Fight or die
It had taken me and Lin another two days to return back to republic city, nevertheless the little idiot of course launched herself into her piling paperwork. On the other hand, I had to keep my stall running, because I surely would lose my customers if I was not opening regularly. I was preparing some noodles for a middle-aged gentleman as I noticed Chou. The young man was tripping around nervously in front of the station, he even was smoking a cigarette. Usually he wasn´t smoking at all. He wore the typical dark uniform, without any kind of weaponry – Mako relied on his hands way too much if you asked me. I waved. "Ah Chouw – finally back in the hood it seems. The usual?" I asked him. "Ehrm…yeah – yeah of course." He responded slightly off. I started preparing the days special, which was pan fried eel hound kidneys with dumplings and pan fried noodles. I personally hated eel hound kidneys, which tasted like solid lumps of blood, but for some reason especially water tribe people loved this atrocity!
Sokka also had stopped by in the morning, she had a day off and had told me she finally got accepted in a gym. A real gym, which meant I had been swelling with pride. It was run by a former Kung Fu champion from Ba Sing Se, I´ve heard of the man – back the day he really had been a force of nature. Since my little girl was sporting a black eye and a split lip I was slightly worrying, but which father was NOT worrying about his little princess for no reason? "So, that´s seven four." I responded while giving the man his exchange. "Thank you, have a nice day." The guy responded politely, collected the coppers and left. Chouw appeared in front of the wagon as I was slicing the eelhound kidney, which had been stored in my ice-box. "Long time no see Mako. Your investigation is finished?" I asked the young man who was seemingly uneasy.
"Yes Mr. Lee." He responded. Yes, definitely something was off – he had started calling me Mr. again! "Erm..I…I thought because you were a cop n stuff. Well – erhm…" he stuttered scratching his unkempt hair. What in the heavens was this about? Hadn´t I made clear before that I had no connections in this city anymore? I had been out of town and out of business for more than 20 years, also I highly doubted that Mako Chouw lacked experience on the other side of law. If the newspapers had reported the truth, he had grown up a street urchin which meant he definitely had committed his share of crimes. I quirked an eyebrow. "So, what?" I shrugged. The young man leaned over the counter and spoke behind an upraised hand – really suspicious if you asked me! "It´s about the lead bit cases – we´ve got our men. I want to ask you if you want to join at an … um task-force meeting?" he sounded rather unsure. Actually, I was hooked at once, not only would I love to see these bastards chisel stones for the rest of their lives', I also was quite flattered. How many old noodlemen can say to be asked for help by the most popular policeman in the history of Repubic City? "When and where?" I asked Mako in an almost bubbly voice.
"Sato Manison Mr. Lee. Tonight, the sixth hour." He responded suddenly looking really grave. My eyes twitched, obviously, there was something fishy going on. "Could it be you´re planning something quite illegal?" I asked while the young man flinched visibly. I had hit home – I wondered though… We weren´t very close. Besides some sparring and the daily lunch breaks we did not do anything together. "Thank you very much. You should bring a weapon - just in case you would accompany us." He nodded and took his purse out. The coppers clanked in the wooden bowl. "Well then, I´ve got to meet up with other people!" he responded and hurried of, one of my bowls in his hands. "hey – the…oh damn it." I sighed. I had the feeling that my bowl was a lost cause. Sato Manison – so I would meet Asami Sato. I scratched my nose – far had I come. Sato industry HAD something to do with the massacre at the all school´s night?
I definitely would come, but in the meantime, I had some meals to sell. "Hello officers, whatdaya want?" I asked as a patrol squad arrived, hungrily glaring at my stall. Lao also had both of his hands full, filling travel cups with teas. So, the day dragged on while I was impatiently waiting for the evening. It was almost time to close my stall and be on my way towards sato mansion – which address I had exerted out of a bunch of school boys – as Lin appeared in front of my stall. She was wearing full armor like every day. "Hey." She greeted me, seeming tense somehow. "Hey Lin – you know I´ve got an appointment tonight, so some noodles with turtle duck? Or dumplings?" I asked. "Appointment?" a sly smile was playing around her lips as she noticed my hectic movements. "So, who´s the lucky one?" she asked teasingly. I blinked stunned – what was Linny talking about? "Lucky one?" I paraphrased until I realized what she meant. Lin had started cackling – vile woman she was! I felt a blush creeping in my cheeks, I felt somehow embarrassed by the thought of dating somebody. I never had given it a thought – even though I had cracked a lot of jokes about it. "Wh-What the hell!" I snorted, while my heart skipped a beat and hammered in my chest.
