A Dark Memory
Prologue
Offspring of Avatar Roku, heed my words.
"Who are you?!" Fire Lord Zuko looked around in the darkness, but could not see the source of the voice.
I am but a messenger from someone far greater than I am.
The voice echoed within the deep recesses of his mind. Whatever it was, it did not sound like anything he had ever heard in nature. When it spoke, voices of a man and a woman resonated, harmonizing themselves to sound particularly soothing.
"Then who sent you?!"
I bring you knowledge, Fire Lord Zuko, knowledge of a danger that will come upon the world.
Zuko opened his eyes wide and clenched his fists. Danger again? But they had just saved the world…the entire world from destruction! he thought to himself.
Fire Lord Zuko, take warning from these words. Someone plots against the Four Nations and the Avatar.
"Who?"
My master has not revealed as such to me. This someone will return with the power of ten thousand Buzzard-Hornets and will rise from the Earth to snatch at the Four Nations, tormenting them.
"What must I do?" His voice was now low and soft. Zuko had the most uncomfortable feeling in his stomach.
Do as you must as Fire Lord. The Four Nations must unite to combat this threat.
"What?" Bewilderment set in as Zuko heard the spirit's reply. "But what exactly must I do? This doesn't help me at all!"
You will know what to do.
As the spirit's sentence finished, Fire Lord Zuko fell out of his dream and sprang up on his bed, sweating profusely and feeling utterly confused.
"I don't understand, Zuko."
The Fire Lord sighed inwardly as he turned to face his soon-to-be wife. He put his hand to his forehead as he thought of how to explain his dream.
"You heard me, Mai. That…" Zuko struggled to find a word, "…spirit thing told me that there will be danger." He paused as he remembered the seriousness in the voice. "A great danger."
"But how?" Mai flicked unconsciously at her hair. It was a nervous a habit of hers.
"I don't know. It wouldn't tell me."
"Zuko…" She reached out to hold his hand. Her touch and her soft, dry voice always managed to comfort him, no matter how stressed he felt or how tired he was. This time, however, it did not. "Two years have gone since the greatest threat to the world was sealed away. The world is fine as it is."
He sighed, and nodded slowly. "I know, Mai. But that spirit…it didn't seem to me like it was lying."
"But -"
"Mai," he held her wrist and looked into her eyes, "I'll find some way to deal with this. Don't worry. You go first; I have to speak with General Neng and Chi about something else."
She nodded and reached for him. Their lips met for the shortest of moments, then broke away and left.
Moments passed. Then his servant's voice rang out.
"Your Majesty, the Generals are here."
"Send him in."
General Neng walked into the room and bowed as he stood in front of his Fire Lord. General Chi followed closely and bowed reverently as well. Their sets of armour clinked as they sat down.
"What can we do for you, Your Majesty?" General Chi spoke up first.
"I wanted to ask you about the feasibility of creating a special unit of spies for ensuring the security of the Nation."
The two generals looked at each other with mild surprise.
"But, Your Majesty, is that not the job of the secret police?"
"You've seen the example of the Dai Li. They were corrupt and hungry for power. I cannot allow for that to happen with my own Nation." Zuko's voice was firm. The trip to Lake Laogai under his Blue Spirit mask had frightened him deeply. He had heard horrified screams behind the iron doors as he passed the "Political Department". The terrified and hopeless crying of other prisoners he had passed by also tore at him. The worst, however, had been the "Education Chambers". Hearing the mindless chanting of women learning their new identities as Joo Dee was almost too much for him to handle. Only his deep dedication to accomplish reaching his target had kept him going.
"I understand, Your Majesty… "
"Is it feasible?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Good. I want this unit to answer only to me…and to the Avatar."