It's a flame. Not a large one, but it grows in its dark background. I can hear the fire as well. It's loud. I can also hear voices. Some I recognize. Some I don't. I hear a voice heavy with wisdom, a voice of family and friendliness, one of spiritual guidance. The flame grows until it's all I see. Then it's gone.

When I woke up, I could only recognize where I was. The poor quality infirmary onboard the ship including only a few bandages, water buckets, and some herbal medicine. The infirmary only had 3 bed. I was on one. I looked to my left, saw nothing. On my right was Yin. I couldn't tell if he was unconscious or sleeping, but he wasn't awake. I closed my eyes for a while and reopened them. I felt the pain in my head grow again, so I closed my eyes.

When I next woke up, somebody else was in the room. I tried to sit up to get a better view and they he turned around, revealing himself as Tom.

"Tom?" I asked.

"Luke!" he said rather surprised. "Your awake."

"Yeah. What happened"

He came close and patted me on the back before rearing back. "You passed out in the middle of the fight, you pussy." He said with a joking smile on his face.

I managed a smile and let it leave after a few seconds and said "So. Did we take the base out or what?"

"Yeah. Put some dynamite in the CP (Command Post) and diner. Blew the place to rubble."

"Damn. Wish I could've seen it." I look to my right and again see Yin still lying there.

"And Yin?" I ask.

"He's fine. He woke up a few hours ago then fell back asleep."

"What was it?"

"Hmm?"

"What happened to him?"

"Mild concussion. His head couldn't very well take the impact from the dashboard. When he woke up, he said his head hurt. Badly."

"And me?" I ask.

"We think it's the same. You said once when you were half awake that your head hurt."

"My nose bled too."

There was a pause

"Yeah. Boss thought you hit it, but there was no external damage on your nose. Does it hurt?"

I shake my head and say "No."

"Then I think it might be mild internal bleeding. Give itself time to heal and the bleeding will stop. Get some rest."

"Thank Tom" I say. He leaves.

I don't fall back asleep and I eventually hear shuffling to my right.

"Yin?" I ask.

His sheets start moving and he moves up from underneath him, disheveled hair and aa tired face, still squinting eyes as if just born.

He lies down and looks at me. "Luke?"

"Sup Yin." I say with a smile.

He looks back up at the metal ceiling and says "What happened?"

"Meh. Just a small crash." I say.

"Small?" he says, sounding more alive. "Tom told me the tank got totaled."

"I suddenly sit up straight with worry and say "Wait. What?!"

He chuckles and slides back down into a lying position. "I'm just screwing with you."

The knot in my stomach disappears and I feel a lot better. "Thank Raava"

"I'm doing good. In case you were wondering."

"Yin." I say in a father like tone. "I for one have my priorities straight. Tanks first, associates second."

"Associates. Is this some kind of profession to you?"

"Kind of, but without the weekly pay check. Speaking of which, how are you feeling, Yin?" I say mockingly.

"Oh. Fine. I guess. Head hurts. Like. A lot. You?"

"Same." I say. "And bleeding" I say to make myself the more injured one here, thus more important.

"Really now?"

"Yep."

We were silent for a while before I spoke.

"They told you about the base?"

"Yeah. Heard it got blown to bits. Sad we missed it though."

"You missed it." I corrected. "Unlike some people, I didn't sleep on the job. Took out one guard before I blacked out."

"Hmm. Hey. I'm gonna sleep."

"Alright. 'Night."

"'Night."

I figure I might as well sleep as well. No point staying awake. When I do wake up, Tom is back in the room checking looking through supplies.

"You know." I say, scaring him. "I never took you as a doctor."

"Being a doctor." He says casually. "Requires intelligence. Between everyone here, I think we all know who takes that role."

"Dave?" I say jokingly.

He chuckles and says "That guy would take your blood pressure by squeezing your neck and counting the times blood goes through every minute."

I chuckle too and give him time to do his work.

"Hey" he says, breaking the silence.

"Boss, Dave, and I are going to town for breakfast. Want anything?"

It's not until then I realize how hungry I am. "Yeah. Could I get some roasted turtle duck?" I ask.

"Ooooh." He coos mockingly. "Someone's being a bad air nomad. First you don't shave and now this?"

I reach up and once again feel my now full set of short brown hair that I've grown fond of and say "Fine then. Roasted seaweed as a side."

"That's better."

He's about to leave before I say "Should I ask Yin if he wants anything?"

"Don't wake him. He needs his rest. He hinted to me that he loves koi fish. He'll get a nice surprise when he wakes."

"Sounds Good." I say and he leaves. This place was it. A real home with caring people who actually looked after each other. We were like a family.

Yin wakes up again next to me.

"Hey" I say.

"Hey."

"Sleep well?"

"Asking me if I slept well on top of a metal bed with 1 thin mattress and a sheet. Answer is…Yes I did."

I chuckle.

"Did Tom stop in?" he asks.

"Yea. Was checking supplies. He, Boss, and Dave went out to get breakfast."

"Oh." I hear him quietly whisper something to himself like "Please get cooked Koi"

"I think you'll be happy" I say.

An hour later, they come back and hand us our food at which Yin excitedly says "Thank you!"

Tom's about to leave before I ask "Hear anything interesting in town?"

His expression changes to one of seriousness and he says. "Yeah. It's bad. The Fire Nation blames them for the attack. They're going to burn the place."

I set down the food on my lap and say "You're kidding. We have to help."

"I'm going to talk it over with Boss and the others. I'm all for it just so you know."

"Alright." I say. "Thanks."

And he leaves. We may have just put the lives of innocents on the line.