Heading east toward Makapu, the companions happen upon a small village that is occupied by Fire Nation soldiers. They arrive in the middle of a 'fight' between a Fire Nation soldier and a waterbender.
Shizaku steps in, arguing that the Fire Nation is better than pettily fighting other benders. The firebender introduces himself as Lt Saoku, leading this group of soldiers back to regroup with Captain Shan. They have been ordered to arrest any benders and suspicious characters. Toji notices the fight is being recorded by an artist, a woman named Etisha. She explains she is record-keeper of bending and illustrates training scrolls, etc, a skill she learned from her father.
Sakou implores Shizaku to do his duty as a Fire Nation citizen and help root out rebels in the area - an Earthbender and others. Moshi notes this sounds like the companions and the group is wary, but look to see if they can disrupt Soaku's unit and rescue the waterbenders (a woman named Noya and a man named Tokala). Shizaku is given lodgings within the camp, but the rest of the group stays outside the village. Worried about giving Jyoti's existence away, they plead with him to go ahead to meet up with Neila's resistance group.
Its agreed that the group would try to free the waterbenders and have them accompany Jyoti east while the heroes fight against Saoku.
Meanwhile, Toji addresses with Dharma the airbender's fear of going to the Western Air Temple, and what's holding him back. Dharma confides he's afraid of running in the past, and the Fire Nation's wrath, but he's committed to the group's goals of stopping further war.
Back in the village, Shizaku is entertained by Lt Saoku, who questions his loyalties to the Fire Nation. Shizaku spins a tale of wanting to see how the Fire Nation grows, but is also interested in the waterbenders' safety and Saoku lets him question them the following day, where they explain their plight at the hands of the Fire Nation. Shizaku mentions the heroes' plans of heading east and they'd want to free them.
The next day Moshi and Dharma help the people of the village to stay out of the soldiers' way and learn information. It is revealed that the Earthbender annoying Saoku is not Moshi, but a young girl named Ma Leng, being helped by her older brother Ma Ran and a couple other villagers, hiding outside in the mountains.
The group reunites with Shizaku and they debrief, wanting to find Ma Leng and hatch a plan to free Noya and Tokala, and stop Saoku. That night, Shizaku returns to the village to deceive Saoku, and the others take Kou out to find Ma Leng. Saoku returns to question Shizaku and reveals he knows he escaped Kebu Prison Camp. Shizaku deflects and says he did it to survive. Soaku smiles, sharing wine with the engineer, and asking what they should then do, together, about Shizaku's 'former companions'....
- Etisha is a bending-scroll artist interested in capturing techniques.
- Saoku is a commander under Captain Shan. The Fire Nation, in addition to looking for the escaped prisoners and the Air Nomad reliquary, is capturing benders when they can.
