Disclaimer: All rights belong to Nickelodeon, Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, and all the men and women that created the A:TLA show, books, and comics. I take no credit, and I do not mean to break any copyright rules. This is simply a work of fiction made for enjoyment. No money is being made. The lyrics are from the song "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons
Rating: General Audiences. Warning: some scenes contain dark themes and minor violence
Author's Note: I pinky promise there's a Zutara reunion next chapter. But they still have a long way to go...
Chapter 2: Boiling Rock
I'm breaking in, shaping up,
then checking out on the prison bus
It's a revolution, I suppose
"Boiling Rock," Sokka says, laying out a map. "The most secure prison in the Fire Nation. It's on an island in the middle of a boiling lake. Supposedly inescapable."
"How do you know Zuko is there?" Toph asks.
"I overheard Azula telling her guards to take him there when we split off to go to Ba Sing Se," Katara answers.
"How do you know he's not somewhere else and that she was just distracting you?" Aang asks suspiciously. "And why is it so important that we risk everything to save him, anyway?"
Katara shoots him a glare. He raises his hands in defense.
"It makes sense that he's there," Sokka says. "Otherwise he'd be at the palace prison, but we already broke in there. So anyways, it's in the middle of a volcano here." Sokka points on the map. "About a night's flight on Appa."
"But we can't take Appa in," Aang says. "It's a prison on an island. They don't have bison daycares."
"We'll fly Appa here," Sokka says, moving his finger from the marked red spot on the map. "It's a little town with a forest. He can hide out there. We'll have to either sneak in the prison on a supply boat or drop in from the air."
"Wait," Toph says, holding up her hand. "Who even is going?"
"I am," Katara says instantly.
"Then I am, too," Aang volunteers.
Sokka shakes his head. "No way, Katara. This is too dangerous. We can't risk everything to save him. Aang and I will go. You and Toph need to stay here and continue your earthbending lessons. We'll be back before you know it."
Katara stares at him. He hates the look of betrayal in her eyes. "Sokka, I have to go. Zuko's there because of me."
"No, he's there because of himself. He made the decision to take your place in prison, and the last thing he would want is for you to end up right back in a cell. If something happens and we fail, at least you and Toph will still be free."
Katara doesn't look happy, but she backs down. She sees the logic in his argument. She may hate it, but she can't deny it.
Sokka turns back to the plans. "There will be a lot of steam from the lava and the water," he continues. "It won't be hard to sneak onto the island unseen. The problem is getting into the prison and then getting out with Zuko."
He continues laying his plan out. The others listen, occasionally putting in suggestions. Even as Sokka explains his plan, he realizes how weak it is. If even one thing goes wrong or if one factor is different then it's all for nothing. Everything will have to be precise.
"I think we should leave tonight," he finishes. "The longer we wait, the more we risk running into Azula and her friends. We got a head start on them from Ba Sing Se, but they've proven to always be a half step behind us - or ahead."
Katara nods. "I'll pack Appa up with supplies for the trip. You and Aang go over the plan again. If something happens and it becomes too risky…" She takes a deep breath. "Get out of there. If you have to, get out without Zuko. I can't lose anyone else."
Sokka knows how hard that is for her to say. He already knows that he's not coming back without the prince. If their roles were switched and Katara was going to get Suki, he knows she'd be thinking the same.
Besides, Zuko is a huge liability. Katara has already given herself up for him once; they can't risk putting her in that position again. Azula won't make the same mistake twice.
They leave at sunset. Toph punches Aang and Sokka and tells them to knock some Fire Nation heads. Katara hugs Aang, telling him to keep an eye on Sokka's back. Then she hugs Sokka, telling him to stay safe. She strokes Appa's side, telling him to watch out for her boys.
They don't exchange goodbyes. None of them wants to admit that it might be the last time they see each other. None of them wants to admit the danger of the mission or the risks of separating.
Above all, no one makes any comments about the purpose of the mission. Although they all have their doubts about whether Zuko is worth all this risk, they aren't doing this for him. They're doing it for Katara. And they're doing it as a strike back at the Fire Nation for Ba Sing Se.
