Author's Note: Van's baaaack! Sorry for the long layoff. I had a bit of a block. Then...I got over it. Turns out the way to beat it is with more than just 3 characters interacting...and a big unforeseen, unplanned event. Enjoy!

Chapter 14: Co-elaboration

A bomb was just dropped on me, the likes from which I fear I will not recover.

Lyra knows my underwear size.

I've tried to work my mind around that concept and with limited success.

How do I know she knows, you may ask?

Well. Included in the satchel of supplies Lyra snuck out and got was a change of clothes for both me and Siyo. And it was all a perfect fit. My underwear included. I can imagine getting Siyo right. Probably a girl thing, guessing what clothes they wear and what size.

But what about me? Did Lyra get lucky and guess right? Like the pit she did. After what I've seen from the girl, nothing she does can be just attributed to luck.

Him and Fate don't play nice where I'm regarded anyway.

Just imagining that she somehow found some place in that complex where they keep underwear was just too weird. Did specifically go sifting through a pile of underwear until she found my size? She wasn't gone that long. So she probably had to know my underwear size on sight. How is that even possible? How do you just guess what size underwear someone wears?

And I'm not talking about regular stuff. I mean the military grade underwear made for lots of movement. That's not about waist size then. It's about support and comfort. We men have "special" needs when it comes to keeping things manageable in terms of tight fitting underwear. You just can't throw a vice around a man's-

"Hey! Van! Are you listening to me?" Siyo snapped at me. Which involved the actual snapping of her fingers in my face.

We'd left the beautiful, luxurious comfort of the slimy cave behind and were making our way back towards Siyo's underground complex. Since then, Siyo'd began explaining what intelligence they'd gathered on the capabilities of the Luminous Ones, recent activity, and their guerilla style tactics.

You know. Boring stuff.

"Huh?" I said convincingly. "Yeah. Hanging on every word. You were talking about giant blood sucking, killer penguins, right?"

Siyo hissed something mean and hurtful about me under her breath. "Beetles, you dolt."

"Right. Right. Beetles. Penguins," I mumbled with a shrug. "I get those mixed up sometimes. What was it about the beetles again?"

Siyo shook her head at me with a roll of her eyes. "They're similar to the ones a group of merchants use to transport cargo. The same merchants I know Xin Mao had dealings with. I was asking if you'd ever seen them before."

I stuck out my bottom lip with a nod. "Yeah. They're similar alright. Similar the way a calm, gentle thing is similar to a ravenous, deadly thing. They're both things, you see." Siyo leveled a flat look on me that tugged on some strings I didn't want tugged. I swallowed down the memory before it could be dredged up. "Yes. I've seen the merchants and their beetles. But I'd only heard of the kind that attacked you. They don't live near the desert and I'd heard they were extremely rare."

"I see," she said deep in thought.

"That's the thing though. Just seeing one of them is rare, but so many of them? And they're kind of noticeable. I wonder how you move around a battalion of vicious creepy crawlies like that and keep it a secret."

"While that's true and bears later discussion," she said as she waved a dismissive hand. "That isn't what really bugs me about them."

I looked at her with an arched eyebrow.

"That's not what bothers me about them," Siyo quickly amended.

"I gave you a pass that time. Don't let it happen again," I said with a waggle of my finger.

Ignoring me Siyo said, "It's the fact that they were even riding them. That they even could ride them. I didn't know you could tame creatures like that."

I nodded in grim acknowledgement. "The same thing had occurred to me too. Truth is, you don't tame anything unless it was pretty much tame to begin with. The beetles the merchants use just stand around mostly and let anyone climb on them and strap a harness to it. After that they just smack its behind with a whip and off it goes. But you have to break a wild animal. Show it you're stronger, superior, won't get off its back.

"But some animals know us meatsacks are weaker and smaller. And more than that, they know we're food. Those beetles are man eaters. You can break them no more than you can make a badger-mole see." I shook my head as I thought of how those riders controlled the beetles with no problem. "That was beyond breaking them. I've ridden ostrich-horses that didn't respond like that. Those things were terrifying."

Siyo absent mindedly clutched at her stomach and looked a couple shades paler. "I know," she said quietly. "And one of those things took my sister."

I didn't quite know how to respond to that. So I didn't.

But Lyra did.

"Rescue her."

We both looked back at Lyra at the same time.

"Your sister's alive. We'll rescue her," Lyra said again in that tiny voice, that somehow had conviction in it.

I just looked at her. We? Does she mean the three of us?

Siyo drew in a deep breath and recomposed herself. "Yes. We'll rescue her."

"Uh," I said, "not to stomp on the delusions of heroism, but determined or not, we don't we have the man power to take those things on. Also, we haven't a clue where they are. They could be anywhere."

"Not true," Lyra said. "The trains." Then Lyra strode ahead of us, looked back once, and kept going.

