61 Luke

It was around 2 in the afternoon when I made it to the military district. I had to wait outside the gate for a good 45 minutes before not even Zar'un, but a higher-ranking guard came outside to meet the guard who had stopped me at the gate. I told him who I was, who I worked for, and why I was here. It then took another 30 minutes for him to send a messenger to Zar'un who finally came back telling me I could go in. This was one aspect of my new life that I could tell I wasn't going to end up liking.

The captain of the guard, bearing different armor than the other, led me across the courtyard of the Military district. Past where they would conduct the execution and recruitment drives into the Citadel Tower that stood at the center of the city. We walked inside, and I was led up flight after flight of stairs. Past floors where I could see barracks, cafeterias, doctor's bays, hell, I even saw what looked like a library. Finally, at the top story, I was led into a hall to a large wooden door that the guard knocked on. A few seconds later the door opened, I was pushed inside, and I heard the door slam close behind me.

The only time I had ever seen this man before was during the executions and recruitments, but then of course, there was when he attacked the Hive, and killed Sunji, taking Heddik and Lannit for execution. All those times, somebody had been killed or sent to be killed whether it was recruitment or executions, somebody always ended dying one way or another, eventually. Not this time, though. This time, it would be an encounter than ended with people surviving.

"Sit" he said as he motioned to the chair in front of me, on the other side of his desk. "The messenger said you had a proposition for me. I don't like to waste time. What's this about?"

I gulped. It was a miracle I made it past the guards at the gate and even a bigger one that I got to this office. And now, sitting here, I felt more nervous than ever. The plan was almost complete, but I felt like I was sinking deeper and deeper into the leather chair. My entire plan on what to say suddenly eluded me, leaving me no choice but to improvise.

"It's, umm, it's about the Rats, yeah."

He smiled, somewhat amused by my anxiety. "Yes, what about them?"

"We, uh, we can't fight them anymore."

"And why's that?"

I completely forgot the reason why. I opened my mouth, getting damn close to blurting the whole plan until I quickly shut it.

"If you have something to say" he said. "I recommend that you don't keep me waiting."

That's all it took. I remembered what was at stake. I remembered just how many people's lives would end if I fucked this up. I sat up, sat straight, and cleared my throat. "I can tell you why, but the thing is, we've been fighting them already. We killed a good amount of them, but we've reached a hitch. A hitch that's not just important to us, but important to you."

"Which is?"

"If I tell you, I need to know that you will still take the Hornets within these walls."

"The way I see it, you wouldn't be living up to your end of the bargain. Why should I let you in?"

"Because as I said, the threat presented by the Rats is not just one that affects us Hornets, but one that affects your garrison as well."

"Damn it, kid!" he yelled standing up. "Stop wasting my time and tell me!"

I stood up too. "The Rats have Earth Kingdom aid and Earthbenders."

This wasn't the only time today that I saw surprise on people's faces. He sat back down, seemingly terrified.

"How. How do you know this?"

"They took me prisoner, but I escaped. I saw the Earth k\Kingdom supplies and I saw the Earthbenders who brought them, opening holes in the ground to bring it to them."

"Shit. Shit shit shit Shit!" Where are they?"

"That's the second part of the information. We'll tell you tomorrow morning at sunrise as you let us walk into the military district, unharmed. The second we're inside, we'll tell you everything we know about them and you can ensure this city's safety in the Fire Nation way."

He had his hand to his mouth, biting down on the muscle until letting go and asking, "You're positive they were Earthbenders?"

"Positive. Do we have a deal?"

"Fucking hell. We have a deal." He extended his hand to me and I shook. I wasn't a civilized kid, I didn't grow up in some fancy military district, but I knew manners and how to get what I wanted. It worked this time and I had the feeling that it would continue to serve me well in the midst of a system where bureaucracy reigned. "Oh. By the way." I said, turning around one last time before I left. "I wouldn't worry too much tonight about the Earthbenders. They've been here for the last 4 months and you barely even noticed."

And that was that. I left the military district weaved my way through the alleyways of the slums before making it to the sewer entrance constantly hidden by piles of trash. I looked around me one last time to make sure I wasn't being watched. I wasn't. I took out the green piece of fabric I had in my pocket, handed to me by Miro, slightly opened the sewer hatch, and dropped it down. They would hear the sewer grate close and come to check. When Miro saw the green piece of paper, she'd know the plan was on.

As I left, I checked my pockets one last time to make sure I dropped the right paper. I only took out a red paper and sighed in relief, knowing that I hadn't fucked up the easiest step.