'...The paranoia is in bloom, The P.R. transmissions will resume
They'll try to push drugs, keep us all dumbed down
And hope that we will never see the truth around
So come on...'
She had been waking up from her sleep feverishly and covered in perspiration. She was aggravated and irritated towards her fellow officers. The words of an eleven-year-old had affected her to the point where she'd start playing out all the possible outcomes of her revealing the truth.
The night prior, Tarrlock had hosted a welcoming party for the 'young Avatar', as if she deserved that type of treatment. She hasn't done anything special for her to be treated like a celebrity.
'I've done more for these buffoons, yet no one has rejoiced in me keeping this city safe. For spirits sake...'
On a side note, she had made eye contact with Tenzin. The whole event had been a ploy for Tarrlock to convince the girl to join his 'task force'.
She sighed.
There was so much to do but so little that she could contribute. She had gotten the paperwork and cheques from Tenzin. He had repaid all the charges. She thought that he would come himself but she thanked whatever being that he hadn't.
Here she was in her office, plotting away to tell the truth and carry out a better skill set towards her officers. She had the radio on, listening to the subtle music that was playing until it was replaced with static and a familiar voice that was terrorizing everyone.
"Good morning, citizens of Republic City, this is Amon. I hope you all enjoyed last night's pro-bending match, because it will be the last. It's time for this city to stop worshiping bending athletes as if they were heroes. I am calling on the council to shut down the bending arena and cancel the finals; or else there will be severe consequences."
She was gritting her teeth and her jaw clenched.
At the end of Amon's transmission the radio returned to static and went back to its program.
'This isn't good. Who's he to place threats? I hate myself for doing this but it seems that I have to go to the council before they show no backbone against this decision...'
'...Another promise, another scene, another
Packaged lie to keep us trapped in greed with all the
Green belts wrapped around our minds and endless
Red tape to keep the truth confined, so come on...'
She was hoping, no pleading that she would make it on time before they made a decision. As she practically sped walked up the stairs and into city hall.
She saw that Tarrlock was about to strike the gavel. She retracted her metal cable and pierced through the head of the gavel. She was able to listen to some of Korra's ranting.
She inwardly hated herself for actually agreeing with the girl but oh well. They were all looking at her.
"I can't believe I am saying this but I agree with the Avatar,"
"You do?" Said Tarrlock.
"Yeah, you do?" Said Korra awestruck.
"I expected this kind of cut-and-run response from Tenzin. But the rest of you? Come on, show a little more backbone. It's time that the benders of this city displayed some strength and unity against these Equalists."
"We must prevent the conflict between benders and non-benders from escalating into all-out war! The council is not changing its position, Lin." Tenzin said.
She eyed Tenzin long and hard.
'Of course he would oppose. The sissy that he is...'
"Now just a moment, Tenzin. Let us hear what our esteemed Chief of Police has in mind." Said Tarrlock amused by what she might say.
She heard Tenzin grunt she focused her attention on what she was about to say.
"If you keep the arena open, my metal benders and I will provide extra security during the championship match. There's no better force to deal with the chi-blockers. Our armour is impervious to their attacks."
"Are you saying that you will personally take responsibility for the safety of the spectators in the arena?" Asked Tarrlock.
"I guarantee it." She said determinedly.
"It is hard to argue with Chief Beifong's track record. If she is confident her elite officers can protect the arena, then she has my support. I am changing my vote. Who else is with me?" He looked around, "The arena stays open. Good luck in the finals." Tarrlock's tone was scornful and sarcastic.
She watched as how he and the other three council members raised their hands and Tenzin looking away with disappointment. She also watched how the three teens cheered.
"And good luck to you, Chief Beifong." Tarrlock added with a glint of sarcasm.
'Humph, like I'll need it.'
Tenzin was approaching her.
"A word please, Lin." He asked.
She obliged silently; they both stopped in the corridor.
"Tarrlock's playing you and I don't want to see you get hurt." He blandly told her.
Taken aback but ensuring that she did not show it.
"I know what I am doing and the risks that come with it," she said briskly.
"In that case, I'm going to be by your side during the match," he told her.
'Did he just...'
"You don't need to babysit me," she said annoyed.
"It's for Korra. I want to make sure she's safe." He said defiantly.
'Sure you do... Sure you want to make sure the 'Avatar' is 'safe.'
"Do what you want! It's not like I've ever been able to stop you before." She said, throwing her arms in the air out of annoyance.
She saw that the Avatar was approaching them.
"Excuse me, Chief Beifong. I wanted to thank you for your help,"
She ignored her and walked away but slightly hearing her last words.
"It... really... means a lot..."
She had preparations to take care. She had to cover the entire arena. Not idle around listening to a gratification that she did not want.
'The joys of my job.'
'...They will not force us
And they will stop degrading us
And they will not control us
We will be victorious, so come on...'
"All clear, chief." Her officer informed her.
"How's the security sweep going?" A familiar voice asked her.
"Fine," She replied flatly.
"They've checked underneath the stands?"
"Yes,"
"And you have enough officers at each entry point?"
She was annoyed now. She turned her head to face him.
'How am I supposed to tell him the truth? Not now Beifong you've got work to do...'
"I have the skies, the bay, and every nook and cranny of this place covered," she said, turning her head back and quickly adding," now leave me alone and let me do my job."
Her conscious had a point, her job first and whatever else after.
"Lin, with so much on the line it would be nice if we could help each other out, at least for one night." He said with a saddened tone.
It sounded so foreign to her. It reminded her of the times with him.
She turned to look at him, her expression softening.
"Like old times?"
'What are you saying? Lin, do not dwell on such things. DO NOT!'
"Like old times." He replied.
'What? Did he just agree upon it? Lin... I do not like this... Think of how he hurt you...'
