Reason behind madness
Korra and Asami Sato were holding hands as I returned from the shrine, and they seemed to be whispering about something. Some of the still persistent onlookers were pointing fingers at them, without a doubt talking about them conducting sodomy in broad daylight. Most likely the bloody Republic Times would have another piece of hate speech ingrained on it´s front page tomorrow. I really had no clue which political color the newpaper had – because the republic times just fumed against EVERYTHING any kind of Republic establishment did. And it also fumed about anything that did not belong to the establishment – except their own newspaper, of course. Tenzin also was looking quite worried, since Me Lo would not part from his uncles urn.
The boy had simply taken it up from the altar, cradling the mug in front of his chest. As a priest approached to reming him at the necessary dignity the boy just struck with a forceful palmblast that sent the man sprawling all over the place. „Me Lo." his elder sister yipped shocked, while Toza just opened his mouth. „Me Lo, dear – please set down uncle Bumi." his mother responded, while she had tears glisting in her eyes. Her sons face was distorted in pain, as well as in a mightless rage. His free arm trembled as he shoved back his mother. „I just want to help you. Please let me help you Me Lo" Pema whimpered. „I -I swear a sun oath, a moon oath." the boy yelled, his creaking voice booming almost wondrously.
„I swear by her who judges and him who watches, by the ever changing wind and the eternal eart, by the running rivers and the burning flame – I will show you the spirit realms uncle Bumi. I´ll go where you were too aftraid to go, I´ll see their beauties for both of us ..." Pema had started sobbing, while her son looked almost like a young man. Tenzin frowned. „You´ll not travel into the spirit realms Me Lo. You´re returning to the temple with us." he responded decisively. „But I´ve sworn an oath..." the boy tried to justify his wish but it seemed the courage of a moment had faded. The spirit realms – that wasn´t a place for a child, to be precise that wasn´t a place for any living soul. I shuddered by the lone thought that somebody could willingly go there – to a place, where physics, time and space were warped and distorted into something the human mind could not understand. Even though I had never caught a glimpse of the place behind the bright column in the middle of republich city but the lone thought was terrifiying I had the strong urge to keep it that way. I even felt a bit uneasy that Sokka was living so close to this otherworldly place.
Just because I had survived an encouter with Kamis once I had no idea how it would be to enter their realms and see them in their true forms. To be able to do such a thing you most likely had to be the Avatar, a Bu Shin or a lunatic. Me Lo was staring at his father with a burning fury that reminded me at my youthful self. Tenzin stood firm and pointed at his huge airbison without saying another word. Me Los shoulders slumped as he obediently turned. Then he jolted upright again, lifted the mug, turned it and released one of the mighties airblasts I had ever withnessed. The rush of air made us stumble, little Rohan even fell on his face and started crying as fine ashes were dissipated in the wind, tumbling far away like a whitish breeze. The Sun was shining, so it was a beautiful sight. That was a lot more like the funeral Boomer had wished for. „You´ll not make uncle Bumi rot in some temple like a bloody monk!" Me Lo responded loudly. The priests were shocked, turning from white, to red, to white.
And finally the reserved Master Tenzin sunk on his knees, as silent cries escaped his had accepted that his brother was gone. His son looked at his father as if he had grown a second head, while his wife rushed to his side, cupped his head in her hands and pressed it into her bosom. „Holy shit Me Lo." Toza mumbled disbelievingly, while his sister just stared at her brother. Little Rohan however stopped crying as he noticed that nobody was looking at him. The little boy of course had not understood anything that went on in the temple and since nobody else seemed to be conscious of his presence I lowered myself in front of him. „Hello Ro Han." I tried to look as friendly as an old man with puffy eyes could look. The little fat Buddha stared at me with large, brownish eyes. He played with his dirth stained, little hands. I blew over his hands and wiped the dirt of using my sleeve. „So – now the hurt´s gone away isn´t it?" I stated in my baby voice. Yes, I´ve got a baby voice and usually women even deem this voice quite sexy – still I feel quite awkward using it. My squirt is a grown young lady and with other children – it´s strange somehow. „Who are you." he asked me while absentmindedly flexing his hands that were sporting some abrasions.
„I´m Lee." I responded, since I never had been a fan of titles I didn´t introduce myself as uncle Lee, which would make me seem even older than I already was. „Are you hungry?" I asked the little boy. I´ve never seen a happier child, Ro Han was glowing like the rejuvenated Budha. „YES!" he squeaked while raising his fists, the belly wobbled a tiny bit. „D-Do you have sweets?" his lips were glistening in desire. Of course I had no sweets on me, but I knew that it was quite common to offer sweets to Sousanoo. And since I had stolen quite a lot of sweets from the Sousanoo temple back in Shangyang I knew that the god of the winds didn´t care much about sweets, even though lore stated the opposite. „No I´ve got no sweets but good ol sousanoo certainly doesn´t mind if we eat some of his." I twinkled at the boy who was looking at me wideeyed. Since the rest of the family was still quite focussed on bawling – or in Ikkis case, arguing with priests – we made our exit undisturbed. The little kid was so exited it totally forgot the gravity that had been pushed down on him, since his uncle suddenly disappeared.
That should be what Ro Han understood, to have a complete understanding about the concept of dead would be expected too much of a four year old. And if I was correct his parents had not spared the time to tell him things properly up till now. I simply couldn´t picture Ten-Ten as somebody who told his children bitter truths willingly. We arrived in front of the side-altar, where the offerings were placed. Glazed lychee-nuts, Bananas, sweet buns and a lot of other sweets were placed in front of the altar, due to Me Los airblast they were of course toppled to some degree. Ro Hans eyes were gleaming, it was as if the little boy was staring straight into the heavens. I just picked him up, he was as heavy as Sokka had been when she was seven! The Boy at once gripped all sweets in the range of his little arms until he could hold no more. I put him down, while he already was nibbling on some read bean bun. I also had chosen a single bun. „To uncle Bumi." I spoke and ate the Bun, while making sure the boy was looking a me.
