"Water... Earth... Fire... Air…" Katara voices over as the benders demonstrate as she talks. "My grandmother used to tell me stories about the old days, a time of peace when the Avatar kept the balance between the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads. But that all changed when the Fire Nation attacked." It journeys into the map showing the world and closes in on a bender displaying all the elements. "Only the Avatar mastered all four elements. Only he could stop the ruthless firebenders. But when the world needed him most, he vanished." He disappears from sight. "A hundred years have passed and the Fire Nation is nearing victory in the war. Two years ago, my father and the men of my tribe journeyed to the Earth Kingdom to help fight against the Fire Nation, leaving me and my brother to look after our tribe." It shows the Water Tribe men on their boats and Katara hugging her older brother Sokka holding up a lantern. "Some people believe that the Avatar was never reborn into the Air Nomads and that the cycle is broken, but I haven't lost hope. I still believe that somehow the Avatar will return to save the world."
Break Out Plans Part 1
Night has fallen over the Western Air Temple, Zuko holds a kettle as he fills up the empty cups while the others sit around the campfire. "No one can make tea like Uncle." Zuko comments, "But hopefully I learned a thing or two. Would you like to hear Uncle's favourite tea joke?" He asks.
"Sure," Katara answers as she grabs a cup of tea.
"I like jokes," Aang adds in.
"Bring it," Toph adds as well and Zuko stands up with his tray.
"Okay." Zuko kneels between The Duke and Haru. "Well, I can't remember how it starts but the punch line," the boys help themselves to the tea, "is, 'Leaf me alone, I'm bushed'" They all give him a deadpanned look. "Well, it's funnier when Uncle tells it."
"Right. Maybe that's because he remembers the whole thing." Katara remarks taking a cup from him, Aang laughs helping himself to a cup and the group laugh as well, Zuko sees Rin laughing and smiles and walks over to her.
"It's nice to get a chance to relax a little." Toph comments and Zuko walks between her and Teo and hands them both a drink. "It hardly ever happens."
"I agree," Shai signs and lies back on the ground.
"Hey, can I talk to you for a second?" Sokka asks Zuko as he sits to the side by himself, thinking, he gets up and walks away. Zuko places the tray down and follows after him, they walk to the area where Appa rests.
"So what's up?" Zuko asks him with Appa wakes up looking at them.
"If someone was captured by the Fire Nation, where would they be taken?" Sokka asks him as they continue to walk further into the dark.
"What do you mean? Who was captured?" Zuko asks him.
"When the invasion plan failed, some of our troops were taken. I just wanted to know where they might be." Sokka inquires trying to be casual.
"I can't tell you," Zuko tells him as he didn't know too well as Rin did.
"What? Why not?" Sokka asks him annoyed.
"I don't know, Rin would, she was in the army," Zuko tells him, Sokka sighs thinking of involving more people.
"I still need to know," Sokka tells him.
"Trust me. Knowing would just make you feel worse." Rin comments making them jump and takes Zuko's hand not wanting him apart of the conversation but Sokka stops them by grabbing Zuko's shoulder.
"It's my Dad. He was captured too. I need to know what I put him through." Sokka tells them.
"It's not good Sokka," Rin warns him.
"Please." Sokka pleads with them.
"My guess is… they were taken to the Boiling Rock." Rin tells him thinking about it.
"What's that?" Sokka asks her frowning slightly.
"The highest security prison in the Fire Nation." She answers Sokka's mouth goes slightly agape from this. "It's an island in the middle of a boiling lake." Sokka turns away crossing his arms looking serious. "It's inescapable."
"So where is this place?" Sokka asks her.
"Why do you need to know? What are you planning?" Zuko asks him, not wanting to get too involved if something goes wrong or get the blame.
"Nothing. Boy, you're so paranoid." Sokka waves him off dismissively.
"It's in the middle of a volcano between here and the Fire Nation. You guys actually flew right past it on your way here." Rin warns him warily.
"Thanks, Rin, Zuko." Sokka yawns and pats them on their shoulders as he walks past them. "Just knowing makes me feel better."
"Yeah, I'm sure it does," Zuko mutters sharing a look with Rin who nods, as they walk back to the others around the campfire.
Earlier the next morning before the sun has even risen everyone is fast asleep as Sokka tries sneaking past Aang who snores loudly and his sister sleeping peacefully, he walks carefully over to Appa with a bag of his belongings. He lets out a sigh of relief as he hadn't woken anyone up then turns around and turns back around then nearly trips over Momo, eyes wide and walks over him, he continues over to Appa.
He climbs up Appa waking him up, but Sokka quietens him and he goes back to sleep, he gets up his hand reaching the saddle and pulls himself up to see Zuko, Rin and Shin sitting waiting for him. "Not up to anything, huh?" Zuko asks him, Sokka yelps in shock at them in surprise and loses his grip as he falls down on the hard floor with a loud thud and groans.
"Fine, you caught me. I'm gonna rescue my Dad." Sokka says putting back his belongings that had fallen out of his bag back in. "You happy now?"
"I'm never happy unless I'm with Rin," Zuko answers him and looks at his wife who smiles at him, knowing how he is.
"Look, I have to do this. The invasion plan was my idea. It was my decision to stay when things were going wrong." Sokka argues and he walks back over to Appa as Zuko jumps off the bison with Shin climbing down and Rin jumps down behind Zuko. "It's my mistake and it's my job to fix it." He looks at the trio with determination. "I have to regain my honour. You can't stop me Zuko."
"You need to regain your honour? Believe me, I get it. We're going with you." Zuko tells him as Sokka climbs back up Appa near the saddle.
"No. I have to do this alone." Sokka argues, not wanting anyone else involved.
"How are you going to get there? On Appa? Last time I checked, prisons don't have bison daycares." Rin snaps out as Sokka touches the saddle before he sighs knowing she's right and looks at them.
"We'll take our war balloon," Shin tells them and Sokka jumps off Appa and they walk off as everyone continues to slumber unknown that they had gone.
Sun has risen with everyone awake, The Duke walks over to Appa with an armful of hay as he throws it into Appa's mouth, Katara walks over to Momo still asleep on his back with a piece of paper in his arm like a blanket, Katara sees it and takes it from him. Toph and Aang walk to her side with him sleepily rubbing at his eyes as they walk over. "What does it say?" Toph asks her sleepily.
"'Need meat. Gone fishing.'" Katara reads turning the paper and her head as she tries to read her brother's handwriting. "'Back in a few days.'" Aang turns around and yawns glad that his drill sergeants aren't around. "'Sokka, Zuko, Rin and Shin. One more thing.'" Aang walks over to his sleeping bag. "'Aang, practice your Firebending while Zuko and I are gone. Do twenty sets of fire fists and ten hot squats every time you hear a badger frog croak.'" Aang lies down and proceeds to go back to sleep. "'Rin and Zuko.'" As she finishes reading the message a badger frog croaks and Aang opens his eyes irritated and stands up.
"Nobody else has homework." Aang groans as he proceeds to squat with his hands behind his head. "One hot squat. Two hot squats. Three hot squats. Four hot…" He counts off, as he does the exercises.
In an area full of clouds with a Fire Nation war balloon as they make it through the clouds, Zuko Firebends keeping the fuel tank with one hand and Sokka rests near him with Rin and Shin sitting around chatting as the boys stare at each awkwardly then looks away. "Pretty clouds." Sokka lamely comments looking up.
"Yeah, fluffy." Zuko raises his head looking at them and hears the girls giggling at them making them both giggle, trying to stop the silence and giggling from the girls Sokka starts whistling. "What?" Zuko asks turning towards Sokka.
"What? Oh, I didn't say anything. You know, a friend of mine actually designed these war balloons." Sokka informs them, Rin looks at him then at the balloon impressed.
"No kidding." Zuko comments.
"Yep. A balloon. But for war." Sokka says.
"There's one thing my Dad's good at, it's War." Zuko remarks turning back to the tank and Firebends.
"Yeah, it seems to run in the family," Sokka comments nonchalantly.
"Hey, hold on. Not everyone in my family is like that." Zuko argues, Rin gets up and walks over to him calming him down slightly.
"I know, I know, you've changed." Sokka backtracks.
"I meant my Uncle. He was more of a Father to me. And I really let him down." Zuko mumbles as he looks at Rin sharing a sad look.
"I think your Uncle would be proud of you. Leaving your home to come help us, that's hard." Sokka remarks looking at him with empathy.
"I agree," Rin smiles softly at him hugging him close to her.
"It wasn't that hard," Zuko replies thinking about it as he had his wife though, he was going to leave without her and his friends but he thought at the time it was for the best.
"Really? You guys didn't leave behind anyone you cared about?" Sokka asks looking at the trio and thinking of the other two.
