I decided to attempt to rewrite this story because of...how many like it. Maybe I'm just that type of person but...I don't see what you guys clearly see. I hope that it not only feels better to me but to you guys. I'm removing the 'v' from her words for easier reading, but you can always imagine that she does still have them.
Be aware...I originally wrote this many years ago, meaning I have changed how I write. I'll try to keep most of the original that I can...but I also want to develop Dominika much more. I feel as though I didn't do that originally, so now I want to right that wrong and give her more. So if I feel as though I want to change the direction of the story at some point...it's only to develop more and more.
Finished on 9/25
In the stormy night skies above Germany, an explosion rocked the air while a futuristic white jet soared over the war-ridden and burned land. It was piloted by a young woman with striking red hair and piercing blue eyes. Wearing a black and white high-tech outfit that seemed to connect with her seat, the woman bit her lip as her eyes flickered over a nearby explosion that turned bright blue.
She hissed at that, recognizing the signature color of the explosion belonging to two jets before her eyes hardened. "Damn it, how many men are we down Andrei?" The woman asked as licked her lips with a hint of anxiety. "We aren't nearly close enough to the drop zone and I know that had to be at least two of ours." She called out over the intercom as she made a quick barrel maneuver to dodge two.
The intercom beeped as the woman clicked her tongue. "Dominika, we have lost contact with Olga and Timofey. Radar shows twenty more aircraft headed our way." Andrei responded, sending the radar image over to her so that she could glance at the radar herself.
Dominika's eyebrows furrowed at that. "Shit. Prepare to return fire." She told her remaining men as she quickly pressing a button on the holographic dashboard. "You know where to aim." She stated as her holographic high tech helmet glowed.
While the other pilots shifted to their laser cannons, Dominika flipped a switch and nodded as the window in front of her quickly highlighted each fighter jet. She took a breath before going to ready her missiles. "Distract them while I ready the missiles." She commanded over the intercom as she fell back behind them and allowed them to take the front.
Dominika flipped a few more switches before she tightened her hold on the handles that controlled the aircraft. Taking another moment to clear her mind, she nodded before abruptly flying forward while her men fell back and out of range.
Now that her mind was clear, the redhead took one last second glance before she fired. The missiles seemed to move in slow motion for her before speeding up as they collided with two jets that then caused another jet to explode as it collided with them.
Dominika couldn't help the tired smile as she let out a breath...until the holograms around her all flashed red in warning. She barely had the time to register the missile coming at her and prepared herself as well as she could in the few seconds she had before impact.
The explosion was powerful...so powerful that she had blacked out as she fell from the gloomy skies. She could feel the winds whipping past her as her eyes struggled to open. The woman was vaguely aware of her parachute deploying as she managed to peer at the skies one last time...only to see many blue explosions lighting up the darkened surroundings in a morbid yet beautiful display.
Dominika could feel herself slipping back into unconsciousness as the explosions grew farther out of reach from her. Her eyes tiredly continued to close as she shook her head. "...I'm sorry…" She mumbled out, bowing her head as she silently apologized to her fallen men.
As soon as she reached the ground, her hand fell to her chest before she slipped into complete darkness.
Third-degree burns, loss of vision in one eye, and a destroyed spirit. I wish I could say that I have recovered from each...yet I can't. To this day I still feel the loss...and the pain that my men's' families suffered. You would think that apologizing profusely and forgiveness could seal up a gaping wound...but my wound was already infected.
All I could let it do is take over and spread.
The redhead stared at the ceiling of the classroom as her fingers unconsciously ran over the long burn scar that covered her right eye. The single foggy eye was completely vacant of color aside from a hint of blue as a remnant from her bright blue eyes.
Today was the final day before she was to be shipped off on her five year trip to the planet Pandora. It was a surreal thought that these were to be her last few waking hours in five years...and she was just vacantly staring up at the ceiling.
Dominika didn't register the cautious glances from her classmates as they passed by with books in arms. This was typical of most. Between the scar on her face and her blind eye, they also usually noticed the healing cut wounds on her legs. She didn't mind if they stared at her face...but looking at her legs always made her tense.
Possibly due to the fact that they are eh...not leftover from battle. Well, they'll probably heal up at some point in the five years. The young woman thought as her eyes cut over and made the other students look away immediately.
A few more minutes of staring went by before the redhead twitched a bit at the sound of finger snaps. "Dominika!" A soft feminine voice called out as it was accompanied by a few more snaps.
Dominika pushed her thoughts away and blinked out of her trance before she glanced over to see her lab partner, a woman named Amanda. The woman, who was a few years younger than her, held humor in her chocolate brown eyes while she began to tie her long blonde hair up in a ponytail.
