-Crossed Paths—
The vandalism done to the Cabbage Building was a horrendous event. Police put out the fire as soon as possible, but unfortunately many of the building's floors were obliterated in the flames. Reports say that the cause of the incident can be attributed to the various gangs involved in the warfare across the city. Graft, with the help of the council, will not take this act without retribution. His plan to defeat the… pfff. The radio switched off.
O-Ren was furious.
"Did you hear the radio!? They think the mobs did it! They know damn well the mobs don't do stuff like that," O-Ren yelled. Mako bounced a ball against the back of the billboard. They were on top of a small shop. It was close to midnight.
"Is that why we came here?" Mako asked.
"Damn right. It's time we show these people a rebellious act they can't possibly pin on the triads."
The two friends were near the Central City Station in Republic City. In front of the station in a plaza was an enormous statue of the once Firelord Zuko. Zuko's hand was raised, and in his palm burned an everlasting flame supposedly.
"What's the plan?" inquired Mako.
O-Ren got serious. "Mako, this is more intense than anything we've done before. This act will let everyone know how dedicated we are. That we aren't just some petty gang or mobsters. We mean it. Graft will know, and he'll be scared. You see that?" He pointed toward Zuko. "That is Firelord Zuko. The symbol of peace. The symbol of freedom. Zuko was the heir to the Fire Nation throne after his father, Ozai. Ozai was a tyrant. He brainwashed his own people to loving him and hating the rest of the world. He led violent wars and genocides, and even tried to kill his own son. But Zuko rose above his father and took the throne and helped bring the world into a new era. Where we could be free. Where we would not be controlled by a dictator." O-Ren took a breath. "Graft has disrupted that world that Zuko created, and yet he thinks he can hide behind this statue that once represented freedom. Now Zuko is a prisoner forced to represent Graft not by choice but because he cannot move. Because Graft can choose to speak for him. Well, Graft won't be able to use Zuko if Zuko shows him that he wants out. If we show Graft that no one can take what our forefathers have fought for to give us! Today, Mako, I will use my metalbending to tear down the Zuko statue, and you will put out the flame. I will endure the pain to do this. It is absolutely necessary."
Mako knew the world was changing. He knew that the symbols implanted no longer reflected the state of the city. On the way to the Square, Mako asked, "What do you mean when you say you will endure the pain, O-Ren?"
"Ah, yes. My metalbending. It might not be clear, but no mobster we know of can metalbend, so it will be obvious to Graft that it was not one of them, as it will also be to everyone else…but it will involve pain, yes. Mako, when I was training to be a police officer, you should have seen how much of myself I put into learning metalbending. It kept me out of trouble. I learned the art at such a young age. I thought I was a prodigy. I worked every day to perfect myself. I joined the metalbending force at sixteen. I wanted to be Chief after Lin. Nothing came more natural to me than metalbending, and I did it constantly, daily, until one day. I was doing nothing more strenuous than using my metal whips when my arms tensed up. The pain shot up my arm and right to my heart, then to my head. I thought every organ inside me was going to explode. I couldn't think. I couldn't breathe. I saw black. I was out. My body froze. The pain was unbearable, so unbearable my body couldn't handle it and I passed out. Not just for hours. For days. When I returned, I could not metalbend as easily or regularly as before. If I did it just a little too much, my arms tensed up. I felt the pain, and I immediately had to stop. It was awful. I put my whole life into that and…well. You get the idea. I drank my life away because of it after that. That and Graft's appearance."
"You think the metalbending training disrupted something about you?"
"I don't know. Metalbending did something. I never felt that pain doing anything else, only when I metalbended too much at one time. I couldn't do anything for the force anymore. It was so depressing to me. I tried to use the metal whips and they just sent shockwaves of pain through me…"
"Well," Mako started, "do you really think it is a good idea to be doing this?"
"Don't worry, man. As long as I spread things out. A little at a time. If sirens sound, we can bolt, but I can get enough done in that time. At least the head. Poor Zuko doesn't need to symbolize the mess of our city any longer. It is a disgrace to him."
