Author's notes: Well this will probably be my last filler for now. Thank you mastermind123 for letting me use Your characters in this chapter. Oh and by the way, Five Finger Death Punch is absolutely amazing.. oh right my story, enjoy and please review.

Ruan and John

"Ruan, what the hell is this?", Ruan took a moment to look at what John was asking as he put the rest of the groceries in the refrigerator.

"I believe their called peanuts..."

"I know what it is but why did you get it? It wasn't on the list of food.. in fact you got nothing I needed, are you crazy what happened to all the money I gave you?"

"I'm not crazy, a little nuts, but not crazy..", as Ruan laughed a bit, John rolled his eyes at the pun he had set Ruan up for. John scrambled through the bag searching for anything that might have been useful to them. Pulling out a six pack of what had been alcohol, John tried to examine it but it did not even look drinkable.

"What the hell is this?", John asked pulling out the six pack of an unknown substance. Ruan turned around to see John dangling a can from his hand, and grinned,

"It's alcohol"

"Beer?"

"What the hell's beer? No, it's cactus juice", Ruan replied.

"That makes no sense..", John said opening up the can, hissing as he pulled of the tab. He drank a little and swished it around, trying to get a taste of the flavor. After getting a grotesque look on his face he spat it out, despite still being in Ruan's apartment, "Tastes like soap", John said wiping his mouth.

"Pretty damn good soap", Ruan replied with a cocky smile.

"Yea well, cactus juice still makes no sense"

"Well neither do you and your team", Ruan tossed another can to John. The coldness of the aluminum can had pierced his skin, once caught. John looked at it disgusted and tossed it on the bed, "You no, I'd rather stick to my own poison", he said. Ruan shrugged and guzzled half of his can down.

John continued to search through Ruan's groceries, still finding nothing to his liking. Jesus Christ, this guy wastes more money, then I do trying to track down Robertson, John thought (I'm going to explain Robertson and summarize what has happened in the last two months, since the relocation in my next chapter). John got irritated at how wasteful Ruan had been.

"How much you got left?", John asked.

"20 yuans"

"yuans? I thought it was gold peices?", John got a little worried at the sound of the new money.

"Yea apparently the Equalist have imposed a new currency on Republic City and copper, silver, and gold pieces are actually worth less"

John rubbed his head, he slumped down on the bed, nearly sitting on the can he threw earlier, "You kidding me a new damn currency.. fuck", John murmured to himself. Ruan closed the fridge and sat on the wooden chair that had been in the poor excuse of the kitchen, kicking up his feet onto the table.

"Problem?"

"Well now I have to exchanged all my money, which now we'll have less then we thought, and you blew most of it on damn food we don't need. Like that shit juice", John said grieving.

"Cactus juice", Ruan corrected him.

"I know what I said", John replied glaring back at Ruan. He shrugged and opened the shades revealing the outside. He could see perfectly down the road, including the coffee shop. "Do you know where Khai is?", John asked. It had just come to his mind that Khai had been gone the whole day, he hadn't shown up for sparring. Ruan looked around, just noticing that Khai had been gone he had remembered seeing him walking down the road, when John had forced Ruan to pay his rent with training.

"I think he went into town"

"For?"

"Ah don't know, hey so how's Korra been lately? Does she talk about it. I know it's been awhile since the incident but hey I would be to" (once again the incident will be explained later on but to read it now visit mastermind123 along with his other past missions during the two months), Ruan said rocking back and forth on one leg of the chair. John got up, standing at the foot of the bed now he responded, "She's fine, she's the avatar she's pretty good on her own. She'll be better once she learns air bending from this Tenzin guy".

"Tenzin? Oh yes, on air bending island I remember him, he's quiet famous", Ruan said.

"Well an air bender in today's time isn't really common Ruan, of course he's famous", John said sarcastically. Ruan rolled his eyes, still rocking back and forth in his chair.

"You know you didn't really answer my question", Ruan said

"What?"

