Chapter 12: A Chief and her decisions
"What is the meaning of remember the squirreltoad? Just ask the crazy idiots that started killing people out of nowhere!" she yelled infuriated. "With weapons nobody has seen, amidst a martial arts festival!" The reporters almost fainted in front of the Chief of police. Her breathing was labored. Five officers had died today, all capable and long served men. Men with families, she felt like the worst kind of trash that was walking the earth. She had thought that she at least was decent at her job – that being a cop was one of the very few things she was good at. Lin Bei Fong snorted annoyed, she would not drool in self-pity, she was a Bei Fong! But she had not seen this coming, nobody had. What military facility this guys had stolen weapons from, it was located in republic city. Handheld cannons, that was something Lin Bei Fong could not have imagined in her farthest dreams.
"Of that we, as the police force have no meaning. We have interrogated the heads of the royal sword´s academy but the insisted that they never have heard about a squirraltoad in the martial arts world. I just can appeal to all martial artists in republic city to give us any clues they might have, if this heinous crime is related to martial arts matters." Lin spoke. It would not be the first time in history some crazy and most likely drug addicted group of martial artists went on a rampage for nothing but the sheer bliss of it. Chief Bei Fong always had thought of dojos as fishy smelling places for male chest huffing and such she had avoided them like pentapusses. "A-and where could they be related to then – Chief?" a black haired young man asked with a trembling voice. Lin sighed. "Most likely this crime is related to organized crime. Since no people of public interest were killed and a politic motive can be excluded. Of course this terrifying new weaponry arises question we´ll work our hardest to answer. Most likely the message was sent by one of the succession organizations of the former imperial army. Also I would not exclude the infamous sons of the winds who tried to take a foothold in republic City for about two years now." She rattled down facts
. Nevertheless, Lin Bei Fong did not feel right with all of this. She had seen Mako today, after he had seen her dead men. The boy was gnawing on something like a mad fire ferret - something that without a doubt was a lead. He had hurried off into the city without his uniform. "Thank you very much Chief Bei Fong. What can you say about the number of victims, are their identities already revealed?" the reporter asked. This kind of people was the worst, but Lin had learned to deal with them over the years. "thirty-five people are dead, 62 injured. Five officers died in the line of service." She responded monotonous. Lin had never thought that mere three men -nonbending men- could kill so many people! "Most of the victims were spectators of the martial arts tournaments, one of the criminals was overwhelmed by a group of fighters and stabbed himself in the process." She responded. That the man had been clobbered to death by a group of well-known thugs was a small detail she kept to herself. This was the one time she would let these men run free after committing a crime. Also Lee´s daughter was somehow involved in this and Lin Bei Fong would not send a good girl like her into prison. Not even for a night!
"Do you think further attacks like these could take place?" a woman asked as the air turned eerie. Yes, she definitely could. She had no idea what these maniacs were after. But she highly doubted that these men had not conveyed the message they wanted to convey up till now! They had shown that they would stop at nothing to achieve what they wanted. They even were willing to cruelly kill children and women with war grenades – and maim the survivors for life. Three of the victims had not even been three years old, Lin Bei Fong was mortified about this. Whenever you thought you had seen all the demons that lurked in the human soul somebody showed up and proved you wrong, it sent chills down her spine. "I doubt it, these criminals did this to send a message to the republic city underbelly, and I respond as the chief of police that these men don´t will succeed in making us cower in fear. I announce that every cop of republic city is going after them, and by the spirits we will not go easy on these monsters!" she responded with brimming anger in her voice. As a person of public life she should not act so faceless, but she could not help it. There were shimmers of hope in the reporters faces, maybe she had not totally messed up this interview.
"Thank you for your time." The reporter responded. "That should be enough to write an article and calm the citizens." He sighed obviously displeased. "You´re right – it is MORE than enough." Lin Bei Fong responded gravelly. The press bowed courtly and retreated, measly slime throwers they were! She turned and almost stormed back into her office. The last two days had worn her out. Even though Lin Bei Fong was used to being awake longer than usual persons she was sleepy. Olong did not help her anymore, it stopped helping years ago. Instead of returning to her office Line Bei Fong headed towards the bunks. She had stopped living in Bei Fong Manison years ago, what should she do with this big, empty memorial of a family that was not there anymore? The old agony returned into her chest, it was a hollow dull pain. She had gotten used to being alone with her job. Lin Bei Fong was not jealous; she could have been able to change that fact for years – but against all possibilities she had thought that Tenzin mysteriously would return to her someday.
Until Jinora was born of course, afterwards she had to let go of her secret dream, which had hurt a lot. It was important that her lover was happy – being in love meant to place somebody else in front of you she had told herself. As Chief bei Fong slipped into her plain, slightly dusty apartment she let out a sigh. She focused and shrugged. The clasps snapped open and her armor clattered onto the floor. With well-practiced, almost lazy seeming motions she bended the Metal parts on the wooden armor stand. She washed herself and then slipped into her cold bed. Despite knowing she had to sleep, because she otherwise would be asleep when the next shift begun, Lin Bei Fong could not find her rest. She was wiggling and turning in the bed like a worm. There were so many thoughts on her mind she was not able to lay still. She worried about attending her officer's funerals tomorrow. Also she was sure that Lee would not call it a week standing in front of her office, he could be as stubborn as she was herself. How somebody like Lee could be an air bender was something Lin could not understand, but aside from this mystery she knew rather well how he ticked.
She was sure that he wanted to thank her – even if she just had given his daughter a ride. And if Lee wasn´t coming Yumi would come for sure, which actually was the worse option. Yumi was not easily scared off by her rash behavior. She had been happy that the couple had returned to republic city, but she did not want to have people in her life again. She was unable to take proper care of people and so they left, the only one who had not left her boring self-had been Tenzin, and he had left her because she could not bear children for him. She understood, Tenzin had been the last air nomad, he had felt the need to revive his people – that had been his destiny. Lin was proud to see he had found fulfillment in his family and growing tribe. If she had not caught this terrible bladder fever after entering the force… There would be no Pema – why had Tenzins wife to be so nice! Lin would have loved to be able to hate her with a good conscience but she could not. Lin snorted and dug herself deeper in her cushion. She did not need Tenzin – most likely she did not even love him anymore.
Furthermore, she had a job to do, so she needed sleep. Whenever she forcefully cleared her head the pictures of two days ago did haunt her, the torn up bodies, a little girl who had lost both her legs and her father. The hot blood on her hands, a metallic smell in her nose – the moment when Officer Kung´s heart stopped beating under her hands. Even if it was not the first death on duty she had witnessed, it was one of the most shocking. But as much as Lin wanted to sob, yell or pound the floor, it was not possible for her. Also the illusion of safety had been ripped apart from her. She had not felt so vulnerable since she lost her bending due to this madman. She still remembered this dull, weak feeling nonbenders had to be feeling their whole lives. To not feel the earth hum, to not sense the smooth, wobbling presence of steel everywhere around her – it had been frightening. That you could go mad over this loss was something Lin did understand perfectly well. But this same steel turning against metal benders was even more terrifying. Tiny pieces of metal had shattered iron armors before anybody could notice. She had retrieved the weapon from the killed man, her engineers were marveling at this piece of almost otherworldly engineering.
Nevertheless, they had no idea how much gunpowder you could fill into the barrels without hijacking them. Whoever had developed this thing, it had to be a genius – or somebody who had spent his lifetime on this feat! While the woman still had a bad night somehow the morning arrived and with him the routine of work. Lin Bei Fong wanted to scream in frustration and tear her armor to scraps, but of course she sighed, swallowed the burning fury and bended it on. She didn´t eat any real breakfast and stormed towards her office. As she was hurrying through the corridors she almost bumped into Mako. "Morning." She responded harshly, Chief Bei Fong did not slow her stride. The young man easily caught up. "Chief – we´ve got to talk." Her responded, his voice hoarse. "I´ve got work to do Inspector– so keep it short Mako!" she ordered. "I should have arrested Asami." He stated dryly. Lin halted her steps. "Why the FUCK should you do something like this? She beat you lil cheaters pretty face?" She responded snidely, with time the work as an officer had stained Lin´s once pure language. "I´ll not talk about a matters of state security in the hallway Chief. I should have talked with you yesterday." The young man responded, his face an unreadable scowl. Be cautious Lin, your anger has nothing to do with Mako. Just because you´re a sore loser if it comes to past loves not everyone must be, the woman reasoned with herself.