"Well, Ban and Shai have girlfriends. Mai and Ty Lee." Shin answers thinking of her twin feeling horrible for her as she was still feeling down without Mai and Ban was making himself busy so he wouldn't think about Ty Lee.
"That gloomy girl who sighs a lot and the one who always wears pink?" Sokka asks leaning closer with surprise.
"Yeah." Shin smiles thinking of her sister and friend happy with the girls. "Everyone in the Fire Nation thinks we're traitors. They couldn't drag them into it." She tells him.
"My first girlfriend turned into the Moon." Sokka leans back onto the side of the basket.
"That's rough buddy," Zuko replies looking up at the sky.
"Wait, is that the Princess of the Northern Water Tribe?" Rin asks Sokka, he looks at her surprised she knew who it was and nods and they begin to chat.
Night falls as they sail further, Rin Firebends once more and closes the door to the fuel tank and wipes her hands and leans on the basket next to Zuko. "There it is." Rin points out, which wakes Sokka up instantly and they near a volcano-like area with steam coming out from it.
"There's plenty of steam to keep us covered. As long as we're quiet we should be able to navigate through it without being caught." Zuko informs them as they get closer to the steaming crater, Rin opens the fuel tank and Firebends but the flames are weak making the war balloon slowly descend into the crater.
The burn keeps losing its power, and the war balloon rapidly goes down into the crater and the balloon gets lost through the sea of steam. Rin tries Firebending rapidly into the fuel tank. "We're going down. The balloon's not working anymore!" Zuko panics as Sokka frantically rushes to the side of the basket.
"The air outside is just as hot as the air inside so we can't fly," Rin tells them as she keeps Firebending but the balloon continues to descend, the basket suddenly slants and Rin loses her balance along with the others.
"So what are we supposed to do?" Shin asks.
"I don't know. Crash landing?" Sokka suggesting and he grabs onto the tank as the balloon dangerously near the water, it touches the surface of the water. Sokka gets splashed by some of the boiling water and flails his hand as he covers his mouth struggling not to scream from the burn and it finally crashes onto land, shattering the basket into pieces.
They all get thrown from the crash landing along with their belongings, they get up from the ground and Sokka spurts out stuff from his mouth and they all slowly turn towards the carriage as it falls in ruin. "How are we gonna get off the island if the balloon won't work?" Zuko asks looking at the others.
"We'll figure something out. I suspected it might be a one-way ticket." Sokka replies the others look at him shocked as he walks away over to the wrecked war balloon.
"You knew this would happen and you wanted to come anyway?" Rin asks him.
"My Dad might be here. I had to come and see." Sokka reasons as he walks towards the fallen vent.
"Uncle always said I never thought things through, but this, ugh," Zuko groans as Sokka proceeds to gather more of the vent placing it into the broken basket as Zuko grabs at his head in frustration. "This is just crazy." Zuko throws out both of his arms.
"Hey! I never wanted you to come along in the first place. And for the record," Sokka complains turning back to the others then throws the fallen cloth into the basket as well. "I always think things through. But my plans haven't exactly worked, so this time I'm playing it by ear. So there."He pushes the basket but yelps as his hand automatically withdraw since the basket scorches him thanks to the boiling water, he kicks it and the broken balloon slowly sinks into the water out of sight.
"What are you doing?" Shin asks him.
"It doesn't work anyway." Rin reasons as they watch it sink further into the water. "And we don't want anyone to find it and become aware of our presence."
"I hope you know what you're doing. There's no turning back now." Zuko says and they turn around and look up at the prison no one had ever escaped - till now!
They make it inside the prison the next day, and sneak into the uniform cupboard and dress in the guards uniform, they close the door behind them still being careful. "I hope these disguises work," Zuko complains.
"We just need to lay low and find my Dad as soon as possible," Sokka tells them, and the corridor suddenly fills with running guards, Sokka and Zuko grin nervously, hoping not to be noticed, while Rin and Shin remain calm then a guard stops at the opening of the corridor addressing the four of them.
"Guards! There's a scuffle in the yard, come on." They run off behind the last group of guards.
They run out with the guards to a mass of people wearing red in the courtyard of the prison as the prisoners form a circle around two people in the centre as they round each other, the guards shove the spectating prisoners aside to get to the front and form a barricade. "I didn't do anything. I'm going back to my cell." The Prisoner announces bored and walks away and the guard Firebends a whip and lashes it near the prisoner's leg.
