Chapter 23
After they finished their interrogation, Lin radioed into the station immediately to mobilize a force to the Sato mansion, collecting everyone else into an airship to meet her officers. Police milled about as they approached, and from the back, Korra sat anxiously next to her brother and his friend.
The young Earthbender hadn't said much, only nodding to Lin when asked about the possibility of there being such a secret under the mansion, and mumbling every now and then to Sota who hadn't left her side. The look of hurt on her face saddened Korra who could only imagine how she was feeling right now.
"Are you two sure you don't prefer to stay at the station until this is over?" Korra asked Sota who turned to her. "I know you're worried about Mai-Ling, but I would feel better knowing you were safe at the station."
"I know. But Mai-Ling and Asami are gonna be devastated when they find out and…I just don't want her to be alone," he admitted. His friends' world is crashing around him; how could he sit just sit by and do nothing?
Korra paused, looking to the ground for a moment before turning back and saying, "Promise me that if things go….not according to plan, you three will get clear from here."
'A man is strong by the strength and bravery of his character.' Their father's word's echoed in his head as a look of determination showed on his face. "First sign of danger, the three of us are gone."
The rest of the ride was quiet as Lin went over the plan with everyone, and as soon as they touched down, they were rushed toward the entrance. Inside the manner, Mako, Asami and Bolin leisurely relaxed as they sat at a table in one of the family rooms. The couple smiled as they looked over a box of records to see which they would play next as music rang out from the player, while the Earthbender next to them happily picked over the fruit in the bowl on the table.
"Mai-Ling, you really need to get down from there before you fall and break something," Asami said as she looked up to the bookshelf in the corner. Her cousin was laid out on top of it, looking up disdainfully at the ceiling but made no effort to move.
"I'm bored," she complained in response, her melancholy mood showing itself in full force. "Jun hasn't come back from the doctor's yet, and-"
The doors to the room flew open, startling everyone as Police officers rushed in, shouting orders and cutting the music. Bolin yelped, throwing his hands in the air and frightening Pabu, causing him to run away, while Mai-Ling screamed, tipping over and losing her balance. She gave a groan in pain as she sat up, rubbing her throbbing back and tailbone from where she landed.
"What are you doing here?" Asami shouted at the group of officers, Lin and Tenzin.
"We have reason to believe that there's a factory hidden below the mansion," the Police Chief said as they entered the room.
"Don't you think we'd have noticed a factory under our house?" Mai-Ling asked irritably as she got to her feet. Trying to ignore the pain, she looked at the adults and added, "Why are you trying so hard to arrest my Uncle when he hasn't done anything wrong?"
"Mai-Ling," Jun said, drawing everyone's attention to her, Sota and Korra as they stood in the threshold of the door. Tula and Essa stood behind them all, flanking them in silence, though they were screaming internally with excitement at being in the same room as their favorite Pro-Benders.
"Jun?" She replied, rushing past everyone to her friend, shoving Sota away before wrapping Jun in a hug protectively. Mai-Ling narrowed her eyes as she asked, "Why are you here? What did you do to her?"
"I'm here because my friends need me," he stated, a look of conviction in his eyes that immediately cut through her gaze and surprising her at the difference in his demeanor from earlier that day.
"Where is your father?" Tenzin asked Asami, though the answer came from behind him.
"The workshop. It's behind the house," Jun spoke, shocking Asami and Mai-Ling.
"Jun?" Mai-Ling asked, confusion on her face.
"What is going on?" Asami asked, a sinking feeling in her gut.
Sota, Mai-Ling and Jun stood anxiously in the hallway, trying their best to see into the room but their view was partially blocked by their Sentry Guards as they attempted to keep them from seeing what was happening. After they all marched out of the house and into the backyard, Jun and Sota went about explaining everything to Mai-Ling, from the moment Jun touched Hiroshi's shoulder, to the revelations from the worker.
"I'm not saying I don't believe you, but…are you sure, Jun?" Mai-Ling whispered, uncertainty and denial still in her voice. "Aren't you the one who's been acting like Sota is untrustworthy?"
