[AN] I am the worst, leaving you with such a long break, but I tell you I've been struggling with this story. There's three different ways this story could have gone and I honestly could not make up my mind. Can't tell you how often I rewrote this chapter.

Anyway, here you go. Finally. Hope you enjoy.

"Bo?"

I peek into the guest wing sitting area, where Bolin has been spending most of his time of late. A pai sho game sits half finished on the board, the robotic arm Asami constructed one afternoon so Raava could move her own pieces is paused over one game piece, as if she's still pondering her next move. It was a little disconcerting the first time I saw the AI use it, her holographic arm overlaid on it as she moved her pieces in response to Bolin's challenge. Raava was of course delighted to have it, admitting that it also allowed her to poke Bolin when he tried to cheat.

Somethings never change.

I squint at the board as I pass on my way to check the adjoining rooms. Not surprisingly, Bolin is getting his ass kicked. Also, the rooms are empty and there is no response to my call and I frown.

"Raava? Where are you guys?"

After a moment the hologram flickers into view. "Yes, Colonel?"

"Where's Bolin?" I gesture to the empty room. "I wanted to say goodbye before I left for our training mission." Due to Bolin's psychological state the last thing anyone wanted was to worry him about what was actually going on, though it irks me to have to lie to him. It's not how Ferrets roll.

Raava hesitates and I frown.

"Is he okay?"

"Lieutenant Bolin is in excellent health," Raava hurriedly assures me. "We are currently on a walk."

"Oh."

I pause, then say, "Can you ask him to come back? I'd like to give him a hug at least, since I'll be gone a few days." Or weeks. Hopefully not months.

The hologram's face goes blank, and I assume as she's conversing with Bolin wherever the hell he is on Asami's admittedly extensive property. Then her face takes on a pained expression.

"Lieutenant Bolin wishes to avoid what he assures me will be an overly emotional encounter, but asked me to convey to you his desire that—," she hesitates again. "You 'kick ass and take names.'"

I burst out laughing, both at Bolin's use of the familiar admonishment as well as Raava's clear discomfort at using such a plebeian colloquialism.

"Well, consider me told," I chortle. "Keep him safe, okay? And Bumi promised he'd come over and hang out as well."

"Colonel Korra," the AI informs me crisply. "I assure you Lieutenant Bolin will continue to receive the maximum possible quality of care."

I hold up my hands in apology. "No offense to your abilities, it's just something humans say to make themselves feel better when they leave a situation where they feel some responsibility." I shrug. "It's like a handoff."

She ponders this for a moment. "Such as a baton in a relay race?"

"Heh, maybe? Actually," I rub the back of my neck, already somewhat embarrassed. "You ever come across recordings of wrestling matches when you run around the global network?"

"Wrestling," she responds almost immediately. "An ancient Terran combat sport between two or more participants involving holds and throws against one's opponent towards the goal of 'pinning' said opponent's back to the ground or forcing their body outside of a specified boundary."

"Yeah, okay," I try to fumble my way through my analogy, fighting back my feeling of extreme awkwardness. "Well in some forms it's kind of like a show okay? And there are teams against each other where they take turns doing the actual fighting. When the one fighting needs help or getting ride, whatever, the new fighter 'tags in', letting the first one know they can safely step back."

The AI has a thoughtful expression. "I see. So you are suggesting that I am 'tagging in'?"

I wince. "Sorta? Maybe? I dunno. Maybe this was a dumb analogy. You know what?" I am already backing my way to the door. "Just let Bo know I'll see him soon and to take care, okay?"

I swear I hear sarcasm when she replies. "Certainly, Colonel. Consider yourself 'tagged out.'"

—

"Command, this is Valkyrie One, requesting launch clearance."

"Copy Valkyrie One, you are go for launch."

Jinora's hands are confident on the controls and I watch proudly as I lounge in the co-pilot's seat. She really has become an outstanding pilot. Around us the ship rumbles as Jinora throttles up, sending us smoothly into the air. We're moving relatively slowly until we're out of atmosphere and the annoying speed limitations of air friction, but still moving at a pretty good clip. She waits until the blue sky fades into the glittering black of space then thumbs her comm. "Valkyrie One away, command."

"Copy that, Valkyrie One, we see you on the outer sensors now."

There's a pause, then a familiar voice comes over the comm. "Commander Yatsumi will have an updated briefing for you when you reach the base on Daedalus," says Izumi. "And fly safe, Ferrets. Stay out of trouble."

Kuvira snorts as I thumb my own comm. "That's never a promise a Ferret can make, Admiral, but we'll do our best. Valkyrie out."

I can almost hear Izumi's eyes roll through the comm. "Command out."

