Chapter 7: Fuel Depot Part 2
Twisted Fate
Hakon hears explosions and sees several blue flames fly in the air. Seconds later he notices Alev fly in the sky and shoot massive bright flames. Hakon: "Oh no, Alev's fighting Azula! And it looks like the 31st is here! This is not going according to plan, I never knew the 31st was here! Everyone start evacuating, I'll help Alev!"
Seconds later Kanna leaps down from the balcony ahead of Hakon. Three firebenders look at her. One firebender (ahead of her), one swordsman (left of her), and another firebender (right of her position). The first firebender immediately hurls a flame at the 31st scout. Kanna leaps right, moving fast like a leopard. Only fighters like Mai and Ty Lee seem that have speed that rivals her.
A second later Kanna leaps forward and hurls her own beam of dark orange and gold explosive fire into the swordsman left of her position. The firebender closest to her rotates his body and punches two fireballs at her. Kanna leaps in the air over her opponent and the man quickly raises his head and punches another flame at Kanna while she is airborne. Kanna rotates her body while in the air to avoid the flame before landing behind her opponent.
The firebender prepares to strike again as Kanna horizontally extends her left leg and pops a flame into the man's stomach. Hakon extends his arms and shoots a ray of light red and white fire at her. Kanna rolls left and Hakon signals for the other firebender to fall back. Hakon: "Kanna, it has been some time."
Kanna: "Who are you again?"
Hakon sighs, "I'm the one you fought in the Nyarri tournament. Right before the quarter finals."
Kanna: "Oh yeah you, you were pretty good. My second best opponent after, Kett..." The mere mentioning of his name disturbs her. Someone like Alev would have taken advantage of a comment like that but Hakon is a straightforward opponent.
Hakon: "I've refined my skills a lot since then. You choose a bad day to stand against my unit. I have worked hard to get this far and I won't let you ruin my plans."
Kanna: "The funny thing about plans is, things never really go according to plan. Macai learned that the hard way but it made him a better person."
Hakon: "If you were trying to sound wise, I recommend you leave that for someone like Iroh. Besides, I haven't the time to hear your improvised fables." Hakon enters his battle stance.
Kanna enters her battle stance, "Well ok, Mr. Grumpy. Show me your skills!" Hakon rotates his hands and generates sparks of bright red and white fire. Seconds later, he pops two rapid fireballs at her. Kanna performs two right cartwheels and counters with two dark orange-gold flames. Hakon rotates his arms as he blocks the shots. Kanna spins forward and shoots another beam of fire at him.
Hakon leaps right off the ground and pumps another brick of red fire at her. The flame lands a few feet in front of her and knocks dirt on Kanna's uniform. Kanna grunts, "Ehhhheh! You got my clothes dirty you jerk!" Kanna wipes dirt out of her hair, "And you got it in my hair, you know I just dyed it!"
Hakon rapidly hurls two beams of fire at her. Kanna's eyes light up and she flips several feet forward and left. Hakon shoots another brick of fire at her but Kanna leaps right before she flings a beam of dark orange and gold flames at him. The colonel crosses his arms to block the shot but is knocked ten feet back by Kanna's highly explosive flames (among the most explosive in the nation).
As Hakon slides he leaves a trail of dirt behind him and steam flows from his armor. Hakon briefly wipes dirt out of his own hair and flips back on his feet. Kanna shoots another stream of flames at him. The colonel quickly hops left to avoid being pulverized.
On the left flank, a 31st swordsman cuts down the remnant spearwoman, "Uggghhh!" Cafri pops an orange flame into a spearman marine's chest while another 31st spearman hurls his spear into a remnant firebender's chest before switching to a dagger. As the fight heats up down there Ronin hears commotion beside him.
Ronin notices Irina with her spear drawn. Ronin grins, "You think that will stop me. Put your weapon down and live to fight another day."
Irina: "I don't shy away from a fight so easily."
Ronin: "Ok little one, I won't warn you again!" Ronin rotates his body and shoots a beam of orange and yellow flames at her. Irina slides left then lunges at her opponent with a straight strike. Ronin rotates his body to dodge the attack and Irina rotates her spear and swings the butt of it at Ronin's face. Ronin ducks and Irina spins her weapon before striking again at Ronin's body.
