Author's Note: Sorry for the wait! Enjoy!
It's a delicate balance between being so blindingly angry that he flies off the handle and so dangerously focused that his attention sharpens like a blade. So, while the two sides of his brain pull him in both directions, he remains still. His body tenses and he almost throws a chair through the one-way mirror when Jake runs his hands up and down Neteyam's arms, but somehow manages to control himself as his son just stares at Jake curiously.
"Son of a bitch," Lyle hisses in his ear and Quaritch is surprised he heard it over the pounding of his heart.
"Zhang," Prager says, voice distant in his ear. "Where are you -"
Slam!
"What's your name?" Jake asks in Na'vi, which shocks Quaritch. He knows that it shouldn't, that it was probably the language that Jake used to communicate with his children their whole lives. Yet still, it felt disconnected somehow. Despite his whirling thoughts, Quaritch's grateful for Neteyam's insistence on him - them - learning the language so that he could understand, even as Veronica quietly interprets for them.
Still... why would..?
Oh, his face... he's so young. Like Quaritch and the rest of Blue Team. Regressed in age. Some kind of... copy? Like another Jake Sully but this time... a recombinant? What was the point of that? Were they hoping to somehow trick the Na'vi? Trick the real Jake Sully and his family? Maybe just Neteyam? There is no obvious recognition in the little boy's expression but that doesn't mean he won't ultimately realize that he's looking at a younger version of his dad's face.
His biological dad.
"Neteyam," Neteyam says softly, pushing a stubborn braid behind his ear only for it to slide back into place at his cheek a moment later. "Who... are you?"
Hope blossoms in Quaritch's chest, it's closing in on almost a year since Neteyam came to them, maybe he really has forgotten the faces of his parents.
Jake Sully stares at him for a moment as if something wasn't right before he smiles, flashing a familiar set of dual fangs, like Neteyam's, and says, "It's so nice to meet you, Neteyam. My name is Tom. Tom Sully."
"Holy shit," Lyle gasps next to him. "He's the fucking brother."
"Wait," Fike says, shaking his head in Quaritch's peripheral. "Wait, how the hell?"
"Tom..?" Neteyam says slowly, the sound of his name strange on his tongue. He chews on his lower lip, trying to make it work. "Tooooom Su...Suli?"
Jake - no, Tom - offers a little tilt of his head. "Yeah, buddy. Just like that." A small laugh. "I'm... your dad's brother. Your uncle."
What was going on? Not Jake, but Tom? He was the original brother assigned to come to pandora. He was to be part of the science department. Some big brain that was coming to work alongside Augustine. Quaritch remembered looking at his file, all the blacked-out portions. A massively redacted file. A secondary file had been created for him, one with an impressive genius level loadout for schooling, enough to impress the good doctor about her newest recruit.
But the dead twin had a greater purpose coming to Pandora that didn't get realized. He was traveling under the radar, secretive from everyone, including Quaritch. Even the Colonel was given strict orders to obey and only given what he needed to know. It had been utterly fascinating. Tom Sully had connections within the RDA, strong ones and high up. Quaritch was interested in seeing what that had been about when instead of Tom Sully showing up, it was Jake Sully, his twin. Tom had been killed back on Earth and the secret as to what made him so special to the RDA died with him.
And that little note attached to his file that only Quaritch had access to, even over Selfridge, rang hollow in his head for years and then taunted him when he learned of Tom Sully's unfortunate demise.
The file note had read: Give him everything he asks for.
Neteyam blinks big, golden eyes as the hands that rub his little arms pause a bit. "Un...cle..?"
Something akin to panic fires through Miles's veins. His brain starts to run through how he was going to explain this to his son. His. Because that's what Neteyam is. His son, not Jake Sully's.
Not anymore.
He's then struck with an emotional quagmire. More than even Jake's son, he was actually Tom's. It had been Tom's avatar that created Neteyam, even though it was Jake who was piloting it. This was getting so much harder for him to wrap his mind around. Somehow this added layer felt like another obstacle. Another thing trying to keep Neteyam and Quaritch separated.
There is a knock at the door that pauses whatever was at the tip of Tom's tongue when he opened his mouth. Unbothered, Tom stands up and walks over to the door, pressing the panel on the side to open it up and there stands Zhang with a thick blanket - Neteyam's favorite, from the medbay, no doubt - and holds it out to Tom, face stiff.
