Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Sis,” Spider shook Lynx’s shoulder. “Get up.”

“Nnnmm,” she incoherently replied as she blinked her eyes open. It only took another second for her to fully wake up as she swung out of her hammock. Kiri was working on helping Lo’ak out of his while Tuk roused Neteyam.

“Again?” she inquired already knowing the answer.

“Yeah,” the siblings did their best to keep their voices down. Not wanting to disturb their parents just yet. Lo’ak stumbled a bit before leaning on Kiri as he rubbed his eyes. Tuk yawned as she tucked herself up against Spider. Their youngest sister had already surpassed Lynx in height. It wouldn’t be too much longer before she overtook her eldest brother too. 

“Yeah,” Spider acknowledged as he hugged Tuk who nodded.

“Same,” Neteyam brushed some of Lynx’s hair out of her face for her. The look in her eyes told her siblings all they needed to know.

“Damn,” Lo’ak cursed. His tail swished out behind him. Giving away his answer. Kiri grabbed his tail for a moment before releasing him. It helped calm him a bit as his limb settled down.

They made their way over to the blissfully unaware parents. It felt wrong to disrupt them over this. Their folks already had enough to deal with since the Sky People had returned. Between raids, adjusting to life in High Camp, and dealing with the deforestation and destruction the invaders seemed keen on doing. But they’d promised to be better about letting their parents in on things that were bothering them.

“Dad,” Lynx lightly patted her father’s shoulder as Spider did the same to their mother.

“Mom.”

“Huh?” Jake groaned as he turned over to look at them.

“Ma love?” Neytiri sounded tired even as she sat up. She was the first to realize all their children were standing around them. “Ma Jake,” she shifted to nudge him. “Ma Jake. Awaken.”

“I’m up,” he muttered barely managing to sit up himself with a long yawn. “I’m up.” The ex-marine’s eyes cleared as his mind caught up to what was going on. “Kids? What is it?”

“What has happened?” their mother inquired.

“We had a dream,” Kiri explained.

“We’ve all been having it for a while,” Neteyam took up.

“Something tells me it’s not a good one,” they could nearly hear the heartbreak in their father’s voice as his ears partially pinned down. “All of you?”

“Yeah,” Lo’ak assured. “We’ve been having it for about a week now.”

“We wanted to wait a little before bringing it up,” Spider continued.

“Just in case,” Lynx rubbed her arms. “It was a weird fluke or some shi… Something,” she corrected at the last second.

“Alright,” Neytiri got to her feet. “Come, we will see your grandmother.” She placed gentle reassuring hands on Lo’ak and Kiri’s shoulders. Her tail lightly curling around Spider. “We are happy you trusted us with this my little ones.”

“Thank you,” Jake said as Neteyam and Lynx helped him out of bed. He picked Tuk up and carried her as he grabbed Neteyam’s hand. Lynx took hold of his tail when he held it out toward her. “It’s good you told us.”

“It has been the same all week?” Mo’at glanced around the circle she and the children sat it. Jake had gone to inform Tsu’tey as Neytiri stayed with their children.

“Yes,” Neteyam’s ears curved downward. Before Spider reached out and took his hand. Causing his younger brother to lose some of his tension.

“Tell me again,” the Tsahìk ordered. “Spare no details.”

“It always starts out the same,” Lynx began. “We’re standing in the barren kill zone outside of Bridgehead. We don’t get to look around or anything.”

“It’s like we’re frozen in place,” Kiri fiddled with her own tail. Until Lo’ak began smoothing out her hair. “We can’t look around. But we know we’re all there.”

“We feel it,” Tuk leaned into Neteyam’s side as she began playing with the beads in Lynx’s hair. “We can’t even talk. Then… Everything changes.”

“What do you mean everything changes?” Mo’at questioned as the Olo’eyktan and ex-marine entered her home. None of the children noticed them.

“It’s like we blinked,” Spider tried to answer. It took him an extra moment to sort his thoughts into coherent words. “One second, we’re in the kill zone. Then we’re not. Like we opened our eyes and,” he paused as Kiri held his hand in hers. “We’re standing on some shore overlooking the ocean.”

“Then we’re suddenly beneath the waves,” Neteyam broke in. “We’re not swimming. More like we’re just standing on the bottom.”

“Before we can even ask how we’re going to breathe the scene… Shifts again,” Lo’ak adds.

“It reminds me of when we were in the Black World,” Spider takes up. “On a ship. But everything on this one is bright and shiny. Like it’s brand new.”

“There’s something in front of us,” the adults tensed at the odd inflection Lynx’s voice took on. They noted how all the children seemed unnerved. Neytiri entered the circle and knelt as she took Kiri and Lo’ak into her arms. Jake and Tsu’tey didn’t need prompted as they did the same. Spider and Neteyam nuzzled into their uncle while Lynx and Tuk cuddled their father.

“It’s alright my little ones,” Neytiri soothed. “We’re here.”

“You’re safe,” Jake rubbed his daughter’s backs.

“We have you,” Tsu’tey gently rocked them.

“Please,” Mo’at stiffly sat. “Continue.”

“There’s some sort of tank in front of us,” Kiri finally speaks.

“Like the ones the avatars came out of,” Spider affirmed.

“The ones in the lab?” Jake inquired.

“Yeah,” Lo’ak replied. “We only see one, but we know there’s more.”

“We’re not sure how many more,” Neteyam stated. “They’re just out of sight.”

“There’s something inside,” Tuk almost whispered. “A body. Floating in the liquid stuff. We get closer. Even if we don’t want to. Because we have to see. We need to know.”

Jake felt his stomach drop and he almost prayed that was the end of the nightmare. From the way his children flinch against him he knows it’s not. He feels Lynx take a deep breath as she readies herself. She speaks so her brothers and sisters don’t have to.

“Then we see who it is,” her voice breaks and all the children turn to clutch at their parents and uncle like this information hurts them. “It’s him, Dada. He’s back.” Neytiri catches his eye first before he blankly turns to observe his brother and mother-in-law.

“The demon,” Neytiri hisses.

“How can this be?” Tsu’tey questioned. “You killed him yourself. Your children buried him.”

“He’s not the same,” Spider sounds haunted as he shares the news.

“He’s Na’vi this time,” Kiri gulps as she speaks.

“A Dreamwalker,” the Tsahìk’s tail swishes in the air behind her.

“No, Grandma,” Neteyam shakes his head. “Not an avatar like the others or like Dad once was.”

“He’s fully Na’vi this time,” Lo’ak declares. “Eywa knows how but he is.”

“And he’s not alone,” Tuk finishes. “There’s more like him.”

“It’s just a dream,” Jake knows his assurance sounds hollow even as the words leave his mouth.

“They have dreamt of important matters before,” Mo’at stands. “I’m afraid we would be unwise to ignore this. Eywa may be warning us.”

“Is doesn’t make sense,” the ex-marine shook his head. “I’ve never heard of anything like this. Quaritch is dead. We’ve seen him when we connected with the spirit tree. Why would the RDA go to the trouble of making a body?”

“We are going to find out,” Neytiri announces. There is a hard glint in her eye that makes Jake fight back a shiver of fear. He’s thankful when her expression changes back into a soothing loving one when she turns down to coddle the children in her arms.

“Demon,” Neytiri snarls catching sight of Quaritch. Jake, Tsu’tey and Mo’at stand beside her. Shockingly the man is not by himself this time. A few other marines Jake slightly recognizes stand close to the Colonel. They don’t seem bothered by the very angry Na’vi glaring at them.

“Mrs. Sully,” he grins back at her. “It’s been a while.”

“Tell us,” Mo’at holds up a hand to keep her daughter from just charging at the humans. “Why would my grandchildren dream of you in the body of a Dreamwalker?”

Jake is more than a bit surprised when he catches movement out of the corner of his eye. Eytukan and Sylwanin stand close by with Trudy. None of them seem impressed with what’s going on. His heart sends out a pang of distress when he spots Grace coming up to join Mo’at. The Tsahìk nods to her old friend even as she keeps her gaze trained on the humans before her.

“What the hell is a Dreamwalker?” Wainfleet replies.

“Avatar dipship,” Trudy calls out. “And you heard her. Why the fuck would you lot have avatar bodies when you’re dead?”

“Don’t see how it’s any of your business,” Zdinarsk snarks back.

“It is our business,” Neytiri snarls. “Because it affects my children. You will answer or I will make you.”

“Like to see how you do that,” Fike chuckled.

“Let’s get one thing clear,” Grace speaks up. “You fuck with them you fuck with us.” Jake is semi fascinated with how she shifts between her human and avatar forms. “And oh let me tell you. I will personally make your afterlives a living hell if you don’t cooperate. I doubt I’ll be the only one. So,” her eyes settle on Quaritch, “you really wanna try me, Ranger Rick?” Before the man can even think up a reply a new voice answers.

“I’ll tell you.” A woman appears out of the void and strides right toward them.

“Paz Socorro,” Neytiri crouches down so she doesn’t tower over the newcomer.

Paz turns just enough to eye Quaritch and the marines he stands with. “Tell them. Or I will.”

“Paz.”

“Save it,” she interrupts. “Now’s not the time for games Miles. This is about our kids. Do you really think he, or any of the rest of your little squad, are going to give a shit about Lynx and Spider?” Jake can see her hand clench into a fist that looks painful. “Because I’m not willing to take that risk just so you can have a pissing contest with the Sullys.”

The Colonel’s jaw shifts but he doesn’t speak. “Sir,” Wainfleet begins but quickly shuts up when Quaritch shoots him a death glare.

“The powers that be wanted a backup plan,” he relents. “In case we failed in our fight against you.”

“What kind of backup plan?” Jake demanded.

“Project Phoenix. Don’t look at me. I didn’t come up with that shit name.”

“What is Project Phoenix?” Tsu’tey questions.

“They made copies of all our memories,” The Colonel nods at the other marines. They glance down before they step back and disappear into the soft light around them. “Just waiting for the word to grow big blue bodies back on Earth.”

“But why?” Grace stepped forward. “Why bother? The company wouldn’t just throw that kind of cash away for nothing.”