He even stopped eating his bun, as I mentioned Bumi. Ro Han looked at me. „So where is Uncle Bumi – will he come back? Mommy said he is death." he asked, an image of pure innocence. I gulped – luckily I had given a child this talk already because otherwise, I too might have been rather close to tearing up again. „No he is dead Ro Han, not death." I corrected him. „And that is the reason why uncle Bumi can not come back to us." the childs bottemlip was trembling as he tried to process the new information. „Because Uncle Bumis body didn´t put up with his injuries he passed on. And that means that he is in the spirit realms and of course looking at us – even though we can´t see him." I responded. The boy blinked. „Isn´t that were the shiny floating bubble things go?" he asked me with a wrinkled nose. He wasn´t sad anymore but interested. „The bubble things go to another place in the spirit realms but it can be quite well that they visit your uncle." I responded while feeling some restriction on my chest. I still spoke on with a gentle voice and a smile. At least I tried to smile but I had the impression I wasn´t very successful. „He´s with your grandfather now, and with some of his friends who died before him, so he´ll not be lonely." I explained. „A-And isn´t uncle Bumi hungry up there?" Ro Han asked while reminding himself that it was indignating to hold a half eaten bun in ones hands.
He started chewing furiously, while I frantically fought to stay serious. Children – they were even less fathomable than women! And that was the reason they were adorable in the first place. „No he isn´t hungy because in the spirit realms there is all the food one can imagine." I responded, as if I had a clue about the spirit realms. Ro Hans eyes were sparkling „I wanna go there!" he was enthused and drooled all over the place. That was not what I had planned. „Erm... Ro Han." I stammered as the Child raced off to his sister. „Look Ikki – Look what I have...And and when we go where uncle Bumi is there´ll be muuuch more! I wanna go there!" the child was piping up gleefully, while Ikki started crying as she patted her little brothers head. „You wanna come with me – just – just think about peanut leechy paste – giagantic heaps of if. Uncle Bumi will love it!" the kid babbled. „Oh – Ro Hand you sweet lil..." and there Ikki went again, while hugging her little brother with much vigor. The poor kid was shocked as his candies dropped from his arms and the filled buns were compressed to pancakes. „H-Hey! St-Stop squeezing the sugar foams, a-and the caramel-bonbons...noo the higisho no Sosanoo are dropping!" he protested weakly while standing stiff as a statue. How the HELL did a four year old child know the name of the sacramental five confiture buns, which were traditionally sacrificed too Sousanoo.
Damn, that was so hilarious I started grinning. Ro Han really was the strangest child I had ever encountered. Tenzin on the other hand seemed inconsolable, he was as bashed as I had been the day Bumi died. It was a heart wrenching sight, so I forcefully turned away and decided that every last onlooker should fuck off. I breathed deep, collecting chi in my lungs, they felt as if the were bursting. Then I yelled, my voice booming louder than it should be possible for a human. „You bloody little bastards get the fuck back to your homes. Listen to the officers! What kinda people can get off at crying people for hell´s sake! God´s damned perverts!" Fury simmered even higher as some people tried to push their way through the officers who had started using their bats on the roughly hundred pitiable saps that still weren´t going home.
I hurried towards them and simply delivered a punch to some assholes nose, which broke with a cracking sound. Damn – that felt good! I simply started plummeting airblasts into the people, luckily the officers stood out quite a bit. „Thirtythree!" the Avatars voice boomed. I went down into a crouch instinctively. The drills of the riot forces were still ingrained in my bones. Then water was hissing over me. The water-jet was as thick as a fist it simple blew the people from their feet, they were screaming. I looked back, Korra was moving fluid, her feets planted firm. There was no glow, but still – her jet was equaling one controlled by a whole squad of benders. The people ran away from the avatars fury, I too was dripping after she finally stopped. The commanding officer nodded. „Thank you for your assistance Avatar Korra." he bowed courtly. Yeah – no thanks for me, as always...
„Don´t sweat it boys." the Avatar responded with a dismissive wave of her hand. She again went into a bending stance and suddenly water-droplets shot out of my cloting. It felt totally strange to turn from soaking wet to dry in a mere instant. I tripped around feeling uneasy as did the cops. The vile Avatar smiled a crooked smile. I then closed up to her. „Hella creepy." I shook myself. „Bloody wets." I added. „Uh huh." she narrowed her azure eyes for a moment. „You´re such a sweetie – politely saying thank you Korra and all." she bickered to herself and returned to Asami. Tenzin left the temple, his wife was holding his arm as if he would collapse without her. Tenzin looked shitty – as did the rest of his family – most likely me included. „I guess one b down, two to go for a nice funeral." I responded. Korras head whipped around. „What?" she asked quizzical. „Just like Bumi said, a good funeral is like a good wedding, and a good wedding needs good bangs, good booze and good brawls." I smirked. The mighy avatar slapped my head. „God´s Lee." she sighed while shaking her head. Asami Sato had caught up to us again, since everybody was heading towards the two air-bisons that were hovering over the temple.
„Oogi." Tenzin whistled and the bigger animal landed in front of us. „Themudjin!" Me Lo called his bison, the boy still seemed broody. I guess somebody should have a closer eye on him in the coming weeks. He could actually do something quite stupid – like running straight through the spirit portal. „So..." I responded clasping my hands. While I prepared myself for saying goodbye in the coolest possible fashion. I was hugged sideways, dragonlily and lavender – quite the exclusive odor- flooded my nose. „HUH?" I was startled as Asami Sato hugged me. „Hey Lee." she responded, obviously content with my reaction. She broke the hug while I was still wondering about it. „You know where Chouw is?" I asked her, while barely keeping the emotion out of my voice. She smiled a short, sincere smile. „Yes, He´s at my place." the smile vanished. „Mako couldn´t bear the funeral, since he thinks he´s more at fault than everybody else." she explained. Well, he WAS! Without Mako Chow Bumi Son of Aang would most likely be alive, and the United Republic would be shaken by further acts of terror and violence in the near future. I breathed deeply. „He did the right thing. Don´t stop telling him that..." I responded and added with a sly grin „And make sure to name the child Bumi, Miss Sato." Avatar Korras eyes bulged as Asmi started looking like a strawtato. „W-Whoa...that progressed...FAST!" the Avatar responded baffled.