Ronin shifts his body but is slightly slashed by the marine's blade. Blood soaks from his armor and left nipple. Ronin: "Ugh!" Irina briefly pulls her blade back and swings again at his stomach. Ronin shifts his body and latches onto the woman's spear. Ronin pushes it back and butts the rear of the spear against Irina's stomach.
Irina: "Oooof." Ronin snatches her weapon and slams the middle of it against her face; knocking her out. Ronin looks back at his opponent then looks up and notices Dade and Sonna standing a few feet ahead of him. Ronin's gasps as Sonna swiftly shoots two arrows at him. Ronin rotates the spear and blocks the arrows with relative difficulty. Ronin throws the spear at her and Sonna rolls left.
Dade charges at Ronin with a diagonal strike but Ronin latches onto Dade's hilt with his right hand and heats it up with his fist. Dade shouts, "Ahhhh!" The marine drops his weapon and shakes his hands. Ronin swiftly kicks Dade in his face, laying him out. Sonna shoots another arrow at Ronin but the captain launches himself behind her with a calculated gust of orange fire. The remnant warrior grabs Sonna by the back of her head with his right hand and slams it into the balcony.
Ronin looks back down and sees his allies struggling. Cafri shoots two balls of orange fire into an incoming 31st swordsman and firebender. A spear warrior charges at Cafri. Ronin leaps down and hurls a beam of fire into the marine. Ronin warns, "Quickly, we must falll back." Gendall nods as notices his allies. Kedo gives Ronin a thumbs up.
Seconds later, a remnant firebender and spearman are blasted by white flames. They both swiftly fall and commander Macai emerges. He is not in a casual uniform anymore. He now has black, red, and gold battle armor. Ronin turns, Cafri enters his battle stance, Gendall draws his sword, and Kedo aims his arrow from the distance.
Ronin: "Well, Macai it's been sometime. What an unexpected reunion."
Macai: "I see you both two have been busy since I was gone (to Ronin and Kedo)."
Ronin comments, "I assume the same with you."
Macai answers, "Yeah, you could say that." Ronin rapidly pumps two flames at Macai. The 31st commander crosses his arms, blocking both shots. He may not be as fast as Kanna or as flexible as Azula but Macai is known for having amazing coordination and timing. Every move he makes is done resourcefully without unnecessarily taxing himself with overly athletic maneuvers.
Macai rotates his body, extends his arms, and pops a cube of white fire at Ronin. The remnant captain backflips and pumps two flames at the commander. Macai rolls left and Cafri shoots a beam of flames at the commander. Macai raises a wall of white fire which blocks the shot then extends his right hand; launching the wall at Cafri. The remnant firebender jumps right and Gendall charges at Macai.
The marine officer lunges forward and thrusts his right leg into Gendall's stomach. Kedo launches an explosive arrow at Macai's feet in a way that won't effect Gendall. The explosion knocks dirt onto Macai. Cafri and Ronin promptly shoot beams of fire officer. Macai raises his hands and shoots his won two beams of white fire into theirs from his hands. Macai pushes hard and begins to push both of their flames back but Kedo takes aim again and shoots another fiery arrow at Macai.
In a split second, the commander leaps backward and an explosion occurs. Dirty flies everywhere and a crater is left in the ground with no sign of Macai. Cafri: "Where did he go?!"
Ronin: "No matter, he'll be dealt with soon enough. Let's get Gendall and get out of here." Ronin helps Gendall rise back to his feet. Kedo nods and they evacuate. Meanwhile Azula lays against a crate as Alev stares down at her with a swirling gust of light orange and yellow fire flowing from her feet.
Alev extends her hands and Azula shakes her head as she begins to mentally regather herself. Alev: "Azula, is no more! Dead by my hand!" Alev shoots a massive storm of flames at the princess. Azula rises to her knees and leaps left while propelling her jump with a spark of blue-white fire. Azula lands seven feet left and rolls another three as six-foot wide explosion blasts the crate into fragments.
