Messing with the Deja Blue team overall, was stupid and reckless. And yet here you were about to pull off the dumbest thing you could have ever even thought of.
You had been cleaning in your dorm a few days back, and you had come across a little box of goodies you had brought with you from earth. They were all silly little arcade trinkets, a few cheap plastic dinos, those little parachute guys that always got tangled up or broke, and a half a dozen of different colored, and sized, sticky hands. The remnants of the going away party your friends had thrown for you before you had been deployed as a biological scientist to help with awakening and caring for recoms here on pandora.
Of course once you found the little goody box, you had become too distracted to finish your cleaning and organizing, which admittedly you had barely done any of. You instead took time to clear a small spot on your shelf to set the little toys down, before gently grabbing one of the larger, pink sticky hands, still in its plastic case, and dear god did chaos ensue.
Over the next few days you had done nothing more but annoy the hell out of your colleagues, using the sticky hand to swipe papers from their desks, knocking over coffee cups, and the dull thud of the sticky silicone echoing around the room. Even now you sat in the mess hall with your scientist buddies, casually eating with your dominant hand, your other hand carefully squishing the pink sticky hand between your fingers. The bland mush of the RDA’s food was eaten without much complaint, and soft laughs echoed from the table. Half way across the room sat the recoms tables, the tables raised higher to accommodate the larger Na’vi forms of the resurrected soldiers.
They knew you, barely, but they still knew you, you had been one of the first faces they had seen when their new bodies had been awakened. You had also been kind enough to let them gain their bearings a little better before you had started shining lights in their eyes, and snapping your fingers by their ears.
Most of the Deja Blue team spoke about you, some were more.. Crude than others. Especially corporal Wainfleet. There was just something about you that really seemed to draw him in, and he spent his time trying to get to know you better, especially because you were technically the groups doctor, but nothing had been successful as of yet. You would only smile and nod at his flirting words before you would always go back to your work. Always crowded around by the other scientists he considered dull and useless.
Even now, as you sat there zoning out, Lyle couldn't help but shoot you glances, admiring the way your eyelashes framed your beautiful eyes, or the way you slowly chewed your food as you stared at nothing in particular. Of course Mansk would notice and elbow at him, making him roll his eyes and turn back to focus at his slightly different diet before him, his back now facing you once more.
Ruby, a fellow scientist, and avatar user noticed Lyles' glance, and she smirked, looking back at you as you silently ate, still messing with the sticky hand between your fingers, and a dark look passed over her face.
“(Y/N)..” Her speaking your name immediately snapped you out of your daze, and you hum in acknowledgement as you take another bite of your mushy peas. “(Y/N) i have a dare for you, if you do it, I’ll pay you fifty bucks.. If you don't, you owe me fifty, deal?” You couldn't help the way your eyes narrowed at the challenge, Ruby, and her close friend Kleine had a painful habit of pulling pranks, and getting in loads of trouble around the base.
“What's the dare..?” You questioned cautiously, and she shook her head, immediately shutting down the questions. “No, (Y/N), You know it doesn't work like that here, accept it or reject it, then I’ll tell you what I have in mind.”
You can't help but groan, wondering what you could possibly be getting yourself into, and Ruby snickered, taking a sip of her drink. “What? Too much of a pussy? If you don't think you can do it just hand over the fifty now and we’ll be fine yea?” With a quick shake of your head and a scoff, you fold your arms, your heart beginning to pump at the excitement of the secret. “Absolutely not Ruby, I accept your dare, what could you possibly have me do?”
Ruby’s eyes lit up as she leaned over the table, her soft brown eyes darting over to Lyles form, his back still facing your table. “Now we’re talking, ok listen close..” You leaned in to meet her gaze closely. “I want you to hit Lyles bald fucking head with your precious sticky hand, and dont say you cant, we’ve all seen your aim with that damn thing. Just one, solid hit.. Think you can manage..?”
Your eyes immediately widened as your eyes shot over to the Recom table, almost making eye contact with Z-Dog, and she seemed curious about whatever conversation the two of you could be having, but she quickly went back to minding her own business. “Ruby!” you hissed, making her chuckle. “Do you know how bad of an idea that is? If Lyle doesn’t get his hands on me, Quaritch fucking will! I don't want to run laps with Kleine again..”
