Chapter Fifteen

The clan's singing could be heard for miles around, carrying with it the keen sense of the Omaticaya's loss. The animals stopped their rustling to listen, the trees paused in the breeze, and, if they had known it, some of the soldiers in the human encampment halted to hear what they had caused; the most untold grief upon a clan, upon a family.

Ja'kanhe found himself mouthing the words, but not singing along truly. The sound of it made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and yet it was not unpleasant. He glanced behind him, feeling strangely out of place even though he had been returning to this place ever since he was a child. Even after all these years, the willow-like tree remained unchanged, watchful like a senitel over the people that knelt at its roots. Vitraya Ramunong. The Tree of Souls. Yet he felt bare, naked almost, as he sat there today, and it wasn't because of the rule that no one could have a weapon within the religious place. He looked to his mother behind him, seeing her back as she led the hymns. She wore the gossamer silver robe that she had been saving for their respective weddings, and he knew why – Tzu'khan would never marry. He would be highly glad of that. The thought brought a smile to Ja'kanhe which he quickly tried to suppress.

He looked to his right to see his father, the true guard of the Omaticaya. He sat on the side of the natural stage, watching, his eyes soft yet observant, his tail stiff to show he was alert. He, too, wasn't taking part in the singing, yet he wasn't even mouthing the words. I can't take your place, Ja'kanhe thought, because he really would have to now. It was inevitable. There was no second heir to the throne. There hadn't been for over a year but today it felt more final. He had always nursed the idea that Tzu'khan would return, and he did, the true king… but their king had now gone to meet his Mother, and there was no way to come back. There was no way to avoid his true destiny now. The words of his birth mother echoed in his head: 'This is the life of a prince, Ja'kanhe. This is the life of a leader. You do what is best for the clan. Not yourself.' But was he best for the clan? He wasn't so sure these days.

He looked to the left of the stage to see Zuleika and Tihawnu, the clan members who had come with them below them in the front. How do you manage being leaders? He wondered if he could ask them for advice, but then thought of how childish that would make him seem. He watched them sing for a moment more and then cast his eyes forwards.

He could see along all the heads of the members of the clan from his position, right to the very back. They were all sitting in rows forming a circle along the base of the tree. At the back, he spied two of the children who had been playing with Grace that time he and Neytiri returned from bonding her to her ikran. They were nudging each other with their elbows, trying to make the other laugh and embarrass them in front of the clan. He had the momentary urge to laugh... what was wrong with him? He glanced over then to his left, to the front row of the seated members. His uncle N'deh was singing along with his sister-in-law, but he could tell Grace was like him, only mouthing the words. They caught each other's eye, and she gave him a look as if to say, 'Are you alright?'

He didn't get the chance to give a reply. It all happened very suddenly. A dark shadow crossed over the clan. The singing stopped abruptly as everyone looked towards the sun which was slowly laying its head to bed – it was impossible for it to grow that dark that quickly. Ja'kanhe squinted into the sun, and he saw it as others began to scream, causing his ears to fly back. The members in the back rose to their feet and began to put as much distance between the natural stone wall that encased them, and…

Ja'kanhe gave a yell himself. He dashed to his mother, pushing her behind him as his father ran up the steps to help protect his mate. He reached for his weapon until he remembered he didn't have it on him. Grace and N'deh ran up to them as well, just as a curved blue landed exactly where some of the members at the back had run from. The toruk screamed out its battle cry, causing the frightened Na'vi to run as close as they could to the tree, to their Mother's protection. The toruk reared up on its hind legs and came crashing down the ground, making it tremble. It watched the clan with its beady yellow eyes, opening and closing its curved black beak.

But there was movement on the creature's back, and Ja'kanhe felt his mouth drop open. She slipped elegantly off the back of it, as if she were born to be there, but she had never ridden before. Gasps of shock ran through the clan, and mutterings of the new title. Behind him, he heard his mother say it too: "Toruk makto?"

Beside her, almost as if she had to say it to believe it, Grace said incredulously, "Tsu'tei… is the rider of Last Shadow?"

"Now I've seen everything," his father muttered, and it would have been funny if the situation were not so terrifying.

More yells of surprise came through the air, and another shadow crossed over the sun. With a screech! the toruk's partner landed upon the stone wall, larger and stronger. It placed its wing out, dipping it to the floor, and off slid another rider. She dropped to the ground, her feet lithe as he had taught. The two women looked at one another, and then out to the clan.

Not a word was spoken. The caws of the toruk were softer, more elegant. They sounded as Ja'kanhe had never heard them sound before, they acted as he had never seen. They were as calm as a pond of water rather than as rough as the rolling sea. Their eyes wandered between the two women, guarding them carefully.

Neytiri looked out upon the clan. She glanced at Tsu'tei, who stayed at the back as she walked through the members. They parted before her just as they had the first time they met, but now the looks were not of hatred: they were of reverence. She glanced at some of them, the ones she knew more personally, as she walked through. Coming to meet her at the other end of no-man's land, with shock on his face, was Jake. A smile gently broke out on her face as they came together in the middle.

He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He looked like a fish as he stumbled for words, so she helped him: "I see you."

He regained control of himself, and swallowed. "I – I see you, too."

She stretched out her hand, placing it on his bare arm; he grasped her arm in return, their fingers fumbling until they each reached each other's shoulder. He was still eyeing her with some trepidation. "Are you afraid of me?" she asked him quietly.

He responded with a movement; he took her face in his hands, rubbing his thumb over her cheek gently. She could see his tail swishing gently. "No," he replied. "I… I do not think so."

"Good," she replied, smiling at him. She squeezed his shoulder and let go, her eyes passing over to Mo'at and Eytukan, who looked petrified. Carefully, as if she were taming a wild animal, she stepped towards them. "Eytukan, son of Taron, and Mo'at, daughter of Kaja, I wish to speak to you."

The heads of the Tsan'ten family glanced at one another, before Mo'at said, her voice trembling with fear as she said in English, "Then speak."

Neytiri looked to Mo'at, and was glad she had spoken, for it was to her the request would be aimed. "I have a plan. To save you all. But I'll need your help."

Mo'at looked to her sister, who looked as bewildered as she was; Grace obviously had no idea of this plan, and she looked livid now she didn't. In the background, the female toruk yelled to give announcement of her rider's arrival – Tsu'tei walked through the clan, slowly coming to stand beside Neytiri. "It will work," she said, giving even more, and perhaps unnecessary, weight to Neytiri's request. Behind them, the two toruks beat their wings, causing a wind to fly over the clan; everyone ducked except Neytiri and Tsu'tei.

Mo'at looked over the two women, and bowed her head. "My skills are yours."

• • •

"I cannot be sure this will work," Mo'at warned them as the clan hurried back into position as the stars alighted the sky now. "Please know, I cannot promise this."

"I know," Neytiri said, placing a hand on the tsahík's shoulder. It was a marvel of how far they had come in such a short time that she could do that. "But please try."

Grace came over to Neytiri then, and after Mo'at dipped her head, the two walked into the shadows. Neytiri sat down in the darkness, and Grace knelt with her. The two looked at one another for a long moment, before they both reached in for a tight hug. "I'm begging you, Neytiri, don't do this. Do not."

"I must," Neytiri whispered to her. She pulled back, and looked at her, fondly, sadly. "You do not understand."

"I know that if this works, you have a plan that stretches beyond the ceremony. You've told us. But I don't think you understand that if this doesn't work…" Grace shook her head sadly. "You'll be broken all over again."

"Is that what you fear?" Neytiri queried softly, and took her hand to squeeze it. "Grace Augustine, you have taught me more than I could have ever hoped for. I have learnt to love this world as you do, through your eyes, and not Miles'. You have been like a mother to me, I hope you know that."

Grace stiffened, and slowly nodded, before arching her eyebrow. "But…?"

Neytiri smiled, looking down at her cyan hand. "But all mothers have to let their children experience things on their own."

Grace opened her mouth, but just like her nephew, could say no words. She bent down to kiss the top of Neytiri's head and then stood up, just as Tsu'tei came to take her place. The two past enemies looked at one another, blazing looks mirrored in both of their eyes. They were sisters now. So Tsu'tei said her next words with the utmost truth and hope: "I will pray this works for you, my sister."

"Tsu'tei," Neytiri whispered to her, unafraid to show some of her fear to her; if she had to Grace, she would have made her call the whole thing off. But Tsu'tei would understand. She suddenly felt as if she were suffocating, but she made herself go on. "If I die – "

" – you will not," Tsu'tei smiled, but Neytiri hesitated.

"If I do not die," she corrected herself then, "but yet I cannot move, you know what to do."

Tsu'tei hesitated, her eyes searching over Neytiri's face, as if hoping she wasn't saying what she was, but then she dipped her head. "I will look after them."

"Yes, but no," Neytiri whispered, and Tsu'tei's ears went down. Don't ask me to do this, she wanted to beg her, but Neytiri had a hard look about her, as if willing her to understand. A Na'vi who couldn't move, even with help from Mother, was no Na'vi. Tsu'tei sighed, and nodded gently to show she did. She patted her sister's hand before standing up, and going to move beside Mo'at. Neytiri watched them momentarily, before lying her head to the cool forest floor, closing her eyes, and fading.

