Midpoint

Akira wakes up sitting in a guest room within the Shining Explorer, the ship of the Remnant corvette that picked her team up after they rescued Ozai. The sun is shining. The sky is a mixture of light orange, blue, and white. Cosmos steps in the room, "Hey sunshine, come on. You should check this out."

Akira rubs crust out of her eyes, "What?"

Cosmos: "Just come on or you'll miss out on the fun." Cosmos leaves and Akira quickly gets up and follows him. As she gets up, she reaches in her travel bag and grabs a twig that is lying in the room. She promptly chews on it to clean her teeth.

Akira follows Cosmos into a room where Aten, Kota, Reyna, and Timur are standing across from Ozai who is restrained. Akira looks at Cosmos, "What's the big deal here?"

Ozai looks at her, "You, let me out!"

Timur elaborates, "He's dead set on getting out of here, but none of the crew will risk releasing him without first getting approval. Yeoh has been upstairs working, so she hasn't said anything about his release."

Akira crosses her arms, "Well, maybe he should just wait until we land. Once we make it to our destination, we could return him."

Ozai shouts, "Why?! Why can't I be released now?! I'm a national iconic, this is a disgrace."

Aten: "I saw we release him, otherwise he could have us killed after he reunites with his military."

Timur slowly walks toward Ozai, "Or, I have another suggestion."

Reyna asks, "Timur, what are you doing?" Timur pulls his left hand back and draws a dagger before swiftly holding it to Ozai's neck.

Timur: "Or we kill him right now!" The group looks in shock.

Ozai: "You wouldn't..."

Timur presses his blade more tightly against Ozai's neck and the former monarch raises his head in irritation. Timur: "Why wouldn't I?! Do you remember what you tried to do?! You wanted to wipe out my entire ethnicity and nationality. The whole Earth Kingdom, you wanted to burn all of it to the ground. Why should I let you live? Just so you can do the same thing now!"

Akira aims her clay shooters at Timur, "What are you doing?! Come on Timur, stand down! You could ruin our entire bounty and even have us all killed!"

Timur glares at Ozai, "If you shoot your clay at me, I'll slash his throat before it lands."

Reyna pleas, "Come on Timur, not like this. It won't end well for us."

Kota asks, "Did you take this bounty just to plan an assassination? If so, why didn't you kill him the minute we discovered him?"

Timur: "Because I wanted to wait until most of you had an opportunity to get to safety. I knew it was less likely we'd be extracted if I immediately killed him. I personally hated this man's guts and the minute I knew we were rescuing him I thought about taking him down. So, he'd NEVER have a chance to hurt anyone else."

Aten: "If you stand down now, you might still get your share of the bounty."

Timur: "I don't care about that, this is bigger than money!"

Reyna: "If you kill him in cold blood, you'll only fuel the hate and bloodshed between our nations. Especially like this."

A tear flows down Timur's right eye, "So what? We might as well strike first, then we'll have the advantage."

Kota answers, "Our people don't need another war."

Timur: "Don't act like you cared about peace, otherwise you wouldn't have taken this bounty. You put money over purpose."

Kota: "My purpose has been to take honor in my bounties."

Timur: "What a weak sense of honor, when any bounty goes..."

Kota: "It is no less honorable then killing a man while he is restrained and in a weakened state."

Timur: "I don't care, it's not about that. He just needs to DIE."

Akira: "Yet it's that thinking that has gotten our world where it is."

Timur: "Shut up ashmaker! You are of Fire Nation descent, you wouldn't understand."

Akira: "After all we've been through, that's all I get from you."

Timur: "It's just a mission and for money no less. You did what you had to survive and worse, get paid."

Kota: "If you didn't want Ozai to escape, you shouldn't have taken the bounty."

Reyna shouts, "Timur PLEASE, I need this money to help my sick grandmother. She is paralyzed from a stroke and the only way to fix it is with a special herb that is rare and held by the richest members of society. It's called the grey Yinxig plant, known for its grey petals. Without it, she may be stuck to her terrible fate."

Timur: "No sympathy stories now and don't lie."

