Chapter nine: A row of firsts

It was before dawn I got up – cleaned myself and stepped out into the silent city, the badge proudly displayed onto my chest. It would be awesome to wear a steelarmour, but I had my doubts about doing it the whole day. Do not get me wrong I am no weakling, not nearly as fragile as the most small people. But neither I am a hulking frame of muscle that lifts twohundred stone like a piece of paper. I call myself nicely honed, even if Yumi would call me a lightweight. Well I am – I admit to my shame that I just could barely defeat my girlfriend in an armwrestling match. I still am not sure if that vile miss adachi did not go easy on me to safe my male pride. I still had not gotten any letter from her, but that was to be expected – I had not given a proper adress after all. But Thursday just was tomorrow so I would find a way, damn it Yumi would simply go and ask the people in school and then – she would know nothing. I had to make some things clear as soon as possible. I was exited on my first day in duty. I can not say I was happy because that would exclude the nervousness that circled through my veins.

I knew what I would be facing – namely the gutters of republic and their inhabitants. Furthermore I could not use my bending, not without shaking the citys fundaments. What would you say if you highes authority in cases of morale and religion had a shameful illegitimat son? Yes, you would go to his house and hurl stones through his windows, that much even I could figure out. And as much as I disliked the idea of dealing with Avatar Aang I had to admit that I did not hate him as much as I did when I arrived in republic city. Nevertheless I wished him a decent beating from the Councilmans side. I walked outside, the morning air was cold, speaking of a harsh winter to come. The air was clear, lively even. I closed my eyes and enjoyed. A wind from northeast was blowing though the steets of the city, I had to resist the urge to circle through it like a laughing child. I just walked to the headquarters, that were not far away. There was not even a guard at this spirits forsworn time. Nobody went out in the eery time between day an night. It was then the spirits were among us – luring us into traps and playing their deceptions. That was how the people spoke, even battlehardened men.

I never believed them, in fact I did not just dare to walk into shrines at this hours – I even enjoyed it. In the dawn the world seemed at peace, it was silent and silence was something you did not find often in a city. I entered the headquarters and searched for somebody to report in to duty. I finally spotted a person who was sleeping at a desk, laden with paperworks. It was a man, among his thirties I noticed with at a closer look. I was unsure if I was to wake him or not, but as it went mostly Lee Bei Gao did ignore his insecurities. „Good morning sir. Officer Bei Gao reports in to duty." I spoke. The man wiped some paper from his desk while he woke uttering odd noises. „What?" he blinked, smelling after sweat, and fried onions. „I report to duty Sir. Which district – which partner?" I asked him. „Huh – are you a rookie or what kiddo?" he asked as he spotted my badge. „Fuck – a real officer." he yipped. I just raised my eyebrow. „I do not know whats up with this real officer crap, but I have no fucking idea where to start my patrol. So in spirits name my dear sir – say me what to do." I rambled. Jeez, if you were not cut out for all nighters you should not do them, it was that simple! „Uh – yeah. Um, dragon flats – you could start in the dragon flats kid." he was kind of absent – chuckling at a joke just he understood.

I had expected to be thrown into the for learning how to swim, but the dragon flats seemed a bit heavy for the first day. Lee Bei Gao gets the job done – and so I would do the dragonflats. „So I am off sir." I stated, saluting mockingly. I already wore my sword so I saw no point in asking the man for more weaponry. The dragonflats were located in the new east district of republic city that has been erected without the councils or the avatars consent. I just started walking becaue I did not know how to drive a satomobile, in case these machines were for everyday use. I highly doubted that. „Hey shorty. Where ya goin." a bloke yelled. I turned at my heels and noticed Ping and Ming. „Jo cousins. Let go and have some fun in the dragonflats." I yelled back, crossing my arms before the chest and tapping my ellbow. „Eh – what shorty. You are kiddin right? That is triad land." the yelped. „Jep boys. But we were ordered there and like hell we are going to ignore that." I commanded. The cousins saluted, their dad simply had to be a military man, hadnt he. „Jeez relax Lee." Ping whined. Ming just shrugged and started walking.

The boys wore the brown Suits typical for civiliar officers. They had swords on their hips, fine long blades that might have been hammered in the great forges of Omashu. The Hood started getting ugglier the buildings taller and the strees dirtier. The people watched us with awe and distrust, they were poor – rugged appearances. The kind of people that stole the used pants off your butt. We patrolled the dragonflats and started seeing the destruction the gangwar had already caused. The streets were torn up, buildings half crumbled. It did not seem that we would be contacted for some kind of trouble. Usually the people here went to the ganger who controlled the blocks if they had a misunderstanding. I eyed the streets cautiously and noticed a little boy who hurried away with a speed that was astonishing. I wanted to bet that the little kid reported us to the local thugs, and that would mean trouble.

