The Balance of Life
Part One - Discovery
Chapter 3 - Part 9--- Aftermath
Author's Note:
There will be a lot of quick jumps between the different groups/locations due to the real time nature of the events unfolding.
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"Does anyone know where this 'Well of Souls' is located?" Rocky asked after signing off with Gary.
"Just that it's somewhere in the Hallelujah Mountains. Closer than that I can't tell you," Buck answered.
"We'll just have to hope for better directions once we get closer. Otherwise we will run out of fuel before we can search even a small part of them."
"I can't believe Norm's luck," Abby began. "First he gets shot, now he's stabbed. If I were him I wouldn't want to link back up for any reason."
"You can sure say that again," Judy amended.
"The western horizon has been getting steadily darker since we took off," Kyle commented, his head resting comfortably against the padded back of the Samson's mid-section.
"I know. I've been keeping an eye on it. Looks like a storm is coming in. Still a ways off yet. The doppler radar hasn't picked it up so we should have enough time to complete our mission and get back to base before the storm hits."
"We should try the first suitable location we come to for the next pack," Zoe suggested as she continued to scan the horizon in front of them. "That way if we get tied up retrieving Norm's avatar we will have at least one Geo-Pack on this sub-continent."
"From the looks of the terrain that might take a while," Buck responded as he stared down at the dense jungle canopy zipping by beneath them.
"Are those the Hallelujah Mountains off to the left?" Zoe asked; pointing in the direction she was looking.
"Yes they are. From this distance it's hard to tell they're actually floating." Rocky changed bearing so that the Sampson was headed directly for the eastern end of the mountain range.
For the next ten minutes everyone was lost in their own thoughts as the Samson steadily flew north. Large trees that broke through the jungle canopy began to spring up here and there. Most of them rose less than fifty meters out of the dense undergrowth. All were too small to house more than a few Na'vi families.
"Rocky, bear left about twenty degrees," Abby began. "I think there are some taller trees on the horizon, although from this distance I can't be sure."
"Coming left," Rocky replied as the Samson gently banked to the new heading.
After another ten minutes several large trees could be clearly seen in the distance. Five minutes later six trees that rose about one hundred fifty meters were just off to their left. A large cascading river wandered among the trees creating the appearance of a small village.
"Keep an eye out for any inhabitants," Rocky called out as he flew a wide circle around the seemingly unoccupied trees.
"No sign of activity," Kyle called out after the first pass. "I spotted a good location for a Geo-Pack in the southern most tree."
"Even though these trees are less than half the size of Hometree they might make a good home for the Omatikaya as there are six of them." Judy suggested.
"There's a clearing next to the river large enough to land in," Buck added. "Make a second pass, it we don't spot any activity we can put down there."
"Zoe, this spot work for you?" Rocky asked.
"Yes, this should do just fine."
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"Neytiri, stay in touch. I'll do the same." Jake looked down at Norm resting on a litter being carried by two of their brothers Neytiri had picked to accompany her. Ateyo and Neynat were waiting, bows in hand.
"Jake, I'm going to break the link. I'll have Gary radio the Samson to be on the lookout for you. They will be able to monitor your comm link if you set it to an open channel."
"Already done. Norm if you don't want to link back up we'll make sure your avatar gets safely back. No reason to link back up just to get bounced around on the litter."
"Good point. I'll link back only if necessary."
"Neytiri, I don't even know how to thank you for all that you've done for me," Norm began. "If for some reason we don't see each other again—Na'vi to Na'vi—it has been a pleasure knowing you. I'm not sure if you knew it, but Grace loved you as the daughter she never had. Of all the Omatikaya you were her favorite."
"If all Sky People were like you, like Grace and Jake, everything would be different. None of our people would have had to suffer as we have done. Like Grace you will always be in my memories."
"Ralu, I want to thank you as well for seeing to my wound so quickly," Norm added, turning to look at her standing next to her mother.
"I am happy that I was able to help." Ralu leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on Norm's cheek after which she whispered in his ear. "In your heart you are Na'vi. For me you are already Omatikaya."
"Jake, remember what I said," Norm added as Ralu's words spread warm comfort through his pain ravaged body.