Tears pour from Reyna's eyes, "I'm NOT LYING. I needed money, so I started bounty hunting but still couldn't make enough to pay for a cure. Nowhere near, not from the small ones I was taking. The plant has been monopolized by wealthy aristocrats. The normal people like us, have been forced to settle for us and I'm tired of it! This scumbag deserves to die but please not like this."

Ozai smiles, "So what will it be, revenge or will you succumb to meekness?"

Akira looks at Ozai, "Shut up Ozai, you aren't helping."

Ozai looks indifferent, "Either he will kill me, or he won't. If I had drawn that blade, I wouldn't have hesitated. I've lost everything, including my throne. I have NOTHING to fear."

Kota comments, "There is always something greater that we should all fear, the way the spirits work."

Ozai: "Another religious nut..."

Kota: "Considering a religious spirit, that of the Avatar ended your reign, I'd be very wary of such things."

Ozai: "And yet the spirits brought me back in this position. So that I could rise again, my time will come."

Kota: "Not all the spirits operate in sync or unison."

Ozai: "Mine must be stronger, look how long my nation has been dominating."

Timur: "Enough!"

Reyna: "Timur, my grandmother never asked me to do this business. Thus far she doesn't even know I do it. But she's only in her sixties and even if she passes, I want her to live her last years in peace. I'd heard the properties of the plant rebuild damaged cells after being drunk in tea or inserted via a needle injection. It could give her another chance in life, perhaps decades more. And she didn't just help me, she was a treasure to my entire village. People still visit her and write her letters."

Reyna adds, "There are good and bad consequences to both actions but right now isn't the right time. You had an option to not take this bounty, but you took it. So, if you want to leave or back out, no one will stop you. But don't kill him, not here. It would be a selfish decision."

Ozai: "Or as soon as I am returned you can try again after your friends have collected the bounty. See if you are strong enough to prevail." Timur pulls his blade back and Reyna steps beside him.

Reyna: "Come on." As Timur steps away from Reyna, Ozai laughs.

Ozai: "Pathetic."

Timur turns around and pushes Reyna aside. The earthbender charges at Ozai but Akira shoots two clay balls into his back. The balls immediately expand and harden, knocking the young man to the ground. Ozai: "Little fool."

Akira points at Ozai, "You really are getting beside yourself. Next time I might let him swing." Ozai rolls his eyes.

CONTINUOUS VOYAGE

The corvette continues its sail toward Yoruba, moving across a route that isn't heavily patrolled. Yeoh stands with 2nd lieutenant Bezo beside her. Bezo has dark brown hair, yellow skin, dark brown eyes, wide lips, and a thin nose.

Yeoh: "How much further are we from Yoruba?"

Bezo: "We should be there shortly. The navigators estimate two hours."

Yeoh grins, "Good, then we can head back using a more protected route. Within the next hour, I imagine us passing other ships. The more ships we see, the more likely an inspection will be. But we might avoid one at this rate."

Meanwhile a restrained Timur lays in bondage across Ozai who is still restrained. Cosmos and Aten keep watch in the room. Ozai: "Just let me out already, come on!" Aten shakes his head.

Timur: "I swear, I won't attack him anymore, I'll honestly over it."

Aten: "Sorry Timur, you ruined those privileges. If you act mature, we will keep our mouths shut when the bounty is collected and allow you to turn him in with us. But that's a big if, you might have cut yourself out of this bounty but we won't rat you out to the Remnant. Ozai on the other hand, his actions may be very different."

Ozai smiles and glances at Timur. Kota steps up on the deck as he looks to communicate with the crew again to get an idea of when the ship is expected to reach its location. A smooth breeze flows across the ship and ocean floor. Kota can hear seagulls in the distance.

He tilts his head left and looks out across the vast waters before noticing a Fire Nation ship, but this isn't any ship. It looks to be a Fire Nation military ship. Out in these waters, they often have flags on them but this one does not. Most ships that are seen are wooden merchant ships, which don't have combat capabilities. Most pirate ships are wooden but have cannons added in case a fight breaks out.

The ship opens fire and a volley of fire torpedoes fly at the Shining Explorer. Kota shouts, "Incoming attack!"

Yeoh tilts her head back and Bezo turns. Three torpedoes pound the left mid-section of the corvette, shaking the vessel and immediately blasting two men off the ship into the ocean. Downstairs Aten and Cosmos stumble from the explosion.

