Avatar: Macai's Journey

Chapter 20: Beneath the Bush

It is a bright morning, and the sun is shining. The sky has a mixture of light blue and golden light throughout it. The Prompt Adjudicator sails at sea. Asad enters Macai's personal chamber. The walls are light grey, the ground is dark red, and the ceiling is white. There are several pictures throughout the room of different Fire Nation leaders including one of his father, General Eyre.

Two Fire Nation soldiers open the door for him and Asad notices Macai reflecting at his own throne. Several white flames surround him as he is meditating. As soon as Asad enters the room, Macai douses his flames and opens his eyes. Macai stands up and sits at his desk.

Asad kneels, "You requested my presence?"

Macai slowly walks toward Asad, "Rise." Asad stands. Macai: "I heard that you ordered Dade and your unit to leave me open and exposed. Did you think I wouldn't discover this?"

Asad replies, "I simply did not want to put our unit at unnecessary risk."

Macai: "Indeed, but in my unit there is one rule you must not forget. We all are one unified body! We work together and put ourselves at risk for each other. That's what makes us different from most other Fire Nation units and even my father's unit. You should also know it's standard procedure to put the interest of the commanding officers first. It's the least you could do for a commanding officer who risks his life fighting on the frontlines aside his men when many other officers don't."

Asad sharply replies, "That may be so, but you only know the rule books and official guidelines. I am a seasoned veteran. In the real battlefield, the units must take care of themselves first and foremost."

Macai: "Are you certain of this? I talked to both my father and even heard once from the Firelord that a good leader's word and style must take precedence over that of his subordinates. Do you think of yourself as the leader? What makes you think you can make such decisions?"

Asad shakes his head, "Look, I'm sorry if there was a misunderstanding."

Macai's eyes narrow, "Do you take me for a fool?! I know what you were trying to do. You wanted to leave me exposed and risk my death. So that you could take command. Something like that. I'll give you one final warning."

Asad: "No, captain. That is not it." Macai lunges his fight hand across Asad's neck and starts tightening his grip. Asad latches onto Macai's right arm and attempts to break the chokehold. In an instant, Macai knees Asad in his stomach. Macai yanks the officer and slams his head against the floor.

Macai pulls Asad back up and Asad's nose turns red. Macai pulls his right fist into Asad's face and amplifies it with white fire. Asad: "Ehhhm!" The hit knocks Asad out and Macai gives a hand signal for two of his soldiers to get him.

Macai: "Drag him back to his office. If he ever does anything like this again, I'll kill him myself."

Senior Captain Hazo enters Macai's chamber and confronts his friend. Hazo: "You did well Macai, I'm proud of you."

Macai: "Thanks Hazo. I couldn't have done it without your guidance."

Hazo smiles, "Wonderful. We have a new assignment."

Macai: "Oh great, what is it this time?"

Hazo: "There is a faction of pirates who call themselves the Sea Guerrillas. They travel quickly and raid several commercial ships. They have attacked several Fire Nation supply ships then sell the supplies for profit. They usually pull this off in the less important Fire Nation colonies with less up-to-date ships."

Macai: "I see, how do we plan on dealing with them?"

Hazo: "Stories about you being the boy with white fire are already traveling, but not all the members of your crew are very known. You could stage a false meeting with them, using people that are fresh and young. People who you trust and believe could pull the mission off."