Chapter 21: Boss
By evening of the next day, all had been set. The morning of this day, everyone had to leave the ship, including a groggy Gordez who we housed in the tavern last night. I had been forced to leave a nice tip for the bartender who had to clean after Jadoh, but they at least let us spend the night and the day there. During the day, our ship was completely refit. Gas lines repaired, lamps set up across the ship, stern fixed, new functioning ramp attached, furniture added, decorations as well as there had been plenty of spare red fabric lying around. By that evening, we were in possession of a fully operational Fire Nation destroyer. The last of its kind likely. Or at least one of.
Luke spent his day near an abandoned part of the island, practicing his firebending. Jadoh was in his room in the tavern, hungover from last night while Gordez was in the same room, sleeping in his bunk. Zek and the girl whose name I still hadn't caught were walking around the city. I trusted Zek to know what he was doing. I could do that much for him at least.
The crew was aboard their vessel, doing their final checks before departing. I myself was preparing to leave when Captain Zeeda met me at the dock, moments before we were set to leave. "So you all set to go?" he asked.
"Sure looks that way, I responded. Don't know how we can thank you enough."
"Oh you don't have to. We found some of the loot your boys pulled from the destroyer. The quiet one. He seemed willing to part with it."
"By all means. It's the least we can do for all you've done for us."
"Our pleasure. The enemy of our enemy is our friend. Even if they are a raider. That is what you are after all, is it not?" I sighed. Damn. So it all came down to this. But why now? Why after everything he did to help us? Was he toying with us this whole time? No. No. Maybe he was simply suspicious. It wasn't lost yet.
"Of course. Thank you for taking your chances with us, despite our reputation."
"Oh a reputation you do have indeed. You know. It's funny. Speaking of reputation, being here at a communications outpost, of course, we hear a lot about the reputations of other people. For example, over a month ago, we heard about a small crew in Fire Nation armor that attacked a deconstruction facility in the Earth Kingdom West coast. Nabbed themselves a derelict destroyer. Poor condition too. Nigh unequipped. No beds. No furniture. No lighting. Just floating scrap metal.
"Then I saw your destroyer. And I thought it was a coincidence. Besides, you're Southern Raiders. I wouldn't be surprised if you were in an out-of-commission ship, wearing the wrong, non-fitting armor. But something was off. You and your crew. You were all just too damn nice. I've been here a while. Seen plenty of Southern Raiders come and go and you. You guys weren't one of them. So I put two and two together, and your attitude all but gave it away. That, and one other thing."
He reached behind his back, turning. I put my hand on his blade, but he spoke first. "Oh calm down. Here." And out of his back pocket, he pulled out, and unfurled a triangular banner. One of the Southern Raiders. "No," he said. "This isn't yours. See anything different?"
I kept my hand on my blade, looking around, assessing for witnesses. There were none. I could kill him here and now, but I'd be lying if I admitted I wasn't curious. I shook my head.
He smiled. "The new banners don't have a split in the tail. Azulon thought it represented divide I our ranks. Disunity. He had it changed 2 years ago, and if there's one thing every Southern Raider I've met likes to flash around, it's their damned stupid banner." He looked at me now, holding the banner out for me to take, which I did, with my left hand as I kept my right firmly on the hilt of my still-sheathed sword.
"You know," he said, still smiling, seemingly very at ease with the situation. "Now, with the succession of the new Fire Lord, the second in line at that, lots of Fire Nation soldiers, hell, lots of patriots questioning their loyalty. You're lucky you found one of them, but there's a lot more out there. Word of recommendation to you, play close to home. You may not be Fire Nation, but you can still find a lot of friends in it.
"Well. Your ship's in one piece now, and you're set to go. Nearest civilization is due to the Northeast where you'll find Kyoshi island and Chin. I don't recommend it, so I recommend going where you came, further North in the Nip Sea. Continue North, towards the colonies. Lot of word passes through us. You want to see combat and find work, that's where. The Fire Nation is about done regrouping, and Ozai's campaign is just beginning. Good luck to you, Boss. The Fire Nation is counting on real patriots like you."
He turned to leave. "Oh. And one last thing! Give your ship a name! Good for morale!"
And that was the last thing he said before leaving. As we sailed north, headed towards the nearest of the colonies, his words rang through my mind. So as we lowered the banners of the Southern Raiders, I gave one last task to my crew before heading off for the night. So The Patriot sailed off into the midnight sky, awaiting its next enterprise.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone