I have finally completed the final chapter to Breakdown! As I said in Chapter 24, I intend to write a sequel. However, that will have to wait because for now I have to dedicate my time to studying. I will try to regulate my time so that doesn't interfere to this fanfic that I've made. This isn't goodbye, but I still want to thank everyone who took the time to read this fanfic and most especially those who took the time to review. Your feedback and criticism is greatly appreciated. Not to brag, but I must say, this turned out to be a success for my first fanfic.

Enjoy!

Chapter 25

A New Beginning

Jake Sully smiled as he watched the Na'vi around him. Today they were hunting for fish at the lake near where their old Hometree used to stand. Although the place brought back painful memories, the Na'vi had learned to move on and let go of their grief. Nature had slowly grown over the wooden ruins of the giant tree. Whatever was destroyed could always be remade through the works of Eywa.

A young huntress nearby aimed at a fish skimming the surface and released her arrow. It hit the fish and she jumped in to pull out her kill, offering a prayer in thanks. Young hunters usually relied on their bows and arrows to hunt fish. Spears were used only by the older and more experienced.

Maktaya held his spear over his shoulder, watching carefully for a fish. Some of the young hunters studied his movements, hoping one day to perfect their skill like him. A fish curved in the water as it barely skimmed the surface. Maktaya threw his spear forward as it impaled the creature. He drew it out and displayed it to the young ones proudly.

A young Na'vi boy swung from a vine on a grassy ledge and released it as he fell into the water. The children giggled as they swam and splashed each other. Several adults watched from nearby with amusement. Norm also stood with them in his avatar. Jake watched as some of the kids slowly crept out of the water and sneaked up to Norm while his back was turned to them. In a flash of movement they dashed up behind him and began tugging him by his tail. Norm wobbled as he was helplessly pulled along by the children, urging him to swim with them.

"No, no!" he cried. "I can't swim in my clothes! Hey, cut it out!"

Try as hard as he did, the children were victorious as he fell head over heels into the water. The children jumped with laughter as he flailed like a fish, splashing around in the water sporadically. Some of the adults laughed while others gave the children scornful looks. Jake merely shook his head at such silly pranks.

Norm gasped as he stood up in the water, the children laughing. A smug grin formed on his face and he jumped back in after the children, who fled away as he joined the game.

Neytiri walked up to Jake's side, sliding her four digit hand perfectly between his five fingers. "Norm is so kind to the children," she said. "He reminds me of Grace. I will bet you that in no time they will be calling him sempu."

Jake gazed lovingly at his wife and said, "I think you're right." He looked all around himself. "I missed this place so much. It's good to be home." He turned fully toward his wife, running his hand delicately across her belly, cherishing the new life that grew within.

It had been over five months since their adventure in the southern continent. After their return home from their adventure, Jake and Neytiri still had to stay at Hell's Gate to finish their medical trials so the two could have a child. After a long and patient wait, it finally worked. Jake's reproductive functions were restored and Neytiri was now pregnant. The Omaticaya were overjoyed by the news and held a long celebration upon their return.

Neytiri caressed his face. "You are dreaming, Jake," she said.

Jake snapped out of his trance. "I'm sorry, Neytiri. I was just thinking."

"You are still thinking about him, aren't you?" she said knowingly.

Jake nodded. The next ISV would be arriving soon to deliver new recruits and bring other workers home, along with the McCoys. Jake had received a call from Philip, telling him that he and his family would be returning to Earth. But Jake didn't want them to go.

Jake had always feared that more greedy and corrupt people would return to Pandora even after their victory at the Well of Souls, and that they may not have the power to stop them. But with someone like Philip in charge of mining operations, they would stand a better chance of maintaining balance and protecting their world.

"Jake," Neytiri said. "I know you have asked him many times now to stay, but he must choose what is good for himself. You cannot choose it for him. He has done more good for us than we could have ever expected from the Sky People. He has given back what they took. We cannot ask more of him."

"I know. It's just... he's a good man. If he goes, who will take his place? If we had someone like him on our side, we'd stand a better chance of keeping the world safe from-"

Neytiri raised her forefinger and pressed it firmly to his lips. "Jake, that is not good enough for him to stay. Yes, I wish to keep our land safe, but it is not right to convince Philip-" she had finally learned to pronounce his name correctly, "-to stay simply because it would better serve our ends. That is not the way of the people."