The two friends reached the statue and when no one was around they climbed to the top. The clock tower on the station chimed three o'clock. They reached the head and rested, leaning against Zuko's raised arm. O-Ren smoked a cigarette before going. "Surprised you don't smoke, being a firebender. You're your own lighter, hah!" Mako ignored him.
"So we doing this? Let's get going someone could walk by any second." Mako's urgency was evident.
"Relax, dude. No one can see us up here. We will at least get the head. Alright, stand back." O-Ren took a deep breath and then pressed his hands against Zuko's metal neck. His breathing began to increase as he became more tired, his fingers slowly digging into the surface of the metal. He started grunting but assured Mako he was alright. The metal crumpled as if it were paper. Each dent made a rather loud noise.
When O-Ren had done a good amount of work on the neck, he stopped and began breathing really hard. He put his head down and his hand on his chest.
"What's the matter? Are you okay?" Mako asked.
"Yeah," breath, "It's, agh, it's fine," breath, "just a little pain. Not too much. The good kind of pain. Trust me, it's a bearable pain. I'll let you know when it gets worse. Why don't you put out that flame while I sit here and breathe again."
"What does it feel like?"
"It feels like metal shards are running up my veins, honestly. Hey, shh, what is that?"
On the ground, two men sauntered toward the base of the statue. One of them lit a cigarette. O-Ren and Mako couldn't make out their faces, but their colors suggested that they were Agni Kais. O-Ren and Mako lowered their voices to a whisper.
"Agni Kais. Do you think they saw us?" Mako asked.
"Doesn't look like it. Looks like they're just waiting. Some kind of meeting going on or something?"
"Let's stay low and see what happens."
The man smoked while the other man looked worried. The two spoke.
"You seem so relaxed about this, Yakuza." The man smoking now had a name: Yakuza.
"We can't look worried. The mercenaries will be able to tell," Yakuza replied.
"Couldn't we just have used a decoy box? Did we really have to do this during an actual exchange? This stuff is important to Sabo. It seems weird jeopardizing this…"
"Quiet. We aren't jeopardizing our mission. If anything, we are helping the cause. If we catch her, our future exchanges won't go to shit. Plus we have to use real Clasma. She won't show up if we don't. She knows."
"But she hasn't even been the one that has been wrecking all of our meetings. There have been other incidents that didn't even involve her."
"Those are…different. Those are to be expected I guess. Random occurrences. She is different. Sabo told me that. He told me what happened to Kenji before he was taken away. She needs to go down. Don't worry. We have men posted all around here. On several balconies of these buildings, Agni Kais are positioned with their rifles, ready to take her out when she shows. Whenever she shows up, they'll be on her in a second. She can't take them all down at once. Just act cool."
"They are watching us now?" the other man asked.
"Yeah, I got them on the radio. They'll be watching. Once she shows up you'll see. All our men will be there to take her down. The worst that can happen is the same outcome as the rest…which still isn't very good I guess," Yakuza concluded. A car sped around the corner. Yakuza dropped his cigarette and got ready.
"I'm just saying: you're Sabo's right-hand man, Yakuza. Did it have to be you here?"
"Couldn't have been anyone else," Yakuza responded. The car approached. Mako and O-Ren watched with extreme anxiety. Yakuza pulled out his radio and pressed the transmission button.
"How are things looking up there?" Yakuza spoke into the radio.
No answer.
Yakuza was pissed already. "Hey! I said, 'how are things looking?' Don't delay something like this you know how I am."
Still no answer. The car approached.
"Shit," Yakuza said. "They aren't answering." Just static blared through the radio. Yakuza looked around.
"What is it?" asked the other man. "Why aren't they answering?"
"I don't know," he looked at the car. He knew mercenaries were driving it. He knew they had Clasma. "No, something is wrong. This is bad."