Timur asks, "What just happened?!"

Ozai comments, "We are under attack! Release us!"

Aten replies, "Nonsense, Cosmos stay with these two. I'm going to figure out what's happening. I'm sure the crew has a response." Aten runs upstairs.

Yeoh orders two seamen, "Quickly, warn the crew in the decks below! We need to mount a defense!"

Kota looks at Yeoh and runs to her. Kota: "Do you think it's pirates?"

Yeoh: "Pirates?"

Kota: "Maybe they stole a ship."

Yeoh: "Maybe or maybe it's another Remnant ship!"

Kota shakes his head, "What?"

Bezo answers, "There are several rivalries in the Remnant. Yeoh doesn't have many, but Alev does. I'm not sure what they are thinking, if they fully understand the information, or if they were given proper orders but they seem to accurate to be pirates!" Two volleys of torpedoes are fired at the Remnant corvette.

One faces mid left section of the ship and another flies at the mid right portion. Yeoh shouts, "Defensive maneuvers, now!" The Shining Explorer shoots its own barrage of fire rods into the descending torpedoes blowing must of them in the air but one flies and lands just a couple of feet right of Yeoh's position. A loud explosion knocks a crater in the deck as Yeoh and Bezo brace themselves.

Yeoh howls, "On my command, fire all weapons into the center of that vessel! Just like we practiced!"

Bezo follows, "On her command!" In the gunnery section of the ship firebenders charge up their flames and members load shells into cannons.

Yeoh erupts, "FIREEEE!!!!" A stampede of fire hurls is launched into the lower middle section of the ship. The frigate is blasted in two pieces. Smoke gushes from its center and both halves of the ship rapidly plunge into the water. Men scream and cry as they are pulled back into the ocean current.

Akira links up with Kota, Yeoh, and Bezo. Akira: "Well, it looks like everything is taken care of."

Yeoh nods, "Yes, don't worry this damage can be repaired."

Kota: "Hopefully your ship doesn't get stopped any time soon, otherwise they will inspect the damage."

Bezo: "We'll say it was attacked by pirates and we fended them off. If we move quick enough, they won't necessarily know this was us."

Kota looks at Akira, "They think it was a Remnant ship."

Akira: "Really? Are you sure it wasn't a government vessel?"

Bezo answers, "That isn't likely. The government ships are instructed to give orders before making attacks unless they have sufficient evidence, especially during times of peace."

Kota: "Maybe someone got overzealous."

Yeoh: "It's possible but not likely. Especially not with how Zuko commands his government. The Remnant acts more aggressively and harshly. I also have a feeling in my gut that it is some sort of rival. Don't worry about us, if we need to, we can stop the ship in a nearby Remnant sanctuary to avoid any sort of investigation. Security will be tighter as they discover Ozai was rescued and transported out of the Capital."

Kota nods, "Ok."

Akira and Reyna look at each other. Akira: "It's been a pleasure, Lieutenant."

Yeoh: "No worries, I'm just doing my duty." The ship emerges on the shoreline of a vast Island. The land has long light green grass and many followers that sport a variety of colors. Multiple villagers watch as the ship docks.

Reyna, Akira, Aten, and Kota step into the room where Ozai and Timur are restrained. Cosmos is standing across the duo. Cosmos turns around, "How we plan on getting out there?"

Aten: "We can't go with a captive that is obviously restrained otherwise we might draw too much attention. This area isn't heavily patrolled by Fire Nation troops, but we don't want to take any chances."

Kota: "We'll need to release Ozai to make it seem like he isn't a captive."

Timur: "What about me?"

Akira: "We could pretend he's our captive."

Aten: "It'll still draw too much attention. We either leave him here on this ship and cut him out of the bounty or he goes with us."

Reyna pleas, "We should give him another chance. Let Timur go if he promises not to betray us."

Cosmos moans, "Reyna."

Reyna: "If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have made it out of the Capital alive. I'm not so willing to give up on such an asset." Timur looks up at Reyna.

Akira grunts, "Fine, but first we need to know Timur is genuine. Look, if you cross us again and this bounty falls through you will have to fight me to the death."

