A/N: For the sake of the story I'm throwing out the flashbacks revealed in 'Out of the Past' for a scenario more fitting a soldier superhero. Unfortunately there are no canon characters that are the right age during that time period, so an OC was required. To make up for this issue there is a special guest appearance for part of the chapter.

Chapter 4: Captain Republic

Far from the United Republic of Nations, at the very top of the world, explorers from Republic City were charting the frozen tundra beyond the Northern Water Tribe. Dozens of men and women wearing thick parkas in the cold scouted the ice sheets preserved in perpetual winter, studying the life that called this place home. But none of them were aware of the treasure that lay beneath their feet, sealed away in the ice for decades.

One explorer noticed an unusually clear patch of ice beside a snowdrift. She walked over to it and looked through the ice, as if it were a clear window into empty space below. Though she wasn't certain, it appeared that there was metal down below. "Hey!" She yelled, gesturing to the others to come closer. "I've found something!"

Three others approached and looked through the ice. But the ice was thinner than it appeared and the combined weight strained the ice to its limit. Cracks spread through the ice faster than the explorers could react and it shattered before any could see the danger. All four of them fell through the ice, one of them waterbending the broken ice into fresh snow to soften the landing on hard metal.

"Everyone okay?" one man asked, standing up and looking around. He saw the others getting up and rubbing the limbs they fell on.

The waterbender in the group crouched and tapped the metal everyone stood on. "How did this get here?" he wondered out loud.

A firebender lit a flame in his hand for light and looked ahead, finding a wide hole in the metal. "Let's check it out."

Using a ladder made from waterbended ice everyone climbed through the tear, entering a wide metal corridor below. Decades of frost coated everything inside the frozen tomb. Wandering through the corridors brought the explorers into an area that appeared to be an airship's cockpit. Glass windows were shattered long ago and thick ice covered controls and seats inside the room.

The woman that first found the clear ice walked up to the front of the cockpit where the pilot would sit. She saw a body still at the helm, preserved in ice several inches thick. Around the body's hand a chunk of ice had broken off, exposing skin to the cold. Curious about the body, the woman removed a glove and placed bare fingers on the exposed skin. It wasn't as cold as she expected, and then she felt a very faint heartbeat.

"By the spirits!" the woman yelled, pulling her hand away and facing the others. "This man's still alive!"


Forty two years ago.

"Republic City at War!

"Less than three decades after the end of the Hundred Year War, the world threatens to come apart at the seams. Civil War divides the United Republic of Nations, threatening everything Avatar Aang and Fire Lord Zuko have worked to achieve all these years. The call to arms has been made, thousands of men and women of this great nation joining the United Forces. Yakone is going to regret starting this rebellion, once our Yankee sons and daughters get a hold of him and his bending supremacists."

A crowd of Republic City civilians listened outside a radio in front of a shop, most of them too poor to afford the new and expensive devices. Taller than a man and twice as wide, only the wealthy could afford a radio in their private home. Shopkeepers allowed commoners to listen to the radio before browsing the goods, as news from the front lines attracted customers. But one person was not there to shop, but was on his way to a recruitment center for the war effort.

Shran Raiden, an eighteen year old boy with light brown hair wearing a thick gray coat in chilly morning air. The thick clothing slightly hid his scrawny body that resembled a child more than a man his age. A thick wool hat covered most of his head, as Shran Raiden didn't want anyone recognizing him as he walked through the streets. In the distance he could see tall buildings under construction, that when finished would scrape the very sky.

By midmorning Shran Raiden arrived at his destination, entering a small building a few blocks from City Hall. Inside a lobby he found lines of people in front of counters, all there to volunteer for the war like himself. Nearly all of the people inside were bigger than Shran, even some of the women were twice his size. But Shran didn't care about his disadvantage, wanting to serve his country at any cost.

One by one people at the front of the lines were either accepted or rejected for military service, based on reports made from tests everyone had already taken a week earlier. When it was Shran's turn an old woman had to lean over the counter and look down to see him properly. She frowned while looking at him, not bothering to hide her expectation of a rejection report.

"Name?" the old woman asked.

"Shang Rai," Shran lied.

