Ch 10 turning the tide
I woke up the next morning, with a headache.
"What the fuck happened?" I asked, gripping my head.
"I knocked you out." Lin said.
"What for?" I asked.
"Lets just say you weren't yourself."
"No shit. I killed a councilmen, that's enough for the death sentence." I answered.
"The only reason I haven't killed you myself, is because we need everyone to fight Amon and the equalists. Keep that in mind." Lin said, leaving the room.
I headed down the elevator and into the base. I remembered very well that Amon was going to enact his next plan. The hostile takeover of republic city. Me, I was getting as many Terminators as ready for combat. I stuck a fuel hose in one, and while it filled up, I put on R-73 missiles on the hard-points, and loaded up the 30mm nose cannon. After that, I put on a G-suit, and grabbed a spare gas mask.
Opening one of the many gun cabinets, I grabbed a Dragunov sniper rifle, and as much ammo as possible. I had to prepare for what would happen next. The zeppelins were a guarantee, but fighter jets was another problem. I did not recall republic city having modern day fighter jets, so it wouldn't be a stretch if the equalist got ahold of advanced fighters as well. I hoped they didn't.
"Where's Tenzin?" I asked, walking on the temple grounds.
"He went to the city for a meeting." Pema said.
"God help us all." I said, aiming my rifle at the city.
I quickly turn around and head into the temple, looking for Lin. I swept thru the temple, room by room. I opened one room, and found Lin cleaning Meelo in a bathroom.
"Lin, I need to talk to you." I said.
"I'm a bit busy here." Lin sarcastically said.
"Hurry up and meet me out front." I answered.
Lin finished drying Meelo and met me out front. I held a remote detonator in my hand.
"What's this for?" Lin asked, taking the detonator in her hand.
"I set some landmines out front. When the equalist attack, they'll storm up those stairs. Press the red button, and you'll set off the mines. Try and kill as many as possible." I said.
"Landmines? What if someone steps on them?" Lin asked.
"I've looked at the mines. They can be set off only by the remote. Gives us a slight advantage." I said.
"Ezra, look at the city." Lin said, pointing to it.
I look and see the equalist zeppelins being their bombing run.
"Lin, stay here. I'll knock as many as I can out of the sky." I said, running in the temple.
I run to the elevator and hit the bottom button. I stood there impatiently as I dropped to the base level. When the doors opened, I ran out and to the Terminator I armed and fueled just minutes ago.
"This is going to be a long goddamn day." I muttered, climbing in the cockpit of the Su-37.
Once again, I started the process of getting airborne. With the G-suit, the gravity forces wasn't so harsh as before. I arm all my missiles and head towards the city. Getting the first radar lock, I pull the trigger and fire.
Two missiles scream off the hard points and connect with the zeppelin, destroying it.
"What the hell?" Hiroshi shouts, seeing one of the zeppelins blow up out of the blue.
"Don't worry. I got a surprise for him." Amon said, grabbing phone and dialing a number.
"Hello?" the person on the other end asked.
"Launch the flight." Amon said, hanging up.
On the ground, team Avatar looked for Asami's car, finding it.
"Wow. Nice parking." Asami sarcastically said.
"Hey, you guys got arrested and left me with the car. And I made it clear, I don't know how to drive!" Korra defended.
They looked up as they saw a furious gun battle occur in the sky above them. The Su-37 was engaging 5 equalist fighter jets.
"How did the equalist get ahold of those planes?" Bolin asked.
"Gee, what do you think?" Asami asked.
Ezra POV
My radar madly beeped, and I saw 5 unknowns heading towards me. Looking to my left, I saw the shape of Mirage 2000-5's heading towards me.
"Fuck." I growled.
I turn into the attackers and accelerate towards them, firing my guns. The bullets slam dead center into one of the Mirage's, destroying it. I turn to my right, and the dogfight commences. I track one of the fighters and put the pipper on the fighter and squeeze the trigger for two seconds, downing another plane.
