Ch 4 A voice in the night
"Move faster." Khan said, dodging another blow.
He and several police officers were sparring with each other, and Khan was winning, even though he was heavily restraining himself. Kicking an officer in the chest, and denting his armor in the process, Khan quickly laid waste to the other trainees.
"You'll have to move faster than that against the equalists. Use your earth bending to help move on the ground." Khan advised.
Khan then sparred with Lin, she being the only one in the force that stood a chance against the augment. Khan pulled out a Kanata sword, and cut away the rocks Lin was sending him. Lin pulled out her metal blades and continued the fight. Khan threw away his sword, and pulled out two daggers.
The two fighters fought in close quarters, eventually tossing the knives away, and using hand-to-hand combat. Khan won, but admitted Lin put up a good fight.
"You fight hard. I appreciate that. You remind me of my augments." Khan said.
"More of you?" Lin asked.
"Around 80 more. I'd rather not talk about it. They're probably dead or missing." Khan said.
Lin thought for a second. She needed to know more about Khan, in order to trust him with her officers.
"Khan, want to eat someplace?" Lin asked.
"Let me guess. You want to know more about me. You don't know a damn about me at all, and you see this as your opportunity." Khan said.
"Yes. How'd you know?" Lin asked.
"Social gatherings is merely warfare in disguise." Khan said.
"That's quite a thought."
"All right. I'll indulge you. But I'm not much of a social person." Khan said.
"That makes two of us. Meeting will be in Kwongs Cuisine. Be there tonight. 8 PM. I'll take care of it." Lin said.
"Take care of what?" Khan asked.
"Place has a strict dress-code. You don't have the proper clothes. I'll take care of it." Lin said.
Khan watched her with suspicion. Why would the chief of police take him out for dinner? Something wasn't right.
Meanwhile, Khan went over whatever Intel they had on the equalist forces. Which means, nothing. Nadda. None whatsoever. Khan talked with the two detectives the police force had, Lu and Gang.
"Guys, you have anything on the equalists?" Khan asked.
"The equalists?" Lu asked.
"Yes. The movement has been around for some time." Khan said, reasoning that in order to have such a large following, it must have been around for quite some time.
"We don't know anything about it." Gang said.
"The two of you are the lead detectives in the force. Have you found anything?" Khan asked.
"Other than the reports the chief gave us, nothing."
Khan fumed. Didn't anyone care about the equalists threat?
8PM came by, and Khan was standing at the front door of Kwongs Cuisine. Mako came up next to him as well.
"Show time." Mako said.
Khan raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything. He let Mako walk in, then followed afterword's.
"Mr. Khan. We were expecting you." A waiter said.
Khan pulled out a dagger and put it on the waiter's neck.
"How do you know?" Khan asked.
"The Chief of Police. She's here waiting for you." The waiter said, completely calm.
"Alright. She said she'd take care of my dress code. Know anything about that?" Khan asked.
"Yes. Follow me." The waiter said.
Khan followed him into a bathroom, where a change of clothes was waiting. Khan took off his black trench coat, and put aside 4 daggers and 2 swords.
Khan put on his new clothes, and grabbed his weapons.
"No weapons." The waiter said.
Khan knew he was running out of time for the meeting, so he complied, but then made a strange request.
"Got a pencil, preferably sharp?" Khan asked.
Khan was given a pencil. The waiter was confused why Khan would ask for a pencil. Khan put the pencil away after checking it was sharp.
Walking into the main room, Khan saw dozens of tables, and noticed the light was rather dim. Probably to add to the atmosphere. And Khan also saw that the booths were heart-shaped.
Khan moved his way to Lin and sat next to her.
"Heck of a place." Khan said.
"One of the best restaurants in the city." Lin said.
"Indeed. It seems that the atmosphere is for romance. Red, lots of it, heart shaped booths, dim lights. Whoever built this had that idea in mind." Khan said.
"So tell me everything about you." Lin said, pouring a drink.
"Okay. You won't turn me in, will you?" Khan asked.
"Why would I do that?" Lin asked, knowing nothing about Khan.
"I'm from a different planet, called Earth. 300 years ago, I was kidnapped for a eugenics program. You see, the program was based on the philosophy that increasing the capabilities of a man, or women, would improve the entire human race. Superior ability, breeds superior ambition, as one of the creators said. Didn't work well for him, because an augment killed him. We augments controlled the planet, or most of it. There were dozens, if not hundreds of us. We were to lead humanity into peace and prosperity, but were condemned as criminals, forced into exile."
"What happened next?" Lin asked.
Khan didn't tell her about being captured about Starfleet, but rather lied.
"My ship was programed to wake up the cryo-pods in case we got close to a planet or asteroid. The rest of the cryo-tubes failed, and the other augments died in them. I gathered an escape pod, and left. And just in time. The ships reactor was failing, and blew up shortly after I ejected from the vessel. Vaporized, because I saw it with my own eyes." Khan lied.
"Hell of a story. Where'd you crash?"
"South pole. And the rest is history." Khan said.
Knowing more about Khan, the two relaxed a bit into the evening. As they enjoyed their dinner and then desert, Khan noticed something.
"What are you staring at?" Lin asked.
"That man. Right across from us. He keeps on looking at us the entire time. I've given him the thousand yard stare, and he still looks at us." Khan said.
"Probably nothing." Lin said.
"About time to leave, don't you think?" Khan asked.
"Yes." Lin said.
As the two left, Lin pulled Khan close to her, wrapping her arm around Khan.
"Chief, what are you doing?" Khan asked.
"Don't want to attract attention." Lin said.
The two continued walking, and were confronted by three equalists.
"Look who we have here." One of them said.
"Amon will want to see both of you." Another said.
Khan was quick on the draw, and stabbed one in the heart with the pencil in his pocket. Ducking a blow, he stabbed the other in the head with the pencil. The third ran away, only to get the pencil in the back, killing him.
"You killed them." Lin said.
"Yes. That so hard to believe?" Khan sarcastically asked.
"Not that. You killed them with a pencil. A fucking pencil." Lin said.
"Everything can be used as a weapon. Just depends on the angle you use it." Khan said.
As the two walked away, Amon was watching from the shadows.
"Shit. We're fucked." He muttered.
Days later, Lin and Khan were planning an offensive against the equalists.
"We've some idea where they are, mostly underground. We'll have to scout the areas first and-" Lin stopped, when someone approached her.
"Chief, a notice for you." a messenger said.
"What for?" Lin asked.
"Tarrlok is holding a gala. In monument for Avatar Korra." The messenger said.
"Let me guess. I have to attend." Lin dryly said.
"Yeah." The messenger said.
Lin gripped the bridge of her nose, angry.
"Problem?" Khan asked.
"That girl has done nothing to warrant such a thing." Lin said.
The two headed towards the gala. Khan was suspicious of Tarrlok for one reason. No-one in their right mind would throw such an extravagant party for one person, especially if one person just arrived in the city. Tarrlok had an ulterior motive.
"Khan. The super cop." Tarrlok said, walking to him.
"What do you want?" Khan asked.
"Just want to congratulate you on your success with the police force." Tarrlok said.
Khan didn't say anything, but fired back.
"Why are you holding this gala? Costs a lot of money. Why hold it just for the hell of it?" Khan asked.
"For the Avatar." Tarrlok said.
"Councilmen. Are you going to lie to me over and over, until the truth comes out? Korra has only been in the city for a couple of days. Has done nothing to warrant such a thing. You want something from her. What is it, I wonder?" Khan asked.
Tarrlok didn't say a word, confirming Khan's suspicions.
"You can't speak against it. It must be the truth." Khan said.
"If I were you, Khan, I'd keep your nose where it belongs. In the police force. Not in politics." Tarrlok growled.
"If I were you, politician, I'd hope we'd never meet again. Not in conditions like this." Khan said.
Tarrlok turned his attention somewhere else.
"Chief Beifong. I believe you and Korra met." He smugly said.
"Just because the city's throwing you this big to-do, don't think you're something special. You've done absolutely nothing to deserve this." Lin harshly said.
