Ukano was hyperaware of the bead of sweat slowly dripping from his forehead. He could feel its each minute movement, and the wet trail it left behind. It was all he could do to distract himself from the sheer anxiety he was feeling at the moment.

He recalled that fateful day. The Fire Lord was holding court that day. Ukano was standing amongst the many courtiers, simply grateful to still be allowed in court, when a military officer came in and whispered something in the Fire Lord's ear. Ukano remembered being perplexed by the deviation from protocol and grew more confused when he saw a small smirk form in Fire Lord Ozai's lips.

"Omashu has finally fallen." The Fire Lord announced right after. Everyone in court celebrated the victory, Ukano included, and many already suggested a slew of names for the new colonial holding. But it seemed that Fire Lord Ozai was not finished giving out announcements.

"For his leal service to the Fire Nation and me personally, I hereby appoint Lord Ukano as Governor of the city."

Ukano was beyond shocked at that moment. He was not informed beforehand about any appointment, and he was not expecting anything so suddenly. In his shock, he could only meekly accept the appointment of the Fire Lord and gave a deep bow in gratitude.

When he later came to his senses, Ukano felt both excitement and anxiety in his body. This was finally the chance he was waiting for to regain his lost power. The past years weren't kind to Ukano's political career and his family, being isolated even amongst supporters of Fire Lord Ozai, and this appointment could just change all of that. However, this appointment came out of the blue and Ukano was not prepared at all to take charge of colonial administration. And while governing Omashu, the greatest Earth Kingdom city next to Ba Sing Se, held significant prestige, it also meant that holding it would be an arduous task.

Still, ever loyal to Fire Lord Ozai and thirsting to prove that, Ukano resolved himself to take up the appointment with all his energy.

And so here he was, in front of the office doors of the New Ozai Palace, waiting with his family to be introduced to the general that conquered the city.

"It'll be fine." Ukano heard his wife, Michi, say to him, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.

Ukano wanted to believe her, but he simply couldn't let himself think that. While nominally the most powerful individual in New Ozai as its new governor, Ukano understood that in practice, the general currently had all the power. He has command over the garrison forces in addition to his own army. He was effectively the governor over the city during the period between Ukano's arrival and the city's conquest. He even occupies the governor's office at the moment while Ukano and his family are stuck waiting outside of it, which spoke volumes about the reality of the situation.

Ukano didn't want to antagonize the general and instead wanted to create a working relationship with the man. That would make his duties in New Ozai go much smoother, at least in his mind.

The door suddenly swung open, breaking Ukano's thoughts, and two soldiers called them in.

"Thank you general, for giving us an audience-" Ukano greeted as he entered, already in the motion of a bow when he noticed that his daughter, Mai, suddenly froze in place.

"Mai, what are you doing?" Ukano questioned softly, still in his bow. Mai's form didn't move still, Mai seemingly ignoring him.

Ukano was about to reprimand his daughter when he suddenly heard her speak in a tone he has never heard her use before.

"S-Senzin?" His daughter's voice said with much more emotion than Ukano has ever heard from her in years. It was soft like always but unusually shaky instead of sharp, like she was shocked or in disbelief.

Ukano himself was shocked at the tone but became more anxious when he processed the name she spoke. It was a name from the past. A bittersweet past now more filled by ghosts and regrets than happiness and nostalgia.

Ukano didn't want to believe it, the implications already weighing heavily on his mind, but he steeled himself to raise his head and to look.

"Senzin." Ukano confirmed, the name both familiar yet foreign on his tongue.

He may have been wearing his armor. He may have grown his hair. He may have grown. But Ukano could not mistake those eyes. Those brown eyes that hid a vast wealth of intellect and wisdom. He could not forget them, for he always sees them in his nightmares. Pleading. Begging.

"Governor Ukano, I apologize for keeping you and your family waiting." Senzin greeted back, as if he didn't recognize them at all. This pained Ukano but he could understand why he would do so.

