[A/N: I HATE COVID-19! I don't have internet in my home and because of the lock down couldn't post my stuff in public computers. So to make up for lost time I going to post several chapters of my story at any one time to get you caught up. I'M BACK JACK!]
BOOK 2: EARTH
CHAPTER 13: THE DRILL
There are some people who are born for war and there are those who were made for it. Regardless of how, when they live their lives they never seem to escape war. Conflict flows through one blood while other are branded by on their skin.
The Fire Nation drill slowly moving its way toward the Outer Wall of Ba Sing Se. Several sections of the drill extend forward, releasing steam as spikes are driven into the ground. The drill's command module ascends where inside are Princess Azula, her friends, Mai and Ty Lee, War Minister Qin and several operators of the drill.
"This drill is a feat of scientific ingenuity and raw destructive power. Once it tunnels through the wall, our troops will storm their city. The Earth Kingdom will finally fall, and you can claim Ba Sing Se in the name of your father. Nothing can stop us." War Minister Qin said.
"Hmmm, what about those muscle-y guys down there?" Ty Lee inquires while looking through the telescope. She peers through at several Earth Kingdom troops using earthbending to create large trenches, Fire Nation forces following them in hot pursuit.
Qin strikes the periscope roughly alarming Ty Lee. "Please. The drill's metal shell is impervious to any earthbending attack." He reassures.
Azula rolled her eyes. "Oh, I'm sure it is, War Minister Qin, but just to be on the safe side ... Mai and Ty Lee, take the earthbenders out!"
Mai who was swinging a knife around her finger sighed with relief. "Finally, something to do."
Meanwhile Team Avatar and refugees made it to the city. Aang appears, flying in on his glider with Momo behind him. He lands, Momo perched on his shoulder baring grave news.
"Aang, what are you doing here? I thought you were looking for Appa." Katara asked in surprise.
"I was, but something stopped me. Something big." Aang said.
At the base of the Outer Wall where Aang and Toph use earthbending to transport everyone up the wall. "Now what's so big that Appa has to wait?" Sokka asked.
"That." Aang points out. The group arrives at the top of the Outer Wall and looks out at the sight on a giant drill heading for the wall cast shock and awe to rest.
"We made it to Ba Sing Se and we're still not safe. No one is!" Ying cries despairingly as her family huddles with her to comfort.
Dante shook his head. Even he knows that asking for a happy ending is impossible. The reason why is that nothing ever ends. War will never end, anywhere, but that doesn't mean Team Avatar won't stop the fighting. After all it's the question that propels them forward: Why we fight?
An Earthbender Guard sees them. "What are you people doing here? Civilians aren't allowed on the wall!"
"I'm the Avatar. Take me to whoever is in charge."Aang states.
The guards take Team Avatar to a portion of the Outer Wall where a roof rises overhead, supported by tall arches. An Earth Kingdom general sits behind a desk. "It is an honor to welcome you to the Outer Wall, young Avatar, but your help is not needed." General Sung said.
"Not needed?" Aang asked confusedly.
General Sung gestured for them to follow him into the sunlight to show the fortified wall" Not needed. I have the situation under control. I assure you the Fire Nation cannot penetrate this wall. Many have tried to break through it, but none have succeeded."
"What about the Dragon of the West? He got in." Toph asked the General.
Slightly taken aback General admits she is correct. "Well ... uh, technically yes, but he was quickly expunged."
"That siege lasted for a hundred days. A section of the wall came down. The panzer divisions entered and gave you all a run for your money. You were there that was not quickly." Dante said irritated in the General's lack of military history.
"Ah you seem to have knowledge of that battle. And you look a bit familiar … A simple private back perhaps? Nevertheless, that is why the city is named Ba Sing Se. It's the "impenetrable city". They don't call it Na Sing Se … HAHAHAHA! … That means "penetrable city."
"Yeah, thanks for the tour, but we still got the drill problem." Toph points out.
"Not for long. To stop it, I've sent an elite platoon of earthbenders called the Terra Team." General Sung points out below.
"That's a good group name. Very catchy." Sokka comments.
Dante takes out his spyglass and looks out on the soon-to-be battlefield and reminisces about the Hundred Day Siege.
Dante lowers his spyglass after he gave a good observation of the Wall and the troops at the top and the base. He turns to General Iroh with a shrug. "Big wall. Big crowd."
Iroh nodded. "Yes. It is a sight to see. The city is said to be a sight to behold. I am sad to see any of it getting damaged. I'll spare a nice tea house."
"I call dibs on the brothel." Dante said. The two warriors laughed, they would need some rest and relaxation after this battle.
Iroh places his hand on Dante's armored shoulder as he led him to right side of the observation deck. "Dante, for this battle I want you to be the commander of this entire tank division. You looked out for my Lu Ten; I believe you can look out for the rest in this one. They will need some encouragement but I believe the crew of the Sabertooth Tiger Tank will lead them to victory."
Dante head down and climbed out of the siege engine and where the Sabertooth and his crew waited. An officer walked over and saluted him. "Dragon." Addressing Dante of his title he earned in hunting a dragons with Iroh.
Dante nodded and inspected the entire number of the division. Afterwards he walked to where the senior officer waited. Dante wasn't impressed that much. "They all have no firebending." He said. Not seeing any skull masks in the helmets. They are just normal soldiers.
"Their fire is of the tanks. You will see it in battle. If you have doubts know that this is their first battle. Before that they have never tasted defeat." senior officer said.
"Do they know what is expected of them?" Dante asked.
"They are ready to die for you! Can you ask more?" senior officer said and turned to leave.
Dante still wasn't sure that these men and women of the Fire Tank division where loyal to their cause. He didn't care if they were but sometimes a Fire Nation has to wonder are they ready to rock and roll!
Dante shrugged, there were ready as they will ever be, and order Lu Ten to start the engine. They all fire up the tanks and roared out into the battlefield at the awaiting Earth Army. Dante get readies to signal the charge with the firing of one shell at the army.
Dante took on another look in the spy glass while Tobi who looked through the targeting scope. Dante hummed to himself the Fire Nation tank song.
Whether it storms or snows, or the sun smiles on us
The day burning hot, or the icy cold of night.
Dusty are our faces, but joyful is our minds, yes, our minds.
Our Panzer rushes past the stormwind
NOW
"... ATTACK!" The Terra Team leader ordered upon closing in on the drill. The earthbenders wedge large earth spikes into the metal shell of the drill to halt it. However, the drill's segments separate, reducing the columns to crumbles. The Terra Team narrowly manages to conjure earth shields to defend themselves against an assault of flying daggers hurled by Mai. She and Ty Lee are seen sliding down the shell of the drill. Ty Lee lands gracefully onto the ground effortlessly defeats the earthbenders through an acrobatic display, utilizing chi blocking.
Upon witnessing the defeat of the Terra Team flails arms in panic. "We're DOOMED!"
Sokka slaps the General across the face. "Get a hold of yourself, man!"
"You're right. I'm sorry." The General said rubbing cheek.
"Maybe you'd like the Avatar's help now?" Toph said.
Meekly, the General stands before the Avatar. "Yes, please." He humbly asks for help from the savor of mankind.
Team Avatar stood overlooking the wall at the drill. Dante gave information on the Fire Nation forces that are escorting the drill. "Okay here's what I can see. Twenty standard Fire Tanks on both sides and two Sabertooth Tiger tanks on both sides."
"Sabertooth Tiger tanks?" Sokka asked, thinking the name was way cooler than the Terra team.
"Yep. A Sabertooth Tiger Tank is a true war machine. The most powerful of earthbending and the iciest of waterbending can barely scratch the thick steel skin. Few enemies can survive the Tiger's bite, an 88mm cannon shoots not only fire but an explosive shell that can turn a man to ash in a single shot if they are caught in the blast radius. I was given command of a battle ready prototype back then, the only one of its kind. Seeing those down there means the prototype was a success and are producing more." Dante said.
"So how do we take them out?" Katara asked.
"The standard can be flipped over. But the only way to take out a Tiger and that is hit it in the back, the engine in armor's nest." Dante says.
"Right, then the other question is how are we going to stop that drill?" Aang asked.
After moments of thinking with, with no great ideas, all five turn their heads to Sokka. "Why are you all looking at me?"
"You're the idea guy." Aang said.
"So I'm the only one who can ever come up with a plan? That's a lot of pressure." Sokka grumped.
"Not really. All you have to do is come up with a plan that not only stops this thing dead in its tracks but stops it before it drills through the wall, unleashes its army on the inside and brings about the collapse of eastern civilization … no pressure at all." Valen said casually.
"And you're also the complaining guy." Katara adds.
"That part I don't mind." Sokka said.
Regardless of what plan they need the drill was slowly making its way to the wall. They have plenty of time to think of a plan while it lasts.
Meanwhile at another station a ticket lady is inspecting Zuko and Iroh's tickets. "So, Mr. Lee and Mr. ummm ... Mushy, is it?"
"It's pronounced Mushi." Iroh corrected.
"You telling me how to do my job?" The Ticket lady suddenly became annoyed by the correction.
Iroh approaches the ticket booth to see if he can soothe the tigress' with his silver tongue. "Uh, no, no. But may I just say you're like a flower in bloom. Your beauty is intoxicating."
The ticket lady became flirtatiously. "You're pretty easy on the eyes yourself, handsome. Raorr! Welcome to Ba Sing Se." she stamps their tickets happily.
"I'm going to forget I saw that." Zuko said disgusted and grabs ticket and walks away.
From a distance Jet observed Zuko. He was beginning to like this 'Lee' would like him to be part of his group. "I think Lee would make a good Freedom Fighter. He's just trying to find his way in the world, like us." He said to his comrades.
"You don't know anything about him, Jet." Smellerbee said to Jet.
"I know he didn't get that scar from a waterbender." Jet pointed.
"Besides, I thought we were going straight now." Smellerbee said.
Jet nodded in agreement. "We are, and the new Freedom Fighters could use a guy like Lee. What do you think, Longshot?"
Longshot looks over at him silently with a meaningful look on his face and blinks his eyes.
"I can respect that." Jet says. Smellerbee on the other hand wondered if he really understood what Longshot 'said'.
Meanwhile, back at the Outer Wall, Katara attempts to heal a member of the Terra Team. They were those that were injured by throwing blades but then there were some that unable to move. Katara used the waterbending art of healing. It but could only do so much for this was an internal issue.
"What's wrong with him? He doesn't look injured." General Sung asked concerned.
"His chi is blocked. Who did this to you?" Katara asked the soldier.
"Two girls ambushed us. One of them hit me with a bunch of quick jabs and suddenly I couldn't earthbend anymore and I could barely move. Then she cartwheeled away." the soldier explained.
Katara eyes widen in realization. "Ty Lee. She doesn't look dangerous, but she knows the human body and its weak points. It's like she takes you down from the inside."
"Of three, I dated her more than I did the others. She really nice." Dante said. Katara stared at him. "But I think I can put my feelings for her aside for the moment."
"Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh! Ooh!" Sokka exclaimed excitedly over and idea that just popped into his head.
"Yes?" Katara asked.
"What you just said! That's how we're going to take down the drill! The same way Ty Lee took down all those big earthbenders!"
"By taking it by the hips and pushing forward with great horizontal force?" Griffon joked.
"No! By hitting its pressure points!" Toph adds excited.
"We'll take it down from the inside." Aang states with determination.
At the foot of the wall The Fire Nation drill was a lot bigger that it looks. Aang, Katara, Sokka, Dante, V and Toph are crouching together in one of the abandoned trenches of the Terra Team.
"Once I whip up some cover, you're not going to be able to see. So, stay close to me." Toph said gesturing to the drill. She steps outside the trench and with a powerful stomp of her foot, sending a mass of flying debris clouding toward the drill. "Run!"
The group races into the dust cloud behind Toph. On the command module where Ty Lee is peering at the cloud that suddenly appeared through the periscope. "Hey, look at that dust cloud. It's so ... poofy. Poof."
"Don't worry, Princess. I'm sure it's nothing." War Minster Qin reassured Azula.
Azula casts a doubtful look. She knew the Earth soldiers would return with another attack, one better and direct than the last. Outside the group is standing in the midst of the dust beside the drill.
Toph earthbends a hole into the ground, "Everyone into the hole!" She and the others jump into the hole and the ground above them closes shut. It is pitch black underground as they followed Toph through the darkness.
"It's so dark down here, I can't see a thing!" Sokka whines like a baby.
"Oh, for the love of . . ." Dante rolled his eyes.
"Oh no, what a nightmare!" Toph says sarcastically.
"Sorry." Sokka says sheepishly.
They make their way to the surface underneath the drill, where Sokka spots an opening. "There!"
Dante and Valen jump inside while Aang leaps up to the bar hanging from the opening and, dangling upside-down from his legs, hoists Sokka and Katara into the drill. He realizes Toph is not following them. Sokka sticks his head out of the drill.
"Toph, come on!" Sokka urged.
"No way am I going in that metal monster. I can't bend in there. I'll try to slow it down out here." Toph says.
Sokka nods, "Okay, good luck!" He and Aang disappear into the drill. Toph earthbends a wedge of rock into the drill, however, it is proving to be a difficult task as it pushes her back.
Inside the drill where Sokka is leading the others through a tunnel of valves and pipes, "I need a plan of this machine. Some schematics that show what the inside looks like. Then we can find its weak points."
"Where are we going to get something like that?" Aang asks while Sokka unexpectedly cuts off a steam valve with his machete. "What are you doing? Someone's going to hear us!"
"That's the point. I figure a machine this big needs engineers to run it. And when something breaks ..."
"They come to fix it!" Katara says.
Moments later, an engineer wearing a mask is seen walking down the misty hallway to the site of the damage. "Hi." Katara says appears behind him. She freezes the mist, covering the engineer in a thin layer of ice. Sokka runs up to the frozen engineer and takes his schematics. "This'll work. Thanks!" Sokka says. The trio runs off, leaving the helpless engineer who drops his spear unintentionally.
Sokka and the others are studying the plans in the next room. "It looks like the drill is made up of two main structures. There's the inner mechanism where we are now and the outer shell. The inner part and the outer part are connected by these braces. If we cut through them, the entire thing will collapse."
"Sounds like a plan. We'll head back outside to cover Toph. And take a few tanks out while I'm at it." Dante says.
Aang and Katara nod in agreement and the rest of the team splits from here, to divide and conquer.
Back at the train station Zuko, Iroh and the three Freedom Fighters are awaiting their train. Jet approaches and sits next to Zuko. "So, you guys got plans once you're inside the city?" jet asks.
"Get your hot tea here! Finest tea in Ba Sing Se!" announced the tea seller.
"Ooh! Jasmine please." Iroh calls out while waving his hand. The tea seller pours tea into a leaf cup for Iroh. Iroh sips the tea, but soon grimaces at its repulsive taste. "Blaugh! Ugh, coldest tea in Ba Sing Se is more like it! What a disgrace!"
"Hey, can I talk to you for a second?" asked Jet. He motions for Zuko to follow him. Zuko sighs and reluctantly rises. The two walk several feet away from Iroh's spot. "You and I have a much better chance of making it in the city if we stick together. You want to join the Freedom Fighters?"
"Thanks, but I don't think you want me in your gang." Zuko says.
"Come on, we made a great team looting that captain's food. Think of all the good we could do for these refugees." Jet said trying to persuade him.
"I said no." Zuko said and walked away.
"Have it your way." Jet finally gave up. He can respect one finding their path in the world, alone.
He catches sight of Iroh, who is sipping his now steaming hot tea, causing his eyes to widen in shock and realization. Zuko, approaching Iroh, glances over his shoulder at Jet, who narrows his eyes and walks away. Angrily, he knocks the tea cup out of Iroh's hand.
"Hey!" Iroh said.
"What are you doing FIREBENDING YOUR TEA? For a wise, old man, that was a pretty stupid move!" Zuko hissed.
"I know you're not supposed to cry over spilled tea, but ... it's just so sad!" Iroh sniffs in mourning over the sight of a slipped tea cup on the ground.
Rule number one for Firebenders in this modern era: If they want to pass unnoticed in a crowd, DON'T FIREBEND!
::
Dante and V made outside to find Toph trying to stop the drill by use a column of Earth. Dante looks to see a Sabertooth Tiger tanks leading the group of smaller tanks on portal around the drill.
"Short Round!" Dante called to Toph.
"Spitfire? What are you doing here?" Toph grunted in surprise.
"V and I are going to take out the tanks. I can use another pair of hands."
"I'm currently busy … at the moment!" Toph replied aloud.
"If the tanks spots you could be blown to bits. I have a plan to take them out but I need your help."
Toph rolled her eyes relented her hold on the earth column which shattered to pieces due to the drill's movement and ran toward the two nephilim.
"So what's the plan?" Toph asked.
Dante and V explained the plan then the three went to work immediately. Toph created a wall around the Sabertooth tank to trap it. V jumped on the sabertooth and opened the hatch to allow Griffon and Shadow to liberate the tank from within. After few electrocutions and mauling they tossed out the unconscious crew beside the tank. V got inside followed by Toph and Dante who close the hatch after him.
The interior of the Sabertooth Tank wasn't really different for the battle ready prototype he was in back then. "V, take the driver's seat. Griffon and Shadow take ammunition and the turret. I'll direct from the hatch." Dante then went to a section of the floor and open a hatch. "Toph, this is an emergency escape hatch for when the tank is flipped over. What I want YOU to do is to be our eyes in the earth whenever we stop at any point. Put up wall to defend and if you see an opening, attack any tanks around us. Okay are we all ready to go?" he asked.
"Ready." Valen said.
"Locked and loaded." Griffon acknowledged.
"Let's fuck some shit up!" Toph excitedly exclaimed.
"Alright, let's move." Dante said and took his place in hatch above.
Valen fires up the Sabertooth Tank which roars in the direction where the tanks and troops are on standby.
In the interior of the drill Sokka is lead the others through a door onto a massive steel beam. "Wow, it looks a lot thicker in person than it does in the plans. We're going to have to work pretty hard to cut through that." He said.
Katara crosses her arms in ironic objection. "What's this "we" stuff? Aang and I are going to have to do all the work."
"Look, I'm the plan guy. You two are the cut stuff up with waterbending guys. Together, we're TEAM AVATAR!" Sokka exclaims striking a heroic pose.
