It was early morning when I got the call of a disturbance down near the docks. We'd been seeing more and more action down there lately, ever since the triads started smuggling illegal substances into the city. So far we've only stopped the armatures from getting their goods into the city.

As I sped down the streets of the city my siren warning everyone to let me through I couldn't help but feel excited. This wasn't the normal rush I got from the job, no there was something different about this feeling. Why am I excited? It has something with today. Something I'm forgetting.

Before I had time to figure out what it was the road errupted into chaos as two earthbenders split the road in half.

"Damn!" I yelled as I dove out of the car just as it was about to crash into a newly made crator. As I picked myself up I saw two other officers going after them. My car wasn't going anywhere but I wansn't to far from the docks. Using my wires I climbed to the top of the nearest building and made my way across the rooftops untill I was directly above the docks. From what I saw the was a stand off going with one of the ships. Officers had surroneded the ship preventing it from leaving but on deck I could see at least five firebenders and a couple hostages.

Even though we had them outnumbered if the hostages were hurt we'd never hear the end of it. But as I watched the men aboard the ship wave their hands and scream at the officers below I came up with a plan. Quickly I dropped to the ground below and beelined for the blindspot of the ship. I signaled to the other officers and sent them the basic of my plans through hand gestures. Then nodded and got their attention as I boarded the ship and made my way over to the hostages.

Not one of them is guarding them. They probably got caught with their shipment ,panicked then grabbed these people in their panic.

Quickly and quietly I undid their bindings. Unfortunately one of them in their excitment thanked me a bit to loudly and alearted smugglars. I pulled whatever metal that was aboard and used it to make a shield as the captives ran for cover. As I drew their attention the rest of the officers boared the ship and took them down before they had time to realize what was happening. By the time the dust had setteled and the smugglars were being hauled off that my mind had time to focus on what I'd forgotten.

Something about today. This is going to piss me off untill I remember.

As I passed a group of officers one of them a young man by the name of Lee called out to me. "Thanks for the help Lin, the way these guys were hold up we didn't know how it would go down."

"Yeah well how about we have our men double their patrolls around the harbor. Make it irregular so they can't find an oppening."

"Sure thing, oh and we mananged to pull your car out of a crator it should be just around the bend."

Good officer that Lee. Might have to bump him up to detective when I'm in charge.

But as I got into my car I sighed knowing that I'd have to head to the precinct to do the paperwork because I had helped take them down. Which of course meant dealing with my family. My mother I could handle, my sister however was another story. She'd started working with me about a year ago and although she can be a bit headstrong but she's a good instructer for new metalbenders.

The halls were bustling as officers dragged criminals through the halls all the while proclaiming their innocence and how we were going to pay once they get out. Once inside my office I started on the nessicary paperwork so I could get back to focusing. I looked up when I heard a knocking and found a young officer looking nervous.

"Lin sorry to interupt but chief said she wanted to see you in her office. She wouldn't say any more than that."

I sighed knowing my mother would only send someone to get me when she had news I wouldn't like to hear.

After a minute I made my way to her office. " Lin I heard about your part in the capture. Couldn't be prouder of you but that's now why I called you in here."

"Then what is?"

"It would be better if you just go and see for yourself. We have a guest in cell six that I think you should meet. After you do that take the rest of the day off, that's an order."

So many questions ran through my mind as I waked toward the cells. Who is this person? Why are they so impormant? and why would mother give me the rest of the day off after meeting them?"

As I got closer I heard the unmistakable sound of singing. But it wasn't the singing that got to me, no it was the song being sung. A song I'd heard countless times growing up and once I was infront of the door I had a pretty good guess of who it was behind it.

"You know if you wanted to visit you should have just come to my house I did give you a key after all." I said opening the door.

"Lin!" Kya said springing to her feet and hugging me. "I did try your house but things happaned and now I'm here." as she spoke I caught the stench of alcohol on her breath and how she was moving.

"You've been drinking haven't you?"

