[Central District, Nearby City Hall]
Now, where had Tenzin been through after being saved by his former assistant?
Our ever-dutiful airbender had taken refuge in a tea place, of all places—an oasis of carved wood and fragrant steam tucked between the district's noise.
TENZIN
AGE: 51
STATUS: After His Rescue
"I'm glad I finally got a break from all this stress" he muttered, half to himself, half to the invisible therapist that always seemed to sit across from him these days.
He lifted the porcelain cup with deliberate grace, savoring the aroma before the first sip.
For a fleeting moment, the world was quiet to him.
But as soon as the tea touched his lips, his brow furrowed. His mood soured.
"Still… I don't think we're close enough to be enjoying each other's company over tea"
His gaze rose, fixing to the figure opposite of him.
The man sat cloaked in a hood and mask, faceless to the rest of the world.
But Tenzin knew. He had pieced it together. He finally knew who was behind the plain white mask who sat before him.
ZHEN
AGE: 19
STATUS: His Most Untrusted Ally
"It's not as if I'm here to bond with you, Master Tenzin" Zhen replied, his voice edged with calmness honed sharp with formality.
He leaned forward slightly, releasing his face from the lock of his broken mask before placing it beside him on the table.
Tenzin felt like he was being mocked, that even though he is in front of him, he can't do anything about it.
"We're both looking for the Avatar" Zhen leaned back on his chair, crossing his arms. "I thought it was only fair to let you in on what I've found"
"And you think I'll believe whatever lies you decide to spew?" Tenzin's voice remained calm, but the venom beneath it was unmistakable.
Zhen gave a small shrug. "Then I won't talk"
He reached into his coat and, with a quick flick of his wrist, tossed an envelope onto the table. It landed squarely in front of Tenzin, its weight a promise and a threat both.
For a moment, the airbending master didn't move. Suspicious carved deep into every line of his face. At last, with deliberate care, he picked it up and broke the seal.
Zhen didn't speak.
He simply watched, gaze half-lidded, occasionally glancing out the window toward City Hall. A low hum left his throat, infuriatingly tuneless.
Tenzin shifted through the contents: documents, scribbled notes, photographs, newspaper clippings. He showed his experience as a councilman—reviewing evidence methodically, unwilling to be swayed by assumption.
His frown only deepened.
Finally, he held up a grainy polaroid. A moment frozen: Korra, bound, being dragged into a vehicle.
"You're telling me Tarrlok has her?" Tenzin asked flatly.
Zhen nodded once. "Yes. But right now, I don't know where he's keeping her. What I do have is a lead"
He leaned forward, clearing a space on the table with one sweep of his hand.
Only then did Tenzin notice it.
An already laid out map between them. Republic City sprawled across parchment, every street and surrounding valley etched in detail.
It was even more detailed than the one they have in City Hall.
The master's brow lifted. He hadn't seen Zhen set it down.
"From what I got right now, he's keeping a safehouse here" Zhen tapped a finger against the mountains behind Republic City. His voice was almost offhand, like he was pointing out a simple fishing spot. "It's a rough lead, but it's something"
Tenzin followed the gesture, narrowing his eyes. "So you expect me to organize a search party?"
"No?" Zhen tilted his head, genuinely puzzled at the suggestion.
"Then what is the point of telling me this?" Tenzin's voice edged sharp, almost offended.
"I want you to deal with Tarrlok" Zhen said simply, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I'll handle the Avatar"
"Preposterus!" the word cracked from Tenzin's lips like a whip. His calm veneer faltered, showing a flash of outrage. "You're asking me to trust you with Korra's safety? I'd rather just have you take care of Tarrlok"
Zhen spread his hands. "I'd be happy to, but Tarrlok's too hot for me right now to just… remove"
Tenzin's brow arched, his suspicion mixing with curiosity. "Why? Don't tell me you've suddenly grown a conscience"
"Of course not" Zhen's denial was immediate, though without an ounce of shame. "For reasons Amon hasn't shared, he marked Tarrlok as untouchable. If I kill him—and I very much want to—I'll have both you guys and Amon's goons up my ass. For now, I need you guys to keep Amon from getting Tarrlok"
Tenzin's silence stretched. He grumbled low in his chest, mulling the risk.
His gaze fell back to the young man across the table. In the year Zhen had lived under their watch, he had been harder on him than anyone. Yet Zhen had always done what was asked: punctual, meticulous, relentlessly dutiful.
There had been… change in him. Whether genuine or an act, Tenzin couldn't say. But Korra had trusted him. His children had accepted him. His wife had even gone so far as to call the island his home.
Tenzin drew a steady breath. Blind or not, a choice had to be made.
"Very well" he said at last, the words heavy with reluctance. "Bring Korra back. Safe"
He would never trust the boy's heart—but his work ethic, his efficiency?
That, Tenzin could stake something on.
"Perfect!" Zhen clapped his hands, the sudden sound snapping Tenzin from his thoughts. "Now that that's settled, looks like your friends could use a hand"
He jerked his chin toward the window. Tenzin followed, confused.
BOOM!
The explosion shook the air, glass rattling in its panes. A plume of smoke curled up near City Hall. something large and battered launched skyward out of the haze, and as it drew higher Tenzin squinted.
"I'll be damned" he muttered, disbelief heavy in his voice. "Alright, let's—"
He turned back to the table—only to find the chair across from him empty.
Zhen was gone, as though he was never there at all.
Only a note remained, pinned to the map with a dagger. Scrawled in quick, and horrible penmanship:
Meet me here tonight.
An arrow marked a circle in ink.
