Can a Heart still break (once it stops beating?) | C5
Tamtey watched Alma over her cup of morning herbal tea as the woman headed into the Airlock with Dani, barely looking their way as they talked together. The tea was her new favourite one but that was also due to the fact it was the one that helped her lungs feels clear and the steam soothed her eyes with each sip.
A week, and honestly things finally felt better than it had since the effects of sudden freedom to Pandora hit them all like a freight-train. Okni had strict medical rules to follow, like wearing the mask at all times, especially outside, eating her separate diet and sleeping and showering inside but other than that, Okni had been spryer than the rest of them. The food situation had taken most of them unawares. The stomach ache was mild, but runny waste was consistent and Teylan and Telisi struggled the most with dehydration but thankfully, So’lek and the med team gave them stuff to curb the effects as their bodies adapted to the air and food.
Honestly, Tamtey hadn’t expected to be so effected despite the small warning from Alma, but Hajir, the lead doctor here had explained the science to why their bodies reacted to their own world, but unlike humans, they’d adapt quicker to their native environment and resources; their immune system had to catch up after being separated after so long.
Eating true Pandoran food, smelling the air unfiltered, seeing so much and hearing every little sound was amazing, and better to share it with her people.
Sarentu.
A word to their people. A clan. Their clan. A place and people who they came from. What happened to them? Ri’nela has asked So’lek about the other Sarentu. So’lek’s answer had been bitter, no sightings of the Sarentu for decades, since before the first war. Tamtey felt there was a little more to it, but she hadn’t feel like pressing for the answer, uncertain if she wanted to know a full truth while they were adapting and recovering.
But aside from the physical discomfort, there had been a thing that had been bugging her.
Alma.
She knew her teacher, after all the woman had always been there. The Alma she and the others knew were warm, and kind and whilst guarded with her emotions, she had seen how the woman looked at them. This Alma was different and it wasn’t just because of those sunglasses that covered her eyes, hiding a way into her emotions but she felt distant. The raised scars on the woman’s face showed a story that they were not privy to.
Alma had only been brief in her explanation when Tamtey had asked on the first day back. Attacked in both forms. It opened up a few questions and whilst she only saw Alma’s Na’vi form, she had seen Alma’s human form from TAP Lessons, when they covered the SciOps programs. Why would someone hurt Alma? Why attack both forms? Why not just the human form and leave the dormant Na’vi as it was in perfect health.
Also, she already missed seeing her eyes. Tamtey liked eye-contact. But since coming out here, she couldn’t see through that glass to see where Alma was looking or anything. It was… mildly unsettling. At least So’lek eyes were comforting, as his presence had been in helping them out. She knew the man was… probably underprepared with them but she was grateful for his help.
The medicine, the meditations he taught to Yefti and Telisi who were more prone to panics and even went through checking what they knew of their own bodies, fearing that being raised ‘as a human’ meant that they could do more harm to themselves than before.
Thankfully, they as a collective group were versed enough to not miss the important bits, like the important of a kuru, biological functions and of course, pregnancy and sex. Alma hadn’t wanted them to play around and find the results, fearing Mercer might do something. Tamtey didn’t want to find out but Alma’s stress on the matter lingered after those lessons, even after they hit puberty made more sense when they were old enough to understand. A child born in TAP was worse off than being left by a clan because that child never felt the sun. Assuming they would be allowed to carry to term, probably not. Or if Mercer would sterilise them for punishment.
A few things were new, like Na’vi having more scent glands and, between loved ones or family, would rub their scent upon each other. She liked that, like a lingering touch, a sign of love in their wake. Things were definitely going to get more cuddly once they were comfortable. There was still go much to navigate now.
Yuayt’s body had been retrieved from TAP and had been buried five days ago, as well as some other tools and supplies for the Resistance once a team was dispatched when the TAP site was empty and no sign of RDA coming back for a second round. While Yuayt hadn’t been a popular kid given his snitching habits, he was still Sarentu. So’lek had given them the starts of song cords and she had marked his loss because despite what he had done in TAP, he had only wanted to survive in the few ways he knew how.
“Do you think something is wrong with Alma?” Tamtey asked quietly after a moment, her head rolling toward Ri’nela who was brushing out Okni’s hair and putting beads in it. Okni’s eyes were closed despite being awake, enjoying the grooming session out in the open despite the hiss of her mask. Halfway through her air exposure. She had another week left before she was as exposed as the rest of them.
“I think ‘wrong’ is the incorrect word,” Ri’nela pointed out, “The sunglasses getting to you?”
“She’s always wearing them. All day, every day. Even at night.” Tamtey complained. “Why?”
“I’m certain it’s for a good reason.” Ri’nela sighed. “You could talk to her.”
Tamtey hummed in consideration. “I could, but… feels very distant.”
Ri’nela looked up from the dark locks of Okni’s head and hummed in agreement. “Like she’s looking through you, not at you?”
“It’d help if I could see her eyes. They say a lot.”
“So does the ears and the tail. Humans have less tells, so be glad she’s in the avatar.” Okni pointed out, not opening her eyes.
“I suppose.” Tamtey allowed. “But I plan to do some exploration today, what are you two doing today?”
“So’lek’s taking me gathering today, to show me where to find my foodstuff independantly.” Okni said. “I want to also build myself a separate food preparation site so there’s no risk of cross-contamination. Hajir’s very worried about my intestines.”
Ri’nela frowned. “How worried?”
“Enough to ask me if He could preform a upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy.” Okni wrinkeled her nose. “I haven’t concsented to it but I’ve opted to allow his monitoring to blood tests for now. He’s very disastifed with everything so far.”
“What sort of test is that?” Ri’nela asked carefully. “Sounds invasive.”
“It is. He wants to take a peek at my small intestines to determine the damage. He describes the procedure as giving me a local anaesthetic, and putting a tube down my throat to reach the squiggly sausages and take a sample. By visual impaction, he can see how inflamed or damaged it is. The more damaged it is, the less chances my body has to absorb nuisance from the food I eat.”
Tamtey hummed. A tought choice and… she did feel some relief in how it was described. Normally, their doctors never went into detail and just did it, like it or not. Hajir hadn’t pressed the issue it seemed and Okni was given that choice. Yet also, they had no idea how bad her issues were with her small intestines. They were very important.
“What’s the alternatives?”
“Well, he and So’lek agree my insides needs to heal up properly but I still need nutrients and vitamin supplements so I let him put a port in so I can get it in my sleep.” She tapped her chest, where the long-term port was installed, hidden with her TAP shirt. The girl hadn’t shed the entire wardrobe like the rest of them; wanting to use the shirt to hide the medical scars she had, but Okni had at the least taken to the waistcloth. Raj had sewn a patch across the TAP logo at the very least, and removed the name strip.
“Do you want the procedure?” Tamtey asked, “If you do, you won’t have to go through it alone. Ri’nela and I can sit in with you.”
Okni’s eyes opened, before she sighed. “I know I should but…. I don’t know. It sounds simple but… I don’t think I’m ready to have another piped put down there. It always hurts.”
Tamtey nodded. So, putting a pin in it for now. Very well. “Ri’nela. Your plans?”
“I’m only going to explore Dyer’s bowl, maybe return to the Tarsyu that So’lek showed us after Yuayt’s burial.”
Ah, that.
They had connected with Eywa during the funeral. Offering their memory of Yuayt to Eywa when he himself could not now. But she had seen Entu, the first of their clan. Nor had been more… distance since then and Tamtey hadn’t felt like seeking him out to talk either. He was the hardest person to talk to after all without it devolving into a tension-filled talk with little solution.
“Maybe take Telisi with you for the Tarsyu.” Okni suggested, “She likes plants, after all.”
Tamtey smiled, glad to see her so relaxed and open. Telisi did love the plants and the rare occasion Alma did manage to slip a leaf into Telisi’s desk draw for the girl as a gift. Where were those gifts now? Now Telisi had a forest to explore.
“Any word of the closest clan?” Tamtey’s head turned to see Yefti head their way. He was looking pale, but his face bright and looked more to the surroundings.
“Not yet. So’lek wants us to do a formal visit with him to the Aranahe tomorrow to start integrating us with Na’vi ways.” Telisi said, looking excited. “Do you think that they’re nice?”
“Why not today?” Okni asked, frowning a little though Ri’nela patted her shoulder, signifying she was done with the girl’s hair.
“Apparently there’s tension between the Resistance and the Aranahe.” Ri’nela said, “I did ask about it. So’lek mentioned the clan lost their Tsahìk in an RDA ambush when she helped the Resistance with supplies. The Clan withdrew their aid, and Anqa said that they threatened Alma and the others from approaching Hometree again.”
“Oh, so they’re not nice.” Okni looked disappointed. “That’s a shame.”
“It’s been months, they can change their mind.” Tamtey hoped, “They must see that we need their help. Sarentu must carry weight with them, right?”
“Let’s wait and see.” Telisi hoped. “So’lek mentioned that there are smaller camps of the clan. So, even if we’re not welcome at their home, their camps can be enough for us to start learning, right?”
Tamtey hummed, acknowledging the statement at the very least.
-
Alma’s head turned softly as she heard Alex laugh to himself, in a very pleased manner before his weight shifted and the chair rolled back before he was gone. She remained still, waiting mostly as she took in the inventory report from their latest haul from the site she had targeted last week. The RDA had come back to the site a few days before it was shut down for good and so, they had more to bring in once the supplies were swept for bugs.
Last week, while she had killed the humans to sate her thirst, she didn’t necessarily destroy the site outright, mostly because doing that in the middle of the night that lose to HQ would bring up more questions than answers and Alma knew it’s worry Dani too much so she simply turned everything off and planned some grenades into the vents so it would detonate if reactivated. When the RDA came to check on the site and the silence, they thought they could reclaim it. So’lek had been close enough to investigate the explosion and take care of the lingering humans before he was satisfied the area was secure and RDA chatter suggested that they weren’t coming back a 3rd time.
“Alma! I’ve done it!” Alex slid around the corner happily, holding out the large device in his little human hands. “It works!”
Alma eyed the device sceptically. “I’m really busy right now, but I’m glad you’ve got it working,” Alma opted to deflect, trying not to completely squash his joy here.
His face fell a little. “You don’t wanna try it? But it’s useful.” He pressed, oh so hopefully.
