Yes, the sequel to Just a Copy is here! :D I hope you enjoy it.

I'm surprised I got to this so fast. My wonderful teachers decided to cram me down with a lot of homework. My English teacher was all like: "You're gunna do an essay and you are gunna like it!" And I was all: "But I don't wanna! :O"

Yeah, but I finished it rather quick-like and yeah.

BTW, happy birthday SGTCJC, you're a year closer to death. ;9 And this is coming from the girl that doesn't celebrate her own birthday. Have a good birthday.

And if ya'll are new readers, read Just a Copy first, otherwise this will make no sense.


Rain, rain, go away

1

Jake groaned, feeling rain patter on his skin. Mud covered his body, and his limbs ached. He sat up, craddling his head, groaning deeply, his brain throbbing. He glanced up at the towering mountain before him; the top could not be seen, it was covered by mist and plant life. There was no way a person could survive a fall like that. But given all the plants that were there, it was not rocket science to figure out that the plants saved them, along with Eywa. It was too steep to climb; those who have had fallen to their deaths. Jake stood up, his body yelling in pain. He snorted, turning around to see Quaritch slung over a rock. Quaritch was so still in the watery mud, he almost looked dead. Jake's heart skipped a beat. The once-Marine shuffled over to the clone, looking at him; there was shallow breathing. Jake scooped up the clone, and glanced around. He had to find a cave. The Na'vi stood up, and rushed off. The rain pattered on them—cold and hard. Just like little rocks on his skin. Fan Lizards hid in the trees, and the glowing plants covered the earth. Jake looked at the clone, who was laying still in his arms.

"Stay with me, Quaritch," he breathed, jumping over a rock.

Jake nearly lost his balance, but caught himself. He scaled carefully down the wet, slippery rocks. Just then he found a cave. He smiled to himself as he approached it. The once-Marine sighed, placing the colonel carefully on the ground of the dry cave floor. Jake checked the pulse of the clone. The pulse was very faint.

"Stay with me, Quaritch," Jake begged. "Stay with us—come through for Tu'sky." He chuckled. "Yeah, I know you like her."

Jake looked outside. The rain poured down hard, and the pattering sounds of the water beat against the rocks and dirt. The Na'vi male turned back to the clone, noticing that his war paint was smearing. "Quaritch?" he called. "I'm going to find food and sticks for a fire."

The clone breathed gently, but he was still out. Jake reached across, noticing that his arms and torso were bleeding and bruised. Jake patted the shoulder of the clone, and went back outside. He braved the cold weather, and had to find food and sticks for their survival. After a while, he found nothing. He growled, looking to the sky.

"Eywa, please, I need your guidance, my people need you," he breathed.

Just then there was a strong gust of cold wing. Jake shuttered, and looked around. The rain fell slowly down, and the plants around him glowed. There was shuffling of leaves, and Jake turned around. He saw a Viperwolf standing before him. It was a full-grown adult, and it just looked at him. It did not move, it did not attack—it just looked at him. The Na'vi blinked, just looking at the creature. The creature jumped down from its rock, and trotted off. It turned to Jake. It was like he wanted Jake to follow him. It was a sign. Jake followed the creature, and they arrived to an empty space under the canopy. There were several uneaten Utu mauti fruit, or Banana Fruit. That was good. In Na'vi culture, finding an uneaten Utu mauti fruit was a sign of good luck. The fruit was small, and in the shape of a banana. He took the ones he could find, and glanced up at the Viperwolf. It sat there, looking at him, panting. Jake smiled.

"Thank you," he said.

The creature let out a yelp, and scurried off. Jake gripped the fruit, and looked out. His village was far off. It would take days to return to the village. He sighed, looking for some sticky leafs. He grabbed them, and picked up some wet twigs. When he returned to the cave, and placed the items down on the cave floor. Jake looked up at the clone. Quaritch was still. The once-human checked his pulse again. He was very much alive, but clinging to a thin, thin thread. Jake took some stones, and began to strike them together. Sparks flew, and they sprayed on the twigs. A small fire was created, and Jake fed the fire with twigs. Jake took one of the Banana Fruit, and began to peal it to its soft insides. Then there was a groan. The Na'vi turned, looking to Quaritch. He was twitching, growling. Jake placed the fruit on the cave floor, and moved over to the human.

