The Search
(Asami)
Republic City Police Department
A week. It had been exactly one week since she'd last seen Korra. One week since the masked criminals had taken her. One week and they still hadn't even heard anything that could give them a clue as to where Korra might be, who the people that took her are, what they want from her, or if she was even still alive. For the Republic City Police Department, it had been a week of frantically searching for even the smallest of hints or clues that could give an indication of the Avatars location; every alleyway searched, every building inspected, every gang member, every thug, every criminal, even drug lords and those associated with in the last 2 years, were thoroughly interrogated. Search parties operated on the hour every hour. The skies practically blacked out with air ships, blocking out the blistering sun from reaching the streets below, roads flooded with officers, investigators, volunteers, all with one common goal - find and rescue the Avatar.
For Asami, it had been a week of very little sleep, long nights spent roaming the streets as she ran her own search party outside of the official hunt, desperately trying to find Korra. Her mind was completely fixated on getting Korra back that it left very little room for anything else. She couldn't sleep. She wouldn't eat. She barely drunk anything. Her energy was diminishing by the day, but she wouldn't give up. She couldn't do anything else, her mind simply wouldn't allow it - throwing her into overdrive. Mako and Bolin weren't far off - they'd managed to keep up their diet, but the tiredness was clearly visible on their faces too. Black bags beginning to sag beneath eyelids. Hair a complete scruff. Bolin even felt that his clothes were beginning to wear him. Asami hadn't even bothered applying fresh makeup everyday, some days she'd remember out of habit, but most days, if her body allowed a short nap, she'd toss her clothes on, grab the keys to her car and sprint out the door. Her hair had sagged a little, no longer containing her typical sleek, shiny, puffy, consistency. The effect of Korra's abduction had affected Asami the worst. And Mako and Bolin could easily see it, constantly trying to reassure her, forcing her to eat or drink just something from time to time. But with each day that passed, spent searching for hours at no end, only to find nothing, it had quickly sent them all spiralling into their own pools of fear, worry, anxiety and depression.
Until today.
Asami had been gearing up to head out to begin another search party when she'd gotten the call from Tenzin, "Asami, as soon as you can get to Chief Beifong's office immediately - it's about Korra." Though there were no indications of worry held in his voice, Asami couldn't help but assume the worst given how little information he provided, as she sped down the streets, swerving in and out of cars, cutting corners a little too close as she reached the RCPD.
Bursting through the doors of Lin's office she spoke in a hurry, releasing a flurry of questions, "Are there any new leads? What about Korra, do we know where she is?! Is she okay?!" Tenzin and Lin gazed up at her from behind Lin's desk where they'd been bent over scales and maps of Republic City with a few of Lin's officers. Mako had his back to all of them, studying a larger scaled map of the city as well as the surrounding outskirts, whilst Bolin stood idly by with Pabu resting on his shoulder moping at the ground, trying to rub the sleep from his eyes.
"We do," said Tenzin as he stood up straight, walking over to where Mako, "we believe we finally have a lead into Korra's whereabouts."
"We've searched the entire city; my officers have swept it clean, nothing from the ground, the skies or even underground in the mazes of tunnels beneath the city. So it's safe to say that Korra's definitely not in Republic City." Lin said, an odd sense of calm in her voice, which irritated the living hell out of Asami. Even though Asami couldn't comprehend just how Lin managed to be so calm with the Avatar missing, she didn't have time to pick a fight, there were far more important things at hand - she had to rescue the girl she loves. At this point in time, Asami no longer bothered denying it or trying to hide it. The stress and worry of a missing Korra, had pushed her to not give a damn what anyone thought about her "caring too much" or her "worrying too much for someone who's just a friend" regarding Korra. For all she cared, they could whisper and assume and talk all they want - the only thing that mattered to her was bringing Korra home.