Jake cast his eyes downward, slightly ashamed that Neytiri had exposed a flaw in his reasoning. "You're right," he said. "But I do like him. Deep down, he was a good man all along. I simply helped him to find that again. That's why I want him to stay. There's so much we have in common. He's a soldier just like I was. And he fights with a conscience. He cares about his people, not some expensive rock." Jake sighed heavily. "If he leaves..."

Neytiri smiled and kissed Jake full on the lips. "I once told you that Eywa protects the balance of life. So too does she direct our fate. Eywa will know what is best. Now come. We have work to do. The people will not be impressed by an Olo'eyktan who neglects his duties. You are soon going to have to work harder as our child grows."

Jake could only laugh as they resumed their fishing. Jake grabbed his bow. "And what about you?" Jake asked. "Do you still think about the kids?"

Neytiri looked at him and nodded as she picked her own bow up. "Yes," she admitted. In fact, she had been thinking a lot about Robbie and Harmony since leaving them. "Even when we were taken by the Tompekong, I still had much fun with them. They were gentle, kind. Nothing like the bad Sky People who destroyed our land. I am happy to be home, but I still miss them." She looked toward the water sadly.

Jake placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We'll see them again. We can always visit them. Or they could even visit us."

Neytiri looked hopefully at her husband. "That would be wonderful. But I don't know if the people are ready to welcome Sky People so soon after what they did to Kelutral."

"We'll work something out." Jake picked up an arrow and lodged it between his fingers. "Speaking of kids, I wonder if our kid will be a boy or girl," he said.

Neytiri could only chuckle and shake her head hopelessly. Sky People could waste so much time asking the most useless questions. "Why do you waste time asking a question that cannot be answered?" she said, as she loaded her own arrow. "Oh, my Jake, you truly are my beloved skwaung."

Jake narrowed his eyes, his smile turning into a sly grin. "Well, there are ways of finding out."

Neytiri looked at him thoughtfully. "There are?"

"Of course!"

"You lie," she said incredulously. "It is impossible to know if a child will be boy or girl before it is born."

Jake shrugged his shoulders. "Too bad," he said, turning his back on Neytiri, his grin never leaving his face. "Norm could have shown us. But if you don't believe me, then I guess we'll just forget it." Jake took aim into the water, his eyes on a large fish about to skim the surface.

Neytiri raised a thoughtful eyebrow at him. As much as she hated admitting it, Sky People did have knowledge about a great many things that not even the Na'vi could dream of. So maybe it wasn't entirely impossible. "Can he?" Jake pretended to ignore her. "Can Norm really do that?" Neytiri said a little more irritated. How dare Jake play such a cruel game on her!

"You said it was impossible, so I'm not saying anything," Jake teased as he released his arrow, impaling the fish. His moment of triumph was short lived as Neytiri tackled him into the water. There was no way she was going to pass up the opportunity to know their child's gender before birth.

And so it was decided. Jake had requested from the staff of Hell's Gate to send a message asking if Philip and his family would consider meeting them again, which of coarse they did. It was decided that they would meet at Hell's Gate, in the interest of avoiding tensions at Kelutral.

The Valkyrie had just landed on the courtyard of Hell's Gate. Jake and Neytiri, along with the residents of Hell's Gate, watched patiently as the rear of the ship opened. Robbie and Harmony came running down the loading ramp, with their worried parents chasing after them. Up ahead, the children saw the avatars and humans of Hell's Gate standing along with two Na'vi that Robbie and Harmony recognized all too well.

"Neytiri!" the children shouted upon seeing her.

Neytiri laughed with joy as she also ran forward to meet the two children who had touched her heart. She dropped to her knees on the pavement, with arms wide open as the kids dove into her embrace. She cradled them both, feeling their soft little bodies.

"Neytiri, we missed you so much," said Harmony.

"I missed you two as well," Neytiri said happily.

Robbie looked down at the small round lump that protruded from Neytiri's belly. "Man, Neytiri, you got big," he said.

"Robbie," Philip said strictly from behind. "Mind your manners!"

"Well, she is," Robbie muttered.

The surrounding members of Hell's Gate could only laugh. This was the first time that they had seen any human children since leaving Earth. It was nice to have that part of their world back with them again.

Jake stepped forward, with a broad smile. "Good to see you again, Captain," he said.

Philip returned the smile, sticking out his hand to Jake. "Same here, Sully."

The two shook hands. Jake brought Philip over to meet the staff of Hell's Gate. Philip went around as each person introduced him or herself. Marcus and Yumi also came forward, introducing themselves. Some of the Vatican soldiers also got acquainted with their Hell's Gate comrades.

Neytiri knew that it gave Jake relief to be with his new friend just as much as it was for her to be with Harmony and Robbie again after months of separation.

"Been a while. Aye Blue?"

Neytiri turned her attention to the woman who she thought she would never see again. Neytiri released the children and stood to her feet, staring into the eyes of Beverly Hopkins. For a long moment the two women were locked in a neutral gaze, their reunification quite odd.

Neytiri finally broke the ice as she grinned. "I see that your heart is unchanging, Beverly Hopkins," she said with her thick accent.

Beverly merely chuckled. "I never change, except in my affections." She threw her hand upward toward the towering blue giant.

Neytiri could only laugh. "You have a noble nature." She took Beverly's hand, as the two reconnected after so long. Neytiri had long learned that the taking of another's hand was a custom of the Sky People as a sign of friendship.

It wasn't long until the visitors from Vatican's Royale were lead into the main buildings to freshen up after their long flight. The two parties spent the next passing hours learning more about one another, getting brought up to speed, exchanging news, and much more. The staff of Hell's Gate were relieved to know that Philip was not merely a soldier, but a gentleman whose company could be enjoyable. They were not sure what to expect, even after Jake had assured them that Philip was an ally. Now their worst fears had been put to rest. Norm had brought them on tours of the base, showing them what adjustments they had made since the eviction of the original party of humans. The Vatican soldiers also took the opportunity to enjoy some quality time with the residents of the old base.

They were currently sitting in the commissary, enjoying lunch as they exchanged stories.

Yumi was especially having a good time conversing with Norm and the scientists.

"So you actually knew Doctor Augustine?" Norm asked.

"Only briefly," said Yumi. The rest of the team listened intently to her story, finding it truly fascinating. "See I was originally sent here to understand Na'vi psychology, but by the time I got here, things had changed a lot and the company didn't need to understand the natives anymore. Thought they were too primitive to reason with. So I was sent instead to work at Vatican's Royale, though under strict discretion. I learned a lot about Pandoran biology and the unique traits it possessed. This is what I used for my research to increase human durability, though there was only so much I could produce." She went on and on as her spectators listened all the more with interest.

Neytiri and Beverly were sitting with the children. The children were asking her about her and Jake's child. They were even more surprised upon discovering that Neytiri was in fact pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl. The children were bouncing with so much excitement that Beverly had to keep them calm.

Philip had been sitting with his soldiers, conversing with some of the other members of Hell's Gate. For Philip, it was somewhat a relief to be back at Hell's Gate again after being away for many years. It felt good to be able to stop acting like a soldier for once and be human. It was nice to know that these people whom he had once considered defectors had maintained the base fairly well, especially when their numbers were so few. Philip needed a break from all the talk and walked away from the occupied tables toward the windows of the commissary. It wasn't long until Jake joined him.

Philip grinned as he said, "You're a lucky man, Sully."

"You don't know the half of it," Jake said excitedly. "Soon I'm going to be a father. Boy, was I surprised when we learned that Neytiri had twins. Must have gotten it from me."

"Oh, that's right. You remember you told me you had a twin brother."

Jake nodded. "That's the whole reason I got the job to come to Pandora. The best decision of my life."

Philip chuckled at that statement. "Sometimes, when I think about all the good times and bad that I've been through, I can't tell if my coming to Pandora was the worst decision I ever made, or the best."

"Well, it certainly was the best for me," Jake said. "I only wish that the people who came here could have been smart enough to realize that. After what the RDA did to the Omaticaya and their home, I admit I kind of lost hope in humanity for a while. I thought that eventually I'd get over it as I lived with the Na'vi, but over time it started to bother me, thinking that there was no hope for humanity. That we're just destined to lay down and die. I'm glad that I found you, McCoy. In a way, you gave me a reason to have hope that there's still hope for Earth."

