Ch 3. Yippee-Ki-Yay
Korra and Tahno continued to avoid the gunfire from the other 2 terrorists while shoot back, as Karl slowly walked up to them from another direction until they backed up into a corner for cover. "Christ!" Korra said before she and Tahno reloaded their machine guns.
"Over there." Tahno said, pointing to the door of the ventilation system.
Korra nodded and they shot the door so it would open before quickly running to it and getting inside. But a spinning fan was in the way, so Korra carefully jammed it with her gun before Tahno held it, allowing Korra to jump through the gap in the blades. Tahno then joined her carefully before getting Korra's gun and giving it back to her, making the fan spin again before they climbed down the ladder, avoiding the gunfire and forcing Karl and the other 2 to take another way around.
Korra and Tahno opened the door and got back to where the nude girl posted was located, seeing it still on the floor. "Fuckin' perverts, putting that in here."
"Damn right." Tahno agreed before they saw a shadow of 1 of the men, forcing them to go through the door they came through earlier but saw that the elevator car was gone. "Shit. It's gone."
"Over here." Korra called out before breaking the grate of a ventilation system down with her gun, making it fall into the shaft before she got an idea and undid the slang of her gun and said to Tahno. "Follow me when you can." Before jamming her gun in the corners of the opening.
Meanwhile
Karl and the other 2 saw where they were and as he told Tarrlok through the radio. "He's in the elevator shaft."
"Perfect. The elevators are locked off. They can't escape. Just shut them in and come back down." Tarrlok ordered them, but Karl wasn't listening, as he was beginning to become obsessed with killing Korra and Tahno to avenge his brother. "Karl, the police are already on their way. Karl. I can stall them, but not if they hear gunshots! Karl!" Tarrlok ordered, only for Karl to turn off the radio and keep moving.
Back with Korra and Tahno
Korra was getting in the shaft, using the slag as an anchor before she saw a small opening and tried to grab it. But the slag slipped off, making her fall, much to Tahno's concern but she quickly grabbed an opening to prevent falling further before Tahno heard footsteps coming and quickly jumped in the shaft, grabbing onto Korra's ankles as she crawled up into the small opening until Tahno was inside with her. She then got out her lighter and used it to see in front of her, making her a bit annoyed. "Come out to the coast. We'll get together, have a few laughs", they said."
"This is obviously how either of us thought tonight was gonna go." Tahno said from behind her.
"You're so fuckin' right." Korra said before putting her lighter away, but she unknowingly let Karl see where she and Tahno were in the process. They then crawled through the small space as Korra joked. "Now I know what a TV dinner feels like."
"I'm starting to get that feeling, too. Good thing I'm not claustrophobic." Tahno said.
And as they moved further, Korra saw a grate before seeing gunshots enter the shaft, making Korra slowly and quietly prepare her gun as Karl was pushing the shaft with his machine gun…before another terrorist spoke to him in German, making her reluctantly follow them and making Korra and Tahno sigh in relief.
The 2 New Yorkers got out through the grate and saw that they were back on the floor Takagi was killed before they went inside the room, seeing his blood on the glass door and the floor nearby, making Tahno sad at the loss of a good man, along with Korra despite having just met him. They then looked out the window and saw a police car driving through the area below.
"It's about time." Korra said with annoyance.
Meanwhile, outside
Asami was slowly driving her car through the area, looking for any signs of a disturbance but seeing nothing wrong. "No signs of disturbance, Dispatch."
"8-L-30, roger. Possible crank call. Check the area again and confirm."
Back inside
Korra and Tahno saw that the car was driving slow, much to their annoyance. "Who's driving the car, Stevie Wonder?" Korra asked.
"Either that or a sloth." Tahno joked.
Back outside
Asami looked and saw who she thought was a guard inside the building. "I do see a guard inside. I'm gonna go in for a closer look."
"8-L-30, roger. Use caution."
On the 30th floor
Tarrlok saw the car as well and informed his decoy. "Eddie."
On the lobby
Eddie answered. "I had a feeling you'd be calling." Before getting up and going to the door and opening it for Asami. "Good evenin' officer. What can I do for you?" He greeted with a fake smile.
"Hi. I'm investigating a fire alarm here." Asami greeted back before she was let in.
"We had that false alarm, you know. Ask me, that goddamn thing sent you on another wild goose chase. They've chasing bugs in that system ever since they installed it." Eddie lied while sitting back down and watching a football game. "Aw, shit! Come on. I got 50 bucks bet on them assholes."
Asami then asked while looking around. "You don't mind if I take a look around, do you?"
"Help yourself." He answered before Asami slowly walked up to the hallway, where the other guard was waiting to shoot anyone he saw.
Back with Korra and Tahno
They saw that the officer went in, but no others yet. "Come on. Where's the fucking cavalry?"
Korra had enough and grabbed a nearby chair. "Outta the fuckin' way!" She said before Tahno did just that and she began breaking the glass window, which the guard on the roof saw and alerted others, with 2 running to the New York girl's and her parents' friends' son's location. Korra was beginning to get annoyed. "This fucking–"
But then, 1 of them came running in and Tahno pointed his gun at him. "Freeze, motherfucker! Drop it!"
