Chapter Three: Share This Paralyze

Once Sokka had gotten his right arm unlocked it should have been easier. The shackles around Sokka's wrist and the manacles on his legs were discarded. He was surprised the Prince hadn't complained about still being chained. Upon inspection, he found the other boy was resting against the wall with his knees bent, his eyes closed, and arms completely limp. The only sign of life was the rise and fall of his chest.

The brunette moved tentatively, surprised how wary he was of the injured Prince. Somewhere in the back of his head the word "firebender" was chanted again and again and again. He crouched at the Prince's side and surveyed the manacles binding each leg.

"I'm going to remove the cuffs on your legs, okay?" He had to ask, it only seemed right.

The Prince nodded once and kept his eyes shut as Sokka closed the gap between them, reaching over the Prince's knee and down to his ankle to unlock his right leg. Then Sokka unlocked the Prince's left leg and pushed the manacles aside, careful not to make noise. The key was amazingly small but fit all the locks and Sokka wondered how the Prince had procured it. He also couldn't shake the Prince's unnatural state. The firebender seemed to drift back and forth between reality and some sleepy delusion - only coming to when he was needed.

He began to unlock the cuff on their wrists. The steel was brilliant silver unlike the black steel most of the shackles were made of. He raised his wrist - the Prince's following in suit - and brought the key to the lock.

The key wouldn't fit.

Sokka tried again vainly. And again, until finally, he gave up and dropped his wrist, saying, "It's not working…"

"There's not enough time," the Prince said and opened his eyes. "We'll just have to make do with this."

He placed his chained hand on the ground, pulling Sokka's wrist with it, and used it to balance as he stood. Sokka was pulled up. The Prince swayed like a new born beast on his legs before stumbling forward and pitching downward. Sokka, on instinct, moved in front of him and caught his shoulders. Reaction was instantaneous. The Prince's eyes widened and he jerked out of Sokka's grasp, willing himself to stand. He winced twice and took a deep breath, regaining his composure and, perhaps, calming himself - the air near Sokka's chained hand grew uncomfortably hot.

"…Okay then," Sokka said because the silence was ringing in his ears. Tension was snapping in the air; he could feel the Prince's disposition radiating throughout the cell. He did not like to be touched.

They moved toward the barred exit. Sokka took his time, making sure the Prince wasn't falling behind - from the state he seemed to be in, collapse was ultimately imminent. The Prince caught onto his hesitation, he suddenly sped up and walked a chin ahead of Sokka. In a few steps they reached their destination.

At the bars of the cell door, Sokka quickly made work of the lock. It clicked loudly open and both prisoners froze. The chatter above them continued and it sounded as though someone large and burly was laughing loudly. Zuko nodded and Sokka began to slide the bars aside. The screech of metal on metal was louder this time and he stopped when the gap was wide enough for himself and the Prince to slide through.

It was odd, Sokka mused, working with the enemy. Both of them were in the same situation, had the same goal (at the moment), and shared a passionate dislike for Zhao - though the Prince's was much more profound. In a way, he reasoned, they weren't enemies anymore at this point. Somehow, it was easier sliding through the cell door and standing at a loss in the hallway with the firebender with that thought in mind.

"Head left," Zuko ordered.

"Are you sure?" Sokka looked down the right hallway. It was much darker and farther away from the jovial voices of Zhao's crew.

"Yes," the Prince was glaring at him and Sokka felt himself shrink under the gaze. It was the eye. "I'm sure I spotted the deck this way when…" He stopped quickly, his glare hardening. "Don't question me. We're going left."

"Fine," Sokka said and jogged along side the firebender. The firebender hadn't shared the escape plan with him - frankly he wasn't sure if the Prince had a plan at all. The Prince was running, he was sure of it, but what he was running from was the mystery. The prince was moving slowly compared to the last time he'd seen him in battle, even with an unset arm.

The chain of cuff on their wrists was rattling as their arms swayed, and Sokka was snapped back to reality. Frantic to stop the noise, Sokka grabbed at the chain and pressed it between his palm and the cold flesh of the Princes wrist. The firebender gave him a look but didn't' say anything or stop. Sokka wondered why he hadn't bothered to stop the sound. It was a basic in self-preservation in the mysterious "plan".

They slowed to a quick walk as the first corner loomed. Sokka was shocked as the Prince suddenly pulled him back into the darkness along the hallway. As he pressed himself against that wall, Sokka could hear footsteps approaching hurriedly. The wall wasn't enough cover, but the bend in the hall would be enough to surprise the enemy.

