DISCLAIMER: Transformers is owned by Hasbro and Legend of Korra is owned by Nickelodeon.
New Iacon Chronicles: Wrath of The Fallen
Chapter 11: Long Live the Queen
Night fell upon the camp where the Earth Kingdom had Korra, Rodimus, Asami and Dinobot had been held and they were being forced into an Airship, Korra still on the mechanical dolly, Rodimus and Dinobot in stasis cuffs and Asami in chains.
"You have to let me out!" Korra shouted. "The Earth Queen is in danger from a group of terrorists calling themselves the Red Lotus!" No one would listen however as the captain of the airship walked inside and had the hatch closed while Strika had sent a transmission back to Shockwave.
"Strika to Shockwave, the Avatar and some of her collegues are on their way to Ba Sing Se," she reported. "Obsidian and I will arrive soon." With that, she shut off her comlink while the airship began taking off.
*QUE TRANSFORMERS: ARMADA THEME*
Inside the airship, an airman was chaining Korra to the wall while the other three could only watch. Then the airman grabbed Asami's chains and tied her to a bar on the floor.
"Do I have to be chained to the floor the whole way?" she asked as she kneeled to the ground. "It's going to be so uncomfortable."
"Sorry ma'am," the airman responded as he looped the chain around the bar. "I'm under orders."
"Can't you just chain me to that railing?" Asami asked as she motioned to a railing on the wall behind her. "I mean, where am I gonna go? Please?"
"Well, as long as you're chained up, I guess it doesn't make a difference," the airman replied as he chained Asami to the railing.
"Thank you sir," Asami responded.
"Can I have some water?" Korra asked.
"No water," the airman answered. "No water. We're also not gonna bring you any rocks or fire, so don't ask. I guess there's air, but there's nothing we can do about that. We're not opening your compartment until we reach Ba Sing Se." With that, he turned to leave the room.
"I hoped Mako and Bolin would have shown up with Wheeljack and Knock Out to save us by now," Rodimus stated.
"I wonder if they're okay," Korra added.
"Doubtful," Dinobot growled, earning him a glare from the others.
While that was going on, a semi truck was driving through the desert road with Sideways in his motorcycle mode driving beside it and P'li driving on him and Thrust flying above them using his cloaking field. Inside the semi truck, Zaheer was driving and The Fallen was in the trailer while Mako and Bolin were tied together on the floor in the trailer, Wheeljack and Knock Out were in stasis cuffs and Ming-Hua and Ghazan were seated on a bench in front of Mako and Bolin.
"If you even think for a nano second that holding us hostage will give you some leverage to use against the Avatar, guess again," Wheeljack stated with venom in his voice.
"Can't we just enjoy our time together in SILENCE?" Ming-Hua acidly asked.
"And why did you need Korra alive back in Zaofu?" Mako asked. "You had her paralyzed, why didn't you just take her out when you had the chance?"
"All you need to know is that the world is about to change, for the better," Ghazan answered.
"So you guys were, like, locked up for fifteen years, huh?" Bolin asked. "That must have been, like, crazy boring."
"Actually, it was only thirteen years, but it felt like thirty," Ghazan corrected.
"I mean, what did you do with all that time?" Bolin asked as Knock Out groaned dejectedly. "Did you sing songs, work on crafts?"
"Not a lot of craft supplies in a volcanic prison cell," Ming-Hua icily answered.
"And I must have renamed the constellations about a thousand times," Ghazan added. "When it rained, that was a big event."
"Oh, I would've killed for some rain," Ming-Hua replied. "Mostly I just made up stories about the guards. Who was having trouble with his girlfriend? Which one secretly wished he'd become a pastry chef?"
"Ooh, okay, that sounds like fun. Let me try that on you guys," Bolin suggested, prompting Knock Out to start bashing his head against the wall while Bolin glanced at Ghazan. "You were raised by an older sister, your mustache grew in when you were ten, and I'm sensing-just sensing-an unspoken attraction between you two." Hearing the last one caused Ghazan and Ming-Hua to look at each other awkwardly before the waterbender gave the lavabender a sulking look and turned away, surprising Ghazan.
"Two out of three," Ghazan said as he gave Bolin a smug smile. "Not bad."
"Bolin, will you stop making FRIENDS with the bad guys?" Mako asked in an annoyed manner.
