Soesä — Chapter XIII

After narrowly escaping a near-decapitation and impalement by two different women, Asher found himself being led back to the science shack, possibly to avoid rousing any more animosity from the Na'vi. Who themselves were still lingering around, watching the so-called 'demon' wipe the blood from his neck with the sleeve of his shirt. Each of their faces were inquisitive but fearful, as though Asher was going to suddenly turn on them and attack. Hilariously enough, nothing could be further from the truth. Asher was more hungry, tired, and bleeding from all the stabbing he took to stay here, than willing to lift up his hands even remotely to protect himself.

This day was a bit too much.

With his hands in his pocket, Asher looked around, taking in much of the view as possible before he was poked at by Norm to keep moving. "Alright, alright." He said. From the looks of this place, it was quite remarkable. They had from what he could see, various tents strewn about the cave. A small fleet of Samson's, three he counted, situated at the far end of the camp. Among that were the sea of Na'vi. There was no possible way to haul everything up here without some help. How long did it take them to move all of this up here?

But wait—where was Jake? Asher didn't wake up and get cut up for nothing. No way was he going to end his day like this.

"Hold on," Asher said, stopping short from going back into the gate. "I need to speak to Jake. I mean, we didn't get the details down about the treaty. What I need from him, and—"

Norm stopped him. "You'll do that tomorrow. Right now. He's busy."

"How busy?"

"Look. You seem like an okay guy, and I really want to protect you from everyone trying to take your queue. So why don't you do me a favor and go back inside, hmm?" Norm said, motioning for Asher to keep moving.

"It's absolutely urgent that I speak with him," begged Asher.

"Tomorrow," Norm repeated, now gently pushing the avatar's left leg to encourage Asher to move along.

"If I don't speak with him soon, the Na'vi are going to be in a world of shit." Asher finally said.

"We've been down that road before," Norm said, shrugging at his comments. "Now come on, before someone fires an arrow at you."

"The RDA is going to launch a strike on this place with everything they got if you don't let me speak to Jake right away."

Norm squinted, pondering on whether Asher was telling the truth or not. Taking a chance, he glanced up to the tall avatar and asked, "What do you mean?"

Before Asher could speak, he debated with himself if he should reveal any of the RDA's plans directly with this man. After all, Asher did promise Ardmore that he was never going to share details with Jake about what the RDA had planned (though she never did reveal much of anything to him), and that he would neither share information about the Na'vi to her. It was a way to maintain neutrality between both parties. But after what Danielle said about the RDA sending SEC-OPS in a matter of months to this place if the treaty was not signed soon enough only forced Asher to bend his own rules.

Let's hope this doesn't come back to bite me in the ass, he thought.

"If I don't speak with him. Right now." Asher said, his tone straining, "Then Ardmore is going to assume that all attempts of creating a peace treaty have failed and will launch a strike to kill him. My job is to stop that from happening."

Norm wasn't sure if Asher was telling the truth. The problem that Norm was seeing was that Asher could very well be bluffing his way to reach Jake and assassinate him. On the other hand, if this information that Asher was saying was true. Then they have a serious problem.

Sighing, there was no other option. But to protect both Jake, the Na'vi, and his own conscience was to find that middle ground where leverage and control was left in Jake's hands.

"Okay," Norm said hesitantly. Damn, he was seriously going to go out on a limb for this stranger. "Come back tonight."

Asher was about to shake his head at that suggestion as tonight was not going to do but if he pushed it any further, then he might not see Jake at all. With what was going on with the Na'vi and how much they clearly didn't want another avatar here, Asher needed all the help he could get.

Clenching his hands, Asher nodded.

"Good, now get moving," Norm said, prodding the back of the avatar's leg.

As Asher returned to the place they referred to as the 'science shack,' he couldn't help but notice that it bore little resemblance to any shack he had come across. Instead, it resembled a facility one might find at Bridgehead. There were a couple of smaller shacks situated to the side, likely housing additional link-beds and various scientific equipment whose names Asher couldn't say. Not without embarrassing himself. But the size of the place was evident that this was no damn shack.

