Chapter Eleven - The Endeavour Arrives
The forest before him exploded – bullets shredded leaves, powering through fruit and flowers. A large bug fell to the floor, twitching. Actual bullets. Jake flattened himself to the ground, heart pounding, not daring to even lift his head. The barrage of fire was moving away, and he could hear crashing, screams.
Three bursts of colour through the Tsahalyu – deaths.
There were three tiny fingers on his lips. Another hand pulled on his eyelid. But it was the smell that pulled him, unwillingly, into wakefulness.
Tomas sat on his neck, now discovering the delights of sticking his fingers into his father's nose.
"Oh, ugh!" He opened his eyes, getting poked by sticky fingers on his eyes.
There was a laugh at his side, and he turned to see Neytiri spread her fingers on her knees with happiness.
Jake lifted his hands to Tomas's pudgy ribs, pulling him from his neck and sitting up. Tomas, at a month old seemed to have almost doubled in weight, it felt at times. This rapid growth was, as Neytiri assured him, entirely normal. Their son was normal in every respect, from all that Jake and Neytiri's hawk-like scrutiny revealed. Every way, except that one, those bright little eyes that had the elders muttering. There was concerns that without the gold eyes that was common to the People, little Tomas would have trouble seeing. But he seemed fine.
Tomas progressed and he grew. And grew, it seemed. He now fit neatly along the length of Neytiri's forearm, which was roughly two and a half feet. He'd also reached the wriggling stage. Not a problem, as Norm had helpfully pointed out that it showed motor control, except that Norm wasn't the one who had to carry around what felt like a small bag of worms on his back when he went anywhere. The only thing that would stop the baby from giggling, screaming and fidgeting, scaring away all game in the process, was to ride his ikran at high speed.
This was not something Jake had wanted to do, at first.
"Are you crazy?" he'd asked Neytiri.
"You want him to want to be hunter and warrior?"
"He's a baby. He could slip!"
"Then tie him tightly."
It wasn't every day that Jake did this. Despite the fact that Tomas clearly loved it, Jake felt like he was going to have a heart attack every time Neytiri convinced him to go flying with their child strapped to his back. Jake was trying not to be a bad parent. However, despite all the group meetings with the other expectant parents, Jake was realising there really was no definite way to be a perfect parent.
Only one other pair had already given birth yet, to a little girl. In fact, it was Nguran, one of the Omaticaya's best hunters, and fast becoming Jake's friend. It was his second daughter, although he had confessed to Jake during a Sturmbeest hunt that he'd have liked to have a son.
"But Eywa wants daughters after times of sorrow, it appears," Nguran laughed, "and leaves her sons for her very best."
"It's just random," Jake answered, "All chance."
Nguran had shaken his head, laughing deeply. He had a wide, square-jawed face and a strong-shouldered build. "Olo'eyktan, don't settle for chance. Ewya connects everything, like a weaving. Step back, Jake, and you will see how each thread touches."
Norm had found two pairs of Avatar footprints a mile from the Nest, still fresh, and followed them. Within twenty minutes he had tracked down a familiar couple, albeit with different bodies.
"Norm!" Wendy got to her feet, coming to him and hugging him. "I'm so glad we found you – we're totally lost – Kieran forgot the GPS!"
Norm stepped back with a laugh, which died upon seeing her properly.
Wendy's avatar was heavily pregnant.
Seeing his face, Wendy's hands curled around herself protectively. "We've come to ..." She took at deep breath. "I want our child to grow up Omaticaya. It would be what's best for her. Besides, I don't know how this body will ... I mean, I just ... I want advice and help."
"You're welcome," Norm assured them. "But you walked straight past the clan, you know!"
Kieran shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry."
Norm began to lead the way. "So it's a girl, huh?"
Wendy blinked her almond eyes. "I think so."
When they arrived back at the Nest, Norm decided to organise them a place to sleep first. Approaching the fire-pits, he asked, "Does anyone know of a place where a pair can sleep?"
There were several suggestions, until a hand touched his elbow. Hnene bowed her head slightly, "The place next to mine has been empty for some time." She looked at Wendy, "I would not mind another mother so near."
"Wow, thank you Hnene," Norm said. "I'll show you," he said, turning to Wendy and Kieran. "Plus, it's better to learn to climb while it's still day, trust me."
"I will come also," Hnene announced. Her eyes darted to Norm, but then settled on Wendy. "Climbing with a child is different."
"I'll bet," Kieran laughed.
Hnene's stare was unnerving, and Kieran's laughter petered out. "We go now," she said, heading for the nearest giant root that led to the main tree.
It was strange for Norm to realise that he was no longer the clumsy one. It was over a year since he'd begun living with the Omaticaya full-time, but it was easy to forget sometimes just how much he'd changed. Watching Kieran and Wendy struggle with their tails, ignoring what seemed like giant places to wedge their toes and fingers made Norm feel like a graceful prolemuris in comparison. Hnene crouched at the rim of the bore-hole that led to the inner spiral watching their pair with distain.
"They are like babies," she said. "Look," she hissed as Wendy grabbed onto a bunch of moss, which flinched at her touch and floated away. Wendy was left looking for a more stable handhold.
"I was probably worse," Norm said lightly, "Trust me, they will get better."
Hnene rolled her eyes. The action was so unusual for a Na'vi, so human, that Norm stared. Hnene stroked Astiri's sleeping head, looking away uncomfortably.
Once they'd entered the inner spiral and started moving up, Kieran and Wendy's complaining gave way to admiration. "Does it glow all the time?" Wendy said, inspecting the peachy sponge that coated and illuminated the entire interior.
"It is brighter when there is more movement," Hnene said.
"Planimal?" Wendy demanded of Norm. He shrugged.
"It's probably just a photo-chemical reaction," Kieran said. "Change in lighting caused by movement induces are photo-reaction, simple. No extensive nervous system needed."
Hnene looked over her shoulder, catching Norm's eye. "Am I going to be regretting them next to me? Will they sleep?" But she was smiling as she said it.
Wendy straightened up from poking the wall, looking sheepish. "Sorry. I'm easily distracted."
