Two Betrayals
Kiryuu passed a quarry. He landed in near an enormous yellow dozer and glanced around. This was a mining colony. However, it seemed the mining equipment had not seen much activity in many years. Already the equipment was rusting from the elements. Kiryuu walked over to one of the bulldozers and wiped off a spot of rust. Underneath, he could make out a familiar Aztec symbol.
"Omak Technologies and Magical Research," he said. "This equipment belongs to Malcho."
He recalled that Malcho's company headed up a lot of mining on several colonies. After all, his company helped in building ships and weapons and he needed supplies to furnish them. Kiryuu's sensors picked up a wave of magnetic fluctuations coming from his right and he leaned over to pick up what was causing it. It was a shiny rock. Kiryuu opened his mouth and stuck out his biosyntech, purple tongue, tasting a sample of the composition of the rock. It was an odd way of getting the data he needed, but it was effective.
MGSystem Rock identified as Unobtanium. Found in one location, a moon of Polythemus known as Pandora in the Alpha Centauri system.
Unobtanium. There was a name that was as ridiculous as a science fiction B-movie on Saturday night. It was an unoriginal name, however, the scientists who found it were too lazy to assign an official name, so it stuck. Even after 30 years when the mining project ceased on Pandora, the name was still there. This rock told him everything he needed to know about where he was. Pandora. Pandora was a moon that had life on it. It circled the blue gas giant known as Polythemus along with 13 other moons. Polythemus was roughly the size of Saturn, but oddly enough possessed no Roche rings. Its atmosphere was patterned with bands much like Jupiter and it even had an enormous super storm in the form of a giant spot on its southern hemisphere. However, this super storm was much larger than Jupiter's famous Red Spot. It resided in Alpha Centauri's Goldilocks Zone, which meant it was just right to have liquid water on its terrestrial moons. Pandora was one of these moons that possessed the right amount of liquid water to support life.
Despite the fact that Alpha Centauri was the closest star system to Earth, it was not the first choice in planetary exploration when Terrans decided to make the jump beyond their own solar system. Mostly because the planets that were in Alpha Centauri were not suitable for Earth-based life, like humans. So, Pandora for the most part was ignored. However, almost 45 years ago, human curiosity took over and explorers landed on Pandora. When they landed, they were greeted most hastily by the indigenous sentient humanoids known as the Na'vi. The Na'vi possessed an aboriginal culture and pre-Bronze Age technology. They were roughly around 7 to 8 feet tall, with blue skin and tiger stripes about their bodies. Their heads were roughly feline-like and they had pointed ears that moved around like a cat's ears. They had black hair, which they wore mostly in cornrows dreadlocks and tails. These layers were no longer than below their shoulders. However, a single thick braid of hair grew out from their heads down to their legs. The braid hid a bundle of feathery-like, pink tendrils called a queue. This queue allowed them to connect to the wildlife, which made it easy for them to tame in order to ride.
The Na'vi treated the explorers with hostile intent, even killed several of them. But despite the hostile greeting, the humans came back and in this time in greater numbers. Kiryuu and his company the Utah Foundation of Bio-Organic Research, wanted to study these natives and sent its own group of scientists to do just that. Kiryuu was interested in how a pre-industrial civilization came to be on this moon, how they managed to survive in their environment. Though, again, hostile relations between the scientists and the natives made that difficult. Kiryuu decided that in order to connect with the Na'vi, he had to have his scientists think on their level. That was when they activated the Avatar program. Kiryuu's company was one of the leading minds in genetic manipulation. Biosyntech was a fact in that. Kiryuu was more than enough proof as well, since his whole muscular and nervous system had been cloned from his old and dead body. He only needed one tissue sample from the natives and his company went to work on creating Avatars for the scientists. Through datajacking, or decking, the scientists could enter their Avatars' blank minds and pilot them as if they were operating in their own bodies from inside isolation tanks. Each Avatar was cloned with DNA from that particular scientist and some of the cells from the natives. So far, the plan worked. The Na'vi did not react as hostile to the Avatars as they did to the humans, but still, relationships were tense. They became even tenser when Unobtanium was discovered. Malcho stepped in and told Kiryuu he wanted to mine the planet after samples of the rock were sent to Earth for study. This rock was a huge conductor of energy and it could improve ship propulsion and weaponry. To Malcho, Pandora was a gold mine just waiting to be dug up.
Kiryuu had a new mission; he had to know what had happened to his program. He knew that an uprising occurred on the moon a few months after Harvest was glassed. He had to find out why and how it was started.
He finally flew over the compound. He recalled the name of the compound itself. It was originally called ESC-01, but the colonists lovingly called it Hell's Gate. Many of the miners viewed Pandora as a backwards version of Hell. Instead of molten lakes of fire and lava, there were lush green forests, but with horrible creatures wanting to eat them at every turn. And then there was the Na'vi, who used arrows dipped in neural toxins that hunted the miners down.
Kiryuu landed near the compound's main operations center and slowly walked up the ramp. He came to the airlock doors and noticed they were a bit rusted. Everything was rusted. He wondered if anything was still operational. It seemed no one had been in Hell's Gate for a long time. Kiryuu glanced over at a keypad and touched it. Nothing happened. Somewhere deep in his files was a map of the base itself. He loaded it up and began to scout around where he could possibly turn the power back on. The information he had on the base that it was powered by geothermic activity from the moon's core. Since the moon had incredible geological activity, the humans could easily make use of it for their needs. Kiryuu leaped into the air again and made his way towards the power station over on the north side of the compound. Large ventilation chimneys arched their way to the sky. Kiryuu came to an airlock and slammed his fist into the doors. After several minutes of pounding, he managed to break through the doors. The air of Pandora quickly rushed in, filling the airlock. He finally came to the second doors of the airlock and forced them open as well, allowing the pressure and air to enter the plant. Kiryuu walked around the power station and began flipping on the switches to start up the generators. He hoped they were still somewhat operational; at least enough to give him power to send out a distress call.
