After Korra and Mako had donned their armor, they picked up their helmets but didn't put them on, as in this case they wanted to be recognized. They would don them only if they were attacked. The pilot called back to them from the cockpit that they were approaching the Western Air Temple to pick up the last four members of the party, while Lord Vader would join them at the rendezvous itself. Briefly opening the door, Korra leaned out and waved to the Airbenders below, as the four teenage Imperials rocketed up. Ezra and Sabine grabbed Koko as they blasted off in their Jetpacks, carrying the Waterbender up with them, while Jonah attempted to fly up with his Firebending. He had some difficulty but with encouragement from both Ikki and Koko, he managed to succeed.
"So, our helmets stay on, right?" asked Koko, who was wearing Shoretrooper armor. Sabine was wearing her Mandalorian armor, painted black and red to reflect her status as a Firebender, while Ezra wore his Jumptrooper gear while Jonah was dressed as a Scout Trooper, reflecting their status as Earth and Firebenders, respectively.
"That's the point, Sergeant," Director Krennic stated. "To remind the White Lotus we will fight back, even if we are in their house." Soon, they landed on Shinjian Isle, the Fire Nation island with a medium-sized town, with the main ferry and balloon service that took people to the Sun Warrior reservation. Katara had promised to stop by this place and tell the locals that Korra was arriving in an Imperial shuttle with several offworld friends. Hopefully, they wouldn't panic and start a fight with her entourage. The pilot called back to inform they were coming up on the area in a moment. At that, Korra and Mako picked up their helmets and held them under their arms. As the shuttle landed, they exited first, quickly followed by Krennic, Kuvira, and the four students Korra and Mako had trained. In front of them was an elderly man and the local sheriff with six deputies. Many more people nervously watched from the sidelines, afraid of what might happen.
"Avatar Korra, it is an honor to have you in our home," the elder said. "My name is Shoji and I am the mayor." Korra looked at him, concluding he was around the same age as Katara. "We ask that you and your companions relinquish your weapons while you are here," he continued, gesturing to Korra's lightsaber and the blasters the Imperials carried.
"Request denied," the Avatar stated bluntly, gripping her lightsaber. "I've learned never to trust someone who wants me to disarm myself."
"Maybe we phrased it wrong," the sheriff spoke up, his voice level but with an underlying hostility. "You aren't allowed to openly carry swords in the Fire Nation unless you are police or have a special permit."
"Well, none of us are carrying swords, and I doubt your government convened fast enough to develop regulations for any technology from different planets, so no laws are broken," Jonah stated, surprising the locals to hear a teenager's voice from under the Scout Trooper helmet, especially in such a plain tone.
"We care more about the spirit of the law than the letter, and you have even deadlier weapons," a deputy replied. "No harm will come to you unless you make trouble."
"I'll never leave myself vulnerable, no matter what promise of safe conduct I've been given," Korra replied, remembering offers of friendship or negotiation that were false.
"Is that why you dress like a cross between the Obsidian Knight and his Army in White?" the sheriff gritted his teeth, increasingly angry at his authority being challenged.
"Call them by the proper names, saying otherwise really drives home how ignorant you are," Kuvira stated. Unlike Mako and Korra, she was already wearing her helmet, modeled after Darth Vader. Shoji frowned at the sight, and several others looked rather displeased, as well. "What's the problem? I have proved I have the strength to unite the Earth Nation and defeat any challenger. I've earned the right to rule."
"I've heard others say similar things," Shoji said, looking like he was reliving an unpleasant memory.
"Presumably because it is the truth," Ezra spoke up, remembering how Mandalorian leaders were supposed to gain power from what Sabine had told him.
"Your opinions aside, we cannot let you enter a place of peace armed," the sheriff stated.
"A Bender is always armed," Krennic spoke up conjuring a ball of flame in his right hand, surprising the Fire Nationals that were observing. "Korra has seen fit to gift us with your power, while she and Mako have trained us in its use. Tell you what, though: I'll give you my blaster if you can defeat me in an Agni Kai." That shocked many in the town, but some looked rather pleased at what they heard.
"That practice has been abolished," Shoji said.
"Yeah, because after climbing the ladder, Zuko made sure to kick it down," Sabine spoke up with a disgusted tone. "After all, if you close the door that let you make yourself king, your position is that much more secure. Coward."
"All the same, it is abolished," Shoji reiterated, trying to hide his anger at this arrogant young off-worlder making assumptions for the Fire Lord's reasons.
"Well, that is the only way we'll abide by your request," Koko spoke up. "Besides, Korra is the highest authority on this planet. If she says it's okay, it's okay."
