Prologue

1

The End of All Things

The RDA's exile from Pandora struck a fatal blow against humanity. In a world that was already being kept alive purely by the willpower and machinations of its inhabitants, the loss of such a potent source of power as Unobtanium rendered Earth completely useless. The factories that synthesized 98% of the world's edible food supply eventually ran down and died; massive atmospheric converters that had once made the rancid air just barely breathable could no longer maintain power. In the end, death was largely preferable to life on Earth.

Who was to blame for such a catastrophe? Much of the public pointed the finger at the fallen RDA; if only they had gained the trust of the Na'vi instead of all-out war, perhaps a deal could have been worked out. Those in the know cursed the name of Jake Sully, declaring him the worst traitor to human kind in all of history. Only a few blamed themselves. If only humanity had slowed its reckless charge towards technological advancement, taking a moment to consider the effects on the only home they had! If we had all been more conscious of what we were doing to our life provider, perhaps things would be different…

In the end, when only 10% of humanity still clung to life, there was but one choice. One final chance to keep our species alive. Earth had been one of just two inhabitable planets known to mankind; now it was a toxic hell. Only one bastion of life remained. One final refuge. If we were to have any chance, the last surviving humans would need to return to Pandora and throw themselves to the mercy of the Na'vi…

2

An Indecent Proposal

Nathanial Ransom stood on the eastern wall of Arkham's Folly, gazing out over the endless golden plains nearly 200 feet below. As the sun descended toward the horizon, lighting the air on fire, he felt an almost uncontrollable thrill of fear run through him, stealing his breath. As his chest tightened he raised the inhaler to his lips and pulled the trigger, sending a cool blast into his lungs. His esophagus widened and his breathing returned to normal. Some had adapted to Pandora's toxic air, others had received genetic modifications; Nate was stuck with a crappy set of lungs and an inhaler the size of a soda can. But it wasn't just the air that had caused his asthma to act up…

Nate reached a hand into his coat pocket and brushed the small, soft box with a finger. Again his nerves jumped. Inside the box, he knew, was a ring. Nothing very expensive; a small loop of silver set with an attractive but cheap gemstone that was fairly common on Pandora. Still, it wasn't the price that mattered; it was what the ring meant. Or rather, what he was hoping it would mean.

"Nate!"

He turned towards the melodic voice, heart leaping. A golden-haired woman in a red coat was struggling through the crowd towards him. Nate grinned, gripping the box in his pocket. He was too distracted by how the setting sun glinted off her flowing hair, or how gracefully she weaved her way towards him, to notice the small frown creasing her forehead, or how she was biting her lip slightly, as she did when anxious.

They met, and Nate threw his arms around her. The sweet flowery smell of her hair flooded his nostrils.

"You're late, Allie," he muttered into her ear. She uttered a short, forced laugh. This time Nate did take notice. He broke the embrace, hands on her shoulders, holding her at arm's length.

"Is something wrong?"

Of course there is, she said. Not with her voice, but with the way she tucked her hair behind one ear, or how her head was tilted slightly to one side, or how she shuffled slightly from one foot to the other.

"No," Alice said, "I'm fine." Then that beautiful smile lit up her face, and if Nate hadn't noticed them himself, he would have sworn her tells had never been there.

Suddenly aware of how many people there were on the observation walkway, Nate placed an arm around her shoulders and led Alice towards a more secluded spot along the wall. For a moment they simply stood side by side, observing a natural beauty that had not been seen on their native world in centuries. A herd of direhorses pushed through the long grass, the rumble of their feet like distant thunder. A far-off banshee was silhouetted against the fiery disc of the sun. Combined with the ghostly giant, Polyphemus, hanging in the sky, the sight had a lonely feel to it.

"So what's this all about?" Alice asked, breaking the silence. The question was casual, but again Nate sensed something behind it.

"What? Can't I meet a pretty lady in a pretty spot without having an ulterior motive?"

She didn't call him a schmuck, but the look she gave him did. Nate laughed.

"Alright," he said, fighting down the return of his abdominal butterflies. "I thought maybe we should talk."

Alice stiffened next to him. "Actually," she said softly, "so do I…"

Nate raised an eyebrow. Now what was this about? "Can I go first?"

She looked up at him (sadly she looks sad why?) and nodded. "Sure."

Nate took a deep breath. He had rehearsed this moment over and over in his head; why couldn't he remember how to start now?