Katara and Aang shoot each other awkward looks. The two are positioned on either side of one brace. Using waterbending, they slice through the metal sharply. Water has been known to be able to cut metal at a certain way.
After a long time of brace is sliced halfway through; both Katara and Aang are bent over and gasping in exhaustion. "C'mon team. Don't quit now." Sokka cheered, pumping his arms in the air.
Katara grinds her teeth as she seethes with rage. She finally explodes with frustration and shoots a menacing glare while pulling out her water whip and threatening to strike him with it.
Sokka, who stands wide-eyed, arms still in air, finally recovers himself. "I mean, you're almost there."
The two resume work slicing the brace. With every lash of the water whip, the cut through the brace enlarges and Sokka grows more and more eager. At last, a cut is made clean through the brace, however, to their disappointment; the brace budges mere inches from its position.
"At this rate, we won't do enough damage before the drill reaches the wall." Katara huffed.
"I don't know how many more of those I have in me." Aang puffed.
The drill suddenly creaks. "Do you hear that? We took it down! We better get out of here fast!" Sokka said happily.
The trio runs for the door, only to halt upon hearing an announcement being made through overhead speaking tubes. "Congratulations, crew. The drill has made contact with the wall of Ba Sing Se. Start the countdown to victory!"
Cheers erupt from the crew. "Hail victory! Hail victory! Hail victory!" Azula has a threatening look of determination on her face. I would seem that victory will indeed be won on this day. But she will not hold her breathe.
As drill hammered through the wall, sending loose boulders in every direction Sokka desperately tried to move the brace by pushing against it. "C'mon brace ... budge!"
"This is bad, really bad." Katara said.
"We're putting everything we've got into busting these braces, but it's taking too long!" Sokka whines.
Aang suddenly is struck with realization. He remembered something from his lessons with Toph. "Maybe we don't need to cut all the way through. Toph has been teaching me that you shouldn't give one hundred percent of your energy into any one strike. Sokka, take a fighting stance." Aang said and Sokka did. "You've got to be quick and accurate. Hit a series of points and break your opponent's stance." He strikes Sokka several times. "And when he's reeling back, you deliver the final blow." He hits him softly on the head. "His own weight becomes his downfall, literally." Aang concluded.
"So we just need to weaken the braces, instead of cutting all the way through." Katara realized.
"Then I'll go to the top of this thing and deliver the final blow." Aang says pointing up above.
"And boom! It all comes crashing down!" Sokka punched the air.
With a medication of the original plan Aang reminds the two of what they are fighting for. "Everyone inside that wall, the whole world is counting on us."
"The whole world, minus the Fire Nation, that is." Sokka grins, while the other two simply stare at each other exasperated.
Outside behind the drill the fire Nation armored division awaited the signal to advance through the hole. So they got comfortable and waited. One of the commanders spotted one of the Tanks coming toward them. He opened his spyglass and examined the incoming tank. Through the lens he could see the detail of the Sabertooth. Suddenly the turret turned and opened fired. The shot soared at high velocity toward the command and hit him in the head turning him to ash in the process. Dante laughed with dark joy as he made a perfect headshot with a tank round no less.
Toph tapped her feet to the ground through the floor hatch and made a discovery. "Guy's the drill has touched the wall."
"Well then we better make all due haste." Valen said.
"No prisoners. No mercy." Griffon said grimly.
Valen summoned Nightmare and commanded him to fuse with the tank itself to become its extra spiky armor as they charged forward.
The fire tanks got ready and charged forward. Shadow used his tailed lift the round into the turret and used his paw to push it all the way inside. He growled to convey 'clear!'
"Going one!" Griffon shouted, aiming and pulling the trigger.
The shot hit another tank causing to spark and boil. Toph hit the ground with her feet to create a power fissure that overturned five standard tanks. Nightmare attacked with his powerful laser beam and obliterated fifteen more tanks glorious onslaught of energy devastation.
"Look out, we got tank aiming at us!" Toph warned as she sensed the vibrations in the Earth when she stomped his feet down. But it came too late as the enemy shot hit the side of their tank causing it to shake roughly.
"Dante, we got a boarding party!" Valen warned.
Dante caught sight of some Fire Soldiers climbing on their tank. Dante sent fire blasts at them but one came from behind him and began choking him with his spear. Dante struggled as fire soldier was trying to drag him out of the hatch.
Dante jerked his head into the hatch "Valen! … Evasive! … Maneuvers!" he gasped.
Valen mashed the petal and made a hard left to make the tank briefly tip to one side. The fire soldiers went flying. Dante force the spearmen over his head; he elbowed and grabbed the soldier by the neck and throwing him in front of the tank which ran over him down the middle.
"Road kill." Dante commented with a smirk.
