Recombinant Bridgehead Chapter 25: Vrrtepeyktan, an avatar fanfic

The pungent scent of boiled herbs filled Neytiri's nose as steam began to permeate her tent space and wrap around her weary head. Mo'at completed her concoction and poured it into a dry gourd for her daughter.

"Irayo." Neytiri nodded as she took the offered bowl. She sniffed it first, dwelling on troublesome thoughts before downing the tea.

|"My concoctions improve health, but they do not guarantee a child."|

|"I will still try."|

|"You do not know if your womb is injured."|

|"Yes, it is barren. A woman feels when her body closes off. It is not Jake's fault. It is mine. Something has happened to me, Mother. It is like the Tree of Voices. Yesterday, I travelled there, and it is a dead valley, still. Nothing new takes root—not since the Skypeople cursed it."|

Mo'at pondered her words. |"It is strange you make that connection. You and Zayksuli were present when our ancestors were silenced all at once."|

Neytiri shut her eyes, dwelling on the memory. |"I used to talk with Sylwanin there. When I watched the Skypeople's machines uproot her before my eyes, they uprooted my heart."|

Mo'at rested her head on her knuckles. |"Perhaps there is more to your metaphor. In the years following the Skypeople's departure, we have suffered the aftermath of their presence. A Mother that doesn't speak. A land that doesn't regrow. A womb that doesn't conceive. A daughter that has no voice."|

"Kiri?" Neytiri hummed. |"What does she have to do with this?"|

|"What, indeed."|

Kiri breached through the High Camp entrance in a fit of terror. She leapt off Palm-Palm before he fully landed and bolted for her parents' tent. Neytiri rose upon seeing her frightened daughter and tried to clutch her, but Kiri pushed away, flashing a series of signs that the mother couldn't decipher fast enough.

"Kiri," Neytiri entreated. "Mawey. Mawey…"

She held her daughter's face and beseeched her through a gaze to steady herself and sign her words clearly.

Kiri exhaled and, wiping her eyes dry, signed, "Father. Brother. Danger."

Mo'at came to her feet as Neytiri petitioned her daughter to elaborate.

|"How? Where?"|

"We all at Sosul Syanan. Brother flew off. Later, we hear a shot. Father leaves me to find brother. I come back here."

Neytiri was worried but kept a steady composure and patted her daughter's head. |"Did you see who attacked? Did you see how many there were?"|

Kiri looked down with guilt before continuing. "There was at least one—one of the bad Dreamwalkers."

|"The demons who use our skin,"| Neytiri remarked to her mother. She snatched her bow and exited the tent, whooping a warbled cry. All her kinsmen abandoned their activities and circled around.

|"Hear me, my clan! Rider of Last Shadow and Neteyam have encountered danger at Sosul Syanan. We must fly there now!"|

Norman was not in his avatar form as he pushed through the throng. "Neytiri! What happened to Jake? What's going on?"

"Kiri heard shots. She thinks it's the ayvrrtep."

Norman turned white. "Give me a moment to ready my Samson—you'll need the firepower."

"As the wind, Norman."

Back inside the orange tent, the grandmother was busy comforting her shaken granddaughter. "Kiri…" she gently whispered. |"It will be okay, child."|

"I need to find Spider. Where is he?"

|"At his dwelling."|

Kiri left as quickly as she entered to seek her dearest friend. She dashed to his field cabin, banging on the door, then on the windows when she received no answer. Frustrated and desperate, Kiri ran through the labyrinth past the busy warriors who were readying themselves for battle. The exasperated girl collided with many Na'vi as she staggered through the caves with their protests on her heels. She leapt over the rock steps and fled further down the expanse, all the while unable to cry his name. She eventually circled back to the main entrance, where the ammunition was stored. Disoriented by all the bodies obscuring her view, she spun about the sea of blue. Then, through an opening in the crowd, she sighted a fair-skinned back.

Spider was helping the avatars prepare their weapons when he noticed Kiri running up to him.

"Kiri!"

She fiercely embraced him.

"I heard what happened," he said as they hugged. Though she towered over him, he felt tall as he comforted her.

