Mako of the Blue Spirits
Chapter 5: This Young Man
"Let me get this straight. Pfft." Noren loudly snickered struggling not to laugh in Mako's face while the Jeep drove up north, on the way to the Royal Palace. "Avatar Korra forced a kiss on you years ago even though she was on a dinner date with your brother and when you were with Asami Sato. And she said and I quote, "Yeah but when you are with her, you're thinking about me aren't you?" Is that right? That is just I don't know, messed up! Even your brother saw that?"
Mako was in the centre seat with Hui Lee and Noren by his side, Mai was at the front and Jiandao was driving. On their side, Jun Jr was riding on Nyla Jr with Kuzon. And Mako was in the middle of the joke when he gave into their prompting about his love life.
And Hui Lee added, "And then this Asami got angry with you because Korra forced herself on you, leading to a breakup. Korra then got together with you, and she had you whip treated. She kicked your table and shouted at you, because you had to do your duties as a police officer. And then Korra stopped talking to you for three years after Zaheer's defeat."
"Uh…yeah." Mako softly said. "And now they're together."
An eruption of laughter from Jun Jr and Noren followed, leaving Mako to scowl. Noren blurted. "How?! Just how?! I would have thought Asami would be mad at Korra because she forced a kiss on you back then, although you did not help your case at all pal! Hahaha!"
"Yeah I need an adult." Hui Lee rubbed her brows.
"Wow, just...wow." Kuzon shook his head. "Even after you got pulled around like that, even after the silence from your ex for three years, you're following them both like a whipped dog."
"Look seriously it's not like what you're thinking. I'm to blame as well then. I didn't know what I wanted bouncing back and forth and I lost both chances." Mako tried to defend his exes, for what reason he did not know. He then felt a hand from Mei patting his head and ruffling his hair.
Mei gave him a look of motherly sympathy. "You poor, poor boy."
"Ugh, kids." Jiandao groaned. "This doesn't sound right for you Mako."
"This is just crazy, this is almost inconceivable!" Noren threw his hands up guffawing. "The avatar, from what I'm hearing now she's like a real nutcase when you first met her!"
"Alright look guys don't talk about them like that. Things are different now ok?" Mako said in defence. "Korra is a different person now, she's changed." His tone then turned unsure. "For the better I guess?"
"Kiddo." Jun Jr riding on Nyla Jr spoke out. "If there's one thing I learned in my time as a bounty hunter is this. Some things and some people, just don't change." After the long ride, they have reached.
The Blue Spirits Unit assembled before the door into the Royal Palace. Mako now had a ninjato sword strapped to his back, he stood between Jun Jr and Mei, Jiandao was standing in the middle of the team.
They entered the palace and Izumi was waiting for them seated at the Fire Lord's throne alone.
"Ah good you are here." Izumi said.
"Lord Izumi." They greeted and all got onto a knee.
"Stand up Blue Spirits." She instructed them, and they did. "Following up on the victory over the triad here in the Fire Nations, we are going to extradite Zolt and Shin back to Republic City's police authority. Mako, I'm assigning you to do this mission. Return to Republic City to deliver Zolt and Shin back to Lin Beifong."
Mako's head perked up hearing that. He nodded in acknowledgment. "Right."
Izumi then said, "The rest of you, set out to the south, sweep the area for any straggling triad members and get back to the trail on the Red Lotus."
"Right." The Blue Spirits said in unison.
"Now everyone take your leave, except you Mako. You stay." Izumi gave the instruction which no one was expecting. The Blue Spirit unit turned and exited the palace, Mako stood there a little nervous watching his comrades leaving him.
Now he was alone with the Fire Lord, she got up from her throne and descended down to him.
"I'm sure you want to know something about your mother." Izumi said warmly.
"I uh, I'd like that Lord Izumi." Mako said.
"Come, walk with me." Izumi gestured him to follow her. The Fire Lord and the new Blue Spirit were at the palace's balcony. Izumi took a slow stroll the balcony's parapet with Mako following her. The view of the balcony was a beautiful view of the gardens behind the palace.
"I hope you're settling in well with the unit on such short notice." Izumi said.
"For the most part, I think so." Mako answered. "They're an interesting team."
"They're people that Jiandao brought together, they're family. I've known some of them for very long. It's why I trust them to the fullest." Izumi smiled. "I hope you would feel you're a part of them in time."
"Thank you, but uh the information on my mother Fire Lord?" Mako asked.
