-Elsewhere-
Tallok waded through the secret passage, looking around at some old graffiti when something rustled against the dust of the floor. Looking down to what it was, his eyes widened and he flipped open the walkie-talkie.
"Guys? You may wanna see this."
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As the others appeared in the secret passage, Tallok was about to unveil his newfound evidence, but after a quick head count he stopped.
"Wait a second. Where's Sokka?"
"We were gonna ask you the same thing." Aoina shrugged. "We got a call from him not too long ago, but then we lost contact."
"What?" Tallok freaked. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? We have to go."
"Then what were you trying to show us?" Narada asked.
"It can wait." He said simply.
Narada sighed somewhat. "All right then, let's go."
-Basement-
Katara and MIA descended through the trapdoor, to the world of old movie posters and costumes below. Whilst MIA searched about the room, Katara was steadily approaching toward the door in the distance.
It was only halfway through that the clatter echoed throughout the floor. Readily looking down, she gasped as she picked up the object.
"Sokka's boomerang." She cradled the boomerang sadly. "This must've been where he lost contact."
"No sign of him or Aang though." Aoina sighed resentfully. "GS probably cleared out before we got here."
"Just great." Narada plopped herself onto one of the chairs. "We finally get a lead, and not only does it dry up, but now we have one more hostage to deal with!"
"Maybe not." Tallok commented. "Check this out."
He pointed to the blade end of the boomerang, on which two letters were scrawled out in black ink.
Narada raised an eyebrow. "EK? What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well it has to mean something." Katara shrugged. "This is Sokka's prize boomerang. He'd never write on it for no reason."
"Okay then." Narada sighed, clearly upset over the recent events. "Anyway, what was it you wanted to show us?"
"Well it's more of an instinct than anything else, so better not get worked up over it yet." Tallok told her, before focusing to the other two girls. "When we get back home, I'll tell you all about it."
"You'll have to tell me over the phone." Aoina stated right away. "I promised Iroh I'd go with him to visit Zuko at the hospital. Poor guy needs all the moral support he can get right now."
"I gotcha." Tallok smiled warmly, nodding, and then turning back to Narada. "Guess it's just you and me then."
-Meanwhile-
"…Uugh…huh?"
Sokka drowsily looked about his newfound predicament, which, judging from his surroundings, was quite bleak. The floors here were bare metal, the cold of it stinging the exposed skin of his arms. There was only one source of light in this entire room, and that was the small barred window in the door allowing in light from the bare bulb outside. A small, brief shot of pain throbbed the back of his neck, proving his encounter with the Green Spirit was very real. But worst of all, neither Aang nor Suki were anywhere in sight.
Forcing himself up, he reached toward the window and peered through. Not that there was all too much to look at. Outside, rusty pipes gave the odd drip every now and then, turning the cement floors a sickly brown. The floor plan itself was nothing to look at, at least from here; it was just a single hallway that turned to the left. The Green Spirit himself sat on a chair by the door in a droopy, snoozing heap. There was no knob on Sokka's side of the door, so trying to get it open would be pointless.
In other words, this was a nightmare in the making. Sokka threw his back against the wall, letting himself sink to the floor, only to perk back up when…
"Psst…Sokka? Are you here?"
The voice was familiar, but Sokka had to see it to believe it. He stood, albeit shakily, and rushed to the door, looking to the voice's source.
"Suki!" He beamed excitedly. But then he recalled ol' GS asleep on the chair, and quieted down. "But…how did you get out?"
"It was easier than I thought actually." Suki shrugged. "No time to dwell on the details though, we got work to do." She said, before lightly reaching above GS' head, gripping the keys, and reaching back to the lock. Twisting the first key into the lock, it almost instantly snapped open.
"That's amazing!" Sokka strained to hush his voice at that point. "You got it right on the first key!"
"Just lucky I guess." Suki shrugged lightly, a slight smile marking her features before she followed Sokka down the hall.
