Perspectives
Lo'ak and his troupe were flying low over the jungle, weaving their way past the highest of the trees. Tsireya was once again seated in front of him, and just to his left Kiri was flying on her own Ikran, with Tuk as her passenger. He could not see them, but he was sure the rest of their group on the ground was not too far behind. After some further flying he spotted a platform between the branches of a particularly tall tree, a pair of Na'vi waving at them. In another place a horn might have been sounded to announce their arrival, but here they preferred a less noticeable welcome. You never knew who might be close enough to hear.
They returned the wave of the lookouts, flew a circle around their position, then dove through an opening in the canopy of trees. Under the shadow of the trees there were a number of Marui dwellings as well as human habitation shacks. Ikran were nestled on the ground and in the trees, and there were a number of mounds that were Samsons concealed under nets.
As Lo'ak and his flight began to touch down their ground team also began to stream into camp, some riding direhorses, others arriving on foot. Just after Lo'ak and Tsireya had dismounted they saw Norm in his Avatar body emerging from one of the shacks.
"Oh! You're here! You made it back!" He said with a smile, running to them.
"So, what happened? How'd it go?" He asked of them.
Lo'ak considered his answer for a moment. "Not great, not terrible. I mean, we got the job done. We managed to take out the base like we had planned. And we brought back a decent amount of loot. But…"
Lo'ak looked behind himself, where the worst wounded were being helped off their mounts, the dead brought back respectfully lowered down, soon to be turned over to their friends and family for funeral.
Norm nodded slowly, understanding.
"That part… is never easy, Lo'ak. This was your first independent command. It'll get better with time. Both leading… and dealing with the aftermath." He said quietly.
"I mean, take me for instance. I'm a scientist. As geeky as they come. Had to learn all of this the hard way from Jake. But look at me now. You'll get there too. For now the fact that you got the job done and came back with most you crew says a lot. Focus on that. On what went right." He added.
"We can go over the mission in more detail when you have time, see if there is anything to improve on." He promised.
"That'd be appreciated. For more than just that. Tsireya and I uncovered something very disturbing on the mission today. Could use a few more sets of brains to figure out how to approach it going forward." Lo'ak replied.
It was at this point that Norm took note of Tuk, the burn on her face. He opened his mouth to ask about it, but then they were interrupted by another voice.
"My grandchildren! You return!" Mo'at said happily as she walked to the scene.
She went to hug each of her grandchildren in turn. "I thank Eywa that you've made it home safely. I understand the need for you to go out and face our enemy, but my heart is always sick with concern to see you leave. More today when there was no one more experienced to guide you. Our family has lost so much. But you've returned victorious. My young heroes…"
But after hugging Tuk she took a second look, and frowned. "But Tuk… what has happened to you?"
"She got into a scuffle with one of the RDA troopers." Lo'ak explained.
"A scuffle? But wasn't she supposed to…?" Norm began to ask.
"She was. But instead she chose to do this. She and I are going to talk about it, believe me. But right now she needs some medical attention, for more than just the burn. It looks like she's lost hearing in one ear." Lo'ak replied.
"It's on her right. From a sniper rifle, going off point blank, right next to her ear." Kiri supplied.
"A deaf ear? Oh man…" Norm said, rubbing the back of his head.
"Tuk, what were you thinking?" Mo'at asked.
"I…" Tuk tried before shutting down, her expression sullen.
Mo'at nodded slowly, deciding no reply was needed now. "We shall do what we can for her. And for the other wounded. Tsireya, would you join me?"
"Of course, Tsahik. As always." Tsireya said.
"She could stand to have her injury inspected too." Lo'ak said, pointing at her arm.
"Lo'ak, there's no need. It's been seen to. I'll be fine. And there are many others that need attention more." She told him.
"Please. For me. Let them double check." He asked.
Tsireya paused, then nodded. "All right."
"Okay then. This way, young lady. Let's get you looked at." Norm said, beginning to lead Tuk away.
"Oh, and Kiri? I did a little searching and managed to find you what you were asking about. I left it on your bunk. Plus enough batteries keep it powered for a good while. Feel free to come see me any time if you need more, and we'll sort it out." He added.
"Great! Thanks! Will do!" Kiri said with a smile.
