A New Beginning on Pandora | ☑️

.2.

"So, how much link time have you logged?" Grace asked as we made our way inside the linking room. "Uh, about 520 hours." Norm answered. Because he had the training beforehand, he already got a start on it. "That's good." She replied as she pointed at the first link unit.

"You're here. You there. And you're here." Grace said, telling us which one was ours. While Grace helped Jake, I jumped up and sat on the firm, gel-like green substance lining the unit.

Another random scientist ran over to help me as I laid down, pulling the exoskeleton part over my body as the scientist pressed some buttons on the screen next to me. She then pulled the lid closed, leaving me in a soft green glow as I closed my eyes, relaxing myself.

Suddenly, I saw a flash of white before I was being sent through some sort of multicolored tube, most likely a nerve as my mind went from my human form to my Avatar.

My eyes opened groggily as my blurred vision slowly started to level out. "-n. Zen, Zen! Can you hear me?" A female scientist in a full body suit with a breathing mask hovered over me. The male, in the same garb, shining a bright light into my eyes, causing my pupils to dilate.

"Pupillary reflexes good." He stated before the woman snapped her fingers next to my ears, causing my hearing to stabilize as well. "Pinna response normal. How you feeling, Zen?" She asked me as I looked around, my vision seeming sharper than normal.

"Hi." I smiled as I lifted my hands up, seeing that they are twice as large as a grown man's. I slowly sat up, making sure I wouldn't get a dizzy spell, as I grew accustomed to the extra long limbs and heavy weight of the Avatar body. I looked over to see Jake just waking up as Norm did some muscle exercises with another pair of scientist.

I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, noticing I was now wearing a hospital gown. I heard one of them warning me to go slow, but I was too busy being fascinated with my new appearance. I could feel my long, braided black hair tickling the small of my back and my cat-like tail lazily swishing behind me.

I was broken out of my stupor as I witnessed Jake standing up, a little wobbly, but standing. I gasped as he threw off medical equipment from the table next to his gurney and ripped out the IV lines connected to him. The scientists panicked, trying to sedate him but he started running out of the door before they could try.

I shot up, ignoring the protests of my own pair of scientists as I carefully plucked out the leads connected to myself before running out after Jake. "Jake, come back!" I shouted as he ran through the training yard where other Avatar drivers were exercising. However, he didn't stop, too caught up in the fact that he was actually running, using his legs again.

I could hear Norm behind us, but he couldn't keep up, quickly falling behind as Jake and I sped up. Avoiding a collision with one of the robot guys, my brother eventually stopped in a patch of soil, plants growing around us. I caught up, slightly breathing heavily as Jake chuckled, digging his toes into the dirt.

"As much as I am happy for you, don't run off like that again." I scolded, but he didn't lose that grin on his face. "Sorry, sorry. I couldn't stop myself." He apologized. "Hey Marine, firecracker!" A familiar voice called as we both looked over to see a female Avatar with a red tank top and kaki shorts.

"Grace?" "Firecracker?" Jake and I asked in that order. "Who'd you think it was? And firecracker's perfect for you Zen. You're small but you pack a punch with that explosive attitude of yours." She answered as she threw fruits at us, one for each. After eating the, admittedly amazingly delicious, fruits, Grace led us inside the wooden building meant to keep the Avatars in at night, protected with a metal gate.

"Come on, everybody. Quiet down. Alright gang, lights out. Don't play with that, you'll go blind." Grace said the last part to Jake, who was playing with the pink nerves hidden in the thick black hair.