A motorboat piloted by an Air Acolyte brought Councilman Tenzin of Republic City home. Tenzin stepped onto the pier after the acolyte had tethered the boat and made his way up the path towards his home. Council meetings were always tiring affairs for him, but that last one was worse than usual.
He passed by some other acolytes as he headed home. Normally he made a habit of greeting them, and conversing briefly with some of them, but not today. Today he only wanted to sit down and have some tea with his wife. He found her in the living room. She seems to have anticipated it, as she was already seated at the table with a kettle and two teacups.
"I'd just finished putting Meelo to sleep," she said. It wasn't an easy task. Their youngest child was energetic, to put it mildly. "Welcome home, dear. That meeting took a while, to be sure."
"That it did," he responded, pouring some tea into their cups. He felt his neck muscles relax. "Long, and querulous. Have you heard about what happened?"
"Oh, yes. Someone broke into the Earth Kingdom embassy," Pema said after a moment's consideration. "The acolytes have been talking about it. But no one seems to know much about it. What was stolen?"
Tenzin sighed. "That's just the thing, Pema. We don't know. The embassy says they're still doing an inventory to see what is missing. The Earth Queen was livid when she called, but she also adamantly refused to actually say what they might have lost."
"So the burglars got away without stealing anything?" Pema paused. "Or... what they stole was something the Earth Kingdom doesn't want us to know was there in the first place."
"Exactly so, dear," Tenzin said in a weary voice. Despite her lack of interest in politics, such things rarely escaped his wife. Sometimes he thought she'd make a better Councillor than he did. "Which concerns me. What did they have there? And why did they want to hide it?"
"If they don't tell you, they won't get any help from the police. Sounds like they'll only have themselves to blame, then," Pema pointed out.
"I suppose so. It seems the thieves hit the embassy with speed and efficiency, then dodged vanished. That's where it gets complicated again. It's clear there was some pursuit, but the embassy denies it. People saw two earthbenders fight a man armed with two blunt batons, but the officials claim they have no idea who they were. We suspect Dai Li agents, however. Who are also not supposed to be here in Republic City at all."
"Sounds like those burglars caused a lot more problems to the embassy than just stealing something from them. But... the embassy's problems don't need to be your problems, do they? Sounds like they're sparing Republic City some work by hiding things."
"Yes, I suppose that's true," Teznin said thoughtfully. "If not for those strange facts, we'd have a diplomatic incident on our hands. As it stands... we still might have one, but the Earth Queen can't put all the blame on us. We still need to find out who did this, though."
"Wasn't it the Triads?"
"It may have been... but they used no bending. None of the guards saw them use any, and there are no marks. No scorch marks, no damaged walls, no water. According to the reports, they used batons, hand-to-hand techniques, bolas and knives. Even explosives to get through one door. But no bending."
Pema frowned. "That's strange. Maybe they just sent non-bending members, but... that'd be a lot of trouble for no purpose, wouldn't it?"
"Lin said the purpose may have been to obscure which triad it was... only the Triple Threats use more than one bending art."
"That makes sense," Pema said with a nod.
"It does. But... I think it may have been someone else. The Equalists."
There was a long silence.
"You mean... the non-bending vigilante group? Why would they rob the Earth Kingdom embassy?"
"I don't know. But the triads aren't known for employing non-bending combat specialists. They don't approve of non-benders fighting, in general. It makes it easier to push them around."
"What did the others say?" Pema asked, suspecting that they'd reached the source of the contention in the Council.
"No one else agreed," Tenzin responded ruefully. "Councillor Kyung-Ok found it ridiculous. She said the Equalists are just rabble-rousers and would never dare an attack this risky. She insisted it must have been one of the triads, who simply chose not to use bending. Or simply didn't leave any visible signs of it. Councillor Somchai was of course the one most insistent that we get to the bottom of this as quickly as we can. He claimed the triads must have tried to pin it on the Equalists - suggesting that we're too lenient on them. Councillor Anik only pointed out that they had not used their typical tools like chi-blocking or illegal weaponry.
"What about Tarrlok?"
"He was uncharacteristically quiet, at first. He'd always been contemptuous of the Equalists, but never took a direct stance on them. He always takes some time before he takes a stance on anything, mind you. Then he agreed with the rest." Tenzin sighed. "He said that the Equalists do not deserve the attention I insist we should give them. According to him, they would not have the resources, skills or daring to actually break into an embassy."
"But you don't believe it," Pema observed matter-of-factly.
"It would be... easy to believe it. But no. I do not. I think the Equalists are a greater threat than most realize. It's not about what they can do, but about what they represent. If a group of non-benders believe they need to take justicw into their own hands... I do not like what it says about this nation.
Pema sighed.
