Chaos Theory 10

Mako opened his locker, and wasn't much surprised to find a crudely painted, yellow, metal bent crown in his locker. On it was a note that read 'Fire Princess'.

"Hilarious," Mako said as he tossed it into the waste bin. He drew more than a few eyes, some soft chuckles, but he'd be damned if he was going to comment further. He was an adult, and after everything he'd been through, he wasn't about to let some cheap barbs get under his skin.

Today was uniform patrol, and he dressed quickly. He knew that as a detective that more than a few questioned why he was still wearing a uniform and doing foot patrol, but he hoped that they understood that it was simply him paying his dues. Mako knew he'd jumped to the head of the line, but in his heart he was still a cop.

The only downside of taking extra shifts, Mako found, was that it was impossible to find a regular partner. So instead, he, along with a few other officers who shared irregular hours for whatever reason (usually family) were simply expected to go to the motor pool and wait for someone else to show up.

Sometimes it took as little as five minutes. Other times it took over an hour.

Today, all it took was Mako walking into the motor pool. He found Officer Lee, metal bender, leaning against the wall, tapping his foot impatiently.

"Dragon's breath," Mako muttered. Mako half considered simply walking away, taking an extended bathroom break and hope the man and his hideous bowl-cut were gone.

But only half. And saddling another officer with Lee wasn't something Mako was comfortable doing.

"Lee!" Mako shouted as he entered the motor pool, "grab a Sato-mobile, I'll grab us a map."

"Hey, Mako!" Lee shouted, "good to see you! How've you been? Have you seen your brother's latest play? It's amazing!"

"Lee," Mako said, "Sato-mobile?"

"Oh, right," Lee nodded, and went to grab their transport.

Mako went to dispatch, and scanned the table that held the maps for the patrol routes. Where there were usually dozen maps of the city, there were only a handful now. Mako picked one that looked like it would be the least amount of trouble, and then made his way down the hall.

"This is dispatch, we need a car at fourth and Yue. Possible break-in."

"Patrol Unit 7, please head to fifth and Yang. Domestic dispute in progress, be advised that both subjects are benders."

"Car 54, where are you?"

Mako found the Dispatch Director, Korra Yue. It wasn't her birth name, but after the kidnapping of the Avatar, countless families in the Water Tribe had renamed their daughters after the Avatar in a show of solidarity. Mako wondered if any of them intended change it back now that the Avatar (or even two) had resurfaced.

"Director Korra," Mako handed his map to her, "reporting in. This is our route."

The woman, a few years older than Mako, looked at the map. Before Korra Yue had been hired as Dispatch Director, she'd been part of a cab service that served all of Republic City. From what Mako had heard, hiring her had been one of Chief Beifong's first moved when she was promoted, and it paid off. Ms. Yue had an uncanny ability to know where the city officers were, and who to dispatch when. It was a gift she shared with each dispatcher she trained.

"And your partner?"

"Lee," Mako said.

Korra Yue made a face.

"They always mess up my new hires," Korra said, "drive too slow, never paying attention to the road…"

"I just play the hand I'm dealt," Mako said.

"Alright," Korra Yue looked at the map again, "try to report in every fifteen minutes, okay? I've got a few rookies here, and I'm still trying to teach them how to handle slugs."

Mako chuckled despite himself, "Will do."

Mako left, and found Lee waiting for him, Sato-mobile gassed and ready.

"Mako!" Lee shouted, "I've called in our car number! Ready to hit the streets?"

"Ready," Mako said, trying his best to hide his apprehension.

"Lets go fight some crime!" Lee said, a goofy smile on his face.

As they pulled out of the station and into traffic, Lee's speed slowed considerably, as his eyes fell upon the dozens of people that were making their way through the city streets. Even this late, Republic City hummed with activity.

To Mako, it felt like home. But he glanced at Lee, who was as tense as a surrounded hamster-mouse.

"So Lee, what did you do before you joined the Reserves?" Mako asked. To his embarrassment, he realized that he knew next to nothing about the man, despite his easy going nature.

"I was training to be a carpenter," Lee said, "but my uncle was killed in a Red Lotus attack, and I thought I should do my duty first, you know? I went through the certifying trials, and let me tell you, those are a little scary, and turns out I was a metal bender!"

"You didn't know?" Mako said.

Lee's eyes carefully scanned the men and women on the street.

"Nah, before I joined the service, earth bending just meant I never had to pack a tent when I went camping. My parents weren't benders, and lessons would have cost too much," said Lee, "I did more bending in three days of basic than I ever did ten years before."

