1
Norm and Max stared in disbelief at the screen before them. Once again Evelyn was on the move, her unknown companion and Stonewall close at her side. They could see her waving her arms around and wondered just what she might be discussing with her new companion.
"Are they heading where I think they're heading?", Norm sighed, his gaze not shifting from the screen.
"Uh-ha", Max leaned in closer, desperate to try and see who Evelyn was with.
"We should tell Jake and the others", Norm picked up the communicator and let out a loud sigh. "Let's hope they're not too far behind".
"Yeah". Max groaned, as he leaned back into his chair. "Don't want her running into any Na'vi".
As Norm relayed the information to Jake, Max couldn't help but recall the message he had seen earlier. You have to tell her, he thought as he closed his eyes. Then he saw them, those long forgotten memories that he thought had been laid to rest. Those of Evelyn and Miles together before the uprising. They had been so happy together and often those strong willed soldiers seemed so at peace in each others company. Max remembered the way Evelyn gazed up at Miles, her eyes filled with love and admiration for the man before her. Do you? Do you really have to tell her?
He flicked his eyes open and shook his head, You'll break her heart Max. The heart of someone who was always good to you, despite her obvious contempt for all we stood for. Max leaned forward and fixed his attention back on the screen. Evelyn and her companion were just moving out of view and soon, would no longer be visible to anyone. As he peered intently at the screen, Max noticed something that made him leap from his seat.
"HEY!", Norm cast him a less than impressed look. "What the hell Max?". Max frantically wound the video footage back and replayed those final few seconds before Evelyn vanished.
"Oh God", he sighed. "Norm, is Jake still available on comms?".
"It's a bad reception, but yeah, he is". Norm gave Max a perplexed look and shook his head, "Why?".
"There's something we need to tell him". Max turned around slowly and set his dark eyes on Norm. "This changes everything Norm". It was clear that Norm had no idea what Max was talking about, that vacant gaze only serving to frustrate Max further. "LOOK!", he demanded as he pointed at the screen. He pressed the replay button, "She's holding his hand Norm! A woman who was fiercely loyal and protective of her husband, is holding this guys hand!".
"You think that he's?", Norm paused and shook his head. "That's impossible. He died! During the uprising, he died".
"Did he Norm?", Max sighed. "Did he really?"
2
"So you came here to stop some virus from being released?", Miles asked as he and Evelyn made their way through the dense jungle. "A virus that would destroy the Na'vi".
"No", Evelyn sighed, her gaze drifting over the area before them. She was concerned that they were travelling by foot. Even with Stonewall at their side they were in danger here and she needed to keep her wits about her. "It won't' technically destroy the Na'vi, just screw them up for a while". She paused and looked up at Miles, "Of course a great deal of them will die and it will impact the entire species".
"Would that be so bad?", Miles hissed, his blue eyes cooling. "They're nothing more than savages Evelyn".
Evelyn stopped and glanced down at the ground, "You know that would be considered genocide, right?". Miles shrugged and moved around to stand in front of Evelyn.
"Blue monkeys Evelyn. All of them". He placed his hand under her chin and raised her face back up. "Think of what they did to you. To us".
"Miles", Evelyn let out a loud sigh. "I know what they did. That still doesn't justify releasing a virus that could set an entire species back a millennia".
Evelyn frowned and shook her head, "Have you ever thought about what you did to them?". She set those brilliant eyes onto his, "You ordered an attack on unarmed children".
"One of them attacked my men!", Miles retorted angrily. "I was well within protocols to launch a counter attack".
"On a school. Filled with children". Evelyn tilted her head, "That was a bit drastic and honestly, I should have said something to you at the time, but you are so bloody minded sometimes Miles".
Miles let out a disgruntled grumble and shrugged, "Sometimes".
"Then there's the whole home tree incident". She furrowed her brow, "What the hell were you thinking?".
"They wouldn't leave! We needed that land cleared for the dozers to move through!". Miles shook his head and gave Evelyn a firm look, "Why the hell am I explaining myself to you? You weren't here! Those savages needed to learn".
"Oh they learnt all-right Miles", Evelyn sighed. "There are always other ways though".
"Like what?! Pussy foot around like a bunch of namby pamby diplomats? Stand around chatting with them to find a peaceful resolution". He huffed loudly, "We tried that and it didn't work".
"Is that why you took it?", Evelyn narrowed her gaze. "Did you think it would be a great way to pay them back for everything they did?". She took a step back and extended her hand out, "I'd like the virus please Miles". A flicker of surprise appeared in Miles' blue eyes and slowly he placed his hand into his pant pocket. He carefully pulled out a glass vial, filled with a dark, purple liquid.
"This could end all of it", Miles sighed as he handed her the precious vial. Evelyn wrapped her small fingers around the small container and moved closer to Miles. She gazed down at his strong hand and her fingers around it. "Not by itself it couldn't". She gave him a knowing smile, "You see, it's missing something very important".
"Like what?", Miles asked firmly.
"Well", Evelyn edged even closer and wrapped her small arms around his waist. She glanced around the forest, before looking back up at Miles and offering him a wry smile. "Let's just say, it's one of a kind. There's no way to replicate it and", she raised herself onto her tip-toes and set her eyes onto his. "It is fairly spectacular, if I do say so myself".
3
The radio crackled in and out of life and Jake struggled to hear the message that Hells Gate were trying desperately to relay. Even through the haze of static he could detect the concern in Maxs' voice and wondered what had affected him so deeply.
"Jake", Maxs' voice echoed over the radio and was followed closely by loud static. "Him. It's him", again the static disrupted the message. "of Souls Jake. You have to", the radio fell dead and Jake pressed the transmit button, desperate to know what was going on.
"You need to repeat Max. The transmission is breaking up. Repeat please". He released the button and preyed for some kind of response, but knew deep inside that none would come. They were far too close to the Tree of Souls and the energy from it was interfering with all comms.
"What do we do?", Damon stepped forward, his brow furrowed and expression grieve.
Jake closed his eyes and gathered his thoughts. He knew that Max was trying to tell him something about the Tree of Souls, but what that something may be was beyond Jake.
"Well Sully?", Damon asked firmly. "What the hell are we doing?".
"We have to go to the Tree of Souls", Jake sighed.
"Why the hell would we do that?", Niven spat angrily. "You sent the Na'vi there because it's safe. Quiet frankly, we should still be looking for Colonel Quaritch, not going on some unknown mission".
"I can't explain it", Jake gazed through the dense jungle and shook his head. "Something's either happening there or about to happen". He turned and looked down at Evelyns team, "I think that is where Evelyn will be".
Niven stepped forward and set his icy gaze on Jake, "You want us to go ahead on a hunch!? That's".
"Shut up Niven!", Damon interjected. "For once in your life, just shut your damn mouth".
The Major went to reply, but held his tongue and Jake could see his hatred for the young Lieutenant reflected in his eyes. Damon moved forward and tried to give Jake a warm smile, "You're certain she'll be there?".
"Yes", Jake nodded. "We need to go there Lieutenant, I know it in my gut".
"Then it's the Tree of Souls we head to", he turned to face the rest of the team and they all nodded. At that moment Jake could see why Evelyn held this young man in such high esteem. He was a natural leader and utterly loyal to his commanding officer.
"Just remember Sully", Damon shifted his deep brown eyes back onto Jake. "If anything happens to any of us, Colonel Quaritch will kill you".
4
Neytiri and the other Na'vi had done as Jake asked and left their new home, to head towards the safety of the Tree of Souls. Here he felt for sure they would out of harms reach, that Eywa would keep a watchful eye over her people. Neytiri watched as their people once again gathered beneath that ancient and treasured tree and couldn't help but feel a deep sense of trepidation. Jake had tried to assure her that everything was under control, that moving the Na'vi was just a precaution, but she knew him too well. That familiar tremble in his voice told her he was concerned.
Only after pressing him had Jake mentioned the virus and that they believed the Militia had a vial of it in their possession. No, he had not been able to tell her exactly what the virus would do, but had told her of the concern Evelyn had shown in regards to it. Neytiri knew that if such a strong woman was worried, then her own people should be too. As her gaze drifted across the mass of Na'vi before her, Neytiri could only hope that Jake and those with him would succeed in regaining the virus. If they didn't, the consequences would be dire.
5
It had been purely by chance that Banks and his team had come across Jake and the others. He had been surprised when they had not realised how close he was and knew that this was the opportunity he so desperately needed. He had overheard Jake talking over the radio and now knew that they were heading towards the Tree of Souls. That meant that Evelyn was certain to be there to and Banks would finally have her in his grasp. He needed her, far more than anyone could ever realise.
Banks motioned to his team to follow Jake and Evelyns team, making sure to keep a safe distance behind them. As they shadowed the unawares group, Banks felt his excitement growing. He may not of had the virus he so desperately desired, but Banks knew that would be remedied later. Those scientists had tucked away other vials of the virus throughout Pandora and he could easily obtain it later. First though he needed the one thing that would truly help him succeed in his mission.
Soon Evelyn would be in his grasp. Soon, all of this would be over.