With a roll of her eyes, Ruby held out her hand, sighing. “Pay up then princess..” You groaned again as you slowly stood up. “No.. no you know what.. I'm faster than them anyways, just watch Ruby, you’re gonna pay ME fifty, and an ice cream.” Ruby didn’t argue, elbowing the scientist next to her as you adjusted the grip on your sticky hand, and slowly began approaching the recom table.
You were small compared to the Na’vi bodied soldiers, so they really didn’t pay you much mind as you approached Lyle from behind. You could feel your heart in your throat, stomach heavy in anxiety at the stupid stunt you were about to pull. Z-Dog only looked up, barely seeing you reel your arm back, and you glancing back at Ruby's predatory smile, before there was a sharp-
THWAP!
The sound echoed through the mess hall like a bullet, and all forms of conversation immediately went silent as wide eyes stared upon your form, arm slung forwards, and the bright pink stretchy hand pulled taught in a leading trail to the hand pressed against Lyles head, sticking to the bald dome of his head.
The entirety of the Deja Blue team looked absolutely shocked, Quaritchs eyes wide, and Lopez holding back laughs. But you didn’t notice them, because Lyle was slowly turning to face you, with a downright stunned expression, and you felt antsy. You knew you had to run, like, right now, and you dropped your end of the sticky hand, watching as the offending pink toy snapped back towards him, and hit him in the face, making him jump, and soon he was leaping to his feet with a loud growl that rumbled through the air, tripping over his own feet as he struggled to escape the middle of the bench, falling to his knees as his foot caught caught on the bench.
That seemed to snap you out of your own freeze response, and you shrieked as you began running as fast as your little legs would carry, hearing as Lyle took a deep breath from the mask around his neck, and began chasing you. “(Y/N) get your ass back here!” was his snarled response as his own feet thundered after you, leaving the entire mess hall with the image of Lyle, pink sticky hand hanging from the back of his head, chasing after your retreating form as you screamed in panic, “Wait! Lemme tell you something! Let me tell you something!! WAIT!”
Tìrol’s wings thumped through the air like a heartbeat through the dark early morning of the second day of darkness. The wind a cold warmth along N’deh’s skin but he felt so much at peace now. The return was warranted, so he knew to be seen by Kim and Jerome at the very least to stop their worrying. Three days was a long time to be missing without word.
He had finished up the last of Palulukan meat and had spent the remainder of yesterday finding a suitable place to house it, the hide and bones, which was a lot but he was grateful for his wife’s gifts to allow him to have this much without worry about hunting this next week. He wasn’t selfish to hoard such a bounty but he was going to be selective on who he gave it to because not everyone deserved it.
Certainly not Jakesully or Nadinereza.
But he brought some for Kim and Jerome to eat because he knew of all people, they deserved from rare meat for their kindness and their friendship. Morgan too, but he was in the Vents and wouldn’t get the change to enjoy the gift without being forced to share it with dozens of other humans. He could save him some for after the week was up, after all.
N’deh was cautious about announcing this kill, simply due to the reputation the Great beast had and no one would believe he killed it on his own without any form of aid. If Mo’at examined the bones, she’d see its neck was broken and thus, not his kill. Questions he couldn’t answer. With his wife taking some to her metal home for her human companions to enjoy, the sky people would learn of the kill but if his dear sister visited Grace during the week to see the meat, she’d realise they were at the same kill site. Together.
Sooner or later, she would find out that they had mated, but N’deh was hoping for later. With her duties at Hometree and the rest of the clan, her attention wouldn’t fall to him nor Grace. Which meant he had to collect his stuff together and leave as soon as possible.
Tìrol slipped under the canopy and touched down at their camp, irritating Kim’s Ikran trying to eat what looked like her recent hunt before N’deh jumped off and padded straight towards the heart of the camp.
“N’deh!” Jake’s voice echoed, sounding relieved but N’deh gave the Dreamwalker a scathing look to leave him alone. He did not say anything to him either but went straight to the largest mauri that was already opening.
“<N’deh!>” Kim was already pulling him up her arms wrapping around him, and he felt the pressure of her baby bump in the tightness of her arms before the kicks of the little ones reminded their dear mother of the limited space.
“<I’m okay, my friend.>” He said warmly. “<I’ve… taken time away. Needed time.>”
Kim pulled back, her hand coming to rest at the bump, her eyes staring into him for a moment before she nodded him in. N’deh moved the curtain across anyway for privacy, shimmering off the basket form his back.
