005
THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK

"New York City," Alistair settled back in the cockpit chair as he steeped his fingers uneasily, "Not quite the way I imagined it'd be,"

Gazing ahead at the vast metropolis beyond, New York seemed to have taken parts from two cities form different time periods and crushed the together to from what was considered by many to be the greatest city in the world.

While skyscrapers dating back to the 1930s dominated the sky line, a huge shining metal wall encircled the entire area including most of the bay, immense lethal looking bone white cannons lining the battlements, AA guns dotting several of the sturdier buildings throughout the city.

What caught the officer's eye however was the immense object that seemed to be under construction in the very centre of the metropolis.

Standing clear over the tallest buildings, the tower was tall and thinned the closer it reached it's peak, looking like it could almost touch the stars. At it's top it once more bloomed, almost like a dead flower, six thin stalks lazily bent towards the wall from it's spheres centre.

Katara smiled as she followed Alistair's eyes, "That's a Umbrella Generator. Washington has one just like it. Once it's activated, it will create a harmonic effect in the air, which condenses the particles from the atmosphere into something near solid. DC was attacked for almost two years without letting a single projectile through the dome. Unfortunately the shield is just as good as if it were made of steel, once it's up, nothing gets in or out until it's down again. Fortunately New York's been equipped with it's defence network for over thirty years, so the shield, once the generator is completed, will only extend to within the wall. Washington could only sit tight until reinforcements arrived,"

"Pretty amazing," Aang smirked up at his friend, "How do you know so much?"

The girl merely smiled with a shrug, "One of the sailor's that came by our village last summer had a big mouth,"

"Yeah, yeah, it's a giant eye sore in the middle of downtown Manhattan," Sokka yawned as he came up the ladder in the cockpit from his nap, gazing blearily at the upcoming city, "More to the point though, why are we here anyway?"

"Looking for other Black Core officers," Alistair's grip on the control sticks became tight as he piloted Avat down onto the highway below, making sure the road was desolate before the immense transport's caterpillar treads touched down on the tarmac, completely dominating both sides of the road, "If Kyoshi was alive after this time, maybe others are too, like my old pal Bumi,"

"Another aging adult?" Sokka rolled his eyes, "Didn't you know anyone more likely to be around? You know like a five year old or something?"

"Bumi was a vitamin nut," Aang chuckled as he pulled the Avat to a stop, leaning back on his chair as a flood of memories came back to him, "A wonderful cook, but the guy was never seen without a bottle of vitamins in his pocket. He had all these crazy ways to make sure we all ate right. Some said he was a mad genius. He had this really insane theory of how to reach the President's office. Something to do with the Mayor of New York…a banana…and a tank full of nitrous oxide…" he caught the blank looks of his friends, "my point is if anyone could survive the Day of Blood, and live to be over a hundred without Cryo-sleep technology, it'd be Bumi. We were on the same transport from Everest Base, I was just hitching a ride to Atlantic Base and he was going to see his parents in New York. We killed two birds with one stone. Maybe he stayed there after the Day of Blood,"

"Or maybe he's six feet under. Ow!" Sokka clutched his head with a yelp as Katara hit him round the back of the cranium.

"Is it really wise to just drive up to the front gate at start asking questions?" Forge gazed up questionably at Alistair as Sokka threw his sister a dirty look, "I mean Avat covers both sides of the road…and if they find Avatar it may cause more trouble then we're worth,"

"She brings up a good point," Katara leant against the cockpit chair as she gazed uncertainty towards the city, "The last time we made it known the Avatar and it's Courier were still alive, the survivors of Kyoto had their homes burnt to a crisp. I think we need to keep it quiet for a while until we know exactly what to do with the information,"

"I'd still like to see New York through," pressing his foot to the accelerator pedal, the officer slowly pushed Avat off to one side of the road, out of harm's way as he activated the Mirage system, "May as well see the greatest city in the world while we're here,"

"Well, if you're going to go into the City, you'll need a disguise of some description," Sokka rubbed his head sorely as he lent up against a nearby console, "Ranger Mechanics all over the world know about the Black Core, some even know what the uniforms were like and if you were unlucky enough to meet someone like that…"

He trailed off as the officer bowed his head in thought, one finger tapping patiently against the arm rest until an idea came to his head.

Vaulting expertly over the back of the chair without another word, his comrades exchanged bemused glances as he disappeared into his quarters, appearing a few minutes later in something that to Katara at least looked vaguely familiar.

Gone was his tunic, hat and tie, his white shirt now loose at the neck. A onyx wrap around tunic now adorned his figure, a pale white line separating his shoulders from his body, the item of clothing coming to a point at his knees, but curved up to half way around his thighs at the back, all held in place by a bone pale belt around his waist. He had pushed his sleeves, leaving his lower arms bare, and left one of the fastening of the upper area undone, allowing for his shirt to be revealed underneath, the normal neck hugging collar pushed back to create something less formal.

