Promises

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With Marie secured on her dads lap, Jake gave Trudy the go ahead to take off in the Samson. Norm and Grace in front of the the father and daughter babbled on about plants and Pandora. Is this what the colonel meant by limp dick scientist? That they were smart?

"Norm, are you a limp dick shcientist?" Marie asked the towering blue man in front of her. The abrupt question shocking him into silence while the rest the crew couldn't help but laugh. Lyle letting out the loudest cackle.

"I-uhm" avatars were blue, going red wasn't something they did. But their ears were a clear sign of how they felt. Norms were pinned back and down, discomfort on how to handle the comment.

"Marie, you can't be calling people that" her dad scolded though it wasn't hard to miss the smirk he was repressing as he looked down at her.

"But thats what the colonel said! Doesn't it mean he's smart?" Marie didn't understand grown ups and their funny words.

"Well, yes but" the dad was at a loss for words.

"Don't listen to the colonel Marie, he's a big caveman with a gun" Grace spoke, saving the day while still managing to insult the colonel. Lyle scoffing at the dig at his boss.

"Is it a mean way to say someones smart?"

"Yes, so let's not say it anymore", Marie couldn't help but feel bad now, she had managed to insult her new friend Norm. Her own ears had turned down mirroring Norms.

"I'm sorry Norm" she reached across to hold his hand.

How could Norm hold a grudge when her two big eyes were staring back at him? How she could be cuter as an avatar was a mystery "it's okay Marie, I'm not upset you didn't know."

With their friendship mended — even if it was never broken — Marie gave a sweet smile.

The crew had repositioned themselves. Jake and Norm sat besides one open door of the Samson while Wainfleet and Grace were by the other. Marie was ordered to stay besides Trudy upfront. Her smaller avatar was the size of a grown woman and could fit besides the pilot.

"This is so cool," Marie's face was flush against the window of the helicopter. Giant purple birds that resembled dragons from her picture books flew beside them.

"Wait till we land kid, you'll see more than just those birds," Trudy said beside Marie. Her clear amazement was refreshing to see among all the adults she worked with.

Trudy began to slow the Samson and expertly landing the helicopter. Animals and plants around fled or floated away leaving a clearing for landing.

Marie watched as Grace told Wainfleet to stay behind, only knucklehead she needed around was Jake. They were going to leave without her, uh-uh, not on her watch.

Marie ran out the cockpit snatching up her pack and into Graces line of vision. Effectively stopping the woman. "I can go with you guys right!" Maries excitement wasn't hard to miss, Pandora was nothing like earth and she wanted to, no needed to explore it.

"No, Mari-"

"Please Grace! I'll be good, I'll listen. Right daddy?" Marie pleaded, these desperate eyes better work she thought to herself. She moved in front of her dad gripped onto his belt and pouted for extra measure.