Disclaimer: I do not own the Avatar world, that is all owned by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.

Chapter 23

The Good and the Bad

Wikilow patrolled the tunnels of the Resistance alone. A duty that wasn't necessary with their large numbers. But one he still performed out of habit. The Avatar always preferred the thought that he was being efficient. No matter where or what he was doing.

He passed by the holding area when a steaming Yulan stormed out. A sight that was becoming more common those days.

"Yulan." Wikilow greeted as she caught up.

"Hey." The engineer curtly replied. A single scowl escaping her lips as she shot poison at the holding area.

"I assume you are still having trouble coming to terms with Hark's betrayal." The Avatar observed, watching his cousin huff.

"Spot on." She sarcastically confirmed, crossing her arms. "Can't get him to talk! Lousy traitor…" Yulan muttered.

"I do not see why we still require his knowledge. To my understanding, the engineering department has been able to successfully run technology maintenance without his cooperation." Wikilow questioned, stone faced. Arlo had been allowed to cease work on the offensive equipment. Focusing on their power supply and convenience instead. However, the rest of the team had long learned how to manage without the cirque.

"He could still have stuff on the Dai Li." Yulan rebutted.

"That is unlikely. Any knowledge he does possess will not likely serve any efficient use that we are not already aware of." The Avatar said in turn. Yulan didn't respond, a glare glued to her face. Wikilow tilted his head. "…What are your ulterior motives for interrogating Hark?" He asked, causing the young woman to sharply turn on him.

"I-" She started but deflated, sliding against the cave wall. "He- Hark actually believes the Dai Li are in the right! He wasn't even indoctrinated into it! He actually thinks they're in the right!" Yulan ranted, kicking the wall. A common habit of hers. "I just don't get it!" She explained, a sad tone to her.

"I see." Wikilow stated.

"Well I don't! We've been best friends since we were kids for Kyoshi's sake! I don't get it!" Yulan repeated.

"Understood. Perhaps I could attempt conversation?" The Avatar offered.

"Huh?" His cousin went, raising an eyebrow.

"If you're goal is to again switch his allegiance. Listening to my perspective, an individual who also once swore their loyalty to the Dai Li might be a more effective tactic." Wikilow explained. Yulan tapped on her goggles, before clicking her tongue.

"That- that sounds like a pretty good plan. Thanks…" She agreed. "Meet me by Hark's cell at lunch." Yulan instructed before disappearing into the tunnels on her own.

Wikilow finished his patrols just as before lunch. Swiftly entering the holding area to see an anxious Yulan. She was pacing back and forth a few feet away from Hark's cell. Upon seeing her cousin, Yulan hurriedly composed herself. After a rushed greeting, the Beifong duo walked in front of Hark's cell.

The former resistance engineer gave them a brief glance before facing away. Arms stubbornly crossed.

"Yulan, Avatar. Back so soon?" Hark mocked. Yulan opened her mouth to respond but closed it, having no new words to say. She looked to Wikilow to start, who nodded.

"I have been informed that you believe that the Dai Li is a righteous and good organization." The Avatar blankly stated. Hark rolled his eyes at his wording.

"Seriously? Believe? They are in the right in this." The former engineer preached with a scoff. "Not like any of you fools would get that through your thick skulls." He continued, scornfully. "I can't believe that the Avatar, the symbol of peace and balance has been let astray by terrorists." Hark lamented.

"Incorrect." Wikilow said back, though Yulan talked over him.

"We're not terrorists!" She snapped. "You've seen the proof! Of what they are, Hark!" Yulan shouted.

"Lies and tricks, Yulan. You've been deceived by them, criminals. Just open your eyes for a second-" Hark started, eyes softening ever so slightly before she cut in.

"That is rich coming from you!" The Beifong girl retorted. She would've continued her tirade had Wikilow not put his hand on her shoulder. Causing her to stand down as he took over. The Avatar had thought of the right statements to make, and the possible rebuttals he would receive in turn. Wikilow would attempt to steer the conversation toward certain information if he wanted to get anywhere.

"Hark, how do you justify the kidnapping and assassination of multiple innocents?" Wikilow calmly began, watching the engineer's eyes narrow in suspicion.

"They deserved it." Hark confidently answered.

"Why do you say that?" Wikilow asked.

"Dai Li are always in the right." The former engineer easily replied. It resembled what Wikilow used to say to his friends. Ah, so his belief went to that far of an extent. Most evidence would most likely be countered with Dai Li said this and that. He'd need more information to continue.