"I always wanted to see one, so it's fine with me," Korra added. She liked the idea of her students beating down some stubborn traditionalists with a tradition of their own.
"That tradition ended in my youth," Shoji said definitely. "If you are unwilling to relinquish your weapons, you will have to leave."
"Anyone who picks a fight with us deserves whatever they get," Mako said, before smiling upon noticing something. "Same goes with Lord Vader. Wouldn't you agree, Master?" With that, Darth Vader dropped his Force Cloak behind Shoji, shocking the crowd at how the near-mythical Obsidian Knight could turn invisible.
"Far too many people have suffered because they believed they could defy the Empire, and me in particular," Vader spoke, his mechanical breathing echoing across the area. The sheriff, having been restrained, got openly angry, as the Sith Lord was still technically a wanted man in Fire Nation territory, both for the murder of many Fire Nation Royal Guards and Crown Prince Lee, in addition to his actions against other countries. Two of the deputies, however, had been rather nervous for a while and walked away rather than confront him, to the displeasure of their colleagues.
"They are wise to back off, you should do the same," Kuvira stated. One of the deputies remaining got angry and started demanding something but Kuvira had no patience for that, and hit the remaining four with Force Lightning, shocking them to the ground in pain while surprising many more with how an Earthbender could use lightning. The sheriff tried to intervene, but Vader grabbed the man's hands and slashed through the policeman's wrists with his lightsaber.
"Anyone else want to make trouble or shall we get on to the meeting?" Korra asked Shoji, as the sheriff writhed on the ground in pain, bereft of his hands. The old man reluctantly acquiesced and led them to the balloon which would take them to the Sun Warrior reservation. Korra and her party hadn't sought a fight but were pleased that everyone present was now afraid of antagonizing them.
Asami was looking over the spacecraft that Korra had brought to her house for study. The droid Kay-Bee 2016 was close by, making sure no one tried to dismantle the ship, and only looked at the holographic diagrams provided detailing its operation. The various scientists knew better than to try and dismantle the starship of the Avatar, regardless. At that moment, however, Kay-Bee was focused on his master's children, Harou and Saria. He'd already accosted Asami's father, suspecting Hiroshi hadn't actually reformed. On the plus side, this meant that the droid and the pets finally agreed on something: Naga and Pabu frequently growled whenever Hiroshi was close to the twins. Asami was beginning to trust her father but couldn't blame others for being more cautious.
After learning more about how the spaceship worked, Asami and the engineering team started writing down what they'd learned and coming up with ideas for how to apply that to their own spacecraft. With Korra's advice about Liquid Oxygen, they had found a stable fuel source and had also begun adjusting the air supply to their prototype. But that still left their spaceflight capabilities rather primitive, especially in comparison to what the wider galaxy had. Asami knew that without offworld help, they'd be lucky to reach Ares in her lifetime. It was only a question of when enough people accepted this that there'd be travel outside their home system.
After they were done for the day, Asami went to where the twins were staying in the mansion. Naga and Pabu were both pleased to see her, and even Kay-Bee relaxed upon seeing the young inventor. Asami decided to change Saria's diaper and give Harou his baby bottle. After kissing Harou's forehead and tucking Saria in, she went to see how her father was doing in the guest house.
"Well, I can't complain, even if I'm not trusted in my own house yet," Hiroshi said. "How are the kids you're watching doing?"
"Good," Asami answered. "Their mommy and daddy will be back by tomorrow, so I can handle them."
"Good to know," Hiroshi said, before his face shifted. "Now, I think it's time we talk, as father and daughter. I know, I'm to blame for why we haven't for so long but just hear me out."
"About what?" asked Asami.
"When the Obsidian Knight came to Republic City alongside his followers, my reaction was mixed," Hiroshi said. "You have to understand, whenever I thought of Benders, all I saw was bullies who lorded their power over me, and your mother's murderer. On one hand, it was strangely comforting that the Army in White could defeat so many Benders with advanced technology and clever tactics. On the other hand, it was terrifying that a Bender could be as powerful as the Obsidian Knight. Both were mixed with the undercurrent of dread at how they appeared out of nowhere before vanishing without a trace just as fast. Now, from what I've heard of this Galactic Empire and where Darth Vader fits into it, he sounds like what everything I ever feared: a Bender with unchallenged authority whose power makes him unstoppable."
"Korra and Mako are the experts, and they say that not only is Vader a good man, but that challenging the Empire is suicidal," Asami replied to her father. "We should follow their lead on this."
