Nobody in the 11th Royal Regiment knew where their colonel took the prisoners, nor did they care to ask. When it came to things like this, the veterans had learned to enjoy blissful ignorance. At the same time, the newer soldiers wisely kept their curiosity to themselves when their colonel returned with a grinning Yama of all things.
Everyone saw and heard the explosion from the mountains, and they also saw the stubborn and creative defenders fending off the war minister’s contraptions. Nothing about that battle suggested any interference from their young leader. Not unless the combination of earthbenders, waterbenders and firebenders somehow allowed Colonel Xing to firebend without his white flames.
“The war minister’s forces are retreating,” the colonel said the moment he returned. “See if there’s any assistance we can provide them.”
Four battalions hurried out to help their withdrawing allies. They found General Laoyang leading the operation, who delivered the tragic news of War Minister Qin’s broken state. Colonel Xing offered the services of his waterbender healers the moment he was informed, but it was a moot gesture; the war minister breathed his last mere moments after he was recovered from the rubble.
Ultimately there was little to recover from the rocky remains of the war minister’s camp. For what it was worth, most of the tanks had not been utterly lost, though many were damaged from being flung about by the explosion, and a significant number of tank crew were wounded or dead. But the machines were salvageable, and it was that task that kept General Laoyang sticking around the Northern Air Temple for so long.
The war machines could not be risked falling into enemy hands, so even the most crumpled of wrecks were dragged out on sleds, or the scrap pieces collected and put into wagons. The battalions of the 11th did not participate in the recovery operation, mostly as a courtesy to the War Ministry’s secrets.
They focused instead on guarding their waterbender prisoners as they healed the wounded, or helping to build improvised sleds and wagons to carry out supplies and casualties. Despite the urgent haste, it took one full day before General Laoyang could actually leave the area with his army and the War Ministry’s tanks.
With their allies gone, the 11th was sent into the forest in a particular direction for a little treasure hunt. Lieutenant Cai Yi of 3rd Battalion could only venture a guess why, but like many she kept her thoughts to herself. Unless it’s for setting up a pool, voicing theories often just led to the vets hushing everyone up sharply.
“The less we know, the less we have to keep secret,” they liked to say. Cai Yi didn’t disagree, but she also thought that her battle-weathered colleagues were just trying to be smug about things.
So they combed through the forest in relative silence, carefully looking for the refugees’ flying bladder thing that had disappeared into the treeline a couple of days before. As she scanned the forest around her, Cai Yi prayed to the spirits that they wouldn’t find the thing dangling in the trees above her.
That’d mean they would likely have to take it down, and some of the crazy vets will likely spout some dragon mooseshit like cutting down the trees with their bare hands just to show off how hard they are. Worse, the newer batch of recruits would fall for it and try to one-up that with something stupider, like gnawing through the trees instead like weasel beavers.
Cai Yi and her team found the machine on the ground, thankfully, and other than the broken carriage compartment and some holes in the massive fabric it seemed intact.
“Ah, great.” The colonel seemed highly pleased when he came to inspect the thing, and the lieutenant felt some pride at being part of its discovery. Until Colonel Xing backed away from the assembly of cloth, ropes and wood and turned to the soldiers.
“See if you all can pack the thing and carry it, then come with me.”
Even as a lieutenant, Cai Yi was not exempt from wading into the mess to help free the war machine from the branches, or heaving the weight of the surprisingly heavy fabric to be folded. Other teams joined in to help and it still took far too long for Cai Yi’s liking to get the job done, but in the end they had a semi-neat pile of what used to be the enemy’s flying machine.
Colonel Xing and Lieutenant Colonel Mozi were trading whispers with the captains the whole time. From what little Cai Yi could see it was some sort of debate that kept going until the crashed contraption was ready to be moved.
Improvised sleds were made to transport the whole thing, and troopers grunted and huffed as they followed after their colonel. Contrary to what Cai Yi expected, they were headed towards the mountain rather than back to camp. Some of the earthbender and waterbender ‘prisoners’ awaited them at the foot of the recently ravaged mountain. The ever prickly General Yama gave an unimpressed look to the pile of cloth and ropes.
“That’s it?”
Colonel Xing nodded rather casually. “Yup.”
“Thought it’d be more impressive…”
The colonel shrugged at that, and then instructed the troops to push the sleds up close. Then most of the squads were told to return to camp, leaving just enough men and women to handle the sleds, along with the colonel, his lieutenant, the captains, and the prisoners. Cai Yi was lucky (or perhaps unlucky) to be part of the exclusive assembly.
