Earth
Fire
Air
Water
Only the Avatar master of all four elements can bring balance, however, something unprecedented occurred, two Avatars exist at the same time. Wan and Korra, Wan, however, lost his memory and must relearn what it means to be the Avatar at this time and find who he is.
Book I: Air
Chapter VI: The Aftermath
"I can't believe this is happening." Wan rubs his temples as he and Korra visit the bending brothers after their forceful eviction from the Arena. "I know, but I think things will get worse before they get better," she admits.
Wan throws his hands in the air. "Great, now you're pessimistic." Korra simply shrugs as she looks up at the sky, gray and muddy just like the environment of the city. Once they make it inside, Korra runs up the stairs. "Guys, great news! You don't have to go back on the streets. I talked to Tenzin and made all the arrangements. You can come live on Air Temple Island with me and Wan!" Korra smiles and Wan waves, while Mako averts his gaze awkwardly, trying not to hurt the dual Avatars' feelings. Bolin jumps up to Mako's silence, "Asami already invited us to live in her dad's giant mansion! From here on out, it's gonna be the lap of luxury for us."
"Welp, this was a waste of time," Wan mumbles, crossing his arms. Korra is disappointed, though she doesn't want to show it.
Asami walks up the stairs behind the dual Avatars, holding the fire ferret. "Oh hey, I was hoping you two would stop by." Pabu leaps off of the girl and hopped on the ladder. Korra begins to get irritated and her face does not hesitate to show it. She crosses her arms. "Me and Wan were just about to leave, right?" Korra glares at the taller man, who is dumbfounded. "Yeah, we were just about to go…"
"So, I guess I'll see you guys around, sometime." Korra glances towards the brothers, then Asami drops into the conversation again. "Why not tomorrow? I'd love to have you both come to visit the estate," Asami smiles. But before Wan can accept Korra cuts him off completely. "We have Avatar things to do," she starts, Wan looks at her questioningly,
"Don't you mean-" Korra punches Wan on the shoulder. Wan winces, then he smiles, chuckling uncomfortably. "Yep! Avatar stuff… Good old Avatar duties." Korra grins with her eyes closed, as Wan shoots a quick glare at her. Bolin holds up Pabu and talks as if he was Pabu, with a high-pitched voice and an accent, as he waves Pabu in front of his face. "Come on, Korra!" Pabu waves his paw. "We all deserve a little rest and relaxation after all this craziness. We could swim in Asami's pool, it'll be fun!"
Korra laughs. "Alright Pabu." Wan breathes a sigh of relief as Asami walks next to Mako and Bolin, waving. "Great, we'll see you tomorrow." Wan and Korra go down the stairs in a rush, both trying to make it out of the exit as fast as their feet can take them. "That's your rival," Wan says, finally slowing down once they are out of the Arena, Korra scoffs at the other Avatar. "Yes, isn't it obvious?"
"You don't have to be so mean to her, she's trying to be nice," Wan says, a bit astonished at Korra's disliking to her. "Give her a chance, she's more than what meets the eye." Korra's gaze turns back to Wan. "Fine. One chance." She exaggerates this by holding one finger up. "See, that wasn't so hard! Come on, let's head to the police station."
Korra and Wan step into the police station. Wan turns his gaze as Tahno walks towards the two, looking like a completely different person. His hair isn't as well-groomed as before and he looks sluggish at best. "Hey," he says, his voice sounding completely broken and exhausted. "Tahno?" Korra asks, a bit shocked by his new appearance. "I'm so sorry," Wan says, hugging the man, then parts from Tahno. "Listen, I know we're not exactly best friends, but I'm sorry Amon took your bending."
"I've been to the best healers in the city. Whatever Amon did to me, it's permanent." Tahno then puts on a look of determination, he glances at both Wan and Korra.
"You two gotta get him for me." Wan and Korra nod in agreement, and before they knew it, Lin, Tenzin, and Hiroshi Sato walk up to the bench in the midst of finishing a witness report. "Mr. Sato, if you remember anything else about what you saw during Amon's attack, be sure to let us know," Lin says as she turns towards the former water bender, "I'm happy to help any way I can. I want these Equalists to pay for what they've done." Wan hums a bit as he watches Hiroshi leave. Korra turns to Wan who is deep in thought. "What are you thinking?"
