"It's all right. People usually assume that I'm daddy's helpless little girl, but I can handle myself."

— Asami accepting Korra's apology.[1]

Asami Sato is a businesswoman, industrialist, engineer, and the only child of the former wealthy industrialist Hiroshi Sato[6] and his wife, Yasuko.[1][7] Although a nonbender, when she discovered that her father was working with the Equalists, she rejected his hatred of benders[1] and actively fought against the Equalists as a member of Team Avatar.[8] After her father's imprisonment, she became the new Chief Executive Officer of Future Industries, planning to bring the company back to the peak of economic dominance and restore its reputation. Two weeks after Harmonic Convergence, she joined her friends in the search for the new airbenders. However, their search stopped when the Red Lotus attempted to kidnap Avatar Korra in Zaofu and they worked to bring the organization down instead. Three years later, in 174 AG, Asami assisted in defeating Kuvira and began a romantic relationship with her best friend, Korra.[5][9]

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History

Early life

When Asami was six, her mother was killed during a break-in and robbery of their mansion by the Agni Kai Triad.[1][7] Following her mother's murder, Hiroshi had Asami trained by the best self-defense teachers in the city to ensure she would always be able to protect herself. Although unknown to her, the occurrence also resulted in her father developing a grudge against all benders that would culminate in him joining the Equalists and becoming their weapons' manufacturer.[1]

At the age of fourteen, Asami witnessed an important business deal between her father and Wonyong Keum. However, during the deal, Wonyong left, creating a resentment for him that would last Asami later into her life.[10]

170 AG

Sometime after Avatar Korra's arrival in Republic City, Asami accidentally ran into Mako with her moped when he suddenly crossed the street to catch a trolley. Feeling guilty over the accident, she apologized and, after recognizing him as the captain of the Fire Ferrets, invited him to dinner at Kwong's Cuisine. During dinner, she learned of the Fire Ferrets' financial situation and, as a big pro-bending fan, convinced her father to sponsor the team through Future Industries. Their relationship continued to grow afterward.[7]

After the Pro-bending Arena was attacked,[11] Asami offered Mako and Bolin shelter at the Sato estate. Shortly afterward, Korra accused Hiroshi of being an Equalist, causing Lin, Tenzin, and the Metalbending Police Force to search her home, who discovered Korra had been correct. Asami was deeply hurt by her father's allegiance and chose to fight against him and the Equalists.[1]

Together with Korra, Bolin, and Mako, Asami formed the new Team Avatar and naturally assumed the role of the team's driver. While trying to protect the nonbenders of Dragon Flats borough, Tarrlok arrested her for being a nonbender out after curfew, though she was freed shortly after by Lin Beifong.[8]

When the Equalists attacked Republic City, Asami saved Tenzin from being captured at the police headquarters, before retreating underground with the rest of the team.[12] After breaking up with Mako, she teamed up with Bolin and General Iroh to take down her father's latest invention, biplanes at a nearby airfield.[13] Asami used a mecha tank to destroy all the planes, though she was forced to fight her own father when he attacked and tried to kill her. Winning the battle with Bolin's help, she captured him, handing him to the authorities to be imprisoned for his crimes.[14]

171 AG

Harmonic Convergence

Six months after Amon's defeat and Hiroshi's imprisonment, Asami had assumed control of Future Industries. However, with the reputation of the company low as a result of her father's association with the Equalists, Asami took a trip to the Southern Water Tribe to meet the entrepreneur Varrick in order to save her company from bankruptcy. With a civil war between the two tribes brewing, Asami joined Korra in attempting to prevent the conflict.

Along with the others, Asami went back to Republic City in order to meet President Raiko. There, she also checked how her company was performing. Noticing that her company needed more money, Varrick suggested she sell the mecha tanks to the Southerners. However, following the theft of Future Industries' shipments, Asami and Mako set up a sting operation with the Triple Threat Triad to capture the thieves. However, the duo was betrayed and the company's entire stock of equipment was stolen. With nowhere else to turn, Asami sold a majority stake of Future Industries to Varrick. She and Mako also started dating again, though was left in doubt of him when he was charged with the theft of her company's products.

Although President Raiko refused to help Korra against Unalaq, Asami readily offered her assistance and traveled down to the South Pole with the rest of Team Avatar on the battleship they acquired from Varrick. Devising a plan to attack from above, she used Varrick's plane to create a diversion with Mako and Bolin, hoping it would provide Korra, Tenzin, Kya, and Bumi with the opportunity to enter the Spirit World. The plan failed, however, and everyone except Bumi was imprisoned. After Bumi freed them all, Korra instructed Asami to fly a wounded Tonraq back to the healing huts, while the benders would enter the Spirit World in order to stop Unalaq from merging with Vaatu as well as finding Jinora's spirit. Asami remained at the healing hut with Katara, Tonraq, and Senna, watching over Jinora's body. When the young airbender awoke, Asami immediately inquired about the safety of her friends and was relieved to hear that Korra had saved the world.[15]

Following Harmonic Convergence, Korra was forced to fight several mecha tanks that had been commandeered for use by the mysterious individual named Hundun. Upon defeating what would be the first of many mecha tanks, Korra rhetorically asked Hundun's forces whether Asami knew about their current use.[16]

Discovering new airbenders

Following Harmonic Convergence, Asami met with Korra at President Raiko's press conference. Seeing the Avatar lament her poor approval among the citizens, Asami tried to tell her not to take it to heart, believing it to be nothing but frustration. After returning to Air Temple Island, Asami wondered where Mako was, to which Bolin answered that the firebender remained at police headquarters. Soon after, she became witness to Bumi's newfound airbending abilities. She watched the next day as Bumi attempted to airbend again. Lin and Mako soon visited Air Temple Island and gave the group reports of other airbenders in the city. The young industrialist also watched with concern as Mako acted awkwardly around her and Korra.

Asami and Korra went out for a drive, the former offering her friend the keys to a Satomobile, believing she was capable of a relaxing ride. It turned out to be anything but, as she had to give panicked instructions at points. Once they settled, the two talked about everything that had happened while they were each involved with Mako. Soon, they approached a mass of vines, of which Asami quickly alerted Korra, enabling her to stop just in time.[17]

After Team Avatar decided to travel the Earth Kingdom in the search for airbenders, Asami furnished them with a Future Industries airship, believing they should travel in style. When Asami and the group arrived at the first village, they met Kuon, the new airbender, and joined his family for dinner, but the conversation quickly fell apart when he refused to leave his home. As they left, Asami believed they could have tried harder to convince him to join them. Further visits to villages failed to yield any success, and the group decided to perform an "air show" to help convince other airbenders to join them. When Korra used her airbending to "capture" Mako, who was playing a firebending convict, overdid it somewhat, both Asami and Korra chuckled with joy. After the show was complete, they managed to recruit just one airbender, a boy named Kai, who claimed his parents were killed by outlaws. Instead, the young boy was a thief who was being pursued by the town police force. Still, the group accepted him as he said he would make a change.[18]

In Ba Sing Se

As the group neared Ba Sing Se, Asami watched as Jinora attempted to train Bumi as he sparred unsuccessfully with Kai. Upon arrival in the city, the group went straight to the Earth Kingdom Royal Palace, where they were greeted by Grand Secretariat Gun. Later, after Korra was given orders by Earth Queen Hou-Ting to retrieve tax payments, Asami went with the Avatar to the town they were held in. Just as they were about to return to Ba Sing Se, they were confronted by Gombo and his bandits. The girls were able to fight them off, though after they secured the tax money, Gombo yelled at Korra that the money was for the people, not the queen, causing her to wonder to Asami if they were truly on the right side.[19]

The next day, Asami practiced sparring with Korra as the Avatar vented her frustrations about the Earth Queen exploiting her and lying about the existence of airbenders in the city. When Korra kicked one of Asami's arm pads out of her hand with an airbending-assisted swing kick, she promptly asked for a break, saying Korra's letting off steam was starting to hurt. At that moment, Mako and Bolin arrived, the latter exhaustively trying to explain what happened to them in broken sentences, before Mako clarified that they learned that the Earth Queen was imprisoning airbenders to conscript into her army. At that point, the queen and Grand Secretariat Gun arrived, the latter of whom told the group that airbenders had been reported in the Yang Province, allowing the queen to insist that they could leave by that evening. Asami, however, bought them time by claiming that their airship needed repairs and they would have to stay one more night.

Back at the team's house, Asami listened as they discussed where the airbenders could be. After finding out they were being held underneath the Earth Queen's Temple, they discussed what they could do to free them. Upon hearing a knock at the door, Asami believed it to be the queen, but it was actually Lin, who came to inform the group of the escape of four dangerous criminals who were after Korra; she insisted the Avatar return to Republic City. However, at Korra's insistence to free the airbenders, Lin joined their plan.

