Pandora: The Final Solution

I gratefully acknowledge one of the foremost creative geniuses of our times, James Cameron, for conceiving the lush moon Pandora and the "noble savages," the Na'vi, that inhabit it. This story uses the characters and setting he created for his movie, Avatar. I have not received any money for my work based on Avatar. If I could get paid by the hour for these stories, I would retire and spend all my time dancing and writing in comfort.

Chapter 15: Mo'at and Norm Spellman

Mo'at opens her eyes. She looks outside and sees few clouds, with the sky brightening the way it does just before dawn this time of the year. She feels the morning chill on her face. Of course, here in the mountains, the air is always cooler than it was around Hometree. Being sheltered in the shadows down inside the Well of Souls makes it even colder. The worst cold is sleeping without Eytukan. On cool mornings like today he would snuggle his chest and thighs up against her back and butt, his arms wrapped around her torso just high enough that they would lightly press up against the bottom sides of her breasts. He would pull her against him, holding themselves together to enjoy this warm, loving feeling as one through the bond. Early in their relationship, this situation would quickly escalate into mating. More recently, they would enjoy this quiet time before their daughters or clan would demand their attention. No morning was too cold while they were together. The tears begin again. How many other survivors are waking up cold and lonely, missing their newly deceased mates?

Jake and Neytiri are in her cave, at her command, to heal their hearts. When they first insisted that she sleep there, she was not certain it would be good for her. She did not want the isolation. Soon after she yielded, she offered the use of her cave to the parents with babies staying nearby for nighttime cryings, feedings, and changings. The sounds and smells of new life always makes her happier. Yes, that interfered with her sleep, but she welcomed the distractions. She let her feelings slip out in front of the clan only once just after Hometree toppled onto the ground, but she has held them in check since then. Only in the dark and lonely cave has she dared to let her feelings out, until now. That is why she commanded her daughter and son-in-law to heal their hearts in the same way she has been healing her own. Eytukan and all other recently departed Omatikaya will always be available within the sacred trees, but it will take a long time for her heart to heal after losing them.

After she watches Jake and Neytiri retire into her cave, with a large force of warriors standing outside as sentries to enforce their isolation, did she feel able to leave. She walks to the common area for an early evening meal, taking her time to talk to everyone who wants to speak with her. Once she breaks away, she hikes down into the well, making her rounds among the wounded Na'vi arrayed around the sacred tree outside the raised tawtute area. After that, she climbs up the terraces to silently make tsaheylu with the tree, taking a place on the terrace reserved for tsahìks, surrounded by others lost in meditations with Eywa.

She first contacts Eytukan. He tells her about the conversations he has had with living clan members. Many have reservations about their new clan leader. Jakesully arrived at Hometree as physically mature as an adult but as ignorant and weak as a baby. In less than 96 days, Jake became a strong and capable adult, a fully accepted clan member, still learning the language but able to communicate, an excellent hunter and rider of ikran, and a somewhat passable rider of pa'li. He and Tsu'tey were the only two hunters to kill talioang with their first strikes during the last hunting festival. No other warrior ever defeated Tsu'tey so quickly and easily as when Jake fended off Tsu'tey's knife attack that clearly was no training exercise. Now Jake is a rider of toruk and clan leader, mated to Eytukan's and Mo'at's daughter who will become the next tsahìk. Eytukan reminded them of these achievements and told them that he has confidence that Tsu'tey made the right decision in picking his successor, but some are still not convinced. Nothing can change the fact that Jakesully is still a tawtute. Eytukan tells his living mate to encourage Jake and Neytiri to take the lead in the daily affairs of the clan, especially directing the hunt for their new home, to show the clan they are capable and have the clan's interests in their waking thoughts and actions. He also tells her that he misses her greatly, but the clan needs her more than he does, his not so subtle hint that now is not time to join him in Eywa. She ends by exchanging loving feelings with him, but deeply misses his physical presence and touch.

