"People of Ba Sing Se!" Kai announced loudly in one of the larger squares in the Lower Ring to draw in the apprehensive populace around him. Despite being thick in the midst of the conquered people with only a squad and a couple of transport tanks, Kai didn't feel too concerned for his safety. "As was interrupted so rudely days before by terrorists, Prince Xing wishes to announce the condition of the Dai Li victims!"
That confirmed the attention of more than a significant chunk of the crowd, and Kai could sense trepidation giving in ever so slightly to curiosity and hope. He gave it a few seconds for some people to desperately push their way to the front of the crowd for a better listen.
"It is the prince's pleasure to declare that a solution has been found to reverse the damage to the victims of Lake Laogai! Thanks to the aid of waterbender healers, your loved ones will be returned to you shortly!"
Kai had to consciously make an effort not to grin as he saw the ripple of relief sweep across the city square. He glanced at a trooper and gave a silent nod of his head before returning to the speech.
"The healing process is slow, thanks to the insidious methods of the Dai Li, but as proof of Prince Xing and the Fire Nation's progress, we come today with those women successfully liberated from the Dai Li's cruel mind slaving."
The crowd rose to a deafening murmur as the squad protectively led out a dozen skittish young women. It took Kilin and her people a lot of time figuring out how to deal with the long lasting scars of the Dai Li's conditioning, and these women would still need some time and care to be reintegrated into society despite being the most recent Dai Li acquisitions. Which was why Xing had made sure that the women being freed all had families to return to; for those that they couldn't find any trace of a relative or loved one, they were kept in the palace for the time being.
Kai watched as the women huddled together beside him, and kept an eye out to the crowd as he kindly addressed them. "Please, announce yourselves so that your family can identify you."
"M-Mi…Miao Ching, of Lusha Village," the first woman said, and Kai had to make her repeat her name louder before a trembling couple forced their way to the front. She immediately noticed them and the soldiers did not stop her as she began walking towards them. "M-Mom? Dad?" A heartwarming scene ensued, of a lost daughter being united with her worried parents. Kai found it hard to push down a smile, but he had work to do.
"You next, ma'am," he said to the next woman who looked at the sobbing and hugging trio, and drew strength from it as she announced her name.
"Hiyori of Lotus Pond District!" she called out desperately. How convenient that said district was where they were right now. At least the Dai Li had the decency to record the addresses of their victims.
This time, a man stormed to the front, hands and butcher's apron glistening with fresh blood. The woman Hiyori didn't seem to mind, running straight for the butcher who caught her in his arms. "I thought you ran off! I thought you hated me!" he cried out as they both broke quickly down.
Kai and his men had the pleasure of witnessing more touching scenes of reunited spouses and families. By the end of it, with no more women to return, the crowd fixed their now hopeful gaze at the captain.
"These ladies will be the first of many. Be assured that the Fire Nation will return your partners, sisters and daughters back to you as soon as they are healed. Prince Xing is eager to do what he can to undo the damage wrought by your previous rulers, and is committed to freeing all of the Dai Li's victims from their shackled minds."
Damnit, his audience was taking in the words too well. Heads were bobbing and optimistic smiles could be seen. Where the fuck were the accusations of lies or trickery?
Fucking wager…Looks like he'll have to requisition for a house in the eastern district. Fucking Ren and her sunrises…
Pushing aside his annoyance, Kai gave another nod to his men, and then braced himself for the next part of the performance. The men roughly herded out of the other transport tank a group of whimpering and crippled men, each naked save for a simple green loincloth and a gag, each sporting the the emblem of Ba Sing Se branded onto their backs and chests.
He had the crowd hanging onto his every word by now, even the reunited families were looking at him intently as he drew out another scroll.
"As further proof of his commitment to justice, Prince Xing has also seen fit to allow the wronged citizens of Ba Sing Se to dispense justice as they see fit to the Dai Li."
Knowing their parts, the squad of soldiers kicked some of the Dai Li towards the crowd.
"As such, all Dai Li in captivity are, as of right now, being handed over to the people of Ba Sing Se. Only Long Feng, the leader of the Dai Li, will be retained by Prince Xing, to personally enact his own brand of punishment on behalf of the Avatar and the city of Ba Sing Se."
Kai and his squad took several steps back towards the tanks, and they watched as the crowd shifted their attention to the branded men before them. The silence was thick and anxious, until the girl from Lusha Village, Miao Ching, broke from her parents' embrace and rose to her feet. She stomped over to the Dai Li still pleading through their gags and launched a savage (if poorly executed) kick across one's face. The angle at which her toes connected, she'd probably be feeling the sprain in an hour's time.
Well, that's untrained civilians for you.
"Bastards! You made me…made me…" She shrieked as she launched another kick on her victim, and then settled for stomping him into the ground. Her parents joined her soon enough, screaming curses as they pummeled the poor sod into a pulp.
That was the spark that the crowd needed, and cries of outrage filled the air as the mob descended on the Dai Li.
"Always good to see a happy ending," Kai said dryly before ordering his men back to the tanks. The same scene was likely repeated throughout Ba Sing Se's middle and lower districts. The 11th were stretched thin because of it, but at least it was only for a day.