"Well…what do you think?" Alistair gazed uncertainty at his judges, "This was a spare civilian uniform from Everest Base. It belonged to a friend of mine who was supposed to come along, but got delayed before take off. Is this okay?"

"It'll do," Katara smirked before her brother or the AI could get in a word, "I think someone should stay behind though. I mean we can't leave Avat by itself out here. What if someone walk's into it?"

"I can stay behind," Forge offered with a small smile, "I'm still not up to date on modern technology, but I think seeing a Monitor in New York's streets will probably turn more then a few heads then we need,"

"But what if someone run's into the Avat?" Katara's voice took on a note of agitation, "You can't just float round to them and say "excuse me, you've just run into my friend's giant invisible Truckmersiboateroplane! I think Sokka should stay behind,"

"Why me?"

"Because if you go with him you'll just do something to embarrass him,"

Sokka opened his mouth to object, only to close it against with a bashful smile, "Yeah, you're right. Be too good a opportunity to miss," His face suddenly turned to alarm as a realisation came to him in a flash, "Hey wait a minute! That means…no way! No!"

"Oh come on Sokka!" Katara rolled her eyes as she slid down the ladder to the ground floor, "It's not like it's a date or anything,"

"Yeah, that's how it all starts," the elder brother scowled down at his agitated sister and the blushing officer," You're gonna be wandering around, taking in the sights. Then, he'll starting to do little things. He'll buy a disposable camera, insist on having pictures taken together. Pretty soon, you'll get hungry, so he offers to get you something to eat, maybe even the full blown luncheon…"

"But I don't have any money…"
"SILENCE!!! So you'll have your little meal, maybe a drink or five," Alistair and Katara shared strange looks as Sokka wiggled his fingers through the air for emphasis, "Then he'll have a great idea! Why don't you stay the night? Really soak up the atmosphere of the city by staying in one of their many five star hotels,"

"I don't think my pay-check would have stretched that far…"

"I SAID SILENCE!!! Once you check in, you realise conveniently that there's only one giant double bed. He'll of course offer to sleep on the floor, but you're far to nice, and far too drunk."
"Sokka…"

"So you share the bed! He'll act all coy for a few minutes, sleeping on the edge, but he'll edge closer, and closer and then you two wake up buck naked the next morning, and nine months from now I find myself babysitting lots of little Kataras and Als from now until…AGH!!!"

Sokka yelped as a wrench from the nearby rack impacted against his head, Alistair inching away from a thoroughly hacked off Katara as her throwing hand swept a stray lock of hair out of her face.

"Is he dead?"

"No, just unconscious," Forge winced slightly as she smothered a giggle, Sokka's tongue lolling out as his eyes rolled up into his head, "I'll give this to you brother, he sure has a hard head Miss Katara,"

"He gets it from his dad," the tanned girl smirked as she looked her arm through the bewildered Alistair's, leading him through the entry hatch to the Launch Bay, "Come on, I saw a motorbike or something in the back. You can drive,"

Katara's 'motorbike' actually consisted of one of Avat's three Rapid Transit Vehicles, or RTV; a two wheeled machine with ion jets to increase mobility and allow for short durations of flight. Alistair had often heard reports the RTV's creator had based the design on that of a Harley Davidson Liberator, save that it equipped with an Ion Drive rather then a Petrol engine, the entire rig encased in a shiny onyx covering, opening only to allow the wheels to touch the ground.

At Katara's insistence, the two had decided to share a single vehicle rather then take two, causing the officer to hide his flushed face as she held him tightly round the middle as they sped towards New York's outer boundary, her head resting gently on his back.

"I think I should warn you Alistair," her voice barely carried over the ion drive below them, "New York's gonna be a whole lot different from when it was in 1945. There's no Depression any more, and the sailors I met from a ship that came from here…well they were kinda…boyish,"

"Oh come on," the officer grinned over his shoulder as they came up to the ominous gate before them, "How bad could they be?"

He soon got his answer.

Standing aside each of the enormous gates stood a man in a blood red Exo-Suit, each easily seven foot tall, their lines sharp and hard, a pair of bright yellow eyes staring out from shallow sockets, the emblem of the New York Police Department emblazed on their shoulders.

"Rotten hot dogs?" a third officer glowered down at a merchant as he held the offending sausage in the terrified man's face, "What kind of slum do you think this is?"

"It's…it's New York isn't it?" the elderly man tried to back away into the seat of his modified auto rickshaw, "A vendor on every street corner? They're not bad, it's just the heat is all! It's warm for this time of year! Please don't hurt me!"

With a roar the officer grasped the underside of the old vehicle, flipping the entire rig, owner and all, meat spraying in all directions as the machine crumpled at the side of the road.

"Maybe next time you'll remember to install a refrigerator old man,"

Alistair clenched the handle bars tightly nervously as Katara gazed warily over his shoulder.

"See what I mean?"