Izumi pulled a scroll from her sleeve and handed it him. "Your mother Naoki Uchida, was almost too difficult to figure out. But we got it, cross referencing from your father's information."
Mako unrolled to the scroll to read about his mother's identifications. Izumi continued, "She was an only child, no other known relatives. Her parents, your maternal grandparents passed away when she turned twenty-five. She had a house here in the Fire Nation, by the southern bazaar, it's yours now."
Mako remained silent as he kept reading the scroll. Izumi then said, "What she was doing in Republic City however is the real peculiar part."
"Why?" Mako turned to face her.
"According to what we gathered, she worked for Future Industries." Izumi said.
That got Mako stunned. "W-What?"
"According to our data in citizens moving to Republic City from the Fire Nation, she applied for a position in the company when she was in the Fire Nation."
"I-I had no clue." Mako said. "C-Could Asami have known?"
"Asami Sato? I doubt that. Considering she took over the company long after your parents passed away." Izumi said crossing her arms looking at the view by the balcony.
While Mako was learning all of this, a part of him was still hurting, learning about his mother did not bring him any closer to why she died in that alley along with his father.
Izumi then said. "On the subject of the Future Industries, while the Fire Nation Police are investigating here, do what you can when you return to Republic City."
"Should I warn Asami?" Mako asked her.
"You let Lin deal with that. But the main mission still stand, deliver Zolt and Shin to the Republic City police, you're expected to return after that." Izumi instructed him and gave him her warrant.
"Right." Mako bowed.
Afternoon, Mako now geared up in his Blue Spirit equipment properly was at the Capital City prison. Before he got to the main entrance, he put on his Blue Spirit Mask.
Standing before the guards by the gate, Mako said to them, "Fire Lord Izumi sent me, I'm here to collect Zolt and Shin and send them back to Republic City."
Seeing the Blue Spirit mask, the guards immediately got the message. "They're ready for you sir." Stepping aside the guards let Mako through. Walking through the dank corridor, the dank and humid cells around him filled his nose.
In a holding cell, Zolt and Shin were waiting with a sack on their faces each, and their hands and feet were bonded together.
The Blue Spirit, Mako ordered them in a commanding tone, "Time to go you two. You're going back to Republic City."
It was early evening, back in Republic City. Lin Beifong was busy with her paperwork as usual. Unexpectedly, the sounds of a commotion outside of her office got her attention. Feeling cranky, she threw her door open.
"What in the world is going, what is this ruckus?!" Her voice filled the office room, only to see what was at the opposite end of the room. It was Mako in a black outfit with a sword strapped to his back, he had his mask kept behind in his pack. And there were two men on their knees, with their hands bounded and a sack covering each of their faces.
"Chief." Mako greeted, his tone was very flat.
"R-Rookie? What the heck are you doing?" Lin asked confused with what was in front of her. "And what is that on your back?"
"By Fire Lord Izumi's orders, Lightning Bolt Zolt and Shady Shin are back under the Republic City Police custody." Mako said grabbing both Zolt and Shin by their arms, pulling them up on their feet and he shoved them forward. "Move."
Quickly recomposing herself Lin ordered, "Lu, Gang. Take them to the holding cells."
"Yes chief." Gang and Lu dumbly obeyed, taking the criminals away from them.
"Chief," Mako called to Lin, "We need to talk, now."
Lin raised an eyebrow by how he spoke to her, motioning him to come to her, "Inside my office."
As soon as Mako stepped foot in her office, Lin shut the door. Lin commented, "You've been busy huh?"
"In a way." Mako said stepping towards the window.
"Now you're working for the Fire Lord?"
"Sort of."
"How the heck did you find those two crooks?" Lin crossed her arms.
"I had some help. I can't say more."
"Well either way, well done in catching them. And welcome back."
Mako shook his head, "Sorry but I'm not staying. Chief, this is only scratching the surface though. There's more to this."
"What?"
"Shady Shin said they got into the Fire Nation through Future Industries." Mako explained, "When Future Industries was venturing their business into the Fire Nation, some of the triad members snuck in and escaped to the Fire Nation. The police over there is investigating the Future Industries' branch. However…"
"Whether Future Industries in involved in triad activities, we need to find out." Lin caught on.
"No, you need to find out. This is only temporary, after this I need to go back to the Fire Nation soon." Mako opened up the window for some air.
"Fine by me."
"Does uh, anyone else know that I was gone for a few days?" Mako asked, anxious should he bump into any of his friends.
