Chapter 68 - Edit - Ben's Gamble

It was late into the afternoon when.

"Mo'mo got a track on Toph," Ben announced in the living room of the house, all eyes fixed on him as he entered, the strange floating lemur circulating around him.

"The extra clothes did the trick?" Katara questioned.

Ben chuckled. "Yeah, it did…remember that time with Azula. The time when we were trying to get away, but she was really tracking us?"

Katara snickered. She turned to Zuko. "Were you still hunting us then, Zuko?" she asked.

"No, if you recall…it was my sister," Zuko replied as he rose from his seat. He paused by the door, awaiting the chance to exit the room. Then, he turned to Katara. "Remember, Katara. I had the chance to go back along with my sister, I had the chance to reclaim back my honor…"

"That Fire Nation honor of yours means squat, my brother is dead thanks to your so-called honor. If you want to throw in your lot with them, then so…"

"Katara, enough," Ben intervened, and she calmed herself down. Zuko glared at both of them, then exhaled heavily and strode outside of the room.

Katara's gaze lingered the longest. "Smart move," she mumbled. "Hot head needs to keep his hands to himself."

"Zuko is smarter than that," Ben replied. "He knows he's on thin ice."

"Then why do you trust him so?" Katara challenged.

Ben shot her a look. "I am giving Zuko the bare minimum of trust. Do you not remember how his uncle led us to you guys, aided us, and when Zuko was presented with a chance to redeem his honor, he went against it."

Katara was stricken into silence. "Too late," she spat a moment later.

"It is not too late for redemption," Ben countered.

Katara sneered. "Maybe for him."

"Katara, I know you don't mean that, but you are going to have to tone it down in regards to Zuko."

Katara's sneer had turned into a glare aimed at Ben. "What do you mean?"

"I mean is that you're going to have to give him an easier time. You can't be riding him like this, Katara, everyone feels it. And I know you're grieving…but Zuko is not Azula or Ozai. He is not the enemy anymore," Ben firmly spoke.

Katara gazed at him for a moment longer, and Ben hoped that he got through to her finally. Yet, he watched as her eyes widened into a sadness that he felt through the force, and she lashed onto hate just as easily.

"Maybe…," she regarded.

And Ben paused, and sighed heavily at that. He turned away, the brown cloak of his attire draped past him.

"Katara, are you interested in heading after Toph?" he inquired.

Katara blinked. "W-what?" She turned back to the room she knew Aang was in. "We're going to take Appa, right?"

"No," responded Ben. "We're going to get some ostrich horses and Mo Mo's going to track her for us. I don't believe she made it to her parents, everything went wrong only for Aang to come out quite unscathed."

Katara paused for a moment, her eyes narrowing as she gazed ahead at the wall.

"Are you alright?" Ben questioned.

"How did you do it, Benjamin," Katara said, looking up at him. "I can remember all that time ago, it feels like years…doesn't it since we've embarked on this journey. I can remember the holocron of Exar Kun, I should've never left you alone with it. Should've watched you destroy it."

Ben's shoulders slumped at that. "It is not your fault," he regarded.

"I had a bad feeling about that place…how many close calls have we had through the course of our journey. Aang and Sokka…their luck just ran out."

"Don't say that about either of them," Ben shot back. "Especially Aang."

"He's stable," replied Katara.

"He'll pull through," spat back Ben just as quickly. "Aang is strong, he's the Avatar. He's a sweet, honest, and strong boy. This is lite work for him and…"

Katara was sniffling now, and Ben realized that he had rambled. He turned away.

"We need to leave Ba Sing Sai," he stated.

Katara had wiped away all the tears. "But I am going to need your help, Katara," he affirmed.

Katara struggled to speak, and…

"Ty Lee looks royal Fire Nation, and Zuko's scar makes him obvious. This whole town is full of them, and it's a miracle they haven't been doing house searches."

"That's because they believe Aang is dead," spat Katara.

Ben sighed. "I know, but there isn't anything for us to do about it right now," and Momo circled back around his shoulder. "Ty Lee and Zuko are going to stay here. You and I will head out to the countryside and get our girl."