"I'm getting a good picture,"

"NEXT!!!" the soldier seemed to glower down at them as Aang pushed the RTV up next to him, "And what's your story?"

The pilot smiled good-naturedly, "Well…it we depend on what kind of story you want to hear,"

"Don't give me smart talk! What is the purpose of your visit to New York?"

"Oh! Right…just here to see the sights,"

There was a pause, "You do know there's a war going on right?"

"Yeah…"

"How old are you?"

"Erm…well…"

"Because you look young enough to be drafted…you're not a deserter are you?"

"NO!! I mean…well," Alistair winced as he cast his gaze to the handlebars, "It's difficult to explain…"

The room was dark. He liked it that way, with the only light coming form the bank of screens before him, very evil villain-ish.

Not that he was evil or anything. He just liked that feeling of having his whole little world at his feet.

All in front of him, thousands of people went about their daily lives, blissfully unaware that he was watching them.

Going to work, buying groceries, eating out. So many people doing so many things.

So many minds to mess with.

A sudden twitch on one of his screens brought his attention to it. A single tap of the tablet punched up the view onto the centre larger screen, just in time to see some poor man's business flipped off the road.

"Tsk, tsk," he sighed as he shook his head, "That's no way to flip a machine. What is the Captain teaching the young people these days?"

He shook his head again as he made a move to change the screen, only to halt as the next nervous tourist rolled up next to the guard.

"That machine…where have I seen it before?"

His eyes widened as the driver looked down from the obvious berating the officer was giving him, the young girl on the back of his ride giving him a strengthening squeeze to help get him through the ordeal.

Rotating the old leather chair to the opposite wall, he squinted through the dim light towards one of many pictures he kept behind his desk, the one he searched for incredibly old and faded, crease lines criss-crossing from constant folding and unfolding.

Three dozen men and women stood grouped together, the women dressed in long wraparound tunics, all the men but himself dressed in the same identical black uniforms and peaked caps, his white apron and chef's hat perched merrily on his head standing out starkly in the sea on onyx.

But it wasn't himself he was trying to find, as easy as that was.

It didn't take him long to find the officer he searched for, a young Flight Lieutenant of twenty, down on one knee with a handful of others, a small smile on his faded features, stormy grey eyes (something from memory rather then the picture) gazing out from under his cap.

A glance between the picture at the screen confirmed what he already believed.

"Well I'll be,"

Quickly he scrambled for his personal intercom, licking his lips as he quickly put himself through to the Gate.

"Hold on a minute," the Exo-suited officer put a hand to his ear as he walked away from the biker and his companion, "Yes sir?"

"Lieutenant, I've noticed your detaining a rather lovely looking couple at your post. Let them through. I'm sure they won't do any harm. They're just…looking for a good time,"

"But sir," the officer seemed uneasy, "Two young adults out in the middle of nowhere? On a motorcycle? We're at war sir, Seems to be a bit suspicious to me. They might be deserters,"

"If they were deserters Lieutenant, do you really think they'd just ride right up to the front gate?"

"Well…no…but…"

"Let them through Lieutenant. And the hot dog guy too, but tell him to restock his merchandise. Also, inform the biker that the Gershwin is always a good stop over for travelling…couples,"

"But sir!"

"Now Lieutenant,"

"Yes…yes sir,"

He smiled as he watched the Exo-suit walk back to the bikers, muttering his message before waving the bewildered twosome through the giant gates as they swung open. He settled back in his chair as he pulled out a pad he kept for special occasions, his pencil soon whizzing across the paper as new ideas came to mind.

"So…the game begins!"

"Well…" Katara sighed as she gazed around the small room uncertainty, "This is certainty…cosy,"

Cosy wasn't the word Alistair had been looking for. Cramped had been closer. A large single bed dominated the centre of the room, leaving little space for a chair squashed beside it near the window onto the street below, the television bolted to the wall beside the doors to the bathroom and closet along the back wall.

They had spent most of the day touring New York. Up to the top of the Empire State Building, around to see Lady Liberty now gazing stonily at the large black wall that separated her harbour from the rest of the world, touring all over Manhattan until the sun began to set.

It was only then did they realise that the gates locked at six PM, and shouldn't be opening until nine the next day.

So they had taken the guard's advice, finding the Gershwin Hotel to be a relatively cheap stay, although a night's stay did drain what little money Katara had brought with her.

"Sokka's gonna go nuts when he hears about this," Aang sighed as he slumped into the chair.

"At least you didn't buy a disposable camera," Katara smiled wryly as she flopped onto the bed, "I think he'd have a heart attack if what he predicted actually came true,"

The officer chuckled as he gazed out the window, "Yeah…sorry about you having to buy lunch though,"

"Ah, it was just a couple of hot dogs," she waved it off impatiently, "This room though…was it really the only one they had left? I mean I didn't have much money to begin with…"

"I still can't believe you robbed the banks of Sydney,"

"Robbed is such a strong word," Katara smiled sadly, "I like to think of it more as the door was open and no one was using the money. The point is, I could only carry so much. We'll have to be careful from now on as well. Handing out hundred year old bills is starting raise eyebrows,"

"It's just one room for the night. We better set up some kind of account tomorrow though before people start to ask too many questions though. That way it looks less suspicious. So…" Alistair eyed Katara warily, "Who gets the bed?"