"Opal and Bolin were looking for you. I didn't tell them anything. But I'm not going to cover your butt any longer. If they find you're on your own." Lin answered. "And in case you haven't realised walking around with that sword is unacceptable. Don't make me confiscate it from you."
"The sword is Fire Nation property, it stays with me, by orders of the Fire Lord." Mako said firm, something that took Lin aback a little.
"Being authoritative? You're still the rookie, don't forget that runt." Lin said raising her hand to bend the metal of the blade, only to no avail. "W-What?"
"Whoa, it really works." Mako thought, the blade of the sword could not be bended by earth benders.
"Good to see again chief, but I need to take my leave." Mako said making his exit by shooting out of the window.
The sun was setting and Mako reached his apartment, only to see his doorknob wrecked. Cautiously he reached over his shoulder and gripped his sword at the ready. Taking steady steps he inched towards the door to his apartment.
With swift kick, the door burst open and Mako stepped in.
"Mako! You're back!" Bolin leaped out of the couch and welcomed his brother back.
"Bolin?" Mako released the grip on his sword. "What are you doing here? What happened to the doorknob?"
"Oh uh yeah, a day ago I uh knocked on the door but you weren't answering." Bolin rubbed the back of his head. "So I kind of earth bended my way in."
"You're going to fix that door." Mako said firm.
"Of course I will bro. But now it's time for me to ask the questions." Bolin pointed at Mako, "Where have you been? And what is up with that getup? And your hair? Your fringe is shading your eyes now, usually it's all spiky and broody."
Mako stepped into his apartment making sure no one saw him. "Bolin keep it down."
He set his equipment at the corner. "I was chasing down Lightning Bolt Zolt and Shady Shin. I just brought them to the police earlier."
"Oh w-what?" Bolin asked, "How did you do that?"
The brothers sat back down on the couch. Mako explained, "They fled to the Fire Nation, Fire Lord Izumi requested for me to assist in tracking them down in the Fire Nation. And I did."
"Whoa, hang on." Bolin cut in, "You went to the Fire Nation?!"
"Uhh, yeah." Mako said. "A few days ago."
"So that's what you were busy with?" Bolin perked his eyes.
"Yeah."
"Oh I see. Well with that out of the way." Bolin shot out from his seat, "Let's go to the Air Temple Island for dinner. Korra, Asami, Opal, Tenzin and everyone else are wondering where you were."
Hearing Korra and Asami, it panged his heart a little, Mako was aware of it and he did not like it at all, even after three years.
"Uh Bolin maybe not today." Mako feigned tiredness.
"No way bro. You're going to see them. You were gone for days without a word, you owe them bro."
Much to his discomfort, Mako was stepping foot onto the Air Temple Island with Bolin.
"Come on you're a Blue Spirit now. You can handle this." Mako thought as he adjusted the ninjato sword on his back, he was also carrying his haversack pack on the other hand.
As they got to the front yard, Bolin shouted, "Guess whose back!"
A few seconds later, the front door to the house opened and out came Korra, Asami, Opal, Tenzin and his family stepped out.
"Bolin!" Opal waved.
"Mako?!" Korra exclaimed rushing towards the two.
"Uh hey guys." Mako gave a meek wave. Something else came into his mind when he saw Korra, something that Jun Jr said to him.
"Some things and some people, just don't change."
"Where the heck have you been?" Korra nudged his shoulder, "What is that on your back?"
"Uh well I've been you know, busy." Mako answered awkwardly.
"He went to the Fire Nation." Bolin said. "He was chasing down the triad members and he caught them."
"Bolin!" Mako snapped.
"What?" Bolin raised his hands up, "You did Mako."
Mako's eyes soon spotted Asami, his mind instantly went back to his conversation with Fire Lord Izumi, which he learned that his mother worked for Future Industries. It made him unsettled inside.
"Come on let's get inside." Bolin shoved Mako forward.
Inside the house, dinner was served. Mako was seated at the corner of the table next to Bolin with Opal by her side too. Korra, Asami, Jinora, Kai, Pemma and Tenzin were joining them for dinner. Mako made sure that his ninjato sword and backpack was by his side all the time.
Everyone was enjoying this reunion dinner, unbeknownst to them however Mako's face was pensive all the time. Watching Asami actually feeding Korra a piece of mushroom, he averted his eyes and took a gulp of juice. Pemma caught sight of it, giving a look of sympathy but unable to reach out to him.
"You're following them both like a whipped dog." Kuzon's word came into his mind, and Mako was upset at himself, because it felt like it was the truth.
Asami herself had some extent of uneasiness in her, she was hiding the tension she was feeling after the chilling message and photos she had received.
