Senior Year

Where was she…where was she…not here…not here…  My mind was running through a thousand different paths, and none of them were good.  None of them would leave my mind until I saw her, until I had her in my arms.  Each cell was the same.  She’s not here.  I rounded a corner, ignoring Chief Beifong and Mako after they had found the missing police officers, Zolt, and his friends.  I ignored the fear radiating off the first Equalist pawn I found, slamming him up against the wall, my glove glowing with electricity.  There was only one person on my mind, and to hell was I going to let anyone get in my way of finding her.

“Where.  Is.  Avatar.  Korra.”

36 hours ago 

It was days like these, ones where I didn’t have any major plans after school and nothing else on my mind, that I enjoyed the most.  Days where I could just work on the little things, like giving my Satomobile a tune up.  One that was justifiable after the night I had put her through last week.  I could hear Korra outside the garage playing with Ikki and Meelo, their laughter filling up the semi-quiet garage.  I had the radio playing softly, as I always did whenever I worked on my car, but to hear them outside was just as soothing.

Currently, we were waiting on word from Tenzin about the emergency Council meeting Arlin had called.  Since taking up his new position with the police department, he had been slowly moving more and more into Council affairs, to the annoyance of Tenzin.  I could only imagine his motives for doing so, yet his warning still played in the back of my mind.

“If you won’t rejoin the task force, then I highly recommend you stay out of my way.”

I sighed, pushing myself out from underneath my car and sitting up.  I grabbed my rag from my tool box, tossing the tools I had just used back in, and wiped the grease off my face.  A quick bounce, and I found myself face to face with Meelo, a giant smile on his face.

I smiled back. “Hey, Meelo.  What’s up?”

“You’re really pretty,” he said, that smile never leaving his face.

I gave him a hug and a quick peck on the cheek. “You’re too sweet, Meelo, but I’m already spoken for.”

Korra walked in, a grin on her face. “Sorry bud.”

Meelo looked back and forth from us and shrugged. “Your loss, pretty lady,” he said before standing up and running back outside to his sister.  I couldn’t help but chuckle when I heard Ikki yell at him to stay away from her with the grease on his hands.

Korra smiled as she watched Meelo start to chase his sister before turning her attention back to me as I stood. “Everything ok?” she asked as I picked my tool box up.

“Yeah, why?” I replied as I sat it down on the workbench.

She shrugged, walking over and leaning up against the workbench. “You’ve just been uncharacteristically quiet the past couple days.”

I leaned over and kissed her softly. “Nothing’s wrong.  Sorry if I worried you.”

She smiled, returning the kiss, when Oogi and Tenzin landed in the courtyard.  Grabbing my hand, Korra practically dragged me over to the courtyard.  I knew she was worried about what the emergency meeting was for, but she could’ve at least let me go change out of these clothes first.  The grim look on Tenzin’s face signaled that it was probably a good thing Korra dragged me over.

“What is it?” she asked after he made his way to the ground.

Tenzin breathed a deep sigh. “Tarrlok was able to get the Council to implicate a new law making it illegal for anyone to have any association with the Equalist movement.  It also introduces a new curfew for nonbenders; they can’t be outside their homes after dark.”

“What?”  I asked, concerned about how this would affect the patrols we had just started to get used to. “That’s…that’s ridiculous!”

The three of us began to walk inside the temple. “I know, and I fought against it, but the rest of the Council voted against me for it,” Tenzin explained.  He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to go make some phone calls about this.”

We watched as he left.  I could feel Korra’s anger starting to build, and I couldn’t blame her.  What Arlin was doing was uncalled for, and it was only adding onto the tension that was building in the city between the benders and nonbenders.  I looked at her, watching as she ran scenario after scenario through her mind about what this law meant for us, especially me.  I took her hand and gently squeezed it, breaking her from her thoughts.  She looked at me, and I smiled softly.

“What are we going to do?” I asked, the smile turning into a small frown.  I didn’t want Korra or any of our friends getting in trouble.  It wouldn’t be fair to them.

As if on cue, Mako, Bolin, and Opal made their way over to us.  By the looks on their faces, Tenzin had relayed the new law to them, and they were just as concerned as we were.  Turning our attention to Korra, I was surprised to see a smile on her face.