Siyo stared blankly for a moment, then she gasped. "Of course!"

I feel in step behind her, feelings of my own stupidity increasing with each footstep. "Trains? Gasp? Of course? What?"

"Van," Siyo said like a teacher might talk to a slow student. "Even I know those beetles can't travel long distances quickly. And like I said, we know the Luminous Ones have no permanent base of operation. They're nomadic."

Crap. Siyo said that? There she goes, sprinkling in actually useful information along with all the other fluff. "Right. I know that already," I lied. "What about trains then?"

"It's how you quickly move deadly creatures that size around without someone noticing."

And then I got it. "So that's how the beetles got to the fight. And how they got back. They couldn't have used a railway. There's no station around for miles, and people would notice an unscheduled train nearby."

"So they have to be using the off rail models."

I snapped a finger. "And they'd leave tracks behind we might be able to follow. Alright then. So I was only half right. So, where do we start looking?"

Lyra had moved ahead of us. "This way."

I looked at Siyo and shrugged. Siyo simply nodded. She looked determined now. Lyra had given her hope. Something way more than what I could offer. But of course there was still the matter of how did she keep doing things like this.

I hadn't even thought about that until now, but whenever things seemed the most hopeless, Lyra did something to change it around for the better. And I have no idea how she keeps managing it. I mean, not only did she sneak into Siyo's base and find underwear that was a perfect fit, she somehow located the tracks of the trains the Luminous Ones used to escape? And in the span of what? 20 to 30 minutes tops?

It wasn't normal. Regular humans aren't this…perfect. I can't think of anything the girl had messed up on. And even if she had, I either haven't caught on to it yet or it was so minor, I didn't notice while she was doing something like saving my skin. Lyra was competent, scary competent. It just couldn't last. I'm not or more pessimistic or cynical than I should be, but when your life is as crappy as mine, you come to expect for that other shoe to drop. And I've been going around with one shoe on for a while.

I know Fate and Luck are cooking something up, but I don't know how big it's going to be. It could finally be the thing that puts me down for good.

Heh. Maybe I'm overreacting. In fact, this could be the first mistake Lyra's made. We could get to the tracks and realize they're not tracks at all. Man. This doesn't make sense, does it? I'm hoping against Lyra and for what? Because I'm freaking out because my kismet's been looking good recently? And I'm suddenly a firm believer in karma, yin and yang, and all that metaphysical gobbledygook? I must be getting soft.

But still…

We got to the tracks and realized they weren't tracks at all. Nope. Not tracks. You see a detached tramcar is most definitely not train tracks. And neither is the giant beetle next to it. Those things are not train tracks.

Naturally, the moment we caught a glimpse of it, we dropped into a low crouch and froze in place. A small contest about who could hold their breath the longest erupted between Siyo and me. I won, but only because Siyo gasped when she realized that Lyra had vanished. (It might also have to do with Siyo not thinking of it as a contest.)

How did Lyra keep doing that? She was in front of us for crying out loud. Did she wait for just the right moment when I took my eyes off her by blinking?

But never mind that, if Lyra disappeared then she's caught onto a threat. She did the same when those Luminous hitmen attacked and again just before I got picked up by Captain Lin. Crap. I carefully scanned around the area. Nothing else here but trees and shrubs. Which didn't mean there wasn't anything but the beetle here, just that if there was, I couldn't spot it. Damn it. Why couldn't I ever be attacked in the desert? Or a nice empty warehouse?

Siyo slowly slid next to me, without so much as making a sound. Earthbending then. Using it to soften her movements. She gestured at me, pointed off to the left. Then did the same to her and to the right.

You go this way. I go that way.

Was she serious? She wanted to flank and ambush that thing? She fought them once and nearly got herself killed. And I vividly remember that they can relieve a man of his ability to walk in the most gruesome way possible. I couldn't possibly be interpreting her right. But judging from the look in her eyes…yes, she wanted to flank it. Without even waiting for me to nod an affirmative or even respond she broke off, picking her way through the brush.

I didn't need to do anything.

I could just turn and leave. Siyo's injuries were pretty much healed. She knew what she was getting into. She was still part of an organization sworn to fighting people like the Shiny Freaks, even if she might be the only living member. But me, I'm just a spear carrying civilian, ahem, albeit maybe not the most upstanding of such. And Lyra's just…Lyra. I have no real stake in their little squabble. The Glowing Gang did want me dead. But then, who didn't?

So I should just turn and leave. It made too much sense to leave this mess to the ones who want to clean it up.

So why was I silently picking my way through the woods heading straight towards sudden danger? Don't tell me I've found some kind of inner chivalry that wouldn't let a woman head into danger alone? I thought I killed my chivalrous side by slitting it's throat with a coward's knife while it was taking a nap. Should've cut it up and burned the body. It came back again no matter how much I tried to get rid of it. Like herpes.