—————————————————————————————
[???, City Hall]
Immediately after Yakone's capture, preparations for his prosecution had begun in a frenzy. The Avatar himself oversaw every procedure, making sure the notorious crime lord wouldn't slip through any leg crack or loophole.
Now, twelve hours later, after a grueling, contentious trial, the proceedings resumes. The chamber quieted as the five council members rose from deliberation and returned to their seats.
Four sat. One remained standing.
In the center stood a man in Water Tribe blues, weathered with age yet unmistakably sharp. An angled blade rested across his back.
SOKKA
AGE: 44
STATUS: Chief of the Southern Water Tribe
"Councilman Sokka will now deliver the verdict" the herald announced, voice echoing faintly against the tall columns.
Sokka cleared his throat, hands folded behind his back.
"In my years" he began. "I've encountered people born with rare and… let's say creative bending abilities"
A few murmurs rippled through the audience. But Sokka continued, ignoring it.
"I once bested a man who could firebend… with his mind" his tone suggested pride, just a hint, enough for those who knew him to smirk.
He cast a sideways glance toward a woman standing off to the side, arms crossed behind her, with a line of officers ready at attention.
TOPH BEIFONG
AGE: 40
STATUS: Chief of Police
"Why, even metalbending was considered impossible for all of history" Sokka gestured toward her. "Until our esteemed Chief of Police, Toph Beifong, singlehandedly developed the skill"
Sokka didn't stop. He leaned slightly to peer at the far end of the chamber, where a royal presence was impossible to miss, no matter how much the woman in question pretended she wasn't enjoying the attention.
AZULA
AGE: 44
STATUS: Princess of the Fire Nation
"And of course" Sokka continued. "We cannot forget the Princess' husband—"
A dramatic pause, just long enough for Azula to raise an unimpressed eyebrow.
"—A man gifted with the ability to borrow bending from others"
A ripple moved through the chamber.
"The overwhelming amount of testimony and evidence has convinced this council that Yakone is one of these unique benders and he exploited his abilities to commit these heinous crimes"
He lifted the gavel.
"We find Yakone guilty on all charges, and sentence him to life in prison"
Thud.
The sound was soft, but it rang through the City Hall.
There was a beat of silence… then the crowd erupted. Cheers, applause, shouts of triumph. A wave of righteous relief crashed through the room.
But now from everyone.
Yakone's lawyer buried his head in his hands, frustration simmering beneath restraint.
And Yakone himself simply… smiled.
The chains on his wrists clinked as he inhaled deeply, the grin stretching wider, almost serene. His shoulders rolled back. His eyes focused inward—almost as if he were aligning pieces of a puzzle only he could see.
ARGH!
Then all of a sudden a chorus of agony tore through the chamber.
Blood surged. Muscles seized. Veins tightened like iron cords.
People convulsed where they stood, faces contorting, their bodies bending against their will. The sound was a grotesque symphony of cracking joints, strained breaths, and strangled cries.
Toph reacted instantly, taking a step forward as she threw her wires toward Yakone.
But as soon as the criminal's eyes flicked toward her, she felt her body jerk. The pain sliced through her like a blade crawling under her skin.
Her knees buckled, her gauntlets clattering to the floor as she fought to stay conscious.
"Heh… hehehe…" Yakone's chuckle slithered upward, growing into a triumphant roar. "HAHAHAHA!"
Every living body in the room twisted helplessly under his control like puppets.
And Yakone savored the moment before turning his head slowly.
And there—just behind him—an arm straining forward.
AANG
AGE: 40
STATUS: Avatar
Even the Avatar was helpless. Which made Yakone's smile grow the more wider.
—————————————————————————————
[Noon, City Hall]
Though half the main hall still bore the scars of an attack, the remaining council members and the Chief of Police stood gathered in a tight circle.
The summons they'd received minutes earlier had been unsettling and abrupt. But nonetheless, not something they could delay.
Low murmurs filled the chamber until the heavy doors swung open.
TARRLOK
AGE: 37
STATUS: Representative of the Northern Water Tribe
"Has any one of you figured out why we were called here on such short notice?" he demanded, annoyance dripping from every syllable. "We should be doing damage control. Do you have any idea what chaos the Equalists are causing after attacking City Hall?"
The gathered officials exchanged knowing looks. There was no confusion reflected in their eyes. Just confirmation.
The one to step forward was a tall officer in full metal armor, the insignia of the Republic Police gleaming on his chest.
SAIKHAN
AGE: 46
STATUS: Current Chief of Police
"Councilman Tarrlok" Saikhan began, despite his professional tone there was clear ice at the edges. "We have received credible information linking you to the Avatar's kidnapping. Until we investigate this matter further, I'm placing you under arrest"
Tarrlok's eyes widened. His heel slid back in disbelief.
"What?!" his voice cracked with a mix of outrage and panic. "That is preposterous! On what ground could you possibly accuse me of such a crime?!"
"I apologize, Councilman Tarrlok" he said evenly. "But I'm just following orders"
"Orders?" Tarrlok snapped. "On whose orders? You think I helped place you in that position just so you could turn your back on me?"
"Don't make this harder on yourself" another firm voice cut in. One of the councilmembers behind Saikhan
KAITO
AGE: 68
STATUS: Representative of the Earth Kingdom
"You think we would approve of this on false claims?"
"Claims?" Tarrlok barked, raising a hand to stop Saikhan's advance. "What claims are you even talking about? Who gathered you all here?"
"I did, Tarrlok"
The chamber hushed instantly at the sound of the voice.
Tenzin stepped through the large doorway. His robes trailed behind him, catching a faint breeze from out of nowhere.
Behind him followed a small group, each looking bruised, dust-covered, and disheveled. It was as if they had crashed somewhere.
They were a story in themselves.
