The Balance of Life

Part One - Discovery

Chapter 4 - Part 13--- NewHome

Author's Note:

I made an error in earlier chapters. The Avatar prep room has Pandora air. Humans need to wear masks to breath. I will go back and correct this once Part 1 is finished. From this point forward I will have all humans masked in the prep room. Surprised no one call me out on this.

"Hell's Gate tower, this is Samson One, come-in, over." Rocky kept his eyes averted from Karen's body strapped into the seat next to him. Thirty minutes ago she had still been alive, laughing as she told him not to worry. She was just going to go and stand by the pump so she could watch Norm. Nothing bad was going to happen to her. Now she was dead. Exactly how that had happened he didn't know. Buck and the other avatars hadn't been long on the details. Because Jake's life might depend on getting to Hell's Gate as quickly as possible, he focused on that single task.

"Hell's Gate tower, come-in, over." Rocky repeated.

"Rocky, this is Zoe, over."

"Is Gary there?"

"No, he stepped out a short time ago. He should be back soon. What's wrong?" Zoe had heard Rocky's first call. As Gary was out of the room, she had quickly hurried over to his console to take the second call. The stress in Rocky's normally calm voice had given her adrenaline a quick kick.

"Jake has an arrow in his chest, right lung…I think. We are bringing him in for surgery. Have Max, Susan and Ron standing by to receive him as soon as we land. I'll land in the avatar training area. ETA thirty-five minutes."

"Jesus Rocky, how did that happen?"

"I don't exactly know. Some of the Omatikaya turned hostile and attacked."

"Is everyone else okay?"

"Yeah," Rocky lied. He didn't see any value in upsetting Zoe or the others with the news of Karen's death until he landed.

"Norm is on board, but Buck and the other avatars stayed behind."

"I'll alert Max immediately."

"Just make sure they're ready with the gurney when we arrive. Rocky out." He knew that he was abrupt with Zoe, but he felt his throat closing up on him. Getting out what he did had left his throat knotted and aching.

"Gary, hurry," Zoe beckoned when he walked into the Ops Center.

"What's happened?" Gary demanded when he heard the urgency in Zoe's voice.

"Rocky just radioed in that Jake has been wounded. He has an arrow in his chest. Rocky said they will be landing in the avatar training area in just under thirty-five minutes. He wants Max and his team ready to meet them. Buck and the other avatars stayed behind."

"Why the hell did they do that?"

"I don't know, he didn't say."

"Stay here. I'm going to go down to the lab. It will take four of us to move Jake from the Samson to a gurney." Gary said as he turned and rushed out through the door.

The trip down to the bio lab and adjoining prep room took him less than two minutes. Even though Rocky would not be landing for another thirty minutes Gary wanted as much time to prepare for Jake's arrival as possible. Bursting through the bio lab doors he nearly ran right over Susan. The PVC she was looking at flew out of her hands and skidded across the floor as she let out a startled scream.

"Shit Gary, you need to watch where you're going," Susan barked angrily.

"I'm sorry. I was in a hurry, but that's no excuse. Where's Max?"

"In the prep room studying the new clone? Why? Is something wrong?" After picking up the PVC she took a good look at his face. Something was definitely not right.

"Rocky is on his way here. Jake has been wounded." Gary went on to tell all that Zoe had told him.

"Damn it, this is not good," Susan exclaimed as she headed for the inner air lock between the bio lab and the prep room.

"Are you equipped to perform this kind of surgery?" Gary asked as he followed Susan to the airlock door.

"Crap," Susan said as she stopped dead in her tracks. "I can't leave the avatar drivers unattended. Can you stay here with them?"

"I can, but I'm not sure what to do if anything goes wrong."

"The computers monitor everything. If any red lights start flashing call me through the intercom."

"I should go out with the gurney. Jake weights a good two-fifty, maybe more. It's going to take some muscle to get him out of the Samson and onto a gurney. Come back and take over here while I help get Jake into the prep room, then we'll swap back."

"That sounds like it should work. Can you patch the prep room in with Rocky? We need to get Jake's vitals and general conditions as quickly as possible."

"Yes, that won't be a problem. Go. I'll call you when I have Rocky patched in."

As soon as Susan stepped into the inside airlock Gary sat down at the bio lab's main console.