Her eyes opened to see the stars, moving above her. She blinked steadily, looking over to see Ja'kanhe looking over her, his eyes soft with adoration for her. She slowly reached out a hand, seeing her brown arm, a stark contrast against his blue skin. "I see you," she whispered.

She felt his hand rubbing across her dress. She wore a simple smock, similar to a hospital gown, as he carried her towards the tree. "I see you," he replied. She looked over as she saw the pink tendrils of the tree, and felt him kneel down to place her on the cool ground. He stayed a few moments, looking over her human form. He had never truly seen her like this, but it didn't change the way he watched her – his eyes were still as if he were looking at her other body, but then they looked wistful. He brushed his fingers over her breathing mask, as if wanting to touch her skin. "I wish I met you sooner. We could have had ages… months… years…"

"We will," she said with more confidence than she truly had.

"I imagined this, you know," he told her quietly. "But… for you to be permanently Na'vi, not for this."

"Hey," she murmured, stroking his hand gently. His ears perked as she said, "One day." And from the way she saw him forcing a smile, she knew he was questioning if they would have that day.

He slowly bent over her, and she knew what he wanted. She lifted her head gently and though his lips touched glass, she knew the meaning. He slowly rose after a few moments, and they shared a smile before he disappeared from her vision, and she was left staring at the tendrils of the tree above her. You can back out of this now, a voice in her head said, but she pushed it away as Mo'at came to bend over her now.

"I will do my best," she promised, and Neytiri nodded, closing her eyes.

Grace watched as ripples of light ran across the moss where the clan was seated. Their queues were covered in vines from the ground, lighting up like heartbeats. It was a sight to behold. She watched in awe, wishing she had a camera, and she wasn't the only one: "I wish I could film this," came a voice behind her.

She turned to see Norm standing beside her. He was the right height as he had brought his own Avatar from the base when they went to retrieve her and Neytiri. Trudy, Marcia and Hegner had stayed away, the latter of whom had seemed positively fearful at entering the Na'vi's midst again. Besides, it was quite improper for human forms to come to the Tree of Souls. Neytiri's would be the first one.

Grace found herself quite annoyed by Norm's words, but said nothing as she directed him to sit down. Mo'at cast her hands over the crowd, and silence descended. The toruks were quiet themselves, and seemed to bow as well, bending their terrifying yet noble heads. And slowly, she began to chant in a prayer, which the clan echoed and answered, their bodies swaying in the chant.

Grace just bent her head and prayed to Eywa herself. Please let Neytiri be all right. Please, please… Please let this work. I don't pray often so this means something right here. Please protect her… please let her be all right.

Tsu'tei prayed and prayed with Mo'at's instruction, chanting along yet also thinking different prayers. I can't do this alone… I need Neytiri. She can't leave me! Please let her be all right. Protect her, Mother, please. Help us…

And Mo'at was chanting, her eyeballs rolling around in her head as she was taken over by the spirits. She was not of this world at this time.

Ja'kanhe, however, prayed to someone entirely different: Help her, Tzu'khan.
Neytiri felt a swooping sensation in her stomach, yet she didn't dare open her eyes. Through her mind she could see flashes of memories, of things she had seen and done over the short time… meeting Grace… running into Ja'kanhe… seeing Tsu'tei shoot her a deathly stare… and then she was flying, over the forest, far out reach of all of them… If she looked back she would be lost –

"What the fuck do you mean, you don't know where they are?" Miles was yelling, storming about the administration area of RDA. He looked absolutely terrifying, his face strained, his veins popping out of his neck. "Find them, you miserable cunts, or so help me…" He didn't finish his threat, as had been his intention – let them make up their own grave endings. He watched as his men ran out of the room, carrying their guns. How stupid had they been when they made those Avatars? Why didn't they put a more advanced tracking system on them? It wouldn't have caused much more work, just modifying their trackers so apart from letting them link up with the bodies, they could be found.

He ran his hand through his cropped hair, cracked his neck, and slowly moved through the glass doors, heading into the lab. Everyone stood quickly to attention when he came in. "Patel!" he called, and the doctor ran over to him, as terrified as if he had been tortured into his bidding, clutching his tablet as if it were a lifeline. "What's going on here? Have you found them yourself?"

"N-no." Max cleared his throat and stood up straighter. "No sir."

Miles dragged his eye over the scientist, his brow furrowing. "Are you lying to me, Patel?"

"No, sir," Max said, more clearly. "We found them momentarily, but then we lost them. It's as if they disappeared."

