Miscalculation

Chapter 28: Retaliation

Ba Sing Se

Jin and Ty Lee were talking softly, the occasional giggle punctuating a sentence. The worn blanket that covered the Earth Kingdom girl's bed was pulled up over their heads like a tent. They had the attic room, but still, the apartment was small and the sound of chatter tended to travel from one room to the next with ease.

They had just woken up. It wasn't quite dawn and the entire household still slept like the dead. The pair liked arising early and using that brief window of time to talk or when words weren't necessary, to simply hold one another, each staring intently into the other's eyes.

Not five hours earlier the couple had come home from putting up yet more anti Fire Nation propaganda posters throughout the Lower Ring. Yao had joined them this time, and they had ventured farther out into Ba Sing Se's poorest section, all the way to its border with the Middle Ring. It was a simple thing to do, brushing some glue onto a wall or the side of a cart and sticking a piece of paper into the mess. They were lucky enough not to have encountered any trouble and glided through the darkness with ease. Yes, it could just as easily have gone the other way, but Yao would have protected them and they would have made it back to Jin's family home without a hitch. They didn't fight like Mai and Zuko did or the Freedom Fighters. But theirs was an important job nevertheless and both girls took pride in it.

"You know," Ty Lee whispered. She brushed a strand of thick brown hair away from Jin's pretty face. "I could protect you just as well as Yao could."

Jin flushed a bit. "You mean with that chi blocking thing you do?" She paused for a moment. "And where did that come from?"

"Yeah; I'm really good at it. I trained for years." Ty Lee flushed too. She wasn't a natural boaster. In fact, she never bragged about anything, but for some reason she felt the need to extol her own virtues to Jin, to prove her worth somehow. "I'm not sure where it came from. I guess I'm trying to impress you or something."

"Mmm, and would you protect me? If I was in danger would you do anything for me?" Jin's words were flirtatious and coy and felt odd coming out of her mouth. It seemed that Ty Lee was slowly exposing a whole new side of her, just as she was with Ty Lee.

Giggling, the acrobat assured Jin that yes, she would do anything to protect her. "I love you," Ty Lee confessed. "You're special and you're awesome and I want to make you happy." She never expected to love a girl, had never even considered the idea one way or the other, but Jin was simply right. Her sex was of no consequence. And the words of love that she spoke were pure and true.

Jin knew that and inched forward, kissing Ty Lee, only a brief joining of lips, but it was enough to make them both momentarily breathless. The Earth Kingdom girl removed the blanket from above them and waved her hand about. "I feel kinda warm now. Wanna sneak downstairs with me and get some water?"

"Okay," Ty Lee agreed.

As quietly as they could, they crept down the narrow, creaky stairs and snuck into the kitchen.

"Do you hear that?" Jin shoved aside the plain green curtains that covered the kitchen window. "And," she smelled the air, "it smells like there's a fire."

"Lemme see," the acrobat demanded, giving Jin a gentle shove out of the way. She sniffed and cocked her head, listening. Sure enough, she could smell burning wood and hear the roaring of flames from somewhere in the distance. There were shouts next and the terrified shrieks of children.

In the sky, the sun began its ascent.


They bolted from the kitchen and flew down the hall, knocking on Kang's and Lihua's door before bursting inside the bedroom. Kang shot out of the bed, bleary eyed and angry looking and ready to fight.

"Oh, it's you two. What are you doing in our room? It's not quite time to get up. An old man like me needs all the sleep he can get." Kang was joking about being an old man, but it always made Jin smile and he never got tired of seeing that. Wiping at his eyes and yawning, he waited for his daughter to reply. She wasn't smiling and neither was Ty Lee. "What's wrong, girls?"

"There's a fire outside, Dad. It sounds bad. People are screaming. What should we do?" Tears filled her green eyes and spilled down her cheeks. Ty Lee reached for her hand and squeezed.

"Kang, what is it?" Lihua moaned. The woman propped herself up on one elbow and looked about the small bedroom. "Jin, are you crying?" The girl ran to her then. She knelt on the floor and pressed her face into her mother's lap. Lihua stroked her hair and whispered words of comfort that Jin hadn't heard for years. "Shhh, it will be all right. Tell Mom and Dad what's wrong."