Surprising the enemy was the problem, though. Sokka knew Zuko had no way of attacking with his fists; the firebender could use his feet - he'd heard savage tales from the men in his village of firebenders fighting with all four of their appendages. But, the prince most likely wouldn't be able to react quickly enough… he was already having trouble walking. Sokka suddenly found the responsibility on his shoulders - he was now the muscle and fight for both of them. Sokka sourly missed his boomerang and dagger…

He noticed the look on the firebender's face and assumed they had reached the same conclusion. The fire Prince was looking out of the darkness with anticipation, but the frown his mouth was set at hinted that he knew, he himself, was virtually powerless.

A shadow grew and began to climb the wall opposite them as the soldier neared. Sokka was ready in his mind but his knees were beginning to quiver. Suspense was high. When the firebender's footfalls reached their loudest, Sokka felt himself being dragged out of the shadows by his wrist. The Prince was on the offensive and perhaps Sokka had underestimated him.

The startled soldier took a kick to the head as the prince's foot arched in the air. Of course, Sokka, reason said mockingly, he doesn't have to firebend. He also has his martial arts.

The soldier had landed against the shadowed wall. Upon realizing who had kicked him, he dropped to his knees bowing until his forehead touched the floor. This action seemed to stop Zuko from continuing his onslaught and showering the soldier in a flame. The Prince dropped his steaming foot warily.

"My Lord…" The soldier stayed frozen, but addressed the Prince directly, ignoring Sokka. "Thank the gods I've found you!"

" 'Lord'?" The Fire Prince asked slowly. Sokka watched as his eye narrowed. "You know who I am and I am not a lord yet."

"Forgive me,'" the soldier said, daring for the first time to look up at the younger firebender. Sokka noticed the pale indentation across his right cheek and running into his eye. The scar was in the shape of a cross. "But any surviving man from the forty-first battalion will swear that you are his lord."

Sokka watched the Prince's eyes widen substantially as he asked, "Forty-first battalion… you're…"

"Yes," The man said rising only to his knees. "I am Heika, one of thirty-two, thirty-two of two hundred. The two hundred boys your father and the commanders ordered into battle. The two hundred men you were slandered for. We all serve you, my lord."

Sokka had little idea what the significance of the forty-first battalion was, or why the survivors would call the Prince their Lord. There was just too much to take in at the moment. He wasn't entirely sure whether Heika was going to help them… So the prince had followers, he was royalty. Sokka couldn't shake the tenseness between his shoulder blades. The prince was completely stone, but whatever the meanings were, it impacted him deeply. It was the eye, Sokka noticed, it wasn't upturned in its conventional glare.

"Heika, Sen. Age twenty three, as of two years ago. Survived Bai Sing Sei troops with the loss of the right eye. You were in the infantry," Zuko said slowly. "I've read about all thirty two." He nodded. "Stand. Tell me, what are you doing on Zhao's vessel?"

The man nearly jumped up and bowed to the waist, "I am a Capitan here, sir. I have been requesting the transfer of many men for the forty-first to my division. There are twenty men on duty tonight in the west sector, my lord, sixteen are loyal solely to you, sir."

"Would they die for me, Heika?" the Prince asked softly.

"They would and then again some," Heika nodded and then seemed to notice Sokka. "My Lord is he…?"

"He's my prisoner," the Prince said. "Zhao was kind enough to cuff us together."

"What? Wait…! We're both handcuffed here!" Sokka sputtered and frowned. "Prisoner, my ass."

The captain looked outraged and the Prince was vexed. Sokka suddenly felt the air temperature near his hand rise substantially. It was nearly unbearable when he yelped and shook his wrist. "Damn it. Ow! Whatever. I don't suppose you have the key to this," he said looking at Heika.

The Captain shook his head no and addressed the fire prince. "Forgive me, my Lord, if I knew of your arrival before hand I would have come sooner, before… before he set your arm." Sokka immediately noticed the Prince's response. His bad eye angled into a glare and, again, the air near his cuffed hand was heated. As Sokka watched the eye twitch in agitation he wondered vaguely how badly Zhao had tortured the Prince.

Another, loud, burst of laughter caught the trio's attention. Heika quickly motioned for the two to follow him; "I must see you off this ship, my Lord. There is limited time."

"Zhao has men on deck," Sokka muttered before the prince replied. "How the hell are we going to get passed them?"