"Thank you," Tom says, tipping his head politely and taking the blanket from the other recombinant and turning away to go back to Neteyam as the door shuts behind him. "Here you go, Neteyam."
Neteyam takes the blanket, eyes widening at the sight of it. "It's mine?" His golden eyes flicker around the room and Miles just knows in his bones that his smart son knew it was one of them. Maybe Veronica or her assistant, but his tense little shoulders loosen a bit.
His son knew that he wasn't alone.
"Good boy," he hears himself whisper, Lyle nodding in his peripheral.
"Yeah," Tom freaking Sully says, smiling. "You like it?"
He sits and Neteyam nods, wrapping it around his shoulders. His big golden eyes scan the ceiling for cameras. He looks at the emergency light, the fire suppression system, and then looks at the mirror, tilting his head slightly.
He glances over at Tom, makes a connection, and looks at his reflection, then while pulling down his mask with one hand he presses his blanket to his nose with the other, breathing deeply for the faintest scent.
"Zhang," Neteyam mouths, then offers a toothy smile to his reflection before looking over at Tom. He pulls the mask back up into place.
Watching him curiously, Tom asks, "Do you know him? The man that brought the blanket?" He hadn't thought to give Zhang more than a polite cursory glance, but that was about it. This look in his eye proves that to be the last time he makes that mistake.
Neteyam hesitates, not sure how much to say. Quaritch's chest swells with pride as Neteyam nods, simply saying in intentionally broken English, "Day Jah buu."
"He's so fucking smart," Mansk says to Z, who nods, crossing her arms over her chest.
Zhang walks in, and Ja says to him, "He knew it was you."
Zhang nods, taking a spot by the mirror, leaning against the wall, as if proximity was going to get him to Neteyam faster if the little boy needed it. They loved him, all of them did, but Zhang took it upon himself to be the boys protector. Always the first to go to him and look after him, take his hand and lead him away from the things that scared him. Good man, that Zhang.
Tom tilts his head. "Huh." He looks down at his hands, contemplatively. He wars with himself, emotions playing across his face, definitely not trained like Jake in keep his face under control. "Do you miss the forest?"
His fishing. Despite how inviting and open he appears, there is something measure about every action. Every shift, every word, every question. His facial control might even be more than Miles originally thought. Jake might have been the marine, but Tom might actually be the dangerous one.
Neteyam tilts his head, looking over at Tom with a little cough. "Go to..? Go to forest?" His little ears perk up. "Yes? We go with - " he stops, remembering not to be overly familiar with Blue Team outside of the forest and their little section of Bridgehead. "We go to see the forest together?" He amends, voice quieter.
Tom smiles, thumb tapping lightly against the metal table. "Sure, bud, if that's what you want. We sure can." A pause, then, "So long as we've got the okay from Colonel Quaritch."
Neteyam perks, mouth opening, then closing. He doesn't really know how to say Quaritch's name. He never had to. Instead, he nods and says "And Zhang? Go with Zhang?"
His usual partner in crime. Usually, the one he can always drag out into the forest with him. And unintentionally, Neteyam is crafting a greater bond with Zhang, singling him out as someone extremely important to him. In a game of wills and intellect, information is power, and while Neteyam is trying to be careful in some instances, he's offering so much more in others. Blue Team shifts, realizing it too.
Zhang doesn't so much as blink, staring intently in at Neteyam.
"Who's that?" Tom asks, kindly. "Is he your friend?" More fishing, probing, gathering information with simple, seemingly benign questions.
Neteyam nods, pale face flushing a bit with the crinkle of his eyes. "Yes! Zhang comes with me to the forest."
Tom smiles, his shoulders relaxing a bit. "Oh yeah? And what do you do out there?"
Quaritch stood there, quietly analyzing every word they spoke, half ignoring Veronica, only tuning in when she said something different than what he understood or pick up words that he didn't know. Thankfully, once more, Neteyam's insistence that they learn the language is helping him follow along. He still might not be able to speak it worth a damn, but he's growing remarkably good at understanding it.
