drunkenpandaren (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
drunkenpandaren) wrote2009-08-30 11:52 pm
drunkenpandaren) wrote2009-08-30 11:52 pm
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Power Rangers A.D.S. - Chapter 13 "The Boiling Rock Part 1"
Zuko hates me. A lot.
Still, it's fun to torment him.
The Boiling Rock Part 1
“Am I going to have to start LOCKING you people into your rooms? Maybe earthbend a wall of STONE across your doors and windows?” demanded Doctor Toph as Zuko and Sokka tried to sneak out of the building late at night.
“How does she do that?” groused Sokka as Zuko turned towards the tiny scientist.
“We need to get to the Boiling Rock. It’s the worst possible place ANYONE could be in,” said Zuko. “It’s a facility—“
“That does horrible experimentation on humans, I KNOW. I read your mind Zuko,” replied Toph, getting a startled look from the teen.
“… how does she do that?” said Zuko lamely as Sokka shrugged.
“Actually you just confirmed my theory,” replied Doctor Toph and the pair were bent into a pair of chairs and locked into place. “Now then, lets review shall we? The Boiling Rock; formerly the Maximum Security Prison for the Fire Nation in its hey day, it houses nearly a thousand prisoners and is surrounded by a boiling lake. No one gets in, no one gets out.”
“Like an Ant-Trap but bigger?” put in Sokka.
“MUCH bigger. Look, you’ll need MY help to get in there. I know my way around computers and source codes, and I’m SURE you’ll have difficulty getting there let alone getting OUT.”
“One problem with that: this is supposed to be a two-man mission if only due to the fact that you’ve kept us CHAINED TOGETHER!” Zuko rattled his stone chains irritably.
“Precaution. Now we are to assume that Chief Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe is being held captive there. And the only reason WHY they would send him there is one possibility.” Toph turned towards the pair, expression deadly serious. “They are going to EXPERIMENT on him.”
“Experiment? With sharp objects, screwdrivers, needles and possible sharp, blunt and otherwise DEADLY objects?!” screeched Sokka.
“Yes that is correct.”
“… I think I’m going to be faint…” said Sokka weakily.
“Three people. That’s going to be tough getting us into the building. How are we even going to get there anyhow? We can’t all fit into the Dragon-Hawk.” Mused Zuko.
“We’re not taking a zord, although we’l have them. I’ve arranged for other methods of travel.” Replied Toph.
“Wild Doc’s Pet Emporium?” recited Sokka as the trio of Rangers stood at the gates of it. “This has BAD IDEA written all over it.”
“Why hello there!” proclaimed a man who leaped out of nowhere, startling Sokka into Doctor Toph’s arms. She dropped him with a resounding thud. “I’m Dock, and I own this place. Me and my brother Xu actually.”
“We’re here about our ride. You have it ready?” inquired Doctor Toph.
“Well yeah, but we’ve got a problem. He’s mighty feisty and doesn’t take to many people.” Dock eyed the girl. “Have we met somewhere before?”
“Never met you in my life,” replied Doctor Toph.
Dock shrugged as he lead the trio into the Pet Emporium. Leaning in, Zuko asked, “What kind of place is this?”
“An animal sanctuary of sorts. It provided me with the nessecary DNA of every animal that’s so far made its way into a zord. Some of these are quite resilient.”
“Here we are,” said Dock as he lit up a room. Sitting there was a large furry shape that made a groaning sound that they were all familiar with.
“Are you serious?” exclaimed Sokka. “I thought these were extinct?”
In response, said large furry shape licked Sokka from head to toe with a giant tongue.
“Nope, not extinct,” replied Dock as he patted the huge Flying Bison. “Found this poor fella on the shores a few years ago. Nursed it to health I did, and then brought it to Ba Sing Se. It refuses to be purchased but it’s a nice helper when it comes to making delivery runs.”
The flying bison licked Dock and he chuckled. “Friendly fella too.”
“So this is a Flying Bision,” remarked Zuko and the Bison sniffed him before licking him. “Euch!”
“Where did you find him anyhow?” inquired Sokka. “I mean, you said the shore but…”
“Oh I found him actually drifting somewhere near the coastline to the west,” replied Dock. “Me and Xu nursed him back an all.”
”So this Flying Bison can actually fly us out of Ba Sing Se, and get us undetected to The Boiling Rock?” inquired Zuko.
“That is the going idea,” replied Doctor Toph. “As much as I hate flying in something that isn’t solid, we’ve got the best chance of being undetected. Organics will shield us from being caught prematurely.”
“Well I’m game as long as it doesn’t involve evil laser death rays being shot at us,” replied Sokka.
Zuko scowled. “Sokka, lasers aren’t evil. And the only thing that’ll hear us are birds.”
“Hey, we’re going to be in enemy territory. Those are ENEMY BIRDS.” A bird landed on his head and cawed before he chased it off.
“Anyone seen Sokka or Zuko?” called out Katara, pulling a sleepy Aang along with her. “Hello? Anyone? Doctor T?”
Aang yawned. “Maybe they’re asleep?”
“Doubt it,” replied Katara, looking around before plucking a note off the fridge. “Katara. Aang. Need meat. Gone fishing. Back in a few days.” She growled low and then twisted the note in her hands. “What the HELL!? Who’d fall for THAT?!”
“Hey there’s something else on here.” Gently Aang tugged the letter free and smoothed the creases. “PS: If there’s an attack, get General Iroh to handle it. Also, there are no keys for the cuffs as they are no keyholes. And most of all, no peeking.” Aang went a little red, as with Katara. “I didn’t need to know the last part.”
“Doesn’t ANYONE value the point that I’m team leader?!” cried Katara, burying her face in her hands.
“So THAT’S how you get a Bison to move,” said Dock as he drove the Bison while Doctor Toph tapped at her laptop with her back to the wind. “I never realized the command of Yip Yip would do it. How’d you kids know?”
