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The water's wake felt cool on her skin. Refreshing, like the waves at Ember Beach, where her mother would take her to the family beach house along with her cousins. Those times were so much simpler...
"Sergeant Major Zahira, we just received a message that the unknown bugmen have struck again. I've already pinpointed it on the map."
Zahira groaned. "Ugh, not another one! Here, let's go take a look."
She stalked over to the map she had up in her office. On it were several pins, each a different color depending on the attack taken.
"Officer Kwan, refresh me on the attacks," requested Zahira, already knowing most of the answers.
"Yes, Sergeant Major. There had been no attacks prior to the full scale assault on the Avatar's compound. However, we have noted that there have been kidnappings of benders and nonbenders alike beforehand."
The master sergeant nodded along. "Continue, Officer Kwan. But when you do, please elucidate on the kidnappings of the benders after the compound assault. Location and the like would be greatly appreciated."
"Of course, Sergeant Major. After the assault we have noted an uptick in attacks and kidnappings of benders. Granted, they were often returned the next day, but not before they themselves were attacked. The benders often showed signs of vicious bloodbending that seemed to diminish their ability to bend.
"Also, if you will Sergeant Major, take a look at the map. The first areas of attack after the compound assault are at former Fire Nation colonies, which at first would lead you to think that the attacker harbored some sort of anti-Fire Nation sentiment still."
"The way you phrase that makes me think that you have another conjecture for the attacks."
"Yes, Sergeant Major, I do. At first our unknown assailant goes for former Fire Nation colonies, but then decides to go for remote areas in the Earth Kingdom? At first glance it doesn't make any sense, but after looking closer I realized that the areas he targeted harbored some of the highest rates of benders anywhere in the Republic. They also tended to be areas that are home to subset benders, such as sand benders."
"Benders that wouldn't be missed as much," she mused. "Very good, Officer Kwan. You are dismissed."
Watching as her underling marched out, she turned her attention to the map and studied it closely.
"Hmm," she said. "He travels along a very odd path. First he targets former colonies, then he lands himself in the swamps and the deserts in the middle of summer? Not a very smart move by any means-perhaps he's not native to the area? That would make the most sense."
She walked around the map, fully absorbing the information.
"The Northern Pole hasn't been attacked yet. In fact, it seems that he's completely avoiding it. Perhaps that's where the attacker's from? After all, if I were a crazy rampaging bloodbender, I would try to avoid my home for fear of hurting someone I knew and being found out."
"Also, it seems that he's been traveling westward from Ba Sing Se. At the rate he's going it won't be long before-"
A sudden lurch rocked the ship, knocking Zahira to her feet.
"Oof! What was that?"
Getting up, she stumbled to the door of her office only to find the ship in complete disarray. It had run over some underwater mines, which had caused some serious damage to the hull and sides. Water- and metalbenders were running around trying to stop the leaks and repair the damage.
Despite their best efforts, assailants were still getting in. They were odd buglike creatures who wielded electric batons with near-lethal accuracy. They quickly took down everyone they came across and were starting to head straight for her office. Zahira sunk to her knees, pretending to be knocked unconscious from the stop.
Footsteps soon entered her workspace. They ambled around and stopped upon finding her.
"So this is the esteemed Sergeant Major Zahira?" a woman's voice sneered.
"Careful, comrade. She could be playing us," another woman's voice answered.
"Well, there's one way to test it. Watch." A man cruelly kicked her in the back. She bit back a yelp. "See? No reaction."
"Okay, let's tie her up. Strange, I would have thought her stronger than this," the second woman's voice answered. "Let's stun her though, just to be sure."
Upon hearing the crackle of electricity, Zahira jumped to her feet, purple flames with blue tips coming from her feet.
"What the-" the man exclaimed shortly before being taken down by a fire stream.
Zahira quickly faced the two women, who had their batons at the ready. They advanced towards her, but not before she created a fire shield. The two women shot out electricity; however, she quickly redirected it towards their bodies and effectively knocked them out.
"Wha-how did you do that?" they asked in awe before passing out.
"You'd think they'd have known the answer to that," she muttered. Looking around, she found some rope. After gathering up the unconscious bodies, she tied them around a pole outside her workspace. She ran out into the surface to survey the damage.
All the ships had suffered moderate to severe damage; nearly a quarter had been sunk. Smoke and fire raged throughout the area, making it hard to see and breathe. Zahira coughed and held onto the side of the ship, trying not to breathe it in.
"Sergeant Major Zahira?" a voice called out.
"Officer Kwan, is that you? I'm over here!" she replied.
The young man ran over and took her to higher ground of the ship.
"Thank goodness you're okay, ma'am! I think you might be the only bender who wasn't hurt," Officer Kwan said.
"I wouldn't say that. I sustained a rather nasty kick to the back, and I can already feel it bruising."
"At least you weren't bloodbent by them," Officer Kwan gently said.
"WHAT!" she yelled.
"Yes, Master Sergeant, it seems that they came aboard to target our benders. Took out whomever they could get their hands on."
"That is very unsettling," she murmured. Her head snapped up. "Officer Kwan, I need you to contact Councilman Tenzin and Chief Lin Beifong back in Republic City."
"Yes, Sergeant Major. What do I tell them?"
"Tell them…tell them that it is of the utmost importance that we conference. That it regards the Compound."