Flipping through the alphabetized reports the old woman quickly found one labeled Shang Rai. It described various reasons why he should not be allowed in the military, his weak muscles, fragile frame, easily winded, no bending, et cetera. Immediately the woman reached for the rejection stamper to send a boy home.

"Please!" Shran pleaded. "There must be something I can do!"

The old woman sighed, and then stamped the report Rejected. "I'm saving your life."

His fourth attempt thwarted, Shran walked out of the recruitment center. Back in the streets of Republic City he considered trying again with a different recruiter. It was illegal to reapply for service after a rejection, and eventually someone would figure out what he was doing despite using aliases. Shran decided to wait a few weeks before trying again at a recruitment station on the other side of the city.

In the meantime Shran returned to his home, an apartment shared with his brother in the outskirts of Republic City. Bei Raiden was already in the army as a firebender sniper, leaving the entire apartment to the younger Shran. Once he was inside the small room Shran locked the door and hung up his coat. But as he reached for the switch to turn on the light a metal cable fired and hit the switch for him.

As the only ceiling light turned on Shran turned around, finding someone sitting on his couch. It was a woman with black hair, wearing standard police armor except for a lack of boots. She didn't even turn her head to Shran, confusing him until he saw that her eyes were milky white and unfocused. The metal cable she fired from her wrist retracted into her armor, stored in reels carried on her back.

"You've got a lot of explaining to do kid," the woman demanded.

Shran gulped and hesitated to answer, believing that he could be arrested at any moment. Chief of Police Toph Bei Fong didn't make house calls unless serious business was happening. "I don't know…"

"Cut the crap." Toph stood up and pulled four reports out of a pocket, slapping them onto a nearby table. They were all recruitment center reports, nearly identical except for different names. "Shran Raiden, Shen Ron, Shao Ran, Shang Rai, does this sound familiar?"

"The first is real," Shran admitted.

"Do you have a death wish?" Toph asked, walking up to Shran. "Five minutes on a battlefield will break you, and yet you try again and again to get in the military."

"My brother is out there fighting for his country!" Shran yelled. "I can't just sit here and do nothing to help. This country needs everyone united to survive, I want to contribute in any way I can."

Silence reigned for a few moments as Toph judged Shran's sincerity. She could tell he wasn't lying, his tone dripping with patriotism. "Are you willing to put your very life on the line?"

Immediately Shran Raiden answered "Yes."

Toph grinned. "That's what I wanted to hear." She held out a hand, and Shran shook it with his. "Welcome to Project Rebirth."


Beneath the very heart of Republic City was a secret government facility, hidden from the general population. Everything from factories to offices to training centers were inside, the facility stretching for miles in every direction and half a mile deep. Security guards stood in front of every door, checking the identity of everyone that passed through. On the bottom level behind all the security was Project Rebirth, an experiment that some believed would change the world.

Inside a large chamber Shran marveled at all the equipment inside, most of which he had no idea what they were for. Large power generators lined the far wall with thick cables connecting them to a human sized metal cylinder in the middle of the room. Rows of mechanical controls were spaced around the room with dozens of technicians monitoring them. Above the only door into the chamber was a glass window separating a viewing area from the machines, filled with rows of seats to watch from.

"What is all this?" Shran Raiden asked, standing behind Lin Bei Fong.

Instead of answering the question herself Toph turned towards someone that could better explain it. "Dr. Kai, a word please!"

An elderly gentleman with thin white hair that had been connecting wires in the central cylinder turned and walked over to Toph. "Ah Miss Bei Fong, we are nearly ready to begin," Dr. Kai reported. He pulled a piece of parchment out of his lab coat pocket, a checklist of things to make sure were working before starting. "It will only be another hour for the final preparations."

"Good, now please give our test subject the short version of what this is," Toph asked.

Dr. Kai looked at Shran and smiled. "Yes, of course." He opened a metal briefcase and retrieved one of many vials of blue liquid. "This serum is my life's work, a scientific breakthrough. With sufficient power this will amplify the body and mind beyond the theoretical limits of humanity. Good becomes Great, Bad becomes Worse, and if I'm told about you is true, then we can expect greatness from you after today."

"If it works," a new voice said.

