Thief In The Night
Going back to the rally would be a dead, so would picking up their trail. It wasn't as if he was unable to. Bruce had taught him most of what he knew. Taking that and what the league of assassins taught him, he had plenty under his belt to not have to rely on gadgets. Though he had to admit it came in handy. If he had the right materials, he would be able to fix his helmet in no time.
For now, he would take full advantage of the souvenirs he got that night. He pressed the button on the side activated it seeing them spark up. He realized they were rechargeable by the construction. Not pressing on it any further, he headed back to the inn a different routine only to stop in his tracks.
For some reason it was quiet (to much for his taste anyway). Glancing behind him, he saw nothing but still had a bad feeling. Stopping in his tracks, he took a deep breath as he listened carefully. Still silence. Taking another step forward, that's when he heard it.
With precision in timing, his ankles were tangled with a bola around them. He allowed himself to fall forward before pulling his legs up in the air while taking out his knife. Cutting the grip around his ankles with his kris knife, he landed back on his feet having him turn around with his knife in hand as he saw two Equalists on motorcycles.
"Great the Cavalry has just arrived,"he said placing his knife back in his holster. The could see them revving up their engines, having the back wheel muster up smoke since their foots were on the breaks. He looked at the one on the left, having a smirk grow as he looked toward the one on the right. "Well then,"he started as he took out both kali sticks from his back. "Come get it,"he said holding on to the button having the electrical sparks shown at the end tips.
Just as he suspected, they released the breaks having them charge his way. With a quick breath, he threw himself up just seconds before they crossed they could connect, having him in mid air with his head a few feet above there own. He managed to press the kali sticks toward their necks in the process having them shocked with in seconds.
It didn't last long, but it gave just enough time for them to both loose control of the grip on their bikes having them crash into one another just as Jason landed on his feet. Both men flew in the air, landing hard on the ground. There bikes just caught fire with in the collusion, having Jason run up towards it. Just as the fire erupted, he was just above it before the impact from it exploded pushed him further into the air.
As both men stood to their feet still in a bit of a daze, Jason twisted his body around having both kali sticks hit one in the face as the other dodge. As one fell back the other, raised his fist up trying to connect with Jason's face only to be blocked by the stick in hand. With that, Jason kicked him in his midsection pushing him back just a few feet.
Ducking, he felt the breeze of the kick the other equalist tried to throw his way. Swiftly turning around, Jason when to press the kali stick to the man's chest but was kicked out of his hand. He held the other kali stick and twirled it around before swinging it toward him. Having him back away, the other behind him ran up and tried to hit Jason in the base of his neck having him block with his forearm. Before redirecting his arm to the side forcing his hand back before hitting him upside his head with the kali stick having him fall down. Not before the other hit Jason in various pressure points across his arm having him drop the kali stick. His arm felt numb briefly, having him now fight with one hand. He dodged every blow that was thrown his way.
Fighting both chi-blockers at once, he shook his left arm to try to get some feeling but blocked the best way he could with his fore arm and upper thigh. It came to the point where Jason arm was starting to have feeling again due to his pendant. One hooked their arms around his from behind holding him in place as the other had an electric glove in hand coming toward Jason's face with it.
He pushed his feet off the ground having the chi blocker holding him push back just a bit, Jason kicked the glove out of his face having him hook his legs around the man's neck. Shifting his weight toward the side as hard as he could, he pulled them with him having him toss them to the ground as he landed. The impact was hard, but that didn't stop Jason from going.
Before he got to close a smoke grenade was thrown his way having him cover his mouth. "That the best you could come up with?,"he said a loud before waiting for one to strike. Hearing the pattern of feet stomping a long the ground, he saw one jump through the smoke into his vision having him side step out of the way dodging the attack. He fought with precision, matching every single move at the two men who had tried to ambush him.
As the smoke cleared, there were more around twirling there bolas in hand before tossing it at Jason. Reaching for his knife once more, his hand was caught having his other taken in hand and pulled by the cords. As he struggled momentarily, a familiar trench came behind him, having him realize who it was only for him to be shocked in the back of the neck. His eyes rolled in the back of his head as he fell to the ground. Unconscious, he was taken away in back of a truck and hauled off to a remote location.
Flashback.