"Stop right there Chit Sang." The Guard orders him and the four walk to the front and Zuko makes a step forwards but Sokka stops him from interfering.
"We can't blow our cover." Sokka whispers and the guard in the centre of the circle approaches Chit Sang.
"I've had it with your unruly behaviour." The Guard warns him.
"What did I do?" Chit Sang asks him turning back to the Guard.
"He wants to know what he did." The Guard turns towards Zuko and Sokka. "Isn't that cute?" He asks them and looks back at Chit Sang as the guys stare at him in silence, he senses something is off and raises his visor inspecting the boys.
"Uh, yeah, very cute sir." Zuko answers and Sokka's eye looks towards Zuko nervously.
"Super cute." Sokka agrees, and the Guard smiles satisfied with their answers and walks back towards Chit Sang.
"You didn't bow down when I walked by Chit Sang." The Guard informs him.
"What? That's not a prison rule." Chit Sang remarks outraged at the Guard as he was being unreasonable.
"Do it." The Guard orders him with a smug look.
"Make me." Chit Sang protests definitely, and the Guard smirks walking away from Chit Sang, he then proceeds to Firebend another whip. The whip travels towards Chit Sang but he turns around and Firebends the whip and directs it back to the Guard and he kicks the flame aside.
"Tsk, tsk. Firebending is prohibited." The Guard shakes his head but Chit Sang remains in his stance. "You're going in the Cooler." He drops his position, the Guard suddenly points to Sokka. "You! Help me take him in."
"Meet back here in an hour," Sokka whispers to the others, and the three of them walk away from the crowd to the metal building.
They walk inside to the Cooler, Chit Sang is led to the Cooler with two security doors, Sokka opens them and water vapours gush out. "The Warden will deal with you soon." The Guard warns Chit Sang and he gets shoved inside and Sokka closes the two doors leaving him inside. "Can you believe this guy?" The Guard asks Sokka.
"Prisoners. Am I right?" Sokka gets into the act.
"Ugh. Tell me about it." The Guard groans.
In the break room with the guards all sitting around with their helmets off and chatting and laughing and just relaxing. "Hey, new guy. I know it's the rule to have your helmet on at all times but this is the lounge. Relax." The Guard tells Zuko as he grabs some food at the buffet table as Shin and Rin had been ordered to stand on watch in the courtyard.
"But what if there's an incident? If I'm not prepared someone could strike me on the head." Zuko reasons and walks towards the table as the Guard laughs at him.
"Give it a week, he'll loosen up." A female Guard comments.
"Can the new guy ask you veterans a few questions about the prison?" Zuko asks them setting his plate down and sitting with them.
"No, you can't date the female guards." The female Guard cuts in.
"Trust me, you don't want to." The Guard before laughs and a cup hit him on the head and the guard behind him laughs.
"No, that's not it. The Boiling Rock, it holds the Fire Nation's most dangerous criminals right? So what about war prisoners?" Zuko asks them needing information.
In the courtyard, Shin and Rin walk around keeping an eye out for any prisoners that fitted Sokka's description of his Father but they couldn't find anything. "Rin, what are we going to do about getting out?" Shin asks her friend worried about their escape.
"I'm not too sure quite yet but once we get a good look around, I'm sure we'll find a way out of here." Rin reasons and looks over to a guard and they continue on their rounds.
"I hope your right." Shin prays thinking of her sister and friends and notices up above a gondola which heads towards the tower and Rin takes notice too.
"Seems a part of the puzzle has fitted in." She comments smiling at her friend.
In the tower the gondola docks, the door opens and a man walks out as the others bow their heads down in respect and make their way.
In the hallway outside the Cooler as it blows in cold air, Chit Sang shivers holding his legs close to his body for warmth. Sokka peers into the Cooler through the little window as Chit Sang continues to shiver from the cold, Sokka looks in guarding the room with the Guard from before. "It sure looks cold in there." Sokka comments.
"That's why we call it the Cooler. He won't be Firebending in there." The Guard remarks and looks down the end of the corridor and suddenly pulls down his visor. "It's the Warden. Look alive." They stand at attention at both sides of the door, and the Warden walks with a serious look on his face and walks into the Cooler as the door opens.
"So Chit Sang, I hear you used Firebending to try to escape. You should know better." The Warden recalls looking smug.
"I wasn't trying to escape." Chit Sang argues struggling to talk and shivering from the cold.