"Alice…" He cleared his throat. "Being with you for the past year has been the best experience of my life." God that sounds horrible. "Every day has been like a dream, and…um…"

She was looking up at him, head tilted, eyebrows slowly rising. Nate rubbed his neck and soldiered on. "You're–ah– you're the one thing I can't imagine living without, and…er…"

Oh shit.

With a horrible sinking feeling he realized how horribly everything was going. He was blathering like an idiot, and even the damn sunset was ruined. Instead of beautiful, he just found its glare annoying. He gripped the small jewelry box and made a split-second decision, whipping it out of his pocket. At the same time his left leg gave out, whether from sheer terror or from his own subconscious trying to salvage the situation, and he fell down onto one knee.

He held the box out to Alice, opening it to reveal the modest but beautiful ring. "Alicewillyoumarryme?" he blurted breathlessly.

She stared down at him, dumbfounded. Her eyes jumped from the ring, glinting in the failing daylight, to Nate, kneeling and panting slightly, a horrible expression somewhere between a grin and a grimace plastered on his face. Then, she burst into tears.

Is this good or bad?

Face buried in her hands, Alice turned away from him, sobbing. Alarmed, Nate leapt to his feet and placed an arm around her, ignoring the curious gaze of the bystanders.

"A-Alice?" he said weakly.

She turned to him, face wet, eyes red. "I'm s-sorry, Nate," she said between shuddering gasps. "But I-I can't."

His heart shriveled into a black hole, his guts flooding with acid. His very soul iced over, and all beauty faded from his world. He thought he handled it pretty well, considering.

"Oh," he said, trying to look anywhere but at Alice. "Ok…"

She grabbed his hands. "It's not that I don't want to!" A fire exploded in his chest, but she quickly stomped it out. "I just…can't…"

"But…why?" he choked desperately, and a little lamely.

She gripped his hands tighter, looking up into his face. "I was going to tell you today," she said softly. "I've joined the Hometree Initiative."

For a moment, silence, as Nate tried to process this new information. Then–

"The tree huggers?"

Alice simply nodded, as though he had not just yelled loud enough to cause the growing crowd of spectators to jump. "I've been meaning to for some time," she said, speaking in a rush, as though afraid he wouldn't let her explain. "And it's a really important effort. Tensions are getting higher every day! If we don't employ diplomacy there could be another war!"

Nate's face was blank. "When do you leave?" he asked tonelessly.

Alice drew a deep breath. "Tomorrow."

"For how long?"

She released his hands, clasping her own to her breast. In barely a whisper, she said, "Two years."

Nate said nothing. He didn't shout, he didn't cry, he didn't even glower. He simply shoved the jewelry box into her hands, turned, and began to walk away.

"Wait!"

He knew she was following him. Probably running, maybe tears streaming down her face. He knew she would grab his coat, and a moment later she did.

"I'm sorry!" she cried. "Please, you have to understand–"

Nate didn't tell her just how well he understood. He didn't say that she should have talked to him about it first. He simply walked away.

3

The Final Lesson

The sun had all but disappeared beneath the horizon. The sky was dark, save for the pale glow of Polyphemus. The only sounds were those of the wind sighing through the prairie grass, the movement creating a glowing ripple-like effect, and the soft gurgle of a stream, also aglow with bioluminescence.

A lone hexapede, separated from its herd, cautiously approached the glowing ribbon of water. Its head darted back and forth, large eyes wide in the near-darkness, its blue skin seeming black. At the river bank it paused, head fan fluttering in the breeze, its beard-like membrane twitching slightly. Its nostrils flared. Then, slowly, slowly, it lowered its head, peeled back its bifurcated lips, and began to drink. It paused every few seconds, head darting up to search for predators.

A tall, thin shape rose from the grass mere feet away, sending out ripples of light. In one fluid motion it raised a large bow, arm already drawn back, and released the arrow. It whistled through the air, piercing the hexapede clean through the heart before it had a chance to turn and flee. The beast fell to the ground, dead, without a cry.

The hunter, on the other hand, let loose a shriek of excitement and leapt through the grass towards its kill, long queue trailing behind. She knelt down beside it, placing a hand on the still-warm body. Closing her eyes, she began to speak softly under her breath, thanking the animal for its sacrifice.