But that story would come another time.
"Tenzin" Tarrlok muttered, bitterness edging into his voice. "Of course. I should have expected it'd be you who would be plotting against me"
Tenzin did not dignify the accusation with a reaction. He reached Saikhan and handed him a creased envelope.
"It isn't me who's been plotting something, Tarrlok"
Saikhan paused in cuffing him, opening the envelope instead. His eyes scan the document and photos inside with a tightened brow.
"I'm only going to ask this once" Tenzin's voice was quiet when it came.
He stepped forward, his gaze locking onto Tarrlok with a severity that emptied the air around them.
"Where is Korra?"
"Why would you assume I know what it is?" he replied, forcing a scoff. "Obviuosly the Equalists have her"
"This certainly tells another story" Saikhan cut in.
He lifted one of the photographs from the envelope—holding it high for everyone to see. The image of Tarrlok shoving Korra into the back of a car.
A ripple of shock spread through the halls.
"Care to explain this, Councilman?" Saikhan asked, his tone hardening.
Tarrlok's jaw tightened until it trembled. For a moment, he looked as if he swallowed poison.
"What kind of—"
"Enough, Tarrlok"
Tenzin's voice cracked like a whip, shutting down the excuse before it could form.
His patience had evaporated. "Where are you keeping Korra?!"
Tarrlok gave him a defiant glare. But he said nothing. Saying anything would mean admitting.
Another council member—a woman in ornate robes—slwoly stepped forward, disbelief twisting her features.
RYU
AGE: 58
STATUS: Representative of the Fire Nation
"This…" she spread several more papers across her hands. "What is the meaning of all this?"
Illegal funding trails.
Embezzled city relief money.
Bribery.
Falsified reports and arrests.
Every crime and loophole Tarrlok has taken advantage of in their hands.
"Well" Saikhan said, lifting one page with a bitter little shrug. "The evidence speaks for itself" he stepped forward. "Councilman Tarrlok, you're under arrest for—Agh!"
His sentence broke into a strangled cry.
Saikhan's body jerked unnaturally, his arms snapping behind him as though yanked by invisible strings. His spine twisted to its limit, tendons straining beneath his skin.
"I don't think so" Tarrlok said coolly, raising his hand like a puppeteer tugging a marionette's wires.
The sight was groteque—limbs contorting, joints bending at angles unnatural. For a heartbeat, no one understood what they were seeing.
But the first to realize was none other than Tenzin.
"You're a bloodbender" he breathed, shock flaring inn his eyes before he grounded himself into a stance.
Arrgh!
But his body seized at once. He gagged as his chest clenched inward, his arms twisting violently.
"How perceptive" Tarrlok mused. "Nothing less of the Avatar's blood"
"Tarrlok!"
A young firebender burst forward behind Tarrlok, flame sparking at his fist—but the spark died instantly as his arm bent sideways against his will.
"Of course I didn't forget you people" Tarrlok said, sweeping his other arm outward.
The rest of the council and people rose off the floor in a chorus of choked groans, suspended like limp puppets. Their limbs stretched taut. Their skin pulled tight. Nails tore at their own throats as they fought for breath that would not come.
"I am not the enemy here!" Tarrlok insisted, voice rising in frantic conviction even as he tortured the room. "Everything I did was for the good of Republic City! If any of you cannot—"
Fwip. Fwip. Fwip.
Tarrlok flinched. A numbness crept up his arm. Three needles were embedded along his forearm. He hadn't even felt them land.
His fingers slackened. Half his captives crashed to the ground unconscious.
"What—what is this?" his eyes darted around wildly.
Something tightened around his shoulders.
No, around his neck.
Slender legs locked under his chin, pinning him with surprising strength.
"You're dangerous" a soft, almost innocent voice murmured above him.
SERA
AGE: 16
STATUS: Was hiding somewhere else till now.
"Sorry about this!"
With an apology far too sincere she raised her arm, a long golden needle glinting between her fingers—then brought it down in one sharp, decisive strike.
With no other choice, he broke his concentration; the remaining captives fell limply to the ground.
With his free arm he tore water from the small pouch at his hip, flinging it upward like a whip.
It struck Sera before she could dodge. The water slammed her into a pillar and froze instantly, pinning her high above the chamber.
"Oh, c'mon! This isn't cool!" she protested, more annoyed than in pain.
"You…" Tarrlok growled in recognition. "You're that Equalist girl the Avatar took in"
He stepped forward, cold fury tightening his expression.
"I should've finished you the first time. I won't waste this chance"
He extended his arm and clenched his fist.
Sera's body jerked. Her throat compressed as invisible pressure started crushing her windpipe. Veins bulged beneath her skin as she clawed weakly at her neck, choking for air.
Tarrlok's grin widened. His pupils shrank to pinpoints, veins pulsing at his temples as he leaned into the sadistic focus of his power.
But that moment of indulgence cost him.
Fwish!
Twin flashes of steel blurred in front of him for a moment.
And his world hung still… before the agony erupted.
AAAAAHHHH!
Blood sprayed across the council floor as Tarrlok's severed arm hit the tiles with a wet slap.
Standing before him was a young man with dual short swords still burning from the strike.
QORU
AGE: 19
STATUS: He wasn't hiding, he was just late
"Sera!" Qoru snapped, eyes darting to the girl frozen against the pillar. "Sorry I'm late. Are you good?"
Of course, she was unconscious.
He took one stop toward her—
—and Tarrlok moved.
Blinded by pain yet fueled by anger, he clutched the stump of his arm and ripped what little water remained in his pouch to thrust out a viscious kick.
The arc of water shot forward like a battering ram, slamming into Qoru's back and hurling him across the chamber.
He crashed through a row of chairs in an explosion of splintered room.
Tarrlok swayed. His breath came in ragged gasps. His knees buckled and he dropped, barely catching himself on his remaining hand.
Cold sweat trickled down his forehead. His vision pulsed, darkening at the edges. Blood gushed in a steady rhythm from the stump of his missing limb.
Snarling, he froze the pooling blood around the wound. It was painful, but enough to keep him conscious.
Not enough to save him if stayed.
'Damn it…'
There was only one option left.
He had to run before everyone woke up.
—————————————————————————————
[Just a bit later]
Tarrlok was long gone.
Unfortunately for him, the people he'd left crumpled across City Hall were beginning to wake.
"Wake up!"
SLAP!
The sharp sting echoed through the ruined chamber as Tenzin jolted upright with a gasp.
"Mmmmnh… man…" another groan rose nearby as someone else stirred. "I had this awful dream where Korra got kidnapped by some creepy old guy—then we found out he's a bloodbender. So weird…"
BOLIN
AGE: 16
STATUS: Still confused, but he's getting there
"Bolin, that wasn't a dream"
Asami's voice carried some exhaustion, but she has clearly already processed the events. She stood steady, at least trying to, despite supporting Mako's half-conscious weight against her shoulder.
ASAMI SATO
AGE: 18
STATUS: I'll think of something
"That really happened. He knocked us out"
Bolin blinked hard. Twice. Then suddenly regained most of his focus.
"Are you serious?! Where is he?! Is he here right now?!"
Saikhan rubbed both his eyes, sighing through the remnant of pain.
"Tarrlok's long gone" he muttered, tasting his own bitter words.
Lin shot him a sharp look.
He caught it instantly and nodded.
"I'll alert the entire force" Saikhan said, already shifting into command mode. "We'll sweep the city clean"
"Those documents should have the locations of his safehouses" Lin added, adjusting her stance as she helped Bolin stand up. "Start there"
Saikhan glanced down at the thick envelope still clutched in his hand—evidence enough to bury Tarrlok's entire career… and his own.
He exhaled slowly, then met Lin's eyes with a grim resolve.
"Seems you and I are going to have a long talk when all this blows over"
Lin scoffed, a low, humorless sound. "Oh, you bet your ass we are"
He didn't argue.
If anything, the hint of respect in his silence was louder than words. Whatever reckoning Lin had prepared for him, Saikhan would face it. He owed her that much.
One by one the Council members shuffled out, bruised and shaken but finally aware. Chief Saikhan followed, leaving the chamber empty save for a select few.
When the room was nearly quiet, Lin turned back toward the shadows of the damaged hall.
"You two can come out now"
From behind a cracked marble pillar, Sera emerged dragging Qoru with her.
The poor boy leaned heavily into her, one arm slung over her shoulders for support.
"Sup?" he managed, giving a limp wave.
Lin crossed her arms, dissatisfied. "I don't suppose either of you saw where Tarrlok ran off to—seeing as you were the last two knocked out"
The teen exchanged a look. A long one.
Then, in perfect unhelpful sync, they shrugged.
"We managed to snatch this though" still Qoru did have a contribution, Tarrlok's severed arm.
The young ones gagged at the sight.
Blergh!
Bolin straight up just letting his lunch out.
Lin let out a breath that sounded more like a growl. "Then we're back to square one"
The words carried the weight of her frustration. She didn't just lose a criminal, she also lost the last solid lead on the Avatar's location.
Well… one of the people who might've known.
"Not quite…" Tenzin said, stepping forward while rubbing his chin with a troubled expression.
Everyone turned toward him with a sudden spark of hope palpable.
"What do you mean?" Asami asked.
Tenzin tightened his jaw. He seemed reluctant—annoyed, even—as he recalled how he came by his information.
"After I escaped the tunnels, I encountered Zhen" he said. "It seems he has an idea where Korra might be"
"And he told you, right?!" Mako burst out with impatience.
MAKO
AGE: 18
STATUS: Impatient Teen
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go get her!"
"Not so fast, young man" Tenzin raised a calming hand before Mako could sprint out. "There's a problem. He didn't tell me exactly where she is" he exhaled slowly, like the memory irritated him. "Only where to meet"
"You can't be serious" Mako snapped. "You're trusting that criminal with rescuing Korra?"
Swish,
Before he even registered movement, Mako froze as two weapons were already pressed to his throat.
Sera stood on one side, her golden needle poised lightly against his skin. "I don't blame you for not trusting Leader—"
"—But you talking shit is really getting on our nerves" Qoru finished, dragging the edge of his blade just enough to draw a bead of blood.
Mako's jaw locked. He hadn't even seen them move.
"That's enough"
Lin's voice cracked through the tension.
"I can't get by ten minutes without you trying to kill each other. You three better quit it before I personally make you rot in a cell before the day's over"
Sera and Qoru exchanged a brief look then stepped back and sheathed their weapons.
Mako exhaled shakily, touching the thin line of blood at his neck.
With the room finally still, barely, Lin turned to Tenzin.
"Where are we meeting him?"
Tenzin pulled a folded piece of parchment from his robe and opened it for everyone to see. A single mark of blank ink stained a corner of the map.
"Here" he said, pointing to it. "We're supposed to meet him tonight"
"Then we have time—but it's a long way out"
Lin surveyed the group, her expression settling.
"Let's move"
—————————————————————————————————
[???, Republic City]
Yakone's escape hadn't lasted long.
By the time he reached the edge of the district, the Avatar had already caught up to him.
Aang's eyes glowed white for only a breath, long enough for the air to twist and the earth to surge up around Yakone's body
The bloodbender had been caught again.
