Jake was scrounging through the commandeered arsenal that the Na'vi had acquired from the now abandoned RDA facility. The morning was rather quick in its progression, breakfast with Neytiri was rather peaceful, but its tranquility and warmth was quickly overridden by the tribesman of the Omaticaya requesting the presence of Jake immediately, to teach the younger recruits of the tribe how to handle human weaponry.
Jake had quickly become a vital asset in not just being a leader and a protector for the tribe, but as a scribe, providing various techniques and tips to the Na'vi in tackling the threat that the sky people and RDA still posed.
"I shouldn't be too long Neytiri, just a routine training exercise I need to conduct with the younger members with our weaponry"
Neytiri smiled.
"Well, Grace should have her samples concluded, and by then we should be able to return to the Home Tree, and see to it that we begin the preliminary stages of reconstruction"
Jake exchanged a nod, and continued towards the training grounds, where the younger Omaticaya recruits were waiting in anticipation for him, along with another familiar face that had caught his eye: Norm Spellman.
"Jake? Jake Sully! It's so good to see you again dude! I see that the transfer process was a success!"
"Heh, thanks Norm, so what exactly did you guys need my services for?"
Norm soon presented a rifle, which resembled the models that were utilized by the RDA, but in this instance, a custom paint job accompanied it's design, it's colors complementing the Na'vi tribes on Pandora and its inhabitants.
"I see you've taken the liberty of making a few changes, huh?"
Norm gave a snarky smile.
"Well we had to create a bit of nuance with these weapons to distinguish them from the previous owners, besides, it is a massive improvement from the previous design, don't you agree?"
Jake retrieved the rifle from the grasp of Norm and gave a closer inspection.
The rifle was still very much human in its manufacturing, but the camouflage and vibrancy of the Na'vi colors, almost made it perceivable as though the Omaticaya had replicated the crafting capabilities of humans.
"I've made some progress with our recruits, but I'm very much a scientist at heart, this requires the touch of a former marine"
Jake chuckled.
"I'll see what I can do, it has been a while since firearms training in the military, and I'm not one to the play the role of range instructor"
Norm gave a playful nudge with his elbow.
"I'm sure you'll be fine, you proved your prowess in the last battle against the RDA-"
Norm stopped mid sentence.
"Norm, are you alright?"
Norm blinked rapidly for a few moments, then turned his head to face Jake once again.
"Ye-ye-yeah I'm fine, I just... recollected how that was really my first experience in combat, was it like that when you were a soldier?"
Jake sighed.
"Besides the stampedes of wildlife and banshees and mechs? Yeah combat was pretty hectic and chaotic"
Norm nodded.
"Well...I guess I uh... better go help Grace with finishing up those samples before we check out the home tree again, eh?"
Jake placed a hand on Norm's shoulder.
"That sounds like a great idea Norm, I am here to talk if you need it, I know what the toll of war takes on a man. It's never easy, but the experiences we endure help build us up and strengthen our resolve and mental fortitude. We lost many good people in that conflict, but just remember that their sacrifice was not in vain"
Norm smiled.
"Thanks, Jake"
As the Avatar scientist walked away, Jake approached the shooting range of the Na'vi village and began instructing the younger recruits.
(If a Howling Wilderness by Trevor Morris is compatible with your device, please press play now)
Jake's firearm training with the recruits had soon concluded, with much of his prior knowledge as a marine being retained in his memory paying off, the Na'vi were quick to catch on to the elements of combat and the fundamentals of rifle training.
He soon backtracked to Grace's quarters at the far end of the village, with the Omaticaya villagers bustling in their everyday activities, Jake soaking in their joyous and exuberant faces as they conversed and worked together. Despite his misconceptions on the group in the beginning, he was now finally able to be integrated as one of their own, and now, their eventual successor as leader. He had finally found belonging and a newfound purpose as opposed to his previous life. He found Community, brotherhood, and compassion, but above all else, he had found love.
Jake approached the entrance to the small building and turned the door knob to enter. Grace was conversing with Neytiri and Norm for the eventual construction and fortification of the home tree.
"Ah, Jake! It's good to see that you did not get shot teaching the younger Omaticaya recruits!"
Jake provided a lifted eyebrow and grin.
"I was a marine you know?"
Grace then returned a warm smile back.
"I'm also a scientist, but mistakes do happen y'know? Anyways, there is something I wanted to show you all but since we currently do not have the fuel for our aerial vehicles from the RDA facility, I will need to be a passenger on a Banshee"
Norm, Neytiri, and Jake all stared at one another.
