The Rebellion Within

Epilogue

October 28, 1937

(10 years later)

"...and of course, the concept of war which we have to keep present during the whole course. This idea, created by mankind since the very beginning, that's used to solve the most extreme problems and actually bring a solution to them. The solution is subjective, a victim of one's interpretation and side in the war. Look at The Great War, for example, look at the way Germany suffered the consequences of a war they didn't even start. Some people see the Treaty of Versailles as an absolute end to this conflict, but you know the Germans aren't content at all. Hitler's speech...it's quite dangerous, it's frightening that a man like this is in power and making Germany stronger against the wishes of the Treaty. The world is polarizing and the last time I said this I was right. In the middle of the war, the Rif Wars as they're called now, I remember I told my Lieutenant that Spain was polarizing and soon to break into war."

"The bitch didn't believe me." Laughter sounded in the air. "But, the truth is, the signs of soon-to-be wars are really easy to spot. The ambition, the tension, the need to prove power...they're so intensified that you can see them from kilometers away; and right now? They're at their peak. But why? Why do men feel the need to succumb to the chaos?" A glance at the wristwatch and a sigh. "I'll answer that in the next class." Some students stood up to leave but the voice of one, in particular, made them all sat down. Well, it was more like the question made them sit down.

"Professor, you mentioned you were in the Rif Wars...How was it?"

Korra furrowed her eyebrows slightly at the question, wondering what kind of answer she should give. Honesty, that was always the right answer. She sighed and sat down on the edge of the desk, the students watching her intently. Maybe she shouldn't have mentioned that detail...

"If I'm honest...it was the worst thing I've ever experienced in my life. You never get used to it, to see men who were with you five minutes before be dead in the next ten. It gets tiring, you start to question your values and the aftermath is even worse. Of course, not all of it is bad...the universe is kind to you some days..." She smiled softly then dropped it. "You meet incredible people that you just don't want to lose and you do lose most of them...and...it's been ten years and you still can't believe you couldn't help everyone; that you couldn't even help yourself." Korra kicked her metal leg against the desk for emphasis. She then cleared her throat and changed the focus back to the original question.

"I was assigned to the Spanish Legion during the last months of the war but I worked specifically with the administration of a hospital before that. Santa Fé Hospital was one of the biggest and the closest to enemy lines, so it was important to keep it safe and constantly operating. That was my job, and at first, I hated the idea of it. I mean, I was just promoted to captain and I wanted to work on the battlefield, but I'm glad my General gave me that assignment. I met remarkable nurses, who gave their lives to the war without a second thought; nurses willing to sacrifice themselves for each other and other nurses. In fact, the head nurse sacrificed herself to save as many of the nurses that were under her care as she could. For the first time in the war, I was met with love and empathy from them...just warmth and care; the passion for their job burned in their eyes like a forest fire. But...I failed at my job. The hospital doesn't exist today and most of those nurses aren't here to tell it, but the ones that are would tell you the story without batting an eye. I just wish I could've done more for them...but there's so much you can do with death breathing heavily down your neck."

That was always Korra's regret. The Hospital collapse still weighed around her shoulders the same way it did when that screeching sound filled the air and she had to carry Katara's body around more than ten years ago. It wasn't easy, war wasn't easy and the answer to that question wasn't easy at all. "To summarize it all, it was a living hell that we will discuss when we get to that topic next week." She hated the way she ended the response but, what else could she have said? The fact that it was easier to talk about doesn't mean that she wanted to, that she still didn't get nightmares from time to time; that loud noises didn't make her uneasy because that's what- She shook her head and took a few deep breaths, focusing on her surroundings. The smell of rain in the air, the cracks on the sidewalks, the sound of her umbrella and feet touching the ground, the handle of said umbrella; she was fine and she would enjoy the rest of her walk home as she did every day.