Ch 11 Amon's end
A few days passed, and we were hiding underground. Korra and Mako went scouting wearing equalist uniforms.
"You've been gone for a while." Asami jested.
"We were doing recon." Mako said.
"What did you see?" I asked.
"Hiroshi is making some speech about how I'm running. What a load of bullshit." Korra said.
"Hey, food's ready." Bolin said.
I took one good look at what was being served, and lost my appetite right then and there.
"I'll go for cannibalism." I muttered, sitting next to the fire.
"How's it going, Ezra?" Bolin asked.
"Not good. In the middle of this shit-hole. If the equalist discover us, we're fucked." I spat.
Bolin slips away from my anger.
I hated the calm before the storm. It was just like taking an important test. I just wanted it to come so I can get thru it. Soon, it would come. One morning, we head out of the tunnel and overlook the harbor.
"Coast is clear." Mako said.
"No shit. Of course it's clear." I sarcastically said.
"Okay. Once the united forces arrive, we need to help anyway we can." Korra said.
The fleet arrives, 10 ships strong. I knew what would happen. Just like how the American fleet at Pearl Harbor, the Italian fleet at Taranto, and the British battleships Repulse and Prince of Whales, this fleet would be destroyed by air power. I didn't see any airplanes with them.
"Where are the equalist zeppelins?" Korra asked.
"They'll be sending in fighters. Much faster and harder to kill." I said.
"How do you know?" Asami asked.
A sound of jet engines is heard, as Su-25 Frogfoots arrive on the scene, firing rockets and dropping torpedoes at the fleet.
One thing came to my mind. Where did both sides get advanced fighter jets and weapons?
Korra dives into the water and water bends herself to the fleet to help in the defense. We watched helplessly as the fleet is quickly destroyed by airplanes.
"Oh my god." Mako said.
"This is bad, real bad." Bolin said.
Inside the hideout, we went over the situation.
"I was prepared to deal with Sato's mecha tanks, but not these jets." Iroh said.
"I know. Every time we think we're head, Amon is outsmarts us." Korra said.
"We're not out of this fight. Not yet." Iroh said, standing up.
"I like this man's confidence!" Bolin said.
"Going to alert the next fleet?" I asked.
"Yes. Is there a way I can send a message?" Iroh asked.
"I know just the man." Korra said.
The message was sent to commander Bumi; stay away from the city until we give the all clear. Now, we needed to take out the air-force base. That was the hard part. I decided not to take part of that op, but to follow Korra and go after Amon.
The next morning, the team split into two groups. Me, Mako, and Korra went after Amon. Everyone else went to take out the base.
"Love you, little bro." Mako said, hugging his brother.
"Love you back, big bro." Bolin said, returning the hug.
"Korra, Amon is a nasty dude. Be careful." Bolin advised.
"I will. If you're going into the mountains, take Naga." Korra said.
"Hey Ezra, if you see Amon, take care of him." Bolin said.
"I intend to." I said.
The three of us head towards air Temple Island, now the new base of operations for the equalist. I wasn't concerned about the underground air-force base. Few knew where it was.
"There's Amon." Korra said, seeing the leader board his airship.
"We need to get in the temple. When he returns…" Mako said.
"We ambush him." Korra said.
We head towards the temple, and hear a familiar voice.
"What are you two doing here?" The Lt. asks.
"We were transferred here." Mako said.
"Well you're getting transferred again. Amon wants more security at the arena today." The Lt. said.
"The arena? What for?" Mako asked.
"He's holding a rally." I said.
Korra and Mako look at me, wondering how I knew.
"Trust me. I know." I replied.
"I suggest you get going." The Lt. said.
Korra and Mako started towards another part of the temple, but I headed the opposite direction, towards the arena.
"Ezra, where are you going?" Korra asked.
"To the arena. It may be our last chance to stop Amon." I said.
"You sure about that?" Mako asked.
"Yes. I'm going." I answered.
Mako and Korra looked at each other, and decided to follow me.
"Lets make sure he doesn't get himself killed." Korra said.
As we headed towards the arena, my thoughts wondered. I could be killed in this action. Not something I wanted to go through. I wondered about Lin and Tenzin's family. How were they doing?
At the jail, Lin wakes up with Tenzin and his family. She knew she had lost her bending. She wondered about Ezra. Was he okay? Did he survive that fight in the air? Minutes later the Lt. visits them.
"What do you want?" Lin asked as if she was threatening.