"There's a fire," Kang explained, keen green eyes trained on his wife and daughter. "Somehow I doubt that it's some sort of accident." He dropped his head into his hands and suddenly he did appear older than his years.

"Are you saying that the Fire Nation set it, that they're retaliating like that because of a few posters?" Lihua looked stricken.

"It's been more than posters, dear. There have been altercations. Mai and Zuko fought with a few patrols and so did Jet and his friends. And remember the crowd that fought back the other day. Spirits, I hoped it wouldn't come to this. I'm going outside to see and to help if I can. I don't give a damn if its dawn or not. Filthy bastards!"

His wife's brown eyes were wide with fear now. "You'll be breaking curfew. What if they catch you, Kang? You'll go to prison for six months or worse. We need you! I need you." She stared at him imploringly, but knew even then that her brave and stubborn husband had already made up his mind.

"We can't sit by and allow this to happen, dear. We have to continue standing up to these murdering bullies. I think you know that in your heart. You do, don't you?"

Lihua nodded reluctantly. "I know. But I don't have to be happy about it, do I?"

"No, no you certainly don't." He sat on the edge of the bed and kissed his wife's forehead before giving Jin's head a rub. "Okay, girls, out; I need to get dressed."

Jin snuffled and stood up. She smiled at her parents and the love she felt for them then almost forced her to her knees again. Taking Ty Lee's hand once more, she left the room without another word.


"I hope things aren't too hard for them out there." Kang pointed vaguely to outside, where the rest of the world and the people who lived on it was. "What they have, what they feel for each other, it's not accepted very well. Frankly, I'm surprised that I haven't objected yet myself. But, I look at Jin with Ty Lee and all my misgivings vanish. They seem so right together."

Lihua watched as her husband struggled out of his sleep clothes and pulled on whatever tunic and pants his hands reached first. "They're very young, Kang. They might not be together a few months from now. But, Jin's happier than I've ever seen her. I know their relationship isn't, well, it isn't what I would have chosen for her, but in the end it's her well being that counts. And if Ty Lee can make her happy, I'm all for it."

"You know," Kang laughed. "Our daughter is very fortunate to have us as parents."

Lihua joined in his laughter. "She really is."

Kang kissed her once more, this time on the lips, lingering a bit before leaving and closing the door behind him.


"I want you girls to say inside for now. Do you hear me?" Kang's voice and expression were both serious. "No running after me."

"Yes, Dad," Jin agreed. "Ty Lee and I will make breakfast and if you're not back in time, we'll open up the market. Is that okay?"

"That's perfect." With a sigh, he opened the front door and peered up at the brightening sky. Curfew would be over in just a few minutes, but he wouldn't wait.

He took off at a jog, heading toward the sounds of burning and screaming. There were a few people milling about, but most huddled indoors awaiting the sunrise. Fear or maybe it was self preservation, defeated their curiosity and their desire to help.

When he had turned two corners he came upon a small crowd gathered around a bakery he knew well. Lihua and he sometimes bought treats there for the girls, especially when they were younger. It was a fine old family establishment, rare for the Lower Ring.

He ran, searching the shocked and sad faces for those of the owner and his wife; Deshi and Fen. He sighed with relief when he spotted them.

"Deshi, what happened?" he called.

"What do you think?" the man snarled in reply. "Damned Fire Nation set fire to my shop. There were a bunch of them, cowardly thugs, and they let their little fireballs fly. The shop didn't stand a chance. It's a lucky thing that Fen and I got out at all. Bastards stood there and watched with grins on their faces. And they gave us a warning too, Kang. This," he pointed to the blackened and still smoking remains of the building, "is just the beginning."

Kang felt a chill go through his body. He imagined the entire Lower Ring burning, buildings falling everywhere, and he imagined the Fire Nation stooping to burning people next, randomly setting children or mothers ablaze while their families watched in horror. Knowing things that the Fire Nation had already done, it really wouldn't be that surprising. He feared for the people of the Lower Ring and the rest of Ba Sing Se. He feared for his neighbors and his friends. But he would not stop working for the resistance. In fact, he would encourage them stepping up their activities, being even more of a thorn in the Fire Nation side. They had been in the Earth Kingdom long enough. It was time for them to go, for good, no matter the sacrifices they needed to make.

