Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Dr. Lena Sully stared at the body in front of her. Thor, the last grey wolf in the world, lay dead before her. She felt a pang of grief and guilt in her chest. Canis lupus had survived the Late Pleistocene; had survived three hundred thousand years of climate change, of food scarcity, of humans. But it could not, it seemed, survive a dying Earth, despite her best efforts. This marked the complete extinction of the species, simply the latest in the long list of animals that had disappeared from Earth’s ecosystem.

“Goodbye, buddy,” she said softly, stroking his fur. “I’m sorry we couldn’t help you more.”

Sighing, she grabbed the communicator on her lab coat pocket.

“It’s done,” she said into the device, her voice breaking a little.

The door behind her opened, letting in one of her colleagues. Dr. Ana Gómez was a medium height woman in her late 30s, with dark skin, a head full of dreadlocks and kind eyes. She approached Lena with a sad air.

“I’m sorry Lena. I know how much he meant to you.” She put a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently. “At least he’s not suffering anymore.”

Petting him one last time, Lena sighed and stood up.

“You’re right. Doesn’t make it any easier, though.”

Dr. Gomez nodded. She understood very well. It was never easy to see one of the animals in their care die no matter how hard they tried to keep them alive. It was the harsh and cruel reality of the world they lived in.

Earth was nothing but a big ball of toxic smoke and polluted water, with nearly every habitat destroyed by either overpopulation or corporations seeking resources. And there was nothing people like them could do. Not really.

They could take care of the animals in their care at the Beijing Zoo and keep working on the ambitious cloning project, but if those animals had nowhere to live, then what was the point? Why bring back extinct species (that went extinct because of human interference) just to have them locked in cages, never to live and roam free, in a kind of ghoulish resurrection dance? Deep down, they all knew the answers. It was all to make money, so that the public could be “entertained” and not think too hard about the state of their planet. 

In simple words, the ecosystem was fucked. 

“You go. I’ll handle the cremation,” Dr Gomez told Lena, giving her a sympathetic smile. “You’ve been here for the past week working nonstop. Go home.” Giving her a pitying look, she added “You have to tell the boys.”

“God, what do I even tell Jake and Tommy?” Lena groaned. “They loved Thor, they’ve known him since they were toddlers.”

She remembered the first time the twins had met the wolf, when they were only three years old. Thor had been a puppy back then, recently rescued from an exotic pet situation. Some rich asshole had paid a lot of money to own the last wolf on Earth (or at least, as far as they knew. She was not completely sure that there still weren’t a few kept as pets in captivity). He had been only a couple of weeks old, and that day both she and her husband were needed at work, so they’d brought the twins with them. 

John, her husband, had thought it would be a good idea to introduce the twins to the wolf, and she didn’t see why not. He wasn’t exactly dangerous as a small pup.

It was love at first sight, at least for Jake. Tommy, her sweet, cautious boy, took a bit more time to even come closer to the baby animal, but Jake had screeched and practically dived from his dad’s arms to get closer to Thor. Even so small, Jake had been fearless and reckless, the perfect opposite to his otherwise identical twin.

Seven years went by and the twins were obsessed with the wolf. Always asking for pictures every time one of their parents came home and begging to go see their friend.

 All visits were supervised and they were never alone with him, and more times than not, it was through a fence. The twins were not very happy about it, but as much as Thor was “friendly”, he was still a wild animal. Personally, Lena didn’t think Thor would hurt the twins, at least not on purpose. But it was not a risk she was willing to take.

Shaking her head, she decided to cross that bridge when she came to it. Right now, she had to catch a mag train and go back to San Francisco. A hot shower and her bed were calling to her.

“You sure you’re okay with taking over?” she asked the other doctor.

“I’m sure Dr. Sully,” Ana assured her, rolling her eyes. “Go and have a well-deserved rest.” Looking back at the wolf, she added, “I’ll make sure to update the IUCN on this.”

“Thanks again Ana. You’re a lifesaver.” Giving her a hug, she left the room.

Lena pulled out her phone to text her husband as she walked down the hallway of the medical wing.

Heading home now. Thor didn’t make it. Please don’t tell the kids yet.

Love you

On the other side of the planet, in the city of San Francisco, John Sully felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He turned off the electrical stove, the chicken he was grilling nearly done. It was rare, these days, to have actual meat and fruits and vegetables and not synthesized stuff made of algae. But he and his wife had a good job and could afford it. At least their boys could eat well, something more than half the children on the planet could not.

Pulling out the device, he read the message, feeling his heart sink. He had loved Thor too, been there since he was a pup and helped Lena to care for him. 

They had hoped to give the wolf a companion soon, but the suits in charge thought it would be better to dedicate the resources (and money) necessary for cloning an animal to other species that were… flashier than wolves. Like lions and tigers.

Tommy and Jake are going to be devastated, he thought. He remembered when they had to put the old family cat, Bob, to sleep, and how inconsolable the boys were. This was going to be even worse. 

Shaking his head, he decided to focus on finishing dinner and leave the future tough conversation to Lena. She would know what to do better than him. Right now, his boys would start demanding food soon. He could hear them playing video games in the living room, Jake’s loud laugh and Tommy’s groans traveling all the way to the kitchen. 

Letting his mind wander while cooking, he thought of the phone call he received earlier in the day. He didn’t know how to feel about being contacted by them.

But the fact that they asked for both him and Lena, and knew they were free tomorrow, meant it was serious. He had history with them, a history he wasn’t exactly proud of and did his damn best to leave in the past.

Before his thoughts could turn darker, a voice brought him back to the present.

“Dad, we’re hungry,” Jake said, walking into the kitchen with Tommy hot on his heels.

Turning around, he saw his two boys standing under the doorway, their faces looking at him with identical, pleading eyes. Chuckling to himself, he shook his head. Those two had literally just snacked a couple hours ago. Bottomless pits, both of them.

“You’re gonna have to wait a bit more, Jake,” he said to the longer haired twin. “Mom just texted me. She’s almost home.”

“Finally!” Tommy exclaimed. Then he added in a low, almost sad voice, “I haven’t seen her in forever.”

“Oh Tommy.” Going to his son and gathering him in his arms, John tried to cheer him up. “I know you miss her, boy. I do too, and I'm sure Jake does as well.” He looked at his other son and Jake nodded. John pulled him into his arms, too. “But you guys know mom loves you and misses you like crazy right?” They nodded. “Mom’s job is just very important and she is needed a lot these days.” Shaking them playfully, he went on in an animated voice. “But you guys know what? Tomorrow me and mom both are gonna be here with you! We’re gonna spend all weekend together, and we can do anything you guys want.”