Alev looks straight and notices smoke. She tilts her head and sees Azula avoided the attack. Alev: "Not bad, looks like I still have a fight!' Alev rotates her body and launches another beam at Azula. The redeemed royal dives right, narrowly avoiding another blast. Alev pumps two light orange-yellow fireballs at Azula but the princess sprints forward.
Alev accelerates forward as she looks to fry her opponent. Azula leaps right as Alev buzzes five feet past her. The princess makes haste as she rotates her hands and generates an aura of blue fire around them. Alev smirks and turns to see if she blasted Azula. As she turns, a brick of blue fire nails her while she's midair. Alev grunts, "Ugh!"
The major falls from twenty feet several feet backward, steam flowing from her armor. Ronin notices the Nyarri Noble in free fall. Kedo comments, "There goes Alev." Ronin quickly sprints forward and launches himself six feet in the air with a propelled fire jump. Ronin catches Alev and latches his arms around her while using flames generated from his feet to slow his landing. Alev is clearly unconscious.
Cafri drags Gendall while Kedo watches their backs. Kedo: "Quickly, let's go. Before more come! Our line has collapsed, but I think Hakon's team has done a lot of damage."
Meanwhile, Hakon still fights Kanna. Multiple remnant forces flee from ahead of them as the facility starts to collapse and explode. Hakon: "See, my forces have already won the battle. Your team was too late! We weren't planning to stay and slug it out toe to toe with you fools."
Kanna: "But you will not make it out of here alive!"
Hakon: "Don't be so sure of that." A square of orange fire flies directly behind Kanna. The young woman rolls right and a beam of fire flows at her from her rear left flank. The 31st scout spins right. Two firebenders move in from about eleven (right) and nine (left) feet behind. Hakon spins forward and pumps a block of fire at her. Kanna leaps in the air and kicks an oval of dark orange fire at Hakon.
The Remnant colonel spins right and swiftly punches two red-white flames at her. Kanna rotates her hands and blocks both shoots. Kanna opens her mouth and spews a long twelve-inch beam of fire at her adversary. Hakon is nailed by the attack, "Awwwwahaaaaaaa!!!" The colonel flies seven feet back. The left firebender behind her punches three fireballs at Kanna but she backflips and lands between her two opponents.
The firebender left of her shoots a ray of flames at Kanna but she hops right, and the shot nails his comrade. Kanna returns fire and blasts the man away with a dark orange orb of fire. Kedo notices Kanna in the distance and charges up his arrow with orange fire. Then Kedo launches his projectile at her but Kanna leaps away as the ensuing explosion leaves a crater in the ground.
Cafri shouts, "Hakon, is he alright?!" Kedo rushes to Hakon and checks his pulse.
Kedo: "No, he's gone."
Ronin reacts, "NO! You can't be serious."
Kedo looks at him candidly, "I wish I wasn't."
Ronin shouts, "No, Ha-Hakon!! Come on!!" Ronin lays Alev down and stomps the ground. Ronin starts patting Hakon. Ronin: "Come on, Hakon!" A fleeing Remnant trooper is shot in the back by an arrow.
Cafri: "Ronin, we don't have time for this, we have to go."
Ronin: "NOOOOOOOOOO!! You nationalist Fire Nation SCUM!! Is THIS how you treat your loyal countrymen!!! HAKON I swear it, I will AVENGE you!! This isn't over. They will be screaming, SCREAMING when I'm done with them!" Tears flow from Ronin's eyes. Ronin: "Buaaahahahaha, emmmm eemmmmm!!" Ronin exhales strongly and fire flows from his nostrils.
Steam rolls out of the captain's ears and his face turns pink. Kedo: "We have to get out of here!" Gendall begins to wake up.
Gendall: "Hakon?!" Cafri lets go of his ally.
Cafri: "He's gone."
Gendall frowns, "I'll carry him back."
Ronin: "Kanna, that witch. He's such a fake nice girl! How could see kill in such cold blood?"
Gendall thinks, It is battle but I won't say that out loud or I'll end up just like him. Gendall pulls Hakon's remains, "I'm ready."
Kedo launches a fiery arrow at distant 31st marines, "Will you go now Captain!"
Ronin nods, "Yes, let's get out of this dreaded place." The Remnant forces flee.
The Meaning of Battle
Several 31st troopers clean the damage debris and salvage what is left of the demolished facility. Macai kneels low as he scans the battlefield, Azula stands a few feet left of his position, and Kanna a few feet right of him. Macai: "I can't believe this, so much needless bloodshed amongst our own for a battle that's already been settled. Some people just can't accept things."
Azula: "So true, it's insane how deluded some people are. Alev, is a special kind of deluded."
Kanna: "I did something that was not easy. At the moment, I didn't even realize what I did. I ended a young man's life today, but it was self-defense. Afterall, I wanted to stop their commanding officer and I did."
Macai: "War is never easy Kanna, this is a lesson we are already reminded of."
Kanna's voice begins to crack, "And even worse he is from my same town! I went to school with him." Her eyes become teary. Kanna: "So many from Nyarri have fallen because of these wars, I just wish they'd let this one end as it should have some time ago."
Azula: "Though the conflict has declined in scale, it has now almost exclusively become a conflict within our nation. It is like a plague for our peoples' past sins. But it will take a strong leader to completely bring our people back together and I know my brother is the man for the job. I will proudly help him do whatever he needs to finish this conflict and I will also help YOU (to Macai) when you need me."
Macai: "I will need to get back with the 31st, cut this vacation short. See what we can do next. What is your next move?"
Azula: "I will reach out to my brother and do some self-reflection. There are some things I can do on my own, in the shadows. When the time is right, I will make my presence known again. I love you (pecks Macai on his right cheek)."
Macai briefly hugs Azula, "See you soon, my love." Azula departs.
Kanna: "Well, at least you still have someone."
Macai: "I thank the spirits every day for that."
Kanna: "Welp this has been fun but now I'm going to have some senbei before I head back home. That'll be a nice treat."
Macai: "Enjoy your treat, I'm going to read a novel or something. How is Scrappy doing?"
Kanna: "He's fine, thank you. He will be super excited to see me."
Macai: "I'm a bit jealous, Zula and I need to get a pet. It's a bit of a dangerous lifestyle for one but you know."
Kanna: "Never stopped me, I found Scrappy and took him in our ship, The Prompt Adjudicator. If that didn't stop me, nothing will now. Fortunately, I've never found the type of enemies that would come to my home. And it's destiny, Scrappy and I were meant to be together."
Macai: "Lucky for you, I was a main target, not you. But you are becoming more and more important. Afterall, you more than deserved your promotion Captain Kanna."
Kanna: "Oh please, don't call me that. It feels weird. I'm still not used to being a leader. I'm just used to fighting and being a scout. I've been great at it and it comes natural to me you know."
Macai: "But you are a great Captain. You motivate your team, give amazing advice, and you could be better at enforcing some minor rules but they listen to you and trust you."
Kanna: "I'm lucky to have such a great unit. Being any bigger of a leader than this is unimaginable to me. It's so much work, I don't know how you do it."
Macai comments, "I've been groomed for leadership throughout my life. Fortunately, Aiya still does all of the business planning for me, so how bad is it really? Ok, I actually do some of the business planning now since she's busier with her family but most of it is still done by her. A big part of leading at the big level is delegating."
Kanna: "And you had Hazo as a mentor. And now Firelord Zuko is super chill and General Mak is as well. They aren't that strict and are super chill."
Macai nods, "For the most part, Mak and Zuko can be sticklers about certain regulations."
Kanna: "And this is why I won't go past captain. The only reason I took the promotion is because everyone insisted."
Macai: "Stop it, you deserve it."
Kanna: "Can't I just get a pay raise instead and do the same thing. Since I do it so awesomely."
Macai: "We can't have everything we want, believe me. Even after the war, I find myself more exhausted some of these days. With the new political rules, regulations, stipulations, it was much simpler when we just had to fight."
Kanna: "So is life, things always change. But the thing I hate about fighting is losing good friends. Still, someone has to do it, so why not us?"
Macai: "Well, we are used to it and good at it at least."
Kanna: "Exactly and it pays the bills. Why not?" Kanna steps away and Macai looks up into the sky.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone