Chapter 11: Aggressive Negotiations

Zao marched across the tarmac with fervent determination. The sun was setting, flowing down over the horizon like the grains of sand in an hour glass. His time was short; he only had one chance and he would have to get this right before this coming conflict could end with anything less than an ocean of blood.

Beside him were those that would accompany him, one of which who had asked to come of their own volition. Scribe Anthony walked solemnly on his left, his face an unreadable mask as his red robes flowed in the alien wind. Likewise Father Sullivan and his bodyguard came as well on his right, the thuds of her power armored boot drowned out by the hard steps of Strong, who in his own massive suit of power armor sent small vibrations that he felt in his ancient bones.

He had been the one who asked to come, wishing to see the one who killed his man with his own eyes and if he had been the same strong he had known back in Boston two hundred years ago he would have denied it instantly. But the same man, he was not, that Strong he had known had been dull witted and had basked in it. But now there was a true mind beneath the muscle, one who thought of things other than food, death and milk.

Finally making one finally turn they came to their hanger where two Kodiak shuttles were waiting, fusion jets billowing blue flame in anticipation. One was for them while the other was for their support.

Six paladins of the Brotherhood of Steel were waiting for them; each wearing a suit of T-51 Power Armor whose sloped angles gleamed in the fluorescent light.

"We are ready to leave at your word sir" the voice from their leader said, giving a curt salute as his armor whirled and hissed with his movements.

"Good, have you armed your men with the mesmenades" he asked. He had made it expressly clear that if worse came to pass that they would take as many of them alive as possible. He had no desire to become a butcher a second time.

"Yes sir" he answered as he turned to one of his squad who revealed the device. It was silver and three sided, with each given the appearance of a darkened TV screen. "If the natives try anything stupid, they will live to regret it"

Even still though, as he looked at their weapons, machine guns oiled and laser rifles calibrated for the horrid task they might yet commit. He did not relish it, he did not bask in it and he would do all in his power to prevent it. But he knew well that the Natives will not be the only one watching, as that mysterious third party would no doubt take interest. Though his words would be spoken to these Natives, they would not be the only ones who would hear him; that thing that called itself a Goddess that watched with unseen eyes, so many questions and yet so many more besides.

Without further instruction the squad filled into their transport and so did they and for all that was to transpire tonight, it seemed the universe had given him a familiar chauffeur.

"It is good to see you again sir" came the voice of their pilot and Zao felt his mind pause for a moment, subconsciously sifting through memories for that voice until the woman turned her head.

He looked at the woman's auburn hair and freckled face and felt the name on the tip of his tongue"…Kendra Williams"

"I appreciate you remembering me Sir. Our ETA to the native's village is twenty five minutes so sit tight, I'll get you all there in one piece" she said with a smile, her song like voice helping him reinforce her memory in his mind.

Still, Zao sighed within his mind, impudent and powerless against his degrading mind.

"How many of them will there be" Strong asked as he settled in, his weight rocking the shuttle.

"The natives seemed to have sent their woman and children away to the south" ELMA answered into their ear pieces, the transmission on a separate frequency so that the rank and file could not overhear.

That was good of them, he had no desire to have the blood of woman and children on his hands but that would create further problems if the worse came to pass. Even if most were taken alive, he doubted they would look upon their light handed approach with gratitude. And with so many men gone their tribe would be decimated and in such a primitive society where every hunter was needed they would no doubt starve.

Perhaps he could look into creating some temporary lodgings for the Natives, but that again would require more logistical work. Getting them food, getting them water, housing, providing proper sanitation so that they would not all die of whatever passed for dysentery on this planet and would have to no doubt capture the rest of the tribe afterward.

"So many things to do"

"That is unfortunate; I would have liked to spread the word to them" Sister Ophelia sighed behind her helmet as Zao watched Anthony give the ionic sister a disapproving look.

"It would not be the best time for that Ophelia" father Sullivan advised before looking to Zao with a flame in his eyes "Though if you would allow me, I have a request for you Admiral"

Zao was surprised but made no move to reject him; he would at least hear what he had to say.

"I understand that much of the wood that had been cut down were to be given to Grace's team for study but I would ask that some of that wood were given to me"

Zao was puzzled by his request, what would the priest need with the wood?

"For what purpose?"

"Why to build a church of course; with the Na'vi's laws as they are, they would never step willingly into a place of stone and metal" he explained, his voice filled with a pride for his idea.

"As though these natives would wish to hear you either way" Anthony said dismissively.

"The word is a gift to be given, and like any gift it cannot be forced. But I can make the hearing as pleasant as I can" he said to Anthony before looking back at him.

"Besides; I'm certain that those that are intrigued by us might be willing to share knowledge with us and us with them in exchange. And perhaps through this we can uncover all the secrets this world has to offer" he said, the last part obvious in its meaning for those who knew and while had a distaste for the Atomites and their beliefs it did make sense.

Few if any would come but the potential was there, but for now it was mere speculation and wishful thinking. First they would need to pass the present hurtle.

"For give me sir but I believe your present course of action to be far too dangerous" Elma warned. "The Natives of this world possess abilities that we do not understand"

"I understand the risks fully" he said, trying to assuage the AI's concerns.

"At least have someone else fight in your stead sir, Strong offered to and I'm sure any of the paladins would do it" she persisted.

"No, it has to be me" he stated. "These Na'vi are people of the land, hunters one and all that respect strength as all ancient people do. I am the one who will the make and as such I must be the one to fight. To abdicate that to anyone else would be seen as cowardice"

"Admiral, the Native village in in sight" Kendra said in a breathy voice as Zao got up from his seat and his eyes went wide as he looked the largest tree he had ever seen. Like a hand it stretched out into the sky and a part of him, the child part of him from a time and world long past was filled with wonder.

"How big do you think it is sir" came the voice of Kendra Williams; his now personal Kodiak pilot.

"Three hundred and ninety seven meters" he answered, the eye bots had taken scans everything during their investigations and had shown them the massive trees that the local tribes used as their homes. But it was entirely different feeling to see with your own eyes.

"It's just a tree" Strong shrugged; waving an armored hand as he began to stand. The hydraulics of his suit hissed like vipers with his movements and a low chuckle erupted from his helmets speakers, as he spoke again. "Let's go see, if they'll let us into their tree house"

As the shuttles began to touch down a flock of the massive winged beasts the natives used as mounts flew away, screeching their high pitch wails as they did. With a hiss the doors unfurled into the open air and in full few of the massive roots that were as thick as a house.

The Paladins were the first to depart, weapons ready as they scanned the area. Like pillars of silver they moved through the tall grass before their leader gave the signal that it was clear.

"We're reading multiple life signs further into the tree" he said as Strong left the shuttle, the ground shifting and creating small craters where he stepped.

"I'll go first" he said, tilting his massive helmet at Zao. "I'm the largest target"

With a nod he agreed and the group moved forward, the paladins surrounding them as the passed through the precipice. Anthony was busy taking pictures of everything inside as the moved, from the primitive lodgings of the Na'vi, from simple fire pits that had long since gone out, to what could only be described as a massive loom with what had to be plant fibers weaved in intricate designs.

"Amazing, I wonder what plants they used" he whispered under his breath.

Zao though was hardly paying attention to his observations as the distant light of fire grew closer from behind a bend in the wood. As they passed it they were greeted by a wall of blue tiger striped skinned Natives armed with arrows taller than him. Again, even after so many years he forced the anxious fear back down his throat.

There had to be at least a hundred of them and all hissed at them like a rattle snake. Ear flat and teeth bear with looks of surprise and hate filled their eyes as some flared their "soul power" as an intimidation tactic. The paladins along with Strong formed a line of steel to protect their unarmored wards. And the contrast could not be more obvious, one of metal and discipline, the other of flesh and instinct and the meetings of two worlds began both sides what each other as the tension rose, the paladins had their weapons drawn but not pointing at the natives and before the tension could snap at the violence could began out from the wall of blue came a familiar face. It was the native Arvok that came forward, and though he tried to keep his eyes on him, they darted again and again to the large imposing form of Strong who in his suit nearly rivaled him in height.

"Admiral Zao" he said, his voice shaking slightly as it looked like the boy had been crying. His heart sank as he looked upon it. He was scared, they all were. He could see it as clear as day; he had lived for centuries and in that time he had become intimately aware of its presence, no matter how one would try to hide it and made all the easier by their all too human faces.

"Arvok," he answered back and with a hand motion and with only a moment's hesitation by the paladins, the moved out of his way with practiced precision as Zao walked forward.

Without his metal shield's his helplessness became a mirror of Arvok's, only one arrow would be needed. It was a risk, but one that needed to be taken as he walked up to Arvok and extended his hand once more.

"It is good to see you are well" trying whispered, trying to sound as comforting as he could the scared child as he took the hand in a gentle shaking grip and both shook slowly. "How is your injury?"

"It is…okay" he answered; hand subconsciously reaching up to the base of his head tail.

"Good" he said before looking to the Na'vi the others had gathered around. His face was stern and hard, wearing a vest of what looked like dried leaves and a bone plate wrapped on his forehead.

"I am admiral Zao, leader of the humans have come to your world and I wish to speak with you" he said to what he assumed to be their chieftain. Arvok then looked to the same Na'vi and repeated what he had said and realized what the young native's role in this was.

"I am Eytukan, Olo'eyktan of the Omaticaya" he heard their chieftain said before another Na'vi came forward, larger than the rest and had the eyes of a warrior "And I am Beyda'amo, Olo'eyktan of the Tipani"

That confirmed ELMA's report about banshees coming from the east. Whether this could make things more difficult or perhaps easier; it was too soon to say.

"I understand that you all might be scared and angered by our presence upon your world so I will explain myself quickly and as clearly as I can" he declared as Arvok translated his words.

"I am the leader of the warriors of Terra; we are here for the Fajat that fills the ground so that we can feed our… metal birds that fly between worlds" he explained and saw Arvok snap his head to him as he explained why they were here.

"We are willing to give you whatever you want in exchange for it. Food, medicine, whatever you wish" he finished as Arvok finished his translation.

"What you ask of us is not ours to give. What you ask belongs to Eywa" Eytukan said. "And you have already begun to take it" The last sentence barbed with the truth, they were hear to as for forgiveness, not permission.

Zao nodded his head, a low rumbling coming from his throat before he spoke again.

"I understand that your hunter and your daughter have told me of your goddess's laws and I do not seek to make you break those laws. I only ask that you not try to stop us as we pull the Fajat from the ground" he said, which only seem to anger them further as another choir of hissing filled the air.

This time it was a younger female native spoke, she stood next to the chieftain and from Arvok's memories he judged her to be Sylwanin. Her ears flat and lips carved into a scowl as she denounced him "We will not stand idly by as you defile Eywa Demon"

"Does she speak for you?" he asked, hoping the father would have more sense than the daughter.

"No, but neither is she wrong" he answered back "There shall be no trade, no compromise. You are not welcome here, take your warriors and leave" he demanded as the tension that was already being pulled to its limits began to fray even more. Zao sighed then; a deep and painful thing, he had truly not wanted it to go this way. It was why he had decided against bringing Selfridge along. He would have talked to them like he was in a board meeting, speaking of percentages, profits and other meaningless things to people such as these. But now they would speak in a language they both knew, that every beings knew, from the dull to the divine.

Violence.

"Then I challenge you to the rite of first blood"

Arvok's eyes went wide with confusion and surprise, his lips silently mouthing words. How had they known of the rite; he never spoke of it and he never would believe that Neytiri had told them.

It was a Na'vi ritual used only to settle the most serious of disputes between the people, where all other paths had failed, where two Na'vi would be locked in single combat. Once finished, the terms of the winner's word would be binding. It could never be changed, argued against or removed.

"What did it say" Eytukan asked as Arvok slowly turned to his chieftain, eyes nearly glued to Zao before he looked to his leader and answered.

Now sooner had he finished translating was there another wave of hisses and cries. Decrying them as a demon's unworthy of the right. He looked to Neytiri and her to him, wearing the same face of shock as him. Eytukan raised his hand swiftly and the cries silenced as he stared hard into the rotting man.

"That rite is between the People" he hissed.

"Yet still I challenge you" he answered back; the earlier agreeableness he had shown now ripped away to reveal what he had already known. He repeated what Zao had spoken, his throat growing tight and dry with every syllable.

"And if I refuse" Eytukan spat.

"Then you will be taken prisoner, you and the rest of your tribe. Those who resist will die" he cautioned, decayed features morphing into a bitter scowl.

More hisses and roars echoed out, turning into an ocean of raw animalistic energy and even their Olo'eyktan wasn't immune from it.