Miles cursed and looked around the room. He creaked his neck again. "No matter. If I know Nicole, and I think I do, she won't stay away for long. She can't make them run, there's nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. Besides, she'll want to come back for him."

Max swallowed and glanced over to the large window, seeing the blue body lying across the bed, as still as stone.

"We should make peace with them," voiced one of his men. "If we make peace they will leave of their own accord."

Miles considered this for a moment, before turning to Max. "Hand me your tablet," he said, and begrudgingly, the scientist did. He was right to be hesitant, for Miles brought it to smash onto the ground. The screen cracked in two easily. "There's your peace," he spat. "If he still breathed – " he gestured to the body in the lab " – maybe we could broker one. But, alas, he got in the way of the bullet not meant for him. And as the idiot fell on concrete, even the Na'vi's little magic spells couldn't help him. Right? Max! I'm asking that of you!" He turned sharply around to the scientist, fixing him with a stare.

"Yes," Max said through gritted teeth. "They cannot heal a human's destruction."

" 'They cannot heal a human's destruction, sir'."

"You don't have to call me 'sir', Colonel."

Miles pulled himself back, and looked to one of his men stationed at the door of the lab. The man nodded, and came forward, hitting the barrel of his gun against Max's chin. Blood poured from the gash; someone screamed.

"Get him out of here," he ordered and three men came to drag the disorientated scientist away, whilst another ran after them to check on his wound. Miles walked himself over to the window, looking down at the body of the past prince of the Omaticaya.

He heard nothing, felt nothing. But an odd thing happens when you die. Taste, touch, smell and hearing disappear, but sight? Well, sight becomes all the more powerful. An understanding of the world becomes clearer. The deceased can see all that they missed in their life, watch their loved ones, and perhaps, with luck, answer a prayer…. I heard you, Ja'kanhe. Wake up, Neytiri.

Neytiri gasped as her eyes flashed open. The singing promptly stilled as Mo'at signalled them to stop. She blinked, trying to adjust to where she was. She didn't see grey walls and glass any more, but the tendrils of the tree above her. She didn't see white lab coats and military uniforms, she saw –

"Neytiri!" She slowly turned over to see Grace rushing over, taking her small brown hand in her cyan ones.

She carefully eased herself up, thinking of everything she had seen. But she put that aside for now as she looked down to her thin legs. Grace placed a steadying hand on her back, and she moved her toes. She moved her toes. They both looked at one another, and smiled. She drew her knee up as if nothing had ever happened to it. Grace held out her hands for her as she slowly rose to her feet, wobbly as a newborn foal, but walking… She was walking in her human form, something she had wanted for such a long time…

But it felt strangely anti-climactic. She looked at her Avatar form, and prayed she had made the right choice. But she could see no other way.

"It worked!" Mo'at called to the rousing cheers of the clan. Her toruk yelled in triumph though he didn't understand, yet he too was caught up in the excitement that held palpably in the air.

Yet Neytiri couldn't stay excited for too long. Even as Ja'kanhe rushed over to sweep her into a crushing cuddle, and Tsu'tei came to say how thankful she was, and the whole Tsan'ten family and members came to greet their strange human companion, her eyes sought others.

"Zuleika! Tihawnu!" she called, and they turned to look at her, attentive. "Please go to your clan and come back with help."

They dipped their heads and called to the members of the clan they had brought, all of them running back to the Omaticaya home to take their ikrans and their pa'li, to run and get more warriors. Neytiri turned to Eytukan and N'deh, who bowed their consent, took Ja'kanhe and many other warriors towards Hometree themselves, ready to meet other clans.

"I hope you know what you are doing," Grace said, not unkindly.

Neytiri turned to look up at her, and tried to pat her shoulder, but remembered how small she was now, so settled for patting her elbow. Her legs were still wobbly, but it was as if Eywa were expediting their renewal of strength; she could already stand well on her own. "I do. This time, I truly do." She paused for a moment, and looked to Tsu'tei, who came to stand beside her. She felt very dwarfed between the two of them. "Miles is preparing already, I saw it. He doesn't know what he's preparing for – he thinks he just needs to find us, so that's good and bad. Best case scenario, he prepares less than he needs. And…" She glanced behind her to see Mo'at talking to some of the nursing mothers, children and the elderly. She turned back to Tsu'tei and Grace. "They have Tzu'khan still."

Tsu'tei gave a vicious snarl in the back of her throat, her tail flicking dangerously. Neytiri felt very impassive without hers now. "They are awful!" Tsu'tei growled.

"Yes, but they think I'm going to come back for him."

"You are though, are you not?"

