Z-Dog sit outside on a metal bench and looks at the reconstruction of the city. And beyond that, over the protective wall and the dead zone, is the forest. She wants to smoke a cigarette. She hasn't smoked in years, meaning her previous life as a human, since Mansk helped her kick the habit. Not on purpose though but bubblegum is better in taste and money than smoking. Plus cigarettes are really expensive and scarce on Pandora. But after the observation room and the clone getting sedated, the recom really felt like smoking a whole pack.

She had thought that this would be easy and quick. Sign the papers, then the clone would be send off to the jungle people and she would never see that thing ever again. It was different to see that girl in reality than just from videos and photos. Even if blue and not human, the clone looked so much like Andíla and it hurt in indescribable way. It wasn't her sister but it feels like so. Same timid behavior as when Andíla was a kid, sharp eyes always observing and when she said: "I want Zeezee!"
...Why? Why did Andíla- What did she do? Was that clone her, with the memories, or was that thing something else?
Was she actually doing the wrong choice by sending the kid away? Like when she did back on Earth? After what happened then, Z-Dog had felt like a horrible person and swore she would never, ever, put her little sister into that situation again. This time however she knew she could trust Norm Spellman, most likely. That science dude was all about na'vi and tree hugging.

Blowing bubblegum till it exploded and colored her lips pink, Zdinarsk got hold of herself. The clone was not Díla. And she would be sent away to the people who will take care of her. She's not her little sister, she's not responsible for her. The papers have signed and things have been agreed on, that's it. There was nothing for her to do anymore or to worry about.

Mansk appears and brings some of his new creations on a plate. Without a word he sits next to his friend and places the plate between them. Looking at the food, golden brown buns, Z-Dog take the gum out of her mouth and tries one. Not bad. Creamy, almost cheesy flavor. Something sharp spice in it to make it surprising. The dough is soft. You can't get this kind of thing back on Earth.
"This is good."
Mansk nods, his face not showing but he's happy to hear that: the end of his tail is doing a dance.
"I'm not sure if I did the right choice," Z-Dog opens up, presses the chewed bubblegum under the seat and holds the bun with both hands. "I know this it right thing to do. But in other hand... I'm worried." She takes another bun after eating the first one. Mansk will make her one day fat with all these dishes of his.
"She's like Andíla," Mansk agrees to the unspoken thought. Z-Dog nods with cheeks full of warm dough and melted cheesy creaminess.
"She's not her though," she mumbles. "How's your family," she tries changing the subject.
"Good. They should get into the next ship here," Mansk answers and smiles. Z-Dog is happy for him. He has been worried ever since they were woken up as recoms, he immediately contacting his parents and siblings. Knowing that Earth was dead he had been stressed out and working with the colonel to get his family sent to Pandora. Getting to see them again was important to him. Getting them to safety was priceless.

Zdinarsk was happy for her friend and she also wanted to see his family. Meet the grown up siblings and the kids, as also the mother. Mansk's dad had died few years back. His family felt like it was hers too. After they took her and Andíla in, when Zdinarsk felt she couldn't trust no-one and almost dropped from the military academy because of what happened to her little sister.
"I bet they're gonna love it here," she says while looking at the forest afar with a smile. Mansk nods with his mouth doing the same. It will be good getting them here, even if it would take couple of years.
"She's gonna be alright," the recom with sunglasses speaks softly.

"Yeah... These were really good, is there more?"
"Maybe. I left the rest at the room."
"Shit, guess I'm too late then."
"Sorry."
"Why you apologizing for making good food?"
"I don't know."

The two recoms laugh.

Not sure how others experienced it, but for Mansk it was like waking up from a long nap. By harsh lights, constant poking and irritating noises, all of these muddling for a moment before coming to focus. He had been confused but not alarmed, recognizing things around him as clinical and humane design. After confirming that, he had closed his eyes again from the uncomfortable light. Thinking he could sleep a little bit more. He had been however addressed by someone from the medical crew, telling him to sit up. He had been explained who he was, where he is and about his changed... Condition. To his credit, the new recombinant had kept his cool after seeing himself through a mirror and being explained more of his circumstances. But under the surface he had been very much in shock. One moment you are a human, laying down to be scanned for some science stuff, the next you wake up in an alien body, permanently, and hear that your original form has been dead for years. Nearly sixteen years to be precise.

After getting over the fright, the blue, squinting recom had asked can he make a call.
Sixteen years was a lot and Mansk had been determined to firmly but politely demand that he could make a call to Earth.
After some searching he had managed to contact his family, first calling his parents. Or a parent as father had died three years ago. Mansk had listened to his mother's teary explanation while he was dressed in a hospital gown and sitting in human-sized chair in a too small booth. His ears, now pointy and longer, had drooped as he hunched there and held back from breaking down from the news. He had apologized quietly to his mother for... Well, as best as he could, for being dead. And now being suddenly back, looking different. To his relief mother had scolded lightheartedly before speaking in more sincere tone.