Kiryuu smiled when he heard the generators creak to life. Lights came on and soon the whole compound was lit up. He headed back towards the Operations Center and began to hack his way through the codes on the keypad. Finally reaching the correct codes, the airlock doors opened and Kiryuu made it inside. He could smell that the air was rather stale and no doubt toxic itself. Holodisplay screens flashed on, showing images of the area around the compound as well as various potential mining sites. At the center was the main holotable that displayed a very detailed topographical map of Pandora. From here, he could keep an eye on the whole planet. However, he recalled the files he received from the tree. Apparently the planet had its own way of keeping an eye on things. This was something he had to learn about too. Like connecting the Great Array, the interdimensional computer that was once used by the Forerunners long ago, he could connect to this planet.
First thing was first, he had to know what happened to the Avatar program and the mining operation.
0
His fears were confirmed. The silver building who walked into the Operations Center was Kiryuu Mechagodzilla Knight, the CEO of the Utah Foundation of Bio-Organic Research. What was Kiryuu doing on Pandora? Jake Sully's ears flattened when he saw the airlock close behind Kiryuu. He could not imagine what was going on inside the biomecha's mind. How did Kiryuu come here?
"Do you believe me, Olo'eytkan?"
"Yes," said Jake. "I believe you. I know who that is. He is tawtute. And like all tawtute, he must die."
"Si na nga plltxe," the rider nodded. He called out to the other warriors and told them to begin the attack.
"Wait!" Jake said. "Not just yet. You don't know this tawtute like I do. He's not like the humans we've fought 30 years ago. He's different. He wields a power greater than Eywa. I've seen what that power can do. We have to be careful or many warriors will die."
"What is greater than Eywa?" asked another warrior.
"Just trust me," said Jake. He looked back at the compound, watching Kiryuu move about the control room. He saw the biomecha turn on the holoscreens and the map table holoscreen, taking in the information it gave him. This worried Jake. No doubt that Kiryuu will soon learn just what happened here on Pandora over 30 years ago.
Kiryuu Knight. That name burned in his head. Kiryuu was a Technomancer, and a master of it as well. Very few people back on Earth even knew how to use Technomancy. Technomancy was once thought of as a form of magic on Earth. It looked like magic, it even behaved like magic, but it was not magic. It was technology. It was science at a level that not many could fathom—that is unless they were connected to some huge sky computer called the Array. The Array to the Technomancers was like Eywa to the Na'vi. The long glowing cords that ran down from Kiryuu's head signified his direct link to the computer. The computer had no form, had no substance. The computer was everywhere, in everything that existed in the universe. And as the universe grew, it gathered knowledge, growing into a vast database. Technomancers could access it and with that knowledge, be able to manipulate matter and energy on a higher level than they would normally without the connection. It almost gave them the power of gods. The technology was 'discovered' by the Great Feathered Serpent Malcho and he taught the humans how to use it. However, as humans go, the gift was abused. Jake knew that story, which was one of the reasons why he had no love of humanity. Just like they abused this world as well as their own, so did they abuse Technomancy.
Technomancy had to be regulated, Jake recalled, after the civil war among the colony planets almost 200 years ago. Not many on Earth today know how to properly use it and those who even have some training are barely even novices. Kiryuu is one of the last few remaining Master Technomancers—that rank was signified by the three triangular stripes marking either side of his cheeks and glowing cyan-blue eyes. Though, even Kiryuu was forced to limit what he was allowed to use. But that was on Earth. This is Pandora, this is where the eye of the UNSC could not see. If Jake decided to attack Kiryuu, what would keep the Technomancer from using all of his might to stop him? And Jake knew better. Never anger a 60-meter tall mutated, cybernetic dinosaur that could spit plasma fire and bend space-time around his fingers. But Kiryuu, like any creature, did have a weakness. Jake knew he needed to find it. Kiryuu was tawute and because of that, he must die.
0
Kiryuu finally made it to the Avatar bunker where the datajacking took place. Isolation tanks called psionic resonators encircled a central point. They looked like CT scanners and steal coffins. Another holoscreen lit up as Kiryuu sat down. Here he began to access the various video logs of the scientists. He knew the codes for each log and they were easy to pull up. Glancing slightly over at a shiny surface on the wall, Kiryuu noticed his reflection. The six black stripes appeared on his face and his eyes were glowing blue, not their usual gold color. This was all apart of the Connection. Kiryuu groaned and rubbed his forehead. Remaining Connected fatigued him. No Technomancer was meant to stay this way for long. This planet was forcing the Connection much like what happened on the Ark.
Kiryuu looked back at the screen and saw one particular log he was interested in viewing. It was a log from Dr. Grace Augustine. She was his lead scientist in the project Avatar on Pandora. She was his best geneticist and as well as a botanist and cultural enthusiast. She was a human after his own heart. When he chose her to lead the project, Grace nearly leapt into the air. She heard so much about the Na'vi and Pandora and she desperately wanted to see the fantastic world for herself. Anything was better than hearing the depressing news about the terrorists in the Outer Colonies.
"Mr. Knight," Kiryuu recalled Grace saying to him that day. "I am honored that you've chosen me. I can't thank you enough."
"I should thank you," Kiryuu said to her. "Because of the Na'vi's hostility to outsiders on their moon, it was hard to even get anyone to go there. You are doing me a great service, Dr. Augustine."
"Call me Grace, Mr. Knight."
"Grace. I would like to know how they become so hostile to outsiders. It is almost like aliens have visited them before. Perhaps you could answer that for me when you go."
"I'm certain I can get that answer for you," she said.
"Indeed."
Kiryuu did recall that there were some reports that Dr. Augustine sent back to Earth on the Na'vi. However, when Malcho began his mining operations, these reports became few and mostly tainted with some harsh words. Kiryuu was not totally opposed to Malcho's wanting to mine the moon for the precious ore, however, he did not agree with how Malcho was handling it. But because he did not oppose Malcho, this lead to some harsh relationships between him and Grace. She even threatened to quit the company, however, that would mean that she would have to be sent home. Grace did not want that to happen. So, she begrudgingly remained in Kiryuu's employ until her death.