She shut up her conscious.
'Enough... I might as well be less abrasive to him just for this night... Humph'
"Okay, I'll try to be less abrasive than usual." Her tone was less harsh than it normally was.
"I would appreciate that."
'...Interchanging mind control
Come let the revolution takes its toll
If you could flick a switch and open your third eye
You'd see that we should never be afraid to die
So come on...'
As they watched the match progress. She was taken aback that Tenzin actually knew of the sport. Who would have thought? She had even made a comment as to how his sweet-tempered father was reincarnated into that girl. He replied to her that they would get along if they had the chance too.
'As if...'
He did have a point on the fact that they were playing dirty. She wouldn't have been surprised if they lost. Most of the time her eyes were either fixed on the match itself or Tenzin.
"Look out!"
She turned a little too late; she felt the electricity flow through her body causing her to go unconscious.
'...Rise up and take the power back
It's time the fat cats had a heart attack
You know that their time is coming to an end
We have to unify and watch our flag ascend
So come on...'
She felt sore but she needed to push herself to get up. Laying a few inches away from her was Tenzin. She stood up and squatted next to him.
"Tenzin!"
He was regaining consciousness and sitting up.
She saw Amon, back against her. He was standing on the centre of the platform he and other equalists were ascending back to the roof. As they reached the top. A bomb detonated, she covered her eyes with her arm.
It was all surreal, she thought she had this. Now look... It was all a mess.
She needed to pursue them. She saw the young avatar, the girl had been able to create a jet of water to boost her but it wasn't enough. She had retracted her metal cables. She aimed one for her to have a steady grip and be able to soar while the other grabbed a hold of the girl. She had tossed her up onto the roof while she followed.
She saw how everything was up in flames and how two equalists charged at her. She dodged their attacks and used her cables to slam them down hard against the glass. She looked around and saw that Korra was still facing an equalist member. They were retreating towards their airship, without hesitation she retracted her metal cable and shot towards it and pulled herself along. To her most unfortunate event, before she could even pull herself. She was shocked with Kali sticks. She gasped in pain and slouched over. The young avatar came to her rescue continuing to fight the lieutenant with fire bending. There was another pair of equalists, with her cables she coiled the cable around one and the other too. Smashing both of them together and causing them to grunt in discomfort. Again she tried to attach herself onto the airship. As she was a good bit in the air, she saw that Korra had fallen through the glass roof.
'You've got to be...'
She gave a last glance up at the airship and aimed at the two metal beams for her to take hold of. She quickly gained speed in order to catch up to the girl. She let go of her cables and shot one through an equalist poster and the other to catch Korra. They swung around in the smoke. Both land towards the stands where Tenzin and her teammates were standing.
"You all right?" She asked.
"I'm fine, thanks to you." Replied Korra.
"Don't mention it kid," she said looking up at the fleeing airship, "looks like we lost this one."
She stared at all of the mess that was around. The smoke and the broken roof. She gritted her teeth in frustration. She felt a hand on her shoulder.
"I can't believe Amon did this. I played right into his hand." She said ashamed of tonight's outcome.
"He played us all. Republic City is at war." He said seriously.
She turned her head to look at him. He was right, they were at war. It was the second time that she got electrocuted and she did not plan on having that happen again.
'...They will not force us
They will stop degrading us
They will not control us
We will be victorious, so come on...'
That Intel that they had gotten their hands on had been correct. Cabbage Corp being the one's behind the fabrication of their weapons and propaganda. What did not make sense was how they were able to find their stock so easily. This was a questioning matter.
She and Tenzin had been interrogating Mr. Sato.
He had nothing to recall about but if he did he would tell them. She gave a side way glance at Tenzin. He too did the same.
They both noticed Korra had been here as well, it seemed that as though she had had a conversation with that Wolfbat boy.
", if you remember anything else from what you saw during Amon's attack, it would be greatly appreciated." She said flatly.
"I'm happy to help in any way I can. I want to see these equalists pay." Mr. Sato said as he turned and nodded towards the two teens.
Something wasn't right but she pushed the thought aside.
"We're ready for you."
She heard Tenzin's words and she turned back towards the interrogation room. Once inside the room, she waited for the kid to sit and she sat next and Tenzin sitting opposite of her.
"What do you remember from the attack?"
The kid wasn't looking too good. She wouldn't be surprised if he didn't remember anything.
"I-I don't remember much. I remember that my team and I won and we were celebrating and then right behind us was him..."
"What else,"
"He... Amon..."
She didn't need him to explain anything else after that.
"He took your bending, anything else that you'd like to add?"
"No ma'am..."
She'd definitely hate to be the kid now.
"That'll be all then... If you remember anything, do let us know." She told him.
As they all arose from the small table, they exited Tenzin stopped her.
"Lin, are you all right?" He asked concern in his tone of voice.
She looked at him.
"Yes, I'm fine. Stop worrying over me." She replied dryly.
He sighed.
"Are you sure?"
She was annoyed now.
"I've been perfectly capable of taking care of myself for at least 15 years and I've been able to take care of..." She exclaimed but did not complete her sentence out of annoyance and frustration.
He furrowed his eyebrow.
"What did you say?" He asked confused on her last words.
"That I've been able to take care of myself..."
'Good grief, you nearly told him about Jie and Mo Li...'
"No, that you've been able to take care of... You didn't finish your sentence."
She swallowed hard; she looked all around him. Avoiding his gaze.
'Do it, tell him. Where's that Beifong courage?'
She really didn't need her conscious to be out now.
"Actually... What I meant to say was... What I need to say is..."
'...Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey
They will not force us
They will stop degrading us
They will not control us
We will be victorious, so come on
Hey, hey, hey, hey...'