Morning sun was slowly rising above the Island. When it finally starts lighting up the room through the window, Patrick climbed up of the ladder from basement. Last half hour he was checking if its everything ok down there. If all his inventions and gadget are on the same place and if all animals or any creatures are in their cages. Everything was in the place. Patrick always does this checks up when he installs his basement on the place.
When he was back in his room, he closed the iron cover, which served as the entry into basement.
Technology of pocket dimension was amazing, in the matter of traveling. Person could create their ideal space for things to storage or make an ideal room for relax. Patrick's basement was set in one of those dimensions created by him. The iron cover was portable, so only thing he needed was just put it on the ground anywhere and the cover automatically attached to it. And thanks to the security system only Patrick could enter into it.
In the matter of Tenzin, Patrick needed to tell him about the basement in case if some of the Acolytes wandered somehow into his room and reported about it. He remembered how Tenzin offered help with the building but Patrick just brushes him off with that he will manage itself.
Patrick with massive yawning checked his bracelet for time. It was almost 6 am. Another nightmare woke him up in 5 am, so rather than go to back to sleep with another possible nightmare inbound, he decided to do installation of the basement and checking the inside right away.
Then he heard that somebody was knocking at his doors.
"Wake up," Korra said on the other side. From her voice he could heard that she was sleepier than him.
"I meet you at the Dining Hall," he responded and heard her footstep leaving.
At the Dining Hall they both received a breakfast from Pema. During eating they noticed that there was many of the Acolytes already waked up and with more energy.
Korra was not happy about that Patrick will going to accompany her to the Arena for The Fire Ferrets training in Pro-Bending. Tenzin told her last night before she was heading into the bed. But she took it as some sort of compromise. Still much better than a bunch of the guys in uniforms of the White Lotus watching her every step.
She turns to Patrick, who was on same level of the sleepy as her. The morning is evil. She really thought that last night Bolin and Mako was joking when they told her when to come to the Arena for the tomorrow training.
In the Arena's gym The Fire Ferrets was training with large ball, which they were throwing at each other. Patrick leaned at the wall at the entry of the gym and watched how they were training. It could be soporific if the Bolin's pet Pabu was not annoying him. The Fire Ferret was still trying fawning to him and Patrick was still pretending that he was still ignoring him.
"What is he doing here?" Bolin asked.
"He will be mine escort at the trainings here," Korra responded. "Tenzin's idea."
"So, like some bodyguard," Mako remarked with mocking.
Korra silently nodded. She would even laugh at this remark but she was so sleepy. She was not used to be awake in this hour.
"Why we have to train this early in the morning?" she asked when she catches the ball.
"We are rookies," Bolin started explaining when he catches the ball from her. "Every team in the Arena has assigned time slot for the gym. And we have the worst time slot." He passed the ball to the Mako.
"And you are the greatest rookie of all time," Mako added. "We have to get you up the speed if we want to win the Tournament." He throws the ball at Korra with quite strength. "Deal with it."
Korra catches ball from him. She was already annoyed with him. If Patrick was not enough, now it was a Mako too. "You deal with it!" She throws the ball at the Firebender with full strength.
The ball hit Mako's stomach and cause him to laid back on the floor and groan. Korra smiled at that and Patrick behind them too. Then he noticed that someone came to the gym. A man.
He was wearing a costly looking coat with same looking hat on his head. Another thing that Patrick noticed was yellow bow knot and his neck with mustache on his face. Everything suggest that this man was from High class but Patrick could tell that he is or was a crook.
Man wanted to go to the Fire Ferrets but when he noticed Patrick, he came to him first.
"Are you here with the Avatar?" he asked.
Patrick only nodded.
"And it was you who were in the cabin room last night?"
He probably saw me. "Yes," Patrick finally said.
Man reaches into his pocket and pulls out big wad of money. "Here. This is yours." He gives the money to Patrick.
Patrick looked at the given money. Despite the fact that he did not pay with local money yet, he had quite experiences with recognition of fakes. These yuans seems the same as the paper money in his Universe. So, they seemed real to him.
"Thanks," he said and looks at the man. "And what is this for?"
"For your little help."
Patrick looked at the man like he was not understanding what he said.
"Where are my manners?" The man takes off his hat and bow, revealing his bald head in a process. "My name is Butakha." He straightens up and put his hat back on. "Owner of this Arena and head of Pro-Bending League." Then he whispered, "And little bit a businessman."
Patrick started to understand where that money came from.
"You see," Butakha continued," me and my friends we sometimes do a little bit of –"
"Betting," Patrick finished and look at the Fire Ferrets. "How big were odds?"
On Butakha face came a little grin. "Somebody here knows how the things work." It looked like that he was not expecting that Patrick will know what he was talking about but he was pleasantly surprised. "Same as any rookies. High." He turns his head and look at Korra. "When she shows up last night. It quickly changed the odds. But still it was pretty high. And I invested a lot."
"Pretty big risk," Patrick commented.
"Yes," Butakha said and turns back to Patrick. "But I am quite fond of the brothers. They quite remind me myself back when I was young. And something was telling me that night to trust them."
"And those money is for what exactly?"
"I saw last night how did you gave an advice to Mako about that limping. I must say you are quite observed, only very few people knew about that." Butakha paused for moment. "Thus, you helped me to get a fortune. So, take it as token of appreciation. Maybe we could do business more time in the future but if you excuse me, I have other business to attended to." He once more takes off his hat and went to the Fire Ferrets.
Patrik puts his earned money into the pocket. Well looks like the day starts great. Everything in his basement is in the place and now he is quite rich for doing nothing.
"There are mine little-hard working streets urchins," Butakha called aloud when he came to the Fire Ferrets. He then turns his head to Korra. "It is an honor to meet you, Avatar."
"And you are…?" Korra asked. She could not explain why but she had a bad feeling about that man.
"Butakha!" said the man proudly, takes off his hat and bow. "The big man of the Pro-Bending. And if you excuse me, I have some business with Mako here."
Korra step back from the brothers, so they have a space with dealing this Butakha. She wanted to be far from him as possible.
Mako approach to Butakha with prepared hand. Today they get a pay day for last night.
Butakha pulls out cash and put on his hand. "Here is your money from last match." Then he raises and wave the finger to stop Mako, who were about to put the money into his pocket. "Ah ah ah, not so fast." He takes some cash from Mako's hand. "You owe me money for Avatar's gear. Then gym and the equipment rentals from last month. Then rent from your apartment. And for the food." With each item Butakha mentioned, he takes some of the money from Mako when in the end what's left was an empty hand.
Mako looked at his empty hand with sad look. He held so much money and now nothing. He then turns to his brother with anger. If Bolin was not such eater, they could at least have something.
"What?" Bolin asked innocently and rub his stomach. "I am still growing!"
"And one last thing," Butakha continued. "You need to pay a 30 000 yuans as starting fee for the Tournament."
Bolin eyes goes completely shocked when he heard that. "30 000?!" he screamed.
"Sorry kids but that's rules." Butakha crossed his arms. "You have a week to get that money otherwise you are out." He then turns around and went out.
'I am quite fond of the brothers. They quite remind me myself when I was young.', Patrick thought when he looked at that. Butakha was not just a better but it seems he was extorting the Pro-Benders of the Arena. But still something was telling Patrick that he could be useful one day.
Butakha, before he headed to the doors, once more take off his hat instead of saying goodbye. Patrick just nodded to him.
After Butakha left, Korra joined the brothers. She heard the whole thing and she did not know how to help her team to get that money.
"You would not have a secret Avatar bank account full of gold, would you?" Bolin asked her.
Korra shakes her head. "I have nothing. And I never needed money before." She then smiles softly. "When I was growing up, people were taking care of me. Especially our neighbor Ama."
