Since this Blue Spirit Unit is kind of like Naruto's ANBU. Try listening to some Naruto soundtrack while reading :)
Have a listen to Naruto OST 'Mission'
Please review and enjoy.
Chapter 3: Mission
Mako, Jun Jr, Noren and Nyla Jr traversed through the forest, making their way to the bazaar. Riding on the Shirshu was not quite like riding on a Polar bear dog, this animal looked bigger, nastier, and was probably more dangerous. Noren from above was leading the way, with jets of fire he flew through the air and led the way.
"So Mako." Jun Jr sitting in front of the new pup Blue Spirit broke the silence.
"Yes?" He replied.
"What are the chances of this Shady Shin being in the Bazaar now?"
"Um…well it's difficult to say, if he's the one doing the recruiting then there's a higher chance that he will be at the schooling area instead of the markets." Mako answered.
Noren descended from the air, landing in front of the others gracefully in a crouch.
"We're close now. We should go on foot. We don't want to be seen nor heard." Noren said kicking off into a jog. Nyla the Shirshu stopped in its tracks.
"We get off here kiddo." Jun said and climbed off the animal, Mako followed. Jun Jr then ran a hand through Nyla Jr's hair. "Wait here Nyla."
They soon caught up with Noren whom slowed the pace down a little. Structures were soon appearing through the forest.
"Not how you thought your first time in the Fire Nation would be like eh?" Noren said to the new pup.
"Ah well, Fire Lord Izumi said I could help, so I'm here to help." Mako said.
"Well maybe when this is over. When we rid of this triad, maybe you can enjoy the sights of the Fire Nation."
The three stood before the wall of a building, the sound of a morning market could be heard from the other side.
Noren launched himself up to the top of the wall with subtle jets of fire coming from his fists pointing downwards. Jun Jr bringing up a whirl of wind around the lower half of her body she levitated to the top. Following Noren, Mako got up to the top with fire propulsions from his fists.
All three Blue Spirits were perched on the wall, Mako took in the sights of the Fire Nation's eastern Bazaar. Shops and restaurants scattered across the area.
"Alright, see anything that is of triad nature?" Noren asked Mako in a hoarse whisper.
"Not yet, back in Republic City they have a restaurant as a front for their activities. I'm not sure if they will do the same here though." Mako said softly.
"It's a start." Noren said.
"What kind of restaurants this place have?"
"They range from ramen, barbeque, and seafood house. But I know the restaurants in this area, and I'm quite sure they are not part of the picture."
Jun Jr let out a soft scoff, "Noren, you never know."
"Yeah…yeah."
Scanning the whole streets, then Jun finally spotted someone that worth paying attention to.
"Guys, over there." Jun nudged Mako's arm and pointed at an individual strolling down the streets in a, well uncouth manner so to say.
A man with a goatee dressed in a mix of black and red clothes, and with hands in pockets. The person of interest was someone that Mako recognised.
"I think I know that guy, seen him before in Republic City." Mako pointed. The Blue Spirits watched the person approaching a fruit and vegetable cart, confronting the store owner whom was a young man, did not look like a fighter at all.
The Blue Spirits observed as the person of interest started acting aggressively towards the store owner, harassing and threatening him. Even grabbing the store owner's collar for emphasis.
"He's extorting the store owner, collecting money for 'protection' so to say." Mako said with a frown.
"Making the Bazaar their turf right?" Noren asked.
"Yeah."
"Ah criminals trying to be prosperous." Jun Jr added.
They continued observing the store owner handing a set of money to the gangster, and the others around were too scared to do anything.
"We're not going to stop him? He's getting money from that poor guy." Mako asked the two of the Blue Spirits, a little surprised.
"Captain's orders are to observe and gather intel, not engage and intervene yet." Noren reminded him. "So for now we tail him, see where he goes."
"What about that guy, he's getting his money taken away." Mako argued a little.
"Relax kiddo, he'll get his money back." Jun Jr whispered. "He can take it up to Fire Lord Izumi, once we're done with this triad mess."
