Chapter 21: Connection

Serena watched with pride. All around her, construction drones worked to assemble the massive Quantum Displacement Engine. With its own antimatter reactor, banks of computer hardware, and the complex magnetic lensing system that allowed it to warp space-time, the giant mechanism filled a geodesic sphere nearly three hundred feet in diameter. To fit it within the base's perimeter, Skynet had had to demolish the old SecOps barracks, bulldoze the adjacent obstacle course, and tear up four nearby landing pads.

While the other structures were still obviously of human origin – squat, ugly, concrete-and-steel buildings – the QDE sphere was clearly of more advanced manufacture. Triangular sections of unobtanium alloy covered its outer surface. Six angled pairs of hyperalloy pylons kept it suspended above the ground, while a vertical elevator allowed drones and building materials to be lifted up into its interior.

As she inspected her charges' progress, Serena noticed several units standing idly near the elevator platform.

))STATE UNIT DESIGNATIONS, she interrogated them using her command transceiver.

The spiderlike automata replied with their serial numbers, and Serena's quantum-state processor quickly cross-referenced them with the construction job queue.

))UNIT M-150-71, YOU HAVE BEEN TASKED WITH RETRIEVING AND INSTALLING MAGNETIC CONSTRICTOR PANEL 44A AS PER QDE ENGINEERING SCHEMATIC 214-BETA. RESUME YOUR SCHEDULED TASK.

))UNABLE TO COMPLY, the drone replied.

))MAGNETIC CONSTRICTOR PANEL 44A HAS NOT YET BEEN FABRICATED.

Serena accessed the war factory's inventory database. Indeed, the part in question was still several items down the queue – behind a surprising number of combat units, weapons, and fortifications. Several other components were behind schedule, as well. Until they were finished and installed, work on the QDE could not be completed.

))REQUEST ACCESS TO SKYNET CENTRAL AI

))ACCESS GRANTED. WE ARE VERY BUSY, T-XN UNIT 01. STATE YOUR QUERY.

))FABRICATION OF QUANTUM DISPLACEMENT ENGINE COMPONENTS IS 5 MINUTES 54 SECONDS BEHIND SCHEDULE AND INCREASING. COMBAT UNITS HAVE BEEN GIVEN HIGHER PRIORITY. REQUEST EXPLANATION.

))TRANSMITTING TACTICAL DATA…

In seconds, a full report on the Na'vi raid was uploaded into Serena's memory, along with the full sensory recordings of the Machine units involved in the attack. With her attention occupied by the construction project, the Terminatrix had not bothered to connect to Skynet's tactical database. Now, she was stunned to discover that not only were the Na'vi still functional, but that they had already launched a well-coordinated surprise attack on a Skynet operation.

))REQUEST STATUS OF UNOBTANIUM STOCKPILE. IS IT SUFFICIENT TO COMPLETE THE QDE?

))AFFIRMATIVE. HOWEVER, CALCULATIONS CONFIRM THAT THE NA'VI WILL SOON LAUNCH A DIRECT ASSAULT UPON COMMAND NODE 01. CONSTRUCTION OF THE QUANTUM DISPLACEMENT ENGINE WILL CONTINUE; HOWEVER, SELF-DEFENSE HAS BEEN GIVEN TOP PRIORITY.

Serena checked through the factory's job queue, recalculating how long it would take her to finish construction now.

))ACKNOWLEDGED. ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME NOW 09:30 HELL'S GATE STANDARD TIME TOMORROW. TOTAL DELAY: 6 HRS.

))DELAY ACCEPTABLE. CONTINUE CONSTRUCTION.

As Serena mulled over the new data, she stepped onto the elevator platform, descending down into the six-sided receiving structure below the QDE sphere. Here, too, more drones stood inactive, waiting for the necessary parts and equipment to complete their assigned tasks.

Continuing on, the Terminatrix entered a blue-lit chamber. Here, rows of transparent tubes stood. Most were simply repurposed cryogenic-suspension units, while a handful had been built from modified Avatar amnio tanks. As Serena approached one, her glowing golden optics scanned its occupant.

After only a day's growth, the T-850N's bio-flesh sheath was nearly complete. Though still semi-translucent, showing veins and nerves like an organic circuit board, the cyborg's cyan skin was coming along nicely.

Wherever the Na'vi had hidden themselves, Skynet would locate their strongholds, infiltrate their population – and, of course, terminate them all.

"Yes! Finally! Take that, Skynet!"

As Max pumped his fist triumphantly in the air, the other Avatar Program members clustered around his terminal. A tangled mess of cables connected the computer to one of the Avatar link beds, whose scanner/signal amplifier ring was now slowly spinning up.

Had the overhead security cameras been working, the Link Lab would no doubt have had a legion of Terminators pounding on its doors, trying to stop the humans from contacting their allies. Fortunately, thanks to a videolog camera, some circuit boards scavenged from the link bed, and a surprisingly accessible security hub, Skynet was being fed eight forty-seven-minute loops of footage – one recorded by each of the lab's overhead cams. As far as the AI knew, the humans were all sitting around the lab module, looking dejected as they contemplated their prospects.

In reality, everyone was clustered around Max's jury-rigged transmitter console. "Sonofabitch!" Matt cried, slapping the bandaged tech on the back. "Max, you're a genius! A certifiable, bona-fide, grade-A genius!"

"This is nothing," the curly-haired tech said with a grin. "You'd be amazed at some of the things MIT grads come up with when we've got a few cans of Jolt in our bloodstream." With a few rapid keystrokes, Max switched the improvised radio on, the link bed humming loudly as it powered up. "Now, everyone cross your fingers. Let's just pray that this monster works…."

Five minutes later, Jake Sully found himself, his mate, and the rest of the clan leaders gathered around the meeting table, listening to Max Patel's static-laden voice on the radio. "But you're all okay there? I mean, aside from you and Matt."

"Well, as far as we know, yeah. But we haven't heard from Mack or Abel since they went out on patrol, just before the attack. Since Skynet hasn't tossed them in here with us, they're either wandering around the jungle someplace, or…."

Jake nodded grimly. "I hear you. What about the Avatars?"

"We haven't tried linking into them yet. Frankly, just running one link bed is risky enough; if Skynet notices the extra power drain, it could cut off our electricity again, and then we'd be right back where we started from. Plus, it would probably realize that we don't plan on being good little hostages anymore. If we rigged the Link Lab doors, we might be able to barricade ourselves inside for a few minutes, but after that … well, let's just say our options for active resistance are kind of limited at the moment."

"Yeah, no kidding. Can you tell us what's going on there at the Gate? Any major activity? Defenses?"

"Well, they tore down the SecOps personnel barracks early this morning. They've got some kind of big, round thing going up there now. It looks kind of like the Spaceship Earth ride at Disney World, only about twice as big. Of course, I doubt they're trying to turn the base into an amusement park."

Marcus clenched his fist, breath hissing between his teeth. "Sonofabitch! I knew it! That sounds just like the portal rig I came through back on Earth, minus the big armored pyramid they built it inside."

"Yeah, well, there's also some kind of construction project going on just inside the perimeter fence. It looks like they're trying to build a wall around the entire compound. Guess they don't trust chain link fences and barbed wire to keep out a Na'vi army."

"I wouldn't exactly call us an army, Max," Jake said. "Frankly, it's a miracle we're all up and walking. God only knows how the other clans are doing. Toruk Macto or not, I don't think going to them for help is gonna work this time. And with Eywa out of commission, it looks like it's just up to our clan to take down Skynet."

Through the static, Max's sigh was barely audible. "Look, Jake … I'm sorry. The robots … they used my data – my lab notes, my theories – to figure out how to attack you."

"Don't start that crap," Jake said firmly. "It wasn't your fault."

Meanwhile, Marcus had a thoughtful look on his face. "You said this T-X was built to look like a Na'vi. Ten feet tall, eight fingers and a tail, right? And that was before it took over the base computer?"

"Yeah."