"Don't! Don't!" The man said with his hands up.
"Put the fucking gun down! Put it down!"
"Okay! Don't shoot!"
"Drop the fucking gun!"
But then, another man came running. "Marco, duck!" He said before the 1 named Marco did just that, but Tahno shot him multiple times, killing him before diving under the table as Marco began trying to shoot him from on top of it.
Meanwhile, with Asami
The female officer was walking until she stopped, just short of walking into the guard. "Aw, fuck this!" She said before walking back to the door.
Back on the 34 floor
Marco kept shooting as Tahno crawled on his back to avoid the bullets until he reached the end of the table. "Aaahh! You are done! No more table. Where are you going, pal?" He taunted before reloading his gun. "Next time you have a chance to kill someone, don't hesitate." Before he was reloaded.
But before he could shoot Tahno, he was shot multiple times in the back by Korra, who'd hid until he fell dead on the table. "Thanks for the advice."
Tahno got up and sighed with relief. "Cutting it a bit close, Korra. But…thank you."
"No problem." Korra said with a smile.
Meanwhile in the lobby
Asami walked up to the door and said to Eddie. "Sorry to waste your time."
"No problem at all." Eddie said with an evil grin once Asami's back was turned.
"Hey, Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas to you."
When Asami was outside, she sang quietly to herself. "Oh, the weather outside is frightful. Dum-dee dum delightful…"
On the 34th floor
Korra and Tahno ran to the broken window and saw that the cop was walking back to her car, and not the way they wanted. "Oh, for fuck's sake!" Korra said with frustration before getting an idea of how to finally get police attention.
Back outside
Asami picked up her radio and called the dispatch woman. "8-Lincoln 30 to dispatch."
"8-L-30, go ahead."
"Yeah, that's a wild goose chase over here at Nakatomi Plaza. Everything here's okay. Over." Asami reported before getting into her car and starting it up. "And since we've no place to go. Let it snow. Let it snow, let it snow." She sang…before Marco's body landed on her car, breaking her windshield and scaring her a lot. "DAMN! GODDAMN IT! JESUS H. CHRIST!" Before she reversed her car while Karl and some others bagan shooting at her.
Korra smirked, as she finally got the cop's attention using drastic measures. "Welcome to the party, pal!"
"Thanks for accepting our invitation, officer!" Tahno added.
"GODDAMN IT!" Asami cursed as she was barely avoiding the gunfire by driving in reverse, passing by Argyle, who was still jamming to Skeletons by Stevie Wonder. "NOW MEANS NOW, GODDAMN IT! Policewoman under automatic rifle fire at Nakatomi! I need backup assistance now! NOW, GODDAMN IT, NOW!" She yelled into her radio before backing her car off a ledge but fortunately, did hurt her much as she slowly got out of her car, bleeding on her head and mouth.
Meanwhile, at a news building
A very nosey reporter named Richard Thornburg, was on the phone when he heard Asami's radio transmission. "I'm at Nakatomi Plaza! They're turning my car into swiss cheese! I need backup assistance now! NOW, GODDAMN IT, NOW!"
Back at Nakatomi Plaza
Police sirens were heard outside, making Ellis grin. "Never thought I'd love to hear that sound." Making Pema, Korra's and Tahno's parents have doubts.
But Tarrlok told his men. "All of you, relax. This is a matter of inconvenient timing, that's all. Police action was inevitable." Before he smirked. "And, as it happens, necessary. So, let them fumble about outside and stay calm. This is simply the beginning." But then he heard static on his radio and picked it up, saying to whoever was calling. "I thought I told all of you I want radio silence until further notice?"
But then he heard Korra's. "Oh, I'm very sorry, Tarrlok. We didn't get that message. Maybe you should've put it on the bulletin board. I figured since me and my friend just waxed Tony, Fritz, Marco and his friend here, we figured you, Karl and Franco might be a little lonely, so we wanted to give you a call."
"How does she know so much about–" Karl asked but Tarrlok held his hand up in silence.
Tarrlok then said to his mystery guests. "That's very kind of you, my dear. I assume you and your friend are our mysterious party crasher. You both are most troublesome, for security guards."
Meanwhile, with Tahno and Korra
While Korra searched Heinrich's body and bag, Tahno made a buzzer sound and said. "Sorry, Tarrlok. Wrong guess. Would you like to go for double Jeopardy where the scores can really change?"
Korra felt in his shirt pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, making her smile. "Jackpot." She said as she showed Tahno.
"Who are you both then?"
Korra answered after putting a cigarette in her mouth. "Just flies in your ointment, Tarrlok. Monkeys in your wrench. Pains in your ass." Before pulling out a plastic C-4 explosive and detonators. "Holy shit."
Back with Tarrlok
"Check on all the others. Don't use the radio. See if they're lying about Marco, and find out if anyone else is missing." He ordered his man before they ran out of the office to do just that. He then got back on the radio. "My mystery guests, are you still there?"
Back with Korra and Tahno
After getting the bag and lighting up their cigarettes, the 2 New Yorkers answered as they walked to the stairwell door. "Yeah, we're still here. Unless you or 1 of your goons wanna open the front door for us."
