Nuï is saved thanks to Wyatt Whale. However, when Corto finds him lamenting about the other islands' fate and learns there might be a way to save them all, she embarks him, the Tikis, the Pirates and the Bees, on a trip to Tortuga, the biggest Shorescrubber settlement to get help from its powerful ruler, the Rust Queen.

The Tikis need to qualify for the Rotor Punch, a drone racing tournament, to obtain the Aquae crystals needed to power Whale's idea to stop the rising waters. In the race, they meet old acquaintances, some they would have liked to forget

The Tikis have to race against the Blizzard Bosses in Tortuga's frozen area, but Corto and Oro can't stand the cold weather. Manta offers to help Corto as a way to get back at Pavel.

Saddened by an injustice done to him, Oro steals a relic from the Rust Queen's museum. When he and Corto are caught by Ifa before they can deliver it back, they must follow a shorescrubber tradition and win a race to be pardoned.

Corto messed up again and angered the Zaelots with a prank on Ifa. In order to fix her mistake, she and Oro have to brave the powerful maelstrom Nurato to get a new relic for the Zaelots.

For a love-themed race, Corto and Manta are paired and even have to pilot a combined drone together to race against Hannah and Sun, much to Corto's chagrin.

The Rust Queen announces a royal race where all eight teams will participate, but the Tikis do not know the rules and do not get they have to ally themselves with someone if they want to win. When the alliance between Hannah and Manta dominate the race, Corto must find a way to overcome this hurdle.

While punished for a mishap caused by Corto, the Tikis are introduced to an illegal racing track by the Pirates. Corto recognizes someone in the way of piloting the champion, the Aquae Knight, however, her discovery attracts the attention of an old foe, Kass Krane.

The Tikis must race against the Falcons for a race where the skills of the mecanix are the keys to winning. Both teams' mecanixes, Mouse and Lila, end up striking a friendship which displeases Corto and Hannah, who are very competitive with each other.

After a race, the Rust Queen compliments Corto, which pleases the young girl but irritates Ifa. When Corto declares she is going to enter a restricted area to fix a problem for the Zealots, Ifa gets even more riled up. While Corto is eventually reasoned, Ifa decides to tackle the issue himself, even if it means risking his life.