"I'll remember. Now go. Karen is waiting for you."
"Yes she is," Norm answered. A smile spread across his face an instant before his eyes closed and his body went limp.
"Do not cry mother. Norm will always be with us. He will walk among us once again." Ralu tried to comfort her new mother as Jake turned to give Tey'bar and Ell'a'u last minute instructions.
"I know he will always be with me, just as Grace is. My tears are for all those who have suffered and what that suffering has driven other to do. They are for all the suffering that is yet to come."
Kneeling down so that she was eye to eye with Ralu, Neytiri embraced this wondrous gift she and Jake had been given. Healing began within a single heart and spread to those around it. This was the perfect place to start that process.
"We have to be strong for our people. But even more we have to be patient and understanding. It will take much time for everyone's wounds to heal. I hope that by the time you are grown all the hatred and bitterness will be just a distant memory. I pray that your generation and those to come will know peace and harmony. You, the children of the Omatikaya are our hope, our destiny."
"We will not disappoint you," Ralu answered solemnly.
"You will have the children you so desperately want," Ralu said in a quiet voice that only Neytiri could hear. "This I have foreseen. They are not yet within you. You are going to have to use some of the patience you just spoke of."
"Of this you are certain?"
Neytiri pushed Ralu back far enough so that she could look into her face, into her eyes. The answer she read in them warmed her body like nothing had ever done before. The knowledge that she would have children was so soothing, so heart-warming that she completely missed the twinkle of amusement in Ralu's eyes.
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Karen was waiting as patiently as she could for Norm's pod to open once it had started to retract. She had been monitoring his vitals constantly since he went back in. That fact they appeared stable helped to keep her nerves from getting the better of her.
"Any significant change in the condition of your avatar?"
"No, it's stable. The herbal compound Ralu applied to the wound seems to be working. The pain's still heavy, but it's bearable."
"That's good. It is better that you are unlinked. There isn't any reason to endure the pain needlessly."
"True. I told them I would only link back up if there was an emergency they needed to know about."
After sitting up on the side of the pod for a few seconds Norm got slowly to his feet. The pain that had been transferred to his human brain left him feeling a little weak and nauseous. Walking slowly with Karen at his side he made his way over to the master console, sinking into one of the movable chairs.
"I didn't realize just how much that last link was going to take out of me."
"Remember that if you decide you need to go back for some reason."
"Believe me, I will. Okay, let's fill Gary in so he can relay Jake's plans on to Rocky."
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"Keep sharp, this place is too good to be unknown to the Na'vi," Rocky instructed as Buck and Kyle prepared to leave the Samson to mount a Geo-Pack in the tree they selected from the air.
"It is one gorgeous spot. Even to humans this spot would have a lot of appeal." Abby added as she gazed out over the large meadow like opening they had landed in.
"Maybe humans from a couple of hundred years ago," Judy began. "Most people today would be totally freaked out by this. They would be like zoo animals let loose from their cages, totally lost and afraid. We love it, but we're the exception not the rule."
"You do have a point." Abby agreed.
"It should take us about ten minutes to climb, another ten to mount the pack and five to come back down," Buck said as he jumped down to land in the soft grass. "Back in thirty minutes or less."
Just before Kyle jumped out he planted a long kiss on Judy's lips which she returned with equal enthusiasm.
As soon as Buck and Kyle were clear of the rotors Rocky lifted the Samson into the air so that they could keep watch from overhead. With equal parts of speed and agility Buck and Kyle made their way to the tree and began to climb.
"It's almost as if this tree was made for a Na'vi home," Buck commented as they continued their climb.
"It sure does look that way," Kyle answered. "From everything Jake and Norm recorded about Hometree this would certainly make a good one."
"I'm more than a little surprised that it has never been lived in before. At least it doesn't look like it has."
"Jake needs to see this place. It's farther south than Hometree was located, but there isn't any appreciable difference in the terrain from what the Omatikaya are used to."
"Yeah, I agree," Buck replied as they reached the five meter wide trunk that branched off horizontally.
"Zoe, we are ready to anchor the pack," Kyle radioed. "We'll let you know when it's powered up and ready for testing."
