Another chapter, with only implications of deadly injuries. Character death and platonic love at first sight. I have no prepared summary, because I honestly anyone who's could not stand the chapters before should probably now.

Plenty of love, please review if you have any thoughts you want to share on this.

Chapter 16

Tom landed near Hell's Gate, guiding Narik to a safe landing spot. He refused to risk his new friend's life just for his own comfort. As he bid farewell to Narik, Tom couldn't help feeling a sense of sadness. He knew he had to go and rescue Norm, Maya, and Spider, but it might just come at the cost of his own life at some point. The loss of not being able to fly with his Ikran anymore would only be small in the grand picture, but it felt symbolical to his freedom right now.

"I'm sorry my friend. Our time together was so short, but I don't know if I'll ever get the chance to fly with you again. Be free in my stead, Okay?" Narik nuzzled his head against Tom's chest, seemingly unwilling to part ways.

"I'm sad too, but I have to go. I need to get Norm, Maya, and Spider back," Tom said, trying to ease Narik away. He was relieved that his friend understood and didn't try to follow him. Tom couldn't bear to lose his Ikran to the monsters in Na'vi shape. He knew Quaritch would take more than enough from him, but not Narik. He would be free and safe by himself.

Tom made his way to the hanger place, feeling like he was walking to his own execution. He hoped they would keep him alive, but he never planned on being used against his brother. He had to figure out the situation and make his move.

Quaritch was cruel and tenacious, and he would keep Tom alive as long as possible to see Jake's pained expressions as his nemesis killed off his brother again.

As he walked, he passed one of the humming pollinating trees he was familiar with. It was overgrown with fungi and small white flowers in their midst. Norm had speculated that this method would take at least a month to fully fill the camp with an amount that would leave actual results. None of the humans or Avatars should show symptoms of madness for at least a week more.

Tom was grateful for this. It meant that none of the hostages would catch it for now. Norm would know how to protect himself and Maya, but Spider wouldn't.

The thought of Spider made Tom's chest tighten. Mo'at had told him that Quaritch had captured the boy. It felt unreal that Jake would leave him behind. Tom knew this because his brother's memories clearly showed the love he held for the boy. They also showed his ultimate devotion to Neytiri, who did not love Spider in this way. Still, Jake had persuaded her to leave their home behind, keeping her and his remaining children safe. Maybe this came at the cost of the son that only he had accepted as such.

Tom's heart ached for Spider and Jake. He couldn't bear seeing that Spider was not Jake's priority when it came to his mate. Despite this, Tom promised himself that he would do his best to keep Spider safe, even without Neytiri's acceptance. He knew that he was Jake's family, and his ultimate goal was to keep safe what Jake held dear. Only after that would he answer Eywa's call and rid Pandora of the plague that was humanity. However, it pained him to see that his own happiness with Tanu'ley ranked only fourth on his list of priorities.

Tom said a short prayer to Eywa, hoping that he would never have to choose between her life and the life of Jake's family. He had already hurt Tanu'ley when he left this morning, and he wasn't sure if he could do it again. It confounded him still that she had seen something in him that earned him such deep affection despite being an Avatar and a weird ass scientist.

As he walked past the white delusion, he decided against using her pollen as leverage. It was too hard to control if it came down to it. Instead, he found something small growing by the side of a large tree. He picked it up and carefully placed it into one of his twin knife sheaths. With only a little looking around, he found a bluish fern that he plucked four leaves from. Three were rolled up tight and stored in his other sheath, and the last one he placed in his mouth directly.

Tom arrived at the hangar before 8:00 am if he read the sun's placement correctly. However, that probably didn't make any difference as Quaritch and his men stood near a helicopter. Tom saw a tiny form of a human girl being held back by one of the goons. His heart raced as he recognised her as Maya, Norm's daughter.

"Glad to see you could make it, Tom. I was about to get bored here," Quaritch said with a cruel smile. Tom desperately wanted to glare at the man, but for his own future gain, he showed a calm expression.

"I think your eyeliner smudged there a little," the man named Prager or something teased, holding a knife to Maya's neck.

Tom suppressed his anger and kneeled down a few feet away from the other group. "Maya, do you recognise me, girl? It's me, Tom. I'm a friend of your father, Norm," Tom spoke for the first time.

She looked at him when she heard her father's name, but did not respond. He tried again, but Maya would not look directly at him or speak. She was unresponsive, her eyes swollen, and her clothes dirty with mud. She was clutching something to her chest as her red-rimmed eyes stared into nothingness. As his attempts proved useless he changed his focus.

"Where is Norm? You said I could see him." He spoke to Quaritch, but the man only continued to grin.

"I'll let you see him, but you have to chain yourself first," Quaritch said as he tossed a pair of rope handcuffs at Tom. With no other choice, Tom complied.

