Ho! Zhao's an admiral now, is he? Damn, another inconsistency! Oh well. I'll go back and fix it when I get the chance. For now, you guys will ignore it, right? Riiight?

Speaking of Zhao, he's got Sokka in a bit of a bad spot, doesn't he? Let's watch and see who di–er, what happens, shall we?

Chapter Eight: "A Commandeer"

Sokka watched in horror as Zhao's palm grew brighter. "And you...are no longer needed..."

"STOP!"

Everyone turned. Several yards away, panting, stood Zuko's uncle, flanked by much of his crew.

"General Iroh," Zhao spoke smoothly, thinly veiling his irritation, "What brings you here?"

"Don't play games, Admiral. You know very well why I'm here. Let them go."

"I'm not handing over the Avatar. He is mine."

"You cannot take him. You are under arrest, for the death of Prince Zuko."

Zhao glared. "You have no authority to arrest me!"

"Nor did you have authority to kidnap Prince Zuko and force him into Fire waters. You must take responsibility for your transgressions...and no Avatar will save you."

"Are you saying I should pay for Prince Zuko's death? Ha! The last time I checked, it was you three who were responsible for my battleship's explosion!"

"We were only trying to rescue Katara and Prince Zuko!" Aang cried, beginning to struggle against the men who held him.

"Yes...until you 'blew it', so to speak," Zhao sneered.

"You son of a–" Sokka growled. Zhao shot him a warning look.

"I have as much right to have you arrested as you do me, since it was you who launched a treasonous assault on a Fire Nation ship," Zhao called to Iroh, "So don't waste my time blabbering under the pretenses of 'law'. If it's the Avatar or revenge you want...you'll have to take them by force." Zhao took several steps back from Sokka and assumed a fighting stance. Iroh may be a former general, but he's getting on in his years, Zhao thought to himself, My men also outnumber his...I can handle him. He will not take the Avatar from me.

"What you are doing is very foolish, Zhao...you do not wish to fight me..." Iroh warned, a dangerous note in his voice.

"Save it," Zhao spat. He called to his men, "Take the Avatar and the boy to the boats. Do not let anyone...anyone...stand in your way." His men roughly grabbed Sokka and began dragging him and Aang out of the clearing.

"Stop them," Iroh commanded his crew, "Retrieve the Avatar! He must not be taken!" Iroh's men went into action, and a battle for the Avatar started. Flashes of orange and clangs of weapons filled the air. Zhao turned his attention to Iroh, who had assumed a fighting stance of his own and was watching him with a look of iron determination.

Zhao was the first to strike as he hurtled a fireball towards Iroh. The former general slashed downwards with his hand and cut the ball in two. The halves of the fireball flew into the trees and began to spread along the branches. Iroh quickly put them out. If any large fires were started on this island, it would definitely attract the attention of the patrolling Fire Nation ships–and that was the last thing they needed right now.

Iroh countered by throwing two simultaneous flame-arcs, making a very wide attack that was difficult to dodge. Zhao broke through the assault with the sheer force of his own firebending. The admiral pretended to fall from the attack and grabbed a fist-sized stone from the ground, consuming it in a fireball. He lobbed the flaming projectile at Iroh, knowing the old man was not aware there was a rock inside.

Iroh slashed downwards with his hand again, planning to split the fireball in two as he did last time–but instead of his hand splitting it, it was crushed by the rock hidden inside. The elder man howled in pain and clutched his fingers. He was certain one of them was broken. Zhao smirked from a distance. Iroh growled–if Zhao thought he could be defeated by throwing rocks, well, he was sadly mistaken.

The retired general knew the admiral's weakness–footwork. He had seen enough from Zuko's duel with Zhao to know the man's weak point was in his over-reliance on sturdy foot placement. Without a stance he was assured in, Zhao could not make any solid attacks and was poor defensively. Iroh decided to take advantage of that.

He swept his hand forward, spreading snaking trails of flame along the ground of the area they were fighting in. Iroh clenched his good hand into a fist repeatedly, each time making the fire surrounding Zhao close in on him. Every time the fire made an advance on his feet, the admiral had to either jump or use his firebending to counter it, keeping him too busy to make an assault on Iroh.

However, this ploy didn't work very long as Zhao caught on and quickly jumped onto one of the boulders in the nearby rock cluster, where the fire couldn't reach him. He made another large fireball in his hands, and after a short pause, threw it at Iroh.

Noticing the pause with suspicion, Iroh prepared for whatever trick may come from the approaching fireball. With an intense sweep of flame, he countered the attack, only to find second fireball hidden behind it. Really, did Zhao think he would fall for such old tricks? Iroh took in a deep breath, and blew the incoming fireball out like a candle. Frustration etched all over his face, Zhao swung his palm out and fired a long, continuous stream of fire. It hit the ground, but instead of going out with a flash, the trail of flame bounced and continued heading for Iroh.

Iroh heated his palms and blocked the fire's rapid, whip-like attacks, but every time the attack was deflected, it would always come back for more, relentless, like a cobra. The general took several steps back, but the fire followed, continuously unfurling. Well, he had to give Zhao credit–this was a very advanced technique–but he had had enough. He needed to break the ever lengthening trail of fire to stop it's perpetual assault. The flame leapt for him again, but he was ready this time, and bent over backwards as the flamed whipped above him. Iroh winced as he heard several cracks in his back. Placing his good hand on the ground to balance himself, Iroh faced his bad hand straight up and shot through the stream of flame overhead, severing it. The fire, cut off from it's fuel source, died. Iroh gritted his teeth as his bad hand throbbed with pain, and hastily stood up.

He quickly surveyed the scene before the furious Zhao could make another attack. His men were losing badly to admiral's...it wouldn't be long before Zhao's men overwhelmed them and made off with the Avatar and his friend. Iroh needed to end this fight now. He would have to risk drawing attention to the island by using a larger attack. The Dragon of the West inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with air. The fire inside him fed off the air, and he took on a red glow. Member's of Zuko's crew who saw this quickly got out of the way. Zhao and his men watched Iroh warily, not knowing what to expect.

He would have to aim this carefully, in order to make sure he didn't harm the Avatar and his friend. When his lungs could take no more, Iroh opened his mouth and released his attack–a massive fireball at least half the size of Appa. Zhao's men ran in fear, and Aang and Sokka gaped at the attack as they were dragged away. Zhao stared in horror at the attack rushing to greet him, before he finally snapped to he senses and ducked behind the largest rock he could find. The attack was so intense Zhao couldn't see or hear anything for several moments, and had to use every last ounce of his firebending strength to keep himself from being melted alive. When it was over, Zhao peeked over the smoldering remains of the rock he was to see a wide, smoking trail of devastation the attack had left. So hot was the attack that parts of the island's sandy ground had been turned to glass. And there stood Iroh, panting, ready and waiting.

Seeing they were deadmen if they stayed, Zhao gave the order to retreat, blasting any of Iroh's men who attempted to slow them. They raced to the beach, knowing Zuko's uncle and his crew would be hot on their trail. When they at last reached the shore, Zhao saw the lifeboats Iroh and his men had used to reach the island a few yards from theirs. A little off in the distance was Zuko's ship.

And quite suddenly, Zhao had the most devious idea.

Aang and Sokka watched the shore shrink with dismay as they were rowed away in a lifeboat–one of Zuko's, to be exact. Zhao had ordered his men to take all the lifeboats and start rowing out to sea...towards Zuko's ship. Aang squinted and saw angry figures waving and yelling from the shore. Admiral Zhao waved back with a smirk, then turned to his men and ordered, "When we reach the ship, keep quiet. The later the men on board realize we aren't Iroh and his men, the easier it will be to commandeer Zuko's ship!" They rowed up to the ship, and were greeted by two or three of Zuko's crew, who threw down a ladder. Zhao gave the order, and his soldiers climbed up the seized Zuko's men, then stormed the ship and brought up anyone else who might be aboard.

"Sir!" one of Zhao's men called not five seconds after the search had been started, "There seems to be a large animal on deck...a buffalo..."

"Appa!" Aang cried happily.

"The whistle worked!" Sokka said incredulously. "That must have been how Zuko's uncle found us–Appa lead the way!"

Zhao glowered. "Kill the beast!" he ordered. After a moments thought, he indicated to Sokka and added, "As well as this Water Tribe trash!"

"NO!"

Zhao looked at Aang and raised an eyebrow.

"Don't kill them!" Aang shouted.

"You're in no position to give me orders, boy!" Zhao hissed.

"If you hurt either of them," Aang threatened, "I'll do everything in my power to make your life as miserable as possible!" As if to emphasize his point, a strong gust of wind flew across the deck. Zhao and his men looked apprehensively at Aang. "If you let them go...I'll come quietly."

"Not a chance," Zhao snorted. "I'm not going to risk having them come back to rescue you..."

"Then at least leave them alone!" Aang shouted. "If you promise not to hurt them, I won't make any trouble..."

"Done," Zhao agreed, and snapped his fingers. The men holding Aang and Sokka bound them and threw them against the wounded Appa. "But if I even think you or your friends might be up to something, I will not hesitate to kill them."

Aang glared back, silent.

Satisfied, Zhao turned to those of Zuko's crew who had been left behind. "Looks like General Iroh didn't leave many men on Zuko's ship when he came after us. Pity for him." Zhao laughed, "I do hope you gentlemen enjoy a good swim, because the water is brisk, and it's quite a ways to shore!" With that, Zuko's men were shoved off the ship and into the water. "Start the engines!" Zhao barked, and they soon lurched forward, sailing further and further away from the island. After a while, all Aang could make out of the island was a dark blur.

Aang huddled against Appa. Things were going terrible...and he was so tired.

Zuko dreamed of his mother. He felt warm and safe. He remembered feeling that way when he had been very little, in his mother's arms. It had been a long time since he had felt this sort of...comfort. Zuko luxuriated in it.

Something was amiss, though. It didn't smell like his mother. His mother always smelled of spices. This smell was different–it was a softer scent than his mother's. It also smelled slightly of saltwater and B.O. The inconsistency troubled Zuko, and he pondered over it. His thinking, however, was interrupted by a chirping sound. The sound grew louder, and the image of his mother faded.

Zuko cracked his eyes open, and his ears were greeted with an irritating chirping sound. Goddamn birds.

Zuko's mind came to a screeching halt. A tree above him? Birds chirping? What? Why wasn't he on his ship? He vaguely wondered if perhaps this was another dream before memories bullied their way into Zuko's consciousness. Avatar. Zhao. Ship. Explosion. Island.

Zuko turned his head to the side. Waterbender.

Damn. This is not what he wanted to wake up to.

The firebender sat up, and bumped his head on the large, fallen tree overhead. Zuko swore under his breath and looked down at the waterbender. She was still fast asleep, curled in a little ball with her hand resting at her throat. He noticed how close she was sleeping to him, and realized she must have been the source of warmth. He considered kicking her awake when he saw how bright it was outside of their cramped shelter.

Shit! he cursed to himself. If it was that bright out, that meant it was late morning! They had slept in! Their chance to take advantage of the early morning was long gone! Zuko looked down venomously at Katara. It was her fault for making him sleep in!

The prince roughly shook at the waterbender's shoulders, who barely responded. He grabbed her braid and gave it a sharp yank, to which she woke and grumbled loudly, "OW! Momo, knock it off!" She rolled over grumpily and swatted Zuko in the face. When she finally saw who had woken her up, she was out of the shelter in a flash of movement. Zuko's face twitched and he slowly crawled out of the shelter.

"Sorry!" the waterbender said quickly as she stood up, "I thought you were someone else!"

"Forget it," Zuko said irritably, rising. "We need to get moving quickly. It's already late morning, which means the villagers are awake and Fire Nation ships are already ashore, so the chances of us being seen are much higher now."

"What are we going to do?" Katara asked.

Zuko sighed. "We need to get off this island and find some transportation to carry us around my nation's waters. So we're going to steal a boat."

"Steal a boat?" Katara cried, "But–"

"What's the matter?" Zuko said as he turned and began walking into the forest, "I thought stealing was right up your alley..."

Katara glared and followed. Geez, you do it one time, and it's like you've been a thief your whole life!

Zuko and Katara stared out from their hiding place in the bushes towards the island's docks. There were numerous people walking about, all milling around and asking The Fire soldiers who had come ashore endless questions. Loud voices and a lot of shouting could be heard. Further out, massive Fire Nation ships patrolled the waters.

"So...which boat are we going to steal?' Katara asked quietly.

Zuko paused, considering. "The one on the far right," he answered, pointing. Katara stared at it a moment, memorizing it. "Do you know your part?

"Yes. Do you?"

Zuko gave her a piqued look. "Of course."

"All right..." Katara said as they both stood up. "See you soon." Zuko nodded and they parted ways.