The bounty on cops still was out if I remembered right. I asked myself what Yakone wanted to achieve with that silly move. The most cops just kept peace in the streets and the guys who usually walked the dragonflats were often corrupted assholes who took the bribes with gusto. Creating chaos seemed to be his focus, but the guy simply had to know that it would be only a matter of time until the united navy come here and simply wiped out the remains of republic city if he overdid it. I just prayed he would not overdo it. We rounded a corner, the cousins looked around and were alert, despite the silly jokes Ming spewed with every second breath. It did not take long as some gangers showed up. They were rather rugged, clad in heavy leather trousers, it all was dyed a deep blue, their chest adorned with a red moon crescent. Red monsoos, it smelled like trouble. They swaggered with the cockiness of the superior, in fact they most definitely were our betters. Six well armed men, possibly even waterbenders – that was nothing to play with. „Just tug the tail guys." I spoke silend and wanted to turn. „Aww come on shorty, those guys will not try us, we are cops man. And they know there are twenty more to come." Ming snarked.

I just shood my head. „There are thousand yuans for each of our heads Ming."I sighed. The cousins were hesitating. The thugs moved efficient, typical streetgang tactics, surround and stike in the pack. They were grining. „Hey kids – you picked the wrong hood eh." A man chuckled in amusement, wielding his battleaxe. „Look Shu, some fresh coppers, whaddaya think? Give em the proper welcome treatment." he jelled. Two men drew their swords. They started playing with their weapons. „Do not even grip your swords." I hissed, the cousins were gulping. „I am really looking forward to this dear sir." I answered standing as tall as possible. Even if I wanted to run, and sweat started forming on my brow. I stood there relaxed and much to my surprise Ping even managed a yawn, the guy had nerves of steel. His younger brother just tripped around but he kept his hands away from the handle. „See Teng. Now they take schoolboys. Geez these cops are as dirty fuckers as we are." the oldest of the man joked, golden teeth blinking in the sun of the morning. They slowly closed the circle. I just seized the men, hoping some would be weaker, but the guys were expierienced, they moved fluid. „Suppose we chose the wrong badge boys." I shrugged and spit on the floor. „So – why not make an arrangement. Lets say we bring you three other heads and may keep ours." I spoke, it was really hard to keep my voice from quavering. „Nice try kiddo, nice try." the Man with the battleaxe spoke. „But I had a hangover dudes, so just get the job done." he sighed. „Give us the badges and fuck off." he spoke.

Badges were worth as much as heads, that was true. Without them we were no cops any more and I could not imagine that Yakone did collect rotting heads. The badges just did fine. I was silent for a sacond. They would not get my badge, not that easily, I just had to break through. „Come on shorty, just give em the fucking badges." Ming threw his badge over and started running. The men laughed and let him pass. „Yeah run for yer life prissy." Some guy yelled after Ming. Nodded towards Ping, Ping nodded back. „Dang – they were so shiny." he stated, the gangers started to chuckle. „You have guts man. If the grass is grown over the stuff, go and ask for Kanto the Knuckle." one guy laughed. „Give him greetings from the Rockfist Huang." I answered. Fuck – that was my salvation. This Kanto was the cousin of Huang, and quite the high number in the opiumtrade here in Republic. If he still was in business of course. „Ha – a prissy like you know Huang?" Shu asked. „Yeah – even went in the ring together. Gave me some black eyes though." I answered chuckling deep.

Ping was eyeing me as if I just told something about flying badgermoles. „Now you get the badge, Huang can go and fuck himself with his inside man. I am outta this." I blurted, sounding genuinely pissed. I just walked to the guys an threw my badge way over their heads. They realxed, the grip around their weapons weakening, I just played a tough guy who tried to save his hurt dignity, something they all did understand quite well. But I was acting – that they did not suspect. „draw!" I yelled unsheathing my blade, I moved fast . Swaying tree, followed by quick bodycheck and the guy with his bat was down, I ran while steel met cobblestones besides me. Something broke, it sounded like rocks, than ping was behind me. The guy was fast holding his still sheathed blade with bouth hands. I looked out for my badge and picked it up runing while an Iceshard nearly pierced my upper arm. „Fuck, this crap." I yelled, and springed rounding some corners, the badge cramped in my hands. The thugs ran after us for a short distance, then they started to curse us in Inuktikut. We ran until we were exhausted and cowered behind some bins to regain our breath. Ming was nowhere to be seen. „Geez. You have nerves Ping." I admitted. Ping chuckled.

