XXVII: The Perfect Drug (XVI)
Txur surprisingly was the first to recover, forcing himself to his knees and fists. Tukru tried to roll further out of the way, but his injured arm slowed him down considerably, Txur paid no attention to Jake as he set his jaw and looked back to Tukru. Jake sighed in exasperation, slinging himself to his feet as Txur closed in on the crawling Tukru. With an exhausted yell Jake leaped upon Txur's back, trying to wrap his good arm -for his other arm was shocked in numbness- around his neck. Txur reacted instantly, bringing up his vice like hands and taking Jake by the back of the head. Jake realized he may try to go for his Queue and quickly pulled back with all his body weight, it was like trying to pull down a Pa'li. Txur stomped his foot backwards to regain his balance and then rippled forward, like a bucking Pa'li at that, flinging Jake to the ground. Jake rolled to a somewhat upright stance, trying desperately to shake his numb arm back into action. "Give up yet?" Jake provoked.
"You won by the luckiest of cruelties last time, Toruk Maktou, you fought without honor. Your tricks will not save you here, I may be shamed, but I will not disgrace myself by falling to your level." Txur stood, proudly; though he was a shadow of the Na'vi he once was, that Na'vi was still twice as thick as Jake in the arms and untold number of times more skilled in hand to hand combat. "Step aside, what do you care for one who tried to kill your people and aided in the slaying of your friends' Ikran?"
"In case you didn't notice, honorable one, he just saved my and my mates' life. If you think I'll stand by while you butcher him for false pride, you can bite me." Jake bared his teeth for emphasis, doing his best to goad the much larger Na'vi on. Jake was reminded of the time he took on the much more able fellow at the bar before the officials found him to tell him his brother had died… of course Jake had lost that fight because the rest of the bar goers swarmed over him and threw him out into the street.
"Enough chatter! Step aside or die!" Txur growled.
"Bring it."
Txur snarled as he dove with iron fingers out stretched, Jake knew better than to let him get a good grip, so he rolled beneath his arms and- before Txur could attempt to go beyond Jake after Tukru- snagged Txur's tail and pulled, viciously. Txur barely repressed his yelp, turning and thrusting his foot forward like a spear itself. Jake couldn't react to the speed in time and caught the full force to his abdomen. Txur watched him roll on the ground and advanced again to land a second kick, Jake took this blow too but braced before hand and then gripped Txur's ankle with his good hand. Txur flailed his arms as Jake rolled forward onto his knee, pulling him down or dislocating it. Txur slammed his arms into the ground to negate the fall but found Jake now rolling over him and couldn't reach out in time as Jake brought his good arm around and drove his elbow into Txur's own abdomen. Txur gagged from the blow and reached out with his hands, but Jake had already rolled backward and to his feet again. "This can end anytime Txur!"
"What would you have me do?" Txur choked, "Shame my King as well as myself?"
"No!" Jake said forcefully, "Your King shames himself! Refuse to kill your own brethren, stand up for the honor of the people by standing up for its people! Not their king!"
Txur got to his feet once more, though slowly, "You are blind Toruk Maktou, the forest is a soft place, without our leader we are lost."
"And a leader without honor is lost himself!"
Txur paused in his rise, stunned and contemplative. But their words did not go unheard. "Lost? Lost!" boomed the voice above, "The only thing lost here if the honor of the Nekxtskxe! We are poisoned by the weak words of Omaticaya, have you lost all of your strength in your shame Txur? Do you not wish to serve your people?"
Jake turned, relishing the chance to directly challenge the King. "Serve his people by killing them? Tukru is one of your own, he is not Omaticaya, he has only repaid a debt the code of the Nekxtskxe would demand of him- does he deserve to die for this?"
"YOU KNOW NOTHING OF THE NEKXTSKXE!" Roared Olo'eytkan Kerusey, "You have said yourself, you are not Nekxtskxe, you do not know our honor!"
Jake had no choice, "Then the Nekxtskxe honor is weak, an Omaticaya would never kill one of their own for the words of its leader!" The crowd reaction was instantaneous. Jake's words were true, he felt them in his heart, but to attack the cultural identity of the whole clan was beyond reproach. The king stared down at Jake darkly, but Jake could see the sparkle of triumph in his eyes.
