Chapter Six:
A guard struggled and kicked against his restraints, a couple others hurried over to his side. "You need to warm the boss."
The two guards ran across the yard to get over to the warden's office. One of them lifted up his radio, but then tripped to the ground. The other turned and saw a group coming towards him.
The leader of the group drew sword and swung it. The ground under the guard gave way, and he soon hit his head on the earth. The resistance members approached the guards and then restrained them.
Kuma's group continued across the yard, when shot got to a fence shot cut straight through it with two swift strokes. A group of guards converged on them, and Kuma swung a wide stroke all around herself. Pieces of rock and earth flew at the guards, who tried to defend themselves.
The resistance members dodged scattered fireblasts, and retaliated with bolas. Kuma continued to hack and slash forwards, and the guards backed off to avoid her. She soon came across the next fence and hacked it down.
As Kuma moved across the next yard a pair of spotlights shone onto her. She let out a pair of wide slashes, and the tower began to buckle. There support legs creaked and groaned under the weight, and more resistance fighters pushed and shoved and the earth around them.
The guard towers collapsed to the ground, and the resistance pushed forward. Shots from various guards continued coming at them, but Kuma guarded them fiercely, and they kept there distance.
They all soon came across one of the cell blocks. They blasted a hole through the hall and stepped into a cell. The prisoner stared at them in disbelief. "Who are you guys?"
"The Republic City Resistance." Kuma replied.
"Your breaking me out?" he said.
"We plan to take back this prison from the White Lotus regime." said Kuma.
"So I go free?"
"If you join us, I will seek a sentence reduction for you."
"Kuma..." said a resistance member."
"I know there are plenty of criminals as well as well as political prisoners." Kuma said. "But we need everyone we have".
"Look if you help me, I can help you." said the prisoner.
"Okay fine." said Kuma.
The prisoner looked out into the hall. "Hey guys, wake up." he yelled. "It's time for a riot."
The nearby prisoners looked over to his cell in confusion, but then noticed everyone inside of it. Kuma cut through the cell bars, and then stepped into the hallways. She walked down, cutting and slashing the various cells. The prisoners eagerly joined with the resistance fighters.
A group appeared down the hall, then looked in terror seeing how prisoners were out. They tried to run, but the prisoners mobbed at them. They punched and kicked at the guards, who struggled to escape. Kuma pointed her sword at the prisoners. "That is enough." she barked.
The prisoners reluctantly stopped attacking the guards and continued down the hall. Kuma and the resistance fighter followed them, and tied up the guards.
I crept up on a man with a radio. "What's going on over there?" he shouted.
"We've got an attack on Block D." the voice replied. "Kuma Beifong is among them."
"Alright I..." the man stopped as he noticed me.
He swung his club at me, but I ducked and sent two quick jabs at his gut. I blocked another swing, and punched him a couple more times with my free hand. He slumped over to the ground.
Akio and a few other fighters joined me. "What's going on over there?" said the voice on the radio.
"Say that nothing is up." Akio said.
When the guard hesitated, I put my hand near the cell release button and wiggled my finger. The guard looked at me in surprise, then reluctantly lifted his radio to his mouth. "Everything is under control," he said.
We then tied up the guard and continued down the hallway. As soon as I saw a guard I hurled a bola at him. A few more emerged around the corner, and clashed with the resistance fighters. They swung there clubs furiously, but were stunned by precise punches. The inmates were awakened by the commotion. "Let us out!" one yelled.
"Should we?" I asked.
"I don't think we can handle a full scale uprising." Akio said.
"Oh c'mon!" the inmate shouted as we walked away.
After awhile one of the resistance members pointed out an inmate. "I know this guy."
The inmate perked up when he saw his friend. "Can you help me?" he said.
A few resistance members pulled and tugged at the bars until they snapped. "Thanks man."
I asked the man if he had seen my father. He put his finger to his head while trying to recollect. He then let out a faint sigh. "Don't think I've seen someone like that."
"We'll keep looking." Akio assured.
As the comotion grew, more and more guards began to intervene. On both sides they were flooding down the hallways, leaving no escape. The earthbenders in our group shot up a pair of walls to block them off. "Are you trying to trap..." Akio tried to say.
Before he could finish the earthbenders began making punching motions, sending rocks flying at the guards. I looked through the holes and saw being beaten back by the pelting. By the time the walls were down, most of the guards were on the ground. "Never mind". Akio admitted.
We moved on, easily taking down any guards still standing. We found a few more resistance affiliated prisoners and set them free. I asked them about my father, but none of them had seen him. "Maybe he is in another block." Akio suggested.
I was not about to give up hope. I knew that I would have my family back, no matter what it took.
Arashi sat in his office late at night when an aid rushed in. "It's the resistance." he shouted.
Ever since the Avatar's escape, they had been awfully quiet. Dealing with them was the Triad's job, not his. "What is it?" Arashi asked.
"They are taking over Broad Bend Prison."
"Then send everyone!" Arashi shouted.
He had just begun the big transfer, and then this. Then he thought of what he could do the resistance members when he captured them. The prison would be heaven compared to the alternative.
The aid quickly ran to the nearest barracks, and approached the guard. "Broad Bend is being taken over." he said. "Mobilize the troops."
The White Lotus troops were soon roused and ready for battle. They marched down the streets towards the prison. When the got there they saw collapsed towers and holes in the fences. The guards were scattered on the ground, tied up or half buried. "They attacked so quickly and suddenly." a guard groaned.
"It was Kuma Beifong." said another.
The commander lifted a megaphone. "In the name of Arashi and the White Lotus, come out and surrender." he declared.
There was no response. He lifted the megaphone again. "We have you all surrounded." He said. "There is no escape for you. You must surrender before we storm the premises."
The White Lotus soldiers stood waiting for a response. They watched all of the blocks carefully, waiting for someone to step out. Hopefully they would be coming out to admit defeat. Still there was no response. They kept patient, hoping something would happen.
Suddenly a massive boulder flew out of the main block. All of the earthbenders pushed hard on it. They were able to slow it down, but it kept coming at them. As it neared the ground, the White Lotus soldiers scattered before it impacted on the ground.
"Alright you have made your decision!" shouted the commander