It's early morning when the boys touch down on the shores of the volcanic island. They had snuck into the hold of a supply ship and had found crates of fresh uniforms, complete with helmets. They had each found one that fit and dressed quickly, walking straight into the prison by wheeling boxes of food and weapons.
"We just need to lay low and find Zuko as soon as possible," Sokka says once they've finished their work and are moving onto the next phase of their plan.
A bunch of guards run down the corridor, right past them. Sokka and Aang press themselves tightly against the wall, trying to hide, but one of the guards sees them. "Guards!" he calls out. "There's a scuffle in the yard. Come on!"
They exchange glances and follow. Sokka knows that part of laying low means blending in - even if that means pretending to be guards.
They maneuver their way to the front of a large circle of prisoners and guards. Two men are in the middle, circling each other.
"I didn't do anything," one says. "I'm going back to my cell."
"Stop right there, Chit Sang!" the other man, a guard, lashes a firewhip right in front of the man's feet.
Aang starts to take a step, but Sokka grabs his arm. "We can't blow our cover," he says. Aang sighs but steps back in line.
"I've had it with your unruly behavior," the guard continues.
"What did I do?" Chit Sang asks.
"He wants to know what he did." The guard grins. "Isn't that cute?" He walks up to the prisoner. "You didn't bow when I walked by, Chit Sang."
"What? That's not a prison rule."
"Do it." The guard tries to get in his face, but he's shorter and doesn't appear so intimidating.
"Make me," Chit Sang responds.
The guard walks past, as if to leave him alone. Then he suddenly turns and whips a wave of fire at the man. Chit Sang turns and catches the flames, sending them back.
The guard dissipates the flames and shakes his head. "Tsk tsk. Firebending is prohibited. You're going in the cooler." He looks over at Aang and Sokka and points at Sokka. "You! Help me take him in!"
"Meet back here in an hour," Sokka whispers before following the other guard. They take him to a building, down a couple flights of stairs, and then into a hallway that's much cooler than the rest of the place. The guard motions for Sokka to open a door and when he does, freezing air blows out.
"The warden will deal with you soon," the guard warns Chit Sang before pushing him into the room. Sokka closes the door behind him.
"Can you believe this guy?" the other guard says as soon as the door is shut.
"Prisoners! Am I right?" Sokka replies, unable to hide a slight squeaking in his voice. His heart hasn't stopped pounding since he's been called out. This isn't part of the plan. Not at all.
"Eh. Tell me about it."
Aang follows the other guards out of the yard and into the mess hall. He follows them in line to grab some food.
"Hey, new guy," one of them calls out. "I know it's the rule to wear your helmet at all times, but this is the lounge! Relax!"
"But what if there's an incident?" Aang asks. "If I'm not prepared...someone can...uh, strike me in the head."
The guards laugh. "Give it a week," another guard says. "He'll loosen up."
They trust him. Aang sees this as a good opportunity to get some information.
"Can the new guy ask you experts some questions about the prison?" he asks, sitting down and placing his tray on the table.
"No," a guard says instantly. "You can't date female guards."
"Trust me. You wouldn't want to, anyway," another one advises, earning him a cup in the face from the female guard.
"I was just wondering about the prisoners," Aang says, trying to keep the atmosphere light. "Is it true that the most dangerous prisoners are here?"
"You bet. But don't worry, they're locked up all nice and tight."
"But there are war prisoners here, right? Like traitors?"
The female guard sighs. "He wants to know what all the newbies want to know." She sets down her fork and stares at him. "You want us to confirm the rumors about our star prisoners."
Aang nods, hoping they're referring to the person he's thinking about.
"Yes, the prince is here," she says. "But you can't tell anyone outside of this island. Not even your family. There are already rumors beginning to spread, and it brings down the moral of the people."
"No one wants to hear that the heir to the throne is a traitor," the other guard agrees. "It isn't good for the war effort."
"He's not the heir anymore," she points out. "And in any case, the war effort is going great. You heard about Ba Sing Se, right?"
Aang nods. He doesn't like the look of excitement on their faces.
"I'm almost glad the prince betrayed the empire," the guards says. "Now the princess will take the throne. She's always been stronger."
