Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Korra, nor do I financially profit from this fanfiction.
Chapter 2: Revelation
Michi kicked the empty tin-can and watched as it clattered down the darkened alley, coming to rest just beneath a rusted old lamppost. His search for leads on the elusive anti-bending group had so far been fruitless. Few knew anything of value, and those that did refused to talk. What was fascinating was that almost nobody attempted to conceal their connections with the organisation. They were either both frank and open about their support, or would not deny involvement when pressed. He came to the dimly lit doorway at the back of the alley. He hoped this source would not let him down.
He crossed the threshold into the smoke filled confines of the bar. Few patrons raised their heads, the rest too engrossed with their drinks to register his arrival. It was a new form of establishment, relatively speaking. For the first few decades after the founding of Republic City, the various nations kept to their traditional public houses. But, as the populations mixed, so did the cultures, with the emergence of the catch-all tavern, catering to the whims of the City's increasingly narrow demographic. He surveyed the denizens of the bar as he made his way to the serving counter. He could count on one hand those wearing national colours. Most, like him, wore a mismatch of browns and blacks. He leant forward against the counter and waited.
"What are you doing here, Minori?"
Michi looked up at the man standing behind the counter. A stained, once-white apron hung around his neck, stretching to accommodate his bulk. His short, sharp beard gave the impression of a permanent scowl. "Truth, my old friend."
The man let out a short belch of a laugh. "Shouldn't you be digging through somebody's trash then?"
"I already have that one covered," said Michi, producing a folded piece of paper from the inside of his coat and holding it out for the man to take. "What can you tell me about them, Shen?"
Shen wiped his hands on his apron and took the paper, folding it open to reveal the masked face of Amon. Shen's wary expression did not change upon seeing the poster. "I figured as much. You don't come here for my cooking."
Michi smiled. "I doubt anybody comes here for that."
Shen grunted and handed the paper back to Michi. "Rumour I hear is that this Amon character is planning some kind of revelation, whatever that means."
"I gathered as much from the guy yelling in the park. Do you have anything solid for me?"
Shen turned over the poster and handed it to Michi. "What does this look like to you?"
Michi studied the back of the poster, his eyes resting on the red dot in the top-right corner, around which several white lines intersected a faded green area. "It looks like part of a map."
"Bingo."
Michi raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"It's a new game that-" Shen shook his head. "Never mind, I'd say the place on the map is where this 'revelation' will take place."
Michi folded the poster and placed in the inside pocket of his coat. "Thank you, Shen. You've been a great help, as always." He turned to walk away, but was halted by a hand grabbing his arm. He glanced back at Shen.
Shen's voice was low and hushed. "Be careful, Minori. The police may not be taking these guys seriously, but they're ruthless compared to the triads."
Michi shook off Shen's hand and smirked as he turned away towards the door. "I'm always careful."
Shen turned and picked up a glass to polish with his apron. The dirt in the glass was just being spread evenly when a crash echoed from the doorway.
"Mind the step."
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Michi pulled the cap down over his forehead and continued down the street. The back of the poster had matched the city map to this warehouse district. He glanced around as he approached his destination. He turned a corner and spied his target. A burly man stood guard in front of an open doorway. A couple handed him some paper and he turned to his side, ushering them in. He breathed deeply and strode towards the man, whose eyes narrowed as he approached.
Michi stood in front of the muscled guard and spoke. "Eh, the revelation is nigh."
The guard smiled and waved him past. "Indeed it is, my brother."
As soon as Michi was out of the guard's sight he let go of the breath he had been unconsciously holding. He made his way to the end of the passage, coming out at a platform just above the back of a large crowd. At the front of the crowd lay another platform. The spotlights hanging from the rafters illuminated the equality symbols plastered on the wall. He was about to move down from the platform when an amplified voice interrupted.
"Please welcome, your hero, your saviour, Amon!"
The crowd erupted into a fervour of shouts, shrieks and applause as several figures emerged from beneath the platform. At the very front stood the man in the mask, Amon. Michi listened intently as the anti-bender leader retold the story of his childhood and his scarring by the fire-bending bandit, who left him orphaned. When he mentioned the Avatar, the crowd once again erupted, but this time in a fit of hissing, boos and curses.
Michi leant against the railings, enraptured by the spectacle. He eyes widened as the masked figure spoke of the permanent removal of a person's bending. Surely that was impossible. He continued to watch, his eyes fixed on the tied men being brought onto the platform. "That's-
"Lightning-Bolt Zolt", finished Amon.
"He's insane", muttered Michi, as Amon released the criminal from his bindings to ensure a fair fight. "Zolt may be a lowlife, but he's a great bender."
He blinked as Zolt let off his trademark move, directing a bolt of lightning towards Amon. But, Amon wasn't there anymore. The masked man had dodged the attack with ease and now held Zolt in an arm lock. Pushing the criminal to the ground, Amon placed a hand on Zolt's forehead. Gradually the lightning bolt was emitting subsided and Amon let him drop to the ground. The crowd gasped as Zolt tried, but failed to bend fire.
Michi stood stunned, his heart pounding in his chest. It was unreal. Permanent bending removal. "This changes everything." His line of thought was cut-off when a geyser of steam came crashing through the wall, engulfing the room in thick, hot fog. He pushed off the railings to stand upright but was knocked over by the crowds of people who came streaming up the stairs to escape the warehouse.
He yelped in pain as the stampede trod upon his outstretched arm. He jerked his arm towards his body and was about to push himself from the floor when a strong hand hefted him upwards.
"Come on, kid."
Blind in the fog, he had no choice but to allow himself to be dragged outside. He looked up as a cold air blasted his face. The entrance to the warehouse was relatively clear, except for those still making their way towards the various alleys and lanes that led away from the district.
"Tell Alden that I'm taking over this story. Got it, kid?"
"What?" Michi turned to face the fog, making out a figure a few feet away.
"Do it, kid. And get that arm checked out."
Michi glanced down at his bruised and bloodied arm. When he looked back up the figure was gone. "Su."
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From Republic City Archives: A Selected Extract from the 108th edition of the 'Republic City Bulletin'
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