Philip nodded slowly. "Do you ever think about your old life?"

Jake turned to him in surprise. "Occasionally, maybe," he replied. "The past is what it is, and I just leave it at that. I'm grateful for what I have now."

"I mean, do you miss being human?"

"I'd like to think I still am... sort of. I mean, I transferred into my avatar because I wanted to live as the people, and because they needed me as their chief. But yeah. I do think about it. When I lost my legs, my life became an empty shell. Then, I came here, driving an avatar, and I got the chance to walk again. Not only that, but the chance to learn a new life that I'd never even dreamed of. But even after transferring my mind over to my avatar, it felt hard to let go of my human body. But I always remind myself that I'm still me."

"What about everything else that you had when you were still... in your human body?" Philip said. "Aren't there things that you could do then but can't do anymore?"

Jake shrugged. "Sure, there are."

"Don't you miss them?"

Jake looked out the window of the commissary. "Yes," he answered simply. "I knew that by transferring over to my avatar permanently, I'd be giving up a lot. But I gained so much more. Not that my life as a human was inferior or that I had thought I was becoming some superior being. Not at all. I believe that by joining the people, I became more human than ever before. There is so much more to life than what we think we know. And you don't have to be a scientist to know that. It's still not easy, being the Omaticaya's chief and all, but the happiness and reward of it all makes it worth while." Jake returned his gaze to Philip, who was listening intently to this. "I know what this is about. You still don't know what you want to do."

Philip shook his head in defeat. "Damn it, Sully, why do you have to be so damn analytical?"

"Let me ask you something. Do you really want to go back to Earth?"

Philip sighed hopelessly and replied, "I did, before I met you. Now I'm not so sure. I'm torn, Sully."

"I felt the same when I became a Na'vi. I knew that my transformation would mean never returning to Earth, but I knew that I had a new place to call home. And despite all its beauty and wonder, it wasn't in the trees. It wasn't in this base, or the land, or the mountains. It was within the People. My heart became one with theirs. That's when I realized that I was already home. No matter how many light-years you are from your planet of origin, even if you don't know your place in the world, home is right where you want it to be. Where your heart desires." Jake touched Philip on his shoulder and looked into his eyes with deep confidence and respect. "I admit I didn't want you to go because you would have been a great asset, but now I know I can respect whatever it is you choose. You'll know soon enough, Captain."

Philip grunted as he shook off Jake's hand. "Not Captain." Jake raised a questioning eyebrow. "I was Captain to you when you were a prisoner, a subordinate. But I realize that I was wrong to have thought that. Now, you are a friend, both to my base, my family, and to me." Philip extended his hand up to Jake. "From now on, you call me Philip, Sully."

Jake smirked as he slapped his hand into Philip's, their grips tightening over the others as they forged their pact. "Then you've got to stop calling me 'Sully'. I got a name, you know."

"You got it," Philip said as his smile only widened. For a moment, Philip felt like he was with Miles again when they first met in Nigeria, as old buddies. He would never forget that day when he found a friend. Now he had someone he could trust once more. Someone to watch his back. "Thanks, Jake."

"The pleasure is all mine, Philip."

"Are we connected yet?" Philip asked the technicians.

"Not yet, sir."

It hadn't been long since Philip had returned from his trip with his family and friends to Hell's Gate. Now he was in the operations center trying to get in touch with President Roslin one last time. It was imperative that he get a final message across before the ISV's departure, or he would miss his opportunity.

"We're through, Captain," the technician said.

"Captain, McCoy?" Roslin's voice said over the head speakers. "What is it? I hope it's not bad news."

"I'm afraid so, Mr. President."

"Well, what is it?" Roslin said with urgency.

"I'm afraid I won't be returning to Earth after all," Philip said bluntly. There were gasps of shock and surprise heard throughout the operations center.

"I beg your pardon?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. President, but my place is here. I have thought about it long and hard, and decided that this is where I belong. Pandora is where I wish to stay."

"But, Captain, surely you won't turn down my offer if you come back to Earth. Think of all the opportunities that await you and your family. Your position, your rank, shall also rise considerably. Are you so willing to give that up?"

"Yes, Mr. President."

Their argument persisted for many more minutes. So much that Philip momentarily lost track of the time. Finally, Roslin seemed to give up.