“Call it a hunch,” replied Sokka smugly.
Zuko leaned over Toph’s shoulder and asked, “Find anything?”
“Hacking into the Azulon network is delicate work Zuko,” replied Toph. “You just need to find the right place to hit it with a hammer.”
“Wait I thought hacking involved QUIET intrusions?” inquired Sokka.
“It usually does, but the defenses are meant to detect that kind of thing. So wailing away electronically usually does the trick.” Cracking her knuckles, she grinned widely. “I’m in. Accessing the schematics for the Boiling Rock Facility.”
“Tiny genius girl does it again,” smirked Sokka which earned him a punch to the feet. “Ow…!”
Swooping down, Toph pressed a button as a clear energy field engulfed them. “Wow Doc, you just put cloaks on everything huh?” remarked Sokka dryly before he got punched in the feet again.
“There’s a blind spot we can land and unload just between two towers near a row of cylinder-type protrusions,” reported Toph. “Land us there Dock.”
“Okie dokie.” Landing, Zuko got out first and immediately exhaled sharply. “It’s hot…”
“We’re going to need disguises,” said Sokka, joining him as Toph landed with a thud. With a groan, the Flying Bison flew away and he gaped. “What was THAT for?”
“I told him to go and wait twenty four hours. If we’re not out by then…” said Toph.
Sokka swallowed. “Right…”
“Oh, one last thing—“ Toph twitched her head and the shackles that bound the pair together fell off. “Now that you guys can’t run off on me, I’ve decided to remove your bindings.”
“Oh joy.” Grumbled Zuko and Sokka massaged his wrist.
“And you couldn’t have done this sooner?” demanded Sokka.
“It was more fun watching you guys suffer. Get it? WATCHING?” Toph waggled a hand in front of her face before she returned to her normal smirk.
Peering out behind a few rocks, Zuko pulled back as a pair of Grinders tromped through the hall. “We can’t get any disguises easily, they’re all robots.”
“There’s got to be some way to blend in,” muttered Sokka. “Doctor T?”
“Checking. Looks like human captives are all downstairs in the old prison cells. It’s controlled by a central mechanism high in the tower, but we’d be unable to move around easily if we were masquerading as prisoners.” Toph then tapped her chin. “Sokka, Zuko, how much do you two weigh?”
“Uh… is that a trick question?” inquired Sokka.
“I get it. Wait right here.”
Peeking out, Zuko yelled, “HEY!” and two Grinders turned around. He slapped his ass at them and ducked behind the corner. The Grinders took chase and as they rounded the corner, parts flew everywhere.
“Toss the gutted stuff into the compartment here,” said Toph, opening a hatch as they wrestled into the shells of the Grinders.
“I think mine’s backwards,” complained Sokka as he squeezed into the gutted Grinder chestpiece. Putting his new makeshift helmet on, he stretched out his hand. “I can’t see in this thing!”
“Oh no, what a shocker,” deadpanned Toph.
“Now what?” inquired Zuko as he put his own helmet on.
“NOW you two get to capture me.” Smirked Toph as she gave them her bag.
“We are taking this prisoner to cell block D,” stated Sokka in a robotic monotone.
The pair of Grinders parted as they shoved Toph forward. “Careful you clods,” hissed Toph angrily.
“Sorry,” whispered Zuko. “Trying NOT to blow our cover. And quit with the robot voice Sokka!”
Moving Toph towards a cell, they pulled it open and shoved her in. Toph held up a hand with all five fingers spread and the boys nodded before shutting the door.
“I’ll take the top, you take the bottom,” whispered Zuko as the pair robot-walked away from each other.
Once a pair of Grinders were out of sight, Sokka peeked into each room. Some of the prisoners were unfamiliar for the most part, dressed in drab grey scraps but they were all miserable. After the tenth one, he sighed sharply. “This is going to be one hell of a jailbreak,” grumbled the teen to himself.
Downstairs, Zuko clumsily walked past a few more Grinders before he rounded the corner. Peeking into a few more rooms, he grimaced. Some of the prisoners were nursing wounds here and there and one of them had metal sticking out of his forearm. His fist clenched as he steadied his breathing.
Making an effort to robot-walk to the upper floor, a buzzer rang as the doors slid open. Doctor Toph’s words came back to him.
‘There are several levels with multiple prisoners. Like clockwork, they are allowed fresh air and free time, but then herded back to the cells. Presumably to keep them from being started to death or deprived of oxygen. Take this time to look over the people who are captured and see which ones we can take with us. We’ll get the rest out later.’
Robot-walking past a few more prisoners who gave him room, Zuko scanned the room and his breath caught. There, standing in the corner of the room was a tall regal looking woman who’s eyes were full of sadness. Her arm bore the marks of experimentation but there was a steel in her mannerism yet tempered by gentleness.
“… mom?”
“Prisoner X223, prepare for further study.” Announced a robotic voice. Suddenly, without warning, a small group of Grinders marched out and seized the woman by the arms. Zuko’s heart leaped into his throat and he almost yelled ‘NO!” but then, a tiny hand belonging to Toph pulled from a distance, making him jerk a little. He spun and she shook her head in warning from her position at the wall.
The doors clanged shut and Zuko hit the wall when no one was looking.
“That was my MOTHER!” exclaimed Zuko, throwing his helmet to the side. He hit the wall, earning shush motions from Sokka. “DON’T SHUSH ME!”
“Calm down Series Red,” said Toph, folding her arms. “She’s still alive. I’ve accessed her file. Looks like she’s being tested for endurance of some kind.”
“Endurance for what? Robot’s poking her with saws and needles?!” demanded Zuko.
“No. But it’s something I’ve never seen before, and it worries me. Zuko, you said this is a research facility and it’s quite obvious they’re researching on human beings. The question remains: what comes FROM that research?” Toph looked him in the eye, or past him rather. “I think, and this is just a hypothesis, but this is where you were BORN.”
