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Chapter 11

Home Invasion

Jiayi's diner was practically empty which was all the more reason to enjoy it that afternoon. Ty Lee had been trying for days to get her father to do as she asked, but it was beginning to look like he was never going to budge. It was so upsetting that she did not even feel like singing.

"Ty Lee?" came Zuko's voice. "You're here and the karaoke machine isn't on?"

Zuko and his partner Haru both sat down at the counter by Ty Lee as Jiayi brought them some drinks. Apparently they were becoming regulars in an attempt to escape from Zuko's uncle's tea. Ty Lee was convinced it was more because of the men that had been coming around asking about her, but she was not going to pry.

"Dad's being a butt head," she informed the guys. "I want him to teach me more self defense and he won't."

"You're worried about what's going on with the Fire-" Zuko elbowed Haru's ribs. Jiayi looked at the two of them in confusion before Haru continued. "You're worried about Zuko's friends too?"

"Yeah! I just want to be able to help more and my dad won't let me!"

"In his defense I don't think I'd be okay with letting my kid get involved with something like this either," Zuko said. "I don't even want to be involved."

"Is there something I should know?" Jiayi asked.

"Just some work related stuff, ma'am," Haru told her half honestly.

"I don't want people thinking they need to take care of me anymore," Ty Lee stated. "I'm going to try talking to him again."

"Want a lift?" Haru offered. "The cruiser's outside and we're off duty."

"Sure!" Ty Lee beamed. "I've never ridden in a police car before!"

"Make sure you put her in the back," Zuko said as they left.

Just as the front door was closing behind them, the side door flew open and Angel stepped in. Zuko was too surprised to say anything at first, but before he could compose himself enough to speak she ran over and grabbed his arm.

"I need your help!"

"You're dad's just worried about you, Ty Lee," Haru said. "You suddenly come up to him and ask him to teach you how to fight and you don't even tell him why. Wouldn't that make you just a little suspicious?"

"I guess so," Ty Lee admitted. "But I'd trust that there was a good reason."

"Maybe so, but don't you think you'd want to know what that reason was if there was a chance someone you cared about could get hurt? Or even worse? I hate to say it, but this situation definitely falls under 'even worse.'"

Ty Lee attempted to answer, but was cut off by the emergency radio kicking into overdrive. Someone was speaking radio lingo so quickly that she could not even understand what was being said.

"What's all that about?" she asked.

"Fire," Haru said. "Someone's house it sounds like."

Ty Lee tried to make out what was being said, but could not decode all the different numbers and jargon for the life of her. Only one thing made any sense at all and it hit her so quickly that she felt like she was going to throw up.

"Ty Lee?" Haru asked, noticing her lack of color in the rear view mirror. "What's wrong?"

"That address they said. It's Sokka and Suki's house!"

Without any warning the car screeched into a u-turn as Haru flipped the police siren on. From what he knew about Zuko's friends it was not unusual for a small explosion to take place at Sokka's house, but a fire? And after being threatened by that man? Too much of a coincidence.

"Get out of my house!"

Sokka's yell was covered by the sound of shattering glass as she threw one of the many assailants through the closed kitchen window. There were so many it was hard to keep track of what was going on. He was worried about Suki and Katara. When the attack started Katara had been in the kitchen making up a snack for everyone when he noticed all of the people that seemed to be gathering on the street. When they forced the front door open and began pouring in through the living room windows Sokka began fighting them off on instinct. The first place he thought to go was the kitchen to make sure Katara was okay, but she was nowhere to be seen. Just when Sokka thought they might have taken off with her, a body came flying down the stairs and landed with a thud on the tile floor.

"And stay down there!" Katara screamed.

"Katara!"

"Up here, Sokka!"

"Me too!" came Suki's voice. "Geez, they're everywhere!"

Suki could hear the sounds of fighting as she climbed up the stairs over the fallen attackers. Most of them looked to be about Azula's age. Most likely a gang sent by Ozai. But why? What could have triggered the attack? Zuko had been keeping his ear to the ground, but would not have made a move without telling everyone first. He had to be trying to keep them busy. Distract them from something. But what?