Katara stared at him, steeling herself. She nodded slowly, and before they knew it, they were gone. They didn't dare take Appa; this mission would require something far more silent.

Before they knew it, they were riding against the sun, him and Katara as they made their way. Momo flew above them all, his wings opened as he trekked through the sky.

They were within flat grass plains, and Momo had taken them off the beaten rock path, and their ostrich-horses sped.

"Do you think they're going to try to follow us?" questioned Ben.

Katara kept riding, not even turning to face him, but her voice arose nonetheless. "Always assume we're being followed," she regarded. "We've been hounded this long within this journey, Ben. It's better to expect the unexpected at this point."

Ben sighed at that. "I am only asking due to the weird looks the toll guy gave us."

Katara groaned. "Benjamin," she used his full name. "We aren't the most inconspicuous people. You look different from the standard norm already, and I have Water Tribe features. It's a miracle we were able to leave the city."

Ben sighed. "I guess I should be thankful to the Force that the man didn't realize,"

Katara snorted. "…or more like he didn't care to realize. Could've ratted us out to the Fire Nation like that man who ratted on Haru. We've got to be more careful."

There was a silence etched between them for a brief passing, but Ben could feel it. He had known Katara for a long time; they had experienced so many tribulations that they were practically blood. However, there was a darkness within her now…a raging storm of grief, anger, and a familiar feeling to Ben…guilt.

Ben gradually eased his horse's movements into a slow gallop. It took a moment for Katara to realize just how far behind Ben had lagged. Frustration etched her face as she turned back to him.

"Why did you stop?" she questioned.

"We should take a break," Ben remarked. "The horses need some rest, and we can take a minute to eat."

Katara shook her head, taking the reins of the horse once again. "We don't have time for breaks…Ben," she remarked. "Toph is out there. It's like what you said before…the notes aren't what they thought they were."

Ben fell quiet. "We should take a minute to talk," he suggested.

Katara remained stern and silent. Ben drew a deep breath and spoke from his chest.

"Yesterday was so crazy and intense that we haven't been able to properly talk about it," Ben said, pausing to collect himself. "I just wanted to let you know how sorry I am for Sokka. He was so young, so talented, so brave at such a young age…even though he didn't have force powers or bending, he was able to—"

"B-Ben, please," Katara's stutter interrupted him.

Anger twisted Katara's features, tears welling in her eyes. Anger and sadness, potent emotions during this dark time.

"The Fire Nation made a grave mistake. First, my mother, then my father leaves, and now my brother…my little brother!" Her voice carried on the wind, mingling with the distant crackling storm. Her chest heaved with emotion. "My brother was right…these Fire Nation dogs are all—"

"Woah, Katara," Ben interjected firmly. "Do not forget that not all Fire Nation members are bad. Azula, Ozai, and the Sith are different from—"

"Different!" Katara snapped. "How are they different? Fire sluggers and violence from a war that they started. A war that has left me—"

"Katara," Ben's voice cut through hers.

"Ben, I hate them!" she screamed, and Ben enveloped her in his arms. "The Sith and the Fire Nation. They want fire so much…then they can all burn!"

Ben held her as she cried into his shoulder. "It's okay, Katara, it's okay," he soothed, and she continued to cry.

"I am going to…I am going to…," Katara stuttered through her tears. Ben found his way to her hair, stroking it slowly.

"You're fine, Katara, you're fine. I know this is horrible…I can't imagine, but right now I need you more than ever. We are in a foreign hostile land…I need everyone to work together so we can leave this place," Ben explained.

Katara stared at him. "What's the…"

"Aang," Ben spoke curtly, and Katara's eyes widened at the revelation. "Aang, the Avatar, our friend. He's the point, he's always been the point of all this. He is all that remains on…"

"Ben, by the Force, and the four nations," Katara interjected sternly. "Aang is in a coma and Ba Sing Sai has been taken over, there is no…"

"Don't say that," Ben cut in firmly.

Katara's eyes went wide. "…and what if I do?" she snapped back. "How many times have we had this conversation, Ben, but on the flipside?" She remarked.

A blade of shame sliced through him.

Katara continued, her breath echoing as she tired and ran out of breath. "You're right," Ben admitted. "I did run away and do all those things, but that means I know better than anyone that giving up hope isn't going to do anything. Katara, it was you that told me to destroy Exar's holocron, but I didn't. Aang warned me of the dark side from my master, Meetra Surik, and even Sokka, Ty Lee, and Jet. And what did I do…I ran away to the Fire Nation for my revenge because I believed that my hate and guilt held truth, but I didn't. I failed and didn't accomplish anything but put you all at risk, and I nearly became once again a slave to another dark lord. That was the old Ben, and now this is all that remains."

Katara's eyes widened as she steeled herself.

Ben gazed at her, not with hate, not with rage, or guilt, but with determination. "I don't know when and I don't know how, but I promise you, Katara…on my life, on the Force, and on the coming Jedi Order. Sokka's death shall be avenged, and justice shall be handed out in full."

Katara sneered. "I thought Jedi didn't believe in revenge," she regarded.

Ben shrugged his shoulders. "I'm speaking of righteous pure justice. When this war is over, everyone's time will come. Both the good and the bad shall be revealed. Don't believe that the Fire Nation will come out of this scot-free… that Ozai and The Dynasty of The Sith are going to get off scot-free."

Katara had stopped yelling, but her chest still rose and fell heavily, and her eyes were tinted red from crying.

Ben continued. "We will find our allies… and then we will discuss a true war plan,"

Katara's eyes went wide at that. "A war plan?" she repeated. "What do you mean by that?"

Ben paused. "I don't want to get your hopes up, but I've got a plan… not a plan but an idea more like it, but right now we can't make it work without Haru," regarded Ben.

Ben sighed, an awkward chuckle escaping. "It's a gamble,"

"Ben's gamble," repeated Katara.

Ben nodded. "Maybe, just maybe… we can lop off Ozai's head before the comet even arrives. We can kill them all before they even know what hits them."

Katara's eyes went wide at that. But Ben raised both his hands. "Don't get your hopes up," regarded Ben.

However, Katara smirked. "You've proven yourself time and time again, Benjamin. Aang saw it, I saw it, and… Sokka saw it. If you think there is a chance, for Sokka, for Jet. We need to take it," she affirmed.

Yet, as Ben was about to speak, she raised her hand, halting him. "But Ozai," she spoke and trailed the name. "He's mine…his head is mine. I'll deal with Zuko, but him and his sister are mine."

Katara turned away, her horse neighing as she whirled it back towards where Momo was last seen. Ben's eyes widened at her words.

"Wait, Katara, hold on!" Ben regarded.

They were riding pace to pace. "You can't give in to your hate, Katara," Ben spoke, but Katara didn't turn to face him. "There is no strength in it."

Katara remained silent.

"I can understand the grief you are feeling, but, Katara, there are better ways to deal with it. Killing, revenge, and…"

"That didn't stop you, Ben," remarked Katara.

"…and look at me," spat Ben. "I've lost fingers and a hand due to this damned war. There are worse fates than you realize, Katara."

"I've watched my mother and brother die in front of me, Benjamin," she snapped. "I am going to have to live with that for the rest of my life. What sort of worse fate can that be?"

Ben was silent at that, and Katara felt a silent satisfaction that she was able to make him silent.

Yet, Ben continued. "You aren't Force sensitive… Katara, but you should beware the dark side. You are right, my grief didn't stop me, and I fought in my mother's honor as you will for your brother… Katara, when you think you've lost everything, there is always something more to lose. And those parts of yourself, when you lose them, you lose yourself."

And Ben gazed at her. "Look at Rowan… my old friend, look at Arya as well, they lost themselves. Arya murdered civilians and Rowan, he didn't even look like a human anymore."

Katara gazed upon his features, her mouth closed, and Ben could tell that she was irritated at him. However, he'd take the irritation rather than anger. She was grieving and this was just a phase, or maybe that was what he was telling himself.

Before either one could speak, Momo came flying towards them. "What's up, buddy," remarked Ben, and the creature squawked at him. With widened eyes, he turned to Katara.

"What happened?" she asked.

"He found her," Ben spoke.

Katara's eyes widened. And she paused and glanced back ahead.

