Jin began to go through the motions of her form when she noticed a man sitting in the corner behind the door holding a sword. She ran at this intruder headlong stopping feet from him and holding a perfect tiger stance glaring at him. She stood like that for a moment, neither of them saying anything until she realized why, he was asleep and holding was the wrong word, the sword was lazily strewn against his shoulder.

"congratulations Jin you managed to take a sleeping person prisoner" she said sarcastically to herself lowering her stance and heading back to the training ring

"Don't give yourself too much credit kid" she heard from behind her. She turned around to look back at the man and take up her stance but as she put her fist forward he was already on top of her and delivered a powerful kick to her stomach.

Jin thought she was going to puke, she laid there clutching her stomach eyes terrified as the man with the sword walked over to her. He squatted down beside her, eyes half lidded "life advice for ya, don't take your eyes off the prize. Lose focus in a real fight and you won't even have time to register that you're already dead."

"Mercenary!" master Chang shouted from behind him "you were hired to protect the avatar not bludgeon her" he seethed shooting a pillar of flame at the man.

The man sprung to his feet and cleaved master Chang's flames apart with a stroke of his sword. "Whatever you say" he sighed walking away.

Jin relaxed even though the pain in her stomach did not subside "master Chang" she said ecstatically.

"Jin, are you alright" he panicked rushing over to her side and helping her up

"Yeah, I think i'm fine" she said through a wheeze, "it just knocked the wind out of me"

"We really should get you looked at" he insisted

"Really master Chang, i'm okay" she shifted her gaze to the man who had kicked her with a glare "who is he?" she asked.

"A mercenary" master Chang replied his tone making his opinion of mercenaries clear "ever since we decided not to be beholden to the governments of nations we don't have as many soldiers as we used to but thanks to our donor we are still able to man such a facility" he explained

"Mercenary!" Chang shouted.

The man had gone back to his spot by the door but raised his head and looked at master Chang. "What" he groaned in a bored tone.

"Come here" master Chang ordered. The man groaned but eventually complied.

"Yes?" he asked annoyance clear in his tone.

"Apologize to the avatar this instant" Chang demanded.

"Not in my contract, i'm here to protect life, limb or eyesight only" he yawned before turning away.

Master Chang fired a blast of flame besides the man's feet causing him to stop and look over his shoulder "I said apologize" he threatened.

The man smirked and stared at master Chang, his eyes occasionally flaring to life from their dulcet state. A dragon stares down a tiger neither giving an inch. One hand on a sword the other ready to make fire spring to life.

"Enough!" a voice yelled. The two did not break their stare but Jin did, she looked at the one who yelled. A woman she recognized by description walked in between the two, Asami Sato

"Miss Sato, please move, i must teach this ruffian respect" Master Chang stated calmly, looking past her to the swordsman

"Misses" she corrected him sternly "and that will have to wait, we must discuss a new threat immediately, it is unprecedented" she looked at the mercenary "As long as I'm paying you, you keep your hands to yourself unless told otherwise" she stated with a glare

The man lowered his hand from his sword and his shoulders relaxed. "Whatever you say boss" he shrugged before returning to his spot by the door and taking his previous position as master Chang followed misses Sato

"Very well" master Chang nodded. He turned to Jin with a smile "Jin, continue practicing your forms, i will try to make this quick so we can get to my special training" he said advertising like it was a treat. Jin offered a small bow before returning to the ring.