Boss

Around a week had passed since Gordez and the others left. Since then, I'd been practically left alone with an injured Jadoh and a Zadok and Kosah who now, for the most part, almost considered themselves captives aboard their own ship.

Despite this, however, it almost felt as though things were reaching a state of normal. All except for one major detail. I missed Gordez.

It'd been different when he had merely been a hop, skip, and a jump away at the Patriot, only a short walk away from the Separatist camp, but now, with him on the other side of the Nip entirely, we were worlds apart, myself not knowing if he was alive and well, dead on the side of the road, perhaps even catching the eye of somebody else…No. I was smart enough to know how stupid the incessant worrying was. I hadn't worried about him this way back in Ba Sing Se, which had been a literal war zone, so I figured there was no point worrying now. Though I figured on small part, in Ba Sing Se, death had been right around the corner at all times anyway, but at the very least, we'd stuck by each other, whereas now, we were miles-No. Stop. Focus.

There were more pressing things to focus on than letting my stomach tie itself in a knot being worried about something I couldn't control. And there was more than enough to focus on.

It was as though, in the very moment after Lei'fo had been learned to have betrayed us, I had gone from being public enemy number one to a messiah of sorts for the Separatists. All of a sudden, what had been the "blind hatred" we'd felt towards Lei'fo was now an "omniscient knowing" that we had possessed, always knowing he was trouble, as though we suspected he was a traitor from the beginning.

I still had trouble knowing what it had all been about. I still had trouble believing he had been working for the Fire Nation, but what other reason would there had been for killing Fennick, the prisoner? He was not far off from a psychopath after all. Way Luke told it, he was ready to cut down a dozen innocent civilians, including children. Was it such a far cry to say he may have just killed Fennick for the hell of it? Decided to let that be the beginning of his little killing streak until he took his shot at Pho and Jadoh? Why Pho? Pho had been his friend. I could understand Jadoh, being one of my men, but why not me? Perhaps he had meant to but simply couldn't find me in time before he decided that sticking around any longer would be suicide. Or maybe it had been some Fire Nation operation? It was impossible to know. I still had my doubts. Separatists had come to some unanimous agreement it had been the Fire Nation at fault, but I couldn't help but think that was just their way of assuring themselves that it wasn't due to the mere sadism of a man, well, kid they'd called 'friend' just days before.

It was a shame about those who'd died: Fennick, Pho, almost Jadoh. I'd been liking Pho. Stood by Luke and what was right instead of his old friend who was hellbent on slaughtering the innocent, had my back when Lei'fo came back, and now he was dead. Jadoh, I'd been scared out of my mind when I learned what happened, horrified by the thought of losing somebody, but he'd been managing to pull through. I'd visit him alter today when I had the chance.

For now, I was at The Patriot. Separatists had settled themselves in quite nicely. I'd barely been managing to keep the Separatists out of the rooms belonging to my crew, but Jet was, for the most part, being cooperative with my wishes. Despite his age, it was clear enough that he had the respect of those around him. For whatever reason, I couldn't tell. I hadn't seen him fight, hadn't seen him in battle, had had no taste of just what it was that made him somebody that those around him respected and were willing to listen to at a moment's notice.

Jet had, when I wasn't around, been keeping things in line when it came to the Patriot. He'd helped camouflaged the ship, keep it better hidden to ensure that an overly attentive Fire Nation patrol didn't spot us amidst the fauna, taken full inventory, arranged for housing for the Separatists kept onboard, even attempted in getting the ship back to working order, though with much frustration.

"Feels like it's falling apart more and more every day!" He's exclaimed to me with quite a degree of exasperation.

"It's a tough ship," I'd said, trying to ease his mind. "Was badly beat up when it came in. We'll get it working."

"We need your man back, Gordez." My heart jumped into my mouth when he said, 'your man' only for him to, much to my relief, clarify what he'd meant in saying, "He's your second in command, right?"

Thank the spirits. "Guess you could say that. Helps keep things in order. Ship especially."

"So I can tell. Without him here, whole thing feels liable to fall apart at any minute. The other kids, Kodah and Zasok or something-?"

"Zadok and Kosah?"

"Yeah, them. They're doing an alright job, but they're just barely managing to keep this ship from blowing up around us. Definitely need Gordez back."

"Won't disagree with you there."

