Ch 3
"Say what?!" Aang shouted.
"Unfortunately it's true. You've been stripped of everything. The only thing you have left is your army." Iroh said.
Aang sat down and put his head in his hands. Within two weeks, he was now an outcast of the republic, and a prime target for termination with no reprisal for the killer.
"This is not good. But why would they do that?" Aang asked.
"I don't know the full reasons. But maybe they were afraid that you would return to Rome and take the city by force. You are a very popular general." Iroh said.
"That's completely stupid. I wanted to retire, not continue fighting." Aang said.
Aang headed to his tent and sat on the bunk, tears coming from his eyes. He clenched his fists in anger and heavily breathed in and out. His breathing calmed down and he headed towards a table that was filled with maps of the Parthian empire.
Aang tossed the maps aside and pulled out a blank piece of parchment.
"Rome: Heavily defended. Lots of soldiers and fortifications. They will be expecting an all-out attack. Even a small infiltration unit will be expected. It's impossible to take Rome."
Ty Lee carefully approached Aang, weary of his temperament. She briefly heard how slaves were treated in the Empire, and she hoped Aang wouldn't turn on her.
"Aang, everything okay?" Ty Lee asked.
"No. The senate has decided to declare me a criminal. I lost all my lands and connections in the Empire. The only thing I have left is the soldiers right here. The only option I have left is to fight the Republic, but taking Rome is impossible." Aang said.
Ty Lee didn't know what to say. Then the implications hit her. Her slave owner now faced the real risk of going into poverty, and taking her with it. Or worse, Aang being assassinated and she being taken as someone else's trophy.
"Aang, I'll be here if you need me." Ty Lee said, putting her hands on his shoulders.
"You don't know any mysterious hand to hand combat, do you?" Aang forlornly asked.
"Well, I know chi blocking but that's not going to be of any use." Ty Lee said.
"What's chi-blocking?" Aang asked.
"You block a person's chi, their pressure points, per say." Ty Lee said.
"What happens to someone when their pressure point is blocked?" Aang asked.
"Depending on where you hit them, they can't move. For example, If I were to hit your arm, you wouldn't be able to move your arm. If I hit the chi point on your back and neck, you wouldn't be able to move your body at all." Ty Lee said.
"Is the paralysis permanent?" Aang asked.
"No. It lasts only for a few hours, and the person is more flexible than ever only for a few moments." Ty Lee said.
Aang rested his head on the table and realized something.
"You said something about pressure points." Aang said.
"Yes. Precision attacks to knock them out." Ty Lee said, demonstrating by quick jabs and punches.
"That gives me an idea. Quick sparring session. My Shamshir sword, vs your chi-blocking techniques." Aang said, grabbing his sword.
"Say what?!" Ty Lee asked.
"Don't worry. It's in the sheath." Aang said.
Ty Lee wasted no time on blocking Aang's chi. Before Aang knew it, he was lying on the floor with Ty Lee looking down at him.
"You know; you gave me an idea." Aang said.
"What kind of an idea?" Ty Lee asked.
"I'm going to take down Rome, the same way you took down me. The pressure points of the Republic." Aang said.
"Which is…" Ty Lee said.
"The population. I'll have to rally the people and take the city with my own personal army." Aang said.
"What about the soldiers here?" Ty Lee asked.
"Can't afford to lose the position. I'll take a couple hundred or so, and sneak back into the city." Aang said, as he struggled to feel his body.
"Glad I can be of help." Ty Lee said.
"Good. Can you help me get into the bunk?" Aang asked.
Ty Lee picked Aang up bridal style and put him into his bed. The analog wasn't lost on both of them.
"No-one must know about this. If anyone asks, tell them I'm asleep." Aang said.
"Okay." Ty Lee said, setting on the bed next to Aang.
"Any family you have?" Aang asked.
"Excuse me?" Ty Lee asked.
"I like to know and understand those who are under my command. Any family you have?" Aang asked.
"I have 6 identical sisters. Perfectly identical. Which is why I left to join the circus." Ty Lee said.
"6 identical sisters? God what a nightmare. No wonder you left." Aang said.
"Yeah. Many call me a circus freak, but I consider it a compliment." Ty Lee said.
"Don't know why they would call you a circus freak. What you can do is amazing." Aang said.
"Thanks." Ty Lee said, a slight blush on her cheeks.
"First order of business when I can move again is to take 200 of the best soldiers I have and head towards Rome. You'll have to come with me." Aang said.
"You're taking me to Rome?!" Ty Lee excitingly asked, now straddling Aang.
"Ty, listen! Yes, I'm taking you and as many followers as I can get to Rome, but it's not a vacation. There will be blood spilled on the streets. There will be assassination attempts and battles along the way, and Rome is the final piece. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if the senate had an agent in this camp right now, waiting to assassinate me." Aang said.
"Oh." Ty Lee said.
"Yeah. You need to know what we're getting involved in." Aang said.
"It's going to be bad, isn't it?" Ty Lee asked.
"Hope for the best, plan for the absolute worst." Aang said.
Two days later
Aang sat in front of his tent and sharpened his sword and dagger. He also grabbed a bow and multiple arrows.
"So, when do we head out?" Ty Lee asked.
"Soon. The last of the 200 soldiers are getting ready." Aang said.
As the motley group headed out, the sun brightly rose.
