Pairing: So'lek x Sarentu! Reader
Summary: How can you claim to be Na'vi when you dont have a single memory of Pandora? Or your own clan? If it wasn't for Aha'ri you wouldn't have any idea what your life was like before they came.
Chapter Warnings: ANGST | abuse | shitty grammar lol | DEATH | mentions of kidnapping | talks of 'nice' colonization | cringe ass humming | mild violence description(?)
Author's Notes: If you have played the game before than you will recognize that this is just part of the opening scene. Thats why its an introduction and not an actual chapter, chapter One will be have the rest of the scene + the actual beginning. Hope yall enjoy!
Series Masterlist
Word Count: 9.8k
What is a Na'vi's first memory?
Most would say their family or even their Tsahik, maybe even the scenery in the background.
Yours were of metal.
Cold and dark rooms with stiff shelves they called beds. You remember the smell of bleach and the sound of yelling and footsteps. The first thing you remember being told is how your clan abandoned you and the other children and that the humans were the good guys.
Liars. All of them are liars.
You were told the truth by your sister, at least as much as she could remember. Aha’ri was your older sister, she was the one who helped ease nightmares and often hummed the song of your people for everyone.
You two weren't the only Sarentu children the RDA had taken. Nor, Ri'nela, Teylan, Yefti, Telisi, and Yuayt were the other children that were taken and shoved into a small room with bunk beds.
Yefti, Telisi, and Yuayt often listened to the humans, not wanting to get in trouble and receive punishments. You and the others were a mixed bag.
Nor and Aha'ri often fought back against the whole idea of The Ambassador Program while Teylan often participated to receive praise. You and Ri'nela stayed quiet but often stood opposed to the idea of TAP and Na'vi working together.
Why would the Na'vi want to work for the same humans that stole some of their children?
Everyday was the same at TAP. Wake up, eat TAP rations for breakfast, learn about Earth, exercise for a while, shower, eat lunch, learn about TAP, eat dinner, then go to bed. Everyday.
You woke up feeling off, like this uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach, but you just pushed it aside and kept going.
“Good morning. Let's review The Ambassador Program.”
Alma. A human scientist who you only ever saw in her avatar form. She was nice, always trying to protect you all from the others. You liked Alma.
“When the RDA discovered Pandora-”
“You can't discover something that was there all along.” Your sister Aha'ri didn't share the sentiment. She and Nor often spoke out against her and always gave the women the cold shoulder.
“Aha'ri.” Alma looked at the young girl. “When we say discovered, we mean the first time humans came here.”
Aha'ri didn't respond.
“When we arrived we realized that this was an opportunity to create beneficial relationships with the indigenous people.”
A picture of navi popped up on the screen, who looked just like Alma but more free and with colorful clothing and intricate designs.
Your ear flicks softly as you can hear Aha'ri beginning to hum.
“We created avatars, like mine, to help create relationships with the Na'vi.”
You began fidgeting with the song cord on your left hand, according to Aha'ri it belonged to your mother. You looked back up at Alma as she walked down the aisle as Aha'ri continued her humming.
“And when you graduate, it will be your job as Ambassadors to reach out to the Na'vi clans, and to-”
The metal doors to the classroom opened and stepping inside were two armed RDA guards along with the head of the TAP program. They all wore masks to breathe normal air since the rest of you needed Pandora air to survive. As soon as he walked in the room got tense.
“-help us to..help us to create those alliances.” Alma must have been cut off guard by man's sudden appearance.
“Can, um, anyone tell me how that can be done?” Alma stops in front of Aha'ri yet the child continues to hum the song.
“Aha'ri.” You can hear Alma whisper harshly and put her hand up, causing Aha'ri to stop humming.
“The RDA can share their medicines, technologies, and knowledge!” Teylan exclaims as he moves to stand by Mercer, it's clear the young Na'vi is seeking praise.
“That's absolutely correct, Teylan.” The man's praise gets Teylan to bow his head slightly, clearly happy about the praise.
