Chapter 9: Rescuing Ozai Part 1
Timur wakes up with Reyna standing over him. White light shines through the cabin blinds. Reyna: "Get up, knucklehead." Timur looks side to side and notices the other bounty hunters in his team. They're all wearing brown uniforms.
Timur rises to his knees, "Alright, let's see what your battle armor looks like."
Reyna: "I don't wear armor, that only slows me down. I have my utility belt and gear but outside of that I just wear a uniform.
Timur nods, "Well I'm still dying to see it."
The team gathers outside. Timur wears dark brown armor with forest green and grey markings. Reyna's uniform consists of a black and sage green ninja-like robes. Aten's armor is white with yellow and purple markings. Kota's costume is a mix of grey and black robes. Cosmos has a light orange outfit with yellow markings. Akira has a hot pink and teal outfit.
Alev stands in front of the team with Gendall and Kedo beside her. Alev: "Alright, so you all passed your trials but the real test has just begun."
Timur: "Oh great, not again."
Alev: "The real test is the mission."
Timur: "Aw don't lie to me like that."
Alev points at him, "Quiet, your mission will be to enter the Fire Nation Capital. You will arrive at the Capital's palace where you will bust out Ozai."
Cosmos shouts, "Lady are you crazy?!"
Alev: "When you all signed up, you were informed that this was basically a suicide mission. I don't know why you all signed up. Perhaps some of you owe some people money. Maybe one of you is just stupid enough to want to do this for honor. Either way, it's something you all will be remembered by. LEGACY, that is if you pull it off."
Aten: "Failure seems very likely."
Alev: "And with a mindset like that, it's even more likely. Don't make me regret picking you."
Timur: "It's not like you're the one putting your life on the line lady."
Alev warns, "Don't think I wouldn't, the reasons I'm not going are strategic."
Cosmos: "So, you don't want to put your life on the line."
Alev: "I suppose that makes sense, from a simpleton's perspective."
Kota: "Well you know what, I was the dumb guy who wanted to do this for honor and legacy. I'm all in."
Alev grins, "See, I knew it."
Akira: "So is that it? Are we getting any tools to help us pull this off?"
Alev: "I have a carriage that can be given to your disposal with two green pig-rhinos."
Kota looks at Cosmos, "Did she just say green pig-rhinos?"
Alev: "They are a rare breed and they are fast creatures though they can sound quite obnoxious when sprinting and they have a surprising amount of strength and stamina. But wow can they eat, I have two bags of food in that wagon as well. I also have authorization papers that are likely only three months old, surely a team of skilled bounty hunters can make it work."
The authorization papers Alev is referring to can be used to get into military territory within the Fire Nation, allowing the team to make it closer to the palace. Alev continues, "Being two months out of date means the soldiers likely won't allow them to get close to the palace but it's not as bad as having documents that are a year old or older. With a good excuse someone might be able to finesse their way into important areas if the guards are gullible enough."
Cosmos: "You've got to be kidding me."
Alev: "I also have standard Fire Nation trooper uniforms that you could use to blend in and make an entrance."
Reyna: "So did we put these uniforms on for nothing?"
Alev: "I guess so."
Timur: "Dang, I really wanted to rock this."
Alev: "I mean you don't have to, but you'd have to fight the full might of the Fire Nation right from the get-go."
Reyna: "Not necessarily, if our enemies are incompetent enough, we might convince them that we don't wear standard uniforms."
Cosmos adds, "Yeah, maybe we're a new experimental unit."
Alev: "No, if I red light an operation, it better at least make sense."
Kota: "Red means go with you guys right because the Earth Kingdom sees it the opposite way."
Alev sighs, "Yes."
Timur: "Come on Kota, have some cultural awareness."
Alev: "So you get the plan right? Take those uniforms use them to enter the palace. Find Ozai's location and liberate him. Get out and extract. Fortunately, Zuko won't be at the capital right now because he's attending a global peace conference. Make sure a couple of you wait on standby as the rescue team. After you complete your mission, you will meet with me in the small city Yeruba located on the far western clicks of this land."
Akira asks, "How will we get there?"
