Well...this didn't take as long as the last chapter. I should warn you though, it gets a bit werid towards the end.
The following is rated T scenes of mass destruction, end of the world scenarios and several facts about Azura that you may not want to know. Aslo, the following contains notes about the Big Bang and general creation of the universe. I'm not being sacreligious, I'm just trying to write something entertaining.

Oh, and please ignore my therories on what would happen if the British Isles sank. I doubt this would actually happen, and I'm not sure if anyone knows anyway.

Enjoy!

A.V.A.T.A.R.

OPERATION MOSCOW DAWN

PART III

Russia.

Since the disappearance of the British Isles one hundred years ago, the resulting change in the oceans currents had caused the country to get colder and colder.

Despite this, under the Arnook Administration's Capitalist leadership, the New Soviet Union, at least for a time, had enjoyed an era of prosperity due to their declared neutrality. Cities such as Moscow and Saint Petersburg (formerly Leningrad) were rebuilt into stunning metropolises of shining skyscrapers with advanced defence systems, poverty reached all time low levels, and as the rest of the world dissolved into chaos, peace reigned.

But nothing lasts forever, and fifty years later, layers of permafrost began to form.

In a panic, the Arnook Administration spent the next ten years constructing hastily built environment domes of steel and mortar over cities and towns that had not been equipped with Energy Domes, thousands of men women and children in the outlying regions fleeing to these temporary shelters and the more secure mega-cities as snow quickly began to completely dominate the country.

By the turn of the Twenty-first Century, five years later, almost a third of Russia was buried under snow and ice. Ten years later the oceans surrounding the edges of the country had frozen solid.

Now, in the dying days of the Year 2045, Russia now lived under a constant blanket of snow. Cities, towns and villages left unguarded against the weather had disappeared under the snow drifts of frequent storms, even cities covered in domes of steel were trapped under mountains of white, their inhabitants unaware of the world beyond their worlds.

And it was through this snowy wasteland, that the Dominance trudged through, snowflakes whipping around the giant machine, blinding it's cameras, freezing it's joints.

Inside it's cockpit, Zuko shivered quietly, his breath coming out in wispy vapour, his Ranger's heating systems having shut down hours ago.

Beside his armoured feet, Alistair Aang sat quietly, his hands and legs tied with thick rope, his glassy eyes staring vacantly ahead.

Glancing down at him every so often, Zuko wondered if he was even breathing.

"You better not die on me you know," the Captain smirked slightly as the Dominance groaned in annoyance, "I need you to be alive so you can summon that big friend of yours. I wish you'd just wake up though. It'd save me a whole lot of trouble," The crimson Ranger suddenly stopped, it's foot slumping deep into the snow, "This…doesn't look good,"

The sound of breaking glass was lost to the howls of the wind, Dominance disappearing beneath the snow drifts in a matter of moments.

The sky was bleak and stormy; flashes of lightning scratching the dark swirling clouds above his head.

All around him, buildings of onyx steel lay in ruin, the streets strewn with rubble and debris, an oddly familiar twisted biological mass embossed in a nearby tower giving him a strangely cold feeling throughout his body as it rotted in the darkness.

"Where…where am I?" Alistair's voice seemed to echo around the desecrated buildings, his hands flexing uneasily, "Hello? Is there anyone alive? Is there anybody out here?"

"I'm here,"

"AGH!!!" Aang jumped at the low, shallow metallic laced voice that whispered in his ear, the officer clutching his chest as the robed figure smirked devilishly, "Don't do that! You scared me,"

"I apologise," The Immortal Wanderer's smirk seemed to tell Alistair otherwise, "A good scare can be good for you sometimes though, it let's you know you're still alive,"

"Yeah well…" Aang rubbed his chest roughly, "Just don't do it again alright? And what happened to you anyway? I thought you were dead,"

"Technically I'm not even alive, but I appreciate your concern," The Wanderer cocked his head slightly to one side, "I'm not called the Immortal Wanderer for nothing you know. Lady Fina is also alive before you ask. The attack was…unforeseeable, but she is making a recovery,"

"Where is she? Can I see her?"

"Not here," the Wanderer shook his head slowly as he turned to look out across the desecrated city, "This is a place no Silvairian can ever walk. They say the ground itself is saturated in too much darkness. I have been sent here on her behalf,"

"What makes you so special?" Alistair frowned at the robed figure, "Aren't you a Silvairian? And what about me? How did I get here? Last I checked I was in Moscow?"

"Me? A member of the House of Silvairian?" The Wanderer's laugh was cold and hollow, it's metallic tint sending a shiver down the officer's spine, "I am no more Silvairian then you are Mr. Aang. I don't think I would able to handle such a burden. As to why you are here, all I can tell you is that your mind decided to bring itself here, leaving your body alone in the snowy plains of Russia,"

"My mind?" Aang frowned, one hand going to his head as it suddenly throbbed painfully, "The last…the last thing I remember was seeing…a crystal. One half was black, the other was white…but it kept changing sides…"

"Ah, a Avatarium Crystal, split in two to negate the need for rest," The Wanderer smiled knowingly, "I believe this may have been the conduit for your travels Mr. Aang,"

"But where am I!?" Aang glared up into the masked features of his companion, "Stop being so enigmatic and give me a straight answer!"

"Where are you?" The Wanderer's features became solemn, "Can't you feel it in the air? The darkness, the greed, the corruption? Mr. Aang, these are the last remains of the Homeworld of the Dark Ones: Once the most powerful and feared races in the universe, and the creators of the weapon that threatens your dear planet,"

"Ow…." Zuko grimaced as he groggily pulled himself out of the fallen Ranger, "What a lousy place for a Mall,"

All around him everything was eerily still, only the wind howling far above his head broke the silence as snowflakes floated gently though the large hole in the glass roof he had created.

It was as though time had stopped within the massive building. Everything was covered in a fine layer of frost, giving Sozin the impression of dust settling over a long forgotten house or mansion. Clothes thirty years out of date still hung on their racks in a nearby store, a rack of doughnuts frozen sat in neat rows of six in a nearby vendor's cart. Shopping bags, obviously discarded hurriedly in the face of an oncoming storm, lay strewn across the shiny floor and immovable escalators.

And huddled in a corner, much to Zuko's dismay, lay a old homeless man and his dog, frozen solid and unchanged in the face of the never-ending winter.

"I suppose this will do as a shelter for now," the captain sighed as he returned to the Ranger now lying flat on it's back, "There isn't much point trying to get through this storm anyway. I don't even know where I'm going,"

Within ten minutes, Zuko managed to get a small fire going after demolishing a table and chairs from a nearby Starbucks in order to make the firewood, his still bound prisoner set up against the leg of the Dominance to insure the cold didn't kill him.

"Well…this is certainty ironic," Zuko smirked at his comatose companion as he threw several Japanese mangas from a nearby book store onto the fire, "I finally have you in my grasp, and the Avatar within reach…and I can't get home because of this damn blizzard. There's always something. Nothing ever came easy to me. Azura on the other hand…Everything was always a breeze for her. You gave her a Ranger; she'd master it in weeks when it would take me months just to perfect a single move. Give her an instrument, and she'll be playing sweet music within a day while I sounded like I was strangling a cat. Whatever she wanted, she got, be it my dessert when we were kids, or her dear sweet Artirius in her bedroom after dark when she…grew up. No one crosses her, No one tells her No. She holds respect for only one human being on this planet and that's our father.

Then there's our 'mutual friend' Major Artirius Meridiano. The man's as blind as a bat, but I saw him take down a Colossus with one sweep. There's a man with a secret, that's for sure. Sometimes I can't stand him, sometimes he surprises me, like that stunt he pulled back at Atlantic Base when he let me go. Most of the time though…he scares me. I don't know why though. Maybe it's that enigmatic air he gives off. Maybe it's because he's in my sister's pocket. Maybe it's that Ranger he pilots.

Whatever it is though, he doesn't hold a candle to my father.

My father," Zuko chuckled slightly as he scratched at the stubble that had begun to grace his face, "I can't remember the last time he smiled at me. Can't remember the last time he congratulated me on a job well done. Any man that has faced him down in any form of combat, be it Ranger or otherwise, as always either ended up dead or scarred. You ever wondered how I got this?" he traced his scar lightly from his hair line down to his lip, "My father gave this to me. A reminder of my…disobedience. I was twenty years old and still naive about the world. I wanted to get into the council chambers to see what a real War Meeting was like, just to experience it for the day when I would take up my Father's mantle. The guards though…they wouldn't let me in. Wouldn't even give me a reason. My Uncle though…" he smiled fondly, "He tried weakly to persuade me to just walk away, but in the end conceded to my enthusiasm and let me in," his face fell slightly, "There are days when I just wish I'd heeded his advice. Everything was going quiet smoothly. Generals discussed the latest troop movements of the U.S.A.C. with the Führer, a few colonels commented on the production of the latest Ranger models. But when it finally came to discussing new operations, that's when things went horribly wrong.

A recently promoted General, whose name I've long forgotten, put foreword an operation plan that would secure a foothold in Toronto in Canada. The plan was simple, send the 41st Division in by sea, and then drop in the 22nd Battalion by air when the enemy forces were preoccupied.

I won't deny it; it was a good strategy, with only one problem. The 41st Division was entirely made up of new recruits. By attacking a predominant city of the U.S.A.C., the General was planning to send these brave men and women to their deaths just so more experienced soldiers could get the jump on the enemy. So I did something foolish, something stupid. I spoke my mind, and I angered my father. To say he was furious that I had spoken out of line was an understatement. He said that my challenge of the general was an act of complete disrespect, and there was only one way to resolve it. A duel. A Ranger duel.

