The Balance of Life
Part One - Discovery
Chapter 4 - Part 11--- NewHome
"Do we go back now?" Tey'bar asked after Jake secured the comm link.
"Yes, but first I would like to find our ikran's if they are anywhere nearby."
"The storm drove then to seek shelter," Ell'a'u replied. "Now that it has past, they will seek us out once again."
"As they are as hungry as we are, they will hunt for food before returning," Tey'bar added.
"I'm sure you are both right. We have time before the Sky People come in their flying machine. We should check the surrounding forest for signs of hexapede's or other game. With a little luck we may be able to take fresh meat back with us."
"We do not need to lead the Sky People here?" Ell'a'u asked.
"No, they know how to return since they have already been here once. Much like an ikran knows how to find its way back home, the Sky People's machine can return to a place that it has already visited."
"The ground is very soft. This will make it difficult for hexapede's to move quickly," Tey'bar commented as the trio searched the trees around them for any signs of their ikrans.
"They will likely be herded together for protection from the storm," Ell'a'u suggested. "If any are in the area they will be together and very skittish."
"Okay, let's head back to the Well of Souls," Jake began. "Quietly, in case we come across any fresh animal signs."
"How many of our people have we accounted for?" Neytiri asked Mo'at when she led a second group of survivors into the gathering area.
"Counting those that you brought back with you we have just over two hundred. That leaves about fifty still unaccounted for."
"We found the remains of two adults. It's impossible to tell if they drowned before the viper wolves got to them, or if they were attacked while seeking shelter."
"They will need to buried properly once we have seen to the living," Mo'at replied, her heart heavy with sorrow from the seemingly never ending loss that was constantly nipping at the heels of the clan.
"I will see to it." Neytiri desperately wished that she could do more to lighten the burden her mother was carrying. If her father was still alive her mother wouldn't look as if she was about to collapse physically, and mentally. They had always supported each other in times of need, great or small.
"What is it Ralu?" Mo'at asked when her granddaughter walked over to stand beside her daughter.
"We have been unable to start a fire. Everything is too wet to burn. My uncle is gathering shavings from nearby trees and placing them in the sun to dry out. He is hopeful that by mid-day he will be able to get a cooking fire started."
"Ea'u'tey is very capable. If he is hopeful then so am I."
"I am going to get some people out searching for food that doesn't need to be cooked," Neytiri said as she placed her hand around Ralu's shoulder to draw her close.
"Look!" Ralu exclaimed excitedly, pointing to where Jake was entering the gathering area carrying a small hexapede over his shoulders. Ell'a'u and Tey'bar had a second, larger hexapede tied to a long staff that they were carrying between them.
Handing the small hexapede to one of the clan's cooks, Jake quickly made his way to where Neytiri was standing beside Ralu and Mo'at.
"They are coming to help," Jake said before anyone could ask. "I expect they are already in the air and should be here soon."
"That is good," Mo'at replied. "I have talked with many of our people and explained why we need help from the Sky People. Most accepted this fact. A few were not happy but could offer no alternative."
"Some will never be happy," Neytiri added. "If the Sky People are successful, they will never acknowledge their help. Their bitterness and hatred runs too deep."
"Time may change the minds of those who cannot see," Mo'at began. "I am afraid that a few of our people will never see, no matter how much time passes."
"We can't worry about them now. We have to do everything we can to save the Mother Tree. Once she is safe then we can try to calm those with ruffled feathers." Neytiri was quite certain that no amount of soothing was going to calm ZaeZae's feathers, or those of her closest supporters. Thinking of ZaeZae, Neytiri glanced around the gathering area but did not see her.
"Has anyone seen ZaeZae?"
When no one acknowledged having seen her Neytiri made a mental note to check more thoroughly after the Mother Tree was taken care of.
The distinct sound of the approaching Samson had everyone in the gathering area looking to the southern horizon. As the craft came nearer the sounds from its rotors reverberated off the valley walls making it impossible to tell here the Samson actually was. For Jake the sound was a relief that the waiting was over and the work could actually begin. More than a few of the Omatikaya were uneasy as the craft grew nearer.
"There!" Jake pointed as the Samson crested the tree tops a thousand meters from where he was standing.
"I'm going to signal them to land next to that large fallen arch," Jake said, as he pointed to a large open space created when an arch toppled on its side away from the Well of Souls. "Wait here until Rocky kills the turbines."