"So you didn't join as a career then?"

"Nah," Lee shrugged, "but they keep giving me new orders. What're you gonna do? At least they included the rotation to include police service, right? Get to see my family, at least."

"Right, I…whoa!" Mako grabbed his seat as Lee swerved suddenly. The cars behind him made their displeasure known, horns blaring.

"What was that?!" Mako demanded, gripping his seat.

"Sorry, thought that woman back there was a water bender," Lee said.

Mako glanced in the rear view mirror, and saw a woman who looked like she belonged to one of the water tribes.

"She might have been!" Mako said, "so what?"

Lee glanced aside, "…never mind."

The patrol car fell silent after that, and remained that way until the radio cackled.

"This is dispatch, we have a report of vandalism at eleventh and Appa, at 'Aunt Chi's Nack and Nicks'. Any cars in the area, please respond."

"That's us," Mako grabbed the radio, "this is Officer Mako with Officer Lee. We'll take the call."

"Acknowledged."

"Up left," Mako said.

Lee pulled in, and the two got out.

Mako looked at the shop, 'Aunt Chi's Nack and Nicks'. Aunt Chi was a fire bender, married to a metal bender. They specialized in odd sculpture, though they took a fair share of requests.

This little shop had a special place in Mako's heart. 'Aunt Chi' was a short tempered woman to be sure, but she also made a point to boy and recycle any junk that was brought to her for art projects. Mako and his younger brother, Bolin had earned a decent amount of coin from her, back when they were on the streets.

Bolin never really noticed how little of it she actually used, but Mako did.

"Mako!" Aunt Chi, a woman reaching her sixties, stomped over to him, "thank the spirits! Those little vandals destroyed some of our finest work!"

Mako looked over Aunt Chi's shoulder, and saw her husband, Uncle Chi, sitting on a work bench, sobbing. Mako knew how much the man loved his work, and how much he wanted to support his family.

Mako took out his notebook, and was about to say something to Lee, when the man, without any orders, went to Uncle Chi, and sat down before him. Lee offered Uncle Chi his hand in support, and listened as the man explained the tragedy of his lost art.

Mako took the report from Aunt Chi, and as he did so he watched Lee out of the corner of his eye. While some might have balked at dealing with a man crying over his lost art, Lee treated him Uncle Chi with nothing but sincere sympathy and respect.

"Alright," Mako finished his last note, and flipped his book shut, "Officer Lee and I will take a look around, let you know what we find. We're on this, you have my word."

"Thank you, Mako," Aunt Chi said, "you were always such a good boy."

"Thank you, ma'am," Mako motioned for Lee to join him, "we'll get to the bottom of this."

Lee waited until the two shop owners were out of earshot, and turned to his partner.

"How do you expect to find the kids who did this?"

"You just have to know the neighborhood," Mako said.

Mako led Lee down the street, into a wide alley with overgrowing grass.

"Hey, Skoochy, you around here?" Mako called out.

"Loser!"

"Back stabber!"

Mako winced as he and Lee were splashed with water. He half expected it, truth be told. There were dues that had to be paid, for what he was looking for, after all.

What he didn't expect was Lee's reaction. In the blink of an eye, Lee had spotted the kids, and two chunks of earth went flying towards them like cannonballs. The window that the kids had been hiding behind was destroyed instantly. The two kids who'd splashed them were so terrified by what had just happened, they clung to each other in fear as Lee aimed his wrist and willed his cables out.

"Wait!"

Mako swung his foot and kicked Lee's arm up, knocking his aim off balance, and saving the life of his 'attacker'. The two kids, Water Tribe from what Mako glimpsed, scrambled out of the room that had been overlooking the alley.

"Stay here!" Mako ordered.

Mako knew this street, and knew this alley like he knew the back of his hand. So he knew where the kids would head for a quick exit.

He found the two, and recognized them instantly. Two Water Tribe kids, a brother and sister team of pickpockets by the name of Nanook and Nyla.

The second they saw Mako, they raised their hands in submission.

"We give up!"

"Don't hurt us!"

"Hey, calm down!" Mako said, "I'm not looking to hurt anyone, just get some answers."

"Did you tell your partner that?" Nanook demanded.

"He nearly killed us!"

"He's just a little high strung," Mako said weakly, "won't happen again."

"What do you want?" Nanook said.

"I just need to find Skoochy," Mako said, "I have to have a quick chat with him."

"Your partner nearly killed us!" Nyla spat, "why should we help you?"

"Look, I'm sorry," Mako said, "giove me an address, and I'll make it worth your while."

"How?"