“… no way…” Zuko slumped to his knees. “No… no! It can’t be! I remember growing up with Uncle... he rescued me… from the machines…” He stared at his hands, horror in his eyes. “Is this really me? Is this MY name?”
“Snap out of it man!” Sokka delivered two slaps to Zuko’s cheeks, reddening them with the force ot it. Shaking the teen from his shoulders, he enunciated, “We. Are. Going. To get your mother back. AND my father. No matter the cost. THEN we’ll worry about if you’re living a lie. Because to me, you’re still the insufferable jerk who makes my life hard. GOT IT?”
Zuko stared at Sokka. “Sokka…”
Toph cleared her throat. “If you two BOYS are finished with your man-love, we’ve got bigger issues to fry.” They leaped aside as if scaled and the Doctor allowed herself a small rare smile.
“Never happened,” said Zuko and Sokka nodde rapidly with a “Nu huh.”
Toph turned her laptop around. “Look at this. In another three hours, the experimentees are returned to their cells. I’ve already located Zuko’s mom AND I found Sokka’s dad too. He’s three floors above us and twenty meters west.”
“End of the hallway,” mused Zuko. “What do we do once we get them out?”
“We need a way to get out of the building and onto the Bison before they notice us,” mused Sokka. “Hey, what were those cylinder things anyhow?”
“Coolers,” replied Zuko. “I remember it from Fire Nation History that uncle taught me. They chill a Firebender to a point where all they can do to stay alive is to firebend themselves warm. It keeps them from thinking of escaping as their whole intent is to focus on survival.”
“Wow, you people REALLY know how to keep someone locked up huh?” replied Sokka dryly. The tromping of Grinders outside the door alerted the pair and Doctor Toph hid her laptop while the boys put on their helmets. Fortunately the Grinders passed by, and they exhaled. “So what’s the plan?”
“In three hours they’ll be returned, which leaves us another 2 until the next rec time. We need to override that directive, and start a riot.” Replied Doctor Toph. “While you’re doing that, I need to get to the main console and download as much information as possible before slagging it.”
“Sounds like a solid plan, but we’ll need to convince people. Not to mention? Grinders have guns; we don’t.”
“Don’t worry. Once the riot begins I’ll pop the locks to the armory.” Toph smirked. “They’ll never know what’s coming till it’s too late.”
“All right. In the meantime, Zuko, make contact with your mom. I’ll get my dad. Hopefully we can get them to convince others.” Sokka put his helmet. “Lets do this.”
Hakoda sat on his bunk, contemplating his fate. True he managed to get a distress signal out, but if it made its way to Ba Sing Se, there was only a small chance they could get there in time.
Just then, the doo opened and a Grinder stepped in choppily before the door closed. Hakoda wasted no time and bolted to his feet, aiming a punch at the Grinder before stopping a inch from the Grinder’s face.
A long uncomfortable silence passed between them. And then Hakoda remarked, “Aren’t you a little small to be a Grinder?”
“Gee dad, thanks for giving the world more ammo,” groused the Grinder before pulling off its head – no, helmet. It was a teenager wearing a gutted Grinder suit as an infiltration uniform, but he’d remember those eyes anywhere and that goofy haircut of his. “Dad…”
“Sokka!” The pair hugged, Sokka a little more stiffly than his father due to the mechanical bits getting in the way. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve come to bust you out,” said Sokka. “Doctor T managed to get most of your distress signal and we tracked you here to the Boiling Rock. We can’t get everyone out but we’ll be coming back for the rest of the people.”
“Better a few than none,” said Hakoda. “Son, what are you doing out here on such a dangerous mission? Is your sister all right?”
“She’s fine dad, Katara’s doing fine. AAAAAND she’s probably tearing her hair out right now cause we left her, the team leader, high and dry with Aang.” Replied Sokka, NOT looking forward to any threats of physical violence from his hair-trigger temper sister. “She’s gotten pretty mean lately.”
“I’m sure you just provoke her in that way,” chuckled Hakoda. “Team leader? Of what?”
“Believe me dad, you’re going to have to sit down for this one.”
The beautiful woman looked up as the Grinder stepped into her room. “More tests,” she said passively.
“Not exactly.” Replied the Grinder as he took his helmet off. “Mom…”
The woman looked at Zuko, examining him. “Do I… know you?”
“It’s me mom,” said Zuko, tapping his chest. “Me. Zuko! Your son!”
“My… son?” repeated the woman. “I… don’t remember a son…”
“Mom please!” exclaimed Zuko desperately. “Think back! You are our mom, mine and Azulas! We fled the Fire Nation, and you were caught in an attack. Then Uncle Iroh saved me.” Zuko choked a sob back. “That… that was the last time I saw you…”
“I’m sorry…” said the woman. “But… I don’t remember any of that.”
Zuko grit his teeth and restrained himself from screaming angrily as he sunk to his knees. “Why…?” he managed. “Why don’t you remember me?”
The woman knelt down and caressed his hair with her good hand. “I’m sorry… but I have to say that… if you were my son, I would be proud. Because you came back for me. That’s enough isn’t it?”
Zuko nodded, swallowing his tears back. “Mo—er, ma’am… I’m going to get you out of here. We can only get a few out at a time but…”
“It’s fine,” said the woman. “But I want you to get two others out before myself.”
“What? NO!”
“Please!” protested the woman. “They are as lost as I am, and require help. But they are young and strong and have been devising escape plan after escape plan. I’m sure with their help you can bring as many people as you want.”
“Please,” pleaded the woman. “Do it? For me?”
Zuko nodded, wiping his eyes before replacing his helmet. “I’ll do it. For you.”
“Did you get a hold of your mom?” whispered Sokka.
“I did… but she says she’s not my mom.” Replied Zuko. “But I KNOW she’s my mom.”