This quite make Mako angry. He and his brother were struggling all their lives and she meantime had everything.
He then picks up the ball and put it into the bag. "Then do not say you have nothing." Nevertheless, today's training was over.
Nice one, Mako, Patrick commented in spirit. It seems that White Lotus should include the sociology into the Avatar's training. This is the second time Korra did not know nothing about how other people lives.
Korra realized she did say something wrong. "Sorry, I didn't mean –"
"No, it's alright," Bolin assured her. "It's just…," his voice then goes sadly, "ever since we lost our parents, we are been on our own. No family at all."
Korra now felt terrible for what she said. "I am sorry. I did not know," she said with compassioned look.
Mako meantime zipped the bag and turns to them. "So anyway," he interrupts the moment, "how do we get that money?"
"Oh, I got it!" Bolin said with excitement. He picks up the Pabu from the ground and hold him in front of everyone. "I have been lately training Pabu some circus tricks. People will pay money to see this Fire Ferret!"
Korra, Mako and even Patrick, who silently approach to them, looked at Bolin with not amused look.
But unlike those two, Mako heard this type of ideas from Bolin all his life and he had enough of it. "Come on, Bolin. We need a serious idea."
Bolin looked at his older brother with downcast look. "I was serious."
"Your brother is right, Bolin," Patrick entered into their conversation. "There is a very small chance that you make that amount of money as Street Artist by the end of the week. And I am not counting the other Street Artists as competition."
"You are still here?" Mako remarked. But Patrick just smiled at him coldly. "Whatever." He heads out the gym. "I will figure something out. Like always."
The trio watched as he walked away. "Well, I think it is a time for us to go too, Korra," Patrick said after a while.
"Just give me a minute." She went for change her clothes, leaving Bolin, Pabu and Patrick alone.
"Well…" Bolin begun conversation, while Pabu was on his shoulders. "Do you…know Korra long?"
Patrick was just staring at him. No reaction at all.
"Does she like the flowers or…box of chocolates… or chocolate with flowers?" Bolin continued with asking.
Patrick's gaze turns to where Korra went. "Korra, make it quick!" I do not want to be with that idiot any longer than I have to! He started count the seconds.
"Or does she have any favorite restaurant here in Republic City?" Bolin kept question him.
"I am coming!" Korra said frustrated while she returned to the gym. "You know it is not that easy to get off that uniform."
"I don't care," Patrick replied. "C'mon. Tenzin is waiting."
"Good." Korra turns to Bolin. "See you tomorrow, Bolin."
"Well…see you tomorrow too," Bolin said with nervous smile and wave them off.
Patrick did not even bother to say goodbye and he with Korra leaves gym. Bolin and Pabu were now alone.
Bolin takes his pet into his hands and looks into his eyes. Even though Mako rejected his idea, he still believed that his idea will work. "Let's show that we can success, Pabu!" The Fire Ferret squeaked at him.
Bolin sat down under the statue of Fire Lord Zuko at Central City Station. He was wearing a flashy jacket with fake moustache. He found those things in the Attic. Probably it was relic before the Arena was serving for Pro-Bending. But it doesn't matter. It could bring the attention from the audience for Pabu's tricks. For him he found a little green jacket and hat.
"Come all! Come to see!" he yelled at passing citizens. "Pabu, the Fantastic Fire Ferret will now cross the Ladder of Peril!" He paused for moment. "Upside down!"
In reality it was just a plank on two cups. And Pabu was meantime busy with cleaning himself with his paws.
Bolin leaned to him. "Psst, psst," he whispered to give Pabu signal.
The Fire Ferret immediately starts walking across the plank with front paws. Bolin starts to cheering him up.
"Now a big finish," Bolin instructed him. Pabu flips off and lands on one front paw.
"Ta da!" Bolin yelled amazingly.
Then of someone of the passing citizen throw coin into his cup. Probably it was for the pity.
"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen! You are too kind!" He takes the cup to look at his today sales. Just one coin for almost all day. "That is a fine! A fine! Just one yuan down!" He sighs in frustration. "Just 29 999 to go."
A red Satomobil stopped at him. Bolin immediately recognized that this type of Satomobil was used by Triple Threat Triad – his and Mako's old friends.
Driver rolls down the window. "Bolin, is that you?"
Bolin recognized that driver. His name was Shady Shin. "Oh, hey there Shin," he responds in dejected. He started to remember that Mako told him to stay away from Shin and other members of Triple Threat Triad.
Shin gets out of the Satomobil and with elegant walk approach Bolin. "I heard that you and Mako became a Pro-Benders. Not bad."
"Well…thanks," Bolin said nervously and scratch his head.
"But I see that you guys still struggling with money." Shin pointed at cup in Bolin hands. "And because we are old pals, I think I could get you side job for tonight. It's about Lighting Bolt Zolt. He needs some extra muscle."
Bolin was unsured. He and his brother were done with working for the Triple Threat Triad. "I am not sure, Shin. Mako told me to stay away from any business with Triads."
"Oh, come on, Bolin!" Shin replied irritably. "Is Mako your boss or what?" He then smiles at him. "It's just security job. Nothing crooked. I swear."
He then reaches into his pocket and takes out wad of cash. He then tossed it to the Bolin's cup. Bolin stared at the money for second. In the next one he was in the complete shock. It was probably 25 000 yuans. His gaze then returns at Shin.
Shin smiled at him. "So, you are in?" he asked and see how Bolin nodded. It was easier than I thought.
It was almost night when Mako arrived into their apartment in the Attic of the Arena. He was tired. After morning training, he managed to find part time job in the power plant, where thanks to the lightning generation, the sub-power of the Firebenders, could have entire Republic City electricity.
"Bo, I am back!" he said aloud and make rustle with the bag in his hand. "Brought some food you like!" With exhaustion he lied down on the couch. "Found job at the power plant. Makes quite the money." But no one was replying to him. Not even Pabu came to him because of the food.
Mako gets up from the couch and looks around. Then he noticed that window with look at the Air Temple Island is opened. It's crossed his mind where Bolin could be right now. At Korra's. Since the yesterday match Bolin could not stop speak about Korra and Mako as his older brother knew that he fell in love with her.
"So, this where are you headed you little lovebird," he said to himself with the smile.
At the Air Temple Island Jinora and Ikki was thanks to the Airbending moving the gates of the training mechanism for Korra. She on other side started weaving through them. Since yesterday, when she displays the skill of being like a leaf at the Pro-Bender match, this training mechanism was no longer match for her.
"Good. Light on your feet!" Jinora commented her progress through the mechanism.
Patrick was sitting nearby and watching the whole thing. Evening breeze was pleasant for him. Then he noticed that Mako was climbing up the stairs to them.
"Well, we have a guest of honor. The Firebender Mako!" he said with sarcastic smile.
Mako stops at him. "You are even here?"
Patrick opens his arms. "I am everywhere, man!"
Mako sighs. He was not mood for this. "Hey jokes aside! Did you see Bolin?"
Patrick smiled disappears. "No, not since your morning training."
"Wait, he is not here?" Mako was now looked at Patrick with serious face.
"No."
The young Firebender started to get bad feeling about Bolin. He decided to ask Korra if she see him. Patrick gets up and goes after him.
Korra meantime gets successfully through the mechanism. Even though she is now able to move like an Airbender, she still needed to catch the breath. She then noticed that Jinora and Ikki leaned their heads to the left and looked behind her.
"Oh, two cute guys are approaching," Jinora said with smile. "Wait, is the other one with Patrick that Firebender that drives you crazy, Korra?"
Korra quickly looks behind, to make sure Jinora was not lying. She was right. She quickly turns her gaze back at Jinora with wide-eye and with embarrassment.
"Does he drive you crazy in a bad way?" Ikki asked. "Or in the way you like him?"