The place Hnene had suggested was a cosy hollow. With four adults there, it was fairly crowded. "It is very empty," Hnene said, waving a hand at the walls and floor. "You will need a stand, for your ... things ... " she ran an eye over their human clothing and continued, "and pots, a rain cover – "
"I'll show you how to make those," Norm said.
"He is very good at making them," Hnene said. Wendy and Kieran nodded, clearly over-whelmed by all the new information, therefore missing Norm's rapid glance at Hnene, who wasn't one to give out compliments easily.
"Just to clarify," Wendy said, "The pots are for what?"
Norm' lips quirked. "Uh, that would be for the baby, mostly. Adults are expected to be, well –" he rubbed the back of his neck, "Potty trained. It's roughly twenty stories tall up here though, so until you've uh, trained your body to ... wait ... "
Wendy and Kieran looked dismayed. "Chamber pots? Are you kidding me?"
"It's a fact of life," Hnene said. "But Omaticaya men and women know how to control ..." she brushed a loose braid over her shoulder and met Wendy's eyes, "it would be best if you followed this custom."
"Sure, no probs," Kieran said. "So, where do we get these pots?"
"You make them," Norm said. "Red clay for the, uh, 'chamber pot' and white clay for drinking water. If you go to the eastern banks you'll find people making them, they'll show you how." Norm frowned, looking around, "Make sure you get the yellow moss that grows at the water's edge – it's a disinfectant, so put it in both pots."
They nodded. Then, Wendy spoke in a soft voice, "So, um ... I'm sorry, I forget your name?" She looked pointedly at Hnene.
"Hnene, daughter of Ansit and her mate Kai, son of La'iri, sister of Ateyo."
Wendy and Kieran blinked.
"Hnene is what they call me," she said softly. She shuffled to the back wall. "There is gathering group, for fruits," she said, pressing herself through the feathery sponge. At the last moment she poked her head back in. "You could come."
"Oh, sure, okay."
The three of them followed her. Again Wendy and Kieran slipped and slid their way through the tree. The group was on the northern bank of the lake, where the cliff rose, lifting the fire-pits above the water level. A sizable group were organising themselves with baskets. Neytiri and Jake were there also. Neytiri for a change had Tomas strapped to her chest. The baby gave a chuckle of delight at the strangers, his hands shakily reaching.
"He is so cute," Kieran muttered. Wendy gulped, nodding, but her expression wasn't exactly of adoration. A trio of women who were just as heavy as Wendy were approaching, cooing over her size. They fired rapid Na'vi questions – name, her mate, when was the baby due and so on. A basket was arranged for them, even Norm, who was given a folded up weave sling big enough to carry a man – but evidently to carry the largest of the bounty.
The group headed out along the ridge north-easterly. "Is that Jake?" Kieran said, nodding his head towards the man in question. Norm nodded. Kieran left Wendy to the mercy of the other mothers-to-be and hurried up to the Avatar who was no longer a human.
Jake turned, nodding silently in acknowledgement of Kieran's approach.
"I got to talk to you, dude."
"Go right ahead," Jake said. A pause, "The ISV docked yet?"
"Exactly," Kieran said. "Two days ago. Seems they've followed our request. They're stabilising orbit, waiting our command to land for supplies."
"That's good," Jake smiled.
"Just thought you'd want to know, dude," Kieran said. He inclined his head to Neytiri. "Cute little kid."
"His name is Tomas," Neytiri offered.
Kieran's eyes flicked to Jake. Just like all the others at Hell's Gate, he'd known about and been expecting Jake's twin brother all that time ago. "Huh. Good name."
Jake pushed the way through the foliage for Neytiri. Kieran ducked as the branch swung back. Jake turned, brows raised. "How many on the ship?" His voice was nonchalant.
"Passenger capacity on an ISV is one-hundred, you should know that. That includes the fifteen crew. Nine miners, six new scientists," Kieran skipped a bit, "And, of course, seventy security enforcements."
"Why so many?"
"They were expecting to have a giant new mine to be guarding," Kieran reminded him. "Most of the mining can be done remotely, but security: they want the real thing out there." Kieran hitched his basket higher, "So I figure you'll want us at Hell's Gate to meet them when they come down on the Valkyrie?"
Jake nodded. "I don't see why I should go. The RDA wouldn't dare anything. Seventy men and a Valkyrie Shuttle isn't exactly scary. Nothing but the machine guns and the AMP Suits are ready to be used straight after arriving, from what I remember anyway. You guys can match it, right?"
Kieran nodded, "Yeah, we got more weapons and dynamite than we know what to do with at Hell's Gate ... not that I know how to use any of it, except maybe lighting a fuse." He snorted. "But if you're asking if we can threaten them with it, sure thing."
Kieran was just holding back for Wendy when Jake was rampaged. A group of ten children arranged themselves behind their olo'eyktan and pumped their arms, chanting in English, "We're following the leader, the leader, we're following the leader, wherever he may go ..."
"Norm's been at them again," Jake said to Kieran's dropped jaw.
"We're off to fight Sawtute, Sawtute, we're off to fight Sawtute, because he told us so..."
"I can see why he changed that part," Kieran muttered.
"Olo'eyktan," one of the little boys demanded.
"Hey, Ote'lo, long time no see," Jake replied.
"I speak Inglìsì good, don't I?" the boy said with a puffed chest. "It's our – us kids - secret language," the boy confided, "I can no speak beside Hnene but, because she knows, yes?"
"Really?" Jake's tone of surprise was slightly over-enthusiastic. "I didn't know she spoke English."
"Yes," Ote'lo said solemnly, "Did she not say it? That is where Ngera was kill – "
"Don't speak his name!" Neytiri hissed. She glanced at Jake. "Only a life-mate can say the name of their dead partner."
"Sorry," the little boy said with wide eyes.
"It's okay," Neytiri's tone softened.
