Dosu Kinuta, mercanary, Fire Nation prison ship

--

One of the two guards standing at the front of the docks was telling a hilarious story about how an Earth Kingdom child had ran away in horror as he helped burn down his house. The other laughed. Behind them, a figureless shadow fled past. It moved without sound and without notice, it's form almost moving without a physical body. As it passed into the darkness of the unlit dock, it seemed as if it had simply dropped off the face of the earth completely.

Two guards were walking by, and the shadow crept past. Neither man took notice. As the shadow moved along it stuck to crates and sides to give it more cover. A covered hand reached out over a crate and a masked figure showed itself. It looked out over the patroling guards and waited for them to pass. When the two remaining guards turned in opposite directions, the shadow merely stepped onto the platform and then onto the boat. It bent down to better hide itself amongst the dank confines of the ship. A female guard walked by, and then stood up against the railing of the ship, looking out to see. She took her helmet off and then sighed. Behind her, the shadow had crept up without detection. A thick, heavy scimitar passed over her neck. She looked down, calmy realizing she had no chance of survival.

The shadow spoke. "Where are the prisoners kept in this ship?" it asked, with low, quiet intensity.

"In the back of the third section. But you'll need three individual keys to open the-"

"I am not the kind of warrior who needs keys to open doors," it replied.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"Something that doesn't need keys to open a door."

"And that makes you?" she asked more fearfully, almost as if she thought the shadow may not be human after all.

"A shadow," it replied, and the woman was hit over the head with a second scimitar.

It sheathed both scimitars and turned to look in the direction of the docks. It moved silently along to the heavyset door that led to the bowls of the ship. It opened it and slid in. A tiny slit of light revealed a tall, but slim form in what looked like a shadow in it's own right. The only discernable things on the figure were the dual swords on it's back. A guard stepped by and the figure sank bank into the darkness. Another stepped right by it, but didn't notice it at all. It began to move, but heard someone speaking and stopped. It was coming from behind it.

"So yeah, about that new guy," the first one said.

"You mean the hot shot mercanary who won't shut up about his family?" the other asked.

"Yeah, the crackpot. Man he is something else. All he ever talks about is his blood and what runs through it. Says there's someone else just like him. Another guy with his kind of blood. Warblood, he called it."

"Warblood? What kind of nonsense is that?"

"Don't let him hear you say that. That guy's crazy. He'd snap your neck in a minute if you ticked him off."

The shadow had left after this, not interested in their continuing banter. As it descened through the ship without notice, occasionally incapicitating or killing a guard and throwing him overboard, the shadow ignored them. But everyone on the ship who was talking was talking about the new guy, who apparently guarded the prison cells. Maniac they called him. Talks of warblood they said.

As the shadow finally made it's way to the prison section of the ship, it stopped to stare inside the lockhouse through the only door that led to it. Amongst the rows of cells stood a man who the shadow thought it'd never see again. As the shadow removed it's own mask, it stared into the keyhole.

It was the man responsible for his tribe's almost complete extinction.

As Dosu stared at the man through the keyhole, he realized that he had indeed heard of who he thought he was hearing about. It was his brother. It was the man who brought with him so much evil and hatred it seemed to seep from him like a sickening black aura of death, war, and famine.

It was Itami.

Genesis: Airbending prodigy and master of swords.

Katsumi: Waterbending prodigy.

Giro: Earthbending prodigy.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Genesis sat outside on a tall building's rooftop and looked up at the moon. He closed his eyes and had a flashback.

Troung: Will you comit to this program, child?

Genesis: Yes...

Troung: Good...we will train you in the ways of the Air Nomads. We carefully studied them before wiping them out...apparently we didn't do a good job, but we can use you as a weapon. You will begin tomorrow, and don't be late. I want you to be a perfect fighting machine meant only for the sole purpose of wiping out targets for the Fire Nation.

He opened his eyes and looked around.

Genesis: There is nothing more you can teach me, so I will break away from this program...

He walked back to the room and opened the door. Katsumi was still awake and reading Loveless and Giro was playing his liquin.

