Warning:
Some torture of a deeply unpleasant and villainous individual in this chapter. Nothing sexual, though. Just skip one section down as soon as you see the words 'Long Feng.'
Chapter Fifteen: Information Gathering
Azula couldn't believe her ears.
When she'd first met the Dai Li they'd given off the impression of being disciplined. Ruthless. Deadly efficient. So how was it possible they had such an oversight?
"So you mean to tell me you haven't documented the identities of the Joo Dee's?" asked Azula.
"Of course not." said the officer. "Why would we keep it? Their sentence is indefinite."
Azula sighed. "Do you have anything on them?"
The man shrugged. "Well, there are prison logs. But there hasn't been much of an attempt to keep track of them all."
"Fine, fine, bring me all the data you have." said Azula.
Thirty minutes later Azula was looking at all the data they had. It was a book. A book with a lot of names in it. No details beyond the date of acquisition and crime committed. She looked up at the operative with narrowed eyes.
"A list of names?" asked Azula.
"Yes." said the man. "These are all the Joo Dees who we have."
Azula sighed. "I see. Well, thank you very much.
"Now I want a list of all the methods used to create the Joo Dees. As quickly as possible."
The man nodded and left.
Azula began to read. It was boring. One name after another flowed through her mind. One woman was grabbed for stealing an apple. Others were taken without a given reason. Still, others had crimes like robbery and mugging.
They all blurred together into an indistinguishable mass. It was all Azula could do not to fall asleep. Finally, as she caught herself nodded, she sighed. "This is going to take forever, isn't it? How am I supposed to find out who all these women are and how to reform them from just this?
"I mean, I suppose I could try to learn more about what the Avatar did to free Jet. But I don't want torture with Katara to get boring.
"What to do?" She paused. "Well, I suppose I could do some in the field research."
The Dai Li had a lot of information about people they might want to arrest. But they didn't have any concern for them once they had been arrested. Typical. Just typical.
And that was how Azula found her way back to the Jasmine Dragon. There was Zuko, as usual. He smiled as he approached. "Welcome to the Jasmine Dragon, how can I-" His smile didn't wholly fade this time. And he didn't say her name in shock.
Was it possible people had a subconscious memory of her? Azula hadn't even known about the concept of subconsciousness before now. Either way, this silence was awkward. "Hello, Lee. I'm just here for some tea." Then her gaze fell on Jin, serving a tray of dishes. She approached her. "Excuse me, Jin, can I talk with you?"
Jin looked up in surprise. She seemed to be trying to remember if she knew Azula. "Um..." She looked to Uncle, who waved.
"Go ahead." said Iroh. "Just don't take too long. There is tea to serve."
"Yes, of course." said Jin. They sat down across from one another. "How can I help?"
Azula clasped her hands and thought about how best to say it. "Well you see, I was walking through the city, and I keep running into girls named Joo Dee. They all seem to have the same personality. I haven't been here long, but I was hoping you could tell me a bit about them."
"I..." Jin looked afraid. Why was she afraid. "I really shouldn't."
"Trust me." said Azula. "You don't need to be afraid."
Jin looked her in the eye and Azula did her best to look innocent. She hadn't had this expression in years. Finally, Jin looked back down. "Alright. The Joo Dees they... I've seen some of them before. They're women who got caught stealing in the lower districts. Or some just disappeared. They were taken by the Dai Li.
"Sometimes we see them again but...
"But they don't remember anything. The Dai Li use them as accountants and greeters for important guests."
Her voice was terrified. Several people looked over to where the conversation was. They finished their tea and walked out. People were scared of the Dai Li. Why did that bother, Azula?
Stay on task. "Have any of them met family? Friends?"
Jin looked away. "I... a friend of mine was taken as one. I met her again and... and for a moment it seemed like she was herself. But then one of her guards, they always have guards when going to the Lower Districts, he said something."
"Said what." said Azula.
Jin was shaking at the memory. Azula put a hand to her shoulder. "It's all right." said Azula. "No one is going to hurt you, Jin. Not on my watch."
Jin looked up. "'You are invited to Lake Laogai.' I don't know what it means, but her face went blank, and she just left. I never saw her again. I think they changed her route."
"I see." said Azula. "I'm sorry to hear about your troubles Jin. I can promise you, the ones' responsible will regret it, and, sooner or later, a solution will present itself."
She stood up and excused herself.
As Azula left, she began to realize that she was clenching her hands. She was angry. Very angry. Jin belonged to her. As the entire city would belong to her. And the Dai Li had hurt, no, damaged her.
Long Feng had damaged Azula's property. And he would pay for it.
It wasn't anything personal.
She didn't care about Jin as a person. Definitely not.
Long Feng awoke from a sleep he did not remember taken. One moment he had been awaiting news of the coup and then someone had entered his cell. Before he could reacted, he'd been rendered unconscious.
And now he was in the Dai Li interrogation room. The one used for torture. Long Feng had had it retired in favor of hypnosis, but now the equipment was here. Polished and read.
"What is this..." said Long Feng.
Out of the shadows emerged Princess Azula, holding two nails. Her expression was nothing like the out of her depth girl she'd seemed before. It was murderous. "Hello, Long Feng."