"Dante! We have a Sabertooth in front of us." Toph shouted.
The enemy tank fire a shot that whistled past Dante's head so close he could
Another tank rammed into them; Dante them saw and behemoth of a man carrying a large curved sword. "Earth Soldier, face me! I am the God of War." With one swing of fire he sent their tank into the air, rolling over and over, land on its side. Everyone was jerked to the right side. Toph shook her head and climbed out pulling V with her. Nightmare who was still fused with the tank pushed him to make himself right side up. "Go. Finish off the tanks without us. The situation has changed." V ordered. Nightmare growled in obedience and drove off with remain fire tanks in pursuit.
Griffon and Shadow came to their master's side as he rose to his feet. The nephilim looked and saw that they were now on the right side of the drill and Dante was stand some distance between the self proclaimed God of War reading his large flaming sword.
Toph and V came to Dante's side. Griffon landed on the V's Arm with Shadow couched in growling. "You are right, Shadow. He is not a firebender but the amulet he has Efreet inside."
"A what?" Toph asked.
"A fire spirit." V explained. "Mostly likely it was found in and bound within the amulet. Bestowing the wear with its power, which includes firebending."
"Oh really. Hey, Asshole! Afraid to fight us without your trinket." Toph taunted.
The hired warrior laughed haughty. "HEH-HA-HA-HA! What, don't tell me you scared to fight me, little girl!"
"Hey I would watch out if I were you. She an Earthbending wrestler and has taken down bigger bastards than YOU!" Dante called out.
"Well then I hope you like a reality check. Wrestling is fake." The mercenary grinned. But due to the distance between them it was a bit hard to hear, or so it seemed.
"What?" Toph called out to repeat what he said.
"I said wrestling is fake." The mercenary repeated.
"What?" Dante called out to repeat what he said.
"I said wrestling is fake." The mercenary repeated again.
"What?" V called out to repeat what he said.
The mercenary rolled his eyes in irritation. "I said wrestling is-."
"WHHAAT?" Griffon squawked.
The mercenary figured that they were mocking him. "GRR! Forget it. Prepare to die!" he swung his sword downward sending a wave of fire toward the gang. "Incoming!" griffon shouted and every jumped out of the way.
Back inside of the Aang and Katara are making rapid progress, slicing through several braces halfway to weaken them.
"That's enough! We need to get to the next one!" Aang said.
Outside the drill the earthbenders are sending boulders down at the drill from up the wall. In the command module the War Minister receives shocking news from engineers communicating through speaking tubes.
"War Minister, an engineer was ambushed! His schematics were stolen!" said the engineer.
"War Minister, a brace on the starboard side has been cut clean through! It's sabotage, sir!" said the second engineer.
Qin is surprised while Azula narrows her eyes in suspicion. She expected something like this to happen. "Let's go, ladies!" Azula said sharply to Ty Lee and Mai.
Back at the braces the trio continues to slice through. Or rather Aang and Katara did the work while Sokka was the cheerleader. "Good work, Team Avatar! Now Aang just needs to ... duck!" Glances up in horror and ducks just in time to evade the blue fire blast sent his way by Azula, who runs out and stands on another brace followed by her friends.
"Wow, Azula, you were right! It is the Avatar… and friends." Ty Lee smiles flirtatiously at Sokka.
Sokka smiles and waves, "Hey." He could see why Dante had a relationship with these three, particular the happy perky one.
Katara approaches her brother and drags him away, clearly annoyed. Ty Lee swings herself forward toward Aang who quickly airbends her away. The trio escapes the scene and race through the drill's hallways. They come to an intersection.
"Guys, get out of here. I know what I need to do." Aang says.
"Wait! You need this water more than I do!" Katara throws him her water skin.
Aang catches the water skin and starts running again. Azula and her team reach the intersection. "Follow them! The Avatar's mine!" Mai and Ty Lee begin chasing Katara and Sokka while Azula chases after Aang. The hunt is on again!
Meanwhile, the two siblings have arrived at the end of the hallway where there is a closed hatch. "Slurry pipeline? What does that mean?" Katara read a sign nearby, while Sokka struggles to open the hatch. Having successfully opened hatch which leads to a canal channeling slurry. "It's rock and water mixed together. It means our way out!"
The two begin descending into the pipe when Mai and Ty Lee arrive. They manage to escape into the canal just as a flurry of daggers is sent their way. Mai and Ty Lee run over and peer into the pipeline. Mai holds her hands over the slurry. "Ugh, disgusting!"
"C'mon! You heard Azula. We have to follow them!" Ty Lee tried to persuade her friend.
"She can shoot all the lightning she wants at me. I am not going in that wall sludge juice." Mai said followed by a shiver of disgust.