They walked until they reached Lin´s office. They entered and the woman seated herself in the leather seat her mother had occupied many years ago. The seat was giving her strength, it was something that held her, also it was her mother's seat! "So, why should you arrest Asami Sato?" she asked, but there was an ill foreboding in her stomach already. "Because this squirreltoad incident is – well – as the heir of Hiroshi Sato it´s her responsibility. I just wanted to visit her but…She told me then." He stated, his eyes burning. Lin let out a dry almost gagging sound. Why in all heaven´s should Asami found a bunch of lunatics? She had gotten to know her as somebody who had a sense of honor that surpassed her big heart – she could – she did not WANT to believe that all that had been an illusion. "So Sato had designed these – things." She felt her hairs stand up by the lone thought of the horrible portable cannons. Mako nodded. "This bastard has – for money he has invented them and sold them to the earth nation army." He hissed with a barely audible voice. "But that´s just the tip of the iceberg." He wiped his forehead and continued with a lost voice. "He promised the army things that were even WORSE and now the earth nation has sent Dai Li to collect them – these guys are soldiers, well-honed killing machines, who stop at nothing." He responded desperate.
"We have no names, Asami has just seen one of them – the man who showed her the contract." It poured out of Makos mouth. Lin was gripping the armrests of her seat, pressing her back into it forcefully. "Ever blessing mother of faces." She responded shocked. "That was two sixteen days ago. Asami had to find some blueprints of a project named squirrel toad but – she wasn´t able to do so. And as she heard of the bloodbath she called the police at once." The young man's bad arm was twitching again. Lin pinched the bridge of her nose. That indeed were horrible news. „I understand." Lin bit her bottom lip. Asami had hindered police investigations, most likely because she felt guilty of what her father had done – silly girl! She had committed a crime and so she had to be punished, as the Chief of police she was not allowed to make exceptions. "Why haven´t you arrested her Mako?" Lin asked with furrowed brows. "She would be safer in jail than she´s anywhere else, with those men on the loose." She responded. Mako closed his eyes. "I could not – you haven´t seen her Chief." His jaw was grinding. "If I could get this bastard back to life….I´d burn him alive" He fumed and clenched his fists. Steam was shooting out of his nostrils. Lin understood whom he meant, she also would have loved to smack the life out of Hiroshi Sato at that moment.
"Also…jail…I doubt Asami would survive that, gods Chief." He was grabbing for something that was not there. Lin Bei Fong noticed that Mako´s scarf was gone. Why would he leave his precious scarf behind? He had carried this thing through so much adventures and live threatening situations you could think it was a part of his body. "I ´m furious at her…pff...But also I´m quite pathetic…I wonder if it would be different if I never had gone all – Team Avatar." He chuckled a humorless chuckle "Karma´s a bitch!" he rose. Lin felt a lump in her chest. Mako had never talked to her like that. When had they become so close? "You know it´s my duty to arrest you, too." She responded dryly. Mako did not even flinch, at least that he could have done! "Assisting a crime – the laws are just bullcrap." She sighed. Actually Lin was thinking about arresting Asami and Mako, but she knew that this would stir up the public, also she was far from being not conflicted. It would have been so easy if she just stuck to the law word by word – but Lin always had struggled with generalizations. her struggling with the appropriateness of her decisions, that was what had made her hair grizzly at thirty-five! The young man was sitting in his chair.
"If you want to arrest me I´m warning you Chief. I don´t like to fight you, but I would. You´re not getting me into cuffs before this is over. I´ve got a promise to keep." He stated determined, Lin had seen Mako this determined once, on the day he took up the badge. Why the kid loved being a cop that much always would remain a mystery for Lin, who would have loved to run an art gallery instead of chasing criminals. Lin snorted. "As if you stood a chance Chouw." Actually she was rather sure that it would get ugly if she tried to subdue Mako, but why in all heavens was she sitting in her seat? Why had she not wrapped the massive desk around the fire bender and lifted him off towards prison? There was a soft sound, Lin looked at the golden badge Mako had placed on the table. "I- I understand you may want that back Chief." He looked hurt and saddened, almost grim. Lin had felt like that taking up the badge – it had taken years to find comfort in the heavy armor, the patrols and arrests. "I´ll never understand why you´re clinging to this piece of brass so much Mako, it doesn´t make the world turn. And if we´re talking straight there are many guys in the force who´ve committed more crimes than you." she admitted.
It was something nobody liked talking about, but the police of course were corrupt. And yes, there were some of her colleagues Lin did not want to cross in a dark alley. But they still were cops, they – they still were family, which made it so hard to do anything against them. Mako nodded. "So you´re turning a blind eye Chief?" he asked her, with a hint of hope in his voice. "That depends Mako, if the press gets a whiff of this story I can´t do nothing. But if nobody knows, nobody cares." She stated. "thank you Chief, thank you." Mako bowed formally – obviously moved. Lin looked away, she felt uncomfortable. Feelings were something that made her feel – lonely and idiotic. "Good Chief, anyways I´m taking some days off, to be precise I´ll take two months. We both know I´ve got enough hours on my record. I have wolfbats to catch and I can´t do that when I´ve got other cases on hand." He responded. Lin nodded, he was right. Of course she had set up a squirreltoad task force around Captain Hungshu, who actually would have been a much better Chief of Police than she herself!
The guy knew every name, he even knew the cleaning ladies, something Lin would never manage. But these guys weren´t Mako Chouw if it came to – picking daisies – as her mother had titled the more delicate parts of police work. Toph Bei Fong had been bad at picking daisies, but she had had Mochee, now there was a second dark one in the force. She nodded. "That is a wise decision Mako – we all have to do what we can, have you been invited to Bo Lin´s garden party, too? Because I think about ditching it. Somebody has to work!" she stated grimly. Actually Lin hated parties, mostly because there were so many happy couples. But even worse than the couples were the old bachelors that were trying to get her laid – the worst was when one of them actually succeeded. No, she wasn´t in her thirties anymore. Mako released a deep sigh. "Hell no – why NOW of all times. In what lofty place is Bo hovering? Just because he moved to the countryside he can´t NOT know of the squirreltoad thing can he?" the young man asked. Lin shrugged. "I don´t know. What I know is that Opal hasn´t written for two months straight." She said. It was usual for young people to ignore the old, nevertheless Lin felt a bit hurt. She had thought her niece was actually interested in her aunt. "Since the wedding? There´s something fishy… If I didn´t knew that my brother can´t keep a secret over his dead body - I would guess they´re having a child or something like that." Mako mused. Lin eyed him shocked - that actually WAS a possibility, but Opal was so young! "Heavens, you could be right Mako." She stated and then eyed the heap of reports that was resting on her desk.
No matter how long she waited, the heap would not become smaller. "Then get out on the streets Inspector Chouw, I have papers to attend too, as you see." Lin sighed annoyed and grabbed the first report. It was a report of Kuang Shi, an officer whose handwriting was close to being illegible. What was so difficult about writing? Lin furrowed her brows and started reading, it seemed Kuang and his partner had taken in an illegal betting office – 20000 yuan confiscated, an almost pleased smirk settled on Lins face. For 20.000 yuan you could tolerate an illegible report. She heard the clicking sound of the door shortly afterwards, Mako had left and so she could fully immerse herself in work. Like every day Lin lifted her slightly dizzy head from her papers the first hour after midday. Her body was like a fine tuned clock if it came to daily routine. While the woman braced herself and awaited another bag of still warm dumplings in front of her door she was astonished to find neither a puppy eyed Lee, nor a bag of dumplings! Her stomach was growling; she had gotten used to this delivery service. There were rumors behind her back, Bei Fong having a suitor and such, that was plainly hilarious! Lin left the headquarters and joined the lined up stalls. Captain Hungshu was grumpily slurping flameo noodles. "Hello Ma´am. Dammit my man Lee´s really pampered us, that stuff tastes like worn straw sandals." He rumbled listlessly picking in his noodles.
The smell of sesame oil, chillis and onions was beautiful. Lin licked her lips. "I´m hungry." She responded and looked at the small queue that had formed in front of the flameo cart. "So Lee is not working today? Well I would be astonished if he had been working." She responded flatly. "Huh. You know Lee?" Ping Hungshus eyes flew wide. "No – no fucking way – YOU were that girl in Kantu Hills weren´t you Chief!" Lin looked startled – what was the Captain talking about. Girl in Kantu hills? What kind of nonsense was Lee spouting? She frowned and Hungshu flinched. "E-eh I´ve said nothing Chief, you know. Totally would be good for Lee to get …. Ah never mind!" he stuttered and dug in his noodles with new found enthusiasm. "I-I´m better off to work." He mumbled and fled munching. Lin was blinking, this man really was irritating sometimes. So Lin walked up to the noodle stand and bought some flameo chicken, the noodles DID taste like straw sandals drenched with chicken soup. But since Lin´s body demanded food she hungrily slurped them down, while making her way back to her office.
