Chapter 1: Facing the Music

Isaac knew that what the first thing he had to do was. He had to turn himself in. He had to face the music. That's why he found himself at the police station, hands cuffed and behind his back.

"We know what you did Isaac." Said Chief Inspector Johnstone, "During that mission, you were part of the police force. What you did were extreme acts of police brutality, and the fact that you have been hiding from the law the past few weeks makes it all the worse. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't throw you behind bars?"

"I don't have a good reason. What I did was disgusting. I deserve to be in jail for what I did."

"Why did you turn yourself in? What did you hope to achieve?" asked Johnstone.

"Redemption. I have done bad things. I know that I deserve to be imprisoned. Maybe even killed. But all I want is a second chance." Asked Isaac.

"Well lucky for you, I have given you that second chance. Even after all you did, I have pulled some strings for you to walk out of here a free man."

"What? How?" asked Isaac, shocked.

"There was a meeting where we discussed your fate. Government officials were present. This sort of thing, the Avatar and firebenders, is too big even for a federal court. I mentioned the fact that we would have failed the mission without you, and that you weren't in a good state of mind, from what had happened to you, with your parents. I arranged a deal. We don't imprison you, but when we need you, you are here. We need the Avatar." Said the Chief Inspector.

"Well there is something you don't know yet." Said Isaac. He explained what happened with Avatar Aang, and how he had his bending taken away.

"What? What use are you to us if you can't bend?!" yelled Johnstone.

"Let me finish. Aang believes that I won't ever become what the world needs me to be while I have my bending abilities. He said that once I am in the right place, I will get my bending back."

The Chief sat down and thought for a moment.

"If word gets out that you can't bend, than you will be useless to us and thrown into prison. But you can't redeem yourself in prison. That is why nobody will know about this. As far as everyone else is concerned, you can bend. You are to spend your time doing whatever it takes to get your bending back. I am giving you a break. I have talked to your father and he says you can live with him. Don't make it a waste."

Isaac left the police station, confused as to what he should do. How did Aang want him to redeem himself? What would it take to put in on the path to being the Avatar? Isaac continued walking, too much on his mind to pay any attention to where. Eventually he found himself in front of the cemetery, the resting place of his mother.

"That will be $24.50" said the flower salesman. Isaac bought the biggest bunch he could afford, and carried them through the cemetery, trying to remember where his mother was. Finally he found her. It had been years since he was this close to his mother. So close, yet so far. Isaac placed the bouquet on the grave against the tombstone, and sat next to the grave.

"I am so sorry that I wasn't there. Maybe if I was earlier enough, you would still be here. Maybe I wouldn't have been so driven for revenge. Maybe all of this could have been stopped." Wept Isaac. The years since her death had seemed like days. After an hour, Isaac left, and went to the house where his father was living.

"So what is the plan?" asked Samuel.

"What plan?"

"The plan. How you are going to get your bending back?"

"I don't know. I want to redeem myself. Make up for what I have done, but honestly, without my bending I am useless. I am just another face in the crowd without it, and I don't know how to make up for what I did."

"There must be a way. Aang wouldn't have told you that you would get your bending back if you were destined to fail. Maybe just go with the flow. When the opportunity presents itself, you will know." Said Samuel.

"I have had a big day, I think I will go to sleep." Said Isaac.

He walked upstairs and went to his room. For hours he laid in bed, wondering what Aang wanted from him. Eventually he fell asleep. The nightmares started. The one of the dark Isaac torturing the light Isaac. Something different happened though. This time Aang appeared. He pushed his arms towards the dark Isaac, creating a gust of wind, blowing the dark Isaac away like smoke. Eventually everything went dark, and Isaac slept peacefully.