"Bruce! BRUCE! Wake up Bruce!,"Jason shouted as he had found him underneath the rubble. Tossing a piece of wall off the side of his leg, he saw the shape he was in. His mask was torn in half melted across his face from the explosion. The blood coming from his head was strained dry across his cheek. His eyes were dull as he could barely breath. His arms were bruised with minor cuts and scraps but his legs were a different story. His left leg was broken from a chunk of the wall pinning him down when he fall down the level underneath them when the floor caved in. His right was slightly burn having his tights shredded similar to his mask with a big gash down the side leg.
He needed medical attention as soon as possible but Jason couldn't move. He was stunned at the man he had considered high above everything finally fallen from grace. He was human. Hurt just like anyone else. Just like he was helpless that night the Joker had murdered him.
Horrified at the scene of his former mentor, Jason wouldn't snapped out of his daze until he heard the police sirens and fire trucks. They needed to get out of there. One thing he didn't want to do was tarnish Batman's secret identity. It was a lot he had done already but it was to prove a point, to force his hand and with that, he made his choice. He chose to save Jason since he couldn't do it before. There was a massive fire all around them with pieces of concrete everywhere and Jason still couldn't take his eyes off of him.
That was until he heard that horrendous sound. Like a shot to his heart that same maniacal laughter echoing all around him. The Joker had survived. Jason hooked his arm around the back of Bruce's neck and the other underneath his knee caps.
Pulling him up, Jason held him into his arms as the sirens grew louder. The fire all around them made the humidity rise and hard to breath having Bruce struggle in the process. Jason walked with him in his arms heading back the way he came when he was thrown from the window. He was saved and it was time to make a mends. The sight around them mimicked the past just like he wanted the difference was Bruce was now in the same situation Jason was.
"Is the party over? It was just getting good! Lets do it again! Same time next year hmm? Hahaahahaaha!"the Joker laughed as he was pinned on the floor with pieces of the wall on top of both of his arms.
With all he had in him, Jason refused to be enticed with Bruce's life on the line. He looked over his shoulder seeing the sinister grin plastered over that clowns face. It was enough to make him put two in his temple but he didn't. He just left him there for the police to find him and put him back in Arkham where he belonged.
Tied up with a bag over his head, Jason was coming too as he was dragged into a building. He was trying to grasp where he was, and who he was with. Moving, he could feel the tight grip the ropes had on him. He was slammed on to the ground and forced up on his knees. The bag was soon removed from over his head with the mask man, he had seen not to long ago.
Jason stared at him briefly before shifting his eyes over to the Lieutenant. "Am I being hazed? cause I gotta say your initiation sucks,"he said as his eyes shifted over to the masked man.
Not one word was said, but a nod was given by Amon signalling a chi - blocker to release him. Once he was untied, Jason stood to his feet and connected a fist to the chi-blockers face having him fly into the others.
Before they could retaliate, Amon raised his hand to dismiss their actions. "Aren't you..presumptuous,"Amon said before walking toward the side of Jason. "I am Amon, Leader of the Equalists. Though, I'm sure you already knew that. From what the Lieutenant has told me, you not only have the skills but the mindset to become one of us,"while stopping short just a few feet away.
Jason rubbed his wrist from the rope burn he felt only to look up toward Amon. "What makes you think I want to join you?,"he questioned to get a rise out of the man.
"You wouldn't be here if you didn't,"he pointed out knowing this game.
Jason eyes scanned the room filled with Chi-Blockers and equipment they used. He was forming an idea and decided to push for it,"If I do, what's in it for me?,"he asked bluntly wanting to gain some sort of strategy from the position he was in.
Amon lips curved into a smirk underneath his mask,"A life without benders for one other then that once our movement has begun we will all be prosperous for it,"while unsure what part of the United Republic of Nations he was from.
Not the answer he was looking for, Jason decided to make a point of his own. "Well I've seen a life without benders, doesn't much make a difference what you have in mind the out come is still inevitable. The rich, the corrupt, the moral authority and those struggling between whats right and wrong...all this is just..anarchy,"while downplaying what their movement was about.
Not phased in expression his words said otherwise. "And you the skeptic,"Amon said with a deep gruff in his voice.
"Realist,"he said correcting him. Jason placed his hands into his pockets.
