The Chong Sheng Trilogy: War by rachelthedemon

Shen Lei

Disclaimer: I own not, you sue not.

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The Chong Sheng Trilogy

PART I: War

Chapter 8: Shen Lei

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Jin shook her head, just staring at him in bewilderment. "What?"

He smiled slightly. Knowingly, almost. "Your father, Jiu Zhu. Master of the Tunnel Project, am I right?"

She nodded, not really sure what else to say.

"He's the one who showed my men and I down here when we escaped the Dragon's broken siege. He initiated me, and promised to keep my division safe in return for my help on the project."

Her brows narrowed, recalling the identifier markings on the passage walls. The toolmarks used to make them, cruder than any self-respecting Earth Kingdom artisan, bender or not, would have done. Her voice lowered in understanding. "Those were your carvings, weren't they? You've been mapping the network for the last ten years."

He nodded. "Since we're not Earthbenders, we've been doing it the hard way. So far, we have almost three-fourths of the map completed."

"Not bad for having to figure it all out yourselves."

"Thank you." He held out his hand. "I'm Shen Lei. Are you all right?"

She reached out to take it, as much for support as in greeting. "Jin. Other than the ankle and the slight heart attack, I'm fine."

He draped her arm across the back of his neck, the other circling her waist as he led her down the passage from which he'd come, lighting their way with a blazing palm. "Then I think I'd better take you to the camp and have it looked at. We can wrap it for you, at least."

"I think I'd like that, yeah." She let him, favoring that foot until he set her down by the campfire he'd been sitting at when she first snuck up on them, pulling off her shoe and pushing the skirt of her robes up just enough to see the injured foot. "It looks a lot worse than it is, I'm sure..."

He shook his head, tearing off a strip of his cloak. "It's already starting to swell. It needs wrapped. I'd get some ice for you if we had any."

She winced as he started to wrap the ankle, sucking in a breath. "It's ok. Really. I'm just gonna have a fun time going topside again."

"By rights, you should be staying off that foot. You don't want to injure it more than it already is." At her nod of agreement, he sat back a bit, propping her foot up on some piled blankets. "What were you doing back there, exactly? You looked like you were guiding someone."

She lowered her head, nodding. "You saw his tattoos?"

He nodded, knowing. "What's his business in Ba Sing Se? Especially in the tunnels?"

"He's trying to see the Earth King. And he has reason to believe his bison is lost down here."

He froze, staring at her as though she'd grown an extra head. "Nobody's cast one of those crazy luck charms on you, have they?"

"Not that I'm aware of. Why?"

He smiled. "The bison's here. In the northwest antechamber. We found him a few weeks ago wandering the tunnels, and well...it was a pretty big clue that things were getting heated on the surface. The Avatar need not worry, we've been caring for him." He sighed. "Gives us something to do, at least. You wouldn't believe how boring it gets down here."

"You're kidding, right?" she asked. At the shake of his head, she smiled. "I think you just made that kid's month. He'll be thrilled."

Shen chuckled, flagging over one of his men. "Lao, we found the bison's master. Last I saw he was headed down the East Quai Mien passage. I need you to find him and tell him to come back here. Call him by name if you must, but don't attack him, even if he engages you."

Lao nodded, bowing. "Yes, Sir." He shouldered his cloak, heading off into the dark of the tunnel.

* * * *

Aang stumbled against the wall of the passage, panting heavily as Momo alighted on his shoulder, Toph coming up behind him equally out of breath.

"We lose 'em?"

She nodded. "I don't feel anything, so they're nowhere close to us." Aang sank against the rock, exhausted from running and unable to help being worried about that girl.

"You think she's okay?"

Toph shrugged. "She told us to run, didn't she?"

"Well yeah, but...she had a Fire Nation soldier chasing her. And he didn't look happy."

"I don't know if you just can't pick up on the obvious or what, but she's not defenseless. She knows a lot of stuff we don't. I doubt that guy gave her a whole lot of trouble, and even if he did, she probably knows a hundred ways to lose him in a labyrinth like this."

