Chapter 7: Source of Deception
Morning, closed down Pro-bending arena
Republic city
Raiku and Korra arrived at the Pro-bending arena by riding on Naga, with both of them getting off of the polar bear dog as they ran up to the room where Mako and Bolin were. Inside they spotted Li Mei guiding them the way to where they stayed. Korra was the first to head up the stairs, while Raiku and Li Mei followed suit.
"Guys, great news! You don't have to go back living on the streets." Korra said with joy and relief in her voice. "I talked it over with Tenzin and made the arrangements. You can live in air temple island with us."
"Korra..." Raiku started, trailing off noticing a glimpse of a certain someone that caught his attention. "I think they already have a place to stay."
"He's right." Mako stated. "Asami already offered us to stay at her place."
"In her dad's giant mansion!" Bolin exclaimed. "Can you believe that? From here on out, it's gonna be the lap of luxury for us."
"Whoa." Raiku blinked at the sudden luck the brothers had. "You guys are lucky."
"Korra, Raiku!" Asami said while she sat Pabu down as the ferret jumped on Raiku's head as always. "I was hoping you two stopped by."
"Oh, uh I was just leaving..." Korra started, trailing off as she grabbed Raiku's hand leading him away. "I have avatar training to do. So, We'll see you guys later."
"Why not tomorrow?" Asami suggested. "I like to have you and Raiku come to the estate."
"If it's possible, sure." Raiku said as he removed Korra's grip on his arm, while rubbing it as he glanced back at Asami. "I'll consider it, Asami."
"What about you, Korra?" Asami asked
"I don't know." Korra replied, not sure to take Asami on her offer
"Come on, Korra! We deserve a little rest and relaxation once in a while. We can wash out this craziness in Asami's pool. It'll be fine!" Bolin said in a high-pitched voice using Pabu as a puppet, leaving Korra and Li Mei to laugh while Raiku shook his head in astonishment
"Okay, okay. We'll be there, guys." Raiku stated as him and Korra waved the others goodbye for today
Night, Air temple island
Republic city
Raiku tossed and turned in his bed, sweating over his shirtless form including sweat on his face. Inside his dream, he caught a glimpse of his father such as Zorin leaving Lakogi Island and entering Republic city. Raiku saw that his father had a knack of helping an elderly couple with one of them being Ioa, showing another glimpse of his father now at Ling Mao. He then saw his father meeting Saia, his mother for the first time as it was love at first sight. But then, a hooded man came into their home and Raiku recognized the get up his men were in, they were equalists and the hooded man was none other than their leader Amon. Raiku was sweating even more with fear as the equalists took his mother, hearing Saia scream Zorin's name. Raiku saw his father furiously attacking the equalists using airbending. But Amon gain the upper hand as he grabbed Zorin from behind, having Raiku's father kneel down. The leader of the equalists brought up his thumb, slowly approaching his father's forehead. When suddenly, Amon heard an infant crying in the next room as he signalled one of the equalists to go into the room, with Zorin struggled to break free of Amon's grasp. While the female equalist went inside to get the baby, the rest of the group set fire inside the house. The female equalist that went inside the room brought over a crying baby boy, with Amon side glancing at the infant the equalist carried in her hands.
"A son. You have a son."
"Stay away from him, Amon!"
"I wonder if this son of yours an airbender just like you? Perhaps we should find out."
"No... NOOOOOOOOO!"
Zorin used his clan rotation technique as he tossed Amon at one of the equalists, while catching his infant son in his hands. One of the equalist struck his father with a shock baton, causing to kneel down while he escaped as debris crushed on Zorin's back. Zorin removed the debris, only to have a piece of sharp wood was impaled on his lower back as he winced in pain with baby Raiku still crying as the equalists slowly approached him. Zorin used airbending to send the equalists flying back while he grabbed Raiku and ran away as his house burned to the ground, fleeing the scene still bleeding. But Amon caught up and stabbed him from behind in his back with only a poisonous shuriken, walking over to Zorin and baby Raiku. Luckily, Zorin sent him flying away while he pulled the shuriken off his back, that inflicted bleeding on the lower side of his back as he fled using a makeshift glider taking him and the infant Raiku away from the equalists grasp. Afterward, Raiku woke up in shock, wiping the sweat off his face as he opened a window in his room. He looked up in the sky staring at the moon, looking down as he sighed
"Dad... you sacrificed yourself to get me away from them. To save me." Raiku looked away, still depressed as he saw a spiritual form of his father fade away. "Now I wonder if Mom's alive. And if they have her, I will free her."
Noon, Sato Estate
Republic city
On the next day, Korra and Raiku decided to head up to the Sato family estate in Republic city as promised. Raiku was the first to step in as he knocked on the door, with the door opening up to reveal a butler.
"Avatar Korra and Master Raiku, I presume?"
"That's us."
"Follow me."
The butler lead Korra and Raiku to a luxurious swimming pool, where Li Mei, Asami, Mako and Bolin in swimming apparel. And somewhere along the line, Raiku kept staring at Asami in the bathing suit she was wearing, only for Korra hit him in the arm hard.
"Ow." Raiku groused, narrowing his eyes at Korra. "What did I do?"
"So glad you guys could make it." Asami said as Li Mei got out of the pool
"Not to mention the water's perfect." she said wiping herself off with a towel from the pool chair
"Guess I'll give it a try then to see for myself." Raiku replied as he pulled off his shirt and robe, leaving Korra and Asami to suddenly blush at his shirtless physique while he took off his boots. "Alright, time to jump in." he said only for Li Mei to stop him by putting a hand on his shoulder
"What are you doing?" she asked Raiku while folding her arms together on her chest
"I'm going in the pool..." he paused seeing eyes staring at him. "Why?"
"In your clothes?" Mako said quirking his eyebrow
"Why not? I'm shirtless right now."
"That won't be necessary, Raiku." Li Mei replied as Bolin jumped out of the pool, with Pabu on his head as usual
"Check this out!" Bolin said now standing professional. "Fetch me my towel, good sir."
"Yes... Master Bolin." the butler said, sighing
"Master Bolin, ha!" Bolin pointed his thumb at the butler. "I love this guy."
"Okay, you're enjoy this too much." Raiku chuckled while the butler patted him and Pabu, with Raiku noticing a cannonball about to commence as he saw the earthbender give out the signature. "Bolin..." he sighed as Bolin jumped back in the pool, with Li Mei pinching his cheek in annoyance as she glared at him. "Aside from a swim in the pool, what's next? Fancy rich kids stuff?" he said as he put his shirt back on while Asami step out of the pool, giving a smiling glance
"I had something a little more exciting in mind."
And what happened next, had Raiku screaming with excitement on the inside. A whole race track to show off state-of-the-art Future industries automoblies. All he did was stare at the cars speeding on the race track, he even waiting to get a taste of the thrill. But unfortunately for him, Korra was offered it by Asami as he saw them race which caused Raiku to frown in jealousy. Otherwise, he was still thrilled for the race while he practically drooled watching Asami race. It was just something about her that drove him to stare at this beauty. Beautiful face, long hair, radiant green eyes. But Raiku had to get over the facts, she was dating Mako as him and the others watched Asami won the race with Korra driving backseat. Hours later they returned back to the mansion, with a running Bolin holding his bladder while he quickly ran to the bathroom.
"I told him not to drink too much." Raiku said as him and Mako shook their heads
"Is there another bathroom I could use?" Korra asked Asami
"We have a ladies powder room upstairs you could use." she said with Mako wrapping his arm around her. "First hallway on your right."
"I could use the bathroom too." Raiku said due to Bolin's constant bladder. "I told Bolin not to drink that much Hulo-cola. I'm started to think I shouldn't have you drunk that either."
"Told you so."
"Did not." Raiku countered, only for Korra to hit him in the arm while they went upstairs. "Stop hitting me!"
"You can handle it Mr. exercise-nut."
"Hey. It's not my fault I'm a exercise-nut to begin with." Raiku paused, staring at Korra up and down. "Besides, you've been exercising yourself have you?" he inquired as they reached the hallway, where the bathroom was.
"I dabble." she replied, stopping Raiku from stepping inside the powder room. "Ladies first." she said going in and closing the door
As soon as she went inside, Raiku was constantly thinking about Amon as he had a narrowed expression on his face. Still not getting over the fact that Amon knew who he was, especially his father. Raiku felt something else, one in particular was if his mother was still alive. And if she was alive, where was she? What happened to her? And most of all, did the equalists have her imprisoned? These were the thoughts raising in Raiku's head, things he needed to know. However, he was cut off as he heard coughing from the powder room. It turned out it was Korra doing the coughing as she step out, with white smoke coming out.