"Giving you the heads up. After Amon takes away Tenzin's bending along with his family, you're next. We'll broadcast it to the entire city. He'll have no choice but to come." The Lt. said.
Lin's facial expression went from anger to quietness.
"Ezra. You want him." Lin realized.
"Yes. We know about you two. Imagine the outrage of the people. How you took advantage of him for your depraved desires. How unfortunate." The Lt said, walking away.
Lin dropped to her knees, unable to breath or speak. She couldn't believe it. Ezra was alive! But chances are, he was going to die, trying to attack Amon.
"No. He'll figure something out. He's always blabbering about different battles and strategies. He'll figure something out." Lin said, trying to reassure herself.
We enter the arena and were on a balcony overlooking the stage where Amon was to appear. And he did appear. He looked like he was going to have a concert.
"Thank you for joining me on this historic occasion! When I was a boy, a fire bender struck down my entire family and left me scarred. That tragic event began my quest to equalize the world." Amon said.
I look thru the scope of my rifle and look at Korra and Mako for confirmation. They nodded, and I pulled the trigger. But the bullet missed Amon, and killed one of his equalists.
"The Avatar." Amon said, rather calm in the face of a cold sniper.
"We got your pinned Amon." Korra said. "We can kill you right now."
"You're outnumbered and outgunned." Amon said, as equalist soldiers approached us, armed with AK rifles.
"Korra, I wouldn't leave yet. You'll miss the two part event." Amon said, as Tenzin and his kids were raised up, tied to poles.
"No. We saw them get away. We saw them get away!" Korra said.
"What's the second part?" I asked, training my rifle on Amon, his forehead at the crosshairs.
"Can you get a shot?" Mako asked.
"No. If I pull the trigger, both Amon and Tenzin die." I said, as Amon walked to Tenzin.
"Ezra, I wouldn't pull that trigger right now." Amon smugly said.
"How the hell do you know my name?" I asked.
Amon snapped his fingers, and the lights went out. A film projector is rolling, providing the only light source. It made shooting Amon next to impossible without a night-vision scope.
"My fellow citizens of republic city, this is the true face of your chief of police!" Amon shouted, as the film started rolling. It showed me and Lin buck-naked in bed.
"You see, she has been involved with Lt. Ezra Jackson, member of the united republics military. That is why he can do whatever the hell he wants. Go in and out of the police station, walk into restaurants armed to the teeth, among other things. Is that who you want as your leader and protector? Those who abuse their powers as they choose to?" Amon asked.
I was furious at Amon. He was playing a good strategy. Slander our names, and strengthen his movement. And it was working. I had half a mind open fire on the crowed. And I was close to pulling the trigger. But Mako fired a bolt of lightning at the stadium, vaporizing an equalist in the process. He and Korra ran across the walls using their fire bending to aid them. I used my air bending to jump from surface to surface until I reached the stage. I pulled the trigger on my rifle and killed another equalist in the process. Me and Mako press up the attack while Korra frees Tenzin and his kids.
Tenzin joins the fight and knocks Amon off the stadium.
"We need to get the hell out of here, fucking now!" I said.
"Get them out of here. We'll create a diversion." Korra said.
Korra and Mako ran one way, while Tenzin and his kids headed a different direction. I stayed behind and waited for Amon to pass.
Korra creates two walls of fire to stop Amon and hides with Mako. I waited for Amon to pass by, but he was too smart for that.
"I know you're hiding to attack me." Amon said.
I feel the sensation of bloodbending, but it's worse, as if pure evil is controlling me. Amon forces me to kneel, and proceeds to take away my bending. I struggle to get up, amusing the terrorist leader.
"You're weak, Lt. You can't stop me from destroying the avatar. Hell, you failed to stop me from taking away your lover's bending." Amon taunted.
I run towards Amon, but Amon simply grabs me and throws me against a wall. He leaves and goes after Korra.
"No." I muttered, blacking out.
"OMPH!" I muttered, as Korra falls on top of me. Getting up, I see Amon about to de-bend Mako.
"It's a shame to take away the bending of someone talented. Almost." Amon said, about to do the deed.
"No!" Korra shouted, vainly moving fist towards Amon, hoping to stop him in some way. And she does, via air bending.
"Impossible." Amon said, shocked.
"I can airbend. I can airbend!" Korra exclaimed, and went on the offensive, using an air kick to blast Amon out of the window and into the bay.