I'll have to worry about what was wrong with me some other time. My bigger concern is the giant vicious beetle that was-

Dead. Impaled on a giant stone spike.

I nearly barked out a laugh. But just because the beetle was a non-threat didn't mean it's rider or any straggling members of the Bright Bunch weren't around. From this angle I could see that half the train car was blown away. Probably the result of a blasting jelly cap. Must've made the Shimmering Soldiers abandon it.

I kept low and watched the area, waiting. I didn't see Siyo anywhere. I decided to bank on her covering me and stepped into the open.

I looked around me, stepping in cautious circles. My spear held firm. Several trees were down, uprooted. A long fissure issuing from beyond it, straight at the car. One of the treads had sunken into the ground. Several medium sized stones were strewn about. Pot holes of equal amount spread just as liberally about the area, evidences of earthbending. A large swath had been cut through the forest beyond the tramcar.

That must be where the rest of the train went after detaching this car, I figured. Guess we've found that trail. As to how the pit could Lyra have known is a whole 'nother matter. As I continued about, I spotted a dead body. He looked like an ordinary civilian. He had a large, bloody gash in his back. One hit, one kill from behind.

The Sparkling Boys were ambushed.

At least it wasn't a total slaughter on Siyo's side of-

I rolled away from the hurtling stone, which burst into rubble on the car. I brought my spear to bear, keeping as low as possible. I didn't see anyone. Someone above me grunted. My hand flew to my acquired belt and I flung a throwing knife over my shoulder up at the man descending on me with an oversized axe. He let out a startled cry and deflected the knife away. I swung my spear laterally and caught him just above the knee as he landed. He spat out a harsh curse and crumpled. I spun away from him, ready to take the on the hidden earthbender.

The ground disappeared.

I hit the edge of the crevice with my midsection, blasting the air from my chest. Before I could even move, it closed around me, trapping me waist high in the ground. The pressure on my lower body was immense, like I was about have my pelvis journey north to have a heart to heart chat with my face. Coupled with the fact that I was still breathless, I couldn't even cry out in that agonizing moment. It hurt so bad, I hardly noticed that Pretty Boy was about to cleave my head like a cantaloupe.

Pretty Boy let out a low, triumphant roar and swung.

The axe hit the ground behind him with a heavy thunk and Pretty Boy started flapping his hand around, shaking out the little icicle out of his wrist, sprinkling my face with blood.

Pretty Boy roared again. This time in pain, and about several octaves higher.

Siyo sprinted into the clearing with the young earthbender from when I was captured way back when in tow. "Hyung, stand down!"

Even wincing in pain, clutching at his wounded wrist, his eyebrows shot up. "Commander Siyo! You're still alive?"

"Yes. It's okay," she said, her voice warm, placing a hand on his thick shoulder. "I got away. I survived. Now, step back please." She looked at the young earthbender and gestured at me. "Kensei, get him out."

It made sense why she was making Kensei do it. Siyo didn't know exactly how he closed the hole around me. If she tried to open it herself like it was just regular rock, she could be unaware of lines of constricting stone gripping my legs that Kensei bent in, resulting in something a bit like when you twist chopsticks really hard. So Kensei was the one to undo it.

Even so, I really wished Siyo would try anyway.

Hyung stepped in front of Kensei "What are you doing? He's one of them!"

Siyo stared hard at Hyung. "I said stand down, Lieutenant Hyung."

He was as bullishly stubborn as he looked. "No! This bastard lead them right to us! At the very least, we have to avenge-"

Siyo squared around on him. "It wasn't a request! I'm issuing you a direct order as a superior officer, lieutenant. Now I'll say it again: Stand down."

Hyung let out a low growl and backed off, retrieving his ax, holding his wrist at his waist.

I was starting to lose all feeling below the belt. It felt wrong on all implied levels.

"Kensei," Siyo said, not looking away from Hyung.

Kensei gestured and the stone flowed away from around me. I let out a gasp of relief. Blood rushed back into my legs and I knew it was all still attached thanks to the big wallop of pain that greeted me. I tried to pull myself out, but failed badly. My legs didn't want to do that standing thing just yet.

"Uh," I whimpered. "Little help? I've got this paraplegic thing going on."

"Help him up," Siyo ordered.

Both of them grabbed an arm and hauled me out of the hole, Hyung being a bit more rough has he wrenched on my arm. I winced. Someone bent up a little flat mound of earth for me to sit on.

"Ah," I breathed as I settled down, rubbing on my legs. "'Preciate the help."

Kensei shrugged, dubious. "Uh…don't mention it."

Hyung growled, "Punk."

"You know, for a big, bruising guy that growls a lot, you sure scream like a little girl," I croaked.

