The Balance of Life
Part One - Discovery
Chapter 4 - Part 14--- NewHome
Norm cried out, calling Karen's name. The agony he was feeling, even though he was barely conscious, was clearly evident in his voice. After a brief shudder Norm's body went limp once again.
"Norm is lost. He cannot see," Ralu said to her mother as she gently stroked the sides of his face with her hands. Leaning over she gently kissed his forehead.
"After a great loss it may take a long time to see again," Neytiri answered, thankful that it appeared that she would not have to deal with another great loss of her own in so short a time.
"Even though we cannot be sure, I think Norm knows that you are caring for him," Gary began. "Mostly he is resting comfortably. The touch of your hands on his face is comforting to him, making the dreams he is experiencing less painful. I think you have a high level of empathy."
"What does that mean?" Ralu asked as she continued to stroke her fingers in slow circles around Norm's temples.
"It means that you can feel what someone else feels. That you can make the pain they are feeling go away by taking some of it into yourself. Be careful that you do not take too much of the pain he is feeling inside of you. It may be stronger than you are able to handle."
"Such a thing is possible?" Neytiri asked, sitting up rapidly. From the look on her face Gary could see that this wasn't something that she had thought possible.
"True empathy is quite rare, but it is possible. I assume this is not something that happens among the Na'vi."
"We feel what others are feeling, that is natural. But I have not heard of anyone being able to take another person's pain into their own body. Only Eywa can take the pain someone is suffering and make it go away."
"I could be wrong. Maybe Norm is just relaxing under the soothing touch of your daughter's hands."
Ralu could tell that her mother was more than a little upset. With the obvious worry that her mother was still feeling for Jake, she decided this wasn't a good time to bring up the idea of bonding with Norm to try and ease the pain she sensed through her fingertips. With just a little concentration she could feel a trickle of pain flow up her arms and into her body. She was certain that the Sky Person, Gary, was aware of what she was doing. His words had been a gentle warning to her.
"Did Grace or anyone show you images of what your world looks like from far away?" Gary asked in the uneasy silence that followed. Neytiri didn't need anything else to worry about at the moment.
"If she did, I do not remember. I was much younger when we stopped going to the school where Grace taught us your language."
"Let me grab a viewer. Your world is very beautiful from space.—very high up in the sky.
Taking the PVC that the avatar technicians used to record data from its docking station, Gary powered it on as he hurried back to try and occupy Neytiri's mind so that the next hour or two would go by more quickly.
"This image was taken from the ship the Sky People use to travel between here and Earth. You can see your entire world with what we call Polyphemus in the background. Hundreds of years ago Earth looked a lot like this. Our skies were blue then. Now they are a dirty gray. Very sad what we have allowed to happen to our world."
For the next hour and a half Gary showed Neytiri and Ralu hundreds of images taken from space and drone reconnaissance aircraft that had mapped and imaged most of the planet's land masses. The polar caps were quite foreign as neither had ever experienced anything but the climate that pervaded the equatorial region of the planet. The sheer number of different continents surprised them. This was quite natural to Gary as they had not been more than a hundred miles from where they were born. The most fascinating aspect of their world was the ocean and the underwater images of some of the life-forms that they contained. A dolphin like creature with expressive, intelligent eyes seemed to be the biggest attraction.
When the comm link signal began beeping, Gary transferred the link to the PVC. "Jake is out of surgery and awake," Max began. "Neytiri and Ralu can see him for a while. He's a bit groggy from the anesthesia, but that will pass soon enough."
"Thanks Max. We'll be there shortly. Can you send Ron or Susan out to stay with Norm?"
"I'm sending them both so that they can do a full workup."
"Good idea. We will head in just as soon as they get here."
After closing the link Gary added, "Ready to go see Jake?"
"I think I should stay here with Norm," Ralu replied. "In case he wakes up. Tell Jake that I'm very happy that he is going to be all right. He will understand why I don't want to leave Norm alone. I will see him just as soon as I can."
"Ron and Susan will take good care of them both," Gary said as Neytiri seemed to be undecided as to what to do about Ralu's request. "It might be best if you saw Jake by yourself."
"Yes, that might be for the best," Neytiri replied, realizing that Ralu probably needed her connection to Norm to keep her mind off of all that had happened today.
"Give Jake a kiss and a hug for me."
"I'll do that." Standing Neytiri looked around the hut.
"It's not quite the same as a tree, but by human standards it's not bad for living out in the open," Gary added as she seemed a bit puzzled by her surroundings.
