"Trudy," Grace was answered with a groggy mumble. "Trudy!" She tried a little louder but careful to not wake anyone surrounding them. Trudy expertly flipped her entire body to turn away from Grace and her unwelcome voice. "Tru-" Grace stopped, realizing this was getting her nowhere. She looked around before yanking a large piece of bark extending from the tree branch that held her hammock. With a quick wind up she threw the bark as hard as she could at her sister's back.
"Ah! Grace What the-" Trudy yelled before Grace stopped her.
"Good you're up." Trudy glared at her sister who sat looking smug . "My job's done, though you may want to get a move on, the warriors left a few minutes ago for training." And with those words Grace settled down to go back to sleep while Trudy's eyes widened in horror at her sister's words.
She was going to be late and for her first day of warrior training no doubt.
"Skxawng, Skxawng, Skxawng!" Trudy screeched as she slapped herself in the head. She swiftly slipped out of her hammock, down the tree. She sprinted towards the bathing waters, ripping off her few pieces of clothing in the process and diving into the waters. A few other women were already up and bathing, and the disruption the young girl was causing in the waters earned her a few annoyed looks. She didn't notice as she did a quick wash before retrieving a clean set of cloths and set off sprinting towards the combat fields. Although she was in relatively good shape, the route she'd taken to get to the fields was the shortest but most strenuous so she found herself panting and slightly bent over when she arrived in the fields where a group of older adolescents stood listening attentive and orderly to a senior warrior.
"Well well well looks like sleeping beauty decided to join us," At this chastisement that warranted a few controlled chuckles, Trudy looked up and noticed that the senior officer was none other than Tsu'tey's father. Her mouth nearly dropped in shock as to her horrible luck. The man hardly spoke in public but from what she heard from the boys and Tsu'tey himself, combat was his element. He was stern, strong, and just all around masculine. If he wasn't so old and didn't remind her so much of the annoying boy intended for her sister-
"Glad you could make it princess." Trudy's head shot to her left when the voice murmured in her ear. Speak of the devil. Trudy shook her head not quite sure the origin of those words but knew they pertained to Tsu'tey's presence beside her.
Of course he would show up as well, she thought to herself.
Then she realized what he had just called her.
"I am no princess!" Trudy retorted harshly.
"Isn't that what you call Grace?" Trudy was momentarily struck dumb not realizing that he had any idea of her belittling pet name she had for her older sibling. "And since you are both the relatively same social level that makes you a princess as well." He continued quietly while keeping his eyes on his father who had moved on to addressing the group.
"You have no right-"
"Trudy, Tsu'tey," both snapped to attention when their names were called. "Report to the front of the group since you are our new comers." The two did so with little hesitation. Tsu'tey's father turned the two young ones around to face the group of slightly older trainees. Trudy immediately noticed that there were far more males than females in the group. "Introduce yourselves."
"I am Tsu'tey, eldest son of Ky'ran and Peyral. First string eyktan of the Omaticaya appointed by Olo'eyktan Jakesully." Tsu'tey finished with a smirk in Trudy's direction. She held his gaze in a challenge as she introduced herself.
"I am Trudy, second daughter of Olo'eyktan Jakesully and Tsahik Neytiri." Trudy stood proudly as she stated her station laughing internally as Tsu'tey puffed his chest out to match her stance. They were met with a slow clap from Ky'ran.
"It's always nice to hear of your lineages and I'm sure you hold pride for them," he began cheerfully but then the clapping stopped. "But here you are nothing more than fighters. You will one day become warriors and become truly one with the clan but for now you will listen to me and you will obey my orders. I am the wind and you are the leaves, moving at my will. Understood?"
"Aye," the entire unit responded leaving the two pre-adolescent Na'vi both in awe and embarrassment.
"Now, " Ky'ran smacked his son forward with a quick a smile when the boy yelped, "get back in line."
"Jake!" Jake turned around when he heard Norm calling him. The other man was running toward him trying to avoid collisions with the others walking around. Jake had been visiting the lower quarters of hometree where the pregnant Na'vi women resided, checking on their living conditions. "Jake, where have you been? Max has been trying to get in touch with you for hours." Jake looked puzzled for a second before turning on his communicator around his neck.
"Max?"
"Jake," the scientist gushed. "I have been trying to get you for hours-"
"I know, I know. What's up Max?"
"I used satellite signals to scan outside of Pandora's atmosphere and I picked up a few transmissions from an incoming ship." Jake grabbed Norm and moved out of earshot of the surrounding Na'vi.
"RDA?" Jake whispered.
"I think it's the shipment. And I think it's going to be here in a few weeks."
"I thought you said we had two months."
"We did but that was almost a month ago. We're looking at two or three weeks before the ship lands."