For the next couple hours the War Party got busy getting everything sorted and winding things down after their mission. Their mounts and their weapons were seen to. Their gathered loot was distributed, some to those who were most in need, the rest to their storage marui in camp. After those tasks were complete everyone scattered around the camp to get some much needed food and rest. Once everyone was settled in Lo'ak and Tsireya spent time making rounds, offering condolences to those who had lost friends and family on the mission, and congratulating those who had done particularly well during the battle. They spoke with many of their warriors, offering words of encouragement to any they deemed needed some.
Later on Lo'ak was walking through the camp, heading towards the medical tent. Along the way she came across Kiri, leaning against the hydraulic legs of one of the habitation shacks, her arms crossed. Evidently she had been waiting for him.
"Planning to go see Tuk soon?" She asked.
"I'm on my way for that now." He said, stopping.
"Just… don't be too hard on her, okay? She's probably having bad enough day as it is, what with her having a deaf ear now and all."
He shook his head. "She and I had a deal. And she broke our agreement. Managed to get herself hurt because of it. I can't just let that go without any comment at all."
"I know, but… she did that trying to help. And she's just frustrated because she feels like you're holding her back, not letting her do her fair share. Plus given what happened she's already having to pay for it. Maybe that's enough?"
"There is no excuse for being that brash." Lo'ak argued.
"Come on, she's almost fourteen. Do you remember us at fourteen?" She added.
Lo'ak gave a short laugh. "Do I remember it? It's precisely why I'm giving her such a hard time with this. Kids that age think they know better than anyone; that they don't need to listen. They take huge risks because they think they're invincible and it will all work out. But sooner or later they learn that's not how it is. And then they realize they've done something they can't ever fix. Today it was her ear. Next time it might be her life. Or someone else's."
"No. This needs to be nipped in the bud." He declared. He took a few steps before stopping again. "I'm not blind to how she helped me and Tsireya. But it's the big picture that counts here. I'll… try to get that point across to her too."
Kiri nodded in defeat, letting him go on his way.
"You know, some days you really do remind me of dad…" She said to herself, looking in the direction he had gone. Then she walked away, heading in the opposite direction. It was time to see to her personal project.
Lo'ak entered the tent, where many of their number were being treated for their injuries. He walked past several cots, occasionally stopping to exchange a few words with some of his warriors. Near the back of the tent she found Tuk, being attended to by Mo'at, who was applying an ointment to her granddaughter's burn. Norm was standing close by, examining a monitor. On noting Lo'ak's arrival they paused in her work, and Tuk cast her eyes down, already able to guess what was coming.
"I suppose you have some choice words for her as well? We shall give you some time then. But there is more work to be done on her injuries later. She is not to leave here." Mo'at said.
"She won't." Lo'ak promised.
"Come, Normspellman. There are many more injured yet that need our attentions today." She told Norm.
Norm nodded and followed Mo'at, exchanging serious glances with Lo'ak as he passed him by. Once it was just him and Tuk an awkward silence lingered.
"So… what news about your ear?" He asked, kneeling down next to her cot.
Tuk bit her lip, her ears flat against her head. She wouldn't meet Lo'ak's eyes.
"Norm… he believes it's probably permanent. I did hear him mutter something about it maybe being fixable if we were on Earth. But since we aren't…" She admitted quietly.
Lo'ak sighed, nodding. "I was worried that might be the case."
"Well I already got chewed out for it by Norm and grandma. So if it's your turn now then go right ahead. Get it out of your system. Won't change the facts at this point anyway." She said.
"Just *getting it out of my system* is hardly the point I'm trying to make." Lo'ak replied.
He put a hand on her cheek, gently turning her eyes to face his. "Do you understand why we are upset that you got yourself hurt like this?"
"It's the thought that we could have lost you." He explained when he didn't get an answer. "One day we are going to see Mother and Father again. And among the first things they are going to want to know is what happened to your ear. It will be up to me and Kiri to explain it, because we're the older siblings and we are supposed to look after you. It's going to be bad enough to tell them you've gone partially deaf. I don't want to face them and have to explain that you're gone because you got reckless, and we weren't there to protect you."
"And I don't want to sit around in camp while you're busy rushing into danger, only to then realize that one or more of you aren't going to come home. It almost happened today! I'm sick and tired of just watching as bad things happen to my family!" She challenged.
She bowed her head, holding back tears.
"Lo'ak… do you seriously think we'll see mother and father again?" She asked quietly.
Lo'ak blinked. "I do. Of course I do."
