In a part of the new Global Industries building, restricted to anyone except a few, is Jun's new place of residence and workshop. It was the floor second to the top, just below the executive offices.
Jun has been staying there after moving out of Shang's place since he was sixteen years old saying "It's more efficient this way."
Shang allowed him to leave as he believes he's already taught him everything he needs to know. "He's always been an independent child anyway." He said to himself as he remembered all the weird stuff he's seen him doing. Like shaving his whole body and practicing martial arts naked with a blindfold on.
"Hmph!" Jun pushed a huge wooden cargo box on a stroller off the elevator into his place.
"Where should I put this?" A man that followed him in asked. It was Zhong, the Vice-President of Global Industries. One of the few people that can enter Jun's place.
"Just put it on top of the table over there. Thanks."
After putting the box down on the table, Zhong had a look around. It was a large open space with no separate rooms except for the bathroom. There was a kitchen area, an area for his training weights and swords next to his bed and wardrobe, in the middle of it all was the sofa with a television set, and next to it was the dining table. On their side of the room was his workplace, it had a chemistry set, a huge library, anatomy models and an area for working with tools. "It never seizes to amaze me." Zhong muttered.
Jun started to pry open the cargo box with a crowbar.
Squeak. Crack. Thud.
The box opened and revealed a part of the spirit cannon. "Phew" Jun wiped his brow.
He then went over to the table to open the box Zhong helped bringing over and pulled out the contents. It was the blueprints of the mecha suits used in Kuvira's rebellion. Zhong's eyes gleamed wity interest.
"What do you intend to do with that?"
"Well..." Jun looked in his direction, scratching his cheek. "I had this idea... a theory... years ago after the emergence of the airbenders. I have a feeling I'll get closer to it with these." He said, glancing over the blueprints. "Studying this will tell me If I should build on this or look in another direction entirely."
"I'm very interested, but I have to go." Zhong said looking at his watch. "I'll visit from time to time to look at this new project of yours." He said with a smile before leaving.
It wasn't unusual for Zhong to visit Jun in his workplace. It was only natural for the Vice-President of the company to oversee the company's upcoming projects.
But...
Zhong's expression became very grave once he was inside the elevator.
His visits became more frequent after that, and a month passed by. Zhong was headed to Jun's place again. He came out of the elevator with his back first as he learned his lesson about unscheduled visits to Jun. He once caught him practicing martial arts in his birthday suit and blindfolded. Jun just apologized to him nonchalantly like one would after sneezing in public. How brazen. Despite some time passing by after that, he couldn't quite get the image out of his head. A hairless well built body glistening in sweat, moving gracefully as its bits swayed in the air proudly like a flag being waved. Zhong even brought it up to Shang because he was so bothered by it but Shang just patted him on the shoulder and smiled like a saint as he said "Don't worry about it and just keep it a secret." 'What do you mean don't worry about it?! How do you not see this as a problem? Your grandson might be a pervert, y'know!!!' He screamed in his mind as he waited for Jun to tell him if it was okay to look.
"Uncle Zhong." The perv- or rather, Jun called him.
He finally got to turn around and cautiously moved his eyes to find Jun.
Thankfully, Jun was fully clothed this time and wearing his white lab coat. He focused on what he was working on as he gestured for Zhong to come closer.
"Isn't that a sprit vine? Didn't they make it illegal to harvest that?" Zhong was talking about a law that was passed years ago to prevent something like the spirit cannon urilized by Kuvira from being possible.
"I got a permit to get some samples in the name of research."
"And so? What did you find?"
Jun removed his goggles and turned his head towards him with a proud smile. "Spirit DNA."
Zhong widened his eyes.
DNA, of course, is a molecule found in all living things that contains the genetic information of a lifeform and it's also inherited by the lifeforms offsprings. It's become a widely known fact at this point.
"What does that entail? Is your research done?" Zhong urged Jun to explain further.
Jun chuckled. "No, Uncle Zhong. This is where my research truly begins."
Jun started to explain his theory and he didn't notice the ominous smile that crept in Zhong's face.