"That's it!" Hyung bellowed. He tried to bring his ax up, but the wound on his wrist made him stop in his tracks and cry out in pain again.

"Hyung! Van! That's enough," Siyo shouted.

"He started it," I said, purposefully letting a bit of a childish whine enter my voice.

"I don't care. This isn't the time or place for childish bickering."

"Fine. Fine," I relented.

Kensei looked from Siyo to me and back. "Uh. Forgive me, sir, but what the hell is going on? Why isn't he in shackles anymore? And why does it seem like you're both working together now?"

"Because we are. More or less," Siyo said.

"You mean he isn't the enemy?"

"No," Siyo said. "He is not."

"How could you know that?" Hyung rumbled. "We can't possibly trust him. For all you know, this could all be an elaborate Luminous One trap, orchestrated by this…man."

I snorted. "Buddy, I don't even know what okra-strafe means."

Kensei stifled a laugh.

Siyo shook her head. "I know because this man spared my life after I tried to kill him when he had no reason to do so."

Both Hyung's and Kensei's eyebrows must be attached to each other by invisible strings because they both rose at the exact same time.

"It's a long story, and it'll have to wait. First, we need to look after that wound, Lt. Hyung," Siyo said.

"I'll be fine, sir," Hyung said glaring at me. The 'no thanks to me' implied.

Gee. I wonder if I should stick out my tongue at him or something, I thought.

I shrugged. "My mistake. Next time someone tries to kill me, I'll warn them to mind their limbs. Wouldn't want them getting hurt, now do I?" I drawled, then held up a placating hand before Pretty Boy went nuts on me. "But, I'm not the one you should be pissed at. My…friend was the one that needled you. And I'm sure she'll be happy to heal that up for you."

"Your friend? Who?" Hyung asked, then turned to see where I was looking.

Lyra was standing behind him, silent as ever.

She blinked her hello.

Hyung and Kensei all jumped out of their skins and nearly attacked her. Siyo responded better, though she did take a shocked step back.

I had to smile. "Gentleman, meet Lyra."

After assuring Kensei and Hyung that Lyra was no threat, informing them that Captain Lin was captured alive, and getting Hyung's little wound healed up, they related what they knew about the attack and how they got separated from anyone else.

From what he said, once Hyung regained consciousness from our little scuffle he went back to report that I had escaped and was on the loose. He just so happened to make to make it back to the Captain when one of the Gleaming Goons' "covert units" was about to either capture or kill her. From how Hyung talked about them, I have to think it was the same unit of the woman that nearly got me with my back turned. They were forced to fall back once the beetles came and had broken through to the center of the complex. But the Incandescent Individuals had a secondary, apparently even more deadly group of beetles waiting for them. They were forced to scatter. While the beetles could move quickly over open ground, they aren't built to move through dense forest. If they all ran as fast as they could, they could escape. They stuck close by the captain and Siyo for a time, until they were attacked and the captain ordered them to get away. Neither of them has run into anything of their comrades except corpses.

It was a desperation tactic. Telling your soldiers to scatter into a dense forest with no plan, but to survive. They were totally cut off from the rest of their team. So, the two of them began taking the fight back to the Bright…Guys.

(Crap. I've run out of synonyms for luminous. Incandescent was as colorful as I was going to get.)

I came away a bit impressed. They were running two-man guerilla warfare and for the most part succeeding. It's no small wonder they were about to send me to an early grave, and why I'd gotten captured. I was particularly impressed with Kensei, I should say. He wasn't that imposing. He was a clean shaven kid with a small queue, standing couple inches shorter than me, and less muscular. But he was remarkably efficient. Reminded me a bit of a Dai Li agent.

Siyo looked over the damage to the train car and the dead beetle. "You did well to ambush this by yourselves."

"Well, were mostly by ourselves," Kensei said.

"Mostly? What, where there other people here?"

Kensei shook his head, with a frown. "See, that's the weird thing. They were distracted, but I don't know by who. Someone of their group had disappeared. We thought some of our comrades had survived and was doing the same thing as us. We took advantage of their distraction and ambushed them. Once they were all down, we never found a trace of anyone else." Kensei stifled a yawn. He looked like he hadn't slept much. I could imagine why.

Hyung grunted. "All we found was two of the Luminous' bodies. One's head had been cut clean off by some impossibly sharp weapon. The other was just…dead. Like his heart just stopped beating."

Hey. Did Lyra just flinch?

"Rouge beetle perhaps?" Siyo pondered.

Kensei shook his head and rubbed at the back of his neck. "We should be so lucky. But that cut was way too clean and I don't think those beetles can turn on their riders. It's the craziest thing I've ever seen. I hit a rider in the back once and the beetle seemed to cry out in pain. And they go through great lengths to protect their riders. Taking stones meant for them with those big claws. Those beetles and their riders are…one or something."

Me and Siyo shared a look.