There were just enough liberated brainwash victims and Dai Li to apportion to all the squares throughout the massive city state, just as Xing wanted. Kai found it interesting that he wanted to deal with General Fong and the other insurgents separately, instead of lumping them together with the Dai Li.
Knowing Xing, it was probably to give himself enough prisoners to make a scene with.
"Right. We'll go back and rest up, and then it's over to the Middle Ring for round two," Kai told his team, before enjoying the rather peaceful drive back to the palace. With the Lower Ring allowed their vengeful bloodlust, traffic should be light for the next…say, hour or so?
*****
Zuko found his time with Mai's family to be a mixed bag. On the one hand, Mai's mother, Michi, was very welcoming, and it was a little bittersweet to see how she doted on Mai. Michi was a good, caring mother who managed to balance her (annoying, in Mai's eyes) love for both her children.
Quite unlike how Zuko and Azula were given affection, he quietly noted.
It always took some effort in quashing the pang of missing his own mother, and the disgraced prince often wound up staring blankly at Mai's and Michi's interactions as he wondered where his mother had fled to, and why.
Still, the idle melancholy wasn't that bad a price. While Mai complained about being bored, Zuko often had the…pleasure of watching her slowly stretch on her bed while she whined before him in the privacy of her room. She most definitely knew he was looking, judging from how she smirked as she displayed herself.
On the other hand, Mai's father was rather…persistent in treating Zuko like the prince he was not. The former governor would find or make the time to praise Zuko for serving so humbly in the military, or go on about how grateful Mai should be for having a prince watch over her. It came to a point where Michi had to drag Ukano away right after dinner to give Zuko some space, which had the rather nice side effect of leaving him and Mai with more alone time.
"You know, if you weren't just standing there, we could be far less bored," Mai had outright said one day. "My parents are out, Tom-Tom's with them, so…"
For some reason, Zuko's mind won over his dick. "It…wouldn't be right, Lady Mai."
Mai huffed as she got up from her bed to walk towards him. "We're alone, Zuko. You can call me Mai. Try it."
Zuko gulped but managed to shake his head. "I-I rather not insult you like that, ma'am."
He flinched when Mai gave an ineffective punch against his armored stomach before whipping around to return to her bed. "You're still too stuck up, Zuko."
"Yes, Lady Mai."
"Ugh…"
It wasn't that he didn't want to take her up on her invitation, but a certain fear effectively held him back. A fear that manifested in Zuko's mind in the form of his sister's glare. The constant reminder that Mai was Azula's friend, and the little warning Azula gave about making her an aunt had stuck deeply inside the prince, popping up every time he felt too tempted.
Still, Mai didn't take it any further than Zuko was willing to either, so both of them settled for just…viewing each other. It was an awkward compromise, but both parties were content enough to settle for it.
Better than being caught by Ukano, that's for sure.
Things took a surprising turn though when Ukano asked for the whole family to move to the docks one evening. While curious, neither Zuko nor Mai questioned it and followed along, and found themselves boarding a Fire Nation warship.
Michi seemed as confused as the teens, but she maintained her noble bearing and kept silent as well as she carried Tom-Tom.
Alarm bells rang in Zuko's head when he recognized High Generals Bujing and Shinu greeting Ukano, and there was no mistaking that two of them glanced briefly at him as they whispered with the former governor. The unease spread further as Ukano asked his wife to remain on the top deck, while asking for Mai - and by extension Zuko - to follow him to the bridge.
Zuko was worried that Ukano was about to trade off his daughter as a hostage against Azula for some security of his station. Or that they'd be suddenly announcing Mai's engagement to some noble family to spite him and Azula. Or Zuko himself would get ambushed to settle some grievances he was not aware about.
He had not expected to meet his father on the bridge.
Training was the only thing that made Zuko kneel and bow his head faster than Mai, as his mind reeled from the surprise. "Fire Lord."
"Zuko." His father's voice was still as heavy with judgment, but carried far less disdain than Zuko remembered. "It is…good to see you again, my son."
The conscripted prince remained silent simply because he couldn't get his mind to string sentences at the moment.
"Look at me."
Zuko raised his head to stare straight into his father's harsh gaze, and found the same disappointment in them…though it wasn't directed at him?
"How is your service as a footsoldier?"
It took several seconds of gaping like a fish out of water before Zuko managed to reply. "G-Good… It's, uh, good, your highness."
The glare became heavier, and Zuko swore he could feel the weight of it starting to drive him down onto the metal floor.
"We're told that you've been a…competent warrior. Dutiful."
"It's…I'm flattered by your praise, your highness."
"Enough. You may address me as your father, as is right." The disdain and annoyance in the words were sharp.
Zuko gulped before nodding. "As you say, father."
"Good. Now, Zuko. It has occurred to me that I have been…lax in my attention to you. Negligent. Harsh."
Before Zuko could come up with false assurances otherwise, the Fire Lord raised a hand to stall him, his glare still heavy and oppressive. It suddenly lifted, and a thin smirk appeared on the Fire Lord's face. "With that realization in mind, I have come to make amends, though it would require work on your part."
Zuko stared mutely as his father extended a hand towards him, while the other gestured out the bridge's windows. "I've come to personally offer you a chance to undo your exile and all that comes with it…and return to my side as crown prince. Would you be interested in such an offer…my son?"