"Lady Michi, Lady Mai, you must be tired from your long journey. Allow my soldiers to see you settled in your quarters." Senzin offered, gesturing towards the two soldiers that opened the door previously.

Ukano quickly stretched his hand out towards his daughter, stopping her before she could make any response. She looked at him, her eyes pleading to be allowed to speak even just this once. Ukano felt for his daughter, but this was neither the time nor the place.

Mai silently glared defiantly against her father, something that was so rare for Ukano to see but he resolved himself.

"Mai, let's leave the men to their business. Now." Michi said as she grabbed Mai's arm, her tone giving no room for refusal. Ukano was glad that Mai relented and joined her mother and brother down to the quarters, leaving Ukano alone with Senzin and the remaining individuals beside him.

"Before all things, allow me to introduce these men." Senzin started, first gesturing towards the man in a similar military uniform.

"This is Colonel Cheren. He is my second-in-command and a trusted officer. He will oversee the contingent I will leave here in… New Ozai." Senzin introduced, becoming a bit disdainful when mentioning the city's new name.

"And this is Administrator Han. He is the highest-ranking official amongst the collaborating Omashu bureaucrats and would prove useful in the civilian governance of the city." Senzin continued, gesturing this time towards the man in what clearly was an Earth Kingdom official's robe.

"Is it wise to have an Earth citizen as an official of our administration?" Ukano voiced his concern in a quiet tone, hoping to not overly offend the man in question.

"If you plan to govern Earth citizens with only Fire Nation officials and soldiers, you will be governing for a short time, Governor Ukano." Senzin answered in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Besides, Han and his colleagues have been vetted to be sympathetic to the Fire Nation. They pose no threat against us. Right?" Senzin added before asking for confirmation from Han, the word being more of a threat than a question.

"O-Of course." Han affirmed in a shaky voice as he bowed his head towards Senzin. Ukano gulped at the blatant display of intimidation and turned to give Senzin his full attention.

"Anyways, as I said before, I will leave a small portion of my forces here to supplement the garrison. About two hundred soldiers. They'll primarily be for you and your family's personal protection and for the investigation of the Omashu Resistance, which will be led by Colonel Cheren." Senzin informed Ukano, which placed a bit of fear in Ukano at the mention of resistance.

"What do you mean by a resistance?" Ukano asked, wanting to be informed of the situation.

"One drawback from Omashu's immediate surrender is that their garrison force was wholly intact when we occupied the city. That meant we had an entire army of Earth Kingdom soldiers still fresh and able, ready to fight inside these walls. And one of their officers, intelligence reports identify him as one Captain Yung, was able to organize many of them and the locals into a resistance." Senzin started explaining with not a single breath out of place.

"They've attacked the barracks and the palace before, as well as the steel factories throughout the cities, but they eventually fell into ambushing the occasional patrol and simply hiding from our forces. While we think they're operating in the sewers, the tunnels are simply too vast to search effectively without significant, unnecessary risk. Cheren already has agents infiltrating the group, so we'll soon find them, and we'll be able to bring an end to their resistance." Senzin continued before gesturing again towards Han.

"Meanwhile, Han and the other civilian collaborators will help in maintaining public order by serving as a continuation of government for the citizens. They will continue the public works and services, and they will reassure the rest of the Earth citizens that our rule is fair desirable." Senzin explained.

"Of course, that means no forced labor for non-criminals. No reprisal attacks against Earth citizens. We already won the siege; we must now win their hearts and minds." Senzin finished, placing both his hands behind his back.

"I-I see." Ukano simply replied, both overwhelmed by the information and slightly relieved that measures have already been taken to address the situation.

"Aside from the factory production, which Han can inform you in greater detail, that summarizes the situation here. If there is nothing else, I formally give the city to your rule, Governor Ukano" Senzin said as he bowed towards Ukano.

