Ch 16 awakening

Wash turned around to see Aang stumble onto the deck, seeing Momo head towards his owner.

"Good to see you're awake." Sarge said, approaching the avatar.

"Sarge? Katara? What's happening?" Aang asked.

"Take it easy. You've been out for quite a while and…" Wash started, when Aang fainted.

"He's gonna fall. Catch him!" Toph warned, as Aang fell on his back.

Morning came, and Aang was talking to Katara, watching as everyone went on with their duties.

"Why is everyone dressed like that? What are we doing on a fire nation ship?" Aang asked.

"After the city fell, we fled to the bay, packed up our stuff and left. We stole a fire nation ship, and here we are." Wash said.

"So, where are we?" Aang asked.

"We just went by the serpents pass. We've encountered a few fire nation ships, but none have given us any trouble." Sokka said.

"What about the invasion plan?" Aang asked.

"Tucker came up with another plan by himself." Hakoda said.

"We take all your friends and allies and bring them to the fire nation for the final attack. But we have a problem. The solar eclipse is the only trump card, and it lasts 12 minutes at most." Tucker said.

"So, do you have a solution?" Aang asked.

"Unfortunately, no. If we can't get to the fire lord before the eclipses ends, the only option left is to put a bullet in his head." Tucker said.

Aang coughed his food out in surprise.

"You mean kill him?" Aang asked.

"Yeah, dumbass. Azula killed you, and the firelord won't hesitate when you face him." Tucker said.

"Tucker." Katara hissed.

"He's got a point. Aang, you'll have to kill the firelord before he kills you. A simple nature of war." Wash said.

Aang looked down, unsure of the prospects.

"Come on. Lets continue your healing." Katara said, taking Aang inside.

"That could have gone better." Ursa said.

"These kids shouldn't be fighting this war." Wash said.

"But they are." Ursa said.

"Yeah. They are." Wash muttered.

They encountered a fire nation cruiser heading in the opposite direction, and the red and blues hid with Aang and his friends. For the moment, negotiations between Bato, Hakoda, and the enemy captain was going smoothly.

Wash pressed the side of his helmet, and heard the enemy captain talking.

"We'll sink this ship when we're across." He said.

"They know!" Toph exclaimed, and used her metalbending to collapse the bridge. Katara rushed out and separated both ships with a master display of waterbending. With a head start, they fled the enemy cruiser, but were under constant bombardment by its artillery.

"Things can't get much worse." Sokka said, when the serpent appeared.

"Thanks for jinxing us." Griff growled, pointing his rifle at the beast. A fireball hit the serpent, and it attacked the fire nation ship.

As the day came to a close, Aang's friends decided to head into town to grab some food. Everyone else stayed on board.

"Wash, I want to talk to you." Ursa said.

"Sure thing." The freelancer said.

The two sat in their quarters, when Ursa spoke.

"What happened down there?" Ursa asked.

"In the capital. Why do you want to know?" Wash asked.

"Katara says she fought Zuko and Azula. I want to know one thing. Is she telling me the truth?" Ursa asked.

"One thing. Does anyone know who your children really are?" Wash asked, producing a pistol.

"No. No-one here knows." Ursa said.

Wash lowered his head, and looked up again.

"It's true. The fight did happen. And the next time we encounter each other on the eclipse, no quarter will be given." Wash said.

"I hope Katara patches things up with her dad." Ursa said.

"I've noticed." Wash said.

"I'd like to talk to her, but that'll reveal who I truly am, and Katara will most likely kill me in response." Ursa said.

"As far as anyone here knows, you're just a woman from the earth-kingdom. Lie about the children, say they've been killed in the war." Wash says.

Ursa contemplated the idea.

"Okay. I'll talk to her when she comes back. She reminds me of Azula. Younger sibling, very talented. Makes me wish things could have turned out differently." Ursa said.

"It wouldn't have made a difference. You said that Ozai would kill the kids if you tried to run with them. At least they're still alive." Wash says.

"For how long? You told me you fought against aliens who are more dangerous than the fire nation. If that's true, my kids don't stand a chance against you and your troopers." Ursa said, tears running down her cheeks.

That night, Aang was found missing. Katara ran to the deck, where she saw her father standing watch. Ursa quietly snuck behind, and listened to the conversation.

"…How could he just leave us like that?!"

"You're talking about me too, aren't you?" Hakoda asked.

"How could you Dad? I know why, but we were so lost without you." Katara said.

"Katara, I'm sorry. I think of you every minute of every day. Every night, I lie there, thinking about you and your brother." Hakoda said.

"I know why you left. So why… do I still feel this way?" Katara asked, angry and confused.

"Katara, I love you and your brother more than anything else in the world. Never forget that." Hakoda said, hugging his daughter.

Ursa left the scene and ran to her room. Closing the door, she let out a scream in anguish. She collapsed on her bed and sobs.

"We're going after him." Wash said.

"All of us?" Tucker asked.

"No. Infiltrating will be harder with all of us. Besides, it could be the last thing we do on this earth. I want the red and blues to gather the allies Sokka was talking about. And grab all the ammo and supplies from the ship. We'll need it." Wash said.

"I'm going with you." Ursa said, approaching the soldiers.

"You're crazy. Come on board." Wash said.