"So," Mako says speaking up, turning now to face Asami and everyone else swamped into Lin's office "That's when we realised that whoever captured her must've known we would have found them if they remained in Republic City. That means that this whole time we've been looking in our own backyard, they were never here in the first place! That's why we haven't been able to find Korra - they're not in Republic City anymore!" He beamed with hope and newfound determination, "That's when we started searching neighbouring towns and villages. In a town called Shai-Yin," he said beckoning to a small village bordering the ocean, outlined by a red circle on one of Beifong's maps, "a couple fisherman that were out late the night Korra was captured said a strange boat arrived at the docks, there were a bunch of men and they looked to be carrying a large sack. At first they thought it was just fish, but they realised that was no fishing boat they docked on and that bag wasn't shaped the right way to hold any fish. It had to have been Korra!"
Mako held the widest expression on his face. Joy, that they finally had an insight, a clue, after a week of frantic searching, but worry, because it had been a week since those fisherman or probably anyone else for that matter, saw them. Anything could've happened to her in that time. And they were all praying it wasn't too late.
"The villagers believe they took Korra into the nearby mountain ranges not too far from the village, the Zaigon mountain ranges. They're steep, it's not an easy place to get to, meaning it's also very isolated. Back during the hundred year war, it was said that a herd of badger moles used to live there and dug hidden cave dwellings deep within the mountain. However nobody's been there for years. It's possible these criminals could've built some kind of undercover base. We think that's where Korra is being held." Tenzin said. They were all speaking directly to Asami. It bothered her that she wasn't here last night when they were piecing together the clues that led them to this conclusion. Perhaps she could've reached it sooner and they'd have Korra in their presence again. However Mako and Bolin had forced her to go home and rest at the time, after she'd released a fit of rage at the Police Departments errand boy for forgetting to release a higher award for Korra's recovery. But what bothered her more was that she hadn't thought of searching neighbouring towns sooner - looking back on it, she knew how much time she could've saved, and in their situation, time was of the utmost importance.
"There we have it then," Lin spoke up, "An airship has already been prepped. When we arrive at the Zaigon mountain ranges we'll split off into teams to search the area. Officer Xiao, take a team with you to investigate the common trails, Officer Lee and his team will take the base of the mountains, whilst Tenzin, Mako, Bolin, Asami and I will take a third team of officers and investigate the tunnels and caves. You have your orders, now let's go, we have an Avatar to rescue." With that, she dismissed them all as they prepared for the search.
(Asami)
Airship approaching the Zaigon Mountain Ranges
"It's going to be okay you know" Mako said quietly as he approached Asami, a hand on her shoulder. They were aboard the airship and the mountain ranges were in view. It was breaking on night fall. A shroud of mist and cloud surrounded the mountains tip, yet it's stark silhouette starkly stood out amongst the sky line. Asami was standing right up against the glass. In her eyes shone a fierce determination at the possibility that Korra could be just up ahead. She was so close now. "We're going to get her back."
"I know. I just wish it hadn't taken this long... Mako what, what if something happened to her?" Her body shook with fear as she fought to stay strong for Korra.
"We can't afford to think like that. It's Korra, she's strong. She's the Avatar. She'll be fine."
Asami nodded and steeled herself as the airship made it's descent. They geared up, split into teams and prepared to roll out. Asami grabbed the custom stun and electrocuting glove she'd designed herself. If these were the people that took Korra, that managed to bring Korra to her knees, she was going to have some sort of weapon that could enable her to protect Korra this time. She made a silent promise to herself as she strapped the glove on tight, I promise I'll protect you this time Korra.
"LET'S MOVE OUT PEOPLE!" Bolin yelled valiantly, leaping down from the airship followed closely by Asami, Mako, Tenzin, Lin and the specialist units.
(Korra)
Location Unknown
The hammering pounding in Korra's head woke her grimly into her conscious state. Her eyes adjusted to the sole bright light hanging in, what looked like her very own custom built prison cell. The walls were completely enclosed. Platinum, judging by her inability to feel any residual earth in the metallic walls. There wasn't even any opening, which confused her. How did she get put in here? If there was no way to put her in her in the first place? It was almost as if this place didn't even exist at all. As if she'd been put into some sub-conscious state, some alternate reality, of which she couldn't physically wake up from. Somewhere her mind was locked away, without any hope of escaping.