“Director Mercer, we have been going over TAP's mission as you requested.”
You could see how nervous Alma was as she rubbed her hands and held them together. No one liked Mercer.
“Why would Na'vi want to have alliances with you?”
“Aha'ri!”
You winced slightly, while you did agree, you weren't happy about Aha'ri openly challenging Mercer and you knew Alma wasn't happy about it either.
“Alma.”
The woman slowly stepped away from Aha'ri and kept her hands clasped together.
“You have no idea what life is like out there, Aha'ri.” Mercer stood in front of the table she was seated at.
“It's savage.”
Mercer slowly began turning around, locking eyes with each of the children.
“We found you as children. After your clan abandoned you. We have given you a future, a purpose.” Mercer stands between Aha'ri and Nor's desks.
“Our clan would never have abandoned us.”
Aha'ri looks at you.
“Po's a liar!” (He's a liar!)
“Tsmuke ftang!” (Sister stop!) You motioned your left hand, trying to calm your sister when you saw Mercer's glance turned into a glare.
“I allowed you to keep that dirty trinket under the condition-” Mercer slowly began taking steps towards you and immediately your ears flattened.
“-it remained in your bunk, hm?’” Mercer stopped in front of you and held out his palm. “Hand it over.”
You looked at the song cord and before you could do anything you heard Aha'ri grunt as she leaped over her desk and next to Mercer. She took the song cord and pulled Mercer's hand away and up, Aha'ri was angry.
“It was our mother's! It is not a dirty trinket!”
You can see Alma's face now filled with panic, but she stood frozen.
“You don't even know what a song cord is!”
You can see from this distance how Mercer is struggling to get his arm free from Aha'ri.
“Aha'ri, it's just a broken string. I know this is difficult for you but you have to accept that your mother abandoned you.”
“Liar.” Aha'ri stood her ground but released Mercer's hand.
Mercer stares at Aha'ri for what felt like ages before glancing at you and then at all the other children who were all now standing.
“You all know the rules: no physical contact.”
Mercer turns around.
“No dinner for any of you.” He begins to walk away.
“Director Mercer, sir!” Teylan tries to plead but said man slams his fist down on a table. All of you remain silent.
Sleep was already hard but sleep without dinner was harder. You eventually did fall into a slumber but not long later were you awoken by someone's whimpers and Ri'nela's voice.
“Nor? Nor, tìtxen si!” (Nor? Nor, wake up.)
You looked past your shoulder to see Nor leaning on his elbows clearly frightened while Aha'ri and Ri'nela stood on the metal frame of the bunk bed to look at him.
“Ayoe're hu nga. Tsal's okay.” (We're with you. It's okay.)
You turned over and glanced around. It seems you four were awake.
“Oe dreamt tsal nìmun. The txon ayfo took ayoe..” (I dreamt it again. The night they took us..)
Suddenly Teylan kicked the upper bunk that Nor was resting on.
“You're supposed to be speaking English on base!”
Nor hopped off the bunk and growled into Teylan’s face. “When you cry out at night Teylan, you cry out in Na'vi!” Nor then pushed at Teylan's shoulder who returned the push at Nor's shoulder.
When Nor pushes Teylan again, Ri'nela steps in and puts a hand out, stopping the two from going any further.
“Why do you always take Mercer's side?” Aha'ri asks Teylan.
“D-Director Mercer saved us.” Teylan was now in a crouching position.
This angers Nor and causes him to push Teylan again which gets Ri'nela to hiss at him in which Nor hisses back.
Ri'nela always had a soft spot for Teylan.
Teylan hops off the bed and crawls to the darker corner of the room, the three of you follow him.
“Teylan, they took us from our families.” Aha'ri gently places her hand on Teylan's shoulder who leans into it. “We are saplings cut from our roots. We may not remember where we're from, but we can still grow- out there on Pandora.” She gestures to the metal doors.
Nor crouched down next to Aha'ri. “I can’t even remember the words of our clan's songs anymore.”