She had no time to lose, in two hours she had to be ready for her daily combat practice. Lin had barely entered the main hall as a well clad servant approached her. "Chief Bei Fong?" he asked her. "Yes? What´s the matter?" she snapped, spirits damn it, did she look like chit chat? "My name is.." the man started. Lin simply strode on, she had no time to waste. The man should turn to one of her officers! "Chief – please wait." The servant hurried after her. Lin stopped her almost running steps, she would make herself hilarious if it looked like she fled from an elderly man. Lin furrowed her brown and the servant gulped, sweat rising in his pores. "Um…I´m Ba Tan, at your service. I´m here as the legal deputy of Miss Asami Sato." He spoke. Lin´s heart skipped a beat. What did Asami want with a legal deputy, why did she not stop by herself? It was not like Asami to send somebody over important business! "And why does Miss Sato need a…deputy? She´s no rheumatic old woman, so she can stop by herself if she wants to make a report." She responded. "Well – it´s about personal reasons. Miss Sato can´t walk around because." The servant leaned closer. "A certain Mr. Chouw has posted a spy in front of her manison, so she can´t do what she deems necessary." He responded. The man surely looked unhappy.
Lin quirked an eyebrow. "Follow me into my office." She stated. Somehow she had the feeling Asami was diving into a manure heap head first! The servant followed her. As soon as she had closed the door of her office he slumped into a chair. His face was ashen. "Miss Sato wants you to deliver this to the council." He sighed deeply. "It´s not my place to say a word about my Mistresse´s decisions – sadly." The man sounded battered. Lin took up the portfolio and started reading.
I Sato Asami, born on 2nd of the bear 67 after the peace of Miyako, seek justice in full possession of sanity.
"What is this foolish child doing?" Lin blurted shaken, she would have loved to be surprised but she wasn´t. If she had been Asami Sato she would have accused herself as well. The heavens, a young woman like Asami in jail – such a waste!
As the heiress of Sato Industries I was not aware of contracts my father made with the earthern empire seven years before the rise of Kuvira. These contracts covered the development of black powder driven projectile weaponry for military use. They were never publicly listed in the books of future industries. As the heiress of Sato Industries the responsibility of these contracts was transferred to me in person. I know that the mere possession of such papers is a crime against the four nations, I accuse myelf of illegal trade with weaponry.
Lin blinked, did Asami know that dealing weapons was enough for a life sentence in isolation? No, this IDIOT! Why was she doing that to herself? The poor Child never had traded weapons, she had not even thought about doing such things! Lin was fuming.
Furthermore, the weapons used in the lead bit killings were supplied and developed by my late father. I demand that the Name Sato is eradicated from all official records and his patent´s as well as his legacy are given back to the united nation as public property. All my worldly belongings shall be left in the care of the high council, which shall elect a legal caretaker for future industries. Also I wish the destruction of his gravesite.
Lins breath was shallow, she could not imagine how painful it must have been to write this down. For somebody as proud as Asami – Lin was sure she could not have written those lines, no matter what her mother had done! To abandon the own surname, the history that went with it!
I admit that a Colonel Chun of the Dai Li demanded the blue prints of a new weaponry model. I was informed about my father's bloody contracts that day, listed under the project name squirreltoad. Despite my efforts I was not able to find said blueprints, which I suppose are not existent. I admit supporting the crime of illegal manufacture of forbidden goods and demand the just punishment. Furthermore, I did not inform the police about these heinous crimes because of selfish pride and ignorance. I want to sincerely apologize to those whose beloved fell victim to my hubris! The terroristic act committed at the yearly held Republic all school's night was also committed with weapons crafted by my father, and was carried out as a means of intimidation from said Dai Li Agents. I do not deny that all those people would be alive if I had signed over Sato industries to the earthern nations, hereby I accuse myself of cold blooded murder in multiple cases. Also I accuse myself of high treason towards the earthern Kingdom in which lands the contracts I willfully exposed, were signed.
I Asami Sato confess guilty towards all charges and demand the utmost punishment.
Lin let out a soft terrified sigh.
I hereby decline to be jailed in exile and face my punishment without exclusion of the public, I demand the death penalty through hanging, as it was written in earth nation law. I hope that my death will lessen the pain of those who have lost beloved persons through my doings. I hope you can forgive me for my deeds, because I can not.
Lin´s hands were trembling. Had Asami lost her mind? She – thought she had committed murder, high treason? Lin dropped the portfolio with tears in her eyes. She never had read anything that showed less of the selfishness Asami Sato accused herself of. Lin Bei Fong lacked words as she shielded her face behind upraised hands. "How could you even bring this to me Mr. Tan? Can´t you see that this is just a young woman´s desperation? High treason! What kind of asshole are you!" Lins voice almost broke. What in all heavens should she do? Should SHE commit high treason? If this letter saw the public not even Tenzin could save Asami.
Authors: REVIEWS REVIEWS!