Chapter 38: Midnight Hunting Party, Part 14

Basement

The first thing that she noticed was the clinking of metal on metal. The second thing was the awful splitting headache and backache she was currently experiencing. Squinting her eyes to readjust to the darkness, Katara slowly realized she wasn't in the hospital break room anymore.

Flexing her wrists, she found it secured to chains that were firmly embedded into the permafrost, preventing any chance of it coming loose. With a quiet sigh, she tried her best to recall what had happened but it was all blank. On the bright side, there lay a cup of water just within reach of her legs and a plan began to form.

Unfortunately, her attempts to bring in said cup did not result in much other than spilling its contents on the ground and alerting whoever was outside that their hostage was awake. A slat in the door flung open and briefly illuminated the dark room, before plunging it back into inky darkness. Seconds later, the door swung open with a groan and in its frame, stood three men.

"Seems like the water witch tried to work her spells but from the looks of things, the serum is doing its job just fine."

"Wh-What did you do to me?" she whispered.

"I will tolerate this transgression once and only once. Am I clear?" the man in the middle replied. After receiving a weak nod from Katara, he continued "Now then, to answer your question you have been given a chi suppressant, neutralizing your bending capabilities, if not blocking it out entirely. Not forever, but long enough to ensure compliance. Consider it an insurance policy. As for your fate, I'm sure the 'Last Waterbender of the South' can fetch a good price in Ba Sing Se or even here in Agna Q'ela."

Noticing her facial expression, which was one of horror and disgust, he nonchalantly replied "Shocked? Horrified? Disgusted? You'd be surprised how many are chomping at the bit to breed powerful waterbenders. Like I said, someone of your skill and talent would already fetch a high price, not to mention the selling point of being the 'Last Waterbender of the South'."

"You monster." she whispered hoarsely.

"Nothing personal, it's just business." At this, Katara violently struggled against her restraints, the sounds reverberating through the confined space. In an instant, the man in the middle closed the gap and hauled her up by the scruff of her shirt, before delivering a tight backhand that knocked her breath away.

"Do not mistake my restraint for weakness. Keep that up, and I might see fit to use you for other purposes. There aren't too many firebenders here up north, and beggars can't be choosers. I trust you understand the implications."

Blue eyes stared down golden for what seemed an eternity, before the tension broke and he released his hold on her, letting her crumple unceremoniously to the hard floor.
"For a waterbender, you have a surprising amount of fire, almost reminds me of my bastard daughter's mother. But no matter, it takes a firebender to put out a fire. And I will put out that defiant fire of yours, make no mistake." With that parting gift, the door slammed shut and plunged her back into a dim twilight.

Meanwhile, Kiyi was roused from her fitful slumber, the uncomfortable position she was in coupled with her damp clothes ensured a good rest all but guaranteed she wasn't going to be sleeping well anytime soon. She had overheard some snippets of conversation of the Mountain Master with Katara, which did not prove to be a great morale booster. In contrast to Katara's defiance, she resembled more a drowned kitten than the right hand woman of an Agni Kai outfit.

"Broken so soon? Well that makes my job a whole lot easier. Now, you will tell me what I want to know, not a single iota of information left out. I want to know tactics, techniques, procedures and well as key figures. Give me this and your friend might yet live."

"But first," he paused, waving his hand to dismiss his guards, "I want to know you a little better. After all, it's not every day an Adjutant from the head office drops in to visit. And a royal to boot. Today must be my lucky day." licking his lips as he closed the gap between them, the lust in his voice palpable.

In one motion, he hauled her up with a tight grip on her shoulder, before ripping her soaked coat to the ground, exposing her body to the cold , she tried to wrap her arms around herself but found her wrists pinned to the wall with a slam and for a moment, she thought her wrists would be broken.

Pressing flush against her, his free hand went as it pleased, grabbing and caressing fistfuls of her flesh as it pleased while she struggled and writhed under his weight. "You know," he whispered, "I've always wanted to know what a princess of the royal line would taste like. Guess I'll find out." the breath sending chills running down her spine as he crushed his lips against hers. Without warning, he heated up the fingertips of his free hand and plunged straight into her core, making her whimper in a perverse mix of pain and pleasure and tears rolled down her eyes.

Smirking internally, he started to massage her inner muscles as he started to work on her nipples, which were prominent from the cold. Savagely, he bit and licked, causing her to whimper even loudly as the pleasure grew in intensity despite her attempts at denying the man his cheap victory. With a loud scream, she peaked, coating his fingers in her juices, which he immediately shoved in her mouth and told her to lick it clean.

Briefly, she was tempted to bite down on said fingers but choose not to for the sake of Katara. Pulling out his fingers, he left her trembling and panting. "A shame we are on opposing sides of the field. Just what did you think you'd get out of this? Money? Position? A chance to prove your worth? Seems like mommy dearest is getting too cocky if she thinks sending the likes of you against me was a good idea. Well then, I'll leave you be for now, but I will be back. This is but the merest hint of what lines in store should you choose to defy or worse, feed me false intelligence. Consider yourself warned." Tossing a blanket over her weakened body, he took one last lecherous look at Kiyi's half naked body, before turning to head back to his war council.

When he left, she scrambled for her coat, ragged and damp as it was, and wrapped it overself, the hard floors and cold interior a reminder of how far she'd fallen. Pulling her knees into her chest, she wept quietly in shame and defeat. Once again, she prayed desperately to the Spirits to save her and Katara from a most cruel fate that awaited them the longer they stayed in captivity.

Three miles outside of Nuktuk Cove

Southeastern Oblast

Northern Water Tribe

"Now that's just bullshit. Why does Aangy boi get to stay in the cab?" Sokka whined, the radio set on his back plunging him deeper into the snowdrifts with every step.

"Quit your whining you wimp. For a Water Tribesman you sure love complaining about the cold." Azula snapped, before mumbling to herself "Why the fuck did I say yes to being with this limp dick?"

"What's that?"

"Nothing. Save your breath."

Alright lovebirds, now's not the time to be having arguments. Sokka, pass me the radio."

Grumbling, he handed over the handset to Hahn, who initiated radio contact "Base camp this is ST Khalzan, how copy?"

"Khalzan this is Base Camp, signals are kinda iffy but I read you for now. There's been increased chatter on their comms network. Something about shipment schedules. Will keep you posted."

"Copy that."

When they approached the facility, what they saw made them gasp. Before them stood a large compound, complete with checkpoints, guard towers, pillboxes and a shipyard. In the driving winds, a hulking mass could be seen moored. Glancing back at his fireteam, which consisted of Azula, Zuko, his fiancee, Sokka and a handful of Nanuk operators, the odds were stacked against them. Even though they could potentially sneak in undetected, what then? If even one of them was discovered, it would quickly devolve into a sustained fight, something that their team was simply not equipped to do, firepower and fighting capability taking a hard backseat to survival in the harsh tundra as the men were weighed down with rations and supplies.

If it were closer to the capital, multiple gunboats would have been deployed to initiate the assault, before a combined police and National Guard units would hit the complex with aggression and overwhelm their defenses, he mused. Shaking himself from the daydream and refocusing on the present, he signalled for them to form in a small unit of twos and threes.

"Move slowly, silently. Our mission now is to collect intel, not start a running gunfight. Stay off the channel, they might have RDF capabilities. Understood?"

"Yes sir!" the operators snapped. With that, Zuko, Hahn and an operator made their way to the western side of the compound; Azula, Sokka and Bulan heading up the front while two other squads made their way to the eastern edge.

—-

Front side

"You've hunted before, yes?" Azula asked, as they kitted up and synced their communications equipment, each fireteam getting their own encrypted channel to prevent confusion.