And after a familiar, solemn ritual…
Yakone's bending was no more.
And so was his consciousness.
Aang exhaled as the glow faded. The afternoon felt colder now, as if even the air itself was exhausted. He looked down at Yakone—bound in stone, and frighteningly small without the shadow of his power.
"There you are"
A burst of blue flame illuminated the alley, followed by the landing thud of boots on the pavement.
Azula touched down with grace, fire curling off her fist before dying out.
"I simply excused myself for a few minutes and everything is already a mess" she said, not even pretending to hide her annoyance. Her golden eyes slid toward the unconscious man. "Did you kill him?"
Aang blinked, a little offended she had even asked. "Azula…"
She raised a brow, almost daring him to justify himself.
"Yakone will pay for his crimes the right way" Aang said firmly. "Like any other criminal"
His voice softened toward the end—but only a fraction.
Azula crossed her arms, unimpressed. "You know he'll just escape again, right?"
"Might be" Aang's gaze returned to Takone, his expression settling into weary resolve. "But he'll be powerless"
—————————————————————————————————
[???, ???]
The vision dissolved like smoke, and Korra jolted awake inside her cramped metal prison.
"Aang…" she whispered. "This whole time… you were trying to warn me about Tarrlok…"
KORRA
AGE: 17
STATUS: Captured
Bang!
The ceiling above her rattled as something heavy crashed across the floorboards. Footsteps descended toward the basement. Each step came with a wet grunt, a hiss of pain, and the faint rustle of torn fabric.
Tarrlok stumbled his way downstairs, pale and trembling, what's left of his arm crudely wrapped in blood-soaked bandages. He collapsed against the metal container that held her, using it as a brace. His forehead pressed to the cold steel as he sucked in ragged breaths.
"My life…" he panted, his voice collapsing in on itself. "Is a disaster now—Rgh!"
He slammed his only remaining fist against the metal with a metallic clang.
"Thanks to you"
Despite the situation, Korra pushed her shoulder against the opposite wall and smirked. His misery was almost satisfying to her.
"So your little bloodbending secret's out?" she taunted.
Tarrlok only groaned.
"And" Korra continued, leaning forward. "I know how you bloodbent me without a full moon"
Her voice sharpened.
"You're Yakone's son"
Silence swept across the basement.
Only the slow drip of a leaking pipe broke it.
Finally, Tarrlok's voice returned… stripped of whatever pride he once carried.
"I was his son…" he hissed as he tightened the crude bandage around his severed arm, the slip of fabric pulling a fresh grunt from his throat. "But in order to win Republic City, I had to become someone else"
He let himself sink to the cold floor, breath trembling as he leaned back against the metal coffin that held the Avatar. The chill of it seeped into him, but he barely noticed; he was too lost in the ruin of his own making.
"My father failed because he tried to rule this city from its rotten underbelly" he muttered, resentment thick in every syllable. "I was meant to be this city's savior" his jaw trembled with fury. "My plan was perfect. Perfect. But you—" his voice cracked like thin ice. "You and that serial killer ruined everything"
He slammed his remaining fist against the metal. The blow wasn't strong, not in his condition, but it vibrated the whole container, a hollow, metallic shudder that crawled up Korra's spine.
"Tarrlok, the jig is up and you have nowhere to go!" Korra shouted, shoving her shoulder into the prison wall.
"Oh… ngh… no" he breathed, dragging himself upward. His legs shook, but he forced them to obey. "No… I'll escape and start a new life"
He staggered toward the stairs, pausing at the base. Moonlight spilled down like a silver blade, cutting through the gloom.
Tarrlok glanced back at Korra, his eyes fever bright, his desperation burning through the pain.
"And you're coming" he said flatly. "As my hostage"
"YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET AWAY WITH THIS TARRLOK!"
Her roar rattled the metal chamber, echoing up through the basement. Tarrlok didn't look away from her—not until the moonlight reached his face.
Then his expression changed as the view waiting at the top of the stairs got clearer.
A tall figure stood there, draped in shadow, a white mask staring down with an emotionless, geometric calm. Beside him, his right hand man stood rigidly, flanked by five hooded Equalists who lined the upper floor like executioners awaiting a signal.
"Amon!" Tarrlok breathed.
AMON
AGE: ???
STATUS: Equalist Leader
"It is time for you to be Equalized" he declared with an eerie calm.
Behind him, the hooded Equalists moved forward as one—they spun bolas and tauted electrified ropes crackling faintly in their hands.
But Tarrlok's pain-twisted grimace shifted into a smug, crooked grin.
"You… ngh… fool" he straightened, his pride swelling in his chest. "You've never faced bending like mine"
He thrust his arm outward, fingers curling into a tight, merciless fist.
Instantly, the Equalists convulsed. Their weapons clattered to the floor as their bodies contorted in unnatural angles, choking groans rising from the back of their throats.
Even the Lieutenant—Amon's must trusted right hand man—collapsed as his fingers crawled in the air.
But Amon…
Amon did not fall.
He didn't even sway.
He merely lowered his arms and stepped forward on his own, as though walking into a gentle breeze.
Tarrlok blinked. "Huh? That—no"
He swung his arm again, pushing harder, twisting harder, pouring everything he had left into the bloodbending he was raised to master. A wave of force rippled down the building.
Yet Amon kept walking.
His body jerked once under pressure—just enough to show he felt it—but he recovered immediately, pressing on with silent, mechanical determination.
"What…?" Tarrlok's voice fractured.
He stumbled back, his confidence cracking with every step Amon gained. He tried again, shutting out the groans of others, narrowing his entire world to the unmoving figure advancing on him.
But the masked man did not stop.
Did not slow.