"I know, but I know what I felt. My Earthbending may not be the strongest, but…I know what my gut is telling me," Jun whispered back, before asking her in a serious tone, "What was the number one rule that we weren't ever to break?"
Sota watched as Mai-Ling's eyes widened, reminding him of Jun from earlier. Before he could ask, Tula spoke up, asking, "What rule are you two talking about?"
They were interrupted as the workshop door was slammed open, the officers rushing in and securing the room before allowing anyone in.
"Dad?" Asami called out in worry as they found the place unoccupied. "Hello?"
"Chief, the Estate's been secured. No one has left the workshop since we arrived," an officer said as he walked up to Lin.
"Perhaps we just couldn't see him leaving," she replied, walking to the middle of the room. Lifting her foot, she stomped down, pulling the metal back from under her shoe to allow her to feel the vibrations on the metal around her and giving her a clear picture below her. From the hallway, she could hear Jun as she gasped, the vibrations reaching her as well, before standing up straight again.
Opening her eyes, she said looked to the young Earthbender as she mumbled out, "There's a tunnel underneath the floor,".
"Not only that, but by the looks of it, it runs deep into the mountain side."
"What? There's no tunnel," Asami said, shaking her head in denial. Lin narrowed her eyes before bending a large metal panel off the floor, revealing a stairwell leading into the ground. As she tossed it aside, many of the occupants moved into the room looking down into the dark below in shock.
A wave of panic hit Mai-Ling as she squeezed past Tula and Essa to move into the room, stopping as she stared in horror at the tunnel. Sota and Jun walked up to her, stopping to stand on either side as they took looked at the stairs.
"It's true…" Mai-Ling whispered, tears coming to her eyes. Covering her mouth, she could feel her shoulders shaking as Sota wrapped his arm around her.
"Whoa…do you think your dad knows about this tunnel?" Bolin asked, though he was ignored as Asami stood there in disbelief, struggling to process what she was seeing.
"I don't understand. There has to be an explanation," she said sadly.
"Maybe you don't know everything about your father. I'm sorry," she said apologetically to her and the girls.
Essa looked back to her sister, who returned the look with a raised eyebrow before stepping into the room and speaking out.
"Pardon my intrusion, but perhaps it would best to we take the kids back and wait in the mansion," she advised. "If things are going to be progressing, it's probably best that they not be involved any further."
"Are you crazy?" Sota asked her, receiving a not so pleased look from both twins. "We-"
"Are leaving. Now," Korra spoke up, looking to her little brother who silenced himself immediately. Walking up to him, she placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "Remember our agreement?"
Sota swallowed, lowering his head, but nodded, repeating his words, "First sign of danger."
"Officers, to the tunnel. Be cautious," Lin instructed, pointing to the tunnel where her men began to file in, followed by Tenzin, Korra, and her friends, who were immediately cut off. "Uh-uh. You three stay up here. Officer Song, keep an eye on them while the Sentries escort the children back to the mansion."
The officer nodded as they all watched Lin descend. Korra looked at her friends and little brother with an apologetic look before going down as well, vanishing out of their sight. Sota bit his lower lip anxiously, wishing there were more he could do, but stayed put and hoped his sister would be ok.
Korra looked around the tunnel, both amazed and terrified that one man could come up with all of this, and followed the officers onto the lift that was large enough to carry even heavy machinery. The platform moved down the track, allowing Korra to watch as they grew closer and closer to the exit.
As the lift came to a stop, everyone walked off of it and proceeded through the large entrance, Lin and her officers taking the lead. The walls were high, revealing the underground bunker plastered with posters of Amon's face as he looked down upon them. The group walked in and scanned the large open space that was lined with large metal machines that looked like men.
"Not your average backyard workshop," Lin commented.
"And I'm guessing those are the "new weapons"," Korra added, walking toward one to get a closer look at it.
"Hiroshi was lying, alright, but where is he?" Tenzin asked suspiciously, only for a large metal wall to come shooting up behind them, closing off the entrance to the tunnel they'd just come from and trapping them inside.