I was arrogant. I looked at the young general I had insulted and declared that I was not afraid. I clearly had more training and better equipment, being the Führer's son. But I was stupid to think in such basic terms. So when I turned to face his opponent, three days later, you can imagine my surprise when it wasn't an Endurance I was staring down. I may have spoken out against a general's plan, but by doing so in the Führer's war room; it was the Führer who I had disrespected. So when I turned around that fateful day, it wasn't an Endurance I faced, but the machine they call Schwarzwald.

It is the most powerful Ranger ever constructed no mech, save perhaps for the Avatar, can possibly be compared to it. No one knows much about it, except that it is very old, far older then any other Ranger known to exist. I heard rumours that it was made by the same race that created the COMET System, but I can't confirm that for you.

All I know is that this machine has been passed down to each Führer since Robert Sozin first rose to power and led the Day of Blood, and that when in it's presence you can't help but feel like nothing matters anymore, that life just isn't worth living.

I knew in that moment that I wouldn't be able to win the fight. I begged my father for mercy; I told him I thought I had the Nation's best interest at heart, that I was sorry I ever questioned his Generals. But he didn't listen. He just told me to stand and fight. But I refused. Again, and again he demanded I stand and fight and again and again I refused.

So he pulled out his sword, and slashed through the front of the cockpit, just deep enough for the tip of the blade to give me this," he pointed to his scar angrily, "Because that's the kind of fighter my father is. No one is more precise then he is, even before he ascended to the throne. After the duel, my father said that by refusing to fight, I had shown shameful weakness. As punishment I was banished and sent to capture the Avatar. Only then could I return with my honour. So, now you know," Zuko laughed slightly as the Black Core officer continued to stare vacantly ahead, "You probably haven't heard a word I've said, have you? Oh well, it doesn't matter. Maybe when you wake up, I'll make you understand why I have to do this. Capturing the Avatar is the only chance I have of things returning to normal. Rather ironically, the Avatar gives me hope,"

Across the battlefield, just outside of Moscow, war raged within the swirling snow.

In the wide open space between the city walls and the fleet of Land Battleships, Rangers clashed against each other, Lumbers and Dovatos against wave upon wave of Fortitudes. Bullets shot through the blankets of snow as crimson solar lasers sliced through the air, the stormy weather hindering any sign of victory or defeat for either side.

"It will be dawn soon General," Iroh stared grimly out of the snow swept windows of the Dues Ex Machina's Bridge as he joined Artirius at Zhao's side, "I'm not sure how many more days we can keep up this siege,"

"The men are getting tired," Artirius agreed, "The Fortitude's compact nuclear reactors might have limitless power, but a soldier's spirit can only last so long,"

"Patience my friends," Zhao's voice was eerily calm, "Tomorrow will be a day of victory for G.U.N., I promise you. When the sun reaches it's peak, I will eliminate it as a factor in this war. Thus robbing the Union of it's most precious power source,"

"Eliminate the sun!?" Iroh stared at the General incredulously, "How!?"

"General Choi!" several heads turned in surprise as a officer in a severally outdated uniform burst onto the Bridge, waving a pistol madly in the air as he did so, "You're reign of tyranny is at an end!" Artirius and Iroh looked back towards the intruder while Zhao continued to watch the battle before him, "Let it be known that on this day, I, Jonah Rono Sayren, was the one to defeat you!"

"Would someone please restrain him?"

"I am strong like the mountain! I'm swift like the wind! I am….ugh!" Jonah's eye bulged out as a nearby soldier slammed his fist into the intruder's nose, several more officers jumping on top of him to hold him down, "No wait! You can't do this to me! Do you know who I am!?!"

Zhao sighed as the would-be assassin was dragged away to the brig screaming his head off, before turning back to the battle at hand.

"It was during the Texas Campaigns, back in 2028. I was a young Captain under the command of General Klien, before I was transferred to Atlantic Base. While I was out on a routine patrol, I encountered a massive alien vessel buried under the desert sands. Inside, I found thousands of books, countless millions of different topics from civilisations across the universe, including our own. I found entire sections on the history of the German Unified Nation, shelves dedicated to the battle tactics of the U.S.A.C., but most importantly," the General smiled slightly, "I found a rather interesting documentation concerning the energy shield surrounding the New Soviet Union's capital city of Moscow. This is no ordinary dome, like the ones over Washington or Vancouver. This dome is powered by a fractured shard of the universe that preceded this one, a form of crystal the document called…Avatarium.

After studying the schematics of the dome, and reading through the properties of Avatarium crystals, I realised there was a way to unleash the power they hold into the atmosphere, thus cutting off the sun's rays and dampening the Union's Solar batteries,"

"You plan to shatter a Avatarium Crystal?" Artirius swallowed thickly, "That isn't a wise thing to do sir,"

"He's right," Iroh's eyes narrowed to slits, "You are dealing with forces you don't understand, that none of us understand. You have no idea the havoc you might bring to this world by destroying something so…alien,"

"My dear General Iroh," Zhao smiled patronisingly, "Clearly you are not one for change. But you should be content, for soon the sun will darken over Moscow for all eternity, and as the New Soviet Union falls, G.U.N. will rise up far stronger then before, and then…this world will be…" the General grinned manically, "Mine,"

"The…the Homeworld of the Dark Ones?" Alistair swallowed thickly as he gazed around the ruins before him, "This is where it all started? What happened here?"

"Nobody knows," The Wanderer began to walk away from the courtyard in which they stood, the officer quickly catching up, "Once, the Dark Ones were on the cusp of victory. They had enslaved countless billions of different races, spliced many together to form warriors with the strength of all and the weaknesses of none. They took technology and incorporated it into their own. The House of Silvairian by comparison aided every species they encountered, bringing them into the celestial community, uniting all under their shining banner. Perhaps it was their benevolent nature that led to their demise. The Dark Ones aggressive nature proved to be more effective. They had conquered most of the known universe, wiped the Silvairians from existence save for one. All that was left was to find that one survivor and their victory would be complete.

They found her hiding place, around 4.1 billion years ago. A small insignificant little system on the edge of a spiral galaxy. They closed in on her location, taking a COMET System with them to ensure she would have nowhere to run. They prepared to fire and then…" he cast a arm around the surrounding wreckage, "This happened. In a mere instant, the Dark Ones disappeared from the universe, leaving their mindless slaves and advanced technology behind, all accept one: The one they call Koh,"

"How could an entire species just…disappear?"

"As I said, nobody knows. Mostly because there is no one left to remember aside from Lady Fina and Koh himself. The Dark Ones had completely taken over every sentient species in the universe, with only one mind left free, and mere moments before totally victory, they just vanished. It is something beyond even her understanding. As the ages past, worlds like this one fell into ruin. Races, who had become mindless slaves, wondered aimlessly though their galaxies until they died. Most of their technology, like the COMET System that currently orbits your world, drifted through space, some falling into stars and gravity wells, most left to rot on the planets where they fell.

As a consequence of these actions, the universe was left lifeless for billions of years, and for the most part, it still is. Humanity is essentially alone because of the Dark Ones. With only the last of the House of Silvairian and the last of the Dark Ones to keep you company,"

"Are you this Koh guy then?" Alistair frowned slightly.

"No. I am neither a member of the House of Silvairian or the last of the Dark Ones," The robed man smiled mysteriously, "Immortal I may be, but I am no where near as old as they are,"

"Right," Aang decided not to press the issue, "So…you keep mentioning Koh…is he here?"

"Yes. I don't know why he was spared when the rest of his race was wiped out, but I know he resides here, amidst the remains of his homeworld. It is likely he is the reason you mind brought you here," The Wanderer stopped, one hand rising to point towards a tower across a vast courtyard before them, the entire structure listing dangerously to one side, tendrils apparently growing from the earth the only thing keeping the entire structure from collapsing, "He now lives there, amidst the ruins of his Lab. Be careful however, remain calm, do not rise in anger or joy,"

"Why, what's he going to do?" Alistair peered cautiously through the gloom towards the dark entrance of the tower, "Kill me?"

"No worse," The Wanderer's voice lowered to a dangerous whisper as the officer hesitantly made his way across the courtyard, "He will channel your essence into your head, then decapitate you. You will spend the rest of eternity, an immobile trophy on his wall, forever in pain as insects nest in your ears and slowly consume you form the inside out,"

"I…see," the officer swallowed thickly, backing away from the tower slightly, "You're not coming in?"

"I cannot. I can walk on this wretched planet, but the darkness that surrounds that building is too strong, even for me. Have no fear though," the Wanderer smiled slightly, "I'll be waiting right here. Good luck,"

"Yeah…thanks," Alistair smiled shakily before turning to face the dark entrance once more, his features calm, "I'm gonna need it,"

The innards of the Lab were dark and dank, the smell of rotting flesh forcing Alistair to resist the urge to gag. Weapons ranging from crud daggers to spiked longsword lined the fungus covered corridors, puddles of eerie purplish water splashing in his wake.

And the further in he went, the more gruesome the world became. Swords and daggers were quickly replaced with pistols, rifles and cannons, these in turn slowly making ways for the heads as the corridor widened out.

All around him, the heads of countless thousands seemed to watch him, their various jaws, snouts and mouthparts open wide in pictures of terror and pain, the skin on most eaten away after billions of years of neglect (It was amazing they weren't just skulls on the wall), their eyes mostly just empty sockets.

After what felt like an eternity, the corridor finally widened out to a large circular room, almost every part of the surrounding walls covered by the heads of captured foes. Pressed against the walls, tables were laden with various instruments, many of which Aang couldn't even begin to fathom what they were used for. All were sharp and cruel however, making the officer decide he probably didn't want to find out.

And there, seated at the opposite end of the room on a throne of skulls, sat Koh, the last of the Dark Ones.

His face was in shadow, a streak of dusty light from a light source high above revealing tattered robes of dark purple, leathery three clawed hands and feet cast in dark crimson, talons sharp and deadly.