Kiri finally pulled away. "You know the one we saw that night? The one who stinks of death? I found his chest cloth in the forest—I recognized the smell! Spider, if I told Father about that night, I could have stopped this!"

"Kiri, that's ridiculous," Spider blurted. "What would telling your father have done?"

"To warn him. To tell him what we learned."

Spider stroked Kiri's elbow. "Kiri. Jake thinks… Jake thinks this guy is Vrrtepeyktan. It's just not possible. Vrrtepeyktan is…dead. Telling him you saw a warrior with a tattoo wouldn't have changed anything. You don't need to blame yourself."

Kiri sensed there was something hidden within his words, something that troubled him, that it wasn't her he was trying to convince.

"Why does Father think this is the Chief of Demons?"

"I don't know. I guess it's his instincts."

Kiri combed her fingers through her hair and sat down on the steps of a field cabin. Spider took some fruit from a ration basket and cut it in half, handing her a slice. She accepted it but had no appetite.

"Kiri, I mean it. Telling Jake wouldn't have changed anything."

She placed the slice of fruit on a nearby leaf. "My brother might have been shot."

"You don't know for sure."

"Neteyam was gone when we heard gunfire. Father asked me to stay hidden—to help in case he was hurt. Spider, I fled because I was scared. If Neteyam—"

Spider stopped her before she could work herself up again. "It was dangerous to remain. Jake should have sent you back—to get help."

"But Neteyam—"

"Is resilient. Na'vi are hard to kill. Our warriors have been shot before. Heck, some even fall crashing into the jungle and still live."

"I am really scared, Spider."

"It will be okay, Kiri. It will be okay."

As Spider was rubbing her shoulder, they saw an ikran shooting up through the entrance, and it was Jake with Neteyam. People gathered around in astonishment as the two dismounted. Emerging from the circling Omatikaya, Jake caught his daughter bolting for him. He rapturously cried her name as he opened his arms and swung her around in teary-eyed relief. He kissed her wet cheeks and pressed her tightly, thanking Eywa with all his heart. Neytiri joined the reunion and fervently clutched her son, relaxing their limbs only to open up for Jake and Kiri, transforming it into a family hug. Spider watched from the sidelines as Mo'at and others approached.

Jake eventually broke from the hug, still holding up his teenage daughter, who would not release his neck, and addressed the tribe. |"My people, I have grave news. The Chief of Demons lives."|

The cave erupted with frightened murmurs, but Spider was dead silent.

|"This new enemy we have been fighting are warriors returned from death. Look out for him who wears his hair short and bears a marking of a strange ikran on his left arm, for this is the Chief of Demons. His men held Neteyam captive. We were able to escape, but these demons got away. Be wary of the skies, for they now fly ikrans and will use them to hunt us."|

|"And now warriors returned from the dead…"| Mo'at uttered.

Neytiri grabbed her mate's arm, and Jake nodded ruefully as he lowered Kiri.

Norm, now dream-walking, came up to his friend, having heard snippets of the announcement after leaving his cabin. "Jake, are you sure?"

"I'm telling you, Norm, as I see you now, I saw Quaritch. He admitted it himself. Neteyam says he saw two more, and one of them was Wainfleet."

"Wainfleet too?" he exclaimed, pressing his head in consternation.

Neteyam spoke up. "Vrrtepeyktan said they are recombinants."

"Recombinant…" the anthropologist echoed, trying to decipher the strange meaning. "Re…combination? I'll ask Max more about this."

"How can this be?" Neytiri demanded.

"Quaritch said his mind was preserved—placed in a new body."

"But how?" Norm interjected. "He was dead in the jungle."

"Somehow, they pulled it off. Quaritch recognized that bow." Jake turned to Neytiri with concern. "If he remembers that bow, he'll remember you."

"Then it is good that we have prepared. Jake, I want to train more."

Her mate consented with a nod.

Spider finally broke in. "Jake! Is… Are you sure it's…"

"It's Quaritch, alright," his mentor confirmed, and the ward thought he detected empathy in the tone. "Kiri, take Neteyam to your tent and treat him. Spider, I need to hold council right now. Why don't you go with them?"

The young man replied with an absent-minded "Sure…" then followed the pair.

Looking around the cavern, Kiri pulled Spider from his thoughts by signing to him, who, in turn, relayed it to Neteyam.

"Kiri wants to know where White Flower is."

"She was startled by the gunshot and flew away. She is in the jungle."

Kiri's brows went up. She jogged up front and walked backwards to speak. "Are you worried for her? She is easy to spot."

Neteyam was deeply concerned for his loyal beast but suppressed it with optimism. "White Flower was smart enough to survive the years before I acquired her. She will be okay."

The three approached Kiri's wigwam. It was a dome-shaped hut made with fibrous bark that she wove herself. She lifted the flap for her brother when suddenly two stingbats flew out. Neteyam lurched to avoid them but ended up crashing on his back. He yelped involuntarily, now realizing how injured he actually was.

The young healer winced and shook her hands rapidly while Spider gave Neteyam a hand. "Kiri says she forgot about the mated pair she took in after rivals chased them out of their nest." When Spider noticed her still signing, he worked fast to finish her sentence. "And she's very sorry."

The patient flicked away his braids draped over his nostril. "It's okay, sister."

They entered her abode. Blooming vines hung from the rafters, growing from their water source, a xenobromeliad tucked in the ceiling. Her room was filled with the pleasing aromas of nature, from the fragrance of dry wood to the perfume of dew-coated leaves to the musky scent of animals. There was no specimen, no matter how small or ugly or dangerous, that she would turn away.

Spider climbed up the rafters and sat on his usual pillow. Kiri brought her brother to sit on her mat, where she assessed his condition. Plucking a leaf soaking in a solution, she set it over his wounds. The brine stung, but Neteyam hid his torment for Kiri's sake and sweated through the treatment. Seeking to relieve himself through distraction, he made to talk with Spider when he noticed his sour expression. "What troubles you, Spider?"

"You can call me 'brother,' dude. It's alright."

"Well, that's good to hear." He smiled.

Kiri was not in the know and gave him a quizzical look.

"Private joke between brothers, sister." He finished by winking at his friend.

"You flirting with me now?" the jungle boy laughed, jumping down to join them. "So, uh, tell us what happened."

"It began like this," Neteyam started, sweeping out his hand. "I saw three riders in the distance, so I fly over to greet them. 'Hail Riders,' I said. Without a second thought, one took out his gun and shot at me."

"Nice guys."

"Sadly, this was how I was separated from White Flower. May Eywa watch over her. I fell off and crashed onto the utu (forest canopy), where one plucked me up in his ikran's talons. I dangled all the way back to their camp. After they tossed me into their den, I counted three of them looming over me. One of them was a woman. They called her Miss Kissy. She had—what is the word I am seeking? Extraordinary markings all over her arms."

Spider couldn't help but snicker. "Did she pucker up?"

Neteyam's face contorted in confusion. "I do not follow."

"Forget it. Tell me about the other two."

"There was one named Korpol Waynfeet. He had no hair except for his tswin. Never have I seen someone so odd-looking. Then there was their leader, Vrrtepeyktan himself."

Spider's eyes brightened. "You saw Quaritch?"

The pair were shocked by his casual use of the name—a name that was treated like a curse and seldom spoken.

"Yes…"

"What was he like?"

"Arrogant," he blurted, not needing to think twice about it.

"Did he smell of death?"

"I…did not notice, sister. Why do you ask this specific question?"

Spider interjected. "Kiri thinks he must stink of la'ang. So, what did he say to you?"

Neteyam leaned back. "That I was 'Sully's boy,'" he impersonated, and it almost made Kiri giggle, but her glum mood had it dissipate. His brother didn't laugh at all, which perplexed Neteyam, for he thought it was amusing. "Actually, Spider, he talked the same way you do."

Spider froze as Neteyam innocently explained.

"He kept using slang. Only by knowing you did I understand him."

Kiri brought out her bandages. "How did you get away?" she signed before wrapping his wound.

"You would not believe it, but it was by Vrrtepeyktan's own foolishness." He laughed. "When he saw our father in the distance, he flew after him without stopping to think first. I then overheard Korpol whisper to Miss Kissy that he was ordered not to do so. It made the woman very distraught, and she almost pursued him. Vrrtepeyktan may have escaped our punishment, but something tells me a worse one awaits him."