“Insurance,” Paz said. “They wanted obedient badass soldiers with the benefits that come with Na’vi bodies. They’d upload the memories right into the bodies themselves.”

“Clones,” Jake interrupts.

“Holy shit,” Grace states. “They’re hoping to bypass Eywa’s defenses.”

“The Great Mother would not be so easily fooled,” Mo’at spoke. “Nor would any of her children.”

“Maybe not,” Jake agrees. “But that’s besides the point. You mean to tell me… You’re alive again?”

“A copy of me,” Quaritch nods. “He’s got all of my experience and attitude.”

“And you?” Neytiri eyes the woman.

“I didn’t sign up for it,” Paz shook her head. “But others did. I don’t know how many.”

“I killed you once,” his mate stands as she addresses the Colonel. “I will do so again. And those reborn with you.”

“He’ll be gunning for you all,” he doesn’t seem perturbed at her statement. “I’d be pissed you killed me the first time and that you’re a traitor Sully.”  

“Traitor,” Jake startles as Eytukan appears next to him. Placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Why would this… Copy care about that?”

“All I had was my duty. Jake turning tail and siding with you? Irked me pretty bad.”

“That is a sad life indeed,” Sylwanin takes one of Tsu’tey’s hands in hers. He appears relieved to see her.

“Is there anything else you can tell us?” Jake attempts to keep the conversation on topic.

“What else do you want me to tell you?” Miles rests his hands on his hips.

“How long before the other you is up and running?”

“Ma Lynx!” Neytiri nearly yells as their children stand only a few feet away from their enemy.

“You didn’t think we wouldn’t have our own questions, did you?” Spider shrugged. “Hi Mum.”

“Hello sweetheart,” Paz graces him with a smile.

“Hey Mum.”

“Kiri,” Grace beams at her child.

“They would’ve started making the bodies as soon as they could get a copy of our memories back to Earth,” Quaritch replies as he takes a few steps closer to his daughter. She doesn’t flinch but the man wisely backs up when Mo’at, Jake, and Neytiri cross the distance and come to stand guard in front of the children. Tsu’tey and the others quickly join them. “They’re probably ready to boot up now.”

“Shit,” Jake curses.

“You’ll have an advantage,” Paz declares. “They have no idea you have a clue about this. That it’s even a possibility.”

“You’ll know they’re coming long before they hit the ground,” Quaritch states. “It’s your home turf. The only problem is they’re going to be experienced, raring for a fight, and have better fire power.”

“And we don’t know when they’ll show up.” Jake wants to scream.

“What about the rest of our dream?” Lo’ak takes up. “The ocean parts.”

“What is it about?” Neteyam asks. One by one the spirits around them begin fading back into the light. The living feel their connection beginning to slip as they are gently pushed back toward their own world.

“Sorry,” Paz swept her hair back over her shoulders. “We can’t tell you yet.”

“You’ll figure it out,” Quaritch held the same air of indifference he always did. Yet, it was clear to everyone present how he kept glancing at the mother of his children. She finally lifted her gaze up enough to stare back at him. Without another word she offered him her outstretched hand. The man didn’t hesitate to take it. The last thing the Sully family sees is the two of them walking off together.

Chapter Text

A cry sounded as ikrans landed back at High Camp. Tsu’tey, Lynx, and Tarsem dismounted and eyed their kills. “You both did well today,” the Olo’eyktan assured them.

“Thank you,” they replied with respectful head bows.

“Lynx,” she perked up. “Once we care for the meat you may take the rest of the day for yourself.”

“But Uncle…”

“Go, silent stalker. Be with your family.”

“Yes please,” Tarsem lightly knocked into her shoulder. “You make the rest of us look lazy. Always going. Never resting.”

“Yeah right,” she couldn’t help but smirk back as she playfully shoved him. Tsu’tey watched them almost begin wrestling with each other as he patted his ikran on its head.

“Little ones,” Neytiri called to her children. “Gather please.”

“Mom,” more than one whined.

“Come on kids,” Jake easily picked up Spider and Lo’ak before depositing them in front of Neytiri. “Picture time.” He held them in place as his mate all but drug Neteyam and Tuk to join in.

“Stay,” she ordered before going to retrieve her older daughters. Jake couldn’t help but chuckle as she had Lynx casually thrown over one shoulder and Kiri rolled her eyes as she reluctantly allowed her mother to pull her along.

“It’s not gonna kill you to be in one nice family picture,” the ex-marine informed them.

“It might,” Lo’ak lowly whispered, and his brothers snickered.

“Places,” Neytiri said. “Places everyone.” She stood tall with one arm wrapped around Kiri’s shoulders and the other placed on Spider’s head. His own arms wrapped around his mother and Lo’ak. Neteyam stood on Lo’ak’s other side as Jake crouched down in front. Hugging his youngest and oldest children to him.

“Everyone ready?”

“What about Uncle?” Lynx posed.

“And Grandma!” Spider near shouted. “We can’t leave her out.”

“Alright then,” Neytiri relented. “Spider go run for your grandmother. Neteyam. Find your uncle please.”

“If we’re waiting for them anyway,” Tuk glanced up at her parents. “Can Moon be in the picture too?”

“Tuk-Tuk,” Lo’ak groaned. “If Moon joins in the others will have to. There’s not enough room for all of them.”

“Yes, there is!”

“No, there’s not.”

“Mom.”

“Dad.”

“Lo’ak, stop teasing your sister. Tuk-Tuk, I’m sorry but Moon can’t be in the photo. He’d take up most of it by himself.”

“Lynx,” Neytiri grabbed her daughter by the back of her makeshift shirt. It resembled a sports bra but with beads her siblings picked out woven into it. “You are not leaving.”

There was nothing but darkness. A sweet soft voice was calling out to him. Then there was an incessant buzzing that overtook his thoughts. Drowning everything else out. A light shown in the night. Nearly blinding him as his eyes opened.

There were blurred faces above him and a sterile looking room he didn’t recognize. Where was that voice that had sung to him in his sleep? “Pulse 168,” one of the blobs above him said. It sounded like they were underwater. “He’s coming up.”

“Yeah,” the other one noted. He was able to discern this one was a man as he began to focus.

“You’re fine,” the woman in the suit assured him. “Just lie still. Stay calm.”

The man was shining a light in his face. “Yep. Pupillary reflex is good.”

“Get that out of his face,” a new figure pulled the man back. This one was far larger and blue. Not human his mind screamed.

“Colonel?” the blue one strode up to him and peered down. “Can you hear me?” Alien his instincts warned. Danger. Get up. “Colonel?” Get up or die something inside him cried out. He threw a punch that connected with Wainfleet’s face.

He flung himself up and off the bed as his gown swished around him. “Please,” Zdinarsk held up her hands. “Lie back down, sir.”

Quaritch snarled as everyone scrambled around him. He grabbed the overhead light and knocked it into Lyle as he picked up some medical tools and threw them at Z-dog. “Sedate him!” she called out moving to grab one of his arms as Fike, in his own gown, attempted to help.

“Get outta here,” Lyle ushered the humans out as the doctors called for security.

“Grab him!” He landed a harsh hit to Fike as Z-dog took hold of his left arm. Fike got back up and put an arm around his neck from behind as Mansk stepped in and got his free hand. Lyle grabbed his front as he kept fighting them.

“Colonel! Stand down! Colonel! It’s me! Corporal Wainfleet.” He locked eyes with the other man as blood dripped from his nose.

Miles quieted as his adrenaline finally died down. Recognition filtered across his face as he stilled. “Lyle?” his voice sounded rough. He barely recognized it. “That you?”

“Yes, sir,” the other grinned. “And Z-dog,” he nodded toward the woman. She relaxed a bit when he shifted his attention to her. “And Fike.” His eyes widened with understanding as Fike smirked at him. “And Mansk.”

Miles held up his hands a bit as he cast his gaze downward. “Alright. Let me go.” The others slowly did so. “I’m alright.” Once he was free, he brought his arms up and took a good look at them. His steps faltered for just a moment as he shoved past Lyle to take in his reflection in one of the observation windows. Noting his new appearance. His pointed ears, blue skin, yellow eyes, and extra sharp large fangs. He reached up and touched one before scowling. “Hm. Well, ain’t this a bitch.”

He walked to the nearest outside window. Gazing at the ship he was currently housed in as it spun through space. A familiar alien moon suspended below. “Stand by,” someone announced over the ship. “Two minutes to Pandora insertion. Secure for Delta V.”

It wasn’t long before he was wearing normal clothing as he watched a screen in front of him. He… Or the version of him that had been human greeted him. “In case you haven’t figured it out yet, you’re Colonel Miles Quaritch. Only, younger, taller, bluer, and not nearly as good lookin’. In two hours, I fly a mission against the Na’vi’s stronghold.” His mind buzzed with memories. Yes, he recalled all of Pandora. The shithole that it was. The Na’vi.

He was momentarily distracted as Lyle floated past him. The weasel Parker briefly appeared on screen before scurrying off again. “Recombinant bodies,” he tuned back into what this other version of him was saying. “You’re a recom now, Colonel. Loaded with my memories and my charm. What you won’t remember is my death because it hasn’t happened yet. And it ain’t gonna.”

“Damn right,” the human Lyle agreed.

“Hell yeah,” human Z-dog piped up.

“Well, whatever happened if you’re any clone of mine, you’ll be lookin’ for some payback. Jake Sully would be at the top of that list. Remember kid, a marine can’t be defeated. Oh, you can kill us, but we’ll just regroup in hell. Semper fi.” Miles narrowed his eyes at the information he’d been presented with. His human self-reached forward when an off-screen voice caught him off guard.

“Miles,” a smooth feminine voice said. “You done yet?”

“Just about,” Quaritch turned in his seat enough to grin as a gorgeous woman came into view. Holding a babe in each arm.

Miles leaned forward to get a better look at these new arrivals. “Someone was missing her papa.”

“Was she now?” the man held out his arms as Paz deposited the little girl into his hold. The boy she still held was fast asleep.

