Chapter 64: Of Ash and Snow, part 15

Command Center,

SRT Barracks

"Okay let me get this straight, you did fucking what?"

"With all due respect sir, it was either that or engage in a rolling firefight in the middle of the corporate district which in my best guess, would have resulted in forty percent casualties to our force, not to mention the loss of two transports and a hell lot of dead civvies. For fuck's sake, they brought out a full battery of recoiless rifles."

"Tui and La, the councillors are going to have a field day with this one."

"Said councillors can shut the fuck up and go back to riding their bosses' dicks."

"On that, I agree. Does anyone else have anything to report? Or questionable judgment calls that they'd like to get off their chest before the little seagulls catch a whiff of this?" Hahn asked, sighing deeply and feeling tired all of a sudden.

"We ran ID checks on the four stiffs we hauled back from the temple, and-"

"Okay stop right there, is the temple still standing? Or did one of you pyromaniacs blow it to kingdom come?"

"No sir, the temple is there, sir. Well ventilated, but still intact. Mostly."

"Best pray that if I visit it better be standing. But back to the topic at hand. You said you ran checks on the stiffs and?"

"Well sir, they...how should I put it-weren't supposed to exist. At least, if their records are anything to go by."

"Explain."

"They are, if we're to believe their death certificates that we pulled up from the system, supposed to be a pile of bones, not flesh and blood. In addition, we found a tattoo of a diamond and a number on each of their left shoulders, which does not match any known criminal tattoos we have on file. Lastly, and perhaps not a coincidence, all of them were ex-military before they all 'died' around the same period."

"Do any of them have affiliations with the House of Wolves, by any chance?"

"No sir, not if their first date of death is any indication."

Upon hearing this, Hahn appeared to sink deep into contemplation, before looking up and ordering "Take out all your commo equipment and leave in the locker room."

"What?"

"Just do as I say. If these people are who I believe them to be, this does not bode well. Oh, and bring the Fire Nation people in here as well. I think they need to know."

Meeting room/Temporary C & C center

NSPU HQ

On the opposite side of town, Bulan was having the exact same reaction as her fiance when Azula presented her plan.

"Do you really think she'll just casually sit down and talk. With you? Of all people? Especially with your boy toy in tow?"

"Sokka is not my boy toy, he is my consort. Get it in that thick skull of yours. Secondly, she's not that stupid to try something in the middle of a crowded square. At least, I don't think." she hesitatingly added at the end.

"Come on princess, you gotta give me something more to work off than 'she can't be that stupid' and 'I don't think'."

"Look, I'll admit we didn't exactly part on the best of terms, but I trust her enough to not pull dumb shit, because that just gets you killed in the streets. If it makes you feel better, you can have some undercover coppers and snipers on observation. Though knowing her, she'll probably have backup on her own so there's that."

"The longer you talk, the less I'm liking this plan of yours."

"Then by all means tell me, what would be your best course of action? Directly going after her? Luring her out and sniping her? Please, if it were that easy you wouldn't have needed me."

Taking a deep breath, Bulan shook her head and sighed. "Fine, you got me there. But how exactly are you planning to eliminate her?"

"I..well I haven't got to that stage yet, okay?"

"Well then get moving."

"Spirits you're a damned slave driver aren't you?"

"It's not that easy to have units on standby at a moment's notice."

"Doesn't being Arnook's kid count for something?"

"Not unless it's either trying to set me up with some bum hick from the ice fields who's supposedly some noble family or calling for me to resign because of my heritage."

"Which is why you have me." she smiled and framed her hands under her chin.

"I'd appreciate it if you don't threaten the staff. Or traumatize them. Paperwork's a bitch."

"You're such a killjoy."

Shaking her head, Bulan sighed "I've got a debrief to attend so please don't try stupid shit like blow up the building or terrorize my analysts. In the meantime, I suggest you start working on that plan of yours. Oh and one last thing, no conjugal activities while I'm gone."

"Wh-wha-what did you say?" Azula sputtered, face turning a bright shade of red.

"Nothing. When I come back I expect some grade A masterpiece."

"Why you-"

"Azula please don't." Sokka clamped down on her shoulders, exerting a surprising amount of force in restraining her.