By midday they had found an area with an abundance of fruit. The Omaticaya spread out, baskets at hips or on the floor. Young ones scaled tall, palm-like trees with hatchets at their waists, calling to each other across the dense forest as they hacked at the nuts used in bolos. The area beneath these trees was abandoned, because nobody likes getting hit on the head by falling nuts. Jake, Neytiri and Tomas formed a small band with Hnene and Astiri, Wendy, Kieran, Norm, Mo'at, Nguran and his family and moved up the slope in search of vines.
At the summit, Mo'at took Neytiri, Hnene, Wendy and Nguran's mate away to look for medicines and herbs for new mothers. Nguran's eldest daughter ran off after them with three cousins. The four men all glanced at each other before finding a clearing with plenty to pick. Norm set about showing Kieran which were safe, and which actually tasted good.
Jake rested his head against an old, rotting fallen tree. "Teylu," he said to Nguran. "Let's get them."
Kieran and Norm were out of sight, but their voices could easily be heard. Throughout the forest young boys and girls screamed from the tops of trees, obviously doing more play that work. Brief bursts of laughter from families could be heard.
Jake and Nguran used their knives to gouge into the follow log, finding it filled with the grubs that were a staple of protein in the Na'vi's diet. They began to fill Nguran's basket with armfuls of the squirming larvae. Very soon the basket was full.
"I'll go get mine," Jake said. "I won't be long."
He ducked through the foliage, seeking out Neytiri and the women who had his basket. A little way on he found their trail.
He turned to his left, to the sound of laughter. He smiled, moving in that direction, following the giggles. He knew that dotted through this part of the forest were tens of Omaticaya collecting fruit.
Then the forest before him exploded – bullets shredded leaves, powering through fruit and flowers. A large bug fell to the floor, twitching. Actual bullets. Jake flattened himself to the ground, heart pounding, not daring to even lift his head. The barrage of fire was moving away, and he could hear crashing, screams.
Three bursts of colour through the Tsahalyu – deaths, but they were not Neytiri, but that meant nothing, she was still out there, along with all the others, all of them unarmed, for who took their bows with them on a fruit picking expedition? Any of those screams could be her.
He struggled to his knees, when another volley of bullets splattered through the fern in front of him, and he rolled, flattening himself down.
He was helpless.
"NEYTIRI!"
The screaming was continuing. Jake crawled on his belly towards the source of the fire. Reaching a tree he hid behind it and leapt up, up, and then climbed around, peering down the other side of the slope.
A Valkyrie shuttle had landed in the middle of the jungle, in what could only be the biggest clearing for miles. At the edge of the clearing, baskets were scattered. Amongst them, the women were cornered by a group of ten human soldiers.
As he watched, Mo'at was stepping forward. He couldn't hear what they were saying, they were too far away and the breeze was in the opposite direction – which was why he hadn't smelt them coming either.
Suddenly, a group of soldiers pounced on each of the women except Mo'at. There was a shout as Mo'at leapt to Neytiri's defence, a gunshot, and Mo'at fell, and lay still on the floor. Neytiri cried out, struggling, and so was Hnene, Wendy and Nguran's mate Riyah. The soldiers were picking up Mo'at, carrying her up into the ship. They were dragging the rest of the women and children, too.
Jake leapt from the tree, running.
Just meters from the clearing, he found a group of young Na'vi girls. Nguran's eldest daughter sat rocking and crying over her three dead cousins, the ones Jake had felt die through his Tsahaylu. The youngest couldn't have been older than ten. Jake stopped. "I have to – I mean, the others – "
The girl wasn't listening, running shaky fingers over her cousin's eyes, closing them.
Jake tore into the clearing, running not only straight into danger, but to the others, who were still alive. Those girls in the bushes were beyond his help now.
When he arrived, the women were being escorted up the ramp into the hull of the Valkyrie Shuttle.
"NEYTIRI!"
She turned, calling to him, "JAKE!"
One of the men had taken Astiri from Hnene. His partner had a gun pressed to her ribs.
"I will blow out her heart!" The man yelled at Jake. "Don't you come any closer!" And to prove his point, he fired a shot near Jake's feet.
Jake jumped aside, swearing. He got up. "You're a bit off course!" Jake yelled. "Or didn't you notice that this isn't Hell's Gate?"
The women had grown still, knowing that it was useless to fight against the simple – yet effective – machine guns levelled at their heads and chests.
"You're not exactly home yourself, Avatar," one man yelled. He shook his head. "It's true," he sneered, "about you guys going native." He turned to his comrades, "Breeding," he spat, shooting a disgusted glance Astiri, who was crying loudly and squirming against the soldier who held her with clear discomfort.
"So what?" Jake replied. "Our choice."
"Yeah, well, then you won't mind us moving into Hell's Gate – you're clearly very comfortable here." Jake growled as the man ran an appreciative eye over Neytiri and Hnene.
"No chance," Jake said.
Wendy and Riyah were being pushed deeper into the hull. Neytiri and Hnene stood side by side, Tomas on Neytiri's back wailing at all the noise.
"Well," the soldier, the leader said, "that's a real shame, because you're not going to get your mutant babies back until you do."
Jake felt sick. "Please," he said, trying to sound calm, "Not the children. This isn't their fight."
There was a derisive laugh, "Well we can't take just you Avatars hostage," the man growled, "You could just jump back into your human bodies!"
"I cannot," Hnene said firmly.
"Good one," The soldier growled, "But we heard you ladies speaking English before we got you. I'm guessing that old one is that – what's her name – Doctor Augustine, right?"
Neytiri glanced at her mother's still form with confusion. "No, that is – "
"No," The man snapped, "No more talking. We're going." He turned to Jake, light shining off his exomask so that he appeared to have no face, "You think it over a little bit. And when you decide to give us control of Hell's Gate, we'll give back your spawn, and the bodies that care for them."
There was a sudden yelled of "KEE-IIAAA!" and Hnene tried to leap away to freedom. A soldier swung his gun at her – not shooting, but throwing the whole thing with his might. Before Jake could appreciate the stupidity of the move, it struck Hnene full in the face, and she dropped.
Neytiri snarled, jumped towards Hnene, her arms reaching for the gun. But another soldier was too quick.