“One of the kids might be willing to try it, they’re familiar with human tech and available. Tamtey’s come back from her morning walk around the bowl. She’ll be in in a minute.” Alma herself was not too worried about the kids and so far, before the realities of Pandora had hit the kids in the face, they had always stayed in her hearing range, one way or another.
She tried not to listen out on them all the time, but keeping them on her Rader was a comfort to know they were safe. Honestly, she had been more distance towards them, not just because of their adjustment period that made them smell weird and off, but because… she didn’t know what to do about them. They looked at her so brightly, but she felt very little in return. They saw her and knew her as their teacher. She felt nothing like that of her former self, back when she was human.
As considered before, Dani had wondered if it was apathy due to her nature to feel less for prey and it… felt like a stronger theory. Alma wanted to feel that emotional connection. To be what they wanted her to be, in a way. Yet, she did not know them. Not like she used to. So there was a void between them. Avoiding them had been her current course of action so far.
She could keep them safe. Make sure they ate because she knew that they had plenty of issues around food given the fact Mercer used it as a reward and punishment. She could see to the physical care. Physical care was simple. Their scents gave away what was wrong with them, at least.
Alex still look put out.
“Paint over that TAP simple on it.” Alma said, noting the small logo on it’s handle. A Tap item or tool repurposed. “If the kids use it, we don’t need to give them items with that brand on them.”
“What, oh.” He realised quickly what she was referring to before he nodded sheepishly and hurried off to do just that. A few minutes later, she could hear the sound of an aerosol paint can before Alex began to spray, first a primer, then some paint.
Alma waited, mostly for Tamtey to get inside as she approached HQ but… oddly enough she heard the girl’s steps pass almost towards their sleeping space… but she instead climbed, by the slight ring of metal of the supports of the base, so she was up a level on the exterior. Where was she going? The only places that area was her link shack and…. Tent.
Alma frowned, though quickly pardoned herself as she heard the distant sound of her tent opening being moved and headed from HQ and out. She threw her hand up naturally against the sunlight, clambering easily up and followed along the ramp towards her tent, noting the teenager was still.
Tamtey was starting at her hanging shelve, beside the empty hammock, her tail was swishing calmly and she looked… curious. Was she just peeking?
Alma stilled, letting her look about though Tamtey lent towards one of the lower shelves, ears shifting as she picked up the book and… opened up the first page. Alma did let her have her ten seconds, before she coughed to draw her attention..
Tamtey startled and dropped the album, eyes turning wide as she shot up and sweat visibly broke across her forehead, blood seeping from her face and her heart seemed to tick right up. “Oh, Alma…” She said, looking very caught. She spared a glance down to the album then up to her
“Next time, please ask if you want to enter my private space.” Alma said, closing the distance and stepped inside out the light, picked up her album, her eyes lingering on the photograph on it with a welt of sadness before she closed it sharply. “I don’t mind your curiosity.” She added. “But I don’t have a tolerance for snooping.”
Tamtey nodded swiftly. “I’m sorry.” She took a few breaths, colour thankfully returning to her face.
Alma offered her an assuring smile. “I’m not angry at you, Tamtey.”
Tamtey’s hands gripped at the bottom of her shirt, a nervous tick. “H-How did you know I was here?”
“I have a hidden sensor alerting me to when the curtains been opened past a certain degree. I turn it off when I’m here.” she lied because… well hearing her from inside was impossible for a na’vi or Dreamwalker.
“You do?”
“I never leave my avatar unattended to without a warning.” Alma said firmly, tilting her scarred side more towards her as the insinuation.
Tamtey’s eyes flickered to that side of her face, her expression becoming more apologetic. “I’m sorry.”
Alma nodded her out and she sheepishly stepped out. Her hand rose to block the sun when she stepped out afterwards, grimacing at the draining sensation it gave. Ugh, sun. She hated it. The glasses stopped the glare but it was still so bright.
“Wait, your light sensitive?”
“These sunglasses aren’t a fashion choice.” Alma secured the tent behind them, “Everything is so bright.”
“Why not just stay in your human body?” There was a genuine note of concern as Alma lead the way.
“Same problem.”
“Seriously.” Tamtey sounded astounded.
Alma gave her former student a long look, pausing to let her catch up from her brisk few steps. “The woman who attacked me didn’t want me to escape to a new body, like some of the other avatars we had.” Well, Jake at least by choice but the kids didn’t know who he was yet.
Tamtey’s eyes were wide, though there was still a sense of curiosity despite the girls caution. “Can I ask what happened? You’re different, Alma.”
Alma chewed on her tongue a moment but guided them to stand on solid ground rather than the ramp or support means of HQ and thankfully, into the shade where she felt her strength return. “A.. week after Mercer collapsed TAP, I thought you were dead. A woman disapproved of my position in TAP and opted to sneak into my room in the middle of the night one night. She had fun, I didn’t.”
Tamtey’s breath paused. “She raped you.” Her voice horrified.
Alma shook her head quickly, realising how it sounded out of context. “No. No nothing like that. It wasn’t a sexual charged assault. Although I don’t doubt she considered it for a second before she decided on something else. She just wanted to make me scream. I won’t tell you what she did. No one sneaks into my shack or my tent. What she did is why.” Her hand came to her throat, feeling over the bite mark that was mostly covered by her scarf, far more prominent in her human-form.
Tamtey, though looking pale did look more understanding. “Okay. I… I’m sorry and for asking.”
“I suffered a lot, Tamtey. It’s effected a lot. Not just my senses but my memory too.”
“Your memory?”
“I’m fine now, but things before the assault are hazy.” Alma let out a heavy sigh to break the conversation. “No more assault talk. I don’t want to keep on that.”
Tamtey nodded slowly, though followed after her as she made her way towards the airlock. “I saw the pictures…. You have a child?”
Alma stopped short, her head tilting towards the Sarentu. “…yes.” Her tone flat.
Tamtey nodded slowly, sparing a look about HQ. “How come they’re not about HQ? I’ve not seen them about”
Alma licked her lips, jaw tensing at the familiar ache in her chest.
“I… volunteered to surrogate for an exiled warrior sometime after my recovery. A few months after our daughter was born, he took her and left.”
Mäzan had been so desperate for a child yet no woman was willing to give him one, as his exile status, he had no clan to raise a child in and so far no clan had wanted to take him in, so no woman had been willing to give her body for that effort. It was easier for males to donate to a wanting mother than a woman to give to a wanting father. He didn’t care on what she was, even after she had consumed and taken her avatar’s body; she found she was capable of carrying a Vampire-Na’vi child.
He had been so happy to feel the baby’s kicks and honestly, they had almost become a mated pair once Tsengì was born and growing healthily. Husband and wife. She had wanted that as much as he did, but that was before he had the accident.
Alma had saved him in the only way she could…. But he didn’t forgive her for turning his heart still. He went quiet after that, closed off and was gone once she returned back from hunting from a long-needed feed a month or so later. Their baby gone too. She never thought he would leave, let alone take the baby too.
Alma had been tempted to try and locate them, but she knew better than to try. By now, Tsengì would be about 14 years old now. Alma often wondered what she looked like now; the girl had inherited her forest form, but her father’s teal-colouring. No visible traits of an avatar, so no extra finger or eyebrows. At least she blended in with the people. She could only imagine. All the trails went cold over a decade ago so it was pointless trying. They were gone.
Telling Tamtey all that felt… wrong. Especially on top of what she has already said. She didn’t want the girls pity because… like it or not, she did feel like she deserved that cruel irony of losing her own child to someone she trusted. Mäzan would keep their child safe and happy and… that was all that really mattered now. Even if she wasn’t in the picture.
Tamtey stared. “Huh.”
“I’ll leave you to your exploration, unless you want to help Alex out with a new doodad of his?” Alma said, “He’s really excited for someone of our scale to try it and I’m a bit too busy with that.”
Tamtey nodded, though distracted. “Yes, I’ll help.” She decided, stepping into the airlock after her. “Thank you for… telling me this stuff.”
Alma simply nodded. “Don’t expect me to be so open in the future. Some things I’d rather keep buried.”
Tamtey’s eyes were wide as she rode through the last of the Migration, her heart pounding I excitement, the joy in the air was palpable and transmitted easily to everyone in passing. The scent of flora in the air, the heaver smell of paint and the distinct odour of Zakru. She didn’t personally dislike the smell, but she knew the Zeswa were all nose blind to the scent of their home and hearts until one of them was sick which did change their scent a little. Familiar scents stopped registering as something to think about. Herself and no doubt the Aranahe and Kame’tire were aware of the woolly scent and would be for a while. Not that anyone would say thing, it was impolite.
Kìn was right to encourage her to ride, than fly. To flow among the people like a river. It was an experience.
She spotted the entry tent and Minang as she watched the others paint up the Zakru with a wide grin. It had been a while since she truly saw a smile on the Tsahìk’s face.
“<Minang! The Zakru are Beautiful.>” She said first, her eyes lingering on the great beasts. “<Are they decorated to celebrate the migration?>”
“<And the games.>” Minang added, still looking bright with joy. “<The Zakru has led us back to the site of our ancestors Games held long ago I feel these game will be most special. Will you take part?>”
“<Kin asked the same. What kind of games?>” She had no idea what sort of games Na’vi played, let alone at multi-clan scale and level. No doubt wonderful.
“<Those where the songs are made. Fierce trials where Na’vi measure their skill and their strength, so that all may better serve the people. Your Tsakarem will be glad to hear you are competing.>”
Tamtey smile brightened. So the others had made it, and got ahead of her. No matter, as long as they were enjoying themselves. “<Ri’nela and the others? You invited them?>”
“<Of course. I saw Teylan helping the dyers in the artisan tent and Ri’nela with Sosul guiding the murals. Go, tsamsiyu. Celebrate with your friends. Tomorrow, our games begin.>”
Tamtey took her leave with a smile, watching the people as she entered the masses of Zakru and tents. Aranahe and Kame’tire side by side, helping the Zeswa construct their tents or put up Bunton and decoration. The air so light and happy. There was the smell of Zangke in the air but also incense; bug repellent mostly but some seemed to be just herbs to bring fresh scent to mask some of the more intense Zakru scent that the other clans weren’t nose blind to.
Her eyes followed the people about, passing by Koranu and Solali who were negotiating gear and weapon trades with the people.
Eventually, she could Teylan with Okul, watching the two for a second as they talked colour as they mixed.
