Chapter 13 – Master of Magnetism

City Hall, Republic City

Councilman Tarrlok was in his office organizing his papers, a normal day in the office. His plans were moving ahead; even with the arena closed for the Equalist attack a week ago Tarrlok was sure he could proceed further in his plans to rid the city of those terrorists. His assistant entered giving the daily city petitions, much to his dismay.

"More petitions from the Universal Church of Truth? They're getting in my nerves." Tarrlok said as he looked at their petition letter.

"They just want more buildings to worship in sir." The assistant said.

"A bunch of deviants they are, especially that leader of theirs…what's his name? Magus right? One annoyance after another." Tarrlok stood up from his desk and walked towards the window. "I'm telling you this city would be falling apart if it wasn't for me."

"I'm sure sir."

"Get my car ready, I'm paying a visit to someone."

"Sure sir."

Shinzou Towers, Republic City

The Shinzou Towers, headquarters of Future Industries most powerful competitor, Shinzou Industries. Inside the amazing skyscraper was one of the richest men of the world, Kuro Shinzou, genius, billionaire, playboy, and philanthropist.

"Dammit Kuro, are you going to let me defend you correctly?!" The blind attorney known as Matto yelled at his client.

"Calm down Matto, I just like doing thinks my way. I'll make sure you get your money's worth." Shinzou replied with a calm yet commanding voice. Then the door was knocked and a red-haired young woman came in. "Yes Kosho?"

"Your two-o-clock is here, Mr. Shinzou." Kosho informed him.

"Good call him in." Kuro smiled, he stood up. "I'll talk to you later Matto."

"Alright, just listen to me for once okay?" Matto and Kuro shook hands.

"Can't promise you that." Kuro joked; Matto walked out of Shinzou's office and after he did Tarrlok stepped in. "Tarrlok, how may I help you?"

"Matto I see you've been off a while." Tarrlok said noticing the glowing thing in his chest beneath his clothes.

"Oh this? It was an accident while I visited the Earth Kingdom. So what do you want, councilman?" Kuro asked.

"Elections for a new chairman of the council are in about two months and I wanted to know if you're still with me." Tarrlok said.

"Tarrlok, we already talked about this. I can't support you anymore, what you did to those people is inhumane." Kuro replied with a sincere tone.

"Inhumane? Those…people are not people; you've seen what they've done. They are almost as bad as the Equalists." Tarrlok responded with mild hostility. "They all should be put in cages, Kuro, and then let the guard throw the key down a pit."

"I'm sorry Tarrlok, as long as you don't change your opinion on this matter I can't help you in your campaign. Ask someone else, but not me." Kuro placed his foot down and denied the councilmember.

"Fine." Tarrlok replied with a hint of anger and arrogance as he left the billionaire's office. Kuro sighed and unbuttoned his shirt revealing the artifact in his chest.

"You still have heart Kuro…you still have it."

City Council, Republic City

Korra and Thor accompanied Tenzin to work after a week of helping Mako and Bolin move to Asami's mansion. "Nice little office you got here Tenzin." Korra said as she sat on a nearby couch.

"I keep it organize whenever I can, preparedness is a virtue." Tenzin replied as he sat in his desk and began looking at the daily petitions and mail.

"I don't know Tenzin, this is pretty boring." Korra responded as she looked around the office, it was packed with shelves filled with books.

"My brother would actually enjoy being in here." Thor said as he picked up a book. "What is this? 'The Realm of Orinposu'?"

"Ah those are just old myths about spirits living atop a cosmic mountain, nothing of worth." Tenzin replied as he looked at the documents on his desk. Thor placed the book back on its place and sat next to Korra.

"Why are we here again? I hate books." Thor said.

"There's nothing to do, the guys are being dragged by Asami to the stores and well…nothing else." Korra replied. "Hold on…do you hear that?"

Meanwhile at the office of Tarrlok nearby, the councilman sat on his study, deeply thinking on his next move. 'Without Shinzou's help I will have to rely on other sources…my SHIELD personnel are fast in stopping Equalists and rounding up those inhumane things. But…what comes next will be quite the feat to pull.' He thought to himself.

The door knocked taking him out of his thoughts. "Yes what is it?" He asked. The door opened and a man with a long brown overcoat and a brown hat walked in. "What do you want, I'm busy." Tarrlok said.

"Councilman Tarrlok, it's a pleasure meeting you in person." The man said.

"Do I know you?" Tarrlok asked.

"No, but I think you are familiar with my people." The man replied. Tarrlok's eyes widened in realization.

"You're one of those freaks…" Tarrlok said as he stood up. He bended some water into his hands from the fountain wall behind him.

"Oh what an unfortunate action you have taken councilman." The man said as he took revealed his true appearance. He took the overcoat and hat… "My people call me, Magneto."

Tarrlok then saw that the metallic lamps on the sides of his desk turned into tubes and quickly trapped him making him unable to move and bend. "You…you're a metalbender?!" He asked.

"I am much more than a mere bender, councilman. My bending has been naturally amplified to a degree that I can bend anything with a small hint of metal to my will, be it a satomobile, a piece of stone…or a liquids in your body." Magneto replied with a smile.

"Impossible! Only…only certain waterbenders can do that!" Tarrlok responded not wanting to believe what he was hearing.

"The mineral within your body are susceptible to my control, councilman. I have to still master such technique but…I am quite proficient with the control of all other metals." Magneto said as all the objects in the office began to be bended by his incredible power.

"What…what do you want?" Tarrlok asked.

"Your life." Magneto responded coldly. "You see Councilman Tarrlok, like you I believe that my kind and normal humans, be it benders or non-benders, cannot live in peace. The war for survival must begin now while we 'freaks' you called us are strong and you are still divided. "

Magneto then bended all the metals in the Tarrlok's office into one single heavy object and hovered it over Tarrlok's head. "No…don't do this! I have only done what was good for the city! Please! " Tarrlok pleaded.

"Be quiet! When I was a boy I saw men executed, women and children…each night I swore to myself never again." Magneto responded remembering the atrocities of the past. "But we must prevail, goodbye councilman."

Then a blast of fire struck Magneto in the back while a powerful gust of air pushed the metallic object away from Tarrlok and falling into the floor.

"Who dares!?" Magneto yelled.

"I do!" Korra responded as she continued to blast him with a combination of firebending and waterbending. The attacks slammed Magneto into the wall.

"Your actions are futile young lady." Magneto said bending the ground below Korra, making her fall on her back. Thor quickly ran towards Magneto to smack him with all his might but was then caught by the master of magnetism. Magneto grabbed him by the throat. "Young man, there is something peculiar about you."

"Grr…" Thor grunted, he struck Magneto on the chest but that only seemed to make him laugh.

"Good try boy, but my suit is made of high-durable metal alloys. I can bend them to whatever I see fit." Magneto responded throwing Thor into the wall. Then Magneto looked at Tenzin as he helped Korra up and then at a still helpless Tarrlok. "You will be spared…for now, I do not wish to slay a man while in the presence of the Avatar."

Magneto then hovered on the air and with his power made a hole in the wall allowing him to leave. Metalbenders ran inside the office looking for the Master of Magnetism but he was already gone. They bended the metal tubes off Tarrlok liberating him.

"Who was that?" Korra asked as she rubbed the back of her head.

"A freak. That was who he was." Tarrlok responded sound quite furious. "I want him dead do you hear me? Dead!"

The metalbenders looked at each other and nodded to Tarrlok. "We will inform the Chief of what happened in here." One of the officers said.

Korra looked out the hole in the wall. "That man had some amazing power." Korra said.

"Yeah…" Thor replied.