2 years later at Hell's Gate...
Mirabel was in her room, going through pictures and videos of her time with her Na'vi friends. Things didn't turn out great after the school tragic. The entire army and the RDA has taken over the base and it felt like a prison to her, the lab gang, and the Avatar Program. The poor girl doesn't know what to do except doing science and continue studying the Na'vi language. She has been avoiding the SecOps without getting into trouble, especially the colonel: Miles Quaritch. God, he and Selfridge are absolute worst especially when she heard from Selfridge saying: 'Children be seen and not heard'. That really got her ticked but was glad that her mom was there and taking care of the problem.
It was now March and for Mirabel it was the same day for her as always, but other than that, it was her birthday. Fifteen years old and of course she is the coming age. From what she read about in some Latin countries, girls have big parties for when their fifteen and it is a traditional ceremony. But for Mirabel, she doesn't want anything big. Of course, she thought that her former family back in Encanto won't celebrate her day.
While Mirabel was on her computer for no reason, a knock came to her door. Mirabel looked up to see her mom entering the room.
"Hey..." she starts speaking to her daughter. "You doing alright?"
"Yeah... I'm fine." Mirabel answered.
Grace looked at her daughter, knowing that she was still not doing fine for the past two years ever since the tragedy.
"You missed them, don't you?" she asked as she sat beside her.
"Yeah."
"So do I." Grace pulled Mirabel in a hug. "I do miss them teaching."
"But it's all the RDA's fault for what they've done."
"I know." said Grace until a smile appeared on her face. "I know what to cheer you up. Come with me."
Mirabel looked at her mother in confusion as Grace grabbed her hand and starts leading her out of the room.
"Where are you taking me?" the young girl asked.
"You'll see. You'll see."
Mirabel was really confused. What is it that would cheer her up from her own adopted mom? Suddenly, they came to a different room, but it was completely dark. Even with her glasses, Mirabel couldn't see anything because it was pitch black. But as Grace turned the lights on...
"SURPRISE!" a group of scientists shouted.
Mirabel's mouth was dropped open, and her eyes were wide as she looked at them. But mostly she looked at the decorations and saw a sign saying, 'Happy Birthday'. After a moment of shock, the young girl smiled.
"Oh, you guys!" Mirabel spoke as she couldn't find any words for else to say.
"I know it's not a big party for a girl who is the coming age of fifteen, but the guys and I did whatever we could." said Grace.
"It's great, mom. I don't mind being big." Mirabel smiled and hugged Grace. "Thanks mom. Thanks everyone."
"No problem. Now let's party."
The party was doing good and Mirabel was enjoying her day. She enjoyed the chatting, dancing, and the food. Even though there wasn't any cake because they didn't have ingredients, but Mirabel didn't care.
"Hey Mira! How about a speech?" one of the scientists asked.
The lab gang shout and cheer for a speech. Mirabel smiled and blushed, but she grabbed a cup of her drink in her hand and stood up in front of everyone.
"Okay... I'm not very good at long or short speeches, if I am or not, but I do have a few words to say. I wanted to thank you all for being there for me ever since I've arrived here. You've all been such good teachers to me but mostly you've all been a family to me and you mom, are the best when you took me under your wing."
Grace smirked at the mention from her daughter.
"Also, I do want to thank Carlos for bringing me here. If it weren't for him, I still be in Earth and live in a different life with unloved and misery. Again, thank you all for the party. It's been great with all of you here, and I don't care how big or small this is or no gifts. All I care about is the family and friends."
"Here's to Mira!" one of the scientists shouted.
"To Mira!" they shouted.
Mirabel smiled at them as they all applaud until Grace started to speak.
"Speaking of gifts... we do have one gift for you that all of us have made, but first... Max blindfolded me."
"Blindfolded me? Why...?" Mirabel giggled as Max put the blindfold around her eyes.
She felt Max's hand holding her right arm, but also felt her mom's hand on the left. As the two escorted her to the exit, Grace turned her head to face the lab gang and gave them a simple nod. Once the three left, the scientists quickly pick up their pace and dashed out of the room. A moment later, Grace and Max led Mirabel to a lab that is dark. Thankfully, Max turned some of the light switched on but dimmed a little.
"Okay guys... what is this surprise? I hope it's a really good one."
