BOOK 1: DAWN
Chapter One: A Change of Heart
Republic City
170 AG
Wang Jun Gao drove down the street in his fancy Satomobile, speeding past the slower automobiles and trucks clogging the road. His black hair whipped about in the wind as he shifted up a gear. The twenty year old genius had just crossed the Silk Road Bridge and was moving along the waterfront towards his company's warehouse. Tuning the radio to his favorite jazz station, he put his left hand out the window and let it rest on the outside of the door. Suddenly, the emergency beacons began to blare and the music cut away.
The terrified voice of Shiro Shinobi replaced the smooth jazz music. "Attention citizens of Republic City, this is not a drill. The Equalists have begun an all-out assault on the city. All citizens are encouraged to-" The radio broadcast became static as if someone flipped a switch somewhere. Gao narrowed his eyes and shifted up a gear again. The Satomobile flew down the road, swerving around stopped cars. Explosions could be seen and heard in the distance as he raced down the road to his warehouse.
The Equalists cannot get their hands on my tech. The industrialist looked out over the harbor, where two different police airships were turning towards land. Suddenly, an explosion tore through the engines of one of the airships. The other airship continued towards the city as its damaged comrade plummeted towards the bay. Gao could hear the warning klaxons faintly as metalbenders and other crew members abandoned ship. The vessel plunged bow first into the ice cold waters. The crippled airship began to sink, but Wang could just barely make out life rafts in the surrounding waters. Only a little further…
As he reached the warehouse, another airship came into sight. This one, however, was heading towards the bay and was emblazoned with the Equalist symbol. Two booms were heard as the Equalist airship fired fore-mounted cannons at its police counterpart. My cannons. No!
One of the armor-piercing rounds missed completely, but the craft wasn't out of the woods yet. The second shell ripped into the engines at the rear of the airship. The round detonated inside the airship, the aft section erupting into flames and smoke. The resulting explosion disabled the airship's engines and sent it into a spiral. Wang slammed the accelerator all the way to the floor, panic finally settling in.
The pilots managed to stabilize the airship with the emergency propellers. The police vessel slowly straightened its flight path, and began to limp away to the south. It was most likely heading towards the police airfield at the south end of the bay. The Equalist airship continued its pursuit, preparing to fire again. Several metalbenders from the police airship tried boarding the Equalist aircraft with their metal cables. Before Gao turned away from the battle, he saw the flash of the Equalist cannons firing again. The booming sound of the guns reached him less than a second later.
Gao slowed to a stop as police trucks rolled out of a depot near the docks, carrying officers to combat the Equalists. He turned his head to look for the police airship again. The sight horrified him: the airship had been ripped in two by the explosive rounds. The separate halves had crashed into the bay and sank slowly as distant cries for help reverberated across the water. Soon, the police trucks had left and Wang shifted the car back into gear.
He turned the dial on the radio and tuned into the police channel. "This is unit 27 at Central Station. I'm reporting two different columns of Equalist mecha tanks converging on my position, over." "Copy that, unit 27, this is command. Report on any further Equalist troop movements, over." "Roger that, command. Two additional Equalist airships have been sighted coming down from the mountains. Where's that air support we requested, over?"
"Negative on that air support, unit 27. Air units 2 and 9 are unable to respond. Command requests that you disable all rail lines into and out of the station, over." "Command, this is unit 19! We are engaging hostiles on the Hakoda Memorial Bridge! We report ten mecha tanks and over forty Equalists on foot. We request backup, over!"
The Equalist airship had turned back from the bay, heading back towards the heart of the city. As it made landfall, Equalists deployed from the craft, using parachutes to make landfall. Two mecha tanks had rolled out of the craft's cargo bay and floated down using glider-like airfoils. It was now clear that the Equalists had completely overwhelmed the city's defenders if they could attack the harbor with impunity. This makes recovering my tech even more important.
Gao pulled up in front of his warehouse just as the two mecha tanks touched down a few thousand feet away. Civilians rushed past him, screaming as Equalist troops began to storm the port. Bombs were going off, the mecha tanks were firing electrified bolas into the crowd. The chaos swept through the port like a hurricane. Workers and other civilians caught in the line of fire ran, terrified, from the Equalists.
The industrialist ignored the fleeing masses and ran towards the warehouse entrance. Suddenly, without warning, two objects landed in front of him. He had a second to register what they actually were: they were hand grenades with the symbol of Gao Industries emblazoned on the side. His eyes widened as the explosives detonated.
Two Days Later
Central Hospital
Wang Jun Gao came to slowly, as if walking out of a dense fog. His head was fuzzy from the drugs the hospital had given him, making it hard to focus. His chest felt as if a saber tooth moose-lion had clawed his heart out. Barely managing to lift his head from the hospital bed, Wang noticed that his chest was wrapped in clean white bandages. An electrical wire fed into the bandages, attaching to something beneath them. Weakly turning his head to follow the wire, Wang saw the wire's terminus: a car battery.
His heart rate increased as panic set in. What happened to me? Wang tried desperately to sit up and was forced to stop as pain lanced throughout his body. Two doctors rushed into the room as the heart monitor spiked. One, a dark-haired woman, filled a syringe with a clear liquid while the male doctor held him down. "Mister Gao, please calm down. Your body can't take this kind of stress."
She walked over and grabbed Wang's right arm. Finding a vein, she injected the clear liquid into his bloodstream. Wang continued to struggle, but suddenly felt woozy. He felt his eyes sliding shut and tried to fight the effects of the drug. Unsuccessful, the business tycoon slid back into a deep slumber.
Several hours later...
Wang awoke suddenly, fleeing the nightmares that had plagued him the entire night. He noticed that his hospital bed had been moved next to a window. He sat up in his bed, taking in the fresh air of the city. The sunlight danced across his face, the wind softly touched his skin. I feel so… secure. He reached his left hand out towards the sun, taking in its warmth. The pain in his chest was almost gone, but the bandages and wires still remained.
The female doctor was in the room with him, writing something on his chart. She noticed her patient sitting up and smiled. "Ah, Mister Gao, you're awake. Welcome back to the world of the living." Wang smiled faintly and pointed to his chest. "What happened?"
"When the Equalists were securing the docks, they found you unconscious under a pile of rubble. After they recognized your face from the newspapers, they brought you in for emergency care. We quickly treated your external injuries, but it's the internal ones that concern us." She walked over to the x-ray illuminator and pointed excitedly at the photo of Wang's chest.
Wang winced and grabbed his chest, as if remembering the pain again. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up slowly. Wang grabbed the windowsill for support and drew himself up. The effort took more out of him than he thought it would. Wang found himself breathing quite heavily, and his legs felt like lead. The doctor did not notice his discomfort, however, and kept speaking like an excited child.
"You have shrapnel embedded near your heart, and it was moving closer to it every minute. We couldn't remove it safely, so we opted to stop its movement through your chest cavity. I installed an electromagnet in your chest, powered by a simple car battery. We had to keep you sedated, but…" Wang had had enough. He cut her off abruptly: he simply had to know.
"What happened to the city? Last thing I remember was the Equalists invading. Did the police stop them?" Wang turned to the window and stared out over the city. It was quiet, almost too quiet for the metropolis. No Satomobiles were honking their horns, the low thrum of heavy machinery from the industrial district had fallen silent. No police airships floated across the sky. It was as if the city was asleep.