"You think so?"

"I am certain. I got the impression that Vrrtepeyktan seriously disappointed the bald one by taking off like that. Ow! Kiri, that is too tight."

She quickly made an apology.

"After some time, they received a communication over their earpieces, and it was Father! He had overpowered Vrrtepeyktan and demanded an exchange. That is how I was freed."

"Jake did that? By himself? How?"

"I did not get the details, but Father defeated him once. Naturally, he could do it again."

"This Quaritch customer doesn't sound very tough…"

Neteyam lingered on his frown with concern. "You sound disappointed?"

"Why would I be? I gotta stretch my legs. Take care, brother. Kìyevame."

"Kìyevame, Spider." Neteyam's eyes followed Spider until he left the tent.

Kiri shook her head.

Jake and Neytiri stood in the sterile avatar clinic before Max, with their grim faces reflected in his acrylic visor as he read from a dictionary. Norman sat on a gurney in deep contemplation.

"Say's here a recombination is 'a combination of new DNA where the genetic makeup is sourced from two different distinct species, either occurring naturally or by direct manipulation.'" Max closed the book. "So, they're chimaeras. But this definition doesn't explain the permanent mind transfer." The scientist set the useless book aside. "Sorry I doubted you, Jake. Your instincts were right, after all."

"It doesn't matter anymore. It's game over if they have the science to resurrect the dead."

Neytiri consoled her mate by gently touching his hand.

Norman was baffled. "For him to be Quaritch, that would mean they were working on this project back at Hell's Gate, but how? We would have known about it. Grace would have known about it, right?"

Max shook his head. "I strongly doubt it. She'd have a few choice words if she did."

"Hold on. Hold on. What about that ninth level?"

All three men looked at each other as their mental light bulbs illuminated while Neytiri was left in the dark. "You talk of where Spider was found?"

Jake looked at his wife with tucked lips as he bobbed his head.

Norm stroked his blue chin. "We never did find out why Spider was down there."

"Unless…" Max postulated. "He was related to one of the test subjects."

"Are you implying they just used that level as some kind of daycare?" Jake scoffed. "His band had a serial number—like he was an experiment."

Norman gave his two bits, recalling the incident that happened sixteen years ago. "I spent days scouring that lab. Everything was destroyed. I turned up nothing."

The engineer tapped his fingers on a metal surface. "If this was where the recombinant research was done, then it stands to reason that Quaritch would have been down there too."

"Cut it out, Max. What have I told you guys? I don't want Spider thinking Quaritch is his dad."

Neytiri looked ready to speak, but Norman interjected. "Maybe the lab hosted multiple projects, and Spider's presence had nothing to do with Quaritch, but I have my doubts…"

"You guys really think he's Spider's dad, don't you?"

"Jake," Neytiri spoke. "I think he is, too."

He was shocked. "I thought you agreed with me—that it was impossible to be sure."

"That was before he developed his face."

Max sheepishly concurred. "She is right. They look a lot alike."

"You did tell us that even Spider saw a resemblance," Norm added.

"I know. I know," he exhaled in exasperation. "But for Spider's sake, that's where I leave it. You think I want him to go around thinking he's the son of a mass murderer?"

Neytiri wove her fingers around his wrist. "Ma Jake, it is okay if Spider believes this. No matter who your father is, one should always know where they came from. It is part of understanding our identity."

"His identity is my son!" The man halted when he realized what he revealed. Max and Norman stood around awkwardly as he tried to rectify his gaffe. "I— I know he's not my son…"

Neytiri was stunned, but then revelation hit her. "You are jealous of Vrrtepeyktan…" she whispered.

Jake said nothing as he winced, trying to hide his inner turmoil. He gave up and moved to sit on a gurney.

Seeing now was a good time to exit, Norman used finger-talk to tell Max they should leave; when Max shrugged back in confusion, Norman simply pulled him away.

Neytiri sat down next to her husband, who didn't say anything for a long while; only the buzz of fluorescent lights filled the void until he spoke in a whisper. "Maybe I am. I found Spider. I took him in. I gave him his name. If he suddenly saw Quaritch as his father… Yeah, I guess I am jealous."