Alev hands Akira a sheet, "Follow these instructions, they will tell you exactly where to go. A commandeered ship will transport your carriage to the Capital island that same ship will rescue your team when it's time to flee. And don't worry, it's a corvette so it has decent size, speed, and firepower. The Capital defenses get a bit lazy on Saturdays anyway."
Timur: "What happens if we fail?"
Alev: "Our operations are slowed down and I'll be in a lot of trouble."
Kota: "You know it doesn't actually sound that bad for you."
Alev: "It won't be that bad for the Remnant but it will be for me. I'm taking a risk here, making a bit of a leap of faith. Don't disappoint me!"
Kota asks, "Could you say please?" Alev doesn't respond.
Alev: "So anyway, you all have your mission. So, get lost but come back with Ozai."
Kota bows in respect. Timur crosses his arms and smiles. Akira simply nods. Aten doesn't change his reaction and Reyna gives Alev a thumbs up. Cosmos flexes his arms. Alev: "Just go. Go you idiots!"
Aten: "Well actually, I happen to be a genius." The team departs.
Gendall glances at Alev, "So, what do you think their chances of success are?" Alev doesn't respond and departs.
Gendall looks at Kedo, "Touchy subject?" Kedo leaves. Gendall groans and follows Kedo.
NEW VISITORS
Three Fire Nation troopers wait outside of the Capital's Eastern flank. The most important part of the capital is located within a massive mountain-like crater. The palace is located within this sector and the inside of the crater is packed with builds. Outside of the crater, the capital and island is less populated but still has several farms, homes, and military outposts scattered throughout it.
One firebender is heavyset with a massive bald spot in the middle of his head. A swordsman is very skinny with a light brown beard and fair skin. A mace trooper has dark brown skin, black curly hair, a thin yet long nose, attached ears, and light brown eyes. Firebender: "Eh, whatever makes you merry. All I know is when this round is done I'm having a nice jug of ale. I've worked hard enough and the holidays are coming."
Swordsman: "You always have something to look forward to, I wish I had as much fun as you."
Firebender: "I have the best kind of fun, drinking, sleeping, and eating. And don't you forget it. I also can be a master of Queens. Pull out a card deck, invite your whole family over, and I bet I'll win ten times over." The other trooper yawns and looks up.
The soldiers notice a carriage traveling rapidly. Large green rhino pigs gallop forward while making squeaking noises. They suddenly stop in front of the team and the one on the right farts. Coughing can be heard from inside the carriage and the heavyset man waves his hand to fan the fowl smell that ensues.
Firebender: "Wo, those are some nasty buggers! When did the administration approve such revolting animals for one of our carriages?"
Aten exits the carriage in a dark red uniform with light red markings, "I don't pick the animals, I just accept what they give me."
The firebender nods, "Relatable."
Aten: "So anyway, let us make way for the Capital, we have some important work to do there."
Firebender: "Na, aw, awww. Let me see your papers first."
Aten hands the firebender his authorization papers. While this happens, Kota holds his hilt steady while waiting in the carriage. The rest of the team members prepare in case they need to pounce on the guards. Still, they are several kilometers away from the crater, they would take a lot of heat trying to get in.
Firebender: "Ah hah! These babies are three months old. What's a matter with you?"
Aten nervously grins, "Yea well, that because our commanding officer forgot to update the files. That slouch has really been dropping the ball lately and he didn't communicate enough with the carriers to make sure we got updated information."
Firebender: "What was he thinking?!"
Aten: "About cleaning regulations and trying to impress the district officers. You know how it goes, he doesn't want them to catch him slipping but he's still slipping and it's impacting us and our work. So please don't send us back or we'll have to hear it from him again just to get sent back here again. It would be a little less work for all of us."
The other two guards glance at the firebender. The man rubs his third bald head, "Uh, alight. This time, but only this time."
Aten smiles and nods, "Thank you sir. Best wishes on your guard duty."
Firebender: "Well no worries here, it's just boring."
Aten enters his carriage, and the team of undercover prize hunters strolls on. As the team advances, the carriage emerges toward the boulder section of the city. Cosmos rides the carriage but wears a mask to cover his face. As he looks forward, he notices about fifteen guards. Several have swords, some spears, and others are firebenders.