"Zoe?" Gary called, touching the icon on the heads-up screen for the Ops Center.

"Yes, I'm here," Zoe responded, her face showing on the video link.

"Susan is filling Max and Ron in on what's happened. I'm going to transfer master control to this terminal. You might as well come down to the lab. Between the two of us we can monitor the avatar drivers and communications with the Samson."

"Be right there."

Even before her image disappeared from the video link Gary was entering instructions to transfer command to the console. When the communications window opened Gary punched the direct link to the Samson.

"Rocky, can you hear me?"

"I hear you fine Gary, ETA is now twenty-two minutes."

"I'm in the bio lab. We are going to run operations from here for the time being. Max and his crew are preparing for your arrival. They are going to want Karen to give them Jake's vitals as soon as I patch you in."

"Gary…Karen's dead. She was killed by…she died during the ruckus that ended with Jake having an arrow in his chest."

The impact of Rocky's words stole the breath from Gary's lungs as surely as if he had been sucker punched in the gut. Fighting off a sudden wave of nausea Gary fought to loosen the knot that had formed in his throat. He wasn't, couldn't think about the fact that he was the one who suggested that she go along with the avatars. She was beyond his help now. He would grieve for her later. Gary was absolutely certain that if Jake died, all the rest of them would too. Not right away, but steadily over time until there was nothing left of their presence on Pandora.

"You didn't tell Zoe?" Gary asked once he was sure he could speak without losing his breakfast.

"No. She was alone, so I didn't want to upset her."

"That was probably wise. Where is Karen's body?" Gary did everything he could to push the image of Karen's lifeless body to the back of his mind. He didn't want to deal with it until he had to.

"Strapped in the cockpit next to me. Jesus Gary, this so fricking surreal."

"Do you have any idea what happened, what started the whole incident?"

"Not really. Neytiri probably knows. She, Ralu and Norm are with me."

At the mention of Norm's name Gary's heart ache doubled and the gorge in his stomach tried its damnedest to get out. Clamping down on every emotion Gary tried to get as much information as he could.

"Is Norm wounded?"

"Slightly, mostly he's just in shock from what I could see when the other avatars loaded him into the Samson."

"Do you know why the other avatar's chose to stay, not come back?"

"Buck said I would make better time without them. He's right about that. He said not to worry the renegade's had been killed or driven into the forest. He didn't seem overly concerned about their safety. They did keep both hydra's just in case he was wrong."

"All right. We can't do anything for them right now. They're smart. They will survive. Not that it's terribly important, but is the pump working?"

"Yes, they got that going before all hell broke loose."

"Is there any way for me to talk with Neytiri?" He was sure that getting Jake's vital signs would be extremely important. If Norm was in shock he wouldn't be of any use. The girl Ralu was too young. That left Neytiri as the only choice.

"Give me a second; I'll see if I can get her to put on a headset. She's pretty shook up, but I think she's holding together."

"Who's shook up? Karen?" Zoe asked when she entered the bio lab and heard the last of Rocky's transmissions.

"No, Neytiri," Gary answered looking directly at the console. He knew that if he looked at Zoe she would see the grief he was feeling.

"Neytiri's there? We'll I guess she would be. I would be in her place."

"Hello?" Neytiri's anguished voice came through the comm link.

"Neytiri, my name is Gary. We met once when most of the humans were sent back home. Do you remember me?"

"Yes, I think I do."

"I'm going to bring Max and his medical team in. They are going to ask you to tell them what you can about Jake's condition."

"He has arrow in his chest, on his right side."

"Yes, that much we know. What the medical team needs to know is how is Jake's breathing. How fast is his heart beating. Things like that. Do not worry if they ask for information you don't know how to give. Just do the best you can. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

"You should be landing here in less than fifteen minutes. I am going to patch Max in now. Just sit tight."

"Karen shouldn't have any trouble getting Jake's vitals. Why is Neytiri taking them?"

"Max, you are patched in. Neytiri will try to get you what you need," Gary said into the comm link after joining the prep room comm link into the open channel.

Knowing there was no way to put off what he had to do now Gary turned to look at Zoe. It took less than a second for Zoe to read what was showing on his face. Even before he could stand she was shaking her head in denial of what she knew he was going to say. By the time he reached for her, hot, thick tears were streaming down her cheeks. When Gary wrapped her in his arms, for his comfort as well as hers, she began to cry. There were no words that would help either of them so he just continued to hold her as they both suffered through the pain of losing someone that was close to them.

"Neytiri, my name is Max. Can you hear me?"

"Yes Max, I can."

"Is Jake conscious, is he awake?"

"Yes, his eyes are open. He is looking at me."

"Are his pupils, the dark part in the middle, larger or smaller than normal?"

"They seem smaller, but only a little."

"Is blood flowing from the wound?"

"No. Judy wrapped some cloth around the arrowhead."

"Is he having trouble breathing?"

"He has an arrow in lung, of course he is having trouble," Neytiri's voice snapped.

"Yes, I know. Do you hear any liquid noise in his throat? Is he coughing?"

"He coughs a little. Sometimes there is blood."

"Can you feel his heart beating? If so can you tell me is it steady?"

"Yes his heart beat is steady", Neytiri replied after a short pause.

"I am going say start, and then stop. I want you to count the number of times his heart beats. Can you do that?"

"Yes."

"Okay here we go. Start," Max counted off fifteen seconds before saying 'stop'.

"His heart beat twenty times."

"I am going to say start and stop again. Count how many breathes he takes."

"Seven." Neytiri answered after counting his breathing rate.

"If you squeeze his hand does he squeeze back?"

"Yes, but it is not strong."

"Does he know who you are?"

"I think so."

"Tell him to whisper your name, if he can."

"He did so. He also said 'I see you'," Neytiri's voice cracked slightly.

"Okay, just hold on. You will be here shortly."

"Will he live?"

"I can't promise that," Max replied. "We will do everything possible. He is young and healthy so there is a very good chance that he will make a full recovery. The most you can do now is be there for him. Prayers to Eywa couldn't hurt either."

"I have been doing that since the other avatars loaded us into your flying machine."

"Good. Keep doing it. We will be ready for you as soon as you land."

"Do you think the arrow was coated with neurotoxins?" Ron asked Max when he finished speaking to Neytiri.

"No, if it was, Jake would be dead by now."

"Let's get prepped for surgery," Max began as he began giving instructions for what he would need once Jake arrived.

"Zoe, there is nothing any of us can say that will make this any easier," Gary began after Zoe had stopped crying. "I don't know how it happened. Rocky wasn't able to tell me much. After he lands Neytiri should be able to tell us more."

"Norm, where is Norm?" Zoe asked suddenly as she stepped back from Gary.

"He is on the Samson. Rocky said the Norm was wounded slightly but he seemed to be shock."

"Shouldn't you get him out of his pod?"

"I don't know. I'm going to ask Max. We'll let him make the call."

"I just can't believe this. Are things ever going to be normal around here again?"

"If I knew what normal was I might be able to answer you. Right now I'd settle for no one else dying."

"Yeah, I'd settle for that too."

"Max, I need you out here in the link room. Can you come out?" Gary waited for Max to answer his page not sure just how much to tell him until they were face to face.

"Can it wait," Max answered. "We're busy in here setting up for Jake's arrival."

"No, it really can't. It will only take a couple of minutes."

"Be right out," Max answered, frustration clearly audible in his voice.

"What is so important that it couldn't wait?" Max demanded as he stepped out of the inner airlock.

"There is no way to make this easy. Karen's dead. Norm is on the Samson with the others. Rocky said that he is in a state of shock."

When Max looked as if he was going to pass out Gary took a single step towards him.

"Give me a second," Max said has he braced a hand against the wall and took several deep breaths.

Drawing himself together Max walked over to the pod containing Norm's human body and began to examine the readouts from the linker. After double checking the current readouts against the historical data, Max turned back to Gary and Zoe.

"Physiologically Norm's vitals are within normal operating limits. Bringing him out by shutting down the link from this end might do more harm than good. I'll want to check out his avatar once he gets back. That will be easier if he is still linked up. Unless there is a major change we'll leave him linked for now."

"What about the other drivers?" Gary asked.

"I'll check them quickly before I go back in," Max answered.

"I know it won't be easy, but I'll leave it to you to tell Ron and Susan about Karen. Her body is on the Samson."