A uneasy silence fell over the room. Sokka's voice seemed to be screaming through their heads as their eyes met, the final words of his prophecy echoing through their minds.

"Well…erm…" Katara coughed uncertainty, "I…I don't think we should…you know…"

"Share?"

"Yes! Yes…" she laughed nervously, "Don't want to prove Sokka right,"

"Yeah….know what you mean," Alistair's mind felt foggy as he moved to sit on the edge of the bed, "Wouldn't want to give him the satisfaction,"

"Yep," his friend sat up slowly, shaking her head as though to clear it, "Is it me, or is it getting hot in here?"

"Erm…It's not just you," the officer staggered to his feet, only to collapse again in front of the radiator, "Strange it's stone cold. Wait a minute…" his hand sluggishly passed over a nearby vent, "I feel something…it's like something's being pumped into the room through the ventilation system," He groggily tried to get his feet, only to stumble and fall onto the bed.

"Whatis mean?" Katara's voice was heavily and slurred as she pulled herself up onto his chest, her limbs too heavy to push herself up to look at him properly.

"It meeeans," his world was going dark. All he could feel was the unbearable heat, and the soft tickle of her hair against his chin, "Tat we've been…shet-up…"

"Are you awake? Wakey wakey eggs and bacy!"

Alistair groaned as he pushed himself off the hard concrete floor onto his hand, his head throbbing painfully.

"About time. I was starting to wonder if I'd pumped too much gas into the room. It was only supposed to get the two of you a little feisty, but the knob on the tank got stuck. Dear dear,"

"Where's Katara?" Aang blinked into the bright light above him, squinting at the shadowed figure that gazed at him from behind the desk, "Where am I?"

"Your friend? She's quite safe…for now anyway," the figure stood up slowly from his chair, "and don't worry, I'll let you go…after you've answered a few of my questions, that is,"

"Like what?"

"Like wart? No don't think so, horrible things. I should know, I've got plenty. No, what I'd like to know is simple," his captor shuffled into the light, a large insane grin crossing his features, "Of all the cities of all the world, why does the Courier of the Avatar step into mine?"

Alistair stared at the old man with a mixture of disbelief and amazement, his grey eyes taking in the patchy white hair sticking up in all directions and full matching beard that grew on his wrinkled chin, dark spots and warts adorning his mostly bald dome, heavy bags under his wide green eyes.

"How did you…"

"Many people, mostly Ranger Mechanics, know what a Black Core Uniform looks like," the old man smirked as he smoothed down the wrinkles of his ugly purple suit, "But very few know the uniform's of Project A.V.A.T.A.R.'s civilian department. Very clever. How sad that you didn't know the Mayor was such a fan,"

Alistair blinked, "You…you're the Mayor?"

"Yes, I was surprised when I got into office as well," the Mayor smirked, "and not a single vote rigged!"

"What do you want from me?"

"Well, as it happens, I do have a few tasks that you could do for me," the Mayor smiled as the officer groggily got to his feet, "You do a few little teeny-weeny jobs for me around the house, and I'll let you and your little girlfriend go,"

"You have no right to keep us here," Alistair scowled darkly, "Let us leave!"

"Lettuce leaf?" the old man produced a portion of the green vegetable as he spoke, munching on it thoughtfully, "Why, yes, good choice,"

"Do you always keep a lettuce leaf in your pocket?"

"Doesn't everyone?"

"Okay…" Aang resisted the urge to take several steps away from the old man, "You're insane aren't you?"

The Mayor giggled giddily as he finished the last of his snack, "Oh yes, my lad, yes I am,"

"Alrighty! Task number one!"

Alistair could only stare at the layout before him.

A giant grotto spawned out before him, stalagmites and stalactites reaching out to each other through the gloom a waterfall roaring through the centre of the rocky room, spraying water in all directions.

"How the hell did you get a cavern under New York!?"

"With a great amount of difficulty!" the Mayor grinned from the large windowed box situated at the other end of the area as he spoke into the microphone in front of him, "Now do you want to know the task or what?"

"I still don't know why I'm doing this," Aang folded his arms across his chest angrily, "and where's Katara!?"

"You're friend has been…taken care of," the old man smiled mysteriously, "You do these few tasks for me, and you'll see each other again, Mayor's honour. If you don't do them however…" he made a funny sound in his throat as he drew a thumb across his neck, "Get the picture?"

The officer swallowed thickly, nodding slowly as he let his hands fall limply to his sides.

"Good. It seems I've lost my lunch box key, and as it turns out, I'm hungry. Well what do you know? There it is! Fetch it for me please!"