Cafeteria

Second floor, NSPU HQ

"You're alive."

"You sound extremely disappointed."

"Yeah, what are you going to do about it? Take me on in a one on one fight?"

"Normally I'd say yes but given your current condition, that's called bullying."

"Alright that's it. Time out." Katara interjected. Taking a pair of handcuffs from Kiyi, she cuffed Suki to Azula before freezing said pair to the table.

"Until you both learn how to get along you'll both stay cuffed to the table. Kiyi, if anyone tries to free themselves, shoot them."

"Sorry sis, but you heard her." Kiyi shrugged.

"Betrayed by my own sister! How could you?"

"Eh, wasn't that hard really. Also, you really need to tone down your dramatics."

"Ha! Take that!"

"You're not exactly a saint either Suki." Zuko pointed out, earning a gasp from her.

"Zuko! You're supposed to back me up!" Suki pouted, pinching him hard and making him scoot away from her.

"What's with the handcuffs and the ice?" Sokka asked, returning with a plate piled high as despite Azula's insistence that she wasn't hungry and seafood wasn't exactly her jam, she'd be picking at his plate sooner or later. That would have been the case, had not her dominant hand been the one cuffed to the table along with Suki's.

Gold and blue glared back at him in response, making Sokka gulp. "Actually, pretend I didn't ask. " he squeaked, deciding that the ability to enjoy his meal is worth far more than finding out how they ended up cuffed to the table.

Midway through, he glanced over at Azula and noticed she was intently staring at a rather large prawn on his plate. Despite being from an island nation, Azula's attitude towards seafood was rather ambivalent. Of course, that was when she was still Crown Princess and could have her choice of the freshest catch that not too long ago, was still swimming off shore. When pressed, she would reluctantly give an answer of shellfish, but only on the condition that it be peeled for her. Unfortunately, she was no longer living in the palace and thus, didn't have the same access to choice catches of the day. On the other hand, she did have someone nearby to peel off the shells for her, namely Sokka who caught on to her intent and began to deshell said prawn.

"Do you want me to-why am I not surprised." he muttered the last part with a shake of his head.

In response, Azula moved to zap him with her free hand when Sokka cautioned "Don't think I can't see what you're There's no guarantee I'll still be holding on to it if you do."

Rolling her eyes, Azula patiently waited for Sokka to hand feed her, using it to gloat over Suki. In response, Suki nudged Zuko, who groaned "I hate you so much right now Sokka."

"Well tough luck buddy. If she's happy, everyone's happy."

"That just sounds like you've been whipped thoroughly by her." Suki replied.

"Would you like me to tell everyone just how bad of a hissy fit you can really throw? Besides, it's not like you don't have prince pouty here wrapped around your finger. Who also happens to be my boss."

"Then watch your language or I'm tossing you overboard into the nearest canal with concrete boots if you keep running your mouth like that. Show the person who's dishing out your paycheck a little respect." Zuko warned.

"Do that and I'll give your other side a matching scar, Zuzu."

"Now now people, I'm sure we can all get along together right?" Aang tried to pacify.

"Stay in your lane Aang." Shrugging, he replied " Well, I tried."

"Do you want some more?" asked Sokka, who was busy wiping her mouth.

"Did I ever say stop?"

"You truly are whipped." Suki spat.

"In public, probably. In the bedroom however-"

"Not. Another. Word. Sokka."

"The more you open your mouth Sokka, the more inclined I am to burn your tongue and your dick, not necessarily in that order."

"Says the one banging my ex."

"In her defense, she thought you were dead. Which after hearing what you were about to say regarding my sister, I wish you were."

"Is this really the card you want to be playing Zuzu? The overprotective card? Really?"

Exasperated by her siblings' behaviour, Kiyi racked her sidearm, calling everyone's attention to her.

"As much as I'd like to see how this plays out, this is a mess hall, not a sparring cage. There's one downstairs so feel free to settle whatever it is there. Seriously, y'all got to start acting your age a little more and less like a bunch of drama queens."

Detention Center

"What do you have for me?" Bulan asked.

"We ran the prints and ID that they collected through our database, most of them seem to be low level foot soldiers, the type of guys running a hustle on the street corners, bookies, loan sharks, that sort of deal."

