The small cell was silent, the four individuals shut inside dealing with their own internal turmoil in the aftermath of the assault. Grace sat on one bunk while Norm lounged across the other. Jake sat in his chair, head down while he continuously glanced over at Etta who sat on the floor across from him. The room seemed lifeless….hopeless. Just across the way the automatic door hissed open as Trudy rolled in a dining tray.
"What's going on brother, long time no see." She greeted the guard at the desk warmly. The sound of her voice caused the four prisoners to turn her direction curiously.
"Personally I don't think these tree hugging traitors deserve steak." She commented.
"They get steak? That's bullshit, let me see that…" As the guard bends over to look in the cart Trudy places a gun against the back of his head. She chuckles humorlessly.
"Yea, you know what that is….down." she ordered sternly.
"Trudy!" Norm cheered as the others stood up and gathered by the door.
"All the way down." She murmured just before striking him on the back of the head and knocking the guard out cold. The pilot grinned as she stashed her gun away.
"Max!" the small scientist skidded around the corner and rushed to the cell lock. Within seconds he had it opened and stepped aside for everyone to file out.
"What to you say? Time for a revolution?" Trudy grinned deviously. Etta shrugged.
"I'm free."
"Come on." The pilot nodded her head and led the way out of the holding cells. Jake pumped hard, keeping pace just behind Trudy while Etta was boxed in between him and Norm with Grace in the rear. Trudy silently jogged down the halls, gun at the ready.
"Trudy fire up the ship. Go." Jake ordered, nodding for Norm to join her. Trudy handed the tall man a gun as they turned to the left. Jake lead the way down the other end of the hall, heading for the loading bay. Etta carefully jogged behind him, with Max nudging her every so often so Grace was free to jog ahead. Opening one of the airlocks, Jake waited and grabbed the smaller man on the arm.
"Max, stay here. I need somebody on the inside I can trust." He insisted. Max nodded.
"Okay." Jake wheeled inside, grabbing the oxygen mask offered to him. As they waited for Norm and Trudy to get the chopper running, he glanced over at Etta. Jake frowned as the woman clenched her hands anxiously.
"Hey, what's wrong?" he mumbled. Etta blinked, turning her head down towards him.
"I don't know if I can do this."
"What are you talking about?"
"I don't know if I can make it to the chopper, Jake. There's bound to be some return fire and people trying to stop us…..I won't be able to see them." She whispered, fear slipping into her voice. Grace and Jake stared at the woman thoughtfully. He reached out to grab her hand.
"You can do this. We'll be with you the whole way, I'm not letting anything happen to you." he insisted. Etta licked her lips, head shaking.
"I'm just gonna be a liability. You two should go…..I…"
"If you even think about saying you'll stay behind…." Jake growled, tugging her closer as if she was about to bolt.
"I've never been out there! I can't do anything!" she yelped angrily, keeping her voice down as best she could. Angry tears pricked at her eyes.
"Then let us help you. We're not leaving you behind because you're at a disadvantage. I need you." he insisted sternly. Etta sucked in a shaky breath.
"He's right. No one is getting left behind. We'll make sure you're right beside us the whole way, kid." Grace added gently.
"Okay….." she finally agreed, still shaky but feeling a bit better about the whole escape. This was their only shot. The sound of the engine starting up spurred them into action.
"Alright lets go. They've heard the engine by now so we gotta haul ass." Jake barked as the door opened and they stepped out. He led the way while Grace gently guided the younger woman through the yard as fast as they could. Reaching the chopper, everyone quickly began loading into the back. Etta hopped in first to be out of the way, leaving Norm and Grace to lift Jake and his chair into the machine. Jake pulled himself further into the chopper and upright. He patted Etta's leg comfortingly, so she knew he was there.
"Come on!" Trudy barked, eyes scanning frantically for movement around them. The door to the control room above them was kicked open as Quaritch stormed out sans mask to shoot at them.
"I'm taking fire, let's go!" Grace hopped in as the chopper lifted off the ground, bullets ricocheting off the metal.
"Grab my hand! We're all in." Norm informed as he pulled Grace the rest of the way inside. Everyone held onto what they could as the chopper quickly turned and sped away. As the sound of bullets was left behind Etta unclenched from her spot by the wall and breathed out a sigh of relief.
"Yea! Wooo!" Norm and Jake barked out whoops of delight as the fed on the adrenaline high of the escape. Trudy chuckled lightly at their enthusiasm. However one person wasn't celebrating.
