Tenzin had arrived at the URN capitol building. He was ushered into a meeting with the president, which had Asami Sato already present. "So, you are finished welcoming Vader's minions into your temple," asked Raiko. "I'm surprised at you, Tenzin. I didn't think you'd be so trusting of them, especially with your children."
"I trust Korra," Tenzin said. "She trusts these people enough to guard her own children, and she'd never endanger me or my family. They themselves saved us from the Hutt attack on the Southern Air Temple, and the explosion they set off, so they have earned some of my trust."
"I heard a rumor that half of them are children themselves, and you still think they are enough to protect your family?" a bewildered Northern Waterbender councilor asked.
"My parents and four friends of theirs managed to end a century long war largely on their own over the course of a year while they were between the ages of twelve and seventeen," Tenzin replied. "Korra and her own friends saved the world three times before she turned nineteen. So what if four of the two hundred soldiers are aged fifteen to seventeen? They managed to defeat Zaheer, for one thing. If there is one thing I've learned over the last two and a half years, it's that children are far more capable than we give them credit for."
"And they never cease reminding us, either," Raiko said, annoyed at how many times Korra had boasted of her successes at him, and conveniently ignoring how most of the time, she was vindicated. "So, if you are looking for something to help with, we need some sky bison to fly more food and medicine, in. One of the Hutt ships crashed into the main entrance to the harbor, and with most of the farmland over the mountains up in smoke, we're having trouble bringing in supplies. Especially with the railway still severed by Unalaq after he merged with Vaatu."
"I can do that," Tenzin affirmed. "I will do my best to fly in supplies. In addition, I think it is time you ended Korra's exile." Several of the councilors agreed to that idea, remembering how Tenzin and Korra were often proven right despite the misgivings of others. Raiko, however, was far more hesitant.
"Why?" he asked. "She seems to prefer the company of her Imperial friends, anyway."
"Well, she did come to save this city while her exile was still in effect," one of the Firebending councilors said. "Saving all of us despite having no obligation to speaks well of her."
"What of her betrayal?" an angered Earthbending councilor challenged. "She joined the Obsidian Knight!"
"Saving herself on a different planet isn't a betrayal, and without Vader, she never would have arrived to save us, as well," Asami noted. The belligerent councilor was about to snap at her, but Tenzin stared him down before he could threaten the young industrialist.
"Many people are saying I pardoned Darth Vader because I am a coward afraid he would kill me if I didn't," Raiko began. "I'm not, as he is an innocent man, and to pursue a vendetta against him is as futile as it is dangerous." Tenzin understood this wasn't Raiko outlining his beliefs, but his political strategy when asked about this. If Raiko admitted he did so out of fear, he'd be undermining himself. As such, he couldn't back away from his decision to pardon the murderer of Avatar Aang. "If I withdraw my edict against Korra, it will be seen as further evidence of my cowardice," he continued. At that moment, Tenzin decided to use his own political know-how to get his way.
"There is a problem with that, however," Tenzin said. "Korra is the Avatar, which means her observance of local edicts and laws are entirely optional. After all, removing rulers who oppose the Avatar from power is something my own father did. She has no reason to respect or fear you, so sooner or later, she will come to Republic City."
"And kill every policeman obliged to stop her?" a disbelieving councilor asked.
"Many of them are starting to think that, if they followed Korra to begin with, their lives might be far easier," the Airbender continued. "Many others would rightfully be wary of a fight with the Avatar. And those that challenge her, who is to say she would kill them? A light slash from a lightsaber would be enough for many to pass out, believe me, I know, and if that's not enough, she could cut off a hand. Perhaps she would even use the Avatar's power of depriving others of their Bending."
"And undoing her exile would stop that?" asked Raiko.
"Yes, and it would lead her to give you the benefit of the doubt and listen to your concerns," Tenzin continued. "Also, given her power, she would be a great help in repairing the damage to our city and its people." Raiko's mind was pondering what Tenzin said. He'd been dismissive of Korra the entire time he'd known her, but he was well aware of her power. Now, she had an alien warlord behind her, who had taught her a mantra of embracing passion and destroying obstacles, from what Vader had said of the Sith Code. And if he waited too long, she'd likely show up purely to show how he had no power over her, and he'd lose even the illusion of authority he needed to stay in charge. Still, he wondered how he could justify his acquiescence to the public. At that moment, Asami Sato spoke up.
