Red Beauty

12

The mighty Toruk came down, screeching as it smashed the tiny humans below like little ants. It smashed, rearing its head as it came down on several other humans, crushing them in its large jaws. Blood filled the creature's mouth as it violently shook them. Jake looked up with baited breath. The creature looked right at him, and screeched, blood and saliva flying. The once-marine rushed towards it, and the animal obediently bowed down, and both connected. Jake grabbed the queues of the animal, and pulled back on them. The Toruk reared its body back, and spread its wings, darting into the air. In the sky, non-painted and painted Samsons and Scorpions battled, with the occasional mounted Ikran. The great four-winged beast snapped its jaws at one enemy Scorpion, crushing down at the tail, and threw it to another non-painted Scorpion. The two collided with a large bang, and sparks flew. Both soon burst into flames, going downward to the ground.

Neytiri watched, her tail twitching. She took an inhale of breath, and calmed her body. The creature above screeched loudly, beating its wings in perfect harmony. The animal dove down, attacking a Scorpion with its mouth, shaking it violently from side to side. Jake hooted as it released the airship and threw it towards another Scorpion. Both exploded, bursting into an inferno. Other Ikrans dove down like birds hunting for worms in the ground, and they snapped up enemy humans, tearing and ripping at their bodies. Neytiri jumped over a dead AMP suit, firing her arrows at whatever non-painted human she saw. She kept running, her blood pounding in her ears, and her heart racing. She only stopped when she saw Parker, her arrow lodged in his chest. His eyes were glazed over, and his mouth slightly open. Neytiri glared at the man, her ears and tail low. She leapt over the body, attacking more humans.. She ran towards an unpainted AMP suit that was attacking a native Na'vi. She jumped it, blinding the man inside the machine as she supported herself against the windshield. The human inside snarled, his robotic hands reaching at her, wanting to pull her off as she violently stabbed the machine with her knife. The AMP suit stumbled back as an Ikran from a fellow native attacked the machine. The dragonish animal bit at the machine, trying to rip at the metal. The human inside the machine slapped Neytiri away and she hit the ground roughly. The Ikran ripped the hood of the machine, exposing the man to Pandoran air as Neytiri jumped back on, and violently stabbed the man inside until he stopped moving. The machine crumbled to the ground, and Neytiri jumped off, panting like a dog from the heat of summer. The Ikran hissed, and then darted into the air. Neytiri dried the blood on her arm, and then attacked another human with her knife. She threw him aside, and watched as an AMP suit attacked her. They locked hands, and she fell back, and the machine fell forward, rolling on the ground. As soon as he was about to stand up, the Great Leonopteryx smashed down on the machine, killing the man inside. Neytiri took in a breath, and glanced up. Jake smiled down at her, and gave her a playful salute. She smiled, nodding her head at him.

Neytiri turned as the great winged animal flew back into the air, and she crouched forward, her tail twitching. To her right she saw a painted marine being attacked by an enemy. The men struggled, the comrade human being pressed to the ground as the enemy was trying to stab him. The painted marine put his hand to the wrist of the non-painted marine, preventing him from being stabbed. The man on the bottom was easily being subdued as soon as Neytiri approached. She grabbed the man, and threw him. The human flew, and he violently smashed into a wall, knocking him out. Neytiri snorted, and looked down at the human, who scrambled to stand. She bent down, pulling him up.

"Thank you," he said.

She nodded, flashed a sweet smile, before she ran off, her knife drawn. The man twitched, retrieved his gun, and rushed off.


Rajian walked slowly behind a painted marine, machine gun in hand. While the male nurse was skittish as he twirled around, uneasy and ready to fire, the marine was calm and cool. Both hid behind several boxes as Na'vi, humans and AMP suits fought hand-in-hand on the ground. And in the heavens, Ikrans, Samsons and Scorpions battled above. Rajian twitched, breathing harshly, and gripping his gun.

"I thought I was brave, but I en't," the male nurse whispered.

"Ah, grow a pair," the marine snarled back. "Just pull th' trigger and shoot."

They were bent down from behind the crates. The marine hummed a tune as he loaded his machine gun, and aimed the barrel at a human that stood at the top of the building, firing his gun savagely. The pro-Na'vi marine fired a single bullet as the human stopped short and fell deafly to the ground. Rajian swallowed, loading his gun, following the marine's example. The marine pulled down, looking at the nurse expectantly. The Indian man took an inhale of air through his mask, and fired his gun, shooting the man in the arm. Luckily, it was the enemy. He screeched, gripping his arm tightly before Rajian fired again, this time hitting the same man in the leg. The marine grunted, and finished the job.

"Just stay calm," the marine stated, clasping the male nurse on the shoulder with his large hand. "You'll be fine."

Rajian nodded sharply.


Quaritch had to leave his AMP. He had to. He wore his RDA breathing mask (the EXO-Pack), eyeing the red Ikran before him. The beast was female, and it was pretty big to him. The Ikran snorted, eyeing the human like her prey. When he would move, she would mimic it, making sure that he would not get away. The clone smirked, kicking back a rock that was in the way. The clone rubbed his thick mussels, preparing himself for a fight. He did not know what Eywa was planning, but She wanted him to have this Ikran, even though this was the worse possible time to do so. "Let's play," he taunted.

The Ikran growled deeply. Without a warning, the beast attacked, shooting out its neck, teeth protruding out from their jaws. Quaritch reacted, jumping up, reaching for the queues of the animal. His hands clasped on the queues. The Ikran roared violently, thrusting about its head, wanting the human off her body. The neck shook back and forth, Quaritch holding fast. He wrapped his legs around the neck, holding on for dear life. The Ikran screeched, throwing its neck down on the dirt, dragging the human on the earth like a rag doll. The clone did not release the creature, cuts forming on his body, and blood flying. The flying beast thrust its body into the air, beating its wings roughly. Quaritch struggled, yanking on the sensitive queues as warning. The Ikran screeched in pain, wanting this human off her body. Her one-fingered claw came up, reaching for the human, but yanking off his mask. The clone gasped in surprise, watching the mask fall from his face.

The clone held the queue in one of his hands tightly, his other free hand reaching for his mask. The Mountain Banshee smashed the human into a mountain wall. Quaritch had to retrieve his mask before it was too late. He held his breath like a person would hold their breath under water. But he was soon losing his air. He, out of pure desperation, took a sharp inhale of Pandoran air. The pain was like thousands of needles probing at his lungs. And as the Ikran moved around, the mask flew past Quaritch's now bluing face, and the clone grabbed it, forcing it to his face. His head began to normalize, and the dizziness faded. Quaritch smirked, hanging on to the Ikran. The beast thrashed its body, but the clone could tell it was becoming tired. But the Mountain Banshee would not give in. The creature snapped its jaws, thrusting its body up and down. It felt like riding a horse, and Quaritch had a large grin on his face.

"Just give up!" Quaritch called to the Ikran.

The beast panted, spit flying. Quaritch held on, gritting his teeth, forming a grin. The beast then stopped, flopping pitifully on the ground. It panted, its eyes turning to the human. Quaritch laughed, moving to look at the Ikran in the eyes, smirking broadly.

"Give up?" he asked the beast.

The being twitched. Quaritch stroked the snout fondly, the creature still.

"I guess so," Quaritch breathed.

He released the queues of the beast, getting off the creature. The Ikran sat up, looking at the human. Quaritch reached up, holding the snout in his hands. "Good girl," he said, patting the nose.

The creature grumbled lovingly, nudging the human lovingly. Quaritch, forgetting his AMP suit, boarded his new Ikran. The creature grumbled, shuffling, renewed with fresh energy. It was awkward how he sat on the beast, but he grabbed his Ikran's queues, and used them like horse reins.