Kensei was a sharp one. "You guys noticed something too?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I know second hand that those beetles shouldn't be acting like that. They're man eaters. Vicious sons of bitches that shouldn't let a human being within 30 yards of them without trying to make a meal out of him, let alone let one ride it, and double let alone go to great lengths to protect those riders. It's like they…" I trailed off.

"No, go on. You have some…theory on why?" Kensei asked.

I rubbed my chin as I thought on it. I made up my mind with a nod. "It's magic gemstones made from the spirit world," I said with absolute confidence.

Judging from their reactions, they all must've thought I was going to give them a real answer.

Silly humans.

Hyung growled, then said, "What's our next move, commander?"

"We're going after my sis-Captain Lin. We're going to rescue her," Siyo said.

Kensei looked doubtful. "I don't know. Hiding out in the forest and picking them off is one thing, but taking on the Luminous with just the four of us? Shouldn't we try to establish a sonicus line with the other branches first or at least with Ba Sing Se? Crush them with better numbers?"

I didn't bother correcting that there was five of us. Wouldn't want him assuming I was going to be helping.

"We sent out emergency calls to all points when this all started," Siyo said somberly. "The call should've reached all the way to Omashu's receiving station. Even to Ba Sing Se. And we even sent all our messenger hawks just in case. The one branch nearest us has an airship docked there. If anyone had gotten the call, they would've made it here by now. We're on our own."

Everyone fell silent. And in the case of Lyra, silenter.

I chuckled. Couldn't help myself.

"Just what the hell is so damn funny, punk?" Hyung rumbled.

"You mean you don't see it? Think about it, big guy." I ticked off points on my hands. "They moved a large assault force on your base without tipping off your sentries until it was too late to properly bring up your defenses. Managed to sneak a covert force in while you're busy fighting the others off. They knew where your escape routes were and set up waiting for you to run right into their snapping jaws. They even took measures to cut your sonicus lines and kill your hawks so you couldn't call for help."

"And what does it all mean?" Kensei asked.

Siyo's eyes narrowed.

"You think they just happened to know exactly how and where to hit you? At first you all just assumed they knew where you were because they were following me and then you when you captured me. They came up with a spur of the moment assault. Which made no sense whatsoever. You don't just scramble that kind of force in such a short time. We're all ex-military. We know how the system works. You don't move troops of that size without loads of planning and intelligence. Loads prior planning and prior intelligence. And how do you get prior planning and prior intelligence to attack what is literally an underground military instillation?"

Siyo sucked in a sharp breath.

"I'm afraid that your group's been compromised."

"A mole!" Hyung bellowed.

"A traitor!" Kensei said at the same time.

"A cat! A dog! A yellow sea sponge!" I mumbled under a chuckle.

This time even Kensei looked like he wanted to pound my face in. Hyung stuck with his tried and true method of reacting to the things that I say. I held up a placating hand for both of them this time. "Sorry. Sorry. Just seemed appropriate."

Siyo stood up. "Van, I'd like a word with you. Alone." She looked at Lyra who was stooped over in her little sitting fetal position. "Do not follow us."

Lyra actually showed a faint hint of surprise. She met eyes with Siyo and nodded slowly.

Needless to say it caught me off guard a bit. Why'd Siyo feel the need to make sure Lyra wouldn't come? And why'd she think Lyra would listen? Siyo walked around to the other side of the busted tramcar and motioned for me to follow.

"Hyung. Kensei. Keep watch over the area until we're finished," Siyo called out.

"Sir," they both replied in unison, though with some hesitation.

I back looked at the querying Hyung and Kensei. They were murmuring something to each other, but I couldn't make it out. Lyra had stood up at some point and was watching us go, her head tilted a bit to one side. I held my arms out to my sides, palms up. I didn't know what this was about anymore than they did.

Siyo led us on a silent 20 minute walk beyond the tram into a liberally spread part of the forest. I asked where she was taking me, but she just kept walking. Not one to enjoy being ignored, I went up to her, asked again. She was just staring ahead, blankly, as if in some kind of focused trance. It was a bit eerie.

We finally stopped when we came to an odd little area. It was a small patch of plum blossoms centered around a trickling stream so small I could step over it. The ground was completely covered with blossom petals, and every so often another one would fall and float to the ground. It seemed too scenic to be some random natural growth. There seemed to be some kind of intent here. It was like a tiny orchard that someone grew just so someone could paint it. The air even felt lighter, different. But most jarring was how abrupt it was.

All around was the same old, shabby looking trees. Lots of dead leaves and gnarly shrubs spread about. And then…this little area. There wasn't any gradual fade from grungy forest to this little place. There was a clear and definable border. Like entire this one area was cut out of someone's little garden and dropped here. And the stream was a part of it too. Judging from how it looked, the stream was coming out of a tiny little hole. It looked like a plumbing outlet from some building. Except it didn't stink here at all. It was kind of sweet. The sticky sweet fragrance of fresh fruit. It made me a bit hungry.