Quaritch sneered at Tom. "I see you were smart enough to not even bring a weapon," he said as another Avatar, who looked like the soldier Wanefleet from Jake's memories, came forward to grab Tom by his braid and lead him into the human base. Quaritch led them through the cold and grey halls, while the rest of the platoon stayed by the helicopter with Maya. It only took less than a minute for them to reach their destination, but Tom felt a nagging sense of dread in his gut. The bloody shirt and Maya's condition didn't give him much hope. He steeled his mind as they stopped by an ugly steel door and he was roughly pushed into a small cell.

The smell of blood and death hit Tom like a brick wall, making him recoil from the stench. There was only one source of that smell: Norm, chained to a metal chair, who had fallen to the side. Tom's last hope for Norm's survival was crushed, and he closed his eyes to take measured breaths, ignoring the cackling laugh of Quaritch. He fought down his tears and screams, trying to keep the bile from rising.

In his mind, Tom fled to a place where he had been in his human life. The part of himself that looked at life through a screen, detached, analytical and in control. Humanity had left him no choice but to built up this wall around his heart. Tom had once loved humankind, he really did. Years of his life were dedicated into medicine and helping those in need because he still had hoped the good would prevail. That assumption died during his studies, so he was forced to either break under the sheer cruelty or cut of the emotions to everything that was not safe. And on earth there were so few things he could consider safe. Jake was safe, he was his haven and his anchor. Some few plants that were left, as well as the animals. During their training Tom had started to consider Norm as safe just like the old songs that still spoke of honesty and kindness.

But here on Pandora Eywa had pulled him free from those walls. She had given him the ability to trust in her and her creation and for a certain time Tom was very grateful. Right now though he had to act like he had on earth. No trust, no emotion except for the few and no mercy for the others. He prayed to Eywa that Norm's soul would rest in eternal peace.

Tom's expressionless eyes turned to Quaritch. "You only said I could see him, not that he was alive, and you only threatened to kill the girl because you had already killed him?" Tom's voice was so neutral that even the two soldiers' sadistic grins fell. They didn't give him a reply, but Tom didn't need one. He realised that Maya's clothes had not been dirtied by mud but by dried blood. Below his iron-clad apathy, hate and rage boiled within him as he connected the dots. No child should ever have to endure this.

"We didn't need him. He spilled his secrets soon enough because we threatened the girl. Now we have you, and that is enough for our purposes," Quaritch said, his face contorted into an ugly scowl.

"Where is Spider?" Tom asked, noticing a flicker of surprise on Quaritch's face.

"You have no business asking, so shut your trap," Quaritch growled, but Tom didn't even flinch.

"You wish to force me to do something, then you better bring him along. What if you kill the girl and have no more leverage? With your tendencies I'd advise you to bring a spare," Tom replied, feeling nothing at Quaritch's discomfort.

It felt like a wonder that the colonel actually moved to the next door, to open it. He entered and was greeted with angry shouts of a young boy. Spider was thrashing in Quaritch's arm as he was dragged out of his cell. Furious insults were pelted at the soldier and pretty much all humankind that were so imaginative, Tom's eyebrow rose against his will. The boy was a marvel to him, even with his dirty unwashed hair, fading blue stripes and bloody knuckles.

He was a brave and strong boy, through and through, along with a potty mouth that made Tom pale with envy. If he were in any other situation he'd adopt the boy where he stood. That was Jakes beloved child and Tom felt his mental control slip just a little when the boy was pushed into his chest. Nasty kicks and punches were thrown at him before Spider recognised the warm nearly adoring eyes of his victim.

"JAKE?" Spider shouted before they were abruptly pushed out of the base. He quickly put on his oxygen mask and turned to look at Tom in shock.

"Why are you here?" he asked in a hoarse whisper, as if he had been screaming for a while. Spider's eyes were red-rimmed and swollen, evidence of the tears he had shed.

"Oel ngati kameie, Spider. My name is Tom," Tom replied, his voice gentle and soothing. The poor boy was so confused as he was shoved aboard the helicopter along with Tom. The rest of the platoon was already seated, ready to go. The machine rose from the floor, and Tom felt a little satisfaction as the shimmer of yellow pollen was blown back by the wind. He just knew this place would be in chaos if he ever got the chance to return here.

Spider felt exhausted during the flight. At first, Tom had silently explained the situation to Spider as they were pressed into the corner of the helicopter. In Tom's arms, he held the trembling form of Maya, who was pretty much unconscious. Spider felt devastated as he had finally noticed the girl with whom he had sometimes played when he stayed at the base. Her final scream still echoed in his head as he looked at her crumpled form. She was cradled to the man's chest like a baby, and Tom hummed a soft tune, barely loud enough above the noise of the motor blades.