“REALLY?!” they both yelled at the same time, with big, excited smiles.

John couldn’t help but laugh.

“Yes!” he told them “I promise.”

“Can we play videogames all day!?” shouted Jake.

“Can we go to the museum!?” begged Tommy, at almost the exact same time. Turning to each other, they glared. “No!” protested Tommy before Jake could speak. “We play video games everyday! I wanna go to the museum!”

“But the museum is boring.” whined Jake. Stomping his leg, he added, “And we have to use the masks to go outside, and I don’t wanna wear those stupid things!” 

Sensing a fight, John tried to calm the boys down.

“Ok how ‘bout this? Tomorrow we go to the museum - Jake, stop pouting - and Sunday we spend all day inside in our pajamas, playing video games and eating snacks. That's cool with you guys?”

“Yes!” exclaimed Tommy, visibly happy about getting his way.

Jake stayed silent, pouting and with his arms crossed. After a few seconds he finally responded. “Okay. I guess that’s fine,” he muttered, rolling his eyes despite his words.

John smiled and ruffled both of their heads.

“Good boys. Now, why don’t you go wash your hands and set the table? Dinner is almost ready.”

The twins obeyed and ran to the bathroom. John turned back to the stove and checked the chicken. It was done. He turned off the heat and transferred the chicken to a platter. He added some salad and bread to the table, then poured some juice for the kids and wine for himself and Lena. He hoped she would be home soon. He missed her too.

After approximately 15 minutes, he heard the front door of the apartment opening. It was Lena.

“I’m home!” she called out.

“Just in time!” John answered from the kitchen. “Dinner is ready.”

Wiping his hands with a kitchen towel, he went to the living room. He saw Lena standing there, holding a suitcase and looking tired and sad, and he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her softly.

“Hey, you,” he said.

“Hey,” she said. She wrapped her arms around his neck. “It’s been a shit day–week– and I’m exhausted.”

“I’m so sorry babe.” He gave her a kiss on the forehead. “Now you can rest. Also dinner is ready, so how about we eat, hmm?”

At that moment, the twins came running into the living room, shouting, “Mommy!”

Lena smiled and, stepping out of John’s arms, knelt down and hugged them tightly.

“Hi, my loves,” she said, kissing their cheeks and ruffling their hair. “I missed you so much.”

“We missed you too,” they said in unison.

They dragged her to the couch and started telling her about everything she missed that week. Lena listened attentively and nodded along, but John could see the sadness in her eyes. He knew she had something to tell them, something that would break their hearts. He went to the kitchen and brought out the dinner to the table. The twins led Lena to the dining room, still talking her ear off. While she was paying attention to them, John could see she was exhausted. Trying to give her a bit of peace, he tried to distract the boys with food.

“Okay guys let’s give mom a break okay? Time to eat!”

They ate dinner in a comfortable silence, only broken with the occasional comment by Jake or Tommy. After they finished, Jake looked at his parents.

 “Can Tommy and I stay up late watching movies in our bedroom?” Jake asked, giving them his best puppy eyes.

Lena just looked at her son with a slight fond smile.

“Jake, honey, you know you guys have a bedtime.”

Jake, however, could not be dissuaded.

“I know mom but c’mon! It’s summer!” Jake protested, waving his arms. “What’s the point if we still act like we got school tomorrow? Besides,” and he looked at his twin for support, “Tommy and I are old enough to stay up late right?” Tommy nodded quickly. 

 “We’re 10, mom, not babies!” Tommy added, supporting his twin.

John was trying very hard not to laugh out loud at his sons' debate skills. Meanwhile, Lena was doing a better job at keeping a straight face, but he could see she was amused.

“Oh so you’re big boys now is that what you’re saying?”

The twins nodded, beaming.

“You know what? You are absolutely right! Which is why like the big boys you are, you’re going to clean up the table and load the dishwasher. After you do that, you can stay up late. Deal?” she finished with a bright smile.

The twins looked at each other, then at their mom.

They nodded.

“Deal,” they said in unison.

Lena smiled. “Good. Now go and get started. And don’t forget to brush your teeth and put on your pajamas before you lock yourselves in your cave,” she teased.

The boys started picking up plates with enthusiasm, while talking among themselves a mile a minute about what movies to watch. John watched it all with a fond look in his eyes. “Go shower,” he said to Lena. “I’ll stay around and make sure they don’t stab each other with a fork.”

She laughed softly at that, and with a grateful look his way, stood up from the table and made her way to their bedroom.

Thirty minutes and a hot shower later, Lena came out of the bathroom feeling refreshed. 

John was lounging and looking at the news on the TV, which took up half the wall in front of their bed. 

The news was showing clips about a fire that broke out in a Boston subway that had asphyxiated over two hundred people. Stuff like that was normal these days.

“This world is going to shit isn’t it?” she said.

John looked at her with a sad smile. 

“It’s been going to shit for a long time, babe.” He reached out his hand and pulled her closer to him. “Come here, let me hold you.” Lena walked to the bed and snuggled up to him, feeling her body relax after so many days of hard work. She felt John kissing the top of her head. “Do you want to talk about it?” he asked in a soft voice.

She shook her head. “I just wanna rest,” she said “I promise we’ll talk about it tomorrow, but not now.”

He kissed the top of her head one more time and they stayed like that for a few minutes, the only sound coming from the TV playing clips about the tragic fire. She felt John's arms wrapped tightly around her, providing comfort.

After a while, he spoke.

“There’s something I need to tell you.”

Lena looked up at him, willing John to continue.

“The RDA contacted me.”

She gasped and sat up, feeling a surge of fear and anger.

“What?!” she exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock and anger. “What the fuck did they want?”

John only gave her a shrug.

“No idea. They asked to talk to the both of us tomorrow and they said they’ll be here at 9 AM sharp.” 

“They promised. They fucking promised they will leave you alone after you agreed not to speak against Lovecraft,” She almost spat the name.

"I know, I know," John said, "but it's not even about Lovecraft. It was about something else entirely.”

She just sighed tiredly, flopping on the bed and covering her eyes with her arm. She was so tired. Of everything.

“And here I was thinking of having a relaxing day tomorrow,” she laughed without humor

“Actually,” John started, giving her a sheepish smile, “I promised the kids that we will take them to the museum tomorrow. But if you want I can take them alone. You stay and rest”

She looked at him and shook her head

“Nah I'm going too. It will actually do a world of good to have a family day.” She then raised an eyebrow at him. “Jake asked to go to the museum?”

