The Reset

For all the boldness that Korra showed while demanding this faded the moment she was seated against someone who she had no idea about. Tenzin had told her who she was and what she did, but what was she supposed to talk about that would end in helping the other Korra. To her, she looked like a normal adult.

The confusion was mutual. Kuvira was told that Avatar Korra wanted to talk to her. It was weird that Korra had demanded this since the last time they had met in Gaolin and again at the trail she had established some rapport with the group. She could see the building they were in was newly constructed, it was platinum and had increased mecha robots patrolling the area. Observing her surroundings she came to the conclusion that either something had happened to the Avatar since she personally requested the transfer just to talk to her or that she was not the only one in the compound, someone else might also have been requested. Whatever was happening was secretive and minimum leak was the aim for building the secret base and the odd request.

Kuvira was genuinely shocked when a young girl with Asami came and sat across her. It was weird but wouldn’t take a genius to know that the girl was somehow related to Korra as she had the same blue eyes. The girl asked Asami to leave them alone, so here they were bracing the awkward silence.

They sat in silence for a while until the door opened and Mako with Zaheer came in. Mako helped Zaheer take a seat on the empty chair besides Kuvira and went out. Kuvira was shocked, she still remembered Zaheer as he was the one responsible for Earth Queen’s death and so the path to her rise. But in the same room as her. Zaheer took one look at the young girl across him and knew who she was but something didn’t feel right. This turn of events was unexpected. 

“What happened to you?” Zaheer broke the silence eyeing Korra as if connecting dots.

“So you know me.”

“Of Course I do but you seem different than the last time.”

“A lot has happened, and I honestly don’t know what.”

“Your spirit is different.” Zaheer was always good with spiritual energy even from his non bending days.

Kuvira catches up with the flow of conversation “Wait, You’re Korra?”. The nod was the answer to her suspicion so far. A bit of silence followed. And then Korra explained what had happened about the day she woke up here leaving out the dream part.

“Hmm that’s unheard off. All the texts I have read, none of them mentions something like that. I could still have understood if you had your memories but this is something beyond my comprehension.” Zaheer had already started mental calculations and came up with this answer. Though back in his mind Zaheer had thought of taking this moment to plan out an escape but dropped the idea as soon as it came. He wanted to see where everything goes. 

“At Least I understand the meaning of this sudden transfer and request.” Kuvira nodded. “So what do you need us for?” She didn’t want to be in the same category as Zaheer but she was convinced this was not related to him but Korra. Kuvira had started seeing Avatar in the new light after being saved and Gaolin misadventures. Her chance at the new life was also because of her anyway. 

“Maybe you could start by telling me why you did what you did. I mean I have an idea what you did but your reasoning might shed some light as to why my other self had problems with you.” Korra needed more information if she wanted to continue. He thought it was best to drift the topic so that the young Avatar to acquainted with who they were.

“What do you think is the most important for the world to grow?” He asked in such a way that the question was directed at both of them.

“Stability.” Kuvira said without even giving it a thought.

“Balance.” Korra answered. She did not know but it felt the answer came to her on it’s own.

“Interesting, and why would you think so? What you both said are part of the same side. It’s bent toward the rigid side of the world and it’s order.”

“If there is no stability, it’s easier for the world to lose it’s wonders. I have seen how the Earth Kingdom was while growing up and while reuniting it. It was the definition of mismanagement and violence. For growth to be there it’s important that stability be there. My methods may have been wrong, but the empire was stronger than ever. My problem was with not you Korra, but you were in the way of what was rightfully Earth Kingdom territory.” Zaheer looked intently at her thinking what would have happened if she joined the red lotus. “You didn’t tell us about your motivation. You might not believe but I gave a lot of thought as to what your reasoning might have been.”

“Freedom.” Zaheer smiled, “True freedom. I have traveled extensively throughout the world. Wherever I went there was a conflict and people were ruled by incompetent fools who called themselves leaders, royalty, nobles. It was saddening how people were restricted. They were not able to grow because they had restraints of the ill system. So as a member of Red Lotus, It was our job to rid the world of them so as to the natural order could be followed with complete and absolute freedom. It may have seen disorder to you but it was really important to go through the stage for the true growth to come.” Now turning to face Korra in the eye “If we would have succeeded in taking you, I could have shown you the true meaning of freedom. But since that was a failed plan, the other was to rid the world of Avatar and the supreme authority even if it meant going to the extent of poisoning you.” 

Korra took her time to take their answers in. Their ideologies reflected their elements deeply. Kuvira,a true earth warrior, steadfast in her ambition and a pursuer of the perfect form. Zaheer, an Air Nomad who believed in the fact that flow could not be controlled. They were not wrong, and she was surprised at how well she understood it. Words came to her even before she could understand what they were truly saying.

“You both are right as well as wrong. The world grows at it’s pace. It takes it’s time and turns. We cannot control growth or direct it’s path. Everything has its potential to become the best as well as the worst version of itself. That’s where balance comes in. Where I choose to stand. If you go too much on the stability, it becomes rigid. Same goes for freedom, it tends to be fragile. But both are important to the cycle of growth but there are countless levels to it. You can’t focus entirely on them, it tends to weaken it.”

Both Kuvira and Zaheer were genuinely surprised to hear her. But this was the start of the long discussion they were about to have.

--

Asami could not help pacing back and forth the entire space of the corridor. She was concerned and scared of what was happening behind the closed door. Was Korra safe? What if they do something to her? They won’t even be able to hear it outside. Though she had already checked the security ten times before anyone was there and reviewed it so that there were no loose ends. She could not help the worry from taking over her.

“You need to take a rest Asami. You will tire yourself out if you keep doing this.” Mako said, no longer able to hide his worrying.

“I am trying, but it makes me feel so powerless that she is in there alone with two people who did horrible things to her. Alone Mako Alone.” Asami said in a very frustrated voice.

“I know. To be honest it’s worrying me as well. But I think the best is to have faith. We are here, no one can do anything to her. We will protect her.” He patted Asami’s shoulder in reassurance.

“I know” Asami let a huge sigh out. “I just don’t know why but i feel uneasy. Like something bad is going to happen and I won’t be able to stop it.”

“You don’t have to do anything ALONE Asami. We’re here, and trust yourself. You’re one of the genius minds of the planet, and you built this for Korra. Someone who is more dear to you than everyone. She trusted you with this and you will not fail her. I know that.” Somehow Mako’s faith and conviction in those spoken words helped her ease her worries.

--

At some point in their discussions, Korra felt her head starting to hurt. She tried to ignore it but it became more and more unnerving. She could no longer hear their voices and her vision started to whiten but she was not unconscious. In fact she was in control of her mind but it was slipping. She didn’t realise when she fell from her chair. And her eyes started glowing. Both Kuvira and Zaheer frowned with worries. As if they were contacting with just eyes. Zaheer grabbed Korra and Kuvira ran toward the door banging it with all her might. That caught Mako and Asami off guard and they opened the door.

“Help, Hurry.” Kuvira shouted. 

Asami rushed past her whereas Mako remained on the door with Bolin behind him. Asami took Korra from Zaheer as he backed away. She was in Avatar state but it was unlike all other times. Instead of heightening her powers, it made her extremely weak and left her in a state of comatose. 

“What did you do to her?” Asami asked Kuvira who was now seated beside her on the ground.

“Trust me Sato, we did nothing. Not this time.” Though Asami did not want to believe her but somehow the way she had said it felt like it was the truth.

As they were trying to recover and take Korra to the other end of the compound Kuvira and Zaheer joined them in an unspoken agreement of trying to help. The moment Asami put Korra on the bed of the infirmary there was a blast  near the gate of the compound. Realising that the danger was still at bay for a few seconds. Bolin rushed and pushed the emergency button of the compound. The whole place went on a lockdown and sent a distress signal to Lin and Tenzin to the RCPD headquarters and Air temple while everyone in the compound took shelter in the command room.

“What’s...happening?” Korra gained a bit of control and said as soon as she opened her eyes. Asami jumped to her side giving her support as she was standing.

“We don’t know but someone is outside.” Zaheer said from behind her.

“It’s him.” Korra’s face left color as she recognised the spirit from outside. “The reason why I am here.” Asami pulled her close as she had never seen Korra that scared.