"Who dares enter my domain?" the voice that came from the darkness was slow and haggard, every S drawn out, "I identify yourself mortal,"

"My name is Alistair Aang, Flight Lieutenant of the RAF's Black Core," the officer stood calmly before the throne, his eyes trying to pierce the curtain of the dark, "Are you the one they call Koh?"

"Do not insult me mortal," there was the sound of swishing in the shadows, like a long tail being swung in anger, "I am Lord Koh. There is none above me, none below me. I am the ruler of this forgotten Empire, and I demand…respect,"

"You will get no such respect from me," despite the anger in his voice, Alistair's features remained blank, "You're species murdered and enslaved countless others. I will not bow to you, or call you anything but your name, understand?"

A deep growl resonated from the darkness, the noise sending a shiver up Aang's spine.

Slowly, Koh leaned forward into the light, long powerful legs pushing him out of his bony chair as he stepped down off the mound.

Like his hands and feet, his long face was red and leathery, slightly lighter shades across his snout perhaps an indication to his age. His eyes though, burning orange with pure black slits for pupils and set up high on his thick head, showed intelligence and a sharp mind, and the rows of sharp jagged teeth in his long mouth showed he was still a force to be reckoned with.

His body, slightly hunched and balanced by a long tail that protruded from the end of his robes, was large and muscular, allowing the lizard to tower above him at just over seven feet tall on powerful legs, long arms kept close to his chest giving him an overall appearance of Tyrannosaurs Alistair had seen of in museums.

"Hm. Long legs and arms, skinny frame," the alien walked over to Aang with slowly deliberate steps, "Below average cranial capacity. That said…" the officer found himself nose to snout with the last of the Dark Ones, "There are few who would dare stand up to even the weakest of my kind. So tell me, Alistair Aang, Flight Lieutenant of the RAF's Black Core: Why are you here?"

Aang kept his face passive, but slowly dropped his gaze to the watery floor.

"I wish I knew,"

"I can't believe I let him get to me like that,"

Sokka sighed as he gave a pitying glance towards his sister curled up in a ball on the catwalk, before turning his gaze back towards the snow ridden landscape beyond the Avat's cockpit window.

"Don't let it get to you," the elder sibling tightened his grip around the control sticks, "Zuko's obviously getting desperate. G.U.N.'s at the door, the Union might've shown up at any moment, he had to dump you as fast as he could, find what he was looking for and get out of there,"

"But that's just it, he didn't find what he was looking for," Yue frowned as she stared off towards the opposite bulkhead, the broken remains of the Avatar, along with Katara's old Lumber, sitting just beyond them, "Why did he take Lieutenant Aang? Did he think we would barter the Avatar away for his release?"

"Alistair has some kind of communicator built into his watch," Katara brought her knees up to her chin as she rested her head miserably on them, "If he's too far away to reach the Avatar, or if he's in a jam, he can just call it to him. Sozin probably thought he could force Alistair to summon the Avatar when the two of them were a safe distance away from Moscow,"

"That's why we moved it to the Avat," Sokka smirked, "At least in here we can lock it down, not that it's going anywhere after what G.U.N. did to it,"

Yue gazed behind her and the snow that smacked against the windshield in torrents, "With this storm, it'd doubtful he has gotten very far,"

"I'm not worried about them getting away," Katara scowled as she pulled herself to her feet, "I'm worried that they won't. Loosing the Avatar is one thing, but loosing Alistair…"

"We won't loose him. Sozin isn't the kinda guy to just give up and die, not when he thinks he's so close to victory," Sokka smiled grimly, "They'll survive…and we'll find them,"

"So, your mind has brought you to the very ends of the universe to meet me, and you have no idea why?" Koh chuckled sinisterly as he lumbered over to one of the tables that surrounded the edge of the room, each step rumbling throughout the lab, "I suppose the Crystal-Heart outside isn't any the wiser either?"

"Crystal-Heart?"

"The robed one, the one who keeps his face in shadow," Koh picked up one of the sharp instruments that adorned the table, a single talon running along it's blade almost fondly, "They are the most loyal servants of the House of Silvairian. As close many species will become to being like them; immortality, un-aging, temporary transformation just to name a few perks. Nothing compared to the actual powers of a Silvairian, but as I said, as close as they will get,"

"Why are they called Crystal-Hearts?"

"Because their bodies are fused with Avatarium Crystals," The Dark One smiled slightly as a blink from Alistair served to be the only indication of his surprise, "As a result, every living cell within their bodies is turned into living, biological, unbreakable crystal," Koh sighed almost tenderly, "I must have dissected thousands of them over the millennia in my quest to find a harmonic frequency that would shatter them from the inside out. Only the Integumentary System remains unaffected, skin, hair, nails, that sort of thing. The skeleton is strengthened, but appears unaffected. Saliva and tears are enough to keep the crystal's light at bay from the mouth and eyes. Get a Crystal-Heart angry though, and that light will shine no matter how hard he or she tries to stop it. That is one of their…disadvantages. It alienates them from the rest of their species. That's why your friend hides his eyes. When they crystallise, only pain will follow,"

"I didn't come here to talk about The Wanderer,"

"No, you did not," Koh set the instrument down, before turning back to his guest, "But I do feel his kind are relevant…to a degree. I know you are not actually here, Alistair Aang, Flight Lieutenant of the RAF's Black Core. I know your body lies unconscious countless light-years away. I can also feel the presence of Avatarium around you, as though your mind is using crystal…a fractured crystal…as a conduit to bring you before me,"

"The last…" Alistair closed his eyes neutrally as he rubbed a hand across his forehead, "The last thing I remember is seeing a Crystal in some kind of focusing chamber in the centre of Moscow. It was split in two, one side was dark, one side was clear. Every so often the colours would switch sides," he opened his eyes again as he let his hand fall to his side, "Then everything dark, and I found myself here,"

"Ah, the black core," Koh seemed to smile, "The sign of a Crystal reaching it's limit. It's very clever how someone split the crystal to loop the power flow. Clever, but dangerous,"

"What do you mean?"

"Your friends have been rather foolish I'm afraid. If those two halves are ever separated the consequences will be…dire,"

"Dire?" Alistair couldn't help but scowl slightly as Koh turned his back to return to his throne, "You want to be more specific?"

"I'm afraid I cannot," Koh shrugged indifferently, "How your world ends depends on the thoughts of the one that breaks the bonds of that crystal, but if it were me, my friend…" his mouth creased into a unmistakable grin, rows of jagged teeth shining in the dim light, "I assure you and your kind would end in a most slow…and painful…manner,"

"I see," Alistair swallowed thickly, "Well…thank you for your time. I think I'll be going now,"

"Very well you may go," Koh continued to smile as Aang backed out of the room, their eyes never leaving each others until the shadows consumed the officer, "But know this Alistair Aang, Flight Lieutenant of the RAF's Black Core…

We will meet again,"

"Did you find the answers you were looking for?"

"I'm not sure," Alistair sighed as he walked briskly across the courtyard to where The Immortal Wanderer stood, "I learned a lot of things though," he shot his comrade a sideways smirk, "Learned a bit about you too, Crystal-Heart,"

Something clenched near the Wanderer's jaw, but he didn't rise to the officer's prodding, "What else did you learn?"

"A lot about the fractured Crystal that powers Moscow's Energy Dome," Aang frowned uneasily, "I think…I think they're sitting on a time bomb and I think…I think Zhao knows about it. Don't ask me how I know,"

"Avatarium can affect different people in different ways," The Wanderer smiled slightly, "What will you do now?"

"Get back to Earth, warn the Chancellor of the danger, and try to get the crystal as far away from Moscow as possible," The officer frowned as he tapped his chin lightly, "The only question is how I get home,"

"Allow me,"

Aang only had time to look up at his comrade with bemusement before his world went black.

"Do you think he will get back in time?"

The Wanderer glanced at Koh as he came up beside him, before returning his gaze to the stormy skies above.

"I do. I believe this war will soon come to an end in Lady Fina's favour,"

"Are you so sure?" The Dark One seemed to smirk, "You Lady Fina's victories are sparse compared to my own. I believe this latest move will only prolong her inevitable defeat, just as her asteroids and Ice Ages have before,"
"This will be different,"

"Oh?" Koh cocked his head to one side as the Wanderer began to move away, "And what makes so sure this attack will be successful?"

"Call it personal experience,"

"Experience? Oh, but of course," Koh smiled once more, "I had forgotten your ties to this particular being. He won't win Adam. They never do. May I call you Adam?"

The Wanderer barely looked over his shoulder at the Dark One as his form faded away into wisps of shadows.

"No," his voice carried on the winds of the dead world, "You may not,"

As the storm ended, and dawn pinked the skis over Moscow, soldiers on both sides were starting to tire.

Across the once pristine snow drifts, charred remains of Lumbers, Dovatos and Fortitudes alike stained the pure white sheet, bodies of pilots from both side lying half buried in the snow drifts.

In the course of one night, hundreds of men and woman had died, and unfortunately for the Union, most of them were kin.

As the remaining Soviet forces were slowly pushed back towards the walls of the city, the Dues Ex Machina and a fleet of seventy battleship strong fired massive cannons into the side of the city's defences, the sheer force of such a enormous attack splintering the once might wall as the energy Dome flickered from the disruption.

"It appears we've broken through General," Artirius' voice was hard, what was visible of his face scrunched up in obvious discomfort, "I once again urge you to reconsider what you're planning to do,"

"Do not concern yourself Major," Zhao smiled eerily as he turned to leave the Bridge, "General Sozin, you have the Bridge. Artirius, ready the Colossus and Eternal. You will deploy to mop up the remaining Union forces.

As for me," Meridiano and Iroh shared a dark look as the General smirked triumphantly, "It's time for me to rise above all others…and finish this fight before it's even truly begun,"

The first thing Alistair felt was the cold.

