XXIX: Closer (XVIII)
Neytiri crouched low in the chamber, heels raised and spear at her side, alert for any movement by the beast. The demon did not move however, aside from its continuous breathing. She was only just past the hole in the wall, with perhaps a span between her and the raised platform of stones. Neytiri balanced all of her weight on three limbs, dipping her foot forward to rest it as silently as if evading a Palulukan. The heat in the room was unbearable, as if standing over the fire pit for hours, her skin already held a glossy sheen. The stink of sulfur and wet meat assaulted her nose as she breathed shallow; at last she transferred her weight to her out stretched foot, bringing her one step closer to the platform. The beast still had not moved, gurgling like a mud puddle with air holes. Neytiri shifted her eyes from it only to gauge where her hand would go, flicking them back and fourth as she reached with long fingers. This was it, this was the solution the ultimate problem, and it was within her grasp. She could just barely touch it!
Just before touching the surface however, she froze… how did she know the delicate looking orb wouldn't beak at her merest touch or worse, burn her upon contact? Neytiri drew back her hand gripping it into a fist, she would have to be sure. If the recent dealings with P'all had taught her anything, touch alone could cause great damage; there may have been a burning poison upon the spheres, invisible to the eye but instantaneous to touch. Had she known it, she would have perfectly described earths own fire coral. But how? How could see distinguish safe to the touch without touching it? It was like trying to find out if a fence was electrified. Neytiri glanced down at her spear; it was useless for the task, both for trying to determine the danger of touching them and for collecting some without risking herself. If she tried to push some into a container of some sort they would clink together, possibly break and alert the demon. Neytiri again looked only at the beast as she slowly pushed out back the way she had come. Frustration clutched her teeth together, she had wasted time in her rush without thinking. The goal was before her and she had been careless.
Neytiri had just begun to slip her leg back through the hole when she froze… some of the tentacles looked strange to her, as if they were closer than bef- Neytiri barely stifled her gasp as the demon sensed it was discovered. Immediately the arm thick lengths flowed forward, heedless of the spheres they disturbed, seeking her! Neytiri threw herself through the hole as the barbed whips lashed through and around, she readied her spear and backed toward Jake, praying she could fend them off before they reached him. It seemed Eywa was with her; the barded appendages writhed in the opening, scraping rock and tearing anything they touched, but they did not come farther. Neytiri hissed through her teeth; she had failed. First, in not thinking before acting and second, in not noticing the demon moving ever closer. She had barely avoided it grasp this time, but now it would not try to ambush its prey again. There was no way she could enter the chamber once more. Neytrir gripped her short spear so hard her hands shook. She couldn't do it… not alone.
Neytiri spared a glance to Jake who remained unconscious, she then looked back to the hole where the beasts struggles had slowed and were now carefully puzzling out the room and the opening. She would again have to wait for it to settle; they needed those orbs, and fast. She had to do something, but what could she do? Jake was useless to her, even if awake his injury would slow him down and that alone could mean his death. She could not risk him. P'all was still searching for containers, but even if he returned immediately his breathing and the heavy sound of his boots would alert the beast to his presence easily. She needed an alternative, quickly. Neytiri crouched, settling herself to deep thought. There was no way she could kill the beast with her meager weapon, and there was no way back inside past those terrible grasping whips. She would need to placate the beast somehow, maybe with too much food or somehow set it to sleep, but how could she possibly-?
"Jake do you read? Over." a tiny voice said. Neytiri jumped, forgetting completely the comm. hidden in Jakes braid. "Jake I hate to give away the comm. but there is a serious problem out here!" It was J'nn! She still circled the area, quickly Neytiri ducked over Jakes head searching for the button so she could respond. "Jake do you copy? Over."
"I copy Jen, what's wrong? Over." P'all answered. Neytiri continued to search, it was well hidden.
"Paul, I don't know for sure, but I think I just spotted Yawnes Ikran, but there was no rider-" Neytiri found it.
"J'nn! You must listen, quickly, do the sky people have something which can cause deep sleep?" she said breathlessly.
"Who was- Neytiri? Where is Ja- sleep? We having sleeping gas, but I've only got two canisters, it's not enough to put a whole village to sleep if-" J'nn began.
"No, I need them for an animal, P'all you must meet J'nn , retrieve them and hurry, please!" Neytiri could not keep the urgency from her voice.
"Alright, I'll, try… over." P'all responded.
"I'll try and triangulate your position using tracking on the armor, just get up high and I'll drop it down to you. Over." J'nn replied.
"Wait, I think I see an, okay, it's a little high, give me a minute…" P'all said over the comm. Neytiri listened intently, chewing her lip anxiously as the frustration of waiting and the uselessness she felt lashed her tail. "…wow, okay, wow, I'm here. Can you see me? Over." P'all spoke slightly breathless. There was a tense silence, in which Neytiri stared hard at the receiver in Jakes hair. Noting his slight breathing and his closed eyes. Then, "Wait I see you, I'm over here! Can you see me? Over!"
"I see you! I'm coming around, Over." J'nns voice replied. Neytiri felt a thrill of triumph, this would work, it had too! Slowly, Jake stirred in Neytiris hands.
Neytiri smiled all the brighter as her happiness doubled. "My Jake!"
Jake looked up wearily, when his eyes met her own, he smiled drunkenly. "Heeeeeeeeyy Neeeeeeey," he said then slurred and faltered. Neytiri scowled, the after effects of P'alls venom were taking hold. It was good because now Jake could move on his own but also bad because it meant the Nekxtskxe were also dropping into the strange waking dream of the powder.
"My Jake, do you know where you are?" Neytiri said over the chatter between J'nn and P'all still speaking to each other.
Jake looked around him blearily, "Twenty thousand leagues under the sea?"
"No my Jake, you are in the cave of the Nekxtskxe, do you remember?"
"Are you sure?" Jake squinted.
"Yes, you have been hurt but we must get the orbs, okay?"
Jake shrugged lightly, his eyes rolling, "Okay, but…" he looked behind her squinting again, "Then what's with the squid?"
Neytiri turned just in time to see the three barbed tentacles drifting above her, with a shout she hefted Jake upward and dove forward with him just as they slammed down not even half a foot behind them. She landed painfully on top of Jake, causing him to gasp and groan in a hoarse pain. But the appendages didn't stop there, as if sensing its prey was not far, the tentacles lifted again stretching after. Neytiri hopped behind Jake and took him under the arms, pulling with all her might. "My Jake, move!" Jakes eyes looked but he didn't comprehend, none the less, the tone of her voice must have reached him as his legs began kicking away. Together they managed to slide back out of reach as a second time the heavy whips came down, barely missing them. It was too close a call, and Neytiri knew the third time would be closer still. She continued to pull Jake, who kept kicking as best he could as the tentacles lifted up again and this time reached far over their heads. Neytiri gasped and quickly pushed Jake to one side and herself to the other as they came down directly between them.
Like some kind of demonic snakes the lashes seemed to once more sense their presence and began winding after them. Jake only looked on, batting feebly at the ropy bards which took hold of his leg. Neytiri kicked and hit the two which wrapped around her own legs and midsection as she reached for her short spear. Neytiri could feel the barbs tearing her skin as they tried to hook into her and both of them began to slide forward… toward the hole. Suddenly Jake leg out a ragged cry as the tentacles wrapped around his midsection and tightly constricted on his broken rib. Neytiri screamed in fury, stabbing at the its limbs again and again, though her spear point hardly passed the thick armor. Closer and closer the pair were pulled, inexorably; Jake still fought weakly, now trying to dislodge the iron cord around his waist, gasping as the pain robbed him of breath. Neytiri too gasped, but in concentration as she began to dig and leverage the tip of her spear between the plates. Winding, working, in tight circles until finally the skin parted slightly and lifted!