The lieutenant didn’t hide her mild puzzlement when the earthbenders formed a perimeter around everyone, nor did she contain her surprised yelp when they buried their feet into the ground and lifted the whole patch of soil and rocks within the perimeter to define a platform. With synchronized movements they bended the entire platform into motion, flowing across uneven terrain without so much as a bump in the ride.
The platform met the sheer mountainside in no time, and the earthbenders gave another round of grunts to send it rising almost perpendicularly up the steep incline like an elevator. Cai Yi wasn’t the only soldier with her mouth open, with even the captains and lieutenant colonel looking about them with wide, marveling eyes. Only Colonel Xing seemed unfazed by it all.
“See? Told you it’d work.”
General Yama gave a snort of exertion. “Yeah, yeah… Now shut up, brat. Unless you want to take over.”
Cai Yi watched the forest floor drop below her and treacherous, jagged terrain be glided over like it was nothing. Just like that, the treacherous climb that previously defeated the war minister’s forces was overcome in less than half an hour. Some soldiers and waterbenders were looking a bit queasy, but thankfully nobody hurled by the time they made it up to the top. The platform kept going, clinging to the temple’s walls to bring the group up to one of the shorter towers of the Northern Air Temple.
The surprise on the refugees’ faces on seeing a Fire Nation party was hilarious, and adults and children alike blinked uncomprehendingly until the colonel introduced himself.
“I am Colonel Xing-”
And then they panicked. Hard.
Cai Yi heard the snickers of the captains and the troopers around her, even the earthbenders and waterbenders were smirking and shaking their heads at the sight. The colonel didn’t let the chaos last long though, and finally raised a hand up to blast a roaring torrent of white fire and stun the crowd.
“Please remain civil. I am Colonel Xing, of the 11th Royal Regiment. I wish to speak with the Mechanist.”
The man with the rather impressive title was practically dragged out and shoved towards Xing, to the protest of a boy in a peculiar wheeled chair. Cai Yi found herself marveling briefly at the contraption that gave some mobility to the crippled. It seemed simple enough now that she thought about it, and might serve many wounded veterans better than crutches or peg legs.
All the boy’s protests died the moment he wheeled into sight of the soldiers, though his features tightened into admirable resolve.
Colonel Xing regarded both Mechanist and his son with an amused tilt of his head, the chainmail veil of his helmet clinking softly. “I take it with how quiet our reception has been, that the Avatar has left?”
“Of course you’d wait for him to leave…” the crippled boy hissed.
“It’s only common sense,” the colonel replied with a shrug, and then focused on the adult of the pair. “I’m here to return something that’s yours.” With a gesture, Cai Yi and the other pushed out the sleds, revealing the rich red fabric of the flying machine. “A bit risky to leave such a thing out in the woods, isn’t it?”
The refugees were rather surprised, either at the gesture or the realization that they forgot about their little weapon, with the Mechanist and his son even more so.
“What…what do you want?” the man finally asked, with some steel to his otherwise resigned voice.
“Considering we’re not here to fight? To offer you refugees the services of my regiment’s waterbender healers to any of your sick and wounded. And to offer the services of my regiment’s earthbenders to repair any structural issues you might have.”
Once more blank stares greeted them as the squatters of the air temple tried to process the colonel’s words.
“Thanks, but no thanks,” the boy in the wheeled chair said at last. “We don’t need your ‘help’.”
Colonel Xing managed to put on a mask of utter indifference as he shrugged. “I’m sure. But just in case…are you sure?”
“I think it is best if you cut to the chase and tell us what you really want from us,” the Mechanist said calmly but firmly. “But I will not create any further weapons for the Fire Nation.”
Colonel Xing waved a dismissive hand. “Please. I’m not here to make the same deal as the late war minister.” The crowd picked up on the wording, with the father and son exchanging surprised glances. “Too inefficient and open to many security risks. I’m here partially out of curiosity, as well as a rather simple request. Or a puzzle, if you prefer.”
The colonel paused for a moment, before continuing, and Cai Yi was sure he was smirking. “Can you figure out an automated flush system for toilets? No, seriously. With water tanks that empty out into the bowl with the pull of a handle or something. Of course, plumbing has to be figured out…”
Whatever they were expecting, they weren’t expecting that. Spirits, even Cai Yan and probably everyone else on her side wasn’t expecting that.
“Er…what?” the Mechanist asked, utterly baffled.
“You won’t design weapons, right? Then, would you consider public civilian projects like sanitation and infrastructure? Crown Princess Azula is hiring talents to help improve the colonies.”
Once more it was the boy who answered forcefully. “No. We’re not helping the Fire Nation conquer more of our homeland.”
The Mechanist glanced at his son, and then shook his head resolutely. “Teo is right. I will not aid the Fire Nation any more.”
Surprisingly, Colonel Xing just shrugged at that. “Eh, it’s worth a shot. Anyway, so long as you all stay out of the fighting, you’ll give us no reason to have another crack at emptying out this temple.” He made a show of turning to leave, but then stopped halfway to glance back at the befuddled son of the Mechanist.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
“Oh, by the by, your legs…they’re not functioning?”
“What of it?” the boy replied defensively.
“How’d you like to risk getting them to work?”
*****
Not for the first time in the afternoon, Teo stared blankly at the fearsome Fire Nation commander. He couldn’t make out the features of the man, but he was sure that the monster was grinning right now.
“What…what do you mean?” father asked, his voice painfully tinged with hope.
Teo heard the grin in the commander’s voice. “I have waterbender healers with me, and failing that…I have another method. As I said, if you’re willing to risk it.”
He met the man’s gaze with an angry stare. The gall of him to use this as a weapon against father!
“I don’t need your help,” Teo declared, hoping to put an end to the attempt, but he was far too late. Of course his father fell for it.
“No, Teo,” he said softly, then looked at the Scorpion. “What…what is the price?”
The monster in a man’s armor shrugged. “From you? Nothing. From him?” He nodded at Teo. “Probably a lot of pain during the process. I’m just about done figuring out how it’s done, you see.”
“No.” Teo figuratively put his foot down. “I don’t need Fire Nation charity. Least of all from the Scorpion himself.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.” And Teo forced himself to believe it. He pushed away the sudden intrusive thoughts of wondering what it’d feel like to stand on his own two feet again. Or run, or jump…
“Let’s not be too brash,” father chipped in, regarding him with a pleading look before turning to the Scorpion. “You’re sure you can make my son walk again?”
“Dad-”
“Nothing’s certain, but I’d say it’s a likely chance. And there’s no strings attached, on my honor.”
“You have no honor,” Teo spat.
“Good point. Then on the crown princess’ honor. I’m here partially to represent her, after all.”
As much as Teo wanted to reject the offer, his father’s hopeful look and the insidious promise of regaining use of his legs again cracked through his stubborn defiance. “It’s going to fail,” he muttered in defeat.
“Perhaps.” The Fire Nation commander regarded the other refugees. “So, since we’re here, anyone else needs fixing up?”
Under the supervision of the soldiers, the waterbender healers went around tending to wounds, while the earthbenders saw to patching up holes in the temple. As expected, the healers didn’t do much for Teo’s legs other than remove some recent scars and lesions, but that meant that it was the Scorpion’s turn.
Teo felt uncomfortable at the focused attention of the commander, who had crouched beside him to inspect his legs with all the intensity of a hawk eyeing its prey. Surprisingly (and disturbingly), with his helmet off, the Scorpion looked only a little older than Teo, with sharp features that was bereft of the scars and old wounds he imagined.
The colonel hummed thoughtfully as he placed two fingers on Teo’s legs at various points, and then turned back to an old waterbender. “Circulation’s damaged, but not collapsed like you said. ”
The woman’s face became a forest of wrinkles as she frowned. “Then something is blocking the circulation. But it’s not complete or he won’t still keep his legs.” Then, disturbingly, the waterbender began to draw out some water from a nearby barrel to create a glowing orb between her hands. “I suppose I’m ready when you are.”
“Right.” The Scorpion gave Teo an apologetic smile. “I did say this would hurt. Brace yourself.”
Before Teo could put in a word, the Fire Nation monster stabbed an index finger into his left thigh with such force that it broke skin. The surprise was compounded when Teo actually felt a tingling spreading out from the point.
And then there was a sharp heat, and then Teo screamed.
The pain was blinding, almost washing out his thoughts completely. “Hold him down,” someone said, and strong arms were keeping Teo from thrashing in his seat. Absently, he also caught sight of the waterbenders enveloping his leg in a bubble of glowing water. He didn’t know how long it lasted, but he heard the back of his wheelchair creak and crack from his spasming.
And then it was gone, and Teo forced open teary eyes and exhaled through gritted teeth. His mind reeled as it struggled to recover itself, and he snapped towards the Scorpion to bring all his anguished fury to bear. But the throbbing pain in his left leg drew Teo’s attention, and he stared dumbly at his limb as it jerked out of its usual resting location in response to the pain.
“Well, that’s promising,” came the colonel’s too carefree voice. “Think you can move it some more?”
With shock totally overriding his anger, Teo did so, and was stunned as his leg moved according to his will. Not only that, he could feel every inch of it, just as surely as he could feel his arm or the rest of his body.
As a waterbender stepped in to heal up the puncture wound on his thigh, Teo stared blankly at the Fire Nation commander. “What…How…?”
