Avatar Zulera

Mei had left the palace in high spirits, how could he not? Shula had been welcoming, at least, after their initial introductions. He couldn't help but feel bad for her, forced to live her life in a cage, never truly free. Not to mention she was alone, no one to talk to, no one.

As he strolled toward the harbor, he took a quick stop at the barracks, gathering a handful of officers, his first, a Lieutenant, was a woman by the name of Xiayu, a few years younger than Mei, but equally as loyal. The second was Tloka, a man raised in exquisite accomidations, and a Captain. The other two were less important, but he made sure to remember their faces. He dispatched them quickly to gather what resources Shula allowed him. Forty firebenders, and the scouting blimps, quite a nice group considering he was going to hunt down a rogue Admiral.

It didn't take long, the troops were gather, and Mei walked past each face, taking their names, but only remembering the face. He could tell they were nervous, they should be. "I will tolerate no disloyalty aboard my ship, any man, or woman found conspiring against the Fire Nation, Shula, or any other person aboard will be confined to a cell for the remainder of our voyage which can, and likely will be, a long one. I trust each you all to maintain your vigilance through out your time with me." He motioned to the battleship nearby, "We will be travelling in this, searching for one Ex-Admiral Kashikoi Kai. He is known to be excellent at avoiding capture, and has at least forty known followers, the numbers grow by the day."

"I want to see this ship ready for departure before nightfall, that gives you a few hours. Get the engineers, supplies, and anything else we will need." The soldiers watched him, "You are dismissed." They instantly disbanded, some toward the city, some toward the ship and others elsewhere still. Xiayu approached him, "Sir, how do you intend to find someone who we can't find?" He smiled, "I'll tell you later, I'm sure you have preperations to make.", he said. She nodded her head, catching that he wanted to be alone, and walked away without another word. 'I'm coming for you Kai.', he thought to himself.

Mei sighed, and shook his head as he walked. He wasn't really required to help, but being a general, he thought he might show he didn't mind dealing with total crap assignments. A few brawls, one pouring into the street. Watertribe's girl, they said she was dangerous. On some level, Mei thought the idea ridiculous. A drunk, hotheaded waterbender is not dangerous, a drunk hotheaded firebender is. Not that he didn't believe in water's power, but what could a tipsy waterbender do?

He came across the man first, and, without even asking, a witness pointed in the direction of a woman. A woman who, at first, caught him by surprise. Aside from her current battered state, she could have been nice to look at, and given the man was out and she wasn't marked her as stronger than she looked.

He moved quickly, navigating the the people like an expert, he was, as a matter of fact. He caught up with her easily, "Excuse me? I'm General Mei Fong, and I have to ask you to come with me.", he said, almost sorry for her, but quite angry at the man who had been knocked out, how a man could hit a woman he'd never understand.

Mei smiled, "I don't want any trouble, but I'm going to have to ask you to come along.", he said. She really was a pretty girl, how could he help but like her. Even when she was caught be surprise she looked ready. He offered his hand, "I don't bite, and you're not in trouble...you've just caused a little too much trouble for your own good.", he assured.

He wasn't lying, a general making an arrest, ridiculous. No, he really did just want to talk, just not here.

Mei smiled, 'Good.', he thought. "Thank you." He turned, glad she had come cooperatively. "I am sorry to be such a bother, it's just the ordinary routine.", as if he knew what that was. "We appreciate your cooperation, and so on. I just need to ask you to be a little less, aggressive. I can guess by looking at you that you are a damn fine fighter, I don't doubt that. But you need to reduce how much trouble you cause...for your sake."

It was not a threat, in fact, it wasn't even required, the guard who'd been tailing them to make sure Mei was acting as he should had given up about a hundred feet back and returned to his rounds. Now, Mei acted normally, "So, what's your name?", he asked nonchalantly.

Mei paused for a moment, this drunk brawler was the Avatar? It took several seconds for that to sink in, and even after that he had to look at her for a time. She wasn't lying. How could someone so irresponsible be the Avatar? Sure, Aang disappeared but he wasn't a heavy drinker and he didn't start fights for nothing.

