lucetilogs | Get Away from Our Ikki

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Get Away from Our Ikki

Who: Ikki and Team Avatar (plus friends?)
What: Saving Ikki from the Draft
When: 5AM on the 25th
Where: House 56
Summary: Making those droids defective during that mission really paid off. Time for Team Avatar to wreck some of them to save Ikki from being drafted!
Rating: Y7

Aang woke to the sound of two buzzing journals, at a time that's early even for him. He sees the announcement and feels anxiety setting in as he sees a new draft announcement. Him and Roku being drafted in one thing - but his heart stops when he sees Ikki's name listed instead.

It doesn't take long for the rest of the house to get roused and ready, any early morning irritability quickly overcome by their common goal: do everything they can to save Ikki from being taken to the draft.

So in the last moments before the deadline, they all set themselves up in different positions to protect Ikki. Sokka and Roku patrol the outside. Katara and Aang are inside, specifically covering the supply closet with the door to the basement. And in the basement is the last line of defense, Toph and Bolin with Ikki herself. Each and every one of them is ready to unleash months and/or years of pent-up anti-Malnosso aggression.

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Sokka was probably among the most awake and alert in the house. He'd only been woken up an hour before he usually did. There was a draft. Roku and Aang were on it. As was Ikki. Letting any of them be taken was unacceptable, but Ikki was out of the question.

Which is why he took the position of scout up on the roof. His sword was drawn, as was his thunder ax. Every so often, he would glance at his watch as 5AM drew ever closer and closer.

He wished it was cultists coming. They'd at least have a chance of winning.

Roku was still beating back a little bit of drowsiness, but he would be ready by the time the droids arrive. There was no way they were going to involve Ikki in this.

He stationed himself outside with Sokka as well, but he was staying on the ground, pacing around the front of the house and watching for the droid's approach as the appointed time got closer. He brought out his glider with him as well, though he would mostly be using it as a weapon rather than fly with it.

When the appointed hour came, he realized he wasn't even breathing. He was watching from one direction to the next, trying to anticipate where they'd come from.

"Where are you..."

A full minute passed, but it felt like an hour. They hadn't come. Maybe, just maybe, they were off the hook.

And then the first arrived, leaping from who knows where, right onto the roof of the building. A punch to the jaw and Sokka was rolling over the edge, only barely able to catch himself from falling by driving his sword into the roof.

"THEY'RE HERE!"

Roku heard something land onto the roof of the house, and the next thing he saw was Sokka almost falling off the roof. He can now hear the approaching footsteps of more droids. They're still a little ways from the house, so he's going give Sokka a lift back up to the roof with some airbending before he goes to deal with them.

From his side, there was only two coming at him.

"If you're here to take me and Aang, we'll go, but you're not taking Ikki!" It was probably a hopeless cause to try and tell these guys to back off, but a part of him wished they would understand and just be satisfied with taking the two of them.

The droid attempted to land a kick on Sokka, but the blast of wind was enough to disrupt its movements long enough for Sokka to swing his thunder axe, embedding it in the droid's leg. It wasn't stopping it, but the fact it penetrated the metal was promising.

He got to his feet and held his sword defensively.

"I don't they're going to listen, Roku."

He frowns as the droids continue their approach. He takes a moment to calm himself and then begins to send a wave of fire at the approaching droids. It was powerful enough to stop them momentarily, but now they decided rushing at him was a better idea.

He goes into a stance, charging his next attack and sends a fire stream at them both to slow them down, maybe weaken the metal enough to do some real damage. Sokka's going to be on his own for a while.

For the first time Sokka finds himself wishing Roku had learned lightning bending from Azula while she was here. No doubt it would be really handy right now. He finds himself wondering just how effective firebending and airbending are against these guys.

Or waterbending. or earthbending.

Or swordbending.

The droid needs no weapon, because it uses its arms to block each of Sokka's blows. Although Sokka feels like he's doing more than scratching it, this is hardly the progress he needs to keep Ikki safe. It's a losing battle already.

[ Ikki's also fully awake. Her journal was situated near her head, and that had been the least-fun way ever to wake up, but once Ikki was awake she was awake. Granted, she hadn't listened to most of the post or checked the list thoroughly, but by the time she'd figured out how to stop the noise and had calmed down Soren she'd had people at her door and plans had begun to be made.

By the time five am comes around Ikki's fully dressed and awake and sitting in the basement with Soren, Toph, and Bolin. She's not usually allowed down there, but this is a special circumstance. Ikki's not entirely sure what she should be thinking or feeling - she knows about drafts and the war only through talking and reading about them, nothing more - but considering the immediate battle plans made against supposedly unbeatable droids to stop her going, Ikki's sort of settled on "tense worry".

Not...scared, exactly, because she trusts everyone in the family implicitly and they could probably take on the world in her eyes, but worried, maybe.

Ikki's just going to be turning her prayer beads around and around as she sits in Sokka's armory-basement quietly, not sure if she should distract Bolin and Toph by talking just yet. Eventually she'll have to break, though, because - well, Ikki. ]

So...

