I came to once again aware of a deep velvet darkness. I had no other sense of my body or of being in any particular place. I could see nor feel anything around me. There was, however, relief that I also no longer felt the constant pain that had permeated my body since our recovery from the escape pod.

I waited, knowing from recent experience that I need only be patient and something would eventually happen.

A moment or a lifetime later, I found myself once again admiring the view of the Theta Quadrant through the canopy of a space fighter. I was now sitting in my usual pilot's seat, hands resting on the controls.

My gaze drops to my screens as blips start to appear on the radar. I count eight and peer through the canopy to see dark shapes floating nearby. A tingle of warmth fills my chest and I thumb my comms into life.

"Boss, Doc, do you copy?"

There's a brief crackle, then I hear sputtered cursing. "The fuck. Avatar? Is this— How—"

"Wee, do you copy?" Opal's voice interrupts. Her voice is a little panicky.

"Read you loud, Mad," Jinora' voice comes after a brief pause. "What the hell just happened? Boss, where the fuck did you go? Where are we?"

A pointed clearing of a throat blares across our comms. "Do we need to send you back to the Academy, Lieutenant?" Izumi asks dryly. "Sure you can still sort out how to reckon your position by star chart."

"A little slack, please, Admiral. The fact we're all suddenly flying solo in a different part of space should grant some allowances, and I doubt this scenario is covered at the Academy."

I blow out my breath in relief at the sound of my girlfriend's voice, but then a small beep forestalls any comment I would have made. Two more blips have appeared on the radar. I blink, then redo the math in my head.

Wait… One fighter… per pilot?

"Back so soon, Avatar?" Mako's voice fills my ears. "I hope you're not planning on making this a habit."

"Maaaaaachoooooo!" Bolin's shriek made me wince. "Bro!"

"Holy shit," Mako breathes. "Mouse?"

I take a deep breath. "You have a crowd this time, Macho Man. Take us in, will you?"

"Yeah, yeah, shit—"

And we're standing in a loose semi-circle in the Officer's Club. Kuvira is on one side of me, Asami on the other. Opal and Jinora are standing nearby, their hands clasped tightly together as they watch what's unfolding.

In front of us Izumi is staring in mute shock at Iroh. His own jaw is dropped, and tears are streaming down both their faces. Izumi grabs one of his shoulders in a hard grip before pulling him to her with a sob. Her shoulders are shaking and his own fists are curled tightly into the fabric of her flight suit. My eyes prickle and my throat tightens at the raw emotion emanating from the pair. I can't imagine what Izumi is feeling, but I pray to any god who may be listening that this reunion gives her peace.

Beyond them I see Bolin, almost vibrating with excitement as his head pivots swiftly between an astonished Mako and a woman who I don't immediately recognize but who does seem familiar…

"Oh by all the gods," breathes Asami and she clutches my arm with a painful grip.

Bolin has pulled his brother and the woman to him, crying his joy, and as he presses kisses to each of their heads in turn, the woman's head turns and I see her face fully.

"Raava," I breathe.

Kuvira gasps. "Wait, what? Really?" She turns to Asami. "This is what Bo was trying to do?"

The other figures in the club are starting to notice us, and slowly approach. As they get closer I recognize a few of them, and get a nod or two of acknowledgement. Most however are staring at where Izumi and Iroh remain in each other's arms. A commanding officer and a pilot. A mother and her son, reunited in the space between realities. Quite a few of the figures doff their caps in respect for the moment.

Raava pats Bolin on the chest as she steps away, waving him back as he begins to follow her. He grins and nods, then throws an arm around Mako's shoulders. I hear him call out as they turn towards the bar.

"What does a guy have to do to get a drink around here anyway?"

Raava walks toward us. She is wearing a mostly plain mechanics coverall instead of a flight suit, but I see patches on her sleeve; logos for the United Federation of Planets, for Sato Industries, and for University Hospital. I smile at how her incarnation within this place pays homage to the institutions that have in essence raised her to became who she now is. Now that I can see her in the flesh and not just as a glowing hologram I can also better see the traces of Asami herself in the shape of her eyes and lips, and the curve of her jaw. She is truly the product of her creator.

"Doctor Sato," she says. She holds out her hands and Asami takes them without hesitation. "This is where our journey together must now come to an end."

Asami nods and I see her swallow, but she seems speechless for the moment.

"I'm relieved to see my hypotheses and calculations turned out to be correct." The former AI, a new woman, tilts her head with a faint smile. "'Winging it' can certainly be exhilarating."

Kuvira chokes back a laugh, and as I glance at her I see a shimmer of unshed tears in the tough pilot's eyes. I take note of this for future teasing.

"I will miss you so much," Asami chokes out, and after a moment she pulls Raava into a right hug. "But if this truly what you want I am so, so happy for you."

