Chapter Text
Scene: Pandora Forest
All hell was going down. The wind was pushing against the recoms and Spider and they made way through the dense forests.
“AHH—“ Lopez screamed as a rock was thrown into his face. He couldn’t hold on as he was tossed back, thrown off of a small cliff.
“DIEGO!” Prager gasped, panic flaring in his bones… no… not Lopez…
“KEEP YOUR STAND! KEEP IT!” Quaritch screamed through the angry weather. “We can’t go after him! We’ll all get killed!” his voice was pained. He absolutely hated the fact that he may have just lost a recom… but he couldn’t dwell on it. He needed to get the rest of his people to safety.
“No…!” Prager struggled to keep his legs planted into the soil as more air shoved its way through the trees. “Lopez!” it was all his brain could focus on. One of his best friends.
“Ethan! Stand your ground!” Nathan Brown placed a steady arm under Ethan’s shoulder, keeping him from falling to his knees.
Up ahead, Spider— being much weaker than a Na’vi— had to cling to Zdinarsik in order to keep from flying away in the extremely strong wind.
“Just hold on, Baby…” Z was sobbing upon knowing that one of the recoms— one of her buddies— were gone.
“It was Lopez?” Spider’s eyes filled with tears that threatened to spill.
Before Z could even confirm, more rocks blew from a small mount and crashed directly into Lyle Wainfleet’s chest. The man fell, being pushed away by the extremely forces.
“Grab me!” Quaritch demanded, hand reaching out for the man who was being dragged through the hard ground.
Lyle wasn’t able to reach Miles’s hand, but he could grab onto his tail. The force of his weight on the standing man’s tail sent a pain spring down Quaritch’s body, making him falter.
“Don’t let go! Please don’t!” Walker screamed with all of her might as she clinged to a tree.
Lyle had managed to wrap his hand around a root that poked from the ground, and decided that it was best to finally let go of Quaritch. But the root didn’t seem to be very secure, because it gave way, sending Lyle down the steep slope.
Mansk saw the barreling body coming right for him, and thought that he could block his fall— but the force of Lyle’s body slamming into Mansk sent them both tumbling down.
“NO!” Quaritch screamed, eyes wide with fear. His muscles were aching from the strain that they were being forced to handle.
“I wanna go home!” Spider screamed, grip faltering from Z’s waist.
“Me too!” Zdinarsik cried, her tears flying away with the wind.
“Just— hold on—“ James Alexander demanded from behind, his body struggling to keep grounded against a large rock. His medical pouch was within his grasp— as if he would never let it go for anything.
“James… you need both hands…” Maria whispered from her spot on the ground. The only thing keeping her from flailing away was a large vine wrapped around her wrist.
“I can’t use both! I can’t lose my pouch! What if someone gets hurt! I need to be able to save them!” James’s ears pinned, tears quickly filling his eyes.
“Ja…—“ Fike tried to speak, legs slowly giving out. “What is the chance of us surviving this? Our comms ain’t working. Nothing is working. The storm is getting stronger by the minute…”
“You’re just a kid. You don’t know what you’re talking about!” James was spiraling into a state of panic.
Brown and Prager, still at the back of the pack, struggled to keep their grips. Prager, already defeated by the sight of Lopez being thrown, has turned weak, not trying as hard to keep steady.
“I can feel you lagging, Ethan. Stand your fucking ground!” Brown struggled to hold the man up with one hand. His other was slipping.
“I can’t do this…” Prager muttered, boots slipping under the soil.
“Prager. No. Prager!” Brown’s eyes widened when the man willingly let go. His body slammed into a tree before being thrown off of the small cliff.
“FUCK!” Brown screamed, tears now running down his face. His sobs were so heavy that even the hard wind wasn’t able to fully dry them instantly.
“Who’s left?!” Quaritch hollered with his loudest voice— and even then, it sounded like a mere whisper.
“Walker!” Maria screamed. Following that was Zdinarsik’s confirmation. Then Spider. Alexander. Fike. Brown.
“Only six…?” Quaritch muttered to himself, gaze wide with shock.
“BOULDERS! BOULDERS!” James screamed, trying to move over as the large rocks barreled down the slope.
“MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!” Quaritch roared, boots slipping as he struggled to get over. Spider lost grip of Zdinarsik for just a moment, but it was enough to cause catastrophe.
His whole body slid from her waist, and she was unable to grab him in time. The kid slammed into Brown, sending them both off track. The recom was able to hold the kid for only a moment… but the grip never lasted… and Spider was sent flying down the massive slope.
“AHHHHH! NO!!!” Zdinarsik cried, letting go of the root that she had been holding onto.
“Z! STOP!” James tried to snag her arm, but it was too late. She was tumbling down the slope after her adoptive son.
Quaritch knew what had happened… his baby boy was gone. Gone with the wind. His whole body froze as the massive boulders crashed right last. The rumble rom the ground threw Brown into the brush below. His screams were cut off.
Now only Fike, Walker, Alexander, and Quaritch remained.
The young recom was hyperventilating, grip slipping from his sweaty and bleeding fingers. James tried his best to keep a good grip around him, but the kid was going completely limp. His body was too heavy for James’s already exhausted arms to hold. He had to let go. At the same time, Walker’s grip slipped.
“No…” Quaritch cried, grip faltering more.
