Small Steps

Norm was describing to Nora all that he knew about the territory the Ophidians inhabited. The nocturnal creatures infested a great part of the forest where she would be traversing. A majority of the wildlife, at least those without wings, avoided the area or risked dying at night. She would have to hike through there to get to the canyon beyond. There was no other way around it. And it was the fastest.

"We should've asked Lucas what he encountered there," Nora lamented.

"There was no time to talk about it," Norm said.

"You can't tell me anything else about them?"

"Sorry, no. The Na'vi simply have told us what they look like, how they kill, and to stay away. They discouraged us from studying them. Getting a picture of one of the Elpam trees has long been on our list of things to do." Norm sighed. "For times like these."

"You might want to bump it up a few notches," she said sarcastically.

Nora had committed to memory as much of the area map as she could while Norm pointed out a few land markers in the forest, such as water and clutches of plants and other wild growth. She was certain she could get to the base. Norm gave her a crash course in operating her weapon, but assured her the odds of encountering any viperwolves or larger animals were low if she stayed on the higher ground.

"Haul. It's possible you could make it to the edge of the forest before nightfall but hard to say for sure, since we haven't yet mapped that area by foot. But, just in case," he said and pointed to her weapon.

"Understood," she replied.

"You ready?" he asked. Nodding, she swallowed hard. She had resigned herself to the fact that she was the only one left who could get the nectar, just two vials left, to Jake before it was too late for him. However, having to hike through Pandora's badlands to do it wasn't something any of them planned on.

Also, she was now forced to face her fear of closed in spaces again but it seemed like such a minor inconvenience now. The claustrophobia had always been a hindrance to her. No amount of therapy or meds on Earth had ever been able to cure her of it. But Pandora seemed to be just the medicine.

"We're wasting precious daylight," she said with a tiny nervous smile and laid down in the psi link. She sank into its spongy soft gel lining. It actually felt quite comfortable. It better be for as long as I'm going to be in this blessed vessel, she thought.

Norm hovered over her with one arm on the clamshell, ready to shut her in. He watched her carefully, noticing her eyes darting around nervously. "Take a deep breath," he instructed her. She did as she was told. "Clear your mind as much as possible."

"Sure thing."

"It won't take long for your nervous system to align with that of your avatar's. We're closely monitoring you, from in here and out there."

As Norm started to close the lid, Nora suddenly yelled out. "Wait!" Lifting her head up, she took off Tom's medallion and handed it to him. "Please give this to Max. I want it on my avatar. For luck."

"You got it," he grinned, looking at it. "Man, I actually remember this thing."

The two scientists exchanged knowing smiles in silent reverence of their deceased friend, then Norm closed the lid. Nora looked around, muttered a curse, then closed her eyes. It won't be long, she reassured herself. It won't be long...

Another long, deep breath...

The avatar stirred as Nora filled its consciousness. Her eyes opened to blurred vision but she could make out Max through his exopack. She knew she was ok when he smiled at her.

"Looks good, Nora. Everything is looking good," Max commented while checking the 3D output on her brain activity. Now fully conscious, she sat up slowly. "Easy...that's it," he encouraged, giving her a hand. "Vince, how are her stats reading?"

"Near perfect. Pulse is a little high, though," the med tech promptly answered from the other side of the table.

Max got a glimpse of the readout. "Just nerves, excitement." Nora looked at her hands in awe then excitedly reached around and brought her tail to the front to examine it. "Say something."

"Wow!" she said with the excitement of a child while looking at the tip. "A tail. Cool!" Next she reached for her braid and studied the queue's tentacles. "Amazing."

"You've been well nourished. You'll get thirsty before you get hungry."

"Got it." She filled her lungs with the clean, sweet-smelling air.

"Now, try standing up." Max helped her off the table. "Easy. There you go." The tech raced around the table and assisted in steadying her. Max remarked to him, "See how lean the muscular system developed on these first generation avatars?"

"Yes," Vince nodded in agreement. "And the facial features, somewhat more human, not quite as Na'vi-like..."

"Guys," Nora interrupted, instantly irritated by their lab banter.

"Ok, now, try taking a few steps," Max coaxed. It took a moment for her to adjust to her new height. She stumbled, arms flailing in front of her as she did her best to quickly gain control but ended up falling to her hands and knees, crawling like a baby.

Max kept encouraging her. "You're getting it really good, Nora. Just take small steps."

The urgency of the situation accelerated her adaptation. Kneeling, Nora wiggled her fingers. Her mind and body were rapidly synching up. She thought of Grace and what she might be thinking of her if she were there. For as long as she could remember, she always tried to keep up with her sister. They were competitive to a fault. But even when Grace was being hard on her, she always tempered it with some sisterly support and advice. Nora could hear her now, "Don't let anyone or anything beat you down, sis." Words Grace lived by.

Tipping forward onto hands and knees again, Nora pushed herself to her feet, then rolled up one vertebra at a time to a stand. Balance was good. Clumsily, she took a few more steps then paused to take in Pandora with her new, sharper senses. It was wild, but beautiful. The melding of all the natural sights, sounds, and smells created a rich, clear and colorful environmental canvas, something she knew Earth once possessed. This magnificent moon was very much alive and healthy. Norm knocked on the window and motioned for her to get moving.

"Unfortunately, you'll have to postpone your wonderment for another time," Max said, keeping her focused.

"Of course." Nora checked her weapons - an RDA wasp and a knife, meager but something - and the survival pack where the precious last two vials of nectar were. She then lightly tapped the pocket on the front of her vest searching for the medallion. It was there.

"Thanks, Max," she smiled.

He nodded as she turned and headed toward the forest, walking slowly at first. But her confidence ratcheted up with every step. Soon, her stride increased. By the time she reached the forest's edge, she was jogging lightly. She glanced back at Max who gave her a thumbs up.