Spider could only hear it because his own head rested against the man's shoulder, and the vibration was directly transmitted to him.

The song was unfamiliar to him, but his screaming mind calmed down more and more as he relaxed into the kind stranger's side.

He could not tell where this sudden calm stemmed from, but he felt the waves of protective energy rolling off the man who looked so much like the man he called his real father in secret.

Spider felt safe next to him, but he had no real reason to. His gut just told him that it was okay to trust this person. Quaritch and his men looked over to them from time to time, and Spider was reminded of the short few moments that he liked the colonel. He had taught the man some of the Na'vi language and he had taught him about some of their ways, but Spider felt only hatred now. This man had killed his friend while his daughter was watching, he threatened the family he always whished to be part of, and now he blackmailed his somewhat uncle figure to do his will.

The humming stopped, and Spider felt Tom's head leaning on his own. It was a strange, unfamiliar feeling, but it was comforting. He closed his eyes, listening to the sound of the helicopter's blades as they sliced through the air.

"kxìmìl, tswayon alaksi (peace, beloved child), we are family and our family is a fortress." He said.

Spider's eyes widened as he heard Jake's slogan coming from Tom, but this time, it was directed at him, not Lo'ak or Kiri. He was only able to give a shaky nod in response before Tom resumed humming again.

After almost an hour of flying, they landed near the coast, but a storm prevented them from continuing by helicopter. Spider overheard Quaritch threaten someone over the comm to arrange a ship for them.

Soon enough, they were all dragged onto a fishing ship, with Maya still asleep in Tom's embrace. The two of them were locked in a small room with only one mattress on the ground and a bucket in the corner. Filtered air came through narrow slits on the door, making it possible for Spider to breathe without his mask. After a second thought, he also removed Maya's oxygen mask.

"What will they do with us now?" Spider asked, looking at Tom. The man had a stoic expression on his face, but warmth came from his eyes as long as he looked at either Maya or Spider.

"They will hunt for Jake. Norm must have given them a clue where to find him-" Tom left unsaid the reason why, to protect Maya. Spider's heart sank at the news.

"What can we do?" Spider's question sounded desperate even to his ears. Tom gently put Maya down on the mattress before he stood back up to pull Spider into an awkward hug. Not because he did not like the hug, but because Tom's wrists were still bound together.

"As long as Quaritch has us as hostages, Jake will not fight to his full capacity. We need to get you and Maya off this ship as soon as possible. Preferably me too, but Jake does not know I'm alive yet, so he will not consider me as a hostage," Tom mused out loud, but it made Spider feel dread pool in his gut.

"I think several things you just said don't make sense," he murmured, unsure of what he meant himself. Tom gave him a piercing look.

"Do you not think Jake would come for the child of his friend and the boy he considers his own?" Spider was taken aback by the words spoken out loud.

"Yeah, I guess it makes sense he would come for Maya, but they have already abandoned me once. I'm sure he could do it again," Spider's words carried bitterness, even though he could understand why Jake did not come for him.

"Just because we do something, does not mean it is easy. When I first came to this world, Eywa granted me some of my brothers memories, and we have spent our entire human lives together, well most of it at least. I can tell you my brother loves you, therefore I do too. Had the circumstances been different, the rescue less deadly for many warriors, the imminent danger to the rest of our family less as well, then believe me he would have come for you in a heartbeat." Tom said, looking at the brave but sad boy before him.

"You are no less to him because you are human. Please believe me. Believe in Jake. If he saw Quaritch put a gun to your head, asking him to sacrifice himself for you, he would."

"But doesn't that make it worse? I wished for their love my entire life, but now I'd rather wish they'd give me up entirely. I never wanted to become a burden." Spider hissed out and his eyes shined with unshed tears.

"A child is indeed a burden to the parents, but it is the most precious one. I'll get you off this ship, Spider. You will find your way back to your family, where you can support them instead." He squeezed the boy into his side for a second.

"I really hoped we could have met under different circumstances. I am sorry that I cannot give you more of an answer than this. We will have to see for now." Tom said with a sorrowful voice as he released Spider. They settled down to the ground, watching the little girl sleep, who was barely older than Tuk.

Spider remembered how happy Norm was when his baby girl was born. The man practically skipped around the entire week after, annoying and amusing Evelyn to no ends. For month the only thing he was able to talk about was Maya even with sleep deprivation colouring the bags beneath his eyes.

It felt unreal to Spider that this goofy and patient man was now dead, laying cold in a cell in Hell's gate. Tom's presence helped like a warm blanket, tightly wrapped around him, comforting him.

He asked Tom to tell him about himself, he was curious but also anxious to not think about Norm.