Her smile turned devious. „And – which holes did you dirtly little floozies use.. Come on give me details Sami." she teased the already stammering young woman while poking Asamis voluptous chest with her index finger. The sadness and gravity that had hung about everybody was slowly dissipating, I was grateful for that. Toza had listened to all of this and laughed loudly, even though his girlfriend was calling him an „insensible, boorish...man" In the meantime Me Lo had taken off on his airbison without waiting for anybody else. Tenzin helped Pema in the saddle, he didn´t scold us for behaving improper. „I – I – I asked you if you were ok - if - if it happened! A- A And it didn´t happen...yet." Asami responded stuttering, which sent the mighty avatar giggling until her backside hit the street. I just stood there dumbfounded. Why the hell would a girl ask her best friend if it was ok to fuck a guy? Women were fascinating - was this their kind of bros before hoes? „Oh gods. That was good!" she sighed while wiping her eyes. „You´re the worst Korra." Asami whimpered. „Eh..you´d like it better if I was clawing out your eyes for dating my ex, who was your ex before?" She quirked an eyebrow while Miss Sato shrunk to the size of a matchbox. Actually I wasn´t sure If I wanted to witness this conversation to progress further, it could turn really ugly in a split second. „No...and I´m... we´re really glad that you don´t." Asami responded while hugging her friend again. Damn, hopefully Sokka would never make such strange problems...
The Avatar frowned an amused frown – if I was correct – and added „You´re idiots! It´s not like you cheated on me or something. Also Mako isn´t that sexy anymore...Blegh – so much muscles!" she snickered. I still stood there as Tenzin, who had already taken a seat on the Bisons huge head, cleared his throath. „Well – as much as I hate to interrupt your little banter Korra, the buffet will be turning cold if we don´t return to airtemple island during this noon. So would you three please come up here? I guess Oogies legs start being tired." he spoke in his strange, polite manner. The Bison groaned while I wiped my nose – hopefully I wasn´t getting a cold. „Ok." I responded and propelled myself into the saddle. I´ve never ridden a flying beast before, so I was wondering what it was like. To be precise I was a tad nervous, since I never took a flight before. Flying and climbing on things were totally different, right? Then the Bison bowed it´s six legs, lifted the huge, furry tail and propelled itself into the air. It was smelling so musky that I wondered if one could manufacture perfume out of Bison sweat.
We simply rose into the air in a ninety degree angle, it was quite interesting. The animal didn´t rise very high, just about one or twohundred feet. Me Lo already was a white point close to Airtemple island. Oogie was really fast, almost as fast as a running oostrich horse. It still moved way to slow for generating such a speed. No wonder my father could outrun the firenation armies with such a beast. Today he of course would have had no chance anymore, it was astonishing how much the world had changed in the last hundred most likely it would keep on changing even faster, until I too was an old geezer who didn´t understand it anymore. I guess that is the way of the world. Korra and Asami where whispering until the Avatar squeaked and stared at her friend adorably. „th-thats´s – so sweet of you." she jipped smiling. „I´m sorry Lee, but I have to object against the last two b´s. There are children at the island." Tenzin apologized honestly and completely out of context. I quirked a brow – Tenzin should be able to party hard? I couldn´t believe that.
„You don´t need to quirk your brows." he chuckled „After all I decided to rebell against tradition and not honor the dying-words of my late brother." he stated triumphantly. I had to stiffle a laugh, my little brother was behaving quite cute, like a friggin schoolboy who decided to skip class for the first time. Even Pema was smiling and obviously biting her tongue. Ikki was already making out with her boyfriend – it seemed a least somebody was getting the three bs tonight.
Some ratpidgeons were sailing through the skies next to us. They left as my brothers home came into view. The large house still looked like thirty years ago. It was wondering if lady Katara was here, it could be possible, since the spirit portals had been opened. My spirits dropped into bottomless dephts – how should I look into her eyes and express my condolences? As I father I could imagine quite vividly that there was nothing more terrible than to bury your children. Stil I would not speak of it, since I wouldn´t ruin the mood before it was inevitable. The bison was led towards the stables, long flat buildings that had been erected close to the cliffs. Adorable bison calves were hovering around there next to their mothers.
The cuteness of these beasts, which easily surpassed a weight of a thousand stones, was creepy! I really didn´t want to know how many stones Oogie was weighing, or how much grass and leaves this giant consumed every day. I guessed Tenzins expenses for keeping his Bisons easily surpassed twentythousand yuan a year. Since I now was quite sure that no traitorous leech was able to hear us I finally asked a question that had been burning under my nails for three days. „Say Tenzin, would you know what´s up with Lin?" I asked, my voice croaking quite suspicious. The short silence that followed felt like eons. „No – I just know that she did NOT burn in her office like these liars from the press and the policeforce assume." he reassured me, it felt as if a mountain moved itself from my chest, a mountain I had not noticed before. Tenzin stared into nothingness. „Even though I am very worried. Lin is – difficult." he trailed off. Yeah – tell me something I don´t know brother, I frowned. This fight had cost Lin everything she had been proud of, her job, her status, her flat – even her precious surname! I feared that she would do some quite silly things, which was one reason more to search every nook and cranny of this gods damned city!