"Yes," Neytiri agreed, but then she grinned. "But they aren't quite expecting this, are they?"

• • •

The more the minutes turned into hours, Neytiri wondered if this was the best plan. She already hated her short, stringy hair and brown skin, and the feel of the mask on her face and wished she were back to normal. But she couldn't think about that now. She had to practice walking more and more, which she did as Jake practiced with his gun outside of Hometree.

"I cannot believe I am holding one of these," he muttered, sounding as disgusted as if he had walked into a pile of entrails.

"I'm sorry I have to do this to you, but the more you know, the better," she said as she kept her head up, walking normally. She tripped a little bit every now and again, but she was getting the hang of it in this body.

Jake hissed through his teeth as he looked at the long, black weapon. "Where did you get this?"

"Norm infiltrated the Avatar compound," she told him. She stopped her walking and came over to him, her height now at his elbow. "Now come on. Student becomes the teacher, show me how you hold it."

Jake fixed his stance and aimed the weapon towards the target, a sack of grain perched against the trunk of a tree. He had to smile at the change in their relationship as she now came to adjust his hold, fix his stance. He felt better about holding the type of armament that had killed his brother and many of his friends when she was the one telling him how to. Anyone else who would have tried would have been sorry. "Better," she told him. "You're doing well, you're picking this up fast. Better than Grace, anyway. Don't tell her I said that, though. Now… squeeze the trigger slowly when I say – "

She hadn't put bullets into it now, just in case, and it was good she didn't, for the gun took off before she had been able to say 'Go'. Jake pulled back at the power from the gun, and shook himself off, hearing ringing in his ears. He growled at the strange sound, rubbing his ears. "Shot too soon!" he called to her.

She couldn't resist. "Yeah, well… you know, we could always just cuddle, Jake."

His hearing had clearly returned to him as he fixed her with a dark look. "Hilarious, Neytiri," he said sarcastically as she laughed herself, doubling over. He had the sudden feeling of wanting to gently tap her on her shoulder so she fell into the mud, but couldn't bring himself to be so cruel. Besides, her laughter was definitely contagious.

"I hope we work over here," came a soothing voice, and they looked over to see Tsu'tei coming towards them. She glanced between them, clearly looking uncomfortable, before focusing down on Neytiri. "It is time."

Neytiri swallowed. All the confidence she had been exuding since she began to walk in her human body again seemed to disappear. Tsu'tei must have realised how she felt, for she placed a hand on her shoulder and said, "You will be all right."

Jake did the same, though he seemed to forget how much stronger he was than her now, because when he put his hand on her, she felt her feet sink a few centimetres into the mud. "We are right here."

She nodded at them, patting both of their hands in turn, before she walked to go and find Grace.

• • •

The roar of the helicopter was deafening, but she was glad for it to block out her fear. She pressed the microphone button on the necklace Jake had given to her. "Can you hear me, Jake?"

"Yes, Neytiri, I can," he responded, and she breathed. She tried the next person. "Tsu'tei, can you hear me?"

"I can hear you," came the response, and she heard the screech of her toruk.

"What about you, N'deh?"

"Yes!" she heard him yell so loud she had to pull her head away from hearing it. The sound of the chopping blades of the helicopter almost drowned out his response.

"Good," said Grace as she sat down beside her, in her own human form now. She glanced upwards, as if she could see her husband, but Neytiri knew she didn't have to worry; N'deh was very surefooted as he stood on top. The women sat beside their link chambers in the shack as it flew over the forest. "Trudy has said she can sit us down about a kilometre away from the base, and then you'll have to walk. Or run."

"I'll be fine," Neytiri said, throwing a smile Grace's way. "I stayed alive for five hours in the forest, remember?"

"In your Avatar."

"You just had to kill it, didn't you?" She rose to her feet, bent down to touch her toes, and then walked as if she had been doing it unencumbered all her life. "I'll be fine."

Grace watched her, and gave her a smile, trying to hide her own terror. They were getting closer and closer. This was it. And Neytiri knew it, too, for she said, "This is it. You know what to do. And remember Grace, don't let anyone stop you."

She prayed it wouldn't come to that, but nodded her consent. She tried to justify it to herself. "Well, they pushed us this far, didn't they?"

Neytiri closed her eyes. "That they did."

• • •

Once they touched down, Neytiri grabbed her mask and rose to her feet. Grace came to give her a final hug for luck at the door. "Be safe," she asked her, even though they both knew that that wasn't in their hands at all.

Settling herself, Neytiri walked into the airlock, and waited till it was closed and locked with Grace on the other side, before stepping out. She felt a strange sense of déjà vu, though that was impossible: she had never infiltrated RDA before quite like this. Though, she thought darkly, what kind of an idiot did this twice?

