A/N: It might be Friday the 13th, but hopefully this new chapter only scares up delight. I have two Easter Eggs hidden in this chapter.
One hint - they are both in the mechanist's workshop.
Thanks to xleox for the favorite & follow-heart eyes. What a sweet review and thank you for your kind words, gh0stwriter, so appreciate them-heart emoji. Another review, touslesnoms, you are truly divine! I agree Azula is a fascinating character. As always, I appreciate ML8991's dedication, hugs.
Disclaimer: I wish I could be asked to write for the live-action Avatar the Last Airbender (huge hint to producers of said series living possibily in Republic City somewhere?). Since cow-pigs can't fly, I will have to settle with that the fact that I do not own any rights to Avatar the Last Airbender.
Zuko rarely enters the workshop. He usually speaks to Teo in the main garage or places his order at the garage's key reception desk. Yet, Zuko needs to talk with the mechanist, Rene', about the M-hound errand. Rene' spends the majority of his time inventing and well away from the intrusive interludes of royalty, politics, or the inquisitive. By remaining within the safe confines of the mechanist's sanctum, Rene' can create in peace.
The workshop room is circular with shelving stretching up to the ceiling. Bookcases are full of bits and bobs; Gears hang in various sizes, while wires dangle out of wooden drawers. Silver-scrolled, grated doors cover a section of bookcases, which are crammed with leather tomes.
Zuko strides into the mechanist's workshop across the metal vented flooring and solid wooden squares. Steam drifts through the black metal slats, which could be opened or closed to regulate the room's temperature.
At the center of the far wall is a large desk with lots of drawers of different sizes stacked upon each other, the drawers assemble a haphazard staircase. This leads to a platform that supports a drafting table. Rene' leans across the slanted desk, drawing pencil lines on blueprint pages. Rene' measures the marks with a ruler and then refers to several open books near him. He returns to the blueprints, muttering about his discoveries.
"Rene'?" Zuko's curiosity for spying a potential new marvel piques his interest. A workshop is a strange place to Zuko, full of peculiar wonders. Inventions, some obvious in their execution and others more hidden in their execution, are lying on workbenches or hanging from hooks, which are scattered around the room.
Rene' teeters in his chair, startled from his studies. His exclamation begins sharply. "Prince Zuko!" The mechanist manages to swallow his anxiety of the Prince being in the workshop. He composes himself. In a steadier voice and more certain position within his chair, Rene' tries to entice Zuko to vacate the studio. "You will find yourself much more comfortable in the receiving room." Rene' adds under his breath, "and away from my inventions."
"No worries, I can speak with you in here." Zuko notices a simple clock, squatting on its four legs, looking rather battered. The gold gilding on the clock refines its slightly dented complexion and makeup to an almost elegant timepiece.
Rene' is familiar with interlopers, who show no respect for the process of his creations. They pick up something or sneer at a half-finished work. He would put up ample barriers to his laboratory, but the royal purse prohibits him from being a total hermit. Teo usually deals with the Prince and his exploits. Where could his son be?
Rene' speaks with annoyance. He adjusts his glasses. "What have you got there?"
Zuko looks at the clock in his palm and tosses it up in the air. "Some kind of clock?"
Rene' tries to stay calm, but utter panic takes over. The missing pieces within his eyebrows even flutter with fear. "Don't throw that clock!" Rene' throws forward the lever on his chair. The chair's hydraulics send Rene' skidding down to land right next to Zuko. Rene' pops up from his seat and snatches the clock from Zuko before the Prince can toss it in the air again. "This clock is a highly sophisticated system that should not be so casually disregarded." Rene' inspects the timepiece that seems almost irritated.
"A clock that is sophisticated?" Zuko knows that the mechanist is prone to creating intelligent creatures, but this clock is a bobble at best. "Is it a new animatronic?"
As if Zuko offended the clock by calling it a robot, it begins to vibrate within Rene's hands. "Spirits!" Shrilling and bobbing up and down on his palm. Rene' frantically twists two of the clock's legs. The timepiece settles, almost sighing with contentment back on the mechanist's palm.
Rene' wipes his forehead with relief. "No, it's a bomb." Rene' returns the clock to the bench, then glancing at Zuko, opens a drawer and puts it inside it. "It was timely that I caught you before you blew this whole shop and us up." The mechanist checks to see if the pun left an impression on the Prince. Zuko is looking at that drawer, thinking how prudent a bomb could be whether in or out of the Blue Spirit's disguise. He doesn't notice Rene's pun.
The astute cleverness of the royal family appears to have been solely taken by Crown Prince Iroh and his son, Lu Ten. This is why inventions are wasted on the plebeians of the world. Rene' wants to hurry along with the Prince's visit. "What can I do for you, Prince Zuko?"
"Yes, I wanted to see if an M-hound could trace the owner of this knife." Zuko pulls from his pocket a wrapped item. Unfolding the linen handkerchief, he reveals the blood-stained knife. "Can the M-hound locate the owner?"
Rene' takes out a pair of gloves from his pocket. Putting them on before taking the knife, he examines the blade. "Yes, very interesting." He flips a switch on the side of his glasses which magnifies the knife. "By the construction, I would say Earth kingdom, Sand tribes, specifically." He glances up at Zuko. The magnification on the glasses makes Rene' appear larger, slightly ominous. "Now, what would a knife from the desert be doing in the Fire Nation?" He hands the knife back to Zuko, who returns the item to his pocket.
"Exactly what I want to find out." Zuko leans against the shelf and knocks a vest aside. A stream of air jets out, causing the garment to rise up in a wobbly way.
Rene' jumps up, wrapping his arms around the vest while wrestling with it to switch off the mechanism. The jet pack settles back into its spot. Rene' strains with his words."Prince Zuko, would you..." Rene' takes a deep breath and realizes that no matter how much he wants to yell at the Prince, Zuko and his family are his employers. His eyebrows flutter in irritation. "Perhaps, outside of the workshop would be a more comfortable place for this discussion?"
Zuko dusts his hands together. He is touched that the mechanist is worried about Zuko's well being. "Not to worry, Rene', I'm fine right here."
Rene' sighs and runs a hand through his sparse hair, "Prince Zuko, the equipment in this lab is quite sensitive, and I…"
"I need the M-Hound…" Zuko speaks as he lowers onto what he presumes to be a chair. However, his action triggers a release of a parachute beneath the seat. The canvas shoots behind in a high gust of material before wilting into a long deflated pile. "You really should have your inventions organized, not lying about."
Rene' glances to his ceiling and reminds himself that sharp words could lead him down a dangerous path. "I apologize, but you demonstrated my prototype for an escape module seat." Rene' moves to inspect the seat, adjusting his spectacle's magnification. "The trigger mechanism might be a bit premature." The mechanist begins to fiddle with the machine. "I might need to adjust the sensitivity level."
"Rene', I need the M-hound this evening, but it must be waiting for me near the Royal Opera Theater, along with my requisite vehicle and locked case." Zuko wants to refocus the mechanist onto the task at hand. Zuko is familiar that the mechanist, who gets easily sidetracked. Typically, Zuko deals with Teo, but since Teo wasn't noticeably available, one must make concessions.
Rene' pats the chair and mentally notes to return to that experiment. He straightens and returns his glasses to normal view. "You might want to wait. The M-hounds are overdue for an update. They have proven to be rather persnickety."
Zuko attempts to keep the irritation from his voice unsuccessfully. "I understand, but this issue is paramount."
"I could have them operational by tomorrow night."
Zuko wants to growl that wouldn't be acceptable. He calms himself. The issue with doing fieldwork is the necessity of relying upon technology that can be somewhat temperamental. "I only need the M-hound to track" Zuko knows that utilizing the next phrase produces suitable solutions. "It is on the behalf of the Imperial crown."
"Yes, but…" Rene' hates dealing with royalty. He wishes the blank check resulted in that the royal family would leave him to his own projects and not have to deal with their infernal bickering and affairs. Rene' settles his engineer doubts concerning the M-hound's reliability with the salve that Rene' had tried to warn the Prince. Bowing, Rene' acquiescence. "I might have one that will suffice."
"Excellent… get it ready." Zuko desires to arrive at the opera before Katara. He is ambivalent over their last interaction and how receptive Katara might be towards him. Zuko's reaction within the Royal Infirmary could be classified as peculiar, but he convinces himself that he had sufficiently covered his alarm at being in such an abhorrent place. The remembrance of Katara's screams causes Zuko's scar to throb. He touches the ridges that rise and dip. He drops his hand self-consciously, thankful that Rene' is preoccupied with searching through the drawers of his workbench to not witness Zuko's gesture.
Rene' locates a purple velvet box in a bottom drawer. Retrieving it, Rene' flips up the brass clasp and the lid opens, revealing different-sized, silver whistles. His hand hovers over, seeming to sense which one is correct, before finally deciding on a medium-sized whistle. Taking it, Rene' blows into it, but no sound issues forth. However, a whirl of gears and grinding commences. A box moves from an uppermost spot in the bookcase. The crate scoots out to the edge. But instead of tipping over and plunging from a great height, a dog unfurls and immediately jumps from its shelf onto another shelf. It leaps across the room onto another vacant spot, making its way in an elaborate zig-zag pattern down to Rene' and Zuko. The M-hound arrives next to Rene', settling into a sitting position, rigid with attention. The mechanist pats the metal head of the hound approvingly.
Zuko bends down and marvels at the dog. "I'm always amazed by what you create, Rene'." He starts to pet it, but Rene' stops him.
"I wouldn't do that."
"Why?"
"He would tear you limb from limb." Rene' can almost picture it and then shakes his head of the notion. "The hound isn't socialized to you, yet." He scratches behind the M-hounds left ear and triggering the "receptive" program. "Now, hold out the back of your left hand."
Zuko does as requested. The dog's eyes glow red then orange and yellow. The right eye begins flashing a quick succession before going completely blank. The left eye returns to red.
"Interesting…" Rene' peers at the dog as if for the first time. The dog's eye hasn't changed.
"I didn't touch it." Zuko holds up both hands.
Rene' scratches his head, ruffling the tufts of his hair. "This one might be faulty. I'll get another one." Rene' blows the whistle, but the dog doesn't move. "Odd," he tries again; still the hound remains at rigid attention, one eye glowing red and the other one blank. This is frustrating, and in front of the Prince no less. These automatons are Teo's project, and yet Rene' is left to feign comprehension. He mutters louder than intended, "Where in the spirits is Teo?"
"Dad, you called?" Teo replies as if waiting just beyond the door to roll into the room.
"Son, where have you been?" Rene' is relieved and perturbed over his son's absence and the fact that Rene' has been made to deal with royalty again. Twice a month is really too much for an inventor to bear.
"Mostly working on improvements to Lanier." A little mechanical mouse appears out of Teo's pocket and scurries up his arm. Controlling the wheelchair via a lever on the armrests, Teo stops when seeing Zuko and acknowledges the Prince's station with a nod of the head. "Good evening, Prince Zuko."
Zuko bows. A smile quirks up his mouth at the sight of the little mechanical mouse. "Teo, is this a new creation?"
"No, Lanier has been with me for a long time." Teo holds out his hand, palm down. Lanier twitters and then scurries to the offered perch. "Haven't you, Lanier?" Stroking the metal body, the mouse sits quietly enjoying his master's petting.
Rene' lifts at the metal M-hound's ears, inspecting the controls. "Teo, have you noticed anything peculiar with M-Hound 117-1142005?"
As Teo drops his hand, Lanier returns to Teo's pocket. "Nothing particularly out of the ordinary, though the hounds are in of need a tune-up." Teo rolls up to the dog and scratches its ears. The dog bangs its metal tail. "See, he's fine, you need to condition it before it responds to commands."
Zuko steps closer to the mechanist's desk. "What should I do?" Putting his hand down on the surface, he manages to knock over a bottle of blue ink.
"Stand over near the hound!" Rene' barks as he tries to mop up the river of ink that runs over papers and dribbles down the desk's side.
Teo rubs both ears which loop around, almost spinning on their axis joinery. "I created M-Hounds to mimic the regular Canis breeds. Canis are pack animals. They look to a leader but will only respond if they respect the leader."
Zuko stands stiffly and affects the most regal of positions. His face is stoic and devoid of emotion.
Teo glances up and sees the Prince's stance of immobility. He doesn't want to embarrass Zuko, so he looks away and speaks to the hound. "After initiating the receptivity program, you must hold out the back of your hand to M-hound's snout and then rub the dog's belly for three seconds." Teo had programmed that additional feature mainly as a lark. He backs away from the mechanical dog. "You try it, while I'll check on the monocycle."
"No!" Rene' panics, not wanting Zuko to linger a moment longer in his studio sanctuary. "Teo, take Prince Zuko with you out of the workshop." He despairs at the bread crumbs of disaster littered already and is terrified what more could be destroyed if Zuko stays. "I must clean up. As Prince Zuko noted, my workshop is rather unorganized. You understand, don't you?"
Teo can only imagine his father's desperation to utter such a statement in front of one of their royal benefactors. "Good idea, Dad." Teo pats his thigh. The M-hound stands, following Teo and Zuko into the adjunct side room.
Katara, Sokka, and Aang descend down the long elevator shaft to the garage. Katara is in awe by the elevator's luxurious detailing. As she looks at the curves of the metal petals, decorating the elevator's cage, the ornamentations weave around each other in twisting patterns. Katara's stomach feels queasy with dread, a stirring reminder of her nightmare churns her chi. The metal appears to have contorted into black snakes. She backs against Aang, terrified that her nightmare has slipped into reality.
"Are you alright, Katara?" Aang spontaneously grips Katara's upper arms. He feels her quivering and wants to hold her close to him, eradicate what is causing her palpable fear. "What is wrong?"
Katara blinks but what had seemed like black snakes is simply an artistic metal elevator cage. The feeling of panic subsides, replaced by embarrassment. Katara fans herself in an attempt to flitter away her overreaction. "What, oh, yes, I have never been in an elevator before; the mechanics of it startled me." She adds, hoping it will lessen the impression that she is a baby seal-otter. "We don't have electric-magic on the Southern Tundra."
"Katara, I could show you more wondrous sights than this." Aang wants to pull her close. He is channeling all his chi to control his baser urges and amends his possible salacious statement. "I could show you around the city, of course."
"Aang, that is sweet." Katara has experienced already her fill with the city, especially the alleys. The remembrance of the last night conjures up the elusive and perplexing Blue Spirit. Would Aang know about the Blue Spirit? "Aang?"
"Yes, Katara?" Aang can't disguise his eager anticipation.
Katara is oblivious to Aang's full inspection of her. Aang being among dock workers and his time within Imperial City that Aang might have vital knowledge about the Blue Spirit. Katara inquiries nonchalantly. "Being at the palace, one hears things…" Katara flips open her fan again, feigning disinterest. "I have heard court gossip about…" Snapping her fan closed, she taps it against the back of her gloved hand. She muses, pretending to recall snippets of salacious news. "A Blue Spirit of some sort? Have you heard of such a being?" She casually faces Aang. "It is hard to know what to believe, of course. And yet, one is intrigued. Do you know if the Blue Spirit is real or a mere figment of the imagination?"
The air around Aang vibrates with anticipation. Katara's smell mesmerizes Aang. It is like the wind wafting through saxifrage blooms on the tundra. Since meeting her, Aang has wanted Katara. She awakened this part of himself that he didn't know was asleep. She discovered him, cracking wide and releasing him from years of isolation. The monks had trained all the airbenders to shed their attachment to the Earth. Attachments tethered the mind, soul, and body. To be one with the breath of life, air nomads must be free. Aang had never felt more alive than these last two days with Katara. To him, it has felt like a hundred days, and before Katara, he had been asleep for a hundred years.
Aang had spent many days during his monotonous shifts, devising scenarios to gain more time with Katara. The nights were especially desirous, full of sensual dreams, and many sweat-soaked and stained sheet mornings. Each stratagem ended with the notion that Katara would soon be departing. It made Aang heavy with regret, something that he had never experience before. He didn't know if he loved Katara, but Aang had never felt such feelings for anyone. When Sokka had burst through the naval office's filing room, Aang had been lost in the drudgery of bureaucracy, fearing the spirits had toyed with his being. Aang realized he had gained the spirits' favor after all. It hadn't mattered what Sokka would propose; Aang would have performed any ruse, legal or not, to be near Katara.
Aang finally replies. "I have heard of reports of the Blue Spirit around the city. The gossip is especially common among the dock workers. The stories vary, along with the Blue Spirit's abilities." The fact that Katara is this close to Aang makes it difficult for him to concentrate on mundane facts. He pauses, collects himself, and then continues. "Most believe that the Blue Spirit is a mere myth, a way to help the commoners feel in control."
Katara pleads with her eyes and voice. "But do you believe that, though, that the Blue Spirit is a mere myth?"
Aang shuttered his thoughts, afraid that he might have revealed his feelings. "The official palace line is that the Blue Spirit is a myth." Out of nervousness that the palace is always listening, Aang steps closer to Katara to whisper. "However, in the naval office, there are Wanted Posters, offering five thousand denarians for any information about the Blue Spirit. I believe he is considered the number one vigilante for the Imperial City Police."
Katara faces Aang with glowing eyes. "Really, number one," She realizes that Aang had stated a gender pronoun. "You said he; do you know if the Blue Spirit is male?"
Aang swallows the heat that is throbbing within him. Katara's perfume confounds his senses, making him drunk with desire. "I'm assuming."
"Come on, Katara, that's not important whether the Blue Spirit is male or not." Sokka doesn't want Katara to get riled up. He knows how Katara can preach about equal rights, and honestly, Sokka tunes his sister out when she gets on a lofty-know-it-all-preaching jag. Girls can be so emotional about the dumbest of things. Now if Katara was emotional about automobiles, perhaps Sokka would listen. There is a subject to expound upon, especially its myriad of engineering virtues.
Katara steps away, offended. It irked her that anything powerful was assumed to be male. She could water whip anyone into submission if she so chose. "It is important, Sokka! Girls are equally competent. Aang, are you privy to something else? Why did you assume the Blue Spirit would be to be male rather than female?"
Gran Gran admonishes, Katara, dear, did you not believe the Blue Spirit to be male. Katara ignores the inward censor and that perhaps she wanted the Blue Spirit to be male.
Aang panics at Katara's reaction and his inadvertent blunder. "I wasn't implying that the Blue Spirit couldn't be a girl, of course, it could be a girl, I know a lot of strong and capable girls."
Katara's guilt gets the better of her, "Aang, it's alright." Her irritation was unfairly directed at Aang. She looks away, snapping open her fan, waving it, while glaring at her oblivious brother.
Aang misinterprets that Katara is angry at him, worried he might have given the wrong impression that he has a girlfriend. "I mean, those girls I was talking about are my friends. They are my girl-friends, not my girlfriends." Aang swallows and corrects painfully, "Girls that are friends, not romantic partners, not that I haven't been friendly with girls in that sense; I do know how to handle myself around girls..."
Sokka interrupts the painful course of conversation. How is Katara so smart and yet so blind to men panting after her? "Katara saw the Blue Spirit the other night."
Aang wilts in appreciation and wipes his forehead, which was perspiring. Then his interest perks, when could have Katara seen the Blue Spirit? "You saw the Blue Spirit?"
"Sokka!" Katara is horrified. She wasn't going to tell Aang that information.
Sokka assures. "Aang is part of the team; don't worry about it, Katara."
Aang wonders if perhaps Katara had gotten confused. "Are you sure that you saw the Blue Spirit? There were a lot of Blue Spirit costumes at the festival."
Katara feels irritated that Aang would presume she was some dodo-head as if she couldn't tell a Blue Spirit costume from the real one. "No, the Blue Spirit I saw was real."
"I don't know, Katara. Aang does have a point. You did think the Blue Spirit was me." Sokka examines the elevator switch, wondering about its functional mechanics. If Katara was even a modicum aware of Aang's apparent interest in her, Sokka might be worried and would have to interject as her protector and older brother. Luckily, Katara is oblivious, which allows Sokka to concentrate on the elevator's mechanics. He is amazed by the elevator's technical construction. Back on the tundra, the Southern Tribe kept their buildings to a single level; it was easier to maintain temperatures. Multiple levels were whispered at their sister community, but the Southern and Northern water tribes had diverged before Gran Gran's time. When Koh minions appeared, the tribes had lost contact, pleas for help had gone unanswered, so the Southern Tribe knew they had to rely on themselves.
Katara cringes with remembrance, "Well, that is true," She adds drolly, "but then I realized it couldn't be you, since the Blue Spirit could keep his mouth shut, unlike some people I know." She flips open the fan and waves it with much irritation.
The elevator stops, and the doors slide open to reveal a cavernous interior. The large garage seems to stretch before them endlessly. The structure of the facility is another work of functional beauty. It was beneath the whole palace, and yet it feels like another world. The opulence is evident, but that isn't what captures Sokka's amazement. The sheer abundance of vehicles. It is a cornucopia of mechanical wonders.
Sokka's mouth gapes opened, as his eyes take in the fleet of cars, monocycles, and motor-carriages. A stirring begins inside of him that usually only occurs when he needs a pleasurable release. Sokka whips around with excitement. "This is the most amazing thing I have ever seen!"
Aang had thought airbenders were flighty, but Sokka is another entity of airheaded distraction. "Automobiles are amazing things?"
Sokka's voice has the tone of adoration with a lilt of a rising chorus singing praises for its engineered pulchritude. "These aren't automobiles; they are works of beauty."
"Surely, it isn't more beautiful than Katara." Aang bows to his own vision of loveliness
Katara blushes a soft rosy-cheeked appreciation. "Why thank you, Aang."
Sokka still not moving from his admiration post in front of the elevator, blocking the exit. "If you say so, Aang, being her brother and all, kind of don't have much of an opinion about that."
Katara pushes her brother forward. "Sokka, get out of the way, please." She honestly doesn't understand how they are related sometimes.
Sokka moves forward in a trance to the first car he sees. He holds out his arms, embracing the sleek red vehicle. "Baby, where have you been my whole life?" He places his cheek on the hood, pursing his lips together in kissing sounds.
