Like Water || Neteyam

Chapter 8: New Identity

"Can you hear me kid?"

"Ira, are you okay?"

Your vision started off super blurry, you could hardly see the two blue figures that leaned close over your face. Shutting your eyes as you got shined in the eye by a flashlight, you forcefully opened them again, this time to a slightly clearer vision.

"Ira, can you hear me?" you knew whose voice that was within an instance even though you still had a hard time seeing him. You felt him hold your hand in between his palms, and for once, you noticed that his hands were not distinguishably bigger than yours as they had always been.

"Yes." You wanted to say more, but you were too focused on clearing up your eyesight at this moment. Squinting your eyes to help your pupils focus, what came to view first was your dad's face, or more precisely, his avatar's face. 

"Dad..." you had so much more you wanted to say to him, but this moment felt so surreal, to the point that you were lost for words. You had dreamed of this since a very young age, until this second you could hardly believe it is really happening.

"You made it kid." Norm grinned, placing a gentle hand over your cheek.

Your eyes then fell to your other side where Neteyam sat by your bedside. You took another second to process that your hand which was being held in between his were not skin-color, but actually the same blue shade as his. Lifting up your other hand to examine it closely, you stared at the markings on your arm. This feels weird, but amazing at the same time. Right then, you felt the four fingers of Neteyam's hand intertwine with yours five fingers, and somehow, they fit over each other perfectly, like they were made for each other. 

Neteyam froze in his spot, still a bit dazed as he realized that you were smiling up at him. Your eyes were still yours, just a different shade of gold now and somewhat bigger than your human ones. Your nose now looks obviously different than it does in your human features, but despite the distinct differences, you were still you. It will definitely take him a long time to get used to this new identity of yours, for Neteyam has always loved the way you looked as a human. Still, he couldn't deny that he loved the thought of you running alongside in the forest, finally being able to keep up. After all these years, you can now finally be closer to his height, he can look you directly into the eyes and not have to kneel down. Of course, how could he ever forget that one day, you would also be capable of choosing and binding with an ikran, and soon you and him would be able to go on flights together.

He helped you when noticing you were trying to sit up. Inside this ambient room is the only place inside Hell's Gate where avatars can breath Pandoran air. It is also the place where the avatar drivers wake up in their Na'vi-like bodies for the first time after it has been decanted. In this very room, your dad and Jake awoke inside their new avatar bodies, which in a way, marked the beginning of their journey in this planet. Neither of them know at that time, that this place would become their new home, and the people here their new family.

~~~

Half an hour before you were rushed to initiate your first link to your avatar in the link chamber, a widespread message from Frances Ardmore, commander of the joint expeditionary task force was heard, which caused an arise of panic and debate amongst the humans.

"Your crimes are acts of terrorism under solar unity law, and will be punished as such. Terrorism carries a mandatory sentence of death. Surrender and turn over Hell's Gate, intact, and you will be granted amnesty. You've got my word on that. But make no mistake, if you resist, I will kill you all. You people are a long way from earth, I beg you, with tears in my eyes, do not test me on this!"

"Charles Stringer, RDA." Another man beside the general added, "Look, we didn't come twenty-six trillion miles to fight a war, or run a prison. You're hell of a lot more valuable as employees than inmates."

Many began questioning their initial decisions, talking amongst each other about how if they assist in the "peaceful" return of the RDA, then their authorities would grant them not only amnesty, but also full pay with back pay, not to mention bonuses. Most people here respect Jake for the efforts he has made in all these years to maintain peace between the humans and the indigenous people, most of them have also developed their love for Pandora which they've lived on for over a decade, but that does not cancel out the temptation of rejoining a fully human society. If they were to follow Jake, most of them including their children would have to wear masks for the rest of their time on this planet, for other than a few scientists in the avatar program, they do not have avatar bodies to fight against the RDA with.

Jake asked for everyone in Hell's Gate to leave their name on a list if they wish to stay and surrender to the RDA. Whilst people were writing down their names, this was when Norm rushed to decant your avatar body with a few other scientists,  and Neteyam stuck by your side as you followed Max to the link chamber. Right after your link bed's cover was shut, Neteyam had to then rush at his fastest paste to the ambient room where Norm was already waiting, just so he could be there alongside you when you first wake up in your new body.

Not everyone adjusts to their new avatars quickly, but you had no time to waste and adapt. Knowing how dire the situation was, you took merely five minute to get used to standing in your new body inside the ambient room, before rushing out back to the lobby. Norm was in a haste to find Jake to know their next action. Neteyam held your hand to ensure that you would not fall due to walking too quickly as the two of you followed after Norm. Disorientation and dizziness is common in new human drivers, you appreciated having Neteyam watching over your every step, but you were also lucky to be one of those rare people like Jake who adapted relatively quickly. Most drivers could hardly walk straight after their initial link, yet both of you were running before you even knew it.

Norm quickly found out from Jake that the list of people who want to surrender to the RDA consists of over half of the crowd in Hell's Gate, this was although very discouraging, but not surprising. Spider's foster parents, the McCoskers were also amongst those who put down their names, this made you worry for Spider's fate, for you knew better than anyone that he would never willingly surrender.

Those who chose to remain loyal to Jake are now preparing to evacuate, as Jake prepares for his battle in space, planning to hit the spaceships before they hit orbit. When you learned of this plan from Norm, this was when you too noticed something different in Netryam's eyes. Oh no, you suddenly just got a very bad feeling.

When he felt your questioning gaze, he subconsciously avoided eye contact. This confirmed your speculation even further.

Neteyam wants to go with them, not to evacuate into the mountains with the others, but to head into space and fight with his parents. He is after all l, the only Sully child who had a space suit and has trained under zero-gravity. Many are aware that Lo'ak as the second son lives under his llder brother's shadow, but many don't realize like you do, that Neteyam too lives under the shadow of his father, the great Toruk Makto, Eywa's chosen one. Neteyam has trained hard for all these years to become a warrior like his dad, he does not want to be recognize as only his son, but to be seen as someone who is worthy of being the next Olo'eyktan, someone who is just as strong and brave like his father.