Reborn - Pandora's Box (Book 2) AU

-.-Rescue-.-

The 'high-value prisoners' were cuffed and grouped together. Nix was still in shock - it wasn't about to wear off anytime soon. 

She tried not to look at him, but every so often found that her gaze had moved to him. He was alive, alive, after all this time. How was this possible? Why was it happening? Unfortunately, she had none of these answers. And maybe, just maybe, that was for the better, for the best.

He was currently inspecting the ruins and remains of the AMP suit. "Lyle, see if you can pull some data off that dashcam."

"That thing's deader than shit, Colonel."

"So were we."

It was not, as it turned out, deader than shit enough for it not to work.

"That's Sully's woman."

"She's an animal."

"Hey!" Nix managed to snap.  "Don't  talk about her that way!"

They ignored her as the recording continued. "Sully..."

"Give it up, Quaritch, it's all over!" Jake's voice.

"Nothing's over while I'm breathing!" Quaritch.

"I kinda hoped you'd say that-" Jake charged, and a violent duel ensued. From where she sat, Nix could just make out part of the screen. 

"AH!" There was Neytiri, firing one, then another, arrows into Quaritch's chest. There was a cry and the suit collapsed backward, and then the recording cut out. 

Oh wow... She had been sent to Mo'at's side before all that, so while she had known he had died, she hadn't known exactly how it happened. And now judging by the look on this Quaritch's face, he was just as shocked.

"Yeah, there's nothing after that," said Wainfleet. "You want us to recover these remains?"

Quaritch reached down and plucked the skull off the body still strapped into the AMP suit. Nix shuddered. He tore off the exopack and held his own skull up for inspection, the empty sockets baring down on him.

CRACK!

With one squeeze of his fist, the bone shattered, and the skull crumpled. 

An embarrassing strangled cry erupted from her throat. She had no idea where it came from, or why, just that it was pulled from deep within her. 

"You want us to recover these remains?"

Apparently a resounding no. 

Everyone's heads flicked to her when the sound erupted from her. Gracie scooted as close to her mum as she could. 

Did something soften in his face briefly? She couldn't tell. 

"Standing by." Quaritch was still speaking to whoever on the the other end of the comms. Every so often she could hear the faint crackle of voices on the other end, but that was all. "Prepare for extract."

They were forced to their feet, pulled by their braids. Even in her human form, Nix had taken to wearing her long hair in a braid, and Gracie had taken after her.

It was well past eclipse now, the nightly coolness descending upon the forest, followed closely by a downpour. 

She, Gracie, Spider and Kiri were all grouped close together.

"I'm sorry, Mum," Gracie apologized softly.  "I know we should have stayed hidden, or left, but I got so mad when I saw them surrounding you."

"No, no, don't apologize. You know I would have done the same if it were you." Gracie was fiercely protective of her people, a trait she had inherited from her mother - and her father. However, there was a sharp distinction between who said mother and father saw as 'their people'.