Katara could see Aang's strange expression of utter bafflement from Sokka's perverse adoration. She tries prying Sokka by his shoulder. He won't budge, only more determined to hang onto the car.
Katara whispers fiercely into her brother's ear. "Sokka, get up, you are embarrassing us." Katara glances at Aang with doe eyes that make him almost melt. "Aang, will you help me?"
"Of course, Katara." Aang rushes to Katara's side and takes her hand into his.
Katara blushes, "Thank you, Aang," She stares at their fingers intertwined and shakes free of Aang's grasp. She chuckles over Aang's misinterpretation, thinking he took her father's guardian advisement a bit too seriously. "No, help me with Sokka. We will never get to the opera with him slobbering all over this car."
Aang reluctantly moves around and grips under Sokka's arm, who stubbornly won't budge. Katara wishes she could water whip Sokka about now, but that wouldn't due. Aang may be on the team, but he wasn't yet to be trusted with her most profound and dangerous secret.
Sokka is harder to pry from the car than Aang thought. "Sokka, there are even better cars, deeper in the garage." Aang starts to wonder if Sokka is possibly dodo-addled.
Sokka jumps up, "Better cars?"
Aang prays to the spirits that he doesn't seem this pathetic to Katara, that would be humiliating. "Come on, Teo has some new ones that he has worked on."
"Who exactly is Teo?" Katara feels like she is always several steps behind the ways of Imperial City.
"Teo and his father, Rene', are the lead Imperial engineers."
Sokka jumps in front of Aang excitedly. "Did you say, lead Imperial engineers?" Aang almost runs into Sokka. Aang would have much rather run into Katara.
Aang nods, "Yes, Teo and Rene' have created all the vehicles, among other contraptions."
Sokka resists bouncing; it wouldn't be dignified at his age, but he wanted to very much. "What kind of contraptions?"
"He once made an air glider with an automatic snack dispenser for me." Aang turns to Katara with another date enticement. "I could take you flying on it sometime, Katara?"
"Me, I, well," Katara is conflicted. She wants to go flying but isn't sure if she should accept. Why didn't she want to? After the tribute, she wouldn't want to ever return to the Imperial City. Why squander her one chance at experiencing flying? She bows her gratitude. "Thank you, Aang, that would be lovely."
Aang's chest nearly bursts with excitement, as if he is levitating, although his feet are firmly upon the floor. "I will arrange everything for tomorrow morning." Aang changes the subject before Katara can change her mind. "Now, let's find Teo."
Katara and Sokka follow after Aang, who leads them toward a moving sidewalk, just beyond the key reception desk. "Step onto the belt; it will take us to Teo's workshop. Trust me, it is much quicker to travel than walking the extensive garage."
Katara immediately feels her shoes adhered to the belt. "What magic is this?"
Sokka is leaning down and touching the belt, wondering if it is some type of glue that is making their shoes adhere. "This is ingenious."
Aang wants to hurry. The evening that held such promise now seems too crowded with people. Tomorrow will feel like an eternity, frozen in time with no chance of arriving at the rate they are traveling. "The mechanic pull allows you to move quickly. Don't resist it." He notices Katara holding onto the rail, and Aang almost shouts with fear. "And don't hold onto the rail." He calms himself. "It could rip your arms off when moving."
The spirits have given Katara legs to use and negate any chance that walking could rip off her arms. "I could wait right here." She looks around her for a button to disengage her legs.
An idea of having Katara near him bursts out a perfect setup. "Katara hold onto me. You'll feel more comfortable." Seeing her hesitation, Aang adds. "This will get us faster to the car, which will get us even faster to the opera."
Sokka eyes Aang, torn in his brotherly duty but knowing if Katara walks, then it means that he would have to walk, too. Spirits, it is difficult to have a younger sister. He decided that he will split the difference between ease and sibling duty. "Katara, you hold onto my arm. Aang needs to work the moving sidewalk."
Aang ignores Sokka's warning look, disappointed but resigned. Thrusting the switch forward, the sidewalk carries the passengers to the rear quarter's area. The group arrives in an area that has cogs, gears, brackets hanging on boards. The scattering of partial machinery and cars, some of which are on platforms, which can be raised or lowered by pressurized controls. The back of the garage is more fix-it shop and less glorified showcase.
After Aang stops the moving sidewalk and disengages the magnetic belt, they all step off. Aang calls out to what appears to be an empty shop, "Teo?"
Suddenly a person emerges from under a car, wearing goggles and covered in grease. "Who's asking?"
"Take off your goggles, and maybe you'll know," Aang replies jovially.
Teo removes them and chuckles. "Oh, forgot they were on, these are great for inspecting for micro-cracks but very poor for focusing on bigger things." Removes his goggles, Teo depresses a button. The cart transforms into a wheelchair. "Aang," He holds out his hand. "How is it going topside?"
Aang quips, "The world is still there; you should come up and visit it sometime."
Teo indicates his surroundings of wheels, gears, and mechanical apparatuses. "Why? It is so much nicer down below."
Sokka can't wait for formal introductions. "Are you the one that made all of this?"
Teo glances around. "Not all of it, I had some help."
"Oh, some help, is it, son?" Rene' appears from beyond a curved entryway. "I believe, I had a bit of an influence upon these creations."
Teo smirks, "Possibly a bit, hard to tell, when I'm doing all the work."
Sokka bows, "It is an honor to meet you, sir. I am known as an inventor within my tribe, but you, sir, have divine talents bestowed by the Spirits."
"Well, I don't know about that." Rene' adjusts his spectacles with mild embarrassment.
"Dad, it's about time someone recognizes your greatness." Teo's chair rises into a set of mechanical legs. He walks over to his father, now at the level height of Rene'.