"Cannon fodder, basically."

"Yeah, sounds about right. Which then begs the question, who are they covering for?"

"Bent cops I assume."

"Shouldn't it be the other way around?"

"Not if said bent cops have a certain skill set or specific background. Did you look up any of their prior service records?"

"Why?"

"Agni Kai tends to recruit heavily from Fire Nation veterans, saves them time and money. Hell, their command structure is more or less a modified Fire Nation military C&C structure."

"And where do we get their service records from?"

"Call up the Fire Nation embassy. They'll fully cooperate with us if they know what's best for them. Keep me posted."

Secure room

SRT Barracks

"Did you do as I said?"

"Yes sir. We've got a fireteam on rotation watching the stiffs with shoot to kill orders."

"Good."

"Sir, who exactly are those people and why are they so important?"

"Have you heard of Almaz?"

"I thought that was a myth, just an urban legend." one of them replied.

"If it was I wouldn't have made you guard a bunch of dead bodies now would I?"

"Who are they?" Jia Ling asked.

"Officially, they don't exist. During the first siege of Agna Q'ela, it was decided that a covert resistance network be formed in case the Fire Nation ever succeeded in bringing the Northern Water Tribe to heel. Their mission would be to organize resistance cells all across the territory and perform any and all acts that would hinder their administration. Sabotage, assasination, strikes, propaganda, you name it. During the second siege of Agna Q'ela, where the Fire Nation breached the first district for a time, it is believed that Almaz helped in collecting intelligence and disrupting communication lines. Of course, with their records sealed away permanently it is hard to know."

"Then how are you so confident the bodies we're guarding were part of Almaz?"

"Because the only ID they carried on themselves was a diamond tattooed somewhere on their bodies."

"Anyone could have gotten a diamond tattoo. What makes them so special?"

"Because every time I tried to get their records, it's either so heavily redacted that it might as well be useless or they're supposed to be dead. Like minimum five years dead, not freshly dead after being shot a half hour ago dead."

"What do we do then? Go after their network? Where do we even start?"

"As of now, we just gather as much intelligence as we can. Names, caches, payroll etc. Until and unless we have definitive proof that Almaz is involved in serious crimes against the state, we can't move against them."

"You think that Almaz is behind the resurgence of the House of Wolves?"

"Hard to say. I wouldn't doubt that there are supporters and members who are Almaz members, but to paint them all as guilty until proven innocent is not how we do police work. Besides, if anything they'd be charged in a military tribunal instead of our regular courts."

"Seems like you're stuck between a rock and a hard place, chief." Aldo commented

"Thanks for pointing out the obvious. At least we've got most of the top leadership in the bag. Between you guys and the NSPU guys, we'd just might be able to take out their entire mid-level leadership. The sooner we finish this, the sooner we can all go back to our normal lives."

Six hours later

Central Park

Midtown Q'ela

"All units, this is Moonbeam Actual, status report."

"Moonbeam One, all clear from here."

"Same here, rooftops are- hold on, I see three X-Rays. Looks like they're setting up an overwatch as well."

"No sign of her yet."

"Remember, your job is just to watch. If shit hits the fan, priority is getting the civvies out."

"I see three more X-Rays, setting up overwatch as well. Damn these guys are good."

"Copy that. Observe, but do not engage."

"Roger."

Two hours earlier….

With the solstice a mere two weeks away, martial law and curfews were suspended, giving citizens and businesses a reprieve. In response, Arnook ordered the temporary assignment of military police to assist in maintaining security under Hahn's chain of command. Naturally, the councillors and chiefs associated with the military establishment threw a hissy fit, before wiser heads stepped in and silenced them under charges of fomenting insurrection and mutiny, the punishment of which was at best, a lengthy prison sentence in remote wilds of the north or execution.

Of course, such minutiae weren't relevant to the couple, who were preoccupied with their meet with the one person who could actually induce fear into her outside of her father. With Bulan wanting live audio feed, Sokka volunteered to be the wire, much to Azula's shock and subsequent protest.