Katsumi: This book is boring!

She threw it into the fireplace and it burned.

Giro: So...what's our "fearless" leader up to?

Genesis: We're breaking away from the program. The Fire Nation can find new lackies and there is nothing else they can teach us. If you guys have issues with this than leave...

Katsumi: Good...we could use a break...a permanent one that is!

Giro: Whatever.

Genesis: Good...We're going to start a new group today...

Giro: Do we have to?

Katsumi: Yeah...I was looking forward to a break!

Genesis: Fine...We can chill until we get one more member. Anyone come to mind?

Katsumi: Nope.

Giro: Nope...

Genesis: I do...but we need to break into a Fire Nation prison.

Giro: Sounds fun. Which prison is it?

Genesis: I don't know the name, but I know that it's nearby, but heavily guarded by Yu Yan archers and is heavily fortified by three exterior walls.

Giro: So how do we get in?

Katsumi: I think we should just break in and break out!

Genesis: We're going to sneak in and bust our way out. Got it?

Giro: Sure, but what's the guy's name?

Genesis: Her name is Karin.

Giro: HER?!?!?

Genesis: Yes her. She has a unique ability to sense other people's chi a mile away. Kind of like a tracking hound and she is considered a Firebending prodigy. She'll be an important asset to this group.

Katsumi: Finally! Another woman in the group!

Giro: Is she hot?

Genesis: What does that have to do with anything?

Giro: Just wondering...

Genesis: You can judge that as soon as we get her out.

Katsumi: So what are we calling ourselves?

Genesis: I'll tell everyone as soon as we're all together.

Katsumi: Okay...Oh! Did I tell you guys? I learned a new trick!

Giro: Please. Demonstrate.

She opened her canteens of water and concentrated them all to her back. Ice started to form and they started to grow from her back like wings.

Giro: Wings?!?!?

Katsumi: Yes! I look like an angel now!

Giro: Can you fly?

Katsumi: Only for a short period of time. I still need to work on it.

Genesis: Good...we can use you as a watch while we sneak in. You'll be our eyes in the sky.

Katsumi: Okay.

Genesis: It's settled then. Go to sleep and we'll get this started tomorrow.

They all went to their resepective beds and layed down. They all fell asleep.

"Shǔ Guāng" which means "The dawn of a new epoch."

Epoch - An event or a time marked by an event that begins a new period or development.

For all of you people that don't know what epoch means. Their ambitions will be revealed in due time.

Dosu Kinuta, mercanary

--

Sometimes ten seconds can seem like an eternity. That's what it felt like for Dosu. His mind took him back to the day it all happened. Inside, a battle raged in his head.

--

Dosu was amongst the soldiers on the field. He had just soaked his swords in the blood of a Fire Nation soldier, and was now getting up. He looked up and saw what seemed like limitless numbers coming at him. At the head of their attack was a massive contraption of steel and fire, larger than a whole village. He called to his father, but he was distracted. Turning, Itami and his sister had just dispatched several more Fire Nation soldiers.

"Itami! Look out!"

A massive tanklike vehicle ran over and plowed down everything in it's path. Dosu looked up at the behemoth and motioned at Itami. He seemed to understand. They charged the tank together, from opposite sides. Dosu jumped and landed on one of the lower platforms where guards had been stationed. He quickly dispatched them, and then jumped to a higher platform. Above him, bodies flew as Itami jumped up over him. He looked down and called to his brother.

"You need a hand, brother?"

Dosu jumped up over Itami's head and landed on the platform he was standing on, and killed a guard trying to attack Itami from behind.

"No."

"Haha, brother. It looks like I'm the one who needs the help. Perhaps I should pull my head out of my-"

"Not now. Company."

They were being surrounded. They now stood on the top of machine, and the majority of the crew had showed up for a fight. Dosu stood back to back with Itami. The two pulled out their scimitars and prepared for battle. First spear men and swordsmen came forth, nothing for the two brothers. They deflected their attacks and killed the men. Finally, the last few still alive drew back, and firebenders let up their spot. The two jumped out of the way and behind the men, taking out seperate sides. As they regrouped when the last of them fell. Dosu pulled his sword out of one's chest. He wiped off the blood on his pantleg.