He chuckled

“Nah, that was Tommy. Jake asked to spend all Sunday playing video games.” 

“Of course he did,” she said with a fond smile. “We can take them tomorrow after lunch. Now I really need to get some sleep. I’m exhausted.” She finished with a yawn. 

John nodded and grabbed the remote, turning off the TV and plunging the room in darkness. Getting comfortable in the bed, he felt Lena snuggling up to him.

“Goodnight, baby.”

“Goodnight.”

Saturday morning found the Sullys enjoying breakfast at the table. The twins were trying to steal food from each other’s plates, while the parents were talking softly and sipping coffee. 

The peaceful picture was interrupted by the doorbell ringing.

John and Lena looked at each other and nodded.

 Lena stood up and walked to the living room, while John addressed their children.

“Boys,” he said softly, catching their attention. Tommy and Jake glanced at each other and sensed something was wrong. “Please go to your room. Take your food with you and finish breakfast there.”

“But dad-”

“No buts, Jake” His father interrupted “Please. You and your brother do as I say.”

“Yes sir,” they said in unison.

The twins stood up and, grabbing their half full plates, disappeared to their bedroom.

John walked to the living room, where he found his wife and another woman talking to each other. The stranger had blonde hair pulled back in a tight bun, piercing blue eyes that scanned everything, and a black pantsuit that looked expensive and immaculate. She carried a black leather briefcase. Her expression was severe, business-like.

She looked at him as he entered the room.

“You must be Dr. John Sully,” she said, extending her hand with a forced smile. John shook it reluctantly. “As I told your wife, I’m agent Amanda Levson and I’m here representing the Resources Development Administration. I’m the one that contacted you yesterday.”

“Yes,” he said. “I recognize your voice.” After a beat, he added, “Would you like some coffee?”

“I never say no to coffee,” she said with a polite smile. “Black, no sugar.”

He nodded and went back to the kitchen Black. Go figure. John poured the coffee into a clean mug and walked back to the living room. His wife and the RDA agent were sitting down, Lena on the sofa and Agent Levson on one of their chairs.

He handed the blond woman the mug.

“Thank you.” she said. She took a small sip and hummed in pleasure. “This is really good. Real stuff, I assume.”

Putting down the mug on the coffee table, Agent Levson cleared her throat, opened her briefcase, took out a folder, and handed it to Lena and John, who were sitting on the sofa, looking at her with curiosity and suspicion.

“I’m here to offer you both a unique opportunity,” she said, with a smile. 

Lena and John opened the folder and saw a picture of a lush, green planet. They recognized it immediately— this was splashed over documentaries and magazines, spoken about reverently by their colleagues and friends in the scientific community.

“Pandora,” Lena said, feeling a surge of wonder and awe.

“Yes, Pandora,” Agent Levson said, nodding. “A moon orbiting a gas giant in the Alpha Centauri system. The RDA has been exploring and mining it for the past decade, but there is still so much we don’t know about it. Especially about its biosphere and its native inhabitants, the Na’vi.”

She paused and looked at them expectantly.

“You are familiar with the Na’vi, aren’t you?” she asked.

Lena and John nodded slowly. They were more than familiar with the Na’vi, especially John. They were the dominant species on Pandora, and they had a unique connection to their environment. They could communicate with the plants and animals through a neural network that linked them all together. They called it Eywa, their goddess.

“They are incredible beings,” John said, looking at a picture of a tall, blue-skinned humanoid with yellow eyes and a long tail.

“They are also hostile,” Agent Levson said, with a hint of warning in her voice. “They do not welcome outsiders, except for a selected group of scientists led by Dr. Grace Augustine, the head of the Avatar Program. And even so, there have been incidents”

Lena frowned.

 “What is it exactly that you want from us?” she asked, feeling impatient. 

Agent Levson leaned forward and looked at them earnestly.

“We need you to join our team of scientists on Pandora. You are both experts in your fields, and we could use your skills and knowledge to help us understand this incredible world. Lena, you are one of the world’s leading zoologists, with extensive experience in animal care and conservation. You have worked with some of the most endangered and extinct species on Earth. You could study the wildlife of Pandora, which is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.”

 She looked at John.

“John, well I don't think I need to explain why we’re offering you this opportunity. You worked on the Dark Dreamer project with Cordell Lovecraft when you were young.”

John flinched at the mention of Lovecraft’s name. 

“You helped create the first avatar bodies,” Levson continued. “You know how they work better than anyone else. You could help us with our Avatar program”

She picked up the mug and took another sip of coffee, looking at them as if she was expecting an answer.

“As far as I know,” John started, “Avatars are made here on Earth, not on Pandora”

Levson nodded. “That is true, they are made here. They are a fortune to produce and transport. We spend millions on amino tanks that can keep them alive in space and on staff that will watch over them during the long journey. Many times, we have lost avatars along the way, which means more money down the drain. A waste.” She was silent for a couple of seconds before continuing. 

“But that is not why we want you.” She took a deep breath. “Pandora is dangerous, plain and simple. We have lost people to the wildlife and the natives and more than a couple have been Avatars. That leaves us with scientists without a body to work with and years of training wasted. We need someone planetside that can create new bodies if needed. And there’s no one better for this job than you, Dr. Sully.” She gave him a piercing look. “You were there from the beginning, you were Dr. Lovecraft’s assistant. You’re the ideal candidate and frankly, the only one qualified for the job.”

John leaned back on the couch and shared a brief look with Lena. He didn’t know what to say. For years he tried to forget his past and the unethical things he did in the name of science and discovery, and yet here it was. Coming back to haunt him. 

Lena saw the lost look in his eyes and grabbed his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. He felt a surge of gratitude and love for her. She turned to Levson.

“What about our kids?” Lena asked. “We can’t just leave them here.”

Agent Levson nodded.

“I understand your concern. That is why we are offering you the option to bring them with you. A family package, if you will. They will have access to the best education and facilities on the base. They will be safe and well taken care of.”

Lena and John looked at each other again, wondering what their sons would think of this idea.

“And what about the risks?” Lena demanded. “Pandora is not exactly a friendly place.You said it yourself, people have died.”

Agent Levson just nodded.

“Every place has its risks. But we have the best technology and security to protect you and your family. Besides, the people that died were mostly either security personnel or scientists who ventured too far into the wilds,” she added with a dismissive gesture ”Your children will be as far away from danger as possible, within the safety of our perimeter— and it is a very, very solid perimeter, I assure you.”

John and Lena did not know what to say. It was a literal life changing decision for them, as a family and professionally. And there were so many things to consider. 

“Can we have some time? To talk it over and discuss it as a family?” John asked

Levson looked at them for a few seconds and finally nodded

“Of course, it’s only fair.” Pulling out two stacks of papers, she gave them one each “Here are your contracts. Dr. Sully… and Dr. Sully. Look them over carefully and discuss it amongst yourselves. If you have any questions or come to a decision, you know how to contact me” She stood up. “You have until Monday to let us know.”

Lena and John both stood up as well.

“Please, I know my way out.” Levson said, raising her hand “We’ll talk soon. Have a good day.”

She picked up her briefcase and briskly walked to the door, closing it behind her and leaving them alone with their contracts and their dilemma.

Lena and John stayed on the couch for what felt like an eternity. Neither of them knew what to say. Finally, Lena stood up quickly and, grabbing her contract, stormed to their bedroom. John stayed for a few more minutes, trying to figure out what to do. After a few minutes and with a tired sigh, he stood up and with his own contract in his hand, followed his wife.

He found Lena pacing up and down the bedroom like a caged lion, reading the contract and talking frantically to herself.

“Babe-” he tried to start, but was quickly interrupted by his wife as she spun on the ball of her foot and faced him, something wild and alive in her face.

“Let’s do it,” she said.

That…that was not what he was expecting to hear.

“What?” he asked in a shocked tone.

“I said, let's take it,” she said. With a near-frantic energy she continued “Look around us, John. This world is going to hell. No, it is hell. The food is shit, the air is shit, the economy is shit, the government is shit. We live on a dying planet, a place where our children will have no future.” she sat on the bed with her head in her hands, her voice tearful “Think about it, love. What’s here for Jake and Tommy? An overpopulated rock with a dying biosphere? We are one war away from extinction ourselves.” She was crying now, tears streaming down her face. “Pandora is a new beginning, a fresh start. I understand the risks but the rewards are even greater.” 

John’s heart broke. He knew she was right, he knew everything she was saying was true, but he couldn’t help to feel reservations about such a drastic change.

Especially with the RDA involved.

“Oh baby,” he sat next to her, gathering in her arms “I understand you and I agree with you on everything. But Lena- it’s the RDA. Making a deal with them is like making a deal with the devil.”

She sighed. “I know, John,” she whispered, looking at him with pleading eyes “But think of our children. This could guarantee a future for them. A good one. They can grow up seeing blue sky, clouds, trees that aren’t just in pictures…”

He just kissed her head and hugged her tightly. 

They sat on the bed for what felt like hours, feeling conflicted and torn. It was a very difficult situation they were in. On the one hand it was crazy to just abandon everything and run to a different place. A different planet. A planet where they couldn’t even breathe without the help of maks, where everything will be trying to kill or harm them.

But on the other hand, there was no future on Earth. It hurt, but it was the harsh reality. If they stayed here, they would suffer and their children would suffer as well. 

He could see Tommy getting a job in either academia or science, their oldest was brilliant and had shown signs of great intellect. But that meant being drowned in debt, overworked and subject to the whims of whatever rich prick was funding his research.

Jake tho, he was the opposite of his twin. While brilliant in his own way, he was not one to enjoy school or anything science related. He was active and reckless, outgoing where Tommy was reserved. He would end up in a menial job, underpaid and miserable. Or worse, he could decide to join the military and fight in whatever meaningless war was happening at the time. He could be injured or killed. 

That was not a future any parent would wish for their children. 

Unfortunately, it was the only one available to them.

They were so distracted by their own thoughts that they didn’t hear the door opening or see the two small figures standing there.

“Mom?”

“Dad? Is everything okay?” 

Recovering quickly, Lena smiled at them, pulling away from John, and waved her arm, beckoning. The twins took the invitation and went to their parents. 

“Everything’s okay boys,” said John. “Mom and I were just talking.”

“Who was the person that came over?” asked Tommy.

“And why did we have to go to our rooms?” Jake complained.

Lena smiled at him and ran a hand through his hair. “Just grownup work stuff buddy. Very boring.”

“Yeah,” added John, “you guys wouldn’t like it.”

“Fine.” shrugged Tommy.

“Mom, we forgot to ask you last night!” cried Jake, sudden realization breaking over his face. “How’s Thor? When can we go visit him in Beijing again?”

It was like a bucket of ice had been dumped on her head. God she didn’t know how to tell them. It was going to break their hearts and that’s the last thing she wanted to do.

She gave John a helpless look, asking for help. But what she saw there was a resigned but determined look. And with that strange ability that married couples have of only communicating their eyes, they came to a conclusion. They were taking the offer. 

They gave each other a nod.

“Thomas. Jacob,” John started in a firm voice. The twins were startled at this. Their parents only used their full names when they were in trouble. “We need to tell you something.”

Light years away, in a planet called Eywa'eveng, known as Pandora to the Sky People, a Na’vi couple were receiving their second child.

The mother had tears in her eyes, the laborious birth had taken much of her strength, but the happiness in her eyes was unmistakable. Her mate was holding her, giving her his support and strength. He had a proud look on his high-boned, blue face, mixed with love and awe at the little one.

<You did it, ma yawne. I’m so proud of you>, he murmured, giving his mate a tender kiss. Looking at the baby in her arms, he added, <She is beautiful.>

Mo’at just smiled. She couldn’t take her eyes off the baby. 

Moving the little one a bit in her arms, she reached for her kuru and, slowly, connected it to the baby’s. She felt her baby’s mind rushing to meet hers, forming the essential bond between mother and child.

Eytukan looked on with a serene look. After a brief moment, he spoke.

<What do we call her?> he asked in a soft voice, not wanting to disturb such a sacred moment.

Mo’at was silent, like she was listening to something only she could hear. When she finally spoke, she did it with a strong voice.

<Neytiri.> Looking down at the baby girl, she softly caressed her chubby cheeks. <Her name is Neytiri te Tskaha Mo'at'ite>

Chapter Text

Jake Sully opened his eyes.

Blue light filled his vision and for a brief, panicked moment, he couldn’t remember where he was. It wasn’t until he saw a couple of water drops floating weightlessly in front of his face that everything came back to him.

His parents telling him and Tommy about Pandora, about how they were going to another planet. Moon , he thought, and the thought sounded an awful lot like his brother’s voice.

At first, he was shocked. Never in his short life he thought that he would ever leave his planet. Leave Earth? That just wasn’t possible, right?

Apparently it was. 

It’s not as if he didn’t already know about Pandora. They had learned about it in school, about how it was first discovered at the end of the twenty-first century and how full of bizarre life it was. Images of six legged animals and huge, colorful trees were shown on the news and in documentaries. All his friends wanted to go to Pandora, to live there forever. Trees and animals running free were not something any of them were used to.

He just never thought he would ever really go there. 

A new life, on a different, brand new planet.

He still didn't believe it, not really. 

It all felt like a crazy dream. 

(“Did you know you don’t dream in cryo?” Tommy had asked him, sitting across the bed from him, his eyes not leaving the screen of his pad. “It says here that we won’t age, either”

Jake had stared at him.

“The trip is six whole years. How can we not age?”

But Tommy had just shrugged, not really sure how it worked either.)

The hiss of his cryo-pod opening startled Jake out of his memories, the cold air rushing in and stinging his cheeks. 

He groaned as the bright, artificial light hit his eyes, and he wanted nothing more than to rub them, but found his arms still secured at his side by the bands across his middle, so he settled for squinting hard. He spotted a figure floating over to him in scrubs, and watched as the man began fiddling with the controls by his bed. After he was done with whatever he was doing, he turned to Jake.

“Are you feeling okay, kid?” the med tech asked, while shining a light into his pupils.

Jake nodded.

“Are we there yet?” he asked in a raspy voice.

The tech nodded.

“We’re there buddy, we’re there.” Looking at someone behind Jake, he added, “He’s fine, you can come closer.”

The figure of the tech receded, replaced by the comforting smile of Jake’s mother.

“Hey sweetheart,” she said in a soft voice. “Are you feeling okay?”

Jake just nodded. His body felt stiff and his throat hurt when he tried to talk. He wiggled in place, trying to get out of the bindings that kept him tethered to the pod. Seeing this, the tech started unbuckling him, while talking to him.

“Listen kid, you’ve been sleeping for six years okay? You’ll feel hungry, thirsty and weak. If you feel like you’re going to throw up, that’s normal so don’t worry about it.” Glancing at Lena, he added, “Hey, Mom, if he does feel like vomiting, try to get him to use the bag quickly. Cleaning up puke in zero G is not pretty.”

Lena grimaced. “Will do, don’t worry.” She nodded at him. “Thank you.”

The tech only waved at her, already going to the next passenger.

Jake rose out of his pod, his body free without the buckles keeping him in place. For the second time since waking up, he panicked, his arms and legs flailing, trying not to float away in the zero gravity. Acting quickly, his mom took his hand, trying to stabilize him. He looked around, amazed at all the people coming out of their own capsules. They were pale and had a lost look in their eyes. 

They’re like ghosts , he thought to himself.

He looked at his mom and smiled.

“This is so cool!” he laughed, and let go of her hand, grabbing the side of the pod and looking around the spaceship with a look of wonder.

His mom laughed in return.

“I’m glad you’re having fun sweetheart.” She then added “You’re doing so much better than your brother.”

Jake turned to her, a confused look on his face.

“He threw up when he woke up,” his mom said in a conspiratorial tone.

The image of his brother, green faced and barfing, sent Jake into a fit of giggles.

His mom swatted him on the back of the head softly, a playful reprimand.

“Don’t laugh at your brother. You know he gets sick easily.” As hard as she tried, though, she couldn’t hide the amused smile on her face. “Now follow me. We need to get your stuff and change you out of those scrubs.”

“I’m hungry” he complained.

“We’ll get something to eat before boarding the shuttle, don’t worry,” his mom reassured him. “Now follow me.”

She released the grip she had on the side of the pod and climbed hand over hand up to the compartment above it, where Jake’s belongings were. Jake followed after her, still amazed by the feeling of no gravity. It’s like swimming, but in the air! Except you can’t kick or float. You have to push yourself. Wow!

When he got to his mom’s side, she was already waiting for him with three duffel bags. Jake took one, while his mom shouldered the rest.

“Good?” she asked him.

Jake nodded.

“Okay. Tommy and dad are probably already in the shuttle, but before we join them you have to change clothes” she said. “There’s a changing room near the floor of the ship. Stay behind me and try not to get lost or bump into anyone, got it?”

“Yes ma’am!” Jake responded, doing a mock military salute

His mom only rolled her eyes and turned to the direction of the changing area. Jake followed after her, doing his best to stay on track while also absorbing as much as he could of the spaceship.

I’m in space, I’m really in space! I’m in a giant tin can above an alien moon and I’m floating!

When they got there, his mom directed him to a small cubicle where he would be able to change and handed him fresh clothes.

Jake changed as fast as he could considering the lack of gravity. Putting shoes on was a particularly trying task but he managed. He only wished there was a mirror available. His hair felt like a mess that needed to be tamed.

Exiting the cubicle, Lena made sure everything was in order and both headed in the direction of the Valkyrie shuttle that would take them to the surface of Pandora.

Getting there took around 20 minutes, a line of floating people boarding the shuttle at a steady pace. Ship’s personnel were hovering at the entrance, handing out rations and sealed water bottles. 

Jake and Lena took theirs when it was their turn and Jake saw one of the guys giving his mom a clear bag with something inside that looked like masks. At his questioning look, his mom said, “Exopacks. For breathing.” She then added, “They made special ones for you and Tommy since the normal ones are adult-sized.”

Oh right , he thought, we can’t breathe on Pandora. He had kinda forgotten about that important detail. It’s gonna be so weird.

After entering the shuttle bay, they were directed to their seats, where they could see Tommy and John already strapped in.

“Tommy!” Jake exclaimed, his arms and legs moving faster to get to his brother.

Seeing his brother, Tommy tried to get out of his seat, but his dad’s hand on his chest stopped him. “Tommy, it took us 15 minutes to figure out the straps. Please don’t make me go through that again.” 

Grumbling, Tommy stayed in his seat, and waited for his brother to come to him.

When Jake got there, he hugged his twin as hard as he could

“Dude we’re in space!” he yelled, then started shaking him. “WE’RE IN SPACE!!”

Tommy just laughed. His brother’s enthusiasm was contagious.

“I know!” he exclaimed “So fucking cool!”

“Hey!” his dad exclaimed next to him “Watch your language, boy.” Looking at Jake, he opened his arms. “What, no hug for your old man?”

