1
"You took long enough", Evelyn sighed as she emerged from behind a tree. She set her green eyes on Jake and offered him a thin smile, "I've been waiting here for hours". Jake gave her a confused look, uncertain just how she could have arrived before them, but knew better than to ask.
"Did you get everything you needed done?", he asked cautiously. Evelyn ran her fingers over two small tags around her neck and smiled.
"To a point". Jake decided to let the subject rest and motioned towards an outcrop of boulders.
"I take it that's where the entrance to the Outpost is". Evelyn nodded and gave him a thumbs up.
"Correct Jake". She placed her backpack down on the ground and strode confidently over to the boulders, "It's just behind".
Evelyn stopped mid-step, her eyes fixed on the ground before her. She pulled her hand gun from its holster and turned to give Jake a concerned look. "Company", she sighed, motioning for her team to move towards her. Jake quickly turned to the three Na'vi with him. "Get into the trees and find them", he ordered firmly. He cautiously approached Evelyn and looked down at the ground, letting out a loud sigh as he saw several bootprints in the soft soil. "Do you think it's the Militia?", he whispered, kneeling down so he was at her level. Evelyn shot him an icy look and sneered.
"Unless Thanators suddenly started wearing boots, then yes".
"Here's the thing Jake", Evelyn murmured as she scanned the jungle around them. "Either this mad-man will strike us now, before we enter the facility or he will hit us when we leave". She placed her hand on Damons shoulder, "Lieutenant, spread the men out and keep a damn sharp eye out". Evelyn turned to face Jake and he could see the determination in her eyes. "Our friend and I are going to head inside. While we're gone set the explosives and once we're out, we'll blow this place".
2
Banks watched from high above the concealed entrance to the outpost, not daring to breath unless Evelyn or the Na'vi heard him. She was so close, as was the virus and Banks wanted to run down that ridge and take them both. 'Be patient', he thought, closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath. 'Let her do all the work and then you can complete the mission'.
3
The entrance to the outpost was massive, giving Jake more than enough room to stand and move around. Evelyn peered up at the huge steel doors before her and sighed. Created by a purpose made and dense alloy, she knew they would be impossible to breach with explosives.
"They certainly didn't want anyone to get into this place". She turned to the flashing pad mounted to her left on the wall, "Lucky for us I know the entry code". Evelyn moved towards the pad and waved her hand over it, the movement bringing up a series of numbers and letters. For a moment she stood there, giving the device a somewhat puzzled look and Jake thought she may have forgotten the code.
"Um, Colonel. Is there a problem?".
Evelyn let out a loud sigh as she snapped out of her trance and shook her head.
"It's showing me the date that someone last accessed the outpost but", she paused and ran her fingers through her hair. "Something must be wrong with the programme, because it is saying that the last access date was only three months ago". Evelyn let out a nervous laugh and began to punch in her entry code, "Never could rely on blasted computers!". Despite her bravado, Jake couldn't help but feel worried. If the date was right, that meant that someone had been inside the lab.
"Jake Sully", Evelyn sighed, as the two doors before them slipped gently open, "Welcome to Prf". She turned and gave him a coy look, "Pandora's Research Facility. But I call if Prf, because it was fun to say". Jake watched in amazement as this small soldier strode confidently into the facility with her long sword gripped tightly in her hand.
"She's got a sense of humour", he murmured, following her into the long, brightly lit hall ahead. "Who would have thought?".
4
"Are you certain it has been following us the whole time?", the young Na'vi warrior asked his companion, his eyes fixed on the Thanator standing close to the facility.
"It has. Never before though have I seen one do such a thing". His comrade narrowed his gaze and let out a loud sigh, "It just sits and observes all around it".
"Well", his fellow Na'vi sighed, "all we can do is keep a close eye upon it. For now it seems content to watch us and wishes us no harm". He placed a firm hand on his friends shoulder, "The moment that thing changes, we must destroy it".
5
To Jakes surprise the atmosphere inside the research facility had been set up so it reflected the one outside. The scientists had thought it may give them better results with their research and experiments. Right now, Jake didn't care why they had done it, he was just grateful they had. At least he was able to keep a close eye on Evelyn as she made her way through the lab, carefully placing explosives at its key points. She paused for a moment in front of a large, central cooling unit and it seemed that something had caught her attention. Jake strode over to her and leant down, peering into the icy box before them.
Several trays filled with glass vials sat inside, each one filled with a variety of coloured fluids. Evelyn tapped on the door, the gentle clicking noise of her finger on its surface resonating through the air.
"There should be twelve vials in there". She furrowed her brow and hit the small computer in her hand, "But I only count eleven". Jake moved closer to the fridge, stopping as he felt Evelyns cool hand on his chest. He turned to face her and saw concern in those green eyes. "Careful Sully", she sighed. "There is some killer stuff in there". Jake nodded and slowly rose up, his attention now turning to the computer that Evelyn seemed so focused on.
"It's impossible", she sighed, once again reading through the information before her. "When I left they had just pulled all the scientists out from here. At that time there were twelve vials of that stuff".
"So, someone came back and took one?". Jake felt his concern rising and turned back to face those small vials filled with purple liquid.
"They did", Evelyn sighed, "But Jake". She placed her small hand on his and squeezed it, "The computer says the last access to this building was 4 months ago".
Jake shook his head, certain that Evelyn had misread the information, or that the computer was wrong.
"You said only a handful of people knew the codes and all of them are dead or have left Pandora". Evelyn nodded, "I know Jake, but there is no denying that someone has accessed this facility since then and". She stopped and let out a loud groan, "Jake, they've taken a virus, one capable to changing the very face of Pandora forever".