"Don't that seem a bit overdramatic?" Korra smirks, teasing the other Avatar with a joke. "You are just suspicious of everyone huh?" Wan shrugs it off nonchalantly, "Hay, I just have a hunch. I could be wrong." Wan can't shake the feeling that Hiroshi was off- from the tone of his voice and how...fake he sounded. He had seen how non benders who were on the side of benders and their nation acted around Amon and they were terrified, unable to speak.
Maybe he is overthinking, and the man has the flare of the dramatics. Or maybe something more is hidden under that nice rich man facade.
Wan can't tell, but he would find out soon enough with time.
He just has to hope he is wrong and again overthinking.
The next day, Korra and Wan ride on Naga to the Sato mansion, it is enormous and lavish at the very least. Wan's mouth is wide open to the point that a fly could get in easily; Korra has a similar reaction. "How rich is this man?"
"Rich," Wan says in awe as they walks up the stairs. The Buttler opens the door to greet the two and leads them to the natatorium area of the house. "The dual Avatars have arrived," the butter announces to the trio, who are in their swimsuits. "Hey!" Mako smiles, and Asami glances at the two. "Glad you guys made it!" Bolin emerges from the water with his arms out. "Welcome to paradise!" Bolin then begins to swim on his back. Wan and Korra sit down on the bench; Korra grunts to herself "Looks like you guys settled right in." Her voice has a hint of sarcasm which Wan notices instantly. Mako doesn't seem to care or even notice as he swims in the pool right in front of Asami.
"Pretty much," Mako says, then he adds in a playful tone, "Except, someone forgot to ask her father if we could stay here." Asami catches up to the fire bender, kissing his cheeks, to which Wan sticks out his tongue in disgust. "Yeah, but I smoothed it over with him. It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission."
Wan hums, watching the three swim, he glances towards Korra, who is trying to keep herself from bursting with jealousy. Then in the nick of time, Bolin gets out of the pool next to Korra, with Pabu on his shoulder. Both are dripping wet. "This is the greatest place in the world! Watch this, watch this!'' Bolin then changes his tone to be more formal. "Fetch me my towel, good sir."
"Yes Master Bolin." He grabs the folded towel, walks towards the earthbender and begins to pat him clean.
"Master Bolin! Ha, I love this guy. Don't forget Master Pabu."
"Wouldn't dream of it, sir." The Butler puts the towel over Pabu, who is still sitting on Bolin's head, and rubs him dry. A moment later, Pabu's fur becomes bushy, and he squeaks. As the butler turns around, Bolin jumps into the pool again and the butler, annoyed, walks back to his waiting spot.
"Poor guy. He probably doesn't get paid enough." Wan mumbles, Asami swims over to the two. Korra in dismay says, "So, what do you have planned for us today? Let me guess, shopping, makeovers…"
"Hay hay, I'm not in that category, okay-" Asami climbs the ladder out of the pool, and turns her head to face Korra and Wan. "I had something a little more exciting in mind, that both of you will enjoy."
Later on, they are led to a racing race track. All five of them sit down on the stands, Wan's eyes are filled with glee. "Pretty cool, huh?" Asami asks the dual avatars. "Now this is more like it," Wan says as he watches the Satomobiles race each other, Korra smiles in awe. Wan gave her a smug look of 'I told you so' that Korra waves off. "Way cooler than a makeover," she says, Asami glances at the two. "This is where Future Industries test-drives their Satomobiles. You two been behind the wheel?" Wan chuckles pating his leg. "Funny joke."
"I'm serious," Asami grins. "I want to know."
"No, I don't know how to drive...anything. Korra knows how to drive a polar bear dog and that's about it." Wan points to Korra who shrugs. "I don't even know if you can consider that driving," Korra says. "You want me to take one of you for a spin?" Asami asks, Korra is the first one to jump on board while Wan stays behind- he is more of a spectator than an on the wheels guy. The race between the two satorace-cars is intense, to say the least, Asami makes it by the skin of her teeth, but she does, and with ease. Wan watches the two girls talk for a moment, making the older man grin. Once Korra comes back, Wan just whistles to himself. "You're right, Asami isn't so bad."
"What? Oh sorry, I couldn't hear you!" Wan teases; this earns him a punch on the shoulder and a half-mad, half-joking Korra. "You heard what I said, old man!" Wan begins to flush. "I'm not old Korra. Why do you call me that!?" Korra simply closes her eyes and crosses her arms. "Because you're fun to tease, that's why."
As the group enters the mansion, Bolin pushes Wan to the side, and Wan shakes his head. Korra, after asking Asami, walks upstairs to the restroom. Wan waits a while, lost in his thoughts, then Korra rushes down, grabbing Wan's hand. "Let's go now," she whispers harshly.
