Disclaimer –The author of this fan fiction does not, in any way, profit from the story and that all creative rights to the original characters belong to the creator(s) of the movie, Avatar (2009). Any original characters in the story belong to TheMysticalOne.
Summary – Norm's dream to become part of the Na'vi has faded. But past war events force the people to move to a new home. Can Jake convince Norm to become one of the Omaticaya and help the Na'vi start over new? Slash. Norm/Jake.
Note: This is the edited version of this chapter. I went back and changed a few things to make it a bit easier to understand. Thanks for checking it out! I love reviews!!
Starting New
Chapter 1
I had spent years preparing for my time on Pandora. Their culture was so different from ours, so unique. The fluidity of their language astounded me. When I had arrived I had been excited, so ready to be accepted by the Na'vi people. When I met Tom's brother, I knew right away that he would need a lot of help, a lot of training. Little did I know it would work quite opposite.
After the wars were over and the majoring of humans left to go back to earth, a handful of us stayed to continue research. I was one of them. Jake had returned to his beloved Na'vi tribe with his Neytiri. I hadn't heard from him for a while, but I didn't really make an effort to. Most of us from the base had been spared from the wars, at least most of the scientists. Trudy had an accident with her helicopter, sent it flying towards a cliff. Luckily for her, she managed to eject right before impact. She suffered some minor medical problems, but those were cleared up after a few days. Max made it though fine, with only a slap on the wrist. Grace was the only one who hadn't made it through after our desperate escape to reach the Na'vi people in the beginning. We had tried everything possible to ensure that she would live, but her time was simply over.
I spent most mornings outside, taking samples when everything had finally calmed down. I hadn't had the guts to return back to my avatar body. My avatar had intensive damage from a gunshot to the collarbone and shoulder. The body was hooked up to many tubes and monitors. Maybe I wasn't mean to be so much like them after all.
I gathered some unusual plant samples and made my way back into the building, greeting Trudy on the way and then sitting in my office area. I tinkered around with the neon pink and orange plants for a while, pulling out the microscope to look at them further before there was a knock at my door.
"Hey Norm, you've got a visitor, Buddy," Trudy said poking her head in and snapping the door shut behind her.
I sighed. I had almost completed a full collection of samples from the Tsutano plant, only to be interrupted by some visitor. I put down my tools and walked down the hall. You can imagine my surprise to find one of the Omaticaya standing in the cafeteria. His hair had grown longer and was pulled back in tiny braids that blended into one long one. He wore several elaborate necklaces that proclaimed his new status as chief of the tribe.
"Jake?" I asked suddenly.
"Norm, I haven't seen you for a while."
"You're…you're the chief now?" I said, completely in shock.
"Tsu-Tey passed while fighting."
"Well, that's just convenient," I replied, rather harshly.
He was quiet and said, "I was hoping to see you around the new Hometree. What have you been doing? Where is your avatar?"
"Still out of commission," I lied, knowing right well that I could have full use of it if I chose to.
"Even after so long?" Jake asked, shaking his head, "I thought you would have been first to jump back into your avatar body to come visit."
"Things are different now, Jake."
"How so?" He asked.
I turned around, resisting the urge to roll my eyes, "You're the great Toruk Makato. You're the chief. You have everything."
He only shrugged slightly, "I didn't ask to be any of that. I only did what I thought was best."
"Why are you here?"
"Neytiri's dead."
That stopped me in my tracks and I suddenly wished I hadn't said those vicious remarks earlier. Last time I had seen Neytiri, she had been alive and well. She and Jake had said their farewells before going back to their tribe.
"She's…dead?"
"Many Na'vi perished during the attempt to bring down the fleet. Her death was…an unnecessary casualty," Jake said, looking away for a moment.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know I thought-"
"I'm sure you've been busy."
"Well, there are so many samples that need to be taken. You wouldn't believe the plants I've found the past few days. It's amazing what-"
"We need your avatar," Jake interrupted, taking a step forward and putting a giant hand on my shoulder, "We need you."
"Why?"
"The clan is dying out. There are few left. We need doctors like you to help. We need warriors. We need whatever we can get. You have an avatar. You can do it," Jake insisted, "This is what you've always wanted."
"That dream is long gone, Jake. Things have changed."
"You have the opportunity to join the Omaticaya. This is what you want. I know it is. I talked to Trudy. She tells me you've been spending hours, days up here with your plants. You need to get out of here-"
"I'm fine," I argued.
"I lost everything!" Jake cried suddenly, taking a step away, "I lost everything, but I still manage to hold onto hope. I want things to change for the better. This hasn't been easy. This is a hardship. I may be clan leader, but I still struggle to understand the people after all this time. And, without Neytiri, it's been so difficult. She taught me the way. She brought me such optimism for the future. I struggle to keep that."
"Look Jake…I'm sorry about Neytiri, but-"
"Just think about it, alright? This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You still have your avatar, so make use of it. You told me once that you wish you could be Na'vi. This is your time. Eywa will allow it."
"You want me to go completely into the tribe, abandon my human body and just start a new? It's not so easy, Jake," I still argued, looking up at his much taller form, "I told you things have changed."
"Just think about it, Norm," He said, turning back towards the door, "I will come back tomorrow and you can tell me your decision."
"I can't guarantee anything," I said with a shrug.
He just nodded and exited the building, calling his Ikran and jumping onto his back. With a loud caw I watched him took off onto his banshee and fly high into the sky. The fluidity of his motions and almost cocky nature would make me think he was born doing this. I thought back to when I first met Jake. He had been in a wheelchair, paralyzed from the waist down. Look at where he is today.
I lay down in my bunk that night and pondered the situation. Could I really leave my human life and start over? I didn't think I could be the warrior that Jake was. Perhaps he was right. I could be a doctor, their scientist. Maybe it could work.
I glanced at the clock and sighed. It was already passed midnight. I slid out of bed and pulled on some shoes and silently made my way into the lab. I passed the computers and opened up another door, where my avatar was being held. I turned on a dim light and sat down next to it. The wounds were almost completely healed, but an IV was hooked up to retain body fluids. It had been almost a week since I had been in the avatar body. The coloring of the avatar had faded to a lighter blue, pale one would say. The crew said I needed to switch. I needed to take control or the avatar would die. I had spent too many long years of waiting, studying, and working to allow that to happen. I had already made my decision.
I would join the Omaticaya to become a true Na'vi.