"No, my friend, Republic City has indeed been equalized." Wang's eyes widened. I've heard that voice on the radio. Turning back towards the doctor, Wang saw him. The one who had unlocked the mysteries of the spirits. The man who had terrorized the benders of the world with stories of his amazing power. The self-proclaimed messiah of the non-benders. Amon.
"Please, sit, Mister Gao. I merely wish to speak with you." The masked man gestured to the hospital bed. Wang walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge of it slowly. Fear had settled into the young man's heart. What is Amon doing here? This is the heart of the city. If he is showing his face here in broad daylight, then it really is true. The Equalists won.
"Now, Mister Gao, you are probably very confused and anxious to hear what happened." Amon paused just long enough for Wang to interrupt. "You have no idea, monster." The comment made the doctor gasp in shock. Not many people could talk to Amon that way without consequences. Instead of retaliating violently, the Equalist leader simply turned to the woman. "Miss, if you wouldn't mind…"
The doctor understood what he meant and quickly vacated the room. She closed the door behind her, leaving the two alone. An eerie silence fell over the room, as Amon stared out the window and Wang glared daggers at him. Amon turned to face Wang after a good minute of silence. He betrays nothing: his body language is so… ominous. And that mask… It's like staring into the face of terror itself.
Amon spoke calmly. "So, Mister Gao, you think me a monster? Do you even understand what I am trying to do? I have torn down the corrupt system that has oppressed our kind for countless generations. For the first time, non-benders have the power to reshape the world. Republic City… It's just the start. Every day, the Equalists grow in strength and numbers, and soon, we will equalize the world!" He held his fist up in triumph as he finished his sentence.
Wang chuckled softly and shook his head in disbelief. "So, it is true. You are insane. Do you honestly believe that your little crusade will rid the world of violence? You are a madman and a fool." Amon crossed over to Wang and set a hand on his shoulder.
"Mister Gao, I am not a madman, and I am no fool. I understand the dark truth that so many benders fail to recognize: the only way to equalize the world is through force. We have already equalized most of the city's benders. Few remain to oppose our revolution. Soon, a new era will begin."
"Who will run this brave new world? You can't just tear down the entire world without a plan to rebuild it." "I can assure you, Mister Gao. We have been preparing for this day. I will rule in the name of the people until they can rule themselves. Republic City will be the center of the new world order." Amon walked back to the window and gestured with his arm to illustrate his point.
Wang stood up and joined Amon at the window. Looking out over the city, Wang saw the changes the Equalists had installed. Instead of police airships patrolling the skies, Equalist airships now watched the city from above. Mecha tanks and chi blockers patrolled the streets, enforcing the new laws of Amon and the Equalist occupation. Two blocks from the hospital, a squad of Equalists had raided an apartment building, looking for benders. Several suspects had been put in commandeered police vans, awaiting transport.
"Mister Gao, in this world, your genius and your innovation will be essential to our cause. With your technology, we can reshape the world. Why do you continue to support those who oppress your fellow man? The bending elite are cowards and liars. But you, you have made a name for yourself. You can be counted among the world's greatest industrialists, possibly the best. Even Mister Sato agrees with me."
"Why do I side with the benders? Well, the truth is I don't. I want the world to change, to become more equal. But what you are doing is wrong. Stripping people of their talents, subjugating them simply because of their birth, it's wrong no matter what side you are on. I want to use my gifts to reshape the world, to give non-benders equality through peace, not war. That is why I will never support you." He pointed a finger at Amon accusingly. "You threaten to galvanize the benders into action, and it will not be kind. What do you think will happen when the United Forces arrive, or the militaries of the other nations? They will exterminate you and your supporters, and then it will be the same as it always was."
Amon paused and shook his head. "You are wrong, young man. The United Forces are arriving tomorrow morning, with a full fleet of battleships to reclaim this city for the benders. They will find it rather difficult to make landfall." Without another word, Amon stepped away from the window and walked to the door. As he grasped the handle, he turned to face Wang one last time.
"Change is in the air, brother. It is like a rising tide. You must rise with it or be swept out to sea. The choice is yours." Without another word, Amon left the room, leaving Wang to ponder the meaning of his words.
The next day...
Wang had been released from the hospital soon after Amon's visit, and was allowed to return to his penthouse apartment, albeit under heavy guard. The mysterious man known only as the Lieutenant had set up his security detail. "You are lucky. The only people in the city this well-guarded are Hiroshi Sato and Amon himself. I hope that you appreciate Amon's kindness."
As the Lieutenant turned away, Wang grabbed his shoulder. "Wait. I want you to tell Amon…" He paused, causing the Lieutenant to lean in closely. "…that I apologize for my behavior and that I thank him for his kindness. I hope that I may see him again soon." He bowed in the customary Fire Nation salutation. The Lieutenant simply nodded and continued to walk away.
Wang had left the hospital in his custom Satomobile, which Equalists had retrieved from the docks and brought to the hospital's garage. Accompanying him were eight Equalists. Two, Tai and Ji, were fully trained chi blockers, veterans of the long insurgency against the authorities in the city. Another two, whose names Wang did not know, drove two mecha tanks which flanked the Satomobile at all times. The remaining four were in training, recent recruits to Amon's crusade. One of the four stood out among the rest: Yang had been studying at Tong University near Yu Dao to the south when tragic news reached him.
His parents had been killed by Triple Threat Triad gangsters, victims of a simple mugging. In his grief, he joined the forces of the anti-bending revolution and had fought in the climactic battle for the metropolis. Yang had proved himself to be a gifted combatant and had been honored by Amon himself in a ceremony honoring Equalist soldiers who had fought in the battle. However, there was one trait that singled him out from the rest: his hero worship of Wang Jun Gao.
"Mister Gao, could I take a picture with you? My friends at Tong are not going to believe this!" Wang sighed as he walked around his spacious apartment in the heart of the city. Yang asked the same question every ten minutes, and Wang pretended not to listen. All he could think about was Amon's plan for the city.
How could the Equalists take out an entire fleet of battleships? Maybe one or two with their airships, but they're not fighting the police. The United Forces have enough firepower to torch the Equalist air armada and unload their army at the docks. So why was Amon so assured of his final victory? His curiosity had to be satisfied.
"Yang, could you do me a favor?"
"Anything for you, Mister Gao."
"I need to go to the harbor, to my warehouse. Now."
Stepping out of his Satomobile, Wang sighed. "I just don't see why I can't drive my own car."
Tai and Ji both stepped off their motorcycles and pulled off their masks. Tai answered Wang's question. "It's for your own protection, sir. Besides, Yang is an excellent driver." Upon hearing his name, the young recruit jumped out of the driver's seat, a smile blossoming on his face.
"Thank you, sir. It really was an honor to drive your car, Mister Gao. I never thought I would see that little traffic in the city, though. What is up with that?" He scratched his head and looked inquisitively at Tai and Ji.
"Amon has ordered all non-Equalist vehicles to clear the streets for the duration of the emergency. It's all for the people's protection, Yang."
Wang ignored the conversation and stepped towards the warehouse. He carried the car battery keeping him alive in a bag on his back. It's so inconvenient. Maybe I could use a small generator, like the Lieutenant has for his kali sticks. Stepping over debris from the battle, Wang reached the door and turned the handle. Stepping inside his warehouse, the young tycoon was astounded. Dozens of workers were swarming throughout the massive building, cataloging every single piece of equipment. He counted at least a dozen chi blockers overseeing the process.
