Long Feng

The First Kingdom hospital was in the upper district. Nearly completely abandoned as anyone of note was currently being transported to Lake Laogai or being rounded up for delivery.

The hospital was being run by only a handful of doctors and nurses with its only security being hired guards. They were lucky I had stopped the rioting directly outside this district or they'd all be goners.

The hospital was nearly empty. Anyone who had been injured on our side was dead and anyone who had been injured outside was a rioter dying of their wounds at this very moment. And there was only one patient. And I was led directly to her.

I received the full situation report on the way there. They had been forced to cut her open to receive the child, who was poorly nutritioned and unlikely to live. Joo Dee herself, she was dying.

I found her on the hospital bed, her stomach still swollen, already stitched shut. No. The doctor must've been wrong. She looked fine. She wasn't dying. She would be okay. My sense however, told me otherwise. We've been starved of food and medicine by the Fire Nation fleet. She would never make it.

I held her hand where it rested on the side of her bed and she turned her head to see me at her side. Her smile was the sweetest thing I had seen in years. A smile I hadn't even seen when she acted as my secretary. This smile was different. She was a mother now.

"You made it," she said, smiling. I knew you would.

"Of course I did. You didn't think I'd let such a loyal servant be alone, did you?"

"Of course not. I know you better than that."

I wish I was.

"Where's my baby?" she asked.

I turned to the nurse and prayed Joo Dee didn't notice the look she gave me. One of fear and complete and utter defeat. So the child hadn't made it.

"Where my baby girl?"

"They're feeding her right now. You'll have her soon."

"Good. Let them feed her. I was so scared about her. That she wouldn't make it. She's a fighter, I can tell. Like her father. Where is he?"

Why? Why did she have to die alone? "He's." I swallowed. "He's on his way."

"Oh. Good. I'm so glad you're here. I'm sorry I was gone for so long."

"Don't be. You were missed, but we all understand."

"I'm. I'm sorry I couldn't have been there." She was sniffling now. "I really hope my family gets here soon."

"They will," I said, holding her hand all the tighter. "They'll be here soon."

"I wish I would have gotten the chance to help you more. Maybe then the Fire Nation wouldn't have won."

So the rumor's already spread. I knew I should have defended the rumor, but in that moment in time, it made no difference to my plans, and I was not about to let her pass thinking she had failed in any way.

"The Fire Nation hasn't won. We won. You won."

"What do you mean?"

"We did it. Everything is going exactly as we planned. You did it."

"I wish I could stay. I wish I could stay to help you."

"Where are you going?"

"You know where I'm going." She sniffed, a tear rolling down her face. "I'm sorry. I wish I could still help you."

"Don't talk life that." I held her hand in both of mine, closing the distance between us as I lied through my teeth and said, "You'll be fine. You'll stay to help me. You'll stay to save your Kingdom."

And that was the last thing she heard. She shut her eyes after that and ended it there. She died in my arms right then and there. The doctors didn't attempt to bring her back. She was gone. I bent over to kiss her brow and I was in Lake Laogai.

I stood next to Captain Kaizar, in front of our King. No. My King.

"Is it done?"

"Yes sir. He's ready to be activated on command."

"And the rest?"

"The same. All waiting activation and re-assignment."

"Good."

I walked out of the room, him by my side, leaving an empty husk of a man behind. I had to make sure I let him keep his memory of Bosco. Anything to keep him submissive. He was a stubborn one. I didn't envy Kaizar's task in wiping him, but he had gotten it done.

And his work here was near over. We walked through the tunnels, side by side, waiting to answer any questions I had. The doors to each and every room were open, revealing groups of people, one for noble men, one for noble women, peasant men, peasant woman, soldiers, advisors, all of them.

"Did you already ready the unit I asked for?"

"Yes sir. They're wiped and ready for re-programming as you demanded. Would you like to start with them?"

"Yes. Take me to them."

And to them he led me. He closed the steel door behind him and in front of me stood 50 women of varying heights, looks, colors, everything. Nothing unifying them except for one thing. They shared the same name.

"How do I begin?"

"I'll ring this bell and you'll say what you wish for them to say. It will end when I ring it again."

"Good. Then let's begin."

"Yes sir."

He stalked to the table near the back-right corner of the room, grabbed the bell off of the table, and gave it a single perfect ring. And in one unanimous moment, the eyes of every woman in the room opened and their pupils dilated, suddenly activated.

I breathed in and began.

"I'm Joo Dee. Welcome to Ba Sing Se."