“Colonel… it’s only us now.” James confirmed. “Horrible way to die…”
“Please safe yourself… you deserve life, kid…”
“Kid…?” James huffed with exhaustion, “I’m only— mentally— like… two years younger than you…”
“Still a kid to me… you guys were all my kids…” Quaritch laid his head against the ground, letting fate slowly take over.
“Miles…?” James called out, “I’m scared…”
“I know, I know… I’m scared too…”
“I don’t wanna die.”
“I know…”
“Again…”
Quaritch sniffled. All he could think of was his son being dead at the base of the cliff right now.
“James.” he called out. There was no answer.
“James?!” the man looked back in pain. The man was gone…
“No…” he cried, “no!”
Then, everything went black.
***
Nature noises had never felt more confusing in the man’s life. Why was he feeling water against his skin?
Then… why did he hear the faint hissing of a mask? Was he imagining things? Was he going insane?!
He tried his hardest to open his eyes, but they wouldn’t comply.
Then, ragged walking— at least that’s what it sounded like. Who was walking? Who was hovering over him and his son?!
Then, “oh my god!”
…Zdinarsik? Her voice has never sounded so beautiful— even though it was rough and gruff.
“Spider! Wake up! Wake up, Baby!”
Then
“Quaritch?! Colonel! Miles! Wake up!! Please!!”
The man tried so hard. So, so hard. Was he in a coma?
“Wake up!!” She turned back to Spider, “please! I’m scared!! I can’t lose another baby! I can’t!”
Only moment later did Spider’s gasp break the air. He coughed loudly, with a large groan following.
“My arm! My arm!”
“Spider! Oh my God, shhh. Easy, easy. Shhh…”
“Zdinarsik! My arm! Ahh—oww!” Spider was crying— ugly crying.
“Shhh… hold on. Just hold on.” the woman reassured, voice wavering.
“I—is that Quaritch?!” The kid asked between pained gasps.
“Yes…”
“Is he alive?! Oh my Eywa! Please tell me he’s alive!!” the boy began to scream.
“Hold on, Baby. I just need you to take a deep breath.” Z tried her best to keep her voice low and smooth.
“No— no… Quaritch…!”
“Spider… shhh… easy, SpiderMonkey.”
“And—and y-you!! You’re bleeding! Bad!”
“I’m fine. I’m not worried about myself. It’s you who I’m worried about…”
“No…” Spider let out another pained cry. “Wake Dad! Please!”
Quaritch heard everything. His son’s cries. His pained, horrible cries… Z’s attempt to keep him calm even though she, herself, was in such bad condition. He wanted desperately to wake up. But it was like he was in this strange paralysis, where his body was locked up.
“Miles… wake up.” Zdinarsik shook him, warm ears from her eyes dripping onto his neck— or was that blood?
“Q-…Quaritch. Your son needs you…” she let out a shaky sob.
The man made no sound, only stillness. But he could still feel everything— including when the woman reached a finger to his neck to feel for a pulse.
“I feel a heartbeat, Spider.” Z-Dog seemed to let out a shaky breathe that she never knew she had.
“Then why isn’t he waking?!”
“I don’t know…”
“If he’s dead, then I want to die!” Spider roared.
Z did not respond, giving Quaritch the impression that she was too shocked by the sentence to do so. It caught the man off guard too.
“Spider… he— he’s not dead. Don’t say that…”
“I just want to go home… I want to go back…”
“Shhh…” the woman’s soothing voice seemed to calm the kid in a strange way because he no was longer outwardly screaming.
***
Quaritch had been counting in his head as the seconds went by of him not being able to move. Maybe he was just… paralyzed. Hit somewhere wrong— broke a bone in the wrong spot. But how come he wasn’t able to even open his eyes? He had to have been in a coma, right?
But then, something within himself finally moved. His tail twitched— he could feel it. The man tried to move it again, and this time, he flicked.
“Look—“ Z gasped, assumedly directing their attention at the tail.
“He’s waking, Spider. He’s waking up…”
Then, Quaritch was able to twitch his ears to the different sounds. His eyes fluttered, but never stayed open.
In the span of 15 more minutes, Quaritch was finally able to lift his head from the ground and actually woke up.
“DAD!” Spider let out a sob before tossing himself onto the recombinant.
“E-easy… easy, Cowboy…” he pulled the kid in for a hug, ribs burning. Upon getting a better look at his son, he noticed the limp arm, and bloody forehead. His mask was cracked, but not to the point where it had an air leak.
“Look at you… my little boy…” Quaritch couldn’t help but cry— in fact, he couldn’t regulate emotions at all at the moment.
“I think the rest are dead…” Spider shivered against his father’s chest.
The recom male pulled tighter against his son with his bloody arms and beaten up face.
Z looked worse though. Her nose was busted. Her lips, too. One ear had a hole, and a massive stain of blood covered her thigh.
“Are you okay…?” the man asked, never daring to let go of the child in his arms.
“I’ll… be fine.” she responded, even though it sounded like a lie.
***
“Help!” Fike screamed, arm wedges in between the a boulder and the hard ground. “Help me!”
No one came, sending the young man into more panic, “my arm’s gonna come off!”
The hyperventilating sent dizziness rushing through his head, forcing him to relax against his will.
His vision turned into a daze as two figures stood tight on top of him. They were blue… but they didn’t look like recoms. One had long, braided hair. The other, messy dreads.
“H—help…” Fike begged weakly.
There was no response for a while— but then, there was, “do we?”