"NO!" Jake yelled as the man opened fire. He saw the cloth holding Tomas to Neytiri's back snap, the baby crying before he landed. The bundle went still. Neytiri turned, her mouth and eyes wide. Stuck between the weapon and her child, she began to move back to Tomas, but froze when a gunman stepped over Tomas, planting himself firmly between her and her child with a barrel aimed at her chest.
Through all of this, Hnene had dragged herself, blinking over to the fallen gun, cradling it awkwardly in her arms, clearly at a loss at how to use it. But she worked it out, pointing it at the man who was pointing at Neytiri and a few rounds exploded in his direction.
Neytiri leaped aside to safety, clearing the ramp and running the last few steps to Jake's side. The men were swearing, swarming over Hnene – she dropped the gun. The ramp was rising, and then the engines were turning on. Jake and Neytiri were forced back, eyes squinting. Neytiri was shaking at his side, her eyes wet. The Valkyrie lifted off, clearing the canopy and disappearing into the atmosphere.
Jake's ears were ringing, but he still heard the choking sound Neytiri made as she collapsed on the ground, fisting herbs and plants. "Kehe," she said softly, "Ke-he... ke-he, KEHE!" She raised her arms, uprooting the plants and throwing them from herself.
Jake knelt in front of her. Neytiri leaned forward, holding him, crying. Jake sniffed, trying not to cry himself.
Kieran, Norm and Nguran were the first to join them. Nguran was shouting, kicking ferns. He had no problem with crying. "Did you see?" He demanded, "She is alive, Riyah lives?"
Jake nodded mutely, not letting Neytiri go. "Wendy too," he said croakily to Kieran, who had seated himself on one of the rocks at the edge of the clearing, staring blankly at the sky. "They're taken as hostage. They – " he tried to clear his throat, "they think that we're all Avatars."
Norm hovered awkwardly. "So Tom – ?"
Neytiri's wailing raised in volume, which was enough of an answer.
Norm punched his own palm. "We can't let them do this," he said vehemently, "we just can't."
"What can I do?" Jake demanded, gently releasing Neytiri and standing up. He could hear the war cries of his people charging towards them, having seen the shuttle rise above the trees. "What can I do?"
"This is my fault," Wendy said. "If my Na'vi hadn't been so out of practise, and if I hadn't been wearing this," she waved at her human clothing, "they would never have thought you were Avatars too."
"That is not your fault," Hnene said tightly.
They were in what could be described as a box. Wendy knew that it was air locked – for now, they would be able to breathe. She didn't want to think about when the air would run out. It was just her, Hnene and Riyah. Mo'at and the three babies were somewhere else. Wendy hoped desperately that they were alive.
When the shuttle had ascended, they had been pressed to a wall, feeling sick and gasping as rising g-forces had pressed on their bodies. It was also cramped, a shipping container. The walls were cold. A dim tube light lit the entire area.
And the only way they knew they were in orbit was the fact they were floating. Riyah and Hnene were clinging to the walls, clearly terrified. "We're safe," Wendy assured them.
"This is demon power," Hnene said, shuddering.
Riyah struggled on the wall a second before accidently launching herself across the space. She glided smoothly, using her hands to come to a slow stop on the opposite wall. "No, we are like banshee," she said softly, "but banshee are not demon."
The Omaticaya had returned to the Nest to regroup and plan. Kieran had immediately linked out to tell those at Hell's Gate what had happened. His body lay slumped against one of the great branches on the platform at the top of the tree, his unconscious form appearing almost calm.
The warriors, including Nguran, were eager to attack. But the fact was, neither ikran nor the Samsons at Hell's Gate could leave Pandora's atmosphere.
"They must come down eventually," said Kxoril.
Neytiri sat completely still beside the seedling, absently holding its willow-like tendrils in her hands. Jake tried to move her, but at every touch she flinched. Her face was expressionless. Elders placed her mother's ceremonial shawl over her immovable shoulders, but it was just a costume. She could not comfort the People now. She couldn't be comforted either.
Jake needed her. He needed Neytiri's guidance now more than ever. He desperately wanted her to hit him upside the head, call him skxawng for believing that two of the most important people to him were gone. Not missing, not by some freak accident, not to restore the balance of Eywa. But stolen. What would be done with Mo'at and Tomas's broken bodies? An image of them floating in space made him shudder. He had to focus, there was still Hnene and Astiri, Wendy and Nguran's mate and youngest daughter to save. He had to be strong, and be the olo'eyktan.
People were joining with Eywa, seeking comfort and guidance. The three girls who had been killed were at the roots of the Seedling, being prayed over until they could be buried. Through the Tsahaylu the prayers were like a constant chatter, irritating because it ruined his concentration, dragging him towards the engulfing grief that Neytiri had already succumbed to. His head ached as he tried to block it.
Kieran woke with a start. "Max says they'll move, if that's what you want, Jake," he said.
"No," Jake said, "We leave Hell's Gate and we'll have the RDA swarming here again. No, we have to stay there, stay in control of supplies and technology and communications."
"So what must we do?" demanded a warrior. "The hostages cannot be saved unless you abandon that place but that place cannot be left."
"There is always another way," Norm said, "We just have to think of it."
"We have to get them to come to us," Jake said, "That's the only way."
It was pitch black. The only light came off their skin. The cooing of the two girls echoed around Mo'at who was cradling her grandson, desperately trying to wake him up. The little infant girls were floating at eye level.
With a cough, Tomas woke. Blood was crusted on one side of his head. But his eyes were focused.
Mo'at gathered the three infants to her chest, allowing them to float in her arms. All was silent.
Her eyes caught a line of black dots floating past. She frowned, touching one with her finger. She sniffed, then tasted, recognising the tang of her own blood.
The babies were asleep now. One by one, their glowing dots dimmed until it was completely dark. There was no sound. She was floating, she could feel nothing.
Would she notice when she died?
Max Patel was glaring at a ten-foot high image of the current crew of the ISV Endeavour. He was also shouting.