“So we just drag here with us,” replied Sokka and Zuko shook his head. “Why not?! You’re gonna leave her here to rot?”
“NO, I won’t,” replied Zuko angrily. “But I’m going to make sure her first request of me will be fulfilled. There’s two others she wants out, two girls, side by side in the cells next to her. She wants them out first since they’ve been trying to escape for years now.”
Sokka groaned. “We should have called for backup.”
“Radio silence,” reminded Zuko and Sokka ground his teeth. “Besides, we’ve got a couple of girls to talk to.”
“Yeah you’re right. Boy this Ranger stuff is like a gift that keeps on giving.” Groaned Sokka.
“Like Fish Taco Hut?” smirked Zuko. “And their 99 copper Tuesday?”
“HEY I’ll have you know Fish Tacos with extra spicy Fire Sauce is one of the most brilliant creations in mankind,” protested Sokka, folding his arms.
“Sure it is. That’s why ever Tuesday night you’re in the bathroom screaming ‘Oh my sides, oh my sides, oh why Agni do you torment me so with your fiery goodness’?” taunted Zuko. “Get a move on you clod, we’ve got women to talk to.”
Sokka rolled his eyes, not that Zuko could see it under the makeshift helmet, and tromped back down towards the lower cells.
“Stupid Zuko and his memory,” grumbled Sokka as he opened the cell door to the one to the left cell and stepped inside, closing the door.
But before he could even get out a “Hi”, the girl was atop him, slamming his head into the floor and punching wildly. “That’s for me! And that’s for Mai! And that’s for every person you’ve roughed up you Grinder!” she exclaimed, punctuating the declarations with thuds to the chest and head.
“Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!” exclaimed Sokka and the girl halted in mid punch.
“Waaaaaait a minute… Grinders don’t say ow…” said the girl. Grabbing his helmet, she wrenched up, eliciting a series of pops as Sokka proclaimed, “OWWW-IIEEEEE!”
She stared at him and he looked up at her.
And then she stated, “A stranger. From the outside! OOOooooOOOOoooOoooohhhh!”
“Glad to see I’m wanted,” groaned Sokka. “Mind getting off my chest? This piece is tight enough as is…”
“Sure!” The girl hopped off Sokka’s chest and he groaned, sitting up. “I’m Ty Lee. And you?”
“Sokka,” he grimaced. “Of the Water Tribe. I’m here to get you out. The lady in the cell, you know the one between us?”
“Lady? Oooh yeah her, Lady Ursa! She don’t look it but she’s a really classy lady. You can tell cause she’s nobility. Grew up with her son and daughter I did,” said Ty Lee, nodding rapidly. “So…. You here to get Mai out too?”
“Friend of yours?” groaned Sokka as he got to his feet.
“Yeah, she and I’ve been together since we were kids, and in the same secret lab too before we even turned six. In any case, we grew up with Azula and Zuko and…”
“Wait hold on. YOU grew up with Zuko? That’s AWESOME!” exclaimed Sokka loudly and, realizing his mistake, looked out of the cell door to make sure none of the Grinders noticed. “Zuko’s here too,” he added in a softer voice. “We’re here to bust out my dad and his mom which I suppose really IS his mom since you just confirmed it and we’ll get you and this Mai girl out of the place too. We’ll come back for everyone else as soon as we can muster a big enough attack force.”
Ty Lee nodded. “So, how are you gonna get us out?”
“We’re gonna stage a riot and in the confusion, get everyone out.” Explained Sokka.
“Ooooh that’s not going to work,” said Ty Lee. “tried it. Most people here have their spirits broken.”
“Nurtz. Plan B: sabotage!”
“Tried it. Didn’t work.”
Sokka growled and held his head. “Is there ANY plan we haven’t tried yet?”
“Wellllllllll,” drawled Ty Lee. “There’s always the workshifts…”
“Workshifts? What workshifts?”
“The workshifts. They get people to make technology for them, the smart ones. Me and Mai do it often. We’re developing aerial attack vehicles for them, well, air and land conversion ones anyhow. We had this plan where we’d use those to escape but it’s just the two of us, y’know? We can fit the entire populace onto one of them but still…”
Sokka blinked. “That… is brilliant. Lets do it!”
“Okay!” chirped Ty Lee. “anything I can do to help?”
“For now, just stay here and um, look like your spirit’s broken. I’ll go talk to your friend Mai and fill her in. And then I’ll tell Zuko and the Doc and dad.” Sokka put on his helmet, flashed her a thumbs up and slid out the door. There was the sound of another cell sliding back and the loud PA-KUNG! of something hard striking the door.
“Oooooooh, forgot to mention to him that Mai attacks Grinders on sight…”
“What happened to you?” asked Doctor Toph as she gazed up at Sokka’s throbbing blue shiner.
“Zuko’s childhood friend has a vicious right hook,” replied Sokka, holding a bit of ice stolen from the human cafeteria that was still in service. Zuko snickered.
“So we’ve determined that the lady truly is Lady Ursa and my data on her confirms it. However, we will need to make sure these two girls—what was their names again?”
“Ty Lee and Mai,” replied Sokka and Doctor Toph froze. “What? Was it something I said?”
Visibly recomposing herself, Doctor Toph returned to her work. “These, er, Ty Lee and Mai, make sure they coordinate with us. I’ve arranged via hacking for all of us to be at the vehicle worksite in the next three hours along with your father Sokka. What YOU TWO need to do is get down there and make sure the vehicles are clear of any uneeded debris so we can blast our way out.”
“How do you know if there’s going to be weapons on these things?” inquired Zuko.
“Please, it’s a hostile workshop with air and ground weapons being built. They wouldn’t go without at least ONE boomstick on the ship-thingy,” smirked Sokka.