He tried to break his bonds. "Princess Azula, what is the meaning of this?"
And then Azula stabbed the nails into his legs. Long Feng caught the yell of pain before it came out. She attached two chains to the nails. There was a flash of lightning, and he screamed. "Oh nothing in particular." said Azula. "The Dai Li have been dissolved. Quite literally actually. And I've arranged things so we will not be interrupted."
"What are you talking about-" began Long Feng. Then there was another surge.
"You want to hear something funny." said Azula. "I spent days looking through guarded Dai Li files on the Joo Dees, trying to memorize it all, and it was so boring and dry. I've never been very good at book learning.
"I considered going and tormenting the water peasant again, to relieve the monotony. But then I had an idea:
"Why not mix business with pleasure?
"Instead of reading up on Dai Li methods and secrets, I'll just torture you to death again, and again until I know them all. And since I'll be having a lot of fun, it'll be much easier to remember."
Then she drew out a knife. Long Feng tried to struggle as she gripped his hand. He tried to keep his fingers clenched, but she pulled out ring finger and set the knife to it.
"You don't really think the Dai Li-" began Long Feng.
Then she made a small cut. He shuddered as she drew out the knife and set it to his cheek, sinking it in. Long Feng kept himself controlled and focused on trying to break free. He would not give her the satisfaction of crying out.
"I thought I'd start with death by a thousand cuts." said Azula as she began to cut. "Interesting fact, by the way, I usually go easy on certain kinds of people. I mean when tormenting that water peasant, all I did was sear her a little. Drive her little by little to the edge. A bit of lightning, followed by a bit of fun. She wouldn't suffer any permanent harm, physically anyway.
"But for someone like you?
"Well, I can do things. All kinds of horrible maiming, vicious things. things that I'd never consider doing on some stupid little do-gooder.
"Let's get started!"
Her smile scared Long Feng. He decided it might be better to give her the information right away. "That will not be necessary. I'll tell you everything."
"I know." said Azula. "But I like my way better."
Azula awoke on cushions of the finest silk and felt the rays of the sun on her face.
Long Feng's screams had lasted well into the night across many different loops. Azula had set to work extracting all the information she could from him. She'd checked it with other sources of course. When she had gathered all she could from him, she started working her way down the Dai Li's chain of command.
She sat up and began to get ready.
It had been fun torturing people. She'd always held back with Katara, but against the Dai Li? They well and truly deserved it, and that meant she could really get creative. Even so, there were only so many times one could torture someone for information before it got old.
She needed a break.
More importantly, she needed an outside perspective. Azula had information. But she had no idea what to do with it all. Katara had mentioned getting through to Jet
"Azula, you're awake. You've got to try this breakfast." said Ty Lee. "They have the best sausages."
Azula served herself and began to eat quickly. "I would, Ty Lee, but I've got a problem. You see I've got all the data I need. But I need a certain someone's expertise in making use of it.
"Any advice?"
"Well you could ask for their help." said Ty Lee.
"Unfortunately if I revealed myself to them they'd either attack me or get me thrown in prison." said Azula. "Again. They know us by sight."
"The water peasant?" guessed Mai.
"Yes." said Azula.
"Have you considered threatening to murder their loved ones' if they don't obey you?" asked Mai.
Azula sighed despondently. "No, her loved ones' aren't in the city at the moment. And by the time they get here, it'll be too late."
"You could threaten innocent civilians." said Mai.
Azula blinked and looked at Mai in surprise. "...That is an absolutely brilliant suggestions Mai, where did you get it?!"
"You've been doing it to us all our lives." said Mai.
Oh, that was a foolish question. "Oh, so I have." Azula stood up. "Well, no sense in wasting any more time."
She didn't have to do any prep work. Katara and her friends were gullible enough to not need it. This would be easy.
Azula strode through the halls and found Katara's room. Standing by it, she waited until Katara entered the hall. She saw Azula, and instantly her face became terrified. She stepped back in uncharacteristic fear and snatched for her waterskin. But as she drew out her water, the process was uneasy and weak.
"Azula!" said Katara, backing away. Her hands were shaking.
Yes, there was definitely a subconscious effect on people. "I have taken fifty-seven innocent people hostage." said Azula. "If my cover is blown or if I give the order they will be boiled alive."
Katara steadied herself. "You... you don't have any shame do you?"
"Maybe not. The question is: Do you?" asked Azula, stepping forward. "You have only one chance, and only one chance to save them."
"What do you want?" asked Katara.
"You must go on a date with me to the Jasmine Dragon." said Azula. Why put it like that? Why not? It would screw with her.
"What?" said Katara, freezing in shock. Her water splashed to the ground.
Azula smiled. "Wear something nice."
Author's Note:
You know, I'm getting really sick of writing torture scenes with Azula. I know it's part of her character, and this is part of her arc. But it's unpleasant to write, and it means I have to put on content warnings.
I really wanted that first chapter to just be one moment. But I have to go where Azula's character leads me. And it made perfect sense that the best way to learn about Dai Li secrets would be to interrogate the Dai Li.