Book: Air
Ch. 12 The First Flakes of Knowledge
"You wanted to see me Zuko." Sokka said as he walked out into the fire nation royal palace's garden. The garden was a dreary sight, fall had come and winter rapidly was approaching. The trees stood bare and dark, the bushes were losing their autumn color, and the air was cold and stale.
Zuko sat upon his favorite place, under the grand old tree facing the small pond. The turtle ducks had gone south to migrate so the water was tame. When he heard Sokka he stood up and greeted him. Sokka didn't like the look on Zuko's face, it was grimmer and more frustrated than usual.
"I have some news for you. Last night, I'm sorry you couldn't attend the meeting." Zuko apologized, he really didn't want to invite him, fearing that Sokka's presence would cause a dispute within the council.
Sokka waved it away, "It's alright. I couldn't go anyway. Suki had to be taken in for a checkup."
"She's been acting a bit moody lately."
"Yeah, she still has mood swings even on her fourth month of developing. It's tough dealing with her, she's either very worried about me when I leave or angry when I don't leave, and then angry again and then worried again." Sokka said with an uneven smile. "Having a pregnant wife is tough."
"Wait until you have kids." Zuko tried to smile.
"Oh no I'm not worried about kids. I can't wait from them to pop out so I can start training them and start to be a father. During our honeymoon Suki and I already discussed that 4 kids is the minimum. It's just dealing with Suki through the pregnancy that's the hard part." Sokka looked down at his shoes and rubbed his neck. He looked frustrated himself.
Zuko contorted his eyes, "Do you love Suki that much to live with that many children?"
"Yeah, and plus, just between you and me, we get reckless at night. She's…amazing." Sokka displayed a wicked satisfied smile which quickly dropped. "Thou I am beginning to question our agreement of 4 kids, even if I would love that many, I just can't deal with Suki through her pregnancy."
"Just think of your children." Zuko tried to comfort him.
"No, Suki is just not herself during these difficult times." Sokka sighed, "I married her because she was beautiful, played it sexy, strong minded, full of adventure and a warrior to match. Now it seems like she's none of those."
"You don't think your wife is beautiful?" Zuko crooked an eyebrow.
"What? No I don't mean that. She has lost her sense of herself. And I loved that woman. Back at the Boiling Rock, I didn't see her as a warrior like I used to. She just looked small, helpless, and frail. At first I thought it was because she was being cautious and trying to protect the baby, but I realize that she acts that way too." Sokka appeared heart sore to be saying such words.
"Well, I'm glad to hear your marriage is going… well. However I wanted you here to discuss the meeting last night…" Zuko sighed and rubbed chin.
"It went that bad." Sokka crossed his arms over his chest prepared to listen. He tried to forget his concerning matters of his changing wife.
"The motive of the Loyalists is still unknown, but we have some good news about finding their location. Aang blurted out that he is able to spiritual connect and locate anyone in the world."
"Oh yeah, Aang used it once, but that power has always creep me out. I mean if I was lost, I wouldn't want Aang's eyes to be watching me like…"
"This is serious," Zuko snapped.
Sokka winced back.
"Yes we have a good way to locate my father, but I fear Aang would be unable to do it." Zuko tried to keep himself from exploding. The stress was killing him, it was as if Aang's irritation and anger was rubbing off on him.
"Why is that, doesn't he realize what's at stake?" Sokka threw his arms down, he wondered what would cause Aang to delay such important information.
"Of course he does, he could also find Katara, but I think its because of her that is preventing him from achieving this power. To use that ability, one must need a clear head according to my uncle. But Aang, he just hasn't been himself lately."
Sokka pondered, "I've noticed. So Katara's capture and Ozai's mystery fearing plans are blocking Aang's ability to find both of them. That's ironic. But the thing I don't understand is why it effecting him so much. During the war, he had the weight of the world with him the entire time. And now with that removed, its as if he's mentally weak to face anything else."
"No, Aang's not weak, he's just fighting himself, I can see it. I think he's just lost. Has anything happened to him, like did he do or someone else do something that could have made him this way?"
Sokka rested his chin in his hand, "No, it's like he became that way overnight."
"What about your sister, I heard they have been fighting."
"I don't know what it is about. They've been picky with each other ever since you came on her birthday to give us the shocking news. But Katara hasn't been the same either." Sokka mourned, "She had left this uncomfortable feeling in our household. Her love to the family would come scarce, her smile was not often shown, and she tried to distance herself away from Aang. I want to know what happened to them, what could have made their relationship crumble? You know how cute they were together, it all seemed so innocent and everlasting."
"I guess some romances can't all be like fairy tales." Zuko mumbled.
"Do you think, Katara will…." Sokka hesitated.
"She's alright, she knows how to handle herself." Zuko replied more to comfort himself.
"No I meant do you think Katara will ever want to be with Aang again? Will there ever be peace between them like old times?"
Zuko paused. He honestly had no idea, Aang never wanted to talk about his problem with his relationship with Katara. "I don't know. Aang went to the eastern Air Temple, alone, to hopefully clear his head. I hope where ever Katara is, she can get the peace to think things over as well."
"It's been nearly 2 months, that's a long time, too long. I hope Aang finds her first before Ozai can lay his hands on her." Sokka grunted between his teeth.
"And when Aang gives me the location of Ozai, the generals are sending an army of 500 soldiers after him. I'll be going with them, will you join me?"
Sokka stared off in his usual thinking modes, "500 soldiers isn't good enough."
"Do you want to double the number?"
"No, we need brains not bronze for this one. Ozai probably won't see us coming, but he might have a plan suited for a surprise attack. Give me a few weeks to gather up a couple of guys for this attack."
"We don't have a lot of time, the Loyalists have already put their plan into effect."
"Then what is it?"
"I don't know, but whatever it is, it can't be good. You won't have time for it." Zuko lied, he knew what the Loyalists wanted but not what for. He had never told Sokka or even Mai about the Sun Warriors.
"I'll gather up as many as I can and then send me a message when its time. I'll be ready." Sokka pleaded.
"That's cutting it close." Zuko knew that Sokka was one who would get started on something and never think of the ending. But in the end Sokka manages to end up on top. He nodded, "Alright, gather up the men you want, and complete that in quick haste."
Sokka grinned, and shook Zuko's hand, "What about you? What is your mission?"
Zuko drew back and pondered. His mission was find out what the Loyalists are up to and stop them, but what were the steps to reach that goal? "Not quite sure, but I'll find it."
Sokka flashed a concerned look, but had to settle that with the fact that Zuko would find his way. He has done it before. He felt confident about their plan, Aang was finding his peace with his sister but also it would lead to Ozai's location, Sokka himself would supply the tactics and men for Ozai's capture, and Zuko would complete the bind of his shattered nation. Sokka could not think of a loose end or a loophole for the Loyalists to crawl out of.
Sokka nodded with his confident smile and turned to depart, "Safe travels." He said over his shoulder.
"And to you." Zuko said back, then he muttered to himself, "We'll need it."
The first snow of the winter season fell upon Katara's cold skin. She sat in her usual spot outside, up against a lonely prison wall. She huddled herself together to keep warm. News was spending around that the warrant had said he would supply the prisoners with warm clothing soon, but Katara doubted it. The warrant seemed like the kind of man who wanted them to all die, even if Katara never met him.
The last time she had heard from Raichen was two weeks ago, when she brilliantly faked her twisted ankle to meet her in the infirmary. Her gang remained quiet and didn't bother her. Katara wondered if Raichen told them of who she really was. Would the gang accept her to form a plan for all of them to escape? Would they ever come up with a plan? Katara clenched her eyes shut wishing she had her brother's idea planning talent.
Katara had to rely on Raichen now to come up with a plan, and it left Katara desperately anxious. As each day pasted by Katara could feel her energy being forced to supply Aang's child. Her hunger grew desirous for foods she could never have, and her moods swung out of control. In her time of lonesome, which was most of the time, she would swing from happy and hopeful thoughts, to depressed theories of tomorrow, angry or calming feelings of people, and often she would think of her grim past with Aang.
Her memories from that night when she had laid down with Aang to the night she was captured brought forth too much confusion and guilt. She blamed herself from Aang's death, and she was confused as to why she had such radical ideas thrive in her head that night when she slept with him. And from the result of that night with him, she now carried a blessed burden. As much as Katara had longed for the day to have children, of all times, she tormented herself for the child to be present now.
The snow fell thick from the dark clouds above, an inch of cold powder laid upon the ground. It piled on Katara's head and shoulders. She brushed it away and hunched herself closer together. Her head rested on her knees and she looked down at her stomach wrapped under arms. A small bump in her lower stomach was beginning to show. Time would soon run out until it would become visible to others.
Crunching snow under dozens of pairs of feet made Katara look up. Raichen's gang of women were coming for her, and they marched up to her with sly faces. Katara stood expecting there to be another fight with Raichen. Raichen pressed out of the group of women. She had a smug smile on her face.
The guards around the courtyard pointed towards the gathering of women and yelled for there to be no fight.
But knowing Raichen, she would never listen to their words. Without any insulting threats or opposing rebuttals, Raichen charged in on Katara. And Katara was prepared to fight back.
Katara and Raichen punched, shoved, kicked and slapped each other til their breaths could be seen vividly in the cold afternoon air. Katara tried to play it more defensively to avoid being hit in the stomach again.
The gang of women cheered on for Raichen which brought the other prisoners to watch, some even shoved the guards out of the way to see. The guards fought and yelled back to get to Katara and Raichen to break it up, but their cries couldn't be heard for the prisoners chanted louder.