"I'm sorry, Deshi," Kang said softly, a bit of guilt colouring his voice.

"Why are you sorry? You didn't set my bakery on fire, now did you?" The older man looked at Kang curiously. "You almost sound guilty, friend. What's going on?"

Kang swallowed hard and rubbed the back of his neck. "Why don't you and Fen come back to my place for breakfast and we'll talk….about rebuilding and other things. There's nothing else you can do here."

"No, there's nothing that I can do. I'll never recover from this," Deshi moaned. "Fen and I have lost everything. What are we supposed to do? Where's the money going to come from to rebuild?" He was almost crying now. Fen joined him, leaving a few concerned neighbors behind.

"Kang," she stated. She was subdued looking, as if all the fight had been kicked out of her. She'd done all the screaming she was going to do.

Jin's father put an arm around the woman and held her tightly. "Come, Fen, you're having breakfast with my family. There's a lot to discuss."

She let herself get pulled along. Really, what was the point in resisting?


Mai and Zuko collapsed in their room at the Jasmine Dragon the night after their battle outside the orphanage, both utterly exhausted physically and emotionally. Zuko's arm was wrapped tightly around Mai even in sleep and his nose was pressed into her hair. Their breathing was soft and even and their chests rose and fell in time with each other.

Zuko got up with the sun, unwrapping himself from Mai and then stretching luxuriously. Placing a quick kiss on her warm cheek, he slid out from the bed and strode softly to the bathroom where he performed a quick cleanup. He dressed next and then tiptoed down to the kitchen.

Iroh still hadn't made an appearance and Zuko had the kitchen to himself. He put water on to boil and selected Mai's favorite tea, an almond flavored black, sprinkling a generous pinch of leaves into the elegant porcelain pot. He sliced up some melon next and arranged it on a platter along with some pastries from the day before, still delicious smelling.

Once the tea was ready, he placed everything on a tray, and smiling, headed back up the stairs to the bedroom. Mai was just beginning to stir. Her gold eyes fluttered open and when she saw Zuko looking at her, a matching smile pulled her own lips upward.

"Good morning," Zuko greeted her. He put the tray on a small side table and then leaned down to kiss her full on the lips.

"It is now," she drawled in response when he pulled away. "Did you make me breakfast?" She was hungry, as usual, and the aroma of the tea was stimulating her appetite.

"I did. Sit up and I'll bring it over."

Mai wriggled her way to a sitting position, propping herself up with a few pillows, and waited for Zuko to present her with the food. "I'm starving."

The prince set the tray down on the bed and then hopped up beside her. He poured her a cup of tea and handed her a pastry. "There you go," he said indulgently and snatched a pastry for himself. "How's the tea?"

Mai sipped and then took a bite of Iroh's fruit pastry. "Perfect," she declared. "Thanks, Zuko. That was sweet of you."

He blushed and looked so adorable that Mai had to kiss him this time. "I'm glad," he murmured.

They took their time, reveling in the relaxation that had been so hard to come by the past few days. And when they finished, Zuko went back downstairs with the tray while Mai got dressed and ready for the day's work.


On Iroh's orders, they were sweeping out front, the shop doors wide open to let in a breeze when Mai sniffed the air, and then sniffed it again.

"Do you smell smoke?" she asked Zuko. "I think something's burning, or was burning."

He paused in his work and took a deep breath, inhaling through his nose. There was definitely the hint of smoke. "Let's go take a look," he suggested and pointed up at the roof.

First making certain that Iroh wasn't watching them, the pair scampered around to the back of the tea shop and shimmied up onto the roof, using the balconies as climbing aids. Once atop the Jasmine Dragon, they shaded their eyes and stared out across Ba Sing Se's Upper Ring and beyond to the Middle Ring. The Outer Ring was a distant, hazy blur, but there were plumes of smoke moving in the lazy breeze from a few spots within the city's poorest section.