Suzan and Ron entered the hut before Neytiri made any further comment.
"Take good care of Norm," Gary said as he stepped over and placed his hand on Ralu's shoulder.
The sudden draining of tension that Ralu felt had her looking inquisitively into Gary's eyes. "Takes one to know one," he said softly, flashing a quick smile.
"Do you think you can help us with Norm?" Susan asked Ralu, correctly sizing up the situation. "You just keep him calm and we'll get all of his vitals," she added as she picked up the PVC.
"I'll call you on the comm link after we have seen Jake," Gary told Ron as he led Neytiri to the door.
Without Norm's almost dead weight they crossed to the outer door of the airlock in just over a minute.
"I want to thank you for making it easy on us, as well as yourself, for not insisting to stay with Jake when you brought him in," Gary began. "I know it was hard to leave him in our care when you were so worried about him. Watching someone you love undergo surgery is very difficult. I'm quite sure you wouldn't have felt any easier being there."
"Jake told me when we were coming here that I needed to let you take care of him. If our people could have healed him he would not have come. You and those that stayed here know how to mend what we cannot. I did not want to do anything that might make it harder for Jake. Going with you to wait was not as hard as I thought it would be. You were very kind to my daughter, and to me, to help us wait patiently. Something that I am not very good at."
"You both did just fine. Besides, I enjoyed the time we spent together. I'll give you some time alone with your mate." Gary added as he opened the inner door and led her to the gurney where Jake was recovering.
"Don't be alarmed by the wires and the noisy monitors. They are checking his heart rate and other vital signs. He won't need them for long." Gary added when he saw the distress cross Neytiri's face when she spotted Jake looking some sort of cyborg.
"I am going to try to get in touch with Buck or one of the other avatars. He can let your people know that Jake is going to be all right. After that, I'll go back and stay with Norm and Ralu. Have Max call when you want me to bring Ralu to see Jake."
Giving Neytiri's arm a quick squeeze her left her alone with Jake.
"I see you," Neytiri said softly when she walked up to stand beside Jake.
"I see you too."
"How do you feel?"
"Like I've been run over by a hammerhead," Jake added carefully. Almost any sort of movement hurt something fierce. "Max doesn't want to give me much of anything for the pain. Until he's sure that my lung isn't going to collapse or fill with fluid. I'm just going to have to get through it."
"Oh god Neytiri, please don't cry," Jake added when tears began to stream down her cheeks. "I'm not going to leave you. I didn't mean to scare you. Max is just being extra cautious."
"I can't seem to help it. You have a habit of bringing out the tears in me. I really wish you would stop doing that." The shock of seeing Jake looking so weak and in obvious pain made her legs weak and her heart ache. The tears escaped before she even realized they had formed.
"I know I've given you a few bad moments. I'll see if I can stop doing that from now on."
"Will it hurt if I touch your lips?" If she didn't touch him she was going to break into little pieces. Even though it was he who was injured, she felt as much pain as he.
"No. You are going to have to come down here. If I tried to lift my head it would probably just fall off—not really, it would just feel like it," Jake quickly amended when he saw the instant distress cross her face.
Bending over Neytiri brushed her lips over his in a kiss that was as light as a feather. The contact released some of the tension that had been building inside her from the moment she saw the arrow sticking out of his chest.
"I think you could press a little more firmly than that." Looking into her eyes, seeing the love that resided there for him helped to push that pain aside as effectively as any drug.
"You are sure?"
"Oh yeah, I'm sure."
Pressing her lips more firmly against his she felt the twin pleasures of fulfillment and need flow into her. As the need grew, a small sound of pleasure escaped from between her parted lips. Pulling back just far enough to see his whole face she saw her feelings reflected back at her through his eyes.
"If it didn't hurt to move I'd tell you to lie down beside me. But for now I'm going to have to be content with you just holding my hand."
"That I will do for as long as you wish me to."
"Where is Ralu?"
"She is with Norm and two Sky People in the place where your avatars live. She told me to give you a kiss and a hug from her. She did not want to leave Norm just yet. He seems to be trapped in dreams. He is in much pain, pain that only the heart can bear."
"This is going to be really rough on him. He really loved Karen. You could see it even when he looked at her with his avatar. It's going to take him a long time to get over his grief. I hope we can help him with that."
"Gary, the Sky Person that sat with us as we waited seemed to think that Ralu would be able to help Norm more than anyone else. At first I thought he was just being kind to Ralu, but I think he may be right. The bond between them is quite strong. We both felt that when they were in the water. She may be able to help him get past his grief so that he will enjoy living once again."
