The Balance of Life
Part One - Discovery
Chapter 3 - Part 8--- Aftermath
Author's Note:
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"We're all Ok, even Abby," Buck answered after making sure for himself that Abby was indeed Ok.
"Zoe, you can open your eyes now." Rocky was a little worried about her. She was pale as a ghost.
"I thought we were going to die. I couldn't bear to watch. Stupid, I know."
"Nothing stupid about it," Rocky added, giving her his best 'everything's going to be alright' smile.
"Where to now?" Kyle asked, poking his head into the cockpit.
"We'll just keep heading north. We should spot some place suitable before we cross over to the northern section. That work for you Zoe?"
"Yes, that should work. If we don't find a secondary site it won't be the end of the world."
Within five minutes a large plateau was visible through the cockpit windshield. Rocky had steadily descended as they continued flying north. The plateau appeared to be about a hundred meters across. It was located at the top of a steep rise that climbed up from the surrounding valley floor. The sides of the plateau walls were steep enough to keep large animals from reaching the top. Smaller animals or Na'vi would be able to reach the plateau without much difficulty.
"I'm going to circle around a few times before I set us down. I've had enough surprises and excitement for one day."
"We're with you there," Abby called out, her voice sounding normal.
"Keep a sharp eye out for anything that moves."
After the third flyover Rocky brought the Samson to a gentle landing in the middle of the plateau. Even before the landing rails touched down, Kyle and Buck were jumping out, the dismounted Hydras in their hands, with the ammo belt slung over their shoulders. Waiting for Kyle and Buck to motion them to dismount, Abby and Judy gathered the equipment they would need to mount the Geo-Pack.
"Any particular place you want us to mount the pack?" Abby asked Zoe as she prepared to follow Judy from the aircraft.
"Try to find solid rock to sink the anchors. Four anchors would be ideal."
"You got it." Gabbing the Geo-Pack, Abby jumped down onto the plateau. When her feet landed on mostly solid rock, she figured they wouldn't have any trouble finding a place to mount the pack.
"Over here!" Judy called out, thirty yards away from where the Samson had landed.
"Couldn't ask for a better spot than this." Judy was looking down at a smooth flat stone surface about three meters across. It was sheltered on one side with a low rock outcropping.
"You're right. This is perfect."
Abby set the Geo-Pack in the center of the opening as Judy dumped out the necessary anchors. Working in tandem they had four anchors mounted in just minutes. Securing the pack to the anchors with thin steel self-cinching wires took less than five minutes.
"Zoe, the pack's powered up," Judy radioed with her throat mike. "Let us know when it's operational."
"It will take me about five minutes to make the satellite link up and run the diagnostics. Once Gary starts getting data were good to go."
Abby and Judy walked over to where Kyle stood looking out over the valley that surrounded the plateau. It was a truly breath taking site. A large river wound its way through the valley, descending in a series of cascading falls.
"That is absolutely amazing," Abby said as she gazed out at the view before them. "Even without Polyphemus hanging in the sky it would be an incredible view."
"No arguing with that," Kyle added as Judy slid her arm around his waist. "Or with that either," he added giving Judy a quick kiss.
"Look, down by the river," Abby exclaimed, pointing to one of the falls. "It's a group of Na'vi. I think they are fishing."
"Quick, step back. We don't what them getting curious and coming up here." Kyle retreated from the edge hoping they hadn't been spotted.
"Gary is getting data from the pack." Zoe's voice announced through the comm-links. "Let's move on to the next site."
Retreating quickly to the Samson, all four avatars were aboard and ready for takeoff in a matter of minutes. Directing Rocky to liftoff in the opposite direction from where they had spotted the Na'vi fishing, the Samson rose smoothly and quietly into the sky.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
"Norm. Wake up Norm."
Karen gently slapped the side of Norm's face trying to revive him from the cocoon his mind was trying to slide into. One of the side effects of the psionic link was to send the human mind into a protective state when its avatar had suffered a trauma or was in pain. She had been beside Norm's pod ever since the bio sensor warning had triggered the audible alarm. At first all she could thing about was Andy—the horrible way he had died. After a quick scan of the pod control screen Karen relaxed slightly. Something was obviously wrong with the avatar, but it didn't appear life threating. She could tell from EEG that the avatar was in a lot of pain. As the never-ending minutes ticked by the pain seemed to lessen. When the pod began to retract Karen felt the hard knot twisted in her stomach begin to relax.
"That's it. Open your eyes. Look at me."
As Norm's eyes opened and his focus finally tracked to her face, Karen felt tears well up in her eyes when he smiled weakly up at her.
"Take it easy. Nice slow, deep breaths…That's it…In…out…"
"I'm okay. The pain's mostly gone now." Norm's easy breathing along with the relaxed look on his face finally settled Karen's nerves.
"What happed out there?"
"I got stabbed in the chest."
"What! Where?" Karen's nearly normal stomach twisted instantly back into hard knots.
"In the chest, just under my right shoulder. Hurt like a bitch. I think the blade missed my lung. Muscle damage mostly, I think."
"Good God! How did that happen?"
"I got in the way of a crazy woman's knife."
"What? What do you mean?"
"A woman was screaming at Neytiri's mother. She made a particularly foul remark about Neytiri and Mo'at slapped her across the face. The woman—I think her name was ZaeZae—lunged for Mo'at intending to stab her. I pushed Mo'at out of the way but didn't have time to block the blow from her knife."
"You're not Superman. You know that. Your avatar is not made of steel." Looking down at Norm lying comfortably in the cushioning foam while the image of him being stabbed in the chest played in her mind, shot every single emotion she felt for Norm straight to the surface.
"You don't have to tell me. I've been shot. Now I've been stabbed, and I'm not sure which was worse."
"Oh baby, don't cry," Norm said when the tears started running freely down Karen's cheeks. "I'm here. I'm going to be okay."
"You don't know what it's like. Having to just wait around while you are in that damn pod, linked to your avatar. Just waiting for something terrible to happen, praying that it doesn't. It's enough to drive a person crazy. It was a hell of a lot easier before I fell in love with you—"
"I wasn't going to tell you that," Karen continued after Norm just looked at her, obviously stunned by her statement.
"Why?"
"Because I don't think it's fair to tell you that when you don't feel the same way. When I know that deep down inside you would like to follow in Jake's footsteps and become one of the Omatikaya. Cross over as he did. I let myself fall in love with you even though I knew I would eventually lose you."
"I've been thinking a lot about wanting to do what Jake did. I think even before what just happened at the Well of Souls, I had decided that I didn't really want that any more. The last few days have given me a totally new perspective on what I am and what I want. Being in a ten foot tall, physically strong body can be very addicting. Especially for someone like me who was mostly a nerd."
"As interesting as the Na'vi people are, I've come to the conclusion that I don't want to be one for the rest of my life. Partly this is selfish on my part. I love science too much. They don't even have a clue as to what it feels like to discover something new. To learn more about how the universe works, what's our place in it. I don't think I could be content to spend the rest of my life just doing the same thing day after day. Now it's completely irrelevant."
"Why is that?"
"The reason I was stabbed was there was a big argument going on among the Omatikaya. A sizeable number of them hate all humans and that goes for us avatars as well. Jake included. They wanted Jake and me to leave and never come back. They blame everything that has happed, even todays earthquakes, on us humans. I can't blame them as we have given them nothing but grief since humans first landed on Pandora."
"Becoming one of the clan is totally out of the question. I'm not sure Jake won't eventually have to leave or be driven out as well. As long as any of us are around the Omatikaya are not going to heal quickly."
"And there is another, more important reason for remaining human. It seems that I too have fallen in love. I'm not entirely sure just how that happened. It sort of snuck up on me when I wasn't looking. I think I'm stuck with her for life, don't see any way out of it."
"You're damn right you're stuck with me. We're stuck with each other, for life."
When Karen took Norm's hand that had been gently cupping her face and kissed it tenderly the gesture arrowed straight to his heart. Sitting up on the side of the pod Norm pulled Karen to him so that her head rested comfortingly against his chest. When her arms encircled him he knew this was where he wanted to be.
"What's funny?" Karen asked when she sensed Norm chuckling to himself a short time later.
