1
The new day had begun on Pandora, just as those before it had. Jake knew though that this day would bring either great success of complete and utter failure. He had to convince Evelyn that the Na'vi could help her. The problem was, he had no idea how he would do it. As the outter door flung open and a somewhat concerned Tunstin spilled outside, Jake knew that things were not going so well inside.
"Um, sorry", the young soldier blurted, "But Jake, I have a message for you from Colonel Quaritch". He raised a small viewer up towards Jake and seemed relieved as he took it from him. Nervously Jake looked down and was surprised to see Evelyns face on the screen.
"She recorded it last night Jake", Tunstin murmured, trying his best to not look at Jake for too long. Suddenly the image began to move and Jake could see that Evelyn was upset. Those green eyes were bloodshot and filled with anger, her expression grieve.
"Jake, I have something I need to", she paused and glanced to her side, "attend to". Evelyn looked down the lens, "That does not mean I have abandoned my mission. Rest assured, once I have orders I follow them through. It's just that". She sighed and glanced down, "I have to do this Jake. I have to".
"I have left instructions with my team and placed Damon in charge of them until we liaise. He's a hell of a soldier Jake and brilliant tactician, so it just makes sense to make him the senior officer. They are to head out to the outpost, where I will liaise with them in two days. Just as we had originally planned". Again Evelyn sighed, "They have been ordered to work with you and the other Na'vi. These are good men Jake and I know they will follow my every order, without hesitation". Her gazed hardened and Evelyn moved closer to the lens, "We will work together. We will stop the militia group and destroy the virus. Together". The screen went dead, leaving Jake more than a little confused.
"Sir, Colonel Quaritch instructed me to tell you that we will follow your orders, but", Tunstin hesitated and swallowed nervously. "She said if anything happens to any of us, she will kill you".
2
Banks and his team stood at the ridge that overlooked the Science Outpost, his cool blue eyes filled with malevolence. "Quaritch and her team will be here in the next couple of days", he hissed. "Do a recon of the area Captain. I want us to have all the vantage points under firm control". He turned to Thomas and gave him a cool smile, "When they come here, those traitors won't know what hit them". Thomas nodded and signalled for two of his men to move out with him.
"Captain", Banks barked, making the soldier stop mid-step, "Make sure everyone knows that nothing is to happen to the woman". He narrowed his gaze and sighed, "She's the key to our victory. With her, we can finally put an end to this madness".
3
Making their way through the dense jungles of Pandora with Na'vi warriors was not something the SecOps team had envisioned. Yet here they were, with one of men they had considered their greatest traitors at their side. Major Niven insisted on keeping a close eye upon the warriors, still unsure of their intentions.
"When this is over what will happen?", Tunstin whispered, "I mean, do we just go home and abandon Pandora?". Niven shrugged and set his hazel eyes on Jake, "Colonel Quaritch had other ideas Corporal". He tightened his grip on his weapon, "I say we should let that militia have the virus and do what they want".
"Well the Colonel says differently", spat Damon, "And you should be bloody grateful she isn't here to hear you say that". Niven turned to his comrade, clearly angered by his comment, "She's not what we thought Lieutenant". He turned back towards Jake, "Look at her injuries and how quickly she recovered from them. Then there's the fact that she's just vanished and left us in the hands of these blue monkeys!". Damon reached out and grabbed Nivens arm, squeezing it tightly, "Colonel Quaritch is one hell of a soldier Major. I think you'd be best to remember that fact".
"A soldier who has lost her husband", Niven retorted angrily, "and she has Na'vi DNA inside her. Who knows what that's done to her mind". Damon spun the Major around to face him and pulled him closer to him.
"She's lived through a damn sight more than you or I could ever do. Colonel Miles Quaritch always said she was one of the best soldiers he had ever met". Niven felt his rage boiling over and it took every ounce of control to not strike out at the Lieutenant.
"Get your damn hand off me Lieutenant", he spat, shoving Damon away from him.
"What the hell's going on?!", Jake hissed as he walked cautiously towards the two men. Niven turned towards him and shot an icy gaze towards Jake, "Nothing". He strode past Jake, leaving the tall Na'vi standing beside the rest of his team. "Jake", Damon murmured, his gaze fixed on Niven as he walked away, "do me a favour. Keep a close eye on him".
4
"She saved my life!", the young Na'vi boy exclaimed, his eyes filled with desperation. "Neytiri, Evelyn saved my life. If she were so evil, I would be with our ancestors now". Neytiri sighed and leaned against the broad tree trunk behind her, "And you say they have come to help us?". The young boy nodded and offered her a broad smile, "Yes. This sky-person has put aside all her hatred towards us and comes to our aid". Neytiri closed her eyes, processing all that the young child had told her. If what he said was right, she had been wrong about Evelyn. This woman was clearly not the malevolent human she had thought. Still that one thought kept running through her mind.
What would she do if she was in the same situation? If she was working with the very beings who had caused the death of the one she loved, what would she do? Neytiri felt a shiver of fear run down her spine as she thought about it. For she knew that if anything happened to Jake, she would do anything to punish those who had taken him from her. So why would Evelyn be any different?
5
This was it, the place that her husband had breathed his last. The place that seen the end of a brilliant mans life. Evelyn walked slowly over to the rusting AMP suit, now covered by vines and dirt and placed her small hand on its surface. "Miles", she whispered, "I wish I had never left you. I should have stayed". She took a deep breath and wrapped her fingers around the vine to gently pull them away. Evelyn steadied herself, certain that Miles' remains would great her. When an empty seat became visible she let out a sigh of relief. While the thought of the wildlife feeding on his remains was not a pleasant one, the idea of seeing them was far less appealing.
A glint of metal amongst the dirt inside caught her attention and Evelyn reached down to grab whatever lay below. She felt a small chain with her finger tips and lifted it up. A silver chain now hung from her fingers, with two small metal tags dangling from its end. Miles' name and rank were etched onto their still smooth surface and Evelyn let out a gentle sigh, "His tags". Carefully she raised the item up and placed it over her head, letting it fall down around her neck.
While she had come here in the hope of burying his remains, these final remnants gave her that extra closure she so desperately needed. She gazed out towards where the Science Outpost was located and sighed, "First the virus, then Jake and Neytiri". Evelyn gripped the two tags hanging around her neck, "I swear Miles, they will not get away with what they did to you. I will fight to my last breath to make them pay".
6
Max ran into the communication centre in Hells Gate and punched in a series of numbers into the computer before him. He had received a message alert only moments before and it had come from a source he thought they had lost contact with. It seemed though, that after a year of silence, those who had severed the ties with Pandora were finally opening the lines of communication. A man appeared on the screen and Max checked the date at the bottom part of the screen to try and figure out when it was sent. 2154?, he thought, glancing back down at it to make sure he wasn't seeing things.
That date almost screamed out at him and Max shook his head. He had heard of messages being delayed, but for one to take over a year was unheard of. He turned his attention back to the screen, the words 'Confidential Message: Major E Quaritch', blinking brightly before him. Tentatively Max hit play and a man, clearly in distress appeared.
'Major Evelyn Quaritch', The man sighed and ran his hand through his blonde hair, 'Major, it has come to SecOps attention that Colonel Quaritch is, well using excessive force to achieve control of Pandora. Major, you know they won't agree with his techniques and they intend to do something about it'. His eyes narrowed and he shook his head, 'That is why you have been ordered onto the next transport so you can be debriefed. Because of the concerns SecOps have with your husband'. The mans gaze softened, 'Evelyn, I've known you both for so long, I can't let them do this to you. SecOps'. He paused and looked away from the screen, 'They want you to take him out Evelyn. They want you to kill Miles and make it look like some accident'.
The soldier moved closer to the screen, 'Run Evelyn. Get Miles and run. I can get you both off Pandora. They'll never find you. I have a contact coming on the next transport, they will help you'.
The screen went dead and Max collapsed into the chair behind him. Now he had a decision to make. Did he tell Evelyn about the message and what her commanders had originally wanted her to do? Or did he delete it, keeping it a secret from all of those he knew?