Aten adds, "And me."

Cosmos comments, "As well as me."

Kota: "I don't want to kill you, but if you try killing him you will fight me."

Reyna: "Timur, you'll have to think about how badly you want revenge. If you're willing to kill your own allies for this bounty. We may not have known each other long but I feel we have bonded during this adventure. I need this money and I'm sure everyone else here needs it too. That's why we took this assignment. It's too late to back out now. If you are going to help us let us know now, please don't lie to me."

Timur shows clear frustration on his face. Reyna continues, "I know you want to kill but think about what I did for you. If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be on this team. I helped you during that test." The other hunters look at each other.

Timur think to himself, "But that doesn't mean I should pass up such an opportunity to kill a dictator for anyone."

Reyna: "Just remember what's at risk. One squabble could lead to the death of anyone on this team. I know you don't want that. You may hate Ozai but if you scrap with us and potentially kill someone on your team. On the team that you bonded with you will be no better than Ozai. And killing him in cold blood only further ensue the vicious cycle that has led us to this point."

Timur: "You're right, that will only make things worse. I just shouldn't have taken part in this mission, rather than going on some glory hunt for revenge."

Reyna beams, "But hey, it's what brought us together." Timur gazes at her.

Ozai barks, "Enough of this lovey dovey talk, kill me or let me live but release us both." Akira looks at Aten and Aten nods. Kota sprints forward and slashes Ozai's chains in half.

Ozai stands, "Well, isn't this liberating."

Cosmos asks, "Wait, why can't Timur just release himself. Clay is still earth."

Akira smiles, "It isn't just any clay, I used to use that but realized it gave me a big disadvantage against earthbenders. I've mixed it with crushed and scattered fragments of copper. It is enough copper that is disrupts most earthbender abilities to break it down. My clay is a special type of clay called fragmentum which is a liquid when it is abstracted from rocks or mountains. As soon as it is removed it hardens into clay and the only thing that can keep it from turning is being in a tight enclosed space without room to stretch and keeping it away from oxygen."

Aten: "That's fascinating how did you figure out all of this."

Akira: "Another time."

Timur: "But the copper makes it harder to bend, but I think one of the best benders might find a way to break this material down. It's just draining because all of the copper fragments weigh everything down." The fragments are so tiny they are hardly noticeable. Timur breathes in and concentrates then extracts his muscles. Timur attempts to move the clay particles around his body through breathing. He causes the substance to vibrate and Akira's eyes widen.

However, the clay particles don't move in sync. Some of them hit and crash against the copper fragments causing them to contract against Timur's body and muscles. Timur tires and exhales. Akira: "That's the best attempt I've seen so far, but not good enough."

Still Timur isn't even an earthbending master yet. Despite his physical and improvising skills exceeding most masters, Timur isn't well rounded enough in all forms of bending such as concentration and enough categories in technique to be a master.

With time and a little more experience there is no doubt he could reach it but Timur has never been focused on being a perfectionist and mastering the element. He isn't trying to be a textbook fighter, Timur is making his own way. Timur: "Give me a couple of years and I'll find out."

Akira: "You tried to crumble the clay into pieces but that is nearly impossible. Fortunate the clay automatically decomposes when it binds itself to any living being after a certain timeframe, it usually takes a couple of hours."

Cosmos: "Wait, why does it harden in the first place then?"

Akira: "I've read from a science book that this is how the liquid reacts to a change in environment but living bodies are too warm and disrupt the process. Eventually it will break down which made it perfect for my missions."

Ozai: "I don't have two hours to wait."

Kota aims his blade at Ozai's throat, "You will wait as long as we require." After 40 minutes of waiting Timur grunts again.

Akira: "Relax it takes time for this stuff to break down. I know it's boring."

Ozai looks outside, "The sun is beginning to set. We need to get going before nightfall."

Aten adds, "Nightfall might be better, we won't be as easily noticed."

Ozai counters, "But the guards will be more suspicious and the destroyed Remnant ship may have been spotted by now. We are lucky no inspections have happened yet." Bezo runs downstairs and enters the room.

Bezo: "You all need to hurry, we spotted a military patrol ship on the other side of bay. They may inspect us."