"He's lying." The Guard argues looking into the room. "I saw him with my own eyes." One of the Warden's Guard pushes him away to quiet him.
"No one has ever, ever escaped from here. I'd sooner jump in the boiling lake myself than let that record fall. Don't forget it. Now go back to shivering." The Warden warns and turns away out of the Cooler and leaves Chit Sang again with the door closes, leaving him in the dark shivering and lowers his head down.
In the courtyard at one of the towers on the docks, Sokka leans against the railing looking down at the yard and another Guard joins him, Zuko. "Hey there, fellow guard. How goes it?" Zuko asks Sokka.
"Zuko?" Sokka asks him raising his visor.
"Shh. Let's just wait for Shin and Rin." Zuko tells them and sees two female guards walk over, one of them walks over hitting Zuko over the head, his helmet getting tipped. He knew it was Rin with that as he had left to go on his own. "Listen, I asked around the lounge. There are no Water Tribe prisoners. I'm afraid your Father's not here." He tells them and the girls nod in agreement as they too had not seen him around.
"What? Are you sure? Did you double check?" Sokka asks shocked and looks at the girls.
"Sorry, Sokka we asked around but no one of your Father's description or name has been here," Rin tells him.
"No." Sokka groans and holds his head in despair as he walks over to the wall. "No!" He bangs his fist against the wall in frustration.
"I'm really sorry Sokka," Zuko says feeling even worse now.
"So we came all this way for nothing. I failed. Again." Sokka leans on the wall.
"Err," Zuko ponders holding his chin, "what would Uncle say?" He looks to Rin then the sky. "Sometimes clouds have two sides, a dark and light. And a silver lining in between. It's like a silver sandwich. So… when life seems hard…" Zuko tries comforting Sokka but he just looks disinterested and looks to the side and his eyes widen in shock at what he was seeing. "Take a bite out of the silver sandwich." Sokka smiles and rushes to the railing next to Zuko and the girls.
"Maybe we haven't failed after all," Sokka tells them looking over the railing.
"That's the spirit. I can't believe that worked. I didn't even know what I was saying." Zuko smiles folding his arms proud of himself.
"No, what you said made no sense at all," Rin tells him.
"But look, it's Suki!" Sokka gushes pointing at the said girl in the yard sitting on a rock looking bored.
"Prisoners!" A Guard shouts into the yard and a bell rings through the yard and all the prisoners make their way inside. "Back in your cells!" Sokka seeming lovesick and gushing lowers his visor as he rushes off to see Suki.
Inside the prisoner cell block, inside a cell, Suki lies on her bed and the door to her cell opens, illuminating her face and she looks to the door then sits up as Sokka stands in front of her but of course in his disguise as a Guard. "What is it?" She asks him looking at him with anger. "Did I do something wrong?"
"You mean you don't recognise me?" Sokka asks her crossing his arms as if that would help her.
"You people all look the same to me." Suki hisses looking to the side.
"Oh. Then maybe you'll recognise this." Sokka teases her smugly and purses his lips attempting to kiss her, but she grabs him by his chin and pushes him to back to the door. Sokka's back slams on the door and his helmet fall off his head, he looks at her in surprise and as his true identity revealed she looks at him in relief.
"Sokka, it's you." Suki gleams and runs over to him, she embraces him into a hug and he hugs her back as she tears up. They get out of their embrace and stands up and he looks at her.
"The other Kyoshi Warriors, are they here?" Sokka asks them.
"No, I don't know where they are. They locked me here because I'm the leader." Suki replies looking worried for her friends.
"Well, you," Sokka places his hand on her face, "won't be here for long. I'm busting you out." He promises her.
"I'm so glad," Suki holds onto Sokka's hand that is placed on her cheek. "To see you Sokka. I knew you'd come." They lower their hands into a hug, they look in each other's eyes for a moment as they lean in for a long-awaited kiss. Outside the cell Zuko and Shin stand guard as Rin walks past them about to switch with Shin but another guard walks up the stairs, Zuko knocks on the door of the cell as a warning for them and Sokka and Suki break apart and the female guard approaches the cell.
"'Scuse me, I need to get into that cell." The Female Guard insists.
"No, you can't go in there," Zuko stammers looking into the opening of the cell door. The lights are out… the prisoner could sneak up on you."
