A/N: Hello reader! Please excuse my grammatical errors, spelling errors and all errors in general. You should rest easy knowing English was never my major. =)
I hope my mistakes won't prevent you from enjoying the story.
Most likely, I'm writing only to myself but just in case I must warn that these writings are the products of random thoughts and ideas. I usually write on a whim so plot is...almost nonexistent. Enough ranting already! Please enjoy! =)
Disclaimer: James Cameron owns everything. I own nothing but my thoughts.
Overview: The end of the war was only the beginning. Jake and Neytiri pick up the pieces.
Pieces of Me
"Shit…shit."
"SHIT!"
He swung over the branch, narrowly missing the huge Scorpion Gunship that came crashing over his head. No matter, the massive explosion still managed to throw him off his feet. Jake quickly scrambled onto hands and knees spitting blood. For a second, there was only darkness and a ringing in his ears until the pain on his left leg yanked him back to the painful reality.
He was on fire!
Before he could react, a stream of bullets was sent flying through the air. Jake collapsed onto his stomach just as the tree in front splintered into pieces. Crawling on his arms and legs, he used the forest floor to put out his fire. By now, ashes and smoke suffocated him and made him blind. But Jake pushed forward without thought as the screams of dying Na'vi warriors and the deadly sound of gunfire littered the sky.
Something caught his arm.
Jake yanked frantically as the machines ripped through the forest just a few paces behind. He risked a second and looked down…into the yellow eyes of a fellow Na'vi warrior. Jesus Christ, he was only a kid! Jake reached down pulling but the child let out a terrified scream. Half his body was smashed beneath the wings of an aircraft.
"FUCK!"
Swallowing the blood in his throat, Jake scanned for broken branches, a pipe, a shovel, -anything- that would help dislodge the boy. Overhead, something huge exploded and Jake scrambled to cover the kid. Metal debris sliced through the air ripping the flesh on his back as bodies rained down from the sky. Jake panted and held on tight as the ground rocked and rumbled as though it was being split apart.
"Alrightlistentome!" he yelled over the gunfire, "I'm going to get you out!"
But his legs burst into white hot pain every time he tried to stand. He was losing too much blood and every second wasted made him weaker. Jake dug his nails into the dirt refusing to let the tears of frustration fall. Swallowing back a scream of agony, he heaved himself up only to come crashing to the floor. The angry flicker of flames licked the side of his face but still he tried again and again fighting to stay conscious through the pain.
"GOD DAMMIT!"Jake cried tears and blood running down his face. Taking a deep breath, he crawled closer and huddled protectively over the boy. "I'm not leaving you behind!"
"Think Jake. THINK!"
He slowed his breathing trying to clear the fog in his brain. "Okay…okay, we're gonna try this again," he voice shook from the effort. Jake was losing a lot of blood and he had to move quickly or else they'll both die. With a deep breath, he tried to remember the Na'vi language hoping that he picked the right words.
"I lift! You move!"
Jake grinned in confidence as though his vision wasn't turning black, as though his body wasn't already shutting down. Silently, he begged to Eywa, to any and all Gods who might be listening…he begged for a miracle. Because he couldn't save both of them.
Jake slid his arm beneath the wing of the aircraft, the movement pushed gushes of blood through his wounds. Gasping, he fought to hang on, "On three alright?"
"One…" He tightened his hold and dug his fingers into the unyielding metal.
"Two…" His heart did a painful jackknife as his muscles screamed in protest. This wasn't going to work. He wasn't strong enough.
"Thr.."
BOOM!
Gunfire shrieked through the air. Jake threw himself back reaching for his rifle. He couldn't see a damn thing in all this smoke. His fingers brushed against metal and he glanced.
"Oh fuck."
The young Na'vi warrior stared at him through lifeless eyes. His blue fingers caught on the trigger as bits of gray fleshy matter oozed out the gaping head wound. The kid shot himself. Jake's stomach recoiled; blood and ash rushing up his throat. He grabbed onto the child's necklace hauling the dead body off the ground. "WHY! WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU DO THAT!"
He shook the body demanding that life be restored. "I COULD'VE SAVED YOU!"
Jake cried and bled out his soul for the innocent child caught in the crossfire. An image of Tom flashed but before Jake could react, the air changed. The forest stilled. Gunfire ceased.
Or maybe he just stopped listening.