Both Mai and Zuko felt a chill and automatically reached for the other's hand. "Agni, Mai; they're retaliating, aren't they? They're going to make sure that no one will even consider breaking any of the rules or putting up a fight." Angry tears stung his eyes and he used his free hand to brush them away.

"We don't know that for sure. Maybe there's just a fire." As she said the words, Mai knew that they were untrue. "Ohh," she groaned and stared out over the horizon once again. "Damn it. Ty Lee's there and Jin and Jin's family; you don't think?" Panic, something that Mai rarely felt began to take hold of her. "Zuko?"

"We need to talk with Iroh; let's go, Mai." His lack of an answer made her all the more anxious and by the time they were climbing down into the tunnels with Iroh's blessing, Mai was terrified for her friend.


When they knocked on the slab of wood that covered the tunnel entrance leading into Jin's apartment and someone pulled it back immediately, Mai breathed a sigh of relief. It was Kang on the opposite side and he waved them up into the kitchen.

"We saw smoke," Zuko declared. "We figured it was Fire Nation retaliation and then thought about you guys; glad that you're okay."

The prince became fidgety when he noticed the older man and woman sipping tea and looking distraught. Mai was almost thrown off balance when Ty Lee leapt at her friend, squeezing her mercilessly.

"I was worried." Mai patted Ty Lee's back.

"Wow, Mai, you were worried? Thanks so much." She squeezed even harder then and Mai groaned.

"Ribs, Ty, I need them. And I do have feelings. I just don't always show them." She fought to disentangle herself from the uncomfortable embrace.

"I know you do, Mai. I see that when you're with Zuko."

Lihua beckoned Mai and Zuko over. "Would you like some tea?"

"No thank you," Zuko replied politely. "We'd like to know what's going on, though. There was a fire, wasn't there?"

"Indeed there was, and it was our bakery that burned to the ground," Deshi spoke up. He pointed to his wife. "Our whole lives, everything we had, gone. And it was your people who did it." This time he pointed to Zuko, Mai and Ty Lee.

"You know who we are then?" Zuko asked even though the answer was obvious.

"Yes, yes, Kang told us all about you and why you're here in Ba Sing Se and this resistance movement. He would like me to join. But what good has it done? The Fire Nation is angrier and more violent than ever. And more people like me will suffer."

Fen began to weep then, moaning loudly and wiping her face off on her wide green sleeves. With a weary sigh, Deshi comforted his wife, and despite his best efforts to restrain them, his own brown eyes filled with tears.

"Deshi, our Fire Nation friends are good people. None of this is their fault. And we need to keep fighting. We cannot lie down and let them walk all over us and all over our city."

"That's easy for you to say, isn't it, you with a roof over your head. What have you lost?" He was shouting now.

Lihua put a calming hand on his arm. "Enough now, Deshi; we'll all help you rebuild and until then you can stay here."

Ty Lee and Jin exchanged a frustrated sort of look. The apartment couldn't handle any more people and they were not looking forward to Deshi and Fen intruding on their lives. But should their situations be reversed, they would appreciate the old couple opening up their home.

"I'm sorry," Deshi muttered softly. "It's just all too much."

"I know, dear, I know." Jin's mother continued to comfort.

Jin's sisters, meanwhile, huddled together in a corner, watching everything with huge brown eyes. They were terrified that the apartment would be next. A knock on the door roused Kang from his own quiet thoughts. When he pulled open the door a young man handed him a scroll and then scurried away without a word.

"What's that?" Jin asked curiously.

"It's from someone else in our group," Kang explained, looking at the crude seal that designated the resistance movement. He unrolled it and scanned the brief message."There were five other fires in the Lower Ring last night. The Fire Nation was busy." He flipped his braid back over his shoulder and turned to face his family and friends. "I guess this is war, so to speak. It's come to Ba Sing Se with earnest now and we will see it through to the end. And that end will be our city's freedom."

"I hope that you're right." Deshi sounded even more defeated. "It seems to me that the Fire Nation has the advantage."

"Maybe in fighting skill and resources, but not in determination; they don't know just how resilient and strong us Earth Kingdom folk can be. They're about to find out."

With a quick glance at his wife, but without another word, Kang left, off to open the family market. What he had said hung over the tiny room, potent and meaningful.