"Wait!" Ukano suddenly exclaimed, stopping Senzin and the rest from moving to leave the room.

Ukano felt his throat quickly dry after speaking. What could he say? What should he say? They just had a professional discussion a few moments prior, should he really risk that to satisfy his curiosity?

Ukano calmed himself. Yes, he should. He already called out to Senzin, there was no turning back anymore.

"We need to talk, Senzin." Ukano conveyed in a meaningful tone which Senzin seemed to acknowledge.

After a few tense moments, Senzin finally motioned to dismiss both Cheren and Han from the room. The two gave deep bows to both Senzin and Ukano before exiting the office, leaving the governor and general alone.

"How have you been?" Ukano started, silently cursing the stupidity of the question given Senzin's situation. Senzin gave a bitter laugh at the question, which made Ukano flinch.

"What a question to ask me now." Senzin replied with slight bitterness.

"Senzin, I'm truly sorry for-" Ukano tried again, this time with an apology long overdue, but was cut off by Senzin.

"Let me save us both the trouble of this conversation, uncle." Senzin began, his voice now more sounding tired than upset or bitter.

"You abandoned us." Senzin accused, and Ukano could only hold his head down in shame.

"You abandoned me. You abandoned my mother. You abandoned my father, your friend. You let the Fire Lord execute him without so much a complaint." Senzin continued, his voice slightly trembling from the memory. Ukano couldn't blame him. Those memories haunted him too.

Senzin took a few seconds to steady himself before speaking again.

"I know you were looking out for your family, and I cannot fault you for that. But that doesn't change the fact that you abandoned us." Senzin repeated, this time calmer and steadier.

"You abandoned us… but I forgive you for that. I will not forget it and nothing will return to as it was, but I do forgive you." Senzin finally said, his voice sounding a bit relieved as he said that.

"J-just like that?" Ukano asked, still unbelieving of the situation.

"I've hated you for years. More than Iroh, and sometimes even more than Ozai." Senzin explained, making Ukano deepen his frown at the confession.

"But I grew to understand that I could never see you as an enemy. I just can't. It was just too tiring to force myself to do so." Senzin finished, turning around to look out of the office's balcony.

"Is there anything I can do to help you?" Ukano earnestly offered, wanting to earn the forgiveness Senzin just gave him. Senzin just laughed again.

"What can you do? What can I really do? My father's dead and my mother's disappeared to wherever Spirits forsaken place they've taken her. Nothing I do can really bring them back." Senzin mused bitterly before continuing.

"Revenge? Against the Fire Lord? There are better ways to get myself killed than just doomed revenge." Senzin said mockingly, making Ukano flinch at the casual mention of treason against the Fire Lord.

"No. Just… leave me be." Senzin finally answered.

"What about Mai? I'm sure you saw she misses you." Ukano implored, appealing for his daughter.

Ukano saw Senzin give a small smile at the mention and was assured that Senzin still held some fondness for Mai.

"Little Mai has finally grown up into a beautiful woman, hasn't she?" Senzin mused to Ukano, which made the father smile.

"But no. I think after today, we shouldn't talk anymore." Senzin suddenly responded in a firm voice.

"But why?" Ukano asked, desperate to reconnect with the last connection he had with his friend.

"I may have forgiven, but I haven't forgotten. I don't think I can ever be the older brother to Mai as I was before. Not with those memories. And not with who I am now." Senzin explained with a resigned tone.

"M-Maybe if we-" Ukano tried to push on, to grasp at every single straw available to hold on to the son of his brother in all but blood. His nephew.

"I have overstayed myself. I apologize. I shall excuse myself." Senzin suddenly said, switching back to a professional tone and quickly leaving the room.

And so, Ukano finally occupied the office alone. He was Governor of New Ozai. And with all the opulence and prestige of the office and station surrounding him, Ukano could only feel himself drowning in regret and pain of a past long lost.