Boss

Eyeing the batch of people that had gathered in front of me, I had, needless to say, mixed feelings. On one hand, I already knew what they were capable of. Over the last few months, I'd seen them in action, observed their success, and seen just how effective they were at waging guerilla warfare against a logistically and numerically advantaged opponent.

On the other hand, however, it was not a guerilla war we were preparing for now. The Fire Nation was mobilizing. As were we. We were expecting invasion and being prepared to invade the enemy back. Guerilla warfare could only take us so far. We had to be prepared total war, and eyeing those assembled in front of me-approximately 60 young child soldiers for this first lesson, joking around, nudging and prodding one another, fiddling with their individual weapons, all undisciplined, all unprepared.

The message we had received last night had left me unsettled to be sure. At the very least, it was indicative of some progress. At around midnight, our team at the Patriot had reported to us that a sudden mist had risen over the Nip Sea, covering as far as anybody could see. It wouldn't have been strange news save for the fact that it had come out of nowhere.

3 hours later in the early morning, we had visitors. Water Tribesmen once again, and bringing news at that. Sure enough, the mist had been of their own making, using the full moon as an advantage to create such a powerful fog to cloud their movements.

The Fire Nation had sent patrols to investigate, none of which had returned. It was enough to send the message to pull back. And so they had, paving the perfect path for the Water Tribe to take advantage of the situation.

At the end of it all, they'd held their end of the deal, hell, went even further than that. They used the opportunity they had provided for themselves to visit the coastal Earth Kingdom outposts and deliver the messages that Gordez and the others had brought them, acting as messengers to bring the news to us.

And so they had. They woke Kiu who, in turn, woke me, wishing for me to be present when he read what the tribe had to say. They brought news from the Earth Kingdom. And that news was that we were to prepare for war.

Separatists of the Nip Sea,

We have received news on behalf of our allies in the Revanchist Water Tribe of your state in the conflict.

We commend your efforts in your fight against the Fire Nation and we call upon you now to aid your Kingdom further in bringing this conflict to an end.

We are anticipating a Fire Nation offensive in the near future. We call on your forces to supplement our own in the defense of our southern settlements and eventual re-conquest of our northern coast.

For the Earth Kingdom. For the Earth King.

I was still looking at the parchment where it lay before us on the table, some part of me annoyed and insulted, and another, a far greater part of me, astounded that they'd had the nerve to order us so after being cut off from us for months now.

"They want us to act as frontline soldiers," Kiu said, still processing what he was reading.

I shook my head. "It's suicide. We're guerillas. Not grunts."

He folded the paper before him, setting it aside at his desk. "We are now."

I couldn't help but look at him in befuddlement, no aspect of me unsurprised by what he'd said.

"What?! You're not actually saying that we're going to go ahead with this."

"We've been waiting for months for the Earth Kingdom's orders. To finally know our orders, what our part is to finally bring this conflict to an end. Now we know."

"Yeah, great. Now you know that they're calling on you to use you and your forces as cannon fodder against a Fire Nation offensive."

"We're Earth Kingdom citizens and we've been called to duty. We're not going to shirk away from it now just because the odds aren't in our favor. They never have been before anyway."

"Yeah, sure, except before, even if the odds were against us, we knew what we were up against. We had the advantage of the terrain, fighting in circumstances we were acquainted with. Now, we're being sent to fight the kind of war that none of us here are prepared for. You'd be giving your lives en masse for nothing."

"It's not for nothing! If we're going to give our lives, it's going to be to protect our homes, to defend the people of this region, to ensure that a hostile invasion doesn't take any more lives." Kiu shook his head. "And here I was under the impression that you help yourself to a similar belief."

To protect those who cannot protect themselves. I remembered my own words too well.

"But Kiu. The fact remains that we're not ready. We don't have the training."

"Then train them. Train them to fight as soldiers."

"Train them to-" Did he know. No, he couldn't. He didn't know what he was saying. "How could I train them to fight as-"

"Stop. I don't know why you keep up the act with the others, and I don't care. You're helping us, and that's what matters. I won't tell anybody else, but I know you're more than just mercenaries. I know a soldier when I see one. You and your men, you're soldiers. At the very least, you used to be."

"I-" I was in the process of trying to find something to say, some defense, some desperate lie. Until I figured it just wasn't worth it. "That obvious, huh?"

"No. The others don't suspect anything. But when you live through war as long as I have, you pick up on some things. What can I say, you and me aren't too different in that regard."

I chuckled, certainly not picturing him in a Fire Nation uniform. "I certainly doubt that, Kiu."

He scoffed in reply. "You're probably right, but I know that you have what it takes to show my men what war is. You already agreed to teach them what you knew. Your arrangement has not changed. Show them what they need. Show my people how to fight this war and win. Show my people how to fight this war and survive."

And so I'd agreed, and here I was. I hadn't agreed with the Earth Kingdom's decisions, but I suppose that didn't matter anymore. Kiu wasn't wrong. In his position, I'd likely do the same. Protecting those who couldn't protect themselves. It was as though he already knew all there was to know about me. Certainly knew more about me than I knew of him.

I looked at the people gathered before me. I recognized a good number of them. The last few months here had given me amble opportunity to match a number of faces with names.

This is what I'm dealing with. I looked around me. In the forest, in their home domain, they could wither down enemy patrols, harass caravans, sabotage campsites, but in territory they were not prepared for, against a suspecting and prepared enemy, they'd be wiped out. And this is what I'm here to change.

I summoned everything I could remember from my own time training, from my service in the Navy, well, possibly less about that, but from General Iroh, the Dragon of the West, calm, but determined, tempered, by strong, beyond all doubt, and from his son, Lu Ten, who had rallied an army in the midst of hell.

I took a deep breath, and prayed I wasn't about to make a complete and total fool of myself.

"Atten-shun!" I hadn't expected the voice that emerged from me, digging through all of my memories from all I've learned from others, but not in the slightest expecting the reaction I got from the crowd that immediately snapped into focus. By fear more than by discipline, they all turned towards me, merely looking for the source of the noise rather than actually responding to the voice of their commander. A good start all the same. Results are results.

Their attention was on me now and I found myself hard pressed to know how to proceed. They're looking at me. Now what? Screw it. I wing it.

"You all know why you're here. Kiu probably told you all that for the next few weeks, I'm going to be training you. You'll be learning the basics of combat and styles of fighting you're likely not acquainted with."

One of the trainees raised a hand. One I recognized to be Laniro. He'd been with Jadoh when he was attacked. He didn't wait for permission to speak, the raised hand clearly only acting as an indication that he was about to speak. "Yeah, uh, excuse me, but we already know how to fight. Been doing it for, you know, last few years now." He didn't make any effort to hide the insult and I figured I probably should have specified what I meant better, especially as a number of chuckles arose from the crowd did more than enough to show the mistake I'd made.

"You're all accustomed to one form of fighting, sure, guerilla warfare, but that's not what we need to be prepared for. We're going to be assisting Earth Kingdom forces in defending and retaking territory.

"So we're finally seeing some real action!?" an overexcited separatist I recognized as Harick. I liked the kid. Was one of the few who had been somewhat decent to me and my men while we were still in the doghouse. Still, his excitement at being thrown onto the frontlines could have used some improvement.

"Yes, but I wouldn't be too excited about that if I were you."

"Why not? We've fought the Fire Nation before. Plenty of 'em when sent out on patrol. All of us together, we can take them"

A fair amount of ruckus agreement arose from the crowd, voicing their just as blinded pride in their abilities. Didn't have any trouble kicking those bucket head asses before. Why would we now?"

I sighed. Oh spirits. "Because, for starters, the Fire Nation won't be committing cannon fodder to a true invasion. In addition to that, you'll be fighting in unfamiliar terrain, taking orders from higher ups and being expected to act as fighting units rather than autonomous squads as you've been doing here."

"So what?" spoke up Keerick, the same one who'd tried to kill me in the wake of Lei'fo's betrayal. "What you're saying is that you're training us to be dogs of the military?"

Great. Now you're finally catching on.

"You're being trained to fight a new type of war."

He scoffed. "Suit yourself, but I'm not here to take orders from a distant military that has no idea how best to use our skills."

If only he knew just how much I agree with him. I couldn't find a substantial argument against what he'd said, but I'd have to. For Kiu. For the people we were here to fight for. Even if it meant fighting my own people.

I saw a number of them turning to leave. I couldn't afford that.

"Why are any of you here?" I asked in one last ditch effort. "You've been fighting for years here knowing it may come to this one day, and now it has. Why the change in heart? Not up for it? Afraid of the fight?"

It was enough to turn their attention back towards me. That was something.

"I know you've been fighting this war for longer than I have, but I've been fighting all across the world. I've fought soldiers, tribesmen, benders, even guerillas like you. The reason I'm alive and they are not because they all made the same mistakes—they overestimated their abilities. So, for now, take a moment to consider that maybe you're not the best fighters in the world and that there's still more for you to learn."

They'd stopped leaving. They were insulted. I could tell that much. It didn't matter. I was here to stop them from getting killed within moments of the true war beginning. If they hated me for it, so be it. The time of me trying to win their love had when they stopped trying to kill me.

"Good," I said upon seeing they still remained gathered before me. "Then let's begin."

And so the training session went on.

It resulted in only a complete disaster.

I had tried to start small, to simply run them through different forms, drills, basics along those lines.

Whether it was them being plainly insulted by my words or actions or them essentially refusing to follow my orders whatsoever, nothing was going as I'd hoped it would.

I tried starting small.

When I'd attempted to get a sense of their adequacy with certain weapon, they'd simply tossed them aside in search of weapons they were better acquainted with no matter how many times I pushed upon them the importance of knowing how to wield more than one weapon in the incident of losing theirs or facing a supply shortage.

They hadn't listened.

I found myself tempted many times over to just let them leave. There was hardly any point in keeping them around anyway if they'd refuse to listen.