Next, she prays to Eywa for help and guidance in keeping her and her clan together and functioning after losing so much. She clears her mind and opens up to Eywa, meditating until after the sun disappears. As always, Eywa does not speak directly to her. Sometimes, a thought will pop into her mind, but not tonight. Mo'at feels that Eywa has eased some of her burden and improved her mood, but physical exhaustion is setting in and now she must find a place to sleep. Neytiri offered the place she and her mate uses on the edge of the clan encampment opposite her cave, but Mo'at fears that that place is meant for young warriors and will be too busy for her to get a good night of quiet sleep. She breaks her bond with the tree, rests in place briefly before standing, turns away from the tree, and is surprised to see Normspellman patiently standing on the floor of the well, looking up the terraces at her.

In Na'vi, he speaks as he nods and touches his forehead "I See you, ma Tsahìk."

She repeats the gesture and replies in Na'vi "I See you, ma Normspellman. Were you waiting long for me?" She carefully steps down the terraces. Norm holds out his arms and takes her hands to help her to the floor of the well.

"No, I was helping the human healers, translating for the wounded, and came over here when I saw your frond go dim. I know Jake and Neytiri are sleeping in your cave tonight, and if you need a place to sleep, there is plenty of room in the avatar tent."

"My place is with my clan. I should be going up there now."

"Tsahìk, you look so tired, and it's a long hike out of the well and back to where the Omatikaya are sleeping now. The tent is just over there, it is the quietest place here." Norm makes a sweeping movement of his arm to indicate not just the well but the entire area around it. "And besides, the avatars are part of your clan now."

Mo'at is stunned to the core by these words. All Na'vi know that joining a clan is a great commitment, taking much time and effort to prove one's abilities to the decision makers of the clan one hopes to join. These avatars have not even spoken to her yet. How can they be Omatikaya? Did Jake tell them that? "It takes much hard work to join a clan, to convince the elders to accept you. You saw what Jake had to do?"

"Oh, yeah, I know it's not easy. It's just that with Jake being the clan leader, it seems that the Omatikaya will be the clan for us humans that remain here. You heard what Jake said about wanting all humans to move into Na'vi bodies. I know some won't agree, but most will. I want to be Na'vi and Omatikaya. Since you allowed me to enter Hometree, I have tried many clan activities, and have helped where I could."

"I remember you telling stories to the children and helping the food preparers. You did well, except you know nothing about cleaning and cutting fish and animals for cooking."

"I still have much to learn. I've always wanted to be Na'vi. On Earth we have this holiday where we wear costumes and walk around the neighborhood collecting treats. The first time my parents let me pick out a costume, I chose a Na'vi costume, complete with pointy ears, a pony tail to my knees, and a long tail with a bushy tip. Most kids said 'Trick or treat.' I said 'Oeru lu taronyutsyìp.'"

"I am a little hunter."

"That's right. I wore it for several years, until I outgrew it and the holiday. My parents took a picture of me in that costume. Every day I looked at that picture and wished I was really a Na'vi here on Eywa'eveng."

"Do you now wish that you stayed home?"

"I am extremely happy to be here now, but I admit, it has been very hard for me. I was insanely jealous of Jake at first."

"Oh? Such personal problems are very bad for the teamwork needed in a clan. I See you and Jake treat each other as brothers now. How did you overcome this jealousy without Eywa's help?"

"Different woman. I fell in love with Trudy. She set me straight. Like Jake, she was a warrior for our country. She made me get over my bad attitude and work to the success of our mission."

"It is good you are over your bad feelings. How did it happen that you developed them?"

"Jake's twin brother Tom and I studied intensely for three years to come out here, to make contact with the Na'vi, and try to improve relations. We spent much time together planning what we would do when we got here. These plans were discussed and approved by our leaders in RDA. Tom was killed just before leaving. Jake was recruited into coming out here to replace his brother, even though he had no time for training. He never talked to me the way Tom did, and had no interest in the plans that were made."