There was a wet shrill of pain from beyond the hole and the stabbed tentacle quickly unwound and pulled itself back through, tearing the spear from Neytiris hands. Neytiri braced herself and began trying to tear the last one from her, pulling and lifting with all she had- but the beast was strong, and though the barbs were not poisoned as with the Medusa- they were far more mobile and aggressive. Neytiri knew biting at the plating would only hurt her teeth, the powder which still covered herself and Jake didn't seem to affect the creature, as if the plating didn't let moisture in what so ever. Closer, closer still they came, struggling against the bonds they could not break. Jake was having more trouble, simply pushing to try and get the band from his wound, it was a wonder he was still conscious, but the euphoria in his system may have been blocking much of it. However, he wasn't resisting as much as she was, making him easier to drag, he was two feet before her and Neytiri knew she could not pull him back once he entered that hole.
With a pained yet determined shout Neytiri got to her feet and leaped forward, bending the tentacle around her leg and waist as she ran toward the hole. She passed Jake and quickly leaped to brace herself against the hole opening, creating a block so Jake could not be pulled past her. The beast was confused by this sudden slack, though its grip remained tight and the tentacles stopped only briefly; Neytiri turned her head welcoming the rest, "Jake! Get free, hurry!" but Jake only continued to push at the limb feebly, as if in a dream. Beneath Neytiri she could see the tentacles wrapped around herself begin to wind back into the hole, once it past her she knew it would begin pulling again. "Jake! You must move!" she said again. It seemed hopeless; Jake was not responsive, his eyes glazed even as his life was endangered and Neytiri continued to call to him. And ever so slowly the tentacle continued to flow beneath her, like a burning fuse.
At the last, it became taught again, and Neytiri prepared herself as best she could. The beast paused as it felt firm resistance this time, then the pulling began. First a slow pressure, then a constant force, Neytiri felt the full strength against her legs and arms threatening to break her back and pull her in like paper. She strained with all she had, listening to the cracks and pops of her joints, and feeling her limbs begin to shake. Her breath left her, still the constant pull around her lower back, it hurt… it hurt dearly… but she held on. Time seemed to crawl by, a drop of water running down a razor blade; Neytiri was crying. She no longer knew what she held on for, she no longer knew why she kept fighting, only that she had to keep fighting. Neytiri felt something inside, where all else was numb shock, like her spine was folding. She knew this was it; the end of her troubles was close; her heart thundering in her ears, a dull ringing which she could not hear past. …then the pain stopped…
Neytiri turned her head, as if surrounded by the softest cloth. The warmth of the blue body held tightly in her arms before her- comforting, she had to be home, lying with Jake and her family. She held on tightly, and all else seemed far away, but, cold, there was cold… cold metal? Neytri turned her eyes, seeing beyond the blue body; her hands pulling against a barbed vine the size of a tree trunk. Slowly a world of feeling swept over her, carrying her away from the odd feeling of home, a feeling of nothing but thought. Thoughts that were not her own. Neytiri's head cleared as she looked around, seeing before her, her body, but it was not her own. Neytri felt new strength in her arms and legs, her back felt ten times stronger, her tail was lashing madly and there was something wrapped around her neck. Neytiri looked down to see pink tendrils and a braid, moving upwards to the back of her own head, but it was not her head… it was her body, but not. Reality came screamed back; she was within P'all!
With a start Neytiri realized she was pulling upon the tentacle that was trying to break her -her body- in half. With renewed vigor, Neytiri began to pull, her power armor whining as the sky people machines within worked over time to supply her demand for more strength. Her metal clad hands gripped hard, and slowly, she began to pull back. The beast sensed the greater danger, the new threat, and the tentacle wrapped about Neytiris body released and wrapped around the body of P'all. Limply Neytiris true body fell, like a wet sack to the floor. Neytiri stared at it in shock, and growled. Resettling herself against the wall, she began to pull with all her new might. The gears in her suit whined, the metal of her gloves compressed, but the tentacle began to move. Again the beast realized the greater threat, and the one about Jake quickly unwound and gripped Neytiri. Now she was pulling against double the force, but it didn't hurt. Her armor was taking all the strain and her body, somehow, would not be fatigued.