I blow out a breath as I glance around the bridge. Asami and Wei are at the flight engineer stations, with Kuvira, Wing, and Opal strapped into some of the jump seats at the rear of the bridge. I already miss the fact there's no ready room on this ship compared to the one we used against the VAATU AI and the Fire Nation zombies, nor is there a big hanger or sickbay, instead just four launch tubes and a pull out medi-bed in the galley. But this ship is also smaller, faster, more maneuverable, and a capable of a lot more sneaking around. I suspect we'll find the trade offs more than acceptable before this mission is over.

I tilt my head at the ceiling. "Raava, you all settled in?"

"Insofar as I understand your question, I am fully enabled on this vessel Colonel Korra," the AI replies.

"Good to see Raava gets the whole colloquialism thing now," Kuvira drawls. "And I and everyone else who have not drawn first watch should go hit the sack." She pokes a threatening finger at Opal. "And no funny business, Mad."

Opal takes on an expression of wounded disbelief as she climbs into the co-pilots seat while the rest of us snicker. She waves us out the door with her middle finger raised.

"Bitch," Kuvira comments, though her face shows her amusement.

"Forever and always," Opal and Jinora singsong back.

Asami cracks up.

—

Six days later saw us approaching our destination. My appreciation for Future Industries technology, already immense, has officially climbed into the stratosphere; it should have taken us over ten days to get here. I am seriously in love with these engine mods.

I am less in love the with air of insufferable smugness emanating from Asami and the twins for the past three days.

"Daedalus base, come in," Kuvira intones into her comm. "This is patrol ship Valkyrie One, requesting landing coordinates."

There's a loud burst of static and I blink in surprise. Kuvira glances over at me, my sense of concern mirrored on her face as she repeats her hail.

"Daedalus base, this is Valkyrie One, come in."

This time there is only silence.

Kuvira frowns. "Raava, anything on the scanners?"

"Commencing scans," Raava responds.

Having the AI on the crew is a such a blessing — she never gets sleepy and with her helping out we are able to operate in three shifts rather than two. In a pinch she can even fly the ship herself though we hope to avoid that as last ditch scenario. A scenario sort of like when Asami almost killed herself setting off an EMP inside a dreadnaught around the same time a Fire Nation fleet of zombies tried attacking the Terran home world.

I really didn't want a repeat of anything remotely close to that scenario.

"Let's get everybody up," I say as I sound the alarm. "Time to get to work."

General quarters blares through the corridors and a few minutes later everyone is assembled, just in time for Raava's report.

"Scanning complete. Daedalus Three shows extensive damage centered around a large human settlement that corresponds to the location of the mining colony and adjoining military base. I see at least three sensor readings of decomposing plasma engines, suggesting damaged or destroyed deep space capable ships."

"Fucking shit on a stick," Kuvira breathed. "The bombardment device?"

I glance at Asami. Her green eyes are narrowed and her jaw is tight with anger.

"Evidence supports that supposition, Lieutenant Colonel Kuvira."

Raava's ability to detect social clues has not yet enabled her to detect Kuvira's hatred of being addressed by her rank but thankfully the radio suddenly crackles to life before she can respond.

"Hello? Hello?" There's another blast of static and several loud thumps. "Dammit Ling, hold that antenna higher!"

I lean over and flip the comm back on. "Daedalus base, this is patrol ship Valkyrie One, do you copy."

"Oh thank fuck," the voice on the other end blasts. "You guys sure got here quickly. We only sent out the distress beacon three days ago!"

I exchange glances with Kuvira. She's shaking her head with a frown. "We received no distress call, Daedalus. We were just in the neighborhood."

We hear a raspy cough and some murmured discussions. "Better keep a sharp lookout then, Valkyrie," the voice advises. "There's a crazy fucker out there with some big fucking bombs."

"Yeah, no shit." I sigh. "Raava, any signs of active ships in this sector?"

The AI responds immediately. "There is nothing in range at this time, Colonel Korra."

I look over my shoulder. "Wee, Mad, time to get some fighters launched. Twins, on the guns."

I get a round of "Copy that" and "Aye, Skipper" before they depart. I motion to Asami to get herself strapped in as I slide into the co-pilot's seat. Before us the large green and blue ball that is Daedalus Three grows in the viewports.

"Here we go," I mutter under my breath then thumb my conn back on. "Deadalus, please pass us something close to reasonable landing coordinates. We're coming in."

"Copy that Valkyrie, stand by."

Wei's voice suddenly blares over the speaker. "Gun One to Bridge, come in. We've got a problem."

Kuvira's eyebrows raise as I reply. "Go ahead Gun One."

There's a pause, then Wei says more slowly. "I think you better come down here, Skipper."

I frown, but climb out of my seat and head down the corridor, Asami on my heels. She runs into me as I come to a shocked halt. A familiar form is leaning against the wall, the open hatch to the equipment bay behind him. Through the hatch I can see a sleeping bag and piles of discarded food wrappers amidst the cases of ammunition, food, and other supplies. I cross my arms as I turn to face our interloper, biting back the fury building in my chest. I glance at Asami who looks utterly shocked.

"Bolin! What in all the holy hells are you doing here?!"