Akira remarks, "Looks like security is moderate and their standards are likely greater than the last team."
Reyna comments, "We could find another way in."
Timur: "But this carriage could be our quickest in, if we try digging a whole in the ground or climbing up that crater we'll surely be caught."
Aten: "The guys up here are stricter; they likely won't just let us in. We'd need to get more up-to-date information from guards around here. But most of them are sharper and won't be easy to get the jump on."
Reyna: "I know how to get it, let's make a sympathy call."
Timur: "What?"
Nightlife
The sky is a blue-purple color and a few torches are lit in the area surrounding the Fire Nation Capital's crater. Several citizens laugh, eat, and drink outside of a bar facing the shore. A few soldiers also enjoy the festivities and a middle-aged major laughs alongside two of his men as they sit at a brown wooden table.
Within the cantina, a band of five men perform. One has drums, another has a trombone, another has a trumpet, another has a bamboo flute, and another has a veena. The band members are dressed in red suits with white shirts under and black ties. The lights that illuminate the room are dark yellow. The walls are beige, the ceiling dark brown, and the floor is a medium-brown tone.
The major has broad shoulders, a bald head, pineapple skin tone, and toffee brown eyes. Major: "So that's what I said to him, if you're going to bribe me then it will take more than a turkey to get me going. Can you believe that?"
Army trooper: "That doesn't surprise me, people will try anything."
Reyna walks up to their table with Akira beside her. Army Sergeant: "Wooo, look at that. We have visitors. Major, do you know these beautiful young women?"
Major: "I do not."
Reyna smiles, "We just wanted to talk." The female hunters converse with the soldiers for several minutes encouraging the men to drink while remaining sober. The sergeant passes out but the other continuously talks and pursues Akira.
Army Trooper: "Well, I am so glad you both came here. You are truly a spark of fire. How about you and I take a ride back to my house? I have a leopard-mule that is fierce and gorgeous like you. I think you'd like it. You can see my house on the beach."
Akira grabs a jug of beer and points it at him, "Oh of course. But help me finish this drink." The soldier laughs. Akira looks at him sideways, "Are you telling me you can't handle it?"
Army Trooper: "Wait, are you doubting me. That is nothing."
Akira smirks, "Bet you won't chug it." The officer expeditiously consumes the beverage and his legs become wobbly. He continues to laugh and attempts to hug the young woman. Akira rotates her body and trips the soldier. He hits the wooden floor and laughs.
Sergeant: "Oh you're a slippery one!" The sergeant gets back up and looks for her but Akira walks out with one of his authorization papers along with the one that belonged to the unconscious sergeant.
Reyna continues to talk to major outside of the bar. Reyna: "So what do you think about the change of administration?"
Major: "It's all a job for me. Nothing special."
Reyna: "You don't have a sense of glory or honor?"
Major: "I do in the sense that I want a promotion, but most of it is smoke and mirrors for me. Everyone had one goal when Ozai was in charge but a lot of us never actually believed his nonsense. We just did what we had to, in order to keep our jobs. Now there is a new narrative, and I don't believe everything Zuko says. But life goes on. We are just ants in a much bigger game that only matters for people at the very top. So who cares what their agendas are? We all have our own individual agendas anyway."
Reyna: "Speaking of agendas, I think it would be in your best interest to look after your men. It looks like two of them had a little too much to drink." Reyna tilts her head and the major looks at his unconscious comrades.
Major: "Ugh, they never could handle their alcohol. I should have known better than to take them out with me." While the majors back is turned Reyna gets a close look at his pockets and notices the tip of an authorization paper in his left pocket.
Reyna nods, "Take good care of them." The major gets up and Reyna waits for a man to walk beside them before she subtly pushes an incoming man into the major.
The major looks at the man. Citizen: "Hey watch it."
Major: "Who are you talking to?"
Citizen: "I'm talking to you officer."