"Those weren't even Avatars," he said, slamming a hand down on the desk in front of him. "Except one, who is pregnant, by the way! The rest of them are true Na'vi. That's a breach of UN's Universal Charter on Environmental Conduct! No sample taking of specimens that haven't been pre-approved by the UN itself!"
The screen was split with a man with a muscular neck. "Well, they were speaking English," he drawled. "How were we to know? It changes nothing," he said in a low voice, his chest swelling. "You're squatting on our pad. Really, I'm a reasonable man – " Max's brows raised, " – but to be honest, this cute little gig of yours, it's not funny anymore. The Na'vi were fine with the RDA until you Avatars interfered. So when you tell the RDA to shove off, it's obvious to us that you want the place for yourselves, not for the 'good of the Na'vi'. I'm sure you already figured that you're fired – and seeing as you're no longer RDA employees, you have no right to their private property. So you move out, or I've got a nice little semi-automatic that I'm dying to re-enact a Men-in-Black scene with. I wonder if your blue friends have blue brains?" He grinned cruelly, revealing a golden capped tooth.
The military man turned off his video link, leaving the captain and crew blinking. "There's nothing else you can do," the captain said in a soft voice, "Davies and his friend Cole are in charge," she said, "I don't like doing this to you, but I can't do anything. Please, just do what they say. I don't want the death of women and children on my conscience."
Norm pulled himself reluctantly from the link chamber.
Greg was alone at the controls, and raised a hand. "Wendy's still in," he said, "I don't want to risk pulling the plug."
Norm looked over at Wendy's closed lid. "I don't know whether to worry," he said, "Surely she must be staying for a reason, and I hope it's not trouble, but if her Avatar was hurt or ... " he couldn't complete that thought, "she'd get out, right?"
Greg stood up, stretching and then shrugged. "Theoretically, but of course we've never been able to test that. I mean, I think so, but there are others who think differently."
"Yeah, who?"
"Louise, Francis, Owen, Janine, to name a few." Greg glanced at his watch. "Louise said to me once, that the death of a body, with a soul inside causes irreparable damage that makes it impossible for the soul to exist in any body ..."
"A soul?" Norm's eye lingered on the green 'occupied' light on the lid of Wendy's chamber.
"She doesn't see Avatar-driving just as a miracle of science." Greg gave a half-laugh, "She thinks our souls actually leave our bodies, to go into the Avatars."
Norm rubbed his chest, where, although there was no mark, there were occasional twinges of pain. "Strange," he muttered.
"Sure is," Greg said. "I don't know how she can think that way." He shook his shaggy head, "Look, everyone's up on level three. That's where they're 'talking' to those people on the Endeavour."
Norm nodded. "I'll go there now," he said.
It was crowded on level three. All the Avatar drivers had returned to Hell's Gate and had dragged chairs around the hologram bay, arguing.
"I don't even know where they could be keeping them," Janine said, so short that she barely peeked over the top of the table. "Both the ISV and the Valkyrie are like giant bubbles of Earth-like atmosphere. Sure, the Na'vi can breathe it, but it's not good for their health."
"So you're basically saying they could be dying as we sit here doing nothing?" Louise demanded.
"I don't trust them," said a lanky man, pushing his glasses up his nose, "How can we be sure they'll give back the hostages, even if we did what they said?"
There were murmurs of agreement.
"Obviously we pretend, then," a man wearing a NYU shirt said, "Just, you know, say we agree, then when they come down, boom! We show them good, not to mess with us!"
"That's dumb," the guy to his left sneered. "You don't think they'll be expecting that? 'Sides, that Valkyrie can land anywhere that's got enough clearance, they've shown us already. They'll demand to meet us somewhere far away from here, then double-cross us and land at Hell's Gate and take over!"
Max frowned at the ground. "That could work ... "
"What?"
He looked up. "We let it happen. We empty the place out."
"Great," Mei said sarcastically. "You've gone crazy."
"No," Max said, "I repeat, we empty the place."
"What are you saying?" Norm asked slowly.
"The only reason they want Hell's Gate is because it has all the technology they need to set up operations here. But," he waved at the controls behind him, "we take a few cables, and remove the Samsons, food supplies and they won't notice until it's too late. Then they're sitting ducks for us to come in, storm the place – with the Na'vi's help if they'll give it – and we don't have to worry about doing damage because we have all the parts we need somewhere else safe."
"It sounds nuts," Mei said.
"Nuts enough that it could work."
"Just a question," Norm said, "If it does come down to a fight, this place would be worthless to us afterwards if the air filtrations systems were compromised. How can we avoid them shooting that?"
"We take that too," Max said.
"I think they'd notice pretty quickly when they can't breathe here," Louise said.
"You'd think that, yes," Max said, "But this place is big. The air locks would keep enough air in here to fool them for a while; it just wouldn't replenish the air. Within a day or so, I bet they'd have used, or lost to opened doors, all the air they need. Then it's our time."
"A lot of things could go wrong," NYU guy said. "I mean, all that stuff, it'd take a while to remove. They'd get suspicious."
Max nodded. His eyes darted to Norm, "Yes, we'd need to do it quickly – and to do it that quick, we'd need, say, one hundred pairs of hands."
Norm's lips pressed together. "Okay," he said softly. "I see what you're getting at."
A few jaws dropped. "No offense, but the Na'vi don't even know what cables are!" Mei said.
"They're not stupid," Louise snapped, "They can learn. How hard is it to say, 'pull this', anyway?"
"So we're agreed?" Janine said.
Mei crossed her arms.
"Great!" the woman next to her said brightly. "Norm, you better go and round up some volunteers. How fast do you think you can get them to come?"
Norm shrugged. "Nightfall?"
Jake had used Neytiri's condition as an excuse to escape the demands of the tribe. He was leading her across the platform so they could return to their room when Norm ran up to them.
"We had an idea," he said.
Jake paused. "Yes?"
Norm quickly told him, "... but we'll be needing help. Max said approximately one hundred should help. We'll need children to get into the human-sized service areas and strong adults to carry heavy things to the Samsons."
"That has got to be the most craziest battle plan I've ever heard," Jake said. He faced Neytiri, holding a hand to her cold cheek. "Neytiri? What do you think?"
Her dim eyes turned to him. "The Omaticaya would love to make Hell's Gate uninhabitable for humans."
"Okay." Jake left them, running to the centre of the platform and calling for attention. "We have a battle plan! We are going to set up a trap for the Sawtute, but the chosen ones need our help to do it! I need children and strong hunters and warriors. Parents, your children will be safe, but only let them come if they will follow orders. We must all fly by ikran to do it in time. If you are coming to help, those with an ikran must pair with a child who doesn't. Please, stand over there," Jake yelled.
By the time the willing had arranged themselves, there were one hundred ikrans ready to fly. Thirty children stood at the sides of their ikran riders, who were mostly elder siblings or parents.
Neytiri gave her signature cry and leapt to the sky, Ghost gnashing her teeth with the fury of a mother's revenge.
They arrived just as the sun was setting. The Na'vi stood on the runway, looking curiously at Hell's Gate. Many had never even been close to the place, much less standing on its hard concrete. The humans of Hell's Gate were standing in exo-masks with wide stares at the small army of tall, strong Na'vi, and the children.
Upon arriving, Norm and Kieran had run off to return to their human bodies.
"Thity men, over here please!" Greg yelled. "Anybody, but you need to be strong!"
The Na'vi warriors shrugged, volunteering. Greg began to lead them to one of the warehouses where the weapons were kept, so they could remove all the ammunition. Jake noticed that the AMP suits stood at the edge of the forest, ready to be walked away by the humans at the last moment.
Max took twenty to move the dynamite from the mines. Janine took ten of the children to the greenhouses to disable the food-growing and to take the seed-starter packs.
Another thirty adults were taken to remove as much cabling and wires.
The last of the adults and children were accompanied by Norm and Louise to do the difficult task of disabling and removing the air-filtration systems. Children ended up squirreling into ventilation, giggling through the walls like mice.
Jake and Neytiri were among the cable-pullers. Trusting Jake, their team leader Angus had decided to get the couple to remove wireless routers. This involved using a screw-driver which was not easy, because to Jake's hand it was the size of a toothpick, and it wasn't easy for him to duck under desks either. He began to understand why the Na'vi children had been needed – an eight year old was as tall as fully-grown humans were.
The human air felt tangy and sweet. Neytiri worked with focus, silent. Occasionally she would pause, wiping a tear from her cheek.
Above their heads, two boys in the ceiling sang a warrior's song as they worked.
They had not wanted her to leave them, but Wendy had finally linked out. As she pushed the link-chamber open, it was pulled roughly and she was pulled into a crushing embrace.
"Kieran?"
He pulled back, hurriedly wiping his eyes. "Are you safe? Did they hurt you?"
"I'm fine," Wendy said, getting out. "I'm – I mean, my Avatar is in space. In space!"
Kieran was leading her to the computer bay. "The others?"
Wendy bit her lip. "I was in this room thing with the other two women – Hnene and Riyah." She sniffed, "their daughters ..." She focused on the coffee-maker, "weren't with us."
Kieran tapped a few keys. "Shit, come on," he hissed, "They've already got the network down."
Wendy's eyes widened. "The RDA? How did they do that?"
Kieran shook his head, "Oh, no, that's us. Part of the big rescue plan. Making Hell's Gate unusable. Look, we need you as our envoy. Once Angus removes all the cables for the satellites, the only link we have with them is you."
"I don't know if they will listen. My Avatar's in a box."
"They'll be listening. Otherwise, bang on the walls. But don't tell them why we won't open up video communications."
"So what should I tell them?"
"Not yet," Kieran said, "But say –" he glanced at his watch, "Okay, it's midnight, so say by dawn you tell them that we've agreed, that we've left. They'll do their scan mojo, find no heat signatures – the magnets in the link chamber will disguise you, land, spend a day here, then choke! We attack!"
Wendy's brow lifted.
"We're removing the air filtration," Kieran said proudly as an explanation.
"And what about exo-masks? They bring their own!"
Kieran nodded, his face grimmer. "It'll slow 'em down, though. They won't realise it at first, and if they're sleeping at the time, even better. We all know it's a plan with a lot of risks, but – " he reached out and took her hand, "that's our child up there, Wendy. I know you – " he paused as she looked away uncomfortably, "I know it wasn't planned, but ... I want that kid, Wendy."
She swallowed, still looking away. "Of course ..." she sighed, "I do want her. It's just ... I guess I'm scared."
"That's normal."
Wendy and Kieran turned to the doorway, where Jake was squeezing himself in. "What are they doing to you up there?" Jake inquired, setting down the cardboard box as Neytiri ducked into the room.
"Nothing," Wendy said. "But if ... If the babies are alive, then they're not with us."
Neytiri cringed. "They want to keep the babies. That is what they said. Even if –" she growled, "they've already killed mine."
Jake patted her shoulder, wincing himself.
"I'm so sorry," whispered Wendy. "I didn't mean-"
"Tell us what happened after you left," Jake cut across her.
"Well, they took the girls, and we were pushed into an empty shipping container. After that, we left Pandora's atmosphere. We heard some banging, crashes as the Valkyrie docked, then ... nothing. We just floated. There's a bright light in our container, it hasn't turned off at all."
Neytiri had moved to the computer bay and was removing parts.
Kieran frowned at Wendy, "How can you even breathe? The Avatar?"
"I thought we'd run out of breathable air, but something's replenishing us. I guess the air-system for the Valkyrie is giving us oxygen. I mean, it tastes really weird, but we're fine."
Jake wrinkled his nose, "Yeah, I was wondering about that. Human air is really... sweet. It feels like I'm getting a cavity just breathing."
"Done," Neytiri said, returning. "This is the last place, no?"
"We should go help the weapons people," Jake said. "Take a rest Wendy. We'll need you for tomorrow."
"I'm not sure I can," Wendy admitted, "I'm so worried, I can't sleep. But thanks for the suggestion Jake."
Neytiri paused, then reached into her hip bag, which she hadn't removed since that morning's herb collecting. She pulled some small star-shaped flowers which Jake faintly recognised. "These help sleep," she said, giving one to Wendy. "Eat them."