"My goodness it's like I asked the Three Stooges what the Pythagorean Theorem was, I'm not asking for a million dollars here!"
Jake then raised his hand.
"Alright, alright, but we'll need to take Toruk, he can scout unlike any other banshee we have"
Grace then let out a relieved sigh.
"Always glad to have an eager volunteer, thank you Jake Sully!"
Grace then moved over to the entrance with her science equipment in her pack.
"Well? Are we going or do I have to drag you all to the Home Tree myself?"
As she stepped outside Norm looked to Neytiri and Jake.
"Don't worry guys, it's just her natural humor, you'll get used to it more when you're around her on these expeditions"
Neytiri and Jake chuckled and proceeded with Norm to catch up to Grace.
Once they commandeered the banshees, they soared through the Pandoran skies, the atmosphere and the bright sunlight capturing a beautiful view of the landscape, as the banshees moved through the air, the Hallelujah mountains in a stasis of beauty and awe.
"I'll never get tired of the view here"
Jake remarked as Grace was jotting a quick note in her field journal.
"Indeed, Neytiri and the kids used to love the field trips we took out here, we would choose one of these cliffs to have a picnic after classes ended, dusk would approach and I'd take them back to the home tree in time to reunite with their families for dinner"
Jake smiled.
"Do you think you'll be ready to teach again?"
Grace snapped out of her reminiscent state to look at Jake.
"Well...it has been while, but someone is going to have to teach the younger generations that are coming up"
Jake smirked.
"Yeah, that's a pretty valid point, how close are we to approaching the Home Tree?"
Grace glanced back at her notes.
"Uh let's see...well we're almost out of the Hallelujah mountain range, so ETA 10 minutes give or take"
The three banshees continued out of the range and soon approached a vast and lush jungle biome, filled with the flora of Pandora below. Soon a thick cloud cover was lifted ahead to reveal the site of the Home Tree.
"My God...it's like it never left! How did it restore itself so quickly?"
Grace smiled.
"The same reason the RDA wanted to get what was underneath the tree itself, unobtanium is not just a currency holder for profits for the company, it's also a powerful healing and restoration element. It's magnetic capabilities are the sole reason the Hallelujah mountains remain in the atmosphere in stasis. But the factor the RDA forget, is that Eywa provides these blessings to the inhabitants who believe in her, which the RDA and sky people do not, she lies within us because we believe in her"
Soon the canopy they were flying through revealed in front of them a lake, and across from it sitting in restored glory, was the Home Tree.
"Our home"
Jake looked with a sense of pride towards it, knowing that this was the heartbeat of the planet itself, and the only home the Omaticaya have known for such a prolonged period of time.
The mountain banshees soon landed in a clearing outside the premises of the home tree.
Once on the ground, the four Na'vi scouted the area, remaining vigilant and diligent of any threats that could be nearby. They moved towards the area that once housed the village wall and entrance, now covered by vines and other foliage. Jake parted one of the vines to reveal the village center at the base of the trunk, the remains of huts, tools, and personal belongings were still scattered on the ground.
"This is where we begin anew, and this time, she will stand while ever we are here and we will be ready..."
Neytiri remarked, with a mix of sorrow and anger from what had occurred previously at this site, her home.
"It will be, I promise you, no harm will come to us or the Home Tree, we were caught off guard last time, never again"
They continued forward and saw the staircase where the chief and his wife would quarter for the night.
"It's in disrepair but so is everything else here..."
Norm stated, before being nudged by Grace.
"Nothing a few tools and Na'vi cannot fix. I already can see the perfect spot for the school and lab, this place will look like the Taj Mahal by the time everything is said and done...a heavily fortified Taj Mahal that is..."
Everyone chuckled at the dry remark Grace gave.
Jake picked up a makeshift doll off the ground, presumably once possessed by a Na'vi child.
"I hope whoever owned this made it out in one piece"
Grace's eyes soon lit up.
"Oh my goodness! That's Shaak T'sey's doll! She'll be so happy to be reunited with it, good find Jake!"
Grace quickly snatched the doll from Jake's hands.
"Uhhhhh, you're welcome? I guess that answers that question then"
Grace then looked around once more before reaching into her equipment bag.
"Alright I'm going to radio ahead to the rest of the tribe, to start making the necessary preparations to begin evacuating and moving our stuff here, so I'd suggest you guys get some rest before they arrive, we've got a lot of groundwork to cover in the short time ahead"
With that, Grace moved over to a flat rock and began to dial the channels on a communication transponder to contact the Omaticaya back at the village.