"Sorry," Bolin responded.
"Ghazan, gag those four," Zaheer ordered as the truck, Sideways and Thrust began to approach the Outer Wall of Ba Sing Se. "We're almost there."
Meanwhile, the Earth Kingdom airship continued to fly over the Si Wong Desert as Korra struggled against her confinement with all of her might, but it was no use.
"Don't bother," Dinobot said. "Those locks are made of cybertronium. Even you can't break a metal that strong."
"I didn't ask for your advice chopper-face," Korra dejectedly responded, much to Dinobot's annoyance.
"How many times do I have to tell you, if I was still with the Predacons, I would have already made my move," Dinobot stated.
"You think I'm gonna believe you after you nearly killed my father?" Korra asked angrily.
"That was in the past," Dinobot argued.
"He's right Korra," Rodimus added. "We can't let a few mistakes cloud our judgement, nor can we keep our minds in the past." Taking Rodimus' words in, Korra simply sighed and looked down.
"Right now we must focus on getting out of this prison," Dinobot stated.
"Don't worry, I have a plan," Asami responded. "These airships that Cabbage Corp sold to the Earth Kingdom are way cheaper than the ones Future Industries built." Putting her plan into motion, Asami planted both feet against the wall and pushed against it. Soon, the bar on the wall broke off and Asami jumped over it so her hands were in front of her.
"Now, that's just shoddy workmanship," she said as she glanced at the railing in her hands before walking up to Korra's dolly. "There's no way I can get these locks off. I need the keys." It was then that she looked down at the floor and noticed something. Using the railing as a lever, Asami forced the tile from the floor, looking down at the pipes and light below.
"Give me five minutes, then start yelling for help," she said to Korra before crawling into the vents under the floor.
Back at Ba Sing Se, the Earth Queen was sitting on her throne as a projection of Shockwave's optic was shown before her.
"When is the Avatar scheduled for delivery?" Hou-Ting asked.
"I have just recieved word from Strika," Shockwave answered. "The airship has left Fort Basco and will arrive in a few hours."
"Excellent," Hou-Ting replied as she laced her fingers together. "Bring her to me as soon as it lands."
"Of course," Shockwave responded. "First however, a group of bounty hunters have arrived claiming to have captured four of the Avatar's accomplices. They wish to present them to you personally."
"You know I don't meet with bounty hunters!" Hou-Ting angrily said.
"It would be logical to do so Hou-Ting," Shockwave stated. "They have information that might interest you about the location of your stolen airbenders."
"Really?" Hou-Ting asked before smiling in amusement. "Fine, send them in." As the projection faded away, the doors opened, revealing Zaheer, The Fallen and the rest of the Red Lotus walking in with Mako and Bolin bound and gagged and Wheeljack and Knock Out in stasis cuffs and wearing a mask that covered their mouths.
"Ah, yes," Hou-Ting said as the four of them were shoved to the ground in front of the throne. "I remember THESE four. We'll find an acceptable home for you in prison with the rest of the dissidents. Now, I'm told you have some information for me. I hope this isn't just some ruse to try to increase your bounty."
"We don't want any bounty Your Majesty," Zaheer responded. "You can consider these two a thank you gift for simply taking the time to talk to us."
"How very manganimous," Hou-Ting replied, a little suspicious. "So, where are my airbenders?"
"You'll know, in due time," The Fallen answered. "Once you hand over the Avatar, you may have your airbenders."
"Who told you that we have the Avatar!?" Hou-Ting asked.
"That is not important," Thrust answered. "What is important is that if we found out, others will. Now that would put you in quite a difficult position, wouldn't it?"
"Is that so?" Hou-Ting asked, patronizing them.
"Your Majesty, imprisoning the Avatar will cause the other nations to turn against you and demand her freedom," Zaheer answered. "Before long, you'll be in the midst of a sticky international incident. But if you let us take her today, no one need ever know she was here, and you can get your airbenders back without interference. We both win."
"And what do you plan to do with the Avatar should I see fit to grant your request?" Hou-Ting asked.
"All you need to know is that she won't be a bother to you again," Sideways answered, to which Mako and Bolin looked at each other worriedly. "We can assure you of that." Thinking this over, the queen tapped her long finger nails on the arm of her throne before sitting up straight with a smile.
"I find these terms agreeable," she said. "Gun, escort them to the antechamber until the Avatar's arrival." Hearing this, Gun immediately escorted the Red Lotus out of the throne room.
"Send these four to the dungeon," Hou-Ting added before two Dai Li agents stepped forth and bended the floor under Mako, Bolin, Wheeljack and Knock Out, opening a trap door and causing them to fall through.
As the Red Lotus walked out of the throne room, P'li couldn't help but notice an Eradicon walking down one of the hallways. Shocked and curious, she planned out a way to follow one without Gun or the Earth Queen on her back.
Back above the Si Wong Desert, the airman stood guard outside Korra's cell, when suddenly she began shouting.
"Guard!" she yelled, alarming the airman as he opened the viewing slot into the cell. "Get in here! Something happened to my friend! She needs help!"
"Where is she?" the airman asked, when suddenly, from behind him, Asami shoved him roughly against the door, knocking him out before she grabbed his keys. After freeing herself, she opened the door and twirled the keys around in her finger before approaching Korra and freeing her from her bonds. Once she was free, Korra changed into her techno-organic form and used her sword to slice the stasis cuffs off of Rodimus and Dinobot.
"Nice work," she said to Asami. "Now let's take control of this ship." The four of them then ran out of the cell, only to find two Eradicons at the end of the hall. One of them shouted something in Cybertronian before they transformed their arms into cannons. Without Rodimus' crossbow or Asami's armor, Korra resorted in throwing her sword at one of them, causing it to step in the way of the other's line of fire as it fired its cannon at its fellow Eradicon. Korra then got out a massive shield and ran to them with the others close behind. Korra deflected the laser blasts before bashing the other Eradicon and slicing it in half with her fire sword. Dinobot then lead the charge and transformed into his raptor mode before ramming the door to the cockpit down. The co-pilot rushed to him, only for Dinobot to kick him to the steering wheel, inadvertedly damaging it and causing the airship to loose control.
"Mayday, mayday!" the captain shouted into the radio. "The Avatar has escaped! We're going down in Quadrant Four of the Si Wong Desert!" The co-pilot then made another dash towards the group, only for Dinobot to bash him with his tail and send him flying into the captain, which then damaged the radio.
"I think you might have been a little overaggressive," Asami said as she walked to the steering wheel. "The controls are busted. Also, you broke the radio."
"Nice going lizard breath," Korra dejectedly said.
"It isn't my fault this airship is a flying scrap heep!" Dinobot argued.
"Can we argue about this after we brace for impact!?" Rodimus shouted before the airship crashed into a sand dune, emitting a large dust cloud. Once the cloud disappeared, the hatch opened up before Korra, Asami, Rodimus and Dinobot emerged from it, Korra out of her techno-organic mode. The four of them looked out into the desert to try and find out where they were.
"Well, they say any landing you can walk away from is a good landing," Asami stated.
"Given our location, I would not say any landing," Dinobot responded.
"Well Asami, you're the engineer, what do you think?" Rodimus asked. "Think she can fly again?"
"It doesn't look good," Asami answered as she analyzed the ship's busted propellers and while the airman, the co-pilot and another man climbed out of the hatch. "I mean even if Korra metalbended the propellers back into shape, we'd have to dig this whole thing out of the sand."
"And we can't just drive out of here," Rodimus added, getting the elephant out of the room while Korra noticed the crew emerging from the hatch. "My tires aren't built for the sand and the heat could fry mine and Dinobot's circuits."
"We'll figure something out," Korra reassured before she turned to the crew. "Is everyone alright?"
"Like you care," the airman, who had a hand on his head, answered.
"What the hell happened?" the third man asked.
"She said her friend needed help, then they knocked me out!" the airman, pointing his finger accusingly at Korra, answered.
"We couldn't let you take us to the Earth Queen as captives," Rodimus argued. "There are dangerous forces at the work that you don't know anything about."
"More dangerous than being stranded in the desert?" the third man worriedly asked.
"MUCH more," Rodimus answered as the captain climbed out of the hatch.
"Don't worry, Kong," he said to the third man as he walked to his crew. "I radioed Ba Sing Se before we went down. We just need to sit tight. Someone will be here soon to rescue us."
"We're not waiting around for that," Korra responded. "We need to get out of here now."
"If we all work together, we might be able to get the ship up and running," Asami suggested.
"Not likely," Kong replied. "I just tunneled out of the engine room, it's like a sandbox in there."
"This ship isn't going anywhere, and neither are you," the captain said. "You're our prisoners, and it's our duty to transport you to the Earth Queen." Suddenly, Dinobot advanced towards the captain, growling.
"If you wish to stay here and roast in the heat, then fine," he snarled. "But we are leaving, and you are not going to stop us. You are welcome to try though, if you have a death wish."
"Wait, did something metal just come out of the sand?" Asami suddenly asked, her hand on her forehead to shield out the Sun's rays as a large, metal worm like object moved in the sand.
"It's probably just a mirage," the captain answered. "The desert will play tricks on you." That was debunked however when a mechanical roar was heard in the direction the object was.
"That's not a mirage," Rodimus stated.
"I heard that since all the spirits came back, this desert has been haunted by them," Kong said.
"Do you want to help us get this ship up and running, or do you wanna wait around and meet that thing?" Korra asked.
"We wanna fix the ship," Kong answered. "Right Cap?"
"Hm, let's get to work," the captain answered.
"Everybody, stand back!" Korra ordered the airmen stood behind Korra and she bended a strong gust of air at the sand.
Meanwhile, back at Ba Sing Se, an Earth Kingdom guard in a corridor of a prison cell had his baton outstretched, letting it roll across each cell and smacking against Bolin's head as he leaned against the bars in his and his brother's cell.
"We have to find a way out of here before Zaheer and The Fallen get their hands on Korra," Mako said when a mirror from the next door cell came out, showing a man with white hair.
"Take me with you," the prisoner pleeded. "I haven't seen my wife and five kids in four years."
"Four years?" Bolin asked.
"The first few months were great," the prisoner answered. "I could finally get some sleep. But now I really miss them."
"Listen, Bolin, this is up to you," Mako said to his brother. "I know you can metalbend."
"You can metalbend?" the prisoner asked as he popped out his mirror to their cell again.
"No," Bolin answered.
"Yes, you can," Wheeljack said from the cell across from the brothers, which Knock Out was in as well. "I believe in you."
"I believe in you too Bolin!" the prisoner said.
"I appreciate that, Wheeljack and fellow...prisoner man, but I've been trying and trying and trying, and I've never been able to do it!" Bolin responded. "Not even a little."
"You've always had the ability deep down," Mako reassured. "You just haven't had the right motivation. But this is your time. Get us out of here to save Korra. You can do it!"
"Bolin! Bolin!" Wheeljack started chanting, causing the other prisoners (except Knock Out, despite Wheeljack knocking him upside the head to have him do so) to follow suite. "Bolin! Bolin! Bolin! Bolin!"
"You're right," Bolin said, touched. "Okay. Here I go. Metalbending!" He then shoved both hands forward, making a strained battle cry, but nothing happened, despite his attempts.
"I can't metalbend," he somberly said, causing the prisoners to groan in dispair.
"That went about as well as I thought it would," Knock Out remarked, earning him a slap upside his head by Wheeljack.
While that was going on, Lin was driving through the dirt road on Prowl's motorcycle mode when something in the sky caught her eye. A red flare shooting upwards. This caused her to stop and for Prowl to transform.
"That's an Autobot emergancy flare," Lin said with concern.
"Then let's move," Prowl responded before transforming. Lin then got back on before driving towards the flare's origins and seeing Arcee atop a cliff waving her hands to them so they could see her along with Blaster, Rattrap, Cheetor and Naga. But what caught Lin's eyes was who WASN'T there.
"Where are the others?" she asked herself before activating a comlink. "Primal, you read me?"
"Yes, we copy," Optimus Primal answered on the other side.
"Meet me at the Misty Palms Oasis," Lin responded.
Back at the airship, the repairs were going quite good as the ship was out of the sand and looking worth of flying once more. Korra, who had finished airbending the sand out of the engine room, was walking down a hallway when she heard something.
"Destiny has one great test in store for us all," Dinobot's voice said. Curious, Korra walked towards where the voice was coming from to see Dinobot standing in one of the hallways, staring at his reflection on the wall.
"Has mine already come?" he continued. "And have I failed it? Perhaps a deed once done truely cannot be undone."
"But perhaps it can be mitigated," Korra finished, gaining Dinobot's attention.
"What are you doing here?" Dinobot asked.
"I was on my way to tell Asami that the engine room's clean when I heard you," Korra answered. "Look, I'm sorry I made so much tension between us. I just couldn't let go what happened back at the South Pole, but you and Rodimus were right. That's all in the past now."
"No, you were right to be angry at me, and to distrust me," Dinobot responded. "If it makes you feel any better, your father is a masterful warrior, and I was honored to battle alongside him against the Northern Water Tribe." Hearing that, Korra smiled slightly at what he said.
"Let's just try and start things over," Korra suggested.
"Very well," Dinobot responded before he and Korra walked towards the back of the ship.
Meanwhile, Asami was busy welding at the back of the airship before the door leading to the ship opened and Dinobot and Korra walked out.
"How's it looking in there?" Asami asked as she pulled up her welder's mask.
"I just airbent all the sand out of the engine room," Korra answered. "I think it's clean. How's it going out here?"
"Well, she's still pretty banged up, but I think she might be able to limp out of the desert," Asami answered. "Go and tell Kong to see if he can get the engine started."
Once everyone was outside except Kong, they watched as the engine started and the propellers began to rotate and everyone watched with glee.
"Alright!" the airman said as he raised both arms up, only for the ground to suddenly rumble and shake. Then, a massive, mechanical worm with a circular mouth that had rotating teeth and five smaller but still huge tentacles on its body, bursted out of the sand and tore through the airship, breaking it in two, while the others were on the ground, terrified, specifically Rodimus. They quickly began running away from the metal beast before the worm dug back underground, creating a crater as the remains of the ship went down with it.
"That's not a spirit, that's a Dweller!" Rodimus stated as the dust settled, revealing Kong on the driver's seat, petrified.
"What is a Dweller doing on this planet!?" Dinobot asked.
"What are we gonna do?" the airman asked, panicking. "All of our supplies were on the ship. We've got no food, no water."
"Easy Arik," the captain responded. "Another ship is on the way. We just need to hold our position for a few hours."
"We might not have a few hours," Asami stated.
"She's right, if that Dweller doesn't kill us then the heat will," Rodimus added.
"How far are we from the edge of the desert?" Korra asked.
"Too far to walk if that's what you're thinking," the captain answered.
"We can't just wait around for that thing to pick us off one by one!" Arik argued.
"You'll do as you're told, airman," the captain retaliated. "Now get a hold of yourself!"
"Maybe we can still build something to get us all out of here," Asami suggested as she looked at the scattered debris.
"You wanna make some wings out of scrap metal and flap real hard?" the captain dryly remarked.
"No, but we might have enough material to construct a makeshift sand-sailer," Asami answered. "Like the sandbenders use to get around. All we need is a sail and some kind of sled to attach it to."
"It's worth a try," Korra said.
"Gather every piece of metal you can find," the captain ordered his crew. "We'll give that oversized junk pile a run for his money yet."
While that was going on, P'li quietly left the antechamber and waited for an Eradicon to pass by. Once she saw one, she quietly followed from behind before the doors in front of it opened and it walked inside. P'li quickly dashed through the door before it closed and quickly hid. Once she got a good look, she saw multiple Eradicons being produced on a factory line by familiar looking robot arms, and the looks of the Eradicons looked similar to blueprints she saw long ago from...
"Shockwave," she silently said before suddenly, six Eradicons formed around her, guns pointed at her. She then inhaled, ready to blast them, when...
"Don't shoot her," an all too familiar voice said from the large supercomputer in the middle of the room. "Not yet." P'li then looked at it as Shockwave's glowing optic displayed from the monitor.
"P'li," Shockwave said. "I must admit, I was not expecting you to be here in the Earth Kingdom, nor your new band of rogues."
"I could say the same for you cyclops," P'li responded, a hint of venom in her voice. "Now what? You're going to try to kill me with these new toys you made? You're finally going to get your revenge on me?"
"Quite the opposite actually," Shockwave answered, causing P'li's eyes to widen slightly in surprise.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Red Lotus was waiting in the antechamber when Zaheer noticed a Dai Li agent scurrying past the doorway, gaining his attention.
"Looks like he's in a hurry," Zaheer said. "Wait here." He then exited the antechamber and quietly ran in the direction the agent was walking as he opened the doors to the throne room. Using his airbending, Zaheer jumped on the walls to go through the door right before it closed, landing on the rafters of the throne room as the agent bowed before the queen.
"Your Majesty, we recieved a distress signal from the airship carrying the prisoners," the agent said to a displeased Hou-Ting while Zaheer listened from above. "We believe the ship crashed in the Si Wong Desert and the Avatar may have escaped."
"This is outrageous!" Hou-Ting shouted. "Send another airship to retrieve the Avatar immediately."
"It's already on its way Your Majesty," the agent responded.
"If you think I'm going down that path again Shockwave, guess again," P'li sneered.
"I know that you would never become my assassin again, but that is not what I want," Shockwave stated. "I noticed that you have allied yourself with Megatronus Prime himself. A legend amongst the Decepticons. The one that inspired Megatron to-"
"Get to the point," P'li interrupted.
"I have no intentions on serving the Earth Queen," Shockwave continued. "I merely needed a place to cary out my experiments safely. Now, the most logical choice is to ally with what you call 'The Red Lotus,' and grant you my Eradicon army." P'li then looked to the side, thinking this over, when a voice interrupted her train of thought.
"Plotting against Her Majesty is high treason," a Dai Li agent said as P'li turned to see five agents standing in front of the doorway. "Punishable by death." The leader then shot a rock glove her way, only for P'li to send a blast that blew it to bits and another one that the leader foolishly tried to block, only to get blown to pieces. Suddenly, the door behind them shut and Eradicons formed behind the four remaining agents, grabbing them as the supercomputer's monitor shut off and one of five similar looking bodies that resembled Shockwave turned on, this body being one with trapezoid horns and a yellow optic, walked towards them, causing them to cower in fear.
"What are we going to do now!?" Ming-Hua whispered fiercely to Zhaeer.
"Thrust, can you track her down?" Ghazan suggested.
"There's no way I can make it to her before the Queen does," Thrust answered.
"You really thing they'll be lucky to capture her twice?" Sideways asked. "She'll be long gone before they arrive."
"It doesn't matter anymore," The Fallen responded. "We're through chasing her. It is now time for her to come to us. It is time for the world to know who we truly are. No more disguises. No more hiding in the shadows. No more mercy."
The throne room doors were then suddenly opened by a kick from The Fallen as he and Zaheer entered the room.
"What is this riffraff doing in my throne room unannounced?" Hou-Ting asked as she stood from her throne.
"Apologies Your Majesty," The Fallen responded as he bowed apologetically. "But I couldn't help overhearing that the Avatar won't be joining us today."
"The Avatar is still in my custody," Hou-Ting replied. lying of course. "However, eavesdropping on royal conversations will land you in a cell right next to those boys you brought it. Now, if you value your freedom, you'll tell me where the airbenders are right now!"
"You are in no position to make empty threats," The Fallen responded.
"I will not bear any words with bounty hunters!" Hou-Ting shouted as six Dai Li agents surrounded both Zaheer and The Fallen. "Seize these hoodlums and throw them in prison until they decide to show proper respect for the crown!" However, The Fallen then raised his arms upward slowly, causing the pillars around them to crack and for the Dai Li agents to levitate upward, much to their shock. Then The Fallen began to float upwards, glaring down at Hou-Ting before bringing his fingers in one hand together, causing a pillar to break off and crush one of the agents to death. Two of the agents then tried launching their chains at him, only for him to turn his head to them and redirect the chains through their foreheads, killing them. He then pulled another towards him and stabbing him with his staff before sending the last two to the ground head first, breaking their necks. As he lowered back to the ground, Gun made a frightened squeal and ran off while the queen was hiding behind her throne.
"Gun! Get back here and lay down your life for your Queen you coward!" she ordered, only to see The Fallen and Zaheer advancing to her. She then walked out of the protection of her throne to confront the two of them.
"You wouldn't dare attack a queen!" she furiously shouted, only for Zaheer to airbend himself to the top of the throne.
"Maybe I forgot to mention something to you," Zaheer responded as he got in a bending stance. "I don't believe in queens." He then moved his arms around, causing the air to leave Hou-Ting's lungs, much to her shock as she clutched her chest, trying to breath only for Zaheer to airbend a vortex around her head to prevent her from breathing, causing her to fall to her knees.