Amon some what amused didn't show face, he instead cut to the chase,"I'm sure whatever it is you desire will be at your full disposable but that's up to you to decide. Are you with us or not?,"he asked handing Jason one of the electrically-charged gloves.
Jason glared just a bit into Amon's eyes trying to get a read on him since he was up close this time but got nothing. Taking the glove without breaking eye contact, Jason still unsure but when along for now.
"Good, now on to business,"Amon stated as he walked over toward one of the maps he had of Republic city.
It was just the first top on his little venture of riding the world of all benders. The Lieutenant had pointed out locations with plenty of triad gangs to infiltrate. The triple threats, the red monsoons, the Agni Kais, no one was safe from what Amon had in mind. Jason and the rest of the Equalists were given locations to go to rustle up as many benders as they could and to bring them back for judgement.
Considering it more like a sport, Jason was game for it. He needed a way out and this was his best option by far. He was given weapons that the Equalists used having him rotate one of the smoke grenades along his finger tips like a coin.
The Lieutenant then handed him one of their suits having Jason decline. "No can do,"while looking at it as if it was a foreign object.
Annoyed sigh stemmed from the Lieutenant as Amon questioned Jason. "Is there a problem?"
Jason shook his head indicating a no but spoke up anyway,"No offense but..this isn't my taste,"while pushing it away from his view. Jason knew out of all the Equalists, Amon stood out because he was their leader. He wasn't trying to follow, like the sheep in his herd. He didn't believe in any of their ways but would provide from it. He needed his stance to be clear now before any one of them got the wrong idea. "You have your mask and I have mine,"was all he said to confirm his stance on the matter. He wanted his own identity and had one. He didn't want to mimic others as he did once before. He was a symbol (though out of pure irony he made it his own.)
"Very well then,"Amon said as he left the room leaving the Lieutenant to finish up their plan of attack.
A few days later, everything was set in motion. Since word got out of Amon's ability to take peoples bending away, the Republic Council has permitted Tarrlok to form a task force to stop the Equalists and their expansion.
Jason was in the back of the truck with the rest of them waiting for the signal. He had heard the radio on, hearing Amon's voice speak out on the news. "Good evening my fellow Equalists. This is your leader, Amon. As you have heard, the Republic Council has voted to make me public enemy number one. Proving once again that the bending oppressors of this city will stop at nothing to quash our revolution, but we cannot be stopped. Our numbers grow stronger by the day, you no longer have to live in fear. The time has come for benders to experience fear,"while having the static come back on and the song appearing again.
Jason sat back in his seat, bored out of his mind. "Anyone else hungry?,"he questioned having some look at him through their yellow goggles with eyes beady. "Anyone?,"he questioned again having them take their eyes off of him. Rolling his own, he sat up cracking his back and arms before taking a long obnoxious exhale. "Really no one?,"while looking at each and everyone single one around him. He looked to the guy on his left and stared for a brief moment before leaning close to him. "So when the boss says piss that's when you go? or do you an extra bag in there? no?,"he asked as the chi - blocker turned his face toward Jason scolding. "What?"
Two bangs on the car door, they started to move. "Finally, get this going. Who wants a chilli dog after this? I'm buying,"he said hearing nothing but silence. "No one? Don't say I didn't offer,"he said as he adjusted his mask over his eyes. He clutched his jacket, straightening it out a bit as he felt a bit pumped up to start this already. One thing he hated was working with other people. He was better off alone in any situation like this. They would just slow him down. For that reason alone, Jason was sticking to doing what he did best. Being reckless. He owned it for the time being seeing how he had no connection to anyone around him.
As the doors opened, he rushed out with the rest of them busting through the doors of the Agni Kais. Fire blasts shot out having Jason roll out of the way tossing ice grenades there way. Modifying the smoke one the Equalists had, a few of them got confused toward his actions. The two fire benders it hit froze there bodies half way up. Jason ran across one of the tables only to jump up and grab a chandelier as fire blasts were directed in his path. The ceiling caught fire having him jump down as the chandelier itself crashed down on top of the two who he had caught in an ice blockade.
Landing behind the bar, he was scene by one of the benders having multitudes of blasts his way. Ducking and dodging, behind the bar caught fire. With in every duck, he managed to look up seeing an opening. Taking a bottle from the shelf, he snatched one of the table cloths having him stuff it inside of the top. As he stood up to his feet again, he tossed the bottle aiming for the man's head having fire appear from his mouth trying to block the attack. Wrong move. It exploded, having Jason duck behind the bar. It was more fire than expected.