Mei coughed, clearing his throat, "I didn't expect you to be so old. As in...well, you know. I didn't think...you don't look much younger than I am.", he said. It was a feeble attempt to salvage a bad choice of words. "Anyway, it's a pleasure to meet you Avatar Zulera.", he said, inclining his head respectfully. "Forgive me for intruding upon your day, I haven't ever seen you, only rumors here and there."

Mei smirked, "No offense Avatar but I don't think you're in any position to help anyone right now." He turned his head toward the harbor, "I don't want to ask you to take the Fire Nation's problems as more important than the other Nation's, but I must ask if you've seen or heard anything about Admiral Kashikoi Kai recently. Any information is of dire importance to my current assignment."

Mei sighed, that was old news. Kai is getting better at covering his trails. "Apparently there are a few things you can't do.", he stated, "Keeping out of trouble seems to be one.", he said with a slight grin.

He took a sideways glance at Zulera, and continued, "It doesn't surprise me that Kai tried to recreate Firelord Sozin's plan, sad that he has sunk so low." He shook his head, "So, what have you been up to, I heard you were travelling, but would have never suspected you to appear here, of all places." He leaned a bit closer, and whispered, "Between you and me, I actually find the cities to be quite dull, I've always craved adventure, even when I was young."

Mei motioned toward the ship, which he had, by absolute coincidence, of course, been leading her the entire time. "Now, we depart.", he replied. "Kai is bound to turn up eventually, and that's when we'll catch him, simple as that."

He smiled, "And now, I'm sure he won't find escape very plausible, not with both of us as his opponents."

Mei looked at Zulera, almost reading her mind, "Of course, if you want to back out, you may. I certainly won't hold it against you. Not everyone is cut out for tracking, and capturing traitors. And there are those who distrust sea travel." Mei's words were sharp, and it was all too clear that he would hold you to your word.

He stepped toward the vessel, "We leave in two hours, that should give you enough time to pack, I trust?"

Mei had done little since Zulera had left to grab whatever she had gone to grab. He sat in his office, bored, and scribbling away at forms which appeared to be assignment forms for each of his soldiers and engineers aboard. He had sent Xiayu to escort Zul to the ship, and show her to her quarters, and Mei's office, should she want to talk. Otherwise, Mei kept himself busy, yearning for some kind of action.

Mei glanced up, Xiayu nodded her head, "She's onboard. We're ready to depart." Mei smiled, and continued writing, "Excellent, tell the men to get us going. Allow the Avatar as much time as she needs, no one is to disturb her." She bowed her head, "Yes sir.", she was gone nearly instantly.

Mei was just finishing up his paperwork, which was the only downside to his job, in his opinion. He rose slowly, finding his legs stiff, he stepped out onto the deck, looking out at the water. He caught a glimpse of unfamiliar blue drifting across the lower deck, a spy?, but brushed aside his initial thought as he remembered his invitation to the Avatar.

Most of the men on deck seemed nervous around Zulera, trying their best to stay out of her way. They seemed to also try to work faster and better as she approached, usually the single men, in an attempt to impress her. Silently, above, Mei was laughing at them. Even the general himself didn't think he could convince the Avatar that he was worthy. That's the word he thought of, worthy. She was pleasant to look at, but, she was the Avatar, how could any man fathom being equivalent to her?

Mei continued to look down at the Avatar. What was it that had him so infatuated with her? The ship? The ocean air? He muttered to himself, and shook his head, "She probably has countless suitors already..." "Who? What are you looking at?", Mei felt his heart stop, and gripped the railing tightly. Xiayu had walked up behind him and he hadn't noticed, "Don't do that again, Lieutenant." She appeared confused, then peered over the railing, following his gaze.", she coughed with a slight smirk on her face, "I didn't realize you were interested in such things, sir." Mei looked at her incrudeously, "I'm not...at least, not...entirely...", his arguement faded. "Don't you have soldiers to be organizing?", he asked, a quick change of subjects.

She nodded, "Yes, I do." As she left, he swore he could hear her laughing. He glanced back down, "Interested in such things...I honestly don't remember."