-.-Civilian-.-
Saw an interview with the kids from Way of Water talking about Stephen (who they call Slang) as being the nicest person and they all love him. Jack also does a killer impression of him! I love when sweet people play evil characters - it's one of my weaknesses! That was when I knew I had to write this story!
"Good morning all! Bright eyed and bushy-tailed are we? Let's get this show on the road!" The next morning, bright and early, Phoenix strode into the lab, all smiles and with an eager bounce in her step.
"Whoa, slow down there, tiger." Dr. Augustine approached, dressed in her lab coat.
The young woman looked around. "Where're Norm and Jake?"
"Already out there."
She felt her eyes bug out and her face fall. "But I'm early!"
"After some reconsideration, I felt it was best to let our specialists go out first."
"But aren't I civilian specialist?"
"Yes, technically. But this is not something to be taken lightly, Phoenix. It is a dangerous new world out there."
"I know, and I'm totally serious about it. I've done all the training!" The wave of disappointment hit sharply, and squeezed from her chest all the way down to her stomach. She was like a balloon that had suddenly and sharply been deflated. No, more like suddenly popped.
"I also had a special request from Colonel Quaritch not to let you out there just yet."
Her head snapped up at this reveal. "What?" He had said - more than once - that he wanted to keep things between them on the down-low for now - why would he suddenly confide in Dr. Augustine, someone who he had clear tenson with? "Why?"
"He is Head of Security, and with you being a civilian, we want to make sure we take the utmost care."
Oh, that's it, there it was, the truth. It had nothing to do with them. "Oh, yeah, right... But I trained for this. I prepared. I know what dangers there are out there." And frankly, I don't much care right now.
The Doc patted her shoulder. "Look, I like your passion and eagerness, I appreciate it. But there's a lot more to consider here. I'm sorry, kid. Next time." And that was that.
Dr. Augustine returned to her work - probably to go drive her own Avatar - while Phoenix stayed standing there in the middle of the lab like a drooped plant. Oh, this was so not fair.
Then, her disappointment driving her, she stalked across the the base to the military end of things as fast as her small stature would carry her.
She had to search around a bit, but finally she found him, in uniform assessing a tablet. "Oi! What the hell? I'm not even supposed to be here right now, I'm supposed to be out there." She flung her arm out in the general direction of that fence he had mentioned in his security speech the first day, beyond which all the dangers lay. "Today was supposed to be my first link day - Dr. Augustine said you interfered."
"I did. I don't think she and her other lab coats realize, or take seriously, the risk out there. They take it too lightly. I'm Head of Security-"
"Yes, I'm well aware."
"-And that being so I am in charge of the safety and well-being of everyone on this base, not just my military brothers and sisters. It is our job, our duty, to protect the rest of the people in this operation. We've already lost a lot of good people here."
"I get that, and I get that it comes with a lot of pressure, all those lives under your care, but not everyone needs protection. I don't need protection, Miles. I'm supposed to be out there right now with the others - with my brothers and sisters. I didn't come all the way here to be all comfy at base, I came here to go out there and learn everything I possibly can. I can't do that if I'm stuck here. So please, don't interfere with my work, and I won't interfere with yours. You do your job, and I'll do mine."
He was silent for some time, hopefully considering her words. "You making video logs?" he finally said.
"Yeah, we're all required to."
"Send 'em to me. We can use any information we can get."
"Okay, I will. But I can't make the logs if I don't go out and do the work and get the information. I don't want to argue with you, but you know that this is the reason I came out here."
"And take a weapon when you go."
"Is that really necessary-"
"Yes it is, trust me on that. Like I said, everything out there wants to kill you. You'll want to act first."
"Fine. If it'll make you feel better."
"It will."
"Fine."
"In fact, take this." He withdrew the pistol from his belt and placed it on the table before her. She hesitated before taking it. "I know you're excited to be here, Sweetheart, but that doesn't change the fact that it's a war zone out there. To stay alive, you may have to shoot, and shoot first."
"Lab rats!"
"Ha, good one! They even have tails on those blue bodies!"
These comments were followed by snickers. Phoenix looked down the hall to see a group of military personnel taunting Norm. Norm was doing his best to ignore it, but he was surrounded.
"Hey! Back off!" She stalked over.
Now all military eyes fell on her. "What's it to you, short stuff?"
"I'm working in the lab too, so I would appreciate it if you treat my friends with respect."
"Whatever freaks." The group left, still laughing.
"Thanks," Norm said.
"Of course. They have no right to pick on you. They may be the muscle of this operation, but you and the other science folks are the brains. Has this been happening a lot?"
"A little."
"I'll talk to the Colonel."
"Why?"
Oh, had she let that slip? Luckily, she could recover. "Well he's their superior officer, he can talk to them about it."
"Yeah, I guess."
"How was the link?" she asked, eager to find out.
"Incredible!" His excited expression softened. "I'm sorry you weren't out there with us."
"Yeah, me too. I guess me being a civilian complicates things."
"You'll get your chance."
"Thanks." Yeah, she would, and hopefully sooner rather than later.
Miles had better not interfere with her work again.
"Pandora is a huge moon - we've barely scratched the surface of it. There's so much to discover! There are several clans, fifteen to be exact, and so far our people have only come into contact with one: the Omaticaya Clan of forest-dwelling Na'vi-" Nix held up a tablet in front of the camera to show an image of the tall, blue-skinned humanoids. She was attempting another video log despite her lack of field experience. "Our Avatars have the DNA from this clan mixed with our own DNA, so they resemble this clan the most, while retaining more human-like features such as four fingers and a thumb, and eyebrows..."
She sighed, flicking off the camera. This log was not unique - every scientist here on this base had probably done a log for the same information. But it was all she had right now.
"Okay keener, let's do this."
She spun around. Dr. Augustine stood before her, arms crossed, but a smirk on her face.
Nix was on her feet in an instant, almost knocking everything off the lab desk in the process. "Ready when you are, Doc."
Thank you for the interest so far! :) I am still a fairly new Avatar fan, so I may not have all the facts correct, but I promise I'm trying my best!
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter! :)