11
Book One, Episode Five: The Red Days
Air Temple Island
Fire sizzled, sparked, crackled. It roared. Flames were a force of passion, of devotion, of certainty. They said the strongest firebenders were those most dedicated, not those most angry or fierce. Having a belief in one's self, one's role, one's purpose – that was what made a good firebender. Korra was not only a good firebender – she was a master. Like any master, the art she practiced was as much a part of her as her arm. In times of confusion, it was her solace. Her peace.
A pair of fists darted in a blur, bursts of flame kicking from her fists in the dawn air – sizzling the small trickles of rain as they pattered down around Korra. From beneath the nearby gazebo, Korra heard Naga's whine – the polar bear dog nuzzling the space between two pillars as it peeked out from its resting position. A small ruff escaped her lips, and Korra ceased – letting the rain drip down her face. "What is it, girl?" She asked, looking up as the water pattered in the dawn dark. A small flame lit her hand as she walked over.
The dog sat up – her eyes droopy and confused. Korra used her free hand to scratch at her pet's nape, Naga's expression unchanged. A small frown creased Korra's face in the dark, droplets of water tapping calmly on the gazebo railing. "I know, girl." She said at last – glancing back towards the temple. "I don't get it, either."
She turned around, letting the rain hit her. The chill was familiar – so unlike the rest of this city. Cars flooded the streets. Police flung from the rooftops on cables. There were people -everywhere-, and everything was so fast. Fast in a way she loved – but so alien she could hardly handle it. Here on the island, she could think. 'I know why Al loved it here.' She thought, realizing that he'd come from a place far too much like Republic City. He'd seen the busy streets and ignored them – he'd crossed streets with confidence, navigated the network like he called it home.
In a way, he looked alive when he did that – but so, so tired. Not like here, where he looked serene.
"Why did he leave, Naga?" She asked, looking back. Fire lit in her hands. She let out a few bursts, sizzling the water and sending steam clouds floating into the chilled sky. "He loved it here – he got along with Tenzin! I can't even do that!" She said, kicking a swathe of flame across the soaking sky.
Naga barked, standing, as a crackle of thunder split the sky – small zolts of lightning rippling through the far skies – coming closer. Korra shook her head, her loose hair tight to her face as she looked back at Naga. "Don't worry, girl! The lightning will hit the tower. We're perfectly safe here." She said, taking up her stance. A trio of flashes fought back the darkess, a cool light on the horizon signaling the rising sun behind the clouds. A loud boom of thunder assailed their ears, and Naga began to paw at her head – closing her eyes as she pushed into the side of the Gazebo. Her whines filled the silence after the storm.
"Hey!" Korra said, stepping over to rub Naga's muzzle. "It'll be alright, girl. We can't be afraid of a little thunder where we'll be going." She said with a smile. "Avatar Kyoshi and her Beaverene fought off Chin the Conqueror, didn't she?" Korra rubbed Naga, and the dog ruffed happily – despite the rain, and the fire, and the cold. "You're a polar bear dog!" She said, knocking on Naga's head. "You can swim in the arctic – there's no reason to be afraid of a little lightning!" She shouted.
Korra stepped out onto the small rock landing near the sea. "See?" She said, looking back. She reached down, feet swirling as she spun her arms. "I can even make the water stop!" She shouted out, beaming as she formed a sheet of water over her head – rippling as water sprayed off the edges, roaring down around her.
Naga barked as water ran down the roof – forming a waterfall in the way between them. Korra let the water fly with a shove, the torrent soaking a nearby thicket with a solid wall of water. Brushing her hair from her eyes, she smiled at Naga. "See, girl?" She said, nuzzling her with her nose. "Nothing to worry about. I'm the Avatar. What's the worst that could happen?"
Lightning struck loudly – thunder roaring on top of them – and the tower lit brightly as electricity crackled around Korra. She jumped – flying into the air, and felt a rush of wind beneath her feet. Korra skidded hard along the rocks, knocking her head – and she groaned as the water mixed with stars in her eyes. She squeezed her eyes shut as a figure lurched over the gazebo railing, feet scraping on the rocks and nuzzling her chest. It barked. "I'm fine, Naga!" Korra shouted. "Don't worry about it – I'll be okay." She said, shaking off the pain. She'd practically flown in the air – and, with a groan, she rose to her feet. Naga licked at her hands, gently biting one and tugging on it.
"No, girl." Korra said. "I need to think." She returned to her stance as Naga loped away with a huff. She shot a pair of flaming blasts into the sky before her, heat tracing up – and a loud crack of thunder roared against her ears. "It just doesn't make sense!" She shouted out, rubbing at her temples. "You don't just run out on everyone you know, randomly, with no reason!"
More thunder, lightning crackling on the sea before her. "Not on the Avatar!" She roared, hairs on her neck standing as she felt a crackle of static along her skin. She looked up, with a gulp, and back to Naga.
"Naga!" She shouted. "Something's not-" Her eyes snapped up, and she felt a sudden surge of electricity. Her heart skipped a beat – and she felt something swell inside her. A rush of fear – a learned response she'd never felt before.
At once, a hundred voices whispered in her ears, and a glowing light transfixed her face. Naga began barking loudly, angrily, and Korra kicked out her legs from beneath her, a whirl of rushing air gusting from her feet, sending her skidding across the ground. Where she stood, a massive jolt of lightning struck the ground. Sparks and a small flame remained – Naga cowering and barking in fear as Korra scraped to a halt amongst the soaking mud of nearby woods.
The light in her eyes faded, and she let out a faint gasp, rolling to her knees as Naga rushed after her, barking loudly. The Dog tackled her, still barking, and she rubbed hard at her eyes with mud-covered hands. "Naga?" She asked, rolling around to see the dog's slobbering mouth dripping on her chest. "What happened?"
As the dog let her stand, Korra felt a rush of air from her hands – and she yelped in surprise as she found herself floating in the air – and as quickly as she had gone up, she was on her way back down – the wind at her ankles dissipating. With a flush of wind and flame, Korra rolled down the slope towards the Women's Dormitory, Naga huffing in pursuit. She let herself splay over the pavement, eyes flinching shut as water pattered against her face. Breathing hard, she whispered as Naga stood over her. "I just airbent." She said.
There was silence as she lay there, her tanktop and pants soaking in the dreary rain. After a moment, she shot up – her eyes snapping to Naga. Her hands scratched at the concerned dog's neck. "Naga!" She shouted. "I can airbend!" Korra shot up – a gust of wind suddenly toppling her end-over-end and face-first into the stone. She winced, a slight brush of air saving her from a shattered nose.
Naga barked.
"I can try, anyway!" Korra shouted, growling with pain.
==
Future Industries
A man in a black suit stepped into the lobby of the Future Industries building – a fixture on the eastern side of downtown Republic City. Home to Sato's personal offices and design bureaus, the FI Headquarters was a shining silver pillar – though the real meat of the company lay in another part of town at the Satomobile Factory – an utterly massive four-towered facility near his childhood home of the Dragon Flats.
The man's dress shoes carried him calmly across the floor, the cog of Future Industries at his feet. His footsteps rung out amidst the marble, the receptionists glanced at him – arriving early in the morning – and cocked their heads. One of them shuffled through her appointment lists. Al calmly adjusted his tie, smiling as he approached. "Hello!" He said, happily. "I'm here to see Mr. Sato – is he available? I had hoped to arrive before the meat of his schedule."
The central receptionist blinked at him. She looked at her coworkers. "Mr. Sato doesn't accept walk-in meetings, Mr....?"
"You can call me Pliskin*." Al said, with an internal laugh. "Al Pliskin. I met Mr. Sato at a recent event at Ten Towers Theater – he gave me his personal card." He reached into his jacket, withdrawing it and laying it on the table. The receptionist picked it up, holding it to the light – and saw a silver strip in the middle of it. One of the others' eyes practically exploded open at it.
"My, my." The one holding the card said. "Mr. Sato doesn't give these out very handily, Mr. Pliskin." She set it down, sliding it back to him, and reached down to the phone at her desk. After a moment's wait, she spoke. "Reception for Mr. Sato, direct, please." There was a pause. "Yes, Mr. Sato? Apologies for calling so early, sir. A gentleman here has your personal card – and would like to meet with you, if you have the time."
Al folded his hands behind his back, dropping to a position of ease. His eyes traced the walls, high stone and marble – with a chandelier, too. A building of extravagance, with a facade meant to impress. Sato was a man who understood the power of industry: and the shield it provided against the force of the law. No doubt there were dozens of Equalists, squirming their way through the system.
Al pressed his lips into a thin line as the woman put her phone down. Her finger pointed to the elevator. "You'll need to head inside and tell the doorman-" Al held up a hand.
"It's not my first time in the land of corporations, ma'am." Al smiled, turning on his heel. He stepped to the elevator, pressing the call button with a ringing buzz. The doorway parted – and a single attendant in red stood there, looking at him. "Mr. Sato's office, please." He said, turning to lean against the elevator rail as he entered.
The operator cocked his eyebrows in surprise. "A meeting with Mr. Sato this early, sir?" He asked. "Rare he sees anyone before the main meeting with the board – and that's not for another hour."
Al shrugged, his suit tight to his chest as he spoke. "Mr. Sato gave me his personal calling card – I don't think he would've done that unless he meant it."
"Really?" The operator said, cranking the lever. It began to pull them up – completely unassisted by bending, as Al noticed most buildings lacked. Without a metalbender, many elevators were useless – only they could keep the safety mechanisms closed and the cables moving. Here? Bender-free. Al 'wondered' why.
The car came to a halt, dozens of floors up, after a lengthy trip. Al nodded to the man, stepping out onto the floor, dozens of parts and pieces of equipment within a round room on pedestals. At the far end, a single reception desk flanked a pair of glass double doors, leading to a spacious office – Hiroshi Sato's tired face scribbling on papers atop his desk.
The receptionist smiled at him. "Hello, Mr. Pliskin!" She said, her voice carrying across the room. "Mr. Sato's thrilled you've come. Go right in!" Al smiled, stepping forward, his pace resounding as his dress shoes clacked against the floor. Al hadn't felt this restrained by clothing in awhile – but it was worth it all the same.
"Thank you, ma'am." Al said, stepping past her. Her eyes were a bright brown, her hair a dash of gray. She wasn't some young plaything – No dalliance for the widower Sato. He may be a villain, but he wasn't some heartless monster. Sato was the opposite, Al realized, as he stepped in the doorway. He gave too deeply into his heart, and suffered for it.
With a shove, he opened the doors – the pair of glass panes swinging wide as Mr. Sato looked up. "Mr. Pliskin!" He said, standing and offering a hand. Al stepped forward, grasping it firmly. "I confess, I did not expect to see you here so soon – or in as fine a state. An impeccable suit, sir." Hiroshi said, motioning to Al's outfit.
Al nodded with a smile. "I do my best to look professional, Mr. Sato." Al said, "Where I come from originally, we value our professional appearances. Master Tenzin was sad to see me go, but he was generous enough to offer a parting gift of coin – which I used to ensure my proper appearance."
Hiroshi smiled at that. "Well, I do like a man who understands the value of good presence." He motioned to the chair sitting before his desk. "Have a seat."
Al took it, unbuttoning his suit jacket as he did so with a practiced hand. A uniform was a uniform – you wore it right, straight, and properly – whether that was a Sailor's Dress Blues with the complicated necktie, or a business suit on your twentieth year: you did it right.
"How may I help you?" Hiroshi asked, taking a seat. "I take it that you've left the Acolytes on the Air Temple Isle?"
"Indeed I have." Al said, nodding. Hiroshi inclined his head, steepling his fingers.
"Why?" Hiroshi asked. "Seemed you were rather into the lifestyle."
"In fairness, Mr. Sato – I'm not from around here." Al said. It was true, in a sense* - Al was easily the most Caucasian person around. He'd never seen another person with even dirty blonde hair – and his eyes were a very dark shade for the water tribe. "When I first arrived, I fell from the sky – and Master Tenzin rescued me. You may have seen it in the papers."
Sato considered that for a moment. "I do recall something of the matter – though nothing came of it. What's your point?"
"I come from a different time and place entirely, Mr. Sato – another universe." Al said. He reached into his coat pocket, removing a small blue-cased device, and pressed the button on top. "In my day," Al said, as a silver apple appeared on the black screen, "I could call people on the other side of the world, and speak with them – no operator, no lag, no calling issues – from here to Ba Sing Se, or the Fire Nation. Wirelessly. I could access hundreds of news articles, or send text messages."
Sato picked up the device, examining it. He touched the screen, sliding it upwards to reveal the camera. It showed Al in perfect clarity, and he tapped the camera button intuitively. The camera click was audible – the vibration long since turned off. "Fascinating." He said. "How complicated is this device?"
"Very." Al said. "It requires a knowledge of computing and microelectronics – I don't think you've even invented a real transistor yet." Sato folded his hands, glancing at the clock on instinct.
He leaned back, folding his arms over his suit-vest. He let the device lie on the table, and he stared at it. "This seems simple." Sato said, looking up. "And even as your story seems unbelievable, the evidence does seem to mount in your favor." He stood up, walking to a nearby window. "I suppose the question becomes, what's your gain out of all of this?"
