Boss

"2 weeks ago," started Kiu, "A contact in Xiahu smuggled to us a shipment of food, medicine, and weapons."

"The shipment get intercepted?" I asked. This kind of smuggling operation was common behind the lines of war. I'd taken part in some of it myself with the raiders. The Southern Water Tribe had been a more significant force then. We'd sneak past tribal blockades and patrols, infiltrate their towns, blend in back when they'd been larger and easier to have people get lost within. We'd sneak in, acting as though we belonged, become a part of their community, watch the town at work, watch their children at play, their women tending to the sick, their guard rotations, their leadership structure, their healers, benders. We'd take names, memorize their appearances, where they lived, made maps of the towns with their homes marked out from the rest. Then we'd disappear from the town. And one night, days, weeks, hell, maybe months later, we'd come back. And we always remembered the details, the homes, the faces. We'd make that first attack always count. We'd do whatever possible to leave them in a state of chaos, so if we ever needed to return, they'd have nothing left to resist us with. Our methods, they were things I'd rather leave forgotten.

"No," Kiu answered. "The supplies came in, but one of our boats we sent to retrieve the supplies got spotted and barely escaped. Fire Nation didn't seem from where, but our scouts tell us they have men patrolling along the beaches, looking for caves, supply caches, anything."

"How long have they had a presence on the shore? Anything longer than half a day, and chances are they'd have found your cave."

"Only a few hours. It's entirely possible that they did in fact find our supplies, however, I'm thinking this fog might at least be delaying them. Notwithstanding, I want that cache back. I won't lie and say it's worth everything we do, but we need what can get. And our next delivery isn't expected for another fortnight."

"And I imagine with the new Fire Nation presence on the beach, smuggling stuff in will be more of an issue in the future."

"I doubt it. Their town's defenses are stretched thin as is and I doubt they'll be keeping their men that far away from town for any longer than a day."

"Unless these troops come from the Armada. In which case, resources and manpower may not be stretched as thin. They could rotate the men on a daily basis, hell, weekly if they decide to dedicate resources to establish an outpost."

"True, but I imagine it'd be more trouble than it's worth. The Fire Nation governors here would likely object to the Armada setting up outposts along the shore. After all, those men have to get food from somewhere. Likely the towns. And visiting soldiers, it means money, sure, but it also means commotion, drinking, disturbance, you see what I'm saying. He looked at me, a curious look in his eyes, continued by saying, "Besides. They'll get bored after a while of finding nothing, even if they do find a stash. They'll leave earlier though if they're bored out of their minds, which is why I'd like for you to do this quietly."

"So we go in, grab the supplies, and get out. How much supplies we talking about?"

"Enough so that, as much as I hate the prospect, we'll need your tank. We usually use carriages and carts, but we need speed for this. It'll be loud, but machinery ain't exactly a strange noise for Fire Nation. All the same, I want you to get in, grab the stuff, get out, and bring it back to us before they notice a thing." He said as he rolled up the map on the table that marked where the cave was, handing the essential information to us.

"And if they've already found the stash already?" I asked, wanting to think that should things not go according to plan, we weren't being thrown into a fire we'd have to fight our own ways out of.

Luckily, from what I was seeing, that wasn't Kiu's style. "The map shows where the stash is. You can get a good line of sight on the cave from the treeline without revealing yourselves. If thing's look dicey, don't worry about it. Just get back here."

"If you don't mind me asking, how do you know we won't just take off with the supplies?" It was a question I wanted to ask as I wanted Kiu's trust. I wasn't fond of working with a group I still couldn't identify as freedom fighters or terrorists, but I wasn't an oath breaker either. We made a deal.

"We'll, I'm doubtful you'd all fit in that tank. But even if such was a possibility, I'll be keeping a few of yours guys here. For insurance."

"You don't trust us."

"About as much as you, us. We just met each other. The same way you're trying to figure me out, I'm trying to figure you out. Don't take it personally."