Did not break.
And Tarrlok had run out of room to retreat as his back hit the wall.
"What… what are you?" he whispered, terror finally bleeding through his voice.
Amon's expressionless mask did not change; it couldn't. But something in the way he walked felt like an answer long before he spoke.
"I am the solution"
He seized Tarrlok's remaining arm, twisting it behind his back with ruthless efficiency. A sharp kick to the back of Tarrlok's knees sent him collapsing forward, forced into a kneel.
Tarrlok grunted, sweating, gasping, helpless for the first time in his life.
Amon's free hand rose.
And descended slowly.
His thumb pressed against the center of Tarrlok's forehead.
ARGH!
Tarrlok's scream tore through the entire cabin. Something inside him seized—like the currents in his body had been dammed, blocked, suffocated. His breath stuttered. His vision blurred white.
And then his body slumped to the floor as though the last string holding him upright had been severed. Amon released him without ceremony, letting Tarrlok's unconscious form hit the ground with a hollow thud.
Behind him, the Lieutenant and the remaining Equalists groaned awake, staggering to their feet as sensation returned to their limbs.
"I'll take care of this one" Amon said.
He lifted Tarrlok with a single, fluid motion—hoisting the limp man over his shoulder as though he weighed little more than a coat. Not a grunt of effort even escaped his lips.
"The rest of you retrieve the Avatar" he ordered without turning. "Do not underestimate her. Electrocute the box"
"Our pleasure" the Lieutenant replied, a faint, cruel smile curling at the edge of his mouth before he descended toward the basement.
Amon turned away, pacing toward the exit. He pushed through the wooden doors and stepped into the vast wash of the night.
A cold gust of wind blasted across his mask, stinging with needles of frost. Snow swirled in muted spirals around him, whispering across the forest.
In front of him, a line of Equalists in dark green robes carved a neat corridor through the drifts, their disciplined formation leading toward a cluster of parked vehicles with wheels half-buried in snow.
"Report" Amon instructed as he approached, his voice carving cleanly through the howl of the wind.
One hooded Equalist fell into step beside him, boot crunching against frozen grass.
"We still haven't located the Faceless, unfortunately" the operative admitted, breath pushing in the air. "He's been getting more difficult to track"
Amon's posture sharpened. His voice remained calm, but a thin silver of impatience bled through its policed surface.
"Give me something useful. We did not spend months of resources shaping you into elite operatives just to yield no results"
The Equalist did not flinch. Instead, he drew a small photograph from his cloak and held it out with both hands.
"But we did locate and identify one of his allies" he continued. "Code: Needle. She's within the Avatar's crew"
"Good" Amon lowered Tarrlok's unconscious body inside one of the vehicles. "I trust I don't need to tell you what needs to be done"
The Equalist nodded. "We'll get it—"
BANG!
A sharp crack tore through as a small explosion burst from the cabin. Every Equalist instinctively turned.
Korra came flying through the shattered doorway, propelled by a desperate blast. She hit the snow hard, sliding across the icy ground.
For a single heartbeat, she and Amon locked eyes through the drifting snow.
"What are you all waiting for? Get her!" an Equalist shouted, already pointing.
Korra's panic surged. She whipped her arms outward, yanking the snow behind her into jagged frozen spears that fired like arrows.
The charging Equalists scrambled as the icy volley tore past them—some ducking, some blocking with their weapons.
Shards skidded toward Amon. A few grazed his coat, but not enough to make him flinch. The spears shattered against the ground at his feet, erupting into clouds of powdery snow that engulfed the small clearing.
Korra seized the small opening. She spun, sprinted toward the edge of the slope, and hurled herself down to it, sliding into the forest shadows below.
Amon strode through the white haze and reached the ridge, looking down at her fleeing silhouette disappearing between the trees.
The Lieutenant rushed up behind him, chest heaving. "Sir—!"
"I thought I told you not to underestimate her" Amon said without raising his voice. The disappointment in his tone sharper than any shout.
The Lieutenant, chastened, only looked away.
Amon lifted his chin slightly. "Bring her to me. Now"
At once, a dozen hooded figures broke down from the treeline—dark blurs against the white snow. They vaulted over roots, slid down the slope, and swung between branches with hooked lines.
All of them hunting the Avatar's trail.
Korra hurtled down the slope, desperately twisting her body to avoid trees and hidden rocks jutting through the snow. The night blurred into streaks of black and silver.
Fwip! Fwip! Fwip!
Bolas sliced past her from blind angles, snapping through the wind so close she felt the brush of air along her skin. She threw herself sideways, skidding, barely managing to dodge them.
"Leave. Me. ALONE!"
She vaulted over a buried root, spun midair, and unleashed a sweeping arc of fire behind her.
The flames roared through the forest, flaring against the trunks and clawing at the dark. But they lit little more than the path she was losing.
The Equalists were everywhere.
She could hear them: boots thudding on branches, the hiss of lines snapping from tree to tree, bodies slipping through snow like predators. The sounds overlapped, multiplied, folded into each other until Korra could no longer tell where danger came from. Her breath ragged, panic clawing at her ribs as every breath burned cold in her lungs.
She flung her arms up and heaved the earth. Trees wretched from the ground and toppled behind her, crashing like giants. Maybe it would slow them down. Maybe not. She could hardly be sure. She could hardly see. She could hardly think.
Fwip!
Then a bola snapped around her ankles with a viscous jerk.
Korra pitched forward with a startled gasp. She couldn't even break her fall—she tumbled violently down the slope, rolling through snow. She felt the sting of the cold and all the bruisings until she collided with a tree hard enough to drive air from her lungs.
Her body slid down the trunk, leaving her slumped in the snow.