Even without a internal thermometer, the officer could feel the goosebumps along his arms, the ice of the frozen floor beneath him seeping through his legs and through the rest of his body.

The second thing he felt was the thick ropes that bound his hands and feet.

"So you're finally awake,"

Aang gritted his teeth as he raised his eyes to meet Zuko's the scarred Captain sitting carefully on the edge of the Dominance's cockpit hatch, the Ranger standing tall above him, it's chipped crimson paint shining in the morning's light through the hole above.

"Welcome back,"

"Good to be back," Alistair scowled darkly, "Mind telling me what I'm doing here?"

"Let's just say I need you to call someone for me," Sozin smirked, "All I want you to do is summon the Avatar, and I will let you go,"

"And If I don't?"

"Then you'll freeze," Zuko shrugged nonchalantly, "I don't care. If you don't summon the Avatar, I'll just have to sneak into Moscow again. I did it once, I can do it again. All you're doing is delaying the inevitable. And besides, if you summon the Avatar now, I'll even take you home. Somewhere nice and…warm,"

"Hey Sozin!"

The two men looked up in surprise as a new voice entered the conversation, Alistair's heart lifting with joy was the Avat roared over head.

Standing on the edge of the Launch Bay, the Energy Sword in hand and leaning against it's shoulder, Katara's Lumber seemed to glare down at the Dominance's pilot, it's pilot smirking triumphantly through the canopy.

"Peek-a-boo, we see you!"

"You little peasant!!" Zuko sneered angrily, "How the hell did you find us?!"

"A little piece of advice hot-head," Sokka's voice resonated from the Avat's outer speakers, "Don't go traipsing around a frozen wasteland with a nuclear reactor on your back!"

"The brother has a point," Katara smirked as she slung the large weapon off her shoulder, the blade's tip pointed directly at the angry captain as it's energy blades ignited, "Give us back Alistair, and we'll let you go,"

"And if I don't?"

"Then we have a problem,"

"What are you going to do? Try and attack with that rust bucket?" Sozin chuckled darkly, "You couldn't even win with a Fortitude, what chance to you think you have in a Lumber?"

"Ordinarily, you might be right. A Lumber would be outclassed and outmanoeuvred. You'd mow me down before I had a chance to pull off a single shot. But today is different, because today," The lumber leapt high into the air with a roar from it's ion thrusters, "I HAVE THE HIGH GROUND!!!"

"What!?"

The Captain barely had time to jump clear from the Dominance's open cockpit before the Lumber and energy sword came down.

Metal seemed to scream in pain as the white hot electrical blade sliced through the Dominance's head, the Lumber's sheer momentum pushing the sword clear through it's crimson body, the nuclear reactor on board melted to slag before it had a chance to explode.

As the Lumber came down to earth with a ground shaking thud, the remains of the once proud Ranger fell away with a groan, snow and debris flying everywhere as molten metal created puddles and steam across the frozen mall.

"Wow," Aang whistled quietly as Zuko groaned quietly nearby, "That was…wow,"

"Alistair!" Katara leapt out of the Lumber's cockpit as the energy sword died with a hiss, "Alistair, are you okay?"

"Yeah," the officer smiled wearily as his friend quickly pulled him free of his bindings, "Thanks Katara. How are things going at the city?"

"Badly," The tanned girl's face became grim as the pair ran back towards the Lumber, "We were cut off by the storm for a while, but from what we're hearing at the moment, it sounds like G.U.N.'s breached Moscow's walls. If we hurry back, we might be able to find a couple of Rangers and help push them back…"

"Wait,"

Katara blinked as Alistair suddenly stopped, one hand on the side of the open cockpit, "What is it?"

"Zuko?"

"What about him? Hey!" she gave the officer a indignant look as he ran past her towards the semi-conscious Captain, grabbing the discarded rope on his way past, "What are you doing?"

"Tying him up so he doesn't try anything stupid," Aang quickly bound the Captain's hands and feet before slowly pulling the older man onto his shoulder, "We're taking him with us,"

"He's kidding…right?" the concern in Sokka's voice wasn't masked by the Lumber's speakers, "The guy's tried to hunt you down from here to Sydney and you want to save his life?! Do you really think he'll change his mind about you if we save him from being a G.U.?"

"No," Alistair grinned slightly as he dumped Sozin's limp form into the Lumber's open hand, the Ranger's large metal fingers closing tightly around him at Katara's command, "But I'm not saving him in a vain attempt to get him to like me," he smiled up at his friend in the cockpit reassuringly, "I'm doing it…because I wouldn't be me if I didn't,"

At his smile, Katara suddenly felt a wave of relief wash over her.

Her Alistair was back.

It hung in mid-air, held within the focusing chamber by forces unseen; a crystal, almost a perfect sphere, one side black, the other white, each segment the tear shaped, the symbol of Yin and Yang.

For a moment, Zhao watched in silent awe as the darkness seemed to flow from one side to the other then back again, the soldier's at his side hard pressed to look away.

With shaking gloved hands, the General carefully enclosed his large fingers around the precious stone, strange pulses from within the gem reminding him of a tiny heartbeat.

"No, not a heartbeat," Zhao steeled himself, "This is a crystal, a remnant of a dead universe. I will not be swayed by petty vibrations. Not when I've come this far,"

With his resolve strengthened, he pulled the crystal free of it's invisible bonds…

And above his head, as the sun reached it's peak in a clear blue sky, the world was suddenly dyed red,

"You okay?" Sokka glanced back worriedly at Yue as she shivered, his arm coming around her shoulders comfortingly as the sky turned crimson.

"I…I feel faint," the princess held her head achingly, "It's like…it's like someone is screaming in my mind…"

Alistair cast a solemn look at the battlefield below them.

"It's not the only one screaming,"

As the energy dome faded and died, so did the sun above it, the red blanket that covered the land dimming it's radiance to a bare glimmer.

Under it's crimson light, Lumbers and Dovatos seemed to stutter and die, many collapsing unexplainably while others were brutally destroyed by the nuclear powered Fortitudes, others crushed under the advancing Land Battleships.

"So…horrible," Katara cupped a hand to her mouth as the flashes of weapons fire dotted the darkened landscape, "How…how could G.U.N. do this? Just kill hapless victims…not even giving them a chance to fight back…"

"It's the crystal," Yue faintly pushed herself out of Sokka's embrace to get a proper look at the domeless city beyond, "I'm…connected to it. It's in trouble, and the power within it is calling out for help,"

"How do you know?" Sokka came up beside her, "I mean it's a lump of glowing rock. How can you be so sure this is it's handiwork?"

"When I was born, not many people know I was still," Yue closed her eyes, her hands pressed to her chest as she remembered her father's stories, "My mother died in childbirth, and with his only child also gone, he was left distraught and fraught with grief.

In the midst of this troubled time, he was visited in his dreams by a lady dressed in robes that looked like they were made of light…"

"Fina,"

"Yes," The princess confirmed the officer's thoughts with a nod, "She had pity on my father, and offered to give me new life. A life cut short so young was easier to repair then my mother's long existence she told him. Lady Fina also warned however, that this decision came with…repercussions. From the day I was born, I've had dreams, that a battle like this would occur, and that I would have to make a sacrifice no normal human could make. My father, merely wanting to have at least a part of his family returned to him, eagerly agreed. And placed my body before the exposed crystal as Lady Fina had instructed. In a matter of moment, my hair turned white and I began cry and live. My father named me Yue, after my mother, so that her spirit could live on in me. That is the real reason why the New Soviet Union has followed in the path of it's previous administrations and remained neutral in this war that tears the world apart,"

"That's…wow," Sokka blinked softly as his friend's story ended, "So this crystal…you really think it's the cause of all this?"

"Only one way to find out," Alistair smirked as he gunned the accelerator, "We have to get back to the Central Tower…FAST!!!"

"Take it in gentlemen," Zhao smiled triumphantly as he held the crystal high for the soldier's to see, "You should feel honoured to be here at this moment. For generations to come, they will tell stories of how General Takanori Zhao defeated the New Soviet Union in one fell swoop, the man that darkened the sun over Russia. They will call me Zhao the Conqueror, Zhao the invincible! Zhao the…what's that noise?"

The soldier's cocked their heads as they listened to the stillness of the garden, a faint whistling sound in the far off distance steadily getting louder by the second.

"Oh no…."
The entire tower seemed to shake as the northern wall exploded in a hail of steel and mortar, crimson light streaming through the newly opened hole as the Avat crushed flowers and trees as it rumbled into the garden.

Before the hatch had even fully opened, a hail of gun fire erupted from the darkness of the cab, one of the soldiers screaming out in pain as shards of metal embedded themselves in his chest while the other ducked for cover.

"Zhao!" Alistair's voice echoed through the darkened chamber as he stepped out into the garden, assault rifle raised, "I know you have the crystal! Put it back, and we'll let you go,"

"Let me go? Hah!" the General laughed hollowly as he slowly rose from his hiding place behind the focus chamber, the crystal held high above his head, "I don't think so. Back off now Black Core or I shatter the crystal. Don't think for a second that I won't,"

"You have no idea what you're dealing with Zhao," Aang's eyes narrowed to slits as his comrades followed him out of the Avat, their weapons aimed at the general's chest, "You have no idea what you might unleash if that crystal breaks,"

"I know more then you think! With this crystal fractured, the world will fall at my feet!"

"With that crystal fractured, the world will end as we know it!" Aang gritted his teeth angrily, "If you destroy that stone, the results won't just affect the Union, but the U.S.A.C. and G.U.N. as well. By splitting the crystal, the Soviet Scientists have already made a danger to the world. If those halves ever separate, the consequences will be dire. If you shatter it, you have no idea what kind of chaos that would unleash on the world,"

"He's right Zhao,"

"General Sozin, and Major Meridiano as well," Zhao grimaced as the two men stepped out of the shadows near the Avat's entrance, their pistols raised, "Why am I not surprised about this treachery?"