"I never do." I've been through this routine before. I was a mercenary. It was my job to work for whoever paid me most. I had a lot to prove.

"Oh. And speaking of. I'll be having one of my guys go along with whoever you pick. Just to make sure you don't screw us."

"Understandable. Can't say I blame you." I hadn't necessarily been thinking of taking off with his supplies, but I'd acknowledged the opportunity to do so, recovering the supplies, taking it to the Patriot, and claiming the Fire Nation had gotten to the supplies first. Kiu was smarted than that though, and frankly, I'd hoped that Kiu wouldn't catch it, making it all the more significant when we came back with the supplies on our own. All in due time. "Anybody among us you want us to go?"

"Chose who you want. You know your men better than I do. I'll chose one of my own. Choose your guys, tell them to load up the tank, and be ready to go by 1300."

"What if I chose to go along?"

"Couldn't stop you, but I'd rather you not."

"Reason being?"

"Chain of command. You have people under you for that sort of thing."

"If you're keeping me up here, then I expect it to be for something important. What, do you want to go over supplies, plans, anything?"

"Really think you've gotten to that level of trust with me yet?"

"No, but I expect to be doing something at least? Idle hands are the enemies' tools"

"Vatuu's tools," He corrected. If you're going to use a saying, at least use it right."

"Maybe the spirits mean less to me than they mean to you." He stopped looking at whatever was in front of him, now looking directly at me. You don't believe in spirits?"

"I believe they used to exist. I believe that was a long time ago. Times have changed though, and I see no reason to get caught up in something that has no hand in our world, because they don't."

Kiu smirked, "Then you'll be proven wrong. But it won't be me to show you that. The spirits do still reign in this world, but perhaps not in the way you imagine, them flying around, participating in human affairs, but they are always there. You'll see that soon enough, but you're not still here to argue theology with me. Tell your people what I asked them to do. Or go yourself if it really means so much to you. Or just find something to do yourself. It really doesn't matter to me."

"Understood." I didn't know if I was expected to say, "Yes, sir" or something. He wasn't my superior. We were partners in this. At least I thought we were. So why am I taking orders? Because I'm gaining his trust. The least I can do is be cooperative.

I left anyway. I was taking his orders, for now, but I wouldn't let myself come off as his subordinate. I couldn't say I knew Kiu's type just by looking at him, but with many, you give them a finger, they'll take the whole arm. So I was keeping stretching my finger far, and ready to pull back whenever I needed to.

The atmosphere here was…tense, to say the least. We didn't know them, and they didn't know us, and nobody was quite fond of rooming with a group they'd been ready to kill and get killed by less than a day ago. That was yesterday's conflict, sure, but it hadn't been the best way to set terms, and first impressions were important.

I exited through the door that led to Kiu's command structure, flanked by two of his men, no, boys, somewhere in the center of the tree-borne village, multiple bridges leading to and fro. I still could never feel comfortable walking from structure to structure, and by no means would so dare as to sleep up here.

While the Patriot was only a 30-minute tank ride away, Kiu had insisted that we sleep closer to their camp, amongst the others, citing that our ship, once the fog had cleared, would be a clear indicator of where we'd landed, and that staying by the ship would be suicide. So instead, we found ourselves basing here, and, against my better judgement, doing so hundreds of feet in the air.

I forced myself not to look down as I crossed the bridge leading from the command structure to a small platform to which multiple bridges connected, one of which led to a central platform that could only be identified a as a living space of sorts. It housed multiple seats, tables, a bar, and a number of other accommodations. On a normal occasion, such was the spot I'd expect to find Zek, but his apprehension towards the Separatists of the Nip Sea has, while restrained, been apparent to me. Instead, I only find Jadoh, who, thankfully, was not giving in to old habits, but merely talking to some of his new compatriots. I found it amusing that Jadoh, of everyone in my crew, was being the most helpful in mending bridges between our two factions.