That was enough for Korra. She will not be embarrassment in front of Mako and Patrick by the Airbending sisters. She quickly stamps her foot on the ground to raise the earth underneath the sisters, catapulting them into the air. She quickly turns to Mako with a pose and clears her throat.
Patrick just shakes his head and Jinora with Ikki was giggling in the air.
"Uh, hi Mako," she said, trying to act cool.
"Did you saw Bolin?" he asked directly at her.
"Nice to see you too," she replied sarcastically. She paused for a moment and glancing away. She realized now that she did it wrong. But she decided to return to the topic. "No, I did not see him since morning. Something's wrong?"
Mako sighs in frustration. "I don't know. But I have a bad feeling. Bolin has a talent to get into big troubles." He turns around and walks away, passing Patrick. "I am going to find him. See you later."
Korra quickly goes after him. "I could help you find him," she volunteered herself.
He raised his hand to brush her off. "No, it's fine."
Eventually Korra grabs his arm, to stop him. "Hey, let me help you."
"Fine."
Korra then turns to Patrick. "You are coming with us?"
Patrick shakes his head. "No."
Korra looked at him surprised. "Why? It is your friend too, no?"
Patrick wanted to laugh at the what she said, but he held it back. "I know him only two days, Korra. It does not mean that he is my friend."
"Leave him be," Mako said. "We will find Bolin without his help."
"If I were you," Patrick says, "I would look on his favorite places or at least the place where he could demonstrate that idea of his with Pabu. And I would take Naga."
Korra agreed, "He is right. Naga could be useful to us."
"Who is Naga?" Mako asked.
Korra smiled at him. "My best friend and great tracker."
Patrick watched as the duo with Naga was leaving the Island. It is not your problem, he said to himself in spirit. He would not bother to look for somebody who could not be useful for him. Somebody like Bolin. But then something inside him wanted to help them. No, no, no. It is not your concern. Stick to your plan. Inside of him started a fight and soon his inner voice started to change. They are going to fuck it up. They need your help.
Patrick sighs in frustration. Fuck. He decided. He turns to Jinora, who was playing with Ikki. "Jinora," he called on her.
Jinora immediately stopped playing and turns to him. "Yes?"
"Tell your father what happened and if I or Korra do not return here until the midnight, tell him to contact Chief Beifong," he ordered and starts going after Mako with Korra.
Mako and Korra was riding on Naga through the streets of Republic City. It was already a night and street lamps were on. After their first of visit of Republic City, Naga gets used to the passing by Satomobils and groups of people on sidewalk. Korra now felt like an ordinary citizen in a traffic. They were headed to the place, that Mako called Bolin's most favorited, Central Station. Mako thought that it could be the place where Bolin would show off his tricks with Pabu.
"So, your best friend is a Polar Bear-Dog?" Mako asked behind her. "Somehow, that makes a perfect sense due to that you are South Water Tribe."
"I'll take that as compliment, city boy," Korra smiled.
"And what about Patrick? Do you know him long?"
"Actually, I know him as long as you and Bolin. A few days."
"Really?" Mako asked surprised. "I thought you are… together."
Korra takes a few second before she came to understand what he was meaning. "No! We are not together! Actually, since we know each other, he is on my nerves."
Mako smiled. "Glad not to be only one." He paused for moment. "And how did you two met?"
"I saved him. When I was traveling here into Republic City, I was the on the boat when we hit some strange storm."
"You mean that one with purple lighting, right?"
"Yes! Did you have it here also?"
"That night we were playing the match in Arena, with Hasook also. When that storm blew up the electricity of the Arena. Viewers had to be escorted out due to panic. No one ever saw something like that."
"Well…" Korra continued her story, "I was in the cargo hold, watching the whole thing. When I saw Patrick falling out of the sky."
Mako was now very puzzled by what she was saying. "Wait, you saw him fall of the sky?"
"Yes! I think he was traveling in the airship when that storm appeared and he had to jump from it into the ocean." Korra then realized that she was so occupied by Airbender training and wanting to explore the city that she forgot to inform Tenzin about that what she saw.
But now they arrived at the Central Station. Mako told her that statue of Fire Lord Zuko was Bolin's favorite place to hang out. Maybe there Naga will pick up the scent.
Mako then spotted a bunch of street kids playing. He recognized one his old friend – boy named Skoochy. He gets off Naga and approach to the kids. Maybe they could help them.
"Hey guys did anyone of you saw my brother?"
Skoochy comes to him and grins on him. "Hey, Mako. Long time no see."
"Hello, Skoochy." Mako size him up. "You quite grown."
Skoochy puts his hands behind his back and stretch. "You know, you cannot stop time." He grins at Mako again. "Heard you became a quite big animal in Pro-Bending."
"Sure." Mako decided to return to the topic. "Did you saw Bolin here today?"
"Well yeah…" Skoochy puts an innocent look. "But my memory is not working well these days. Probably from that growing. And with the need of eating."
Mako knew where he was headed with that. Skoochy wanted money for information. It was nothing new. All the gangs in the city were using Skoochy and his friends, the street orphans or poor kids, as information brokers for money.
Mako reaches into his pocket and pulls out yuan bill. Korra meantime stands behind him and could not believe her eyes that Mako was giving his money to that boy for information.
"Here, Skoochy," Mako gives the yuan bill to the boy.
Skoochy quickly hides the bill into his pocket. "He was here."
"When?"
"Around noon."
"What he was doing?"
"He was performing or "trying" to perform with some monkey rat a circus. And then…"
"Then what? What happened then?" Mako was now fully nervous with fear of his brother's fate.
Skoochy turns his gaze away and extend his hand to him. He was expecting another money for his services after all.
Mako rolls his eyes. He was in no mood for this. But he knew that Skoochy had a reputation that he will not give any information for free. So, he gave him another yuan bill.
Skoochy again hides yuan bill into his pocket. "Then came Shady Shin and show him some cash. He persuaded Bolin to come with him. Word on the street is that Triple Threat Triad, the Red Monsoons, Agni Kai and all the other Triads are quite nervous. One of the main reasons is that arrive of that Avatar girl. But there are also whispers about Amon. All I know that there will be great heat in the streets soon." Skoochy then turns and runs away. "That is all I know!"
Now Mako was more than nervous about his brother. He was now afraid. He told his younger brother to stay away from the gangs, but Bolin probably wanted to earn some money for their team.
Korra noticed his concern on his face. "What's he is talking about?" she asked.
"Turf war is coming," he explained. "And Bolin is in middle of that."
Naga was running across the streets. Nearly hit by passing trolley cars.
"So, where have we headed?" Korra asked after a while. She was trying contain speed of her Polar Bear-Dog.
"The Triple Threat Triad's headquarters!" Mako answered. He instructed her where to go a few minutes ago. "Shin is working for them. Hopefully Bolin will be there and nothing yet happened."
Korra turns her head and looked at him. "The Triple Threat Triad?" she asked and then she finally remembered. "Me and Patrick beat some of them when we arrived into the city. Why would Bolin have s-"
She is cut off when Naga halt and takes a sharp right turn. It looked like she started to hunt something. Korra pulls the reins to slow Naga down and gains again control over her. And then she saw what Naga was hunting. The Fire Ferret.
The Fire Ferret runs to the street lamp and climbs up to escape a massive predator.
"That is a Pabu!" Mako said when they get close. It was not good sign. Pabu was most of the time with Bolin. He would never leave him if something wouldn't happen.
Korra was pulling the reins to calm down Naga. "That is a no food! That is a friend!"
When Naga calmed down. Pabu slid down the pole of the street lamp. He then stretches out forward and his nose touch the Naga's. It was some kind of animal greetings. He then jumps on Naga's head and runs to climb onto Mako's shoulder.