I was not sure if I was happy or sad about this. Lin of course noticed it and started getting all sorry. "Oh – Lee I´m sorry. I – I shouldn´t have said something stupid like this." She blabbered on and pushed my raised hand down on the counter. "It was really insensitive- I mean -you – you lost the love of your life and I´m just trampling all over your feelings." She whimpered. "Me of all people, who should know better – please forgive me." She was staring at her feet, blushed a crimson read. I saw two officers whispering with each other. They smiled. "SHUT THE BLOODY FUCK UP ASSHOLES!" Lin snarled in their direction. The men snapped into attention like puppets. "YES Ma´am!" they looked like school boys, which were scolded by their teacher – I had to stifle a laugh. "So…. get back to work you gossiping sissys!" she rambled. "And IF I hear rumors, we´re going to have a TALK in my office! Got me? Dismissed gentlemen!" she clapped her hands and the officers hurried away with another "Yes Ma am."
Lin really had stepped in her mother's footsteps! It still was strange to see sweet little Linny so – emancipated? "Don´t smirk like that Lee – there are already rumors going around." She grumbled pouting. "What rumors?" I asked innocently. There she was stuttering again! "Y-You know what rumors!" she responded loudly. "Th- The rumors…. you and I…you know!" she was flushing even more. She still behaved adorably hilarious. "Geez Lin, let the people talk – then they´re busy and don´t do anything else." I stated dryly. "W-W-WHAT? But -they say you´re my pet! My boy-toy!" she grumbled infuriated! Actually, that was a bit indignating - on the other hand I definitely could imagine worse fates… so I just shrugged. "Y-You´re shrugging?" she squeaked upset. "Yep – I COULD be your boy-toy, since nobody knows we go way back till school…" I trailed of. Again, Lin made one of her strange faces, he lips pouting, while her nose wrinkled as if she was - visiting a bathroom. "So – erm- just give me some dumplings." She changed the topic abruptly, took the paper bag and paid. " I´ve gotta go Lee." She excused herself as she headed towards the bunks with long strides, the woman shook her grey hair. How one could like such a lousy haircut was something I would never understand! Still is was wondering – what was Lin up to? It was way too early for her to abandon her precious desk – or should my little pep talk have had such a big impact? I made my daily scrap sale to bust out the left overs. Then I jumped into the pedals. Hopefully I would be in time! The streets were busy, cars roaring, people shouting – and I was in the middle of it.
It took far longer to leave the hellish traffic behind and make it to the shoreline than I had thought. There Sato Manison was located between other manisons of the rich an famous. Indeed – one palace after another – lined up like pearls on a necklace! If you looked closer at this luxury, the tremendous house of my late father almost seemed – usual and boorish! When I arrived at the named address I located a lot of smeared graffiti on the high brick wall of Sato mansion. Different from her neighbors Miss Sato seemed not to bother with the outrage of the poor and let their words remain as a strange memento mori. I supposed I would not stand to have painted "Lee Bei Gao – biggest whore of the united Republic" or "Lee is a damned faggot!" in front of my doorstep. Miss Sato definitely stood above petty insults it seemed. I skidded to halt in front of an impressive iron gate. "Excuse me?" I addressed the guardsman, who was way too eager about his job. "I´m Lee Bei Gao." I introduced myself – I was baffled that he simply opened the gate without asking me any questions. "Miss Sato is awaiting you, Sir." He responded wondering at my attire. So I parked the cart directly in front of the entrance doors. Was that – Lin´s car? Definitely, it still was dusty from the ride to the beach! I frowned, somehow this was getting really strange! The door was opened by an old, fancy dressed man. His suit looked hilarious, with it´s gold trimmed seams. "Mr. Bei Gao?" the old servant stated with the keen eyes that were typical for men of his position.
