A. N. : Quoth the guru "the sixth pool of energy is the light chakra, located in the center of the forehead. It deals with insight and is blocked by illusion". In short, we're figuring some shit out in this chapter ! Also, in keeping with the foresight theme of these last few chapter titles, this here chakra is also called the chakra of the third eye.
They should've thrown Jet out.
Like, way back during that whole Painted Lady disaster. If they'd done that, it would've avoided so much trouble. And Sokka wouldn't have to make the worst decision of his life right now.
He's said it before and he'll say it again, but the worst thing Jet does is being right. He's never right about fun things, no, it's always the worst of the worst. Makes Sokka want to strangle him.
Should've kept him in a chokehold, really – and spirits, Sokka can't fucking believe Jet just tried to kill Zuko ! Sure, Zuko was being a little shouty, but that's no reason to murder someone, especially not a friend ! If Jet is this unstable, they should probably cue him again, and hopefully this time he'll have to go.
But Sokka is just avoiding the issue here, just using Jet's existence as an excuse, so he won't have to think about – about –
Suki is going to be killed. If Sokka can't find a solution, if he doesn't somehow invent a third way out of nowhere, Suki will die. Because of him. Because he didn't save her.
Because he failed.
Maybe Master Piandao was wrong, actually, to put so much faith in Sokka. Just look at him ! He needed Jet – Jet ! – to tell him something he should've noticed from the start, would've noticed if not for the fact that he didn't want to see it –
And now he can't bring himself to make the logical choice.
The only reason Suki is in danger is because she met them, because she is a friend – if she dies, it will be their fault. It will be Sokka's fault. And he can't live through this again.
Sokka looks at the sky. The sun is high, so hot it's making him shiver. He scratches Hawky's chin without really thinking. The feathers are soft under his finger.
The invasion was his idea. He was the one who got Dad and Bato and all the others involved. If he doesn't show up – if the six of them don't show up to do their part, the way they planned, the way they're expected to – it will be the same as betraying everyone. The same as Sokka taking his sword and plunging it in Dad's back.
Maybe the others will think Appa is late, and they'll start anyway because the eclipse is a one-time opportunity and surely the Avatar and Dad's own children wouldn't abandon them – and then, because they'll lack a lot of their fighting power and the palace's defences will be raised and no one will come –
The invasion was his idea. And that will be his fault too.
It's like Jet said – two lives against dozens, there's no contest here. And Sokka can't seem to open his mouth and say it.
He looks at the others, tries to gather his courage – he can't , he can't say the words, can't – the moment he says it will be the moment Suki's fate will be sealed, by his fault, the same as if he was the one conducting the execution, the same as if he was killing her himself.
He can't do this.
Sokka tries to think of something, anything, that could let him save everyone – let him not have to kill anyone that's Tribe – his eyes go from left to right, desperately looking for anything – Aang is near Appa, Momo on his shoulder, holding Lin and awkwardly rocking her. Zuko has batted Katara's hands and concern away and now she worriedly looks at Sokka, while Zuko stares straight at him, like he's daring him to agree with Jet. Toph has her head low. She's frowning. Jet is still right next to Sokka, eyes on the ground, hands clenching and unclenching, weirdly calm. And Hawky is doing that thing birds do, with his head under his wing and –
And Sokka can't remember why he bought Hawky. It sounded cool, he guesses. He thought maybe he could send messages to Grangran, tell her Katara and Dad and Bato are alive and well, tell her when they would come back, tell her if someone wouldn't manage to come back. Warn her in advance of these things.
Wait. Wait.
If – if Dad and Bato and the others know help isn't coming, they won't risk it. Or if they do, it will be their decision. Not Sokka sentencing them to death. But – fuck, wait, the ideas aren't following his thoughts fast enough –
Even if he warns them, where would they even go ? Making it to the Fire Nation is already dangerous enough, Sokka can't imagine getting out will be much better. And then what – the Earth Kingdom is all but lost, and there's no way the Warriors will want to head back home when they were so close to making it, but there's nothing planned in case of retreat, the plan was to either kill the Fire Lord, or sacrifice the older Warriors to save the children if they couldn't do what they'd come to do –
A safe place. He needs a safe place. Somewhere all the men could fit, where they wouldn't risk being found out too soon, where they could make plans and – Sokka breathes. His thoughts are getting jumbled trying to figure everything out at the same time.
He turns to Jet. You were wrong, he says – Jet looks like he's about to choke, or maybe like he's trying not to strangle Sokka.
Hawky isn't useless.
At that, Jet actually lets out a what, and Sokka clears his throat before exposing his half-baked, unfinished plan to everyone.
Between all of them, they'll hopefully manage to complete it.
Where is the map. He needs to find a safe place, a quiet harbor, a desert island somewhere – what do you mean it's gone, Jet !? Sokka needs a map to finish his plan, he can't just pull an island out of his ass ! There are lives at stake !
Jet just vaguely shrugs, and then turns his head to Zuko, who took a few steps forwards before kneeling and quickly sketching the Fire Nation archipelago on the ground. He very pointedly doesn't look at Jet, raises his head – there, happy ? – then sits back and crosses his arms.
Sokka guesses he can work with that. Not that he has much of a choice, anyway.
By the by, Zuko wouldn't happen to know a good hiding place not too far from the meeting point at Tongpan ? Sokka isn't too sure how much fresh water will be left on board, so assuming the worst – and in case something happens that forces everyone to leave Tongpan before replenishing the reserves – with the currents and wind, at full speed, he'd say the farther they can safely go is about the easternmost island.
Zuko frowns – well, frowns more than he already was, which is kind of impressive – goes hmm, and says there's always the Western Air Temple up north – he draws a circle roughly three inches above the islands – but that it's not very accessible unless you're equipped to do some climbing. Or have a flying bison.
Yeah that's. Probably not the best option. Anything else ?
There's a beat, then Jet opens his mouth – great, that's either bad or terrible, also he better get these hands away from his swords right the fuck now –
How about Shu Jing ?
Sokka has to pause before he can even start refusing because – Shu Jing ? As in, Master Piandao ? As in, Jet is thinking about entrusting the lives of everyone to a guy from the Fire Nation ? This Jet ? Not that Sokka is complaining – Master Piandao could host the whole invasion and then some in his house, which is conveniently situated outside of the city, and there's no doubt he'd be very helpful in planning future moves.
It's a good idea. Jet had a good idea – Jet is right, and for once it doesn't make Sokka want to set himself on fire.
What has the world come to ?