“Trade secret,” came the grinning reply. “Now, ready for round two?”
Oh, right. Only his left leg had been fixed.
Teo endured another few eternal seconds of excruciating pain before his legs were flopping out and moving. The waterbenders gave him another pass with their healing, and this time he could feel the tingling left by their glowing waters. With the help of his wet-eyed father and a couple of soldiers, Teo took his first wobbly steps up on his own two legs for the first time since he could remember.
His legs buckled a few times, but that was to be expected. “The muscles haven’t seen use for a while,” the old waterbender explained. “We’ve undone most of the atrophy but you’ll need to do regular exercises before you’re walking by yourself.”
“Not bad for only my fourth actual attempt,” the Scorpion quipped. “And nothing blew up.”
They then left him and his father alone to privately marvel at the little miracle, and to share an emotional embrace. And true to his word, the supposed dread monster of the Fire Nation did not ask for anything from Teo or his father, or the other refugees. They left in the evening after they were done with their aid, leaving the residents of the Northern Air Temple grateful and confused.
For what they’ve done, Teo gave a half-hearted wave to see them off, and then immediately turned his full attention towards getting his legs back to full form. It was unsurprising that his father built him a rather snazzy walker to aid in that endeavor before the night was over.
*****
“You’re pleased with yourself.”
Xing grinned rather happily at himself. “I managed to make chi channeling work, so I guess I have a reason to be?”
Kilin shook her head. “You risked the life of a boy back there.”
“And I’m relieved that it turned out alright for him,” the colonel replied with most of his satisfaction bleeding out from the waterbender’s admonishment.
Kilin made sure to use her tutoring voice, to show that she was not completely disregarding Xing’s accomplishment. “So am I, but you were being too cavalier about it. The amount of chi you were forcing through that boy was dangerous, even if it was within his body’s tolerances.” If not for her continual healing as the spirit-touched firebender directed his own prodigious chi through Teo, the boy’s chi pathways might have ruptured, and the legs might have disappeared in a messy explosion. Again.
The worst part was, that was the fine line that Xing had to work with when dealing with this new line of medicine.
In theory, it sounded ridiculous of course. “Firebending is about channeling chi,” Xing had proposed to Kilin before, “So what happens if we channel it into other people?”
It was a crazy question, and one that shouldn’t have been able to be answered, because of how most people worked. Everyone’s chi pathways were supposed to be self-contained systems, and to ‘open’ the system was tantamount to an agonizing murder.
But Xing was different, and after his encounter with the dragon, he’d been keen on exploring that line of madness again. Kilin only agreed to help him with his ‘research’ to at least ensure that he didn’t go about haphazardly incinerating people. And, to her surprise, the initial tests on a saboteur caught in the 11th’s home base had been more than just firebending. She had watched the spot of the man’s arm Xing had his fingers on light up briefly with a familiar healing glow before the arm burst into flame.
Firebending could not heal, but apparently Xing’s could add more chi into a person’s pathways, invigorating them and forcing its way through damaged or closed routes for a waterbender to heal them. Sort of like melting through a collapsed ice tunnel for miners to use again, or reinforce and renovate it.
It took a great amount of control on Xing’s part to not blow his ‘subjects’ up though. The second infiltrator he tested on had struggled a bit too much, breaking the boy’s concentration. Kilin had her healing waters around the man, so she had felt his pathways melt and the excess chi burn through his body to flash cook his organs and roast him from the inside out. She avoided meat over the next week.
The third vict- subject fared much better once Xing got his methodology down. The man’s chi pathways were visibly glowing in its entirety thanks to focused concentration, and Kilin was able to pair that with her own healing arts to significantly speed up the subject’s interrogation wounds. Unfortunately Xing’s concentration eventually broke, and the sudden surge of chi sent the man’s head and limbs flying in every direction.
So to say that Teo’s healing was a minor miracle was appropriate, and a testament to how quickly the firebending prodigy took to his new ability. Not that it was perfect though, Kilin noted his fraying focus back then, and Xing knew it too.
Otherwise he wouldn’t be pouting right now.
With a soft sigh, Kilin decided to throw him a bone and make the ride back down the mountain less awkward. “All things considered though, your form improved noticeably from before.”
“Thanks, elder.”
The other soldiers, waterbenders and earthbenders pointedly ignored their conversation, though Kilin noted how the armored figures around her perked a little at her next words.
“We’ll still need to find more subjects to practice on, though. Especially if you’re adamant about the other theory of yours.”
“I’m sure Ren or Governor Hanh can find us more people who shouldn’t exist.”
At least he was keen on testing on Fire Nation infiltrators and court spies instead of captured Earth Kingdom troops. It made Kilin far less guilty when things went splat.