Meeting Tsu'Tey

In the morning, it was time for me to link up with my Avatar.

After getting some breakfast, I wheeled into the Link Room and sat in front of my unit while I waited. I looked through the adjoining chamber, the ambient room, and saw my Avatar laying on a gurney and being tended to by a med.

Norm was sliding into his link chair and already getting himself hooked up. It wasn't hard to tell that he'd done this before. Personally, I hadn't done any training and was a little nervous, but who cared?

Grace came. "Norm, have much Link time have you done?" she asked.

"About five hundred and twenty hours," he replied.

She looked at me. "How much time have you done?"

"None, but I read a manual," I replied.

She stared at me. "Tell me you're joking."

"I'm not." I started hoisting myself into the Link bed. Grace tried to help, but I waved her hand away. "No, I've got this. It's fine."

Grace shook her head at me. "So, you just figured you'd come out here to the most hostile environment known to man, with no training of any kind except speaking the language and see how it went? What was going through your head?"

I smiled slightly and gave her a defiant glare. "Maybe I was just tired of doctors telling me what I couldn't do," I said, cheekily.

She continued to watch me laboriously pull my crippled legs into the Link bed by hand and then she helped me get settled in. The warm fluid gel packs that lined the unit actually felt very comfortable. I hadn't taken my pain meds today and the gel seemed to make the pain easier to bear, even if part of me felt like I was part of a JELL-O mold.

Grace was kind enough to adjust the sensors over me and then began to lower the upper lid. "Just relax and let your mind go blank. That shouldn't be hard for you."

I nodded as I was shut in and I closed my eyes.

The feeling of having my consciousness transferred to another body was exhilarating. I could feel myself moving, yet my body remained still. In my mind's eye I saw streams of light in a tunnel and then everything became a blur.

Suddenly, I felt like I was waking up from being under anesthesia. My vision was blurry until I blinked a few times and I saw more clearly. Slowly, I sat up and looked at my Avatar body. It was so amazing, yet terrifying at the same time. There was a tapping on the glass. I looked up to see Max gazing at me with concern.

"Dawn, you're not used to your Avatar body! This is dangerous…"

But I wasn't listening. For the first time in years, I could actually feel my legs. I flexed them and felt a bit of child-like excitement. I got off the gurney and tested my strength. It felt so good to feel the ground beneath my feet again. The doctors were telling me to sit down, so I gazed at them, surprised at how small they were. But then again, I was eight or nine feet tall now.

Something brushed against my arm and caused a crash. I looked to see that it was my tail. Wait, my tail? Oh, holy crap! I laughed in spite of myself and then began walking towards the door. I heard Max yelling at me. "Dawn, wait! We have to run some tests! You may not be feeling okay!"

I walked up to the glass and pressed my palm to it, smiling. "I feel great," I told him. I ignored everyone's protests to stop and I ran out the door. The feeling of the sun on my face felt glorious. I looked around and saw the area was a compound for the Avatars.

Near me were two Avatars playing one-on-one basketball, while others were going on their daily activities. People called for me, but I ignored them as I ran for the first time in years. I was actually running and I felt no pain whatsoever. I felt so free. There was so much beauty to take in, the sights, the smells, everything.

"Hey, Marine!" a voice yelled.

I stopped moving and saw Avatar Grace coming towards me. She seemed so much younger and stronger like this. "Grace?" I said, half-surprised.

"Well, who'd you expect, girl? Think fast!" She tossed me a Pandorian fruit, which I took and ate. I'd never tasted anything like it before. It was perfect.

"Wow. This is delicious."

She nodded. "Motor control is looking good on you."

"Thanks," I said, as I wiped my chin.

Grace was impressed enough to show me around the compound and then she took me to a tropical-style hut. The other Avatars were shutting down and heading back to their human bodies. But I didn't want to go, not just yet. I fingered my soft black braid and was almost freaked out when the ends opened up and revealed wriggling pink-tentacle things. "This is so freaky," I murmured.

At that moment, Grace came walking in and giving off orders. "Lights out! See you at dinner, kiddies!" She switched off the lights, leaving us in the dark.

I stayed awake for a while longer, listening to the sounds of nature. Silently, I wished I didn't have to stop Dreamwalking, ever. But sooner or later, I had to stop and wake up. Nothing was going to change, ever. I sighed and closed my eyes. I woke up in my Link bed, with a heavy heart.