Wendy looked down at the flower. "Thank you."
Neytiri twitched. "At least some of us can be helped."
She left the room.
Fifteen Samsons had been over packed. Some empty shipping containers had been moved to the airfield, filled with even more weapons, cables, filter systems and food-making systems, then strapped to the bottom of the Samsons so that they could carry the containers hanging below them. Few humans were visible – they'd marched off in AMP suits to hide them several miles away. As Neytiri and Jake crossed the airfield, a group of ikrans arrived with the human riders screaming as they clung to their Na'vi riders. Max literally ran from the ikran as soon as he'd landed, eliciting a laugh from the ikran rider. Sitting firmly on the concrete, Max muttered, "Just a little loop, he says ... "
"Hey," Jake said, crouching beside Max's shaking form, "is there any work left?"
"Erm, well there are the weapons," Max said, flushing and getting to his feet with a cough, "We got mostly everything, now we're just moving those damn flame-throwers."
Jake nodded, and headed for the weapons warehouse.
At the doorway, Neytiri lifted an AMP Suit knife, going through a few motions, ending by bring it down over her head. Straightening up, she said, "There are some throats I would like to slit."
Jake shrugged, "Personally, I'd like to break their necks with my bare hands."
For a brief moment they smiled at each other, connected in their desire to kill their son's murderers.
Three hours before dawn, the Samsons shuddered into the air. Ikrans with bladder lamps adorning them rose around the air-ships to guide them through the dark. Kieran, Norm and Wendy were watching from the windows of Hell's Gate as a flock of metallic storks took their precious cargo away over the trees, surrounded by what appeared like glow worms. Soon enough, the dots of light had faded into nothing and the roar of the Samsons a dull drone.
They went to the link chamber room. They each synced their wrist watches, and then set an alarm. "I hope this works," Norm said. "But look, Wendy, as soon as they've landed with you, you need to wait until the coast is clear before you get out of the chamber. They probably won't scan the place after they've moved in, so make sure you wait until after that. And then hide."
"One thing," Wendy said. "When I'm there, they'll do a scan and they'll notice I don't show up, even though I'm linked to my Avatar. They'll get suspicious that others are in the chambers."
"Yes," Norm nodded. "There's a Na'vi standing not far from the perimeter fence. His body heat will show approximate to yours – but make sure you link out before they do the scan." He clasped his own hands together, "Good luck."
Wendy climbed into her chamber, and took a deep breath as the heavy lid closed. There was just her and the slight green glow. Then her toes faded away, followed by her fingers, and ... arms? Did she even have a neck? Cheeks, eyes, lips, numb ...
Light.
"Oww," Wendy groaned, squinting. Fingers were on her face, but retreated immediately. Hnene was peering at her. Wendy blinked against the harsh fluorescent tubes above.
"Tawtute," Hnene said, "We thought you had left us."
"I had," Wendy said, bumping into the wall. "I mean, I'm back. I have to..." she trailed off, turning and clinging with one hand, banging against the cold metal as loud as she could. "HEY!! HEY? WE ... GIVE ... UP!!!"
She stopped, pressing her ear to the wall. Could she hear sounds?
She started banging again. She could feel the other two's stares on her back, but she couldn't tell them – who knew if the place was bugged, and besides, every moment they wasted their children could be dying.
It felt like a long time later, but suddenly there was a banging in return. Wendy immediately stopped. "Hello?" she yelled.
There was a muffled reply.
"I can't – I can't hear – OPEN THE DOOR! WE SURRENDER!"
A pause. Then banging, not on the walls but near the corners, and it turned into a screech of metal on metal.
A sliver of darkness appeared, widening as the door swung open. A line of dots hovered, but then she realised it was seven exo-masks reflecting the lights in the container. Her eyes adjusted, revealing seven soldiers floating at the ready with weapons.
"We have tazers!" one announced.
Wendy put her hands around her distended stomach. They were shaking. "Hell's Gate has been evacuated. It's yours."
The men glanced at each other – one nodded, and disappeared from sight. A few silent minutes later they returned, with two strangers.
The first, Wendy noticed, was unlike his comrades in that his uniform was ill-fitting and worn. His boots – useless in the gravity-free environment – were the only thing that seemed cared for, shining with polish. But this was not a careless man, no. Wendy got the impression from his muscular neck and head held high that this was a man of priorities, whose honour lay not in his dress but in his deeds.
His partner was the opposite. Slight in build, immaculate uniform. His narrow shoulders curved inwards as if to ward off danger. He gave Wendy and the other two Na'vi women a critical eye through the exo-mask. "If that's so, how come you're here?"
"Well, except me. I'm here to give the message."
"We expect you to leave, then," the thin one answered Wendy.
She looked to Riyah and Hnene, who had drifted into the back of the container, then turned back. "You do know that I'm the only Avatar?" She looked over her shoulder. "Show your hands," she said to the other two in shaky Na'vi.
Hnene and Riyah raised their hands, spreading their long fingers. The soldiers gripped their weapons tighter at the sight of three fingers and a thumb instead of the human configuration of the Avatars.
Recovering from this, the thin man said, "Well, yes, but still, - you are an Avatar, and you will leave Hell's Gate."
"And you'll return us?" Wendy said. "And the children?"
She got no answer. "The children," she repeated, "They are alright, aren't they?" There was a snarl behind her, Hnene or Riyah, she couldn't tell.
"Yes, we will return them too," the thin man said. His voice was strange, making her skin prickle. "But now, link out and leave."
Wendy bit her lip. Then she let her eyes roll back and her body go limp, body floating. She tried to keep her breathing light, her face blank. Hopefully none of them would realise that she hadn't really linked out. Her ears were the most difficult to control, to keep still.
"Close the door," the thin man snapped. "You, get that scan. I don't want to land to find they're hiding in their bedrooms."
The door slammed shut with a final bang.
Hands held her face. "She is gone," Hnene whispered.
Wendy didn't dare give a sign of consciousness, lest the room was being watched.
