Noatak paced alone in his room. His mask laid on a desk as the privacy of the room hid his identity from the public. He welcomed the quiet as recent news of his sister's escape and his brother's death finally reached his ears. He underestimated his father's influence over Korra and now he knew she was coming for vengeance of being embarrassed. He had no doubt that the triads would rally to her calling over a common enemy and Republic City would find itself in the middle.
"Amon," he heard his lieutenant call from outside of the room, "I just received word that the Avatar has just coerced Future Industries from Ms. Sato and bought Cabbage Corps."
"Have our implanted workers sabotage the factories then."
The silence told him more than he needed.
"She… she has ordered the removal of anyone without the ability to bend."
The leader of the nonbenders grabbed his mask, put it on and opened the door, "Come then. If she is willing to go so low, then so will we. We will gather and begin our plan to finish off the triads."
What remained of his brother's task force was now sitting around the police station. Word had gotten out that Tarrlok was found dead in the Avatar's cell and the officers were now scared to do their work with Amon having control.
They had every right to be afraid. They had no one to truly lead them now that the council members were gone and the Avatar preferred her criminals.
The Equalists broke into the room and began taking out the surprised officers. Without sufficient water around, the officers were left to fighting against a force that thrived on hand-to-hand combat. The rest of the night would be spent taking their bending away. Amon was proud of the results but he knew that it was not enough. Taking the officers out only scared other benders. It did not take fighters from the Avatar though. They would have to attack the triads again and soon.
She sat in the library reading. It was rare to think of the Avatar researching but after her loss to Amon, she needed to regain the edge. From Future Industries, she learned that the gloves were a way to fight with benders. She wanted to know how to counter these or perhaps use them to her advantage.
Dressed in common clothes for the city and having cut her hair into a bob, Korra headed there to read about electricity and other technology. She researched chi blocking as well.
She spent the next few days incognito to do this. Some of her closer allies were confused as to why she was spending time alone, without her narcotics and turning partners away. Korra wanted her power back. Her brother beat her once but she refused to be defeated again.
She would spend a few hours tinkering with the gloves. She was not an expert in this kind of thing so she had the Sato woman with her some of the time. There was not a lot of speaking unless the Avatar was stuck on something. Asami was surprised on how curious the Avatar could be. She also saw that Korra did have a kinder side as her tea cup and shot glass was always full as they worked.
"Is there a way I could make this glove attack someone from afar?" The Avatar asked after taking apart the glove.
Asami answered honestly. She knew what would happen if she lied, "It could be clumsier than before but you would have to find a way to route the energy through the glove."
"I will need some sort of median then?"
The Sato woman nodded, "Or find a way of making the energy into a smaller projectile like how my father's mech suits are able to."
"You may finish off that bottle. I have something in mind." The Avatar grinned as she stood. The look on her face soon softened. Asami had never seen her give anyone that look, "Thank you, Miss Sato."
It left her confused, "No problem?"
The rest of the days were spent in her personal gym. With the way Korra left the training dummy, the triad members did not want to bother her with anything. Her pent up rage was released, leaving straw all around the room.
Viper and the Red Monsoon leader would stand just outside listening. It was a bit terrifying to hear as they never saw her truly train with such raw anger and devotion. They would make sure to pass along to the others not to anger her.
"You have returned?"
Korra shrugged at the spirit in the tree, "I know who you are now. I lost a fight and now I need more power. I want to know how you can give that to me, Vaatu. I refuse to look like a fool again."
If the spirit had a face, she was sure that he would be grinning, "Open the portals and come see me on the day of Harmonic Convergence. You must be here physically for this to work."
Do not do it Korra.
She pushed out the voice in her mind, "And what else can I expect? Surprises are not a favorite thing of mine."
"We will combine, using the universe's power and with our combined power we will be unstoppable. Perhaps even immortal."
Perfect. Now she needed a way to open these portals. The spirit of darkness could not explain how. That was a wall in her path but she could not falter. She had a reputation to uphold and it was stained.
A name came to her but she did not want to talk to him. There was something about Chief Unalaq she did not like but he understood the spirits better than anyone else she knew. In fact, when it came to learning how to reach the Spirit World, she went to him instead of Tenzin. She still hated him for some reason.
She would have to swallow her pride for a moment and call him. This unlimited power was important and if she had to convince him, she would find a way.
The two young adults stood in the same room, each feeling awkward. One was only there because he wanted to revenge his brother and the other was forced. Yet, they somehow were stuck together. A former probender and a former owner of a company. From their short time together, Mako knew that he could not do what the Avatar asked him to do. They only stood in the room Asami was forced into because they had to.
"So," Mako tried to think of something to talk about, "How about that probending finale?"
He cringed right after asking. Asami gave him a glaring look before speaking, "I cannot believe you work for her so willingly."
"I only do so that I can have revenge for Amon taking my brother's bending. I don't have another choice to make."
Asami let out a pout for a moment, "Sorry to hear about your brother. I didn't think my father had anything to do with Amon. I was wrong."
Well, Mako thought, at least they were facing each other now. It was weird standing and facing a wall for no reason.
"Uh, sorry to hear about your father. No one deserves to be killed in that manner."
There was a long moment of silence. Asami would break it first, "The Avatar kinda confuses me. She's ruthless but I saw a softer side of her recently. It makes me wonder if we all could have bad and a good side to us."
"You saw a softer side?"
For the next few hours, they would talk. No matter what the Avatar thought, Mako knew that Asami was quite the woman. She was smart and pretty. She certainly did not deserve what had happened to her. But neither did Bolin. The firebender could not get too close to her. He still had a job to do, even if the Avatar tried hinting to him about becoming a man.
Speaking of the evil spirit, Korra barged in without knocking. She was accompanied by a few of former Triple Treat members and the Red Monsoon leader, "City Boy, go speak with Viper. I need her for a moment."
Mako glanced at the younger woman with a concerned look. Word had been passed around about the Avatar's aloofness to her followers and they were all treading softly like the floors in their underground base were covered with glass. One wrong word could mean having their heart burst in their chest.
Maybe he had gotten too close to Asami too. He wanted to speak up about letting the woman go without harm. Of course, she did speak up against the Avatar,
"Kid? Did ya hear me?"
Mako glanced at the Avatar. She was giving him an impatient look, brow perked and all, "Sorry Boss. I was just caught up in thoughts."
"Quit thinkin' and get outta here before I remove ya."
He soon left the room in a hurry. Treading on broken glass was a good analogy for the time.
After the meeting with Viper about finding Amon's hideout, Mako carefully walked the streets back to his new pad. It was not much. Someone had abandoned it because of the fighting and he needed a place to leave his brother. Bolin tried to keep a happy outlook on life but without having his bending it was hard for the younger brother to stay happy.
"Hey Mako. How was your day?" the former earthbender asked as he poked his head from the kitchen.
The firebender sighed, "Busy. The Boss is on edge. It's hard to ask her anything."
"Oh." Bolin pouted, "I have food on the stove. I'm sure it's not any better than yesterday."
Mako tried to smile, "You'll get there bro. This won't be forever."
It was a false hope but there had to be a way to get his brother's bending back. The Avatar had hers returned. He would have to ask when she was in a better mood about it.