"Why do you believe the Dai Li are in the right-" The Avatar questioned.

"I have proof they are!" Hark went, causing Wikilow to tilt his head and Yulan to gape.

"Elaborate." Wikilow ordered, and the former engineer gladly did so.

*Flashback* Twelve years ago…

Hark lived in Ba Sing Se's upper ring, the son of fire nation immigrants. Which was a rare occurrence in the Earth States, even more so that the family lived such lavish circumstances. He always theorized that his parents preferred the Dai Li's authority over that in the Fire Nation. Whose methods of operation were lacking compared to the organization.

"The Dai Li are much more helpful." His father had said with a crooked smile. Hark's mother wasn't involved in their internal affairs, and he rarely saw her around the house. She was an obedient woman who followed his father's lead in most things. Hark often doubted their love for each other.

He didn't see his father much either. So, the boy was mostly left to his own devices in the upper ring. Hark owned his own mini lab in the house, where he pulled apart and reassembled various toy mechanisms. He hung out with the other kids his age in the upper ring. Irresponsible fools who would rather flaunt their parents' wealth and look down on the lower rings. But he enjoyed their company, his friends.

Hark couldn't say the same about their parents. Parents who were just as irresponsible as their spawn

Suffice it to say, he would rather pull apart metal gears than his adult neighbours' minds.

But his father valued the connections to their families. And Hark couldn't protest, he would take over the family one day. The boy couldn't see himself doing anything else in the future after all. He was resigned to that fate.

However, that changed one day.

Hark was alone in his lab. Wasting the day away on a personal Spirit Invaders IV machine he had been gifted for his birthday. Hark's mother was somewhere, while his father was hosting other upper ring elites downstairs in the dining hall. Unfortunately, it was adults only so his friends couldn't come.

There was laughter from below him. Then the sound of crashes and shattering of glass. Hark rolled his eyes at his father's antics. Suddenly his game stopped working. Hark checked the back, seeing that it was still plugged in. Odd. The doors to his room slammed open, three hooded figures in the doorway. Before he could even process what had happened they had roughly grabbed him. Soon they were in the carpeted hallway, a dirty gag in his mouth and metal coils binding him.

It was then Hark heard the very not good shouting below. Then he heard his father's scream. The boy wiggled in his restraints, which served to make his kidnappers tighten them. The gag muffled his terrified cries as he was pushed forward. He could feel the sun's light on his face as they passed the windows. How he yearned to fight back that day had his hands been free.

The window shattered. Glass slicing his skin. Hark's captors yelled something and fell back. The boy tried to scramble away but tripped on the carpet, landing on his back. Fear paralyzed him, Hark squeezed his eyes together. He felt a large hand pull him to his feet. And then… his gag was pulled out. Hark sputtered, letting out a hoarse cough.

"Kid! Kid! You okay?" A deep concerned voice asked him. Hark felt the weight of his restraints falling off and hitting the floor. Timidly, the boy opened his eyes. His saviour was a young Dai Li agent. His hat loosely fitting on their head. Genuine concern for Hark's well being was expressed. Hark shakily nodded.

"I-I'm okay!" The boy answered through a sniffle. The Dai Li agent clapped his back, trying to say something. However, a large rock was launched through one of the other windows. So the agent brought them both to the ground.

"Come on!" The agent yelled, cutting a rectangular platform from the stone. He put himself and Hark on it, before launching it away from the windows. "Stick with me kid! I'll protect you!" The agent told him in a soothing manner. Hark could only nod and hang on to the agent's uniform as they ran. His house had been attacked by bandits, a lot of them. Hark clutched the folds of the agent's uniform as he took down the offenders group by group.

Hark didn't at first realize when they arrived outside, in front of his house. Multiple Dai Li agents were positioned around the building's perimeter, swiftly capturing any bandits who fled the conflict inside. He still had tears streaming down his cheeks as the agent led him farther away. Who then gently pried his fingers from their uniform.

"It's alright kid, you're safe now." The agent comforted, ruffling his hair. "What's your name, kid?" He quietly asked, shielding him away from the violent scene in the house.

"H-Hark, my n-name's Hark, sir…" Hark sniffled, wiping his runny nose. "Wh-where are my parents?" The boy questioned, not seeing his guardians anywhere.

"Okay, Hark. I'm sure your parents are safe and sound. Trust me." The agent soothed, a friendly smile adorning his face. Hark cried into his shoulder. Though the agent didn't mind, continuing to send words of comfort. But in Hark's grief he never noticed the lingering gazes from the surrounding agents.