"We've got her" an Equalist whispered from above, perched on a branch like a vulture.
More shadows surrounded her. Hooded figures emerged from between the trees, moving in from every direction. Some landed lightly from the branches overhead, some landed softly on the cushioned ground, their goggles catching glimmers of moonlight like the unlinking eyes of nocturnal beasts.
Korra tried to rise but her muscles didn't answer. Her vision smeared the world into shapes and silhouettes. She fought to stay away, fought to breathe.
But through the blur of shapes and figures, a patch of cloud drifted aside, letting a spear of moonlight pierce the treetops.
And in that narrow beam, something glinted.
A small red spark hovering above the canopy. A red ember against the white snow and dark branches.
She knew that glow.
"You're late… you bastard…" she whispered, a tired grin curling weakly at her lips before her eyes fluttered shut.
The ember burned brighter for a moment, then dropped away. A figure stood upon the snow-heavy crown, dark robes trailing like spilled ink across the frost. One hand rested lazily on the hilt of a blade; the other held the last shred of a cigarette.
He exhaled—a slow cloud of smoke and ash drifting into the freezing air.
"There you are" Zhen murmured, flicking away the dying ember with his fingers.
—————————————————————————————————
[Night, Outskirts of Republic City]
Zhen stepped into the sleeping city, the only light spilling from flickering streetlamps that carved long shadows across the snow-dusted pavements.
Here, far from the city center, the snowfall drifted slower, softer, before landing on already-frosted hair.
His clothes were stiff with dried blood, fabric crackling quietly with each movement. Cold mist pulsed from his lips with every exhale, but his neck stayed warm—not from a scarf, but from Korra's arms draped limply around him, her unconscious grip locked around his shoulders.
He moved at a careful pace. Not because he was exhausted, though he certainly was, but because every step threatened to wake her.
He shifted her weight slightly, bouncing her once to adjust her position on his back.
'I really should work out more' he thought, tightening his hold beneath her knees.
A blurred shape ahead resolved into a mound of white fur sitting patiently in the middle of the empty street.
Naga's ears pricked up the moment she recognized them.
"Hey, girl" he muttered, approaching with careful steps so Korra didn't jostle.
She rose, huffing warm breath over him just before pressing her massive snout toward her unconscious master, sniffing at Korra with anxiousness.
"She's fine" Zhen reassured, giving Naga's nose a firm, gentle pat. Then he nudged her back a bit. "Turn around"
At his words, the polarbear dog understood and shifted her great weight, circling once before lowering herself onto the cold ground, saddle facing him.
Zhen drew in a slow breath. Transferring Korra wasn't exactly simple. But he eased her down with surprising delicacy, sliding her arms free from around him. One of her hands gripped lightly at his collar just before falling away.
He steadied her in his arms, carrying her, and settled her down Naga's saddle as though she weighed nothing.
When she was stable, he stepped back, exhaling softly in relief. His hand slid once through Naga's fur.
"Call them"
Naga rose and tipped back her head.
AWOOOOO!
Her cry rolled through the deserted district, bouncing between darkened storefronts and empty alleys.
It was then silent for a minute or two.
Fwoosh!
A surge of wind blasted against Zhen's face. He shielded his eyes just as Oogi descended from the sky, snow scattering from the bison's landing.
"Korra!" Tenzin shouted the moment they touched the ground.
He and Lin jumped off before Oogi had fully settled. Korra stirred at the sound of her name, groaning faintly.
"Thank goodness you're alright" Tenzin breathed, already at her side.
Lin, however, had someone else in her sights.
"I'll question you later" she told Korra softly before turning to Zhen. "You. Turn around. Hands behind your back"
Zhen didn't protest. He simply exhaled and complied. "You're welcome, by the way"
Lin clicked the cuffs around his wrists.
But someone else was less restrained.
Mako strode up with murder in his eyes—then drove a clean right hook across Zhen's jaw.
"That's for Korra" Mako snapped before turning his back on him and heading for her. "Give her some space!"
He didn't even watch Zhen's reaction—because he didn't. Zhen didn't stagger or flinch. He just stood there while Mako scooped Korra into his arms and carried her toward Oogi.
A strange quiet fell over the group. No one spoke as he passed them. But everyone watched.
Lin focused on securing Zhen's cuffs while he gave a long yawn.
Tenzin, still shaken, went ahead back toward Oogi's reigns to prepare for departure.
Bolin hovered uncertainly, worry etched across his face.
Qoru and Sera were asleep on the bison's saddle.
And Asami… her emerald eyes were fixed on Mako. Or rather, on the softness in them—softeness she'd never once seen directed at her.
Korra stirred just as Mako reached the bison.
Her eyes fluttered open. "Mako…?"
His whole posture softened, as if weights just left his shoulders.
"I was so worried. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine… I'm glad you're here…" she murmured, relaxing against his chest.
But then a thought flickered behind her eyes.
"Where's… Zhen…?" she asked, barely keeping her eyes open.
Mako's jaw tightened for a split second—so quick it slipped past her half-conscious gaze.
"Lin's talking to him. He'll be fine"
"Yeah…?" she whispered, drifting back to sleep.
"Yeah" he answered softly, though his smile faded.
Meanwhile, Lin turned Zhen around to face her, already done putting three sets of cuffs around his arms.
"What do you mean Amon has him?" the crack in her voice betrayed the shock. "How could you let that happen?!"
"It was out of my hands" his tone was flat. "My priority was rescuing the Avatar. I told Tenzin to deal with Tarrlok"
"You—"
For a moment, Lin's composure trembled. She exhaled sharply through her nose, rubbing her forehead as if massaging away the frustration.
WOOOOO!