Zadok and Kosah were Fire Nation, born and raised, and right now, their loyalty seemed more directed at Gordez than me. Gordez himself, quiet as ever, no longer being able to work on the Patriot, much to his dismay as I'd asked him to be here, had set the two to take care of the ship. For Zadok and Kosah, I had the feeling it was therapeutic. Made them forget for a moment that I'd just signed a deal with a band of terrorists/freedom fighters, not like the two words were too far off from one another at times. For Gordez, on the other hand, I just didn't think much else could make him happy. I'd have to have a talk with him later. It'd been far too long since we've actually been able to have time alone to ourselves. I've known him the longest of anybody else here, but there was always that curtain in between us of rank to rank relationships. As close as I could ever feel to him, there was always the fact hanging in the air that I was in a position above it. It's not like he resented me for it or anything, at least, I hoped not, but it never made it easy to address him as an equal to me, as much as I tried. Maybe it didn't help that I never used my real name, but that was a name I'd chosen to leave behind with the Southern Raiders. He stayed there. I wasn't about to let him come back.

I was passing by Jadoh, wondering if I should interrupt his conversation and try to ask where Zek was, but decided against it, until it was Jadoh himself who excused himself from the conversation to jog up to me, seemingly at ease with the structural fidelity of the platforms upon which all our lives depended. "Boss," he said.

"Jadoh," I answered. "Getting along with the locals, I see."

"No, yeah, I mean, yeah, sorry, but I thought it might be good if-"

"No no. I'm not criticizing. I mean, hell, you're being the most helpful among us right now. Thanks for not being too difficult."

"I mean, can you blame them? They beat the shit out of Luke and Ka'lira. No kidding Zek's gonna be pissed and the others are more apprehensive."

"But you're not?"

"I didn't mean it like that, but I'm in the best position to get to know them better and find out more about them, at least on a personable level."

"Well then, detective," I said with a slight mock in my voice, something with enough humor to get him comfortable talking with me about this and not enough ice to come across as though I were legitimately insulting him, which I wasn't. I didn't entirely believe that he was making friends solely for the purpose of benefitting our crew, but I wanted to think it was at least enough of a motivation in his mind that he could bring it up when asked. It was good enough for me, at least. "Learn anything?"

"All of them are from the Earth Kingdom. Doesn't seem like any of them even have the slightest Fire Nation connections. Way they talk about the Fire Nation, there's a real hate to it, so yeah."

"Yeah." No more had to be said. Especially not here.

"A good amount of them come from this village called Kal'wi. Kartho, Kiwitz, Torah, Jet, and a few others. From what I hear, it was burned to the ground by this Fire Nation mercenary band called the Rough Rhinos. Even the few of them I talked to seem really hesitant to talk about it. In total, they have 115 people, but we already knew that."

"So who're the ones you're talking to over there?"

He looked back to follow my eyes, remembering suddenly he'd been in a conversation prior to me. "Oh. That's Torah. Same village I was talking about. He's 15. Year older than me. Good at sword and spear. That's about all I know so far."

"Alright. Thanks, Jadoh. Get back to it. With any luck that won't be information we ever have to use anyway."

"Hope not. I don't exactly like our odds. So your turn. What did y'all talk about in there?"

"He wants 2 of our guys and one of theirs to take Shanzi and find a supply cache that they got sent form across Nip but are worried may have been intercepted."

"Thinking of picking me?"

"Was actually thinking of Zek and Ka'lira."

Jadoh smirked. "Obviously."

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" I grinned, crossing my arms in the feint of a defensive gesture."

"Look. All I'm saying is, I call dibs on the next chick to join us."

"You're surrounded by 114 people. There's bound to be a few girls among them. So stop asking me to matchmake you and do it yourself." I gave him a smirk that he returned, and said, "Oh if only it were so easy."