"You're both leaving? But I thought …" Asami starts, Korra turns and puts up a smile to Wan's surprise. "Uh, sorry! I forgot, we're supposed to airsit, I mean babybend, I-I mean babysit the airbender kids. See you later!" Wan awkwardly waves goodbye, once they left Wan pulls his hand from Korra. "What was that?" Wan asks, his voice thick with confusion.
"Wan, you might be right. Hiroshi was overdramatic."
"Wait...I Knew it!" Wan snaps his fingers, he is getting the wrong vibes. The older man strokes his goatee in his thoughts. "We need proof," Wan muses, Korra then smiles. "Then we know who to talk to."
"So, you and Korra think Mr. Sato manufactured those gloves for the Equalists, then framed Cabbage Corp?"
"Yeah, I mean, I don't have the proof but something is up," Wan says as he crosses his arms. "It isn't too far fetched- Cabbage Corp is Sato's competition and last time I checked you want to crush your competition," Wan explains. Korra adds on with her own information, "And I overheard a phone call between Hiroshi and someone else, it sounded like he was talking to Amon."
Lin and Tenzin glance at each other as the Dual Avatars continue their explanations, and Wan expands on Korra's accusation. "Not to mention that Hiroshi is a man with money and technology. Bonus, he's a Non-bender. I doubt that a bender would join Amon's revolution. Now, I'm not saying non-benders instantly join Amon cause but it's something we should look into. If Amon can have a flying airship, he has the technology and he's not the type to have someone out in the open with it."
"You have a point, both of you. He does have the means and he has a motive." Lin starts. Wan leans in closer, "What is it?" He presses them to give more answers and Tenzin relents without hesitation.
"Twelve years ago, the Agni Kai Triad robbed Sato's mansion. A firebender killed Sato's wife during the break-in." Wan frowns at this realization. Though he would be thrilled to have more information on Sato, it breaks his heart for him to hear that.
Korra gasps, "That's terrible."
"Yeah, but it gives more background." Wan says he is still a bit pained but focused, he wanted for his gut to be wrong. He knew that wasn't going to happen. "It's possible that he's been harboring anti-bending sentiment all this time," Tenzin states. Wan hums, "Money, Tragic background and Advanced Technology. I hate to say it but might be with the equalists."
"Maybe we should look at Mr. Sato a little more closely," Lin says.
After gives the okay to search every future industry's factories, it turns out nothing was fruitful. Every box is opened and every crevasse is checked. Nothing comes from it.
Wan sighs, a bit relieved, but embarrassed, while Korra is unwilling to give up. She hops off Naga to confront her friends, and the conversation gets more hostile. The older man jumps off Naga and saunters up to the two teens, interrupting the argument between them. He stands next to Korra, and Wan turns to Mako, who scowls at Korra. "First off Mako, you're being completely ignorant. Just because Mr. Sato threw a few bucks at your way doesn't make him a hero. Also, don't think Korra's doing this out of jealousy of your relationship with Asami. Not everything revolves around you, I'm the one you should get mad at for this, not Korra." The two teens are speechless at Wan's statement. Mako glares at Wan, the older man scoffs at him. "Don't make yourself look stupid."
Korra smirks a bit, she follows Wan as they both leave. "Well, that went...well?" Korra starts, Wan sighs, "No leads, no proof. Just great," he finishes off with a sarcastic tone. Korra pats his back "We'll find something, I still believe me and you have too many motives to not give this one up." Wan smiles warmly at Korra's pep talk; she gives a warm smile as well. In the midsts of an affectionate moment, a worker approaches them. He places a note in Korra's hand as he walks past her. Korra, completely surprised, looks around to see who handed her the note, but no one is there. She opens the note and reads it.
"Just our luck, Wan." Korra hands the note to Wan, who begins to grin, a little too gleefully at that. "The game is still on," he murmurs. Wan and Korra rush up to Tenzin and Lin and Wan hands the note to Korra for her to read aloud. "Looks like is hiding something," Wan simply states as Korra starts reading,"If you want to find the truth, meet me under the north end of the Silk Road Bridge at midnight.".
Later on that night, the four of them are under the silk road, waiting for the Worker. He eventually comes, signaling to Korra and the others. The Warehouse worker comes out from hiding behind the pillar of the bridge, and they all turn their heads.
"Listen, I joined the Equalists because I believed in what Amon said. I thought he could make life better for us non benders. But I didn't sign up for this… This war."