Raiku sniffed as he caught a scent of powder. "Did you try to powder your nos-" he was cut off as Korra covered his mouth while they heard someone speaking, coming from the direction of a room next to them
"No, no. there won't be a problem." They both recognized the voice speaking was Asami's father, Hiroshi Sato as Korra and Raiku went up closer. "I assure you everything will go according to plan. Yes, mm-hmm. We already have the police force stalled away, assuming they still believe Cabage Corp to be responsible in equalist activity in this investigation of theirs. By the end of the week, we'll be ready to strike." the conversation was done on phone, judging by the sudden ring on the telephone
"I can't believe this."
"Tenzin and Chief Beifong need to know." Korra stated with her and Raiku running downstairs, heading for the door
"We'll see you guys later. We're heading back to Air temple island." Raiku stated, with him and Korra running in a hurry
"You're leaving? I thought-" Raiku cut off Asami while they ran out the door
"We kinda have to go babysit the kids." he said while Korra ran out the door. "We'll you catch you guys later." he finished while outside followed Korra
Night, Police force rooftop
Republic city
"So you two believe Mr. Sato is manufacturing these gloves from the equalists?" Tenzin asked staring at Raiku and Korra
"We're sure." Korra answered. "And I'm pretty sure framing Cabbage corp. was part of it." she stated folding her arms
"That's a bold accusation." Chief Beifong implied. "What proof do you two have?"
"We don't." Raiku replied We overheard him talking to someone on the phone, probably Amon. He's obviously up to something."
"He has the motive." Beifong stated
"That's right."
"What do you mean?" Raiku asked with him and Korra glancing at Tenzin
"Twelve years ago, the Agni Kai triads robbed Sato's mansion." Tenzin looked down in sudden sadness. "A firebender killed his wife during the break out."
"Ancestors." Raiku said looking away
"That's terrible." Korra said
"So it's possible for him to harbor anti-bending sentiment after the death of his wife." Raiku stated as Tenzin nodded his head
"Maybe we look at Mr. Sato more closely." Beifong declared
Noon, Air temple island
Republic city
While Korra went with Tenzin and Chief Beifong, Raiku on the other hand decided to train instead of heading to the Sato estate. He steadied himself in airbending positions, from the ancient tradition of air nomads to his people in Lakogi island. Raiku kept on concentrating on his airbending techniques while he heard footsteps, leaving him to side glance as he saw Li Mei, Asami and Mako. He looked away, keeping toward his training while he widened his stance for a quick second.
"Come out and say what's on your mind." he said. "I have a feeling I know what it's about."
"What are you two playing at?" Mako questioned Raiku with, who kept practicing on his stances
"Nothing." Raiku replied continuing his stance, while glancing at Asami for only a quick second. "There's a connection between the equalists and your father. He's involved in this."
"How would you know if Asami's father is part of this?" Li Mei asked, her voice filled with certain doubt and worry
"We overheard him. And it could be possible that he supports anti-bending sentiment."
"You're wrong!" Asami exclaimed. "My father is a good man. He wouldn't support the equalists, not after they destroyed the arena."
"And what if he is, Asami?" Raiku said, ending his training as he stared at Asami. "What if he has pro-bending resentment? I know what happened twelve years ago. What if he had resentment to benders since that night."
"You don't get to go into talking about my past." Asami snarled
"No ones getting to your past." Raiku calmly replied. "How do we if he's not suckering us? Covering his tracks with the equalists. He probably even knows where Amon is. And if your father does know where that tyrant is..." he paused, trailing off as he fixed the others. "I want to know where he is so I could get answers. And I hope your sake, that your father isn't part of this." he concluded as he grabbed his glider and leap, diving down only to come back a second and leave on his glider
Noon, Future Industries warehouse
Republic cityAfter a couple of hours getting some time away from the confrontation he had with the others, Raiku was searching for Korra. He knew she was aiding the search for any evidence of Future Industries working for the equalists. Up at that moment, all he was focused on was any evidence linking to the equalists just to find Amon and get some answers. And only two came into his mind: did Amon kill his father and does Amon have his mother captive. However, he put the thought aside as he spotted Korra heading toward a nearby warehouse of Future Industries. He landed on the ground behind Korra, shifting his glider to his nomad staff as he approached her.
"Did you find anything?" he asked Korra who nodded an answer back
"I can't believe we didn't find anything." she answered.
