(Okay, this is my very first fanfic. I've had this idea rolling around in my mind for a while, so I thought I'd begin writing it. Be honest in reviews so I can get better. It's based on the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe, and this particular chapter is set about 50 years before Aang was discovered. The Aang gang will show up in later chapters
UPDATE: Okay, I already have a problem. For some ungodly reason, I can't put some kind of line or bar or anything to indicate when the story kind of skips forward a little bit. I'm trying to fix it, so just bare with me. It's fairly obvious when these skips occur anyway.)
Prologue
Bai Ren Yi was pacing back and forth, constantly going over the plan in his head. He and his advisors at the base were fairly confident in the idea, but Bai was still having his doubts. Only the spirits know what may happen if the project were to be pushed this far forward. If it were up to Bai, he would allow the project to go at the original pace that was intended when the project began.
Unfortunately, time was not on Bai or his team's side. The Fire Nation had been pushing forward for months, and plenty of Earth Kingdom territory was already under their imperialistic control. Bai didn't see why this should've mattered, though. The Earth Kingdom should be able to take care of itself for a few extra months or years while they take their time with the project. Sadly, the decision was already decided by their superiors. The project needed to be pushed ahead of schedule, no matter what.
Bai slowly stopped his pacing and took time to sit down in his chair. Their budget didn't allow much more than what was necessary for the base, so the chair wasn't exactly that kind of comfort needed to calm down. Bai closed his eyes for a minute. He thought back to the beginning, when he was just a simple professor, trying the map the chi patterns of the average Waterbender. He was 30 at the time, 20 years after the war had first started. His mentor and friend, Tian Yao, had recently come back from a long absence, the reason behind which was never known. Tian had explained to Bai about an opportunity to end the war more quickly, an offer that Bai couldn't afford to pass up. The war was already getting bad, and he longed for the days of peace he enjoyed in his youth.
Tian had then explained at the time about a secret project that required brilliant philosophers, healers, benders, and professors from all over the Northern Water Tribe. That was 5 years ago. It was a project to create more effective warriors for the battles to come, which proved far more difficult than originally anticipated. The budget was limited, so as to not hurt the war effort, and the base they were given to carry out their projects was secluded, cold, and small.
Bai's reminiscence was interrupted by his assistant, who had rudely just pushed through the door without knocking.
"What do you want?" Bai asked, annoyed by the assistant's lack of manners.
"I'm sorry to disturb you sir, but we've been given new orders. Another Earth Kingdom city, Rong Bang, has fallen. This gave the Fire Nation their most northern-most port yet. Their ships could now stock up and attack the Water Tribe from there with relative ease. As such, the project's been pushed forward even more. They want us to begin the experiment….tomorrow, if not today."
"What?!" Bai exclaimed, "They already had us push it several months ahead. Pushing it this much could have negative side effects! We're not even sure if P-07 has the mental capacity yet!"
"I'm sorry, sir, but they've threatened that if they don't have a full report on P-07's development by the end of the week, they're going to cut off funding and transport. Let the Fire Nation do with us as they see fit"
"….darn them. Okay, seems we have no choice. Notify the others. I just need to gather my notes and plans. We'll have P-07 ready by tonight. For better or worse."
"Yes sir…", and with that, the assistant left. Bai slammed his fist unto his chair, nearly breaking it. He couldn't stop thinking about what was going to happen. P-07 was the latest Waterbender who had volunteered himself to the project as an experiment, allowing himself to be tested on to improve his power and abilities. Professor Ma and the Healer Ran had last week proposed an interesting idea, one which may take the project to new heights.
Physically speaking, P-07 was ready enough. He was considered a prodigy Waterbender in his youth, and had reached the status of Master at the young age of 16. Bai had no doubt that the body could take it. It was his brain that he was worried about. There was no telling what side effects Ma and Ran's plan could have on his conscious mind. It could drive him insane, make him stupid, turn him into a genius, kill him, the possibilities were endless. Bai wanted to have more time to test P-07 and the plan, working out the bugs and decreasing the danger. But the higher-ups would have none of it. This war needed to be won as quickly as possible, and Bai was in no position to say otherwise. However, he feared that pushing it this far ahead would do more harm than good.
Bai gathered himself, and sighed. There was no helping it, he thought. It's time to do or die. He only hoped P-07 was ready.
s
The tank was now fully prepared. Assistants were running to and fro, setting everything up for the grand experiment which was coming up in a matter of minutes. Bai looked at everyone. It seems his worries weren't only his own. Everyone seemed scared at the possibilities of pushing the plan this far ahead. Bai took another look at the plan that Ran and Ma had devised. In his own opinion, it was possibly the most amazing idea he'd ever seen. An amazing project, a hybrid of complex science and mystical Waterbending arts, with limitless possibilities, one that would take months, maybe years to perfect. They didn't have years, though. They had to make it work now, or they wouldn't get another shot.
P-07 was just now being brought through the doors. He was a fairly young man, with a muscular build, the dark skin that was custom to those from the Water Tribes, and a shaved head to ensure hair wouldn't get in the way. He'd be taking a big risk, and the moment he stepped into that tank, he couldn't go back. Bai could only imagine the courage that this man had. However, if this worked, it'd pay off big time. The experiment could potentially turn him into the world's strongest Waterbender, rivaling even the Avatar himself, wherever he may be. The first of a hopeful many. If this project worked, they could theoretically make more, an army of super Waterbending warriors. Had this project been given more time, it'd pay off. But their superiors were a short-sighted bunch, and had no time for "ridiculous" virtues like patience.
"Bai, he's ready. We're going to lower him into the tank," said Ma, one of the project's developers and top scientists.
"Prepare to give him the toxins to send him into a comatose state. Have healers suppress the pain as much as possible and clear up his chi paths. We're going to need him as easy to work with as possible if we're going to make this work" explained Bai to his fellow professor.
Ran and her healers began immediately. The tank was filled up with water, specially modified by Master healers, and P-07 was slowly dipped in. As he went in, and the healers were already suppressing his chi paths in the brain to send him into a good, long sleep, he gave one last thumbs up to Bai. Bai simply nodded. He never knew P-07, but he had already won his respect as the bravest man he'd ever met.
"Sir, the experiment has entered a comatose state. Healers are loosening the chi paths now. He'll be ready for the tonics in a few minutes."
Bai nodded. "Good. Have them concentrate on the brain. We need his mind more than anything to be perfect."
Ma slowly turned to his friend. "Bai, I'm sorry this couldn't be under better conditions. I know you wanted to give this project more time."
"No time for that now, Ma. We need to work fast. Give the healers the tonics. Let's not allow that man's courage to be in vain. We're going to make Wei Kuo the strongest Waterbender on this planet."
s
It has been several hours since the end of the experiment. After the healers were done manipulating and shaping the special tonics into P-07, he was taken to a special holding area, where he was to be taken care of and observed.
The experiment had gone more smoothly than Bai had hoped. P-07 never stirred an inch the whole time, not even a sound. The healers had no trouble with him, and the tonics were set in place exactly as planned. Though only time would tell if it would work, Bai was thinking that maybe he overestimated the time needed for the project, or maybe P-07 was just particular special. Whatever the case, Bai was able to get his first peaceful hours of sleep in days. He was tired after the experiment, and had decided that the report could wait till tomorrow to be written up. It vexed him that he was wrong about things going wrong by pushing the plans ahead, but it didn't bother him. The project was, so far, a success, so he wasn't going to let anything ruin his good mood. He wanted to be happy. Happy for himself, happy for Tian, who had succumbed to the cold a few months ago, happy for everyone involved in the project, and happy for Wei.
Meanwhile, Wei Kuo, also known as P-07, was first beginning to get up from his sleep. He had only been asleep a few hours, so his awakening was slightly surprising to everyone. Ran was the first to approach him.
"Wei, how are you feeling?" Ran asked him, ready to heal if necessary. Wei just stood there, mouth gaping, and grabbed his head. Evidently, the experiment had left him with a bit of a headache. Ran laid him down, and began to heal him. "The headache should be gone now, but you need more rest, boy. Get some sleep. You did well today."
Wei starred at her, not having the strength to speak, and began to try to close his eyes. While he didn't have the strength to even talk, he couldn't find it in him to fall asleep. Ran figured he'd need a little help, and had an idea. She had her assistant fetch some personal items from her room, the one thing that wasn't dedicated to the project that she was allowed to keep. Incense sticks, sticks that when burnt produce a thin smoke that are filled with a calming and beautiful smell. Used to calm the mind in times of turmoil, and could easily help Wei fall asleep.
"Wei, just breathe deeply. This smell will help your head, and let you fall asleep easier." Ran reached for a match to light the incense, and lit it. Wei's eyes opened up widely.
s
Bai awoke to the sounds of screaming and turmoil. What was going on, he thought to himself as he attempted to get out of bed. Last he checked, everything was going great. Ma had run into his room as soon as he got up.
"Ma, what's going on? The alarm's blazing, I hear people screaming, what's happened?!"
