Avatar: Macai's Journey

Chapter 59: Follow the Trail

Macai walks with Aiya across a beach shoreline as they plan the next moves for the 31st regiment. The sky is sapphire blue, the clouds are thin and hollow, and a light breeze flows through the area. It is 17.2 Celsius (63 Degrees) outside. Macai briefly looks into Aiya's hazel eyes and Macai's brown eyes also shine hazel in the sunlight.

Aiya: "It seems you had your hands full last time."

Macai nods, "Those guys are something else. This is the third boss we've faced from their group and there must be several others. I just don't understand how they were undetected for so long."

Aiya bites one of her nails, "That probably means they have members from the Fire Nation administration. Have any of the nations reported on those matters?"

Macai: "Prince, I mean Firelord Zuko informed us that Earth King Kuei was largely oblivious of that as well. I could see them being around behind the scenes, I'm not sure if Long Feng and his corrupt members limited such opposition."

Aiya comments, "They probably did, but it's also possible that the Disciples of Justice knew about them. Perhaps they allowed the corruption so that it would undermine the civilization that they were already rivals with."

Macai nods, "That's a likely scenario, good catch. You are so brilliant Aiya, had it not been for you, the 31st wouldn't be where it is."

Aiya blushes, "Oh stop, I'm just doing my job."

Macai: "No seriously, you run the 31st just as much as I do. I inspire them and lead them in the fight but you make sure we can logistically keep running. Without you, we'd run out of food supplies, run out of fuel, or not have as much useful armor or weapons."

Aiya: "You could do it."

Macai: "Not as well as you, especially not while we were on the run from the Fire Nation. You still kept our team well fed with your brilliance during the times when Palu wasn't giving us supplies and we were sailing out with limited resources."

Aiya: "You could always get another administrative specialist."

Macai holds Aiya's right hand and looks Aiya in her eyes. Macai responds, "No, you are the best assistant I could have ever had."

Aiya looks back at Macai, "I see, thank you, sir." Aiya wiggles her hand free and runs from Macai. Meanwhile, Kanna sits in her room chewing on randonuts. Kanna looks right of her position and notices Skippy escape his cage.

Kanna's eyes widen, "Heeeey, how did you get out?" Skippy jumps on Kanna's bed and wants to play. Kanna: "Awww, not now Skippy I'm reading a military report."

Rosh opens Kanna's door, "Hey Kanna did you read the last military report? I found some crazy news."

Kanna responds, "Not now Rosh, shut my door."

Rosh: "Well you left it open." Skippy runs out of the door. Rosh: "Oh."

Kanna shouts, "After him!" Kanna and Rosh run across the halls of the Prompt Adjudicator. Skippy runs under a marine's legs and Kanna leaps over his head. Kanna lands between two other marines.

Male marine: "Ugh."

Male marine two: "She's showing her skills off." Kanna zooms past one of the marines.

Kanna: "Excuse me."

Marine: "She talked to me."

Marine two: "Yeah, yeah."

Rosh runs headlong into a marine while trying to keep up with Kanna and skippy. The marine hits the deck, "I'm sorry man, I'll ask Macai to give you a raise for that." The marine grumbles as he gets back up and Rosh runs behind Kanna. A marine opens the door to the cafeteria and Skippy runs in the facility.