drunkenpandaren (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
drunkenpandaren) wrote2009-08-31 01:18 am
drunkenpandaren) wrote2009-08-31 01:18 am
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Power Rangers A.D.S. - Chapter 14 "The Boiling Rock Part 2"
My fingers feel like they've been worked to the bone O_O
Have fun
The Boiling Rock Part 2
“Aaaah sammich, you are my friend.” Sokka wolfed down the meal as Zuko kept a lookout for any Grinder that would be walking into the kitchen and find a human in grinder clothing.
“Eat faster, I think they’re going to shift-change soon,” hissed Zuko as Sokka raided the fridge again. “What are you doing?”
“Stocking up,” replied Sokka, downing a chicken leg. “You know for a evil research facility full of mad scientists, poor broken spirits of prisoners and possible certain doom? They have some REALLY good chicken.” He smacked his lips. “Tastes like deer.”
Zuko rolled his eyes. Then he hissed, “Helmet on!”
Dropping the food, Sokka shoved the helmet onto his head and had to twist it around to make sure it was on right seconds before Ursa walked in.
She looked at the pair and said, “You two are the human boys right?”
“Yes ma’am,” said Zuko and it took every inch of his being not to give his mom a hug. “We’re here um…”
“Stealing food,” replied Sokka, returning to his chicken-deer leg.
“Oh my. Well, don’t eat too much or there won’t be enough for the prisoners. They want us to work and the only way to do that is to keep our strength up.” Ursa smiled as she picked up an apple and dusted it off. “Now then boys, help me out here prepare the next meal?”
“Mo—er, ma’am, don’t you want to be rescued with the rest of the people?” inquired Zuko. “This is why we’re eating; to get our strength up for the next operation.”
Ursa smiled in the way that made Zuko feel like he was back home in the Fire Nation, but he was crestfallen to hear her next words. “My turn will come. The young have priority over the old.”
Sokka laid a hand on his friends shoulder, shook his head and then turned to Ursa. “Ma’am, we’ll get you out of here as soon as we evacuate the first wave. C’mon Zuko.”
“Have fun blowing things up boys,” called out Ursa as she set to prepare the evening meal for the prisoners.
“… Thanks,” Zuko said finally as they were finally in the clear.
“No prob. If I saw my dad or my mom like that, I would have probably froze up like you too,” admitted Sokka.
“Yeah… uh…” Zuko rubbed his neck. “I um… about your parents…”
Sensing the question, Sokka replied, “My mom’s dead. She died in a raid on the Southern Water Tribe before we moved camp again. Katara and I were barely six when it happened. Katara’s never forgotten, and neither have I.”
“I see. Sorry pal.”
“Yeah. C’mon, lets focus on the positive side: once we start blowing up, we’ve got an entire army of Grinders to blast to high heaven. That’ll make you happy right?”
Zuko chuckled. “Yeah it will.”
The Grinders moved aside as Doctor Toph was pulled bodily into the development hangar. She exluded enough control and helplessness that the machines gave her barely a second glance as the two slightly small Grinders tromped her up the ramp towards the two assault vehicles.
“Okay we’re clear,” said Sokka after a moment. “What now?”
“Zuko, you cover me. I’m going to pretend to do maintanence on the zords via computer. Sokka, make sure as many prisoners as you can manage are moved onto the vehicles themselves.” Replied Doctor Toph.
“What about my mom?”
“I’ve arranged for Lady Ursa to be down here. Hopefully she’ll make it before we’re go for boom time.” Said Doctor Toph. “Get a move on Sokka.”
“Right.”
“And don’t morph unless you really need to.” Added Doctor Toph. “One morph and we’ll bring the whole facility on our heads and alert Azulon to our presence.”
Moving aside, Sokka went down the stairs and stared up at the massive attack vehicles. “Geez, these are big.”
Locating his father, he robot-walked towards him and tapped him on the shoulder. Hakoda looked up from the padd he was “using” and said “Yes?”
Wordlessly Sokka gestured and when he passed by, whispered, “it’s time.” Hakoda nodded and gestured to several other prisoners. “You, you, you, you, you and you. Come with me. We are required to inspect the interior.”
The prisoners nodded and followed Hakoda and Sokka watched them go. Then he turned back to the walkway and flattened himself against it as a pair of familiar boots tromped across the top.
“I don’t see why we need to visit this facility,” said Azula, tossing a lock of her hair behind her head as General Ozai and Zhao followed behind her. “It’s one big research facility.”