Neytiri gritted her teeth, locking her limbs and the beasts efforts into a stalemate. Then Neytiri remembered what P'all had been bringing with him. She whipped her, his, head around. There, on the ground by her left foot. A strange kind of kun'. Neytiri recalled P'alls tail moved with greater strength and mobility, unconsciously she unfolded the full length from her waist. She hefted the kun' easily, and was even able to wrap her tail about the handle and leave the tip in the trigger guard. She placed the tip directly into the hole and squeezed. A 'POOM' followed by a strong 'HISSSSSS' followed, Neytiri fired again, 'POOM-HISSSSSS'. Now a strange yellow smoke was floating out from between the still straining tentacles. But already Neytiri could feel them slacken. More and more the strain became less and less; until finally after several moments, they simply dropped from around her… and slowly withdrew back into the hole. Neytiri landed on her feet, her tail discarding the sleep kun'. Neytiri turned her head; to her right, her body lay slack and motionless, to her left, Jake breathed deeply looking around him as if trying to clear his head.
"Jake, ar-" Neytiri jumped, she heard her voice. Though, she knew, she was speaking from P'alls body, she heard… her voice? Neytiri pushed it aside, there was no time. Quickly she spun, seeing the large basket P'all had brought. If she filled it, they would have more than enough to destroy a Dragon kunship; she hoped it would be enough for a sky dragon kunship. Neytiri pulled the basket close to the hole, the nagging thoughts to look after Jake –and the morbid fascination to see her dead body- firmly locked away. She slipped through with ease, and paid no mind to the unconscious demon now laying at the far end of the cave. Without pause she began gently hefting the orbs with her metal hands, placing them carefully into the basket on the other side of the hole. She did not think they would burst from handling, as the beasts own movements have proved plenty of disturbance. By the handful she scooped the orbs and soon the basket was full. Neytiri spared once last glance at the burning room with its demon. She hated it, all of it, and with a snarl she moved back through the hole- hoping never to return.
Once on the other side, Neytiri quickly tied the basket off, and only then turned to Jake first. "My Jake," she said- ignoring the thoughts which flowed with it- "Are you ok?" Jake lifted his head and smiled, then he nodded before his eyes closed. Neytiri did not know if he understood what was happening, but he was alright, and that was all that mattered for now. Then, she turned to her body… slowly, Neytiri approached it. It simply lay there, breathing gently as if asleep. How was it possible? Had P'all done this? She recalled her bond around his neck, on his bare skin. Did he somehow have the power to pull her within as Yawne was able to move when accompanied by Eywa? Did that mean she could go back if she made the bond against bare skin? But where was P'all? She should have shared their mind and been able to speak with him, sharing thoughts, as Yawne was able too when he was within another bod- then her body moaned.
Impossible! They had switched bodies? Neytiri quickly moved to him, in her body, for that was all it could be. She could not comprehend having her consciousness in two different bodies at the same time. Gently Neytiri lifted her body in P'all hands. Slowly her eyes opened and looked at her, they didn't focus at first, and then slowly sharpened. Instant surprise filled them, then confusion and fear but it wall masked by sheer pain. "What?" Neytiri heard her voice say, though it was severely strained.
"P'all?" Neytiri asked, in her own voice as well.
"Who?" P'all answered in her voice, very taxed.
"We have switched bodies." Neytiri said matter of fact, not allowing the situation to touch her yet, she still had a job to do. Though it took all of her training and considerable calm to remain detached. "How do you feel?" Especially since she knew she was asking herself.
"Dead." P'all answered, and sounded like it.
Neytiri felt her heart wilt, for he suffered what she should have been, "We must switch back, I am going to touch my bond to your skin, then-" but it hit her. Then she would be incapacitated while P'all in his small body, with all his panic and fear would be the only thing standing between them, utter failure, and doom. A war began in Neytiri's mind. If she switched she did not know if P'all could handle what had to be done. She knew she had to carry her body, possibly Jake, and the orbs… and she may also have to fight. P'all had no training nor understanding of combat, and he had no training in stealth or for that matter staying calm in a crisis… it would be better for all of them if she remained in his body and took care of them. While he suffered in her own. But. Neytiri was future Tshaik, she had to make the hard decisions and knew them well. "P'all… I am sorry. You must hold on a little longer." Neytiri's body only closed her eyes and buried her face into her arms. Neytiri coldly ignored every conflicting feeling, all of it shoved aside, she had to save her people. Neytiri turned away, returning to Jake. She lifted his head, "Jake, you must wake, we must move."