Kiryuu wanted to know all that had happened to her and the other Avatars. He loaded up the log.
"Video Log 35: This is Dr. Grace Augustine. We have successfully managed to make some sort of peaceful contact with the Na'vi. However, they are still very distrusting of us. I do have to thank our gracious benefactor Kiryuu Knight on his generosity in helping us understand the native people better. I have found out through some of the members of the Omaticaya Clan as to why they distrust tawute or skypeople as they refer to us. It seems they speak of a monster who came from the stars and much like we did communicate with the Na'vi, use Avatars as well. They call Avatars dreamwalkers.
"These dreamwalkers infiltrated the Na'vi Clans and soon enslaved them. Then, their leader came. They described him as some sort of golden demon with many faces."
"Gold demon with many faces…" Kiryuu murmured to himself. "No, it can't be."
"I'm sure that Mr. Knight might know what they are talking about, but I do have a hypothesis. I think they are talking about Monster Zero. I told them not to be afraid anymore because that creature was destroyed 500 years ago and we have no affiliation with him. Unfortunately, this has not sated the Omaticaya Clan. They still believe that Monster Zero is out there somewhere."
"And they are right," said Kiryuu. "He cannot be destroyed."
Fear of Monster Zero explained why the Na'vi were very hostile to visitors to their world. He did recall that Grace sent a report to him on that theory and he advised her to go find evidence of King Ghidorah's arrival. Normally, the monster would shed a scale or two, in hopes that someone would find it and he would then take control of that person through it. Kiryuu ordered the scientists to seal it inside a protective glass and to study it with only robots. He could not risk anyone being exposed to its radiation even for a second.
Kiryuu shifted through the logs, trying to find more information. He came to one log Grace made about Kiryuu's decision to side with Malcho in the mining of the moon.
"…and for what? For some stupid war? We need to preserve this world, not turn it into Swiss cheese. Malcho doesn't care about anything but making more money. I should have known that Kiryuu would fall into the same rut. Corporate suits are all the same, whether they're Dragons or giant cyborg dinosaurs."
"If you only knew…" Kiryuu sighed. He leaned back and ran a silver claw through his green dreadlocks. One of his tentacles came out and started to sift through the logs while he watched idly. Finally, he came upon a log entry he needed to see. A UNSC Marine veteran named Corporal Jake Sully made this particular log. Kiryuu began to recall the moment that brought Sully to him that day. It was the day after his twin brother had died.
0
Kiryuu straightened out his black blazer and tugged on his gray sweater. He was never one for wearing ties. Walking across the restaurant floor, he set his golden eyes at a loan man in a wheelchair, staring at a glass of water. He had not ordered yet. Kiryuu came to the man and smiled slightly.
"You should order something, Mr. Sully," he said. "Your lunch is on me."
Jake Sully, a scruffy-looking human, stared back at him with wide eyes. He wore clothes that told Kiryuu he would barely even be able to pay for the bread handed out let alone a lunch tab. This was restaurant was too expensive and too fancy for his wallet. Kiryuu pulled the chair out and sat down, coiling his armored tail around a leg of the chair.
"You seem surprised to see me," he said. "I thought you received the message that I was coming."
"Yes, sir," Jake Sully said. His voice had a slight hint of an Australian accent despite the fact that he was an American. Kiryuu figured that it was possible that one of his parents was from Australia. "But I…"
"You didn't take the message seriously," Kiryuu said. "You thought it was some prank call."
"Sorry, sir," Jake said. "I didn't mean…"
"It's alright," Kiryuu held up a hand. He leaned over and glanced down at the mangled legs of his human acquaintance. "You know, you don't have to continue on riding in a wheelchair. Biosyntech can fix you. You can walk again."
"I can't afford it," Jake said. "Not even on a vet's pension."
"It's understandable, these are trying times," he said.
Probably not for you…Kiryuu heard Jake thought.
"They are just as trying for me as they are for you," he said.
"How did you…?"
"I'm telepathic, remember?" Kiryuu asked. "I thought that was a known fact about me. So, you better mind your thoughts around me."
The waiter came out and Kiryuu told him that he was paying for both lunches. Luckily he could now processed food into his cold fusion cells. He focused his eyes on Jake's and leaned in, folding his gloved hands together.
"As you know I did not call you just to have lunch," he said. "I need your help."
"What would one of the world's most powerful corporate executives want with me?" Jake asked.
"I did not want to have some of my 'stooges' as it were to approach you with this proposition," Kiryuu said. "I do not want any mess ups. I am here to give you an opportunity to regain something you lost. All you have to do is go on a small trip."
"What kind of trip?"
"Your brother was one of my scientists," Kiryuu said. "A good one too. I lost a brilliant mind. He was about to undertake a top-secret project that I personally am funding. Unfortunately, the incident with the mugger has left his seat open. A seat I want you to fill."
"I'm no scientist," Jake said in a scoff. "What use would I be to you?"
"Well, you have other uses," Kiryuu said. "Military training and also the fact that you and your brother are identical twins."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"Don't take this too lightly, Mr. Sully," said the cyborg dinosaur. "I've made a huge investment on this little science project. Have you ever heard of this planet?"
Kiryuu produced a holopad, which showed the image of a blue gas giant surrounded by 14 moons.
"Polythemus," said Jake. "Alpha Centauri."
"Right," he said. "And orbiting that planet is a moon with habitable conditions. However, they are not habitable to humans—but these conditions have been able to support life. This world we have named Pandora. There are indigenous creatures there and flora as well as a species of sentient humanoids. Currently, the planet is under mining due to the discovery of a highly superconducting substance idiotically named Unobtanium. I wish someone would strip that name off of it. Omak Technologies and Magical Research is heading the mining operations. However, because I am a bit of an eco-enthusiast, I do not support Malcho's directions in tearing up the lands of these native people—at least not without their permission."
"You think that wizwyrm is gonna be concerned over a bunch of alien Indians?" Jake shook his head.
"Malcho wants to go further in space, and that is all he cares about," Kiryuu said. "Because of the successful tests that were made on the precious mineral, Malcho has been ordered by the UNSC to begin shipping vast quantities of Unobtanium to Reach for refinement to build more advanced slip-space drives. The Na'vi, that is the name of the natives, of course don't want their land dug up."
"Who would want their backyard dug up with out just cause?" Jake asked.
"Exactly," Kiryuu agreed. "I do agree that Unobtanium can in fact push our technology even further in the voyage through space, but I also believe there is another route. Unfortunately, my hands are tied. I can no more control Malcho than you can. That is where you come in, or where your brother once did. Before mining began, when Pandora was discovered to have the Na'vi on it, I more than intrigued about them and wanted to learn more of them. I sent scientists who I paid to study them, however, relationships were tense. They did not trust anyone who came out of the sky, which was something else that captured my thoughts. Apparently they have been invaded before.
"Well, because my company specializes in cloning, I decided to use that to my advantage and basically create flash clones using the Na'vi's DNA spliced with human DNA to create bodies called Avatars. These Avatars have no conscience, but can be piloted by a human through psionic datajacking in an isolation chamber. The driver in the chamber has no awareness of his own body, but only the body of his Avatar. He feels everything the Avatar feels, sees, hears, and tastes. It also allows the scientists to move about Pandora easier without the discomfort of a breather. And the Avatar's body, since it is created from the Na'vi DNA, is better adapted to move around in the thicker atmosphere and lower gravity. But there was another reason, diplomacy. I wanted my scientists to talk to the Na'vi on their level, understand their ways and see through their eyes. This worked for a short time however still relationships were rough. Then Malcho's miners came and it all went downhill after that. Still, I wanted to keep up the program. Perhaps the Avatars could get the Na'vi to understand what is happening and perhaps help them temporarily relocate while Malcho does his mining. It wasn't enough and they even began to distrust the Avatars. Dr. Grace Augustine, the lead scientist, is still trying, but she needs protection."
"That's why you want me to go," Jake said. "I can protect the others in an Avatar."
"That," Kiryuu said. "And as well cloning an Avatar takes about 5 billion dollars. Your brother would have been riding in a pricy body. I hate to have so much money go to waste. Since you are identical twins, you are genetically the closest thing I have to him. I don't want to destroy 5 billion dollars, Jake."
Jake nodded. Kiryuu sensed what was going through the human's mind. He knew that Kiryuu was concerned about the money involved.
"What's in it for me?" Jake asked.
"You will be compensated handsomely for your time, Mr. Sully," Kiryuu said.
"And?"
"I'll even give you your legs back," Kiryuu said. "Give you back what the Insurrectionists took from you. Free of charge. All you have to do when the job is done is walk into a Utah Foundation clinic, give the nurse your name and she'll set you up with an appointment immediately. No waiting time. We can even start growing the syntech now while you are on duty on Pandora."
Jake Sully blinked and perked his lips together in thought. He nodded.
"Good, then we have a deal, Mr. Sully?" Kiryuu asked, offering his hand.
Jake took it and shook it: "We have a deal, Mr. Knight."
0
Jake did make it to Pandora, as Kiryuu was informed. However, the uprising that happened on Pandora left Jake Sully's fate uncertain. After 30 years, Kiryuu wanted to find out what had happened to the replacement for Dr. Tomas Sully. He stopped at one of the journals, seeing Sully's face appear on the screen.
"I can't begin to tell you how great it feels to be able to walk again. As soon as I was able to, I was straight out into the courtyard before any of the doctors could give me a proper check-up. I felt like I could run forever. It's also a big relief to be able to see around Pandora without the need for a breathing mask!
"It's pretty funny, seeing how everyone has to crane their necks to get a look at me, for once. Something I don't get is that the Na'vi have those weird little tentacles under their braids. I always thought they just liked having stupid hair, but what's it really covering? Not even Gracie seems to know for sure."
Kiryuu recalled that Grace theorized the Na'vi could use the pink tendrils as a way to connect to the world around them. It was like they had a natural datajack growing out from the back of their head. They could literally connect with nature. Kiryuu flipped to another entry.
"The Na'vi let me inside Hometree! Turns out this is just one tribe of many; I think they said they were called the Omaticaya. They told me they had never seen a 'warrior' of the dreamwalkers; their term for Avatars, I guess. The Na'vi who found me, Neytiri, was going on about how she only spared me because of a sign from 'Eywa'. According to Grace, that's the name of their chief god or whatever. Turns out they hate Avatars almost as much as they hate humans. Whatever, fruit-loops; I'm to walk, talk and think Na'vi now if I want to stay in their good books, and that's all that matters..."
"Quaritch has got me on a new mission. He wants me to check Hometree for any kind of structural weaknesses that the security can use to their advantage should push come to shove. I don't think Grace would be happy with what the Colonel's got in his head, but he says it's all purely for deterrent purposes and has promised to pay to have my legs restored if I'm successful. I've gotta admit that's a very tempting offer..."
"I talked Eytucan into letting Grace back into Hometree, and continue teaching English to the Na'vi. The kids really seem to like her. Meanwhile, Neytiri is keeping the lessons coming fast and hard. She calls me 'skxawng', which means 'moron', and as for Tsu'tey...
"I think Grace suspects that I'm in cahoots with Quaritch. She's kept me, Norm and Trudy here at this outpost in the Hallelujah Mountains for the past few days, doubtless to keep us away from him and Selfridge..."
When Grace sent word back to Earth about information on the Na'vi, the first thing Kiryuu wanted to learn was their language. Grace managed to create a complete dictionary and syntax codex on the Na'vi language, something that Kiryuu had valued. For the first time, he added an alien language to his databanks. Of course, other alien languages followed, mostly due to the Human-Covenant War. He learned how to speak Sangheili, mostly because that language the common one in the Covenant. A new entry came up. This time, Jake had a look of concern on his face. He looked like he was sweating and he even shivered. This particular entry was taken 3 months after Jake had landed on Pandora.
"It's been three months now since I came to this planet. Neytiri and I have grown real close, and I've been forgetting to keep this thing updated.
There's a new problem. We heard word a few hours ago that Harvest got destroyed. The guys responsible call themselves the Covenant, these bad-assed aliens that want to blow us all to kingdom come. They won't say why, of course, but they were nice enough to leave us a note; 'Your destruction is the will of the gods, and we are their instruments'...
"Quaritch is getting desperate. The news about Harvest seems to have hit him pretty hard. We're all expecting an attack from this Covenant, and getting the Unobtainium has become even more urgent than before. I keep hearing how it's going to be necessary to fight them, but it's all a load of technobabble bullshit. All that matters is that aliens want to blow us up, and we need the Unobtainium to fight them. It means I've now got a deadline that's approaching real fast."
Kiryuu knew that when the war began, even he had to put aside his concerns for the Na'vi and their homeland and focus more on the protection of the Earth colonies. It seemed Unobtainium was going to be the key in shortening the war. Malcho stated that after the mining was done and the war finished, they were going to return to Pandora and heal the planet.
"The Na'vi wouldn't be bothered by any of this, of course. Those tentacle-things I was talking about literally let 'em plug into the flora and fauna out here. I'm now bonded to an Ikran – a Mountain Banshee – which has secured me a place among the Na'vi people. I've done all I can to win their trust, but in spite of everything I think it's all been for naught. It's obvious that the Omaticaya will never leave Hometree. Why should we try to force them? I'm going to tell Neytiri everything tomorrow..."
Then, Kiryuu came upon the final entry of Jake's video logs. This one was taken a week and a half later. Jake appeared, clean-shaven, but with a startling, disturbed look in his eyes. He seemed wild and he bore a vengeful smile upon his face. Kiryuu could not help but to think that Jake looked quite mad in the video.
"It's all over... That fucker Quaritch is dead, and his little army got wiped out by Eywa herself. We took losses on our side as well, including Trudy and Tsu'tey. Shame I didn't get to see Neytiri plug Quaritch full of arrows. He deserved a lot more, after what he did to the Na'vi and to Grace...
"Selfridge and his corporate stooges have been banished from Pandora, and no humans will be permitted to live here now. Only Norm and a few others have been allowed to stay, but I can't see them staying here for long. Pandora is no place for a sky-person; Quaritch and the rest demonstrated that really well. Selfridge told me he would spread the word about Quaritch's actions to the public, but I can see the fangs behind his smile. He's going to sleaze his way out of responsibility for this one; I can see it happening.
"Not that the human race matters to me now. Fuck the lot of 'em. They can all go and get themselves wiped out by the Covenant, for all I care. If the damage they caused here is any sign of what they're going to do to win this war, then I want no part of it. Nothing excuses what happened here. If the Covenant wipes out every human in this galaxy, that's no business of mine now.
"Anyway, no matter what happens tonight, this will be my final entry. I'd better sign off now; I don't want to be late for my own birthday..."
Now Kiryuu had all of his answers as to what happened on Pandora. His mouth curled into a stark frown and his fingers folded into fists. Kiryuu pulled the datacrystal from its slot and inserted it into his head. His eyes glowed with fury when he heard the last entry made by Jake Sully.
"I was going to give you your legs back, Mr. Sully," he said. "I was going to give you a way to retire for the rest of your life in payment for replacing your brother. Now, you have crossed me. No one betrays Kiryuu Knight! If only you knew the consequences we had to pay for your petty actions. The lives that were lost to that blasted war. In your journal, you say that the Na'vi believe the humans cannot see, I say it is you who was the blind one." Kiryuu growled and then began to collect himself. "Well, now, I suppose I should correct this oversight. Perhaps my investment in the preservation of this planet was much wasted after all. It is time to take back all that I have invested, including a certain 5 billion dollars Mr. Sully owes me."
He glanced around the room.
"Months ago, I was still the Commander in Chief of the UNSC," he began. "I had authority to say whether or not we go to war. I could also lobby for treasonous criminals to be put to death. Jake Sully is such a traitor. The war could have ended much sooner if it were not for his foolish actions. 76 planets and billions of human lives could have been spared. He has not only betrayed me, but he has betrayed his fellow man. This is inexcusable."
He got up and walked back into the control room.
Kiryuu…
Kiryuu swung around at the sound of the voice.
"Who's there?" he asked, gathering himself into a fight stance.
We are together again, Kiryuu…
"Ghidorah?" Kiryuu asked, recognizing the voice.
This world holds many secrets. Find them. Find me. And then, you will at last see.
Kiryuu began to walk down the hallway, following the voice. He came to a laboratory at the far end of the compound where a glass door was barring his entry. Kiryuu placed his claw on the door lock and gave it a push. With his strength, he managed to unhinge the door. A rush of stale air flowed over him and he slowly walked into the glass chamber inside. There, he found a glass case and a golden, reptilian scale inside of it.
Hello, Kiryuu…
Kiryuu jerked back when he heard that voice. The scale pulsed with golden light as the voice spoke.
"Ghidorah?" Kiryuu asked.
Upon command, a golden mist spilled out from the scale. The fog took shape into a golden dragon with three heads. The central head had dramatically branched horns while the others only have plain curved horns. All three heads held a sly smirk as if the dragon was a cat who just swallowed the mouse.
Miss me, Kiryuu? King Ghidorah asked.
"Not really," Kiryuu replied.
That is too bad, said the dragon. I have missed you.
"So, this is what's become of you after we destroyed the Ark," said Kiryuu. "A scale."
There are many of my scales left on many worlds, Kiryuu, said Ghidorah. And you know there are many of my Flood on many Installations. The Forerunners have worlds where they keep parts of my body trapped. But I long for release. I cannot stand being pent up like this.
"Forget it," said Kiryuu. "I'm not freeing you."
But I can help you! King Ghidorah called just as Kiryuu turned away. Jake Sully does not know the secret of this world. He claims that he does. He defends a world that is not a paradise, but a hell.
"What do you mean?"
Perhaps it was best that he chased the humans away, said King Ghidorah. After all, if they were to have dug any further, they would have released me.
"What are you saying?" Kiryuu asked, drawing closer to the ghostly dragon.
This world contains Flood.
"What?" asked Kiryuu. "Where?"
Everywhere, King Ghidorah replied. Below your feet, to the west, to the east, to the north, to the south. It does not matter where you go, we will find you. And you will find us.
Kiryuu growled at King Ghidorah.
He could not have predicted the outcome of the war, said King Ghidorah. He did not know how it was going to turn out.
"He was told," said Kiryuu. "He did not care."
You can make him care. You can show him a piece of the war, the horror that came afterwards. This world is fake. This world is not real. It is a Forerunner Installation. I am being held here, in my Infectious Form. I can make him see the truth of the darkness of this world—he world he so wanted to defend.
"If that is true and you are here, this world should have been destroyed!" Kiryuu growled.
If you destroy this world, then it is no loss to me, King Ghidorah said. I have others on other worlds. For once we can work together.
"Forget it!" Kiryuu bellowed. "I do not work with freaks like yourself."
The pot calling the kettle black.
"I will never side with you," said Kiryuu. "You can guarantee that."
I think you will when you realize that you are out numbered here. Jake Sully has arrived…
"Why would you allow your Flood to be destroyed over Jake Sully?" Kiryuu asked.
The same reason why you want to kill him, said King Ghidorah. Revenge. For eons, I have watched the Na'vi live above ground, preaching how they are one with the world, when in reality; there is no world to be one with. This place is a dream world of their own, created by my age-old enemies the Forerunners.
"You created a dream world for me," said Kiryuu. "You tormented me in it. You derived pleasure from my pain."
And now I will receive pleasure from their suffering, he said. These people need to be awakened to reality. And I am that reality. I wish to break their harmony, let them know real suffering.
"Forget it," said Kiryuu. "I'll not be your patsy."
Not a patsy, but my voice.
"I was your Liche once," said Kiryuu. "Never again. I'm stronger than that."
Are you strong enough to fight against the pull of this world? This installation has malfunctioned. I think you've noticed when your cords would not retract—or even when they attached themselves to the plants. I can help in fighting against it and the Monitor here.
Kiryuu growled again and looked way.
It is a strong AI, Kiryuu, said King Ghidorah. Just as strong as Mendicant Bias. It will not let you go. But I can be your strength.
Kiryuu sighed, continuing not to look at the ghost.
Have it your way. There is something you should know. The Na'vi have become curious of the structures that protrude out from the surface of Pandora. They are Forerunner structures. They lead to me. It would be a shame if something was released.
"Jake cannot allow that to happen," said Kiryuu.
Then you must stop him, said King Ghidorah. Or make him see the errors of his ways.
"By releasing you…"
It is an option.
Kiryuu growled and left the room, heading for the door to the airlock outside. He wanted to deal with Jake Sully on his own terms, not start an epidemic with the Flood. There were abandoned shuttles docked at the compound and possibly the Flood could use those to get off the planet. That was the last thing he wanted to happen. He walked back to the control room and looked up at the screens. King Ghidorah was right Kiryuu had visitors. Standing at the foot of the ramp to the control room were several Na'vi warriors. Kiryuu smirked and walked outside, slowly descending the ramp to the Na'vi warriors. They held up their bows and arrows, pointing the poisonous tips directly at Kiryuu's face.
"Kaltxì," he said in a polite, yet business tone. "Ngati kameie."
"Vrrtep!" Kiryuu heard one of the Na'vi hiss. "Pot tspang."
"Mawey," called the elderly Na'vi. His voice sound familiar. Kiryuu turned to him. The warrior was dressed in more elaborate clothing than the others. Obviously, this was their leader, or some sort of high-ranking figure among them. Kiryuu's blue eyes turned down to the Na'vi's hands and took a census of his fingers. Ten fingers in all—not eight. Same for his toes. This Na'vi was not Na'vi at all. This Na'vi was an Avatar. The face was familiar, very familiar. Though the face was much older, Kiryuu could piece together just who he once was when he was younger. A smile curled up onto his cheek. It was Jake Sully.
"Hello, Jake," he finally said in English. "Long time, no see."
"Kiryuu Knight," said Jake. "What are you doing here? You do not belong here! You and the rest of the skypeople do not belong on Pandora."
"So, you really have turned native," Kiryuu said, walking slowly up to him. He lowered himself down so that he could look at the Na'vi chieftain in the eyes. "Not that I don't mind you wanting to immerse yourself with their culture, there is a matter of how you did it that concerns me."
Tell him! King Ghidorah bellowed. Show him what he has done! Show him the error of his ways.
Kiryuu blinked and held his ground, trying to ignore the intruder's voice in his mind.
"You and I need to have a talk, Jake Sully," he continued, using a very formal voice. "Your actions on Pandora are most disturbing."
"It took you 30 years to come here personally to deal with me?" Jake asked. "Finally got the nerve?"
"No," Kiryuu said, his face completely expressionless. "For one thing, though it does not concern you just yet, my arrival here was not of my own doing. For another, I had a war to win. Which I did. Eight years ago, I managed to get elected as Commander in Chief of the United Nations Space Command Defense Force."
"What?" Jake asked. "You're the President now?"