He nodded, leaving to rise back to the command deck while I left in the opposite direction, heading down the stairway to the engine room, passing by a number of Separatists going about their tasks as I did so. Ship felt like it had a new life to it. I wasn't quite sure how to feel about it. On one hand, it felt as though the vessel were truly a living, breathing being once again, closer to what it had once been as a pride of the Fire Navy rather than the shadow it'd been with me and the others. On the other, it was occupied by the exact type of people I'd sworn to fight-radicals willing to do anything for victory. Despite that label I'd given them, however, a part of me couldn't help but draw closer to them. They were only just kids. The more time I spent with them, the more I began to see what I believed Kiu saw in them-misguided souls stuck with a bad lot in this world, hatred and bloodlust where joy and family should have been, this war having taken it all away, these children destined to get themselves killed if it hadn't been for somebody like Kiu to keep them together. I felt as though as the time went by, I found myself respecting him all the more for what he was doing here, yet still, there was a long way to go.

I took the stairway down into the lower bowels of the ship. Jet was right. This ship was nowhere near to operating how it would be with Gordez present, but that wasn't all at play. I had a theory of my own that needed some verifying. As much as I knew Gordez to be the Master of Engineering that he was, I couldn't help but believe there was more at play.

I found Zadok and Kosah eating with one another away from the others in the mess. I regretted interrupting them during their lunch break, but figured it was the only reasonable time to do so. "Mind if I speak to you two for a minute?"

They joined me readily enough, following as I led them away from the mess into the deeper tunnels of the ship, my eyes never shifting around me to ensure we were alone.

"Ship's having some troubles then, huh?"

"Definitely not going anywhere anytime soon," Zadok responded, a hint of almost satisfaction in his voice.

I'd been prepared to let them talk themselves out more, let me catch them in a lie, but clearly, Kosah had no intention of letting me figure it out for myself. "Just some misplaced fuses, some disconnected pipeworks, and all of a sudden, ship's an empty husk."

It was no surprise. No part of me didn't understand what they were doing. I'd been considering it myself. No part of me wanted this ship falling into Separatists hands. Reason A being I feared what purposes they'd used the ship for, Reason B being that I feared what Gordez would do to me if he found out.

Zadok nudged his counterpart in the side, the response of his victim being, "What? Thought we agreed we'd tell him?"

"More gradually though, duh." Zadok turned back to me. "Couldn't just let them take the ship, sir."

"I know you couldn't," I responded with. I truly did know. "We don't know enough about them, what they're up to, what they'd do with this,-"

"I told you he'd agree with it," Kosah snorted to his friend.

"But you need to be careful. Jet is already blaming you for not being able to do a thing to keep the ship functional. Only a matter of time until he assumes foul play. I know what you're doing, but you need to play it safe. We just barely got some semblance of trust back from them. We can't blow it. Not like this."

"So what do you want us doing?"

"Keep the ship, running, but not too much, you get me? Get things working, maybe save the engine, just, whatever you do, be smart. I trust you to know what to do, but if it comes between the Separatists taking this ship and you two losing your lives, I'd rather them take the ship. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Boss," they replied in unison.

They were good kids.

Maybe too good for their own good. They were patriots. They cared about their Nation. As did I. At least, as I thought I did. The more this war went by, the more I found myself fighting beside those I never thought I would, the grayer everything became. Maybe it was for the best, let me see this war for what it really was—evil on both sides, no one Nation in the right, both possessing their virtues and vices. The war I'd fought for, fighting for Nations, that was over for me. When the Siege of Ba Sing Se ended, it became something different—it became a war of good versus evil, right versus wrong.

I was on the path back to the camp. The conditions of Summer were starting to seep in. It still startled me how Winter had felt not long ago at all, last Summer somehow feeling even sooner. Just a little under a year ago, we'd still been at Ba Sing Se, the siege going in our favor, the war looking as though it were on the verge of finally being over. Of course, it hadn't, and here we were, a year later, still fighting it.

Blue skies stretched overhead, shadowed only by the canopy of trees growing in height and breadth as I made my way deeper into the forest. Nowhere was it quiet as I walked along, be it the tweeting of birds, the rustling of branches in the wind, the chirps of insects crawling across the forest floor, all noises coming together to provide an ambience that could only belong in a place like this so far out from any semblance of civilization. I'd always been afraid of the forest as a kid. Looking to all sides of me, not knowing what lay ahead, everything shrouded in the shadows of the forest, unable to discern if some cruel-eyed predator was simply waiting for me to turn my back on it for it to strike. I loved the sea, however, being able to look to every side of me, my vision going on for miles and miles until the point that the curvature of the Earth prevented me from looking any further.