"Quaritch?" he asked.

The clone's eyes fluttered, and he looked at the Na'vi. He growled, shifting slightly. "Sully?" he grumbled.

"Don't move, you're hurt."

"So are you," he remarked, looking at Jake's deep purple bruises.

"I'm Na'vi—I heal better than humans," Jake said, reaching for a sticky leaf. He pushed the jacket off the clone's upper torso. "Let me see those wounds."

Quaritch stripped himself of the jacket, and Jake tended to the wounds. The clone let out a yelp of pain when his wound stung. "That hurt, Sully!" he snapped.

"Quit your bitching," Jake muttered, pressing another leaf to another wound.

The clone hissed, pressing himself to the cave wall. As Jake tended to the bleeding wounds, Quaritch began to think of Tu'sky. He yanked his head forward. "Tu'sky, Ma'ki," he breathed. He looked to Jake. "Are they okay?"

Jake looked at his comrade. "I don't know," he whispered, pressing the leaf to another wound.

A pause.

"Why did you leave your AMP?" Jake asked.

"The hell? I don't know," Quaritch snapped, looking at his bruised arm. "Something told me that I didn't need it anymore. Stupid-ass voice! I did need it!"

"Maybe it was Eywa."

"Eywa?"

"The Mother has a plan for all Her children," Jake said, tending to another wound. His own wounds were bleeding. "Maybe she has a plan for us. Maybe we're supposed to fall down this mountain. Maybe something's gunna happen."

Quaritch grunted. "Can't we climb?" he then asked.

"No. It is dangerous. It's amazing that we survived the fall. We'll have to go around the mountain."

Quaritch growled, and then hissed as his stinging wound. The clone looked at his bleeding wounds, which were now crusting over with dried blood. Jake smiled at the clone, and then grabbed a fruit, starting to peal it. He took a piece of the purple insides, and offered it to the clone. The colonel took in a breath, and removed his mask, taking the piece. He ate the offered bit, the juices rolled down his throat. It was sweet. Jake stood up.

"I'm going to get some more firewood, okay?" the Na'vi announced.

Quaritch placed his mask back on, and nodded. He watched as Jake left until he vanished into the mist from the rain. The clone ate the rest of the fruit, and sighed, placing his mask back on after he finished. He just listened to the sound of the rain, and his mind wondered. He thought of Tu'sky, Ma'ki, and all of those back in the village. He prayed that they were still alive. Quaritch looked to the clouded sky.

"Hey, uh, Eywa, right? That's what they call you?"

No answer.

Quaritch sighed. "Um, listen, I'm willing to give up my damn life to protect Tu'sky and Ma'ki, and all those in the village," he said to the unseen goddess. "Please, I know I am not the real Miles Quaritch, but I still feel like I did it. I . . . I mean—I want to protect your people. I am sorry about what the other Quaritch did. Please, help me. Give me a sign."

Quaritch rubbed at his bruises, and sighed. Long moments had passed; about five minutes, and there was then the patter of paws hitting wet rock. The clone glanced up, looking outside. A figure came into view. A Thanator. It growled, looking at him. The clone moved away slowly, never tearing his eyes away from the creature. The alien creature stepped forward, walking into the cave, looking down at him. It did nothing. It looked directly at him. The Thanator was so calm, like pond water after a storm. Quaritch looked at the creature; the six-legged horror. He took in a sharp breath, gripping his aching leg. But something told him to remain calm, and he gingerly reach out for the snout of the beast, and they touched. It then jumped up, and calmly walked away. Quaritch looked at the leaving creature.

Was that the sign?

The Thanator was renowned for their bravery and feared for their strength. A killer; a brave, stronger killer. Quaritch watched as the beast that struck fear even into the bravest of hearts vanish in the rain and mist. He let out a pained groan.

What was Eywa telling him?