Chapter 2: A New Home For Jake, Neytiri And the Omaticaya Clan

Their new Hometree was very nice, Neytiri thought as she helped one of her aunts settle in one of the nooks of the Tree, right near the base of one of its columns. But, it would never replace Hometree in her mind or her heart, she knew, but it was their new home now. She turned around as her mother, Mo'at called over to her.

"Neytiri, do we have enough stones for the new firepit?" her mother asked. Neytiri was about to answer her when Jake came over from the main area of their new home, where most Omaticaya were still camping until they could settle in.

Her heart melted a little bit upon seeing his smile, that smile that had captured her heart. Her mate looked and felt happy today and why not? They had found a new home and life was looking very good. All they had to do was establish themselves here in their new home and their future was assured.

"We can always get more stones later," Jake said, still smiling, "after we rest for a little while."

She knew what he was getting at and started smiling in response. There was a nice little grove a little ways in the woods, just off of the path to their new home, a grove she and Jake had already spent a few stolen moments here and there, "resting" when things got a bit too hectic.

But, there were practical considerations too, and they couldn't spend too much time dallying.

She started to answer her mother when another interruption came in the form of Normspellman, walking up the path into their new home, looking agitated and upset.

"Jake, Neytiri, it's Max on the radio from Hell's Gate. He needs to talk to both of you."

Jake turned toward Normspellman. "Did he say what it was about?"

"Nope. He said it was something he couldn't talk about over the radio. He said it is extremely urgent and that he needs you, Neytiri, and me to come to Hell's Gate as soon as possible."

"As soon as possible? What the hell does that mean?" her mate answered, more than a little upset at this odd request.

Normspellman shrugged his shoulders, in a gesture Neytiri had come to understand meant "I Don't Know" to the Sky People. "I'm just repeating what he told me to tell you. You can talk to him yourself, but I suggest we get cracking. He sounded very upset about something and all he would tell me was that it would be explained at Hell's Gate when we got there."

Neytiri looked at Jake, then at Normspellman. "Then we should go. It won't take very long and Mother can take care of things here while we're gone." This would take time, but if it wasn't a long meeting, there wouldn't be much time wasted, she hoped.

Her mate seemed nonplussed, but could not put forth any other objections, even though he seemed very annoyed at the prospect. The three of them then headed off to Hell's Gate on direhorses, not exactly Jake's favorite form of transportation, but until Neytiri got a new Ikran, it would have to do.

- SCENE BREAK -

Hell's Gate looked much the same as it did the last (and so far only) time Neytiri had been here, weeks before. It was mostly empty now, save for the Na'vi guarding the entrance and the few Sky People still there at the base.

Maxpatel was waiting for them at the front gate.

Jake stepped off his horse first. "Max. What's so goddamn important that we have to come out here and why couldn't you tell us over the radio?" he asked, still annoyed.

Maxpatel shrugged his shoulders and held up his hands. "Nice to see you again, Jake." He nodded to Neytiri, then turned to Normspellman.

"Jerry Handelman is here and he wants to talk to all of us about something very important." was all Maxpatel said.

Normspellman looked stunned, "Dr. Jerry Handelman? The Jerry Handelman? He's here? What the hell is he doing here? How the hell did he get here?" he asked, incredulous.

"Who's this Jerry Handelman? And what's the big deal about him" Jake asked, sounding even more annoyed.

Maxpatel looked at him, then said, "He's only the brightest physicist I've ever met. He has been involved with the avatar program from its earliest days. He's got two PhD.'s, one in physics and the other in computer science, and he's the smartest, most brilliant guy I've ever met. He teaches at Washington University outside of Washington, D.C. He's also the most straight-up guy you'll ever meet and when he says he needs to talk, you listen to him. That's all."

"What is a 'physicist'?" Neytiri asked, wondering if this Jerryhandelman of the Sky People was some important clan Olo'eyktan or something. That might explain all the fuss.

"A physicist is a scientist." was the only answer Maxpatel gave. "Look, he's waiting for us over in the garage area of the base. He's very anxious to meet you, so I suggest we get moving."

"This ought to be interesting, Jake." Normspellman said as they rode in to the main area of Hell's Gate. "If my memory serves correctly, Jerry Handelman was your brother's thesis committee chair or his adviser or something when he was getting his doctorate."

"Really?" Jake responded. "He knew Tommy?"

"Yup. I think he was your brother's thesis adviser, now that I remember it. Yeah, he knew Tom alright. I'm just gobsmacked that he's actually here. I'd sure like to know how he got here and why he's here now."

Neytiri was intrigued, to say the least. Jake had never talked much about his life before coming to Pandora. He'd barely mentioned any kind of family back on the home world of the Sky People. He'd mentioned a brother once, in passing, but she'd not pressed the issue. Perhaps this Jerryhandelman could shed a little light on her mate's background.

They got to to the main building of Hell's Gate and parked their horses. It was time to meet this mysterious Jerryhandelman and find out why he'd summoned them to this meeting.