Chapter 39: Siege of the North, Part 1

Nuktuk Cove

Front entrance

Agni Kai compound

"Hahn, what the hell is going on? Answer me!" Bulan screamed.

"We've been made, fall back, now! Eastern team was wiped out wholesale!" was Hahn's breathless reply, the sounds of fighting echoing in the background.

Just then, Sokka's panicked voice flooded their comms "Uh guys, you, ah, might wanna pull back, there's a large patrol headed your way. Tracking dogs, snowmobiles, the whole nine yards!"

"Then do something about it!" Azula snapped.

I was hoping it wouldn't come to this, he thought to himself. Steadying the rifle, he took three deep breaths and began to scan for targets of opportunity. Through the lens, he picked out a runner heading in their direction. Exhaling, his finger slowly put pressure on the trigger. Before he realised it, the trigger broke and a shot sailed forth, the recoil making him flinch and sending the round veering off into the aether.

Peering through the scope, he saw a body flinch, before crumpling in a boneless heap near the entrance of some warehouses. As he zoomed in, he could see a hot liquid trickling from his body, before slowly turning cold and grey as the tundra beneath. Was, was that me? I mean, could it be? he thought to himself, stifling a sob as he was transfixed by the sight of a warm body slowly chilling. In that moment, the same doubts and fears that had plagued his mind when he killed the man that was choking him and Azula surrounded his focus like a fog, making him second guess and guilt began to envelope him.

"Sokka, are you still there? Sokka, we need that sniper fire or we are going to get overrun. For Spirits' Sokka if you're listening I need you to get back on that gun and start shooting damnit! Please!" Azula pleaded and begged, her voice hoarse from yelling over the din as magazine after magazine was slapped in, expended, tossed to the side and the cycle repeated as beside her, Bulan was also the same, her white hair messily fluttering in the wind, all pretensions of rank and nobility cast to the wayside in favour of survival as she yelled out curses and insults, punctuated with controlled pairs that felled both men and dog.

The cries of his beloved, tinny and laced with static over the intercom, slowly but surely cut through the fog and shook him out of his funk. Shaking his head as if to rid himself of the last vestiges of doubt, he grit his teeth, rechambered a round and re-entered the fight with a grim focus.

Nothing was going to touch Azula.

Nothing.

Western side of compound

"You think we lost them/"

"Probably."

"That was close. Much too close. What's your name, soldier?"

"Starshina Miska, your, um, Highness?"

"Just Zuko will do."

"Now isn't really the best time for a meet and greet ya know?" Hahn interjected. Just then, a howl shattered the stillness of the atmosphere, followed by frenetic yelping and barking. In a low controlled whisper, Zuko asked "Are any of you dog people? If so, please close your ears, because you're not going to like the sound of this."

Stealthily he crept from their hide, a blade in his hand. Picking out a handler and his dog, Zuko began to think that maybe it wasn't such a good idea after all when he spotted how large the polar bear dog in question was. Sneaking back to the hide, Hahn and Miska raised an eyebrow at his relatively clean outfit.

"Did you get him?"

"Are you crazy? No one told me polar bear dogs were huge?!" he half yelled.

"They were meant to hunt polar bears, of course they're supposed to be big." Miska replied as if it were common knowledge.

"So what do we do now? We can't stay here forever."

"Then let's move. Push comes to shove, I'll deal with the dog while you two make a break for it. It ain't pretty but it's the best bet we got, the longer we stay here the higher the chances of us being found."

"Alright then, Miska, you take point. Now let's get out of here." With slow pacing, the trio crept, crawled, slithered and ducked the multitude of patrolling Agni Kai and House of Wolves followers, amped and on a hair trigger after the big alert. Making their way past a vehicle hanger, Hahn looked longingly at the snowmobile, but was nudged by Zuko to keep moving. Too loud, was the reply in his eyes. Sighing internally, they finally made their way near the drain entrance where they first entered.

Unfortunately, it seemed that in the intervening period, the regularity and number of men assigned to patrol said exit had quadrupled. A firefight here and the whole base would come crashing on their heads. In the distance, low crumps could be heard, before a muffled thud was heard.

"This is not good, not good at all."

Front entrance

Under his renewed covering fire, the girls leapfrogged backwards, Azula now firing on single shot instead of leaving the selector on full auto and practicing trigger control. A pair of skiers came within pistol range, but were quickly dispatched off with rapid shots from their guardian spirit. From their cover, they peeked to see the men hunting them had pulled back some distance away.

Not a moment later, twin low crumps were heard, before black dots were sighted in the sky. With a thunderous crash, they dove into the earth, sending bits and pieces of hypersonic shrapnel whizzing in the air as well as clods of dirt and rocks erupting.

"What the hell was that?" Bulan asked.

"You have got to be kidding me. They're using freaking mortars on us. That's not fair!" As if to punctuate her statement, a brace of shells landed closer to their position, raining bits of soil, rock, metal shards and other goodies on their heads.

"Don't they realise it's gonna take ages to redo my hair, those imbeciles! Sokka, do something about it, else you gonna be scraping bits of your princess off the ground!"

"On it." he replied in an unnaturally calm collected voice.

Through his scope, he spotted a huddle of men crouched over a tube stuck into the ground. Drawing a bead on a loader rummaging through crates, he steadied himself and pulled the trigger. Instead of a suppressed gunshot, all he heard was a click. Panic and bile began to rise within him as he fumbled with the reload, nerves and the cold making inserting a fresh magazine into the flared and beveled magazine well a challenge.

With the heel of his hand, he slammed it home, before working the bolt as fast as he could, praying he was not too late as by now, they would have surely figured out the distance. Repeating the same motions, he sent forth a shot and it hit the loader, slicing past fabric and flesh before burrowing into the tundra.

"Might wanna get a move on ladies, especially you Azula. I don't feel like having to explain to your mom why her daughter is now part of the Arctic ecosystem. Besides, we have a wedding to plan and it'd be awkward if the bride isn't present."

Down on the deck, Azula snapped "Stop telling me what to do. And you, wipe that shit eating grin off your face!", as she fought to prevent her cheeks blushing wildly while Bulan cackled, using the opportunity to relieve some of the tension built up at Azula's expense.

Meeting Hall

Chief Arnook's Residence

Agna Q'ela

"I understand your concerns Mrs. Ursa, but to allow your nation's special forces team to operate freely without any ROEs is simply unacceptable. That you were not arrested for misuse of the ambassador's diplomatic protection should be counted as a blessing."

"And watch my kid get brutalized because of some political calculus? I think coming to you was a mistake. I came here out of respect and common courtesy. It seems as though I shouldn't have bothered."

"This is Northern Water Tribe sovereign territory."

"Like you gave a damn when you ran your White Lotus agents all over Caldera and Gaoling, Pakku. Too busy playing spy in other regions to miss the growth of a secret one right under your fucking nose, ain't that ironic."

"That I might one day be related to you because of my insolent grandson's infatuation with your warmongering spawn disgusts me."

"What a loving grandfather you are, I'll make sure to let my grandkids know how impotent and useless their so-called 'Master Lotus' of a great-grandfather was. That he let the Dai Li strip their n-"

"Enough." Arnook interjected.

"Look Chief, I am asking, no, begging you not as a leader of fighting men but as a parent. Please, let me rescue my child."

"The needs of the state outweighs those of the few. I'm sure you know this lesson intimately."

"And look where that got us. My eldest, burnt and sent on suicide mission after suicide mission while my first daughter, broken and remolded into a blade of the state as the world burnt for six more years before it was extinguished.. I'll be damned if I sit on the sidelines again. You have a daughter of your own, do you not, Chief?"

"Yes, but how is this relevant?"

