This story centers on if Jake Scully had a sister who got to Pandora first. This is her story during the first one or two years of his flight to Pandora. There are references to Wicca as a lifestyle in that era for the movie's characters. Any errors made in reference to Wicca or Avatar are my own. If they are terrible wrong, let me know and I will be happy to change them.
When people speak in Na'vi their words will be italicized. Regular text indicates human speech.
Jasselle woke in her own body, her own bed. Not surprising, that's how she fell asleep. Her human living quarters were larger than most of the residents at base. She had had the good sense to request a second room to use as an office/storage area. The outer room was crammed with reference disks, image viewers, actual journals and books, and the odd object from some lost earth age that had seemed relevant before leaving Earth. Having degrees in Anthropology (the study of societies) and history got her in the view of various organizations, but that in combination with a solid record in survival skills (thanks to the marine in the family) secured her pass to Pandora a strange, tropical planet that was a six year journey from Earth.
Jasselle's internal clock told her that it was not quite dawn yet. She got up and performed her morning exercises. The repetition gave her extra thinking time, she remembered sending a message back home to her younger brothers and mother. She sometimes wished one of them were there to watch her back, but she couldn't quite figure out why she might need someone to do so. She mentally shrugged at least Tom was going to be coming; she could hope that Jake could find a way to come as well. When the morning routine was complete, she picked up a different reference disk than yesterdays and left her quarters. She slipped through the mess hall greeting some of the soldiers as she ate and read. From there she went straight to the Avatar link room. Only Samuel, a tech she had taking to calling SG, for Super Geek (he seemed that smart), was there. All the pods were silent.
"Morning," SG said pleased he had finally beaten her there.
"Good morning, may I?" she said pointing to a pod.
He nodded and helped her get ready while stating, "You should get clearance today."
"I certainly hope so," she answered. It was a week since she had begun linking with her avatar and more than a month after she had arrived, but she had contracted sleeping sickness from the space flight making her motor skills in the avatar poor among other symptoms. As a result, she had been confined to the base till she fully recovered, not that she hadn't made good use of her time. It had given her a chance to review the work of the other scientists and oversee the construction of a small dwelling that she hoped was similar to the Na'vi in enough ways to be looked well upon by the natives. She laid back in the pod and said, "Thank you." Before SG shut it. SG smiled. In the soft green light of the pod's interior Jasselle shut her eyes and reached.
She breathed in the fresh air filled with native pollen before opening her eyes. She lifted a pair of long blue arms and smiled. She cautiously tested her basic motor skills. Everything seemed in order. She rose and carefully donned what appeared to be jewelry that was actually well disguised devices for communication and cameras.
"Jasselle, do you read me?" SG said over the ear clasp.
Jasselle touched the com-link at her throat, "Loud and clear. How does it look?" she asked meaning the read out of her brain.
"Everything's nice and bright, all functions are at healthy levels."
"Good, then it's time to confirm it," she said picking up a large duffel bag.
"What do you mean?" he asked suspecting trouble.
Jasselle smiled, "Watch the monitors." She pulled aside the 'tent' curtain and peered through the security grate. The yard was clear in the pre-dawn light, but something was watching from the forest beyond the wall. She unlatched the gate and closed it behind her. From the duffel bag she pulled a human long sword that seemed more like a long dagger in her avatar's hands and a steel rod the length of a long sword for her avatar's size. Strapping them to her body she performed the same exercises she had done earlier though slower. Upon completion she drew the rod and practiced sword dancing she had learned from a group of very traditional Asian warriors.
The dawn rose and she could feel its warmth and more eyes upon her. She moved at half speed to make sure all the movements were precise. She spun through the last few figures and slid the rod into its makeshift sheath. She determined that she was breathing harder than her human body would after a similar work out. She opened her eyes as she heard someone clapping. Grace, the head of the Avatar Project stood outside the sleeping structure Jasselle thought of as a cabin-like cage. "Well, it appears you have finally recovered," she said approaching. Other avatars were waking and the young natives that were students began to step out of the jungle. Most of them were staring at Jasselle.
Jasselle sighed going to a fruit-bearing plant she liked. "There's still a ways to go," she said in the native language. The young students had been told she was ill and had kept their distance, which made her job, learning about them from them, almost impossible. It didn't help that when her avatar was formed somehow her rare eye color, deep indigo, had beaten the standard yellow, marking her as different beyond the other avatars. She carefully selected a fruit and took a healthy bite.