Jakes eyes opened, looking up and smiling said, "Okaaayyy…" then began trying to right himself. Neytiri licked her lips, ignoring the odd feeling of her tongue. She would need to carry her body, but it was possible Jake could carry the basket, or she may have been able to drag it. Neytiri quickly moved back to her body.
"P'all I must move you now, I am sorry." Then as gently as possible, she tried to pick her body up and place it upon her back. P'all did not silence his moans and cries of pain as she moved him in her body, all in her own voice. But it did not touch her. It had to be done. Neytiri settled her body. "Jake, can you carry that?"
Jake looked around himself, weaving unsteadily on his feet, he located the basket and smiled. "How many oranges did you buy?" he said offhandedly, then hefted the basket to his good side. Neytiri sighed inwardly, at least she would not have to risk dragging it. Unconsciously she felt her much more mobile tail wrap around her body, on her back. Firmly locked in place, and with P'all groaning in her ear, she began the long ascent. Back to the surface; back to her own world; back to all the troubles which still waited for them and the possibility of failing despite everything they had gone through …the journey to the surface would have to be quick; though Neytiri would try not to cause P'all, within her body, any more pain. He had not yet slipped into unconsciousness, though he slumped heavily upon her back, eyes firmly closed and moaning as they went. They met no resistance, even though by now even Jake was becoming more coherent, which meant the Nekxtskxe had to be too.
As they climbed, Jakes footing became more certain, and his bearing more sure. He came fully to his senses when they reached the arena, still engulfed in the odd powder, as no wind stirred the air freely here. Neytiri knew this because she heard him gasp in pain and then slowly begin to move in a way that took care of his injured side and more fully secured the basket; once they made their way through the living area of the Nekxtskxe, Jake was talking. "Paul…" It was obvious P'all's groans of pain in Neytiri's body, and with her voce, worried him; "…is Neytiri alright?"
"We can not stop, we must hurry, but yes." she said in her voice. Neytiri didn't waste time trying to explain. Jake went totally silent, but Neytiri did not know if it was because he thought Neytiri had said it, or if he was confused, but she didn't ask. She could not break her stride, physically for time, and mentally because it would mean facing what was happening to her. Something she could not yet do. They had to get out, before the Nekxtskxe found them, before the humans tried to attack the Omaticaya, and before their world became war once more. However, when they reached the network of caves another problem halted them completely… they had no idea which was the way out. All the cave mouths looked the same, all the same burning orange moss- there had been no way for them to memorize the way with all the twists and turns and the fast pace set by the guard. They would not have been able to find their way in again, let alone out. Neytiri's mind worked quickly, though in truth she was completely at a loss. Jake too tried to puzzle it out, even as he held his side. They were stuck.
"Look for signs!" Neytiri said, quickly ducking her head and checking each cave mouth with her… odd eyes. Her focus was different, now that she paid attention to it. Her sight seemed able to, swim around… becoming clearer, and closer on something if she focused. It was unsettling, and hard to get use too, but even with her oddly enhanced sight, she could not find sign. Their foot falls had been well covered by the living moss which they had treaded upon the entire time. Like a carpet, the living floor sprung back into place showing no sign of having been disturbed.
"Ah!" Jake said suddenly, "Way to go Paul!" Neytiri turned to him, he was looking up. There, above their heads on the roof of the cave, a single black streak… exactly where the moss had been scraped away by P'all's heel, in rhythmic lines from his boot hitting the ceiling. The way was clearly marked. Without hesitation they began to follow, taking many twists and turns, but the sign guided them true. The only problem was the going of it. The pace they set was difficult as they fled; Jake with his broken rib and load as well as Neytiri's own slowed them considerably. When it came to once more jumping the odd gaps, it took much of Neytiri's focus to utilize P'all's smaller body to make the leap with the load. Jake soldiered on even carrying the deadly cargo. They skipped off walls, distanced varied gaps and crevices, every now and again passing one of the sturdy trees now aglow with a strange mixture of green and blue leaves but always surrounded by the constant burning moss until finally they reached an opening; an opening into the odd landscape of the Nekxtskxe homeland.