"And you said it's unmanned right?"
"Yeah. The transmissions were all computerized updates sent back to Earth about distance travelled and ship regulation. That ship is full of only supplies." Max stopped. It was an unspoken question. Jake had yet to give Max an answer about what he was supposed to do with the shipment. Norm was looking at him expectantly. Max's breathing could be heard coming from the communicator.
"Max," Jake finally said.
"Yeah?"
"Norm's gonna come help you with the supplies."
"Roger that." Max said before clicking off. Jake did the same.
Trudy returned to NewKelutrel sore and tired. She had run for miles, learned exercises and movements that seemed to awaken every muscle in her lithe body. Once she was sure that she was out of sight of the other warriors, each returning to their respective places, she lowered her head, letting her feet drag as she seemed to trudge along to the bathing area intending upon cleaning the mud from her body and relaxing her muscles and joints. She barely had all her cloths off before she was drifting off to sleep. Fortunately Grace had found her and after a scolding on the dangers of falling asleep in an open body of water, her sister helped her unwind.
Now the two were joining many of the members for the evening meal in one of the middle levels of the tree. Grace spotted Tsu'tey noticing how exhausted he appeared and how his many friends seemed completely oblivious to his state as they badgered him with questions concerning his first day of rites. She smirked before making her way to him intending on relieving him of the added stress. Trudy followed, intending on sitting in their normal places with the rest of the children of the clan. Grace's presence eased Tsu'tey immediately as his friends respectfully backed away giving the girl room to sit next to her intended. Unfortunately with the tightness of the circle and Tsu'tey's choice of seat, the only available space for Trudy was on the other side of Tsu'tey as opposed to next to her sister.
Neither of the three noticed the subliminal message being sent to the adults.
Grace normally sat at point, being of the highest power holder in the trio, so the adults didn't miss how the young boy warrior was now sitting at point. It was reminiscent of how Jakesully always found himself seated between Neytiri and Mo'at.
The clan leader smiled when he glanced over in his daughters' direction.
"There's so much fat meat in this," Grace complained partially being serious and partially in attempt to start conversation. Tsu'tey's only response was to lazily drag a finger around his bowl of meat and herbs. He shrugged not feeling a strong urge to affirm or deny her claim. Trudy scoffed before taking a large bite out of some of her meat.
"It's fine Grace, stop complaining," Trudy said though she put little strength in her voice. She was irritable and didn't have patience to put up with Grace's attention grabbing whiny act. Someone poked a head in between Tsu'tey and Trudy from behind.
"So, are the two big bad fighters ready to tell us about training?" It was Rawal. Trudy was surprised by his tone, he seemed a little angry underneath all the curiosity. Tsu'tey shrugged before answering his best friend.
"It was fine, lots of hard work." Trudy almost laughed at how diplomatic Tsu'tey was being. She could tell the boy was exhausted, but he just had to show off his superiority. She smirked knowing she had just enough energy to deflate his ego. She turned her head to face Rawal though she kept her eyes trained on Tsu'tey. He cringed as soon as he knew she was going to speak.
"Really, Tsu'tey," she noticed an eye roll, "you're such a horrid story teller. Rawal, you should come down and visit then ask him that question after his father makes him do 35 laps around the lake." Tsu'tey groaned while Rawal laughed. "He apparently whines like a baby after he gets a tongue lashing from-"
"Enough Trudy," Tsu'tey snapped before discarding his half eaten bowl of food and leaving the area. Grace was simply shaking her head in disappointment. Rawal looked as if he were going to chase after his friend but something stopped him and he pulled away to continue sitting with the other children.
"Why do you mess with him," Grace chastised. Trudy shrugged then looked back at her food, feeling a little guilty for making Tsu'tey leave.
"He needs to stop being so sensitive."
"He's not being sensitive," Grace defended then lowered her voice so that the adults wouldn't hear. "He's just going through a lot right now," Trudy sputtered when the words left Grace's mouth. "And your teasing isn't helping matters."
"He's going through-and I'm not?!" Grace's eyes widened in recognition of something that Trudy didn't pick up.
"And what exactly are you going through Trudy," Grace asked curiously but her tone was taken by Trudy to be demeaning.
"You're my sister, you should already know!"
"As much as I'm in communion with Eywa, unfortunately I'm not a mind reader," Grace began before scooting closer to her sister. "If something is bothering you, you have to tell me."
"Stop acting all high and mighty Grace," Trudy snapped before taking the last bite of her food. "Just leave me alone." Trudy stormed off leaving a frustrated Grace sitting alone. She hadn't wanted to come off sounding so harsh, she just wasn't ready to dump her problem on her sister, if she ever would be.