"Make sure the dish has a clear line of site to the sky," Zoe answered.
"This looks like a good spot," Kyle said as he checked the sky above them. For about twenty meters the trunk was open to the sky before other lesser trunks and branches began to shoot off in all directions.
Buck sank the four anchors while Kyle prepared the steel tethers. Their second installation was smoother than their first. The pack was mounted, secured and powered up in just under four minutes.
"Zoe, the pack is ready. Run your diagnostics. Let us know when we can start back down."
"Will do, Buck"
"I think we have company," Kyle said quietly.
Following his gaze to a thick cluster of branches farther out from where they were standing Buck spotted movement beyond the dense foliage that hampered his view.
"I think it's a banshee, and a big one at that," Kyle added as he moved around trying to get a better view.
"I think you're right. Let's not attract its attention if we can help it."
"I'm pretty sure it already knows we are here. Why it hasn't made any sounds is beyond me. It should have attacked or flown off by now."
"Maybe it's injured," Buck suggested.
"That or trapped."
"Either way we don't want to get too close. As much as I would like to see it, we don't really have any experience for this."
Both avatars jumped when Zoe radioed that the Geo-Pack was working correctly.
"We're on our way down," Buck radioed back. "We'll be ready for pickup in ten minutes or less."
Without the pack and gravity working with them instead of against them, Buck and Kyle descended in less than five minutes. As soon as they reached the clearing Rocky brought the Samson in for a landing. After climbing aboard Buck leaned into the cockpit to speak with Rocky.
"We think there might be an injured or trapped banshee in the treetop not far from where we anchored the pack. I'd like to get a better look."
"Sure, I'll hover over the top while you try to spot it. Why do you want to see it anyway?"
"Just an idea. Might not amount to anything."
"Let me know if you spot what you're looking for, or if you want me to get closer."
"I know it's there somewhere," Kyle said after Rocky made two complete circles around the top of the tree.
"There! Just under that large over-hanging limb," Judy shouted.
"Rocky, hold here, but drop down about fifty meters." Buck ordered.
"Sure enough, it's a banshee. And a big one at that," Kyle exclaimed.
"Looks like its wing is broken," Abby added.
"It is, isn't it?" Judy confirmed.
"Damn that's a shame. It is one magnificent looking beast," Buck sighed. "Okay Rocky. Let's head for the mountains. See if we can meet up with Jake."
"Roger that," Rocky replied as he swung the Samson around and began to climb into the mostly clear, cyan colored sky.
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After reminding Neytiri to keep in touch one last time—one too many times from the look she had gave him—Jake called to his ikran as did Tey'bar and Ell'a'u.
"Stay close together," Jake ordered as he formed Tsahaylu and mounted his ikran. "The ground shaking may have agitated many animals. Ikran's and other predators of the sky may attack when normally they would not. I will have eyes for the Sky People's aircraft. You two need only have eyes for what could do us harm."
With whoops and hollers the three riders and their ikran's leapt skyward in a frenzied beating of wings. Within minutes they were well above the Well of Souls, winding their way south through the Hallelujah Mountains.
'This is going to be like finding the proverbial needle in the haystack' Jake thought to himself. He had never seen a haystack or a needle. Old metaphors never died he thought.
For fifteen minutes Jake and his young hunters flew through the main valley that lead mostly south. Several times he tried to contact the Samson via his comm link. To his dismay he discovered that he could no longer raise Neytiri as well. 'Smart' Jake thought. He should have paid more attention when Trudy had tried to explain about the vortex. 'A bit too late for that old son', he told himself. Resigned, Jake kept his ikran in the middle of the valley and continued on, making frequent calls through his comm link.
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"I'm picking up a transmission," Rocky announced. "It's weak and almost unintelligible, but it must be Jake. No one else would be out here on that channel."
"Can you home in on the signal?" Buck asked.
"Possibly. Since the signal isn't continuous it will be difficult."
"What's the furthest distance away he could be and still be able to pick up his signal?" Kyle asked.
"About fifteen kilometers, possibly a bit more at this altitude."
"If we're hearing him then he must be out of the vortex, right?" Abby put in.
"Or he could still be in the vortex and that is what is making his signal so weak." Buck added.