"No, I'm afraid not. But you have me at a loss. You both know my name, but who are you both? Just more Americans who saw too many movies as children? More orphans of a bankrupt culture who think they're John Wayne? Rambo? Marshall Dillon?"
"I always preferred Cordell Walker or Nash Bridges actually. Walker, for his fighting style and Bridges because he operates by his own rules." Korra answered.
"Oh wait, Tarrlok, right. You probably don't know anything about them, don't you?" Tahno asked with a smirk.
"Do you and your friend really think you have a chance against us, Ms. Cowgirl?"
Korra and Tahno heard the elevator ding and answered before they went through the door. "Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker."
Meanwhile, back at the news building
"I can get the jump on everybody if I get a remote!" Thornburg told his boss Sam, who wasn't paying attention.
The reporter named Harvey Johnson told his boss over the TV screen. "Sam, I don't have the new papers. Where's the Gladden report?"
"Harvey, keep your paints on, will ya?" Sam asked before getting the papers and going to the reporting room.
Thornburg kept bugging his boss. "Sam, I'm begging you."
"Simon's at a remote thing with that Santa sing-along. I'll tell him to swing by."
"I'm not sitting on this for Simon." Thornburg told him.
"I don't wanna hear it!"
"This is my story!"
"I can't hear you." Sam said, trying to ignore him.
"All right, look. I'll tell you what." Thornburg said, getting in front of him. "You don't wanna give me a truck, I'll go and I'll steal a truck!"
"Give us a break, Thornburg." Harvey Johnson told his annoying co-worker.
"Eat it, Harvey!" Thornburg told him while pointing to him.
That made Harvey look angrily at Thornburg as the cameraman said. "5…4…3…2." Before going on the air.
Harvey kept looking at Thornburg as another man told him. "Harvey, we're on the air."
Harvey snapped out of it and put in his professional face as he told everyone watching. "Good evening, this is Harvey Johnson."
The female reporter beside him also introduced herself. "And I'm Gale Wallens, and this is Nightline news at 10:00." Gale said while Harvey looked angrily at Thornburg again.
Thornburg looked at Sam again, who told him. "Take truck number 5 and get out of here." Before the nosey reporter did just that.
Meanwhile, back at Nakatomi Plaza
Karl and 2 more men ran back to Tarrlok before the blonde informed him. "They weren't lying about Marco. He's down on the street. And the other man was Heinrich. And his bag is missing."
Tarrlok was surprised at hearing that, as his plan was now in jeopardy. "But he had the detonators." He said before contacting Theo. "Theo. Theo."
Meanwhile, with Theo
The hacker heard Tarrlok and answered. "YO!"
"We may have some problems. How's our schedule?"
Theo looked and saw that there were just 4 more mechanicals to break through. "3 down, 4 to go."
Back with Tarrlok
"Then don't waste time talking to me." Tarrlok told him before switching channels and hearing Asami's voice.
Meanwhile, outside
"This is Sergeant Asami Sato of the Los Angeles police department. If the person or persons who radioed for help can hear me on this channel, acknowledge this transmission." Asami said through the radio before hearing the other police cars getting close, making her signal for them to keep quiet. "I repeat: if the person or persons who radioed for help on this channel can hear me, acknowledge this transmission."
Meanwhile, with Korra and Tahno
The 2 New Yorkers got back to the 33rd floor as they heard her voice and Korra spoke 1st. "We hear you, Sato. You the 1 in the car?"
"What's left of it. Can you and your friend identify yourselves?"
"No, not now. Maybe later." Tahno answered. "But listen fast. This is a party line, and the neighbors got itchy trigger fingers. Here's the deal: there's 30 or so hostages on the 30th floor."
Back with Tarrlok and his men
"The leader's name is Tarrlok." Korra said.
"We have to find them and shut them up. They're telling them everything!" Franco said with worry.
"Let them. I'm waiting for the FBI to arrive. Until then, they can waste as much time as they like." Tarrlok said, not worried about the police. "But…we must find the bag, Franco. James, go help Uli. We must have the detonators!"
Back with Korra and Tahno
"They got an arsenal up here." Korra informed them. "Which means they got missiles, automatic weapons and enough plastic explosives to orbit Arnold Schwarzenegger. But there now down to 8, countin' the skydiver that you met. And they're mostly European, judging by their clothing labels and…cigarettes."
"They're well-financed and very slick." Tahno added.
"How do you guys know that?" Asami asked with curiosity.
"I've been seeing a lot of phony helping the cops part-time to know that the ones these guys have must have cost a damn fortune. We're not cops, but what you do need to know right now is that we're both on your side." Korra answered before they sat down next to the window.
"Add all that up, we don't know what the fuck it means. But you got some real badass perpetrators, and they're here to stay." Tahno added.
Asami understood. "I hear you, partners. L.A's finest are on it. So light 'em if you got 'em."
Korra got out 2 cigarettes from the pack she'd gotten off Heinrich and gave 1 to Tahno before getting 1 out for herself as well. "We're way ahead of you, partner." She said before she and Tahno both lit up, taking a drag and blowing out the smoke together.
"So, what do I call you guys?"
Korra thought for a moment. "Call me…Bridges, for now."
"And call me…Cordell.* Tahno answered.
"Well, listen up, Cordell and Bridges: if you guys think of anything else you'd like to tell us, don't be shy, okay? In the meantime, I want you both to find a safe place to lay low and let us do our job." Asami told them.
"They're all yours, Asami." Korra said before taking a drag from her cigarette, inhaling and blowing out the smoke from her nose.
"And try to remember what we told you about the arsenal, Asami." Tahno said with his cigarette in his mouth.
Meanwhile, outside
A black car speeded up to the building before a middle aged woman in her 40s got out of the back and asked. "All right, who's talking to them?"
Asami looked at the woman and answered. "I am, ma'am. Sergeant Sato, Asami Sato."
The woman walked up to Asami and introduced herself. "Lin Beifong, Sato. So what's the deal here? What do these pricks want?"
"Well, ma'am, if you mean the terrorists, ma'am, we don't exactly know. We haven't heard a peep from them." Asami answered truthfully.
"Well, who in the hell have you been talking to on that radio?" Beifong asked.
"Well, we don't know that either, ma'am. They won't give us their names. But they appear to be the ones who filed the report. They've killed 1 terrorist for sure, and they claim to have knocked off 3 others."
But Beifong was a bit skeptical. "Claims? Sato, has it ever occurred to you that they could be 2 of the terrorists pulling your chain? Or some nut cases in there?"
"I don't think so, ma'am. They said they weren't cops, but they're on our side."
"And how do you know that?"
"A bunch. Things they said, like being able to spot fake ."
Beifong didn't believe that. "Jesus Christ, Sato! They could be fucking bartenders for all we know."
"Ma'am, TVs here." A young cop informed Beifong.
"Aw, shit." Beifong said in annoyance as Thornburg speeded up to the building in a news van.
Meanwhile, with Tarrlok
As 1 of his men was setting up a small mobile TV, Senna and Tonraq came up to Tarrlok and Senna said. "We have a request."
"What idiot put you 2 in charge?" Tarrlok asked, uninterested.
"You did." Tonraq answered, making Tarrlok look at them. "When you murdered our boss. Now everybody's looking to us. Personally, we'd pass on the job. We don't enjoy being this close to you."
Tarrlok thought about that and said. "Go on."
"We have a pregnant woman out there." Senna started, making Tarrlok sigh in annoyance. "Relax. She's not due for a couple of weeks. But sitting on that rock isn't doing her back any good. So we'd like permission to move her to 1 of the offices where there's a sofa."
Tarrlok thought before giving them a counteroffer. "No, but I'll have a sofa brought out to you. Good enough?"
"Good enough." Tonraq answered.
"And unless you like it smelly and messy in there, I'd start bringing us in groups to the bathroom." Senna added.
Tarrlok knew she was right about that. "Yes, you're right. It will be done. Anything else?"
Senna looked at the still down family picture for a moment, thinking he might find it and find out exactly who they really were, along with their daughter, Tahno and his parents. But remembering that Tarrlok hadn't seen Korra and Tahno, thought it was best that the picture stayed the way it was. So, she answered. "No, thank you."
"Yes. That'll be all." Tonraq added before he and his wife began walking away.
Tarrlok was impressed with them. "Mr. Takagi chose his people well, Mr and Mrs…"
Tonraq looked back and answered. "Gennero. Mr and Mrs. Gennero. Before walking away.
Meanwhile, with Argyle
The limo driver was still chilling in his vehicle when he saw the report Thornburg was giving. "This is Richard Thornburg, live from Century City. Tonight, Los Angeles has joined the sad and worldwide fraternity of cities…who's only membership requirement is to suffer the anguish of international terrorism. Approximately 2 hours ago, an unidentified group of men seized control of the Nakatomi building, sealing off all entrances and exits. All telephone lines have been cut. And the only communication now possible has been through the use of C.B. communicators…which the group apparently brought with them."
That got Argyle to quickly sprint up to the front of the limo and turn on the C.B. radio, concerned for Korra and her parents.
Meanwhile, with Asami
The young female officer was seeing swat officers moving around her and asked Beifong. "What's going on?"
Beifong answered, as if she didn't know the obvious. "What's it look like? We're going in."
But Asami knew that was foolish. "Going in? Ma'am, that's crazy! There could be 30 hostages in there for all we know. Not to mention the guys in there are armed enough to take out a whole SWAT team or more!"
"We don't know shit, Sato. If there's hostages in there, how come nobody's come to us with ransom demands? If there's terrorists in there, where's their list of demands?" Beifong asked, not believing the younger officer. "All we know is that somebody shot your car up. And it's probably the same silly sons of bitches you've been talking to on that radio."
"Excuse me, ma'am, but what about the body that fell out of the window?" Asami asked.
"Who knows? Probably some stock broker who got depressed." Beifong answered.
"We're ready for you, Chief." SWAT team captain Mitchell told her.
"All right, light 'em up." Beifong ordered before big spotlights began turning on.
Meanwhile, with Korra and Tahno
Still smoking their cigarettes and relaxing, Korra checked the pack and saw that there were still 5 left before seeing the bright lights, making her pick up the radio. "Asami. Asami, you still with us, girl? What's going on?"
"Yo, Asami." Tahno tried.
"I'm here, guys. I'm kinda busy right now. I'll talk to you later." Asami answered.
"Asami, talk to us. What's going on?" Korra asked while inhaling her cigarette and blowing out the smoke from her nose.
"I said I'll talk to you guys later, Bridges. If you guys are really on my side, then you'll know when to listen, when to shut up and…" Asami said before seeing another spotlight turn on. "And when to pray."
"Jesus Christ. You're coming in. That's it, isn't it?" Tahno asked with concern. "Christ, Sato, we told you what kind of people you're dealing with here."
Meanwhile, with Tarrlok
The terrorist leader looked out the window and told his men over the radio. "So, they'll be coming. Everyone get ready. Theo, you are the eyes now." Making the rest of the terrorists do just that, with Eddie locking the gates to the elevator hall, while outside, SWAT officers were coming to the rear door as the rest of Tarrlok's men prepared for a firefight, with Uli joining Eddie in the lobby.
With Korra and Tahno
"Shit!" Korra cursed before she and Tahno ran to the other window and looked out.
Meanwhile, with Argyle
The limo driver was trying to get out of the parking garage, still concerned for Korra and her parents. But after only going to the exits, he realized that he was completely locked in, making him stop and sit down, seeing the bear in the back seat. "Shut up." He said before he listened closely to the radio.
Back with Korra and Tahno
"You macho assholes. No! No!" Korra helplessly called out.
"Fuck! They're gonna get themselves killed!" Tahno added.
Meanwhile, with Theo
The hacker watched on the monitor and informed Tarrlok and the others of what the police were doing. "All right, listen up, guys. Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house…not a creature was stirring except…the 4 assholes coming in the rear in standard 2 by 2 cover formation."
Outside
The SWAT team informed captain Mitchell that they were ready, and he told Beifong, who said. "Kick ass."
But a few seconds later, 1 of them began shooting, which caused Beifong some concern. "They're shooting at them!"
"It's panic fire. They can't see anything." Mitchell assured her.
But Asami knew what they were really shooting at. "They're shooting at the lights."
Suddenly, the lights were shot off. "They're going after the lights." Causing Asami to roll her eyes. "Pull them back!"
Meanwhile, with Tarrlok
"Don't be impatient. Just wound them." He told Eddie and Uli.
Back outside
"Pull them back! They're sitting ducks without the lights!" Beifong told Michell.
"No! They're almost in." Michell said before contacting reinforcements. "Send in the car. Send in the car." But then, as a SWAT tank was driving to the building, Eddie and Uli fired at the SWAT officers, wounding them before they screamed, which Michell heard.
Meanwhile, with Theo
"Whoa! Wait a minute. Wait a minute, gentlemen." Theo informed his fellow terrorists. "The police have themselves an R.V. Southeast corner. Get over there!"
That caused 2 more of Tarrlok's men to bring the missiles and its launcher to the 2nd floor by using the elevator, which Korra and Tahno heard while also seeing the tank coming. But in their rush, 1 of the cases with missiles in it dropped but they quickly didn't bother picking it up, as they were in a hurry to set up the missile launcher, which they did and loaded it as the tank got stuck coming up the stairs before they fired, directly hitting the tank!
With Theo
"Oh, my God. The quarterback is toast!" He joked.
With Tarrlok
"Hit it again." The terrorist leader ordered, wanting to make sure the tank was destroyed.
With Korra and Tahno
This got Korra and Tahno angry. "Tarrlok, you motherfucker! You've made your point! Let 'em pull back!"
"Thank you, Ms. Cowgirl. I'll take it under advisement. Hit it again!"
Korra quickly looked at the elevator and pulled a rolling chair to it while Tahno, getting what Korra was thinking, quickly got the nearby ax and used it to open the elevator.
Back with Tarrlok
"Fire." He ordered before his 2 men did just that, hitting the SWAT tank with another missile while he watched in delight.
Back with Korra and Tahno
As Tahno got the elevator opened using the axe to keep it that way, Korra looked down the shaft. "Fuck me." She said before getting the bag and getting out the C-4, beginning to prepare it by placing 2 detonators in it before deciding. "Fuck it." And putting in a 3rd detonator while the 2 terrorists were trying to reload the launcher but they were out of missiles and 1 of them went to the dropped case to get more.
Tahno then pulled a computer screen from its cord and placed it on the set C-4, wrapping the cord around the screen to tie it up. "Let's see you take this under advisement, jerk-weed." He said, referring to Tarrlok before pushing the chair, with the set explosive down the shaft.
"Geronimo, motherfucker." Korra taunted as the C-4 went down before exploding and causing a massive blast that spread through the entire 2nd floor, killing the 2 terrorists with the missile launcher and causing glass to explode outside. Korra and Tahno saw that the blast was also coming up the shaft. "OH SHIT!" She said before Tahno grabbed her and quickly jumped them out of the way of the large part of the blast as the hostages heard it while the police and Tarrlok saw it.
On the 30th floor
"They're using artillery on us!" 1 of Tarrlok's men reported to him.
But Tarrlok knew better as he sat down. "You idiot. It's not the police, it's them."
Asami, Beifong stuck their heads up from behind the car, looking at the aftermath of the blast with surprise. "Holy shit!" Beifong said.
Thornburg also saw it. "Tell me you got that."
"I got it. I got it." His cameraman said.
"Eat your heart out, Channel 5."
Asami heard Korra and Tahno coughing before she contacted them. "Bridges. Cordell, you guys alright?"
Meanwhile, with Korra and Tahno
The 2 New Yorkers coughed as they sat up and the largely destroyed floor. "Yeah, we're fine." Korra answered.
"What the hell was that?"
"Remember that plastic explosive we told you about?" Tahno asked.
"Yeah."
"There you go. Is the building on fire?"
Outside
"No, but it's gonna need a paint job and a shitload of screen doors." Asami answered while Beifong watched her. "Our spotters say you got 2 of those assholes with that blast."
"Is that them?" Beifong asked while walking up to her. "Is that them?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Give me that." Beifong told her while taking the radio. "You 2 listen to me, whoever you are, I don't know who in the hell you think you are or what you're both doing, but you just destroyed a building. Now we do not want your help. Is that clear? We don't want your help. I've got 100 people down here, and they're covered with glass."
"Glass?" Korra asked. "Who gives a shit about glass? Who the fuck is this?"
"This is Chief Lin Beifong, and I am in charge of this situation." Beifong answered.
"Oh, you're in charge? Well, we got some bad news for ya, Beifong: from up here, it doesn't look like you're in charge of jack shit." Tahno told her.
"You listen to me, you little assholes! I-"
Meanwhile, with Korra and Tahno
The 2 New Yorkers got angry at that, with Korra saying. "Assholes? We're not the ones who just got ass-raped on national TV, Beifong!" Making Argyle, who was listening, laugh and clap at Korra's guts to stand up to the Chief of police herself like that.
Back outside
"Now you listen to us, you cocksucking bitch: if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. Quit being part of the fuckin' problem and put the other woman back on!"
Beifong, defeated and a bit angry at being so insulted, gave the radio back to Asami, who grinned and asked them. "Hey, guys. How're you feeling?"
Back with Korra and Tahno
"Pretty fuckin' unappreciated, Asami." Tahno answered.
"Hey, look. I love you 2. So do a lot of the other guys and girls." Asami said in support of Korra and Tahno, making them both grin. "So you hang in there, guys. You hear me? You hang in there."
"Yeah, thanks, partner." Korra said with a chuckle.
Meanwhile, on the 30th floor
Ellis snorted some of his cocaine while Pema glared and asked him. "What are you doing?"
"I'm tired of sitting here waiting to see who's gonna get us killed 1st. Them or Tahno and Senna's and Tonraq's crazy daughter." Ellis answered.
"Our daughter is not crazy!" Senna whispered, defending her daughter.
"And by the sounds of it, they're doing what the cops can't because these guys are pros who obviously came prepared for police action." Ridaq said in support of his son and his friends' daughter.
"So what are you going to do?" Tonraq asked with doubt.
"Hey, guys, I negotiate million-dollar deals for breakfast. I think I can handle this Eurotrash." Ellis answered arrogantly, thinking he could save his own skin. "Hey. Sprechen sietalk? Huh?"
In Pema, Korra's parents' and Tahno's parents' office
Tarrlok was talking with Karl about the mystery guests who were ruining his plan. "If you'd listened to me, they'd be neutralized already."
"I don't want neutral. I want dead." Karl countered.
But then, they heard knocking and saw Ellis. "Hope I'm not interrupting?"
"What does he want?" Tarrlok asked with annoyance.
"It's not what I want, it's what I can give you." Ellis countered.
Karl went for his gun, but Tarrlok gestured to him to wait and listened to what this pest had to say. "Go on."
"Look, let's be straight, okay?" Ellis asked as he slowly walked into the office with another 1 of Tarrlok's men. "It's obvious that you're not some dumb schmuck up here to snach a few purses. Am I right?"
"You're very perceptive."
"I watch 60 Minutes. I sat to myself: These guys are professional, they're motivated, they're happenin' i.e. They want something. Now, personally, I couldn't care less about your politics. Maybe you're pissed off at the camel jockeys. Maybe it's the Hebes, Northern Ireland. It's none of my business. I figured you're here to negotiate. Am I right?" Ellis foolishly and arrogantly asked.
"You're amazing. You figured this all out already?" Tarrlok asked sarcastically.
"Business is business. You use a gun. I use a fountain pen. What's the difference? Let's put it in my terms: you're here in a hostile takeover, you grab us for some greenmail, but you didn't expect some poison pills were gonna be running around in the building. Am I right? Tarrlok, bubbe, I'm your white knight."
Tarrlok was a bit confused now. "I must have missed 60 Minutes. What are you saying?"