The ceiling nearly caved it by the fire that had consumed it. He decked out from behind the bar and pulled one of the unconscious benders out the door as the rest of the Equalists grabbed who they took out. Jason didn't even bother with those under the chandelier til they spoke out. "You bastard. You'd leave us here to die..,"he said having Jason stop in his tracks.
Back stepping a few moments before turning around, Jason got closer seeing they were tired in between spikes the chandelier had holding them in place. "You right, I am a bastard. And what bastards do best is leave those helpless behind,"while taking a cigarette from his left pocket. The flames were rising as extended his hand out to the side lighting his cigarette from the blaze around them. He placed it between his lips and took a drag,"I see two choices here, you and your friend here die or get your bending taken away,"while hearing one of the Equalists call him out to come on.
Ignoring them, Jason waited as he heard the Agni Kai speak up,"We'd rather die!,"he shouted contradicting himself from his previous statement as the building was in a blaze.
Jason snickered as he heard the sirens near by,"that was rhetorical,"while yanking metal bar of the chandelier they were tangled in up and taking them outside. He tossed them up into the back of the van just as the fire truck and mental bending police arrived on the scene.
"STOP RIGHT THERE!,"an officer announced through speaker phone as the Equalists began to retreat. Jason closed the door and banged on it for it to go.
The truck began to drive off having him hold on to the door handle as it was closed. Jason took out his gun and began to shoot at the tires of the car having one spin out of control hitting a motorcycle having one of the mental bending officers fly forward landing hard on the ground.
That didn't stop more motorcycles from coming up behind the cop car itself jumping over trying to latch on to the truck with their cable wires. As the shot it each sides of the windows trying to pull the truck back, Jason twirled his gun back into its hostler before taking out his Kris Knife. He cut the cord with two swift slices having it break off. He looked through the broken glass seeing two chi- blockers and the Agni Kais tied up.
Feeling the truck going over a bump, Jason held on as tight as he could as his arm slammed into the door frame. "Watch it will you!,"he shouted toward the driver as he turned his attention back to the police.
As he held on, one of the Equalists appeared next to him on a motorcycle when they turned the corner. One of them inside must have called for back up or something because it was just perfect timing. He released his grip on the door handed and launched himself off. Extending his hands out catching the man's shoulders and pulling himself up to sit behind him as the bike was in motion.
He could see the flashing lights from the on coming cars as they began to drive beside the truck. Looking behind him, he could see the police on their tail. More of them came swarming down the pathway in cop cars and motorcycles. Jason attention was turned to the ground beneath him as he could see the ground splitting beneath them as if they had just encountered an earth quake.
Looking up, he could see one of the mental bending police waving his arms around trying to rise up the ground. Jason turned around on the bike in order to sit backwards. Pulling out his two guns, he shot at them once more, having him hit the man in the palm of his hand and the driver in his shoulder causing him to swerve.
Others metal bending officers on the motorcycles, began to throw chunks of the ground at them. Jason felt the bike he was on dodging every attack thrown there way. It was until they were shooting pebbles at them. It hurt having Jason cover his face with his jacket before trying his best to dodge it himself.
Once his vision was cleared of the small hail of pebbles, he saw what looked like a bolder coming toward there way. He turned around in his seat and stood up by holding on to the man's shoulders once again. He pulled himself up as quickly as he could standing on his shoulders and back flipping off the bike just as the bolder itself it the Equalists member. Jason saw the impact of the bolder hitting the motorcycle having it blow up underneath him as he was in mid air. He saw an opening as he was about to land.
Hovering over a police motorcycle having him come down with the heel of his boots connecting with the officers face. The officer was thrown off the bike hard and landed into the windshield of another car as Jason took control of his bike.
More officers came on to the scene through an airship up above. Jason could hear the loud thunderous sound as he glanced up above. He saw them sliding down off more cable lines having it latch on to side of the buildings lunging them toward them. Some bended the ground beneath, once again trying to stop the truck of the hostages they apprehended.