“<Given up on tech, Teylan?>” Tamtey couldn’t help but ask as she stepped closer.
Teylan startled for a second before he smiled, his hand stilling on the pestle. “<Oh hey, you made it!>” he sounded excited, “<Can you believe that every clan is here, even the resistance. Not that they’re a clan, but… they’re here too. Humans and Na’vi together.>”
Tamtey chuckled. “<I suppose so.>”
“<And this is tech, just by a different name>”
“Tech. <A strange sound.>” Okul remarked, fascinated as they turned the word around in their head from the mix of English and Na’vi words. “<It feels good to say. Tech.>”
Tamtey smiled fondly. “<It’s good to see you too, Okul. How are things at the Hollows since my last departure?>” She hadn’t been as about often. She had been more between the Aranahe and the Zeswa. Doing her best to avoid returning to Resistance base.
“<Oh things have gone very well. Trade has reopened, our truth has spread and now we are here. All the clans as one as the games bring us together>” Okul praised, “I hope to see you about our camps a lot more, Sarentu. We have missed you.>”
“<I will come more often.>” Tamtey allowed. It seemed fitting. They weren’t responsible for her issues. “<What are you making, Teylan? It looks good>”
“<Dye for Ri’nela, she’s been really busy and…>” Teylan continued, and Tamtey listened with a nod and a smile before the conversation lulled after a few minutes to carry on in search of Ri’nela.
It wasn’t too far, just up a hill into the sun where she could smell the paints in the wind before a mixture of artists from the clans were decorating. The wall background was in already and still being painted. Ri’nela and Sosul were quietly still arguing about the theme.
“<So victory should be our theme. We fought the sky people and won.>”
“<But the mural should be about us, the clans. Not about the sky people.>” Sosul remarked, which felt like a stronger augment.
Tamtey could see both sides. Ri’nela was thinking of their achievements, but Sosul was more towards them as a people, without people who weren’t relevant in the games (excluding the presence of the Resistance). “<What about our unity? Together we fought and won together. We needed each other for that.>” She suggested, “<but Sosul is probably right that we don’t need to bring sky people conflict into our celebrations.>”
Ri’nela and Sosul turned at her presence. Though she did not look disheartened at her quiet disagreement.
“<Ah, look who showed up just in time.>” Ri’nela smiled. “<Nothing is decided yet, my friend.>”
“<This is the first game of many decades. We should commemorate that. Kame’tire, Zeswa and Aranahe.>”
“<And resistance.>” Teylan’s voice echoed as he finally appeared with the completed paints, setting it down by one of the artisans
“<The Resistance were only really here to oversee and enjoy the festivities, Teylan.>” Ri’nela said softly.
“<Actually, Vanessa and Daniel want to compete. He’s got a link bed and his avatar, and his Ikran. Vanessa also has her Ikran so they were able to fly here easily.>”
Ah yes, that. Tamtey had forgotten about those details. Made sense. According to Alex, a majority of the avatars had Ikrans to enable them to travel without a Samson. While Alma never claimed one, those who worked more closely with the clan did.
“<Let’s not rush to add them.>” Sosul said, looking a little awkward. “<I know they are friendly sky people and Dreamwalkers but they are not of the clans. They have no power or real place here than a honourable one to mark our alliance.>”
“<We still need other artists. We have Sarentu, and Kame’tire, but we’re missing an Aranahe with an eye for detail.>”
“<Nefika?>” Tamtey guessed. Seemed fitting to want her here.
“<Yes.>”
“<She headed west, towards the Resistance set up. They can probably tell you more of it.>” Ri’nela said. “<Er… a few people are mildly unsettled about Vanessa. I think it’s best she, Minang and Nesim talk before she partakes.>”
Tamtey nodded, then took her leave towards the Resistance set up. A little away from the tent and higher up for a higher vantage point, past the main games tent where the people who arranges the games would be set up. So’lek was just leaving Eetu when she joined him, though they said little until she clambered up a short cut and spooked Priya onto her ass.
“Tamtey!” Priya gasped, her hand to her heart, looking pale behind her mask.
Tamtey laughed, helping her up. “Sup, Priya.”
“You scared the life out of me. Oh, I hope I didn’t pee.” The purple hair woman sucked in a deep breath.
Anqa joined them with a smile, “You’re fine, Pri.” She patted her girlfriend’s back. “So, glad to see you make it, buddy.”
“You too, I wasn’t expecting you lot to be here.”
“I know, but Nesim saw it fitting as allies to join them here.” Anqa and her watched asn Priya took her leave, grumbling still. “<Priya’s been very excited. She also wants Van or Danny to compete and win some friends over.>”
Tamtey snorted, “How are they?”
“Vanessa is flying her Ikran with Daniel to get a lay of the land and she wants moss from the Shattered Mountain. They plan to come back before dusk.”
“Ri’nela wants Vanessa to speak with the Zeswa sisters. Given her likeness to Nesim, she wants to make sure that things are… smooth between the Dreamwalkers and the people. Her likeness has unsettled a few.”
“We’ll talk to her but Van’s very stubborn and competitive.” There was a fondness in her eyes, but sadness.
“What’s wrong?”
Anqa shook her head. “It’s nothing just… I knew her sisters. It’ll be a little hard for her to interact with Nesim.”
Tamtey’s head tilted. “She has a sister?”
Anqa nodded slowly. “Vanessa is—was a Quadruplet. The eldest four.”
Tamtey’s eyes widened. She knew of her lessons about human pregnancy and their ability to carry more than one child. Twins was common and Na’vi had a rare few of those. But four? Four babies at a single time. But as quickly as that realisation came, was the reality. Was. She was the last one. Her sisters were gone.
Now a Na’vi woman shared her Dreamwalker face close enough to ignite grief in what she had lost. Tamtey knew that pain; she lost Aha’ri.
“One sister took her place to fight in the war, to spare her from going. One committed suicide soon after the fight ended out of guilt. The other one died two years ago in a shattered mask-shattered-shack situation.” Anqa summarised grimily. “She doesn’t talk about it. I was there for most of it.”
Tamtey nodded slowly, feeling a genuine welt of empathy towards the Dreamwalker. “I won’t spread gossip about her. Just… we should be prepared and the sisters should be prepared in their interactions.” It wouldn’t be unreasonable for the Dreamwalker to project her losses against Nesim, her mind trying to cope with the loss and familiarity.
“I’m sure Ri’nela will have it in hand when she gets here.”
“Yes.” Tamtey hoped. “Do you know where Nefika went?”
Anqa frowned, a blank look passing over her face. “Who?”
“Nefika. Aranahe weaver. She wears a big yellow cloak.”
Recognition passed through Anqa’s eyes. “Oh, that lady. Hard to miss. She headed up that way with a big bowl of Zangke” She pointed to the side, a pathway upwards that was lined with decoration. “Strong enough to go through our air filters.”
Tamtey snorted a little. “Let’s hope she doesn’t get too drunk then.”
“Have fun!”
-
Nan’atí sighed deeply as she ate her third blood wheel, watching as her son was tossed off the distant but tall cliff drop by Daisy-Blue and land on his feet at the bottom, laughing yet it still made her heart lurch at how far away the ground was from the top, even if she knew it was a bit of harmless fun. These gifts clearly meant distance and fear of death were in very separate valleys for the mortal and the blessed born or gifted.
It made her queasy just thinking about looking down a height. But, Javier was occupying her son as they packed up the last of their goods for their return trip.
All in all, Nan’atí had come to enjoy her time with the kids despite the cliff jumping and other terrifying joys the children find. Honestly, she was glad to have Hope and the other Na’vi here. Hope and Tarsím seemed to be good grounding to remind her of their limits, and capabilities while they were out here.
“<Javier, can you pull your siblings in? It’s time to get on the road. No more cliff tossing.>” Nan’atí called, clicking her tongue to draw the Pa’li to them. It was already harnessed up and it looked like Hope had finished up setting in the last support of the sled.
It took five minutes before the Dhampyrs made their way to them. Hapuk went to her Ikran.
“<We’re taking the Pa’li, not my Ikran for this stretch of the way.>” Nan’atí said.
“Aww.>” he pouted.
The Pa’li they had had long since been desensitised to the presence of the Dhampyrs, some purposely had their fear response to their presence supressed, to allow them to be ridden. Haydon Lopez was the only telepathic Dhampyr they had. He was seventeen now, but born from Anita and Jayson Lopez, the Harding children’s father and Anela’s husband.
Not an affair, as many humans would think but an agreement. He was not the only dhampyr brought into the world on such an agreement, Percy had fathered three different children with three different women but again, by agreement since they had the collective agreement against all-human births since Tia was born seventeen years ago and the difficulties that came with giving birth to a full-human child had been too hard to sustain. A Dhampyr birth meant the child would survive without a mask. To eat freely. They had more human men than women, and only two human-based vampires so the options of men having their own children were slim to none outside surrogate or planned agreements. Given the clan size, the children were also more community raised too, so everyone was looked after.
Haydon’s gift enabled him and some of the others to ride without getting bucked off or and to direct them without a kuru. He was much calmer and introverted than the others of this group but Nan’atí was glad to see him grow and open up more in this outing as the weeks drew by.
They had three Pa’li and sleds for the nine of them, each that could be made into a tent and broken down again for the sled. Some of the tent fabric was used to also create a supply cover and a traveller tent on the back, allowing the Dhampyrs reprieve from the traveling sun. The long-term sun made them drowsy and lethargic so she knew to expect some grumpiness.
They double checked, making sure to go over their sleds and belongings before they set to go. Nan’atí took the sled lead with Hope, Hapuk and Mìtsreng. Tarsím, one of the few Na’vi of the clan who wanted to supervise the kids took Daisy-blue, Tahira and Javier and lastly, Haydon looking tiny on the back of his Pa’li took no one but more supplies, like the powdered clay and other goods from their trip to return to the clan.
Nan’atí’s Ikran, Herwìva took to the air after a few minutes, a leisurely flight pattern before picking up speed, probably to hunt. She watched her fondly as she went.
-
As expected, the journey back to the border took a three days of 12 hour travel, pausing every 4 hours to allow the Pa’li to stop and take a break, and for everyone to stretch their legs and take a bio break. Nan’atí par took of that happily though on her last one, she noticed a few lingering looks and Hapuk got more cuddly, setting even to sit on her Pa’li with her on the last stretch before the sun hit the horizon and they set up for the night.
