Finally alive (Book 1)

XV

My hands still sore from the brute force used against us, the four of us stood in the main control room, looking at a preview of how Jake destroyed one of the bulldozers cameras.

Both the colonel and Selfridge looked like they were demoted in their professions. The colonel bent down slightly, towards Jake.

'You let me down son.' his voice was cold, as Jake stared at his atrophied feet, looking unnecessarily guilty. 'You find yourself some local tail, and you forget what team you are playing for?'

'What the hell does that mean, Jake?' I demand, taking a step towards the seated marine, a nasty inkling feeling taking root in my heart.

'You mean you don't know?' Selfridge laughed and I turned to glare at the man. 'He has been playing all those blue monkeys, trying to make benefit for the company. I'm surprised you didn't find out sooner, Sena.'

My blood pressure increased tenfold at his words. I don't know who I am angrier with - Jake or that other jackass.

'Do you...have the slightest clue what those trees meant for these people?' I say, holding myself back so I won't claw the man's eyes out. He's lucky I don't have my knife. I'd show him where tails grow from...

'They were just damned trees! There are plenty of them here!' he laughs again and I take a shaky breath, stumbling backward, making Jake grab ahold of me. When I come to my wits, glare down at the man, thinking of shaking him off me, but the look on his face made me stop for a second.

The man before me looked so grief-stricken, my heart skipped a beat. He betrayed the people, but it was clear he was regretting it. But just regretting it won't make us good again. He will need to amend himself.

I gently pull my hand from his grip, shaking my head.

'What the hell were you smoking out there?' Selfridge mocks laughter, and I turn my attention to the idiot again. Grace looked like she was slapped.

'Look, the situation can still be fixed.' Jake speaks up again, his voice breaking and the beginning slightly.

'You just need to understand them, and things might turn for the better.'

'I really doubt that.' Quaritch speaks up, pressing a button an allowing a video to play on the screen that just minutes ago showed Jake destroying the camera.

As the video played, my heart chimed in sorrow. The marine in the present looked distraught to say the least, that his own words were used against him in the way none of us expected.

'So, this makes things a whole lot easier. Thanks, Jake.' the colonel said. 'I'm almost tempted to give you a big wet kiss.'

My face scrunches in disgust at his statement, and I walk away before I do something rash.

Probably not even an hour passed, and while we all were huddled in the lab, moods way below zero, we heard commotion. Trudy barrelled into the room, out of breath.

'Quarrich is gathering the gunships. He's planning to hit Hometree.' I jump up from the chair I was sulking in and without even waiting for anyone else, I sprint to the control room, fully ready to gauge colonel's eyes out.

'Selfridge! What on the name of Eywa are doing?' I yell, getting the attention of the whole room.

'What needs to be done.' his response comes in calm.

Grace comes in after me, grabbing me by the elbow. 'These are people you are about to attack..' she says, holding me back.

'No, they are tree climbing savages.' he responds angrily, pointing his index finger at her.

'You have to be kidding, Selfridge. These are our people.'

'Wow.' he chuckles at me, completely unfazed by my murderous look.

'You don't want to have blood on your hands, Selfridge.' Jake steps in as I fumed in the spot. 'Please let us talk to them.'

The man looked torn, as he spoke his orders. 'You have one hour. You better make sure your pretty lady isn't there when the ships come.

Ten minutes later, we were back in our avatar forms, descending back down to the main area. When Tsu'tey saw me, he called out my name and I engulfed him in a hug, feeling like crying. 'I was so worried about you.' I mumble against his chest.

'You don't need to be.'

From here, everything proceeded as I feared. Jake spilled the beans, and everything went downhill. I could see the heartbreak in Neytiri's eyes as she retreated. Both Grace and Jake were taken hostage. The chief wanted to take me too, but Tsu'tey wouldn't have it. He growled at the other warriors, as they took a step towards me.

'She's a traitor, Tsu'tey!' the chief sped walked to the hunter, sending my heart below my ankles. Tsu'tey stood in front of me, assuming a protective stance. The chief seemed to be taken aback by his gesture.

'Moe muntxa.' [We (are) mated] Tsu'tey clips with such fierceness, that I haven't heard anyone use talking to the chief. 'If you want to take her prisoner, you need to kill me first.'

I tug his hand in protest. 'Tsu'tey, no. What are you saying?'

He turns to me, ignoring the bystanders around us. 'Oeng lu 'aw. Frakrr.' [We are one. Forever.] he whispers against my forehead, sending my heart into a frenzy.

Before anything else happens, we hear the unmistakable sounds of the human aircraft. Tsu'tey steps away, encouraging his fellow hunters to go and face the Sky people.

I stand there, not moving for a few minutes, hearing the frightened voices of the natives.

I need Jake. We need Jake.

I snap out when first screams echo in the Omaticaya home. I scramble outside, towards the hubbub. I need to find Jake.

I cough when I inhale the first of the smoke that was quickly spreading.

'Jake! Grace?' I yell, not seeing anything, panic setting in. Where did they take them?

I heard whizzing, and then loud cracks that echoed in the area. There were people all around, screaming and running around. I ran forwards, not seeing anyone I knew. Smoke was so thick, I couldn't see anything farther than an arms reach.

'Tsu'tey!' I bellowed on the top of my lungs, tears stinging my eyes. A deep rumble started as I looked around for the source. My heart dropped when I saw it was the Hometree, falling. There was something majestic about the giant collapsing.

Screams doubled, as it started raining tree branches and giant splinters bounced from the ground.

The tree crashed sideways, shaking the ground like an earthquake, as I was stupefied in horror. There was a group of kids crying, holding each other as they were kneeling beside a body.

I couldn't move. My breathing was erratic. My head pounded, as I too, joined the hundreds of natives, mourning the fall of the great tree.