"The election is in 2 weeks, today we have a big event, Republic City. The huge face-off between our most popular candidates will start at mid-day today! Stay tuned for we will be broadcasting the entire conversation between Asami Sato and Raiko! Or go to City Park to watch in person! This is Shiro Shinobi, now we will be reporting the newest information on Probending: Our new champion, The Fire Ferret, will not compete in the coming season…"

"He totally reported it like a probending match." Korra's tone became somewhat sarcastic, "and he gets right back onto probending after that."

"Well, he is a commenter on probending match after all," Mako raised his eyebrows, today the waterbender seemed to be taking his role in the conversation, she isn't usually a big fan of sarcasm, "what do you expect?"

"I think you're right." her response surprised the firebender even more, the triad boss is far from an agreeable person on most of the days. Well, except maybe during the times she talks to Lin, he thought.

"Korra, what's on your mind?" the president candidate noticed something out of normal from her friend's behaviour, "you look distracted."

"I've been having repeated dreams. A giant, white kite with the voice of a man. I don't like the way he talks to me." The avatar replied, instinctually, she swallowed the other half of the story: Avatar Aang has also been talking to her. She couldn't tell this in front of Mako and Bolin, for that would reveal her identity. Besides, she didn't want to make Asami worry: the debate with Raiko is crucial for the election, they've been planning so much for this. Now Asami is the perfect candidate, and she has the largest chance of winning. She wouldn't allow anything that could potentially ruin it to happen. She quickly regained her usual quirkiness, and put on a joking voice, "anyway, he looks stupid and has an annoying voice, so I found him somehow resembles Raiko. That's been bothering me, next time I will freeze his mouth."

Asami laughed, "don't worry, by the evening his mouth will be already frozen for good." charged with confidence and motivation.

…

Midday. City Park.

"You would fail to even represent most people in Republic City, how are you able to represent people from entire United Republics?"

"If you're right, you would still be no better than me since both of us are non benders." Getting personal real quick, huh? Asami thought, she knew he was referring to her position as CEO of the Future Industry and her association with the Equalists, but she's not going to play by his rules. "However, the statistics proves you wrong, despite being a place of diverse elemental bending, at least 2/3 of the United Republics' population are non benders. I wouldn't trust someone who didn't know the basic information of population breakdown for claiming himself as a good representation to the people of our nation."

Raiko managed to maintain the composure, clearly his taunting tactics had failed, the young businesswoman is proven to be far more strategic than he estimated. It's time to add more fuel to the fire, "Rumours have said Mr. Sato was associated with the Equalists, what is your comment on such matter?"

What a dirty move, bringing out my father's death? Not a chance. Asami replied with a smile on her face, "the same comment on my interview with the journalists, which is reported in the newpaper: 'my father has never been associated with the Equalists. Amon, proven to be a bloodbender, brutally murdered my father because he wouldn't fall for his threat. Amon threatened him to fund his organization, Mr. Raiko. I witnessed him breaking my father's neck with my own eyes. I think these people should support their opinion with facts." The audience applauses, apparently impressed by Asami's response to Raiko's conspiracy.

"Then why would you decide to fund these bunch of extremists knowingly with their leader being responsible for your father's death?" Raiko began sweating, making his last attempt at trash talking, it's now or never. He bet his opponent would be firing back nasty questions after she took the blow.

"After Amon's fled, their new leader Lieutenant, a non bender, claiming to return to the organization's original goal: stopping triad activities." Asami answered this question calmly, "My father, a non bender, grew up in the Dragon Flats Borough, an active triad territory, the triads are also responsible for my mother's death. I promised to them I will do whatever necessary to stop their crimes on the people of the Republic City, and that includes abolish personal feelings and collaborating with anyone having the same goals." She paused for a brief moment, she'd better be making a more assuring statement to the benders about her aliment with the Equalists, "As their largest funder, I could revoke my collaboration with them at any time if they ever decide to slip back into their old ways, and I will not hesitate to do whatever necessary in assisting the metalbending police and bring them to justice."

Little did these people know, Lieutenant is merely the puppet figure. She is, in fact, the real leader of the Equalists.

"Do you have any other questions, Mr. Raiko?"

"No, Miss Sato, now you are free to ask me any questions." After he found his offense to be fruitless, Raiko's only hope of not losing the face-off fell onto the defense.

"Mr Raiko, your campaigns are funded by Cabbage Corps, is that correct?" Asami asked, warming up for her attacks.

"Yes."

"And I remember your propaganda criticizes my position as the CEO of Future Industry, claiming I'm incapable of representing the people, is that true?"

"Yes." Raiko could do nothing but acknowledge her statement, these were simply facts.

"As the CEO of Future Industry, I have the full control over my speech during the campaign and the policies I will be ruling out during my presidency. Can you say the same considering the relationship with your investors?"

"I ask nothing but your trust." What a harsh question, Raiko thought, she was not holding back, "I will keep my promise to the people of United Republics: I will make this country safe for its people, secured from foreign powers and prosperous in its economy." the last chance he had is to expand the influence of his propaganda.

"But you had no experience or achievement in any of these areas. Whereas I have plenty of experience with United Republics' economy during the years of running Future Industry. And since my collaboration with the Equalists, crimes in Republic City are down by 80%. What do you offer to make people trust your ability as their president?"

Raiko didn't answer, he knew he had already lost the election.

(Note: I switched Raava's and Vauttu's voices and certain personality traits. So in this timeline Raava has an evil sounding male voice. Also, the Avatar spirit isn't your sterotypical embodiment of light and peace, more on that in Part 2&3 of the book.)