"Asami, I'm wondering if their expertise, or even your friendship, is why you are so willing to listen to them," Hiroshi said. "I've seen your attitude since they returned. That longing in your eyes, your affection, how you smile whenever they are here. I saw it when you were still dating Mako, and now you are going out of your way to care for his children."
"Dad, I think I made it clear you wouldn't get in the way of my love life," Asami replied, neglecting to reveal she was also with Korra.
"I'm just giving advice," Hiroshi said. "Whatever you are thinking of doing with Mako, don't try it. At best, you'll wreck your friendship with him and his wife. At worst, you'll wreck their marriage and get Korra's murderous rage directed toward you."
"You don't know Mako or Korra, and you never did," Asami replied.
"I know how people react to adultery, especially when kids are in the mix," Hiroshi said. "There are other boys out there. I'm sure you'll find a good man if you look for one."
"Good men are boring," Asami glibly replied, to Hiroshi's frustration, angered at her father telling her what she couldn't do. "My type is more impressive. I love Mako and that is the man I will be with. Don't bring this up, again." After leaving, she went back to her room in the mansion. Standing in front of the mirror, she gripped her abdomen. It was still flat, but she was looking forward to it expanding within the year. She'd ask Kay-Bee if there was a way to test for pregnancy, tomorrow, as she was looking forward to adding children to her family with Korra and Mako.
Cassian Andor and the other Rebels on Aldhani had just finished putting on their Imperial Army disguises. Nemik had learned that 'Clem' as he was called was in it for the money, as opposed to the cause of overthrowing the Empire, and talking about how it affected his manifesto on Rebellion. "The role of mercenaries in the galactic struggle for freedom," Nemik revealed the name of his new chapter. "Since the Empire has no ethical boundaries, we should use whatever weapons we can. Let them see how a revolution changes to suit the situation."
"True, the Empire ignores the rules," Cassian replied. "Because it doesn't matter to them. As shown by their soldiers who can shoot flames and toss rocks with their minds."
"Maybe they will reconsider after today," Nemik said as he fastened his armor.
"I doubt you will like the result," Cassian replied as he put on his own.
"You can't be satisfied with what they give us," the younger man said.
"No, which is why I take what I deserve and work around their laws," Cassian answered, thinking of how he'd traded black market parts before. "Which is why this is just a robbery for me. The Imps will be annoyed that we've taken their money, but after a while, they will give up chasing us. If we spend it on ourselves, we'll get away with it. We spend it on makeshift battleships, we die." Nemik understood that he wasn't going to convince the hired gun to change his mind right now, and so they made their way to the base. Cassian hid his concern that they might run into Kya, Bumi, or Bossk, who'd recognize him from less than a week before. Another part of him was wondering about how to handle this 'Waterbending' they'd accidentally given him. It didn't look like he could go to their homeworld, and given their Imperial connections, he couldn't turn to the siblings for help either. Hopefully, he could figure it out himself.
Korra was riding the balloon to the Sun Warrior reservation alongside her companions, including Darth Vader. The operators were too terrified to try anything against the group, which suited Korra just fine. She'd learned that you often have to settle for compliance before anything else. As they came in, Vader adopted his cloak, turning invisible.
"I wish I could do that," Ezra said in awe of the sight of their superior. "It would have made growing up alone much easier."
"Well, you don't need to steal anymore," Jonah said to his cousin. "None of us do, thankfully." Krennic then looked at Korra and Mako.
"It might be best to don those helmets, now," the Director of Advanced Projects said.
"After they see my face," Korra replied, before looking to her husband. "You should put it on now, though, Mako." Mako followed his wife's advice and did so as the balloon landed. Krennic, as a leading Imperial Officer, had a panic button to call for reinforcements if something went wrong, hidden under his cape. Their backup would arrive in less than five minutes, more than enough to hold their own. As they disembarked, they were met by a Sun Warrior elder. He was rather displeased at how Korra and her party had come armed and armored, while one of the younger members was in awe of what he saw, and the other was visibly nervous.
"Avatar Korra," he greeted. "Master Katara warned us that you'd be coming with outsiders, as you didn't trust us. That is disappointing but if this is necessary for you to come here, very well."
"Good," Korra replied, putting on her helmet. "It's nice to see someone accept my terms without picking a fight. Still, my friends here have taken some precautions. You understand."
"Grand Lotus Saigo and the council are this way," the elder said, gesturing in the direction of the White Lotus retreat.
