Chapter 1: The Job
"Argh, watch where you're going you prick!" Said an angry girls voice "Fucking Tourists"
"Hey I knew where I was going!" Mako got up and yelled
"Oh yeah!" the girl got up and stared him in the eye with her fierce yellow ones, "I'm not the one walking out into Fucking Traffic!"
"Hey! I was on the Sidewalk lady, you're the one driving in the wrong place!" Mako retorted
The woman looked smug as she crossed her arms and gloatingly pointed to Mako's side, showing him that he in his stupor had ignored the small sidewalk and walked right into the middle of the small road.
"Oh…" Mako started to flush red, and turned to her "Oh look, I'm sorry…can I…?"
"Oh shit, shit, shit, shit…I'm late" She cursed as she whizzed around looking for her helmet
Mako got a brief look at her, there was a whirlwind of black pigtails and she was wearing a very loose combination of red clothing, but before he could see her face again she had squashed her head into her helmet and fired up her scooter.
"Watch where you're going next time…" She zoomed past him, almost running his foot over so he jumped back "Fucking Tourist"
Mako growled as he bent down to pick up his side bag, and with throwing it over his shoulder his confusion dissolved, and an odd memory came to Mako.
Remember the last time that happen *chuckle*, at the time I thought I hit the Jackpot. Asami was so beautiful, and the windfall helped so much with the team at least until Amon ruined it.
Mako took off slowly down the street, still curiously in deep thought.
*sigh* I did take Asami for granted, she liked me and I owed her so much but when it came down to it I left her in her most awful situation, it was selfish. I played it loose and fast with her feelings, I should have taken it slow, figured out my feelings before we started, I shouldn't have rushed into it.
Mako came to his senses, he start to look round and see the renowned Fire Nation architecture, it apparently hadn't change in 150 years or so, but I expect all the power lines, satomobiles, radios and such weren't around back then.
As a guy Mako wouldn't ask for directions, so he spent a good hour or two walking around the central city, it was rather extravagant. Not as extravagant admittedly as the Upper ring of the Ba Sing Se, but more extravagant than the Lower ring and even the Middle ring, they loved their red decorations with lovely ornamental hanging between the buildings giving the impression there was a constant festival going on. Mako could also her a constant bustle of humans and cars, it was clear that outside the central city it was a lot more packed and vibrant in the main streets.
After finally relinquishing to ask for directions against all of Mako's manly pride, he was told to follow the signs on street corners finally coming to a building that looked remarkably like the station back home, of course with a different symbol out front and all the red detailing.
Mako quickly entered, pushing the door open and without warning another man came running past and Mako quickly dodged to the side and kept the door open. Shrugging off the experience, Mako saw the door with the stained glass saying 'Captain' and gave it a swift tap tap tap.
"Come in" said a deep commanding but friendly voice
"Ahh Hello Mako, It's good to see you again" said the strained older voice of Lord Zuko
Mako bowed with his fist in his palm as he walked up to the desk "Good to see you too Lord Zuko…and Chief…uuuuh, I mean Captain. Detective Mako reporting from Chief Beifong for the Officer Exchange Program"
"Mako! Mako Mako, don't be so formal" The Captain cheered from the desk as he got up to shake the boys hand vigorously "I've heard great things about you boy, even teaming up with the Avatar to save Republic City…tell me do you still have the scar from when you destroyed that awful Colossus"
Mako took off a long gloved that had been covering that exact scar under his jacket, revealing the still burnt red skin up to his elbow where the lightning had fried it, showing it off it full detail as the Captain looked on intrigued until he stopped and Mako slowly slid on his long glove again.
"Wow, It seems you and that boy are two of a kind Lord Zuko" Lee cheerfully grinned
"I know a thing or two about scars" Zuko chuckled softly
"So Sirs, I'm here, I'm willing just give me my first assignment" Mako stood up straight like an attentive soldier
"Now hold on my boy, you're a day early you know that" Lee told him "Why don't you take some time off, see the city, have you even found a place to stay yet boy?"
"No sir, but I can sleep under my desk until I find a place, I would just really like to be working again" Mako continued like a soldier waiting for orders
"My my my, he really is dedicated" Lee chuckled impressed "but no, we've got nothing lined up yet for you to start…"
"Wait wait wait, Captain Lee" Zuko interrupted "Remember that thing we talked about earlier, we were going to assign this young man to that like planned"
"Still we haven't had time to prepare" Lee awkwardly and indiscreetly turned into a whisper "She's not going to be very pleased if we spring this on her unexpectedly"
"But it's best he starts as soon as possible" Zuko smiled and spoke normally "and that's why my grandson has her right now in the interrogation room"
"Okay…if you say so sir, Last time we gave her this unexpected of a surprise we had to rebuild this station after it burnt down" Lee looked slightly worried for the first time Mako had seen for the jolly man
"I will go fetch them both right now" Zuko still smiled and promptly walked out down the corridor
A quiet silence briefly passed as Mako turned to the Captain.
"So Sir, can you answer me something?" Mako cautiously asked still not breaking stance
"As best as my ability will allow boy" Lee smiled as he relaxed back in his chair
"Why doesn't this Fire Guard Station look like what I've heard, I mean the Fire Army had apparently massive red armour on with white metal masks that looked like skulls" Mako curiously thought-out
"Well, that some of that stuff is still basically used but it is mainly given to the United Forces and Fire Nation Army" Lee described "but since the hundred year ended most of the local army stations have been transformed into basically police stations like you know, you see we're technically the F.N.P.D (Fire Nation Police Department) but old habits die hard and people still call us the Fire Guard, so we kept it and most of the ranks associated with the army"
"Well thank you sir, and might I say I'm be happy to work…." Mako started
"NOOOO!" came a powerful scream as a breath of fire came barrelling out of the interrogation room, the officers in the station swiftly avoided it like it was another day in the office
"Hold that thought boy…" said Lee as he look worried at Mako "until you see your assignment"