Kota's introduction

t’s 5 years ago. A construction site is buzzing with activity as a pallet of bricks assembles itself with speed. The camera turns and our first party member Kota Tong is seen finishing the stack with a slightly clumsy finish. Luckily his work-mentor Heiji catches the slip up.
“Hey, slow down if you need to kid, screw ups come out of your own pocket if you don’t pay dues.”

The shift bell rings, some workers, all of whom without exception have proper safety equipment and cleanly repaired if damaged at all clothing, immediately drop their work. Some of them begin packing up their things, or breaking out lunch boxes while others pick up and hoof it to the other worksite literally just across the street.

Kota’s been working with the small teamster crew since just before first light, nabbing work here and there to support his family as prices continue to rise since the past few years. The work-mentor offers to cover his lunch for the day as he invites him to eat with the boys.
“Trust me kid, you’re gonna love this place.” “Dey gotta wicked Rubara.” “That Mantis Bee honey.”

Kota can see that a family from his neighborhood is also having lunch as they walk in, but soon, a rowdy looking pack of punks walk in, bumping into Heiji and beginning to mad-dog him. The leader, a young man with a red rooster-tail of a hairdo is high on the power and satisfaction of having recently joined the triple threats, though he’s still just a lowly soldier, and his friends are just punks clinging to his popularity. His pin makes such clear, and Heiji notices this right away, attempting to calm down the man and acquiesce to his harassment, if only to protect the “kid” with them and the other non-benders of his group.

When the fight breaks out, Heiji will be flanked and taken down quickly as he moves to defend the group. Rita Lotosh, a young waterbending girl from his neighborhood will jump in the fray soon to help Kota defend himself.

Winning or losing, B.R.U. show up and hogtie the lot of them, where Kota meets Police Chief Lin Beifong for the first time.
“Kota Tong, what’s this, you’re sixth altercation this year?””How’s Aikoto? She get over that flu yet?”