"Oh crap." Grace muttered, panting heavily near Etta.
"Grace? What's wrong?" she asked worriedly.
"Is everyone alright back there?" Trudy asked, unaware of the discovery.
"I'm good? Norm?" Jake inquired, getting a nod from the man. He swung around to check on Etta and Grace when he froze at the sight of blood quickly staining Grace's torso.
"This is gonna ruin my whole day." The woman muttered humorlessly. Etta scrambled sideways reaching out for her.
"Jake what is it?" she asked, knowing Grace wasn't going to say anything. The man lunged forward.
"Grace is hit." He called so Trudy could hear.
"What?" Etta gasped.
"Get the trauma kit!" Norm rushed off, yelling 'trauma kit' frantically as he headed to the cockpit to retrieve it. Etta slipped out of her t-shirt, leaving only her sports bra. She quickly balled the fabric up and let Jake lead her hands to put pressure on the wound.
"Leave the pressure on, Grace." She muttered worriedly.
"Hold on." Jake encouraged, watching the woman begin to pale.
"It doesn't matter…it's fine." Grace grunted. Etta shook her head with a rue grin.
"Never did like the attention on you." she hummed. Grace chuckled painfully, glancing at the young woman she had mentored.
...
...
Unwilling to let them dote on her, Grace insisted they pick up the link beds from the outpost station. Norm quickly went down and linked up to his avatar so the taller version of himself could hook up the container to the chopper.
"Alright take it up!" he called from atop the container once everything was secure. Trudy gently lifted it off the ground, heading for a new hiding spot. Inside Jake sat by the window while Etta sat next to Grace who lied on one of the free link beds.
"Keep heading north, take us deep into the mountains." Jake relayed over the radio.
"Copy that." The man looked over at Etta who sat staring down at Grace. Her hand rubbed up and down the woman's leg comfortingly. Although he wasn't convinced it was only for Grace's comfort. With a sigh Jake rolled down the aisle of the container, setting things back into their proper places.
"Norm you doing ok out there?" he radioed.
"Yup, I'm still here!" the man cheered from outside. Etta chuckled at his enthusiasm. Jake looked over his shoulder and smiled at the sound before going back to rummaging in the trauma kit.
"Well at least they can't track us up here. Not this far into the vortex." Trudy commented.
"It's strongest at the Tree of Souls right?"
"Yea."
"Good cause that's where we're going." Jake instructed. Having found the applicator he was looking for he turned back around, heading towards the girls on the bed. Jake gently rolled up Grace's shirt sleeve and plunged the needle in, releasing the anesthetic.
"Ouch." Grace deadpanned. Jake glanced up at her.
"Big baby." He weakly joked, pulling back the blanket to reveal blood-soaked bandages. Etta's shirt long ruined underneath it all. Jake was secretly thankful that Etta was unable to see the extent of the damage.
"We're moving?" Grace inquired lethargically.
"We're gonna get you some help, Grace." Etta chimed in. Jake tucked the blankets up higher on the sickly woman.
"I'm a scientist remember. I don't believe in fairy tales." She muttered. Jake licked his lips, staring down at her in concern. She was all but giving up.
"The People can help you….I know it." He insisted.
"Why would they help us?" Jake had no answer, and looking at Etta's downcast expression, neither did she. Etta cleared her throat and stood.
"I'm gonna get you some water." she muttered, carefully walking down the aisle, hands out to catch herself when the chopper shifted. Jake watched her as she headed towards the opposite end of the container.
"You better take care of her…." A tired voice muttered. Jake blinked, looking down at Grace.
"I've already hurt her enough. I wouldn't want to put anymore on her." he admitted ruefully. Grace sucked in a heavy breath.
"Keep it that way, Marine."
"Don't worry. Besides, you'll be around long enough to kick my ass if I do." He insisted with a small grin. Grace didn't have the strength to fight him on it.
...
...
As dawn broke over the mountains, the chopper made it's way through the rocky arches surrounding the Tree of Souls. Down below hundreds of survivors staggered towards the large glowing tree. Mourning Omitacaya found their way under it's branches, bringing in their injured loved ones and gathering together for prayer and support.
...
The people say Eywa will provide. With no home….no hope…..there was only one place they could go.
...
Trudy skillfully set the container down in the middle of the forest on the outskirts of the arches. Once secured she set down the chopper and joined Norm inside.