At nightfall, Asami retrieved her airship and, upon Lin receiving word from Bumi that they had the airbenders, took off alongside the police chief's airship. The group was able to flee the city successfully with the freed airbenders and made their way to its outskirts. That morning, the group split off, with Tenzin, Jinora, and the airbenders using Asami's airship to venture to the Northern Air Temple, while Asami continued with her friends and Lin to journey for more airbenders with the police airship.[20]

In Zaofu

While the group was taking a rest stop, Asami informed them that she got word on the radio about another airbender having been reported in Zaofu. The team ventured into the city sans Lin, who told them not to tell anyone of her presence. After disembarking from the airship, they were greeted by the city's emissary, Aiwei. As they ventured through the city by train, Asami viewed all the city's sights with awe and listened as Aiwei explained what had happened to Toph. The team was soon introduced to the city's matriarch, Suyin Beifong. At that point, Aiwei informed Suyin that there was one other person who had come with the team having detected Korra's lie with his seismic sense. Korra acknowledged that Lin was with them, and Asami was shocked to learn that Suyin and Lin were related. They ventured back to the airship where Asami watched as their troublesome relationship was explained.

Asami joined the group again as Suyin led them to her home and introduced her family before being told that their accommodations were ready and that an appetizing meal would be prepared for them. The dinner was relatively peaceful until Lin's sarcastic remarks provoked hostility with Suyin. Varrick soon arrived, irking Asami, who wondered what he was doing there. Varrick danced around the question and asked how "their" company was doing, to which Asami reminded him that Future Industries solely belonged to her because of his plot to kidnap the president, though the industrialist contested that he was never proven guilty. Asami listened as Varrick explained that he had been granted refuge by Suyin and was working for her as head of the technology department, while pitching to her the idea of a revolutionary high-speed rail.[21]

The next morning, Asami joined her friends, Suyin, and Opal for breakfast. While they were in the dining hall, they were forced to duck when their dishes were yanked over to Varrick's magnetic suit.[22]

Sometime later, Asami watched as Bolin and Korra sparred with Wei and Wing, respectively. She implored the four to clean up and prepare for Opal's farewell dinner. During the meal, Varrick introduced Asami and Korra to an airbender finder. Asami took the device and pointed it at Korra, but nothing registered, leading her to believe it was broken, to which Varrick explained one would need to airbend into it for it to work. At Suyin's call, Asami joined in a toast to Opal and later watched as the airbender left for the Northern Air Temple.

That night, Asami awoke after hearing the calamity that stirred from the arrival of the Red Lotus into the estate and the capture of Korra. She found Mako and Bolin down in front of her door, though assured a worried Mako the criminals would not be able to get far because the guards, Lin, Suyin, Wei, and Wing had them surrounded. However, Ghazan divided the groups with a pool of lava. Asami joined the siblings and Lin in hiding behind metal floor decor. They were saved from a combustion attack by P'Li when Suyin and her twin sons bent another panel in its path to shield them. Asami believed there was no way to cross the moat, which prompted Suyin to devise a plan; she and Lin would dive through the metal dome on cables to rescue Korra. The teenager watched as the strategy played out successfully and Korra was rescued, though had to duck when Zaheer led his group's escape under a cloud of dust. Asami joined the team back at Suyin's office as Korra was given an antidote to recover from the paralysis of shirshu-spit darts.

The group soon realized that a guard was responsible for allowing the Red Lotus to reach them; specifically, a young man named Hong Li. In investigating his house with her friends and Aiwei, Asami found a book full of guard movements and schedules. With that and a message from Zaheer and company to prepare for rendezvous, Team Avatar believed they had enough evidence, but Aiwei insisted they wait until Hong Li cracked. While investigating the battle scene, she listened as Mako expressed his doubts over the guard's guilt. They were surprised there by Varrick, who had come digging for pumice stones. Asami watched in disgust as Zhu Li rubbed them on the industrialist's feet. He explained to the group that if one was to construct a conspiracy, they would tell everyone that someone was guilty and plant the evidence on them, prompting Mako to realize only one man could keep such a secret: Aiwei.

Team Avatar made their way to Aiwei's house and entered in search for evidence. Asami only found an empty book, but when Mako, Bolin, and Korra found a secret passageway behind Aiwei's bookshelf, she saw the emissary returning and alerted the trio, but they were caught by him before they could leave. After Korra explained why they were there, he invited them to sit and share tea, asserting the guard's guilt. When he asked who they thought could be guilty, Asami lied, saying they did not know. Aiwei caught on to their suspicion and began to flee by raising a metal wall. Korra guided the team through by bending a hole in it, but as they entered the passageway, they found a bomb, which promptly detonated. Asami was shielded by Mako while the group as a whole was protected by Korra's air sphere. By the time they recovered, Aiwei was gone.

Regathering in Suyin's office, Asami stood by as Korra and Lin argued over the potential search for the group, and was led to believe they would be leaving Zaofu when Suyin agreed with her half-sibling about ensuring Korra's safety. Later, however, they were again approached by the matriarch, who informed the team she had a fully-loaded jeep for them to use in a search for Aiwei. Asami listened as Suyin explained she had only said what she did to please Lin and instead bought the team time to begin their search. Asami rode in the vehicle with Bolin and Mako while Korra rode on Naga, beginning the journey.[23]

Misty Palms Oasis and capture

With Naga's tracking abilities, the team followed Aiwei's trail to just outside the Misty Palms Oasis and made their way to a tavern, hoping to find information on his whereabouts. There, they saw wanted posters of them issued by the Earth Queen because they had freed her airbenders. As Korra was making threats about the queen, Asami noticed the patrons threatening them, prompting the team to leave.

On the oasis' outskirts, Team Avatar found Aiwei's jeep. While Bolin and Mako went into the oasis undercover, Asami scrounged around the jeep for clues. While unsure of why Zaheer and his crew were after Korra, she found a note which instructed Aiwei to go to Xai Bau's Grove at sundown. They tried to find the location on a map, Asami shooing some spirits away in the process, but they were unable to spot it. Mako returned to alert the girls they had found Aiwei going into the Misty Palms Inn, while Asami told him about their own findings. Trying to keep the advantage, Mako suggested a stakeout mission.

The four tried to request the room across from Aiwei's at the inn, but the innkeeper initially denied them service because teenagers had previously trashed another room. They were soon spotted by Macao and Lily. Fearful they may have been bounty hunters, all four took an attacking stance, but the two turned out to actually be fans of Bolin's movers and asked him for his autograph. This fact prompted the innkeeper to grant them a room after all, but the room across from Aiwei's proved to be small, cramping the four, Pabu, and Naga in. After Bolin found a Pai Sho board, Asami decided to play the game with him. When Bolin bragged about his learning of the street variation with Shady Shin, Asami told him she was taught by her "diabolical genius" father and would "destroy" him. At her friend's offer, she took the first move. Asami played the game slowly and with strategy as per her beliefs, confusing Bolin, who thought the game was fast-paced and one of chance. She dismissed the variation as not real, prompting the earthbender to pull out the rulebook. After he read off that the game was described as both one of strategy and chance, Asami took the book, reading the game had many different variations in many cultures. Upon him reading winning the game required knowing one's opponent, the young industrialist suggested she knew Bolin well because she had just pulled a winning move. Asami was subsequently engaged in several games, but won every time over the next few hours. Eventually, in the last game, she appeared to have been beaten, but Pabu jumped on the board, sending the game pieces flying.

Near sundown, after no break in the stakeout, Asami feared Aiwei may have slipped out, but Mako told her otherwise as he had logged a recent movement. Korra decided to confront Aiwei directly, the others trying to stop her. They instead found Aiwei meditating, which brought the Avatar to realize that, when she and Asami were looking the map earlier, the spirits had come to warn them that Xai Bau's Grove was in the Spirit World, which was where the emissary had gone. Asami and her friends kept watch over her physical form as Korra meditated into the other realm herself. After nightfall, they saw Ming-Hua and Ghazan approaching. Asami was advised by Mako to get Korra to safety, which she did by taking her body and riding out with Naga. However, after getting out of the oasis, they were soon trapped in four slabs of rock and placed in a prison transport. When Korra returned to her physical form, believing the Red Lotus had captured them, she asked Asami where they were. Confused about who that group was, Asami informed her friend they were actually taken by the Earth Queen's forces and being returned to Ba Sing Se.[24]

Escape from the airship and the Si Wong Desert

At Fort Bosco, Korra and Asami were loaded onto a Ba Sing Se airship for transport to the capital city. Being chained to the floor of the prison hold, Asami, fearing discomfort, asked the guard, Arik, to be chained to a railing instead, convincing him she would be unable to go anywhere regardless. She subsequently thanked the guard for doing so before he left.

Knowing the queen's airships were produced by Cabbage Corp and thus cheaper than Future Industries' work, Asami came up with a plan. She was able to break the railing off from the wall and jump over it, giving her some freedom to move her hands again, criticizing the ship's construction as "shoddy workmanship". Still, she knew she needed the keys to get Korra out of the locks, and thus used the broken railing to open a floor panel. Heading below the prison hold, Asami instructed her friend to call for help in five minutes.

After getting the keys and hearing Korra's help signal, she knocked out the distracted Arik and unlocked the Avatar's restraints. They made their way to the cockpit and, after Korra beat back the captain and co-pilot, Asami tried to take control, only to find Korra's attacks had damaged the steering and radio system while the airship was descending rapidly. She urged the Avatar to grab onto something as the airship crashed into a sand dune.

When the two emerged on the ship's roof, Asami stated any landing one could walk away from was good, but was skeptical in this case because they were stuck in the desert. She was not sure if the airship could be started again as it needed to be dug out even if Korra metalbent the propellers back into place. After the crew re-emerged and with a need to get to Ba Sing Se as soon as possible, Asami urged the group to work together in getting the airship rebuilt, only to be told by the captain the ship was going nowhere and neither were the girls as they were still prisoners. Asami, however, soon spotted a creature roaming underneath the stand, which convinced the crew to join in an attempt to repair the airship.

The industrialist was able to get the ship functional again and told Kong to get the engine started, but just as this was done, the creature from earlier, a sand shark, emerged and destroyed the airship. Following the initial shock, the group ran as the ship and its supplies fell around them. At the captain's suggestion they would need to wait just a few hours for help, Asami was not sure they had such time. She suggested the construction of a makeshift sand-sailer with the remnant metal, needing a sail and a sled.

Upon completion, Asami commented the ship was not pretty but would do the job. The group appeared to have successfully fled the creature pursuing them, only for it to make an attempt to swallow them whole. However, Korra used her firebending to throw it down, giving them a safe escape to the Misty Palms Oasis. With the sailer breaking upon arrival, she jokingly asked the Sandbender Tribes if they wanted to buy it. The captain thanked her for getting them out and complimented her on having a good head before he and his crew left the girls.

Asami and Korra made their way to a tavern, where they found Tonraq, Lin, and Lord Zuko. Asami asked if they had found Bolin and Mako, to which Lin told them that the Red Lotus had taken them per eyewitness reports she received. The two girls were asked by Tonraq if they heard what had happened to the Earth Queen. Confused, they promptly heard over the radio that the queen was overthrown and Ba Sing Se was in chaos.[25]

Reunion and attempt to warn Tenzin

After Naga and Pabu found that Bolin and Mako had made their way to the Misty Palms Oasis, Asami and Korra emerged from the tavern. Asami hugged Bolin tightly while she was slightly lifted off her feet. She was soon mistaken for the Avatar by Mako and Bolin's grandmother, Yin, who said she was a nice girl. She also grew a bit nervous when Yin asked Mako why he was not dating someone nice like them, turning the conversation to what had happened to the brothers. After they explained the dire risk of Zaheer wiping out the new Air Nation and with the group needing a solid radio signal, Asami went with them to Zaofu.

At Zaofu, the group learned Suyin and her guards had found a signal at the Northern Air Temple, but were not getting any answers. When Korra went to meditate and attempt to find Zaheer in the Spirit World, Asami came along with her, watching over her body while she ventured in. After Korra returned, Asami asked her friend if she found Zaheer, to which she was told she found someone else and needed to talk to another person.[26]

Double-cross and escape

Asami flew to the Northern Air Temple on a Zaofu airship with her friends, Lin, Suyin, Tonraq, and other Metal Clan guards. She stood by as they discussed plans to ambush the Red Lotus, looking oddly at Bolin as he proposed using bird calls and disguising himself as a hiker. When Korra suggested surrendering herself, Asami was shocked, saying she could not expect them to stand by while Zaheer took her. She gave a silent nod in support, nonetheless, toward the suggestion of saving the airbenders first. After Korra radioed Zaheer, Asami and the others were told by the Avatar of his new terms: she go to Laghima's peak alone at noon and turn herself over before he released the airbenders. Suyin suggested using their numbers advantage to launch an attack, telling Asami to go with Mako and Bolin to the temple via airship to retrieve the airbenders. Before they separated, the industrialist embraced Korra, telling her to be careful.

Asami piloted the airship to the Northern Air Temple and landed them in the courtyard. When Ghazan came out to lead the way, she and Bolin looked at each other confusedly and eyed him suspiciously, but followed nonetheless. The two were led to Tenzin and what appeared to be the other airbenders. Asami and Bolin began trying to release Tenzin from his chains when they realized they were double-crossed; what they believed to be the airbenders were actually sacks of water maintained by Ming-Hua. As Mako and Bolin tried to fight off Ghazan and Ming-Hua, Asami used a hair pin to unlock Tenzin's bonds. At that point, Ghazan used his lavabending to block off the exit for the four, resulting in the hot liquid beginning to flood the temple. Asami was able to free the airbending master and asked where Oogi was, only to be told he had fled during the initial attack; he instead pointed them toward secret passageways out. She and Mako helped sustain Tenzin as they tried to outrun the lava with Bolin trying to block the flow with earth walls. They tried to sneak out through another passageway, only to be left at the mountain's edge and lava closing in on them. Bolin, however, saved them by bending the lava back and stopping its flow. At that moment, Kai arrived on his baby bison, Lefty, and led the group away from the collapsing temple.

The entire group reunited at a forest away from the temple, where they were informed that Korra had been taken away by Zaheer, who had recently achieved flight. Kai informed them he had seen the airbenders be taken to a secret cave by Red Lotus sentries. With Oogi having returned to them, the group was able to fly together to the location in question.[27]

Rescuing the airbenders

Asami piloted Oogi as Kai led them to the prison caves. Save for Tenzin, the group went in and ambushed the Red Lotus sentries; the industrialist used her electrified glove to stun one of them. She took the keys and helped free the airbenders one-by-one. While Tonraq, Mako, and Bolin went to find Korra, Asami and the others helped get the captives out. She waited outside the cave and watched as the airbenders combined to make a tornado which helped save Korra and throw Zaheer to the ground. Asami ran over to the poisoned Avatar, watching with worry as Suyin tried to bend the metallic poison out of Korra. She stood over her and Tonraq after the poison was drawn out of her.

Two weeks later on Air Temple Island, Asami helped Korra, who was confined to a wheelchair, prepare for her appearance at Jinora's airbending mastery ceremony. Seeing her friend still upset over what had happened, she assured her no one expected her to recover right away and squeezed her hand, saying she was there for her and urging the Avatar to enjoy the day for Jinora. She wheeled Korra out to meet with her family, Tenzin's family, the Beifong sisters, Raiko, and Zuko. The girls, Ikki, and Meelo were helped up the stairs when Lin used a slab of rock to elevate them.

At the ceremony, Asami watched as Tenzin praised Jinora and Korra for all they had done to help restore and save the Air Nation and as the former's airbending master tattoos were revealed.[28]

After Jinora's ceremony, Asami went to the ferry dock to say goodbye to Korra, though emphasized to the Avatar that she really would not mind accompanying her to the Southern Water Tribe. However, when Korra stated that she needed some time for herself, Asami understood and waved her off with the rest of Team Avatar and their friends. In the following months, she wrote Korra and in one of her letters, she stated that she missed her friend, noting that Republic City was not the same without her. She reported that she was able to land a big contract to help redesign the city's infrastructure, a task that would keep her busy for a while. Asami was the only one out of Team Avatar who received replies to her letters and the one in whom Korra confided about her situation.[29] Meanwhile, Asami also allowed Mako and Bolin's extended family to stay at her family's estate after their own house in Ba Sing Se had burned down during the chaos during the anarchy in the Earth Kingdom.[30]

174 AG

Modernizing Republic City

Asami continued her work to redeem Future Industries and by 174 AG, she was thanked by President Raiko during a public opening ceremony for modernizing Republic City's Central City Station. After cutting the ribbon for the grand reopening, Asami answered some questions from the press, though her conversation was cut short when she was approached by Prince Wu, who flirted with her using his status as the first in line for the vacant Earth Kingdom throne. When asked to give the prince a private tour of the station, Asami dismissed the request by stating that she was fond of the idea of putting Wu on a train and sending him off. The prince was not deterred and Asami was eventually saved from his unwanted flirtatious comments by Mako, who told the prince that President Raiko desired to discuss the Earth Kingdom throne with him. Asami asked Mako how he tolerated his position as Wu's body guard and afterward expressed her happiness to see him again, asking if he had heard from Bolin. Upon being told that he was set to arrive in a couple of days and that Korra would be returning that night, she expressed her desire to see the Avatar again, happy to be getting Team Avatar back together.

