Akima Lycan: Avatar

Meeting Jake Sully

Akima's POV

Hello everyone, I am Akima Lycan and I am twenty seven. I've been on Pandora for nearly four years now. I was one of the youngest ever chosen to come here. I come from a Navy family back on Earth, though I was never in it personally. I was going to be a zoologist, before humans destroyed our planet. I was looking for a new dream job when I got the offer to come here. At first I wasn't going to go.

But then I saw the forest in the video and felt a strong pull to it. Like it is home. So I agreed to go on the condition that I get an Avatar body. Which they agreed too. I only had to train for a year, due to how quick I learn things. So I was on the next shuttle to Pandora. It felt weird waking up after being in chyrostasis for over five years and not aging.

When I first went into the forest in my Avatar form.  I wondered away from the group and shifted to see what my animal form would be. I turned in to a Palulukan, or as the humans call it a Thanator. So essentially a werecat. It felt amazing running through the woods in cat form. I meet another Palulukan, who I've called Loki. He showed me the forest. I also meet a pack of nantang (viper wolves). Who have made me their alpha, having sensed the wolf with in me.

Anyway, a group of new arrivals will be arriving today. Including two new Avatar drivers. One of them being a former Marine. Which I'm not impressed by. But he's the only one who can link with his deceased twin brother's avatar.

Right now I'm in avatar form with Dr Grace Augustine. At first she didn't really like me, but then found out about my degree in biology and zoology. Now she's like an aunt to me. She and Dr Max Patel know my secret. And have sworn to tell no one and cover for me when I need a run. Which I try to do as often as possible.

"So how was your run today?" she asks me in Na'vi as we locked up the avatar hut.

"It was fun, I saw the pack and hunted with them" I tell her smiling at the memory.

"That's great" she tells me in English smile. She looks at the time and then at the other drivers. "Get to your bunks everyone, otherwise we'll be late un-linking" she tells them. I sigh and I lay on my bed.

"See you soon Grace" I say as she locks the gate. She gives me a smile nodding her head. I close my eyes relaxing clearing my mind of all thoughts. When I open my eyes again I'm in my link pod. I open it and sit up stretching.

"Who's got my goddamn cigarette?!" Grace demands as she un-links. "Guys, what's wrong with this picture?" she asks. A technician hurries over to her and hands her a lit one. She takes a drag of it as she stands up. I notice Dr Max Patel with two new people, must be the new avatar drivers.

"Happy now?" I ask Grace and she rolls her eyes at me. We're in link pods next to each other. Max approaches us with the two new people.

"And here she is, Cinderella back from the ball with her dance partner Akima. Grace, I'd like you to meet Norm Spellman and Ja..." Max starts to say.

"Norm, I hear good things about you. How's your Na'vi?" Grace asks the tall scrawny man.

"Awvea ultxari ohengeyä, Nawma Sa'nok lrrtok siveiyi" he says in Na'vi. (Translation: May the Great Mother smile upon our first meeting). It was good, though a little formal.

"Tsun tivam. Aylì'u ngian nì'it skepek lu" Grace tells him. (Translation: Not bad. You still sound a bit too formal, though). Agreeing with me.

"Zìsìt amrr ftolia ohe, slä zene fko nivume nìtxa" Norman tells her. (Translation: I studied for five years but there is much to learn). I studied for a year and learnt all I needed to know. Though I am still learning and I am open to learning new things.

"I'd like you to meet Akima, she is great with languages. If you ever need help with anything language related or related to the creatures of Pandora. Feel free to ask her" Grace tells him.

"Oel ngati kameie Norman" I say in Na'vi. (Translation: I see you Norman). He repeats it.

"Uh, Grace, this is Jake S..." Max tries to say gesturing to the man in the wheelchair. Who must be Tom's brother Jake. The ex-marine.

"Yeah, yeah, I know who you are, and I don't need you. I need your brother" Grace states. "You know -- the PhD who trained three years for this mission" she states.

"Give him a break Grace, it's not his fault. He's new" I tell her.

"He's dead. I know it's a big inconvenience to everyone" Jake states.

"How much lab training have you had? Ever run a gas chromatography?" Grace asks him.

"I desiccated a frog once in high school biology. I did have high school chemistry, but I ditched" he explains.

"You see? You see? They're pissing on us without even the courtesy of calling it rain" Grace says annoyed. "I'm going to Selfridge" she states.

"Grace, maybe you should cool off first" I say calmly.

"No Akima, this is such bullshit" she tells me before leaving.

"Here, tomorrow, oh eight hundred. Try to use big words" Max tells Jake.

"Also try and learn some Na'vi" I add. Before going to my room. Which has a wall mirror over looking the Pandora forest. I change and got ready for bed. Then grab my journal on Pandora wildlife and add to it. Grace has a book on Pandora Botany and I'm doing one on Pandora Animalia. Once I'm finished with my notes I put the journal down and call it a night.

A/N

Picture above of Jake Sully and Norm.