After getting out, I was told that the Colonel wanted to see me in the armor bay.

Barely even a few minutes later, I got lost and ended up needing help. I noticed a tough-looking dark-haired woman and went up to her.

"Excuse me; I need to get to the armor bay to talk with Colonel Quaritch, but I'm lost. Can you give me directions?" I asked.

"I'll do better than that," she said. "I'll take you there. I'm going there myself."

"Thanks. My name's Dawn Light."

"The new Avatar Girl? I heard about you. It's nice to meet you. My name's Trudy. I fly all the science sorties. And this—" she patted a huge flight machine, as we walked into the bay. "—this here is my baby."

"You guys are really packing some heavy gear," I commented.

"That's because we're not the only ones flying around out there, or the biggest," said Trudy. "I'm going to need you on a door gun. I'm a woman short. You up for it?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

She smiled. "I like you, Dawn."

"Thanks."

"Well, there's your man," she said, pointing a room were the Colonel was. "I'll see you around."

I nodded and wheeled into the next room where the Colonel was lifting weights. Quite impressive for a man his age.

"You wanted to see me, Colonel?"

"Yeah," he said, as he put away his weights. "This low-gravity stuff will make you soft. You get soft, Pandora will ship you out dead with zero warning. I pulled your records, Captain."

"My records?" I asked, a feeling of dread sinking into my stomach. He didn't mean my medical records, did he? He couldn't know about my sickness, could he?

"Your army records," he said, noticing the look on my face. "Venezuela, that was some mean bush. Nothing like this here, though. You've got some heart, kid, coming to a neighborhood like this."

I shrugged. "I figured it was just another pit and besides, a sister's promise is a promise."

"True enough," said Quaritch. "I was a First Recon myself. A few years ahead of you, well maybe more than a few. Three tours in Nigeria, not a scratch. I come out here? I get these on the first days," he said, beckoning to his scars. "Oh, they could fix me up if I rotated back, make me all pretty again. But I kind of like them. Reminds of what's out there."

I nodded. Part of me didn't care about my crippled legs. It just gave me another reason to fight and keep going for what little time I had left.

"This Avatar Program is a bad joke. A bunch of limp-dork science majors," he went on. "However it does present an opportunity both timely and unique. A recon gyrene in an Avatar body, that's a potent mix. Give me the goosebumps. Such a Marine could provide the intel I need, right on the ground. Right in the hostiles' camp. Look, Light, I want you to learn these savages from the inside. I want you to gain their trust. I need to know how to force their cooperation or hammer them hard if they won't."

I paused for a moment to consider this. "Would I still be with Augustine?"

"On paper," he replied. "You walk like one of her science pukes, you quack like one, but you report to me. Can you do that for me, girl?"

I nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Well, all right then. Girl, I take care of my own. You get me what I need, I'll see to it that you get your legs back when you rotate home, your real legs. What say you?"

"Sounds good, sir," I replied. But I might as well have refused his offer. It didn't matter what he promised me because I'd be dead long before he could keep his word. But I didn't care. I came here because I'd promised Rose I would. Nothing less. I might as well do a job while I fulfilled my promise.

I wheeled back to my room and took my medicine before I got into bed and dreamt of what was to come.

The next day, I was assigned to a mission with Grace and Norm.

We got hooked up to our Avatars and started flying around in Trudy's prized flyer. We flew over the forests of the moon, past enormous cliffs, trees that could touch the sky, beautiful waterfalls and rivers as blue as the sky, and cloud wreathed mountains. The blue and purple flying creatures were gorgeous and squawked at us as we went by.

I was wearing a dark green shirt and army pants. I had a gun on me and my prized flute strapped to my belt. As I felt the breeze rip past me, I let out a whoop of enjoyment like a kid. Despite the fact that it was an important mission, I was enjoying this. I had taken so much for granted before my accident. I would never make that mistake again.

Trudy landed us on a clearing. We were in a small meadow among towering trees. We got out and started walking off. Grace ordered Trudy to power down for the time being and told Wainfleet to stay behind as "One idiot with a gun was enough." I ignored the insult and followed her.

I kept my gun ready just in case. I wasn't afraid for myself, but for the others. When I heard something chirping and heading towards us, I aimed it, but then I lowered it when I saw it was just some lemur-like things that actually looked cute.

Grace noticed this. "They're prolemuris. They're not aggressive. Relax, Marine. You're making me nervous."