All of a sudden the plan before her seemed to be unravelling. How would this work? Surely she was just a young woman trying to break into the place with the tightest security in the world. Her plan seemed remarkably childish now, and she felt her confidence waver even more.

She heard footsteps to her right and she said, "Hegner."

The footsteps stopped short. "That was impressive," Hegner commented, impressed. He wore his usual long sleeved shirt as he came over to stand beside her, carrying a small bundle in his arms. He passed it to her – military uniform. "Learn that from the Na'vi, did you?"

"No, I was just praying it was you, because otherwise, I would have been screwed." She saw a flicker of a smile on his anxious and weathered face. She took the camouflage uniform from him with a thank you and ducked behind a tree, returning once she had dressed. "How do I look?"

He eyed her up and down, and curled his lip. "I want to punch you in your face."

She grinned. "Perfect, then."

He passed her a tablet, which she tucked under her shirt, and a gun. "It doesn't have bullets, so don't go shooting around!" he snapped at her, and she resisted the urge to frown; this had been her plan in the first place. "Now you have to go through the side entrance. Less people there, see. Everyone should be heading to lunch now so it'll be a good time for you. And yes, it's inside the gun."

"Thank you, Hegner," she said to him, and she watched as he began to shuffle off. But to her surprise, he stopped, and turned back to look at her. "What is it, Hegner?"

He hesitated, dragging his feet on the forest floor, his whole body trembling. "I – I wanted to thank you," he said, avoiding her gaze. She was taken aback, but he continued. "You know, the Omaticaya clan were like a family to me, too… For a while anyway. Until a few years ago. And s-she died…" Neytiri paused, wondering what he was trying to say. "I miss her every day... My wonderful Mera."

Neytiri wasn't sure what to say, or do. Did she offer a hug? She decided not to, but just gave mutual understanding. "It happened at the school, didn't it?"

He nodded. "You know, I want you to know that I didn't want to sit idly by while Miles did what he did, and Parker, too. I know we were both there when they said they would. I just… I guess I'm not as brave as you." He forced a watery smile.

Neytiri felt sorry for him, though she was highly confused. "Anyone can choose to be brave. You are being so, right now, coming out here."

He sniffed, folding his arms around him. "Least I could do, y'know? They did so much more… I know you think I'm just a mindless fool but… some days the Na'vi are the only think that help me out of bed in the morning… Often she was the only one who did… She kept me sane… and after her, after I put my Avatar in the path of the palulukan… Well sometimes I wished I'd done it to my human body instead." He tugged at his sleeves, and now it made sense: now Neytiri realised why he wore such long sleeves in the humid heat of the forest. He had fallen in love with a Na'vi girl, and never got to see her again after the guns took her away. She felt a pang in her heart for him, and she reached out to touch his shoulder, imagining how horrible it would have been for her if it had been Jake who had been shot…

"She would be awfully proud of you, today," she told him. He gave her a smile, and she watched as he shuffled back towards the fence, herself feeling more defiant. I can do this. She swallowed.

She walked with purpose through to the fence, finding the chain undone thanks to Hegner. She walked through, closing it behind her, and marched towards the side door. No one stopped her. She wondered if Eywa was on her side right now.

She came to the door, and realised with dismay that it was locked by voice recognition. Shit. "Uh… Neyti – Nicole Moakley," she said.

"Access denied," came the cool mechanic voice. But she hadn't expected that to work.

She thought for a moment, and then it came to her. She took her tablet out and then touched her microphone. "Hey, everything okay?" came Grace's voice.

"All fine, but can you put Norm on?" She heard movement on the other end and then Norm said "What's up?" as she asked, "Norm, is there a way to make a caller come up without a name and a photo ID when they call another tablet?"

"Uh, you mean make your user private?"

"Yes, how do I do that?" she asked impatiently.

"Go to 'Settings' on your own tablet, go under 'Configuration' and tick the box that says 'Make me private'."

"Thanks!" She clicked off their connection and followed his instructions, before going to her applications. She opened up the recording device and turned it 'On' as she then went to her contact list and dialled. She made sure her video was off.

"Colonel Miles Quaritch," came the sharp, gruff voice, and she was startled to see his ugly face looking at her from his own tablet.

She grinned and deepened her voice as she said, "Sorry, what was your name again? Say it slowly."

"Colonel. Miles. Quaritch," he responded, sounding annoyed as she stopped the recorder. He frowned, peering at the screen. "Who the hell is this? I would like to – " Click.