"And after all these male leaders it will be nice to have a female Fire Lord."
Aang picks at his food to give himself something to do. He doesn't have any praises for Azula.
Sokka feels a nudge at his side. "It's the warden," the other guard warns. "Look alive!"
They both straighten up. A middle-aged man with long black hair and a permanent scowl walks down the hall, flanked by two guards. He walks straight past them and into the cooler.
"So, Chit Sang," he says. "I hear you used firebending to try and escape. You should know better."
"I wasn't trying to escape," the man says.
"He's lying!" the guard by Sokka exclaims. "I saw it with my own eyes."
"No one has ever, ever escaped from here," the warden continues. "I'd sooner jump in the boiling lake myself than let that record fall. Don't forget it." He narrows his eyes. "Now go back to your shivering."
The door slams shut and Sokka jumps a bit.
They meet again at the watchtower looking over the detention yard. Sokka is standing with his arms on the railing, scanning the few prisoners milling around for Zuko. He hears footsteps approaching.
"Hey, there...uh, fellow guard."
Sokka's head whips up. "Aang?"
Aang puts a finger to his lips. "I asked around some of the other guards. They confirmed that Zuko is here. But I don't know where yet."
"We can't just check every cell," Sokka says. "That would take too long, even if the guards didn't bust us first."
"We can't stay here for too long, either," Aang reminds him. "The longer we're here, the better chance one of us slips up and is exposed."
Sokka is about to respond when something catches his eye. He squints into the yard. "Is that…"
Aang follows his gaze. "That looks like Suki!"
Sokka breaks out into a smile. Warmth fills his chest. He was expecting to extract one prisoner, not two. This changes all his plans. But for once in his life, he doesn't care if he has to wing it. He's too excited to see Suki.
"We need to talk to her," he says. "She'll know more than we do."
"How do we get to her?"
Below, a guard blows a whistle. "Prisoners, back to your cells!"
Sokka flips the visor of his helmet back down. "We follow."
Suki is laying on her bunk, her arms crossed under her head, ready to spend another miserable night in her dark cell. It's actually not too horrible, considering the circumstances, but it's boring more than anything. She misses her freedom and her village and her warriors. She misses training and fighting and helping the Avatar - helping the world.
Trying to plan an escape with Zuko gives her something to think about, but it's not enough for her active brain. She always finds it hard to sleep at night, wondering what she could have done differently to not end up here. To not have lost her warriors and friends.
And she thinks about Sokka, of course. She wonders what he's doing. She wonders if he's locked away in a prison somewhere, also caught in one of Azula's clever traps. Or is he and the others continuing on their mission to end the war and defeat the Fire Nation?
She tries not to think about their fight. They were stressed from the drill fight and emotional about seeing each other again after a long time. They said things they didn't mean. And if it's a long time before they see each other again, she wants to remind herself about the good times they had together.
She's just reliving the memory of their first mission together when the door opens and shuts quickly and a guard steps in. Suki rolls over and sits up, partly suspicious and partly annoyed.
"What is it? Did I do something wrong?"
"You mean you don't recognize me?"
She turns her face away. "You people all look the same to me."
"Oh? Then maybe you'll recognize this." He leans in. She curls her lip in disgust and slams her palm into his solar plexus. Screw the rules about not fighting guards. He stumbles backwards and into the wall, sliding to the floor with a groan. His helmet is knocked loose and she takes a closer look at his face.
"Sokka!" she exclaims, her mood instantly brightening. "It's you!"
She feels both immense relief and happiness. The last time she saw him, she wanted to punch him in the face. Now she runs over and wraps her arms around him, burying her face in his shoulder. He hugs her back, stroking her hair.
When they stand up, he turns back into master-planner Sokka. "The other Kyoshi Warriors - are they here?"
"No. I don't know where they are. They locked me in here because I'm their leader."
"Well, you won't be here for long. I'm busting you out."
She takes his hand. "I'm so glad to see you, Sokka. But I've already got an escape plan."
His jaw drops. "What?"
"Well, half an escape plan. It's a work in progress. But we could really use your help."
