Chapter 14: the Slave trade

Jin had been stepping Longshot through her plan, gesturing to a hand drawn map of the area. But as she saw Lee enter the room, she fell silent mid sentence and crumpled the paper unconsciously in her small fist. "What are you doing here? You're being followed by the Dai Li. Remember?"

"I lost him at the tunnel to the middle ring. He's probably still waiting outside the restaurant."

"And if someone sees you out of the upper ring, they're going to know where the tunnel is." She groaned. "You never think things through."

"I do think things through! I'll be back in a few hours. There won't be a problem."

Jin massaged her temples. He was so stubborn. It probably wouldn't be as annoying if she wasn't stubborn as well. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"I'm leading the mission."

"Oh, no, you aren't. I've told you that several times."

"And I'm not listening to you anymore."

"That's obvious. Longshot can handle it. He knows the plan."

"Has the plan changed since you last told me?"

"…No. But that doesn't matter."

"You can't stop me."

"Watch me."

Longshot coughed and both their heads snapped towards him. They had the decency to look embarrassed. Lee muttered an apology, rubbing the back of his head. Jin crossed her arms over her chest picked a spot on the far wall to look at.

Longshot gave Lee a look that said I don't really want to go on the mission, much less lead it so you should come along. I'm sorry for the way Jin is acting, but she has only good intensions. And I don't want to be in the middle of your bickering ever again. When Jin finally made eye contact he gave her a look that said sorry but you know I'm right.

She huffed. She hated it when Longshot was right. She moodily finished her explanation, wished Longshot luck, and pecked Lee's cheek with a glare that had lost some of its ferocity.

He smirked at her and she wrinkled her nose in disgust. Rolling her eyes, she pushed him out of the room. It was annoying when he got cocky. Someday it would surely get all of them killed.

Lee led four boys out into the agrarian district. They were headed to a spot just outside the eastern gate, a place within easy reach of the lower ring. But of course they couldn't just walk through the gate. They would be seen, and as Smellerbee often said "we can't make anything too easy. Then it wouldn't be any fun." Instead they took one of their tunnels from a lower ring shoe repair shop to an abandoned machine shed outside the wall.

They had to walk about two miles from the tunnel to their destination. Lee was appreciative of his companions as they were all experienced – silent and invisible. None of them complained about the distance or even made any sound at all. A few times he had led boys out to the port, and they had whined the whole time and moved slowly without any understanding of stealth.

Soon enough they ducked to lie on their bellies, hidden by the tall grass. In front of them stood a grand farmhouse, surrounded by a city of tents. It was a rather impressive sight as colored lights fluttered under the stars and illuminated the flattened corn field. Lee made a hand gesture to point out the two guards amongst the tents and the one on the porch. Longshot nodded, slowly drawing his bow. All three men fell without a sound.

They snuck between the tents, searching each one as they passed. Most were empty, still waiting for their inhabitants with vacant manacles attached to heavy wood planks and iron beams. Only two tents were occupied. One held thin, whimpering children and the other held dazed men and the scent of opium.

Lady Yan Li had only arrived the night before. She hadn't had much time yet to collect unfortunate wretches from the miserable lower ring population. It was an easy matter to release all the captives from their shackles. Lee left the task of herding them to two of the boys and gestured for Longshot and Hiro to follow him to the house.

The ensuing battle was quick. There were only four men in the house and they were unarmed as they were sat around the kitchen table playing cards. Lee and Hiro made easy work of them.

Hiro kicked open the door to the den, which had been transformed into a kind of lavish office. Lady Yan Li had heard their fight in the kitchen and she stood with a terrified look in her eyes. Her back was pressed against her desk as if she were trying to back as far away from them as possible. She was debating whether to flee or fight, that was clear, and she finally decided to make a feeble attempt to defend herself. She ran towards Hiro with a decorative knife and a shill cry, but he knocked her easily to the floor.

Lady Yan Li was not a fighter. She and her family had made their fortune during the war by taking on the more unsightly business ventures. Her grandfather organized the first prisoner of war camps. Her father expanded those camps, modernized them, and specialized them to hold benders. Late in his career he realized that his prisoners were a valuable commodity. He allowed doctors to do medical tests on them. He allowed the army to perfect new torture methods using the prisoners as guinea pigs. He put them to work in mines and set them to build Fire Nation weapons of war. He sent them to the nobles as gifts of servants and pleasure slaves. Lady Yan Li had expanded the human trafficking further.

She was a business woman. True, it was a despicable business that was not for the weak of heart or those with steadfast morality, but she never dirtied her own hands. She hired men to do it for her and she simply organized their work, managing to turn a profit.

And right now she was petrified.

Hiro sneered at her, and threw his body on top of her own, pinning her arms above her head. She shrieked and he spat at her before licking his lips in a frighteningly vulgar way.

"What are you doing?" Lee demanded.

"She's filth. No better than an animal." She struggled against him, kicking and flailing. He banged her head against the ground with a crack, and groped at her waist.

"This isn't what we came for. We need to kill her and get out of here." She whimpered.

Hiro didn't seem to be listening. "Think you can come to my city, do you? Think you can just take people from their homes? Think you own the place, you own us? Well, let me tell you, you are wrong. Dead wrong. All you Fire Nation scum are the same. You think you have some spirit given right to walk all over everyone. I'll teach you a lesson." He started to fumble with the knot on his belt.

"Stop it!" In one swift motion Lee grabbed the back of his shirt and threw him against the wall. Lee's forearm pressed against his neck, lifting him onto his tip toes and causing him to gasp. "I told you to stop." Lee's lips barely moved as he growled.

Hiro narrowed his eyes even as they bulged, and wheezed "She's not human." He swallowed and cringed as Lee lifted him further off the ground. His fingers dug into Lee's arm, trying to find some support. "Why are you defending her?"

Lee stepped back suddenly. Hiro dropped to the floor and grabbed his throat, panting. He glared up from his doubled over position. "You boss me around, choke me, and stand up for her. Nice. Real nice. You traitor. Think you're better than everyone. You're no better than she is."

One solid punch to the jaw and Hiro collapsed on the floor.

Lee was breathing heavily, glaring down at the sprawled, unconscious boy. He tried to control his anger, but his eyes were still burning when he turned to Yan Li.

She was sitting up now. Her perfect black hair was mussed and her rich dress was askew, slipping down off her shoulder. She stared up at him with wide eyes, thankful that he had saved her and fearful because now he was going to kill her. Then her eyes filled with something else.

Recognition. Her mouth opened slightly as if she was about to say something.

He cut her off by drawing his swords, allowing them to make a loud shing noise. She jumped slightly, the terror returning to her face.

"I'll give you a moment to pray to your gods." She looked as though she might object, she might beg, she might try to do something, anything. Then her shoulders drooped ever so slightly and her eyes squeezed shut in acceptance. Her delicate hands were shaking.

He recited the prayer along with her silently. Agni, I do not fear death for I will find paradise in your arms.

His sword slid easily into her breast, through her ribs, and punctured her heart.

Jin met the group as they marched into the safe house. She knew something was wrong by the infuriated look on Lee's face and then from the fact that Longshot had Hiro slung over his shoulder.

"What-" She was cut off as Lee grabbed her elbow and pulled her away into a side room. He slammed the door behind them and began pacing the length of the small, dimly lit room.

There was an acute tension in her shoulders and a burning desire to know what happened, but she kept her mouth shut and waited for him to speak. After a moment, he quit his pacing and stood with his back to her.

"You are not to send Hiro on anymore missions." His voice was hollow - frightening.

"Why? What happened?"

His body tensed and he refused to face her.

"Lee, you have to tell me."

He was silent.

She took a deep breath and summoned up all her powers of command. "Now." He turned towards her slightly. "How did Hiro get hurt?"

"I hit him."

"And why did you do that?"

It took a moment for him to face her. His eyes were blazing with barely controlled fury.

"Promise me that you'll never be alone with him."

"What?"

"Promise me!" he shouted as his fear and anger broke in a fresh wave. She started and stared up at him in alarm. He seemed to tower over her. "Promise!"

He could still see Yan Li on the floor, frail and powerless. He could see Jin in her place so easily, and it made him sick.

"Alright. Yes. I promise."

They stared at each other for a moment, both quaking with different fears, even after the door to the room was opened.

"Hey," Genki asked, "What do you want us to do with him? He's still kind of unconscious, but I'd rather he didn't stay here. You know?"

Lee stomped out of the room and out into the night without another word, leaving Genki to explain. He just had to get away from there.