45: So it Ends

Jake had barely made it out when it hit again, a concussive shockwave the likes of Hometree striking the ground in death throes. He ran through the wreckage of Hell's Gate and out into the open, heedless of the danger yet expecting the worse… he was right. P'all clutched his head with his great clawed hands, his massive tail thrashed around him like an ocean wave, pulping anything in a defensive circle; it was like watching a ribbon dancer weighed down by lead. But that was not the origin of the shockwaves, no, that came from his voice. "WHO ARE YOU!" the chorus of whispers and screams cried out again. The air vibrated, the sound of chaotic stringed instruments and deep bass horns rolling from his throat. "LIFE! WHAT IS LIFE!"

Jake was nearly thrown off his feet each time those jaws opened and screamed, the reverberation hurt his ears and felt like it pushed on his blood, he spotted Neytiri on the other side of the compound doubled over. "NEYTIRI!" Jake had tried to shout, but all sound seemed swallowed by the constant 'orchestra' from the giant's vocal chords. Jake flattened his ears and pressed against the onslaught. One by one his feet carried him, step by step though his skin rippled as if in a high wind. "NEYTIRI!"

Jake bent to her, she looked to him just as a slight lull appeared in his roars. "Jake, Eywa speaks!"

This time the blast was followed by P'all throwing his elbows upward, tail increasing in fervor, but their were no words, just a long and mournful deluge of pain. Jake gripped Neytiri until his knuckles turned white, pulling her up from the ground and running with her back to the door- he didn't know if shelter would help or not, but it was all he could think of. Once the huge metal plate slammed shut behind them, the constant noise stopped. Jake and Neytiri collapsed, breathing heavily, feeling as if they'd been tossed in a sonic typhoon. They could still hear the distant booming, like cannon fire on the horizon. "Neytiri." Jake gasped, "Are you alright?"

Neytiri collected herself first, wincing as she pushed her hair back, "I am fine, but we must act, now!"

Jake gripped empty air, "But we turned off the machine!"

"Yes but that may be our undoing, I was with him Jake, in the very heart of his thoughts. He has spread himself everywhere, without knowing, filling every part of the world around him but now he is not alone!" Jake furrowed his brow, taking his hands from his knees. Neytiri gripped her fists, angry she could not communicate it properly and tried again before he could say anything. "Eywa has always been everywhere, in all things, but she was silenced by this ma'cheen. P'all was spread by the virus, gradually, slowly, he became use to the new form, accepting without care, as if thrown into a lonely prison he could not escape. Now, the door has been opened, and he is surrounded by thousands of lives and a voice which is speaking to him from all of it."

Jake nearly shrugged, "Isn't that good?"

Neytiri laid her ears flat and took Jake close, "You must understand, Eywa is life itself, eternal, she protects the balance of all life." Jake narrowed his eyes, "Jake, he wants to die!"

Jake's eyes widened like dinner plates. "Crap." Again a sonic shockwave rumbled the walls. Jake turned and tried to sprint down the hallway with Neytiri on his heels, "We have to find Norm, the antivirus!"

The pair burst into the room as Norm and his team, along with Jen in her Avatar, were pulling canisters onto a rolling tray. "JAKE!" Norm jumped, "What's going on? No, don't tell me, I'll hate it!"

"It's bad. Is it ready?" Jake asked.

Norm continued loading. "We've done our best to enhance the antigen but due to his nature we've had to make it gaseous, to get it into him, but his sheer size forced us to synthesize a boatload, but it was in a rush so we don't know how effective it will actually-"

"Can we launch what we have?" Jake interrupted.

"I think we'd better." He heaved against the cart just as Jen loaded the last canister and another shockwave vibrated them ominously.

Once back outside, everybody gawked at first- his body was splitting open, molten lines like lava beneath a black rock surface had intensified and now wept corrosive blood. A great rush of steam, a curtain of white smoke floated up around him from the liquid searing the ground. "Final stage…" Jen gasped.

"Jake we'll have to-" Norm began, Jake hefted the ground to air missile launcher onto his shoulder, knowing exactly what needed to be done.