"Bai, something's wrong with P-07! He woke up a few minutes ago, perfectly fine, and Ran was just checking up on him. Then, out of nowhere, he just snapped! He killed her right on the spot!"
"….No….No, I knew something like this would happen! Damn those fools! We needed more time! I knew Wei's psychological state was in no condition for this!" Bai sighed. "Send out the guards. We have no choice but to neutralize him."
"We are sending out the guards….they just aren't cutting it!"
"What the heck are you talking about? Those guards are Waterbending Masters, veterans taken straight from the front lines!"
"The experiment….was a success, Bai. Wei's Waterbending is far stronger than before, and it's getting stronger by the minute! He's killing people who have been doing this for decades like they were amateurs! He doesn't show a bit of mercy, I've never seen him like this! He's insane, Bai. Wei's aggressiveness has surpassed what I even believed was possible of a human being…"
"What happened that set him off? Was there anything that might have provoked him to get like this, Ma?!"
"….he saw a flame, Bai. A tiny little match Ran was using to light some incense sticks. At least we know that final tonic worked."
Bai knew fully what Ma spoke of. The project that was being used on Wei consisted of several tonics, specially modified by expert Waterbenders, that would genetically alter Wei's body and abilities. Most of these were simple tonics that would improve chi flows, strengthen muscles, etc. Some were more complex than that. The one that Bai was thinking of was one that specifically altered the mind itself.
Wei was going to be used to fight Firebenders, and thus his aggressiveness was going to need to be at its peak when he fought against them. The final addition in the project would insure Wei's fighting would be at its fiercest whenever he fought the enemy. Bai never thought that it would alter Wei's mind to the point where that aggressiveness would come out at the very sight of fire.
"…I should've known Wei's mind wasn't ready for this. His mind's been too corrupted. We need to kill him here, or we'll regret it if he ever gets out." Bai explained to his friend.
"But how? He's killing everyone, Bai! Last I checked he was making his way towards this side of the base!"
"We'll seal the exit. Try to make sure he never gets out. That way, he'll at least die of starvation." Bai put his arm on Ma's shoulder to comfort his clearly traumatized friend. "Ma, I'm sorry this had to happen. But we have a duty now to make sure that Wei can't hurt anyone else."
"…I understand. Let's go. The Waterbenders should at least be able to hold him off."
With that, stopping only to pick up Bai's journal and notes, Bai and Ma took off towards the only way in or out of the base, a small door connected to the side of the iceberg in which the base was hidden. If they could close it, Wei wouldn't be able to leave the base. As the two ran for the only exit, they could hear screams behind them, brave Waterbenders being mercilessly killed by the insane monster that Wei had become. They tried to not look back, and the one time Bai did, he saw the shadow of a Waterbender being split in two by a powerful water slice.
As the progressed forth, Wei finally began to catch up to them. Ma noticed this and stopped.
"Ma, what are you doing?!" exclaimed Bai. "He'll be here in seconds, we have to move!"
"At this rate, he'll catch us before we get to the exit, Bai. Go on ahead. Close everything behind you, and don't look back. Even if I can only stall him a few seconds, it'll be enough to make sure you get away. MOVE!"
Bai was shocked at this, but deep down, he knew Ma was right. At this rate, Wei was going to catch them, and escape from the base out into the world. He immediately left without a word, without even time to shed tears at his friend's sacrifice. As he kept running ahead, he eventually heard one last scream from behind him. You won't regret this, Ma, he thought to himself as he kept running.
He finally made it to the only exit, a large steel door with a large wheel knob in the middle. All he needed to do was block the door from the outside. A simple enough task, as the base had been designed with cases like these in mind. All it took was a few simple turns of the wheel, in a pattern known only to him and the other leaders of the project. The steel door was immediately bolted shut, only to be opened from the outside, and the people on the outside knew that if this thing was bolted close, there was a good reason. Not even Wei with his new found strength will be getting out.
Speaking of which, Wei had finally busted down the door behind Bai. Bai couldn't see him, as Wei had put out every fire, and thus every source of light he came across, and the door was devoid of all light. All he could see was a tall silhouette with gleaming eyes, with water completely engulfing both his arms. It was as if Bai were staring into death itself. Knowing that his end was near, Bai took the pencil from his pocket, and wrote down his final entry into his journal.
We wanted to create the world's most powerful Waterbender.
And we succeeded.
And with that, Wei impaled every limb and body part on Bai with giant icicles that he made from his water, and tore him apart like a piece of paper.
It has been 50 years since that day.