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Chapter 17: Deadly Sins
Date: April 3rd, 2170
Location: Camp Augustine, Pandora, Alpha Centauri A system
The hunt had gone well. They had managed to hit a yerik with their Samson's door gun and were heading back to their camp. As it had been ever since Max's meeting, their discussion was on how to present humanity's goals and offer in the best way possible.
"We need to use it to show that humanity is changing, capable of learning from their errors." Norm insisted as they flew. "Show them that technology can be used to cure, not just for destruction."
"It'll be a hard sell though," Max replied, "Most of the Na'vi know almost nothing about human technology, or about humans at all for that matter. Convincing them that these humans aren't insane destroyers could be hard, especially if any of the Avatars identified Selfridge during the attack."
Norm frowned, and Max could almost hear the mental cogs moving. "We'll have to make sure he's not present at any meetings then." he said finally, "Jake could freak out, and the Avatar gang would freak out, and that would set the tribe off."
Katrina chimed in over the comms, "So, in addition to convincing the Na'vi to let humans harm their goddess, even in a limited fashion, we need to keep the presence of someone, who is probably high up on the food chain over there, totally secret until after any oaths are made."
He winced, "Yes. And our only selling point is a hypothetical reclamation project, and the knowledge that humanity is apparently on the verge of another world war."
"The last one is a problem for us," Norm admitted, "I mean, we care about what happens on Earth. I don't know about you guys but it's still... I mean.." his voice trailed off, "It was shitty, overpopulated, and run by scumbags, but it's still our home. Still where we came from. What made us who we are."
Max closed his eyes and leaned back, Norm's words bringing back a flood of memories that he had long-ago locked away. Human food. Pizza, real pizza. Watching football games, both kinds, American and FIFA. Working with the other Avatar team members, getting ready to head here, traveling light years to find the answers to humanity's problems.
"Hey guys? We got company. Looks like a Na'vi." Kat's voice came across as the Samson circled down for a landing.
"I think it's John," Norm called, leaning out of the chopper and waving to the being, who waved back in return. "Yep, it's him." he confirmed as they touched down.
Max stared confusedly at John as he dismounted, who was sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck as he leaned against Norm's shack.
"John! What are doing here? Thought you guys weren't stopping by for a few more days yet." Max blinked, stepping from the Samson and beginning to untie the Yerik.
John murmured something quietly. Norm, who was closer to him than he was, froze and stared at him. "You were what?"
"Exiled." he muttered more loudly this time.
Max and Katrina stopped working and joined their friend in staring blankly at their friend.
He managed to find his voice first, "How?"
The Avatar sighed and settled down on his haunches. "Miguel and I talked with Mo'at two days ago about what was happening. She wasn't thrilled about finding out we were talking with the UN guys. She thinks another round of battles is a mistake, but since Jake is Olo'eyktan and Neytiri took over as Tsahik, all she can do is make suggestions." he winced here, "She also yelled at us for talking to her about it, and not to Jake directly. We got her to agree to forget it happened, and we left."
He reached into his small, battered pack and pulled out a water-skin, taking a drink, he resumed, "Miguel and I argued about whether or not to confront Jake in person about it and then we headed to bed. Got woken up by a knife held to my throat. Apparently Tsu'tey overheard us. Since Miguel was against confronting Jake, they thought he was against talking with the tawtute and he played along with it. Jake was furious that I was 'conspiring against Eywa and the people, and Neytiri looked like she wanted to skin me alive. Thought they were going to kill me at first but they just kicked me out after Miguel and Mo'at convinced them that killing me wouldn't solve anything. Jake said if I wanted to be with humans so bad, I could go, see if they accepted me as I am now. So, grabbed my pack and what little stuff I still have, and headed here as fast as I could."
Max shook his head and sat on the edge of the Samson. "Dammit John. This complicates things a lot man."
Their friend winced, "Sorry Max."
