Jun and The Lieutenant
The morning was unusually bright. Even the pilot of the war balloon seemed to have some sort of interference with the sun as he prepped for departure. Unknowing that his leaving of Greenrook Depository Prison was going to be longer then he had expected.
It was suppose to be just an ordinary delivery of medical and military supplies but today had been different. Amon's Lieutenant had been instructed to give a list of orders to Amon's head medical chief, Jun. Nothing of great importance, just some interrogating of prisoners, torture, and the listening of the cries of prisoner as they each had their humanity and basic rights stripped from them, without the public knowing.
Greenrook Prison had been kept a secret. It had to, to make sure the the people of Republic City were unaware of the cruel treatment. Only being off the coast of Republic City, this had been the Lieutenants first day here and already he could smell the prisoners, as they were bathed in their own sweat and fear.
Greenrook had two levels. The surface, which had been disguised mostly as just a plain island. Tree's, rocks, and even small rivers engulfed the place, making it look like an ordinary island. It was the sewers and drainage pipes, casting out the slime and feces that had belonged to Greenrook that had kept most wandering eyes to turn away. Brown and Green waterfalls occasionally poured out in an enclosed area that had kept the pollution from reaching the cities docks. The surface was always kept close at watch, and guarded 24 hours a day.
The second level rested beneath the bottom and held all the atrocities that tortuous deeds that had been done to the most evilest of criminals. Once far enough on the island, metal structures and support beams could be seen making their way through the islands mountains and finally into an elevator shaft, the only accessible way in and out of the prison. When you were lowered down, it was a whole new world of stone, dirt, and metal.
The Lieutenant had a dream of eradicated benders. His vision wasn't to do all that he heard about from Jun. He highly disagreed with torture Jun told him about, unless it was for the sake of equalizing Republic City, not for medical tests and recreating forgotten medical myths.
The elevator slowly coasted to the floor, the metal gates opened revealing the dark city of steel. Jun was the first to step off, followed by the Lieutenant and three other Equalist soldiers.
"Welcome to Greenrook Prison, Lieutenant." Jun announced, acting so content of his industrial hell whole.
The entrance was just as expected. A large dark chrome, like structure filled with crates, security checkpoints, and officers quarters had mainly been the sights at the bottom of the elevator shaft. The rest of the prison cells have been further down into the mountain.
"Skip the intro Jun. I'm just here to report the prisoner logs and give you instructions based on Amon's wishes." He replied.
Jun received a large tan folder. He scanned through what he could only see from the top but truly trying to see how much paper work had been handed to him.
"Damn, and I thought Kyoshi gave out more homework. Kidding of course, I'll get these orders done right away." Taking the moment to briefly check through the files, Jun tucked them under his arm and started towards the first security checkpoint. "You said your also here for the logs, right Lieutenant?"
"Yes" He replied.
"Well those I had accidentally left in my office so if you'll just wait.."
"'I am also under order to inquire anything I can about Greenrook, meaning I will be going with you." Said The Lieutenant.
A mask of irritation had placed itself on Jun's face, "That wasn't in the notice I received."
"It's an order from Amon, deal with it."
If Jun knew there was going to be tension between the two of them, he'd probably make up some excuse and schedule another day.
"Right, your men stay here though. Well, follow me."
The Equalist guarding the first checkpoint unlocked the gate. Allowing Jun and the Lieutenant to pass through the rotating iron bars easily. They entered downward, deeper into the tunnel. Closer they got to the main prison, the more the Lieutenant started to cough. He constantly cleared his throat.
"The air's thin down here. But you'd get used to it if you worked down here as long as I have." Jun said. That had been the lie that Jun had told Amon. That he'd been down here most of his Equalist career, sometimes he'd come up for medical demonstrations and other new types of Equalist tech, which he occasionally worked on with other engineers.
"Of course. So where are the cells?" He asked.
"This way."
He lead the Lieutenant until he had finally reached a more level surface. The ground being more flat, but the air still just as thin. The next security checkpoint looked just like the first. A cage like door, with a metal cage balcony where guards would often patrol. Next to the checkpoint there was a large window, modified where nobody could see through from the other side. However, as high as it was, nobody would even notice it.