"Where the hell am I?" She wondered aloud.
A voice. Not a voice known to her, but a voice nonetheless, captured her attention. It shook these metallic walls a little, with the glitches in this strangers voice. Yet it sounded distant. Like it came from beyond the walls. Like this voice, belonged to an observer. Several observers. Like she was being observed. It didn't make much sense to her, but it felt like this voice was from the real, present moment. Not this strange, unknown dream-like trance. Korra struggled to wrap her head around the events leading up to this current moment. It took her a while, and it hurt like hell to remember, but she did. She remembered protecting those she loved at the banquet. She remembered her last days with everyone, and saying goodbye to Asami on the docks. She remembered warmly, the anxiousness of the possibility of developing something more with Asami, when they nearly kissed. Then she remembered what happened directly after; Naga taken down, Korra beaten, drugged and stolen away on a ship with masked criminals, all the while Asami helplessly watched from ashore.
Asami. Was she okay? Did they get her too?
But then, another voice cut through the air. A voice different from the observers voices. It possessed in it's voice, a clear sense of authority, of cold, dark, dangerous demeanour. If Korra still doubted this sub-conscious reality she'd been placed into, she needn't doubt anymore. Because this voice didn't only exist, but she could also feel it. As in her body, wherever her body was right now, tingled when this voice made it's presence known over her ear. She could feel this monsters breath. It made every fibre in her being shake with tremor. This person, whoever's voice was attached to this person, ran the show. He was the mastermind behind whatever twisted plan was being carried out.
"I'm sure you must be feeling a mixture of things right now, Avatar Korra. Feelings of terror, loneliness, worry, fear - fear for your life, for your safety, for your friends - and I'm sure, you must be wondering just how you are going to escape from this? Well let me stop you there and say that there is no escape. There is no situation where you get out of this alive. You're trapped and you're alone. No one's coming to save you. Nobody even knows you are here."
No...
"Administer the poison."
She heard footsteps approach her left side, and she jumped turning around trying to move away from the sound. But they continued to approach nonetheless. There was nobody in this celled room with her, but she knew in reality they were, judging by the prick she felt in her left arm and the sudden feeling of drowsiness. She fought to stay up. Her hands gripped the walls around her as she screamed forcing herself to stay upright. Forcing herself to wake up.
WAKE UP KORRA! WAKE UP!
The voice chuckled at her misfortune. Korra grit her teeth and dug her feet in. Her knuckles turned white. She felt her bodily senses slowly shutting down. But she didn't give in. She couldn't. This was her life. This was happening. She had to stay up. She had to.
"There's no use Avatar! Stop fighting! It's over."
The light in the room slowly began fading and the metallic walls began shrinking. Korra was slowly losing the fight to stay up, as she was slowly shrouded in darkness.
Asami ran. Faster than she'd ever run in her life. Tenzin had sensed something awful, and Lin used her seismic senses to ty pinpoint Korra's exact location. They'd been sprinting to get to her ever since they'd encountered the first concealed room full of masked enemy criminals. They were quick and many of them, but the specialist squadrons took care of them while Lin grabbed one of the masked mens lab coated scientist and threatened to have him spend the remainder of his days in a secret underground icy frozen prison in the vast Southern tundra, unless he told them where the Avatar was. He willingly complied, adding that they were only there to run research and handle the chemicals the organisation needed, they weren't involved in the capturing or torturing of the Avatar.
At the word torture, everybody's ears perked up in anger. Asami, wild eyed shoved the man up by the collar of his shirt, and nearly strangled him to death, until Mako pulled her off of him.
Lin didn't let him get out of reach. She kept him in close proximity, as they neared a concealed steel doorway. She tried to use her metal bending to twist the door knobs from the other side, but it wouldn't work.
"It's not only platinum steel locks, but you also have to have credentials and secret passcodes to access what's beyond this room. Stay back." The timid scientist begged.
