Chapter 3-Briefing Jake

From my place on my guard, I watched the Avatar in a medical robe run around-like he'd never run. And I guess he hadn't from a while...

"Sir?!"

I turned. A banshee flew down at us-a small one, but just as deadly.

I drew my gun and fired three shots. It fell with a shriek.

"For you pogues, this is a banshee." I explained "A small one. See they like it when there's fresh meat out here." I laughed darkly "And this clear cutting really stirs up the hornets nest. So, you keep your head on a swivel. If it moves-shoot it! If you're not sure if it's moving-Shoot it! If it looks like a bunch of flowers you want to take home to Sally Rotencrotch-Shoot it! What're you gonna do?"

"Shoot it!" The troopers chorused.

"Outstanding." I said.

I watched ahead as Lyle Wainfleet, in his Amp Suit, marched forward, crushing a totem obviously made by the Na'vi not far from our perimeter.

"Trudy!" I yelled, the next morning. Trudy was also an ex-marine. She was loyal to me-more loyal than any of the other pilots, and she was friendly with the Avatar team.

"Sir?" she said.

"Get that new Avatar-Sully. I want to speak to him."

"Yes sir."

Well I waited for Jake to arrive, I trained. If you didn't exercise regularily whilst on Pandora, you got soft. And if you got soft, you got yourself killed by one of Pandora's many horrors.

After a few minutes, I looked up. Jake was wheeling towards me, looking determined. "Sir?"

"This low gravity makes you soft." I said, putting the weights back on its stand "You get soft, Pandora will shit you out with dead with zero warning."

He blinked, confused. "I pulled your record out, corporal. Venezuela-that was some mean bush. Nothing like this here, though. You got heart, kid. Coming out here."

"I figured-" he said "Just another hellhole."

I laughed, and patted him on the back. "The servo's in, Colonel, if you want to try it."

I walked over the suit, Jake following. "I was in first recon, a few years ahead of you." I said "More than a few. Two tours in Nigeria, not a scratch. I come out here and-" I pointed to my face. Jake nodded, understanding. "One of those blasted natives decide to knife me."

"Ah." Jake said.

"They could fix this if I rotated back." I explained "But you know what? I kinda like it. Reminds me every day what's out there. Besides, I can't leave-this is my war."

I climbed into the suit, and flicked the switches that started it. "The avatar program is a joke." I said "Bunch of limpdick scientists. But we have a unique opportunity here, you and I. A marine in an Avatar body-that's a potent mix. You have the intel I need, on the ground, right in the hostiles camp."

I reached in, and checked that the arms, and the legs were controllable. I nodded to the waiting mechanic. "Looks good." I turned back to Jake. "I need you to learn about these savages, gain there trust. Find out how I can force there cooperation, or hit 'em hard if they don't. Maybe you can keep some of my boys from going home like you. Or bagged-and-tagged."

Jake nodded. "That sounds real good, colonel. So, am I still with Augustine?"

"On paper." I said "You walk like one of her science pukes, you quack like one, but you report to me. Can you do that?"

Jake nodded. I walked forward, and tested it further by performing Wu-Shuu Kata. Jake looked up at me, impressed, and with respect.

"Look son-I take care of my own." I explained "Get me what I need, I'll see to it you get your legs back. Your real legs."

I indicated towards his paralysed legs. "Oh yeah, sir." he said.

I gave him a nod, and reached up to pull the lid shut. In the rear mirror, I saw Jake watching as the Amp Suit drivers left.

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