„And why can you be so sure? I mean, I too do not believe she went to work like nothing happened...But that´s no proof." I stated the obvious. Tenzin blinked and cleared his throath – and blinked. His wife finally took pity on her husband. „Tenzin at once went to see the dead body. It wasn´t fully scorched so he noticed that the woman had no black birthmark under her big toe – different from Lin." she explained while Tenzin turned away from me. I marvellend why Tenzin couldn´t tell me something like this himself. „I guess we should discuss this in more detail Tenzin." Korra responded in a stern voice. „Because I sure as hell will not sit idly by and wait until somebody really kills the Chief." she responded. The Chief – it felt strage to hear people referring to Lin with this title. Meanwhile the mighty Bison was decending towards the huge crib. Oogie let out a deep humming sound I could feel in my belly. Of course alkolytes were already waiting for Master Tenzin and his family to return.
My brother tossed the reigns towards a lean youn man. Ten he jumped from the bisons head and patted its big, wet nose. I got up and thought about lending Pema a hand, it was astonishing to see how agile the chubby woman slided down the bisons tail. Everybody else followed her until just me an Ro Hand were remaining. „Err.. Ro Han?" I asked the boy who remained immovable in his cushion. „Sit Down Lee – they´ll move the saddle for us." the child beamed without opening its eyes. „It´s awesome." he smiled. I sighed, shook my head and jumped out of the saddle, an airblast stopped my fall. „Oh – you´re a new airbender?" some young woman asked me surprised. „Yeah." I responded shrugging. It was convenient that a new airbending tribe had popped up after harmonic convergence. Since a majority of them were related to the former nomads air bending people with silver eyes weren´t such a rarity anymore and I could use my skills in relative safety. „This is Lee, a fried of my late brother." Tenzin intoduced me hastily. Even now he would not stand the shame to indroduce me as what I was – his brother.
Still there was the looming presence of Katara – what should I do when she was here? I had no idea. But since Tenzin did not say anything I assumed she wasn´t here. „Does your mother know Tenzin?" I asked while catching up to my brother, who was a talkaktive as a bookshelf. He breathed deeply. „Yes, she has decided to detach herself from the world." he responded with a strange hint of pride in his voice. „WHAT? You can´t let her kill herself Tenzin! Even if she´s an old woman!" I blurted. Everybody froze in their sudden movements. Tenzin halted in his steps while I looked at him with pure horror written over my face. „W-We must do something! I mean, it´s not right to commit suicide because somebody dies. Katara still has a family!" I babbled incomprehensibly as a warm brown hand slapped my forehead and interrupted the movement of my mouth. „Stop ranting Lee – Katara isn´t killing herself or something like that, she´s doing the rites of passage." Korra responded slightly annoyed. „It´s watertribe tradition that the wife of a fallen warrior – and if no wife is present his mother – weeps for him in solitude for three years." Korra explained. She added with a lower voice „Which is what Aunt Katara has decided."
I still did not get why anybody could accept such a stupid, outright idiotic tradition! Being alone had never helped anybody to deal with a loss! I frowned an agry frown. „That´s total bullcrap!" I griped. „how could you idiots let her do that? It´s certainly not helping anybody if she disappears into some abandoned hut and locks herself in like that!" I rambled. „Nobody´s gotten anything but frogsquirrel – crazy from things like that." I bitched on, while Asami nodded in consense. Tenzin shrugged. „It´s HER choice Lee, you can´t tell your elders what they have to do! And furthermore my mother never listened to the things people suggested she could or could not do." I sighed annoyed, actually he had hit home – no matter how much I disliked the fact that nobody could stop Katara from disappearing into the wilds of the south pole. You couldn´t ground an eighty year old woman in her room, could you? „Well – how about having a bite or two?" Ikki´s voice cut through the silence like a blade. „Yeah – that´s a good idea." Korra nodded and then we all w alked on towards the house. I still was not in the mood to talk about something. The wet´s were a crazy bunch, that much was true. Much to my wonder I had to notice that Avatar Aangs house still looked like thirty years ago – Tenzin hadn´t even changed the furnitures in his private wing.
Just some new items had been added, which made the rooms seem a tad less spacious than before. We entered the huge living room, in which a buffet had been prepared, sadly there was not even a hint of meat in the air. Vegetables, more vegetables and even more vegetables – the tastiest stuff were baked cheese loafs. Furthermore even the liquor cabinet was missing. Most likely Ping and the numerous friends of Bumi were celebrating his passing much more befitting than his family. Of course some alcolyte girls were tending to the buffet and we were directed towards the cushions that were spread all over the floor.
Cups and bowls were placed in front of us, but I could not find a single pair of chopsticks! Obviously nobody besides Asami Sato and me did find this strange. „Lee – you´re seeing the chopsticks?" Asami asked while scanning the room. I shook my head. Toza grinned. „It´s airnomad tradition to eat withous chopsticks – that´s a tradition I like." he responded while raising his bowl. One of the alkolyte girls filled the bowl with some kind of beansprout salad. I blinked, not even my father had eaten with his bare hands when he could have chopsticks. It seemed that my little brother was even more nomadish than the legendary„last airbender".
Sokka had told me about a monumental mover project that was conducted outside of republic city. Some of her watertribe girls were working on the set, which was rumored to consist out of close to twothousand people. Sokka actually had tried to be casted as princess Azula because her ladyfriends wanted it – of course she had been rejected due to quite obvious reasons. Still the squirt was fascinated about movers, sadly she had no interest in the chemical processes that led to the discoloration of the cellulose-vinegar based film stripes but the usually trivial contents of said movers. I myself also could only give an educated guess about it since varrik industries protected their knowlegde quite well. Since film became black I would tend towards either, a carbon producing reaction – which seems quite improbable – or something related towards the formation of copper or silver compounds from some kind of salt. That would explain why these guys needed alkaline fluids and were so strict about light exclusion when they processed the films. But Sokka of course was babbling about the mover being the „book of the future" - hilarious! As if something could replace books!
