Pandora's Call

Chapter Six: Sully?

More Avatars came into the hut getting ready for the adventure today. Almost felt to them like a kindergarten field trip but more potential for death. Quaritch stood on a bed and clapped his hands.

"Alright, listen up! We have 8 drivers, split into 2 groups, grab a partner in your group and head out to a Scorpion. Do not go anywhere without your partner, they are your life line." He yelled.

The drivers looked around and paired up pretty quickly, Zora stood there looking at everyone else getting into their partnered groups. Quaritch got down from the bed and walked to Zora.

"Seems like everyone already knows each other." Zora softly said.

"Eh, they're just a bunch of science majors that all went to school together. Besides, you have the coolest partner around. Me" He said putting his hands on his belt flexing slightly.

Zora gave a smirk and shrugged her shoulders. They walked out to a Scorpion and sat down on the side panel, holding onto some webbing hanging from the sides.

"Colonel, we'll be right behind you. We are waiting on a supply crate from the lab." A pilot yelled, running up to Quaritch.

Quaritch waved his hand and rolled his eyes.

"Get it done, Lieutenant." He replied back, switching his gaze to our pilot. He twirled his finger around and grabbed a hold of the webbing again.

The blades started up, and the Scorpion started to lift off of the ground. Zora looked at everything that she could, her smile not leaving her face. The floating mountains coming into view, she couldn't help but look in astonishment. She noticed out of the corner of her eye Quaritch looking at her.

"I'm sorry I must look like a lunatic." Zora shouted over the propellers.

Quaritch shook his head, "Nah, it's nice to see someone interested in something." He replied by taking a look out at the river filled with different types of flora they were flying over.

"Banshee!" The pilot screamed from his cockpit.

Zora looked up at the blue and black Banshee rushing in on the propeller, making an ear-piercing cry. It collided into the Scorpion and jolted it. Zora fell backwards and slid out of the aircraft, grabbing a hold of the landing bar.

"Zora! Hang on!" Quaritch yelled trying to position himself to reach his arm out to Zora.

"Engaging!" The pilot yelled terrified.

The sound of bullets zipping through the air close to Zora's ears made her disoriented. As well as the vibration of the guns loosening her grip on the Scorpion.

"It's slipping!" Zora screamed looking around for the Banshee.

Quaritch reached his hand out, Zora reached up with her free hand as the Banshee swooped in and hit the Scorpion again. Zora's hand slipped from the landing bar, and she watched Quaritch and the Scorpion become smaller and distant. She hit the river below with a sharp smack, she tried to swim above water, but the current was strong. She scraped against a giant rock and held onto the side pulling herself onto it. Gasping to fill her lungs, she looked around. She caught the Scorpion in the sky fleeing from the Banshee, bullets flying. She watched as the Banshee cried and vanished into the floating mountains above, the Scorpion vanishing with it.

"Shit shit shit!" Zora yelled, hitting the rock.

"I have to go look for him." She added, worried.

She pulled herself onto the rock and stood up, grunting in pain. Moving towards the land she noticed her vision blurry.

"Great, day one and I already broke my Avatar." She muttered trying to make out shapes in the distance.

She managed to walk towards a tree and lean against it, she slid down and sat with her knees almost to her chest.

"I need to sit here." She convinced herself.

A snap of a branch in the distance made her jump, after her encounter with the Banshee any noise is terrifying. Staying silent she looked over in the direction of the noise. A blue figure poked out from behind a tree and slowly made their way towards her.

"I'm not gonna hurt you." Zora called.

The figure crouched down and stayed at a distance. Zora squinted her eyes hard, so she could make out small details. She widened her eyes and took a breath in.

"Tommy?" She asked, confused.