When I thought of the Navy, I tried only to remember the days before my stint with the Raiders. Tried only to think back on simpler times.

It was the sound of hooves that broke the monotony of the clamor of the forest, prompting me to raise my guard, only lowering it when I recognized the figure atop the ostrich horse as it approach-A separatists-and upon closer inspection-Geshen.

"Geshen," I said, greeting him as he brought his mount to a stop, myself having expected him to simply race right past me towards The Patriot, myself only now realizing I was his intended destination. "Something the matter?"

"Water Tribe leader just got to camp. Kiu wants you there for the meeting."

"Well, don't worry. I'm already headed back."

"That's good to hear," Geshen said, already unmounting from his beast. "Should probably take my ride though. Said he doesn't want to start without you."

"That important, eh?" I asked as I reluctantly took the reins of the beast from him. "How're you going to get back?"

"I can walk. No worries, but Kiu wants you there ASAP."

"Understood," I replied, one foot already in the stirrup as I rose onto the ostrich horse, myself still surprised by the action that, just over a week ago, would have been considered insanity-a Separatist handing the reigns over to me or one of my people.

Notwithstanding, I settled onto the unnamed horse's back, ourselves not having yet dubbed it something since stealing it from a Fire Nation patrol-the work of Jet and Kai, the two seemingly thick as thieves.

I kicked the animal into motion, myself clearly being wanted back at camp with all due haste.

They were already gathered in Kiu's "war room" when I reached it, the rustic yet functioning addition to the camp that it was. Kiu had considered relocating to The Patriot but ultimately had decided against it, figuring with so many things already happened, the least he could do was offer some 'continuity' in terms of where the Separatists were getting their orders from.

The guards at the door closed the door behind me before I could do so myself, my attention rather, at the clearing of Kiu's throat, being directed towards the empty seat in the room at his right side across the table from, likewise, 2 Water Tribesmen.

"Boss," Kiu started. "This is Chief Karnook and his second in command, Torvak. I rose from my seat, and they did likewise as, from across the table, we clasped onto one another's arms, shaking hands in a sense as per Water Tribal tradition-something I'd learned the hard way. They appeared surprised by my understanding of their cultural norms but made no comment on it as we all sat back down. "Chief Karnook, Torvak, this is Boss, my second in command." Second in command?

My head towards Kiu, attempting not to register any of the confusion going through me, but he didn't turn his head to meet my gaze, instead remaining focused on the topic at hand.

"May we start from the top then?" Boss asked, clearly referring to my arrival, apparently wanting to keep me informed.

Karnook nodded. "Of course. As I was saying, we encountered your men in the Foggy Bottom Swamp. A patrol of my men, on edge after a recent Fire Nation excursion, attacked. 2 of my men were killed and numerous more injured."

My hand tensed beneath the table, noticing how he only mentioned his own casualties. "Did any of our men suffer casualties as well?"

"Your commander already asked that question. No. Your men suffered no casualties."

I attempted not to reveal just how relieved that news had rendered me, the news of his own men's' death still hanging in the air, creating an apparent tension. Kiu briefly turned his head to face me, likely having observed the very thing I was trying to hide, but nonetheless turned back to his guests. "We apologize for the deaths of your men."

"We apologize as well. My own men failed to follow protocol and ask for a callsign, but tensions are high among my men. The families of the dead are calling for blood. We're not asking you to give up your own men, don't worry. I can soothe things among my people, and I'll ask that you refrain from allowing news of this 'complication' to spread. The last thing we need is distrust between our two groups."

"I'm prone to agree," Kiu responded. "The sooner we can move past this and begin pooling our strength, the better."

"Which brings us to the main purpose of our coming here. The man in charge of the group you sent, "Gordez" I believe his name was, he told us of your intent for us to begin focusing efforts against the Fire Nation. Before we agree to this, however, we need to know what exactly your plans are for this region."

Kiu nodded, an understanding smile on his aged and weathered face, this seemingly a question he was no doubt used to from his years of staging guerilla warfare and likely being deemed "terrorist" by no shortage of people. "We are working in collaboration with regional Earth Kingdom authorities south of the Nip Sea. Our intention is to assist regional Earth Kingdom forces in driving out the Fire Nation from this region, allowing for Earth Kingdom authorities to regain control."

"You have no intention of occupying territory?"

