Chapter 107: A Delay on the Road to Enlightenment

It had taken some convincing to delay Aang's departure. He was adamant about going and meeting this 'guru', even as the others pointed out the flaws in that plan; not knowing who he was, whether they could trust him. Katara was the one that proved most successful in talking the Avatar down.

"Aang, you can't just leave right now. We need to talk about what we're going to do about the Dai Li and Ba Sing Se."

Sokka nodded emphatically. "She's right. We'll need allies for the… thing. You know what I'm talking. The thing. The thing that we'll allies for."

Zuko sighed as he watched the Tribesman's eyes dart toward Iroh. He said, "Sokka, I told my Uncle about everything."

"You did what!?" Sokka exclaimed.

The Firebender sighed again. "I told him about the eclipse and our invasion plan."

Iroh smiled and nodded. "A most ingenious plan. A few minor changes and it will be a true work of art, I'm sure."

Sokka eyed the elder Firebender with both suspicion and interest. "What sort of changes?"

Katara cut across and said, "Sokka, we can get into that later. For now, we need to figure out what we're going to do about the Dai Li."

Toph snorted. "Easy. We kick ass and take names, same as we always do."

Iroh shook his head, though a small smile danced across his lips. "I do not believe it will be so simple, my friend. If only it could be. The Dai Li has clearly been in control of this city for a very long time; their power is great and extends across all levels of Ba Sing Se society. Removing them will be anything but simple."

Zuko nodded. "He's right. From what Long Feng told me, they were responsible for the death of the Earth King's parents, when he was just a child. They've been manipulating things at least that long."

Toph groaned. "I hate this city. It's all just walls and rules and lies."

Aang said, "So what do we do? We tried getting to the Earth King but Long Feng stopped us."

Katara added, "And it's not like he's going to let up now. The exact opposite, probably. He'll double security on us, and on the Earth King. We wouldn't get close."

Iroh stroked his beard thoughtfully. "This requires meditation. Nephew?"

Zuko nodded. "I'll grab the candles."

Iroh said, "Perhaps the Avatar would care to join us?"

Aang looked startled at the invitation. "I thought I wasn't ready for Fire?"

Iroh smiled warmly. "You get closer every day. Meditation will do you good. It will prepare your mind and spirit for the road to come."

Aang nodded, smiling back. "Okay." He chirped.

The Asset watched the house. From his position he could see the back garden of the Avatar's compound; the sky bison was difficult to miss, but he also had eyes on the two Firebenders and the Avatar himself.

In a cage inside the Asset's mind, Jet snarled at the ashmakers, even as he screamed, trying to get Aang's attention. Nothing made it past the bars of his cage.

The Dai Li agent beside him, his field handler, said quietly, "You understand your assignment?"

The Asset nodded, face blank. "I understand."

Zuko tried to allow himself to sink into the familiar comforts and rhythms of meditation, but something was bothering him. A prickling between his shoulder blades, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. His lone eye darted around, even as he tried to keep his head still.

Iroh muttered out of the corner of his mouth, "Our watcher is behind us, Nephew. Beyond the garden wall, atop the house across the street. He has been there for a little while now."

Aang's eyes widened and he opened his mouth, as if to shout. Zuko said harshly, "Don't say anything! Keep your eyes shut and pretend you're meditating."

Aang's mouth snapped shut, as did his eyes. He'd followed the order without being consciously aware of it.

Quietly he said, "Who is it? What do we do?"

Iroh replied serenely, "I suspect it is some agent of the Dai Li. For now, let them watch. We are merely three elemental benders enjoying a little meditation. I suspect they will make a move soon, and then we will react appropriately."

Zuko nodded and allowed his eye to drift shut, even as his heart raced a little in anticipation. He tried to emulate his Uncle's calm.

Beside them, Aang's heart thundered in his chest; his fear and anxiety was plain to see.

Their watcher made no move. Iroh was the one that brought an end to their meditation session.

He sighed and clapped his hands atop his thighs. "I fear the solution will not be so readily appear. It is getting late; I should return to the shop."

Zuko frowned. "Uncle, are you sure that's a good idea?"

Iroh smiled at his nephew. "Zuko, my dear boy; I have been playing these shadow games for a long time. It will take more than a simple watcher to get the drop on me."

He winked. Aang smiled, feeling more at ease than when they had begun.

Zuko didn't smile, but he nodded. "If you're sure, Uncle. Will I see you at dawn?"

Iroh nodded back. "Indeed. There is a… technique that I would like to teach you. I fear it will become necessary very soon."

"What technique?"

Iroh chuckled. "That is a surprise for the morning, dear nephew. Now, I must depart."

He stood, bowed to the two of them and then strolled towards the house.

Aang watched him leave. He said, "You know, I like your uncle but he can be…"

He trailed off, struggling to find the right word. Zuko supplied, "Strange? Eccentric? Odd?"

Aang nodded. "Yep, to all of the above."

Zuko chuckled. "In some ways, he hasn't changed since I was a child. In others… he is a very different man."

Aang wondered what the older boy meant by that. Instead he asked, "Is… are we still being watched?"

Zuko's eye narrowed in concentration. Then he frowned. "No. They're gone."

Aang said, "That's good, right?"

Zuko shook his head. "Unless they followed my Uncle."

"He didn't seem worried, though."

Zuko sighed. "He never does."

The handler said, "It's time to engage the targets directly. Initiate the Ophidian Protocol."

It was like something clicked in the Asset's mind.

The rigid, militaristic stance shifted into something that looked like a stationary swagger. The corner of his lips quirked up into a half-grin.

The eyes remained the same though; blank, cold, and utterly emotionless.

The handler asked, "Are you ready to engage?"

The Asset drawled in a tone that was almost unmistakably Jet, "I'm ready."