"Not Ha-ha funny, just unexpended funny. Jake has a daughter, adopted of course. Her name is Ralu and she is simply delightful. She is also the one who doctored my wound. I think she is about six or seven years old—seems very wise for her age."
"That sure was quick. Were he a Neytiri planning this all along?"
"I don't think so. Last night when I left nothing was mentioned of her. Today when I got back, there she was. Of all the Na'vi children that I meet with Grace, Ralu is the most memorable, or leaves you with that memorable feeling. There is something special about her. I can't put my finger on it, but something's different."
"I would love to meet her someday. She sounds interesting."
"That day could come sooner rather than later if this rift within the clan does not heal."
"You really think there is a possibility that they may kick Jake out?" Karen didn't know a lot about the Na'vi, but to kick Jake out after he had rid them of the RDA seemed totally unfair.
"It's a possibility. Things were pretty intense just before I got stabbed. If enough of the clan people feel Jake should leave it is going to make it impossible for him to lead them as a single unit. Unity of the clan is way more important to them than any single individual person. If another clan member is chosen to be their leader, Jake could be forced out."
"But what would happen to Neytiri, to Ralu?"
"Exactly my question as well. This could get very ugly for Jake."
"You said it's just a possibility, not something mostly likely to happen."
"One of the reasons unity is so important to the clan is it's a survival mechanism. If the Omatikaya clan is split it might not survive. Jake has to come up with some way of reaching those that hate all things human. This brings me to the conclusion that we have to get my avatar out of there as quickly as possible. If Jake is the only reminder of humanity he may be able in time to bring the clan together. The fact that he is Toruk Macto will swing a lot of weight."
"Rocky might be able to pick up your avatar. Let's check with Gary and see where the Samson is."
"My thoughts as well." Norm didn't want to leave Jake alone, but at this point it seemed like the best idea. He told himself that he had to stop thinking of Jake as human and start thinking of him as a Na'vi that was friendly to humans. Much as Neytiri was now.
"Gary, are you in contact with Rocky?" Karen asked using the comm link at the master control station for all the pods.
"Yes, I just finished talking with him a few minutes ago." Gary's answered almost immediately.
"Where are they?"
"They had just finished setting up the second Geo-Pack on the south western sub-continent and were headed to the north western one."
"Will they be anywhere in the vicinity of the Well of Souls?"
"Not sure, but I can ask. Why do you want to know?"
"We are going to need him to pick up Norm's avatar. It was stabbed a little while ago. Norm's back here, he's okay."
"Jesus! How bad was it?"
"Thankfully the wound wasn't life threatening, but it wasn't superficial either."
"That's good to hear."
"The real problem has to do with resentment among some of the Omatikaya about what has been done to them by the RDA or humans in general. Getting Norm's avatar out of there might lessen the tensions."
"What about Jake?"
"Jake is all Na'vi now. He is going to have to deal with this as best he can. Don't worry too much. Jake is a survivor. He will get through this one way or another."
"I'll get a hold of Rocky; fill him in on what's going down."
"I'm going to link back up so I can let Jake know that we are trying to arrange for a pick up. We'll need his help in any event."
"Okay Norm. Get back with me as soon as you know how and where to arrange for the pickup."
"I have to go back," Norm said as he turned to pull Karen against him. "The other avatars can't just go waltzing in there and pick up mine. There is enough hostility already. Jake and Neytiri can get me to someplace where I can be picked up without causing more problems."
"I know you have to go back. I also know that when you do you are going to be in a lot of pain. This isn't going to be a walk in the park."
"Thanks' for reminding me. Now let's get me back before I change my mind."
At the side of the pod, just before Norm boosted himself up, Karen pulled his lips to hers in a kiss that was needy and just a bit mean.
"If you don't come back I'll—
"I'm coming back! You can count on it Red!"
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
"Norm. Relax, breathe easy," Ralu said as she continued to cradle his head in her lap. She had known instantly when his spirit returned. She didn't heed to feel his body stiffen from the pain. "Drink some of this."
Ralu held the opening of the bladder to his lips so that Norm could drink without having to move his body.
"Just a few sips. It's pretty strong if you're not used to it."
"Where's Jake? I need to speak with him."