Nan’atí woke up in the middle of the night to soft prodding at her belly. Her eyes remained closed, hoping her son would get bored or one of the other Dhampyrs would occupy him but… she could hear his giggling and his pokes still persistent no matter how the minutes ticked on. Blindly, she pulled him back into her arms, letting him cuddle into her chest.
“<Sleep, my son.>” She whispered, kissing his temple “<Sa’nu’s got a long day tomorrow. We all have.>”
Hapuk breath ticked her ear, wiggling against her before he settled. “<I can hear the heartbeat! It’s so small and fluttery.>”
Nan’atí frowned, peaking an eye out. “<My heart’s not small and fluttery.>” She said, well aware he could hear heartbeats.
“<Not your heartbeat, Sa’nu. The baby’s heartbeat!>”
What tiredness she felt vanished like water on in a hot pan, sitting up suddenly from her hammock with the child in her arms. Hapuk squeaked in surprise but began to laugh. Her arms remained locked around him.
“<What?>”
“<You are pregnant.>” Her eyes turned up to the dark tent entryway to see Mìtsreng poke her head in, her tanhì not covered in paint glowing in the dark. “<Seems your pleasure night with Tazak a few months back has left you with another souvenir>” She came in uninvited and crouched a few feet away. “<So, congratulations, I suppose.>”
Nan’atí stared, her mind uncertain on how to process the words. “<Pregnant.>” She… she did know the risks when she went to him, and while she did take tea before and after, it was never a guarantee to work… but now Nan’atí remembered, she had his venom in her veins as they fucked. Riding high off him by choice but that side effects, like chewing through hormone suppressants, especially introduced via her tea. She was an idiot to forget that.
“<Eywa has blessed you again.>” Mìtsreng chuckled, “<I’ll take Hapuk and get you fresh paint in the morning. You’ll need to wear new paints to announce this development.>”
It took a second before the teen was able to pull her wide-awake child from her hammock, letting him kiss her cheek before she took his hand and led him away.
Pregnant.
Her mind still lingered on that word as the tent flap fell still and she could hear the two wander away.
By estimation, it had been nine weeks since she left Sasta’s camp to the Heartlands. More than enough time for a baby to develop and… nine weeks was about the time the fetal heart was loud enough for Dhampyrs to hear. Vampires could hear earlier, but it did explain why the others had noticed now. Tazak, did he know and not say anything? Or was he too preoccupied to listen to such quiet sounds? They had not laid together since given his brief visits were for the clay and to visit his son.
Na’vi did not often get a lot of signals or pregnancy symptoms like humans did until much later in the pregnancy when the baby was bigger, but in hindsight, Nan’atí did realised she had been snacking a lot more, especially on blood wheels and rarer treats that she didn’t normally partake in and resting more frequently. Her breasts were soon to get sore too, so she had that to look forwards to. Joy.
Six months until birth, so she had to prepare. A dhampyr child was no easy carry, especially when they were more physically active. Her hand came to her belly, pressing a finger into the skin to feel. A… mild bump, if she wasn’t mistaken. Nothing to currently alter her waistcloth to maternity clothing but in a few weeks’ time, she’d have to start adjustments.
Nan’atí let out a heavy sigh, running a hand down her face before closing her eyes again… only to fall to sleep again.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
What if Alma had been exiled by the Resistance when her truth came into light? No home, her reputation tarnished, shamed and no avatar, what does that mean for her?
Not to mention, there is something else that's been living on Pandora. Something different that shouldn't be there and is growing the shade of Pandora's light.
Chapter 19 snippet
Ri’nela and Sosul turned at her presence. Though she did not look disheartened at her quiet disagreement.
“<Ah, look who showed up just in time.>” Ri’nela smiled. “<Nothing is decided yet, my friend.>”
“<This is the first game of many decades. We should commemorate that. Kame’tire, Zeswa and Aranahe.>”
“<And resistance.>” Teylan’s voice echoed as he finally appeared with the completed paints, setting it down by one of the artisans
“<The Resistance were only really here to oversee and enjoy the festivities, Teylan.>” Ri’nela said softly.
“<Actually, Vanessa and Daniel want to compete. He’s got a link bed and his avatar, and his Ikran. Vanessa also has her Ikran so they were able to fly here easily.>”
Ah yes, that. Tamtey had forgotten about those details. Made sense. According to Alex, a majority of the avatars had Ikrans to enable them to travel without a Samson. While Alma never claimed one, those who worked more closely with the clan did.
“<Let’s not rush to add them.>” Sosul said, looking a little awkward. “<I know they are friendly sky people and Dreamwalkers but they are not of the clans. They have no power or real place here than a honourable one to mark our alliance.>”
Can a Heart still break (once it stops beating?) by Sarentufallz (restforeverunderthesunset) [AO3]
A week after Mercer destroyed TAP in 2154, and the RDA are expelled from Pandora, Alma gets visited by a creature that grew a deep hate for what the RDA became and what TAP did to the Sarentu, and so made sure Alma paid a hefty price for revenge on behalf of the dead clan.
Alma hid what happened long before she took the mantle of Resistance leader but... sooner or later, secrets come to light especially when the unnatural blood coats a Sarentu blade.
Chapter 3 Snippet
So’lek sniffed, wrinkling his nose at the dank metal. “<What is this place?>” He asked, stepping in line with her.
“<A residential school meant for Na’vi kids.>” Alma replied, a twist of shame welling in her gut. Some things did not fade. His eyes snapped to her in quiet alarm, his breath only pausing for a fraction. “<The kids were stolen and made to learn human ways.>”
She could feel his gaze burning into the side of her face.
“<What of their clan?>
“<They are the last of their clan.>” She said simply.
So’lek inhaled deeply, a warmth of anger washing through his body that she could feel. “<Why were you here?>”
“<I was their teacher.>” A simple answer. A better answer that held plenty of truth. He need not know the details. She needed him to focus on them, if they were alive. “<Mercer gave the kill order on the kids when we were recalled from here, so I found myself a gun, killed the two soldiers and snuck the kids the medical bay. There’s cryovaults, meant for emergencies.>”
“Cryovaults.” He repeated the word. “<You didn’t get them out?>”
Can a Heart still break (once it stops beating) | C1
Kassandra sighed deeply as she slipped her way quietly through the hallway of Hell’s Gate. It was so quiet now. Minimal power since entire sections were closed off due to unnecessary. MineOps were scarcely going, since they had enough unobtainium to run the base smoothly for the next few weeks before the folks here has to worry. Mostly due to the fact that SecOps did a lot of machine damage before they were kicked off the moon a week ago. Katherine Hale was the one who had to worry about that and hope Jake could smooth things with the locals.
It felt weird to think she had been here a little over ten months ago, not too long enough to set root into SecOps before she saw the ugly side of the RDA. She didn’t even have the option to return home given she had been attacked just before her arrival onto the ISV. Bitten and infected by the creatures blood when she bit back to escape and fled straight to the RDA’s protection. To Pandora. She hoped nothing would happen… and the cryovault had paused her change until she reached moon-side. Kassandra woke up anew; a thirst for blood and abilities she did everything she could to hide as she adjusted.
Honestly, it had not been easy. Hiding, but also maintaining her secret. The hardest part was controlling her strength and… not killing anyone with it either. It took a while to learn how to control herself without killing her partner. She even managed to have a successful sexual relationship with one of her colleagues. His broken arm had been the reason why he hadn’t been forced into sighting, just as much as her new growing situation in her belly. Food wise, she had been taking full advantage of the members of staff, especially when out on patrol.
When humans weren’t an option, Kass did occasionally go for animals, glad to feed deeply from the amount of blood a Hexapede would give her. Some people she worked with, it was too easy to kill them without care. Showing them the same heartless death as they committed to this world around them. People she liked, those who did nothing to her or weren’t apathetic, she let live… should she want friends in a more extended life. A handful were here now, most had either died in the fight or left with everyone else but she hadn’t seen much of them this last week, nor sought them out.
Kassandra wasn’t thick by any means; they’ll come back. In maybe fifteen or twenty years or so, depending how quickly they mobilise upon their return. She managed to stay, mostly since she was certain Cryo wouldn’t work for her biology any more despite the face Jake had been very against her presence. She knew that without a doubt it was his instincts telling him she was dangerous even if he didn’t know why but thankfully, with the developing fetus in womb belly he had little choice but to allow it because it was common knowledge that pregnant women couldn’t be put into cryo, medially it wasn’t allowed. Which worked out for her. Currently, Kass was six and a half-months away from giving birth. Which set her a time limit on her plans.
Kass didn’t plan to stick about with the rest of the folks here anyway, since most still avoided or distrusted her, and she didn’t need her kid revealing what they were to the humans or Na’vi. Her baby may be half-human from her liaisons from Diego, but it was still half-vampire. No fucking way she was gonna let them find that out once it starts trying to suck off a docs wrist or had teeth. Were Dhampyrs born with teeth?
No matter. She had one teeny little job to do before she fucked off into the wilds of Pandora.
Alma Fucking Cortez.
An avatar driver, stationed in the west before defecting but the vampire had sensed a lot of bullshit coming off that woman. Shame, grief, remorse… and it emanated off her in the boatloads. It didn’t take more than a brush of her mind in the mess a few days ago to see why.
The cunt had helped kill a clan of Na’vi.
TAP.
A residential school of kidnapped Na’vi kids and she had co-founded it and taught the poor children the human ways. Honestly, Kassandra didn’t care that the woman regretted the loss of the Sarentu, even if the woman had been ignorant of the pre-meditative nature of the soldiers, or that she had lost all her power in the project the moment the kids were in their grasp. Even if the woman was a pawn in Mercer’s school in the following decade and a half. She was still a part of it. She was not innocent. Seeped in blood.
Something Cortez had hidden from Jake and everyone else. No one knew. So, she was getting off scot-free and Kassandra wasn’t gonna let that happen. She loved this world, the people and plants. To let that get pass unpunished? No, the woman had to die for her part in genocide since none of the kids were alive to do it themselves. It wasn’t a coincidence that Cortez’s quarters were set a little further away from everyone else’s. Kass had been put into crew habitual maintained when things had been moved about with the loss of so many people all at once, so she had been the one to pick out the room with the best soundproofing that was distant enough with a few iffy or down camera. Of course, all rooms had soundproofing, since no one wanted to hear their neighbours fucking each other raw, even if she could with her superior hearing. Not all of it was perfect but Cortez’s room had been redone recently, it’d make what she was about to do far easier.
