𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐨 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩 ➤ Lo'ak & Neteyam

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏

Just as the three suns of Pandora were starting to set behind the horizon, many creatures of the forest started to go into the dens to sleep for the night. All but five. Three members of the Sully family plus their "adopted-but-not-really" brother Spider were running through the forest, jumping on trees and climbing rocks. Lo'ak, the younger son, who was known to be quite rebellious, was leading his two sisters; Tuk, the youngest child and Kiri. Kiri wasn't actually his sister though; she was miraculously born of Grace's avatar. Running behind them was Spider, a human boy who fell in love with Pandora and basically considered himself one of the people. 

The four of them weren't supposed to be out this late, but they wanted to explore Site 26, the place where the infamous fight between Jake Sully and Colonel Quaritch took place. Spider was excited, but not as much as the others, after all, that's where his dad died. Oh yes, Spider was indeed Quaritch's offspring, but thankfully, he was nothing like his dad... Who was the fifth person, you may ask? Spider's sister. That's right, Spider had an older sister by the name of Andromeda, she was only 2 years old during the first war between the Sky People and the Na'vi. When she found out that her dad was killed by a Na'vi, she wanted nothing to do with them, even her brother, since he considered himself 'one of them'. But despite her strong dislike and even hatred for the blue people, she would occasionally talk to them if they came to the lab. Andy preferred... or less disliked talking with Neteyam, as he seemed much more mature than the rest of his siblings.

As the four of them neared the clearing, Andy finally managed to catch up. She was following them for a few reasons; she was curious and wanted to leave the lab. This provided her with the perfect opportunity to both go on a small adventure to clear her head and find more reasons to hate the Na'vi. Just as she paused to take a few deep breaths into her mask, she looked around her surroundings and realised the group she was following was no longer in sight. She couldn't even hear them talking and laughing. She cursed to herself. If she didn't find them soon, she would be left alone, lost in a forest at night. Not the greatest situation to find yourself in. All of a sudden, she heard voices. Maybe this would be a good idea to step out of the trees into the clearing, right in front of the mobile link station.

Andromeda regretted ever stepping out of the trees, because as soon as she did, she felt a gun barrel being pressed up against the back of her head. Shit! Shit! Shit! She thought, just as laser sights started scattered all over her face, blinding her. Just as she was about to come to terms with dying, she heard a booming voice call out. 

"Lower the guns." 

The lasers now disappeared and the pressure of the gun on the back of her head stopped. She slowly turned around, not knowing what to expect. A tall, very tall blue soldier stood in front of her. Just as she was about to reach for her hidden knife to stab him, the soldier spoke in a voice just above a whisper, "Andy? Is that you?" Suddenly Andromeda felt like everything around her disappeared, as she was transported to the past, with her toddler self hugging her dad one last time before he left and never came back. The face... The voice... The dog tags... How was that even possible?

She was pulled out of her trance by the same voice, "Andromeda, it can't be..." She looked at the man's eyes for a split second. That look was all she needed to confirm that that was indeed who she thought it was. Without a second thought, she swiftly approached the avatar and embraced him in a hug. "I missed you dad..." She choked, tears threatening to spill out of her eyes. She thought she'd lost him forever. How did he return? Why was he in the body of the enemy? What was he doing here? So many questions filled her head that she didn't hear him ask a question himself. Letting go and taking a deep breath she asked, "Sorry, what?" 

"I said, let's go home, darlin'."  

His voice sounded just like it did when he was still alive... Er, still human. She nodded quickly, she never considered this place a home, the closest thing she would consider one was the small room she was given in the science facility. It was like she was 2 years old again, having to look straight up to see her dads face, but only this time she was 19 and her dad was a Na'vi Avatar. They both turned and started walking away, his group of soldiers flanking them, when they heard rustling in the trees. Immediately the soldiers ran in the direction of the sound and dragged out the Sully siblings and her brother. With shock very much evident on her face, she ran to her brother. She didn't even get a few steps ahead when she was grabbed and pulled back by her dad. "Stay here." He commanded her, as he went to the kids himself. 

While he was interrogating the Sully's, Andy's eyes were fixed on Spider's. She was trying to understand what he was feeling. He looked back at her with pleading eyes. As she took a few steps forward to try to have the soldier let go of Spider, she stopped as her dad got to him first. 

"What's your name, kid?" He asked shortly. 

"Spider. Socorro." Spider spat back. 

Quaritch looked at him in disbelief. "Miles?" 

"No one calls me that anymore!" Spider yelled, giving Quaritch the dirtiest look. 

"I thought they sent you back to Earth..."

"Babies can't go into cryo, dipshit!" Spider snapped, just before realisation hit him like a truck. 

He looked at Andromeda for confirmation, to which she gave him a small nod. Her dad then motioned the soldier to let go of him, and Spider instinctively neared the Sully kids. Eventually, Quaritch made the decision to use the kids as bait to lead out Jake and Neytiri. Still locking eyes with Spider, Andy hadn't noticed her dad walking closer until he nudged her gently with the barrel of a rifle. 

"Here, kid. You might need this."

Hesitantly, she took the gun, but didn't raise it. As much as she hated them, she didn't outright despise them so much as to wish death upon them.

Then out of nowhere an arrow penetrated itself into the head of the soldier holding Kiri. Instinctively Andy raised her gun, aiming at the trees. There was chaos everywhere; the soldiers were shooting, the Sully siblings were biting the others, and Andy was trying to get Spider out of the line of fire. 

"Come with us!" He yelled over the explosions. 

"I can't, it's my--" She cut herself off, "-- our dad! I can't bear to see him leave again... I should be the one asking you to come with me!" 

Without warning, Andy grabbed Spider's arm and started pulling him along with her. He yanked his hand away and ran back into the trees. With a look of both betrayal and hurt, Andy took out the gun she was given and marched behind him, just as her dad launched a grenade near the tree Kiri and Spider were running on. The latter was thrown back by the shockwave and tumbled down the hill. Andromeda ran down the hill, trying not to slip in the wet mud. Finding him curled up on the floor covered in mud, she crouched beside him and softly said as Quaritch approached and picked him up. 

"Come on, it's time to go home. Trust me, I know what's best for you."