The Colonel sported a near gentle expression on his face as he held his daughter. “One more thing soldier,” he eyed the screen. “This lovely lady here is Paz Socorro. Best damn scorpion pilot the world’s ever seen.” A light but still playful scoff was heard as she bumped his shoulder. She might have said something that resembled ‘charmer’ but the mic didn’t properly pick it up. “She’s also the mother of my two kids. That handsome little fellow is Miles,” he nodded toward the bundle in Paz’s arms. The woman held the boy closer to the camera before stepping back. “Named after yours truly. And this here,” he bounced the giggling girl in his arms. “Is my pride and joy. Luz.”

“Time to go people,” Parker could be heard off in the distance.

“Just thought you should know,” the man grew serious even as he gave his daughter a grin. “What’s at stake here Colonel. If I don’t make it back… It’s up to you to take care of things.” With that he finally turned off the recording.

Miles hung unmoving in the air for nearly a full minute. Many of his memories were confusing blurs. As if he was watching them happen to someone else. But if he focused enough, they became clear and felt real. He remembered Paz’s smile. The confident way she walked and how the woman hadn’t hesitated to go after what she wanted. It was what had drawn Miles to her in the first place.

Little Miles… His boy. Practically a newborn when he’d been called out to war. Fresh out of his mama he’d had a set of lungs on him that could’ve kept the entire moon up through the night. He’d also had a smile that could rival the sun.

Luz, his first born. The apple of his eye. She’d been quiet enough that him and Paz had wondered if something had gone wrong. Docs had assured them she was as healthy as could be. Just a happy baby with a quiet disposition. Crawling and climbing out of her bed at night to sneak into his and Paz’s.

He didn’t realize he’d typed their names into the system until a small beep caught his attention. Paz was dead. Killed in the same battle he was. “Damn.” He moved on to the kids. Anticipating the records where they’d been shipped back to Earth. Probably in the care of relatives. He wasn’t expecting a system error. Instructing him that he didn’t have the proper clearance. “What in the hell?” His ears pinned down as Lyle floated up next to him.

“Don’t worry Colonel. We’ll be planet side soon.” It went unsaid that he would be able to get his answers then.

Chapter Text

Tsu’tey let out a cry as he led a contingent of warriors out of the forest and into the rocky area surrounding their intended target. Neytiri and Jake flew on either side of him. They kept pace with the train that traveled the newly installed tracks. Keeping eyes on the two Samsons acting as escorts.

The Olo’eyktan glanced at his brother and nodded. “Ground team,” Jake spoke into his comms. “Go.” A group of warriors on pa’li used their rocket launchers to shoot and blow up a section of the tracks. The train lost its magnetic connection once the line was disrupted and sparks flew as metal ground against metal. Sections of the train went flying end over end as they were thrown off the tracks completely. The Samsons immediately stopped and pivoted around.

Jake shot the marine manning the gun before he knew what hit him. Neytiri let out a proud cry as she and her ikran swooped down and she launched an arrow into the enemy ship. Instantly killing the pilot. Tsu’tey did the same to the remaining threat and the Samsons spun out of control into the surrounding foliage.

The Na’vi quickly took advantage as they ran into the debris to scavenge what they could. “Take this!”

“Go!” they distributed weapons to each warrior. Many carrying as much ammo as they possibly could. Jake and a select few others stood guard.

“Two minutes people,” he warned. “Let’s go.”

“Devil Dog,” a voice warned over the comms. “This is Path Finder.”

“This is Devil Dog, go Path Finder.”

“We have company, sir.”

“Shit,” Jake cursed as he locked eyes with his brother. “How many?”

“Three Samsons. Coming in quick.” There was the noise of wind rushing by. “Me and Eagle Eye are tailing them.”

“Son don’t…”

“Too late. They spotted us.”

“Eagle Eye and Path Finder engaging,” Lo’ak’s voice took over.

“Neteyam! Lo’ak!” Jake broke protocol.

“Devil Dog this is Free Climber,” his eldest son came on. “We’ve got eyes and are giving backup as we speak.” Jake jerked as a Samson rounded the bend. It fell helplessly from the sky and exploded on impact.

“Kids,” Jake spoke. “Talk to me.” He felt himself tense as he spotted his sons ikrans come into view. A gunship chasing them.

“No!” Neytiri hissed running for her own ikran.

“Don’t worry,” Spider’s voice assured them. “We got this.”

The gunship was knocked about as two ikrans landed on its wings. “Sunshine here,” Kiri announced. “Brave Heart signing in,” Tuk took up. The boys turned and stopped to stare right at the gunship. As if they weren’t worried in the slightest. The marine inside went to aim with his mounted weapon when another ikran sprang up right in front of him. He flinched as it hissed but before he could react a figure launched itself into the ship with him. A few seconds later the same figure jumped back out of the ship as her ikran caught her. Her sisters leapt with their own rides off the falling ship.

“Devil Dog, this is Silent Stalker. Threat eliminated.” Jake could hear the victorious cry of his children even from where he stood.

“Yes!” Neytiri cheered. “Well done my little ones!”

“Come,” Tsu’tey called. “We must leave.”

“You heard him Sullys,” Jake told them. “Fall in.”

“Sir, yes, sir!” they replied flying after their parents.

Mo’at was quick to check the children over herself once they returned to High Camp and tended to their ikrans. “I heard you had a big day today,” Jake, his mate, and brother could hear them conversing inside the Tsahìk’s home.

“What is wrong Ma Jake?” Neytiri knew him too well. He didn’t even have to utter a single word for her to know something was bothering him.

“For a second,” he started. Sitting down to rest on one of the supply crates. Tsu’tey shared a concerned look with Neytiri as she stepped over to knell next to him. The Olo’eyktan doing the same. “I thought we were gonna loose them.”

“Ma Jake,” she took his face in between her hands. “Our children are fine. They scouted exactly as they were told to.”

“And went up against three gunships.”

“Successfully,” his brother patted his shoulder. “None of them were injured. And they protected the rest of our warriors. Us included.”

“I know,” he shook his head. “I’m grateful. But I never wanted them to be involved in this.” He paused as they heard chuckles filter from the tent.

“Move, Lo-Lo,” Kiri called.

“Make me, K-K,” he taunted. There was the sound of something being knocked over. Or someone. Tuk and Spider let out high fits of laughter.

“It could have gone way different today,” Jake continued.

“It did not,” his wife assured him. She and Tsu’tey stood back up and each took one of his arms as they helped him to his feet.

“Mom!” Neteyam yelled and they spotted him attempting to step out of Mo’at’s home. Spider clinging to his back. Lo’ak pulled his tail from behind. “Grandma wants to know. Ow! When you,” he cut off when Spider placed his hand over his mouth.

“When you wanted to start preparing dinner!” Kiri finished as she helped Lo’ak pull Neteyam back inside.

There was a startled cry. “Teyam!” Tuk half-screamed. “You stepped on my tail!”

“Spi! You’re choking me!”

“Eywa! Ly-Ly! My eye!”

“MOM!”

“DAD!”

“If you will excuse me,” Tsu’tey chuckled. “I must check on the other warriors.”

“Coward!” Neytiri lightly called after his retreating back. “We will speak of this later.” She took her husband’s hand. “Little ones!”

“We are not in Kansas anymore,” Quaritch stood in front of a wide window as he addressed his new team. “We are goin’ to Pandora. Now, I know you’re all askin’ yourselves the same question. Why so blue?” It earned him a few grins and sniggers. “For our sins in our past life we have been brought back in the form of our enemy. That gives us their size, their strength, their speed. And, with our training, that’s a pretty potent mix.”

“We have a mission yet?” Brown asked.

“Indeed, we do. Our mission is to hunt down and kill the leader of the Na’vi insurgency. The one they call Toruk Makto. Jake Sully.” A few of his men cheered and fist bumped. Excited at the news.

Jake knew he was smiling even as he realized he was trapped. Neytiri held him in her arms as their children laid down on top of them. Lo’ak was comfortable resting against his right side while Spider had his left. Kiri seemed perfectly content sprawled over both her parents’ legs as Tuk laid on Neytiri’s stomach. Lynx leaned her head against her mother’s shoulder as Neteyam rested behind his folks’ heads.

“You know my little ones,” Neytiri’s voice took on a loving wistful note. “When I first met your father, I was trying to kill him.”

The kids all let out tiny snorts and laughs. “It was love at first sight,” Jake leaned in to kiss her cheek. He couldn’t help but giggle as all the kids made grossed out noises. Yet, none of them pulled away. Instead, cuddling closer into their parents as Neytiri and Jake held them as tightly as they dared.

Chapter Text

Quaritch and the others sat wearing masks in their Valkyrie shuttle. They flew into Bridgehead escorted by five gunships. Once they disembarked the recoms removed their masks and got their first lungsful of Pandora air. Miles and Lyle were directed to their superior officer.

“Sir,” a grunt brought them into a building where all sorts of armor and ships were being constructed. Ardmore kicked and punched a bag wearing her skel suit. “This is the General.”

He waited until she paused in her workout before approaching and saluting. “General Ardmore.”

“Good to meet you Colonel,” she offered him the skel suit’s hand to shake. “I’ve heard good things. But a lot’s changed since your last tour here. Walk with me.”

She pulled on a mask before leading them outside. “The new ops center is over here. That just came online.” Workers, both human and mechanical scurried around. “These swarm assemblers can put up a building in six days.” The spider looking robots nearly ran underfoot as they carried on their work. “We have done more here in a year than in the previous 30. We’re not just here to run a mine, Colonel. As on world commander I’ve been charged with a greater mission.”

“And that is Ma’am?” she led him into a factory where a giant 3-D printer was forming an entire building’s wall.

“Complete global control. Our task here is to tame this frontier. Collect all resources this moon might have.”

“Unobtanium?”

“Among other things,” she nodded holding a coffee cup. “But before we can do that. We need to pacify the hostiles.”

Quaritch and Wainfleet stood with the General and other personnel in the control room. Screens were projected all over the place as the woman debriefed them. “Sully’s raids have always been a pain in our ass.” Pictures of explosions and dead soldiers surrounded them as the recoms took a hit off their own masks. “They focus on our outlying sites. The mines, pipelines, cutting off our supply chain.”

“He’d have to have tight coordination to do that,” Miles noted.

“No kidding.”