It turned out that his parents weren't safe and sound. Hark's father had been murdered and his mother blinded. After recovering from her injuries, she seemed to reveal some hidden backbone. Taking over her husband's affairs, the house was emptied and the family moved to Zaofu. Hark didn't want to leave Ba Sing Se. His friends were there. And the Dai Li headquarters were there. Hark and become quite the fan of the organization after that day. But, his mother wouldn't budge in her decision.

Hark and his friends had said they would keep in touch. They had the technology to do so after all.

Hark stopped trying after three months of no replies. He forgot their names in a mere year later.

On the bright side, his distant mother wasn't so distant anymore. She had dinner with him, talked with him and made sure he was okay. They lived a nice life in Zaofu. Hark had been playing Spirit Invaders V on a slow handheld device when a toy plane rammed into his head. The boy had yelped and fell down to the artificial ground. The broken plane beside him.

"Oops." A girl's voice had went. "Sorry bout that, stranger." She continued, helping him up. The girl had short black hair in two pigtails. A shiny pair of goggles that were much too big for her on her head.

"It's fine." Hark said back, blinking.

"I'm Yulan Beifong, you new here, stranger?" The girl cheerfully asked.

"Yeah, I'm Hark." Hark replied, extending his hand which she happily took. Yulan fiddled with the plane's controller, though the plane remained grounded. "I don't think that will work." Hark had said, she stuck her tongue out at him in turn.

"I'll fix it later. Want to hang out?" Yulan offered, which he took. That was the beginning of Hark's long friendship with Yulan. They talked about games and other tinkering topics. After some years the Dai Li came up, and he got the odd impression that the Beifong's disliked the organization. Which he didn't understand. That one agent defined Hark's entire perception of the Dai Li. Somehow the boy turned blind to their faults.

He wasn't an idiot. But he was also a kid.

Hark knew what he wanted to do when he grew up. He would join the Dai Li and do good like that one kind agent. As he and Yulan grew into their teenage years, Hark had already started planning for his chosen career. He had got to know the Beifongs, nice people.

However, that changed when Yulan took him to her room. And in a hushed voice asked him to join the Resistance against the Dai Li. He said he would think about it. Despite how badly he wanted to scream no in their faces. The Resistance would go on with or without him or them. In that moment Hark concocted a plan to become the Dai Li's spy. The Resistance were a bunch of criminals. And it was clear that Yulan had been unfairly influenced by her dad to believe them right. Hark could help open her eyes.

He would do good.

*Flashback End*

"-Then I slowly pretended to develop the stutter thing to appear less intimidating." Hark proudly admitted.

"That's just! Just!" Yulan sputtered, eyes wide at his outlandish motives. "You're basing this all off one Dai Li agent who saved your life years ago!" She angrily shouted.

"Your logic is flawed." Wikilow debunked.

"Obviously not just that one example. I have never once seen the Dai Li acting unjust! Only corrupt officials have been assassinated! Only criminals and those who break the law are killed! And I would think an entire Resistance would justify just some aggression!" Hark argued, voice rising in volume as he and Yulan engaged in a loud verbal dispute. The Avatar accepted this turn of events, he had an opening.

"Hark." Wikilow clearly stated, grabbing the engineers attention. "We are aware that the Dai Li arrests actual criminals as well. However, if the Dai Li were to convince you to continue siding with them, they would logically hide evidence that they were unjust." He said.

"Like what?" Hark spat.

"Have you witnessed the average living conditions of smaller towns? The high tax rates of the average citizen compared to income?" Wikilow questioned, and to this Hark could not immediately argue against. "I have worked for the Dai Li longer than you have. Due to that experience, it can be assumed that I know more about their methods of operation. The agent that you speak of, is most likely an exception in the Dai Li's number. The behaviour they exhibited is highly unusual compared to most agents." Wikilow continued, and Hark had evolved into straight out glaring at him.

"So? Just because you've only-" The former engineer tried to say.

"He's been with them for over a decade, Hark…" Yulan coldly interrupted.

"The only Dai Li agent who expressed similar behaviour was removed from the organization." Wikilow added.

"…What?" Hark growled.

"I once had a bending instructor who was not like the others. They went beyond training and asked about my emotional well being." The Avatar explained. It was a memory he could only recently recall, having been pushed out of his mind for so long. "They tried to teach me more about the personal aspects of life. However, three days after I was assigned under his tutelage. I was told they were permanently removed from the Dai Li. That their behaviour was unacceptable for maintaining peace and should not be followed." Wikilow explained, echoing the exact words of his instructors replacement.

