Avatar: Lingering Tensions

Chapter 25: Remnant's Last Stand Part 2

While most of Eyre's unit is dispatched by pure firepower rather than a conventional fight, the battle still is as steady as ever in on the Eastern front. Still, there is no certainty that they are all gone. From the Midwestern front, Sonna, Dade, and Mai continue to press on further east through a path where no friendlies seem to be around. As they search for backup and potentially relief, it becomes increasingly apparent that they have been fighting almost nonstop since last afternoon.

Sonna looks at Dade, "What time is it?"

Dade: "I'd say between two and four hours after midnight. So we've been fighting for maybe 12 hours straight! Perhaps longer."

Mai: "Try chasing the Avatar for three nights in a row with no sleep, I've done that before."

Sonna: "We've had a few late nights before, but come to think of it not many. When we strike at night, we usually rest during the day. Being in a marine company, we really captured territories, destroyed areas, or defended locations. In most cases, we could finish the job within two to five hours, as crazy as that might sound. And the Earth Kingdom followed a code where they didn't attack during certain times of night and allowed both sides to sleep."

Dade adds, "But the Water Tribes didn't, they would attack during any time of day so our forces had to stay on guard whenever. Fortunately, the bulk of our forces were too powerful for them, so they usually stuck to hit and run attacks and we usually didn't have to deal with those. We did when taking territories, but the army was more frequently plagued by their consistent attacks. I'm sure they got less sleep than any of us with their consistent guerilla warfare."

Mai responds, "Well at least you know how it feels now, I guess." Three 727th swordsmen run across the trio. Mai: "Hey, they look different than most of them, they have black armor."

Dade twirls his sword, "Yeah who are you bozos?"

727th swordsman: "We are 727th troopers, General Eyre's personal regiment."

Sonna: "Eyre, that name rings a bell."

Dade concludes, "It's Macai's father."

Another 727th swordsman jokes, "He's a bright one, isn't he?"

727th swordsman: "I guess so, let's kill these clowns and take their weapons as trophies. So, we can at least show the damage we did."

Dade laughs, "Trophies, don't you want to win this battle first or are you admitting you've already lost? Because well to be honest, where we are it isn't looking good for anyone. But from what I can tell, from the naval battle your fleet won't last too long out there." If Dade and his friends weren't cut off from the other national forces, they would know the army is winning the battle and controls around 80 percent of the city.

Mai hears a click noise, swiftly draws a knife, and warns, "Watch out!" A 727th firebender leaps from behind a concealed location and kicks a rod of fire at Mai who rapidly leaps right. The fire explodes and blasts a chuck of the road into black rubble. Mai counters by tossing a knife into the man's left shoulder and a second into his right knee.

The trooper collapses with blood soaking from his armor. Before the trio has much time to think a second firebender come in from the left and punches an orange fireball at Sonna and Dade. Dade rapidly blocks the flame heading towards him and leaps left as he intercepts the second fireball with his weapon.

The firebender snarls at the 31st marine, leaps left, and lodges an explosive orange fire sphere at the trooper. The young man dives left as fire erupts behind him and Sonna launches an arrow into the man's chest before the smoke clears. She doesn't even need to wait for it to dissipate to know as she hears the impact of her hit and his body fall from the shot soon after.