I shook my head, smiling, "Can you tell me where they are at least?"

"I saw them and Luke chatting a while back. I think Luke went to the library and the lovebirds were heading to the ground. Gordez is down there with the lovebirds."

"Great. Thanks. I'll try to get you something to do soon."

"Feel free to take your time. I'm happy right where I am," he finished, promptly turning back to where he was having his previous conversation, vaulting over the straw chair, and landing in its seat, smoothly transitioning back into the fold.

I smiled, shaking my head in disbelief at how quickly he'd managed to grow on me, and continued on. I remembered the complete punk he was not too long ago. He still maintained a sense of confidence, but nothing that encroached on the territory of cockiness. He was a smooth talker without being an ass. He was, in simple terms, a better person, however 'good' a person could be nowadays.

I had no idea how this "tree-city" was laid out. There were makeshift signs from here to there that pointed the ways towards individual buildings, but when platform after platform coincided, and the directions would not stop changing from place to place in order to accommodate for altitude, direction, etc., it happened to get a bit dizzying at times.

I spent a good amount of time moving from platform to platform, from one terrifying unsteady bridge to the next, fully expecting the wooden blanks beneath my feet, held together by hempen rope to give way at any moment, allowing me to fall to my death. I just had to find Luke, and I could finally get down to solid land to find Zek and Ka'lira, and maybe just go for a walk somewhere where one step in the wrong spot wouldn't mean instant death. Unless they have these forests booby trapped, which may just be the case.

Notwithstanding, I eventually found what was considered to be the library. It was empty, not worthy of much note. I took it that literature wasn't the most prized commodity around here. And from what I'd seen of the people here, that didn't surprise me. They didn't seem the most book-learned, but I was surprised Kiu wasn't trying to change that. I mean, there was something about the way the man held himself that said he'd rather smart soldiers than idiots under his command. Or then again, maybe even my generous assumptions were wrong, and he actually was the scumbag ready to use child meat shields that the alarms inside of me were signaling towards. I shook the thought out of my head. The less I thought that I was dealing with a terrorist, the better.

Despite that, Luke seemed as though he'd finally found a comfortable position, something that changed the moment he felt another presence enter the room, and I could already see his mental clock telling him how long to wait before leaving to find a new spot so as not to appear rude, but when the corner of his eye caught my figure, he seemed to soften. That was something at least. "Oh it's you," he said, relieved, sinking back into his previously relaxed state. The scratches and bruises from his interrogation that had only been just yesterday were still apparent, but they didn't look to be infected. He'd walk it off, which was of some small consolation. "Thought for a minute I'd have to find somewhere else these people would never go, like whatever passes for a bathhouse around here," he joked.

"I do think it's set to rain tomorrow," I quipped back. "What're you reading there?"

He turned the small, loosely bound book to look at the cover that was marked in some hazy writing. The book wasn't anything professionally made. Just paper between leather, but if it was keeping Luke busy, that was something at least. "This cover doesn't tell me shit, but from what I've read so far, it's about Chin the Conqueror. How he rose to power after the Yellow Neck Uprising."

I sat down next to him, finding a stable-looking spot on the ground that Luke was somehow so easily able to find comfort on, no fear in his eyes of breaking through at any moment. "Been a while since I've been in school. Really should've paid more attention to Miss Zeelia. What was that one about again?"

"Well. There was this rebellion led by Xu Ping An. Essentially, he let a rebellion of anarchists through the Earth Kingdom, targeting all considered to be law abiders: soldiers, police, civilians, all of them. Then you had increased banditry, and eventually, Chin, all while the Earth Kingdom did nothing to protect the people getting slaughtered by the thousands for being loyal to that selfsame government."

"Is there something you're trying to say, Luke."

"We both know what I'm trying to say, Boss. Yes, I was drafted into the Fire Nation. I'm not some blind, flag-saluting nationalist, but I fought for the Fire Nation not just because I felt like I owed them, but because I legitimately felt like I was part of something that would make the world a better, safer place. And don't get me wrong, they would have killed us if you hadn't done what you did, but I'm not exactly fond of working with these people."

"You know I don't disagree with you, Luke, but look where you're sitting." He looked down. "Below that is death. This floor disappears, and we're gone. And these "Separatists of the Nip Sea," they're the ones in charge of this floor. It's not desirable, but, for the moment, we don't have much of a choice. And, I know this goes without saying, but don't-"

"I won't."

"You didn't try using it when you were captured?"

"Came close, but I stopped myself."

"I'm sorry."

"Guess we all have secrets we gotta keep for ourselves. Don't think a raider, past or otherwise, would be very appreciated around these parts."

"We're of the same mind. If even one of us slips, that's it."

"So we're hostages, then."

"In everything but name I suppose. I'm trying to work us out of it. Give us some breathing room. It's the most we can do. Taking these guys on by ourselves. Can't see that working under any circumstances."

"Even if we were to tell the Fire Nation, these guys would probably clear out in the time it took to explain what we were even talking about. People like this, they don't have a sense of permanence. The only thing that matters to them is that, whatever they do, it makes some Fire Nation person, somewhere, miserable. Boss, I know we have to play nice, and I will, but I don't want to kill my countrymen, and if they tell me hurt or kill a civie, it'll be the last words they say. I'm sorry, but it's true."

I sighed. I expected nothing less from him. That's why he was here in the first place. "I know. Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

"So you…just wanted to check up on me, or…?"

"No no, I mean yeah. Was actually looking for people willing to go on a job."

"I mean, I'd be willing if-"

"No no. I already picked Zek and Ka'lira for it."

Luke smirked. "Of course you did."

"Why does everyone keep on saying that?"

"Hey, hey. I'm not criticizing you for playing favorites. I'm just saying that you very clearly are."

"Well, for your information, Luke, I happen to think that they work very well as a team."

"If that's what you want to call it, be my guest." Still grinning to himself, he moved to return to his book before turning his head to me again and saying, "By the way, they're down below with Gordez last I saw them. Working on Shanzi, I'm pretty sure."

"Yeah yeah. I know. Just…working up the will to stand up first."

"The sooner you do, the sooner you're back on dry land."

"You want me gone that bad, huh?"

"Hey. How else am I gonna figure out what happens to this Chin dude?"

"Fair enough." I stood up slowly enough, trying to spread out the pressure so I wouldn't even risk breaking through the floor beneath my feet, then turned to leave, saying, "Oh by the way. Kyoshi kills him in the end."

"Damnit, Boss," he said sarcastically, "Now what's the point of even reading this if I know how it ends?"

I chuckled, saying, "Have fun, then," before leaving.

It was good to see him like himself again. Then again, it was hard to say that I've ever really seen him like "himself." All I knew when I met him was that the form he'd taken on, what he'd become, a desensitized warrior, devoid of reason and hope, existing for the sole purpose of taking the lives of others, it wasn't who he really was. I was just glad we'd managed to find him eventually, though I still couldn't forgive myself for not getting to him sooner before he did what he did.

It was hard enough to stop Squad Iron Fire from taking their own revenge. We hadn't known Luke's friend the way he had, but we knew the man he died besides, Lu Ten. If Iroh was the minds of the war, his son was the heart. If Iroh was our father, Lu Ten was our brother, and we all wanted to give the Earth Kingdom what it deserved, but when we saw Iroh the following morning, and he told us to let it all end, and to get away from it all while we still could, we know it was over. Losing him, half of our squad, the battle, the war in most of our eyes… Maybe, one of these days, we'd get the chance to end the war that Lu Ten came so close to finishing himself. Maybe. But for now, that wasn't our job. We saw what war did to people at Ba Sing Se, who war really struck more than anybody else, and so, that was our focus in this war. I was just hoping these Separatists wouldn't change that for us.