Siyo looked over the area. "This should be far enough. Now. Van…" Siyo turned and looked me right in the eye.

"What's this all about, Siyo? If anyone saw us come here, it'd look like we-"

Siyo punched me just below where she was looking.

I've been punched in the face before, but I always knew it was coming and was amply ready for it. My mouth has gotten me in situations like that before, so I'm used to people wanting to hit me. But this? This was the first time anyone's caught me completely off guard before. I didn't see stars like they say. It didn't even hurt as much as I'd expect. I was too surprised for things like pain.

Next thing I knew, I was on the ground looking up at a furious Siyo. The all fallen blossom petals made the ground soft at least, I found myself thinking.

"You son of a bitch," she snarled. "Nearly everyone in my organization is dead. Friends and allies. And maybe even my sister. Dead! You bring up the possibility that one of them could have betrayed us. Someone I trusted. Everything I ever fought for could be for nothing. I could lose everything. And you dare find this funny?"

I rubbed my cheek with the back of my hand as I climbed to my feet. A searing hot coal must've been stuck to it. My eye was watering.

And I was suddenly quite pissed off.

"Yes. I dare. What, you want me to feel sorry? Well. Tough. I'm not going to apologize for being who I am. I wanted you dead after the Pit thing, but the first time I saw you I nearly choked myself on a gag from laughing so hard. You were there. I was strapped to a chair surrounded by a bunch of people that for all I knew were going to fricassee and eat me once it was all over. And I was laughing.

"I can't explain it, and I sure as the pit didn't choose to be like this. And yet, it's who I am. But if you've got such a problem with me…" Not really thinking, I tore off my shirt and threw it on the ground next to my spear. "…then we can throw down here and now. C'mon! Let's see that right hook one more time, mudslinging skank!" I spat out some blood and felt one of my teeth wiggle.

"I'd never degrade myself by fighting a wretch like you," she seethed, having just seconds ago cold clocked me.

I said that part out loud. Her jaw tensed at me catching her trying to act high and mighty. So I added, " Heh. Contradict yourself much? I'm sure you didn't come all this way to give me a stern talking to, now did you?" I'm never one to do things by halves.

"And you're one to talk?" she shot back. "You who have all this knowledge, all this insight, but you waste it by being a law-breaking, smart-alecky desert bandit. Giving nothing. Just content to take what you want. Like you were so wronged. Like some helpless victim. But then you stand back and look at the world around you, can see all the problems, all the trouble. And all you do is laugh and make your smart ass comments. And do nothing. Like you have no responsibility. No obligations. You're one of the worst kind of people. A shiftless, hypocrite with no purpose. You have no right to sit back and laugh at other people and their struggles."

That caught me off guard for a second. Maybe she had brought me here to give me a stern talking to. But I was pissed enough to not care. "You don't know a damn thing about me! How the pit can you call me a hypocrite?"

"When you have the power and knowledge to do something about it, don't, and then piss and moan over the result, it's the same thing as saying one thing and doing another! That's what makes you a hypocrite. A cowardly, weak hypocrite! And you have the gall to laugh about it."

I barked out a laugh, knowing it would make her madder. "You've a lot of damn nerve judging me. Because I turned my back on responsibilities that I never asked for and rejected a world that used me and threw me out the moment it was convenient. A coward? Now that's funny. " I spat, my voice simmering with scorn and bitterness. "I think of myself as the only one in the world brave of enough to walk away once I saw the truth."

"And what truth is that? That you're a pathetic excuse for a human being?"

"That no matter what I could do, no matter what I might accomplish in life. I'd only be a part of a system that uses people up and spits them out without a care or worry. The system doesn't care about the poor, sick, elderly, or even those not as capable as others. Those the system doesn't need it discards. And those it can get some use out of, will be next in line to be replaced. Like you. Brainwashed little fool."

"You sound just like an anarchist," Siyo said, hate touching her eyes again. "Next comes the part where you talk about overthrowing the 'system'."

"Like the pit. You must be reading a different script, sweet cheeks. But," I smiled and pointed at her. "You hate anarchists. Why?"

"They seek destruction of order and civilization that the system, the government provides. It would bring chaos to the world. I can't forgive anyone that would bring that to be," Siyo said heatedly.

"Wrong. Wrong. Wrong," I crisscrossed my hands over each word. "The government isn't the system. It's just a part of it, a big part, but just that."

"You're not making any sense," Siyo said waving a dismissive hand. "Not that I should expect you to."