"We don't have the manpower to do so. We number only in the hundreds. Doing so would stretch ourselves too thin."

Karnook nodded. "Despite us hiding in that swamp for a better part of a few decades, news still does reach us. We've heard talk of your "Nip Sea Separatists." Talk that your methods verge closer to the lines of terrorism rather than freedom fighting."

"You can ask thousands of people draw the line in the sand between terrorism and freedom fighting and you'll never receive the same answer twice. I will not deny that my men's guerilla combat-attacking outposts, robbing civilians, ambushing caravans-it falls well within the parameters of the Fire Nation's assessment of what terrorism is, at least, when committed against them."

Karnook chuckled, clearly not disagreeing.

"However, my men do not deliberately attack civilian targets. Not on my orders. There have been incidents in the past of those who have overstepped their bounds and targeted civilians, but I have done what I could and am still doing what I can to suppress this."

"Controlling one's desire for revenge is no easy task," Karnook said, nodding. "I myself have been put in that position on more than one occasion." Karnook rested his elbows on the table, raising his hands to the lower half of his face as he continued, saying, "I suppose it's only fair that we reveal our intentions as well. My Revanchist Tribe wishes for control of the Foggy Bottom Swamp with access to the coast to allow for trade and other opportunities."

"You wish to create a new state within Earth Kingdom territory?"

"The state was always here. The swampbenders were here even before my tribe was, but we've agreed to work together. Earth Kingdom authority has always been touchy at best in the swamp, the desert even less. We're practically already an independent nation."

"I won't disagree with you there, but I'm not sure if it's me you'll be wanting to talk about this. Asking for official recognition of your sovereignty is nothing I'm in control of."

"No, but I'm merely putting all cards on the table, telling you what our intentions are. We wish to drive the Fire Nation out and assist the Earth Kingdom in winning this war, but for our help, we intend on asking the Earth King for recognition."

"Very well. You'll get no argument from me, so long as the Fire Nation is driven out."

"And that brings us to the real issue at hand. Just how we plan on going about evicting the Fire Nation."

Kiu nodded in acknowledgment, his face turning to the map on the table between us and the tribesmen, unrolling the curled edges and weighing them down with items scattered across the table to allow a full view of the map, multiple locations marked or pinned. "Fire Nation occupying the North, Earth Kingdom occupying the South. We are here, as I'm sure you know," Kiu said, pointing towards a small position near the North coast. "Dead set in the middle of Fire Nation territory. Before, we had the benefit of having open contact with Earth Kingdom forces before the blockade and regular patrols started. Now, we've been cut off for months now."

"Hence sending your men to re-establish contact."

Kiu nodded. "Going through the swamp was our only chance of that. Back when Earth Kingdom owned the valley between the swamp and the mountains, we'd rely on that, bit ever since the Fire Nation took the valley, that route's been moot."

"Yeah, we heard about that. We'd use it as well. Had good relations with the Earth Kingdom troops guarding it. Pulled out almost a year ago to help push back the Firebenders at Ba Sing Se. Heard it was a massacre. Most of the men they found were soldiers turned bandits and outlaws. Lots of casualties. Got what they deserved."

It was all news to me. After leaving, I'd heard little of what became of The Dragon's Host. Guess I was learning now.

"Fire Nation took the opportunity to take the valley. Haven't moved men en masse through it yet but have sent raiding parties in lieu of that. I asked your men to check on the town Heigou. Sent a report two days ago saying the town had been torched by the Rough Rhinos. Very few survivors."

Of course it's the Rough Rhinos. Whenever the Fire Nation has dirty work that needs doing, it's either the Raiders, the Rhinos, or one of their other mercenary bands or "rogue" units, all of it bullshit I'd come to realize.

"We know where our guys are now?" I asked, curious to know if they'd moved on.

"Didn't tell us anything. Mentioned there were some people attempting to help the wounded. May have stuck around to lend a hand or simply'd have moved on. You'd know better than I would."

I nodded. And knowing them as I do, they're still there. Doing the right thing.

He continued, speaking to Kiu now when he asked, "So you gave them orders to head to the coastal Earth Kingdom towns and establish contact?"

"That's correct."

"What do you hope to gain beyond giving them a simple update that you're still alive. You're not going to re-establish timely communication. Fire Nation still controls the water. Obviously, you know this, or you'd have sent them swimming across with wetsuits rather than through our swamp with arms and armor."

