Plottings

Sit," Aaron commanded Mark as the rest of their team settled down in a circle around the fire. He let out a long sigh as his muscles gasped for relief, but his work for the evening had barely started.

He walked over to the general, weaving the Chi-healing technique Aaron had learned during his time with Dopi. It was dizzyingly complex and far more technical than just pure bending in some aspects. You had to weave Chi into a dizzyingly complex shape and maintain it whilst you stimulated the natural healing process of the human body and spirit. Of course, that required an above-average understanding of the human body and its various functions. 

It'd taken Aaron nearly one whole day to get it right, much to Dopi's surprise. Aaron reminded her that he had three minds to rely on instead of one, but she waved him off.

"It's still impressive, regardless," She huffed. "Everybody exploits their talents. Why shouldn't you." 

Aaron had begrudgingly agreed.

"What I'd give to hear her voice again," he muttered as he placed his hand on the parts of the general's body that were still sore. He'd administered first aid, but he still had ways to go. 

"Thank you for this," Iroh sighed in relief as his consciousness drifted. He'd been waiting on them for hours. Aaron was glad the old man finally felt some relief.

'At least someone is feeling better..' 

Zuko offered an appreciative nod as he settled beside his Uncle, and Aaron returned the gesture without ever stopping his technique. He shunted the task to his two extra minds to free himself for what came next.

"Now that everyone is here, we need to go over our options," Uncle Wang grunted as he weaved a Chi-healing technique to massage his body. Using that much Spiritual energy must've come at a cost. His technique looked weaker, and he struggled to keep it even. His spirit had hardly recovered since the fight, and Aaron guessed that it'd be many more days before he could fully recover.

"We have to try to win the Phantoms over to our side," Jon Jon said, shaking his head. "They're the only ones powerful enough to stand up to him." 

"That's if they support us," Wang said. "Believe it or not, my siblings and I don't exactly see eye to eye on most things, including my father. Harlan, despite his irreverence, is fiercely loyal and so is Menma. We have Ren on our side, but Yara may be harder to predict. Her daughter's safety is her number one priority. Hell, with what Samir's done, I don't think she'll bat an eye if Grandfather takes his body." 

"Ah, could somebody tell me what's going on?" Mark asked, but no one spared him a look.

"That's the elephant in the room, isn't it?" Zuko said. "Is it possible to convince Misha to get to Yara?" 

Wang shook his head. "Misha is fragile right now. It wouldn't be right to ask her to defend Samir of all people to her mother."

"There's also the small issue of reaching her in the first place."

"I could always astral project in," Aaron suggested. "Finding Misha or Yara won't be that much of a problem with my parallel processing skill. I'm almost certain that Yara will be meeting with my uncles to discuss what just happened."

"You can be in two places at once?" Zuko asked, more than a little bit surprised. 

"I see no reason why I can't be," Aaron shrugged. "I have multiple minds, I should be able to astral project multiple times."

Mark gasped. "That's so broken." 

"You're all forgetting, we don't have to ask her to defend a traveler. I know my nephew. She has moral fiber enough. She'll disapprove of what her Grandfather is about to do." 

"That's true enough," Aaron nodded. "Then we're all in agreement. The sooner we can gather a fighting force, the sooner we can track Samir down and put him into the ground before Grandfather takes him. Once he's gone, we can wash our hands of this traveler mess and focus on Grandfather and taking down the Fire Nation." 

Aaron turned to Zuko. "No offense."

Zuko sighed. "None taken."

Aaron's eyes settled on Mark next. "Anything unclear?"

Mark gulped, but Aaron expected no resistance. After all the snake was getting what he wanted. If there was anything you could count on about the boy, it was his self-interest.

"Why are you all so certain that the Falcon is coming after me?" Mark asked, looking between Aaron and Wang.

"After failing to hold onto the Avatar's body. Yours and Samir's are the next best thing," Aaron replied, focusing back on healing the General. Aang was somewhere at the back of the camp, asleep and still recovering from what Grandfather did to him. 

Mark threw a look at Aang who was at the back of the camp, lying down beside King Bumi and Jon jon who was meditating. "Uh…he doesn't look like he's ready for a fight."

"He's not, but neither is the Old man," Wang grunted. "Rather than exhaust himself fighting three White Lotu masters and two phantoms, I think he'd rather go after the much more vulnerable travelers. He knows where to find you, and if my hunch is right, he might've infected Samir with something during our escape from his camp." 