"We're no traitors Zhao," Iroh's eyes narrowed to slits from under his hat, "I have seen the power of Avatarium. I have watched British Isles disintegrate in the archives over and over again. It does not surprise me that what Lt. Aang says if true. Put the crystal back. Do not doom the world to satisfy your own petty needs,"

Zhao sneered angrily, the crystal still held high above his head.

"If you destroy that crystal!" Iroh bellowed, raising his pistol to Zhao's head, "I'll make sure you never see this world's end1 PUT IT BACK!!! NOW!!!"

The general scowled darkly, before lowering his arms in defeat.

Slowly, under the watch of all those present, the giant man placed the crystal back into place, the pillar of light surging upward into the depths of the darkness above, the crimson light quickly shimmering away as the energy dome once more reached out protectively across the city.

"You did the right thing General," Iroh sighed with relief as he lowered his weapon, the others slowly following his lead, "I'm sure the Führer will be pleased,"
"You're right," Zhao grinned maniacally as he pulled his pistol from it's holster, "He will,"

A single shot rang out across the garden.

The crystal in it's entirety exploded with a sound of shattering glass.

And as the beam of light turned dark crimson, the world was plunged into chaos.

With an ear piercing scream, a dark red pillar of light erupted from the top of the Central Tower, the emitter arrays exploding in a spectacular fashion as the Energy Dome winked out of existence once more.

As the pillar reached the sky, stormy black clouds began to swirl around it, lightning scratching the thundering mass as it blanketed the once blue heavens, blotting out the sun.

In mere moments Russia in it's entirety found itself engulfed in darkness, within mere minutes, the people of Berlin could only watch in horror as the sun disappeared under the heavy blanket that enshrouded the world, the air quickly becoming incredibly cold.

Within ten minutes, the entire world was covered in the thundering, rolling clouds. Lightning struck buildings with devastating consequences; people gasped and struggled to breathe as the air became too cold to inhale properly.

The world was thrown into chaos…and slowly began to die.

"BASTARD!!!"

Shots quickly rang out across the garden as Zhao bolted for the nearby entrance, his last remaining soldier falling to a decapitating shot from Iroh's pistol.

"No! The crystal!!" Yue's scream was lost as Alistair, Artirius and Sokka fired shot after shot at the fleeing General, the glass door shattering into a thousand pieces as he ducked through the large door.

"Dammit!!" Aang threw his rifle down in anguish as Yue knelt down beside the remains of the crystal, "He couldn't leave it alone! He just….AGH!!!" he kicked the side of the Avat angrily, "Can we put it together again? Can we fix it? I mean…"
"No, we can not," tears rolled down the princess's cheeks as her breath slowly began to come out in vaporous puffs, "The crystal has shattered, I wouldn't even know where to start trying to place the fragments back together, "There's no hope now," she burred her head into Sokka's shoulder as he knelt down beside her, "It's over,"

"No, it's not over,"
"What do you…mean?" Katara frowned as Artirius removed his hat and handed it to Iroh, before digging his fingers around his sash and loosening it from around his head, "The crystal is destroyed, G.U.N. is overwhelming the Union. What else can we do?"

"There is always a way, a last resort," the Major pulled one hand around to the front of his sash, his fingers clenching around the crimson fabric as he pulled the scarf free from his closed eyes, "The true power of Avatarium," Artirius raised his head with determination as he opened his eyes, revealing orbs of emerald green, "The Avatar State,"

A stunned silence met this announcement as Meridiano dropped the scarf into his upturned hat, his eyes glinting with mild amusement at the bewildered and flabbergasted faces that stared at him.

"Wait a minute…you can see?!" Sokka's jaw hit the floor, "You prance around with that scarf around her face…and you're not really blind at all?"

"If memory serves, I don't think I've ever actually told anyone I was blind," Artirius smiled as he turned towards the rear of the Avat, "Everyone just…made an assumption,"

"But why pretend to be blind at all?" Alistair frowned as he followed the Major, his friends and Iroh on his tail as Artirius felt along the edges of the transport's metallic side.

"Perhaps what I thought what I'd do was, I'd pretend I was one of those blind men," Meridiano frowned as he found what he was looking for, pulling back the covering to a emergency release hatch and pulling down on the lever, "Perhaps I was simply tired of watching the world slip further into chaos as people continue to die, and thought it better to live in darkness, relying on my other senses to get by. Or maybe I am truly the last of a failed experiment into transformable Rangers, and the experience has been…taxing…on my mind,"

"There's something your not telling us," Katara scowled as the Launch Bay doors opened with a groan, lightning flashes through the gaping hole in the Tower's side lighting up the Avatar and Lumber's prone forms within, the Bay decidedly empty otherwise, "But it's not really something we should argue about right now. What's more important is how you supposedly know so much about this Avatarium crystal,"

"Back when I first joined the G.U.N. armed forces, I was assigned to Olympus Base in Greece as a technology gatherer there," Meridiano strode purposefully towards the Avatar, the others at his heels, "If you will remember Mr. Aang, this particular installation was the main base of operations for the research of alternative power sources to petroleum, the source of fuel for most tanks and automobiles of the time, back before they invented the electric engine," the officer nodded as Artirius climbed up onto one of the Avatar's legs, making his way up towards the torso, "The main project of this particular base however, was to find a way to mass produce Avatarium Crystals, the power source of what would become the Black Core's first prototype Ranger, the Avatar,"

"Wait a second," Sokka pulled a bemused face, "I'm lost. What exactly is Avatarium then? I thought it was a something like a container used to power the Monitors,"

"Avatarium is the last remnants of the universe that preceded this one," Iroh spoke up as the Major tapped in a series of codes onto a small panel he had opened up on the Ranger's thigh, "From what we gathered from the COMET System's computer banks, the cosmos is in a never-ending cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth. The end of each universe is the beginning of the next. When a universe dies, everything that's left in it; stars, planets, asteroids, nebula, it all gets pulled together into a big crunch. Everything is compressed into a smaller and smaller space, until the strain becomes too great, resulting in a Big Bang and the birth of a new universe. Avatarium Crystals are a by-product of this explosion,"

"Avatarium Crystals are bits of universe therefore that have been compressed into a tiny space," Artirius continued, not looking up from the maintenance panel as he continued to try different combinations, "As such, they have the power within them of celestial objects that created them. Scientists at Olympus Base theorised that even the smallest fragment of Avatarium had the potential power of a dozen of our suns, which is why they were eager to use them as a Ranger power source.

But Avatarium is rare, and most of the deposits throughout the universe were destroyed in the war between Silvairian and the Dark Ones. The Black Core were only given a handful by Lady Fina, not enough to power a while army. The scientists therefore began trying to find ways to synthesise artificial Avatarium Crystals, an endeavour with a limited amount of success,"

A small hatch beside Meridiano's hand popped open, the door opening to reveal a welcoming glow from within.

"During the course of their experiments however, they made some interesting discoveries," Artirius pulled a pair of gloves from his belt, slipping them over his pale fingers, "The most important of which was that in order for Avatarium to release it's energy, you have to feed it,"

"Feed it?" Alistair looked perplexed, "It's a glowing rock from another universe, what does it eat?"

"Emotions, or rather the radiance of emotions," the Major tentatively reached through the open hatch into the Avatar's innards, "Have you ever noticed, when a person is sad, or happy or angry, their mood seems to affect the room, or at least the people around him or her?" his eyes widened as his hand closed around something within the Ranger, "The scientists call it Emotional Radiation. This is what Avatarium feeds on. As you have shown Mr. Aang, it's quite painless and it doesn't affect humans in any way. With all the rage of emotions that flow through a soldier in battle, it is for this reason the crystals make excellent power sources for Rangers such as the Avatar. But if you overfeed it, go into unimaginable rage or wracked with life threatening fear for example, something amazing, and terrifying, happens,"

Slowly, the Major pulled the Avatar's power source free form it's holdings, before bringing it down to the deck for all to see.

Roughly the size of a large fist, a small ball of crystal shone quietly in Artirius' hand lighting up the features of those present with a shining luminosity.

"It's so…pretty," Yue gazed at the orb in wonder, a hesitant dainty hand slowly reaching out to touch the smooth surface, "It looks…so warm…ouch!" she cried out in alarm as the Major slapped her hand away.

"Hey! What'd you do that for!?" Sokka stood protectively between the two of them, "What gives you the right…hey! Look!"

Before their very eyes, the crystal suddenly began to darken, yet it's bright light still continued to shine, perhaps even growing several shades brighter.

"This is where the Black Core received it's name; as the crystal feeds, it slowly turns darker as it's light gets bright, thus giving it a black core. Ordinary, as Mr. Aang has shown, for the most part it can keep it's feeding in check, but if it overeats, mostly on hateful or dark emotions such as anger or fear, as Mr. Aang has also shown us, it will release a burst of energy in the form of a crystalline Avatar.

The scientists of Olympus called it: The Avatar State. A powerful, uncontrollable entity that will annihilate anything it considers to be it's enemy until it is sure it is no longer in danger. Ordinarily, this state will not harm the pilot him…or herself, in fact, the Avatar Ranger itself was designed to vent this energy and contain it within the machine, it's the main reason why Rangers were originally designed to be humanoid.

There is however…a more powerful…and dangerous way to activate this state," Meridiano's features became grave, "Aside from a powerful energy source, Avatarium has also been shown to have…unusual effects when coming into direct contact with a human body. When touching a dead body, that person's essence can be stored within that crystal, which is where the concept of the monitors of the Installations came from. When it touches a live body however, it will activate the Avatar State, but on a more controlled level. A person would be able to control the crystalline avatar, but only for a short time. There is…also a risk…that the crystal would not return the human back to his or her original form once the energy is used up. If memory serves, the banks listed Guilty Sparks as a monitor created from such an event,"

"What are you trying to say?" Alistair frowned at the Major, "You want one of us to risk our lives to try and save the world?"

