The Balance of Life
Part One - Discovery
Chapter 4 - Part 26- NewHome
"Jake, I need to check to see if the banshee with the broken wing is still nested in the top of the tree where we last saw her," Neytiri told him as they emerged from the passageway to the second Mother Tree.
"I'm going with you."
"No, you are not. Climbing to the top of a tree is not what Max would consider taking care of yourself, would he?" As much as she wanted Jake with her—mostly because of what had just happened inside—she did not want the wound in his chest to split open. "You should stay here with Ralu and Mother. They are both upset by what happened while we were all bonded with Eywa."
"I think we're all upset, and just a little freaked out by what ever happened in there. Since your mother has never heard of anyone being knocked down like that while they were bonded with Eywa, we have some serious questions that need answering."
"I'll take Judy with me. We will be able to climb twice as fast without you."
"You sure know how to hurt a guy's feelings."
"Better that than your body. Don't worry. We'll be back as quick as we can."
As soon as Judy handed Norm the Hydra door gun she was carrying, the two women raced off to the tree where the injured banshee had last been seen.
"Is there anything else you would like to look at while we wait for Neytiri to return?" Jake asked Mo'at.
"I would like to walk along the riverbank. If fish are plentiful we should see some signs."
"Hadn't thought of that," Jake answered as he reached out to take the hand Ralu offered.
"Fish and other creatures that live in the rivers and lakes make a good balance to the meat of animals that live on land. Hometree had an abundance of both. It appears that this place may also have such abundance."
"Aren't you just a little concerned by what just happened while we were bonded with Eywa? Maybe Ralu's right. There is something wrong with this place." When Jake looked down at Ralu she gave him a weak smile, which he returned.
"I am concerned, but not frightened. I will discuss what happened with the other elders. Possibly one of them will remember hearing about something similar happening before." Mo'at stopped to look directly at Jake. "There is much about Eywa that we do not know, that we have no need to know. She is everything that is, and we are just a small part of her. We do not worry about what concerns Eywa, only what we need to know to live in harmony with all that she is."
"That is one of the basic differences between the Na'vi and humans," Jake began. "They are driven by a need to know all that there is to know and why it should be so. My brother was one of those who had to know. For him, knowledge, the search for meaning, was the strongest force in his life."
"We should speak of this again, when there is time," Mo'at commented as they reached the riverbank.
The group walked along the bank in silence as Mo'at gazed out over the river. Occasionally she would stop to throw a stone out over the water, watching the ripples spread out in circles. In several places the river turned sharply creating deep, dark pools near the edge. It was easy to spot the shape of fish darting around in those pools if you looked closely.
"This place will make a good new home for our people," Mo'at commented as they reached a point closest to where the Samson sat waiting. "There will be more than enough room for many, many generations to come."
Jake was just about to answer when he spotted Neytiri and Judy headed towards the Samson from the opposite direction. As Mo'at had seen them as well, they began walking towards the Samson.
"Did you find her?" Kyle asked when everyone converged on that Samson all at the same time.
"No. There was no sign of her," Judy answered.
"Other banshees or possibly Toruk may have gotten to her," Neytiri added. "It is for the best. It is most unlikely that the bone in her wing could have been healed. At least to the strength necessary for flying."
"We should return to our people to tell them what we have learned," Mo'at said into the silence that followed Neytiri's words. "As Tashik, I feel that this place will make a good home. As we do not now have Olo'eyktan, it will be up to the Council of Elders to decide if we will make our home here in this place."
"It does look to be a perfect place," Neytiri added wistfully.
"Once we're in the air I'll have Rocky make a wide circle around the area so that we can get an idea of the surrounding terrain," Jake added as everyone began to climb aboard.
Buck and Abby were standing at the edge of the Well of Souls, looking at the water which was almost half gone when the whine of the Samson's turbines reached their sensitive avatar ears. Turning away, they walked back to the pump to wait for Rocky to set the Samson down in his customary landing zone.
"I'll tell Judy about the meeting Gary wants to have," Abby said when she saw the Samson come into view. "She can tell Kyle and Norm as soon as she gets the chance."
"Gary told me that he and Max had a number of things that they wanted to talk over with all of us," Buck added. "He wouldn't tell me what they were. He said he wanted to tell everyone at once as there were likely to be a lot of questions. I started to press him for more, but he just put me off. Jesus, I hate that."
"Yes, I know you do. But he may have a point in wanting to tell everyone at once. That way no one feels they were told last."