"The Fallen Angels!" Sokka suddenly realized. "Suki, Katara, we've gotta get outta here! Ozai's attacking the Angels!"

"In case you hadn't noticed, Ozai's attacking us!" Suki replied.

"I've got it covered, just get out of the house!"

"We're not leaving without you!" Katara said as she flipped an attacker onto his back. "We all leave together or not at all!"

"I vote not at all."

The speaker was a large man with a crisp, deep voice. He did not look all that muscular, but his eyes were sharp and vicious. And the way he was smiling even while his comrades fell just made him that much more creepy and imposing.

"And how do you plan on stopping us?" Suki asked after she laid two more on their backs. She charged him with speed Sokka did not know she possessed and planted her fist directly in the man's face. He stumbled backwards, but only chuckled with a wicked grin.

"Oh, I have my ways," he continued to smile. "You are aware that your husband is quite the little chemist, don't you my dear?"

Sokka already did not like where this sounded like it was going.

"What do you suppose would happen to the more volatile chemicals in his little lab if they were to be exposed to open flame? And what do you suppose would happen if all of his safety precautions were stripped away?"

"Everyone in here would die," Sokka said. "Including you."

"Oh, would I now?"

An explosion sent a shock wave rumbling through the house as they felt the heat of the flames rising from the basement. Screams of those caught in the blast filled the air as Sokka tried to keep his footing. Katara and Suki were already moving towards the windows by the time Sokka could get his bearings, the strange man right behind them.

"Not leaving before the roast, are we?" he said as he grabbed each of the girls by their hair. He was smarter than his apparent insanity lead Sokka to believe. His fists full of hair were pulling straight up, taking perfect advantage of his height. With a wide swing he launched both girls from the windows and towards the stairs that the flames were already beginning to climb.

"Any bright ideas?" Katara asked.

"Kick him in the shins?" Sokka replied.

"Somehow I don't think that's going to work."

"Incoming!"

The warning gave them barely enough time. Another unknown figure came flying through the window and crashed, broken glass and all, into the psycho that was trying to burn them all alive. The two both rose to their feet and stared at each other with smiles tugging at their lips.

"You just don't know when to give up, boy."

"You know me, Koh, always eager to be a thorn in your side," the man replied. "Out the window, kids!"

Sokka did not know who this guy was or how he managed to break in through a second story window, but he was not about to start asking questions when he could feel the butt of his pants starting to ignite. The three ran for the window as their rescuer began battling the one he called Koh in the flames. One by one they leaped to what they hoped would be relative safety; first Katara, followed by Suki, and finally Sokka.

Much to their grateful surprise there was a soft landing awaiting them on the lawn. A makeshift landing cushion made from the garbage bags of their neighbors houses. If all that had happened had not been enough confusion for one afternoon, the two men who pulled them from the squishy yet disgusting landing were the cherry on top.

"Pakku?" Katara asked wide-eyed. "You're supposed to be up north with Gran Gran!"

"And Master Pian Dao!" Sokka squealed. "What are you doing here?"

"There's no time for questions now, Sokka," Pian Dao replied.

"Our friend upstairs can only be distracted for so long," Pakku agreed. "You must get to where you need to be."

"The Fallen Angels!" Sokka exclaimed. "That's why they attacked us, isn't it?"

"Indeed," Pian Dao confirmed. "Now you must get to them, quickly!"

As if the universe was actually doing them a favor for once, a police car with two familiar faces pulled up onto their lawn. Haru and Ty Lee only had time to open their doors before Sokka, Suki, and Katara all jumped into the vehicle.

"Get us to Serpent's Pass as fast as this thing can!" Sokka ordered.

"But what about your house?" Haru asked. "Who are those guys? What's going on?"

"No time!" Sokka ordered. "Drive!"

"Do you think they'll make it in time?" Pian Dao asked.

"You have not known my step-grandchildren for very long, old friend. They will make it."

"Then we had best go get Kuruk out of that fire."

A/N: Long wait, short chapter. Sorry about that. I do have a big announcement though, so please view my profile for more information.