My Office Subscription officially runs out tomorrow. Hopefully that doesn't remove access to all the writings I have in word… (Officially finishing this chapter one day later… writing on Google Docs… Yuck. Damn though, 5K's over 2 days.)
As usual - I don't own shit.
As usual - Still not writing Katara / Aang. Not sure what Pairings I'm aiming for at this point. We will see where the story leads, shall we. (To be Fuckin' Honest, I think this story is writing itself, and I am just a mere vessel for it to play out)
I do think I plan on starting the divergence here. Finally some Suki. And just a bit of someone else. I just don't know what to do with Chit Sang, so sorry if you are a fan. For now, probably he will not be escaping with everyone else. We might see him again later. I honestly don't know.
The Boiling Rock… Guard Room…
The boys hadn't gotten far when a half a dozen guards came flying down the hallway. When the guards first came in sight, both boys looked at each other, wondering if they had been made already. One of the running guards called out as he ran by, "Guards! There's a fight in the yard. Come on!"
Again, sharing a look, both boys took off in step behind the swarm of guards. They followed them through the doors outside into the main yard. The bright light burned their eyes momentarily. Zuko looked around and saw the guards made up a half circle on the side nearest the door, and the prisoners were formed into an opposing half circle. In the middle, a rather large prisoner was slowly pacing in a circle against a trio of guards. Next to the prisoner, the guards looked like children.
The big man bellowed out, "I didn't do anything. I'm going back to my cell", and raised both his hands above his head, neither in a bending stance, but neither in surrender either.
The middle of the three guards facing him retorted, "Stop right there, Chit Sang". With a swift flick of his wrist, the guard snapped a bolt of fire towards the prisoner. It flew past the prisoner's left cheek by less than a couple centimeters.
At the sight of bending, Zuko took a step forward to intercede, when he felt a warm hand on his forearm. Looking over, he saw Sokka mouth, "We can't blow our cover".
The lead guard again spoke, "I have had it with the unruly behaviour."
The prisoner retorted, "What did I do?"
What Zuko didn't expect was the guard to laugh. It was a full belly laugh, as if the guard had just heard the funniest joke. The guard repeated mockingly, "What did I do?", before turning to Sokka and Zuko. "Boys, get a load of this. He want's to know what he did. Isn't that just cute", the guard nearly laughed out.
The yard fell silent, as Zuko stared through his guard mask at the guard. The guard cocked his left eyebrow and frowned at the boys, as if asking why they hadn't agreed yet.
Picking up on the late social que, Zuko and Sokka nearly spoke over each other to reply. "Uh, very cute sir", came Zuko's reply on top of Sokka's, "Cutest thing I've seen all day".
Apparently satisfied, the guard turned back to Chit Sang. "You didn't bow down when I walked by."
Zuko could feel Sokka's gaze on the side of his mask, as if silently asking what Chit Sang just asked aloud, "What, That's not a rule?"
The guard bellowed, "Just do it!", before turning his back on the prisoner.
"Make me", came the reply.
As the guard walked away, he snapped his wrists and sent a blast of fire towards the prisoner. In one swift movement, the prisoner grabbed the fire and snapped it back towards the guard. Unfortunately, the guard had turned back around and dissipated the blast with a swift kick.
"Tisk, Tisk, You know firebending is forbidden. Looks like you are off to the coolers", the guard addressed the prisoner. "You", he then addressed Sokka, "are going to help me take him in"
As Sokka passed Zuko, he whispered, "Meet me out here in an hour".
Outside the coolers…
The door swung shut with a resounding clang. Sokka nearly jumped at the echo down the hallway.
The guard addressed him, "Can you believe this guy?"
Sokka, a little more in character now, was quick on the reply, "Prisoners, am I right?"
They both turned to return towards the yard. "We best be getting back. Outside hours are almost over. You are new here, aren't you? I don't think I've heard your voice before?", the guard inquired.
Dipping a little into his Wang Fire persona, Sokka continued without a skip, "I am from the colonies. You know how it is. Raising a kid, wife has another one on the way."
Judging from the approving nodding of the guard, Sokka continued to embellish his story, hoping he wouldn't trip into a lie he couldn't back up, "Yeah, I was on special assignment for a while. Partook in some naval action on the northern shores of the Southern Water Tribe. I was a key part of a raid on the main village of the heart of the Southern Water Tribe, actually."