The King turned from Jake, boldly facing the people. "Do you see?" he boomed, "Do you see now what we have allowed to speak in our sacred halls?" The crowd responded in hisses of agreement, rage clear on their faces all. "Who then calls this Toruk Maktou? What proof do we have of his honor?" Jake's jaw dropped, the crowd seethed, voices rising. "You are not Toruk Maktou, deceiver, you are nothing but a pathetic worm not fit to bleed on our noble battle field!" he roared, his face becoming blazing in the light- echoed a thousand fold by the hundreds of people around him cheering madly.
Jake roared back. "Then I challenge you!"
All noise died instantly. Jake stood firmly, face set in stone, "I am the future Olo'eytkan of the Omaticaya, I am Toruk Maktou; I came to you in peace, with a way to save all of us from the sky people's weapons. But you spit on me, my people, and my name from the beginning. You would not hear me though I had the right to speak. You would not listen as the hour of all of our doom came closer and closer, then maybe you will listen to this!" Jake pointed forward his closed fist, "You doubt my strength, my honor, and my word- then come and test it for yourself mighty king, or does the leader of the Nekxtskxe fear a single Omaticaya!" Now the crowd roared in a different tone, there was expectation in their eyes, all wanted nothing more than to see their leader dash this upstart Omaticaya against their beloved arena. Jake had no will to fight Txur who was trapped in the web of his own people's insanity, but if he struck at the heart of that insanity, if he could beat the King… maybe they wouldn't fall on and tear them apart long enough to listen to what he had to say.
The King stood on his high position, and laughed; he laughed deep and hard, a resonating laugh that hit the ceiling and hurt Jake's ears. "You, would fight me, little Omaticaya?" Jake said nothing as he waited in silence, all the while trying to will his arm back into feeling and the king burst into harsh laughter once more.
"Is the king so afraid he laughs to hide his tears?" Jake turned his head, surprised; Txur stood beside Jake, chin lifted and eyes sharp. Jake could not help the smile which pulled at the edge of his mouth, so there was a small light of hope in thi- Jake couldn't react fast enough, there was no time, the massive body of the Na'vi was ripped upward by the gigantic hand of Kerusey and before Jake could even drop his smile into a shout- Txur's head jerked sharply to the side. The sickening wet crack echoed off the walls and there before Jake's eyes, lifted like a sack of potatoes, Kerusey held aloft the corpse of Txur.
"No Shamed shall ever taunt the lord of the Nekxtskxe." Kerusey said coldly. Jake couldn't believe it, Txur, who rivaled Yawne's strength, being handled like a child's toy…without mercy Kerusey dropped Txur to the ground, magnificent muscled arm still held high. Txur's body dropped like a mannequin, folding on the ground. Jake had never seen such speed or power. It wasn't possible for anything made of flesh to- Kerusey, turned to Jake, eyes glaring. "You are foolish, lord of the Omaticaya, to challenge me, but I have heard enough of your words. Now we shall speak through combat." There was no way. Jake had no chance, if Txur who was so mighty couldn't even defend himself… a blue body was leaping behind them, Jake just caught Neytiri's face contorted in a primal scream as she brought the full bore of a wooden handle down upon Kerusey's head. The wood snapped in half against his skull, dipping his head slightly, but-, Kerusey never removed his eyes from Jake nor flinched in the slightest! Neytiri stepped back, holding the broken half a hand of wood in complete amazement, slowly the king turned his gaze to her. "and you as well little queen?" he growled low.
Jake reacted without thought, leaping forward with his good hand to grip Kerusey's Queue as hard as he could- it was his only chance. Kerusey roared in rage as Jake squeezed and tried to pull, but the mighty lord of the Nekxtskxe whirled like a coiled spring, hefting Jake upward in an open palm thrust to his injured side. Jake felt his breath leave him as Kerusey lifted him where Txur had landed his terrible kicks, Jake couldn't continue his grip as he was now airborne! Kerusey did not relent however, gripping Jake with steel fingers he turned him around like a palmed basketball and drove him down onto his knee! Jake felt his ribs give way as a blinding pain rocked his senses. There was no way. Neytiri screamed in fear, attempting to drive the broken end of her twice broken club into Kerusey's shoulder, but Kerusey never had a scar for a reason. With a short grunt he spun his massive frame out of the stroke, landing his shoulder beneath her hands and slamming his elbow beneath her raised arms. His speed was impossible, nothing so large could move so fast!
