Love Comes Ammunated

"Prologue III : Deception"

Wow. What a sight. What a sight. Simply, what a sight.

Dear lord…

Take the boy away from here. I don't want him seeing these things…it's much too explicit for his young mind to handle. I want to know what happened here.

Of course, right away.

What a sight, what a sight. We must contact the General immediately. Get this to him asap.

Sir?

I said contact the General immediately. That means now.

Yes sir. First, I think you'd like to see this. Follow me.

What is it?

You'll have to see it to believe me.

Oh my god, tell the men to get ready. Right away. He can't be far.

Do you think that to be wise, sir?

Wise? Wise? This is for the greater good! I don't care what you think. You will obey my orders and this man IS a threat. He CAN'T be far. Do you see this?! DO YOU SEE THIS?

I do, sir…but…

Then get the men ready immediately. I want a manhunt started right now. We can't risk losing this one.

But his fingers, sir, what's wrong with his fingers?

…

How's Prisoner 153?

He's still resting, sir. No signs of resistance or anything. He seems rather pacified and docile. Are you sure we have the right man?

No doubt about it. Continue along, then.

Yes, sir.

Wait.

Sir?

Lead me to the Prisoner. I'd like to have a few words with him.

Right away. Follow me.

Are the restraints in place? Everything as secured?

Of course, sir. I still don't see the point of immobilizing him so. He is no bender, he's no fighter, just some nut.

And yet, this nut simply won't crack. How long has it been?

A month and a half, sir. Displays no sign of aggression at all, sir. I'm starting to think we have the wrong man. I mean, a month and a half of unreasonable imprisonment…doesn't that just cry innocence?

Only fools cry aloud.

He doesn't complain; he doesn't speak. Sir, what if we have the wrong man?

We don't have the wrong man. Be sure of it. Don't get sloppy with this one. I want maximum security on him at all times.

But sir…isn't there just a slight possibility that he isn't the guy we're after? I mean, if he isn't...well then this pretty unjustified and illegal.

I guess we'll find out. Is this the cell?

Yes, sir.

Thank you then.

Be careful, sir.

Indeed I will. Now leave me.

…

What's your name?

No response.

I said what's your name?

Who's asking?

I am.

And who are you?

It doesn't matter who I am. I'm asking the questions here.

I'm simply a lowly commoner of the Fire Nation. Caught at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Are you proclaiming innocence? Careful about what you say. We hear all. They say they're not sure if you are you. But I know you. Cut the act.

No, I'm not proclaiming innocence. I am simply answering your questions. I'm sure if your men suspect my guiltiness, then I, perhaps, am guilty, after all. Is it not simply a matter of time before I discover what it is I have done?

The reason you are here is not what you have done. It is what you know. Isn't that right…Dimir?

Who? Why do you call me that?

A month and a half and you still won't give up your name.

My name isn't Dimir.

What is your agenda? What are you after?

I have no agenda but to live my life. Therefore, I am after nothing but freedom.

Strange, a month and a half and one would think you'd complain. What is it that you know that you aren't telling me?

I don't' know what you're after.

You know exactly what I'm after.

I've been wrongly imprisoned for a month and a half on no charge, whatsoever and you come here and accuse me of an agenda? You accuse me of withholding knowledge from you. Believe me, at this point, I'm willing to say anything.

Well then, Dimir, say something.

I don't know what you want me to say.

I will ask you again. Tell me what I want to know. Or…things will quickly become unpleasant.

What do you want from me?

Tell me what I want to know.

Ask yourself what motive I have for withholding what you seek from you. I've been stuck in here for very well long time where people believe I'm dead. What more can you take from me?

You've killed many.

I've killed noone.

The list goes on and on. So tell us what we want to know.

Tell me what you want to hear. I can't stand this. Do you not understand me?

I understand you perfectly. From now on, things will get a bit more unpleasant, Dimir. Do you understand me?

What are you talking about?

Tell us what we want to know. She hears all. But if you insist, situations are about to get much worse. Do you see this? This is the power to the camera, the eyes of the prison.

What are you doing? HELP. HELP. This can't be legal. HELP.

Hold still. Let's flip a coin…

…

Status on Prisoner 153?

Checking now…

Report to me as soon as possible.

Why…why, he's dead…He isn't moving. Dear god…he's dead! He's dead!

What? What are you talking about?

He's dead. He's dead! He's dead!

Open the gates, Cell 153. Open the gates! Immediately. We have a dead prisoner. A dead prisoner. I, repeat, a dead prisoner.

I hear you, sir. Opening gate 153. Cell 153, opened.

The man's dead, sir. I rushed in as soon as I heard. By the smell, it seems he's been dead for the day at least.

My god. Do you think he…

He hasn't been speaking since he came in. It's definitely a possibility. I wouldn't rule it out. Besides, who gets in and out of this place? We're completely underground, outside of anybody's jurisdiction but our own.

Then…

A month and a half in this hell hole and you'd do it too. Poor soul. We didn't even really convict him on anything, simply probable cause and speculation. Who are we to sentence this poor soul to death? Who are we to drive him to the brink of insanity?

He's dead, alright. No note and nothing. Like a spur of the moment choice. Wish I was there to talk him about it or something. Man…what a sight. It's like he disappeared, vanished of his own accord. There will be no trace of his existence. Not even his name. Simply Prisoner 153. That's his name. That's all we know of him. Prisoner 153.

Prisoner 153. Speculated name – Dimir.

Here is an ordinary man. He was no bender, simply a working man. Just like any of us. And we've killed him. My god, he's dead. He's dead. He's dead.

The world isn't made up of extraordinary people. Realize that. Many a day, people die and die time again without living in the first place. It's how this universe keeps itself propelled in motion. Some people live; some die. We aren't all Avatars.

It's the simple truth. My god…it's just the simplicity of the death…that's what shocks me the most. He just died after deciding…to you know…

Should we start the autopsy? I mean…should we disturb him? I think we've done enough. But should we start?

What for?

It's standard procedure.

My god, you guys. Come look at this. This is amazing…

What is it?

You need to come here to believe it.

What, I don't see anything…

He used…a plain quarter.

A quarter? For what? How could he possibly do it with a quarter.

His throat, look at the marks.

Dear god…this is no suicide, this is self-induced murder. Gruesome.

Was it painful?

Only God will know…the simple, fragile mind can so very break into pieces and do things that many others can wonder doable at all. Prisoner 153 was a brave man, by all means. One can only imagine what sort of life he could have led. We are no justice system; we are harbingers of loneliness.

This is sick…Dear god…what a sight, wow, what a sight. He never spoke or anything. The world may very well have forgotten him. No name, no actions. This is no justice.

You guys. Look at this quarter. Huh, must be a misprint.

What is it?

You can't see clearly with the blood but…Both sides are Tails.