As the major squares up and lights his fists up, Reyna slips behind him and pulls his authorization slip out of his left pocket. The citizen cracks a beer bottle against a table and tosses it into at the major's head. The man ducks and shifts his right arm forward. A blaze of orange and yellow fire smacks the citizen through a table and against the wall.
The bartender slams the bar counter, "Hey, knock it off." Other military people in the cantina react.
Trooper: "Hey wait, do anymore citizens want a beatdown! Do any more of you idiots want to challenge us?"
A man drops his drink on the floor, "Hey what?! Zuko said, we are becoming a new constitutional monarchy. Where we will get more of a say in society and where soldiers must serve the citizens. So, you better watch what you say, before we have a local uprising."
Another trooper walks up to the man and punches him in his face, "Uprise this!" The man flops over his chair and a large citizen immediately tackles the trooper. The soldier turns out to be a firebender and blasts the man off of him into a wall. Fighting immediately breaks out between citizens and soldiers in the bar. Akira immediately rushes out toward the door as a citizen is staggered back from three vicious punches being delivered by a trooper.
A woman that happens to be a firebender blasts the trooper through the door. Reyna quickly sprints out of the room and retreats into her team's carriage which is waiting for her. She sees her friend Akira in it. Akira: "Glad to see you made it out of there but look at all the trouble you caused."
Reyna: "It's not my fault, well it kind of is, but they could have handled it better."
Cosmos beams, "Of course. Let's get out of here." The team vacates the area. That same evening, they arrive at the boulder defense.
Kota: "I'm so glad the Fire Nation isn't having as many curfews anymore. I know the Capital was for a while because of the constant attempts on Zuko's life." As the carriage arrives in front of another team of fifteen troopers, a captain steps ahead of the vehicle.
Army captain: "You've shown up a bit late. We usually don't authorize a lot of patrols to come in after dark unless their delivering packages."
Aten handing him the papers, "It's been a long hard voyage."
The Army captain stares briefly at Aten then nods, "Ok. Come on." The carriage rides into the crater in the center of the Capital. The soldiers step aside and the team briefly moves through a tunnel-like area before arriving in the massive city though not the biggest in the Fire Nation it is the most elegant and one of the most crowded ones with rich history and culture scattered throughout.
Reyna admits, "This is my first time being here."
Timur: "Same."
Kato: "Same."
Akira: "I have spent a lot of time in the Fire Nation, but I've only been here twice and briefly."
Cosmos: "I haven't."
Aten: "I've been once during vacation."
Akira: "It truly is something special."
The carriage stops in an isolated area. Timur asks, "What now."
Reyna: "We could get a hotel."
Cosmos laughs, "The hotels are super extensive. I'll be sleeping in here."
Akira: "Well, you boys have fun with that I'm picking a hotel. We'll make the money back if we survive this mission."
Timur: "I would but it's really expensive for me right now."
Reyna: "But you'll make the money back."
Timur sighs, "I don't know if I have enough."
Reyna: "If you go, I'll pay half of your price."
Cosmos: "WHAT?!"
Timur looks at her, "Really."
Reyna grins, "Really." Reyna and Timur exit the carriage and Akira follows them.
Aten gets up and says, "Yeah I'm going too. Cosmos, hold the fort down. What about you Kato, are you coming."
Kato answers, "I'm good with the simplicities of life. I'll stay here and watch Cosmos's back."
Timur chuckles, "Weirdo."
Reyna slaps Timur's wrist, "Don't say that or you're staying with them." Timur grumbles and Reyna looks at him. Timur stops grumbling.
Aten: "On that note, I'm going." That night Timur, Aten, Reyna, and Akira enjoy a luxury hotel in the Fire Nation Capital while Kato and Cosmos sleep in the carriage with the green pigs.
THE MISSION CONTINUES
Later that day Cosmos wakes up. Cosmos shakes his head and looks across at Kato, "What time is it?"
Kato: "Three hours past sunrise."
Cosmos: "Oh, they're taking too long."
Kato: "Tell me about it. I've already cleaned the carriage and fed the pigs. They also went but I put their waste in the trash and dumped it. Would have been nice if you were awake and helped me. That's not very professional as a bounty hunter."
Cosmos: "Sorry, I'm used to working solo."