She sensed the other standing beside her before she opened her eyes, although he had made no sound. She looked up at the towering figure, the pale night light illuminating a grin of exhilaration on her face. The man extended a hand. She took it, and without a word he pulled her up into an embrace.

"Well done, 'ite!" he said warmly. "Your first successful hunt." He indicated the large ceremonial bow hanging at her side. "You have certainly earned it."

Pamtseo beamed up at her father. She gave him another strong hug. "All thanks to your guidance, sempul," she said.

Her father snorted, waving away the remark. "Nonsense, seze. You are as great a hunter as your mother was. I was merely here to get in the way."

Pamtseo giggled, playfully hitting his shoulder. Then, at her father's indication, she knelt beside the dead hexapede. Drawing a large knife, she began to carefully skin the animal, its dark blood mingling with the bright water of the river. She worked slowly, sure not to damage any organs or tear the skin; everything could and would be used.

"Hmm…"

Pamtseo knew that grunt. She looked up at her father, afraid she had done something wrong, but he was paying no attention to her. His face, sometimes soft, now stern, was focused elsewhere, off into the distance. She followed his gaze; a glittering spire could be seen on the horizon.

"The Tawtute disrupt the night with their shining city," he muttered softly. "After fifteen cycles they still have not learned."

Rising to stand beside her father, Pamtseo watched the shifting lights. It was as beautiful as it was alien. She bore no ill will towards the Tawtute; unlike her father, she had not been alive for the first war with their kind. And although it had embittered him, he was still more willing than others in their tribe to give the aliens a chance to learn how to live with Eywa, not merely off her.

"Maybe they are afraid of the dark, sempul," Pamtseo said, only half-jokingly. Her father laughed, a great deep chuckle that rolled across the plains. It warmed her heart to hear it.

"Perhaps, seze. Perhaps. Now," he said, turning towards Pamtseo's kill, "let's finish the–"

He froze, only for an instant, staring at something in the darkness she was either too young or too dull to see. Then–

"Ne kllte!" he yelled, throwing her to the ground. In a blur he drew his bow, already fitted with three bone-tipped arrows, and aimed into the darkness. A moment later, a piece of the night broke away from the rest with a roar.

Pamtseo shrieked as the palulukan leapt at her father. He ducked and it flew over both of them, landing several feet away from the river and Pamtseo's prone body. Its four thick legs were already tensed, ready to pounce again. She noticed three arrows protruding from its soft underbelly, yet it still stood. There was no sign of her father.

"Sempul!" she yelled, at the same drawing her own bow. The palulukan bellowed at her, lips folded back to reveal massive black fangs. Pamtseo had barely a moment to wonder what it was doing so far from the forest before it charged. She let loose two arrows and had no time to see if they reached their mark before–

She was tackled from the side as her father threw her again from harm's way. Without a glance at her he charged the beast, knife in hand. At the last moment he leapt over its massive armored skull and landed on its back, driving his blade through the thick skin.

The palulukan yowled and began to whip around violently, the grass flashing like lightning, attempting to throw him off as he stabbed it again and again. Pamtseo leapt to her feet and prepared to help.

"No!" he yelled over the beast's roars. "Go! Tul!"

She hesitated. Never before had she disobeyed her father; but she wasn't about to let him face such a challenge on his own. Blade in one hand she charged the bucking animal–

A massive paw connected with her head, sending her once again sprawling. She hit the ground but barely felt the impact. The night, already dark, was beginning to fade. She couldn't move. Slowly the sounds of the battle grew faint, as though retreating. The last thing she saw before she blacked out was the palulukan rear up on its hind legs and fall backwards, her father still on its back…

4

Field Test

In a darkened room, hidden somewhere within Arkham's Folly, two men sat before a glowing display. They watched as the experiment played out, occasionally taking notes on their data pads. The video had no sound, but both men could hear the roars echoing in their skulls.

The experiment ended. One of the men reached forward and input several commands. A confirmation appeared on the display, and the video went dark. In a corner of the room, a grey coffin-like box emitted a hum, illuminated from within by pale corpse-light. Now, slowly, the humming stopped. The second man went over and opened the box, revealing a third man lying inside, dressed only in a grey undershirt and boxers.

"Sir?" said the standing man.

The one in the box opened his eyes. For a moment they appeared dazed, as though he was still lost in a dream, but quickly they focused. He removed some complicated headgear and sat up, bare feet on the cold floor.

"It works," he replied.