Shran turned around to see a man in yellow and orange clothing standing in the doorway. His head was shaved but had a short beard. Shran's jaw hung when he saw the arrow tattoos on the man's hands and head. Immediately Shran bowed in respect, being in the presence of a living legend. Avatar Aang observed everyone in the chamber, and then faced Toph.

"You're late," Toph said.

"Tenzin had another bad migraine," Aang answered. He walked around the chamber and stopped behind a Water Tribe man tinkering with the power generators. "Sokka, is this going to be enough for the whole experiment?"

After reconnecting a few wires between pieces of the generators Sokka stood up and shook Aang's hand. "I'll have to tap into the main grid to get enough juice, even with you and Angry Jerk pumping lightning into the system."

"I heard that!" another new voice yelled. Every head turned to see Fire Lord Zuko entering. "You know I don't like that nickname."

"Which is why I still use it," Sokka said. He pulled off a plate of metal from a generator and inspected components inside. "I would be a lot more comfortable about this if we had another lightning bender here."

"Azula hasn't bent lightning since her breakdown," Zuko said. Looking around the chamber Zuko searched for anything to change the subject, and his gaze settled on Shran Raiden. "And this must be our first volunteer."

"Yes sir," Shran Raiden said, bowing to the Fire Lord.

"Good," Zuko said. He looked at everyone else in the chamber before raising his voice. "Let's get this party started!"

Over the next hour the final preparations were made to complete Project Rebirth. Dr. Kai inserted two dozen vials of his serum into the metal cylinder in the room, while Shran had to climb inside it without a shirt on. Avatar Aang and Fire Lord Zuko stood on platforms above the generators, facing twin rods to channel lightning into the machines. Toph Bei Fong stood inside the viewing area behind the glass window, beside the City Council and military generals. Dozens of technicians monitored the equipment, ready to act at a moment's notice.

Inside the metal cylinder Shran started feeling claustrophobic, despite having plenty of room to move his limbs. On the other side Dr. Kai flicked a few switches, prompting a dozen needles in the cylinder walls to stick into Shran's arms and inject the serum. At a control station Sokka pulled a lever and turned a dial, turning on the generators and sending electricity into the cylinder. The metal started to glow with power, and inside Shran felt the energy as a tingling sensation.

"It is too late to use the bathroom?" Shran asked.

"Yup," Sokka said, turning the dial further. He put on a pair of darkened goggles to shield his eyes as increasing power made the cylinder glow brighter. "Aang, Zuko, you're up!"

At the same time Aang and Zuko started the arm motions that skilled firebenders used to create lightning. Energy cackled around their fingertips until it was released, straight from the arm through the air into the metal rods to the generators. Fresh energy surged through the machines and fed into the metal cylinder, the glow becoming so bright it was difficult to look at. Inside Shran started to groan in pain as the electricity activated the serum in his blood.

Dr. Kai heard the sound of pain, which made him hesitate to continue. "Abort…"

"No!" Shran Raiden interrupted. "I can handle this!"

"You heard him," Sokka said. Turning the dial all the way pumped every bit of electricity the generators could provide into the cylinder, in addition to the lightning Aang and Zuko were bending. Then Sokka pulled a large lever to connect the facility to Republic City's main power grid, drawing even more electricity into the machines.

All across the city there were fluctuations in the power, lights dimming and radios quieting. Entire districts of Republic City went dark as the power went out, all the electricity diverted below ground. Civilians hurried out of the streets into any shelter they could find, fearing a possible attack. The power plant itself started to run out of electricity, pumping out power faster than it could be replenished.

The power of an entire city, Fire Lord, and Avatar, all concentrated into the cylinder with Shran inside. It was brighter than the sun, painful for anyone to look at directly. Shran screamed as he felt like his body was being torn apart and reassembled, the serum remaking his entire being. At the time Shran believed he was about to die the pain ceased, the electrical surge abruptly ending and the glow on the cylinder vanishing. Darkness filled the chamber for a few minutes before emergency generators activated to restore power to the lights.

When Dr. Kai and Sokka opened the metal cylinder Shran Raiden gasped for air and stumbled forward. At first Shran didn't see anyone around him, before he realized he was looking over everyone's heads. Looking down Shran gasped in sight of his physique, not believing his eyes. Over six feet tall now with ripped muscles, it seemed like his head had been planted on someone else's body. For the first few steps Shran thought he might tip over, before adjusting his balance on longer legs.