"Let's fly, Red Beauty!" he called to the creature, yanking back on the queues.

The beast roared, ducking upward and sailing through the sky.


Neytiri jumped, shooting her arrow at enemy humans. Jake was not too far behind. He smashed down a human with his staff, and the Toruk smashed down upon the building. Screams were cut short as the beast's jaws snapped on their bodies, ripping them like they were shards of thin paper. Painted AMP suits smashed into the non-painted ones, and painted Samsons fired at the enemy humans. Tu'sky had found (she saw them huddled against a tree when she was looking for her mate-to-be) and rounded up the children, pushing them to Norm, who kicked away a human.

"NormSpellman!" she called.

Norm looked to his sister-figure, horrified when he saw her. She was not supposed to be fighting! "Sister," he said in Na'vi. "What are you doing?"

"That does not matter," she chided. Tu'sky huddled the children and women that had been captured by Blackwood. "Take them back to the village. Now go!"

Norm glanced up and down at her, not wanting to leave his sister's side. But he did comply, grabbing the arm of one child and yanked her along, the others were soon to follow. Tu'sky growled, her hand going to her side, where Blackwood had so violently jabbed that machine into her. Her body was begging for rest, but this was war—she could not have that necessity just yet. Just as a human was about to attack, she swung back, smacking away a human. She grabbed a bright orange RDA gun, remembering how Quaritch taught her how to use it. She looked for what the humans called the "trigger," and pushed it, bullets flying. She was caught off by surprise, and stopped. But then she got a firm grip on the gun, and pulled the trigger again. Tu'sky jumped up, firing off the machine, hitting several humans before it ran out of ammunition. When that happened, she thrust the gun down, hitting another human.

Where was Blackwood?

Where was he?

She wanted to feed him to the Viperwolves. The Na'vi female smacked away a human, searching for the human. She took a breath of sharp air, and went back into the forest, knowing that they children that Blackwood had kept locked away where safe. And where was Quaritch? She needed him.


Neytiri used her knife to attack a human, stabbing him multiple times. The queen of the Na'vi people got up, kicking away a human. And just as she was about to stab another one, he turned around, paint of his tanned face. Neytiri stopped, recognizing him as an ally. The tanned male human glanced up, looking at a human that was aiming his gun at the Na'vi female, pulled out his gun and fired at the human. The soldier was surprised, and his face stayed surprised as he died.

"You with us?" Neytiri asked, turning around, guarding the human.

"Yeah, I'm Rajian," the man said.

"MilesQuaritch's friend?" she cried.

"Yeah, have you seen him?"

Neytiri shot off an arrow, hitting a human. "No, I not see him," she stated.

And just then, a large red Ikran thrust down from the sky, attacking several humans. It screeched, biting the tiny humans. And both Neytiri and Rajian were surprised when they saw who was riding the creature. "Quaritch?" the Indian male nurse cried.

The creature swiped its tail, hitting several humans. Quaritch pulled out his Wasp Revolver, holding it with both hands, firing it off at random humans. The Ikran growled, attacking the rest of the humans. The clone slid of the beast, patting the neck fondly. Rajian had his jaw slack, looking at the dragon-like creature with bugging eyes. He held out his hands towards the Ikran.

"How the hell?" he demanded.

The female creature nudged her rider, growling lovingly. Quaritch smiled, stroking the snout. "I'll tell you later," he answered. There was a pause. "Where's Tu'sky, Neytiri?"

"I saw her over there," she answered, pointing the way she had came from.

"And Blackwood, Rajian?"

"Shit, I haven't seen that guy," the Indian man grumbled.

Quaritch placed his revolver into its holster, and boarded his Ikran. He grabbed the queues gently, using them like guiders. "I'm going to find them," he retorted to say. "Be careful."

The creature screeched, taking to flight, beating all four wings.