Katara's mouth gapes open at the sight of Teo moving freely with his bronze gleaming legs that quickly wrap around his own. "You're walking. That's remarkable."
Teo taps the side of his leg, which makes a hollow sound, "Who needs bending when you got mechanical science on your side?"
Sokka and Katara avoid looking at each other with the mention of bending.
Aang shrugs, "I don't know, bending has kept me light on my feet."
Sokka bursts out laughing and slaps Aang on the back. "Good one, buddy."
Katara snickers and then sobers. She says with curiosity, stepping closer to Teo. "But Teo, you are truly a marvel." Her hand reaches out hesitantly and then stills. "May I touch your mechanical legs?"
Teo is rather pleased, not having many topside encounters. He stands straighter, towering over Katara. "Sure, if you like."
Katara runs her glove down the side and says with awe. "Truly marvelous."
Aang interjects with a twinge of jealousy, hoping to get to their reason for being here. "Teo, what vehicle should we take this evening?"
Teo steps away and takes charge. "Well, what were you thinking?"
Sokka states louder than necessary. "I was thinking about that one over there." Sokka points to a sport-convertible, perfect for experiencing all the glories and freedom of driving.
Katara quirks an eyebrow at the twisting exhaust pipes that are stacked on the sides of the vehicle's frame. "I don't know, that auto looks rather dangerous." She walks around the car and notes that the lack of a roof would ruin her styled hair, too.
Sokka mouths 'this car' while Katara is preoccupied with inspecting the vehicle's leather seats.
Aang doesn't need Sokka's coaxing; the sport's car means close quarters, translation Katara will be very close to Aang. "Lady Katara, I can assure you that this vehicle will get us quickly to the opera."
"Aang, I really don't want to get my hair all windblown."
"I can control the air currents so that won't occur."
Katara's main objection nullified. "Well then, this car could do."
Teo lopes over in a quick gait to the car. "It should only be a minute for me to get it ready."
"Since you have a minute," Rene' turns to Sokka. "Would a fellow engineer like to see my mechanist workshop?"
"No enticement needed, it would be an honor, sir," Sokka bows in a flourish, rises, and then follows Rene'.
Teo alters his legs, so they fold into the driver's seat. After closing the small door, Teo pushes the ignition button, and the car hums to life. He backs out of the space and drives over to the gas pump station.
Before Katara can object, Sokka has disappeared with the mechanist beyond the entryway. Katara is agitated with her brother. Knowing how Sokka can become engrossed with all things mechanical, Katara panics about her brother's obsession making them tardy to the opera and thus embarrassing their family.
Katara states crossly. "I swear, I feel like I need an electric prod to keep Sokka focused and on task."
Aang jokes. "Have you tried dangling a carrot in front of him? I bet that would keep Sokka occupied."
Katara hides her giggles with her hand. "I think perhaps roasted cow-pig would be more successful than a carrot, but you might be onto something, Aang."
The idea of roasted meat of any kind is abhorrent to Aang. Even so, absolute pleasure courses past any initial revulsion that he had made Katara laugh. Aang seizes upon this opportunity of being alone together to speak his utmost desire and express his burgeoning feelings for Katara.
"Lady Katara…"
"Aang, you don't have to call me Lady Katara when we're alone or even when we are with Sokka for that matter."
Aang's heart beats faster as he reaches for Katara's gloved hand, interpreting the sign of dropped formality as a promising open. "Katara, I was hoping that we…"
Zuko strides into the area bellowing, "Teo! Rene'!"
Aang freezes, dropping Katara's hand and bowing immediately to one of the Fire Nation's princes. "Prince Zuko, sir."
Zuko pulls back with surprise at the sight of Katara and questions bluntly. "Lady Katara, what are you doing here?"
Katara realizes Zuko hadn't seen her at her best before, but that doesn't give him any reason to question her presence. Her mind clarifies: Katara, he's a prince, he has a right to ask everything. She curtsies, keeping her eyes downcast. "Prince Zuko, good evening. I didn't realize this was off-limits to non-royals. I apologize."
Zuko pulls back his shoulders and straightens his military suit coat, recovering quickly from his abrupt shock. "Lady Katara, it is I that should apologize." He steps closer and takes Katara's hand, helping her to rise. "I was simply surprised to see you after your earlier predicament."
Aang doesn't like the Prince being so friendly with Katara and interjects. "Prince Zuko, sir," Aang bows properly and then adds, "Teo and Rene' are in the back mechanic's office."
"Thank you," Zuko responds, not relinquishing Katara's hand. He promptly ignores where the mechanists are and forges ahead with his present conversation. "Lady Katara, I was quite worried about your welfare. Are you fully recovered?"
Katara blushes and can feel her palm warming in Zuko's grasp. She is unsure if she should remove it. "Yes, thank you for your concern, Dr. Hama and her nurses tended to my brief illness. They are proficient healers." She ignores Zuko's brief blanching over Katara's mention of healers. Katara clears her throat and looks into the Prince's yellow eyes which are staring into her own. She almost falters over the Prince's scrutiny but rallies. He is so intense. She acknowledges Zuko's earlier gallantry. "Prince Zuko, it would be most discourteous of me to not thank you for coming to my aid and with such swiftness. I am indebted to you." As Katara curtsies again, she lowers her eyes and their uncomfortable connection to each other.
Zuko flashes to a capable Katara which is juxtapositioned to the two times he held her helpless in his arms. "I hope your illness hasn't hindered you in any way?" Zuko assesses Katara's elegant figure before him and can see that she seems fully healed. The dress accentuates the color of her eyes, and the cut flatters her form.