Katara backtracked a little ways through the forest, where she was certain she wouldn't be seen, and headed out towards the beach. She checked from the foliage to make sure there was no one to see her before she made a mad dash to the water, grabbing a dried clump of seaweed as she went. Once she had reached a sufficient deepness in the water, she placed the clump of seaweed over her head and began to swim along the coast of the island. It wasn't long before the docks of the island came back into view.

She used her waterbending to help her swim effortlessly closer to the docks, all the while making sure she kept her head low to the surface of the water, so all people would see was her hat of seaweed. When she judged she was at a good distance from the docks, she stopped and treaded water. Then she focused her waterbending powers and went to work.

People on the docks scrambled and shrieked as a series of relentless waves pummeled the docks. Fishermen and small merchants hurried to make sure their boats were secure, while soldiers struggled to maintain piece and order. The waves quickly became more violent, and people gaped and panicked at the strange phenomena–it was clear as a bell outside, yet all along the docks, it was as if it were a typhoon. While people fussed and shouted and speculated, a dark figure darted completely unnoticed among them.

Zuko had been waiting for Katara to create a distraction with her waves before he stealthily snuck towards the docks, catching rides on carts and creeping through alleyways. Seeing the soldiers and villagers were preoccupied with keeping the boats tied up and undamaged, Zuko made his way swiftly down the docks and to the ship on the far right, which was for the most part unmolested by the waves. He snuck aboard and evaluated the ship. It wasn't terribly large or impressive, but that was exactly what they were looking for. Zuko, with a deft stroke of his knife, cut the rope tying the ship to dock. The firebender prince then went below deck to start the ship's engines.

He was surprised when he was met with an angry old man. He hadn't seen anybody aboard!

"Hey, you!" the old man squawked at him, looking up and down at his firebender armor, "Ain't you supposed to be helpin' them other fellas with their boats? Get to work, soldier, there ain't nothin' for you here!"

Zuko cursed his carelessness and landed an sharp, swift blow to the man's temple. The man fell the instant Zuko made contact, and the prince caught him just before he hit the floor. He gently pulled the man over his shoulder and crept out to the deck. Looking out, he could see everyone at the docks were still preoccupied with the waves. Zuko carefully went up to the rim of the boat and placed the man on the dock next to the ship. Hopefully, the man wouldn't wake up until after they were long gone from the area. They didn't need to be halted and questioned by any Fire Nation ships.

Zuko quickly went below deck again and started up the engine, then went to the helm of the ship to pilot it. Pulling out of the docks, he noticed several other ships doing the same in order to avoid the battering of Katara's waves. Good. That meant he wouldn't be noticed. He began steering further and further out to sea, looking for any signs of Katara. She had been the one who recommended using her waterbending as a distraction. When Zuko asked how he was going to find her in the water, she told him, "Don't worry, I'll find you."

Zuko sailed slowly, in order to remain discreet and to make sure Katara had plenty of opportunity to get aboard. He noticed the waves on the docks had died down, so she must be coming for him. Zuko heard a loud splash behind him, and turned around to see Katara on the deck of the ship, dripping wet and with a head full of seaweed. He motioned her to quickly get away from the open deck and into the small covered area the ship's helm. Zuko watched her sidelong as he steered the ship's wheel. "Did anyone see you?" he asked.

"No. I had this on," she pulled off the matted mess of seaweed from her head, "to make sure no one saw my head out in the water, and I used my waterbending to get aboard the ship quickly. You?"

Zuko scowled, "Unfortunately, yes. Some old man was below deck when I got on. I knocked him out, so he shouldn't wake up for a while. When he does, though, he's going to report his ship stolen, and people are going to come looking for it. So, we need to get as far away from here as quickly as possible."

Katara squeezed the water out of her clothes with a twist of her hand, and sent it into a nearby bucket. Plucking the last remains of seaweed out of her hair, she asked, "Okay, but after we make our getaway, then what? Are we going to look for Aang and my brother...?"

"No," Zuko answered resolutely, "We don't have the resources to do that. Before we do anything...we need to find my uncle and my ship."

Nooo, Zuko, I don't think you want to do that. God, you know those Scooby-Doo episodes where everyone is running this way and that through a hallway of doors, but are always just missing each other? This fic is starting to feel like that, lol. Sorry for so little Zuko and Katara again, but that plot point needed to be set up...and besides, Iroh's ass-kickingness and Zhao's deviousness made up for it, right?