The ground beneath him began to raise up having his motorcycle flip into the air. Jason flew off having him reach forward grabbing the handles doing a hand stand before pulling himself to sit back down again. Jason grounded the motorcycle in front of the truck having him wave for it to pass him as he moved it toward the side.
Some of the Equalists themselves came out of the truck standing on top of it trying to subdue the mental bending police off there trail. For the most part, it wasn't working, Jason had to skate back with the bike he was on to assist. It was just what he didn't want to do but had to in order to transport the agni kais to the hide out.
As some of the Equalists themselves were being over taken by the metal bending police, Jason pop two shots hitting one officer in the head knocking his helmet off. The other bullet was straying toward a woman with gray hair who appeared to have three cars across her right cheek. As it came toward her, she held her hand out moving her fingers slightly having her slice the bullet from its core.
Unraveling it as if it was a piece of candy having it stop just a few inches from her palm before having her hand turn under it as it landed it. She crushed it with in the palm of her hand having it turn to dust.
"Shit,"was all he could say after witnessing such a display of bending. Jason wasn't wasting anymore more bullets after that. Turning his bike around, he decided to stick with his original plan. All he had to do was worry about himself and deliver the package back to Amon. That's what he saw them as, just a transaction.
Speeding up, he had his own bike hit with a rock in the exhaust causing it to blow. Flying up above once again, he hit the top of the of the truck having him hold on to the sides. "STOP NOW OR FACE THE FULL EXTEND OF THE LAW!"
There was no stopping and Jason knew it. It was do or be screwed. He had no idea what kind of resources these people had but saw up close there capability. He didn't trust them as far as he himself was thrown on top of the vehicle.
Breathing heavy at this point, he held on on the twist and turns the truck took trying to avoid the airship from up above. A spotlight shinned on top of the truck having Jason hold his forearm up. "Just great,"he uttered as more hooks launched into the sides of the truck near him.
Moving out of the way, he stood as the wires began to pull the truck up. Jason could see more Mental bending police about to slide down off of it. He had to make an executive decision. He reached into his pockets and took out the small explosive he had. Just two more left. He knew he was running out of supplies.
He placed them on to the hooks lodged into the top of the truck. He then ran off in front of the truck swinging himself around crashing his feet into the windshield next to the driver. He landed his head against the dashboard having him press the button. It exploded having the mental benders who came coming down nearly hit from it. The roof of the truck came off as the driver headed down the pathway where more chi-blockers were.
Jason stayed that way as the truck made it into the entrance. Jason could hear the police passing their location under ground. With all that destruction, he made it with just the driver and the rest of the Agni Kai's tied up in the back.
Once inside, he saw them rounding up the triads into various prison cells. He wondered if this spot was an old prison or something. He didn't bother to ask since it wasn't that important. He instead saw the driver giving the Lieutenant a run down on what happened. Jason walked over toward a table full of blueprints laid out. He could see some of the flooring plans to what looked like a work shop. Taking it in hand, he folded it accordingly and tucked it into his jacket.
"YOU!,"he heard a shout in his direction.
"Yo..,"he said in a low tone as he saw the Lieutenant in his face.
The Lieutenant eyes were livid. "Do you know what you have done? Some of our best chi-blockers have been arrested because of you. There's no way we can get them back with the kind of security the police force has,"he said with aggravating not only in his face but his voice as well.
Jason stared with a blank expression not really phased by his anger. "Sounds like your a little worried of their loyalty."
"I'm not worried about their loyalty unlike yours which is in question,"he stated having Jason smirk just a bit.
"My loyalty is in question?"he said in a surprised tone of voice. He shook his head with a smug demeanor,"Last time I checked, my loyalty was just fine with me, myself and I,"he said getting more in the Lieutenants face with a scowl of his own.
"You left them there!"
"I didn't know my job was to baby sit. You said rack em up, that's what I did. Everything else...is not my problem."
"Enough,"Amon's voice cut at the tension that plagued the room. He stood across from the both of them seeing them ready to rip each other apart. "Clearly you are missing the bigger picture here,"he paused before continuing. "Lieutenant."
"What?"he questioned as he finally broke the staring match between him and Jason.
Amon walked up placing his hand on the Lieutenant's shoulder,"We have over a few dozen benders waiting for their fate. A few of our own have fallen in the process, so be it. What we are achieving is more greater then that and once it is all said and done they will be free in more ways then one,"while clearing all notions that the Lieutenant had of Jason's actions.
