Avatar: The Last Airbender is not owned by me and is under the administration of Viacom. I own nothing... NOTHING! Also, I own nothing of Square-enix...I SWEAR! This is a fan-based story.
ACT II
SETTING: A day or two after Zakku training with Kanani. It is near noon, however, that is only visible by the light that is coming in from above. The camp is more of a town in size and located in the center of a large mountain that has a deep crater in the center of it so that the sunlight is only visible during solar noon. The city-like camp has a central courtyard that is stone while there is a central hole in the courtyard that leads into a large chamber that would be a good thirty foot drop. There the main part of the encampment is with hundreds of interconnected tunnels and the center is merely the nexus which all of the tunnels lead to. A single soldier is sitting lazily against the wall in the nexus. He was sleeping.
?? (Kicks sleeping soldier)- ZAK! Wake up, you lazy Bastard. (The man sleeping suddenly wakes up.)
ZAKKU - Up…( Zakku yawns; Jumps up)…Ok, I am tired…It happens… (Glances around seeing that it wasn't a higher up)…Oh…what?
?? - Hehe…Kanani told me that you were a lazy person…He asked me to help you out.
ZAKKU - What? Does Kanani not trust me?
?? - Don't take it personally, Zak…
ZAKKU (Rubs eye)- And…who are you?
?? (Smiles)- Kinseu…Warrior.
ZAKKU - Kinseu… So…why did Kanani send you?
KINSEU - Well… (Scratches his chin)…I guess it was something about keeping you out of trouble…or something, I don't know, I stopped listening to Kanani after the hundredth time of him lecturing me about moralities and such…
ZAKKU - That sounds like Kanani…
KINSEU - So…You are Zakku, I heard about you…a real trouble maker, says Xizzen… immature, rash, uncoordinated, arrogant, quick-tempered…You can stop me if I have insulated you…
ZAKKU -But you haven't said anything that isn't true… (Zakku laughs as Kinseu does as well.)
KINSEU (Grins slightly)- Sounds like you are an ok guy… So… did you get the lecture about Lupuz, yet?
ZAKKU (Shrugs slightly)- Not really…Pretty much he told me that the Organization is the will of the Fire Nation, that we are…
ZAKKU & KINSEU (In unison)- Protectors of the Homeland…(Zakku and Kinseu look at each other then laugh.)
KINSEU (Smiling)- Good to see that there is someone with humor in the organization… Telling jokes to Kanani is kind of risky…he'll either laugh at your face, or he will flat out not get it. So…How do you like Shara? (Kinseu grins slightly, as if remembering something from the past that was amusing to him.)
ZAKKU - I like her…She seems really nice…I guess…Why?
KINSEU - Because it seems like a common thing among all you new regs…
ZAKKU (Turns head slightly)- Reg? I'm not a reg… I am in the Warrior Class…
(Kinseu looks surprised as he begins to walk down one of the halls along with Zakku. Kinseu has dull amber eyes and a slightly battle hardened look along with an aura that seems to be quiet cheerful.)
KINSEU (Surprised)- You're…You're not? I have never seen you before…and you're a Warrior?
ZAKKU (Cheerful; unserious) T--hat's—right.
KINSEU - That's uncommon…how old are you?
ZAKKU - Fourteen.
(Kinseu laughs as if he can't believe what he has just been told. He stands taller then Zakku by almost a complete foot. Zakku only stands at 5'4")
KINSEU - Really!? Jezz… and I was starting to think that I was just tall…Come on… I want you to meet some of the Warrior ranks…It's best to get yourself familiar with all the faces of your comrades. You know?
ZAKKU - That makes sense, I guess. So…what does the Warrior Rank mean?
(Kinseu laughs again. However, he quickly realizes that Zakku is serious.)
KINSEU (Serious look)- Oh…you're serious…Are you telling me that you got promoted to Warrior without knowing what that rank entitles?! My…my…Uingu you have really done it this time….
ZAKKU (Questioning look)- What do you mean?
KINSEU (Smiles)- It means nothing… I am just surprised that's all…Normally, I would think that they would at least give you a crash course of what it means…Then again…I guess that's why Kanani sent me to talk to you.