Neytiri doubled over, vomiting from the force of the blow as Jake rolled off Kerusey's knee in a howl of agony. Jake breath came in ragged gasps, feeling as if a Titanothere had stepped upon him. Kerusey stood slowly, arms raised high, "Is this your honor!" he bellowed, standing above the writhing figures. The crowd roared in adoration once more, some even had tears falling from their eyes. "Olo'eytkan of the Omaticaya? Toruk Maktou!" Kerusey roared again, ignoring Jake and Neytiri who looked to each other desperately. There was simply, no, way.
"P'all!" Neytiri called, lifting her head.
"Wha?" Paul breathed, eyes seeming to clear as he looked down and saw them for the first time. "What, what happened?" he trembled. Only then did Jake realize Paul had sat completely transfixed, blind to all around him and unaware of what was happening. He didn't understand a word they spoke.
"Your-" Kerusey kicked Neytiri from behind without mercy. With a disgusted look, he ground his heel into her lower back as her words turned into a pained wail.
"Get off of her!" Jake screamed as he found his way to his feet and landed a leaping elbow blow into the back of Kerusey's head!
Kerusey growled in fury, spinning to face Jake. "You are weak, pathetic, and honor-less. I will crush you!" Jake barely leaped backward out of his hands!
"What's going on!" Paul called again. The bone queen, Tshaik Tirey raised from her seat as Paul ran to the edge to look down, her hands drifted out to the sides of his face.
"Do not concern yourself." she spoke in Na'vi, "Stay with me."
Paul tried to push her hands away, "Jake! What do I do!"
But Jake was barely able to stay out of Kerusey's reach, using all he had to stay one step ahead of the massive Na'vi. Though for Kerusey's part, he only strode forward, walking after Jake and reaching casually for him each time; had he truly been trying… "Just," Jake gasped, dodging to the side to avoid Kerusey's swipe. "DO IT!"
"Do w-wha,whoa,whoa,whoa!" but Paul had been grappling with the bone queen to long and their hand lock had carelessly leveraged him over the pit itself as she tried constantly to touch her skin against his own, with a almost comical expression, he teetered and flipped directly over the edge.
"NO!" Tirey shouted, hands reaching out for him. Paul landed with a dull thump, causing Kerusey to turn and watch the odd sight with interest. Jake used the respite to fall to his knee, good arm clutching his side as his breath scraped inside him. This wasn't going well at all. The bone queen, Tshaik Tirey looked after Paul in worry, her face flush and hands shaking… Kerusey was perplexed by this show of need.
"Tirey, sit down." He said curtly. But she, did not.
"Do not harm him Kerusey, please! Give him to me!" she pleaded.
Kerusey looked even more perplexed as Paul slowly began to rise, "Stop this whining! Leave him, sit down immediately!" he commanded.
Again she did not listen, eyes wide and sweat forming on her skin as she weakly clutched the edge. "He is mine! I want him! Give him to me!"
Now Kerusey's face was cold rock, his frame ridged. "You shame us! Sit- Down!
"Noooooo!" Tirey wailed, falling against the edge, though respect or fear of him kept her stuck in place. Kerusey had enough, his face was a perfect image of rage as he stormed forward and Paul got to his feet. Like Wiley Coyote standing only to see the on coming train, Paul's eyes bulged as the over twelve foot, two ton Na'vi neared him.
"J-juh- Jaaaake!" he whimpered.
"Let him have it!" Jake rasped in English.
"Have what! I don't have anythin-GACK!" Paul shouted, stepping back, but not fast enough as Kerusey's hand shot out faster than a rattle snake and ripped Paul upwards by his neck. Jake felt his stomach sink in terror, he quickly got to his feet, but the shock of standing stabbed within him and he fell forward again, coughing blood.
Neytiri clutched her own stomach, but managed to stand, "Leave him!"
Kerusey heeded no one as he turned the dangling Paul from one side to another, "What are you?" he asked in Na'vi, seemingly seeing Paul for the first time. "P'all they call you, what manner of creature are you? Are you this sky demon monster from beyond the clouds?" Kerusey chuckled.
"Kerusey, No! Do not hurt him!" Tirey said strongly from above.
Kerusey looked up in annoyance as Paul's face turned slightly blue like a Na'vi, "Hold your tongue, fool, this is nothing! Even compared to the Omaticaya, why do you tremble for him so?"