Al reached into a pant pocket, withdrawing a small leather wallet. He reached into it, withdrawing a hundred dollar bill. He'd been meaning to return his cashout from the restaurant he'd worked at before playing that fateful evening, but didn't get around to it. He rose, stepping across the carpeted floor, and held it up to the light. The authenticity strip shone through in the light. "There's so many little things, Mr. Sato." He said. "Things I miss infinitely. This man, Mr. Benjamin Franklin? Invented electricity – and not through bending. He tied a string to a kite, and was shocked by real, skyborn lightning out in a field during a storm. Where I come from, there are no benders."
"None?" Sato said, looking at Al. "And your society functions?" He asked, his eyes slightly wide at that fact.
"Everything we do comes from up here, and from these." Al said, poking his head and his hands. "In my time, there are five people floating high above the earth – having flown there on rockets burning special mixtures, living inside cans filled with atmosphere as the world around them has no air at all. In space – where the stars are."
Sato put his hands in his pockets, looking down at the city. "And you want to see that world come back to life?" He asked.
Al nodded, smiling up at him. "Absolutely." He said. "I'm from a world where highways link cities hundreds of miles apart – where I can board an airplane and fly from one side of the world to the other in a single day. Where rovers on planets millions of miles away take pictures of the dusty rock, searching for life in the universe." Al stuck out his hand, as if to shake. "And I want to work with you, Mr. Sato – to make that a reality again."
Sato shook heartily. "If you can help me build that world, Mr. Pliskin." He said. "You'll have a job the rest of your life."
==
Air Temple Island
A rush of wind kicked at Korra's feet, and she spun violently – screeching with sudden surprise as a burst of wind from her fist kicked away an approaching air gate – wind spiraled from her arms, whipping around, and all the gates around her seemed to avoid her like the plague as she sprinted through. The posts vibrated angrily, displeased at the speed and attitude of her work – their centuries-old construction unwilling, however, to see a demise so early.
With a roar, she tumbled – gusts at her feet sending her spiralling into the floor. "Korra!" Tenzin shouted, halting the gates with an opposite wind. He knelt in the same motion, catching her face with a twisting hand, inches from the floor. She huffed, pushing herself off of Tenzin's rescuing palm. "What were you thinking? These are priceless artifacts!"
Korra growled. "Who cares about artifacts?" She said, her voice ringing out in the courtyard. "I learned airbending a few hours ago, Tenzin – we should be celebrating, not..." She waved her hand at the gates – a gust of uncontrolled air whipping one up to speed. Tenzin stopped it with a whipped palm, a gust stopping it.
"Korra!" He shouted. "You can't even control it – you're shooting air every which way: we need to focus on /discipline/, or you're never going to get anywhere with this." Tenzin let his eyes droop, and he rubbed at his eyes. A short stab of wind hit him from behind, sending his robes up in his face as a small bald child whizzed by on an Air Scooter.
"WHOO!" He shouted, disappearing past a pair of female Acolytes, dropping down the stairs towards the harbor – where Pema was returning with the girls. Tenzin shook his head, removing the extra cloth from his head. Korra let out a breath, leaning forwards, sweat dripping from her forehead.
The old master stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on Korra's shoulder. "I'm not asking you to become an expert overnight, Korra – but you need to be able to control this chi – or it'll cause havoc." He said. "Airbending is potentially the most dangerous bending art – it's present everywhere, and can be manipulated in many ways. An uncontrolled airbender can cause car accidents – destroy buildings – send people flying from great heights."
He bent down, looking at her as she panted. "Do you understand?" He asked. "I'm not decrying your independence, Korra, but there are dangers on hand."
"And I don't think you understand!" Korra said, snapping her head up to yell at him. She stood, jabbing a finger at him. "I'm the Avatar – and now I can bend four elements. I'm realized, Tenzin! I can do it all, and I think now's high time for celebration – not your 'studies' she shouted, flipping a hand. A gust of wind sent a pair of wind chimes crashing to the ground.
A dejected monk – rather rotund in the stomach, slowly bent over to pick it up – failing to get much further than knee level. Tenzin rose a brow at Korra, motioning his head over. "Look, Korra." He said, "See what you've done to poor Chin?" He asked, as a whirl of his wrist sent the chimes into the monk's hand. He bowed at Tenzin, stretching on his tall tiptoes to hook the chime back in place.
Korra folded her arms, impatient. "Do you have a point, Tenzin?" She asked. "Chin could use the exercise – he's got the strength, he just needs the flexibility." Chin resumed his afternoon's work – carrying seven boxes stacked atop one another, perfectly balanced, down to the dock.
There may be an overweight monk on the island – but he's not underperforming – that much was certain. "How can you ask that?" Tenzin said. "I've made my point very clear-"
"The point that there's no reason to stop training? That my entire life has to be work, work, and work – and you teacher types are just coming up with more things to do?" She asked.
"What has you so worked up, Korra?" Tenzin asked. Korra growled at him, her face twisting in anger.
"Why did you make Al leave?" She asked, stomping a food. A gust of wind spattered from her foot, skidding across the rocks. "He was a great guy – a good friend! One of the few I've got here in this city – and one day he just up, fights with you, disappears?" She asked, hands up in the air.
Tenzin grimaced, stepping toward the center of the plaza, looking out over the city. "Ah." He said, "So that's what this is about?" Korra nodded, stepping closer but maintaining a disrespectful distance. "Al made his own choice, Korra – I didn't tell him what to do with his life – and his decision threatened no-one but himself. It helped the world, actually. You, however, are actively endangering others by flippantly ignoring the uncontrolled state of your airbending."
Korra huffed. "You always do this, Tenzin!" She shouted. "You all blame me for your problems in teaching! 'Korra ignores the spiritual', 'She lacks restraint'" She pantomimed, fingers flashing air quotes.
"We'd never have these problems if you weren't so terrible at learning, Korra!" Tenzin shouted. "All you care about is fighting, and Airbenders are not fighters, Korra – we're guardians at our most violent, and you're too busy destroying things to see what real Airbending is – and in turn, all you do is cause chaos!"
Korra twisted her face in a pained grimace. "Destroying things, huh?" She spat. Her fist lit with fire. "You hate it when I destroy things?" She yelled. "Huh?!" Her hand shot out, a jet of flame spiraling into the air gates*. "That's what I think about your stupid test, Tenzin!" She shouted, turning towards the woods on the far side of the island. "I'll teach myself Airbending – I don't need anyone who treats the Avatar like a stupid child!"
"Korra!" Tenzin yelled, gusts of air flying from his fists to put out the fire. "Stop this at once!" He yelled, as she sprinted into the woods, gusts of wind at her feet sending her bounding off, a shower of lost leaves falling in a swathe behind her.
Tenzin hung his head as an airball spun onto the horizon. Jinora sat atop it, skidding to a halt. She held a small basket of apples on her arm, and stepped over to a defeated Tenzin. "Dad?" She asked. "What's wrong?"
"Korra ran off." He said, glancing up at the trees. He walked over to the damaged air gates, rubbing his hands on them. Soot covered his fingers, a small splinter making him bleed. He looked down at Jinora. "Al's disappearance may've had more of an affect than I'd thought."
"Have you spoken with him, yet?" Jinora asked.
Tenzin rose a brow. "Why would I do that? He ran away, never-" Jinora tossed an apple at his face, eyebrows raised in expectation as she stared at him. Tenzin took a bite. "How did you know?"
"Sound carries on the winds, Dad." She said. "I happen to like the woods, too." Tenzin rubbed at his forehead. The last of the leaves settled in the woods.
"As it seems, so does everyone." He huffed. Meelo's air bubble sputtered to a halt beside them, and his inquisitive eyes locked on the Air Gates. "Meelo?" He asked, looking at his son.
"Did Avatar-Lady burn the gates?" He asked. Jinora nodded, closing her eyes as she did so. Meelo looked at his father. "You're a terrible teacher, Daddy." He said, grabbing the apple from his hand with a flick of his wrist, sauntering off. Tenzin's shoulders slumped.
"I hate children." He growled, his features softening as Pema and Ikki appeared on the far side of the plaza, loaded for bear with dozens of bags – a train of acolytes in tow.
"Me too, Dad." Jinora agreed, handing him another apple. She wrapped him in a warm embrace. "Me too."
==
Narook's Seaweed Noodlery
A gust of violent wind swirled beneath a glass - the entire breath of the room caught in sudden fear as the waitress bent at the knee, gently tugging the spiraling waterglass from its enrapturing cyclone. She placed it back on her tray with a sheepish look around - but nobody was paying attention to her.
Instead, their attention was rapt upon the small trio seated in a nearby booth. Its female occupant began to slide underneath the table - noodles and all - while the other two turned up their collars. "Mako!" Bolin whispered, putting up a hand to shield them from the veritable horde of whispering outsiders. "We're famous, what do we do?"
"How should I know? You're the 'acclaimed actor'!" Mako whispered back, flipping air quotes to go along. "Korra, consult your previous Avatars! You can do that, right?"
Korra balled up underneath the booth, gusts of wind still spiraling from her hands in infrequent intervals. She balled her hands, shaking her head. "No!" Korra whispered. "I don't know how!" The crowd's attention seemed to wane - the airbending Avatar having disappeared from sight. Their whispers didn't lead to a mob of onlookers - and perhaps that was for the best.
Her safety garnered, Korra slowly slid out from beneath the table - eyes up and calculating as several people - especially younger children - shot her looks. "I don't like being out of control like this." She said, looking at them both. "I'm better than this - I should be able to pick airbending up like I have everything else!"
"Something tells me, and I -might- be wrong here, mind you," Bolin began, putting down a pen. He'd been scribbling something in a journal, which he quietly tucked beside him. "But the Avatar has to have a hard time with stuff, right? You don't just magic the four elements and go off to save the world - didn't Aang and Kyoshi learn things under pressure?"
"I've always been under pressure!" Korra shouted, flinging a hand at the window. It cracked open with a whine - and a white head poked in the window, sniffing at Mako's noodles. The firebender sent sparks at the dog's muff, and it huffed back outside with a whine. "Ever since I've been born I've wanted to be the Avatar - I've worked hard, I've studied, I've followed my lessons - but Airbending? Airbending is so..." She let out a roar of anger. "It's too flighty! The Avatar is supposed to defeat their enemies, like Ozai or Chin - not be some wise diplomat! I'm a fighter, not..." Her eyes traced over to Bolin, quietly scribbling at his lap. She leaned over against him, her head against his, as she glanced over the characters.
A perfect transcription of what was occuring, at this very moment. Complete with analysis. Bolin slammed it shut, whistling. "What was that?" Korra asked. Mako let on a sheepish grin, glancing between them. Behind him, the waitress approached - and smiled as she placed a refill next to Mako.
"How're you, Mak?" She asked, her hair bouncing like a spring as she stopped. "Haven't seen you around in awhile. I've been lonely." She said, poking him on the shoulder. She chewed her gum gently, glancing over at Korra and Bolin. Bolin was sputtering, trying to come up with an explanation, Korra's shining blue eyes boring into his head. "Avatar, huh?" She asked.
Mako leaned back, smiling at her. "Good to see you too, Miri." Mako said, his voice a bit... smoother, than his usual. "Sit back and relax - you're about to see a teammate fight for the ages."
"Better than Hasook and Bolin fighting over poetry?" She asked with a small chuckle. Mako shot her a rakish smile.
"My lady doth remember too much." He said. Bolin finally spoke.
"It's... a diary?" The younger brother said. He calmly began eating his seaweed noodles. Korra folded her arms tighter, if that was possible, and frowned.
"Bolin." She said, "You've been acting weird all week - ever since the celebration thing. What's going on?"
"Wellllll~" Bolin grumbled through his noodles. He swallowed them heartily, "Wooh, those were hot. Is it hot in here? Did the walls get smaller?" He glanced at the waitress. "Oh! Miri! When did you start working here?"
"I've always worked here, Bolin." She said, shooting him a look. "Where do you think I met Mako?"
"Bolin!" Korra shouted, slamming a fist on the table. A swirl of wind sent a sudden rush of water out of Mako's refill - which she caught with a whirling waterbend before it hit the newcomer. "You need to quit lying to me, and changing the subject."
"Buuut it's awkward!" Bolin said. "I can't be an impartial observer if you -know- I'm trying to write a Saga of the Avatar!" He said, putting his hands up in defeat. "We hardly know anything about the past Avatars - all we have are statues and facts, not records of their personality and attitudes - Kyoshi's play is made up!"
Korra put her hands on the table, resetting Mako's drink in place. "You're recording -me-?" She asked.
"Yeah! Think of how much people would love to hear about what the -real- Avatar is like! No lies, no tall tales, just the real, pretty, ripped, slightly sheltered, air-crazy Korra from the Southern Water Tribe. Who likes seaweed noodles." Bolin said with a smile. Korra's lips pressed together and rubbed at her eyes.
"And you had to make that awkward?" Korra asked.
Across the table, Miri glanced at Mako. "So-"
"-Yeah." Mako said, taking a drink from his swirled glass. "It's a living." He said, looking her in the eye. "It was good to see you."
"You too, fireman." She winked. "Win a few more matches - I could stand to win the pot this year." Her voice called in parting as she sauntered off to the next table. Mako set his glass down, shaking his head as he did so. Exes. *
Bolin shrugged at Korra, rolling his eyes. "I don't know how to politely say I'm recording your every move for posterity! And cash! We can't forget the cash, here – Mako's the one ragging on my artistic endeavors." He said, Mako folding his arms in disappointment.