Kato: "If you want to be elite, you need to get up early."
Cosmos: "I AM ELITE, that's why I stay up late and still make it work."
Kato: "Sooner or later that habit will catch up with you. But go ahead and ignore my advice."
Cosmos yawns, "You're probably right, but I'm always tired."
Kato: "Hmm, I know some natural herbs that can fix that. I take some ashwagandha, mix it with fresh hot tea, and toss in a cinnamon stick. It truly works wonder. Sometimes I use ginseng as well."
Cosmos: "Brilliant, my knowledge of herbal supplements is really lacking. I really need to change that."
Kato: "Absolutely, I also have a book that breaks down which vegetables, fruits, types of meat, and fish can benefit health and treat relevant illnesses. I know the Fire Nation people are into meat, but knowing the other nutrients is great for well-rounded diet. The Earth Kingdom has been blessed with such a culture."
Kato: "Do you hear that?"
Cosmos: "Nope, hear what?"
Kato exits the carriage and draws his sword, "Those footsteps."
Aten looks at Kato and crosses his arms, "Well, you have a nice set of ears."
Kato seethes his blade, "My master taught me to study my senses."
Timur burps, "Sorry, I ate too much." Reyna shakes her head.
Kato asks, "Are you still fit for the mission?"
Timur: "I'm 80 percent but that's more than enough."
Aten: "And to think Alev thought this was a good team."
Timur: "Excuse me, we are a great team."
Cosmos: "Just unorthodox."
Aten: "Maybe that's what it will take to pull off a mission like this."
Akira: "So what's the plan?"
Aten: "Cosmos and I will stay with the carriage. We will make sure we cover your escape route. While we do that, the rest of you should go in the palace. Around midday, a third of the guards are on lunch. This is a good time for us to switch in the palace defenses. None of us know a total layout of the base."
Akira: "I know this, not everyone will have access to where Ozai is. Only the most important prisoners are held up at the palace and I've heard the most important prisoners are underground. We'd have to find a stairwell to get underground. We also need to stay on the move, I'd be some officers would want to direct us to some other duty."
Timur: "Let's just get out there and do this."
Kota: "Relax, our time will come."
Aten: "In the meantime get into position, we'll rotate around the base every now and then but before you leave the build try having a flare or making a noise, so we know you escaped. Then we'll circle around the building until we find you."
Kota: "Sounds like a bit of a mess of a plan, but enough of one to make this work." The next day Timur, Reyna, Akira, and Kota march in their Fire Nation uniforms toward the steps of the Fire Nation Palace. Six army troopers stand at the right and left steps. Two of them are armed with swords, two have spears, and two are firebenders. Directly in front of the door and at the rear center of the formation is a sergeant.
The sergeant has scar covering his left eye, a very fit build, and a long-curved dark grey sword strapped to his back. Sergeant: "What patrol team are you relieving?"
Kota: "They actually requested extra hands in the cafeteria."
The sergeant scratches his head, "Oh, wait here I'll have someone walk with you."
Timur looks at Kota and whispers, "Why did you say the cafeteria?"
Kota mutters back, "The cafeteria is less guarded than anywhere on the ground level and usually cafeterias are closer to the lower levels in buildings."
A guide steps in the room. The guide is wearing red robes with white stripes. Guide: "Welcome, I will be your guide today. I know where everything is inside of this palace inside and out."
Timur: "Take us to the cafeteria, so we may help fix plates." The guide walks the team through the palace and takes them downstairs. The team is quickly amazed by the beautiful chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, the rich dark red/gold/black paint scattered throughout the palace, the shining light brown wood in the palace, and the elaborate paintings mounted on walls. Timur looks at Reyna, "I wish we could live like this." Reyna nods silently.
As the team steps toward the cafeteria, they are soon in a hall that is empty. Guide: "Just this way, we are almost there. The cafeteria has a wide variety of meals that can be served to guests and visitors of the palace. Though you will not be enjoying it as security, there are..." Kato slowly nods his head as the guide continues to talk.
Kato runs behind the guide and swiftly draws his sword, holding it inches from the man's throat. Kato: "Shhhsh or I'll cut you open like a watermelon."
