"And see, this here is a Proto-Direction-Correction Liquifimodificator Jabber-The-Ham Thingamabob, very important."
"Sokka, that's a steering wheel, even I know that," said Katara.
"Right, yes, a steering wheel. I knew that. It's just, technical terms, you know," said Sokka again, trying to prove his knowledge superior.
"I think he's just trying to sound smart. And failing, being, well, you know, Sokka, and all," snarked Toph in a whisper to Aang beside her. She and the airbender both snickered.
"Now," said Sokka, looking below the wheel. "I do believe these pedals down here serve a vitally important function." He pressed down on one with his hand. "It would seem, due to their connection with the fuel tanks, that they would serve to activate the acceleration. But how..." he trailed off, looking around.
A jingly sound came from behind. Katara, Sokka, and Zuko turned around to see Aang throwing some metal keys up and down. "Haha, Momo would love these."
"...I think we found our answer," said Katara. She took them, and showed them to Sokka. "Look at these, they look sort of like keys, and we use keys in a keyhole, and look."
Sokka turned towards the wheel once again. "A keyhole! Brilliant!" He took the keys from his sister, and fitted one into the hole. He turned it, and, by some miracle, the vehicle started up.
"Woohoo!" cheered everyone else.
"Thank you, thank you," said Sokka, taking a light bow. "It would seem that Sokka has saved us all with his amazing understanding of technology once again. Now let's go." He sat in the chair, placed his hands on the wheel, and placed his feet on the pedals. The machine leaped into the air, and, seemingly only by the means of simple plot-escalation, he was able to maneuver it perfectly. "Heh. You know, we could invent these back home. Call them, 'automobiles.'"
"Why that?" asked Toph.
"Because they AUTOmatically are MOBILE," pointed out Sokka.
"That's ridiculous, Sokka," said Aang playfully.
As speed began to pick up, Toph made a gagging face. "I think I'm gonna be sick."
Numbuh Four took a deep breath. If his girlfriend had been emotionless, almost all creatures in the world were a hybrid of some sort, and almost all of the people had fantastic supernatural abilities...then what would his sister be like? He didn't even know what it was like to have a sister. Let alone one with fire powers who was apparently locked up in the nut house. He was all ready to be taken to the Mental Institute, just barely ready to face what was about to unfold. Before he left, Mai gave him a small kiss on the cheek, which he pretended to accept but was only feeling a landslide of awkwardness about on the inside. He was led into some sort of royal carriage led by four large ostrich-horses, and they were off. It didn't seem to take too long to get from the castle to the prison; only about thirty minutes or so. Or perhaps his sense of time had just been incredibly fractured since arriving here, which he was sure was almost certainly the case. It was a giant, intimidating building made from dark metals and stones with numerous spiked watchtowers posted around, no doubt guarded by ready trained firebenders. He, followed by guards, entered through the many gates finally leading up to the massive doors. It took a lot to open them, five people needed to push just one. He came up to a desk in the front of the structure, with a buff, tall man sitting there. "Welcome to the Fire Nation Mental Prison, my Lord," said the man with some sort of unwelcoming hiss in his voice. "I am Fa Peng, the main warden of this establishment." He stood up. "I understand you have come to see your sister, Princess Azula. You will follow me; I will lead you to her room." His sternness only gave him a disapproving, imposing appearance. Numbuh Four wondered if he was always like this, or if he just sincerely hated him for some reason. Fa Peng led him through long, twisted, cavernous passageways that seemed to go on forever. Finally, the catacombs came to an end when the warden stopped at a door. He took out a metal key ring and sifted through the numerous identical shapes. He stopped on one, tried it in the keyhole, and the door opened up. Inside laid a teenage girl on a wooden bed, whose dark black hair fell like a curtain and whose voice came out in the most intimidating way possible. They could not even see her face, for she was turned away from them.
"Come to bring me my supper already?" She turned around, and caught sight of the boy at the door. She smiled, and came off of the bed, taking a few steps closer. "Hello, Wally. Finally come to see your sickly sister, hm?"
He did not answer, for Fa Peng then spoke. "I will leave you two to converse in private, but if anything goes wrong, we will know and will come in immediately." He turned to leave the room, casting one more vitriolic glance in the boy's direction before exiting.
Azula sat down on the ground, "I apologize for him," she said. "He's not too fond of the fact that our leader is fraternizing with members of the other nations, whom we had come so close to conquering. Please, sit."
He did so, and took his place a six feet distance from her. "What have you called me to talk about?"
"I had a feeling you could enlighten me on something that's been confusing me. I don't know why I've just realized this recently, but a few days ago, a realization struck me. I do not know why, but some sort of feeling just came and had me wondering. It was as if...there was a problem with the universe."
Numbuh Four was trying not to break face, as he knew exactly what she meant. But how did she notice?
"I've realized that you, and you alone, are the only person I've ever encountered with such light hair," she said. "I know it may seem irrelevant, but there's just something off about you. You have green eyes, such as that of an Earth Kingdom native, and that scar only serves to make it ever more blatant. What makes it even more odd, is how there is no place from where you could have become like this. Not from Mother, not from Father. Both of them have the same looks as I, with dark hair and golden eyes, as does most everyone in our Nation. Have you never thought that it might mean something?"
What it means is that I'm Australian and don't belong here, thought he. "Well, what do you think it means?" he asked her.
"I think it means that you are most definitely not Fire Nation, much less my brother." She could see the new look of worry spring across his face. "You're not my brother at all, are you?"
He sighed. Finally someone had figured out. How this someone who had managed to while locked up with no outside contact was confusing, but he needed answers, and he'd prefer them now. "No, I'm really not. I mean, I am, but I'm not. I'm not but something happened that made it so that I am."
"And what happened?"
"I don't know!" he raised his voice. "I have absolutely no idea what happened, and I just want to go home!"
"You want to go home?" she asked. "Home where?"
"Home...home! I'm not a king, I'm a secret agent, I'm ten years old, I don't have magical fire powers, no one does! No normal people have powers at all!"
Azula's eyes grew wider than they ever had been before. She thought perhaps he needed a place in the crazy house. Her theory had only been a wild guess, but who knew it could be true? All she wanted to do was strike some paranoia of mistaken identity into his heart and mind, but this...she wasn't expecting this at all. Could he be telling the truth? Surely he couldn't, but, Azula knew a lie when she heard one, and this statement oozed of truth. And pain, and worry, and so much confusion. "So you're saying that you're not from here? Not just the Fire Nation, but this world at all?"
"Yes," he could barely hold back a sniffle. "I just woke up here a few days ago, and all of a sudden everyone's catering to my every whim and I can shoot flames from my hands and I'm taller and have a scar. It makes no sense."
"And you're telling me this? Why?"
"Because you're the only person so far who's noticed."
"An alternate universe...hm..." she pondered for a moment, and all the possibilities unfolded before her mind. "I will help you find a way back."
"You will? But I thought you hated me!"
"According to what you've just told me, I don't."
"True...okay, I'll let you help me."
"But first you need to issue a royal pardon to let me out of prison."
"I will."
"Excellent."
Numbuh Four stood up and went to the door. "Fa Peng, we are done!" he yelled. The door swung open, and there stood the man in front of him. "I want to 'issue a royal pardon' for my sister. Do you know how I can do that?"
Fa Peng looked at the boy as if he was a general of a ship who had just instructed his entire platoon to jump off board because he saw a fish. "You- you want to let her out?"
"You heard me," replied the boy.
"Well, of course, being the most supreme power in all the land, of course you can do that, but she-"
"Well if I can do it then I will," he stood firm and crossed his arms, much less like a king but more like a bratty teenager who's arguing with their parents about going to a party after curfew.
Fa Peng sighed. "All right, then, I suppose your word is law." He grumbled, "I will talk to the higher-ups about getting her free, but it might take a day or two."
"I want her out as soon as humanly possible."
The warden summoned some more guards to lead the Fire Lord back to his carriage. After he had left, he turned to Azula.
"Perfect, perfect, I wasn't expecting this but it still went better than planned. And I have acquired some new information that will be even more helpful to us," said the girl smugly.
"I'll admit it, Princess," replied Fa Peng, "I didn't think you would be able to persuade him so easily."
"I've had years of practice," she said, waving her hand as if she'd been flattered. "And what did I tell you? This way is much cleaner cut than a full blown escape attempt would have been. Now wanted posters with my face won't be everywhere. Now I just need to see who will be on my side, who remains loyal to the cause my great-grandfather Sozin had planned out for us..."
"I am on your side, Princess," he bowed to her.
"And that is why you will succeed."
"WwAaOoUuHaHwUaoEhaOUaUAHEouhheahauoaueaAAAAAA!" Surely, starting a homemade rocket from Earth is one thing, but landing it on the Moon is a horse of a different color. They yanked, they janked, they bumped all around, but finally they were able to keep steady in the low-gravity atmosphere. Sokka caught sight of the Moonbase. A large, spectral bubble enclosing an extra-terrestrial treehouse that was about 50 times the size of their own stood before them. They could see other ships like theirs coming in to dock, in through airlock holes in the bubble being guided by other KND operatives in space suits and holding glowing sticks with which to guide direction. Sokka piloted the rocket over to one of these airlocks, and as they passed one of the directors he saluted them. They came into a form of parking garage and settled down quite inelegantly into a space with a loud THUNK! The door from which they would walk out dropped down with an equally graceless CLANK! The five waltzed out, taking in even more new surroundings of this world that never ceased to amaze them. They proceeded down the metal hallways, as another operative had told them to go, looking about at just how big everything was.
"So much metal..." breathed Toph. "So beautiful. If only I had my bending right about now, I'd be having more fun than a hogmonkey on a playground."
They continued down, and eventually came into the central hub of Moonbase. There were hallways and doors leading everywhere, labeled with terms ranging from "SPAGHETTI RESEARCH" to "CONDIMENT CORE." Out of the hall labeled "DECOMMISSIONING" stormed out a familiar face that all were less than pleased to see. Screaming one thing or another at the boy beside her, Numbuh Eighty-Six came into light.
"AND DON'T FORGET IT AGAIN!" the redhead boomed.
"Y-y-yyes, ma'am!" stuttered the operative, who then scurried off, leaving a trail of papers flying behind him.
Team Avatar became fearful themselves when the girl's glance turned to them. "You!" She marched up to them. "You all need to be up in Numbuh Three-Sixty-Two's office now!" She jerked her hand in a motion as to say, "Come on!" and started angrily across the busy room and up a case of winding steps. They all followed, and after walking through a hall full of various offices, came up to a door with the words "SOOPREME LEADER" painted on in red. Their surly escort smiled in a sort of "They are in so much trouble" kind of way. She knocked on the door. "Numbuh Three-Sixty-Two, Sector V is here."
"Bring them in," came the girl's voice from inside.
Numbuh Eighty-Six opened up the door and walked in with the team.
"Thank you, Numbuh Eighty-Six. You may be excused," said Numbuh Three-Sixty-Two.
Numbuh Eighty-Six grumbled at not getting to see their apparent punishment, but did what she was told nonetheless.
After the door closed, Numbuh Three-Sixty-Two looked to her operatives. "Gee, it gets so tiring having to dish out orders so formally all the time." She smiled. "You guys can have a seat."
They were glad to see that not all KNDs were mean. They sat down in the chairs before them. "So, what is it you called us here for?" asked Zuko.
"It's about that rock you found," she said. "Our top scientists have been studying it and its...strange properties. It would appear to be broken: a small part of a bigger whole. It also is giving off an unknown energy type. We think that it can have dangerous effects if it comes into contact with humans." She looked at them questioningly. "...You didn't actually touch it, did you?"
Immediately their faces turned to guilt. Toph was the first one to fess up. "I did," she said.
"So did I," followed Aang.
"Me, too," said Katara.
Sokka and Zuko both said "I did too" at the same time.
The leader sighed and rubbed her chin. "You all did. I was afraid of that, but somehow I knew inside that it was inevitable. Well, I guess now we just need to look at you in Medical." She picked up a walkie-talkie on her desk and held down the button. "We need to take Sector V down to Medical for analyzing."
A voice responded through static on the other end. "Ayup, okay."
Suddenly numerous KND agents burst through the door wearing light teal hazmat suits. They sprayed a sickeningly sweet smelling fume into the air, and gloved hands reaching towards them was the last thing any of them could remember.
Numbuh Four ignored the wide-eyed glances of disbelief and the jaws that were dropped as he walked. He came up through the back gates of the palace, through the bushes and leaves at the very edge of what would be the garden had he turned any more to the right. It was uncomfortable, all the stares, but he was somewhat at rest now that he felt he had an ally in this fight. In his attempt to remain straight-faced and also take the most roundabout route possible, he suddenly tripped over something on the ground, and fell with an "Oof!"
"Smooth," said Azula sarcastically behind him. She offered him a hand up, and then leaned down to see what had caused the trip. It was a rock. A medium-sized dark rock. With blue, glowing shards of mineral embedded inside. "Pretty," she said. "Looks like space rock."
"What?" uttered Numbuh Four flatly. He looked at it, and could tell that it resembled the one that they had found just before the switch. It had never occurred to him that it could be the reason for all of this. It couldn't be just coincidence that this universe had one exactly like it.
"I said, 'looks like space rock,' as in, it appears to be a rock that came from outer space. Could have been part of an asteroid," she repeated as if he should already know this but she wanted to say it anyway.
"It's broken," he said, as more realization set in. "We- me and my friends found one exactly like this back in our world. The day right before it happened."
"Interesting," she said. "We'll definitely need to come back to this. Right now, we need to go inside."
And so inside they went. The rest of Sector V, along with Mai, Ty Lee, and Suki were all together in one room. The room instantaneously became quiet when the two entered. The silence lasted a while, until Ty Lee broke it with a peppy tone of voice, "Azula turned good again?"
Following this, the other two in the room along with her burst with talk.
"What's she doing here?" asked Mai.
"Did she hypnotize you, Wally?" questioned Suki.
The voices rose and rose from a hum to chaos. "ENOUGH!" Numbuh Four finally shouted. "This is my sister, Princess Azula," he said. "In light of recent, confidential events, she has been allowed freedom so long as she sticks to her task and does no wrong."