“Any intel on Sully’s base of operations?”

“It’s a cave system in the Hallelujah Mountains,” she nodded at a tech that brought up a floating mountain landscape. The images disrupted and distorted briefly as they traversed through them. “But every time we send our forces up there, we take heavy losses. Our hardware really stirs up the hornet’s nest.” She paused in front of a screen showing a group of banshees attacking Samsons. “We only get 10 minutes in enemy airspace before they’re on us. Colonel, we believe your Blue Team will be perceived as indigenous. You shouldn’t trigger the immune response.”

“And how might we test that hypothesis, General?”

“The hard way.”

“Outstanding,” he grinned. “I assume you want us to get Sully out of your hair?”

“As odd as it sounds Sully’s not our biggest priority,” she took a sip as Lyle and Miles shared confused glances. She turned and glared at the workers. All but a few cleared out. The recoms’ tails twitched in the unsettling silence. “You might be interested to learn Sully settled down.”

“He always did love the locals a bit too much,” Wainfleet half snorted.

“Met the little misses myself. Broke my arm. It’s their kids we’re really interested in.” She grabbed a datapad and typed in some sort of code. The room grew dark save for one large screen that took up one wall. “Thanks to our friends that saw the light and decided to rejoin humanity we have some pretty detailed records.”

She typed in something, and four faces appeared. Kids by the look of them. Quaritch couldn’t be sure but the oldest couldn’t have been more than fifteen or sixteen. The youngest resembled a toddler. “Damn,” Lyle muttered. “Sully was busy.”

“Tuktirey,” the General spoke, and it zoomed in on the little girl’s face. “The youngest of the Sully clan. Just turned seven.” She hit a few keys and more images of the child popped up. Most were of her snarling, and one was even of the little girl charging what had to have been a marine wearing a body cam. Holding a wicked looking knife.

“Cute,” Miles narrowed his eyes. “Ma’am.”

“You’ll want to hear this, Colonel.” She swiped her datapad and a boy appeared. “The youngest boy, Lo’ak. Heard he takes after his father. Then we have the middle girl, Kiri.” The Colonel felt a chill go down his spine.

“Is she?”

“Related to the late Doctor Augustine? The working theory is the Doctor was her mother. No father to speak of and we can’t be a hundred percent certain. All the blood tests came back contaminated.” The General moved on. “Neteyam, hell of a shot with a bow and arrow.”

“As interesting as all this is Ma’am,” he placed a hand on his hip. “I fail to see how these kids matter. Outside of making Sully more open to surrendering if we get ahold of ‘em.”

The woman starred at him, and he didn’t like the knowing smirk she sported. “Oh, but I haven’t even gotten to his oldest two Colonel.”

“Christ,” Wainfleet shook his head stepping up next to Miles. “He did have an entire litter.”

“His oldest children,” she swiped across the pad and two new figures appeared. Both very much human. “Adopted right after the war. You might not recognize them now. They currently go by Spider and Lynx, once known as Luz and Miles Socorro.” Miles felt something in his chest constrict. His ears flipped down without him realizing as Lyle carefully noted his expression.

“They weren’t sent back to Earth?” Quaritch made himself stand perfectly still.

“Unfortunately, infants can’t be placed in cryo. Ninety percent death rate. Now here’s the intriguing part.” The pictures shifted to a view of the Sully kids. All of them seemed to be roughhousing outside in the forest somewhere. It took him a few seconds to note they weren’t wearing masks.

“Apparently, Sully’s oldest two underwent some sort of… Transformation. The accounts are vague at best. Mrs. Sully was very adamant of keeping everyone away from them, so we don’t have many test results to work from.” The Colonel stepped closer to the picture. “All eyewitness testimony indicates they’re the first humans capable of breathing Pandora’s air. No assistance required.”

“How is that possible?”

“That’s what we’re hoping to find out Colonel,” she tapped her screen, and it brought up all the children’s faces. “Our main goal is to bring these six in. Alive and unharmed.” Videos began playing. Images of the children sporting either guns, knives, or bows flashed in front of them. “Sully trained them well and keeps them close. They’ve killed more of our people than I care to admit.” The last video focused on a man in a room. Miles observed as Lynx stood up behind him and slit the man’s throat open. There was no remorse in her eyes as she followed him down and out of frame. “These six, from all accounts, share a very special connection. None of our brains can explain it.”

“Connection Ma’am?” Wainfleet took up.

“Some type of mental link. Telepathy and perhaps a bit of precognition.” She turned off the screens. “Lynx and Spider have also been able to form bonds with the local wildlife. Just like their Na’vi siblings.” The General strolled over and placed her empty cup on a consol. “Our scientists are very keen on studying this lot. The orders to capture them in one piece come straight from the top.”

Quaritch moved and kept his gaze focused on his superior officer. “What about Sully?”

“If you can eliminate him then by all means Colonel but he’s not your main target.”

“Understood.” Lyle didn’t have to see his face to know Miles was far from happy about this situation but orders were orders.

Chapter Text

It was a relatively quiet morning all things considered. The Sullys got up and set about doing their normal routines. Jake chuckled as he watched his kids bump each other and try to shove one another out of the way. As if there wasn’t plenty of room for all of them around their fire pit.

“OW!” Kiri yelled as Neteyam pulled her back by her tail. Only for him to lightly hiss as Spider climbed up his back.

“Tuk!” Lo’ak whined as his younger sister locked herself firmly around his legs. Not letting him move an inch.

Kiri whirled around but got distracted from her brothers as she and Lynx squared off. Hissing and baring teeth. There was no venom behind the displays as they mimicked clawing each other’s eyes out. Before Kiri pounced on her big sister. “Gah!” Lynx squirmed in her grasp.

He felt his wife come to stand next to him, and she openly chuckled as she leaned on his arm. The kids didn’t stop when Tsu’tey peeked into their home along with Mo’at. Their uncle stayed where he was, and Jake spotted him not even trying to hide his smile. Mo’at walked over her grandchildren wrestling on the floor. Deftly avoiding tails and limbs alike.

“They have much energy today,” her own tail flicked behind her. “Good morning, children.”

“Good morning, Grandma,” they all paused just long enough to turn and greet her. Before diving right back in. Jake winced as Lo’ak pulled his sister’s tail, Lynx bit Kiri’s arm, and Neteyam managed to pin one of Spider’s arms behind his back.

“Mother,” Neytiri greeted.

“Daughter,” Mo’at embraced her for a second. “You are going hunting today?”

“Yes. If time allows, I would like to take Lynx and Neteyam with us.”

“I believe that can be arranged.”

“You here to pick up Kiri?” Jake inquired.

“She may come with me if she wishes. I only have a few things I wish to show her this morning.” The ex-marine knew that translated to his kids having a light day. Eywa knew they’d never fully take the entire day off to relax but it was something.

“Morning Uncle,” Lynx got out of her sister’s grasp. Before she could escape Kiri wrapped a hand around her left ankle and wrenched her back. It sounded like it would’ve hurt when the girl hit the floor, but Lynx didn’t react out of moving to attempt to pin Kiri’s arms down.

“Silent stalker,” Tsu’tey leaned against the opening of their home and enjoyed the spectacle.

“Alright,” Jake hated breaking up the moment, but they did have to get moving. “Come on kids. That’s enough.” None of them seemed to even hear him. “Kids.”

“Little ones,” Neytiri spoke up and all of them stopped. Glancing at their mother. “You heard your father. Do not pretend you did not. Come. It is time to start the day.”

Grumbles could be heard along with a couple of, “Oks.” The ex-marine looked at his wife as she simply shrugged. She would never stop impressing him, he was sure of that.

Lynx, Spider, and Tuk followed their uncle as Kiri, Neteyam, and Lo’ak trailed after their grandmother. He and Neytiri would come to collect them in a bit. In the meantime, they could easily help mend baskets, clean up the communal cook fire, or... Neytiri gave her husband a playful grin before brushing past him. Whacking him lightly with her tale. Without needing to think about it he chased after her.

Quaritch and the others suited up and double checked their equipment as their escort was being fueled. It was time for a field run to see if these bodies were worth it. “Our mission,” he addressed them. “Is to scout the terrain. Get a lay of the land. Investigate if any of the fauna see us as a threat.”

“Sounds like fun,” Z-dog lightly fist bumped Mansk.

“I don’t need to tell you to watch your six. Stay together.”

“What about the local tribe?” Wainfleet inquired.

“We’re being dropped in what’s considered a low-risk area. Make no mistake, it’s still very much enemy territory. But on the outskirts of their known hunting grounds.”

Lo’ak, Kiri, Spider, and Tuk laughed as they traversed across the vines connecting the mountains. Their parents had collected Neteyam and Lynx while their uncle and grandmother had gently deterred them from their duties. Instead, the four had felt a pull to go out and enjoy themselves. They didn’t have a particular destination in mind but followed their hearts. A bit surprised when they neared the location of the old shake. They hadn’t been back there in years.

Two Samsons flew through the floating mountains. “We’re entering hostile air space,” the pilet warned.

“Copy that,” Quaritch acknowledged. He turned back and shared an excited grin with Z-Dog as they took in the terrain.

It wasn’t long before the aircrafts descended below the canopy. Lines suspended from them as the recoms slid down to the forest floor. Quickly taking up positions and holding as the birds took to the open air once more. The natural sounds of the land and animals picked up once the brief disturbance was gone.

Neteyam dived down and cut off his older sister. Echo let out a sharp cry as Starlight let out what might’ve been the ikran equivalent of a snicker. Lynx grinned as they dove after her younger sibling.

“Mom!” Neteyam called.

“Oh no,” Neytiri smiled. “I saw that you started it. It is not my fault if your sister finishes it.”

“Dad?”

“Can’t help you,” Jake shrugged as the boy and his mount flew faster. Trying to outrun the other two. Their parents couldn’t bring themselves to correct the behavior or remind their children they were supposed to be hunting.

“Tuk-Tuk! Keep up!” Lo’ak called in the lead.

“Don’t pick on her,” Kiri retorted running her hands over nearly every plant they passed.

“Yeah Bro,” Spider added as his youngest sister took his hand in hers. “We’re not racing.”

