.:To Infinity:.

Chapter I

Evan opened the door to his apartment but stopped short in the doorway. The waves of grief filling the room made him pause and look around until he caught sight of his roommate, Jake Sully, staring out the window. Despite how much the attack had taken from Jake, he had never been one to dwell in self pity. Never one to ask for help or saving, but this didn't have the feel of self-pity to it, this was heart stopping grief that tried to pull Evan down.

"Jake…" He called softly, hesitantly into the room. Since the day that he had been altered by magic he didn't feel emotions as humans felt them. Over time he had found himself forgetting what his emotional response should be and it took years of watching and practice to learn to mimic the right expressions. But even after 80 years he still was uncertain at times of how he should act.

"My brother's dead, he…" Jake stopped, clearing his throat. Evan could see his fist clenching as he tried to keep control of himself. Evan took another step into the heavy apartment, closing the door softly behind him.

"He was mugged outside a store and he's dead."

The words were said solidly but Evan heard the gaping pain in a voice all too clearly. He took the steps to Jake's side, taking a knee beside's his wheel chair but then hesitated as to what to do. The last time a friend had lost a family member he had tried to explain to them that it was ok because it was just nature. They had become furious and exploded at him, accusing him of being heartless and a monster, in the end throwing him out of their home and life. Should he instead try and hold Jake, offer comfort? Jake was male though, and in addition true to the military, aka not so into group hugs. Perhaps he should try to get Jake to punch him, get some anger out? Offering any advice or words of wisdom after the last time didn't seem prudent. But would he be seen as callous if he just gave Jake his space, or was that what he wanted? Should he give his condolences and then leave Jake alone? Did he want to be alone?

A small laugh pulled his attention back to his friend who was peering down at him with an amused expression. Evan could see that while there was shine to Jakes eyes there was no redness around them, nor any tracks down his face.

"Just make me some dinner, clueless." Jake said, laughter in his voice. Evan forced a smile on himself and gave Jake a nudge to the shoulder as he rose and headed towards the kitchen. The nickname 'clueless' had evolved within days of Jake meeting and hanging with Evan. Instead of taking Evan's odd or incongruous responses to certain situations as something offensive and ostracizing him for it, Jake took it in stride and seemed amused by the whole thing.

It was one of the many reasons why they fit so well and had lived together for so long. Also why Harry had remained as Evan Granger for currently two years longer than in any other persona he'd taken. The fact that Evan loved to cook also fit in perfectly with Jake. Despite how long they had looked they hadn't been able to find a kitchen with counters low enough that it would be feasible for Jake to work upon. They had talked about getting them torn out and replacing them, but Jake decided that then he would have no excuse for making Evan cook for him and, as Evan did enjoy cooking, they left them. The grill that they had on the patio though was entirely Jakes baby. He often ended up smacking at Evan with a spatula or some other utensil in his hand if his roommate came within five feet of it.

Despite the traumatic event of the day dinner was like always, laughing and checking up on the other's day. The sudden lull and return of tension made Evan pause and peer closely to his roommate.

"I'm going to Pandora, they offered me my brother's spot in the expedition." Jake told Evan, confidence and uncertainty both in his voice as well as a tinge of loss.

Evan gave him a wide smile, which Jake quickly echoed, only a small amount of the misery he was in showing through.

"I promised to watch over a Sully on Pandora, and I will."

A flash of pain was there and gone again on Jakes face but he gave a grateful nod and returned to his food. All thoughts of loss and an uncertain future forgotten for now.

-0.0-

As Evan closed the door to his room he let out a breath of relief. As much as he had grown attached to Jake it was tiring keeping up the façade of humanism. Weary he moved to the bathroom attached to his bedroom, stripping out of his clothes as he went. He flipped on the shower and left it to warm as he gazed at himself in the mirror. With a practiced swipe he ran a finger over his eye and came out with a deep brown contact, revealing an eye that could never be mistaken as human. It is always said that the eyes exposed everything about someone, their inner-self and in this case it was more accurate than ever. While his magic could create an echo of his past body, or any body he wished, his eyes couldn't be disguised with magic. Bright glowing green pools of swirling magic, reduced to a hazel color with the deep brown contacts. Deftly he took out the other and truly relaxed. All the minor quirks of a human disappeared, the small twitches and easy expressions. What was left was a guise that was utterly alien. An unnatural stillness and piercing gaze, no sign of humanity remained, no sign of empathy or ability to understand humans at all.

With unnatural movements Harry moved into the shower, taking enjoyment over the feel of the flowing water before retiring to his bed. He picked up and ancient looking book and continued his reading. Since he was altered he held no need for sustenance or rest, though at time partook in both to retain his façade. But here in his room, he could relax and enjoy his book and the flow of magic through him and the planet.

-0.0-

The trip to Pandora took six years but felt like an instant. As Evan exited the cryo pod beside Jake he wondered how that knowledge hit his friend. Feeling like his brother had just died, and yet knowing that years had gone past already.

It didn't surprise Evan that Jake had gained control of any grief he felt in the few days before they launched. While Evan could no longer see it on his face, he felt it in the air at times, as fresh and raw as the day he had found Jake sitting so still in their apartment.

On the shuttle taking them down to Pandora Jake and Evan had taken a chance to peer over their neighbors and out the window. Pandora seemed bigger than earth in some ways, which was ironic since it was only a moon, but what was most amazing was how green it was. Just green and blue, everything filled with life. It was a startling contrast to their last view of Earth, a depressing one at that. Evan couldn't help the hesitancy that filled him at the remembrance. How long would it be before humans turned Pandora into a mirror of what was left of Earth? Even the magic that had flowed through Earth had begun to dim, unable to keep up with the damage and destruction that had been done. The magic though held no fear; it knew that things flowed as they would, everything changed for a reason. Besides, Harry held the magic from Earth within his being, and would continue to exist on this new moon. Soon Harry would flow with the energies of Pandora, leaving a part of Earth to continue on within it.

As their shuttle touched down there was swift and efficient movement from all the trained military within and a slower scrambling from the collection of doctors. Evan proceeded in the same movements but as they filed out he slowed so he would exit and step upon Pandora beside Jake.

The second his foot touched upon the dirt of this new paradise he felt as if all the air had been forced from him. Pandora was alive in a way that Earth had never been. It was as if all the native creatures that passed on upon this planet kept their conscious self and became a part of this world. As Evan stepped onto the dirt ground, that had once been jungle before being ripped apart and beaten down, all he heard were screams. Some in anger, and others in pain or grief. He shuddered and tried to reach out to sooth them but quickly drew back. There was little reason in those voices, and no recognition to what he was or that he might want to help. All he heard was 'sky-people' and disgust as they turned his magic away from theirs.

Evan continued on beside Jake, barely taking in the monstrous machines and numerous soldiers marching past. Some part of him was disappointed by this first reaction, but if there was anything that personified him and magic it was patience, because everything changed eventually.

Jake and he caught up to the other soldiers in what looked like a mess hall that had been converted for the welcoming lecture. The man at the front was like a few of the commanders he had served under before; none of whom he had liked or respected. Colonel Miles Quaritch spoke of the humanoid 'savages' that were the primary danger that they had come across, how they were unreasonable tree-huggers. Evan wondered if he would be saying the same if he could hear the screams.

After the debriefing he joined the other squads that were heading to the bunks while Jake left for a tour of the science lab and to meet the head there. He wouldn't be joining him with the other soldiers; instead taking a private room that would have been his brother's that was close to the lab. Jake had argued that he was fine being in the bunks with the others, but Evan knew how much easier the space and privacy would be on Jake and insisted. It was only logical that he be near the labs anyway when he would be spending so much time in them.

-0.0-

Harry's first chance of seeing the true Pandora up close, and not the beaten altered area that had been destroyed and claimed, was taken that very night. It was a simple matter to put an aversion ward over his bed, keeping all interest away from it and where he might be.

Normally apparating into the unknown would be extremely risky, but with his magic he could see the forms of all life and safely deposit himself between a breathtakingly humongous tree and a brightly and oddly colored plant.

Harry spun around gasping in delight. While he had trouble understanding and expressing emotions he couldn't help but be amazed with the wonder of this place. Not just its visual beauty but with the magic he felt underneath. It sang in joy, in a harmony he couldn't define or hope to replicate. It was a true wonder and he let his own energies flow out and among all that was around him. He felt the moons shock, and slight confusion, but then delight, and welcome. It twined around him and the slightly different magic of earth, pulling him in different ways to teach him more about itself.

Harry let out a loud joyous laugh that was like none he could remember. He continued to walk around this forest, seeing it and so much more that this new magic wanted to show him. They were two different things, him and the magic of this world, but he felt with time they would understand each other better. They would flow seamlessly together, exchanging and evolving into something more, effortlessly.

The few creatures of Pandora that he came across seemed confused and hesitant of him. To their senses it was as if a tree had pulled up its roots and decided to walk past them. Harry laughed again with the magic around him, sharing their amusement. He sent out gentle greetings but didn't confront any of them and moved on to wherever he was being guided. He could feel the anticipation in everything around him and knew that he was near their destination.

As he turned around another of the ancient trees he saw what he knew was the purpose of the night. A large tree stretched throughout the clearing, emitting so much magic that it seemed to glow from the roots that delved deep into the earth to the tips of its branches that stretched wide in welcome.

Harry flowed into the clearing, his guise of human flowing in and out of his true self, a chimera of all the creatures of magic. At last he was before the ancient tree, the heart of this world from which everything flowed out and returned again, and reached out to hold a branch that stretched out to him.

~hello Harry/Evan/magic/creature/life/death/brother/friend/changer~

It came to Harry as more of a changing thought or emotion, conveying everything that he was or could be.

~hello mother/center/Pandora/ancient/heart/Eywa~

He wasn't certain where the last name come, perhaps the magic had been whispering it to him while he traveled here, perhaps part of the magic of this world that already knew her had merged with him, all he was sure of was that it defined her as flawlessly as the other names.

For many moments after that nothing more coherent passed between them. All was a rush sharing of knowledge and memories. Eywa saw what was of Earth and understood with Harry that it would pass. Neither felt grief from this, only acknowledging what was. What Eywa did learn from it though was how desperate the men now invading her were and that they would never stop. They wouldn't accept the change and fate of their home, and wouldn't hesitate to destroy anther if it brought a chance for theirs. For that they grieved, for the foolishness of man. They shared more after that, Harry learning some more about the creatures of this world, shocked to find that she flowed to at least some degree through all the life created on her planet, not just magical creatures like it is on Earth. Without seeing the outside world he felt the sunrise drawing near and slowly and reluctantly began to untwine himself from Eywa. At last he was back to his true self, sometimes holding the guise of human, before something shifted; the fangs, fur, scales, feathers, claws coming and fading, continually flowing. At times he wasn't whole; just energy, parts of him made of wind, fire, earth or water. For the first time he felt whole and relaxed and at peace. For a moment he was tempted to remain, he could feel the welcome from the surrounding energy but he remembered his promise to Jake, and perhaps part of him wasn't ready to let go of all human interaction.

"I'll share with you again soon." Harry whispered to the magic around him and felt it responding with excitement, welcome and anticipation. There was no reason to say 'good-bye' or that he would see her again because she was always there, a comfort in the back of his mind. He just needed to find another chance to escape and fall into that growing connection.

Within a second he was back beside his bunk bed, his human guise intact once again. He removed the standard BDU's from his trunk that they had been provided with and dressed before finding the mess hall. Jake was an early riser, perhaps he would be there already as well.

{\\\Ava - }