The two of them walked over to the window, looking down into the massive courtyard like place below. Held up by the metal supported beams which acted like its skeletal structure. A sea of gray jumpsuits filled the bottom edges of the pit. Prisoners mining minerals and ore for mere scraps of food, nowhere ear enough to fill one days meal.
"What is this Jun?" The Lieutenant spat out.
An evil grin spread across Jun's face. Seeing what he could do to those who used to be powerful, made him feel incredibly powerful, made his adrenaline levels rage within him, and made his blood boil with fury.
"This is how you truly create peace, Lieutenant." Jun Replied.
"Are they benders?"
"Not anymore."
"Why are you doing this to our own kind Jun? Are they traitors, deserters, or followers of the oppressive benders?" The Lieutenant said.
Ignoring his question for the time being, Jun walked over to the second security checkpoint. Being structurally the same, the door had just been a giant vault. It was Jun's sick way of treating people like objects without free will, without purpose, and without anyone humane treatment. That's why he called it a "Depository Prison".
"This is how you keep people in line, Lieutenant. Trust is for the weak, you must control the with fear to get to the hearts and minds of the public." Jun replied.
"That's ridiculous, nobody has ever done that! We do what we do for Equality, against the oppressive bending reign!" He exclaimed.
"The Fire Nation did. Firelord Ozai kept his evil empire controlled the world for nearly over 100 years! Sure he fought back, eventually loosing his bending to the avatar but he gave the world something useful. Something for everyone to truly fear." Jun said.
Jun never answered, he gave the orders to the Equalist guard, the vault opened. Rolling off to the side, it revealed what really laid behind it. Jail cells toward over one another. Many floors had roamed upwards combined with metal cage walls that had connected them. Cries and moans filled the air, swearing and pleads for guilt rose above all others.
The Lieutenant gawked at the flights of stairs that made up of the mountain. He coughed much more often now that they had entered the musky air of the prison. Being thin as it was, it's had almost a green texture to it, causing most prisoners to become ill and often puke in their own cells.
"Jun, these men are able to be forced into the Equalist cause, not sit here in their own filth. You should really set them free."
"Work will set them free Lieutenant. Seeing as I don't take orders from you, I'll tell you what. Pick one and I'll send him to the Equalists, with you. That is, if you can find one that's not playing around in their own drool." Jun said, letting a little chuckle slip out.
Ignoring his sick comment, the Lieutenant took him up on his offer. He wouldn't have let a good soldier go to waist. He walked up to three cells but all of them had looked the same. dead, sad eyes, pale white skin, and a dried crimson smear, that the Lieutenant had known to be blood, had been stained on the bridge of their noes.
They were all perfectly quiet, starring through the Lieutenant as if he was nothing. One of the had even mumbled to himself, turning his head left and right, as if still looking for a way out. Still, one thing that they all had in common, besides their dead personalities, were the blood stains. Near their left eye was a darker path of blood and a tiny scar had showed itself.
The Lieutenant walked down the cells, one by one searching for a strong body to join the Equalists. They were all the same. Moaning and drooling without their intentions, they had been permanently scarred. As he passed each dark, rusted cell, he heart pounded faster and harder. Jun had been slowly following behind him, with each cell, his grin grew bigger.
"How did you learn to.."
"It's amazing how taking out a little portion of the frontal lobe can wither someone down into such a, zombified state." Jun interrupted.
"Lobotomies? All of them to our own kind? Jun this is inhumane!" The Lieutenant exclaimed.
"Humanity, Lieutenant, is the very foundation in which I wish to restore. And we cannot restore which is already lost, since so much war has polluted our world it is my job have to restore it." Jun said.
"You mean Amon's job?"
"Yea, Amon's." Jun lied.
Clearing his throat, they moved on but the things the Lieutenant had heard had never left his mind, not even for a second.
"So what? You plan to drill into every ones brain? Was that your idea of a free equal world?" The Lieutenant asked.
"Yea, that's what the world needs Lieutenant. A bunch of drooling zombies, stumbling over the city, bumping into each other and never getting work done. " Jun jokingly said.