"I'll take out the tank. You get behind their lines and take out their commanding officer," Dosu said.

Below them, the battle still raged.

"You got it brother. Haha, time to feel the the rush again, eh?"

Dosu was already gone. Of the two, Dosu was always serious, Itami was always cracking jokes or being sarcastic. As Dosu made his way down to the innards of the tank, he took out several more guards. He at last reached the center of the tank, and prepared for them a little treat. He set up a massive amount of explosives in the center of the tank and then lit the fuse. He took off, running for the battlefield. As he jumped from the tank, he saw his father. He had just dispatched many guards, and was now looking up at the tank.

"GET DOWN!" Dosu yelled, and the Fire Nation soldiers looked confused, but Dosu's clan did not. They all ducked down as the battlefield erupted into a fireball and shrapnel flew the air in massive chunks, taking out virtually everyone still standing up. Meanwhile, Itami had to be close to taking out the commanding officer. He had to be ready to cut the head off the snake.

--

Strangely, Itami was replaying the battle in his own head. He twirled a key and whistled to himself as a young girl lay spread out on the floor of the cell, where there was no water. She looked starved and shrunken. She hadn't drank anything in days. But Itami was far away, thinking of an old battle that changed his life forever.

--

"Haha, looks like I've got the last laugh, huh chuckles?" He asked a dead body, and then he picked up the body by the face and moved the lips, and spoke in a deep voice.

"Hurhur, yes you did Itami. You sure showed us weaklings."

He spoke to the body again.

"Wow really, I did? I thought I only did OK."

"Nur, you were faaaaantastic."

"Ah gee, thanks Chuckles. It's appreciated."

"Anytime," he made the body speak again, and then he formed the lips of the dead body into a big smile. He stood back up and faced the commander of the forces below them.

"Time to have some real fun. You better be a darn good firebender, because if you aren't, I'll be real disappointed."

"The person you should be disappointed in is yourself, boy," the man calmy stated.

"Oh really, why is that, master detective?"

"Because you love destruction. It doesn't matter what or why, you simply love destruction. You savor death like noone I've ever seen before. If you love death so much, why don't you help us?"

"What kinda rush could you give me, master detective? I mean, not that I already can't get."

"Hah. Don't make me laugh boy. You despise your family's appreciation for innocent life. You despise their wish to protect. All you want is to destroy everything around you. You're never satisfied because your thirst will exist so long as their is life."

"Ah, you read me like a book didn't ya? Well, did Chuckles tell ya all about me? Tell me, how would fighting for you be any different?"

"I would let you destroy everything. Anything. You could command the next wave of attackers. The next wave will be eight times that of this one. Your clan has no chance at survival. But you could live."

"Or, I could kill you, have a spot o' tea with Chuckles, and then go back and evacuate my clan and be outta here in time."

"But you won't. Your love of death surpasses your feelings for your family and clan. Wake up and realize that you'd be happier and better off with us. There would be no rules. No boundaries. You could do as you wish. To anyone or anything. And when there is nothing left to burn, or destroy, then we will give you our finest soldiers and you can freely pillage our new lands as you please. When you're done you could murder your own men. There will always be more men."

"Oh really? What makes you think your men will ever sake my thirst. Your men are nothing to-"

"You could hunt down your own clan if you wish. Do as you wish. Find the greatest bending masters and kill them. You could go anywhere and do anything."

"Pure immunity?"

"Pure immunity."

Itami thought long and hard. As he reached deep within himself, he heard the distant sounds of chaos in the background.

--

Dosu put his mask back on and drew out his scimitars. He opened the door only the slightest, and he could see Itami through the crack of the door. He was gone in a world that was too familiar to Dosu. A day that for Itami, held feelings opposite to those of Dosu's. He slid in and quietly shut the door behind him. Not even the prisoners noticed him. As he reached for Itami, prepared to make the final strike, Itami twirled around. Dosu brought down one of his scimitars but Itami caught it on a metal piece of his glove.