"Yes, Jake," he said. "I was. I served my two terms and I did what I promised before I finally left office. I ended the Human/Covenant War. And I did it by—as you humans say—the skin of my teeth. We were lucky to come out on the winning side. And we were lucky that we managed to make alliances with former members of the Covenant in order to help us win it."
"Po eyktan tawtute," Jake said to his warriors.
Kiryuu heard many calling out that they should kill him as an example to anymore skypeople who decide to return to Pandora. All he could do was chuckle at the notion. They could do nothing to him.
"Then, what are you doing here?" Jake asked. "Come for your precious Unobtainium?"
"No," said Kiryuu. "Though I would watch out in the future. It is possible with war being over that the UNSC may start mining this planet again. This time, they will not be so 'nice' about it. In order to get what they want, they could just very well wipe all of you out of existence. After all, they now see you as an obstacle rather than people who are equal to them. Obstacles need to be removed especially when it concerns their own survival. We lost many ships and many worlds to the Covenant over the 30 years. And we need supplies."
"Don't come here looking for them, then," said Jake. "We will kill anyone who comes here."
"Then, you will be wiped out," said Kiryuu. "But, who knows, maybe they won't return."
"I won't let that happen," said Jake. "I'll take you as a hostage."
Kiryuu chuckled and shook his head in dismay.
"You can certainly try," he said. He looked at the others, seeing them move in closer. "Jake, you know better than this. You know what I am capable of. Do you really want to risk the lives of your warriors to capture me and use me as some sort of hostage to save Pandora?"
Jake held up a hand again and his shoulders slumped. Kiryuu was right, there was no way he could capture the mecha and use him as a hostage.
"Leave, Kiryuu," he said. "Leave my world."
"As much as I would like to, I cannot," said Kiryuu. "I have no ship to leave with. Even if I take those shuttles off the planet, they have no slipspace capabilities. I would not be able to go anywhere."
Jake hissed at him, barring his fangs in frustration.
"What makes you think such an expression would make me leave?" Kiryuu asked in amusement.
"I don't care if you can't get back to Earth, I want you off Pandora!"
"Such irrational outbursts," said Kiryuu. "And for what? I have done nothing wrong to you. Why such animosity? I do not understand."
"You—you never came to our aid," said Jake. "You said you were on the side of the Na'vi, you wanted to learn more about them, you hated the mining Malcho was doing, but then you sided with that old wizwyrm. You betrayed Grace! And look what happened to her. Quaritch shot her. She's dead, damn you!"
"I know," Kiryuu said. "I saw your report."
His eyes focused upon Jake's.
"Which is why I want to talk to you," Kiryuu said.
"If you really want to talk to me," began Jake. "Then you will allow us to capture you."
"An ultimatum," said Kiryuu. "Very well. I will go quietly. Do not worry, I will not put up a fight, however, lower those arrows—it is fruitless to keep them up. I am sure your arms are tired."
"Cut the shit, you mechanical murderer," said Jake. "Munge po ne kelutrel. Waranyu, 'ì'awn hu po."
"Nga za'u hu ayoeng," said Waranyu.
"Si ke kllkxem lok," Kiryuu said with a chuckle. "My tail might hit you."
They went to the ikrans and mounted up. Kiryuu was ordered to sit behind Waranyu since the warrior was ordered to watch him. As the blue-green birds took off, Jake Sully glanced back at Kiryuu. The glowing, cyan cords flowed behind the biomecha. Kiryuu was Connected like a Technomancer would be. That made him even more of a threat. Kiryuu could draw on abilities that were beyond his normal functions. Though, even his normal functions were dangerous enough.
They banked, turning towards their knew Hometree. There, the ikran makto landed their mounts high in the branches of the tree. Kiryuu finally got a look at just how enormous this tree was. It was certainly taller than he in his normal height. The twisting, thick branches provided excellent alcoves for the Na'vi that lived there. Vines grew all around it. Inside though, natural bioluminescent fungi provided light for the Na'vi. It almost seemed like this tree was designed especially for a community of aboriginal sentient species to live in. Kiryuu knew that could not be natural. A tree just could not be designed to live in. He had seen reports of other worlds and none of them fit the description of Pandora. It was like this world was built for the Na'vi instead of the Na'vi having to adapt to their habitat.
"Olo'eyktan neu nga," said Waranyu, pointing over at Jake Sully. "Ìla pot."
Kiryuu swung his leg over and dismounted the bird. He made his way into the heart of the massive tree, following Jake down the spiral ramp. Kiryuu looked around at the various interwoven branches. They had hammocks made out of leaves from the tree hanging around. No, the leaves that grew from the branches were the hammocks. This began to support his theories even more that King Ghidorah was right. Pandora was not natural. It was not real. Kiryuu was looking at artificial plant life. There was only one other place that reminded him of this artificial plant life—and that was the Ark. Everything was artificial. Pandora was designed, not created.
You are beginning to piece it all together, Kiryuu.
Who designed Pandora? Kiryuu thought.
This world holds the answers to your questions. It should have been apparent to you the moment your cords began to download information from the roots of the plants here. Who do you think built this place?
The Forerunners!
As Kiryuu made his way down to the ground level of the tree, he began to sift through the files he downloaded and organizing them. There, he found his answers. This world was not a real moon, but a miniature Shield Installation. Kiryuu chuckled. He wondered if he should tell Jake what he discovered. However, he knew very well that Jake would not believe him. It was better to discuss business instead. After all, Kiryuu wanted his 5 billion dollars back.
He finally reached the center-most part of the tree where a large fire burned. Around the fire were various Na'vi, men, women, children, all gathered in a circle. An elderly Na'vi with a full head of dreadlocks and wearing several beaded necklaces stood near the fire. Jake walked up and stood beside her, placing his hand on her shoulder.
Ah, so this is Neytiri, Kiryuu thought. So this is why Jake betrayed his own people. He betrayed us because he wanted a piece of ass. Disgusting!
"Pesu po?" Neytiri asked.