"The links running." He commented, standing by the bed that Jake would use.
"What's the plan here Jake?" Norm asked as the man backed his chair into position. Jake chuckled.
"There's no plan." He admitted. Norm shook his head as the marine hauled himself into the bed.
"Tsu'tey is the leader now. He's not going to let you anywhere near that place."
"He might." Etta piped up from behind them. Norm and Jake turned to look at her. She raised her head, expression determined.
"There's an outside shot he would listen to me…but if we can manage a bigger gesture that would be the best way to go." She explained. Jake nodded in thought before laying down.
"We gotta try." He insisted. Norm sighed.
"Launching." Jake closed his eyes as he tried to come up with something.
...
...
Sucking in a breath, Jake's eyes widened as he came into his avatar body. He stared up at the sky, blinking as the light filtered through the canopy above him. His lungs filled with the dust that had settled on and around him, forcing him to sit up and cough to clear them out. He glanced around at once green and vibrant forest….now grey and silent. Coughing beside him caught is attention and he turned to face Etta who was sitting up as well. She rubbed her eyes and shook her head to rid her hair of the ash. Her expression dropped at the sight around them.
"It's so…..dead." she whispered, distraught at the sight. Jake slowly stood, offering her a hand. She glanced down at it before accepting the help.
"I'm not sure where we are." He admitted, spinning around slowly to try and see something familiar. The ash and destruction had changed the usual landmarks.
"Just start walking I guess." Etta suggested. Jake sighed and reached down to grab her hand. The comfort would do them both good right now. Slowly the duo trekked through the forest, looking for any sign of life or familiarity.
...
Outcasts…Betrayers….Aliens….We were in the place the Eye does not see.
...
The two spotted a clearing up ahead, but it didn't seem natural. Hesitantly they walked closer to the edge. The area was scorched down to the dirt; trees and bushes still smoldering from the fire that originated from Home Tree. With heavy hearts they pushed on. Etta frowned and absently kicked at the layer of ash littering the ground.
...
We needed their help, and they needed ours. If we were ever going to face them again, we would have to take things to a whole new level.
...
Screeching from the haze prompted the avatars to spin around. Through the fog two familiar ikrans sailed towards them. Etta grinned as her purple companion landed before her, nuzzling into her chest with a purr.
"At least someone still likes us." She mused, looking over at Jake who was also petting his ikran. Jake stared at the creature thoughtfully as an idea came to mind. Etta watched his eyes light up with an idea.
"Jake…..what are you thinking?"
...
Sometimes your whole life boils down to one insane move.
...
Jake looked over at Etta, biting his lip.
"There's something I gotta do…" Etta frowned as he trailed off, his face already apologetic.
"..I'm not gonna like this am I?"
"Not at all." He assured weakly. Silver eyes closed when her face scrunched up painfully before she let out a breath.
"Alright….I'll trust you on this." Jake stepped forward to press a thankful kiss to her lips. Stepping away he linked his que up with the ikran and slipped onto it's back. Etta quickly followed his lead. Taking off into the air the two ikrans soared higher than ever before and began heading towards the still intact forests beyond. Etta remained silent as they traveled, occasionally looking over as if trying to read the man's mind. Soon Jake's gaze focused on something below them. She glanced down.
"You've gotta be shitting me."
...
The way I see it Toruk's the baddest cat in the forest.
...
The ikrans screeched nervously at the sight of the giant predator just below them.
"Jake…please…"
"Look this is our only chance. They won't turn us down on him." Jake insisted, pleading with his mate to trust him. Etta still seemed unsure.
"Jake if you miss…"
"I won't." She swallowed.
"Ok. Just know I love you." Jake's heart stuttered. Up until then he had wondered if she still felt the same. He never would have blamed her for leaving after what he'd done.
"I love you too." He grinned. With a nod Etta followed closely behind, waiting to jump in and help if things went wrong. Jake eased his mount closer, stroking it's neck.
"Easy boy." He murmured, sensing his ride's unease.
...
Nothing attacks him…So why would he ever look up?
...
Jake steered his ikran into a dive, lifting up on his toes as his body prepared to leap.
...
But that was just a theory.
...
Disconnecting from his ikran Jake leaped, spreading his body out so he could control his decent. He shifted to land feet first onto the back of the giant hunter. Etta leaned forward anxiously as Toruk screeched in annoyance at the attack.