Grace nodded at her words and was secretly relieved by the students' new interest in the young anthropologist. Jasselle continued to eat and speak with Grace about little things testing her handle on the native language. Once she was certain the students would hear her she asked, "Grace, do you suppose anyone among their clan might be willing to teach me?"
Grace was quiet a moment before answering, "Just what would you like to learn?"
Jasselle shrugged, "The bow for starters. I haven't been outside yet to even begin to understand what I could or should learn here."
Two weeks later
As the aircraft landed, Jasselle jumped off adjusting the rifle now strapped to her weapon's harness. It was an added weight she hadn't planned on, but the security chief insisted. The pilot, Missy, leaned toward the glass and called over the com-link and engines, "You sure about this?"
Jasselle grinned, "No, but let's do it anyway." Missy and the soldiers grinned while Grace looked worried. "I have studied the land, terrain, wildlife, and plant life from all the available information. The only way I would be safer is with some local guidance." She held up a hand as Grace started to say something, "We're not going to get it by waiting for them. They seem to be waiting for one of us to try." Jasselle turned and shifted her grip on the quarterstaff, "see you at the rendezvous." Jasselle slipped into the jungle and heard the aircraft takeoff. 'Finally' she thought taking a deep breath carefully identifying smells. She stood very still listening as the jungle settled back into its rhythm. When she felt ready and felt eyes on her, she began to lope along. It strange to her how much more in tune she felt with this planet, no matter which body her mind was in. She could swear at times that there were lights at the edges of her vision. Birds called, wind blew, and someone followed her. She slowed down several times to take a closer look at things she found. She used sub-vocals to speak to the others at base so the watcher wouldn't realize she had eyes and ears elsewhere. At times she collected a leaf or rock for the scientists.
Close to the rendezvous she stopped at the sound of a bird that had been flying about her for a while. She looked around carefully and saw no danger just a large black bird with blue wingtips sitting on a branch. She watched it and asked, "What is that bird? And does anyone know what it wants?" The bird stared back and cawed.
It was the zoologist who answered, "Its name translates to curse leader by the natives as it…" the bird took off and flew to a branch off her path, "…leads people to danger." The bird looked back at her, obviously waiting.
Jasselle thought a moment and began to follow stating without moving her mouth, "Let's pretend I don't know that."
Over the com-link she heard: "You crazy," "Be careful," & "Grace will have your tail."
Jasselle ignored them as she was more concerned of the promised danger. The bird flitted along checking on Jasselle ever few branches and chirping. Her watcher remained hidden and wasn't following so closely it seemed. Eventually, Jasselle began to hear buzzing and something about the situation seemed familiar. As she rounded a tree trunk, she saw the source of the buzzing. Coming in and out of a rock formation were strange insects. Some were attacking the bird. It dawned on her what this seemed like, and she wished it was. She quickly looked around for what she needed. Soon she had jury-rigged a bee smoker. She ignored the continued buzzing over the com-link and minded the insects that did have stingers. Slowly but apparently it calmed or at least blinded them. She looked closer at the formation and was relieved the opening was bigger than her hand. She smoked it some more before reaching in and touching something soft and sticky. What she pulled out was a large mass that might be honeycomb if honeycomb was green and shaped in grid-like squares. She stared at it bewildered and the scientists had no clue. At another chirp Jasselle looked at the bird, and then her staff remembering the rest of the story from Earth.
Aloud she whispered, "Well, there's no harm in seeing if you eat it." She secured her staff to the ground and stuck a wad of the stuff on top. As she stepped away the bird flew, perched on the stuff and pecked at it. "Guess that answers my question," she whispered trying a small bite. It was like honey in texture but with a fruitier taste. Jasselle gathered a couple large leaves and wrapped the green honey well. She saved one last piece, waiting for the bird to finish. It hung on the side of the staff watching that piece. Jasselle draped it on the back of her hand, before carefully offering the bird her arm. She knew perfectly well that she was pushing her luck, but this was a 'what if' that would nag her. The bird flew at her and nipped the piece leaving behind a shallow scratch. She shrugged, cleaned up the area, and gathered her staff heading back to the rendezvous. The scientists buzzed again in her ear. Even with success and their congrats, Jasselle reminded herself to stay alert.
She was late to exit the jungle for the riverbed, but the sight of the aircraft was a welcome one even Grace looked pleased. Jasselle handed Grace the green honey before boarding. As the craft took off, she scanned the jungle looking for the one who watched her. She thought she saw something blue but with the engines blowing the branches she couldn't be sure. She figured she would ask the students in the morning.
