Chapter 7 – Voyage of the Turtle-Seal Part 2

Bato and two other crewmen reached the deck as Sokka was carrying Toph back toward the ship's super structure. Bato stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the decapitated body lying on his deck.

"Sokka, what happened?" the Captain asked.

"Bounty hunter. Came for Toph. I stopped him," Sokka explained. "Sorry about the mess."

"And Miss Toph?"

Toph signaled Sokka to put her down, but still maintained her grip on his arm. "I'm fine. What's wrong with the boat?"

Bato answered, "We found a chain jamming up the propeller shaft. Caused a connecting rod to break. I'm told that there's a master metalbender aboard that can assist us with repairs."

Toph brightened, "That'd be me. Better get me down there. The faster we get this tub moving again, the faster I get off of it."

Sokka said, "Wait. Master Piandao was hit by some kind of knock out dart. Somebody needs to take care of him."

Bato placed a reassuring hand on Sokka's shoulder. "Kienna's looking over him now. I can take Toph to the engine room. Go check on your friend."

Sokka made his way to the ship's medical bay. Piandao was sitting up on the exam table while Kienna held glowing hands over his abdomen.

"You have amazing constitution, Piandao. I've pulled enough shirshu spit out of you to knock out a badgermole," commented the waterbender.

"A lifetime of clean living, my dear," the sword master smiled.

"So he'll be OK?" Sokka interrupted.

"Yeah, he'll be sore for a couple of days," Kienna said. To Piandao: "Take it easy for a couple of days. You'll need plenty of bed rest. That's about all I can do for you."

"Thank you, Miss. I shall follow your advice faithfully."

Kienna smiled, "If you do, you'll be the first patient of mine that ever did. If you'll excuse me, I'm needed on the bridge."

As the waterbender left, Piandao turned to Sokka and asked, "Where is Toph?"

"She went below to help with repairs."

"Have you been able to determine what happened?"

"I haven't had much time to think about it," Sokka began, "but near as I can figure, Snake snuck onboard with a war ballon and sabotaged the engine. He got the drop on Toph because her earth sense was messed up in all the noise and confusion. He must have followed us all the way from Omashu in that balloon. He never stayed on the ground long enough for Toph to sense him."

"Your theory fits the facts," Piandao agreed. "If you'll help back to my quarters, I need to start on that bed rest First Mate Kienna recommended."

…..

Sokka made his way down to the engine room in time to see the newly repaired engine begin to turn the propeller shaft.

"That was the most amazing display of bending I've ever seen! I didn't know metalbending was even possible." the engineer gushed. "Young lady, if you ever need a job, I know the Captain can find room for you on this crew."

Toph chuckled, "Thanks, but no, Gearhead. Me and boats don't exactly get along. I like to keep my feet planted on good solid ground."

Lee noticed Sokka, "I don't know how we would have got under way again if not for your friend here. She is truly amazing!"

Sokka smiled. "Yeah, she is."

…..

The next morning after breakfast, Sokka sat at the desk in his state room with a brush and some parchment.

Dad,

I'm really sorry I haven't contacted you in all this time. Bato said that you understood why I left, and I guess you probably do. I've done a lot of things I'm not proud of, especially shutting you, Katara, and my other family and friends out of my life. I'm working on fixing that, and I hope you'll all forgive me. Right now I'm in the middle of the ocean on my way to the Fire Nation. I don't know how long I'll be there, but hopefully by the time I'm done there I'll be ready to come home for a visit. Please know that I'm working on becoming the man you raised me to be.

Give my love to Katara and Gran-gran. I love all of you, Dad. I promise to never again give you reason to doubt it.

Your son,

Sokka

…..

It was around mid-day when Sokka made his way to the bridge to deliver his letter to Bato. Tan Lo was at the wheel, and Kienna was taking a reading with a sextant. Her reading completed, she made a note in a notebook and walked over to the chart table. She then consulted an almanac, and marked an X on the nautical chart on the table.

"By my calculations, Captain, we should still make port in 4 days," she reported.

"I agree. Keep this course and speed. I don't want to tax the engine too much," Bato said. He turned his attention to Sokka, "What brings you up here, son?"

"Just wanted to give you this," as he handed the scroll over to Bato. "It's for Dad."

Bato placed the scroll in his pocket, while Sokka walked over to study the map.

"How can you be sure this is where we are?" Sokka asked.

Sokka was an experienced sailor, but he had never navigated a boat on the open ocean, out of sight of landmarks. Open sea navigation tickled his intellectual curiosity.

Bato said, "Kienna, please give Sokka a quick and dirty lesson."

Sienna sighed, "OK. Every day at noon, I use the sextant to measure the distance of the Sun over the horizon. That tells me how far North or South of the equator we are. Right now were nineteen degrees North. The chronometer," she indicated the mechanical clock on the table, "is set to the same time as an identical one at the Northern Air Temple. It's a little after mid-day where we are now, and this indicates that its three and a half hours past mid-day at the air temple. That means we're 52.5 degrees west of there. I update our position on the map hourly by dead reckoning."

…..

Sokka went out to the main deck. No evidence remained of the previous night's battle. He found Toph leaning over the rail, her complexion nearly the same shade as her green jumper.

"You OK, Toph?" Sokka asked.

"Do I look OK, Meathead?" came her sarcastic reply.

"I'm sorry. It'll only be for a few more days. Why don't you let me take you to the galley. I'll make you some tea that'll calm your stomach," he offered.

"No thanks. Just take me to my bunk. I need to lie down."

….

The Turtle-Seal arrived in port four days later. The trio of Piandao, Sokka, and Toph made their farewells to Bato and his crew at the top of the gangway. To Sokka, Bato promised, "I'll give that letter to Hakoda in less than two weeks time."

Sokka replied, "Thank you," as he shook the older tribesman's hand one last time.

Fat, Piandao's butler awaited them on the pier with an ostrich-horse carriage. A cloaked, hooded figure watched from inside the carriage as the trio disembarked.

Sokka saw the mysterious passenger first and began to draw his sword. Piandao placed his hand on Sokka's shoulder and simply said, "No need."

As they took their seats in the coach, Piandao addressed the hooded man and offered the traditional fist in palm greeting/show of respect, "My Lord."

The man lowered his hood and turned his scarred, golden eyed gaze to Sokka. Sokka gulped in surprise as he stared back his old friend and former enemy Fire Lord Zuko.

"You shouldn't have come here, old friend," the Fire Lord warned.