Tom's voice was just like, but not at all like Jake's. It had the same baritone but held other intonations when he spoke. His voice was softer, more inclined to singing than to give orders like Jake, who was always calm, but sharp in his words, when he spoke as a war chief. Tom was also more attentive of Spider when he talked, reacting to nearly every change in his mood, like he was able to read him like an open book. It felt way to easy to trust him.

He told him of the time they lived together on their own after their parents death and Jake leaving to become a soldier. They mostly talked about Jake because it was their one common topic but it even changed to old Terran civilisations, something called cinema, theatre and orchestra. Tom even sung him some songs and he honestly knew a lot. Then he asked questions about Spider, coaxing him to speak of his friends, people he considered family and how scary he thought Neytiri was.

The way Tom listened was so very different, like didn't just nod along but he asked questions and sometimes repeated what Spider had said to make sure he really got it. It was like a gentle float of water between sharp rocks. At least that was how it felt to talk about even the most hurtful things with Tom. He did not judge, asked for clarification and was deeply empathetic to Spiders feelings.

How else could he explain that he told Tom that he secretly made his own Songchord and stole one of Jakes beads to integrate it. Or the time he seriously injured his mouth while trying to sharpen his teeth like those of the Na'vi. Max had not been amused with him the following week. He told Tom of his dreams where he had a Na'vi body and looked just like the others. He told him of the dream where he had his own family.

Tanu'ley informed both Grace and Mo'at of Tom leaving earlier in the morning. Grace was absolutely furious but also heartbroken at the thought of Norm and Maya being hurt. The girl was still so young and Norm was by no means a fighter. His brain was to big for his own good, but as a scientist he had never really learned to defend himself. Pandora made him more resistant, but she feared it might not be enough.

She was unable to really think clear with everything going on. They would have to warn and help Jake. Quaritch was a sick bastard but no fool. He would eventually get the information they wanted out of his hostages, and not in a pretty way.

Grace thought about the stories she had heard about Kiri, and she longed to meet the girl like nothing else right now. She wanted to meet her daughter and make sure she was safe unlike another little girl. She just wanted to see all the people she cared for happy and healthy for a long time, yet Norm, Tom and Maya were captured by Quaritch, Jake and his family were on the run and the clan now sheltered the the few frightened human scientists that had fled their former lab.

Grace was desperate to take some kind of action, any action at all. She reached out and grabbed Tanu'ley's arm, even though she knew the woman was cold, mean, and unsociable on a good day. But now, Grace saw the anger and hurt in Tanu'ley's eyes. She had let Tom go, knowing it might be the last time she ever saw him. Tanu'ley had respected Tom's choice, but it came at a high cost. Grace could see her body trembling with so many emotions.

"What will you do now?" Grace asked, even though she had no real idea.

"I chose him. He's not my mate, but I chose the life I could have had with him. If he's no longer able, then I will protect what he wished to protect." Tanu'ley's voice was trembling with emotion, but her face remained calm.

"I'm sure Quaritch will leave him alive to get to Jake. He's the one he's after," Grace added, an idea forming in her head. The idea of revenge.

"You must go! Warn them," Mo'at said as she moved around her tent. She had let Grace stay there, and now she was packing a satchel with things from her storage and from Tom's table where he used to do experiments when he was still learning from her. Tears streaked her face, but Mo'at ignored them with ease.

"Go, find my daughter and son. Warn them of what is to come and protect them. Get Tarsem, I want him to send some of his best warriors." Mo'at's eyes gleamed with an ethereal colour for just a second, and then Tanu'ley ran off to get the chief.

"You will lead them, Kireysi. Tanu'ley is no leader, but she knows the way. Find Jake and tell him what happened. He will know what to do," Mo'at instructed.

Tanu'ley soon returned with three experienced warriors, two men and one woman, all of them painted and ready to go with food and weapons to last them for days. They packed much the same, but Tanu'ley also brought Tom's guitar, and Mo'at gave Grace a bag of herbs and balms. They left the clan within the hour, with Grace flying with Tanu'ley and Somi.

The flight was gruesome and harsh, with the wind picking up and rain pelting down on them. But Grace and her companions were not bothered. After what felt like weeks and a couple of stops to give the Ikran some rest, they arrived at the Metkayina reef. A horn was blown, signalling their arrival.

Grace motioned the warriors to stay behind so they wouldn't seem threatening. They came to offer help, not to attack the clan.

She caught a glimpse of cerulean blue instead of the turquoise of the reef Na'vi's skin. Her daughter and her friend were here, but her friend's twin brothers' chances of survival were dwindling with every passing hour.

Life was too cruel sometimes.

Thank you all for reading. The next three chapters are already done and in revision.