"Yes? And where do it meet Mr. Chow's task force?" I asked the guy. A sad look washed over the old man's face, he sighed. "Please follow me." He stated nonchalantly and led me through an astonishing entrance. There was gold and ebony everywhere – not even the royal palace of the fire nation sported so much wealth. I tried my best to ignore the pompous house and focus at the things ahead. Finally, I entered a room. The atmosphere was dense, I had not felt such denseness since the days after the Yakone-trial. My eyes bulged, Bumi was there, wearing Sokka´s sword and a heavy armor. Next to him were Lin, Chouw and Ping, as well as two younger looking policemen. They all wore full plate armors. Finally, there was Asami Sato, she eyed me intensely, looking as beautiful as the painting that hung behind her. "Hello?" I cleared my throat, feeling really awkward. This fashionable young lady was the culprit who stole my house! Still, somehow it felt pathetic to even mention my situation, now I saw her strapped into a tight leathery outfit lined with brass reinforcements. Yumi definitely would have killed for that! Lin turned around her eyes big as marbles. "Mako – wh-why do you bring Lee into this? He´s got a family!" she growled, while glowing jade faced rather calm embers. "We´re short on hands Chief?" the young man responded.
"Also, I will not make anybody here do anything!" he responded sharply. I frowned, what the hell was this all about? "Are we going to take somebody in or what?" I asked disturbed. "WHEEEEEEEYYYYY ma man Lee finally got it!" Ping cheered. "Come on Rocky – it´s TOOO OBVIOUS. HOW can anybody NOT check what we´re planning. Just look at THIS!" Bumi rambled almost hysterically, waving his ironclad hand in front of Ping´s face. "Gentlemen – please." Asami Sato spoke with a gentle, almost bored tone that made Bumis face turn grave at once. I never had seen him serious like that, and actually this was turning my guts. "Yes Asami. You´re right – this is no joke." He admitted defeated, while deep wrinkles were evident on his face. For once he looked like the war hardened veteran he was. "So, Miss Sato – the honor is yours." Ping stated, also looking as if he had eaten something quite rotten. "You´re talking about messing with a triad chapter? Because – you guys look like you´re going up against some crazed dragons!" I responded, impressed by their weaponry. Even Lin hat added throwing knives on top of her cables, and Ping, Ping had fastened Jade-Hammers on his wrist. Asami Sato looked ashamed, nevertheless she was well composed. If I remembered she was barely twenty-five, I sighed.
Would there never be a time where youths could stay youths until they had kids? I seated myself, while Lin was staring at me with pleading eyes. There of course was no way I would simply walk away, not if this was about the bastards who almost killed my only daughter! "So – we´re listening." Bumi clapped his hands, the sound was rather hollow and bony. "Yes." Asami gulped, her hands clenched. "I could…" Mako started. "Shut up." The heiress hissed, the young man flinched. "This all began with my father." She spoke, her green eyes glistering with tears. Hiroshi Sato the equalist – the madman who threw bombs from the sky! I felt sorry for this girl, who despite her enormous wealth must have had a childhood as murky as the yellow river! "I still…" her voice broke for a moment, Chouw placed a hand on her shoulder and was shrugged off – proud as a shirshu – I knew that annoying threat quite well! "still remember the fancies party that was ever thrown here. It was because my father bought the royal mining company from the earth queen. But fact is – that he was paid with it. He was paid for developing gunpowder driven…" It all made sense now. "Projectile weaponry – hell it´s so obvious! It´s like a combustion engine, just that the force of the blasting gelly is not stopped and accelerates the projectile – like a pimped blowgun." Asami spoke. "He did it just to grab more money – he handed these things to a despotic woman who beheaded people for not BOWING PROPERLY!" she hissed enraged. Her breathing steadied itself slowly.