"Don't involve me in this, bro. You're the one that felt like recording her every move – and blowing an even larger hole in our extra things budget by buying all that paper every... week, is it?" Mako said, giving him a look.
Korra put up her hands in a huff, a gust of wind making the ceiling supports crackle with . "Everything is just so... weird, this week. Al runs off – Tenzin keeps putting me down – Bolin's keeping a journal of my entire life." She shook her head. "Being Avatar's hard work – but it's not the Avatar stuff that seems complicated." A gust of wind shot awkwardly from her nostrils as she huffed in frustration - "Well, mostly."
Bolin scribbled a small line in his book. Korra glanced at him angrily.
"Take that out." She said.
"Factual integrity!" Bolin shouted, holding the book away from Korra as she grabbed at it. The pair began wrestling in the booth, Bolin trying to keep it away, as Mako sat there awkwardly on the far side.
"You know, I'm really not paid nearly enough by anyone to deal with anything like this." Mako said. His eyes traced the building's bar – a central one, circling around with the booths always opposite, save for the entrance.
At one section, he noticed a few men in black sitting – steaming cups of coffee in their hands, their eyes darting around, sharp and angry. Mako's eyes narrowed, his lip pressing into a thin line. He knew people like them anywhere. People he used to work for.
Miri was making another pass, and he whispered for her: "Miri." He said. Her ears caught him even with the din of the building. "Dark coats at the bar." The waitress' head turned, and she saw them almost instantly.
"Are they-?" She asked. Mako nodded, taking her hand.
"Call the police. They don't come in like that for a drink." The Firebender said. Miri rushed off, changing direction – to the disappointment of a cup-holding customer hoping for water: Southern Tribe Hotwings were something of a specialty, and they burned. Bad.
"Just give it to me!" Korra said, slamming Bolin against the booth with a gust of wind. Her hands pressed his arm against the table as she wrenched the book away with a deft twist of her wrist. Bolin cried out in slight pain. "Aha!" She said, scribbling out the line with glee. Her expression changed when she looked at Mako. "What's wrong?" She asked, letting the cover fall flat atop the words. Bolin nursed his pained wrist, eyes like puppies.
Mako motioned his head to the bar. "Those Triads are up to something." He said, looking at his brother. "Tell me I'm wrong."
Bolin glanced back, spotting the coats with as much speed as his brother. "Flameo." The younger brother said. "Korra, those guys mean business – probably Agni Kai with swords underneath." He whispered.
Korra looked at them with determination, no fear in her eyes. A small gust surrounded her as she saw them. Her hands balled in fist, the wind dissipating as she rose from the booth, pushing Bolin. "Well, boys." She said, "They picked the wrong noodlery to knock over." Her lips parted into a wry smile. "And I've got /four/ elements to play with today."
The Triad members watched as an elderly man approached them at the bar. The leader began to say something, his voice droned out to them as Team Avatar stood from their booth. Miri rushed up. "Mako!" She said. "They're on their way. You don't need to-" A loud screech of metal-on-metal filled the air as the lead man drew a sword, holding it to the owners' throat. The rest revealed their hands, filled with fire.
"Listen up!" One of them shouted. "Today's the Red Day!" His voice roared. "The government's been taking our bending, and we ain't going down without a fight. You're all hostages! Move, die! Real simple!"
"No!" Korra shouted, the building silent. "You don't understand what's simple." She said, fire crackling in her own hands. Mako removed his hands from his pocket, taking up a fighting stance. Bolin planted his feet, hands out. Several boothgoers pressed themselves tighter to the walls. "I've got ten thousand years of combat experience. My past lives built this city. Forged islands. Slew Phoenix King Ozai and threw Chin the Conqueror off cliffs."
The Agni Kai with the sword stared at her, his face impassive. "You're just a girl – Avatar or no." He said, turning his blade at Korra. "You die like anyone else."
"That may be." Bolin said, stepping forward – huge rocks appearing from beneath the wooden floor. "But she's got a team better than any one of you."
Mako's hands lit with fire, and he stepped forward as well. "The real Team Avatar." He growled.
Korra put up her fists, a strange smile on her face. Her stomach filled with a feeling she'd felt a lot when she was younger – tossing stones and firebursts as her parents chased her through the village. It was something like glee, but better – and, in her head, a voice spoke to her: one she'd never heard, but somehow knew. 'Fulfillment' It said, a female voice. 'Purpose'
With a whirl of her arms, a half-dozen ice spikes erupted from nearby water glasses, shattering a few – and shot straight for the Triads. And so, the solution to the mob problem began.
Korra-style.
==
Future Industries
"And so what I'm saying is, cars are all well and good – but with the mountainous nature of the world and the spread of oceans makes it not economic to serve the world via vehicles – at least with the current fuel economy of the Models T and TT Satomobile." Al said, closing his briefcase. "What I suggest is something else – Airships are a big deal, yes, but they're /slow/ - and we can't do slow. An Airbender's Flying Bison can move more cargo far faster than an Airship, in multiple trips, limited only by straw and fodder and personnel considerations."
Al stepped to the head of the table. "Heavier than air flight, gentlemen." Al said, placing the drawing he had in his hands on the wall with a pair of clips. "This here, from my homeland, is a design – the Douglas DC-3. It has a top speed of 207 Miles Per Hour, far faster than the Bison or our lumbering airships. Its range is in excess of 1,500 Miles – which, as we know, is a -massive- range that can cover the majority of the Earth Kingdom, the whole of the URN – or from Republic City into the coast of the Fire Nation." Al said.
The assembled suits looked at the device in amazement. "And you've seen one of these fly? For real? The math all checks out?" One in a pair of suspenders asked, his pinstriped Dress Shirt rolled up. A pair of goggles were tucked in a chest pocket – clearly an engineer.
"Why, my good man," Al smiled, "I've flown in aircraft thrice its size – carrying hundreds of people all around the globe." The Engineer balked at that.
"The fuel infrastructure alone isn't quite there." He said, pressing on his glasses. "We'd need a tanker infrastructure, ships carrying oil from the Water Tribes and sections of the Earth Kingdom – a whole new system even greater than that supplying the airships and vehicles that run through the cities of the world already."
"But it'd give us a whole new market, with ourselves as the only competitors." Al said, looking them all over. "Cabbage Corporation has nothing on us – while their airship and motor vehicle markets attempt to encroach on Future Industries'. If we effectively double our capital influx, reinvest that in our other branches, we're looking at cheaper Satomobiles, more customers, and a weaker opposition. A growth in our overall revenues, and happier shareholders."
Al picked up his water, sipping it gently as the various boardmembers whispered to one another. It'd only been a few hours since he'd gotten the job that morning, and already Mr. Sato had called him into a meeting – a man with as accumulated knowledge as Al was a valuable asset – and this first brief meeting during the executive assembly was just a taste of his value to the company.
"I like it." Sato said, turning in his chair. "It's risky – but what is this company without risk? I spent quite a bit on the production lines in the Dragon Flats – and in the Industrial District – but all have paid themselves off. Some of our workers in the labs have designed basic biplanes – but your design? That is something tangible – valuable. We'll need to find investment partners: something I'm sure Mr. Tojo can handle." He said, nodding to another worker.
Sato stood, offering Al his chair as he took the dais. Al took his seat with a curt bow, sitting comfortably as the stress rolled off his body. It's hard to speak in front of crowds – but easier when you have a plan. Al had that. It also helped that he didn't care especially heavily about these people – only about selling it to Hiroshi.
The meeting continued – sales figures replacing designs – as the churning force of business moved on. Al sat comfortably, taking it all in – secure in the knowledge that his place in the company was little more than as an ideas man. If he ended up in accounting, or – god forbid – behind Mr. Sato's desk, he'd probably implode. He was a Varrick, not a Zhu Li.
As his eyes drifted out to the city – a series of bright lights flashed across the street in a nearby building – flickers of flame and heat rushing through the glass. Al wasn't the only one to see it – one of the other executives, a woman named Kyara, gasped in surprise. "Someone's setting the Interior Ministry on fire!" She shouted – people turning in their chairs to see a commotion spreading several levels – orange light flickering from the top downward. Several windows smashed open – people falling out – men in black coats standing at the windows.
Al sat there, aghast. It was happening again – but this time, it was everywhere. Mr. Sato cleared his throat - "Everyone, I'm adjourning the meeting. If there are criminals attacking the government, we may have a repeat of the riots several weeks ago – and the Triads are definitely more desperate, if that's the case." He closed his books with notes of finality, his coworkers doing the same. Al stood, stepping over to Mr. Sato - "You, Al – have you found a home to stay in?" He asked.
"I have a small apartment on Sao-Ru Boulevard, it's more of a bolthole at the moment – I haven't even unpacked." Al said. Sato nodded, stuffing several books into his own briefcase.
"My estate outside the city is open to you – negotiating on a formal employment will have to come later – if the city's-" He glanced across the street, something catching inside the ministry: a large flash of flame kicked outwards – shattering the glass on two floors. It rained at the street below, and an angry pop rippled, a window cracking next to them. "Damn!" He shouted.
"Damn indeed." Al said, unfazed. It was no worse than a gunshot – and he'd heard plenty of those at Sea Cadets. Down the hall, there was a cry of alarm. Sato perked up, glancing at Al and towards the doorway. A flash of something reflective shot by the doorway, a sudden chill filling the room. Al had felt it once or twice – when Korra had practiced freezing water through her use of waterbending. "Ice." Al said, looking at Mr. Sato. "It's the Triads. They're here."
"Here?!" Sato shouted, his face full of anger. "How dare they? Their quarrel is with the government, imagined or otherwise!" He roared. "We're going to need to get out of here." He said.
Al nodded. Before either could react, the door smashed open – a rock cracking through the glass pane and two men stepping in – one wreathed in flame, the other swirling water around him. "Ah!" The leader said, holding his hat in his hand. "The infamous Mr. Sato! I'd hoped to find you here." He said, chuckling. His voice was Italian, gray streaks through his hair.
Al had seen him before. Red eyes glowered at the both of them, a predatory light in both. Lightning Bolt Zolt. Al didn't have his sword – wasn't much good in anything beyond a one on one, and Zolt was huge – Al was a short man, and while the monks had made him stronger, he was hardly a fighting master. He couldn't chi-block. The third earthbender strode into the room, and that settled it. Al put his hands up as Mr. Sato did. "And you are?" Mr. Sato asked, his face angry.
"Why I? I'm Mr. Zolt, Mr. Sato. Fine proprietor of the greatest market institution in all of Republic City. You?" He laughed. "You and yours aren't my enemy – but you are an object, Mr. Sato. The government thinks it can steal our bending and take over, but I – I know the way the wind's turning, Mr. Sato. They'll have to return it – get rid of their masked goons."
"What are you talking about?" Mr. Sato growled. "I'm not any part of this! Why would the government admit to something like it, if that was the case?'
"He's lying." A voice called, stepping into the room. He planted his feet into the floor. His eyes were dull – his face impassive. An earthbender – not only that, a truthseer.
"Now, now, Mr. Sato." Zolt said. "I know you're in league with the government like every other crony." He smiled. "But that's fine – I don't need you to tell me anything – though it'd help if you did." His fingers crackled with electricity as he stepped forward, the bolts crackling lightly between his hands as he pressed them together in a steeple.
"What do you want, hooligan?" Sato said. "Haven't you criminals from the triads taken enough from me? One of you monsters killed my wife – deprived my daughter of her mother – and I've spent my whole life trying to make her safer! Happier! And now you're going to kill me like every other monster like you! Bending filth!" He shouted, spitting. Zolt shot out a finger, zapping Sato happily.
"Shut. Up." He said, looking at Al. "And you – clean-faced executive. Never seen a man with a face like yours, in all my years." He said, grabbing Al's chin – Al felt his hair stick up straight like needles. He'd shaved and had a haircut since his return to republic city, but what little bristles remained turned into a floating afro.
"Sir, it's my first day!" Al shouted. "I'm not part of any of this – I just had some ideas!"
Zolt chuckled. "We all have ideas." He said, patting Al on the face as he stepped over to Sato. Sato shifted his feet, and he looked primed to act. "Ah, ah!" Zolt said, holding up a hand that arced with flame. "Don't do anything you'll regret, Mr. Sato – wouldn't want to deprive that daughter of a father, would we?*"
Sato jolted back, standing up straight, hands up. A small globule of water snapped his hands together, locking them behind his back with ice. "Now, Mr. Sato – we're going to wait here while my men wreak havoc – and when Lin Beifong and her people arrive, well..." He said, smiling. "There'll be a reckoning – one way, or another." He shoved Sato into the nearby chair, grabbing Al by the wrist.
"As for Mr. Ideas, here, well..." Zolt looked Al in the eye. "I suppose sacrifices can be made for the greater good, right?" He asked, looking at Sato.
The man's face was steel, but he shot Al a look of sorrow. "I'm fine, Mr. Sato." Al said, glancing at Zolt. "I was never supposed to be here in the first place."
"No-one ever is." Sato replied, hanging his head. Al was rushed out of the room, dragged along by Zolt. In the hall, he found many of the executives frozen or rocked to the wall – a few even metalbent. A small herd of Triad members were in the hallway – two turning to face Zolt as he approached.
"This one was close to Sato." He growled. "He'll be the first to go unless Sato offers something useful." He said, flinging Al onto the floor. Two of the Triads locked him against the wall, next to the woman from Finance who'd spotted the fire next door. Her face was bruised – and she was unconscious.