"It would appear that Hiroshi is innocent." Beifong said as Mako and Asami walked over to them
"Okay. You did your search, now you all can leave." Asami said glaring while Mako motioned Korra to talk with him in private
"I'm going with them." Raiku said, walking over to Korra and Mako
"Why are you doing this? Are you that jealous of me and Asami?" Mako inquired, with Raiku hearing a gasp from Korra
"Oh, no." he groaned, shaking his head at the response Mako gave off
"What? Don't be ridiculous, that has nothing to do with it!"
"If the two of you don't drop this, consider this friendship over." he said, narrowing his eyes at Raiku and Korra
"What are you trying to say, Mako?" Raiku started, fixing a glare at the firebender. "That you don't trust us? You don't believe us?"
"Both of you don't have any proof of Mr. Sato working for the equalists." Mako stated. "Why can't you just accept the fact that he's innocent?"
"Because, I don't believe he is." Raiku said back, growling quietly. "There's a connection between him and the equalists. He knows where they are, and he knows where Amon is."
"Is that what this is about? Finding Amon? What is this it with you two and this obsession with him?"
"You know why." Raiku snarled. "Because of what he could do. This isn't talks about equality, this is war and you know it. He doesn't care about non-benders being dominant, he just wants power. And there are people he thinks is stupid enough to join in his ideals."
"Even so, you're just going right out framing Asami's dad all because of a possible grudge against benders." Mako replied, keeping his hard stare
"There is a grudge. I mean, come on!" Raiku exclaimed. "You think he would want a bender dating his daughter for this long? Deep down I know he loathes the thought of it."
"Why? Because you're right thinking Mr. Sato one of the equalists? You're acting crazy. And you want to know something else? You're just like Amon right now!"
"Mako!" Korra gasped shock, only for Mako to be sent flying back on his back due to a furious airbending Raiku. "Raiku, wait!"
"No!" he shouted. "I'm going to say this right now." he declared grabbing Mako by the collar of his father's scarf. "Let's get one thing straight, I am nothing like that ego-maniac. You're lucky. Do you know that? You and Bolin remember your parents. You remember being with them throughout your lives. Same goes Li Mei, Asami, and Korra. Me? My father's dead and I don't even know where my mother is or she's even alive! You don't trust or believe me and Korra, fine. But we are continuing this investigation." he concluded as he let go of Mako, while he went over to Asami
"Hmph." he grunted
"Beat it!" Raiku shouted, airbender a nearby crate to where Mako was once standing at
"That pompous up tight little-"
"Raiku."
"What do you want me to say, Korra?"
"Nothing. Let's just..." Korra paused as she felt something in her hand. She brought her hand only to see a piece of paper with writing
"What is it?" Raiku asked as Korra turned over to Tenzin and Chief Beifong
"You guys need to hear this. It's a note saying: If you want the truth, find me north of the silverdragon bridge at midnight."
Night, Sato estate
Republic city
After finding information from a former equalist underneath silverdragon bridge, the Metalbender core along with Korra, Tenzin and Raiku made their way to the Sato estate. But there seem to be doubts of uncertainty to barge in at the Sato manor. The metalbender core barged inside the Sato estate, while they spread around in search for Hiroshi Sato or any sign of a secret entrance to the hidden factory. Korra went to help with Tenzin and Beifong search Hiroshi Sato, while Raiku took a few more metalbenders to look around outside for any clue to Sato's whereabouts. Their last stop was the workshop away from the mansion.
"Okay." Raiku said, pacing back and forth. "If I was rich industrialist who would manufacture electric gloves for a non-bender group of extremists, where would have the secret entrance?" he asked himself as a few more metalbenders came inside the workshop. He also spotted Korra, Chief Beifong and Tenzin. And to his surprise Bolin, Li Mei, Asami and Mako right behind them.
"Dad? Hello?" Asami said suddenly confused on where her father went off to
"We don't know where he is, Beifong." Raiku said as he thought of an idea while he glanced at Chief Beifong. "Think you can pull off that technique you learned from your mother, Toph?" he asked her as she walked a step behind him
"I'll give it a shot." she replied as she slammed her bare foot on the ground, with her metal boot appearing on her bare foot. "There's a tunnel below the workshop. Running deep into the moutainside."
Raiku quirked his eyebrow. "Wait, the factory's inside the mountain side?"
"What? There's no tunnel." Asami stated.
"Only one way to find out." Raiku replied, with Chief Beifong and a few metalbender pull out a metal wall from under the floor of the workshop. Under it revealed a passage way beneath the workshop, leaving Raiku to whistle staring at the passageway
"Whoa. Asami..." Li Mei said, trailing off as she glanced at Asami with a saddened look on her face. "I think your father knows about this."