“We can sing them even without words.” You all form a small circle. With that Aha'ri begins to hum, she is the oldest of you all so she is the only one who knows the tune well, but she has spent time teaching it to you all as well.
Ri'nela puts a hand on Teylan's back before looking up at you, Aha'ri, and Nor.
“We can't let them strip the Na'vi out of us. We have to do something before it's too late.” Ri'nela looks back at Teylan.
You and Aha'ri exchange a glance before Aha'ri speaks up.
“We are stronger than them now! I felt it in the classroom with Mercer.” Aha'ri looks between each of them before landing her gaze on you.
“We can end this tonight.” Aha'ri looks over at the others. “I have a plan.”
. . .
You stand crowded behind Teylan as he attempts to rewire the door to get it open, all four of you buzzing with excitement.
“Ayoe lu going kelku!” (We are going home!” Aha'ri grins.
Seconds later the light turns green and the door opens. Aha'ri pats Teylan on the back proudly.
“Nice job Teylan!”
Aha'ri begins leading you all out of the room where it's dark, which makes sense as everyone should be asleep.
“Now we have to hurry! We only have a few minutes of breathing their air before we're going to need masks.”
As you all begin grinning and looking between each other, the lights cut on.
“We found them!” Four RDA soldiers stop in front of you and point their guns at each of you and standing in the middle is Mercer who shakes his head.
“I’m very disappointed in you.” Mercer stares directly into your eyes.
“We have given you this privileged life and you want to throw it all away.”
Aha'ri takes a step forward. “We don't want your ‘privileged life'! We belong out there!”
You reach your arms out to your sister, trying to calm her down.
“No! We own you.” Mercer takes a step forward and stands in front of Aha'ri.
“You cannot fathom how much we have invested in you? Hm?” Mercer sweeps his gaze across the four of you.
“We saved you, gave you a home, an identity-”
“We already had one, an identity, we are Na'vi!”
“NO! You are what I made you!” Mercer began yelling. You don't think you have ever seen him this mad before as you flinch at his voice.
Aha'ri holds the song cord close to her chest and begins humming the tune again,and Nor steps up beside her and takes her hand.
“We may not remember the words, but we can still sing the songs of our people!”
You take Aha'ri's other hand and begin humming as well, and the two of you locked eyes as Aha'ri smiled at you.
“Stop singing.”
Ri'nela joins on Nor's side and Teylan joins on yours as you all begin humming.
“I said shut up! Stop singing dammit!” Mercer was clearly upset that you all were not listening. He locked eyes with your sister.
“We are going home.” Aha'ri then looked between the rest of you, a big smile on her face. “Ayoe lu going kelku.” (We are going home.)
Aha'ri then shoves past Mercer and begins walking to the bigger door.
“I'm warning you Aha'ri not to take another step.”
You smiled at your sister, you hoped that once you all were free that you could turn into the brave Na'vi that she is! You turned to look at Teylan before holding out a hand. “Za'u sìn, Teylan. Let's kä kelku.” (Come on, Teylan. Let's go home.)
You heard Mercer yell once again.
“STOP RIGHT THERE.”
Yet you didn't think about it as Teylan grabbed your hand. That is when you hard it.
BANG
You whipped your head around and saw Mercer holding a gun and Aha'ri falling to the ground.
“AHA'RI!” You cried out and ran over before kneeling beside your sister, you put your hands over the bullet wound, trying to stop the bleeding. “AHA'RI!” You wailed.
“Whar did you do!?” You heard Nor hiss at Mercer.
That didn't matter as you kept crying out your sister's name, sobbing hard as you could see Aha'ri was not responding or moving.
“No, no, no..Aha'ri tìtxen si..” (Aha'ri wake up..) As you gently cupped her face, her blood soaking your hands now.
You saw movement and looked to see Mercer crouched down beside you all and he slowly took the songcord that Aha'ri dropped.
“Aha'ri no..” You gently touched your head to hers as tears continued running down your face.
You had truly lost everything.
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