So this is my first time publishing anything on here, please leave me some comments!

Chapter 1

There were very few things that could hold Jo's attention. Mainly, people; people tended to bore her the most. She got particularly bored whenever Parker of Quartich sent grunts into the laboratory. But watching Grace scare the poor rookies that she had been sent? That had to be the highlight of her day.

She knew Grace was going to be in a bad mood when they came out of link, she always was. But given the fact they had lost specimens because their gunner- now former- had gotten spooked by a wondering Arachnoid, Grace was practically spiting fire. Jo had known fully well that the man couldn't handle a peaceful mission, Trudy knew it too, but no one had listened. The bastard was lucky she had gotten to him before Grace.

It had been just plain bad luck that these two had arrived just in time to see Grace on a war-path. Jo glanced over at Max, who was silently motioning for her to interfere. Jo scoffed, no way in hell was she getting involved in this.

The older scientist pointed at her again, and slashed a hand over his throat before glaring. Why does it always have to be me? She thought bitterly. She pushed herself away from the relative safety of the link bed and marched over to Grace and her targets.

"First, that uppity ranger, then that incompetent gunner and now this." She snarled.

"Wow Doc, really feeling the love over here," she said sarcastically. Grace turned on her immediately, almost forgetting her initial argument.

"Not helping, Jo" she snarled. "they are pissing on us without even having the decency to call it rain!" she almost yelled. Jo sighed. It was very rare when Grace got into this kind of fit. Anger sure, but irrational rage? That only seemed to happen when that weasel who ran the base was involved. Which made what she was about to do that much easier.

"Then go yell at Parker. He's the one that shipped them up here." She pointed off towards the door, looking like a mom talking to a toddler. Grace was almost two decades older, but the scientists were just as bad as Parker when they didn't get their way.

Grace turned beat red before stomping off in the direction of the main office. Scientists, so predictable.

"You had to make it worse…" Max sighed.

"not like it was getting better anytime soon." She shrugged and straightened her jacket. She turned her attention back towards the two men.

"don't take it personally." They would learn to avoid the Doc after link in time, everyone else in this lab sure did. There was a reason that the lab was strangely devoid of life whenever Doc had the morning shift.

"and this lovely lady, "she snorted at that, "is Jesse-Hope Garrison, our resident ranger." She shot Max a dirty look as he finished speaking. She hated whenever he used her full name; which was why he insisted on using it.

"It's just Jo, call me anything else and I won't run interference for the red menace next time," she threatened. She shook Sully's hand and gave him a once over.

"You must be the marine. I'll be showing you the ropes around the lab,"

"Jake Sully, it's nice to meet you." She nodded-even wheelchair bound-she could see muscle defined on Jake's arms and chest. He had obviously continued training after getting out. Something she could respect.

"I'm Norm, Norm Spellmen." The lankier of the two said.

"I know, Doc has been bemoaning the fact there aren't any competent assistants around here. I've been counting down the seconds till you got here." Which was true, having some new blood on the base was always welcome.

"I have some reports I have to finish, so I'll leave you in Max's hands for now."


Jo always liked the time of day when no one was in the gym. At the same time every day, the underground gym was blissfully empty. The only sounds being her taped up fists striking against the training bag. She had come in here a couple hours after dinner, she didn't like training with others. Pandoran gravity was slightly lighter than earths, even if she wasn't considered a soldier while here, she needed to be ready.

She heard the lift doors pen and ignored them. Whoever it was would hopefully go away soon-

"Jess"

-or not. She stopped her attacks and started tearing the tape off her hands, she didn't want to talk with this guy.

"Jesse" This time the voice was more insistent. She swung her bag over her shoulder and started towards the lift, still ignoring the only man brave enough-or stupid enough- to interrupt her training time.

"not now, Heath" She snarled. Dealing with the colonel was one thing, she couldn't just walk away from him. His upstart son? Now she took great joy in getting away from him. Heath had taken a lot from his father, large shoulders and a strong jaw. But his face was slightly softer, almost humorous; his brown hair was cropped short, and his eyes were a warm brown. Were they not and pandora, and if he was not such a controlling prick, she might have given him a chance. But there was something about him that set off warning sirens. Her instincts were good, it's what made her good at her job, and she trusted them when it came to him. His behavior had only gone on to prove them right, and that wasn't even considering the accident. She shouldered past him, but he caught her elbow in an iron grip.

"Come on, Jess. I just want to talk."

"I don't," she snapped. He had been following her around since he got on base, and it was getting annoying. They were shipped up here together, and the man had been a constant thorn in her side whenever she left the lab. Getting in her way whenever she sparred, switching shifts so they were pared for missions, and most recently trying to pull rank in the lab and get her reassigned. She had a pretty good idea as to why he wasn't leaving her alone.

"Jess-"

"It's Jo." No one called her Jess.

He glared at her, and she glared right back.

"I was just checking on you. I thought you might want to have dinner with me."

"you thought wrong," she said lowly. She glared at him one last time before entering the lift and closing the door. Suddenly calling it an early night didn't sound like such a bad idea.