“This is more than a research facility Azula 4,” said Ozai. “This is where the Hybrids are born.”
“You mean this is where I was made,” said Azula. She sighed. “If only our lord would just have made me without all of these HUMAN flaws.”
“Perhaps you could pay them another visit, and have them CUT OUT your humanity like they did to us,” snorted Zhao.
“Perhaps, but I kind of like my face. Now lets get a move on; I want to get back to the Fire Capital before dark. Even Hybrids require sleep.”
Sokka exhaled sharply as the trio tromped away. Once they vanished out of sight, Sokka quickly made his way towards Doctor Toph and Zuko who was still “guarding” her. “Doc, big news,” hissed the boy.
“Can’t you see I’m busy?” replied Doctor Toph. “Now what?’
Quickly Toph explained and Zuko paled. “Are you serious?” hissed Zuko. “You mean to tell me THIS is the place where I was…?”
“Yeah, and it looks like your sister underwent the same process. And those two bots that accompanied her. I didn’t get their names but…” Sokka looked up. “This is bad. If they can get more hybrids out, we’d have to be more careful taking in refugees. More infiltrators means less trust in our fellow man.”
“And of course, there’s always the chance they’ll continue these inhumane experiments.” Finished Doctor Toph. She contemplated the situation and then closed her laptop. “Change in plans boys. We’re going to blow this place sky high. BUT to do so, we need to break radio silence.”
“How? We didn’t bring anything that powerful to get to Ba Sing Se,” said Zuko.
Toph smirked. “Who do the hell do you think you’re talking to? I’ll get us through.”
“No attacks for two days,” said Aang as he watched Katara pace, the stone links clinking as she did so. “Do you think…?”
“No, they’re alive,” said Katara. “But when I get my hands on them they’ll WISH they were DEAD!”
Aang winced. Then the doorbell rang and he leaped to his feet. “Maybe that’s them now!”
Bodily dragging the girl over, he opened the door to reveal Bumi standing there, leering in at Aang with his customary lack of personal space. “Aaaaaaang, we need to know where Doctor Toph is.”
Aang, bodily leaned back from Bumi’s actions nearly toppled over as Bumi pulled back. “We haven’t heard from them for two days. What’s up?”
“Two days ago we received an order from Doctor Toph to lower the shield,” said Iroh who was right behind his companion. “they left via Flying Bison.’
Katara shot Aang a look and he held up his hands in protest, chain links ringing. “I didn’t do anything of the sort!”
“A real bison Aang,” said Bumi. “And I SUSPECT it’s Appa. The REAL Appa.”
Aang blinked, jaw hanging. “You mean Appa’s ALIVE?!” he exclaimed, now violating Bumi’s personal space.
“Yep,” chuckle-snorted Bumi. “Now will you get off my chest Aang?” Aang quickly got off Bumi’s chest as he added, “Most of the animals that Doctor Toph uses are from here in Ba Sing Se. When I heard a man named Dock… or was he name Xu… or was it Bushi? I forget! Dock-slash-Xu-slash-Bushi found a real honest to Avatar FLYING BISON, we knew it was just a matter of time before you showed up Aang.”
“That means they need a organic mount to go somewhere that is heavily laced with sensors to detect technological intrusion,” said Katara. “But where?”
“We suspect it is here.” Pulling a map from his jacket, Iroh spread it out on a table and everyone peered around him. Jabbing a finger at an island that was circled near the coast of the Fire Nation, he said, “Here, the Boiling Rock. Coordinates were given from a message we routed to Doctor Toph about two days ago. 24, 42. That brings us to the former Maximum Security Prison of the Fire Nation.” Iroh sighed. “We believe they are there, possibly staging a rescue.”
“Of who?” asked Katara.
“Chief Hakoda.” Said Iroh and it was Katara’s turn for her jaw to drop.
“Hakoda?” echoed Aang.
“My father… he was declared MIA though three years ago.” Said Katara, her expression turned downwards.
“That may be, but obviously the Doctor as well as Zuko and Sokka could not ignore this call for help. However what it may be, they have asked for Radio Silence.” Iroh sighed.
Just then his earpiece chirped and he tabbed it. “I am not in at the moment.”
“General, I know you asked not to be disturbed but there is an incoming transmission from Coordinates 24, 42. It’s on a encrypted frequency. Audio only. Shall I relay it?”
“One moment as I put you on speaker.” Iroh clicked the speaker. “Go ahead.”
Static burst from the radio as a crackly message came through. “This is Doctor Toph. We have infiltrated the Boiling Rock and are risking Radio Silence in order to send this message. We have the Pillar and the Bear. Repeat, we have the Pillar and the Bear. Requesting aid for immediate evac. Coming in hot with stragglers.”
“What does that all mean?” asked Aang, unfamiliar with the terms.
“Pillar and Bear means something, or rather two some ones,” replied Bumi. “Pillar probably means Hakoda since he’s a pillar of strength for his people. Though bear, I haven’t heard that designation before.”
“I think I may,” mused Iroh. “I think we should be ready however for any possibility. Katara, Aang, I would like you to go reinforce your fellow Rangers while we gather two Flights for the mission. It sounds like it will be an EVENTFUL rescue, if you get my meaning.”
“So what’s the plan?” asked Sokka quietly.
“It’s simple,” replied Doctor Toph. “Once we’ve gotten the aid within 10 minutes of arrival, we will begin the breakout. Zuko, I need you to go upstairs, disable the controls of all of the cells. Once we’ve done that, we move them all onto the two death machines they’re having us build, use them to escape with as many prisoners as possible. Any stragglers will be picked up by the reinforcements. When we’re done, we blow this place to kingdom come.”
“Crude yet simple,” mused Sokka.
“What about those who can’t move on their own power?” asked Zuko.
“That’s where I come in,” said Hakoda. “I’ve been talking to those who’ve been wanting to escape for some time now, and I’ve convinced as many people as possible to drag as many as they can with them. It won’t be easy though.”
“And what’ll you do in the meantime?” asked Zuko of Doctor Toph.
“I’m going to hack into the mainframe, and disable all of the Grinders.” Replied the Doctor.
“You can do that?” asked Sokka. “Why didn’t you do it sooner?”
“Because they’ll only be out for 11 minutes before the failsafes kick in remotely. By then I’ll be in full Ranger uniform and kicking ass of any of the attack bots that may or may not activate in response.”
“All right. I’ve set the burst transmission to arrive about now. Knowing your team leader, who is by the way gonna KICK your asses when she gets a hold of you both,” Sokka and Zuko swallowed hard, “she’s mobilized the men by now, and are arriving via Hyper Jump in about fifteen more minutes.”
Digging into her pack, Toph handed Sokka a pile of crude contraptions. “Give this to Mai and Ty Lee. And tell them to Go Nuts.”
“Got it. Let’s get this done.”
Zuko peeked around the corner as he hustled more prisoners onto the transport presumably to fix the insides. “Three… two… one….” He muttered, hoping Doctor Toph was right.
Then, a Grinder deactivated, slumping over. Then another. And another. Like a row of dominos, the Grinders began to depower.
Sokka grinned as the patrols suddenly slumped over. Yanking off his helmet and tossing it to the side, he popped Ty Lee and Mai’s rooms open and shoved a handful of the devices into Ty Lee’s hands. “Go Nuts.”
Ty Lee giggled, tossed one to Mai who then dead-panned. “Whee.” Before she threw the device up at the higher area with astounding accuracy – the device exploding in a hail of explosions.
“IT’S BOOM TIME!” Ty Lee laughed happily. “C’mon Mai, let’s go and make things go exploody!”
Sokka stared at Ty Lee who literally skipped down the hall, sticking bombs to important looking things as the prisoners made their escape, guided by Hakoda. “Is… she… always like this?”
“Nope,” replied Mai. “She’s usually worse. You just gave her explosives.”
“BOOM!” proclaimed Ty Lee, slapping a explosive onto the nearest cache of explosives. “C’mon, lets get a good view when I make this place go pop!”
“Oh boy, just what I wanted to know: Zuko’s best friends are pyromaniacs.”
“I’m more of a stab you maniac but it’s about the same thing,” replied Mai dryly, causing Sokka to hang his head.
Toph surfed easily through the computer system, breaking walls. After shutting down all of the Grinders in the area, she moved onto attack bots which were surprisingly few in count. And then finally, she moved through the files, searching for information.
“There you are precious,” grinned the girl as she stole a few terabytes of data. “This’ll be good to look at back home. Now then… lets see…”
Taking out a modified external, she plugged it into the console before hiding it. Shutting her laptop, she took off her VR goggles and grinned. “Thanks for the assist Azulon.”
Running out into the hall, she scampered down the catwalk towards the two waiting death machines that were rapidly being filled. Running up the walkway to the first one, she had to duck a blast of fire that arced over her head.
At the top, Azula smirked. “Well well, if it isn’t the pint-sized Doctor. What are YOU doing out of the lab?”
“Kicking your butt,” retorted Toph shortly as she bent the earth beneath the facility floor, giant rocks hurling at Azula who dodged. A blast of fire crashed against a shield of stone as Toph wrapped stone around her body to withstand another attack. Bits and pieces hammered at Azula from another angle as she landed.
“You know it’s a shame your little assault on our facility left all of the robots crippled,” sighed Azula theatrically as she exchanged blows with Toph at a range, the earthbender doing the same. “They would have loved fighting you.’
“Well I hate to disappoint, but we’re in a hurry today,” replied Toph, kicking out and sending a massive boulder at Azula who was forced to leap high out of the way from.
Throwing another rock, it slammed against the Hangar Control mechanism, shortcircuiting it. The doors slid open and Toph smirked at Azula who then lunged at the tiny earthbender. Azula was thrown backwards by a pillar of stone and Toph proclaimed. “Booyah.”
Her Rev Morpher chimed and she clicked it. “Yes?”
“Doctor Toph? This is Series Blue. We’re coming in for a hot rescue like you said.”
“Excellent timing as always Series Blue,” replied Toph as she bent the ground around Azula, keeping the hybrid pinned down. Leaping up the ramp and into the machine, she slammed the door button, closing it.
More transports dropped out of the sky and soon, everyone was out of the way. As Toph moved towards the cockpit, Zuko nodded and said, “Everyone’s onboard, but there’s a problem.”
“These hunks of junk won’t start,” said Hakoda, trying everything. “They’re inoperative.”
“I planned for that. Wait for it.”
On cue, the external that Toph had left behind beeped, finally uploading its precious cargo as the two machines started to reshape, coloring themselves with a silver and a gold trim. The machine roared to life and both of them let out a sythesized roar.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” dead-panned Sokka as Hakoda pulled the controls and the giant machines stomped free. One was a Silver Mongoose Dragon and the other a massive gold-colored Komodo Rhino. “Did we just do the equivalent of car-jacking but with giant death machines?”
“Yep,” grinned Hakoda. “Now how do you drive this thing?”
“Move.” Hakoda got out of the chair as Mai plopped into it. She offered a rare smirk and said, “Thanks,” to Doctor Toph before the thrusters fired under it and the machine rose into the air.
“And… it flies. THIS IS SO COOL!”
As the two zords and assembled transports flew away, the facility detonated.
“You three are in a lot of trouble,” stated Katara that evening. Toph was obviously not listening as she worked on the download while Sokka and Zuko wore expressions of “Oh god mom’s chewing us out”. “Does ANYONE listen to the team leader here anymore?” Aang raised his hand and she sighed.
“It was important!” protested Zuko.
“Yeah what he said.” Added Sokka.
“Still the fact is that you guys went there with Doctor T, and we never got told properly. Just a “oh I left for meat” thing.” Katara folded her arms. “And who’re the new people?”
Ty Lee waved after she swallowed a chunk of noodles. “Hi, Ty Lee. Zuko and T’s best friend.”
“Mai,” said the other who was eating more delicately than her friend.
“They were part of the Alphabet Soup children,” said Toph as she worked tirelessly on her computer. “And looks like they were declared missing at age 4 and 5.”
“Yeah. I remember growing up with them, but after a while they just stopped coming,” said Zuko. “Good to have you back you two.”
“Yeah,” nodded Ty Lee. “Now we just need Azula and your mom once she gets out of the hospital your dad and uncle Iroh…”
“Where IS Azula anyhow?” inquired Mai. “Don’t tell me she’s dead.”
“Worse,” replied Zuko. “She’s a hybrid. And I’ve been fighting her for the last three months.”
“Wow, what a mood killer,” said Ty Lee after a moment. “At least she’s maybe kind of happy?”
“Well she was aggressive,” mused Mai.
“In any case, going to the facility was a good plan. And it came up with more important information about Azulon’s plans.” Doctor Toph sighed. “And of course it’s not good news.”
“It’s never good news, it’s always bad news. WHY can’t it be GOOD news?” demanded Sokka.
“Sokka please. What’s the problem Doctor?” inquired Hakoda.
“It looks like that the facility really IS where all of the Hybrids come from, infecting and melting people with the Azulon Virus to bend them to his will, as well as reconstructing their bodies to ensure their loyalty. However it’s not stopping there.” Doctor Toph sighed and she rubbed her sightless eyes.
“Azulon is working on an even more advanced version, based on research. For what I’m not sure, be it an attack bot or something else. But I do know this: he’s working on Generation 5 Hybrid Technology.”
Have fun
The Boiling Rock Part 2
“Aaaah sammich, you are my friend.” Sokka wolfed down the meal as Zuko kept a lookout for any Grinder that would be walking into the kitchen and find a human in grinder clothing.
“Eat faster, I think they’re going to shift-change soon,” hissed Zuko as Sokka raided the fridge again. “What are you doing?”
“Stocking up,” replied Sokka, downing a chicken leg. “You know for a evil research facility full of mad scientists, poor broken spirits of prisoners and possible certain doom? They have some REALLY good chicken.” He smacked his lips. “Tastes like deer.”
Zuko rolled his eyes. Then he hissed, “Helmet on!”
Dropping the food, Sokka shoved the helmet onto his head and had to twist it around to make sure it was on right seconds before Ursa walked in.
She looked at the pair and said, “You two are the human boys right?”
“Yes ma’am,” said Zuko and it took every inch of his being not to give his mom a hug. “We’re here um…”
“Stealing food,” replied Sokka, returning to his chicken-deer leg.
“Oh my. Well, don’t eat too much or there won’t be enough for the prisoners. They want us to work and the only way to do that is to keep our strength up.” Ursa smiled as she picked up an apple and dusted it off. “Now then boys, help me out here prepare the next meal?”
“Mo—er, ma’am, don’t you want to be rescued with the rest of the people?” inquired Zuko. “This is why we’re eating; to get our strength up for the next operation.”
Ursa smiled in the way that made Zuko feel like he was back home in the Fire Nation, but he was crestfallen to hear her next words. “My turn will come. The young have priority over the old.”
Sokka laid a hand on his friends shoulder, shook his head and then turned to Ursa. “Ma’am, we’ll get you out of here as soon as we evacuate the first wave. C’mon Zuko.”
“Have fun blowing things up boys,” called out Ursa as she set to prepare the evening meal for the prisoners.
“… Thanks,” Zuko said finally as they were finally in the clear.
“No prob. If I saw my dad or my mom like that, I would have probably froze up like you too,” admitted Sokka.
“Yeah… uh…” Zuko rubbed his neck. “I um… about your parents…”
Sensing the question, Sokka replied, “My mom’s dead. She died in a raid on the Southern Water Tribe before we moved camp again. Katara and I were barely six when it happened. Katara’s never forgotten, and neither have I.”
“I see. Sorry pal.”
“Yeah. C’mon, lets focus on the positive side: once we start blowing up, we’ve got an entire army of Grinders to blast to high heaven. That’ll make you happy right?”
Zuko chuckled. “Yeah it will.”
The Grinders moved aside as Doctor Toph was pulled bodily into the development hangar. She exluded enough control and helplessness that the machines gave her barely a second glance as the two slightly small Grinders tromped her up the ramp towards the two assault vehicles.
“Okay we’re clear,” said Sokka after a moment. “What now?”
“Zuko, you cover me. I’m going to pretend to do maintanence on the zords via computer. Sokka, make sure as many prisoners as you can manage are moved onto the vehicles themselves.” Replied Doctor Toph.
“What about my mom?”
“I’ve arranged for Lady Ursa to be down here. Hopefully she’ll make it before we’re go for boom time.” Said Doctor Toph. “Get a move on Sokka.”
“Right.”
“And don’t morph unless you really need to.” Added Doctor Toph. “One morph and we’ll bring the whole facility on our heads and alert Azulon to our presence.”
Moving aside, Sokka went down the stairs and stared up at the massive attack vehicles. “Geez, these are big.”
Locating his father, he robot-walked towards him and tapped him on the shoulder. Hakoda looked up from the padd he was “using” and said “Yes?”
Wordlessly Sokka gestured and when he passed by, whispered, “it’s time.” Hakoda nodded and gestured to several other prisoners. “You, you, you, you, you and you. Come with me. We are required to inspect the interior.”
The prisoners nodded and followed Hakoda and Sokka watched them go. Then he turned back to the walkway and flattened himself against it as a pair of familiar boots tromped across the top.
“I don’t see why we need to visit this facility,” said Azula, tossing a lock of her hair behind her head as General Ozai and Zhao followed behind her. “It’s one big research facility.”
“This is more than a research facility Azula 4,” said Ozai. “This is where the Hybrids are born.”
“You mean this is where I was made,” said Azula. She sighed. “If only our lord would just have made me without all of these HUMAN flaws.”
“Perhaps you could pay them another visit, and have them CUT OUT your humanity like they did to us,” snorted Zhao.
“Perhaps, but I kind of like my face. Now lets get a move on; I want to get back to the Fire Capital before dark. Even Hybrids require sleep.”
Sokka exhaled sharply as the trio tromped away. Once they vanished out of sight, Sokka quickly made his way towards Doctor Toph and Zuko who was still “guarding” her. “Doc, big news,” hissed the boy.
“Can’t you see I’m busy?” replied Doctor Toph. “Now what?’
Quickly Toph explained and Zuko paled. “Are you serious?” hissed Zuko. “You mean to tell me THIS is the place where I was…?”
“Yeah, and it looks like your sister underwent the same process. And those two bots that accompanied her. I didn’t get their names but…” Sokka looked up. “This is bad. If they can get more hybrids out, we’d have to be more careful taking in refugees. More infiltrators means less trust in our fellow man.”
“And of course, there’s always the chance they’ll continue these inhumane experiments.” Finished Doctor Toph. She contemplated the situation and then closed her laptop. “Change in plans boys. We’re going to blow this place sky high. BUT to do so, we need to break radio silence.”
“How? We didn’t bring anything that powerful to get to Ba Sing Se,” said Zuko.
Toph smirked. “Who do the hell do you think you’re talking to? I’ll get us through.”
“No attacks for two days,” said Aang as he watched Katara pace, the stone links clinking as she did so. “Do you think…?”
“No, they’re alive,” said Katara. “But when I get my hands on them they’ll WISH they were DEAD!”
Aang winced. Then the doorbell rang and he leaped to his feet. “Maybe that’s them now!”
Bodily dragging the girl over, he opened the door to reveal Bumi standing there, leering in at Aang with his customary lack of personal space. “Aaaaaaang, we need to know where Doctor Toph is.”
Aang, bodily leaned back from Bumi’s actions nearly toppled over as Bumi pulled back. “We haven’t heard from them for two days. What’s up?”
“Two days ago we received an order from Doctor Toph to lower the shield,” said Iroh who was right behind his companion. “they left via Flying Bison.’
Katara shot Aang a look and he held up his hands in protest, chain links ringing. “I didn’t do anything of the sort!”
“A real bison Aang,” said Bumi. “And I SUSPECT it’s Appa. The REAL Appa.”
Aang blinked, jaw hanging. “You mean Appa’s ALIVE?!” he exclaimed, now violating Bumi’s personal space.
“Yep,” chuckle-snorted Bumi. “Now will you get off my chest Aang?” Aang quickly got off Bumi’s chest as he added, “Most of the animals that Doctor Toph uses are from here in Ba Sing Se. When I heard a man named Dock… or was he name Xu… or was it Bushi? I forget! Dock-slash-Xu-slash-Bushi found a real honest to Avatar FLYING BISON, we knew it was just a matter of time before you showed up Aang.”
“That means they need a organic mount to go somewhere that is heavily laced with sensors to detect technological intrusion,” said Katara. “But where?”
“We suspect it is here.” Pulling a map from his jacket, Iroh spread it out on a table and everyone peered around him. Jabbing a finger at an island that was circled near the coast of the Fire Nation, he said, “Here, the Boiling Rock. Coordinates were given from a message we routed to Doctor Toph about two days ago. 24, 42. That brings us to the former Maximum Security Prison of the Fire Nation.” Iroh sighed. “We believe they are there, possibly staging a rescue.”
“Of who?” asked Katara.
“Chief Hakoda.” Said Iroh and it was Katara’s turn for her jaw to drop.
“Hakoda?” echoed Aang.
“My father… he was declared MIA though three years ago.” Said Katara, her expression turned downwards.
“That may be, but obviously the Doctor as well as Zuko and Sokka could not ignore this call for help. However what it may be, they have asked for Radio Silence.” Iroh sighed.
Just then his earpiece chirped and he tabbed it. “I am not in at the moment.”
“General, I know you asked not to be disturbed but there is an incoming transmission from Coordinates 24, 42. It’s on a encrypted frequency. Audio only. Shall I relay it?”
“One moment as I put you on speaker.” Iroh clicked the speaker. “Go ahead.”
Static burst from the radio as a crackly message came through. “This is Doctor Toph. We have infiltrated the Boiling Rock and are risking Radio Silence in order to send this message. We have the Pillar and the Bear. Repeat, we have the Pillar and the Bear. Requesting aid for immediate evac. Coming in hot with stragglers.”
“What does that all mean?” asked Aang, unfamiliar with the terms.
“Pillar and Bear means something, or rather two some ones,” replied Bumi. “Pillar probably means Hakoda since he’s a pillar of strength for his people. Though bear, I haven’t heard that designation before.”
“I think I may,” mused Iroh. “I think we should be ready however for any possibility. Katara, Aang, I would like you to go reinforce your fellow Rangers while we gather two Flights for the mission. It sounds like it will be an EVENTFUL rescue, if you get my meaning.”
“So what’s the plan?” asked Sokka quietly.
“It’s simple,” replied Doctor Toph. “Once we’ve gotten the aid within 10 minutes of arrival, we will begin the breakout. Zuko, I need you to go upstairs, disable the controls of all of the cells. Once we’ve done that, we move them all onto the two death machines they’re having us build, use them to escape with as many prisoners as possible. Any stragglers will be picked up by the reinforcements. When we’re done, we blow this place to kingdom come.”
“Crude yet simple,” mused Sokka.
“What about those who can’t move on their own power?” asked Zuko.
“That’s where I come in,” said Hakoda. “I’ve been talking to those who’ve been wanting to escape for some time now, and I’ve convinced as many people as possible to drag as many as they can with them. It won’t be easy though.”
“And what’ll you do in the meantime?” asked Zuko of Doctor Toph.
“I’m going to hack into the mainframe, and disable all of the Grinders.” Replied the Doctor.
“You can do that?” asked Sokka. “Why didn’t you do it sooner?”
“Because they’ll only be out for 11 minutes before the failsafes kick in remotely. By then I’ll be in full Ranger uniform and kicking ass of any of the attack bots that may or may not activate in response.”
“All right. I’ve set the burst transmission to arrive about now. Knowing your team leader, who is by the way gonna KICK your asses when she gets a hold of you both,” Sokka and Zuko swallowed hard, “she’s mobilized the men by now, and are arriving via Hyper Jump in about fifteen more minutes.”
Digging into her pack, Toph handed Sokka a pile of crude contraptions. “Give this to Mai and Ty Lee. And tell them to Go Nuts.”
“Got it. Let’s get this done.”
Zuko peeked around the corner as he hustled more prisoners onto the transport presumably to fix the insides. “Three… two… one….” He muttered, hoping Doctor Toph was right.
Then, a Grinder deactivated, slumping over. Then another. And another. Like a row of dominos, the Grinders began to depower.
Sokka grinned as the patrols suddenly slumped over. Yanking off his helmet and tossing it to the side, he popped Ty Lee and Mai’s rooms open and shoved a handful of the devices into Ty Lee’s hands. “Go Nuts.”
Ty Lee giggled, tossed one to Mai who then dead-panned. “Whee.” Before she threw the device up at the higher area with astounding accuracy – the device exploding in a hail of explosions.
“IT’S BOOM TIME!” Ty Lee laughed happily. “C’mon Mai, let’s go and make things go exploody!”
Sokka stared at Ty Lee who literally skipped down the hall, sticking bombs to important looking things as the prisoners made their escape, guided by Hakoda. “Is… she… always like this?”
“Nope,” replied Mai. “She’s usually worse. You just gave her explosives.”
“BOOM!” proclaimed Ty Lee, slapping a explosive onto the nearest cache of explosives. “C’mon, lets get a good view when I make this place go pop!”
“Oh boy, just what I wanted to know: Zuko’s best friends are pyromaniacs.”
“I’m more of a stab you maniac but it’s about the same thing,” replied Mai dryly, causing Sokka to hang his head.
Toph surfed easily through the computer system, breaking walls. After shutting down all of the Grinders in the area, she moved onto attack bots which were surprisingly few in count. And then finally, she moved through the files, searching for information.
“There you are precious,” grinned the girl as she stole a few terabytes of data. “This’ll be good to look at back home. Now then… lets see…”
Taking out a modified external, she plugged it into the console before hiding it. Shutting her laptop, she took off her VR goggles and grinned. “Thanks for the assist Azulon.”
Running out into the hall, she scampered down the catwalk towards the two waiting death machines that were rapidly being filled. Running up the walkway to the first one, she had to duck a blast of fire that arced over her head.
At the top, Azula smirked. “Well well, if it isn’t the pint-sized Doctor. What are YOU doing out of the lab?”
“Kicking your butt,” retorted Toph shortly as she bent the earth beneath the facility floor, giant rocks hurling at Azula who dodged. A blast of fire crashed against a shield of stone as Toph wrapped stone around her body to withstand another attack. Bits and pieces hammered at Azula from another angle as she landed.
“You know it’s a shame your little assault on our facility left all of the robots crippled,” sighed Azula theatrically as she exchanged blows with Toph at a range, the earthbender doing the same. “They would have loved fighting you.’
“Well I hate to disappoint, but we’re in a hurry today,” replied Toph, kicking out and sending a massive boulder at Azula who was forced to leap high out of the way from.
Throwing another rock, it slammed against the Hangar Control mechanism, shortcircuiting it. The doors slid open and Toph smirked at Azula who then lunged at the tiny earthbender. Azula was thrown backwards by a pillar of stone and Toph proclaimed. “Booyah.”
Her Rev Morpher chimed and she clicked it. “Yes?”
“Doctor Toph? This is Series Blue. We’re coming in for a hot rescue like you said.”
“Excellent timing as always Series Blue,” replied Toph as she bent the ground around Azula, keeping the hybrid pinned down. Leaping up the ramp and into the machine, she slammed the door button, closing it.
More transports dropped out of the sky and soon, everyone was out of the way. As Toph moved towards the cockpit, Zuko nodded and said, “Everyone’s onboard, but there’s a problem.”
“These hunks of junk won’t start,” said Hakoda, trying everything. “They’re inoperative.”
“I planned for that. Wait for it.”
On cue, the external that Toph had left behind beeped, finally uploading its precious cargo as the two machines started to reshape, coloring themselves with a silver and a gold trim. The machine roared to life and both of them let out a sythesized roar.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” dead-panned Sokka as Hakoda pulled the controls and the giant machines stomped free. One was a Silver Mongoose Dragon and the other a massive gold-colored Komodo Rhino. “Did we just do the equivalent of car-jacking but with giant death machines?”
“Yep,” grinned Hakoda. “Now how do you drive this thing?”
“Move.” Hakoda got out of the chair as Mai plopped into it. She offered a rare smirk and said, “Thanks,” to Doctor Toph before the thrusters fired under it and the machine rose into the air.
“And… it flies. THIS IS SO COOL!”
As the two zords and assembled transports flew away, the facility detonated.
“You three are in a lot of trouble,” stated Katara that evening. Toph was obviously not listening as she worked on the download while Sokka and Zuko wore expressions of “Oh god mom’s chewing us out”. “Does ANYONE listen to the team leader here anymore?” Aang raised his hand and she sighed.
“It was important!” protested Zuko.
“Yeah what he said.” Added Sokka.
“Still the fact is that you guys went there with Doctor T, and we never got told properly. Just a “oh I left for meat” thing.” Katara folded her arms. “And who’re the new people?”
Ty Lee waved after she swallowed a chunk of noodles. “Hi, Ty Lee. Zuko and T’s best friend.”
“Mai,” said the other who was eating more delicately than her friend.
“They were part of the Alphabet Soup children,” said Toph as she worked tirelessly on her computer. “And looks like they were declared missing at age 4 and 5.”
“Yeah. I remember growing up with them, but after a while they just stopped coming,” said Zuko. “Good to have you back you two.”
“Yeah,” nodded Ty Lee. “Now we just need Azula and your mom once she gets out of the hospital your dad and uncle Iroh…”
“Where IS Azula anyhow?” inquired Mai. “Don’t tell me she’s dead.”
“Worse,” replied Zuko. “She’s a hybrid. And I’ve been fighting her for the last three months.”
“Wow, what a mood killer,” said Ty Lee after a moment. “At least she’s maybe kind of happy?”
“Well she was aggressive,” mused Mai.
“In any case, going to the facility was a good plan. And it came up with more important information about Azulon’s plans.” Doctor Toph sighed. “And of course it’s not good news.”
“It’s never good news, it’s always bad news. WHY can’t it be GOOD news?” demanded Sokka.
“Sokka please. What’s the problem Doctor?” inquired Hakoda.
“It looks like that the facility really IS where all of the Hybrids come from, infecting and melting people with the Azulon Virus to bend them to his will, as well as reconstructing their bodies to ensure their loyalty. However it’s not stopping there.” Doctor Toph sighed and she rubbed her sightless eyes.
“Azulon is working on an even more advanced version, based on research. For what I’m not sure, be it an attack bot or something else. But I do know this: he’s working on Generation 5 Hybrid Technology.”