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Two Weeks earlier…
The Kaimi Daja members had gathered inside one of the houses owned by their lone human ally, a familiar hideout they used whenever they needed to disappear from the world.
They crowded into the kitchen, the air thick with tension, as Zero stepped forward.
It was time to explain the plan again.
Zero: So, I'm going to go over the plan again since some of us still have some difficulties understanding it.. The plan is for us to fight Joshua Egoshin and take his fragment power, the "God Arm." If we can, we'll kill him too.
Desmond sighed.
Desmond: Isn't that a suicide mission? Joshua Egoshin is a Level 1+ Lighter, right? How do you even plan to pull this off?
Zero: That's where Lokk comes in. (points to Lokk) His Clarion technique could give us an edge.
Desmond: Could?
Lokk: Well, we won't know unless we try though.
Zero: Of course it will. It even worked on me, and you all know how different I am from the rest of you.
Everyone in the room sighed.
Giles: You don't have to keep reminding us, dude.
Zero: My bad!
Korra shrugged.
Korra: I don't mind either way.
Giles: (chuckles) Even if Zero told you to kiss his ass, you'd say the same thing.
Lorra: HUH?!
Zero: Come on guys, no fighting.
Desmond: (to himself) Kids these days...
Zero: (clears his throat) Now, back to the plan. To make this work, some of us will attack the Hunter Force Academy to create a distraction in case they try to call for help while we're fighting Joshua. So, Giles and Veto, you'll be the ones attacking the academy. I've already informed Annie and Karla, so they'll expect you. The rest of us will focus on Joshua.
Desmond: This sounds like a pain in the ass.
Veto: (laughs) Sucks to be you right now, old man.
Desmond: Shut up.
Zero: Now, for those fighting Joshua, the goal is to make him activate his fragment power, the Luminary Sword. If we can cut his arm off while it's active, I should be able to use it after... I, uh, consume it.
The thought of it made Korra's stomach churn.
Korra: You say that so casually, like it's normal.
Zero: I don't like it either, but it's the only way to take his power.
Gaki then raised his hand.
Gaki: I have a question. Joshua knows Harmonic Restoration, right? Won't his arm just grow back if we cut it off?
Zero: Well…
Jokita then pitched in.
Jokita: Normally, yes. But from my research on the fragments, if it's separated from the user, they lose that power and can't regenerate it, even with Harmonic Restoration.
Zero: Well, you heard it from him.
Gaki: How do you know so much, Jokita?
Jokita: I read a lot.
Zero: Look, I know this is a dangerous mission, but I trust you all to make it work. If anyone wants to back out, I won't hold it against you.
Gaki: Yeah, no kidding.
Desmond: It's true. This mission is dangerous and I don't expect everyone to come up unscratched either. But we're too far in to turn back now. We all joined the Kaimi Daja because we hated how the world is and wanted to change it. I can't speak for everyone, but I'm with you all the way.
Zero smiled.
Zero: Wisdom does come with age, doesn't it?
Desmond: I'm not that old. I'm 37.
Korra: Sounds old to me.
Giles: (laughing) Right?? You're supposed to be having kids by now.
Desmond: Damn you brats.
Giles: (laughing) Calling us brats is such an old-man thing to do.
Everyone burst into laughter as Desmond tried to defend himself. Zero just stood there, watching them all with a wide grin on his face.
Zero: (muttering to himself) I have faith in you guys.