"We need to leave… before they figure that something is amiss. Then, they'll come as they always do. The bad ones. Kiaria, Azula, Zhao, Rowan, Arya… Zuko."

And Ben's eyes widened at that. "Katara, why did you include Zuko in that list?"

And Katara remained silent. "I heard from Ty Lee what you all talked about. You offered Zuko redemption and…"

"His redemption?" scoffed Katara. "He's the man that hounded us… he's the man whose sister and father are responsible for ruining our lives. Benjamin, how am I meant to deal with this burden… how am I meant to tell my father that Sokka is dead."

And Ben was silent, for he did not know what to say…

Katara turned away with her horse, her demeanor mirroring the brewing storm on the horizon. "The bad ones always come back," she reflected with a sneer. "Look at Jet and Sokka... all the good ones die."

"What do you mean?" Ben inquired, his tone tinged with curiosity. "She's gone. She can't harm us anymore."

With a scowl that matched the gathering storm in the distance, Katara turned away on her ostrich horse, leaving Ben to ponder her words as she vanished into the forest. "The bad ones always find a way back."

It took them ten minutes off the path they were heading, but they found their girl. There was a slight descent into a sand clearing that bordered a dark, deep cave. Within the campsite were two grown men in Earthbending clothes.

Katara's eyes widened at the sight. They were each perched behind a slight border of stone that obstructed them. Ben gripped his lightsaber with both hands, clad in clothes far removed from their usual attire. Once, Ben wore black prestige robes befitting of a Jedi Master, and Katara wore the vibrant blue silks of the Water Tribe. Now, they wore clothes of dull brown, Ben's long cloak draped over him and the land in a somber hue.

"We pummel them or we talk this through," Ben suggested.

Katara didn't look down at him, her eyes narrowed into a glare at the Earthbending masters. "Yeah," she spoke with a hint of anticipation. "I could use something to hit," she remarked, and Ben smirked at that.

"They're just two old Earthbenders," he remarked. "Too much force won't be necessary to incapacitate them."

Katara huffed at that. "I'll go real easy on them, Benjamin. Trust me."

Drawing upon her water flask, Katara developed her signature water whip around her waist, coiling like a snake along her right hand. Ben smirked, and his lightsaber ignited with a snapping hiss, the bronze blade enveloping them.

"Let's go get our girl," Ben declared, his voice steady with determination.

Toph was entrenched inside the metal jail cell, her breaths echoing off the cold walls. Days had passed since her abduction, memories of her master and old Earthbending rival swirling in her mind. Yet, amidst the confinement, she discovered a grand realization: within the Earth, there was metal. With this revelation, she began formulating a plan to bend her way out.

But her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of familiar voices approaching. "Toph!" Katara's call pierced through the silence.

"Katara?" Toph's voice held a mix of surprise and hope as she moved toward the open bars.

"We're here to rescue you," Ben announced, his voice tinged with urgency. "Stand back."

The sizzle of a lightsaber filled the air, but Katara's attention was drawn elsewhere. "What's that over there?" she heard, and two figures emerged from the campfire, slowly advancing toward them.

Pressed against the metal, Katara eyed the approaching figures, her senses heightened. "Karking hell, Katara, can you deal with them?" Ben's voice cut through the tension.

With a nod, Katara steeled herself, taking a deep breath before moving toward the two Earthbending masters. "Of course I can…Ben, this is my world now."

Confident in her skills, Katara faced Xin Fu and Yue, meeting their gazes head-on. "Little girl, you're quite outmatched," Yue remarked, a hint of arrogance in his tone.

Katara only snorted in response, the water around her beginning to ripple as she assumed her stance. With a swift motion, she struck, the water crashing forcefully against Yue, sending the old master sprawling backward.

Xin Fu bellowed, "You're gonna pay for that, girl!" His Earthbending blow aimed at Katara was met with a dodge, leaving him soaked once again by a torrent of water. The battlefield crackled with tension.

Katara maneuvered with grace, a dance amidst chaos, her movements reminiscent of an airbender, of Aang. In the midst of the skirmish, she glimpsed Aang's face, tears swelling as she wielded them as weapons.