"Load!"

Norm shoved a canister into the back of the tube, "You're good!"

Jake leveled the sights on P'all's chest and prayed to Eywa. There was a short 'POOM' and then suddenly an explosion of hissing green smog appeared around P'all's left pectoral. Jake didn't stop though, he knew it wouldn't be effective in that amount just by a glance. "Load!"

Norm complied again without pause, "Ok!"

POOM!

"Load!"

"Go for it!"

POOM!

Now P'all was blanketed by a column of green smoke, It was impossible for him not to inhale the vapors… unless he didn't need to breath. Oddly, during all the firing, he had ceased struggling and stood stock still. The sound had fallen away, but not ended, instead there was a general buzz… like thousands of frogs and insects, humming. Everyone held their breath in anticipation as the smoke slowly drifted away, pulled like a cloud breaking upon a mountain. Again his form was revealed, solid in that green drift, his face blank and mouth open. His shoulders were sagged, his arms hanging at his sides. He leaned slightly to the left, looking just upwards as if stunned. Jake stood, Neytiri clutched her hands. All about them the wounded Nekxtskxe looked on in silent trepidation, even those wounded and pained made no noise at the spectacle. P'all looked for all the world as if he had just woken up, like some teenager having overslept, his long black coils of hair fallen around him yet torn slightly by his claws and the pulling air.

"If you are life… then I am death."

At once the cracks and joints of his body began to simultaneously bleed openly, orange-red fire blood spilled fourth like cold syrup, great pools of it collected at his feet, swallowing everything that was not already blackened in a hellish orange glow and flowing outward. Jake kneeled, "LOAD LOAD LOAD!" But Norm was frozen; the strange orchestral had begun again, high violins mourning a dieing world, terrible horns pounding a grieving heart beat, the tidal wave of burning blood rushed through the jungle and bit deeply into the fence line. "Shit!" Jake stood waving his free arm, "Run, run, run!" Snapped from their awe, Norm and the other turned and fled outright back into the compound; the Nekxtskxe who could, stood and followed, Neytiri tried to help usher some- but the wave moved to quickly, it swallowed dozens as they tried to escape. Their forms vanished, the liquid sucked and pulled at them, tossing their bodies into an unseen fate. Jake tried to salvage the cart, but knew he would be overtaken, cursing again he thrust a single canister more onto his free shoulder and ran after them. Jen, oddly, had the presence to grab a canister herself and follow- just as the tsunami took the cart and singed her heels.

The great metal door slid slowly open and even slower closed, Jake had to bend double to enter and Jen dove, Jake then slammed his fist into the override, making the sealing door slam shut, splattering some of the liquid which had entered. "The roof!"

"There!" Norm shouted, pointing. Jake turned swiftly, Neytiri nodded. At a dead run he, Neytiri and Jen behind, took the stairwells. Neytiri carried Jake's canister and each took the cramped steps four at a time. Jake didn't bother to pause in his steps as he brought his heel into the air tight door at the top. The rush of equalizing air flowed in, bringing with it a kind of sweet smell of grass and ash. They were now belly level to P'all, who stood still, bleeding from every inch like a frozen monument. The liquid had spread from him alarmingly, a flood of the orange fire blood now rippled standing two feet on the ground as far as Jake could see. Hell's Gate was swallowed and at this rate, so too would be Pandora. Jake breathed harshly, took a few steps and knelt- aiming directly for his head.

"Load."

The rumbling head turned to them- from his height, Hell's Gate was an ant hill and all the Na'vi, ants- but his eyes did not see. "I am become death, ender of words…"

'POOM!'

The canister rocketed before a stream of grey smoke landing squarely in P'all's open mouth. The clang of metal striking teeth, the pang of detonation as the great jaws came down, and the released hiss of gas all at once sounded as a crash. The green fog flooded from his maw, nostrils, like a dragon exhaling. Jake lowered the weapon, as those behind him stood hoping for some kind of sign; "Load." The smoke drifted away, yet somehow, the eyes now saw with the slightest spark of clarity… even as molten tears joined the sea below. They focused in on the figures, who froze; there, they locked upon Jake. Jake only set his jaw. "Load." The violins and horns dropped away, the empty hollow voice, the roaring crowds ceased. And there it was… the blame.

"Yooooooooouuuu."

The orange furnaces narrowed, the great tail slowed, the massive body leaned. "Load…" Jake stood, Neytiri and Jen behind him stepped back. The huge black foot lifted from the ocean, drifting like a dark cloud over the fence- "Load!" –to move upwards above the roof line itself as a shadow engulf those below preparing to fall down upon them like an avalanche! Suddenly a streak of sky blue fell downwards, raking and screaming into his hating face; Lawtaw and Yawne! The foot halted and the great body tipped backwards, reeling, the foot returned to the molten ocean to regain balance, the black wave of his tail lashed and the horrible claws reached upward- barely grasping the air as they pulled for height. Neytiri snapped to her senses, ripping the canister from Jen's grasp, and trying to stuff it into the gun but Jake had not stopped looking upwards, and he wasn't watching the giant. Neytiri cast her gaze heavenward and saw as he did… the green smoke had drifted and gathered, sucked into a great black spiral; storm clouds, mighty and more powerful than any creature on Pandora.

Neytiri whispered. "Eywa speaks."

With a bone crunching slam, Lawtaw and Yawne both came tumbling from the sky swatted as a mosquito by the massive hands. "Yawne!" Both Neytiri and Jake shouted, turning to run to him. Lawtaw struggled as with a broken wing, Yawne tried to sit up. That was when P'all slammed both clawed hands upon the rooftop on each side. The building shook from the impact, all faced turned upward. P'all had pushed through the fence and now wept his molten tears upon the roof, hissing outward a typhoon of hot breath upon a lone figure. Jen, looking alone upon the furnaces of hell as those steady waterfalls of burning tears fell around her, stood motionless. The black strands of cable thick hair fell forward encircling her like a black curtain. "JEN!" Neytiri screamed desperately. This ringing cry, as those hate filled eyes stared, paused. A simple halt, recognition of a different kind… and they cast downward. Now, their eyes met. Cause and effect. She who was truly to blame, and he who could never know blame for her. Their eyes met, and that pulse, the hush of voices… rattled once more. A rising whisper, a rustle of barbed trees, recognition.

For a moment, there was stillness, a void stillness as the seeping wounds stopped; the round burning eyes dimmed though widening into perfect spheres. Jen could only stare in awe at her work, her goal, inches from her and it was she who began to weep. A single hand lifted to touch the onyx skin, like a blue petal lighting upon a lava field. The savage contrast, between all that harnessed destruction and such gentle softness… the hands of the creator upon its molded clay. She who stared up into the face of god, the god herself. Then the lightening fell. Once, twice, like great crashes of a cymbal. P'all violently twisted upwards- left, right, convulsing as the electrical current bit into the tallest standing object. Jen cried out falling backwards from the closeness of the bolts. Again, then in rapid succession- twice, thrice! P'all's body curled inward, protectively covering himself with his arms, tail spasming outward into that molten sea which began to steam and boil in earnest. Super heated by the current which burned many times hotter than the surface of the sun the burning liquid frothed and churned, his body no longer wept fire blood for it seized up like a dried husk- again, again, lightening bolts fell in a cascade!

Jake and Neytiri could only cover their eyes, flattening their ears at the awesome sound of Eywa's fury. The thunder was louder than any roar, like a volcano from the split sky, yet no rain fell- the air simply burned and the sea churned. P'all's already blackened skin became patched with spider webs of cracks and burnt flesh. It was then Jen realized just what a true god was. She crawled forward, helpless to prevent her creation- her victim- from suffering and the realization spilled from her mouth, "No, she's killing him!" With suddenness unnatural, the clouds spat forth a blaze of lightening, dancing across P'all and his sea like the fingers of a skilled pianist. The tumult was deafening, the flashes blinding, every hair of those witness stood on end. P'all could do nothing, great and terrible as he was upon the face of Pandora, he still was not Pandora itself. Like a cell rejecting a virus, the Lightening focused in on one point, and the sound was so great- there was no sound; the light so bright, only a pure white field…and when it fled away, the solid ash form of P'all stood motionless as the thundered rolled on.

Jake lifted his head, huddled over Neytiri who huddled over the prone Yawne protectively. Jen was the first to stand, in horror forgetting her fear and awe. She reached out with her soft hands, the futile petals, but she could no longer reach him. "NOOOoooo!" her strangled cry surprised them, their ears didn't ring. They could taste the burnt ozone, even fell the dry air on their skin, but it was P'all who smoked and smoldered. Jake stood, warily looking above him as the spiraling clouds no longer lashed out. He looked to Neytiri and Yawne, who looked to him for guidance. Jake turned and approached Jen, who stood at the edge, reaching for the charred monument of everything she had- and lost. Freely tears fell down her face …her toes leaned dangerous into space. Jake could not help but take in the sight of him, the innocent… monster, who had done nothing but what other people asked. Contorted by fate or a tragic destiny, Jake didn't have the heart to hate or blame him, especially now as he pitied him; a grim frown, Jake burned the image into his memory. The colossal figure stood arms wrapped around himself in an eternal self hug, face lifted slightly to the horizon, mouth and eyes gaping in eternal surprise. Where once his skin was only the color of ash, now, truly was made of ash. Jake knew, nothing, could have survived that onslaught.

A strong wind still pulled at their clothes and hair, as if coaxing them off the edge- Jen tipped forward. Jake snatched out his hand, gripping her arm- even as she turned to him in defiant sorrow. Her eyes asked him why, but he didn't have an answer. Jen leaned her weight against the emptiness and for a moment, just a moment, Jake wondered if it would be kinder to just, let go. These two had died before, he knew; the first time, she had fallen to the lightening of man and he to fire, and now P'all to the rage of Eywa's lightening… so why not let Jen fall into the burning sea below? Her body consumed by liquid fire… would Eywa allow them into her arms? Or was there truly a hell for those cast away by her own hands? Jake's hands felt heavy on her arm, hand gripping her like a straw figure. Her face pleading to him as she no longer had the strength or will to fight, but Jake knew. These two knew more of Hell than anything death could throw at them. Jake pulled her back from the brink. Jen wilted, defeated, and uncaring what waited for her now. Jake felt truly sorry for her, but before any words came to his lips, the rains began to fall.

Soft little hisses at first, as the cold water touched the molten sea and fell on their parched skin. Jake involuntarily looked upwards, more touched his face like gentle finger tips. Was this Eywa's tears? They fell in greater number now, the pattern upon the roof and the hiss growing more frequent. Jen looked only to P'all and Jake followed her eyes as the blackened figure hissed like the rest of the burning sea. Slowly Neytiri came to Jake's side, and Yawne limped up beside Jen; together, in silence, the four watched the rain fall upon him. Like heated stones in a sauna, his body hissed a small cloud of steam which rose to touch the darker clouds above. Those who watched in morbid remorse let the rain fall upon them, soaking their skin to shine, cleansing them of their regrets. Jake felt a stir in his gut, should he say a few words? He felt he was at a funeral, but really, what did he know of P'all? He'd never gotten to know the man, he'd never asked or taken the time- there was no time, there was always danger or, or something else coming up. It felt like a poor excuse on Jake's tongue, a bad taste. Jake looked to Jen who starred at an impossible distance. He didn't know anything about her either, who she was before her mission consumed her…but even that he wasn't sure he understood.

He could empathize of course, knowing what it felt like to want to wipe all humans from Pandora. Jake had let that feeling fuel him when he gathered the clans. Would he have accepted and even aided Jen back when Quaritch was at the height of his power? Would he have not given anything to prevent the destruction of Home tree, even letting loose the monstrous P'all? Jake pushed down the revolt of feelings, he was no better than Jen, never thought himself to be so. Jen was just too late. Why had she not tried to put her plan into motion sooner? Why had she not come to Jake when he had pulled his own rebellion… or for that matter, why had she not assisted Ryder or Yawne? She had three chances to unleash her plan, but she had let them each pass her by, why? Yet, Jake had only to look at her lost eyes starring beyond P'all to know that answer. She was eaten by guilt, penned by regret- somewhere in her meddling with Paul's DNA she realized what she was doing to him, and ran from it. No, more than that, she buried him- like he was already dead. It then occurred to Jake, if they had not dug him from that grave- what seemed like ages ago- in that tiny Grotto, would any of this had happened? No, even further, if the Old Order had not swarmed upon them, would she have not been forced to unleash her greatest weapon?