"Well well well, Dossy, long time, and no see."

Dosu looked at Itami with eyes filled with rage and hatred. He slowly but furiously breathed the word:

"Itami."

Genesis: Airbending prodigy and master of swords.

Katsumi: Waterbending prodigy.

Giro: Earthbending prodigy.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Katsumi sat up in her bed and looked around.

Katsumi: Genesis you in here?

The door opened and he walked in.

Genesis: Get up. We're going to break her out right now.

Giro: One more minute...

Katsumi jumped out and put on her clothes. Giro sat up and rubbed his eyes.

Giro: Did I just hear Katsumi get out of bed?

He looked at her and she was already dressed.

Giro: Aw man...I'll wait until next time.

Genesis: Get up you pervert. We're going right now.

Giro stood up and stretched. He put on his clothes and walked outside. Genesis and Katsumi followed out. They all took a deep breath and looked up at the sky.

Giro: We're breaking in during the day?

Genesis: You're going to Earthbend us in.

Giro: Oh.....

Katsumi: Let's go!

They all walked towards the gate and the guards opened it. They walked out and looked around. Giro spotted two ostrich-horses and he ran over to them and hopped onto one.

Giro: You guys are going to ride together.

He laughed and Genesis walked over to one.

Genesis: Ladies first.

He held out his hand and she grabbed it and got on. He hopped on and then they started to ride.

Giro: How far is it?

Genesis: Give or take about a three hours.

Giro: Alright...

They rode for an hour in the blazing sun.

Katsumi: It's hot out...

Giro: It's the desert. What do you expect?

Katsumi: Can you create a breeze?

Genesis: No...It'll make us look suspicious.

She groaned and they kept on riding. Within the next two hours, they were within range of the prison.

Genesis: Giro, get ready. You to Kat.

Katsumi opened her canteens and pulled out the water. She created her wings and then flew for a bit until the ice started to melt in the heat. They became to thin and they fell apart. She fell and Giro jumped off and caught her.

Genesis: Forget the first plan...Kat's coming with us.

Giro: Okay.

They stopped the ostrich-horses behind a rock and Giro created a hole in the ground.

Giro: Get in.

Everyone jumped in and Giro closed it off. Within minutes, they were inside the cell that was holding Karin.

Genesis: How are you doing?

Giro jumped out and so did Katsumi. Giro closed off the hole.

Karin: Genesis! You came to rescue me!

Giro looked at the girl. She had red eyes and similar colored hair. It was kept in an unusual style; one side is short and unkempt, and the other is long and combed. Genesis walked over to her and pulled out his sword. He cut the chains and released her.

Genesis: Let's get out of here.

He walked over to the door and they all followed suit.

Karin: There's two guards outside. One's using a spear and the other is using a sword.

Genesis nodded and he opened the door. He walked out and Katsumi freezed the two guards in place.

Karin: Make a left and there will be one guy patrolling the area.

Giro ran past the corner and stomped on the ground. The metal plates made a wave and the guard flew up and hit the ceiling. The others wlked behind him and they kept on walking.

Karin: Past this door are three walls of steel and quite a few guards.

Katsumi stepped forward, but Genesis stopped her.

Genesis: I'll handle this...

He opened the door and the alarm was raised. Guards started to mobilize in front of the first gate.Genesis walked up to them and extended his arms out in front of him and then spread them. A huge gust of wind went right down the middle of the group and split them up. Guards flew left and right and a passage was created. Giro ran up to the gate and opened it by force.

Genesis: Stay back.

He walked out and a bunch of Yu Yan Archers lined up on the wall and readied their bows. Karin threw Genesis a body and he used it as a shield. Three arrows sunk deep into the body as a trio of archers released their bowstrings. Genesis threw the corpse aside, then began racing towards them. He zig-zagged along the ground, constntly changing directions. As he got closer, he began leaping about at random intervals, making it impossible to predict where he would be next. Arrows whizzed through the air, but not a one found their mark.