"Hadn't thought about it that way. Good point."
As soon as the Samson touched down, everyone in the middle section jumped down. Mo'at and Neytiri headed in the direction of the gathering area while the others made their way over to where Buck and Abby were waiting.
"How'd it go?" Buck asked.
"Pretty good, for the most part," Judy answered. "The biggest surprise was finding a second Mother Tree."
"Really?" Abby exclaimed, her eyes widening.
"Yes, it is definitely another Mother Tree," Jake answered. "Totally different setting though. The one we discovered is completely surrounded, and covered by trees. It's almost like a huge cave, but formed from wood rather than rock."
"That's different," Buck added, glancing around at the stone arches.
"Another thing that's different," Jake began, "is that this Mother Tree's tendrils are slightly different in color from the one located here."
"Are the Omatikaya going to move there?" Abby asked.
"Mo'at and Neytiri went to organize a meeting for later today so that the clan could discuss our options," Jake responded. "Mo'at is in favor of moving there as soon as possible. Neytiri seems to feel the same way. It is a nice place. From the air we spotted two nearby lakes of decent size and several open areas that would be good for grazing animals. Food shouldn't be a problem. Especially for such a small number of people."
"Speaking of meetings," Abby began, addressing Kyle, Judy and Norm. "Gary wants to have one tonight. Buck and I are going to ride back to the base with Rocky. He shouldn't fly alone. You need to be back by sundown if possible."
"If everything is quiet here, we will break our links as soon as we can," Kyle added. "Our human bodies need to get some exercise or they are going to wither down to nothing."
"Don't you two get enough 'exercise'?" Abby asked jokingly.
"I wasn't referring to that kind of exercise. It's been a while since we put in any serious time at the gym."
"What's a gym?" Ralu asked Norm quietly after shaking his hand to get his attention.
"A place to exercise our muscles," Norm answered, squatting down so that they were eye to eye. "Because our human bodies are lying still while our spirits are in these avatar bodies they will get weak if we do not get enough exercise. You get lots of exercise just running around all day. Our human bodies need that kind of exercise as well."
"Will you come back when you are done using this gym?"
"I will be back, but it may not be until tomorrow," Norm answered as he looked into her inquiring eyes. "I don't have to go for a while yet. When I do go, I'll be back before you even have a chance to miss me."
"I am already missing you, just because I know you're going to be going away soon."
"Oh, come here," Norm sighed as he drew her against him, holding her close. "You know I can't stay in this body for as long as I would like. Maybe someday I will be allowed to become Omatikaya as Jake has, then if Eywa permits me, I will always be among you."
"I hope that day comes soon," Ralu said softly as she hugged him fiercely.
Easing Ralu back, Norm kissed the top of her forehead before he stood up.
"We'll see you when you get back," Kyle said to Buck and Abby as they walked towards the Samson, its turbines still idling.
Within minutes the Samson had disappeared from view, the sound it left behind fading quickly.
"Judy and I will make a quick check that the pump is operating as it should, and then we will break our links," Kyle said to Jake and Norm. "We'll park our avatars near the pump, just to keep them safe and out of the way."
"I'll see to it that they are watched over," Jake responded. "If I need to get in touch I'll use the satcom-link."
"Thanks," Judy replied. "I hope the meeting to discuss moving goes well."
"Yeah, me too." Jake replied as he remembered how the last clan meeting ended with Norm being stabbed. Hopefully this one would be much calmer.
Leaving Kyle and Judy, Jake and Norm, with Ralu between them, headed back towards the gathering area.
"Ralu, do you know what happened while we were linked at the other Mother Tree?" Jake asked as they walked.
"Are you asking me or telling me?"
"I'm asking. That was the first time that I have actually bonded with Eywa since I woke up in this body. I had no idea what to expect, but I sure didn't expect to get knocked on my a…off my feet."
"That is something that has never happened to me either. Why that happened I do not know. To me it felt like my hand and arm were shaking by themselves. It hurt very much but only lasted a short time. Then I was sitting on my butt, not knowing how I got there."
"Yeah, that's what I felt too. I think it was some kind of electrical shock," Jake added, turning to Norm.
"A number of different animals have the capability of delivering an electric shock," Norm began. "Electricity can be generated from chemical reactions as well as friction. Sometimes in large amounts. Our nervous systems, both human and Na'vi are electrical based. It is the same with Eywa and all that she connects to. From what you are telling me, and what I saw, I would guess that Eywa gave off a fairly large electro-chemical induced pulse. The intense wave of bioluminescent light traveling down the tree's trunks was probably triggered by such a pulse."
