_______________________________........ | Upper Ring · |@Katakuri]Upper Ring · @Katakuri ____________________________________________________________________________. Receiving the news from Director Tao at the Gala was an odd situation — did they expect any certain emotion to burst out of him? This kind of news was the type someone had a hard time processing, plus he didn’t have the best relationship with his father. He might have come off suspicious, since he couldn’t outwardly react with any emotion – or – maybe he wasn’t suspicious at all? “I’ll be going, thank you.” was the only thing he could focus on saying, as he was heading for the doors. He wasn’t directly talking to any one at this moment in time, but he was focused on what was happening at the Soran Estate. The silence he allowed himself to be in might have spoken more than any words or actions, but he was in the beginning stages of processing the information – Mazu Soran was dead. and his mother was being brought into custody. He was surprised about that. Never thinking that his mother could have killed anyone, especially someone she was married to. Katakuri did not know how to feel about his father being deceased— What about my mother? This was the real catcher of the situation, was his mother going to be okay? A part of him did not want to believe that she was being brought into custody for killing her husband or his father. Another part of him couldn’t believe that his mother would actually commit murder.
All of his feelings and the thought process he was having about knowing this information was unreal, at least for the moment, since he was not face-to-face with the reality of what truly happened. Not yet. The more he thought about his mother being capable of murder, the more he realized that it could happen. Mazu and Urose Soran have been arguing since Chosah began to show her abilities. Mazu wanted to inform the RSF or LSF or something ~ he must have finally gone to do it. He knew his mother was terrified of losing her granddaughter. Practically another one of her children, since she raised Chosah more than part-time.
The brakes squealed upon arrival, throwing the vehicle into park and lunging out of the vehicle. He left the door wide open and began to consume the scene displayed in the front of the Soran residency. Katakuri found himself disgusted with the sight of the ambulance, the handfuls of police vehicles, and the handful of police – who were going in and out of the front door as they pleased. It might have been a personal opinion, but he felt like there were too many officers around the estate. His mother could not have caused all of this, could she? In his eyes, the police were comparable to rats as they infested the house. Watching the officers go in and out as they pleased without taking their shoes off or closing the door was bothersome. It was disgusting. “Fucking rats…” the words slipped under his breath as he began to push through the crowd of workers.
“Sir! Sir! You’re not allowed to pass the security tape!” a random officer shouted while Katakuri went under the crime tape without a second thought. He could care less if he was going into a crime scene, it wasn’t his first rodeo. He needed to go into this crime scene. Ignoring the officer and making his way through the front door with haste, the entrance hallway exposed what happened very quickly. A lifeless form was hiding under a white sheet. Around the deceased individual lay a flower vase shattered in millions of pieces with petals and stems flown everywhere, and puddles splattered around the wooden floor.
Going up to the body under the sheet, he assumed this was Mazu Soran’s lifeless body, and he crouched down to begin examining the scene. Lifting the fabric and throwing it off to the side. He needed to see his father. One. Last. Time. – Mazu Soran…
The police officer that attempted to flag him down finally caught up, “Sir, you need to not interfere with the investigation and the scene at this estate,” the officer was breathing somewhat heavily as if rushing from the safety of his police car to right inside the front door was a workout. Peering down at the deceased man’s expression, the shock was written all over his face, and somehow this confirmed to Katakuri that his mother most likely committed the crime. Why would he expect his beloved wife to do such a thing? That would surprise anyone. Gently reaching for the hairline of his father, he noticed blood was escaping the hairline and the damage had been inflicted on the head. Blunt force trauma was most likely the cause of death or maybe a heart attack from such a situation. Maybe both. The weapon of choice, is one of Urose’s beloved flower vases.
Petals were flown everywhere, flower stems scattered, and pools of water diluting blood – what a scene… Was it strange that the young man didn’t feel anything in particular? It was like looking down at any other dead body. There was none or little to no emotional attachment to the scene in front of him. The pressure of another person’s hand snapped Katakuri out of his thoughts, glaring up to see the overweight police officer was the one who grabbed his shoulder, “Sir, I will not repeat myself again.” The officer was clearly annoyed and rightfully so.
Being broken out of such an intimate moment was upsetting for Katakuri as he exhaled sharply, showing his annoyance while shrugging his shoulders away and standing a foot or two away from the officer's reach. Repositioning himself with an annoyance in his eyes and a fine line on his lips – “ –Do not touch me…” his words hissed out of his teeth while the look of annoyance began to narrow to the officer who was only trying to follow orders and do his job. He was aware that this behavior would get him nowhere with figuring things out, so he decided to switch his tone before giving the officer a question, “Where is Urose Soran?” Was his mother safe? At least in the back of a cop car, maybe she was already in the investigation room, or maybe she was still in the estate. These thoughts made his blood pressure spike, why am I feeling like this?, a shaky inhale could be heard. He felt himself getting emotional – FUCK! – he felt his eyes begin to whelm with that salty liquid that would stain your cheeks red.