"If you alert them that were are outside this door, I swear-" Asami threatened.
The man knocked thrice, paused, one more knock, another pause, then five times. To which a short moment later, a layer of rock shifted to the left revealing a platinum door. A small hatch opened, and tiny eyes revealed themselves from behind it.
"Ganju? What are you doing here? You're not meant to be here." the man behind the hatch asked. Thankfully he couldn't see the others, carefully hidden out of sight.
"It's important. He wanted me to bring another dose, a more vital dose." The scientist replied nervously.
"He should have everything already Ganju, what's really going on?"
"Do you really want to be questioning his orders?! I'm doing as he asked!"
"Fine." The hatch shut. The sound of bolts and knobs being twisted and yanked open, followed by the creak of the door being opened, revealed another mysterious masked man. Once he noticed the scientists' empty hands he knew something was wrong. He yelled for help, right about the time Lin stepped into view and earth-bent the ground beneath his feet and launched him into the air and flung him behind the railings he was standing on. The team sprinted into the concealed room. Tenzin, Lin, Mako and Bolin handled the onslaught of the guards, while Asami raced around them looking from above the mezzanine for--
"Korra!"
She was completely still on a steel table. The few scientists that were surrounding her, quickly scavenged away as Mako made his way round to them and quickly arrested them. Asami leapt down, chasing after Korra, when another masked criminal stopped her before she could get close, and attacked her. Driven by the pure adrenaline of having finally found Korra, Asami fought with such extreme ferocity she'd never experienced before, and quickly took the man down, shattering his bones in several places and electrocuting him for good measure.
She raced up to Korra's side.
"Korra! It's okay, I'm here. You're okay, I promise." She quickly untied her wrist and ankle chains and held her head in her hands. But Korra didn't wake. By this point Bolin was next to her, gently shaking her but she still didn't move. Asami, shaking, checked for a pulse, while Mako slammed a scientist against the wall, a white hot flame concentrated into the form of a knife in his hands, held dangerously close to his throat, demanding answers as for why Korra's not awake.
"It's the poison! A toxic mechanic poison extracted from the remainders of a meteorite that Zaheer made us develop. It keeps the user under a subconscious state, one which they can never wake from."
"How do we stop it?! Wheres the cure?!"
"There is no cure! Zaheer made it very clear there was meant to be no way of curing this."
Tears were brewing in Asami's eyes, when Bolin muttered his most genius thought, one that had the potential of saving Korra; "if it's metallic, surely Beifong can metal bend the poison out of Korra's body!?" Lin looked at him completely bewildered, but knew it was worth a try. Asami clutched Korra's hand for dear life. Bolin prayed to Raava, that Korra was going to be okay. Mako watched, eyes completely white in what seemed like helpless hope, while Lin stood at the base of Korra, took up a strong stance, and extended her arms, sensing and scanning every inch of metal within the room. She could feel the earth in every element of metal; the walls, the floors, utensils, needles, the radio, knives, saws, even the metal handcuffs now strapped securely onto every single masked man and lab-rat, until finally she zeroed in on the subtle remnants of metallic poison in Korra's body. Her fingers gripped the air, locking onto the poison inside her, as she slowly pulled the metal and felt it react to her command, react to her pull and move through her body. Lin pulled and pulled until her outstretched fingers, curled into fists and the metallic, chrome coloured poison formed as bubbles and beads of liquid on Korra's skin, until finally she yanked it free of her completely and enclosed it into a clear cylinder.
Korra's eyes shone completely white as she gasped for air. She struggled to blink away the whiteness that overwhelmed her eyes, before they disappeared and were immediately replaced with the tranquil blue that had captured Asami so intensely since the day they first met. They zeroed in on Asami, while she steadily held her back, stroking her hair calmly and kissing her forehead, whispering that everything was okay, that everything was going to be fine now. Korra was safe. Korra was okay. She was home.
The calm of Asami's words eased Korra's mind and body back to safety as she fell, safely and peacefully, into unconsciousness.