"Does, she, still, talk about it, Ruan said almost as if he was trying to spell it out. "She's fine jackass, yea she talks about it but she's cool. She mostly talks about defeating Amon and how she must master air bending to do so. However I suggested many times to take the prick out myself", John added confidently.

Ruan laughed a bit , but looked right back out the window. "I'm going to take a walk, wanna come?", Ruan asked kind of realizing the awkward date reference he had just made. "Uh maybe later, I still got to report back to my team. Remember don't buy anything!", John added.

"Fine, fine relax.. oh however I bought this phonographic machine today!", Ruan said proudly holding up the music player that had been hidden on his side of the bed.

"Jesus...", John sighed.

The Rook.. and Ruan

Ruan had been walking for quite some time, and in that time he had found no trace of Khai. Not that he was looking in him or something, Khai excelled at his training and he was good in a fight, He was actually thinking about getting a new sword or some kind of weapon.

Ruan had wandered onto a pier, gazing out into the open water, it sparkled continuously. The only problem was that there was nobody here, no boats docked or people for that matter. Ruan had noticed this from the very start as he entered. He had always cut through the docks to get into the Yangchen main market area and every time he was always thrown out for trespassing even though he's told them over and over.

Large crates that would have usually been on a cargo ship now laid on the ground, stacked on top of one another. Some had already been open with moving equipment already inside them, as if someone had actually been here, but there was nobody.

Ruan wandered further into the docks, surprised to the fullest extent, he found nobody. Eh, might as well take my advantage, Ruan thought. He continued to walk, until the radiant heat from a nearby explosion came open the barrel next to him.

The blast sent him flying into barrels toppling over one another continuously, until they had covered Ruan. Dammit! My arm.. it hurts so bad!, Ruan wanted to shout so bad, the burn on his arm hadn't been as bad as to reach first or second degree but to the point where it could still cause massive pain.

"What the hell was..", realizing he had been talking to himself, Ruan stopped. Struggling to get up, he held his left arm. It had been painful if he had touched it.

"Equalist scum! You don't deserve to live!", a voice echoes across the docks. Ruan was horrified, someone had been trying to kill him, he looked over seeing smoke rise from where the blast had came from.

"Immoral, dangerous, corrupt, sinning! These are the only a few characteristics that describe people like you!", the chilling voice echoed again. "Once our benevolent leader is in power, all of your kind will be gone! The generation of the living dead shall fall and life will be reborn anew!", it continued.

What the fuck was this person saying? Ruan was at his feet ready to move, in any case of another attack. "Where are you, show yourself!", Ruan demanded. The voice laughed, coughed a few times but continued to laugh a sound that even the the avatar would find disturbing, it was a chilling sound.

"Your in no position to be making demands sinner!", The voice echoed. Sinner? That made no sense, Ruan knew he wasn't perfect but sinner? What was this person a cultist? "Listen I agree I'm not perfect but how does blowing me up make me better or in any case make you any more a glorified person?

"You sin onto yourself! A human like yourself should be kind, caring, honorable but to think you use you abilities for corruption. Your just a spineless, a weakling, struggling to try to crawl to the top!", The voice had appeared itself behind Ruan the whole time. Ruan was shocked to see that he had been there the whole time. He was starring down at him with bloodshot eyes. He wore a brown cloak, and a red skeletal bandana over his mouth.

Who is this guy to tell me who I am?, Ruan thought. "Hey look asshole, I'm not the greatest person in the world and I know that! But how does killing someone help you to become someone better?", Ruan replied.

"I will exterminate all those who impose themselves onto others, those who declare themselves supreme!", He replied ignoring the question altogether. Alright talking sense into this guy wasn't going to work, might as well get something out of him, Ruan thought to himself. "Well since you not going to answer my question, who are you? Or are you going to give me a whole rant of how I'm not perfect...", Ruan couldn't help but to laugh as he said this.