"A little with my dad, yeah. Never really liked it though." Despite his hesitant answer, she thrusted a futuristic bolt action rifle resplendent with accoutrements like a thermal optic, laser rangefinder and suppressor into his unwilling hands, its sleek white chassis a far cry from the blued steel and walnut he was vaguely familiar with. If the latter was designed to be a heirloom piece, passed down from generation to generation in pursuit of putting food on the table, then the former was a cold, unfeeling piece of mechanical machinery with a singular focus on terminating the most dangerous prey of all, man.

"W-what am I supposed to with this?" he nervously asked.

"What do you think?"

"I-I don't have a killer instinct like you both. That man in the safe house was an outlier. This, this is different, deliberately taking a life in cold blood."

"Tell me, did you think the same way when you hunted game with your father in the South Pole?"

"Animals and humans are different!" he protested.

"Look, we are deaf, dumb and blind once we hit the compound. We need someone to provide overwatch."

"Then why don't you do it?"

"Because you don't have the combat skills to conduct this type of recce. Besides, with any luck you don't need to fire a single shot. Now quit your whining and get into position, we've wasted enough time debating ethics as it stands." Having been privy to a side of Azula rarely seen by others outside of blood relations the past few weeks, he was rudely reminded of the fact that she also possessed a vicious killer instinct and the martial prowess to make herself a living weapon.

Reluctantly, he settled into as comfortable a position he could that still offered him a stable engagement position and a good view. Through the optic, he could make out two blobs moving forward slowly, their bodies a hot white against the grey cool background. Swinging his field of view, he spotted a small patrol of Agni Kai members heading towards their way.

"Stop now. You've got a patrol heading your way." he hissed. Peering through the snow, which had died down somewhat in the intervening period, he scanned for more possible dangers while keeping an eye out. Satisfied that they had passed them, he gave them the all clear to move.

Behind the scope, he breathed a deep sigh of relief that he did not need to pull the trigger just yet. When he lost sight of them, he barked "Stay put, I'm changing my location."

"Copy that."

—

Western Side

Whilst his sister's insertion was relatively uneventful despite some close encounters, Zuko's insertion was much more kinetic than they expected. Having crept near what seemed to be a vehicle park, it wasn't too much of a stretch to assume they would get in undetected, being able to hide underneath the tracked vehicles if need be.

Unfortunately, they happened to stumble across a three man party of guards, who were just as shocked as they were to bump into each other. Wordlessly, the trio unsheathed their bladed weapons and went to work. Soon enough, it devolved into a sloppy ground fight, with all six of them wrestling and jostling to stay alive. In the brief struggle, Zuko thought he recognized one of his former brothers in arms. However, there was no place for sentimentality, for one of them was going to walk away alive and neither man wished to be on the losing end.

Slamming his hand on the concrete, the blade poised over his neck clattered on the floor. Scooping it up, he slipped in in between his ribs with all his strength, before flipping him over and silencing him with a gloved hand over the mouth. Using the palm of his hand, he sent it home with a decisive strike, rupturing that vital pumphouse of the human body and ensuring his demise. Leaning back on his haunches, he observed the aftermath of the other two fights. Hahn looked a little worse for wear, a black eye and a gash over his right cheek for his troubles while the operator was also looking like he'd been run through a washing machine. Dragging the corpses to their hide, Hahn and the operator quickly buried theirs under a pile of snow while Zuko pulled down the man's mask to check his suspicions.

Thankfully, the dead man was not and he too quickly buried him under the snow and ice. After a breather, they continued their infiltration, senses heightened as they would surely be looking for the missing trio when roll call was conducted. Taking a wild guess, their point man led them up a series of steel stairs and into a building. Free from the cold, they unzipped one layer and moved to explore. Peeking in the door well, he observed a man hunched over some papers, muttering something to himself while he feverishly worked.

With Zuko keeping watch, the two Water Tribesmen burst into the room, the operator seizing the man and subduing him, which Hahn snatched the papers from the desk and stuffed it into his pockets. Turning his attention then to the man on the floor, he asked "Who are you? What is your role?"