While I was musing, since the other people were talking about trivial things, somebody had filled my bowl with some kind of egg rice that contained more steamed vegetables than rice. It nevertheless tasted quite good, even though the cook definitely had missed out on spices. I drank some lychee juice, the slighlty sour juice definitely was not something Bumi would´ve called a drink, but it couldn´t be helped. The avatar obviously was rather busy teasing her friend, who whimpered like a schoolgirl at her rather inappropriate questions about her doings with inspector Chouw. Me Lo disappeared quite fast after eating his share. At least he excused himself, but his mother still looked worried. The little Ro Han on the other hand was in heaven, he ate and ate until he was so full he couldn´t even burp properly anymore. Then he simply leaned back in his orange cushion and started sleeping. It was much later, after me explaining the principle of nuclear fission, blabbering about the new satomobile XS turbo, as well as the saddening absence of a new polar bear marauder modell as well as even more technobabbling from Asamis side, that Tenzin finally rose to hold a speech. My brother looked rather imposing in his flowing robes, he managed to look serene despite having puffy eyes and a slightly unkempt beard.
The alkolytes at once paid attention, not that they would have participated or interrupted our conversation before. „Chrm... dear family, dear friends." he spoke in his slow, sophisticated way. He fidgeted with his hands and tugged on his beard as he continued. „We have been in a daze of sadness, disbelief and maybe even anger. The last week was a terrifying week for the citizens of the United Republic and especially for the people in this room." he paused, dammit Tenzin now my throath was tightening up again! „We have lost two people very dear to our hearts. My childhood friend Lin Bei Fong and my elder brother Bumi." my mouth twitched as I wanted to add some quite colorful remarks about Ten-Ten and Lin – childhoodfriends...
„But we can not forget that a terroristic organization has threathened the very place we live in, the ideal that those dear people devoted their lives to! The United Republic of four nations, a place where we do not dwell on the past but try to walk new paths humanity hasn´t trodden before. To see it threatened by insane humans who don´t value life itself reminds us that one sometimes has to forget his ideals to save them. I will not let this city go to shambles, not as a councilman and not as an air nomad." he paused again, my brother had become quite the politician. „Of course you all can make your own choices, dear friends. Still I would be content to know you at my side, since the squirreltoad is an outright frightening organization a politician can not face without substancial support from the police, the industry and other forces of order." he closed his eyes.
„Still these all are topics for another day, since today we celebrate the passing of Bumi – and of Lin." there was a strange tone in his voice that made my hair stand up. Was Tenzin truly believing that Lin was dead by now? Even if he knew that she hadn´t died in the murderous attempt? „I know that you alcolytes partake greatly in the joys and sufferings of my family, but please understand that on such a day we all would like to contemplate about life and death in the close circle of family." he stated and nodded towards his servants. The orange robed people bowed formally and humbly disappeared out of the large room without uttering as much as a word.
Brr – that wasn´t nomadly at all, I felt l as if I was in a bloody temple right now. My brother seated himself, looking outright exhausted. „Well – we have some serious things to discuss." he sighed. „Ikki – please spent the afternoon as you wish. Junior Gyatso has already prepared two cards for the newest Noatak mover, in the case you´d like to attend it." he simply complimented his daughter out of the room. Much more disturbing was that Ikki did not even try to rebel against her father. She simply nodded, got up and waved her hand. Toza followed her as if he was in some trance. The poor boy just was totally disturbed at Tenzins actions. I too was – I hadn´t thought that Tenzin was such a levelheaded person if things got ugly. I myself also wouldn´t have wanted a fourteen year old teenager listen to serious business like this. Much to my wonder Pema also rose. „I´m sorry but before I ´m Tenzins wife I´m the mother of my children. And as such it is my duty to be there when they need me." she did not wait for any responses, not that I wouldn´t have understood her angle. Asami Sato frowned – she had no children after all. „So, can we begin?" Tenzin asked in the rather small round. „Yes, I will fill Mako in later, he of course is in on this." Asami reassured the airbender. Korra too turned serious and set down her cup of tea.
„Chrm...it may be astonishing for the most of you but I never was really... surprised about what happened." Tenzin stated silently. „WHAT!" I blurted, how could he say something like that so casually! „Y-You KNEW that some Dai-Li Fucktartds would go on a rampage and didn´t do a fucking thing? Just what kinda fucked up council are ya!" I rambled, while my patience again was wearing thin. I wasn´t used to political intrigues, schemes and the likes – I just have been a hard working, honest man for the majority of my life. And this feeling of utter helplessnes in such a situation was really infuriating. I balled my fists as I tried to calm myself. My brother seemed unfazed – obviously he had expected something like my outrage since he continued dryly. „Knowing about something and knowing about how and when to prevent it are two different things Lee. Please just listen, I´m a professional politician for close to fifteen years right now – let me do my job." there was an iron in Tenzin voice I never felt before. I breathed deeply and nodded.
„When prince Wu declined the crown, which in his situation was the thing anyone with commonsense would´ve done, we all knew that there was a storm brewing in the underground of the earthern nations. That is why the united forces have been prepared for war since then. We knew that the Dai-Li were operating in the shadows and that certain Lords were covering and supporting them. There is a strong monarchistic cult ingrained in the people, which is nothing a few years of unrest, or education, can erase. The most important figures in this context are the member of the Ling household, which have a wide influence on the nobility. Not at least because they can trace back their lineage to the first jade emperor an could produce an heir to the jade throne." he responded in Korras direction. The Avatar licked her lips at that. „They also are very whealthy since they could size most of their old properties after Kuvira´s imprisonment." he responded. „The most prominent supporter of Dai Li is one of the younger Lords, Kuang Ling." Asami Sato added. „I tried to do some business with im, since his lands on the plains of Chu Da were devastated quite badly in the course of the reconquest of the earth nations and I felt the obligation to help his people get back on their feet." she looked disgusted.