A week later
Jasselle sighed as she exited the jungle near a lake. She safely completed another track through and still no sign of the natives who watched her. She wasn't sure what else she should do to get them to at least talk to her. She stepped into ankle-deep water as she walked toward the craft. Some of the heads were giving her grief about the lack of progress. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed a ripple in the water heading toward her, but the research stated no dangerous marine life had been found in the area. She rubbed her forehead and thought about tomorrow's meeting.
"Get away from the water!" screamed a woman.
Jasselle didn't think, her body turned and lunged away from the water toward the tree line. Something wrapped her leg and she felt something pierced the skin. She dropped her staff and shielded her head as she hit the ground. She looked as a red tentacle pulled her into the water. Jasselle took a deep breath, drew the long sword, and thought, "Now, someone talked to me."
Missy, Grace and the soldiers heard the shout and saw what happened, but couldn't believe it. Now a Na'vi woman stood at the tree line staring out where Jasselle had vanished. Grace rushed toward her as a male joined the woman. Missy ordered the soldiers to watch both the water and jungle. It was only seconds but then the water erupted with failing tentacles. It wasn't as close to shore, but it gave the impression the creature was quite large. Something flew toward shore and tumbled in the shallows. Everyone was stunned to see it was Jasselle.
She stumbled to shore; her face pale and frozen in shock, and more fell down than sat down with the sword still gripped in her hand. Grace went to her. "Grace," Jasselle said softly, "I believe that is a dangerous creature."
"I agree. Are you hurt?" she asked noticing the scraps and bruises over Jasselle's avatar. The natives joined them.
Jasselle noticed some of the tentacle still clinging to her leg, "I want the name of the baka that said there wasn't."
"Of course, are you hurt?" Grace repeated.
Jasselle looked at her leg and began pulling the tentacle away, "Not the worst I've been except for this burning numbness in my leg." As she pulled the tip off she found a few sucker like heads with a snake-like fangs in the center of each. "Oh Gaya," Jasselle whispered looking at the purple wounds that spread like webs under her skin.
"What is that?" Grace asked.
"My best guess, venom a neural toxic from how it's burning… I need a healer. Fast!" Jasselle said trying to stay calm.
Grace started yelling over her com-link. The male shouted to the female to get someone. She ran into the jungle. One of the soldiers rushed over with a med kit. The Na'vi male grabbed Jasselle and helped her get further away from the water. Grace grabbed the kit and picked up the tentacle, "We need to analyze this. We don't know if the anti-venom will work."
As the male sat her down Jasselle said, "You don't know if you can treat basic wounds for the avatars." She said to the male, "Thank you, though I am now left wondering how I'm going to survive this…" She hissed as the burn worked up her leg.
"You must stay calm," he said, "and still."
"Trying," she said attempting to focus on breathing instead of the burning now in her thigh.
"Lay back they're sending a healer team," Grace said.
As Jasselle leaned back she asked the male, "Who did you send for?"
"Our clan's healer," he said examining her leg, "How did you escape?"
"Grace, we're listening to their healer," she said before answering in spite of the increasing pain, "It had a beak that opened about three feet."
After a pause Grace asked, "Why's that important?"
"The rifle, I…" Jasselle suddenly hissed, gritting her teeth as she curled up on her side. She began shaking hard.
"What's happening?" Grace demanded grabbing her, "Jasselle!"
Missy called over her com-link, "Hurry up. She's shaking."
From the com-link they heard, "Sounds like neural toxic. She could have a seizure, pin her!"
"Pin her?" Grace repeated as Missy pulled at Jasselle's weapon's harness.
The male heard and push Jasselle onto her back even as he heard the sound of hooves. A strangled breath was the only warning as Jasselle's body suddenly thrashed: her back arched, legs kicked, and hands reached out for the closest object – one being the male's wrist. He shouted surprised by the vice like grip, "Let go!" He yanked but Jasselle held on. Her face was twisted in pain, silent screaming and eyes wide but unseeing.
The clan's healer dropped beside her injured leg as Missy attempted CPR and failed. She shouted at the male, "she can't breath." She pointed to Jasselle's chest and pounded her own. "Hit her!"
He understood and slammed his fist down on her. Jasselle exhaled and her muscles stopped contracting long enough to get his arm free. The healer applied a green gel to the wounds. Grace watched feeling helpless as they finally heard the med unit craft. The communicator at Jasselle's waist went off and Grace answered on speaker.
Sam spoke rather panicked, "Grace what should we do? Jasselle's stats are going crazy. They're telling me to cut the link."