While Khan thought Lin was being rude, she did have a point. He then had front row seats as Korra was coerced into joining Tarrlok's task force.
"I think he poses a real problem." Korra said, answering a reporter's question.
"Then why have you refused to join Tarrlok's task force?" another reporter asked.
"Well, I ..." Korra muttered.
"Why are you backing away from this fight?" another reporter asked.
"What? No! I've never backed away from anything in my life!" Korra defended.
"You promised to serve this city, aren't you going back on that promise now?" a third asked.
"Do you think pro-bending is more important than fighting the revolution?" yet another asked.
"How do you think Avatar Aang would have handled this?" a fifth reporter asked.
"Are you afraid of Amon?" the second reporter asked.
"No! I'm not afraid of Amon or anyone! If the city needs me, then I'll join Tarrlok's task force." Korra said.
"There's your news, folks!" Tarrlok said.
"Sic Semper Tyrannous." Khan muttered to himself, before leaving.
Next morning, Khan read the newspapers, showing that Korra and the task force had arrested several equalists. Khan knew it wouldn't be enough. It simply wouldn't. They had to go after Amon directly, in order to bring the organization down.
Turning the radio on, he heard this.
"Avatar Korra has bravely answered the call to action. With the two of us leading the charge, Republic City has nothing to fear from Amon and the Equalists." Tarrlok said.
"Question for the Avatar. Amon remains at large. Why have you failed to locate him?" a reporter asked.
"You want to know why? Because Amon is hiding in the shadows like a coward. Amon, I challenge you to a duel, no task force, no chi blockers, just the two of us tonight at midnight on Avatar Aang Memorial Island. Let's cut to the chase and settle this thing, if you're man enough to face me." Korra declared.
"Aw shit. Looks like I gotta bail her out." Khan muttered. He grabbed his weapons, and made his way to the docks. And Korra had already left.
"Don't worry. We're monitoring the island closely. Anything goes wrong, I have a fleet of police ships ready to move in." Tarrlok assured.
"All it takes is one." Khan said, and at that, he dove into the water, and swam towards the island.
Upon the island, Khan waited in the dark, waiting to ambush Amon. The clock rang at midnight, and Korra continued walking. Suddenly, she was dragged inside the statue, and Khan followed. A quick fight occurred, and Korra was captured.
Khan moved into the opening, and heard Amon speak.
"Our showdown, while inevitable, is premature. Although it would be the simplest thing for me to take away your bending right now, I won't. You'd only become a martyr. [Korra looks at him with anger.] Benders of every nation would rally behind your untimely demise, [Her expression changes back to fear.] but I assure you, I have a plan. And I'm saving you for last, then you'll get your duel, and I will destroy you." Amon said, before knocking her out.
A scream was heard, as an equalist was felled by a knife.
"Pick on someone your own strength and power." Khan said, walking towards the equalists, sword at the ready.
"Take care of him." Amon said, before running.
Khan tore thru the 20 equalists, killing most of them and chased after Amon. But he got away.
"Fuck!" He yelled.
Tenzin came into the statue, and looked at the dead equalists, and Khan standing over Korra.
"Korra! Korra, wake up!" Tenzin said, shaking her. "Was Amon here?"
"Yes. He ambushed me." Korra said.
"Did he take your bending away?" Tenzin asked, worried.
"No he didn't." Korra said, producing a small flame.
"That's good." Tenzin said.
Korra then broke down, spilling her fears to Tenzin.
"I was so terrified! I felt so helpless!" She sobbed.
"It's alright. The nightmare is over." Tenzin comforted.
"You ... you were right ... I've been scared this whole time. I've never felt like this before and ... and Tenzin, I don't know what to do!" Korra said, continued to cry.
"Admitting your fears is the first and most difficult step in overcoming them." Tenzin said.
"You'll get thru this Korra, you'll get stronger in the process." Khan said.
Tenzin only nodded at Khan's words.
Meanwhile, Khan was thinking something else. Wait a minute. Why am I comforting her? She's no augment. She's an idiot. Why got after your enemy, when you've seen just how much power he possesses, and when you know next to nothing on his capabilities?