"Korra and Mako have been in outer space longer than anyone else on our world," the inventor began. "They know how the galaxy works better than anyone we have. In addition, I am afraid my father and I have hit a snag."
"What do you mean?" the president asked.
"Mr. President, this technology you've tasked me to salvage and study, I didn't know it even existed until the Hutts came," Asami continued. "Several workers have nearly died, either because they handled it improperly, or because it was damaged, half the time we aren't sure which is the case. The materials it is made from, I don't know if it is an ore or an alloy. The same goes for the power sources, as well. My employees and I might as well be stone masons from a thousand years ago trying to make sense of an airplane. We need someone who understands this technology to guide us. Short of an Imperial from another world, Korra and Mako are our best hope to do so." Raiko seized onto that rationalization, and went to a radio booth before the other councilors could offer counterarguments.
After Korra finished her lunch, she asked Narook how things had been in her absence. He went on to explain how he'd managed to keep the business afloat through everything. "Just so you know, I always believed you when you said Unalaq was everyone's problem," the restauranter said, before noticing the necklace she was wearing. "So, you and Mako have finally married."
"Yeah," Korra said. "After all we went through, here, and across the stars, along with having two kids, there wasn't a reason to wait any longer."
"Still, I would have appreciated a warning about gangsters from space," he said. "I would have listened, even if Raiko said not to."
"Well, even I make mistakes," Korra replied, hearing a car drive up. Looking out, she saw six police cars with roughly twenty Metalbender cops clambering out, half of them looking eager for blood, but the other ten were more divided. She could sense admiration for her from several of them, while the others were noticeably afraid of the prospect of fighting her, even if they did disagree with Korra's actions. The leader walked in and stared at Korra, looking half disgusted with her, and half pleased with himself.
"Miss Korra of the Southern Water Tribe," he smugly stated, far too pleased with himself, deliberately saying Miss and her nationality instead of the title Avatar. "You were warned that if you returned to the United Republic of Nations, you would be arrested."
"I know you, you're Tang, one of the cops I restored Bending to after I handled Amon," Korra said, dismissive of his attempts to act tough.
"Call it even, after you did this," he said, pointing to a series of scars on his face. "Don't you remember? You slammed me into a wall of ice while fleeing arrest, your first day here."
"You should be thankful that's all you suffered for picking a fight with the Avatar," Korra retorted, standing up from her table. "Besides, you were just angry I handled those gangsters instead of you."
"And all the damage you inflicted," Tang challenged. "Also, it is Sergeant Tang to you."
"This makes me think of a very important lesson my father taught me," Narook said. "When there is a fight, it does matter who started it. Otherwise, no one would be allowed to defend themselves or others. Korra was defending that shopkeeper, and the damage occurred because the Triple Threat attacked her. You pulled on Korra's hair while she was leaving, and she erected an ice wall to stop you. Unalaq merged with a spirit monster and rampaged through Republic City, just as Korra warned, and the Avatar did the best she could to stop him as that was happening. Similarly, any damage she inflicted on the city when she returned to our world, was her saving us from alien monster people and their pets."
"Is that supposed to impress me, old man?" Tang asked, completely missing the point.
"No, it shows that, if you pick a fight with one of my customers, I'll hold you responsible for the damage instead of Korra for defending herself," Narook stated.
"Just by being here, she is breaking the law!" another cop yelled, walking in.
"I never believed Raiko's lies about how everything is Korra's fault," Narook said, before turning to Korra as he walked out the back. "Have fun with these fools, Korra." With that, Korra drew both her lightsabers and ignited them. Tang went from looking full of himself to outright disgust at the reminder she'd accepted the friendship of Darth Vader. The officers who were scared chose to run away at that moment, while the angry ones rushed forward with their Metalbent cables unhooked.
"Drop those toys of yours, or we'll beat you bloody!" one of the angry policemen said.
"Get out of my way, or you'll feel their sting!" Korra threatened. After what Zaheer tried to do to her, Korra would never surrender to anyone else, ever again. Certainly not to these stupid little men.
"You have five seconds!" Tang commanded, as if Korra was someone he could handle. "One, Two, Thr-""Sergeant, stand down!" another officer, a Lieutenant, ordered, backed up by the officers Korra could sense were on her side. Korra recognized this one, another of the debent cops she had healed named Seong. "Seriously, how dumb are you, Tang? Picking a fight with someone you couldn't beat before who's only gotten stronger?"
"If she resists, we can do whatever is necessary against her!" Tang yelled, not acknowledging his superior.