"Welcome, Mister Gao." The young business tycoon turned back to the door to see Amon entering the building. "Tai and Ji informed me that you wished to see your warehouse. I was the one who granted your request, but I wanted to be here to explain."
"Explain what? How you are stealing my tech? How is this respecting the rights of non-benders, Amon? I knew it the instant I saw your airships fire cannons at the police. You've been using my tech without my knowledge!" Wang pulled back his arm to punch Amon in the face, but was held back by Tai and Ji.
"No, Mister Gao, you are wrong. I bought those cannons legally. Or rather, my good friend Hiroshi Sato did. Your work with weapons is indeed brilliant, but I would not stoop so long as to steal from my fellow man. I am not some common bending criminal. I would never use your technology without your approval. You are a brother to me, just like the rest of the non-bending world."
"Then what is this, Amon? I want to know." Wang had calmed down, and was curious as to Amon's intentions.
"I merely wanted to see what you were building, and how it could help the revolution. Your work with cannons and these… firearms, it is nothing short of remarkable. Think of the possibilities. Your technology could do more than level the playing field: it could tip the scales in our favor once and for all. I extend you my offer once again: join our revolution."
Wang took a few seconds to respond. Instead of using words, he simply spat in Amon's face. "Never."
Ji acted quickly. She struck Wang in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Before Tai could join in, Amon placed a hand on the Equalist's shoulder. "No, my brother. We will never oppress our fellow man with our power. But it does appear you need to be convinced, Mister Gao. Come with me."
The two stepped outside, and Amon gestured out towards the harbor. "You said yesterday that my forces could never hold the city. Now, we put your theory to the test." A thick fog had descended over the city, obscuring the bay as well. Wang noticed something ominous: the absolute stillness that had descended on the city. Even without the roar of the factories or the low hum of the Satomobiles, the Equalist machines still broke the silence, usually. However, no airships were in sight over the city, and the numerous mecha tanks that were stationed around the harbor earlier had vanished. What is going on?
Suddenly, out of the fog surrounding Air Temple Island, a ship appeared out of the haze. Wang's spirits lifted when he saw the tell-tale bows, decorated with large golden dragons. The United Forces have arrived. The battleship was joined by nine others coming into the light, and Wang smiled. The United Forces ships had swung south around the air temple and were steaming at full speed towards the city.
Wang turned to see Amon's reaction, but was surprised by what he saw. Amon calmly looked out over the water and turned towards Tai and Ji. "Remember these moments, my brother and sister: this day, the Equalists claim Republic City." Wang's eyes widened in fear and he scanned the horizon for Equalist activity.
Flashes of light lit up the horizon near the ships. Seconds later, the sounds of the explosions reached Wang. Naval mines. His hands clenched into fists, anger and fear filling his heart. Wang was so consumed by his rage that he didn't notice the strange, fast-moving aircraft bearing down on the fleet from the east. Suddenly, two dozen of the aircraft began to attack the fleet from above. Explosions from dive bombs and torpedoes filled the air with fire and smoke. Wang was forced to watch as the tightly clustered battleships were taken out, one by one.
It only took the Equalists minutes after the initial attack to completely annihilate the naval force. All ten battleships were now sinking to the bottom of Yue Bay. No, it can't be… Wang unleashed his rage and despair at the closest target: Amon. "You bastard! How could you?!" He unleashed a devastating right hook to Amon's jaw, catching the Equalist leader by surprise. Before Wang could strike again, a series of quick jabs from the two chi blockers made him feel light headed and unable to move. He was already out for the count before he hit the ground. The last thing he saw before lapsing into unconsciousness was Amon's gray eyes calmly staring at him from behind the mask.
Republic City
Spring, 178 AG
Wang woke from his vivid dreams with a start, covered in sweat. Every night, his mask still haunts me. The billionaire rose from his bed, groaning from the exertion. He slowly made his way to the bathroom, turning on the lights as he entered. Going directly to the sink, Wang turned the right handle on and cupped water in his hands. He splashed the cold water on his face, waking himself from his stupor.
For a few seconds, Wang stared at his reflection in the mirror. It's been almost eight years. Eight years since that monster almost destroyed this city. He touched the circular magnet embedded in his chest. Every morning, it reminded him of what his weapons did to the his head, Wang focused on getting ready for another day at the office. Slipping on a red bathrobe, Wang made his way to the windows and pulled back the curtains. The brilliance of the rising sun momentarily blinded him, but his eyes quickly adjusted.
The first rays of sunlight were streaming over the mountains to the east. The snowcapped peaks shone brilliantly in the reflected light as the city awoke from its slumber. Nearly two million people were just now waking up and starting their day. Satomobiles could be heard faintly through the glass, accompanied by the whirring of police airships patrolling the skies. To the south, the glassy waters of Yue Bay sparkled in the early morning glow.
Wang tore himself from the magnificent view and walked away from the window. He pulled on a gray undershirt, followed by a white buttoned shirt. A pair of charcoal grey slacks were secured by a black belt around his waist. He walked into his closet and picked out a pair of black loafers and a gray suit jacket.
The telephone was ringing as Wang walked into the kitchen. Picking it up, he heard the operator's voice on the line. "Mister Gao, call from a Mister Chung." "Patch it through."
"Mister Gao, this is Mister Chung's assistant from Special Technology. Do you have a few extra minutes this morning? He would like to brief you on the power cell project."
"Sure thing. I'll have my assistant fit him in the schedule around lunch. Have him bring any and all materials he needs for the meeting. My assistant will call you to confirm the time."
Wang hung up and called the operator for Gao Industries. "Hello, this is the Gao Industries switchboard. How can I direct your call?"
"This is Wang Gao, calling for Yun Qi." In a matter of seconds, he was connected with his assistant. "Mister Gao, what can I do for you today?"
"Schedule a lunch meeting for Mister Chung from Special Technology division. I need to get briefed on his power cell project. Cancel all meetings from eleven to twelve and call in a catering order to that deli I love on 42nd Street."
"No problem, sir. I will send an intern to pick it up. This is an early start for you again, Mister Gao. Eager to come into the office?"
"You have no idea."
Gao Tower
Wang now sat at his desk, finishing off a delicious sandwich from the deli. His office sat on the top floor of Gao Tower, a 78 story building in the heart of the city. From his desk, Wang could see Yue Bay and the statue of Avatar Aang clearly on any day, rain or shine. But he wasn't in the office today for the view: he was here to speak to an old friend and colleague.
"Wang, it is so good to see you again. It has been far too long." Sun Li Chung was one of Wang's closest friends. A brilliant scientist, he was fascinated by the Spirit World and traveled there several times since Avatar Korra opened the spirit portals. Wang would normally dismiss such expeditions as vacations, but something Chung discovered during his last trip piqued his interest.
Chung had come to Wang's office alone, bringing a stack of papers and folders with him. Before their meeting had begun, both ate the decadent sandwiches from the deli, delivered by an intern not too long after Chung had arrived. Now that their socializing was done, it was down to business.
"It really has. But Sun, what is the status on the power cell?"
"All right, back to business. Let me start from the beginning. Two months ago, during my latest expedition into the Spirit World, I entered a mountain range near the southern spirit portal. I was trying to find different materials that were exclusive to the spirit world and that could be used in engineering. Then, I came upon a crater about six feet across and two feet deep. At the bottom, I saw a strange rock, with purple ore embedded into it." Sun was incredibly excited, speaking at a rapid pace.
"I took the rock with me and began to refine the metal within. However, in the process of doing so, I discovered that it is actually a very rare material known to the physical plane as well. Vibranium. Now I—"
Wang held up a hand to interrupt. "Sun, I know all of this. Get to the point. Vibranium has the ability to absorb almost any kind of energy and store it as vibrations. Can you harness it as a power source?"
Without speaking, Sun took a piece of paper from a folder and gave it to Wang. Wang quickly read it, his eidetic memory absorbing all of the information printed on it. "Hold on, this means that you managed to transform the vibrations in the metal into electricity. How much power does vibranium give off?"
"The fifteen pounds that I have managed to refine could power this tower for a day free from the outside power grid. Imagine what we could do if we had more vibranium. We could power entire cities with maybe only a hundred pounds of the stuff. And the best part is that it can be recharged easily. Think about the possibilities."
Wang looked down to his heart, where the electromagnet installed all those years ago still hummed. He had spent thousands of yuans going to healers and metalbenders around the world. The shrapnel was still lodged in his heart, and he was forced to be what the newspapers called the man with the iron heart. A miniature power cell allowed him to live normally, but he was forced to recharge it every night to keep himself alive.
"Could you give me copies of the design for this power cell? I would love to look at your work so far. It seems amazing." Wang knew that his lie wasn't very convincing, but he desperately needed the tech for his personal project. Chung's right eyebrow piqued in interest. A CEO didn't normally get personally invested in projects like this. He decided against asking any questions, however. Chung had been good friends with Wang for almost fifteen years, and knew that whatever he was doing was important.
Without responding verbally, Chung pushed the folder containing the schematics across the desk to Wang. "I hope you find good use for it." Wang nodded and opened the folder. Everything I need is inside here. Excellent. Not wanting to be rude, Wang continued the conversation they were having earlier.
"So how old is little Yao now?" Chung lit up at the mention of his daughter. "She's almost three years old. She's going to be starting school soon. Hard to believe, isn't it?"
Wang nodded in acknowledgement. "You should bring her around here sometime. I would be happy to give her the VIP tour. You know how much I love kids…" Both men laughed at the remark. Chung's booming laugh reminded Chung of their time at Ba Sing Se University all those years ago. It was a simpler time.
"Seriously, Wang, when will you finally settle down? You need to find a nice girl to relieve some of that stress. How about your assistant, or Lin from marketing?"
Wang shook his head and held up his right hand, as if to say no. "No thanks, Sun. I find the bachelor life more… entertaining. Besides, I don't want to go soft, like you have. That wife of yours doesn't let you have any fun." Chung laughed again, his blue eyes filling with mirth and joy. I haven't been that happy in a long time.
"Wang, you have no idea what you're talking about. Sure, Kyuma can be a little demanding sometimes, but I feel… at peace with her. That's when you know you've found the girl for you. She makes you complete." Wang smiled at that remark. I'm happy that one of us has found happiness. Sun continued. "Well, I best be off. I need to get back to the lab for more testing. Sorry for taking so much of your time."
"Never apologize to me, Sun. An old friend is always welcome here. Good luck with sending Yao off to school, and come on over some time. You can even bring that wife of yours." Both men laughed. "No offense, Wang, but I would rather not eat your cooking. Remember the arctic hen fiasco in senior year?" Both men kept laughing, their eyes tearing up from the sheer joy of their company. Wang pulled his friend in for a hug, and then grabbed his shoulders. "It was good to see you, Sun."
As soon as Chung left the office, Wang pressed the intercom button. "Yun, could you come in here?" Within seconds, his loyal assistant rushed into the office. "Sir, your twelve-thirty has been waiting for ten minutes. What is it?" Wang smiled at Yun's attitude. She kept the eccentric billionaire honest, and his calendar well organized, despite his best efforts to let chaos reign.
"I need you to clear the schedule of all meetings right away. Tell my twelve-thirty and everyone else that this tech tycoon is out of the building." He stood up and began to pack his briefcase, illustrating his point. "But sir, Miss Sato has been waiting for some time." Wang froze, as if he had been put in the crosshairs of a deadly assassin. Asami Sato? What spirit did I anger this time?
"Miss Sato? Is she still mad about before?" Before his assistant could answer, Asami Sato burst through the office doors furiously. "Wang Gao, what the flameo did you do to my company?" Wang simply couldn't respond. Even though she was two years younger than him, at twenty-six years old she was one of the most attractive women he had ever met. Her beautiful black hair came down to just below her shoulders, accentuating her face perfectly. She wore makeup, but instead of masking her face like so many women did now, it enhanced her natural beauty. Her body was curvy, but she was slender and fit. It wasn't her gorgeous body that attracted Wang to her, however. Her beautiful green eyes reminded him of the most beautiful emeralds. Those eyes could entrance me for hours.
However, this was not one of those times. Her eyes blazed with fury, her gaze locked solely on Wang. He swallowed nervously and put his hands up in a gesture of mock surrender. Yun rolled her eyes and quickly walked past Asami to exit the office. Once she left, Wang grinned sheepishly and began to speak. "Now, Asami, look—"
She angrily interrupted, striding up to him and jabbing him in the chest with her finger. "You just bought a controlling interest in Future Industries! You stole my company from me!" He stammered nervously, looking for a response. Come on, Wang. You're better than this. You've dealt with plenty of angry women before. So why is Asami so different? "Asami, listen to me. Future Industries wasn't going to survive without an infusion of capital. I bought your company to save it from collapse." Before he could continue, Asami stomped off towards the door.
"Wait! Asami, I don't want to control your company. I'm giving you complete control over Future Industries and its subsidiaries, with just a little oversight from Gao Enterprises." Asami turned back to Wang, puzzled. "Wait, so you don't want my proprietary tech? Then why buy Future Industries in the first place?!" She put her hands on her hips and shot a questioning look at the flustered genius. Oh, for Agni's sake, just do it, Wang.
"Asami, I did it because I didn't want to see your company fail. You're one of the smartest, bravest, and kindest people I have ever met, and I want you to continue your work." Asami pondered what he said for a few moments, her face scrunched in concentration. How does she make even that expression look wonderful?
Asami's face slowly morphed into one of joy. Her lips twisted into a coy smile, and her green eyes flashed with happiness rather than anger. "So, that iron heart still beats like everyone else's. You, Mister Gao, are quite the charmer. Was there anything else you wanted to say?"
Damn her. How does she do it? "Uhhh…" You idiot! Just say it! "Asami, would you like to go to dinner and a mover with me?" Oh, Agni, why did you curse me with this sheer idiocy? Without hesitation, she answered. "I would love to, Wang. You have my number. Call me sometime and we'll set it up." Without any further words, the beautiful woman turned and walked slowly to the door. He stared at her walking out with a dazed expression. It couldn't have been that easy, right? Maybe I'm dreaming.
Wang collapsed into his chair, still feeling dazed. Yun peaked her head into the room, her eyes dissecting her boss. "Productive meeting, sir?"
"Yes, Yun. Very."
Kyoshi Point
Wang Jun Gao had left the office not long after his eventful meeting with Asami Sato. Instead of heading to his apartment in the heart of the city, Wang drove towards the Silk Road Bridge. After crossing the river spanned by the iconic landmark, he had gone north along one of the Republic's major highways, stopping for nothing. After driving for twenty minutes, he reached his destination: a mansion located on Kyoshi Point, a peninsula jutting out into the Mo Ce Sea north of the metropolis.
Stepping out of his Satomobile, Wang was instantly greeted by his butler and longtime friend, Wu. Wu's family had served the Gaos for three generations, and Wu himself was an old friend of Wang's father, Jun. Wu kept the house in perfect condition, even though Wang spent much of his time in the city.
"Mister Gao, welcome back to your home. I trust that last night's conquest couldn't be bothered to come all the way out here?" Wu's acerbic wit was much appreciated by Wang. It kept him grounded in reality when he had "delusions of grandeur," as Wu called them. Wang laughed at the quip. "No, Wu, no conquests in the last week. I just had some work to do in the city. And I think that I am much more… refined that I was a few years ago."
"Yes, I suppose we have Miss Sato to thank for that. How is the beautiful Asami?" Wu piqued an eyebrow in interest as Wang walked to the back of the auto, fumbling for his keys. The young billionaire looked flustered, as if he was in a great hurry. Finding the right key, he unlocked the trunk and lifted something heavy out of it. Wu hurried over and saw Wang lifting a heavy trunk, grunting from the exertion. "Wu, get the door."
Striding to the door, the butler was quickly followed by his young master, who struggled to carry his heavy burden. Wu opened the door and waited for Wang to cross the threshold before closing it once again. "Now, where to, Mister Gao?" Wang grunted out his response: "Downstairs."
Wu nodded and turned about, making his way into the kitchen. Opening the pantry, he walked to the back wall as Wang followed in his footsteps. Finally setting down the heavy load, Wang breathed a sigh of relief and waited for Wu. Wu had opened a secret panel on the back wall of the pantry, which was made to look like a circuit box. Flipping three switches in quick succession, Wu stepped back from the wall as a secret door swung open.
The billionaire grunted again as he moved the trunk into the small elevator beyond the door. Closing the door behind them, Wu punched the down arrow on the elevator, which lit up red. Slowly, the elevator jolted from its slumber and inexorably moved towards the center of the earth. The descent took them almost a minute, the elevator groaning under their weight. The box swayed from time to time, terrifying the old butler. "Mister Gao, I must say that this contraption is nothing but a death trap. You must replace it at once."
Wang chuckled at the older man's remarks. "Yep, this is about thirty years old. Put in by my dad himself." He patted the walls of the elevator, as if appreciating an old ostrich-horse. I can't believe it's been that long. I'm only twenty-eight, after all. "Maybe I should put in a new freight elevator. Add that to the list, I suppose." He drifted off into thought after that, an uncomfortable silence falling in between the two men.
Wu broke the silence, as usual. "You never answered my question, Mister Gao."
"What? What question?" The billionaire had been driven out of his thoughts without warning. He hates it when I do that. The butler shook his head and placed both of his hands on the young man's shoulders. "How is Miss Sato doing?"
Upon the mention of Asami Sato, Wang blushed deeply and looked at the floor beneath them. Wu waited for a response, but was rudely interrupted by a bell. It signaled the end of the elevator's journey. Without responding, Wang picked up the trunk and moved past the opening doors. Wu sighed in exasperation and followed reluctantly.
Every time Wang stepped into the workshop beneath his house, he felt more relaxed than he did in the outside world. Out there, I am Wang Jun Gao, billionaire playboy industrialist. Here, I'm just another engineer, building the tools for a better tomorrow. The pressures of the outside world evaporated and gave rise to a deep passion for his work. Wang truly believed in his quest for a utopian future, ever since the revolution all those years ago. I must atone for those mistakes.
The workshop was a paradise for techies like Wang. It stretched fifty by seventy feet, loaded to bear with gadgets, tools, and spare parts. The wall to the right of the entrance was devoted to specialty tools and parts that had to be hand-crafted for a specific and often obscure purpose. It contained so many tools and parts that Wang had to keep an inventory of where every piece went and a log book to check out the parts. The wall was fenced off, with only one door near the entrance to the workshop at large.
To the left of the entrance stood the wall of equality, as Wang derisively called it. Two captured mecha tanks, a biplane, and even the cockpit of an Equalist airship were on display, partly disassembled. The genius had been taken aback by the level of technology used by the Equalists. Transporting several impounded Equalist vehicles to his workshop hadn't been easy, but the results had more than paid off. While he couldn't incorporate the designs into his company's technology, he could still use it in his own projects.
Finally, the back of the workshop was sealed off by thick platinum walls, with only two impact-resistant windows breaking the monotony of the gray metal. The door leading into the secret area was secured by one of the most expensive locks in the world: it had been procured in the Fire Nation by Wang himself several years back. It was comprised entirely of platinum, so as to be impervious to metalbending, and used a sophisticated design that even he couldn't fully understand. It was linked to an alarm system which would lock the mansion down if an intruder were to try and enter. The level of security was indeed astounding, but Wang knew that it was entirely necessary. The technology behind that door will change the world forever. It can't fall into the wrong hands.
Wang stood still in front of the door and set down the load. Fumbling around with a chain around his neck, he lifted the chain over his head and selected the first key. Turning each of the three keys in a select order, he unlocked the first three deadbolts in the door. The last deadbolt was secured by a combination lock, which he twisted around quickly. After inputting the combination, the billionaire simply tapped the door. The massive door, weighing hundreds of pounds, swung open, revealing a peculiar area.
The best way to describe the area was exploded. Parts lay everywhere, some from Satomobile engines and others from Equalist weaponry. A mecha tank lay half assembled in the corner, missing its right arm, left leg, and most of the cockpit. What had to be dozens of electrified gloves were scattered across the floor, all missing components. Wu's left eyebrow piqued at the mess, but he did not ask Wang what this was. What happened in the workshop was not the butler's business until Wang decided to tell him.
Wang ignored the mess and marched to the center of the room, where a circular raised platform stood. Stepping on the relatively clean platform, Wang set the trunk down for the final time and knelt down to open it. Fumbling with the combination lock for a few seconds, Wang heard the click of the tumblers. He lifted the lid open and looked inside. All the parts I need. Excellent.
Pulling out all the parts took Wang seconds, but setting them up on the workbench proved to be a greater challenge. After ten minutes of aggravation, the billionaire could finally get to work. Wu had stood at attention the whole time, not saying a word. Wang picked up a welding mask and apron and turned to the butler. Damn, has he been here for that long? "Wu, you can go. I can handle everything down here."
Wang saw the butler's mouth open, as if he was about to speak. Instead, he nodded, even though he obviously doubted everything was okay. Turning around, Wu walked through the vault doorframe and back toward the elevator. His footsteps could be heard reverberating throughout the workshop, fading every second. Wang waited until he could no longer hear the footsteps. After hearing nothing for seconds, he flipped the welder mask over his face and strode to the bench. It's time to finish this.
Several hours later...
Wu strode into the vault once more, looking for his master. He had not come up from the workshop for supper. Wu knew that the young man would often spend hours cooped up in the subbasement, working on some newfangled contraption. The manservant carried a tray in his hands: it contained a plate of rice and spicy komodo chicken (his favorite, Wu thought), a cup of steaming tea, and a spring roll. Where is that boy?
"Master Gao!" The shout echoed throughout the metal chamber. Something crossed Wu's mind at that moment. The silence. No roar of generators, no crackle of welding torches filled the vault. What is going on down here?