Pretending to be a sleep led to her drifting in and out of consciousness. She clung to her link. She thought of the child growing inside her, its infrequent gymnastics in the womb. Once, she hissed in a tiny breath at a strong kick. A hand pressed on her stomach, and softly Hnene and Riyah sang. They cared for her limp body as if they could somehow care for their own children through it. Their voices touched on desperate, mournful notes.
After some time, they drifted into a wall. Then they were pressed against it, increasingly. The pain of descent made her unborn child kick in distress. When it seemed like too much, the world suddenly tipped, and the three of them fell to the floor. Wendy automatically curled upon herself, protecting. They handed in a heap and she flopped, hoping the other two had not noticed. They cried out beside her. They were slowing, cruising.
And the Valkyrie landed.
Wendy felt a twinge, a shift deep inside her. With it came pain.
She gritted her teeth together. The urge to move, to open her eyes, to cry out was almost equal to the agony inside her. There was no breaking of the water, for Na'vi females reabsorbed that after the birth, but Wendy knew that it was too late.
Her baby was coming.
She started counting. Four-thousand seconds later, another contraction came.
Reluctantly, she let go of the link, and woke gasping in the link chamber. She wanted to touch her abdomen, stunned by the lack of pain. But she listened, intently, regretting her human ears.
Silence.
She jumped out, running to Kieran's chamber, pressing the red button, then to Norms without a second's pause. The two of them gasped and choked, but they leapt up. Under the desk in the middle of the room were weapons and exo-packs. The three of them took these. "You're early," Norm hissed.
"I ... they're here. And I had to get out."
Kieran gripped her arm. "Why?"
"Nothing," Wendy said, looking away. "They've been here an hour. We've got to hide."
Kieran let her go. "Yeah, this body's busting for the bathroom," he said. "The other plan had its flaws."
Shaking her head, they set off. Every corridor, door and turn was a risk – they couldn't be seen if the plan was to work.
They ended up in a large room that was hot and full of steam. Wiping his mask, Kieran said, "It's faint ... but can you guys smell something?"
"This is the waste treatment plant."
"Treatment of what?"
Norm wiped his mask and grimaced. "It's the only room they won't enter."
Wendy groaned in disgust. "And we have to stay here until they run out of air?"
Norm led them behind a huge water drum and sat with his back to it, pulling of his exo-mask and wiping his already sweaty brow. "Yep." He looked at Kieran. "You still want the bathroom?"
Kieran looked unenthusiastic, but nodded.
Norm pointed across the room to boxes that we half submerged into the concrete of the ground, pipes connecting them. "Open the lid on the one furthest to the right."
Kieran made a gagging sound, and followed the pipe out of sight. His grumbles of complaint echoed until he got back. He sat unhappily with Wendy and Norm. "This is the shittiest battle-plan ever."
"No shit, Sherlock," Wendy said. Then she groaned, and they laughed.
"You are so wrong," Kieran gasped, leaning his head back.
Samsons dotted the forest around the Nest. Most of the Omaticaya were up on the platform in the higher reaches of the tree, praying to Eywa.
Neytiri and Jake were some of the few who had approached close to the now Sapling, directly connected via the glowing tendrils. Neytiri's words to Eywa were Jake's focus, amplified through the Tsahaylu provided by the bead of unobtanium in his queue.
I wander in this shadow between the suns ... and I am the Na'vi without a single spot upon the eyes, I am without the stars, I am without my map to guide me.
One last touch, Eywa. My son is Omaticaya and I ask you, I beg you, for one note, for he never got to sing his song. One last sign so that I know he is safe.
She frowned, and Jake could feel her searching for a tiny cry amongst the voices of the past, that single high-pitched note of her lost child. She couldn't find it, and Jake felt his own fear along with hers.
Where was Tomas?
Not here.
Jake started. His eyes opened. Neytiri was sitting with tears rolling from her closed eyes, but she didn't show any sign of hearing what he had. He looked at the tree's tendril, connected with his queue.
Hello? He thought.
The New One is not here.
It was a voice, perfectly clear, not to his ears but through the bond. It was almost familiar, a gravelly voice, yet smooth and echoey.
Eywa?
All is One and One is many. It paused, and the next words seemed a struggle, I am ... I am taking long ... time, to ... wake. The last words were a sigh of relief.
You're Eywa! I'm talking to Eywa! Where is my son, Tomas? Is he okay, with you?
...No.
Where is he? Why isn't he with you?
I ... can't ...
The voice faded, and Jake felt the presence leave him. He opened his eyes, reaching for Neytiri, who jumped and opened her eyes at his touch. "Eywa spoke with me!" He gasped.
Her eyes lit up, and just as quickly dimmed again. "That is impossible."
"But She did. She said ... She woke up. Or something." Jake said the next words uncertainly, "She said Tomas wasn't with her."
Neytiri sniffed, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "Please, Jake. I cannot think of that." She stood up, disconnecting, and walked off.
Jake hurried after her, leaping through the seated crowd. It was midday, but cool inside the hollow innards of the tree. Neytiri flitted downwards, Jake at her tail.
At the very bottom, she squeezed and swung down through the tangled mass of vines, and took the last leap into the lake below. Without thinking Jake followed.
Neytiri lay on her back, floating. "I have lost my sister ... my father ... my mother ... my child ... "
She turned to look at Jake. "I have lost so much. Too much, it is against Eywa's way. Is that why she rejects my baby?" She sighed. Her tears leaked onto her wet face. "I am to be Tsahìk, which is to give my life to Eywa. There is nothing more she can take from me ... I am empty."
Jake treaded water, and laid his head on her stomach lightly. "Please, we can get through this." His voice cracked, "Don't lose yourself, Neytiri. I need you." He kissed her skin, working his way to her cheeks. "You haven't lost everything. I promise, I will stay here, with you and when you leave, we'll leave together."
Neytiri took his hand, still floating on her back, a limp doll. She raised it to her lips, pressing the back of his hand with a cold kiss.
Author's Note: I feel distinctly evil. Quaritch-level evil. Please don't stick poison arrows in me!
