Ardmore sat in her dark room, watching computer screens while sipping coffee. She favoured dim settings for deep ruminations, where light could not distract her. She drank back the bitter liquid as she thumbed the stolen songcord. Turning over the asymmetrical nuts, beads, and coprolite, she unearthed, hidden under a half shell, a silver glint. She picked off the bracelet, severing the cord that held it in place, and studied it under the desk lamp. As her eyes ran over the engraved letters, she read aloud Spider's real name; this confirmed what Quaritch had told her, but Ardmore could not figure out why the product of a one-night stand would be given a fancy identification bracelet. She flipped it over and discerned a serial number. Confused, she reached for a handset and brought the receiver to her ear.
"This is General Ardmore from the maximum security section regarding captive zero-eight-zero-eight-five-two-one. I have discovered on him a baby's identification bracelet with the name Miles Q. Socorro. I have confirmation from Recom Officer Quaritch that this is the son of his former pilot, Paz Socorro. There is a serial number on this band. That number is seven-seven-nine-dash-six-five-zero-dash-PNA."
Ardmore finished sending up the information and put away the receiver, still intrigued by the band. Her studious eyes went from the name to the boy on screen. Quaritch was staying alert and using the breather in moderation, while Spider was fast asleep, curled up in one of his arms. She had watched the recombinant come over to pluck him up upon seeing him shiver in his sleep. It was these touching displays of affection that she was hoping for; otherwise, her plan would not work.
Brown exited Quaritch's cabin. "You're right. He's not in there."
This made CJ even more worried. "He's been gone since yesterday."
"Did anyone see him leave?" Fike asked.
"Last I saw him was yesterday in the wash house."
Lyle scratched his head. "He might be in the city."
"But where would he have slept?"
Knowing that their colonel was also prone to pseudoseizures, Lyle, like everyone else, began fearing the worst. "Walker, get the RTV. Everyone, grab your throat mics. We're gonna search the city in groups, starting from the ward. You all wait for me by the garage. I'll be back."
"Where you going?" Fike called out as Wainfleet jogged away.
"To ask the serfs if they've seen him."
Lyle hurried across the plantation towards their camp, but when he arrived, the area was empty. A few animals were nosing the ground, and a direhorse trotted about. Lyle knew where they could be found and continued onward to a building farther off.
It was a wooden structure not dissimilar to the schoolhouses of the nineteenth century, with its quaint build of rickety planks. The recom stood on the steps and peered inside as the village was receiving their daily English education. Zwefnawo was standing before his desk, reciting the words on the blackboard written out by their teacher, David Chatterjee.
"The girl ran," the Na'vi articulated. "An' jumped."
Lyle's eyes spanned the classroom, where he saw Säro peering over her shoulder upon hearing his boots. He waved her over, and Säro, after first dismissing herself from the class, went outside to join him. Away from view, the couple embraced only quickly, for Lyle had pressing matters.
"Säro, has my colonel come by at all?"
"No. He never comes here."
He sighed in disappointment. "Great. I'm going to be out looking for him. I might not come back for a while."
"Is well off. Sempul (Father) not know about us. All this sneak about, an' he may come to suspect."
"Then we'll have to do our meetings at my cabin instead." He winked.
Säro hit his chest. "Ly'il! Too risky."
He exchanged a quick kiss with his mate. "I have to head off now. Kìyevame, ma yerik."
They waved their goodbyes, and she watched him run off for as long as she could before returning inside. When she stepped back in, she found her father casting her a concerned look. She mouthed Lyle's name, indicating to him that it was only their friend. Zwefnawo accepted the explanation but returned to his studies with a troubled mind.
Back at High Camp, the leader of the insurgents rested in his tent as he received counsel from his wife. With her there, in his arms, face outlined by his braided hair, did she grant him all the reassurance he needed. |"Do you want to see it again?"|
He released a sigh, and it joined the cloud of others previously exhaled. |"No, no. I've seen the playback enough times. Spider was just there. I may never know why."|
Despite the events weighing on him, Jake had devoted the week to Neytiri, strengthening their bond after the recent rupture. While he could not keep himself from fears regarding Spider, Neytiri was constant in bringing him to centre.
|"The clan is complaining,"| he said, eyes glued to the supports of their tent.
|"Let them complain. You know what you are doing."|
|"Do I?"|
|"I say yes,"| she ended.