"We have to hurry!" Mako said.
They arrived to one small building at the abandon street. It first sight it looked like a small ordinary restaurant. Mako explained to Korra that this is how Triple Threat Triad disguise their headquarters. Korra wondered how he knew so much about Triple Threat Triad.
When they get off the Naga, they came closer to the entrance.
"There is something wrong," Mako said. "Usually there is a guard outside. We better be cautious."
With Pabu on his shoulder, he slowly steps to the doors. He then pokes his head to the door window to look inside, while he signaling to Korra to follow him. But unlike him, she did not care about cautious and normally walks up to the door and kicks them out.
Inside there was mess. Furniture was broken or thrown across entire room. And there was that silence.
The small group comes inside and starts looking around. "Bolin, are you here?" Mako yelled.
Then they heard sound of several engines. They quickly run to the back of the headquarters and breaks down the door that leads to back alley. Just in time they see a huge truck with five motorcycles drive off. The back door of the truck was not yet closed and they could see what was the cargo – Bolin and some gangsters, tied down and gagged. Then masked figure inside the truck show up and closed the doors.
In that moment when Mako saw that masked figure, he immediately recognized who those guys are. "Bolin!" He runs to truck and Korra was right behind him.
Two other masked persons on the motorcycles throw at them smoke grenades. Mako and Korra stopped and starts cough heavily. By the time they got out of the smoke. The truck with motorcycles was gone. But the duo was not about to give up.
"Naga, come!" Korra called her Animal Companion.
The Polar Bear-Dog quickly came with Pabu on her neck. Mako and Korra quickly mount her and starts chasing those masked men.
Even though the masked men were using engines and they had head start. Naga managed to catch them up pretty quickly. As the chase throughout the streets continued, Mako, behind Korra, who drives Naga, started blasting fire at the motorcycles. But that was not enough, so Korra used her Earthbending to create a crack in the road, but the motorcycles managed to avoided it. Chase then continued to empty open square where two last motorcycles stop. And one of the drivers throws a bola at Naga's feet, which managed to takedown Polar Bear-Dog.
Mako and Korra fell to the ground. When they rise their heads up, they could see that two masked persons are running to them, with jump and twist in the air. They quickly get back on the feet and prepares to fight.
Korra sends some fire blast at the female masked figure, but that person managed to avoid it. She then come so close to the Korra and it became a hand-to-hand combat. Korra was trying using the fire but that masked woman did not let her. With several quick punches at her left arm, Korra quickly loses the feeling and she was not capable of using that arm. She thought that White Lotus prepared her for everything but not this. She now used her other arm or feet to blast fire. But the masked woman was just dodging it, like it was nothing for her.
For Mako, fight also did not went well. He also received same attacks on his left hand and was unable to us it. But he was still fighting. Trying to hit is attacker with fire swing, but that person just ducks it and with more several punches immobilized his back. Same happened to Korra and with simultaneous kicks from masked men they both ended up on the ground beside each other. Naga was just growling while watching all this, unable to help them.
Mako and Korra just watched as the masked figures prepares to throw at them bola and take them to wherever they took Bolin. Tonight, these masked persons planned to just take a couple Bender criminals but what is two more? And one of them is the Avatar.
Suddenly they stop when they heard someone loudly claps his hands. They turn to its source. Same did Mako and Korra, and they could not believe what they see.
On the other end of the open square was standing Patrick and slowly coming to them, still clapping his hands. "Bravo! Bravo!" he said with admirable tone and he stop clapping. "Nice footwork by the way. But it lacks… style."
Mako and Korra looked him with amazed and same time puzzled look. Korra quickly turns to the masked figures. Because of their masks she could not see their faces, but she guessed they had same expression as she with Mako. She quickly turns back to Patrick and noticed that he has on those strange metallic gauntlets, he had that day they arrived into the city.
"What is he doing?" Mako asked her.
"I-I don't know," Korra answered unsurely.
Patrick expression then turns coldly as same his voice. "I gave you two choices: Fight or Run. And if I were you, I would choose the latter." He paused for moment. "So, run."
Masked figures exchange each other glances and with no word prepares to fight. The masked man throws at Patrick bola but something strange happened. In the moment when was bola about to hit him, some strange blue transparent wall appeared and bola quickly returned to back to its owner, much faster than that masked man threw it, and takes him down. That strange wall then quickly disappeared.
"I warned you," Patrick replied and sighs in spirit. Energy-kinetic shield was capable of absorbing or, in this case, returning back any projectile in increased speed. That masked man just experienced his own throwing strength in 125%. Patrick could give him more but that was not the reason why he sighed. He was now broking again the rules of Multiverse traveling. By showing up his technology in front of witnesses. But somehow, he also did not care. And he had his Neuralyzer in his pocket this time. So, he could wipe everyone memories.
He then looked at the masked female, who were watching at her fallen comrade. "So, how about you?" he asked. The masked female turns to him. "You will gonna take your chances or you will run away?"
The masked female did not say nothing and starts running towards him. Patrick took it as the answer.
Mako and Korra watched as the masked female was getting closer to him and he was plainly standing there, doing nothing. Korra wanted to yell at him to duck or something but she could not say a word in that moment.
The masked female jumped and doing twist in the air, expecting that he will send some projectile at her in the air. But nothing. She clenches her fist, preparing to strike. But she sees him only to smile at her. Then green light appeared around him and as she landed to him, he was gone. Completely gone. Then she felt somebody behind her grabs her by her clothes and throw her behind him. She then hit a wall of nearby building.
Short distance teleportation. Always useful. He then turns to tied up Naga and thanks to laser beam on his gauntlet freed her.
Meantime the masked duo gets back on their feet and throws smoke grenades front of them. Then they quickly get back on their motorcycles and drives off.
Mako and Korra, with difficulties, gets also back on their feet. Korra now feels again her hand and she starts punching out the air in attempt to Firebending, but nothing happened.
"I can't bend!" she panicked.
"Calm down, it will wear off soon," Mako said.
Patrick came to Korra and starts examining Korra's hand. It looked fine on the outside but he guessed that masked woman aimed on the precise points in the muscles, to immobilize that part of the body. He saw something similar like this. His old associate Hiroki Akeno from his Universe was capable of killing a single man by just light hit on his neck. In other Universe was man named Kenshiro and he take that thing to the new whole level. This also gave Patrick a hint that Bender abilities are based on muscles.
He then turns to Mako. "Who were these guys?" he asked him. They looked like some knock off version of the Foot Clan.
"Chi-Blockers," Mako answered and rubs his affected arm. Then he looks directly into Patrick's eyes with fury. "And what are you doing here? What was that things you did back a few seconds ago?"
Patrick returns his gaze coldly. "I was following you. I thought you will get into problem and it seems I was right." Then he turns and goes to that place where the motorcycles were standing to look for possible clues that those Chi-Blockers left. "By the way that boy. Skoochy? You overpaid him. He sold me same information for less."
Mako had it enough. He makes a few steps closer and points finger on him. "You did not answer my second question! What was that?" He then looks at Korra and he could see in her eyes that she also wanted to know that too.
Korra turns to Patrick. "Answer us."
Patrick turns around to the duo, those Chi-Blockers left no clue. "Do you want to save Bolin? Or do you want to lose precious time by asking questions? Choice is yours."
Mako and Korra exchange a glance with each other and understand that they could ask Patrick some other day. Now Bolin needed them. They looked back at Patrick and their silence was an answer for him.
"Fine," Patrick said. "For who these Chi-Blockers work for?"
"For Amon," Mako replied.
Korra and Patrick looked at him surprised. Then they both remembered how they encountered on their first visit of the city that man with megaphone. And those posters of masked man.
"Amon?" Korra asked. "That guy who hates Benders?"