"In that case, I guess the quest is; why did she shock us? Was it a form of punishment, or something else?"
"That thought is just a little scary," Norm added.
Ralu kept her thoughts as to what else she felt to herself. She didn't want to speak of them until she had talked with her new mother. What she had felt from Neytiri had left her more than a little frightened.
"Kyle and Judy are coming out," Zoe told Gary as she continued to scan the monitors for all the avatar drivers.
"I just finished talking with Rocky, he will be landing in about thirty minutes," Gary added as he glanced over to where Zoe was sitting.
"Did Rocky mention anything about when Norm will be coming out?"
"No he didn't. I would assume he won't be far behind Kyle and Judy."
Zoe got up and walked over to stand beside Judy's pod, checking the local monitor. "Welcome back," Zoe offered when Judy's pod was fully open, reaching down to help Judy to sit up.
"Thanks. We weren't gone all that long this time."
"Just shy of eight hours. You need to get up and move around."
"That's the plan," Judy added as she lowered herself to the floor. "Kyle and I are going to hit the gym for a couple of hours."
"Good idea. I might just do that myself once the other drivers are back."
"God, I feel stiff," Judy complained as she walked over to wait for Kyle by the main control console. "How's it going Gary?"
"All things considered, pretty good right at the moment. Rocky will be landing in thirty minutes."
"That's good. Kyle and I will be in the gym if you need us."
"We are all going to meet in the cafeteria at 18:00. Roger will have dinner ready so we can eat at the same time."
"We'll be there, with healthy appetites" Judy replied as she headed for the door of the bio lab where Kyle was standing, waiting for her.
"I wonder what they are going to have to say when they hear what Max has to tell them about the clone." Zoe asked.
"I don't have a clue. Hell, I'm not sure what I have to say and I've had the best part of a day to think about it."
"Boy, isn't that the truth."
"Is there anything we can help you with?" Buck asked Rocky once the Samson was safely inside the hanger deck and the outside door closed.
"If you could refuel this bird that would be a big help."
"Glad to."
"Does Rocky seem okay to you?" Abby asked when they went to pick up a refueling hose.
"I guess. He's always been on the moody side. Why?"
"I don't know. He just seemed more withdrawn than usual."
"That could come from spending the best part of the day waiting on a bunch of avatars and Na'vi. That's a lot of time to sit alone in the cockpit with nothing much to do."
"I suppose you're right," Judy agreed reluctantly.
"I'll pay more attention to him. See if I notice anything."
"Thanks. I appreciate it."
"Let's get this bird fueled. For some reason, I'm missing being totally human today."
"I'll hook this end to the Samson and shout when it's ready for fueling."
"Abby and Buck are coming out," Zoe announced. Giving Norm's readings one last glance she walked over to wait for Abby to fully emerge from her link.
"That was a short trip," Abby commented when she stood, stretching in several different directions.
"Norm is the only one still linked," Zoe informed her. "Did he say when he would be coming out?"
"No, not that I remember."
"I'll just have to wait for him then," Zoe added. She had only been watching over the avatar drivers for a day. She didn't know how Karen had lived with the combination of stress and monotony.
"Where is everybody?" Buck asked when he walked over to stand at the end of Abby's pod.
"Scattered here and there. Gary went up to Sys Op a little while ago. Max is in the prep room. Not sure where Susan and Ron are. Judy said she and Kyle were going to the gym."
"I could use something to eat," Buck announced. "Do you want anything Abby?"
"No, I'm fine. You go ahead."
"Did Judy say anything to you about what happened while they were out looking at the new home site?" Abby asked when Buck left the room.
"No. Why?"
"I'm not sure. I think something happened while they were there. At least that was Rocky's impression."
"She didn't mention anything to me," Zoe confirmed.
"I'll get it out of her later. If not her, Norm will tell me."
"I hope it wasn't anything traumatic. Norm has had enough to deal with."
"Whatever it was, Norm didn't appear to be visible upset when they came back. It was Judy who seemed uncharacteristically quiet."
"She seemed normal when she came out of link. Whatever it was it must not have bothered her all that much."
"It's probably nothing. So what's the big secret Max and Gary have going that they are going to tell us when we all get together?" Abby added as she sided up to Zoe.