Aang sighed, staring off down the passage from which they came. She'd told them to run for the flower bed, whatever that meant. Considering their surroundings, he figured it was likely a codeword for a certain passage they had to find. But it wasn't safe to assume anything, and he knew it.

"She said...'run to the flower bed.' What do you think she meant?"

Toph's brows narrowed, thoughtful. "She could've meant anything. But I doubt there's an actual flower bed we need to find, unless that's what they're calling mold and cave mushrooms now."

He turned to the yawning darkness ahead of them, never having felt so...lost. Not even just within the tunnels. His friend was missing, and while he knew what he had to do, it seemed circumstance was hellbent on coming up with more creative ways to thwart him. Ways that managed to separate him from the very people he depended on for help, and left him wondering just how he was going to fix this mess.

There was no way he would let himself fail. He'd let the world down once already, and it wasn't going to happen again. The question was how he planned on succeeding.

Toph suddenly putting her hand to the ground snapped him out of those dismal thoughts. "We've got company!"

He immediately bounded to his feet, taking stance.

"There is no need for that. I won't attack you."

He didn't relax a muscle. "How do we know? Who are you?"

Now, he could actually discern a figure, dimly lit by a blazing hand. Somewhat short for Fire Nation, compact and sinewy, topknot bobbing as he walked. "Because I could've easily sent a whirlwind of flames through this tunnel and cooked the both of you alive, but I didn't. From what you've seen of the Fire Nation, I would hope that might be enough." He stopped, close enough that Aang could get a decent look at his face. Young, but not very, and paler than even the Earth Kingdom nobles. "I am Lao. It is an honor, Avatar, to finally meet you."

He still didn't lower his guard. "What do you want?"

"That girl you were travelling with--"

"What happened to her!"

"Relax," Lao assured him. "She's safe. My Captain told me to bring you to him. He has something important for you."

Aang blinked, looking to Toph. She nodded.

"He's telling the truth. I can feel it in his heartbeat."

He gulped, turning back to Lao. "Fine. But if you prove her wrong, it's over."

* * * *

It didn't take long for him to lead them back to the tunnel Jin had left them at, and the smell of burning was his first clue why she'd told them to run. They rounded the corner, heading a long passageway strung with small bands of Fire Nation soldiers, all seated around camp and cooking fires. It didn't take him long to spot Jin, seated at one of the very front fires, her foot wrapped and resting on a pile of blankets, talking to another older-looking soldier. But one with a very clear air of leadership about him.

"Captain!" Lao called.

The man looked up, getting to his feet and dusting off his pants, approaching Aang with a low bow. "Greetings, Avatar. Glad you decided to join us."

Aang glanced at Jin, before turning back to his impromptu host. "And you are...?"

"Captain Shen Lei, of the Second Taifeng Infantry. Pleased to meet you."

Jin nodded, though she didn't dare try to stand. "It's ok. He's on your side."

Aang frowned, not quite ready to return the bow. If for nothing else than it left his back exposed. "Your guy here said you had something important for me?"

"Yes," Shen said, nodding. "We ran into a friend of yours a while ago, and he's been eager to see you again."

He glanced at Toph, now just confused.

"What friend?" she piped up for him.

Shen smiled. "You'll find out in a minute. Follow me."

Aang gave Jin a look, before meeting Toph's blank yet penetrating gaze. "What do you think?"

"He's not lying, I know that much. And the girl isn't dead. I really can't think of a reason not to trust what he says. Other than cactus being more popular than we suspected. At this point, I wouldn't rule it out." He sighed, watching the captain head off down a side passage. "It's your call, Fearless Leader."

He paused, just letting every possible scenario cram through his mind in the space of a few minutes, the worst of which involved hanving to fight the entire battalion off with just the two of them. And yet, the best one...

"Let's go."

He grabbed Toph's hand, following Shen down the tunnel. If he was right, it was worth the risk.



TO BE CONTINUED...

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