Ozai: "See, we need to leave him!" Bezo hurries back upstairs.

Timur realizes the substance has largely broken down but there is still enough to keep him constrained. But if he concentrates, he has a chance of figuring it out and this time his job of breaking it down will be easier. Timur breaths in then quickly exhales and the clay crumbles off of his body. Timur stands and Akira nods in respect. Akira: "I guess there is a first time for everything."

Ozai grabs Kota's left hand here he is holding his sword. Kota snarls, "Hey!" The Firelord promptly elbows Kota and takes his sword then lunges toward Timur. Timur braces himself and enters his battle stance. Kota immediately tackles Ozai and the former Firelord drops his blade. Kota pins the man against the ground, "Stop it!"

Ozai: "Ugh, fine!" Ozai gets back up and Timur grabs a dagger as he steps toward Ozai.

Akira aims her wrist shooters at Timur, "Ahh, not again!"

Aten scolds, "Timur we don't have time for this!"

Timur asks Ozai, "Why did you try to KILL ME?!"

Ozai: "Because I thought you'd kill me the first chance you got. I know I would."

Timur pulls back his weapon, "Nope, I'm a man of my word." Timur joins the others and Kota reclaims his blade.

Kota looks at Ozai, "If you ever do that again, you better hope you don't hurt anyone. Otherwise, I might scrap this bounty altogether. But if you don't hurt anyone and try that again you'll make it back to the Remnant, but you won't be conscious."

Ozai: "You are all lucky I can't bend anymore."

Timur: "Who told you that? I'm sure I can bend your bones."

Aten cautions, "Timur enough."

Akira: "On my order, we all go down there we act like we're friends and all part of the same military patrol. Let's ask Bezo for some army uniforms so we can play our part." The team puts on Fire Nation Army uniforms in the armory. Yeoh and Bezo stand across them.

Akira looks at Yeoh, "It's been a pleasure you have my respect." Akira then looks at Bezo, "And you've also been wonderful." Ozai puts on a uniform and helmet to cover his face.

Yeoh bows in respect and Akira does the same. Bezo: "Best of luck bounty hunters and Firelord."

Ozai smiles and salutes him, "You will be rewarded after I retake this nation!" The team quickly disembarks from the ship as it sails away. The team passes through the beachhead before they travel into an adjacent village. The village consists of multiple light brown straw huts with brown rooftops. There is very little Fire Nation posters in this village to other more populated areas in the Fire Nation.

Several food stands, clothes stands, jewelry stands, and other stands are used to promote business. Only the most successful enterprises like the blacksmith and a couple of popular restaurants have hut businesses. As the team presses on they notice three Fire Nation soldiers walk right of them.

Aten whispers, "Stay focused, act natural." The bounty hunters continue their stroll until they reach the border of the village which leads into the woods.

Ozai questions, "I thought we were just going to the Yoruba. Isn't this it?"

Akira answers, "Yoruba is an entire area, it isn't just one village. The coastal village contains most of its population but there are some villagers scattered throughout their forest. Alev ordered we go to the outer areas of this town. That is where the Remnant area, but the Fire Nation detachment around this village is particularly incompetent. It isn't hard living under their noses."

Cosmos: "And that's going off what Alev said."

Akira: "The local department has a reputation of being idiots." Three Fire Nation Army Troopers step toward the team. One is a corporal with shiny copper brown hair, dark orange eyes, pale skin, a sturdy nose, and rich lips. Akira smiles and looks him in his eyes.

Akira: "Are you part of the local force?" Akira suddenly worries if he is. because in the department everyone knows everyone since it is so small.

Corporal: "No, I'm not. I see you catch on quickly. We were called in by the Fire Nation National Command." Cosmos gasps. Corporal: "That's right, we've gotten word that Ozai has escaped from prison. Right now, command has no idea where they fled to or where they want to go but we've been asked to beef up security in every sector."

Timur: "Doesn't that sound like an overstep in force? All of this extra security just for one person who can't even firebend anymore."

Corporal: "The dangerous thing about Ozai now is his ability to gather fanatics. An idea and an image can be just as dangerous as a sword."

Akira: "You're very good with words."

Corporal: "My mother taught me to express myself."

Akira chuckles, "What's your name."

Corporal: "Theron."

Akira smiles, "Nice to meet you. I'm Akira."

Theron smiles, "Well, hopefully I'll see you around Akira. Just look sharp, a few more troops will patrol the area but right now everywhere is on a code yellow. We're doing more than normal but Zuko is trying to not overreact." Theron and his guards continue their search.

As the team presses on Ozai comments, "It seems Zuko is making some improvements in how he leads. He used to not have enough security provisions and I can't blame him for not overexerting his power. Discretion is valuable."

Akira: "Really, I thought you were all brute force all the time."

Ozai laughs, "No, of course not. My empire would have fallen in a matter of days if I did that. True leadership requires more discretion and flexibility than that. But, when the time calls for it, I'm willing to make hard decisions. STRONG decisions, that a leader needs to keep his subjects in line and expand his nation's power capabilities."

Timur: "But you wanted to wipe my people out."

Ozai: "I never intended to wipe all of them out. I wanted to blaze some towns, cities, and villages to make an example. With enough bloodshed I looked to keep the subjects in line but I need some of them alive because I need manual labor. I need people to transport my resources. If I killed all the Earth Kingdom, it would be too much work for the Fire Nation alone to take advantage of the resources that remain."

Ozai continues, "There were several holdout locations, bases, cities, and rebellious groups. I need to destroy every military force that remained so no one else could rise to challenge us. While Ba Sing Se was conquered, there were still areas controlled by the enemy. On top of that, there were forests and jungles the enemies controlled where they practiced guerrilla warfare. I wanted to use Sozin's comic to burn each one of them to ashes."

Cosmos asks, "So you didn't plan on wiping out villages."

Ozai: "Usually no, but for some villages say they are small or small cities. Now let's say those areas hold rebels. I'd ask members of the town to reveal the rebels and the people who are housing them. If they did it and exposed some spies, I'd kill everyone who was involved and let those uninvolved leave. If they lied to me and refused to divulge the information then I'd wipe out the village."

Reyna: "That's hardcore."

Ozai adds, "I'd kill EVERYONE. The men, women, and children. The elderly, the sick, all of them. Because any children that live might rise against me when they're older. Any elders might fund or offer advice to other enemies. But I'd kill them quickly so they would not suffer. A leader must meaningful decisions like this to dominate, this world isn't nice. It's mean and nasty."

Reyna: "How could you be so heartless?"

Ozai: "This is why people like you aren't fit to rule and are only meant to be subjects. Only a handful of us have what it takes. Knowing entire villages and cities could perish, people would be less willing to stand against my nation. And the intensity of our rule would need to stay the same to keep them in line. But every killing, every attack, every action is with a purpose."

Ozai continues, "Thoughtless killing while tempting is a fool's gambit. In time after enough killing has occurred, I train the people to keep each other in line. Because an overextended empire is an ineffective one, every person plays a part in the empire, but I make the precedent! Each sector in society becomes an extension of my will and that's how I accomplish my vision."

Aten thinks, This man is completely insane. I'm really beginning to regret this. As the team presses deeper into the forest day turns to night and owls can be heard from the trees. It soon becomes remarkably dark, until it is almost black outside. Akira steps on a stick and hears a grunt.

Akira: "Who said that?"

Reyna asks, "What?" No one else responds. A black creature with thick fur, bright yellow eyes with long black pupils, elongated silver claws, and a burley brawny body emerges. It is seven feet long and stands five feet tall. The creature's teeth are impressively sharp and each one seems to be half a foot long.

The animal opens its mouth and reveals a slimy yellow tongue that it quickly retracts. Akira murmurs, "What, is that?"

Kota reaches toward his hilt, "That is a Ponchuzen, they are ruthless beasts. Incredibly durable, strong, fast, and they strike at night." As Akira readies her shooters, Kota (on her right prepares his blade), and Reyna (on her left) pulls her axes. A second later, Ozai hears growling behind him.

He shutters in fear, knowing his firebending can't protect him. Ozai turns and hears the monster step toward him. It is just inches away. Ozai's stomach begins growling and Timur steps at his left. Ozai looks at him, "So this is your chance to let me die."