“Then it’s settled. Operation Boom-Time will be a go in three hours. Gentlemen? Get something to eat quickly. We’ll be doing a lot of running.” Said Doctor Toph.
Still, it's fun to torment him.
The Boiling Rock Part 1
“Am I going to have to start LOCKING you people into your rooms? Maybe earthbend a wall of STONE across your doors and windows?” demanded Doctor Toph as Zuko and Sokka tried to sneak out of the building late at night.
“How does she do that?” groused Sokka as Zuko turned towards the tiny scientist.
“We need to get to the Boiling Rock. It’s the worst possible place ANYONE could be in,” said Zuko. “It’s a facility—“
“That does horrible experimentation on humans, I KNOW. I read your mind Zuko,” replied Toph, getting a startled look from the teen.
“… how does she do that?” said Zuko lamely as Sokka shrugged.
“Actually you just confirmed my theory,” replied Doctor Toph and the pair were bent into a pair of chairs and locked into place. “Now then, lets review shall we? The Boiling Rock; formerly the Maximum Security Prison for the Fire Nation in its hey day, it houses nearly a thousand prisoners and is surrounded by a boiling lake. No one gets in, no one gets out.”
“Like an Ant-Trap but bigger?” put in Sokka.
“MUCH bigger. Look, you’ll need MY help to get in there. I know my way around computers and source codes, and I’m SURE you’ll have difficulty getting there let alone getting OUT.”
“One problem with that: this is supposed to be a two-man mission if only due to the fact that you’ve kept us CHAINED TOGETHER!” Zuko rattled his stone chains irritably.
“Precaution. Now we are to assume that Chief Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe is being held captive there. And the only reason WHY they would send him there is one possibility.” Toph turned towards the pair, expression deadly serious. “They are going to EXPERIMENT on him.”
“Experiment? With sharp objects, screwdrivers, needles and possible sharp, blunt and otherwise DEADLY objects?!” screeched Sokka.
“Yes that is correct.”
“… I think I’m going to be faint…” said Sokka weakily.
“Three people. That’s going to be tough getting us into the building. How are we even going to get there anyhow? We can’t all fit into the Dragon-Hawk.” Mused Zuko.
“We’re not taking a zord, although we’l have them. I’ve arranged for other methods of travel.” Replied Toph.
“Wild Doc’s Pet Emporium?” recited Sokka as the trio of Rangers stood at the gates of it. “This has BAD IDEA written all over it.”
“Why hello there!” proclaimed a man who leaped out of nowhere, startling Sokka into Doctor Toph’s arms. She dropped him with a resounding thud. “I’m Dock, and I own this place. Me and my brother Xu actually.”
“We’re here about our ride. You have it ready?” inquired Doctor Toph.
“Well yeah, but we’ve got a problem. He’s mighty feisty and doesn’t take to many people.” Dock eyed the girl. “Have we met somewhere before?”
“Never met you in my life,” replied Doctor Toph.
Dock shrugged as he lead the trio into the Pet Emporium. Leaning in, Zuko asked, “What kind of place is this?”
“An animal sanctuary of sorts. It provided me with the nessecary DNA of every animal that’s so far made its way into a zord. Some of these are quite resilient.”
“Here we are,” said Dock as he lit up a room. Sitting there was a large furry shape that made a groaning sound that they were all familiar with.
“Are you serious?” exclaimed Sokka. “I thought these were extinct?”
In response, said large furry shape licked Sokka from head to toe with a giant tongue.
“Nope, not extinct,” replied Dock as he patted the huge Flying Bison. “Found this poor fella on the shores a few years ago. Nursed it to health I did, and then brought it to Ba Sing Se. It refuses to be purchased but it’s a nice helper when it comes to making delivery runs.”
The flying bison licked Dock and he chuckled. “Friendly fella too.”
“So this is a Flying Bision,” remarked Zuko and the Bison sniffed him before licking him. “Euch!”
“Where did you find him anyhow?” inquired Sokka. “I mean, you said the shore but…”
“Oh I found him actually drifting somewhere near the coastline to the west,” replied Dock. “Me and Xu nursed him back an all.”
”So this Flying Bison can actually fly us out of Ba Sing Se, and get us undetected to The Boiling Rock?” inquired Zuko.
“That is the going idea,” replied Doctor Toph. “As much as I hate flying in something that isn’t solid, we’ve got the best chance of being undetected. Organics will shield us from being caught prematurely.”
“Well I’m game as long as it doesn’t involve evil laser death rays being shot at us,” replied Sokka.
Zuko scowled. “Sokka, lasers aren’t evil. And the only thing that’ll hear us are birds.”
“Hey, we’re going to be in enemy territory. Those are ENEMY BIRDS.” A bird landed on his head and cawed before he chased it off.
“Anyone seen Sokka or Zuko?” called out Katara, pulling a sleepy Aang along with her. “Hello? Anyone? Doctor T?”
Aang yawned. “Maybe they’re asleep?”
“Doubt it,” replied Katara, looking around before plucking a note off the fridge. “Katara. Aang. Need meat. Gone fishing. Back in a few days.” She growled low and then twisted the note in her hands. “What the HELL!? Who’d fall for THAT?!”
“Hey there’s something else on here.” Gently Aang tugged the letter free and smoothed the creases. “PS: If there’s an attack, get General Iroh to handle it. Also, there are no keys for the cuffs as they are no keyholes. And most of all, no peeking.” Aang went a little red, as with Katara. “I didn’t need to know the last part.”
“Doesn’t ANYONE value the point that I’m team leader?!” cried Katara, burying her face in her hands.
“So THAT’S how you get a Bison to move,” said Dock as he drove the Bison while Doctor Toph tapped at her laptop with her back to the wind. “I never realized the command of Yip Yip would do it. How’d you kids know?”
“Call it a hunch,” replied Sokka smugly.
Zuko leaned over Toph’s shoulder and asked, “Find anything?”
