~Chapter 9~

~Puppet masters~

"I'm not an equalist." Iroh sat up painfully, "and if you think I'll go over to your side you're wrong."

Amon chuckled. "No, you are on of us, at least in beliefs. I've read your file, courtesy of one of my allies, I know all about you. You can read it if you want, but it's all there. The fact you are a nonbender, your arranged marriage to the chief's daughter, the very intriguing nature of your latest mission. You and me, we are cut from the same cloth, we both despise benders."

"I do not!" Iroh looked away. "I just hate it when they use their power to lord over others. I don't want to take away someone's bending."

"Yes, inequality it runs rampant through the world and benders are the greatest source of it. Look at your life; just look at your body covered in burns, bruises, and cuts all given to you by benders who didn't like your simple and fair answer. There were pieces of glass in your eyes because of them! Are you really going to say that bending has any place in this world? Can you think of one thing that can wipe away their sins?"

"Healing."

"What?"
"Waterbenders can heal people, that's got to be worth something." Iroh flinched as the burn on his chest started to protest his posture.

"I can see why you'd think that. You are in pain and need more medical attention, I'll bring it to you in a moment but before I leave just ponder this: if waterbending healing was so good, how come it couldn't save your father?"

.o. 3 Years ago .o.

Sozza looked over at Iroh, "So your mother wants to keep you out of trouble and safe while still learning how to be a good leader? And she sends you to me? Well that's the funniest damn thing I've heard all day."

Iroh raised an eyebrow, "Don't think you can do it?"

"I don't think you want to be safe, you wouldn't be joining the UFO if you wanted that." She paused. "Either way, your reasons for joining a moot, just understand, I'm not going to go easy on you because we're family or because you're a prince, understand?"

"Yes, Director."

"Good, now the first thing you need to know about this job isn't how to fight or do any of that spy crap people tell you about. The first thing you need to know is manipulation."

Iroh frowned. "I've been manipulated enough thank you."

"Oh, I didn't say be manipulated, I said manipulation. You're not a stranger to seeing people trying manipulate you and the people around you and you're a damn good manipulator yourself you just don't know it."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Iroh crossed his arms. "I've never manipulated anyone, I've tried to be a good person."

Sozza chuckled. "Oh, Iroh, my sweet, sweet cousin. You have, you got my mother to like you, you got the Avatar to stop hating you and actually have feeling for you, and you managed to get your mother to sent you to me for training." She set a hand on Iroh's shoulder. "You've got raw talent kid, and in this profession raw talent in that is worth your weight in gold. You'll have them falling to their knees to help you because of it."

"What?"

"Seduction my dear Prince, the best way t get what you want is to toy with a person's heart."

Iroh shifted uncomfortably. "I don't what to do that, I have a wife."

"Yeah, you do and remember this Iroh if nothing else, you may hate manipulating people and you may love your wife but one day you may have to choose between staying true to her and dying or not and coming home to her." She patted Iroh's shoulder. "Your choice."

They were suddenly interrupted by another agent running into the room, holding a bunch of papers in his arms and a large bag over a shoulder. "Sorry I'm late, I had trouble finding the file you wanted."

Iroh looked at the water tribesman quizzically, he was maybe ten years older than him and looked completely panicked.

Sozza sighed. "It's fine, agent 818 I hadn't gotten to the part were you were needed. But since you're here anyway, Agent 818 I would like you to meet our newest double O, 007, this is Agent 818, he is going to show you the ropes to some of our more practical methods. Learn well, he's one our best."

818 held scratched behind his head. "I'm not really the best, but I am good."

Iroh looked the man up and down. "And what is your specialty, exactly?"
"I'm the man you want to see if you ever need a disguise. I specialized in makeup specifically, though I'm allergic to the water proof stuff so if you need to learn that get some one else."

"You know you're awful chatty for a person who's supposed to be a secret agent."

"You'll get used to it, most people here are complete chatter boxes." He held out his hand. "I'm Noatak by the way and welcome to the UFO."

Iroh glanced over at Sozza who nodded. "Iroh and thanks."

. .o.

When Amon returned, Iroh was dosing. The prince opened his eyes to look over at the man. "You're a thug, a terrorist, you cause change by fear," He looked away, "But you're right, I hate them, I hate them all and what they've done to me and the world. They manipulate and control using people like pawns."

"But you're not a pawn, not any more."

Iroh glanced back over. "No? I'm more of a pawn than ever. The question is which side of the board am I on? Am I even a playable piece?"

Amon sat down next to Iroh. "Now that is up to you. I won't harm you, but I can't let you leave either, not that you really can get far with that broken ankle."

Iroh glanced down at his left foot now securely wrapped in a cast. I was just unblurry enough for him to make out.

"However," Amon continued, "I have learned, all too well, from the last time that you can't be caged infinitely, so I give you an offer. Leave, leave the city taking your wife with you and never comeback."
"Or?"

"Stay and be the queen on the chess board, metaphorically of course."

"Of course."

"You'll be useful here, appreciated here, no one will doubt your intentions because you're a nonbender. You belong here with us they are the enemy. Just look at what they did to you."

Iroh could feel his heart rate starting to slow and his eyes become heavier and heavier. It was like the wind had been knocked out of him and now all he wanted was to get some rest.

"I'll let you mull my offer over." Amon whispered ever so softly in the now sleeping general's ear.

.o.

Kayther looked at the remains of Iroh's office and the three men splattered about. She couldn't tell whose blood was whose but she did know Iroh wasn't among the dead. The UFO agent pinched her nose. Sozza was not going to like this one bit. Mentally she made a list in her head of what she needed to do now.

1. Leave unseen

2. Tell Sozza she has a missing agent

3. Comfort Sozza as she freaks out about her cousin

4. Ignore tragic family relations story again

5. Tell Sozza the three biggest a-holes in the first fleet are now dead

6. Alert Sozza's spouse via written message that Sozza will probably be working late.

7. Alert all other agents to agent 007's disappearance including agents 818, 955, and 003 up in the North Pole, spirits knows exactly where.

8. Tell Iroh's wife he's missing.

Kayther grimaced, Iroh had told her stories about the hellion from down under and she really didn't want to find out definitively if they were true. The earth bender sighed and slipped out of the room and out into the night.

.o.

Korra poked at her food, they had won the match but only because of Mako and Bolin's efforts. Her head and heart just weren't in it tonight. She looked up at the others at the table. Asami looked the most concerned. She put a hand on Korra's shoulder. "Hey, are you ok? Do you want to go home? You look miserable."

Korra shook her head. "No, I'm ok, just disappointed. He promised to come." She stifled a sob that was desperately trying to escape. "He promised. why would he lie to me?"

Mako frowned. "I don't like how he treats you, Korra. He's playing with your emotions."

Korra shook her head. "No, he's just busy, or something. He's not playing with my emotions, I just don't know what he's doing."

"Avatar Korra?"

Korra looked up to see a police officer standing by the table. "Yes?"

"Um, ma'm, I need to talk to you."

Korra felt like she was growing paler by the moment. "Why?"
"Equalists are believe to have attacked a United Forces ship, three officers are confirmed dead and General Iroh is MIA. We need to talk to you down town."

Korra was numb for a moment and didn't remember leaving the restaurant and getting into the cop car. She was thankful that Bolin and Mako went with her; she was told Asami was going to drive her own car to the station but she wasn't really paying attention.

A/N : Thanks for reading! Um hope you enjoyed and I'll see you all later! Oh, and thanks to David Alstrada for letting my use his o.c. Kayther. Comment if you feel so compelled. ~ C.C.