"I'm feeling kind of sleepy. Don't go away if I fall asleep on you."
"I will be right here. Close your eyes. Dream only of pleasant things. I will send my love into your dreams so that you will rest."
Within seconds Jake's eyes slid closed and his breathing continued evenly, keeping pace with the quiet sounds coming from the monitors.
"How long has he been asleep?" Gary asked when he came back to check on Neytiri.
"For a while. We talked of several things, and then he became tired."
"That will pass quickly. The first day will be the hardest on you. He will sleep most of the time. By tomorrow he will seem much more like himself."
"I am glad that you suggested Ralu not come right away. This would be hard for her. It is hard for me to see him like this."
"I'm going to go back out to the avatar hut to be with her and Norm. When you want to come out have Max show you how to operate the airlock. It's pretty simple."
"Thank you for all that you have done. We appreciate it."
"As I said before, it's my pleasure."
"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. We got in touch with Abby and she is going to find your mother to tell her Jake is going to be fine. Later I can set it up so that you can speak with her."
"I would like that very much. I'm sure mother will as well."
Flashing a warm smile Gary stepped into the outer airlock and sealed the inner door behind him.
Entering the avatar hut, Gary found Ralu curled close to Norm, her arm draped across his chest. Ron and Susan were at the technician's work station going over the results of Norm's physiological and neurological scans. Ralu looked at him when he paused at the foot of the cot.
"Any change?" Gary asked.
"He seems to be resting more comfortably."
"How about you? How are you feeling?" Gary asked as he looked for signs of fatigue around her eyes.
"A little tired. Actually I'm starting to get hungry."
"We can fix that easy enough. Just give me a minute to talk with Ron and Susan and I'll be right back."
"I will be right here."
Walking over to the workstation, Gary asked, "What do the test results show?"
"Not much in the way of any problems," Susan answered. "Both physically and neurologically Norm's avatar is fine. His mental state is something that we can't measure. We need to get him to wake up in his avatar or else we need to break the link from inside the lab. I'd rather not do that if we don't have to."
"How much longer before you will need to interrupt the link?" Gary asked thinking of how long it would take to get Ralu something to eat.
"At least a few hours, but definitely before nightfall."
"I'll see if Ralu and I can't coax him awake after I find her some food."
"There isn't anything else we can do here," Ron began. "We'll go back and check on Jake, get something to eat ourselves. Call if you need anything."
"Are you ready?" Gary asked Ralu when he returned to her.
"Yes. Do you think Norm will wake while we are not here?"
"It is possible, so we won't be gone long," Gary answered figuring his answer would allow them to take a short walk to get her some food.
"We'll wait here until you return," Susan called out as it was easy to overhear them from the workstation.
"That's great. Thanks," Gary added.
As soon as they started down the steps Ralu began to look around, trying to take everything in at once. "Why did the Sky People make this place?"
"This was built to give the avatars a place to sleep and to exercise. Since the avatars don't have to hunt for food or do the normal things you would do during the day they need some place to keep active. Now that there are just five of them, this place doesn't get a lot of use."
"It feels like a good place."
"I'll let you pick out what you want," Gary added when he led her over to the rows of vines that held various fruits that were favorites with the avatars. "We can go back and you can eat on the steps of the hut."
After looking at several different fruits—little of which Gary new the names for—she selected two totally different looking items.
"Are you hungry?" She asked when they sat down on the top step.
"No. I had something to eat after I took your mother to see Jake."
"Is Jake getting better?"
"Yes, but it will be a few days before he will be able to go back to your people. Even then he will have to take it easy for a while. He won't be lifting anything heavy for ten days. Flying with his banshee will definitely not be on the list of things he can do."
"That will make him sad, in here," Ralu replied placing her hand over her heart.
"Better sad for a few days than to open the wound back up again. He will know when it is time to do things again. Besides, your mother will watch over him to make sure he does not do what he should not."
"Yes, she will do that. I hope they do not argue over what he should not be doing."
"Knowing Jake, I'm sure he will test your mother's patience more than a little."
"I'm not sure she has any. Ever since I can remember she has always been very busy. She sits only to eat."
"I think everything that has happened today, and before, has slowed her down a little. We tend to develop more patience the longer we live."
"There is a sink just inside the door for you to wash your face and hands," Gary told Ralu when she finished eating the last piece of fruit that was extremely juicy.