„I had to knee him in his private parts during the first evening I spent as his guest. He is a savage, exploiting bastard. His peasants are whipped regularly, I couldn´t see a single servant who had no whip-marks on his back. Furthermore the man has quite the short temper and is a traditionalist through and through. After a week I had to return home since the only offer I could get from him was becoming his seventh wife." she reported in an icy voice that made Korra utter a bunch of curses under her breath. Yep – that sounded precisely like a man who would flock the whole upper class of the earth kingdoms behind him! How my people could be so unbelievably dense and obedient was something I couldn´t grasp. „And what did you DO?" I asked Tenzin. He cleared his throath. „The United Republic didn´t do anything besides stopping trade deals with the Ling clan. I on the other hand used the fact that nobody is suspicious of bald headed, vegetarian monks." his eyes were sparkling in merryment. „Some of my trusting alcolytes had assigned themselves to the task of finding airbenders in the plains of Chu da. And since they were doing that they couldn´t help but notice things. Curiosity is crucial for enlightenment and such." I almost started laughing, I never would have thought that Ten-Ten would deploy spies.
„They found out a couple of abandoned iron mines had resumed their production in secrecy. Also heavily guarded strorage houses had been erected close to the Ling´s strongholds. Also the prices for pure sulfur and bird-excrements rose significantly in the region. We finally could observe a lot of veteran soldiers flocking in the the plains, which led to quite the conflicts with the populace." he explained. Yes, it seemed that the plains of Chu-Da were indeed breeding a revolution. „And about the Dai Li?" Korra asked. She was worried about the important part. You could not fight an enemy that was invisible. Tenzin sighed and scratched his beard. „Despite the fact that some of them openly patrol the gardens of Kuang Lings palace I guess nothing is known, right Tenzin?" Asami asked the older man. He nodded gravely. „Indeed we couldn´t find out much more. We just know that the number of Dai Li drastically decreased under Kuvira´s rule. They had to hide, their funds and assets were frozen and a bunch of them executed." he retold common knowledge. „And what is with the officials in Rep City, the earthnation Councilman?" I asked Tenzin. He nodded.
„The officials – well I also sapped on sources from the Republic City secret police. There are some earth nation moles identified in our administration that could prove a problem if war broke out. But unless this happens we should not have to concern ourselves with them. Of course we can be wrong about that but since the transfer of money is impossible due to currency issues and various control mechanisms we can be sure there is no open support for the Ling´s. And what concerns Bao Bao He – I would vouch for him myself. He is a loyal man who takes his obligations to the Republic very seriously. Furthermore he isn´t stemming from nobility, which means it´s of vital interest to him that the Ling´s don´t size power in the earthern nations. He most likely would be executed, along with a large number of leading officials, if the monarchists were to set up a new administration and executive." he explained. Korra pinched her nose.
„That doesn´t look like we simply can waltz in there and take in some people. Even though I´m the avatar - I´m no army." she smiled sadly. „Of course not. That is the reason why I have been exchanging letters with the defense minister of the fire nation for more than a year. Lin of course also was heavily involved in the whole matter." Tenzin explained. My eyes bulged, as did the ones of Asami and Korra. These two had known what danger was looming over the city and they had kept it to themselves as if – as if nobody else could´ve helped them shouldering it? I frowned. Korra sighed in defeat. She didn´t argue back. Obviously she knew that Tenzin had had quite profound reasons to not tell her about this. Well, my brother at least had had a wife to share these stories with I guessed. On the other hand – I had no idea what my brother told Pema, if he told her anything at all.
„To be frank Tenzin, I´ve no clue what I can do, or what anyone besides Korra could do against this, besides spending money for propaganda campaigns and joining the assault of the United forces when the time comes." I stated gloomy. The only thing I COULD do was searching for Lin, which didn´t have much to do with operation squirreltoad. „What worries me is the fact that Lin was killed, hence we have no idea who will turn the new Chief of police. And this could be a crucial issue, since you know just how powerful the force is. Especially since we don´t have any kind of military here." Asami stated the obvious. For a moment Tenzin seemed troubled. „Yes – that is worrying me too. It was not wholly unexpected however." he cleared his throath.
„Lin Bei Fong became highly respected by the media over her years as Chief, but – she never was really suited for the job." he responded with a sad smile. I just nodded in consent while Korra looked baffled. „She was too just, and too socially awkward for it. Her own Cops were doubting her, or at least a large group of them was and she wasn´t able to inspire them - nor was she able to make them cower in fear like her mother did. Lin imprisoned or fired more cops in two years than her mother did in a decade. She always stuck to the book if it was about corruption or excessive violence towards prisoners, which in the long run was wrong." Tenzin sighed in defeat. „I ´d told her as she took up the badge that it was a silly idea, but stubborn as all Bei Fongs are she insisted that she had to do it." he shook his head. „Did she at least suggest somebody to follow in her footsteps?" I asked while my heart was skipping a beat, that actually was our last ray of hope in this case.
„Because if Saikhan gets into her chair we can start handing out badges to criminals and fire nation nationalists Tenzin." I responded while a hint of anger crept into my voice. This gods damned prick still was not in jail, it was highly irksome! Tenzin rose. „Indeed. I´m going to fetch some papers." he responded. He had been quite prepared for this day and I wondered if he even had planned his collapse in the temple. Tenzin had become a schemer without anybody noticing it, he was as changed as little Linny! Indeed Tenzin just went to a small cupboard, opened it´s upper drawer and too out a paper he then planted under my nose. It was covered with neat, calligraphic letters. This was Lin´s writing. I started reading.
