My Blood

Tom Sully

I shook on the hard tar alley as I felt the thick, sticky deep red blood – my blood – pool around me from the shot wound in my chest. I was dying. I was dying and I couldn't do a damn thing about it. All because of some thief decided I was a prime candidate for being mugged. Hope he enjoyed his whooping five dollars and thirty – seven cents. I'd never get to see Jake again and I'd been on my way to meet him before my departure for Pandora for the first time in months. Stupid wheelchair bumper stickers… what had I been thinking?

This was going to kill him when he heard about my death. He was already going through a depression because he had loss all use of his legs. This was going to kill him off. Not to mention, I'd never go to Pandora, which I had spent a good three years training for. Bitterness and worry clouded my mind as I struggled for breath…

Don't die in agony, child.

I was no longer in my dying body. A thick mist surrounded me as I swirled around towards the maternal voice. A large, long four fingered hand gently rested on my shoulder, or at least that was what it felt like, I couldn't physically see it. Taking a deep breath I asked, who are you?

You know of me said the voice, her tone soothing. You know of my People and you love them. You have never even seen them and yet you love them.

I could hardly believe what I was hearing. There was only one deity I truly knew of and that was only because I had studied her and her creation for three years. I couldn't say I believed in her though, I was a scientist; I needed what I could see, touch, smell, feel, and hear. Yet here was her voice whispering to me as I died. Eywa, the All Mother, had somehow for some reason, reached across the galaxy and placed her hand on me.

Eywa…? But how… why…? You EXIST?!

I heard a soft chuckle, loving and sad. Yes child, I exist. And I bring you good news, for your death will not be in vain. Your bitterness and worry over your work and your brother will be healed.

For you see my child, the sky people will try to overcome my children on Pandora, but I will not allow that to happen. Thomas Sully, I chose your brother Jake to help me in my battle to save them. So will you allow Jake to use your avatar? Will you allow him to have a chance at becoming part of my People?

Silence. Jake? She was seriously talking about my brave, strong, yet reckless twin brother? Jake, who had no training what so ever and was venerable more so then most due to his useless legs? That Jake?

Think Thomas Sully. Do not be Blinded by worry. He has nothing left on Earth; he is dying as you are through his sorrow. But on Pandora, Jake will be able to start anew. He can be born again. The Na'vi goddess said her voice full of hope. I thought about it.

Will you protect him? Will you heal him? I finally asked.

Eywa sighed, I will protect him as if he were my own child, yet whether he will be healed will be his choice.

My twin, my blood was Eywa's choice, yet she was asking me for my blessing. And how could I refuse the All Mother? She was offering me a way to save my brother.

I only wish, Eywa, that I could watch Jake as he walked again a Na'vi. I said. I felt the goddess smile.

And you will Thomas Sully! She explained as a cobalt Na'vi hand appeared in front of me. Come with me; come and walk among the ancestors of my children! Come and See your brother heal!

I froze, looking at the outreached hand. Then with comfort and love in my spirit I took it.

Irayo, Mother, Thank you.

And though my body was lying in a pool of my own blood, my spirit followed the All Mother. Because I knew then that my brother, my blood, would be in her land, in her hands.

Later as I watched the ceremony of Jake's permanent transfer from his human body into my – his – avatar, I can't help but shake my head. My dear younger brother thought he'd play spy for the colonel, fell head over heels in love with the princess of the People he was suppose to be spying on, went native and became her mate, then after the destruction of Hometree tamed a toruk and lead the Na'vi nations against the human race – against the colonel. Strangely enough, I thought it sounded like something Jake would do. And he did. All that for the woman he loved… it made me wonder what would he willing do for his child.

I watched as Jake and his mate, Neytiri talked one last time as Na'vi and human. Blue eyes met with the amber, blue hand met with the white. There were no words for this love…nervous, hopeful, deep and pure. I watched as Neytiri set my brother down next to m – his avatar. The contrast between the two bodies was mind boggling: the strong, powerful Na'vi warrior alongside the small, fragile, paralyzed human soldier. Yet they were one and the same; they were my brother Jake, my blood. I watched as the surrounding Na'vi chanted the prayer and my brother's human eyes closed and his spirit left his human body. I watched as Neytiri reached out, gently took off Jake's oxygen mask, leaned forward to kiss each pale human cheek, and moved hopefully towards the lifeless avatar.

Please Eywa, you owe Jake and Neytiri this… please…

"Tommy? But that's impossible!" I swirl around only to see my brother Jake, standing tall in his human form walking towards me. He appeared faint and distant, like a ghost. I looked back at Jake's two bodies below the Tree of Souls, both are lifeless. Suddenly I understood Eywa wasn't going to speak with Jake; I was. Because in Eywa's eyes, Jake had already passed her test. My little twin brother was going to go back as Na'vi. I laughed and ran to embrace him.

"Really Jake? I've been dead for six years and when you finally see me you say, 'impossible!?' I'm hurt!"

Jake gave a sheepish grin but then his face turned serious as he asked, "Why am I still human? And I had thought Eywa herself would judge me…"

"It is not your time to see Eywa face to face," I replied solemnly. "You have a clan to lead, toruk makto. You have a mate to love and a kid on the way to rise." I watched as his eyes widened in surprise.

"What… a kid…Neytiri's preg--?"

I gave him a small wink. "But you don't know that, because I never told you."

Jake just stared at me, obviously wanting to know more, but instead he looked down as his smile fell into a frown. "Tom I'm… I'm sorry. I'm sorry I got so pissed at you; I'm sorry that you had to give up your dream and watch me screw it up…"

I interrupted quickly, "There is nothing for you to be sorry for Jake. We're brothers; we do and say stupid stuff to each other. I didn't realize – though I should have – that those stickers would make you so mad." I paused and looked down at the waiting Na'vi princess. "And what do you mean 'screw up my dream?' I died, Jake! It sucks but it's the truth. My dreams no longer matter! You though were and are still alive. Your dreams matter! And you dream of the People, of her! You found something worth fighting for!" I paused once more and added, "And I'm really, really proud of you."

I couldn't describe the look Jake gave me then, but it made me realize that I had said the right thing. His older twin's approval meant the world to him.

"I better not keep Neytiri waiting any longer," Jake finally said, breaking the silence. I nodded, jerked out of the moment.

"Go back then," I said, giving him a soft shove. "Oel ngati kameie, Jake."

Jake grinned, "Oel ngati kameie, Tom."

I felt his spirit leave. Looking back down onto the Tree of Souls, I noticed Neytiri had placed a hand on the avatar Jake, looking down into his closed eyes. I watched as Jake opened his amber eyes and felt the bursts of joy as the gaze of the two Na'vi met. My brother was alive, both body and soul. I lived on through him, my blood.