Ch 21 escape
At morning, we were herded into the earth kingdom zeppelin taking us to Ba Sing Se. Korra frantically talked to the captain.
"You have to let me out! The earth queen is in danger from a group of terrorists calling themselves the red lotus! I talked to one of them in the spirit world yesterday. He's insane!" Korra said.
"Talking about terrorists in the spirit world. You're the one who sounds insane." The captain said.
I agreed with him.
In the zeppelin, we were chained into a cell and left alone.
"I hope Mako and Bolin are okay." Korra said.
"Best case scenario. Captured by the red lotus. Worst case, they're dead." I bluntly said.
"Thanks for the support." Korra replied.
"You're most welcome." I answered.
Hours passed before Korra talked to Asami.
"We have to get out before we meet the queen." Korra said.
"Don't worry. I have a plan. These airships the Cabbage Corp sold to the earth kingdom are way cheaper than the ones future industries built." Asami said.
Asami broke the railing off the wall, showing how poorly built the zeppelin was.
"Now that's just shoddy workmanship." Asami said, examining the railing. "There's no way I can get these locks off. I need the keys." She said.
Asami looked at the floor and pryed a panel open.
"Give me five minutes, then start yelling for help." She said.
"Asami, how many people does this air ship hold?" I asked.
"On average, 4-7." She said, then crawling down the pane.
"Why'd you ask that?" Korra asked.
"We have the numbers to take them out." I said.
Five minutes passed and Korra called for help. The guard came and was promptly knocked out by Asami. She walked in the cell, spinning the keys around her finger. She unlocked the cuffs from me and gave me my PKP machine gun. She then freed Korra from her holding cell.
"Thanks. Now lets take control of this airship." Korra said.
We break into the cockpit and Korra knocks out both crewmembers with her airbending, but also destroyed the steering mechanism and the radio.
"Not my fault this thing is a hunk of junk." Korra defended.
"Hold on." Asami says, as the zeppelin crashes into a sand dune.
Breaking out of the zeppelin from the top roof, we surveyed the damage.
"We're in deep shit." I replied, looking at the vast desert with my scope. Getting out would be impossible.
"Is everyone alright?" Korra asked, as the crewmembers joined us.
"Like you care." Arik said.
"What happened?" Kong asked.
"She said her friend needed help, and then I was knocked out." Arik said.
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't let you take me to the earth queen as a captive. There are dangerous force at work that you don't know about." Korra reasoned.
Both parties continued to argue, but came to an agreement when we saw a dune start moving. And it was no mirage. Me and Korra used our airbending to clear the sand from the zeppelin, while Asami and the crewmembers fixed damage parts.
Everything was going just fine, but a sand shark broke thru and ate most of the zeppelin, barely missing the pilot.
"We'll, I'm walking out of here." I said, slinging my machine gun and was about to start walking when Asami spoke.
"We can still get out of here. We might have enough material to construct a makeshift sand-sailor. Like the sandbenders use to get around. All we need is a sled." Asami said, examining the wreckage.
"It's worth a try." Korra said.
"Gather every piece of metal you can find. We'll give that sandy beast a run for his money." The captain said.
In an hour, we got a sand-sailor working. Getting on, we were off and heading out of the desert. It was going good, until the sand shark attacked. First try, it missed.
The second try scared the shit out of us. We were close to being eaten alive by the monster, but Korra saved us by firebending in the monster's mouth.
"How long until we hit the Oasis?" I asked.
"Should be smooth sailing." Korra said.
And it was smooth sailing. We arrived at the Oasis in one piece. I got off the sailor and headed inside, machine gun at the ready. The last time I was here, which was hours ago, we were attacked by the red lotus. What a night.
"Ezra, you look like hammered shit." Lin said, a greeting between the two of us.
"Hell of a night." I lightly chuckled.
"Did you find Mako and Bolin?" Asami asked Lin.
"Some people at the inn saw them captured by Zaheer's crew. We don't know where they are." Lin said.
"Did you hear about the Earth Queen?" Tonraq asked.
"What about her?" Korra asked.
"Once again, the Earth Queen's reign has come to an abrupt and violent end. Ba Sing Se has descended into chaos. Rioters and looters have overrun the palace." Was heard from the radio.
Just like I imagined. When an oppressive regime falls, the people go crazy and get their revenge.
"The Red Lotus." Korra said.
"What's that?" Tonraq asked.
"The name of the group that's been trying to capture me and just took out the Earth Queen. I'm afraid this is only the beginning, Dad." Korra said.