Chapter 10 –Justice

"Spirits, Meathead, did you forget I'm blind again? What did you find?" Toph burst out, annoyed.

"It's a recruiting flyer for the United Forces," explained Zuko. "So you think the killer is a recruiting officer, Sokka?"

"I do, specifically, a certain Lieutenant Joon. He has a recruitment office in Little Caldera. He was placed on light duty and posted there about two months ago after some kind of training accident," Sokka stated.

Zuko asked, incredulously, "How do you know all that?"

"I made a sword for him. I remember every blade I make, and who I make them for," Sokka said darkly.

"Great!" Toph said as she stood up. "I'll get a squad to go pick him up."

"NO!" Sokka and Zuko shouted simultaneously.

"What do you mean, 'no'? This guy needs to face justice, and last I looked, it was my job to make sure it happens!" Toph exclaimed.

"And what would that justice look like, Toph? Thanks to Aang's influence, there's no death penalty here. He'd spend the rest of his life in prison. That's not justice for what he's done," Sokka argued.

"For that reason and the fact that his last victim was still a Fire Nation citizen, I'd demand extradition so he could face trial in the Fire Nation," Zuko stated.

"Not to mention the fact that he's a United Forces officer. They'll want to court-martial him. So it'll be left up to the Council to sort out where he faces trial. How long do you think that'll take?" asked Sokka rhetorically. "This freak has murdered six of Zuko's people, and used one of my blades to take his trophies. Let us give him the justice he deserves."

Toph rubbed her temples. "Okay, you've convinced me. Go end this. Make sure he pays."

…

The Blue Spirit and the Wolf surveyed Lieutenant Joon's apartment from a nearby rooftop. "He doesn't seem to be home," observed the Spirit.

"Then let's go give him a proper greeting when he returns," the Wolf growled.

They slipped into the immaculate basement apartment through an open window. Nothing seemed out of place. The Wolf let out a low whistle, "This guy definitely has issues," he proclaimed.

The Blue Spirit went into the bedroom. "Hey, come look at this," he called. The Wolf went to the room and found the Spirit standing in front of the closet. The Spirit gestured to the shelf where six jars containing preserved human hands sat.

"Yep. He's our guy," the Wolf confirmed. Then, they heard a key rattle in the front door. They drew their swords and went to the living room.

Lieutenant Joon stepped into his apartment, and his eyes grew to the size of saucers at the sight of the Wolf and the Blue Spirit awaiting him, swords drawn. He turned heel, and ran.

The Spirit and the Wolf gave chase. They ran for three deserted blocks when, finally they cornered him in a blind alley. Joon drew his sword. "You won't take me alive!"

"Wasn't planning to," answered the Wolf as he deftly swept the blade out of Joon's hand.

"You're going to pay for your crimes," the Blue Spirit said as he sheathed his blades. He lit a fire dagger in his right hand and approached the quivering murderer. "I just want to know, why this hatred for the Fire Nation?"

Joon slipped off his right glove, and held up his scarred hand. "I was perfect! Then some ash maker did this to me. So I make them pay and take their hands."

"You're pathetic," the Blue Spirit said as he drove the fire dagger through Joon's heart.

….

Chief Bei Fong approached the podium in the briefing room of Police Headquarters flanked by Presiding Councilman Kazef and Fire Lord Zuko. "This morning, Republic City Police recovered the body of a United Forces officer, Lieutenant Joon, in an alley in Little Caldera. His chest was burned through and cauterized. Subsequent investigation of his residence revealed evidence that he was, in fact, the serial killer."

"So, Chief, do you consider the Fire Killer case closed?" one reporter asked.

"I do," Toph answered.

"Any speculation on who killed Joon?" asked another reporter.

"Given that he was killed by a well known fire bending technique, I'd guess he picked the wrong victim and was killed in self defense," Toph answered. "I'd say Joon got the justice he deserved."

….

Sokka fired up his forge and worked the bellows until the coals were white hot. He placed the blade in the forge until it glowed red. He removed the blade and quickly quenched it. Then, he placed it on the anvil, and with a single strike of his hammer, shattered it into a thousand pieces.