Dishonourable Discharge: Grace Augustine

47

Grace was slumped at one of the tables in the bio lab pouring herself yet another glass of whiskey.

"Hey, save some of that for me." Ivory tossed her copy of the medical records into a box and shoved it into the arms of a passing SecOps trooper. She reached under the desk and took a glass out of the container stashed beneath it, passing it to Grace.

The redhead poured three fingers worth of liquid into the cup and slid it across the table. "There."

"Thanks." Ivory sank down into the chair beside Jake and gulped the whiskey down in one.

Norm and Max shuffled past, their arms groaning with their lab equipment.

"They bulldozed a sacred site on purpose to get a response. They're twisting things, fabricating a war to get what they want." Grace drained her glass and immediately went to pour another one.

"The Omaticaya are sitting on shit that the RDA want so Quaritch and his idiots have made them the enemy. If they're the enemy then they're justified in taking it." Jake picked up the book that Grace had written on the Na'vi and threw it down hard.

Trudy burst into the lab, breathless. She was wearing her flight suit and her helmet was wedged under he arm. "SecOps are rolling the gunships, they're going to hit Hometree." She said in a rush.

"When?" Jake's face was haggard.

"Now. We're spoolin' up now. I gotta go." Trudy turned and ran, pulling her helmet on as she went.

"Oh my god." Grace leapt out of her seat, barely noticing as her glass fell from the table and shattered on the floor. She turned and darted out of the room.

Jezik caught hold of Grace's shirt sleeve. "Just where do you think you're going?"

Grace shook the trooper off her arm. "Don't fucking touch me." She spat.

"Oh fucking hell." Ivory shoved her chair back and got up, pressing her palm against the handgun that was strapped to her thigh. She elbowed her way past the troopers and followed Grace out of the room, Norm and Max thudding after her. Jake wheeled himself out of the door, his blue eyes blazing with fury.

"Get out of my way." Norm commanded the SceOps trooper who was blocking the door of the Operations Centre in a voice that no one had ever heard him use before.

"Or what?" Lorenz folded his arms, his mouth curving into a grin.

"Or..." Norm looked around wildly, his eyes snagging on the gun strapped to Ivory's thigh. "Or we'll shoot you."

"Are you insane Norm?" Max hissed, his eyes wide.

Lorenz moved abruptly.

The group piled into the Operations Centre before Lorenz could change his mind.

Grace was stood in front of Parker, towering over him. "Parker you have to stop, these are people you're about to-!"

"They're not people Doctor Augustine they're fly-bitten savages who live in a tree. I don't know about you but I can see a lot of trees around here, they can move." Parker's face was emotionless.

"For God's sake Parker there are children in there. Babies!"

"Selfridge you don't want this blood on your hands. Let me talk to them, let me get them out. They trust me. If you just let me and Grace go back into our Avatar bodies we can get the Na'vi out."

Parker was silent, considering. "You've got one hour unless you want your girlfriend in there when the axe comes down. One hour to evacuate."

Outside the window waves of people were filling the airfield, swarming over to the gunships, loading ordnance.

"Fine." The redhead's voice was dripping with venom. "Norm, Max, I'll need you to operate the links."

"Lorenz? Get in here."

"What is it Sir?" Lorenz shuffled into the room.

"I want you to escort Doctor Augustine and Sully to the link unit. Get Wallen, Olson, Cheevers and Falco to help you. Make sure they're armed."

"Yes Sir." Lorenz gave a stiff nod then left, shouting for Olsen.

"Grace you-" Ivory began.

"I need to do this." Grace cut in.

"I know. Just-" Ivory went over to Grace and pulled her into a bone crushing hug. "Don't get yourself killed."