His half-truths seemed to amuse the guard, who egged him on for more.
So Sokka continued, "After my assignment was up in the South, I volunteered to be part of the grand armada that sailed north. It was crazy. The walls were breached with ease, but the Northerners put up quite a fight. It looked as if all was lost, but then the most amazing thing happened. All waterbending stopped. It was as if at once, all waterbending was silenced."
The guard interrupted, "Kinda like the day of the black sun!"
Sokka rolled his eyes and continued, "Yeah, I suppose." He paused in silent remembrance, before continuing on, "And after that, we made great progress. We were almost to the heart of the city when a great spirit of the ocean", Sokka decided against using the name of La, as it was too Watertribe-y, "crashed out from the heart of the city. It destroyed everything in it's path all the way through the city and into the armada. I was lucky to have been near a Water Tribe boat at the time. A floating piece of driftwood saved me."
"Were back to the yard. Damn, new guy, you've got quite the resume. What's your name again?", the guard asked.
"Wang, Wang Fire", Sokka replied without thinking.
"Huh, odd name. You colonists have such strange names. But you're a survivor, I can see that", the guard praised Sokka and slapped him good heartedly on the back.
As they stepped outside, Sokka immediately began to scan for Zuko's whereabouts. He spotted the ex-prince off to the side of the pack of guards. The guard that had been walking with Sokka called out, "All prisoners are to report back to their cells immediately. Any dallying and that's your lunch ration for the week. Get a move on!"
The prisoners shuffled towards the door to the prison. As the guards all fell in, the guard that had been with Sokka said, "Nice to meet you, Wang. I'm Quing. Captain of the guard and second in command only to the warden. Just a first day piece of advice, don't piss him off. You might have survived war, but The Boiling Rock is a whole different battlefield with a different set of fighting. And you will lose."
In the Boiling Rock Guard Lunch Room…
Zuko and Sokka stood waiting for their food. Sokka had taken his helmet off, his excuse of being from the colonies being enough to explain his shade. Zuko remained adamant at leaving on his helmet.
As they waited, he made an offhand comment to Sokka, "So, Wang, I see you have made a friend."
Sokka replied, "So what if I have? You are just jealous of my impressive personality and charisma."
At a lack of words, Zuko just snorted and moved forward to receive his meal. Surprisingly, it was a pretty decent meal. A large hunk of meat was situated next to some root vegetables and a small bowl of noodles was on the side. As for condiments, Zuko dumped a shit ton of hot sauce into his noodles, missing the heat of home. Sokka warily eyed the spices, but did take a triple helping of fire flakes.
As they walked towards a table, Zuko asked, "Fire flakes, huh?"
Sokka replied, "Yeah. I had some while we were hiding out in the fire nation. They grow on you. I like 'em."
Zuko chuckled, "Me too, buddy. I have really missed them since I left you know where.", he said carefully as another guard walked by.
Sokka replied, "Yeah, I get it. Kat-a-Sapphire doesn't approve of them though. Said they were 'Unhealthy and bad for digestion'". His mocking of his sister was quite overdone.
At the mention of Katara, Zuko shuddered in recollection of her promise to end his destiny. They both sat down at a nearly empty table. Only two other guards were sitting there, one male the other female.
"Hey, new guys!", the male guard called out. "You know no one follows the 'helmets on at all time rule', right?", the male guard asked Zuko before turning to Sokka and exclaiming, "Wait, are you him? The Wang Fire? Soldier extraordinaire?"
Zuko gave a side-eyed glance to 'Wang', as if to say, "What have you gotten yourself into".
Before Sokka could reply, the female guard replied, "Look, Chihan, that is obviously Wang Fire. Who else has that complexion. And leave shy guy over here alone. Once he's been here a bit he'll take his helmet off."
Zuko sat down and began to eat under his helmet. As between bites, he began to query the guards at the table. "So, can I ask you veterans some questions?"
Before his last word had cleared his mouth, the female guard replied, "No, you can't date the female guards"
To which Chihan chuckled though his lunch, "As if you would want to…". This statement rewarded him with a glass of water thrown in his face from his companion.