"Incredible," Shran muttered, flexing longer and stronger arms.

Sokka whistled at the sight of success. "Excellent work doctor, the serum works."

Everyone in the chamber started to crowd around Shran to see the result of Project Rebirth, except for one technician that stopped beside the open metal cylinder. No one noticed him taking a spare vial of serum from Dr. Kai's briefcase and stuff it in a pocket. But as the technician walked behind the metal cylinder Toph Bei Fong walked into the chamber, sensing apprehension from the man from the vibrations coming from him.

"What do you think you're doing?" Toph yelled at the suspicious technician.

The technician spread his arms apart to command earth impurities in the metal cylinder, stretching it apart with his bending. He bent the metal at Dr. Kai, wrapping it around him tight enough to crush bone. Then the technician reached towards the generators and clenched his hand into a fist, crushing them with metalbending. Residual power within the crushed generators exploded, scattering shrapnel and smoke across the chamber and momentarily blinding anyone unprepared.

"Hail Yakone," the traitorous metalbender muttered, then grabbed Dr. Kai's briefcase and ran for the door.

Unaffected by the smoke, Toph bent the floor into a wall to block the exit. Instead of trying to force the rock back down the fleeing man bent it further up, breaking off the slab from the floor and opening the way long enough for him to slip through. The dislodged rock crashed back into the floor, requiring Toph to bend it out of the way. A second later sudden wind dispersed the smoke out the door, Avatar Aang about to pursue the traitor. But then Aang noticed that someone was missing from the chamber.

Shran was already running after the traitor, slipped through the same gap in earthbending that the enemy had used to get past Toph. Running faster than he had ever run before in his entire life, Shran wasn't sure if he would be able to stop. The traitor looked back and saw the pursuit, then started earthbending obstacles to stop it. Shran leaped over half formed walls of rock, surprised at how natural his new agility felt.

At the end of the hallway was a stairwell that led all the way up to the surface, they only way out of the facility. The traitor skipped the first dozen flights of stairs by earthbending a column of rock out of the floor, launching him up through the shaft the stairs twisted around and landing on the metal. Shran started running up the stairs three steps at a time, grabbing the handrails to turn with. Though the enemy had a considerable lead, Shran closed the distance as they reached the surface.

Barreling past guards on the top level of the facility the traitor ran out into the streets of Republic City, and just a few seconds behind him Shran followed. Pedestrians and carriages pulled by ostrich-horses filled the streets, providing plenty of obstacles to lose pursuers in. Shran leaped on top of a moving carriage and started jumping from one to the next, keeping the target in sight. He saw the traitor run into a narrow alley and followed into it.

While running through the alley Shran grabbed an empty trash can and threw it at the traitor. The can hit the man in the back and knocked him over, leaving bruises and stopping him. Immediately the traitor got back up and picked up the garbage can, metalbended it into a compact ball and threw it back at Shran. Grabbing a garbage can lid and using it as a shield Shran blocked the attack. The traitor started earthbending stone projectiles at Shran, making dents in the improvised shield but not penetrating it. When Shran was only a few feet away he tossed the lid up and punched the traitor in the face. The lid came back down into Shran's hands and he slammed it into the traitor's head, knocking him into a wall and nearly breaking the lid in two.

Humiliated that a nonbender had the upper hand, the traitor started earthbending the ground. He made the solid ground behave like mud, sinking Shran's legs into it. Immediately Shran grabbed the traitor's shirt and pulled him into the soft ground face first, plunging the head into the earth. The ground hardened as the traitor's concentration broke, leaving his head buried and Shran's legs stuck in the ground. Just a second later the traitor freed his head, only to have a clear view of Shran punching his face.

Sudden wind blew through the alley scattering dust and trash everywhere. Shran twisted his head around to see Avatar Aang closing in. The traitor saw him as well, realizing that he couldn't escape now. He grabbed Dr. Kai's briefcase and crushed it with metalbending, destroying the contents inside. Then just to mock Shran the traitor took the last vial of serum from his pocket and smashed it on the ground.