"Step aside, fool." She orders him and tries pushing Zuko aside but he grabs her arm and throws her against the wall and Shin helps him. "Hey! Hey! What are you doing?" She demands as she manoeuvres her way around throwing Zuko against the cell and Shin onto the floor. Inside the cell Suki and Sokka sit down against the door, looking up at the commotion outside, Sokka puts on his helmet. Outside the cell, Zuko tries balancing himself as he attempts to push the female guard down as Shin gets back up and tries to restrain the female guard. Sokka during the commotion sneaks out of Suki's cell and the female guard spots Sokka walking away and another guard walking towards them. "Guards, help!" The female Guard shouts out to them, Sokka tries to get away but cringes as he is called out and sees Rin walking towards him.. "I think their imposters!" Sokka knowing he can't escape turns around joined by Rin. "Argh! Arrest them!" The female Guard orders. "Get them off me and arrest them!" The two walk over slowly and Sokka grabs Zuko's arms throwing him against the floor and Rin trips both the females onto the ground and takes Shin in a hold and pulls her up.
"You're under arrest!" Sokka fakes and helps Zuko to his feet. "Don't worry, we'll figure it out." Sokka whispers and they are lead away while the female Guard massages her sore shoulder.
In the holding building with the Coolers, Zuko and Shin wait in a cell and the door opens light shining on their faces with the Warden stands in the doorway. "Well, well, well. I never thought I'd find you in here, Prince Zuko and Shai." The Warden chimes as he has two people of interest but has missed one fact Shai is in fact, Shin.
"How did you know who we are?" Zuko asks the Warden not realizing he had called Shin, Shai.
"How could I not? You broke my niece's heart." The Warden says and looks at Shin, she ignores him as she knew what would happen if she corrected him.
"You're Mai's uncle?" Zuko asks him.
"Shai never meant to hurt her," Shin tells him and the Warden just looks at her with anger.
"Quiet" You're my special prisoners now. And best behave. If these criminals found out who you are, the traitor Prince who let his Nation dow and the ex-Royal Advisor to King Bumi. Why they'd tear you to shreds." The Warden threatens them, but Shin knew she would be either way as she had worked for the King in Ba-Sing-Se.
"So what's in it for you? Why don't you just tell my Father and collect the reward for us." Shin asks the Warden.
"Oh in due time believe me. I intend to collect." The Warden warns them darkly and he walks out of the small room with the light gone.
"I can't believe he thinks I'm Shai," Shin complains looking at Zuko.
"Well, you are identical twins." Zuko points out and she just shrugs.
In the cell block Zuko, Shin and Suki are mopping by a flight of stairs, Sokka and Rin walk over to them. "Oh, good. You guys have met." Sokka comments his arms crossed.
"A...actually, we met a long time ago." Suki replies as they continue to do their chores.
"We did?" Rin and Zuko ask confused.
"Yeah, you kind of burned down my village," Suki tells them and the two Firebenders glare at Sokka.
"Oh. Sorry about that. Nice to see you again." Zuko looks up and they put their mops against the wall as they sit down while Sokka checks their surrounding before joining the others.
"So listen, we think I have an escape plan," Sokka informs the others and the two kneel down lifting their visors. "We checked out the Coolers again, the whole point of them is to keep Firebenders contained, right?" He asks the others.
"Yeah.." Zuko answers.
"So they're completely insulated and sealed to keep the cold in. Well to keep the cold in it also has to keep the heat out, right?" Sokka again asks rhetorically.
"Just get to the point Sokka," Suki tells them.
"It's a perfect boat for getting through the boiling water," Sokka tells them.
"The Cooler as a boat? Are you sure?" Zuko asks sharing a sceptical look with Shin and Zuki.
"I'm telling you, it'll work," Sokka tells them.
"I walked around the perimeter. There's a blind spot between two guard towers. It's the perfect launching point. I already tested it out." Rin informs them.
"We'll roll the Cooler into the water and just float with the current. It'll take us straight across. As long as we don't make a sound no one will notice. And bing, bang, boom we're home free." Sokka explains the plan.
"But how are you going to get the Cooler out?" Suki asks them.
"Yeah." Chit Sang asks, startled they look up to see him eavesdropping on their escape plan on the stairs. "How are you going to get the Cooler out?" He sails his body through an area underneath the railing and lands in a crouch near the group.
"What? We didn't. We… we didn't say that." Sokka denies waving his arms dismissively.
"Yeah, you heard wrong." Rin denies calmly.
"I heard you hatching an escape plan and I want in." Chit Sang tells them.
"There's nothing to get in on." Zuko remarks.