"It's about time," Zoe scolded Norm when the lid to his link pod opened. "I was beginning to wonder if you were going to come out at all."
"What time is it?" Norm asked as he swung his feet over the edge of his pod.
"Five-thirty. You have thirty minutes to cleanup and make it to the cafeteria by six. Thanks to you I am going to have to forgo a shower. Something I could dearly use."
"You smell pretty good to me," Norm added, trying to charm Zoe out of her anger with him.
"A baboon would smell good to you. Go on, get out of here. I'll be right behind you."
"I'm sorry Zoe. I couldn't get away any sooner. Jake and his people are trying to decide if they should move to the trees we visited earlier today. I wanted to stick around to support Jake if he needed me to."
"I know, but we're still going to be late if you don't haul your skinny ass out of here."
"Who are you calling skinny, slim?" Norm smiled at the frustration shimming on Zoe's face. "I'm going," He added as he jumped down and headed for the door.
Heading straight for his room, Norm decided that he had just enough time, plus a real need, for a quick shower before he changed into clean clothes. At least he hoped there was something relatively clean to wear. Entering his room he checked the bedside clock. Twenty minutes would give him just enough time. Three minutes later he had managed to get his hands on a clean shirt, and pants that mostly didn't scream at the shirt. He wasn't too sure about the socks matching, so he didn't look at them too closely. He allotted eight minutes in shower, five to shave, and another five to reach the cafeteria. As he walked into same at six-o-one, he felt pretty pleased with himself. Even if he was the last one to arrive.
"Now that everyone is settled, we can begin," Gary began when Norm and Zoe sat down with plates of food they had selected from the small feast Roger had prepared. "First off, I start by telling you that all of our systems are running properly. There have been no further breeches in our air supply. The portions of the perimeter fence that was damaged during the earthquake might be repairable. At least enough to keep out some of the smaller wildlife. A more pressing problem is the steady encroachment of the forest towards the fence. At some point the forest will simply sweep the fence aside in its unrelenting advance to reclaim all the land that the RDA carved out for this base. We have several months before that becomes an immediate threat."
"The entire message we composed has been sent to Earth via the subliminal transmitter. As of yet we have not received any response. No doubt they are trying to make some sense of what it means. Doppler imaging from one of our orbital satellites has confirmed that the next ISV will arrive in 330 days. She is about a half light year away, and slowing down as she moves towards us. The ISV we sent on its way back to Earth has sent nothing further via subliminal. That may be one of the reasons Earth has not replied. I'm sure we will hear something before much longer."
"Zoe has been monitoring the data from the geo-packs. So far it appears that the subcontinents are maintaining their positions relative to each other. The Geo satellite has picked up some new volcanic activity in one of the larger southern continents about half way around Pandora. It is too early to tell if there will be any significant increase in the air's hydrogen sulfide content. Ash could become a problem if it builds up significantly. As I said, it's too early to tell much at this point."
"Gary, how big a threat is this?" Abby asked.
"Zoe, you can answer that better than I can."
"There are currently forty two volcanic sites on Pandora," Zoe began. "Most do little more that spit out a few puffs of gas or smoke from time to time. Six are what we would consider active in that there is a constant lava flow. Mixed with the outpouring of lava is a considerable volume of hydrogen sulfide and methane gas. Most of the methane is burned up almost immediately. Some mixes with the planet's atmosphere. This particular volcano, which we have labeled as Zeus, is the largest and most active. If the volume of material, both solid and gaseous, being ejected continues for any length of time, or increases, we will see changes in weather patterns. If the percentage of hydrogen sulfide increases by more than one percent, a large portion of the animals on the planet could be wiped out."
"Would that include the Na'vi?" Kyle asked, just before Norm voiced the same question.
"In all likelihood, yes it would." Zoe answered somberly.
"At its present rate, how long before Pandora's air becomes unfit to breathe?" Buck asked in the silence that followed.
"My best guess would be between six and eight months. Before we panic I would like to add that Pandora may have ways of negating such a rise in HS content that we know nothing about. I mention this because Pandora is a highly evolved, integrated ecosystem that has existed for millions of years, and volcanoes have always been active here. I would assume there is some means of balancing this primal force of nature against the needs of living entities."
"So, for the time being all we can do is monitor?" Susan added.
"Yes, that's right."
"At this point I would like Max to bring you up to date on the status of the human clone that the RDA shipped here," Gary said in the silence that followed Zoe's last comment.