Wang's head rose up from behind the platform. "Hey, Wu! Come over here!" That platform is only a foot above the ground, how is his head the only— the thought in Wu's mind was cut off as he came to the back of the platform. Wang lay on the ground, with no shirt on. Wires trailed into his chest magnet, but something was different. The power cell, while of a similar size to the last, was different somehow. A triangle of blue light shone out from Wang's chest, projected by the battery.
"Pretty sweet, right?" Wang's lips broke into a smirk, so like the one he had on his face after the first time he— Never mind that. Wu shook his head to clear the thought from his head and pointed to Wang's magnet. "What did you upgrade this time?"
"Everything, Wu. Everything." At that moment, a click came from the platform, followed by two more. Wang's hands moved up from his sides to grasp the wires. Suddenly, he yanked them all out, alarming Wu. The butler almost sprang into action, but Wang pushed himself up from the floor. The billionaire calmly strode over to Wu and clasped both of his friend's shoulders. "I have to show you something. Something that will change the world."
Stepping up onto the platform, Wang beckoned to Wu. The butler followed his master, unsure of what was happening. Wang had never showed him a personal project before. The tech tycoon was putting on a skintight black shirt, and Wu noticed that he was wearing skintight black pants as well. What is going on?
Stepping over to what looked like a control panel, Wang pushed a lever upwards and turned back around. At once, a small cylindrical container began to rise out of the middle of the platform. The cylinder contained… a suit of armor. The metal was clearly a platinum alloy, but Wu did not recognize it from the wall of Equalist weapons. This was something new.
The armor was form fitting, being about the size of a man. The chest plate had a circular hole in the middle of it, which was quite bizarre to the butler. The gloves looked very similar to the electrified gloves strewn across the vault. No doubt on purpose. The armor's boots were slightly out of proportion to the rest of the body, but Wu's attention was captured by the helmet. It was shaped very similar to a particular person's head. Wang's head.
Without a moment's hesitation, Wang began to put the armor on. First came the boots, then the armor around the upper legs. His arms were then secured in the thick metal shell, followed by his hands. Wang now stepped into the cylinder, pressing a button on one of the poles inside the tube. The back of the armor descended on a repurposed welding arm until it was snug with Wang's own back. Finally, the billionaire pulled the chest piece towards him, which was hanging from another welding arm. Pulling three wires from the inner chest piece, he connected them with the power cell in his chest. The triangle of light dimmed for a brief moment, and the armor hummed slightly.
Lowering the chest piece until it was flush with his body, Wang smiled at his butler. The humming from the armor increased ever so slightly. Stepping down from the cylinder with the helmet in his hand, Wang strode over to Wu. He has to be six inches taller now. "What do you think, Wu?" A smile played across Wang's face.
"What is it?" The butler was even more confused than before.
Wang's smile expanded. "This is the Gaotech Model One Armor. It's powered by an experimental power cell that can last for days without charging, same one that's keeping me alive. Battery is made of vibranium, borrowed it from the company." He pointed to the blue triangle in his chest. The power cell filled the hole in the chest piece. "Outer shell is a hardened platinum alloy, keeps the metalbenders from messing with me, you know? Inner layers are a proprietary material which keeps out electricity and radiation, also impact resistant." Wang pointed down at his boots with gusto. "Boots are something else: Gaotech jet boots, can keep me in the air for hours—"
Wu interrupted his master. It was rude, but necessary. "Wait, it… flies?"
Wang looked at Wu with incredulity. "How else would I get around? Oh, yeah, it enhances my strength tenfold, and speed too. When I'm running, you know." The billionaire was rambling excitedly, listing off the armor's attributes. "Oh, I almost forgot the gloves."
Wu sighed in exasperation. It was too much, and he knew he shouldn't say anything. But he did anyway. "What about the gloves?" Damn it.
Wang was beaming at this point. "The gloves, based on the Equalist ones. Only better. Gaotech repulsor beams for flight stabilizers in addition to the electrical weapon. Also made out of platinum. I'm planning to add other stuff later, but that's everything for now." Wang turned to his butler, his face more joyful than Wu had seen in a long time. "So, what do you think?"
Wu was amazed. This suit, this armor, was the most advanced piece of technology that Wu had ever seen. He's outdone himself this time. "I don't believe I'm saying this, sir. But I believe that you have surpassed all my expectations." Wait, what is this for? Some weapon to sell to the military?
"Wang, why did you build this armor? Who is it for?" Wu watched as Wang jabbed his thumb in his own chest. Why does he need a suit of armor?
"It's for me. Wu, I've done wrong in my life. I haven't been able to bring peace and equality to the world the way I wanted to. This is my way of atoning for my past transgressions." Wang went silent, letting Wu process what he had heard.
"You are atoning for said transgressions by wearing a weapon and fighting… What are you fighting?" At that remark, Wang's countenance darkened. Wu's eyes widened in fear: what did he do?
"I'm fighting the Equalists. They're the reason I built this suit."
Northern Earth Kingdom
Four days later...
Wang stood at the door of the airship, wearing his suit of armor, excluding the helmet. Looking down at the headpiece, clasped in his right hand, he remembered the exchange with Wu four days earlier in his vault.
"The Equalists? They are all gone, Master Gao. The Avatar and United Forces…"
Wang leaned over the work bench, facing away from Wu. "Drove out most of them, but some survived. A general, the head of SHIELD, came into my office about six months ago, asking for my help. He showed me pictures of their main camp in the Earth Kingdom. Said that the Equalists were being trained to fight again, under new leadership. He wanted me to help SHIELD take them down by giving him weapons, but I refused. I didn't sell weapons anymore, I said to him."
Wang turned to Wu and smirked. "He said that the Avatar and his best team were going in to 'clean up the mess.' He said that if I didn't want to help, that their deaths would be on my head. He stormed off, and I started on the armor that day. I had been working on it for a while," pointing to the mecha tank as he spoke. "I finally have the power to make those bastards pay. For what they did to the city, to the benders—"
"And to you." Wu had interjected again. Wang's features soured at the remark. "Yes, I want revenge. For what they did to me. They turned my weapons, my creations, on the city!" In anger, he knocked miscellaneous parts off the workbench with his hand. The parts flew and struck the wall with tremendous force. The clang resounded through the room as Wang fell silent.
Turning to Wu, his eyes seemed to plead with his old friend. "Wu, I need to do this. I have to set things right."
Wu understood the necessity of Wang's quest. Even though he disagreed with Wang's methods, Wu nodded in acknowledgement. Wang needed to purge the anger from his heart. Balance within the mind must be achieved before he could move on from the trauma of the revolution. "Go, Wang."
Wang shook his head, banishing the memory from his thoughts. He put his helmet on and heard the hum of the magnets which locked it into place. Breathing slowly, he closed his eyes for a brief moment, and then leaped from the door. Curling his toes inward, he triggered the rockets in his boots, sending him flying through the air atop a pillar of flame. The repulsors in his gloves were triggered by a similar motion, and soon Wang was hovering next to his airship.
Wang had flown the small but advanced aircraft out into the mountains near the training camp over the last two days. The only things he brought were his armor and a pack of food given to him by Wu. The automated systems allowed him to sleep at night, and the airship never had a problem. Once he reached the mountain chain, Wang anchored the zeppelin behind an imposing peak and prepared for the coming battle. Now he was ready to take the fight to the Equalists.