"You dare come into my home and threaten my people you Demonic creature, crawl back into your flying rocks and never return, lest I have my hunters kill you" he barked and this time it was the humans who reacted as the strange creatures that held their fire sticks, lifted them and pointed them at his people. Even the large one hoisted a massive weapon that he had seen the night before, bloody mist and chunks of gore.

"No" Zao answered back, grabbing something on his waist, pulling out a gleaming blade and pointing straight at Eytukan. "Your people are hunters, your prey stands before you, so why do you cower?" he mocked "Are you too afraid to face one dead man, would you rather have your people die at the ends of our weapons than face me yourself".

Arvok could do nothing; nothing save relay the message, it all he could do to keep his mind focused and away from spiraling out of control.

"Silence!" Eytukan bellowed as with his command, the people obeyed and the rain of noise ended as he glared his hateful eyes at Zao "I do not fear you abomination"

"Then show it; let us end this here and now, and let no blood be shed but ours." He blared, his own alien voice being carried through the empty air.

"If you win, we will leave" he vowed; punctuation each word and letting them settle over them all.

Eytukan's face continued to darken, turning into a tempest and Arvok wondered if he could reach Neytiri in time. Maybe shield her body with his own before he died for the second and final time.

But Eytukan did not attack, nor did her answer. He just looked at the rotting man; letting the silence stretch and stretch before something seemed to break in him as his shoulders slackened and he finally spoke.

"And what would you ask in victory"

Zao felt satisfaction hit him like a tidal wave, taking great effort not to smile beneath his mask. The Native had accepted the challenge; truly Arvok had been right to call him wise. Their leader like everyone else had been watching them for weakness from the moment he had seen them. But unlike the rest of these aliens the chief was like him in terms of responsibility.

No, in fact the chieftain might feel even more responsibility than him, for that was the way of such people. Everyone would have known everyone in the tribe and if he could tell the age of their leader he suspected he had seen many of his people grow up. There would be no faceless soldier to him; each and every death they might have inflicted would be a death in the family.

And the presence of this other chieftain might have helped as well. He didn't know the tribal politics of these people yet but regardless, one would never want to be seen as weak in the presence of an ally or enemy.

"As I said before, we have no desire to inflict ourselves upon you anymore than we already have. Let us dig in peace and we shall not bother you" he swore.

"I accept" he said as the eyes of his people turned to him with shock.

Zao nodded his hand, an alien gesture to the Na'vi as his warriors reluctantly parted away and Arvok stepping aside leaving the two leaders of their respective people to prepare themselves. The chieftain pulled his knife, which due to being twice Zao's size was more a machete. From what the memories spoke of the challenge like the name suggested was to first blood, there was no need to kill the opponent. But it seemed neither was going to hold back, especially as Zao had no intention of playing fair.

As the two circled each other looking for a sign of weakness, Zao kept his sword behind his head in a modified wrath guard stance and raised his other hand to his mask. To the native it would like a simple adjustment of equipment, something to be capitalized on as your enemy's attention was diverted.

But that was anything but the truth now, as he clicked a bottom on the mask and breathed in a dose of Jet that had been hidden inside. The chieftain took the bait, his body shimmering with their power as he charged… but why was he barely slowing down!

Zao had barely enough time to dodge away before a massive blade struck the air he had once occupied. He rolled away using the momentum of his dodge to jump back onto his feet, confusing ripping across his body all the while.

"What had happened, had the drugs not worked?" he cursed to himself before the ten foot savage was on him again. The two battled back and forth, the large height of the native proving to be more a hindrance than an advantage. While he had the advantage in reach; using it and his alien strength to try and break through Zao guard, Zao's comparatively small size and centuries of experience fighting opponents strong than him let him keep pace with his opponent, letting the aliens blows slide of his sword with the horrid grinding of metal against bone. Sparing what moments he had between the alien's strikes he saw the slowed motions and drawn out cries of the natives and came to the terrible realization that the jet had worked, they were both just moving fast.

But even in this seeming stalemate between Ferocity and experience he could feel the end of their duel drawing closer as he deflected another strike, his muscles screaming and bone aching as some of the aliens strength slammed into him. And as he felt the pain in his own body so too did he see the tired expression of the alien as whatever power he was using was not something that could be called upon indefinitely and it was tiring him out.

He could see it in his arms and feel it in his blows, the way he swung with his entire body to compensate. He was becoming sloppy, no less quick but sloppy none the less. An opening would he just needed to wait for it and as he deflected another strike the alien chieftain seemed to have noticed this as well, stopping his onslaught as dark purple energy began to coalesce in his palm.