Katakuri Soran felt like he had no idea what was going on with his family. The police officer seemed to try and be the best help that he could be to the eldest child of the Sorans. He was talking over the intercom, trying to figure out where Urose Soran was without realizing that her only son was mentally deteriorating quickly. His mother was the one that murdered his father, but he still didn’t believe it. How could he believe that an oldy lady, his mother, wouldn't even kill bugs in their house… how could she do this? How could she fucking do this to the family!? Anger began to rush through his veins.
The officer brought Katakuri Soran out of his thoughts, “She is currently in the back of a police car, in custody, she is safe,” he informed the son with a forced smile. Trying to reassure the younger man that everything was okay even though it was clearly not going to be okay. It was not okay. Nothing would ever be okay in this house again.
He did not mean to come off snappy to the officer, but his thoughts had him riled up. “Was there any sight of two dogs and a little girl?” he asked in a snappy manner. He needed to know if Chosah and his dogs were safe. Did they find Chosah? Were they bringing her into custody or was she already taken away? Was he too late? He felt a tightening in his chest and a ball form in his throat.
The officer was quicker with this response, “Officer Kanahan is having difficulty with your dogs in a little girl’s bedroom. The dogs were with a little girl and we have sent officer Wen to help him out.” The man seemed pleased with himself that he was able to give Katakuri Soran a quick answer. Not making the man wait any longer.
“Thank you, officer –” pausing for a second to look at the man’s name tag. “ – Officer Rehur.” He would keep the officer's name in mind. Katakuri began to run down the hall. He could care less about his father’s dead body or his mother being in the back of a police car. He had to get to his daughter and make sure nothing bad was going to happen to her or his dogs. Knowing that they were guard dogs, they were probably giving the officers trouble, so he had to hurry and get to them before anything bad happened. Like an officer shooting Archer or Duchess.
Turning down the hallway to another one that led to his room, his office, Chosah’s room, and a few others. He noticed one of the officers out of the room, holding something, assumingly a gun, and he noticed that it was directed in Chosah’s room. Most likely at the dogs. Chosah was there. They were pointing a gun into a room that has my baby girl. This thought made him fume. His blood pressure spiked again and he could feel his adrenaline kick in while he approached the officer. Quickly sliding his hand down the gun to its shaft before disarming the officer with one simple move and taking the gun into his own hands. “Don’t.Ever. Point a gun at my child or dogs again.” If a tone could kill, this officer would be on the ground by now. The officer seemed to panic for a second with wide eyes, surprise filling his expression as he was disarmed so easily.
“Uhh…” Officer Wen seemed to be in the middle of processing what just happened. How he was disarmed so easily. Archer and Duchess were baring their fangs along with growling at the officer, officer Kanahan who was holding Chosah in his arms. Trying his best to get around the mutts. Archer was keeping the man at bay, mocking his movements before lunging in for a snap at the legs or any decent take down points. The officer seemed to not know what to do with the dogs. Chosah appeared to be very uncertain with the whole situation. She was not used to the two sweet and loveable dogs getting so aggressive or protective of her. She was being held by a stranger, she wasn’t holding onto the officer for life, she had tears going down her face, and she seemed overly spooked by everything happening. Emotionally overwhelmed and confused about everything happening around her. This was not the world she was used to. Most of the noise came from her and the dogs. Not sirens and officers.
After a few seconds, she recognized her father and instantly began to reach for him, “Papa!” Chosah cried out for her father while doing the grabby-hands towards him. She wanted him. She needed him. She began to bawl her eyes out, this was the last straw for the child, seeing her father allowed the flood gates to release. He was her comfort person and she needed that. The little girl began to find confidence in trying to get away from the officer, struggling out of his grip, but she was not strong enough to actually escape. She was feisty enough to keep trying to escape to get to her father. Katakuri sighed at the sight of his daughter, waving at her, and getting her attention to be put on him. “Just a moment, baby girl. I have to talk to this lovely officer before I can get you. Is that alright?” Chosah seemed disappointed with this statement, she was upset that she wasn’t snatched away from the police officer within that moment of demanding her father to grab her. With a giant frown. A frown that showed she was upset with his words. She slowly nodded to confirm that it was okay and she would be okay. Her tears began to try up from this realization that her father was actually here in the room with her.