Hark was silent at this evidence, glaring at him.

"…Shut up…" He seethed, gritting his teeth.

"I am not speaking." Wikilow retorted, which further made the former engineer's anger spike.

"Y-You're wrong! You hear me!" Hark yelled, forcing himself up and hitting the rocky bar that separated him from them. He didn't want to accept that he was wrong, that his efforts were for naught.

"Listen to yourself, Hark." Yulan chastised, a hard but unrelenting look in her eyes. "Just listen to your own advice and open your eyes." She told him, before leaving the holding area altogether. Hark said nothing as she left, hitting the rock again which echoed his futile defence. Wikilow tilted his head at the sight, expression unchanging.

"Your intentions are good-" Wikilow tried to say.

"SHUT UP! I DO NOT. WANT. TO. HEAR. IT AVATAR!" Hark screamed, falling back into the darkness of his cell. Wikilow blinked at his outburst.

"Understood." He simply said and silently exited the area as well. Leaving Hark alone to his swirling thoughts.

Hark had a lot to think about.

Elsewhere, a motorcycle swept through the night. Its rider careful that no one tailed her. She stopped the bike in a small farmhouse on the outskirts of Huíyì. Once it was completely silent, she unloaded her small cargo and entered the main living space.

"I'm back!" She shouted to the other inhabitants: Hafu, Sami, and Nat.

"Hey, Rin!" Hafu enthusiastically greeted with a wave. They were working on their next plan of attack in Huíyì. She left a bag of food on the small kitchen table. Grabbing two newspapers she walked upstairs into one of the few bedrooms. Knocking on the door, a faint enter was heard. Rin did. Inside, an insanely bored Rozoku was sitting in bed. His chest was heavily bandaged, and he was still weak from the gunshot. But otherwise, he was fine.

"Back already?" He cheekily asked as Rin threw one of the papers on his lap.

"Yeah, might rain soon. So I couldn't leave you lot yet." Rin chuckled as they both demolished the paper's contents.

"Shame." Rozoku shot back with a grin. Upon finishing the paper, he closed it, grabbing some scissors and carefully cutting the crossword section out. The fire bender then passed it back to Rin. "Still nothing about the resistance." He sighed.

"Still surprised they managed to call it a mistake by the workers." Rin said in turn, recalling what the Dai Li had reported the factory incident to be. "How're you holding up?" She asked her old friend, who groaned.

"Could be better." He muttered to her amusement.

"Heh, I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere." Rin excused, walking back downstairs.

"Ha Ha." Rozoku sarcastically said from behind her. When Rin came back, the papers were gone but her face was carefully fixed in a calm expression. However, he saw through her act. "What's going on?" He asked.

"Nothing to worry about-" Rin began.

"I'm serious. What's going on." Rozoku repeated, she sighed at his insistence.

"Main group is planning something big. Just said to start preparing for a large scale fight." Rin started.

"Okay? That's good?" The fire bender slowly said, confused.

"There's some good news too. Avatar's been found and is on our side. With the main group that is." Rin got to the point, saying it as if tearing off a bandaid.

"Oh…" Rozoku went, understanding of her dilemma. When he was able to keep a clear head. Rin had gathered them all in his room and explained her actual past, leaving nothing out. Luckily, they had all accepted her still. But in that moment, Rozoku could see Rin's guilt. "…You want to go apologize to them." He stated, there was no point in lying.

"…Kind of…" Rin muttered, leaning against a wooden chair.

"…We'll understand, Rin. Go for it!" Rozoku encouraged with a small smile.

"I don't want to leave." She quietly said back.

"We'll be fine." The fire bender waved off. Rin looked at his bandaged chest, doubtful. Rozoku chuckled, causing her to give him a confused look.

"What's so funny?" Rin asked.

"Laughing at the parallels is all. Agni, Koto's mom would love this!" Rozoku laughed.

"I don't follow." Rin deadpanned.

"Listen, Rin. Just go! You helped me get over myself. And I'm telling you to do the same!" The fire bender explained. She still looked hesitant so he kept going. "We'll be here when you get back, extra careful. I can promise that." Rozoku strongly continued. Rin was quiet for a moment before she started laughing too.

"Don't be an idiot, and promise something so cheesy like that!" She wheezed, which her old friend joined in on.

"Does that mean you're going?" He asked, catching his breath.

"…tomorrow…" Rin answered, returning his smile.