Al gulped.
This wasn't Kansas anymore.
==
Narook's
A dozen shards embedded themselves in a dozen targets – glasses, liquor bottles, the bar, the tiling behind it – and three hit the enemy leader – his sword arm dropping like a rock as he did, roaring in pain. He writhed on the floor as two of his compatriots rushed past, fire roaring from their hands. Korra spun a blast away, catching the other with a balled fist. Bolin kicked his rocks away – charging forward – sending the rightmost enemy flying. Two jets of flame sprouted above him, Korra and Mako jumping in synergy, the flames spattering across the tiled floor and sending sparks flying – the Agni Kai only just managed to disperse them.
"Give up!" Korra shouted to the five remaining enemies. "You have ten millenia of battle experience to fight against – and if you hurt any of these people, none of you will leave alive!" She roared, sending the caught fireball spiralling at the group. Two of them caught it, another pair tossing four bolts of flame at Korra's team. Together with Bolin, the pair kicked up walls of defense from below.
The crowd around them was struggling to escape – mostly by windows. Bargoers rushed to either side, those caught in the middle flying with their drinks into the rear space. One joined the bartender in fearfully chugging vodka – hoping to drown out their inevitable demise as titans of battle turned the noodlery into a field of flame.
Korra growled behind the stone wall as Mako sent a pair of blasts against the enemy. Korra rose – whipping out a fist – but no air launched away. "What gives?!" She shouted, disappearing behind the rock just as flame kicked over her. Bolin kicked at the ground, rocks shooting up from the earth, and he fired thrice. Stone and rock roared at the enemy – two hits staggering two of their opponents and knocking them over. A solid gout from the remaining three left them trapped under fire.
"Korra!" Mako said. "Where's that airbending? We need to keep them off balance or we'll get torched!"
"I can't do it!" Korra shouted, face twisted in surprise and disappointment. She flicked her wrists. "It worked all the time when I didn't need it to!" Korra wriggled her fingers, only to feel the sweat of heat trickling down her forehead.
Mako growled, firing past the cover. "We're going to need to do something different, then!" He shouted. He glanced at Bolin. "Keep up a stream, bro! I need some time." Mako said. Everyone began to feel a tingle in the air as Mako concentrated, his own hairs shooting straight out – ruining his perfect quaff as crackling static began to ripple down his arms – visible lightning rippling.
"Oh, man!" Bolin shouted. "Bro, that's dangerous!" He yelled, ripping at the Earth as a dozen small pebbles shattered out of the barrier – hailing down on the enemy. A momentary break in their fire came, and Korra rose – firebursts spattering from her fists. Numbers was a great part of any bending battle – and this was no exception.
Electricity began crackling from the tile beneath them, running up Mako's arms, as he pointed his fingers straight out. He roared with pain, and the lightning slowly began to creep down his arms. Korra shot up again, firing thrice – her blasts breaking through one Agni Kai's defenses and sending him in a flaming heap to the floor, where he voraciously tried to put himself out.
Mako shot up, then, as Bolin started another pebble-barrage, a sudden surge of static washing over everyone in the room. In a crack of violent thunder, the room felt a surge of overpressure: and a bright line of blue-gray lightning crossed the divide to the Agni Kai – all four remaining Triads collapsing in a steaming heap, fire crackling in their clothes where they were hit.
A few moaned gently. The rest were silent. "Flam-e-o!" One of the patrons said, peeking up over the bar. Nobody had been hit in the crossfire. A total wipe of the enemy. Mako shook off his arms, steam spiraling from his wrists. He gently patted at his hair, tapping a metal spoon to let off the extra charge. A small bolt of lightning shocked him – but the pain didn't phase him.
Korra stood, face beading with sweat, and looked around. "Is everyone alright?" She asked. The moans of the wounded and shocked-silent triads answered her – but they weren't her concern. Her eyes turned to Miri, in the back – her hand wrapped around the telephone in shock. "Did you get through to the police?" She asked.
The woman sat momentarily, her eyes darting every which way, before she focused on Korra. "Y-yes. They say they're overwhelmed – and to cooperate with the criminals as best they can until units can respond."
"Overwhelmed?" Mako said, looking back at her. "Then..." He glanced down. "This is a repeat of three weeks ago, isn't it?" He asked.
"Seems that way." Bolin replied, rubbing the back of his head. With a few stomps, he made the earth retract – the cracked wood and tile of the floor rather unsightly – but better than having burned the building down. "That was bad – but hopefully there won't be as many Triads around, this time."
"Still." Mako replied. "We're looking at a street war. Again." He said, looking at Korra.
Korra glanced back at him after sweeping the crowd – most of whom had evacuated through the windows or doors during the battle. A loud rap against the main door caught their attentions – only for the wood to fly off its hinges – a white-furred dog and a red-furred ferret roaring through the doorway, one atop the other. It whined, seeing the fight over. "It's alright, girl!" Korra said. "We handled it!" She stepped over, scratching at Naga's neck. She looked back at her teammates. "Well, what do we do?" Korra asked. "I can't fight an entire war by myself... I'm not strong enough yet.
"No, but you're still a master bender." Bolin said. "Kyoshi only knew how to earthbend in her first fights, if the stories are true – and you've got three elements mastered!" He pointed outside. "Think of how many Triad goons you can defeat?"
Korra nodded, balling her hands into fists. "Maybe you're right, Bolin." She said. She let out a sigh, rolling her shoulders. "Still, it's only my second real fight."
"It's not like we have a choice, Korra – we can't hunker up here. If the Triads attack us-" Mako began, stepping towards the window. His voice cut out abruptly, his eyes spotting something in the distance. "Look." He said, motioning them over. Bolin ran over, peeking out.
"Oh. Problem solved?" He said. Korra stepped to the end of the booth they were both peeking out from – and saw a group of Triads tied up. At their head, though, wasn't the police. Men in black uniforms stood over them, electricity coursing over batons, as a small crowd cheered them on.
"Who are those people?" Korra asked.
Mako slowly shut the blinds, narrowing his eyes. "I don't know." He said, after a moment's thought. "Some people were saying they'd been out during the last riots – some sort of non-bender protection committee – but they were knocking out the bending of -everyone-, and took some Triad members away."
"Taking them /away/?" Korra asked, a brow raised. "Where?"
Bolin shrugged. "Probably to get their bending taken, if those guys were any indication." He mused. Inside the restauraunt, things were more-or-less returning to normal – patrons resuming their drinks, waitresses refilling glasses. The defeated enemy were dragged into a corner by a pair of busboys – tied up to wait for the police.
Korra frowned. "How could someone take away bending?" She asked, after moment's contemplation. "I thought only Aang could do that – only an Avatar could do that."
"You tell us, Korra." Mako said. "We're just a pair of kids off the streets, don't expect us to have the answers."
"I suppose you're right." Korra said. The group slowly made their way to the exit, apologizing to the owner on the way out, and stepped onto the streets. Several burning Satomobiles were in a heap in one corner of the street – police vehicles were wailing in the distance. Along the street to their right, the crowd of anti-bender rioters swelled in size, as a man in a dark leathery suit spoke.
"We will not be oppressed!" He yelled. "By the government, by the Triads, by anyone! We are Non-Benders, and while we may be weak, we are not tools to be used and discarded!" His voice carried loudly, and the crowd roared at him in agreement. "We are better than benders! We have forged this world of steel and glass!"
Bolin winced as they stood, watching. "I've read about this before – first it's 'We're awesome', then it's 'We're awesomer than you!', and then they take over the world, exterminate the Air Nomads, and plunge the world into a hundred years of darkness."
Mako glanced at his brother as he turned up his collar. "Just... don't make smart comments like that around them, okay?"
"Why not?" Korra said, balling her hands into fists. "It's my job to teach these people the dangers of the paths they walk – to bring balance! We can't just ignore them making poor decisions and threatening the world."
Mako put his hand on her shoulder before she could make headway into the crowd. "You can't, Korra." He said. "These people agree with him. They respect him. Some girl, Avatar or no, can't break a rally of anti-bending activists!"
"Don't tell me what I can't do, Mako." Korra said, growling at him. Naga followed her, huffing at Mako. Korra wrenched her arm away.
"Down with the council who dominates us! Who tries to control us, even though we pledge ourselves to the republic – not our old nations! Down with the Benders who rule us! We are the -people-! We are the masters of our own destiny – and these -filth- who call themselves more powerful than us?" The leader motioned down to the Triads bound and gagged next to him. "We shall show them the rage of our masses. They shall become like us – weakened, and shall learn humility."
Korra pushed through the crowd, her water tribe garb a contrast to the workers. Several jeers went out against her. "We shall take their bending, and-"
"How?!" Korra shouted. The crowd went silent. "How do you plan on doing that?"
The man looked down at Korra. "Ah. A Water Tribeswoman. No doubt a waterbender fearing her irrelevance?" He chuckled. A small reverberation came from the crowd, and Korra twisted her face in anger.
"An Avatar confused at how a non-bender would have the power to take bending." Korra said. The leader laughed harder at that, pointing at the bound men, and his masked warriors – all of whom held electrified sticks.
"As ancient warriors could block chi," The man began, "So too can we – and our leader has found a way to block chi – permanently." His eyes focused on the woman. "The Avatar, though? The little girl from the southern tribe, locked away? What relevance have you here?" He growled.
"I'm an agent of stability – especially in times like these!" Korra shouted
"Stability?" He spat. "What stability have you wrought us, Avatar?" He asked. "The city burns – and you're still a child. How many Triad members have you defeated in the course of these revolts that shock our city? How many conflicts have you stopped?"
"My past lives-" Korra began, sputtering.
"Are not your life, Avatar." The speaker said, glowering at her behind his goggles. "Our leader has taken the bending of dozens of these criminals – has permanently locked them out of causing harm! We have saved this city, while the police are corrupt and let them free – while the government are weak and do nothing."
One of the Triad members began growling at his gag. One of the Chi-Blockers moved to hit him, but their Lieutenant waved them away, turning to look at him. "No, no - let the man speak."
His gag was untied, and the man shouted out: "Oh, like you're not from the government?!" He roared. "You're just a cop in disguise! You all are, and that Avatar's in on all of it! She's taking our bending, and playing all coy about it!" He roared.
"The hell I am!" Korra spat back. "You'd have trials, be apportioned fair punishment – I would never stoop myself to wasting my energy on trash like you!" The Triad growled, fire erupting in his hands – only to be hit square in the skull by one of the soldiers.
"Trash like him, hm?" The Lieutenant said, smiling. His mustache twitched with glee. "Even the Benders don't respect eachother. We do, though, do we not, brothers and sisters?!" The crowd roared. One of the locals tossed water at her, spraying his bottle all over Korra. She whirled her hand, spraying the water back in his face, mixed with her sweat from the flames.
"See!" The Lieutenant yelled. "See what she does?! They all treat us like scum!"
"Down with benders!" The squirted man yelled. "Petty monsters who hate all!"
"Down with benders!" The crowd began to chant. Mako and Bolin weaved through the crowd, grabbing Korra by the shoulders. "Down with benders! Petty monsters! Hate us all!"
"We. Need. To. Leave." Mako growled. Korra's face was full of utter defeat – the crowd chanting hatred at her as the pair dragged her away. Naga stood at the edge of the crowd, growling at a pair of citizens poking her with a stick. Korra and the men mounted her, quickly riding off.
"When did the city turn so spiteful?" Korra asked. "I always thought Aang's city would've been a happier place..."
"We're all poor, Korra." Bolin said. "Non-benders just have far more to blame than we do."
==
Author's Notes
Holy hell these chapter lengths doe. 11181 That's three ones holyshit.
I cut it a little earlier than I'd wanted. Shit happens. I figure get this one out, start working on the next one.
A little secret – I have trouble writing Korra. I don't think you guys have noticed, but I really have trouble putting her in situations of stubbornness. I have down the whole Avatar-obsession thing: and that's something I do want to play up, but Korra's too... direct, in a way I have trouble empathizing with.
Don't get me wrong – her beating up those guys in the kitchen and in the courtyard was classic Korra – but internally she's not particularly introspective, at least not until the later seasons.
Al, meanwhile, I fear is floating into Sue territory – and the bad part is that I like it that way. Not in the sense that he's some OP maniac, just that he's sort of waltzed in to become a major plot point, character, and friend of the main cast – which is classic Sueism. I dunno. It bugs me.
1* = THAT'S A LIE! HE'S NOT SOLID SNAKE!
2* = So many arguments on r/thelastairbender about this shit. I honest to god thought all the characters were white/western-looking in Avatar, as is common in lots of Animation, for that matter.
I mean, I've been convinced now that I've had it dogpiled onto me – but it's a little late to make it a plot device, isn't it? I'm just going off the assumption that everyone's so damned tolerant they don't bother bring it up – race clearly has never been a big part of Avatar and I don't plan on making it that way.
3* = Story's getting a bit stale and Tenzin really hasn't had his conflict set up very well. Lightning Bolt Zolt to the system!
4* = How do you write a scene with multiple characters? Like damn. Let me know how confused you felt. Miri might have been a bit much – I just felt like Mako was literally sitting there doing nothing, and needed something. Plus it establishes that Mako's not really an option for Korra or Asami – he's a playboy baggage boat.
5*= Al folds his hands, looking intently past the fourth wall, directly at Bryke.