The Lieutenant took it seriously at first but seeing Jun's sarcastic facial expression made him think otherwise. They walked on, climbing flights of stairs, they finally reached the 4th floor, reaching Jun's office. Stacks of papers stood on his desk, and a brown tattered briefcase had also sat there. A giant poster of Amon had hung on the wall, symbolizing the pride of the Equalists.
"Here are the prison logs, will that be all?" Jun said.
"Yes. You do realize I must report this to Amon right?" The Lieutenant informed.
"Yea. Do what you must but my research will go on."
"Research for what Jun?"
"The better man, Lieutenant."
The Lieutenant had broken the silence, by clearing his throat.
"You take to much pride in your work. I'll be leaving now." The Lieutenant said.
Weird choice of words, you Equalist fuck, Jun thought.
The Lieutenant walked out of the room. Jun's fist grew tighter around his medical scalpel, which had been tucked away, in his pocket the whole time. It had taken all his strength just to not plunge it deep into the Lieutenant neck. Being a fake Equalist made him sick, and it took all his strength not to stab himself with it.
Greenrook Surface (2 hours before The Lieutenant's arrival)
Aside from the sewage being dumped from the island, the city looked quite astonishing. It was this peacefulness that kept him from going psychologically insane. Like Khai, Jun to wanted peace. However as Khai wanted to seek it out, Jun would hunt for it and would kill just about anyone who opposed that dream. They were more alike then anyone else in the city, both been hurt, seeking a way out, and yet they both had a common goal.
Wearing just a simple Equalist medic uniform, underestimating his fighting abilities would be foolish. The wind blew through his thick blonde hair and it carried out like a massage on his scalp.
Looking out into the city, he saw no positives, only those who wished to corrupt it. However his plans were going perfectly, The Pride were under his control, he has a great control on the Equalists as is, and with the help of a man from another world, the Equalists seemed almost invincible.
"Jun."
Jun turned around to see Yu standing right behind him. The wind had been blowing his brown Pride robes, and his back had been held in place.
"Jun, what is the meaning of this?" He asked.
He spoke with a deep fierce voice, and being the old man he was, he was not playing around.
"I'm not sure, you came to me." Jun said calmly, turning back around to face the city.
"Stop toying with me boy!" Yu shouted, the earth began to shift again, beneath his feet. Jun could almost feel it begin to crumble, it was definitely getting looser. "What's going on, why have you stopped responding to us." Yu demanded.
Jun sighed and turned around. The expression on his face couldn't have looked more bored then any other.
"I'm going to go on a wild card here and say Admiral Geming doesn't know your here." Jun said.
"I want answer dammit!" Yu growled.
"And I want a better world Yu but you and I both know that we're only going to get questions." Jun relied. He had begun to pace around but with every step he took, the ground only got more sensitive.
"Why haven't you been helping us? We need the information from Amon to take down the Equalists what kind of spy are you?"
"Watch yourself Yu or Geming will hear of our meeting."
"Bullshit, you'll tell him anyway!"
Jun sighed, the sun rays had already been baking him alive but the cool air of the morning wind had kept him standing. Jun could see that Yu's eyes were red, he had been sleep deprived and with the anger he had it would only do him harm.
"There must be some point to all this Yu. If you know I'll report this incident to Geming, which is quite amazing because even I can't predict the future, then you must've realize that there will be some consequences to your seemingly betrayal and insubordination. Or is it that your body is catching up to your age, becoming weak and fragile?" Jun said.
A slight tremor could be felt under the earth, Jun stood only with a smile on his face and his hands in his pockets. Yu's fist were clenched so tight his knuckles popped. Ignoring his insults he focused on the main subject.
"How can I be accused of Insubordination when there hasn't been one damn command? Admiral Geming is frustrated as hell and suspect you of treachery, even the rest of my drunken associates are getting nervous! What the fuck do you want me to do? I can't just go killing others all the time. We need to step up, show the world what we are! Benders are superior and with these Equalists quickly rising to power, we need to act now!"
"But?"
"But.. if I stay here, stay with The Pride, it's not going to happen. What we're doing is pointless, creator or not, it's your duty to lead us and your not doing a damn thing! I'm to old for this shit, Jun. And for me to finally realize this, is pathetic. I'm done." Yu finished.