Battered and bruised, Xin Fu found himself ensnared by Katara's water whip, frozen in fear. "Please!" he pleaded. Katara, with a kick that sent him tumbling, shattered the ice, leaving shards embedded in his skin.

"Yue!" Xin Fu screamed. "Little girl!" he wailed, hurling two massive boulders toward Katara with formidable force. Yet, she managed to deflect one, redirecting it with water. Just before the second could strike, the cell door clattered open, and Toph and Ben rushed to their friend's aid.

"No, you don't!" Toph yelled, diverting the second boulder with her Earthbending prowess. Ben, landing squarely in the midst of the chaos, aimed his lightsaber at Xin Fu. "Stand down!" he commanded, the glow of the blade reflecting in Xin Fu's fearful eyes.

As groans of pain emanated from the sidelines, Ben's gaze shifted to Katara, her actions leaving him uneasy. "Katara," he stammered, eyes narrowing at her. "You don't think that was a bit overkill?" he questioned.

Rolling her eyes, Katara retorted, "Take a look in the mirror, Ben. What I did doesn't—"

"Don't compare my past to who I am now, Katara," Ben interrupted. "But there is a degree of—"

"That's enough, you two!" snapped Toph, commanding their attention with a glare directed at Xin Fu.

"You big oaf!" Toph's scream echoed, reverberating through the stale air. "What's the meaning of this? Why did you capture me?" Her voice rang with desperation.

Xin Fu paused, his expression hardened. "You won't get a lick out of me," he retorted, his tone dripping with defiance. His gaze shifted to Ben. "What happens if I surrender, Master Jedi?" he asked casually, a hint of mockery in his voice.

Ben arched an eyebrow, suspicion flickering in his eyes. "What do you mean?" he demanded.

Xin Fu chuckled, a bitter sound that echoed in the cramped space. "The historians have uncovered a lot of old-school traditions we used to have...or rather, the Jedi held," he mused. "Funny, to believe that underneath the Sith generations could forget of a great superpower known as the..."

"Talk," Ben interjected, his voice firm, cutting through Xin Fu's ramblings.

"I know that you don't kill your prisoners, Jedi Master," Xin Fu replied smugly. "I don't have to tell you anything or..."

"Is this guy serious, Ben?" Katara interrupted, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Ben shrugged, a gesture heavy with uncertainty. He fixed Xin Fu with a steely glare. "We are at war, Xin Fu. I may be a Jedi, but even I know that mercy has its limits," he declared, advancing toward Xin Fu, lightsaber poised. "Now I ask you again. Why are you here...why did you capture Toph? Did her parents hire you?"

Xin Fu swallowed hard, a flicker of fear crossing his face. "No, they did not," he admitted reluctantly.

"What happened?" Toph demanded, her voice quivering with apprehension.

With a glare directed at all three of them, Xin Fu spoke. "Well, when you abandoned the town, the Sith and Fire Nation burnt everything to the ground and captured everyone. The Beifong family included."

A heavy silence descended upon them, the weight of Xin Fu's words settling like a shroud. Toph's legs trembled, her heart pounding in her chest as she sank onto one of their camp chairs.

"What are you talking about?" Ben pressed, his voice laced with urgency.

"They took everyone," Yue interjected, his voice strained with pain.

All eyes fixated on the injured man. "What?" he responded defensively. "You honestly believe that the Sith and The Fire Nation were going to just let us go. They took everyone. The men, the women, and even the children... Toph, they took your family."

Toph felt a surge of nausea rising within her, threatening to overwhelm her senses. Katara moved to comfort her, a gesture of solidarity amidst the chaos. Meanwhile, Ben deactivated his lightsaber, securing it back onto his belt. "Where did they take them all?" he pressed, his tone demanding answers.

"Does it matter?" Xin Fu retorted dismissively. "You won't be able to..."

But Ben shook his head adamantly. "A name, now."

With a resigned sigh, Xin Fu relented. "The boiling rock," he disclosed, the words heavy with ominous implication.

"Okay, at least we have a location," Ben acknowledged, a glimmer of determination in his eyes.