Jake continued staring at the woven material. |"I can only imagine what they're doing to him—trying to get him to talk…"|
|"Would—"|
|"Would what?"|
|"Would the Chief of Demons…"| She did not finish.
|"Take care of him? I can't believe I'm saying this, but I really hope they are father and son."|
Sharp voices pierced their tent, attacking their quiet sanctuary. Though the pair was reluctant, they pulled from their embrace to learn more. Outside, Na'vi were gathered around a point of interest. Neteyam noticed his parents and reported the news.
|"Äi'ut has awoken."|
Jake and Neytiri were, at first, relieved to hear this, but when they saw the way their son's brows furrowed, so did theirs. They followed Neteyam's line of sight to the crux of the crowd and beheld the risen man. He was being supported by another, and though his body was weak, a fire burned within. With every sentence, he seethed like a madman.
|"Rider of Last Shadow's apprentice is a traitor! My friends are all dead because of him!"|
Neytiri's hand reached for Jake's, and the two stood in silence.
|"I saw…and shall tell you…everything! Neytiri, daughter of Mo'at, sent us to rescue Rider of Last Shadow's apprentice from a palulukan, for he had trespassed onto the forbidden grounds."|
|"A palulukan?"| one exclaimed in shock.
|"The beast was sent in retribution!"| decried another.
|"When our party arrived, we discovered not the palulukan but the demons who use our skin! Two were present. One stood by a gunship while the other went into the cabin, so we remain hidden in the trees to watch and wait.
|"We hear noises coming from the cabin, so the other rekom goes inside. When he comes out, he is carrying the Skyperson. We were going to rescue the boy, but right as I unleashed my arrow, he shouted. I know English, and I tell you, he was warning them about Rider of Last Shadow's trap!"|
This fired the crowd's energy to new decibels of anger.
|"He protected the Chief of Demons?"| voices exclaimed.
|"Why would he side with them?"|
|"How could he do such a thing?"|
|"He is Skyperson!"|
Äi'ut resumed his terrible tale. |"Because of this, the other demon turned around, and my arrow missed. The rekom sought cover and began firing at us. One by one, my party fell. I, too, was hit and stumbled from my perch. Then, there was a great explosion. All the cabin was destroyed!" He mimicked the ferocity of the blast with such exertion that it almost made him faint, requiring his friend to help him back up.
|"Through my burning vision, I witnessed the Chief of Demons lying in the grass as flames began to consume him, but the other came to his rescue and carried him to the safety of their gunship. That's when I spy the boy riding with them as they fly back to their wicked land.
|"Rider of Last Shadow taught that boy everything he knows. Now that he is with the Chief of Demons, do you not see the danger that awaits us, my clan? He knows our tactics. He knows our numbers. He knows where we are hidden. That boy knows everything!"|
"Spider," Jake whispered angrily as his fist clenched. "His name is Spider."
Neytiri pulled on his hand, and together, they slipped away, having heard enough.
"Jake, what do we do?" she asked purposely in English, knowing her mate thought with more clarity when using it.
"I don't know. Spider didn't betray me. He didn't. Something must have gotten to him. He's not a traitor. I know him better than they do."
"The people will not stop talking about this."
"If I tried explaining, it might make things worse. At least I know Spider's alive." Jake blew out a breath while looking over his shoulder. "And not here to suffer the wrath of a riled clan."
"But what of Kiri? We cannot keep her from hearing this."
Jake looked to his mate and studied her eyes. An idea came to him. "Follow me."
Hand in hand, they made their way to a certain pagoda, where the Omatikaya tsahìk was occupied in the study of a plant. Mo'at noticed the arrival of long shadows and looked up. |"My children, I see you,"| she bid them curiously.
|"We see you, Mother."| They gestured in unison.
|"Have you seen Kiri?"| Jake asked.
|"No, but there are a number of hiding places I suspect you would find her."|
Kiri's mother cocked her head. |"Hiding places?"|
|"Since the loss of her friend, she often keeps from me and everyone else. I fear her mental state worsens and have been wanting to speak with you about this."|
Jake massaged his forehead and sighed. |"We've come with the same concerns for Kiri."|
|"Mother, Äi'ut awoke with the testimony that Spider has betrayed us. The whole clan is now speaking against him."|
Mo'at listened with comprehension. |"This will not be good for Kiri to overhear."|
|"That's why I need you to take her away for a few days—until this eclipse has ended."|
|"By the will of Eywa."| Mo'at smiled. |"This is what I had wished to speak to you about. I had already planned to travel with Kiri. You have saved me the time."|
|"Travel? Where?"|
|"To the Tawkami clan. They are masters in botany, and I believe a sojourn in their village will benefit her training."|
Jake smiled at Neytiri. "Well, that's good timing. How soon can you leave?"
