Zek

I tightened the helmet. The more disciplined, the better. I saw the destroyer approaching us. The FNS Victory, but the Victory had been painted over and it now read "Defeat."

I winced at it. It was our defeat as much as theirs. And we left the Fire Nation at their weakest moment. What did that make us?

I pushed the thought out of my head, instead thinking of what our ship's name used to have been before it had been wiped off.

Oh Shit. We have no name.

And of course, that was the first thing that the boarding party asked when they came aboard. Well, the fourth.

The first was "Wait a minute. That's not a navy uniform. What? Run out of them and decided to dress like us?"

"No sir," I replied. I had been waiting for the question. "Army."

"Then what are you doing her? And where the hell is everyone?"

"We got picked up by the coast. Our unit got chased off by Earth Kingdom cavalry. We were lucky to be picked up at all. And the rest of the crew's asleep."

"Of course they are. Damn navy boys. Bet you they had more than enough men to take the city from the north if they really wanted to. Traitors if you ask me."

"Agreed. They don't know what we've been through."

Was I speaking from the heart? Even a bit? Maybe. It's true, we had our differences. Save Luke, I was the only one here who didn't have Navy experience. Sure they all joined the army together, but there was something different between us. Was it devotion, loyalty, honor? No. Not honor. Definitely not honor that was his issue.

"Well. Glad to see you made it. You get a new post yet."

"Not really."

"Yeah. Me neither. Holy Raava, it all went so far south so quickly. Oh and hey, we saw no name on the ship while we were coming in? Why is that?"

"You know," I said, thinking of what bullshit would com to the top of my head. "I. I have no idea. Want to ask the captain?" I asked, motioning to the bridge.

He looked, and as I hoped, shook his head in disgust at the idea of interacting with any more Navy personnel, and said, "Nah. I'll pass. So why you here anyway? Chan send you to babysit us?"

"Yeah. We're scouting ahead. Making sure the way's clear."

"Well. We're here all round up waiting for papa Chan to guide us home."

"Well. I'll see if I can tell him to pick up the pace."

"You do that. Alright then. Glad to have you around. Could use some more army boys."

"Agreed. Well see you around."

"Oh Hey. Wait. Is there anything I can get you and any other army boys on board?"

"No no. Nothing. Well. Some food would be nice. Water too."

"Done. Anything else?"

"Got any coal you can spare for the engines?"

And with that, 2 tons of food, water, and coal later, the soldier left back to his patrol craft to return to the caravan of troops being ferried back home from the greatest military defeat known to the Fire Nation.

And in time, Chan's fleet arrive, and we were the escort for Iroh's caravan. For 3 days we rode through the serpent's lake, and his channel out to the Earth Kingdom west coast.

I had spent many of these nights on the FNS Defeat, gambling, drinking, the like.

And so, all those days later, we stopped for one final check with the same crew, same soldier from the FNS Defeat.

"Appreciate the guidance. You boys following us home?"

"No," I said. "We're going to be headed south I think. Got an assignment down there."

"You not going home?"

"No. Don't have one."

"Well. If that's the case, me and the boys were talking. We're headed back to the Fire Nation, but not the same one we left behind. This new Fire Lord: Ozai. He's not out Fire Lord. We're going to be seeing if we can get the real heir on the throne. His son may be head, but he still lives. It's what Azulon would have wanted. It's what the Fire Nation needs. You in?"

And he extended his hand, and in that moment, I almost raised it, hell, I think I might have a few inches, but I stopped short. I was being given a chance there, a chance to make a change, but there was one key difference between these soon-to-be-revolutionaries, and those who waited for me back inside our small stolen vessel. We had a leader. A good one too. One who I knew would get us through what lay ahead. So my answer was, "Thank you, but I've got a crew. I agree with everything you say, but it's not for me."

He lowered his hand, but smiled all the same, "You're a good soldier, Zek. Hope I see you around. We could make a difference, your guys and mine."

"Maybe, Kazen. Another time."

"Well. Best of luck to you."

"And Kazen?"

He turned around before he left for good. "Yeah?"

"Get organized. This Ozai. He doesn't strike me as the type to sympathize with those who want him gone."

Kazen chuckled. "That he doesn't. That's why we're here, though. See you around, Zek!"

"You too."

And with that, the crew of the FNS Victory set off alongside the Fire Nation fleet back towards the homeland, where no doubt, the future awaited them, one way or another.

For me, however, everything I needed was right here, aboard this nameless vessel.

And so that evening, as we head south to search for the nearest port, I realized that this was my family now. For better or worse, we were together. Without one another, we were dead, but together, we were strong. I needed them, and they needed me. They knew it from the beginning, but now, finally, I knew it too.