Ty Lee shrugs and leaps through the pipeline into the slurry. Mai shudders with a final expression of disgust and closes the hatch. Aang races past several engineers through the drill. Outside at the rear of the drill where a flood of slurry is continually being released. Katara and Sokka slide through the slurry onto the ground with Ty Lee following them in hot pursuit. Katara uses waterbending to stop the flow of slurry and plug up the back entrance of the drill, thus trapping Ty Lee.
"Why don't you try blocking my chi now, circus freak?" Katara taunts hatefully.
"Katara, keep that up. The pressure will build up in the drill. Then when Aang delivers the final blow, it'll be ready to pop!" Sokka says.
Back at the right side of the drill the battle with the fat mercenary was well underway. The giant mercenary swings his flaming sword at his opponents that try to attack him at the same time. Toph goes into a slide and bends backwards dodging the sword that narrowly missed her face. She flipped in the air and landed behind the mercenary and kicked and created a fissure to throw him off balance. The mercenary stumbled as with Dante pressing his next attack. Dante unsheathed his katana and clashed with his opponent's sword. Spark jumped as the two blades met.
"Who are you to challenge me, the God of War?" the mercenary asked proudly.
Dante grinned while firebends his katana alight. He forced the mercenary down on one knee. Toph causes the earth to swallow up the mercenary's feet trapping in.
"Death." Dante said before slicing off his head which rolled onto the ground.
Toph walked over to pick it up. She took a moment to shake the head up and down to make the jaw move like a ventriloquist puppet. Then she turned and kicked the head high in the air and far over many yards. Dante saw the Efreet amulet on the body and removed it for a trophy.
"Perfect timing. Sokka and Katara got out of the drill." Toph sensed through the ground.
"We should head back to the drill then." V said. The three rushed off immediately.
Aang and Momo have made their way to the top of the drill. "This looks like a good spot, Momo."
But before he could do anything he looks up to find boulders being hurtled down the wall, nearly crushing him. "General Sung, tell your soldiers to stop shooting rocks down here!" he yelled.
High atop the wall the General couldn't hear Aang's protest. "Soldiers, whatever you do, don't stop shooting rocks down there!" he said frantically.
The soldiers nod and launch another round of rocks toward the drill. Aang leaps out of the way of the oncoming boulders and begins slicing at the hull of the metal using water from Katara's water skin.
Back with the tribal siblings things were getting clogged up more with Sokka's cheering. "Good technique, little sister! Keep it up! Don't forget to breathe!" he said.
"You know, I'm just about sick and tired of you telling me what to do all day! You're like a chattering hog-monkey!" said Katara irritated.
"JUST BEND THE SLURRY, WOMAN!" Sokka screamed.
Frustrated, Katara bends a wave of slurry into her brother with her free hand, knocking her hog-monkey of a brother down into the muck.
"You guys need some help?" Toph said approaching them.
"Toph, help me plug up this drain." Katara said.
With the two's combined effort in water and mudbending the slurry they sent it, as well as Ty Lee, farther into the drill and causing the pipes to begin to expand under the pressure.
Aang on the other end of the drill continues to slice the metal of the drill. Exhausted Aang stopped to take a moment to catch his breath. "What I'd give to be a metalbender." Aang thought aloud.
Momo suddenly shrieks and Aang deflects a blue fire blast just in time. Aang assuming a fighting stance. "Momo, get out of here!" his flying friend did.
Azula appears before the Avatar and a battle ensues between the two. Azula shoots fire blasts at Aang, who manages to block them using airbending. She continues the fire attacks only to have each one of her strikes deterred by water whips. She eventually manages to vaporize the water with two strong fire kicks, sending Aang spinning backwards. The two narrowly dodge the several boulders that are hurtled toward them at that moment. Aang uses earthbending to create a cover and sends rocks at Azula, who drops to the grounds as the first one passes and kicks the other away from here. Launches and big rock at Azula leaps over it and summersaults in midair creating a wheel of blue fire and sends the power firebending assault that obliterates his rock cover slams Aang into the Outer Wall of Ba Sing Se, leaving him unconscious.
Azula takes a pause before the section of their drill they were on jerks forward. The drill is has completely dug its way through the Outer Wall. Azula walks over to him and pulls him to his feet and set him against the wall. Her sadistic nature wanted her to enjoy this killing and as Aang slowly regains conscious he sees her create a blue fire in her right hand, preparing to deal a deadly final strike, but Aang fully awakens in time to send her skidding back using an earthbending gauntlet. It was clobbering time!