During the day when the land was seemingly not but grey ash, during the night, the patches of grey trees now glowed green and blue as all the forests of Pandora but where cut the tracing roads of rock now burned as if molten once more. Jake and Neytiri turned, looking upwards; the mountain glowed as well with the flows of lava cooled but alit now by the burning moss, it was as if a volcanic eruption was frozen in time. The beauty was a sight few had seen in the evergreen forests of Pandora, but that which was even more beautiful was that of a single glow moving across the sky. Like a star come undone and swirling free, the spotlight from Jen's Sampson drew towards them. "Paul I hope that's you guys, I'm coming in. Over."
Jake reached up to the side of his head, "It's us Jen, we got the stones we need a pick up. Any sight of the Nekxtskxe, over?"
"Copy Jake, good to hear you again, and no- I haven't seen a single one, there aren't any even manning the defenses from before- it's a ghost town down there. I don't know what you guys did but there has been literally no movement on the outside. "
Jake and Neytiri exchanged glances, "That's either very good or very bad, anything on interior scans? Over."
"Jake this isn't a star ship, I can't scan the inside of a mountain, thermal imaging won't even bypass the moss if I tried. Over." Jen replied.
Jake sighed, "Well we don't have time, Neytiri needs medical attention and so do I. We'll worry about them later, Over and out."
Neytiri turned to Jake, still hefting her body on P'all's back, "Jake, we must speak."
Jake trailed his eyes up to Neytiris' body's face, "What is it?"
"No Jake, I am here." Neytiri said firmly, as it began to touch her.
Jake flicked his eyes downward to P'all's eyes, "P'all that isn't funny." Neytiri opened her mouth to speak further but by then Jen had drawn the Sampson close enough so the engine would swallow her words. Jake first secured the basket, by stepping up the landing rail and strapping it down, then he came back for Neytiri's body, "Don't' worry Neytiri, you'll be fine." he said as he lovingly carried her, broken rib be damned, up into the pit. Neytiri followed, allowing them to get settled and then touched Jake's shoulder.
"My Jake, you do not see, I am here!" she said again.
Jake scowled as he wrangled the medical kit, "I'm serious man, stop that-"
But Neytiri seized Jake by the chin and turned him, "Jake, look at me!"
Jake set his expression like one dealing with a spoiled child, "P'all all I see is…" but then he squinted, looking into P'all's strange golden brown and thought they were not her own… "…Eywa …Neytiri?" Jake gasped. Neytiri felt her heart flutter and pride burn there, Jake took her by the shoulders. "How did this happen? What did he do to you?"
Neytiri shook her head, "I will explain what I know, but I can not say how it has come to be. Eywa has gifted me with the chance to help us, though, I do not know how but I know this change, saved us all."
"But, then…" he looked back to Neytiri's body on the floor of the Sampson, the wind stirring her hair as the Sampson took to the air; P'all squeezed her eyes shut, still suffering such pain as Neytiri could only imagine.
Neytiri gently turned Jake back to her, "He suffers for me, that which had to be done, and until I know my people are safe I can not take my true place. I think I know a way, but, this is how it must be… until we are all safe." Jake closed his mouth, understanding the hard choice Neytiri had to make, but pitying Paul none the less for his strange role in all of this. What choice did he have? Silently… Jen listened to the comm. in her ear, face unreadable; a mask. Yet her eyes burned with a fire that rivaled that of the Burning Mountain, frozen in eruption for ages, and glowed with a fever of unknown thoughts and secrets. Suddenly a warning light blared, a proximity alarm screamed, an incoming object; Neytiri gasped, as did Jake as Jen swiftly swerved the Sampson and buckled them all upwards. Whatever it was that barely missed them, shot by in the dark like a falling star. Rattling the glass in it's haste. A projectile, a rider on an Ikran, it was hard to say… but they could not stop, because before them lay the greater problem of a ticking clock. Even now the giant hands moved upon the horizon with the planet as center, and the slow tick tock sounded as a massive engine humming in the recess of space.