"I am grieved to hear this news, Captain," said Roslin with disappointment. "I had such great plans for you, such high hopes. But, seeing that you are content with remaining in your current situation, I will put it to rest. But I must ask you one last thing. What of Jake Sully?"

"You have nothing to fear, Mr. President," McCoy said confidently. "Jake Sully has made a full reconciliation with us under the condition that the Na'vi and their lands are treated with respect."

"In that case, the best of luck to you. Farewell, Captain McCoy. I salute you."

Philip raised his hand as he returned the salute. "I salute you, Mr. President. God bless America. God bless Earth." Many others throughout the operations center, soldier or otherwise, also stood to pay their respects as they saluted. With that, the transmission ended. Philip returned his attention to his staff and instructed them to begin sending those who were departing up to the ISV. The people within the operations center were just recovering from a mild shock that the Captain would make such a bold act. He left the operations center.

Philip passed the many hallways until he came to the lab, where Yumi and Robbie stood waiting. Robbie stepped forward, anxiously, and asked, "So, are we staying?"

Philip knelt down as he placed his hands on his son's shoulders. His smile broadened with ever increasing delight as he said, "Yeah. We're staying!"

Robbie shrieked with joy as he leaped into his father's arms. Philip rose, holding Robbie as he swung him around. Their laughter rang throughout the lab. Scientists gazed at them curiously as they were disturbed from their work, but they didn't mind at the moment.

Yumi stepped forward as she also embraced Philip. "Thank you," she said as a tear rolled down her cheek.

Philip kissed her and his son as he held his family close. "I love you both."

There was never a moment that Washington D.C. was ever silent, or any city on Earth for that matter. One might say that the city was even more active at night than it was during the day. For city dwellers, night and day made almost no difference. People were constantly busy. There wasn't a business or corporation on Earth now that slept anymore. Every second, there was a magnetic train racing just above the heads of people on suspended tracks, or a Light-class commercial freighter flying high over the buildings to some port to deliver its stock. Alex Roslin watched, through the window of his limousine, as the masses of people walked to and fro. No one from a hundred years ago would have recognized Washington D.C. today. In many respects, it resembled of the old Manhattan, with an occasional skyscraper.

He watched as they drove by the United States Capitol. Even after the drastic changes that had so altered the United States, and every other nation in the world, it was a miracle that a monumental structure such as the Capitol managed to survive. What would the forefathers think of them now, if they learned that the lush greenness of their country had been converted into nothing less than a mass metropolis of steel buildings, power plants, and flashing, commercial signs?

Roslin barely pondered on such things. It was profitless. The world had changed and they had to change with it. That was mankind's destiny, after all.

His thoughts were interrupted as his driver said through the speaker, "Pardon me, Mr. President. We've arrived."

The limousine pulled alongside a building, flanked by several escorts. A guard in a dark suit opened the door for the President as he stepped out and, accompanied by his armed escorts, walked up the steps into the Headquarters of the Resources Development Administration.

After passing several floors and corridors, he came to a double door where two security guards and a man in a business suit stood waiting. The security guards stood at attention as the President and his company approached.

The business executive smiled politely to the President and said, "Good evening, Mr. President. He's waiting right inside." The man motioned to the door.

Roslin stepped up to the door, his escorts meant to follow him, but he instructed them to wait outside. They reluctantly obeyed.

No one was meant to know anything of this meeting.

Roslin opened the doors and closed them securely behind himself. The room he was in was a wide expanse of several hundred feet, illuminated by florescent lights in the ceiling above. It was completely vacant, nothing of particular interest. That's what made it an ideal place for this type of meeting. Standing right dead center in the room, some two-hundred feet from Roslin, was Rufus Goldberg.

Roslin closed the distance as he approached, stopping a meter's length from the President of the RDA.

Goldberg smiled as he tipped his head forward, as if bowing were too much to ask of him. "At last" he said. "I was hoping you could have made it here sooner, Alex."

"That's Mr. President to you, Rufus," said Roslin, clenching his fists. On the outside, Roslin was a calm and composed man. His true emotions, however, betrayed his outer display. At the moment, he was boiling with rage.

"Of course," said Rufus. "So, did it work?"

"No," Roslin growled in frustration. "He refused my offer. He's still staying on Pandora."