„I was scared as hell man – but losing your head does not solve a problem, Ask my old man." he answered. „True, your bro will get out of the flats without any problems I guess, but there is nothing with career." I stated. „Yeah – I am happy with that. Ming always was a gentle guy – I do not suppose he could handle a job that rough." I just shrugged, nobody could know what he could handle before he tried. „Maybe you are right. You used the same opening?" I asked him. „Heh – fuck you shorty, I can bust some forty year old geezer dude. Heck I am an earthbender man." he bragged. „Though no fancy metalbending here." He answered. I was surprised, pleasantly surprised. „Cool man. That may solve some future problems." I stated while I controlled my panting with all the discipline I could muster. After some time I got up. „And now back to duty. Hope that there are not more assholes like these around." I sighed. „After seven days of war these guys still were not wounded." I stated thoughtfully. And that was the reason I had been that cocky I now observed. My guts had told me that they were not as bad as they looked, and they had been right.

„Guess they are a bunch of cowards. Just ask myself how they got the monsoon sign." Ping asked stoking his black mustache. „The monsoons have their dealers, too. And those guys have no work these days." I estimated. Ping eyed me. „Ey shorty. You know a lot of this triad stuff right? You ran with those guys as a kid or what?" he asked me. His emerald eyes were quick, of course I could not play him forever. „Not really. I just grew up in shangyang man. So gang potitics is second nature for me, your a soldierboy right?" I asked. Ping laughed. „Heck yeah – dad is Colonel with badgermole companiy three. I had no interest in playing soldier for live, so I moved out with little Ming. Just came into the city some months ago." he told me. „Aimed at a probending career, but – too old to start proper training." he sighed. I did not understand what that meant. „Whats with that shit Ping. You are not even in your prime." I aked him.

„Well – probending is not something you can learn easily. It is a hard sport and it is different from bending on the streets. I - well if you were a bender you would get me." Ping shrugged stumbling fitting words. I got him, but of course I did just shrug. The difficult thing about probending were the rules that had to be in your bones, and on top of that you had to display power without actual entering the fight. It was a sport after all, so you could not just go all out, you always had to keep control, even if you got beaten up quite badly. We just strolled through a backalley. „Hm -you think we arrest someone today?" Ping asked. I highly doubted that. Even though the most gangers of Republic were battered and curing their injuries the ones that remained on the streets could handle two cops on their own. Otherwise, it seemed that the dragonflats were not half as bad as shangyang and so I maybe was giving the gangs too much credit.

But better careful than dead, right? So we continued our patrol, also in search of Ming. The taller one of the brothers stayed lost, I figured him running back into the bunks, or the main quarters to get some backup. Of course he would get none but that was written onto another sheet right? I was just then we saw two kids that were carrying a heavy save onto a stretcher. This stretcher was dyed a deep red, which meant it was property of the united forces. No – this stuff the boys had not just found on the road. „Look at this Ping." I grinned. And Much to my surprise Ping did,too. „Time to make an appearance." He stated and started running. The thugs now did see us and of course they also noticed the treacherous blinking of our badges. „Oh shit – cops." the on of the youths yelled. „Honsho – Honsho, get the cousins outta their beds." he yelled while the other guy was darting away with long strides. „Get the slow one." Ping yelled as he jumped over the safe, sprinting after the running youth.

I ran, focussing myself on the slower boy. He was the heavier one. He did not even think about putting up resistance, he was running for dear life. I gained my ground and just grabbed his swinging arm, dug in my feet and let go, I staggered back three steps. Heavy the boy clased with the cobblestones, hitting the earth face first. He yelled but started to scramble. „Hands behind your head." I yelled. The teen obeyed my command with shivering motions. Well – I had a sword in my hands and the kid could hear I would dare to use it. So he just put up with being arrested while Ping was still chasing his victim. He was fast, but the kid was faster. He would not get Honsho, not if there was no miracle. Then he did something I had never seen. He drew his sword, flung back his right arm and – threw the fucking scabbard. The heavy brass of its tip hitting the boy at the back of his head with a loud thud. The kid was out could and hit the floor a lot harder than my boy. „Seems your cousins ar noshows right." I stated grinning.