Alistair starred in disbelief at where his captor indicated.

Hanging by a thick chain, the onyx key dangled within the torrent of water that poured through the centre of the cavern, a wiry ladder reaching up towards it through the clear blue liquid.

"But don't think I'd let you get without something to keep you warm with! Guess who got you a pressy!"

The officer jumped as a hidden trap door popped open beside him, a large shadow cast over him as the Mayor's gift rose out of the floor.

"An Exo-suit?"

Seven foot tall and painted a dark forest green, it's boxy lines and large shoulders reminding Alistair vaguely of a Endurance with a egg shaped head, a bar across it's eyes indicating the use of a window rather then a camera.

"It's coming onto to almost fifty years old, but it will get you where you want to go. Happy birthday!"

A harsh smack echoed through the cave as Aang's hand hit his forehead hard.

"I don't know what's more likely to kill me, this guy's tasks or his antics," the officer sighed he stepped up into the suit, various hatches snapping closed around his arms, legs and body, the two halves of the helmet closing with a hiss around his head, "May as well get this over with,"

With a roar and a kick, the ion jets upon the Exo-suit's back came to life, propelling the machine and it's pilot up to the ceiling, bouncing from stalactite to stalactite, before plunging into the icy water that poured down from above.

He almost had the object in hand. This had been too easy.

Way too easy.

With the force of a missile, the water forced the surprised officer down missing the key by inches, the outstretched hand slicing through several rungs of the ladder below before one of the rusted tubes held his weight.

"Ooo, diving straight in," Alistair scowled as the Mayor cackled sarcastically over the suit's headphones, "No-one's ever tried that before,"

"Lousy know it all wind bag," Aang dug his heel into the ion accelerator, only for a faint gurgle to vibrate through his suit as a red light blinked over the display near his right eye,

"Dear dear," the old man chuckled again as the pilot tried his hardest to fight his way up the waterfall without the aid of his ion jets, "Did I forget to mention that this suit's ion jets aren't designed to work in water? Must have slipped my mind,"

"Must of," With an angry thrust, the suit pushed off from the ladder as it's occupant realised the futility of trying to walk up a broken ladder, a spray of blue trailing from it's thrusters as it once more headed for the rafters, a new plan forming in Alistair's mind.

"Yes that's right, just keep diving head on, I'm sure that'll work eventually,"

With a heavy roundhouse kick, a stalactite jarred loose from it's holding, the pillar of limestone falling several metres before the pilot caught it within his mechanical fingers.

With all his might, the stone projectile soared through the air towards the viewing box, the tip catching the chain as it sailed through the waterfall, snapping the aged shackles before impacting against the thick glass with a dull crack, the key dangling in front of the stunned Mayor's nose.

"If you want me to actually give you the key, you're gonna be short one window," Alistair smirked as he came to hover beside the key, "Now are you going to give me back my friend or what?"

"Um….not yet," The Mayor smiled mysteriously, "I still have another task for you. It's seems I've lost my beloved cat Fluffy,"

"Okay…found him," Aang held up the orange tabby to it's owner, standing atop a balcony within the large hall, "Don't really know why I needed the Exo-suit though,"

"Bring him here then!" the old man opened his arms wide, "Daddy wants a kiss from Fluffy!"

"Alistair wants to throw up if he wasn't encased in an Exo-suit," the officer sighed as he gently brought the feline up towards the balcony, "At least this was easy enough…"

A roar suddenly rattled through the high ceiling room, the officer freezing in mid air as the sound of a splintering door soon followed.

Lumbering into the large hall as the nearby guards scattered, the giant lion roared again as it shook it's immense mane, the terrified tabby struggling free of Alistair's grasp and taking off like a shot.

"Fluffy wait!"

It didn't take long for the giant feline to spot the streak of ginger flew by, the monster cat lumbering after it as a emerald Exo-suit followed behind it.

"Wait up! Fluffy sit!"

Too late, the petrified cat shot out of the remains of the doorway and out into the street beyond, leaving the stunned pilot to deal with the disgruntled lion as it eyed new prey.

"He heh…nice kitty,"

With another roar, the lion charged full force towards the officer, Alistair hastily bringing the wrist mounted pistol to bear, sweat trickling down his forehead as the great beast leapt into the air.

"Wait a minute…" the pistol lowered slightly as another idea came to mind, time seeming to slow as he remembered the first challenge, and how nothing had been as easy as it originally appeared, "Fluffy?"

With a metallic thud, padded claws hit solid armour, the Exo-suit crashing to ground with the great beast on top of it, a giant pink tongue leaving saliva smeared across his visor as the lion tried to lick him to death.

"H…hey there Fluffy," Alistair smiled weakly as he patted the beast on top of it's head, the large cat purring contentedly, "Nice to meet ya,"

"Fluffy! Come to daddy now!"