Jake again pushed these away, it was getting him nowhere and only prolonging the silence. Instead he resolved himself; Paul, never meant for any of this- he was victim of fate, destiny, and Eywa. The least Jake could do, for his role in all of it, was say a few kind words over his passing. Jake lifted his chin- as soon as he opened his mouth a loud crack resounded. Like a glacier, or mountain quake, the sound struck them- stunning them from its sheer volume. The four looked on in confused shock, then were struck again by a resounding crack. Jen covered her ears and bowed her head, Neytiri lifted her arm defensively, Jake stepped before Jen, Yawne could only hold onto his side and wince. A third crack split the air, only this time, the source was made obvious. P'all's body. His burnt husk, his shell was splitting. A fourth lesser crack and a great plate from his right shoulder slid free, falling into the orange sea below with a rolling hiss. Yet more cracks resounded and appeared, more plates breaking off and falling into the sea below. Jake could help but follow the huge break-aways, looking down into the molten fires as they sunk. But. They didn't sink.

Jake leaned forward, the ocean of fire blood, was shallow? No, even now Jake could see the run off from the down pour, muddy brown swirls appearing in the orange mass. It was then Jake realized it no longer glowed; it was being diluted! Jake looked upward, again at the cracks as more plates fell away and the blackened skin of P'all's form shifted like an ice sculpture set in the sun. That was when it fully hit him. Eywa had super heated P'all with lightening and then thrown cold water upon him; the resulting expansion and contraction of his armored flesh worked like metal or stone and cracked from the pressure! Eywa had planned this, but how had she created the storm? But for Jake, it didn't really matter, for he then saw P'alls face split down the center. All at once the last hold out of his form collapsed into the sea, falling away into the murky waters below. Jake leaned over the edge watching sadly as the ashen black plates were lapped upon by the natural flood, dissolving the ash, swallowing the shocked blank eyes.

Jake would never forget the sight.

Finally, it was done. Nothing remained now of the once larger than life P'all. The rains still fell as a torrent, yet burning ocean was replaced by muddy brown and black flood rapids. Every trace of the once burning wildfire, swept away by the waters of Eywa. It was over. Jake stood looking down at the rushing waters for a while, unable, really to think anything. Life was strange, and filled with… Jake remained silent. Neytiri's hand touched upon his shoulder. She looked to him as he looked to her, and their eyes understood each other. The roar of water and fall of rain being the only voice needed. Someone cleared their throat; Jake and Neytiri turned to Yawne who stood beside Jen. "I understood him, in a small way, perhaps more than any of you. Like me he was cast into a world he'd only dreamed about, used for purposes he couldn't grasp, and sacrificed by forces incomprehensible." Jen let her hands slip from her ears to the back of her neck, yet her head remained bowed. "But unlike me, he never hated those who pushed and pulled him to his end. Unlike me, who was given reason to believe and hold faith in people, even enemies- he was given no kindness for his troubles. The first child of Pandora and Earth, caught in the fires of old conflict, made demon for the purposes of each- but innocent despite it all."

"I can not say I understand the end of it all, nor can I say I understood how it all began. But, I can say I understood him. He was a good man, in a bad time. Better than all of us. He who was consumed in the fires of hatred of both sides, stood at lest for what he had always believed in." Jen looked up then, gently, and Yawne met her eyes. "Love." Jake and Neytiri let their hands come together, leaning a little closer to each other. "I know, in my heart… and for that he shall be remembered, honored. All the Nekxtskxe shall sing of P'all: the lost wanderer, the sky flower, the burning giant, and the fall of Eywa's tears. I can promise you, his story will live on and his good will be remembered. It must be remembered." Yawne bowed respectfully to Jen then, and stoically walked away, back to Lawtaw and knelt to her. Jen stood looking at where Yawne had just been, Jake and Neytiri looking to her. Neytiri nodded to herself.