"And Jake Sully?"

"He's still free," Roslin said disappointedly. "Ordering his arrest would have only made the situation worse. I got an assurance that Sully will not interfere as long as the humans on Pandora keep the peace."

"A pity," Rufus grumbled. "I expected you to use more force. Sweet talking has its limits."

Roslin sighed with exasperation. "You know this is your fault."

Goldberg merely snorted. "Fault is what everybody seems to love placing on me these days."

"Don't make a joke out of this," Roslin warned. "Now understand this. I've sacrificed a lot for you and the RDA. I've broken rules and pulled a lot of strings to help you. I had to sweep all the dirty deals under the carpet, with the press on my ass the whole way. Do you have any idea how many bribes I had to hand over to the FBI to keep them quiet? If Congress knew any of the black budget deals I made with you, I'd get my head chopped off! And this is what I get out of it! Give me one good reason why I shouldn't arrest you right now!"

"Because we're in this together, Mr. President. Business is war!"

"Your war has turned into a fucking disaster!" Roslin struggled not to yell. "Do you have any idea what you have cost us? Not only that. But the fact that you ordered a soldier to commit mutiny and kill several of your employees in an attempt to frame the Na'vi. I already have people in Congress that are probing around my office. Their suspicions are only growing. Not only that! The UN is starting their own investigation of our affairs on Pandora. If they found anything, it would not only destroy the RDA, it would ruin this country's reputation. We'd become the laughing stock of the world."

"People have always tried to paint America as the bad guy. It's always been that way. Countries always try to label other countries to deify themselves."

"That's not the point! I handed over considerable amounts of power to the RDA because it is the backbone of the U.S. It's the reason why America has become a leading industry again in the global economy. Our reputation hasn't been so shunned since the Middle Eastern War. We have struggled to restore this country to its glory and establish it as the world's leading power. And you almost destroyed it!"

"The UN can't do anything," Goldberg assured Roslin. "Don't forget, the RDA is a multi-national corporation that supports the UN. Making a move against us would mean losing a considerable chunk of their economic power. They wouldn't dare try that!"

"Don't get too cocky, Rufus," Roslin said.

"What I do, I do for the benefit of my company and our planet," Goldberg said in his defense. "Can any other company give this planet what we have given it? If that damn Captain didn't let sentiment get in the way of duty, we wouldn't be in this situation. And we would have nailed that tree hugging traitor's ass, Jake Sully, long ago!"

"We're in this situation because you got greedy, Rufus," Roslin snarled.

"Oh, stop trying to sound so righteous! Greed is what drives the U.S. It's what drives the world. Those stooges in the UN are no different. It's the greedy that brought a $20 million rock to Earth."

"I'm not here to argue about that! At this rate, Unobtamium production will drop to thirty percent. Our economy is going to suffer greatly from this. You started this mess. Now how are you going to fix it?"

"Relax, Mr. President," Goldberg assured him. "If we both play our cards right, we can salvage this situation easily. But I need your help."

"I'm not getting involved in your dirty work!"

"If you listen to what I have to offer, maybe you'll reconsider."

Roslin reluctantly listened. "What do you propose?"

"First, we must convince the public that we are not the ones responsible for the mishaps on Pandora. We can easily shift the blame to Colonel Quatrich and Parker Selfridge as the villains. Selfridge will make it easier because he's still alive to take the blame. His guilt will keep the media occupied and steer some of their attention away from us. Second, we must remove Philip McCoy and Jake Sully from the picture. By removing them, we will regain control of mining operations and increase unobtamium production."

"I am not going to get my hands in blood like you, Rufus."

"It doesn't have to be bloodshed necessarily," said Goldberg. "I admit that the cloak and dagger techniques Dale Whooping tried were a mistake. But there is another way to do it without bloodshed. It will take time to prepare, but it will pay in the long run. Before I go into any details, though, I need to know that I have your support in this. You're not going to be President much longer, so I need you to do your part while you still have authority. Now are you with me?" He extended his hand toward Roslin.

Roslin grudgingly took Goldberg's hand as they sealed their bargain. "Very well. But I warn you, Rufus. If this fails, you take the blame alone. And you will fall... hard!"

Goldberg merely grinned. "Don't worry. What I have in mind won't just salvage our situation, but it will open up a new frontier."