"Sink?"
"Come, I'll show you. I will be easier than trying to explain.
Inside the door Gary showed her how to turn on the water faucet so the she could splash water in her face and rinse off her hands. At first Ralu was a bit timid about sticking her hands in the water rushing out of the faucet. Her apprehension was quickly overcome as she vigorously splashed water in her face in obvious delight. Using some of the scented soap she washed her hands, twice.
"This is very nice," she commented when she finished.
"Dry yourself with this," Gay said as he handed her a large towel.
"Norm stirred once but didn't wake," Susan said as she and Ron prepared to leave the hut.
"Thanks for staying," Gary replied.
The sink had been low enough so that Ralu could use it without having to stand on the tips of her toes. The bottom of the large mirror above the stainless-steel sink was just high enough so that Ralu could not see herself. From her vantage point all she could see was a reflection of the hut's rafters.
"What is purpose of that?" she asked Gary, pointing to the mirror.
"It's called a mirror. You can see yourself in it. Here, I'll show you."
Dragging an avatar sized chair over to the sink Gary motioned for Ralu to jump on the seat.
"Oh!" Ralu squeaked when she turned and saw her own reflection staring back at her. "This is much better than seeing yourself in a pool of water. I can see the hair around my eyes," She added as she leaned closer to see better.
"Those are what humans call eye-lashes. We also have hair above our eyes that we call eye-brows. Men have whiskers that cover a large part of the bottom half our or face, but most shave it off so that our faces look like mine."
"Shave? What is that?"
"It means to remove the hair that grows on our faces with a tiny machine that we can hold in one hand. Mostly it's just a big nuisance, which means it's something we have to do but wish we didn't. And before you ask, no it doesn't hurt."
"Women do not have to do this shave thing?"
"None that I've met," Gary replied remembering all the commercials on the holvision back on Earth that enticed women to permanently remove unsightly facial hair. As he couldn't ever remember meeting a woman who needed those services, he figured those that needed them had already used the service.
"I am happy that Na'vi have no need for shave. It sounds icky."
"Yeah, that's another word for it."
"Do you have any colored beads?" Ralu asked after turning her attention back to her reflection in the mirror. "Grace always had many colorful beads in her braids. Sometimes she also had pretty ribbons."
Gary was willing to bet that this was the first time Ralu had seen a mirror, or her own reflection with near perfect likeness. By the way she was shifting her head this way and that, checking out all the angles, he figured he would have the first Na'vi diva on his hands if he wasn't careful.
"I'll look around and see if I can find some beads or ribbons a little later. Right now I think we should see what we can do to help Norm."
"Thank you for showing this to me," Ralu said as she jumped down from that chair. "What is this for," she added, pointing to a shower stall whose door stood part way open.
"That is called a shower. You step inside, turn on the water and wash your whole body, just like you did with your hands and face at the sink. Think of it as swimming in a very small space."
"I don't know if I would like that," Ralu answered, wrinkling her nose at the shower.
"Let's see if you and I together can get Norm to come out of his dream," Gary suggested as he led Ralu back to the cot that held Norm's avatar.
"Yes, that might work. If not I could form tsahaylu with him. If Norm is lost in his dreams I might be able to help him find his way back."
"I'm not sure that would be such a good idea," Gray replied, as he didn't know much about bonding except that the Na'vi did it with animals that they wanted to control and between each other as part of their mating ritual. He had never heard anything about children and adults bonding. Possibly it was quite common, but since he didn't know he figured it best not to attempt it.
"I have bonded with Eywa several times. It is usually quite pleasant."
"Let's save that for last incase nothing else works. Besides I would feel better if your mother was here when you attempted to bond."
"All right. What do you think we should do?"
"You take one of Norm's hands and I'll take the other," Gary began as he steered her to the left side of the cot. "Close your eyes and call to him in your mind. I'll try to draw the pain he is feeling into me so that he will look around when he hears your voice. If the pain is not too great he may answer you. Do not be frightened if I look hurt or sad. Norm is feeling both of those things so they will come to me."
"You told me before not to do that."
"I told you to be careful. Not to take too much into yourself all at one time. I have done this before so I know how much I can take without doing any permanent harm. Are you ready?"
"Yes."
Picking up Norm's left hand as Ralu picked up his right, Gary began to search for the center of Norm's pain. At first all he could sense was a dull throb that seemed to be everywhere. Keeping his eyes on Ralu to make sure she was not getting in over her head, he continued to search with his mind's eye for the location of the pain that was keeping Norm locked into his semi-conscious state. As the throbbing began to slowly pulsate he knew he was getting closer.
