(Dragonstone: 10/8/298 AC) Mai V
A fell shriek of cracking ice echoed in her ears, resonating over the lands and in the air. She stood there watching the small steel prison roll down the 'Firestorm's' prow ramp on squeaky black wheels. The crashing waves dulled the sounds of its noisy descent until it landed with a low 'thump' onto the solid gray slab of concrete on the docks. The pinpoints of blue light shimmered in the blackness, eyeing them with curiosity, as the six of the ten Flameguard surrounding the steel sarcophagus retreated a safe distance away and formed a perimeter. Four of the others, the larger ones, the 'Repurposed' she knew their movements anywhere, reached for something behind the metal coffin and withdrew four large chains, nearly the length of three fully grown men. The chains rattled as the 'Repurposed' Flameguard crisscrossed the chains over the front and back sections of the box. With a click, the chains were secured on the four curved locking mechanisms located near the mid-section of the box. With little more than half a length of chain left, the four former 'men' withdrew, clenching their hands over their own respective chains.
"Hmmm," she heard Chi-Ha raise her voice barely above a whisper. "Maybe there is something on this world finally worth killing…"
Azure lights looked to and fro, until finally coming to rest upon her entourage. The creature within grew deathly quiet as it stared at them. A cold shiver ran up her spine, a signal of the temperature dropping beyond the point of discomfort, even under the bright midday sun. She spared a glance to her compatriots and saw no signs of uneasiness. Chang, however, held a queer look in his eye. Not one of fear, nor excitement, but something else. Something she did not know, nor cared to understand. 'Strange man…'
The creature began to screech once more before Chang stepped forward. "Overseer? With your permission? I would like to approach."
For a moment, his words did not register until the strange screaming grew to a fevered pitch. The metal box that held the thing, began to shift, as the foul life within seemed intent on knocking over its steel prison in an attempt to free itself. "Flameguard!" the large armored men surrounding the box tightened their holds on the chains, keeping them taut and secure. The guard she brought with her, focused on her words, and turned in unison, awaiting her commands. "The rest of you, at the ready. Flames hot. Keep an eye on our guest," she warned, turning towards Zha-Meng and Chi-Ha. "Commander! Lieutenant!"
"Yes, Overseer? Your command?" They stepped forward, her eyes telling them all they needed to know as she tilted her head to the aged instructor. They gave their salutes and moved to flank the old man who bowed his balding head in appreciation. The metallic box suddenly ceased shifting, and all looked towards it. She nodded to Chang once Zha-Meng and Chi-Ha had placed themselves at his side. Chang remained impassive, hands concealed under billowing red and gold robes, which themselves hid the armor that was always just beneath.
"Interesting," he muttered.
Zha-Meng stood to the instructor's right, one hand over the hilt of his ancestral Jian sword, still firmly within its simple wooden scabbard with modest golden flame embellishments. Chi-Ha stalked Chang's left, and surprisingly, refrained from reaching for the dangling chain of her meteor hammer. She instead chose to grasp at the twin hilts of the butterfly swords peeking out of her, lightly tanned, leather scabbard weaved with a black dragon design. Somehow sensing them at the ready, the Instructor stepped forward.
"Try not to get too close," she cautioned. "It would be difficult to replace you…"
"I shall endeavor to keep myself safe, Overseer," the fossil reassured as he slithered to the sarcophagus, his shadows not far behind.
She quietly paced around them, to get a better view of the proceedings, while maintaining a safe distance away from them and the box. Her four guards moved with her, unable to ignore Azula's commands to never stray far from her. 'Unable to ignore any commands,' she thought, hearing the 'shink' of their plate armor and heavy metallic stomps. The steady padding of more than a dozen pairs of feet sounded out over the crashing waves.
Chang stood no more than an arm's length away, golden eyes never leaving the black void, nor the blue lights within. "Magnificent," Chang's whisper drifted on the wind, though she could not place the darker tone that rang just beneath. The creature in the box grew silent, and the instructor stood there, his eyes closed. The 'Repurposed' holding the chains drew them tighter, removing what little slack remained.