This was too perfect. Neytiri cleared her throat and said to the voice recognition, "Hi, I'm a major asshole and my name is – " She pressed 'Play' on the recorder and it played back, "Colonel. Miles. Quaritch."

"Access granted," said the door as it swung open to the back of RDA. Score. Feeling infinitely more confident, Neytiri stepped through with ease.

Hegner had been right – the halls were unpatrolled as everyone was at lunch. She really felt she had some divine intervention, and she sent up a quick prayer of thanks to Eywa. Just keep keeping me safe for a while longer, she thought. She made sure her hair was up underneath her cap. She took off her mask and clipped it onto her belt as she stepped into the science labs. She saw Max on a chair, his chin being bandaged by another doctor. "… I'm fine, really Carrie, I – " He broke off as Neytiri walked through, and she was thinking he had recognised her, but she had never seen him glare at her with that much dislike. "What are you looking at, grunt?" he snarled. She felt strange, having him talk to her in such a way. They had never spoken much but he had always been kind to her. She could be glad, however, that her disguise was good enough. She steeled herself, before she realised he was waiting for a response.

"I – I'm just – "

"Going to your master, little dog?" he spat angrily. She had never seen him so irate. "Off you go then, bitch!"

She grit her teeth, and decided she would have a little chat to him after this was over about how to address people, but she did her best to let it go; he was angry, he was gashed deeply, and she supposed the military had spoken to him like that. She had almost forgotten during her time with the more peaceful Na'vi, but she had spoken a lot like that to people before. It was like an ugly monster was rearing its head from its depths inside her as she snarled back, "Watch your tongue, Patel, or I'll have it out and have it – what's the phrase? 'Done like a dog's dinner'?"

He turned a shocking shade of pumice but settled as she walked away, reeling from what she had just said. But she couldn't worry about that now. She looked through the glass doors and saw many of Miles' military men patrolling in the administration area. Perfect, but it would be hard for her to get her weapon out. She was stuck between them and Max. Deciding on the lesser of two evils, she turned around to Max and the doctor, opening her rifle and pulling out the hidden grenade that had been stored in the empty barrels.

"Hey what the fuck are you doing?" Max yelled.

"Hold your breath, Max!" she called, looking to him. His eyes suddenly widened in recognition as she turned around and the glass doors opened before her. Everyone turned to look at her just as she swung her arm, throwing it into the administration, and she saw Miles' face contort in a yell…

• • •

BANG!

Glass and concrete shattered from the top floor, exploding onto the ground below. The military on the floor looked around, absolutely bewildered, some bloody and knocked out, or worse. But she couldn't think about that. "Go, go, go!" Grace yelled into her microphone, and she heard the shrill battle call in response from above her. The military wildly pointed their guns to the sky, but then realised it would do nothing as the large red and orange toruk sailed overhead, before diving under Tsu'tei's command. The military scattered as the great beast took a swipe with its menacing mouth, grabbing one and shaking him so viciously until his lower half dropped to the floor, blood pooling onto the concrete. Seeing they had got her message, Grace quickly rushed into the shack to link up.

"Aim and fire!" called one of the men. "Kill it, shoot it down like a dog you – " But the soldiers under his command didn't find out what name he was going to drop, as the male toruk, furious that his mate was being shot at, snatched the man up in his jaws as he dived down and tossed him against the smoking building with a sickening crack! Blood dripped down the concrete now.

The soldiers didn't know where to turn, so half tried to turn towards the female and the other towards the male, and didn't think to look above: arrows rained down as Ja'kanhe yelled out orders of his own from the sky with many other warriors on their ikrans.

RDA were completely unprepared, just as Neytiri had predicted. But while the Na'vi had the upper hand on timing, RDA had waves of soldiers to throw against them. Ja'kanhe expertly aimed his bow on the back of his ikran, and shot a human through the neck.

Eytukan rode next to his son, and expertly fired three arrows at once, two of them hitting targets square in the chest. "Father, get N'deh and go with Grace to make sure they don't bring out reinforcements! Find Zuleika and take her, too!" Eytukan made a signal with his tail to show he had understood and took off. Ja'kanhe was truly worried about what Neytiri had warned them about – bombs. If her small one had been able to do that much damage, he didn't want to think about how bad it could get with more.

N'deh and Grace's Avatar were charging through the forest on horseback, she gripping tightly to him as he steered the pa'li quickly through the thicket. They burst onto the scene, the creature's hooves clattering on the concrete as Eytukan soared over head, calling to them. Grace jumped off and N'deh was too before he let out a blood curdling scream. Terrified, Grace looked to him, but she saw the horse sway unsteadily on its feet, and N'deh quickly jumped off as it fell to the ground, its throat sliced open. A soldier stood ready with a gun but N'deh was quicker, putting two arrows into his body before he could shoot at them.