"It is true that you keep hearing more and more about them. Even here, on Air Temple Island. They don't like us Air Acolytes much. They claim we're willingly subservient to benders just because they're benders. That it's humiliating and demeaning. Who are they to judge our life choices?" Pema huffed. "They just want to blame all the problems in their lives on not being benders. As if it were that simple."
"The Equalists are radicals," Tenzin agreed. "Their message is not going to lead to anything good. I just wish the rest of the Council would see it. Instead, they don't seem to treat them seriously at all. I knew that banning chi-blocking and electro-weapons would result in increased tensions. I fear that if the Council does take them seriously, it will just result in more restrictions."
Pema shook her head. "You do your best to stop them, don't you? Don't blame yourself for the actions of obstructive bureaucrats and angry troublemakers."
"I don't think it's that simple. This can't be what my father wanted. His wish was to create a harmonious society, free of the wounds of the war, where everyone could live in peace. Different people contributing different things to the new society. But something must have gone wrong. The Equalists may be extremists, but such a movement could only have arisen out of a deep imbalance in our society. And I fear it will get worse."
Councillor Tarrlok couldn't help but smile as he was driven to his personal apartments after the Council session was over. Playing the rest of the republic's governing body like a fiddle seemed to be getting easier. Most of the Council were bureaucrats, put there by their nations to get them out of the way, by means of a cushy retirement. Teznin was dedicated, but he was also completely out of his element in the Council. In short, no one but Tarrlok who was willing and able to play the political game.
Tarrlok chuckled. The look of dismay on Tenzin's face as his concerns were brushed aside had been something to behold. Katara may have been out of his reach, but at least he could enjoy humiliating her son.
He closed his eyes as he leaned back in the car seat. Years later, he could still see it. His mother, lying in a pile of blood-soaked snow. Katara standing over her. Aluki's last act had been to protect her son. No, not her son. The last scion of her family, and the last practitioner of the forbidden techniques. Her plan worked, and the knowledge of simultaneous bloodbending survived. The last person who knew it now regularly sat in front of Katara's son.
As he returned to his apartments, Tarrlok reflected that he did have to give Tenzin some credit. He did recognize the Equalists as a true problem, rather than a group of inconsequential troublemakers. Unlike the other Councillors, Tarrlok agreed. Unfortunately for Tenzin, it was much more convenient for him to pretend he did not.
Still, the Equalist issue was growing somewhat more pressing. Stealing from the Earth Kingdom embassy was bold. They also took something the Earth Queen wanted to keep secret. Tarrlok didn't feel comfortable passively observing anymore. He needed to make some gentle nudges that would push the situation in a desirable direction.
He got up from his desk and walked up to a seemingly unremarkable gramophone. Pressing a hidden latch on its side caused a drawer to slide out, with a small phone in it. He dialled a number.
"Yes," he said into the receiver a few moments later. "Arrange a meeting. Something important just came up."
Several hours later, Tarrlok waited in a small side-room of his house. The person he waited for turned out to be a portly man with bushy, receding hair. The councillor glared at him.
"I ask to arrange a meeting, and this is what I get? I work through intermediaries, not cronies."
"It's... not my fault, Councillor," the policeman said, clearly nervous. "But my... the people who sent me are rather cautious right now."
Tarrlok leaned back in his chair. He did not make any indication for the policeman to sit.
"Really, now. What caused them to suddenly start exhibiting such behaviour?"
His visitor loosened his collar.
"It's... well, the Equalists. People say that they must have broken into that embassy. And if they can do that, well, then they might be even more dangerous than we thought."
So his business partners did consider the group a real problem. That made things harder and easier at the same time. He leaned forward, stapling his fingers.
"Even more dangerous? I didn't realize they'd managed to put some fear in the triads. Did something happen I'm unaware of?"
"Well... something did. The Agni Kais, they tried to pull an operation a few months ago. I was there, except, uh... on the other side. Managed to slow down my unit, but that just meant the Equalists got there first. They chi-blocked all the Agni Kais who were found later, tied up. Except one, who just vanished into thin air. Got everyone pretty spooked."
"I think I've heard something. I thought the Agni Kais had made an example of that man, for getting showed up by non-benders."
"No, that's not it. I mean, maybe they'd have done that, but... they didn't. Akira was just... nowhere to be found. That made everyone concerned."
Tarrlok shrugged. It was curious, and maybe unsettling, but his "friends" weren't supposed to think about this sort of thing. They were supposed to leave the thinking to him, by and large.
"I still can't believe they're scared of non-benders," he said incredulously. "The Equalists make a big mess, but that's all they can do."
The unfortunate messenger raised his hands.
"I- I don't know. I don't think about and I don't ask. It's none of my business. I just do what I'm told."