Guess I really have to lay it all out for her. "Alright, then I'll break it down. Starting with the governments. Anarchists only seek to bring down 'their' world. 'Their' civilization. But, if the anarchists ever won, nothing would change. Not really. You think anarchy means no order? It means nothing the current guys would call order. Because they'd be dead. There'd be a new regime, but the 'anarchists" would just become the same thing that they fought against. And what would happen next? New 'anarchists' trying to depose the old order and make a new one. There'd be a new government, all operating under the same old system. Using the people and tossing them out. Same sad story. Nothing would really change."

Siyo's resolve wavered briefly, but she bounced back. "No. That's still wrong. How many people would die during the regime change? How much blood would be spilled? Innocents always get caught in the middle of everything. That's who we're really protecting. Not the government. Not some…unseen, omnipresent system. That's-"

I raised a finger. "Notice how you said…innocents not people? There's a big difference."

Siyo just looked at me.

"Anyone in jail isn't an innocent, right? By definition, you go to jail when you're guilty of something. That's how it works. Well, what about the people not in jail who aren't innocent? What happens to them?"

Siyo started to say something, but I cut her off.

"Then they're not who you're protecting. Yeah. Obviously. And it'd be up to the authorities of the world to find those guilty parties that are free and meter out justice. Okay. That's all fine and dandy to say. But…what about the ones in jail who are innocent, wrongly accused of a crime they didn't commit? Who protects them? Aren't they caught in the crossfire? Are they just a casualty of the system? A necessary sacrifice justified because it doesn't happen all that often? They were just at the wrong place at the wrong time? Or maybe they were just used as a scapegoat to protect the system's integrity. And then cast out like yesterday's garbage. You might say that the justice system isn't perfect and nothing in this world is. But that really just ignores a bigger truth."

Siyo just looked at me. Waiting.

"An innocent's just a nameless, faceless figure. You can protect that no problem. It's a vague concept, which means you can change around the details and it's still the same. But you can't change people like that. Because people can be violent, hypocritical, lazy, and all those things the system doesn't like. But most of all, people can't be controlled. People find ways to survive. They fight against what threatens them. An innocent doesn't do that. That's why they say he's innocent. An innocent is passive, stagnant, bad stuff happens to them. And the ones responsible are just deplorable. That's the spin you always get. That's how the system gets you. It's all about the spin. The clever wordplay used to paint the good guys from the bad, so the masses doesn't feel guilty, feel the desire to act out against the system."

I could see the doubt swirling in Siyo. She couldn't look me in the eye anymore, looking down and letting some of her hair slip over her face. She folded her arms like she was cold. She was visibly shrinking away from my words…kneeling down into a fetal position on the ground, not unlike how Lyra does.

Siyo was saying something under her breath, over and over again. I was deeply upsetting her.

And I didn't care.

I could've stopped. I laid in harder.

Something had kind of taken hold of my mouth while I wasn't looking. I was saying things I hadn't even really thought about, even to myself. But I could tell that I meant every word. I was pacing around, even had broken out into a cold sweat. I'd never spoken like this before. It felt…weird. And maybe it was all the anger welling up inside me, but the plum blossoms seemed to be more red than before.

I kept going. "Eventually, it doesn't matter if anyone's really guilty of some serious crime or not. If they really want to destroy order or just want fairer treatment across the board. They're lumped in outside that pretty little label of 'innocent' and you crush them under your heel all the same. But that raises the chance of someone starting to realize the farce, starting to question why they do what they do. The system can't have that now can it? The tools are just tools. Opinions aren't required and have to be tempered. Controlled. Manipulated."

Siyo's murmured mantra rose in volume. "…"

The pedals were definitely red now. An angry red. The stream was flowing by faster, like a tiny rapid. I knew these things were unusual, but I was just…unable to stop. I had something to say and nothing would stop me from saying it.

"So that's why the system brainwashes people into fighting for it, why it manipulates them into doing what it wants by telling them things like it's for their own good or they'll get to protect people and things that they care about."

The mantra was raising, louder and louder. "…"

The stream was gushing out in a furious surge, the pedals had shifted from red to black…The trees were wilting…

Anger, guilty, sorrow…every negative emotion grew by waves. I was foaming at the mouth. "The system'll send them to their deaths, and they'll believe that it was for a good cause. And once they're dead, they get replaced just like that, making their lives pointless in the end. All life becomes pointless in the wretched system. The system of people. The system without purpose! The system that resides in everyone! I! AM! THE! SYSTEM!"

"SHUT UP!" Siyo suddenly shrieked.

From around her, the black pedals suddenly became white, and spread out around her in a ripple, each pedal after the next shifting from black to white. The trees going from withered and dead to prominent and strong. The ripple washed around me and I stopped bellowing.

And a fist covered in rock was flying at my face.