Toph's eyes widened in disbelief, her voice rising in anguish. "They took my family away and locked them up in a camp or a jail somewhere, and you're saying okay!" she exclaimed, her distress palpable.

"Toph, I know how horrible you are feeling right now, but at the very least you know that they are alive and well. We can find this place and bust them out of here," Katara reassured her, her voice tinged with empathy.

Turning his attention back to Xin Fu, Ben inquired further, seeking any additional information. However, both Xin Fu and Toph shook their heads in unison, indicating a lack of further intel. Ben sighed, grappling with the weight of the situation. "Why did you capture Toph?" he pressed, determined to unravel the truth.

Xin Fu hesitated before responding, his voice tinged with reluctance. "There are bounties on your head. A Jedi, a Waterbender, the Avatar, the lad... but I've heard that he died recently. There is one especially coming for you, Jedi Master."

Ben's eyes widened in realization. "Whom?" he demanded, his mind racing with possibilities.

"I don't know the name, but it's a girl of golden hair. She brandishes an armor that is never scratched and a sword that never dulls. She can even fly some say," Xin Fu divulged, his tone tinged with a hint of fear.

Recognition flickered in Ben's eyes as he pieced together the puzzle. "Clarissa," he muttered grimly, the name resonating with foreboding significance.

"The warrior girl?" Katara interjected, her voice reflecting a mix of disbelief and concern. "She's still hounding us?"

"Okay, that doesn't matter now," Ben stated briskly, his tone cutting through the tension like a knife. "We need to figure out the now. What are you lot going to do?"

Xin Fu's breath came in ragged gasps as he regarded them. "You know you can't win against us and—"

Katara shot Ben a piercing glare. "You want to let them go?" she snapped, her voice laced with incredulity.

"We're not even going to be here for that long, Katara," Ben retorted calmly. "The plan that I have isn't going to involve the Earth Kingdom, period. We need to get clear of this place."

Katara fell silent at his words, her expression a mixture of frustration and resignation.

Xin Fu turned away, gathering Yue into his arms. Ben observed them closely, his gaze probing. Meanwhile, Katara continued to fix the departing men with a steely glare. "What's your deal?" Ben inquired, sensing her unease.

Toph interjected, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "Are you sure letting them go is the right thing to do?" she questioned, her brow furrowing in concern. "Who knows... they can go back to the Fire Nation. They already had her, and they—"

Ben sighed heavily, interrupting Katara's tirade. "Katara, we need to leave... and I honestly expect that by tomorrow we are either going to need a sign or we're going to wing it into the sky."

Katara's eyes widened in alarm. "What do you mean by 'wing it into the sky'?" she demanded, her voice tinged with apprehension.

Ben hesitated for a moment, contemplating his next words carefully. "Maybe we need to hop on Appa and go," he suggested, his tone tinged with resolve.

"Ben, that's suicide," Katara exclaimed, her voice trembling with fear. "They've got anti-air defenses all over the place and Fire Nation catapults that have kept up with Appa before."

"They're not anti-air," Ben countered. "Maybe, with the power of the Force, maybe we can turn this around."

Katara paused, her features etched with uncertainty as she contemplated his proposal. "Benjamin," she began, her voice firm. "I do not like that plan."

"Trust in the Force," Ben urged, his voice unwavering.

Katara let out a bitter snicker, her words laced with sarcasm. "That's the answer to all your problems, isn't it," she stated. "Trust in the Force. We all don't have that luxury, Ben."

She turned away, leaving him standing alone with Toph as she mounted her horse once more. "Come on, Toph," Ben said, walking over to his horse and holding out his hand to the girl. "You'll ride with me. We have a lot to talk about, and Katara... she isn't in the right frame of mind."

Toph's features softened, her expression reflecting concern. "I know I was out of the fight for a while, and..." Her voice trailed off as a look of horror crossed her face. "Did something happen, Ben?" she asked.

Ben's eyes glistened with tears, his attempts to conceal his emotions futile. "Y-yes," he choked out.

Meanwhile, within the murky waters bordering the Earth Kingdom and the distant edges of Fire Nation Territory, a lone Fire Nation warship drifted silently. All lights were extinguished to avoid detection, but within the command area, the blinds were drawn and multiple candles flickered, casting eerie shadows across the room.