"No," Meridiano held the crystal out to the surprised officer, "I want you to risk your life to save this world,"

"What?!" Katara gasped as Aang blinked in surprise, "Why him?"

"Avatarium crystals are not intelligent, they don't feel pain, and they do not have emotions, otherwise they wouldn't need other life-forms to feed. They do however have a sense of…familiarity with certain beings. Because this crystal has fought along side Mr. Aang, it is my hope that this will provide a greater chance that it will return Mr. Aang to his body once the energy runs out,"

"And you're sure about this?"

"No. It is merely a theory. Regardless, I know that if Mr. Aang touches this crystal, he will be able to control the crystalline Avatar. I just do not know if he will be returned to human form,"
"Alistair you can't do this!" Katara turned to her friend desperately, "If you don't survive this transformation…Avatar will be without a pilot and…"

"And if I don't…The world is doomed," Alistair frowned as his words silenced his comrade in an instant, before turning to the Major, "You think I'd have a better chance of returning then anyone else here?"

"Yes, but it's only a theory. I can make no guarantees,"
"Then I guess I don't have much of a choice, do I?" Alistair smirked as he held out his hands, "Let's get this over with,"
"Alistair…no," Katara's voice was small, but she stepped back, her eyes kept on the scene in front of her as Artirius held the crystal over Aang's hands.

"Are you ready?"

"No, but the more time we spend dawdling, the less time the world's got,"
"Very well. This might feel…a little weird,"

No one said a word as the crystal fell from the Major's hand.

Alistair froze as the stone hit his bare skin, ripples of white energy surging through his veins and up his arms as his mouth opened and closed like a goldfish.

"Don't fight it," Artirius' face was passive as he stepped back beside Iroh, "I know it hurts, but you have to relax,"
Aang didn't reply, his face just contorting into pictures of pain as he tried to drop the crystal.

"Stop it!!" Katara grabbed the major by the arm, "Make him stop! Can't you see it's killing him!?"

"I can't stop it. Once the process has begun, the power must run it's course," Artirius stared at her meaningfully, "I'm sorry. I really am,"

A scream suddenly pierced the darkness as pure white light surged out of Alistair's mouth and eyes, his entire body aflame with burning white light as his form disappeared within the blinding luminescence.

Then, with a flash and a bang, the light surged up the tower and out of sight.

"So…" Sokka gazed up after him worriedly, "What do we do now?"

"The only thing we can do," Artirius' cast his cast solemnly to the ground as he picked up his scarf and tied it round his eyes once more, "Pray,"

The battlefield had been surprisingly orderly in Ty Lee's opinion. Despite the crimson skies, the explosion atop the Central Tower and the sudden storm, reports came to the Dues regularly, mostly stating they were rounding up and executing Union soldiers as examples.

But that all changed when a new light erupted from the top of the Tower.

Surging through the gaping hole in the top of the structure, the young Lieutenant could do nothing but stare in awe as the streaming comet seemed solidify and take form, angels wings spreading out across the darkened skies as a body formed in it's centre, any visible features hidden by the silvery ethereal glow that seemed to come from within the creature.

"What is that?" Ysara came up beside her as the creature descended to the snowy plains below, "Is that a Union Ranger?"

"It's not like any Ranger I've ever seen," Ming shook her head as she raised a hand to her earpiece, "Dues to all unit, can anyone close to new target ascertain what it is?"

"Beta One here Ma'am, and that's a negative," One of the Ranger squads reported in, "The Union solders are acting weird though. Their all getting down on one knee though and facing the new target, I think they know some…Great God!!!"

As the strange being raised one of it's arms, lightning arced from it's fingers across the battlefield, Five Land Battleships and a dozen Fortitude Squads exploding in it's wake.

"Did you see that!?! ALL GUNS OPEN FIRE!!!"

Ty Lee stared in horror as an entire fleet's weaponry combined with that of countless Ranger squads were just absorbed by the monstrous creature as it walked across the plains, Land Battleship's detonating with the barest of hits, Fortitudes never even standing a chance, their very frames atomized by the devastating attacks.

"Lieutenant, the Union soldiers!"

Fishing a pair of binoculars from around her neck, she quickly stared through them to where Ysara indicated, understanding immediately.

Although trenches and craters lined the battlefield where the creature struck, no Union soldiers were harmed. Some sat on the edge of trenches, others mere metres from destroyed G.U.N. Rangers and warships, and as she watched their unstoppable enemy launch another attack against a Ranger Squadron, while the assault completely annihilated her fellow soldiers the enemy remained unharmed, all down on one knee, a fist over their hearts, their heads bowed.

"I want everyone on board outside now," Ty Lee swallowed thickly as she watched the crystalline giant lumber ever closer.

"Ma'am?"

"JUST DO IT!!!" She pushed and shoved the stunned Ensign towards the outer hatch, "All of you outside now!"

The giant lumbered ever closer as the confused soldiers quickly piled out of loading hatches and the massive launch bay doors, all shivering profoundly in the blistering cold snow.

"Everyone imitate the Union soldiers!" Ty Lee got down on one knee as the crystalline monster loomed over them, "Hurry up!"

"What?" Ysara blinked in bewilderment as she set a fist across her chest and bowed her head, "What are you…?"

"Just do it! That's an order!"

The Ensign flinched at the harsh tone in her voice, before reluctantly imitating her stance, the rest of the Dues' crew following his lead.

"Please work, please work," Ming scrunched up her eyes tight, ignoring the cold that seeped across her legs from the snow as a shadow fell over the Dues, "Oh please, please, please work!"

Lighting arced from the giant's fingers, the bright light flashing across her closed eyes as something exploded behind her.

When she looked up, the Dues still remained, the entire crew unharmed, but the remaining ships beyond it reduced to smouldering wrecks.

As the crystalline avatar moved away to continue it's onslaught, Ty Lee didn't know whether to be relieved, or terrified.

He had done it.

The skies churned above him, lighting flashing in magnificent arcs as Zhao scrabbled up into the cockpit of his Colossus, the giant Ranger coming to life before the hatch had barely closed.

Things had gotten out of hand, he wouldn't deny that. He could never have imagined the raw instability that had been created by the crystal's destruction.

But it didn't really matter, he knew he couldn't be blamed. He already had two traitorous scapegoats to pin this entire embarrassment on.

The General grinned as he moved his Ranger off towards the city walls. His name would not be tarnished by this disgrace.

"Where do you think you're going Zhao!?"

A single shell narrowly missed the Colossus' arm, a nearby building's windows shattering as a wall exploded in it's wake.

"Wait…it can't be!" Zhao bared his teeth angrily as one of his bodyguard's Fortitude turned towards the General, it's mono-eye glowing dangerously, "Captain Sozin. I must admit, your ability to escape the jaws of death is…infuriating,"

"You tried to have me killed!" The Fortitude raised it's rifle threateningly, it's pilot's voice laced with venom, "Is that how you rid yourself of every man that stand in your way?"

"Man, woman. Death is the quickest way to eradicate obstacles," Zhao smirked as the Colossus raised one arm, the lib segmenting to reveal it's hidden blasters, "But you…your death would have been a double delight. Captain Zachariah Sozin: Also known as The Shadow. Classified an Enemy of the Nation. You released the Courier's companion at New Gibraltar,"

"You didn't leave me with much choice. If you'd stayed out of my way,"

"And you should have accepted your failure," The gun barrels began to spin, the General's grim becoming maniacal, "At least then…YOU MIGHT HAVE LIVED!!!"

The blasters erupted in a hail of superheated shells, and all hell broke loose with them.

"Is this really all we can do?" Katara looked out towards the gaping hole in the Tower's side through which Artirius had departed as Iroh set about gathering the scattered fragments of the Avatarium Crystal in his gloved hands, "Just…pray?"

"What else can we do?" Sokka shrugged helplessly, "The world is doomed. Even if Al saves Moscow, what's that give us? A bit more time to contemplate all the bad things we did with our lives?"

"What Lt. Aang is giving us, is time," Iroh sighed heavily as he added the last shard to his hand, "Time to fix what was broken,"

"Are you suggesting we try and put that crystal thing back together?" Sokka rolled his eyes to the heavens, "Hate to break it to you old man, but there's no way we're gonna be able to put this puzzle ball back together,"
"Ordinarily, I would agree with you," the general smiled sadly as he turned to Yue, "But there is one among us, who is well aware of what she must do, isn't that right my dear?"

The Princess looked up glumly, her emerald eyes almost glowing in the dim light, "How did you know?"

"Major Meridiano may know many things about Avatarium Crystals, but I know a Crystal-Heart when I see one," the old man smiled kindly, "As a Sozin, we have each been trained to recognise the heralds of the House of Silvairian. You have been touched by Avatarium. To be more specific, a part of this crystal if I'm not mistaken,"

"You're right," she smiled sadly, "A slice of this crystal resides in my heart. It gave me life," her face suddenly grew determined, "Maybe I can give it back,"

"What? No wait!" Sokka grabbed her wrist in alarm as she made a move towards Iroh, "You don't have to do that!"

"I don't have a choice Sokka," Yue spun round angrily, her eyes filled with tears, "Everything I have seen in my dreams as come true. The world will end if I do not perform my duty…"

"I won't let you!" His features contorted into anger, his grip strengthening on her wrist, "I promised your dad I'd protect you! There has to be another…"

His voice died in his throat as she sealed her lips over his, his grip lessening as the fragments of crystal slowly flew up one by one out of Iroh's hand to circle the two of them.

"I'm sorry Sokka, I really am," she embraced him as she broke off the kiss, her skin almost glowing as she lay her head on his chest, "I should never have pushed you away. I…I wanted to be with you for the rest of my life. I've never met a man like you before," she stared up the man she loved tearfully, before pushing him out of the cocoon of rapidly spinning shards, the fragments distorting for the barest moment before returning to their cycle.