The man huffed and refused to answer. Placing the edge close to his neck, he asked again "Who are you?"

"If you'd think I'd give up my secrets to a uncultured barbarian like you, forget it."

"Do you have a death wish?"

"By talking to you I've already signed my death warrant, the Mountain Master does not stand for leaks."

"We can provide a safe passage, a new life, a-"

"No, not while the mole in the Directorate is still allowed to live."

"Who is this mole you speak of? Tell me now!"

"Someone high up in the directorate, that much I know."

"That still leaves a lot of room, I need more to go on."

"I don't know much else, I'm serious."

Frustrated, Hahn was about to ask when Zuko stuck his head in and asked "You guys done with your bonding session yet?"

"What does it look like?"

"That you're done. We need to move, patrol's headed this way."

"Just give a minute." Hahn hissed, before turning to the man "What is this facility? Are the Wolves here?"

"This is a transit facility for rare earth ores being shipped to the Northern Earth Kingdom, some facility in Hanyang from what I know. As for the Wolves, who the fuck knows where the Master keeps those rabid dogs."

"Thank you." Hahn replied, before motioning to the man to snap his neck.

Tapping Zuko on the shoulder, he whispered "Let's go." and the three of them made their escape.

Whispering into his throat mike "All units we got what we needed, fall back to Rally Point Oscar, we got what we needed." Suddenly, their earpieces were flooded with static before a voice broke through "You've heard the prey speak. They'll hear the howls and know fear, young Wolves. Show no mercy."

Seconds later, a burst of automatic gunfire and the sound of metal impacting flesh echoed in their earpieces.

"Spirits damn it!" Hahn hissed as they tried to escape the closing noose. Briefly looking up to the all seeing aurora, he pleaded with Tui and La that his fiancee was safe.

Fire Nation Embassy

Agna Q'ela

"As the station chief, I decide when and how the team will be deployed."

"I have direct authorization from the DI himself."

"That doesn't mean I can allow you and your men to roam free. In case you forgot, there is a curfew in place. What if one of them gets an icicle to the T-zone or get into a firefight with the local law enforcement and National Guard? Are you going to take responsibility?"

Just then, a secretary peeked her head into the meeting room and knocked. At once, the ambassador and Ursa pinned their stares on the hapless young secretary, who visibly shrunk at least a good three inches under their combined glares.

"What do you want?!" both of them blurted out.

"I-uh-um, there's a, er, call for you, Miss Ursa?" she stammered, unsure whether she might have committed an international incident by referring to Ursa as Miss instead of Your Highness or Your Excellency.

"Put the caller on speaker." A quick switch and a nod later, the caller's voice flooded the room.

"Who is this?" she demanded.

"That's not really the way to talk to someone who has your kid in custody now is it?"

"Let her go!"

"After all the trouble she and her meddlesome siblings caused? Not a chance she's going to be allowed to walk free."

"If you have a problem you deal with me, leave my child out of this!"

"Keep that tone up and I will not guarantee she'll make it back in one piece. Assuming of course, there are pieces left."

"What do you want?"

"What do I want? Good question, what do I want? Firstly, I want your youngest here as compensation. Secondly, I want the hit team that is no doubt being billeted in the embassy right now to be withdrawn. Third, I want my name off the 'kill list'. These terms are non-negotiable."

"I need proof my daughter is alive."

"Very well."

A brief pause later, and Kiyi's sobbing voice echoed from the speaker "Don't do it mom, don't give in! I-" she pleaded before being violently interrupted with a loud slap and a cry. At this, Ursa's heart broke in two.

"Satisfied?"

"Y-yes." she replied, fighting to keep her voice steady.

"Deliver these terms to me in forty eight hours, or her friend gets it. Every eight hours past that, then...I leave you to figure out what type of punishment awaits her. Farewell."

"I suppose I'll have to get on the phone with Chief Arnook." he stated after a long silence.

"T-that would be most appreciated, ambassador."