I eventually found the lift manned by a particularly buff looking man. I stepped aboard the wobbly platform, desperately holding on to the straw railings, and pulled on the rope, signaling I wanted to be lowered with the ding of a small bell. And soon enough, I felt the platform lowering, daring not to look down, but at the same time, desperately looking in quiet relief as the ground came ever close at a rate that didn't imply death by falling.

Finally, the platform touched the ground, and I was in every rush to finally step off back onto land that wouldn't give way beneath my feet at any moment. I'd only been up there for a few hours, but being back on land, it was a hell of a nice feeling. The sea had never been that same way for me though. The sea, despite being an endless tract of blue absence, I had control. I could swim, but I couldn't fly. Maybe I'd feel better if the ground I stood on wasn't so shaky, both literally and metaphorically. Maybe a Fire Nation built tree house would be more my speed. Who could say?

The ground level was busy. SNS guerillas were organizing supplies, training, having talks, organizing plans, it was a rightful military camp. That didn't exactly make me feel any better, though. We were just as likely to be fighting these people one day as working besides them. But for the moment, they were with us, and that was some small consolation.

I turned to the nearest passing soldier I found. It's gonna be a while before I even start to remember a fraction of their names. It took me long enough to memorize Kosah and Zadok's name, spirits forbid 114 others. When I tapped the man's shoulder, I received the turn of his head, no salute, nothing. Not that I was begging for one, I just had to know the ground I stood on, and it was anything but even. Then again, I doubt I'd see my own men saluting Kiu any time soon. "Where's the new tank?" I asked, probably looking like some other dumb recruit who just wanted to see the new toy, even though, by the looks of it, I as 5 years this kid's superior. How old am I even now? Has it reached February yet? Probably, right? Guess that makes me 20 now? I smiled at the thought. Would ya look at that? I survived to my 20s. Should I even consider pushing 30?

A smile on my face, I headed towards the Shanzi, eager to find the people I knew, and a particular friend I wouldn't mind sharing the news with. I found the trusted trio by the Shanzi, around a tenth of a mile away from the center of the tree city, Zek and Ka'lira sitting atop, chatting, a toolbox at their side, while Gordez's lower half stuck out from beneath the Shanzi, atop a rolling platform, coming out to ask for a tool from Zek, which he passed down before returning to the conversation at hand with Ka'lira.

"Well hello there, Boss," Zek said joyously with a smile on his face and a sunny disposition that was enough to almost always raise my mood.

"Hello to you two as well. Glad to see you all hard at work, well, at least two of you. No idea what you're up to, Gordez."

"Just clogging Shanzi's muffler. I see no reason why she should have any unfilled spaces in her."

"Ah," Zek said, "If only Hizo were still around. I'm sure he would've loved that comment."

"Who's Hizo?" Ka'lira asked.

"Old friend. I'll tell you about him another time."

There was something both relieving and sad about hearing Zek refer to Hizo as an "old friend." The two had been inseparable up until Hizo's death in Citadel, a rocky start as any to our time as deserters, exiles. It was relieving in that it seemed Zek was moving on, even able to crack jokes about him, but a part of me didn't want to see him so readily abandon what used to be important to him.

But then again, I noticed, as Ka'lira's hand brushed the top of Zek's, noticing the reservation behind the mention of a name that Ka'lira had never even heard before, but yet noticed enough from Zek to sense there was more than met the eye, priorities change.

Gordez rolled himself out from beneath Shanzi's chassis, his eyes meeting mine, his wider face covered in dirt and grease, a charming look if there ever was one. His smile to see his oldest friend reflected mine own. We'd have to catch up. Everything had been so busy the last few days, from running the blockade (not sure if he'd have forgiven me for that by now), resolving a hostage crisis, reintegrating ourselves into a new unit, everything.

"So, What's up, Boss?" Zek asked. "Just here to check on squad morale?"