"Yeah, the only thing we're hatching is… an egg?" Sokka tries to cover up and the others all sigh at his lame attempt.
"Okay, well, I come with you or the Warden hears about this egg too." Chit Sang threatens them.
"I guess we have no choice." Suki looks at Sokka.
"Okay, you're in. Now, first, we need someone needs to unbolt the Cooler." Sokka tells them and reaches into his pocket and hands over a wrench to Zuko. "From the inside." Zuko puts it into his pocket.
"Oh, I can get you inside." Chit Sang tells them and they begin their plan as Chit Sang walks and stops in front of the stairs his arms crossed then Zuko walks backwards as he mops the floor and bumps the mop handle into Chit Sang. "Ugh. Hey, what are you, stupid." He grabs hold of Zuko's shoulders and Zuko copies him. "Watch where you're going!" They push each other then Chit Sang lifts Zuko off the ground and throws him. Zuko lands with a turn, steadying himself and faces Chit Sang.
"Hey, you watch who you're shoving." Zuko snaps and pushes Chit Sang back.
"I think you mean whom I'm shoving." Chit Sang corrects the Prince and they grab each other's hands pretending to struggle and the others prisoners gather round and beginning to cheer. They push each other before Zuko breaks off and attempts to throw a punch at Chit Sang, he grabs his fist and throws him to the ground as Rin and Sokka walk into the area.
"I need backup over here," Rin shouts out to the other guards and Chit Sang attempts to body slam but Zuko somersaults out of the way, he lands safely proceeding to Firebend and Chit Sang jumps to avoid the flames from scorching his feet.
"No Firebending, Into the Cooler." The Guard announces to Zuko and they rush to contain Zuko to the floor. They bring him up and lead him away and the others share a glance with each other before they part ways to get let the plan fall into place.
In the Cooler block, the two doors to one of the Coolers opens to Zuko huddling to keep warm, and Sokka looks at him. "I can take you back to your cell if you've learned your lesson." Sokka pretends and Zuko lifts his head up sighing a breath of fire.
"Yes, I have. Completely." Zuko answers showing him the various bolts he had collected in his shirt, Sokka smiles lifting his visor.
"I got Suki, Shin and Chit Sang out of their cells a few minutes ago. They're will Rin and will be waiting for us at the shore." Sokka whispers.
"Someone's coming," Zuko warns and he pulls Sokka into the Cooler and quickly slides the inner door closed.
"Yeah, new arrivals coming in at dawn." A male Guard informs the female guard as they make their rounds.
"Anybody interesting?" The female Guard asks her fellow guard as Sokka opens the door to the Cooler slightly to listen to the conversation.
"Nah, just the usual. Some robbers, couple of traitors, some war prisoners." The Guard answers and the boys share a look. "Though I did hear there might be a pirate."
"No fooling'." The female Guard comments and they continue on walking.
"War prisoners. It could be your Father." Zuko points out.
"I know." Sokka agrees, looking away and closes his eyes in thought.
"Well, what should we do? Are we going ahead with the plan or are we waiting another night?" Zuko asks him.
"I don't know." Sokka shakes his head and looks at Zuko unsure. "Is it right for me to risk Suki's freedom? All of our freedom on the slim chance that my Dad is gonna show up?" He asks him.
"It's your call Sokka." Zuko reminds him and Sokka struggles with the decision on what to do.
Chit Sang, Suki, Shin and Rin wait for the boys and then look up to see them using their body weight to stop the Cooler from rolling down the slope rapidly and noisily, the others rush up to help them. "Took you guys long enough. This here's my girl and my best buddy. They're coming too." Chit Sang tells them pointing over to a girl waving at them and a guy waiting near the shore.
"Fine, everybody in the Cooler. Let's go." Sokka tells them looking annoyed and struggles against the weight of the Cooler, they turn it into a vertical position. Sokka walks over to a rock and lifts it to reveal his Water Tribe clothing hidden underneath.
"Are you sure you want to go? You're the one who said you wanted to redeem yourself. Redeem your honour. Rescuing your Dad is your choice." Zuko tells him as he walks over to him as Sokka slings his sword onto his shoulder.
"Your Dad?" Suki asks walking towards Sokka.
"If I had just cut my losses at the invasion, maybe we wouldn't be in this mess. Maybe sometimes it's just better to call it quits before you fail." Sokka reasons not wanting to get caught.
"No, it's not. Look Sokka, you're going to fail a lot before things work out." Zuko tells him, and Sokka just stands up as he slings his bag over his shoulder while raising his eyebrows at Zuko.