Highly respected Council of the Four nations,
if this paper is presented to you by Tenzin, Son of Aang or his legitimate successor and attorney I am no longer able to fullfill my duties as the Chief of Police. I apologize for not being able to fullfill my position until proper retirement. Most likely an attempt on my life will have succeded and I have to trust this Council to deliver justice in my case. However it is of far greater importance to find a proper sucessor for my position than to investigate who orchestrated my murder. Since I am not aware of personal grievances that could lead to somebody resulting to violence my death has to be related towards my function of Chief of police. Like my mother I would like to suggest persons which I deem worthy of taking over my position as head of police. I would like to recommend the following officers due to their exemplary dedication towards the United Republic, as well as their leading expertise that may surpass my own;
I sign in full possesion of sanity, Sixth of the ape, 65 after the Peace of Miyako
Lin Bei Fong
I blinked „Why the heck aren´t any names written there?" I asked astonished. Not even Lin could be obnoxious or overworked enough to forget the most important part of a document! Tenzin chuckled. „Come on Ten-Ten don´t fucking chuckle at me!" his smile vanished at the sound of his hated nickname. „Not even Lin would be overworked enough to forget the most important Kanjis of this meticulously written letter!" I fumed. „Have you eradicated them or what?" I waved the paper around carelessly until I noticed that this would not be good for the waxen seal of the Bei Fong Household that had been attached at it´s bottom left corner. „Lin didn´t write this letter Lee – I did. It seem´s my calligraphy lessons ARE paying off." my little brother admitted silently. „T-Tenzin? S-Since when are you a – a criminal mastermind?" Korra blurted shocked, I was too stunned to utter a word. „It´s important that a civilized man has a large variety of skills. Usually I tend to replicate historic scrolls as a hobby, which you´ve always deemed a pointless quirk, dear Korra." he replied smugly. Suddenly my brother seemed much more imposing than ever. He literally seemed taller than me for the first time in my life. Asami scratched her nose. „What´re you making a fuzz about – Tenzin is a politican." she just shrugged as if it were perfectly normal for politicians to be skilled in forging documents. Korra just shook her had in daze. „Lee- you´re looking as if you had eaten an unripe plumato." Asami commented my facial expression.
„Y-Yeah. That STILL doesn´t explain why there are no names written!" I triumphed, trying to save my dignity. Tenzin sighed. „Elder brother Lee, please behave your age." he grumbled not noticing what he actually said. There was an utter silence in which Tenzin flushed a bright red. I wasn´t saying a word. „ Tenzin. This isn´t the time for jokes or some of you philosophic remarks - Shall we name the officers to put there?" Korra responded chiding her mentor. Then she stared at me since I wasn´t making any efforts to deny the truth of these words. Ten Ten had brought this over himself and even if I was not particularly thrilled about being his halfbrother – since it simply was a fact – I wouldn´t lie. „And since when are you calling people brother? You´ve only ever done this to Bumi..." Korra quirked her left eyebrow, she seemed to have caught up finally. „Well – Avatar Aang had four children, which is a story we can or can not discuss once we´re finished with the business at hand." I responded descisive, because Ten-Ten was quite out of it. Korra still stared at me. „Did you run away from home as a teenager? Why aren´t there any pictures of you here?" she asked, obviously more interested in my background than in the important question. „As Lee said, we´re talking about this later." Tenzin responded looking sickly pale. I wasn´t getting what his problem was – he wasn´t my father and the man who was had left the world long ago.
Furthermore I highly doubted that anybody in this room wanted to dirty Avatar Aangs name. „And indeed I wasn´t highstrung enough to simply add some names here, even though the person whose input I would´ve needed most ist not present right now." he responded. I nodded, Mako Chouw indeed could have mentioned some people. I was staring in front of me as I tried to figure out what we could do right now. Of course there was Ping, who definitely had something to back up his claim. He was loyal, well liked and surprisingly organized. Also he was the Captain of the individual Crimes division, which was the division Lin had served in before becoming Chief. And Ping most likely had served some time in the riot squads, as almost every earthbending member of the police force on top of that. „What´s about Ping Hungshu?" I asked Tenzin. „I vouch for the pal." I stated. Tenzins brows furrowed, „wasn´t that the man Bumi went partying with quite regularly? I mean – that´s not what a Chief of police is supposed to do." He whimpered. „He is a good man. He´s there when he´s needed and he definitely is loyal to our course." Asami added. With a small voice she added „he was with us when we...chrm...did the thing." she stared at her hand ashamed. Korra patted her friends back.
„How old is this guy? I think Lin would´ve nominated somebody who was younger than her. So is he in his thirties?`" the Avatar asked. I chuckled. „He certainly would like that, but actually Ping is very close to my age. We´ve started in the forces together, which is quite some years down the yellow river." I responded truthfully. „But why don´t we take Mr. Chouw himself? He´s got the achievements, he´s loyal and quite young." I responded until I mesmerized that Mako Chouw was TOO young for being a Chief. „Yes Lee, we definitly should run Me Lo for councilman." Tenzin remarked sarcastically. I shrugged. „Hell Tenzin, I don´t even have an elementary school certificate so what the hell should I know about politics!"
Tenzin was a politician, so he simply should make a choice! „Mako would take up the position if it was offered to him – he might even be ready for it - but nobody will believe that." Asami responded. „He´s just twentysix." she shook her head. „If this Mr. Hungshu is loyal than we should take him. Or..." she was scratching her chin. „Could you squeeze something else in there Tenzin?" the older man looked at Miss Sato with renewed interest. „What are you suggesting?" he asked her. „Well... how about Mr. Hungshu is chosen under a condition – for example Mako taking over his current position." she responded.
„Since the individual crime division handles everything that is not related to gang-violence the position of it´s Captain is really important for us." she explained. I hadn´t thought about that, luckily I wasn´t running a company like Miss Sato. Tenzin nodded. „That is quite the relief because I would´ve liked to see Mako in this position. It is suitable and indeed of high strategic interest." he explained. „The Ling Household is a way too mighty opponent for crushing it head on. And if Lee vouches for somebody – that says a lot." he nodded. Indeed I wasn´t somebody who vouched lightly. For example I definitely would not vouch for the integrity of Avatar Korra, Miss Sato or Tenzin! Thats not so because I didn´t think they were good people. The reason was that I grew up in Shangyang, where vouching literally meant putting your and your families lives on the line for a mans reputation! „ I personally would like to suggest Captain Lung, who is quite popular in the Riot forces, which are also a quite important part of the forces, since they basically are our military." he responded. „But if I were Lee I would not vouch." he responded with a slight smile. „So we´re taking Mr. Hungshu." he clapped his hands.