"My name is Mao, might as well tell you before your death, and I represent The Pride!", Mao shouted with "dignity"

"All right, now tell me all your plans while your at it..", Ruan said with a boastful tone. Mao look down on him with more anger then before. "Insolent brat!", he shouted. Ruan hadn't seen hit coming, Mao through out his hand sending a stream of fire barely the size of a laser pointer, three feet in front of Ruan. However it hadn't been fire.

A small explosion yet needed to push Ruan back more erupted as the stream of fire instantly hit the ground. Sending Ruan back into another giant cargo storage unit. Dammit it burns!, Ruan wanted to scream, he had fallen back on his burnt arm but that didn't nearly as interested him as the fact that this guy could shoot explosions from his bandaged arms, as silly as it sounded.

Mao's arms had completely bandaged from his shoulders to his fingertips. Ruan ran for cover, around the storage unit, feeling the heat waves of another large blast from behind him. "Seriously, how the hell man?", Ruan shouted as if he was trying to lighten the mood.

He could here Mao hopping down and walking over to the nearly destroyed containment unit that Ruan now stood behind. "I see you interest my ability, the ability I earned from my own training! No body takes my skills away!", Mao said, this time he breathed in releasing strong energy from his forehead. This had went straight through and blown the wall the Ruan had been behind, sending him into the air with the wall of the storage unit on top of him. Luckily for Ruan it hadn't been that heavy.

"Seriously do you mind shutting up?", Ruan asked, crawling out from under the broken rubble. Mao casually walked over, "Amazing you can be the most degenerated person ever, taking my blows and yet your still an annoying son of a bitch", Mao added. He walked around to the side of Ruan, kicking him in the stomach causing him to flip over onto his back. Ruan lashed out in pain, clutching his stomach. How can he beat someone like this? Was all his training a waste of time? no he wasn't going to back down.

Despite the massive pain he had been in, he flipped himself over until his foot connected with Mao's stomach. Mao quickly backed up, almost as if he had ignored the pain. He pulled his bandana up, that had slid down a bit. Ruan got to his feet and came at him.

Mao had been trained in fighting. Throwing out a couple quick punches, countering with his back, he managed to see how Mao blocks and how get leaves his guard down. Ruan found it. Exactly as Mao blocks the counter punch, his area opposite of his heart is fully opened. It might not have been the most effective spot, but he had a shot and he was taking it.

The counter punch was blocked, stead of again following up with the other hand, he used the same one to attack repeatedly at that spot. Mao grunted as he was hit directly but he had been in much worse positions. He drew his hands back, and swung his arm, creating a semi-circle of flames in Ruan's direction. Ruan fell backwards catching himself in a bridge position with his stomach facing up, not the best spot to be in.

Mao brought his foot up in an axe kick form, bringing down his heel that also dragged flames with it. Ruan had hit directly in the stomach, but not before he lashed out his foot, hitting Mao in the groin. Clutching his crotch, Mao gasped for air. Ruan also laid on the ground curled up clutching his stomach, Fuck!, he thought.

"Your... Going.. to pay!", Mao shouted, trying to get his balance. Vicious, ear smashing, bangs came out from a distance. Sparks flew out of the containment units as little hole suddenly appeared in them. "What is this?", Mao said horrified. Ruan Curled his head back, to see John running up to him, with an assault rifle in his hands, repeatedly shooting, in an up-side-down view. Mao didn't let up, using the smoke from the fire, he launched at his feet creating a smokescreen so he could run.

"Cowardly bastard!", John shouted running towards Ruan. Ruan had been beaten up pretty badly, he had a large black imprint of Mao's heel, and the surrounding burn. "Jesus.. Ruan you look like hell, what's going on? Who is he?", John said, helping Ruan to his feet. Ruan could barely stand, his whole body ached.

"He's a p-pridesmen, his name is Mao and his shoots e-explosions from his body. Funny thing is he's delusional and can't carry out a full conversation", Ruan said trying to catch his breath. John had a confused look on his face, explosions? Damn another thing to add to my shit list, John thought.