"But after the Kuvira rebellion my father was dead – or the former Dai Li got greedy, I don´t know. Someday a Colonel Chun appeared in my office." Asami gulped again. "He was a very – impressive – man." She spoke. Lin was close to jumping from her chair, her knuckles white from clutching her knees, I´ve never seen her so angry before. "He also showed me the contract my father signed – I -I am so ashamed. I -beg you to belive me." He voice was hoarse. Tears were running down my brothers' face. "This bastard." He cursed sniffling. Ping also was eying the ceiling very intensely I felt a lump in my throat – yes that was the sort of guy who joined the Dai Li. "And of course, he threatened me, he wanted new plans for more effective weapons. But I had no idea where they could be. And you don´t simply draw something like that, give it a smith and are done with it…. Well I was rather – besides me." She admitted with a silent voice. "Asami you…" Mako was raising from his chair. "No – I want to!" Miss Sato responded frowning. The young man buried his face in his hands and sighed in defeat. There definitely was something going on between the two of them! Mako was quite the lucky man if you asked me! "Well… I was too ashamed to go to the police, so basically I committed…" Lin exploded. "Shut the hell up Asami" her voice sounded gruff, jep Linny was getting all teary I supposed. Even I, who had no connection to Asami Sato was quite moved by her little speech. "You didn´t commit anything!" she snarled, closing the space. "Shall I slap some sense into your law obsessed little skull!" she rumbled while shaking her fists forcefully at the taller woman. "Holy crap!" Ping stated. "Chief Bei Fong has returned from the dead!" he remarked, wiping his eyes. Bumi still was sniffling.
"B-B-But I did not do what the law says!" Asami stuttered. "I-I…this massacre would not have happened if I had given them Sato Industries! I – s-should have given it to them." She whimpered. That was true, and it was something Miss Sato would have to live with. Lin nevertheless cursed in ancient Guangzhou. "Thank you for sharing this with us." I responded while everybody was staring at me. I blushed furiously, had I really just said – THAT?! Bumi giggled hysterically. "Gods damn it Lee – that´s more Tenzin than Tenzin!" he shook his head. "Now to the important things, wo don´t have a large time frame." Mako interrupted with a flat voice. I had to agree with him, sitting around and talking did not get Dai Lee behind bars. "So, where do these guys have their Hideouts?" I asked because nobody else was saying anything. "We have this." Mako responded while placing a map of republic city on the table. "Where these men live at the moment is unknown, most likely they use hotels for a maximum of two or three days. These guys are professional agents, we have to remember that." He stated gravely. Indeed, Dai Li agents were a pain in the ass, not just due to their large social nets and their martial prowess.
"Aye." Ping nodded. "But there is something they cannot move. For what reasons, ever they have started manufacturing some of their weapons right under our noses, even though the earth nation army does already have some powder-weapons. Which are the stuff that was used to…" he closed his mouth, the amber eyes brimming with rage. "To meaninglessly kill people, correct." I responded biting down the simmering rage that was creeping into my throat. "These bastards wanted to make a statement directed in my direction." Asami Sato had a silent tear running down her cheek, while her voice was croaky like an old woman's. "So, we´re going to put these rabid dogs down tonight, when they assemble to ship off their weaponry to heavens know where. As they do every evening." She explained grimly. "You´re planning on cutting Dai Li agents down? In public while using illegal weaponry?" I asked while a spur of fear wavered in my voice. Did these guys know WHO the dai Li were? The Dai Li was the monster under you bed – incarnated in a nameless cruel machinery that had spun it´s shady spider web across the four nations for centuries! The only organization that was scarier than the judges of the northern water tribes! "You´re totally crazy! Nobody kills a Dai Li. Don´t you even know their creed? Well I DO!" I rambled my voice almost toppling.
"We´re those clad in green, hearts carved from stone.
Neither stick nor stone will ever break our bone.
Brothers without name
men without a shame
Without glory, without fame
Emerald fist is our name
DAI LI"
I recited the creed that sounded like a childish lullaby. It´s lone sound drove icy cold in my bones, I had witnessed the atrocities these monsters committed in broad daylight! The triads were a kindergarten compared to these guys, who were drilled and educated in special orphanages since they were toddlers!
