Avatar: What if you were there?

8: Roulette

You sat next to Norm in the lunchroom, listening to Grace tell the story. "The last thing we see is this marine's ass, and hers too, disappearing into the brush with this angry thanator coming after him."

They laughed. "Hey, it's not something you can teach," said Jake.

"Learned a hell of a lot though," you replied. He pointed the spoon at you.

"You know," said Grace. "For reasons I cannot fathom, the Omaticaya have chosen you two. God help us all."

There was some laughter but then you looked at Norm. He seemed upset. "What's wrong?" you asked

"Nothing," he said. "Tired."

"With the little time I've known you, I can tell you're lying." You took your food and got up, he followed. You threw out what you hadn't finished and went to your room. You sat on your bed and he laid on his. "What's wrong?"

"I just," he looked for the right way to say it. "I've studied for years to come here and get a shot at doing something amazing but then he comes out of nowhere and gets into the clan? And no everyone is worshipping him like some kind of god. Everyone. Including Grace. You at least studied somewhat and kinda put effort into it."

You laid down next to him. "Don't let it get to your head. This is all roulette. You'll get your chance to shine, don't worry. But it's good to let it out. Rant all you want."

And he did. He went on and on while you tried drawing what you could remember from your adventure today. Eventually, he fell asleep. You were about to as well but someone knocked on your door.

"They want to see you." It was Jake. Colonel Quartitch wanted to see you both.

"Jarhead clan?' he said, amused. "And it worked?"

"Hey, I'm practically family," said Jake.

"And you?" asked the Colonel, turning to you.

"They're going to study us and we're going to learn to be one of them."

The Colonel nodded. "That's called taking the initiative. I wish I had 10 more like you."

"Look," inteverned Parker. "Sully, Y/N. Just find out what the blue monkeys want. You know, I mean we try to give them medicine, education, roads."

"They have their own version of all of that," you said.

"So, what, they like mud?" he asked.

"You could call it that."

He sighed. "It wouldn't bother me, it's just that they're uh..." he fidgeted with the hologram. "Hey can you... can somebody just..." someone came to the rescue. "Sector 12. Okay, go, go, go, stop. Stop. Rich, stop! That's... Jesus!" You smiled, a little mockingly, at Rich. "Their damn village happens to be resting on the riches unobtanium deposit within 200 clicks in any direction." You stared at it. "I mean, look at all that cheddar." he laughed.

"Well, who gets them to move?" asked Jake, already knowing.

"Guess," said Quiartitch. You scoffed.

"What if they won't go?" asked Jake.

"Oh, I'm betting that they will," answered Quartitch.

"Okay, okay, okay, okay, hey," said Parker. "Look, look. Killing the indegenous looks bad," you gave him an exasperated look. "Fine, it is bad. But there's a thing shareholders hate more than bad press, and that's a bad quarterly statement. I didn't make the rules."

"You could change them," you suggested.

He hesitated, for real this time. He was standing uncomfortably close. "Just get them to move. Otherwise it'll have to be all stick."

"You got three months," said Quartitch. "That's when the 'dozers get there."

"Well, we're wasting time," said Jake. They smiled approvingly.

"I like this guy," said Parker, pushing past you.