Road To Strangeness <Ba Sing Se, Earth Kingdom>

[gengoro]

Gengoro scratched his chin as he heard Kynagen's plan as he explained.

"That might work." Gengoro said, "But we are trying to get the civilians uninvolved as much as we can. If it needs to be, then we could use them as cover."

Chou sat quietly on the stool, rocking back and forth anxiously.

"You got any ideas you want to contribute Xun?" Gengoro asked.

As they were talking, the waitress that was serving him came up with another bowl of rice and another pot of tea. She bowed politely, then left the table to seat the others.

"You know," Chou interrupted, "I vaguely know where the hideout might be. Problem is, when they took me there a long time ago, they had me wear a bag over my head so I couldn't keep track of where they went."

"So we should probably look for the base?" Gengoro asked, "Won't that leave the restaurant unattended?"
"I never said I would go with you," Chou snapped, "What I can do is probably give you the district that they reside in. Once there, you are on your own, cause I don't know exactly where in the district they are in."

[xun]

Xun wanted to shake his head upon hearing Kynagen. Instead folding his arms and pursing his lips at the sound of it. Fighting amidst the crowd of civilians let alone using them for shields. Not only was it the sort of thing that sullied the more noble seeming youxia he had come to admire but it gave him the urge to drag Kynagen into custody himself… at least once the job was over.

“I would not put harming civilians above such people,” pointing his head towards Chou, “otherwise we would not be discussing this to begin with nor would they have a… ‘business’ for that matter. And even then it is far to assume that they would not risk destroying the restaurant in broad daylight either.”

Tapping his fingers on his arms for a moment Xun nodded at a prospect. “Surely Chou is not the only person they’re causing trouble for. Maybe if we can find some of them again. Somehow. We can follow them back to their headquarters,” he speculated. “It is a longshot,” his voice solemn, “buts it may be one of the better chances we have. Otherwise we will have to wait for them to come to us and interrogate one of them afterwards.”

Of course Xun knew the far easiest task would simply be to ask his brotherhood sister that requested his assistance on this matter to begin with but such a task, let alone the power struggle behind the scenes, should not be revealed to any of them. It was best to keep this conflict as a matter of defending someone, an indirectly anyone else, from the machinations of Yao and his gang.

[paperbard]

Kynagen sighed as the rather rotound older man denounced the plausability of his idea. "I was just putting it out there, alright? I've got no intention of using people as shields. I was thinking more supterfuge and distraction."

He sighed heavily. "I understand you're problem with it... indeed It came to mind as soon as I put the idea forth. Unfortunately, we are unable to fight this gang in its entirety, and certainly not all at once. I still beleive that we need to seperate them from their fellows and take them out of their element."

He chuckled dryly. "If any of you are secretly benders, now would be the time to let our little troupe know of it."

He grinned as he sipped at his tea. "I'm just saying, fear is not going to work on these bastards until we deal with the mob element. Take that away from them, and defeating them will be as easy as the battle in the resteraunt."

[gengoro]

Gengoro scratched his chin as to hearing all of the ideas put on the table.

"All these ideas," Gengoro whispered, "All of them..... I have another idea."

He sat back down on the table with the rest of the others.
"I say we split up, Chou vaguely knows where the hideout is." Gengoro said, "So, here's what I propose."

He got in closer into the table so he could whisper what he had to say to the others.

"We split in two teams. I figured, they won't send their entire force to the restaurant and leave the hideout unguarded. So, Kynagen and I will go search for the hideout. I believe the two of us would be more than enough to take them on. Xun and Chou shall stay at the restaurant and defend it with the forces that are coming. If you have any friends Xun, can I suggest brining some of them with you?"

Chou listened intently as Gengoro continued.

"Does anybody have any objection to that, or possibly some things to add?" Gengoro asked.

[xun]

Through his mind, Xun cycled through a lists. Options. People. Timing.

Timing..., he looked out the nearest window into the early afternoon crowd. Even after pioritizing the most necessary duties needed accomplishing he would be cutting it close. Even with the trams and taxis, hoofing it about the city still took time.