"Jake Sully," a voice snickered, "Tell me, was this worth betraying your own race?"
Jake knew that voice. It was the voice of greed, of ignorance, of a cold empty world he thought he'd left behind. It was the voice that was once his. Jake didn't bother to turn around. He sent a silent prayer for his fallen comrade.
It was over.
Everything was lost.
"Come on," the voice taunted. The sound of dragging footsteps inched forward. "You blue freaks all died screaming so don't tell me you're the quiet type."
"I'm going to enjoy killing you Jake…a little more than I should."
It threw its head back and laughed an ugly sound that tore through Jake's eardrums and slithered down his spine. His senses quickly became alert but his body was too tired to respond.
"At least face me like a man. Or have you forgotten that too?"
"You always did like hearing yourself talk Colonel," Jake closed his eyes. Blood loss was making him sluggish and it seemed the world was happening in slow motion. But something kept screaming in his brain demanding attention.
Colonel Miles Quaritch chuckled in amusement as though they were friends sharing funny jokes and warm banter. "Defiant until the end huh?"
"Kill me. And get it over with."
"Oh I'm going to kill you, make no mistake." Quaritch cocked his gun. Though he was in human form, the Colonel stood as tall as any Na'vi possessing both their grace and strength. With a smile in his voice, Quaritch sneered, "Ask me how."
A noise.
A sigh.
A breath.
Jake's senses caught fire and he came alive feeling every scrape, tear and every broken bone in his body. He gasped and pried open his eyes. His lips whispering what his brain was already denying.
"Neytiri."
She was on her knees, her hands tied behind her back and feet shacked together. Her throat worked frantically as she struggled for breath behind the gag. Cuts and bruises decorated her beautiful body like a suicide attempt gone horribly wrong. Quartich stood behind her. "Well that certainly got your attention." The Colonel carelessly examined his gun. "You should've told me you preferred your women giant, blue and alien, Jake. We could've saved a lot of blood that way."
"Neytiri," Jake whispered struggling to stand. He needed to get closer to touch her, feel her to make sure she was whole. For a moment, Jake forgot about Colonel Quaritch and only saw the woman he loved bound broken on the floor. "Neytiri…say something." Jake limped towards her but Neytiri kept her head bowed. Her eyes fixed on the ground. The bond between them existed only as a weak hum in the air.
"She won't talk to you Jake." Quaritch leaned over and caressed her face with the tip of his gun. "Unlike you, I know how to make my women listen." He pressed his face to the side of Neytiri's neck, smirking. "And obey."
The Colonel opened his mouth and licked her skin.
"DON'T YOU FUCKING TOUCH HER!" Jake roared launching forward like animal pushed too far. His instincts and adrenaline kicking into overdrive. In his mind, Quaritch was already lying dead on the floor.
But the Colonel only laughed with eyes shining in mirth as though he knew some terrible secret. Jake focused his vision and pushed his screaming legs faster but he couldn't reach them. No matter how fast he ran, Neytiri kept getting further and further away. "COMEON YOU BASTARD! FIGHT ME!"
His footing caught beneath a branch and Jake was sent crashing to the floor. Clumsily, he got back up but now too weak to run, he tried to crawl towards her instead. With blood filling his eyes, Jake grabbed handfuls of dirt and he dragged his broken body across the ground.
In the distance, Quaritch sighed with mock sympathy. "If you could see how pathetic you look right now. Just like an animal." He ran his fingers through Neytiri's braids playing with strands of her hair. Then in a sudden movement, he snapped her head back. She gagged. "You're too late Jake."
"NO!" Jake screamed. Quaritch pointed the gun to Neytiri's head.
"Alrightalright…alright you win!" Jake didn't dare move. He raised his hands in surrender as his body shook uncontrollably. "You win…I..I..just take it all…all the unobtanium you want. Okay?"
"I'll har..harvest it. We'll retreat…no more resistance." He panted fear making him gasp for air. "You could take the whole damn planet…okay?"
"Please," Jake begged as he bowed in complete submission. "Just…just let her go."
Quaritch looked to the sky, engaged in a silent debate with his God.
Jake's body twitched in terror.
Neytiri squeezed her eyes shut. A single tear escaped.
And Pandora held her breath.
"Nononono..dontplease.."
"You killed her Jake."
"NONONONNOOOOOOOOO!"
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"NO!"