"I said before the majority of my division are from the battalion. We are paroling the back of the ship tonight and the back of the ship is where the smaller exploration crafts and carriers are carried." Heika jogged up a flight of stares and made sure the hall ahead of them was clear. He motioned for them to follow. "I will send a man to retrieve your weapons and gather supplies." He checked another hall and motioned, "Quickly, this way."

They were going to escape. Sokka had decided to ignore the fact that the Prince believed him to be his prisoner. Right now his intention was to get off Zhao's ship. He had been thoroughly distraught until the Prince had announced their escape. Now he and the prince had aid and the future was suddenly brighter than it had ever been in the dim cell. Everything was going ten times better than he'd ever imagined. But… the dust sky appeared as they reached the deck… where were Aang and Katara?

---

Smoke was curling into the dimming sky from their battle. The arena was small, but big enough for two man bending. Around the pitch, Zhao's men stood and watched, their eyes hidden under helmets or hidden in shadow. Two figured circled each other in center of the field.

Zhao attacked rapidly with a fury of shots from his hands. The lieutenant dove and rolled out of the way; crouched down he extended a leg and let loose a blanket of fire from his foot. Zhao jumped back and whipped the sweat from his brow, glaring. His opponent had never shown himself to be a passionate fighter, yet he seemed almost intent on killing the Commander for the last half hour.

"Lieutenant Enjou," Zhao called with hidden fury. "I think that's enough practice for now. This isn't an Agni Kai."

The other man, pale and sullen, faced Zhao with blank dark eyes, "As you wish, Commander. Permission to speak freely, sir?"

"Granted."

"If I were to speak what is truly on my mind, I would say you were afraid to lose today, sir."

Zhao openly glowered at the lower officer. "Insubordinate again, lieutenant?"

Enjou shrugged. He was to young, Zhao thought. All soldier recruited in the last three years were to young, but the war required a sacrifice and if the youth were the lambs then Zhao respected the need. Still, the young ones who survived were always a bit odd and disobedient.

Zhao had turned away, planning to bath and bed as soon as his covers were washed. But the icy voice of the lieutenant stopped him, "So, how was he?"

Was the lieutenant implying what he thought he was? Zhao hated it when lower officers spoke openly; he demanded their utmost respect. The commander set his glare to kill and faced Enjou.

"What are you talking about?"

"The Prince." The Commander couldn't miss the twinge of disgust in the other man's monotonous voice. His chin was also tilted to the left and he watched his commanding officer with stony eyes. "Was fucking him necessary, sir?"

Zhao felt his temper spike. Without replying he backhanded the lieutenant as hard as he could. The man stumbled back and put a hand against his face.

"You're lucky I haven't killed you yet!" Zhao growled and the attention of the others in the arena was caught. Silently they watched the Commander circle the lieutenant like prey.

"Forgive me, sir," Enjou said and dropped his hand, saluting the Commander formally. "I have one question left, sir."

Zhao was breathing deeply, trying to control the flame within from engulfing the younger man. "What is it, lieutenant?"

"I was asked by the Prince… how many others, sir?"

Zhao contemplated the question. It was true the Prince was not the first, war was a man's sport and the sport demanded power - which neither the lieutenant nor the Prince had. It was only power. "He wasn't the first and he won't be the last," Zhao said darkly. "Is that satisfactory, private?"

"In a way, sir," Enjou said in the monotone and turned away.

Zhao turned away from the other man. Enjou was a problem; he always had been with his constant mood swings. One minute the man was meek the next, he would have killed his commanding officer. The only policy keeping the ex-lieutenant alive was a national act for rights of the mentally ill; otherwise Zhao would have snapped his neck. The national act itself, he scoffed, was only put in place to increase the number of troops… It was the war, Zhao thought, but sacrifices were made and if Enjou's sanity was one then it was a necessity. Zhao hated to be the one to carry the burden though. Soon, he planed; he'd toss that particular burden to the flames. Glaring at the officers around him, Zhao began to exit the arena.

"Commander!" A beard man ran up to him and panted. "Commander… the prisoners… they…"

"What? What!" Zhao demanded.

"They've escaped, sir!"

Grabbing the front of the officer's shirt, Zhao pulled him closer. "How the hell did this happen!"

The messenger was cowering, "I don't know. They unlocked the shackles, sir! They must have gotten someone's key!"

Zhao flung him down and cursed. The Prince was a crafty bastard… or was he aided? Zhao turned around and looked for the ex-lieutenant Enjou in the gathering crowd. The man was watching him with the same stony eyes he'd fought with, a slow smile spread across his lips. He blew Zhao a kiss mockingly and the Commander felt his temper his the roof.

"You there!" He bellowed at two benders standing nearest to him. "Arrest Lieutenant Enjou now! He's just freed the prisoners!"

Reaction was instantaneous; the crowd spread away from Enjou and the two men Zhao ordered charged the lieutenant. There was no resistance. Enjou was grabbed roughly by the first man, his hands position behind his back. The two men took hold of his shoulders.

"Search him and take him to the holding cells!" Zhao was beyond rage.

The guards had turned the lieutenant away, but he craned his neck to stare at Zhao mockingly. "What now, Zhao? Are you going to give me the royal treatment, too?"

Something between a roar and feral grow escaped the Commander's lips. Shifting his feet and moving his arms quickly he released a rush of flame, instantly engulfing the three men. The arena fell silent as their screams echoed off the walls and Zhao made sure they were silent before he extinguished the fire. Their corpses dropped to the ground… they no longer resembled humans.

"Clean this up," Zhao said in a low voice and turned away. The men in front of him jumped out of his way and he smirked inwardly; power was indeed wonderful.

---

Hazily the water tribesman squinted toward the horizon. The icy sea wind was whipping the Prince's hair into his face and he batted it away with his free hand.

The plan was simple and it had worked. They were off the ship and away from the dreaded commander but Sokka felt a new crisis growing in his mind - he was now the Prince's prisoner. He mentally beat himself for believing, in some small degree, that perhaps after they escaped they would walk their separate ways. That wasn't physically possible do to the cuffs. Heika didn't have the key and the Prince had chosen to leave as soon as possible, foregoing Heika's suggestion of sending for his friend, a locksmith.

His knowledge of firebenders had grown rapidly in the last hour. They were ruthless and loyal to an extreme. Heika had told them about a lieutenant who, at the very moment, was distracting Zhao and if necessary would take his life through Zhao in order to keep the commander distracted. Their dedication was admirable, but Sokka felt no such emotion for the enemy.

They were alone, headed into earthbender territory. The prince was unstable. He didn't seem to care where he was headed as long as it was away from Zhao and their personal safety didn't seemed to matter. He could still hear the prince's breathing over the soft hum or the boat's motor.

The Prince was steering with his uninjured hand and Sokka was forced to stand next to him. It was fast, Sokka admitted it, but their transportation worried him.

Sokka looked behind him at the dwindling silhouette of Zhao's ship. It was a scar against the dusk sky - big and ugly. But Sokka was glad to be off it. He decided he preferred the impassive prince to the commander. Staring at the Fire Nation ship, it suddenly sprang to life, lights flashed on and Sokka could have sworn he heard the voices of men shouting to one and other.

Sokka felt the Prince turn and stare at the ship. "Shit," he growled. "I was hoping for more time!"

Four huge searchlights swept across the ocean and Sokka felt the tension in his shoulders tighten.

"Can we make it?" He found himself asking.

"We will." The answer was determined, but deterred as a searchlight landed on their position. Sokka shielded his eyes and froze.

The Prince ducked his head and pulled a lever, the craft gave a jolt and flew forward. The searchlight wasn't lowered, they were spotted.

Sokka summed up their situation in two words. "Oh fuck."

There was a whistling sound in the air. Sokka couldn't place it, but he had heard it before. Blinded by the light he racked through his memory. The Prince was ahead of him, though.

"He's firing on me?" The response was outraged. "That lousy fuck, he's firing on me!" And the answer came to Sokka: Fire Nation catapults. Oh fuck, indeed.

Just above the blinding light Sokka saw the molten ball of flame as it sped toward them. Their boat gave a sudden jerk to the left and the searchlight failed to follow. Sokka was suddenly aware of the prince grabbing his arm and pulling him off the small craft and into the frigid water. A second later the ball of flame had collided with the right side of the craft, sending debris flying. Sokka plunged under the water and surfaced in time to see the impact. The small steel ship sunk quickly.

"Grab that plank!" The Prince's voice barked in Sokka's ear and he responded by grabbing a piece of crate.

"What do we do now?" Sokka asked when they were both clutching the wood.

"Zhao knows we survived," the prince said and spit out a mouthful of seawater. "We've got to get to shore. It's approximately one and a half miles…" he was pulled under and surface again, gasping for breath. The prince grabbed the front of Sokka's jerkin and pulled him under. Sokka was shocked at first, but as he looked to the surface the bright beam of the searchlight swooped overhead.

They surfaced in unison. Sokka grabbed the same plank and pulled it toward himself and the firebender. The options weren't pleasant, they would drown without the plank and if they stayed in the water for to long they would freeze. Another sweep of the searchlight and they would most likely lose the plank.

"Man, I really don't want to die like this!" Sokka yelled over the sound of the small waves breaking. He couldn't see the Prince's full expression, but it most likely echoed his - desperate.

"We have a chance," the Prince's voice chocked out. "Raise your left hand!"

Grasping at the plank with his right hand, Sokka did so. The Prince's hand rose with his. The air between their hands was instantly hot. Sokka looked up to see a small flame hovering in the Prince's hand. The water tribesman shifted his wrist in the cuff so the back of his hand was facing the flame. It was burning him terribly but the light spread worried him more.

"He's going to fire on us again! What the hell are you doing?"

The prince's eyes were closed; his face was stony in concentration. "That's exactly what we need."

Sokka heard the whistling before he saw it. A second fireball was hurdling toward them.

"Dive!" the Prince yelled and pulled Sokka under.

Although Sokka couldn't see and the water stung his eyes he dove against the water's pressure. There was a cracking sound as the surface above him broke, the fireball becoming a large ball of coal and assorted metals. It overtook them quickly and Sokka found himself, flattened against the coal as it sunk rapidly. He looked over to where the prince should have been and saw darkness.

A sudden tug at his wrist pulled him up and over the side of the coal ball. Sokka felt his ears pop as they reached the sea floor. It wasn't as deep as he thought, otherwise the water pressure would have been worse. They were closer to land than they thought. His heart skipped a beat.

Sokka felt himself floating away, but, again, he was pulled against the coal. He really needed to breath but the prince was keeping him under. Sokka felt his left hand brush the coal roughly and nearly gasped. His hand was burned.

The Prince suddenly released his hold from the orb and pulled Sokka along with him. Light spread form cracks in the coal and Sokka's own eyes widened. The prince was attempting to firebend underwater. Sokka could see the flame of the firebender in the dim green-blue light. His right hand was extended, aimed at the coal orb. There was a great cracking sound in the water and the orb burst, the shockwave propelling thousands of pieces of coal and metal outward.

Sokka felt the Prince sink. On instinct he turned in the water and wrapped his right arm around the firebender's waist, pulling him against his chest. Sokka closed his eyes and waited for the explosion to radiate outward, propelling them forward. The Prince's insane plan would be put to the test.

It hit them.

The water tribesman clung tightly to the firebender as their bodies were thrust into the sea's abyss. Sokka shut his eyes, his cheek pressing against the Prince's. This time it wasn't rough scar tissue; it was skin, soft and human.

They broke the surface and Sokka felt the firebender cough and inhale desperately. They were alive.

The sudden feeling of ground under their feet shocked both teens, the water was only up to their necks. There was a half moon shining silver down on the earth and it lit the treetops. Sokka looked toward the shoreline with renewed hope. It was still far but the incline was shallow, meaning they could make it.

"We're almost ashore," Sokka said, securing his hold on the firebender's waist. He thought he felt the other teen nod. It was his turn now, the firebender was thoroughly worn out from starting the explosion, and Sokka would have to be the one to drag his ass on shore. Sokka contemplated how to get the firebender ashore without dragging him by his wrist. He kept his arm around the bender's waist and pushed against the rip current.

He wasn't sure how long it took him to reach knee level water, but the firebender was still conscious by that time and he pulled himself out of Sokka's grasp and stumble ashore. Sokka found himself smiling at the moon, it's curvature in the sky smiled back. Every muscle in his body screamed and the burn on his hand throbbed but, right now he was alive, the pain was a reminder.

Their knees caved a few steps out of the water. Sokka fell to the sandy earth with the smile on his face. He turned to look at the Prince who was lying on his back and arms length away. Even though his impassive face was painted in silver, Sokka was sure they shared the same joy. The prince's eye flicked toward Sokka and the firebender's mouth curved at the edges, ghosting a smile.

Silence and sounds of the terrestrial night didn't need to be disturbed so Sokka stayed silent. He found himself watching the teen next to him; aware of how very close they had both come to death in the sea. His mind was free of the ominous chanting and, Sokka supposed, in the morning he should tell the Prince his name.

To Be Continued In…

Chapter Three: Won't See What Might Have Been

Aang and Katara reflect on Sokka's disappearance and why they have not, yet, come for him. Meanwhile, Iroh and crew battle for survival.

[edited 03.14.2009]