"Chang! Do not lose focus. That's enough, step back!" she ordered, onto deaf ears. If the instructor heard her, he gave no sign, and only moved his lips to something she did not hear. The center of the metal box began to frost over, crackling sharply as it did so. "Chang! Chi-Ha!" she managed to shout, before the front end of the creature's prison exploded outward, releasing small shards of frozen steel. Chi-Ha and Zha-Meng reacted, dashing forward in an attempt to shove the instructor out of the way. An icy hand shot out of the hole quick as lightning, aiming for Chang's chest. Unfortunately, for the creature, the instructor was no crippled old sloth, catching the icy arm at the wrist, and wrapping his own hands around it. The moment Chang's hands touched the frozen arm a sudden explosion of steam enveloped the instructor and the box.
"Down!" The lieutenant and the commander exclaimed in unison. True to their training, both quickly ducked away, dodging the hot cloud mid-charge utilizing controlled fire blasts from their feet to assist in their evasion. The Flameguard who stood at attention upon the deck of the 'Firestorm' assumed combat forms, followed by those stationed behind her and to the sides of the metal casket.
The four 'Repurposed' holding on to the chains remained still and steadfast, even as the blistering steam, rolled over to them, and sizzled their flesh for a few moments before dissipating. Bits of steam rose from the openings of their armors, giving them a slightly ghostly appearance.
"Instructor?!" the scarred teacher barked. Chi-Ha quickly rose to her feet with only a scant few scratches alongside her bare arms, lifting them to protect her face from any errant plumes of steam.
An intense heat emanated from the smoky grey steam, which still enshrouded both Chang and the thing's prison. The strange, ear-piercing cry came again, out from the mist. She heard ice begin to crack, before finally ending in a 'snap!' Something flew out from the cloud, something that glistened in the sun. It struck the ground twice before shattering like milk glass along the concrete pier. The pieces began to hiss and crack, before evaporating away along the sea breeze. She looked back to the steam and saw movement. Daggers slid into her hands from under her sleeves and she waited. The others held onto combat poses of their own, Chi-Ha crouched low, butterfly swords drawn and gleaming in the sun. Zha-Meng, straight and firm, gripped his ancestral sword with both hands, his knuckles white as bone. The dark-hued metal of his blade still hummed from being recently drawn out of its sheath.
"Chang?!" she cried, growing closer to the quickly vanishing steam cloud. She made out the instructor's form and heard him grunt. She tried to make out his face and for a moment she could have sworn seeing a pair of crimson lights where his eyes should have been. 'A trick of light within the shifting steam? Maybe I'm just seeing things?' she calmed herself and remained planted where she stood. A burst of flame wafted away the steam, and Chang emerged from the fire. His face was serene, and unblemished with worry or doubt, even after this bizarre exchange.
"The creature is broken," he stated simply. "Though I would not waste time in moving it into the caverns," the man bowed, before speaking once more. "Overseer. If you would not object, I wish to return to my study. I have things to read on. Books from my times serving under Admiral Zhao."
"What did you see?" she locked eyes with him, and just as before, she could not tell what was hiding beneath those brilliant golden rings.
"A great future for the Fire Nation, Overseer. Greater than even Ozai would have imagined. A future worthy of Fire Lord Azula," he smiled, his lips stretching out over his teeth like a lionshark, and she shivered.
"Go," was all she could muster. The man bowed his head once more and retreated down the path leading to the administration complex, and Fire Nation housing. Mai turned and found herself staring into Chi-Ha's scarred face.
"Should I follow him?"
"No," she looked at the box, and the blurred bit of sunlight glimmering near the protrusion, reflecting from some far off source. "Let him go. We have more important matters to attend to. Commander?"
"Yes. Overseer," he replied, his attention half hers. The other half remained fixed on the sarcophagus, as he paced around it cautiously.
"Remain here with our guest until the tank train arrives for transport. I must go and speak with the captain. Who I noticed did not come to greet me, as he should have."
"As you command," he continued circling the box like a cat.
"Chi-Ha," she spoke, gesturing with two fingers to the cliffs. "We have an audience. Bring them to me. Quietly. Take the hidden path along the shore."
