Chapter 99: Revelations, Threats, and Resolutions
The plan had… well, it hadn't gone to plan. It began with Toph and Katara bumping into Long Feng, the Grand Secretariat of Ba Sing Se, on the way inside, and it ended with the man threatening the GAang into obedience and near house arrest.
Aang, Sokka, Katara, and Toph had been escorted back to the house by a dozen Dai Li agents, along with someone claiming to be Joo Dee who definitely wasn't Joo Dee. Zuko had been there waiting for them, having followed the group along the rooftops and jumping ahead.
Now, it was the morning after the party. They were all sat around the kitchen table, picking at their food and pretending to eat. Even Sokka was just picking at his breakfast and pushing it around on his plate.
Zuko said, "So, the Dai Li has Appa."
It wasn't a question. In truth, he wasn't overly surprised. It was a nice piece of leverage to keep the Avatar in check. Although, Zuko thought as he eyed the quiet and angry boy, they were clearly playing with forces beyond their understanding. He'd seen the pacifist monk almost commit mass murder against the Sandbenders because of what they'd done to his bison.
It was Toph that answered. Her voice was subdued though as she said, "Yep."
"And Long Feng is the one in charge?"
Sokka answered this time, equally as quiet. "Yeah."
Zuko sighed.
Aang pushed his plate away and stood up, chair legs squeaking against the floor. He said nothing as he stormed out of the house and into the garden at the rear of the building.
Toph said, "He was pissed, right?"
Zuko echoed the answer she gave. "Yep."
"Great." She said. "I don't suppose you know where the Dai Li are hiding, Sparky?"
Zuko shook his head. "Beyond their official headquarters in the Palace? No."
Katara looked back and forth between the two. She asked, "Why would Zuko know?"
Toph raised an eyebrow at the Waterbender. "Seriously? He leaves the house most nights to go skulk around the Lower Ring. Figured you'd know."
Katara levelled a glare at Zuko, one that made him wince. She said to Toph in a scarily level voice, "No, Toph. I wasn't aware that he was doing that."
"Katara, it's fine." He tried to defend himself. "I wear a mask, and my armour, and I mostly just stop the odd mugging. Occasionally I'll shadow a Dai Li agent, see where they go, but it never amounts to anything."
All he got in return was a 'hmm', along with a pair of narrowed eyes.
Zuko hurriedly changed the subject. "So, basically if we step out of line, they'll do something to Appa?"
Katara sighed, losing the glare. She nodded. Her gaze slipped to the window, where she could see Aang sat in a very rigid meditation pose.
"Pretty much, yeah. We're not to go wandering around on our own; we've got to have 'Joo Dee' or a Dai Li agent with us at all times whenever we leave the house. No unauthorised visitors. And no trying to see the Earth King."
Zuko cursed. "So my Uncle?"
Sokka shrugged. "Unless you want them realising that the Dragon of the West is hiding out up here, we probably ought to find a way of telling him to stay away."
Zuko nodded sullenly. "I'll take care of it."
Zuko went over the back wall of the garden, dressed down in simple travelling clothes, with the hood of his cloak pulled up to shroud his face. He'd left his armour and swords behind; both for speed, subtlety, and in the hope that he wouldn't need them.
He took a winding route through the Upper Ring, sticking to backstreets and alleyways, and occasionally taking to the rooftops, before climbing into his Uncle's apartment above the Jasmine Dragon through a back window.
The teashop was open downstairs; Zuko could hear the chatter of customers and assumed his Uncle must be down there, serving them tea. He slipped off his cloak and draped it over the back of a chair. Then he straightened his clothes and went down the stairway that led to the shop's kitchen.
Zuko was relieved to find his Uncle alone there, tending to various pots across a large stovetop. From the older man's rhythmic breathing, Zuko knew that he was subtly Firebending to regulate the temperatures of the various teas that were brewing. The control being displayed was nothing short of breath taking.