The chamber was filled with soldiers—men clad in thick Earth Kingdom armor and some wearing garments reminiscent of the Water Tribe. They brandished an array of weapons, from spears and knives to swords and glaives, some even wielding flintlock firearms. Adorned with the spoils of their conquests, they exuded an aura of seasoned warriors.

Yet, it was the youngest among them who commanded their attention. With dark brown hair and sun-kissed skin, his once clean-shaven face now sported a thick beard, and his hair was cropped short. Clad in heavy armor that bore the marks of countless battles, he stood tall and resolute.

This was Haru, a Jedi Guardian. Igniting his blue lightsaber, its ethereal glow captivating the room, he silenced the clamor of the soldiers with a single word. "Enough!" he bellowed, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "Enough!"

Silence hung heavy in the air as Haru continued to address the assembled soldiers. With a solemn expression, he raised his right hand, revealing a long strip of paper clenched in his fist. "Look at what is being decreed here," he intoned, his voice carrying the weight of his words. "We were written to by a member of the White Lotus themselves."

Harnessing the power of the Force, Haru summoned a coin into the air, its glinting surface catching the flickering candlelight. As the soldiers beheld the strange pattern etched upon its surface, a collective gasp rippled through the room, mingled with a sense of shock and apprehension.

"A member of Team Avatar has been slain by a Dark Jedi," Haru continued, his tone grave. "Many are critically wounded, and it appears that during this haze, Toph was captured. They are demanding that we return to Ba Sing Sai at once to recover the Avatar."

A grizzled veteran spoke up from the crowd, his Earth Kingdom helmet obscuring his features and lending a deep, gravelly quality to his voice. "...and why do we need to return, General Haru?" he challenged. "We are ready to strike again at the Fire Nation, and returning back to Ba Sing Sai in these waters would surely test us."

Several murmurs of agreement rippled through the ranks, voices raised in concern over the practicality of the decision. "There is a point," another soldier interjected. "How much can the ship take? This was a good find, their own ship, and utilizing it against them in guerrilla tactics—"

"No!" Haru's voice cut through the clamor like a knife, silencing the dissenting voices in an instant. "Aang is the Avatar, and he is critically injured. Ben is my master and reigning Grandmaster... if we let those two die, the war is over. We recover them and decide from there."

A new voice spoke up, its timbre carrying a distinct authority. "Excuse me," it said, drawing the attention of the room.

"Hakoda... Bato," Haru acknowledged, his tone respectful. The two waterbenders and their tribe had joined forces with their ship, tethering their boats to the grand vessel in hopes of striking at the heart of the Fire Nation. However, the news they now faced cast a shadow over their plans.

"Did they say which member died?" Hakoda inquired, his voice tinged with concern.

"There were quite a few with them," Haru replied solemnly. "Ben, Sokka, Katara, Aang, Ty Lee, Jet, and many others had come and gone. We do not know, and the note doesn't state much, but it is urgent."

Bato's grip tightened on Hakoda's shoulder. "I say we go, they are gifted… and losing them would be a blow to both morale and the war effort." "You're right," a seasoned veteran spoke up. "I was part of the group tasked alongside you, Haru. I've witnessed your journey from a scrawny teenager to a true Jedi Knight. Your father, a great man, is surely beaming down, proud of the exceptional person you've become."

Haru's grin widened, the genuine joy lighting up his features. The veteran stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on Haru's shoulder, addressing the assembled crowd. "Benjamin Wilum, the Jedi Grandmaster... I remember when he was just a meager boy. But that meager boy defended and liberated us. It's time to return the favor."

Haru, flanked by Hakoda and Bato, turned to face the eager crowd. "Then, let us begin, men!" he declared, setting a fire in their collective hearts. The men rallied, surging forward with purpose.

"Down to your stations, I want this ship moving on the double, on the double!" Haru's commanding voice echoed through the vessel. The ship roared to life, billowing smoke as it powered up. In the blink of an eye, they were cruising back toward Ba Sing Sai, propelled by a renewed sense of purpose and the anticipation of a final revelation.