A/N: I was hoping to get this out to you guys for New Year's day, but alas I was lazy and forgetful. But also because I wasn't satisfied with the chapter, I kept reading it through and editing it, but it just didn't come out quite the way I wanted and the smooth writing was lacking to say the least. But I promised to get this out and even if I'm not proud of it, I hope you at least enjoy it somewhat. Well, anyway it's the first update in 2020, which is exciting!

Katara's POV:

We trek through the narrow corridor, weary of coming across any rebels, but so far we haven't bumped into anyone. It almost looks...abandoned. Then, into the silence an ear piercing scream rattles my core and my feet come to an immediate halt as my mind freezes in fear. Zuko and Sokka seems to have stilled behind me. I shake my head and break into a run, no longer caring if I bump into any rebels. 'We weren't quick enough.' As the screaming continues I sprint with increased vigour. 'I have to get to Aang. I can't let him down again.' When I reach the source of the screaming I spot Xiu staring into a small window. I run up to him and hold an icicle close to his back.

"Where's Aang and Toph?" I demand. He turns slightly towards me, his face stoic.

"I was hoping you would get here earlier." He hisses out quietly. I pull back slightly in confusion.

"What?" I echo as Sokka and Zuko catch up to me with fierce expressions directed at the noble.

"You're late. My brother has already started the process of forcing the Avatar into the Avatar State. He's been trying to fight it off but he's just slipped into it and the Chief of Police is still inside." My jaw drops and I flick my head to the right to see that Aang is in fact in the Avatar State, breaking off his chains...but his movements are jerky and his facial expression is tight. 'That's not right. Aang doesn't show emotion when he's in the Avatar State, other than anger perhaps.' I look to the left to see Toph chained to the wall opposite, the fear in her eyes are evident.

"What do you mean he's forcing Aang in the Avatar State?! How is that even possible?!" Zuko questions in panicked perplexity.

"Yeah and why are you telling us this as if you want to help us?" My brother follows up with a scowl.

"Because I for one don't want to see the Avatar dead. You can arrest and ask me questions later. But for now, you should get of my brother's line of sight because he won't hesitate to put you in there." Xiu explains quickly, his lips pressing tightly together as he watches us.

"No. We have to save our friends first." Zuko states stubbornly. I zone out when the two squabble back and forth, my eyes fixed on Aang and Toph. 'Something just isn't right. Surely Aang would've busted himself out of there by now and Toph too for that matter. She's bound by metal but why hasn't she freed herself?' I spin my head back to Xiu.

"What's your brother doing to Aang? Why hasn't he busted out?" I fire out as a layer of fear courses through me.

"That's the million dollar question. I'm glad one of you has some sense." He states as he shoots a sideward glare at the Firelord who shoots one back. "I'm not entirely sure. But the Avatar flinches each time he gets close to the sides of the prison, in fact he keeps hovering. Maybe there's an electric system surrounding it all? I didn't spend much time with Zee to listen to all his plots."

"But...!" My brother starts but is quickly cut off by a rush of feet.

"Stay away from my brother!" We all whip round to see the crazed look in who I assume must be Zee.

"Release Aang and Toph right this instant!" I shout as I whip the water out of my pouch.

"Never! They are going to perish and so will you. Rebels, do what you do best." Zee commands with a smirk and behind him a small group of rebels appear, some wielding arrows while others are with swords. The three of us take up fighting stances and the fight begins. I dash out a series of icicles to several archers but most evade easily and shoot a series of arrows back at me. I erect a frozen shield and swiftly send it back at them which catches a couple out as they thud to the ground. I hear a creak behind me and just mange to dodge out of the way as an arrow goes whizzing past my nose and into one of his comrades. I blow out a slight breath and I blink when the background noise suddenly becomes apparent, no longer filtered out by my concentration on the fight. Sharp painful wheezing. I look behind me into the window and see Aang's scrunched up expression. 'He's in pain!' My mind finally supplies as it zones in on a long rod attached to his back as he spins round. 'That must be how they're getting him into the Avatar State, by electrocuting him. It's like whatever Azula did to him all those years ago created some sort of gateway through his scar.' At this realisation, my face crumples. 'We have to stop this fight now and get him out of there.' I think, but my moments of distraction are interrupted by Sokka's shout. I look up just in time as an arrow glides through the air towards me. I move, but I'm not fast enough and get nicked at the shoulder. I flinch and grab my shoulder with my other hand. When I pull it away it comes back red. I grit my teeth and move closer to my brother just as he hits one of the rebels with a boomerang. He turns to look at me briefly before engaging with another rebel.

"Are you ok?" He asks as he pushes the guy back with his sword.

"I'll be fine. We need to get them out of there now. Aang is being electrocuted, it's how they're forcing him into the Avatar State." I explain quickly and watch as my brother's eyes widen briefly before he throws his boomerang which hits two rebels consecutively at the back of their heads. He turns to face me.

"Go and get them. Zuko and I will hold them off." He commands. I bite my lip and shift my eyes to behind him. 'They can't possibly fight them all off.' Just as I open my mouth to argue I hear a shout. Sokka twirls round to see Zuko pushed to his knees, a sword at his throat.

"Stop or I'll kill him." Zee shouts. I grit my teeth together. 'We didn't plan this well enough at all.' Sokka and I drop our fighting stances and raise our hands up. Behind us a couple more rebels push us to our knees and begin tying our hands together. Zee watches us for a moment and raises the sword in his hand. "I wanted to do this to your father, but you'll have to do." I widen my eyes as Zee's implications hit me.

"NO!" I shout, but before I can do anything, someone beats me to it as Zee's arm remains frozen in place, a rigid expression graces his face as his eyes dart back and forth.

"What's going on?!" He grunts out. "I can't move." I blink and tilt my head slightly to look past him to see Kyla with her arms outstretched in a chillingly familiar fashion, her face fixed. 'So what Aang said is true. But how is she bloodbending without a full moon?!' The moment of silence that follows only lasts for a second as the rebels start to move towards Kyla but out from behind her a line of police officers step forward. Then another line follows and...'is that the military?!' I think in surprise. The rebels must have shared my shock as they step back. With a quick glance at one another they make a run for it, dashing past us as the police officers swarm after them. Leaving the four of us, plus Zee and Xiu, alone. Zee catches his brother's eye.

"Do something!" He commands but Xiu shakes his head.

"No. This isn't right and I'm sad to see how low you've gone." I watch as Zee's eyes widen in shock before his face morphs into pure rage.

"You're the one that led them here!" His eyes move from one side to the other in thought. "You were never completely on board with me. You're traitor to our family." Zee spits out as Xiu shakes his head.

"You're the traitorous one here. My mistake was being too much of a coward to tell you to stop." Xiu replies, but his face is pained as he watches Kyla bloodbend his brother down to his knees. With a flick of her wrist the angry noble is knocked unconscious and flops to the ground. I stare at Kyla, her eyes unreadable. 'Her bloodbending abilities surpass my own by miles. That's concerning.' I watch her wearily as Zuko burns the ropes off my brother and I. I get up.

"Thanks. You saved my life." The Firelord states in gratitude as Kyla ties Zee's hands and feet together. She raises her head and gives Zuko a small smile.

"No worries. I couldn't let the only decent Firelord that we've had in a century die." She responds and walks towards me. She spares a glance at Xiu before looking back at me. "I need to pass Zee on to the Deputy of Police before he wakes up. Do I need to tie him up?" She asks as she points at Xiu with her thumb. I shake my head.

"No, he's alright for now and might be useful. Thanks for your help. You go and get Zee secured. We'll get Aang and Toph." I reply but Kyla looks hesitant.

