The Fire Nation Prince

Chapter 10: Commander Zhao

The ship glided slowly into the port of the Naval Base, its hull battered and scarred from the relentless battles at sea. The base loomed ahead, a sprawling complex of docks, warehouses, and barracks, all overshadowed by the imposing structure of the commander’s mansion. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the water as the ship’s anchor dropped with a heavy clang. The crew immediately sprang into action, disembarking with practiced efficiency.

At the forefront of the crew were three figures: Prince Zuko, General Iroh, and Lieutenant Jee. Zuko’s golden eyes scanned the base with a mixture of caution and disdain, his posture rigid and commanding. Iroh, ever the picture of calm, walked beside him, his hands clasped behind his back as he observed the bustling activity around them. Lieutenant Jee, a seasoned officer with a stern expression, led the way, his eyes darting around as if anticipating trouble.

”I will inform the shipmaster of the repairs we need and the extra manpower required to get us back to sea as soon as possible,” Lieutenant Jee announced, his voice steady and authoritative. Without waiting for a response, he broke away from the group and entered a nearby building, leaving Zuko and Iroh to continue on their own.

“Lieutenant Jee,” Zuko called him back. “As I mentioned before. No one must know that we have the Avatar. Absolutely nobody on this island.” He warned with such venom the Lieutenant didn’t even think of doing a leak. “All they must know if they pry into our business is that the Avatar escaped. Only if they pry.”

“Of course, sire,” Jee said and turned to leave.

He already suspected who this base was under but he didn’t recognize it from watching the show. He realized now that he was actually here a few things might appear differently.

The two turned left, heading toward the heart of the base. The commander’s mansion stood out like a sore thumb, its grandeur a stark contrast to the utilitarian structures surrounding it. Zuko’s eyes narrowed as they approached, his mind racing with questions.

”Who is the commander of this base?” Zuko asked, though he already had a suspicion. His voice was low, carrying a hint of skepticism.

Iroh stroked his beard thoughtfully, his expression unreadable. ”I’m not entirely sure myself,” he admitted. ”I know it used to be Lieutenant Colonel Teou, but I believe he was promoted to Admiral some time ago. The Fire Nation has been shuffling its officers around quite a bit lately.”

”So we’ve landed in an unknown military base of the Fire Nation,” Zuko muttered, his tone laced with unease. ”This could be... problematic.”

As they approached the entrance to the base, a group of soldiers emerged from the shadows, their armor gleaming in the fading light. At their head was a young lieutenant, no older than twenty, with a cocky swagger that immediately set Zuko on edge. The lieutenant stepped forward, his eyes scanning Zuko and Iroh with a mixture of curiosity and disdain.

”Prince Zuko, General Iroh,” the lieutenant began, his voice dripping with condescension. ”I am Lieutenant Tau. The commander has ordered me to escort you to the mansion.”

Zuko’s eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening at the lieutenant’s tone. The man’s entire demeanor reeked of arrogance, as if he were looking down on them despite their royal status. Iroh, ever the diplomat, remained calm, though even he seemed slightly taken aback by the lieutenant’s attitude.

”Quite the number of men you’ve gathered for a simple escort,” Iroh remarked, his voice light but carrying an undercurrent of warning.

Zuko, however, was not in the mood for diplomacy. His golden eyes flashed with anger as he stepped forward, his aura radiating an intense, almost suffocating pressure. The soldiers around him visibly flinched, their confidence wavering under the weight of his presence.

”It is fine, Uncle,” Zuko said, his voice cold and deadly. ”Should they try anything, they will die right where they stand.”

The sheer force of his killer intent was overwhelming. The lieutenant, who had been so confident moments ago, suddenly found himself struggling to breathe. His knees buckled, and he dropped to the ground, his face pale with fear. The other soldiers fared no better, their hands trembling as they gripped their weapons.

”My... my apologies,” the lieutenant stammered, barely able to get the words out. ”This was just a precaution. There have been reports of soldiers impersonating Fire Nation officers and commandeering our ships in these waters.”

Zuko stepped closer, his shadow looming over the kneeling lieutenant. His aura intensified, pressing down on the man like the weight of a mountain. ”The only reason you are still breathing is because I allow it,” Zuko growled, his voice low and menacing. ”Show me or my uncle such disrespect again, and you will forfeit your life.”

Before the lieutenant could respond, a voice cut through the tension like a knife. ”You show up unannounced to a military base and expect us not to take precautions?”

The soldiers parted to reveal a middle-aged man with a bald head and long, bushy sideburns that gave him the appearance of a wild beast. His eyes were sharp, his expression calculating as he stepped forward to face Zuko and Iroh.