"Then get up and leave Lee – I know we´re some crazy ass farts to mess with the dai Li, but we can´t stand by an do nothing! My parents didn´t raise me like that!" Bumi concluded decisive. I sighed – pompous righteousness yeah – where did I know that from? "So where is this manufacture?" I asked sighing in defeat. "Lee – you really should…" Lin piped up. I stared at her with furrowed eyebrows and she lowered her gaze. I was not a man who stood up and left when his best friends decided to jump into the bottomless fog head first! Sadly I was the kind of idiot who jumped with them. "Cut the crap, give me a sword we go there cut these fuckers down and are done with it." I responded grimly. Mako nodded. "The place is proper for doing something like that because the cops tend to walk through it with both eyes closed. It´s in the buffalo flats, block twelve to be precise. Kuang Ling owns the facility which is said to be a precision parts manufacture." He explained. "I´ve visited the place, which most likely contains the equipment that was stolen from Sato electronics some weeks ago. The guys run the facility in two shifts, because night work would be too suspicious – even in the buffalo flats." He responded. That sounded promising. "And of course, they cannot risk storing larger amounts of weaponry there, because even if they pay the Terra chapter they hired … it would be too tempting for the thugs." He concluded. I nodded in consent, as did Lin. "So, they take the stuff away by car?" I asked. Mako nodded "Exactly, and of course the dai Li Agents are there and supervise the transport, which is done with exactly the same vans every day." He responded. "Which is the reason why I have bought exactly the same van." Asami added dryly. "I also hired a driver for this night, who of course has no idea where he has to drive and what his cargo is. We will move in the van before the guy arrives and Tang will take care of the rest. The man is one of the racers, some criminal gang which is all about car theft and such." Asami explained slightly snobby.
"When he arrives we jump out of the van and fight everything that is clad in green. The agents prefer the republic chic, which means emerald suits of modern cut." Mako explained. "They are our top priority, actually it would be preferable to get at least one of them alive, but if it can´t be done – screw it." He stated. Damn it, here we were sitting and planning cold blooded murder! Somehow that felt – bad! "And, where could these guys run away to? Are there parking spaces, back entrances?" I asked. "That´s the case me and the boys are wearing riot gear." Ping interrupted and pointed at himself and the younger cops. "We´ll simply patrol the backside of block 12. Dao here usually is on patrol duty there." He pointed at a rather slim young man. "Yep – usually I don´t mingle much in illegal businesses, but these fuckers go and involve honest people in their doings – that´s intolerable." The green eyes of the young man were burning. He seemed like the kind of cop that visited the same bars the triad bosses did, but he had his lines and that was something I respected. "And then, we´ll just go in from the backside. And by the enlightened budha we´ll not be gentle." He responded huffing his chest. "Aye." Ping nodded. "So- that´s basically the plan. And now get your things ready, write your last will or have a good shit. In half an hour, the van should be prepared." Mako responded. Ping rose, with him the two young cops did so.
My old friend clapped my shoulder "Eh Lee" he pulled me close, which was rather strange. "Take care man – this is going to get ugly!" he stated and walked off. "Y-Yeah." I was quite distracted. Ping usually did not do such things, didn´t he? Bumi muttered something under his breath and downed his cup of tea. Lin looked grim like a Shinigami. I had no idea what was going to happen. Actually, I had written a letter to Sokka before I packed up my stall – but still I was worrying. What if I didn´t come back? I didn´t want to think that through. "You really won´t go home Lee?" Lin asked me silently placing a hand on my upper arm. She almost got me, I was feeling lousy because I should go home and be a proper father. But I couldn´t, I just shook my head. "But you don´t even have an armor." Lin pleaded, she looked heart wrenching. I admitted that I would have felt way safer if I had worn the plate and chainmail armor the Chief was clad in. "So, what?" I shrugged. "If I´m gonna die I´m gonna die anyways." I tried a smirk and failed miserably. Still the heart started beating faster and my hands were feeling warm and strong as the adrenaline slowly started to rush into my veins.
Asami Sato handed me a sword wordlessly, it seemed she was somewhere else, just a body remaining here. Bumi had pulled a whetstone from his pockets and began grinding his sword. "That´s the worst right. Waiting for hell ta break loose." He grumbled and added some colorful words. Ping had started praying to the merciful Buddha and Mako was staring deep into nothingness while tracing his burn scars with a finger tip. Lin on the other hand was busily eying everybody jumping from one foot on the other, I barely could breathe behind the painted wooden mask. Her eyes seemed clear, she obviously was a professional. My heart bled as I thought of the harsh path she had walked for decades and for a moment I had no idea who this, grey haired, stern eyed, woman was! I clenched and unclenched my hand mechanically. The sword seemed heavy, while it greedily sucked the sweat off my hands. The van stood there, doors opened. "Im checking the doors." Lin stated, her voice bare of emotions. Then she walked over to the van the lock had been replaced by a simple bolt so nobody could lock us in. I was wondering what she did as she climbed onto the van and entered a bending stance. Her index fingers scratched through the metal as Lin furrowed her brows in concentration.