Wan nods. "It's okay, Amon is going to the extremes of what most people want- equality."
"What do you have on Hiroshi Sato?" Lin asks, and the Warehouse worker turns to the chief. "He manufactured those gloves for the Equalists."
"We knew it!" The dual avatars proclaim confidently, the man lifts up the collar to hide his face more. "And there are rumors he's working on something even bigger. Some new kind of weapon."
Tenzin's hand rises in confusion. "But we searched all of Future Industries and found nothing." Wan nods, folding his arms, "Every nook and cranny"
"That's because he has a secret factory," the man answers. Korra asks, determined to get more, "Where?"
"It's right underneath the Sato Mansion," the man finishes. Wan facepalms as he remembers that Korra and him were there a few days ago. "It was right under our feet."
Asami and the bending brothers are hanging out with each other, then out of nowhere the metal bender cops burst into the living room, causing Bolin to raise his arms in fear. Asami stands up, both surprised and enraged at this intrusion.
"What are you doing here?"
Lin steps in, turning to Asami. "We have reason to believe that there's a factory hidden below the mansion." Asami narrows her eyes. "I think I would've noticed if there was a factory underneath my house." She shakes her head disbelievingly. "The lies you people come up with just to persecute my father."
"Where is your father?" Tenzin questions; the teenager scoffs, then answers, "In his workshop, behind the house." Back in Hiroshi's workshop, metal bender cops guard the entire area as they all stride toward the place. The metal bender cops burst into the workshop to find no one in the room. "Dad? Hello?" Asami calls, but she receivs no answer. An officer approaches Lin bearing some reports. "Chief, the estate's been secured. No one has left the workshop since we arrived."
"Perhaps we just couldn't see him leaving." Lin walks into the middle of the room with her hands behind her back. She raises her left leg and metal bends her left shoe, removing it to expose her bare foot. She steps on the ground, then in mere moments she finds something.
"There's a tunnel beneath the workshop running deep into the mountainside."
"What? There's no tunnel!" Asami protests. Lin glances at the floor and metal bends to remove the metal layer, exposing stairs and an elevator. Wan whistles, his pitch going down in everyone's silence. "Well then, the little birdie was right."
"I don't understand. There must be an explanation," Korra says to Asami. "Maybe you don't know everything about your father." She shifts her tone somewhat sympathetically. "I'm sorry."
"Officers," Lin announces. "Into the tunnel. Be cautious." Officers promptly walk toward the stairs. Mako, Bolin and Asami start walking with them until they are stopped by Lin. "Uh-uh, you three stay up here. Officer Song, keep an eye on them."
As they walk down, Korra turns her head and looks at the three in despair as Mako turns his head away with guilt. Wan gently puts his hand on Korra's shoulder.
The elevator takes the group down until it stops, and they cautiously walk into a massive space that has posters of Amon hanging up all over. There are large robotic machines on every side. "Not your average backyard workshop," Lin comments.
Korra looks at the large robotic machines. "And I'm guessing those are the new weapons."
"Technology and Money," Wan muses, as Lin and Tenzin also look at the machines. "Hiroshi was lying all right, but where is he?" Tenzin says. Suddenly, a metal wall shoots up to block the entrance with a clang, that makes them all jump. "Guess he heard us coming," Wan nervously says. Lin quickly tries to bend the metal wall but to no avail. "I'm afraid you won't be able to metalbend that wall, Chief Beifong," Hiroshi's voice announces through the speakers, as green lights flicker on. Wan covers his eyes at their intensity. Once his pupils adjust, he glances up and his eyes widen in alarm as the robot springs to life.
"It's solid platinum. Not even your renowned mother could bend metal so pure," he says inside of the metal tank. Korra walks up, saying, "Hiroshi, I knew you were a lying, no good Equalist! Come out here and-"
"And do what, young Avatar? Face the wrath of you and your other friends' bending? No. I think I'll fight from inside here where my odds are a little more ... equal."
"That source was a set-up! You lured us down here!" Lin yells as the mecha tanks come closer to surround the benders. "Guilty as charged." The Equalist proclaims, as Wan takes up his bending stance. "Well at least we know that you're fake," Wan mumbles. Hiroshi shoots out a grappler to capture them. The four avoid it as another mecha tank attacks the metal bender cops, but they dodge it as well, shooting out cables to wrap around its arms. Two more cops run up, metal bending cables to hold off another mecha tank. Lin dodges the grappler then earth bends herself in the air. She bends metal daggers from her armor, landing on the head of the mecha tank. She shatters the glass with a stab, missing the Equalist inside who dodges quickly. She keeps going, forcing the machine to move backward and fall over.