Quaritch remained unmoving, arms crossed over his chest, even as eventually Prager and Mansk had to go get their wounds looked at, the rest of Blue Team stuck around as Neteyam and Tom Sully talked about all sorts of things in the forest. A lot of things that Quaritch remembers seeing at one point but not knowing the name of or having forgotten. But as time dragged on, Neteyam flagged more and more in his seat. He's not going to be able to hold out for much longer at this rate. He's running on fumes.
"Where you go? Neteyam asks, slumping in his seat. He rests his cheek against the cold table, looking a bit relieved at the feel but still Quaritch didn't move. He knows that they are all being watched. Cameras aplenty in this room to keep tabs on his men, and probably mostly him. Searching for any sign of wavering support. Burned once in betrayal, they won't risk it again. General Ardmore has already shown her hand in making them run around wildly. She's testing them. No doubt seeing how well good soldiers follow orders.
"What do you mean?" Tom asks, scooting closer to touch the cheek not smooshed against the table, then his neck. Something flickers across his face.
"When you go," Neteyam slurs, rubbing at his head. A telltale sign of a growing headache. No wonder Maria has been shifting anxiously. Her intuitive knowledge of Neteyam's ever fluctuating health seemingly putting her more and more on edge this whole conversation. Not that Quaritch was much different. Neteyam then gestures to the door, struggling for the words. "When not here. Out there. Where will you be?"
"Ah, like where can you find me?" Tom guesses. Neteyam nods, blinking slowly. "You won't have to look too far for me, bud. I'll be in the Recombinant Wing, with you and the rest of the Recombinants."
Neteyam nods slightly, coughing a bit. His face flushing more as he scratches at his head.
Tom places a hand on Neteyam's head, gently rubbing the little boy's forehead with his thumb. Neteyam sinks into the affection, slipping into slumber while Tom just quietly watches him, humming a soft song under his breath as the tension just melts from him.
After a few moments, Tom moves to his feet, reaching over to carefully pull Neteyam up into his arms, careful of the IV. He adjusts the blanket around the little boy before grabbing onto the IV pole and leading it towards the exit.
Quaritch and Blue Team remains unmoving for a few long moments. Veronica turns slowly to look at the Colonel wearily. She studies his stormy expression with a furrowed brow before carefully heading for the door, slipping between the massive forms of the Recombinants to go see to Neteyam without prompt, which Quaritch was thankful for as he tries to rally his thoughts. Excluding Mansk and Prager, the rest of Blue Team wait for him to collect his thoughts.
Finally, he turns to address the room, and their audience unseen, "Well, ladies and gentlemen, rarely am I ever caught so unprepared," he says intentionally flippant, "but this could be a boon for us. General Ardmore and the RDA has gone and resurrected the dead once more, returning Tom Sully to the land of the living." He places his hands onto his hips, looking at his team in turn. They stare back, ready and waiting for his orders.
"What's this going to mean for Sully? Uh, Jake Sully?" Ja asks, eyebrows raised.
"Nothing changes," Quaritch says, voice even. "We deal with this unknown Tom Sully like we would any new addition to the team. They have two choices; assimilate or find a new line of work." Nicely put. Honestly, there was way more Sully's in the world than was strictly necessary in Quaritch's opinion, but for now, he'll play nice. Ardmore is up to something, which is why she just sprang him on them.
Give him everything he asks for.
Maybe he will at least get an answer to that curiosity, and the answer to the question of just who is Tom Sully.
Blue Team reunites with Prager and Mansk in the medbay, where Tom was gently tucking Neteyam into his bed in his preferred spot in the far side of the room. Johnson's avatar, who escorted him, was hesitant to leave, but Tom just ignored him after a polite but dismissive thanks for the escort.
Frankie, Veronica's assistant, was seeing to Prager and Mansk as well as a nurse to help him. They disinfect and wrap up the Recombinants' wounds when Tom, sitting on the bed with Neteyam, wrapping him up in his blankets and running a loving hand down the side of his little face, turns to look at the two, then the door as the rest of Blue Team makes their way in.
Tom smiles a bit at Prager and Mansk, no doubt feeling their eyes on him since he walked in. "Day Jah buu, I'm guessing," he says, voice lightly colored in mirth.
