"...And because of that, the avatars have fully matured. Which means we'll finally be able to take them out into Pandora." Brinn spoke to a small camera lens, looking at her own image on the screen in front of her. In the background she could hear Jake, seated in front of his own computer screen, say, "...The concept is that every driver is matched to his own avatar, so that their nervous systems are in tune…or something."
Brinn tapped the power off button on the screen she was using and curiously watched Jake. After a pause and a brief shrug, he said "Which is why they offered me the gig, because I can link with Tommy's avatar." The emotion in his eyes turned from excitement to grim realization, "…Which is insanely expensive." He blinked and looked over his shoulder, saying, "Is this right? I just say whatever to the video log?" Norm glanced up from what he was doing, hands resting on a desktop, and nodded, "Yeah, we gotta get into the habit of documenting everything. Y'know, what we see, what we feel. It's all part of the science."
Dr. Patel, who stood beside Norm, popped in, "And good science is good observation." Brinn spoke up, "They're right, Jake. Documentation is the best way to keep track of things." She stood and walked over to Norm with her arms crossed casually. Norm glanced up at Brinn, then chuckled and said, "Plus, it'll help keep you sane for the next six years." Brinn grinned, "That's true, too." Jake let out a wry exhale and rubbed the back of his neck, "Alright, whatever." He turned his attention back to the computer screen and started speaking again, "So, uh…well here I am." He glanced to his left and chuckled softly, "Doing science."
Brinn, Jake, and Norm all followed Dr. Patel as they made their way to the link room. An unenthusiastic voice sounded over the PA. "Attention. Drivers coming out of link." A circular desk crowded with computers sat in the center of the area. Technicians rushed to the capsules emerging from hideaways in the curved wall, opening them up to reveal the avatar drivers inside. Once they were inside the room, Brinn recognized one of the women in the capsules. She had a ginger bob and a green shirt.
Grace Augustine. One technician near Dr. Augustine frantically whispered, "Where's the lab coat? Where's the lab coat?" After spending a moment with her torso hunched over her legs, Dr. Augustine sat up and said, "Who's got my cigarette? Guys!" She reached into the air and beckoned someone over, "What's wrong with this picture? Thank you." She said irritably as the technician handed Dr. Augustine a cigarette and a lab coat.
As they approached, Norm spoke to Jake, "Grace Augustine is a legend. She's the head of the Avatar Program." He spoke with utter awe and adoration, "She wrote the book, I mean literally wrote the book on Pandoran Botany." Dr. Patel glanced over his shoulder and added, "Well, that's 'cause she likes plants better than people." Brinn chuckled under her breath. Dr. Patel continued, "Here she is, Cinderella back from the ball." He said, speaking towards Dr. Augustine, "Grace, I'd like you to meet Norm Spellman, Jake Sully, and Brinn Emberleigh." Dr. Augustine took a drag from her cigarette and looked over. Dr. Augustine had an air of well-earned confidence to her. She took her safety glasses off and said, "Norm. I hear good things about you. How's your Na'vi?" Norm paused anxiously, then communicated something in the Na'vi language with an elegant gesture of his hand.
Dr. Augustine responded in Na'vi as well, and, as far as Brinn could tell, the doctor was impressed. Dr. Augustine then turned to stare Brinn in the eye. "Brinn Emberleigh, eh? Aren't they calling you a younger Grace Augustine?" Brinn shyly glanced down at her own shoes and replied, "I don't know if I would go that far." A half-smile fixed itself onto Dr. Augustine's lips. "We'll see about that."
Dr. Patel hesitantly interrupted, "Grace, this is Jake Sully." Jake extended his hand with a polite, "Ma'am." Dr. Augustine eyed his hand for a second, then said, "Yeah, yeah. I know who you are, and I don't need you. I need your brother." In a bitter tone, she added, "You know, the PhD who trained for three years for this mission?"
"He's dead." Jake said curtly. "I know it's a big inconvenience for everyone." Dr. Augustine looked him up and down, then inhaled and said, "How much lab training have you had?"
Jake responded in a subtly sarcastic tone, "I dissected a frog once." Brinn winced. Dr. Augustine scoffed and turned to Dr. Patel, "You see? You see? I mean, they're just pissing on us without even the courtesy of calling it rain. I'm going to Selfridge." She stormed off.
Dr. Patel hurriedly got up, "No, Grace, I don't think that's a good idea!" In the middle of Dr. Patel's sentence, Dr. Augustine threw her hands in the air and said, "No, man, this is such bullcrap!" Then kept walking away. "I'm gonna kick his corporate butt. He has no business sticking his nose in my department." Norm and Brinn exchanged a concerned glance as Dr. Patel walked back over. Dr. Patel said, "Here tomorrow, 0800." He then looked down at Jake and added, "Try and use big words."