"And she's the Avatar with alien technology and Bending skills," Seong replied. "Besides, no one was trying to arrest her when she was saving everyone from those Hutt-creatures and their pets. If she obeyed that decree then we'd be dead." Before Tang could respond, someone else charged in and went to the radio at the bar. After it was turned on, they heard a speech from President Raiko.
"After much deliberation, I ask Avatar Korra to meet with me to discuss the future of our world," the president's voice began, trying to sound resolute. "As such, I rescind the command that Korra, Princess of the South Pole and our world's Avatar, remain outside the borders of the United Republic of Nations, and to meet with me in the Capitol Building as soon as possible."
"Well, it looks like we have no reason to be here," Lieutenant Seong said, before turning to Korra with a smile. "Glad to have you back."
"Glad to be back," Korra smiled back at the police who appreciated her. The others grit their teeth at how Korra was now beyond their reach, but the Avatar ignored them as she went to the door.
"You know, I was hoping that your time away would have improved your attitude in comparison to our first meeting," Tang said as Korra walked out.
"My attitude was fine, everyone else just denied it," Korra said. "That is what Darth Vader taught me when it came to people like you." She would never humor those who tried to bully her with their titles or meaningless accolades ever again. With that, she headed back to Air Temple Island to see if those White Lotus members had thawed, yet. She'd also look up Asami and see what the inventor was doing.
After Mako accepted his badge back from the chief, Saikhan challenged him over the Sith Code. Mako decided to answer honestly.
"I'm a Firebender, Deputy Chief," he said. "The man every Firebender was taught to look up to defied his society's norms, rejected what he was raised to believe, turned on his horrible father, and pursued his own goals with the help of foreigners he was taught to hate. He then ascended to the throne by proving his superiority over his main rival. I'd say I'm following in his footsteps."
"Fire Lord Zuko rejected the ideals of anything being acceptable as long as you won," another policeman said.
"As do the Sith," Mako replied calmly. "Regardless of your own beliefs of right and wrong, if your victory doesn't prove anything, it means nothing. I managed to shoot lightning into Amon's chest while being Bloodbent because Korra was in danger. My passion, not introspection, gave me strength in that moment."
"Well said, Mako," Lin stated, pleased to hear that the creed he now followed was something she could get behind. "I'd like to talk to you in private, now." With that, Mako followed the chief into her office.
"Ma'am, I had an idea for investigation I was going to pitch to you before Korra and I were pushed into the portal," he said. "Please, let me explain it before you hand out an assignment."
"Actually, there is something you need to do before returning to work, but okay Mako, what's your idea?" the Metalbender police chief asked.
"Some time ago, you saw Zolt flaunt his wealth, to which he said it came from his furniture store," Mako began. "You doubted that he could afford all those fancy cars and going to expensive restaurants, once a week, by selling chairs. I was thinking, 'why not prove he can't afford it with the job he claims?'"
"Why, when it won't prove he's..." Lin began, before she started thinking. "Oh, it might not prove he's a murderer, extortionist, or a drug dealer. But it will prove he isn't paying his fair share. I doubt the tax bureau will be happy about that. Even if it's only three years for lying on his taxes, he could finally be sent to prison. Might take a while, though, but it's worth a try." Before she could continue, however, the door was opened, and Lieutenant Shen had some news. Korra had stopped the Triple Threat Triad from extorting a relief center. Unlike her first time fighting them, however, Korra had killed the three main enforcers of the gang, along with several other members. After hearing the report, Lin rubbed her forehead in frustration, reminded of how much Korra could annoy her.
"She couldn't even wait until her exile was over," the police chief said. "As if getting it overturned wasn't hard enough." She told Mako to stay at the station and they would continue this talk later. Mako decided to occupy himself in the training room. Deciding to change things up, he yanked one of the rubber dummies with the Force close to him and blasted it with his flames. He then jetted across the room with his Fire Jets and struck several more with his lightsaber. As it was set to training mode, the dummies stayed intact, though after he was finished, he saw Saikhan scowling at the sight.
"It's an effective weapon, and I've been trained to use it," Mako said. "You don't expect me to forget everything I learned out in space, do you?"
"I'd expect you to remember what you learned before then, as well, Detective," the displeased deputy chief said, referencing how many officers had been hurt or killed with Vader's lightsaber.
"My parents were killed by a Firebender," Mako stated. "I don't have a problem Firebending, or anyone else doing so. Why should I scowl at using a lightsaber? There is no rule against it on the books, after all."