A new recruit, barely out of the Fire Nation Military Academy, brought lunch for General Kobayashi and Joo Dee. His hands shook and the pottery rattled about on the tray.

"Just put it down and leave," the general snapped. "For Agni's sake, if you can't even serve me lunch, what good are you?"

"I'm sorry, General Kobayashi," the young man apologized, his voice as tremulous as his hands. Kobayashi was a large man, tall and fit. His voice contained no softness, ever, and he exuded power and anger. In short, he was frightening.

"Just go; don't let me see you for the rest of the day."

"Yes, sir." The soldier, though that label didn't really seem to fit, left, keeping his head bowed as he backed out of the large tent.

"Idiots! Why do they keep sending me idiots?" The general growled and poured himself tea. He didn't bother pouring any for Joo Dee. "So, Joo Dee," he spat out her name with disdain, "the fires were all successfully set last night." He chuckled then, a dark, terrible sound. "Princess Azula should be pleased. I'm sending her word today. Pity I had to send her word of the rebellion a few days ago. She will not be pleased with that."

"But you're doing everything that you can, General Kobayashi. Surely, she cannot expect more than that." Joo Dee smiled her vacant smile and reached for the tea pot. "I could write her a letter explaining just how brilliantly you're handling things."

"I don't need you, a brainwashed twit, telling the princess anything. You had better watch your step; there are plenty of Joo Dee's where you came from." The general's face was scarlet with rage and he pounded his fist on the flimsy table that served as both his desk and his eating area.

"But, I am Joo Dee. I am the only Joo Dee." The young woman looked perplexed. She blinked her green eyes rapidly and tried to interpret the general's statement. It simply made no sense to her.

"Uhh, forget it," he shouted, "Just eat your damned lunch and listen." He wondered for the hundredth time why in the world Azula had given this woman any power at all.

Joo Dee smiled again, but it didn't reach her eyes. None of her smiles did. "Of course; I am a good listener."

"The fires will continue. In fact they will increase. And we'll set some in the other rings too. Who knows where all the rats are hiding? Our food supply is running a bit low, so it's time to start taking from the rabble. Anyone caught protesting, anyone who utters a word of discontent, runs the very high risk of dying. This will be a test of their mettle, Joo Dee. We'll soon see what these peasants are made of. My guess is that they're made of nothing substantial. And if we catch that Fire Nation traitor, we'll have a little execution party. Won't that be fun?"

"Oh, yes, that will be lots of fun."

"That a girl; you just keep agreeing with everything I say." Kobayashi laughed again and some part of Joo Dee, a part deep, deep inside, shivered with fear.


Fire Nation Palace

"Come at me again," Azula ordered.

Ayaka complied with her master's wish and swung her naginata about viciously before attacking the princess. Though her face was completely neutral, she imagined the blade piercing Azula's flesh, shutting the princess up forever. The Bringer had the ability to block out almost everything, but Azula's voice, all of her words, seemed to worm their way through her defenses. And she was tired of it.

Azula evaded the blow, acrobatically getting out of the naginata's way. "I need to be in top form, you idiot. Try harder." She was perspiring and her eyes looked wild, almost crazy. Azula had not been able to relax at all since her arrival home. She felt as though she were being watched constantly, both outside and inside the palace and especially in her room. Her father doubted her now; she sensed it. For all she knew he was planning to bring Zuko home, planning to make him the heir again. Azula would die if that happened, literally die.

"Again, like you really want to kill me." The princess panted and stared at Ayaka, trying to guess the Bringer's next move.

For the first time in years, since she was a small child, Ayaka found something humorous. Her mouth twisted and twitched. Smiling in front of the princess would not do at all. She had to remain completely impassive except when it came to slaughtering the enemy. But inside she grinned and it felt strangely good.

She went at Azula with everything she had and managed to draw blood. The princess's arm bled profusely and she glared at the Bringer with eyes that blazed. "I suppose I asked for that."

Ayaka said nothing.


"There's a letter for you, Princess," one of her personal servants announced.