Ellis sat down in the chair and answered. "The guy and girl who're upstairs fuckin' things up? Huh? I can give 'em to ya." Before grinning like an idiot.
Meanwhile, outside
"Aw, fuck. Damn." Korra said with a disgusted tone over the radio.
Asami heard it and asked with concern. "Bridges. Cordell, you guys alright?"
With Korra and Tahno
"Just up here smoking and trying to fire down thousand year old Twinkies." Korra answered with a bit of humor before spitting in a cooler she and Tahno found.
"Well, I love Twinkies. But I've always been curious about what they put in them." Tahno added with a smile.
Outside
Asami grinned and answered that. "Sugar enriched flour, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, polysorbate 60 and yellow dye number 5. Just everything a growing boy and girl needs. And plus, I smoke too."
With Korra and Tahno
Korra smiled and asked. "Got a boyfriend, Asami? Outta curiosity."
"Well, no. I'm a single girl. But there is this 1 guy I like. As a matter of fact, we're extremely close going all the way." Asami answered before asking. "How about you, cowgirl? Got a guy back at your ranch?"
Korra looked like Tahno and answered, while also looking at the photo of Pema's kids and her parents. "Not yet, but I did meet someone tonight. And I have to say that he's…really got a certain physical interest of mine held. Who knows. Maybe me and you could…find a place where we can both satisfy that certain physical interest?"
"Well, that's a date. My house is big enough for 2 whole families. But, uh, you're gonna have to bring the drinks, smokes and a certain other item, if you plan to use it." Asami answered, accepting Korra's offer.
But then they heard Tarrlok's voice. "How very naughty, cowgirl. Or should I call you…Ms. McClain and Mr. Jones? Ms. Part-time helper Korra McClain from New York City? And you, Tahno Jones, who, part-time, works at this very company?" He asked, making both Thornburg and Asami tell the people close to them to get a hold of people in New York.
Korra put on a glare and said to Tarrlok. "Sister Theresa called me Ms. McClain in the 3rd grade. My friends call me Korra. And you're neither, shithead."
"Not to me, either, Tarrlok." Tahno added.
Back on the 30th floor
Tarrlok smirked. "I have someone who wants to talk to you. A very special friend who was with you at the party tonight." Before giving the radio to Ellis.
"Hey, Korra-girl and Tahno-boy."
"Ellis?" Tahno asked with concern.
"Yeah. Now listen, you 2. They're givin' me a few minutes to try to talk some sense into you. I know you guys think you're helpin' guys, and I can appreciate that, but you're just draggin' this out." Ellis said. "Now, look, no 1 gets outta here until these guys can talk to the L.A. police…and that just ain't gonna happen until you guys stop messing up the works. Capisce?"
Korra and Tahno began to get scared. Not for Ellis, but for Pema and their respective parents. "Ellis, what have you told them?" Korra asked.
"I told 'em that we were old friends, and you guys were my guest at the party." Ellis answered.
"Ellis, you shouldn't be doing this." Tahno told him.
"Tell me about it." Ellis said while giving a thumbs up to Tarrlok while 1 of his men poured coke in a glass for him. "All right, guys, listen. They want you to tell 'em where the detonators are. They know people are listening. They want the detonators or they're gonna kill me. Guys, didn't you 2 hear me?"
"Yeah, we heard you." Korra answered.
"Guys, I think you can get with the program a little, huh?. The police are here. It's their problem. Now tell these guys where the detonators are so nobody else gets hurt. You know I'm putting my life and the line for you, pal."
"Ellis, listen to me very carefully."
"Guys."
"Shut up, Ellis! Just shut your mouth! Put Tarrlok back on the line." Korra said before speaking to Tarrlok. "Tarrlok, this sleazy shithead does not know what kind of man you are, but I do."
"Good. Then you'll give us what we want and save your friend's life. You both aren't part of this equation. It's time you and Jones realize that." Tarrlok warned while holding his gun.
Ellis became very nervous now. "Hey. What am I, a method actor, Tarrlok? Babe, put the gun down. This is radio, not television."
Korra then, despite her dislike for Ellis, tried 1 more time to stop him. "Tarrlok, this asshole isn't my friend. I just met him tonight. I don't know him! Jesus Christ! Ellis, these people are gonna kill you! Tell them you don't know me!"
"I may work here, Tarrlok, but I barely even know that shithead! He isn't my friend either!" Tahno added.
But Ellis chuckled at that. "Guys, how can you say that after all these years, huh?" He asked, getting no answer. "Guys. Guys?" He asked again before laughing a bit, beginning to sip his soda as Tarrlok picked up his gun and pointed it at Ellis' head, pulling the trigger and killing him, making the other hostages save for Korra's and Tahno's respective parents and Pema shut their eyes and look away.
Tarrlok picked up the radio and held it up outside the office door so that Korra and Tahno could hear the screaming before his men stopped them while he demanded. "Do you 2 hear that? Talk to me! Where are my detonators? Where are they, or shall I shoot another 1?! Sooner or later, I might get to someone you do care about."
Back with the 2 New Yorkers
Korra glared and answered. "Go fuck yourself, Tarrlok."