Air Temple Island
Fire sizzled, sparked, crackled. It roared. Flames were a force of passion, of devotion, of certainty. They said the strongest firebenders were those most dedicated, not those most angry or fierce. Having a belief in one's self, one's role, one's purpose – that was what made a good firebender. Korra was not only a good firebender – she was a master. Like any master, the art she practiced was as much a part of her as her arm. In times of confusion, it was her solace. Her peace.
A pair of fists darted in a blur, bursts of flame kicking from her fists in the dawn air – sizzling the small trickles of rain as they pattered down around Korra. From beneath the nearby gazebo, Korra heard Naga's whine – the polar bear dog nuzzling the space between two pillars as it peeked out from its resting position. A small ruff escaped her lips, and Korra ceased – letting the rain drip down her face. "What is it, girl?" She asked, looking up as the water pattered in the dawn dark. A small flame lit her hand as she walked over.
The dog sat up – her eyes droopy and confused. Korra used her free hand to scratch at her pet's nape, Naga's expression unchanged. A small frown creased Korra's face in the dark, droplets of water tapping calmly on the gazebo railing. "I know, girl." She said at last – glancing back towards the temple. "I don't get it, either."
She turned around, letting the rain hit her. The chill was familiar – so unlike the rest of this city. Cars flooded the streets. Police flung from the rooftops on cables. There were people -everywhere-, and everything was so fast. Fast in a way she loved – but so alien she could hardly handle it. Here on the island, she could think. 'I know why Al loved it here.' She thought, realizing that he'd come from a place far too much like Republic City. He'd seen the busy streets and ignored them – he'd crossed streets with confidence, navigated the network like he called it home.
In a way, he looked alive when he did that – but so, so tired. Not like here, where he looked serene.
"Why did he leave, Naga?" She asked, looking back. Fire lit in her hands. She let out a few bursts, sizzling the water and sending steam clouds floating into the chilled sky. "He loved it here – he got along with Tenzin! I can't even do that!" She said, kicking a swathe of flame across the soaking sky.
Naga barked, standing, as a crackle of thunder split the sky – small zolts of lightning rippling through the far skies – coming closer. Korra shook her head, her loose hair tight to her face as she looked back at Naga. "Don't worry, girl! The lightning will hit the tower. We're perfectly safe here." She said, taking up her stance. A trio of flashes fought back the darkess, a cool light on the horizon signaling the rising sun behind the clouds. A loud boom of thunder assailed their ears, and Naga began to paw at her head – closing her eyes as she pushed into the side of the Gazebo. Her whines filled the silence after the storm.
"Hey!" Korra said, stepping over to rub Naga's muzzle. "It'll be alright, girl. We can't be afraid of a little thunder where we'll be going." She said with a smile. "Avatar Kyoshi and her Beaverene fought off Chin the Conqueror, didn't she?" Korra rubbed Naga, and the dog ruffed happily – despite the rain, and the fire, and the cold. "You're a polar bear dog!" She said, knocking on Naga's head. "You can swim in the arctic – there's no reason to be afraid of a little lightning!" She shouted.
Korra stepped out onto the small rock landing near the sea. "See?" She said, looking back. She reached down, feet swirling as she spun her arms. "I can even make the water stop!" She shouted out, beaming as she formed a sheet of water over her head – rippling as water sprayed off the edges, roaring down around her.
Naga barked as water ran down the roof – forming a waterfall in the way between them. Korra let the water fly with a shove, the torrent soaking a nearby thicket with a solid wall of water. Brushing her hair from her eyes, she smiled at Naga. "See, girl?" She said, nuzzling her with her nose. "Nothing to worry about. I'm the Avatar. What's the worst that could happen?"
Lightning struck loudly – thunder roaring on top of them – and the tower lit brightly as electricity crackled around Korra. She jumped – flying into the air, and felt a rush of wind beneath her feet. Korra skidded hard along the rocks, knocking her head – and she groaned as the water mixed with stars in her eyes. She squeezed her eyes shut as a figure lurched over the gazebo railing, feet scraping on the rocks and nuzzling her chest. It barked. "I'm fine, Naga!" Korra shouted. "Don't worry about it – I'll be okay." She said, shaking off the pain. She'd practically flown in the air – and, with a groan, she rose to her feet. Naga licked at her hands, gently biting one and tugging on it.
"No, girl." Korra said. "I need to think." She returned to her stance as Naga loped away with a huff. She shot a pair of flaming blasts into the sky before her, heat tracing up – and a loud crack of thunder roared against her ears. "It just doesn't make sense!" She shouted out, rubbing at her temples. "You don't just run out on everyone you know, randomly, with no reason!"
More thunder, lightning crackling on the sea before her. "Not on the Avatar!" She roared, hairs on her neck standing as she felt a crackle of static along her skin. She looked up, with a gulp, and back to Naga.
"Naga!" She shouted. "Something's not-" Her eyes snapped up, and she felt a sudden surge of electricity. Her heart skipped a beat – and she felt something swell inside her. A rush of fear – a learned response she'd never felt before.
At once, a hundred voices whispered in her ears, and a glowing light transfixed her face. Naga began barking loudly, angrily, and Korra kicked out her legs from beneath her, a whirl of rushing air gusting from her feet, sending her skidding across the ground. Where she stood, a massive jolt of lightning struck the ground. Sparks and a small flame remained – Naga cowering and barking in fear as Korra scraped to a halt amongst the soaking mud of nearby woods.
The light in her eyes faded, and she let out a faint gasp, rolling to her knees as Naga rushed after her, barking loudly. The Dog tackled her, still barking, and she rubbed hard at her eyes with mud-covered hands. "Naga?" She asked, rolling around to see the dog's slobbering mouth dripping on her chest. "What happened?"
As the dog let her stand, Korra felt a rush of air from her hands – and she yelped in surprise as she found herself floating in the air – and as quickly as she had gone up, she was on her way back down – the wind at her ankles dissipating. With a flush of wind and flame, Korra rolled down the slope towards the Women's Dormitory, Naga huffing in pursuit. She let herself splay over the pavement, eyes flinching shut as water pattered against her face. Breathing hard, she whispered as Naga stood over her. "I just airbent." She said.
There was silence as she lay there, her tanktop and pants soaking in the dreary rain. After a moment, she shot up – her eyes snapping to Naga. Her hands scratched at the concerned dog's neck. "Naga!" She shouted. "I can airbend!" Korra shot up – a gust of wind suddenly toppling her end-over-end and face-first into the stone. She winced, a slight brush of air saving her from a shattered nose.
Naga barked.
"I can try, anyway!" Korra shouted, growling with pain.
==
Future Industries
A man in a black suit stepped into the lobby of the Future Industries building – a fixture on the eastern side of downtown Republic City. Home to Sato's personal offices and design bureaus, the FI Headquarters was a shining silver pillar – though the real meat of the company lay in another part of town at the Satomobile Factory – an utterly massive four-towered facility near his childhood home of the Dragon Flats.
The man's dress shoes carried him calmly across the floor, the cog of Future Industries at his feet. His footsteps rung out amidst the marble, the receptionists glanced at him – arriving early in the morning – and cocked their heads. One of them shuffled through her appointment lists. Al calmly adjusted his tie, smiling as he approached. "Hello!" He said, happily. "I'm here to see Mr. Sato – is he available? I had hoped to arrive before the meat of his schedule."
The central receptionist blinked at him. She looked at her coworkers. "Mr. Sato doesn't accept walk-in meetings, Mr....?"
"You can call me Pliskin*." Al said, with an internal laugh. "Al Pliskin. I met Mr. Sato at a recent event at Ten Towers Theater – he gave me his personal card." He reached into his jacket, withdrawing it and laying it on the table. The receptionist picked it up, holding it to the light – and saw a silver strip in the middle of it. One of the others' eyes practically exploded open at it.
"My, my." The one holding the card said. "Mr. Sato doesn't give these out very handily, Mr. Pliskin." She set it down, sliding it back to him, and reached down to the phone at her desk. After a moment's wait, she spoke. "Reception for Mr. Sato, direct, please." There was a pause. "Yes, Mr. Sato? Apologies for calling so early, sir. A gentleman here has your personal card – and would like to meet with you, if you have the time."
Al folded his hands behind his back, dropping to a position of ease. His eyes traced the walls, high stone and marble – with a chandelier, too. A building of extravagance, with a facade meant to impress. Sato was a man who understood the power of industry: and the shield it provided against the force of the law. No doubt there were dozens of Equalists, squirming their way through the system.
Al pressed his lips into a thin line as the woman put her phone down. Her finger pointed to the elevator. "You'll need to head inside and tell the doorman-" Al held up a hand.
"It's not my first time in the land of corporations, ma'am." Al smiled, turning on his heel. He stepped to the elevator, pressing the call button with a ringing buzz. The doorway parted – and a single attendant in red stood there, looking at him. "Mr. Sato's office, please." He said, turning to lean against the elevator rail as he entered.
The operator cocked his eyebrows in surprise. "A meeting with Mr. Sato this early, sir?" He asked. "Rare he sees anyone before the main meeting with the board – and that's not for another hour."
Al shrugged, his suit tight to his chest as he spoke. "Mr. Sato gave me his personal calling card – I don't think he would've done that unless he meant it."
"Really?" The operator said, cranking the lever. It began to pull them up – completely unassisted by bending, as Al noticed most buildings lacked. Without a metalbender, many elevators were useless – only they could keep the safety mechanisms closed and the cables moving. Here? Bender-free. Al 'wondered' why.
The car came to a halt, dozens of floors up, after a lengthy trip. Al nodded to the man, stepping out onto the floor, dozens of parts and pieces of equipment within a round room on pedestals. At the far end, a single reception desk flanked a pair of glass double doors, leading to a spacious office – Hiroshi Sato's tired face scribbling on papers atop his desk.
The receptionist smiled at him. "Hello, Mr. Pliskin!" She said, her voice carrying across the room. "Mr. Sato's thrilled you've come. Go right in!" Al smiled, stepping forward, his pace resounding as his dress shoes clacked against the floor. Al hadn't felt this restrained by clothing in awhile – but it was worth it all the same.
"Thank you, ma'am." Al said, stepping past her. Her eyes were a bright brown, her hair a dash of gray. She wasn't some young plaything – No dalliance for the widower Sato. He may be a villain, but he wasn't some heartless monster. Sato was the opposite, Al realized, as he stepped in the doorway. He gave too deeply into his heart, and suffered for it.
With a shove, he opened the doors – the pair of glass panes swinging wide as Mr. Sato looked up. "Mr. Pliskin!" He said, standing and offering a hand. Al stepped forward, grasping it firmly. "I confess, I did not expect to see you here so soon – or in as fine a state. An impeccable suit, sir." Hiroshi said, motioning to Al's outfit.
Al nodded with a smile. "I do my best to look professional, Mr. Sato." Al said, "Where I come from originally, we value our professional appearances. Master Tenzin was sad to see me go, but he was generous enough to offer a parting gift of coin – which I used to ensure my proper appearance."
Hiroshi smiled at that. "Well, I do like a man who understands the value of good presence." He motioned to the chair sitting before his desk. "Have a seat."
Al took it, unbuttoning his suit jacket as he did so with a practiced hand. A uniform was a uniform – you wore it right, straight, and properly – whether that was a Sailor's Dress Blues with the complicated necktie, or a business suit on your twentieth year: you did it right.
"How may I help you?" Hiroshi asked, taking a seat. "I take it that you've left the Acolytes on the Air Temple Isle?"
"Indeed I have." Al said, nodding. Hiroshi inclined his head, steepling his fingers.
"Why?" Hiroshi asked. "Seemed you were rather into the lifestyle."
"In fairness, Mr. Sato – I'm not from around here." Al said. It was true, in a sense* - Al was easily the most Caucasian person around. He'd never seen another person with even dirty blonde hair – and his eyes were a very dark shade for the water tribe. "When I first arrived, I fell from the sky – and Master Tenzin rescued me. You may have seen it in the papers."
Sato considered that for a moment. "I do recall something of the matter – though nothing came of it. What's your point?"
"I come from a different time and place entirely, Mr. Sato – another universe." Al said. He reached into his coat pocket, removing a small blue-cased device, and pressed the button on top. "In my day," Al said, as a silver apple appeared on the black screen, "I could call people on the other side of the world, and speak with them – no operator, no lag, no calling issues – from here to Ba Sing Se, or the Fire Nation. Wirelessly. I could access hundreds of news articles, or send text messages."
Sato picked up the device, examining it. He touched the screen, sliding it upwards to reveal the camera. It showed Al in perfect clarity, and he tapped the camera button intuitively. The camera click was audible – the vibration long since turned off. "Fascinating." He said. "How complicated is this device?"
"Very." Al said. "It requires a knowledge of computing and microelectronics – I don't think you've even invented a real transistor yet." Sato folded his hands, glancing at the clock on instinct.
He leaned back, folding his arms over his suit-vest. He let the device lie on the table, and he stared at it. "This seems simple." Sato said, looking up. "And even as your story seems unbelievable, the evidence does seem to mount in your favor." He stood up, walking to a nearby window. "I suppose the question becomes, what's your gain out of all of this?"