Mako told them.

"Well, okay then," Nanook smiled, "he's at fifth and Chi."

Mako collected his partner, and they quickly made their way to fifth and Chi. But Mako suspected that they weren't neatly fast enough to beat the word of mouth, because when the two police officers reached the address, he found his old friend Skoochy leaning against a lamppost.

Mako glanced around the busy street, and he could feel a half dozen different eyes examining him.

"Stay here," Mako said, "I'm going to talk to Skoochy alone."

"You sure?" Lee said.

"Positive, I know him from back when," Mako said, "trust me, okay?"

"Hey ash head," Skoochy said, as Mako approached, "that gold shield make you forget where you come from?"

"Why, what'd you hear?"

"That you and your partner nearly ran down the twins," Skoochy snapped, "that's some heavy handed stuff, man!"

Mako sighed. Word of mouth was faster than any cop, but facts were always slower than both.

"That was just my partner," Mako defended, "he didn't mean to react like he did. Reflexes, you know?"

"Yea well, keep tank boy over there," Skoochy said, "don't tread on me, bro."

"He won't," Mako grabbed Skoochy by the collar, "but I just might. Aunt Chi's? Seriously?"

"Hey, it wasn't me!" Skoochy pulled himself free.

"That lady looks out for all of us," Mako growled, "she and her husband live hand to mouth because of it. Now, I want the name of the guy who vandalized her merchandise, and I want a location. And I want him to be there when I get there too."

"You know I can't just sell someone out like that," Skoochy said.

"I'm arresting someone for this," Mako said, "I'd like it to be the right person, but I'll take what I can get."

"Fine," Skoochy huffed, "it was Han."

"Han?"

"What did I just say?" said Skoochy.

"I thought Han was a runner for the Agni Ki," Mako said.

"They're old news," said Skoochy, "these days, it's the Triple Threat that's big, and everyone wants in. And to do that, you have to stand out from the pack."

"Like crossing Aunt Chi," Mako said, "tell me where Han's crashing at. And tell him that if he stays, I'll do him a solid."

"Like what?"

Mako told him.

Skoochy smiled.

"Well, I can't see him turning that down."

Later

"Alright, mighty Han," Mako hauled the young Han through the precinct and to the cells. He shoved him in the first open cell, "make yourself comfortable. No old ladies to push around, but otherwise it should feel just like home."

Han responded with a string of profanities. Mako let it wash over his back, as he rubbed his sore stomach. Lee was waiting for him at his desk.

"I don't understand why you let that punk hit you," Lee said.

"Only way to make sure he'd stick around," Mako said, "Han thinks he's being arrested for assaulting an officer, which he thinks'll make him look bigger to the Triple Threat. What he doesn't know is that I'm going to put a note in his file recommending community service. And guess where he'll be assigned?"

Lee smiled, "I wouldn't want to be in his shoes."

"If anyone can straighten out a punk, it's Aunt Chi."

"Yeah," Lee's smile fell, "look, Mako, about those kids, I…I know I overreacted. When I was serving in Omashu, my unit was patrolling the market when two water benders came out of nowhere. We didn't know what was what until three guys were on the ground, in a puddle of their own blood."

"I'm sorry," Mako said softly.

"I'm not asking you keep what happened out of the report," Lee said, "just…let me report it to the chief tomorrow, okay? I don't want you to choose between me and doing the right thing."

"Hey, what happened was an accident," Mako said, "no reason we have to make a big deal about it, just as long as it doesn't happen again, okay?"

Lee stood up straighter, "It won't, kid."

"Lets hope," Mako said, "why don't you hit the showers? I'll do the write up, and you can review it tomorrow? I've got other paper work to do, too."

"Will do!" Lee left, with a relieved sigh.

Mako made it a point to keep a nice, friendly smile on his face until Lee was out of sight. When the man was gone, Mako fell back in his chair, and breathed out.

He knew he should report Lee for excessive force. He knew it was wrong to fudge his report, no matter how many other cops did the exact same thing. Mako knew that.

And he wished that he could say that he'd done it because Lee was such a nice, caring man. And he was, the man had soul and empathy to spare. He was the sort of man Mako wished he could be, and hoped one day his children might be. Kind, dedicated and smart. He rarely ever had to be prompted to help someone, if it was in his ability.

But that wasn't why Mako was fudging his reports.

It was because he was afraid that if he reported Lee, the man would be replaced with someone much worse. Metal benders were the all stars of the United Force military but also the backbone of the Republic City police force. It had taken Chief Beifong a considerable amount of political muscle just to hold onto an agreed amount, and no one wanted to upset that balance.