At two stories high, Asher was able to make out a second level even from where he was standing. As an avatar, Asher often forgot just how tall he was, especially when a complex of this size dwarfed most mobile shacks that were out in the field between Hell's Gate and Bridgehead.

Entering into the gate, Asher stood by the corner, his hands awkwardly rearranging every second without looking like some giant in a fairy-tale book.

"So," Asher started off almost with a whisper while the gases exchanged. "I didn't catch your name?"

Norm looked up and said, "Doctor Norm Spellman."

Asher's tail flicked against the walls, making a rather awkward sound. Damn that thing is annoying.

"Sorry about that," Asher commented, trying to grab his tail to hold it beside his leg. Norm shrugged.

"Doctor huh?" Asher said, "How long have you been here on Pandora?"

"Long enough." Norm's answer was dry and deliberately so.

"Me? Six months, going on seven."

Norm nodded.

"Is there any place I can park this avatar?"

"Yeah, the same room we housed you in."

Asher scratched his shoulder, uncertain if that would be adequate space. "Uh, any place bigger?"

Norm suddenly turned to look up at him as he slipped the visor-mask off. "No. Unless you want the Na'vi to kill your avatar while you're away?"

Asher made an 'ah' gesture then clasped his hand together, finally finding some way to keep his hands busy.

Norm stood in front of the entrance, gripping the handle, and waited for the light above the door to turn green.

"What's this place used for?"

"Scientific research," Norm said, pushing the door open.

"You guys are still doing research here?" Asher said, stepping through the door, his gaze taking a tour through the interior. "But why? It's not like you'll return to Earth anytime soon to publish a paper."

Norm returned the mask on the rack as he moved through the lab, expecting Asher to follow.

"Just because we've chosen to remain on Pandora doesn't mean we stopped doing our job."

Asher remembered to grab one of his own mask as he caught up to Norm with only a few steps.

"Fascinating. And I thought you drivers just went on to hook up with the Na'vi and start a family or something."

Norm paused over by a computer monitor, checking to see if the atmospheric pressure in the shack was normal.

"Some of us adopted the orphans after the war. I think, maybe two did find someone they liked. But other than that. Business as usual." Norm said as he pushed in an office chair that got away from its desk.

"Ah, so it is a stereotype that the drivers fall in love with the Na'vi?" Asher said casually, however unintentionally, it did sound as though he was making fun of them with his remarks.

"Well," Norm said, turning to face the avatar, his face coalescing with an expression of annoyance and coolness. "When you find someone you really love, it doesn't matter what they look like."

"I won't lie. Kinda, gross, don't you think? Human and alien, intermixing. It's just, I don't know. Weird." Asher said, ducking below a massive pipe that ran above the ceiling.

"No. I don't think so." Norm retorted as he waved for Asher to keep following.

Continuing through the lab, Asher recognized a series of link-beds off to the right where several other scientists, and possible a driver or two, were talking. They did happen to glance up, catching sight of an avatar moving through here before returning to whatever they were talking about.

Without realizing what he was walking to, Asher inadvertently collided with the amnio tank he had encountered earlier, causing him to react with a quick apology and a cautious inspection of the tank to ensure he didn't break it. The last thing he needed now was breaking something important around here. But as he leaned closer, his curiosity piqued at the sight of another avatar suspended within the liquid.

"Whose this?" Asher asked, gesturing with his thumb to the tank.

Norm paused to look back, knowing that was something Asher was for certain going to bring up on his way back to the room.

"That's Doctor Augustine's avatar," he said, walking back. "And it would be wise that you don't mess with the tank. Very delicate operation we have going on here to protect her avatar."

"I never heard of a Doctor Augustine."

Norm let out a fake laugh. "That's because you're not part of the Avatar Program."

"I did go through the program to operate this thing," Asher stated, his hands waving at the body that stood before Dr. Spellman.

Norm let out a soft sigh. The RDA were already scrubbing Dr. Augustine's involvement with the program. How long before she was completely erased from history?

"Didn't they kill it when the whole war broke out?" Norm asked.

Asher nodded. "Yeah. After I graduated, they did."

Norm took a closer look at Asher's avatar. Something was off about it, but he could not quite put a finger on it.