While Lin sabotages the mecha tank, Hiroshi moves his own mecha tank forward as Korra attempts to no effect. Tenzin and Wan airbend Hiroshi Sato back from Korra.
Lin struggles to deliver another blow but is grabbed from behind with a grappler, knocking her forward. She is flung across the room and lands badly on the ground; she and her officers are now unconscious.
Tenzin, Wan and Korra help each other as they use their bending to push Hiroshi Sato's mecha tank into the corner. "Give up, you're surrounded!" Wan yells as he attacks. Hiroshi shoots a grappler at Wan and he dodges. Korra earth bends a rock out of the ground and quickly fires it at Hiroshi. Wan adds on with a blast of air, trying to knock the mecha suit down. At that moment, she and Wan are grabbed and shoved by two mecha tanks' grappling hooks, knocking them unconscious by slamming them against a metal pipe.
"Wan! Korra!" Tenzin cries out at the Dual Avatars' defeat; he uses his airbending to cushion their falls. The two grunt as they hit the floor. Tenzin turns his attention to the mecha suits, now he is all alone. Tenzin fights off Hiroshi Sato and an Equalist, using his airbending and an air wheel to evade their attacks. He jumps up, but Hiroshi shoots bolas. Tenzin is ensnared in one, and he groans in pain as he is electrocuted. He lands roughly on the ground, now unconscious.
Hiroshi Sato exits his mecha tank and climbs down; he gazes around his warehouse and smiles proudly. "Well, I'd say that was a near-flawless test run." He turns his gaze to the Equalists, pointing at the unconscious people. "Load everyone into the transports and deliver them to Amon!" He commands.
Suddenly a hole is bent from the ground; Bolin pops up from underneath along with Mako. They look around until they notice with horror the metal benders being dragged into the trucks. "Oh no!" Bolin exclaims.
"Korra was right. We gotta do something, quick!" Mako murmurs harshly as he and Bolin try to get closer to the four. The bending brothers grab both Korra and Wan and hoist them behind their backs. When they are going to grab Tenzin and Lin, they are spotted by Hiroshi and the Lieutenant.
"Not so fast boys," Hiroshi says, conducting electricity from his gloves. Bolin grins nervously. "Hello, Mr. Sato. Wow! What a really swell, scary factory you have here under your giant mansion." He chuckles a bit, Mako glares at Hiroshi and furiously says, "Sponsoring our team, supporting the Dual Avatars. It was all just a big cover."
"Yes, and the most difficult part was watching my daughter traipse around with a firebending street rat like you!" The man yells, but before he can attack, he hears his daughter's voice, and he stops abruptly. "Why?" Asami asks with a small sob. Hiroshi looks towards his flesh and blood, as Wan and Korra begin to regain consciousness, unknown to him. "Sweetie, I wanted to keep you out of this as long as I could. But now you know the truth, please, forgive me." He points at the group of benders. "These people, these benders. They took away your mother, the love of my life. They've ruined the world, but with Amon, we can fix it and build a perfect world together. We can help people like us, everywhere!" He takes off one of his gloves and offers it to Asami. "Join me, Asami."
Wan and Korra watch in silence. Asami glances at her father with uncertainty as she hesitatingly steps toward him. She looks at the glove, shaking as she reaches for it. She slips the glove on, and Wan stares at her with an expression of sadness and disbelief.
"I love you dad," Asami whispers. And with that, she thrusts the glove towards her father, electrocuting him until he is unconscious. Mako, Korra, and Wan are stunned at this ruse. Asami takes out Lieutenant with little to no stress. Lin wakes up as the other mecha suits notice them. Wan grabs Tenzin and pulls him up. "Let's get out of here!" He urges. They rush back to the hole that Bolin made. Right before the mecha tanks can capture them, Bolin earth bends the hole shut.
Wan watches as the airship leaves the Sato mansion, sighing as he rests his head on the glass. "You alright?" Korra walks up to him; Wan takes a long deep breath. "I'm fine, just a bit shaken by... that." The amnesic avatar closes his eyes. "Lin is resigning," Korra says bluntly, this makes Wan's eyes widen sharply. "What! Why?"
"Tarrlok played her." Korra looks up at Wan with, somewhat concerned, and a bit angry at Tarrlok. "If it isn't Amon or Hiroshi, it's him," Wan says to himself as he looks down at the city.