"Does your grandfather know about this?"
"Come to think of it, you're the first one I've told about it." Jun stroked his chin. "I've always told him what my dream was and didn't really tell him how I'd do it."
"Well, I'm honored to be the first to hear about this. But I think you should keep it a secret to your grandfather for now."
"Why?"
"To surprise him when you're done with your project."
"Ohhhh." Jun nodded.
He was a little bit worried because Jun was too smart for his own good, but in the end he's just a kid that loves his grandfather.
Zhong was afraid that if Shang knew about this, he would put a stop to it. Zhong was also glad that the decision to invest his time and form a relationship with Jun. He quickly decided upon it when he heard knews about Jun acquiring the mecha suit and the spirit cannon for research with the hope that it would go in the direction he was thinking of. That hope now bore fruit, and more!
"Now that we're in this secret together, let me help you with anything."
"Then, can you get me to the North pole where the spirit portal is?"
"A tough ask from the get go, I like your style." The spirit portal was a strictly guarded place to prevent anyone to go in and out. Especially after the incident with Hundun. The I'll work on it right away."
Zhong started to walk towards the elevator, which was also the exit but stopped. "Speaking of the spirit portal, what do you think about the Avatar leaving it open?" He genuinely was curious to hear his opinion about the matter.
"Huh? Well..." Jun started contemplating. "I think it was rash."
Hearing this, the corner of Zhong's mouth started to rise.
"Undoing what the first Avatar did. Although it was done with good intentions for the spirits, she didn't take account of how it can affect us humans."
Zhong nodded.
Jun continued. "Humans have lived for millenia without seeing spirits and suddenly had to without getting a say in it. And instead of being more spiritually connected, it had the opposite effect. The strange suddenly became familiar and that overfamiliarity led into indifference, in contrast to the old way of spiritually seeking enlightenment. It was counter productive."
He couldn't have said it better himself. This adolescent man had accurately described the current state of society. But Jun's next words sullied his mood.
"The only visible positive to it was the restoration of the Air nomads." Jun said as he vividly remembered how happy he was for his friend. They haven't been able to get into contact with each other since the Air nomads have been busy restoring their lifestyle and traditions.
"Are you disappointed with the Avatar?" Zhong continued to gauge Jun.
"No. She's still human after all. All the past Avatars had made mistakes doing what they thought was right."
"Hmmm..." Zhong felt like cold water was poured on his thoughts.
"By the way? What is your dream?"
Zhong became curious. Despite being eccentric, he deemed Jun to be a really nice kid. He quite liked him. In time, an idea that they could become allies had crept into his mind.
"I want to go on an adventure to travel the world and catch bad guys. Just like the Avatar." Jun declared once more like he had always done since he was little.
"...Right." Zhong was smiling but his eyes weren't. The smile was soon replaced by a frown when he turned around. 'I was a fool to even think it was possible. It's unfortunate but people influenced by the Avatar can never be trusted.' He thought as he walked away.
Later that day, Shang also visited Jun. When Jun moved out, they maintained their relationship by having some tea like this.
"I noticed that Zhong has been visiting more frequently." He recently checked the logs of the people going in and out of Jun's place. One would need an ID that grants access to get off Jun's floor of the building. "What are you talking about?"
"He's been helping me with various things with work." Jun didn't lie but he also withheld information about his project to surprise his grandfather. "Oh, and prefect timing that you're here, Grandpa. I had to tell you I'm planning a trip to the North Pole soon."
"Are you finally going to travel the world like what you always said?"
"Haha. No. It'll just be a short trip. I still have things I need to finish here before I could live my dream."
"Okay. Make sure to visit Yui at the orphanage and tell her too. Don't make her worry."
"I won't." Jun said before sipping on his tea.
It has been eighteen years since the Avatar disappeared. If she came back now, she wouldn't believe how drastically things have changed. The major reason for that would be the competitive relationship of Global industries and Varrick Industries.
Jun would turn twenty-five in a few months.