Al reached into a pant pocket, withdrawing a small leather wallet. He reached into it, withdrawing a hundred dollar bill. He'd been meaning to return his cashout from the restaurant he'd worked at before playing that fateful evening, but didn't get around to it. He rose, stepping across the carpeted floor, and held it up to the light. The authenticity strip shone through in the light. "There's so many little things, Mr. Sato." He said. "Things I miss infinitely. This man, Mr. Benjamin Franklin? Invented electricity – and not through bending. He tied a string to a kite, and was shocked by real, skyborn lightning out in a field during a storm. Where I come from, there are no benders."
"None?" Sato said, looking at Al. "And your society functions?" He asked, his eyes slightly wide at that fact.
"Everything we do comes from up here, and from these." Al said, poking his head and his hands. "In my time, there are five people floating high above the earth – having flown there on rockets burning special mixtures, living inside cans filled with atmosphere as the world around them has no air at all. In space – where the stars are."
Sato put his hands in his pockets, looking down at the city. "And you want to see that world come back to life?" He asked.
Al nodded, smiling up at him. "Absolutely." He said. "I'm from a world where highways link cities hundreds of miles apart – where I can board an airplane and fly from one side of the world to the other in a single day. Where rovers on planets millions of miles away take pictures of the dusty rock, searching for life in the universe." Al stuck out his hand, as if to shake. "And I want to work with you, Mr. Sato – to make that a reality again."
Sato shook heartily. "If you can help me build that world, Mr. Pliskin." He said. "You'll have a job the rest of your life."
==
Air Temple Island
A rush of wind kicked at Korra's feet, and she spun violently – screeching with sudden surprise as a burst of wind from her fist kicked away an approaching air gate – wind spiraled from her arms, whipping around, and all the gates around her seemed to avoid her like the plague as she sprinted through. The posts vibrated angrily, displeased at the speed and attitude of her work – their centuries-old construction unwilling, however, to see a demise so early.
With a roar, she tumbled – gusts at her feet sending her spiralling into the floor. "Korra!" Tenzin shouted, halting the gates with an opposite wind. He knelt in the same motion, catching her face with a twisting hand, inches from the floor. She huffed, pushing herself off of Tenzin's rescuing palm. "What were you thinking? These are priceless artifacts!"
Korra growled. "Who cares about artifacts?" She said, her voice ringing out in the courtyard. "I learned airbending a few hours ago, Tenzin – we should be celebrating, not..." She waved her hand at the gates – a gust of uncontrolled air whipping one up to speed. Tenzin stopped it with a whipped palm, a gust stopping it.
"Korra!" He shouted. "You can't even control it – you're shooting air every which way: we need to focus on /discipline/, or you're never going to get anywhere with this." Tenzin let his eyes droop, and he rubbed at his eyes. A short stab of wind hit him from behind, sending his robes up in his face as a small bald child whizzed by on an Air Scooter.
"WHOO!" He shouted, disappearing past a pair of female Acolytes, dropping down the stairs towards the harbor – where Pema was returning with the girls. Tenzin shook his head, removing the extra cloth from his head. Korra let out a breath, leaning forwards, sweat dripping from her forehead.
The old master stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on Korra's shoulder. "I'm not asking you to become an expert overnight, Korra – but you need to be able to control this chi – or it'll cause havoc." He said. "Airbending is potentially the most dangerous bending art – it's present everywhere, and can be manipulated in many ways. An uncontrolled airbender can cause car accidents – destroy buildings – send people flying from great heights."
He bent down, looking at her as she panted. "Do you understand?" He asked. "I'm not decrying your independence, Korra, but there are dangers on hand."
"And I don't think you understand!" Korra said, snapping her head up to yell at him. She stood, jabbing a finger at him. "I'm the Avatar – and now I can bend four elements. I'm realized, Tenzin! I can do it all, and I think now's high time for celebration – not your 'studies' she shouted, flipping a hand. A gust of wind sent a pair of wind chimes crashing to the ground.
A dejected monk – rather rotund in the stomach, slowly bent over to pick it up – failing to get much further than knee level. Tenzin rose a brow at Korra, motioning his head over. "Look, Korra." He said, "See what you've done to poor Chin?" He asked, as a whirl of his wrist sent the chimes into the monk's hand. He bowed at Tenzin, stretching on his tall tiptoes to hook the chime back in place.
Korra folded her arms, impatient. "Do you have a point, Tenzin?" She asked. "Chin could use the exercise – he's got the strength, he just needs the flexibility." Chin resumed his afternoon's work – carrying seven boxes stacked atop one another, perfectly balanced, down to the dock.
There may be an overweight monk on the island – but he's not underperforming – that much was certain. "How can you ask that?" Tenzin said. "I've made my point very clear-"
"The point that there's no reason to stop training? That my entire life has to be work, work, and work – and you teacher types are just coming up with more things to do?" She asked.
"What has you so worked up, Korra?" Tenzin asked. Korra growled at him, her face twisting in anger.
"Why did you make Al leave?" She asked, stomping a food. A gust of wind spattered from her foot, skidding across the rocks. "He was a great guy – a good friend! One of the few I've got here in this city – and one day he just up, fights with you, disappears?" She asked, hands up in the air.
Tenzin grimaced, stepping toward the center of the plaza, looking out over the city. "Ah." He said, "So that's what this is about?" Korra nodded, stepping closer but maintaining a disrespectful distance. "Al made his own choice, Korra – I didn't tell him what to do with his life – and his decision threatened no-one but himself. It helped the world, actually. You, however, are actively endangering others by flippantly ignoring the uncontrolled state of your airbending."
Korra huffed. "You always do this, Tenzin!" She shouted. "You all blame me for your problems in teaching! 'Korra ignores the spiritual', 'She lacks restraint'" She pantomimed, fingers flashing air quotes.
"We'd never have these problems if you weren't so terrible at learning, Korra!" Tenzin shouted. "All you care about is fighting, and Airbenders are not fighters, Korra – we're guardians at our most violent, and you're too busy destroying things to see what real Airbending is – and in turn, all you do is cause chaos!"
Korra twisted her face in a pained grimace. "Destroying things, huh?" She spat. Her fist lit with fire. "You hate it when I destroy things?" She yelled. "Huh?!" Her hand shot out, a jet of flame spiraling into the air gates*. "That's what I think about your stupid test, Tenzin!" She shouted, turning towards the woods on the far side of the island. "I'll teach myself Airbending – I don't need anyone who treats the Avatar like a stupid child!"
"Korra!" Tenzin yelled, gusts of air flying from his fists to put out the fire. "Stop this at once!" He yelled, as she sprinted into the woods, gusts of wind at her feet sending her bounding off, a shower of lost leaves falling in a swathe behind her.
Tenzin hung his head as an airball spun onto the horizon. Jinora sat atop it, skidding to a halt. She held a small basket of apples on her arm, and stepped over to a defeated Tenzin. "Dad?" She asked. "What's wrong?"
"Korra ran off." He said, glancing up at the trees. He walked over to the damaged air gates, rubbing his hands on them. Soot covered his fingers, a small splinter making him bleed. He looked down at Jinora. "Al's disappearance may've had more of an affect than I'd thought."
"Have you spoken with him, yet?" Jinora asked.
Tenzin rose a brow. "Why would I do that? He ran away, never-" Jinora tossed an apple at his face, eyebrows raised in expectation as she stared at him. Tenzin took a bite. "How did you know?"
"Sound carries on the winds, Dad." She said. "I happen to like the woods, too." Tenzin rubbed at his forehead. The last of the leaves settled in the woods.
"As it seems, so does everyone." He huffed. Meelo's air bubble sputtered to a halt beside them, and his inquisitive eyes locked on the Air Gates. "Meelo?" He asked, looking at his son.
"Did Avatar-Lady burn the gates?" He asked. Jinora nodded, closing her eyes as she did so. Meelo looked at his father. "You're a terrible teacher, Daddy." He said, grabbing the apple from his hand with a flick of his wrist, sauntering off. Tenzin's shoulders slumped.
"I hate children." He growled, his features softening as Pema and Ikki appeared on the far side of the plaza, loaded for bear with dozens of bags – a train of acolytes in tow.
"Me too, Dad." Jinora agreed, handing him another apple. She wrapped him in a warm embrace. "Me too."
==
Narook's Seaweed Noodlery
A gust of violent wind swirled beneath a glass - the entire breath of the room caught in sudden fear as the waitress bent at the knee, gently tugging the spiraling waterglass from its enrapturing cyclone. She placed it back on her tray with a sheepish look around - but nobody was paying attention to her.
Instead, their attention was rapt upon the small trio seated in a nearby booth. Its female occupant began to slide underneath the table - noodles and all - while the other two turned up their collars. "Mako!" Bolin whispered, putting up a hand to shield them from the veritable horde of whispering outsiders. "We're famous, what do we do?"
"How should I know? You're the 'acclaimed actor'!" Mako whispered back, flipping air quotes to go along. "Korra, consult your previous Avatars! You can do that, right?"
Korra balled up underneath the booth, gusts of wind still spiraling from her hands in infrequent intervals. She balled her hands, shaking her head. "No!" Korra whispered. "I don't know how!" The crowd's attention seemed to wane - the airbending Avatar having disappeared from sight. Their whispers didn't lead to a mob of onlookers - and perhaps that was for the best.
Her safety garnered, Korra slowly slid out from beneath the table - eyes up and calculating as several people - especially younger children - shot her looks. "I don't like being out of control like this." She said, looking at them both. "I'm better than this - I should be able to pick airbending up like I have everything else!"
"Something tells me, and I -might- be wrong here, mind you," Bolin began, putting down a pen. He'd been scribbling something in a journal, which he quietly tucked beside him. "But the Avatar has to have a hard time with stuff, right? You don't just magic the four elements and go off to save the world - didn't Aang and Kyoshi learn things under pressure?"
"I've always been under pressure!" Korra shouted, flinging a hand at the window. It cracked open with a whine - and a white head poked in the window, sniffing at Mako's noodles. The firebender sent sparks at the dog's muff, and it huffed back outside with a whine. "Ever since I've been born I've wanted to be the Avatar - I've worked hard, I've studied, I've followed my lessons - but Airbending? Airbending is so..." She let out a roar of anger. "It's too flighty! The Avatar is supposed to defeat their enemies, like Ozai or Chin - not be some wise diplomat! I'm a fighter, not..." Her eyes traced over to Bolin, quietly scribbling at his lap. She leaned over against him, her head against his, as she glanced over the characters.
A perfect transcription of what was occuring, at this very moment. Complete with analysis. Bolin slammed it shut, whistling. "What was that?" Korra asked. Mako let on a sheepish grin, glancing between them. Behind him, the waitress approached - and smiled as she placed a refill next to Mako.
"How're you, Mak?" She asked, her hair bouncing like a spring as she stopped. "Haven't seen you around in awhile. I've been lonely." She said, poking him on the shoulder. She chewed her gum gently, glancing over at Korra and Bolin. Bolin was sputtering, trying to come up with an explanation, Korra's shining blue eyes boring into his head. "Avatar, huh?" She asked.
Mako leaned back, smiling at her. "Good to see you too, Miri." Mako said, his voice a bit... smoother, than his usual. "Sit back and relax - you're about to see a teammate fight for the ages."
"Better than Hasook and Bolin fighting over poetry?" She asked with a small chuckle. Mako shot her a rakish smile.
"My lady doth remember too much." He said. Bolin finally spoke.
"It's... a diary?" The younger brother said. He calmly began eating his seaweed noodles. Korra folded her arms tighter, if that was possible, and frowned.
"Bolin." She said, "You've been acting weird all week - ever since the celebration thing. What's going on?"
"Wellllll~" Bolin grumbled through his noodles. He swallowed them heartily, "Wooh, those were hot. Is it hot in here? Did the walls get smaller?" He glanced at the waitress. "Oh! Miri! When did you start working here?"
"I've always worked here, Bolin." She said, shooting him a look. "Where do you think I met Mako?"
"Bolin!" Korra shouted, slamming a fist on the table. A swirl of wind sent a sudden rush of water out of Mako's refill - which she caught with a whirling waterbend before it hit the newcomer. "You need to quit lying to me, and changing the subject."
"Buuut it's awkward!" Bolin said. "I can't be an impartial observer if you -know- I'm trying to write a Saga of the Avatar!" He said, putting his hands up in defeat. "We hardly know anything about the past Avatars - all we have are statues and facts, not records of their personality and attitudes - Kyoshi's play is made up!"
Korra put her hands on the table, resetting Mako's drink in place. "You're recording -me-?" She asked.
"Yeah! Think of how much people would love to hear about what the -real- Avatar is like! No lies, no tall tales, just the real, pretty, ripped, slightly sheltered, air-crazy Korra from the Southern Water Tribe. Who likes seaweed noodles." Bolin said with a smile. Korra's lips pressed together and rubbed at her eyes.
"And you had to make that awkward?" Korra asked.
Across the table, Miri glanced at Mako. "So-"
"-Yeah." Mako said, taking a drink from his swirled glass. "It's a living." He said, looking her in the eye. "It was good to see you."
"You too, fireman." She winked. "Win a few more matches - I could stand to win the pot this year." Her voice called in parting as she sauntered off to the next table. Mako set his glass down, shaking his head as he did so. Exes. *
Bolin shrugged at Korra, rolling his eyes. "I don't know how to politely say I'm recording your every move for posterity! And cash! We can't forget the cash, here – Mako's the one ragging on my artistic endeavors." He said, Mako folding his arms in disappointment.
