"Outside," Zhu Li directed Asami when she noticed the young woman checking every room for their guest. Asami thanked her and grabbed her leather racing jacket from the closet.

Blinking against the orange evening sun she stepped on to the front porch. In the side gardens, Naga was sprawled in the mulch, her head loosely swinging side-to-side each time Korra lapped by. Round, and round, again she went. Naga woofed as Asami strolled over, excited to see something other than the mad circling of her best friend.

"Korra, are you well?" Asami asked as Korra spinted by, her voice sweetened with true concern.

"Never, huhp, better!" Korra grunted as she dropped and started into a round of pushups. She wore a blue-banded tank-top and matching pants, wrinkled and heavy with perspiration.

"We should leave soon," Asami reminded, setting her hand on her hip.

"Where to? Was there a, get one map free with every secret mask, deal?" Korra puffed as she rolled over and went into a round of crunches.

"I assume they will find me. But I have to sing tonight," Asami answered flatly, with growing distaste for Korra's obvious attitude.

"Oh, good. I want to talk to, huhf, Varrik," Korra declared as she pushed off the ground and looked at Asami. "Did you know he was one of those Equalist people?" Korra said in the dramatic hushed tone of a mother gossiping about the neighbors. Her face contorted into a vicious snarl, then she threw back her head and roared fire and wordless hate.

"The United Nations have not confirmed that Varrik has Equalist sympathies! Just that he runs an illegal club," Asami calmly making a lowering motion with her hands until Korra whistled steam out her nose like a great freight train, and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Who are these fellas, and what do they want?" Korra grumbled, her eyes thin like sheets of ice.

"The Equalist are elusive by nature, which makes it hard to confirm anything about them," Asami explained and reached out to touch the Avatar's shoulder, "Which is where we come in."

Korra swiped her arm away and snarled, "Are you an Equalist?"

"No," Asami said severely, "They tried to recruit me once before. Last time I refuse, and there were consequences."

Korra frowned, "Consque— the fire! So you have to work for them, or you won't work at all?"

"I believe that was the message, yes," Asami seemed to pale, even for her snow-white complexion.

"So they're gangsters," Korra rumbled and unwound the cloth protecting her hands, "Varrik's kind of people. Aang's beard! I'm giving him a one-way ticket to the Spirit World." She spun an air scooter out of the winds and blustered to her room, crashing the door closed with a cyclone-strike. She peeled off her athletic gear, got cleaned up, and pulled on a fresh white shirt. Opening and shutting drawers and she dragged out a black velvet vest and matching slacks and flipped a glossy blue tie over her shoulder. Standing before the mirror she cinched the blue bow-tie, and smiled at her business suit that shouted this gal meant business.

A car horn squawked outside. Korra jumped on an air-scooter that whisked her out the massive internal organs of the mansion. Sprinting the last few meters to the idle car, she popped into the passenger seat and jolted like it was the electric chair. Asami, in a sequined silver dress, raised her brow and shifted the car into gear. "If looks could kill," Korra shook her head and coughed "uh, those Equalist wouldn't stand a chance."

Naga gave half-hearted chase after the red car, until they motored out the gate. When the road began to choke with traffic Korra knocked the scooped her hat over her eyes, and sunk down into her seat, away from the windows. Asami tapped her fingers against the steering wheel, then twisted some dials until music began to crackle from the speakers. The road opened up again and Asami massed the gas pedal to the floor, and the car kicked into high-gear. Korra grabbed the handle of her door as Asami ducked in and out of lanes, and cut corners inches from the curb. "Speed limits exist!" Korra cried out, but Asami just flapped her hand and replied confidently, "Only because they can't go faster."

The tires hugged the curb outside the White Lotus, and Korra tumbled out the door and kissed the ground. She moved to open the driver-side door for Asami when a slick-haired man beat her to the punch and opened the door with a deep, sweeping bow and sloppy smile. Asami did not thank him as she got out and walked directly in to the watering-hole.

Korra moved to follow her, but Tahno intercepted her with a smirk, " Well, well, well. Look who decided to show up. Heard you're making a killing now." Korra bit clean through her cigarette and spat the butt out to the ground. She tried to shouldered past him, but he just flung himself back in her way like a trusty boomerang.

"Oi, what's the big idea bub?" Korra growled her clasping her arms over her chest and drawing her chin in.

Tahno smelled of liquor and his mouth dripped into a huge smile, "You're banned, Avatar." His shoulders jerked with silent laughter, and he flicked his slash of black bangs.

Korra sized him up, "And you're here to stop me? What a gas."

Tahno shrugged and leaned back against the newly-old building, "I'm just the first warning. It'd make my day if you got sacked for breaking in. Go on, make my day."

Korra stomped past him and burst through the doors. The club was quiet and subdued, and a bolt of air struck her shoulder, and Korra realized she had been shot by Tenzin. The bartender slammed two drinks on the counter, and clasped his arms behind his back. Korra got the message. Hiding her eyes under the rim of her hat she snuck to the bar, and grabbed one of the glasses.