Quaritch and his team moved quietly through the thick brush. Stopping and pointing their weapons when they heard what resembled laughter to their right. They tensed as two nantangs jumped onto a log close to them. The weird snickering calls the creatures emitted silenced as they took in the new arrivals. Their eyes glowing a ferocious green before they ran off.

Miles once again took the lead and motioned for them to keep moving.

“Huh,” Zdinarsk chewed her gun. “No shit.”

The four stopped dead in their tracks. Nothing in the area around them seemed off. It was a bright evening. They had enough time to make it back home before night. Yet, something stilled them. Their heads swiveled toward the sound of nantangs.

“Something has them worked up,” Spider said.

“Sounds like fifteen of them,” Lo’ak added. “At least.”

“I’ve never heard them sound like that,” Tuk took up. “Not even hunting.”

“I don’t like this,” Kiri stated even as all the Sullys turned back to follow the pack’s trail. If they stayed on this course, they would be backtracking to the shack.

“Look,” Lo’ak pointed to a track left in the mud. It was clear to all of them no nantang or animal had left it.

“It’s too big to be human,” Spider inspected it himself.

“None of our avatar drivers would come out this way,” Kiri kept her eyes and ears focused on the forest around them.

Miles and his team came upon the old shack. It was covered in vines as the jungle reclaimed it. Z-Dog walked up and peeked inside the broken glass. “Clear.”

Quaritch walked over to a fallen AMP suit. It hadn’t fared much better than the building. Being completely overgrown by plants. “Perimeter up,” Lyle ordered. Miles walked around and wiped off a part. Revealing the name ‘Quaritch’ written on the side. He leaned over to peer into the suit but found nothing aside from two arrows. If this had been where the original Colonel had died… Then where the hell was his body? His attention turned to the arrows as he ran his hand along one.

Jake and Neytiri were caught off guard when their children ceased playing. Stilling in the air as their ikrans let out tiny, confused squawks. “Kids?”

“Little ones? What is it?” Neteyam and Lynx got strange looks on their faces. As if they were listening to something far away and trying to focus in on it.

The recoms investigated inside the building a bit. There wasn’t much to see aside from broken equipment. “Lyle, see if you can pull some data off that dash cam,” Quaritch ordered.

“That thing’s deader than shit, Colonel.”

“So were we.”

“Alright.” They all froze when they heard a noise. Readying their weapons instantly. Only to hear the same odd laughter as earlier. “Persistent little bastards.” Glowing green eyes glared at them from the foliage as the recoms soon found themselves surrounded by the viperwolves.

“Looks like we’re not as camouflaged as we hoped,” Z-Dog kept her eyes on the animals as they growled and snapped toward the intruders.

“It’s them,” Kiri whispered as she and her siblings watched the hostility safely from a high tree branch.

“Holy shit,” the brothers muttered as Tuk craned to see better. Her sister pulling her back a bit even though they were well hidden. The recoms wouldn’t have noticed them even if they weren’t facing down now two packs of pissed off nantangs.

“Too bad Teyam isn’t here,” Tuk said.

“What should we do?” Kiri asked.

“Why should we do anything?” Lo’ak countered. “Let the nantangs take care of them.”

“Bro,” Spider lightly smacked his arm.

“I know but if they keep ‘em busy we can at least sneak up from behind and help ‘em out.” Nantangs would get hurt and probably die but it wasn’t like the kids had little more than their knives on them now. Spider had his bow but they were greatly outnumbered. If the nantang helped them they might be able to kill these new arrivals.

The group fell silent as they listened. It was as if a light voice was singing on the wind. A lullaby they were all used to hearing. All of them hissed because they knew what it meant.

“Really?!” Lo’ak nearly screamed.

“Why?” Spider groaned.

“I do not understand it either,” Kiri’s ears pinned down. “But the Great Mother must have some sort of plan.”

“If we don’t go down now,” Tuk got their attention. “The packs will kill them.” A third had joined the other two and was coming up behind the team. There had to be at least sixty now. These clones wouldn’t stand a chance without them.

Chapter Text

“Stand your ground,” Quaritch and his team stood still as the alien dogs came closer and closer. They didn’t seem bothered by the weapons the recoms sported. The laughter was so loud at this point it was becoming obnoxious. “Hold.” He felt Wainfleet’s tail smack into the back of one of his legs, but his team followed his command.

A sudden whistle had all their ears perk up. The viperwolves quieted down as they turned toward the sound. Of all the things the Colonel expected to see that day four of the Sully children dropping from tree vines not twenty feet away from him was not one of them. The children didn’t even acknowledge them as their attention was focused on the nantangs.

“Go!” Spider ordered.

“Leave brothers and sisters!” Kiri instructed. “You are not needed here!”

“Run away!” Tuk shouted. “Go somewhere safe!”

“You’ll die if you stay,” Lo’ak yelled.

Quaritch knew he was standing there like an idiot as he watched the kids. They were making shooing motions with their arms toward the viperwolves like they weren’t afraid in the slightest. He wasn’t sure what they were screaming at the animals. The odd thing was the nantangs acted like scolded dogs as their heads and tails drooped as if in shame. They let out little cries of displeasure as they began dispersing. The same animals that had faced off against his team now ran back into the forest like they were going to get their butts swatted.

The children kept calling out until the noises faded away and the last viperwolf couldn’t be seen. As one the Sullys turned to face the recoms. They didn’t seem surprised or fearful even when he snapped out of his stupor.

“Weapons down!” he ordered as he and his team moved to intercept them.

“Shit!” Neteyam cried out as he and Lynx veered their ikrans sharply.

“Neteyam!” Jake called out.

“Ma Lynx!” Neytiri and her mate followed them. “What is it?”

“They’re here Dad!” Lynx shared. Neytiri and Jake glanced at one another as their brains connected the dots. “They’ve got everyone.”

“Fuck,” Jake motioned Bob to fly as quickly as he could. Neytiri made a facial expression that revealed all her fangs. “Tsu’tey! Brother!” he yelled into his comm.

The Sully children casually tossed their knives and the one bow they had to the ground. They didn’t fight or resist as the marines grabbed their arms and kuru. Walker grabbed Tuktirey, Zhang Lo’ak, Brown Spider, and Fike held Kiri. The recoms forced the two taller kids to their knees.

“What have we here?” Quaritch eyed them. “I’ll be damned.” He couldn’t have hoped for a better scenario to fall into his lap. Well… Except for being two kids short and Sully nowhere in sight. “Where’s your brother and sister?”

The children remained silent. “That really how you wanna play this?” He reached forward and grabbed Lo’ak. “It’ll be a lot easier if you cooperate.” Lo’ak winced at the harsh hold the man had on his tswin.

“We’ll never tell,” Spider spoke up. Miles turned to consider him.

“You sure about that?” he pulled out his knife. Holding it up for the children to see clearly. He nodded at Walker who brought Tuk forward a step. He was tasked with bringing the kids in alive and unharmed, but the Sullys didn’t know that.

The Colonel expected them to struggle and begin pleading or threatening him. Instead, he was met with nothing but piercing eyes boring into him. He fought the urge to shiver as he allowed Walker to bring the youngest girl closer. Still, no reaction.

“You kids think this is a game?” He released the boy back to Zhang as he pulled the little girl to him. He saw her eyes take in his knife, but she didn’t even seem upset.

“If you were going to kill us,” Kiri spoke almost in a whisper. Forcing the recoms to really pay attention. “You would have done so already.”

“And after we saved your sorry asses too,” Lo’ak half snickered. Letting out a small yelp when the man behind him pulled his arm uncomfortably.

“Doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun now,” he held the blade carefully against the youngest child’s throat. To her credit and his unpleasant surprise, she didn’t even flinch.

“You need us,” Spider said. “Don’t you?” He let out a low hiss as Brown jostled him and told him to shut up.

“You want something,” Kiri continued. Ignoring the pain as the grip on her arm and hair tightened. “Our parents?”

“Or our siblings,” Lo’ak probed. “You wouldn’t have asked.” The Sully children had a pretty good guess how this version of Quaritch even knew anything about them. Let alone what they looked like on sight.

“Do you go by Quaritch or Miles?” Tuk asked in the same manner someone might inquire about the weather.

“What?”

“Your name,” she sighed as if it was the most obvious thing. He slowly removed the knife.

“You’re not the original Colonel,” Spider deadpanned. “But do you still go by his name? Being a clone and all?”

“Or do you go by something different?” Kiri tilted her head a bit. As if the change in angle would allow her to somehow see him better.

“How do you know about that?” he half snarled.

“You look just like him,” Lo’ak answered.

He chuckled and shook his head. “The original Colonel Quaritch was dead long before you lot were born.”

“Not Spider,” Tuk pointed out. “Or Lynx.”

His ears tilted forward. “Speaking of Lynx. Where is your sister? And your other brother?”

“Don’t know,” the girl shrugged as much as she could in her position.

“You never did answer,” Kiri interrupted. “What do we call you?”

“Shut up,” Fike instructed.

“Jesus,” Lyle came to stand next to him. “They’re his alright.” 

“They’re really focused on them and not Dad or Mom,” Spider glanced at his siblings.

“Weird,” Lo’ak agreed. “You’d think Colonel butthead here would be gunning for Dad like the other one said.”

“Then again,” Kiri contemplated. “Why are they invested in us if not to get back at Dad? They should want to use us as hostages.”

“Enough talking,” Walker ordered, and the kids went silent as they were jerked around harshly. Their ears flicked as their tails twitched behind them. They never broke eye contact with each other.

“Fall back,” Quaritch handed the girl back over as he put his knife away. He reached up and touched his comm. “Iron Sky, Blue One, Actual.”

Ardmore stood in a carrier surrounded by Samsons. “Blue One, Iron Sky, send your traffic.”

“We are standing by for extract, over.”

“Take us in,” she instructed the pilot holding a thermos of coffee.

“Dragonfly, comin’ left. We are go for extract,” he and the other ships turned.

“Be advised. We are bringin’ in high value prisoners.”

“Sit tight Blue One. We are inbound to your pos.”