"'We'?"
She smirks. "Zuko and I. You remember Zuko, right?"
Sokka rubs his face. "Wait. You and Zuko know each other? Like, know know each other?"
"He knew I was helping Katara and I knew he risked his freedom to help her escape. When I arrived here, he and a friend of his contacted me. We've been working on an escape plan since. Problem is, we needed help from the outside. Now we have that help."
Sokka recovers and nods. She thinks he looks cute when he's perplexed. "I'm here with Aang. We're both disguised as guards. Do you know where Zuko is being kept? We'll go pay him a visit, let him know what we've told you."
"He's a special prisoner of the warden's," Suki explains. "Word got around about who he is and he got beat up a couple of times. His cell is in the warden's house. You'll have to think of a good reason to get in there, especially at this hour. It's better to just wait until tomorrow when he's out in the yard. I'll tell him everything. But maybe you should find Kodakah."
"Kodakah?"
"Yeah, he's a really influential prisoner here. He's working with Zuko and I."
"Alright. We'll see what we can do with him. I better not stay too long or it will look suspicious." Sokka leans forward and kisses her. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
He leaves, locking the cell behind him. For the first time since arriving here, Suki goes to sleep in a good mood.
Sokka slips into the cell Suki indicated. He's feeling a bit nervous, and not just because he doesn't know this man at all. The name Kodakah sounds just a bit too much like a Water Tribe name. It brings back memories that Sokka would rather forget than grieve again.
The man stands up calmly when Sokka enters the cell.
"Is there a problem, sir?" he asks. Although he's calm now, Sokka has no doubt that he could take on almost any guard if things went south. The man is built like a proper Water Tribe warrior.
Sokka lifts the helmet off his head. "My name is Sokka. I'm Suki's...ah, friend. I'm here to help break her and Zuko out. She told me I should talk to you."
Kodakah stares at him. "Listen, sir, I'm not looking to escape. And I don't talk to...what's her name? Soku? Siki?"
Sokka feels frustrated. He knows what the man is doing - he doesn't trust Sokka because he thinks he's a decoy, sent in by the guards to get information and incriminate that. Sokka has to find a way to make the man trust him.
"I'm not really a guard here," Sokka says. "I'm not even Fire Nation. I'm from the Southern Water Tribe. See? Blue eyes. Dark skin. My sister's the Avatar."
Kodakah just continues to stare. "Sir, I'm not sure what this is." His words are slow. Sokka knows he's starting to break through, but not enough.
"Just a minute," Sokka says, slipping out of the cell. He grabs Aang, who's standing watch, and pulls him inside.
"What is this - "
Sokka pulls off his helmet and shows Kodakah the blue arrow on his forehead. "Look! This is my friend Aang. He's a monk from the Air Temples."
"Monks would never align with the Fire Nation," Kodakah says slowly.
"Because we're not aligned with the Fire Nation!" Aang exclaims. "We're friends of Avatar Katara. And we're trying to break our friends out of here."
Kodakah exhales deeply. "I hope I'm not making a huge mistake," he mumbles under his breath. "Alright. Zuko and Suki and I have started making an escape plan. But we need some help getting off the volcano."
Sokka and Aang exchange glances. "Let's see what we can come up with."
At sunrise, just before all the prisoners are woken up and taken to the yard, Sokka slips back into Suki's cell. She's already awake, practicing her moves.
"Sokka!"
"We found Kodakah and made an escape plan."
"What is it?"
"We're escaping today. On the gondola."
Suki's eyebrows knit together. "What?"
"On the gondola. We're going to take a prisoner so they won't cut the line."
"We'll never make it onto the gondola. There's too many guards."
"We already thought of that. We need a distraction. Kodakah's going to start a prison riot."
She doesn't look convinced. "Okay. Let's say that, by some miracle, this all works and we make it on the gondola. The warden will still cut the lines anyway, even if we have a captive."
Sokka's lip curls up. "Not if the warden is the captive."
There's a sound outside. Sokka's glances through the peep hole and sees a few guards milling around. "I have to go. I'll find you before we start the riot."