"Well, bring it to me. What are you waiting for?" She snatched the scroll from the young woman and stared at the seal. It was from General Kobayashi. "Better be good news," she whispered and then tore the piece of correspondence open. Her amber eyes widened as she read. "Damn," she cursed. "Damn fools. Do they think that they can defeat the Fire Nation?" She almost slid off her chair when she read the final few sentences. "Zuko," she hissed. "Traitorous bastard; you and Mai and Iroh and Ty Lee, all of you will die by my hands if I get the chance. How dare you?"

Her entire body shook with fury. She picked up the nearest object and heaved it, not caring where it landed or what it destroyed. The heavy figurine flew toward Azula's mirror, landing in its centre and fracturing the glass. The princess got up from her chair and went to the mirror, staring, her fingers reaching out to touch her equally fractured reflection. The scar that Mai had given her appeared as though it were split into two. The image swam before Azula's eyes and she felt suddenly dizzy. Collapsing to the floor, she wrapped her arms about her knees and wept.


Princess Azula had spies set up all over the Fire Nation. The Avatar, if he was alive, had to be somewhere in the country. He had to be, and Azula would find him. And then she would send her assassin after him. And then he would really be dead and she could throw his broken corpse at her father's feet, an offering of sorts.

The Fire Lord would like that very much. It would appease him, make him confident of her unwavering loyalty. But Azula wasn't sure of that herself any longer. Horrible plans kept forming in her mind, growing more and more detailed as the hours and days passed. It would happen on the Day of Black Sun. Her father would be ensconced in his bunker, thinking himself safe from all harm. Hah, he would get a surprise. And Azula would finally get what she had wanted for years and years.

Her thoughts shifted and she contemplated calling in the rest of The Bringers. Perhaps they and their particular brand of cruelty and coldness would inspire some fear in the Earth Kingdom filth. Yes, that was a good idea. But she wouldn't tell her father any of this. Ba Sing Se was her conquest, after all, not his. And its problems were hers as well. She could take care of things just fine. She would prove to everyone just how capable she was.


Ba Sing Se

By the time Mai and Zuko made it back to the Upper Ring and the Jasmine Dragon, the tea shop was already packed with customers. Jet and Smellerbee were run off their feet and both were relieved to see their friends finally show up for work.

"Sorry," Zuko muttered by way of an apology to Jet. "But we needed to…"

"Yeah, yeah, Mushi explained everything. I get it. But get your damned apron on, will you? I can't take much more of this. Fighting is easier."

Mai chuckled. The Freedom Fighter had a point. Waiting tables was a special kind of tiring. "We need to get our uniforms on. We'll be down in a few minutes."

"Sure," Smellerbee called after them. It seemed that every time the pair entered that bedroom, it took them forever to come back out.

"Really," Mai retorted, divining Bee's meaning. "We've got time for that later." She smirked and darted up the stairs with Zuko, coming down as she had promised, not long after.

There was little time for talk after that, and their breaks were spent eating or gulping down cold water. Towards the end of the day, three Dai Li agents walked into the Jasmine Dragon and took a table. The entire place quieted and all eyes darted over to the agents, then back down at teacups and biscuits, before resting on the three uniformed men once again.

No one wanted to take the table, but it was decided that Mai would remain the calmest. "Thanks," she stated dryly. Approaching the table briskly, she asked the men what they would like.

"Which tea do you recommend, young lady," one agent asked politely.

"They're all good. My personal favorite is the almond flavored black tea." She tapped her foot on the scrupulously clean floor and crossed her arms over her breasts. Her entire posture screamed impatience and disdain.

"We'll take three of those then, please." He gave her a small smile and then began to talk with his two comrades.

Mai turned on her heel, gave Iroh the order and waited. When she placed the tray down on the table, the same agent handed her a small scroll, pulling it discreetly from his sleeve. "Please, read this and consider our offer."

"I'm not sure…" she shrugged.

"Just read it, Mai. And make sure that Zuko and Iroh read it too."

"How….how do you know our names?' She looked about the room nervously, hoping that no one else could hear.

"That doesn't matter. Now go on about your business."

Having been duly dismissed, she wandered back into the kitchen and handed Iroh the letter. "It's from three Dai Li agents," she informed him. "And they know your real names."

"Ah," Iroh said, reaching for the scroll. "Then I suppose we had best read it."