“We keep doing what we’ve been doing, which means we’re going on a patrol tonight.”

That night, the patrol was moving slowly.  The new curfew had a lot of people on edge, so it was no surprise that many chose to stay indoors.  Having only been out a couple hours, we decided to stop by one of the few shops open late at night.  I leaned back against the driver’s door, finishing up the small pastry I had bought, when I heard Opal’s voice come over the receiver. 

“Guys, police are moving to the Dragon Flatts Burrow with reports of Equalist movement,” she said quickly.

I quickly jumped into the front, sliding my goggles over my eyes, and hit the accelerator with a smile.  Finally some action.  Speeding away from the shop, it didn’t take long to reach the Burrow, but what we found was concerning.  Several police department airships were hovering over the Burrow, and the power was out.  A police barricade came into view, and I pulled the car over.  I got out, sliding my goggles to their resting spot on top of my head, and I looked at the view with concern.

Blocked off by several barricades were the residents of the Burrow, frustrations and angers boiling over into a screaming match with the police.  None of them were armed nor were they dangerous; most had come outside in their pajamas.  Chief Saikhan was present, ordering the residents, mostly nonbenders, to return to their homes, but the crowd didn’t disperse.  A little girl noticed our arrival, pointing us out to her mother.

The mother looked at us, along with several other members of the crowd. “Please, Avatar Korra.  Help us; you’re our Avatar, too,” she pleaded, holding her youngest closer to her chest.

I looked over at Korra, watching her reactions.  Frustration was written clearly on her face as she turned around, heading straight for a large tent.  At a closer inspection as the boys and I followed closely behind her, I saw that it belong to Arlin, who was standing outside with another gentleman.

I pressed the button on my earpiece. “Opal, it’s Asami.  No Equalists here; just Arlin trying to use his authority and influence against some nonbenders.  You might want to inform Tenzin about this.”

“Got it.  Going now,” she replied as Korra and Arlin began to argue about the current situation.

Korra was standing toe to toe with Arlin, not budging as he narrowed his eyes at her. “You have no right to treat these nonbenders like they’re criminals, Arlin,” she said, her fists clenching at her sides.

“This is an Equalist rally.  There’s nothing innocent about it,” Arlin retorted, pointing towards the crowd.

I stepped forward. “They’re not Equalists.  They’re just normal people who want their rights back.”

Narrowing his eyes at me, Arlin straightened his posture and turned his attention to Saikhan. “Round up these Equalists,” he ordered.

We watched as the police officers began to metalbend the barriers around several members of the crowd.  As the earth below them was lifted into the air, the others who hadn’t been wrangled up like cattle dispersed, their screams echoing in the night as they ran.  Korra ran over to the ones who had been rounded up, earthbending their spots back into the ground.  Several of those who were on the ends of the barriers were able to slide underneath them and escape.

“Stop this!” she shouted at the police officers.

As I watched, I failed to notice Arlin turn his attention to me.  A second later, I was pulled over to him and the officers beside him, a waterbent tendril wrapped around my arm and pulling it behind my back.  I gasped in pain at the sudden movement.  I turned my head towards him, confused. “Hey, let me go!”

“You’re under arrest,” Arlin said, a smile on his face.

“You can’t do that!” Mako shouted.

Arlin turned his attention towards Mako. “Actually, I can.  She’s a nonbender out past curfew, and her father has known Equalist ties.  Speaking of which,” he said, turning his attention to his police officers. “Arrest both of them as well for obstructing an arrest.”

“Enough!” Korra shouted as she earthbent two large pieces of rock from the ground.  I could see from the fire in her eyes that she was willing to do all she could to keep us from going to jail, but I couldn’t let put herself in that position, especially with Amon still on the loose.

“Korra.  Korra, look at me,” I said.  Slowly, she turned her attention from Arlin to me, her eyes meeting mine. “It’s alright.  We’ll be alright.  Please, put them down; we can’t have you arrested too.  Go find Tenzin and Opal, alright?”

She looked at me, that fire still in her eyes, before her gaze began to soften.  The rocks slowly lowered themselves to their respective holes as she calmed herself down.  She watched as we were led to different trucks, the sorrow on her face eating away at my heart.  She’ll get us out of here.  I know she will.