"As you command," she saluted, taking her word, with only a subtle glance towards the cliff edge. Chi-Ha jogged up the path Chang had taken, then ducked down, disappearing along the rocks protruding out along the cliffs. The sea churned along the rocks, keeping the scarred woman hidden from prying eyes.
She turned, looked up the prow ramp of the 'Firestorm,' and stepped forward, intent on speaking with Captain Shagan. Her heels clicked along the floor, and the four Flameguard holding the chains began twisting their bodies to face her. She paused and looked at them, "I will board the ship, keep this creature secure. No one is to leave without my expressed permission. No one." A series of raspy breaths answered her and they returned to their positions holding on to the chains. 'It's probably pointless since the thing can freeze and shatter steel, but best to have a veneer of control.' She began her ascent up the ramp, the heavy footsteps of her 'Repurposed' guard right behind. The 'Firestorm's' deck was moderately damaged, with deep five-fingered gashes, trailing down toward the small hatch leading to the cargo hold. 'Likely in the struggle to bring the creature aboard.' Mai noticed the door leading to the cruiser's bridge was shut, as she passed through the assorted Fire Nation, Flameguard, and Red Priest, troops. They all bowed, presented flame, or saluted to her, depending on their station.
A single red priest came up to her, and she felt the 'Repurposed' behind her grow closer. "Overseer Mai," the Volantene man bowed. The teardrop flame of the Fire Nation was tattooed under his left eye, a heart contained just within.
"Yes? What is it? Where is the captain?" she questioned, her eyes focusing in on his tattoo. 'Consider yourself fortunate you are not one of Azula's spies,' she shuddered, as the memory of one particular priestess sprung into her mind. 'The cutting. The screams as Cy'via cleaned the small flap of skin that was still attached to the bleating woman. The marking of the Fire Nation Heart. Qyburn sewing it shut and lathering all of those pungent salves over it. Leave it to Azula to have that kind of idea…' Mai caught herself and looked the middle-aged man in the eyes.
"He is still…" the priest hesitated, looking off to the side, his armored robes shifting slightly in response to the movement. "Recovering from his ordeal."
"What ordeal? What happened?" she looked past the man, to the door. Her voice was calm and monotonous. "Shagan did not send word of plans to take whatever detour he did, to capture the creature in the box, and he will answer for that. Where is he?"
"On the bridge," the man answered. His voice was not as resolute as she had grown accustomed to hearing from the other red worshippers.
"Stand aside." The tattooed man bowed and moved without question. 'He seems shaken…' Considering what Mai had just seen, a part of her was both curious and fearful of what the captain might reveal. As she reached for the handle of the door leading to the bridge she felt a sudden coldness overcome her. Brushing the feeling aside, she twisted the handle and pushed. The door groaned in protest, the metal sounding as if was centuries old. She found the area empty and spotted the small metal staircase leading up to the bridge. Two of her 'Repurposed' placed themselves in front of her and stomped up the steps. She rose up behind them, mind swirling with questions. Before long, she found herself staring at the captain of the ship. His normally clean-cut beard and presentable top knot were disheveled and grayed in places.
"Overseer," he attempted a proper salute but fell short. Hollow, golden, eyes stared at her. The pregnant pause between them, a signal that he was waiting for her to speak.
"Captain? What is the meaning of this? Why are you not presentable?" she demanded in a low tone. Her guards had drifted in and stood along the sides of the bridge, focused on the single solitary man at its center.
"A thousand apologies, Overseer," he replied in a tired voice. "I have not had the proper amounts of rest since we found that thing. My dreams have grown strange of late." The captain blinked, then added, almost as an afterthought, "What of Saan's fleet? Have they made port?"
"Yes, captain, they have," she twitched.
"The ingredients have all been accounted for? The flash paper? The…"
"We are not here to discuss the finer points of synthesizing blasting jelly, captain," her words came out like a razor. "I have reports to fill, other people to see, and no time to waste. The Fire Lord has sent word that she will arrive within the week. So if you would please explain to me why you took it upon yourself to not inform us until after you had set out on your little voyage to capture that thing out there," she thumbed back from the direction she had come. "I would be most appreciative."