Katara pulls her hand away on the pretext of demonstrating her health. Holding out her arms, she twirls around. "I have been given a clean bill of health by Dr. Hama" Katara doesn't mention Dr. Hama's request of the draught and follow-up visits. The doctor was merely being cautionary, nothing more. Katara hasn't felt this well since her tribe left the Southern Tundra.
Zuko shakes free his ill feelings about the continued mention of the healers. "I was informed by my Uncle that your family will be attending the opera this evening."
Aang had been nervously waiting for an opportunity to excuse Katara and himself from the Prince's attention. "Prince Zuko, Lord Hakoda tasked me to escort Lady Katara and Sir Sokka to the opera. We should take our leave if we are to arrive on time."
Katara gasps, "Oh Aang, you don't think we will be late, do you?" She calls out frantically. "Sokka, hurry, we must leave!"
Zuko steps closer, edging out Aang in stature and prestige. "Lady Katara, I was planning on attending the opera, as well."
Katara blurts out. "You, at an opera?" She blanches with her impropriety. "Pardon me, Prince Zuko, for my rudeness."
Zuko had never experienced this devilling need to tease over a faux pas. This playful sensation is invigorating and yet anathema to his usual disinterest in repartee. "Lady Katara, is it so hard to believe that I might enjoy the opera?"
Katara wants to exclaim: yes, it is, in fact, hand to believe, one might say that it boggles the mind. She manages to contain her impulse and cobble together a response. "No of course not, your Uncle, Crown Prince Iroh, has invited my family as his guests and sponsored the opera, so it is a matter of course that the royal family would attend." Her smooth execution of an answer makes Katara glow rosy with pride.
"Uncle does love to support the arts," Zuko agrees over his Uncle penchant for all things cultured and refined. Zuko clicks his polished heels. The epaulets and gold chains across his dress jacket of black with a red collar increase his princely bearing. "I, too, have the pleasure of being Uncle's guest this evening."
"I hope the box won't be too crowded." Katara worries that the Crown Prince Iroh's growing guest list might not allow a proper vantage for those who do not hold a high enough prestige. Katara fears that she qualifies for one not high enough in prominence and thus sitting in the worst seat, behind everyone else.
Zuko is mesmerized by Katara's unguarded emotions. Her worrisome thoughts for not seeing an opera, pure joy and excitement for her, and yet, most people within Zuko's upper circle care little for the performance on stage, being more concerned with their social status performance. Zuko assures with a low rumble. "I'm sure we can accommodate, especially for you, Lady Katara. One who obviously appreciates the arts."
Katara glances up and blushes. "Thank you, Prince Zuko, that is very kind of you to say." She wants to think that Zuko is flirting with her, but after her previous misinterpretation, she labels him being polite.
Aang doesn't like what is transpiring between Katara and Prince Zuko. It is enough that he has to endure working for the fire nation, but now he is being usurped as Katara's suitor. Aang clears his throat and knocks his heels to break the moment. "Lady Katara, perhaps it is best if we find your brother and take our leave."
Katara smiles at Aang, grateful for a distraction from the complicated interplay between Zuko and herself. "Yes, precisely, Aang, I don't want to miss a thing." She curtsies again. "Until we meet again, Prince Zuko." Aang is relieved as he holds out his arm and Katara places her gloved arm on top.
Zuko calls out impulsively. He is rather pleased with the idea as it formulates while speaking. "Lady Katara, I would be honored to take you to the opera in my own personal coach."
Katara glances over her shoulder. "That isn't necessary, Prince Zuko." She doesn't want the Prince to feel more obligated than her fainting spell had compelled him.
Aang tries to continue their forward momentum, away from the ever accommodating Prince. "Katara," Aang blanches over his obvious misstep in heirarchy formality in front of a superior. He quickly stumbles out. "Lady Katara, we should really go retrieve Sir Sokka."
Zuko's eyes narrow perceptively, adding in a smooth rumble. "Lady Katara, your brother, is of course invited."
Katara glances at Aang uncertainty. "I wouldn't like to leave…"
Zuko interjects quickly before Katara could issue another reason why she should decline. "And Lieutenant Aang may join, too."
Sokka races out of the workshop, "Katara, you aren't going to believe…" He stops short at the sight of royalty present. He composes himself and bows. "Prince Zuko, good evening."
"Sir Sokka, I was inviting your sister, yourself, and Lieutenant Aang to ride in my vehicle to the opera." Zuko does not see the usual exchange of eagerness upon any of their faces to be in such close proximity to royalty. He is accustomed to being used as a stepping pai-sho piece in a bid for royal favor.
"Sir Sokka, Lord Hakoda entrusted me to escort you to the opera," Aang speaks in a harsher edge than he had intended, especially in front of what constituted as his boss. Aang doesn't care, the fear of Katara spending time with Zuko is higher than potentially offending his superior.
Zuko can't believe that he must coax what is normally thirsted by most people at court. "I can assure you, my coach will get everyone to the opera much quicker. You will not have to go through the normal checks that other attendees are forced to comply."
"Sokka, you are going to love the sweet ride. It is all ready." Teo pulls up suddenly at the sight of Zuko. He immediately lowers his stature to be below Zuko's. The legs power down into a wheelchair. "Your highness, I apologize, your project..."
Zuko stops the potential for further information. "Yes, thank you, Teo, for your diligence."
"Would your highness like your usual vehicle?"
Zuko quickly barks. "No, Teo, I would like the limo-coach for this evening."
"The limo-coach?" Teo looks confused but masks it quickly. "But what about..."
"Please have my items waiting for me at the designated location as previously requested."
"Yes, Prince Zuko." Teo knows that the Prince wants his monocycle and locked gear case, along with the M-hound to only appear after the conclusion of the opera. Teo had initiated the program for it to be ready to leave on its volition. An ingenious program drafted by his father, which helped with subterfuge.
