Jake could not hear a single word anyone said the entire way down to Pandora. It was all white noise, every instruction, every attempt at conversation, he could not bring himself to listen, much less to care.

He could not tear his eyes away from any nearby window, every second he was getting closer to where he had known since childhood that he belonged. He never could have hoped to get this far, and yet, here he was, moments away. His heart ached as he replayed the last time he'd seen Tsu'tey, eyes aglow from fear and fire. He tried not to think about the reality of his situation, that all he had to assure himself that his counterpart was safe, was alive and waiting for him, was hope.

Jake, who had never been one for God or prayer, prayed to anyone who might be listening. He considered falling asleep in hopes of gaining certainty, but things were moving too fast around him, he would have to wait.

Seeing his avatar was a strange experience. He wondered if Tsu'tey was watching.

He'd known how tall the Omatikaya people were from their encounters with humans before, but it still took him aback to see the giant figure floating in the tube. Jake ran his hands along the glass, comparing the size of their appendages.

The scientist, Max, had told him he'd be able to "take him out tomorrow", excitement and dread was pumping through him, it felt like acid in his veins. What if he got out there and there was no Tsu'tey to greet him, what if all that was left was ash and bone.

He shook the invading thought away as he was ushered off further into the lab.

Max called to a woman, who stood in the center of it all, looking very important, smoking a cigarette.

Jake recognized her even before Max said her name.

So, this was Grace, the woman he had watched come to the Omatakaya and gain their trust. Jake tried not to show that he knew her, but he could feel his distain and anger bubbling just below the surface of his skin.

Max introduced Norm, who was greeted with kindness more or less, quizzed briefly on his knowledge of the Na'vi language, and then welcomed to the team.

Grace's greeting of Jake was considerably less friendly, "I know who you are, I don't need you, I need your brother," she sneered.

"Well, he's dead, I know it's a big inconvenience to everyone" Jake scowled

Grace did not seemed deterred "How much lab training have you had?"

"None... slä oe omum nìwok oe tìkin" [but I know all I need], Jake tried to ignore how strange it felt to be speaking Na'vi to another person-something he had only done in privacy.

"So you know some Na'vi, big deal" Grace rolled her eyes, "that doesn't get you brownie points here, I don't need another empty-headed marine fucking up my research."

"I know more than the language, I know the people, I know the culture, I may not be trained, but I can assure you I know exactly what I'm doing." Jake snapped

Grace seemed momentarily taken off guard, but quickly composed herself and bit back "I guess you'll just have to prove it then."

The rest of the day dragged on, Jake helped Norm practice Na'vi and avoided any questions as to why he was so good at it.

They wouldn't believe him, no one ever did.

The less they knew the better, this was an operation, he knew that, if he told them about the connection he had with the Omatikaya people they would use it as an advantage. Jake wasn't going to let them ruin this, he would find a way to get to Tsu'tey, he would do anything he had to in order to find him on his own.

Night came, and Jake lay in his bed too petrified to fall asleep, too afraid of what might be waiting for him on the other side. It had been six years, who knows what had happened during that time

As he lay there, Jake decided to do something he had only done a handful of times in his life, too afraid of sounding either moronic or insane-he decided to talk to Tsu'tey.

"If you're out there... god, I hope you're listening, because otherwise I'm going to feel really stupid... I'm so close," Jake whispered, hoping no one would hear him, "I will find a way to you, I promise. Just... you have to be okay. You have to be there when I get there, okay? It's... syay [fate], right? Now... wake up, so I can go to sleep and know that you're okay... I'll see you soon"

At that, Jake closed his eyes and forced his mind to quiet until he was able to fall asleep.

Nothing.

There was nothing, it was black and cold.

Jake floated there in the pitch darkness, a lump rose in his throat, this was it, he was gone. Six years had been too long. Tsu'tey was gone, and he was alone. Why had he thought that this could work, why had he thought he could make any difference. Now he was here, on this alien planet, and the only thing he had left to live for was gone.

Then, a light broke through the darkness, and suddenly Jake was surrounded by a hazy atmosphere of trees and the faint sounds of birds in the distance.

There he was, stirring from his sleep. Jake stared at the other man, warmth growing in his chest.

Tsu'tey hadn't changed much, his features were slightly harder, even in a half sleep.

Jake watched the other man's eyes suddenly shoot open, "Jake" he breathed, before his face split into a grin, "I am here, Jake, I am waiting for you"