Norm started to collect personal belongings, and organized items into individual piles for the rest of the villagers to collect once they arrived. Despite the fire, many of the items remained unscathed and were still able to be utilized for the future.
Neytiri turned to face Jake.
"Once they arrive, they're going to be looking for direction and guidance, I'll give you some tips in the meantime"
Neytiri smiled along with Jake.
"That would be appropriate, as I only started this entire leadership gig about a day ago"
Neytiri let out a slight chuckle to the statement, unable to contain herself from its dry delivery.
"Well, a good start would be our defenses, despite it being a long while yet until the RDA return, we are still vulnerable to the wildlife surrounding Pandora, something you are all too familiar with"
Jake rolled his eyes, as Neytiri continued.
"So it would be wise to formulate and commission a construction division of the tribe who were familiar in architecture and engineering"
"Duly noted"
"Next would be food and medical services, that division is still rather rudimentary back at our village, so we need more recruits to improve the infrastructure and the inevitable growth and increased capacity of the tribe"
Jake smiled.
"Indeed"
Neytiri noticed the smug expression Jake formed and rolled her eyes in loving annoyance.
"You're still such a child"
The two laughed.
"Continuing on, next up would be education and munitions, Grace has that area covered, but I suggest you take charge over that area along with your chieftain duties. Your marine experience makes you an invaluable asset, along with the understandings of the tactics and strategies of the sky people"
Jake nodded.
"I'll see what I can do, it's going to take time to construct a barracks and forward command base to organize with the other tribes on the planet, I might have to go to the RDA facility and retrieve some extra technological assets and equipment"
Neytiri nodded in confirmation and looked down.
"Then it is settled then, the first stages of rebuilding are in motion. May Eywa look upon us with praise and blessing"
The evening soon approached, with the Omaticaya arriving in the late afternoon of planet's daily rotation.
A ceremonial fire was constructed and provided a backdrop for a comforting evening. Jake stood up to begin an after dinner speech.
"My people! I know it has been a long and arduous day for many of you, I'm sure we have mixed emotions about returning to this place, but I can assure you of the utmost certainty, that I will do everything in my power as your leader to ensure a better future for you all. I now commit my life to this tribe and Eywa, wherever she guides us, we must follow in her footsteps. I've seen firsthand how she returns her love to those who believe in her, it remains as a reminder to never give in to fear, and to always believe in the possibility of hope and good. So as we move into the next dawn, look to your fellow tribesman for council and support, you'll be needing them in the months ahead. The RDA have the numbers and equipment, but we have the fortitude and the commitment of Eywa on our side!"
The tribe soon erupted into a rapturous roar, as Jake raised his fist in the air.
"Enjoy the rest of your evening everyone, the first step of our new journey begins tomorrow!"
Jake soon retreated back to the chieftains quarters that was the first project that was established during the afternoon, along with residential centers for the villagers and human avatars.
He sat in a makeshift desk chair, and turned on the video log camera he had used previously at the RDA base.
"Video log, this is Jake Sully, and I'm here changed, but in a much better predicament than in my last log. The RDA threat, as previously stated in the last log, has been quelled for the moment, but the threat still looms just beyond the horizon of our planet. I'm still in awe at the fact I bear the responsibility of the Omaticaya people and its future. We're back at the Home Tree once again, and the feeling is surreal. That bastard Colonel Quaritch, he killed so many in that first assault and sparked a needless war. Not to mention the corporate interests and higher ups of the RDA pushing the buttons on the servants under their command to pillage and excavate defenseless planets. Well, I'm certain they've picked the wrong planet to screw with, this is Jake Sully signing off"
Jake turned off the video log and stared towards the ceiling of the tree. He then heard a knock on the bark behind him, and was greeted by none other than Neytiri.
"What was that?"
She said with a smile.
"Oh that? Just a video log or diary I guess that I started when I came here to Pandora. It helps me to recollect my progress and thoughts"
Neytiri soon walked over to give him a hug.
"You know, you humans are such strange creatures, you have the capacity to do such evil..."
Jake frowned at the remark.
"But in turn you also have the ability to do good and help others"
As she stated this she pulled Jake in for a long passionate kiss, one that seemed to last forever to Jake, but lifted every stress and conflict that had plagued his mind from these recent few days.
"Whatever happens next Jake Sully, I will always be by your side"
Jake smiled.
"Likewise Neytiri, I see you"
"And I see you"
As they engaged for another hug and prepared for rest, one last thought escaped his conscious, a commitment and prayer to Eywa.
"Please...keep her safe"
*END OF CHAPTER*