„I´ll prepare the scroll lateron, because it is quite time consuming to forge something like that. I´m no professional!" he smiled an almost boyish smile. There was a long silence. „Thank you Asami, you´ve given quite the inspirational contributions." Tenzin thanked the young woman. „Well, there is another topic everybody has avoided up till now." I responded. I was feeling quite unwell but searching Lin was almost as important as setting up these political shenangians! Also we should discuss if somebody on this table had connections to mercenaries, gangers or some people who would kill for nothing besides gold. „At first there is the question of somebody had connections to the golden Shirshus or something the likes." I asked. Asami looked quite frustrated. „No – of course not! Why does eveybody think I´ve hired armies? Really, I´m just a sickeningly rich merchant!" she tried to explain to us. I smiled a crooked smile. „What? It´s the truth!" she insisted. „You may not have connections to the golden shirshus and the terras. But some of your subordinates definitely have." I responded. She seemed somehow taken abhack.
„Are you talking about the ruckus Harada caused in Lau An?" she asked me baffled. I smiled, so that bloody bastard finally HAD overdone it!My day had turned a lot more bearable now. „For example." I responded. „Of course such people are needed where such large sums flow Miss Sato. I mean, every nation employs people like these, even if they are just kept in the basement for the – what IF case." I eyed Tenzin. My brother sighed in defeat. „I hoped I never would have to resort to such methods." I felt quite bad for pressuring him into something so dishonorable. „But the Council of course has contacts, still I alone can´t do anything – that is the nature of the Contracts we made with the village of the dawn." he responded yipped loudly. „The village of the dawn? Like in the most proficient assasins of the watertribes?!" I was baffled, there were horrid tales told about the village of the dawn. Of men who killed their own firstborns for the bloodgod. Of assasins that killed without fail, for their targets weight in silver. It was told that you had to contact them on a new moon, that they were devils without a soul. Bloodbenders and warriors that could easily take on a tenfold number of opponents. „B-But they´re DEMONS Tenzin!" Korra was outraged and plainly shocked.
Every one of her words hit the core of the Councilmans heart. „I don´t like the thought of doing it Korra! Who was saying that doing nothing can be as big a crime a doing something wicked!" He yelled at her, obviously offended. „Please, everybody calm down!" Asami Sato roase from her seat groaning like an old woman. Obviously she wasn´t used to sitting in the lotus position. „We don´t have done anything yet. So there is nobody to blame for anything." she responded. „So, Korra – you are obviously against relying on this village of the dawn." she responded. „Of course – every decent human being is!" the Avatar ranted. „The village of the dawn is like the charred men Asami!" she rambled. „Just that it´s real!" Korra insisted. I just shrugged. „the charred man is a symbol of fear. Of course there are men that are even scarier, but that doesn´t change the fact that I don´t have an alternative to assasinating the heads of the Ling Household." I admitted. „If that´s what you plan to do Tenzin...I – really just want to stick my head between my legs an stay the hell outta this." I admitted, while the sheer dimension of the conflict that killed Bumi almost made my head explode. Tenzin looked furious.
„We can´t stay out of this! Maybe you can Lee, but I can not. I will not see this world in a second dark age!" he responded descisive. Korra looked at Tenzin, she was cradling her head in her hands. „I don´t condemn you Tenzin. I – I don´t know what we should do anymore. I´m aftraid to stare in this hell." the Avatar croaked, she seemde dangerously close to crying. „I just wanted to be a girl named Korra – gods I never wanted to start a war – or assasinate people. But if I can prevent a war, I´ll do anything to prevent it." she responded. It hurt me to see such a young woman so desperate. „So that´d be the price to pay? Would it really stop after killing Kuang Ling and his elders." Asami gulped. „That´s what we have to find out. We don´t need Assasins, we need spies Tenzin – I´ll set out large sums for information. Information is the weapon of a merchant." Asami responded. „I´ll talk with people to find out what stands behind this Colonel Chun." she still had fear in her eyes as she spoke this mans name.
„Before we don´t know who this man is – and who helped him be what he is we can´t start killing people!" he voice was brimming with determination. Tenzin nodded. „Of course we can´t. And there are already people working on this. I´ve had meetings with the Firelord and her security advisors. The earthern kingdoms are a ticking timebomb we never should´ve mingled with." he sighed and added some colorful curses I had not deemed Tenzin capable of. He still blushed afterwards. „So, what can we do to help you Tenzin?" I asked my brother, because I´ve always been a fan of the doctrine, know as much as you need to know, but no tad more! My brother laughed a sarcastic laugh.
„Nothing. The only thing Korra can do is standing up against monarchy – in public." he responded. Korra gulped. „Isn´t that total bullshit Tenzin? How shall I, as a Chieftains daughter, stand up against monarchy?" she asked quirking an eyebrow. Well, that was indeed a difficult thing. „You´re the Avatar, that´s an advantage in this case." Asami responded. „You´ll never inherit your fathers position. From a political point of view it´s as if you hadn´t any parents." she smiled. „Especially the conservative earth nation people will believe that." she explained. Korra still seemed not comfortable with making propaganda. To be truthful – the people weren´t overly fond of Avatar Korra since she had made quite the mistakes. And the people weren´t very forgiving. „Well – I for my part will search for Lin until somebody finds her." I responded. If anybody was saying a word against it I simply would ignore it. „That´s goo Lee." Tenzin responded, he seemed rather torn. We sat there – was everything said? My head was almost spinning from all the new informations.
Authors note:
So my dear readers, you didn´t thing I would NOT give reasons for team squirreltoad doing what it did, didn´t you? Well now you have it... From now on our humble Airbending teacher will be in EPIC TENZIN MODE for quite a bit, since he has to be a real politician after all. The pal practically was raised for his job since infancy xD. So, reviews please.