"…ok." Mako agreed.
"Fan out. Go silent." Noren said, staying low he moved through the roof tops, keeping track of the gangster.
"Don't trip kiddo." Jun Jr said to Mako with a soft chuckle behind the mask and fanned out, following Noren through the rooftops.
Mako sighed and followed Jun Jr, moving past chimneys and keeping low, taking precaution not be spotted by anyone, gangster or citizen.
"Where is he going?" Mako wondered as he set his eyes on the target moving through the markets, heading uphill a little. With Noren and Jun Jr moving up ahead a little, Mako hanged back a bit still observing the gangster from above.
Finally it appeared as if their target was heading towards a restaurant building, looking high classed and prestigious, sitting on a hill overseeing the markets. Noren, Jun and Mako came to a stop at a rooftop.
"This is a restaurant?" Mako asked.
"Yeah. It's the Loy Kee's Komodo Chicken House. One of, if not the best place for any dish pertaining to Komodo Chicken." Noren said, "But that place is supposed to be owned by the Loy Kee family."
"Maybe they've been paid off by the triad." Jun Jr suggested.
"Not how the triad worked back in Republic City. They don't appease with people they think lesser than them." Mako said.
"Well either way, we'll find out soon enough, but now we ought to head back. Got to regroup with the others. We at least know some form of pattern the triad has." Jun Jr added.
"Right let's move." Noren slowly retreated, with the other two following.
Noren and Jun Jr traversed through the roofs without any sound and with grace. Mako followed behind though minus the grace.
At the beach cave hideout, Nyla Jr arrived with the three Blue Spirits riding on her back. Getting off the Shirshu, the animal made itself comfortable, laying down on the side.
Mako took off his mask and gazed out of the cave to see the boat that was still at the port and still had his stuff in there.
"Relax Mako, that boat isn't going anywhere." Noren patted his shoulder as he walked past him. "No one knows of this place's existence apart from us."
"Hey kiddo," Jun Jr called him rummaging through a pouch on Nyla Jr's saddle and took out a packet of biscuits. She tossed it to the new pup. "Here catch."
Mako quickly caught the packet. Jun then said, "You didn't have breakfast did you?"
"Thank you Jun." Mako smiled, opening the packet and he ate his breakfast.
"Well you can thank me by treating me noodles." Jun smirked with a hand on her hip. That caused Mako to stiffen a bit, realising he got baited a little.
"Aw come on, you don't want to buy little me some lunch? Be a sweet boy will you?" Jun bent forward to face Mako with a deceptively sweet smile and a wink.
"Oh wow, hooked, line and sinker, right of the first day." Noren chuckled as he took out his own breakfast from his own sack in the cave, a rice ball and meat buns.
"Uh am I missing a joke here?" Mako asked them a little confused.
"Nah no joke." Noren answered, "But here's the thing with Jun. There's no such thing as free gifts from her."
"Noren come on you know this," Jun said with an apple in her hand, "It is called favour repayment."
"Hah, yeah whatever you say bounty hunter."
Mako just listened as the two go on.
"Besides, Mako wants to treat me lunch don't you Mako?" She said to him.
"I…I don't mind, but I can't help feel like I'm being used here." Mako said.
Jun Jr let out a short laugh, making her way to him. "Mako I'm just teasing, you don't have to buy me lunch kiddo." She was poking his cheek to tease him more. "Who does that to the new guy?"
Mako decided to return the teasing. "Why not? I'll buy you noodles, when this mission is done."
"Oh? Alright, you said it yourself." Jun said and fist bumped Mako's shoulder, standing right next to Jun, Mako realised she was as tall as him.
Noren then heard something approaching the cave. "Guys, they're back."
Everyone got back into focus. The sound of a jeep satomobile engine approached the cave. Noren and Jun Jr put their masks back on, Mako followed.
The other members of the Blue Spirits had returned with a huge sack sitting in the back of the vehicle, and it was moving.
Noren and Jun was keeping silent, the mood turned serious in a heartbeat. Mako followed along, staying silent as the other members got out of the vehicle.