"Okay, so what do you mean-"

Ruan had shoved John away, putting all his strength in the last push, which would have been fatal for John. As John was sent backwards, he could a thin stream of fire, or maybe a red line, crossing his path. It impacted into the ground this time closer to Ruan's feet, the explosion was of medium size, Mao did not want to underestimate his opponents again.

The force slammed against Ruan like a wall, sending him into a storage crate. John was more lucky, only suffering minor damage but in the force of the blast made him lose his gun. Dammit!, John thought. He got to his feet only to be repeatedly attacked with fire. Mao hadn't let up, thrusting out his fists red flames, emerged and burned everything in it's path. Grabbing a piece of sheet, from the rubble that had been on the ground he angled it upwards. As he ran John could feel the intese heat, slam against the sheet metal and he knew it would last long. However he hadn't come unprepared.

"Son of a bitch!', John shouted taking out a pistol from his holster. Blind shots fired, loud noise could be heard from their apartment and would surely attract other attention. Mao stopped, to produce another smokescreen like evasion to escape from John's shots. John stopped taking out another clip of bullets and loading it into his gun. "Your friend is weak-minded", Mao's voice rang out and echoed throughout the dock. "He may be a pest but at least he can carry out a full conversation.. kinda", John said pulling back on the top part of his gun. His gun clicked back, and was ready to fire again.

"Oh I'm very capable of carrying out a full conversation mister... uh forget it. Why should I waste my intellect on some waste-of-a-life, who can't even withstand my intensity of heat?", Mao said changing his tone. John hadn't known him for a very long time but he could tell that this guy wasn't as dull as Ruan said. Just as Jun he had been perfect for being the spy of The Pride. He could change his personality and almost become another person, it was like he had multiple personalities stored away for certain occasions.

John was confused, this guy went from a wiley fire bender to a top-notch fighter. John knew now he couldn't let his guard down, "Who the hell do you think you are?", John said trying to by time. He found cover behind a pile of wooden crates and dropped the old used up bullet shells onto the ground. John knew he wouldn't be very protective but he knew the guy wouldn't attack when he talked, so it would have to do while he made his plan.

"Fine, mister uh.."

"It's Porter, Johnathon Porter but you just call me Porter"

"Well mister Porter if you oh so want to waste my time, so be it. I don't have anywhere to be in an hour so I might as well kill some time before your death", Mao said. John hadn't seen where Mao was hiding, that's if he was. For all he knew was that he had been just toying with him.

"I.. I was a mercenary, actually more like a bomb terrorist, seeing as that's what they called me", Mao began, his voice got soft and less threatening. John was suddenly intrigued, he had been thinking about his ability to shoot explosions.

"I was merely a tool for those who sued themselves for their greedy wishes. Worse of all I didn't realize what I had done until it had ended. I was weak, immoral, and a coward at best", Mao continued, his voice getting darker. "I was a bomb terrorist for the Equalist party, I had killed so many and had hurt so much more. I had been the judge, jury, and executioner so many damn times!"

"Wait how could you been with the Equalist party? They hate benders", John interrupted, his gun was ready.

"And they still do, however they needed power to start things off. So Amon hired me to bomb several districts with my Fire Spark Technique, making me believe that murders, terrorists, and others guilty of treason. Turns out he had just conned me into creating his propaganda of making people believe benders are evil", Mao paused for a moment.

John had been more focused on the subject of the Fire Spark Technique, Mao had mentioned. John thought about what he heard. Mao had been lied to for such a long time. However, what he was doing did not give him the right to do what he was doing.

"I had questioned those who I didn't even know. Those "Sinners" I had bombed.. turned out to be regular families who had supported the White Lotus Party. I realize now the real sinners, those who impose themselves on others for any reason! Equalists especially, that's why I attacked Ruan.. but you, your odd there something different about you", Mao said curiously.

John couldn't help letting out a quick laugh, "Let me guess, the name right or is it my gun?"

"Gun? Please, I am not afraid of your advancement of technology. Besides anyone who defends an Equalist piece of shit!", Mao said.