"Hail Yakone," the traitor muttered. Just before Aang dropped into the alley the traitor grabbed a shard of metal and slit his own throat, denying his enemies a chance to interrogate him.

Just a second too late to stop the suicide Avatar Aang landed beside the body. He scowled at the sight of a man taking his own life, not seeing the like since the last holdouts of Fire Nation troops after the Hundred Year War. There was nothing he could do about the betrayal now, so Aang earthbended Shran out of the ground.

"Are you injured?" Aang asked, helping Shran to his feet.

"No, I don't think so," Shran Raiden answered. He wasn't even tired, despite using more physical effort in the last ten minutes than in his entire life before. Then he realized that his chest was exposed to the air. "I could use a shirt though."

In spite of the all the tragedy today, Aang laughed at the comment. "You've earned it, soldier."


"News from the Front!

"Our men and women in uniform advance on supremacist positions, retaking entire cities seized at the start of the civil war. Yakone's forces scorch the land as they retreat, a coward's tactic to stall for time. Reports from behind enemy lines show nonbenders in supremacist territory being rounded up, enslaved in forced labor camps while the benders fight the war. Yakone threatens to exterminate every nonbender in these concentration camps if the Yankee army approaches.

"But never fear nonbenders, your champion vows to free your brethren. An equal match for any bender, Captain Republic fights beside Avatar Aang against Yakone's forces. Armed with his mighty shield Captain Republic protects those who cannot protect themselves, a force for equal rights of all citizens. Go get them Cap!"

Getting sick of the propaganda Shran kept walking past the radio in a military airfield, wearing a black military trench coat and hat to avoid attention. Dozens of airships rested on the ground, either waiting for troops to board or undergoing repairs. There was a mission tonight for Shran aboard a tiny airship, barely larger than a house. Climbing up a ramp Shran entered a cramped space in the airship, the ceiling too low for him to stand up properly.

Shran took off his coat and hung it on a wall, revealing the custom uniform he used as Captain Republic. Mostly blue and white with bits of red, the outfit resembled the flag of Republic City. It had been Sokka's idea to use the only super soldier as a symbol for the war, the best of the nonbenders fighting beside the Avatar for unity and peace.

While waiting for the airship to take off Shran heard someone climbing up the ramp. He saw Toph Bei Fong enter the airship, ducking her head below the ceiling while carrying a large case. "Got a new toy for you," Toph said as she set the case on the floor. She opened the case with metalbending and pulled out a pair of shields. One was circular and the other was a larger triangle, both red and blue with a white star.

"More shields?" Shran questioned, taking the shields from Toph. The smaller shield seemed far too light for its size. "What's so special about these?"

Toph pulled both fists back and punched with them, giving Shran only a second to react and raise both shields. On impact the larger triangle shield crumpled around Toph's arm, but the other made Toph's fist bounce off with more force than the blow impacted. Toph pulled the twisted metal off her arm while Shran stared at the smaller shield.

"Now you know," Toph said.

"Unbendable metal?" Shran Raiden muttered, strapping the shield to his arm. "Why not make it bigger?"

"That's all the pure vibranium we have," Toph answered. She felt someone else approach the airship, then turned to leave. "Your new partner is here, have fun."

"Partner?" Shran Raiden questioned.

After Toph climbed out of the airship Shran saw someone else climb in, a short muscular man with black hair and sideburns. He wore a black military uniform, but with thick leather gloves covering his forearms. A patch resembling a red leaf had been stitched over the chest of the uniform, the symbol of a province in the northern Earth Kingdom.

"What are you looking at, bub?"

"Nothing," Shran Raiden said. He partially stood up and offered his hand to greet the man. "What's your name?"

The stranger didn't accept the handshake, walking past Shran and taking a seat. "Call me Logan."

Shran thought that was an odd name, but also thought asking about it wasn't a good idea. Instead he sat back down and waited for the airship to take off. The door to the airship closed and it took off into the sunset. Dusk turned to night while the airship flew away from Republic City, keeping as low to the ground as possible.

During the flight a door to the ship's cockpit opened and another man walked inside. He was a dark skinned bald man with a patch over his left eye. "I'm only going to brief you two once, so pay attention."