It was twelve am, when the halls were the quietest. Everyone, aside from night shift, was asleep. Even the late-night fucking lot had more or less passed out. She was familiar with the cameras to know which ones worked, so she had to move as fog against the ceiling to avoid being seen, and reformed in cameras and flittered high speed through broken camera ranges. It took a few minutes, seeping through the top of Cortez’s doorway and down to the floor of her room, reforming into a crouched position. It took only a flick to lock the door and a second to flick check the additional soundproof was activated. The personal air con was on, and it was much warmer in here than it was outside.
Cortez was deep asleep; a deep stage 3 NREM sleep. Judging by her lower body temperature, slow breath and slower heartbeat. The thirty-eight year old was splayed flat on her back in the middle of her RDA bed, a double bed too just for her, the lucky whore. Bigger space for her to work with. The blankets kicked off and swam by her ankles, her hair contained in a satin teal bonnet but it looked like it was in the process of coming off. She was dressed in a simple blue tank and very short shorts.
Probably a good thing she wasn’t a man or had a penis, Kassandra had a hunch that she’d probably do a lot worse to this human if she had. The vampire focused quickly, not allowing her thoughts to turn to that sort of violence. She was a monster, but she wasn’t gonna be a rapist too. She had to have some level of standards here even if the woman deserved a more brutal death.
Cortez didn’t stir, breathing slowly and calmly as Kass rose to her feet and approached the bed, taking note of what she could do to this human before draining her. Breaking the skin wasn’t ideal, at least not to start with. Her thirst would make her succumb to feeding far sooner if she picked up the scent of her blood too soon. There was the downside that her pregnancy affected metabolism, it spiked her thirst easily at the scent.
Kass had no intention to give this woman the mercy of a quick death. It would be all too easy to snap her neck or drain her veins of blood dry. This woman has to suffer for all the pain of the poor Sarentu clan and those kids left in not just her care, but Harding and Mercer’s too. If the other two come back, she’d pay them a visit too, because their intents in their return would not be good.
Humans did have a lot of fragile bones. Breakable bones. A good start, it was a horrible pain to endure.
Kassandra slowly moved, stepping up onto the bed and a heartbeat later, sat straight into Cortez hips to straddle her down, a hand clamping straight into Cortez’s jaw, palm pressing against her lips and held her head back against the single pillow. The woman jolted awake under her, Kass could feel Cortez’s mind try to wake through the sleep fog and disorientation but she realised quickly what was wrong, grunting and her hands clumsily trying to claw at her hands, her brown eyes opening and blinking through her haze from sleep confusion and quickly to fear as Kassandra did not relinquish her grip off her face, the human’s breath was hot against her cold hand, distant scent of menthol from toothpaste lingering.
Kassandra waited, purposely for the disorientation and sleep Inertia to subside for a moment, waiting until Cortez’s eyes showed more alertness, her eyes flickering about, her hand trying to feel about for anything, but Kass just smirked down at her.
“The room is soundproof and locked.” Kassandra stated in a whisper. “No one will come in.”
Cortez tried to shift her head, her jaw flexing a little. She wanted to speak. The woman’s hand finally reached her main trunk, weakly attempting to push at her hips but it was futile.
“Cute, but not gonna work.” Kassandra chuckled dryly, letting her dual fangs elongate and waiting to see how the human’s eyes turned wider in fear than before, vibrations and muffled humms echoed in her throat and chest. “I know what you did, Cortez. I know what you were a part of.” She lent down, her other hand catching Cortez’s arm, pinning it to the mattress. “I wouldn’t target an innocent woman. How many lives were stolen that day, sweetcheeks?”
Cortez groaned as Kass tightened her grip on her wrist, tears springing up in her eyes in pain.
“An entire clan. Because of TAP, not even the stolen children survived.” She could see it in the woman’s mind, the grief in her heart as she watched Mercer order the Samson to missile the place after the evacuation. The kids were dead too, despite the teacher’s attempts, but ‘saving’ them after all this time lead to nothing in the end. An entire clan was gone, in the end of it all. All for nothing. “I can’t get to Harding or Mercer but you on the other hand….”
Snap
Her grip didn’t change on the woman’s jaw, feeling the vibrational roar that was muffled by her hand as pain of the newly broken wrist ricochet up the human’s limb. Her body arched, but Kassandra settled her straddle on her more firmly, Cortez’s breath heaved, a sheen of cold sweat washing over the woman’s skin. Her heart thundering a mile a minute.
Kassandra let go of her wrist, spreading another wave up of agony up her arm. Her wrist twisted at a wrong angle. She waited, letting her human gather her bearings because doing it all at once would lead to dissociation very quickly. She didn’t want that to happen.
“I won’t be going fast, honey.” Kass said aloud, plainly and simply. “I want to enjoy it.”
Cortez’s eyes squeezed shut, her heart thumping fast still. All of it music in her ears. Finally, Kass removed her hand from the human’s mouth. Immediately Cortez sucked in heavier breaths, her eyes opening.
“Please…. No.”
Kass didn’t hesitate to slap her, the sound resonated as Cortez’s head flinched to the right, the soft sound of her cheek bone fracture echoed very softly. Cortez whimpered, her jaw clamping together. The scent of blood rose through the air as a trickle of blood seeped from her nose. A little harder than intended. Oh well.
Kassandra scooped the bead of blood from her upper lip, watching the woman as she licked her finger clean. Not the best, slightly salty but that was expected.
“Don’t beg. I’m didn’t let go to hear your voice. I want to hear your screams.” It took very little, her hands grasped both her upper arms, snapping the bone her elbow in one hand and at the shoulder in the other, the sound of bone echoed first… then Alma Cortez screamed, a deafening unbridled screech that was like melody. Waiting only a few more seconds before she found her other wrist; Ulna and radius, snapped.
More music.
Kass didn’t touch her ribs yet; no, she needed those to scream without puncturing a lung.
Despite her screams, Kass was glad that the rooms held up to their standards of sound proofing, she heard no one wake up or walk down this way… so she had the next hour unbothered to have her fun before she had to go.
-
Kassandra sighed deeply, lounging comfortable as she watched Cortez wheeze for breath beside her, the woman’s face half-swollen, bruised up to hell and handprints much more visible to her eyes against her skin. Limbs and body swelling in response to her breaks and… boy… it was a beautiful sight.
Broken.
Justly deserved.
A part of her wanted to sink her claws into her flesh and tear but… she didn’t want to waste any more of her blood. Enough had already seeped from Cortez’s lips as something internal popped, the scent puffing into the air from her wheezing. A slight hiss seemed to indicate she had a punctured lung. There was so much she could do… but Kass wasn’t feeling overly creative any more. She had her fun, now her throat was burning for her blood.
Kass chuckled, the sound making Cortez flinch and long dragged out whimper as the movement aggravated her broken body. Kassandra rolled closer, tugging away her hair bonnet and let her dark curls lay across her blood and sweat stained pillow before she reached and felt along the back of her neck with sharp precision.
Cortez whimpered again, tears still streaking down her face.
“Above C5 compromises your breathing…” Kass murmured out loud, mostly just to freak her out. Psychological was fun. She could smell the return of Cortez’s fear and how her heart picking up in pace despite the physical exhaustion of this torture. Cortez couldn’t move or even swat a fly. She tightened her grip at the base of her skull, digging her nails in, getting another flinch and pittyful whine. “You’re too easy.” Kass purred, her fangs elongated again as she examined Cortez’s throat, watching how the blood pumped under her bruised skin… and how she shallowly swallowed air to breath.
Kassandra moved her hand from her neck, her hand grasping her jaw and tilted her head, wasting no time in sinking her teeth straight into the warmth of her throat, blood seeping straight into her mouth… and she felt her mind go simpler as the red substance lit a raging fire in her belly. A rush of euphoric pleasure washed through her veins at each mouth full. She adjusted her grip, her hand loosening on the woman’s face, not paying attention nor did she notice as Cortez made a feeble attempt to bite with what little strength she had left.
A part of Kass did registered the sting as she felt the skin puncture, enough to pull her hand away, not realising the blue blood seeped enough into the human’s mouth.
She groaned in relief, drinking down each mouth full, not caring as the woman beneath her fell still, eyes rolling back…
“Kassandra,” the voice echoed in the distance. Far in the airfield that she almost missed it through the sound proofing… but it was enough to reluctantly pull back, taking a long second the swallow her mouthful and groan.
What did he want?
She huffed, taking a second to gather her bearings, blinking at the sight of her broken human, her heart sluggishly beating still but she couldn’t imagine she’s survive much longer. Kassandra licked her lips clean, using the back of her hand to wipe her lips and licked that clean too as she flittered to the door and fogged out.
Kassandra tracked the sound, but she reformed easily in the shadows before walking towards the Samson; the engines were going but… she was surprised to smell Diego there. Why was the Samson going?
“Ah, good you’re here.” Diego called, sticking his masked face out of the cockpit. “I know you’re planning on leaving so… I’m coming with you.”
“Why?”
“Well, for starters. That’s my baby too.” He pointed down to her belly. “I don’t care either that you’re not human.”
Kassandra’s eyes widened. “You know?”
“If course I fucking know. I’ve been fucking you for months, you’re not exactly warm and we spent three years in training. I saw you get so fucking hot the next day after you arrived. Sure, took a little time but I figured it out last month. Plus you’re covered in blood.” He gestured down to her attire. “Messy feed?”
“Just had some fun with someone who’s complicit in genocide.”
Diego stared, his tanned skin paling a fraction before he made a anxious but dismissive hum. “So, deserved?”
“She thought she could get away with it. She had no plans to come clean. An entire Na’vi clan was wiped out.” Kass said. “You’ll also get the heat on your ass if you leave with me. I knew I’d take the blame for her death when I made the choice but… you don’t have to.”
“I know, but I want to be there for you and our baby.” Diego sighed, his mask hissing loudly in the gesture. “I grabbed your bags and some supplies for me. Now, there’s this are that I think will be perfect for us. There’s a massive stretch of boreal forests north of the Omatikaya territory, about three hundred miles away. Plenty of animals you can feed from and there’s an area that out of clan territory.” He said, nodding her in. “I’ve disabled the cameras, taken out the trackers and removed the black box so, we’re good to go without follow ups. We’ll fly towards the factory to avoid any curious Omatikaya.”