It wasn’t in English— it was Na’vi. The only reason Fike understood what the woman was saying was due to Spider’s lessons.
“He’s too weak to fight back.” A man’s voice came through in Na’vi, but it had an American accent.
“N-no. I won’t fight… I can’t fight…” Fike cried. Through the blurry vision, Sean couldn’t seem to understand what the man was doing, but it looked… astonished?
“What’s your name, man? You look familiar. And you’re wearing military gear.” the standing man spoke in English.
“What’s yours?”
“Tell us yours first.”
“Private Sean Fike.”
“I’m not giving you my name, bud. But I will help you.”
“Whatever. Just help me.” Fike became reckless. Why couldn’t be even see straight?!
“Neytiri, help me.” The man went back to speaking in Na’vi. Then, moments later, a stick was being nudged between Fike’s arm and the boulder.
In English, the man said, “move your arm. Move it!”
The wiggle space was just enough for Fike to maneuver out— dislodging his limb.
“Ahh—“ Fike winched at the deep gash in his bicep.
Before he could even look back at the two Na’vi, they were gone— in the brush.
***
Lopez stepped, his limp becoming unbearable under his weight. A makeshift bandage was wrapped around his full torso. Yet, blood still seeped through and dripped down his leg. His gun had been swept away in the storm— and his handgun was malfunctioning in some way. He had to go back to the lesson that Spider gave him about making bows out of basically nothing.
In his grasp was a poorly made bow with a ridged arrow. His hands shook violently, exhaustion wearing his very being down.
Then, there was a snap of a twig. The man reacted instantly, aim poor despite his military training.
“Woah! Woah! It’s me! It’s me!” the voice belonged to Brown. The man’s shirt was covered his blood that seeped through his back.
“Fuck—“ Lopez finally let his guard down upon finding someone he could trust.
“No, no. Stand up.” Brown struggled to pull him back to his feet.
“Nathan… thank God…”
“Diego. You need to stand up. We need to move. We need to find everyone else.” Brown was desperate.
“I need rest…l
“We are in enemy territory— we need to leave. Please get up.” Nathan growled, using the last of his strength to pull the man to his feet.
“I can’t—“ Lopez fell right back down, taking Nathan down with him.
“Man… please…” Brown gasped.
“You need to cover that wound…” Lopez muttered, eyes locked onto the man’s back.
“So, we need to move.”
“I can’t.”
“You can.”
Lopez fell back, laying in the grass.
“Diego… you need to get up.” Brown struggled to stand himself. But he had to get the man up and running.
“Leave me.”
“Diego! Just come on!” Brown didn’t even realize that he was screaming.
“Help yourself! Over there— there’s some vines that work well as bandages…”
Brown slowly made his way to the tree containing the proper vines. “By the time I get back, you better be up.”
Lopez didn’t answer— but he seemed to at least try to stand. He only got so far before collapsing back onto the ground.
“At least I tried…” Lopez let out a miserable sigh.
Brown nodded to himself, tightening the vine around his back.
***
Mansk sat up, touching his cut lip with his shaky fingers. He was sat in a swampy area, water riding to his chest. To his right, Walker was messing with her gun, fumbling to reload it.
“Maria?”
She turned, panic in her eyes.
“Devin?”
“Fuck. Thank God you’re alive.”
“I thought you were dead.” She reached out to help him from the swamp.
“I feel dead…” he stumbled over his own legs.
Upon getting a good look at the woman, he could see that her tail was cut open, along with multiple small, but deep, lacerations across her body. The side of her face was busted open.
“My gun still works. If we stay close, we can maybe get out of here…”
“Maybe.” Mansk collapsed, weakness taking over his legs. “Can we just… sit here for a minute…?”
“Yes.” Walker held the weapon protectively in her hands, eyes watching out for any movement. Mansk couldn’t help but go limp, eyes forcing themselves closed.
***
“Prager?! Is that you?!” a voice cut the man from a daze that he seemed to keep going back to.
“J-… Jame—s…?”
“Woah, are you okay?!” James had the audacity to ask about someone else even though his own health was horrendous.
“N—no…”
“Why are you stuttering so much?” He gently knelt Ethan onto the ground.
“I—I don’t kn—no—w. I h—…it my hea—d…”
“You hit your head?” Ja winced. Prager nodded, then his eyes went wide, pupils going large.
“Prager?”
The man didn’t respond. His whole body went ridged— no reaction from his face.
“Ethan.” James gently nudged him. Then, he waved a hand in front of his face.
The man couldn’t leave it alone. He needed to figure out what the issue was— at least to the best of his abilities. So, James, despite his own injuries, leaned the unresponsive man back and checked his airways. Clear.
He kept his arm under the man’s head, cushioning his cranium. He also looked around his head for any lacerations or wounds. There was one large bang at the man’s skull base.
Prager then snapped out of the episode, gasping loudly.
“Easy. Easy. I think you just had an absent seizure.”
“N—…” he struggled to speak, body going ridged yet again. His fingertips tapped violently, whole body shivering as his eyes looked up, wide.
James tried to stay professional, but he could hardly keep his emotions down. His own pain was getting to him really bad. It hurt to the point where he couldn’t even do his profession. The man reached for his medial pouch for the fifth time in 10 minutes— as if something new was going to appear.
“No pain meds…”
Prager finally jumped back into reality again, gasping again.
“H—help m—e—e—“ Prager was crying, head bleeding out onto Ja’s arm.
“Shh… relax…” Ja’s voice shook. He hated not being able to do anything… “I’m sorry…”
“I don—t wanna d—ie…”
“You aren’t dying, buddy. You aren’t dying.” James spoke, though he wasn’t so sure if he was correct…
***
Wainfleet held his chest tightly. The rocks had penetrated his skin— ripping deep holes into his sternum. He couldn’t help but lean forwards when walking. His breathing was labored and shaky.
The man fell to his knees, mouth shaking as he attempted to mutter something out. Nothing ever came. He fell to the grass, body completely giving out.
His blood soon seeped through the green grass, staining it crimson. His eyes soon relaxed, and he fell into an unconscious state.
***
“We need to find the bodies.” Quaritch spoke, body not as shaky now.
“Everyone’s gotta be dead…” Z coughed.
“I don’t want to believe that.” Miles growled, holding his son tighter.
“We need to somehow contact the RDA.”
“Comms are down…”
“Colonel, we cannot go your way! We can’t save them! They’re all dead!”
“Zdinarsik. Stop. If we’re alive, then there’s a big change that the others are too.”
“We’re barely alive!” She yelled, teeth baring.
“Stop arguing!” Spider shouted. The two adults finally shut their mouths.
“We need to work together! Not against each other!”
“You’re right, kid…” Z sighed, resting a hand on his good arm.
Just then, there was rustling in the brush. Both recoms instinctively reached for their guns— but both had lost them in the storm.
“Fuck—“ Quaritch snatched a rock from the riverbed, Z standing in defense at his side.
Exiting the brush was… Jake Sully and Neytiri…
“Oh my Eywa…” Spider gasped.
Upon Jake landing eyes on the colonel, his gaze widened with anger and disgust. Along with Neytiri. She screamed, grabbing her bow and shooting an arrow at the man. Quaritch’s reaction time was still good, so he was able to duck in time, pushing Spider behind his form.
“Easy! Let’s just talk! I don’t wanna fight!” Quaritch screamed. “We don’t want to fight.”
“Neytiri. Put it down.” Jake muttered in Na’vi. The woman hissed, drawing her weapon away.
“You have a choice. We let you go— if you give us the kid.”
“Excuse me?!” Zdinarsik snarled, ears pinning at Jake. Neytiri jumped at her, shoving her back. Both females hissed, tails shot up in defense.
“You aren’t taking the boy.” she commanded.
Jake’s gaze never left Quaritch, “we need the damn kid! And we’ll let you go! If you don’t hand him over, we’ll kill the both of you!”
Spider’s eyes were wide. He should have wanted to go… he should have wanted to be with Jake.
But something stopped him. His father’s presence grounded him. Z-Dog’s mama instincts made him feel untouchable. He wasn’t leaving. Even if he wanted to.
“No. You ain’t touching my kid.” Quaritch snared. Jake retuned the gesture.
“He isn’t your kid.” Jake pointed his hand at Miles.
“He isn’t yours either.”
“I’m a better father than you could ever be… you kidnapped him…”
“I’m not handing him over. I’ll fight you over it.”
“You want to fight? Look at you! Beaten up and on your last fucking thread!” Jake mocked.
“I’ll still defend my son. Don’t underestimate me.” Quaritch’s tail swung around, hitting at rocky sand. Spider remained still, eyes wide.
Neytiri caught onto the fact that he was reluctant.
She had always hated him— but now that had a fucking choice and still chose the recoms sent her over the edge. The woman reached for her bow again, eyes locked on Spider.
Zdinarsik saw the motion and threw her body into the other mother. Neytiri shot the arrow, missing Z’s foot by inches. The two continued to sprawl. Jake raised his gun, ready to intervene. Quaritch wanted to intervene, but his child was so vulnerable by himself. He couldn’t move.
Zdinarsik had a good grip on Neytiri’s hair as the both of them fell into the shallow water.
“Z-Dog! Just let her be!” Quaritch decided to speak out, hoping that it would cause less tension between him and Jake— proving that he wasn’t interested in fighting.
“Neytiri. Off!” Jake demanded in Na’vi.
The two women finally came to a stop, breathing heavily. Z didn’t lower her guard, but she backed out of the fight, ears pinned in defense.
“Keep your arrows away from my son.” she demanded, teeth baring.
Neytiri didn’t respond— because she didn’t know what was said, but either way, she stood behind her husband.
“Come on, Quaritch. I need Spider back. Either way— I’m getting him.”
“You aren’t.” Miles stood tall, despite the pain raining through his leg.
“I will kill you.”
Quaritch kept his body positioned just before Spider, knowing that this may end with blood from both parties.
“He does not want to come! Look at him!” Neytiri growled, speaking in Na’vi to her husband. Miles and Alexis shifted their gazes to her, attempting to understand what was being said.
“I know.” Jake huffed.
“Let’s just kill him!” she growled.
“No, Neytiri. We don’t kill Spider.”
The kid, understanding what was said, jumped back in fear.
“They wanna kill me…” he whispered. Quaritch pressed his body against his son, guarding him with his whole body. Even Z backed up, creating a wall.
“Kill him!” Neytiri demanded.
“I can’t kill Spider…” growled Jake.
“Then I’ll do it!” the woman reached for her bow again.
“No! Neytiri! Just stop!” Jake growled. “We came here from the Metkayina Village to find Spider. Not kill him!”
“We’ll just tell Kiri that he died by something else.”