"If you have to ask that, you can't understand," Saikhan stated, before holding out a piece of paper. It was a solicitation for money to the widows and orphans of fallen officers. "The funeral for the officers we lost when the aliens attacked is tomorrow. The department requests that any officers off duty to attend. And you will be off duty, Mako, given the changes that are now in place."
"Well, Saikhan, there are several things on my plate," the Firebender replied. "Figuring out where my kids will stay, how to protect them, clearing things up with my father's family, following whatever new procedure is now necessary to return to work. Going to a circus where Lu, Gang, and the other bullies are made out to be great heroes everyone will miss isn't a concern. If some friends of mine did die, I'd go, but everyone on that list is either a stranger or someone I'm better off without."
"You filthy, ashmaking mutt!" Saikhan gritted his teeth. "They were your brothers on the force, you should-""Saikhan, you will stop bothering me," Mako interrupted with a Mindtrick. Initially, the Deputy Chief resisted, but said it more forcefully, and after some initial difficulty, Saikhan mindlessly repeated what Mako had said. The racist was more resistant to persuasion, but far from immune, like Mako suspected Lin was. Saikhan followed Mako's order to have a whiskey and drive his car into the bay. Mako would have settled for making Saikhan stop bothering him but insulting both his Bending and mixed heritage was too much to ignore. As Mako walked out, he heard over the radio President Raiko rescind Korra's exile from the URN. It was nice to know Tenzin had finally come through on the bureaucratic front. An officer he liked, her name was Mei, said the chief had left a message. She'd be joining him and Korra at Air Temple Island for dinner, and to discuss some important things with them. With that, Mako left the police station, and decided to look up Asami.
Bumi and Kya thanked Boba for the ride as they transferred over to the Hound's Tooth. As they settled in, Bossk explained more about the people who would be helping them. Raith Sienar was an extremely wealthy inventor and businessman who, after the rescue of his own daughter by the Elementals, had agreed to help them find Mizuki. To help them, he'd also hired the Aurodium Sword, a security/mercenary company.
"What do you know about this band?" asked Kya.
"Band?" asked Bossk. "This isn't some gang of thugs, but professional soldiers. They have a corporate office on Lianna, several training facilities for clients who can afford it, and some surplus ships to transport them."
"Oh, I didn't think you meant that sort of company," the Waterbender replied.
"As for your question, they were started up by an elite clone squad who decided to work for themselves after the Empire rose from the ashes of the Republic," the Trandoshan continued. "One of them had married a former senator he'd saved, Riyo Chuchi of Pantora, and she was one of their first big investors. That, and their successes, have made Aurodium Sword very prestigious, and they are now the main security force for both the Sienar company and the family itself. You hear rumors of how they do dirty deeds for their employers, as well, but those have never been definitely proven." Bumi noticed how Bossk sounded as if he believed those rumors but didn't say anything. With the course to Lianna laid in, they made the jump to lightspeed.
"So, what exactly can you tell me about Cad Bane?" asked Bumi, rubbing the side where the Duros Bounty Hunter had stabbed him.
"He is very good at his job," Bossk said. Kya noted how Boba seemed to have a personal feud with Bane. "When Bane was still fairly new, he kept competing with Jango Fett. But before they could have any great confrontation, Jango was beheaded in some Geonosian arena by a Jedi named Windu. Bane was unhappy that he'd never managed to prove he was better, so, he inserted himself into Boba's life and started playing mentor to him. So that one day, he could finally challenge Boba in place of his father."
"Wait, he trained someone just to kill him later?" a shocked Kya asked. "In order to test himself?"
"Yeah," Bossk confirmed. "Most people would be rather bothered by that and be unable to follow through. But Bane has no principles, apart from a slight distaste for underhandedness. His only close relationship is his droid assistant Todo, who he's frequently sacrificed before bringing back with a copy of the droid's mind. He freely admitted that, as long as he gets paid, it doesn't matter what he's hired to do. In fact, he seems disgusted with other people who don't live by such an approach."
"Boba acted as if Bane had a talent for escaping justice," Bumi said, troubled by the description of Cad Bane. "I take it this is more than just outrunning Hunters chasing a price on his head."
"You are correct," the Trandoshan confirmed. "Shortly after the end of the Clone Wars, Palpatine issued a pardon for many bounty hunters, mercenaries, and others who had either fought for the Confederacy or at least taken advantage of the war for money."