"I'll fetch him," Ell'a'u said as she got to her feet. "He and Neytiri are with Mo'at and some of the other clan loyal to him."
"Have you been sitting here, holding my head the whole time?"
"Yes. I did not want you to wake alone. Your wound would begin to bleed again if you moved too quickly."
"Thanks. You're very sweet."
"What I am is mad," Ralu replied, a sudden surge in her voice. "You are a guest among my people. You are Jake's friend. You are also very stupid. Why did you push Mo'at out of the way so that ZaeZae attacked you instead?"
"Ah…it seemed like the thing to do at the time." Norm was completely taken by surprise when Ralu turned her anger on him.
"It's what a guy does when he sees that a woman is about to be attacked."
"Human females do not know how to defend themselves? They must look to males to do so?" Ralu's words were framed as a question but even through the pain Norm didn't miss the sarcasm in them.
"Ah…no. At least not all of them. For human males it's more instinct that anything else. If a guy sees someone hurting or about to hurt a female or a child he feels compelled to do something about it."
"I understand, or at least I think I do. But you should not do this again."
"I think I can promise you that."
"Back with us, I see." Jake squatted down so that he could speak with Norm without his voice carrying. Neytiri and Ell'a'u stood directly behind him.
"Yeah. Throbs like hell. But I can breathe without it feeling like my lungs are on fire."
"And before you start yelling at me for being stupid, Ralu's already take care of that."
"She has, has she? Well in that case I will only thank you for saving Mo'at's life. I don't think she believed that ZaeZae would dare attack her. I saw it happening but was too late to stop it. You had Mo'at out of the way before I moved. If I'd been a little more alert I might have blocked ZaeZae before she stuck her knife into you."
"As I told Ralu, I was just acting on instinct. Didn't think about the possibility of getting stabbed."
"Regardless, Neytiri and I are both grateful that you did what you did."
"Jake, we need to get me out of here. Otherwise you are going to have more scenes just like the last one. While I was back at Hell's Gate I talked with Karen and Gary. Rocky is somewhere nearby in a Samson with the other avatars. They are installing Geo-Packs on each of the three sections of the original continent. Where would be a good place to for them to land so that they can take me back with them without causing further dissention among the people?"
"I'm sure we can find a place. In your condition you will have to be carried on a litter. If you try to walk that wound is just going to open up."
"I'm not sure where the Samson is at the moment. Rocky radioed that they were just entering this section of the continent about fifteen minutes ago."
"Rocky has never flown in these mountains. Without his instruments he will be flying blind."
"Ell'a'u and I will go and search for the Sky People's bird," Tey'bar offered. He had joined the little group when Ell'a'u had told Jake and Neytiri that Norm was awake.
"I am going with you," Jake replied as he gave Norm's good shoulder a comforting squeeze.
"Neytiri, I don't want Tey'bar and Ell'a'u alone out there just now. I know they are capable, I just think it would be better if the three of us went together."
"I agree," Neytiri responded immediately. "Ateyo and Neynat will help Ralu and I watch over Norm while you are gone."
"I wish I knew a good pickup point. That way you could move him there while we are searching for the Samson."
"The portable building you used for your human body is not far from here. Would that work? Most of the Na'vi avoid the area."
"Perfect. How long do you think it will take to carry Norm there?"
"Not long. It is about the same distance as the lake we went to this morning."
"That should give us enough time to find the Samson if it is anywhere in the area."
"Norm, just hang in there. We'll get you out of here safely."
"Can I talk with you, alone?"
"Sure. Give us a minute, would you?" Jake asked.
"Don't risk your life or any of your people to save this avatar," Norm began once they were alone. "I have decided not to follow your path. You were right in that it is totally different for me. My place is with the others back at Hell's Gate. Karen makes me happy. I guess the fact that I love her says it all."
"Yes, brother, that says it all," Jake agreed as he clasped Norm's left arm in a strong bond of male friendship. "Now let's get you out of here."
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Author's Note:
I should have another post ready by later in the day tomorrow.
With this post the story now exceed 50,000 words. About a third of the way towards becoming a full length commercial novel.
Keep those reviews coming. I enjoy hearing from you.