"Really guys, that's not it. I was more interested in The Boiling Rock. It is the best prison in the entire fire nation. For only the worst of criminals, right?" The guards both nodded in unison. "So do we also hold war prisoners?"
"Mhhmhm, we do. Usually kept in blocks D,E, and F. A, B, and C are for normal fire nation prisoners, G is for especially strong benders, not counting the coolers. No one has been in Z for a long time.", the female guard explained. At the mention of Z, the male guard shuddered.
"Z?", Sokka asked.
"No one really knows. It is just a door that leads down. No prisoners have ever been sent there, but I can't imagine what it could be for. Supposedly, it was built after a breakout from one of the other lesser prisons."
"I can't imagine what it could be used for. The coolers are strong enough to break any firebender.", the male guard replied.
"That's just because you have no imagination", the female guard chastised him.
A little while later…
Sokka waited for Zuko in the yard. He had just finished releasing Chit Sang from the cooler with the Captain of the Guard. Prisoners milled about. Guards stood at posts by the gates, doors, and on patrol on the walls. Eventually, Zuko emerged from a side door, giving a quick nod to the door guard. Zuko approached Sokka, head hung low.
"Hello, fellow guard, how goes it?", Sokka asked in case it was in fact not Zuko.
The guard lifted his visor, and Zuko stared back at Sokka. "Shhh. Listen. I asked around in the lounge and took a lap around blocks D,E,F and even G. No Water Tribe prisoners here. I'm afraid your father isn't here"
Sokka's heart fell through his stomach, "Wait, you mean he isn't here. Did you double check. And ask again!"
Zuko replied, "I'm sorry."
Both boys made their way towards the doors into the main staircase. As they passed the wall, Sokka punched the wall and let out a disgruntled yell.
Once they were in the main stair case out of earshot of the guards, Zuko leaned over and apologized again, "I'm really sorry, Sokka".
Sokka only replied, "So we came all this way for nothing. I've failed again."
The silence was awkward, but soon Zuko spoke again, "Ah, what would Uncle say. Sometimes, clouds have two sides. A dark and a light. And a silver lining inbetween. It's like a silver sandwich. So, when things seem impossible, all you have to do is take a bite out of the silver sandwich!"
Sokka was only half listening as he moped along. He did snap to attention when he saw a familiar face.
"Maybe it all isn't lost! Suki!", he said aloud to Zuko.
Night Rounds, Cell Block G…
Zuko and Sokka were approaching the cell that they had determined to be Suki's.
Zuko looked over at Sokka, "Are you sure this is wise? What if we get caught?"
Sokka kept walking and did not turn his head as he replied, "Look, Zuko. I have to do this. My dad isn't here, but I can save Suki. Keep watch outside".
With that, the Southern Water Tribe Warrior disappeared into the cell.
For a while it was silent, only the occasional voice from within the cell. As he stood with his back to the cell, he could see the female guard from the lunch table come around the corner. With a swift tap, he jammed his heel into the door to make a thud.
She approached Zuko, "I need to get into that cell. Stand aside."
Thinking quickly, Zuko looked through the small window inside and saw it was dark. "Uh, I can't let you do that. It is dark. The prisoner could sneak up on you."
She looked at him with a glare, "Look, newbie. I don't care what you think. I am qualified for this. And I need to get into that room, so either you step aside or I make you…" Her threat hung in the air as her left hand reached for the door knob.
His time as the blue spirit kicked in, and Zuko reached out and grabbed her arm. With a swift pull, he swung the other guard against the door, with her back to the door. With his other arm, he casually delatched the door.
"Hey, what are you doing?", the prisoner demanded as she used her free arm to grab Zuko's side. She pulled and slammed him into the wall next to her. With her back to the door, Sokka edged it open and snuck out, leaving Suki watching through the crack in the door.
Zuko and the guard continued to grapple, each trying to gain an advantage. For a moment, it looked like Zuko was going to win. He thought to himself, 'Well, fuck. We can't be taking out guards. This only ends one way. Sokka, I hope you have a way out of this.'
The other guard's voice rang in his eardrums, "You there, I think this man is an imposter. Arrest him immediately."
Zuko pulled on the guard's arm so that he was again facing Sokka. He nodded to the other boy, trying to convey his thoughts.
