Chapter 12:

I followed Kuma and the rest of the resistance members into a back alley. We walked down a flight of steps and to a door. After a brief pause the door opened and we all stepped in to a sparsely furnished basement.

We all found various benches and chairs to sit down on. We all looked at each other with vacant expressions. Our eyes drifted back and forth from person to person, hoping that someone had something to say.

The room was filled with a heavy blanket of silence, broken only by occasional sighs. We all wish that we had answers to the question, but we could not think of anything.

Ghasiun and his few loyal company men walked the streets to get a vibe of the area, and it was not a good one. He saw Triad members rushing up and down the streets. Even though the Triads did not seem to pay attention to him, he still decided to stay away from them.

He lead his men down the back alleys, cautiously peering around every corner. Suddenly they ran into another group. He is his men froze in fear. The group lifted up there hands and reached at there waists.

He soon realized the men were not White Lotus or Triad members, but that they were Resistance. "You guys were the people I was looking for." he said.

"And what do you want with us." replied one of the resistance members.

"I can help you." he said. "But you must help us first."

"Well you stepped onto an active battlefield." said another resistance member. "A big oof chef."

After travelling through the alley the group came across a street full of battling Triads. Blasts of fire, and water of water came back and forth. "Any other way?" Ghashiun asked.

"Doesn't look like it." said a resistance member."

"Then how do we make it."

Two of the resistance members crept up to the corners of the alley. "Three, two, one, Now!"

Seeing everyone else bolt forward made him rush with the crowd. The earthbender quickly erected walls. He heard the shake but resisted the urge to look side to side, keeping his eyes forward. He soon got to the alley on the other side.

As they continued running he heard the sound of a fireblast behind him. He glanced back and saw a waterbender catch the blast, and an earthbender threw pointed rocks.

"Where exactly are we going?"

One of the resistance members looked over at him. "And what exactly are you going to do for us?"

"Never mind, we'll discuss those both later."

When the group rounded a bend them came across a group of Red Monsoons. He and his company men stepped back to let the Resistance do the fighting. An earthbender lifted his hands up and rocks fell from the buildings. As the Triads lifted up cushions of water, bolas came at them.

One of the men lunged at him with a flailing whip. He barely ducked under a swing, and then cowered as the man came closer. He put his hands up as in impotent defense as the man lifted his whip. Before he could bring it down, he froze and then collapsed. A resistance member with a shock glove stood where the Triad had previously.

Upon seeing the Resistance Members overpower the remaining Triads, he and his men got up and continued moving. They soon ran into a vicious brawl between Red Monsoons and Agni Kais.

A resistance member through a grenade among the battling Triads and the earthbenders quickly built up a wall to isolate the gas. They then turned to the nearest building and made a ladder on the facade.

Ghashiun climbed up the improvised ladder, grabbing each ledge as hard as he could. The resistance members quickly scampered up, and were at the top while he and his company men were still climbing. When he got close, a hand came down and he reached for it.

The hand quickly yanked him up, scraping his knees in the process. When he got to the roof he awkwardly stood up and looked to the other buildings. "Now what?" he asked.

The earthbender gestured to a nearby building and a bridge appeared. The group crossed over and he looked down and saw the Triads caught in the billowing gas. Some of them struggled, but others were slumped over on the street.

The group continued across buildings until they went back down onto the streets. They navigated the streets, going around twists and turns. Then they found themselves in the middle of a large street.

Ghashiun looked side to side nervously. "Guys we are in big trouble."

From both sides, large amounts of Triad gangsters came at them. From the Agni Kais came intense blasts of heat, which was responded to by flying shards of ice. The resistance fighters quickly dashed out of the way.

Then suddenly a mecha jumped down from a rooftop and slammed into the street. On impact it left a large crater. It then waved it's arms sending waves of rock in both directions. The group climbed up one of the buildings and looked down to see a group of White Lotus soldier battling the gangsters.

The group went from roof to roof until going back down back to the street. A group of Agni Kais charged at them, but where thrown to the ground by a sharp gust. A Resistance Member threw a gas grenade, then the group went down an alley.

Kosuke was sitting in his office when the door suddenly burst open. In walked in Arashi followed by his men. Kosuke would have greeted him, but he could tell from his face and body language that this was not a pleasant visit.

Arashi grabbed Kosuke by the shoulders and dragged him out of his chair. "This alliance was to create a profitable peace between the Triads." he snarled. "Now there is a full fledged gang war, and I have heard from multiple sources that your gang were the aggressors."

"That's impossible." Kosuke replied. "My men have reported being attacked without provocation."

He looked and saw Arashi did not seem convinced. He lifted his hand and a whip of water emerged. "Wait, I think I now how it happened."

"Explain." Arashi snarled.

Kosuke took a few deep breaths. "There is a member of my Triad who was made multiple statements disparaging firebenders. He often refers to them by a slur, 'flamers'."

Arashi leaned in. "Give me a name."

"Isuel"

Arashi stepped back. "Once he has been made as an example, I'm sure business can resume."

I heard a knock at the door and Kuma stood up and marched towards it. She opened up the peepdoor. "Who do you have with you?" she asked. "Okay I will let them in."

She opened up the door and a group of Resistance fighters entered, followed by a strange group of men. "Who might you be?" Kuma asked.

"My name is Ghashiun and I am the CEO of Future Industries." he said. "Former CEO." he then added.

"And what might we want with you?"

"I know where the Mecha are built."