"I would have these dreams, of flying. Sooner or later though, you always have to wake up."
All my life I've heard about Pandora. How it was supposed to save our dying race, and give us a sanctuary from the home that we'd destroyed. A haven for an endangered species, that endangered itself. It was also referred to as the most hostile environment known to man. It only strengthened my impression that we didn't know this environment. We didn't know anything. We called ourselves the superior species but we didn't know how to save ourselves, or have the sense to stop the killing the planet when it got to being in critical condition.
I decided, I needed to see Pandora. Earth had never been my home. I'd always felt out of place, like a bird forced to walk when it was meant to fly. I studied the language ever since I could read. I read all of 's books. I did everything I could to gain acceptance into the Avatar program. It took 28 years, but I made it.
"Gas masks, on!" Eyrina hurriedly obeyed the command of the officer as the massive aircraft prepared to land. The doors opened and she could practically see the air sizzling with unbreathable toxins. They'd finally arrived at Hell's gate. Enormous freighters with wheels bigger than cars rolled by like giant tanks. Soldiers, some on foot, others in huge exoskeletons walked back and forth across the landing area. She hung close to Jake, a former marine in a wheelchair who apparently was going to the same place she was.
"Here kitty kitty!" She looked up as a couple of assholes made cat calls at her. She was sure that with a black belt in krav maga that she could kick both their asses, but she simply turned her head and continued to follow Jake into Hell's gate.
They had to wait through a lecture from a muscle bound colonel that she probably remembered two words of. She didn't care about anything else but the Avatar program. Once they were set free, she and Jake were approached by a tall lanky guy with brown hair a beard combo to match. "Norm right?"
"Yeah," he said shaking her outstretched hand. "Norm Spellman. You must be Eyrina." He looked down at Jake. "And you must be Jake Sully. Wow, you look just like him." He commented, referring to Jake's twin brother who'd been killed prior to being commissioned to come to Pandora. It was how he'd been chosen to come. He'd taken his brother's place.
"Why don't you come look at your avatars." Norm said, leading them into a large white room with 3 tanks that held each of their avatars. Eyrina immediately rushed to hers and smiled. Her avatar was beautiful, or she believed it was. It was tall with the signature blue striped skin of the Na'vi. It jerked in its chamber every so often and flicked its tail repeatedly like a cat.
"They got big." she heard Jake say.
"Yep," said a plump tan guy with bushy black hair. "They fully matured on the way out here. I'm Max." He shook her hand. "If there aren't any problems, you can take them out tomorrow. But first, you have to check in with the HBIC."
"HBIC?" Jake and Norm said in confusion.
"Head bitch in charge." Eyrina smirked and followed Max into the link room. One of them opened and a middle aged redhead sat up with a groan.
"Where's my goddamn cigarette?"
"Grace Augustine is a legend. She literally, I mean literally, wrote the book on Pandoran botany."
"That's because she likes plants better than people. There she is, cinderella back from the ball. Grace, meet Norm Spellman, Jake Sully and Eyrina." Max said.
"Norm." Grace said after taking a long draught of her cigarette that was brought to her by an almost frightened looking intern. They spoke briefly in Na'vi and exchanged pleasantries that Eyrina only half paid attention to. When Grace did turn to her however she made sure to contain herself from leaping around in excitement. "Eyrina. No last name?"
"I thought it best to start over, coming to a new world and all." She answered.
"I've heard excellent things about you. How is your Na'vi?"
"The All mother blesses us both with this meeting. I have studied the language my entire life but there is much to learn and always room for improvement. " She answered in perfect Navi.
"Pretty good. A little formal like Norm but, I'm just glad you know something. You would not believe the incompetent assholes Parker tries to send me." She looked at Jake.
"I'm Jake Sul-"
"Yeah I know who you are and I don't need you. I need your brother, the PHD who trained for 5 years for this mission."
"He's dead. I know its a big inconvenience for everyone." Jake said.
"How much lab training have you had?" Grace asked, crossing her arms.
"I dissected a frog once."
"You see!" Grace snapped at Max. "They're just pissing on us without the courtesy of calling it rain. I'm going to suffrage, this is such bullshit!" The redhead stormed out of the lab, leaving the three recruits with Max who sighed and turned to them. "Be here tomorrow, 0800." He looked at Jake. "Try to use big words."
Eyrina dumped her stuff on her bed and looked around her new room that she would be sharing with Norm and Jake who were currently out doing god knows what. She decided to have a look around her new home, but first, a shower and a change of clothes was needed. Afterwards, she allowed her wet brown hair to air dry as she dressed in cargos and a tank. With a last look in the mirror, she departed and began traversing the multitude of tunnels that made up Hell's Gate. She easily found herself in the dockyard, strolling through the rows of Scorpion gunships.
"You lost?" Eyrina turned at the sound of a female voice. It was a woman in a pilot's uniform. She had long dark hair and golden skin. Her facial features and accent would hit that she was probably Mexican.
"No, just looking."
"You're new aren't you? I'm Trudy Chacon."
"Eyrina."
Trudy gestured to one of the gunships. "You fly?"
"Uh, yeah. I love it. I did a couple of tours in the Air Force. Flew everything under the sun,
except a jet. Always wanted to fly a jet."
"No kidding. Where were your tours?"
"Mostly Afghanistan and Iraq."
Trudy nodded slowly. "Come check this out." Eyrina followed her through the bay,
fighting unsuccessfully to not stare at her ass. They came to a black painted scorpion with the name written on the side. "I fly all the science sorties. This here's my baby. Climb in, tell me what you think."
Eyrina did so and smiled to herself when she settled into the cockpit, remembering all the times she'd done so in her own plane. Trudy climbed in next to her.
"Nice huh?"
"Yeah, brings back a lot of memories." She ran her fingers lightly over the controls.
"Well, I'll tell you what. You're welcome to fly with me anytime." Trudy smiled and turned to scream an incentive at a guy who was removing the covers off her lights.
Eyrina smiled to herself. She would definitely take her up on that offer.