He jerked forward body twisting and pulling. His heart screamed. His soul shattered. His fist made contact and sent his attacker flying. Like a deranged animal, Jake bared his teeth biting flesh and tearing through the sheets that held him down.
"YOU FUCKING KILLED HER!" He screamed and fought until his throat cracked filling with blood. Blindly, he went for the throat intent on ripping its head off but the arms around him tighten like a vise. Growling with fury, Jake roared and his vision turned red.
"STOP IT!"
"JAKE STOP!"
"YOU KILLED HER!" He screamed into his enemy's face and threw his weight around. But his attacker on top knew the contours of his body well and held firm. Arms and legs wrapped and locked eliminating all room of escape. Instead, he pushed and pulled, demanding and begging until he eventually wore himself out. Jake closed his eyes in defeat and let the tears stream down his face. "You killed her," he whispered hoarsely.
"Shhhh…JakeJakeJake…come back to me Jake." Neytiri straddled his lap and held him tight to her body as she felt him tremble in the aftermath of the nightmare. She rocked him back and forth trying to absorb the spasms and shudders of his tired muscles. "You were dreaming Jake. That is all…it was only a dream."
Despite her words of comfort, Jake cried silently against her throat visions of her death still running through his brain. Wrapping his arms around her waist and back, Jake pressed his body against Neytiri's. He took greedy mouthfuls of her scent until her presence seeped into his blood healing the ribbons of his soul.
Neytiri let out a small whimper. His arms aggravated the scratch marks on her back caused by their earlier struggle. But the slight movement only caused him to tighten his hold afraid she'd slip away into the dark and terrible world of his mind where he won't be able to reach her. Jake pulled her closer and closer burrowing his face into the warmth of her skin while he tried to crawl inside and find the light to his darkness.
"I killed you."
Neytiri shut her eyes. Tears flowed silently down her face as she caressed his shoulders running her fingers through his damp hair. She pressed a soft kiss to his forehead letting her heart break along with his. His skin felt clammy beneath her hands. "Jake…my Jake I am right here." She pulled back until she could look into his face. Jake's eyes were hazed over with pain and terror. His ears laid flat against his head in fear. Though he was awake, Neytiri could clearly see the nightmare lurking in the shadows and cobwebs of his mind.
"Stay with me Jake."
Forcing a smile that seemed to slice her heart wide open, she pushed at his shoulders until his back made contact with the mattress. Jake refused to open his grip so she ended up sprawled across his chest with her head tucked under his chin. His arms automatically locked around her waist and fingers tangled in her hair. Utilizing every last bit of her Na'vi flexibility, Neytiri managed to get them partially covered with a blanket.
She felt the hitching of his breath and mentally counted the frantic beats of his heart until the sky slowly faded to a soft pink. Her eyes stayed fixated on the upcoming sunrise while she knew his stared blankly at the ceiling overhead.
Neither had slept.
Sleep was a luxury they could no longer afford, especially when nightmares haunted his every dream. The lonely cries of an ikran echoed in the distance and Neytiri's soul cried out in return. They might have won this war but they have lost everything else that mattered. Pandora existed only as a shell of her former glory. The once lush forest now stood barren and lifeless. Residual ashes and smoke kept the land from healing and turned the water into poison.
Father.
Neytiri closed her eyes. Her people. Her home. Everything was gone.
Jake moved beneath her turning his head to watch the sunrise. The beauty of such a phenomenon was lost to him now. Jake only saw death and blood in his vision. He shuddered from an unknown cold and Neytiri pressed her body closer trying to fight demons she could not see.
On this particular morning, the clouds seemed to shimmer with suppressed energy. A faint hum filled the cool morning air and Neytiri's ears twitched in anticipation. Then, as though it could no longer contain itself, the bright rays of the sun broke through the mist penetrating the cloud of smoke and ashes. Eyes wide in wonder, Neytiri watched as the world caught fire. Pandora was slowly coming alive and the air cleared for her return.
"The sun Jake," Neytiri whispered breathlessly. "Is it not beautiful?"
He doesn't respond. He rarely does anymore. This will only be the first step towards salvation. She knows that there is much heartache in the journey up ahead. This process of rebuilding, relearning and remembering will test even the strongest souls and bravest hearts.
But together they will heal this land, heal her people. In time, they will heal each other.
She had to believe that or else all is truly lost.