"Nah, I don't really care enough about you all for that. I was just here to tell you to finish up on the tank because you and Ka'lira are going out."

The two avoided eye contact, as though there was still something being hidden. Or, I was just horribly misidentifying things. No No. Something's definitely going on with them. I just can't tell what.

Gordez, still on the ground, raised his eyebrow, grinning at me, knowing exactly what I was doing.

It was eventually Zek that spoke first, managing to squeak out, "Al-alright. What's the op?"

"Nothing complicated. You'll be checking up on a hidden cave near here. Should have some supplies that some smugglers brought along."

"Simple enough."

"The catch is that Fire Nation troops are on the beach where the cave is. They may have already found it, s stay on your toes, don't get caught, and let's keep casualties to a none here, yeah?"

Ka'lira nodded, saying, "Sounds good. When do we leave?"

"In around 5 to 10 minutes, I suppose. You won't be going alone though, so don't get your hopes up."

I saw the ever so subtle shift in the facial expressions of the two up-and-coming (potential) lovebirds as their excitement diminished ever so slightly, accompanied by a slight blush. "Who's coming with us?" Ka'lira asked, going a small bit pale as she no doubt was recalling the experience of the last day, and nearly being executed by a band of guerilla terrorists/rebels.

"That's up to Kiu, but please, play nice. We're trying to make friends here."

"That depends on them more than it does us."

"Zek," I reprimanded him.

"I understand, Boss. I won't antagonize."

"That's what I like to hear."

"Gordez?" I asked, hoping to hear from his end as well.

"Shanzi's good to go. I was padding the muffler and transmission. Mud like this is no good for the tank and we're leaving the dry season now, and it seems we're gonna be on land for the time being. Don't want Shanzi getting violated in her more sensitive bits."

My head naturally turned to Zek who had a clear reminiscent smile on his face.

"Well," I said, "Guess I'll stick around until the plus one comes around. So how are you all holding up?"

Gordez had moved away from under the tank and now was leaning against Shanzi's side as he said, "Well, not quite fond of being this far from the Patriot for this long."

"You trust Kosah and Zadok?"

"More or less. I can at least trust them to not finish repairing the ship on their own and leaving without us."

"You know them better than the rest of us. Think there'll be any issues with our new allies?"

"As long as they stay on the ship and away from our present company, no, I don't think there'll be any issues, but I'm not exactly fond of our current friends, and I highly doubt that their dispositions are any brighter than mine."

"Then we'll keep them where they are for the moment, but that can't last forever."

"What can't?" Zek asked. "Them staying on board, or this 'alliance' of ours."

"Zek," I scolded.

"Play nice. I know. Sorry."

I nodded, and as if on cue, Kiu and his two proteges, Jet and Kai. So Which one was coming along with us today? Either way, there was bad blood. Was this Kiu's plan? Stage an incident to get theme cause to kill us? Or trial by fire to build bridges?

"Hope we're not late," Kiu said, as though it was possible to be late amongst an army you commanded. "Kai will be going along with you. Jet just wanted to come down and see you off to make amends for what happened earlier."

"That's right," Jet said, stepping forward, extending an outstretched hand to Ka'lira first as he said, "Want to apologize for being so rough with you back there. Sometimes, we just can't take any chances. Fire Nation has sent spies before, many among them attractive women like you, but, I promise, you'll find me a lot gentler of a person than you did back there, Ka'lira, isn't it?"

The rise in Zek's eyebrow matched my sense of disbelief, but with an added suspicion and even hostility at the flirt Jet had given. For fuck's sake, Zek. Be smart with what you do next. Ka'lira took Jet's hand, saying, "That's right," and shook it, letting go before Jet's wandering thumb could hope to brush her hand. Then came Zek, who Jet outstretched his arm to out of mere courtesy as he was nearby. Gordez had avoided the confrontation altogether by returning to some make-believe task with the tank. I smiled to myself. Always the timid one, huh, Gordez? But now, my attention was focused on Zek, begging him to make the right move, and after the silence that screamed into my ears for what felt like an eternity, he took Jet's hand, shaking it, not letting his apparent emotions get the better of him.