Jerome was on the floor, sewing the beginnings of a tiny loincloth but he looked pleased to see him well. “<I hope your time away was fruitful.>” he set down the tools. “<You look less burdened.>”
“<It was.>” He lifted the lid from his basket, offering the wrapped pieces of meat. “<Palulukan meat. Now, all I ask if that this gift is not meant for people who betrayed my trust.>”
Kim’s eyes widened but brightened at the gift, accepting it and sniffing it. “<Smoke and ash-leaf wrapped?>”
“<Yes.>”
“<I can agree to that.>” Kim said, “<I won’t question where you got Palulukan meat but I can only assume that’s why you were away for so long.>”
N’deh chuckled softly. “<Yes.>” He gave another piece to Jerome who took it with thanks and set it into their personal food basket and returned. “<How has the camp been in my absence?>”
“<Awkward. Nadine has since returned from the Vents and is staying with Jake this week since her attempt to go underground failed.>”
N’deh nodded softly. “<How is Morgan?>”
“<I have not personally heard from him, but he went to the vents independently after gathering more fibres.>” Kim said, “<I’ll make you a tea.>” she reached for the bowl of embers,
“<It is okay. I—” N’deh faltered at the abrupt side-eye. “<Actually, A sweet tea is possible>” he back peddled quickly. No, he’d let her feed him if it kept her happy.
Kim nodded, pleased before she slipped out briefly for water and ceramic teapot.
“<She’s been worried about you.>” Jerome said softly, “<and she’s pissy at Jake too. Camp is still feeling awkward since the whole thing went down.>”
“<Jakesully only has himself to blame for his secrets.>”
“<Are you going to hit him again?>”
“<Only if he keeps more secrets I deserve to know from me.>” N’deh said simply with a sniff. “<I doubt he has many more.>”
He would not go out of his way to strike the Dreamwalker any more and he saw little reason to engage in conversation because it would be far too easy for provocation. Jakesully may say something offensive and N’deh had no desire to hear a reason for this sky man’s distaste. Let him rot in his own dark presumptions. N’deh wasn’t going to be around him for that.
Kim returned swiftly, with a flat tray of fruits, herbs and sugar lumps with a ceramic teapot with water before she set it to onto the embers to heat up, setting the tray and the three small mugs. She added sugar lumps to the bottom, followed by the berries and only a sprinkle of herbs. Kim sighed heavily, pressing her palm into her baby bump. “<Leg in, little one.>” She huffed. “<I’m so looking forwards to the end of this pregnancy.>”
“<Your daughters are strong.>”
Kim snorted softly.
For a moment, it was just a pleasant silence that fell between the three of them. Like old times.
“<Somethings changed.>” Kim said abruptly, her eyes watching him as they waited.
N’deh looked from the kettle to her face sharply, eyed widening only a fraction. “<Not in Na’vi or English>” He stated, not wishing for any eaves droppers to understand.
Kim shifted, her hand coming to rest on his chest, yellow eyes sharp and her brow furrowed. “{You have mated? The weight is gone.}” High Valyrian.
N’deh swallowed, ears twitching a little. “{Please do not tell anyone}”
Kim’s eyes widened a lot, but she looked pleased nonetheless as she soon poured the steaming water into the cups. “{Her, or someone else?}”
“{Her. She got lost from her expedition due to the Palulukan. She killed it and… I got curious about what I heard.}” He admitted, finding an odd relief to tell her that.
“{You did everything correct, yes?}”
“{Yes. We… had the same idea not to waste time. We were close to Eywa’s site but we didn’t linger long until after we were done.}” He blushed a little, scratching his ear. “{But my heart is whole now. Our bond is settled and we’re taking this week apart to get things in order. I cannot stay. I intend to leave but I hope that… we could find means of staying in contact}”
“{We will still be here for another good month or so, providing the babies are born healthy.}” Kim said, handing their cups out, taking a tentative sniff and sip of hers. “{We’ve still not decided on when or where we’re going?}”
“{I thought we were going to the valley?}” Jerome asked, confused.
“{That is the plan, but… there is a lot to discuss. I want to talk to René about joining us, as a Unilstä'nìtu. He was make an excellent leader.}”
N’deh blinked in surprise, as did Jerome.
Kim looked between them before she laughed awkwardly “{I suppose I forgot to share my thoughts with you two, I see.}”
N’deh hummed, agreeing. “Renéharper. Not Jakesully?” He could see the value in that decision. Someone that did not hold the same bias.