"He is the leader of the Equalists and the Chi-Blockers are their soldiers," Mako explained.
"And what do they want from Triple Threat Triad?"
"I don't know," Mako shrugs.
But Patrick probably already knew already why the Equalists targeted Triple Threat Triad.
Mako crosses his arms in frustration. "Urgh, can't believe that Bolin got himself into this mess!" Maybe I should have listened to him! Or be with him!
Korra, in compassion, puts her hand on his shoulder. "Do not worry, Mako. We are going to save your brother. You have my word."
Mako sighs. "But how?"
Then Korra gets an idea and turns her gaze to Patrick. "That man with the megaphone…"
Patrick immediately understood what she meant. "That one with whom you did lose the argument battle."
Mako looked them both with puzzled look. "What are you two talking about?"
"We explain to you at the Park," Korra answered.
The small group arrived into the City's Park. It was quite quiet there. No people, no animals. It was quite big change since the Korra's and Patrick's last visit of the park. Naga and Pabu started to drink at nearby fountain.
"What are we doing here?" Mako asked impatiently.
"When we first visit this park, we ran into one of those Equalists right there," Korra explained and point a finger on the place where last time was standing that man with megaphone.
"Do you think he will know where Bolin is?"
"Probably not," Patrick answered. "But he could tell us about other Equalists member and that man could point us to another and another. In the end we will go up through the food chain until we find Bolin."
Mako and Korra looked at him confused but they had to admit that this strategy makes sense.
Time slowly passed. Naga meantime lied down at nearby tree and Pabu at top of her. The trio then sat down at Naga's side. Patrick was looking at the spot, Korra was nervously looking around and Mako had his eyes closed with crossed arms.
Korra was unsure if it's a right time for asking but the words already left her mouth. "So, why is Bolin running around with Triple Threat Triad, anyway?"
Mako did not want to talk about it but they had a long time ahead and he did not want to lied to her. "Well…we used to work with them back in the day."
Korra was in shock. "What? Are you some kind of criminal?"
"No!" Mako turns to her angrily. "You don't know nothing! I just ran numbers for them and stuff."
In that moment Patrick started to laugh. "Yes of course." He doubted about every word that Mako said, about his work for the Triple Threat Triad."
Mako did not appreciated his tone. "Hey, I don't care what you think of me! Me and Bolin were orphans on the street. I had to do something to care and protect my brother!"
"So, you were criminal," Patrick said and gave him a wicked smile.
Mako was about to stand up and punch him if Korra did not stop him. "I am sorry for asking. And Patrick is…" She looked at Patrick, but he was not about to apologize. So, she quickly turns back to Mako. "Is also sorry. But now we have to find Bolin."
Mako looked straight into her eyes and calmed down. And returns back to watching the spot.
"It must have been very hard for you. What happened to your parents?"
Mako sighs. He did not want to revive old bad memories, but… "Firebender kill them in our house. Right front of my eyes."
Korra cannot believe what she heard. "Mako…" she whispered consolingly.
"Bolin is the only family I have left. If anything happened to him…" Mako covered his lower part of his face by his red scarf. It was the other only thing he had after his parents.
Really sad story, Patrick thought sarcastically. He did not care about what happened to Mako's parents. He heard this type of stories so many times. Like in the case of Dick Grayson. So, he archived the information in his mind and kept focusing watching the spot.
Time passed slowly and trio eventually felt at sleep. Patrick had again another nightmare, but this time it was not so strong like the last time. He then felt that something was on his shoulder. He opened his eyes and turn head to the left. Korra's head was resting on his shoulder. Patrick slowly and gently moved her onto Mako's shoulder, trying not to wake her. He did not mind she were leaned on him but he needed a sleep.
He closed his eyes again and tried get some more sleep.
"Equality now!" yelled a familiar voice through the megaphone. "Equality now! We want equality now!"
But that was not the thing that wake him up. It was a giant horrified gasp from Korra. Patrick immediately opens his eyes, prepared for trouble. But what he sees was Korra scrambling away from Mako. Probably they wake up at the same time and realized that they were lean on each other.
"For the next time: Don't do that!" he admonished them. For fuck's sake!
When the trio calmed up, their gaze turned to place where that voice with megaphone coming from. Korra and Patrick immediately recognized that man from their first visit of Republic City.
He was now standing on the table and yelled Equalists's propaganda into group of bystanders. Beside him was sitting at the table another man, probably Equalist too.
"That's him," Korra said.
Mako quickly gets from the ground. "So, let's go!"
"Wait!" Patrick ordered. "Just a minute."
Mako turns to him. "For what?!" He was not about to lose any minute of finding Bolin. The Equalists could do anything to his brother by now.
Patrick ignored his question. He was focusing on the box that was on the ground beside the table, where Equalist with megaphone was standing. Inside were leaflets arranged into five rows of five. But what makes Patrick interested into that box was that the other Equalist was handing each of bystanders five leaflets. But more interesting was, he was only giving those on skew, from left bottom corner to the top right corner of the box. Only those.
Why? Patrick asked himself in spirit. It has to be some kind of way of secret message in five specific parts. But he needed to look at it more closely.
"Let's go," he finally said after short moment and group went to interrogate the Equalist.
"Amon calls you to action!" Equalist with megaphone continued in propaganda. "Take back your city! It's time for the…" He stopped when he saw Korra and Patrick approaching with Mako, Naga and Pabu behind them. "It is you again!" he said with furious tone of voice. He then pointed at them and yells through the megaphone, "But you will not silence me, Avatar! And same goes for you, her lapdog!"
Korra and Patrick exchange a glance with unamused expression. They had same question in their heads. Who will going to punch that guy as first?
"Ladies first," Patrick said.
Korra swats away megaphone from Equalist's hand. "Shut up and listen! Our friend was taken by Chi-Blockers. Where do they take him?"
Equalist crosses his arms and looked away. "I have no idea what are you talking about!"
Korra turns her head to Patrick, giving him signal that it his turn now.
Patrick activated his gauntlets. He grabbed the edge of the table and move it with sudden speed, making the Equalist fall to the ground. Then he throws the table several meters behind him, almost to the tree where trio with animals rested. Meanwhile, bystanders ran away.
"She was asking you nicely," Patrick said with cold voice. "It would be wise to answer her. Also, nicely."
Equalist was shocked but still he did not tell a thing. On the other hand, his colleague started to talk.
"The Revelation. He-"
"Shut your mouth!" the lying Equalist stopped him.
"What is this 'Revelation'?" Mako asked. He also wanted to join to the interrogation.
"Nothing that concerns the likes of you three!"
Korra had it enough. She grabbed him by the clothes and pulls him up. "You better believe it concerns us. Spill it."
Patrick tilts his head forward. "You better do it or I assure you that we three will going to make your life a living hell."
Expression in Equalist face said that he finally gave up. "No one knows what the Revelation is! And I do not know nothing about your friend. But if he is a Bender, he will get what is coming to him."
"Where it is happening?" Mako asked.
"I don't know."
Korra pull the Equalist closer to herself. "Answer the question!" If he will not tell the information she will use fist of fire on him.
"No, Korra," Patrick stopped her. "He does know nothing more."
She turns to him. "How can you know that?"
"If Amon is not an idiot, that every member of his organization knows only what he needs to know. It is a formula for every successful organization." He then looks on the other Equalist, who was still standing in the background and shake with fear. "Why do you give each of those people five leaflets from the bottom left corner to the top right?"
Mako cannot believe that Patrick was asking this stupid question. They have to find Bolin, not get information about how the Equalists works.
Equalist in the background tried to explain, "I was –"
"Do not say a word!" the other Equalist yelled at him.
"Silence!" Patrick ordered to him and turns back to the frightened Equalist. "Continue."
