which point Lord Vader had enough and executed him. Lord Vader then turned to the camera in the office, addressing us about how we needed to be careful of nostalgia, as when people loved what was so much, they were blinded to what can be. And would rather burn the new world down than adapt, with Palpatine noting we had to be vigilant of other traitors as well."
At that moment, having just finished her lunch, a beep came from Sloane's belt, revealing that they would soon be dropping out of hyperspace. "Thank you for the company," Sloane said politely. As the Elemental family, along with Kuvira and Suyin, finished their lunch, they pondered what Sloane had said.
"I've run into far too many fools who want to go back to the 'good old days' that never happened," Kuvira mentioned. "It's really no surprise that, when they realize going back is impossible, they decide to kill themselves and everyone around them."
"Perhaps," Zuko admitted. "Or maybe he thought removing the emperor would allow the galaxy to go back to the 'Republic' he loved."
"Then he was stupid as well as evil," Kuvira dismissed. "Assuming that Palpatine wouldn't just be succeeded, what Baylo would get was a chaotic civil war with the entire galaxy tearing itself to shreds. It's what happened when Hou-Ting kicked the bucket in the Earth Nation. A firm hand is required for governance, despite what Zaheer claimed."
"A firm hand is what Hou-Ting called her rule," Kya noted, bothered by Kuvira's beliefs on governorship.
"Nonsense," Kuvira responded. "If she used a firm hand, she would have been more involved in running the Earth Kingdom. She barely did any ruling, and when she did, it was usually confined to Ba Sing Se. Fortunately, I'm not as lazy as her, so I will not hesitate to govern with a firm hand."
"Well, maybe I should teach you about when to apply a lighter touch," Suyin told her adoptive daughter. "But yes, there are people dangerously in love with the past. I've never known any to go the route of Baylo, but they are dangerous in their own ways. Whatever the case, I don't see how killing the Emperor and Darth Vader would restore the past government, and it would probably turn out the way you predicted." Bumi, Kya, and their mother, alongside Zuko and Iroh, had more mixed feelings. It was unsurprising that Sloane would feel that way, given how Baylo almost killed her and so many others that looked up to him. But perhaps his opposition to the Empire was more than just hating change. Then the landing sequence started, and they prepared for the descent.
Mako leapt out of the shuttle, flying down with his Firebending toward the fake prison on the east coast of the Earth Nation. The shard of the comet in his lightsaber left him feeling energized. Even as the moon came out, he knew he could handle these Waterbenders from the Foggy Swamp. He told his men to stay back until he summoned them. Jetting down, he landed right in front of the twelve Swampbenders, who were shocked by the sight.
"Wait, aren't you the Avatar's Firebender lover?" the leader asked.
"Yes," Mako said. "Why are you here? Korra decreed you should be relocated."
"I don't know what she did, but that wasn't our chief!" one of them yelled in their drawl. "She did something to him to make him do what she wanted!"
"She's the Avatar, he recognized that following her orders was his duty," Mako said, trying to mind-trick them.
"I can...feel what you're trying!" one of them yelled, Waterbending a whip at Mako, who dispersed it with a Fireblast. The others quickly attacked as well, but Mako was swift, evading their shards of ice. Kicking a Fireball into one, he broke through the man's ice shield and knocked him back, unconscious. As the fake prison was close to the sea, the leader had assembled a massive amount of seaweed to craft a Vine Colossus, which soon began smashing at Mako. The Firebender jetted away, kicking another Swampbender in the chin and knocking him unconscious. The sole woman in their ranks sent many shards his way, but Mako evaporated them with his flames, and punched her in the stomach, knocking her out.
Charging forward, Mako grabbed another and tossed him into the next Swampbender, knocking them both out. Conjuring a pair of great flame walls, Mako surrounded most of the remaining Swampbenders, pinning them in before blasting them with a huge Force wave, stunning them all. The Vine Colossus doused the flames and swatted at Mako, grabbing him, to which the Firebender just sliced off its hand with his lightsaber. Before the Swampbending master could recover, Mako unleashed a massive fireball, similar to what Sozin and Ozai unleashed with the power of the comet, burning the hulk away. He could see the Swampbender leader was shocked, especially as this was a full moon, when Waterbending was at its strongest.