"It is a good one. The best one." Grace answered as she starts touching the blindfold, "Okay, when I take this off, keep your eyes closed."
As Grace gently took it off, she saw that her daughter's eyes are still closed. She looked at Max as she gave him a nod, and the scientist went off somewhere. Mirabel kept her eyes closed but could hear Max's footsteps but also hear like a fabric moving. Makes her wonder the reveal of her present be.
"Alright, Mirabel... Open your eyes."
From hearing her mother's words, Mirabel slowly opened her eyes and from the moment of her calm face became a absolute shock, she saw her birthday present. In front of her was a large tank of liquid, but inside of the tank was a Na'vi. Mirabel got a closer look to see that the hair was long and wavy but got a braid, and the stripes were very like a Na'vi and a avatar, but on the forehead. The strip design almost look like a butterfly. Mirabel was lost for words and looked at her mom and Max.
"Guys... is this really...?"
"Your very own avatar. The rest of the lab worked very hard on creating one for you." Grace smiled.
Mirabel was still lost for words, but she smiled as she walked towards her mom and Max and hugged them both.
"This is the greatest gift I got. Thank you both." she said with excitement. "So... when will I try it out?"
"Well, everyone is getting everything all set and they'll be coming to bring your avatar out of the tank and clean her up." said Grace.
"Also, they built a new link bed just for you to be in it." said Max.
"So be ready."
Mirabel was thrilled with excitement. She now had a birthday party, her big gift was her own avatar, and now she gets to try out. For a moment, Mirabel went back to her room to grab her camera and head back to the lab. Thankfully she didn't bump into anyone especially Selfridge or Quaritch. Once she finally reached to the lab, Mirabel set her camera on her desk that is close to the avatar and starts recording.
Later in the lab, the scientists got everything set as some in their air suits have finished cleaning the avatar up and was lying down on a gurney. Mirabel was looking at her avatar through the window as she still have the camera in her hand. She was still in excitement about connecting to avatar and hoping that she gets some photos and videos of this.
"Miss Agustine?" a female voice spoke.
Mirabel turned around to see one of the scientists as she was holding a clipboard.
"We're ready for you."
"Great!" she replied but remembered something as she still has the camera in her hand. "Say, can one of you guys record this video while I'm in my avatar?"
"Sure. No worries. I'll ask George to do it."
"Great! Thanks."
Mirabel reached to the main lab to see some of the people got in their link beds, but also saw Grace as she was standing beside a link bed that was meant for Mirabel.
"You ready?" she asked.
"Ready as I'll ever be." Mirabel replied.
She carefully got on the bed and felt the gel that feels comfortable on her. While she felt relaxed, Grace took Mirabel's glasses off and put on a small table beside the bed.
"Just relax and clear your mind. That's how you get connected to your avatar." said Grace.
"Got it." she replied.
Grace gently closed the lid on her, and Mirabel could see total darkness except a green light. Even though her vision still is a blur without her glasses. Once she heard humming sounds knowing that it was about to start, Mirabel closed her eyes and cleared her mind until everything went white.
"Mirabel? Mirabel, can you hear me?" a voice echoed.
A pair of golden yellow eyes started to open and blinked a few times. The vision was blur at first but it was now becoming clear as she saw two Med Techs in air suits.
"Can you say something, Mirabel?" one of the techs asked as he held a flashlight to look at the eyes.
Mirabel, who was now in the avatar body, looked at the scientists and smiled.
"Hey guys." she spoke to them. "How do I look?"
"You look amazing, Mira." the second tech answered as she smiled.
"You pupils look normal." the male tech spoke and then snapped his fingers near her ears. "Auditory is normal."
"Do you see any blindness?" the female asked.
"No..." Mirabel answered as she moved her eyes around to see her surroundings. "In fact, everything is clear. I can actually see."
"Good. Can you try like slowly sit up, Mira?"
Mirabel moved her head a little as a nod and then starts slowly sitting up. She looked at her surroundings but looked at her arms and hands. They were blue, stripes on her arms like the Na'vi but still have five fingers like the rest of the avatars.
"Good. Good. Do you feel any aches, numbness, or dizziness?" the female questioned.
"No. I feel fine." Mirabel answered as she looked at feet as she moves them around and wiggling her toes.
This was absolutely incredible to her. She feels like she wants to get up and move around but felt patience as the scientists were still testing her.