And he's now presenting something new to the board of directors that would include Grandapa Shang and Zhong, the President and Vice-President of Global industries, respectively. Compared to the other times he's presented something to them, he's visibly more excited this time around.
"All my years of research has been all for this moment. The things I've produced in the past were just by-products or something I made for my convenience. But now, I present to you..." Jun pulled the drape covering his new invention, revealing something that looked like gloves that went up to the shoulders, electrical wiring intricately lining it. Then he started putting it on over his arms and adjusted it's fit. "...Bending sleeves."
The executive committee all focused on him, anticipating what's about to happen.
Jun clicked a button on it right over the back of his hand and it started to glow.
"I've harnessed the ability of the spirit vines to collect energy. Instead of harvesting spirit vines for energy, this thing allows you to be the spirit vine naturally through your chi pathways, collecting energy from your environment." He said as he pointed his finger in the air and moved it towards his mouth, then to his arms, and then the air again. "Like so." Jun took a stance with his fists clenched and then threw a punch. Those series of movements produced something that he could have never done normally. Jun shot fire with his fist. He just firebended.
The board widened their eyes and gaped their mouth in awe. Then they started talking among themselves except for Shang who wore a grave expression as he glanced at someone who was also quiet but wore a smile unlike him. Zhong. Shang squinted his eyes at him before focusing his attention again towards Jun.
"You might be wondering how. Let me explain. When I was little, the re-emergence of the Airbenders made me form a theory that..."
It was a theory that nature chose randomly whom to bless with airbending when the harmonic convergence happened, and that everyone had that gene in them. It was a theory backed by the story of the first avatar where anyone can learn bending if they've been blessed with it by a lion turtle through spirit bending. Those genes were lying dormant and the spirit energy from the lion turtles "turned it on". When Jun discovered spirit DNA absorbed by the spirit vines from different kinds of spirits, he was able to identify the genetic information of the spirits by their element. Based on that, if the same genetic information could be found in humans, then he just needed to find a way to turn that on. No need for spirit bending. And Jun did just that. A lot of remedies for genetic diseases were discovered because of that research. He finally found the way to activate the bending gene, albeit temporarily, only when wearing the bending sleeves, unlike when given the ability permanently by a lion turtle.
Then the board started their questioning. "Is ot just firebending?"
"For now. This is the first finished product but I can assure you that other elements would be available."
"Why not just build one that lets you bend all the elements?"
"You can only activate element bending gene at a time. That has always been the case even before the time of Avatar Wan. Except for him, of course, because of his soul's fusion with Raava, he was able to activate the genes for bending all four elements at the same time."
The room was filled with murmurs once again but turned quiet when they noticed that the head of the company was silent. Everyone in the room turned their attention to Shang, awaiting on his thoughts.
"This will be further discussed at another time. I want everyone here to keep this matter in confidentiality until then. Please leave. I need to talk to my Grandson." Shang said.
This made Jun confused.
They wanted to protest but Shang's expression was cold and scary, so they all got up from their seats and started leaving.
"Oh, and Vice-President.... please stay." He added. So Zhong sat back down.
And so, only three of them were left in the room. Shang, Zhong and Jun.
Jun, still confused, was the first to speak. "Grandpa I-"
"Zhong, were you aware of this?" But Shang cut Jun off.
Zhong started nodding his head. "Your grandson wanted to surprise you."
Shang looked at his grandson. "I didn't meddle with your work because I thought you were wiser than this. I'm very disappointed."
Those words from his grandfather poured cold water on his mood. His thoughts all jumbled up and no words would come out. He just stared blankly into space. It was the first rejection he had felt.
"And you..." Shang turned his attention to Zhong. "...you're old enough to clearly remember what happened in the past. You know what this could do if it became available to the public. This can and will start trouble."
"Calm down." Zhong waved his hand and nonchalantly waved his hand. "If you're talking about the Amon issue, that was a long time ago."
"Most benders will take this as a sign of war. Threatening their very existence."
Zhong furrowed his brows, clearly irritated.
"If you mean them getting more competition in their jobs means threatening their existence, then so be it! Starting a war just over that will be on them." He got up and turned towards the door.