When Sokka replied that he could hide the bug in his pants, Azula merely pointed out that Zirin was not above stripping people down there and then if she suspected there were wiretaps involved. Or outright shooting said body area to cut the wire.

"There's no way she'll shoot my cock right?"

"I really really don't want to find out Sokka, as I do intend to well, um...you know what I mean." she stammered and sputtered, feeling embarrassed and slightly aroused when remembering last night how Sokka felt deep inside of her.

"You're among adults here y'know, you can say the F word. Spirits you're such a prude still?" Bulan rolled her eyes.

"..."

"Do you have other more concealable bugs?" Azula hissed, face a bright red.

"Perhaps, but you owe me one. I want to hear every last detail. And I do mean every last detail on how you and him did the thing. "

"...I hate you so much."

"I'm flattered." she preened.

Fingering her necklace, Azula looked uncharacteristically nervous as they took up a seat overlooking the lake in the middle. Normally, it would be flowing into one of the main canal walkways that led all the way to the pierside. However, in the spirit of the solstice, it was converted into an ice-skating rink.

"You okay?" he squeezed her hand.

"I'm nervous, Sokka. It all seemed like a good idea in my head at the time."

"Whatever comes, I'll stay by you." In response, Azula gave him a quick peck on the cheek, both of them looking like a normal couple. Watching the people skate, snuggling next to her friend and lover, Azula let her mind wander off, imagining her and Sokka dancing and twirling on the ballroom floor.

"Seems like you've gone soft and domestic since I last saw you, hime. Care to introduce me to your new lover?" A familiar voice interrupted, jolting her awake and putting her senses into overdrive.

"How about no? Stay away from him, if you know what's good for you." she snapped.

"Rude much? Sokka, isn't it? Imagine if Ozai could see the type of people his precious little hime is consorting with."

When Azula didn't answer, Zirin continued "Mmm, keeping silent aren't you? Might it be that….oh my, you really did it now, didn't you."

Taking off her gloves, all three could feel the static start to build up in the air between them.

"Struck a nerve now, haven't I? I wonder, if you've ever told him about me. About us and how...intimate we got."

"If she doesn't want to talk about it, I won't force her." Sokka spoke up.

"Seems like you're not just a pretty boy that she's got wrapped around her finger. Though I do have to wonder, how long you'll last before you get burnt? After all, you are playing with fire."

"Get to the point, Zirin."

"My former employer has put out a hit on your employers, you and your boy toy."

"I figured if you were here, it would probably be here to kill me."

"That doesn't mean we can't have a civil discussion or catch up on lost time. Also, you should tell your minders to up their routine, they stick out."

"Let's not pretend you don't have your own detail here as well. I mean, that building over there didn't magically sprout an extra vent within the last hour."

"I will say that having a battery of recoilless rifles, understrength and expensive to maintain as it were, tends to be helpful tipping the balance in one's favour."

"I take it you're the new Vanguard?"

"In a sense. Though my loyalties are to myself, not to any Mountain Master or greater ideals. You and I both know ideals are stupid and unattainable. A waste of time and energy, as it were."

"Is that all you have? If so, then be gone. The next time I see you, I'll kill you."

"That's harsh. Whatever happened to us? Those promises we made? Or did you get rid of them at the first sight of something that had less baggage?"

"People change, Zirin."

"And yet, here we are."

"Stop playing games. Is there any more you want to say?"

"Here's a tip for you Mr. Sokka. Trust is for fools, and you'd be a fool if you think she's worth backing. Oh, and one more thing, it's rude to eavesdrop on other people's conversation, Miss Bulan. If you want to catch me, you'll know where to find me. Enjoy what little time you have before I hunt you down one by one."

"What you do with them is none of my concern. Touch him however, and I make you wish for a quick death. Now get the fuck out of my sight before I smoke you right here."

"Now there's the Azula we all know." Zirin smirked, standing up to leave. Just like that, Zirin disappeared back into the crowd like a ghost.

Taking deep breaths, Azula calmed herself down, unclenching her fists that had been tightly wound for the past ten minutes. Pulling her into his chest, Sokka tightly hugged her, rubbing her back as she buried her face in his coat, vowing that she would not make the same mistake twice and killing Zirin the next time they met.

"Come on, let's go home firefly."