The guard again pulled, knocking Zuko against the door, pushing it shut. She called to Sokka, "What ware you doing. Get him off me and arrest him."
Zuko felt the floor hit his face as Sokka had jumped on him and tackled him to the ground. "You are under arrest", Sokka practically yelled. As he helped Zuko up and pulled Zuko's arms behind his back, Sokka whispered, "Don't worry. I'll get you out."
One rather awkward chat with the warden, one sleepless night, and one long morning of cleaning the grand staircase later… In the Prisoner's Lunchroom, The Boiling Rock.
Zuko approached the front of the line, feeling exposed without his helmet. At the counter, the guard working unceremoniously dropped a grey sludge onto his plate. It retained the shape of the serving spoon, only sagging slightly.
Trudging to the only empty table he sat down and began to poke his lunch. Unappetizing didn't even begin to cover it. As he sat there, he heard someone else sit down at the table.
"Look, new guy. I don't know if you know this, but this is my table", came a distantly familiar voice.
Zuko turned around to see who had addressed him, and it was none other than Suki, from the other night. He sighed loudly, "It's you. Of course it's you. Because why wouldn't it be?"
She must have had similar thoughts, as she replied, "You? What are you doing here?", while grabbing a pair of wooden chop sticks and brandishing them in his direction.
He put both of his hands on the table, palms down, "Look, I don't want to fight. I'm not really sure why I know you, but I do know that you are important to Sokka, so I am just going to get up and walk away."
She replied, "You aren't going anywhere. Firstly, you tried to burn down my village. Secondly, you know Sokka is here, so for reasons unbeknown to me, I am somehow trusting of you. But believe me, it is but the tiniest of trusts. One twitch and I put this chopstick through your pretty firebending hands. Got it."
Zuko let out a sarcastic laugh. He replied, "Do you really think that you are the first woman to threaten me. But sure. I only want to get out of here with him and I and his dad and, well, now you too. And I really am sorry for the village. Once this is over, I will make it right, even if I have to reassemble it myself."
"Look, I don't know or think I want to know why you have women threatening you. Fortunately, Aang managed to put out most of the fires before the village was completely destroyed. But I will hold you to that, got it.", she replied.
"On my honour, I will repay you and your people. How did Aang save the village? We left before that", Zuko asked.
"He road our great serpent and it doused the whole place in water", she mused with a chuckle.
He also chuckled, and she pulled back, as if surprised he could laugh. He said aloud, "Sounds like Aang. Always has to do everything the most dangerously fun way possible, huh?"
"You really have come a long way, It's Aang now, not Avatar?", she replied, looking oddly at her newest companion.
"You don't even know the half of it", he replied with a sigh.
Before they could continue, the bell chimed, signaling outdoor time.
Everyone stood up and filed towards the yard. Zuko looked for the guard that was most likely to be Sokka. Suki walked up behind him and said, "Just wait. He'll show himself to us."
After a few moments, a guard approached behind them.
"What are you two prisoners doing standing around?", the guard demanded from behind his mask.
At the standoffish question, both raised their fists, but it was unwarranted; the mask came off to reveal Sokka's odd grin. "Look, guys, I am working on a plan to bust us out of here. I just need you both to remain out of trouble for a while. I think I am winning the trust of some of the guards here. I think I actually have you to thank for that, Zuko", Sokka advised them.
The next two days passed slower than any of them were happy with. Zuko had been situated in cell block B with other fire nation prisoners. Suki and Zuko kept their ears to the wall for any gossip to be gained. Sokka spent his days schmoozing the other guards…
Cell Block B…
Cell Block B was not designed as strongly as G, and so there was much more chatter between the prisoners at night, especially once the guards have passed on rounds. It was here that Zuko patiently listened to the surrounding conversations. Most everything that he could hear was just gossip. Who was dating who. Who had extra rations. Who had been confined in the coolers and why. None of that had any interest to Zuko. The only information that really mattered were two facts that he hears.
An overly chatty prisoner from one of the outer islands blathered over the rest, "I heard that the Warden's niece is coming through. I overhead some guards complaining about how they would have a civilian on scene when there is going to be such a transfer of cells."
Zuko perked up immediately on this statement. Fear that he knew exactly who the niece of the Warden was bolted through his stomach, alongside excitement of a cell transfer. That would be a great time for a diversion. He coughed out, "A cell transfer, hmm. What for?", hoping to get some further answers.
The other prisoner replied, "Hell if I know. The guards don't pay me to gossip, and they sure as shit don't tell me anything on purpose."
Cell Block G…
Suki was being escorted back to her cell as she listened to her escorts whine about their newest assignments.
"Apparently, we are seeing an influx of invasion prisoners tomorrow. We are overflowing here in G, so it was left to us to transfer out the least dangerous of the prisoners to normal blocks to accommodate the savages coming in."
At the mention of savages, Suki listened in, hoping to hear more.
"Yeah, apparently, they finally have the Grey Wolf of the South. Bastard has been harassing our shipping for years. Raiding fortifications and disappearing into nothing. Destroying supply lines and depot."
They had arrived at her cell, and she was unceremoniously shoved back in before she could hear anymore. However, as she was shoved, she did manage to grab the small knife that was holstered in the back belt of one of her guards.
The Guard's Breakroom…
"Wang, so good to see you again!", the captain of the guard called, "I heard about how you found that imposter was posing among our ranks. The warden would have had all of our heads if it was determined that there was an imposter in the Boiling Rock. What would we do without you?"
"You don't have to worry Mr. Captain Sir. No more imposters", Sokka replied.
"That's good", the Captain continued, "Because the Warden said that we have some special guests arriving. A letter from the Capital arrived today bearing the imperial seal of the blue flame. As you know, it is a great honour for our staff to be visited by someone so powerful."
'Whoever that is, they can't be good. They will know Zuko immediately', Sokka thought to himself. When the captain remained staring at Sokka, he replied, "Of course, Sir. A great honour indeed. I should go prepare the prisoners. You know how they can get."
The captain smiled and waved Sokka permission to leave.
The next morning in the Boiling Rock Prisoner Cafeteria…
Suki looked frantically around for Zuko. She still didn't really trust him, but she also didn't distrust him. He was now just as much a prisoner as she was. If he was still the man he was when they first met, he would have revealed himself and had Sokka arrested. But what changed. And Why. As she mused on her ally of necessity, she thought again to her stolen weapon. The stolen knife pressed against her ankle, tucked into her shoe. She glanced down just to confirm that it was still concealed.
She spotted Zuko walking into the lunchroom. She could see from his posture that he was tense. More tense than usual. His fists were balled and he walked fast and with a slight forward lean. He saw here and made a mosquito-bee line for her. The look in his eyes did not bode well. When he passed her, he only whispered, "Too many ears in here. Meet me out in the yard."
After eating her morning grey slop, she did as he asked, and went to find him in the yard. She found him pacing in a relatively empty corner, wringing his hands. She had hardly made it up to him when he started whispering aggressively, "This is not good. I heard last night that the Warden's niece is coming. I know her. She knows me. That does not end well. We have to get out of here. We need to go now!"
Suki stared at him for a moment before replying, "Slow down there. Who is coming, why is it a problem, and we will get out of here. Sokka is on it. Speaking of, I think I see him over there." As she spoke, she again nervously checked the foot that her blade was in. It wasn't a pair of war-fans, but it was enough. She knew what she was doing.
As if called, Sokka did just walk around the corner. He looked over his shoulder and approached them. "Hey guys. Sorry I'm late. I couldn't give the Captain the slip. He had me on prep duty all night. Who knew that it was a guard's duty to pit on hundred cherries?", he mused.
Before she could react, Suki saw Zuko jump towards Sokka and grab him by both shoulders. "Sokka", he whisper-screamed, "We have to go, Now. Mai is coming. I overhead the guards saying that they were needing to change prisoner cells while a civilian, the Warden's niece, was going to be here. I can't be here when she gets here!"
"Mai, oh. That is serious.", Sokka replied gravely, "That will change the plans. I will start overhauling for immediate movement."
Suki, having had enough of not knowing what was going on, interjected, "Boys. Who is Mai, and why is she so important?"
Zuko and Sokka both went to answer, talking over eachother. What she heard was, "Zuko's My ex-girlfriend broke he up with left to join us Fire Nation wrote leave letter escape airship."
"One at a time", she exasperated.
"My ex-girlfriend", the firebender explained, "I broke up with her before leaving to join the Avatar and his team to take down the Firelord."
As Zuko explained, one word stuck out in her head, 'letter'. She voiced her concern, "Did you say letter?"
He replied, "Yeah, I left her a letter explaining I was leaving and that I didn't want her to get hurt by me."
Involuntarily, her hand slapped her forehead at his statement. As she dragged her hand along her face she asked, "Do you realize how pissed off she is going to be. A letter. You couldn't even do it in person?"
"Wait, you shouldn't break up over a letter?", Sokka asked.
"No, you. Oh whatever. Now is not the time for this. Focus boys. What do we know. We need get out of here. Zuko's pissed ex is coming. I heard that there is a massive prisoner rearrangement due to an arrival of war prisoners. I think they could be Water Tribe. They are set to arrive today"
Sokka looked up, "Wait, Dad is coming. Guys, we can't leave until we rescue him. I can't leave him here."
She nodded in agreement, and noticed the Zuko was nodding as well.
Sokka contninued, "I also heard that the prison is prepping for some blue flame protocall. I dunno what it is, but I spent more time pitting cherries than I care to think."
For the second time that day, Zuko caught Suki off guard. This time by going spirit pale and then promptly passing out backwards with a resounding thud. "Uugh", he groaned from the ground, "The spirits really do hate me."
She and Sokka looked at him with concern, "Zuko, are you alright?"
He replied, "No. The blue flame. Sokka, think. Where have you seen a blue flame? Blue Fire? Hmm. It's my sister. We have to grab your dad and GO. She will not hold back. Not since it was revealed that the Avatar is alive. Father will have been down her neck over that lie she told. And no doubt she has been assigned to track me down. At all costs. And Ty Lee will almost certainly be here if Mai and Azula will be here."
Realization dawned on Suki who these three might be, "Wait, do you mean…"
Sokka cut her off, "Yes". His answer was cold.
Nervously, she glanced down at her foot again as a bell rang. Sokka turned to leave, "That's my call. That means the prisoners are arriving via gondola Do you two think you can get up to the top of the loading bay. It is our only way out."
Suki looked at Zuko, who replied, "I don't think we have any other choice here."
Sokka called back as he left, "Good, I'll see you there".
A short while later in the yard…
Zuko and Suki continued to discuss a plan. "So Sokka will get his dad, and we will join them up there. I suppose we could hijack a gondola?", Suki offered.
He just shook his head, "They would just cut the lines."
She countered, "We could take a prisoner. One of them."
He scoffed, "Do you really think that we could take my sister prisoner?"
She replied, "No, but I do think that we could take the warden prisoner."
Zuko pointed to the gondola arriving. "Hopefully that is the prisoner transfer, and not my death warrant arriving", he mused darkly.
He saw Suki give him a glance before she spoke, "Don't be so gloomy. We are going to get out of this. Where is that fire you had when we last met?"
He replied, "Don't you worry about me. But we are going to need a distraction. Do you trust me?"
The look on her face said she fully hadn't made up her mind, but after a few moments of silence, she nodded in the affirmative.
He continued, "Good, then take out whatever you have hidden in your shoe. I see you keep glancing at it. Not accustomed to concealed weapons, huh?"
He waited until she had just stood up before calling a large blast of fire to his hand. He looked her in the eyes and tried to convey 'Trust me' as best he could. Hollering as loud as he could, "Prison Riot!". He released the blast of fire to hurl just over her head to explode in front of a pair of guards.
The guards came running towards him, and he looked her in the eye and mouthed, 'Give me that. Turn me in'.
He caught the knife she flipped to him and turned to the approaching guards, "He had a knife then he just blasted me."
The guards rushed straight for him, calling, "You know the rules! No weapons. No firebending. And no fraternizing with Earth Kingdom prisoners. You are off to the cooler!"
As the door to the yard shut behind him, he saw Suki disappear into a large rioting crowd of prisoners.
'Hopefully she'll make it up top alright', he thought.
The gondola receiving bay, a couple minutes prior…
She waited for the doors to open, eyeing one perfectly manicured nail. 'Zuzu is here. Father, I will make you proud of me again. I will bring him back to you', she mused to herself. The doors slid open on the main deck of the Boiling Rock. The sun glinting off of her crown as she stepped into the light. The assembled all bowed deeply in respect, as they should.