Tuk sighed heavily. "There you go again, trying to protect me. And from the truth this time. Don't. I'm old enough to know how this works. It's been six years. If they could have, our parents would have found their way back by now."
"That doesn't mean they're gone…" Lo'ak tried.
"Oh come on, Lo'ak. I know how the RDA does things. There's no way they would have left mom and dad alive for that long. There's no reason for them to do it." She argued.
As he listened, Lo'ak's expression softened. He put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Tuk… no. You can't give up on them like that. They deserve better from us. We need to keep hope alive. For them. For us."
"… I wasn't trying to coddle you or sugarcoat it in any way. We will find them some day. I don't know when, I don't know where. I suppose I don't even know how. But we'll see them again. I believe that. I really do." He added.
His younger sister was quiet for a moment. "Then… I guess I envy you."
"I still have dreams of that day, you know? Six years, and it's still in my nightmares. The attack coming, our home destroyed. Mom… on her knees, surrounded by those humans. Dad trying and failing to save her. That bastard Quaritch lording it over them both." She admitted. "And there was nothing I could do but watch. Too weak, too young. I never, ever want to feel that helpless again."
Lo'ak nodded slowly. "I felt the same way when it happened."
"But you're better off than I am. You at least get to do something. You get to fight back at them." She pointed out. "But me? I'm stuck. Still just a spectator. Do you get it? I want to do something. Anything. I need to."
"I do get it. Which is one of the reasons I allowed you to take on duties as a scout." Lo'ak replied. "But now…"
"Which is basically what I've had to do before. Just watch what happens and hope everything works for the best. And even that I had to beg and bargain for before you would let me."
Lo'ak suppressed a grimace. She wasn't entirely wrong. And that much had been allowed in part because he was worried that if denied she might try to help by attempting something stupid and putting herself in danger. Making a deal and giving her a relatively safe role to perform had seemed like a respectful compromise, and the safest course at the time. But now she had gotten herself in trouble anyway, his worst fears coming to pass.
"You will get there. But in the proper time, and in the proper way. You're not ready for that yet. Until you are… don't be in such a rush to join our dead." He countered.
"I am ready! I'm ready to do more. Just let me, and I'll prove it to you." She argued.
Lo'ak paused, then pointed at her ear. "That tells me a different story."
Tuk gave a frustrated scoff. "I got an injury. It's not as if the others haven't gotten hit from time to time. How many got injured just today, Tsireya included? I'm not thrilled that it happened, but I don't believe that makes me not ready."
"Tuk… you do realize that a little more to the left and that bullet would have killed you?" Lo'ak asked.
"I do! I do get it." She said firmly. "Fighting is deadly business. I know that. And in the worst case that bullet might have been the end of me. But it wasn't. Instead I was able to protect you. And if I wasn't your sister you wouldn't even be upset at me for the fact I did."
Lo'ak shook his head, slightly annoyed now. "You're alive now because of sheer dumb luck. Next time it might run out for you. And then it might not be just you who pays the price for it. That's the part about this I need you to learn. And I am going to drill it into that head of yours as hard as I need to."
"I've made my decision. You are sitting out our next mission." He concluded.
"What? Sitting it out? But…!" Tuk began to protest.
"No. No, no, no." He interrupted her sternly. "That's the penalty for breaking our agreement and disobeying orders. There will be no ifs or buts about it. Any backtalk from you and I'll make it more than one mission. Are we clear?"
Lo'ak saw his little sister swallow back a swear word, turning it into an angry growl. "Yes, sir." She said with a sullen scowl on her face.
Lo'ak nodded and stood up, turning to leave, before stopping and turning back around. "…It will be some time before we can launch another attack, though. So I'd like you to come by the storage tents at first light tomorrow. We'll pick you a weapon, a bow or a gun if you prefer. And until I need to leave again we can spend time training together. Then once I come back we can pick up where we left off."
"I can't have you on the frontline until you're older and have had been trained for it. But I can work with you to help you get there." He explained as Tuk's expression brightened somewhat.
"You'd do that? After all everything you said? Why?" Tuk asked.
"Consider it a small reward for helping me and Tsireya. That part isn't what upset me. It really is about the rest of it." He replied.
"Besides, when it comes down to it I'd rather you were prepared when something happens. More peace of mind for everyone involved." He added. Then he left, leaving Tuk to contemplate the silver lining.