He sighed and ran his hand through his hair in what was becoming a tic. "It's all right, nothing to do but play it out as best we can. That Jake and Neytiri reacted that way isn't good though."
Norm nodded, "It's going to be a pain to convince them to not fight if they exiled you just for thinking you talked with them."
"Norm," Katrina sighed, "I think that's the understatement of the century. John, help us get this beast cooked and tell us everything that's going on at the kelutral. If we're going to try and keep this from devolving further, we need all the information we can get."
Date: April 5th, 2170
Location: Camp Augustine, Pandora, Alpha Centauri A
They had just returned to their camp from the edge of Omaticaya territory, empty handed for the moment. The Omaticaya warrior that they had encountered had said that he was to not allow them access to the kelutral, that instead he would relay to Jake that they needed to speak to him and that Jake would travel to them as soon as he had time available.
As they had trotted back through the forest, Max had gone over the conversations that had kept all of them up late into the night. John's news and information had not been encouraging. Neytiri, in her role as Tsahik, had been in communication with Eywa, and she had told the tribe that their goddess believed humans to be a threat to the balance of all life, that they would again resume their path of destruction and insanity.
On top of that, Jake had sent his best surviving warriors to the surrounding clans to start training them to fight as the Omaticaya had. That was both good and bad news. Bad, in that it meant Jake intended to once more fly as Toruk'makto and lead the clans against the new human presence. Good, in that it also meant he was being intelligent enough to wait for not only reinforcements, but trained reinforcements, meaning that they had time to attempt to settle things down.
Unconsciously running hand through his hair, he nodded to John as they emerged into their small clearing. The smell of cooking meat met him, and he noted that not only had John cooked the rest of the yerik, he had prepared some of the local plants with it on small plates for them.
Feeling grateful, and a bit ashamed, Max smiled and thanked him. As John would never again be welcome with the Omaticaya, short of a radical shift in their mindsets, he had been stuck behind as the three of them had headed off to try and meet with the tribe.
He was probably bored out of his mind, Max thought as he and the others took their food inside to eat, John very carefully squeezing himself into the shack as he did so. He'd have a bitch of a time operating any of our equipment, and we're well stocked enough on food for a week, at least. After the business of village life, he would have had all the time in the world to fully realize what his exile means.
Eating slowly, he made small talk with him, trying to gauge his friend's spirits. Katrina and Norm seemed to be doing the same, asking him about what projects he had worked on, what he planned to do with them. If they could help him study the local plants, what he had learned from that, and general scientific small talk.
They had managed to buoy him up fairly well when the conversation took a serious turn after dinner. "So guys," Max said as they all relaxed. "How are we going to do this? Weigand made me think that the UN really would leave the Na'vi alone if given the chance, but that they'll crush them totally, or die trying, if they don't."
Everyone else winced.
John spoke next, "That may be something you can use. I mean, if everything else fails. Fighting to drive them off is all well and good, but if the humans dig in their heels and refuse to be driven off, that's going to be even bloodier."
Nodding, the sole woman in the room hopped onto one of the desks and perched on it, legs swinging beneath her, "That's something. Another thing to bring up will be that it's not the RDA. I mean," she frowned, "Not entirely the RDA. Selfridge being here means they're still involved somehow, but if this Weigand guy is in charge, than the UN's done some moving and shaking back on Earth."
"All right." He leaned forward and leaned his chin on one of his hands, "So, we bring up the human plan to reclaim Hell's Gate and the old mine site as a token of good faith on their part. That they don't want conflict, and about how since it's the UN running the show now, there will be more public pressure on them act humanely. If none of that works," he sighed, "We bring up the fact that Weigand out and out told us that if fighting broke out that they didn't intend to pull any punches."
"Shaky plan" Norm said quietly. "Made worse by the fact that we have no idea when Jake will be in contact with us again, and if really is planning on turning this into a full-on guerillas war against them, it might be weeks before he sees us, if he agrees at all."