The man seemed to shiver, casting a glance over his right shoulder. "The red priestess, Harrosha," he began, walking up to the rear window of the bridge. "She advised me that the Fire Lord's ultimate victory would be found out there," Shagan pointed out to the open sea. "Aboard a lone Ironborn ship in the Sunset Sea."
'So that's why they were late,' she mused. "And where is this red priestess?"
The captain's eyes grew wild. "I did not want to listen, but she knew things. She knew things about me, about my life before the transport. About how the Fire Nation would rise to dominate this world if I but shifted course southeast for a day." He looked at her, eyes mad with fear, grief, and hope, all in one. "She knew….she knew….the cold…."
"Captain!" she shouted, quieting his mad rant, and bringing the man's mind back onto solid ground. "Where is she?"
A seasoned veteran of the hundred year's war, Shagan took in a sharp breath of air, as if he had just now registered her question. "Dead," he whispered, turning to face her, before looking down onto the steel floor of the bridge.
"Look at me captain," she commanded, reaching her hand out to raise his chin. "How?"
"She was found her in her quarters two nights ago…frozen solid," he wavered, as she slipped her hand back up into her perfectly pressed sleeve. "Her hands were raised in defense. Her face was one of pure terror, forever displaying a silent, and eternal scream…"
"What else was in the room?" she inquired with baited breath.
A pensive look came over the captain's eyes, his hands resting on the window's metal sill.
"Your silence is audible, captain. What else was in the room?" she pressed, narrowing her eyes.
"Nothing. There was nothing in her room," he finally answered. "Only a very cold spot against the wall, where she was facing."
"And her body?"
"When we touched her, her body cracked, then crumbled into a pile of fine snow," a haunted look came over his face for a brief instant before he shook it away. "I've never seen anything like that, not even from water benders."
"Hmmm, and you still thought it wise to bring this creature here after seeing that?" Mai could not help but raise a brow in astonishment.
"I sent word to the Fire Lord immediately, but she insisted," he pleaded.
"Of course she did," she muttered, frowning her displeasure at her friend's decision. 'What in the spirit world are you thinking, Azula?' She started for the window lining the balcony, looking down along the bow, and the planted prow ramp. Down to the still secured steel coffin. "What happened when you found it? How did you secure it?" she questioned, still staring down at the box. Movement at her back, clinking glass, and the sound of pouring, put her on edge, but the Flameguard had not moved. Whatever the man was doing it was not a threat to her, but even so, she could not help but stare at his light reflection on the clear window.
He came up to her, a glass of liquid in his hand. "Huangjiu," he stated. "I've learned that it can calm the nerves," he drank, and drank deeply, finishing the drink in one gulp. He poured more and offered her some, which she declined. He drank once more, then spoke. "After we came upon the rotting ship, we found numerous bloated bodies littering its deck. Some wore furs. Barbarians of some sort, I think, it's hard to tell with these Westrosi. Others wore armor emblazoned with the golden Kraken. One of them had patches of white hair still stuck to its decayed face, and many rings, of gold, and silver, and bronze. Some of those poor corpses were still moving…"
She turned, the slight rise in her brow indicative of surprise. "The dead were moving? Clearly, they were not dead then. You must've been mistaken."
"They must have been dead, or they should have been," his voice shook slightly. "Some of them had caved in chests, their organs exposed to the elements, and others were rendered into discolored decomposed jelly. They tried clawing at us when we came aboard, with whatever foul strength remained in them. Muscles oozed off their bones in the attempt. We burned the blasted thing and put them all out of their misery once the creature was brought onboard."
"And how did you find the thing?" she probed, her hands hidden in her sleeve as she looked out of the window. The commander remained alert, still circling the creature's temporary prison. The Dragonstone troops both on the docks and on the deck maintained their ready positions.
"We saw it down there in the darkness of the ship's hold. Azure stars glittered in the void until we lit our flames and found a crystalline body collapsed on the floor, gasping for breath." He began to wring his hands and chuckled nervously. "The weather did not seem to agree with it, it seems. Its strange armor was melting away, along with the rest of its body. Like the putrefying carcasses on the ship's deck, it too reached for us, sapphire eyes burning with hate. Pale blue blood dripped out of its gaping black maw. The sound of breaking ice flooded the hold, nearly deafening me and those I had brought aboard."
