Chapter Ten: Riots
A couple weeks pass and the problem in the city only becomes greater. Reports of riots and discrimination come more and more often to Air Temple Island and to the police headquarters each day. Aang gets more worried with each report and Katara does too. The two of them do their best to protect the kids from the stories, but it's hard.
"Why don't you go out and play?" Katara tells the kids after Aang gets another report over the phone.
"Okay," Kaya answers as she leads the boys out the back door. They walk out onto the porch and Bumi and Tenzin walk down the steps to the courtyard.
"You guys go ahead, I, uh, forgot something," Kaya lies. The boys buy it and go on without Kaya and she enters the house again quietly. Immediately, she hears Aang and Katara talking.
"There was a riot," Aang says. "A group of people in the Fire Nation side of town stood out front of the Water Nation Headquarters in the city and threatened to burn it down unless the Watertribe people inside left. Luckily, Toph and the other police were able to get things under control."
"This is terrible," Katara moans. "I knew...I knew this would happen at some point. People just don't think we're compatible with each other." Aang sighs and Kaya listens intently.
"I just feel like it's mainly the people from the Fire Nation...the Earth Kingdom too, but the Fire Nation just seems to be, I don't know, causing more problems," Aang observes. There is silence and Kaya hopes her parents can't hear her breathing out in the hall.
"I didn't know there was a special Water Nation Headquarters," Katara says suddenly.
"There's one for all the nations. Well, except for Air. The people there are in charge of maintaining their people's rights, making sure they're taken care of and things like that. It also gives opportunities for others to learn the culture. That way people can better understand each other no matter where they come from," Aang explains. "It was Zuko's idea."
Kaya shifts her weight and the floorboard under her foot squeaks. Her heart leaps and she tiptoes back outside before Aang and Katara can come see her. She goes to the courtyard and joins her brothers game just as Aang and Katara look outside. The three kids wave and Aang and Katara go back in.
"So, do you have any suggestions for what I should do?" Aang asks Katara as they sit at the kitchen table. Katara folds her hands and twiddles her thumbs for a moment.
"You mentioned Zuko and I got to thinking about something," she says. Aang nods for her to keep going. A small smile spreads across Katara's face.
"It may not work, but I have an idea..."
The next day the whole family sits in Toph's office. Katara tells Toph her plan and Toph smiles broadly.
"That just might work, Katara," Toph says. "It just might." Katara smiles and so do the others.
"I just thought that-" Katara is cut off when an officer bursts into the room.
"Chief Beifong! There's another riot outside the Water Nation Headqaurters!" he announces. Toph huffs.
"Again?" she groans. She stands and cracks her knuckles. "Get our officers ready and let's get down there before it gets outta hand."
"I'm going," Aang tells her. Toph shrugs and nods.
"Me too," Katara says. Kaya stands and looks at them.
"I wanna help you," she announces. Katara shakes her head.
"No, Kaya. You're staying here," she tells her.
"But I have to go! These are my people! I want to help!" Kaya explains loudly. Katara sighs and goes to Kaya.
"I know, but it's too dangerous for you," she explains. "I'm proud of how brave you are for wanting to stand up for our people, but the best way you can help is to stay here with your brothers."
"But I can do more!" Kaya exclaims. Katara can tell she is getting frustrated which has happened a lot since the problem began. Aang sighs.
"Remember what happened last time there was a riot and you were there? Those firebenders almost burned the entire stage and us along with it. After that, I'm not about to let you go," he explains.
"I can't just sit here while those Ash Makers threaten to burn my people to the ground!" Kaya shouts. Everyone looks at her in shock about what she's just said.
"Kaya! Do you know how disrespectful that is to them? Don't ever say that again, do you understand me?" Katara chastises.
"Why not?! Think about what they've called me! What they've called all of us! It isn't fair! How come they get to be so hateful to me and you won't even let me fight back!" Kaya screams at Katara.
"Don't talk to your mother that way!" Aang commands. Kaya looks at him with teary eyes, pushes past Katara, and storms out of the room.
"Kaya!" Aang shouts down the hall. Toph and the boys sit awkwardly and watch. Aang starts to go after Kaya, but Katara stops him.
"I think it's best that we let her calm down," she says. Aang sighs and looks at Toph.
"Well, on that note, I say we go stop a riot," she says.
"What about the kids?" Katara asks. "Kaya isn't in the mood to keep an eye on the boys obviously, and I don't want her to-"
"Do anything stupid?" Toph says to finish Katara's sentence.
"Well, that wasn't what I was going to say, but yes. I don't want her doing anything stupid," Katara answers.
"Don't worry, I'll have officers keeping a close eye on all three of them while we're gone," Toph assures her. Katara nods.
"You boys be good," she tells her sons. "And watch out for your sister." Aang, Katara, and Toph leave and two officers take their place in the room.
The three of them ride in a police car to the scene of the riot. When they arrive, it is absolutely chaos. A whole mob of Fire Nation people stand outside the Water Nation Headquarters chanting something that gives Katara chills.
"Out with the Savages!" the crowd chants in unison. Once again, firebenders add some flare to the riot by shooting fire up into the air. The whole sight just makes Katara feel terrible.
They get out of the police car and the mob boos them. Some bold rioters point at Katara and call her names, but Aang defends her fiercely. Toph takes out a megaphone and holds it up to her mouth.
"Attention, rioters! Please leave the area in peace! If not, we will use force!" she announces. The rioters only chant louder and get more out of hand. Toph speaks to the mob as if they are children.
"I'll give you one more chance to calm down! On the count of three we start arresting you!" she shouts. "One! Two! Three!" The mob bursts into a frenzy as they continue to riot not only against the Water Nation, but the police as well. Aang, Katara, and Toph rush into the crowd to help the struggling officers.
Kaya stands on a balcony overlooking the city. Below her is a training area for new officers and an area where they park all of the police cars. She blinks away angry tears and looks in the direction where she can see the chaos.
Little sparks of fire shoot up into the air and she can see what looks almost like dust rising from all of the movement. She can even vaguely hear the faint buzz of the crowd's noise. All she can think about is how she could be there helping to cease the madness.
"Excuse me," a woman says behind her. Kaya turns and sees an officer standing in the balcony doorway.
"I'm going to need you to come inside, please. They've called for backup and there's only going to be one officer watching you and your brothers. You all need to be together so he can keep an eye on you," the officer explains.
"I don't need to be watched," Kaya dismisses.
"We just want to make sure you say safe," the officer tells her. Kaya sighs and follows the officer inside. She sits in Toph's office with her brothers while a line officer stands guard by the door.
"Kaya?" Tenzin asks. Kaya turns her head.
"Why did you yell at Mommy?" Tenzin questions her. Kaya sighs.
"I was just...mad," she answers.
"Why are you mad?" Tenzin asks her. Kaya looks down at her lap.
"You wouldn't understand," she whispers. The three of them are silent and wait for the return of their parents.
The riot continues and the backup officers finally show up. Aang tells Katara to go and wait in the police car so she doesn't get hurt because she is the one who is in the most danger here. Reluctantly, Katara does so.
The chaos lasts for about an hour until the police finally gains control. They arrest a few extremists, usher everyone away from the scene, and head back to headquarters. Katara heals a minor burn that Aang got during the riot.
"What should we do now?" Katara questions: "This has gone way too far...something needs to be done. Now." Toph turns to her and smiles.
"Well, then I think it's time we gave the Fire Lord a call," she says. Katara and Aang nod and they ride to the station.