Chapter 16: Gentleman

Overall, Azula could say, that her trip to Omashu went well: she had acquired a small, elite team for her mission, namely her friends - Mai and Ty Lee. Another addition to her mission was the Avatar, namely the capture of him. Seemed that the Avatar was after something in Omashu: liberation of the former king of Omashu, or after something else she didn't know. No matter the reasons, Azula had taken up the assignment of capturing the Avatar herself...due to her idiot brother failing to do so.

They were currently following the Avatar's trail in a tank-train. A somewhat cross of a Tundra tank and a train, fast and large, it could keep up with Avatar' flying bison. Due to the peculiar design, she wondered if Zhan had a hand in making this machine, probably...in some way.

"What ya got there Zula?" asked Ty Lee suddenly, disturbing her pondering

"What?" asked Azula confused.

"That!" said Ty Lee, pointing at Azula' hand, where she had her metal claws-glove on.

"Oh this?" she asked, raising the gauntlet up, to which Ty Lee nodded too. "Just a little trinket, made by an inventor."

"It's beautiful!" said Ty Lee, eyeing the glove. For something made by an inventor, it had the craftmanship, color and beauty of an artist.

"It is," replied Azula calmly, then got a funny idea in her head. "Ty Lee, may you get this off my hand?"

"Sure!" said Ty Lee. She took hold of the glove and pulled, yet it didn't budge. She tried again...nothing, trying again and again until she was putting her entire body-weight to the challenge.

"Don't pull my arm off," said Azula, feeling the weight pulling her. Ty Lee tried one more time to pull it off...only ending up, up-side on the other side. "Give up?"

"Yeah. Cool item Azula, even I couldn't get it off!" replied Ty Lee, getting back up again.

"It only requires..." said Azula, clicking the designates places to unlock it, and slipped her hand out. "...precision."

"Nice fashion-ware!" said Mai, having watched the event happen, a tiny smile on her lips.

"Who said this was purely for looks?" asked Azula, slipping the glove back-on, locking it. A few finger movements, and Azula had five blades out of the glove, ready to strike. "It's a weapon...and a masterpiece."

"Woah!" said Ty Lee, examining the now lethal fashion-ware.

"Not a bad weapon," replied Mai, Azula retrackting the blades back in.

"Indeed. It isn't," said Azula, smiling.

XXX

Zhan' work had finally finished, the Drill was finally constructed and operating. In his opinion, he would expect the Drill to crash into the nearest fissure, before even reaching Ba Sing Se. Yet the War-Minister didn't listen to him, and he didn't show signs of changing his mind.

How the stubborness of the Fire Nation, seemed to amaze him. But nevertheless he had completed his assignment and work, ordered by the Fire Lord himself. As far as he was concerned, the Drill was stable - wouldn't crash in on itself, or explode.

Zhan had his hands clean, on this project now. Whatever happened - win or lose, was on the War-Minister' head.

"I'd say this is a bad idea. But you made your choice," said Zhan to the War-Minister. Having gathered his belongings and prepared to leave.

"This Drill will be our greatest triumph, and you'll be glad to have partaken in it," replied the War-Minister.

"For your sake...I hope this work's, because the risk, is as high as the reward," replied Zhan, leaving the facility and the War-Minister. He couldn't quite feel it, but he had a knowing, that the last words got under Qin' skin.

XXX

Zhan had some time to himself now, the warship he was scheduled to depart in, didn't leave for another two hours. As such, he had about two hours, to take a look-n-peek around the Fire Nation colony - Zu Dhay.

It wasn't much different from the regular colonies, Zu Dhay was a post-Azulon era colony, so there was an air of distaint and nobility in the air. The town divided between higher-class Fire Nation citizens and the lower-class Earth Kingdom people. Crime was a regular in colonies like this, usually from the lower-class, yet that was being slowly snuffed-out. Speaking of which:

Wanted

The Shockwave Gang

Crime of harrasment, destruction of property and theft from Fire Nation Citizens.

Reward

300 Gold Coins

'300? Must be a local vigilante group, or a goody-rebel movement,' thought Zhan, taking the ad. Gang had a dozen members, and was sighted in a nearby workshop, on the other side of the colony, according to the ad. 'Guess they're more of a nuisance, than the mayor of this colony is willing to admit. And I know just the thing for 300 pieces.'

He had made a stop at nearby tavern, changing into something more...battle-ready. He soon exited the tavern, wrapped in a crimson cloak, yet underneath he felt just as home. Making his way to Earth section of the colony, as soon as Zhan arrived there, he could feel the many residents watching him. He wasn't welcomed in this part.

He was only a few meters away from the local workshop, when twelve hoodlums soon appeared, wearing greenish-colored clothes and scarfs covering their mouths.

"You aren't welcomed here, tyrant!" said a larger looking man, their leader obviously.

"Isn't carrying weapons illegal for you...lower-class?" teased Zhan.

"You're dead boy!" screamed another male, charging him with his spear. He didn't have a chance - the wooden spear-handle breaking on contact, a slight sting but he could deal with any pain. But not the attacker - a quick strike, jab and elbow kick to the face, and he ended up bleeding on the ground.

"You were saying?" asked Zhan. Smirking at the hoodlums who were dazed for sec, before they charged at him.

Zhan couldn't tell, when he last had a good fight, the battle-rush was excilirating. One by one they fell - strike, punch, kick - kick, crack, flip - punch, dodge, strike - block, crack, hit. Zhan couldn't keep up with the counting of each hit, but in the rush he didn't want to. Soon the final punch was given, the last hoodlum fell down hurting, they all wers. They weren't much of an equal to a hardened Earthbender soldier, and none of them were Earthbenders.

"...what...who...how..." asked a Fire Nation captain, arriving at the scene with his men - twelve knocked-out hoodlums and a boy who looked like a fresh recruit, standing over them.

"...sorry I didn't have any rope..." he replied, breaking the akward silence.

XXX

300 gold pieces lighter, and a special object secured - a good two hours spend.

Zhan could barely hold back his laughter back then, at the barracks when he came to collect the reward. Obviously the captain, didn't expect a lone teenager to take down twelve armed hoodlums alone...even so asked why wasn't HE in the army. The look on his face, when Zhan had pulled a token of the Royal Family, was to die for. The man went pale as snow, someone this young, who in theory out-ranked even him.

After that, the exchange went smoothly and Zhan could be on his way. Although he was arranged to marry Azula, there wasn't any formal statement so far, due to the political im-pleasentries it might cause. Though rumours were circling about a supposed courtier to the Crown Princess. How clueless and yet so close were they to the truth.

Zhan didn't waste much time with pleasentries on the ship, he showed the token, and went to his quarters below deck. Lying on the bed, and watching the sun-set. An old day retires - a new one shall be born.