A loud thud and crash echoed off the metal walls of the tunnel, startling Mako, Bolin, Asami and Sota as they looked down the hole.
"What was that?" Bolin asked out loud.
The Waterbender took a step toward the stairs, prepared to run down the tunnel toward his sister, but immediately felt himself get yanked back. Tula roughly pulled him back by the collar of his tunic and whipped him back behind her where he roughly landed on the ground in front of his friends, both of whom had retreated to a corner to sit.
"And where do you think you're going?" The older girl asked, narrowing her eyes at him.
"I'm going down there to-"
"Nowhere. Now sit your ass down, Sota. And don't make me tell you again," she commanded.
"What's your problem? I thought it was your job to-"
"Stop telling us how to do our job," Essa said, though in a much calmer tone. Sighing, she said, "Listen, I understand your frustration, but Avatar Korra charged us with protecting you and that's what we're going to do."
"This isn't the time to argue!" He exclaimed, getting to his feet.
"He's right," Mako said, cutting the argument before looking back into the hole. "We need to get down there and see what's going on."
"Absolutely not," Officer Song said, glaring at them all. "You're staying put until the Chief comes back."
"Officer Song, please, you have to let us through," Sota begged, deciding to ignore the Sentries and appeal to him instead. "My sister and the others are in trouble."
"I'm sorry, but do you have water in your ears, kid? We said the answer is no, and don't think you can just go around us to get what you want," Tula reprimanded him, while Mako and Bolin looked at each other, conniving looks on their faces.
"Please, Tula. I can't just sit here and wait to see what's happening. Wouldn't you do the same if Essa was the one down there?" He asked. Tula felt her stomach drop and she averted her gaze, proving him right.
"The answer is still NO, and if you all continue to resist the Chief's wishes, I will be forced to detain you," Officer Song threatened.
"Alright, we'll stay put," Mako said, shuffling a bit to stand before the officer. "But can we wait outside or something? It's so dusty in this workshop."
"No. We're waiting right here," he replied, nearly fed up with all of them.
"Okay, but don't blame me if I start sn-snee…" Mako started, bringing his finger to his nose, huffing as he did so. "Sn-sneeze."
"What's your problem, bub?" Officer Song asked cautiously, taking a step toward him.
"I'm about to-AH-CHOO!" Mako "sneezed", sending a tumble of fire from his mouth that blinded the officer, allowing Bolin to trip him with a small rock. Officer Song had no time to react before falling backwards and getting body slammed by the Earthbender.
"There's no way that I actually just watched you two stooges make that work," Tula said, shaking her head as the Ferret brothers proceeded to start tying Officer Song up.
"Sorry, pal. We know you were just doing your job," Mako said sincerely as he and his brother tightened the ropes around the Officer's wrists.
"Yeah, just stay put until the Chief comes back," Bolin mocked as they stood back up. Bringing a hand to his chin, he added, "That sounds very familiar, doesn't it? Why? Because you said it."
"Can we get a move on, already?" Sota asked, starting to move toward the hole, but was once again yanked back, this time by his wrist. Looking up, his eyes met Essa's.
"Hold on, Sota. We know you want to help, but charging in there without a plan is a terrible idea," she said. Looking around, she saw that Jun and Mai-Ling were still huddle in the corner, neither saying much.
Sota followed her gaze, a worried look coming to his face as he stopped trying to pull away from Essa. "Guys?"
"I…I'm not going," Jun muttered, shaking her head. "I can't. I'm sorry."
"Jun…" he said, before looking to Mai-Ling, her golden eyes looking dull as she stared intensely at the whole, as if it were about to swallow her up if she stopped looking at it for even a moment.
"You don't have to because you're staying here," Tula declared, turning to her sister and saying, "All of you are."
"Wait, excuse me? You can't mean me too?" Essa protested, staring her older sister in her matching eyes. "Tula, you're stupid if you think I'm letting you go down there alone."