Releasing his shoulder, Amon walked up to Jason's side and looked at him for a small period of time before turning his attention back to the Lieutenant. "This..man has brought more than anyone else has accounted for in just one night. If you implied that with in yourself, you wouldn't worry about such frivolous things,"he said before walking out of the room to attend to those who needed to be cleansed of their bending.
Jason walked up to the Lieutenant and stopped short by his side,"I'm not gunning for your position but at this point. it is a possibility,"while snickering as he walked off.
Three days later, there was an announcement that the Avatar would join Tarrlok's task force in taking out the Equalists. Due to Jason's previous actions the Equalists had to gather new recruits in a short period of time. What they didn't expect was the task force first strike to be at the dragon flats boroughs, underneath a bookstore. They took out a number of Equalists and their recruits they were training chi-blocking techniques too. It was enough to slow Amon's movement down momentarily.
Amon began to consider Jason for another task before The Lieutenant intervened. "He will just get more of our own arrested,"he said as he placing his Kali sticks behind his back. "His a loose canon and if we let him off he will destroy everything,"he said in an overly dramatic way.
Amon remained silent as the Lieutenant pointed out Jason's reckless behavior.
The Lieutenant was regretting getting Jason involved,"If you choose to keep him everything you've done so far would be for nothing. We won't rid the world of benders if we have a mole in our midst,"while accusing Jason of being the one to give their position away. "His a liability,"he stated staring at Amon from a distance.
"Your wrong."
Amon kept his back toward the Lieutenant as he spoke,"What he is, is expendable,"he said slowly turning around to face him. "For now, he will serve his purpose and once we are finished. You have my permission to depose of him as you wish,"he said having the Lieutenant's expression grow of content.
For weeks the Avatar had been taking out Equalists with the task force having her finally challenge Amon to a duel. It was heard over the radio at one of the hide out's Jason had been staying out. One of the Chi-blockers had turned it up so they could hear. "Question for the Avatar, Amon remains at large. Why have you failed to locate him?" a female reporter asked.
"You wanna know why? Because Amon is hiding in the shadows like a coward. Amon, I challenge you to a duel. No task force, no chi-blockers just the two of us tonight at midnight on Avatar Aang memorial island. Lets cut to the chase and settle this thing. If your man enough to face me,"and ending it there.
Hearing her on the radio making her announcement, Amon set up a meeting to take course of action to the avatar's challenge. He had gathered every single Equalists he had and spoke to them.
"The Avatar has challenge me to a duel at Avatar Aang Memorial Island,"he said knowing they all must of heard by now. "What she has failed to realize is that she is no longer in control. We are,"he said clutching his fist. "So I ask you. Do we graciously accept her offer!"he said awaiting there response.
Hearing a loud, "NO!"he continued.
"Do we do this on her terms?"he said raising his hands in the air hearing yet another no. "Or do we do it on our own!"he raised his voice hearing a yes and howling of the non benders united for this meeting. Jason remained quiet at the scene just observing at the same time caught the Lieutenant's eyes beaming at his. He took note of it but did nothing of it. Once Amon gathered those he chose to go with him for the ambush to make a statement of the Avatar Jason came up to him.
"Need any back up?"he said wanting to join seeing how he never met this Avatar. He wasn't sure what the whole fuss was about. After all it was a girl. How tough could she be? Surely he didn't put people such as Talia or Cassandra Cain in that category but he would never admit to it either. Fairly enough he never took light of someone's ability because it was always something on person had another didn't. He knew that first hand.
Amon stood there for a few minutes before responding,"No, I have something else in mind for you,"he said giving a nod to the Lieutenant who came up behind Jason.
A|N: Sorry it took so long getting this chapter out now that this is done I can start on the next one. Thanks for the Reviews its appreciated. I do listen to all the feed back I get and I am really glad that all of you are taking interest. Now I just wanted to point out that the flashbacks are crucial to this story. It explains how and why he is in this universe. All this is connected but will it even get that far? Is Jason's time with the Equalists up? Is he expendable or an asset? Let me know what you think. All answers will be in the next Chapter is called, The Spirit of Desperation. Please Read and Review and I will see you in the next Chapter, Peace. -J.