"Did it resist? Or was it too weak?"
"It resisted at first until we turned our fire upon it. My flames did not feel as strong as they do now, they felt muted. Almost as if they were afraid to strike at the creature. Fortunately, I was not the only bender, and together we rendered the thing into a half-melted emaciated thing," the captain grimaced, balling his hands tightly, knuckles popping. "We threw some chains on it and dragged it onto the 'Firestorm.' It was when we reached the deck of the 'Firestorm' that we heard the chains frosting over. We blasted it with fire once more, causing it to thrash and scream. It somehow managed to free a single hand and…"
"Let me guess? Clawed at the deck?" she stated, rolling her eyes. "I saw the gashes. It's what I surmised." Even through the window, she heard the tank train in the distance rumbling closer. She sighed, sparing a glance at the steel sarcophagus. "And that box you stuffed it in?"
"We used whatever spare plates we had for the furnace and welded them together," the captain answered, a bit of pride shining through his uneasiness.
"Well, don't let anyone ever tell you-you don't think on your feet," she sighed, spotting the tank train emerging from around the shipyard where the 'Azula' was being constructed. "I expect your ship's log, and detailed accounts from your crew, on my desk by the end of the day. The Fire Lord will be awaiting my report when she comes. You know how she is. Make sure they are extremely detailed, please."
"It will be done, Overseer," he saluted, bowing his head.
She rose her hand and twirled her finger in the air, a silent command for her Flameguard to form up, and glided to the open entryway leading out of the bridge. She turned to the captain one last time, "End of the day, captain. Do not forget. The Fire Lord enjoys her little surprises, and in all likelihood, she could turn up tomorrow, or be sitting in my seat waiting for me to show up in my office." 'Probably in the dark too. Oh, you and your flair for the dramatic.'
"I will set to work on reviewing my crew immediately."
"Good," she nodded and continued walking. The corridor seemed longer, somehow, stretching out into the depths of the unknown. 'That sounded so crazy,' she ruminated, hand clasped in front of her and concealed by her long sleeves. Mai brooded over the one question she sought to ask when Azula arrived. 'What kind of plan could you possibly have that requires the use of such a volatile creature?' She swept down the stairs, the loud trudging of her Flameguard shaking her out of her trance. "Could you please walk quietly? Must you stomp around everywhere?" she asked futilely, knowing they were not smart enough to walk gracefully. At least, not for her. "I don't know how Azula gets you to float around like ghosts." Mai emerged from the darkness of ship's doors, and onto the deck, where the troops still retained their silent vigil over the metal box below. The path down the prow ramp was clear, and she drifted across the deck, the assorted troops giving her nods of acknowledgment.
The man with the tattoo approached her once more, "How was the captain, Overseer?"
"As well as can be expected," she paused to answer, seeing Azula's sole armored vehicle only seconds away. "Did you know the priestess? Harrosha?"
"We spoke on occasion, but I did not know her well. However," his Volantene accent sifted through. "She was known to possess a certain aptitude for seeing things in the Lord's flames. A gift not many possess."
"Hmmm," she mused, catching sight of the tank train coming to a stop near the metal box. "Be sure to include that in your report, priest, and thank you for your candor."
"As always," he bowed respectfully. "I live to serve the Lord's chosen, and those she has elevated above the rest."
She nodded, looking at the man. 'He truly believes you are his savior, Azula. This is a big gamble, even for you.' Chains began to rattle, drawing her attention back to the docks, as Zha-Meng barked orders to those below. The tank train had opened it side hatch and disgorged its small escort of five firebenders. The Fire Nation troops busily maneuvered the steel casket, with the assistance of the four 'Repurposed,' into the tank's storage unit, wrapping more chains around it and enclosing it within yet another steel box located at the rear area of the armored train.
The commander saw her approach. "Will you be riding within?"
"Yes, commander. I oversee all operations here, and this is no exception," she answered, looking at the thing, and remembering the first time she had ridden in it. When it had held the most precious of cargos.
"Whoa! This thing is huge! Echo! Echo!" Ty Lee shouted.