"We were tasked with protecting Sota and his friends, as well as protecting the Avatar. We can't do that if we both stay here, so I'll go and see what's going on."
"Tula –"
"This isn't up for any further discussion," she declared, turning her back to Essa and asking Mako and Bolin, "You coming?"
"We are," Mako confirmed, turning to Asmai and saying, "You should stay here with Sota and the girls. We'll check it out."
"I have to find out the truth about my father," she protested.
"I understand," he said gently, holding her shoulders. "That's why I'm going. To find out for you. All of you." The two looked back to Jun and Mai-Ling, and it was then that Asami noticed the fresh tears that had come back to her cousin's already stained face. "Please."
"Alright," Asami agreed after a pause.
"I know you want to go too, Sota, but I'm entrusting their safety to you now," the Firebender said to him.
"Mako…" he started, but grit his teeth before saying, "I give you my word as a Warrior of the Sothern Water Tribe that I'll protect them." Mako placed a grateful hand on his shoulder before turning and starting to make his descent into the tunnel, followed by Bolin and Tula who refused to look at either him or her sister.
"Be careful," Asami said, clutching her hands together as they disappeared. They all listened as the lift activated, the sounds getting further and further, until it was finally gone.
"I'm going after them," Sota said immediately, pulling away from Essa, but to his surprise, finding no resistance from her.
"I'm coming too," the Sentry declared angrily. "Tula is out of her mind if she thinks that I'm just gonna sit here while she gets herself killed going after the Avatar and the Councilman."
"Wait!" Mai-Ling shouted, surprising them all as she stood in her spot, eyes still focused on the tunnel. "I'm coming too."
"Mai-Ling-"Asami started gently, preparing to talk her down.
"Are you sure?" Sota interrupted, no hesitation in his question. When he received a nodded, he walked forward, holding his hand out to her, and asked, "Then what are we waiting for?"
She nodded again, grasping his hand tightly for dear life as he led her into the tunnel, following Essa who'd already gone down to call the tram.
"As soon as you hear us leave, untie Officer Song and get any remaining Officers you can find on the property," Asami instructed, receiving a nodded from Jun before she too walked into the tunnel.
"Be careful…" she mumbled, adding, "because I'll kick all your asses if anything happens."
Lin gave a grunt as she tried to bend the wall that was trapping them, but to everyone's dismay, it didn't even budge.
"I'm afraid you won't be able to metalbend that wall, Chief Beifong. It's solid Platinum," Hiroshi taunted over a speakerphone, voice echoing off the walls. Numerous lights came on, revealing the activation of the tanks, Hiroshi inside of one as he looked down on them all. "My Mecha-Tanks are Platinum as well. Not even your renowned mother could bend a metal so pure."
"Hiroshi, I knew were a lying, no good Equalist!" Korra declared indignantly as she raised a fist to him. "Come out here and-"
"And do what, young Avatar? Face the wrath of your bending?" he continued taunting. "No. I think I'll fight from here, where the odds are a little more…equal."
"That source was a setup," Lin said. "You lured us down here!"
"Guilty as charged," he confirmed, launching a grapple at them. Korra and Tenzin were quick to twirl to the sides, splitting up to not get hit, while Lin rolled forward to evade it.
The Tanks began their attack, going after the officers and forcing them to separate as one of the tanks drove it's claw into the ground between them. Three of the officers were quick to rebound and tether its claw to try to restrain the Mecha-Tank. The remaining two officers were doing the same to another tank, giving Lin an opening to get past them.
The Chief was quick on her feet, flipping forward over a tether from the tank before launching herself into the air with her earthbending. Once in the air, she quickly bent two blades, one on each wrist, and drew back, plunging them right through the window of the tank she landed on. The Chi-blocker inside tried not to panic as Lin repeatedly stabbed, one hand after the other, though this didn't last long as they kicked the tank into reverse and crashed into a few steel beams.