With the speed of a rocket, Fluffy bounced happily towards his master as the Mayor came down to the ground floor via the miniature elevator to one side of the balcony, rubbing up against the old man's side as he got his head rubbed in return.

"Aww, there's a good boy," Alistair winced as he exited the slime ridden Exo-suit, smoothing out the creases of his tunic as he watched the bizarre scene unfold, "WHo's got a fluffy little head? Whose got a fluffy little head? You do! That's right! You do!"

"If I could interrupt," the pilot gave his captor a dark stare from across the hall, "DO you have anything else for me to do, or are you actually going to let me see Katara and leave?"

"Not just yet my little friend," The Mayor smirked as he stood up straight, a certain menacing look entering his eyes, "I have one last little job for you to do for me…"

"Madison Square Garden?" Alistair stared around the cavernous area with intrigue, "It's a lot roomier then I thought it'd be,"

"That's because this is Madison Square Garden V," the Mayor ambled in merrily with his hands in his pockets, "It's based on the design of the old Madison Square Garden Bowl that was around here somewhere around your time, but we added a giant dome to the top of it so our mecha brawlers can fight in any weather. Yes sir, don't say New York doesn't know how to keep up with the times! Trust me," He smirked as he cupped his hand around Aang's ear as though to whisper a secret to him, "I've been around long enough to insure that,"

"Mecha fights?" Alistair frowned as the lights came up, "You want me to fight for your own amusement?"

"Actually I was going to ask you to clear up the stands for me. Those spectators are so messy sometimes. But hey, your idea's good too! Let's do that! But to make it more interesting, why don't we fight? I was a bit of a scrapper back in the day,"

"You?" Alistair smirked as he watched the old man strike and jab at mid air, "You sure you could handle it?"

"It's not about your body boy!" The Mayor grinned darkly, "Even the eldest of gentlemen could defeat you if given the right machine. Like me for example!"

With a snap of his fingers and a clack of the lights above, the entire arena lit with blinding white as Aang shielded his eyes in protest.

After blinking several times to clear the spots from his vision, Alistair couldn't help but stare at the monstrous machine that stood before him.

Standing at over twenty metres tall, giant machine would probably have looked more imposing if hadn't been panted bright yellow

Thick and barrel chested, the mech's limbs seemed slightly out of place to the rest of it's body, large lower arms held on by thinner upper ones, skinny legs, clearly designed for fast mobility, looking as though they could buckle any minute, and a tiny dome of a head, a pair of blood red eyes staring down from on high.

"What…what is that thing?"

"Oh this?" The Mayor waved the machine away like was nothing, "It's just my personal mecha, A Colossus Mecha Suit Variant prototype, the only one in existence. Heavily modified by yours truly of course. Can you believe G.U.N. were just going to throw it out with the trash? Disgraceful,"

"Yeah…" Alistair gave the machine a weird look, "But what about me? I can't fight something like that in just an Exo-suit,"

"Why don't you call your little friend?"

"Call what?"

Why, the Avatar of course,"

"But I…"

"Don't play dumb with me Alistair," the Mayor cackled insanely as he practically danced towards his yellow mecha, scrambling up the ladder embedded in one leg with the ease of someone a quarter of his age, "You've got until I power up Colossus to go get it!"

"But I…"

"Hurry hurry hurry!"

"But…Uh-oh," Alistair scowled darkly as the giant mecha suit came a alive with a flash of it's blood red eyes, it's dome turning to look at him directly as it's cockpit hatch closed with a snap.

"Oops, too late!"

Aang barely had time to jump clear as the first heavy footfall tried to squash him flat, the officer rolling onto his shoulder as the mecha's eyes turned to him once more.

With an air of reluctance, he raised his watch to his lips.

"Avatar, I need you!"

"Ah-ah! Don't think that will save you now!"

Taking off at a run, Alistair barely dodged the Colossus' feet as it ran after him, debris and dust scattering everywhere as the mayor's cackled laughter resonated throughout the stadium.

"Come on, come on," Aang vaulted over the side of the arena as a heavy fist smashed into the ground where his feet had been moments before, "Avatar, where are you?"

"Aww, come now Alistair," the officer looked up with a hard swallow as he was bathed in a crimson glow from the eyes of Colossus above, "No need to play hide and seek! Huh?"
With a deafening roar the dome above splintered into a thousand chucks of rock and mortar, a pillar of dust and grit hitting the ground with such a crash the entire arena shook.

The old man smiled as he watched the debris clear from the arrival's form, his grin becoming insanely wide as he watched the Avatar's eyes glow a burning yellow.

"So, you really are still around eh?" he chuckled as he watched Alistair taking advantage of his opponent's sudden stupor to scramble towards his Ranger's cockpit, "Very interesting. I had my doubts of course…let's see if Alistair's as good as he was a hundred years back!"