"Yeah, it definitely won't be easy." Max replied as he moved to the next pod to check on Judy's link.

All three jumped when Buck's voice activated the comm link.

"Hell's Gate, this is Buck. Do you read me?"

"Yes Buck, we read you," Gary answered after scrambling over to the master console. "Are you and the other avatars okay?"

"Yes we're fine, safe and healthy. Has Rocky arrived yet?"

"He should be here shortly?"

"I just wanted to check in with you. You can reach us via sat-link any time. Let us know as soon as you know anything about Jake."

"Okay, we'll do that. Anything you need for us to do?"

"Yeah, pray for Jake, and for Norm. This is going to hit him really hard."

"Will do. I'll call you as soon as Rocky lands and Jake's in surgery."

"Thanks, Buck out."

"I'll take the gurney outside," Gary began. "Neytiri and I should be able carry Jake from the Samson to the outside airlock. After that I can have her help get Norm into the avatar shelter. It will be the best place for them to wait while Jake's in surgery."

"Gary, she isn't going to want to let Jake out of her sight," Zoe added.

"You're right about that. Hopefully she will listen to reason."

"And if she doesn't?"

"I'll play on her sympathy for what happened to Norm. She can't be in surgery. I'll try to make her see that."

"Good luck with that. From what Norm has told us she doesn't care for the word 'no'."

Gary spotted the Samson almost as soon as he heard the whine of her rotors. Standing just outside the outer airlock door he watched the Samson head straight for the make-shift basketball court the avatars used for training and play. Timing it so he would reach the Samson just after Rocky cut power to the rotors; Gary sprinted across the court to the side of the aircraft.

"Hi I'm Gary," He said through his exopack as he greeted Neytiri and Ralu. A quick glance told him that Norm was pretty much out of it. Jake had turned his head at the sound of his voice.

Hoping in, Gary released the clamps holding Jake's stretcher to the deck.

"We need to get Jake inside as quickly as possible. If you will take the end nearest Jake's head I'll take the other end," Gary said as he moved to the opening in the side of the Samson. "Ralu is it? Would you say here and watch after Norm until we can get Jake inside?"

"Yes, I can do that," Ralu answered after looking to her mother for approval.

With Neytiri's help Gary rotated Jake's stretcher and pulled it from the belly of the Samson. The hardest part about carrying Jake's stretcher for Gary was to hold it at shoulder level so Neytiri wouldn't have to walk stooped over. Max had been firm on making sure the stretcher remained level as much as possible. Skirting by the side of the gurney Gary backed into the airlock so that he and Neytiri could set the stretcher atop the gurney.

"The medical team will take Jake inside just as soon as we step outside and close the outer door," Gary said as soon as Jake was settled safely on the gurney. "I know you want to be with him Neytiri. For Jake's sake you can't. Max and his team have been tending to avatars for years. They will do everything they can to make sure that he walks out of here on his own two feet. We will wait close by. As soon as it's possible you and Ralu will be able to see Jake."

Gary wasn't sure what Neytiri said to Jake in Na'vi, but he weakly repeated it back to her. After bushing Jake's lips lightly with her own Neytiri stood and walked back outside. Pausing long enough to squeeze Jake's shoulder, Gary followed her, shutting the outer door behind him.

"Just a short distance from here is a building where the avatars used to sleep," Gary said when he caught up with Neytiri beside the Samson. "It is a good place for you and Ralu to wait. I would be grateful if you could help me get Norm in there as well. He doesn't look like he can make it on his own."

"We will help you. Norm is family to both of our peoples. My heart is heavy that I can do little for him."

"We all feel that way. He and Karen were a big part of our lives."

"Ralu, we need to get Norm to step outside," Neytiri told her daughter after releasing Norm from the harness that held him in place during the flight.

Kneeling Ralu took Norm's face in her hands and gently turned it towards her. "We have to move from this place. You need to stand so we can walk. Mother and I will help you."

With Neytiri and Ralu's gentle prodding they maneuvered Norm out of the Samson to stand on his own. He looked very shaky to Gary's eyes. Slinging her bow and the two new arrows Ell'a'u had given her just before takeoff over her shoulder, Neytiri moved to support Norm's left side while Ralu supported his right as best she could.