Kassandra nodded, following after him as headed into the cockpit, shutting it after herself and activated the air exchange, filling the air with safe, human air.
“Let’s go.”
-
Unknowns to Kassandra, Alma’s heart continued to beat. The drops of Vampiric blood spreading down from her lips and into her gut… spreading further
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
A week after Mercer destroyed TAP in 2154, and the RDA are expelled from Pandora, Alma gets visited by a creature that grew a deep hate for what the RDA became and what TAP did to the Sarentu, and so made sure Alma paid a hefty price for revenge on behalf of the dead clan.
Alma hid what happened long before she took the mantle of Resistance leader but... sooner or later, secrets come to light especially when the unnatural blood coats a Sarentu blade.
Chapter 1/ Prologue snippet
Kass had one teeny little job to do before she fucked off into the wilds of Pandora.
Alma Fucking Cortez.
An avatar driver, stationed in the west before defecting but the vampire had sensed a lot of bullshit coming off that woman. Shame, grief, remorse… and it emanated off her in the boatloads. It didn’t take more than a brush of her mind in the mess a few days ago to see why.
The cunt had helped kill a clan of Na’vi.
TAP.
A residential school of kidnapped Na’vi kids and she had co-founded it and taught the poor children the human ways. Honestly, Kassandra didn’t care that the woman regretted the loss of the Sarentu, even if the woman had been ignorant of the pre-meditative nature of the soldiers, or that she had lost all her power in the project the moment the kids were in their grasp. Even if the woman was a pawn in Mercer’s school in the following decade and a half. She was still a part of it. She was not innocent. Seeped in blood.
Something Cortez had hidden from Jake and everyone else. No one knew. So, she was getting off scot-free and Kassandra wasn’t gonna let that happen. She loved this world, the people and plants. To let that get pass unpunished? No, the woman had to die for her part in genocide since none of the kids were alive to do it themselves.
Alma could feel the eyes on her as she sipped her tea, her tail aching a little with how much it flicked and moved in her quiet anxiety but she couldn’t help it as her mind churned in what Hajir told her in her brief moment of dissociation this morning.
Nor had tried to kill her.
Her heart was a fluttering mess as she mulled on that fact. Jax had stopped him from killing her in this body. Stopped her from losing her only chance of life. She was dead without her avatar. Sure, she had protection for now but there was no guarantee she would be safe. When they came back, she had to figure something out. Something to satisfy the Sarentu, but to find means to continue living.
Alma knew that the information would come to light eventually, but she had hoped to hold off on them knowing because… she worried on what would happen to her if they knew, what they’d do with that knowledge.
Nor wanted her dead for it.
The others may had stopped him, but he was very well prepared to bury that blade into her. She knew she deserved it, really. The loss and the pain she had a part in but… what that meant for him, action wise was far more concerning. What lows he was willing to stoop to in revenge, without waiting for proper answers.
It wasn’t a surprise when Tamtey and Ri’nela stood in her peripheral vision quietly as the afternoon drew on. As if debating on how to approach or talk to her. Jax remained seated beside her, on a tablet that was in… a completely different language. Utterly relaxed. Her current protector from Nor.
She wasn’t sure if she was grateful or worried about that.
“You weren’t just our teacher, were you?” Ri’nela’s voice cut through the quiet air.
Alma picked up her Co2 mask and took a deep breath before she set her mug down on the table beside her tablet. “No.”
Tamtey led Ri’nela to her, staying about a two meter distance, both their young faces serious, eyes sharp and watching her as if she was about to bolt. As if that was possible. Her tail flicked between her leg and the arm rest.
“What did you do?” Ri’nela asked.
Alma’s heart fluttered nervously, a part of her wishing her mind to dissociate again as she had done when Nor came at her but… she remained present as she considered her words. A truth that had to come out now that she was fully present. Able.
“I... it’s a bit hazy now.” Alma admitted. “I was a simple scientist but… I was on a six year contract. Standard RDA contracts, I had to get roped into a long-term project to stay longer. I initially proposed the notion of a School after my other ideas got rejected.”
Ri’nela’s eyes narrowed. “It was your idea?”
“Not the version that you lived through. Doctor Augustine had a school proposition in mind too but… she wished to establish a diplomatic relation with the Omatikaya through her avatar so the children could come and learn freely.” She did get some intel on that throughout her time in TAP to know what it was… and what it became before it closed. It took years for the clan to accept the avatar face to make the school on the 40s. “The… school proposition changed to a residential school to avoid the years long diplomatic routes that Mercer wasn’t willing to allow. Too slow. He wanted results.”
“You still helped in what it became.” Ri’nela stated, her voice cooler now.
“Yes.” Alma admitted. It’d be an insult to deny it. “The Sarentu weren’t the first option. The clans in the area, Aranahe, Zeswa and Kame’tire were considered but two of them crossed off with one reason or another.”
Tamtey’s ears twitched a little, fingers fiddling with the hem of her waistcloth. “What clan did Mercer target before us>”
“Kame’tire. In the Clouded forest, north of the Kinglor forest. We were primarily stationed up in that forest anyway,” Alma took a hurried sip of her air again. “It was closest and the Kame’tire aren’t warriors like the other two clans.”
“What changed your mind?”
“Mokasa, the Kame’tire advisor told me of where to find the Sarentu’s moot site.” Alma didn’t meet their eyes. “Mercer decided a nomadic clan was easier than an established clan. Mokasa said your clan had little to no warriors.”
Tamtey’s breath paused. “He sold us out to you?”
Alma said nothing. In hindsight, he sold the Sarentu out to spare his own people. What came of that clan, she didn’t know nor did she consider it in the years after.
Ri’nela let out a shaking breath. “What did you do? What did they do to our people?”
Alma closed her eyes, shaking her head softly. “I… didn’t know what they were going to do to your people. I thought we were going to talk to them, as we did with the Kame’tire. I thought the extra soldiers were for protection, given the area we were in was exposed to a lot of dangers. When… your clan leaders turned us down, Mercer ordered the soldiers to fire upon the adults.”
Tamtey’s ears pinned down, eyes welling up. Ri’nela looked bitter, but she looked like she had come to this conclusion but hated the admission.
“There was nothing I could do to stop it once bullets were flying. I tried, but I knew they’d shoot me if I tried to shield any of them. Mercer needed my avatar but not that much.” She could distantly hear the screaming…. The gunshots that had kept her awake for years. It never truly left. Guilt still weighed and it bore heavier weight now than ever before.
“Did you honestly think a clan would just hand over their children?” Ri’nela’s voice dipped into disgust.
Alma remained still, taking even breaths to remain grounded. “Worst case scenario I only ever considered that they’d kidnap you, not kill them all.” Yes, she knew it was just as bad, but at least then the clan would have survived. “I know it was wrong of me to think that. I’m sorry.”
Ri’nela scoffed a little, wiping her eyes a little. “Like that will change anything.”
Tamtey swallowed thickly. “W-Why did you stay? You believed in Mercer’s vision?”
Alma shrugged. “If I left, I knew you’d be at the full mercy of Harding and Mercer. Yes, for a time after I still believed in TAP but… Mercer began to change things. My lessons change to his lesson plan. Everything had to go through him for his approval. I did what I could for you in the background but If I showed you too much favour, I’d be out of the program and he’d have me shot or imprisoned rather than sent back home.”
Tamtey’s eye twitch. “Why?”
“Liability. About a year before you were stolen, Mercer had my death faked and the official report later blame the Sarentu once you were secure. I didn’t know until after the fact.” Alma explained, scowling a little. “This also was put onto reports to justify the attack on your people, should the RDA look too closely. TAP was a rogue operation once my death report was filed and TAP school was created in the mountainside. The RDA, as a whole knew only about the recourse extraction site, Frontier West and thought that was were Mercer was stationed for the last 16 years.”
Tamtey and Ri’nela remained quiet as they digested this information.
Ri’nela’s eyes were cold now. “What changed for you to take us out of TAP? You had sixteen years to do that, and you got us out easily within a few months of that decision. You could have gotten us out sooner.”
Alma felt weird, like she was sitting back from herself before she felt her avatar move and respond.
“There…. There was a three year delay.” Her accent shifted, her head lolling a little to the right “Wasn’t supposed to be so long.”
Tamtey reached forward and patted her arm, looking almost alarmed. “Alma?”
Like a rubber band snapping, Alma flinched back to herself, blinking rapidly, the words spoken forgotten as her mind scrambled to remember what question was put to her. Alma let out a shaky breath. “I… I don’t…” she stopped herself from rambling, her hand finding her tablet which… helped jog her memory. “Two things. One reason was personal to me, the other…” She picked up her tablet from the side, her hands shaking as she input her old security codes.
Alma had stolen this data from the servers back at TAP but had kept it locked away and transferred it to the Refuge’s servers for safe keeping, should she need it. Should there be questions. It had clicked on the changes and why Mercer hadn’t noticed her theft of supplies for so long.
She wordlessly held it out to Tamtey who hesitated before she took it and opened it up. Ri’nela looked over her shoulder to read.
Alma watched expression shift, looking confused, then angry… then in disbelief as each page and diagram of Mercer’s Proposal.
“They’re planning to take down a Hometree?” Ri’nela questioned.
“They want to mine there, but they need to displace the Omatikaya clan first to do so.” Alma relayed, “Mercer… saw an opportunity if the clan are forced out by fire. No home, lesser numbers and less warriors killed in the collapse and displacement…”
“It open the opportunity for the TAP to expand their student numbers by killing the remaining clan and taking their children.” Tamtey look winded and a little nauseous. “To kill another clan, to steal their children….” She dropped the tablet into her lap, her hand coming to her heart. “Again.”
“I couldn’t let them do it again.” Alma spoke quietly, “I couldn’t stop him last time but… I could stop him this time. For good.” Honestly, she didn’t think she could endure that again either. To put on a fake smile and teach another batch of freshly traumatised kids… she’d crumble.
Harding’s gun had been right there in her holster when her head felt like it had been put through a meat grinder in the aftermath of the link being severed. To get to the gun, she had to handle Harding. Alma knew she’d never win in a real fight against a trained marine, so she had to fight dirty and strike an immediate weak spot. Mercer always liked to drink from glass bottles. The glass smashing before she thrust that half-a-bottle into Harding’s neck had given her enough time to grab her gun and use it before Mercer truly knew what had happened. Not enough to kill him instantly, he was still able to use his gun on her as she began to run out the office.