Tirey did not hide her open want of him, her eyes were spheres and now her arms were shaking, "I need him! I must touch him! He is mine and mine alone! You can not have him!"
"I shall take whatever I wish from who ever I wish!" Kerusey snarled in return.
Neytiri came forward, determined as she lifted the only weapon she had. Kerusey did not even turn his head before his other hand shot out and gripped her neck as well. Now Jake could not stand by, though he writhed in agony, his side burning- he somehow made it to his feet. "Leave them alone!" he blurted, even as his vision blurred from the pain. Kerusey drove Neytiri to her knees, her only weapon forgotten as she clutched the iron band around her neck and gagged.
"Still you demand, pathetic thing!" Kerusey said incredulously. "Perhaps if I shattered this one's skull you would be more inclined to beg for the other?" he hefted Paul upwards, and his thumb rolled off Paul's neck to settle between his eyes. Jake couldn't even stagger.
"NoooOOOOooo!" A ragged cry rang out as like a water fall of bones, Tirey leaped from above and directly onto Kerusey herself. Hissing and foaming at the mouth she dug her bone claws into his flesh and bit at his face. Kerusey roared in confused pain as for the first time his unblemished skin was broken. Paul and Neytiri were dropped to the side as Kerusey ripped his mad queen from him and threw her aside. Tirey landed heavily, bouncing in her robe of bones, crumpling.
"You dare!" Kerusey shook, "You dare draw MY blood?"
Tirey's eyes were as large as saucer plates, but there was no fear, only a hunger. "He is mine, give him to me! Mine! MINE!" she hissed back. Jake couldn't begin to understand what was happening, no one had ever reacted to Paul's touch in this way- but, then Jake remembered, the drop of blood. Paul's blood! It much have been like some kind of narcotic to the Na'vi, only a thousand times more addictive than the strongest of earth. Tirey was willing to deface her own mate for a touch more of him… it then occurred to Jake, she may have been idly sitting there licking Paul's blood from the wound in his head the entire time they had been fighting. Like, some kind of Na'vi vampire, growing steadily more and more addicted to whatever was in his chemical makeup until she couldn't stand to be without. The sudden symptoms of withdrawals wracked her, and like any junkie she was willing to do anything, anything for just a taste more. None of this Kerusey saw nor understood however, he only saw his own blood dripping from minor cuts on his perfect face.
"You…" he said, unbelieving, eyes lost as he looked upon she who he was mated to for life. "…will pay for this!" he shouted, his voice lacking any of the confident proclamations it had before. He was now nothing more than a confused and hurt animal, lashing out at anything near enough to him. Neytiri had, by this time, gotten around to pull Paul close to her and away from the fighting royalty. Tirey saw this all too well, and screeched like a Stingbat, leaping forward. Kerusey saw only her aggression and rose to meet her. They collided, he gripping her wrists and she hissing foam and flecks of blood into his face. "Foul betrayer! You who I allowed to sit at my side as equal! How can you do this?" But she only screeched in answer, kicking at him and trying desperately to wrench herself free, knowing nothing but the hunger and need. Kerusey, in his pain, closed his eyes… and began to squeeze. Tirey, the Tshaik of the Nekxtskxe halted her furious hisses and began to wail, a rising howl of agony that pierced the heart. Kerusey pressed her own arms to the sides of her body and her head rolled with dilated eyes.
Neytiri watched in horror, turning to Paul as her only hope, "Please, you must, the white cloud!" she said in clipped English, lifting him to his feet.
Paul ripped his eyes away from the spectacle to look to her, "Cloud? What? But it'll hit the crowd, we'll be torn apart!" Again the piercing wail of Tirey raised in pitch.
"PLEASE!" Neytiri screamed. Paul turned, lost, but acting- his chest drew in air with the sound of a missile falling; a high pitched whistle that turned into a hollow roar, a sound so alien to the Nekxtskxe, Kerusey paused and turned his head… just as a burst of white, like an atomic mushroom cloud, erupted and engulfed him utterly. The sheer size was testament to Paul's terror as like an avalanche the cloud flowed well over half the bowl… and, Jake realized, the cloud would not simply stop at the edge. Jake and Neytiri gaped as it spread overflowing and following the contour… directly for them.