"Is there something on my face?" Asher said, sensing that Norm was getting a little too close. After a while, Asher subconsciously felt his face and besides the wound that was left bleeding all over his shirt, he didn't feel anything out of place.

Norm nodded up to him. "No eyebrows."

"Oh, yeah. Not my idea."

"UNE?"

Asher shrugged. "They paid for it. I didn't ask for anything different. But Dr. Hurley back at Bridgehead said it was gen-six. Don't know what that means, other than they were attempting to make the avatar's look more Na'vi."

"Well, you still have five fingers." Norm noted, pointing to his hand.

"Yes sir, I do." Asher said as he flexed all ten fingers before Norm's eyes.

"Military?" Norm asked, sensing the use of 'sir' wasn't commonly used by scientists and civilians. But then neither was using a weapon.

"Former Army."

"Ah, another Jake Sully. How original."

"Jake is a Marine," Asher corrected.

Norm didn't care as he stood staring back at the avatar with an expression that conveyed as much.

"So. I'm gonna be dead honest." Norm motioned to Asher, "Are you here to hook up with a Na'vi? Sleep with the princess? Then become one of them in some vain hope of altruism?"

Asher laughed. Of course he was going to be asked that. And before he could give an answer, he inhaled from his mask. "No sir. Just here to do a job and go home."

"Yeah—Jake said the same thing."

"I've read his profile. I can tell you right now that I have people waiting back on Earth."

Norm chuckled. "I really don't care. I just want you to understand something: These Na'vi want you dead. So playing hero out there is not going to win them brownie points."

Asher agreed with that sentiment. "I understand that. That's why I want to get my job done as soon as possible and head out of here."

"What exactly is your job anyways? All this urgency to talk to Jake about helping the Na'vi write out a treaty makes you sound like some sort of politician."

"UNE Diplomat, sir. From Colonies Division. I'm here to work out a peace treaty, if possible, with Jake and the Na'vi."

"All the Na'vi?"

Asher inhaled the air in this place, which was a little too much as he took another sip from his mask to balance it out. "Sure. But I'm here to see if Jake's story is true and that his attack on the RDA was justified, rather than offensively kicking the RDA off of Pandora just cause he was getting it on with a blue alien."

Norm laughed, his finger scratching at his nose. "That blue alien almost killed you, y'know."

Asher was well aware of that. She left a cut, alongside a fresher cut by another woman. If he didn't know any better, Asher would have mistaken their anger for some affectionate mating ritual by how all the Na'vi women wanted to gut him like some stuffed pig. Though he was curious about this Neytiri woman and while he was hesitant to delve into matters of personal issues concerning Jake, he did need to know if she was somehow factoring into Jake's decision to engage with the RDA. And seeing that Norm stood in orbit around Jake, lend itself as his only opportunity to do so.

"What's her story?" Asher inquired.

"Whose? Neytiri?"

Asher nodded.

Norm hesitated about answering anything regarding Neytiri, feeling that Jake might take issue with help helping out a man like Asher discuss about his mate. Further still, this was Neytiri they were talking about. Not some ordinary Na'vi with a penchant for weaving. It was also not in Norm's liking to blather about other people behind their backs either.

"Eh, I shouldn't."

Asher raised his hands, motioning that he had no intention of pushing the subject further. "If you don't want to, I understand."

"It's not that I don't want to. It's that, well… you could talk to her yourself. She speaks English well enough to converse with."

Asher gestured to the wound on his neck. "You really think that is a good idea?"

Norm agreed. "Okay," he said, "Fine." Leaning against an electron microscope that was built into the floor and stood at Norm's height, he tried to find a fair place to start with Neytiri's story. Something that didn't reveal too much about her.

"Well, where do I start? She -uh, well, she is the daughter to the former clan leader of the Omatikaya, and daughter to a spiritual leader, whom you met."

"Mo'at," Asher answered. "Nice lady."

"She wasn't before. But, Neytiri's father died. His name was Eytukan."

Asher subtly tilted his head, curious about her father. "How did he die?"

"Killed when the RDA bombed their home."