Officer Wen seemed to be able to come into reality again and process everything around him, process that Katakuri Soran disarmed him so easily, and he was not stopping his dogs from potentially harming his partner. click! “Katakuri Soran is proceeding with advanced skills, hostile behavior, and not calling his dogs off from Officer Kanahan.” click! The clicking and man’s best to keep a whisper was more than apparent. He could still be heard by anyone within five to ten feet.
The officer was correct about Katakuri Soran not in any kind of rush to call his dogs off from the other officer. Why would he? They were doing their job. He wasn’t going to stop them until he got his baby girl. “I am going to give you an option, you get one answer and one minute to answer, Officer Kanahan. Give me my daughter.” A threatening tone was used by Katakuri Soran while his eyes locked onto the officer who was holding his baby girl. It was a request, not an option, with force to back that threatening request up. He had no patience for the man to tell him no, but he would give the man a chance. Agree or disagree. What do you do, Officer Kanahan? There was definitely a correct answer. This was fair wasn’t it? Chosah being in the other man's arms was frightening, since she wasn’t safe with him. How could she ever be safe with a government worker? The RSF were like rats. No matter how much you beat them. If you at least fed them and gave them the bare minimum of happiness, they would listen. They never stayed loyal. The response from the man would pave the road ahead, how Katakuri Soran would react.
Archer began to close in on the officer, barking with a loud snap of the jaws at the man’s ankle. This caused the officer to jump. “Call him off!” the officer backed up into Chosah’s bookcase, causing multiple books to fall. This caused Duchess to be startled by jumping back and urged Archer to become more aggressive, actually latching onto the man’s leg.
Shrugging his shoulders, he seemed too calm to the officers in this situation. “Mister Soran, call off your dogs. I’ll give you thirty seconds before calling in for backup.” Officer Wen was using an authoritative voice or trying his best to. click! the intercom was left open for everyone to hear over their intercoms. They would soon learn who the real Katakuri Soran was.
“Mister Soran, I apologize, but I cannot give you this child. She has been reported and officially confirmed to be a bender. A fire bender. We will have to tak—-” the man was interrupted by an extremely irritated Katakuri. He did not want to hear this from the officer. The officer could have said yes. The RSF love to turn the other way all the time. Why couldn’t this one do that? Just once.
“Archer, Zzztk!” Katakuri commanded with the moment of his hand, pointing at Officer Wen. Archer instantly changed priorities. Dashing over to officer Wen, jumping on the man quickly, and pulling him down to the ground. A loud thud could be heard from the dog causing the man to collapse.
“Get this fucking thing off form me!” the officer shouted.
With the spare officer being detained by the dog and no other officers around, Katakuri smirked while lifting his hand that did not have a weapon in it. Snapping his fingers and exposing that he was a firebender. A massive flame sat over his hand, “Where do you think she got it? You should have turned away and given her to me. Such a pity that you decided to choose the wrong answer.” The officer seemed frightened and instead of grasping onto the child tighter, he loosened his grip. This was when Chosah slipped out of his arms and ran right over to her father.
Keeping the gun safely in his hand, Katakuri lifted the small child up in one arm. Giving her a kiss on the forehead and rubbing his cheek against hers. Chosah seemed happy to be in her father’s arms and she tucked her face into the round of his neck and shoulder. Officer Kanahan reached for his gun. Within the same second, the flame went out. He had to protect himself right? I have to protect myself? They are benders! I am allowed to protect myself. The gun began to point at Katakuri and Chosah without a second thought.
A loud echo of a gunshot was heard throughout the house.
A thud of a body could be heard from the little girl’s room.
Officer Wen could be heard struggling in the hallway calling for backup.
Slowly the man turned the corner of the room, glaring down at the other officer. “Your partner decided the wrong option was the right one today. You can blame him for everything that I am about to do to you and your squad.” A dead tone could be heard from Mister Soran as he walked over to the officer, struggling with Archer, and Katakuri opened his office. Setting down Chosah. Making another noise, both dogs' ears seemed to perk up and they ran towards their master. Going into his office before he shut the door. Making sure all three of them were safe in there for now. Three more officers could be seen running down the hall to aid their partners.
Katakuri Soran went over to Officer Wen who was trying to get up, stepping on the middle of his back, he put all his weight down on the man. Causing him to crash to the floor. Smacking his head off from the wooden floor boards. “Get on your knees and put your hands behind your head!” Another officer shouted while pulling a gun out on Katakuri. Still having a weapon in his own hand, he pointed the pistol to officer Wen’s head without hesitation. The officer who seemed to be in charge stared into Katakuri’s eyes, hoping that he could talk the man out of whatever he was considering. “Sir, we need you to cooperate. We understand that you are going through a difficult time, but we are not the enemy. We are trying to help you and your family the best we can. You do not want to add any felony charges to your list of tonight's problems, do not shoot the officer.”