On the ledges of buildings surrounding the area, the watchmen hung from ropes, unconscious, the ropes tied to their belts. Arms and legs just hanging. Yakuza didn't see this. Yakuza did not know that Korra was already one step ahead of them.
The car stopped and a mercenary got out, holding a small box. He walked toward the two. Yakuza wanted him to stop and turn around, to leave, but he had no way of telling him this without yelling it.
"You got what I want?" asked the mercenary, obviously meaning money.
No, this can't be happening, thought Yakuza. These mercenaries would never trust them again. Yakuza continued as if it was just a fluke in the radio transmission, but he hurried. He quickly paid the mercenary.
"Get out of here, now! You gotta go!" Yakuza yelled to his partner and the mercenary as well. He began to run away. The shadows behind him integrated themselves into the form of Korra as she lunged from the darkness at the two men. They pulled out their guns but were cut down by the assassin. Mako saw her easily take down the two gangsters, but even he did not recognize her as Korra. She spotted Yakuza and took off after him.
"What the hell is happening?" Mako said under his breath as the chaos ensued below him. Sirens sounded, and immediately a car with a flashing light rounded the corner. Mako and O-Ren had no choice but to keep quiet and wait for the events to pass, hoping no one would notice Zuko's crumpled neck. The car that arrived gave a loud huff, and Mako knew it immediately as Bolin's car. It was a rusty piece of crap that emitted huge clouds of smoke. On top was a small detachable police flashing light. The car screeched to a stop in front of the two men crawling on the ground. Bleeding. The stocky investigator got out of the car and got into the fallen man's face.
"What happened!? She's here isn't she?"
"She took off…agh… after Yakuza," the man said in pain. Bolin knew these men couldn't move, but he couldn't just leave them here.
"Bolin!" Mako yelled. "She went toward Tyson's Channel! She is going after the Agni Kai!" Bolin looked up confused. Mako slid down Zuko's statue to reveal himself.
"Mako? What are you doing up there?"
"Look, just trust me, Bolin. I'll make sure these guys don't go anywhere while you go after her. Just go!" Bolin didn't know why his brother was there, but he trusted him and went after Korra and Yakuza. Mako got off of Zuko and looked at the man on the ground.
"Now, you're going to tell me what is going on." From the looks of it, this guy could be manipulated pretty easily. He was scared.
Bolin sprinted down the street and used his earthbending to launch himself onto the building before him. He scanned the rooftops and spotted Korra gaining on the mobster. He followed.
Korra was subtle in her airbending but she was able to use it to keep Yakuza from running very fast, allowing her reach him. Yakuza turned and shot a lightning bolt at Korra, but she expected this and easily dodged it. Korra jumped and flipped over the Agni Kai and pressed her fingers on Yakuza's neck and back, hitting his pressure points, Chi blocking him. His bending was temporarily disabled. He fell to the floor with the Clasma box.
Korra kicked the box up into her hands and grabbed Yakuza by the neck. "Where are you guys hiding? There is no point keeping it from me. I'll find out sooner or later." Yakuza just laughed.
"You think I am going to sell out my family?" he said, looking ahead. Bolin was getting close. Korra thought Yakuza wouldn't tell her anything. She didn't want to stay here long. She didn't want to deal with Bolin.
Korra sped across the rooftops. She could feel Bolin's energy draining, but he did not stop following her. He hadn't done anything like this before. She concluded her recent confrontation with Lin must have had something to do with this.
"Oni!" Bolin yelled, out of breath but trying to sound forceful. Korra was far enough away from him to stop and listen to what he had to say. He took a while to catch his breath and was surprised to see she was waiting for him when he looked up. "Oh, uhh…"
"What do you want?"
"Oni, you are under arrest for your involvement in several illegal exchanges over the last month!" Bolin had to yell to her. Korra rolled her eyes.
"Is that really why you are here?" she yelled back. She knew Lin sent him.
"Look! We have a mystery here! We are trying to find out all we can and we know you have some knowledge of what is going on! We need to know what you know!"
"You already know all I know! There is nothing else."