"For him, you shall live."

Jen looked up. Jake looked to her. Neytiri stood firmly, "For his sacrifice, you shall spread his story. You will live on, to make sure the tale is told, not only on Pandora, but all of Earth must know of his deeds. You are the only one now who knows his true story, before he came, and his end." Neytiri pointed strongly. "This is your penance, and it shall be your life, for your life. When the rains have gone, when the sky has cleared you will leave this place, leave, and never return. The Omaticaya shall not pursue you, you will not be held to blame as long as you carry this charge. Tell his story Jnn. And through it, let him live through you." Jen could bare it no longer, at Neytiri's words, her face cracked and she began to sob. Howling, she collapsed to her knees and clutched her stomach, grieving. Neytiri and Jake watched her in her keening. Both making the same promise to themselves, they too would carry the story with them and would never let it, and thus him, die.

…

Hours into the night, the flood had not subsided. The rain came and fell in curtains; Jake, Neytiri and Yawne joined with Peyral in the center most of the building. They left Jen to her own thoughts and choices, looking out over the vast horizon and holding herself in the rain. It appeared, despite all that had happened, miracles were still in order. Norm shuffled around inside the room far beyond over crowded, "Jake!"

Jake turned, "Norm, am I seeing this?"

Norm beamed, though was surprised himself, "I can't believe it either, but apparently everyone who had been swallowed by the orange stuff, didn't die! Yeah, they were completely unharmed, swept up by the stuff, to the other side of the compound where they were collected in the ruins. When the rains came they were all able to climb down, and join the rest- and get this- completely healed!" Jake only looked at him, unbelieving, "The medical teams are working tirelessly to find the source, and so far the discovery, well, it's just shocking to everybody."

"What is?" Jake prompted.

"Its' really amazing Jake, I still can't believe it!" Norm added.

"What is?" Jake said again.

"You're not going to believe this," Norm grinned, "a new form of the anti virus!" He was right, Jake didn't believe it. "As far as we can figure, Eywa pulled another Yawne, somehow getting a hold of the antivirus we made and evolving it herself to counter the Wildfire virus, and you'll never guess how it works- it actually burns out the killing process before it can burn itself out! Do you get it? We're calling it the Firebreak." Jake didn't get it, but Norm continued, "We figure she took the antivirus, maybe from when you were shooting gallons of it at Paul, and then continually used it against the virus, letting it die, and reproduce thousands upon billions of times under her care until it had mutated itself enough to actually combat the mutated form of the Wildfire virus! In seconds! Then, all she had to do was administer it, it's in the rain Jake! Airborne, skin to skin, the antivirus is more infectious then the wildfire virus. It's freaking amazing!" Jake felt celebration actually touch him until Norm spoke again, "What happened to Paul though?" As soon as it came, his smile, it died away. Norm's face dropped. "…we saw the lightening."

Jake nodded, "It's over." Nothing more need be said.

"Jen?" Norm almost whispered.

"She is safe from the Nekxtskxe." Yawne said, being held by Peyral.

"And the Omaticaya." Neytiri added.

"From everybody on Pandora," Jake confirmed, "We're letting her go."

Norm didn't even have an ounce of protest on his face, he only looked at Jake understandingly, "but what happens now?"

"Rebuild." Jake shrugged. "Keep going."

Yawne sat heavily, "and going we will be." Jake and Neytiri turned to him, "My people, have been too far from home too long. It is time we got back, we too have to rebuild much there." Peyral, still looking weary, placed her hands on his shoulders. Yawne took her hand with his own. "The new Olo'eyktan is going to have her bed chamber redone."

Peyral didn't get it at first, but Jake and Neytiri were stunned to their heels. "Yawne?" Peyral gasped.