"How can you kill something that is not alive?" Ralu asked Neytiri as Jake hurried to where he wanted the Samson to land.
"I think he meant that the pilot would stop whatever makes the machine fly."
"Oh, okay. The pilot—I think he was called Rocky—did that when we went to the trees by the river."
"Yes, exactly," Neytiri replied as she watched Jake scramble up on a large chuck of arch lying on its side.
Rocky spotted Jake waving his arms when he was about five hundred meters out. From the air the Well of Souls looked like a small lake. The sun was reflecting off its surface making it had to gauge the depth of the water. It was obvious that it wasn't going to be bailed out by a bucket brigade, even one manned by Na'vi hands.
As he descended towards the spot Jake was gesturing at, the gathering area came into view. The sight of a couple hundred Na'vi looking up at them was a bit unnerving. He fervently hoped that Jake was right and most of them would take their arrival as a sign of help and friendship. If they decided otherwise things could get very ugly very quickly. Deciding that anything he said to Karen would only increase her anxiety, Rock concentrated on setting their cargo down smoothly.
Hovering over the landing area Rocky gently eased off on the pitch of the rotors so that the Samson slowly descended, its bulky payload suspended ten meters below the bottom of the craft. Kyle and Buck called out 'all clear' as he eased the craft down until he felt the payload touch the ground. He lowered the Samson another few meters so that the avatars could jump down and begin to disconnect the steel support cables from the platform that held the pump and the rest of the supplies they would need. When Norm, who had sensibly stayed aboard, called out that the cables were free, Rocky set the Samson down a few meters away from the pump.
Norm disembarked on the passenger's side and waited for Karen to open her door. "It might be best if you and Rocky stayed with the Samson until I've had a chance to talk with Jake. If he and Neytiri think it's okay then I'll come and get you."
"That works for me," Karen replied.
"Me too," Rocky added.
By the time Norm walked over to where the other avatars were unpacking the hoses and other supplies they had brought along, several of the clan had gathered around to get a better look at what the Sky People were up to. Then seemed apprehensive, but interested in what was going on.
"It's good to see you up and about," Neytiri said as she walked over to give him a quick hug.
"It feels even better. I'm a little stiff, but all in all, I'm doing fine."
Turning to Ralu Norm crouched down to address her. "You did one fine job of patching me up a couple of days ago. Can't say I want to repeat the process, but the next time I need medical attention you're the one I'm going to call."
Not sure what 'medical attention' meant Ralu stepped forward and gave Norm a hug just as her mother had done. "I'm glad you're back. I have missed you."
"I've missed you too," Norm answered as he gave her an extra squeeze before standing up. "If you're interested I'll introduce you to Karen a little bit later. For now she's staying in the Samson with Rocky."
"I would like that," Ralu replied, a big smile filling her face.
"I too would like to meet this woman," Neytiri added.
"Just as soon as we get the pump hooked up and operational."
"Jake, why don't you explain to your people how this is going to work," Buck suggested as he and the other avatars began uncoiling the intake hose. "The more they understand the less apprehensive they will feel."
"Do you wish for our people to help?" Neytiri asked.
"Once we start running out the discharge hose we could probably use a few extra hands," Kyle responded.
"How long will it take to empty all of the water?" Ralu asked as she stood hand in hand with her mother.
"Three maybe four days," Abby replied. "We'll know better after the pump has run for a while."
"Norm, grab the donut would you?" Judy asked as she hefted a twenty-five meter length of hose over her shoulder and headed for the water's edge.
"What is the 'doe-nut' for?" Ralu asked as Norm picked up a round object with a hole in the middle.
"We fasten it to the end of the hose that goes into water. This keeps the end of the hose off the bottom where it would get clogged with mud. As the water level goes down, so does the hose intake."
"Kind of like drinking from the surface," Ralu suggested.
"Yes, exactly like that. Come with me and I'll show you."
"Can I go with Norm?" Ralu asked her mother, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Yes, but don't get in the way." Neytiri replied with the universal parent's standard warning.
"I think those that are interested have the basic idea of what the pump is going to do," Jake said when he returned. "Mo'at said she would watch with the others. I think she feels that standing with them is important."
"Mother is usually very wise in understanding the mood of our people. When she feels the need to come closer she will do so."