Leaning in, Ralu pressed her lips to Norm's cheek as she continued to hold his hand in both of hers. The instant Ralu's lips touched Norm's cheek the throbbing spiked sending several waves of pain shooting into Gary before he could stop them. Clamping down on his connection, Gary fought to absorb the pain and misery that had burst into him. The unexpected jolt had left him a little dizzy and more than a little nauseous. He should have known better than to leave himself so open. Connecting with an avatar wasn't the same as connecting with another human.
When Norm uttered an incomprehensible sound, Gary looked up to see Norm's eyelids fluttering as if he was trying to wake. Ralu was leaning close, whispering into his ear as Norm's eyelids continued to twitch. Opening himself cautiously, Gary absorbed a second short burst of pain. Norm's head was angled towards Ralu so that she was the first thing that he saw when his eyes opened. When several of Ralu's tears fell onto Norm's face and he tried to brush them away with his left hand Gary let go. Staggering back, Gary bumped up against the cot behind him and slowly sank to the floor.
He could just barely hear the words Ralu was saying to Norm. They were a jumbled up mixture of English and Na'vi. The only thing he could tell for certain from her voice was the obvious relief she was feeling. When he heard Norm say her name he figured the worst was over for Norm, at least from the initial shock of seeing Karen killed right in front of him. Letting the world around him fade, Gary concentrated on ridding his body of the pain that he had absorbed. Concentrating with every brain cell he could bring to bear, he pushed the pain out through the pours on his skin as though he was expelling toxic sweat.
As the pain eased he was able to breathe easier and willed his stomach to settle. Closing his eyes and ears he just sat there while his system inched its way back to normal. When a pair of cool hands encircled the sides of his face Gary's eyes opened to see two large, compassionate eyes looking deeply into his.
"Gary! Can you hear me?" Neytiri asked him for the third time as fear streaked through her. When she had entered the hut she had seen Norm's eyes were open and he was looking at Ralu. When she had stepped to the opposite side of the cot and spotted Gary sitting with his back against the next cot her heart had leapt into her throat.
"Yes…I can hear you," Gary finally answered weakly.
"What happened to you?" Neytiri asked as she looked for signs that he had been attacked.
"Took too much too fast, just what I warned Ralu not to do."
"I do not understand."
"I absorbed the worst of the pain that Norm was feeling so that Ralu could reach him—and draw him out of the dream he was trapped in. I didn't realize that Norm's avatar would pack such a powerful punch. It felt like being kicked in the head by a horse."
"That I understand having been kicked by direhorse several times."
"The worst is past now. I'll be okay in a couple of minutes."
"Do you wish to lay down?"
"Actually, I'd like get to my feet if you wouldn't mind giving me a hand up."
Gary was thankful that Neytiri didn't yank him to his feet like a rocket. After a couple of seconds his head cleared and his balance steadied out. Looking down he saw that both Norm and Ralu were looking back at him, their hands still joined.
"Welcome back," Gary said as he looked Norm over carefully. "It's good to see you."
"It's good to see you too," Norm replied. "Hi Neytiri," he added giving her a hesitant smile.
"Norm…I…do not know what to say," Neytiri answered.
"Neither do I," Norm answered. "I can't believe Karen's gone. I feel as if my heart has been ripped out and shredded right in front of me. I feel numb all over."
"We will be here with you for as long as you need us," Ralu said as Norm turned back to look at her. "We will help you in every way that we can."
"Just being here now, with me helps a lot," Norm answered as he stroked the side of Ralu's face with his free hand.
"How is Jake?" Norm asked as he turned back to Neytiri having vague memories of Jake being shot by an arrow.
"He is going to be fine. He is sleeping now. Max told me that he will probably sleep for some time and that I should come here and try to get some rest."
"That sounds like good advice," Gary added. "You look like you could do with some rest. Why don't you lie down here on the cot next to Norm for a while?"
"I think I will do that," Neytiri answered as she was suddenly very tired.
"I'm going to call Ron and Judy to let them know Norm is awake. All of you try to get some rest. I'll keep an eye on things while you do."
By the time Gary returned from informing Ron that Norm's avatar was awake, Neytiri was sound asleep. Ralu was curled close to Norm but neither was sleeping.
Author's Note:
For those of you who have reviewed, Thanks. I enjoy hearing from you.
Enjoy.