There's a bit of chosen word towards the end, just to inform you all. In the meantime, I hope you all enjoy this. I think I will be two chapters away from finishing this... finally.
"They're not protests; they're riots." Mako said as they flew above the city.
"Then why did you tell me that they were only protesting my existence?" Korra shot back as she turned the bison away from a building.
"I'm sorry that I'm not running the intelligence in both the United Republic and the Earth Kingdom."
"Fine," Korra grunted before steering the bison to the gathering, "We're going to attempt to chat with them."
"Wait Korra," Kuvira spoke up, "Are you sure you want to face them? They might turn on us."
"What's the worst that can happen? They hate me more?"
"Death."
The firebenders nodded.
"We don't feel like dying today Korra."
Instead, Korra flew the bison towards the President's office. She thought it over and landing before a riot was probably the wrong idea.
Kyung was drinking tea at his desk, reading over some paperwork and going over a few ideas with his wife. When the doors slammed open, his tea fell to his lap. They both looked over in shock.
"Avatar Korra! What is the meaning of barging into my office and with that criminal? She should be back in jail." he shouted.
"Technically, I don't need to return her to the jail for another six hours," Korra responded before stopping at his desk and leaning against it, "These riots, what are you doing to stop them?"
"Asami dear," Kyung started as he put away his paperwork, "Can you and the Avatar's friends leave us for a moment?"
"Uh, sure." Asami responded, looking at the both of them, "Please don't hurt each other, alright?"
She turned, taking Mako's arm and speaking into his ear and the four of them left the room. The President and the Avatar waited for the doors to close before they turned to each other.
"I am doing what I can to stop these riots, but every time you show up in my city, the people complain about you being out of jail. Avatar or no, it's not fair to murder someone and then break a death sentence." He said as he clasped his hands together before him.
"Has anyone tried telling them why President Raiko had to let me out or why I could have done something as stupid as it was to them?"
Kyung laughed, "I am not explaining why the Avatar suddenly lost her mind to the people. You are quite capable of doing that yourself if you can get them to settle down long enough."
"You're not much help." The Avatar muttered.
"Neither are you. If anything, you abuse your position."
Korra snorted, "Oh, so we're going to do this again. Alright, what have you done? That's right; nothing other than follow Raiko's shoddy job."
"You manage on destroying parts of the city each time you come here. Pretty soon we will have to just move the city."
"You stole Asami from me."
"You were a lousy girlfriend to her in the first place and you were in jail. I think it is safe to say that your relationship was over then." Then Kyung sighed as he realized that he was now standing and sat down, "What are we, teenagers? Stop coming into my office unless you have an appointment or the sky is falling down. And for goodness sakes, Korra, do not provoke the protestors or there will be severe consequences that even you will not be able to legally fight."
"Are you threatening me?" Korra leaned in closer.
The President smirked, "Even if I was, what would you do about it? I know about the spirit that got you released and I know that you are planning on some wicked take over. That's why the leaders of the Water Tribes and now the Earth Kingdom are all blood related to you. You managed to blackmail me by using my wife to get Kuvira out of jail and that town of yours, I suspect is actually an army. One wrong move by your part in this country and you will be right back in jail with that death sentence reinstated. I won't allow you to live in there for five years like Raiko did."
The Avatar stepped back and stood up straight, "You really think that? Fine. Be like that."
Korra turned and waved. The President waited until she was out of the room before pressing two buttons. One to stop recording their conversation and another to call for his bodyguards.
"Ji, begin Operation Bullram. She's heading your way."
Korra stormed out almost shouting at the others to follow her. Zhao came immediately. Mako gave Asami a hug before following.
"I'll watch her." He told his friend.
"He's scheming Asami. I know it. That husband of yours is the definition of malice!" Korra shouted as she continued down the hall, "Something is going to come out of this rioting and it's going to be terrible."
The President's wife glanced at Kuvira, who had lingered for a moment. The metalbender shrugged.
"I'm just waiting to be taken back to jail. I would rather stay out of her messes." Kuvira finally said before leaving the other woman behind.
"You might want to mention that before Korra forgets then."
Korra leaped off of the air bison's head, landing right behind the line of police officers with shields. The Chief of Police, Chief Song, stepped back from the line with a growl as he saw the Avatar. Some of the officers glanced back to see what was going on.
"This isn't the place for you to be right now, Avatar Korra. I must ask you to leave before your presence makes this worse."
As the Chief and the Avatar argued about her presence, the other three took a moment to take in the sight of the riot. The street was a mess with scorch marks and ripped up streets. While the civilians were just chanting and shouting at the time being, they had a feeling that it could change suddenly.
"This is a trap in waiting." Kuvira said to the firebenders, "There are men on the rooftops with radios."
All three would look up at different times as to try to keep their knowledge of the men subtle.
"We need leave then." The taller of the firebenders spoke.
Zhao nodded, "Restarting a riot would be a good way of making her and the President's relationship sink further."
"Korra." Mako started running over to the arguing duo.
One of the men on the roofs raised his radio to his mouth. Moments later, the rioters charged the line of police. They were using anything from bending to lit bottles of liquors and oils.
Chief Song cursed out loud before pushing the Avatar out of his way. They both had to duck from one of the flaming bottles. The Chief then took off to join his fellow officers.
"Come on, Avatar." Zhao shouted, "We need to go before this worsens and we're a part of it."
The waterbender gave in and followed her friends back to the bison. Mako leaped towards the head to take the reins.
"What are you doing Mako?" the Avatar asked with anger still in her voice.
"We're checking something out. Trust me."
She did not question his idea. They flew up above the rooftops of the city. All of them besides the Avatar were looking for the men in blue suits. The metalbender called out first and down the bison dove. Zhao was the first one out, hands lit in flame as he landed on the running man with a radio. Kuvira and Mako joined him, leaving Korra in the saddle of the bison. She had a puzzled look on her face as to what was going on.
"Who are you," Zhao began, pulling the man up by his collar and then slamming him against the entrance to the stairway down, "And what are you doing with this long distance calling device?"
"It's called a radio." The man smirked.
"Wrong answer." The former admiral grinned before slamming the man against the wall again.
"Should we stop him?" Mako asked as he and Kuvira were finally catching up.
"No."
The Avatar came running up, still puzzled as to what they were doing.
"Why are we interrogating him?"
"He has a radio and spoke into it right before the riots started again." Mako answered as he crossed his arms, "We feel that he's connected to this."
The four of them looked at the man they were holding down.
"Well?" Korra started, "Is it true?"
"The United Republic is ready to dethrone the Avatar Queen. May your death be swift."
Mako and Korra both sighed and rolled their eyes.
"He sounds like one of yours." Mako told the Great Uniter, "Remember him Korra?"
"Yeah, right after we all had our reunion." Korra snickered, "He was a crazy fellow."
Zhao pushed the man down and the metalbender added some earthly restraints to the man.
"So we are going to investigate this?" he asked.
"Please no."
"Yes," Korra started, "We should split. Zhao and I will go harass Kyung again as you two try to find out more about what this man is talking about."
"I have five hours left. I'd rather return to my cell."
"Where are we going to start?" Mako asked as he threw his arms up, "We barely know anything about this Anti-Avatar movement besides they like to protest and start riots."
"Jail. Five Hours."
"Well, between your detective skills and Kuvira's Great Uniter-ness, you two should be able to come up with something." Korra retorted as she and Mako started another argument.
"No." Kuvira interrupted, "I just want to go to my warm, wooden cell so I can finish reading my book series. This author started writing when I became the Great Uniter and I want to do is finish it all before I die."
Korra turned and pointed a finger at her, "I will take you back to jail when I am done with you. I swear, not many people want to go back to jail."
"Not many people know how crazy it is to work with the Avatar!"
The Avatar's mouth was left open as she searched for a comeback, "Alright, you win this round but I do need your help at the moment. After all of this is done, I will bring you back to your cell and make sure you receive a horrible meal and a cup of water for the day."
Kuvira crossed her arms before answering, "I'm looking forward to it."
Rush hour in Republic City presented a noise in his office. President Kyung was tapping his desk, patiently waiting. He hated unexpected visitors but this one he would allow because it was going to be her last.
Timed perfectly after receiving notice from his men at the riot, Avatar Korra stormed in. He swore that he saw smoke come from her mouth.
"I knew you were scheming, you snake of a bastard." She shouted.
As soon as she was before his desk, the door to his office closed. He reached under his desk and gave her a grin.
"I'm not sure what you are talking about, Avatar Korra although I do remember telling you not to go."
Korra looked behind her and for once wished that she did not tell everyone to wait outside. Behind her was one of the President's bodyguards. He held a weapon in his hand. She could not identify it. To her left was another of his bodyguards with the same kind of weapon. All of her questions were answered when she looked at Kyung again. He too, had the same. She could see that it was a crossbow of some kind with a large bolt on it. She then heard a clicking noise.
"Now, you might want to sit down Korra. This is going to take about five minutes and then you won't know what happened."
"I'd rather stand." She responded.
"Suit yourself," Kyung said in a cocky attitude, "I am glad, no, thrilled that you actually went down there. Now that the city is rioting, you are giving me a chance to finally get rid of your extreme power."
"So you really have been scheming against me?"
"You have given us more than enough reason to." The clicking noise went off again as he continued, "You see, since you are the daughter of the Southern Tribe's Chief and cousin to the Northern, one could easily mistake you for have too much of a hold in the world. Master Tenzin was your mentor and now leads over the monks and Fire Lord Iroh is a friend of yours. Now, we have learned that you are in fact the mother of King Wu's heir, giving you another country to fall in line."
Korra stood, mentally wishing to speak with Wu.
"And there is no doubt, Avatar Korra, that you are the most powerful Avatar this world has ever seen."
"For goodness sakes, get to the punch-line." She growled.
"You have far too much power Korra. Who is going to stop you from taking over the world?"
Korra laughed, "You joking right? If I wanted to rule, I would have it already."
"And there lies the issue. No one could stop you." The President's brow gathered dangerously, "That leave the United Republic. I too could be a victim of your connections because of your relationship to my dear wife but no, I will be the defender of the world and end your madness. Hopefully, the spirits grace us with an Avatar that does not have the same connections."
The Avatar sighed, giving it more of a dramatic effect, "I can't believe you are setting me up like this."
"So you are mad? Mad enough to want to harm us?" the clicking noise was heard again.
"Oh, mad does not explain how I feel right now." She was rubbing her forehead, trying to fight the incoming headache, "If I was younger, perhaps this room would be destroyed and for goodness sakes; what is that damn clicking noise I hear coming from under your desk?"
It went off again, "You like it? It's a recording device, curtsey of my wife's company. The best part of this is that it can be edited and given to the press. With all of the evidence I will have within a day, no one will question the death of the Avatar."
Korra's arms dropped to her side. Now she wished the others were here.
"Kyung, please don't do this."
She watched at he raised his weapon. Off to the side, one of the bodyguards was doing the same. She could only assume the last one was also being pointed at her. In a split moment, all three of them went off. Korra twisted on her better leg, diverting two of them away from her. The one from behind hit her as her other leg was in the air. She felt it hit her just above her hip on her left side. Feeling that it was metal, she moved it through and threw it away. Crying out, she searched for the blocked bolts and made sure to hit the attacking bodyguards. When she looked, she realized that Kyung was breathing harshly.
"You bitch," he coughed as his hand moved from the bolt, "These were poisoned."
The Avatar was putting pressure on side of her wound. She began to limp over towards him.
"Hey, don't die on me Kyung." She said searching the room for water.
The President was laughing softly before his eyes rolled back into his head. His mouth had started to foam before he died from where the bolt hit him. She looked towards the other two and saw that they too were suffering from the poison. Then she cursed.
"Damn it. How am I going to explain this now?"
Her vision began to blur as her hands started to go numb. She figured that she had some of the poison from when the bolt was ripped through her.
Sounds of more guard filled the room. Korra blasted the door with what air she could muster before going for the window. Whatever the poison was was making her feel sick. She busted open the window and jumped to avoid the new volleys coming from the metalbending police officers. Hopefully the others were close by to get to her.