"I was ordered to give everyone who is eager to join us, always those fives leaflets like this. I-I have nothing against Benders…I just needed some work! That's all!"
"Traitor!" yelled the other Equalist.
Patrick crouch down to the box and looks at the leaflets. On them was picture of Amon posing with extended hand with opened palm. It quite reminded him Communist propaganda posters from Russia in that time ruled by Stalin. Nothing non ordinary. But when he turned those leaflets, he understands why that Equalist was giving those specifically five.
"We are done here," he stands up and gives Mako those five leaflets. "You and Korra, go with Naga and Pabu to the exit of the park. I will meet you there."
Korra drops the Equalist on the ground. She and Mako looked at Patrick with puzzled face. "What?" she asked.
"Do as I say." He paused for moment. "I know where that "Revelation" will be."
Mako and Korra unwillingly obeys. Mako does not like it much more. He does not like Patrick's style.
Patrick watched as the group was in distance. He did not want to see them what he was about to do. Equalist was still lying on the ground and his colleague was still standing, probably he feared to move.
Patrick takes out a small thin metallic roller with red dot at it's top. He aimed the red dot at the both Equalists.
"Say cheese!" Patrick said and push the button on the side of the roller.
Bright flash came from the red dot directly into the Equalists eyes. They both had now a faraway look on their face, like they forget everything that happened a few minutes ago. And they truly did.
Neuralyzer was truly one of the most amazing things that Patrick managed to acquire during his travels of the Multiverses. This device in its home Universe was used by secret organization called Men in Black, in their coverings of alien activity by humans. Neuralyzer can erase all memory of anybody in distance of flash and in matter of minutes or even years. Taking such important device was not easy for Patrick but still he managed to do it. Of course, he did some modifications on it. So, using this Neuralyzer does not longer require a pair of sunglasses.
"Everything was normal," Patrick started creating a new memory for those two, "nothing has happened. No Avatar came to asking about her friend. You successfully gave leaflets to bunch of people and in 30 minutes you will return to the rest Equalists and you report that."
"Yes…" said the lying Equalist, still in delirium. It will take a few seconds for the new memory will take its place in mind.
Patrick turns around and went to the rest of the group. He could not risk that Amon could know that they are coming and if those two would not return it would raise a suspicion.
He takes a last look at the Neuralyzer before he puts it back into his pocket. He quickly remembered the agent K and how he was singing an Elvis. He smiled at the memory and remember how K told him that next time when they will meet each other again, that he will kick his ass.
"So, do you know where Bolin is?!" Mako asked him impatiently.
"Not here," Patrick replied and lead the group away from the park.
They stopped at the bench under bridge, where trolleys were passing by. Patrick spread out the leaflets on the ground and each turn over.
"What is it?" Korra asked, looking at confused at the leaflets. There were some strange pictures on them.
"A map," Patrick answered and progressively and putting the leaflets toward itself, creating a map of the Republic City.
"Wow!" Korra amazed.
"That's why you asked them about those leaflets," Mako commented with smile.
"Yes. If they want to make their "Revelation". They had to be sure that no police would find them so easily." Patrick paused for moment and then point at the red dot on one of the images. "There. "Revelation" will happen right there."
"Where is it?" Korra asked.
"Industrial part of the Republic City by the docks," Mako answered, looking at the red dot. "During night no one is there. Perfect place for secret meeting of the Equalists."
It was a night when the trio get close the place on the map. Patrick bought them earlier some long coats and hats as disguise. Korra added to her disguise a Mako's scarf. As they were approaching, they could see a bunch of people walking into the one large building. It was probably some factory.
Before they got any closer, Patrick stopped and turns to both of them. "Before we enter inside let's be clear with one thing: I am in charge and until I said none of you will do nothing."
"Why?" Korra asked.
"We are about to enter into the space we don't know nothing about. We don't know how many the Equalists are there or what else they have in equipment. We need to maintain incognito until we find Bolin and way how to rescue him."
Mako and Korra exchange a glance, they knew Patrick is right and thanks to him they know where Bolin is. It would be wise to listen to him. So, they turn their gaze on him and gave him a silenced nodded as agreement.
"Ok, let's go," Patrick said and trio continued their journey to the factory.
As they were coming closer, they could see a huge man who was checking people before letting them in. Patrick quickly grabbed Korra's arm.
"What are you doing?" she asked him surprised.
"Act natural," Patrick whispered an order. "This way we are going to attract less attention."
Korra was not sure about that. It felt weird holding hands with Patrick. She would rather be holding hands with Mako. But she had the faith in Patrick and his plan.
Man at the door looked at the trio with suspicious and with crossed arms. "This a private event. No one without the invitation."
Invitation? Korra thought. She almost started panicking but she noticed how Patrick with smile pulls from his pocket one of the leaflets and gives to the man.
"Here," Patrick said.
Man's face after looking at the leaflet turned from suspicious to friendly. He steps away from the entrance. "Revelation is upon us, my brothers and sister."
The trio entered inside. They should at least add some password, Patrick thought. Until now he thought that Amon and the Equalists was a smart but it looks like he overrated them.
They continued through the hallway when they arrived into huge hall of the factory. It was full of people, citizens of the Republic City.
"I knew a lot of people hated Benders, but I never saw so many of them in one place," Mako commented.
"And that could be the only ones who had courage to show up here," Patrick added and started to counting them. It was probably 200 people. 200 protentional recruits for the Equalists.
"What now?" Korra asked him.
"We are going to look out for Bolin. But be close and do nothing until I said."
Trio steps down the small staircase and joins the crowd.
On the other side of the hall of the factory was a podium with several flags with Equalists logo. Then ramp lights came on and male voice started talking, "Please welcome our hero and savior…Amon!"
In the middle of the podium the hatch opens and with moving platform Amon shows up, with bunch of Chi-Blockers behind him. People in the crowd started to cheer. A spotlight is turned on and illuminated Amon came forward to the microphone.
Korra was now seeing him in person and started to feel a little bit scared.
Amon takes the microphone from stander. "My quest began many years ago. When I was a little boy, my family and I lived on a small farm. We did not have almost nothing and none of us was a Bender. We became an easy target for a Firebender who extorted my father." He takes a few steps into the right on the stage. "One day my father had the courage to stood up to that Firebender. But that Firebender took my family from and…" He touches his mask. "My face. And from that moment I am forced to wear this mask. But not from shame, but as symbol of the oppression of the Benders." He paused for moment. "As you know, recently the Avatar arrived into the Republic City."
Crowd started to boo, some of them even yelled an insults or threats.
"Rather hide your face," Patrick silently advised Korra.
She did not need to think twice to do that. She covered her mouth with scarf. The fear she had from Amon started growing with each word he said. But when she quickly glanced at Patrick, she could see that he was also have fear in his eyes. But she did not know that he had it from different reason.
"If she were here," Amon continued, "she would tell that Bending brings balance to the world. But she is wrong. The only thing Bending brought was suffering." He pointed at crowd front of him. "It was cause of all wars. But this is about to change." He paused for moment again, seeing the crowd front of him being impatient for his next words. "I know you have been wandering what is this "Revelation". In a few moments you will get your answer."
Mako and Korra exchange worried glance. Now it seems that "Revelation" will be really bad for Benders. Then they both glanced at Patrick, in case if he was about to give them finally order, but they see that he was somewhere else in spirit.
"Since beginning of the time," Amon says, "the spirits acted as guardians of our world. And they contacted me. They say to me that Avatar failed the humanity. And they choose me to usher a new area of balance. They granted me a power that will make Equality a reality. The power of taking person's Bending away. Permanently."
The entire audience loudly gasps when they heard that.
Korra was now in complete horror. She quickly turns to Mako. "That is impossible. There is no way that him have this power."