The mention of Kiri send a shiver down Spider’s spine.
“No.” Jake refused to let the boy get executed.
“Take your different ways, Jake.” Quaritch finally spoke, sick of the Na’vi talk.
Hand him over!”
“No, Sully!” if Quaritch had his damn gun, Jake would have been dead by now.
“Then I’ll shoot you.” Jake raised his gun at the man.
“If you shoot me— then the bullet will go through my body and potentially hit the kid. Do you really want that?”
Jake pinned his head, “I’ll just make sure to shoot you in the head.”
Quaritch hissed, Z making the same notion.
***
Fike had been walking around, looking for anyone. Recom or not. His arm was gushing out blood— and he could hardly feel it anymore.
His steps were becoming ragged, breath shaking violently.
Soon, he reached a little patch of trees that could make a good hiding spot. Quickly, he slipped into the makeshift protection unit and leaned against on of the trunks.
Maybe he really was a kid. His discipline wasn’t nearly as good as it should have been. He wanted to cry and scream. He wanted to find comfort in one of the older recoms. For sure, he was going to die, right?
Just ahead, rustling could be heard, along with the sounds of pained grunts. Fike locked up, ears perked, eyes wide. Could he investigate even without his weapons? It would be risky.
Fike made sure there was nothing defensive in his vest that he could use as protection. But then he felt a knife. With hope, the man snatched it from his vest and held it protectively in his good hand. He felt safer to investigate the rusting ahead.
“Keep standing. You can’t fall again.” A voice muttered, panicked and fast. It sounded an awful-lot like Nathan Brown.
“Hello?” Fike asked, voice rough to seem intimidating as he crossed the bend.
“Sean?” Lopez’s weak voice called out. He was currently leaned against Brown, leg giving out.
The younger recom’s eyes were wide— and he looked like he was desperate for a hug or something.
“Come here, boy,” Nathan extended his other arm, welcoming Fike inwards.
“Fuck, guys!” Sean cried, rushing into the embrace. He pressed his bleeding forehead against the older recom’s tactical vest, crying loudly. Lopez put a comforting hand on the man’s back.
“Are you okay?” Brown muttered.
“Yeah— my arm was lodged under a boulder. Some weird native Navi helped me…” Fike looked up to read the other man’s expression.
“They didn’t wanna kill you?” Brown seemed concerned.
“Maybe they did— but they obviously chose not to.”
“Man, at least you’re here. At least we aren’t alone.” Lopez smiled weakly, full weight still pressed against Brown’s side.
“I’m such a weak soldier. I almost gave in…” Fike half-heartedly laughed.
“You’re not weak— you’re just young. There’s a difference.” Nathan shook him.
“Yeah, you’re fine.” Lopez’s expression was pained.
“You guys look awful. Do you need help carrying Lopez?” Fike pulled back, wrapping a hand around the injured man’s arm.
“I’m honestly just forcing him to stand. Incase we need to flee fast.” Brown responded.
“Okay,” Fike nodded, keeping a grip over the leaning recom’s arm.
***
Alexander tried his best to hold Prager every time he experienced another absent seizure, but his own health was deteriorated. Every few seconds, he fell sideways, strength quickly vanishing.
Upon Prager being in a state of alert, he tried to tell Alexander to just let him go with his stuttered dialogue.
“No. I need to keep your head protected.” James adjusted his grip.
“T—then at l—e—east… —lea—n against a t…t…ree.” Prager tried to speak clearly. Then, he slipped back into another absent seizure, body locking up, eyes unnaturally wide and unfocused.
“Okay…” Alexander wanted to move, but he had to wait until the man wasn’t locked up to prevent injury.
Maybe 30 seconds later did Prager untense again with another gasp. That was when Alexander used most of his strength to scoot back, leaning against a large rock, Prager still in his grasp.
“James… w—h…hat’s wr—… ong wi…th me—e?”
“Some sort of brain damage bud. I wouldn’t typically diagnose without digging deeper… but it’s obvious…” Alexander sounded pained.
“I—I’m gonna d…ie?”
James didn’t know how to respond, “I’m going to do everything I can to prevent that from happening.”
“I d…on’t wan—n…a die…”
“You will be okay, alright?” James tried to smile. “Tell me about your daughters.”
“M—my tw…in daughters?”
“Yes, sir.”
The man’s face seemed to relax. “N—name…s we—we’re Li…Lilac an…—d Sop—Sophia…”
“Lilac and Sophie? Those are really beautiful names.”
“T—they we—re 2 when I l—left for the arm—army. I was l—lucky t…to be abl—e to c—call them often. W—when I—I died… they w—were 13.”
“Wow, Ethan. You were a good father, I just know it.” James pulled him in, comforting him as his breathing became labored.
“I—I loved th—them.”
“I know you did…”
***
“Keep walking, Mansk,” Maria spoke, gun drawn to the ground. Stealthily, she inched through the thick brush, Mansk right at her back with a knife. He kept looking backwards in order to check their 6.
“We’re coming into a clearing. Keep your guard up.” she slowly pushed through the last of the thick leaves. Upon exiting, she raised her pistol, eyes scanning the tree-less area. A little stream cut through the grass, admitting a peaceful ambiance.
“Wainfleet??” Mansk hollered, catching the woman off guard. To their right, under a bush, the lieutenant lay ‘lifeless’ in the grass. His blood had stained through the dirt.