The redhead offered her a small smile as she leaned down to rub at her legs. "Amanda. Why are you still here? You don't have to hang around this long you know…" She said with a headshake as she rose and grabbed the backpack she was permitted to take with her.
Amanda shook her head as she pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "I know, but I still want to see you off...It's going to be a long time and...I don't exactly want you to leave without at least a hug goodbye." She said with a small smile as she shook off the pink dusting that had appeared on her cheeks.
Dominika nodded as her smile turned warm. "I understand...So I guess you can walk me out to wait with me. The plane is coming to pick me up." She said with a small chuckle.
Amanda jumped a bit with a smile. "Thanks, Dominika." She said with a large smile as her eyes almost twinkled with joy.
Dominika looked at her in amusement and allowed the younger woman to link her arm with hers. "I'm not going to leave my bestie without a goodbye...I have a heart." She said with a smirk.
Amanda huffed and pouted at that. "I-I never said you didn't! I just wanted to...make sure you wouldn't leave without a goodbye." She said as she planted her hand on her hip as she was led through the building.
"Oh, ye of little faith...I'm not that cold to leave you hanging." Dominika said with a dramatic voice.
"You aren't cold at all." Amanda said with a chuckle.
Dominika smirked and raised an eyebrow while throwing the door open. "I'm a little cold...don't forget that." She said with a wink as she led the blonde outside.
They both stood and held onto each other's hands as they stared at the sky. Amanda looked at the distant shape of a rather large shape before turning to Dominika. "Well...We don't have much time left." She said with a sad smile.
Dominika looked at her and blinked. "...I guess we don't." She said, looking down momentarily as the wind picked up a bit, causing her bangs to move so her pale blue foggy eye was on display.
Amanda looked away for a moment before she stood up on her tippy toes and placed a kiss on the woman's cheek. "Just don't forget about little old me, okay?" She asked with a small smile.
The redhead paused, her slightly widened eyes flying to her hand before she finally looked at Amanda. "...I won't." She said, taking a moment before she rested her head against the other woman's.
Amanda smiled and closed her eyes as the ship landed in front of them. "Take care, fighter." She said, pulling away with a nod as she looked at the ship.
Dominika looked back at her before a small smile formed on her face. "I will, scientist." She said, adjusting the hold on her backpack as she tilted her head. "...And join me when you can."
While the taller woman began walking away, Amanda swallowed and forced herself not to run towards her friend. "I will, Dominika...I will." She said softly, raising her hand and waving to the redhead. "That's a promise." She mumbled as the large door to the dropship closed with a hiss.
Five Years Later.
Dominika awoke with a soft groan. Her eyes felt heavy as she struggled to open them while she felt as though she was floating on her back in a pool of water. After a few moments, she blinked and shook her head a few times, grunting as a light suddenly greeted her along with a man...no, a scientist.
...I was in cryosleep, right. The redhead thought to herself, looking down as she saw the buckles that were keeping her from floating around freely. She moved her hand a bit before turning her head to look at the man that appeared to be checking her vitals.
The man noticed her staring and smiled. "Morning. You've been asleep for five years, nine months, and twenty-two days." He explained, looking her over while he also glanced back at the tablet in his hand.
"...Really? It's been that long?" Dominika asked, wiggling her hand out so she could rub at her eyes. "It...feels like it's been hours at best...since I got on the dropship." She said, feeling a bit disorientated as she looked at him.
"That's normal." The scientist said with a chuckle, steadying her as he unbuckled her. "Any disorientation, nausea, or lightheadedness?" He asked her, undoing the buckle that was keeping her other hand secure.
"Little bit of the first...But it's not bad." She said in response, taking a moment to calm herself before she let out a breath. "I'm good now."
The man eyed her for a moment before nodding. "Alright. Head over to your locker and gather your stuff, after that someone should be there to guide you to your ship." He said, unbuckling her legs before helping her up.
Dominika nodded and offered him a smile in thanks before she began floating over to the lockers. As she slowly made her way over, she looked at all of the other people awaking and paused.
It was truly an odd thought to her, at least at the moment, that most of these men and women were here for one thing and one thing alone, money. Now while she had chosen to venture into the great unknown for a chance at something new...she also knew that so many merely were going to tote a gun around.
Oh, don't lie, you would have been a gun for hire if you hadn't nearly died. The redhead thought to herself, tearing her eyes away from her surroundings as she felt her hands land on the metal surface of the lockers. She merely put her finger on it and moved her hand as the locker opened, allowing her to grab her black backpack.
While she was doing that, a rather tired-looking man freed a wheelchair from his larger locker before he noticed the redhead not too far away. "Hey...I feel like I've seen your face before." He said, garnering her attention while her bangs floated up to reveal her scarred eye. "...Oh, you're Vitaliya." He snapped his fingers and offered her a smile, holding out a hand for her to shake.