"Did you see that," Neytiri whispered to Jake as they ate their evening meal. "Something is definitely wrong for Trudy to storm off like that."
"Maybe she's just tired and the other kids are getting on her nerves," Jake suggested as he brought a bowl of water to his mouth.
"Grace looks concerned, they must have said something," Neytiri paused then placed her unfinished food down. "I'm going to go talk to her." She moved to get up but Jake grabbed her.
"Stop being so meddling," Jake began missing the look of amusement cross an eavesdropping Mo'at's face. "They had a disagreement, siblings tend to do that." Neytiri looked unconvinced.
"Then what about Tsu'tey, he stormed off as well," Neytiri challenged.
"He's probably just annoyed," Jake explained as if it didn't matter.
"What if they're fighting over him or something?" That stopped Jake though he quickly recovered.
"Trudy's not into boys," Jake said evenly. Neytiri's eyes widened.
"What are you suggesting, Jake?" Neytiri questioned in shock. Jake took a few moments to figure out why she was looking as such.
"I mean, she's not interested right now," he clarified. "The boys are too similar to her. Tsu'tey could probably be her twin, interests wise."
"Are you suggesting she'd want a softer guy?" Jake took another bite before answering.
"Maybe," he conceded. "And plus it's still so soon after Ahmul," he concluded. The reminder made Neytiri agree so she relaxed and Jake released the hold he had on her arm. After a few moments, Mo'at cleared her throat.
"You forget," she began without looking in her daughter and son in law's direction. "There is no solid evidence that she had an interest in Ahmul in that way." That was all it took for Neytiri to shoot to her feet and resume her previous task of confronting her youngest daughter. Jake sighed before turning to his mother in law.
"Thanks," he said dryly, trying not to dwell on the idea that perhaps she was right.
"You are most welcome Jakesully," Mo'at replied ignoring his sarcasm.
Trudy was starting to regret that she'd left the others, to wander aimlessly around alone. There was nothing around to distract her from those visions and no one to pull her back to reality before they got to be too much.
She could only see someone else's life flash before her eyes for so long before it started to get to her.
She felt the slightest change in a breeze behind her and stopped. Her ears perked as she listened. Nothing. But she knew someone had followed her. Someone stealthy, so she knew it wasn't Grace. It made her angry anyways, even if she didn't want to be alone, they could still respect her verbal wish to be left as such. She tried evading her stalker to no avail. In a split decision she dipped into a nearby alcove, hoping whoever inhabited the area was still at the meal. She walked straight into what she thought was a wall.
"Oomph," only to discover it was a person. She slowly glanced up relieved to find Norm looking down at her. "If you wanted a hug, all you had to do was ask," he joked as she stepped back, embarrassed.
"Sorry Uncle Norm I was just," she paused glancing back out the opening, unsure of whether she wanted to tell him the truth that she was hiding from someone and covering for the fact that she hadn't realized this was his and Ninat's dwelling. "Just coming by for a visit. Haven't seen you in a while." Norm figured she wasn't telling the truth but he played along anyway.
"Oh right of course." He settled into makeshift seat while inviting Trudy to sit across from him on similar piece. She hesitated but after giving one last look outside she sat as well. "So why aren't you with the others, I can't imagine that dinner is over yet?" She remembered that dinner wasn't a normal term for her but still felt familiar.
"Why weren't you at dinner?" She challenged. He looked surprised at first by her aggressiveness then it turned into amusement. He laughed before answering.
"I went to visit Max." Trudy's features softened at the mention.
"How is Toktor Patel?"
"He's good as can be," Norm paused not sure how much he should reveal to the girl in front of him. "The family as well." They fell into a silence before Trudy spoke.
"Must be hard," she began. "Being the only humans, even if they are a family." Norm nodded in agreement.
"It can be," sometimes he forgets that not all of us are dead, that Jake and I, we're his friends and we're still here." The mention of friends sparked a question in Trudy.
"Did you know Trudy Chacon?" Her question caught Norm off guard. He looked surprised, then he frowned. "I just wanted to know because I'm supposedly named after her but I don't know…"Then he settled on smiling slightly.
"Have you asked your dad?" Trudy shook her head slowly. "He was friends with her as well." Trudy nodded. "They were both on the military side of the RDA. I was a scientist, the only gunslinger I had contact with regularly was Ja-your dad until Trudy became our impromptu pilot."
"Was she good," Trudy asked quickly. "In the military, was she a good warrior?"
"Yeah," Norm chuckled, "she was really good." Trudy watched as his expression gave way to his drifting thoughts. "Beautiful young woman, bona fide tomboy, sarcastic... she was great." He laughed again. "The first time I met her we were boarding-"
"We who?"