He looked up to her, and whispered. "You have been far more and better a leader than I ever could, when I was selfishly trying to be something I wasn't, nearly getting my people wiped out, you were there to bring us back, and when I remained injured and unable from my own foolish choices, you kept us together. You have already led us this far by your own strength, I think now, we should give our strength back to you." Somehow the burden on her face lifted, the darkened circles beneath her eyes could not darken the brightness that overcame her expression.

"A female clan leader?" Jake stated. His slightly bewilderment didn't sit long on Jake as Neytiri's slap to the back of his head came a second after he realized what he had said, and tried to take back.

"The Clan of the Eastern Sea has a female Olo'eytkan Jake, and though I don't know if the Nekxtskxe have ever had one, they will now, and be in good hands for it." Yawne grinned.

"But what about you?" Neytiri added with a touch of scorn at Jake.

"Me? Well… I've had far more experience dealing with Eywa then anybody in this room. I think talking and listening to her will be a cake walk compared to that." Yawne grinned, and as if it was forgotten by his new form, that childish feral smile reminded everyone just who had been to the very heart of Eywa and returned.

"So Yawne will be the Tshaik and Peyral the Olo'eytkan?" Norm goggled.

"Sure, why not? There ware worse things to base your spiritual direction on then love." Yawne flashed that same old grin again.

Norm rolled his eyes, "But you guys are really going back, well, leaving us?"

Yawne looked up to Peyral, she answered. "It is time we had a home in our own hands."

Jake and Neytiri smiled to one another, "I guess it's time I stepped up too." They looked to him, "The Omaticaya need a real Leader, and I've been on the bench too long anyway."

Neytiri didn't get the reference, but she beamed at him none the less- then her face became harsh. "This means you will no longer be lazy, I will have to teach you how to be a proper Olo'eytkan."

Jake's grin died, "Crap." Neytiri slapped him again. "I mean, I can't wait." He gave the thumbs up. Yawne and Peyral laughed.

"And you're both just going to let Jen go? I mean, where? Just, off into the woods?" Norm added with a shuffle.

The two pairs looked to one another and each other, "That's up to her." Jake answered. Norm frowned, "First thing's first, the Omaticaya will help those in Hell's gate Rebuild… that is, if the Nekxtskxe allow it."

Yawne made to open his mouth, then shut it and looked up to Peyral who smiled and in her best Yawne accent huffed, "You can have it." Smiles all around- interrupted by a croaking laugh from a far corner.

All eyes turned to a man laying in a bed, slowly clapping his hands. "Touching, touching, I have goose bumps." Smith. "Oh, your expressions show you have all but forgotten about me! How wonderful that I am still here to remind you. Or will you execute me too? Kill the messenger wasn't it? Oh, delightful practice. Maybe you'll send my head off in a box back to earth as warning. I know that's what my employers would do." He smiled as if they had acted surprised, "Oh, you didn't forget did you? Yes, I'm employed. Oh wait, you didn't think this was all there was to our operation did you? This was merely a scouting trip. It wasn't very cost effective to send our whole force. We wanted to see what just one of our ships could do from orbit, and I must say, the data I've been streaming back to this whole time is very promising. Just imagine what a whole fleet could do!" Looks of ranging rage and horror littered the crowd of faces, Smith only grinned and put his arms up behind his head. "Ah yes, it isn't a question of when my dear friends, but who will get here first. Will it be the military or my employers? Either way, this isn't over, not even remotel-" the needle being pulled out from his IV bag revealed the cause of his sudden silence.

"He just doesn't know when to shut up." Max shook his head, then grinned at their surprised faces. "Nice little cocktail should keep him out, and his sleep will be none to restful. But yeah, we will have to rebuild, and I think expanding the facilities to accommodate both humans and Na'vi will be a great first step. And so will rebuilding our defense systems."

Norm smiled suddenly, "Oh man we didn't get to tell them!"

Everyone looked from them back to Max, Max grinned wider. "We found a few things in Jen's lab. It seems she had made allowances for the return of orbital attack strategies, there are literally miles of bunker under ground which all sorts of supplies she and the resistance squirreled away for when they took over. Hell's Gate should be fully functional AND defense capable in say, three years. Well, if we work together."