"That guy is insane," Mako whispered.
"No, he is not," Patrick said finally.
"How can you be so sure?" Mako asked him.
"Believe me… I am," Patrick explained shortly.
Since the first moment he saw Amon in flesh and blood, it was like he was seeing Anacronicus again. That pose, speech pattern and that mask, even though Anacronicus's mask had cracks and dry blood on some places, he was almost identical to the Avatar of Destruction. The main difference was that, Anacronicus will would kill everybody here on this planet, Benders and Non-Benders alike.
Please don't be some kind of Mirror Person, Patrick begged in spirit and tried not to remember on Anacronicus.
Amon was watching all those people who came to see him. It was amusing watching them react after he told them about his power. He even felt more powerful. But now he has to concentrate, there is a lot work in weeks to come.
His gaze then moved beyond the audience, into the dark corners of the factory. He imagined that his Mentor is right there and he is looking at him with pride right now. Their plan is about to get to motion. In the end, this speech he gave to these soon to be members of the Equalists was his Mentor's idea include the way how he will demonstrate his power in front of those people.
I will not fail you, my Mentor, he thought as he was going to order to start the demonstration.
He gestured his men to bring the captives. "Now for little demonstration. Please welcome, Lighting Bolt Zolt. Leader one of the most notorious criminal gangs in Republic City known as Triple Threat Triad."
Chi-Blockers brought on stage group of tied up men. The first one was elderly man in nice and costly clothes. That was Lighting Bolt Zolt. Others were also members of Triple Threat Triad.
Audience started to boo when Zolt show up.
"Ah, boo to yourself!" Zolt reacted to the crowd.
Trio noticed that among the other tied up gangsters was Bolin. He was looking scared.
"That is Bolin!" Korra blurts out and was about to rush to the podium to save young Eartbender.
Patrick luckily grabs her hand pulls her back. "What did I tell you?! Wait for my order!"
"Then come up with a plan, "smart boy"," she replied.
"Zolt has amassed his fortune through abusing and extorting Non-Benders," Amon continued his speech. "But tonight, his era of terror is coming to an end."
One differently clothed Chi-Blocker removed the ropes binding Zolt and pushed him in opposite direction of Amon.
"And in matter of fairness, I will give Zolt chance to fight," Amon said and turns to face the leader of Triple Threat Triad.
"You are going to regret it, pal!" Zolt said with arrogant smile. Over his years as professional criminal, he fought many combats and he won them all. This masked man should not be a problem for him.
He immediately sends a fire blast at Amon. The Equalists leader managed to dodge it with easy and starts running towards to him. Then Zolt decided to use lighting, but Amon just duck it and grab his wrist and twist him around. Zolt was now just sending lightning at ceiling. Amon then grab his neck, Zolt was not even capable of moving. Amon then moves his hand from the wrist and place his thumb on center of Zolt's forehead.
Korra, Mako and Patrick now watched the fear in Zolt's eyes.
Few seconds after that, Zolt's lightning disappeared and Amon let him go. Zolt collapses on the ground. He quickly turns to Amon and tried to attack him with fire but nothing. Nothing at all. Not even a small fire. The crowd gasped.
"What did you… do to me?" Zolt in complete shock asked. He starts looking at his hands. He felt now powerless.
"You lose your Firebending!" Amon yelled so that everyone could hear him. "Forever." He then turns to the shocked audience. "The era of Bending is over. A new era of Equality has begun."
The crowd started to cheer him but Amon did not care. The only cheers and applause he wished and desired should be from his Mentor. That was him who taught him everything that he just displayed now. He secretly wished for that his Mentor was with him on this stage, to share with him this. But he remembered how the Mentor told him that will be better that he remains in the shadows and Amon in the light. In the end, he is the face of the new era of Equality.
One of the Chi-Blockers pick up Shady Shin and release him. He is next in the line.
"We have to act now!" Mako said to Patrick urgently.
"Give me a few seconds," Patrick replied and starts examine the surroundings. He has to make a plan where he would use his devices at least minimal. He then spotted that the walls of the entire factory are full of pipes. "What is inside them?" he asked as he pointed at them.
"Water and steam," Mako answered quickly. He knows this type of place. "They powering-"
"Machines," Patrick completed his sentence. He knows now how to get Bolin out, but they needed more. Why not use the crowd itself here?
He reached out of his pocket a small device with triangle shape with button at top of it. He then gives it into Mako's hand and turns to him and Korra and starts explaining the plan.
"This is what we are going to do. Korra: You will go to the control room and make this entire room full of steam. We will use it as a cover. Mako: You will go back where we came from and place this on the wall. Then you push the button and it will start fire in seconds. And I will grab Bolin."
To Mako and Korra using of steam as cover was reasonable, but the part with fire were not.
"You want to start a fire here?" Mako asked irritated. "Are you off your mind?!"
"The nearest fire station is less than 8 minutes from here. And according to the regulations by the City's council: Every extinguishing of gigantic fire must have also police presence. Do not worry, nobody will get hurt. We just need so much chaos as possible."
"Good then," Korra nodded. Patrick's argument sound undisputed to her.
"And one more thing," Patrick added. "We need to do this synchronized. After we split up, starts counting. Korra until 30. Mako until 35."
"And how do we get out of here?" Mako asked, he was still doubting about that plan.
"Guys like Amon have a secret passage for case if something goes wrong. I bet his is around somewhere of that podium. Probably in behind." He paused for moment to think what to say next. "After you will be done with your tasks, run to the podium and together we escape. Let's go!"
Patrick shoved his way forward through the crowd. Meantime Amon takes away Bending from Shady Shin. Next was some thug in green suit beside Bolin. Trio was running out of time.
1,2,3… Korra counted in spirit, when she emerged at the side of the crowd at the entrance that no one was watching. She then went to hallway where were some machines, pipes and valves. 10,11… She turns one of the red valves. Steam started to streak from the pipes. But she needed more.
Mako returned back where they came from and puts the device on the wall. It was easy to attached the device to the wall. Then he continued to counting in spirit and making sure nobody is watching.
Korra continued to turning the valves and releasing more steam. 20,21… She needed more time.
"Hey, you!" yelled at her from side a familiar voice.
When she turns, she sees that man they met at the entrance to the factory was coming to her.
"Is there a problem, brother?" she asked while she tried to keep her cover.
"What are you doing here?"
Korra smiled at him innocently. "I was…looking for bathrooms." She knew this lie was not enough.
Mako was still counting when he quickly turns around. Thug in green suit lose his Bending. And now Bolin was next. He was fighting with urge to quickly run to the stage and saves his brother, he must do what Patrick told him. He turns back to the device. It was time. Let's go! He pushed the button.
After a second, the area around the device started to heat up. Then a small fire came out. Mako was witnessing how the fire slowly spread out through the metal. How is that even possible? He then turns around and starts quickly shoved his way forward.
Patrick watched Mako's doing was successful. The device that he gave him was full of special chemical substance that when it's exposed to the metal that it will ignite it. Metal then burns same way as wood itself just little bit slower and it is much more easily extinguished. And the device will burn itself. So, he did not need to worry about it if somebody would take it.
First half of the plan was done but Korra's part was still missing. It was overtime and no steam at all. Come on, Korra!
"Bathroom, right?" man said and reveals wrench in his hand.
Korra understanded that her cover is blown up. Man swinged the wrench at her. She dodges it and takes off her scarf as weapon. When swing it at her again, she tied up his arm with scarf. She then pulls him into turn and flinging his entire body into one of machines at wall, knocking all the valves in the process. Steam was now everywhere.
"Thanks for help," she said to knocked out man.
She then with use the Waterbending concentrated the steam back into valves with massive force.
Bolin was scared. He was now front of supporters of the Equalists and their leader, Amon, is about to take away his Bending.