Hiroshi glared at Korra as her fireballs bounced off the tough chassis of the tank before she pushed forward to attack. Pulling back, he tried to swing a claw at her, but was taken off guard as Tenzin blasted the heavy metal machine back away from her. Not letting up, he sent several more strikes at Hiroshi before he too rushed forward.
The three officers grunted in strain as they tried to hold their ground against the tank, even going as far as to earthbend inclines under their feet to brace themselves. The spools on their backs spun faster than they should have been, the friction creating smoke and sparks, though they had little time to worry about it as the claw of the tank wrapped around their tethers and sent volts of electricity through them.
The officers cried out in pain, their body's seizing up before they were incapacitated and fell to the floor. Behind them, the remaining two officers were subjected to the same fate, leaving the Chief, Councilman and Avatar as the last ones standing.
Lin, taking her eyes off her opponent for a second, felt the strong pull of a tether as a claw gripped her waist. She felt pain hit her as she bounced off a steel beam, getting dragged through the air before, finally, painfully hitting the ground. The Chief let out a pained groan before she lost consciousness, now one less fighter to deal with.
Korra and Tenzin were throwing everything they had at Hiroshi's tank, pushing him back into a corner with a combination of Fire and Air. The man grunted as he was jostled left and right, knocking his glasses from his face as well as messing his normally pristine hair. With a growl, Hiroshi clutched the controls and fired a small grapple at Korra who dodged it, flipping back to gain some distance as she launched a rock at him.
Unluckily for the Avatar, a second grapple came from behind, blindsiding her as it propelled her face first into a metal pipe against the adjacent wall.
"Korra!" Tenzin shouted in concern, throwing a gust of wind to lighten her fall. She gave a grunt as she hit the ground, but did not get back up, leaving Tenzin alone as the last remaining fighter.
The Mecha-Tanks began their assault, attacking him all at once, but Tenzin would not go down without a fight, proving his mastery over his element to first block and then creating an air wheel to move about freely. As he made his way to an opening, Hiroshi fired yet another disk at him, this one releasing three boas from the openings as it spun. Try as he might, Tenzin was caught as soon as it wrapped around his chest and sent powerful electrical shocks through him that brought him down.
A sense of pride and victory came over Hiroshi as he rolled up to them, opening his tank's hatch and stepping out to look down upon all the fallen benders. Fallen benders that were no match for his handiwork.
"Well, I'd say that was a near flawless test run," he said, turning to the Chi-Blockers. "Load everyone into the transports and deliver them to Amon."
The Chi-Blockers nodded, getting to work quickly as they tied everyone up, starting with the Officers. One by one, their unconscious bodies were loaded into the back of the trucks that had been brought over, none of the Chi-Blockers seeming to notice as a small hole was opened from the ground in the back of the room. Poking their heads out, Bolin, Mako and Tula looked around, horrified at the downed state of the search party.
"Oh no," the Earthbender said, noticing Tenzin not far from them.
"Korra was right. We gotta do something quick," Mako commented as he looked at the two.
"Follow me," Tula instructed, keeping low to the ground as she creeped out of the hole to hide behind the boxes nearby. Mako and Bolin followed, staying low as possible to hide behind a boiler near her while she checked to be sure they were clear. "Grab the Avatar and the Councilman. I'll grab Chief Beifong."
Being cautious, the three got to work quickly, grabbing their friends and making their way toward the hole they came in.
"Not so fast, you three," Hiroshi said, all the Tanks coming to life as they stared down the three.
"Crap," Tula said, glaring at Hiroshi and Amon's Lieutenant as they brandished their stun weapons.
"Hello, Mr. Sato," Bolin greeted nervously, using Tenzin's limp arms to wave and make gestures. "Wow! What a really swell, scary factory you have here under your giant mansion."
"Sponsoring our team, supporting the Avatar…it was all just a big cover," Mako stated, frowning at the man.
"Yes, and the most difficult part was watching my daughter traipse around with a firebending street rat like YOU!" he spat back, igniting his glove.
"Dad, stop!" Asami shouted, hurt and confusion on her face before she looked away, unable to believe what she was seeing. Essa stood in front of her, water in hand in preparation for a fight while Sota did the same, standing next to her in front of Mai-Ling.