Her hands formed a door but the metal was not falling outside. Then she placed the hands on her hips. "Come on get in!" her voice was shrill and loud in the small backside of the van. It took quite some time for us to get a place inside. Asami even had brought some oil lanterns. "That we aren´t blinded when the door opens." She explained while distributing the lanterns. I had to admit I would never have thought about something so sophisticated. Than the doors closed and the bolt was moved into place, while I was cramped in a corner between the hulking figure of Chouw and Miss Sato. These youngsters definitely were giants! I was feeling like being choked to death between their shoulders. Sweat filled the air and the breathing was so loud I though you could hear it all the way to the south pole. "Spirits…I…I can't breathe." Asami whimpered almost panicking. DAMN! I was close to cursing. "Shut the fuck up!" Mako blared sounding rather frantic as well. "Breath in and…out." I commanded while trying to obey my own words. "In….Out." they listened, which was close to a miracle because I also was quite freaked out. Actually I felt like every fiber of my being was burning with energy. I never before had experienced something like this.
Surely police work or security work had had it´s thrilling moments but they usually did not build up like this. Shit just happened! Suddenly we could hear somebody knocking on the van. "Oi….So dat´s deh rat I´mma drivin?" the man was speaking the broadest Guangzhu I had ever heard, most likely he was from Omashu. His voice was deep and gruffy. The man coughed viciously and spit out. "Yes Mr. that´s the van." I could hear Tang flinch, most likely our driver was the incarnation of the old butler´s nightmares. Asami was short of giggling loudly. "So comoon gramps gimme mah cash!" the dude coughed again. "Could you please stop spitting on the pavement?" Tang asked almost whining. What the heck was wrong with this old moron – did he have a sudden death wish? With a rattling sound, something heavy was smashed against de side of the van. "Ya´vve gotta aa nerve sucker – hiring tha devil on wheels fer a deal n thaan screwing the shitt outta me huh?" the man sneered. "P-Pardon me Sir, w-would you please release my collar?" the butler wheezed slightly pained. "Pffth…whatever sicko!" the guy grunted. "Geez stop pissin yerself lika aa fuckin cunt! Damn, jus gimme ma money bitch!" he cleared his throat again. "Y-yes of course sir." There was a short silence. "Haha – well done aan tell yer missy tha job´s well done!" he responded and got in the van. The door slammed shut with a metallic clank and the motor stirred to live. We started moving and surprisingly the man drove really civilized. The ride was undoubtedly the longest of my live. At every stop, I was wondering if the criminal had betrayed us and if boulders would crash through the thin sheet metal and squash us like bugs. My hard was racing and my breathing was going deep and unsteady, like everyone else´s I guessed.
Finally, the guy parked and there was shouting outside. "Gods dammit, yer too early asshole!" a man shouted. "Fuck." A gargling scream. Then suddenly the sidewall of the van was yanked outside and hit a man who was wrapped in the metal like a dumpling. The guy screamed but could not free himself. Suddenly I stormed outside the van, the light still was a bit stingy as my vision turned crystal clear. Everything was moving slowly. Lins cables were whirring smashing an instinctively built stonewall to pieces before a throwing knive embedded itself in the man's chest. Lightning was searing through the air, Mako Chouw yelling like a madman as the electricity sparkled around like dancing snakes. I instinctively ducked under the strike of a club and barreled into the man, my shoulder meeting his ribcage. I Grabbed his leg and smashed him onto the ground. The triad enforcer hit the street with a sickening, knocking sound. He looked dizzy as I frantically grabbed his club and smashed it in his face twice. "Watch out!" Ping yelled as he stopped a large earthen ball with his shoulder and flung its fragments back in the direction of the earth benders. Asami sato was wildly smashing an electrocuting rod around to keep herself away from being cut to shreds. Fire was hissing around, while Mako was hard pressed to keep his ground against pebbles.