Tu'sky groaned, leaning against a tree. Her breathing was becoming labored, and her limbs hurt to move. She started to spit up blood now, the insides of her mouth stained crimson. She had to rest. The female Na'vi fell to the roots of a tree, trying her best to ignore the fight that was not too far from her. Tu'sky trembled, her vision becoming distorted. She did not even notice that a red Ikran flew above her.

Get up.

Tu'sky lifted up her head weakly. She stood up on her shaky legs, but then collasped. She was not like Neytiri. She was not a fearless warrior that could keep fighting and fighting until her last breath. No. Maybe that was why the Palulukan had chosen her . . . She was the better warrior . . .

Get up.

She pushed herself against the tree, forcing herself up. When her mother died, she thought she had too, but she had not. When her father was next, she thought she could not make it on her own, but she did, and she raised her brother too. And her Ikran died . . . And she was still there; kicking and fighting all the way. She may not be like Neytiri, but she had to be strong.

Get up and find Miles and kill Blackwood.

She had to be strong. Tu'sky stood up on trembling legs, and she darted into the forest.


Red Beauty landed where her rider had broken her. Quaritch jumped off, looking at his AMP. He turned to his Ikran, holding her snout in his tiny hands. "Okay, girl, listen to me," he breathed. "I have to fight now. I can't use you. Stay here. You understand. Stay here. Do not move until I come back. Understand?"

The creature snorted, looking at her rider.

"I'll be fine, Red Beauty," he told her, patting her head. "Stay." He took a few steps back, but the red Ikran followed. Quaritch shook his head, pushing her head back. "Stay." The Ikran looked right at him with a puzzled look. "Stay." Red Beauty lowered her head to the ground, relaxing there. He rushed to his AMP, getting strapped in and removing his mask. He turned it on, and walked by his Ikran. "Stay," he ordered, and then rushed off.


Norm watched the AMP before him with anger. This bastard was blocking his way to the village. He could not return the children and the injured women back to the scarred village if he was in the way. The human inside smirked, egging Norm on:

"C'mon, bitch! C'mere and get it!"

And Norm did. He leapt up, jumping onto the hood of the robot. The man in the AMP suit shook around, his hands reaching out to grab him. The smaller children watched, but some of the older teenagers and women knew they had to help. As one teenager hurdled away the smaller female children, the tazer-bruised women charged at the AMP suit. What used to be one-on-one was now one-on-seven. Norm watched as the women grabbed what they could—rocks or branches—and viscously attacked the metal creation. The glass they were smashing on soon buckled, glass shards flying everywhere. The man's screaming was cut short when Norm reached in and snapped his neck like a twig. When it was over, the AMP suit fell to the ground like a rock, and Norm and the other woman jumped off the metal creation. He nodded, smiling at the females.

"Nice job, ladies!" he called. "C'mon!"


Blackwood tore through the forest, a sick smile on his face. He pushed down a tree that was in his way, and stepped on a Viperwolf pup. The mother wailed for her now dead pup, and when she attacked the AMP, the general crushed her. This was all too exciting. The thrill to kill. He could not have been too far from the Na'vi village—rather, what was left of the village. He reached a clearing. No trees, no rocks—just a steep cliff not too far off. The ground was dead below his robot's feet, and little shrubs were scattered around awkwardly.

"BLACKWOOD!"

The general smirked, turning his AMP to see the seething clone Quaritch. The colonel clone pushed aside some rocks, glaring at the general. The other human laughed darkly, looking at the clone. "Hey, buddy!" he called in a taunting voice.

Quaritch stopped a few feet, stopping short about twenty feet from the other human.

"Nice to see you again," Blackwood sneered. "How've you been?"

"The hell with you," snapped the clone. He positioned himself for a fight, and Blackwood laughed.

"You wanna play with me?" Blackwood asked, a smirk on his lips.

Quaritch remained silent, his face thunderous and his eyes raging like an inferno. Blackwood laughed. "Let's play, then, clone."


There's smymbolism in Quaritch and the Ikran.