"Don't involve me in this, bro. You're the one that felt like recording her every move – and blowing an even larger hole in our extra things budget by buying all that paper every... week, is it?" Mako said, giving him a look.
Korra put up her hands in a huff, a gust of wind making the ceiling supports crackle with . "Everything is just so... weird, this week. Al runs off – Tenzin keeps putting me down – Bolin's keeping a journal of my entire life." She shook her head. "Being Avatar's hard work – but it's not the Avatar stuff that seems complicated." A gust of wind shot awkwardly from her nostrils as she huffed in frustration - "Well, mostly."
Bolin scribbled a small line in his book. Korra glanced at him angrily.
"Take that out." She said.
"Factual integrity!" Bolin shouted, holding the book away from Korra as she grabbed at it. The pair began wrestling in the booth, Bolin trying to keep it away, as Mako sat there awkwardly on the far side.
"You know, I'm really not paid nearly enough by anyone to deal with anything like this." Mako said. His eyes traced the building's bar – a central one, circling around with the booths always opposite, save for the entrance.
At one section, he noticed a few men in black sitting – steaming cups of coffee in their hands, their eyes darting around, sharp and angry. Mako's eyes narrowed, his lip pressing into a thin line. He knew people like them anywhere. People he used to work for.
Miri was making another pass, and he whispered for her: "Miri." He said. Her ears caught him even with the din of the building. "Dark coats at the bar." The waitress' head turned, and she saw them almost instantly.
"Are they-?" She asked. Mako nodded, taking her hand.
"Call the police. They don't come in like that for a drink." The Firebender said. Miri rushed off, changing direction – to the disappointment of a cup-holding customer hoping for water: Southern Tribe Hotwings were something of a specialty, and they burned. Bad.
"Just give it to me!" Korra said, slamming Bolin against the booth with a gust of wind. Her hands pressed his arm against the table as she wrenched the book away with a deft twist of her wrist. Bolin cried out in slight pain. "Aha!" She said, scribbling out the line with glee. Her expression changed when she looked at Mako. "What's wrong?" She asked, letting the cover fall flat atop the words. Bolin nursed his pained wrist, eyes like puppies.
Mako motioned his head to the bar. "Those Triads are up to something." He said, looking at his brother. "Tell me I'm wrong."
Bolin glanced back, spotting the coats with as much speed as his brother. "Flameo." The younger brother said. "Korra, those guys mean business – probably Agni Kai with swords underneath." He whispered.
Korra looked at them with determination, no fear in her eyes. A small gust surrounded her as she saw them. Her hands balled in fist, the wind dissipating as she rose from the booth, pushing Bolin. "Well, boys." She said, "They picked the wrong noodlery to knock over." Her lips parted into a wry smile. "And I've got /four/ elements to play with today."
The Triad members watched as an elderly man approached them at the bar. The leader began to say something, his voice droned out to them as Team Avatar stood from their booth. Miri rushed up. "Mako!" She said. "They're on their way. You don't need to-" A loud screech of metal-on-metal filled the air as the lead man drew a sword, holding it to the owners' throat. The rest revealed their hands, filled with fire.
"Listen up!" One of them shouted. "Today's the Red Day!" His voice roared. "The government's been taking our bending, and we ain't going down without a fight. You're all hostages! Move, die! Real simple!"
"No!" Korra shouted, the building silent. "You don't understand what's simple." She said, fire crackling in her own hands. Mako removed his hands from his pocket, taking up a fighting stance. Bolin planted his feet, hands out. Several boothgoers pressed themselves tighter to the walls. "I've got ten thousand years of combat experience. My past lives built this city. Forged islands. Slew Phoenix King Ozai and threw Chin the Conqueror off cliffs."
The Agni Kai with the sword stared at her, his face impassive. "You're just a girl – Avatar or no." He said, turning his blade at Korra. "You die like anyone else."
"That may be." Bolin said, stepping forward – huge rocks appearing from beneath the wooden floor. "But she's got a team better than any one of you."
Mako's hands lit with fire, and he stepped forward as well. "The real Team Avatar." He growled.
Korra put up her fists, a strange smile on her face. Her stomach filled with a feeling she'd felt a lot when she was younger – tossing stones and firebursts as her parents chased her through the village. It was something like glee, but better – and, in her head, a voice spoke to her: one she'd never heard, but somehow knew. 'Fulfillment' It said, a female voice. 'Purpose'
With a whirl of her arms, a half-dozen ice spikes erupted from nearby water glasses, shattering a few – and shot straight for the Triads. And so, the solution to the mob problem began.
Korra-style.
==
Future Industries
"And so what I'm saying is, cars are all well and good – but with the mountainous nature of the world and the spread of oceans makes it not economic to serve the world via vehicles – at least with the current fuel economy of the Models T and TT Satomobile." Al said, closing his briefcase. "What I suggest is something else – Airships are a big deal, yes, but they're /slow/ - and we can't do slow. An Airbender's Flying Bison can move more cargo far faster than an Airship, in multiple trips, limited only by straw and fodder and personnel considerations."
Al stepped to the head of the table. "Heavier than air flight, gentlemen." Al said, placing the drawing he had in his hands on the wall with a pair of clips. "This here, from my homeland, is a design – the Douglas DC-3. It has a top speed of 207 Miles Per Hour, far faster than the Bison or our lumbering airships. Its range is in excess of 1,500 Miles – which, as we know, is a -massive- range that can cover the majority of the Earth Kingdom, the whole of the URN – or from Republic City into the coast of the Fire Nation." Al said.
The assembled suits looked at the device in amazement. "And you've seen one of these fly? For real? The math all checks out?" One in a pair of suspenders asked, his pinstriped Dress Shirt rolled up. A pair of goggles were tucked in a chest pocket – clearly an engineer.
"Why, my good man," Al smiled, "I've flown in aircraft thrice its size – carrying hundreds of people all around the globe." The Engineer balked at that.
"The fuel infrastructure alone isn't quite there." He said, pressing on his glasses. "We'd need a tanker infrastructure, ships carrying oil from the Water Tribes and sections of the Earth Kingdom – a whole new system even greater than that supplying the airships and vehicles that run through the cities of the world already."
"But it'd give us a whole new market, with ourselves as the only competitors." Al said, looking them all over. "Cabbage Corporation has nothing on us – while their airship and motor vehicle markets attempt to encroach on Future Industries'. If we effectively double our capital influx, reinvest that in our other branches, we're looking at cheaper Satomobiles, more customers, and a weaker opposition. A growth in our overall revenues, and happier shareholders."
Al picked up his water, sipping it gently as the various boardmembers whispered to one another. It'd only been a few hours since he'd gotten the job that morning, and already Mr. Sato had called him into a meeting – a man with as accumulated knowledge as Al was a valuable asset – and this first brief meeting during the executive assembly was just a taste of his value to the company.
"I like it." Sato said, turning in his chair. "It's risky – but what is this company without risk? I spent quite a bit on the production lines in the Dragon Flats – and in the Industrial District – but all have paid themselves off. Some of our workers in the labs have designed basic biplanes – but your design? That is something tangible – valuable. We'll need to find investment partners: something I'm sure Mr. Tojo can handle." He said, nodding to another worker.
Sato stood, offering Al his chair as he took the dais. Al took his seat with a curt bow, sitting comfortably as the stress rolled off his body. It's hard to speak in front of crowds – but easier when you have a plan. Al had that. It also helped that he didn't care especially heavily about these people – only about selling it to Hiroshi.
The meeting continued – sales figures replacing designs – as the churning force of business moved on. Al sat comfortably, taking it all in – secure in the knowledge that his place in the company was little more than as an ideas man. If he ended up in accounting, or – god forbid – behind Mr. Sato's desk, he'd probably implode. He was a Varrick, not a Zhu Li.
As his eyes drifted out to the city – a series of bright lights flashed across the street in a nearby building – flickers of flame and heat rushing through the glass. Al wasn't the only one to see it – one of the other executives, a woman named Kyara, gasped in surprise. "Someone's setting the Interior Ministry on fire!" She shouted – people turning in their chairs to see a commotion spreading several levels – orange light flickering from the top downward. Several windows smashed open – people falling out – men in black coats standing at the windows.
Al sat there, aghast. It was happening again – but this time, it was everywhere. Mr. Sato cleared his throat - "Everyone, I'm adjourning the meeting. If there are criminals attacking the government, we may have a repeat of the riots several weeks ago – and the Triads are definitely more desperate, if that's the case." He closed his books with notes of finality, his coworkers doing the same. Al stood, stepping over to Mr. Sato - "You, Al – have you found a home to stay in?" He asked.
"I have a small apartment on Sao-Ru Boulevard, it's more of a bolthole at the moment – I haven't even unpacked." Al said. Sato nodded, stuffing several books into his own briefcase.
"My estate outside the city is open to you – negotiating on a formal employment will have to come later – if the city's-" He glanced across the street, something catching inside the ministry: a large flash of flame kicked outwards – shattering the glass on two floors. It rained at the street below, and an angry pop rippled, a window cracking next to them. "Damn!" He shouted.
"Damn indeed." Al said, unfazed. It was no worse than a gunshot – and he'd heard plenty of those at Sea Cadets. Down the hall, there was a cry of alarm. Sato perked up, glancing at Al and towards the doorway. A flash of something reflective shot by the doorway, a sudden chill filling the room. Al had felt it once or twice – when Korra had practiced freezing water through her use of waterbending. "Ice." Al said, looking at Mr. Sato. "It's the Triads. They're here."
"Here?!" Sato shouted, his face full of anger. "How dare they? Their quarrel is with the government, imagined or otherwise!" He roared. "We're going to need to get out of here." He said.
Al nodded. Before either could react, the door smashed open – a rock cracking through the glass pane and two men stepping in – one wreathed in flame, the other swirling water around him. "Ah!" The leader said, holding his hat in his hand. "The infamous Mr. Sato! I'd hoped to find you here." He said, chuckling. His voice was Italian, gray streaks through his hair.
Al had seen him before. Red eyes glowered at the both of them, a predatory light in both. Lightning Bolt Zolt. Al didn't have his sword – wasn't much good in anything beyond a one on one, and Zolt was huge – Al was a short man, and while the monks had made him stronger, he was hardly a fighting master. He couldn't chi-block. The third earthbender strode into the room, and that settled it. Al put his hands up as Mr. Sato did. "And you are?" Mr. Sato asked, his face angry.
"Why I? I'm Mr. Zolt, Mr. Sato. Fine proprietor of the greatest market institution in all of Republic City. You?" He laughed. "You and yours aren't my enemy – but you are an object, Mr. Sato. The government thinks it can steal our bending and take over, but I – I know the way the wind's turning, Mr. Sato. They'll have to return it – get rid of their masked goons."
"What are you talking about?" Mr. Sato growled. "I'm not any part of this! Why would the government admit to something like it, if that was the case?'
"He's lying." A voice called, stepping into the room. He planted his feet into the floor. His eyes were dull – his face impassive. An earthbender – not only that, a truthseer.
"Now, now, Mr. Sato." Zolt said. "I know you're in league with the government like every other crony." He smiled. "But that's fine – I don't need you to tell me anything – though it'd help if you did." His fingers crackled with electricity as he stepped forward, the bolts crackling lightly between his hands as he pressed them together in a steeple.
"What do you want, hooligan?" Sato said. "Haven't you criminals from the triads taken enough from me? One of you monsters killed my wife – deprived my daughter of her mother – and I've spent my whole life trying to make her safer! Happier! And now you're going to kill me like every other monster like you! Bending filth!" He shouted, spitting. Zolt shot out a finger, zapping Sato happily.
"Shut. Up." He said, looking at Al. "And you – clean-faced executive. Never seen a man with a face like yours, in all my years." He said, grabbing Al's chin – Al felt his hair stick up straight like needles. He'd shaved and had a haircut since his return to republic city, but what little bristles remained turned into a floating afro.
"Sir, it's my first day!" Al shouted. "I'm not part of any of this – I just had some ideas!"
Zolt chuckled. "We all have ideas." He said, patting Al on the face as he stepped over to Sato. Sato shifted his feet, and he looked primed to act. "Ah, ah!" Zolt said, holding up a hand that arced with flame. "Don't do anything you'll regret, Mr. Sato – wouldn't want to deprive that daughter of a father, would we?*"
Sato jolted back, standing up straight, hands up. A small globule of water snapped his hands together, locking them behind his back with ice. "Now, Mr. Sato – we're going to wait here while my men wreak havoc – and when Lin Beifong and her people arrive, well..." He said, smiling. "There'll be a reckoning – one way, or another." He shoved Sato into the nearby chair, grabbing Al by the wrist.
"As for Mr. Ideas, here, well..." Zolt looked Al in the eye. "I suppose sacrifices can be made for the greater good, right?" He asked, looking at Sato.
The man's face was steel, but he shot Al a look of sorrow. "I'm fine, Mr. Sato." Al said, glancing at Zolt. "I was never supposed to be here in the first place."
"No-one ever is." Sato replied, hanging his head. Al was rushed out of the room, dragged along by Zolt. In the hall, he found many of the executives frozen or rocked to the wall – a few even metalbent. A small herd of Triad members were in the hallway – two turning to face Zolt as he approached.
"This one was close to Sato." He growled. "He'll be the first to go unless Sato offers something useful." He said, flinging Al onto the floor. Two of the Triads locked him against the wall, next to the woman from Finance who'd spotted the fire next door. Her face was bruised – and she was unconscious.