“<Jakesully has his issues, but in time I can see him settling but not in terms of clan leadership. He has a connection with Eytukan because of the necessity the Omatikaya need of his and the human’s guidance in how to handle the problem of the bulldozers and RDA threat. There is respect, but… Jake has no place among any of the people. He has hunting rites, and will having rites of the boneshapers, but no rite of being called a Son of the Omatikaya or a Place among the People. Eytukan has shown that he does not desire Dreamwalkers among their kind as one of their people because he had not offered. A budding clan needs a respected leader that can stand among the people. To be accepted as one of the people. Jake needs to undergo Uniltaron.>” Kim summarised in Na’vi now.
“<Renéharper has been accepted as a Son of the Tipani.>” N’deh realised. “<He is a well-respected Na’vi now. He’s no longer considered a Dreamwalker since his spiritual move into his new body>” He took a deep sip of the tea, the sweetness of the sugar and the juice of the berries tingled down his throat as he swallowed. A bit too sweet for him. No matter.
“<Yes. René also has decades of experience on this world. He has connected with the Tipani, Sänume of all Tsahìks respects him. She values him. Welcomed him into her clan and they’re stricter than the Omatikaya. He has a husband and children. He is one of the people. Mo’at respects him with the same level of respect to learn from him.>” Kim said, “<Jake has only been here 5 months. No other clan will see him as an equal and it will take decades for anyone to to the same level as René. If our clan is to become a reality, then we must find the right pieces.>”
“<René does wish for segregation>” Jerome pointed out.
“<He… is not entirely wrong. I do believe that humans and Na’vi can live in harmony, but I think we should… segregate based on technology, not race. Humans who wish to use human metal and technology, the wheel should live separately, but nearby and we work as allies sharing land and resources. The heart of the clan should live as one of the people, Human and Dreamwalker; no metal, no turning wheel and no stone upon stone. Yes, there will be a hypocrisy due to Dreamwalkers using metal machines to operate their Dreamwalkers but I don’t see how else the other clans will see the Unilstä'nìtu as a law abiding clan. Eywa’s law shows respect and respect is paramount with forming relations with the other clans.>”
Kim was very aware how difficult it would be, but Eywa’s law was absolute in the way of the people. To use metal, even as handy tools were frowned upon. Would there be more Dreamwalkers later down the line for the other humans? Or would there be only a single or so generation of Dreamwalkers before the practise was stopped? N’deh didn’t know, but it sounded complex.
“<Maybe talk to a Tsahìk about the options. Not just my sister, but Sänume, assuming you can get another audience with her.>” N’deh suggested. “<This talk should also happen with all the other Dreamwalkers, and human Camp leaders>” He was no longer Unilstä'nìtu in any way or form, he had no say in it now.
“<I plan to. I want to see about getting my rites of the people with the Tipani. I want a place with the people, with my humans remains at their ancestral site, I should have the right to do that.>”
Jerome nodded, “<I can get behind that, my love. We would have an honourable connection with a clan, even if we are not considered one of the Tipani.>”
-
N’deh left Kim and Jerome tent once they had finished their tea, again, ignoring the presence of the Dreamwalker down by the main fire as he climbed into his own Mauri carrying a bowl of embers with him and shut the curtains after him. The darkness was familiar, but the light of his bowl lit the space up, carefully using that to ignite his own light bowls up before he examined the space and his personal items.
His hammock.
So much to pack up. So much to take.
The spot he had told Grace about was a cave system close Tree of Souls; the tree was set into a basin in the ground. Roots spread out far and wide to her other sacred sites and the site had these beautiful arches that protected Eywa’s tree. His spot was about half a mile from the edge of the basin edge. Not too close to risk punishment of trespassing, but far enough to not be looked for this close. With the cave, he’d need not waste time taking down his mauri. It was designed for trees, not a cave so even if it took it, it’d stay rolled up or repurposed as floor mats.
Honestly, N’deh figured it was better to leave it. Kim and Jerome could use it as a second place for sleep or storage. He could always make another and, he had bones to better help his new home. Less to carry with him and he could take everything with him on a single trip. He already had moved the Palulukan goods there anyway so he wouldn’t need to make the other trip. Later, assuming Jakesully was busy and visiting the other Dreamwalkers or the Vents, N’deh could leave then. Away from following eyes. For now, he still needed to plan his long-term solution.
His wife situation was something that still needed a plan to it. Her life was on this world but not with the humans. He was glad she knew that but she too would need a place to live. Could they stay? #
N’deh wrinkled his nose. Unlikely, once they knew he mated with her. Eytukan wouldn’t want them on his land, so where was the next best location? There was still a lot of open land. Couldn’t be the Valley of Mo’ara, not with the humans and the Unilstä'nìtu that could develop there.
Would it just be him and her? Were the other vampires that may wish to leave too? Could he tolerate more vampires around?
N’deh paused. Would he become one too?
He hadn’t thought of that yet. The idea was tantalizing. To spend forever with his mate, happy and ensuring their lives were preserved. He would need to talk to her, see her thought on the matter. He’d want Grace to be the one to do it, to have his life in her hands, someone he could trust to care for him in that time. What if she refused? There could be another of her vampire friends who could? N’deh swallowed down the uncertainty, but he’d have to address that with Grace when he could.
No matter. He set those thoughts aside for now. He grabbed his travel basket, filled with basic fibres and items he had gathered recently. He tipped it into his hammock for now, carefully removing the pictures from his mauri walls, placing the small ones into the chess kit for security and rolled the lager ones up. He wrapped the small trinkets and beads up into a pouch, the books set at the bottom of the basket before he collected up his old clothing, rolling them up and tucking them into the space. Setting in his jewellery and tools last before he was satisfied to leave it as it was; He’d get new shelving units together later. Kim and Jerome could keep this one.
-
The cave was as N’deh left it since dropping off the Palulukan goods. Large, open space. Thick Vines and leaves covered the main entry way so that it would be hard for people to immediately see in. With a fire, perhaps but he considered putting up one of his mats to further mask his presence. This cave did face away from the Tree of Souls, so visitors wouldn’t see his camp unless they really went exploring.
The meat, he had hung from the vines on string to be off the floor of tempted little creatures seeking an easy meal. Bones were bound and hung too, only lightly treated against rot but they’d need to be sorted properly later, and fortune, he had the week to do so. He had buried the Palulukan head into a beetle nest for them to consume the meat and remaining flesh so he could have the skull separately without damaging it in the butchering process. It’d most likely be ready by the end of the week. Those beetles were hungry for dead flash, especially during the week of darkness.
For now, he found a place for his hammock to rest. Roots growing along the underside of the ceiling offered the strength to support his weight. His travel pack, he set down, started a fire. Jakesully had left this nightly-noon to visit the other Dreamwalkers, which had given him the chance to disappear. Kim though pushed a radio into his hand and a charging hub for it, so he still had connection with those two.
He sighed deeply, his heart feeling light.
-
Kim sipped her tea deeply, her eyes lingering on the fire, feeling it’s warm as it danced across her skin. It… felt odd. The Darkness. All day. Sure, they had their water clock going, tracking the hours since for their sanity. She did not like it, never did the last couple of years, one of the reasons she didn’t see the appeal of moving to Alaska when they finally made it Earth-side when she was old enough to move planets independently. The darkness made her tried, more so than usual with the pregnancy. There was little they could do that was safe. Gathering was just… a bad idea without a party and a warrior, hunter species were further out and so even hunting was minimal.
Sure, they could do what Jake did and go off to the other camps but Kim felt very little desire to do that. Last thing she wanted to do was go down into the Caves with this big belly and get stuck. N’deh was now gone from their camp, so she couldn’t even find him to make beads or jewellery together. Kim was simply bored.
A visit to Hometree… was not strictly welcome and it certainly felt like there was a real distance set between them and the Omatikaya. The time of darkness was meant for clan bonding and rites and… they were not part of it. It was not offered and Kim had hoped that Eytukan would have invited them as a show of connections.
He did not.
Made her desire to leave for her rites with the Tipani more validated. Getting her rites and… trying to get the notion of the Unilstä'nìtu to form and grow into a real, respectable and beautiful clan. She wanted a future here. Their children needed a clan. It honestly felt like they were being strung along more than anything.
Jake might make headway if he found means to convince Mo’at to bury his brother at their ancestral sites. If she didn’t tell him why, his ignorance would work in his favour. He had done a lot for the Omatikaya in comparison to the two of them. He had earned it more, in a way. Maybe she should suggest flying him towards the Tree of Souls, not close to concern but let him see and… feel Eywa’s presence there. A connection.
