Chapter 6 –Secrets

Five hooded figures gathered around a polished black table. The youngest, a woman spoke, "There's been a troubling development. Our agent in the Old Quarter was found killed with the symbol of the Wolf carved on his chest."

"It is of no concern," the man to her left said. "Such men are easily replaced."

Across the table, an older woman said, "But what if he told this Wolf of us? He could threaten us, and our enterprise."

To her right, another man said, "Our agent knew nothing of our design. The Wolf could not have learned anything of use," he turned to the fifth, silent figure. "What say you, Exalted One?"

The man opened his blue eyes. "This Wolf is a minor annoyance, a non-bender with delusions of adequacy. Should he prove a threat to the enterprise, we will eliminate him."

…

Lin and Sokka bowed to each other, then squared off in a fighting stance. Lin attacked with a right handed punch which Sokka swept aside, then countered with a leg sweep that knocked the girl on her back. "Stupid wooden floor. I totally would have seen that leg sweep coming if we were on actual ground. It's not fair!"

"Lin, you've got to learn to use your other senses to anticipate attacks." Sokka helped her up. "You may not always have the luxury of choosing the ground you fight on, or being able to take off your shoes, for that matter."

"I can't figure out why I need to learn this anyway, it's not like my bending is going to go away," she complained.

"What if your chi get's blocked and you lose your bending temporarily? You'll need to know how to fight without it so you can survive long enough for it to come back," Sokka countered. "You're frustrated. I know just the thing to calm down. Let's play a game of Pai-Sho."

They sat down at the Pai-Sho board. Sokka said, "Lady gets the first move." She placed her first tile in the center of the grid. Sokka's eye's went wide.

"Don't tell me I've confused the great Pai-Sho master," Lin said. "Haven't you ever seen anyone open with the Black Pagoda tile before?"

"I'm an idiot," Sokka breathed as he slapped his own forehead.

…

Sokka lowered his hood as he walked into the tavern. He spotted a worn Pai-Sho table in the corner and an old woman sitting behind it.

"May I have this game?" he asked formally.

"The guest has the first move," the old lady answered.

Sokka sat down, and placed his White Lotus tile in the center of the board.

"I see you favor the white lotus gambit. Not many still cling to the old ways," the lady observed.

"Those who do can always find a friend," Sokka completed the ritual exchange.

Once the tiles were arranged in the lotus pattern, the lady got up and said, "Welcome, brother, the Lotus opens wide to those who know its secrets. Follow me."

Sokka followed the lady out the back of the tavern and down an alley. They entered a cabinet maker's shop and the lady directed Sokka to a door with a sliding peephole. Sokka knocked at the door. The peephole slid open. "Who knocks at the guarded gate?"

Sokka replied, "One who has eaten the fruit, and tasted its mysteries."

The door opened and Sokka went inside as the old lady followed.

An old man with wild, white hair sat in a Lotus position in the middle of the lotus mosaic in the floor. He did not open his eyes when he said, "How may the order be of assistance, Councilman?"

Sokka sat down across from him, "Master Jeong Jeong, what do you know about the Cult of the Black Pagoda?"

"Very ancient, very dangerous sect. They were once part of the White Lotus. They were ejected from the order because they did not believe the non-bending arts were of any use. They believed that benders should use their power to rule over non-benders. It is said they consult a dark spirit to learn dangerous, forbidden bending techniques to further their aims."

"Then what would their goal be here in Republic City, set up some kind of bender's only dictatorship?" Sokka asked.

Jeong Jeong opened his golden eyes. "No. It would not be that simple. They would seek to destroy it, in order to rebuild it according to their design."

"How can they be stopped?" Sokka asked.

"That would depend on the specifics of their plan. Their arrogance is their weakness. They will not perceive you as a threat. That is your advantage."

Sokka stood up, then bowed. "I thank the Master for sharing his wisdom. The fruit of knowledge is truly sweet."

"Then partake in happiness, my brother," the Master completed the ritual farewell. "May it enrich your life." 'For however long it lasts,' Jeong Jeong thought.

…

Chief Bei Fong arrived at the scene of the fire just as the waterbending firefighters were finishing putting out the blaze. The building was a waterfront fish market, owned by a water tribe family that lived above the business. Anti-water tribe slurs were painted on the side of the building. The fire marshal gave his report. "Obviously arson, Chief. Witnesses reported seeing a firebender shooting flame through a broken window."

"Any casualties?" Toph asked.

"No, the wife of the business owner says an angel dropped through the roof and rescued them."

"Did she say what this 'angel' looked like?" asked the Chief.

"All she could give me was that he wore a gray cloak," answered the officer.

Toph turned around and stepped into a dark alley. "I know you're there," she said to the shadows.

"We need to talk. Not here. Meet me at my place in an hour," answered the Wolf.

…..

"What did you need to tell me?" Toph asked.

Sokka relayed what he'd learned about the Black Pagoda. "Everything we're seeing, the gang violence, the ethnic hate crimes, is being engineered toward some larger, terrible purpose," he concluded.

"Then we need to tell Aang," Toph suggested.

"No, not yet. We don't know enough about their plan yet. For all we know they may be counting on him going all Avatar State and leveling half the city. We need to flush them out somehow. Expose them."

"And how will the Wolf accomplish that?" Toph asked.

"Not the Wolf. The Councilman."