Giggling, Jake “swam” over to John and hugged him.

“Sorry, dad.”

John just ruffled his hair. Looking at Lena, who was finishing stuffing Jake’s luggage in the compartment above the seats, he asked, “Everything okay?”

She nodded. “Yeah, the nurse said everything was fine. He didn’t even throw up.”

Hearing this, Jake turned to his brother with a wicked smile.

“Mom told me you threw up.”

Tommy just flipped him off, used by now to Jake’s teasing

“Okay, that’s enough, you two” Lena interrupted, before things got out of control. With one of the smaller exopacks in hand, she beckoned Jake to come closer. “Come here so i can put this on you.”

After she was done clipping the rebreather to his jeans, she directed him to his seat next to Tommy. Following John’s instructions, she was able to strap him in quickly and later do the same to herself. 

More people started boarding the shuttle. The family took that time to hydrate themselves and eat the rations they were given. They weren’t the tastiest, but it got the job done.

After everybody settled in, the Valkyrie shuttle uncoupled from the ISV Ventura Star and started its journey to Pandora. 

“Are you nervous?” Tommy asked Jake in a low voice, his eyes staring intently at the small window in front of them, where the image of Pandora was slowly coming closer. The gas giant Polyphemus stood at her back, a silent and looming guardian.

“Yes,” Jake whispered. After a couple of seconds he asked. “What do you think it will be like? Pandora?”

“I don’t know. But it can’t be worse than home.”

Jake just hummed in response. His brother was right. Nothing could be worse than Earth. Nothing could be worse than breathing toxic air every time you left home, or getting the news that one of your classmates died in a fire or from a disease or in a flood or-

Jake shook his head, trying to rid himself of such depressing thoughts. They were far from Earth now and they were going to start a new life. Hopefully a better one.

After a short while, where the only sound was the low murmur of the conversations going around them, the shuttle’s speakers came to life.

“This is the captain of the Valkyrie speaking. We’re about to enter Pandora’s atmosphere. Please be prepared for turbulence.”

Just as he finished speaking, the shuttle started shaking slightly and with a jolt, gravity returned. It was a weird feeling, Jake thought. One moment he felt weightless and the next, he was properly sitting on the seat, his feet touching the floor for the first time. First time in six years, he thought, slightly put off by the thought.

The shuttle started shaking violently as it entered the atmosphere, the rattling making Jake more nervous than he cared to admit.

“Can you imagine if this thing breaks apart?” he asked Tommy, laughing.

“Jake, shut the fuck up.” His brother had his eyes closed, his hands gripping the straps across his chest so hard his knuckles were fully white.

After a few terrifying moments, the shaking finally stopped and the shuttle sailed through the skies of the alien moon.

Next to him Tommy let out a relieved sigh, his grip on the straps finally loosening. Jake threw him a teasing smirk.

“Chicken.”

Tommy just kicked him.

Before Jake could retaliate, the crew chief’s voice was heard all over the cabin.

“Exopacks on!”

Passengers donned their EXO-PACK breathing gear with practiced moves. Jake grabbed his mask and put it over his head, activating it. He saw his brother do the same next to him.

“Remember people, you lose your mask, you're unconscious in 20 seconds and you’re dead in four minutes. I don’t want anyone dead today; looks bad on my report.”

But Jake wasn’t really listening. He was looking through the small window, captivated at the alien world in front of him. He could see massive cliffs and towering mesas carpeted in rainforest, with thick clouds swirling around the tops. The trees were huge and almost cyan in color. He could see rivers, waterfalls, even bizarre flying creatures! He turned to Tommy to share in his excitement, but his brother was looking out of the window as well, his eyes full of wonder and awe.

Suddenly the landscape changed, giving way to a lifeless,empty crater. A mine. Even from so high up, Jake could see the massive trucks and excavators. Beyond the mine was a concrete compound surrounded by a chain-link fence and towers at every corner. 

“Hell’s Gate,” he heard his father say softly. The twins turned in unison to him, sending him a questioning look. “The name of the human colony,” he explained. “That’s where we’ll be living.”

After a beat, Jake spoke

“Looks ugly as hell.”

His dad burst out laughing.

“You are not wrong, kid.”

“It may be ugly,” he heard his mom say, “but it will keep us safe and alive.”

Jake turned to look at her, but he only nodded. He knew his mom was right, it was just that he still thought it looked ugly.

Finally, the shuttle started to land, air blasting from beneath it as it settled on its landing gear. Inside, everybody queued up,duffels ready. Military personnel on one side, science/mining personnel on the other. Jake and Tommy each carried one big duffel bag, while their parents took the rest. 

They were on the science side, of course, and the last ones in the queue. John was in the back, Jake and Tommy in the middle, while Lena took the front.

Jake looked around him, rows of expectant and excited faces inside masks, everybody ready to see Pandora for the first time. The cargo ramp opened with a hydraulic whine, sunlight illuminating the faces of the people waiting to start their new lives. 

“Go directly into the base! Do not stop!” yelled the crew chief. “Go straight inside!” 

Everybody started jogging in unison down the iron ramp straight towards the concrete yard. Jake tried to take everything in, from gunships taking off to the skies to the huge AMP suits controlled by soldiers inside them, patrolling the perimeter. 

Beyond the big outer fence he could see the forest, its trees huge and casting everything in shadows. Suddenly a sentry gun opened fire from one of the watchtowers, a dark and indistinct figure dropping from the fence with a loud shriek.

An armed camp in a constant state of siege.

They arrived at a walkway covered in chain link that led directly to the complex, armed soldiers guarding the entrance, their faces covered in clear masks. One of them, a young, muscular bald guy, gave the little family a look that Jake didn’t like. Turning to one of his companions, he said in a mocking tone, “I didn’t know they turned this place into a kindergarten”

His fellow soldier laughed.

But before any of the Sully’s could respond, a brightly colored creature swooped in from above with an otherworldly howl and crashed into the chainlink next to Jake’s head. A meter in length with huge, sharp fangs biting at the steel and a tail ending in a deadly stiletto, it was like something out of a nightmare. Jake screamed, jumping away.

Lena gasped, her eyes lighting up despite the danger as she grabbed her son.

“A stingbat!” she exclaimed. “Oh but it’s beautiful. Look at the bright colors! I have never seen something like-”

Her words were cut short by the sharp crack of a gunshot. The stingbat fell lifeless from the fence. They all spun around to see the bald soldier, gun still smoking, nonchalantly holstering his weapon.