But I stuck around anyway, and a couple of hours later, it was over, nobody having learned anything.

A complete disaster.

I was left alone on the forest floor facing a misused training floor, weapons scattered about, myself feeling as though I was facing a Fire Nation preschool's playroom after the kids had refused to clean their mess.

What a disgrace.

I went about cleaning up after their mess, having nothing else to do after all.

Kiu's going to love to hear this.

I could feel somebody approaching from behind me. I remained set to my task, not having the nerve to face who I expected to be Kiu, here to scold me for my failure.

He stopped behind me. Just get it over with.

"Training go well I take it?"

Jadoh?

I turned to face the source of the voice I believed I'd recognized, finding him, sure enough, directly behind me, arm suspended in a cast, but undoubtedly looking far better than the last time I'd seen him.

The relief I felt in seeing him as opposed to Kiu in this moment couldn't be understated, allowing me to release a calmed chuckle, saying, "That obvious?"

He turned his head back over the disheveled training ground, making a mocking effort of careful deliberating the meaning behind his surroundings, eventually, after a few sarcastic moments, turning back to me to say, "Hmmmm. Yes."

I scoffed, but the levity I was trying to force out could only replace the frustration for so long, having enough of an effect on my face that even Jadoh could tell. "Rough day, huh?" he asked.

I sighed, choosing instead to dodge the question in asking, "so Sawbones let you out of the infirmary?"

"Well….he doesn't exactly know that I'm here."

"Ah. So I see."

"I mean-I wasn't just about to spend the rest of the war on a hospital bed."

"So how's the arm?"

"Well, I mean, it's still attached, but I also have a valid excuse to lounge about nowadays so I can't complain. Definitely having an easier time of things than you are right now."

I gave up on trying to hide the obvious frustration. "Jadoh, I can't even-I don't even know what the hell to do. They're infuriating. They're self-righteous, believe they know everything, themselves at the top of the world, it's like they're-they're like-"

"Like me?"

"I was going to say like children, but now that you mention it, yeah."

He chuckled, taking a seat on a nearby tree log. "Ever consider employing a similar solution for a similar problem then?"

I scoffed. "You meaning throw them into the fire and hope they get their ass kicked enough to teach a lesson but not enough to send them home in a box?"

"That's a way of putting it, but no. Just put them in a position to show them how little they really now. A little humiliation can go a long way. Believe me. I'd know."

"Hmph. You would, huh?" I asked, taking a seat on the log next to him. I feel like I should apologize for that. We definitely weren't easy on you being the new guy."

"Oh don't be. I deserved it, high and mighty piece of shit that I was."

"Hmm. I guess. Still, would have done things differently in hindsight."

"If anything should have done things differently, it's me. You did the right thing, pushed me to become better, but let me figure it out on my own. Sometimes, a firm hand does the trick."

My lips couldn't help but twist into a slight smile at that, hearing that I may have actually done something right. "Thanks," I said after a while. "I appreciate that."

He smiled in return, the smile quickly being replaced by a look of realization as he said, "Oh! Right! We got word from Heigou!" He was digging through his pockets as he continued. "Longshot shot down a Hawk. Was headed towards Xinxing, but looks like it was meant for us. Was addressed towards you. Looks like the fog finally got news flowing again for us." He pulled it out, immediately handing it over to me. It was still sealed with some unmarked wax, but the characters marking "Boss" were undoubtedly in Gordez's handwriting.

I debated for a moment whether I should open it here in front of Jadoh, not knowing what the contents might contain, but I figured quickly enough that Gordez would be smart enough to not send anything incriminating. He'd been more than careful about that over the last 3 years. He wouldn't slip up now.

I unsealed the letter, removing the paper contained inside while Jadoh leaned over to get a peak as well. One joking glare was enough to send him retreating back, but he returned soon enough, and I permitted him to do so as the contents of the note already seemed innocent for the most part.

"Boss,

Our work in Heigou is concluded. Put down mercenaries who had been harassing Heigou down.

We are now en route to the Xiahu military base, and from there, Jingping.

Will relay update upon reaching Xiahu.

The team is at full strength and in good spirits despite complications.

We hope that Jadoh is in good health and that Zadok and Kosah are faring well.

We miss you.

-Gordez"

"We miss you." I smiled.

"Awww," I heard Jadoh say from behind me, afraid for a moment that my smile may have given something away. "Big guy really is sentimental."

I chuckled at that, more out of relief than at his quip. I folded the letter back up, wondering if I should reply, but figuring it'd fall on deaf ears. By the time a hawk got to them, Heigou would already be long behind them. I stood up, figuring it was necessary to relay the pertinent information to Kiu.

"Where you off to?"

"Should give Kiu the update, let him know how things are going on the other side of the Nip."

"Going to mention training?"

"Not unless he brings it up."

The answer was met with a humored scoff. "Hey, 'member. Firm hand. Worked on me."

"But will it work on two hundred of you?"

He shrugged. "One way to find out."