"I warned them not to be shocked when we start up the pump. It does make quite a lot of noise. Where's Ralu?" Jake asked, suddenly realizing she wasn't in sight.
"She went with Norm. I think she has special feelings for him."
"Yeah, I've noticed that. I'm sure the feeling is mutual."
"Would you introduce me to Karen? Norm said she was staying with Rocky in the Samson." Neytiri wanted to meet the woman that Norm was in love with—without Norm. Even if they weren't the same species, they were both female. That she supposed counted for more than their differences.
"Sure, then I'd better see if I can give the avatars a hand."
When Jake and Neytiri walked over to the Samson they found Karen in the mid-section looking eagerly out of the door.
"Karen, do you remember Neytiri?"
"Yes. It's nice to see you again."
"It is nice to see you again," Neytiri repeated.
"I'm going to go see if I can be of some help," Jake said before he turned and headed off towards Buck who was connecting a section of hose to the out-let on the pump.
"Norm is very special to us—what's wrong?" Neytiri asked when tears started flowing freely down Karen's cheeks.
"Nothing's wrong, and yet everything is wrong."
Neytiri had never really talked with a female Sky Person before. She had spent countless hours with Grace's avatar, but never with Grace the human being. Karen's sudden and unexpected anguish caught her completely by surprise. Unsure what to say without making matters worse she just waited for Karen to make the next move, which didn't take but a couple of seconds.
"I know I'm not making any sense," Karen sniffed, as lifted the exopack away from her face to wipe the tears away, quickly replacing it when she was done. "I've been feeling guilty because I don't want Norm linking with his avatar. Ever since Andy died when his avatar was killed I've been scared to death whenever Norm's been linked. It didn't help much when he was stabbed the last time out. The problem is, Norm love's being in his avatar. I can hear it in his voice and see it on his face when he talks about being with you and Jake, and the Omatikaya. All of this is so special to him. Just watching him here I can see that he loves this very much. I don't want him to hate me someday because he chose me over this."
"I don't know quite what to say," Neytiri began as she tried to decide how to respond. "We have something in common, you and I. We have both loved a man that has—or had in Jake's case—two bodies for his spirit. When Jake's spirit was in his human body I was always afraid that he would never come back to me. To see his Na'vi body lying there, as if he were dead, was very difficult. It took time before I could accept that he was going to come back. Once he had his own ikran I no longer thought of him as a human in a Na'vi body. For me he was a Na'vi that died and was reborn with frightening regularity. I wanted him with me all the time. I was jealous of the time he spent with the Sky People."
"I guess that's how I feel, but in reverse," Karen replied.
"Jake had told me that he could not stay in his avatar body for more than a day. His human body needed food and rest just like his avatar body did. On the night Jake was made a member of the Omatikaya we became life-mates. It was a very memorable night. In the morning when I woke and his spirit was not with me I would have wept, except that the Sky People's machines were destroying everything around us. There was no time for tears, but I felt them anyway."
"It takes quite a lot out of them while they are linked with their avatars," Karen began, trying to enunciate clearly so that the exopack didn't overly distort her speech. "Even though they are cocooned—wrapped inside—their link pods, their body's still use a lot of energy. Norm always eats like a horse—a lot—after he has been linked for several hours."
"Are you and Norm life-mates?"
The question caught Karen slightly off guard. She sensed that Neytiri wasn't being deliberately intrusive, she just seemed interested. "I guess you could say we are. We haven't exchanged vows or anything like that."
"What are vows?" Neytiri wanted to know. Jake had never mentioned anything about them. Possible they were not important, except that Karen seemed to place some weight to them.
"Vows are the promises two people make to each other when they get married—become life-mates. Mostly things like, they promise to love each other, in good times as well as bad. To be faithful, that sort of thing."
"Do you need to exchange these vows before you can have children?"
For a moment Karen just stared at Neytiri, then she remembered that Na'vi customs as ways were quite different from humans. Sensing only a desire to learn Karen tried to answer Neytiri's questions as fully as she could.
"No, vows are not necessary for children," Karen began. "You only have to have sex—mate—for that. Vows, and a marriage license make the children legitimate, and I know that doesn't mean anything to you. It's just part of our human heritage and customs."
"You can have children if you wish to?"