“Fuck, is he breathing?” the woman took over full coverage as Mansk dropped to his knees. He rolled the man over, noticing his labored breaths.
“Lyle, can you hear me? Do you read?” Mansk gently shook him. The man blinked once, pupils enlarged.
“Check his heartbeat. I think James told me that if it’s fast, that’s actually better than slow.” Maria demanded.
Mansk pressed two fingers against the man’s jugular, staring into space as he calculated the speed.
“It’s really weak. But it’s fast.”
“I think that’s expected. Where’s the blood coming from?”
Mansk immediately ripped the man’s punctured tactical vest, revealing his ripped shirt beneath.
“Alright, hold on…” Devin then carefully tore his shirt into two, bringing the wounds to light.
“Fuck. It looks like he was shot.”
“How could he be shot?”
“I don’t know— but it looks like there’s bullet wounds.”
“It’s not through his back, right?” Maria pointed at Mansk to check his back. With a pained grunt, Mansk flipped his colleague over. There were no punctuation through his back. So either, he was shot from far away, or it wasn’t a bullet at all.
“Rocks…” Lyle whispered, eyes momentary closing.
“What?” Mansk dipped his ear closer to his mouth.
“Rocks… the wind… flew rocks into my chest…”
“Are the rocks lodged in his skin?” Maria asked.
“I can’t tell. The blood is too thick.”
“It’s best not to mess with them. They’re filling the wound from bleeding out more.” the woman spoke.
“Yes, I know.” Mansk wasn’t sure how to help. The man wasn’t able to move, and there was no medical help anywhere.
They couldn’t do anything about it.
***
“GIVE ME SPIDER! THIS IS YOUR LAST WARNING!” Jake held his gun pointed at Quaritch’s head.
The father didn’t move.
“J-Jake! Stop! Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot him!” Spider suddenly spoke out, uninjured arm held up in panic.
Both Quaritch and Zdinarsik reached for him, ready to pull him back into protection.
“Spider. Come here now. You’re free.” Jake hissed.
“N-no! I don’t want to!” Spider’s voice wavered.
“You disgusting little boy…” Neytiri spoke, teeth bared. The bow in her hand pulled back.
“I’m staying. Just leave us alone. Please.” Spider asked Jake desperately.
“What about Kiri? Why would you choose these freaks over your adopted parents? We’ve cared for you your whole like!” Neytiri roared.
“I—I want to stay…” Spider instinctively took a step back upon seeing the Navi mother raising the bow.
Z-Dog stepped forwards, hands instinctively reaching for the bow. But the woman let go, and the arrow plunged into Spider’s torso.
“AH—“ the kid fell back against Quaritch’s arms.
“YOU ASSHOLE!” Zdinarsik rushed forwards, throwing Neytiri to the ground once again. She threw wild punches— but so did Neytiri.
Jake had drew his gun at the woman fighting his mate, but Quaritch was on him in seconds. The trigger was pulled, sending bullets flying across the clearing.
Meanwhile, Spider held his stomach on the ground, gasping sharply.
“I will kill you and your little wife, Jake Sully.” Quaritch had a hold on Jake’s gun, holding it at his head.
On the ground, Zdinarsik had Neytiri pinned, held by the throat.
“I’m going to give you one chance to get the fuck out of here.” Quaritch huffed into Jake’s ear, finger on the trigger.
“Fine. I’m leaving. I’m leaving.” Jake sighed.
“Zdinarsik! Let her go!” Quaritch kicked at Neytiri, causing the woman to hiss. Z-Dog slowly pulled away, unleashing her hands from around the woman’s throat.
“Neytiri. Let’s go. Don’t fight. Don’t fight. Retreat.” Jake eased from Quaritch’s hold, letting him keep the gun. Neytiri stood, hissing at Quaritch, Zdinarsik, and Spider, who was bleeding out on the ground.
Upon the both of them rushing into the forest line, Quaritch kept the gun raised at the direction.
“Spider…!” Z was on the ground in seconds, holding the kid close to her chest.
“Ah… it hurts…” he muttered, bloody hands pressed around the punctured arrow.
“Don’t mess with it, Baby…” Zdinarsik’s eyes were wide.
Quaritch kneeled next to his son, weapon still drawn.
“Spider, slow breaths… slow, easy, deep breaths.”
“She shot me—“ he gasped out.
“Spider, don’t panic. We’re going to help you…” panic raised in Quaritch’s voice. The kid cried, one arm limp, and an arrow through his torso.
“We can’t lose you.” Zdinarsik sniffled. Quaritch had tears in his eyes as well— there wasn’t much they could do without medical help.
“Easy, Spider…” the man gently pulled his kid into his grasp, nuzzling his nose against his forehead.
“I’m gonna die—“
“No. No you’re not. Don’t say that.” Z placed a bloody hand over the boy’s hair.
“I am! I have an arrow through my stomach!” Spider sobbed, hyperventilating.
“Stop— Spider, stop. What did I say about slow breaths?” Quaritch shook his good arm.
The kid let out an exhausted moan, leaning his head back against Quaritch’s chest, eyes closed.
“I wish our fucking comms worked…” Z’s voice wavered.
Quaritch only hugged his son close to his chest, hands shaking as blood seeped onto his own clothing from Spider’s wound.
***
Fike, Brown, and Lopez stood by a flowing stream. Nathan knelt, rubbing the blood from his face. Fike remained with Lopez, ears pinned as the man became weaker by the second.
