"Then go my boy. Get your gift and give it to Neytiri. Declare your love so all know of it. I'll speak with Tsu'Tey and explain things to him." Jake nodded, turned around, and began running and leaping from branch to branch making his way to his hammock. Behind he could he Eytukan calling to him. "And hurry boy. Mo'at and I want grandchildren before our time comes."
CHAPTER 10
MAIN HUMAN BASE
Quaritch smiled to himself as he watched the sun runner touch down on the landing pad in front of him. A moment later the ramp lowered and Quaritch watched as Jake's old team climbed off. As the last member left the ship Quaritch saluted and spoke. "Nice of you to join us." All of them saluted back and the front one spoke. "James Rely. Nice of you to invite us." Quaritch nodded, and guided them inside. After everyone pulled of their masks Quaritch spoke again. "Well I'm not going to say things have gotten better but they haven't gotten worse. But that could change fast so we need to get you into your new bodies." Taking a lift down Quaritch watched as the small light that illuminated the various floors flash by. Stepping out of the lift Quaritch gestured to a viewing station. Gazing out of the pane glass room their eyes met 4 avatars floating in colotanks. "These are yours. Try not to break them on the first day." James nodded and looked sideways at Quaritch. "When do we get transferred?" Quaritch raised an eyebrow. "Don't delude yourself soldier. This isn't like a unit transfer. If you're put into these bodies you won't get to go back to being human. You will be in that body until the day you die. Is that clear?"
James and everyone nodded. Quaritch sighed. "Jake was a good, man. Touch, resourceful, smarter than half my staff put together. I wont let those savages kill one of my men and get away with it. Regardless if that's the rule for failure in there society. You find jasul, you capture him and you bring him to me. Understand?" the ground nodded and Quaritch smiled. "Then good luck. You'll need it to survive the transfer." Pressing a glowing red button Quaritch watched as the small section of the floor they were standing on lowered and after a moment they all stepped out onto the floor of the surgery room. As they did so a small scientist in a lab coat hurried over too them. "good you're here. Yes, everything is in order. We're ready to begin at any time just need to-" the scientist pulled out a small scanner and scanned Jake's team. "Yes nervous systems line up. A good grow. Come we must get you cleaned and prepped. Come." Before leaving James turned to Quaritch and handed him a small datapad. "a list of everything we'll need." Quaritch scanned it quickly then smiled. "You planning on fighting the whole war on your own solider? James shrugged. "if it comes down to it sir yes." Smiling Quaritch nodded. "I'll see to it that the supplies and your transport are ready when you and your team wake up." The scientist led them to small shower room off the main floor and spoke again.
"undress and wash as you would normally. It's specialized sanitizing solution. When you're done put on the clothes provided and come back out. Then we'll begin." Leaving them. James sighed and began to undress he didn't like scientists. They were all facts and now creativity. As they undress tom spoke jokingly. "Wash as usual huh? Eric no jerking off." A moment later a loud smack echoed across the room followed by a loud "ow!" from tom. 10 minutes later the team reemerged from the shower room now dressed in skin tight clothing that left little to the imagination. The team broke up as various scientists directed them to lie down on separate tables. As James lay down his scientist a bald man in his 30s put something over his nose. "now count backwards from 200, take deep breathes after every number. Understand?" James nodded and did as he was told. "200 (breath) 199(breath)…..198 (breath)……….197 (breath)………………196 (breath)…………………………….195 (breath)………………………………………………..1…194(breath)"
7 HOURS LATER.
James slowly opened his eyes. The first thing that hit him was the headache he had. It felt like someone was pounding on his skull with a hammer. Blinking the sleep out of his eyes James found himself floating lazily suspended in a colotanks. On the other side of the galls a scientist nodded to him and spoke through a microphone. "Don't worry you'll be able to breathe just fine. You're in a tissue growth accelerator. Its making you heal about 300X faster than you normally would. That way instead of months of healing you'll be done in about 30 minutes. Your team is fine. They all survived and are now healing like you. Just relax; you'll be out killing things in no time." James nodded and found himself drifting back asleep. Plans of how to capture Jasul began to form in his head.
MEANWHILE
JAKE'S POV
Jake could feel his heartbreaking. No heartbreak didn't describe what he felt. His sides heaved with sobs and his face was covered in tears. It felt like his soul was being torn apart.
FLASHBACK
Excitedly Jake charged to his hammock, and after digging around in one of his cubby holes found what he was looking for. A long string of beads and crystals withdrew from the hole. Smiling at it Jake ran his fingers over the bead remembering how it had taken him days to learn how to make them and even more time to find the right materials he liked. But he shook his head. Now was not the time to be thinking now was the time to find Neytiri and give her the gift. Bolting from his hammock Jake paused as he landed on the branch below. He didn't actually know where Neytiri was. Last time he had seen her Mo'at had been walking with her. Still running Jake made his way to where Mo'at sat in the center of the home tree. Before he had even pulled the vine curtain back Mo'at spoke. "She's not here Jake. She's going to tell Tsu'Tey of her decision. Tsu'Tey should be near the dire horse stables. Look for them there." Jake paused to bow to the vine curtain before dashing off again. His feet easily carried him over the ground and through the air.
Several time Jake had to stop or slow down or he would have run right through people, and on one particular occasion he jumped clean over Ninat. Sailing over his and not even responding when she wished him a good day. His entire being focused on one thing. Finding Neytiri and giving her his gift. As he neared the stables he found another na'vi in his way Beyral and pidal. Coming to a stop Jake waited for Beyral and pidal to move. Looking up from their work Beyral, and pidal smiled at him and greeted him like normal. "Greetings Jake. How are you today?" Jake shrugged and shifted his weight from one leg to the other. "I'm ok. I'm in a bit of a hurry right now though." Beyral raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What could have you in such a rush?" pidal smiled and spoke. "Could it be Neytiri is chasing you right now?" Jake shook his head. "No but it involves Neytiri. Can you please move, so I can go?" Beyral smiled seductively and shook her head. Her tail moving slowly through the air, the way a cat's dose before it pounces on its prey. "Why would we do that Jakesully? Neytiri already has so much of your time to herself. And we hardly ever get to see each other. Not since that time we hunted together. Or the times you and pidal talk around the fire pits."
They were moving closer now. And with a jolt Jake noted that they were moving in a way so that even though they were moving he would not be able to run passed them, or over them, or even under them. As pidal moved she continued to speak. "It's not fair really. Neytiri see you so much and we see so little of you. She keeps you hidden away from us like an animal in a cage. Does that seem fair to you Jake?" Jake shook his head and took a step back. "I guess not. But now I really need to find her. Would you please move?" again they shook their heads, as Jake took another step back. In front Beyral spoke again. "You've truly become magnificent Jake. Don't get me wrong. Your other body was nice, but this new body." Jake felt his back hit a tree trunk and a moment later Beyral's hands were running over his chest and shoulders. Leaning in Beyral's breath touched Jake's ear and again made his shudder. "This new body……… is perfect. It would produce healthy young and no doubt has quite a lot of stamina."
Jake had been about to speak but broke off as Beyral pulled his away from the tree. As Jake's chest touched Beyral's he felt pidal's hands begin to run over his neck and back. A moment later pidal pressed her chest again Jake's back making his shudder again. He tried to move away from them but they blocked his path, and made it so he couldn't move. Pidal whispered in his ear. "perhaps he is nervous Beyral after all this is his first time mating with one of us." Jake rolled his eyes at that. It most certainly was not his first time. Jerking back roughly Jake pushed pidal away and with a heavy heave was able to toss Beyral to the side and clear his way. Starting to run again, Jake smiled and waved goodbye to the girls as they picked themselves up off the ground. As he ran he could hear pidal complaining to Beyral, about not be seductive enough. Jake shuddered at that. If he and Neytiri hadn't been mates he had a very strong feeling that he would still be back there with them all over him. Shivering again, Jake continued on his way until he found himself at the dire horse stables. Slowing down slightly Jake began looking for Neytiri and Tsu'Tey. Dozens of na'vi were at the stables, some were putting their horses away others were bring theirs out and still others just crowded around and watched the horses crooning over the horses and lavishing compliments on them.
Deciding he needed to find some place higher up, Jake began climbing one of the many trees that lined the stables. After a quick climb Jake found himself at the top of the tree and after scanning the crowd found Tsu'Tey pulling Neytiri away from the crowd and into a small clearing on the other side of the stables. Jumping down from the tree Jake made his way through the crowd and to the other side of the stables. He peeled back the small vines and ferns that covered the clear. He had been about to enter when he felt his heart stop, and his blood run cold. Neytiri was in Tsu'Tey's arms. But it got worse as Jake's eyes took in the scene he found that not only were Tsu'Tey's arms around Neytiri but Neytiri's arms were around Tsu'Tey's neck. Not only that but their lips were touching. Jake's heart exploded in his chest. He couldn't breathe couldn't think. He felt the necklace he was carrying fall from his hands and heard it hit the ground with a soft 'thud'. Jake looked away blinking hot tears or anger and sadness from his eyes.
He wasn't thinking anymore. He was just acting. He left the clearing left Neytiri and Tsu'Tey alone. His feet seemed to have a mind of his own as they carried him back through the crowd of na'vi and away from the stables. He was thankful that he wasn't outright sobbing but that soon changed as he left the crowd and made his unknown way back up the path he had come. Again his feet moved on their won and Jake soon left the main path, and began running through the forest. He wasn't sure how far or how long he ran. All he knew was that he had to get as far away from the hometree and the stables as he could. He wasn't really sure where he was going but he was very aware when his foot snagged on a root. Down he fell hitting the ground hard and knocking the wind out of him. He lay there for a moment fighting to hold back the flood of tears that wanted to break free. But he found that he was losing that battle. Tears flowed from his eyes and all he could do was curl into a ball on the ground and cry.
END OF FLASHBACK
And now he lay there on the ground. Cold, alone, miserable. Tears flowed free and fast down his face. His heart felt like it was exploding and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't get the scene out of his mind. Neytiri kissing Tsu'Tey. It was burned into his mind. he was so upset that he didn't even notice when a twig snapped next to him. Or when he felt someone's hand on his back. He did take notice when he felt that person pull him into a sitting position and rest his head against the person's shoulder. He noticed but he didn't care. His sides heaved with sobs and his mind continued to replay that scene in a never ending loop. Time lost all meaning as he sat there cradled in this person's arms crying his heart out. After an eternity and a half the tears slowed and after a while stopped. Wiping his eyes Jake blinked the last tears out of his eyes and found himself looking into the eyes of grace's avatar, who smiled awkwardly at him and spoke. "tell anyone I'm here and I swear to god, I'll suffocate you in your sleep with your pillow. What's got you so upset?'
Jake sniffed and began to retell his story. Every now and then grace would nodded and make sounds of understanding or disapproval. At the end of his tale Jake shuddered as more tears threatened to fall again. Grace sighed deeply and spoke. "Jake……. I know you won't like to hear it. But perhaps what you saw wasn't what actually happened. Go back let Neytiri and Tsu'Tey explain themselves." Jake sighed and nodded. "I guess…….. but not now. Tomorrow. Right now……. I just need to be alone." Grace nodded and stood up. "you're always welcome to stay the night at the base." Jake smiled and nodded. "thanks. I think I'll do that. I don't want to be around a lot of people right now." Grace smiled and put her hand on his shoulder. "don't worry. I'm everything was a huge misunderstanding." Jake nodded. "I suppose. But we'll see. For now I just need to collect my thoughts. I'll be by the base later. Ok?" grace nodded and left him alone, picking her way through the forest until she vanished from sight. Sighing deeply Jake looked around picked a direction and began walking. He didn't know where he was going but he knew he didn't want to be around other people for a while.
NEYTIRI/TSU'TEY'S POV
BEFORE JAKE SEES THEM
Neytiri left her mother and began to make her way to the stables. She knew Tsu'Tey had gone hunting so she had a good idea that he would be there cleaning his kill. Picking her way through the small crowd around the stables Neytiri easily found Tsu'Tey rubbing soothing salve on his dire horse. Looking up as she entered Tsu'Tey smiled at her and spoke. "hello Neytiri nice to see you." Neytiri stopped in the door way slightly taken aback by how Tsu'Tey had greeted her. It's kind of made her mad so when she spoke it was in a very annoyed and slightly aggressive voice. "I need to talk to you." Tsu'Tey nodded and put the bowl of salve on a small table next to him. Wiping the last of the salve on his hands Tsu'Tey looked at her and smiled. Something in Neytiri's chest broke and she found herself snatching up the bowl and hurling it at Tsu'Tey who ducked as the bowl whizzed through the air that his head had been a moment ago. "you….." Neytiri found herself shouting at Tsu'Tey. "you stay out of things that aren't your business!" Tsu'Tey raised an eyebrow at that and Neytiri found herself throwing a large pitcher of water which shattered as it hit the wall behind Tsu'Tey.
"why are you so angry Neytiri? You haven't fallen for Jake have you? You're supposed to be my mate not his; remember?" again Neytiri threw something at Tsu'Tey this time a small knife used to cut skin from bone buried itself blade first and quivering in the wall. "there's no fallen about it. I'm mated with him and he with me. I'll not be your mate. So leave me and Jake alone." Tsu'Tey face flushed with anger and he grabbed Neytiri's arms and pinned them to her side. Snarling he brought his face inches from hers before speaking. "you mated with him!?!?!? What about me?! You're supposed to be my mate!!" Neytiri slammed her head forward and struck Tsu'Tey's forehead with her own sending him reeling backwards holding his forehead. But Neytiri wasn't done yet. Grabbing Tsu'Tey's head she drove her knee as hard as she could into his stomach. Tsu'Tey reeled backwards and growled as a small stream of blood dripped from a cut above his eye. Blazing forward Tsu'Tey slammed his fist hard into Neytiri's chest, before grabbing her by her queue and kneeing her in the face.
Dazed Neytiri felt Tsu'Tey grab her arm and a moment later she blinked furiously as she felt herself being half dragged half carried from the stables. She wasn't exactly sure where Tsu'Tey was taking her but she did know when he set her down and pressed his lips to hers. It took her a full 30 seconds to come up with the perfect plan. Latching her arms around Tsu'Tey's neck Neytiri bit Tsu'Tey's lip causing him to stagger backwards in pain. With her arms still around his neck Neytiri again slammed her forehead into Tsu'Tey's. letting go of Tsu'Tey Neytiri spun to the right and kicked the legs out from under Tsu'Tey who fell in a spectacular heap on the ground. Coughing and sputtering. Bringing her foot down hard on his stomach Neytiri took a great deal of pleasure as Tsu'Tey gasped for air. Leaning down Neytiri grabbed Tsu'Tey's throat and squeezed. Not enough to make breathing impossible but enough to cause Tsu'Tey's eyes to widen in fear. Baring her teeth Neytiri spoke in a voice that promised pain if Tsu'Tey tried to get up. "you WILL leave me and Jake alone. You WILL go to my mother and father and say you consent with my decision to pick Jake over you. And you WILL not ever bother him or me again for anything is that clear?"
When Tsu'Tey didn't respond Neytiri tightened her grip until he gasped and wheezed for air. Finally with a great deal of effort Tsu'Tey managed to wheeze out a "(cough)yes(cough)." Letting go of Tsu'Tey Neytiri slammed her foot down against his chest once more before leaving the clearing he had dragged her into and prepared to reenter the crowd who seemed oblivious to the fight that had just taken place. She had just pushed the curtain of vines out of the way when something on the ground caught her attention. Reaching down Neytiri felt her heart stop as she felt the familiar band of material in her fingers. The necklace she had found in Jake's cubby. But it was different now, small glass, and bone beads had been working around the material. The effect was a necklace of such beauty that Neytiri felt her breath being taken away as sun light glinted off the glass beads, splitting and creating small rainbows all around her. Behind her she heard Tsu'Tey cough and chuckle. "now he'll never take you." Turning around Neytiri felt pure rage boiling in her stomach, and flowing through her veins like venom.
"what did you do?" from his spot on the ground Tsu'Tey chuckled. "the kiss. He saw it. My guess he thought you were being unfaithful to him with me. He'll never have you back now." Tsu'Tey began to chuckle again but a loud bark cut him off and stopped Neytiri from leaping into him and tearing his throat out. "TSU'TEY!!!!!" Neytiri looked to the source of the voice and found her father and mother both had looks of anger unlike anything she had ever seen. Their faces were twisted in pure rage and hatred. Tsu'Tey made to get up but in one swift motion Neytiri watched her father pull his bow from its spot on his back, draw and arrow and send the arrow through the air to burry itself in Tsu'Tey's shoulder. Tsu'Tey let out a growl of pain and after a moment of struggling pulled the arrow from his shoulder. As he did so Neytiri's father spoke. "get out. GET OUT!!! You dare to interfere with my daughter's happiness?!?! GET OUT!!!! Na'vi were gathering around now. Several of them looked on in curiosity as their leaders shouted at one of their most prominent na'vi.
"YOU DARE TO GO AGAINST EWYA'S WILL!?!?!?! GET OUT!!!!!!!!!!" even Neytiri shook at the tone her father was using. Never had she seen him so angry. Trembling Tsu'Tey picked himself off the ground and bowed down to Neytiri's parents. "honorable clan leader…… please….. let me explain….. I-" but Tsu'Tey was cut off when another arrow buried itself In the ground inches from his head. now it was Mo'at's turn to speak. When she spoke her voice was calm but Neytiri could tell she was just as upset if not more so than her husband. "it is not the way of Eywa to allow to people to mate if they do not love each other. I thought for sure you would understand this Tsu'Tey but perhaps I was wrong. For some time now I've seen you look at Jake with anger and frustration. I had hoped that this would die out with time but now I see it has only strengthened. When we asked Jake here we did so in hopes that he would learn from us and we would learn from him. But you have made no attempt to learn of him. You only treat him with mockery or contempt. These are not the traits of the Omaticaya." Neytiri felt her breath hitch in her throat she knew what was coming next. Everyone listening knew, even Tsu'Tey who began to shake violently. But her mother didn't stop but continued to speak, in her calm, and wise voice. You are exiled and you are a Omaticaya no longer. Take you dire horse and never come back to this tree. Get out."
The crowd disbanded and Neytiri felt her hand clutch the necklace. Remembering what she had been about to do Neytiri turned from Tsu'Tey who was still trembling on the ground and hurriedly began looking for Jake to explain what had happened.
MAIN HUMAN BASE
James smiled as he flexed his new fingers. Next to him Eric was busy popping has back. Next to him tom sat queue in hand. every now and then he would poke the moving tip of his queue and whines but whether in pain of pleasure James didn't know. Across from them Alice paced. In her hand she expertly twirled a combat knife as though she had been born in this body. Smiling James spoke. "well Quaritch looks like the surgery was successful. Can we go now. Quaritch who sat behind a large desk smiled and nodded. "sure. I don't see why not. I've gather the list of supplies you requested. And you're ship's fueled and ready to go." James nodded and stood up. "any clues on where we could find Jasul?" Quaritch tilted his head in thought for a moment. "no really. I guess check out near the hometree. Of course you won't be able to fly your ship in there." James shrugged. "I suppose. Ok. We'll report back when we've found and captured Jasul." Nodding Quaritch saluted them and they him. Turning James found himself looking at their ship through the window on the side of Quaritch's office. It was a large mobile platform ship 6 ion engines sat 3 to a side. Each engine able to put out 90,000 horse power. The combination of all three when turned on full power could move them at over 900 miles an hour. Inside 2 stories of gear and weapons sat waiting to be used. In the center 2 small cold fusion reactors sat producing more than enough power to run the ship and all her electronics.
Grinning James and his team filed onto the ship and after a brief check to make sure everything was secure James nodded to Eric who sat down in the pilot chair and began reconfiguring the controls to his likening. 5 minutes later the ship rumbled to life and flew off into the sky. As he watched the ship fly off Quaritch smiled evilly. His plan was working. And the best part was the fools of raven company had no idea they were signing the death warrant on their beloved lieutenant's life.
AN:)WELL FOLKS CHAPTER10 IS DONE. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I TRID TO STAY TRUE TO TSU'TEY'S CHARACTER. BUT HE WILL BE REAPPEARING IN LATER CHAPTERS. OF COURSE WHETHER OR NOT HE'S GOOD DEPENDS ON MY SUPER SECRET PLOT LINE.
THANKS FOR READING!!!!!