"Fuckin' right." Tahno said with a sigh.
Back outside
Beifong was a bit angry at this while looking at Asami. "Did you hear that? They just let the guy die. They just gave him up." She said before talking to the young male uniform. "Give me that headset." Then back to Asami. "That's like pulling the trigger yourself."
"Christ. Woman, can't you see what's happening? Can't you read between the lines? They did everything they could to save him." Asami said, defending Korra and Tahno. "If they gave themselves up, they'd both be dead right now."
"No way, they'd be talking to us." Beifong said before warning her. "Listen. You tell those partners of yours to stay the fuck out of this from now on, Sato. Because if they don't, I'm gonna nail them. And I mean prison for life, nail them, believe that."
"They are hurting. They are alone, tired, and they haven't seen diddly-shit from anybody down here." Asami said in complete defense of Korra and Tahno's heroic, in her eyes, actions. "Now you're gonna stand there and tell me that they're gonna give a damn about what you'll do to them if, by some miracle, they make it out of there alive? Why don't you wake up and smell what you're shoveling?"
Beifong then got in Asami's face. "You listen to me, Sergeant. Anytime you want to go home, you consider yourself dismissed."
"No, ma'am. You couldn't drag my ass away from here!" Asami said, standing up to Beifong.
That was when they heard Tarrlok's voice calling them. "Afternoon, police. Attention, police."
"This is Sergeant Asami Sato–" Asami tried to answer before Beifong took the radio.
"Give me that." She said before answering herself. "This is Chief Lin Beifong."
"This is Tarrlok Gruber. I assume you already realize the futility of direct action against me. We have no wish for further loss of life."
"Well, what is it you do wish for, Mr. Gruber?"
"I have comrades-in-arms around the world languishing in prison. The American State department enjoys rattling its saber for its own ends. Now it can rattle it for me." Tarrlok answered before stating his fake demands. "The following people are to be released from their captors: in Northern Ireland: the 7 members of the New Provo Front. In Canada, the 5 imprisoned leaders of Libeté de Québec."
With Korra and Tahno
The 2 New Yorkers were smoking to relieve the stress of what just happened when they heard Tarrlok's fake demands. "In Sri Lanka, the 9 members of the Asian Dawn Movement."
"What the fuck?" Korra asked after taking a drag from her cigarette and blowing out the smoke.
"That doesn't make any sense at all." Tahno added.
Back on the 30th floor
"The Asian Dawn Movement?" Karl mouthed with confusion.
"I read about them in Time Magazine." Tarrlok explained before finishing his fake demands. "When these revolutionary brothers and sisters are free, the hostages in this building will be taken to the roof…and they will accompany us in helicopters to the Los Angeles airport, where they will be given further instructions. You have 2 hours to comply."
Back outside
Beifong tried to explain why that couldn't be possible. "Wait a minute. Mr. Gruber, this is crazy. I-I-I don't have the authority. I can't authorize- 2 hours is not enough." Before Tarrlok cut her off. "Hello? Hello?" She asked before telling her driver. "Danny, did you get all that? Let's go, we gotta make some calls." She said before quickly walking away.
Back on the 30th floor
"Do you think they'll even try to do it?" Karl asked.
"Who cares?" Tarrlok answered before contacting Theo for progress again. "Theo, are we on schedule?"
Meanwhile, with Theo
"1 more to go, then it's up to you." Theo answered while still drilling through. "And you better be right, 'cause it looks like this last one's gonna take a miracle."
Back with Tarrlok
"It's Christmas, Theo. It's the time of miracles. So be of good cheer, and call me when you hit the last lock." He told his employee before breaking contact and telling Karl. "Karl, hunt those little shits down, and get those detonators."
Karl, eager for that, said to his leader while getting up. "Kristoff is checking the explosives."
"I'll check the explosives. You just get the detonators." Tarrlok told him before getting up himself.
Back outside
Asami then heard Korra and Tahno again. "Asami, you out there?"
"I'm here, Korra. I'm here." She answered.
"You gotta believe us. There was nothing we could do." Tahno said with a sigh.
"Well, it's gonna be all 3 of our asses if you're both wrong." Asami said, referring to her job and life, as well as Korra's and Tahno's lives.
With Korra and Tahno
"We hear ya." Korra said before taking a final drag from her cigarette and blowing out the smoke before stumping it out on the ground while Tahno did the same.
"Did you catch that bullshit Tarrlok was running? It doesn't make sense, girl." Tahno asked Asami, as what Tarrlok said to Beifong didn't make any sense at all.
"Hey, don't ask me, guys. I'm just a desk jockey who was on my way home when you rang."
"The way you drove that car, I figured you were a street cop, Asami." Korra said with a small smile before she and Tahno went to another area to contemplate their next move and, hopefully, learn what Tarrlok was really after.
"Few years ago, guys. Few years ago." Asami said with her own small smile.
There you go, my dear friends, the 3rd chapter is complete. The final part of the 1st movie will come soon, and then after some of my other projects are updated, a bonus chapter, which my dear friend SreznoJIG will help me out with. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Rate and review and I'll see you all next time, my dear friends.