Sirens wailed from the distance, slicing into the night. A fleet of metalbending cars skidded to a stop at the end of the street, lights flashing blue-red across the snow.
Lin's jaw clenched as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"You're going with them back to the station. For now"
Zhen arched a brow. "Is that really a good idea?"
He wasn't asking out of defiance. He was just questioning her rationality.
"We have bigger concerns" she shot back, turning him around again. "So don't try anything funny"
She pushed him forward, and two officers immediately took him by the arms, gripping tighter than necessary.
"Make sure he gets extra restraints" Lin ordered.
Even after resigning, her authority hit them like command fire. The officers saluted as she walked off, snow crunching her boots. Only when she got back to her own group did they drag Zhen toward the waiting transport.
And not delicately.
They shoved him into the back of the metal wagon, letting him hit the floor with a metallic scrape.
"Ow. Really?" Zhen muttered, more offended than hurt.
"Shut it, criminal" one officer barked as they slammed the heavy doors. "We'll make sure you never see the light of day again"
BAM!
The locks clattered.
The engine rumbled.
And through the narrow barred window, Zhen caught one last glimpse of Oogi lifting into the night sky, the blurred silhouettes of Korra and the others fading into the snowstorm.
She shifted, settling back against the cold metal wall as comfortably as a prisoner could. Though he couldn't.
A slow, faint smile pulled at the corner of his mouth.
"Job's finished" he murmured, relaxing at the knowledge Korra was now in safe hands. "I can finally take a break"
—————————————————————————————
[Night, ???]
After what felt like an endless march through the dark, Amon and the Lieutenant finally reached the advance squad. Lanterns bobbed in their hands, casting thin slices of amber through the skeletal trees.
But the moment they stepped into the meeting point, the wind shifted… and the thick, metallic stench hit them.
The smell of blood hung so heavy in the air it was as though they'd walked into a forge, not a forest.
Amon's head tilted slightly as he surveyed the darkness above. "This is what becomes of failure over a simple directive, Lieutenant"
The Lieutenant dropped into a bow, his breath frosting shakily in the air. "I accept full responsibility for the disgrace. It won't—"
"I have no use for empty promises" Amon cut him off, raising a hand.
The Equalists halted immediately behind him.
And then the trembling began.
Even through their masks, gags leaked out. Wet sounds that broke the frigid quiet.
BLARGH!
The first operative tore off his mask and doubled over, vomiting violently into the snow. The rest followed like a chain reaction—some collapsing to their knees, some fainting backward into the drifts, some clawing desperately at their masks as if suffocating.
The Lieutenant, though pale and shivering, stayed upright.
But Amon's posture didn't even shift.
"Proceed with the plan" he stated, stooping only to retrieve a fallen lantern still lit.
"But Amon—it's too early. If we initiate now, variable could arise mid-operation and—"
"Zhen's betrayal is the variable" Amon replied, voice flat as he cut off the Lieutenant. "A variable we can no longer ignore. His own actions will threaten years of work, much less the Avatar. If we delay any further, the damage he can inflict will be irreparable"
He lifted the lantern higher, pushing back the dark… and revealed the carnage.
Bodies hung from the branches like grotesque ornaments, suspended by wires glinting in the lantern's glow. The hooded shapes swayed gently, creaking against the cold bark.
Below them, the snow—once pristine—was stained a deep, rusted red. Blood had spread across the clearing like a blanket, soaking into the earth, freezing in jagged patterns.
Amon's voice was quiet, almost contemplative.
"Find him" his voice was as flat as usual, but it carried through the trees like a blade drawn in the dark. "I want Zhen and his team captured before he does anymore damage"
The Lieutenant could only nod. He didn't trust his stomach enough to speak; even he wasn't immune to feeling retched.
He raised his hand, signaling the other Equalists behind them.
One by one they forced themselves upright—shaking, staggering, some still wiping vomit from their lips as they pushed back out the forest. Their lanterns boobed weakly between the trees, moving like dying fireflies.
Amon and the Lieutenant remained behind, alone with the bodies.
"You made the wrong choice" Amon said quietly, eyes tracing the corpses swaying from the branches. "Using criminals for our cause"
"It was calculated" the Lieutenant insisted. "The regiment would have killed most of our standard forces. They were… resilient"
"Resilient" Amon echoed, a humorless breath slipping from behind his mask. "Now our mutt roams free, hunting our 'elites' without any guilt holding him back"
"I accept the fault" the Lieutenant bowed again deeply, fists trembling at his sides. "I failed to anticipate Zhen would turn on us"
Amon said nothing at first. Snow sifted down between the branches, landing on the lantern at his hand. Finally, he straightened.
"You've been apologizing more and more lately, Lieutenant" he said. "I'm growing tired of it" He turned away, the blood-red light casting long shadows behind him. "Have Zhen in front of me before the next sunrise"
He paused only once, just long enough for the night wind wo cut between them.
"Or it will not be good… for you"
Then he walked into the cold, into the blizzard, his figure swalled whole by the black and white.
The Lieutenant exhaled shakily. The forest felt heavier now, as though even the trees were listening.
"You heard the order" he said.
Four figures melted out from the darkness behind him, masked in ways no usual Equalist should be, armed with weapons no Equalists should carry.
"I'll handle his little ally" the Lieutenant continued. "Capture Zhen. Use whatever means you need" his voice hardened. "We only need him alive"
Even through the masks, their sinister smiles were clear.
They bowed once and slipped back between the trees, vanishing entirely. Not even footprints were left in the fresh snow.
The Lieutenant watched the shadows close behind them, then turned in the opposite direction, following Amon's path.
Ahead, the forest felt colder than it had minutes before.
End