Oh, spirits. They didn't even have the common decency to send an actual member. Just some police grunt they'd blackmailed somehow.
"I'm sure you do. So listen closely. If the Equalists are starting to get bolder and more dangerous, they need to be dealt with, quickly. If they start attacking high-ranking triad members, they might do some damage. And I'd rather not lose valuable... friends, and the money and favours they owe me."
The policeman nodded, grimacing. He hated every minute of this.
"They need to step up. Put the fear back in them by a pre-emptive strike. And I know just the targets. Hiroshi Sato. And his daughter."
"But... there's no proof-" the man was cut off by an angry glare from Tarrlok.
"Do not interrupt me, fool. Hiroshi is behind the Equalists. He's just too good at hiding evidence for this city's excuse of a police force to find it. And even if he's not an Equalist, he's still a rabble-rouser that the non-benders look up to. Attacking him and his daughter will remind them who's in charge. We'll do it the usual way. They make the strike and I will make sure the investigation goes nowhere and put the correct spin on it. I'll say that Hiroshi has himself to blame. That a man who tries to uproot our society has no right to expect protection from it."
The mole nodded, with a painful grimace.
"Now, go."
After the man left, another person entered, from a small door that was almost invisible, having been covered in the same wallpaper as the wall. The person was a tall man, bald and with deep down skin. He was dressed in a suit that almost resembled that of a police officer.
"Follow him," he said. "Make sure he reaches those who sent him and relays my message. Pay attention to what they say. Then, once he leaves, kill him. I think my friends do not take our relationship with due respect, and could use a reminder about why it's unwise."
The man nodded and turned to leave, but Tarrlok stopped him with a raised hand.
"One more thing. Do you know this man? Is he a bender?"
"He is," the hitman responded in a quiet, emotionless voice. "An earthbender. Not a very good one."
So at least he had something that justified his place in the police force, and as the triads' inside man. Sending a useless non-bender would have been an insult. It also gave Tarrlok another opportunity.
"Perfect. Don't use bending on him, then. Retrieve one of the confiscated shock-gloves, turn the power up to the highest setting and electrocute him until he dies."
The assassin nodded and departed quickly. He would need to hurry in order to retrieve the glove and still catch up with the triads' messenger.
"So? What did he say?"
The assassin allowed himself a small smile. He had managed to get near the policeman just as he reached his meeting point with those who kept their thumb on him. The voices were coming from around the corner of a large, cheap apartment building. He needed to get closer, but his way was obstructed by a tall chain-link fence. He lightly touched the chain, and metalbent it out of his way. Then he crept up to the corner of the building and peered around it. His quarry was standing in a small space between overflowing dumpsters. He was confronted by an intimidating, broad-shouldered Water Tribe woman.
"H-he was angry that you'd sent me. He said that the Equalists are becoming a problem, but that means you need to do a- a pre-emptive strike." He swallowed. Even from a distance, his fear was palpable. "Hiroshi Sato and his daughter. He said that attacking them will remind non-benders who's in charge, and he'll make sure it can't be tracked back to you. L-like usual."
The woman swore quietly.
"The nerve of that guy... but, sure. We'll do it his way, if he promises us his support. And I suppose that means you're useless for us in this matter."
"Does that mean-" feverish hope filled his voice.
"Oh, shut up. We'll assign other tasks to you. Your debt will not be paid for a long time. A man with your spine should not have your expensive habits."
The man walked away as the woman entered a trap door between the dumpsters. The hitman waited for her to vanish before following the policeman. The streets were empty, which was both an advantage and an obstacle. He would be noticed by his quarry if he wasn't careful, but he would also get an easier opportunity to kill him.
They passed by a trio of people who wore obvious signs of triad membership. In this part of town, they did not hide it, and people got out of their way. They did not harass he assassin's quarry. It was clear they knew him to be their superiors' pawn. But they would not extend the same leniency towards the hitman, so he gave them a wide berth. They laughed as he passed by on the other side of the street, believing him to be just another cowed and scared citizen. Little did they know he could kill them all before they knew what hit them.
His patience paid off when the man left the industrial district into a small grove of trees. It appeared he was taking a shortcut. The assassin had predicted the man's route and now waited among the trees.
He struck in silence, leaping out from behind an overgrown bush and tackling his victim. He could use no bending for this murder, so he had to be quick and efficient. But his assessment of the man had been accurate, and he was an easy mark even without bending. A rag stuffed into his mouth stifled his scream, and a glove-clad hand clutched his chest, delivering a lethal dose of electricity. The air crackled and filled with a foul smell.
Once the man was dead, his killer lifted his body off the ground and threw it under the bushes. It did look as though someone had tried to hide it, but the body would be found easily enough come morning. Bearing the obvious marks of being killed by a shock-glove. His employer would be satisfied.