“Hacking into the Azulon network is delicate work Zuko,” replied Toph. “You just need to find the right place to hit it with a hammer.”
“Wait I thought hacking involved QUIET intrusions?” inquired Sokka.
“It usually does, but the defenses are meant to detect that kind of thing. So wailing away electronically usually does the trick.” Cracking her knuckles, she grinned widely. “I’m in. Accessing the schematics for the Boiling Rock Facility.”
“Tiny genius girl does it again,” smirked Sokka which earned him a punch to the feet. “Ow…!”
Swooping down, Toph pressed a button as a clear energy field engulfed them. “Wow Doc, you just put cloaks on everything huh?” remarked Sokka dryly before he got punched in the feet again.
“There’s a blind spot we can land and unload just between two towers near a row of cylinder-type protrusions,” reported Toph. “Land us there Dock.”
“Okie dokie.” Landing, Zuko got out first and immediately exhaled sharply. “It’s hot…”
“We’re going to need disguises,” said Sokka, joining him as Toph landed with a thud. With a groan, the Flying Bison flew away and he gaped. “What was THAT for?”
“I told him to go and wait twenty four hours. If we’re not out by then…” said Toph.
Sokka swallowed. “Right…”
“Oh, one last thing—“ Toph twitched her head and the shackles that bound the pair together fell off. “Now that you guys can’t run off on me, I’ve decided to remove your bindings.”
“Oh joy.” Grumbled Zuko and Sokka massaged his wrist.
“And you couldn’t have done this sooner?” demanded Sokka.
“It was more fun watching you guys suffer. Get it? WATCHING?” Toph waggled a hand in front of her face before she returned to her normal smirk.
Peering out behind a few rocks, Zuko pulled back as a pair of Grinders tromped through the hall. “We can’t get any disguises easily, they’re all robots.”
“There’s got to be some way to blend in,” muttered Sokka. “Doctor T?”
“Checking. Looks like human captives are all downstairs in the old prison cells. It’s controlled by a central mechanism high in the tower, but we’d be unable to move around easily if we were masquerading as prisoners.” Toph then tapped her chin. “Sokka, Zuko, how much do you two weigh?”
“Uh… is that a trick question?” inquired Sokka.
“I get it. Wait right here.”
Peeking out, Zuko yelled, “HEY!” and two Grinders turned around. He slapped his ass at them and ducked behind the corner. The Grinders took chase and as they rounded the corner, parts flew everywhere.
“Toss the gutted stuff into the compartment here,” said Toph, opening a hatch as they wrestled into the shells of the Grinders.
“I think mine’s backwards,” complained Sokka as he squeezed into the gutted Grinder chestpiece. Putting his new makeshift helmet on, he stretched out his hand. “I can’t see in this thing!”
“Oh no, what a shocker,” deadpanned Toph.
“Now what?” inquired Zuko as he put his own helmet on.
“NOW you two get to capture me.” Smirked Toph as she gave them her bag.
“We are taking this prisoner to cell block D,” stated Sokka in a robotic monotone.
The pair of Grinders parted as they shoved Toph forward. “Careful you clods,” hissed Toph angrily.
“Sorry,” whispered Zuko. “Trying NOT to blow our cover. And quit with the robot voice Sokka!”
Moving Toph towards a cell, they pulled it open and shoved her in. Toph held up a hand with all five fingers spread and the boys nodded before shutting the door.
“I’ll take the top, you take the bottom,” whispered Zuko as the pair robot-walked away from each other.
Once a pair of Grinders were out of sight, Sokka peeked into each room. Some of the prisoners were unfamiliar for the most part, dressed in drab grey scraps but they were all miserable. After the tenth one, he sighed sharply. “This is going to be one hell of a jailbreak,” grumbled the teen to himself.
Downstairs, Zuko clumsily walked past a few more Grinders before he rounded the corner. Peeking into a few more rooms, he grimaced. Some of the prisoners were nursing wounds here and there and one of them had metal sticking out of his forearm. His fist clenched as he steadied his breathing.
Making an effort to robot-walk to the upper floor, a buzzer rang as the doors slid open. Doctor Toph’s words came back to him.
‘There are several levels with multiple prisoners. Like clockwork, they are allowed fresh air and free time, but then herded back to the cells. Presumably to keep them from being started to death or deprived of oxygen. Take this time to look over the people who are captured and see which ones we can take with us. We’ll get the rest out later.’
Robot-walking past a few more prisoners who gave him room, Zuko scanned the room and his breath caught. There, standing in the corner of the room was a tall regal looking woman who’s eyes were full of sadness. Her arm bore the marks of experimentation but there was a steel in her mannerism yet tempered by gentleness.
“… mom?”
“Prisoner X223, prepare for further study.” Announced a robotic voice. Suddenly, without warning, a small group of Grinders marched out and seized the woman by the arms. Zuko’s heart leaped into his throat and he almost yelled ‘NO!” but then, a tiny hand belonging to Toph pulled from a distance, making him jerk a little. He spun and she shook her head in warning from her position at the wall.
The doors clanged shut and Zuko hit the wall when no one was looking.
“That was my MOTHER!” exclaimed Zuko, throwing his helmet to the side. He hit the wall, earning shush motions from Sokka. “DON’T SHUSH ME!”
“Calm down Series Red,” said Toph, folding her arms. “She’s still alive. I’ve accessed her file. Looks like she’s being tested for endurance of some kind.”
“Endurance for what? Robot’s poking her with saws and needles?!” demanded Zuko.
“No. But it’s something I’ve never seen before, and it worries me. Zuko, you said this is a research facility and it’s quite obvious they’re researching on human beings. The question remains: what comes FROM that research?” Toph looked him in the eye, or past him rather. “I think, and this is just a hypothesis, but this is where you were BORN.”
