[center][color=DBA901][b][u]T H E L A S T A V A T A R[/u][/b][/color] -inspired by the nickelodeon television series- [color=DBA901]Book 1: Control[/color][/center] [color=E6E6E6] The Republic. The heart of the world. What was once the great capital of the Earth Nation is now the only home left for mankind. Now a populace of men and women who lack the gift to bend the four elements as the last great conflict drove them to extinction. There was a war… perhaps the final war and left in it's wake was a peace that was once thought impossible to attain and a desolated world no one could save. At first there was an anger and a hatred that hung over everyone like a cloud. The sins of The Republic could be seen wherever one looked. Beautiful lush lands were turned to desserts. Lakes dried up. The destruction of war was most prominent around what was once the major capitals of the world. Capital City of the Fire Nation, Harbor city of the Southern Water Tribes though in this case much of the entire landscape in the south had been destroyed. It’s Northern counterpart suffered considerably less as The Republic sought to harvest spirit energy from the spirit portal situated nearby. The last to be demolished were the air temples, their diplomacy working to simply postpone their eventual extinction… the second in their people’s history. Surviving the war were the already uninhabited lands between the nations and Ba Sing Se. Walls of rusted steel and crumbling earth that tower a hundred meters into the air. The main gate is now exactly that, a gate worked by levers and chains and pulleys. It keeps the elements at bay while keeping those citizens inside safe. The Second wall is made up almost entirely of steel and iron and separates the middle class and business class from the lower working class. Between the first and second walls are the factories and farms that sustain the rest of Ba Sing Se and the people that run them for a meager wage. The second and first walls house those that run the city on streams of data. Much of this land is dotted with clusters of the tallest skyscrapers, most reaching well beyond the height of the walls themselves and kissing the clouds above. Between these are the smaller businesses and homes. Schools, Universities, hospitals. Beyond that and the last wall is the upper class. A few more businesses dot the land here though much of this inhabited by those of the political affinity or those that own the businesses on the other side of the wall. Finally, at the heart lies the Palace, the King’s men and- A man in a suit and tie. His clean face was contorted into an expression of confusion and frustration as he stared into the glass in front of him. His reflection stared back. Olive green eyes. Chiseled facial features cut into the lightly tanned complexion of a middle aged man. His dark brown hair, usually an untamable mess, was combed gently to the side so as to promote his professional nature. He was slightly thin and stood just under six feet. [color=FFFFFF][b]”I don’t understand why this is an issue.”[/b][/color] Beyond the window lay the city spread out before him. The expansively empty lush lands of the inner walls. The tips of skyscrapers beyond them and the faded black smoke of the working class in the far distance. Even from where he stood they still seemed ominous… a fire burning that was meant for him. [color=FFFFFF][b]”Coffee sir?”[/b][/color] A female voice interrupted deep contemplation. A woman waited nearby, standing slightly shorter than himself and clad in her own armor of civility. [color=FFFFFF][b]”Thank you but no.”[/b][/color] He shook his head and motioned at the only other man in the room. [color=FFFFFF][b]”And for you?”[/b][/color] Another suite and tie, this one adorned with a peculiar pin affixed to his breast. He had his legs crossed and his hands busy. One with fingers fidgeting with the ring attached to the same and the other tugging at the seams of his coat. His eyes met the woman’s and he held her gaze for a moment gauging her beauty. [i]Sufficient…[/i] he thought. It was a wonder to him that she hadn’t yet pressed her charm on the King himself… or perhaps she had. [color=FFFFFF][b]’Yes. Thank you. And bring me the cream and sugar if you would.”[/b][/color] [color=FFFFFF][b]”Of course Mr. Sutler”[/b][/color] She flashed a smile meant for business and the exited the room, closing the door softly behind her. He looked upon the King once again. [color=FFFFFF][b]”It [i]is[/i] an issue and you understand why.”[/b][/color] He stood from the chair and made his way over to the window. The thing was the size of the room, encompassing all of one wall and giving the viewer quite the spectacular panoramic. [color=FFFFFF][b]”All those people out there. The truth that we’ve seeded is all they believe in and that’s how we maintain order. You know that.”[/b][/color] [color=FFFFFF][b]”Yes but if we mean to expand. If we mean for our people to grow we need something more than a lie. Than fear. All they’ve ever known are the walls. All they’ve ever known is death. I understand to the fullest extent but I still believe this to be a viable option.”[/b][/color] Olive green eyes continued to stare over his world. He saw something beautiful yet very ugly at the same time. [color=FFFFFF][b]”You start on that path and you begin to feed them something other than the ‘truth’.”[/b][/color] [color=FFFFFF][b]”You’re going to say something along the lines of… hope.”[/b][/color] He turned to meet the somewhat colder eyes of the man next to him. Sutler nodded. He pressed an elbow against the glass and leaned against it, giving the King his full attention. [color=FFFFFF][b]”You give them any sense of the world before, of that hope and it all spins out of control. A bit of truth in our history. Let’s start with that. Now…”[/b][/color] He shrugged, playing up the next step as nothing more than trivial. [color=FFFFFF][b]”Now you have to give them a moment to remember that truth. That moment turns into a movement, that movement turns into a day. That day turns into a hundred and soon that hundred turns into a thousand. A force to rise against us… over a bit of truth.”[/b][/color] [color=FFFFFF][b]”People grow from their mistakes. My grandfather did the same.”[/b][/color] [color=FFFFFF][b]”And your father learned from those same mistakes and gave you all of this.”[/b][/color] He paused for a moment, nodding at the city spread out before the both of them. [color=FFFFFF][b]”Don’t let their lessons go to waste.”[/b][/color] Sutler pushed away from the window and began to tug at his coat once more. [color=FFFFFF][b]”Don’t push for your propositions. We don’t need convicted criminals and benders working for us and we don’t need a time to remember the war. The world itself is reminder enough.”[/b][/color] [color=FFFFFF][b]”I-”[/b][/color] [color=FFFFFF][b]”Mr. Sutler. Your coffee.”[/b][/color] The woman returned with tray in hand and a steaming mug in tow. [color=FFFFFF][b]”Ahh. Thank you Clarice.”[/b][/color] He began. [color=FFFFFF][b]”Set it there please.”[/b][/color] The drink was placed on a desk along with a small vial of cream and another of sugar. [color=FFFFFF][b]”Will that be all?”[/b][/color] [color=FFFFFF][b]”That will be all.”[/b][/color] Sutler replied, watching the woman straighten herself from behind. He flashed her a smile when she turned to look at him only to receive a cross look. She paused for a moment and then took her leave of the room. [color=FFFFFF][b]”I won’t”[/b][/color] Sutler glanced at his King once more, pouring sugar and milk into coffee as he did so. [color=FFFFFF][b]”You won’t what?”[/b][/color] [color=FFFFFF][b]”I won’t push for the props.”[/b][/color] [color=FFFFFF][b]”Good.”[/b][/color] He finished mixing the cup and then placed it on the desk. [color=FFFFFF][b]”You look tired Wu. Drink up.”[/b][/color] Sutler bowed, scooped up his briefcase and walked out of the room. Clarice was waiting outside. [color=FFFFFF][b]”Shame really.”[/b][/color] She replied upon seeing him. [color=FFFFFF][b]”He was doing so well.”[/b][/color] [color=FFFFFF][b]”He was... for a long time but people change. Inform Cypher of the change of plans… and prep her.”[/b][/color] [color=FFFFFF][b]”Of course.”[/b][/color] [/color]