Reborn - Pandora's Box (Book 2)

-.- Ikranä Maktoyu Pt. 1-.-

"Come on! Keep up losers!"

She and Spider were ahead in the ascent of the Hallelujah Mountains, pausing every so often to taunt the others.

"Ready? Jump!" As the vine swung towards them, they leapt in unison, completing the next part of the journey. They chuckled at the thrill.

"Whew," she breathed, casting a glance below. "I've never been this high up without my Avatar body."

"First time for everything!" Spider scurried on. 

"Oh!" Her heart dropped into her feet as her grip slipped and she lost her footing on the side of the rock.

"Nix!" Spider reached down but just missed her. 

A large hand covered the majority of her back from below as she scrambled for purchase on the rocky surface, and she turned to see Q had caught up with them. "Easy there, we don't want to lose our specialist."

She scampered on ahead, heart pounding from the adrenaline of the near-drop. 

After that near-miss she was quite relieved when they reached the top of the Mountains, and arrived at the swarming Ikran nest. "Hello gorgeous..." 

"Wow," Spider breathed. 

"It never gets old," she agreed. "I hope I never get used to this."

A grunt from behind them signaled the arrival of Q. The others were still behind. 

"Look at that view," Nix remarked. 

He barely cast it a glance. "No time, keep moving."

Right. Why did she even try? This wasn't something they cared about, the Recombs, it was just a regimen, something they had to do to complete their current mission.

Still, part of it was like she had a second chance, with this Quaritch.

No, focus Nix, she chided herself. He's the enemy. Don't  you go forgetting that. He may be different but fundamentally he's still the same Quaritch from before. How could she be so ridiculous?

Which was why she had begun referring to him as Q in her thoughts, not quite the same, but not all different either. Enough of a distinction, the sting of the reminder right there, close and burning. 

The rest of the squad caught up, finally. Now they all approached the nest, a blur of colours and screeching. 

"This is the ultimate test of what you have learned. Good luck," she said dryly.

To start off, Wainfleet readied a tranquilizer gun.

"I got this." Q took the gun and aimed it at the nearest Ikran. Nix was about to cry out 'NO!" when Spider gave a snort of laughter.

Q's face fell, and he turned to the boy. "What?"

Spider gave a little shrug. "Na'vi kids younger than me do this with their bare hands."

Q considered. "Jake Sully do it the hard way?"

"What do you think?" Spider shot back.

Q glanced at Nix.

"Don't look at me." She held up her hands in surrender and shrugged.

He sighed and considered once more before handing the gun back to Wainfleet who asked, "What're we doing Colonel?" 

Said Colonel didn't reply, just strode forward, lifting his braid over his shoulder.

Spider chuckled. "Oh, this'll be good."

She had to agree.

He approached the nearest Ikran, who rose up and stretched out her wings, hissing at his approach. He hissed back, which would have been intimidating if he wasn't with an Ikran. 

Then it began. In a flash, the choice was made, and within another second the fight for the bond began. 

Nix gasped when Q threw a punch and struck the Ikran right across the snout. Then, while the creature was still dazed, he threw himself onto her back, clinging to her neck. 

To his credit, Nix was surprised he managed to hold on amidst all the flailing, the Ikran trying her best  to shake him off.

"Move up, move up!" Wainfleet ordered the rest of the squad, though they seemed a mix of wanting to follow orders but also wanting to keep their distance from the flailing, roaring creature that was throwing their Colonel around.  

Spider was laughing. "Did I mention you're supposed to tie the mouth shut first?"

"Thanks a lot, kid! Whoa!  WHOA!" With that, the Ikran swooped down off the cliffside, Quaritch kicking and flailing, his screams fading away as they fell out of sight. 

The squad was plunged into shocked silence, which Nix promptly broke. 

"And I thought mine was bad..."

(I laugh every time I watch Q's bonding with his Ikran (Cupcake)! Too good!

I really wanted the whole part with the Ikrans to be two chapters, so I'm afraid this chapter is shorter.

As always, thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter! :))