I sighed and continued following her. Norm seemed to be nervous as well.

"So, how will they know we're here?" he asked, referring to the Na'vi.

"I'm sure they're watching us right now," said Grace.

"Joy," I muttered.

We continued walking for a few hours until Grace stopped us. We'd found the root we needed to take samples of. Norm started scanning. They started rambling about the samples and junk, so I stopped listening and walked a few feet away to patrol the area so they'd be safe.

To my surprise, I found dozens of spiral plants, some of them were huge. They were pretty and astounding. I touched a few of them and laughed when they just sank into the ground, making a didgeridoo-like sound before they disappeared. Suddenly, the rest of them disappeared and I could see why.

A huge, heavily armored Hammerhead Titanothere was right in front of me. It was bellowing and slowly coming towards me. Ah, crap. Its dark eyes locked onto me and I didn't know what to reach for, my flute or my gun.

"Don't shoot!" said Grace, through our throat mikes. She was nearby and she sounded scared. Who could blame her? "Don't shoot. You'll make him mad."

"It's already mad!" I yelled, as it knocked off several branches of a nearby tree.

"Dawn; that armor's too thick. Trust me. It's a territorial threat display. Do not run or he'll charge."

"Great, so what do I do, dance with it?" I asked, sarcastically.

"Just hold your ground," said Grace.

Grace's advice proved to be useless as the Hammerhead began to charge me. I didn't go for my gun. I grabbed my flute and hoped it would work, but before I could play a single note, it stopped abruptly with an oversized moan and then ran off.

I froze and frowned. Grace and Norm also looked confused. Why had the beast run off when it had me cornered? Something wasn't right. There was a low growl behind me and suddenly I knew why it'd run off.

Behind me was a Thanator, a black six-legged panther from the darkest pits of Tartarus. It leapt over us, landing in between us and the Thanator, releasing a head-splitting roar. It turned to face us and focused its gaze on me.

"Grace, a little help here!" I said, gripping my gun so hard my blue knuckles were turning white. "What do I do? Run, don't run, what?"

"Run. Definitely, run!" she yelled.

I ran for my life and the Thanator followed me.

I launched myself in between two large tree trunks, forcing the beast to claw its way around the side while I scrambled up, around and over a tangle of roots. I let out a scream when its claws nearly hit me, but thankfully it hit a tree instead. I forced myself to keep moving forward, scared as heck. I slid down under a tree's roots and tried to find another way out as the Thanator clawed its way to me and sent the tree's bark flying.

When its jaws were inches away from my face, I fought against it, causing it to emit a horrible moan. Then it snatched my gun out of my hand and destroyed the entire tree. I managed to run for a while, but the beast caught up with me and then grabbed me by my backpack and started flinging me around. I managed to unhook myself from the backpack and kept running as the beast let out a loud bellow.

When I came to a large waterfall and huge flowing river below, I didn't hesitate. I just dived and lost the beast behind me. The current was strong and I had a difficult time coming up for air, but I finally managed. The water carried me to a tree root that was sticking out in the water, and I grabbed it. I got up onto the shore and rested for a moment so I could catch my breath.

My situation was not good.

It was getting darker, and since no one's allowed out after sundown, I knew I'd be stuck out there until morning. I still had a knife on me and I used it to make a spear out of a large stick of wood. By some miracle, I still had my flute on me, which I was grateful for. At least I could protect myself for now.

I kept moving, and kept my guard up. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a male Na'vi watching me. He was probably deciding if I was a threat or not. I didn't let him bother me as I made myself a small camp. I made a small fire and tried to keep myself calm. I didn't like the fact that I was being stalked by a man and by the animals here.

When I had a fire going, I did some breathing exercises so I'd calm down. Although I knew that my sickness was only killing my human body, I had still felt the fear and gotten worked up, something my doctor advised against. After a few moments, I felt calmer and my fear was gone.

I put out my fire with some of the water I had on hand, but that proved to be a mistake as I realized that I was about to be hunted. Some hyena-like things were closing in on me and began to chase me. So, I did the logical thing—I ran. But no matter where I went, I was surrounded by those things. They were black, they had six limbs, sleek and shiny skin with leathery paws, glowing green eyes, teeth as sharp as razor blades and they were as bony as skeletons.

Somehow, I'd dropped and lost my spear in the dark and I couldn't find my knife, so all I had was my flute.

