Zhao was leaning back in his chair reading through the he sent out a week ago, when Lieutenant Jiye entered his office with a slightly annoyed air. She stopped in front of his desk, and somehow straightened her back even more before giving him a respectful Fire Nation greeting.
"Commander Zhao," she began, "Captain Xi has informed me that General Iroh and Prince Zuko had stopped in the harbor during both our absences."
Zhao finally glanced at her, an eyebrow raised up in surprise. "The Prince?" he asked with a gruff voice.
"Yes," she answered, "They came to have their ship repaired. The ship was badly damaged when they arrived. The hull was broken in several areas, the engine smoking and the deck oddly punctured and deformed."
Zhao looked at her thoughtfully, "Did they mention what had caused such extensive damage?" Jiye shook her head.
Zhao paused, leaning back into his chair, analyzing the information. "Very well then. Tell Captain Xi to promptly send me a report on the damage."
She nodded and reached into her sleeve, pulling out a thin scroll. "We've also received a message from the capital," she said presenting the scroll to him.
Zhao took it. 'How strange,' he thought as he looked at the royal seal, 'it's directly from the war council.' He narrowed his eyes as he broke the seal and unrolled the scroll before him. He read the first few lines with a sudden surprised look on his face, but that look was quickly replaced by a frown.
Lieutenant Jiye silently watched his changing expression with a practiced look of indifference on her face. She remained unmoving even after Zhao set the scroll down and looked up with the frown still present on his face.
'So the rumors had been true,' he thought, 'the avatar was alive.' His mind raced as he thought of the potential complications they now faced. He recalled how the Earth kingdom armies had been pushing back harder as of late. Perhaps they had met the avatar already? That would explain their sudden change, that and the sudden movement around Omashu. Zhao smirked. Despite the new activity, the different Earth Kingdom armies were still terribly disorganized and vulnerable against the Fire Nation armies. The Avatar's reappearance, Zhao concluded, was of no significance. Sure more people may pick up their arms against the Fire Nation as they became hopeful by his sudden reappearance. But if the rumors were completely true, the avatar was but a pathetic child, incapable of using all the raw power he possessed. Capturing him, then, would be quite a simple task. All he had to do was strategically corner him before sending the unexpected final blow.
Zhao's smirked flattered. His blooming plans suddenly overshadowed by the thought of Prince Zuko. Without any warning, the horrific scene of the Agni Kai replayed vividly in his mind, bringing back memories of the sickening stench of burned flesh and the horrifying screams that had filled the dimly lit arena. The image of Prince Zuko's limp form curling up into itself once again burned onto the back of his eyes and Lu Ten's soft voice suddenly rang in his ears.
Zhao's heart sank. Their last conversation had come to haunt him again. Zhao closed his eyes and furrowed his brows.
Taking a quick breathe, he opened them again and slowly regained awareness of his surroundings.
"We have a new mission, Jiye," he said as he rolled the scroll back up again, "The avatar is alive and we are to capture him at all cost." Jiye's eyes widen, but Zhao continued, "I want you to get the fleet ready - I plan to disembark as soon as possible."
Lieutenant Jiye narrowed her eyes, quickly regaining her composure. "Of course Admiral." With a click of her boots, she sharply turned around and began walking away.
"Jiye," Zhao suddenly called and she abruptly stopped, her hand on the door. She looked over her slim shoulder with a blank look.
"Find out Prince Zuko's current route."
Prince Zuko was taking a rare moment to himself. He was shirtless as he sat cross legged on the floor before a few candles meditating. With every deep slow breathe he cleared his mind, slowly becoming more aware of his surroundings, the stillness of the air, the soft lull of the sea and the pained groaning of the metal ship.
He remained peaceful, eyes closed as he heard his uncle's heavy steps approaching.
"Prince Zuko," Iroh called, voice a bit breathless as he entered the boy's room, "Captain Zhao is on the ship and wants to speak with you."
Zuko's eyes immediately glared open, his shoulders tensed as he got up. "What!" he loudly snarled. General Iroh frowned at him. "Please Prince Zuko, we must be careful. He's not here alone. His fleet has surrounded us." Zuko growled loudly at that. He quickly dressed and fastened his armor tightly to his chest before rushing out his room with his uncle behind him. "It better be important. I don't have time for this!" he shouted as he clenched his hands into tight fists.
