Avatar: Lingering Tensions

Chapter 26: Remnant's Last Stand: Part 3

It is once again midday, the sky is an orange faded color. A few grey clouds float through the sky, in a day that looks stranger than most. While the vast majority of the Fire Nation Capital has been liberated and most of the Remnant armies have been defeated the last of the attackers have gathered together just a few hundred meters outside of the port that they had boldly taken a couple of days ago.

Ronin and Kedo stand in the crowd as they hear multiple fatigued Remnant warriors argue. They have been fighting all day and all night with hardly any sleep. A nineteen-year-old Remnant trooper paces around, he has short straight brown hair, a light goatee, olive skin, yellow eyes, and very round ears.

Young Remnant Trooper: "What the blazes are we going to do?! We've lost almost the entire city, yet we aren't supposed to surrender?"

An older Remnant veteran points at the young man, "Don't even think about it." The veteran has wavy black hair with a hint of grey, walnut brown almond shaped eyes, pale skin, and long yet thin ears. He also wears a tattered red-brown cape.

The young Remnant trooper shrugs, "What? You think I'm going to run? There is nowhere to flee to, our fleet locked themselves in. You think I'm going to turn myself in? While that option has its merits, I wouldn't dare want to see how they would punish us. The humiliation of losing again and surviving when almost all my brothers and sisters who accompanied me into battle died."

The young trooper continues and his yellow eyes shine in the fading sunlight, "At this point, surrendering is a cowards way out. But fighting, that is my chance to be found alongside my brothers in arms again." The young man nervously taps a sword on his hilt.

Another male Remnant trooper answers, "I can't imagine they are in a good place."

The youthful rebel feels truth in that statement, "Whereever they are, I bet they could use some company. And what better company than us?"

Remnant Veteran: "We should fight because that's what we came here for and it is important that we finish the fight. That is the role of a soldier." The veteran says this with conviction, it is all he's ever believed. He has never considered changing course. Sometimes commitment is admirable and can allow people to accomplish great things. Other times, it is like a twisted form of pride that can run a person or grow into a ditch.

A Remnant brute looks across at them. The man has dark brown skin, thick curly black hair, thick eyebrows, dark brown eyes, and bulging muscles. The brute has a dark grey iron hammer strapped to his back. Remnant Brute: "I say we do what we've always done. We get up, stick to our guts, and down them into dust. While we do that, arrow boy can cover our enemies up above as well as a strike team of some firebenders."

Kedo looks at Ronin, "But you might need some firebenders on the ground with you."

Remnant Brute: "You'd be surprised what I can do. The nonbenders here are quite capable."

Ronin: "While that may be true, our only goal is to dish out as much damage as possible. Because there is nothing else we can do at this point and hopefully if we fight hard enough Ozai will back us."

A female firebender with cinnamon brown eyes, darker carob brown hair, cream toned skin, small thin eyes, and light battle armor. The young woman crosses her arms, "Why don't we add a goal to our strike? Just incase. I don't mind fighting, but I hate pointlessly fighting."

Remnant Brute: "At this point, any goal will hardly make a difference."

Kedo inquires, "What is your suggestion?"

The young lady grins, "I say we battle and lure out Zuko. He has joined his allies and if we take him captive, we have a chance of negotiating something. Perhaps an escape."