The guide whispers, "You will pay dearly for this." Kato places the sword onto the man's neck but doesn't apply enough pressure to cut him.
Kato: "Do you really want to be a hero?"
The guide starts crying. Kato knees him, "Shut up."
Guide: "What do you want from me you bandit?"
Kato: "Take us to the underground section, I know there is another way down there besides the main stairwell. Walk with us and let's go around the left way so we don't run into people who may travel in and out of the cafeteria. If you try to run or alert anyone I promise, I'll cut you down." The guide looks hysterical.
Kato: "DO YOU understand?" The guide fearfully nods. Kato: "Excellent." Kato pulls his sword back and straps it to his back guard. Kato: "Let's go." The four bounty hunters follow the guide until he finds a certain stairwell that leads to the underground section of the palace. He opens a door which leads to a longer stairwell and the team walks down the steps with him.
As the reach the bottom of the stairs, the guide opens the door leading them into a new hallway. The walls are no longer complex and fancy; now they are dark red and simplistic. The floor is dark grey and the ceiling is black. As they press on, they enter a room where five Fire Nation army troopers are waiting. Two have swords, another has a mace, and the other two are firebenders.
Kato is briefly distracted by the soldiers. The guide immediately runs from them, knowing several guards are around. The guide shouts, "See, I helped you! I did as you asked now BACK OFF!! GUARDS, GUARDS THEY ARE INTRUDERS!! They held me hostage and made me take them here. I don't know what they're planning but they have intent to kill."
Timur shouts, "Hey!"
Kato: "Oh well, he got us where we needed to go. I would have killed him but here we are."
Timur raises his right hand and causes several pieces of the floor to break off and knock down the guide, "OK, that was just for fun."
Army Swordsman: "Men engage! Keep one alive so we can find out what they want." Timur stomps his right foot and a column of earth rises from the ground before colliding with the man's jaw and cracking it. Akira leaps forward and extends her arms, revealing two wrist shooters. Akira pumps her arms and shoots clay onto her opponents.
A firebender and the mace trooper's bodies are immediately wrapped around in the clay which immediately hardens before they fall. Timur looks at Akira, "That's your special ability?"
Akira: "I bought a few cool tools form the black market, I was never a bender anyway." The remaining firebender kicks a rod of flames from his left leg at Akira. The girl leaps left as the fireball smashes into the ground, knocking multiple fragments about. Akira pulls a thin metal bar from her utility belt which extends into a staff. Akira lunges at the man with a horizontal strike but he ducks and pivots right before punching two fireballs at her.
Akira flips behind the man before leg sweeping him with her left. As the trooper falls. Akira slams her metal staff into the man's forehead. The army swordsman charges at Kota with his sword help high, but the bounty collector swiftly smacks the upper portion of the trooper's blade with his sword. The attack distracts the soldier as Reyna runs at his left flank and pounds him in his chest and stomach with her light axes.
The trooper collapses, leaving blood stains on Reyna's weapons. Reyna spins her axes before putting seething them. Timur nods, "Good work, we make a spectacular fighting force."
Kota looks at Timur, "Interesting choice of words."
Timur: "It ain't that deep bro."
Akira interrupts, "Gentlemen, we still have a mission." Timur and Kota look ahead and notice a wide locked double door. There is also a desk behind the unconscious troops.
Reyna: "Maybe they need to tighten security."
Timur: "Good thing it's peace time, Zuko has gotten lax in this area."
Reyna picks up the keys and unlocks the door, "I bet that'll change after this." The team marches into the next hallway before locking the door behind them. Reyna keeps in her pockets. Akira takes the lead ahead of her allies, Timur moves on the left, Reyna on the right, and Kato stays on the rear flank of the strike force.
Timur notices several containers locked in cells, "This part of the hallway seems to be some sort of storage room." In this room the halls are grey, the floor is dark grey, and the ceiling is also dark grey. The team seems to be moving closer toward the edge of the back end of the palace. As the team travels closer, they notice another double door.