Turning to face the mountain, Wang's thoughts hardened with resolve, and he rocketed off towards the peak. The billionaire was new to flying, but the repulsors in his glove stabilized his erratic flight patterns mostly. The vibranium battery in his chest gave his suit the power to fly, and it felt glorious. The wind rushed around his streamlined form, and the adrenaline began to flow.
In a matter of seconds, he cleared the peak and descended towards the plateau below. There it is. Nestled between two small chains of mountains lay the camp. It was almost the size of Wang's estate at Kyoshi Point, but was obviously a militarized installation. Mecha tanks patrolled the perimeter alongside chi blockers, and guard towers rose from the ground at regular intervals along the perimeter wall. Barracks occupied the outer edges of the camp, while the armories and other essential facilities ringed a central command post.
Wang finished his analysis of the camp just in time: one of the chi blockers had spotted him. The Equalist shouted something inaudible and pointed at the flying man. Well, here goes nothing. Dropping into the camp like a meteor, he landed in the middle of the main avenue in a cloud of dust. A crowd of Equalists crowded around the impact site, wary of whatever lay at the middle. A strong gust of wind pushed aside the cloud of dust, revealing Wang at the center of a small crater. He spoke, his voice reverberating inside the metal helmet. "It's payback time!"
Two chi blockers, obviously veterans of the previous revolution, swallowed their fears and leapt towards the armored man. Wang laughed and powered up his electric gloves. The Equalists launched a flurry of blows at the joints of the armor, hoping to find a weak point. They found no such thing. Countering quickly, Wang struck one of the chi blockers with an electrified fist. A zapping noise could be heard throughout the camp. Wang's victim collapsed on the ground, dead.
Before the second Equalist could even register what happened, a burst of electricity shot from Wang's other glove. Striking the other chi blocker in the chest, the electricity sent the man into cardiac arrest. The Equalists ringing the impact crater watched in horror as two of their finest soldiers were killed by the mysterious man. Fear settling in, the soldiers began to back away from Wang in fear.
He laughed darkly, stepping out of the crater towards the crowd. "What's the matter? I'm just another nonbender, like yourselves. Fighting for equality." The last word came out in a hiss of anger as Wang fired bolts of electricity from his gloves. Felling five Equalists in a matter of seconds, he heard the rumbling of heavy machinery in the background. Without warning, two bolas wrapped around him, trapping his arms and legs.
Electricity flowed from the bolas into the armored man. The metal crackled with energy as the man screamed in pain. His head slumped down as the last of the stored electricity dissipated into the metal. The twenty-or-so chi blockers walked towards Wang warily. Suddenly, a metallic laugh chilled them all to the core, fear seizing control once more.
"Really? That's the best you can do?" His head rose once more, giving the closest Equalists a glance at his blue eyes. They were as cold as ice.
Ripping through the bolas like they were paper, Wang cracked his neck. The gloves hummed with electricity once more, glowing blue in the early morning haze. "My turn."
He rushed forward with inhuman speed. Within seconds, five more chi blockers were convulsing on the ground. A mecha tank fired a grappling claw at Wang, who twisted to the side. He grabbed the cable and yanked it hard, pulling the mecha tank closer. Firing his rocket boots, Wang flew at the tank. The operator, fearing for his life, tried to back up quickly. It was too late.
Wang used his immense momentum and the armor's strength to rip off the right arm of the mecha tank. Landing behind the tank, he sprinted towards its engine and punched it with all his might. A cloud of steam exploded from the damaged machine and engulfed the battlefield. Unable to see, the Equalists were easy pickings for the armored warrior. Flashes of blue light lit up the cloud of steam. A minute later, Wang strode forth from the cloud. His armor wasn't even dented.
A crowd of Equalists had gathered in front of him, with several mecha tanks behind them. I count thirty chi blockers, and maybe eight tanks. This'll be easy. The armored man stepped forward to face them, but could not move his feet. They had been swallowed up by the ground beneath him. An earthbender? In an Equalist camp? Clearly, these guys haven't learned from their little Amon debacle. Trapped for the moment, Wang was patient.
The crowd of chi blockers parted for a mysterious figure. The man stepped into Wang's view from within the crowd. He wore simple black armor which covered his entire body, and seemed to be made of platinum like the mecha tanks. The helmet hid the man's identity, and resembled a demon from the Spirit World. It had two horns rising up on both sides, and the "chin" came down to a sharpened point near the man's sternum. He raised his hands into a combat stance similar to a waterbender's. That's when Wang noticed the rings.
The figure had four rings spread across both his hands. His left hand had rings on the middle and index fingers, while the right had rings on the middle finger and thumb. The ring on the right thumb glowed green, and seemed to hum with power. Wait, he's using the ring to manipulate the earth somehow! Before the figure could move again, Wang fired an electrical blast at him. The masked man dodged the blast, but the ring stopped glowing.
Wang felt the earth around his feet loosen. He fired his rocket boots and freed his feet from the ground. He continued to fly in an arc, landing a few feet from the masked man. The man had picked himself up from the ground, and now faced Wang. His mask, it's scarier than Amon's. Memories from the past swelled in Wang's head, but he pushed them away. I'm done with fear.
Wang spoke in that mysterious metallic voice which terrified the Equalists. "So who are you? And are you in charge of these guys? Cause they really need some training." He pointed to the steam cloud, which still obscured the battleground behind them.
The masked figure raised his right hand. Wang dropped into a combat stance as the ring on the middle finger glowed white. When nothing happened, Wang stood back warily, and glanced behind him. The steam cloud had been dissipated by a gust of wind, and he took in the scene in its gruesome horror. I did… that.
Equalist soldiers lay scattered across the ground, some still twitching from the electrical attacks. All the mecha tanks were out of commission, but one pilot's death was particularly gruesome. Wang had ripped open the cockpit and blasted the pilot with a double dose of the gloves. Steam still rose from the slightly charred corpse. Bile seared his throat as Wang looked at the horrific aftermath of his battle. I'm a monster.
A strong gust of wind blasted him forward, towards the carnage. Wang struck the side of a crippled mecha tank, the impact jarring his body. "Son of a…" He was shocked out of his stupor by the earth swallowing him up once again. Curling his toes and fingers together, Wang fired his repulsors and soared into the air. "Let's see you try that again when I'm twenty feet off the ground, bud!" He stared down at the masked figure, whose right thumb stopped glowing. The middle finger began to shine white again. What happened next shocked Wang to his core.
A pillar of air spun around the Equalist leader and lifted him into the air. The masked man rose to meet Wang's eyes, which widened in shock. Earth AND air? He can't be a bender, let alone the Avatar! "What, what are you?"
The man answered in a metallic voice not unlike Wang's. "I am the Mandarin."
The Mandarin fired a blast of air at the hovering Wang. Unprepared for the attack, Wang fell from the sky, his boots unable to keep him aloft. Crashing into the earth, he lifted his head to see the Mandarin descend to the ground, his right thumb now glowing. Earth.
Two chunks of earth were ripped from the ground and hurled at terrifying speeds towards Wang. Twisting to the right, Wang dodged both and shook his head. Time to go on the offensive. His rocket boots flared to life as he shot forward. Using his momentum, he tried to deliver a swift uppercut to the Mandarin's jaw. In an impressive feat of agility, Wang's enemy deflected the blow with his right forearm and raised his left hand. The index finger was glowing crimson. Shit.