"Uncle Hiro…" Mai-Ling's voice quivered, more tears trying to come as she asked, "Why?"
"Girls…I wanted to keep you out of this as long as I could," he said, almost regretfully. Mako and Bolin watched on as Korra started to come to, lifting her groggy head off Mako's shoulder. Hiroshi continued, saying, "But now that you know the truth, please forgive me."
Taking a step forward, the man attempted to approach them, but was blocked by the two Waterbenders who glared at him. Mai-Ling took a step forward, touching Sota's shoulder, though he didn't move from his spot, and took a deep breath to steady her shaking body.
"Please, Uncle…this has to be a mistake. How can you hate benders? Jun and I are benders. Why would you do something like this?" She pleaded for an answer.
"Mai-Ling, this is the chance you've been wanting. You and Jun can finally be rid of these afflictions that've been nothing but trouble since you were born," he encouraged. Sota could feel her grip on his shoulder tighten as her eyes widened, prompting him to continue. "Let Amon help you, and you can be normal again. You can go home."
"I could…go home?" she mumbled, gaze dropping to the floor.
"You're crazy!" Sota shouted, starting Hiroshi who proceeded to turn his glare onto him once more. "Her being a bender isn't an affliction. It's part of who she is, and trying to –"
"Silence, you brat!" The man commanded before taking a deep breath and softening his features as he looked to his daughter. "Asami…these people, these benders….they took your mother, the love of my life. They've ruined the world, but with Amon we can fix it and build a perfect world together. We can help people like us, everywhere!"
Taking a step forward, he removed one of his gloves, and held it out to Asami.
"Join me, Asami."
The air was thick with tension as everyone watched, waiting to see what was going to happen. Sota prayed to the spirits that they weren't actually considering his offer, though his stomach dropped as Asami stepped around him and Essa to reach out for the glove. Her hand shook as she took it, hope leaving her friends and filling Hiroshi. Sliding it on to her right hand, a look of contempt on her face, Asami examined it, taking in the new weapon.
"No…" Mako whispered in disbelief as Korra watched on silently.
Sota swallowed the lump in his throat, looking over his shoulder at Mai-Ling, her body now shaking as her breathing was ragged and heavy. Her left fist was balled up as she raised it, before igniting it in a blaze as the young girl screamed as loud as she could.
"RAAAAAA!" her voice echoed off the walls she pulled back and blasted the open cockpit of Hiroshi's opened tank. The nearby Chi-Blockers dove out of the way to avoid getting hit as Mai-Ling let go of Sota and fired a second fireball.
"Mai-Ling! What are you-"Hiroshi cried out just before the two fireballs hit their target, destroying the tank's inside in an explosion. "No! You insolent brat! I've been much too soft on you, but I swear, you will face severe punishment for-"
"I love you, Dad," Asami said before turning and thrusting the palm of her glove into his chest, stunning him as he let out a cry of pain. The Lieutenant lunged at her, but Asami was took quick, easily dispatching of one of his batons before grabbing his arm that held the other and forcing it from him to stun him as well.
"Everyone, get to the hole!" Essa shouted as she and Sota began shooting water bullets at the approaching Chi-Blockers and tanks.
"Let's get out of here!" Mako shouted, rushing forward with Korra and Asami.
"Mai-Ling, get out of here!" Sota shouted, water whipping a boa out of the air, though it was immediately burnt to a crisp in the large stream of fire projecting from Mai-Ling's palms. Sota turned to her, confused as she continued to scream and blast fire around wildly. "That's enough! We need to- LOOK OUT!"
A tank rolled up closer to them shooting a boa at her that Sota was quick to intercept, destroying it with his Ice tipped water whip, but failed to stop the second as it wrapped around her. Mai-Ling struggled, thrashing about as her tear-stained face glowed from in the light of the fire around her, but it soon came to a stop as her body convulsed while she was electrocuted. Her limp body dropped to the ground as she fell unconscious, sending Sota's blood boiling.