He muttered quietly, "Uncle."
The retired General didn't even startle. He just said quietly, "Nephew. What brings you here in such an… unobtrusive manner?"
Iroh turned and eyed his nephew with a small smile.
Zuko snorted and leaned against a table. "As you can imagine, last night didn't exactly go well."
Iroh sighed and held up a hand. Then he stuck his head out into the front of the shop and called, "Honi? Could you keep an eye on things back here? I have some business to deal with in the office. Thank you, my dear."
He then gestured for Zuko to follow him to his office.
The elder Firebender closed the door behind them firmly before taking a seat opposite Zuko.
He said, "Tell me what happened."
Iroh sighed, stroking his beard. "It is as we feared then. The Earth King is little more than a puppet."
Zuko nodded. "The Grand Secretariat is the one in charge. A man called Long Feng."
"I have heard of this man." Iroh said. "In my search for the missing Chapter of the Order, I heard mention of his name. A powerful adversary, to say the least."
Zuko sighed. "Yeah, that's what it sounds like."
"And he has you and your friends under near house arrest?"
"Yeah. I managed to slip past them to get here, but I doubt I'll be able to do it the same way again."
Iroh shook his head. "You shouldn't try it again, my Nephew. It was necessary today, to maintain my own cover, however it would be too dangerous to attempt a second time."
Zuko frowned. "But, Uncle, what about my training? And…"
He trailed off, cheeks pinking slightly. He said quietly, "I only just found you again, Uncle. I don't want to lose you."
Iroh stood and walked around his desk to kneel beside Zuko's chair. He placed a comforting hand on his nephew's shoulder.
"Zuko, even if the entire world were to separate us, you would not have lost me. We are family. Nothing will ever change that."
Zuko felt tears prick his undamaged ear. In a rough voice he said, "Thank you, Uncle."
"You're very welcome, my Nephew."
Iroh stood and sat back in his chair.
It was quiet for a long moment. Then Zuko asked, "So what do we do? The Dai Li has the Avatar's bison. They're using it to control Aang and the rest of us. That can't be allowed to go on."
Iroh agreed. "You're correct, it cannot. The Avatar is too powerful a force to be manipulated in such a way. I must think on this, Nephew. Perhaps I can enlist some help and discover the Dai Li's base of operations. Leave it with me, Zuko. For now, you must play along with Long Feng's game. Make him feel strong and victorious, while in fact there is a serpent in the weeds."
Zuko looked up at his Uncle with a smirk. "The White Lotus gambit?"
Iroh laughed. "Indeed, Nephew. Indeed."
"I hate this plan." Toph announced, almost immediately after Zuko finished speaking.
"Same." Aang muttered darkly.
Zuko sighed. "Guys, I'm not exactly jumping for joy myself, but Uncle is right. For now, we have to let the Dai Li think that they've won. Make them overconfident. Play the game."
Sokka nodded, also sighing. "Zuko's right. It's basic strategy. Lull them into a false sense of security, then sneak attack."
Toph groaned. "It's going to suck so bad, though."
Zuko nodded. "Yes, it is. But, are you really telling me that you can't do it? You? The Toph Bei Fong? The Blind Bandit?"
Toph glared up at the Firebender. "One of these days, Sparky, that isn't going to work. Fine, I'll play it your way."
Zuko grinned. His gaze shifted to the Avatar. "Aang?"
The boy shook his head but said, "Iroh can find Appa?"
Zuko hesitated but nodded. "He seemed confident."
"Okay." Aang said. "I trust you, and your Uncle."
Katara?" Zuko asked, noticing that the girl had remained silent.
The Waterbender shook her head. "I think we're playing with fire but, honestly, I can't think of a better idea. Yeah, I'm in."
Zuko nodded. Sokka said, "So, it's agreed. We play their game. No going out in public without an escort. No trying to see the Earth King. We're all good little boys and girls."
Toph groaned loudly.