The recoms sat the kids down on a log as they bound their hands. The Sullys sat quietly and only glanced occasionally at one another. If the recoms had to say it almost seemed as if the children were unbothered by their delicate situation.

“Lyle, get me some audio on this,” Miles instructed holding up a datapad that was hooked into the amp suit. The other recom hit a few keys and the old video log began playing. “That’s Sully’s woman,” he noted Neytiri hissing into the feed.

“She’s an animal,” Lyle commented. The kid’s ears and tails lightly twitched as they listened to the old footage. They already knew how it ended.

Neteyam and Lynx landed their ikrans in a set of trees right before their parents. “Your uncle and the other hunters are still a few minutes out,” Jake informed them. “I want you two to stay with the ikrans.”

“You need our help,” their daughter countered. “They have far greater numbers.”

“And you’re outgunned,” their son indicated the one gun Jake sported. The rest of them only had knives and their bows.

“I’m not gonna,” he stopped when his mate placed a hand on his arm.

“We’re trained for this Dad,” Lynx kept eye contact with him.

“We may need their help,” their mother reluctantly admitted. Jake grimaced as he let out a low hiss.

“Dammit. Alright, but you stay behind me and your mom. You do what we say. Got it?”

“Yes, sir,” they nodded and followed their folks into the forest. Darkness would be upon them soon. The smell of rain already in the air as a storm brewed overhead.

Quaritch watched his former self’s death. The last sound was of the Colonel struggling for air as his amp suit crashed to the ground. Lyle reached forward and took the pad back. “There’s one more file after that. Might explain where the body is.” The kids tensed. Miles leaned in close as his second-in-command got the next file to play.

“Here Tuk-Tuk.” The recoms are shocked to hear the familiar voice of Kiri come across. They don’t understand what she says but when the image comes through, she looks younger. As does the youngest Sully as she holds a datapad of her own. Staring right into the screen as she happily presses buttons with abandon. Spider and his siblings nudge each other. They hadn’t realized they were being recorded at the time.

The men’s ears flick as Kiri continues and her little sister replies with a smile. When she adjusts her grip on the screen Quaritch and Lyle can make out younger versions of the other Sully kids.

“Sooo,” Lo’ak draws out. “Do we just?”

“Just grab whatever you can.” Miles leans in when he sees the oldest girl speak up. Lynx is shorter than her siblings. Her eyes remind him of the original Colonel’s. “If it grosses you out too much just leave him, and I’ll do it.”

They spot the kids lean into the suit and begin grabbing what had to be the man’s remains. Gently taking pieces of clothing and bones in their hands. They go in and out of the frame for a few moments before they spot them a small distance away. They’re bending down near what appears to be freshly dug up dirt.

“Hey!” They recognize the youngest call out. “Uh oh!”

“Shit,” they heard, and it catches them off guard that one word is in English. The image distorts and goes dark.

“That’s it,” Wainfleet informs him. Quaritch sees the children already gazing up at him.

“Wanna tell me what the hell that was?”

“We buried him dipshit,” Spider shares.

“His grave is over there by the tree,” Kiri nods. “We didn’t mark it.” They can tell the man is agitated as his tail swishes back and forth behind him.

“Now… Why would you kiddos go and do something like that?”

“So Spider and Lynx could move on,” Lo’ak told him. “He was their dad regardless of what he did.”

“He deserved some respect,” Tuk announces. “That’s what Mom said.”

He snorts. “Your mother said that huh?”

“Yep.”

Chapter Text

The marines hold them as they force them back to their feet. It begins to rain, and the forest grows dark. “Blue One, stand by ready,” Ardmore radios. “We are three minutes out.”

“Heads up,” Quaritch tells his men. “Three minutes.” All of them keep watch from their respected positions. The children relax just a fraction as the nightly sound of familiar animals is heard. They know their siblings are close. Which means their parents aren’t far behind.

Jake, Neytiri, and their two children move near silent through the forest. The darkness gives them a great advantage as they break into two groups. Neteyam follows his father to the right while Lynx goes left with her mother.

Miles stills for a moment as he stops next to Brown holding onto Kiri and Spider. “Watch our six.” The man pulls the two with him as he does what he’s told.

“Ow,” Kiri says as Spider hisses. “You don’t have to be so rough.”

“Shut up,” he pulls her kuru tighter.

The Sullys hear their mother call out in the rain. They know better than to acknowledge it. Even if they do shoot glances at once another. Neytiri picks a spot high up in a large tree. Lynx and her mother take a moment to make eye contact. The woman tenses but nods as her daughter slinks off back into the forest. Her heart beats rapidly but Neytiri knows her oldest will not be seen. Not until it is too late.

Jake motions for Neteyam to crouch behind some large, leafed bushes as he sneaks up on a marine from behind. With practiced skill he uses his hatchet to kill the man instantly and quietly lowers him to the forest floor. He pauses as they wait for Neytiri to make the first shot.

Neytiri draws her bow and takes aim at the recom holding her oldest son and second daughter. She takes a moment to steady her breath and prays silently to the Great Mother that her aim will be true. The next second she redraws and lets the arrow loose. It hits right between the recom’s eyes, and he drops like a rock.

“Contact rear!” Quaritch is the first to see and leaps into action. Kiri and Spider move to get out of the way as the recom shoves them aside. He takes aim at the tree Neytiri hides behind. Exploding bark all around her.

Another arrow hurls through and hits a recom on the other side of the group. The man falls with it lodged in his throat. Lo’ak and Tuk bite viciously into the arms of the marines holding them. Forcing them to let go.

“Lo’ak!” Tuk screams as she runs to her older brother.

“You little shit!” Z-Dog yells after her.

“Don’t shot ‘em!” Lyle reminds the group. “We need ‘em alive!”

“Run!” Spider orders his siblings as they make a break for it.

Walker manages to grab onto Kiri’s kuru as she attempts to flee. Only to be hit in her heart and brain with two different arrows. The Sullys keep running as the recoms fire on Neytiri’s known position. A few attempting to lock onto where the second archer is but not having much success in the darkness.

“Cover!” Lyle calls and they all hide behind logs or tree trunks. Jake takes the chance to kill another marine who just missed grabbing Tuk as she ran past him.

Miles sees the familiar arrow design sticking out of Walker’s chest when he peeks out from his spot reloading. “That you, Mrs. Sully? I recognize your calling card.” He motions to Lyle who relays the order to another teammate as the man goes to flank Neytiri’s position. “Why don’t you come on out, Mrs. Sully? You and I… We got some unfinished business.” Neytiri barely turns her attention away as she sees most of her little ones fleeing to safety.

“You dare come after my children! Coward!”

“You and Jake were pretty busy. Got yourself a whole litter.” She doesn’t reply so he keeps stalling as Zhang moves into position. “By the way… Where’s your oldest? I assume the other one shootin’ arrows is the boy. Sure looks like he took after you.”

“Why does it matter?” she counters as her ears flick back and forth.

Miles suddenly feels a chill run down his spine. He shifts away from where he’d been glancing over the log but doesn’t see anything in the night. But he knows better than to ignore this feeling as his ears swivel. Trying to pick up something as Lyle stares at him in confusion.

Two seconds later he’s glad he did as a body launches itself at him from a branch above. The figure is silent as she comes hurtling at him. He barely has time to get his hand up to block as she embeds her knife through it. If he hadn’t it would’ve been in his throat.

“AH!” he shouts and knocks her off. Lynx hisses as she just manages to keep her knife. She hits the ground hard but is back on her feet in an instant. Lyle takes aim but Quaritch holds up his now injured hand to hold him off. “There you are.”

The next moment things descend into chaos as Zhang manages to get Neytiri in his sights. Before Neteyam shoots him in the spine. “Archer!” Mansk calls out bringing up his large gatling gun.

“No!” Z-Dog calls out. “Alive remember?” He has no problem turning the weapon to try and kill Jake as he runs by as a distraction as his son climbs a tree to safety. Calling out for Starlight as he leaps from branch to branch.

Lynx backs up as the two recoms come toward her. The forest becomes still except for the sound of gunfire. One by one the plants stop glowing in the night as darkness creeps in. The girl flashes her knife at the recoms as her feet miss roots and other obstacles, she can’t take the time to look down.

“Don’t make this hard kid,” Quaritch tells her but keeps just out of reach of her blade. Lyle moves to flank her but they’re both weary. If she bolts, they might not be able to catch her. The area becoming so devoid of light even their new specialized eyes are having problems deciphering shadows. Lynx doesn’t even blink as her movements are focused.

Miles can see Lyle tense and is ready to go for her when she grins. It sends a jolt through him as something crashes through the brush and he finds jaws snapping at him. He bats the nantang away as two more jump on his comrade. Wainfleet kicks and severely injures one but the other manages a decent bite into his arm. A large wing rams into Quartich’s side and knocks him off his feet as Echo barrels in. Lynx grabs onto her ikran as she takes flight and does her best to disappear into the sky through the thick brush.

“Dammit!” Miles aims to shoot when another viperwolf sinks its teeth into the back of his vest and jerks his arm. His bullets go haywire in the air as they hit bark and only the corner of a wing. “GAH!” Lynx yelled as Echo cried out in pain.

The recoms aren’t careful of who they might be shooting as they aim at the retreating Sully family. Bullets run through bark and bits of flesh as more than one Sully is grazed. Viperwolves call out viciously as they charge the invaders. Someone lets a few rockets fly. Blasting two nantang apart and knocking Kiri and Spider off their feet as they cross a log. The boy is flung off when Neytiri reaches out and snags him before he can plummet toward the ground.  

“Mom!”

“With me!” she calls gathering Spider into her arms and ushering Kiri further into the forest.

“Hop on!” Lynx appears next to them with Echo. The ikran lets out a screech of protest as she reaches the limit of how many bodies she can carry with her bleeding wing.

“I know,” Lynx assures her.

“Mom!” they turn in time to see Neteyam on Starlight. Jake is right behind him with Lo’ak and Tuk in his arms. Starlight is not having an easier time as she attempts to stay airborne.

Bullets whiz past them and a few of the children scream. A war cry sounds as Tsu’tey and his hunters arrive. Some on ikrans and a few on pa’li. Arrows pierce the air nearly matching the bullets.

