Chapter 37:
Freya moved through the prison, patrolling around the corridors as she took in the place. The only way in and out was on the Gondola, which went from the wall of the volcano, over the boiling water and to a platform above the yard. Watch towers sat at every corner and between every corner to keep an eye on the boiling lake and the land surrounding it.
She'd been to the gondola and asked a few questions, faking curiosity about the Prison's lack of escapees and how it was managed.
The gondola was guarded twenty-four seven, more on the inside than the outside. People were checked once they were in the prison and the guards were ticked off, however most of them stayed at the prison over night as well, having their own quarters for sleeping.
Which makes getting out of here harder. She thought. "Then again they're checked off on the way in, what about the way out?"
It turned out there was not usually a guard stationed at the other end of the gondola, however the controls were all inside the prison, the prison had to approve whoever was visiting in order to even get across the water.
"So even if we're dressed as guards, we can't use the gondola to get out." she muttered as she walked down a hall. "What else is there… and if Suki's coming we can't just walk with a prisoner."
Sokka was currently off talking to Suki, having their reunion in a prison cell, while Zuko was looking out for them. Freya had taken the opportunity of the prisoners being back in their cells to take a look around and snoop. She'd found the control room for the doors, alarms and most of the building as well as that for the gondola's. There was a messenger bay were messenger hawks arrived and left from as well, for information as well as permission requests to visit.
"So if we're caught we've got as long as it takes for a messenger hawk to leave here and get to the palace." she mumbled. "Comforting."
"Freya!" the girl turned around to find Sokka running up towards her.
"Sokka? I thought you were with Suki?" she said looking at him confused. He was panting and had clearly ran to find her. She looked at him as she narrowed her eyes. Something was off.
"What happened?" she demanded
"Well… uh… Zuko… kinda got, arrested." he said as he twiddled his thumbs innocently. He peaked up at her as she looked at him stunned before her expression contorted instantly.
"What?!" she demanded and Sokka shushed her. She took a breath and tried to calm herself, glancing around. No one was nearby. "What happened?" she asked more calmly.
"I was with Suki and Zuko was standing guard outside but another guard had to get in and she wouldn't listen to Zuko when he tried to stop her so he attacked her and I was able to slip out but she called my help and I couldn't blow both our covers! So I arrested him…"
Freya glared at him and he took a step back, his hands up in both protection and innocence.
"You arrested Zuko." she said clearly
"I didn't have a choice."
"Do you have any idea what you've just done?" Freya whisper shouted "You just exposed Prince Zuko! The guy who declared to his father that he was going to join the avatar and is one of the most wanted people in the Fire Nation!" her voice remained strained as she tried not to raise her voice. "If Azula or Ozai finds out about this we're never getting out!" she snapped "We'd be toast! And we didn't even tell the others where we were going so they'd never find us and they'd blame Zuko for that!"
"Not something I thought about…"
"Clearly!" she snapped angrily.
"What else should I have done?"
"Knocked unconscious! We easily could have said a prisoner did it!" she snapped
"She'd say different when she woke up!" Sokka said
"Not if you hit her hard enough." Freya said through ground teeth. She ran her hands over her face and through her hair in frustration. "I can't believe you! Zuko's going to be the best watched prisoner in here now! How do you expect us to break him out!? As well as Suki!"
"I'm still working on it."
"Sokka I am so mad with you right now I wanna fry you, so you better figure something out!" Freya threatened and Sokka blinked at her worriedly.
"I will." he nodded.
She groaned and shoved past him, throwing her hands into the air.
"Where are you going?"
"To see what's happening with Zuko!" she snapped back. "Because clearly I have to do everything today." she grumbled.
She'd already found the interrogation rooms and she moved to the area of the prison to find a female guard standing outside one of the open doors. She moved up and nodded to the women who nodded back before looking into the room. Two people occupied it, one was Zuko, leaning on the back wall with one foot up against it and his arms crossed. The other was an older man. He had a headband around his forehead that had a viking hat like symbol across the front. Zuko was looking at the man slightly surprised.