As Mako wrote his report, he thought back to Skoochy's words, and allowed a small grin of satisfaction. The Triple Threat Triad were a quickly growing as a power in the underworld, pushing out the older Red Monsoon and Agni Ki.

And thanks to the Chief and Asami, he was perfectly poised to take them down.

It was a happy thought that helped him deal with Lee, and the state of the police in general.

Mako had just made some progress in his paperwork, when a young woman, Water Tribe Mako guessed, approached his desk with a suspicious smile.

"Detective Mako?" she smiled, "you called a cab?"

"I did not," Mako said plainly.

The young woman reached into her purse, and produced a card. Mako recognized it instantly. From the emblem, it designated her an executive assistant to the Council.

"Are you sure?"

"…maybe I did," Mako straightened out his desk, stood up and followed the young woman out.

His mind was racing, and all he could think about was his testimony to the Council, about the 'Avatar'. They'd grilled him relentlessly, but at least then the Chief was there to back him up. Now, on his own?

Mako couldn't help but feel his temperature rise.

'Cab' was a misnomer, Mako realized, when the young woman led Mako to a limo that had been waiting in a parking lot across the street.

"Detective Mako, welcome!" Councilman Tarrlock smiled at the young firebender, "before we start, let me please apologize for how you were brought here. I didn't want to cause a stir by asking to speak to you in the precinct, but I'm aware of how councilmen in the past have treated the police as errand boys. I assure you, young man, that is not the case here."

"Thank you, sir," Mako said, "I assume that this is about Old Man Mako's murder?"

Tarrlock leaned back and chuckled, "Right to the point. But first, do you have any plans for tonight? I ask because I was given some tickets to your brother's performance, but I'm too busy to indulge."

"No sir, just dinner and bed, nothing fancy," Mako said.

"Well, I'd like to put them to good use," Tarrlock reached into his pocket, and handed the tickets to Mako, "I envy you. Your brother…"

"Is a bit over the top?" Mako winked.

"Well, yes," Tarrlock chuckled. He leaned back and tapped twice in the window. The limo started to move, "but he does it well. What I was going to say is that you're lucky that you and your brother are still together after everything you've been through. I had a younger brother, and…and a very harsh father. He ran away when I was still a boy, and I've not seen him since."

"I'm sorry sir."

"Thank you," Tarrlock sighed, "but that's not why I'm here. I'm here about your encounter with the Avatar…"

"No sir," Mako said.

"I'm sorry?"

"I don't know if the person who killed Old Man Mako and attacked me was the Avatar," Mako said, "yes, the person was male, and could control water, earth and fire. But that doesn't mean he was the Avatar. To begin with, the fire wasn't like anything I've seen before."

"So what are you saying?"

"That everything I told the Council was true," Mako said, "but that doesn't mean I know who attacked me. It may have been the Avatar, somehow. It may have been something else. It could have been one of the Lightning Twins, for all I know."

Tarrlock leaned back and smiled.

"You know what makes you different from so many young people?" Tarrlock said, "what I like so much about you?"

"No sir."

"Your ignorance," Tarrlock said.

"Sir?"

"Well, your willingness to acknowledge it," Tarrlock said, "most people in your position would insist that it was the Avatar, or lie and cover it up because they couldn't explain what they saw otherwise. Not you. You stick to the truth, even when you can't explain everything. That's character, young man."

"Thank you sir."

"The Council? Not as much," Tarrlock growled, "the Red Lotus has had the Avatar for over a decade now. Who can say what they did to her? Perhaps they found a way to allow others to bend all four elements. Perhaps they killed her. And we still don't know what happened the Night of Vaatu."

"It took some arm bending, but I've convinced the Council to investigate your attack. We'll have a taskforce dedicated to it, you have my word."

Mako felt as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. They believed him! It was getting to the point that he didn't know if he believed himself.

"That's good to hear, sir," Mako said.

"But I'm afraid that you won't be a part of it," Tarrlock said, "the Council is afraid that if you're lying, you'd use the opportunity to cover it up."

"I understand, sir."

"I'm telling you this because I thought you deserved to know," Tarrlock said, "and to ask, in private, is there anything you didn't put in your report? Anything else you've held back?"

"No sir," Mako said, with complete honesty.

"Glad to hear it."

The limo pulled to a stop.

"Well, we're here," Tarrlock said, "thank you for your time, Detective. And do me a favor, young man?"

"Yes sir?"

"Hug your brother. In this uncertain world, family is the strongest defense we all have."

End Chapter.