He had planned on asking his brotherhood 'sister' if she could give the four of them some discrete aid. As discrete as possible, guessing that members of her own gang would have been recognized by Yao's thugs. Thereby inflating this possible conflict as well as dragging her and her business into the matter. Something she hired him not to do in the first place. Come to think of it he, he considered, the possibilty of having her send a runner out to Kynagen and Gengoro revealing the location of Yao's gang. Surely she would know of such information and it would save more than enough time for those two.

Whether or not assistance would be granted, to which he doubted, there would be the local police precint next. Even though most, if not all, the police were being bribed by Yao--and even his 'sister'--they would have no choice but to comply with Xun's wants under orders of the king. Any deviation could result not only in their imprisonment but even execution for refusing the king's authority. Maybe he could have some pressed into service for this occassion. Preferably in civilian dress.

Next would be a message to the green spooks, the Dai Li. Not only informing them of the entire matter, but hopefully having them stay out of it, if possible.

Luck would have to be on his side if he intended to garner his weapons at home and make it back in time to aide Chou. The sooner he made it back to the restuarant the better. A just in case precaution that meant he would have to forgo any weapons save for his kukri.

"Does anybody have any objection to that, or possibly some things to add?" Gengoro questioned.

"Nothing I can think of now," tapping upon the table as if tapping out of a match.

[paperbard]

Kynagen listened intently to Gengoro’s plan. It has promise. He thought. Though I am still uncertain as to how two older men, one rather rotound, are going to defend the restaurant without it being burned to the ground.

When Gengoro asked them if there were any problems with the plan, Kynagen sighed once more. I’ve been doing that a lot lately. He pursed his lips together as he thought for a few moments. After the larger man gave his two copper, Kynagen waved his hand slightly inform the others of his impending comment.

“Looks good…. but there are still a few variables to consider. 1: We don’t know how many they’re going to send to the restaurant. If they’re really pissed, it could very well be the majority of their forces. These are gang members, not soldiers, and they may send most of their men to take part in the fun, leaving few men to guard their hideout. I hope you can see the problem with that. You and I are probably the most martial people in this group, and so would be best suited to handle these ruffians. Problem is, I’m not sure of how many men our two older friends will be able to handle. We do not want to be sitting there, amidst their lair, whilst our friends lie broken and bleeding in front of a burning restaurant.”

He turned to Chou. “No offense meant, but you are probably past your prime. I would not wish you to come to harm.”

He turned back to Gengorio. “Second: The Dai Li. I don’t know much about the politics of this place, as I have only arrived recently, but I don’t see them dealing with these gangs. Either they have an ‘understanding’ with the gangs, or they just don’t give a damn. Either way, they may not take to kindly to our disruptive actions. They may intervene, and I do not know which side they may assist, if they bother tog et their hands dirty at all.”

He formed a steeple with his two index fingers, and then pointed at Gengoro. “Other than that, I see no problem.”

[gengoro]

Gengoro poured another cup of tea for himself. He sipped it slowly as he thought of all the ideas that were put on the table.

"This isn't going to be easy at all," Gengoro thought, "All of these plans have potential, but it still looks bad for all of us. There is no fool-proof plan here. The Dai Li would pose a problem, but why would they want to get involved with peasant problems? If the "police" were predictable, they would stay in the upper parts of society instead."

As Gengoro was comtemplating his thoughts, a slam from the entrance was heard. Gengoro turned to see a boy that was from the restaurant that Gengoro worked at.

"Grandfather!" the boy cried, "You have to come to the shop quick. There's a big group of Yao's group coming this way. They look upset, and their going to the shop. We need you."

Without a second to think, Fu Chou got up from his stool and marched out of the door. The look on his face was an expresion of concern.

After Chou left the restaurant, Gengoro looked at the other that were still left.
"Well, I think we just got a fight," Gengoro commented. Grabbing his Miao Dao, he marched for the door to follow Chou.

"Wait a minute," one of the waitresses called out, "You forgot to pay for your meal."

"I'll be back later," Gengoro said back, "Just have to take care of a few loose ends."

[xun]

"So much for planning," Xun, the human wall, muttered outloud to himself as Chou then Gengoro began to leave in haste. Almost chuckling at Gengoro being halted by the waitress.

Before getting up he slipped a hand into his clothing. Searching his money pouch. Grappling with a few coins to determine size and make; upon finding the ones he was looking for he slapped them on the table and slide it toward the waitress.

Practically the last one of the group to leave, hastening in a rather slow pace, Xun began to stand. Straightening the cheap conical straw hat atop his head as he strode towards the door. The headwear protecting his eyes from the sudden illumination as the quartet sped outside. Allowing his eyes the chance to adjust without the need to squint in sensory pain.

"Maybe it is a good thing they decided not to wait," mentioning as he began to loudly crack his knuckles, pop his shoulders, and roll his neck around as the sped towards the resturant.

Though it'd still be nice to have a weapon...

[paperbard]

Kynagen grinned as everyone began to leave. Finally! Some action! Once Gengorio had vacated the restaurant, Kynagen rose quickly from his seat and strode towards the rather perplexed waitress. Taking his bag out gold out of his pocket, he plunged his hand inside the worn, leather sack. After several moments, he returned his hand from the bag, holding two gold coins tucked between his fingers.

“This should be more than enough for the meals…” He placed the coins into the waiting waitress’s hands. “And keep my friend’s nationality a secret, would you? It would not do to have the entire city after him.” He stared deeply into her eyes, looking for recognition. The shocked woman merely nodded unsteadily. Feeling she understood him, Kynagen turned to leave. He gave a nod of recognition to his rather rotund friend, who appeared to be quite content in taking his merry old time to vacate the building.

Kynagen strode out of the restaurant, his hands resting on the hilts of his katars. When he had caught up to Gengorio, he placed a strong hand on his shoulder, alerting him to Kynagen’s presence. As they ran astride, Kynagen said, “So… what exactly is the plan?” He tilted his head towards his weapons. “Are we allowed to use lethal force, or shall we be forced to break our knuckles on their thick skulls?”

[gengoro]

"I don't care, just leave a few alive," Gengoro yelled back as he ran.

The marketplace was bustling with activity. With as much people as there is out at the moment, this slowed Gengoro's running down a lot. Still, this might slow the gang down as well, sice they got more people with them. Gengoro pants for air as he continued to weave through the crowd. The crowd murmured as Gengoro and the rest of them pushed themselves through.

"Damn it, this isn't good," Gengoro spoke, "As long as we don't kill all of them and they leave back to the base, we could follow them."

As Gengoro fought through the crowd, he got to the restaurant and noticed that it was still there. He sighed in relief as he tried to catch his breath. As he caught his breath, he noticed in the distance the gang as he fought their way through the crowd as well.

[xun]

Though a force of habit, Xun capably managed to refrain from booming, 'in the name of the King,' in some form or another. Waving about his insignia pendant of office and forcing his way through the crowd.

However he neither had his pendent nor did the situation call for such as the four attempted to make their way through the heavy crowd.

Lagging behind the others who ran, Xun instead arrogantly strolled through the crowd rather than pushing them aside. Standing at a height rather uncommon in this age, taller than anyone amidst his comrades and the crowd today. As a result most simply made way for him, only a few he had to make eye contact with in coercing them to do so. As the citizenry began to shy away from him, more than likely out of fear of his size and what he could do with it, Xun was gaining on his comrades being hampered by the same crowd.

"STEP ASIDE!!!" Xun domineeringly boomed amidst them. "Step aside and make way for us!" Roaring from side to side. "NOW!!!" Verbally forcing the populace aside as they neared the resturant. So far nothing had seemed to have taken place, though from his height vantage point he noticed another group of people also forcing their way through the crowd as well.