A.V.A.T.A.R.
ARMOURED
VEHICULAR
ALL
TERRAIN
ASSAULT
RANGER
SYSTEM: ACTIVE

"Alright, a bit more even turf," Alistair smirked as he watched the Colossus turn to face him, Avatar's rifle poised and ready, "Or not as the case maybe,"

"Ah-ah-ah," with lightning reflexes, a pair of yellow hands lashed out and grabbed the assault rifle by the barrel and tossing it into the stands, plastic chairs and steel beams sent high into the air as it tore through them as though they were made of paper, "Can't have an unfair advantage now can we? I want this to be one on one, melee to melee, Ranger verses Mecha Suit. You beat me, I let you find your friend and leave. I beat you however," Aang could almost see the insane grin on his opponent's face, "Well…I think it's fair if I get your machine. Whaddya say?"

"I'd say forget it if I knew where Katara was," Alistair slumped slightly in his chair, "But as it is…fine, we'll play it your way,"

"That's what I wanted to hear,"

With a roar of ion thrusters, Avatar rushed forwards, it's right arm stretched back, it's fist ready to strike.

"Dear dear. Coming straight at me are we? How typically Black Core of you," Alistair bit down on his tongue as Colossus caught Avatar's head with one of it's immense hands, "I was hoping for more of a challenge with the Courier at the helm!"

The officer couldn't help but cry out in surprise as his entire Ranger was hoisted into the air and thrown clear across the Arena, dust and debris falling from the roof as a huge crack split across the wall.

"We are making a mess aren't we?" Alistair grit his teeth as he slowly rose Avatar to it's feet, The Colossus approaching as he struggled to rise, "I don't think the Curator is going to like this very much do you? I know! Why don't we take this outside!!?"

There was a shriek of breaking mortar as the Mecha Suit's giant fist impacted against Avatar's chest, the wall splintering as the Ranger went flying, cars driving innocently by squealing to avoid the giant machine as it crashed into a nearby building.

"Now this is more like it! Just like those cartoons they have on TV these days!" Consoles sparked as the viewers crackled with static, Alistair wincing as the immense yellow form of Colossus blotted out the sun, "That said…usually there's a lot more of a fight before the enemy gives up, or has a hundred years in Cryo-sleep made you soft? Maybe mechs really have outdated the Avatar after all. Won't the Führer be happy? That the little Avatar and his wimpy Courier are no match for the might that is the German Unified Nation! Or better yet, why don't I just finish you off right now? That way when the Nationalists finally decide to get their acts together, they won't have to waste a precious solider blasting you to smithereens!"

"W…what?"

"Wow, guess I hit you harder then I thought," Aang slowly looked up, just in time to watch Colossus cock it's fist back for the final blow, "Say goodnight, Alistair Aang…."

"Not here I won't!"

A bare squeak registered in his mind from the comm. System as Alistair forced Avatar to grasp Colossus' legs, the onyx Ranger sliding through back into the remains of Madison Square Garden.

Blue bursts of Ion jets spewed forth from Avatar's thrusters as it pulled the giant cruciform sword from it's back before the yellow mecha had a chance to turn around.

With a screech of metal and a display of sparks, the blade carved into Colossus' right shoulder, the entire limb coming clear away as the giant suit was forced around, just in time for Avatar's free fist to collide with it's giant head.

"W…wait!" Alistair smirked at the Mayor's panicked voice as half a sky scraper toppled onto him and his machine, Avatar picking up the wrecked machine by the remains of it's shoulder moments later, "Stop!"

Another blow sent the yellow mecha into a back peddling retreat through the streets, the sword left discarded in the remains of the buildings to deliver punch after punch.

"I'm not weak!" The pilot emphasised each word with every punch, "I won't let G.U.N. defeat me! As long as they continue to fight, I'll fight them harder. As long as they continue to hurt others, I'll protect all who need my help. And if I find sympathisers within the ranks of my allies, I'll send them back to their masters with this warning. The Avatar has returned, and it's pilot isn't going to stop until G.U.N.'s Reign is over!"

A final punch caused Colossus' domed head to explode in a fiery display of sparks and shrapnel, the entire crippled machine tumbling back into the murky waters of the Hudson river, large waves washing out across the shorelines as the Avatar standing proud and victorious over the Mecha Suit's prone form.

For a moment there was silence. Then a short giggle echoed through his damaged speakers, then a elated chuckle.

Finally full blown maniacal laughter boomed through Avatar's cockpit as the Mayor staggered from the remains of his Mecha Suit, the old man dancing joyously around in an Irish jig as the crowds around the battle area broke into relieved applause and joyous shouting and hilarity.

"Ah Alistair, you haven't changed since the day I met you," the Mayor looked up into Avatar's Camera as he talked into the remains of his Neurological interface, "You still fight with the same fire and spirit in your heart as you did all those years ago. And you saved me the cost of hiring a demolition crew! Those abandoned buildings were starting to look dated around here anyway,"

"Wait a minute," Alistair's eyes widened as he set Avatar down onto one knee, the pilot jumping out of the cockpit onto the ground as the Mayor walked jovially along one of Colossus' legs to shore, "We've met before?"