"You are not suppose to be here," He reminded her. Then he leaned over the bar and spoke low and urgently, "Varrik is missing. The Triad raided us and Zolt took over."

"Did you see where Asami went? She came in just now, she was suppose to sing. Did they take—" The worries poured from her mouth like white-water rapids. However she gasped and began to cough, as Tenzin drew the air out of her lungs. She grabbed his hand, and he released his hold on her respiratory system. She rubbed her throat, and drank from the tumbler he smacked down in front of her. His dark eyes screamed caution, then went about serving drinks to the other thirsty beast.

Slowly Korra turned and eyed the crowd. Everyone was wearing a suit and tie. They were in uniform, the whole club was packed with Zolt's mobsters: drinking, laughing, and celebrating their victory. When he returned, Tenzin put another drink in front her her and grunted, In the office." Korra threw the shot down the hatch and nodded to the bartender. Tenzin served a round of free drinks for everyone at the bar, and while they delighted Korra shoved off and breezed past them, unnoticed.

"Gotta talk with Zolt," She grunted to the guards lounging and smoking at the foot of the steps. They blinked and laughed like a murder of crows. "Sorry Miss. The Boss is busy. You can talk about your raise later," He breathed in a short buffets of smoke.

"Got a spare?" She nodded towards their smokes, and one of the brutes shrugged and pulled out his crisp pack. He handed one off to her and wheezed, "Need a light?". Flame licked the tip of his finger, and he lazily extended it her direction.

"I got it," She knocked back her hat and set caught her fist on fire, letting the light catch her face. She pinched the end of the paper roll till it warmed. She rolled it between her teeth. She knew, they knew. One of them ate his cigarette and doubled over coughing, scratching at his throat.

"I don't want trouble here. Just wanna see Zolt." Her criminal record spoke louder than she did. The henchmen split down the middle, wide-eyed and gawking. As she walked between their ring she feinted a throw at one, and he flew back with an undignified yelp. Chuckling she hiked her way up the stairs and scuffed down the Hollywood red carpet hallway. The door with familiar frosted-windows was casually parted and Korra helped it along with the toe of her loafers.

"Ya like what we've done with the place," A dark voice boomed, then edged into cruel laughter. Behind the desk was an older man, with a thick grey sideburns. His shoes were on the desk, and he knocked some papers off with his heel. "Miss Sato said you were late to everything," he pointed a finger to the dark haired woman seated before him. Asami sighed, and Korra called her attention with a light touch on the shoulder. They shared a tired smile.

"So Avatar," Zolt addressed Korra, "You owe Varrik an arm and a leg."

He pulled his feet under him and leaned over the desk and stabbed it with a heavy hand, "See Varrik owed me, even more than that. Missed his payment too many months now. I figure this place is worth just about what he's gotta pay. It all belong to me now, the shipments, the White Lotus, and best of all… you!"

"My contract is with Varrik," Korra hissed and gripped the arms of her chair.

"Varrik is out. I can wipe away the debt Korra. Spare some money for Future Industries too! Just work with me," Zolt smiled like a he was the epitome of a world-peace advocate. Asami chewed her lip and looked to Korra as Zolt pulled out a document and tapped the dotted line. Blue-eyes just stared hard at the crisp line, and Korra took a long drag on her cigar and turned to consult with Asami. As the owner of Future Industries, Asami was old hat with negotiations and executive board meetings. She took the document from Zolt and began to read over the stipulations, relaxing her head on her finger.

"Mm, so would we be considered full fledged members of the Triple Threat Triad? The Avatar and I both have a bit of a criminal record. If turned in to the Police Force, were are worth a lot of clams. Can your… organization offer us protection from the police?" Asami reviewed with a spoonful of sugar in her voice. The dark-haired woman's smile reminded Korra of a bearcat about to split the jugular on her prey.

"A course! What use are you too me locked up in the slammer?" Zolt huffed and rolled his wide-set shoulders back into the chair. He pulled out a cigarette and waited for the interrogation to continue.

"Do you have any affiliations with the Equalist party?" Asami launched the question and Zolt sprang back like he'd been hit with a howitzer.

"What! He bounced to his feet, a cold sweat beaded on his forehead and he stabbed a finger in Asami's direction, "Youses are in cahoots with them, eh! Just like Varrik!" Fear leaked into his voice, and he put his hands to his mouth and shouted, "Guards! Guards!".

There was a sharp click-tap and a long purple robe scuffed the floor. Hand on his hip Varrik snarled, "There better not be a scratch on that mahogany." He snapped his fingers and some goggled goons acrobatically flipped into the room and landed on the desk before Zolt.

"Back off you Equalist scum!" Zolt roared and raised his fist, but they slapped a wrist band on his arm and it dropped, useless. A savage bellow and Zolt pounded out a few fire punches. The Equalist just leaned out of the way and tapped him on the shoulder with their glowing gloves. The crime lord fell like a cut timber stand into their arms.