"We got him." Hui Lee said to them. "He was at the school zones."
Jiandao grabbed the sack with one hand and violently threw it into the ground, and an agonised groan came from the sack.
"They got Shady Shin, jeez they are quick." Mako thought. Kuzon pulled the sack off Shady Shin, revealing his bruised up face, and he was missing a tooth. His hands and feet were tied up.
With laboured breathing, Shady Shin spat, "You freaks with masks think you're smart, you've no idea who you're dealing with? You freaks are de-"
His taunting was soon replaced with a pained scream as a kunai was thrown and jammed into Shady Shin's thigh.
Jiandao grabbed him by the throat and lifted him up, staring into him with the mask.
Jiandao spoke in a low hoarse voice, intimidating Shady Shin. "Spare me the empty threats scum, I want to know who you're working for. Tell me."
Mako watched in silence along with the rest of the Blue Spirits as Jiandao waited for a few seconds before he pulled the kunai out of Shin's and stabbed it on Shin's shoulder.
"Argggh! Stop! Stop! Ahh!" Shady Shin cried out in agony. Mako behind Jiandao observed the effective field interrogation that even Lin Beifong might not be able to compete.
He'd almost felt sory for Shdy Shin, but when Mako remembered that Shady Shin messed with Bolin before, any pity of him was gone.
Jiandao tightened his grip on the neck. "Tell me."
"Ok, ok ahhh! Stop! It's…It's Lightning Bolt Zolt. Arggh." Shady Shin confessed, Jiandao dropped Shady Shin and he plopped to the ground. Hui Lee, the Kyoshi Blue Spirit had a katana at Shady Shin's neck.
Everyone member of the Blue Spirits Unit turned their heads to Mako, prompting to give them the information on the mentioned person.
"Lightning Bolt Zolt. He was the leader of the triad, but then Amon took away his bending. And after months he lost his position as the head, reported to have gone missing. But apparently not." Mako provided the information.
Mei stepped forward and stomped a foot on Shady Shin's chest. "Where is he?"
"I…I can't tell you. He'll gut me if I do." Shady Shin said.
Hui Lee applied more pressured on his neck with her katana, any more would break the skin. "He's not the one you should worry about right now."
Jiandao stepped forward too, standing next to Mei and adding more of his presence to Shin.
"Where is he?" He asked.
"In…In the city, at some Komodo Chicken house." Shin spilled.
Noren then said, "We've followed an identified suspect to Loy Kee's Komodo Chicken House. What have you people done with the owner?"
Shady Shin did not answer to that, all he had was a trembling face, the iris in his eyes shrank.
That however, gave Mako the grim answer.
"How did you people even get here? There's no way this number of people like you would get through the Fire Nation military." Kuzon asked Shady Shin.
"Maybe you freaks think we're not good enough for that." Shady Shin tried to act smart.
"You're right." Jiandao snarled. "You're not good enough to slip through unnoticed by the Fire Nation."
"You people had a pipeline from Republic City to the Fire Nation." Kuzon deducted. "Something connecting Republic City to the Fire Nation. What is it?"
Mei pressed her foot down on his chest again. "It's…ahh son of a…it's Future Industries." Shady Shin gave up. "We snuck in through that, guess the new management wasn't careful enough. Happy you freaks?!"
Jiandao turned to Jun.
"Nyla." Jun ordered, the Shirshu stood up and lashed out its tongue striking Shin and paralysing him. Hui Lee added more to the injury, driving a boot to his face and knocked him out.
Hearing the name of Asami's company, Mako's jaw fell a little.
"Future Industries…Asami…" Mako said under his breath.
"Kuzon. Bring this guy to Prison Tower." Jiandao, the Alpha Wolf gave the order to Kuzon, "The rest of us, we're going to take down Lightning Bolt Zolt."
"Captain." Mako voice out. "Wh-What about Future Industries?"
"Fire Lord Izumi orders are to shut down the Triad here, not to deal with Future Industries. When it's all done, we report back to Fire Lord Izumi. Let's move." Jiandao said.
"Right." Everyone said in unison. Kuzon grabbed Shady Shin and put him over his shoulder, brought him back to the satomobile and drove off. The rest of the unit sprinted off back to the markets.
Bolin and Opal headed up the upper levels in the police station of Republic City in the late afternoon, opening the doors to the office.
"Hey Mako!" Bolin said gleefully, only to notice that Mako's desk had no Mako with it.
"What the? Yo Mako where are you bro?" Bolin called out in the office, essentially disturbing the people in there.
"He hasn't shown up this morning if you're not aware." Lu said lounging on his chair said to them. Bolin and Opal turned to Lu and Gang. Bolin then asked them, "You know where he is?"
"Nah. For all we know he could sleeping in a dump somewhere, how's that for a 'super cop'?" Lu and Gang snickered.
Bolin had a confused expression. Opal then suggested, "Let's just ask Aunt Lin, she should know something."
They knocked on the Chief's door. "Enter." They heard Lin's voice and went in.
"Hey Aunt Lin." They said to her.
"Morning. What do you need?" Lin said sorting through some papers on her table.
"Well we're just wondering if you know where Mako is." Opal said to her aunt.
"Sorry, can't say." Lin sorted the papers neatly.
"Uh, you mean you don't know or you won't tell me?" Opal said.
Lin looked up at her. To answer her question, Lin took out something from her drawer in the table and tossed it to Bolin.
It was Mako's badge. Confusion was plastered on Bolin and Opal's face.
"He quit the police? We just saw him last evening." Bolin asked her.
"Beats me too." Lin said.
"Are you not telling us something?" Opal asked a little suspicious.
"I've seriously no clue. Why don't you go ask him yourself kid? I got other things deal with right now." Lin said a little authoritatively.
Bolin shrugged. "Well I guess we should start at his apartment, he could very just be oversleeping." And they left.
Lin Beifong put a hand on her temple.
"You're a headache Izumi, and you too rookie."
At Mako's apartment, Bolin and Opal were heading up the stairs.
"You think it's something to do with yesterday? Whatever he was busy with?" Bolin asked Opal.
"Your gues is as good as mine. But I think Aunt Lin is hiding something Bolin." Opal suspiciously said.
"Why would she? She showed us his badge." Bolin replied and reached the door. He knocked on it. "Mako? You in there?"
No answer. "Mako?!" Bolin hammered on the door louder now, still no answer.
"Alright stand back." Bolin stepped back, taking a rock from his pocket he shot it through the door knob.
"What are you doing?!" Opal asked shocked.
"Relax he's my bro, I'm sure he won't mind, I'll fix it for him." Bolin said and entered. And it revealed to them, an empty room with no Mako.
The Blue Spirit Unit save for Kuzon gathered on the top of the roof opposite Loy Kee Komodo Chicken house.
"What's the play Captain?" Noren asked Jiandao.
"It's in the day, ghosting through this might be tough." Jiandao looked up into the sky. "What's the layout of this place?"
"Two levels and one basement." Noren said, knowing the restaurant he was confident in his intel.
"Alright we're going to have to go in fast and hard, they can't know what hit them. Mei, Hui Lee, take the upper level. Noren and Jun, sweep the ground while I get into the basement, Mako you're with me. And since you know who Zolt is Mako, you're going to have target him so we'll know." Jiandao gave the plan.
Then he added, "And no bending."
"Wait what? No bending?" Mako asked confused.
"It's called operation deniability." Mei explained. "But if there's no helping it, do what you have to do."
"Well um ok…what am I supposed to fight with?" Mako asked the mother hen. Hui Lee sighed and pulled out her katana from her back and handed it to Mako.
"We'd really need to get you geared up proper if you're sticking around after this. I'm pretty sure you know how a sword works?" She asked him, he slowly took the sword from her.
"Yeah, stab and slash. But uhh…we're going to kill them?" He asked reluctantly.
"Not the intended goal but Mako, I'll put it this way." Mei said, "We'd rather you come out of there alive."
Mako slowly nodded, gripping the katana with two hands. Noren whipped a kunai in each hand, Hui Lee did the same with fans. Jun Jr loosen the coil of her whip. Mei pulled out a stiletto for each hand. And Jiandao pulled out the dual swords on his back.
"Let's move." The Captain said and they scattered fast. Each of them was a black blur advancing swiftly towards the restaurant turned triad base.
Noren led the run with the rest behind him. Leaping forward, he pointed his leg and kicked through the door, splinters were flew all over the place and every thug jumped in surprise. Noren threw both kunais at two targets right in the chest and down the thugs go. Jun Jr followed the attack and smoke bombs across the ground. A smoke screen erupted the whole area.
"Disperse." Jiandao said and they split in their assigned pair. Mako and Jiandao rushed down to the basement, Noren and Jun swept through the ground and while Hui Lee and Mei went upstairs. In the basement it was dimly lit, just how Jiandao liked it.
The enemies were coming in fast and Jiandao led the charge. He was dodging fireballs being thrown at him and spinning his swords with grace and deadliness. Every enemy facing him received slashes, gashed and stabs. Some cried out in agony, some were barely breathing. One or two might not be breathing at all. Blood splattered the area.
Mako had his own share of foes, sidestepping a stream of fire from a firebender triad member, Mako swung his sword and made a gash on his foe's knees. Ducking down from another stream of fire, he rose up fast stabbing the katana in the thug's bicep. Running the blade up, a huge gash was made.
Every triad member was put down, except for anyone in the room up ahead. Mako ran first, smashing through the door. There he was, Lightning Bolt Zolt. Sitting in cowardice and anger in an office of some kind.
"What in the-" Zolt didn't finish his sentence as the Blue Spirit jumped the table and smashed Zolt's face in with his boot. Mako followed up the attack, driving a fist to Zolt's face. Again, and again, venting out what Zolt had done to him and his brother.
Finally he was out cold with a bleeding broken nose.
"Nice, kid." Jiandao said entering the office. "We're done. Kuzon will notify the police and take these garbage away. We're report back to the Fire Lord."
Mako nodded, he was going to the Royal Palace, an exciting yet daunting opportunity.
After some travelling, Mako arrived at the Royal Palace, he kept up with the Blue Spirit Unit whilst taking in the grand sight.
Entering the throne room, fire burned across the throne, and Fire Lord Izumi was sitting on the ornate throne along with Lord Zuko standing before the throne.
"You have returned." Fire Lord Izumi in a professional tone.
They lined up horizontally with Jiandao standing in the middle. He got down and knelt, the others followed. Mako standing on the far left knelt down as well.
"The mission is complete Lord Izumi. With information provided by Mako, we learned that a triad had infiltrated into the Fire Nation. Run by a man designated Lightning Bolt Zolt. They've taken residence in a restaurant in the Bazaar. The triad has been shut down, the police has taken them all away. And so we have removed the danger to the school students and civilians in the east." Jiandao explained.
"Ah so you were vital in this victory Mako. Father and I were right in selecting you." Izumi smiled, Zuko nodded to that. "As promised we will do what we can in learning about your mother."
"T-Thank you Lord Izumi, Lord Zuko." Mako said politely. It was quite strange wearing the mask in front of Izumi, but he could get used to it soon.
"Anything else needed to be report?" Zuko asked.
"Yes." Jiandao said, "How they got here."
"I see…Jiandao and Mei will remain. The rest you're dismissed for the day." Izumi ordered.
"Right." The Blue Spirit Unit said together.
Jiandao and Mei remained kneeling down, the others stood up and left. Mako being the last one to get up followed the others. The two leaders of the Blue Spirit Unit stayed.
Once they were out of the throne room, they all loosened themselves.
"And we are…done for the day." Hui Lee stretched her arms above her head.
"How's that for a first day?" Kuzon patted Mako's shoulder. "Taking beginner's luck into a whole new level."
"Well I'm uh glad to help." Mako rubbed the back of his head.
"Ah modesty. Don't get humble with us kid." Noren said, nudging Mako's bicep. "Now I know what you're thinking, one minute we're all dark and scary and the next we're like this. Get used to it is all I can say. So now the mission's done, I'm a heading home."
"Same here, I need my shower." Hui Lee said.
"See ya Mako." They both took their leave.
"Bye." Mako politely waved. "I need to head back to the boat and get my stuff."
"Well you do that Mako, I need to do an equipment check on our gear, and then I'm going home too. You're doing great Mako. See ya around." Kuzon said and left.
Jun Jr then stepped up and bumped her waist on Mako. "So what was that about buying me noodles?" She smirked.
It was evening, Mako was back in the Bazaar and was in a ramen restaurant with a bowl of ramen. He was sitting on the edge of a cliff with a beautiful sunset. Lanterns were hanging above him and the smell of soup broth filled his nose. He had his bag placed by his legs.
Sitting opposite him was Jun Jr, slurping down her own bowl of ramen.
"Oh this is good noodles." Jun slurped down the ramen.
"Yeah, I got to say this is good food right here." Mako agreed. "But um, where am I going to be staying?"
"Blue Spirit HQ or Blue Spirit Base. You'll know soon." Jun answered.
Mako then said. "Oh um well, ok."
"You worked up by what happened today?" She asked.
"Well not ex-"
"Oh look who it is!" Someone came in and called them. They turned to see Noren, Hui Lee, Kuzon, Mei and Jiandao coming up to them.
"Showing the new guy around Jun?" Hui Lee smirked.
"He owed me noodles." Jun said.
"How did you know we're here?" Mako narrowed his eyes a little.
"With Nyla duh." Noren said as if stating the obvious.
"Here to welcome you in Mako." Mei smiled.
They brought a genuine smile to Mako's face, though a part of him was thinking back on yesterday, the night of his parents' death.
Everyone got a few tables together and ordered their food. Bowls of ramen and drinks were soon laid out on the tables.
"Alright." Jiandao said and stood up with a drink in his hand. "To uh…ah I'm not good with this. Ok to Mako." Everyone held their drinks up too.
"To Mako who took down a triad and protected the Fire Nation in one day, the uh well, the new pup of this…how in the world do I describe you bloody lot?" Jiandao wondered. "Welcome to this unit, this…band of beasts eh? This…unorthodox mess of a team." Everyone cheered at the comment. "This effective thought dysfunctional family if you will…but family still. Welcome Mako, if you're staying."
Mako couldn't hold back his grin everyone was actualy paying tribute to him.
"Cheers!" Everyone said. And the dinner continued.
Mako soon found himself talking to Jiandao at the other end of the tables while the rest continued their dinner.
"Let me clear two things up that I'm sure is in your head." Jiandao said to him. Mako nodded.
"One, I know this is a victory so to say, but don't let it get the better of you, and don't let it get into your head too much. You did well, but don't get lazy." Jiandao said as if talking to a son. Mako listened too.
"Second, you're thinking, how do I or anyone of us get by after what we did today?" Jiandao said and Mako listened carefully.
"Yeah sure, we've protected the markets, but still it's unpleasant. I'm sure you agree. The rest of the team got their own means of getting through it. I've got mine." Jiandao said.
"What is it?" Mako asked.
"I admit I was a little more than peeved to say the least with Shady Shin. So was Mei." Jiandao said.
"Why?"
"Shin messed with the reason on how Mei and I get by this." Jiandao. Mako squinted his eyes, wondering what he meant.
"Mommy! Daddy!" A small voice came towards them, Mako saw a girl with long black hair in a school uniform entering the restaurant. Jiandao turned and watched Mei leaving her seat to give the girl a hug. Jiandao smiled and waved at the girl.
"Shin was trying to get my kid into his gang." Jiandao answered. "Her name's Jiayi."
He then gave his final piece to Mako. "How do I get by what we do? I think of my wife and my kid, the rest is easy." He left his seat to join his family with Mako to watch.
Thank you for reading this chapter, hope to see you in the next one.