"What?" asked Kya. "I'm guessing Bane and those others killed a lot of people during the war and fought against what would become the Empire. Why the hell would they be pardoned?"
"There are patriots, there are fanatics, and then there are professionals," Bossk said. "For all that Bane has done, he is a professional. He follows no creed or cause higher than the almighty credit. He took the money of the Separatists to do certain things for them...and that was his only investment in their cause. That was the case for many people who signed on with the Seps."
"So that gives them a free pass?" an incredulous Kya asked.
"To an extent," the Trandoshan answered. "Bane stopped attacking Imperial targets, as there was no profit in it, and laid low for a while, just like other such professionals. About six months into the Empire's reign, the Emperor issued a conditional pardon for Bane and those like him. They would reveal what they knew of Separatist remnants, and then get on with their lives." Bumi thought that made some sense, but it was still a little strange from his perspective. "Bane wouldn't keep fighting for a lost cause like the diehard Seps, along with the new terrorists and fools popping up," Bossk continued. "There is no sense in sending people to their deaths after someone who doesn't believe in the cause of tearing down all you worked for, after all. But if you keep treating him the same way as those madmen, he might commit to their cause, since it's his only safe haven. Besides, this way you can hire him for your dirty laundry, as well."
Kya and Bumi were rather baffled. On one hand, it made sense to remove a reason for someone to oppose you. In addition, Palpatine pardoning Bane so that Imperial forces wouldn't be under the obligation of arresting the renegade, thereby tying up resources and risking lives for no benefit, was the same justification for Raiko pardoning Vader. On the other hand, Bane was clearly a dangerous individual, without conscience or weakness, who had kept doing horrible things for money and perhaps his own amusement. It seemed likely that, even then, people understood that about Bane, so why would he be given a pardon? Bossk had also implied Bane took jobs from the Empire on occasion.
"So, what would you say the worst thing Bane has ever done is?" asked Kya. "Because it sounds as if Boba is afraid Bane will bargain for a pardon, again, perhaps the secret for why he is now an Airbender. I'd like to know exactly what this guy has gotten away with."
"I'm going to take that as 'most infamous thing' instead of most evil thing," Bossk replied. "Early in the war, Jabba the Hutt's son was kidnapped. In a rare moment of caring for someone else, Jabba reached out to both sides and offered a great reward for the rescue of Rotta: the right to travel through Hutt Space, letting whichever warring faction to reach their destinations in that part of the galaxy easier." Bossk went on to explain how Ziro, Jabba's uncle, had conspired with Count Dooku as part of the kidnapping. Rotta was rescued, and the plot was exposed, resulting in the Republic getting rewarded even further.
"What's this have to do with Bane?" asked Bumi.
"I'm getting to that," Bossk said. "About a year after Ziro was imprisoned, Bane decided to break him out. Some say Ziro had hired him to do so, others say the Hutt Council was worried about a blackmail stash the imprisoned traitor had hidden away. Whatever the case, Bane decided that the prison itself was too secure to break into, so he came up with a different approach."
"What different approach?" asked Bumi.
"Early one day, as Senators prepared for a session that evening, Bane and a handpicked team went to the Senate building," Bossk continued. "They proceeded to murder every guard on duty, that day, before taking about a dozen senators hostage, one of which Bane killed for not taking the situation seriously. They sabotaged the security system and issued an ultimatum to extort Ziro's release. The only way to save the senators, was to comply with Bane's demand. After he fled with Ziro, he set off the bomb he left behind anyway, and the remaining senators only survived because a Jedi cut a hole in the floor."
"And Bane got away with that?" a shocked Bumi asked. "Is Ziro free, as well?"
"No," Bossk replied. "Ziro turned up dead shortly afterward, on a foggy jungle world hiding his father's tomb. Ziro was never sentimental, like that, so I think that's where his blackmail stash was. Funny enough, Bane denied killing him, disparaging the murder as 'sloppy.' But now you know what Cad Bane has done. Do you think that being hired for a slave raid/revenge mission on an uncharted world outside the Empire's borders is a step too far? Or that he can cut a deal with some intelligence analyst who wants a quick path to answering why he can Airbend?"
Bumi and Kya were inclined to say 'no' to Bossk's question. At that moment, Kya suspected Bane had a blackmail stash of his own, if he could get away with what she'd heard. After their first hyperspace jump, something started beeping and Bossk went to the console.