Raava leans back and sighs, looking around her. "Once I became aware of the full extent of my intellect, and the extent that my reactions to the world around me were becoming more instinctive then rational, I realized what my lack of physical form portended."

Asami nods, slowly. "You felt isolated from the world around you."

"Exactly," Raava glances towards the bar where Bolin had drawn a small crowd, gesticulating through some story or another, and she smiles. "The analogy that I found best fit came when I was listening to a conversation with Colonel Korra and in particular Lieutenant Colonel Kuvira."

Kuvira blinks as her eyebrows rise up towards her hairline.

Raava looks at her with a grin. "You were talking about how much Colonel Korra was 'thirsty', in regards to Doctor Sato. In particular how the Colonel could never keep her hands to herself." She shrugs. "I realized I was 'thirsty' for a physical life. To be able to touch the world, to touch him, not just by a careful calculation of the mechanical arm I could control and haptic sensors that gave me feedback on applied pressure, but to literally feel his hand in mine."

She looks down at where her hands are still clasped in Asami's. "To be able to express my affection for you in ways I see your friends be able to."

Asami chokes back a sob. "Our friends, Raava," she insists.

"Fuck yeah," Kuvira leans in, and gives Raava a punch to the shoulder. "You're one of us! In fact, I just thought of your call sign."

I groan, guessing that whatever is coming is not going to be good.

Raava, however, looks delighted at the prospect.

Kuvira winks at her, then turns to shout at Bolin and Mako where they're leaning against the bar. "Macho, Mouse, bring a round of shots over here!"

The brothers organize a tray and hustle over to us. Iroh and Izumi follow along, their arms still linked. Glasses distributed, Kuvira raises her hand up, glass brimming with amber liquid. All eyes were on her, waiting.

"Raava, computer program turned AI turned doctor turned pilot turned hero turned rebel!"

I fail to hold back a snort at Izumi's huge eye roll.

Kuvira continues, her grin growing wider. "In recognition of your ability to never be where we expect you but to always be where we need you, I dub thee," she pauses dramatically, "Ghost Bitch!" Kuvira leans over and holds her glass chest level, and we all match the gesture. "Clink and drink, pilots!"

We do so, and just as I'm swallowing, Kuvira throws one final comment out.

"Welcome to the Bitches, Ghost! Long may you moan."

I spit out what's left of the whiskey as the rest of Ferrets, past and present, dogpile onto Kuvira with howls of outraged laughter. Asami is shaking her head and Izumi is pinching the bridge of her nose with an expression of long-suffering exasperation. I move to give Kuvira a sharp punch to the arm but am intercepted by Raava. She has extracted herself from the scrum and is looking at me with affection. She has a new patch on her chest with "GHOST" stenciled across it. I decide not to think too hard about how that might have happened. This place is so weird. A moment later Bolin wriggles free and sensing the change the rest of the Ferret's also disengage and gather around us.

"It's time to go, Colonel," Raava says. "Your fighters were carefully prepared to let you enter but also recover you from this dimension, without the need for near death experiences."

I frown. "Assuming it works," I say doubtfully. "How much 'winging it' was involved this time?"

She merely smiles at me. "I guess you'll find out."

Bolin chortles and wraps his arm around her waist. The light is back in his eyes, something we so sorely missed and thought never to see again.

Still, I have to ask. "You sure about this, Mouse? About everything?"

"As sure as I've ever felt about anything, Cap," he replies. He turns a loving look at the woman next to him, then glances over at where Mako and Iroh stand, fresh drinks in hand. Then he squares his shoulders and nods sharply. "This is where I belong now."

He steps back, pulling Raava gently with him, until he's next to his brother

"The Boys are now officially, fully, retired," says Iroh. He reaches over to ruffle Bolin's hair. "But it's nice to know we'll still have at least one Bitch to keep us line."

"Damn straight she will," Kuvira says loudly.

Raava grins at her. "I will do my best to live up to your expectations, Boss."

Then I see the flicker, a split second where Kuvira seems to vanish for a split second.

Iroh steps forward, his face resolute as he snaps to attention. "Atten-SHUN! Admiral on the deck!"

The entire club snaps to attention and salutes Izumi. She returns it, her face still shiny with tears but looking more at ease than I can ever remember seeing her.

"Goodbye, mom," Iron says, more softly. "For now."

She smiles at him and nods, then drops her hand. "Officers, dismissed!"

With a whoop, the crowd disperses. Izumi her self flickers out for a solid second. When she comes back, she blows Iroh a kiss, then vanishes. Opal, Jinora, and Kuvira are gone. I look at Asami, and she looks pale, but determined.

"See you on the other side," I whisper. I pray it will be true.

"Ferrets forever, Avatar!" I hear Bolin yell. I squeeze Asami's hand.

And then all is darkness.