“Diego, do you need to sit?” Sean put a hand against the man’s chest.
“No… I’m fine.”
“Guys. Do you hear that?” Nathan stood up, water dripping from his face. His ears perked, listening closely to a rumble in the distance.
“The grounds shaking.” Lopez sighed.
“It sounds like a Samson.” Fike gasped.
Brown suddenly jumped onto a rock that stuck two feet out of ground. Then he waved his arms around, jumping.
The helicopter came closer, its presence shaking the trees.
“HEY!” Brown screamed, jumping again. Fike joined him, throwing his arms as if to grab the pilots attention.
“DOWN HERE!” Brown roared.
The helicopter seemed to slow in the air, and only moments later did it drop, landing feet away from the group of recoms.
The chopper soon quieted as its propellers slowed.
“Recombinants?” a male stepped out, armored in military gear.
“Are you a rescue party or something?” Brown stepped down from the rock.
“Affirmative. Is there any immediate need for medical attention?”
Brown glanced at Lopez.
“No, no. I’ll get attention back at Bridgehead. Just get us out of here.”
“Alright. Board. We have two other choppers on the mission. We can hold two more recoms— so help us look out for them.” The man stepped aside so the three massive creatures could step into the smaller chopper.
***
“Prager? You still with me?” James nudged his face.
“I—‘m tir—red…” the man spoke, body limp.
“Don’t close those eyes. Stay with me.”
“I’m d—ying.”
“You’re not.” James huffed out a shaky sigh. He hated that he was unable to help him properly.
“J—Jam—es… it’s o-okay to—to admit—t it…t…”
“I’m not admitting anything.” Alexander’s ears drooped.
“I—… I wan—na close m—y eye—s…”
“No, don’t. Please.” James seemed desperate, tears filling his eyes.
Prager’s gaze was forming into that of unfocus.
“Prager.”
The man didn’t answer as his breathing stilled.
“Prager! Stay awake!” James yelled, shaking him. The man took another deep breath, body rebooting.
“Stay with me…”
“I—I’m so—rry…”
“Just breathe…” Alexander pulled him in, resting his chin on his head.
“I’m t—try—ing…”
The wind started to pick up around them as the trees wobbled. A chopper passed overhead, massive propellers loud.
“HEY!!!” James gently pushed Prager away, resting his head against some moss, “HEY!!!!”
“W—what’s—s happening—g…”
“HELP US!” James screamed, fangs baring.
“J—James—“
“DOWN HERE!”
“Alex—ander—“ Prager gasped.
“Prager, they’re coming down! We’re gonna be savers!” James drew his head to face his injured colleague, a smile plastered to his face. But it quickly turned into a frightened frown upon seeing Prager’s unbreathing body remaining atill against the ground.
“Prager! Ethan!” His legs gave out, crashing him down just in front of the man.
“Prager! Wake up, man!”
The helicopter landed on the other side of the clearing, doors opening to reveal the already-saved Fike, Brown, and Lopez.
“Ethan?” Lopez asked from his seat, body limp against the material.
“Help him!” Brown demanded at the humans.
The same man, and a medic, rushed across the clearing.
“I need immediate medical help! Pulse is slow. Airways are inactive.” Ja waved them over, eyes wide and tearful.
“Check his throat for clog.” The medic sat down, grabbing the unconscious man’s face.
“There’s no clog. He’s dying! He’s been having absent seizures for the past hour and a half. His speech was stuttering. He has some kind of brain damage, I’m certain of it.” Alexander explained.
Humans controlling small amp suits headed over with a recom-sized stretcher.
They pushed the unconscious man up before carrying him back to the helicopter.
Back on the Samson, Lopez, Brown, and Fike’s eyes were wide in panic.
“Is he dead?” Fike gasped. No one answered him. Soon, James joined them, limping and worn down.
“James… what happened? Is he dead?!” Brown scooted for his colleague.
“Heartbeat is slow… he isn’t breathing. I don’t know… I don’t fucking know…” the man leaned onto Brown, eyes closing in exhaustion.
“You did well. You kept him alive for as long as you could.” Fike muttered. Lopez looked terrified. Was his best friend really… gone?
***
“Look! A chopper’s overhead!” Maria screamed, grabbing the attention of Mansk, who was still on the ground with Wainfleet, holding a hand over the man’s open wounds.
“Shoot your gun. Get their attention.” Mansk demanded. Maria aimed for a tree, the boom loud.
The helicopter made its way down, stopping just before Maria.
“Is there a medic onboard?!” She asked, peering into the bare chopper.
“I’m here” a woman stood, adjusting the mask on her face.
“The lieutenant was punctured with rocks. They’re deep in his chest.” She pointed at the man on the ground with a blood hand.
“Board the chopper. We’ve got him now.”
Mansk and Walker sat on the interior of the ship, eyes never leaving the hurt man.
***
“Spider, no.” Quaritch’s voice wavered as the boy’s pale face relaxed in a not-so-great way. He was dying.
“Baby, keep those pretty eyes open…” Zdinarsik sobbed.
“I’ll try…” he muttered, head lolling over his father’s muscular arm.
“You’ve got your Mama’s strength. She’d be so, so proud of you right now…” the woman smiled, despite herself.
“Maybe we’ll both die by arrow wound…” Spider muttered.
“No, no. You’re gonna be fine.” Quaritch shook him gently.