"Right. I've read the attack of the Omatikaya's Hometree. The RDA's report stated that Jake instigated the retaliation by SEC-OPS after he assaulted the dozers clearing the forest."

Norm shook his head. "Figures as much. Sheer propaganda, man. Sounds like you believe… do you?"

Asher shrugged. "That's why I'm here. Because I don't know what to believe."

"Fair enough. So anyways. Neytiri was betrothed to another man, named Tsu'tey. He died too during the attack on the Tree of Souls." Before Norm could continue, he started to stare off into the distance, his brows furrowing together at the slight sting of memory of Trudy Chacón.

Trudy.

Inhaling, Norm returned to what he was saying before Asher could sense something was wrong. "In fact, a lot of good people died that day."

"Unnecessary deaths."

Norm ignored his comment. "Jake. The Marine. He took over from his twin brother, Tom. Tommy was my friend in the Program. He died back on Earth because some thief wanted his money and got stabbed when he refused to hand it over. Poor bastard was left bleeding in the streets for several hours before someone checked on him. By then, he was already dead. Later. They were lucky enough to find out that he had a twin brother, otherwise the avatar would have been destroyed, wasting billions of dollars for nothing. Jake comes here to Pandora, acting like his shit didn't stink and being a know it all. Heh-he found out the hard way. After stumbling through the forest, he comes across Neytiri, or rather, Neytiri was stalking him and then captures him and brings him to her mother. Mo'at agreed to help him cure, what Jake said was his 'sanity'. Strange times we live in, huh?"

Asher made a face that he wasn't sure what Norm meant.

"Long story short. Jake falls in love with Neytiri and with the People and with the moon. He fights for them because he knew the RDA was going to bomb not just Hometree, but the Tree of Souls."

Asher interrupted. "This is about Jake. Not Neytiri."

"I'm getting there," Norm chided. "Anyways. After they booted the RDA off. Jake and Neytiri started having kids."

"Wait—avatars can, well, uh—"

Norm laughed. "Yes dude. Of course."

"Why? I thought the avatars were sterile?"

"We found out later that the reason for the avatars being able to, continue their genes if you will, is because the RDA had plans to encourage the drivers to fall in love with the Na'vi. This way, the kids can be half-human, avatar, and half-Na'vi. This will then," Norm wobbled his head, finding this unbelievable. "Breed the Na'vi out. They called it 'Humanization'."

"And they planned on doing this with fifty avatars?"

"I guess so, there was also rumors the RDA kidnapped some Na'vi kids to brainwash them to fight for the RDA, but I haven't heard anything about that. And honestly, kidnapping seems below the RDA. Why waste precious resources when those kids might just turn on you anyways?" Norm said, chuckling.

"Huh—I'll look into that. But—with Jake having kids, doesn't that mean he unintentionally became part of their plan?"

Norm shook his head. "The idea of Humanization was to encourage the children of the avatars to be brought up in the RDA and learn all there is to learn about humanity. Then, with time, the Na'vi will become infected with human culture, through the offspring of the avatars. The idea, the RDA hoped for, was that eventually, all the Na'vi will become accustomed to our presence, because of these offspring, that they will simply stop fighting us and gradually be absorbed into the RDA's colonization efforts."

"And Jake is not part of this plan?"

Norm laughed. "Seriously dude, he's not. Jake brought up his kids within the Omatikaya. The only human thing about them might be the way they speak sometimes, or act, or do things their dad does. Other than that. They're Na'vi-through-and-through."

"Except for the fingers and eyebrows," Asher noted, pointing to his own hand.

"Well, sure, yeah."

"I didn't know about that, thanks for bringing that up. I mean it. Everything I learn here helps the Na'vi's case."

Norm nodded. "Sure."

"But Neytiri, what about her?"

"Ah-right. So, Neytiri is, I would say, quite brave. She is a skilled fighter, very skilled I might add, having fought Colonel Quaritch back in the day, and she's an overall good mother. Not to mention a really good friend. She sometimes hangs around us drivers when we are in our avatars. She tries to do her best, even when everything else seems to be falling apart around here."

Asher nodded along. And when he thought that was it, Norm continued.