"NO!" he shouted, releasing more water from his gauntlets to cover his arms and bending it to form tentacles. Freezing the ends, Sota shot at the window of the tank, successfully piercing the glass and sending large cracks across it.
"Sota!" Korra shouted, reaching out to him but being restrained by Mako as she was still too weak to fight.
"Everyone go!" Essa cried out, rushing over to scope Mai-Ling up. Just as she bent down to pick her up, she found herself bound as well before being stunned. A second disk came flying as well, and Sota cried out as he turned to see that Hiroshi had recovered and had, somehow, reactivated his destroyed tank. His cries echoed out before he too as brought down and knocked out cold.
"No!" Korra and Tula cried out hysterically, but before either could try to go back, they were yanked into the hole by Mako and Bolin before he quickly sealed the opening, narrowly avoiding another disk that bounced out the ground.
"Let me go! Open the hole!" Tula shouted, punching the roof above them desperately as tears ran down her face. "Essa!"
Korra was silent, trying her best to not do the same as Asami gently put a hand on her shoulder. The Avatar looked at her friend, tears in her eyes as well as she worried for Mai-Ling, before walking up and gently grabbing Tula's arm. The Sentry didn't attempt to pull away, instead losing all steam as she sobbed.
Turning to the others, Korra said, "We need to keep moving. It's not safe yet."
The mood was somber on the airship as Team Avatar made their escape from the Sato Estate. Asami stood near a window, looking out sadly while Jun held on to her for dear life. Tears were falling down her face as they watched the mansion get further and further way, a result of both concern and regret.
"I should have been there," she said, sniffling and wiping her eyes. "I let them down again."
"Jun," Asami said, pulling her closer into a hug to comfort her. Behind them, Bolin looked out one of the smaller windows at the city, his normally happy disposition replaced by a serious one as Pabu rested on his shoulder.
Mako watched Asami and Jun, saddened for them and unsure of what to do or say. Korra stood next to him, gazing out her own window as she tried to not only accept defeat but the reality that she'd let her brother get kidnapped for a second time by Amon.
"My Metalbenders and those kids are on their way to Amon. And it's my fault," Lin said to Tenzin hoarsely as she laid on a bench hear the front of the ship. "Tarrlok's right. I failed as a Chief."
"You haven't failed, Chief Beifong. We did," Tula emphasized, guilt and anger written all over her face. "Amon won't get away with this and I'll drown every Chi-Blocker and Equalist in the city if that's what it takes to get them back."
"Tula, please," Tenzin said, stern yet sympathetic to her, "I understand your frustrations. I want to find the others just as badly, but we can't be too hasty and approach this without a proper plan."
"First thing in the morning, I'm handing in my resignation," Lin declared.
"No! You can't give up like this," Tenzin protested.
"I'm not giving up," Lin replied stubbornly as she forced herself to sit up. Ignoring the pain as best she could, she said, "I'm gonna find my officers and take down Amon. But I'm gonna do it my way. Outside the law."
"And I'll be joining you," Tula said, removing her cloak. Holding it in her hands, she looked at it longingly. "Being a White Lotus Sentry doesn't mean anything if Essa isn't here with me, so I won't be one until we find them and bring them home."
"I'm sorry I didn't believe you," Mako said to Korra, bringing her attention to him. "But Asami's dad being an Equalist is not an easy thing to believe. Even now."
"I know. I'm sorry this whole thing happened. On top of that, they got Sota, Mai-Ling, Essa and those officers."
"We'll find them," Mako swore, before shyly asking, "So does your offer to live at the Air Temple still stand?"
"Of course it does," Korra replied with a kind smile. "And Asami and Jun are welcome too."
"Thank you, so much."
"After everything they've been through, she's going to need you, Mako," Korra added. The Firebender looked her in the eyes, wanting to ask about her, but nodded and turned to walk to them before embracing Asami.
As she turned to look back out the window for the third time, Korra could only pray to the spirits that she wouldn't be too late to save them.
To be continued…