"I'm just happy for having my son back, not matter how blue. Or tall, can you walk there just fine or do you have to keep on crouching? Will they give you fitting clothes, how about eating? What do those naves eat? Is Zdinarsk with you?"

Mansk had chuckled, more relieved as how mother had acted. Treating him no differently than when he was a human. "I'm gonna be just fine, mom. I promise. And about Zdinarsk... I think so, I'll look for her after my medical exam, don't worry." After that call he had next contacted his siblings, two little sisters and one little brother. Lucky for him all of them had been hanging together, and pretty much caused a scene where ever they were at the moment. They had to cut out before contacting back, to Mansk's irritation as space calls were not cheap, and he had winced from the loud interrogation flooding the booth.

"Dude, what the fuck!?"
"Is it really you Mansk?"
"No way."
"This has to be a scam, close it."
"No, don't touch it!"
"Ow!"
"Answer this: when did Noah stop pissing his bed?"
"Hey!"

For the second time in the new life of his, the recom couldn't help tears from escaping as he chuckled. Then laughed. Then cried silently, not able to keep it all in anymore. They looked all different after these years. Mom looked older, frail, and his siblings had grown a lot. But they still acted pretty much the same even if he was the most changed one. He had tried to calm down, rubbing his eyes and hiding his face as his younger siblings had asked in worry how he was feeling and was he okay. What can a big brother say in that kind of situation, other than how confused and maybe scared he was? How he was wondering was he himself anymore, in this na'vi body. How weird this new form felt. Or that he maybe can never return to Earth, to see his family again. Or that he wanted to go back home. Pandora was nothing like he had imagined and now this whole body switching...
But no. Just like with his mother he couldn't cause worry to those he held dear. He had managed to talk with his siblings couple of minutes, reassure them, before there had been a knock. His time for emergency calls had been up and he was needed. Saying goodbye and promising to call again Mansk had taken a deep breath, before getting out of the booth.

Later on, after he had found Z-Dog and met other recoms, he had felt sense of security, for knowing he wasn't alone in the situation. That he knew, that he had a group of friends and comrades who were almost like second family to him. Because alone you can't survive without loosing something of yourself.

In the recoms' room, Fike stared at the last bun on the table. "I wanna eat that."
"I know," Ja said while playing cards with Lopez. "But it's Mansk's."
"Why?"
"Because he only ate one before going to Z-Dog."
"I mean why he ate only one and left the other with us?"
"That's just how Mansky works, dummy," Lopez muttered, frustrated with his cards before cursing in spanish he landed his next move.
"Let's just leave the last one for him," the recom with a cap ordered and with a smirk won the last protein bar in the room.

After taking a shower colonel Quaritch went back to recoms' sleeping quarters. He walked past his room where Spider slept. Giving a sad glance at the door he instead went to corporal Wainfleet's room. Rubbing his hair with a towel and his tail whipping away from the shutting door he came to a halt.
Lyle laid on the bed they shared just in boxers, laying on his side and one hand propping his head upright. There was a stupid, flirty grin on his face that made Miles snort.
"Come on, sir," the bald recom tapped the empty space next to him: "I know you want this."
"Cheeky," the leader of recoms growled but sat on the bed. Lyle did the same behind him and started massaging the shoulders. Miles sighed, closing his eyes and holding back any sounds of pleasure. It was embarrassing to him to purr. but Lyle was patient and would knead the tense muscles until his colonel would be loose sack of meat under his hands.
Neither said anything for a long moment, it being quiet except soft grunts and broken purring now and then.
"How did monkey boy take it," Lyle asked finally, knowing it bothered Miles.
"Like grease fire to water."
Wainfleet lowered his ears, grimacing. "...He's gonna understand it."
Nodding the recom getting the massage sighed: "Think he's more mad about the secrecy. Guess I did wrong, again."

"Come on," the corporal clicked his tongue and wrapped arms around Quaritch, the other one leaning into the hug and enjoying of the nuzzling to his neck: "You did what you thought was right. He's gonna get it, after getting over his mopping."
Teasing bites caused Miles to growl, tail moving in annoyance.
"Lyle."
"Yeah?"
"Stop that."
"Stop what, sir?"

Easily putting his subordinate under him, Quaritch smirked down at the teasing fool. Grasping Lyle's queue firmly, making the corporal hiss, Miles teased his partner with shallow kisses. Not stopping until the recom was almost mewling for his attention. Lyle was right, the kid would get over it after the clone business would be dealt with. There was no reason to stress out for nothing.

When it was nighttime and most were asleep, Spider slipped out of his father's room. He pulled hood of his shirt more over his face and fixed the backpack on his back. Moving quietly through the hallways he went to see the girl.