"Damn you for making me do this," he said in desperation, Bending Mako's blood immediately afterward. But Mako was ready, and sent a lightning bolt at the man's feet, sending him flying. Mako then grasped the master with the Force, and turning on his lightsaber, sliced off the leader's right hand. Soon, the last Swampbender passed out from the pain.
"Colonel Veers, I'm done here," Mako said into his comlink. At that, the Imperials moved in and restrained the twelve Swampbenders. Sometime later, the Swampbenders awoke, feeling utterly confused, as if the moon had disappeared, and then they realized all their clothes had been removed, and replaced with light grey jumpsuits.
"Don't worry, you'll be seeing your families, soon," Mako said. "Most of them are already adjusting to the new situation."
"What situation?!" the outraged leader asked.
"That we aren't alone in the universe," the Firebender said, gesturing to the window, revealing they were now in outer space. "And that moving four hundred people for a mining project is acceptable in this new world."
"What?!" the woman asked. "The swamp is being desecrated?"
"It's not holy, it's a swamp," one of the Navy Troopers stated as Mako moved to the shuttle which would take him back to Elementia. "The vines give off an interesting energy, and both we and our local allies are quite interested in figuring it out."
"And that is worth the unpleasantness of forcing you to join the modern world," Mako said. "But we need to get you used to it, so you're going where everyone else in your tribe went: Eriadu. A full third of its land is cityscape and another half is factories, with a tenth of it farmland. There is one nature preserve, but you won't be going there unless the five ruling families known as the Quintad give you permission. You will be helping in the factories. Also, word of warning: keep your mask on in the places you work. There's so much smog on that part of the planet the sky is orange." As he walked back to his shuttle, he wondered how the Swampbenders would handle a world so at odds with their philosophy of living in harmony with nature. He then noticed a birthmark on the leader. "You're Tho, right?"
"How did you know?" he asked, still shocked at all that had been revealed.
"I met your two sons, Ko and Po," Mako revealed. "Ko is following his dream of becoming a pilot, since he's no longer afraid of your fists, and Po has fallen in love with engineering, since he wants to be more than a fisherman like his fundamentalist father. In fact, many of the younger Swampbenders like the tech we've given them, and they'll be able to come back to our world in no time. The rest of you must be more firmly educated." The Firebender then turned to a younger Swampbender, and revealed his girlfriend had been pregnant, but thankfully, she and his daughter were saved by the advanced medicine common on Eriadu. The man thanked Mako for the news, and the Firebender could tell he was already starting to think that it was time to move away from their more primitive ways. Mako then went back to his shuttle, knowing that as unpleasant as it was, this was for the best. If the Swampbenders were to survive in this new world, they would have to adapt and become more like their civilized cousins in the South and North poles.
Korra directed the pilots to their shuttles, as the passenger liner landed. After it touched down, she saw the rescued people walk out, somewhat unnerved by the sight of Stormtroopers alongside EUA soldiers. They saw Korra, and bowed their heads respectfully, pleasing the Avatar at their appreciation of her. Then, Korra saw Iroh and his family, with him and Katara giving a faint smile to her.
"Well, that was a hell of an adventure," Zuko said as he stepped off the ship. "But as much fun as it was, I don't want to repeat it too soon. And I think the world will benefit more if I am here."
"That's probably for the best," Korra said, before looking at Iroh. "I'm sorry your sister isn't here. I don't know Mizuki that well, but from what I saw of her, she's a fine young lady."
"Dad and Aunt Kya will be heading back out for her," Iroh said, rubbing his head, before smiling to Korra. "Look, even if the circumstances of your return aren't ideal, I'm glad you're back." Korra thanked the Fire Prince for his kind words as a shuttle landed in front of them, flown by Mako. "Still, I'm not sure my mother appreciated your method of getting her to that summit."
"Well, I needed to make her appreciate the importance of it," Korra replied. "Whatever the case, we'll have time to talk in that Sentinel Mako is flying."
"I will be flying," a deep voice intruded, surprising everyone even as his mechanical breathing became more apparent. "After all, there are things you and Mako must discuss with me, soon."