"Quite please." Rocky held up his hand to forestall any further discussion as he concentrated on the Samson's radio direction locator. After receiving three more transmissions which became progressively stronger he had an approximate bearing.
"If this isn't some form of echo we should be headed straight for him," Rocky advised his companions after her adjusted the Samson's heading twenty degrees to the east.
"Jake, I read you. Your signal is weak but growing stronger," Rocky said into his helmet mike after they had been on the new heading for about five minutes.
"Reading you as well," Jake's voice replied through the speakers Rocky had activated so everyone could hear.
"Keep on the same heading you're currently flying."
"Will do," came the distant reply after a short pause.
"At our current speed we should be within visual range in the next few minutes, ten at the outside," Rocky began. "I'm not sure how high he is flying, but I doubt it quite this high. I'm going to drop down some."
"I see you," Jake's voice came clearly through the speakers. "We are just off to your right about two thousand meters out and a little below you."
"Got'em," Judy called out. "Three banshee's in V formation."
"Jake, turn around and head back. I'll overtake your position in a couple of minutes."
"Roger that. From here it's just a little less than thirty minutes by banshee to where Norm's avatar will be waiting."
"I guess we were due for a break," Buck began. "It's amazing that we were able to locate him so quickly. The Hallelujah Mountains stretch for a thousand kilometers across the top of the continent."
"We knew he was on the eastern end of that range. It took just over an hour for Quaritch to reach it from Hell's Gate." Abby added.
"That's true," Buck conceded. "Smaller area notwithstanding, I'm still glad we got a break and located him quickly.
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Jake signaled Ell'a'u and Tey'bar by hand to turn around and head back towards the Well of Souls after he pointed in the direction of the oncoming Samson. Acknowledging, they banked away from him and headed back up the valley. Waiting a few seconds to make sure the Samson had seen them Jake turned his ikran, urging him to pick up speed, so that he could catch up with his fellow flyers.
As the sounds from the Samson's turbine powered rotors grew louder, their ikran's became agitated. When Jake's ikran started squawking in protest he radioed Rocky to back off and follow them at greater distance. Almost instantly the sounds from the Samson died out.
"I switched to whisper mode," Rocky's voice said into his comm link. "Uses a little more fuel, but a lot quieter."
"Thanks," Jake replied. "I doubt these ikran's will ever get used to the mechanical whine of turbines and rotors."
"How's Norm's avatar doing?"
"About as well as can be expected. The wound was deep. We applied a herbal mixture that stopped the bleeding and closed the wound to infection. It's going to take quite a while to heal completely on its own."
"Max may be able to speed the healing process once we get back."
"That would be good. Norm's had a rough time with his avatar."
"Yes he sure has."
"We are going to meet Neytiri where we parked the mobile control station just before Quaritch attacked. It is about a twenty minute hike from the Well of Souls. That should put us far enough away to not ruffle any clan feathers. We have enough of that already."
"Jake, on the way to meet you we discovered a group of six trees, just under half the size of Hometree, clumped together along a winding river. The trees were not occupied as far as we could tell. It would take a little over an hour to fly there on your banshee."
"That's interesting. They would be due south of us?"
"A little west of south. We mounted a Geo-Pack in one of the trees so we could track this section of the continent's movement. I can get you the exact GPS coordinates."
"Sounds like it's worth checking into. Once we get past any storms headed our way."
"From the looks of the western horizon one will be on us by nightfall."
"That's good to know. Now all I have to do is find shelter for my people before it hits."
"You're high enough in the mountains. The storm could turn south, miss you altogether."
"That would be nice, but it's probably too much to ask for."
Tey'bar caught Jake's attention as he moved in closer and shouted something Jake couldn't quite comprehend. Looking down Jake could see the reflection from the roof of the remote control station.
"Rocky, in a minute you should be able to see the top of the control station directly below my present position. Land in the clearing just beside it."
"Will do."
"I'll meet you there after I land and set my ikran free."
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Author's Note:
I am going to go back and make corrections to previous chapters that were pointed out in reviews. I hope to get those finished and posted with the next couple of days.
Those of you paying close attention should have determined something quite interesting.