[paperbard]

Kynagen, sweaing slighty from his run, stopped in his tracks before the crowd. So many damn people! He wiped his brow with the crossguard of one of his kukri. Startled, he looked down at his drawn weapons. Don't remember pulling these out... must be real itching for a fight! He smiled as he re-sheathed his blades. As Gengoro began to weave through the crowd, and his larger friend barreled his way through, Kynagen grinned. Ametuers. He throught. You don't fight the waves, or try and avoid them. You flow with the crowd, masking your presence.

While he contemplated, Kynagen scanned the crowd. Upon seeing the angry gang members barreling through the crowd, an idea came to Kynagen. If his compatriots could distract the gang long enough, Kynagen could follow the crowd around their backs, coming into a perfect ambush position. Placing his straw hat back upon his head, Kynagen hunch-walked into the crowd, maneuvering himself around the gang members. Grinning wickedly, Kynagen followed the blustering gang, his hands always on his punching daggers. Just hope my friends don't think I abandoned them. The fire nation scum seems intelligent enough, but I'm not so sure about the fat man. Seems a bit foolis and self-righteous to me. He grinned. Self-righteous people get themselves killed.

[gengoro]

The showdown was inevitable. Gengoro knew that it would escalate soon. The crowd started to clear out of the way as the others cleared through for the front of the restaurant to be bare.

With his hand on his hilt, Gengoro unsheathed the maio dao with the seratted edge on top and points the tip of the blade down to the ground. He knew that the time to fight was at hand.

"Everone pay attention," Gengoro called out to the audience, "Pretty soon, a group of thugs will be coming this way to raze this restaurant. This has nothing to do with any of you, so we need you to stay out of this and don't get involved."

A small clamor of chatter came from the crowd as a mix of skepticism, curiosity, and confusion could be vaguely heard. As the crowd spoke to each other, the group of thugs came nearly to the front of the restaurant where Gengoro and the others were waiting. From a mental count, at least twenty of them were present. All of them were from the slums from the way their clothing looked. The Lieutenant from earlier wasn't present with the group, due to a possibility that he stayed behind to watch the base.

"None of you shall pass," Gengoro called out to the mob.

[xun]

For a moment Xun took the time to account for the presence of his... comrades as they were. Finding Chou while Gengoro took the led of the four defenders standing before Chou's restaurant. As for Kynagen... it seemed the boy had disappeared. Whether out of fear or cowardice or lagging behind mattered little to Xun. Yet out of curiosity the large man, without moving his head began scanning the rooftop out of curiosity and possiblity.

Leaning on the wall of the restaurant's storefront, again without moving his head, Xun began scanning the crowd. Attempting to discern the members of the gang from the crowd. Both by their dress and look as well as anyone trying to move to the front and beyond the crowd.

Xun folded his arms and waited for events to unfold. Feeling a bit more than odd that he was not only teaming up with a man of the Fire Nation but that such a man was defending people of the Earth Kingdom.

[gengoro]

"Well well well," one of the "gangbangers" spoke up from the crowd, "Look what we have here. Seems the waiter has to settle a score with us."

Gengoro stood thirty feet away from the mob that came. Twenty thugs came, only a few will make it out alive. Gengoro looked over each and everyone of them. Each of them had a crude weapon in their hands. Some had rakes while others had bo staves. Peasant weaponry told him that they were a very poor group of thugs with only the minimal weaponry on hand.

My name is Gengoro," he called out, "I was a waiter for Fu Chou in this restaurant. In actuality, I'm a wanderer that traveled all across the Earth Kingdom looking for work. I won't explain the rest of my story to scum like you. The only story left for you is about your trip to Hell."
Gengoro gripped the hilt of his blade.

"You bastard! Kill him. I want nothing left of this shop."

Five thugs charged in recklessly with their weapons in hand while howling like animals.

Meanwhile, Fu snuck into his shop from the back door. All of the employees were busy at work.
"Listen everyone, I want everyone to leave. Consider this a day off. We are closing early," Chou announced. The other employees looked around in confusion as they prepared to leave for the day.