"She also had a sister," Norm said, his gaze falling somewhere on the tile floor, unsure if he should really talk about this. "Long story short. Her sister, Sylwanin, was killed by the RDA. They were looking for those responsible for destroying some vehicles and they believed it was Sylwanin and her friends. Chasing after her, they found her and these friends at Grace's school within the forest. Grace wasn't there but Neytiri was. Sylwanin was shot and killed, along with her friends. Neytiri held her as she passed."

Asher sighed out a deep breath. "Three traumatic deaths?"

"Yup."

"Terrible," Asher solemnly commented.

"The only good thing to happen to Neytiri is Jake and her kids." Norm noted, his expression growing serious as he stared up to the avatar. "She lost so much but she gained four wonderful kids. And damn, she loves each of them. She also really loves Jake. They are her world. So when you came, and Jake didn't tell her. That set off all kinds of fireworks inside of her. All that hurt, pain… misery."

"I understand."

Norm grinned. "I don't think you do," he said, pointing up at the avatar. "Because of what the Na'vi have been through, they see you as a threat. They don't see you as a friend or as one of them, no matter how close you look like them. To them, you're no more than an apparition. A ghost. A vrrtep—a demon. And so if you're really here to help the Na'vi. It's wise that you watch what you say and do and listen to everything Jake says. Got it?"

"Got it and thanks for sharing. Like I've said before, Dr. Spellman, I'm here to learn the truth. So the more I know about what happened here, the more the UNE will know and the more the Earth will know too."

Norm shook his head. "Whatever, man. Come, you need to rest up before tonight. I'll let Jake know you're coming. But if he really doesn't want you here, then there is nothing I can do. Though I'll make sure to let him know that you really need to talk to him."

"Appreciate it, sir."

F.O.B. Ticonderoga

"The Na'vi…" Asher started but trailed off after his thoughts. When Danielle sat the cup of coffee in front of him, the aroma rising to meet his senses, he returned with his words. "Holy crap, they're crazy."

"Crazy huh?" Wade said, leaning in with the curiosity of a child.

"Yeah—well I mean, I get it, y'know? Hell. I would probably go and kill an alien trying to look like us too."

Wade laughed. "Sounds like a script to a bad sci-fi flick."

Danielle took a seat between Wade and Asher, her own cup of coffee situated in front of her. "I knew that was going to happen," Danielle said, blowing softly on the coffee.

"Thanks for the heads-up, ma'am." Asher retorted sarcastically. "So what do I do? I'm going back in tonight to talk to him."

Danielle leaned into her chair. "Do about what? The treaty? Isn't that your field?"

"No I mean," Asher scratched the back of his head. He really was going to learn more about the Na'vi, wasn't he? "The Na'vi. Looks like I need to know more about them than what the RDA have said."

Danielle smirked. "Ha! Now you want to know about the Na'vi."

Asher looked at her sardonically. "It's because I need to stay ahead of the curve. These Na'vi are absolutely unpredictable. One moment, they want to cut your throat. Next, they're helping you out like some orphaned kid in Oliver Twist."

Danielle nodded. "That sounds like them all right."

"Well?"

Danielle blinked, shocked that she was being asked at all as she pressed her hand against her chest. "You want me to help you?"

Asher nodded.

"Just keep learning the language," she advised.

Asher frowned. "What about who they are?"

Danielle rolled her shoulders then leaned into her seat, really enjoying this moment of being right. "If only you could see your face right now, Mr. Asher. Like a teenager who just had sex."

Asher gave a grossed-out face. "What?"

"I'll tell you about the Na'vi as long as you don't hurt any more of them, kay?"

Asher begrudgingly nodded to her demand. "Okay. Fair enough. Wasn't planning on hurting them."

"Good. First lesson. When you go back, and you're done with all the greetings. Repeat this phrase, 'Oe lu hì'Ia palulukantsyìp', okay?"

Wade slipped a hand to cover his mouth, pretending he was going to sneeze and politely looked away. Asher immediately pointed to Wade. "What does it mean?" He asked Danielle. "Wade knows what it means. Wade, what does it mean?"