[ Bolin hadn't really been able to develop much of an opinion on the Malnosso before this, nothing beyond them being kind of creepy with their weird experiments. But drafting a little girl for a war is messed up in a major way. Bad enough she had to go through that stuff with the Equalist uprising.

Getting ready means listening to whatever Toph says to do, so they're sure to be prepared. But when Ikki speaks up quietly he turns and crouches down.]

Hey, Ikki. Can I ask you to do something important? [He tugs open his shirt and Pabu pops out.] Pabu didn't want to be left behind, but I can't fight with him hanging onto me. Can you keep him safe?

[ At Bolin's voice Ikki relaxes, as much as she can. She wasn't certain if they could talk, but - sitting there in silence, waiting for what everyone knew was coming? She couldn't handle that, really. The minute he says something important Ikki's already nodding, wide-eyed.

When Bolin actually gets to the end of asking, though, she manages a tiny smile. ] I can keep him safe. [ She definitely can, right? She and Soren can. Although the fact that Bolin is preparing to fight - the fact that everyone thinks the droids are getting to the last line of defense...

Ikki holds out her hands, carefully. ] Want at ride, Pabu?

See, I knew you could! [Pabu sniffs her hands for a moment before hopping over and climbing up to curl around her neck like the fuzziest of scarves.] You were really brave back home when you protected your mom from the equalists, and you're being really brave now, too.

[He ruffles her hair with a smile.] We'll make sure nothing bad happens. I mean, we've got your grandpa Aang and Toph and everyone who wants to protect you. You're not going anywhere.

[ skkltjsertk Pabu. Ikki loves Pabu so much it is ridiculous, so this really does make her feel better, and she grins up at Bolin for real this time. ]

I know. They can do anything! Even if it's hard or impossible. I believe in that!

[They had spent so much of the hour preparing that Aang had little to consider the magnitude of the threat facing them. The droids, which were always spoken of as these unbeatable robot men, swooping up to snatch up any of Luceti's residents. He caught glimpses at some points over the journals of scuffles between the droids and various residents, some friends and some strangers. But now he was actually going to try to face them. But even though they were coming for him, protecting Ikki was his greatest priority. He could worry about whatever "emergency" was going on afterwards.

The living room was as prepared for a bending battle as it could be. The furniture was pushed to the walls, any rugs or whatnot put to the side so there would be earth to bend. And the sink was left running with the drain in to give them ample amounts of water. Aang stood ready with his staff, the only limitation being that Firebending in the house? Real risky. He stood ready, glancing between the various windows. There was no way Sokka and Roku could handle all the droids by themselves. It would be up to them to take on any of the droids that slipped in and do whatever they can to keep them from getting down to the basement.

Standing back to back with Katara in the center of the room, he glanced carefully between all the windows and door in his line of sight. As the time hit 5:00 AM, a rasp entered his breath, one of fearful anticipation.]

[Katara said quietly.]

It's a good plan.

[She was so tense.]

We're going to do everything we can.

[He nodded quietly. There was very little chance of success, was there? But he wouldn't let that stop him from trying.]

We will. [He took just a brief moment to put a hand on her shoulder, removing it and going back to his stance after talking.] No matter what, we're gonna try our best, and... and we hope that's enough. [He was barefoot, too, to get a better sense of the ground; that way he judge his earthbending better so that he wouldn't mess with with the foundation or accidentally make any sort of tunnel to the basement.

Still... it was easy to think this was all unnecessary, maybe the Malnosso were just talking big this time. There was still about a minute of still, eerie silence before they could hear the muffled noises of the first confrontation happening above. It was all he took to stay put; because to follow this plan, they had to guard their area, no matter what. It would be too risky to leave the room open to help Sokka and Roku.]

[When the sounds of combat started outside, Katara tensed. She hated being in here, waiting, while Sokka was out there fighting. There was no way that Sokka and Roku would be able to handle all of them, though, not for long. Sooner or later one of the driods would slip through.]

[He closed his eyes for a moment. Neutral jing neutral jing neurtal jing.

And when the time came, he could practically hear - or maybe just feel - something whistle through the wind. He opened his eyes to see one heading straight for the window he was facing. He barked only one word-]

There!

[-as he immediately waved his arms with Waterbending. Kitchen window? Bad choice, buddy. Part of the flowing water is being formed into an ice spike to try to pierce the droid as it smashes through the window.]

Edited 2012-10-27 03:42 (UTC)

[Katara waited - and then another one, through the window in the living room.

Aang will hear the glass shatter, and she doesn't waste any time. Trusting him to take care of the droid at her back, she streams a hard blast of water towards the droid. She's fought them before; she knows their weak spots. But she's never won.

Today will be different. She won't allow it to be otherwise.]

[Aang's own ice spike only slightly slides the droid down, snapping against the metallic skin. Similarly, as he hears the glass shattering and the droid entering, he knows Katara will take care of that one.

As he actually beheld his own droid, he was almost overwhelmed by fear. Combustion Man had been intimidating and inhuman, but the robot took this to a new level. But he tried to remind himself this was not a living creature. This was not something he should use mercy on. He raised some water, turned it to ice and began trying to pierce the droid as it advanced, remembering any weak spots he was likely briefed on beforehand. And he prayed to himself it'd be able to help.]