Genesis jumped up and ran up the wall. As soon as he got up there, the Yu Yan Archers fired more arrows, but he blew them away. He jumped up and pulled out his sword. He came down and cut them all down in seconds. The rest of the archers and other guards charged Genesis, brandishing swords spears and other dangerous weapons. Katsumi, Giro, and Karin lost sight of what was happening. All they could see was the men moving about, and two strong gusts of wind. And then the men began falling to the ground, one by one, until the only one standing was Genesis, surrounded by a ring of the dead and or dying.

He jumped down and flicked the blood off of his blade and then put it back into its sheathe. Karin squealed in excitement and Giro ran up to the next gate. He forced it open and then looked around. He moved out of the way and Genesis walked in. He looked around and saw that the gate was surrounded by about fifty Firebenders and Earthbenders.

Troung: Give it up! There is no escaping this! It is futile!

Karin: Maybe we should give up...

Genesis: Not yet...

A black aura started to surround Genesis and swirl around him. Karin fell to her knees as the force was unbearable.

Karin: I've....never...felt anything...like this....

Giro: I haven't seen this since we were kids...

Katsumi: ...

Troung: ATTACK HIM! DEFEND THE GATE AT ALL COSTS!

The Firebenders started to shoot at Genesis and the Earthbender started to throw large boulders at him. Genesis jumped and all of the attacks missed. While in air, he pulled out his sword and slid his index finger along the fuller of the blade. It started to glow slightly and then he swung his sword. A huge wave of black wind flew through the air and hit the group of guards. It created a small explosion of wind and everyone flew backwards. Admiral Troung covered his face from the blast and then looked. All of the soldiers were knocked out and were not even close to the gate. Genesis came down and the aura faded. He dropped and then they ran over to him.

Genesis: Someone needs to carry me...this has a nasty side effect.

Giro: He'll be out for two full days.

Karin: Then let's get out of here for now. I know a good little hiding place around here.

Katsumi: Take us to it.

Karin nodded and Giro put Genesis over his shoulder. Giro forced open the gate and they kept on running.

Karin: What was that?

Genesis: Have you heard about the Avatar State?

Karin: Of course. I studied that in the Fire Nation Academy...

Genesis: Think of it as my own secret weapon. It doubles all of my attributes and allows me to Airbend above normal standards immensely. I can't hold it for too long or else I'll be in a coma like state for a few days.

Giro: Last time it was a week...

Genesis: This is what happens to me after one use...I can't move any part of me for two full days or until I recover...

Karin: Where did you learn to do this?

Genesis: I gave in.....

Karin: Gave in to what?

Genesis: ...to the hatred...

Karin: What do you mean?

Genesis: There are two sides to the world...Good and bad...Light and dark...I had no place in the world and thought about it day and night. After a while of death and despair, I decided it was my destiny to bring order to this world with the help of my friends...I use my hatd reto fuel it. Much like a Firebender fueling his firebending with his hatred, I fuel my new state with my hatred or my darker side.

Karin: We're here.

They stopped in front of a dead end. There were ten different holes and it all was part of one giant lock.

Giro: How do you open it?

Karin held out her hands and then spread her fingers. She closed her eyes and ten streaks of yellow fire came bursting out of each fingertip and entered each hole. The gate slowly opened and they ran in.

Giro: Yellow fire?

Karin: It's actually random. My fire comes out depending on my mood...I don't know why. I felt a little happy that Genesis is unable to move.

She smiled and then Giro set Genesis on a nearby bed. Giro sat down nearby a table and pulled out his liquin.

Karin: I'm going to ravage you as soon as everyone is asleep!

Giro: Don't count on it. I'll be awake the whole time.

Katsumi: Me to!

Genesis: You need some new clothes...

Karin: I know...

Genesis: I know a guy in the city...He made us our clothes. Let's head there in two days.

Karin: Right...

She pulled out a pair of glasses and put them on.

Karin: Get some rest. You'll need it.