Danielle leaned in front of Wade, her gaze still on Asher. "It means you're not a threat to them because you just said 'I am a small but gentle creature who respects you'."

"Wade, is that what she said?"

"It's exactly what she said," Wade said, returning with the biggest blush of his life.

"What's so damn funny?"

"A gentle creature?" Wade echoed, looking at Danielle, then, unable to hold it back, he bursted out laughing.

"Trust me, Mr. Asher. By you saying that will mean a lot to them. That you are humble enough to make fun of yourself."

"Wade," Asher pointed at him again. "Is any of what she said true?"

"It's true."

Asher sighed. "That's quite a lot to remember."

"Wade will help you out on that," Danielle said, motioning to Wade who was still cracking up.

While Wade sat trying to catch his breath, there was another matter eating at Asher, something he needed to share with them. "Jake mentioned the Tipani. I met them, well, one of them."

Danielle tilted her head, her expression growing serious. "The Tipani? What are they doing there?"

Wade suddenly grew quiet, clearly interested in knowing too

Asher could only shrug. "I really have no idea. First time I heard about another clan at all."

Danielle gave a look to Wade, her face searching for possible explanations in his. In return, Wade simply offered a look of confusion, unsure what to make of the Tipani being in the floating mountains.

"You don't think it has something to do with the RDA—does it?" Asher said. "Unless the Omatikaya and the Tipani are joining forces for something… big. Ah, no, no. Shit… that's just what I need."

Danielle propped up her hands, palms facing to Asher as she said: "Let's not jump to any conclusions."

"I'll find out later tonight then." Asher said as he took a sip from the cup.

"In the meantime," Danielle said. "Work on practicing the Na'vi language with Wade. I'm gonna head out and send these new reports to the General." She motioned to the tablet on the table.

"What have you been writing about?" He asked, gesturing to the tablet.

"Oh. Just about what has been happening to you—to us."

"Anything juicy about me?"

"That you've made it to the mountains, and you've met Jake."

"Fine. What about my reports? Has she made any comment about them?"

Danielle shook her head. "No. Not that I've heard of. What matters is that these reports keep her from interfering in this mission of yours, Mr. Asher."

"Good," Asher said, taking another honest sip from his cup.

"Yup. Very good." Danielle added as she shared a warm smile with Wade.

"By the way, Danielle."

Danielle looked back over to Asher; her smile still present.

"Norm was telling me about the RDA's 'Humanization' project with the avatars. You heard anything about that?"

Danielle took a sip from her cup but held it there, her gaze fixating on Asher for several seconds before bringing the cup back down on the table.

"I did."

"Any truth to it?"

"There is."

"W-why? Doesn't make sense."

"A lot of things the RDA did doesn't make sense in hindsight. But I believe they wanted to see their money be put to good use. And what better use than ensuring the avatars have kids?"

Asher agreed but it still didn't make sense. He wondered though…

"Any successful attempts?"

Danielle remained quiet for a moment before saying, "there was… one."

"Not Jake, right?"

She shook her head. "No-no. Jake wasn't factored into this. This was early on." She sighed. The mere mention of the humanization plan or project, whatever they called it back in the day, dredged up a terrible story that stuck with her. Danielle never imagined that she was going to talk about Hegner, with Asher of all people. But he needed to know.

"When I first came to Pandora, this was, six years before Jake came along, I saw this emaciated man in the mess hall, cleaning tables. He never greeted any of us new people. Never looked at us, never even said a word. I finally asked one of the older personnel of the Program who that guy was. They said his name was Adrian Hegner."

Wade stayed silent. He knew immediately who Danielle was talking about.

"Hegner was a driver, like you. A valuable xenobiologist who wrote tons of papers and published several books on Earth about life on Pandora. I was shocked that he was still on Pandora, considering he was among the first wave, right along with Dr. Augustine, to be on Pandora and drive avatars."

Augustine, Asher thought. All these names were beginning to connect.