"That's supposed to make me feel better?" He asks him and walks away.
"Even though you'll probably fail over and over and over again." Zuko continues and stops Sokka in his tracks.
"Seriously, not helping." Sokka snaps but Zuko just grabs at his shoulder.
"You have to try every time. You can't quit because you're afraid you might fail." Rin adds in sticking up for her husband.
"Hey," Chit Sang calls out to them as he holds the Cooler steady. "If you five are done cuddling, can we get a move on?" He asks.
"No, I'm staying." Sokka answers and drops his bag as he turns around and addresses the others. "You guys go." He places a hand on Suki's shoulder. "You've been here long enough."
"I'm not leaving without you, Sokka," Suki tells him grabbing his hand reassuringly.
"We're staying too," Shin tells the couple.
"Not me, I'm out. Let's roll baby." Chit Sang ruins it and pushes the Cooler then jumps into it.
"We gave up our only chance of escaping." Sokka sums up as they watch the three make their escape across the boiling water. "I hope we haven't just made a huge mistake." They all walk off and Rin takes Zuko's hand in hers.
"I hope they boil," Rin grumbles annoyed but she knew she had to help Sokka.
Early morning, the Cooler sails across the water slowly with Chit Sang wipes away sweat from his face and stands up to look around. "Argh, this current is so slow." Chit Sang complains and tears off a small, metal section of the Cooler. "I can use this to paddle." He uses his makeshift paddle and once it touches the water the metal sears under the heat, his hand immediately lets go of the metal piece as he looks at his hand struggling not to scream. His finally lets out a scream.
This scream alerts a passing guard to see the Cooler in the water and they sound the warning bell and the Warden walks over. "Guards! Secure the perimeter and lock down the prisoners. Now!" The Warden shouts out an order as guards run down platforms and use fire whips to round up all of the prisoners to get them back into their cells.
The little group press themselves against the wall to avoid being spotted as they try to get a look to see who was being held there. "The plan failed! They're caught." Sokka panics but also glad that they had not gone there as they too would have been caught and continue to make their way back inside the prison.
On one of the platforms a huge metal contraption with guards and the Warden. "Get the fugitives and throw them in the Cooler." The Warden orders one of the guards, the guard in charge of the steering wheel turns towards the Warden.
"Uh, they are in the Cooler sir." The Guard fumbles.
"Once that's bolted down and not floating in water! This is a lockdown!" The Warden shouts at the guard, he points behind himself. "We have new prisoners arriving! Everything must be completely secure!" The guard turns the steering wheel as a huge crossbow on the contraption is lowered, and the bolt is released and pierces the Cooler violently and reels the Cooler back to the prisoner. Inside the trio panic at their future in the Boiling Rock and they get closer and closer to the prison walls.
Sokka with his back pressed against the wall, he peers out carefully to take a look at the gondola tower. "The gondola's moving," Sokka announces to the others and it slowly makes its way to the tower. "This is it." The gondola sails into the tower and docks, there are shadows of various people inside. "If my Dad's not there, we risked everything for nothing."
"We had to," Suki tells him and takes his hand.
"Come on, come on," Sokka mutters to himself and a guard opens the door of the gondola then a big, burly man with shaggy long hair, a long beard, a nose ring and a tattoo on his arm walks out in handcuffs.
"Is that him?" Zuko asks having a look at the prisoners.
"My Dad doesn't have a nose ring," Sokka argues lightly and looks back at Zuko as more prisoners walk out but none are Sokka's Father. "Where is he?" His eyes search for him but he still can't find him and then a shirtless man with a topknot walks out of the gondola but no one follows him. "That's it? That can't be it." He complains disappointed.
"I'm sorry Sokka." Suki apologises looking at him.
"Oh no," Sokka says lowering his head in dismay.
"Hey you," A guard cuts in and Sokka opens his eyes and they all look up," get off the gondola." The guard orders someone pointing to said person. Sokka looks at the gondola with hope as someone slowly emerges from the shadows of the gondola and once they come out Sokka feels the pressure lift from his shoulders as Hakofa his Father looks around before disembarking off the gondola.
"Dad," Sokka whispers with wide eyes.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Hey there, it's DeadGirlEternal, here thanks for reading and don't forget to please FAVOURITE, FOLLOW & COMMENT and I will soon update once I get 3 updates and I will see you lovely readers soon at the next chapter.
