Hello Everyone! Sorry this chapter took so long; I've working hard to put this chapter out and 4 re-writes later, voilà! Thank you to everyone following this story and all the comments, kudos and subscriptions, its very motivational and greatly appreciated. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 5

We Don't Know What We Got

He through a jab-cross, followed by a swift right round house kick slicing the air, then resetting into his fighting stance, throw a similar combination only lowering his weight to strike a sweeping low kick. The cell afforded him enough space to shadow box, and he used the time to keep his body and skills in shape.

Soon, time will be the only thing he would have.

Clenching his fist, he slammed it into the cream cement wall in font of him, absorbing the pain with bitter pleasure. He felt like a fool to believe in the ESUN justice system, the very justice system he dedicated his life to serve.

Letting his back rest against the wall he assaulted, he slid down to the floor and crossed his legs. There was anger building inside of him and he needed to gain control. Control was one thing he could always have, he rationalized that he if let this trial go to appeal, he would rob them of controlling his life for fifteen years. After speaking with the Colonel, he resolved he was no ones pawned.

There was a buzz from the door in front of his cell and a large female guard stepped through. Her hair was in a tight blonde bun and her lips wore a scowl that took away years from her already tired face.

"You got a visitor." She barked.

Without moving his head Wu Fei looked up.

"It's your Caption."

He reached the grey visitor doors and saw Sally's profile through the small window, sitting in one of the metal chairs, he could see her tense muscles through her military dress uniform. He concluded that Sally was briefed on his recent conversation with Colonel Une and was order, as his superior, to alter his decision.

The moment the door opened Sally was on her feet, "What in the hell are you thinking!?"

Wu Fei keep himself calm as he was ushered to his seat and cuffed, rather aggressively, to the iron bar restraints on the table.

"Thirty years? Do you want to waste your life in here?!" Anger was radiating off her, anger and fear.

He said nothing as he sat down, eyes closed, his arms folded. As soon as the guards left, he opened his eyes, and they were full of defiance. "If you think I am going to agree to be ESUN puppet, then you have less shame than the Colonel."

Sally taken aback, clunked in the opposite chair. "Fine, if not wanting my dear friend to spend a lifetime in jail means I have no shame, then I have no shame. But at least I have common sense to know you are making a big mistake."

"Big mistake?" His chains rattled noisily as he sarcastically chuckled and leaned back, "Sally, you can't be serious, you are a smart woman, you must know by now that this a trap."

Sally down casted her eyes and thumbed the inner part of her index finger hesitantly.

"You already knew!" His eyes widened and then narrowed; a new form of suspicion started to take root.

"Yes."

"When!?"

"A month after your arrest, Colonel Une order me not to conta-"

"And you didn't tell me!"

She looked up, defensiveness getting the better of her, a trait she rarely emitted. "Even if I could have been able to inform you, I would still be telling to plead guilty, the trap is not fifteen years of probation, it's prison!"

Wu Fei shook his head looking up at the bright LED lights outfitted on high raised beams. She chose to keep him in the dark, regardless of the reason, he thought their friendship was stronger.

Sally leaded forward pleading, "Chang, by you trying to fight this verdict you are giving them everything they want, they want to drag you through the mud more than they already have, the want to destroy your good name -"

"I don't care about the press, Captain Po." He spitefully forgoes using her first name, if Sally noticed she didn't show it.

"Oh, Wu Fei!" She sighed harshly in frustration, "I hate that you are in this situation, but you need to listen-"

Shock, disappointment, anger, he didn't know what emotion was eating at him the hardest. The shock that his most trusted friend kept valuable information from him, the disappointment that she wanted him to plead guilty, or the anger from that look in her eyes. "I don't need your pity, woman."

Her large almond eyes widened, regarded him with a look of maternal frustration.

Sally paused, leaned back and gave a bitter short laugh. "No, no, you don't need my pity, you are going to give yourself thirty years of it behind bars, so let me as your friend give you some hard wisdom instead." She pressed forward, hands clasped, her two curls rolling of her epaulets like boulders. "Only a coward hiding behind pride and justice would agree to lock themselves up to prove a point, then find the strength to take responsibility for the past so he may fight another day."

There was a brief silence before he spoke. "You keep secrets from me then say you are talking to me 'as a friend' ". He turned his head and stared at the cement wall and inhaled a deep breath before he spat "hypocrite."

"Fine!" She pressed her fingers heavily on the metal table as she rose, the chair sliding back with a high screech. "But if your pride is more important than the fight for peace, then continue being an idiot for the next thirty years, what do I care." There was a tinge of shakiness in the last word 'care' as she walked away, her short thin heels stomping loudly towards the grey door. She gave the guard the signal that her visit was finished and left without looking back.

It was 0300hrs, Wu Fei sat on the floor with one leg hugging his chest, the other leg stretched out in front on him, eyes wide, lungs forcing controlled breathing.

That night he had a dream. He was standing in a field of yellow flowers, they were as bright as gold, the sun burned amber and the wind swirled of hot air and ash. He was not alone, standing 10 ft in front of him was a teenaged girl's body engulfed in flames, scalp seared almost raw, scored flesh hanging off the limbs. And as this girl stood there grinning, staring straight at him with red coals for eyes. She parted her melting lips, and they mouthed loud and in full.

"Coward."

The last time he had this dream, he chose to fight Dekims war.

***Inspiration***

Race to The Bottom – Dan Mangan