"This way," Gary indicated as the moved around the front of the aircraft. While Neytiri and Ralu had been coaxing Norm from the Samson, Rocky told Norm that he was going to take the aircraft back to the hanger deck to refuel. He would see to Karen's body as well.

Once they were a safe distance away, the Samson rose into the air and disappeared over the fence inclosing the training area. The avatar hut was normally a short walk from the basketball court. Norm's zombie like state made the trip twice as long. Neytiri stopped at the base of the steps to the hut and looked around.

"It's not much, but it does have a roof to keep the rain off our heads," Gary began. "In side there is a comm link so that we can talk with the others inside the complex. The medical team will keep us informed on Jake's condition. If it's alright with you I'll wait here at least until Jake is out of surgery. I'm sure you have a lot of questions. I'll try to answer them as best I can."

"We like for you to stay with us," Neytiri answered a bit numbly, which alerted Gary to the fact that she was probably ready to crash from an adrenaline come-down.

"There is food nearby which we can gather when you become hungry. For now let's get Norm inside and on a cot before he collapses."

"Yes, that is good. I do not think he is going to be able to sand much longer."

With considerable difficulty Neytiri and Ralu managed to get Norm up the short flight of steps and into the hut. Lowering him onto the first available cot they both collapsed on the adjacent cot, physically and mentally exhausted.

"Just rest while I let them know inside that we are all safe. I'll try to get an early update on Jake's condition."

"Thank you," Neytiri replied as Ralu snuggled next to her.

Moving over to the comm link used by the avatar technicians Gary called into the lab.

"Norm is resting comfortable," Gary informed Zoe when she answered his call. "Neytiri and Ralu look a little rough around the edges but they will feel better after they get some rest. Can you try to get me an update on how Jake's doing? I promised Neytiri that I would ask."

"Sure. Give me a couple of minutes and I'll call you back."

"Not going anywhere. I'll be right here." It's barely past midday Gary thought to himself. This could turn into a very long day for all involved.

Figuring it would take Zoe a few minutes to get back to him Gary walked over to check on Norm. Ralu was sitting cross legged with Norm's head cradled between them. Neytiri was sitting on the side of the adjacent cot holding his hand.

"When was the last time he spoke?" Gary asked as he stood at the foot of the cot.

"He hasn't spoken since Buck and Kyle strapped him into the flying machine," Neytiri answered. She was trying not to think of Jake dying while she sat around helpless to day anything about it.

The woman that Norm loved was dead, and now Norm could not see those around him. All she could see when she looked at Norm was the love in his eyes when had picked Karen up off the ground and held her against him. The shocked disbelief that followed was too painful to let into her mind.

"Norm told me that you are his very favorite Na'vi," Gary said to Ralu. "He told me how you tended to his wound after he was stabbed. He knew he wasn't going to die because you did such a good job fixing him up. Even through all the pain he didn't want to leave his avatar. Not until he was sure you would be okay too."

"I'm sure you have experienced what Norm is experiencing right now," Gary continued when Ralu's eyes began to well up with tears. "You know the terrible grief, the emptiness that fills you when someone you love dies. Just like someone helped you to get past the pain and want to live again, we need to help Norm get past his pain so the he will want to live again. Right now I would bet that you are the best reason for Norm to want to come back to us. I think that the more he hears your voice the quicker he will come back. Do you think you can just talk to him, tell him that you miss him, that he should come back so that you can be together again?"

"Yes, I can do that."

"Good, that's good." Turning to Neytiri Gary added, "I know you have suffered terrible losses yourself, but I think that your daughter has the best chance of getting through to Norm. I could tell from the way that he spoke of her, the look in his eyes, that he loves Ralu in the best possible way. I hope that doesn't make you uncomfortable. Norm is the kind of person that would give his life to protect a child. What we humans would call a quiet unsung hero."

"Norm almost gave his life to protect my mother. Besides Jake, there is no other that I trust as fully. That may sound strange coming from me, but it is truth. If all Sky People were like those of you that have remained behind we would not have suffered as much as we have."

"We're not perfect Neytiri; we just have more respect for what was here on Pandora before we arrived than those who sent us here. To our way of thinking humans are guests in your world. We should treat it as such."