|"As soon as today."|
|"Do so,"| Neytiri permitted. |"She has been withering in this place. The village would be perfect for her. Jake, I should ride with them to know they journey safely."|
"You're a blessing, Sheila." With the matter settled and his mind relieved of one less weight, Jake finally noticed the sapling at Mo'at's feet. "I don't remember that."
|"It has been growing since you defeated the ground eater."|
Jake's eyes widened in disbelief. |"So fast?"|
|"No light is hitting it. How can it grow?"|
|"I have the same question as you, my daughter."|
Spider woke from his nap to find himself cradled in blue arms. He scrambled out, backing away in disgust and about to hurl an insult when he realized Quaritch was asleep. "Hey, wake up!" He kicked him in his side, but when the recom did not stir, Spider swore in panic. The boy rushed to place the breather over the recom's mouth but with no results. He then unhooked the metal canister from the belt, shaking it next to his ear, confirming it was empty. Palming the giant's chest, Spider could physically feel the fading heartbeat. In a flash, he ran for the door and began pounding like his own life depended on it.
"Open up! He's run out of air! Open up!"
As if by his command, the door gave way, and there was Ardmore.
"You gotta help him! His tank ran out!"
Her cold stare forced Spider back a step.
"You're just going to let him die?"
"Him or Sully. Pick one." In her ready hands, she held up a full canister.
His heart palpitated in terror. "You're bluffing!"
"You want to take that risk? That's just a recom over there. He's expendable to me."
Spider could hardly believe what he was hearing.
"If you wanna keep your old man alive, you tell me everything about Sully's camp."
His pinning eyes darted between the suffocating soldier and the apathetic general.
"Time's a-wastin'."
With a resolute scowl, he hissed, "I'm not a traitor!"
"Suit yourself." She pocketed the canister and exited the cell.
The door resealed right as Spider rammed into it. He smacked the walls with a curse, wishing her and all her goons to go to hell.
Spider ran back to Quaritch and shook his great shoulders to no avail.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." He panted.
Not one to give up, the obstinate youth looked around the space, trying to think of something he could do, but his eyes inevitably fell back to the inactive breather.
An idea sparked.
Ripping the apparatus free of the useless canister, he began breathing down the hose until his lungs hurt, hoping to produce enough carbon dioxide for the recombinant.
Ardmore witnessed all of this from her control room. "Holy hell. He is determined."
Just then, Serrano burst in, interrupting her coffee sip; he was in a fit of panic.
"Where's the boy? Where is he? Is he alright?"
Ardmore gave him room as he leaned in towards the monitors. "What's a recombinant doing in there? And what's that boy doing?"
"Trying to resuscitate him."
"What's wrong with him?"
"His breather ran out."
"Ran out? Jesus-Mary-Joseph! He'll die!"
"Yes. Unless the boy talks and I come in with a refill."
"You're gambling a recom? Those men are expensive!" Serrano berated.
"Interrogation is a dangerous game, Governor. You have to take risks."
"Well, the interrogation is over!" Straightening out his tie, Ardmore noticed that he looked as if someone had roughed him up. "Guess who I just got done talking with? I'll tell you. The investors."
Ardmore was surprised, and she was rarely ever surprised.
"They told me that if we don't release that boy this minute, we'll both be put before a firing squad!"
Ardmore gaped. "What?"
"I don't understand, either," he confessed, dabbing his anxious brow with a handkerchief. "But I know the investors, and you don't cross them. Get that kid out of there and clean him up, and for the love of god, get that recom some air!"
"Yes, sir."
Escorted by soldiers, Quaritch and Spider emerged onto the quay. Spider was dressed in civilian clothes and balancing weakly against the recombinant, while Quaritch was dizzy and massaging his temple, and when the blue giant took a moment to savour the fresh air, he had forgotten about the processing going on nearby and gagged accordingly.
"Feeling better?" Spider asked.
"I will when we get out of here." Quaritch then stretched his arms. "I wonder why they let us out? Must have been my—ngh—irresistible charm that got to Ardmore."
Spider stifled a laugh.
"Watch it."
"Well, they didn't give me any explanation. And they took my clothes away too," he pouted, plucking his uncomfortable button shirt.
"A loincloth doesn't count as clothes. Besides, you look dapper."
"I feel stupid."
"They don't keep mirrors in that village of yours, do they, kid?"