“Neytiri!” Mo’at calls steering her banshee next to Lynx’s. Neytiri leaps with her oldest son still in her arms onto her mother’s mount. Tsu’tey and his banshee relieve Starlight of her burden as Jake transfers himself and Tuk to join his brother.

The family motions that they are retreating as Miles yells out, “Fall back!” In the dark it’s hard to tell how many of his men are even left as arrows and nantang follow their every step.

The recoms clip into the lines thrown down to them. Miles takes a moment as he and his men are lifted into the air to turn back. He sees dim flashes in the far distance that might be banshee wings. His ears lower as he lets out a low snarl. The transport quickly departs as arrows ping off its hull.

“We are clear,” Tsu’tey informs the family as they fly through the night. The farther they go from danger the more the jungle returns to normal. Plants light up the canopy and ground below as the rain tappers off. None of them speak as they nod in understanding.

Jake’s knees nearly give out when they finally land back at High Camp. When Neytiri dismounts she clutches Spider and grabs Lynx into her arms. Her tail is firmly wrapped around Kiri as she refuses to release any of them. The clan and their friends try to surround them, but the Olo’eyktan and Tsahìk quickly usher the family into Mo’at’s home.

“Everyone ok?” Jake’s voice breaks when he speaks. He knows it is a stupid question as soon as he asks. Most of his kids are bruised or bleeding. His younger sons and Tuk hug him with everything they have. “It’s ok. We’re ok,” he says as if to assure himself.

“Thank you, Great Mother,” Neytiri begins to weep. “Thank you!”

“Mama!” her oldest bury themselves into her embrace but make room for their younger sister.

“We’re all gonna be ok,” Jake continues. It feels like he’s stuck in a trance before Tsu’tey places a careful hand on his shoulder.

“Brother.”

“I need to see them,” Mo’at softly informs her daughter as her steady hands make Neytiri relax her grip.

“Let me check them and you,” the Olo’eyktan forces Jake to look him in the eyes.

“Yeah,” the man slowly nods as his children pull back. The damage is not nearly as bad as it could have been, but it still makes the ex-marine want to vomit. His amazing mate pulls herself together to also begin treating their children. The two of them have superficial wounds that can wait.

“Echo,” Lynx speaks as her mother cleans where the skin on her lower right arm was ripped off. “They hit one of her wings.”

“Tarsem and the other warriors will care for your ikrans,” Neytiri tells her. “You need not worry.” There is a blankness in her oldest eyes she doesn’t care for. Mo’at treats Kiri and Spider’s wrists where their bindings dug into their skin. Jake helps Lo’ak sit down so it doesn’t aggravate where a bullet just grazed his left thigh. Neteyam’s tail is burned from part of a tree splintering apart next to him. Tuk leans into her uncle as he puts a salve on the nick in her right ear. It’s hard to tell what caused it.

“It’s us,” Spider breaks the silence that has descended on them.

“What bud?” Jake’s ears perk up.

“They were there for us. Not you or Mom. Or Uncle or any of the warriors.”

“What?” Mo’at pauses in her examination of Neteyam. Her tail lashes behind her.

“They asked where Lynx and Neteyam were,” Kiri takes up. “When they grabbed us. They never asked for any of you.”

“They just got lucky you were in the area,” their father is quick to reply.

“They knew all our names Dada,” Tuk informs him.

“Knew who we were on sight,” Lo’ak lightly hisses as his mother wraps his leg. “He called us ‘prisoners’ when he radioed it in. He never once mentioned us being hostages.”

“They got rough with us,” Kiri’s ears twitched. “But never to the point of actually hurting us.”

“He just did his best to scare us,” Spider finishes. “And when we ran for it I coulda sworn they wanted us alive.”

“That’s what I heard,” Lynx crouches down and her siblings join her in their own personal circle. As if they’re holding their own council. It unnerves Jake and he can spot how this upsets his mate and brother too. “I went for his throat. All he did was knock me away. Kept his second from shooting me.”

“They never aimed for me,” Neteyam adds. “Even when I was shooting at them. They only really aimed for Dad and Mom. It wasn’t until we were running away that we got hurt.”

“They couldn’t see where they were shooting,” Lo’ak leans on Spider for support as his leg begins to throb.

“Is it cause we’re weird?” Tuk asked taking hold of Lo’ak and Kiri’s hands.

None of the Sully children bother replying. They already know the answer as they turn to the adults. Neytiri takes one of her husband’s hands in her own. She can feel her brother’s tail hitting hers. Her mother stands so still she doesn’t even seem to be breathing. There is resignation in her little one’s expressions. Fear lingers in their eyes even though they are doing their best to hide it.

The Colonel resigns himself to a chewing out when he and his remaining team return to Bridgehead. They lost four members and a part of him fights to keep his tail still at the thought they won’t be able to even collect the bodies. Still, he knows it could have been far worse as the rest of his men only sport superficial wounds. Nothing a night’s rest won’t fix.

Lyle remains by his side as he finishes his report to the General. To his surprise the woman doesn’t seem upset. She casually offers him and Lyle a drink before walking over and peering out the nearest window.

“Don’t feel too bad Colonel. If anything, this is a testament to Project Phoenix being a success.”

“Ma’am?”

“If it had been any other squad they would have been wiped out. What I’m focused on is how the children reacted.” She walked back to lean against her desk. “Those kids could’ve left your team to die but intervened. They also didn’t react to being taken hostage.” The woman shook her head. “The brains are gonna love picking that apart.”

“But they escaped Ma’am.”

“You’ve come closer than anyone else under my command and lived to tell the tale Colonel. You’ll get your chance again. It proves we’ll have to adjust our strategy. Taking all of them at once doesn’t seem possible. We’ll work on isolating them to a few at a time. That’s how we win this.” The General nodded to them. “Get some rest. You boys have earned it.” They were halfway to the door when she stopped them. “Oh, and Colonel?

“Yes Ma’am?”

“Get that hand looked at and be thankful the oldest Sully didn’t bother dipping her weapon in poison this time.”

Chapter Text

The children gathered as close to their family’s tent as they dared without their parent’s spotting them. Tuk peaked under to see their folks as they put their ears to the material to hear better. They took care not to make a sound as most of their injuries still aggravated them. A few days had passed, and they still sported tense looks the rest of the clan had picked up on. They’d faced battle plenty before, but this had been different.

“He walked right into our territory,” their father spoke.

“This is our home,” their mother sounded upset already. None of them envied their dad.

“This is about our family. This is about our little ones.”

“I cannot. You cannot ask this.” Neytiri cleaned up around their home in pure agitation. “I cannot leave my people. My mother. My brother. Your brother! I will not.”

“He’s hunting them,” Jake countered. “You heard our kids. The RDA and Quaritch are targeting our children specifically. Because of their gifts!”

“You cannot ask this!” she replied. “Everything they’ve ever known. The forest. This is our home.”

“He had our babies, Neytiri. He had them under his knife.”

Her tail whirled behind her as she went over and picked up her bow. “My father gave me this bow as he lay dying. And he said protect the People. You’re Toruk Makto. Tsu’tey and the others will help us guard our children.”

“This will protect the People,” he assured her. “If we leave and let the RDA know then they won’t look here for us. Their attention will move elsewhere. If we don’t then it’s only a matter of time before they keep hammering Tsu’tey and the others nonstop. They can make it where there’s no time to relax or hunt… Or sleep or eat. They’ll keep going until everyone can’t even stand.” He held out his arms. “I got nothing. No plan. But I can protect this family. That I can do.” He approached her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “I know one thing. Wherever we go… This family is our fortress.” Neytiri grimaced as she hugged him. The kids moved away from their home. Holding hands as they went to find their grandmother.

Jake had feared his wife’s reaction. Standing in front of his brother he realized he should have been a little more on edge preparing for this confrontation. Tsu’tey scowled and didn’t even attempt to hide his agitation as his tail swung wildly behind him.

“You do not think I can protect my own? My nieces and nephews?”

“Brother,” Jake already felt raw after his talk with Neytiri. This was salt in the wound. “It’s not that. You’ve kept us safe since day one.”

“Then explain. Quickly.”

“The RDA walked right into our territory.”

“I can increase patrols.”

“That’s,” he shook his head. “It’s not just that. The RDA are after the kids.”

“Because they are blessed.”

“Yes, and they almost had them!” he could hear the pleading in his tone. “They won’t stop until they do. It won’t matter to them if they must go through the entire tribe to do so.”

“They cannot reach us here.”

“But we have to hunt,” Neytiri finally spoke up. “We must fetch water. We must eat and rest.” She briefly closed her eyes. Jake felt a jolt of apprehension race up his spine. Thinking he might be losing the argument. Until she opened them, and he spotted the fire burning within. “We cannot stay in the mountains forever.”

“Sister.”

“They outnumber us,” she continued. “They have the means and patience to wait for us to dwindle away. They can afford to lose a hundred warriors for one of ours.” Jake could see tension building in his Olo’eyktan’s shoulders. He knew they were right.

“You think they will leave us be if you are not here?”

“We’d ask for you to cover our escape for a time,” Jake explained. “They’ll guess soon enough we’re not here anymore. They’d still come after you and the clan if you keep attacking them. This would split their attention as they try to track us down.”

“Where would you even go?”

“We can’t go to any clans close by,” Jake shrugged. “The RDA would look at them first. We’d ask you to send a word of warning to them that the Sky People might come looking for us there.” He saw the pain on his brother’s face. As if the next words physically hurt him.

“I would give my life for you. For the children.”

“I know,” Jake placed his hand on the other man’s when Tsu’tey rested a hand on his shoulder.

“We,” they glanced at Neytiri. She took deep breaths as if she couldn’t find the proper words. “Think of them Brother. If we stayed, they could never leave the camp. It would be too much of a risk. They would not be able to fight. Or fly around the mountains. Or hunt. Or go with you on patrols. They would be trapped here. Forever haunted by that… Those… Ghosts.” Neytiri walked over as the Olo’eyktan put his other hand on her shoulder. She did the same in kind.

“I have failed you.”