She hugs him quickly and then he leaves, his heart racing in anticipation of what's coming next.
Sokka waits until his cue and goes up to the control office.
"I just got orders," he tells the guard working there. "We're supposed to let the prisoners out into the yard."
"Are you sure? It's still too early."
Sokka turns. "Okay. I'll just tell the warden you said that. I'm sure he'll be glad to hear about you undermining his authority." Sokka turns quickly. "What's your name, again?"
"Wait! Don't tell the warden. I was just a bit confused."
"Hey, I'm confused,too. The warden is in a bad mood - irrational. If you ask me, it's best not to question. Just do as he says."
"Right. You're right." The guard starts pulling the levers. "We're letting them all out!"
The prisoners start spilling out of their newly opened cells and heading towards the yard. A few of them throw up confused looks but just walk outside.
Sokka runs out and meets Kodakah, Suki, and Aang. "Where's Zuko?"
"I don't know," Suki says, "I looked around but didn't find him."
"Me too," Kodakah says.
"Well, he'll find us soon enough. We need to start that riot."
"I'll go look for him," Aang volunteers, taking off.
"Okay. But how do we start a riot?" Suki asks.
Kodakah grins. "I'll show you." He walks up to a big, scarred, tattooed man and shoves him hard. The man stumbles and then turns around with wide eyes.
"Hey! What'd you do that for? That hurt my feelings."
Kodakah frowns. "You aren't mad?"
"Normally I would be, but I've been ordered to control my anger."
Kodakah sighs. "Look, man, we need to start a riot."
"Well, in that case." The man picks up a smaller man near him, lifts him above his head, and shouts, "Riot!"
All the prisoners start yelling and bending and punching each other. Sokka, Suki, and Kodakah watch, slightly impressed.
Zuko and Aang run up a minute later. Sokka doesn't take the time to talk to the former; they'll have plenty of time to do proper introductions once they're off the island.
"Good. We're all here. Now all we need to do is grab the warden and get on the gondola."
"And how do we do that?" Zuko asks.
Sokka opens his mouth, then closes it. "I'm not sure," he admits after a moment.
"I thought you planned this through," Aang says.
"I'm doing the best I can under the circumstances!"
"This is kinda important!" Zuko cries.
"Hey, guys," Kodakah says. "I think your friend is taking care of it."
They turn and watch as Suki runs through the crowd, scampers up the first level of the guard tower, knocks out the guards, flips up to the next level, and proceeds to fight and climb her way up, looking just as graceful and flexible as Ty Lee.
They follow, climbing up the side using the emergency ladder and reaching the top just as she ties and gags the warden. She shoves him against the wall, never quite letting go.
"We've got the warden. Now let's get out of here!"
They climb to the very top of the guard tower and begin running towards the bridge that lies between them and the gondola station. As they near the pagoda, a set of guards shoot flames at them. Zuko shoves past the others and lands with a sweep of his arms, dissipating the flames.
"Back off," he warns. "We've got the warden."
The guards stand helplessly to the side as the others run through and into the caged box. Normally prisoners are locked in here and moved from one side of the prison to the other, or in from outside, but today they're using it to escape.
Zuko, the last of them, stays behind to pull the level. The gondola begins to move away. He begins to kick the control panel, breaking the lever and gears into place. As the guards converge on him, he sprints to the edge of the platform.
He leaps through the air, flames flying all around him from the guards. Sokka leans down and grabs his arm. He hangs there for a moment before they pull him into the gondola.
"What were you doing?" Sokka exclaims. "You almost got captured!"
"I'm making it so they can't stop us."
Sokka has to admit that he's impressed. "Way to think ahead."
"I could have done it," Aang mumbles quietly. "And I can fly."
"Who's that?" Kodakah says, pointing out the side.
Zuko looks out the side, back at the platform where they came from. "That's a problem," he says. "My sister and her friends."
"Azula's here?" Aang exclaims. "How did she get here so fast?"
"She must have left Ba Sing Se as soon as it was secure," Sokka replies. "It would have been faster for her because she didn't have to hide, like us."
"It doesn't matter how she got here," Suki says. "She's too clever. We've never outsmarted her."