Jake could believe it, he put his hand to his forehead to make sure he wasn't floating away. "Well you'll have help, from the Omaticaya for sure."

"And the Nekxtskxe, we will return of course." Yawne added. "Eywa wills it." He bowed peacefully.

"Well, not for few months anyway." Peyral injected. Yawne looked up, as did the others, her tone of voice was slightly off. "At least eight."

Nothing donned on anyone until Neytiri's face grew into the largest smile there had ever been upon it, Peyral grinned shyly, Neytiri instantly let go of Jake and moved to her. "Are you certain!"

Peyral smiled, tears at the edge of her eyes, "But I could not tell until now."

Neytiri gripped her so hard they both nearly squealed in excitement, only when the sea of confused faces look up to them did Neytiri pull away and scowl at them. "Skxawngs, have you learned nothing?" Blank faces continued to answer. Peyral smiled tearfully.

"I'm pregnant!"

…

Jake lay close to Neytiri, curling his arm around her and looking distantly at his hand held before him; five fingers. The celebration had been short, a quiet and somber affair. So many were simply so tired and so ready to return home, still Na'vi and humans alike, from both clans gathered in the ruins, making fires over the damp ground, it was a small party with food and drink and giving of thanks but more so, it was a time for all to retell the tale of what had been so everyone knew what had happened. The story itself took hours, and it wasn't formulated into anything beautiful, not yet, nor song. The wildest part was when Peyral announced their child, then the Nekxtskxe unleashed a chant complete with jumping in place- the wall of blue bodies and harmony of voices made the night… but still the thoughts of the future came back to Jake. Five fingers. Peyral and Yawne could have a child, but then again Yawne's DNA had been altered by Eywa in some way, rebuilt. Jake was still an Avatar. Maybe the Wildfire virus had fixed his sterility, if he even was sterile. Or maybe not. Yet there that fifth finger remained. Jake could help but smile suddenly though, another little revelation surprised them all on the rooftop. When night fell, it seemed Yawne's past had not al been burned away. The scars of his body had faded and his hair blackened to appear like all Na'vi, but at night, those scars returned in the form of his body lights-glowing across his skin like white lightening.

Another hand came up wrapping around his. "Will you never sleep? We must do much tomorrow." Neytiri mumbled.

Jake grinned and squeezed her hand back, "I guess I can't sleep, so much has been going on, it seems hard to believe it's really over. I keep waiting for some kind of twist or someone to coming running with another terrible turn of events."

"You already worry like a Olo'eytkan. Do not, all is well tonight, you are in my arms and I in yours, that is all we need this night."

Jake kissed her forehead, sighing contentedly, but his face soon returned to that long distant stare and thoughts. "Do you think Jen will make it on her own?"

Neytiri looked up to him even as she lay against his shoulder, "She survived for ten years alone, my Jake. Yes, she was surrounded by the safety of people, but she guarded herself from them. I would not be surprised if she has already thought of her next move."

Jake nodded slightly, "I keep forgetting she's like a super genius, what she has accomplished, she probably had several back up plans…" after a pause, "…actually now I'm worried we haven't heard the last of her."

Neytiri grinned endearing into him, then nipped his skin slightly. Jake jumped and she dug her fingers into his chest. "I do not like you to think of another woman while you lie with me."

Jake could help but return the grin. He looked up at the far distant ceiling of peoples, sleeping, blissfully unaware of the dangers coming. The Old Order, the Military, which humans would make it to Pandora first? Would they have time to rebuild and prepare? Three years… it was an optimistic number. How many years had it been since the RDA left? How many years of real peace did they know before this mess fell from the sky? Jake silenced his mind and listened to the sounds of night, the gentle blue glow around him, and the soft body pressed into his own. This was his life. Relations with the Nekxtskxe, rebuilding Hell's Gate, and leading the Omaticaya… that would all come tomorrow, but tonight… tonight… Jake turned his head toward Neytiri, breathing in her smell and wrapping his arms around her.

That was all he needed.