Bumi took town a Man with his boomerang, the archaic weapon cutting clean through the cheek of a green suited man wo flung the metal piece back. It simple bumped away from my brother's breastplate as he charged at the man. The air was boiling I spun and threw hard palm blasts at two guys who were ganging up on lin. One stumbled, the other one fell on his knees and was abruptly impaled by a stone spike. Pained screams were everywhere, I tumbled, dodging another boulder. It seemed the whole terra triad chapter stormed the battlefield. "COME AT ME FAGGOTS!" Bumi jelled as his blade cleanly cut of a man's arm and a machete was stopped by his bracers. The man was moving like a demon, besides his heavy armor. I hissed as flames left a spur of pain on my side. The air was spinning and dispelled the fireblast.
"Airbender. Fuckin ship. Throw some rocks." The firebender yelled as I struck, feet set square and two fingers extended. His chest exploded in a crimson spray as the air ripped its way through his flesh. I threw myself behind the Van as earth spikes impaled itself there. "Ping – five o clock!" I yelled while Ping traded powerful blows with a green clad man whose whirring rock gloves struck pings chest with might. A Jadehammer effortlessly splintered on the Dai Li´s skull. But there again were sword wielding thugs. I stopped the first with a low frozen scythe, parried and cracked a skull with two mighty slashes of the ironclad club I was wielding. I had lost my sword exiting the van, most likely. Then my world turned dizzy as a fist hit my nose. I felt the impact rattling through my bones. There was the smell of burning flesh an blood. The man held his face as a masked Mako Chouw plunged a Jian sword through his chest, his comrades already fallen as screaming, blackened corpses. The guy nevertheless stormed on until my boot met his throat. Asami was screaming as she rolled through the rubble wrestling with a knife wielding man, until Bumi cut his throat in a flash and stormed onwards. I was out of breath as were the others, but still terra triads kept coming. It most likely was too late to escape now. It was kill or be killed now.
I blasted two pieces of earth and cobble stones to shreds, clubbed another man to death and watched as a bloodied Asami Sato was struck down by the rocky fragments. I yelled enraged, countered with a low kick, dancing viper and the prancing dragon. The guys were outsmarted by my sudden change of movements as my chi rushed harsher trough my veins. The air showed me the motions through the dust that made everybody cough. I easily crushed their throats with hard punches. The guys went down, or at least leaped at the place where I had been a second earlier. It was then a loud explosion ripped the air. I smelled burned Sulphur, flashes were in the air. I froze as did my opponents, I heard cackling laughter. My head was ringing from the noise. I used the opportunity and shoved the earthbender with a forceful palm strike, he impaled himself on his own earth spike, wide-eyed staring at the bloody stone that had impaled itself in his back. He then screamed, along with somebody else. Four cars were speeding up the street carrying new scumbags. I jumped into the van, pushed the clutch, started the motor and pulled in the reverse gear. I fixed the gas using my lead pipe and let the clutch go. I jumped away as the van jumped backwards with a howling engine, nevertheless the opened door got my head and knocked me out could as the van headed towards the incoming cars.
When I awoke groaning my head felt fuzzy, there was sticky half dried blood everywhere on my head. Also, the rest of my body felt so heavy I could barely move. I opened my eyes and looked onto a battlefield as soon as I had corrected the mask still fastened on my face. The street was obliterated with dead bodies, scorched, chopped apart or smashed to pieces by brute force. I shakily rose to my feet. The weaponry chests were dropped amidst the rubble. The van had crashed brutally in two cars, they were toppled, men squeezed like plumatos were in the crunched metal. Miss Sato – right – I´ve seen her fall to the floor. I stumbled around and found her body, my heard dropped as I saw the amount of blood and dust she was covered in. As her arm twitched broke in hysteric giggles. But where did this whimpering come from? "Miss Sato! Are you fine?" I asked yelling. She just groaned. She just stared at me, her green eyes brimming with pain. She then started sobbing, and then I heard screams – terrifying familiar screams…
Authors note: Shame on me for taking so long, but I just had too much work to do. A Master degree is not made with writing fanfics, sorry guys. Nevertheless some reviews would really pump me up.