"God no don't. That would kill both bodies," Grace shouted. The healer moved to Jasselle's head and Grace stopped her from pouring something into her mouth, "What are you doing?"
"Saving her," the healer said with disdain, "unless her death is what you wish." Grace backed off wordlessly. Jasselle was still fighting the seizure and silently screaming. They watched as a liquid was poured. They waited as the healer chanted and the med team landed. Jasselle's muscles began to ease and her breathing though rough steadied.
The med team surrounded her pushing the others aside, but the healer would not budge as she stroked Jasselle's face in a pattern. The humans tried to ignore her as they unlatched the weapons harness, set their monitoring equipment on her, or examine her leg. "Leave it," the healer said as a doctor started to scrap away the gel on the wound. He didn't understand and ignored her.
Grace tapped the doctor's shoulder before the male could stop him, "She told you to leave it." The doctor stared at her and then glanced at the healer. "She knows more about this than we do. Sam, what do her readings show now?"
"Still up and down but slower, they could be trying to level out," he answered.
"Her heart's getting a workout," another doctor said. "Lung function's at 55% and kidneys are barely 50. We need to get her back to base."
Grace spoke to the healer about leaving; the healer shook her head and placed a hand over Jasselle's heart. "She asks us to wait. Jasselle's not safe yet."
"Which is why we need to get her to the proper facilities. She could have another seizure."
"What…" asked a voice so soft and rough, they could barely tell it was Jasselle's, "What stopped…?" The healer smiled and stroked her cheek. "You?" she whispered too foggy to remember the Na'vi word.
Grace answered, "Yes, she stopped the attack." The healer nodded giving Jasselle's glassy eyes a measuring look. "We're listening to her, Jasselle. Just like you asked."
The doctor with the monitoring equipment bristled, "We are prepared to provide any care to humans."
"Avatar…" Jasselle whispered fighting to stay awake.
The healer touched her forehead and said, "You need to rest this body dream walker, talk in the small one. For I too wish to know how you escaped."
Jasselle blinked and thought that was a really great idea. She closed her avatar's eyes and opened her human ones. Her head was pounding as she pushed up the pod's lid. She winced at the lights and stumbled out. "Oh, what a day."
The lab personnel surrounded her and plagued her with questions. "Chair," she demanded. As she sat she held out her hand to SG, "The com, please." When she had it she hit the speaker. "So am I still alive over there?" she asked resting her head on the nearest solid surface.
"Yes, but you shouldn't have left so suddenly," Grace replied.
"The healer told me that I could, I trusted her. And I am very grateful to the Na'vi who choose to help me… I still want the name of the baka who stated there were no dangerous water creatures in this area." She could hear the Na'vi laugh. Jasselle muttered, "I'm sure its funny it didn't happen to you." The personnel laughed in response and SG padded her shoulder.
"As you noticed they were wrong," said the healer. "Now, how did you escape?"
"You mentioned its beak and your rifle," Grace prompted.
Jasselle nodded and said in a voice full of mischief, "I wonder where it is now." One of the scientists started laughing. "You figured it out."
He nodded, "How did you think to do that?"
"I'm not really sure, it kind of just popped in my head. You see I just wasn't ready to quit and say all right you win eat me. I was hacking away at that tentacle, scared yet calm to the point I think I was more anger at myself than it. I saw the beak through the forest of tentacles, just as I stop hacking and started feeling around my harness for something, anything to save myself with. Then I land my hand on the rifle and the image was there."
"What, you're annoying me with the build up," Grace demanded.
"To jam its beak," Jasselle explained, "I shoved the rifle in and when it couldn't close its mouth it threw a tantrum, I mean really threw." A couple people chuckled at the thought. "What really surprised me is that I ended up back on the same shore, much less any shore at all." There were nods around and laughter on both sides of the com-link.
"You are very fortunate. This body may be taken home now," the healer said.
"Thank you," said Jasselle quickly, "would I be permitted to speak with you or any other of your clan at another time?" Jasselle waited listening to the silence.
"Hm, perhaps," the healer said, "I will speak to the clan. It would help if you could show you understand connections."
"Connections? What kind of connections? That could be in relation to anything," Jasselle asked.
"Jasselle, they're leaving," Grace said.
Mary, the zoologist, said, "That was cyptic."
Jasselle fought the need to swear. "Thanks Grace, I'll see you when I see you." Jasselle closed the com-link and handed it back to SG muttering, "Connections?"
"What do you think she meant?" he asked.
"Not sure. The marine baka will have to wait. I've got a lot of research to do," she said standing immediately feeling dizzy. "But first I'm getting some aspirin."