Her eyes slid to her husband as he happily continued on with the inkle loom, made based off Morgan’s claimed one and scaled up, watching as he flipped the pattern cards, moved the shuttles and double checked his work and repeat. It… was satisfying to watch him work and get so engrossed in it and drawing her thoughts away from her frustrations.
“<Enjoying watching me work?>” Jerome asked, not looking up.
“<Yes, you’re a sight to see>” Kim chuckled. “<I don’t know what to do with myself.>”
“<You could weave?>”
“<No.>” Sitting and weaving, while it would occupy her hands, it wouldn’t her mind. Same with spinning.
“<A nap?>”
“<No, I’d love that but that’ll mess up my sleep schedule.>”
“<What do you want to do?>”
“<I don’t know.>”
Jerome let out an exhausted sigh.
Kim rolled slowly, clambering to her feet and used the side of the mauri to get up and padded to the radio and picked it up. “Hey, can someone get Morgan I wanna talk to him?” Maybe she could get ideas from him? Maybe get him stuff to help him finish redoing N’deh’s mask. That seemed more helpful than anything else she could think of.
There was a long pause before the line opened again, but it wasn’t Morgan who answered. It was Castro.
“Er, Kim. Are you sure he isn’t in his shack? He’s not here.”
Kim blinked, her stomach tensing. “He’s not here. He went out to gather and go straight to the Vents for the storm. I’ve been at my camp all day today and since the storm started.” Her heart began to pound, if he wasn’t at camp and he wasn’t safe in the Vents, where the fuck was he? Eywa… did he get stuck? Was he dead or dying of radiation poisoning?
Jerome stopped what he was going, looking as alarmed as she felt but he hurried off, clambering out and straight to Morgan’s shack, knocking on the protective lead shielded shutters.
“He’s not here. Fuck…” Castro swore. “I… don’t know what else I can do or say—hey!”
“Check the cave by the Ma’kiso Lagoon.” Elena’s voice was sharp, louder than the miner’s annoyance at having the radio snatched. “I restocked it as an emergency site, just in case Morgan or someone couldn’t reach the vents in time.”
“I’ll check there first.” She tucked the radio into her pouch, sparing Jerome a look before she jumped straight onto her Ikran’s back, and they both launched into the air. Her other hand came to her belly, the other gripping the kuru harness but she could feel both babies were up and active, no doubt the upkeep of her heart had roused the two. But it wasn’t about their movements, the weight and pressure on the back of the Ikran hurt at her lower back in this position.
Kim did know this cave, as Morgan had used it his first year out. The second year he had his shack so it wasn’t a problem anymore once they got the lead panelling. She vaguely recalled Elena’s interest in it based on Morgan’s passing comments but thought nothing of it.
Within ten minutes, she was touching down outside the cave, pausing though the dark as she entered, noting the guns propped up against the wall beside the entry pool.
RDA weapons.
He didn’t have a gun on him.
Logically, he wasn’t alone. RDA soldiers were with him. Fuck.
Kim tightened her gloves, making sure her extra toes were hidden and her eyebrows under her oil paint, though she make sure her riders mask stayed on over, just in case. Before she took a deep breath and slipped under the surface, taking only a few strokes and kicks before her head broke the surface.
“Holy fuck!”
Her head whipped around to the familiar, bald form of Corporal Wainfleet, who jumped back from the water’s edge, his hand coming to his empty holster, but moved swiftly to his knife. He wasn’t alone, as her eyes flickered to the movement of a tattooed woman and Colonel Quaritch…. But lastly her eyes landed on Morgan who had been crouched over a basket of seeds.
“<Morgan.>” She clambered out, ignoring the three humans who were staring her arrival in surprise but none had guns so she didn’t feel too threatened to by pass them.
“<Kìmétey?>” her fake Na’vi name rolled easily off Morgan’s tongue. Something she had almost forgotten about when they had wanted to establish a cover. So they’d not assume her to be the true Kimberly Green. Everyone knew her shortened nickname, Kim. She didn’t know if any of these three knew Na’vi, so they’d have to play it safe for now.
“Whoa, mama.” Wainfleet whistled, blinking in surprise, eyes at her pregnant belly.
“<I got so worried when no one confirmed you were safe.>” She said, reached for him and pulled him into a hug, squishing him a little against her chest. He shifted his leg open for space.