"Of course, Lord Vader," Korra said to her master. "And Tenzin said that you are welcome like any other friend of mine." With that, Vader joined Mako in the cockpit while Korra joined Iroh and his family in the back. Ezra and Sabine would be flying one shuttle of the people rescued on T'Surr, as well. Boba clarified he'd fly his own ship to the Northern Air Temple in a day's time, after Bumi and Kya had settled their business on Elementia. Kuvira and Suyin said goodbye as they headed to Ba Sing Se.
"Well, after rescuing Iroh, Grand Moff Tarkin invited us to a parade," noted Bumi. "I was a bit surprised to learn he almost killed Mako."
"I think you should talk to Mako about that," Korra replied, noting she wasn't there at the time. "Tarkin says he assumed Reva Savandar had killed Mako which is why he was willing to shoot down the ship. I don't believe him but there's not much I can do, because whatever the case, he is too high up in the Empire to be punished by anyone short of the emperor."
"Like Darth Vader?" asked Kya.
"Yeah," Korra answered. "Tarkin said he wouldn't underestimate either me or Mako, again, i.e. wouldn't assume we failed and were killed, and that was the end of it."
"Alright," Katara said. "He also claimed you forced Malina and her children to follow your orders after what sounded like the Rite Of Kiwantiio."
"It's still on the books, so what's the problem?" Korra asked, genuinely surprised. The other passengers looked at each other in astonishment.
"Agni Kais are now illegal in the Fire Nation," Zuko said, flashing the scars which he received in two different Agni Kais.
"And the Rite is still legal in both Water Tribes, so there isn't a problem," Korra said, before looking at Katara.
"Not legally," Kya noted. "But it hadn't been used for almost a hundred years. Now you've brought it back, making it a legitimate form of resolving a dispute, as opposed to diplomacy and compromise. Do you believe Tarkin's conclusion that diplomacy is a waste of time and everything should be resolved through violence? Cousin Malina is hardly a 'Geonosian' enslaved to a hivemind, after all. Nor are her children, as made clear when they turned on their father."
"There's more to the Tarkin Doctrine than that, but as for your question, I have this to say: I heard that we had to compromise with the Equalists to avoid a revolt," the Avatar replied. "The very next day, Mako and I had to rescue his brother from Amon's torture ceremony, and then it turned out that he'd been building and stockpiling weapons with Asami's dad for at least a year. I try to resolve the feud between my dad and his brother, and it turns out Unalaq wants to merge with Vaatu and conquer the world on top of screwing over my dad. I agree to help collect the Earth Queen's taxes in exchange for her help finding the Airbenders, and it turns out she's kidnapping and enslaving them in that very city. Zaheer reaches out to me to 'learn the natural order' and it turns out that he's trying to lure me into a trap to kill me, and when that fails, he takes you hostage. What am I supposed to think?" Her audience didn't know how to respond to that. Given Korra's experiences, her skepticism of diplomacy was hardly unwarranted.
"As for Malina, Eska, and Desna, I did try to reason with them," Korra continued. "First, I had four of the Stormtroopers I taught Bending to, along one normal Stormtrooper, spar with about twenty assorted Kyoshi Warriors, and my old Earthbending teacher, Chong. They won rather easily, demonstrating that the Empire wasn't to be antagonized. Then, I sat down with Malina and the twins, and learned she planned to declare neutrality."
"What's wrong with that?" asked Bumi.
"One, in this context, it's not neutrality but secession from the Earth Nation," Korra replied. "Two, those Clone Wars you've probably heard mentioned had a multiple worlds and organizations declare neutrality, only for them to secretly be in league with the Separatist Confederacy. As a result, the Empire is always skeptical when someone declares neutrality. I tried to explain this to them, and they suggested I reveal all the secrets I know of the Empire so we could fight it better. In full view of the five Stormtroopers I had with me. At that moment, invoking the Rite was the only way to ensure they didn't do something stupid and pick a fight with the Galactic Empire. And since the twins decided to back her up, Eska and Desna were as bound to the oath as Malina. I didn't kill anyone on Kyoshi Island, nor did my friends, and I stopped both that province and the Northern Water Tribe from starting a fight that couldn't be won."
After a moment, Katara said that it was the best option in that situation. Kya didn't say anything, but she knew that if Malina did start a fight with the Imperials, she would die. Bumi remarked that maybe the Empire should stop seeing a threat in everything but replied that Malina hadn't done much to quell their concerns. Iroh and Zuko said it was the best outcome of such a duel but worried that the Rite of Kiwantiio would become more common in the days to come with Waterbenders all over the world. At that moment, Korra leaned over to Katara and spoke.