Tsireya was walking the camp later on, fresh bandages on her arm. She spent some time searching for Lo'ak. Her efforts finally led her to climb up high amongst the trees to a woven platform that was their lookout position. He found him sitting at the edge, cleaning his weapon, occasionally looking skyward, though he turned his eyes to her when he heard her approach. It was just the two of them here. She supposed Lo'ak had offered to take this watch, sending the lookouts on duty to get some rest. Not the first time he had done that when he needed some time to be in his thoughts, away from the bustle of their encampment.
"Tsireya, take a look over there." He said, pointing high into the air.
She directed her eyes to where Lo'ak had asked and saw a pair of too bright stars where none should have been.
"Ships leaving?" She guessed.
"Arriving I'd say. Two by the looks of it." He corrected.
He sighed heavily. "It used to be we only had one ship coming here a month. Now it seems they're mostly coming here in pairs. Sometimes even threes. It's getting worse."
"And we just had to have more of those accursed things showing here today of all days. It feels like they're taunting us, doesn't it?" She said, frowning in frustration as she stared at the two false stars.
Lo'ak nodded his agreement. "According to my dad each of those ships holds hundreds. Enough to replace all the kills we inflicted today several times over."
Tsireya shook her head to herself as she sat down next to him. "Hundreds more of them…"
"I guess that is one way to sour the evening. I figured successfully leading our first mission might be cause for at least some small celebration. It was a tough battle, but at least we won it. But now, seeing that… feeling good about ourselves would just seem like being cocky." She said.
"Yeah. Quite the reality check. Though… I'm not sure how much I would've felt like celebrating anyway." He said.
Tsireya nodded, her expression sad. "It does hurt, ordering people out to die. To bear the burden is our duty as their leaders… but it's not our fault. Not today. You didn't make a mistake in our battle. It's just that our enemy is vicious and powerful. And we have all come together to face them, even knowing the risks. I don't think any one of us believes this was your doing. I hope you can see that."
Lo'ak nodded but was otherwise quiet for a time, contemplating her words.
"You're being kind. As always. And I'll… try to see things your way. It's just fresh for me now. I'll need to work through it." He finally replied.
"…There's more to it than just an emotional weight, though. There's a practical aspect to this as well." He added.
"Back when the battle had just ended Kiri told me that even when we win it seems we lose something else. And she's got a point there. We won the battle, sure. And I'm proud of all of us for that, don't get me wrong. But even if it isn't our fault, I still think the cost was too heavy. We take a beating like that on every mission and we're going to run short on warriors sooner rather than later." He explained.
He pointed at the Sky. "And that ongoing flood is sure proof that they can take losses far better than us."
"Our volunteers… we've got around a small clan's worth in numbers. The Omatikaya and Norm's resistance members about the same. And I'm a bit hazy on where we stand with the other resistance cells and the clans they ally with. Without dad everyone is acting on their own, following their own plans. But what I do know is that unless they make the journey all the way here and join us, they aren't going to be playing a major part in our battles. So I guess what I'm trying to say the Sky People have us pretty badly outnumbered, and we're one disaster away from losing what we do have."
He nodded to himself. "We need to improve ourselves further. So we cause more damage and take less in return. And maybe we need to put more effort on recruiting. On reaching out to allies we haven't approached yet, so we can balance things out numbers wise. As much as we can at any rate."
"It sounds like you have some ideas then?" She guessed.
"Maybe. Something mentioned to me a long time ago. But it's kind of a risky prospect. I'll need to think on it some more, talk to the others about it." He said.
"… All right. In that case tell me more about it tomorrow. As for today… you should get some rest. You're wearied from the fight, just like the rest of us. You've earned the right to set these burdens aside for a little while. Things will look brighter in the morning. Better to lay fresh plans then, with clear minds and fortified hearts." She said, her hand gently stroking his back.
Taking a deep breath, Lo'ak laid his weapon aside, closed his eyes, and leaned into her hand a bit. The feel of her fingers moving across his skin was… soothing. Certainly a balm to his stressed spirit after today's difficulties and arguments.
"You're right." He said a little while later. "We've done enough for now. Tomorrow will be a new day."
She gave him a sweet smile. They waited for some time longer until it was the next lookout's watch. Then they proceeded down from the sentry post, heading towards their tent.
Not to worry, I plan to elaborate where Norm and Mo'at came from.