"Well first and most important, the clone is conscious," Max began.
When the room went utterly quiet he continued. "Alpha, that's the name we have given him, woke early this morning. His vital signs are normal. He is breathing Pandora's air with no apparent difficulty or detrimental side effects. His visual and auditory functions are normal. He has yet to speak so we do not know if is vocal chords are functional. Other than breathing Pandora's air, the most amazing thing about him is the level of his brain activity. 3D MRI and CAT scans show a highly developed brain, but with significant activity in the lobes associated with what used to be called ESP. His overall motor skills are still less than fully functional. But he as shown an ability to learn quickly when it comes to the use of his hands and fingers. Basic skills for grasping and holding were learned quickly. Several times while I was observing him he became agitated, but seemed to calm quickly as if something was soothing him. The analogy that came to my mind was the way a mother pacifies a fretful child by comforting it."
"But who or what is doing the soothing?" Abby asked as she looked around the group.
"Exactly," Kyle added.
"Max, do you have any theories?" Buck asked.
"Only one at this point, but it's totally unsubstantiated. It may be possible that Alpha is able to communicate directly with Eywa through his drug enhanced psychic abilities. We all have a basic level of psychic abilities. They are usually so weak or dormant that we don't even realize that we have them. The combination of mind-altering drugs that Alpha was given on the trip to Pandora may account for this ability, if it does in fact exist."
"That's pretty farfetched, isn't it?" Norm asked.
"Not totally," Max replied. "It's pretty much the same idea as wired versus wireless networks. When a Na'vi uses his queue to connect with another animal, or Eywa, they are making a physical, wired connection. All electrical signals radiate to some degree. That is why wired networks used shielded cables. So they don't give off or pick up other signals. Wireless networks, both computer based or neural based, need sensitive receivers as the transmitted signal is not as strong as wire based signals. That's an over-simplification, but it gets the basic idea across."
"So you're saying that the drugs Alpha was given have turned his brain into a super sensitive receiver that can link with Eywa," Abby stated, trying to put the concept in simpler terms.
"Yes, that is the gist of it." Max added.
"What about Eywa? She hasn't changed." Norm put in.
"No she hasn't," Max replied. "I suspect that she, because of her connection to every living organism on Pandora, has always had the ability to receive some level of information without actual physical contact."
"Supposing Alpha can communicate directly with Eywa," Buck added. "Why would the RDA want him to do so? It would seem that would make him more in tune with her than the RDA. If anything, I would think they would have tried to shield him from any local influences."
"It's possible that is what the RDA intended the drugs to accomplish," Max answered. "But it appears that they had the opposite effect. Mind altering drugs are very difficult to control. Especially in situations such as this."
"I guess we will just have to wait and see how this develops," Norm commented. "At least we don't have a small army of them to worry about if this whole thing heads south."
"Actually that's not entirely accurate," Gary added hesitantly.
"We received the customary manifest from the arriving ISV," Gary continued in the silence that followed his last statement. "She is not carrying the usual complement of replacements and supplies. The manifest shows she is carrying one hundred clones. Seventy-five females and twenty-five males."
"Are you serious?" Kyle asked; his obvious disbelief easily recognizable in his voice.
"Yes, totally. The only way I can read this is that the RDA intents to breed them to have a steady supply of workers for their mining operations."
"Gary, that's crazy," Kyle added.
"Yes it is. At least to our way of thinking it is. But the RDA only sees them as an expendable robot, cyborg, clone, whatever. When it comes to a choice between profits and ethics, or morals, profits always wins. I'm sure the RDA thinks of these clones as nothing more than machines made up of flesh and blood. They are just one more piece of company property, just the same as any other asset."
"If you think about it from the RDA's point of view it makes perfect sense," Zoe suggested. "Don't get me wrong. I'm not condoning their actions. It's just easy to see that they would think of this as a way to reduce costs and increase profits. We all know that shipping humans out here and back again is a very expensive process. Having a naturally replenishing supply of workers would drastically reduce their costs of operations."
"There is nothing 'natural' about what they are doing," Susan interjected.
"No there isn't," Zoe agreed. "But neither is destroying the Na'vi's homes and world just so the RDA can mine for profit. The unobtanium is just a means to that profit. If some other mineral from some other place was more profitable, the RDA wouldn't be the least bit interested in Pandora."
"So you're saying that it's just the Na'vi's bad luck that their world happens to be full of a profitable mineral," Norm added with some heat in his voice.