"Ok, just...just let me know if they're ok as soon as you can." And with that she dashes off before I can even respond. I frown but soon forget all about her when Sokka puts a hand on my shoulder. I wince and remove his hand off quickly. A flash of surprise crosses his face before understanding settles.

"You need to heal yourself." I shake my head at his statement.

"What we need is to get Aang and Toph out. I'll sort myself out later." I turn to stare at the window, 'Its strange to see the raw might of the Avatar State contained.' I undo the clasp of the window but no sooner do I do that a burst of electricity flares out and I'm forced to pull my hand away.

"Katara! Are you ok?" Sokka asks as he rushes to my side. I massage my hand before letting it drop.

"I'm fine, but that explains why Aang hasn't managed to get out. There's like some sort of electric field surrounding the whole cell." I say with a frown.

"Can't you just turn it off?" Zuko questions behind me to Xiu.

"What do you think I've been doing? Zee is quite the engineer. Anything he made was both complex and sensitive."

"You mean there's no off switch?" Sokka asks with a raised eyebrow.

"I tried that. I can't pull the lever down. It's stuck."

"Stuck?!" Sokka and Zuko exclaims together as they go round to the mini dashboard at the corner where Xiu is. They try to pull it down but with no luck. I bite my lip watching as the air swirls around roughly in the cell battering Toph in the process.

"How do we get them out without being electrocuted if there's a field on every side?" My brother moans out in complaint. For some reason his words make me focus on Toph's small form, her hands and feet bound to the wall behind her. Then it hits me. I spin round quickly on my heels.

"There! That's our opening! Toph is hanging off the wall but she's alright; that must mean there's no field there." I say as I point to Toph's hanging form. "We just need an Earthbender to get in." I watch as both Zuko's and Sokka's eyes fall on Xiu. I frown in confusion until I focus on Xiu's attire. 'Ah Xiu is from the Earth Kingdom.' He gets up and with a nod we all sprint round the corner to the outer side of the wall that Toph's hanging on. With two succinct punches a small entrance is made. I enter and nearly get blown back by the amount of wind that's whipping around. Fortunately my brother catches me and is just about to step his foot into the cell with me before Xiu grabs his arm.

"You can't go in. Look at the floor. There's just enough space for your sister. Anyone else will be forced to step on the electric grid and get electrocuted." Xiu explains and true enough as I look down there's yellow criss-cross lines everywhere, save for a small patch directly underneath Toph. I turn my head to give Sokka a reassuring smile. He grumbles and releases me as he steps back, but not before he shoves a key into my hands. I blink, 'when did he get that?' But my thoughts are quickly interrupted by Xiu. "You'll have to be careful, Avatar Aang is in a volatile state and he could blow you right onto the grid." I nod in understanding at Xiu's instruction and with both arms in front of me I take a step forward against the battering winds. I glance at Aang whose arrows are still glowing, but other than that he's fairly stationary. 'It's like the electric shocks are keeping him in place, either that or...the pain is so extreme that he can't even move.' I gulp hard and turn my attention to Toph.

"Toph I'm going to get you down." I call out, hoping the Earthbender can hear me. Her leg twitches, but other than that I get no response. 'Spirits, I hope she's alright.' I Waterbend myself up and begin quick work on unlocking her chains. As I undo the last one I grab her just in time before she plummets down. All the while she remains stiff and unresponsive. "Toph?" I probe and shake her slightly. After several long moments she finally shifts and I breathe out a sigh of relief.

"Aurgh, I forgot how powerful Aang is in the Avatar State. Knocked my head right back into the walls and blacked out." I frown and scan her head to find a small red patch. I hold her closer and bring us down again, being sure not to let either of us step on the electric grid.

"I'm going to guide you out because we're surrounded by this electric field so stick close." I explain as I move her slowly back to the makeshift entrance.

"But what about Aang? I still hear the rushing noise of his Airbending; he must still be in the Avatar State." I nod at Toph's query.