"What will you give up in exchange for your daughter? Tell me that you too, wouldn't hesitate to level Caldera and Ba Sing Se to the ground to make sure she's safe, would you not?"

"I understand, but-"

"I am done with the games. If Agna Q'ela is to be put to the torch and its lands salted in return for Kiyi's safety, so be it. Consider this your notice." Ursa spoke, and left the room in a fury. Turning to the captain standing outside, she barked "Get your men and equipment up, we move out now."

"What about the ambassador?"

"Your fireteam answers to me and me only. Understood?"

"Yes ma'am." was his snappy reply. Privately, he wondered just what kind of mess were they about to involve themselves into. Best not look into it too much, shits above my paygrade, he thought to himself.

"Are you sure this is the right call, letting her come to us?"

"Anger makes one irrational. Irrational people do not typically consider the ramifications of their actions. Besides, the list I presented her was meant to be over the top, if not outright impossible to fulfill."

"So then why-"

"I believe I've answered enough questions for today. Just make sure the preparations are in place."

"Yes sir."

As the door closed behind him, Wenfu sighed deeply as he continued to pour over papers and rows of numbers. With any luck, the trap was all set and his problems would soon be over. Of course, now that the NWT government knew of his existence it would be hard to continue to keep up shipments and maintain profit margins. After all, it is not easy to run a business when one had three different entities all gunning for his head on a golden plate.

Figuring he had enough stress for the day, he decided he would pay the little dragon he kept in the basement a conjugal visit later in the afternoon.

Cell

Basement

Somewhere in Agna Q'ela

Flexing her fingers, Katara felt that the last of the chi-suppressant had worn off and tried to bend some of the spilt water to her will. A long thin stream soon snaked upwards, and inwardly she breathed a sigh of relief. Forcing the water stream into her restraints, she concentrated on freezing the water in the lock in an attempt to crack it open. As it froze, she could feel it straining against the hard metal of the restraints.

Exerting more force, she felt something give, before a piece of metal dropped on her head, making her wince and well as giving her a good welt. Rubbing her wrists, she proceeded to work on her legs before the ominous footsteps were heard approaching. Hoping selfishly that they would pass over her cell, she worked to free herself as it came ever closer. As soon as it drew near, she held her breath.

The footsteps stopped, before turning back the way it came and Katara breathed a small sigh of relief. Finally freeing herself of her restraints, she made her way as silently as possible to the door, before collecting the water and the sweat she worked up into the lock of the cell door. Feeling the water swirl in the mechanism, something felt off to her and she paused. Where she expected resistance like her restraints, there was none.

It was as if they had unlocked the door for her, daring her to make a breakout attempt. Withdrawing the ball of liquid, she bent it into a sheet of ice on the floor while she pondered her options. On one hand, it could be someone truly forgetting to lock her cell door. On the other hand, it could be a deliberate attempt to trick her into trying a breakout attempt, only to be cut to ribbons by an ambush in the hallway. Or it could be a whole set of mind games, trying to inflict psychological torture on her to break her down into a malleable state.

Fire Nation Embassy

"Captain have you triangulated the location?" Ursa asked impatiently.

"Ma'am, with all respect-"

"Just say it, I dislike it very much when people use those three words."

"We've narrowed it down to a specific block, but that's about as narrow as it gets. We need permission by the host country to tap the communications lines."

"Just do it, I'll deal with the ambassador and the fallout later. Right now, my daughter's safety and wellbeing outweighs any political concern, understand?"

"Yes ma'am." Internally, she fretted and prayed to Agni that her daughter would be safe.

Rendezvous point

Agni Kai compound

Nuktuk Cove

"You look like hammered shit Zuzu, I thought you were good at infiltration."

"I could say the same about you, Lala."

"Why you-"

"That's enough. Aang, do you read me?" Hahn interjected.