"Before we get completely off track," Gary interrupted. "The real issue is that we need to know more about what our single clone is capable of and what are we going to do when one hundred more of them show up in eleven months."
"For starters, we don't allow them to land the clones on Pandora," Buck added.
"We can prevent them from landing here at Hell's Gate," Gary replied. "But the shuttles can set down in any open space anywhere on the planet. We can't stop them from doing so if that is their intention."
"Just how are we going to prevent them from landing here? There are only twelve of us." Abby asked.
"We'll threaten to blow them out of the air," Rocky added. "It would be relatively easy as the shuttle is a sitting duck just before it lands. Not that we would actually do it. But they wouldn't know for sure if we would or wouldn't."
"As I said before, we have almost a year to decide what we are going to do when the ISV arrives," Gary repeated. "We have many more immediate concerns to keep us well occupied for the next few months."
"Yeah, like just trying to stay alive." Rocky added; his sunny disposition nowhere to be seen.
"We all have more than enough to think about for the time being. For tonight, I suggest that we set everything aside and just relax. Try to enjoy each other's company. It is something we are going to have to learn how to do if we are to keep our sanity for the long haul," Gary concluded.
"Jake, are you awake?" Neytiri whispered softly as she lay quietly by his side in the darkness, her body pressed snugly against his, and utterly relaxed from the intensity of their loving.
"Yes, I can't seem to put all of the past few days behind me. Added to that is the anticipation of moving the entire clan to our new home. There are just some many different things to think about."
"A short time ago you were only thinking of me. Maybe we should try that again. Just so you won't have so much to worry about," she added as she walked her fingers playfully up his chest.
Turning his face to hers she pressed he lips gently to his, letting the pleasure of the feather light contact flow all the way down to her toes. When his had cupped the back of her neck, pressing her lips more firmly against his she felt desire shoot through her in a brilliant flash, singed with welcome heat. In a single fluid movement she swung her leg over him as she positioned herself above him, careful to keep from placing any pressure on the right side of his chest.
Keeping her weight on her knees she bent down to leave a trail of soft open mouthed kisses across his chest as her long un-braided hair brushed silently over his face and neck. When his hands found her breasts, her breath caught in her throat as pleasure pierced her like an arrow. The burning in her belly was so hot that she felt as if she would burst into flames if she didn't take him inside her immediately.
Rising up she looked into the eyes of the man that loved her; body, mind and spirit. The love she felt from those eyes, from the man who owned them swapped her heart with aching pleasure. Adjusting her position so that they could join in that most intimate and personal way, she heard Ralu cry out in her sleep. The moment lost, she collapsed to lie beside Jake, her breathing still a little ragged.
"What did you say?" Jake asked when Neytiri mumbled something in Na'vi that he didn't hear clearly.
"Nothing," she replied; resigned to the fact that sometimes you didn't get everything you desired.
"I love you, Neytiri."
"I love you too. Now close your eyes. Sleep. Do not worry. Tomorrow will bring a new day for all of us."
"I will try." Jake answered as he felt her settle against his side.
Long after Neytiri's breathing had changed to show that she was asleep; Jake continued to look up at Polyphemus, wondering what the next turn in his life fate had in store for him.
This post concludes Book-1. My plan is to go back through it and clean up misspellings, wrong words, poor grammar, and any other mistakes that I can find. During the process I will create and post a synopsis for the story including expanded character backgrounds and an overall timeline.
I will most likely add to the story here and there. There are places where additional descriptions of the surroundings are needed. Plus, more of what the characters are feeling would enhance the story considerably. When I complete the update I will repost the story under a slightly revised story name with better chapter groupings for future readers.
I feel this work is necessary to make Book-2 a better, more readable experience.
One of the things that would be nice would be to have all the Na'vi dialog only use the words (in English) that are published in the Na'vi language dictionaries on various web sites. The process would slow the writing down to a crawl. I don't have the patience for that. I know some of the statements made by Na'vi characters are a little wordy. I will try to keep that to a minimum and still tell an interesting story.
A number of readers have expressed the desire that the story focus more on the Na'vi and less on the humans. For me, the story is about Pandora. The Na'vi and the humans are both part of that story. I will continue to try and find the right balance between all the elements involved.
For those of you who have reviewed over the life of the story, many heartfelt thanks. As always I enjoy hearing from you, so please review when you can.
Enjoy.
More to come.
Hogwarts Oracle