"How did you know who I am?" Zuko asked
"How could I not? You broke my niece's heart." Freya pursed her lips as Zuko looked surprised and stood up straight.
"You're Mai's uncle?" his face was guilt stricken. "I never meant to hurt her."
"Quiet!" he snapped "You're my special prisoner now. And you best behave. If these criminals found out who you are, the traitor prince who let his nation down. Why, they'd tear you to shreds." the man smirked slightly.
"So what's in it for you?" Zuko asked, crossing his arms. "Why don't you just tell my Father and collect the reward."
"Oh in due time believe me, I intend to collect." the man smirked before he walked out of the room. "Watch him." he said turning to Freya. "Inside the yard and out."
Freya had to stop herself from smirking.
"Yes sir." she responded before he walked away with the other female prisoner. Freya stood outside the room and watched them go, she still didn't move when he'd turned the corner for a bit before she opened the door and walked in. Zuko looked up at her as she removed her helmet.
"I swear, you boys…" she began annoyed
"Freya… I'm sorry."
"You should be." she hissed, dropping her helmet, which clanged on the floor, but neither acknowledged this. "Fortunately for you, I'm more mad at Sokka." she took a breath. "On the upside I've just been assigned as your own personal guard." she said crossing her arms.
"Really?" he smirked but she rose an eyebrow and he lost it. "Sorry."
"Look, with you now a prisoner and Suki needing escaping too, we've got to be seriously careful, if the warden asks about any accomplices you have, you tell him about me and not Sokka. If anyone's gonna get us out of here it's him, but he'll have a tough time doing so if he's locked up." Freya said
"I wont throw you under the bus too."
"You might have to." she shrugged "That's what happens when you get caught." he frowned.
Freya grabbed her helmet from the floor before she opened the door and stood beside it, Zuko looked confused.
"Come on, your guard gets to punish you." she smirked as she pulled her helmet back on and Zuko sighed. "Be glad I'm not putting you in one of those coolers for sheer stupidity." she said as she shoved his shoulder and he stumbled a little.
"Hey."
"Shut up." she smirked.
Freya leaned on the wall, her arms crossed and her helmet on but her visor up. Before her Zuko was mopping the floor, cleaning it as many other prisoners were doing the same. Among them was Suki as she and Zuko worked together beside a staircase.
"Aren't you going to help?" Zuko whispered to Freya.
She simply rose an eyebrow and he sighed.
"I feel like you're enjoying this."
"Very much." she nodded smirking.
Footsteps sounded and Sokka walked down, turning to face the two as he had his eyes covered with his helmet and visor. He smiled at Freya and she nodded her head to the two as he smiled.
"Oh, good. You guys have met." he said to the two prisoners.
"A…Actually, we met a long time ago." Suki admitted as she glanced at Zuko, the two still cleaning.
"We did?" Zuko asked
"Yeah, you kind of burned down my village." She shot Zuko an angry look as Sokka placed a hand on his helmet feeling sorry for the boy.
"Yeah it was the first place I really beat you up." Freya smirked as Zuko had stopped surprised. Freya walked over to Suki.
"Oh. Sorry about that. Nice to see you again." he said and Freya gave him a look.
"Feel free to beat him up for that." she smirked and Suki grinned as Zuko looked at the two, casting Freya a look but she just winked at him. The two put their mops down and the four crouched behind the stairs, Sokka checked around as he followed Freya to join them.
"So? What you got?" Freya asked Sokka.
"I think I have an escape plan." he lifted his visor as he looked at the two prisoners. "I checked out the Coolers again, the whole point of them is to keep firebenders contained, right?"
"Yeah…" Zuko said
"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 grinned
"Sokka." Freya sighed
"Just get to the point Sokka." Suki said and the two girls shared a look.
"It's a perfect boat for getting through the boiling water." Sokka explained as he wove his hand in a waving motion.
Zuko and Suki shared a skeptical look with Freya.
"The cooler as a boat? Are you sure?" Zuko asked
"I'm telling you, it'll work." Sokka said confidently. "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. We'll roll the cooler into the water and either we just float with the current or Freya can get us across in no time." he looked at her and she shared a look with Suki and Zuko.