"Doctor Augustine, your dad, a few other military personnel," Norm explained. "It was the day your parents met," he added and she smiled as she nodded in understanding. "Anyway, we were boarding her Samson-"
"Samson?"
"Her chopper-her uh," Norm waved his hands as if willing a Na'vi translation to come to him. "Her mechanical Ikran." The description brought several visions to the forefront of Trudy's mind but Norm didn't seem to notice her troubled look as he continued with his story. "I introduced myself and the first thing she says is: 'Norm is two letters away from Nerd.' I frowned then she punched me teasingly in the arm and showed me where her missiles were located. It was just like high school all over again I always used to-" Norm stopped talking suddenly, silently cursing himself for what he was about to reveal to his pseudo niece. Something not even her father had known. He noticed her posture on the seat and smiled. "She used to sit like that all the time."
"Sit like what?" Trudy asked. Norm pointed to how she had leaned forward with shoulders in line with her knees where her hands rested. "Oh, I sit like this all the time, well when something is interesting. Not when I'm listening to another lecture or one of dad's speeches." When Norm laughed loudly, Trudy fought the urge to look away hoping her uncle didn't reveal that bit of news to her father. "So you two were close?"
"As close as a scientist and a pilot could be in the few months we were on tour together. " Trudy saw him frown slightly at the end. "We talked more when Grace- uh Doctor Augustine moved us to the Hallelujah mountains. Trudy flew us up there and sometimes I would fly with her on supply runs. It helped with the loneliness."
"Loneliness?" Trudy found herself asking before she could stop. "But you had Dr. Augustine and dad."
"More like they had each other," Trudy's eyes narrowed and Norm thought it best to explain. "Not romantically, more of," he huffed. "The work Jake was doing in the clan was more tangible, dire, more viable than what I was doing."
"Which was?"
"Pretty much what I do now, with the plants and everything." He sighed. "Don't get me wrong, your dad made a breakthrough but I was younger and –"
"Jealous?" Trudy offered.
"Yeah," Norm affirmed albeit unwillingly. "But I got over myself and we ironed things out in the end. Trudy being there helped me a lot."
"What did you talk about?"
"Oh everything. Her life, my life, back on Earth. Our respective RDA branches, our tour on Pandora, likes dislikes…everything," he reiterated. "Come to think of it, I think I knew Trudy better than I knew your dad back then. I mean I had known Tom pretty well from before-" Trudy blinked at the mention of Tom. She knew that he was her blood uncle, a human, that had died before her father came to Pandora. Anymore than that was kept from her. "Why the sudden interest in Trudy anyway?" Norm's question brought her back from her ponderings.
"My sister and I don't have Na'vi names. Everyone else has names that mean something, like strong tree or solid rock or calm river but not us. Even Grace can find a human meaning to her name but not me. Trudy doesn't mean anything, it's just blank." Norm listened attentively. "I guess I just wanted to have some sort of background to who I am."
"I used to think that about my name. Norman. It's like normal. How more boring can you get?" The two laughed. "I have Trudy to thank for giving me Nerd at least. My life was complete since I had some identity to cling to." Trudy laughed again with Norm following her shortly.
"Does that mean I can call you Uncle Nerd now," Trudy asked. Norm had stood and reached over run a hand playfully through her hair.
"Whatever you wish," he replied a smile plastered on his face. "You better get going though, it's getting late and your parents are probably wondering where you ran off to."
"How did you-" she paused as he gave her a knowing look. "Okay." He chuckled as her shoulders drooped and she trudged out the opening where she paused and looked back. "Oh and Uncle Norm?"
"Yeah?"
"Could I come back sometime so you can tell me more about Trudy Chacon?" He hesitated sensing the hope in her voice but not quite seeing it in her nonchalant expression.
"Sure thing kiddo." He replied. She smiled before heading out the opening again.
"See ya Uncle Nerd!" She called back leaving a chuckling Norm behind her.
Neytiri had slunk behind some brush when Trudy had noticed someone was following her. The Na'vi woman knew there was no way her barely adolescent daughter should have been able to notice her presence but she had. It's why she had quickly dove into Norm's dwelling. Neytiri had stayed hidden for a few moments, not being able to hear much but felt more at ease when she heard laughter coming from the area, figuring Trudy must have encountered Norm.
It was a nice sound, especially considering the two rarely interacted. Neytiri hadn't even known if Trudy knew where her Uncle lived. Apparently the child was full of surprises. Satisfied, Neytiri turned intending on heading back to the others and her meal. She spent the trek hoping that Jake was right, that maybe her daughter was just some sort of prodigy.
But her intuition told her otherwise.
A/N: Updated: 3-30-10 I really am sorry about these slow updates. Engineering school is kicking me in the butt and running me over with a Mack truck right now. Thanks for the reviews!