"See there you go! Your judging others again!", John replied.

"No, I don't judge. Equalists are the definition of evil! Every one of them trying to do something to mess with the minds of others. I've met with some when I worked for Amon, all they talked about was complete control and eliminate those inferior to them. District after district, they all talked about the same fucking inhumane things! Some had even talked about how they were going to bomb hospitals, others talked about schools, but now I realize they're all the same and should die!", Mao finally ended.

There's no way I'm going to convince this nut to stop, John thought. He looked around trying to figure out what to do but he needed more time and he had to be careful what he says or he'll attack. "What is that.. um, Spark Flame Move you said awhile back?", John asked looking through the creases of the crates trying to get a look.

"Fire Spark Technique, Is my ability to shoot explosions or "loaded chi" as one might say. Being a fire bender I can concentrate my chi to shoot powerful balls of fire, however I advanced further. I can still do that but get to the point where it.. "overloads", as you might say, building up so much. I then condense it all into the only three chi paths I can shoot it from. My forehead, and both arms. Sending out a thin spark, type line and when it hits something, it'll expl-", Mao grunted heavily, and John heard a loud thud.

Looking over the boxes, aiming down the sights of his gun he saw Ruan, black and bloody. Some how he had still had the energy to get up and slam his fist into the side of Mao's face. Mao got up, panting hard and brushed off the dirt. John could tell this was Ruan's last attack, he was to injured to pull a stunt like that again. Mao was in full view of John's line of sight, he pulled the trigger.

The sound of a lone click, interfered jamming the barrel of the gun. Shit! I always clean these parts, why the hell would it jam now? John wondered. However the horrors had just began, the red bandanna that had been tied around his lower part of his face fell, revealing his horrific, grotesque, and rotten part of his face. The skin was so burnt, that the tendons connecting the jaw could barley be seen but still visible. His lips were gone and the right part of his cheek had been torn, revealing his back teeth.

John's eyes grew and his stomach felt queasy. "What the fuck...", that was all John could say as he watched the grotesque pridesmen put back on his bandana. "I had been in an accident involving my abilities", Mao's voice seemed darker then before.

"How?", John's fingers were still on the gun but the sight he had just witnessed had been burned into his head. John didn't even realize that Ruan had fell to his knee's, his hands trying to prop himself up, and he didn't say a word.

Mao couldn't answer John's question, his injury was his greatest weakness. If the Fire Spark Technique's weakness was ever exploited, he could have easily been defeated up close.

"Mao!", a voice rang out of nowhere. Both looking up they could see another man wearing a brown cloak, just like Mao.

"Go away Delun! I'm finishing up here, I'll be back in a while!"

"We have to get back, Adm. Geming orders. What are you doing fighting like this, you know your the weakest"

Rage built in Mao, glaring at Delun, but he knew he couldn't let down his true superior. He was very happy to be working for Geming, ever since he found him. Geming was the only one that seemed to share his true. Pulling the trigger over and over, the gun still jammed. John didn't know what the hell was wrong.

"Look at them Delun, they're both weak! I could kill them right now, they're both here!", Mao insisted. Delun starred down at Porter and examined him carefully. Finally letting out a cocky grin, he had thin but long black hair that blew that made him look more intimidating.. or a slacker on Yu's part.

"You could kill them later Mao, but now Adm. Geming has his plans ready to be carried out and they need all of us", Delun said. Admiral Geming.. great another man to add to my shit list.., John thought. An explosion of black smoke, impacted the ground like a tiny hand bomb, looking up John could see that the other member, Delun had disappeared as well. John didn't want to face the both of them, not alone. He wanted someone to watch his back, just in case one of them wanted to pull a cheap shot on him.

He rushed towards Ruan, who had been lying on conscious. Ruan had looked like a total mess, his skin was burnt and some of his bones were probably broken.

But the thing that worried John the most hadn't been his outward appearance.. Ruan wasn't breathing.