[Katara had failed to take into account one thing - the droids weren't only coming for Ikki. They were coming for Aang. And for Roku. They were all failing to show up up for the draft.

Despite blasting back the droid, two more filled its place, one headed for her, and one straight for Aang's back.]

Aang, behind you!

[And the third droid she'd blasted attempted to dart past her as well, and head downstairs. She morphed one to ice and managed to detain one droid, but the other sped past her.]

Toph! Incoming!

[Aang managed a grunt in reply. His ice attacks had only barely slowed his first droid down. But he turned to face the droid indicated bu Katara - it was close enough to her that he felt too uneasy to try Firebending. Instead he thrust outward to produce one of his oddest airbending moves, a blast of air in the shape of his body, which stifled the droid's movements somewhat.

This kept both of his droids at a certain distance. So he raised some water and spun it around in a circle after making it hard so that it cut cut through portions of both droids as they advanced.]

[Roku and Sokka probably saw him out there and it's possible the people inside heard him, but Masaomi actually takes a position a ways off from the house, closer to the Sokka Head rock. He's not here because he doubts there abilities per se and he also doesn't want to give that perception. But he was on that droid sabotage mission.

And he wants to see the fruits of all of their labors. Well, him and Linda. Which is way he's twirling his collapsible batons, in full combat gear, and yeah.

And once the fighting starts, him and Linda will be doing it with their newfound style. Swich-hitting, that is. Ideally they are going for one and one fights, but the situation also calls for Linda to electrocute tons of them, sometimes hitting Masaomi in the process (mysteriously, he's okay). Even before the defects, the droids were more vulnerable to high-voltage shocks than most other things, so he probably has an easier time than you'd expect, but he still probably needs to fall back to any of the other positions the proper Team Avatar has as anyone wants to get in on it. And if he sees openings to help there's that too.

/vague

Either way, however the fighting ends, he'll make his way to the house proper then to see how everyone is. These don't need to be Deep Moments per se, but yeah]

[ Since whatever got through the outside team (Sokka the walking armory and Roku the Avatar) and the inside team (Katara the master waterbender and Aang the other Avaatar) also had to get through Bolin and - more to the point - Toph Bei Fong, and then if they could even still move at that point there was Soren, and Ikki herself could at least airbend - well, the end result was that however messed up anyone else had gotten, Ikki was just a little mussed and not really any worse for the wear overall.

Maybe a little more scared of the Malnosso and the droids, but also a little...less. She'd never doubted anyone in her family before, and Ikki hadn't started that morning. Even if they'd thought what they were doing was impossible, Ikki had just always assumed with perfect trust that they could do anything. She'd grown up with the stories of them doing the impossible. It was difficult to unlearn the idea that there was nothing these people couldn't face.

Ikki's probably not going to be out of anyone's sight for the foreseeable future, but when she's let up from the basement after all the fighting, she does notice someone new. Hi Masaomi, Ikki's going to come over and hug you. After she's presumably double-checked by any worried family members. ] Sifu! What are you doing here?

[ ...besides apparently fighting droids. Uh. ]

I... [...He considers. Fighting for her? No, it's true after all, but it would be doubting their abilities. He shrugs a little, patting her on the head in the hug and then glancing at Linda briefly to ensure she doesn't pipe up with the reality of his motivations] Came over to say my goodbyes to Katara before I ship out. Seems I walked in on something, eeeh?

You're going on the draft? [ There's a note of concern, although Ikki's certain Masaomi, like Aang and Roku, can handle himself. She nods, though. ]

I was supposed to go, too, but Katara and grandpa and everyone said I'm not going to, so now I'm not. [ It's way over-simplifying what just happened, but. ] You and Linda'll be really careful, right?

Yep, that's the long and the short of it. Hard to say no to that woman.

[And he crouches, smiling. He's in his full gear and...] Of course we will though, we always are.

[ And considering they'd already broken the deadline... ] You have to leave soon, huh?

Come home safe, then! [ Unlike some others, Ikki isn't careful to avoid referring to Luceti that way. She's usually talking about people when she says that, and it's all right, she thinks, to have more than one. ]

[...Come home safe. Come home safe. His expression solidifies and it's a bit like this icon now]

Yeah, I will. Don't worry too much, even if that is a bit appealing.

I'll try.

[ She's not sure that it's possible not to worry about people who leave, but she believes they're coming back, because the other option just can't be true. So Ikki manages a genuine smile, however tired. ]

I guess I'll let you go say goodbye to Katara, now! [ She doesn't want to hold anyone up, at least. The adults are still all planning to go. ]

See you soon. [Linda waves too, but Masaomi blows a kiss at her before standing and seeming to walk over to Katara...

...

But he won't go to her. When he's confident that Ikki's no longer looking, he's just going to slip out. This was a family victory, and he's got no place in it. Katara and him might have a lingering question, but... well. He's got a draft to go to.]

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Get Away from Our Ikki

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team basement

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Team Indoors

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Team... Nearby. /put it here to not pull people into awkward threeways unless they want

post battle.

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