Having tried to enjoy the prospect of a perfect kill you was robbed if it entirely. Azula sprints toward the Avatar igniting her hands with two flames. But before he could correct her mistake a flood of slurry is released as the drill bores deeper into the wall, coating the two. Azula slides toward a helpless Aang, attempting to halt herself by windmilling only to collide with him. The force of the collision sends both sliding off opposite sides of the drill. Azula is able to stop her descent by grinding her metal feet into the drill's side while Momo drags Aang up to the top with the help of Aang's airbending.
"Thanks, Momo. I owe you one. Now all I need ..." A boulder suddenly falls before him. "Actually, that is what I need for once." He uses airbending to position the boulder over the X mark in the drill. Using earthbending, he cuts the rock several times, creating a wedge that fits inside the middle of the hole. He is now ready to deliver the final blow.
He takes a stance and sprinting toward the wall, scales up its side by riding an air scooter and, once he arrives at his highest point. With a great shout he turns and rockets at lightning speed toward the bottom. As he propels himself downward, Azula catches sight of him and runs toward him to stop whatever he was trying to doing.
Aang shouts jump off down the rock wedge. Azula fires at him and misses by mere seconds and is sent back forcefully as Aang leaps and slams down on the wedge, creating a large ripple effect. The impact of the blow causes the sliced braces inside the drill to collapse and the pipes to burst, releasing a torrent of slurry. Slurry begins to seep from the drill. Katara and Toph, who remain in their bending stances, see the damage coming to them.
"WOOHOO!" Sokka cheers.
"Here it comes!" Toph warns earthbends Katara, Sokka, and herself onto a rock pillar to avoid the flood of slurry. Slurry gushes from the rear of the drill, and Ty Lee slams into the wall of the rock pillar as she is forcefully pushed forward by the flood. The drill begins to release steam and its segments begin to collapse. On the other side of the wall, the drill has coming to a halt.
Aang covered in slurry, Momo licking him as he wipes it away near his face, a huge smile spread across his face. They win. War Minister Qin, who stares at the slurry from inside the command module, completely shocked. They lost. General Sung atop the Outer Wall, covered in the muck.
Dante sat on the top of the Sabertooth with Toph beside him. He lights his dragon pipe with a small flame in the palm of his hand. He looked up at the mammoth out of commission drill. "You're a clever bastard, Sokka." Dante said sincerely to himself.
Nightmare had destroyed the rest of the tanks and the enemy troops and now returned to his master. "Job well done lad." V said in satisfaction.
Ty Lee as she attempts to clear away the mess. Azula, skidding down the drill also covered in slurry. She lands by Ty Lee, causing the acrobat to be covered in slurry once again. A hatch opens, revealing Mai, who is completely clean.
"We lost." She said dryly.
Azula on the other hand was not surprised. The possibility of the fire Nation winning by trying to take the city with a similar tactic that was modified in a different way was slim to none. She knew that they weren't going to win. And now they lost she has decided to try a plan of her own. The first thing they need to do was to disappear so they couldn't avoid being captured.
Back at the train station the time to board the train was now. The train conductor announced the last call to Ba Sing Se. for those boarding it was a joyful relief to finally venture inside the safety of the walls. However Jet was not joyful he was darkened by a revelation as he stormed toward the train.
"Jet, relax. So the old guy had some hot tea. Big deal." Smellerbee tried to calm Jet down about the situation.
"He heated it himself! Those guys are firebenders!" Jet stated darkly.
Iroh and Zuko board the train, Jet and his groups eying them. Iroh and Zuko seat themselves next to Than and his family. Iroh notices the adorability of Espera.
"What a handsome baby." He compliments as he strokes the baby.
"Thank you." Ying says with a smile her baby.
Outside the train car two earthbenders begin moving the train out of the station.
Team Avatar standing at the top of the wall, overlooking the sunset.
"I just want to say, good effort out there today, Team Avatar!" Sokka says.
"Enough with the Team Avatar stuff. No matter how many times you say it, it's not going to catch on." Katara replies with an eyes roll.
Sokka pulls out his boomerang." How about ... the Boomeraang Squad! See it's good because it's got "Aang" in it. Boomeraang."
Aang grins, "I kind of like that one." he said.
"Let's talk about this on our way into the city." Katara says as she and everyone else begins to walk away.
"The Aang Gang?" Sokka thought of another one.
"Sokka ..." Katara moans wishing he relented.
"The Fearsome Foursome?" Sokka says.
Toph shakes her head and walks away. "You're crazy."
"If not an idiot." Dante added.
"Why? We're fearsome!" Sokka said running after them.
"Griffon would you kindly?" V asked his avian demon.
"With pleasure." Griffon said. The bird electrocuted Sokka with a quickly zap.
"OUCH!" Sokka yelped.
This day was theirs, but there are more battles along the way. For within the city a shadow deepens. It is pleased by what it saw at the wall.