Chapter Two
Mako hated lying to his brother.
But on nights like this, it was unavoidable.
Bolin was too naïve to understand, but there was a war brewing in Republic City, and Mako had chosen his side.
He sided with Amon.
Despite being a bender himself, he saw the power and corruption that came with the ability. He knew the way the triads ran this town, how they intimidated and threatened non-benders.
After all, he'd been one of them.
He knew it had to stop. He hid the fact that he was a bender at the rallies and training session, afraid of what the nonbenders would do to him if he was found out. They didn't even use names, only rank – if you were lucky – or "you there" if you weren't.
He hated the secrecy of it all, but it was either this or go back to the triads. The Council sat in ignorance, refusing to make a stand either way, frustrating Mako to no end. They were all benders, too, though.
But most of all, Mako wanted revenge for his parents, and for the hardships he'd been put through thanks to one power-mad firebender.
He didn't have a rank yet, so when he reached the abandoned warehouse, he slipped his mask on and joined the crowd of chi-blockers in training.
It was not his first week; he'd been coming to these sessions since the beginning of summer, when the protesters became more vocal, calling from soapboxes in the park and on the street corner near the power plant. He went to one rally, curious, and was hooked.
"You there!" A voice broke his concentration, and he turned, narrowing his eyes. "Come over here." The voice belonged to the Lieutenant, Amon's right-hand man.
Mako swallowed hard. There was no reason for him to be singled out like this, but he obediently went to the man's side.
"I've been watching you," he said with no preamble. "And you're a good fighter. I'm putting you on the mission tomorrow."
Mako hesitated. He didn't know about any mission. "Sir?"
"The Avatar's arrived in town," Lieutenant said in a low, dangerous voice. "We need to take care of her before she becomes a problem."
Mako's heart was racing. "A problem, sir?"
"She'll rally the benders behind her, become a figurehead to them like Amon is to us. They're weak and disorganized now, and we need them to stay like that in order to keep our advantage. Rumors claim she's also a strong fighter, despite her youth. I don't want this to go any further than it has to. She needs to disappear, quickly and quietly."
The boy didn't know how the girl he'd only just met could pose that much of a threat, but he wasn't going to judge her by her appearance again.
"Yes, sir."
There were only two other men Lieutenant had chosen to be a part of this mission, and neither Mako was familiar with. Lieutenant was serious when he said he wanted this to be quiet.
"There's an abandoned house in the mountains, and I want you to take her there," he explained during the briefing. "Keep her unconscious as much as possible and do not underestimate her. There will be a metal prison waiting for you there. I want her alive, but do whatever it takes to keep her in check."
They would strike tomorrow night.
Briefly, Mako wondered if he should tell someone he'd met the Avatar already. He held back, though, unsure if his association would make him a traitor or if mention his brother would get Bolin into trouble.
Still, he was as anxious as the next day drew to a close and the time to put their plan into action crept near.
He watched the sun set over the sparkling bay from his apartment, his knees drawn up to his chest.
"You okay, bro?" Bolin asked, sounding concerned as he cleaned up from dinner. "You've been out of it all day."
"It's nothing," Mako said, unable to turn to look his brother in the eye. It was one thing to lie about where he was going; it was another to lie about his feelings – he and Bolin had always been extremely close. Mako felt sick.
"I'm going for a walk," he said, jumping from the windowsill. "I need some air."
"Want any company?"
"No thanks. Don't wait up, you have that early shift with the papers tomorrow."
Each footstep that took him closer to the mission's starting point took him further from his brother, both literally and figuratively.
His resolve was wavering. Was this what he really wanted? Was getting more involved in the oncoming storm really where he was needed? Or was it with Bolin?
He punched a brick wall in frustration, which really only resulted in scuffing up the knuckles of his gloves and possibly bruising the skin underneath.
The other two men were waiting at the rendezvous point. Mako pulled on his mask and shed his coat, stuffing it behind a dumpster before approaching them.
They nodded brusquely in greeting. The air was tense; their every movement was curt and martial. Both men were stout and muscular, shorter than Mako, but bulkier. He doubted he would be able take them in hand-to-hand combat.
The plan was to give the Avatar false information regarding an upcoming rally that would turn to a riot. They'd paid a kid from the street twenty yuan to deliver the note telling her to come alone to the north end of the bridge or they'd scram.
Mako didn't think she'd be dumb enough to take the bait, and watched the shadows for any sign of movement. He'd been given kali sticks for this mission, but he was unfamiliar with them, and he was still hesitant to use his bending in front of any other Equalists. However, if push came to shove, he'd do what he had to survive.
Just like he always has.
He shifted his weight impatiently. He and one of the other men crouched behind a pillar while the third waited in plain clothes for the Avatar to arrive.
And arrive she did.
She rode that polar bear dog of hers proudly, shoulders back and chin up. She looked confident, cocky even, her pale blue eyes shining in the moonlight.
She dismounted. "You're the one who has information for me?" She stood with one hand on her hip.
"You come alone?" The man grunted.
"Unless you count Naga," she said sarcastically. "Now tell me what I need to know before I have to knock it out of you."
"You're awfully feisty for someone who wants something from me," he drawled, eyeing the girl's curvy figure.
She scoffed at him, crossing her arms over her chest. "I don't like people who sneak around or use kids to deliver messages. Man up and face me."
"If that's what you want." He lurched forward, arms outstretched in an attempt to grab her. She easily seized one arm and flung him to the ground.
Mako and the other Equalist joined the attack; they just had to subdue her long enough to get her into the van around the corner.
Glancing at the first man, Mako realized he was knocked out cold, and made a note to stay out of her reach. She didn't even have to use her bending.
Mako and his partner circled the girl, waiting for an opening.
Naga didn't like that. She growled and lunged for Mako. He threw the weighted rope from his belt, lassoing her legs and she tumbled to the ground with a yelp.
The Avatar glared at him, but his partner was keeping her busy; he knew how to use his kali sticks.
Mako watched as the pair danced. The Avatar was strong, but brash, her attacks more power-driven than strategic.
The Avatar fought with fire, the blasts coming hot and fast. Electricity cackled from the kali sticks, but couldn't touch the girl, and soon, a blow knocked Mako's partner off his feet. He didn't get back up.
The girl turned on him, taunting him with her eyes to come get a piece of her.
Mako was also strong, but he used his head, waiting for right moment, for his opponent to slip up or tire out.
The question was who was stronger.
They eyed each other, sizing each other up. Mako could tell he'd already impressed her by not running toward her like the others had.
"You're a real fighter," she murmured. "But why are you fighting me in the first place? I only wanted to help."
Mako didn't rise to the bait, keeping his silence and ignoring her goading. He watched her like a hawk; he just needed one quick blow to the head and she'd be out like a light.
She hummed. "The silent treatment, eh? I can see you're a man of action. So show me some action!" She launched a fireball at his chest, which he neatly dodged.
Adrenaline raced through his veins as he dodged blow after blow, her attacks becoming more frenzied as her frustration began to show. He chanced a close maneuver, jabbing her three times in the side and her right arm fell, deadweight.
Her eyes widened, then narrowed to a furious scowl as she retaliated.
He was too close and just a hair too slow.
She knocked him off his feet as he ducked an overhead attack, and he landed flat on his back with the wind knocked out of him.
She towered over him, breathing hard. "Why are you doing this? What are you trying to accomplish?" She demanded.
"We do what we have to," Mako wheezed through his mask, "To survive in a world…where benders abuse their power."
She blinked at him, her face still hard.
He closed his eyes, waiting for the final blow.
It never came, and when he opened his eyes again, she was gone.