In hindsight, that fate was poetic, at the very least.
Ri’nela let out a shaking breath, then got to her feet and stormed from the room. Tamtey watched her leave, gripping the tablet tighter before she swallowed uneasily and tucked it under her arm. “Do the Omatikaya know?”
“I don’t doubt that the humans that escaped told them of the RDA’s plans for Hometree.” Alma stared down at her knees, head bowed and not feeling able to look at her former student in the eye. Her stomach too uneasy. “I’m sorry, Tamtey, for what I was a part of.”
“No. Don’t apologise.” Tamtey whispered, “I don’t want to hear that. You weren’t sorry back then.”
Alma didn’t move as she stood up, readying to leave.
“The second reason, what was it?” her question was more of a demand now.
“Mercer had my husband and daughter killed in a Samson crash when they left for Hell’s Gate. I found the confirmation report of the person who planted a small bomb in their ship that was set to go off half-way back with Na’vi artefacts to look like it was attacked by a Na’vi.” Her heart ached a little at the reminder. The personal pain that never quite faded. Her baby girl had been two weeks old, taking her first trip out with Michael to a base where it was better suited for a human baby. Corporal Harding had been picked by Colonel Harding to take them back safely. Anela’s death has turned a grumpy Colonel Harding to someone more sadistic and took out her grief and loss to the Sarentu. Her hate towards the Na’vi was stemmed by the belief that the Na’vi had downed her sister’s ship.
Tamtey’s expression didn’t change, her tail flickering irritably behind her. “We all lost out, but do not think that there is comparisons to be made or drawn here. You aren’t innocent. You still bare weight of the death of my people.”
Alma just nodded once, to acknowledge her statement. What else could she say?
Tamtey just turned and walked away without another word but she also saw the back of Chu slip away from the doorframe. Walls had ears…. Soon everyone would know her part. Alma closed her eyes, dread already settling in her stomach.
-
“<By estimation, the Sarentu kids will reach Omatikaya land by ten pm our time tomorrow.>” Jake explained to Mo’at and Eytukan.
Both leaders looked at him very seriously. Eytukan’s lips pursed and in turning to deep thought.
Mo’at’s head tilted for a moment. “<Clouds are drawing more at night but they’ll pass close to the sky village’s borders. They live closer to the west side of our territory than we do.>”
Eytukan’s head turned. “<They should not fly in a metal ship close to the village. They would be seen by the metal eyes at great distance, even at night with clouds.>”
“<Anqa has expressed concern about fuel reserves so they cannot physically detour much when I last called in.>” Logistics that he dabbled in once the two Sarentu left to talk to the others.
“<Then the matter is simple. They land just in our western border and we have Ikran fly them to Hometree. It will be night but it will be safer.>” Eytukan decided.
“<Nan’atí and Rasi may wish to assist.>” Jake pointed out politely.
“<How many Sarentu are coming?>”
“<Anqa confirms four of the Na’vi kids, and herself as the pilot. The other four are too weary to leave or too attached to the clan hosting them to leave them.>”
“<Then we send them two warriors to assist. Neytiri and Tsu’tey are best for that.>”
Mo’at nodded in soft agreement with her husband. “<I’ll allow Neytiri and Rasi to discuss the matter before they’ll contact the pilot for the location.>”
Jake nodded, simply to acknowledge the facts than anything since… it was out of his hands at this point. He was the middle guy, getting things organised. His next visit to Hometree this Wednesday would be a human day, so he wouldn’t be hunting or doing anything too productive, so he should be at the bone ring, with his small hands, he made bone beads or replacement pieces for his tools. With the delay in his rites, his tools were getting blunt now. He needed to sharpen and replace a few things.
Jake rose to his feet when he was dismissed and slipped away to allow the two leaders to discuss more privately. Tomorrow it was a camp day. He needed to hunt with Kim while N’deh and Jerome gathered supplies for the upcoming week of darkness. A majority of the food and supplies would be taken down to The Vents for everyone. There were a lot of mouths to feed and it would be easier to have the supplies bountiful in the icebox than it was to hunt during the dark week. Fruit and vegetables were going to be harder to harvest as well.
Oh, probably best to get up some UV lights over their crops. Neytiri did mention that Eywa may protect them from the radiation, but they still needed light for now. She didn’t change them too much. Not this early.
So much to so… and so much was happening. What else was going to surprise them next?
-
“We’ll return to Hometree today.” Okni said quietly as they finished up loading the Samson, the sun barely touching the sky with how early it was. “Telisi the other two will be sleeping close until we get more updates. I’ll keep the radio close should you have news about our people during the day.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to come?” Tamtey asked.
Okni nodded. “I want to see them, but I’m not ready to leave. Especially on a sky person ship. Once you’re there, we can set up another radio talk? Nothing’s stopping us from talking with each other while we’re separated. It’s not like you’re leaving forever.”
Tamtey nodded softly, opening her arms for permission before Okni closed the gap and hugged her quickly before stepping back and pulled out some seeds from her pouch to chew on. Teylan just gave her a prod in the arm as his good bye, earning a seed thrown his way which made him laugh as he strapped in.
Nor was already strapped in, fuming silently about coming along now since he wasn’t trusted alone with Alma or the avatar. Ri’nela was also saying her goodbyes to Telisi who had began crying a little so she was pulled into a hug. Yuayt stood back and watched, brow dented but seemed excited. Yefti was nervously fiddling with a hand spinner as he waited for them to leave.
Tamtey briefly passed her farewell to her clan mates before Alex stepped back from Anqa. Priya handed Anqa a bag with a quiet whisper and a wink. Anqa rolled her eyes.
“Fine, but you owe me.”
Priya grinned widely. “Thank you.”
Anqa took the bag, slipping it on and blew a raspberry and moved into the Samson.
Tamtey crouched as Alex stopped in front of her, his brown eyes soft. “How’s everything going to be now?”
“I’ll take care of it here. Since… Alma’s past came to light, it’s better suited that she remains out of any power positions. I’ll retain my position here and hopefully, keep things going with the Aranahe.” Alex said.
Tamtey’s eyes flickered about, but she was glad that Alma hadn’t come out to see them off. Not just because of Nor but… she didn’t feel ready to talk to the woman again. Not after such a heavy conversation. A lot of information had come to light and she still felt like she hadn’t processed it all.
“How are things going to happen in regards to her?” Tamtey asked.
Alex hesitated a little. “She won’t be harmed but… no one agrees with what she was a part of. Social isolation is expected but I’ll make my efforts to keep some level of professionalism while I work with rebuilding her leg strength.”
Tamtey nodded. “As long as she doesn’t hurt herself or others, that’s all I can ask for.” She didn’t know if Alma was a risk, but that didn’t mean she’d get off easy just because she regretted her past. Death was not the answer nor was it atonement. She wanted Alma to atone through work, effort and understanding, even if she didn’t forgive her. That was Alma’s path now. Not theirs.
Regret did not undo the loss, the harm or the deaths.
“We’ll keep an eye on her. I’ll keep you informed anyway.” Gesturing to the base in general.
“Alright.” Tamtey patted his shoulder twice before she padded away towards the Samson and slipped in beside Teylan, the engines already going, waving at the small crowd of humans that were still here, the Quad’s avatar the tallest between three of the identical sisters before they were up and out.
-
Tamtey stared across the dark forest bellow. Unfamiliar trees and foliage but there were elements of it that seemed familiar. Above, she could see Eywa’s tracks alone the surface, like veins acoss the skin, pulsating softly as a reminder of Eywa’s reach.
It was beautiful.
It made up for the long flight. They had stopped twice already, at the four hour mark which allowed them to stretch and take a toilet break before they got back into the air. It felt weird, in her mind, it felt like it was afternoon. She felt travel-tried but not sleepy-tired.
Jetlag, Anqa mentioned. Time differences. It was going to be weird. She knew it was unlikely that they were gonna get the sit-down and talk that they wanted getting there, the people here needed to sleep. Tomorrow, they were gonna be sleepy and tired so… those answers may wait another day.
Still, she was glad to have taken Alma’s tablet. It was useful and no doubt the Omatikaya would want to know of the potential concerns. In rereading the file of the TAP expansion, she had seen it was in it’s proposal stages, not yet an official request. What Mercer was planning hadn’t made it onto RDA servers or higher-ups yet, but she didn’t doubt that he had a plan in mind. It turned her stomach still that Mercer had been considering cutting some of the losses with them. Telisi, Ri’nela, Teylan, Yuayt and Yefti were considered viable students while herself, Nor, and Okni were considered too problematic and had a termination consideration. The other five would have been made to help any newcomers adapt. Okni’s health issues were no doubt why Mercer wanted to get rid of her, Nor for his rebellious tendencies. Herself, she was still catching her head on that but she hadn’t been the easiest student either. Maybe that was why?
A sharp turn pulled her mind from the data, looking towards the cockpit but Anqa’s head was trained to the right. Tamtey shifted, peering through the dark before she saw it, two Ikran riders. They flew close, allowing her to see the unfamiliar and more revealing attire of a foreign clan. Omatikaya.
Her heart leapt in excitement, waving towards them before Ri’nela gasped in surprise opposite her.
The lead warrior, a man waved and gestured before the ship they were on responded and set to follow. They flew down towards the canopy to a large tree. Not the size of a Hometree, but big enough to stand out and they dipped lower down until Anqa flew them to the underside of the roots before touching down.
Tamtey squinted through the dark and glowing plants, undoing her belt and slipped from the back.
The two riders had landed as well, their tahni shining through the dark.
Anqa slipped out, mask on and didn’t look surprised by the two.
“Why are we stopping?” Teylan asked, nervously.
The man, she could see was about her age, but wore a very serious expression. His head was shaved at the sides and decorated braids that followed his kuru. He wore a riders mask and a thick choker with Ikran talons. He wore a band just below his ribs that were common with hunters.
The woman he was with, Tamtey honestly thought she was near nude. While she wore a waistcloth, she realised it only covered the front, not the back so her ass was out and her shirt was… basically a thin string necklace that went down with a few feathers that just so happened to cover her nipples. So, so naked.
Were all the Omatikaya so exposed?