”Captain Zhao,” Iroh greeted, his voice warm despite the tension in the air. ”It’s been some time.”

”General Iroh,” Zhao corrected, a sly smile playing on his lips. ”It’s actually Commander Zhao now. And Prince Zuko, it’s been ages.”

Zuko’s expression remained stony, his golden eyes locked on Zhao with a mixture of disdain and suspicion. He did not return Zhao’s smile, nor did he offer any pleasantries. Instead, he continued to radiate an aura of barely contained rage.

”Control your men properly, Zhao,” Zuko said, his voice sharp and commanding. ”Treating royalty with such disrespect will only result in them forfeiting their lives needlessly.”

Zhao’s smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered, his expression shifting to one of mock concern. ”You must understand, Prince Zuko, we are in the middle of a war,” he said, his tone almost pleading. ”We have lost at least a dozen ships to impersonators in these waters. We cannot afford to take any chances.”

”It doesn’t matter, Zhao,” Zuko shot back, his voice rising with anger. ”That doesn’t excuse them to show such utter disrespect. Next time this happens, you and your entire base will lose their right to live.”

Zhao’s eyes narrowed, his patience wearing thin. He had expected Zuko to be difficult, but this level of hostility was unexpected. For a moment, it seemed as though the two men might come to blows, but Iroh stepped in, his voice firm and commanding.

”Enough, Zuko,” Iroh said, his tone leaving no room for argument. ”Let’s leave this matter as it is for now.”

Zuko hesitated, his fists clenched at his sides, but he ultimately relented. He knew better than to challenge his uncle when he used that tone. Even in his current state, Zuko was nowhere near Iroh’s level, a fact that had been made painfully clear during their sparring match the previous day.

”Certainly, General Iroh,” Zhao said, his smile returning as he accepted the ceasefire. ”If your identities are indeed genuine, I have ordered Lieutenant Tau to invite you to my mansion for dinner. I trust you will join me?”

Iroh nodded graciously, his demeanor calm and composed. ”We would be honored, Commander Zhao.”

The three men continued toward the mansion, Zhao and Iroh engaging in polite conversation about the state of the war and the base’s operations. Zuko followed silently, his mind racing as he maintained his facade of simmering rage. He knew Zhao was up to something, and he was determined to stay one step ahead.

Unbeknownst to Zuko and Iroh, Zhao had already signaled his men to investigate the true reason for the prince’s arrival at the Naval Base. Zuko’s exile by his father was no secret, and Zhao was not one to let an opportunity for advancement slip through his fingers.

---

A little while later, the three men sat around a lavishly set dinner table in Zhao’s mansion. The tension from earlier had eased, replaced by the clinking of silverware and the soft murmur of conversation. Zuko, his rage momentarily subdued, finally allowed himself to relax as he indulged in the spread of food before him.

The meal was a feast fit for royalty, with dishes ranging from roasted duck to spicy noodles, all accompanied by a variety of teas and wines. Zuko’s expression softened as he savored each bite, his earlier hostility replaced by a rare moment of contentment.

The conversation flowed easily, with Zhao and Iroh discussing the ongoing efforts in the Xu Jin Province. Zhao spoke with pride about the progress his forces had made, though Iroh was quick to remind him of the limitations imposed by their current resources.

”You have certainly made great strides in the area in such a short period of time,” Iroh acknowledged, his tone diplomatic. ”But remember, you can only do so much with the resources at your disposal. Overextending your forces could lead to unnecessary losses.”

Zhao nodded, his expression thoughtful. ”Indeed, as you say, General. My men are already stretched thin, and I have been forced to borrow resources from nearby bases to bolster our efforts. It is an unsustainable method, but one that I believe is necessary for the time being.”

Zuko listened quietly, his mind working as he absorbed every word. He knew Zhao was ambitious, but he also knew the man’s ambition often clouded his judgment. It was a weakness that Zuko intended to exploit.

Just as the meal was winding down, Lieutenant Tau entered the dining room, his face pale and his hands trembling. He approached Zhao and whispered something in his ear, his voice barely audible.

Zhao’s smile vanished in an instant, replaced by a scowl that Zuko recognized all too well. The commander’s eyes narrowed, his fists clenching as he turned to face Zuko.

”You let the Avatar escape!?” Zhao demanded, his voice rising with anger.

Zuko met Zhao’s gaze, his expression calm but his eyes burning with defiance. ”The Avatar is not your concern, Zhao,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. ”He is mine.”

The room fell silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Zhao’s scowl deepened, but he said nothing, his mind already racing with plans and schemes. Zuko, for his part, remained composed, his resolve unshaken.

The game was far from over, and Zuko was determined to come out on top.