The Balance of Life

Part One - Discovery

Chapter 4 - Part 4--- NewHome

Author's Note:

It was a rainy day here so I was able to spend a few hours writing.

Enjoy.

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"We'll be landing in five minutes." Rocky called out.

"Jake, would it be okay if we installed a Geo-Pack at the remote control station?" Zoe asked. "I would like to get a second pack installed on this continent. We are using the data from the packs to monitor continental drift and changes in weather patterns."

"Sure, that would be fine. None of our people go near the station so it shouldn't ruffle any feathers."

"Great. Thanks."

"Zoe, does the Geo-Pack have the ability to communicate by voice back to Hell's Gate?" Jake asked, thinking about a problem that had been troubling him for a while.

"Yes. All the packs have built in voice activated audio. They have video as well. We can remotely monitor audio and video from the Ops Center at Hell's Gate. The pack also has a 'call' button that you can use to page the Ops Center if you want to get our attention."

"I've been wondering how to keep in touch," Jake began, addressing the four avatars. "Norm has been our link up until now. But with his avatar being back at Hell's Gate we wouldn't have any way of communicating with each other if something urgent came up."

"With everything that's happened and all the instability caused by the continent splitting up we should have some means of keeping in touch," Buck agreed.

"Now that we are located on different sections, accessible only by air, having a comm link is almost essential," Judy added.

Rocky brought the Samson in for a smooth landing beside the badly damaged remote control station. Jake jumped down and waited for Ralu and Neytiri to join him, while Kyle retrieved a Geo Pack from the cargo locker.

"From the latest Doppler readings it looks as if the worst of the storm is going to stay south of the mountains," Rocky said after he opened the cockpit door so that he could speak with Jake. "You are going to be for some torrential rains, but the one hundred plus mile an hour hurricane force winds should miss you. Might get some strong lightning strikes as these mountains are natural conduits for electrical discharges."

"How long before the storm hits?"

"Three hours, give or take."

"We'll have the pack mounted in five," Buck called out as he and Kyle quickly jogged over to find a suitable place to mount the pack.

"It was very nice to meet you." Ralu addressed Judy and Abby who had disembarked as well to stand beside the aircraft.

"Same here," Judy answered. "I hope we see each other again. It would be nice to have some quiet, peaceful time where we could just sit and talk. If and when tensions settle down maybe you could show us around sometime."

"Yes, I would like that very much."

"Thanks for watching after our daughter," Neytiri began. "Jake and I appreciated it."

"The pleasure was ours," Abby answered as she placed her hand affectionately on Ralu's shoulder.

"Zoe, the pack is mounted and powered up," Buck called out. "Jake if you and Neytiri will come here I'll show you how to work the comm link on this pack."

"Thanks again for all you have done," Jake told Rocky before he took Ralu's hand and walked over to where Buck was standing by the newly mounted Geo Pack.

"It's pretty simple. Even Ralu can operate the comm link," Buck began. "Twist this knob to open the water tight door and press the orange call button. After that all you have to do is talk and listen. Once Zoe finishes her diagnostics we can test it out."

"Can't ask for easier than that, can you?" Jake asked Ralu.

"No, I guess not."

Jake sensed Ralu's apprehension which puzzled him after her excitement over flying in the Samson.

"Something about this bothers you," he asked when she shifted closer to him.

"It seems strange that you can talk with someone who isn't there."

"Stanger than flying in that?" Jake asked as he gestured towards the Samson.

"Yes. It is easy to see that the Sky People's bird can fly. It makes great wind so that it moves through the air. Like a banshee, but with much noise."

"I see your point, I think," Jake added. "The Samson is something you can see. You can touch it, feel its power. This on the other hand you can't imagine how it works, so it's a little spooky."

"Spooky?"

"Scary, unsettling, leaves you feeling uneasy without a good reason as to why. That sort of thing."

"Yes, I understand."

When a small video screen came to life, Ralu pressed closer to Jake as Gary's voice accompanied his face on the screen.

"Jake, good to see you."

"Likewise," Jake responded.

"Looks like we're all in for a storm," Gary began. "Us more than you though. I just finished telling Rocky he needs to get back here ASAP. Get in touch once the storm passes, okay?"

"Will do."

"Got to boggy," Buck stated as he closed and sealed the door to the comm link. "Take care of yourselves. Bye Neytiri, Ralu."

Waving Buck quickly jogged over to the Samson and climbed aboard with the others. Judy waved as the Samson rose into the air and quickly disappeared over the treetops.

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"Neytiri, are you all right?" Jake asked when she had been quiet for several minutes as they made their way back to the well of Souls.

"Yes, I'm fine. I've been thinking about the trees we just visited. They would make a perfect home for our people…"

"Except for Ralu's vision, warning."

"Yes, except for that. I know you felt something," Neytiri said to Ralu who was walking between them. "What I've been trying to figure out is if the danger you sensed was in the past and is no longer a threat. Or if it's still there waiting to strike out again."

"Mother, I wish I could tell you more, but I just didn't get anything more than I've already told you."

"Don't worry about it. I'm sure everything will work out one way or another."

"I'll try, but it's hard when I know that our people desperately need a home and the trees by the river look so perfect."

"I am going to ask mother what she thinks about the four of us bonding with Eywa to see if we can pick up on what may have passed at those trees in the past."

"The few times I have bonded with Eywa I felt…I just felt more. It's hard to explain."

"Yes I know it is." Neytiri answered as she drew Ralu next to her for in a firm hug.

By the time they returned to the gathering area the sun had vanished behind ominous dark racing clouds. The wind was blowing steadily, creating a continuous background noise that contrasted the normal quiet surrounding the Well of Souls. The area was mostly deserted. Jake spotted Tey'bar and Ell'a'u by the cooking fire pits. From the way they were gulping down food he figured they were fueling up just in case it was going to be a long time before they ate again.

"Have you seen mother," Neytiri asked when they reached the fire pits.

"She was here a short time ago," Ell'a'u answered.

"Have our people taken shelter from the coming storm?" Jake asked, indicating the mostly empty gathering area.

"Yes they have," Tey'bar answered. "We were waiting for you to return. We have found a place at the base of one of the arches. It is large enough for the six of us—that would include Mo'at—and is fairly well protected."

"We should gather up any remaining food," Neytiri began. "It will spoil if left out in the rain."

"We gathered what little there was. Tey'bar and I were eating some of the cooked meat that won't keep in any case."

"I see you have returned." Mo'at walked up to the others having finished checking on as many of her people as she could.

"Yes. We have—"

A bolt of lightning flashed overhead illuminating the area with an eerie blue cast. The crack of thunder was almost immediate and loud enough to hurt the ears.

"Our shelter is this way," Tey'bar said as a second bolt of lightning flashed and fat raindrops began to fall.

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