Quaritch makes his way over, flashing a look at Neteyam to ensure he's alright, sleeping away. Veronica, who came in a moment earlier, is pulling out some tools to use on Neteyam, her face lined with stress. Quaritch almost feels bad. Almost.
He stops at the foot of Neteyam's bed, moving the curtain out of the way and wisely, Tom shifts so that his back is no longer to Quaritch, whether that's out of respect or because he is as smart as Quaritch is staring to believe he is, he's not sure.
The smile doesn't leave that face, so agonizingly identical to Jake Sully, Quaritch has to fight his instincts not to tear the other man apart with his bare hands. They were twins, of course, but it had been Tom's avatar. He was really seeing double because it was the same avatar - or recombinant now - made twice from the same DNA. The way that they smile, though, is different.
On Jake, he smiled more one side first, then the other, but Tom is even on both sides - like Neteyam.
"You must be Colonel Miles Quaritch," Tom says, offering his hand in greeting, moving to stand. "Tom Sully, it's a pleasure."
Quaritch takes it in a strong grip. Tom's face remains unmoved, the smile not leaving, as he pulls away and lowers back down onto the bed.
"Mr. Sully, welcome to Pandora," Quaritch says, voice calm despite the maelstrom of emotion welling up inside of him. He's not sure of the game that Tom Sully and Ardmore are playing but he's going to get to the bottom of it.
"Thank you," Tom says, looking down at his hands, trailing off into silence. His eyes flicker around, taking in Blue Team all watching him from around the room. He looks at them each in turn, memorizing their faces, pausing on Zhang for a moment longer than the others before continuing on. After the long pause, his eyes land on Quaritch again, and he calmly says, "I'm assuming the General has filled you in?"
"You would assume incorrectly." Quaritch smiles and it's sharper than a blade.
Veronica moves passed both men and sees to Neteyam. Changing out his IV and checking his temperature.
Tom stares at Quaritch for a long moment, debating his words, his face having fallen neutral. Finally, he says, "I will be joining your team as a noncombatant personnel. I will be overseeing interactions with the local population as well as informing you of potential dangers out in the forest. Fauna, beast, etcetera."
"We could use a bit of help in the interactions department, sure," Quaritch says, crossing his arms over his chest. "But I assure you, we know how to deal with the dangers the forest has to offer."
"Sure," Tom easily acquiesces. "I am also to see to your health as a squad - and Neteyam."
"And what kind of research did you do on earth? Biology?" Lyle asks, taking his place next to Quaritch, putting his shades up onto the top of his head.
"Amongst other things," Tom says loosely. He moves to stand, giving Veronica better access to Neteyam. "You needn't feel threatened by me, Colonel. I am simply here to help."
Blue Team shares looks with one another, Fike rolling his eyes while Z-dog blows a bubble that somehow looks indignant.
"I assure you, Mr. Sully," Quaritch says evenly. "I do not."
"Good," Tom smiles and it doesn't reach his eyes. "I would hate for there to be unnecessary tension between us. I look forward to working with you."
Quaritch purses his lips, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back on his hips, studying the man in front of him. For as different as the two brothers are, there is definitely a lot of similarities too, it seems. And it's not just in looks either. The way that Tom is staring at him, studying him back with an analytical look that is so much like Jake Sully.
Yes, dangerous indeed.
"Do you even know what's going on around here?" Lyle asks, narrowing his eyes at Tom.
Tom Sully looks at him, curiously, threading his fingers together at his stomach. "I have some idea. I was told about Jake, and how he played a part in the RDA's initial evacuation of Pandora almost a decade ago." His words, his actions, all careful, practiced. Dangerous.
"Played a part?" Fike asks, incredulously from where he was sitting on one of the nearby beds with Brown at his side. "Dude, your fucking brother is the entire reason for all of this!"
Tom, completely calm, turns his eyes toward Fike. "I'm sorry to hear that."
Fike stares at him, moving to his feet, his tail lashing back and forth behind him in anger. "Are you kidding me? You sound so flippant! Do you not give a shit at all about what happened? So many good people died! Us included!"
"Sh!" Maria hisses, narrowing her eyes. Neteyam lets out a little whimper, shifting in his bed to turn towards the wall, burrowing deeper into the covers.
Fike's mouth snaps shut, but his golden eyes are flashing in anger.
"Okay," Tom says, voice even, his entire demeaner unshaken. "I'm sorry I offended you."
Despite his words, Fike appears to be anything but assuaged. His lip curling in anger at him. "What the hell is your deal, man? Why are you here? What? Does Ardmore plan to use you against Sully or something?"
Tom shifts, his entire demeaner shifting at the mention of his twin, despite his face remaining even. "If I had to guess? Probably. Whether it be to actively pit us against one another or to give him a momentary shock at seeing me and offer one of you fine marines a chance to capitalize on him rationalizing whether he was seeing a ghost or not to shoot him in the head, I'm not sure."
And like that, the pleasantries are gone, and his voice is ice cold.
"I don't know what happened seven years ago, aside from what they tell me. I wasn't here," Tom says, slight wrinkles appearing between his eyes.
"He killed us, and he forced the RDA off of the planet," Warren cuts in, hands folded under her armpits. "There, you're all caught up."
Tom shakes his head, shifting a bit of weight from one foot to the other. "And I'm sure you feel justified in seeing it that way, when the nuances point to another facet of the truth." He looks back at Warren and clarifies, "There is usually two sides to each story. And I know my brother, so I know that there is more."
"Right, so the first chance you get you're going to high tail it to Jake Sully and, what? Expose all of our secrets?" Brown asks, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees next to Fike. "What was the General thinking? He's a huge security risk."
Tom lets out a laugh, it's cold, mirthless. He doesn't notice or doesn't care about the glares being sent his way. "Don't you know what's happening here?"
"Enlighten us, Sully," Mansk rumbles, making his way across the room, bandages wrapped around his chest and left bicep. A slight snarl to the corner of his lip. "Why would Ardmore risk you, Jake Sully's twin, to roam free here? Give you the chance to gather information and betray humanity for your son of a bitch brother? What? Are we your babysitters, now?"
Tom's smile is as sharp as a razorblade, his tail rigid behind him. "In a manner."
"Speak plainly, asshole," Ja snaps, stepping up next to Z, who pops her gum again. Like a pack of wolves, slowly but surely, they draw closer, tightening the circle like a vice grip around the neck. Trying to trap him in corner in more than the literal sense.
At some point during their growing argument, Veronica and Frankie had rushed from the room, and with Johnson also gone, it just left the Recombinants and the half Na'vi alone.
"It's a mutual shackle that we all get to wear," Tom says, looking between all the members of Blue Team before stopping at Quaritch, the man in charge of it all, who has been watching the exchange with the eyes of a discerning predator, awaiting the moment to go for the throat. Tom's expression is ferocious, bordering on manic, deadly, even and very much a look that was once seen on the face of his twin brother. "Congratulations, Colonel, you get to be my babysitter, and I get to be yours."
No one spoke a word afterwards, either stunned into silence, or holding their tongues, lest unwelcomed ears be listening in and enough having already been said. Zhang offered to escort Tom to their wing so that he could settle into one of the empty rooms that they have, choosing to blatantly ignore his protest about wanting to stay with Neteyam. The rest of Blue Team offers to go along, excluding Maria and Lyle, who opt to stay behind with Quaritch and Neteyam.
They pull the curtain back around the bed, closing them in with the slumbering little boy.
Quaritch sits down next to Neteyam, rubbing at his back and leaning forward to press a kiss against his little ear. Maria walks toward the foot of the bed, looking at his chart carefully.
Neteyam whines a bit, rubbing roughly at his eyes as he turns onto his back, squinting through bleary eyes at Quaritch, first in confusion, then in love.
"Daddy," Neteyam rasps, holding his hands out towards the older male, who happily pulls him up into his arms.
Quaritch pulls Neteyam up onto his lap, kissing his cheek and hugging him closer. "I am so proud of you, baby boy."
Neteyam pulls down his mask to breathe in Quaritch's scent, little tail curling around his arm to hold him close. His little body tenses for a moment, then relaxes as all the tension leaves his body. He leans back a bit to nuzzle Quaritch's cheek, purring softly in his chest. He's a little warm, but not too bad, just a spike in his fever it seems.
"Go back, daddy?" Neteyam rasps, pulling back a bit but not enough to pull away.