“No Brother,” Jake fought back tears. Neytiri’s ran down her face and he saw Tsu’tey’s eyes sparkle. He was fighting not to break too. “You did all you could. There’s no winning here. Just surviving.”

Tsu’tey pulled them to him in a strong embrace that made the ex-marine sob. The three clung to one another so hard it hurt. He felt a tail wrap around his leg and another smack into his side. It was impossible to figure which belonged to who. Crying filled the home. It took him and the others far too long to realize Mo’at and their children were standing in the doorway. Silently starring at the floor. It made Jake feel slightly better to know they weren’t being gawked at.

“Little ones,” Neytiri wiped her face.

“How long have you all been standing there?” Jake half coughed at the end. Clearing his throat of grief.

“Not long,” Mo’at nodded as they entered.

“Mother,” Neytiri went to her, and they held each other’s arms.

“You are leaving.”

“It hasn’t,” Jake began but stopped. “How did you know?”

“We heard,” Lo’ak admitted rubbing his arm. “You two talking.” Jake ran a hand through his hair at the news.

“Dad’s right,” Neteyam’s voice rings hollow and makes the adult’s ears twitch. “It’s too dangerous for us to stay here.”

“We’d be putting everyone at risk,” Kiri admits.

“We gotta go soon,” Tuk fidgets with her own tail. “Before Quaritch and the others come back.”

“Has Eywa told you of this?” their Olo’eyktan glances between them. His voice remains soft and gentle. “Or the spirits?”

“It’s a feeling,” Spider replies. “We just know we gotta go.” He flinches at the pain that flashes across his uncle and mother’s faces. Even his grandmother’s ears lower in displeasure.

“Question is where,” Jake half mumbles. “Our friends in the closest clans would be too obvious.” He begins to slowly pace around the home. Only stopping when Lo’ak lightly takes hold of his tail. “Do you kids have an idea?”

“There are the ice clans to the north,” his oldest son begins. “But it would be hard for us to adjust from such a warm climate. Not impossible but not great.”

“There are the ash clans to the south,” Kiri takes up. “They’re not happy with outsiders on a good day. There’s no guarantee they’d take dad in even with him being Toruk Makto. Let alone me and Lo’ak with our differences or Spider and Lynx.”

“The night clans are an option,” Neteyam announces. “Though we don’t know how we’ll react to being underground. Cramped. Dirt all around us. Trapping us in.” He ends with a shiver.

“The cliffs clans might take us in,” Lo’ak shrugs releasing his father. “Or they might not. They’re really far away and would take weeks to reach.”

“The desert clans are hard to find,” Tuk takes up. “We could fly forever and maybe never find them. Without Eywa’s help.” She pouts. “It’s so dry there though! And really hot. So hot we might burn.”

“There are the sea clans,” Lynx finishes. “They’re a world unto themselves.” The adults present wait for them to continue. When they make no move to further their suggestions Jake nods.

“That could work. There are thousands of islands. The RDA doesn’t have great records of them. It would be like going into unknown territory. We’d be able to vanish without a trace.”

“Tonowari is their Olo’eyktan,” Tsu’tey states. “He is a firm but fair man. He would take you in.”

“He might,” Neytiri cuts in. “You forget his Tsahìk. Ronal,” it is their mother’s turn to pace around the enclosed space. She takes care where she steps in relation to her mother and children. Yet her tail strikes Tsu’tey’s side and Jake’s legs when she walks past them. “She would not accept us.”

“You can’t be sure of that,” Jake grabs her hand. Halting her. “They were fine when they left here after Tuk’s naming ceremony.”

“Tell you later,” Kiri silently mouths to her little sister when the girl scrunches her face in confusion.

“Ha!” she scoffs. “You forget what she said upon seeing our oldest. Nor what her son did to our daughter.”

“It was an accident Mom,” Lynx pipes up. “And I did call him a dumbass.” Her siblings snicker at that.

“Aonung did apologize,” Spider points out. “He was alright the rest of the time they were here.”

“Right now,” the ex-marine breathes deeply. Readying himself. “They’re our best option. And if they don’t accept us personally, we can try any of the smaller sea clans. If Tonowari gives his blessing one of the other villages might accept us.”

“The sea,” Neytiri hisses. “Who could ever have imagined this.”

“Daughter,” Mo’at half whispers. “We will ask Eywa for answers. You are not leaving tonight.” Her words have the desired effect as it settles her child down. The children help when they all move to give their mother a hug. Neytiri accepts and slowly relaxes into the embrace as she nuzzles their heads. Jake feels his own ears lower as the reality of the ordeal finally hits him.

Chapter Text

A heavy silence falls on Jake after he shares the news with Norm and Max. As far as he’s concerned, they can fill in the rest of the humans, but he owed it to his oldest friends to tell them in person. “Jesus man,” Max takes off his glasses.

“I can’t believe you’re leaving,” Norm takes a seat.

“It’s not like I have a choice guys.”

“No,” Norm quickly shacks his head. “We know that… Just…”

“It won’t be the same without you,” Max finishes. He pushes up from where he was leaning against a console and stands next to Jake. Norm shakily gets to his feet and does the same. The ex-marine bends down and hugs them both at once.

“We’ll give you emergency supplies just in case,” Norm assures him as they finally pull away.

“You know how to reach us if anything happens,” Max slips his glasses back on. “When we know the channel is safe, we’ll keep you updated.”

“I appreciate that guys. You take care of yourselves.” Jake takes a moment to take in the lab. Knowing it’ll be the last time he ever sees it.

“Father,” Neytiri can’t bring herself to meet his eyes. “I am sorry.”

“You have nothing to apologize for Neytiri,” Eytukan steps forward and gently cups her face. Slowly, she looks up.

“The people…”

“Will understand,” he easily replies as he embraces her. “Tsu’tey and Mo’at will care for them. Protect them. You must go. Guard your children.”

The woman begins crying into his shoulder. This was not the reaction she had expected, and it breaks her heart. “I am scared,” she admits.

“I know, Daughter.” The old Olo’eyktan smooths her hair like he used to do when she was little. “No matter where you go, I will follow. Never doubt that.”

“Don’t worry kids,” Trudy states. “We go where you go. Like I said before, there’s no gettin’ rid of us.”

Tuk is the first to begin weeping. “I don’t want to go.” The woman pulls her into a hug. Due to the height difference, it is nearly comical. Like a child clutching her favorite doll.

“Aw sweetie,” the woman pats her back. “You’ll be alright.”

“I’m excited,” Kiri admits as Grace holds her and Spider in her avatar form. “But scared.”

“This is all we know,” Spider takes up. “We’ve only ever seen the sea a couple of times.”

“You’ll do great,” Grace assures. Lightly rocking them back and forth. “Think of it as just another big adventure. New places to explore and people to meet.”

“More people to gawk at us freaks,” Spider points out. He does give Kiri a smile when his sister takes his hand in hers.

“Nothing we haven’t had before.”

“Good point. Besides, I’ll have you guys and Mom and Dad.” He loses his smile as tears prickle his eyes. “I’ll miss Grandma.”

“Me too.”

“What if,” Lo’ak begins as he leans on his grandmother for support. The woman gently runs her hands through his and Neteyam’s hair. “They don’t accept us?”

The Tsahìk takes time to form a proper reply. “They might not,” she admits. “Even if they do things will not be easy for you. You will have to learn an entire new way of life. Like your father once had to.” Her hands still and travel down to wrap around them as she pulls them to her. “Eywa will guide and help you. Of that I have no doubt.”

Neteyam and Lo’ak feel small drops of water fall on top of their heads. Neither pay them much mind as their own tears escape them. “We love you Grandma,” Neteyam speaks as Lo’ak’s voice fails him. Both burying their faces in her chest.

“I love you as well children. Never forget that.”

“You will be a great Olo’eyktan one day,” Lynx informs Tarsem as they stand with Tsu’tey. “On the bright side,” she attempts to keep her voice light and near playful. “At least we know why the Great Mother wanted you to train someone else. It didn’t involve me dying so that’s a plus.” Neither smile at her attempt to lighten the mood.

“You would have been great as well,” Tarsem shares. “If Eywa had allowed.”

“Remember,” Tsu’tey rests his hands on her shoulders. Having to crouch a bit due to their heights. “You may find another clan but part of you will always be Omatikaya. You will always have a home here silent stalker.”

It’s his tone that undoes her. Tears begin pouring out of the girl’s eyes as she lunges forward and hugs her uncle with everything she has. Crying openly into his chest. The noises she makes are ugly even to her own ears, but she can’t bring herself to quiet down or stop.

Tsu’tey wraps his arms around her. Tarsem stands silently for a moment before resting one of his hands on Lynx’s back for support. Their ears flicker down as their tails twitch. The younger man hangs his head as the Olo’eyktan allows his own grief to consume him. He isn’t loud like Lynx but sobs escape him all the same. The forest grows silent save for their pained noises.

The clan gathers around as the Sully’s finish readying their ikrans. Many bow their heads in grief and some openly weep. Neytiri cries as she hugs her mother one final time. Tears dance in the eyes of Tsu’tey and Jake as they part with a final embrace. Many villagers pat them on the back or briefly hug them as they walk past. Max and Norm stand with the rest of their human allies close by. Waving the family off with tired expressions.

The Sully’s mount up and take to the air. No one follows them and a few patrols and messengers go in the opposite directions. Trying to confuse any possible RDA satellites that might try to track them. By the time their enemies know they’ve left they’ll have disappeared.

Jake and Neytiri lead their children out toward the open ocean. Aside from the one incident with Ming none of them have been this far out to sea before. They all know that will change by the time they reach their destination. All of them sport protective shawls to protect from the harsh overhead sun or winds on their journey.

Their mother is the first to look back toward the forest. One by one Jake sees his children all do the same. He feels like his stomach is filled with bricks as he keeps his gaze forward. He knows where to go after studying the maps Max provided. It’ll be over a day before they reach Awa'atlu.

Neytiri finally manages to turn and glares at the horizon. Her children eventually follow her example. Only Lynx and Kiri keep their gazes focused behind them the longest. The air stinging their eyes and their ikrans let out tiny, destressed hisses. The two girls don’t turn away until all they can see is ocean.