The sentiment and honesty she felt from this human, who was no taller than her daughter, touched something in her heart. She could 'see' some of Jake's spirit inside this man. There was obvious strength in his character, and a tenderness and understanding that she would never have believed possible just a short time ago. She was beginning to believe that it was possible that some humans could 'see' just as well as the Na'vi.

When the comm link buzzed Gary quickly walked over to answer it.

"Hi Zoe, what do you have for us?"

"Max told me to tell you that he thinks Jake will make a full recovery. He will know more in about an hour. After that we will just have to wait and see how fast Jake heals. Neytiri and Ralu should be able to see him in a couple of hours."

"That's great news. I'm sure Neytiri and Ralu will be relieved to hear it."

"How is Norm?"

"About the same. Hopefully we will be able to make some progress on that front as well. I'll get back to you in a while. Call if you have anything further."

"Will do. Be safe."

Walking back to Neytiri and Ralu, they were both looking at him, hope in their eyes.

"Max thinks that Jake is going to completely recover. Since Max is a glass half empty kind of guy, I think you can count on it."

If Neytiri wasn't almost twice his size Gary would have wrapped her up with a big hug because she looked like she needed one. Comforting a ten foot tall amazon warrior was a bit out of his league.

"Zoe told me that you both should be able to see him in a couple of hours. That's about twice as long as it took you to fly here," Gary added when he remembered that the Na'vi didn't have the same concept of time as humans did.

"Why don't you line down and get some rest," Gary suggested when all of the life seemed to drain out of Neytiri. "I'll be right here if anything changes."

"I think that would be good," Neytiri answered as she lowered her head to the pillow on the Na'vi sized cot. "Would you sit with us so that we can talk? It will make the waiting go faster."

"Sure I can do that. Let me find something to sit on."

"There is room here beside me," Neytiri suggested, indicating a space large enough for him to sit cross legged beside her.

For a moment Gary was torn between feeling uncomfortable sitting on the same bed with another man's wife and offending Neytiri when she obviously saw nothing wrong with the closeness. Figuring he was well chaperoned with Ralu sitting ten feet away, looking directly at him, Gary hopped up on the waist high cot and crossed his legs so the he could easily see Neytiri an Ralu at the same time.

"Do you have a woman?" Neytiri asked.

"No, at least not in the way that you mean. Zoe—the person I was speaking with on the comm link—and I are just starting to get to know each other on a more personal level. How far that will progress still remains to be seen."

"You are older that Jake. Is this correct?"

"Yes, by a good ten years if I remember correctly. Why do you ask?"

"I am just trying to know you better. For a long time after my sister was killed I hated all Sky People. Now I realize that not all Sky People are the same. For a while I though Jake was the only one who was different. Now I know that is not true. So I wish to know more about you."

"Well then, ask away. I'll tell you as much as I can."

"You do not have avatar?"

"No, I don't."

"Why did you come here? What reason did you have to come to our world?"

"Good question. Mostly I came because there was nothing for me back on Earth. I had no family. Nothing to stay there for. Pandora sounded like an interesting place to see. And it turns out I was right, Pandora has many interesting places, and people to see."

"When the other Sky People returned to their world, why did you choose to stay?"

"I guess I felt more at home here than I did back on Earth. The food was better too. One of few the things that the RDA did right was feed us well. I don't have an exact answer to your question. I just knew I would be unhappy if I left."

"You felt this way even though you need mask to breathe our air. That you need to live inside where you do not feel the sun and wind on your face."

"Sounds a little crazy, doesn't it? Even with all the hardships and dangers, I would still rather be here."

"The others think as you do?"

"Mostly. We each have our own particular reasons for coming here, staying here. In the end we like it here better than we did on Earth."

"Do you regret coming to help us?"

"No. I deeply regret that Karen was killed, that Jake was shot and that Norm is going to have to live through a really hard time. You are not responsible for what happened."

"Some of my people were."

"Yeah, and some of my people were responsible for the destruction of Hometree and all the people that died there. Bad people can turn up anywhere. In the end we can only be responsible for our own actions."

"What you say is truth."

"Mother, Norm is beginning to wake."

Author's Note:

For those of you who have reviewed, Thanks. I enjoy hearing from you.

Enjoy.