As much as Jun hated to hide it, his gut was boiling with rage. Insulting a superior like this was unheard of in his lifetime and just quitting? No he couldn't just walk away. Nonetheless, Jun kept his cool.
"It's a shame Yu. I had the next assignment coming in right after this meeting I have. It's an assault on an Equalist outpost, near the corner of district-"
"No! No more of this bullshit. These are just sad games lead on by a mere child! I'm done with you, The Pride, and those who view themselves higher then me! I've hated it from the beginning. And you, well, you've opened up a door on yourself that will never close."
Yu turned around and began to walk off, his heart had steadied itself, knowing that he had won. He would forever hold a grudge on Jun but he was a free man. Irritation still flooded his bloodline but knowing that he had outspoken his so-called superior made him feel in control again.
Outspoken a 19 year old child, why the hell didn't I do this sooner? Yu thought.
"You want out? Fine! I'll get you out, put you out of this pathetic suffering you call a life!" Jun barked.
Yu hadn't had a chance to react. Before he knew he proud new, free life was cut short. His eyes grew in horror as Jun's retractable spear had passed through his chest. He had felt no pain but the rippling affect of this level of impalement had brought his body into complete shock. If he would kept his eyes on Jun he probably could've countered, effectively but now he had no chance.
Jun's retractable spear had been hidden on his thigh and the black color had blended in perfectly. The design of Jun's spear had made it able to pass through object like a regular spear but a lot deadlier Not to mention it was more concealable.
Launching it like a javelin, Yu now had more then three and a half feet of solid, spiraling steel through his chest. He gripped the blade in one hand as he tried to regain control over his body. Thin lines of blood trickled down his chest and would eventually enter his mouth. The sheer terror of starring death in its face made him drop to his knees, he body hunched over.
"It's amazing of what 5 feet of steel can do to a man's body at such speed's. And with your body in this much peril, it'll suddenly revert to it's aged old self, feeling old and brittle. My only complaint is that you could've felt your pain." Jun said.
Yu gargled on his blood, running down the edges of his mouth, he did his best to hold it in. He struggled to pull it out, not feeling any pain he could've done it instantly but it's positioning had put to much strain on his body. Jun had approached him from behind, gently sliding his medical underneath his neck.
"You know something Yu? You need to take more Pride in what you do." Jun said.
The cut was clean, with a flick of the wrist. The slit around Yu's throat caused blood pour down like a waterfall. Jun removed the spear and retracted itself to its original one and a half foot length. His picked up the body, hauling the bloody mess over his shoulder, he looked off the cliff he had been looking out from. He tossed the body, into the sludge below. The body smacked hard against the mixture of raw sewage and excess grime, slowly falling beneath the contaminated water, bobbing up and down before finally sinking beneath the hot, bubbling slime.
It was only 15 minutes before another Equalist soldier had arrived.
"Sir, I have those prison logs for you. Ar- are alright sir? Your covered in blood."
"I'm fine soldier just a little run in that's all."
"Here? Without a guard's notice? Sir I apologize, I'll up security immediately!" The soldier said.
"Make sure you do. As for those reports, take them back to my office, I want to give a little tour to The Lieutenant."
"Yessir!"
The Equalist ran off, not taking one chance in looking back. Jun had also began to walk back, needing to change from his bloodied appearance.
News Report (Later that day)
"Top story tonight! Another Prides member found dead at the edge of Greenrook island! Stabbing and a brutal cuts on his upper body have detectives suspecting foul play! The body had apparently washed up on scene of a Yangchen district docks, covered in what seems to be the sewage of whatever comes out of that island. With the reports here today with me and events from the past, it seems maybe that Equalist fugitive Khai may be held responsible after his last encounter with another Prides member. Tops detectives and Equalists soldiers now patrol the border with heavy force, no movements in or out of the borders are going to be permitted for the time being so expect heavy delays! Captain Ming Sven on behalf of the council has been asked to lead this investigation on this absolute unimaginable crime! Saying he will bring down this unruly Equalist in our district, with heavy force."