“What the hell is your problem?!” Lena screamed at him, livid at the casual display of violence. “There was no danger to any of us!”

“Just following orders,” the soldier replied with a dismissive shrug.

“There are children present,” John wrapped his arms protectively around the boys, their faces a mix of shock and fear.

“This is not a fucking fieldtrip,” the soldier barked back. “Move it, now!”

With a hard glare, Lena and John herded the kids towards the door at the end of the walkway. As it slid open, Jake and Tommy glanced back to see the dying stingbat’s tail still twitching in its final moments. The soldier caught their gaze and smirked.

In a moment of cheeky rebellion, the twins flipped him off at the same time with an innocent smile on their faces.

The soldier’s face turned to a scowl, but the doors closed before he could react, cutting him off. “What a goddamn meathead” Lena muttered angrily. Turning to John, she continued,

“Did you see the way he looked? It’s like he got a kick out of it.”

John’s frown deepened, his voice steady yet cautious. “I know, but let’s try not to butt heads with the security team, especially not on day one.”

Her gaze softened as she looked over at the twins, concern etched in her features. “You guys doing okay? I hate that you had to see that.”

The boys nodded.

“We’re fine, Mom,” Tommy reassured her, his hand subconsciously brushing against his brother’s shoulder.

Jake’s voice carried a hint of defiance. “That dude was a total jerk.”

The sudden beep and the sensation of moving air snapped them back to the present. They were in an airlock. As the inner door slid open, they were greeted by the controlled chaos of Hell’s Gate.  They could see dozens of people milling around, a mix of military and civilian personnel. They stepped out of the airlock and came face to face with a stern faced woman with short cropped dark hair in military fatigues. 

“Dr. Sully, Dr. Sully,” she acknowledged John and Lena with a nod that was both greeting and appraisal. “Welcome to Hell’s Gate. I’m Major Miranda Lee. Colonel Quaritch is expecting you. Please, follow me.”

She didn’t wait for a reply, just turned on her heel and set off with purpose.

John and Lena exchanged a quick look before following with the twins in tow. “Who’s Colonel Quaritch?” John inquired as they walked.

“Colonel Miles Quaritch is our head of security,” Major Lee answered, her voice carrying a note of respect. “He’s the one who ensures the safety of everyone here. He usually addresses the new arrivals in a group, but he wanted to meet with your family privately.”

They wove through the bustling corridors, the twins drawing curious glances and hushed whispers. Tommy looked up, his brow furrowed in confusion.

“Why’s everyone staring?”

Major Lee glanced back, her stern face softening for a moment. “You’re the first children to ever set foot here. It’s… unusual. They’ll adjust.”

It went like this for a couple of minutes until they arrived at a closed door. The woman knocked.

After a couple of seconds the door opened and a man in his early 40s appeared in the doorway. He was tall, with short cropped salt and pepper hair and muscular. But his more striking feature was the wicked scar on his face. Three slashes, like the claws of an animal, ran across his temple, giving him a dangerous look.

“Sir, the Sullys are here,” Major Lee announced, saluting.

“Thank you, Miranda. I appreciate it,” he responded with a rare smile.

She shook her head.

“It was no problem sir. Happy to help.” Turning to the family, she nodded at John and Lena and threw the twins a wink. “See you around.”

With that, she departed, leaving the family.

“Please come in,” said the Colonel, gesturing with his arm into the room. “You folks must be tired from the trip.”

“Thanks,” John replied with a nod, appreciating the gesture.

They stepped into the office, and Quaritch pointed to a spot by the door. “Just drop your stuff there and make yourselves at home on the couch,” he said, heading over to his desk to grab something. He came back with a small case and handed it over to John. Inside, there were four ID tags on chains, looking pretty much like the dog tags soldiers wear.

“Those are your identification tags,” Quaritch explained as John handed them out. “Keep 'em on you all the time. They’ve got your names, any allergies, all that jazz.” He looks directly at the twins. “Seriously, don’t take them off, or you’ll be in a heap of trouble. Clear?”

“Got it, sir,” they nodded in unison.

“And those exopacks,” he continued, pointing at their gear, “keep them close too. Even indoors. You never know when you might need them if there’s a breach or something.”

He gave Lena and John a look. “Hasn’t happened in years, but still, it’s the rule,” he said, waiting for their acknowledgement before turning to the kids.

“Now, you two,” he said to Tommy and Jake, “no going outside without someone older watching over you. This place isn’t a playground; everything out there is looking to make a snack out of you, and a couple of tiny humans would be an easy meal for a hungry banshee.”

“Hey-” Lena started protesting but was immediately interrupted by Quaritch.

“I know it sounds rough, but it’s the truth. This moon’s no joke. Don’t do anything dumb, and never go anywhere alone. Stick with an adult, whether it’s one of my crew, one of the science geeks, or the damn cleaning lady. Understood?”

Tommy was quick to respond. “Yes, sir, we get it.”

Quaritch raised an eyebrow at Jake, who hadn’t said a word. With a roll of his eyes, Jake muttered, “Yeah, okay.”

“Okay” Quaritch said. “Now I’ll take you to your rooms. Along the way, I’ll show you where the mess hall is.”

But before they could move, Jake couldn’t help himself. “What’s with the scar on your face?”

“JAKE!” Lena’s voice was sharp with embarrassment. “You can’t just ask—”

Quaritch’s laughter cut her off, deep and hearty.

 “No worries,” he waved off her concern. “I like to think it gives me character, right?” He winked at Jake, who was staring at the scar, clearly impressed.

“Got this beauty on day one here,” Quaritch began, a hint of pride in his voice. “A viperwolf decided to welcome me personally.”

Lena and John both winced. While never seeing one in person, they were familiar with Pandora’s fauna and viperwolves were considered vicious predators.

“Those things are no joke,” Quaritch continued, nodding. “Nasty critters, and fast. I barely stepped off the shuttle when all hell broke loose. A lone viperwolf had slipped the perimeter and was coming straight for me. We tussled, and it got a swipe at my face before I managed to take it down. Emptied my entire clip in it’s belly”

The family was listening to the story, thinking back to the stingbat incident and feeling afraid for the first time.

“Spent my first day in the infirmary getting stitched up. Talk about an unforgettable welcome,” he said with a chuckle, shaking his head at the memory. “This is why the rules exist. Every living thing out there is trying to kill you and eat you whole.”

Jake and Tommy looked at each other. Neither would ever admit it, but they were a bit scared.