(The two warriors enter another area of the Organization stronghold. It is more crowded as about fifteen or twenty Warrior-classed soldiers along with a few regulars wander around, eating rations or training with each other.)
KINSEU - Normally, I would have thought I would have seen you around, if you were a Warrior…considering the last recruiting period was about two…three weeks ago…Why they recruited you later then everyone else, I don't know but you need to know that as a Warrior, you are expected to be quiet a bit more superior as compared to a Reg… You are permitted to send letters to your family…a luxury compared to the Elite class. You are given a standard issue uniform, as you undoubtedly have already learned. You are permitted…and know I stretch the word… to carry personal items, such as extra knives, custom made sword, and or anything that will make you more effective fighter…however, they can not bare the marks of your family name or of your homeland…do you want the Rebels to come and destroy your home after we destroyed theirs? I don't think so….
ZAKKU - What is an Elite?
(Kinseu stares at Zakku for a long moment, as if he couldn't believe what he had just heard. After a moment, Kinseu put his hand on Zakku's shoulder as if comforting him.)
KINSEU - Oh…my…god…kid…You are lucky that you have me to help you….If I were not here… It would be like you asking was the ground the sky…(Loud, joking, cheerful)…Don't worry, my little broth'ar, Zakky! I'm going to educate you! (Hugs Zakku in a joking manner)…Don't worry…You won't be completely in the dark ANYMORE!
ZAKKU (Moving; Trying to get out)- Let go of me…
KINSEU (Jokingly)- NO! I need to KEEP YOU SAFE! You understand…poor, poor, young, miss-informed brother! You need to be SAFE from your ignorance!
ZAKKU (Still struggling)- No! I'm dead serious, let go…
KINSEU - If you insist…
(Kinseu releases Zakku. Kinseu is still smiling, showing he was only joking around. He looks over to a small group of Warrior ranked Lupuz soldiers.)
KINSEU (Loud; as if in a commanding tone)- My brothers! I bring to you, our newest member… (Kinseu pushes Zakku forward so that three Warriors can look at him. They do not have an expression on their faces but they seem attentive and watching Zakku with almost piercing vigilantes.)… His name is Zakku! He's fourteen and a Warrior!
??(1) - Warrior?! Are you sure? Sure he isn't just lying?
KINSEU (Nods) Yes, yes I'm sure. He was recruited by Kanani.
??(3) - I though Kanani wasn't recruiting anyone anymore…
KINSEU - I guess he is the exception!
(The three soldiers laugh in unison as they look at Zakku.)
??(1) - That kid?! Are you serious! Are you dead serious!? LOOK at him! What type of weaponry does he specialize in?
ZAKKU - I'm a swordsman…
??(3) (Questioning look)- You have to be the greatest swordsman if you made it past Reg at the age of fourteen.
??(1) (Look of disgust)- The organization is getting desperate… soon, they will be recruiting babies…
KINSEU - Hey,(Louder) Hey…I was only sixteen when I was recruited…So what if he is a little young, give him a chance…Let's see what you can do!
ZAKKU (Questioning look)- What?!
??(1) - I like that idea… Let's see what this…Warrior can do…
ZAKKU - Bu…
KINSEU (To Zakku)- Don't worry Zak, you'll easily bet him… (To the other Lupuz Soldier) Ok, Zeel…You going to fight Zak…no killing though.
ZEEL - Fine, captain…(Zeel leaves to get his weapon and to clear an area for him to fight. Zakku looks at Kinseu with a horrified look on his face.)
ZAKKU - Wh…why?
KINSEU - Come one Zak, you had to have seen it already…Lupuz is like a wolf pack! I just saved you! You need to prove that you are someone to be feared! That you are someone who can hold his own against other Warriors… If you don't try to prove yourself, you will be lost in the wind…You have to show yourself! Don't worry about, Zeel…
(Zeel draws his sword showing it to be a very, very large sword. Zakku stared at the sword)
KINSEU (Sees Zakku's horrified expression)- Don't worry about the sword, Zakky… You can take him…The sword's only the size of a man…
ZAKKU -You…You said it would be easy.