"But he wanted to stay. Really badly. So the RDA let him. With time, he grew to love Pandora so much that he also fell in love with a Na'vi native. Which is completely against every protocol in the book. And Dr. Augustine was about to write him up for it. Well, for some reason, she ignored it. I found out later, this was because she too was also romantically involved. But also because the RDA needed avatar kids. So everyone was ignoring everyone. As long as the avatar's started having kids, it was perfectly acceptable to love the Na'vi. Though, I don't think Dr. Augustine ever mentioned herself who she was seeing. We just know she used to. But Hegner? It was said he would intentionally stay in his avatar for days, just to be with this woman. Do you know how hard it is stay in your avatar for over twenty-four hours?"

Asher shook his head. He imagined that there had to be bathroom breaks, but Hegner was a wild man from the sound of it.

"It's unpleasant. We have to give you catheters and make you wear a diaper if you go over twelve hours. Imagine seventy-two? They had to give him a damn feeding tube just to stay alive. But yeah. Hegner deliberately spent enormous amounts of time in his avatar so he could spend time with her."

"Omatikaya?"

Danielle bobbed her head. "I don't know. Maybe? But. He told Dr. Augustine that he wanted to transfer his consciousness into the avatar so he could be, I don't know what they call it, 'mated for life'? Dr. Augustine put her foot down, reminding him of his duties to Earth. He didn't like that call and was planning on doing the procedure, a very-very dangerous procedure I might say, alone. Dr. Augustine was forced to confine him to his room. Then, one day, after having not used his avatar in over three days, she showed up, clearly looking for him. The problem is, you don't just show up to Hell's Gate unannounced. She did, poor girl. She made a necklace for him and was planning to give it to him whenever he returned. The guards were telling her to move away from the fence. They even pointed to the signs that the Na'vi could understand that she couldn't be here."

Danielle bowed her head, her hands running through her hair at the next part of this story.

"She didn't understand the sign or what the guards were saying. In her own attempt, she tried to speak to them in very broken English. Next thing I was told, a guard in a tower aimed his weapon and attempted to scare her off by shooting at the ground. Well, the ground was very dry that day, and a bullet ricocheted into her throat."

"Holy—" Asher muttered.

"She died. Hegner hears about this and rushes to his avatar while everyone else is scrambling to see what was happening. He goes outside and finds her. Dead. He's cradling her body and discovers the necklace in her hand. Apparently, she learned his language enough to etch into the wooden beads of the necklace, 'My Hegner'."

Asher sighed, taking it all in as he leaned into his seat, his gaze settling on the table, the images of this Hegner guy cradling a dead Na'vi woman was almost too much. But he had seen it many times before.

"Dr. Augustine comes out and comforts Hegner. But he's gone, he's no longer there. Next day, he goes out in his avatar, says that he wants to work to get the tragedy off his mind, but instead, wanted to die by an animal. The trauma of dying in an avatar was enough to sever any ties he had with Pandora. So, his avatar is now gone, along with the love of his life. SEC-OPS finds the remains of the avatar several kilometers away, clutching onto her necklace. He also wanted to kill himself in his human body, but the RDA shot him up with enough drugs to give him a fantasy in his mind. At night, we could hear him calling out her name, 'Soesä, Soesä, Soesä'. Dr. Augustine later learned that Soesä was pregnant. Too small to be anything viable at the time, but a fetus none the less."

"Wow," Asher said solemnly.

"After that. Dr. Augustine instructed that anyone even remotely thinking about forming a romantic relationship with the Na'vi was now forbidden from doing so. Effectively killing the 'Humanization' plan that the RDA wanted. It's why she was also very hard on Jake on not getting involved with Neytiri. And, I agree. But history said differently. So I hope you're not getting any ideas yourself, Mr. Asher."

Asher quickly shook his head. "After that story? Hell No. Ma'am."

"Good."

After a solid minute of silence with everyone reflecting on the story, Danielle smacked the table, snapping her out of her own trance. "All right. I need to get going. You two do your thing. I'll bring back dinner. God I hope they brought some new rations from Bridgehead because these things we have here are getting stale."

When Danielle left, Wade and Asher remained around the table, staring at one another, still reflecting on Danielle's story when Asher broke the air.

"Wade."

"Yeah, bud?"

"If I fall in love out there. You better hit me in the balls."

Wade chuckled. "No problem, bud."