That night, Asami attended dinner on Air Temple Island with Tenzin's family, Lin, Wu, and the presidential couple. She was sitting at the table with the airbending family when an Air Acolyte announced the arrival of a Southern Water Tribe ship, much to her excitement. She and the group gathered at the dock to greet Korra, though after Tonraq stepped off the ship and told them that his daughter had left for Republic City six months prior, Asami was left concerned as no one had an idea about the Avatar's whereabouts.[31] Asami later attended Wu's coronation as the new Earth King and bore witness to Kuvira's declaration of usurping power over the Earth Kingdom, renaming it "Earth Empire".[32]

Facing her past

Some time later, Asami traveled to the Republic City prison after receiving several letters from Hiroshi, none of which she had opened. Although she was warmly greeted by her father, she did not acknowledge it and merely slid the letters toward him, stating that he needed to stop writing her as she did not want to see or hear him ever again. As she moved to leave, Asami stayed upon Hiroshi's request to hear him out. Hearing him praise her, stating her to be the "greatest thing [he] ever created", she teared up and ran out of the meeting room. She retreated to Avatar Korra Park, where she witnessed a father playing with his daughter. Overcome with nostalgia of how she and her father used to be, Asami returned to the prison. As a surprised Hiroshi commented on the fact that she came back, Asami admitted that she had initially came to tell him face-to-face that she wanted nothing to do with him anymore in an attempt to hurt him like he had hurt her. However, she admitted that when she had laid eyes on him, she had only felt sadness over how he had tainted their past and destroyed their future together. Although she was unsure if she would ever be able to forgive him, she was willing to try and proposed to play a game of Pai Sho for old time's sake.[33]

A tense reunion

Learning of Korra's return to Republic City, Asami made plans to have lunch with her and Mako. She read an engineering magazine while awaiting her friend's arrival. When Korra showed up and asked if Asami had been waiting long, the businesswoman surged to her feet and hugged the younger woman, good-heartedly stating that she had only been waiting for three years. Expressing her joy over reuniting with her, Asami appraised her friend, complimenting her on her new, shorter hairdo, causing the Avatar to blush, before the industrialist led her inside the restaurant to meet up with Mako, who had reserved a table for them. Asami grew annoyed, however, when it became apparent that Prince Wu would be crashing their reunion. As Korra refused to enter the Avatar State on the royal's request, Asami inquired if she had regained that ability, revealing that she had been worried when Korra had told her she could not. This statement sparked frustration on Mako's part, however, since he felt left out by the girls for not having been contacted by Korra or told about the contact by Asami. When Korra progressed the conversation, asking to know everything about their lives while she had been gone, Asami announced that she had big news, revealing that she had visited her father. She grew irritated, however, when Korra asked if she was certain Hiroshi could be trusted and was not manipulating her again, causing her to snap at the Avatar that she was well aware of what her father was capable of. She added that it was not Korra's place to second-guess her actions and decide what was best for her, since she had disappeared for three years. Their brewing argument was interrupted and the subject was changed when Prince Wu announced he needed to go to the bathroom.

When Wu stayed absent for a suspicious amount of time, the team made their way toward the bathrooms, where Asami and Korra remained in the hallway while Mako inspected the men's restroom. As Korra was attacked, having followed a lead on her own, Asami and Mako rushed out the back door to see if they could help, though they promptly turned around to retrieve Asami's car, when Korra announced that Wu had been kidnapped. Asami pulled up next to Korra, urging her to get inside the vehicle, and quickly gave chase. She narrowly avoided colliding against the wall erected by one of the kidnappers in order to shake them. When Mako grew frustrated with her, having told her to take a particular route which she did not, Asami told the firebender that she knew the streets better than he did, having built some of them. As such, she maneuvered her car on a bridge that led them to drive parallel with the kidnappers' vehicle, albeit on a higher road. While Korra jumped down to take care of the kidnappers, Asami followed the road and pulled up next to Korra and the now apprehended suspect moments later.

As it became apparent that Wu was not in the truck anymore, Asami pointed out that the prince was likely placed in another vehicle when they lost sight of them, adding dejectedly that it would be a difficult search as he could be in one of the thousands of cars riding around in the city or any other mode of transportation. She watched as Korra placed a hand on a nearby spirit vine and subsequently declared that Wu was being taken to the train station, prompting her to confusedly ask how Korra knew. En route, she was told that Korra had learned to connect to people's energy via the spirit vines and wanted to know more about Toph Beifong, who had taught the Avatar that technique.

The conversation was cut short when they arrived at the train station, where Asami slid on her electrified glove and followed her friends inside. Not knowing which train Wu was on, the three split up to cover more ground, though after a futile search, Asami approached Korra, noting that they needed to find the prince soon, lest they would never find him again. As the Avatar guided them to the train leaving for Omashu, they jumped on and started searching the wagons. They made their way to the luggage cart, where Asami urged her bickering friends to silence, enabling them all to hear a tapping coming from inside a chest, which turned out to be caused by Wu. When Kuvira's agents started to close in on them, Asami was helped atop the roof of the train by Korra. There, Asami took down one of their attackers by shocking him with her glove. She was pushed back, however, when another assailant started to metalbend the floor from underneath her feet and was grabbed by Korra, who encircled their little party with air, enabling them all to make a safe landing when they jumped off the speeding train and down a bridge.

Dusting herself off, Asami noted that their rescue mission reminded her of their old times together, save for the "getting on each other's nerves part". When Korra apologized for the earlier tension, Asami waved it off, since she deemed it natural that they would need a transition period after being separated for three years. Reconciling their differences, Asami, Mako, and Korra shared a hug, while keeping Prince Wu at a distance. Searching for a place where they could safely leave the royal, Asami and the others went to the Sato estate, where the prince would stay with Mako's family already residing there.[30]

Asami traveled back to Air Temple Island with Korra, where she brought her some tea after the young woman had retreated to the meditation pavilion, believing she might have been cold. Noticing Korra's distant demeanor, Asami inquired whether she was okay and firmly told Korra that Toph's notion of the Avatar being redundant and it being pointless to try and stop Kuvira was ridiculous. To emphasize her point, she countered Korra's self-deprecating memories of her failures in regards to Amon with all the good things that had come from that confrontation, such the decapitation of the Equalist movement and allowing for free election to be held in the United Republic, which increased the representation of nonbenders, all actions that gave people hope. As Korra continued to reminisce about the bad consequences of failing to bring balance with Unalaq, Asami brought attention to the good consequences, namely the resurfacing of airbending and the positive shift in the world Korra had caused. When Korra pointed out that Zaheer had also received airbending and caused the world to be more out of balance than ever, Asami was shocked to learn that Tenzin agreed with Korra, though as the airbending master clarified that the importance of facing hardship was to learn from it, Asami was thanked by Korra for her efforts of cheering her up.[34]

Defending Republic City

As one of the two most brilliant minds in Republic City, Asami was called to City Hall by President Raiko to work together with Varrick to find a defense against Kuvira's spirit vine-charged super weapon. When Varrick pointed out to Raiko that he only allegedly tried to kidnap him, Asami scoffed at the eccentric inventor, snapping that everything he ever did was "allegedly", such as taking over her company and bombing the Southern Water Tribe Cultural Center. Regardless, Asami accepted to be partners again with him, though when shaking Varrick's offered hand, she placed it in a lock to emphasize her threat that he better not double-cross her again.[35]

After witnessing dragonfly hummingbirds, Asami got the idea to create a flying mecha suit that could fly in any direction, even straight up. However, when she, Varrick, Korra, Mako, Wu, and Tenzin met with Raiko again in his office, she was cheated out of revealing the plans to the president by Varrick, though he still gave her credit for the idea.[36]

After developing some prototypes of the hummingbird mecha suit in her office, Asami moved production of the suits to one of her factories. Later, when it became known that Kuvira planned to attack Republic City in two weeks, Asami talked to Korra, Mako, and Bolin and decided that they would try to take out the spirit energy cannon in order to increase the United Forces' chances of winning against Kuvira. Discovering the army the next day to only being hours away from the city, a week before they had been expecting them, Asami was shocked to see the enormous mecha suit that was transporting the cannon. After narrowly avoiding being shot out of the sky twice, Team Avatar returned to Air Temple Island, where they reported on Kuvira's progress. With the attack imminent, Asami stated that she would return to her factory in an attempt to finish construction on a few hummingbird mecha suits; she was joined by Mako, Bolin, Suyin, Wei, and Wing. From there, she witnessed in shock how Kuvira destroyed the United Forces battleships in a matter of seconds.

After Korra joined them and revealed that Raiko had surrendered, leaving the fate of the city in their hands, Asami noted that perhaps they could cripple the enormous mecha suit carrying the spirit energy cannon. After Korra and a stealth team of airbenders kidnapped Baatar Jr. and brought him to the factory as well, Asami stood by while Korra and Suyin tried to convince him to reveal how they could defeat the enormous mecha suit. After Baatar Jr. contacted Kuvira and seemingly succeeded to convince her to cease her conquest of the United Republic, Asami was forced to run for her life when Kuvira traced Baatar Jr.'s radio call toward the factory and blew it up with her spirit energy cannon.[37]

Asami managed to survive the explosion and emerged from the rubble with everyone else when Bolin lifted a large piece of concrete. Although all the hummingbird mecha suits at the factory had been destroyed, Asami mused that she and Varrick could modify the prototypes at her office in order to get them airborne and provide the benders, who would try to take out Kuvira's spirit cannon in the meantime, with air support.

Despite their best efforts, Asami and Varrick had trouble getting the hummingbird suits to work. Believing Varrick had fixed the hydraulics, Asami and Zhu Li tested out one of the suits, though she soon discovered that she was unable to stabilize the machine and it spun out of control, causing them to crash. When Daw warned them that a platoon of mecha suits was incoming, Varrick ordered Asami to disconnect all the electrical devices in her office to protect them against the electromagnetic pulse he would create.

When the benders regrouped at her office, Asami was surprised to see her father appear as well. When he suggested to use Future Industries' plasma saws to cut through the platinum armor of Kuvira's enormous mecha suit, Asami interjected that those were too large and heavy to be carried by the relatively small hummingbird suits. Following Hiroshi's lead, she, Varrick, and Zhu Li added an electrical element to the welding torches already on their suits and converted them into plasma saws. As Daw alerted them that Kuvira was incoming once more, Asami noted that they needed at least a few more minutes, prompting the benders to face the enormous mecha suit again in order to stall its advance. After she and her father conducted a successful test by cutting a piece of plasma, Asami thanked him for all that he had done, though he instantly returned the compliment, praising her for the design of the hummingbird suits. As he emphasized how wonderful he thought it was to be working again with her, placing his hand over hers, Asami told her father she loved him, a sentiment he immediately returned. The two subsequently boarded the same mecha suit, with Asami being the pilot and Hiroshi manning the welding torch.

Asami piloted their hummingbird suit to the right thigh of Kuvira's enormous mecha suit, enabling Hiroshi to deploy the magnets on the feet of their suit and start welding, though was quickly forced to abort their attempt, lest they would be crushed. After Korra froze the enormous mecha suit with water from a nearby canal, Asami and Hiroshi tried again on the same spot. As Kuvira started to break the ice locking her in, Asami warned her father that they needed to leave, though he merely answered that he had almost succeeded in cutting a hole. When Kuvira freed one of her suit's arms, Asami yelled that they really had to leave that instant, though Hiroshi made the conscious choice to finish the mission and continue welding. He sadly said his goodbyes to her and with a final "I love you", he flipped the switch to her ejection seat. While floating away to safety with her parachute, Asami watched in horror as her father was crushed to death as he finished cutting the hole.[38]

Having made a safe landing, Asami ran through the streets of Republic City, though was forced to hide inside the hall of a nearby building, when she rounded a corner and was met with a wave of energy caused by the firing of the spirit energy cannon inside Republic City's Spirit Wilds. As the smoke cleared out, Asami made her way to the heart of the Spirit Wilds, where now a new spirit portal was located. Realizing Korra and Kuvira were nowhere to be found, Asami, aided by the rest of Team Avatar and their allies, set out to search the area. After all the spirits returned a moment later, she was glad to see that Korra emerged from the portal as well. After Kuvira was handcuffed and escorted away, Asami placed a hand on Korra's shoulder and embraced her from behind when the others joined in and made it a group hug.

Asami attended Varrick and Zhu Li's wedding at Air Temple Island, where she sat between Mako and Korra. After the ceremony, she approached Tenzin and Korra, alerting the airbending master that Varrick intended to use a glidersuit to jump off the tower. Left alone, Asami accepted Korra's invitation to sit with her, as the Avatar did not feel ready to return to the party. Gazing out over the skyline of Republic City, Asami was surprised to find Korra apologizing for being absent for three years. She quickly noted that there was no need to apologize, emphasizing that she was glad Korra was there now, as she could not have coped with the loss of her father and Korra on the same day. Wiping away the tears that had welled up in her eyes, Asami leaned into Korra's embrace and noted that she was relieved she had been able to forgive Hiroshi before he died. When Korra inquired about their next move, Asami stated that she did not feel like returning to the party and could use a vacation. When Korra suggested to go anywhere she wanted, just the two of them, she proposed to travel to the Spirit World. The two changed back into their casual clothing and, upon approaching the portal, they held hands. Stepping in, they turned to each other and held both hands while gazing romantically into each other's eyes.[9]

Vacation with Korra

Asami arrived with Korra, and expressed her excitement to be there for the first time. The two proceeded to travel many places across the Spirit World, and thoroughly explored the scenery by flying, swimming, and hiking through each place they visited. While traveling, the two attempted to climb a large rock, which then stood up, revealing it was a spirit. The spirit angrily lifted the two, and upon Korra revealing herself to be the Avatar, flung the two away. As being flung had resulted in the loss of their supplies, the two decided to head back to Republic City. However, before doing so, Asami said that there was one more thing she wanted to do on their vacation and the two embraced, sharing a kiss.

As the two headed back, they began to talk about their time together. Korra told Asami that the day the two drove in a race car together was the first time she felt like somebody in her life understood her and could be just as intense as she was. In return, Asami told Korra that the three years she was gone were the longest in her life and that it was during this time that she realized her feelings for the Avatar, and she confessed that she had thought about telling Korra in one of her letters. When Korra asked why she did not, Asami told her that she was worried that she would not feel the same and never return. Asami asked Korra when she realized her feelings for her, to which Korra told her it was after she was poisoned, as Asami had been there for her when she could not even be there for herself. However, Korra said that because of the trauma she was going through, she was not sure if what she felt was real or not, but said that it was not a coincidence that Asami was the only person she wrote back to. The dragon bird spirit then approached the two and they rode off; Korra said that she was not ready for their vacation to end yet, and when Asami asked where the two were going, Korra said it was a surprise. The dragon bird spirit took the two to the northern and southern spirit portals, where Korra told Asami she was taking her to meet her parents in the South Pole. Asami was hesitant, however, but did not have much of a chance to say no before Korra reassured her and the two went to meet Tonraq and Senna.

When the two arrived, they were warmly welcomed by Korra's parents, who asked how Asami's time in the Spirit World had been. She said it was good until they had to cut their trip short, to which Korra specified it was not a problem the two could not handle. Senna prepared dinner for Korra and Asami, and while they ate Senna and her husband asked about the couple's vacation. After a hesitant start, which was due to Korra and Asami's nervousness, the two eventually decided to reveal their new-found relationship.

After Korra informed her parents she wanted to make their relationship public, Korra's parents suggested that they keep their relationship to themselves, as not everyone would be accepting. Korra instantly grew upset, feeling that her parents were unsupportive. As the discussion began to get heated, Asami suggested the two leave, to which Korra agreed and angrily pulled Asami with her out of her parents' home. On their way back to the spirit portal, Korra apologized for her parents behavior, ashamed of how things went. Asami said she understood their position, however, as she had been initially reluctant to talk to Korra's parents as well. Korra apologized, realizing she had ignored Asami's feelings. Asami assured Korra it was okay, but that she thought of their relationship as something special she feared not everybody would understand. Korra declared that she would do whatever she could to keep Asami safe, no matter what anybody else said, a sentiment Asami returned. As the two went through the portal to Republic City, they held hands.[10]

Return to Republic City

Upon arriving back in Republic City, Korra and Asami walked directly into a conflict between Wonyong Keum and Jinora with the new airbenders. Wonyong tried to introduce himself to Korra, but Asami stepped in to let him know that she remembered him, and that he had walked out of a business deal with her father. When Wonyong offered her condolences for his death, Asami told him she did not want them. Jinora explained to Korra and Asami that the conflict between the airbenders and Wonyong arose because the businessman wanted to develop the land around the spirit portal into an amusement park, which the airbenders believed to be unethical and a disturbance to the spirits. While Korra seemed uncertain about whose side to pick, Asami told Wonyong that he should not be allowed anywhere near the Spirit World. A dragon eel spirit appeared from the portal to tell Wonyong that he was unwanted near the Spirit World, and urged Korra to close the Republic City portal. Korra refused, saying she believed keeping the portal open would have a harmonious effect on the spirits and the people of the city. The dragon eel spirit said he could not force her to close it, but that he would hold Korra responsible for keeping it safe. After he disappeared, Asami assured Korra that she was not alone and she would help Korra keep it safe, and Jinora agreed, offering her help as well. Wonyong said that the group was still trespassing and he would force them to leave; Korra responded by entering the Avatar State and demanding Wonyong leave, which he proceeded to do.

In the following days, Asami, Korra, and Tenzin's family went to visit an evacuee camp for the victims of the Invasion of the United Republic of Nations. Korra decided to go speak to some of the evacuees, and asked Asami if she would come with her. Asami declined, saying that she believed people wanted to see the Avatar, not her. Instead, she stayed behind with Zhu Li to help work on some plans for new housing in Republic City. When Korra returned from making a speech to the evacuees, Asami showed her newest designs to Korra, causing Tenzin to remark that the two made a great team, to which Kya agreed. Korra said that Asami should make a meeting with Raiko to see about getting funding to have the houses made, to which Zhu Li agreed and said she would set up an appointment.

At two o'clock, Asami, Korra, and Zhu Li showed up at Raiko's campaign quarters. Asami presented her designs to Raiko and requested funding from him for the housing project, but Raiko replied that the city had no money for such a project. Asami offered to put some of Future Industries' funds into the project, and Zhu Li said that Varrick industries would be willing to match these funds in return. Raiko's campaign manager pulled Raiko side, and he told the politician that if he spent money on housing, he might gain some more favor with the voters. Agreeing with his campaign manager, Raiko decided to spend money on the housing project. as the three went to leave, Korra turned around and asked Raiko for one more favor; she asked him if he could buy the land around the spirit portal from Keum Enterprises to turn it into a park, but Raiko refused and said that the city was broke. Korra angrily yelled that he would change his mind if spirits could vote as Asami rushed her out of Raiko's office.

Korra and Asami spent sunset at the gazebo on Air Temple Island, and the two were approached by Kya, who, to the two girls' shock, she said the two made a lovely couple. Asami asked how she had known that the two had been a couple, and Kya replied that she recognized the signs from her first vacation with her own girlfriend. Korra told Kya she was unaware of the older woman's sexual orientation, which Kya said she kept largely private, and asked if the two had told anybody about their relationship. Korra said she told her parents, but they had been very worried about outsiders' reactions. Kya recognized this as typical Water Tribe culture, causing Korra to ask how Aang had replied to Kya coming out. Kya said Aang was very accepting, having grown up around the monks in the Air Temples. She begun to describe how same-gender relationships had historically been treated across the four nations, ending with how Kyoshi, another Avatar who had loved both men and women, had been largely unable to enact much change about the perception of same gender relationships in her lifetime. Korra worried that if Kyoshi was unable to change people's minds, she would not either, but Asami assured her that times were changing, and people in Republic City tended to be very progressive and accepting of same gender relationships. The couple's discussion with Kya was cut off when they were greeted by Mako and Bolin; Kya begun to leave, but told the two that if they ever needed advice, she would be there.

Bolin and Mako greeted Asami and Korra, happy to see them for the first time since their vacation. Bolin asked the two how their time had gone, and while initially secretive, the two agreed to tell the brothers about their relationship. However, before they could, Jinora's astral projection reached the group to inform them that the Triple Threat Triad was attacking the Republic City spirit portal. Team Avatar quickly boarded a flying bison and begun to head out to the portal. On the way, Mako explained who Tokuga, the new leader of the Triple Threats, was to the two, and attempted to contact the police station for back up. Upon his failure to do so, Asami asked if there was a problem, and Mako replied that radio's had not been working properly since the creation of the spirit portal.

Team Avatar arrived and begun to attack back against the triad, and Asami easily spotted her mark and begun to attack. During her assault, Asami was cornered and knocked unconscious by her assailants; upon seeing Asami in distress, Korra dropped her pursuit of the dragon eel spirit to protect her girlfriend. As soon as Korra was certain Asami was safe, and Asami regained consciousness, Korra held her close and embraced her in a kiss, visible to all of their friends. The two blushed, and announced to the group that they were in a relationship. Bolin excitedly said he wanted to do double dates with the new couple and Opal, Jinora expressed her delight, and Mako stood still, shocked. As he gave Mako time to take the couple's new relationship in, Bolin wondered why the Triple Threats would be attacking the portal, and Korra replied she thought somebody had sent them.[10]

The day after the battle at the spirit portal, Asami and Zhu Li oversaw the construction of the new housing for the evacuees. While they were there, Raiko and Wenyan announced the housing project, now called "Raiko Residencies", in an attempt to boost Raiko's approval ratings. Asami and Zhu Li headed over to confront the two, only to be roped into having their photos taken with them. Asami reluctantly complied, but quietly criticized Raiko for naming the project after himself despite not coming up with the idea for it. As Raiko and Wenyan turned to leave, Korra and Tenzin arrived at the construction site and tried to convince Raiko to rescind his order to have the United Armed Forces fortify the spirit portal. Raiko not only refused, but blamed Korra for the evacuees' troubles on the basis that she had created the spirit portal in the first place. Furious, Asami called Raiko a coward, and said that he had "some nerve" blaming Korra after he had surrendered Republic City to Kuvira, and that Korra had been the true leader in the crisis. Appearing crestfallen, Korra told Asami that it was okay, and she and her girlfriend left Raiko to return to Asami's office at the construction site.

As they walked toward the office they, Asami angrily said that somebody should put Raiko in his place, and suggested Tenzin run opposite him for President. Tenzin declined, but proposed the possibility of having Zhu Li run; Asami claimed that Zhu Li would have no trouble running the United Republic after her time working under Varrick, and that in comparison working for the city would be easy. Zhu Li agreed to consider the idea before she and Tenzin returned to the evacuee camp, while Asami said farewell to Zhu Li by calling her "President Moon", and remarked that the title had a nice ring to it. Asami entered her office with Korra, and learned from her girlfriend that the meadow in the Spirit World they had both walked through had been reduced to a barren wasteland by the spirits in an attempt to discourage further visits from humans. As Korra lamented on how nothing had changed since she and Asami became a couple, Asami assured her that the two of them would be able to handle anything as long as they stuck together, while also resting both her hands on Korra's thigh. A flustered Korra started to say something, only to abruptly leave, claiming that she wanted to let Asami get back to her work. As she left, Asami gave a disappointed sigh.

Asami remained at the office late into the evening, when she was approached by Jargala Omo, the leader of the Creeping Crystal Triad, and two members of Jargala's triad. Jargala offered Asami a protection deal, claiming that Tokuga was planning to seize control of the territory the construction site was on. Having secretly equipped her electric glove while Jargala and her cronies were approaching, Asami stood up and told the criminals that she was not interested in their offer, and that she would be happy to demonstrate how her electric glove worked. Jargala and her men decided to leave, Jargala saying that she would give Asami a couple of days to reconsider the offer. Once they were gone, Asami sat down and sighed in relief.

Following Jargala's proposal, Asami arranged for some security guards to be stationed around the construction site the next morning in order to prevent an attack from the Creeping Crystals or any other triad. Korra came by Asami's office shortly after the security guards had been hired, and upon finding out why Asami had gotten extra security, offered to go and deal with Jargala herself. Asami tried to convince Korra to stay out of it, claiming that she could take care of herself and did not need Korra's help. After Korra reacted to Asami's attempted reassurance with coldness, Asami explained that she did not want Korra to have to act as the Avatar every time she had a problem. Korra replied that she cared more about Asami than she did about anyone else, and did not want anything to happen to her. Asami assured her that nothing would happen, and that she had the situation in hand, and the couple then held each other in a close embrace.

After breaking apart, Asami offered to take Korra on a date that evening, for eight o'clock at Fan's Dumplings, and suggested they ride in a turtle duck boat afterward, to which Korra agreed. However, before Asami left, her office was attacked by the Triple Threat Triad. Asami's security was overwhelmed, and Asami herself was kidnapped, and taken with Tokuga and the Triple Threats. Asami was taken as a hostage while the triad attacked a depot containing the airships, tanks and mecha-suits taken from the Earth Empire after Kuvira's invasion of Republic City. When Korra showed up to try and stop the Triple Threats leaving with the stolen vehicles, Asami was bought out from one of the captured airships to threaten Korra into backing off. Korra backed down, and Asami remained with the Triple Threats as they prepared to invade Republic City.[39]

The Triple Threat Triad bound Asami's hands and chained her and Wonyong to a fence in the basement of an abandoned Earthen Fire Refinery. Wonyong attempted to socialize with Asami, but she angrily shut him down saying that it had been his greed that had caused the problems in the first place, and that if he had not hired the Triple Threat Triad in the first place, none of this would have happened. Wonyong attempted to defend himself by bringing up Asami's father, which caused her to angrily stand up and exclaim that her father had given his life for the city, while Wonyong had been willing to take no sacrifices at all.

Overhearing the conversation between the two, Tokuga interrupted by saying Wonyong had nothing left, as he had taken it all. Asami said if Tokuga had everything, he should let the two of them go, but Tokuga said that Korra had not suffered enough for his disfigurement. Asami protested that Korra had been trying to prevent Tokuga from being attacked, but he snidely remarked that it was noble of her to protect her girlfriend and revealed that he had been spying on Asami in her temporary office. He also said that he needed Asami to be able to build a weapon for him, revealing that he had stolen Hiroshi's blueprints from Wonyong Keum. Wonyong told Asami that it had been these plans of Hiroshi's that had caused him to walk out on the deal with her father years ago. Asami recognized the plans as a gas-dispersion tank and assumed her father had wanted to attach them to mecha suits during the Equalist revolution to disperse knockout gas. She questioned if that was Tokuga's plan, but he told her he wanted to do more, namely use poisonous gas and disperse it from a large airship. Asami angrily retorted that she refused to help Tokuga hold Republic City hostage. Tokuga promptly began strangling Wonyong Keum with his tentacle arm, questioning Asami if she had changed her mind yet. Asami begged Tokuga to stop though realizing the only way to save Keum was to agree working with Tokuga.

Seemingly following the plans, Asami secretly adjusted the weapon so that the gas would disperse inside of the blimp, poisoning anybody flying on board instead of the people outside. While she finished attaching the pump to the airship, Wonyong attempted to apologize for his actions that had resulted in their current situation, but Asami told him to be quiet. Tokuga questioned how long Asami would take, and she answered that she was almost done, when the rest of Team Avatar and the Creeping Crystal Triad burst in and began attacking the Triple Threat members inside, and Asami excitedly called for Korra. She told Tokuga that she had connected the pump, so he should let her and Wonyong go, but Tokuga had two members of the triad take them onto the airship as it began to take off.

Having to rework her plan as she had not anticipated being on board the airship, Asami instructed Wonyong to grab gas masks on her signal. As the ship neared the spirit portal and Tokuga threatened the people below, Asami signaled Wonyong and released the gas inside of the ship, causing the Triads to faint. To her surprise, Tokuga's spirit side enabled him to breathe the toxic gas, and he ripped off Asami's mask, causing her to choke on the poisonous gas.

As she collapsed, Korra boarded the ship and used airbending to fling Tokuga across the room, before creating a bubble of air for Asami to breathe. As Korra offered to land to ship, Asami redonned her gas mask and playfully remarked that she had seen Korra drive, making it better that she would steer the ship. As she finished speaking, Tokuga shattered the windows in the cockpit, allowing the gas to be released inside of the ship. While Tokuga ans Korra locked in battle, Asami grabbed the controls of the ship and aimed for the spirit portal, figuring that if the gas had not affected Tokuga, it would not affect the other spirits. When Tokuga, having chi blocked Korra, was about to kill the Avatar, Asami rapidly banked left, sending Tokuga flying out of one of the shattered windows.

Despite a crash landing in the Spirit World, Asami, Korra, and Wonyong walked out the ship. Asami remarked that the landing was rougher than she would have liked, though Korra noted that it was better than she would have been able to do, to which Asami agreed with a smile. The couple embraced but had their intimate moment interrupted by the arrival of a group of dark spirits, led by the dragon eel spirit. When Korra attempted to explain why they were there but conceded that perhaps the spirits were right and that the portal should be closed, Asami interjected that the portal was too precious to be closed. Wonyong agreed with Asami and rescinded his claim on the lands surrounding the spirit portal, stating that he owed Korra and Asami his life.

As the spirits calmed down and retreated, Asami apologized to Wonyong, admitting that she had him pegged wrong, though when Wonyong wondered if that meant Keum Enterprises and Future Industries would do business together again in the future, she cautioned him to not get ahead of himself though did not exclude the possibility.

Three weeks later, Asami attended an election results announcement event held by Zhu Li with the rest of Team Avatar, Korra's family, and the Air Nation. When Korra asked if they could talk, Asami postponed their conversation as the presidential results were about to be announced. While the newly elected President Moon was speeching, Korra grabbed Asami and pulled her outside onto the balcony of the room the event was held in, causing Asami to wonder what they were doing there as Zhu Li was not done talking. Korra told her that there was something she had been afraid to say but could not hold back any longer, telling Asami that she loved her. Asami smiled and responded in turn that she loved Korra, too.[40]

Gaoling crisis

Three months after the defeat of Kuvira, Asami attended a speech of Wu's alongside Korra, Mako, Bolin, Zhu Li and Varrick where Wu, now Earth King, announced the impending democratic elections taking place in the State of Gaoling.

After Kuvira's trial, Asami joined the rest of Team Avatar who met with Zhu Li and Wu in the president's office, where she learned that Commander Guan, the leader of a small army of Earth Empire holdouts, was supposedly planning to disrupt the elections in Gaoling. As she and Korra left Zhu Li's office, Korra suggested that the two of them talk to Kuvira and ask her about Guan, but after learning that Asami did not want to be in the same room as the woman who killed her father, Korra agreed to meet with Kuvira on her own.

When Korra joined Asami alongside Mako, Bolin and Zhu Li in a sauna, she informed them of her meeting with Kuvira and suggested they take her offer to join them in Gaoling, much to the shock of Asami. Accepting that Kuvira had wronged them all, Korra nevertheless reminded the others that she had once been the captain of Zaofu's security force and an ally against the Red Lotus, and admitted feeling indebted toward her after she saved Tonraq's life. When Asami argued that they could not be certain of Kuvira's trustworthiness, Korra replied that being blasted into the Spirit World had served as a wake-up call for her. She further added that, having visited Kuvira in her prison, she got the impression that Kuvira was a broken woman who genuinely wanted to redeem herself, and that Korra wanted to give her a chance to do so. Asami asked if Korra truly thought that bringing Kuvira along would work, and after Korra replied that she did, Asami and the others agreed to follow her plan.

After her temporary release was arranged, Kuvira was led onto a Future Industries airship where Wu and Team Avatar waited. When Kuvira tried to convince Korra to be less formal now that the two of them were partners, Korra replied that although they were working together, they had no such bond, and that she would not hesitate to take Kuvira down if she attacked her friends or stepped out of line. Korra later convinced Asami to not lock Kuvira inside a platinum cell for the journey to Gaoling, assuring her girlfriend that she would do so herself if Kuvira made a wrong move, though Asami insisted that she would not take her eyes off Kuvira.

Three days later, the group arrived in Gaoling and waited for Guan to make his move. Korra and Wu left to see Mayor Rhee, while Asami allowed Kuvira to borrow some of her clothes to make herself more presentable for when she met Guan, the others staying to keep watch over her. As Kuvira changed and prepared, she remarked to Asami that it must be difficult being Korra's girlfriend, saying that Asami could have been running her company or inventing machinery instead of having to guard her. Asami replied that she was happy to do so to protect her girlfriend from Kuvira, and warned the other woman that she would not drive a wedge between the couple, but Kuvira answered that she was merely admiring the group's camaraderie, which was something she claimed to have never had in her life. Bolin told her that this was because she had always pushed people away in the past, having been told by Opal that Kuvira had rejected her attempts at friendship when they were growing up. Kuvira however told him not to believe everything that Opal said, and that her childhood had been very different to Opal's. She insisted that she was a different person than she was three months ago, but Asami replied that while she believed people could redeem themselves, it was not something that happened overnight.

Soon after arriving in Gaoling, Asami was present when Guan's troops began to confront Team Avatar. As a battle threatened to break out, Korra demanded that Kuvira stand down, only for Kuvira to suddenly be electrocuted into unconsciousness with a remotely triggered electrode belt Asami had given her, in anticipation of such an incident. Korra thanked Asami and had Kuvira taken back to the airship, where Team Avatar learned that Guan planned to stand as a candidate in the election rather than take over Gaoling with military force.

Asami and the rest of Team Avatar then returned to the airship where, true to her word, Korra had Kuvira locked up in the platinum cell to prevent any more ill-advised actions on her part. When Kuvira woke up, Korra revealed Guan's plan to restore the Earth Empire through politics to her, and listened as the others discussed what to do. After Asami asked if they should hope for the victory of a candidate other than Guan, Korra replied that such a prospect was unlikely, having seen the uninspiring Ling and Bak for herself. When Kuvira suggested that they field a candidate more popular than Guan, an optimistic Korra proposed that they go with Toph, claiming that she was the perfect person due to her reputation and her dislike of the Earth Empire, along with Gaoling being her hometown and the "unique" governing style she would bring. Bolin warned that Toph was not keen to get involved in world affairs the last time he met her, but Korra refused to lose hope, claiming they would just have to convince her otherwise.[41]

Leaving the others to take Kuvira to Zaofu, where she would be imprisoned until the election was over, Korra and Wu left for the Foggy Swamp on Naga to recruit Toph, Korra sharing a kiss with Asami before her departure.

Once aboard the airship, Asami was informed that the engines would not start, and she began to suspect Kuvira. Instead, the former dictator ordered Asami to let her out, and the airship was attacked by Guan and his army. Asami refused to let Kuvira out of confinement during the attack, and though the industrialist managed to counter Earth Empire soldiers with hand-to-hand combat, she was overpowered and was kidnapped along with Mako, Bolin and Kuvira.

The four were brought to Doctor Sheng, who brainwashed Asami using a combination of the Dai Li's ancient indoctrination techniques and magnetic waves to alter the brain. Asami began to believe that Korra was her enemy, and was conscripted into the military of the Earth Empire.

Asami was part of Guan's force leading the attack on her own airship. Korra tried to break Asami free of the brainwashing, but to no avail. Korra and Opal then led an airbending attack against Asami, Mako, and Bolin, incapacitating them long enough for Suyin, Wei and Wing to try and retrieve them with metal cables. Guan broke them free, and Asami attempted to attack Korra with her electric glove. In retaliation, Korra immobilized Asami with rock cuffs and Kuvira dragged Asami onto the airship. Asami was locked up in Kuvira's platinum pod, still insisting that Korra was the enemy.[42]

Upon the group's arrival in Zaofu, Korra escorted Asami inside Suyin's residence and released her from her platinum pod. Suyin told her that she would be settled in a room, but would be confined to the estate. Asami retorted that it was simply another way of saying she was being imprisoned, which Suyin denied, but adding that she would be watched for her own safety and theirs.

In the evening, Asami was visited in her quarters by Korra, who told her that Baatar Jr. and Kuvira had been working all day, and that the nightmare would be over soon. As the Avatar reached out to comfort her girlfriend, the other woman angrily swatted her hand away, asking not to be touched. At that moment, Suyin knocked on the door, informing Korra that Baatar Jr. was ready for Asami.

Asami was taken to Baatar Jr.'s brainwashing device, where he decided to begin with low-intensity electromagnetic pulses. Kuvira read aloud statements in reverse of Sheng's earlier ones, telling her to no longer obey Guan's orders, that the Avatar was no longer her enemy, and that her mind was her own. Kuvira repeated the statements multiple times into the night, with Baatar Jr. using many different settings, but none of them worked, Asami affirming her loyalty to Guan. Eventually, Baatar Jr. and Kuvira considered first testing the process on a subject who had not been brainwashed. Though Korra initially volunteered to help Asami, Baatar Jr. was unsure about the Avatar suffering any side-effects, and Kuvira volunteered as the test subject.

After Baatar Jr. got the results he needed from Kuvira, they tried the process again. Asami came to her senses, the brainwashing undone. She told Korra that she remembered nothing about what had happened to her, and her girlfriend gave her a comforting embrace. At that moment, Opal, Wei and Wing rushed in, telling Suyin to turn on the radio, as Guan had just won the election.

Asami changed into her dressing gown in a bedroom shared with Korra. As she contemplated by a window, the Avatar asked her if she was coming to bed. Asami confessed that she could not get over what happened, with it being so strange to not remember entire days of her life. She asked if she said or did anything she may have regretted, but Korra told her that it did not matter, as it was not her talking. Though Asami was still uncertain, Korra embraced her and told her to put it all behind them. Asami accepted, and the couple headed to bed, but were interrupted by a knock at the door, Suyin entering. Asami asked about the plan to save Mako, Bolin, and Wu, but Suyin told them that Kuvira had escaped.

When Asami, Korra and Suyin walked outside the estate, the nonbender raised that Kuvira must have just been waiting for the right moment to escape. Korra disagreed, telling Asami that it was thanks to Kuvira she was free, having warned her about Guan's brainwashing in Gaoling and volunteering to be tested on, much to Asami's surprise. Suyin asked Korra if she had any idea where Kuvira may be heading, and she speculated that she was returning to Gaoling.

Asami flew to Gaoling on Juicy alongside Korra, Suyin, Toph and Opal. Opal brought Juicy to land at the reeducation camp after Suyin spotted Kuvira, and Asami confronted Dr. Sheng while she was escaping her tent. Asami swiftly stunned Sheng with her electric glove, proclaiming that the attack was justice for Sheng zapping her brain. At the battle's end, Kuvira managed to force Guan to surrender, and the entire army stood down.

Asami happily looked on as Korra successfully managed to reverse Mako, Bolin and Wu's brainwashing. Asami later gathered outside Gaoling City Hall when Wu gave his speech proclaiming that the Earth Empire would need more time to move to democracy, with each state setting its own timetable according to its citizens' wishes.

After Team Avatar returned to Republic City, Asami attended the rest of Kuvira's trial, and saw her take responsibility for her actions by pleading guilty. As White Lotus sentries escorted Kuvira out, Asami told her that it would take her a very long time to forgive her for taking her father's life, but she was glad Kuvira was on her side, to which she agreed.[43]

Personality

Asami is a sweet and caring young woman, yet she is also independent and capable of fending for herself in tough situations. Even though she is quite used to luxury due to her wealthy background, she does not think of herself as "daddy's little girl", despite what some may think,[1] and maintains a humble and modest demeanor, using her wealth and abilities to help others. Asami has also developed a tough side and is unafraid to stand up for what she believes in.

Asami's high morality and judgment prevented her from developing any prejudice against benders in general, despite the murder of her mother at the hands of a bender. She was able to choose the moral high ground above the only family ties she still had left, her father, showcasing her strong character.[8]

Asami's strong character is showcased best in the face of hardships and, although hurt and offended, Asami showed no spite toward Korra, even when she was trying to steal her boyfriend. Her caring nature was still prevalent, even after her break up with Mako, as she wished him well before he embarked on a dangerous mission.[13] Despite this, she felt resentment toward her father, burdened by his betrayal, the consequences of which carried through on a personal and business level. In contrast to her usual caring and sympathetic nature, she could muster no sympathy or forgiveness toward her father for years, desiring to hurt him as much as he had hurt her. However, after receiving a heartfelt apology and noticing how much he was suffering from his own guilt, she was willing to at least try to give him another chance.[33]

Abilities

Combat skills

Asami is highly proficient in hand-to-hand combat. From a young age, her father enrolled her in the best self-defense classes there were, so she would be able to protect herself. Her prowess was great enough to easily disarm the Equalists' Lieutenant and knock him out with his own weapon,[1] and she was similarly able to evade attacks from five chi blockers before using an electrified glove to stun them.[12] Asami has also proven herself to be nimble; she was able to jump over a speeding motorcycle while kicking the rider off, still managing to land gracefully,[19] and also dodged an earthbending attack by a Red Lotus sentry before stunning him in one fluid motion.[28]

Other skills

Asami is an expert driver, having learned through testing her father's Satomobiles, and is fully capable of rivaling Equalist motorcyclists. She can also drive motorboats and sand-sailers, skillfully being able to escape and divert enemies during speed chases.[25][44] Having assisted her father in operating their company, Asami is capable of controlling any other vehicle engineered by Future Industries, such as mopeds, forklifts, and mecha tanks, which she noted were operated similarly. As such, she has developed an keen eye on technology workmanship, being able to discern high-quality products from subpar ones, as evidenced when she criticized Cabbage Corp's airships for utilizing lighter materials.[19]

Asami is a practical thinker and a capable engineer, able to repair and construct vehicles with limited resources, such as when she improvised a makeshift sand-sailer using materials from a destroyed airship.[25] She is also a skilled Pai Sho player, proving herself to be a good methodical strategist[24] and can pick locks with her hair pins, able to free Tenzin through this method in the Northern Air Temple.[27] Due to her upbringing and time at Future Industries, Asami is a capable architect, capable of designing large amounts of houses in a short period of time.[10]

Relationships

Relatives

Hiroshi Yasuko Asami

Appearances

Trivia

Preceded by

Hiroshi Sato Chief Executive Officer of Future Industries

170 AG - present Succeeded by

Incumbent