Tamtey swallowed thickly. Culture differences. Of course, this was their normal. What little they had seen of the Zeswa, they covered more due to the sharper winds; necklaces would break in the wind and anything small would get tugged and exposed so it wasn’t practice. The Aranahe covered, but they were artists and wished to decorate their bodies with their silk to show off their clan. The Kame’tire, Tamtey had only ever seen in pictures, but she had heard the fog made the forest colder, so they too covered up more. Humans were very reserved and covered up where possible and she knew some of that did rub off on them.
Teylan’s face actually turned a little purple when he realised the female warrior’s attire, eyes growing wide before he dropped his gaze to the glowing grass.
“<We cannot allow you to pass deeper into the territory on the back of a metal ship.>” The woman spoke clearly. “<At least, from the western side of our lands. The Sky people village is closer. To protect ourselves from sky people interest, should they see a rogue sky persons hip head towards the Hometrees with the recording eyes that see far.>”
“<I see you. I am Tsu’tey te Rongloa Ateyitan>” The Male warrior said, gesturing from his head. “<Let’s not be impolite, Neytiri.>” He added towards the woman.
The woman rolled her eyes a little but gestured with a warmer expression. “<I see you, Sarentu. I am Neytiri te Tskaha Mo'at'ite.”
“<Don’t leave us out of the introductions.>”
Heads turned before Tamtey’s heart leapt as she saw two more Na’vi step out of the shadows. Both women who were pulling between them a massive thick woven blanket.
“<To cover the ship while it’s alone.>” The younger of the two said. “<I am Nan'atí te Teyha Hu’kirya’ite. Tsakarem of the Sarentu. This is Rasi.>” Gesturing to the older woman beside her.
Tamtey stared, surprised by the girl’s appearance. Lightening scars mostly that lined one side of her face and the clouded over eye. She wore traditional Sarentu attire, based on the thick braids and light pink and purple colouring.
Rasi was mid-thirties now with similar clothing, a head piece that had a small icon of their mark that rested just above her forehead with the fabric band. “<One of you will ride on each of our Ikrans. If it rains, we’ll head to the Omatikaya Hometree to sleep as it’s the closest option. It’s unsafe to fly in extrema weathers.>” She said.
“<Personal discussions can wait, grab your things and pick a ride.>” Nan’atí said brightly.
Tamtey grabbed her bag thorugh the scramble of their things, making sure the tablet and everything was secure and the rain cover was on before helping the two Sarentu cover the ship with the blanket. Anqa was handed a blanket cover and was sat in front of Nan’atí’s Ikran so she didn’t ‘stand out’ on the back of an Ikran once they were in the air.
Tamtey was hit with the image of that scene in E.T. of that one time when she looked over Billy’s shoulder at the Refuge on what film he was watching. A true ET, in Anqa’s case. It made her giggle a little as they loaded up and out. Snorting a little at the middle finger Anqa extended at her sounds but it was just too funny. The Dhampyr knew exactly why she was giggling.
Tamtey though calmed as she realised she was taking Neytiri’s Ikran, but she was very well aware of her hand placement as she steadied herself behind her. One wrong slip and her hand would touch things she didn’t think was appropriate on their first meeting.
“<Hold on.>”
It was a rush as the Ikran moved, diving into the air, nearly skimming the underside of the tree out before they were ascending above the trees. Her hands gripped her waist tighter, a rush of excitement running through her veins.
“Wow…” She laughed into the wind.
The trip was slower on the Ikran, and she could see the other four about in a loose formation as they headed towards the horizon. But before that, the smell of the air changed, thicker and more like tar before Neytiri nodded towards the distance. Spots of lights around a dark hole in the ground. She couldn’t see details this far but she had to imagine it went seriously deep.
A mine.
After that, Tamtey had to imagine the RDA base was somewhere close by for ease of transport. If they could see that, there was no doubt the RDA has their long-rang camera’s out to make sure no Na’vi were too close to the mining efforts. How far it went, it wasn’t known yet hence the paranoid need to keep Anqa’s ship away.
Eventually, she began to make out the distant shapes of large trees, the stars disappearing under clouds and one moment it was peaceful sky, the second the air was filled with a sudden and fast down pour.
Neytiri gasped a little, the Ikran screeching before the beast’s wings sped up. “<Home, Seze.>” The Warrior called to her Ikran.
-
Alma sat alone, picking at her plate of food on her lap, staring vacantly towards the open space. The last day has been… distant and heavy. She had her work out with Hajir and Nalin with her legs but once that was done, she was mostly left on her own. Honestly, when she did have to leave the med bay, she could feel the eyes of the people she lived with. The prickling looks and the whispers weren’t hard to miss.
It made it hard to be around people, even for small moments like getting food and drink, or sometimes basic help. She may have her legs back, but she was still struggling in some areas in her healing process. They didn’t care to help, or simply they didn’t want to. She was the ‘bad guy’ in their eyes regardless.
Was this her life now? Scorn and isolation? Wasn’t like she had a ton of options here. Not with her human body locked in a cryopod. Leaving wasn’t much of an option in her current state. Maybe a future endeavour… wasn’t like that was completely closed off.
Was a hermit a thing out on Pandora?
Alma picked up the Leopard palm on the side of her plate and her knife to open it up, cutting off the stem top first.
There was no way to know how long the four of them would be away. Nor would no doubt come back and so, she’s be at risk again unless she left the Refuge entirely. Maybe… the other clans might accept her? No way the Kame’tire, they were still doing their own thing, but with the Quads getting more involved with The Zeswa clan , it did open up options. Of course, this didn’t promise her safety either with Nor. It was a neighbouring clan and one that would be in his range upon his return. Maybe she should consider other clans outside of the typical Western range?
Meitayo? A swamp clan, resided North of the Heart of the Plains. Hulanta, more eastern settled wetlands clan but seemed more comfortable than the Rey’tanu people of the highlands which seemed more resourcesley strapped in comparison. With her current condition, there was no way she would be accepted by a clan that needed efficient people.
But, she was getting ahead of herself. For now, she had to focus on walking before running. Assuming that the Sarentu wanted her gone, then she should probably consider her absence as a necessity.
Her human body was still a problem. It wasn’t like they could sucker her mind into her avatar body for good either. Even if her legs hadn’t jumped back into circuit, she’d still take a disabled avatar body over her current human state. It meant she’d live.
“It’s not safe to be out here all alone.” Alex’s voice echoed behind her before he joined her a few seconds later, interrupting her mulling. “Especially at night.”
Alma barely turned, nor did she jump as she continued to cut up her fruit with her knife. “I’m not staying out for long. Just… enjoying the twilight and the view.” Gesturing out to Dyer’s bowl.
Alex sighed heavily behind his mask, his exopack hissing with the air exchange, his hand coming to his hips. “If you’re not in by bed by the time we’re set to sleep, I’ll have one of the creepy quads drag your ass in. No stupid deaths.”
Alma gave him a sour look. “I’m not suicidal.”
“Honestly, I don’t know you that well, Alma.” Alex glanced at her. “You had both me and Priya moved from Frontier West to the TAP Facility to help us get your human body and the Sarentu kids out, I had no idea what that building was for. You lied to me about the kids and where they came from. I wondered, but I never thought…” he stopped himself, taking a breath to breath out the frustration.
Alma numbly picked a part the fruit skins between her fingers. “I won’t kill myself out of what I did, Alex. I know there’ll never be a way out for me. I’m not that sort of coward.”
Alex stepped about, his brown eyes near glaring. “Depression and suicide is not cowardice. It’s a mental illness. Do not undermine that.”
Alma turned away from him, not wanting to hear a lecture. “How about you just leave me alone, Alex. Everyone else is succeeding at that very well. So go join them in that and leave me to my dinner.” She glared at him,
Alex scoffed a little, stepping back to put some distance between them, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “I assured Tamtey that I’d keep tabs on you, Cortez. She doesn’t want you dead.”
“I’m already dead,” Alma replied dryly, sitting back down. “You can’t change that.” Not here. Not with those injuries inside the cryopod. It had been on the tip of her tongue to ask something of him earlier; in the event of her avatar’s death, for someone to turn her cryopod off. To let her human body expire naturally of Mercer’s gunshots. She had no other choices. No spare avatar out here for them to grow for her and no medical bay for the human body. Death or… frozen in the cryopod with no chance to survive. But given the previous topic brushed past and Alex paranoid about her mental health, she felt Alex would just take it the wrong way anyway, as if she was asking him to turn it off now.
“That’s not what I mean.”
“I don’t care on what you meant, Alex.” She chewed the piece of fruit slowly, cutting herself another piece. “Just… leave me alone for now. I’ll see you tomorrow for leg-day. Please.” Her tone softened.
Alex, despite looking like he was harbouring his irritation just nodded once. “Back before night sets in.” He pointed towards the refuge before he walked off briskly, muttering under his breath between mask hisses.
Alma relaxed considerably the moment he was gone, slouching in her wheelchair and tossed the rest of her fruit off the edge for the stingbats to enjoy. He was right, she did need to go back in soon. Na’vi weren’t as much of a risk to them here, but the Viperwolves might be another story. She wasn’t safe here. But with the twilight here, the RDA Patrols were turning in for the night for strict close-to-base monitoring so she could afford to be out without worry.
Above in the sky, Polyphemus hung bright with the other moons hung in the sky. Stars weren’t yet visible, but she knew they were beautiful. At least tonight, she could sleep outside again. Didn’t have to worry waking up to Nor or another Sarentu’s blade at her throat.
Alma remained as she was for another five minutes, just staring before she slipped her knife back to her leg holster and wheeled back from the edge, but a shadow of movement above made her jump and grip her knife again, turning to see a shadow land about ten metres away. An Ikran.
On it, a Na’vi jumped up. Tall, willow-y frame with his hair pulled up into a man-bun with the sides shaved but his attire looked… very similar to that of the Aranahe, but she knew he was not Aranahe by how his attire just… looked a little too off, and how he stepped towards her with purpose. His arms held tattoos, more predominantly around his wrists and up his forearms that was uncommon for the clan. Something more seen with the Reef People’s way.
Her hands pushed her wheels, trying to put distance between her and this stranger.
“She’s here, cut the link.” He spoke in perfect English to something at his wrist.
But before she could rise a sound from her lips, Alma’s avatar slumped forwards. Her form caught by Ulysses before he pulled her out of the wheelchair and carried the now dormant avatar off quickly back to his Ikran over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry.