“… no way…” Zuko slumped to his knees. “No… no! It can’t be! I remember growing up with Uncle... he rescued me… from the machines…” He stared at his hands, horror in his eyes. “Is this really me? Is this MY name?”
“Snap out of it man!” Sokka delivered two slaps to Zuko’s cheeks, reddening them with the force ot it. Shaking the teen from his shoulders, he enunciated, “We. Are. Going. To get your mother back. AND my father. No matter the cost. THEN we’ll worry about if you’re living a lie. Because to me, you’re still the insufferable jerk who makes my life hard. GOT IT?”
Zuko stared at Sokka. “Sokka…”
Toph cleared her throat. “If you two BOYS are finished with your man-love, we’ve got bigger issues to fry.” They leaped aside as if scaled and the Doctor allowed herself a small rare smile.
“Never happened,” said Zuko and Sokka nodde rapidly with a “Nu huh.”
Toph turned her laptop around. “Look at this. In another three hours, the experimentees are returned to their cells. I’ve already located Zuko’s mom AND I found Sokka’s dad too. He’s three floors above us and twenty meters west.”
“End of the hallway,” mused Zuko. “What do we do once we get them out?”
“We need a way to get out of the building and onto the Bison before they notice us,” mused Sokka. “Hey, what were those cylinder things anyhow?”
“Coolers,” replied Zuko. “I remember it from Fire Nation History that uncle taught me. They chill a Firebender to a point where all they can do to stay alive is to firebend themselves warm. It keeps them from thinking of escaping as their whole intent is to focus on survival.”
“Wow, you people REALLY know how to keep someone locked up huh?” replied Sokka dryly. The tromping of Grinders outside the door alerted the pair and Doctor Toph hid her laptop while the boys put on their helmets. Fortunately the Grinders passed by, and they exhaled. “So what’s the plan?”
“In three hours they’ll be returned, which leaves us another 2 until the next rec time. We need to override that directive, and start a riot.” Replied Doctor Toph. “While you’re doing that, I need to get to the main console and download as much information as possible before slagging it.”
“Sounds like a solid plan, but we’ll need to convince people. Not to mention? Grinders have guns; we don’t.”
“Don’t worry. Once the riot begins I’ll pop the locks to the armory.” Toph smirked. “They’ll never know what’s coming till it’s too late.”
“All right. In the meantime, Zuko, make contact with your mom. I’ll get my dad. Hopefully we can get them to convince others.” Sokka put his helmet. “Lets do this.”
Hakoda sat on his bunk, contemplating his fate. True he managed to get a distress signal out, but if it made its way to Ba Sing Se, there was only a small chance they could get there in time.
Just then, the doo opened and a Grinder stepped in choppily before the door closed. Hakoda wasted no time and bolted to his feet, aiming a punch at the Grinder before stopping a inch from the Grinder’s face.
A long uncomfortable silence passed between them. And then Hakoda remarked, “Aren’t you a little small to be a Grinder?”
“Gee dad, thanks for giving the world more ammo,” groused the Grinder before pulling off its head – no, helmet. It was a teenager wearing a gutted Grinder suit as an infiltration uniform, but he’d remember those eyes anywhere and that goofy haircut of his. “Dad…”
“Sokka!” The pair hugged, Sokka a little more stiffly than his father due to the mechanical bits getting in the way. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve come to bust you out,” said Sokka. “Doctor T managed to get most of your distress signal and we tracked you here to the Boiling Rock. We can’t get everyone out but we’ll be coming back for the rest of the people.”
“Better a few than none,” said Hakoda. “Son, what are you doing out here on such a dangerous mission? Is your sister all right?”
“She’s fine dad, Katara’s doing fine. AAAAAND she’s probably tearing her hair out right now cause we left her, the team leader, high and dry with Aang.” Replied Sokka, NOT looking forward to any threats of physical violence from his hair-trigger temper sister. “She’s gotten pretty mean lately.”
“I’m sure you just provoke her in that way,” chuckled Hakoda. “Team leader? Of what?”
“Believe me dad, you’re going to have to sit down for this one.”
The beautiful woman looked up as the Grinder stepped into her room. “More tests,” she said passively.
“Not exactly.” Replied the Grinder as he took his helmet off. “Mom…”
The woman looked at Zuko, examining him. “Do I… know you?”
“It’s me mom,” said Zuko, tapping his chest. “Me. Zuko! Your son!”
“My… son?” repeated the woman. “I… don’t remember a son…”
“Mom please!” exclaimed Zuko desperately. “Think back! You are our mom, mine and Azulas! We fled the Fire Nation, and you were caught in an attack. Then Uncle Iroh saved me.” Zuko choked a sob back. “That… that was the last time I saw you…”
“I’m sorry…” said the woman. “But… I don’t remember any of that.”
Zuko grit his teeth and restrained himself from screaming angrily as he sunk to his knees. “Why…?” he managed. “Why don’t you remember me?”
The woman knelt down and caressed his hair with her good hand. “I’m sorry… but I have to say that… if you were my son, I would be proud. Because you came back for me. That’s enough isn’t it?”
Zuko nodded, swallowing his tears back. “Mo—er, ma’am… I’m going to get you out of here. We can only get a few out at a time but…”
“It’s fine,” said the woman. “But I want you to get two others out before myself.”
“What? NO!”
“Please!” protested the woman. “They are as lost as I am, and require help. But they are young and strong and have been devising escape plan after escape plan. I’m sure with their help you can bring as many people as you want.”
“Please,” pleaded the woman. “Do it? For me?”
Zuko nodded, wiping his eyes before replacing his helmet. “I’ll do it. For you.”
“Did you get a hold of your mom?” whispered Sokka.
“I did… but she says she’s not my mom.” Replied Zuko. “But I KNOW she’s my mom.”
“So we just drag here with us,” replied Sokka and Zuko shook his head. “Why not?! You’re gonna leave her here to rot?”