"You feel as I feel." She looked in the direction of where Grace's avatar rested behind partitions. "No matter what I do, Grace is her mother." She set her elegant fingers in his palm and let his thumb caress the back of her hand. "I have to share Kiri with someone who is no longer here."

"Maybe that's what I am afraid of too."

"We had our years, and they were good. Now our children have grown. The time is come for them to choose their path."

"I'm scared for his future, Neytiri. It's not just the threat of Quaritch, but his future as a human—living on Pandora. How long can I make this work? Is it even meant to last?"

She was understanding. "Your people were not made for our world. They survive but do not live."

"Where will he go?" he asked himself.

"That is for Spider to decide. We have done all we can for those Eywa brought us."

"You're saying I'm going to have to say goodbye."

"It is The Way for all living ones."

Jake smirked. He felt silly acting old and maudlin. "Listen to us—talking like they're dead and buried."

"Be proud, my love. What you have given Spider, he will remember for life."

He rubbed her back in appreciation. "Now I feel stupid for being jealous in the first place. I've had all those years to do what I can for him, and he's grown up strong and trustworthy. That's his identity."

The couple's private moment was interrupted when they heard the door open. To their surprise, in walked their daughter, Kiri. Neteyam was also present, but he merely poked his head in, and when he sighted them, he nodded at Kiri before shutting the door.

Right away, the parents sensed a guilty conscience as she approached. "Is something the matter?" Jake asked.

She slowly brought up her hands. "I am sorry for taking off. I was scared. I disappointed you."

"You don't have to explain, Kiwi. The area wasn't safe."

"No!" she signed with an expressive scowl. "If brother was hurt, and I was not there to help, he might have died. It was wrong of me."

Jake pressed his fingertips on her heart and flipped his hand: their word for "forgiveness." He then signed to her that she was mature for taking responsibility. After she flashed a weak grin, Jake spoke up. "I need to know, though. Did anything, in particular, scare you?"

Kiri clutched her fingers as she prepared to finish the hardest part of her confession. "Yes. I found the Chief of Demons' chest cloth."

"Yeah, I found that too. It had me worried that you were taken. Wait… Hold on, Kiri. Why did you think it was his?" As she signed her reply, Jake's brows climbed to their limit. "You recognized the smell? How?"

"Many days before the fight at Hometree, I was there. I was in the forest. I heard someone approaching, then hid under roots. It was the Chief of Demons."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! You're saying Quaritch almost found you?"

Kiri weakly flicked her hand that Neytiri reached out to caress: a tactile reminder for the anxious mother that the worst did not come to pass. Jake was pressing his brows so tightly that Kiri feared he would erupt in anger. He did not.

"Kiri, you need to tell me exactly what happened. Did Quaritch see you at all?"

She shook her head in little motions. Neytiri released her hand so Kiri could answer. "I saw his face. I saw his arm. I saw—" She curved her hand and pressed it on her arm to mimic his tattoo. "I recognized him as the one you worry about. I wanted to warn you. I did not because I knew I was not supposed to be in the forest at all."

"So why were you?" Jake scrutinized, his paternal anger surfacing.

Kiri's eyes danced between her father and mother. She tried to sign further, but her hands stalled.

"Tell me the truth, Kiri. Did Spider ask you to take him to Hometree?"

The guilt in her eyes said it all. "Do not be angry with him. It is my fault. I flew him there."

"Because he asked you to!"

Neytiri raised her hand, silently motioning her mate to not lose his temper.

"Spider only wanted to help."

"Don't defend him here, Kiri. It doesn't matter how good his intentions were if they put you in danger. As your friend, he should have thought of you first."

"He saved me! He tricked the Chief of Demons away. He is sorry. I know he was wrong, but Spider does care!"

Jake's breathing fluctuated as he fought to keep himself under control. "That still doesn't change the fact you both disobeyed. From now on, you two are not allowed to hang out together. Focus on your training with Mo'at, and don't venture out of Txurseng at all—not until you have my permission."

The crestfallen maiden yielded.

Despite being more collected, the mother was just as angry. After giving Jake her silent approval, he left to find his ward.