"We're hoping to create an organized response to the Fire Nation presence in the Nip, contest that territory rather than let it sit comfortably in their hands."

"And you think your band, good fighters though they may be, are going to convince the Earth Kingdom to launch an offensive like this?" He chuckled. "I applaud you for having faith in your men, but if the Earth Kingdom had the means of contesting the Nip, they'd have done so already."

"But they lacked something that they now possess?"

"What's that? A few hundred Separatists hiding in trees?"

"No," Kiu said, ignoring the snide remark. "You."

Karnook said nothing for a while until an understanding smile came to his face. "Of course."

"Earth Kingdom could never stand a fight against the Fire Navy, but waterbenders like you, you could make all the difference between life and death."

I decided now was an appropriate time for me to chime he. "He's right. We know what you're capable of. I've seen teams of waterbenders no more than 5 band together to disable fully-operation Fire Navy vessels in less than a minute. With stealth, speed, and natural ability, you are everything the Fire Nation need fear. Why do you think they've been trying to wipe out your kind for the last few decades?"

"Believe me," Karnook said, his voice going grim. "I don't need to be reminded. We attempted to work with the Earth Kingdom before, but, then again, their presence here hadn't been quite so fragile last we'd offered our services. Perhaps humiliation will have taught them a thing or two about humility."

"They will take your help," Kiu reassured him. "And even if they won't, you, me, we'll offer it anyway. Whatever it takes to remove the Fire Nation from our homes."

"Hmm," Karnook mumbled, a slow determined look rising on his face. "Whatever it takes, then."

And two hands from opposite sides of the table met in the middle of the map, right above to Nip, to meet in unification of an alliance that now might just have what it takes to really make a difference here. I was unable to contain the slight smile that rose to my face. I knew that a part of me should have been grimacing at the forging of a bond designed to combat my home country, but something about this, about people fighting for what was right, for their homes, it was inspirational. This was what it was about. This was what I had sworn to fight for when I left the Fire Nation. And now, that was precisely what I was doing. I wasn't fighting for one nation or another. I was fighting for people. At long last.

Karnook and Torvak left later that evening after they had spent the afternoon and evening in our company, enjoying a small informal celebration in the name of the pact formed today. It still felt surreal to me to me now greeted with open arms for the Separatists, myself now considered 'one of them.' I couldn't lie. Something about it was nice, no longer needing to have eyes at the back of my head, worried that somebody would decide to take matters of "protecting the flock" into their own hands.

Notwithstanding, I managed to sneak away from the celebrations early, smuggling away with me a tray of hand foods I managed to scrounge up as well as some wine, the camp infirmary being my target. None of the "medics," if one could even call them that, were present. Likely celebrating as well. All the better. His wounds weren't bad enough anymore that he needed constant attention anyway. I wanted to think he'd be fine.

Sure enough, Jadoh was sat propped up in his cot, arms still heavily bandaged, but for the most part, possessing more life to him than he'd had yesterday.

I balanced the tray of party goods in one hand, giving the wooden wall of his room a small tap to get his attention, asking for permission to enter before abruptly barging in.

His attention shot towards me, dropping the book I hadn't seen that he was delicately attempting to hold between his recovering hands.

"Shit," he mumbled to himself. "Uh, Boss, hey, come in."

I couldn't help but let a small smile rise to my face as I approached, setting down the tray on his side table as I helped him recover his reading material, myself scanning just what it was before returning it to him. Erotica of the Spirit World: When Worlds Collide: Volume 3. A small chuckle escaped from my lips as I handed it back to him saying, "Getting some light reading in, I see?"

"Shut up," he groaned, no malice in the words, simply wishing to avoid the embarrassment of judgement.

"You and Luke ought to start a book club. Not sure if this really qualifies as a 'book' however."

"Hey! It's words! And some…images…too."

"Of course," I mused. "I take it this isn't from Kiu's personal collection?"

Jadoh scoffed. "Kai's."

I figured as much. He seemed the type. I turned my attention the tray by his side, saying, "Brought you some stuff from the party."

"Hmm. Enjoying themselves out there?"

"Seems that way."

"Everything go well with the waterbenders then?"

"Sorry," I said, attempting to put on a straight face, but failing to maintain it as I overdramatically stayed, "That's confidential."

"Oh, shut up," he smiled. "So went well, then?"

"Seems so. Looks like things will be getting louder around here in the days to come."

"Hmm. Anybody say when I'll be getting out of here?"

I shook my head. "Haven't told me anything. Was a nasty cut Lei'fo gave you, but they at least did say you're recovering well. I'd say another week. At most."

"Damn. My bow skills are gonna get rusty."

"Well…they were never that good to begin with."

"Screw off," he grinned. I smiled in a return. Jadoh was a far cry from what he'd been when we first found him. No longer the arrogant shitstain he was when we first found him, thinking himself at the top of the world. Now, actually somebody who understood that the world didn't revolve around him, that he didn't possess some birthright to be the best and the baddest of all those around him. Now, actually somebody I was happy to call a friend. "Ooh. Got me some wine too. How generous. So I'm off probation?"

"Bright side of you being hospitalized, at least I don't need to worry about you getting up to order another round."

"Of you know me. Raava save whoever or whatever tries to get between me and a good time."

"Speaking of 'good time,' I'll give you some alone time with that light reading of yours."

"Yeah," he chuckled. "You do that."

I smiled as I turned to leave the room, only being bid to return by him yelling "Close the door!" which I, in accordance, appropriately did.

I wanted to think at least some of the craze of the party would have died by now. My hopes ended up being wasted as the festivities seemed to be in full swing now, even stronger than when I'd left. Damnit. Jadoh would love this. I attempted to backstep away, working my way onto another platform, but my presence did not go unnoticed. I was being reeled in by two Separatists-Tao and Gilan, who, at least from what I was able to discern from their drunken mumbling, were planning on having me do a keg stand, or, perhaps watch them attempt a keg stand?

Whatever it was they had in mind, I was fortunate enough to be rescued at the last minute by Kiu who put his hands on the two shoulders of the men escorting me, nudging them away, their grips loosening from me, seemingly unaware that I was no longer trailing behind them.

"Think they'll get lonely?" I joked as Kiu led me away from the raucous activities of the camp.

"You assume they'll notice."

"Fair point."

We were further away from the party now, shrouded in an unlit segment of the camp, the torchlight dying down, nobody conscious or sober enough to have relit them.

"They certainly seem to be enjoying themselves," I commented.

"Hmm. Perhaps a bit too much."

"Oh, I wouldn't worry. They'll sober up come tomorrow. They know what's ahead."

"That's precisely what worries me. Forget what you saw back in the command room, we're not ready."

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean." I did. "We're going to war. We're low on weapons, supplies, and sure, these can be remedied when things with the Earth Kingdom is fixed, but the one thing that can't be fixed is our men. They're children. They're untrained. They know how to rob, to ambush, to fight form the shadows, but they're not ready for war."

"Nobody's ever really ready for war," I commented, but even as I said it, I knew that was an answer that would accomplish nothing.

"But I can't just lead my men into a fight they're not ready for. They're loyal, sure, ready to fight to the last breath, but they're undisciplined. They have no sense of order, how to take orders, how to work as a fighting force rather than just friends." He was nervous. Scared almost. My thoughts went back to what he'd called me back during the meeting-his "second in command." I was the only person he was telling about this. But why me?

"Kiu," I said, trying to do what I could do to reassure him. "They will be ready. They'll learn. They always do." I'd seen it more than enough times already. I saw how quickly people changed on the battlefield, but even then, something was indeed missing, The discipline, the order, the training. He beat me to it before I could bring it up.

"But they're untrained. They know about survival, but nothing of warfare. They'll die out there."

I was silent for a moment, wondering just what this was. Was this the prelude of an order, or just him breaking down in front of me? But why me? "Kiu," I started. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because. I want you to train my men. My kids."

"Train them? I-"

"Don't. Don't say something about why you're a bad fit. I've seen the way you train your men. The way they operate, and I know there's more to you than a simple mercenary, but that doesn't matter. You know what war is. I can see that in your eyes. The same eyes I have. The difference between us, you're still in a position to teach what I'm afraid I'm no longer able to. I want you to give my men the tools they need to survive, to fight, to win."

And this was it. This was why. Maybe he didn't know who I was, or hell, maybe he did, but right now, I don't think it mattered. This wasn't about any one Nation. This was about those he had sworn to protect. This was about giving them a chance, and I was that chance. So that's why I was here still, to protect, to serve. It seemed like the more time that went by, the clearer everything became. To protect and serve. The oath I took when I graduated the Fire Nation Military Academy. And finally, that was exactly what I was doing. "Okay," I said. "I'll train our men."

Our men.