"I still value your counsel, and Tenzin and Lin's," Korra said. "I've just gained a greater perspective."
"I know, and not all my counsel will be helpful in this new world," Katara said. "Having gone into space, I do have a greater appreciation of how you are in uncharted territory and trying to find your way. Still, I wish you'd included me or Tenzin in this discussion. You might have been able to avoid the Rite." With that, Mako announced they'd soon be landing at the Western Air Temple and to buckle in.
Mizuki looked out the front of the Stinger Mantis alongside Luke and Obi-Wan, seeing them go inside a pinkish-purple nebula, with several large objects being tossed about. Then, Cal jumped to hyperspace, flying past all this debris and then emerged over a planet with a large ocean and a large continent visible on that side. As they landed, Cal explained how the only way to navigate through the maze that was the Koboh Abyss was to use the Force. "Thankfully, Tanalorr over there is right in the 'eye of the storm' so we're safe now," the red-headed man answered. As they descended into the atmosphere, Greez contacted someone on the ground, named Doma.
"We have all the supplies, and some new friends who will be staying with us," the Latero explained. As they descended, Obi-Wan couldn't help but smile at the old Jedi temple they were landing close to. The stone structure was worn, but it was still solid. After they landed, a frog-like creature named Turgle gleefully helped unload the supplies. A series of droids, some skinny and light brown, some large and silver, also helped unload the supplies. Mizuki could see Obi-Wan was wary around those droids, despite the squeaky voices of the smaller ones.
"Ooh, do we have new Jedi?" one of the droids asked, looking at Luke and Mizuki. "They look like Jedi, but only one has a lightsaber. I'm confused, oh well, back to work. Roger Roger."
"Uh, why were you ever afraid of those guys?" Mizuki asked Obi-Wan as they walked out of the Stinger Mantis, baffled that such silly machines were ever soldiers.
"Afraid would be an exaggeration," the Jedi Master replied. "But they weren't very amusing when shooting everything in their path until their masters explicitly ordered them to stop."
"Excuse me, sir, are you a Jedi Master?" a different droid, an ornate chrome machine with a woman's voice, asked. When Obi-Wan confirmed it, she gleefully introduced herself as ZN-A4. "As impressive as Master Kestis is, it is wonderful to meet an official Jedi Master in this day and age."
"You're welcome," Obi-Wan said warmly, deciding to cheer her up further by revealing he was a council member as well. "You must be the droid who led Cal and his friends here."
"Oh, I just set them on the trail," Zee sounded a little downcast. "This was where Master Santari and Master Dagan planned to build their dream academy. And perhaps raise a family. Sadly, the Nihil hurt Master Dagan, and it wasn't to be."
"Master Cal!" a young woman, roughly two years younger than Mizuki and Luke, called out to him, using a crutch for her right leg. She had light skin, black hair, and brown eyes. "I've almost healed my foot, so the next time you go out, can I come with you?"
"Of course, it's about time you start putting your training to use, Kata," Cal said. "As long as you don't do anything as crazy as that blindfold."
"Of course, master," she replied, politely but with a hint of sadness. She mentioned how Natalia's cold had calmed down, while David was as energetic as ever.
"Well, I'll help Merrin clean up after him," Cal smiled back, before introducing his and Greez's passengers.
"I've heard so much about you, Master Obi-Wan," Kata said, before smiling at Luke. "It's nice to meet you as well, Luke."
"Uh, thank you," Luke replied, with Mizuki feeling a vague dislike of Kata as a result. Kata then politely greeted Mizuki, before Cal said that, if she wanted to go on the next excursion into the galaxy, she'd have to do better in her blast deflection class. She affirmed it and stepped out of the way, allowing Cal to lead his guests through the temple to the settlement on the other side. As they went within, they saw a massive gap in the bridge over a lower level that had been filled with a metal catwalk salvaged from somewhere else.
"Was Kata trying to show off?" Luke asked as he crossed the makeshift bridge. For a moment, no one understood, and then Cal realized what Luke was asking.
"She didn't blindfold herself in here to show off, but so she wouldn't have to see the painful memory of it," Cal replied.
"Why is it a painful memory?" wondered Mizuki.