"Yes Commander Fury sir," Shran Raiden said.

"There's an encampment of imprisoned nonbenders near Po Lao, you two are going to liberate them," Fury explained. "Once you succeed, the army will move in and lay siege to the enemy forces without risking civilian casualties. You're going to drop in hard and fast."

"How fast?" Logan asked.

"Let me put it this way," Fury said. "You don't get parachutes."

Suddenly the airship struck a high wall and broke through it, rocking everyone inside. The door of the airship opened to let Captain Republic and Logan leap out, falling only ten feet to the ground. Wooden buildings filled the area within a long wall, some of which had their roofs bashed in by the passing airship. Benders patrolling the grounds were stunned at the sheer boldness of the attack, focusing their attention on the airship instead of the two people it dropped off.

Cap threw his new shield at the enemy benders, ricocheting off four of them before returning to him. Logan raised both arms and squeezed his fists, mechanically sliding hidden metal blades out of each glove. Three metal blades from the back of each hand, and Logan used them to slash apart everyone that got in his way. Bodies fell as Logan and Cap headed for the largest building in the camp, a long warehouse filled with nonbenders. Logan slashed his blades through wooden doors and Cap kicked them in, finding hundreds of nonbenders surprised to see rescue.

"Everyone out!" Cap yelled. He heard fireblasts coming from behind and raised his shield in time to block the flames. A shield throw took out the firebender and a few others before coming back. "We're getting all of you to safety!"

Most of the nonbenders immediately obeyed the order, following Logan as he cleared a path to the broken part of the wall. But one nonbender stopped in front of Cap, a farmer by the look of his dirty and ragged clothing. "My son, they took him away! Please, you have to find him!"

"Where did they take him?" Cap asked.

"I don't know!" the farmer answered.

"Don't worry, I'll find your son," Cap promised. He gently pushed the farmer towards the other nonbenders, before turning towards another building in the camp.

As he ran through the camp more benders got in Cap's way. Fire and earth were bent at him, but blocked with his shield. Cap charged at the benders and bashed each bender away with the shield, clearing a way through them. At the next building Cap kicked in the door, seeing a firebender inside charging a bolt of lightning.

Cap raised his shield in time to block the lightning attack, reflecting it back at the firebender. Other benders inside hesitated just long enough for Cap to throw the shield, hitting bender after bender until all of them fell. After catching his shield Cap looked around the room, finding a little boy with white hair tied to a post. Cap walked to the boy and cut the robes with the edge of the shield, releasing him.

"Are you alright?" Cap asked, helping the boy to his feet.

The boy shook his head, shuddering in fear. "Those mean benders, they were going to kill me."

"You're going to be safe," Cap said, though it didn't stop the boy from shuddering. "What's your name?"

"Len Sherr."

Sudden fireblasts from outside interrupted the conversation, requiring Cap to raise his shield to protect himself and Len Sherr. Earthbended rocks and frozen blocks of water followed, keeping Cap pinned down. Then he heard snarling from outside, and looked in time to see metal blades stab through the benders from behind. Logan slew the benders attacking Cap, then glared at him.

"Pick up that kid, it's time to go!" Logan yelled.

Immediately Cap picked up Len Sherr and carried him on his back. He ran out of the building towards the broken wall with Logan at his side. "You got everyone else out?" Cap asked.

"All but you," Logan answered. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a flare, then lit it with a spark from his metal blades. Logan threw the flare into a building to set it on fire, the signal to tell the army to begin their assault.

Just when Cap crossed through the broken wall he heard airships fly overhead, delivering troops to man the attack. Bombs were dropped on the remaining buildings in the camp, finishing the job Cap and Logan had started. When they reached the liberated nonbenders Cap set Len Sherr on the ground, smiling as he watched a father reunite with his son.


"News from the Front!

"Yakone's forces pinned down! Only Yu Dao remains under supremacist control, under siege by the United Republic army. It's only a matter of time before the scourge of our time is brought to justice. Avatar Aang and Captain Republic personally set out to capture Yakone, to bring this rebellion to an end."