Three soldiers stand in front of the double door. On the left there is a firebender, there is a spearman in the center, and there is a mace warrior on the right. Spearman: "Pull out your authorization papers."
Akira extends her arms and shoots clay liquid into the soldier, the man slides backward toward the door before the clay thickens. The spearwarrior drops his weapon and falls over in a block of clay. The firebender immediately shoots a beam of fire at her but Timur raises his hands and a wall of earth intercepts the blow. The earthbender sways his left hand and the wall crushes the trooper.
The swordsman draws his weapon and lunges at Reyna's stomach. The bounty hunter spins backward and Akira shoots her black clay liquid on the man's arms. Swordsman: "Wait, no!" The substance hardens and locks the soldier's arms together, causing him to drop his weapon. The weight of the substance pulls him down to the ground.
The soldier grumbles, "Errrraaaaahhh! You won't get away with this."
Reyna kicks the man over and away from the door, "We already are." Reyna promptly unlocks the door and the team marches into the next hallway. As Reyna covers their flank by locking the door behind them, the team notices that the halls are even darker and drearier here. They seem to be in an older part of the palace.
It is here that the walls, floor, and ceiling all seem to be made of stone. There is little light illuminating the area and it doesn't seem to be cleaned regularly either. Most of the cells are empty. Timur: "I guess only the worst or most important prisoners come here."
Prisoner: "Hey! Let me out!! Pleaseeeeeeeee!! Let me go."
Timur notices a heavyset man with long curly brown hair and golden eyes, "Who is this?" The man also has a metal mask covering his mouth, to prevent him from spewing fire at his foes.
Akira: "Doesn't matter, keep moving. He's not on our bounty list."
Kato: "I read the prison reports, the palace holds some high profile inmates, unlike the other high security military locations. These prisoners are somewhat political. This man was known for conducting several executions against leaders he disagreed with. He is too extreme even for Remnant standards."
Reyna suddenly feels a chill. She looks left and sees a cell that has a steady breeze flowing from it. Within the cell is a man who seems to be in his forties yet he has white hair, pale skin, thin eyebrows, and light blue eyes. Reyna: "I'm guessing that's another one."
Kato: "That is the Arctic Conductor, he is known for tampering with the climates and making extended winters in various locations. He did this to undermine the economies of certain mountainous Earth Kingdom locations and former Fire Nation colonies to damage their production of crops. This hurt economies and even killed some locals in those areas."
Reyna asks, "Why would he do that and what is his real name?"
Prisoner: "I am Maku! I sent many town and villages on ice. All in the name of freedom. I wanted to restore several lands that were once part of the Rongku Empire!"
Akira: "What is that?"
Prisoner: "See you are so ignorant, knowing nothing about history. About three thousand years before the Air Nomad Genocide, the Rongku, a unified nation of Water Huns ravaged the entirety of the Fire Nation and the frontiers of the Earth Kingdom. For years our people have been scattered, weakened, and robbed of their glory. But the might of our people will rise once more and deliberation isn't the way to do it. No we must fight and conquer like the Fire Nation. It is the only way to the top."
Akira: "So ruining their economies is a way to bring back an empire?"
Prisoner: "Ruining the economies for outsiders so they will leave the land. Then our own people can come back in and flourish naturally. And if they won't go, then I'd allow the weather to naturally claim them until our own people returned to use it as their own. If nothing else, perhaps it would give the Water Tribe economies a fighting chance to close the economic gap that exists between our nations. I know for sure Fire Nation Imperialists don't deserve to have more than us."
Akira: "The war is over, get over it."
Prisoner: "The war is never truly over, otherwise why are you still fighting?"
Timur: "We're just bounty hunters."
Prisoner: "Just pawns being played for another war, because in the end war is what this world feeds off. There is no society without some sort of war. Whether it is obvious or hidden."
Reyna: "We've wasted enough time talking to this man. Security will be after us soon enough." The team continues to walk until they near the edge of the halls.
Timur raises his right eyebrow and suddenly stops, "Can you feel that?"
Reyna: "Honestly, no."
Akira: "What are you talking about?"
Timur steps forward and looks right. There he notices Ozai who is lying on the floor sleeping in his cell.
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