"Well, we're going to be delayed from Lianna, for a bit," Bossk told his passengers. "A distress signal has been picked up." He proceeded to alter course, as well as power up the weapons. "Pirates have made a habit of setting traps with distress calls." With that, Bumi and his sister strapped in as the Hound's Tooth headed for the ship claiming to be in trouble.
Mizuki led Luke to the lake, and saw him take off his shirt, showing much of his torso was rather pale, having been protected from the gaze of the twin suns. He spent more time tinkering with machines than outright exercising, but he was still fairly fit. Mizuki, rather flirtatiously, took off her shirt and pants in front of her blond friend.
"This should keep your attention, during the lesson," she said. Mizuki had trained for most of her life how to Firebend, and frequently swam for fun. She knew most boys found her attractive, regardless of her royal title. Letting her black hair fall to her shoulders, she stretched before entering the water. Cal, who was helping in his son's swimming lesson, smirked at the sight of Luke blushing at the pretty girl in front of him.
For the next hour, Mizuki put her arms over Luke's and guided him through the water. While demonstrating her own strokes, she bumped into a small fish-man, wearing a suit which kept him encased in water while outside the lake, and spoke in an accent vaguely similar to the one used by so many Imperials. His, however, was far harder to discern.
"Look out, you lovebirds!" the little fish-man said. "You nearly smashed my haggis!" They apologized, not knowing what haggis was, and moved to the other side of the pond. After half an hour, Luke thanked Mizuki for teaching him.
"Hopefully, I can show you around Ember Island, one day," she replied, hugging him from behind. Luke smiled, and then realized her breasts were pressing against his shoulder blades. As good as it felt, he wasn't sure how to feel about it and turned around. At that moment, she kissed him softly. This was too much for a teenager who'd never even gone on a date before, and he grabbed her hips in response. After a minute, however, Luke stopped.
"Mizuki, I..." he began. "I've never known a girl interested in me. I...I do like you. But we've only just met." He then climbed out of the pond and began drying himself before putting his clothes back on. He didn't mention how, upon hearing of the Jedi's tradition of avoiding close relationships, he wasn't sure how to react to Mizuki. Cal, however, knew that was a reason, as he'd struggled with that while falling in love with Merrin. Thankfully, Mizuki was patient and wouldn't force the issue with Luke, just yet.
Asami had finished a long day of work. At the moment, no one was sure exactly where to house her father, so he'd be staying in a cell at RCPD headquarters, for the time being. She said goodbye to him and the other engineers tasked to help her work on the alien technology left after the battle and returned home. Upon arriving, she was about to play her recorder to see if there were any new messages, when she saw Mako walk in front of her. Asami hadn't known he was there.
"I thought I would surprise you," the Firebender smiled in front of her.
"Well, Dad's current status is a bit up in the air, so you didn't have to sneak in to see me," the beautiful inventor replied.
"I'm not ready to reveal the full extent of our relationship," Korra said, revealing herself, holding a small suitcase. Inside was Korra's most formal dress, along with Mako's own suit. "Lin is coming to Air Temple Island for dinner, so I figured we'd get dressed here, after a shower. If it's not too much bother, Asami."
"Of course not," she smiled at the Water Tribal and Firebender. "I'll be joining you there, as well, so I need a shower, too. Tenzin should look at getting a shower installed on Air Temple Island, though." The shower in the guest room was working, and as much as Mako and Korra would like to share it with Asami, they understood it wasn't big enough for three people. After they finished showering, however, Mako decided to surprise Asami by waiting in her bedroom. Of course, since they didn't have to dress up for this dinner with only close friends, using the shower had just been an excuse.
When Asami came out, wearing her towel, she was surprised to see both Mako and Korra sitting on her bed, both completely naked. Both the man, and the woman, she loved walked up to her. As Mako came up behind her, Korra went to Asami's front.
"Look, I don't regret what we did after your wedding, but..." Asami began, before Mako started licking the back of her neck. She felt his length press against her from behind as Korra came from the front, her huge breasts exposed to Asami, before making an Airbending motion which snatched the businesswoman's towel away. Unlike before, Korra took more time to appreciate how Asami had improved herself. Her arms and legs were much thicker in muscle, her abs were far better defined, and her breasts were much larger.
"I've had enough of holding myself to the standards of others," Korra said, remembering the Sith Code.
"Denying my passions has only hurt me, as well," Mako said, leaning up to Asami's ear. He then grasped her left breast, causing Asami to moan in pleasure. Korra took the initiative and began licking her womanhood. The feeling of the two sensations drove Asami to ecstasy.
"Ask us to stop, and we will," Mako whispered. Instead, Asami grabbed his manhood and began rubbing it, deeply pleasuring him. Asami turned around and began licking his scrotum, while Korra massaged Asami's breasts. Standing up, Asami looked at Mako with longing in her eyes.
"I want my children to be Firebenders," Asami said to her now-not-Ex boyfriend, before turning to her new girlfriend. "I think they'll adore their second mommy, the unstoppable Avatar." With that, Korra flipped Asami around and kissed the second woman, as Mako entered her from behind. As he kept pounding, Asami began kissing Korra's right breast, while Korra kissed her husband. Soon, Asami turned around and kissed Mako, silencing their moans. When they couldn't hold their breath, any longer, they broke the kiss as Korra grasped Asami's breasts while grinding her own against her shoulder blades. Asami's walls slammed shut, and the pressure Mako felt rose. Without hesitation, he exploded, blasting his essence deep inside her.
As Mako collapsed on top of her in exhaustion, Asami cried tears of joy as she felt her womb flooded with his virile seed. Korra smiled at the sight: they had come to ensure Asami would stand by them and had now succeeded. Korra had initially been mistaken the first morning after their Triad had been created. She wasn't sure if Mako had impregnated Asami, this time, but they'd succeed, sooner or later, and Korra would love Asami's children as her own, just as Asami loved Korra's own babies. Looking at the time, they saw they had one and a half hours until their dinner/conference at Air Temple Island. Plenty of time to clean up, again. Perhaps this time, Korra would be in Asami's shower.
After fishing Saikhan's car out of the bay, Lin looked over and saw the deputy chief passed out, smelling of alcohol. She'd have to remind him of the new city ordinance against driving while drunk. Afterward, Lin arrived on Air Temple Island and was greeted by Katara. When asked where the White Lotus members were, Katara revealed they were gone for the time being. Apparently, one of them had said something which set Korra off, and she'd frozen them as punishment. After they thawed on their own, Pema had convinced them to leave the island and come back tomorrow, when Korra's temper had cooled. Just then, Asami Sato's motorboat came up to the dock, with Mako and Korra inside.
"Were you trying to recreate your first day in Republic City, today?" an exasperated Lin asked Korra.
"It wasn't my fault Viper and the other two stooges were up to their old tricks," Korra replied. "And hey, I made sure to confine our fight below ground, this time." Tenzin had been annoyed that Korra had left the island before he'd managed to get her exile revoked, but after hearing Pema explain what the White Lotus members had done to set her off, he couldn't blame Korra for feeling angry. Lin, however, was rather bothered by how Korra had resisted arrest.
"I saw it in their eyes, they wanted me dead," Korra said. "If I surrendered, they'd say I tried to escape and then kill me."
"They wouldn't dare," Lin said, before remembering how, the last time someone demanded Korra surrender, they wanted to kill her and draw out her pain. Perhaps Korra wasn't entirely over the Red Lotus's attempt, if she thought any surrender might end the same way. "You can't deal with every situation the same way as Zaheer."
"I wasn't going to take the chance of Tang trying the same," Korra answered. "Besides, unlike with the Red Lotus or Equalists, I wouldn't have killed them if he did attack. I'd just make some surface cuts with my lightsabers."
"I will make it clear there will be no hassling of you, to the department," the chief said, before turning to Mako, and revealing there was a mass funeral for the fallen officers, tomorrow.
"I'll be there," Mako replied. "For you, not for Lu, Gang, or anyone who died that day."
"I know," Lin said to the Firebender who looked up to her like a mother. "Also, after you settle in, there is someone you should meet." Lin went on to explain there was a new department staff member, a therapist. Mako had killed numerous people before he was sent flying across the galaxy, and Lin doubted the Empire had done anything to help him process it properly. Mako said how he needed to connect with his grandmother and her family, again, who he hadn't talked to since Darth Vader unveiled himself. In addition, though, Mako was more than a little hesitant to reveal his secrets and thoughts to someone he didn't know.
"He needs to keep what you say in confidence," Lin said. "That's the only way it works. He kept Kai's experiences offworld, secret, so he won't reveal your experiences, either."
"I get the feeling several people will pressure him to reveal our secrets, anyway," Korra said. Tenzin then brought up how, after her banishment had been ended, Korra would have to help Asami and others learn the secrets of alien technology. "Happy to do it," the Avatar said. "As long as it isn't to build some weapon Raiko thinks can challenge the Empire."
"I doubt that," Asami says. "For all his bad decisions, he understands fighting the Empire is a bad idea."
"Good," Mako said. "Also, I'm guessing Zhou and others will demand I reveal a bunch of secrets. I didn't tell Vader where to find anyone's diary, so I won't reveal what he said in private to me. Like that therapist is supposed to."
"Of course," Katara said, before turning to Korra. "Now that the White Lotus is absent, I think it's time you explain what you intend to do regarding them."
"I will be satisfied if Saigo stays out of my way," Korra said, using the Grand Lotus's name. "It is the most I can expect from the typical White Lotus member. But I suspect he or the others will try something. Perhaps drag me to some isolated cell and lock me in until I accept their ideas and fight the Empire. Maybe they want to replace me and think they can raise the next Avatar to fight Vader."
"Korra, I understand that they have done much to incur your distrust," Katara said. "But the White Lotus I know would never do either. You should give them the benefit of the doubt. Let me set up a meeting with him and the other elders. They might surprise you." Korra was hesitant but agreed, with some precautions she would make.
"What exactly do you plan if a White Lotus member does something against you?" asked Tenzin.
"They share a uniform, so I think they should share the punishment," Korra replied.
"We aren't in the business of guilty by association," Katara said.
"Well, the Dai Li leader betrayed his king, and the rest of the agency went unpunished," Korra replied. "They joined their country's sworn enemy and inflicted your worst defeat."
"The Dai Li were a government agency," Lin brought up. "The White Lotus are an international fraternity of scholars. Some have lost their way, perhaps, but the actions of one lodge, or even the Grand Lotus, do not extend to the whole organization."
"And if Saigo, or one lodge, betrays us, how should we respond?" Mako asked. "We can't just assume Saigo is a one-off, like Kuei did of Long Feng."
"Have your Imperial friends step up surveillance of the others," Tenzin said as a compromise. "I doubt anyone else would be that bold after you thwarted the first." After some hesitation, Korra agreed, though Lin was surprised Tenzin would trust Imperial observers.
"They won't just send recordings of something," Korra said, answering the question she knew Lin had. "They'll reveal specifics and let us wait for them to carry out their plan, catching the conspirators in the act."
"Well, I suppose that's the best we can hope for," Lin said, as they continued with their dinner.
This might be my spiciest chapter, yet. Given Skoova's obvious Scottish accent, I decided to mention haggis. I wanted to show Tenzin's skilled as a politician, something that he really should have been, given it's his job. Also, I wanted someone to point out the 'the hero's a kid, we don't have to listen or take him seriously' makes no sense in the Avatarverse, especially since Korra is already older than Aang was in the original series.
What Narook said is akin to what Linkara of Atop The Fourth Wall said at the end of his video Top Fifteen Things Wrong with Marvel Civil War. I firmly believe this point, and given how often Korra is blamed for something that isn't her fault, I wanted someone to advocate it. The police who wanted a fight, thinking they could handle Korra, were loosely based off Kaira Stirling from Mass Effect 1 and Syril Karn and Linus Mosk from Andor. They think they are in a cop show like Blue Bloods, where a local policeman is everything and how anyone who challenges their invincibility should be beaten to a pulp. Instead, they are in a sci-fi-fantasy and action thriller, firmly at the bottom of the food chain.
Given some of the things Bane did, I concluded a pardon came through for him, at some point. Of course, the reasons Bossk cited, which were used to justify it, weren't a concern for Palpatine. Here's hoping that the ship sending the distress call doesn't have a Xenomorph or a Protomolecule on it. Having Mako come up with the idea of a criminal audit is in line with him being a smart detective. Saikhan, being an older jerk who hates everything new, has a hint of racism in him. As much as he hates Lu and Gang, though, Mako loves Lin too much to reject her request. He's a bit more hesitant to tell a stranger his secrets, however.
Korra is showing how she values Tenzin and the others council when it comes to their world. While they understand the parallels between the Dai Li and the White Lotus, they aren't the same thing. As such, Korra will be more hesitant to just sentence the entire group to death.
So, while Luke is a bit hesitant with his new romance, Asami's not sure if she can pursue a polyamorous romance, either. While Mizuki is willing to let Luke come to grips with it, Korra and Mako are a bit more active in reinvigorating Asami's passion.