A photograph of a man and a woman dead in an alleyway with a boy crying in the middle. And the threatening letter she had received. But she was not going to show to entire group of what she had received, it did not feel like it was any of their business. She would tell her girlfriend when they are alone. For now, she wanted to enjoy this moment with her loved ones, especially Korra.
All the while, completely ignorant to the truth.
"So what was it that you were doing in the Fire Nation?" Kai asked Mako. "Something that has to do with that outfit and sword?"
"Fire Lord Izumi asked me to assist her in tracking down the triad members that trespassed into the Fire Nation, that's it." Mako refused to say anymore.
"Actually it's great that you have come back Mako, because Tenzin is planning to venture to the Fire Nation, to find the air benders over there." Korra announced to Mako.
"Oh? Uh, w-when?" Mako asked.
"A week from now?"
"Well, good luck then when you get there then." Mako wished them.
"What are you talking about? You're coming with us." Bolin bumped him on his side.
"Actually I can't." Mako shook his head. "I got uh other things to deal with."
"Oh come on bro, what could more important than finding more air benders with the avatar?"
"Seriously Bolin, not this time." Mako refused. "I mean it. There are other problems at hand Bolin."
"Yeah like what?"
Mako sighed, turning his attention to the head of Future Industries. "Asami."
She raised an eyebrow when he called her. Mako gave the bad news. "Your company's been compromised."
"Excuse me Mako?" Asami narrowed her eyes.
"The triad members were using your company to get into the Fire Nation." The news sunk into them like an abyss. "Shady Shin confessed that he got into the Fire Nation via Future Industries' branch there." Mako explained the case notes.
"And do you have any solid proof is claim that my company is transporting triad members into the Fire Nation?" Asami asked with unpleased tone.
Mako knew this was coming. "Just Shin's confession."
"Has it occurred to you that he could be saying things to throw you off detective?"
"This time it's real." Mako insisted. "Trust me."
Asami shook her head, "No offence Mako, but I trust the integrity of my company instead of the words of a criminal."
"How else do you think they got into the Fire Nation then?" Mako tried to make his case.
"Mako, I think that's enough." Asami crossed her arms.
A moment silence lingered in their ruined dinner, Mako took note of everyone looking at him. He had overstayed his welcome, a welcome he did not even want to begin with.
"I'm sorry." Mako stood up with his belongings, "I should go." Strapping the sword on his back he left them.
"Mako. Hey wait." Bolin quickly got up and tried to catch up with him. Korra seeing her girlfriend getting affected squeezed her hand for comfort. Bolin finally caught up to Mako as he reached the boat to head back to Republic City.
"Mako!" Bolin called out. Mako let out a sigh and waited for his brother.
"This was a mistake." Mako muttered.
"Come back inside Mako." Bolin urged his brother. "Let's have a good dinner like a family bro."
"No Bolin." Mako tossed his bag on the boat. He turned and looked Bolin in the eye, "Like a family Bolin? That's…that's not them Bolin."
"Oh come on bro, sure they are, if you get past the fact that your two exes are dating each together then yeah they're family right?" Bolin gave a nervous smile.
Mako's eyes narrowed, he hid the clenched fist by his side and glared at his brother. "Perhaps no one has told this before Bolin, but you're not funny. At all."
Bolin straightened up, seeing his brother's serious face. Mako stepped forward and said, "I'm sorry. Look, you've found family with them, and I'm glad you did. Maybe I did too found family with them once, but now I don't know anymore."
"Mako you can find it with them again. Like a real family bro." Bolin tried to reason.
The fire bender's heart stung, to him it almost felt like Bolin was disregarding their true family. "My real family Bolin? You really have forgotten."
"Mako?"
"My real family. Our real family, were murdered in an alleyway when we were children. And for your information, three days ago was the anniversary of their deaths." Mako seethed out and it left Bolin stunned, finally remembering everything.
Mako quickly apologised, "I'm sorry Bolin. Sorry I said that. I can't be here, you just enjoy your family there ok?"
He hopped onto his boat and rode away. On the boat ride to Republic City, Mako dug into his backpack, whipping the prototype transceiver made by Kuzon. He wanted to go back to the Blue Spirits, which subtly surprised him.
"Um hello?" Mako said turning on the transceiver. "Mako to uh Blue Spirits?"
About five seconds. A response came, "This is Kuzon, send."
"Hey Kuzon, I had sent Zolt and Shin to the police already. I'm done here in Republic City, on my way back now."