"Those thoughts don't get us anywhere," with a wave of his hand he dismissed them, "We can worry and plan about that later. As it is, we've got enough on our plate for the next few days. Jake probably won't stop by to chat before the seventh, and that's when Weigand said he'd be in touch again. So, let's work out what we're going to talk about in that meeting."
Date: April 7th, 2170
Location: Camp Augustine, Pandora, Alpha Centauri A System
"So you're native friend stood you up?" the Germanic voice sounded a bit thicker, gruffer to Max, if he didn't know better, he would say that the Oberst sounded depressed.
"We've sent messages, but as you can imagine, he's quite busy, and I'm sure he'll meet with us as soon as he can." he said, tone placating. "In the mean-time, my friends and I have been talking with one of the Avatar team members about how to best approach the topic to ensure that it has a maximum chance of succeeding."
"Gut." the reply came, "I am glad to see you are taking this seriously Dr. Patel. I have spoken with my staff, and we intend to begin the reclamation project of the original mining site as soon as we have the manpower to spare. We are also avoiding actions that may... provoke the natives. However, there has been a large increase in attacks by the native fauna recently, and until things have calmed down, we will not be able to start our work at the mining site, and if it doesn't cease soon we may be forced to take more drastic measures to ensure our safety."
Max immediately turned off the mic and turned to the others, "You don't think that she..?"
A wince came from John, "Neytiri wouldn't have asked it of Eywa, but if her interpretation of Eywa's will is right, it could be she decided to reject humanity on her own."
Grimacing, he reactivated the mic. "That is disturbing news, we'll look into it and see if there's anything that could have caused it, or anyway to safely keep them from attacking."
"That would be appreciated. We are being forced to kill far more than we can eat, especially as many of the beasts are inedible to us. Now, if you will excuse me, I have things to do. I leave the time of our next meeting to you, Dr. Patel. Although I remain unconvinced that you will succeed, I do wish you luck."
The link went dead, and Max leaned back in his chair. "Eywa may or may not be influencing the fauna to attack them. If she is, there's no way we'll get her to stop and the humans will probably burn everything around them to protect themselves." his thoughts tumbled out of him as he concentrated. "Maybe we can ask Neytiri at the negotiations, tell her that the humans are being forced to kill many beings to protect themselves, that she must convince Eywa to stop to save lives."
A sigh from his right, Norm, "Another hard conversation. We seem to be putting a lot of those on our shoulders."
A quiet chuckle from Katrina, "The heroes always have to carry the burden, remember Norm."
She got a glare in return, "How was it my fate to live with a bunch of psychoanalysts who won't leave me alone?" Norm complained.
Max, John, and Katrina all started laughing. It felt good, but they knew it wouldn't last. They had time, but it was only an illusion. Sooner or later, it would run out, and Pandora's rivers of life would be choked with blood once more.
A thank you!
Huge thanks to everyone who is reading and has reviewed. Considering it's my first story, and only has been published for five days, I'm astounded as to both the number of readers and the response, keep reviewing, keep enjoying, and thanks.
Next up is Chapter 18: Darkening Night
And here's the next Max chapter. Would have had it up earlier but fanfiction was updating or something. This one didn't turn out as long as I thought it would be. Was originally going to have the meeting in this chapter but realized it screwed up the timeline for the next Parker one, so you'll have to wait a bit to see Max, Norm, and Kat debating/argueing with Jake and Neytiri.
Really glad everyone enjoyed the last chapter, in particular Brunhilde and the football games.
Review responses:
sana-dracios: Glad you're really liking it, hope it continues to impress.
andrewjameswilliams: it's not going to go so far as for the humans to bombard the planet, but expect something on that matter to be brought up as a debate point much later in the story.
paranoidschizo91: good to see you enjoyed the match and the rigged up valkyrie. Also very glad to see you liked the chapter name, I'm trying to keep them appropriate while foreshadowing just a bit.