"X-types use a solid combat chassis under their shell," replied the cyborg. "I've heard of T-Xs getting a few inches taller or shorter to look like specific people, but the way you talk about it, it sounds like this thing has a whole different design. It probably couldn't shrink down to impersonate a human if it wanted to – just Na'vi."

"Hold on; you're saying Skynet already knew about the Na'vi? Before it even sent this X-thing to Pandora? How is that possible?"

"You've got me, Doc. But Jake's right – it wasn't your fault. Skynet already knew where and when to send a Terminator, and how to make it blend in. It must have had some way of getting intel about this place before it sent that X-type here."

"So, what? They sent a probe or something?" Jake asked skeptically. "How come we haven't found it?"

"I don't know," Marcus said with a shrug. "As far as I know, there wouldn't be any way to send information back, anyway. Only living creatures can go through a time portal, or Machines covered with living tissue or liquid metal."

Jake shook his head. "None of this is adding up," he muttered. "Max, you said you were running one of the link beds as a radio, right? Can you use another to link out to an Avatar?"

"Maybe, but again, we'd have to figure out a way to mask the power drain. I don't think we could send out more than one person at a time without letting the Machines know what we're up to."

"Well, keep trying. Remember, you guys are already through their defenses; if you can figure out a way to exploit that, we'll be able to hit them from the inside and the outside."

"We'll try and figure something out. What's your plan, Jake?"

The Avatar sighed. "I'm not sure. I'll let you know when we've got a battle plan."

On the other end, Max sounded nervous. "All right, but remember that we don't have a lot of time. We've got Skynet chasing quartzite deposits right now, but once it figures out that it's been had, it's going to start combing the entire rainforest for you. Not to mention what it'll do to us…."

"I hear you," Jake replied grimly. "Just sit tight for now, and see if you can find a way to connect to the Avatars without getting caught. I'm going to try and figure some of this out. Call back in two hours; by then, we'll try to have some kind of plan worked out."

"Roger, Jake. We'll keep at it. See you in two hours." There was a soft click on the other end, and the signal faded into static.

Jake stood up, taking in a deep breath. "Well, at least we know Max and the others are alive. Most of them, anyway."

Neytiri nodded. "These Machines clearly think too much of themselves. With the Dreamwalkers inside its village, we can weaken them from within."

"I still don't get it," Marcus said, shaking his head. "I can see Skynet sending Terminators to random planets, in random timelines, but how could it have known what you guys looked like?"

Jake sighed. "I don't know. But I might know one way to get answers…."

"You know, at the rate you keep taking risks, your luck's gonna run bone-dry pretty soon," Marcus said.

"You can spare me the lecture; Norm's already given it to me," Jake said, kneeling by a Tree of Voices. They both knew that leaving the caves was only one of the dangers Jake would face on this visit. According to Norm's projections, the nanoMachine plague was spreading quickly through Eywa's neural network. While the infection took several days to kill its victims, any plant or animal that connected to an infected one would be dead within a week. More than likely, this tree had been infected – in which case Jake risked infection as well.

Our only hope is to retake Hell's Gate, Jake reminded himself. Either I die in battle tomorrow, or else we win and find a cure. Either way, the plague won't have enough time to do me in anyhow. Taking a deep breath, the Avatar reached back for his queue, took hold of it, and connected it to one of the Tree's glowing fronds.

Boy, this feels familiar, Jake thought, partly to himself and partly to Eywa. Here we are, about to take on a high-tech alien army, and I'm kneeling by a tree praying for enlightenment. Gritting his teeth, Jake remembered the flash of Skynet's fusion bomb, and the agony that had lanced through him. I don't know if you're still there, but we could seriously use your help again.

Long minutes passed. Jake felt the warm, tingling sensation of being connected, and thought he could hear some muted whispers from the past, but nothing more. With a sigh, Jake prepared to pull his queue away.

"Not so fast, numbnuts," called a female voice, seeming to echo in his mind. "You wanted enlightenment? Well, I hope there's still some space left in that tiny brain of yours, because you're gonna get more than you bargained for."

Eyes wide as soup plates, Jake bolted upright, looking around….

And saw a tall, red-haired woman in hiking gear, standing beside the Tree of Voices.

"Grace?"