Looking behind me, I see another Mirage head towards me, guns blazing. But this guy is missing, just barely. I pull up and accelerate to escape, and then dive down on my attacker. And I had to give this enemy pilot some credit. He knew his machine.
He leads me on a goose chase around the city, twisting and turning anyway possible to shake me off, but the more maneuverable Terminator keeps up with him. I gain a missile lock and pull the trigger, downing another Mirage.
My alert is ringing real loudly in my ears and I hear a distinct whining noise. I turn my head and see 20mm bullets streak past my cockpit. I dive towards the ground, hoping to shake off my attacker, but it's in vain. 20mm bullets tear into the wings, heavily damaging my fighter. With no choice, I yank the ejection handle and bail out. Hanging from the chute, I watch the ground get close and closer, until I land on the ground, a target for the equalist soldiers.
"You alright?" Tenzin asked, running towards me with Korra and her friends.
"Yeah. Took down 3 fighters and 2 zeppelins. Not bad for the first fight." I said.
"Guys, look." Mako said, pointing towards air Temple Island.
"No." Tenzin said in worry.
"Just what we fucking need." I spat, unslinging my Dragunov rifle.
At the temple, the Lt. leads several equalist soldiers to assault the temple. Lin waits for them, the detonator in her hand.
"Everyone, hide inside and remain calm." Lin said, only to hear Pema scream.
"Pull it together, Pema! Didn't I just say "remain calm"?" Lin angrily asked.
"Mommy, what's wrong?" Ikki asked.
"The baby's coming!" Pema cried in pain. Lin had a 'holy shit! Glad I'm not married to Tenzin right now.' look on her face.
As Pema and her kids went inside, the white lotus guards do battle with the equalist, but are overrun by more equalists. As they run up the stairs, Lin pulls out the detonator and presses the red button. All the landmines detonate, killing many equalists in the process.
"What was that?" Meelo asked.
"I wouldn't be so eager to look." Jinora warned.
Multiple gunshots are heard, as Tenzin's group approaches the island. I pick off the remaining equalists with my sniper rifle, forcing the Lt. to flee.
"Poor bastards." I muttered, walking thru the blood.
"Thanks, Lin." Tenzin said.
"You should thank Ezra. He supplied the landmines." Lin said.
As everyone headed inside, I dropped my rifle and pulled Lin into a make-out session.
"Hey, they'll be plenty of time for this later." Lin said.
"Maybe not." I said, as two zeppelins approached the city.
The plan was made to abandon the island. Lin would go with the air benders and flee, while the Krew, and me, would go underground. I went to the underground base and grabbed more ammo for my rifle. I sighed in despondence, and looked at the fleet of fighter jets. There would be another time.
On the surface, I watched the Krew escape on Naga. The equalists had beaten the white lotus gaurds. I wished a pair of Spetsnaz or SAS were with me. I make a quick run with my air bending, and jump into the ocean, swimming to where the Avatar was.
"You alright?" Asami asked, lifting me out of the water.
"I'm fine." I said, and looked at the two Zeppelins following the bison.
"Don't worry. They'll be fine." Asami said.
I didn't reply, but walked into the tunnel. I considered Amon a walking dead man for taking away Lin's bending. She was one of the most badass characters, and he has the balls to do that? If I was the creator, I'd have Lin sock him in the balls when captured and kneeling in front of him.
That night, I sat at the edge of the tunnel, Dragunov rifle in hand. It was raining, and hard. I wanted to go to the temple and kill Amon, but I knew it would be suicide. He had dozens of heavily armed guards. I couldn't go and fight them.
"What are you doing?" Asami asked.
"Nothing." I said.
"Bullshit. You're concerned about Lin. I can see it in your eyes." Asami said.
"What about you? What are you concerned about?" I asked.
"Everything. My father is an equalist, and Mako is an asshole. Can't get any worse than this." Asami said.
"You're still alive. Don't forget that." I said.
Heading inside the tunnel I lay on my back next to a lit fire. I fell asleep, my own words coming back to me.
You're still alive. Don't forget that.