Old Ways, New World
"Talking" 'Thoughts'
Chapter 3: Grace vs. Parker
Grace walked into the Hell's Gate tower and caught the end of a conversation that made her very annoyed. "I love this putter, Ronnie. I love this putter." She walked over to the man with the putter. "Parker, you know I used to think it was benign neglect, but now I see you're intentionally screwing me."
"Grace you know I enjoy our little talks…" Not pay one lick of attention to Grace trying to putt the ball into the cup again. Only to have the cup kicked aside by Grace.
"Oops. I need a researcher, not some jarhead dropout."
"Well, I think we actually got lucky with him."
"Lucky?"
"Yeah."
"How is this in anyway lucky?"
"Well, lucky your guy had a twin brother and lucky that brother wasn't some oral hygienist or something. A marine we can use. I'm assigning him to your team as security escort."
"The last thing I need is another trigger happy moron out there."
"Look, look. You're supposed to be winning the hearts and minds of the natives anyway. Isn't that the reason for your little puppet show? We look like them and you talk like them and they'll start trusting us. We build them a school, we teach them English. But after what, how many years? Relations with the indigenous are only getting worse."
"Yeah, that tends to happen when you use machine guns on them." Snapped Grace.
"Right come here." Parker turned and walked into his little office area and picked up a small grey rock from a low-gravity stand. Turning around to show her at eye level to make sure she understood once and for all. "This is why we're here, Unobtainum. Because this little grey rock sells for 20 million a kilo. That's the only reason. It's pays for the whole party. It's what pays for your science. Coprendo?" Ignoring Grace's eye roll. "Now those savages are threating our whole operation. We're on the brink of war and you're supposed to be finding a diplomatic solution. So use what you got and get me some results. Alright now get out of here. We have busy work to be done."
As Grace left the control tower she muttered under her breath, "Yeah, I bet you do damn murders." Halfway back to the labs Grace was suddenly when Kagome appeared in front of her path. Already frustrated from Parker she snapped out, "What do you want?"
"That wasn't very nice, Grace."
"So? Your point?"
"I need to talk with you and it cannot wait."
"About what?"
"My Avatar. I will need it fully clothed when I join with the body."
"It will be. The gowns will be the same as Jake and Norm."
"No. What I mean is fully clothed like a shirt and shorts."
"No. Absolutely not."
"I would really hate to bring Selfridge into this, seeing that I really hate his attitude toward the Na'vi even they were here first. But if I have to bring him into this mark my words I will."
"Fine. Anything else?"
"Yes, two things. First, I will be starting a few minutes later than the other two tomorrow. My reasons are I need a few minutes to center myself. Second after a day of being in the Avatar body I need you to cut the line and preserve my human body for me to re-enter my body after three or four months."
Grace just stood shocked not knowing what to say. Finally able to gain her composure and say something." How could you do that? I never heard of this being done before. And how will you not die and waste the Avatar body made just for you?"
"You said you don't believe in fairy tales or magic remember. Well, let me try to explain it to you and you can decide for yourself if you believe me or not. Basically what will happen is my soul will leave my human body and take up harbor in my Avatar body much like reincarnation. Then when the time is right I can switch back. However if I stay to long in my Avatar body or I take too long to switch back the results will be disastrous."
"Fine." Grace started to walk away, but was again stopped by Kagome grabbing her arm.
"Grace I know you do not care for me because of our background differences and our different beliefs, but trust me when I say this. I feel the same way as you feel with Selfridge and Quaritch. And what I'm about to tell you must not share with just anyone unless I say it is okay to tell a person or two. Someone in RDA knows that as the last true miko alive today, I can help the Na'vi my own special way."
"Kagome was it? I can't fully trust you now, but perhaps with time maybe I can."
"Thank you, Grace. I can tell we would become very good friends."
"Oh? And why is that?"
"We don't put up with any bullshit." Kagome said with a laugh.
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