His small hands patted her back. “<I’m okay. Just… glad this area was set up.>” He leant back. “<I didn’t think it was wise to bring unwanted company home.>”
Kim spared a side-eye to the watching three and sniffed. “<Have you got enough supplies?>” She released him, but kept a hand on his upper back, feeling his warmth. He was truly safe.
“<For now. Our friend was very wise to over pack dry goods.>” Morgan assured, “<How is everyone at home? Tsyome? Tsyeyk? I assume my former lover is well?>” Jerome and Jake, of course they hadn’t established names for the humans to bypass the RDA.
“<My mate is well, but is worried for you. Tsyeyk was not home when we got word. I no doubt will have to inform him when Tsyome informs the both of them you’re absent.>” She paused, feeling one of the babies twist, shifting a leg into her rib which made her groan out, a foot visibly pressing out from the other baby.
Morgan patted the lump, “<Leg in, little one.>” The foot vanished after a moment. “<Your worrying wake them?>”
Kim nodded. “<Eywa may have blessed me but two is pushing that blessing.>” She grumbled though her eyes slid back to the three RDA folk. “<What are you doing with sky people? They are unsafe. Have they hurt you? Made any attempts to take you from us?>”
Morgan sighed, sparing a look to Quaritch then back to her. “<Their ship crashed. I’m fine. They seem to think I’ll change my mind and go back to the village with them. Fuck that.>”
“<I will pick you up or one of the others will to ensure you’re safe.> Kim could promise that, to make sure he wasn’t taken against his will. No. She’d not loose an old friend out here.
“What is going on here?” Quaritch finally spoke up. “You know this Native?”
Kim hissed his way, shifting Morgan to stand between her babies and the colonel. Morgan moved willingly.
“This is Kìmétey, she and her mate recovered me from Blue Lagoon and helped me survive. She was worried when I wasn’t at my planned location but remembered where I first hid from the storm.” Morgan hastily mentioned. “She wanted to make sure I was alive and well.”
“She’s not local.” Wainfleet mentioned, “Not in that attire.”
“She’s Unilstä'nìtu. Visiting the Omatikaya. We travel but the Omatikaya barely tolerate me so I must keep my distance. I live with the Unilstä'nìtu that live away from the Omatikaya since the Unilstä'nìtu are very reclusive by nature and Kìmétey does not trust the clan around me. She said something about an Omatikaya-sky person school which seeded sever distrust towards humans.>” said Morgan. “I don’t know the details, or care as long as she keeps me safe and sound.”
Quaritch’s blue eyes were narrow, examining her carefully. “What are the chances this woman could go to the mountains and talk to Dr Spellman? He’s an avatar driver that knows Na’vi. Very, very friendly with the locals. He can inform the RDA of our survival and for pick-up at the end of the week.>”
Morgan turned, but Kim let her expression say it all. Fuck no. she had nothing to gain from that except risking Morgan’s freedom. “You’d have better luck asking an Omatikaya warrior than a Unilstä'nìtu gatherer. She likes me, but she had no reason to trust you three. You offer her and her people nothing to ask this request.”
“What does she want? The RDA can provide well for our safe return.” Quaritch bargained.
“<Like sky people have anything we want.>” Kim muttered.
“Maybe she’ll run into Augustine?” Wainfleet offered, “She’s running about.”
Quaritch hummed, interested. “We lost an avatar driver a few days ago. Think she knows something about her?”
Morgan, for the sake of appearances, translated the statement.
“<We’ve seen it. Left it with a passing traveller and cared little on what happened to It.>” N’deh no doubt looked after her very, very well. Nothing she could tell Morgan about it now, just in case there was someone who did understand Na’vi here.
“Kìmétey did mention seeing it—her, I mean. A Wandering Na’vi passing through the southern marshlands though seemed to occupy the avatar but she didn’t see the outcome to know what came of the avatar.”
“So we came all this way for possibly nothing.” The woman muttered, annoyed. “We should have waited until after the storm.”
“Quiet.” Quaritch said to the woman sharply.
“<I’ll go. But I’ll visit again tomorrow, Do you want me to bring anything?>”
“<N’deh’s mask. I can spend the next week perfecting the new design. Also, we’ll need four new masks. These three will need spares for when they leave, the battery life won’t last once we’re out>”
“<Very well.>” She could feel the air was getting thin for her, she had to go anyway.