“NO, I won’t,” replied Zuko angrily. “But I’m going to make sure her first request of me will be fulfilled. There’s two others she wants out, two girls, side by side in the cells next to her. She wants them out first since they’ve been trying to escape for years now.”
Sokka groaned. “We should have called for backup.”
“Radio silence,” reminded Zuko and Sokka ground his teeth. “Besides, we’ve got a couple of girls to talk to.”
“Yeah you’re right. Boy this Ranger stuff is like a gift that keeps on giving.” Groaned Sokka.
“Like Fish Taco Hut?” smirked Zuko. “And their 99 copper Tuesday?”
“HEY I’ll have you know Fish Tacos with extra spicy Fire Sauce is one of the most brilliant creations in mankind,” protested Sokka, folding his arms.
“Sure it is. That’s why ever Tuesday night you’re in the bathroom screaming ‘Oh my sides, oh my sides, oh why Agni do you torment me so with your fiery goodness’?” taunted Zuko. “Get a move on you clod, we’ve got women to talk to.”
Sokka rolled his eyes, not that Zuko could see it under the makeshift helmet, and tromped back down towards the lower cells.
“Stupid Zuko and his memory,” grumbled Sokka as he opened the cell door to the one to the left cell and stepped inside, closing the door.
But before he could even get out a “Hi”, the girl was atop him, slamming his head into the floor and punching wildly. “That’s for me! And that’s for Mai! And that’s for every person you’ve roughed up you Grinder!” she exclaimed, punctuating the declarations with thuds to the chest and head.
“Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!” exclaimed Sokka and the girl halted in mid punch.
“Waaaaaait a minute… Grinders don’t say ow…” said the girl. Grabbing his helmet, she wrenched up, eliciting a series of pops as Sokka proclaimed, “OWWW-IIEEEEE!”
She stared at him and he looked up at her.
And then she stated, “A stranger. From the outside! OOOooooOOOOoooOoooohhhh!”
“Glad to see I’m wanted,” groaned Sokka. “Mind getting off my chest? This piece is tight enough as is…”
“Sure!” The girl hopped off Sokka’s chest and he groaned, sitting up. “I’m Ty Lee. And you?”
“Sokka,” he grimaced. “Of the Water Tribe. I’m here to get you out. The lady in the cell, you know the one between us?”
“Lady? Oooh yeah her, Lady Ursa! She don’t look it but she’s a really classy lady. You can tell cause she’s nobility. Grew up with her son and daughter I did,” said Ty Lee, nodding rapidly. “So…. You here to get Mai out too?”
“Friend of yours?” groaned Sokka as he got to his feet.
“Yeah, she and I’ve been together since we were kids, and in the same secret lab too before we even turned six. In any case, we grew up with Azula and Zuko and…”
“Wait hold on. YOU grew up with Zuko? That’s AWESOME!” exclaimed Sokka loudly and, realizing his mistake, looked out of the cell door to make sure none of the Grinders noticed. “Zuko’s here too,” he added in a softer voice. “We’re here to bust out my dad and his mom which I suppose really IS his mom since you just confirmed it and we’ll get you and this Mai girl out of the place too. We’ll come back for everyone else as soon as we can muster a big enough attack force.”
Ty Lee nodded. “So, how are you gonna get us out?”
“We’re gonna stage a riot and in the confusion, get everyone out.” Explained Sokka.
“Ooooh that’s not going to work,” said Ty Lee. “tried it. Most people here have their spirits broken.”
“Nurtz. Plan B: sabotage!”
“Tried it. Didn’t work.”
Sokka growled and held his head. “Is there ANY plan we haven’t tried yet?”
“Wellllllllll,” drawled Ty Lee. “There’s always the workshifts…”
“Workshifts? What workshifts?”
“The workshifts. They get people to make technology for them, the smart ones. Me and Mai do it often. We’re developing aerial attack vehicles for them, well, air and land conversion ones anyhow. We had this plan where we’d use those to escape but it’s just the two of us, y’know? We can fit the entire populace onto one of them but still…”
Sokka blinked. “That… is brilliant. Lets do it!”
“Okay!” chirped Ty Lee. “anything I can do to help?”
“For now, just stay here and um, look like your spirit’s broken. I’ll go talk to your friend Mai and fill her in. And then I’ll tell Zuko and the Doc and dad.” Sokka put on his helmet, flashed her a thumbs up and slid out the door. There was the sound of another cell sliding back and the loud PA-KUNG! of something hard striking the door.
“Oooooooh, forgot to mention to him that Mai attacks Grinders on sight…”
“What happened to you?” asked Doctor Toph as she gazed up at Sokka’s throbbing blue shiner.
“Zuko’s childhood friend has a vicious right hook,” replied Sokka, holding a bit of ice stolen from the human cafeteria that was still in service. Zuko snickered.
“So we’ve determined that the lady truly is Lady Ursa and my data on her confirms it. However, we will need to make sure these two girls—what was their names again?”
“Ty Lee and Mai,” replied Sokka and Doctor Toph froze. “What? Was it something I said?”
Visibly recomposing herself, Doctor Toph returned to her work. “These, er, Ty Lee and Mai, make sure they coordinate with us. I’ve arranged via hacking for all of us to be at the vehicle worksite in the next three hours along with your father Sokka. What YOU TWO need to do is get down there and make sure the vehicles are clear of any uneeded debris so we can blast our way out.”
“How do you know if there’s going to be weapons on these things?” inquired Zuko.
“Please, it’s a hostile workshop with air and ground weapons being built. They wouldn’t go without at least ONE boomstick on the ship-thingy,” smirked Sokka.
“Then it’s settled. Operation Boom-Time will be a go in three hours. Gentlemen? Get something to eat quickly. We’ll be doing a lot of running.” Said Doctor Toph.
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At least I managed to pack as many brilliant Avatar incidents into this chapter too ^_^