"Po Kiryuu," Jake replied. "He was the one who helped bring me to you, yawne."
"Yes, helped," Kiryuu said. "However, 'help' is an understatement, I was the one who paid for his way to come here. He worked for me."
"You will not speak!" Jake shouted. "You have no voice here."
"I beg to differ," Kiryuu said, shifting his weight to one leg and crossing his arms. "How can I discuss my concerns about how you did your job if I have no voice? Your tribal-traditional logic confounds me."
"Si ke plltxe," shouted Neytiri. "Nga kea mokri."
"Si nga kea ronsem," Kiryuu growled.
"He insults me!" shouted Neytiri. "Kill him!"
The warriors began to make their move upon Kiryuu, raising their daggers and arrows once more. Kiryuu planted his feet firmly to the ground. He raised his head to the ceiling above and bellowed his roar. He gave the ground a mighty thump from his tail and the Na'vi fell back. They gasped, startled by the powerful roar.
"Attempt to make a foolhardy move towards me again," Kiryuu began. "And much more than a roar will come from my mouth. I wonder how you would like the smell of chard Na'vi in your home, Jake?"
"Kea," Jake shouted to his clan. "Mawey frapo!"
"What Quaritch has done is nothing what I could do to you if you dare anger me again," said Kiryuu. "You are already in dire straights with me now. Do not complicate your existence even further by pulling such a poor judgment call of attacking me. You are greatly out numbered."
"Listen to him," said Neytiri. "He speaks as if he is a clan of his own. He is only one being against a hundred warriors in Hometree."
"Neytiri," Jake said. "This is Kiryuu. The entire Japanese Defense Force could not stop him and they had guns, tanks, planes, and some sort of secret chemical weapon to use against him."
"We have Ewya on our side," said Neytiri. "Ewya helped us defeat the skypeople. We can call upon Ewya to defeat him as well."
"Don't be so overconfident," said Kiryuu. "However, I did not come here looking for a fight. After all, I am your prisoner—for the time being."
"What does he mean by that?" asked Neytiri.
"It means that he can leave if he so chooses," said Jake. "Stopping him would only put our clan into jeopardy. I cannot let that happen. Besides, I was lucky to have Ewya help me before. I may not be so lucky now."
"Very wise," said Kiryuu.
"What do you want to talk about, Kiryuu?" Jake asked.
"Your body," said Kiryuu. "5 billion dollars went into cloning it, to make it just right for a controller to pilot it. That body does not rightfully belong to you, it belongs to me. I allowed you to use it because you were under my employ just like I would allow someone to drive a company car under my employ. However, when that person leaves the company, he must give back company property."
"So, that's what this is about?" Jake asked. "You want my body back? Fuck you!"
"You used company property in events that went against our initial agreement," said Kiryuu. "You used that body, which was originally designed to go to your brother, to sabotage and betray the mining colony established here."
"That mining colony was destroying this moon!" said Jake. "They killed the Na'vi, who this moon rightfully belongs to."
"Only in defense," said Kiryuu. "Humans have done no wrong to the Na'vi—at least not before the mining started. When we discovered this world, we wanted to learn about the Na'vi, not take their land away. But the Na'vi were very untrusting of us. I know why. It was because of King Ghidorah."
"What?" Jake asked.
"Please, tell me, Neytiri," Kiryuu began. "The sky demon who came here and slaughtered many of your people, what did he look like?"
"The songs say he was an enormous monster with golden scales, three heads, and wings like an ikran," she replied. "But before then, he sent dreamwalkers here to trick us. We were kind to them first, but then we realized their true intent. Ever since then, we vowed never to trust skypeople again!"
"That demon she speaks of is King Ghidorah, Jake," said Kiryuu.
"And how do you know?" Jake asked.
"Grace found one of King Ghidorah's scales," said Kiryuu. "It's stored in the compound. The scale is dangerous. King Ghidorah has the power to possess anyone through the scale."
"King Ghidorah is dead," said Jake. "You killed him."
"He killed the Sky Demon?" Neytiri asked.
"King Ghidorah is not dead," Kiryuu said. "He is here—he was always here. You just were to blind to see it."
"Na'vi are never blind," said Neytiri. "Only skypeople are blind."
"You're wrong," said Kiryuu. "And that is a dangerous thing to be."
Kiryuu glanced around to the other Na'vi warriors.
"If anything else, you brought that horrible battle onto yourselves," he said, refocusing his attentions to the conflict that occurred 30 years ago. "We were nice. We wanted to treat you like equals, but you did not want that. Did you think we would continue to kiss your feet after you tried to kill unarmed scientists? That is what brought men like Quaritch to this moon. Humans are curious by nature. They feel the need to learn more about the environment they exist in—and when that environment expands to other worlds, of course they would want to learn about those worlds. But if you dare to anger a species several times more powerful than you after they opened their hands in friendship—you will be met with a force you cannot overcome.
"The only reason why they have not returned to settle the dispute was because of the Human/Covenant War. We were facing a species that wanted nothing more than our destruction, and they had superior ships and weapons to ours. Of course we needed this moon, but we could not bother wasting any more time with it. We had to focus our eyes on just saving the planets we have."
Kiryuu let loose a growl at the Na'vi.
"I find your species arrogant," he said. "And coming from me, that is saying something. You think you are perfect because you live within nature—yet you have no idea about the nature of this world you live in harmony with."
"And what do you mean by that?" Jake asked, barring his fangs and flattening his ears.
"Maybe you should ask Ewya," Kiryuu chuckled.
Jake sneered and motioned for some guards to surround Kiryuu.
"Take him to the prison and keep him locked up," he said.
Kiryuu followed them down to a lower level where roots twisted around a room. He entered the room and they placed a wicker gate up, tying the door to the roots to keep him from escaping. However, Kiryuu knew this was a futile attempt to keep him sealed up. He could easily rip through the wicker door and run. Though, he felt it was more advantageous to stay inside.