"I'm also, sorry," Kai said. "I'd like to apologize later to the one I beat up back there. What was his-"

"Luke" we almost all answered simultaneously. "He's in the library," I finished.

"That's it. I'll catch him when we come back. For now, we got some supplies to find," he said, approaching the tank to claim a seat for himself as Zek and Ka'lira already clambered up the hull they were more familiar with to likely score the driver and passenger seats as soon as possible.

"Kai!" Kiu warned.

"What?!" Kai whined in annoyance. "The map? You'll need it, you know."

Kai jogged back to where Kiu was, taking the scroll and turning to leave before Kiu pulled him close, whispering something into his hear that, as I watched, appeared to be a scolding, at least judging by the look on their two faces. I took the moment to get to the tank where Zek and Ka'lira had already settled into their preferred seats. "Remember what I said," I spoke to them. "Play nice. Make friends, not enemies. And don't get caught. I don't want any casualties from this."

"We know, Boss," Zek assured. "Neither do we." I nodded, making way for Kai to enter into the gunner's seat, standing back as Gordez backed away from the tank, not approaching the main group, but making distance as the tank shot to life, it's engine starting, it's checks complete, and its treads spun to life as it trudged away, gaining more and more speed as it vanished into the shroud of the forest ahead.

I had to have faith in them. They'd done missions on their own before. Was it that, I was worried about? Or that there was another factor at play? No. Even back at Ba Sing Se, we've had joint operations with other units, but always then, during those larger battles, I'd been there too, but that wasn't what was worrying me, was it? I turned to Kiu who whispered one last thing to Jet who left the group, returning to whatever task that Kiu had sent him on, disappearing among the dozens of armed, trained, and most terrifying of all, zealous guerillas. What was bothering me was, at the end of the day, these were not friends. Not allies. Whether they were enemies though, that depended on us as much as them.

"They'll be fine," Kiu said, appearing at my side almost out of the blue while my gaze had been fixed on the empty space where Shanzi had been only moments ago. "Kai's got a short fuse, but he won't do anything stupid. Not stupid enough to get them hurt, at least. That's why I wanted him to go along. You train your men well. They're disciplined. That's some credit I have to give to the Fire Nation, they do that well."

I turned to him, my eyes suddenly darting around the forest looking for hidden archers, then to Gordez, who was approaching, unaware of what I'd just heard. He knew.

He finished his thought by saying, still calm as ever, "The fact that you left says more than anything else could. Your secret's safe. I won't tell my men, but if I see you take a step back, putting the life of your estranged nation above my children, I won't be so lenient." And with that, he stepped away, disappearing amongst his "children."

"What was that about?" Gordez asked when he finally reached me, and I finally felt my pace return to normal. I swallowed. "He knows."

There was a pause in Gordez's voice, and an audible shiver as he asked, "How much?"

"Enough that the deck's in his favor now, but not enough that we're already dead."

He nod, understanding, something I always appreciated about him. He knew me. Knew what was on my mind, and never denied the weight behind the choices I had to make. "Did you already tell Luke to watch himself?"

"Yes, and Gordez, th-"

"I know," he interrupting before I had to say anymore. Some things just didn't have to be said. He knew. He knows. He always does. The fact he could for so long never ceased to amaze me.

"Is there anything else, or…"

"I was actually hoping we could just talk for a bit. Haven't had the chance to do that since Ba Sing Se. That fine by you?"

There was a small pause until I could see the subtle smile on Gordez's larger face that I always thought suited his stature well. "Sounds good to me."

"I could feel that smile inadvertently spread to my face now as I said, "Good. Let's find somewhere private."