"He is. I need to figure out how to remove that rod, but I can't do that until I know you're safe and out of the way." I explain and inch by inch we move, my eyes glued to the ground to ensure we don't step wrong. Fortunately we reach Sokka and Zuko without any more than a couple of singes. I push her through and follow in after. Sokka takes hold of Toph's arm as she sways slightly but she shrugs him off and turns round. Her head jerking from side to side.

"Toph, what are you doing?" The pony tailed warrior questions as we share a look. She stops her almost frantic movement and directs her face towards us.

"Don't you hear it?" I blink twice.

"Hear what?" Zuko echoes as he turns to look around.

"That beeping sound. It sounds like a timer or something." I take a step forward and put an arm around the Earthbender's shoulders.

"It looks like you hit your head too hard, you might just be hearing things." I suggest calmly but she shakes her head. Though regrets the movement and brings a hand up to her forehead with a grimace.

"Sugarqueen, I hit my head not my ears. They're working fine. Where's that snake, Xiu?"

"Over here." The noble calls out in response to Toph's query. We head back to the dashboard to find him staring at the cables underneath. "I heard the beeping too. I thought I was imagining it because it was so faint. But...we've got bad news." I watch as Sokka squats beside Xiu and his mouth drops open.

"Spirits!" He curses with wide eyes.

"What is it?" The Firelord asks as he tries to peer over Sokka's shoulders.

"It's a bomb." He answers stiffly. I cover my mouth with a hand to stifle my gasp.

"Zee must have activated it when you guys came bursting in. We've got 5 minutes to get everyone out!" Xiu states urgently as his eyes travel along the cables in thought.

"I'll inform Kyla and the police. You guys figure out how to get Aang out of there." Zuko commands and dashes off in the same way that Kyla went. I turn to Xiu.

"How do we get Aang out?" I demand.

"You won't be able to save him without shutting off the electrical grid." I cluck my tongue at Xiu's obvious statement.

"I know and we've already established that we can't do that because the switch is busted." I reply and fold my arms impatiently.

"Not necessarily. I didn't see the bomb before. It seems my brother has wired the electric grid and the bomb together. And...wait one second." He breaks himself off as he leans closer and takes a couple of the wires in his hand as he follows them back to the dashboard.

"We don't have one second! The place is going to go CABOOM and you're here messing with wires!" Sokka shouts in frustration as he throws his arms up. Xiu spares him a glance before returning back to the dashboard. A frown makes its way up his face.

"I'm trying to help. Anyway, it looks like the probe in Avatar Aang's back is also linked into the electric grid. There wasn't enough power to generate a continuous electric current without being spotted so my brother was able to utilise the energy coming out of the Avatar State to keep the current going. If you can get the Avatar to exit the Avatar State that will disconnect the grid. Once the grid is disconnected I might be able to shut down the bomb."

"Why don't you shut down the bomb now?" Toph asks as she leans against the wall, her skin pale. 'I seriously need to heal her, but we don't have time. Aurgh.' I think in worry as I bite the inside of my cheek.

"I told you it's connected to the electric field. Any tampering with the bomb could cause the electric field to explode and fry the Avatar with it."

"But how can we get Aang out of the Avatar State if that probe is forcing him into it? And what do you mean you might be able to shut down the bomb?" Sokka questions with a deep frown as he gazes at the cables again.

"I didn't make the bomb with him, all I did was part of the electric field. But we don't have time for questions. You need to figure out how to get the Avatar out of there. And you have..." His eyes flicker to the bomb screen before returning back to me. "...just under 4 minutes to do it in." I gulp and run back to the hole in the wall and step through.

"Katara, be careful." My brother stresses, I nod and walk as close to Aang as I dare, mindful of the electric lines, which isn't much further than from where Toph was hanging. But at this distance I can bear the shuddering intakes of breath from the Airbender and I can tell how much this is hurting him. I take a shuddering breath of my own at seeing how pained he is.