She slipped back into the water before taking a breath and disappeared beneath.
-
“How is the avatar?” Thana asked the doctor as he finished up the last scans of the stolen body. It now lay dormant as ever since Ulysses returned with it from the Kinglor Forest.
“Minor weaknesses and muscle loss in the lower extremities from disuse but a few hours in the pod can strengthen the legs up if we’re keeping the body long-term.” Henry said as he finished up his observation. “Brain activity is… unusual and in sync with Tabitha’s human body. Heart rate, specifically. Theo did visit. She’s confirmed a veil foundation has set root into the avatar brain in a very clean fashion. She believes it’ll be easier to transfer the foundation, memory and personality into the avatar then just eroding the foundations and having Tabitha absorb the veil.”
“I’m glad we have a confirmation on that.” A lot had been in the air about the possibility in that method. “When it the separation set?”
“Four days from now. Theo is meditating with Maya for mental preparation. What’s the plan for the avatar after separation? Alma’s still quite useful?”
Thana shook her head. “Alma is a veil. She’s just a memory stick, not a power source. Short of Maya’s influence, she won’t wake up on her own. She’d not a real person.”
Henry’s shoulder drooped. “So, what’ll happen to it.” His eyes darted to the avatar. “Euthanasia?”
“<We’ll water-store for it before any decision is made. If it’s useful, it’ll be only due to her womb. Avatars are capable of reproduction. Our second stage here relies on expanding numbers.” Her mind touched on the drone they sent out to the Mangkwan territory East of here, a thought and idea but they needed to understand this isolated clan until they could decide if they were worth the trouble to, leave alone, take or take out. It’d be a shame to kill off an entire indigenous clan due to clashing coloniser beliefs, she wasn’t ignorant to knowing exactly what they were here, but… that was later discussion. They had decades to decide once Tabitha’s heart stopped and their goals would shift. “We need to bring in Doctor Hegner from Hells’ Gate for a full RDA debrief.”
“Hegner?” The human spared her look.
Thana sighed deeply. “He’s a veiled human. The other Dhampyrs left him behind in our mission to escape the main site quickly.” She knew why he was left but they needed more humans now. “He was originally sent to check in on Alma which was why he was put into the avatar program. Since he couldn’t move sites from Hell’s Gate to Frontier West, his mission changed to RDA surveillance.”
The doctor’s eyes grew wide and horrified. “Oh god.” His heart picked up quickly. “He’s veiled?”
Thana spared a look down at him in concern. “Yes.”
“I saw him.” He swallowed thickly. “I don’t know what the hell really happened to him but he’s doped up to cloud nine and working in the mess. He barely strings two sentences together. He’s a walking fear for Avatar drivers.”
Thana inhaled sharply. “What happened?” She, like many other Dhampyrs in big Na’vi bodies, had been in sustention gel for the long-term travel, and how they got in these bodies without any of the humans or RDA knowing. She knew little of Hells gate.
“I… only heard rumour he got caught by a Slinth in his avatar and got eaten alive. His mind slipped. I don’t know if that’s what really happened or not but…”
“His veil slipped.” Thana corrected with a dry mouth. Much like an emergency stop, it seemed, the severing of the dead avatar and living human mind caused damage. No avatar body, meant more damage to the human. They could still reclaim him. Theo could try and restore his mind to someone functional and productive again… maybe Maya too, assuming it was bad. The covens on earth could afford to throw away faulty veils and hijacks, but not here. Not on Pandora.
“We have two active Dhampyrs in hells gate. We can try and contact them. They’re part of this underground black market, Westguard who could smuggle him out when it’s safe to do so.”
Thana’s head turned to Steph who scrolled in, tablet in hand. The human woman looking interested in this situation.
“Westguard?” Henry echoed.
“Contact the Dhampyrs, request a full debrief on the market, it’s policies, rules and how it is run. If it’s useful, we can use it. I’d rather not destroy it by ignorance.” Getting them to hand over a mentally unstable human to an unknown group was no easy task and she had no idea how they’d see it. Knowing the rules make it easier to know what to break. Hegner probably had installed triggers to come to them willingly, or desperately. “See about if they can locate Hegner’s handler. Veils aren’t put into assignments alone.”
At least it’d give them something to do and sort out.
“I’ll let you know when there’s anything to report.” Steph agreed.