I tried to lean out of the way, but the stone made her arm's reach a bit longer and wider. If it had been a cleanly thrown punch, it might've done some serious damage. Instead, it clipped my shoulder, sending me spinning, but I stayed on my feet. Her added momentum to her fist sent her sprawling too. It sent up a cascade of white flower pedals.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she climbed to her feet and rounded on me again. Blood trickling down her lips from her biting down on them too hard. She was lashing out at me wildly, not aiming for anything in particular, but it was furious. I could only dodge and parry. As I backed into a tree, but I rolled around it. Putting some distance between me and her.

The ground collapsed beneath me, tearing me from my thoughts. Acting on pure instinct, I jumped up and grabbed a branch and swung myself over the small pit Siyo had bent. When I landed, Siyo tried to cave my head in again. But I caught her by the wrist this time and stepped under it, wrenching her arm as I did until I'd stepped around to her back, catching her in a standing armbar and choke hold. I didn't apply much pressure around her neck. It was only to restrain her, struggling against her strength.

Her extensive, but still feminine strength.

Siyo kicked me in my shin and elbowed me in the forehead. The pain was sharp and I lost my grip for a moment. She used that moment to pull away and turn, but held firm onto her hand still. Face to face with me, she threw a blow at me with her other hand. I caught it easily and held on. Still sobbing she let out another furious snarl and tried pushing against me, driving a startled me back. She was using earthbending to give herself better leverage, but it was sloppily done. She was kicking up more dirt than she should've. Still, I could only back pedal to keep from falling over. I backed into the same tree from earlier. Suddenly, Siyo stopped struggling. The rock coating her hand just fell away and I released her. She feebly hitting my chest every now and then.

We both were panting again. Silent otherwise.

I should be angry or making some sarcastic quip, but only one feeling was gripping me. The fight was just a farce. I didn't want to hit Siyo. I wanted to…

By the spirits. What was this feeling?

The feeble beating had become her slowly caressing my chest, running her fingers over my abs. Her warm body pressed in closer to me. Her hands rose up to my face. I closed my eyes. I should've expected to have my neck snapped, my head pounded against the tree…whatever.

Our lips met.

My eyes should've snapped opened in shock. Siyo just…still is kissing me. How'd we get from attempted murder to making out? That's what I should've been doing. It should fell all sorts of confusing and uncomfortable.

It didn't.

It's right on the tip of my tongue…

I grabbed her shoulders, in what should be to throw her off and ask her what the pit was wrong with her. But I didn't. I felt something else. It was like…

Nostalgia.

That word. I think it means to yearn for the past, something long gone. To desire a moment, a place, a time to happen all over again. I felt that. I didn't know I'd been missing this. The inborn need behind it. The desire. The anticipation. Just surging through me. Like a living thing, the nostalgia. Igniting a fire that had long, long been dormant, almost snuffed out all together. And then I realized what it was. The nostalgia had awakened something. Taking my sudden growing guilt, angry, sorrow, and self loathing and turning into something raw. Something hungry. It was a burning need.

A need to act. I was compelled. To move. To take action. For the first time in a long time I wanted to be something more again. Thoughts swirled through my head. A jumbled mess that made no sense to me when I tried to make sense of them. But I needed to act on them. I didn't want to run. I wanted to act. I didn't want to just make snide comments. I wanted to act. I wanted to live I had to. And I didn't know why or how. I just did.

This was…

Purpose.

And before I knew it, I was returning the kiss. Pulling Siyo closer and pressing back at the same time.

And it felt amazing. It felt just…right.

When we finally stopped, I didn't want to.

Siyo's breath was a shuddering whisper. Her eyes burned ardently into mine.

I normally would've said something snide or made some crack, or even thought about where did I pick a word like 'ardently', but instead I leaned down and our lips met again, hot and needy. Hands moved, feverishly caressing over skin and through hair. Legs lifted and curled around other legs. Clothes came off.

And then we…

We…

My back was burning.

I opened my eyes. I found myself laying completely bare on a small bed of white plum blossom pedals. The trees around me weren't plum blossoms. They looked the same they always had. And I don't know why I should think any differently. The stream still gurgled by but it wasn't coming out of the ground, it meandered from around a bend and continued down out of sight around another. And I don't know why I should think the stream was ever any different.

I pressed a hand to my head and tried to remember what the pit just happened. It felt like there was some gap in my memory. And I didn't remember what it was that had been there. I tried to start with something simple. To figure out where my clothes had gone. At least, I was fairly certain I'd worn clothes at some point in my life. Let's see. I remember Siyo. I came here with Siyo and then…

My eyes widened.

I did remember something.

I sat up. I looked over to my left. And saw Siyo, who had woken up at the same time as me apparently, just as unclothed as me.

She looked at me, eyes wide as dinner plates. Her cheeks flushed. She tried to say something but words weren't possible for her.

My mouth still worked fine though. It spread into an…oddly warm smile as an old memory surfaced. "Looks like I got Xin Mao's sloppy seconds after all."