„An now get up boy, and if you try something I will pierce your kidneys." I threathened the poor boy who actually was wetting himself. „S Sorry Officer, w- we just found the thing. Me and my bro. Relly we didnt do nothing man." he babbled his hands still crossed behind his head. „Tell the judge boy, that is not my business." I answered a bit less harsh. It was quite believable that these poor boys had not stolen the safe, maybe they were just transporting it - but either way some time in jail would be much better for their health then the report to their bosses. „And now – you are carrying that stretcher to the main quarters." I stated dryly. The safe was stolen from some rich guy, I was sure he had more then enough money left. The hospital on the other hand was short on stretchers. „What." the boy asked me disturbed wiping the blood from his nose. „Yep man – you bring the stretcher to the hospital. Nobody needs a fucking safe." I stated superior. „And by the way kiddo, I could imagine your boss would be rather pissed if this little thingy got lost right." I lowered my voice. „Th – thank you sir."

the guy bowed, hands still behind his head. I was just protecting his family from some bastards, he should not make such a fuss about it. „So lets go." the kid grabbed the stretcher on which his staggering younger brother was laid. Ping helped to carry the stretcher, while I made the security man. „That comes from throwing scabbards. Idiot." I rambled with gusto, really pleased about my first arrest. „Ow come on you are just jealous at my aim." Pin bickered back. While we had our little banter the two boys did hang their heads. It took us a wile to get out the dragonflats and these two kids being quite the small fries, were not rescued from the police. But I admit we had to change our path twice because there were some drunkards on the streets, throwing rocks at tied up rabbaroos and doing other kind of – yeah – drunkard stuff. In the meantime my stomach had gotten empty and started grumbling. Even if I was used to an empty stomach I did not like the feeling of it and was searching for a decent noodlery. Ping had not carried the stretcher for more then a mile. So the younger boy, wearing a prominent gash on his forehad had to walk. His brother helped but still we had waster half a day up till now. No impressive feat for my first day in police forces, if you ask me. Finally the main quarters were reached. We just went up with our captives, who did squirm a bit as they entered the tall building.

„Hey Sir. We are back now. Where to but these kids? We found them carrying a stolen safe directly under our noses. The thing was to heavy to bring here, sadly." I yeled across the main hall. The officer got up and muttered something in his mustache – I wanted to bet it had something do do with rookies. „Ok rookies. Just this one time, than you handle this kind of stuff yourself, got that." He sounded annoyed. Well – office work surely was annoying, I mused. „Yes Sir." Ping answered for me. The Sir was definitely working, the guy huffed his chest a bit and cleared his throat. „Ok boys. Here are the papers. You fill in the crime here. Names down there, the rest is the scrivs job – got me?" he spoke. „Oh – and sign on the bottom of course." he added. He handed us two papers, than we started writing, while he led the two brothers to their cell. He was of course swinging his bat while doing so. Ping was fast, he finished his paper before I could write the word theft – just how did he do this. „What?" I asked astonished. „Ey – the only guys who have to do more paperworks than cops are officers, what do you think my dad did in his vacation. Right – he trained with his little maggots." Ping rambled.

I felt relieved that I was not the only one who had an asshole as a father. I just snorted. „Suits you well now." I stated. He nodded grim and waited while I was finishing my report. You could not really call it a report but I suppose nobody did write a report at the moment. We had to wait for a while and to shorten the time I asked Ping if he could explain pro bending to me. Of course he did with much gusto. He threw around with so much examples and rules that my head was dizzy in a few minutes. But Ping did not care, he babbled on and on, relating to some famous players I had not even heard off. „And yeah man- that is a tripple nooktook." I blinked. „Aha." I managed to croak disturbed. „Eh Lee – did you even listen?" he asked. „Err – well. You were a bit fast." I admitted. „So why there are three zones again?" I asked him. He just blinked and started babbling again. This Time I managed to understand the big concept of the game, which was startingly simple. Finally I was spared any more of Probending, because the officer returned. „You are done. Well that is good for I could need some dumplings." he stated. „Go fetch some rookies." he chuckled. Ping looked troubled it seemed he wanted to carry favor with some officers who knew their job. Not that I could blame him for that, but I would most definitely not do something like that. If people saw you were weak once they exploited the soft spot until you had to get uggly to shake them off. „Yeah we are off for dumplings, I would not mind if you accompany us." I answered politely. The officer frowned a little. „No. I can not leave, I have got work to do." he answered and strode back to his desk. „Come on Ping. Lets get some dumplings." I shrugged. Ping followed me. „Would it not be better if we had brought him some? I mean, the guy could really help us to blend in, you know there are always rituals in such organizations." he hushed. „Maybe. These guys can stick to their stuff as I do to mine." I answered a bit snarkier than I had planned.

Note: Well officers are no supermen right? But do not worry Lee has stuff to deal with besides regular duty. In fact he will have some family fun next time. Uncle Sokka could not keep his mouth shut... I will love writing this. So till next time, any feedback though? Greetings in the hood