Lu Ten and Hakoda waited only a few days before they were transferred from the mainland Fire Nation prison. The guards behaved oddly around the invaders, as if they were a little afraid of them. Evidently, Iroh's escape during the eclipse had them shaken. It seemed they would not underestimate any prisoner now.
The transfer itself was fine, though. Hakoda and Lu Ten were given prison clothes, a red tunic and pants, and then led away by the prison guards. Bato, the other Water Tribe men, and the rest of the invasion force looked on sadly as Hakoda and Lu Ten left them. Clearly, they wondered if they would ever see each other again.
They were loaded onto a warship similar to the ones they saw during the invasion with a few other prisoners headed to the Boiling Rock. Lu Ten recalled that the last time he went to the prison, they had gone on a balloon. This was not as efficient for transporting multiple prisoners, though. And back then, Lu Ten had been with his father, as a visitor and future ruler, not as a prisoner. The chains around him clanked as he followed Hakoda into a small chamber in the back of the ship, and Lu Ten sighed. This was going to be a long trip.
The room they occupied had no windows, so no one had any idea of when they took off or how much time had passed. All they had was the harsh red lighting of the room, and the sounds of deep breathing or grunts as they moved or slept.
They arrived at the old volcano where the Boiling Rock stood, and were loaded straight from the warship onto a small gondola. The gondola was high over the boiling lake, and ran on a pulley to go back and forth. This was the only way on or off the island. There was a reason no one had ever successfully escaped from here. Lu Ten felt his nerves getting to him. This was going to be rough for a while. One by one, they exited the gondola.
"Line 'em up for the Warden!" a guard shouted, and the prisoners were forced into a line on terrace where the gondola landed.
"Welcome to the Boiling Rock," the Warden began, walking in front of the line. "I'm sure you've all heard the horrible rumors about our little island. Well, I just want to tell you, they don't have to be true. As long as you do everything I say." He stopped in front of Hakoda. "Look me in the eye when I'm talking to you."
"No," said Hakoda defiantly. Lu Ten was impressed.
"Oh?" the Warden returned. "You'd rather look at my shoes? Then take a look!"
In one swift motion he used his foot to force Hakoda onto his knees by the chains around his wrists. Hakoda grunted in surprise, but still did not look at the Warden.
"I know exactly who you are, Hakoda of the Water Tribe," the Warden said. "So strong willed. But don't worry, we'll get rid of that in time. Now look me in the eye!"
With the nastiest expression Lu Ten had ever seen on Hakoda's face, he glowered up at the Warden.
"See? Isn't that better?" The Warden asked, taunting. "You will all do as I say or pay the price. You will all –"
His speech was cut short when Hakoda used the chains still near the Warden's feet to trip him. He fell ungracefully onto his face. Lu Ten had to bite his lip to keep from laughing. Hakoda got to his feet while the Warden was helped up by some guards.
"Are you okay, sir?" one asked.
"I'm fine!" the Warden cried, whipping around to face the line again. Suddenly, his expression changed and he met Lu Ten's gaze.
"Well, what do we have here?" he said, calming down. "The Fire Lord did tell me about our special guest prisoner. A traitor."
"Your chin is bleeding," Lu Ten returned flatly. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hakoda smirk. The two of them were not going to make this easy.
The Warden huffed. "Get these prisoners out of my sight!"
He stalked off, and the prisoners were led away to their cells. When the chains were removed, Lu Ten rubbed his sore wrists as the door to his cell slammed shut. Now that he was alone, he felt nervous again. Could he really wait here until the end of the war? Sozin's Comet was not too far away, but it was more time than he wanted to spend at the Boiling Rock. But he knew this place was inescapable. He resigned himself to the thought. At least he would have Hakoda here as well.
It was not long before a guard entered the cell. He was smaller than the others, so Lu Ten was surprised by him. Also, he didn't seem to be here to make trouble.
"It's good to see you again," he said, and Lu Ten thought his voice was familiar, but couldn't quite place him.
"Sorry, do I know you?" Lu Ten asked.
The guard removed his helmet to reveal the face of Sokka. A thousand questions went through Lu Ten's head at once, but he did not ask any of them.
"It's me," Sokka said. "And ya know, you're the first one who didn't even try to hit me."
"What?" Lu Ten returned.
"I've already been to see my dad and Zuko, but you need to be in on the escape plan too," Sokka said. "Be in the yard in one hour because it's gonna involve a distraction."
"Sokka, hold on," Lu Ten said. "This…isn't possible. It's designed to be inescapable."
"No design is perfect," Sokka argued. He explained the plan was to take the Warden captive during a staged riot and escape on the gondola.
"I don't know about this…" Lu Ten went on. "I don't think you and Zuko should put yourselves on the line. It's such a huge risk."
"Well, I don't think you and my dad should rot in here for my mistake," Sokka said, looking down at his feet before back at Lu Ten. "The yard. One hour. I gotta go talk to Suki."
Lu Ten didn't know who Suki was, but did not have time to ask before Sokka was gone, his footsteps already fading down the corridor. It was mere minutes before the Warden then came into Lu Ten's cell. He had no guards with him, so Lu Ten guessed that Ozai said only the Warden was permitted to know Lu Ten's identity.
"So," the Warden began. "The other disgraced prince is in my prison. The Fire Lord informed me of what you told the other guards back in the palace, but you know just how weak they are compared to this place."
"What else could you possibly want to know?" Lu Ten asked.
"Why you joined the Avatar, of course," the Warden said. "Surely you know the reason for your betrayal is an important detail. And we will extract it from you."
"I've already said," Lu Ten replied. "I don't agree with what the Fire Nation is doing in the world, so I stood with the Avatar."
"I don't buy it, and neither does the Fire Lord," the Warden said. "Why would you lose your loyalty if you were taken prisoner by the Earth Kingdom?"
"I lived there for years," Lu Ten said. "Neither of you guessed that I'd make friends? I'll have you know I'm a delightful young man."
"Don't play with me, Lu Ten!" the Warden warned. "I can make this a lot more difficult for you."
"You don't scare me, Warden," Lu Ten said. "You have nothing."
"We have your Water Tribe friend," the Warden said with a sick smile. "I've heard he has two children. It'd be a shame for them to lose him on your account."
"You mean the guy who had you on your face earlier?" Lu Ten reminded him. "Yeah, I don't think you're much of a match for him."
The Warden let out a shout of rage and sent a blast of fire just inches past Lu Ten's ear. Lu Ten did not even flinch, although inwardly, he was breathing a sigh of relief.
"Keep up that kind of talk, and you'll have a scar to match Zuko's," the Warden said. "Just one more thing the two of you will have in common."
"I could do a lot worse than being like Zuko," Lu Ten said.
The Warden huffed. "You will talk. No matter what it takes."
Without another word, he left. Evidently, there were a lot of people to question today. Lu Ten knew that it would soon be time to meet the others in the yard. He just didn't know how he was going to get out of his cell to do it.