"Yue no!"
"Goodbye Sokka," through her tears and crystal shards, she did her best to smile, "I will never forget you,"

For a fraction of second, the fragments froze, then came together at the princess's heart, her body disappearing in a flash of white light as the orb of a crystal, now a deep cerulean blue, hit the concrete with a dull thunk.

"No…" Sokka sank to his knees as Katara placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, "She's…gone,"

Wordlessly, Iroh gently picked up the restored the restored crystal, his thumbs running sadly over it's rouge surface as he made his way over to the Focusing Chamber.

"My dear Lady Yue Arnook," he sighed as he placed the gem into the red pillar of light within, "Why did destiny bestow such burden on your young shoulders?"

Several days ago, one hundred battleships came to the boarders of Moscow, now only one remained.

For the first time since the early hours of the morning, silence reigned over the battlefield outside Moscow.

Across the usually pristine snow drifts, scattered wreckage, now mostly Land Battleships and Fortitudes, lay strewn across the land, their parts mingling with Union mechs they had destroyed, some mere minutes ago.

Only the Dues Ex Machina sat untouched near the defensive wall, it's crew relatively unharmed, if not shaken. Only the Union Soldiers that had escaped their downed Rangers slowly limped across the frozen wastelands, some casting depressed gazes up to the turbulent skies, the knowledge of their victory leaving a bittersweet taste in their mouths.

And standing in the middle of the carnage, stood the Crystalline Avatar, it's wings folded behind it, it's faceless head turned to the sky, as though oblivious to the destruction it had wrought.

Then the pillar of red, became a pillar of blue.

It surged up the column like crystal clear water shooting up a tube, rings of white light exploding from the pillar's top, the stormy black clouds pushed away in great droves across the planet as sunlight poured down on the glistening city.

Then there was the snow.

As G.U.N. and Union soldier alike looked up in bewilderment, underneath their feet the cold iron permafrost seemed to wash away into tiny bubbles of blue light, grass and flowers that had been asleep for so long slowly rising up to drink in the pleasant warmth that Moscow found itself basking in for the first time in over fifty years.

Suddenly, someone cheered, then another and another.

Soon every survivor was jumping and cheering for joy as the clouds disappeared from their skies, the citizens of Moscow soon joining them as they blearily stepped out of their shelters, the people of the world following their lead as the turbulent skies disappeared and the air once more became a tolerable level.

In the midst of their celebrations, no one noticed the Crystalline Avatar as it seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, or how it's large form seemed to turn to vapour as a small ball of light shot across the sky, back towards the garden in the base of the tower, where his friends waited for his return.

Sunlight.

Burning mind-numbing sunlight.

Zhao screamed in anger and frustration as Zuko dodged another volley from his Ranger's cannons, his rage now unrestrained as his plans fell into ruin.

"IT'S NOT POSSIBLE!!!" his eyes were wide and popping as another building fell to Colossus' might, "EVERYTHING I WORKED FOR, EVERYTHING I PLANNED!!! IT'S ALL GONE!!! ALL OF IT!!!"

"It's over Zhao," Sozin's Fortitude fired several more shots into the larger target's body, the shells bouncing harmlessly of the General's armour, "You've lost,"

"Lost? LOST!?! I NEVER LOOSE!!!!" a single shot caught the enemy Ranger in the shield bearing arm, "I AM TAKANORI ZHAO, THE GREATEST OF THE FÜHRER'S GENERAL!!! THERE ARE NONE ABOVE ME, AND ALL ARE BELOW ME, AND NO BASTARD EXILE OF OUR GREAT NATION IN A GRUNT RANGER IS GOING TO TELL ME OTHERWISE!!!"

"Then how about a blind man in transformable Ranger Zhao?!"

In a flurry of white energy fire rained down on Colossus, the cannon baring arm exploding in a array of shrapnel as Eternal in it's fighter form screamed by.

"MERIDIANO YOU TRAITOROUS SCUM!!!" Colossus screamed in protest as it's pilot forced the massive machine around to face it's flying enemy, "YOU THINK YOU CAN DEFEAT ME IN THAT PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR A RANGER!?! THERE IS NONE MIGHTIER THAN COLOSSUS!!! IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH MACHINE YOU USE, OR HOW MANY YOU HAVE!! YOU COULD ATTACK ME WITH A THOUSAND FORTITUDES, AND I WOULD STILL EMERGE VICTORIOUS!!!"

"That's all well and good sir, but I'm afraid you seem to be forgetting one crucial detail," Zhao's eyes widened with madness as Eternal transformed into it's biped state, his teeth bared angrily as the Ranger attached it's rifle to it's leg in favour of it's massive energy sword, "This is no Fortitude General, NO FORTITUDE!!!"

With a scream of breaking metal, Colossus' last remaining arm was cleaved clear from it's shoulder as the onyx mech soared by, the massive Ranger stumbling back just in time to see a certain one armed Fortitude charge full force towards him, it's sword outstretched.

With whatever sanity that still remained within Zhao's mind, the General pulled back on the emergency escape switch mere moments before the blade's tip struck the torso.

With a roar the Colossus' head was blasted clear from it's shoulders as a small block escaped from within the giant machine's chest, wings and tail fin extending as the cockpit rotated to form the shadow of a small stubby nosed jet.

"This isn't over!" Zhao sneered as he soared out over the glistening city, "Once I return to Berlin, I will gather a new fleet and hunt you both down. No matter where you go, no matter where you try to hide, I will find you, and the last thing you will see will be my eyes as I run my sword through your throats!

I SWEAR IT!!!"

"Ugh, Core Fighters,"

Zuko gazed angrily after the metallic grey plane as it soared over the city, his hands clenching within the Shadow Exo-Suit as Eternal settled down beside his Fortitude, the remains of the Colossus sliding off his blade.

"Are we really just going to let him go?"

"Us? Yes," He could almost here Artirius' smirk in his voice, "But have no fear Zuko. Good things come to those who wait,"

His hands were wet and slippery from sweat, his breathing was hard and laboured.

But he was alive, and so were Zuko and Meridiano.

He couldn't take the fall as long as they were around to blame.

They were defeated due to their traitors actions. They gave the Union his battle strategies…

Below him the Dues slowly turned around along the grassy knolls as it moved away from the city walls, no doubt awaiting and reading for his new orders.

"Zhao to Dues Ex Machina, come in," the General frowned when static met his ears, "Dues Ex Machina, come in now!"

With a groan of gears that seemed to echo across the fields, the Land Battleship's rear twin cannon slowly raised it's barrels to the sky, the colour draining from the General's face as the massive weapon turned to align with his craft.

As two shells erupted from the ends of the cannons, one word escaped Takanori Zhao's lips before the darkness engulfed him:

"Shimatta,"

Zuko tried not to wince as he watched the core fighter explode like a metallic shrapnel firework in the sky, it's onboard nuclear reactor detonating moments later in a fiery orange cloud harmlessly in the sky.

"You knew that was going to happen?" he turned to the blinded Major as he came up beside him in front of their Rangers.

"I know Ty Lee," Artirius chuckled slightly, "I know she's a survivor, and I know she wouldn't be able to live with herself if she didn't see justice prevail," he cast a sideways smile his comrade's way, "She's good like that,"

"So…what happens now?"

"What do you mean?"

"I shouldn't have been here," the former Captain sighed grimly as he turned to look determinately into the masked eyes of his companion, "I'm an exile remember…and now I'm a traitor too. Are you going to take me in or something?"

"Me? No. Not today," Meridiano shook his head with a sad smile, "Today, I'm going to let you take that other Fortitude back there, find your Uncle and fly as far away from here as possible. Because you're right Zuko, you're father will not be pleased when he learns of what you've done today, and what you did back at New Gibraltar. I'm sure Zhao must have filed a report somewhere. He will probably send someone after you, someone good. I'm afraid this will make you're mission…marginally harder to accomplish, that is…if you are still determined to go through with it,"

"I have nothing else left," Zuko scowled darkly, "I will capture the Avatar. Not today, but some day soon,"

"Well, I admire your determination, if anything else," Artirius chuckled, "I myself will be heading back to Berlin, to try and create some order from the chaos Zhao has created, although this may mean the end of my career," he sighed slightly, before holding out a hand, "Well…Good luck Captain. I still hope you find what you're looking for,"

The former Captain looked down at the hand for a full minute, before taking it in his own and shaking it firmly.

"With all respects to you Artirius," he smirked slightly, "I think you're going to need more like then I ever will,"

"Katara, look!"

They were all alone now, just Sokka and her in the garden, waiting for Alistair to return.

At her brother's voice, she looked up in surprise as a small glowing orb darted through the opening created by the Avat, disappearing into the Launch Bay, before flying out until it came face to face with her.

In a flash of light, the orb disappeared, the body of Alistair Aang quickly taking it's place as he slumped into her arms, the surprise of his sudden weight causing her to fall to her knees in the grass, her arms around his waist as his head fell onto her shoulder.

"Is…is he okay?" Sokka looked apprehensive as the sound of running feet echoed through the hollow tower.

Katara merely smiled as she felt her friend's soft breath on her neck, one hand moving to gently smooth down his dark hair as Chancellor Arnook, Pakku and several armed soldiers stormed into the garden.

"Yeah, she sighed as she hugged Alistair closer, "I think he's gonna be fine,"

"Pakku said you might be up here,"

Artirius smiled as Katara made her way up the steps that ran along the great wall, the Major's pale features lit up by the first dawn of the new year.