"Let me ask you this one question, Zhong..." Shang halted him. "Are you an equalist?"
Zhong glanced over with his back still turned. "Call me whatever you want, I just wanted to give opportunities to the common man." Then he exited the room.
Shang looked down at the floor, deep in thought. He knew Zhong has always been an ambitious man, but he never thought that he would have these kind of ideas. He didn't make it clear if he was an equalist at the end but he didn't deny it either. "I'll have to look up his background again." He muttered to himself.
Then Shang looked up to Jun who was clearly depressed by what just happened.
"Jun..." He got up and walked over behind where Jun was sitting at. Jun flinched when felt the weight of his Grandfather's hands. "Why did you keep something this big a secret?" Shang asked.
"I just... wanted to surprise you..." Jun weakly replied. Biting his lip, holding in his tears.
Shang sighed.
"Is this part of what you envisioned in your dream when you travel the world?"
Jun just nodded.
"I thought you studied martial arts for that. I never would have imagined all the rare books and scrolls about bending was all for this. Didn't you say that Sokka was also vital in Avatar Aang's quest to vanquish the evil Fire Lord Ozai? Weren't skills and smarts enough?"
"They are enough..." Jun replied. "But don't you think he would have been a little jealous of the fact that almost everyone around him could bend?" His conviction on the matter brought back strength in his voice. Not many would know because it wasn't included in Aang's autobiography, but Sokka was a little bit jealous of the other members of team Avatar who could bend. "Weren't you envious yourself when you were younger?"
Shang closed his eyes as he recalled the time before he made a career as a businessman. A spunky young man from the Fire nation that made his way to Republic City to get a glimpse of the Avatar. Even as a middle-aged man, Aang still did his iconic spinning marble trick as he introduced himself as the Avatar. Back then, Shang really did wish he could do all the things the Avatar can do. "...You're right." He replied as he opened his eyes again.
"Actually..." Shang glanced at the firebending sleeves displayed on the table. "...I really wasn't disappointed in you for making this thing."
Jun widened his eyes and turned his head. "Really?"
"Yes. I'm actually very proud of you... I was just disappointed in you not thinking ahead." Smack!
Shang scolded him just as he had always done when he was raising him.
"Ow..." Jun rubbed his bald head.
"It was clear that Zhong had used you. Had you come to me first about it, I would have told you to proceed discreetly. You should have kept this to yourself and not to present this the board. I know what your intentions were, but I know I don't have to tell you what would happen if this gets into the wrong hands, even if we put strict regulation on the distributing. Now I have to go through a lot of trouble to find a clear reason to fire him. An ambitious man like that with a dubious purpose is very dangerous."
"Uhhh..." He hadn't gotten a sermon from his grandfather in a long time and it made his head hurt. "I'm sorry."
"...I'm sorry too..." Shang replied. "... you've always been wiser than your years and knowing that made me forget that you're still just a kid. I got careless."
Then they both went silent and got awkward after exchanging apologies.
Smack!
"Ow! What was that for?!" Jun rubbed his head after being hit on the head again.
"My grandson is just too cute. I suddenly had cute agression"
"You're not actually just mad that you apologized, are you?!"
Shang shrugged. "Anyways..." He gazed upon the firebending sleeve. "How does this thing work again?" His eyes were sparkling. "I was always jealous of the firebender kids when I was growing up."
Jun surrendered and helped his grandfather put it on.
"Is it on?" Shang asked as he punched the air.
"It's on, but it won't be that easy. You need to learn firebending skills first like a real firebender would."
"Like this?" Shang clumsily did a firebender's stance.
"Hahahaha" Jun laughed "No, your knees should be more distanced and..."
As Jun was teaching Shang firebending, he suddenly remembered something.
"Actually Grandpa, I have one more thing to tell you, and Zhong doesn't know about this. It's my real surprise to you. I'll show it to you later at my place but in short I..."
Shang widened his eyes and his jaw dropped at the sudden revelation.
A week passed by and Shang died. Jun became wanted for his murder.