How convincing… Katakuri closed his eyes for a second while inhaling slowly, he was making a decision. He was going to kill all these fuckers. A chaotic grin appeared on his face while his eyes opened. Staring at the officer in charge. He pulled the trigger, shooting officer Wen through the head within seconds. He raised the pistol into an appropriate position before shooting once more and a thud could be heard behind the officer in charge. The unknown man seemed to glance back, to check on his partner, and realized he was dead before he hit the floor. Anxiety filled the man's face. This was something that no one expected from the Soran family. Everyone knew that Mazu Soran did business roughly sometimes, but they wouldn’t expect this from his son. Would they? The commanding officer was still pointing his gun at the Soran son. Allowing one hand to click his intercom on, “We need back up in the back of the Soran estate. Copy. We need back up!” the officer stated while leaving his intercom on.
Within seconds, Katakuri’s foot was meeting with the underside of the man’s jaw and neck. Slamming him up to the wall and knocking the man out cold. Deciding it was his best bet, he began to move symmetrically. Hearing footsteps grow near. Grow louder. The man didn’t realize that the other officer that ran down in the group snuck into Chosah’s bedroom to check on the officer that was knocked out in there. The static of this attack began to spark and sizzle throughout the house. Four men rounded the corner and he directed his aim to them. A large fiery blast of electricity consumed them. Screams could be heard before perfect silence. Multiple thuds from the electrocuted bodies hit the floor. “Officer Kanahan should have—” his sentence was cut short by a pressure to his face. He was being punched. This punch was hard enough to cause him to stumble into the wall.
Katakuri began to chuckle as he spit blood out. His teeth got the inside of his cheek. Placing his hand onto his face, he felt another jab. A knee to his side. This was somewhat unexpected. He might have been a little too cocky, but he really did not think one officer was going to place a punch on him, let alone two. Another punch was coming his way and he grabbed it. Stopping it. “Why would you come out? You could have stayed wherever you were and you wouldn’t have died.” Katakuri quickly positioned himself, grabbing onto the man’s arm, and flipping the man over his side. Causing the officer to smack down on the ground and into the hallway wall. Putting a dent into the drywall. Within this motion, Katakuri grabbed the officer's gun and pointed it right at the officer. Without any other words. He shot him through the head. Executioner style.
It was really time to go. Going into his office, he found Chosah playing with the dogs and he closed the door behind him. Keeping the gun in his hand. He would hold onto this for now. Locking the office door. He didn’t know what route he would take to get out of the house, but he was finding the night to be full of surprises — I need to get Chosah to Tahedi… This was the main thought on his mind.
“Here you go.” giving a princess a unicorn, bright pink backpack with a rainbow and princess unicorn on the front. Chosah seemed to grab onto it for dear life. When her father and her were packing their things about a week ago, she wanted to pack everything in that backpack. He was not going to argue. Going into his safe, he needed to take out all of the items from there – two notebooks filled with his bending techniques, the most recent encyclopedia of fauna and another one of vegetation, an ancient fire-bending family crest, and two vials that were tagged as PETN and Max-Hexx – mannitol hexanitrate — just in case. Taking all of those things over to his desk. He grabbed a backpack that was already filled with emergency field rations, water, and water purifying powders, a set of clothes made for traveling, his training clothes, a set of nano puff cold temperature clothes that included a very nice coat and snow pants that were compactable, a small med-kit, a rope that was strapped to the side, a map that he made of when he traveled outside the wall, a compass, a set of running shoes and sandals, and hiking-snow boots. He even packed a roll of fishing line and a handful of fishing hooks. Throwing knives and a compatible grappling hook. A hammock was strapped to the side as well.
Making sure nothing fell out of the backpack or would come to lose any time soon. He went over and made sure Chosah’s backpack was on her, doing the front straps. He purposely got backpacks with double connectors, so they would say on when he was running or moving long distances without issue. “Are we going?” she quietly asked while looking up at her father. Katakuri nodded his head while checking her straps again. Then a loud bang could be heard on the door. Someone was trying to get in and he assumed it was more officers. Chosah seemed to jump at the sound and start shaking, doing a nervous face. She was not happy with what was on the other side of the door – Archer and Duchess were not helping the situation. They jumped up quickly and began growling.