A torrent of fire erupted from the Mandarin's hand, engulfing Wang. "Ahh!" He was unhurt, shielded by his armor, but the sheer force of the fire blasted him back almost ten feet. Wang managed to jump to his feet and reassessed the Mandarin. So air, earth, and fire? The rings must be some kind of tech that give him bending-like powers. Lucky for me, there's one trick I have left.
Powering up both of his gloves, he unleashed a torrent of electricity upon the unsuspecting Equalist. The energy surged through the Mandarin's armor, but Wang kept it up. After a few seconds passed, Wang lowered his hands and stared at the smoking armor that used to contain the Equalist leader.
Just as he let himself relax, the Mandarin's left hand rose. The middle finger glowed bluish-white. I'm dead.
The Mandarin laughed, the metallic sound chilling Wang to his core. The glow from the ring seemed to get brighter. Wang should have seen it coming. Electricity shot forth from the Mandarin's armored hand and engulfed the armored billionaire. This time, it was going to hurt.
Even with the inner layers of the armor protecting him, Wang still felt some of the electricity course through his body. He screamed in agony, but willed himself to stay conscious. The magnets that held his armor together whined in protest. Wang hoped that the suit would stay together just a few minutes longer. He's using my own attack against me! Like a firebender redirects lightning… That last thought gave Wang an idea. A stupid, impulsive idea, but it was the only option he had left.
He collapsed to his knees, giving into the pain for a split second. Black spots appeared in his vision, and his mouth felt dry. His very life seemed to leave his body in spurts, as the Mandarin's assault continued for agonizing seconds. I can't give up. For Wu, for Asami…
Finally, the agonizing ordeal was over. The Mandarin lowered his hand and pointed his right index finger at Wang. "Take him prisoner. Find out who he is and how he found us." The chi blockers behind the Mandarin nodded in the affirmative and walked forward. The mecha tanks followed close behind, their weapons locked on Wang. Wang lowered his head and closed his eyes. Three, two, one…
Suddenly, he stood up and fired his repulsors at the mecha tanks. The repulsors may have be envisioned as flight stabilizers, but they were at the heart of it a force beam. The kinetic energy of the beam impacted the mecha tanks and knocked them on their sides. The chi blockers rushed towards the fallen Wang, hoping to swarm him. They failed.
The fallen warrior fired a pulse from both gloves into the ground. A kinetic energy wave rippled outward from Wang. The wave blasted the Equalists clear of the armored man, who finally stood to face his foe. The Mandarin was the only one left standing. The Equalist leader glanced around at his fallen forces and unleashed an inhuman roar. Raising his hands, all four rings glowed. Wang took his shot.
Firing both repulsors at once, he blasted the Mandarin with all his power. The Equalist villain was knocked back into the central complex. The attack sent Wang's foe through three walls and left him dazed in the middle of the building. Wang stepped forward, grimacing in pain. Firing several blasts in quick succession, he targeted the building's support beams. The Mandarin screamed and trapped Wang in a sphere of air. "You think to best me, man of science? I possess the power of the Avatar! What chance do you have?" The Mandarin began to "bend" the air out from the sphere, leaving Wang without oxygen. Before he passed out, Wang spoke one last time.
"This kind." Wang fired one last repulsor blast as his vision went dark. The blast struck a support pillar, cracking it with the kinetic force. Suddenly, the whole building began to collapse, all three stories. Right on the Mandarin's head. His concentration broken, the villain roared one last time as the building crushed him.
Wang came to a few minutes later, to the sound of airship rotors. He blinked a few times and took big gulps of air. Glancing over to the collapsed building, he knew he had done it. Take that, you psychopath. Wang managed to stand, gripping a downed mecha tank for support. As air returned to his lungs, his strength began to flow back into his limbs.
The morning sun had finally risen over the eastern mountains. Light poured into the valley, giving the camp a divine glow. It's anything but divine. I slaughtered them all. Before he could dwell more on his sins, a woman's voice startled him.
"Who are you?" The voice emanated from behind him. Wang turned and saw a twenty-or-so woman standing behind him. The young woman stood around five feet seven inches, almost half a foot shorter than Wang without his armor. She wore a blue sleeveless top which accentuated her athletic body, along with dark blue armbands around both her forearms. Light blue leggings showed her legs to be just as toned as her arms. Fur boots and an animal skin wrapped around her waist completed the outfit. Her brown hair was tied into two ponytails near her face and a single one at the back of her head. Her mocha skin betrayed her as a member of the Water Tribe, as did her blue eyes.
The second he saw her, though, was when he recognized her. The Avatar. Well, shit.
"Who are you?" Avatar Korra was in a combat stance, ready to bend at him. "I won't ask again? Or are you an Equalist?"
Wang shook his head and stepped back from the young Avatar. Well, she's not that much younger than me. Shut up, Wang! Focus! "No, I'm not." His toes curled together, as did his fingers. "I'm Iron Man."
Iron Man's rocket boots kicked in and he soared into the sky atop a pillar of flame. The Avatar was stunned, to say the least. Her jaw dropped noticeably, and her widened eyes followed the armored man across the sky. She thought quietly to herself. Iron Man. Huh.
"Avatar Korra! What happened here?" She turned to face an incoming squad of soldiers. They were wearing blue jumpsuits and light armor, which was emblazoned with a white shield. At their head was a man, with darker skin like those of the southern Earth Kingdom and black hair growing white at the temples. He wore an eye patch across his left eye.
"General Fury, you're not going to believe this."
Kwong's Cuisine
Three days later...
Asami Sato laughed at Wang's joke. "That's a good one! I hadn't heard that one before!" The two sat at a private booth in Kwong's, the fanciest restaurant in the city. Wang had called her the day before to invite her to dinner, and she had accepted with gusto. Picking her up at her estate outside Republic City, he had taken her on a scenic drive through downtown before going to the restaurant. The courses served were magnificent, the best Wang ever had at the restaurant. Of course it could be the company.
He stared across the table at his gorgeous date. She wore a red dress that came down to her ankles yet somehow was still scandalous. The top was low cut enough to expose a little of her chest. The dress hugged her curves in a way that made his face flush. Her face, though, looked even more radiant than usual. Her eyes, her best feature, sparkled with the brilliance of a thousand stars. He found himself entranced by this woman like he had been by no other.
"Master Gao?" The waiter tapped his shoulder. "I am sorry to interrupt, but the restaurant is closing soon. Just so you know." The waiter walked away from the table and Wang turned back to Asami.
"So, did you have fun tonight?" He paused when he saw her face. She seemed crestfallen somehow, and his spirits fell. She didn't like it. "Look, Asami…" She held a finger up to silence him. Her face twisted in relief, and she spoke excitedly.
"I remembered what I forgot to do tonight!" He was about to ask what when he felt her full lips on his. Wang's hands moved up to cup her face in his calloused hands as he leaned into the kiss. It was short, but so full of understanding. When she finally pulled away, he didn't resist. He simply sighed contentedly as the heiress blushed.
"You don't know how long I've wanted to do that. I had a great time, Wang, and I think you know that I want to do this again." Wang nodded sheepishly at Asami's suggestion and twiddled his thumbs. A nervous silence descended between them.
Asami finally broke the awkwardness. "So, you were gone for a few days. Do anything exciting up at that house of yours?"
Images of him welding parts, stepping out in front of Wu armored up, and blasting the Mandarin into a building filled his mind. "No, nothing in particular."