A deflected earthbending attack smashed a storefront radio in the streets of Yu Dao, the second largest city in the United Republic of Nations. Supremacist troops were gradually falling back towards Yakone's Command Center at the center of the city, unable to hold their position when Avatar Aang arrived to assist the army at the front of the siege. Every element clashed in the streets of Yu Dao, the conflict only slowing down Avatar Aang's advance.

One waterbender found an opening to strike the Avatar from behind cover, but was stopped by a thrown shield striking his head. Captain Republic caught the returning shield while running beside Avatar Aang, striking those who got too close. With power from the Avatar State Aang airbended a whirlwind large enough to catch a hundred benders in it, while Cap threw his shield into the air currents to barrage every bender with it.

When they reached the Command Center Aang broke down the door with earthbending. More benders were inside, ready to defend themselves. "Where's Yakone?" Aang demanded.

The benders attacked with earth and fire, but those elements were deflected with water and air. Aang bent the rock beneath the feet of his opponent, sinking them up to their necks. He continued through the Command Center with Cap behind him, tossing aside all who tried to get in their way. Some enemy benders retreated down stairs, showing the way into the heart of Yakone's base.

Inside a stairwell Aang formed one of his iconic air spheres, then rode it down the stairs faster than anyone could climb. He formed a second air sphere for Cap to follow on, quickly bringing both of them to the bottom. Cap kicked down a door and Aang blasted air through it, blowing away everyone on the other side.

Passing through the door Aang and Cap found themselves inside a massive underground hangar. A large but sleek airship was starting to take off, pointed towards an opening nearly five miles away. Unlike conventional airships, this one had broad wings and used propellers to move forward on wheels until it could be fast enough to achieve flight.

"Hang on!" Aang yelled. He bent a stone pillar out of the floor to launch himself and Cap upward, then grabbed Cap's arm and used airbending to steer them towards the airship. After landing on the airship's hull Aang used firebending to melt his way through the metal.

"After you," Cap said, gesturing to the new hole.

Aang blasted air through the hole before jumping in, followed by Cap as the airship accelerated. They could feel the airship start to rise up as it achieved sufficient speed, and saw sunlight shine through the hole as the airship flew out of the end of the hangar. Emerging from a behind a large waterfall on a cliff outside Yu Dao the airship fly away from the city.

Captain Republic found a window in the metal hallway of the airship, seeing the ground drop away as the airship rose into the sky. "Where's Yakone going? There's nothing left for him."

Worry spread over Aang's face, thinking of several ways an airship of this size could be used for destruction. He hurried through the metal hallways and blasting away anyone that tried to stop him. One door led into the center of the airship, onto a catwalk over the airship's cargo hold. It was filled with hundreds of large bombs, designed to explode on impact after a long fall.

"Spirits no…" Aang muttered. There was enough ordinance on board to completely destroy Republic City.

"We need to ground this bird as quickly as possible," Cap said, seeing the same possibilities that Aang did.

Hurrying through the airship Aang and Cap forced their way to the cockpit at the front, neutralizing every bender that got in their way. There was a locked door between the cockpit and the rest of the airship, which Aang melted through with sustained firebending. A triage of elements was fired through the ruined door, which Cap deflected with his shield. Aang blasted fire and air through the door at the benders inside, tossing them into tubs of water and caches of earth that had been used for ammunition.

Crossing the threshold into the cockpit, Aang saw Yakone operating the helm. "It's over Yakone, surrender!"

Yakone twisted a knob to lock the helm controls in place, allowing the airship to continue flying straight without a pilot. He stood up and straightened his brown suit before turning around, showing off a badge below the shoulder that resembled a red skull. "Avatar Aang, Captain Republic, such an odd duo you two make."

"Stop stalling," Cap said, about to throw his shield.

With a sneer on his face Yakone reached forward with one arm, and sudden pain rippled through Aang and Cap. Bending the water in their flesh, Yakone immobilized his enemies. "You're really on the wrong side here Avatar. Why do you protect those nonbenders when you yourself possess all four bending abilities?"

Aang struggled against the grip of bloodbending, but didn't understand how it was possible in the middle of the day. "How are you doing this? Without a full moon?"

Squeezing his hand to increase the pain, Yakone laughed. "To keep it simple, my power has evolved beyond the usual waterbenders."