Cosmos is between Reyna and Timur on the far left. Cosmos hears a more distant Ponchuzen growl at him. Cosmos draws a whip that has a blade attached to the end of it. Aten is on the far right and is closer to Kota while being a few feet away from Ozai. Aten sees light green eyes open across from him and draws a short sword.

Reyna: "Ugh, why now?!"

Ozai: "This is it. Live or die. This is my TEST OF MANTLE!! All my life I've thrived because I'm strong. My survival has been tested, but I WILL NOT die like this."

Aten: "Shut up already, we don't need the narrations."

A creature lunges off the grass, knocking chunks of dirt in the air as it glides toward Akira, "Beeeerrrraahahahaaaaaah!!!" Akira rolls right and shoots two spouts of liquid on the animal's hind legs. The clay thickens and the creature falls to the ground as the clay thickens. The animal cries and Akira shoots another two bursts of liquid on its front legs.

Another ponchuzen charges at Aten, making the ground shake as it runs after him. The predator dives after him but Aten jumps right. The bounty hunter arrows avoids a vicious claws and tumbles against rocks as he falls. Reyna runs at the monster in his defense but it swiftly leaps as her with a horizontal strike. Reyna hops back, stunned by its swiftness.

Another night hunter charges at Ozai and his eyes widen as it jumps toward him. Ozai rolls left and the ground thumps as it slams its claws into it. The monster runs as Ozai again and Timur watches. It swings its left claw at his left arm but the royal rotates his arm to avoid the strike. The creature jumps up and knocks Ozai down.

It hisses at him and spit flies on Ozai's face. Ozai: "Ugh!" Ozai tries to get up but the creature snarls at him to keep him down. The creature turns and sees a vulnerable Aten who has just gotten up and has his back turned. Timur realizes the only way to save Aten is to potentially save Ozai as well. If he wants Ozai dead, he has to accept them both dying.

Timur pulls his right hand up and a column of smacks in to the creature's center body from the ground below. It flies four feet in the air and three feet back before it falls over. The animal rebounds and sprints after the earthbender. Timur pulls his hands up and raises a wall of earth but the animal leaps left and runs after him again.

Timur steps forward and shoots a barrage of stones, bricks, and rocks at it. A rock pelts the animal's right eye, blackening it. Two stones pound it's chest and a massive rock smacks its forehead, knocking it out. The other creature charges at Aten again and knocks him into a tree. Aten thumps the back of his head against a log and passes out. It runs again to finish him but Reyna pursues.

The ponchuzen stops in its tracks as it hears her. In a heartbeat it turns around and dives at her. Timur worries as he looks in her direction. Reyna rolls left and pounds her right axe into the animal's left arm while doing so. She also lifts her legs in a way that keeps them from being slashed by the creature's sharp toenails.

The wounded hunter charges at her again but Reyna crosses her blades as it approaches. The creature extends its left arm as its bloodlust heightens. Reyna swings her right blade in the animal's right paw and subsequently smacks the left side of the creature's face with her left blade. The top of her hammer is glowing bright red with the animal's blood on it. She yanks her right blade back and rams her axe deep into its neck.

The creature's body is pulled to the ground, and it goes silent. The remaining ponchuzen leaps at Cosmos but he rotates his whipblade horizontally and hacks the carnivore's face. it lunges again but Cosmos hits it a second time. The creature backs up Cosmos stands his ground and continues to rotate his blade. After looking and noticing its dead brethren, the animal turns and retreats.

Ozai gets up and dusts himself off. Reyna checks on Aten. Aten slowly opens his eyes and coughs, "Ugh, I'm ok." Reyna helps Aten up and he retrieves his weapon.

Akira comments, "I'm glad we all made it out of that one. Let us continue the search."

Timur looks at Ozai briefly then looks at Akira, "Where are we going exactly?"

Akira pulls out a map, "Don't worry we're almost there. It should be right between the village we left and it only 3 kilometers east. We've been walking at least a third of that so far. I've heard a scout team is on watch." As the team continues the walk, they grow increasingly weary. They soon stumble across a team of five Fire Nation Army troopers.

One of them stands up and draws his sword, "State your purpose!"

Akira grows short on thoughts, "Um, I am on a patrol."