KINSEU - Oh…I said that…(Kinseu looks like he is confused.)… Oh, don't worry about Zeel, he's slow as a turtle on land, and has the brains of one…(Shoves Zakku forward)… Just make sure you don't get hit by the blade…
ZAKKU (Sarcastic)- Ya, that was exactly what I wanted to do…
KINSEU - Oh…and if you lose…you will be ridiculed for the rest of your life…No pressure…(Kinseu smiles as he runs taking cover behind a chair.)
ZAKKU - Why are you hiding there?
KINSEU (Surprise)- What? You can't see the size of his sword?! It's the size of two men! He could cut me in half on accident…I'm not crazy enough to stay nearby where he could kill me! Good luck, though.
(Zakku turns only to see a blade come at him, which makes him instantly side step to get out of the way. The sword misses Zakku, who stares at Zeel as if not knowing what was happening. The soldier lifts the sword and side swipes with it. Zakku merely duck under it. Zeel stops and turns.)
ZEEL - ARE you just playing?
ZAKKU -…Well…I was just trying to make you feel like you were doing well.
(Zeel narrows his gaze as he swings again at Zakku, who again, easily dodges and hits Zeel in the side as he runs behind Zeel.)
ZAKKU - What? Did I say something?
ZEEL - Are you a fighter, or a dancer?
ZAKKU - Your own fault you can't hit me… (Zeel swipes again at Zakku, who easily dodges again.)… I think that what you are doing is called insanity…
ZEEL - Stop talking!
ZAKKU - What? Is there something wrong with talking? (Zeel lunged forward; Zakku again sidesteps and punches Zeel in the face. The Warrior takes a few steps back before shaking his head.)…And you're a Warrior?
ZEEL - Shut up!
(Zakku draws his sword out and summersaults backwards as Zeel attack with a swipe. Then, Zakku dashed forward only to have Zeel step out of the way as well swiping again. Desperately, Zakku lifted his sword to block it. It knocked him to the side, however didn't cause any physical harm as Zakku used one hand and pushed of the ground and did a half turn spin landing a yard or so away from Zeel. Several other Warriors gathered to watch, seeing Zakku seemingly easily hold his own against Zeel, the next soldier in line for the Warrior Captain rank. Zakku watched Zeel lung forward again, only this time, Zakku jumped forward, stepping on the large blade, sending it flat to the ground as he ran across the metal sword up. With a yell he slashed for Zeel's face, a downward strike. Zeel stepped backwards only to have the tip of the blade cut his eye lid, but not far enough to cut the eye. Zeel yelled in pain as blood blinded him in the eye for a moment. Zakku landed a fraction of a meter from Zeel only to realize he made a step too far and was hit across the room into a column, his head hitting first, by Zeel's fist. Zakku felt a severe pain in his head as he stood up again, seeing the enraged look of Zeel as he rushed forward, catching Zakku around the throat and lifting him up choking him.
ZEEL - You are going to pay for that, you bastard! (Zeel tightens his grip causing Zakku extreme pain in his throat as he could not breathe at all.) …Last word?
(Zakku grinned as he slammed his foot into Zeel's face. There was a look of bewilderment on Zeels face as Zakku kicked again and again until finally, Zeel released Zakku and walked back in a daze. Zakku then dashed forward punching Zeel in the face, taking the soldier down. There is silence as everyone who looks on looks slightly shocked that Zeel was defeated by some newbie. Kinseu slowly rises from behind the chair he was hidding behind.)
KINSEU (Surprise)- You won!
ZAKKU (Breathing hard)- You…sound surprised…(Revelation) You didn't know if I would win…
KINSEU - Don't take it personal…Zeel was one of the top soldier under me…
ZAKKU (Surprise)- TOP! You…you said it would be easy! EASY! E-A-S-Y!
KINSEU - Ya…Easy to lose…
ZAKKU (Dumbfounded)- I…I…I'm going to kill you! (Zakku dashes at Kinseu and starts to choke him)
KINSEU (Choking)- You…yo…Won…did…n't you…
ZAKKU - I'M STILL GOING TO KILL YOU!(Zakku starts to shake Kinseu as he chokes him)
KINSEU - NO, Please don't! I could have kids!
ZAKKU - LIER! (Zakku starts to release Kinseu)
KINSEU - I could…