Al gulped.
This wasn't Kansas anymore.
==
Narook's
A dozen shards embedded themselves in a dozen targets – glasses, liquor bottles, the bar, the tiling behind it – and three hit the enemy leader – his sword arm dropping like a rock as he did, roaring in pain. He writhed on the floor as two of his compatriots rushed past, fire roaring from their hands. Korra spun a blast away, catching the other with a balled fist. Bolin kicked his rocks away – charging forward – sending the rightmost enemy flying. Two jets of flame sprouted above him, Korra and Mako jumping in synergy, the flames spattering across the tiled floor and sending sparks flying – the Agni Kai only just managed to disperse them.
"Give up!" Korra shouted to the five remaining enemies. "You have ten millenia of battle experience to fight against – and if you hurt any of these people, none of you will leave alive!" She roared, sending the caught fireball spiralling at the group. Two of them caught it, another pair tossing four bolts of flame at Korra's team. Together with Bolin, the pair kicked up walls of defense from below.
The crowd around them was struggling to escape – mostly by windows. Bargoers rushed to either side, those caught in the middle flying with their drinks into the rear space. One joined the bartender in fearfully chugging vodka – hoping to drown out their inevitable demise as titans of battle turned the noodlery into a field of flame.
Korra growled behind the stone wall as Mako sent a pair of blasts against the enemy. Korra rose – whipping out a fist – but no air launched away. "What gives?!" She shouted, disappearing behind the rock just as flame kicked over her. Bolin kicked at the ground, rocks shooting up from the earth, and he fired thrice. Stone and rock roared at the enemy – two hits staggering two of their opponents and knocking them over. A solid gout from the remaining three left them trapped under fire.
"Korra!" Mako said. "Where's that airbending? We need to keep them off balance or we'll get torched!"
"I can't do it!" Korra shouted, face twisted in surprise and disappointment. She flicked her wrists. "It worked all the time when I didn't need it to!" Korra wriggled her fingers, only to feel the sweat of heat trickling down her forehead.
Mako growled, firing past the cover. "We're going to need to do something different, then!" He shouted. He glanced at Bolin. "Keep up a stream, bro! I need some time." Mako said. Everyone began to feel a tingle in the air as Mako concentrated, his own hairs shooting straight out – ruining his perfect quaff as crackling static began to ripple down his arms – visible lightning rippling.
"Oh, man!" Bolin shouted. "Bro, that's dangerous!" He yelled, ripping at the Earth as a dozen small pebbles shattered out of the barrier – hailing down on the enemy. A momentary break in their fire came, and Korra rose – firebursts spattering from her fists. Numbers was a great part of any bending battle – and this was no exception.
Electricity began crackling from the tile beneath them, running up Mako's arms, as he pointed his fingers straight out. He roared with pain, and the lightning slowly began to creep down his arms. Korra shot up again, firing thrice – her blasts breaking through one Agni Kai's defenses and sending him in a flaming heap to the floor, where he voraciously tried to put himself out.
Mako shot up, then, as Bolin started another pebble-barrage, a sudden surge of static washing over everyone in the room. In a crack of violent thunder, the room felt a surge of overpressure: and a bright line of blue-gray lightning crossed the divide to the Agni Kai – all four remaining Triads collapsing in a steaming heap, fire crackling in their clothes where they were hit.
A few moaned gently. The rest were silent. "Flam-e-o!" One of the patrons said, peeking up over the bar. Nobody had been hit in the crossfire. A total wipe of the enemy. Mako shook off his arms, steam spiraling from his wrists. He gently patted at his hair, tapping a metal spoon to let off the extra charge. A small bolt of lightning shocked him – but the pain didn't phase him.
Korra stood, face beading with sweat, and looked around. "Is everyone alright?" She asked. The moans of the wounded and shocked-silent triads answered her – but they weren't her concern. Her eyes turned to Miri, in the back – her hand wrapped around the telephone in shock. "Did you get through to the police?" She asked.
The woman sat momentarily, her eyes darting every which way, before she focused on Korra. "Y-yes. They say they're overwhelmed – and to cooperate with the criminals as best they can until units can respond."
"Overwhelmed?" Mako said, looking back at her. "Then..." He glanced down. "This is a repeat of three weeks ago, isn't it?" He asked.
"Seems that way." Bolin replied, rubbing the back of his head. With a few stomps, he made the earth retract – the cracked wood and tile of the floor rather unsightly – but better than having burned the building down. "That was bad – but hopefully there won't be as many Triads around, this time."
"Still." Mako replied. "We're looking at a street war. Again." He said, looking at Korra.
Korra glanced back at him after sweeping the crowd – most of whom had evacuated through the windows or doors during the battle. A loud rap against the main door caught their attentions – only for the wood to fly off its hinges – a white-furred dog and a red-furred ferret roaring through the doorway, one atop the other. It whined, seeing the fight over. "It's alright, girl!" Korra said. "We handled it!" She stepped over, scratching at Naga's neck. She looked back at her teammates. "Well, what do we do?" Korra asked. "I can't fight an entire war by myself... I'm not strong enough yet.
"No, but you're still a master bender." Bolin said. "Kyoshi only knew how to earthbend in her first fights, if the stories are true – and you've got three elements mastered!" He pointed outside. "Think of how many Triad goons you can defeat?"
Korra nodded, balling her hands into fists. "Maybe you're right, Bolin." She said. She let out a sigh, rolling her shoulders. "Still, it's only my second real fight."
"It's not like we have a choice, Korra – we can't hunker up here. If the Triads attack us-" Mako began, stepping towards the window. His voice cut out abruptly, his eyes spotting something in the distance. "Look." He said, motioning them over. Bolin ran over, peeking out.
"Oh. Problem solved?" He said. Korra stepped to the end of the booth they were both peeking out from – and saw a group of Triads tied up. At their head, though, wasn't the police. Men in black uniforms stood over them, electricity coursing over batons, as a small crowd cheered them on.
"Who are those people?" Korra asked.
Mako slowly shut the blinds, narrowing his eyes. "I don't know." He said, after a moment's thought. "Some people were saying they'd been out during the last riots – some sort of non-bender protection committee – but they were knocking out the bending of -everyone-, and took some Triad members away."
"Taking them /away/?" Korra asked, a brow raised. "Where?"
Bolin shrugged. "Probably to get their bending taken, if those guys were any indication." He mused. Inside the restauraunt, things were more-or-less returning to normal – patrons resuming their drinks, waitresses refilling glasses. The defeated enemy were dragged into a corner by a pair of busboys – tied up to wait for the police.
Korra frowned. "How could someone take away bending?" She asked, after moment's contemplation. "I thought only Aang could do that – only an Avatar could do that."
"You tell us, Korra." Mako said. "We're just a pair of kids off the streets, don't expect us to have the answers."
"I suppose you're right." Korra said. The group slowly made their way to the exit, apologizing to the owner on the way out, and stepped onto the streets. Several burning Satomobiles were in a heap in one corner of the street – police vehicles were wailing in the distance. Along the street to their right, the crowd of anti-bender rioters swelled in size, as a man in a dark leathery suit spoke.
"We will not be oppressed!" He yelled. "By the government, by the Triads, by anyone! We are Non-Benders, and while we may be weak, we are not tools to be used and discarded!" His voice carried loudly, and the crowd roared at him in agreement. "We are better than benders! We have forged this world of steel and glass!"
Bolin winced as they stood, watching. "I've read about this before – first it's 'We're awesome', then it's 'We're awesomer than you!', and then they take over the world, exterminate the Air Nomads, and plunge the world into a hundred years of darkness."
Mako glanced at his brother as he turned up his collar. "Just... don't make smart comments like that around them, okay?"
"Why not?" Korra said, balling her hands into fists. "It's my job to teach these people the dangers of the paths they walk – to bring balance! We can't just ignore them making poor decisions and threatening the world."
Mako put his hand on her shoulder before she could make headway into the crowd. "You can't, Korra." He said. "These people agree with him. They respect him. Some girl, Avatar or no, can't break a rally of anti-bending activists!"
"Don't tell me what I can't do, Mako." Korra said, growling at him. Naga followed her, huffing at Mako. Korra wrenched her arm away.
"Down with the council who dominates us! Who tries to control us, even though we pledge ourselves to the republic – not our old nations! Down with the Benders who rule us! We are the -people-! We are the masters of our own destiny – and these -filth- who call themselves more powerful than us?" The leader motioned down to the Triads bound and gagged next to him. "We shall show them the rage of our masses. They shall become like us – weakened, and shall learn humility."
Korra pushed through the crowd, her water tribe garb a contrast to the workers. Several jeers went out against her. "We shall take their bending, and-"
"How?!" Korra shouted. The crowd went silent. "How do you plan on doing that?"
The man looked down at Korra. "Ah. A Water Tribeswoman. No doubt a waterbender fearing her irrelevance?" He chuckled. A small reverberation came from the crowd, and Korra twisted her face in anger.
"An Avatar confused at how a non-bender would have the power to take bending." Korra said. The leader laughed harder at that, pointing at the bound men, and his masked warriors – all of whom held electrified sticks.
"As ancient warriors could block chi," The man began, "So too can we – and our leader has found a way to block chi – permanently." His eyes focused on the woman. "The Avatar, though? The little girl from the southern tribe, locked away? What relevance have you here?" He growled.
"I'm an agent of stability – especially in times like these!" Korra shouted
"Stability?" He spat. "What stability have you wrought us, Avatar?" He asked. "The city burns – and you're still a child. How many Triad members have you defeated in the course of these revolts that shock our city? How many conflicts have you stopped?"
"My past lives-" Korra began, sputtering.
"Are not your life, Avatar." The speaker said, glowering at her behind his goggles. "Our leader has taken the bending of dozens of these criminals – has permanently locked them out of causing harm! We have saved this city, while the police are corrupt and let them free – while the government are weak and do nothing."
One of the Triad members began growling at his gag. One of the Chi-Blockers moved to hit him, but their Lieutenant waved them away, turning to look at him. "No, no - let the man speak."
His gag was untied, and the man shouted out: "Oh, like you're not from the government?!" He roared. "You're just a cop in disguise! You all are, and that Avatar's in on all of it! She's taking our bending, and playing all coy about it!" He roared.
"The hell I am!" Korra spat back. "You'd have trials, be apportioned fair punishment – I would never stoop myself to wasting my energy on trash like you!" The Triad growled, fire erupting in his hands – only to be hit square in the skull by one of the soldiers.
"Trash like him, hm?" The Lieutenant said, smiling. His mustache twitched with glee. "Even the Benders don't respect eachother. We do, though, do we not, brothers and sisters?!" The crowd roared. One of the locals tossed water at her, spraying his bottle all over Korra. She whirled her hand, spraying the water back in his face, mixed with her sweat from the flames.
"See!" The Lieutenant yelled. "See what she does?! They all treat us like scum!"
"Down with benders!" The squirted man yelled. "Petty monsters who hate all!"
"Down with benders!" The crowd began to chant. Mako and Bolin weaved through the crowd, grabbing Korra by the shoulders. "Down with benders! Petty monsters! Hate us all!"
"We. Need. To. Leave." Mako growled. Korra's face was full of utter defeat – the crowd chanting hatred at her as the pair dragged her away. Naga stood at the edge of the crowd, growling at a pair of citizens poking her with a stick. Korra and the men mounted her, quickly riding off.
"When did the city turn so spiteful?" Korra asked. "I always thought Aang's city would've been a happier place..."
"We're all poor, Korra." Bolin said. "Non-benders just have far more to blame than we do."
==
Author's Notes
Holy hell these chapter lengths doe. 11181 That's three ones holyshit.
I cut it a little earlier than I'd wanted. Shit happens. I figure get this one out, start working on the next one.
A little secret – I have trouble writing Korra. I don't think you guys have noticed, but I really have trouble putting her in situations of stubbornness. I have down the whole Avatar-obsession thing: and that's something I do want to play up, but Korra's too... direct, in a way I have trouble empathizing with.
Don't get me wrong – her beating up those guys in the kitchen and in the courtyard was classic Korra – but internally she's not particularly introspective, at least not until the later seasons.
Al, meanwhile, I fear is floating into Sue territory – and the bad part is that I like it that way. Not in the sense that he's some OP maniac, just that he's sort of waltzed in to become a major plot point, character, and friend of the main cast – which is classic Sueism. I dunno. It bugs me.
1* = THAT'S A LIE! HE'S NOT SOLID SNAKE!
2* = So many arguments on r/thelastairbender about this shit. I honest to god thought all the characters were white/western-looking in Avatar, as is common in lots of Animation, for that matter.
I mean, I've been convinced now that I've had it dogpiled onto me – but it's a little late to make it a plot device, isn't it? I'm just going off the assumption that everyone's so damned tolerant they don't bother bring it up – race clearly has never been a big part of Avatar and I don't plan on making it that way.
3* = Story's getting a bit stale and Tenzin really hasn't had his conflict set up very well. Lightning Bolt Zolt to the system!
4* = How do you write a scene with multiple characters? Like damn. Let me know how confused you felt. Miri might have been a bit much – I just felt like Mako was literally sitting there doing nothing, and needed something. Plus it establishes that Mako's not really an option for Korra or Asami – he's a playboy baggage boat.
5*= Al folds his hands, looking intently past the fourth wall, directly at Bryke.