Swordsman: "That's not gonna do it."

Aten wonders, "Was there some sort of code word."

Timur asks, "Why are you all so defensive, we're on the same side?"

Army Swordsman: "Because you are here at night and no one was scheduled to visit us. If you want to visit our watch at night, you need a night permit. Where is it?"

Akira pulls out her map to see if Alev if they are at the right place. Army Swordsman: "Hey what is she doing?" A firebender extends his arms and a spearman draws his weapon.

Timur warns them, "Hey, you really don't want to do that."

Ozai has a feeling these are the Remnant and moves instinctively. Ozai: "I am the authorization!" Ozai takes his helmet off.

The swordsman drops his weapon and kneels, "My liege!" The other Remnant soldiers kneel and Ozai feels a taste of his former glory. The royal is quickly elated with pride and proudly strolls. Ozai: "I HAVE RETURNED. A new era will be brought forth and a new luminous light will shine upon my people once more! Now, where is the one called Alev."

The trooper rises, "She is not here. I will take you to my commanding officer and he will explain." Ozai, Timur, Reyna, Aten, Cosmos, and Akira are escorted to the officer's cabin. There they meet with Captain Daichi. The team sits in wooden seats across Daichi who sits at a massive pecan brown table with two Remnant officers beside him. The walls are brown in the room, the ceiling is dark red, and the floor is also brown. A fire nation poster sits directly behind Daichi.

Ozai: "So your unit hides undercover like mice."

Daichi: "We do what we must in these pressing times. But hopefully you will reward us for our faithful service."

Ozai: "Perhaps, perhaps not. But for now, I need to know what's going on."

Daichi: "Alev, is at Eyre's hideout."

Ozai smiles, "Eyre, general Eyre?"

Daichi: "Yes, exactly. He has some hidden information there that could be useful to our cause. Information that might bring your firebending back."

Ozai grins excessively, "What?! My powers? Back?" Ozai extends his rams and imagines regaining his might. Ozai: "If that happens." Ozai exhales, "If that happens, I'm going great for that cursed Avatar!! Finally, a chance to get revenge! My well-deserved empire has been stripped of me, but I won't be defeated so easily. I will remind the entire world of my might and of my wrath!"

Daichi: "Of course sir, you are the greatest Firelord of all time. We hunger for your reemergence. We need someone stronger than Zuko, he caters to the wishes of the inferior peoples and nations."

Ozai hisses, "He disgusts me, but he has gained some of my respect being willing to challenge me and take his own throne. Still, times have changed and now it's time the rightful owner take it back!" Ozai stands up out of his seat, "So let us go find Eyre's estate and see what destiny has in store for me."

Daichi: "I will send an escort and have you taken to the destination. The bounty hunters can go with you so they receive their reward."

Aten asks, "How do we get there?"

Daichi: "You will ride in by ship, it is located in the upper Earth Kingdom bordering the arctic."

Reyna: "Why would a Fire Nation officer go there?"

Daichi: "He wanted to go as far from the new administration as possible to avoid detection."

Timur: "Why didn't the corvette we were on take us there instead of stopping here just to wait for another ship?"

Daichi: "That was merely your escape vehicle and you needed to flee to a Remnant hideout. But not just any hideout, you needed to find somewhere they included an ally of Alev or in this case an ally of Hakon. Colonel Hakon was a good friend; his passing has made me uneasy. He was working with her on this mission, so I wanted a chance to help. And I know a route the current administration is unaware of. A hidden passage used by the Remnant to get to some less explored and more remote areas. Yeoh had little time and your team needed a fast extraction."

Cosmos: "Who will pick us up now?"

Daichi: "A battleship called the Bustling Rhino. It is under command of General Eyre's regiment. It is one of our few battleships in service, but it will be waiting for you. It once was the pride of the Fire Nation, served up for a special time by government officers. When things went south, and the nation was overtaken it along with a few other deadly weapons have been hidden in secret. Until the right time that our people decide to return to strike. Zuko doesn't know what's going to hit him, but we're going to come back and ram through his defenses like a BATTERING RAM!"

Ozai pats Daichi on his shoulder, "I like your spirit, it will serve us well during the battles ahead."