"Maybe Eywa's plans were more important than your's?"

"That could be, but I think much bloodshed would have been avoided if Jake told you his reason for being here at the very beginning."

Jakesully might not have been accepted if he said that after arrival, especially that first night. Many in the clan wanted him dead, even after Eytukan told the clan why he must be studied. "Eywa's will has been done."

"No doubt. First time in the forest, Jake did a dumb thing but really lucked out. He wandered away from Doctor Augustine and myself and became prey for a palulukan. He managed to escape, but was attacked by nantang. Once Neytiri saved him, the clan took him in. Instead of being eaten, he was given a place in the Omatikaya."

"My mate and I took him into the clan so we could learn about him, and he about us. That made it harder for you?"

"Yes. I became worthless, especially to those in charge. Been fighting to make a place for myself here ever since. I have not had a mentor the way Jake had Neytiri to teach him how to be Na'vi. All of us avatar drivers that want to become Na'vi will need lots of help like that. Jake is no scientist and he did not make a decent record of his training. We can't benefit much from his experience. His video logs have little useful knowledge in them. After you granted Grace and I access to Hometree, I've been learning what I can. Some of the children have given me lessons on hunting, but the adults have not been as welcoming."

"You tawtute have caused the Omatikaya much pain. Some think we have had too much contact with you. Our clan is much reduced and homeless because of you tawtute. We might have to disband, if joining other clans seems better than finding a new home and rebuilding the Omatikaya. Do not say your people are part of my clan, that might cause the end of it."

"I apologize, ma Tsahìk. I was not aware of this situation." Norm looks totally devastated. "I want to become Omatikaya, and cannot if it disbands. However, if it does, that makes Jake and Neytiri available to build a clan of former tawtute. If they are no longer leading the Omatikaya, they can lead us. They will have time to train us properly, and we will document everything in the process." Norm now seems almost enthusiastic about the Omatikaya disbanding.

Again Mo'at is shocked by his words. The idea of a clan disbanding is distressing to all Na'vi, and horrifying to members of a troubled clan. There have always been a few young Na'vi that want to live apart, and fewer try. If they survive, they learn that they don't have the skills, abilities, and time to live as they did in a clan, especially if they desire a mate and children. Those that do return become strong clan members. Strength and safety only comes in numbers. This tawtute, the friendliest one she has encountered so far, sees value in the demise of her clan. Are all humans afflicted with this self-interest insanity? She refuses to hear more. "Jakesully, Neytiri, and I will do our best to keep the Omatikaya together, with Eywa's help. Your people must keep your distance, for now, until after we find a home."

Once again, Norm is his usual self. "I understand, Tsahìk. That will not be difficult. When our patients are able to leave our care, we, too, must rebuild our home at Hell's Gate. Those that kept the place running are gone, and we must take over. There is much for us to learn and do. Hell's Gate was designed to practically run itself, in case of a major catastrophe, but there are some things I worry about. I don't think anyone has seriously looked into shutting down the unnecessary systems and putting the critical systems into survival mode yet. That was part of the training Jake did not receive."

Mo'at does not understand what he is saying, but feels his concern. She nods and replies "Yes, we all have much to do to make our future homes."

"On behalf of all tawtute, I thank the Na'vi for the help you have given us so far, assisting in the setting up of our hospital here in the well, providing water, food, and cleaning leaves, and especially for lending us the children that speak English. They have been very helpful, and are a joy to work with."

"From all Na'vi, you are welcome. We are grateful for your help with healing our worst wounded, and will assist you in all the ways we can. Now, you are right, Normspellman, I am very tired, and maybe I will get a better sleep down here tonight."

A female avatar wearing a white lab coat and carrying a large binder stuffed full of papers walks up behind Norm and says in English "Hello, Norm, who's your friend?"