Avatar: {Hybrid and Alien]

{78}

The only thing in Asim's mind at that time was to save Lily. Even if it meant taking lives. Not another thought interrupted the goal that he had in his mind.

Asim chose to pilot along with Kentaro this time, flying the chopper over the forest at full throttle back to their outpost. "Woah! Careful! Another turn and you might as well crash us down!" Kentaro said nervously on the radio as he helped out as Asim's copilot. The words from Kentaro were ignored as Asim focused on front with a frowning gaze, also ignoring the gazes of his friends that were felt behind him. "I think Kentaro is right! We should probably slow down and—" Emeralda said as her hand grabbed onto a handle, but was interrupted when Asim glanced behind and glared at her as a way to say silence. Which it worked as her mouth got shut abruptly and she leaned straight against her seat, looking as if she regretted saying such thing. "We need to get to the outpost, suit up, gear up, and get to the territory of the Ash clan as soon as possible. We don't have a minute to waste. If what they say about their horrible rituals is true...then we cannot afford to wait and plan." Asim said, immediately focusing back on piloting the chopper with Kentaro as they made their way above the forest. After that there was no one that spoke to him, all of them knowing that Asim was in his focused mode. Whether it was good or bad, Asim did not care a single bit; this was how it was done before, and there was no other way.

They landed the chopper right outside of the outpost, and Asim was the first one to exit the cockpit and go straight to the entrance. He didn't wait for his other teammates to catch up to him as he entered through the door and into the other room. Once inside he went to change his suit and helmet, leaving his normal ones with the paint marks on them and replacing them with the ones intended for battle. The others soon came in and saw Asim gearing up with the majority of weapons that he would use effectively when he time for combat came. Mikhail was the first one to walk close to Asim and reach out to him, but he stopped when he looked back at him. "What are you guys waiting for? Don't just stand there! Gear up!" Asim said to them more harsher than he meant it, even if he was too busy with the objective in his mind. "Asim...please slow down." Mikhail said as he reached again and this time he gave a strong grip on Asim's shoulder, making him pay attention to his teammate. "You are acting up so much...it feels like you are out of control." Mikhail said in a worried tone. "Really? Out of every one of you I am the one who is out of control? To me I am the most sane and self-controlled out of this team, as your leader! The rest is just living in denial after what just happened. Do you remember or not?" Asim said firmly, his fists clenching as he looked at every one of his friends. "Of course we remember. We saw it. But....this, what we are about to do...is what we wanted to avoid. To get involved in conflict." Kentaro said, taking a step closer. "We have no choice! We must fight in order to live and to keep each other safe. This was inevitable, as you said. And what? Now you are saying you were right but don't want to involve yourself in this?" Asim shot back at Kentaro, moving towards him until his face was close to theirs. Kentaro stiffened as Asim said that, sighing as he thought of something to say before speaking again. "I do remember. We can't escape who we have become. But this...starting a war with this tribe of na'vi and killing just to save one of our own...is not what we truly want. Not even Shaka would have wanted this." Kentaro said back at Asim.

The mention of Shaka's name made Asim snap and shove Kentaro abruptly towards the ground.

Kentaro fell back on the metal floor with a grunt, Asim about to give him a full blown beating when Mikhail and Emeralda came to restrain him from doing so. "BASTARD! You think you can say his name in my face so calmly after what has happened?? SHAKA IS DEAD!!! HE DIDN'T DESERVE TO DIE LIKE THIS!!! WE HAVE ALREADY LOST SO MANY TO THOSE BACK ON EARTH AND NOW HERE ON PANDORA!!! I WON'T LET ANOTHER ONE DIE IN VAIN AGAIN!!!" Asim roared as he used all of his strength to break free from those that held him back, but they held strong and fast. Kentaro looked up at Asim, seeing as if he was more scarier for him than anyone when he was in such mood. After a while Asim calmed down, but he was still with rage deep within his heart. "Call it revenge or whatever you want. But we can't sit idly by and let those blue ash bastards get away with killing their own and one of us. We can't contain it in ourselves. And neither can you, Kentaro, as much as you want to presume about it and bury it." Asim said coldly at his friend that was recovering from being shoved onto the floor. Kentaro got up and looked at him, not replying to him and stepping away. Later when everyone has calmed down Asim went and got the last things of his equipment before going to head outside. Before he opened the door to head into the separate room that would lead outside, he took one glance at his friends that were still standing where they were as they watched him. "Do whatever you want. You can either join me and do something about it...or do nothing at all and feel more guilty afterwards" Asim said to them before turning around and closing the door to head outside of the outpost.

Moments passed as Asim made the final preparations to the chopper so that he could go out to the Ash clan territory. Asim was about to head to the cockpit and open the door when the presence of Kentaro came in front of him. He placed a hand on the door as to say he wasn't going to let Asim get in, making him glare at Kentaro. "Out. Of my. Way." Asim said coldly as he was prepared to move Kentaro away. "And what? Leave you to crash into the forest? You need two pilots to fly." Kentaro said, much to Asim surprise. When Asim took a better look at Kentaro, he saw that his friend was carrying his sniper on his back. The sounds of footsteps made Asim turn around and notice Mikhail and Emeralda walking up to them, having their weapons and equipment ready. "You are right. We cannot contain this pain inside. And we cannot let another precious one to us die. Also...you conveyed another message: no more hiding. All of us fight together as one, no matter what. Just like we all have done in the past the moment we chose for ourselves." Kentaro said, opening the door to the cockpit area and climbing inside. "Besides, where is the heavy support when you need a strong defense. You will surely get killed." Mikhail said to add some humor and lighten up the mood, even when it was useless in this situation. "We aren't doing this for someone else. We are doing it for ourselves. As much as I disagree, I can't ignore it either. This is for Shaka and the na'vi that have now called us family." Emeralda said in an oddly supportive way that was different from her laid back and sour demeanor. For Asim it came as a surprise, but it was expected as they were all in the same team. So he got in the chopper with the rest, not showing a smile but expressing his gratitude as he gave a nod at everyone. Once everyone was ready, they held on tight as the chopper took them high into the sky and towards the Ash clan territory.

"Hang on, Lily. We are coming for you." Asim said softly in his breath, narrowing his eyes at the land in front of them with fierce determination.