"Fantastic aim," Eytukan praised his younger brother as he landed. He gave a whistling call to the air before he looked to his sister-in-law. "Where do they keep the other weapons? We need to guard that."

Another ikran landed beside him, and Zuleika slipped off. "I am here to help!"

"Follow me!" Grace ordered and the four them ran. Eytukan dodged as a bullet shot past his side, keeping him inches away from death. The male toruk, seeing them running to him and narrowly avoiding bullets, roared in anger that his rider's family was being attacked. He snapped his terrifying jaws at the soldiers, biting one clean through the middle. "Thank you!" Grace yelled to him, and the dragon-like creature gave a snort.

Meanwhile Tsu'tei jumped onto the back of her own toruk, bonding with her quickly. She was no fighter, but as she had discovered in the past day, she was a reasonable rider. The toruk took to the skies and called out a piercing shriek, which caused several soldiers to aim their weapons at her. "Kill them," Tsu'tei ordered her, and the toruk had no issue in obliging as she dived down and crushed them. She looked around the battlefield, and felt her breath catch as she saw Tihawnu miss a bullet by a width of hair, and just as she was about to tell her toruk that they had to find Neytiri, she felt a blinding, sickening pain. She screamed, as did her toruk as she was pulled down off the back of her by her queue, breaking the connection in the most painful manner. She felt as if all her nerves were on fire, an explosion in her mind. She hit the ground hard and looked up as three men laughed at her, one bringing a knife towards her queue. She swallowed, feeling her heart pound.

"I hear this is worse than death you guys," one of the men jeered, and she could feel his hot, sour breath on her face…

"NOT MY SISTER, YOU ASSHOLES!" All of them looked around to see Ja'kanhe rising over with his ikran. Between him and the toruk, Tsu'tei's attackers didn't stand a chance – Ja'kanhe fired an arrow directly through the eye of the one who was holding her, and the toruk, alert now to what was happening as she shook off the pain, shrieked and plunged her teeth over the heads of the other two, lifting them off the ground and shaking them.

"Thank you…," Tsu'tei murmured, feeling dazed as the effects of a migraine took over. She did her best to ignore it, shaking her head to clear it, but it made it worse; she was accurately aware of her brain's position in her skull after they had pulled her queue.

Ja'kanhe landed beside her, making sure she was all right. She pushed him off. "Neytiri… Ja'kanhe, find her…!" she ordered, breathing hard.

Ja'kanhe looked at the toruk who growled as if to tell him Tsu'tei would be safe, and without another word he jumped back onto Seze, who took to the skies and towards the destroyed administration area.

• • •

The world resolved to pain and semi-darkness. She was half buried in dust and rubble. Humid air told her that the windows and some of the wall had been blown away and the hot liquid running down the side of her face was blood. There was a painful ringing in her ears, but it slowly faded and the sounds of the battle outside came to her. She found she wasn't in enough pain that she couldn't move, and rose to her feet slowly, her eyes blinking hard as she adjusted to the dust. The administration area was unrecognisable. The holographic tablet was blown apart, the desks coated in white powder and strewn every which way. Bodies lay everywhere, some feebly stirring, others completely still. Neytiri slowly stagged, feeling her legs pang with every step she took, as she made her way over to where he would have been.

She found him, covered in grime, blood gushing from a wound on his temple and another from the side of his neck. He didn't move, though he was watching her. Badly injured, perhaps? But then she saw a large chunk of the wall was trapping his arm – if he moved, he would rip his own skin. She watched him. He stared back.

It occurred to her how short the battle had been. The build-up to it had been long in comparison, and she had been betting on a long fight. But there was no point. The man they needed was trapped, his men scattered, and he a shadow of his former self.

Miles looked her up and down. His eyes fell upon her legs. "Guess I made a mistake," he muttered, and laughed in spite of himself. "Women can do a man's work."

"A grave mistake, Quaritch," she said as she continued to watch him. "It's over."

His jaws tightened, his veins popping in his neck as she had seen in her vision. "Nothing's over while I'm breathing!"

She let that sink in for a moment, before she crouched down, looking at him. She stretched out her hand and brushed some of the dust away from his forehead. He looked like he would love nothing more than to take her hand off of her arm. "I kinda hoped you'd say that," she whispered to him, as tenderly as if she were speaking to a child. "But see, I'm not going to let you die quite so easily. I have questions first that I need answered before I carve your heart out of your body." A flicker of a smile crossed her face. "So you and I are about to have a lot of fun."