Zuko clenches his fists. "Well it's about time."
Azula grabs a pair of handcuffs from a nearby guard. Ty Lee jumps onto the gondola cables and starts running towards them. Azula blasts her blue fire from behind her, propelling herself upwards. She latches the handcuff around the cable and then blasts more fire behind her, flying along the cable line.
"This is a rematch I've been waiting for," Suki says with narrowed eyes.
Zuko glances over at her. "Me too."
Everyone except Kodakah and the warden climbs onto the top of the gondola. Aang swings his staff, Suki clenches her fists, Zuko falls into a firebending position, and Sokka pulls out his boomerang.
Ty Lee jumps on one end while Azula lands on the other. The four of them are in between the two girls. Azula has narrowed eyes. Ty Lee smiles playfully.
Azula bends a wave of blue fire. Aang springs up and then lands in front of Zuko, dissipating it with a blast of wind. Then he sends one in return. Azula blocks it with a flame shield.
Suki, Sokka and Ty Lee trade punches. Ty Lee swings under and through the gondola, popping out on the other side. She delivers a punch that hits Sokka in the back and sends him stumbling. He regains his feet as Suki holds the other girl off.
Aang and Zuko circle around Azula, dissolving her fire and sending punches. Suki, Sokka and Ty Lee continue dodging and punching and kicking.
Underneath the warden must have wriggled his way through his bonds because suddenly he's leaning out of the side of the gondola yelling, "Cut the line!"
In the distance a guard shoves his sword into the gears in an attempt to stop the cables from bringing them further. The gondola shudders to a stop and everyone stops fighting each other to fight for their balance.
Another guard shoves his sword in and suddenly the gondola isn't moving at all. Sokka begins sliding off the side. Zuko leans over and grabs his arm, this time being the one to save him.
Ty Lee scampers up to the cables. "They're about to cut the line!" she cries. They all look over to see the guards sawing at the thick cable.
Another gondola comes in the opposite way, heading towards the station. Azula grins. "Then it's time to leave. Goodbye, Zuko."
She blasts herself up with her fire and lands on the other gondola. Ty Lee springs off the cables and lands gracefully next to her. The princess smiles triumphantly as they head down, perfectly safe. Ty Lee looks a bit sad but her face is firm.
Zuko swings back into the gondola. "They're cutting the line!" he tells Kodakah. "This thing's about to go!"
"Then I hope it floats," Kodakah responds.
They're hovering right over the boiling lake now. The steam from the water heats up the air around them.
Suddenly the men cutting the line are thrown into the wall. Zuko can't see exactly how, but he knows who. He leans out the window and watches as she throws little objects that shine in the sun - her ninja stars - and pin the guards to the walls, railings, and ground. She takes out the twenty guards on deck easily.
Then she kicks out the wedged swords and the gondola begins moving again.
"Who's that?" Sokka exclaims. He and the others have also shimmied in.
"It's Mai," Zuko says, still shocked but also awed.
Their gondola reaches the other side. Suki busts out and the others follow her, leaving the warden tied up again and lying in the gondola. Zuko pauses on the cliff edge for a moment, watching.
"Zuko, what are you doing?" Sokka exclaims.
"My sister was on that island," he says.
"Yeah, and she's probably right behind us, so let's not stop!"
"What I mean is, she must have come here somehow."
Sokka understands. "She has a way off."
"Exactly."
Aang takes off in the air, gliding around. He returns a second later. "I found it! A war balloon at the bottom of the cliffs!"
"How are we going to get down?" Kodakah asks.
"I'll fly everyone down. I can take two at a time. Suki and Sokka, let's go first."
Zuko hangs back, squinting. In the distance he can just barely see figures on the opposite platform. He watches two of the figures face off for a moment while a third stands by. Then the two suddenly move, metal glinting from the hands of one of the figures - Mai - and the other points her arms out, ready to summon lightning - Azula. He holds his breath as she moves - and then the third figure is moving, running into the latter.
She falls onto the ground. Then a bunch of figures - guards - rush forward and surround the two standing. And then suddenly Zuko is snatched up and carried away before he can process everything that has happened.