"You think freedom is something that you can give or take on a whim," Zaheer said as the queen's bloodshot eyes trembled. "But to your people, freedom is just as essential as...air. And without it, there is no life. There is only...darkness." With that, he airbended the sphere out of the queen's head as she desperately tried to breath, only for her to collapse on the ground, dead.
While that was going on, P'li observed the bodies of the four Dai Li agents before looking up to Shockwave in his new body.
"Have you considered my offer?" Shockwave asked. P'li then looked down in thought before she closed her eyes, not looking back up to the Decepticon scientist.
"Alright, I'll talk with the others," she said. "But only because of the advantages we'd gain with the Eradicons. And let me warn you Shockwave, if you so much as look at Zaheer the wrong way, I will track you down, I will find you, and I'll make sure to make you suffer before I kill you. Do I make myself clear?"
"As the humans would say, crystal," Shockwave answered, unintimidated.
Elsewhere, at Ba Sing Se's communications tower, an engineer manned a desk in the control room, when Zaheer, P'li, Ming-Hua and Ghazan stepped inside, gaining the engineer's attention.
"Hey, you can't be in here!" he said.
"No need for alarm," Zaheer calmly responded as he stepped forward. "I just need to make an announcement to the entire city. How do I do that?"
"Who do you think you are?" the engineer asked, only for Ming-Hua to rush forward and hold the man up by his collar with her water arm.
"He's the man who just took down the Earth Queen," she answered. "You wanna be next!?"
"Ming-Hua, please," Zaheer said as he rested a hand on her shoulder. "We're here to help citizens like him, not hurt them. Now, can you help me?" The engineer nodded out of fear before Ming-Hua tossed him into the chair at the control desk. He then turned the dial on the machine in front of him and ducked under the microphone, allowing Zaheer to sit down.
"Attention citizens of Ba Sing Se," Zaheer said, his voice being heard throughout the entire city. "I have an important announcement to make. Moments ago, the Earth Queen was brought down at the hands of revolutionaries, including myself. I'm not going to tell you my name, because my identity's not important. I'm not here to take over the Earth Kingdom. I think you've had enough of leaders telling you what to do. It's time for you to find your own path. No longer will you be oppressed by tyrants. From now on, you are free! I deliver Ba Sing Se back into the hands of the people!"
While Zaheer's speech was being heard, The Fallen stood in front of the wall separating the Upper Ring from the Middle Ring, and slowly raised his hands upward, causing cracks to form. Soon, a section of the wall broke off and floated upward, allowing the cheering citizens to run through. While this was going on, The Fallen was unaware that Sixshot was standing atop a building, watching him.
Back at the prison, the prisoners were busy celebrating and cheering while Mako tried to firebend the bars in his cell with two fingers.
"We have to get out of here guys," Wheeljack said. "Zaheer came here to take out the Earth Queen and now Korra is next!"
"You know that guy?" the prisoner in the cell Mako and Bolin's were beside. "He's my hero!"
"Shut up!" Mako responded in a frustrated manner before turning back to Bolin. "You have to metalbend us out of here. Come on, I know you can do it! This is your time!"
"You said before was my time," Bolin responded.
"Come on Bolin, we can't just sit on our bumpers and let those maniacs get to Korra!" Knock Out suddenly said, shocking Wheeljack, Mako and especially Bolin. "For once, I believe in you!" Taking Knock Out's words, Bolin then stood up and closed his eyes, waving his arms around and thrusting them at the bars. Suddenly, all the doors opened. That is except for the theirs' and the Autobots'.
"Did you see that!?" Bolin asked as the prisoners cheered and ran out of their cells. "I did it! I mean, not for us, but I metalbent all the other cells open!"
"I don't think that was you," Mako responded in an annoyed manner, his hand on his face. Then, Zaheer and two Eradicons came up to their cells. Mako tried to send a stream of fire at Zaheer, only for him to avoid it and airbend Mako onto the bed while the Eradicons sent two stun blasts to Wheeljack and Knock Out that knocked them out.
"Listen to me," Zaheer said to the brothers. "I'm going to set you free, but I want to talk to you first. I have a message that I need you to take to Korra." All of a sudden, an explosion was heard and everyone turned to see Sixshot, the Combaticons and Astrotrain approaching them.
"I believe we can be of some use for that," Sixshot said.
Back at the desert, everyone was putting the finishing touches on their sand sailer as Arik was welding the runners with a blow torch.
"She ain't pretty, but I think she'll do the job," Asami said, only for Korra to notice that the Dweller was advancing to them.
"No time for a test drive," she said. "Let's move!" Everyone then quickly boarded the sailer before Korra airbended at the sails while Asami held onto the steering paddle as they were propelled forward. It was able to said fast, but the Dweller was still close behind as it emerged from the sand and tried to devour them, but it missed. It then sent one of its tentacles towards them, but Korra quickly turned into her techno-organic mode and sliced it off with her sword. The beast howled in pain as it dug back under ground.
"I think he's gone," Arik said. "We did it!" Unfortunately that was not the case, as the Dweller lept at the sailer, causing it to fly into its cavity. However, Korra firebended at the creature's throat, causing the sailer to rush out of the mouth and causing the Dweller to fall into the sand, the tsunami of sand propelling them to the Misty Palms Oasis. The sailer then stopped in front of a group of sandbenders before the mast broke, causing it and the sail to fall.
"You wanna buy a slightly used sand sailer?" Asami asked, humoring the sandbenders as everyone disembarked from the vehicle.
"Thanks Asami," the captain said. "You've got a good head on your shoulders."
"I'm sorry for getting us stranded out there," Korra said. "I didn't mean for that to happen."
"You know, whatever the conflict between you and the Queen is, I'm sure it's above my pay grade," the captain responded as he extended one of his hands, which turned out to be a hook, to Korra, which she shook. "You got a tough job. Good luck Avatar." He then gave a salute and turned to his crew.
"Captain, have we been in the desert too long or is that really a dragon over there?" Arik asked, causing everyone to turn to see Zuko's dragon eyeing a pair of camels tied to a tree.
"Ugh, let's go get a drink," the captain responded before he and his crew walked off. Suddenly, the sound of a dog grunting could be heard and Naga suddenly came in and tackled Korra.
"Ah! Easy girl," Korra said as Naga licked her face, to which Korra laughed at. "Did you think I wasn't coming back for you?" Afterward, Korra, Rodimus, Dinobot and Asami all entered a tavern, which revealed Tonroq, Optimus Primal, Zuko, Drift, Lin and Prowl seated on a table in the back.
"What are you all doing here?" Korra asked.
"Korra, you're safe," Tonraq responded as he stood up to give her daughter a hug.
"Yeah, we made it out of the desert, thanks to Asami," Korra replied before walking to Zuko, who stood up to greet her.
"Do you remember Lord Zuko?" Tonraq asked.
"I met you when you were a very young girl," Zuko said to Korra. "It's good to see you again, Avatar Korra."
"It's good to see you Lord Zuko," Korra replied.
"Did you find Wheeljack, Mako, Bolin and Knock Out?" Asami asked Lin.
"Some people at the inn saw them get captured by Zaheer and The Fallen's crew," Lin answered. "We don't know where they are."
"Then we have to find them quickly and stop Zaheer and The Fallen," Optimus Primal said.
"They're not the only problem," Rodimus said, gaining everyone's attention.
"What do you mean?" Korra asked.
"Korra, I don't want you to think this is your fault," Rodimus answered, having trouble putting his words together. "When I was in the Spirit World, I found out that Harmonic Conbergence, as well as Korra opening the portals...have awakend Unicron." Hearing that massive bombshell caused everyone except Asami and Korra to gasp out in shock while Korra's eyes suddenly widened, seeing images of the cybernetic planet devouring the planet of the five faced lifeforms.
"He must not win..." a voice in Korra's mind said as she pieced together the puzzle and gasped audibly. Not only was this thing Cybertron's equivalent to Vaatu, not only was he destroying innocent worlds, but all of this she felt was on her hands. As she wondered how this could get worse, ther adio in the tavern suddenly came to life.
"Once again, the Earth Queen's reign has come to an abrupt and violent end," a radio broadcaster said, causing Rodimus' optics to widen. "Ba Sing Se has descended into chaos. Rioters and looters have overrun the palace."
"By Primus...the Red Lotus," Rodimus said.
"What's that?" Tonraq asked.
"The name of the group that tried to kidnap Korra and is now working with The Fallen and Unicron," Rodimus answered. "I fear that all of this is just the beginning."
"Of what?" Drift asked.
"Chaos..." Rodimus answered.
*QUE LEGEND OF KORRA ENDING THEME*