"You're not getting away with this," Cap said, trying to fight against the bloodbending. His arm holding the shield moved back and forth a few inches, enough to toss the shield towards Yakone. The shield rolled on its side across the floor, hitting Yakone's leg. A second of pain broke Yakone's concentration, allowing Cap to charge at him.

Yakone dodged a punch and used bloodbending to pin Cap to the helm. Holding Cap there with his right arm, Yakone used his left to force Aang up to the ceiling. "Nice try, but you won't stop me that easily," Yakone gloated.

Though his whole body was pinned to the helm, Cap had enough strength to slide his hand across the controls. He found the knob that locked the helm and twisted it, releasing the airship from automatic flight. Immediately the airship swerved the right, knocking Yakone off his feet and releasing his enemies from the bloodbending. Aang fell to the floor while Cap grabbed the controls to stabilize the airship's flight.

Before Yakone could recover and bloodbend again, Aang airbent a gust of wind strong enough to pin Yakone to the wall. With waterbending Aang made clamps of ice that held Yakone while he moved closer, placing one hand on Yakone's chest and the other on the forehead. "I'm taking away your bending, for good!"

Cap watched as Aang's eyes and tattoos glowed for a few seconds, and when it ended Yakone passed out from the experience of having his bending removed. Looking through the windshield Cap saw Republic City on the horizon and starting turning the airship around. While taking the airship north Cap noticed a fuel gauge on the controls, and that there only enough for a one-way trip to Republic City.

"This is bad, very bad," Cap said. He turned towards Aang while keeping one hand on the helm. "This airship will crash before we can reach a landing strip."

Aang grunted and clenched a fist in frustration. "Yakone planned to die with Republic City."

"We can't let this airship's payload hit the countryside," Cap said, steering the craft towards the sea. "I'm putting her down in the water."

"The impact will kill everyone on board!" Aang yelled.

"We can't stop that!" Cap yelled back. "Or would you prefer to let the explosives start the worst fire since the Hundred Year War?"

Grinding his teeth, Aang realized there was no way to save everyone. He removed the ice bonds holding Yukone to the wall and picked him up. "Let's go!"

Adjusting several dials and levers Cap made the airship fly as fast as it could. "Someone has to make sure this thing goes down, and the world needs Avatar Aang more than Captain Republic."

Aang sighed, knowing what Cap implied. "It's been an honor," Aang said with a salute.

Cap saluted back and watched Aang leave with Yakone as a war prisoner. In the hallway the Avatar firebended another wide hole in the airship's roof and leaped out with his prisoner, airbending a large sphere of wind around himself for stable flight. Avatar Aang watched the airship crash into the sea and vanish in the cold depths, where the ocean currents would carry the wreck north into the frozen wastes at the top of the world.


Present Day

Shran Raiden woke up in a hospital bed, hearing soothing music coming from beyond the white walls around him. On a nearby table was the shield he would carry into battle, as well as his Captain Republic uniform that was neatly folded. A nurse stepped outside to tell someone that Shran was awake, and a moment later a woman in a police uniform walked inside.

While groaning Shran sat up in the bed, looking at the stranger with scars on her cheek. "Where am I?" Shran asked.

Lin Bei Fong studied Shran, wondering how anyone besides an Avatar could have survived being frozen for decades. "The question isn't where, but when."

"What?" Shran muttered.

"You've been asleep for a long time Captain," Lin said. "You ended Yakone's rebellion forty two years ago."

Silence reigned as Shran processed the revelation, that everyone thought he was dead. His thoughts drifted to that fateful day in the airship, where he knew history would say Captain Republic perished. "How am I still alive?"

"We can only guess that a side effect of Project Rebirth made you durable enough to survive freezing," Lin explained.

The mentioning of Project Rebirth made Shran think of the last person he saw before crashing that airship. "I suppose this must be what Aang felt like after his hundred years on ice. I don't suppose I can talk with him and discuss it?"

"About the Avatar…" Lin muttered, avoiding eye contact. "I'm sure she would like to hear all about it."

Shran blinked twice. "She?"

A/N: So glad I waited until after the season 1 finale to post this chapter. Originally the little boy Cap saved was going to be Amon, but (SPOILER WARNING) it turns out Amon wasn't even born until after Yakone is debended.