"We need a big finale." Raichen whispered as she crossed over Katara's ear when Katara swerved out of the way from Raichen's building punch. "Something that would get us both in trouble."
Katara searched their audience when Raichen put her in a headlock, she looked for something that could easily get them into trouble, like a miss fire at a guard. Then Katara saw it, the roof of the prison was covered in snow and there were several guards underneath its ledge.
Katara kicked Raichen's leg causing her to fall down, Katara landed right on top of her. They locked their hands and struggled under their strengths. They tossed and rolled from side to side.
"There are guards standing under a snowy ledge, 'accidently' aim for it when I yell." Katara whispered with laborious breaths.
Raichen shoved Katara off of her and lit her hands on fire. The guards in the crowd then demanded to get through with more force.
Raichen charged up and kicked and punched with fiery limbs at Katara. Katara turned the snow around her into water and used it as a shield against Raichen's attacks. Then when Raichen took a slight pause, Katara shot the water at Raichen. Raichen was lifted off her feet and tossed several feet away. She got back up, dripping wet. She blew steam from her nostrils and charged forward with a fireball at the ready.
Katara took a waterball and charged forward, yelling as if it were a battle cry. They raced towards each other with quick speed. Their hands met and they twisted their hands towards the prison roof. It made it look like they had knocked each other's hand in that direction.
The mixed water and fireball made contact with the roof, it created a scorch mark on the metal underneath. Then an avalanche of snow came thundering down along with some icicles hanging off the ledge. The guards underneath the ledge screamed and tried to run but they were too late and they were buried under the cold heavy powder.
The cheering crowd came an eerily halt, everyone froze and waited for movement among the snow pile under the ledge. Even the guards in the crowd stopped for a moment, then later they raced up and tried to dig the others out.
When one of guards finally found someone, that frozen guard looked at Katara and Raichen with a revengeful scowl. The crowd began to disintegrate to avoid the hot headed guard.
"I want those two on snow duty to get rid of this mess, and throw them in the cooler." The guard barked as he brushed off the snow and stomped up to them.
Raichen and Katara were each given a shovel that was thrush before them. Guards shoved them to the snow pile and yelled that this pile of snow needed to be moved from here to the large storm drain on the far side of the courtyard where the area was restricted to other prisoners.
Raichen looked at Katara and gave a slight smile as if to say 'way to go, you gave us the easier job there is.' But then she quickly turned it into a faked evil frown to play the mood of hating Katara.
Katara returned the same pretend evil glare, and they began shoving the snow as three guards watched them work.
"Hey you Miss mute, here's a brilliant idea since you ain't got no brain, why don't we shove the whole pile from one side towards the drain so you be wasting my time." Raichen said in her mocking tough voice.
Katara replied with an evil glare and shoved her shovel into one side of the pile. Raichen did the same, they pushed hard with the shovels close together on one side facing the storm drain. They dug their feet hard against the metal floor and grunted to get the pile to move. It moved slowly and soon gained momentum. However it became very heavy to move for the snow on the courtyard would pile up with them. Katara had an extreme difficulty with this job, the more strength she used to push the pile, the more her lower stomach began to twitch with pain.
And Raichen couldn't be there to encourage her in a nice way to keep moving, she yelled, "Come on you tribal horse pig, do you have blubber for muscles? Push harder you filthy water sucker!"
Eventually after thirty minutes of pushing the snow pile across the courtyard and behind the prison, they made it to the large storm drain. Katara collapsed on the cold metal floor, and held her stomach as it began to twist and burn in a cramping way.
The three guards looked down at her in concern, but Raichen waved them off, "Oh, she'll suck it up, the little runt can't handle a little job of hauling her own element." The guards left their concerns behind and grabbed from long javelin like poles leaning against the wall.
At first Katara and Raichen thought they were going to get beating by these large sticks. But the guards stuck them in the snow. They each took a side and picked through the snow. After a minute or so, they gave each other the thumbs up. One guard signaled a guard above on the wall. The guard began turning a wheel. With a big loud metal screech, the bars of the storm drain raised up about three feet. The guards told them to shove the snow down the pipes, and if they tried to jump down it they would be blasted on the spot.
Raichen and Katara gave the snow pile one final shove and the snow pile launched down the pipes at a fast speed. They stared and watched it speed away til it was out of their sight. A brilliant idea was unfolding in Katara's mind to use the storm drain as part of their escape.
When the guards ordered them to turn around so they could direct them to the coolers, Katara took a glance at Raichen through the corner of her eye.
Raichen was smiling, a sinister look of discovery was on her face and it brightened up the darkening day. Already a plan was unraveling in her head, and Katara was quite pleased with her expression, it filled her heart with hope.