6 hours ago 

I sighed, resting my head on my hands as I stared up at the ceiling of the cell I was in.  Everything in it was metal, but at least I was able to get somewhat comfortable.  It was quiet, but it wasn’t the comforting quiet I always looked forward to when I was working on a project.  No, this quiet was void of everything; it was the lonely type quiet you tended to avoid unless you were having just an overall bad day.  This type of quiet lets your mind wander to places you don’t really want to think about.  In this case, my mind began to wander towards Korra.  Spirits, it’s only been a few hours in here, and I miss her.

When we weren’t released last night, I figured it had to do with Arlin and Saikhan.  Since I had convinced Korra to talk with Tenzin and had gotten Opal to inform him of our situation before our arrest, I was fairly certain that they would have at least tried to get us released last night.  I sighed, pulling my leg up slightly.  At least I didn’t have any homework due today at school.  I frowned, thinking about how this whole situation was going to look when it came to Republic City University.  Well, at least I have some backup plans.

A ripping noise echoed through the cell, and I sat up in time to see Beifong tear the door off its hinges.  She was dressed in her police uniform with a trench coat over it.  I smiled when I saw Opal move into view.

“Come on; we’re busting you out,” Beifong said, taking a step to the side.

I stood up fast, meeting Opal halfway in a hug. “Thanks,” I replied to Beifong, only getting a nod in return.

We began to make our way down to the boys’ cell, Opal and I quickly following behind Beifong.  Opal looked me over, worry written over her face. “They didn’t hurt you, did they?” she asked.

I smiled, taking her hands in mine. “I’m fine, Opal.  A little sore from the arrest, but I’ll be fine.  I promise.”

Beifong stopped in front of a door, metalbending it aside as she had done with mine.  A yelp came out from Bolin as he quickly redid his pants, Mako shaking his head at his brother.  Opal moved inside the cell faster, jumping into Bolin’s arms and kissing him softly.  I rolled my eyes at my friend, a smile on my face as I walked into Mako’s hug.

“You alright?” I asked.

“We’re fine.  You?” he replied with a smile.

I rolled my shoulders. “Just a bit sore, but I’ll be ok.”

Beifong cleared her throat, signaling the end of Bolin and Opal’s kiss, a frown on her face. “Sorry, but we have to get going.  Korra’s in trouble.  Amon captured her.”

My eyes went wide in fear.  No…no not Korra… “When?”

Opal sighed, resting against Bolin. “Last night.  She went to speak with Arlin about getting you guys out of here, and chi blockers ambushed them.  Arlin was knocked out.”

Beifong shook her head. “Come on; we can discuss this on the way to Tenzin’s office.  We have an Avatar to save.”

The four of us rushed out of the cell quickly.  As I made my way down the hall, I heard a quick zip and yelp emanate from Bolin.  I looked back quickly to see Bolin covering the front of his pants and Beifong with an indifferent look on her face.

“Your fly was down,” she told him as she began to walk down the hall.

Opal and I began to giggle at Bolin’s embarrassed expression. “Thanks for catching that…” he replied as he began to slowly follow us.  Only Bolin.

Present 

“I won’t ask again.  Where is Avatar Korra?” My left hand begun to squeeze around his throat while the glove on my right hand began to glow.

After collecting Tenzin from his office, we had found our way into the Equalist prison through a tunnel near where Bolin had been abducted all those months ago.  I was somewhat impressed with their subway systems but angered at the thought of it being constructed by my father.  My anger transferred into my hand, squeezing even harder on the chi blocker’s throat.

“She’s not here!  We didn’t attack City Hall last night; that Arlin guy was lying!” the chi blocker shouted, his voice cracking as he tried to get air into his lungs.

At the sounds of footsteps coming down the hall, I looked to see Beifong arriving with her missing police officers, all of whom had depressed expressions.  Their bending’s gone.  Please, please, let Korra have her bending still.  Beifong looked at the chi blocker I had against the wall before turning her attention to me.

“He’s telling the truth.  I scanned the entire complex.  She’s not here,” she said.

I shook my head, dropping the chi blocker in frustration.  Mako rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Why would he say that he was attacked by Equalists then?” he asked.

My eyes widen at the realization.  I’m such an idiot. “Son of a…he’s got Korra.” Could this day get any worse?