"Just give me sec...ouch you monkey, stay down! Bleeding monkey feathers, stop it you're damaging the radio set...Spirits damn it!" A few more scuffles and objects crashing was heard in the background, before an aggravating pause was heard.

"Aang, what's going on?"

"Uh, nothing. Nothing at all. You guys didn't hear that at all." he laughed nervously.

"Right..sure there ain't. Hang tight, we're on our way."

"Copy that."

As they trudged back to the base camp, Azula noticed there was what seemed to be an invisible weight hanging on his shoulders. Hanging back a bit, she gripped his hand, catching his attention.

"Thanks." he mumbled.

"So..you want to tell me what's on your mind?"

"I-I don't know where to begin." he uttered weakly.

"Then take your time."

After a few minutes, Sokka asked "This-this felt different than the attack on the safe house. I don't know how to explain it, it just is."

As tempted as she was to tell him to toughen up, something inside told her to hold her tongue.

"That first shot, it felt weird. Like it was premeditated murder. I saw him bleed out, Azula. Saw his body turn from white hot to pale grey. How do you live with that kind of blood on your hands?"

"I don't know the answer to that Sokka, I don't know. I've been in the profession of ending lives since I was sixteen Sokka, killing is second nature to me. I'm sorry, but I'm the last person you should ask on this."

"Does it ever get easier?" he asked after a long pause.

"It depends. Some days are harder than others." she replied, squeezing his hand tightly now as suppressed memories came rushing back like a tidal wave.

Noticing her expression change, he wrapped his arm around her waist and whispered into her ear "Sorry."

"It's okay Sokka, this is not your burden to bear."

"No."

"What?"
"If you think I'll stand idly by as your guilt crushes you, what kind of a partner am I? A shitty one, that's what. Your burden is mine as well, Azula. Don't you ever forget that."

"Don't make promises you can't keep."

"I fully intend to. After all, we are engaged."

"So, where's my necklace then?"

"About that...I uhh, well, let's talk about it when your brother pays me how 'bout that? Oh look, we're close."

"Nice try Sokka, but you're not getting away that easily. When this is all over, you will buy me the fanciest necklace there is, understand? If not, well...let's just say lil' kitty Kat would be scraping bits of you off the wall when I'm done." she answered, fishing out unused rounds from her vest and loading it into the magazine of her rifle.

"Sometimes I forget just how scary you can be."

"Regretting your decision to fall head over heels for me?"

"Absolutely not." he replied, before adding in a husky whisper that sent a tingle down her spine and her ears feel red hot from embarrassment and arousal. "Besides, hearing you scream my name when you come undone makes it all worth it."

"Are you always this fucking horny?" she hissed, struggling to keep lurid images of her moaning Sokka's name in various positions from flooding her mind.

"For you? Always, my little firefly." he teased.

"Alright lovebirds, break it up." Bulan interrupted.

"Is being a cockblock your special talent?" Azula snapped.

"One of many, Sparky, one of many. Now keep your eyes on your surroundings. We might have escaped them but I'll bet they're prepping up a search party as we speak. As tail gunners, you both are our first line of defence and it won't do to have you both too busy trying to mentally fuck each other and leave our asscheeks exposed."

"Alright alright, we promise to pause the horny for now, little miss halfblood. Agni, you sound like my mom when she's pissed." Azula replied in a bored voice, annoyed at being nagged.

"Fuck you, Princess Bitchface."

"Who you calling a bitchface?!"

"You've got a natural resting bitch face, it only makes sense. How did Sokka ever fall for you is a real mystery. Must be that prisoner captive syndrome deal." Bulan replied. Although her common sense was telling her to cool it, the irrational part of her couldn't resist needling Azula just to see how much it took before she erupted.

"Hey hey hey, knock it off." Hahn warned, not wishing there to be a catfight should it spiral out of hand.

"Just you wait you-you!" Azula started, before Sokka moved to restrain her from doing something rash by wrapping his arms around her.