"Wait, I think it's good to introduce my friends, first," Korra said, pointing from left to right. "This is Sergeant Ezra Bridger, Sergeant Jonah Mar, Specialist Koko Partagaz, Sergeant Sabine Wren, my husband Detective Mako, and Director Orson Callan Krennic. And our most important friend, Sith Lord Darth Vader." With that, Vader dropped his cloak, revealing himself. The elder lost his unflappable demeanor at the sight and stumbled back, as did several others. From the pyramids where most of the Sun Warrior tribe was, Mako could sense their fear at the sight.
"The great masters won't be pleased," the elder recomposed himself.
"The White Lotus needs to understand they don't get everything they want," Koko retorted.
"The great masters are Ran and Shao, the two dragons who reside here, teaching those who seek it the original Firebending form, the Dancing Dragon," the elder explained.
"Dumb animals have nothing to teach us," Krennic stated, unimpressed by the title.
"You should be more respectful of them," the elder said, shocked at the disrespect this outsider displayed, before turning to Vader. "Moreover, they haven't forgotten how you hurt their son, Druk."
"He wasn't permanently damaged," Vader stated, storming toward the meeting place along with Korra and the rest of the party.
"They are still upset and won't be happy at you here!" one of the Sun Warriors yelled.
"Well, they'll have to put up with it," Sabine said. "Otherwise, I'll be called the Dragon of Mandalore before long."
"I always fancied the title Dragon of Republic City as well," Mako added. "Thanks to modern technology, we can make more dragons to replace any dead ones, so now I'm willing to go dragon hunting." Normally, the elder would have been enraged at the joke. Dragon was a title from the Hundred Year War referring to Firebenders who managed to successfully hunt dragons, and the original Firebenders only survived because the last one to claim the title lied to protect Ran and Shao. But he was wary of starting a fight, so he ignored the barb and led them to the meeting place.
"Avatar Korra, I need you to take off that helmet," Grand Lotus Saigo said, glaring at Darth Vader.
"Why, because it makes me harder to hurt?" Korra asked.
"You need to drop this ridiculous paranoia," Saigo said, before turning to Kuvira. "I don't know what you've heard but we had nothing to do with any coup attempt in the Earth Kingdom."
"Maybe not you personally, but there was a White Lotus Sentry involved," Mako spoke up. "He took the pretender's money to watch for us leaving for this meeting and had a radio to inform his employer when we left. As such, the invasion started when he saw Katara ride a Sky Bison here and thought Korra was on it. We found him and his coconspirators around their radio and dealt with them before we left, while Kuvira handled the reactionary militia which thought it could overthrow her."
"There are bad people in every organization, even the White Lotus," Saigo said after a moment, as he and the other WLO leaders were shocked by the news. "But as an organization, we denounce violent claims on power no matter where they are."
"I am aware of the code you advocate," Vader spoke up, his deep voice and mechanical breathing commanding attention from all. "It reminds me of another order of warrior monks in the wider galaxy. When change came to the galaxy, they tried to overthrow and usurp their rightful ruler. They failed."
"The Emperor and Lord Vader weren't interested in punishing the leader and no one else," Krennic spoke up, remembering Order 66. "We recognized that their treason extended to the entire organization, so they were declared outlaws to be captured or killed on sight."
"We don't believe in extending guilt to everyone you ever worked with or knew," a High Lotus stated.
"Neither did King Kuei the Foolish," Kuvira replied. "How did the Dai Li repay his kindness? Oh, right, they helped his enemies conquer his city."
"And you think you are doing differently?" a High Lotus demanded to know.
"Membership in the Empire isn't surrendering to it," Korra replied. "After all, cooperation and understanding between nations is supposed to be one of your goals. I'm just extending it beyond our planet, since we aren't alone in the universe. The Empire does that to whole planets across the stars. Are there obligations that go with it? Of course, just like when you sign any other treaty."
"And what of this philosophy of 'Peace is a Lie, There is Only Passion'?" Saigo challenged.
"I always loved the story of the Koi Fish who swam up the waterfall to become a Dragon," Mako said.
"I didn't ask you," Saigo retorted. Several Sun Warriors were rather displeased upon hearing that, as they associated the story with people who embraced their ambition above all else. "It is completely at odds with what you were taught, Korra. Patience, introspection, hard work, that is the path you should be on. Those who offer differently are playing on your impatience, like Unalaq did when he offered to teach you Spiritual Connection."
"I wasn't progressing with Tenzin, because he was incapable of teaching me, as he admitted once his daughter managed a connection that he couldn't achieve," Korra corrected them. "You clearly don't know anything about the Force as Lord Vader practices it, and when I asked a teacher if aliens were real after I read an Adventures of Gorro strip, he said no, and that traveling to other planets was impossible. Besides, passion has always been how I gain power. Ultimately, it is easier to gain understanding through power than power through understanding."
"Also, before I forget, I just met my grandmother," Mako said. "She heard a rumor that you found a new claimant to the throne which Kuvira has replaced."
"A man has approached us, and that was one of the things that we hoped to bring to this meeting," Saigo confirmed. Kuvira made a mental note to have this pretender found and assassinated if he posed trouble.
"In other words, you found a con man making up a royal connection where there is none, banking on how afraid of change you are that you'd do nothing to investigate his claims," Kuvira concluded. The fact that none of the White Lotus members responded confirmed for Korra and her party that Kuvira's accusation was true. "So, were you going to try and help him usurp my position, reestablish the monarchy, and try to convince Korra to accept it?"
"No, we were going to ask the Avatar to broker an agreement between you and him," Saigo said, not acknowledging the strong possibility this claimant was a fraud.
"An agreement he'd go back on, assassinating me at the first opportunity, before trying to undo all the good work I have achieved," Kuvira said. "That is what royals do in such situations. As such, I'll save you some time: he has one chance to renounce his claim and go back to whatever life he was living. If not, I will kill him."
"Are you confessing to a plan to murder someone?" a High Lotus challenged.
"Stating a fact," Kuvira said.
"Don't bother, Kuvira," Korra added. "I'm in charge of maintaining balance, so I will execute this pretender if he doesn't back down."
"That isn't what the Avatar-""The White Lotus exists to serve me," Korra interrupted. "Aang's opinion on the Avatar's role no longer matters, since he's dead and the wishes of dead men mean nothing, as shown by how you disregarded his wishes for me to be raised and trained. As such, I will be content with your compliance for now. If you move against me, however, I won't do what Kuei did with the Dai Li. I will do what Lord Vader did with the Jedi." With that, Korra concluded the meeting was over, and Sabine opened her comlink, summoning their shuttle. With that, their ship came down out of the atmosphere, landing in the middle of the Sun Warrior complex, surprising everyone.
"It's more convenient for us this way," Sabine spoke up, surprising the Sun Warriors at the young woman's voice underneath the Mandalorian helmet.
"Our visitors enter and exit on balloons or by boat," the elder said.
"And as Avatar, my observance of local customs is optional," Korra replied. "Even an ignorant savage like you should understand that." With that, the elder's aide got openly angry at the party before being restrained with the Force.
"Careful," Kuvira mockingly said. "You could get hurt if you try anything." The elder was trying very hard to hold his anger in check, gritting his teeth.
"If you ever wish to learn the true secrets of Firebending, you are free to present yourself," he said with suppressed anger. "If the Great Masters deem you unworthy, you will die in the attempt, but it will be your choice."
"Tell you what," Mako said. "If you beat me in an Agni Kai, I'll try it myself. You're all about tradition here, after all."
"We have never practiced the Agni Kai," the Elder replied.
"Then I win," Mako said as the shuttle landed. The party quickly boarded the shuttle and flew off.
"Did those fools really think we'd humor their dumb traditions?" Korra asked to herself. For a moment, she thought she saw something out of the corner of her eye but when she looked, it wasn't there. Before they could talk about the meeting, Tarkin contacted the shuttle and revealed something had happened on Aldhani.
Those of you who watched The Headband from ATLA will recognize Shoji. Korra and especially Vader aren't particularly patient for this meeting and want it done as fast as possible. That, and their feelings about the White Lotus, have meant they are less courteous than normal. One thing Korra is particularly angry at is how, unlike Tenzin and Lin, who actually help her and try to understand her, the White Lotus teachers have never helped in on her adventures or with protecting the people she loves. She's also soured on the people who reject modernity, especially the ones who try to espouse some sort of wisdom to her.
Asami loves her dad but she still doesn't entirely trust him. Not only does she not want to admit to her polyamorous romance yet, but she resents Hiroshi trying to dictate who she should love. Looking after Harou and Saria has only intensified her longing.
Some might be surprised by Sabine's conclusion Zuko was cowardly for abolishing the Agni Kai. I'm bringing up how she was raised by Death Watch members, IE Mandalorian Traditionalists, and as such she sees the issue from their perspective. Mako doesn't actually want to kill a dragon but with cloning technology, he no longer sees it as a big deal. I modified Cassian and Nemik's conversation from the show a little. Next chapter, the Aldhani robbery.