-Zuko's Room, Mount Sinai Hospital-
Aoina had considerably less trouble finding Zuko's room this time; she'd recognize that tune on the Sungi horn anywhere. Opening the door, she walked inside, glancing toward Iroh. "Any progress?" She asked, before setting herself down in a chair next to him.
"Not really." Iroh bowed his head. "It's so hard to believe. All this time, I've thought of Prince Zuko as a driven, capable young man. But now that one night has left him so helpless, so vulnerable…and that scares me."
"I can only imagine." Aoina sighed. "Especially after Ozai-…" Aoina paused out of delicacy. "Well, you get the idea."
Iroh nodded, eyes shutting. "I know. First Lu Ten died, then my family and nation turned on me, now this. And if…if Zuko doesn't make it through this, I don't know what I'd do." He paused for only a second after that, before resuming in a whimper. "He's all I have left." With those words alone, he cupped his eyes in his hands and started crying.
Aoina could only watch, before finally standing. "Looks like you need some time alone. Can I pick you up something at the cafeteria?"
"I'm fine, thank you." Iroh shook his head, calming somewhat. "Take your time."
"…OK." Aoina shrugged to herself before walking out the door, closing it behind her.
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Darkness shrouded his entire vision. The intense heat about his body was torture, even for a firebender, and the equally intense pain only made it worse. But what really stuck in his mind was that breathing, the simplest task for a person –or any living creature, for that matter- to accomplish, was nearly impossible for him at the moment.
Winter, SpringSummer and Fall
Winter, Spring
Summer and Fall…
Zuko immediately recognized the voice, faint as it was. So he wasn't as surprised when Iroh clasped his limp hand, and was now singing gently to him from the bedside.
…Four seasons
Four loves
Four seasons
For love.
It took every ounce of will Zuko had to close his hand around his uncle's. That one feeble movement was enough to arouse Iroh's attention.
"Zuko?" The old general was in doubt, almost drawing back his hand. But only one moment later did it finally sink in.
"Zuko!" Tears fell by the dozen from Iroh's eyes, but these were clearly tears of joy, as his grip tightened somewhat.
For Zuko, the feeling was mutual, and for a minute the pain seemed lighter. Eventually, however, reality hit him once more. "Uncle…" He groaned weakly. "It hurts…everything is blurred."
"Just rest, Prince Zuko." Iroh reassured, smiling lightly. "You're back. And that's all that matters right now."
At that point, for the first time since the North Pole, Zuko's pained body allowed itself some rest, his hold on Iroh's hand relaxing a little bit.
Nonetheless, he took quick notice as his uncle's hand suddenly tore away. A surprised cry from Iroh proved in that instant that something was wrong. And yet Zuko lay helplessly on the bed, his limbs refusing to move.
Listening to the ensuing fight was unbearable, although the struggle that, in Zuko's mind, lasted hours, took only one minute before silence fell. It was here of all times that his eyesight started clearing up, only to see the old general unconscious on the floor. And who should be dragging him out by the collar, but the Green Spirit himself. His eyes shot wide.
"…You…"
"So the Fire Nation pig survived eh?" The masked intruder responded, before procuring a kitchen knife. "Do me a favor, you worm. Stay dead this time."
With that, he sliced the knife clear through the oxygen tube. As the emergency alarm sounded, GS tossed the knife at the window to shatter it, before taking Iroh and jumping out, leaving Zuko alone in the battle-scarred room, gasping for air.
But Zuko's true agony was in what had happened just now. All his life he'd seen more than his share of failures, but this was the worst of them all. Not only was his breath dwindling from his lungs, but now that racist bastard had stolen Uncle Iroh away, all because he failed: again. Appalled at himself for it all, Zuko made little attempt to stay awake. The darkness covered his senses once more, and he passed out.
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Narada: Whew! Act 6 is up at last! I was aiming to outdo Act 5, so sorry if I took too long.
Tallok: You certainly have in my book, Narada!
Narada: Thanks!
Aoina: Coming up next, Day 2 arrives, and a certain someone joins in on the investigation!
Tallok: Really? Who?
Aoina: Patience Tallok. You'll find out next act!
Tallok:grumble:
