TW: References to prisoner abuse of a minor.

Haru sat on his bedroom floor and turned on his laptop. He typed in his password and it opened to his desktop. A picture of him with his mom and dad stared at him through the screen. His eyes lingered on his dad for a moment before he opened his email account. He had been told an important email was coming that night that must be memorized and completely destroyed before midnight. He had the virus on a flash drive that would annihilate the email. He watched the screen while eating a bag of potato chips. At around 10:07 an email came in that appeared to have no title and no sender. Haru opened the email and read it over. It was a map of the school with markings showing the positions of each group, describing the steps and movements of their particular task. He meticulously read the steps of each task, and took note of a fatal flaw.

His eyes went wide and he read it over again, and again, and again. No, this had to be wrong, it had to be some kind of mistake. Haru picked the flash drive up off the floor and looked at it. He had to destroy it, keeping it would endanger every Freedom Fighter, keeping it would be insane. He inserted the flashdrive and waited. The screen went black for five minutes and then returned to normal. He removed the flashdrive and sat in the dark thinking about his father. He remembered his stories, his deep voice and laugh, his frown.

Haru and Jet had a complicated relationship. They met on a transport ship and united in an effort to steal blankets for the passengers. Those nights were long and cold. The people moaned with hunger and rocked back and forth, cuddling together for warmth. Haru's mother hoarded food for the two of them and refused to share. She was robbed several times and Haru was helpless to defend her. He was helpless without his bending. Jet was not a bender, and yet he fought all the same. He and Haru helped those people and fought the firenation without throwing a rock. Jet gave Haru the ability to fight without risking imprisonment for being an earthbender, like his father. They were the first Freedom Fighters. They weren't close friends, they didn't even really like each other, but they were united in their cause. But things were changing now. Over the years, Jet became more bold, and more hateful, and more dangerous. And now this.

Haru called Jet. "Hey, Haru!" Jet was drunkedly slurred his syllables. "What's up?"

"I got the email."

"Did you get rid of it."

Haru hesitated, "Yes. But I…"

"Good. Smellerbee is working on the pipes, and I'm taking care of Katara and the avatar. We'll need you ….."

"I'm not helping."

Jet paused, "Excuse me?"

"There's no evacuation plan. I'm not helping until you find a way to evacuate."

Jet sighed, "Haru, you don't need to concern yourself …."

Haru stood up and paced as he talked over the phone. "If things go the way you've planned it, people will die!"

"Haru, I think you need to sleep on it, and we'll talk in the morning. Remember your father." Jet hung up.

Zuko entered the empty training room and closed the door behind him. He began practicing a new set of firebending moves he insisted his uncle teach him. His Uncle Iroh had been reluctant, what a foolish old man. He was content here in the colonies. Alienated from the motherland and allowed to be disrespected as the failed general, so long as he could make his living brewing tea in a third rate shop. Zuko was not so weak. He was prepared to do anything to reclaim his honor, and now that the avatar had returned he had hope. He trained hard, and searched diligently online for clues to his whereabouts. The last airbender would be more than a hundred years old, a master of all four elements. Zuko punched the air and flames erupted in front of him.

Aang was on his way to the pool to meet Katara when he heard the sound of someone in the training room. He opened the door slightly and looked through. He saw the scarred firenation senior, attempting some sort of advanced technique. Zuko's attempt was sloppy and he landed on his leg rather ungracefully. Aang spoke, "Wow, that looks hard."

Zuko glared at Aang. "I prefer to train alone." He got back up and attempted the move again. Again, he fell.

Aang thought, "I think if you tried …."

Zuko roared at him, "I don't need your help!" Zuko gave himself a running start and fell hard on his knee. "OW!" Aang and Zuko looked at each other. "Why are you still here?!"

Aang said nothing. He walked onto the opposite practice matt and performed the jump Zuko was attempting without firebending. "You're focusing too much on your firepower and not enough on your movements. You have to get your left leg back to a lunging position before you land or your right leg will take all of the impact and you'll collapse." Zuko stared in disbelief. Aang held out his hand. "My name's Kuzon. I'm a first year transfer from Kongo."

Zuko shook the boy's hand. "Zuko. I'm a senior."

"Nice to meet you."

"You too." There was an awkward silence.

Aang cleared his throat. "So, what other moves are you working on?"

Sokka sat in the meeting room anxiously with his hands and feet in shackles. The bags under his eyes were dark and drooping, his body was weak with hunger, and his arms were wrapped up in white bandages. He startled at seeing his Gran Gran enter the room. "Gran Gran! What are you doing here? Are they sending me away? Oh, Gran Gran, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

Gran Gran sat down. "Hush now, my boy. Everything is going to be alright. How are you? You look terrible."

Sokka buried his face in his hands briefly and looked up again. "I'm fine, Gran Gran. Everything's fine."

"No, it's not. But there's nothing I can do about it. You're a stupid boy."

Sokka's voice cracked despite his best efforts. "I'm sorry, Gran Gran."

Gran Gran hesitated, "But I'm proud of you."

Sokka started in astonishment. "But …. You always said …."

"I know what I've said. But that day you acted on behalf of your father. You acted as chief of the Southern Water Tribe to defend our sister tribe. The bonds between the South and the North are ancient and sacred, and worth every danger in the world. You and Princess Yue are both destined to be chieftains, and your actions to selflessly defend her will allow our tribes to reunite once more. In the absence of your father, it is your duty to defend both the South and the North. And therefore, I am very proud of you. Now wipe your tears, Sokka."

Sokka took on a defensive tone as he wiped his eyes. "I wasn't …"

Gran Gran smiled, "Of course not." They talked of Katara and Aang, but their time was cut short and Gran Gran was forced to leave as Sokka was dragged unceremoniously back to his cell.

Sokka called after her, "Gran Gran!" She turned to look at him. Sokka spoke grimly and seriously, "I love you."

Gran Gran stood a moment and watched the guard wielding a club. She looked away