"Heart rate is good. Pulse is good. Distal motor control... good. Doing great Mira." said the male tech.
Mirabel smiled to him but then looked back at her feet. She starts slowly moving her legs to the side and felt the coldness of the floor. She still hears the scientists to tell her to take it slow as they were doing some more testing. Suddenly, she felt something moving behind her. She slowly turned and saw that it was her tail moving. She chuckled to see that she has a tail until she heard the techs talking.
Mirabel looked at the male tech as he was now taking the probes off of her.
"Alright, Mira. I think you're ready to stand up."
"I can?"
"Yes. But do it slowly."
Mirabel nod her head slowly and look at her arms. She slowly starting to get off the gurney. Her legs felt a little wobbly but kept her balance still and try not to fall or knock everything down.
"Good. Good Mira. Take it nice and slow." said the female tech. "Can you try taking a few steps?"
Mirabel looked at the scientist and then looked at her feet. She starts moving them but only small steps. One foot at a time.
"That's good, Mira! That's good!"
"Charlotte open the door for her."
"I can go out?" Mirabel asked.
"Yep. Just head straight towards the cabin. Your mom will be waiting for you."
Mirabel looked at him but then looked back at the other tech as she was opening the door. The avatar starts walking towards as her feet was picking up at a normal speed. She finally stepped out of the lab, and she was now outside. Mirabel starts breathing through the air that she could finally breathe without a mask. The sun was shining bright, the AMPs were walking around, and she saw some of the avatars. She wanted to speak to them but right now she saw the cabin that was not far.
She starts walking towards but heard some of the avatars talking as they noticed her. She didn't pay any attention to her as she looked at her legs and felt as she was picking up speed as she starts from walking to running. She was fast, really fast as her legs could go. She saw some of the training rounds for her to jump, run, and climb like all the avatars and the Na'vi, but as she reached close to the cabin, she quickly stopped.
Mirabel was taking a few breaths as she was enjoying the air and feeling the dirt with her feet until.
"Hey butterfly!" a familiar voice spoke.
Mirabel turned her head and smiled as she saw her mom in her avatar body as she was exiting the cabin.
"Mom! Look at me! I'm an avatar now!"
"You sure are." Grace smiled as she grabbed a fruit from the garden. "Think fast!" she said as she threw the fruit towards her daughter, but she quickly caught it. "Motor control is looking."
Mirabel looked at the fruit and starts taking a bite from it. She could taste the sweetness like the Na'vi would taste and smiled as she took another bite.
"This is great! This is absolutely amazing!" she said to Grace who just smiled at her.
A few moments later, as it was now already an eclipse, all the avatars were at their bunks to go to sleep, but they all were happy to see Mirabel as new member of the program. They all said happy birthday to her and congrats on her avatar until Grace closed the cabin gates.
"Alright, everyone. Get some sleep. I know it was pretty exciting today but we need other things to take care of." she said to them.
The avatars start lying down as they begin resting including Mirabel. She starts closing her eyes and drifted off to sleep until everything went bright.
The link bed was now opened as the human Grace appeared in front of Mirabel who is now awake.
"Welcome back." she said to her.
Mirabel looked at her mom and smiled as she jumped towards her for a hug.
"This is the best birthday and gift I ever got, mom. Thank you so much."
"No problem, but now you need some sleep too. We got a busy day to work more on your avatar."
"Understood mom. Goodnight." she said as she got off her link bed and exit the lab.
Mirabel was now walking down the halls until she heard a voice hollering for her. She turned around to see that it was George running towards her with her camera.
"Here's your camera, Mira. I record everything of you waking up and some training on your avatar." he said as he handed it to her.
"Thanks, George. You're the best."
"No problem." he said to her and starts walking back down the hall.
Finally, Mirabel reached to her room as she got on her bed to see the recordings of her avatar. She smiled knowing at that moment but then looked at the night sky from her window as she was remembering someone.
"Sylwanin, if you were here, you'll be so thrilled that I'm a Dream Walker. If only you were alive if the RDA hadn't shot you or the others at the school." she spoke softly and then looked back at the camera as the recording was over. "I'll put that in my video diary, but I'll... do it tomorrow." she said as she let out a yawn.
She laid back down her bed as she set her camera to her side table and felt her eyes heavy until she was finally asleep as she closed her eyes.
To Be Continued...