"Umh… Hello Mr. Amon," he said nervously. It was hard from him to say anything. "I think… I think there was some misunderstanding."
Amon was slowly approaching to him, when somebody in the crowd yelled, "Fire!"
Everybody turns around and see there was a giant fire coming from opposing side of the hall. Then came an explosion from the valves and entire room was filled with steam.
Some Chi-Blockers immediately surrounded Amon to protect him, others quickly run to control panicked crowd. The perfect chaos for Patrick. Chi-Blockers will be focused on the crowd and on Amon and some tiny Earthbender should be no concern for them.
Covered by the steam, Patrick gets on the stage and goes for Bolin. Luckily Bolin was still standing on the place and not going anywhere. Probably from the fear what will happen next.
Suddenly one of the Chi-Blockers emerges from the steam and grabs Bolin from behind. But Patrick was already at them. He gives a little shock to the Chi-Blocker through his gauntlets and masked Equalist falls to the ground.
Surprised Bolin quickly turns around and he is even more is surprised that he sees Patrick front of him.
"Are you well?" Patrick asked him.
"Yes!" Bolin yelled with delight. "Patrick! Thank you!" He opens his arms to hug him.
But Patrick raises a hand to stop him. "Save it for later." He starts looking around, to see where the others are. "We just need to wait for-"
"Here!" Mako interrupted him when he emerges from the steam followed by Korra. "I had to help to Korra to get through the panicked crowd."
Patrick nodded. "Very well, let's go!"
Foursome went to behind the stage and truly there was an entrance to the secret tunnel. They ran through the hallway made by metal and pipes. Behind them was still heard a sound of panicked people. After a few moments they started to heard also sirens of the firefighters. Then they arrived to the locked door at the end of hallway. Patrick kicks them out. Foursome was now at some balcony outside the factory. Patrick noticed there was only way out – a iron ladder, that leaded down to the streets.
He was the first one who started to climb down. After him Korra, Bolin and Mako. Patrick was down very fast. He started looking around if there is some surprised for them. Then he looked up and see that strangely clothed Chi-Blocker at the top of ladder.
His face was partly covered and everybody could see his eyes unlike the other Chi-Blockers. The most visible feature was his long mustache.
Patrick watched as he pulls out two sticks from his behind. Even from such distance Patrick could see that they were no ordinary sticks.
"Everybody out of the ladder!" Patrick ordered. But it was too late.
The Chi-Blocker slammed his sticks into the ladder, sending an electric charge through it. Bolin, Mako and Korra screamed in shock and pain and falls down. Patrick was quick, he managed to catch Korra in time, but Bolin and Mako lands hard on the ground.
"For the next time: Metal is an electric conductive!" Patrick said aloud to Korra in his arms. They really should add some physics lessons to the Avatar's training!
Chi-Blocker jumped down from the balcony and goes into fighter stance with what it seems to be with electric kali sticks. Bolin and Mako quickly gets back to their feet and go to fight with him. Mako sends at him a fire jet but the Chi-Blocker dodge it. Then he runs to him and with his attacks takes Mako down.
Then he focused on Bolin. The young Eartbender started throwing at him an earth blocks, but with easy the Chi-Blocker evade them. Bolin was surprised so he rises earth wall from the ground. But that did not stop the Equalist. With easy he jumped over it and after he lands at Bolin, he strikes him with several quick hits with charged sticks. Bolin falls to the ground.
Patrick meantime gently put Korra to the ground. "Wait here."
"What?! I want to help!" She tried to get back on her feet.
Patrick stopped her. "Do not forget, you promised that you will follow my command. So, listen and wait here!"
Korra grunts and Patrick takes it as the yes.
Mako emerges beside the wall and with using adjacent building he tried to send a fire slice at the Chi-Blocker. But he dodges it. Mako then tried again but only what he hits is Bolin's wall, whose falls down. Mako and Chi-Blocker continued in fight but in the end, Chi-Blocker hits with both ends of kali sticks Mako's chest and send some electricity through him. And Mako falls to the ground, beside his brother.
The Chi-Blocker looked at both brothers with amused look. "You Benders need to understand, there is no place in the world for you anymore." Then he noticed that Patrick was standing several meters beside him. He quickly turns to him and gets into fighting position. "And what is your Bending? Water, Fire or Earth?"
Patrick, with his gauntlets on, aimed at him with his right hand and with grin he said to him, "Sonic."
A small concentrate wave of sonic boom came out the glove and with such force sends the Chi-Blocker to the several meters away, knocking him with building. He lands unconsciousness on the ground. His kali sticks lands beside him.
And that was on low level, Patrick thought and goes to help Bolin and Mako. Korra emerges behind him and with whistle calls Naga. The Polar Bear-Dog emerges from the one the back alleys and rushed to them. Patrick insisted to have Naga close in the area in case if they would need an escape.
Korra and Patrick helped Mako to get on the Naga. Patrick quickly looked at the balcony. It was swarmed with Chi-Blockers.
"Hurry up people!" Patrick yelled. Even though he had an entire weapon arsenal in his pocket, which could wipe out entire army. He could not use it because of the danger of alarming about his presence the Tribunal, Order of Asan or any other old friends of his.
When trio was on the Naga, the Polar Bear-Dog rushed into the streets, grabs by her teeth Bolin's collar and drags him off.
"Hah…I want…to…be… on your back!" Bolin yelled as he was bouncing in Naga's mouth.
Chi-Blockers jumps down from the balcony and helps their fallen comrade back on feet.
"I… recognized one of them. It's the Avatar. Go after them!" He pointed at the escaping foursome.
"No!" Amon ordered from the balcony. "Let them go. They will be the perfect messengers to tell the city about my power."
He slowly turns his head to the left, to the hallway he came from. In the shadows he recognized a familiar figure. It was his Mentor. And he was giving him an applause. That was true reward for Amon for tonight. He wanted to talk with him but he had to leave with rest of the Equalists before the Metalbenders will show up.
At Air Temple Island Patrick and Korra was waiting at Tenzin, who was just now done talking with White Lotus Sentries. An hour ago, they drop Bolin and Mako at their place in the Arena and rush to tell Tenzin what happened. Before they arrived, Tenzin was on the line with Chief Beifong about searching Korra and Patrick after what Jinora told him. Now they all were waiting for the news.
"According what I just learned, firefighters put down the fire and Beifong with Metalbenders arrested almost two hundred people on that rally. But no clues about Amon," Tenzin announced.
"How long can Beifong holds them in custody?" Patrick asked.
"72 hours."
"It should be longer than that."
"Why?" Tenzin wondered. "You saved a friend and interrupted Amon's rally. That is good news, no?"
Patrick looked at Korra, waiting on her to tell Tenzin the rest of the story. The part that makes her terrified.
"Yes, but…" Korra stopped for moment to think how to say it. "We saw how Amon can take people's Bending away. For good."
Tenzin looked her with shock. "That is an impossible. Only Avatar ever possessed that power."
"But we saw it," Korra said.
"I believe you."
Patrick decided to join into their conversation. "This was just a recruitment rally."
Korra and Tenzin turn to him with puzzled face. "What do you mean by that?" asked the Airbender.
"I mean, that Amon just showed over two hundred peoples", Patrick explained, "whose hates Benders that he has a powerful weapon against Benders. So, after they will be free from custody, the ranks of the Equalists will grow. And that weapon will fill one more thing – fear. Fear among the Benders. And judged by the Equalists equipment and training, I think it won't not be their last "Revelation"."
Tenzin nodded. "You are right. The revolution is more dangerous than ever." He then turns to look at the Republic City, plunged into night lights. "No Bender is safe anymore."
But the last words of that night belonged to Patrick, even though they were in spirit. What the fuck did I just get into?