“Now!” Quaritch clapped, startling the family. “Follow me and i’ll take you to your quarters”

He led the way out of the office, the family following in tow with their belongings.

As they walked, the Colonel pointed out various landmarks. “Mess hall’s to your left, and if you follow this path here, you’ll get to the labs. Don’t wander, though. Easy to get turned around your first few days.”

After a brief walk, they reached a corridor lined with doors.

Pausing before one, he keyed in a sequence on the adjacent number pad.

 “And here we are,” he declared. The door hissed open, unveiling a snug space appointed with twin beds, a pair of desks crowned with computer terminals, and a dresser. Off to the side, a narrow door led to a cramped bathroom, while a generous window above the dresser framed a view of the world beyond.

“This is your spot, kiddos,” he addressed Tommy and Jake, who surveyed the room with eyes wide in wonder. “Feel free to reset the code to something you both remember easily.”

The boys, engrossed in their new surroundings, offered no reply.

“We should give them some space to settle in,” he suggested to Lena and John, gesturing towards another room across the hall. “Your quarters are just opposite, so you’ll be nearby.”

Lena acknowledged with a nod, casting a final glance at the boys before following Quaritch out. John lingered for a moment longer.

“Boys,” he called out, prompting the twins to face him. “Make sure everything’s unpacked. We’ll regroup for dinner later, okay?”

“Sure, Dad,” they chimed together.

Once left to their own devices, the brothers released a collective exhale and let their bags thump to the floor.

“I’m wiped,” Jake complained, collapsing onto a bed with theatrical flair.

Tommy chuckled. 

“Wiped? We’ve been in cryo for nearly six years!”

Jake merely shrugged, slipping off his shoes and stretching out. 

“I don’t know. I just am.”

Tommy shook his head, amused by his brother’s antics.

 “Get moving and unpack, you lazy ass,” he chided, hoisting his bag onto his bed. “Dad’s orders.”

“Ugh,” Jake groaned but complied, rising reluctantly. “Fine. Don’t get all bitchy on me.”

Tommy threw him a dirty look “You’re such a dick.”

Jake just stuck his tongue out. Getting his bag on the bed, he opened it and started getting his clothes out. 

Over the next hour, the twins transformed the sterile room into a slice of home, dotting the desks with framed snapshots of their family and friends from Earth.

Suddenly, Tommy froze, his hands clutching one of the frames. He let out a quiet sob, alerting his twin that something was wrong.

“Tommy?” Jake’s voice was tinged with worry. “What is it?”

Silence was his only answer.

“Hey,” he got to his brother’s side. “Talk to me”

As Jake’s eyes fell to the object in his brother’s grasp, understanding dawned. Cradled in Tommy’s hands was a photograph of them, their youthful grins wide as they embraced a beautiful gray wolf.

Thor.

A lump formed in Jake’s throat, the ache of loss suddenly sharp and overwhelming. The image was a snapshot of a rare, cherished moment — a day when they had played with Thor under the watchful eyes of their mother, who had insisted on capturing the joyous occasion.

Without a word, Jake wrapped an arm around Tommy’s shoulders, trying to comfort him—and himself.

“It’s alright, Tommy. I miss him too.” Jake whispered, his own voice thick with emotion.

Tommy responded with a slight nod, wiping his eyes with his sleeves. Carefully, he placed the photo on his desk, positioning it where it would always be within sight, a constant reminder of a beloved companion now gone.

Outside of the human compound, high up in the trees and hidden from Sky People’s eyes and machines, a little Na’vi girl observed the human base with newfound curiosity. While taller than an average human man, she was only six years old. A child. 

“<Neytiri! Neytiri, where are you?!>” panicked voices shouted from below her perch. 

Startled, the girl—Neytiri—peered down to find her elder sister and their friends searching for her in a frenzy.

“< Ma tsmuke ! Up here!>” she called out.

Sylwanin, her sister, craned her neck upwards, her exasperation evident.

“< Wiya!> ” she exclaimed in frustration. Sylwanin started to climb the tree to get to her sister, two boys the same age following her. Their blue, striped bodies climbed fast and effortlessly.

Upon reaching Neytiri’s side, Sylwanin delivered a gentle reprimand with a swat on her arm.

“< ’ak ,>” Neytiri hissed at her sister.

“< Skxawng! You can’t just disappear like that on us, Neytiri!>”

One of the boys, Tsu’tey, nodded. He had his braided hair shaved on both sides, a couple of braids falling in front of his serious face.

“<Sylwanin is right, Neytiri. Tsahík Mo’at would knot our tails if a palulukan ate you.>”

Neytiri just rolled her eyes. She was so fast, no palulukan would ever get her.

“<You’re also very close to the home of the sawtute.> ” Kxa’ri, the other boy, finally spoke up, his voice carrying a note of caution. His hair was adorned with vibrant, purple feathers. “<You know we’re not allowed to be here.>”

“<I know, I know! But look!>” Neytiri pointed at the base “<New sawtute came! I saw one of their metal birds coming from the sky so I came here to see more.>” She finished with a shrug.

Sylwanin just sighed, used by now to her baby sister’s wild and independent nature. It was good, to be self-sufficient, but not when she was in charge of her. Their sa’nu and sempu were very clear; she was the oldest, so she had to take care of her little sister. If only her tsmuke made things easier for her.

“<I saw something strange too,>” Neytiri mused, drawing curious glances from the others. “<The tiniest sawtute i’ve ever seen came out of the metal bird. I think they were children!>”

“<Children?>” Kx’ari asked with a surprised tone “<Sky People children? We’ve never seen any Sky People children before. Why are they here?>”

Neytiri just shrugged. She didn’t have any answers either.

Together, the group of friends surveyed the base, their expressions a blend of wonder and apprehension. They sensed things were about to change in their world.

Chapter Text

HI GUYS! first of all i want to apologize for getting your hopes up with this notification. unfortunately i have rotten luck and accidentally deleted ALL the progress i had done on chapter 3. i don't know what happened but when i went to work on it today, it was GONE 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭. worst part is that it was almost finished😭😭 luckily i still have an early draft of the outline of the chapter so it will be easier to write everything again, but it's gonna take some time ugh. i just wanted to let you all know that this isn't abandoned and that i will never abandon this fic. i just write slow and work two jobs and have really bad luck😢. so anyways, if you guys wanna follow me on social media, this is my twitter . you can go there and yell at me to write faster lol. i'll be deleting this when i post the real chapter three. again, I'M SORRY😭