"Well I was in town for your birthday so I went to your house. But when you weren't there I had a cup of cactus juice, then one turned into two and then tree and four. Then somehow I would up outside looking for you. But I ran into your sister instead and she said I should wait for you here so suprise!" My mind was racing as I tried to process what she said. Cactus juice was an extremly illegal substance for obvious reasons and she'd brought it to my house after probably smuggling it into the city and using it in my house...

Wait what did she just say?

"Did you just say birthday?"

"Of course I did silly. You know I'd never miss your birthday. I mean it's not every day my closet friend turns twenty one. So come on lets get out of this cell and go celebrate." she tried to take a step but as soon as she did fell straight into my arms.

Now I see why mother wanted me to take the day off. Kepping Kya out of trouble is going to take all of my concentration. I'd forgotten that no matter what Kya always made it her mission to show up for my birthday.

"Alright I'll take you back to my place and get some coffee in you." She took my hand as I led her out of the station and into my car. As I did so a few officers stopped to stare but one glare from me sent them scurrying back to work. Once she was in my back seat she started going on about about where she'd been for the past few years.

"You should see ember islands lately they've really grown into a restort town. Of course my family still has a private little hut resvered so how about you and I go the sometime?"

"We'll see about that but let me ask you something Kya. Where did you get that cactus juice? it's not exactly something you can buy."

"Oh I met these sandbenders a while back during my trip through the desert. At first they took me hostage for tresprassing through their territory but when their leaders's wife went into labor I stepped up and helped them deliver. After that they made me an honory member and gave me a couple dozen cacti for my journey."

I didn't bother to hide my smile when I heard this. Kya was the only person I knew off that could start out a prisoner and wind up a member in less then a day.

"Yes but how did you get it into the city?"

"Simple I had them sent to one of the air temples who then sent them to the island with one of the bisions. After all dad has fruit and vegatables sent to the island all the time and nobody ever checks them."

I can't belive what I'm hearing. She's actually found a way to smuggle drugs into the city and bypassing the police.

"Kya you do know you just admitted that to a cop right? I mean I could make my career on your crimes alone."

"You could but I know how much you love me." to make matters worse she leaned over and kissed my cheek. My body stiffned as my mind shut down.

For years Kya had always teased me but i'd thought I'd gotton over it. After all when you childhood crush is away you have lots of time to let your feelings go. Or at least I thought I had.

"Must you do that?"

"You know you love it. Besides if you really wanted to make this day special once we get back to your place I could be your present."

Seconds later I expirenced my send accident of the day as I nearly crashed into oncomming traffic.

"Kya that's not funny!" she took one glance at me and saw she'd gone to far.

"Look Lin I'm sorry about that you know I'd never hurt you."

"I know but you can get carried away with your teasing."

"It wasn't all teasing."

"What?"

"I'm serious Lin, if you ever wanted to see what it's like to be with a women all you'd have to do is ask."

I was speechless. How in spirts name do you say something after your oldest friend says something like that?

"Attention all units, attenion all units. Riot currently in progress at market square. All avaible officers are requsted."

My foot slammed on the pedal as my sirean roared to life. "Sorry Kya but it looks like we're going to delayed for a while."

"Don't worry about that. Besides I've always wanted to see you in action."

But as I drove I couldn't help but feel something extremly bad was going to happen. And after years of dealing with dangerous situations I'd learned that my insticts are usually right. I heard the fighting long before I saw it. Explosions were going off across the market and chunks of rock were flying through the air. From the looks of two rival gangs were finally having it out.

"Kya stay in the car this could get rough."

"Lin look out!" she said pointing out the window were a flaming ball of rock was coming straight at us. I did what I could and tried to make a shield from the hood of the car but it only blocked half of it. The rest broke through the window and hit me in the face. The pain was unimaginable, my hands went to my face and Kya pulled me into the back seat.

"My eyes!" I screamed as Kya grabbed the radio.

"Officer down! Lin has received immense burns to her face. Send medical assistance now!" As soon as the call ended I felt my Kya pull me onto her lap. "Alright Lin I'll do my best to heal you so just hang on."

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