"We'll talk to Veronica and see, but for now you should rest more," Quaritch says softly, situating the little boy onto his lap but moving to sit with his back to the wall so that Neteyam can see Maria and Lyle. His little face brightens at the sight of them. Lyle smirks, offering a little two fingered salute to the little boy.
"Hi Lyle! Hi Mommy!" There is a brief moment of hesitation, like he's afraid that Maria would reject him. Deny this connection that he feels that they are sharing.
Maria melts, moving over to Neteyam to kneel down by the bed. She takes his little hand in both of her own, cradling it lovingly. His little face brightens more, and his tail unfurls, swaying slightly as she whispers, "Hi, baby. How are you feeling?"
"Okay," Neteyam says, coughing a bit. "I want to, um, go back? To see Blue Team. To see Zhang."
Maria grins at him while Lyle leans forward. "You know, Neteyam, they are dying to see you too. Just get the clear bill of health and we can head on back right away. And if not, well, there is always tomorrow. They'll wait for you."
Neteyam wilts a bit at the prospect of having to wait until tomorrow to go back to their section of Bridgehead. He looks up at Quaritch with big, pleading eyes. "Daddy, I want to go back. Not be here. Scary here."
Quaritch frowns a bit at that. "What's so scary? Is it the big room?" Neteyam nods, because that is part of it. But then he wars with himself. Quaritch can see it written across his little face. "Tell me, Neteyam. What's wrong?"
"Pull out my eyes," Neteyam says, softly, curling closer to Quaritch for safety.
Maria, repulsed, asks, "What? Someone tried to pull out your eyes?" Alarmed, she looks between Lyle and Miles.
"No, they want to open my belly," Neteyam says, shivering. He reaches over and pulls his favorite blanket up over his legs and stomach, as if that was able to stop anyone from doing just that. "Hang me outside, they said."
Maria's hand covers her nose and mouth, eyes wide while realization darkens Lyle's expression. Quaritch's arms tighten around his son, trying hard to reign in his anger. He was already having a really shitty week and it just keeps piling on. But he's not going to lose his cool here. Not in front of Neteyam.
Lyle moves closer, sitting on the bed and smiling gently at the little boy. "Who was it, Tey? Do you remember what their names were?"
Neteyam squints, trying hard to remember. He was unwell and half asleep. Nothing appears to come to him. His little shoulders slump as he shakes his head, sad at disappointing Lyle. "I don't know. Ms. Veronica send them away. No humans in avatar wing."
"Alright, buddy. I got it. I'll ask Ms. Veronica, okay? We'll tell those mean men to not say such mean things anymore, okay?" Lyle says, his voice still gentle despite the darkness lurking in those eyes. Quaritch knew his second well. Knew just how dangerous Lyle could be when pushed towards it. Maria kisses the back of Neteyam's hand, shaken by what she heard.
"He's a baby," Maria whispers in a hiss. "What the fuck is wrong with them?"
Lyle smiles and it's full of venom, but Neteyam doesn't seem to notice. He smiles back as Lyle tucks that stubborn braid behind his ear. "Look at this hair, Tey, you're going to have to get the crew together to help do your braids again. It's a mess!"
Neteyam blushes, pulling back to bury his face in Quaritch's chest, not minding the tactical vest. "It's not bad, Lyle!" He coughs a bit, not stopping Maria from putting his mask back up onto his face. But despite his embarrassment, he flashes those identical twin fangs, so much like Jake's. So much like Tom's.
"Fine, uh huh, sure," Lyle says, reaching over to tickle the inside of Neteyam's thigh. He squeaks a laugh and pulls away, hugging Quaritch close, his golden eyes dancing with joy while watching Lyle in case he tries that again. Lyle climbs to his feet, sends Neteyam a playful grin, before casually saying to Quaritch, "I'm going to check in with the good doctor, see when she thinks Neteyam can get out of here. I'll be back."
"Thank you, Lyle," Quaritch draws out, knowingly. Maria moves up to take his spot next to Neteyam, either choosing not to acknowledge what she knows he's going to do, or silently giving him permission to be free of her judgment.
Maria's a good woman, Quaritch knows, and she unintentionally makes Lyle wanted to be a better man, but she's a soldier - a damn good one - and knows that sometimes, ugly things got to be done. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow. But eventually, someday, Lyle is going to get his hands on them, and that's going to be that.