A/N: This was written for a contest over at atlaland on LiveJournal. The prompt was a female character or femslash. I went with the nondescipt female character: one of the many Joo Dee's. Again, I didn't win anything but still, I had fun with this. A nice exercise delving into the brainwashing and the mindset of the brainwashed.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender.

Warnings: Hints of brainwashing, mild Season 2 spoilers, and account for the typos!

Protecting Her City
By: Nuit Songeur

Joo Dee sighed, awaiting her next assignment. The smile that seemed permanently plastered to her face twitched the corners of her mouth uncomfortably. But still it remained. Such was the product of long, endless hours of training. Only after those enduring hours was she allowed to have assignments. She was fairly new at this and, had she not just conducted her first assignment last week, the Dai Li would have never allowed her to do this now.

There had been a breach back at home, back at Lake Laogai, that threatened the safety of her secret society. The agents that enforced their safety had insisted that someone else fulfill this particular assignment but their leader, Long Feng had sent word from his hiding place that she was the best for this particular job. And, after overhearing specific conversations, Joo Dee knew why.

"He thinks that they might be of some use, that they can help us." one agent had said.

"But it doesn't explain why he would want her, a new recruit, one who can be easily manipulated. Like what had happened last time."

"I think that's the point."

Joo Dee swallowed at the memory. She was being used, she knew, but it was for the betterment of their society, of their city. There were whispers within the halls of their secret abode that it was unsure that the Earth King himself could be trusted any longer, including those connected with him. Including the Avatar.

But the Avatar had brought that onto himself by endangering their entire society. It was her job, and the Dai Li's, to protect it, and that was why she here, allowing herself to be manipulated if need be. All the same, Joo Dee could not help but feel rather nervous; her own personal friend had been the Avatar's escort and his will proved too much for her. She had been sent back to Lake Laogai for more training, only to be sent back again, failing to restrain the threat. Joo Dee feared that she, herself, would be facing something similarly difficult.

But she would do it, she would try her best for her city, for Ba Sing Se. She trained for this and she would succeed. She would keep her city safe.

The tram had finally come to a stop. Joo Dee turned around and stepped forward as the compartment slid open and the commuters began filing out. The last three passengers exited simultaneously in a triangular formation. Joo Dee went to greet them.

"Hello. I am Joo Dee. Welcome to Ba Sing Se," she said. The three women, all wearing military-style uniforms and copious amounts of make-up smiled back, their leader rather condescendingly. The one flanking her left, only half-heartedly while the third was beaming.

"We are the Kyoshi warriors," said the leader. Joo Dee gestured for them to follow.

"The Earth King awaits."

Tell me what you think! Please review!

-NuitSongeur