"Sadly, no. All of the humans sent to Pandora were sterilized. It was an RDA company policy, and a good one. Hell's gate is no place to raise children. With a mix of males and females the RDA knew that they couldn't prevent some of those people from having sex so they made sure there would be no babies born on Pandora."
"This thing you call 'ste-ri-li-za-tion' prevents babies from being born?" Something in the back of Neytiri's mind said that this was important to understand. She wasn't sure just why, she just felt it was.
"More accurately, it prevents the woman from getting pregnant, which in the long run amounts to the same thing."
"I do not understand," Neytiri began. "Mates can have sex, but there will be no babies. How is this possible?"
'Oh boy' Karen thought to herself. She wasn't sure just how she ended up discussing reproduction with a Na'vi female, even if she was Jake's mate. Particularly because she was Jake's mate. The ramifications of where this discussion could lead suddenly took on a whole new dimension. If Jake had not told Neytiri about the avatar's being sterile just like their human counterparts this could get very sticky. Treading carefully, Karen tried to answer Neytiri's question without getting too personal.
"I'm not sure how to exactly answer that," Karen started out hesitantly. The Na'vi had no science, so she was sure that the concept of sperm fertilizing an egg was not going to mean anything to Neytiri. She really needed Judy right about now. Judy was very knowledgeable about Na'vi physiology. Of course, it helped that Judy had both a human and Na'vi body of her own so she had firsthand familiarity with each species. "When male and female of any species mate, the male places some fluid inside the female. Do you know what I am taking about?"
"Yes, we call this the 'gift of life'."
"Exactly. Before humans come to Pandora they have a small device inserted under the skin that prevents this 'gift of life' as you call it from ever developing into a baby." Karen was really wishing that this discussion hadn't gotten started. She wasn't shy about discussing sex. She was worried that Neytiri would make the connection that avatars were also sterile just like the humans were.
"I do not understand how this can be." Neytiri's frustration shown clearly on her face. From the moment Neytiri had met Grace, she started to realize that the Sky People knew many things about which the Na'vi knew nothing. True they Sky People knew very little about the forest around them, or most of them didn't. The seed of curiosity that Grace had planted in Neytiri had slowly grown over the years. During the time of teaching Jake the ways of the Omatikaya, that seed had continued to grow so that she was no longer content to just accept everything. 'Why' was becoming an important part of her outlook on life.
"Are there people who become life-mates and never have any children?"
"Yes, that happens, but not very often."
"Do you know why that happens?"
"It is the will of Eywa." For the first time in Neytiri's life that reason did not feel satisfying.
"Let's see if I can come at this from a different direction," Karen began. The last thing she wanted to do was challenge Neytiri's belief in Eywa's wisdom. "All Na'vi look similar, but each of you is unique. By similar I mean you have two legs, two arms, one head, that sort of thing. You're uniqueness is in the shape of your face, your ears and mouth. Some are taller, some shorter. Do you understand what I'm getting at?"
"Yes, I think so. Everyone is different, both on the outside, and in here," Neytiri finished pointing her finger to the side of her head.
"Exactly. The thing that wakes us all slightly different sometimes makes it so that mates cannot have children. It's not something that you can see, but it is there. In short the 'gift of life' has no 'life'."
"Hey, Neytiri," Jake called out as he walked towards the Samson. "We're about ready to turn on the pump. Go ask your mother if she wants to come closer or watch from where she's standing."
"I need to do this," Neytiri said to Karen as she stood. "I would like to talk with you more."
"I'm not going anywhere." As Karen watched Neytiri walk away she hoped that they wouldn't resume their discussion until after she had a chance to get Jake alone and fill him in on Neytiri's line of questions."
"Saved by the bell," Rocky said after Neytiri was out of hearing range.
"Oh God! You scared me. I had completely forgotten that you were sitting in the cockpit."
"Thanks a lot!" Rocky exclaimed, pretending to have his heart wounded. "You handled that very well, from where I was sitting."
"Trying to explain the most fundament scientific concepts to the Na'vi is a major challenge. On top of that I'm not sure we should. It could change them in ways we can't even begin to predict."
"I'm afraid we've already changed them just by being here."
"Boy, ain't that the truth."
Author's Note:
I'm going to go back to longer posts less often. Hopefully this will make for more satisfied reading.
As always, I enjoy hearing from you.
Enjoy.