Going over to his desk once more. He put on a front harness, so he could carry Chosah without having to carry her in his arms when he ran. It was better for moving and fighting if he had to keep a hold of her. Grabbing the young girl, he put her into the back-facing harness, so her head and the front of her body could rest on his chest. Grabbing his backpack and throwing it on his shoulders. He secured everything onto him. Chosah – Check. Both backpacks – check. Dogs – check. Everyone isn’t dead yet or in custody – check.
This reminded him, he had a small stuffed animal in the side pocket of his backpack. Grabbing it and gesturing over to Archer. “Archer. Find Chosah.” he said while giving the dog the pink stuffed animal. Archer seemed to understand and began wagging his tail. The dog kept the stuffed animal tightly in his jaws.
Katakuri kicked out the window of his office and decided to make everything burn. Within one swipe, all the bookshelves, his desk, and everything was on fire. This was when he jumped off the two-story cliff and used his bending skills to safely put him and Chosah on the ground. Hearing the shattering sound of a lock, he glanced up and bolted down the back part of the Soran estate. Once he got to the stone wall, he jumped up. Pulling himself and Chosah up and going right over it. Disappearing into the darkness of the night and into the upper ring.
By the time the officers got the door opened, they realized everything was on fire, and both Soran's were gone. Archer took his chance to knock one of the officers over before bolting down the hall. Duchess followed. “What is in its mouth?” an officer questioned. Another officer quickly demanded, “Stop those dogs!”
All the officers except the one demanding and the other one who was knocked overran after Archer and Duchess. Archer knew what he was doing while the Duchess was only following. She wasn’t as trained. Officer Rehur was at the front door, ready to stop the dogs, but Archer quickly launched himself at the overweight man. Causing the man to fall back down the handful of steps to the front of the house. Duchess jumped over the man as they made their way to the front gates.
Archer noticed the front gates were closed, sliding in his tracks. Quickly he was analyzing his situation before he realized that he needed to get up high. He went over to the car, the Soran family vehicle, that was parked near the gates. Running up onto the vehicle and projectile himself off from it, he got safely over the gates without an issue. Standing there. He waited to see what Duchess was going to do.
Duchess, mocked everything that Archer was doing. She ran up to the vehicle and jumped. Slamming into the front gate. She quickly tried again and failed. She wasn’t able to projectile herself like Archer was. This was when Archer dashed off and Duchess began to whine in frustration. An officer grabbed the dog that couldn’t get over the gate and she began to fight with the officer frantically. Trying to get out of his grasp. This was when the dog decided to go for the man’s ankle. Biting down hard and pulling him off balance, causing them both to tumble over. With the loosened grip, she got away from the officer and dashed somewhere else. She was going to find another way out.
By this time, Katakuri was already halfway across the upper ring. Closing in on the wall that was separating the upper ring from the middle ring. Stopping in his tracks, he had to backtrack a few steps to hide in the darkness of an alleyway. A police car with sirens was rushing by, most likely heading to his house and two ambulances followed. One of the officers must have reported it to the outer world. “ I do not think they are looking for us quite yet, baby girl.” he said while stroking a hand through Chosah’s hair. Noticing that she was quiet. He had to look down to make sure she was alright. Chosah completely passed out. The overwhelming amount of stress and overall shock to her body probably fried her system. Shutting her down for a little bit.
Thinking that the area was safe, he noticed two police on foot patrol. Standing in the shadows, he watched and crouched down. Taking both throwing knives out of their holsters in preparation. One of them got an intercom connection, hearing the buzzing voices, but he couldn’t make out anything. His heart began to pick up the pace before the partner fell, thudding to the ground. The other was quickly cut off as blood ran down his throat. A dark knife forced its way into an external jugular vein. Both of the officers were dead before they hit the ground. Walking over, he grabbed both knives, wiping them clean on his black slacks and putting them back into the holsters.
He sprinted the rest of the way across the road into the next alleyway. He needed to get to the water drains or the sewer entrances that he knew about. He has taken this route before to see Tahedi, he has never brought Chosah along or thought he would actually be doing this. Trying to escape the city. Katakuri found himself at the wall, running alongside it. He quickly found his exit out of the upper ring, lifting the manhole cover and going down the ladder. He slid the manhole cover back into place before starting to ascend. This was when he heard Chosah sneeze, “It smells bad…” she whined out from the awful smell of the sewer.
“I apologize for the smell, but I cannot do anything about it. When we get to the underground. I promise. It smells better.” The underground did smell better since the people down there did keep things as decent as possible. At least where Tahedi lived. She tried to keep it manageable. |