"Ezra, you alright?" Mako asked, picking me up.
"I'm fine." I said, grabbing my Dragunov rifle. Me and Mako stand next to Korra as Amon conveniently shows up in a waterspout, desperate to avoid drowning.
Amon looks at the crowed of his followers, now exposed as a fraud.
I aim my rifle and put a bullet right in Amon's chest, killing him. Everyone watches as the dead body falls into the bay. I had enough of it all. Enough of the killing from both sides.
"You okay?" I asked Korra.
"No. I'm not." Korra said, walking away from the window. We follow Korra and meet up with everyone else.
"Ezra, you're alive." Lin said, walking towards me and pulling me into a bear hug.
"Spartans never die." I replied, confusing her.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Lin asked.
"I'll tell you some other time." I said, as we looked at Korra and her friends.
"I can't believe Amon took away your bending." Tenzin said.
"But you got your airbending." Bolin said.
Everyone glared at him in response.
"Bro, not now." Mako chastised.
"Okay. I'll stand here. In silence." Bolin said.
"The bastard's dead. Now what about his followers?" I asked.
"We'll worry about that later." Lin said, as a foghorn is heard.
"Uncle Bumi is here." Ikki said.
"Yahoooo!" Bumi shouted from the deck of his battleship.
I laugh and smile in response. Some good in the middle of all the chaos.
"Now I have to entertain my brother." Tenzin said.
"How bad can he be?" I asked.
"You've no idea. How he got into the united forces, I will never know." Tenzin said.
South Pole
We waited inside the healing hut where Katara was trying to heal Korra. I lay in a chair asleep, with a M40 rifle on me.
Katara came out, and we looked in her direction.
"I've tried everything in my power, but… I can't restore Korra's bending." Katara said.
"You're the best healer in the world. You have to keep trying!" Lin persisted.
"I'm sorry. There's nothing else I can do. Korra can still airbend, but her connection with the other elements has been severed." Katara said.
Lin sat down disappointed. If Korra couldn't get her bending back, then what chance did she and the others have?
Korra came out, and I took a good look at her. She had despair written on her face. Not a good sign.
"It's going to be alright, Korra." Tenzin said.
"No it's not." Korra said, before leaving.
"Lin, we need to talk." I said, walking outside, rifle in hand.
Me and Lin went outside away from the building and sat in the snow.
"What is it?" Lin asked.
"Listen to me. Korra will get her bending back. Don't ask how, I just know." I said.
"You know the chances of that are one in a million." Lin replied.
"In a few minutes, she'll come back and announce she's got her bending back." I said.
"One question. What's a Spartan?" Lin asked.
I smiled and explained it.
"Some history first." I said, pulling out a knife and carving the snow.
"This is Greece, a confederation of many city-states. The two main powers are Athens and Sparta. This, is the mother fucking Persian Empire." I said, carving a good chunk of snow.
"Persia attacks the greeks twice. In the second attack, the Spartans send in their soldiers to stop the Persians. 300 were sent to hold the Persians back." I said.
"300?" Lin asked.
"Yep. The Persians had several hundred thousand soldiers. Others say one million. Both sides fought at Thermopylae. A narrow strip of land, the only way the Persians could move quickly to the greek city states. For two days the Spartans slaughter the Persian army before they get slaughtered to the last man. The Spartans were always the toughest army in the greek world. No-one could come close to them." I said.
"So that's why you said Spartans never die." Lin said.
"You'd fit right in with Sparta. The women are tough as nails." I said.
"You really enjoy history, don't you?" Lin asked.
"Those who fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it." I said.
Just as I said, Korra came back with Mako, announcing she got her bending back.
"How?" Tenzin asked.
"I connected with my past lives, and Aang gave me my bending back." Korra said.
Lin looked at me, wondering how I knew.
"And I those who lost their bending, I can give it back to them." Korra said.
At the southern water tribe temple, me and Lin kneeled in front of Korra, holding each other's hands. As Korra put her hands on our heads, a thought occurred to me.
It looks like me and Lin are getting married. And Korra is the officiator and giving an avatar's blessing.
I felt energy rush thru my body, and I stood up. Extending a hand, air came from the palm and into the atmosphere. I can airbend again.
Lin faced the pillars of rocks and lifted her arms. All the pillars elevated, proof that Lin had her bending back.
"Thank you, Avatar Korra." Lin said.
"Thanks Korra. I owe you one." I said, shaking Korra's hand.