Zao felt few strands of hair he had left on his body stand on end as his instincts screamed at him to dodge the native roared and swung his arm in a massive uppercut. But it wasn't his fist that was the true danger as a line of explosions rippled across the ground in a line towards Zao.

Zao attempted do dodge again, jumping into the air to try and evade the rolling wave of energy. But he was a fraction too slow as rolled passed and clipped his feet, sending him spiraling through the air and landing hard on his back and almost knocking the wind out of his lungs.

Zao was breathing heavy; frantic eyes watching as the alien chieftain was upon him for the final time, having taken his time in the air to close the distance once more. He pulled back his wicked blade, aiming straight for Zao's chest as he plunged forward, his face a painting of pure wrath. Zao turned on his said at the last moment, feeling the vibrations as the blade stuck the ground before yelling with all his might, swinging his whole body back as severed the alien chieftain's hand from his body.

He roared in pain as he stumbled back, clutching at his bloody stump of his wrist as his other hand was left still gripping around the handle of his weapon. Red blood gushed from the wound like a fountain as he fell to his knees and two female natives broke from the line and towards their wounded leader. Zao took the time to collect himself taking in desperate gasps of air. His coat was in tatters and from the pain he believed his ankle was broken, but that pain felt small as he looked at what he had dodged. The root that had been behind Zao had been shredded, shattered bark littered the ground in a straight line up from the ground up.

Zao sighed as he a tissue from his coat pocket and cleaned the blood off his sword. Looking over to his defeated opponent he was greeted by a pair of eyes that burned with hatred so deep that he could almost feel it past the adrenaline. She looked as though she was ready to attack, to spring forth like some jungle cat and rip him apart before the chieftain gripped her arm in his remaining hand, much to the worry of the other woman.

"Don't" he grunted in pain as Neytiri tightened what he thought to be a primitive tourniquet around his arm and wrapping cloth around the stump to stem the bleeding. At his orders his daughter snarled in frustration but did not advance turning back instead to help her father as the rest of their clan watched on with looks of anger and dismay at his loss as he got back on his feet.

A part of Zao wanted to help the chieftain, he could call for a stim-pack and while it wouldn't give back his hand it would certainly help with the bleeding. But he knew it would be rejected.

He walked once more to their leader, under the alien glares that had turned silent in his victory. Eytukan to his credit bore his would well, no sniveling escaped his mouth or tears in his eyes as they looked at each other once more as Zao spoke.

"You fought well" he stated and after Arvok translated Eytukan made no move sneer at his words.

As the deal was finalized, the loud thumps of Strong's feet came closer and closer as the warriors redrew their bows and aimed them at him. Strong made no move to try and defend himself as if he didn't even notice they were there. It was only when he was in front of Neytiri before he lifted a hand. She hissed at him defensively and her father did his best to step in front of her and shield her but that did not stop him before he grasped his helmet and pulled it off, revealing his true face to them all.

"I am Strong, you killed one of my men" he said and Arvok once more translated as Strong slowly pulled a long knife, still in its sheath from his his. "My people have a saying, you keep what you kill, he would want you to have it" he finished before he presented the blade to her. Zao was curious about how she would react as she looked at him, the blade and back again before quickly reaching out a hand and snatching from his hand and tossing it away from her with a hateful glare.

Strong simply nodded and put his helmet back with a hiss and deep breath from having to speak and hold his breath before going back he and Zao walked back to the Paladins.

But before he left Zao turned to look at the Natives of this world, Sullivan's idea in his mind as he spoke one last time. "You saw only the barest hint of our power today, if you wish to understand the rest follow the crimson light"

Author's notes

Here is chapter 11 and at long last the humans and the Na'vi have been formally introduced. And it seems that Zao's gambit has postponed a larger conflict and has created a way for true understanding for those willing to listen.

P.S

As of now i will be adding a mass effect style codex when new things are brought up to help with worldbuilding

Codex Updated:

Mesmenades: Like the name suggests, the mesmade works under the same basic principles as the mesmetron and had seen its fair share of use in riot control and less than lethal engagements. When the pin is pulled and after a set time, the grenade will emit a high frequency wave that will disrupt the brains of anyone within a five meter radius, rendering them unconscious.