Mark gulped. "Fuck me. If the Avatar's Spirit was no match, I don't like my odds."

"And that's why you need to stick with us," Zuko said, narrowing his eyes. "Aaron tells me you have a habit of running away."

Mark shot Aaron an offended look, but the Airbender didn't look up. With a shrug, he said. "They had to know who they were fighting alongside with. We cannot afford another one of your surprises at a crucial time like this."

"You're my only chance of survival," Mark said with a frown. "At least, trust that I am not stupid enough to fuck it up."

"You managed it once," Wang said. "Nothing stopping you from doing it again."

Mark sighed and got up to his feet. "If you don't need me, I'll be busy practicing my metal bending."

"Don't go too far," Aaron called. "We wouldn't want you running away when we're not looking."

Mark grumbled and kicked a piece of rock as he wandered off. 

"Zuko," Aaron called.  "Do you mind?"

There was a tense moment as the Prince met Aaron's eyes. They'd been enemies just a few days ago, but since meeting, they'd fought side by side and brought down one of the most powerful benders alive. He'd not known the man for long, but he knew he could trust him to do what was right.

"Tell my Uncle where I am when he wakes up," Zuko said as he followed after Mark.

When he was out of earshot, Wang spoke. Only two of them now remained at the campfire.

"How are you holding up?" Wang asked. 

"Don't worry about me," Aaron said, blinking away the sweat that gathered on his brow. "I'll be ready to make the trip. I can gather chi as I heal. I have more than enough energy to find her and help you win over the rest of the family."

"That is not what I asked you. You've been different since Dopi passed. More emotional."

"Of course, I am emotional, Uncle," Aaron said with an edge to his voice. "I just watched my grandfather kill my best friend."

"And that is why I think you should let me do most of the talking when we find them," Wang said slowly, and Aaron's eyes snapped to him. 

"You're not the only one who's lost people to this war," he said touching the scarred part of his face. "I watched Samir kill ghosts they've been with me for nearly a decade. They were practically family. I was angry for a long time – in fact, I still am angry, and I, more than anyone, understand how dangerous it can be when you let it lead you."

"I didn't try to kill my own traveler," Aaron pointed out. 

"True, but Mark did not murder your BEST FRIEND," Wang folded his arms. "Your Grandfather did. And you can't begin to entertain the thought of killing him."

"Don't you think I know that!" Aaron snapped, the shimmering green light of Chi healing stopping abruptly.  "He tied himself to the moon to make him untouchable. I know what's at stake if he dies. But if we let him live, he could piss off whatever beings the Travellers worship or destroy us in any number of ways."

Wang sighed. "I feel your frustration. I've known of his duplicity for years. I overlooked it every time in the name of fighting for the greater good."

"Damn it all," Aaron yelled, unleashing a wild gust that snuffed out the campfire. "He's a monster. And we're all monsters for putting up with him for this long."

"Loss changes a person," Wang said, "and it morphed your Grandfather in ways I cannot begin to explain. He lost most of his people in one day. And slowly watched as the Fire Nation slaughtered the rest of them. Imagine how you feel amplified by a hundred thousand."

Aaron listened, carefully contemplating. "Are you asking me to forgive him?"

"I'm not. I'm asking you to understand him. There's a person beneath the madness."

Aaron pursed his lips in thought, but his anger persisted. "I'll let you lead, but I can't promise that I will pull my punches when we fight him."

Wang chuckled. "As long as you don't kill him." 

Aaron wrapped up healing the general before Astral projecting. While executing the technique, his mind split into three bits.  His main mind stayed in camp to watch over it while his two sub-minds moved in different directions. One towards the battlefield where they'd clashed with Grandfather, and another towards Misha's chambers. 

All at once, his three minds were struck with memories of the past. Five children stood before him, all varying in age. The oldest of them was close to his twenties, while the youngest was barely a teenager. Aaron did not recognize them at first glance, but their varying complexion and familiar faces gave them away. They were the younger version of the current phantoms. 

"They won't do," he heard a voice say. 

"They're not nearly enough, not for what I need." In front of him, several hundred more ethereal faces manifested behind them, until they filled the halls they currently stood to bursting. Aaron saw himself standing directly behind his young father. He also spotted Misha and other kids in their generation. Children numbering in the dozens stood behind each of them.

Immediately, it all came together. 

"But soon, they will be enough," Aaron had the voice say as the memories faded and regained consciousness.