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More new arrivals but her business was elsewhere, and she figured she would be meeting them soon enough anyway.

The Sensoriums were set to look like Central Park as a pleasant spring day. Gentle breeze blowing while Kate lined up her shots toward the targets 50 feet away. It was very nice and pretty. A nice contrast from the ugliness of late. She had been feeling so mixed lately. Between being angry at Paco, nervous about Brenda's arrival, and then that whole last moment as the Yeerk died, it's been a very confusing time mentally and emotionally. She took her shots.

Still off. She went to go fetch her arrows, but then paused before find a place near a tree to slump down. She drew her knees up to her chin, and set her bow on the ground by her. She then lowered her head face down, and drew in slow shuddering breaths. She wasn't crying at the moment, but only because she wasn't sure how to feel at the moment.

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"Oh." Awkwaaaaaaard. "I'm sorry."

"You were part of the police?"

She has that look about her eyes that says "soldier." Zuko believes it.

Kate shook her head, "No, superhero. We deal with the things the police usually can't."

And she was a well trained fighter, her very stance reveling it.

"Superhero?" He doesn't get it. "Special forces?"

Maybe like the Dai Li? Only, you know, hopefully not corrupt and disloyal.

"Not with the police or any kind of government. Well shouldn't be really." There was a brief grimace on her face as she recalled the Civil War events back home.

"So you're vigilantes?"

The only vigilante Zuko has met is Jet, and while his vigilantism did not leave a particularly good impression, Kate seems a bit more reasonable. Why, is your government corrupt?"

"Kind of, and it's the law that wants us to register with the government that's corrupt. It's like they want to control us when we're only trying to help and stop the ones who can't be stopped by the police."

"That's . . ." complicated. "Complicated. What is it that the police can't handle?"

She nodded in agreement.

"It is. And well, for one thing, they don't have the equipment and guys to handle people with freezing powers, fire, or super strength."

Now that's just weird.

"The police don't have benders working for them?"

"Benders? What are they? And no, not exactly, even with the Act. The registered ones work with them. We never worked against him, it's just we can go where they can't."

Zuko holds out his right hand. A ball of flames blossoms over his palm. "Benders can use their energy to control the four elements. They're a staple of every police force. Do the benders in your world just not respond to recruiting?"

Forgive him, Kate, his mind's a little boggled. Governments that don't love and exalt their people with superpowers? Where's the sense in that?

"Really? We have some people with powers like that. Some got it through an accident, mutants were born with it. And it's more having to give up yourself and your identity to a governmental database where your enemies can target you and the people you care about. But before this? They were trying to control mutants more too, there's always been some resentment just because of their differences."

Kate added, "It's not just elemental powers either. One of my friends back home has super speed, another uses magic, a third can grow or shrink herself."

"It's an art form." Zuko doesn't really know what "mutation" is, so he can't directly contradict that. He closes his hand and the flames burn out. "In my country, it is an honor to protect and serve your country, whether you're a bender or not." He pauses. "It used to be, anyway. It should be."

He scratches the back of his head, self-consciously.

"I don't know much about your world. Your government sounds very corrupt, if it's not an honor to serve them."

"It's more that if we wanted to serve them? There should be a choice in it. Like if we wanted to volunteer to join the military we could. But here? It's forced. You have no say."

She added, "I love New York, my city, and sure, America too. But this is how I want to keep them safe."

Volunteer to join the military? Why WOULDN'T anyone? Unless they were a pacifist. It's not like joining the military is forced in the Fire Nation, but it IS a pretty lucrative (and honorable!) career path.

"I . . . can see how that would make things difficult." Especially if the people in the military don't agree, ehwhat?

"Can you? I don't know how familiar you are with American culture."

He hazards a guess. "Is that your kingdom?"

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