"Aang! You have to fight it!" I shout, but my words fall on deaf ears. I edge a tiny bit closer. "Aang you need to fight it, just for a moment so I can get you out!" Still no response. I curse under my breath. 'It used to be hard enough to get him out of the Avatar State in an emotional situation, what about in this situation?!' I take a deep breath. "AANG!" I holler out, but the only response I get is a slightly raised head, his blank eyes staring straight back at me. I shiver, 'I should've been there to protect you!' I quiver. "AANG please! Force down the Avatar State for a minute. That's all we need." But despite all my hollering his glowing eyes don't seem to acknowledge me in the slightest.

"Katara you have to hurry; we've got 3 minutes! Remember we need some time to get out of here in case Xiu can't disable the bomb." I grit my teeth at Sokka's words, 'like I don't have enough pressure on me as it is.'

"Aang. I'm sorry. I feel like I've failed you all I've again, I was meant to prevent this from happening. I was meant to help. It seems I can't do anything right, but despite how much you needed help in the past you've always pulled through with or without it because you're strong and brave. You don't give up and you're a fighter. You've never let them win before, so don't let them win now!" I holler passionately and for a moment there's a flicker, a slight furrow of the eyebrows and then it's gone. 'I'm not enough. I can't get him out of it. I can't save him.' My feet nearly buckle underneath me at this revelation. 'I'm so useless!' I raise my eyes at the floating Airbender and then it hits me. 'What if I latched onto Aang? That will stop me from being electrocuted and maybe the personal contact will help to get through to him.' I eye the distance between us, 'I'll need to jump. My Waterbending should give me enough leverage.' I quickly walk back towards the other end of the wall and turn back to face Aang.

"Katara, what are you doing?!" I inhale deeply, ignoring my brother's panicked question. I sprint across the short patch and using my Waterbending I jump just before I meet the edge of the electric grid. I'm propelled forward, but I forgot to take into account the strong winds emitting from the young Avatar and I find myself plummeting down.

"KATARA!" I twist round and with a regretful expression I bend a water whip and throw it up. It manages to just latch onto Aang's foot and saves me from falling onto the grid. I look down, an inch away from touching the floor. 'An inch away from being fried.' I grimace, but I push the thought away and freeze the water whip to allow me to climb up. 'I'm sorry Aang, water whips should only be used in battle, but I have to save you.' I battle against the harrowing air around him, several times almost losing my grip until I finally latch onto Aang's foot and pull myself up so that I'm face to face with the Airbender. This close I can see the pain emitting off him as his mouth is slightly parted in a silent scream. I push it away. 'I can't breakdown now. Not yet.'

"1 minute and 40 seconds!" I ignore Sokka's shout and place a hand onto the Airbender's cheek.

"Aang please. I know you can fight it. You're the strongest person I know and I don't want to lose you. I can't lose you." I say with choked tears and lean my forehead against his as I hug him close. Something I said must have gone through to him as his whole body goes rigid with fight. With a sharp gasp he arcs his back and the glow flickers. Once. Twice. Before finally switching off completely. His eyes are screwed shut as sweat begins pouring down his face. I quickly pull out the probe, but then realise that there's nothing to hold us up anymore and we start falling. I shift my body so that I'm the one underneath, ready to take the impact but I needn't worry as an earth slide appears underneath and we have a soft landing. I look up to see Toph shooting me with a small smile from the gap in the wall. I give her a relieved smile back.

"Katara hurry up! Xiu miscalculated, it seems the electric field will come back on at a lower power in 30 seconds after any inactivity, though it's still dangerous! And we've got under a minute to get out before the bomb goes off!" I feel like screaming internally. 'Why is everything so difficult?! And can't Sokka keep his bad news to himself?!' I get up and pull Aang up into my arms and try to get to the opposite end but Aang's weight puts a strain on my cut shoulder and I'm slower than I'd like. 'Why is this room so big?!' Just as I near the hole I hear a whirring sound and a quick glance down at my feet shows the grid starting to go back on, starting from the sector behind me. I sprint and throw Aang at Sokka before a world of hurt travels up my feet and spine.