A soldier holding up a rifle that hung from a strap nudged the two to keep walking. They weren't prisoners anymore, but the treatment was still curt. Together, they walked towards an MPV that was parked on the tarmac. Standing by the imposing vehicle was a man in a grey uniform with pronounced lapels and white trimming. "You Miles Socorro?" he asked.
Spider gave him a wary look.
"I'm Harvey Thurston. You've been arranged to stay at my lodgings in the housing zone."
"May I ask why?" Quaritch interjected.
"Orders, sir. They said to open up my home to him."
Quaritch and Spider exchanged looks of surprise. "You're getting the red carpet, kid. What do you do, Sailor?"
"I'm a corpsman."
"You hear that?" The Marine patted Spider's back.
"What does that mean?"
"Means he'll saw off your limb if it breaks. You got a missus, Thurston?"
"A wife and two daughters."
"Ages?"
"Five and seven."
"Lovely." Quaritch was pleased and returned to Spider. "Sounds like you're being proper billeted. I don't know why they're doing this, but you stay on your best behaviour. This is a stroke of luck for the both of us."
"Are you coming, too?"
"Hey, Thurston, can I get a lift?"
"Get on," he directed before entering the MPV.
Like before, Quaritch clambered onto the back of the towering vehicle and realized Spider had joined him with no issue. The soldiers who were escorting them were not at all pleased with Spider's action and promptly ordered him down.
"Pxasìk!" the native retorted with a head flick.
This only offended the soldiers, who now shouted their order.
Quaritch grabbed Spider's arm to wag a finger in his face. "Hey! What did I just tell you? Now, you respect those in uniform and do what they tell ya. No questions asked."
"But—"
"No questions. Git."
Spider obeyed with a huff and descended the vehicle to join the surly men. Quaritch may have been upset with his flippancy but, in ways he didn't reveal, was touched that he wanted to ride with him.
When they arrived at the housing zone, Quaritch could barely recognize it. It had expanded three sizes since he set his blue foot on the moon, with more zones, more homes, and more babies—a promising outlook for a species still in recovery. And despite the alienness of the world, the housing district also managed to somehow exhibit an old-world charm.
The MPV pulled up to a see-through structure considerably larger than its neighbouring buildings. Near the entrance was an ostentatious sign boasting, in many languages, the name "Moore's Garden." From what Quaritch could see, the bubble protected a sizable condominium of many levels. Each balcony was blessed with a potted plant and other memorable tokens from Earth. It was quaint, the veteran thought, in all the right ways. He leapt off and joined Spider, noticing his demeanour was uncomfortable. "Now, remember what I told you. You play nice with the other kids. Don't go eating any of them."
Spider made a face and brushed him off.
Harvey exited the vehicle and directed their eyes with a point. "My apartment is up there on the second level. I'll show you inside."
Realizing this is where they parted ways, Miles Socorro stalled for a moment. "I guess…I'll be seeing you?"
"I'll be around. My barracks is just over yonder, by the wall. See you, kiddo." Quaritch gestured a back-facing wave as he started his trek home, which Spider returned.
The walk would be long, and the Marine, prepping himself for the journey, held his head straight on-target for the southern wall. His eyes drifted only once when his peripheral vision caught a middle-aged man, wearing fatigues, coming home to his young wife and energetic son. The unsmiling recombinant carried onward.
Miles was halfway to Homestead when a streak of wild honking spun him around. He instantly recognized the veritable clown car as his whole team poured out at once. "What's all this?"
"We were out looking for you!" Walker complained, punching him in the shoulder. "I wasted more than half a tank of gas driving up and down this damn city." She demonstrated with a whisk of her hand.
"You didn't come back last night, so we thought something happened," Lyle explained. "We formed a search party."
"We tried everywhere. The ward. Parker. Then the ward again," Samson added.
"Not a whole lot of places to look," remarked Fike. "So CJ here gets on her banshee and starts searching from above."
"Yeah, but then it landed on an office building, scaring the s*** out of everyone."
"Luckily, you don't get ticketed for illegal banshee parking." Mansk snorted.
Warren patted him on the back. "So, what happened? Bump into an old girlfriend?"
"Long story, Thomas. I'll tell you all about it over dinner."
Brown tipped his hat. "Phew, I'm starving."
Quaritch followed his team into the RTV, where the nine of them packed themselves inside. The doors closed, and Quaritch found a seat at the back. He observed how his men, after many sombre days, were smiling again, making jokes and conversation. Quaritch folded his arms, leaned back, and relaxed for the ride home.