Chap. 4
The next day, Zuko was up bright and early, looking through the reports that Jee had sent him concerning the new recruits for the tower guard position. Most of the recruits were in fine condition, but Jee had also included a document on the amount on the increased amount of pay it would now take to convince them to stay. And with the already huge defecit on the Fire Nation treasury, Zuko found himself grimacing at the thought of the moeny involved, and prayed that at least one of these recruits would be very, very, patriotic.
"Maybe this one. He seems ok." Zuko muttered, looking over another profile. He had in fact, already looked it over, but he was so tired and hungry that it didn't register on him. However, it did register on the hand that reached over and pulled the scroll away from him.
"Zuko. Haven't you eaten anything yet?" Asked Jin, as Zuko turned to face her.
"I will. As soon as I select a new guard." Zuko replied.
"Jee can do this. You trust his judgement." Jin replied.
"I know, but this is going to be hard. The post is so important, I have to know that the person doing it can be trusted."
"Great. But the post won't mean anything if the Fire Lord passes out." Jin said, as she began to drag Zuko to his feet. "C'mon, you're going to be worse then Agua."
"Ag...how is that cat doing? Has he found anything yet?"
"He has some ideas, but he said that a lot of them don't make sense. He's meditating to speak with Ruta."
"Meditating!" Zuko snapped, pulling himself up the rest of the way. "My people, and people all over the world, are vanishing because of some sort of sea monster, and he could talk to the sea goddess whenever he wanted to?!!"
"Actually, no." Jin said, her brow furrowing. "Oscuridad said that the Architects don't always give answers. They go to them purely as a last resort."
"Osc.. he's here?" Zuko said.
"Yes. He got your summons and came instantly. Luz will be here soon. And Aang and Katara are on their way, and they sent a messenger hawk to Sokka warning him. You have plenty of people around that want to help. So I think the world will hold together for a few minutes if you eat something."
".......Maybe I should stop for a minute." Zuko said. "I didn't even have breakfast yet."
"I think that's a fine idea." Jee said, smiling as she led Zuko out of the room and towards the main dining room.
"Morning highness. Feeling all right?" Trueno asked as Zuko and Jin entered the room.
"Oh he will be." Jin said, as she sat Zuko and motioned for food to be brought to him. As the servants set a place, Zuko noticed the black form of Oscuridad, the bat-Knight of Shadow, and said, "You came faster then I thought."
"You expected anything less?" Osc asked, as he chewed on a grape. "Besides, when you can walk through shadows, getting places is easy. So what's this I'm hearing about sea monsters?"
"Apparently, something's snatchin' people outta some command post." Tierra answered. "Leavin' some barnacles behind too."
"And our resident marine biologist?" Osc asked.
"Still doin' research."
"As I thought." Osc said, as the servants finished preparing Zuko's late breakfast. Zuko's nose trembled at the smell of the food. But before he could even touch his fork, the doors opened behind him, and a guard's voice spoke.
"My Lord, I'm sorry to bother..."
"He's trying to eat!" Jee said, slamming her fist down on the table. "Can't you leave him alone for that long?!"
"I apologize, my lady." The guard said. "But we captured a very unusual prisoner yesterday. We have been holding him so as not to disturb the Fire Lord's work, but...... well, we feel he is either a spy, or insane. And since the Fire Lord insisted that all spies be brought before him..."
"It's all right." Zuko said, sighing as he turned his chair around. "I will see this man. When can he be brought to me?"
"We have him now sir, if you..."
Zuko quietly nodded, as Jin sighed and plopped down in the chair next to Tierra.
"I'm sure dis won't be long." The dog said. "Probably just some loony."
"Then it couldn't wait?" Jin snapped, turning to face the dog.
Tierra shrugged, as he took a sip from his goblet. But as the sounds of chains filled the room, the dog glanced over at the prisoner. Almost instantly, his eyes went wide, and pulling the goblet away, he spat out his drink in disbelief. Unfortunately, this meant that the liquid sprayed all over Jin, who first glubbed under the spray, then got ready to yell. But she didn't get a chance, as Tierra stood up, and stared at the prisoner with an expression between terror and disbelief.
Puzzled, Jin looked round the table to see the other Knights all standing up, each with the same expression. And then, the Fire Lady saw something that she never thought she would see, as Osc raised up a trembling finger, pointed at the prisoner, and said, "Why? Goddamit why won't you die?!"
Near disbelief herself, Jin turned to see this man that had frightened the Knights so. And when she saw him.... she had no answers. He was of average build, dressed in strange, clothes that included boots, a long overcoat, several belts, and a tri-pointed hat, which sat on a head of dreadlocked hair. His clothes looked worn and sunbaked, as did his face, which was long and thing, with a strange, two-pronged beard. The man glanced around the room, almost as if apprasiing it, then his eyes fell to the Knights, and a huge smile filled his face.
"Mates!" He said, his voice colored by an odd accent. "What a funny little coincidence. Isn't it a small world?"
"Oh God, did he know we were here?" Trueno said. "Can he follow us now?"
"Let's not jump to conclusions." Osc said. "What are you doing here? Last I heard you were in...."
"Yes, and a lovely place it was. But you know me, never bereft of friends. Came and got me out they did. 'Course then I got stuck in Tortuga, but no worries there either."
"Fine fine, I don't care. But how did you get here?"
"Strangest thing. One minute I'm in a whirlpool, gettin' sucked to me doom. Then I pop in this little isle. Nice place, but they've got to learn about the rest of the world. No rum, mate!"
"He must've fallen through a gateway in the ocean." Osc moaned. "Oh God, why? Why does he keep finding us?"
"Enough!" Zuko said. "Will someone please tell me who this man is?"
"He gave us his name after he was arrested sir." The guard said. "It's..."
"Please, let us just save you the trouble." Tierra said. "Might as well get it right the first time."
"This man is..." Osc began, licking his lips as if about to swallow a bitter medicine. "....Captain Jack Sparrow."
"Congratulations mate! I never get addressed by me proper title." The newly named Captain exclaimed. "Now if you could do something about this...' he added, gesturing to his chains.
"Can we free him?" Zuko asked.
Osc started to answer, but then Fuego walked into the room, carrying a plate of food. He started to sit down, but then Sparrow caught his eyes. Dropping the plate to the floor, he stared at Jack, who gave him a small wave. Fuego stared a few moments more, then grabbed his spear and with a wild yell, charged the Captain. But Oscuridad and Trueno quickly moved over and stopped him.
"Come on! He's trapped! We can finally end it!" Fuego yelled.
"You know that every time we try to kill him, it backfires!" Trueno said. "It's like he's protected or something."
"It' a nice thought." Sparrow said.
"What is going on?" Zuko demanded. "What has this man done? He said he was a captain!"
"Oh he is." Fuego said. "A pirate captain."