“My limbs are numb.”
“I know…” Z whispered.
Then, a chopper landed. The grownups had been too focused to even hear it descending.
“Fuck— hey! I need a medic!” Quaritch handed the kid over to Z
“I need a medic now!”
“We’re coming.” A man exited the large chopper with a medical kit. He was walking.
“YOU BETTER START RUNNING.” The father’s voice terrified the humans. The medic rushed over, assessing the wound.
“Help him ON the chopper. We need to get back to bridgehead as fast as possible.”
The medic didn’t argue. He picked the kid up gently, and ran him to the chopper. Alexis and Miles followed behind. Every time the woman recom stumbled, Quaritch placed a soft hand over her back, reassuring her towards the metal bird.
***
“Rise and shine, kiddo.”
“Hmm…”
“Come on, Sean. Wake up.”
A hand grabbed the young recom’s shoulder, shaking him.
“My head…”
“You’ve been through a lot. Come on.”
The kid finally opened his eyes, noticing the colonel just in front.
“Did I lose my arm?”
“Ptfff… no. You’re fine. The medics wrapped it up real good.”
The kid looked down at his arm. A large cast covered the gash.
“Did anyone die…?”
“Prager, Spider and Wainfleet were real close. But no, thankfully.” Quaritch was now kneeled down in front of Fike, who was placed in a hospital bed.
“Prager was clinically dead for 7 minutes. Spider went unconscious multiple times. Wainfleet was close, but his pulse never stopped.”
“You know… my arm was stuck under a boulder… and two Navi saved me.” Fike admitted.
“What Navi?” Quaritch seemed concerned.
“I couldn’t see them well. My eyes were blurry… but… it looked like a man with dreads and a woman. I think it may have been Jake Sully and his woman.”
“It was…”
“They saved me…”
“I’m glad they did. Because you’re still here with us.” Quaritch smiled, tears pricked in his eyes.
“What happened to Spider?” Fike changed the topic.
“Sully’s bat-shit wife shot him with her arrow.”
“Poor kid…”
“He’s fine though— tough and all.”
“Like his daddy.” Sean giggled.
“Nah. Not like me. Like his mama. You remember Paz?”
“I do… she was so nice to me— called me a mere child. She was kind of like a mother figure to me.”
“Was she now?”
“Yes… she was a real great woman.”
“I agree,” Quaritch set his hand over the man’s shoulder again, “you did good today, Private Fike.”
“Thank you, Colonel.”
***
“F—fuck…” Prager opened his eyes, feeling something over his head.
Lopez was sat in a recom-sized chair by the bed, leg wrapped in a cast.
“Dieg—o?”
The man snapped awake, ears perking.
“Dead man wakes…” he stood the best he could, inching towards Ethan.
“What ha…happened to your l—leg, man?” Prager leg the man hug him.
“Don’t ask about me. I shed more than enough tears over you… you were dead for a few minutes…”
“Awww y—you cri—ed over me?”
“You were dead.”
“Well, I’m her…e now, ma—n.”
“Thank God.”
“I re—remem…ber see—ing you bein—g tos…sed off the damn cli—f…”
“Haha. Did I look cool?”
“Scar—ed the s—shit out o—f me.”
“I tend to have that effect on people.” Lopez made a silly face, laughing. Prager chucked.
“Why d—do I have a st—stutter?”
“You have brain damage, man. Hit your head real good.”
“W—will it go a—way?”
“Well, the doctors said maybe. If you’re careful, and you take the proper precautions. Most likely.”
“T—thank G—God…”
Lopez went in for another hug, “I’m so grateful that you’re okay…”
***
Wainfleet woke in a cold sweat, gasping. His hands clawed at his chest. Ja was asleep in one of the recom-made waiting chairs.
“James…!” Wainfleet coughed.
“Hey…” the medic rose with a grunt. “You’re fine. Stay calm.”
“My chest—“
“Yes. You were punctured. But you’re fine.”
“Is everyone okay?! Is Lopez alive?! He fell—“
“Weall fell. Including Spider.”
“Fuck, is he okay?!”
“Calm down, Lieutenant. Everyone’s alive. Barely.”
“Barely…?”
“Prager was clinically dead for 7 minutes 36 seconds. He has some pretty mad brain damage.”
“Dammit…”
“But everyone is okay. No need to panic. Just focus on getting better.”
***
Maria and Zdinarsik stood over the sleeping boy’s hospital bed. Z’s eyes were red— never leaving the kid’s sleeping form.
“Why don’t you sit down?” Maria grabbed her arm.
“No. If I look away, I’m scared that he’s gonna die…”
“Z… he ain’t gonna die…”
“I don’t trust it. I can’t look away.”
“Alexis… at least sit down…”
“No. I need to be right here with him.”
Maria shut her mouth, eyes scanning over the kid. His broken arm was cast in a sling, and bandages covered his arrow wound. His eyes were crusty from the tears, hair messy.
“I’ll be outside if you need me, okay?”
“Deal…” Z took one, shaky breath from her breathalyzer.
***
Brown and Mansk, out of everyone, didn’t seem too injured. Sure, they had some deep cuts here and there. But it wasn’t life threatening. The both of them paced the hallways together, quiet, but content.
“How are your injuries?”
“Fine. I, uh… I’m fine.”
Brown placed a hand on Mansk’s shoulder. Then, he tugged them into a side hug.
It’s crazy how nearly dying can pull people closer together.