"Well, it's been a hundred years or so. Don't blame you for not recognising me," the old man snorted with a wink, "Can't all have the luxuries of a good Cryo-sleep Chamber you know. Besides, I'm sure I mentioned my plan to you before we parted ways. Taken me a hundred years to get this far, but nitrous oxide sure does make council sessions more fun, and the voters sure do love bananas!"

"B…Bumi?" Alistair felt his jaw drop to somewhere near the vicinity of his ankles, "It's…" A hand came to his forehead with a heavy slap, "I should of known. Only you'd get away with being this insane and running a city,"

"Well…You've gotta be insane to do this job," Bumi clapped his comrade round the back with a crooked smirk, "It's great to see you again Alistair. You haven't aged a bit…literally,"

"But what about Katara?" Aang tensed as he realised who he'd been fighting for, "Where is she? Is she okay? Bumi if you've done something to her…"

"Alistair!"

"Katara?" The officer felt his heart sore with relief as a familiar looking young girl pushed through the gathering crowd, "Katara you're alright!"

"Alright? I'm better then alright!" Katara was practically grinning form ear to ear, "I've never been so pampered in all my life!"

"P…pampered?"

"Well…I sort of felt bad for…you know," a hint of a perverted smirk graced Bumi's aged features, "Trying to force you to take you're relationship to the next level. So I decided to treat her to something nice. My way of apology,"

"So while I've been grabbing keys from waterfalls, chasing lions and destroying downtown Manhattan…" Alistair felt a twitch make it's way into his eye, "Katara's been…"

"Waited on hand and foot," the Mayor nodded with satisfaction as Alistair's hand slapped hard against his forehead once more, "Everything from mud baths to nail buffing. Nothing too good for your little friend,"
"What's he been making you do?" Katara couldn't help but let a small bemused smile grace her lips as Aang rubbed a hand across his face.

"Oh you know," Alistair smiled shakily, "Just a few tasks around the city. Nothing major. But what I'd like to know," he suddenly gave his older friend a piercing look, "Is why?"

"Why?"

"Why,"

"Well, first off, it's always fun messing with the head of you Black Core types," Aang rolled his eyes as Bumi snorted at his own misbehaviour, "but I did have a good reason for my shenanigans. Alistair," he gently took his comrade by the shoulders, "you have a difficult task ahead. The world has changed in the hundred years you've been gone. It was the overall duty of the Black Core to retain peace and balance throughout the world, a duty that can now only be attained through the defeat of The Führer, Julius Sozin. You have much to learn. You have to look at all the options before you, and not always take the most obvious one. Avatar is powerful, and you must master it to a certain degree before the Immortal Wanderer will reveal himself. He will give you the means to confront the Führer, but when you do finally kick that egotistical git on his ass," he winked mischievously, "I hope you will think like a mad genius!"

"Thanks Bumi," Alistair smiled as his friend let him go, "Never thought I'd be hearing words of wisdom from you, but thanks,"

"Ah, it had to happen someday," the Mayor smirked as Katara looped her arm friendlily with Aang's, "That said, it looks like you're in good hands anyway. You'll need your friends to help defeat G.U.N.,"

"Friends?" Katara's eyes suddenly widened with realisation, "Oh my God! We forgot about Sokka!"

"So you finally came back," Sokka gave his friends a nonplussed look as he drummed his fingers against his folded arms, Forge in her monitor form hanging warily behind him, "I knew it! I just knew this would happen!"

"Sokka," Katara sighed as she hopped down from Avatar's cockpit, "Nothing happened. We just got stuck inside the city wall when they closed up for the night. We didn't even buy a disposable camera,"

"I'll bet," the elder brother waggled an accusing finger at Alistair, "Admit it, you got her cornered did you? CONFESS!!! I'LL KNOW IN NINE MOTHS OR SO IF YOU DON'T!!!"

A heavy clunk echoed through the launch deck, causing the returning comrades to look up as Sokka fell to the floor in a heap, his tongue lolling out in it's usual fashion as Forge hovered overhead.

"Char?"

"What?" the monitor looked between the stunned face almost innocently, "He's been like this since you left. Even I have limits to my patience. So…" her voice to a sly note as Katara and Alistair laughed slightly, "What did you do in New York? must have been exciting if you needed the Avatar,"

Aang smiled as he and Katara shared a knowing look.

"Oh, nothing out of the ordinary," he turned his smile towards Forge, "Saw the sights, learnt a lesson…and ran into an old friend,"

Just in case anyone was wondering, the reason Bumi sent them to the Gershwin is because it's the only hotel in New York that I've visited. It's not the best place in teh world to stay, but it's pretty decent if you'r enot staying for long, and it's only three or four blocks aray from teh Empire State Building.

More random info from yours truly.

Hope you liked.

Dearing