"Though I'd get up to feel '46's first rays," he sighed as he inhaled the cool air, "Nice to get some fresh air in my lungs as well while I'm here,"

"I see," she frowned as she watched the sun peak over the horizon, before turning back to her companion, "Pakku also said you wanted to see me before you left," she shook her hear with a wry smile, "I can't believe they're just letting you go after all that's happened here,"
"If the Chancellor began taking prisoners, the Union would officially be considered a enemy of G.U.N. with the snow lifted for the first time in half a century, it's important that he keeps his nation neutral to focus his energy on rescuing survivors from the domed cities. Who knows how long this warmth will keep the snow at bay?" the Major sighed as he turned his blind eyes towards the pillar of light that still pulsed over the city, "I respect him for that. Which is why we released our prisoner in return," he chuckled slightly, "Not that it's much of a gift that Sayren fellow,"

"So…what did you want to see me about?"

"Straight to the point eh? I can understand that," Meridiano held out his hands helplessly, "After all, I'm the bad guy here. The less time you spend with me the better. All right. I have something for you, but I want you to close your eyes first,"

"And how will you know I closed my eyes?" she smirked as he circled round to her back, "I mean with that sash across your eyes…"

"Just because I choose not to see with my eyes, doesn't mean I can't see in other ways," Artirius smiled enigmatically as he stepped up behind her, "Now close your eyes,"

She gave him a strange look over her shoulder, but reluctantly complied.

Something leathery was pulled around her neck.

"My necklace!" her eyes flew open as a hand went up to the familiar circle of shell, her fingers tracing the wavy pattern carved into it as the Major stepped back.

"I've been meaning to give it back to you for some time now, but the timing…just never seemed to arrive," he smiled as she turned to face him, "I also took the liberty of having your Fortitude repaired. I have a feeling you may need it in the future,"

"What do you mean?"

"I think you know what I mean," he smiled slightly, "As a companion of the Courier, I have no doubt you will face men like Zhao and Zuko again. I wouldn't be surprised if the Führer sent proper bounty hunters after the Avatar, now that he knows it's true power can be unlocked. Mr. Aang will need all the help he can get, and you can provide better help with a Fortitude then you can with an old Lumber,"

A frown creased her forehead as the sun continued to rise.

"Who are you really Artirius? You're not like any G.U.N. officer I've ever met before. Sometimes…sometimes I wonder if you even like your country at all. I mean you help us, then you tried to kill us, then you help us again. It's not that I don't appreciate the help every so often, but don't you feel any kind of duty to your people at all?"

"There's duty, and then there's doing the right thing," The Major smirked as he turned to face the rising sun, "A soldier of G.U.N. I may be, but I also have my own dreams and ideals, and they were with me long before I became an officer. It is for that reason that I'm returning to Berlin to try and smooth this whole mess out and stop the Führer from attempting another invasion of Russia. I may not be successful, but I at least have to try,"

"Then what will you do?"

"Then I will perform the duties that I will be assigned to me," he sighed, "Properly to prison work on Colony Three," he smiled thinly, "You don't escape G.U.N. Miss Katara, it's just a fact of life. Only a handful of soldiers have ever ran and lived to tell about it, and most of those are captured within a month,"

"What if you came with us? I mean we seem to get by okay…"

"Then I'd have to leave Lt. Ming to explain everything back home. She's been through a lot and…I don't want to put her through the bothers of politics," another sigh escaped his lips, "No, I have to return to Berlin, but have no fear," he smiled reassuringly as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, "I'm sure we will see each other again,"
"Yeah, but will anything change?" Katara cocked her head to one side as she reached tentatively for the red sash that adorned his face, "Or will everything is exactly the same as it will be the moment you return to your ship, we two on opposite sides of the battlefield once more?"

He didn't stop her as her fingers laced around the crimson fabric, his green eyes blinking in the dim light as she pulled it clear from his face.

"When…when we parted…back at New Gibraltar," she let the hand fall back to her side, "You kissed me. I want to know why,"

"Why else does a man kiss a woman?"

"I don't know," she shot him a sly look, "Maybe to stun me long enough to let Zuko get me out of here?"

"Perhaps," Artirius smiled as he stepped closer to her, a cool hand sending a shiver down her spine as it graced her cheek, "Maybe I just enjoy surprising you,"

"Well maybe I don't…"

She was quickly silenced as his hand cupped her cheek and he kissed her once more.

His lips were cold, his breath cool in her throat, but she felt her eyes slowly close as her tense body slowly relaxed, one hand moving to his shoulder as the world around them seemed to hold it's breath.

She felt conflicted as she felt his lips leave hers, her heart thudding hard in her chest as she lent her forehead against his, a guilty weight in the pit of her stomach as she focused her eyes on his neck rather then his own green orbs.

"So…do I have to call you now or something?"

Artirius smiled sadly as he pulled away, sash in hand.

"No. Think of it more as one last parting gift. I don't know what the future holds Miss Katara, but I would like to hope, that should we meet again, it will be on…better terms,"

She nodded wordlessly as he tied the scarf around his eyes once more, only in haling sharply as he kissed her gently on the forehead before making his way to the outer steps that led to the grassy ground surrounding the city.

"Please don't think too ill of my decisions Miss Katara," he turned to face her a final time at the top of the steps, "And please don't judge any future actions of mine to harshly. I have a feeling that my future assignments may not permit me to do the right thing as much as I'd like too,"

"We'll see," she smirked slightly, "No promises,"

"Yes, well," Meridiano sighed, before tipping his hat toward her with a nod, "Good day Miss Katara. May fortune smile upon you…" He smiled slightly as he began his decent down towards the waiting Dues Ex Machina that sat quietly on the grass, "Forever…Eternal,"

"Jonah is furious you know," Arnook sighed as he gazed down at the shining city below his office's window, "He thinks Yue's disappearance is some kind of plot against him for some reason,"

"Well, I guess that's just the kinda guy Sayren is," Sokka shrugged as he joined the Chancellor at the window, "Thinks the whole world revolves around him,"

The elder man chuckled slightly as he turned his gaze to the sky above, pulses of light still beating across the blue skies above Moscow.

"When Yue was born, I saw…something…in my dreams. A vision I suppose. I saw…a beautiful, brave young woman…turn to crystal, and stand protectively over Russia for all eternity," he sighed bitterly with a cheerless smile, "I suppose…I always knew this day would come.

"You must be very proud,"

"So proud," Arnook didn't wipe away the tear that slid down his cheek, "And sad,"

"So…" Sokka turned his gaze back to the city, "What will happen to the Union now?"

"I am the last of the Arnook family, and thus when I die, my administration will die with me," the Chancellor followed his companion's gaze across the capital, "Moscow, Russia, the Union…it will no doubt fall into the hands of people like Jonah and his father. Don't look so disgusted my friend," he smiled slightly as Sokka pulled a face, "I still have a few decades left in me. For now, we will focus on rescuing our brethren from the domed cities before the snow inevitably returns,"

"Then what?"

"Then…I don't know," the elder man frowned, "I've spent most of my life surrounded by snow and ice, and as influential as this…crystal…appears to be on the environment, I can't help but feel it may be too little too late. This war…it's killing the planet Sokka, The Day of Blood, the events that created the Grand Divide…it's not helping our environment, and if this war goes on for much longer, I fear our mother-world will become…unliveable,"

"What do you think we should do about it?"

"What else can we do?" the Chancellor turned his gaze to the skies, "We must end this war some how, some way….

And then…head out…to the stars,"

"I'm surprised Zuko," Iroh glanced down at his nephew from his position behind the Fortitude's pilot seat, "Surprised you didn't take the chance to steal the Avatar with all the commotion back there,"

The former captain sighed as he slumped back in the chair, his foot still gracing the Ranger's accelerator pedal as warm air gushed through the open hatch.

"Maybe I'm just tired Uncle," his amber eyes stared over the green fields before him as he let his hands fall slack against the control sticks, "I've been fighting for so long…I just need the rest,"

"Then sleep my nephew," the old man smiled as he slowly eased his young companion to the ground and quickly taking his place, "A man needs his rest. Just let your mind drift off, I'll take control for now,"

The Shadow Exo-suit was uncomfortable to curl up in, but Zuko didn't care.

He was too tired to think, too tired to care about his circumstances and future.

In a matter of minutes, the rhythmic heavy steps of the Fortitude lulled him into a dreamless sleep, the problems of his world temporarily forgotten.

Katara couldn't remember how long she had stood there, watching as the massive form of the Dues slowly trundled across the grassy slopes towards the horizon.

She sighed as she watched the Land Battleship become a dot on the plains before her. When that ship had arrived, there had been almost a hundred others with it. Now their remains stained the surrounding grounds, Dovatos and Lumbers going about salvaging what they could and burying the dead of both sides.

When she had left Australia, she had often thought it would be an adventure, a chance to see the world and put an end to the travesties of G.U.N. once and for all.

She never imagined however, the true impact of such bloody battles would have on her.

What was worse, she knew that as long as she was with Alistair, it would be more then likely that more such conflicts would follow.

"Hey,"

Katara jumped as a voice made itself known behind her, the young woman turning around to see Alistair's smiling face as he approached her.

"You know, we really have to stop these balcony meetings," he chuckled slightly as he came up beside her, "You know people are going to start talking if we don't…"

His voice died in his throat when she suddenly pulled him into her embrace, his body freezing as she buried her head in his chest.

As she felt him slowly relax, his arms gently coming around her, Katara sighed as she held him close. Artirius may have kissed her, twice even, but when it came down to it, Alistair made her feel something far more powerful the enigmatic Major.

He made her feel…safe.

{Evil snigger} I love messing things up!

I'm guessing I have a bit of explaining to do, but you're gonna have to wait just a bit longer. I still have an epilogue to write, but hopefully I'll have it up ASAP.

I will say this though, Shimatta means Damn it in japanese...I think. Someone might have to verify that for me.

Almost done, I swear. After the epilogue, I'll do some explaining, and reveal some things about the future of this story.

Hope you enjoyed it,

Dearing