"I don't understand. There must be an explanation." she said, a bit shaken at the discovery of the hidden passageway to the secret factory beneath the mountain side
"Asami, I don't think your dad told you everything." Raiku said to her as he looked away. "I'm sorry."
"Men, in the tunnel. Be catious." Beifong ordered as her and Tenzin along with her men went down. "You four stay here. Office Song, keep an eye on them."
Raiku and Korra followed Chief Beifong and her men beneath, but not before taking a side glance at their friends. But Raiku's eyes seem to be focused on Asami's for only a moment as he followed Korra down the passageway. They went down on a express elevator down further, reaching a complete stop a toward their destination with the group now starting their trail inside the factory. On the inside, they saw a banner of Amon's face on display. But what Raiku's attention most of all were 12 feet tall machines with clamps and terrain wheels. He wondered why Asami's father would create these machine for Amon, and beyond to what purpose could they have.
"Well, Hiroshi was lying but where is he?" Tenzin said, leaving Raiku to look back and forth with widened eyes
"It's a trap!" he shouted as the blast doors closed in, trapping them in the factory with Chief Beifong trying to open the doors using metalbending
"I'm afraid you won't be able to metalbend that wall, Chief Beifong." said a familiar voice, one Raiku knew would be the suspect. Hiroshi Sato, being inside of the machines he created himself as him and the others were surrounded. "Those walls are made from platinum. Non-bendable. My mecha tanks-" Raiku interrupted Hiroshi
"Are the main force in Amon's victory." Raiku scoffed, annoyed with Hiroshi giving off a monologue. "Blah, blah, blah. Heard this bad guy speech over and over. Let's just fight already!" he said throw an air tunnel had one of the mecha tanks flying toward a wall
Three metalbenders from the core used their cable wire to keep one of the mecha tanks on hold, while Chief Beifong made her way toward it as she struck it with bladed gauntlet. In return, it collided toward a wall while Raiku dodged the impact. Raiku and Tenzin did a wind turret attack on Hiroshi's mecha tank, only for him to hear screaming from three of the metalbenders as the other two were sent flying away. Raiku went in and help them out by an air palm strike to stagger one of the wheels, while he knocked the other using another airbending attack with his nomad staff as it fell on the floor hard.
"Korra!" Raiku heard Tenzin shout
"I got her!" Raiku declared, making his way toward her. "Go help Chief Beifong!" he replied throwing more air strikes at Hiroshi's mecha tank as he created a air funnel to catch Korra. Cathing her in his arms as he pained grunt from Tenzin as he fell to the ground. "Tenzin!" Raiku shouted, only for him to be shocked Hiroshi yelling in pain as he fell on the ground.
He slowly started to fade away in unconsciousness, along with Chief Beifong while Raiku glared at the equalists before fading ahead unconscious. An hour later, Raiku heard the sound of a blimp as he slowly opened his eyes. He catiously looked around and saw Korra, Mako, Bolin, Li Mei and Asami along with Tenzin. He looked over and saw Chief Beifong on a cot, still resting. Raiku got up slowly wincing in pain from the fight from earlier, with his hand on his stomach as he got up from the cot he laid on.
"Raiku!" Li Mei said with her and Bolin hugging to a deadly grip. "You're alright!"
"Guys..." he started trailing off, feeling pain from Bolin and Li Mei's death hug. "You're crashing me to tight. What happened?"
"We got you guys out. But..." Li Mei trailed off, now looking down. "We didn't the rest of the metalbenders out."
"Thanks." Raiku glanced at Mako. "Look, Mako, I want to say that I'm-"
"No, you don't." Mako cut off him motioning his hand. "You and Korra were right. And I'm sorry. Asami's father working for the equalist is not an easy thing to believe, even now."
"I know." Korra said looking away. "I'm sorry this whole thing happened."
"And if you're wondering about the offer to the air temple, it still stands for you guys. Asami included." Raiku stated while staring at Asami. "In the meantime, comfort Asami. She's going to need you after everything she's been through." he said as Mako nodded, making his way to Asami. Raiku then glanced at Korra. "You think it's going to get difficult from now on with this whole Amon and equalists thing?" he asked as she looked him in the eye
"That's what I'm afraid of, Raiku." Korra answered, looking down while Raiku put his hand on her shoulder. "For now, let's get some rest. And hopefully, we can find a solution for this." she said as her and Raiku leaned back, resting during the trip back home