Dominika tilted her head as she closed her high-tech locker door. She looked at his hand before she smiled a bit and moved to shake it. "I am...Who are you?" She asked with a chuckle.
The man was quick to pull his hand away and chuckled while shaking his hand. "Jake Sully. Avatar Program." He said while he adjusted his hold on the wheelchair. "Are you here for the piloting program or…" He cocked his head to the side, noticing a personal escort joining the woman.
Dominika blinked and shook her hand. "No, no...I'm also here for the Avatar Program." She waved her hand and glanced at the female at her side.
Jake nodded as he began floating towards the area where he was supposed to be docking his designated ship. He blinked in surprise when he looked behind him...and saw Dominika and her escort following close behind. "Wait...You are also on this ship?" He asked, not bothering to address the scientist that was trying to help him board the ship.
Dominika blinked as well before nodding. "It...appears I am." She said, adjusting rather easily as the gravity began to shift. She looked at him before noticing that he appeared to be having a bit of trouble getting into the wheelchair. "Here…" She floated over and quickly helped him into the wheelchair before she held it to the floor as the gravity returned to normal. Fixing her stance and stretching for a brief moment before she nodded at him. "Sorry...You looked like you needed a bit of help and...I didn't want you to just fall when the gravity went." She said with a head tilt.
Jake blinked at that, Okay...I wasn't expecting that. He thought before he nodded and waved it off. "It's fine...Thanks." He said before he began wheeling himself into the ship.
Dominika followed after him with a hint of curiosity. "...Are you paralyzed?" She asked, looking at the wheelchair with a thoughtful expression.
Jake glanced back at her. "Yeah...Happened in Venezuela and Veteran Benefits did shit to cover the surgery." He said with a small frown before he stopped and wheeled himself into a spot. "So, I've had to become best buds with this thing." He moved around and secured himself to the wall before looking back up at her.
Sensing that he was silently asking if it was an issue, she quickly shook her head and sat down in a seat next to him. "It isn't, Jake...I've actually seen my fair share of it." She told him while she buckled herself in. "I mean...Look at me." She gestured to herself and shrugged. "We all have our own war scars, Jake."
Jake paused and looked up at her. "...Aren't you angry about being blind...or being burned?" He asked with furrowed brows.
"Of course I was angry...I was 19 and at the peak of my military career. I was a war hero...and then I was nothing. I grew upset and left my home country to try to find something...something that would make me feel like I was doing something...helpful again." Dominika said with a head tilt.
"...That's why you moved to the good old US?" Jake asked with a raised eyebrow.
Dominika cracked a grin at that. "...They offered me what I wanted faster than England did." She said with a chuckle, prompting him to laugh in response. Shaking her head, she looked down for a moment. "Of course, it was them that told me about the Avatar Program...and I knew it was for me when I first heard about it." She nodded with a smile before looking at him. "What about you? Why are you in the Avatar Program?" She asked with a head tilt.
At that, Jake's smile fell. "...I wasn't actually in the program...my twin brother was, but he died. Mugging gone wrong resulted in him dead in the back of an alley." He said with a small sigh. "And since it was a costly gig...I guess they didn't want to waste the money."
"...And he was your identical twin?" Dominika asked while watching him look out the window with a distant look in his eyes.
"Yep. Meaning I was a perfect match for the job...or rather the second perfect match." Jake let out a humorless chuckle. "They convinced me that it would be better than getting tossed out of bars every night...That I'd have a second chance on Pandora." He said with a nod before looking back at her.
"Well...They were right about one thing, Pandora is a second chance. Perhaps...It is fate saying that this," She gestured to his wheelchair. "Isn't what you deserve. Even if it was by grim circumstances...you're here now." She said with a small smile.
Jake was silent before he gained a small smile. "You know...I never thought Russia's War Hero and Goddess of the Sky would be so...friendly." He commented with a chuckle.
Dominika rolled her eyes and swatted him on the shoulder. "I have a friend to thank for that...Let's just say that without her, I would be far more disgruntled and grumpy." She said before leaning her head back as more began to board the ship.
"And what a sight that would be," Jake said with a wry grin.
"Oh, hush you." Dominika chuckled and folded her arms.
The man chuckled in amusement before he went back to looking back out the window. Tommy...This may have been some shit you got me in to...but maybe it isn't so bad. He thought to himself, smiling when he glanced over at the woman next to him. It definitely beats the bouncers and the nightclubs.
I hope that this first rewrite was enjoyable...and I really enjoyed writing this newer and much more empathetic Dominika. I have always felt that Amanda, a character that you may have noticed is a lot more important in the rewrite, helped Dominika become human. In the original, I never showed that...so now I have shown her as how I always envisioned. I would really appreciate some feedback on how you like the new and rewritten chapter and I will be happy to answer any questions.