A storm gathered over Republic City.
Not one of clouds and rain—but of whispers, shadows, and fear.
The public blamed benders. The Council blamed radicals. But Tenzin, Korra, and Kaiqok knew the truth: someone was pulling strings from the darkness.
And now, they had a name.
The Stellar Hand.
---
The morning after the market attack, Air Temple Island was far from peaceful.
"Three more flare spots," Asami reported, tapping locations on the map sprawled across Tenzin's meditation table. "All industrial zones. All close to spirit energy lines. Whoever's behind this knows the city's layout better than most."
Tenzin folded his arms. "If they're targeting infrastructure infused with spirit tech, then it's more than just destruction—it's sabotage."
Kaiqok watched the holographic spirit energy map Asami projected. His mind spun.
This wasn't random.
This was strategic.
And that made it personal.
"Why call themselves the Stellar Hand?" Korra asked. "That's not just some rebel gang name. It means something."
Kaiqok spoke without looking up. "In my past life, there were legends. Ancient chakra users who believed in cosmic harmony through domination. They called themselves the Stellar Hand. But it was myth… a cult buried in time."
Tenzin looked grave. "It seems someone's trying to bring that myth to life."
---
That evening, it arrived.
A small silver envelope slipped under the Air Temple's outer gate. Sealed with a mark: a seven-pointed star wrapped in a serpent.
Kaiqok recognized it instantly. The real Stellar Hand's emblem.
He opened it with caution.
Inside was a single piece of paper, neatly folded. On it, written in a swirling script that shimmered faintly with spirit ink:
"Return what was taken. The stars remember what you tried to forget. Come alone to the Dragon's Eye, midnight. —K."
Korra peered over his shoulder. "You know what that means?"
Kaiqok's mouth was tight. "The Dragon's Eye is an abandoned observatory north of the city. It was used during spirit eclipses… before the Veil Era."
Tenzin reached for the note. "And 'K'? Who is that?"
Kaiqok didn't answer right away.
He turned to the window, watching a hawk spirit soar over the city.
"...It was my name. In my old life."
---
Midnight fell like a blade.
Kaiqok moved silently through the ruins of the observatory, cloaked in wolf chakra—his senses expanded, his steps silent.
The once-proud structure was nothing but broken glass and mossy stone now. The stars shone overhead, clear and cold.
Then came the voice.
"I was wondering if you'd come alone."
It echoed unnaturally. Soft. Familiar.
Kaiqok turned slowly.
From the shadows stepped a tall figure in a white-and-black mask shaped like a dragon's jaw. Their cloak flowed like liquid ink, and golden chakra burned along their arms—identical to his.
But wrong.
Twisted.
"Who are you?" Kaiqok asked, though a part of him already knew.
The masked figure tilted their head. "A reflection. A memory. A consequence you forgot."
Then the figure raised a hand—and behind him, five more emerged from the dark, each wearing a different animal mask: lion, vulture, serpent, beetle, owl.
The Stellar Hand.
"We've been watching," the leader said. "Since the moment you re-entered the world. You're a fracture. An imbalance. And we… are the correction."
Kaiqok's eyes flared with golden light. "You're a sickness. Pretending to be a cure."
The masked man chuckled. "Still stubborn. Still blind."
Suddenly, he moved—faster than a blink. A blade of pure chakra sliced toward Kaiqok's neck.
He blocked it with a wolf fang of light, countering with a burst of fire-infused chakra. The explosion lit up the night.
The others moved in unison—gliding across the broken floor, surrounding him.
But Kaiqok was already moving, shifting forms mid-fight. His chakra cloak surged, and the wolf blurred into a golden tiger, roaring with power as it slammed into the serpent-masked figure, sending them flying.
The leader dashed forward, hand glowing with a sickly red-gold energy.
Kaiqok blocked—but it wasn't enough. The hit connected with his ribs, sending pain lancing through him as he crashed into the observatory wall.
The masked figure stood above him, cloak billowing.
"You may have power," he said coldly. "But you're alone. And soon, so will she be."
At the mention of Korra, something inside Kaiqok snapped.
The golden cloak around him shimmered, shifted—becoming a phoenix of blinding light.
He launched into the sky, wings of chakra spreading wide as he unleashed a rain of fire-light, forcing the Stellar Hand to retreat into the shadows.
They vanished—melting into the stone, the stars, the dark.
But not without leaving one last message behind.
Etched into the observatory's ancient floor, carved in burning lines of spirit-fire:
"Balance through Oblivion. The Avatar will fall."
---
Back on Air Temple Island, Korra was waiting, pacing.
When Kaiqok stumbled through the door, she ran to him, panic in her eyes.
"You're bleeding!"
"I've had worse," he grunted, clutching his side.
"Tell me everything," she demanded.
He nodded slowly.
"I will. But just know this, Korra—whatever's coming… they're not just after me anymore."
She swallowed hard, brushing a streak of blood from his face. "Then we fight together. No more running."
He smiled faintly, despite the pain. "Deal."