Chapter One

Ash's POV

I finally woke up today, after being dead for almost 6 years. I opened my eyes and found myself held down by Velcro straps, floating in midair in some sort of a chamber where all you could see was a faint blue glow. The moment I woke up, I barely had enough time to look around before the chamber slid open and I remembered I was in the passenger cabin of the Pandora Express, as we Avatar Drivers called it.

A woman in mint green hospital scrubs stared down at me, her blonde hair pulled back in a tight bun. She smiled as I squinted my eyes, trying to get used to the light I hadn't seen in years.

"Welcome back, Ms. Cameron." She said warmly. I then realized she was hovering above me, holding onto the side of the cryo chamber to keep from floating away. Around me, more floating doctors were waking the other passengers.

"Are we there yet?" I moaned, raising my hand to wipe my face as the doctor unstrapped me from the cryo chamber. She nodded.

"We're here sunshine, we're here. Now you might want to get ready and join the other Drivers. We're entering Pandora's atmosphere and you guys need to go down with the shuttle.

I nodded and unstrapped my legs, beginning to float away as she bounced to another chamber, sliding it open and repeating the greeting. Holding on to the hand rails built in to the cabin's walls, I pulled myself to where the Driver's kept their duffle bags in lockers. I racked my brain for a combination for the lock, but after remembering the lockers had touch pads designed to open to our finger prints, I stamped my thumb onto the lock pad and the door flew open. I grabbed my duffle bag as it began its ascent out of the locker and followed the other Driver's as they made their way to the shower houses, hoping they were equipped artificial gravity.

The shuttle ride down to Pandora was torture. I nearly vomited three times from the constant ups and downs and kept my fingers entwined with the rosary beads wrapped around my wrist. The landing was hard; the shuttle skidded to a stop against the runway, making my heart skip a beat. Upon landing we were forced to don oxygen masks, which covered your entire face and held tight due to the air tight seal. Upon the pilot's command, I sprinted out of shuttle with the other Drivers, heading into the RDA base to be briefed about Pandora.

The Drivers, along with several soldiers imported from Earth, met in the dining hall for the lecture, where multiple scientists and military commanders stood before us, reading to begin.

"Welcome to Pandora," said a muscular man in a military uniform. His hair was buzzed down and his rolled up sleeves revealed arms covered in battle scars. "My name is General Cormac Marshall. I am in command of this base, and it is my job to prep you all for what goes on behind the walls of our command station."

Marshall turned and faced the window, his hands folded behind his back. "The creatures of Pandora are, in fact, dangerous. When out in the field, you must be mindful that everything out there is vicious and will do anything for a meal." He turned back to face us. "Drivers, as we speak your Avatars are being unloaded from the shuttle into our facility. Tomorrow after preparation, you will be released into the field. We have separated you all into research teams. Each team has been assigned to an experienced leader who will guide you in our research." Marshall stepped aside to reveal five men, obviously the team leaders. "Team one leader, Dr. Gary Pace; team two leader; Prof. Thomas Moore; team three leader, Marcus James; team four leader, Daniel Caine; and team five leader, Norman Spellman." Marshall announced, gesturing to each scientist as he announced their name. "Groups have been posted in the hallway to the dorms, and you are required to…"

My head abruptly began a fierce pounding; my body obviously rejecting the last of the gases I had inhaled from the cryo chamber, so I rested my head in my arms and before I knew it, I could no longer hear the rest of the briefing and drifted off into a light sleep.

"Hey…?"

I let out a moan of protest as someone shook my shoulder.

"Hey…are you okay? Hello…?"

My eyes opened slowly and I looked up, staring into the face of a tall, lean man with aftershave shadowing his lower jaw. He looked concerned and a little confused.

"Um…" the man gave a warm smirk and scratched the back of his neck. "Are you okay?"

I ran my hand through my long brown hair, trying to wake up. "Uh, yeah, sorry."

"Oh no, no problem. It's just that once everyone left you were passed out on the bench and I thought maybe you…" he drifted off as he stared at me, then glanced down at his clipboard. "I…uh…I'm Norm Spellman. And you are…um…" he scanned his clipboard again. "…Ash Cameron…I think?"

I smiled a little. Norm was clearly uncomfortable. "Yeah, that's me."

He grinned. "Oh; you're on my list for group five. I'm…uh…Norm…I said that already didn't I?"

I nodded, giving a little laugh.

"Oh…um...ok…I…uh…I'm—"

"Norm…" I finished for him with a laugh.

He smiled. "Yeah, I'm Norm, and I'm…also you're leader for group five."

"Oh! Norm Spellman; yeah, nice to meet you." I said standing up and shook his hand. "So, um, where did everyone else go?"

"Back to their dorms; even though most of you have been sleeping for 6 years, you're supposed to get another 10 hours before you get to Drive tomorrow." Norm explained as we walked down the hall together, him leading me toward the women's dorms. We stopped at the door and I leaned against the door. I realized Norm had grabbed my duffel bag for me.

"Thanks," I said taking my bag from him.

"No problem," he choked. "So, Ash, I'll see you tomorrow at the link room?"

"Yeah…Norm? Is it normal to be nervous about linking for the first time?"

"No not at all, you'll be fine. Actually, now that you mention it, I've had people pass out before their first link, they've been so nervous." Norm reassured me.

I smiled, giggling a little. Wow that was girly! "K, well I'll see you tomorrow then, Norm."

He gave a nod. "Definitely; I'll see you then."

Without another word I slipped into the woman's dorm and clammed the door behind me, leaning against it as I let out a sigh. From the other side of the door, I heard Norm's anxious sigh.

"That went well," he said doubtingly and all was silent for a moment or two before I heard the sound of Norm's heavy boots echoing throughout the corridor as he walked away.

Okay, first chapter done! Sure it was a bit awkward, but that's Norm for you. I will get working on chapter 2 soon! Please leave a review!