"This is where I killed her father," Cal replied, shocking his guests. "Our battle broke the bridge Kata was standing on, that day." Before Cal could continue, they heard a child's voice calling out for his daddy. Kneeling down, Cal hugged his son and picked him up. "You've been a good boy for Mama, right?"
"Just having a little fun," David told his father. David had red hair, chalk-white skin, and what looked like four tiny bumps coming out of his head, with green eyes. Soon, they saw a new figure emerging, a woman who looked the same age as Cal, wearing a black pants and jacket on top of a red shirt. She also had a black armored vest. She had an unusual dagger on her right hip, but what was most striking was her body. She had grey hair, brown eyes, chalk-white skin, and tattoos patterned on her face and hands. She was holding a sleeping little girl with grey hair, and bright orange skin, with similar bumps coming out of her scalp.
"And now, you have to clean up after your fun," the woman said to David as his father set him down. She then leaned over to kiss Cal and introduced herself as Merrin of Dathomir. Mizuki thought her accent was a little strange and coarse, but she noticed Obi-Wan seemed downright wary of Merrin. Cal then led them through the Temple's exit, and he and his wife decided to reveal more about themselves. But before they could, they saw a man waiting, wearing white armor with yellow stripes, looking at Obi-Wan.
"Cody," a surprised Obi-Wan said upon seeing him.
"General Kenobi," the man in front of them replied. "I have waited for this for many years." He then fell to his knees and looked at the Jedi Master, apologizing for what he had done, and asking for the Jedi's forgiveness. Obi-Wan told Mizuki and Luke to go ahead without him. He had unfinished business with his old clone commander.
I knew from the beginning I'd make Sozin's Comet a Kyber crystal. Big enough to power the entire Death Star superlaser. The Empire is equipping the Earth Nation Army with retrofitted Clone Wars equipment, as opposed to with current vehicles. Mako and Korra being able to summon comet-level Firebending with the crystals was also intended.
Sloane's story is more or less adapted from a novella, except Vader decided to make an educational show out of it. I know she's from Ganthel but Abreagado-Rae is far better known. Kudos to anyone who spotted the Bounty Hunter reference, which as just been Remastered. Given how he disparaged her and was going to kill her, Sloane isn't interested in why Baylo did what he did. Given how Hou-Ting was largely interested in her own vices, Kuvira's concluded she didn't really care about ruling that much.
I don't know what Huu's creation in ATLA was called, so Vine Colossus seemed like the best descriptor. Korra's parents and other Water Tribals dismiss the Swampbenders as primitive savages, while Mako heard similar claims. Their attitude hasn't been improved by their disdain for how Mako didn't formally marry Korra before they had children. So, they have decided to force change on the Swampbenders and Sandbenders, by sending them to Grand Moff Tarkin's homeworld as be indentured servants. Mako latched on to how several Swampbenders are curious of the outside world and were bullied by their parents for not being as traditional, as well as how they saved several with medicine that the Foggy Swamp didn't have and whose leaders would never accept. Their main job is to help clean the water close to Eriadu's factories. Hope you liked this example of Darth Vader rubbing off on Mako and Korra.
Korra doesn't like or trust Tarkin but understands that, for the moment, he's out of her reach. Still, never being a great believer in negotiation, she very much believes diplomacy must come with some danger. Her experiences before becoming leaving Elementia have only further convinced her. Also, given how many fake neutrals there were in the Clone Wars, it's unsurprising that many are unconvinced of neutrality's sincerity. Also, suggesting Korra betray the Empire in front of a bunch of Stormtroopers wasn't a good idea.
Tanalorr has become a growing colony, hidden from the Empire. The Stinger Mantis isn't the only ship they've flown through the abyss, though. Unsurprisingly, Kata doesn't like going in that room of the temple. Zee is happy to meet another Jedi, while the battle droids are happy to have a master who doesn't smash them to pieces out of frustration. Having watched their interactions, and how she makes an ultimatum between herself and Tanalorr, I think Dagan and Santari were a couple. I changed a few things about their story, so Dagan's fall makes a bit more sense. I tried to make Cal and Merrin's kids look like them, with their Zabrak ancestry being apparent. And of course, Commander Cody and a few other 212th Attack Legionaires have made their way there, trying to atone for their betrayal, even if it was unwilling.