Sokka is intuned to the interchange, and suddenly he wants to ride with Prince Zuko. This could prove very, very interesting. If Sokka could ply out information out of this royal rube, Sokka might get an inkling of leverage that the Southern Tribe can use. Yes, firelamer, you will let whatever it is slip. Sokka almost bursts out laughing, firelamer, a good one, Sokka. Your welcome, Sokka. It is so difficult to possess such humor, and yet Sokka is content to bear the mantle. He steps forward and bows. "Prince Zuko, we would be honored to accompany you in your vehicle."
Aang looks stricken. Katara is shocked that Sokka would want to be so near to someone that is directly related to Archduke Ozai.
Zuko is pleased. "Teo, go fetch the proper vehicle and have champagne and pig-duck pâté ready."
Teo bows, "Yes, your highness." He rolls away to do the bidding.
The car is fetched and retrieved. The driver steps out from the front and opens the door, and a plush step drops down. Zuko enters in first, followed by the hierarchy of Sokka, Katara, and the Aang. The ivory cushioned bench has ample room for the three with Prince Zuko sitting opposite by himself. Katara is situated directly across from the Prince, who seems even more princely sitting down. Dark windows slide over the transparent glass, blocking the exterior from sight. The group can sense movement but cannot view their surroundings with the dark glass. After Sokka, Aang, and Katara decline Zuko's offer of food and drink, there is a sudden tense silence within the car. Prince Zuko watches Katara, Sokka, and Aang, who are all staring back at Zuko expectant for someone to begin a conversation.
Katara wishes Sokka hadn't said yes to the ride. Avoiding opera traffic was appealing initially, but now there is this awkward silence. What should she say? Why isn't Sokka saying anything? He usually won't stop jabbering. Sokka is sitting and broody. What is her brother up to? Katara is holding onto the curved brass handrail as the car moves. She leans next to her brother while smiling politely at Prince Zuko, who bows his head at her. Katara holds her fan up to shield her mouth.
"Sokka, say something."
"Something," Sokka says out of the corner of his mouth.
Katara wants to rap him on top of his head with her fan. "Sokka, please help me."
Zuko had a hard enough time to converse with Katara when it was only the two of them, but now, there are others. Zuko still has so many questions for Katara. The biggest one is whether or not Katara has figured out that Zuko is actually the Blue Spirit. If only, he could ask outright. Furocing propriety stymies him at every turn. There are so many times when Zuko detests being a Prince and its confining station.
"Why can we not see outside?" Katara's words feel stilted. She swallows the dryness in her throat and her annoyance that she is only one who apparently will make an attempt at small talk.
Zuko watches Katara. "It prevents assassinations."
Katara scoots farther away from the window next to her. She really wishes she was in another car, mussed hair or not. If the prince won't even comply with small talk, then Katara is fine sitting in utter silence as far away as possible from the window, considering she is sharing the bench with two other people.
Being from the line of dragons, one is used to be hunted. This thought reminds Zuko of a potential conversation. "Lady Katara, are you enjoying reading your book?"
Oh Spirits, that fire-blasted book. Katara fans herself as she can feel a guilty blush rise. "Yes, I did. It is such a fascinating read." She taps her statue-like brother on the leg with her fan. "Wasn't I telling you how fascinating the book was, Sokka?"
Sokka says automatically. "Yes, very fascinating."
Katara wants to scream in agitation. Sokka usually won't let Katara get a word in with new people, and yet he is sitting here saying nothing. Katara can't understand why Sokka isn't helping her navigate this social minefield. "Sokka, I know I was saying to you something more about the story..." What is the name of that furocing book?
"Love Amongst the Dragons," Zuko supplies, seeing Katara's perplexed expression as she tries to recall the book's title. He suspects Katara hasn't read the book at all.
Katara smiles tightly, "Yes, Love Amongst the Dragons, thank you, Prince Zuko."
Sokka finally speaks. "My sister mentioned that Ran and Shaw were the first dragons to intertwine their fire, blue and red, to form the third color white."
Katara's mouth almost fell open. She couldn't believe her brother knew what was in that book. She doesn't even know what is that book.
Zuko adores talking about dragons. As a boy, he had begged his mother to read every book about the creatures. Zuko would sit at his Uncle's feet, while Uncle talked of the dragons that he encountered and fought. "Yes, Ran and Shaw were from rival dragon tribes. When the spirits walked free, the dragons were tribal and rarely mated outside of their packs."
Sokka speaks deliberately, threading his way towards his ultimate end. "There are rumors that the Imperial family possesses several rare artifacts from Ran and Shaw."
"No, that isn't a rumor but the truth. Our family has artifacts gathered from Uncle's expeditions." Zuko speaks to Katara. Another outing alone, Zuko could question Katara again. "I would be happy to take you to the catacombs tomorrow."
Sokka slips in, "I would need to accompany Katara as her older brother and designated escort."
"Of course, I could show you both in the morning." The dark window-shields drop-down, revealing a throng of people clustered along the sides of a massive red-carpeted staircase. Zuko glances out the window. "It looks like we have arrived at the opera."
Sokka sees the crowd and smiles inwardly at scoring an invite to the catacombs. "Yes, we have arrived, indeed." He is quite pleased with his ride and plans for tomorrow.
A/N: A nice long one, hope you enjoyed. Did you figure out the easter eggs?
Hint two: It has to deal with Rene's name & M-Hound 117-1142005. For further answers, check my profile.
Review plea- if you don't ask, you might not receive. I humbly request you to leave a review, favorite, or follow-all three, so much sweeter.