"That I likely can do." she admitted
"Regardless, 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 grinned
"But how are you going to get the cooler out?" Suki asked
"Yeah," the four all looked up surprised to see the prisoner who'd caused the scuffle when the three had first arrived leaning over the banister of the stairs, ears dropping on them. "How are you going to get the cooler out?" he ducked under the railing to land with the four, crouching.
"What?" Sokka panicked "We didn't. We… We didn't say that." He waved his arm around dismissively as Freya dropped her head at his terrible lies.
"Yeah, you heard wrong." Zuko said, sounding much more convincing.
"I heard you hatching an escape plan and I want in." Chit Sang said, ignoring their lies.
"There's nothing to get in on." Zuko continued
"Yeah, the only thing we're hatching is... an egg?" Sokka said shrugging. Zuko and Suki sighed at Sokka's lame attempt, Zuko dropping his head and Suki hitting her forehead while Freya bashed the back of his helmet in a head-slap.
"Seriously?" she demanded as he complained and rubbed the spot.
"Ok, well, I come with you or the Warden hears about this egg too." Chit Sang threatened.
"I guess we have no choice." Suki said looking at Sokka.
"Okay, you're in." the boy agreed.
"But you better not blow this!" Freya warned annoyed.
"Now, first we need someone to unbolt the Cooler." Sokka reached into his pocket and pulled out a wrench, handing it to Zuko. "From the inside." Zuko put the wrench into his pocket while Chit Sang smirked.
"Oh, I can get you inside." he said. "You, bump into me, and play along. In order to get put in the cooler, you need to firebend."
"Seems simple enough." Freya said and Zuko nodded for Chit Sang to stand and walk out from behind the staircase. He stood a little ways away and crossed his arms over his chest smirking.
Zuko picked up his mop and began mopping the floor, backing up until he bumped into Chit Sang.
"Hey, what are you, stupid," Chit Sang grabbed Zuko's shoulders to push him but Zuko grabbed Chit Sang's in return, the two battling for dominance. "Watch where you're going!" Chit Sang threw Zuko but he landed on his feet, stumbling slightly before he faced the bigger prisoner.
"Hey, you watch who you're shoving." Zuko responded, he moved forwards and moved his arms to slam them into Chit Sang's chest and push him, causing him to stumble. Chit Sang stumbled backwards and a few people stopped, now watching the two as Zuko followed him.
"I think you mean whom I'm shoving." Chit Sang said pointing at him.
The two grabbed each other's hands, pushing on one another. The prisoners began to gather around, some cheering. Chit Sang ended up on one knee before he pushed on Zuko and the two released one another. Zuko ran at Cit Sang but the bigger man grabbed the prince and threw him to the ground. Zuko slid along the ground as Freya and Sokka moved through the prisoners.
"I need backup over here." Sokka shouted.
Zuko got onto his hands and spun his legs around to get off the floor, moving out of the way as Chit Sang slammed his elbow into the ground. Zuko then shot his fist forwards and Chit Sang jumped to avoid the fire blast that was shot at him.
"No firebending." A guard pointed down the corridor. "Into the cooler."
A prison guard stepped forwards as Zuko stood up. Zuko turned as two guards moved forwards and slammed him into the ground, causing Zuko to groan. They pulled him up and Freya moved forwards.
"I got it." she said "He's my charge by order of the warden." The two guards let go instantly of Zuko's arms and and she grabbed one to pull him from the room.
Suki and Sokka, his visor down shared a look before walking in opposite directions, Suki mopping the floors still.
"Remember your breath of fire when you're in the cooler." Freya whispered as they moved down the corridors. "Like when you were in the North Pole."
"I know."
"Good, just don't freeze to death in there." she said
"I feel like you're really enjoying bossing me around."
"I am actually." she smirked.
They moved along the line of coolers before Freya opened the outer and then inner doors of one and Zuko walked in.
"Good luck." she said before closing the doors on him.