"Maybe you're forgetting that giant black scar she left on your chest with lightningbending?" said Mai.
A giant black scar? On his chest? Hm, must've missed it. Too occupied with his face, I guess.
"Hey, weren't you the one she zapped with lightning?" whispered Numbuh Two to Numbuh One.
"I wouldn't say it's that much of a stretch that she hit us both," replied Numbuh One in an equally hushed tone.
"What happened in the past doesn't matter, what does matter is what needs to happen now," Numbuh Four stated.
"I apologize for my unethical actions that occurred during the unfortunate event of my mental breakdown," said Azula. "I am so, so sorry. Father was having...a very large influence on me." She turned her face down as if to shed a tear.
"Maybe she really is better now," said Ty Lee.
"That's one of your problems, Ty Lee. You're far too trusting," said Mai, throwing a slight scowl in the princess's direction.
Numbuh Four looked to each of his friends faces individually upon his words as he said, "She. Can. Help. Us."
The other four realized what this meant, and their eyes became happy.
"I think," said Numbuh One, standing up, "that what Wally thinks is good for our, erm, classified situation, should be followed, as we have no other solutions so far."
"And what just is this 'classified situation?'" asked Suki. "In case you guys don't remember, I'm a part of the team, too."
Numbuh One looked at her with an annoyed face. "It's classified for a reason," he said.
Numbuh Two was quick to come to Suki's side. He placed his hands on her shoulders, and said solemnly, "We can't risk anyone getting hurt."
"And since when do you think I can't handle getting hurt? You've seen me! I've fought by your side tons of times! I'm not as delicate as you might think," retorted the girl, stepping away from him.
"Look, this, this is just bigger than all of you. Than any of us, really," said Numbuh Five.
"Please, Hoagie," said Suki, looking to Numbuh Two again. "Don't leave me out on this."
"I'm sorry," he said, "But I just can't tell you. You'll have to trust me that it's for the better. You trust me, don't you?"
She looked away for a moment. "Of course I trust you," she sighed. She sat back down in her seat. "I agree with them, then." She stood up again suddenly, and took a threatening approach to Azula. "But you listen up, if you do anything- anything to hurt him, I will personally see to it that my fan has a meeting with your throat."
"Wouldn't dream of it," said Azula.
Mai grumbled. "You keep an eye on her, Wally," she said. "And make it the one that's not attracted to evil familial attacks." She left the room.
"So then, we all forgive Azula?" asked Ty Lee.
"No way," said Suki. "I'll never forgive her. Those days at the Boiling Rock are going to haunt me forever. But I'll let her work for us under our supervision. Even if 'us' doesn't necessarily include me this time."
"So, do you know anything yet?" asked Numbuh One to Azula.
"Oh, yes," she said. "Perhaps even more than you yourselves do."
Aang slowly opened his eyes. He was in a strange-looking bed, wearing a thin paperish gown of the light teal color he had been surrounded by before. Different tubes were coming out of his body, and if he could turn his head at all to the right, he would be able to see the machinery and fluids they were hooked up to. He struggled to take a deep breath through his nose. His eyes drifted across the room, it was almost completely white. He heard a door open, and a child in a lab coat and glasses walked into his view. "Oh, good, you're awake," said the boy. No doubt he was a Kids Next Door doctor. "I guess now would be a good time to give you the report."
Aang found that it was immensely hard to speak. His voice came out in barely a whisper, "Report?"
"Yes," the boy replied. "It's pretty much the same for you and the rest of your team."
Again, Aang tried to speak. "What...where..."
"Oh, don't worry," said the doctor. "You're just waking up from some sleeping medicine. Nothing extreme. We didn't have to do much, a few pricks here and there. You're in Recovery now. The rest of your team is in rooms beside yours. We found traces of a new chemical we've named 'Transfarium' in your system. See, the rock you found was made of almost pure Transfarium, and by coming in contact with it the chemicals seeped into your skin and traveled up to the important pressure point on you located at the top of the nucha, or nape, as it's more commonly known. It's at the top of the back of your neck, almost right where the skull starts. See, when it reached that spot on you, a chemical reaction took place. Problem is; we have absolutely no idea what happened with that. We've also found out that the rock originated from some stellar plane, and that it has powerful properties. Now, see, the place that the Transfarium reached is most always associated with the soul, and we believe it may have had an effect on yours."
Aang was now feeling better as the medicine had begun to wear off. "An effect...on my soul?"
"As crazy as it seems, yes, that is what we are suggesting." He looked to the machines beside his patient. "You'll be fine to get out in about an hour or so. You should see Rachel before you leave, though." He left the room to go talk to the rest of the kids.
"Who's Rachel?" Aang asked aloud, although there was no one to hear him.