Wait; my flute!

It was a long-shot, but it might work. I grabbed it and began playing.Moments later, the creatures stepped back and then they ran off. I heaved a sigh of relief at this. At least I was safe for now. But who knew what was out there or if I could last until morning?

Suddenly, I heard a low growl and was nearly attacked by another of those creatures that clearly hadn't heard my song. I was about to counterattack when an arrow came out of nowhere and killed it.

Then the male Na'vi I'd seen before appeared. He was armed. He looked like a warrior and he seemed both angry and confused. He knelt by the creature, muttering some prayer in Na'vi I didn't quite catch. Then he turned to me, making me feel a little afraid.

I ignored the spear at my feet. I placed my flute in my pocket and held up my hands.

"Please, I mean you no harm," I said, in Na'vi. I may have been an ex-marine, but I knew a thing or two about diplomacy and manners. "If I have offended you, I apologize. I'm just lost. I didn't harm anyone or any creature, I swear."

He let out a grunt as he walked around me. "How did you do that?"

"Do what?" I asked.

"You made the viperwolves leave you alone when you played your music. How did you do that?" he demanded.

That was a strange question, yet I answered it as best as I could. "I don't know. I've never known. When I play my flute, animals come to me or they leave me. It's been like for as long as I can remember. My mother told me it was my special gift."

"Huh!" He glanced at the spear at my feet. "If you mean no harm, why do you carry a weapon?"

"If you must know, it was for my defense against those viperwolves. And how is it any different from bows and arrows you're carrying?" I snapped, making him glare at me. "What are you doing here anyway? Why have you been following me?"

He let out a growl and then ran off.

"Hey, wait!" I said, as I chased after him. "Wait, I'm sorry! I'm sorry. I should've thanked you before. You saved me."

"Don't thank!" he said, sharply, in fluent English. This surprised me, but I ignored it as he went on. "You don't thank for this! This is sad. Very sad, only. This is your fault! It did not need to die!"

"I'm sorry," I said, gently. "But you can't blame me for this. I didn't harm or provoke any of those viperwolves. I wasn't the one who killed that one, you were."

He looked annoyed and then nodded. "You are right."

"I'm sorry," I repeated. "Forgive me, but if killing that thing is such a crime, why did you save me?"

He looked calmer and gazed at me with his gold eyes and said softly, "You have a strong heart. No fear. But stupid! Ignorant like a child!" He started walking off again, but I followed him. He was walking lightly along a strip of root. It formed an elevated walkway and he moved across it with a graceful balance I probably couldn't achieve. But thankfully, I was able to catch up with him.

"If I'm so ignorant, then maybe you should teach me."

He scoffed. "Sky People cannot learn. You do not See." He jumped to another elevated root and I managed to keep up with him.

"Then teach me how to See," I said.

This made him stop in his tracks and I almost bumped into him.

"No one can teach you to See," he said, not looking at me.

The Phantasmagorical lights of the jungle falling behind us as we ran across an elevated root of an enormous tree, a horizontal trunk which was probably the size of an ordinary oak tree. A waterfall, light blue, almost silver colored water ran down a waterfall and into a deep gorge, bats with stingers and other night flyers were swooping above us. It was so beautiful, but I didn't have time to admire it.

"Hey, slow down," I said. "I think we just got off on the wrong foot. You just have to get to know me. My name is Dawn. Dawn Lig—" I lost my footing and nearly slid off the root, but the man caught me and helped me up. "Now may I thank you?"

He narrowed his eyes, but nodded.

"Please," I begged. "I need your help."

"You should not be here," he said, sternly.

"So, take me with you."

"No. You go back."

I was about to argue with him when he looked up, his expression unreadable. I looked up as well and saw dozens of tiny white jelly-fish; seed-like things float down towards me. The man looked amazed as they gently touched my skin as I spread out my arms. I should've been afraid, but I wasn't. I was relaxed, calmer. I didn't touch them. I liked them. "What are they?" I asked.

He looked at me with wonder and dread. "Seeds of the Sacred Tree," he murmured. "Very pure spirits."

This surprised me. Why were they near me then? I remained still for a while longer before they all flew off of me like a flock of birds and disappeared into the dark sky. "What was that all about?" I asked.

The Na'vi man seemed shaken. He grabbed my hand. "Come! Come with me!"

I didn't have time to protest or ask what we were doing as he pulled me away.