"AH!" I gasp out but the shock vanishes nearly as soon as it had started.

"Katara? Katara!" I open my eyes to find myself against the wall on the other side of the electric field. I put a hand to my head as the pounding continues. Looking up I see Sokka's concerned face as he kneels in front of me and Toph standing unsteadily behind him as she clutches the unconscious Airbender. When my eyes meet my brother's he releases a sigh of relief and helps me up to my feet. "Come on, the bomb is about to go off. We've only got 40 seconds." I shake my head, but regret the action when a bout of dizziness hits me.

"There's no way we can get out of here in 40 seconds!" I argue.

"We have to try! Otherwise we'll be dead for sure."

"You can't do anything?! You're handy with tools." I insist stubbornly but Sokka shakes his head.

"All Xiu and I were able to do was decrease the radius that the bomb will affect. But we're still in it until we get out of Xiu's office upstairs."

"Which took us 15 or so minutes while we were running." I point out which causes Sokka to throw one hand up.

"Then what do you suggest we do?! We're dead either way!" I purse my lips at Sokka's outburst and glance back at the prison cell containing the electric field.

"What about detaching the bomb and chucking it in there? It might short-circuit the bomb." I say urgently. I watch as a look of indecisiveness passes across Sokka's face.

"Xiu!" He calls out and the noble pops out from behind the dashboard, bomb in hand. 'Should I be concerned that he's listening in to everything we're saying?' But my eyes drop down to the digits on the screen. 15 seconds. 'Maybe later. If there is a later.' I grimace.

"I'm not sure what will happen. But it's better than doing nothing. Start running when I throw it, we don't know what will happen." And with those words Xiu shucks the rectangle bomb as far as he can. My eyebrows shoot up when I notice it reaching the opposite end of the cell. We move fast, Sokka keeps a hold of me while Xiu remains behind Toph as she slings Aang over her shoulder. I hear a massive bang and then another which causes the walls around us to shake violently and suddenly the ripples of the bomb from behind are catching up to us at alarming rates. 'We're not going to make it.'

"EVERYONE GET DOWN!" Toph and Xiu shout in unison and in moments we're engulfed into a ball of earth. Silent blackness. Then suddenly we're all thrown back violently and the world goes dark around me as I slip out of consciousness.

A/N: So yeah, that was a pretty intense chapter. Again I know it wasn't great, but I hope it turned out alright. It's been mentioned that some of the tech included in the story is too advanced which I agree with, but because it's fiction I feel like I can kind of do whatever I like…within limits. It was nice to write a full chapter in Katara's POV, feel like it's been a while and I feel like I've been a bit too harsh on her for most of the story, which I didn't mean to considering she's my most favourite character in the show, so I hope you think I've cut her enough slack to make up for any of her previous wrongs.

Soooo anyway want to wish you all a very HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hope you have the most awesome year filled with tons of happiness and peace. Wanted to thank you all for being so supportive, kind and patient with me, your words are so encouraging and I appreciate it a ton. I keep looking at the number of reviews and it's just insane, you've literally made my year! I've had some people saying they've read the whole story in one sitting and staying up late just to finish it and I want to say how exceedingly humbled I am to hear that you've enjoyed it to that extent, just…thank you…thank you everyone.

Next chapter is super short so will try to get that out in the next week or two! Jeez, could probably start a countdown with how close we're getting to the end. I've drafted up till chapter 49 and just waiting for my muse to hit me so that I can write chapter 50 (the final one), but I thought you'd like to know that most of it is pretty much done, save for all that editing. Anywayyyy, I ramble too much (as you can probably see), but I'll leave you in peace, hope you all enjoy the rest of the weekends and the start of this brand new decade – can't get my head round how exciting that sounds!

5/1/20