Bolin didn't know where to turn. "Well, then. You are still under arrest for murder." Bolin took out his handcuffs. Korra knew she had never murdered anyone. She was positive that the men she hurt had survived. She didn't do that much to them. Bolin was just trying to scare her. Korra still had energy left. Bolin had none.
Korra smirked at Bolin's attempt to arrest her, but in this moment she suddenly realized they were not alone up on this roof. Almost instantaneously, Korra sensed the presence of men encircling her and Bolin. They were coming fast, and she knew it was bad. Gasping, she turned to run, but she was a second too late. She heard the metal clank of an object hit the ground next to her and explode in a flash of blinding white light and a screeching roar.
Bolin had been looking right in that direction. His senses were completely disrupted by the flash. He saw white and the deafening screech threw off his balance. Korra had luckily retained some of her senses since she turned away a second before the explosion went off. She tried to run away as fast as she could. She could barely sense Bolin getting a hard punch to the stomach and being thrown into a dumpster by several men. Normally she would help him, but she had lost her vision. She would lose the battle. She was as sure he would survive. She hoped he would. She made her way across the buildings. Korra knew the Republic City channel was nearby. If she had to she would have to plunge into the waters. They flowed quickly and would lead her out of the city. Whatever was after her right now, there were several of them and they were quick.
Given her state, Korra couldn't run very straight or fast. She knew the general direction of the channel, but there were so many men behind her and they were fast. These weren't gangsters. These weren't police. She couldn't understand what was following her.
Korra barely made it atop the last building. At the edge of this one she could just dive off into the water. The channel was deep enough and the water was cold. A sewage system flowed out of here. She sprinted, but her damaged hearing made it hard to balance herself. She slipped and fell into one of the men chasing her. She received a brutal blow to the stomach and fell on her back.
Korra opened her eyes and tried to see the bright light still blinding her from the bomb to get a good view of her predators. They dressed in all black and moved like shadows around her. They were armed with blades and could bend, but she couldn't tell from their energy emissions what kind of benders they were. Certainly not normal people. In her weakened state, Korra knew she had to defend herself and try to get to the channel. It was her only way out now.
She was able to hold off the men, but this was incredibly difficult for her. She never had a chance to draw her swords. They tried to swipe her off her feet, but Korra flipped backwards onto her hands and swung around, kicking the men in the head. She stumbled but got back on her feet, turned toward the edge and ran, but one of the men was already there in front of her. She moved out of the way but was milliseconds too late.
Korra leaped off the building into the channel. The cold water numbed the stab wound in her stomach. She knew her body well and moved at the right moment so that the man had impaled her in a spot that would not have been critical. There were no Chi paths located around her wound, nor were there vital organs. But still, Korra was in pain. The weapon he used was not really smooth like a knife. It had jagged edges so it hurt more.
Korra did not understand what had just happened. Additionally, if she hadn't moved out of his way, she would have been stabbed in her arm. She figured these men would have wanted to subdue her, but then why would they go for her arm? Whatever the explanation was, Korra didn't know. These men were dangerous and meant to kill her. She began to lose consciousness.
The water flowed quickly when she got to a sewer tunnel and took her to the outskirts of Republic City near the mountains. Wildlife surrounded her when she came out of the dark sewage tunnel. She crawled on to the land but found she was bleeding rather excessively from the stab wound. The box with the Clasma was no longer in her possession. She vaguely remembered letting go of it right when she got stabbed and jumped into the water. Something had grappled it though, and she had a feeling those men had taken it.
She knew this place once she reached the road. She had been driven up this road before.
Asami. Her mansion was near here. Did she still live there? Korra could only hope so. She slowly walked up the road. Surely Asami would have some kind of doctor.
Korra removed her hood to breath, but fell to her knees. The sun was rising now. Maybe Asami would be heading to work and would find her. Korra was losing consciousness. But she had to say awake. She finally reached the point where she saw the Sato mansion.
She couldn't handle the dizziness any longer. She fell to the ground and passed out.