When he finally reached the war room, Prince Zuko was fuming. In his rage he slammed the door open, creating a terrible bang. He glared at Zhao who stood straight with his hands behind his back as he looked at one of the many maps laying upon Zuko's desk with blank expression.
Although he had not looked up at the offending noise, the slim woman next to him did. She turned to face Prince Zuko, her long black ponytail swinging away from her slim face as she did. She raised eyebrow at the angry Prince, giving him a highly unimpressed look.
Prince Zuko felt his good eye twitch as his anger swelled. Before his uncle could stop him, Zuko had marched over to Zhao and slammed his fist on the desk. "Captain Zhao what are you doing on my ship?" he growled.
Zhao glanced up and gave him a deadpan look. "It's Commander Zhao," he retorted with a self-satisfying smirk, completely unmoved by Zuko's anger.
General Iroh suddenly stepped forward, coming to Zuko's side. "Ah, congratulations on the promotion Zhao!" the former general said in a friendly but nervous tone, "We had not heard the great news."
Zhao bowed politely at him, "Much appreciated General Iroh."
Zuko growled again, "I asked you a question Zhao."
Zhao straighten up, his gaze returning to the Prince.
"I have come to offer you my assistance in capturing the avatar."
Once the words left his mouth, three set of eyes shifted to Zhao in shock. He heard Jiye take a deep and unsteady breath behind him. The Prince and his uncle's reactions, Zhao noted, were not much better. General Iroh's mouth hung open, his eyebrows high on his forehead, threatening to reach his receding hairline. The Prince, on the other hand seemed to be frozen at the spot. All the anger had disappeared from his face and he slowly opened his mouth only to rapidly close it again.
After a few minutes Zuko finally composed himself. "What's the meaning of this Zhao?" he barked, his anger quickly returning.
Zhao shrugged with an uninterested look on his face. "It's as I told you – I am offering my assistance."
Zuko narrowed his good eye, its shape matching that of his deformed one. "Your help is not needed Admiral," he sneered.
Zhao smirked, "I beg to differ."
Zuko eyes quickly flashed with emotion and suddenly he snapped. He roared as he launched himself towards Zhao only to be stopped by his uncle's strong grip on his shoulders. In front, of Zhao stood Jiye with a clenched fist just mere inches from Zuko's face, heat radiating from her knuckles. She had rapidly moved when she had seen the prince move into an attack. She sneered at the Prince and increased the heat slightly, daring the Prince to move.
With his nephew still secured in his grip, General Iroh turned to Zhao with a questioning look, eyes glinting with a hint of distrust.
Zhao frowned. "Jiye," he snapped, "leave us." Lieutenant Jiye's head snapped at him, and she observed him with searching eyes. Their eyes met briefly before she quickly looked away. Without a word she lowered her arm and stepped outside.
Once he heard the door close behind her, Zhao turned his attention back to General Iroh.
"I am genuine about my offer."
"Admiral Zhao, this is –" Iroh began, clearly lost for words.
With a grunt, Zuko broke from his uncle's grip. "Why should we trust you? " he sneered, stepping closer to Zhao, glaring up at him, their faces mere inches from each other.
Zhao could barely contain himself from rolling his eyes. "It seems you don't understand the gravity of your circumstances Prince Zuko. You truly aren't in any position to argue or deny an offer like mine."
Zhao turned and took a few steps to the cabin window, staring into the vast distance. "You see, the high council has confirmed the avatar's return and on behalf of your father, they are not only commanding everyone to capture the avatar upon encounter but are also deploying a special force to capture him."
Zuko's eyes widened, "Impossible! It's my mission to capture the avatar."
Zhao turned back to Zuko with a frown. "No, it was your father's pathetic excuse. Although he didn't outright state it, your father exiled you with no intention for you to ever return."
"You're lying! My father sent me away because I lost my honor. With the avatar he will accept me."
Zhao raised an eyebrow giving Zuko a disappointed look. "Is that really what you think?"
Zuko grit his teeth, hurt flashed momentarily in his eyes behind the anger. And General Iroh stepped forward, and placed a comforting hand on Zuko's shoulder.
Zhao sighed. "Very well Prince." He tipped his head respectfully and walked past them towards the door. Stopping when he reached the door, he slid a hand into his armor and pulled out a scroll. "It's your choice," he muttered, tossing it over his shoulder.
Zuko caught it with a swing of his arm and briefly inspected the scroll's broken seal before glaring at Zhao's back.
"My offer still stands," he heard Zhao say before he slammed the door behind him.
